Structural dynamics of Rho GTPases.

Rho family GTPases are a part of the Ras superfamily and are signaling hubs for many cellular processes. While the detailed understanding of Ras structure and function has led to tremendous progress in oncogenic Ras-targeted drug discovery, studies of the related Rho GTPases are also catching up as the recurrent cancer-related Rho GTPase mutations have only been discovered in the last decade. Like that of Ras, an in-depth understanding of the structural basis of how Rho GTPases and their mutants behave as key oncogenic drivers benefits the development of clinically effective therapies.

scRGCL: a cell type annotation method for single-cell RNA-seq data using residual graph convolutional neural network with contrastive learning.

Cell type annotation is a critical step in analyzing single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data. A large number of deep learning (DL)-based methods have been proposed to annotate cell types of scRNA-seq data and have achieved impressive results. However, there are several limitations to these methods.

Scalable Reshaping of Diamond Particles via Programmable Nanosculpting.

Diamond particles have many interesting properties and possible applications. However, producing diamond particles with well-defined shapes on a large scale is challenging because diamonds are chemically inert and extremely hard. Here, we show that air oxidation, a routine method for purifying diamonds, can be used to precisely shape diamond particles at scale.

Scalable production of ultraflat and ultraflexible diamond membrane.

Diamond is an exceptional material with great potential across various fields owing to its interesting properties. However, despite extensive efforts over the past decades, producing large quantities of desired ultrathin diamond membranes for widespread use remains challenging. Here we demonstrate that edge-exposed exfoliation using sticky tape is a simple, scalable and reliable method for producing ultrathin and transferable polycrystalline diamond membranes.

Li[AlPOF(OH)](HO) and [Al(PO)F(HO)]( = K, Rb): Counter Cation Templates Derived Three Polar Alkaline Metal Fluoroaluminophosphates.

Three novel alkali metal fluoroaluminophosphates, Li[AlPOF(OH)](HO) and [Al(PO)F(HO)]( = K, Rb), were designed and synthesized by using low-temperature flux methods. They crystallized in polar space groups and 222, respectively. Li[AlPOF(OH)](HO) features a unique two-dimensional layered structure of fluoroaluminophosphate [AlPOF(OH)], composed of alternately connected AlFO octahedra and PO tetrahedra.

SASH1 is a novel binding partner to disassemble Caskin1 tandem SAM homopolymer through heterogeneous SAM-SAM interaction.

Calcium/calmodulin-dependent serine protein kinase (CASK) interaction protein 1/2 (Caskin1/2) is essential neuronal synaptic scaffold protein in nervous system development. Knockouts of Caskin1/2 display severe deficits in novelty recognition and spatial memory. The tandem sterile alpha motif (SAM) domains of Caskin1/2, also conserved in their Drosophila homolog Ckn, are known to form homopolymers, yet their dynamic regulation mechanism remains unclear.

Synergistic Enhancement of the High-Temperature Friction and Wear Behavior of PTFE Matrix Composites with the Addition of CF, PEEK, and TiC.

With the rapid development of the aerospace, automobile, and ocean industries, there is an urgent need for the fabrication of high-performance polymer matrix composites with low friction and wear in wide temperature ranges. In this paper, polytetrafluoroethylenes (PTFEs) doped with polyether-ether-ketone (PEEK), carbon fiber (CF), and TiC were prepared, and the effects of testing temperatures from room temperature to 250 °C in air conditions were investigated. The results showed that the friction coefficient of the PTFE matrix composites had no obviously changing trend, while the wear resistance properties were significantly improved.

Real-world safety of dapagliflozin plus metformin in patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus in China: Post-hoc analysis of the DONATE study.

Aim: DONATE (NCT03156985) is a large-scale real-world study investigating the safety of dapagliflozin in Chinese type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. This post-hoc analysis aims to further evaluate the real-world safety of dapagliflozin plus metformin.

Methods: Safety outcomes were assessed in patients receiving concomitant dapagliflozin and metformin, with or without other antidiabetics.

Evaluating systemic immune-inflammation indices as predictive markers for endometriosis diagnosis: A retrospective observational study.

Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disease for which there is currently no accurate screening test to identify or predict the probability of the disease in individuals. This can often lead to delays in diagnosis. Several systemic immune-inflammation indices are currently used as predictive or supportive markers for several inflammation-associated diseases.

Direct Synthesis of Semiconductive AgBiS NC Inks toward High-Efficiency, Low-Cost and Environmental-Friendly Solar Cells.

Silver bismuth sulfide nanocrystals (AgBiS NCs) embody a pioneering heavy-metal-free photovoltaic material renowned for its ultrahigh absorption coefficient, offering promising opportunities for advancing the field of ultra-thin and biocompatible solar cells. Currently, the fabrication of AgBiS NC photovoltaic devices relies on hot-injection synthesis and subsequent tedious ligand exchange, leading to high production cost, complex processes and environmental pollution. Here, we developed a direct-synthesis (DS) method without ligand-exchange for AgBiS NC semiconductive inks, significantly simplifying the material preparation and device fabrication processes.

Nano-size Joule-Heating to Achieve Low-Ohmic Ag-Si Contact on Boron Emitters of n-TOPCon Solar Cells.

Over the past decade, Tunnel Oxide Passivated Contact (TOPCon) solar cells have emerged as a leading technology for high-efficiency silicon solar cells. Conventional metallization processes using silver/aluminum (Ag/Al) pastes encounter significant hurdles due to reliability risks and insufficient contact quality. Recent advancements in laser-induced metallization technologies, particularly laser-enhanced contact optimization (LECO), offer promising solutions.

In situ engineered CeOS/CeO nanofibrous heterojunctions for photocatalytic HO synthesis via S-scheme charge separation.

Photocatalytic HO synthesis offers an efficient and sustainable means to convert solar energy into chemical energy, representing a forefront and focal point in photocatalysis. S-scheme heterojunctions demonstrate the capability to effectively separate photogenerated electrons and holes while possessing strong oxidation and reduction abilities, rendering them potential catalysts for photocatalytic HO synthesis. However, designing S-scheme heterojunction photocatalysts with band alignment and close contact remains challenging.

BaPb(CO)F: Enhancing Birefringence by a Multiunit Synergy Effect.

Carbonates are ideal birefringent materials because their π-conjugated [CO] groups are beneficial for large anisotropy. How to maximize the birefringence and maintain a wide transmittance simultaneously in carbonates is a great challenge. Adopting a multiple-functional group synergy strategy by combining alkaline-earth metal Ba with large ion radius, PbOF distorted hexagonal pyramid, and paralleled π-conjugated CO triangles together, we synthesized a new metal carbonate crystal, BaPb(CO)F.

Efficacy, safety, and prognostic factors of capecitabine plus temozolomide regimen in patients with atypical thymic carcinoids.

Background And Objectives: Atypical thymic carcinoids (ATCs) are rare mediastinal malignancies that lack established treatment guidelines. Capecitabine and temozolomide (CapTem) has demonstrated significant efficacy in pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs), while its applicability and effectiveness in ATCs remain underexplored. This study seeks to investigate the efficacy, safety, and prognostic factors associated with CapTem in ATC patients.

The Role of Fibrinogen and Platelets in Mouse Liver Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury: Distribution and Pathophysiological Insights.

Liver ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury is a critical issue in clinical settings, particularly in liver transplantation and resection, leading to severe hepatocellular dysfunction and organ failure. This study investigates the role of fibrinogen and platelets in liver I/R injury, focusing on their distribution and pathophysiological impact within liver lobules. Using a mouse model, we examined the expression and localization of fibrinogen and platelets at various time points postreperfusion.

The anti-biofilm effect of α-amylase/glycopolymer-decorated gold nanorods.

The continuous evolution of bacteria and the formation of biofilm have exacerbated resistance issues, highlighting the urgent need for new antibacterial materials. In this study, L-fucose was polymerized to synthesize thiolated poly(2-(L-fucose) ethyl methacrylate) (PFEMA-SH), which was subsequently co-modified with α-amylase onto gold nanorods (GNR) to prepare the antibacterial nanoparticle composite, GNR-Amy-PFEMA (G-A-P). These nanomaterials exhibit both photothermal and enzymatic properties, enabling G-A-P to effectively sterilize and disperse biofilm.

Deficiency of FABP7 Triggers Premature Neural Differentiation in Idiopathic Normocephalic Autism Organoids.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which is caused by heterogeneous genetic and environmental factors, is characterized by diverse clinical phenotypes linked to distinct pathological mechanisms. ASD individuals with a shared clinical phenotype might contribute to revealing the molecular mechanism underlying ASD progression. Here, it is generated induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cerebral organoids from normocephalic individuals with ASD in a prospective birth cohort with a shared clinical diagnosis.

Arming oncolytic M1 virus with gasdermin E enhances antitumor efficacy in breast cancer.

Pyroptosis, driven by the N-terminal domain of gasdermin proteins (GSDM), promotes antitumor immunity by attracting lymphocytes to the tumor microenvironment (TME). However, current pyroptosis-inducing therapies like drug injections and phototherapy are limited to localized treatments, making them unsuitable for widespread or microscopic metastatic lesions. This study engineered oncolytic M1 viruses (rM1-mGSDME_FL and rM1-mGSDME_NT) to selectively deliver GSDME to tumor cells.

Risk factors for recurrence of Mooren's ulcer after keratoplasty.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics of patients with corneal Mooren's ulcers (MU) and explore potential risk factors for recurrence after keratoplasty.

Methods: The study retrospectively analyzed 87 patients (101 eyes) diagnosed with MU. Factors associated with recurrence after keratoplasty were identified using correlation analysis, and a clinical scoring system was developed based on the magnitude of the univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis.

SHR-1806, a robust OX40 agonist to promote T cell-mediated antitumor immunity.

Anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD-1/PD-L1 antibodies have significantly revolutionized cancer immunotherapy. However, the persistent challenge of low patient response rates necessitates novel approaches to overcome immune tolerance. Targeting immunostimulatory signaling may have a better chance of success for its ability to enhance effector T cell (Teff) function and expansion for antitumor immunity.

Navigating SARS-CoV-2-related immunopathology in Crohn's disease: from molecular mechanisms to therapeutic challenges.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) not only posed major health and economic burdens to international societies but also threatens patients with comorbidities and underlying autoimmune disorders, including Crohn's disease (CD) patients. As the vaccinated population is gradually relieved from the stress of the latest omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 due to competent immune responses, the anxiety of CD patients, especially those on immunosuppressive treatment, has not subsided. Whether the use of immunosuppressants for remission of CD outweighs the potential risk of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has long been discussed.