Crystal Structural Editing: Novel Biaxial MgTeO Crystal as Zero-Order Waveplates.

Waveplates are important optical components to control the polarization of light. Currently, they are often fabricated from uniaxial crystals, and there is no report about waveplates based on the biaxial crystals. In this work, a novel biaxial crystal MgTeO with a structure constructed by 0D TeO groups is designed and grown as waveplate materials for the first time.

Novel Self-Powered Sensitive X-Ray Detection Crystal BiMoWO with Effective Functional Motif Coupling in a Quasi-2D Perovskite Structure.

The demand for medical imaging with reduced patient dosage and higher resolution is growing, driving the need for advanced X-ray detection technologies. This paper proposes a design paradigm for X-ray detection semiconductors by coupling constituent motifs through crystal structure engineering. The study introduces a strongly anisotropic Aurivillius-type quasi-2D perovskite structure, combining [BiO] groups with stereochemically active lone pair electrons (SCALPEs) and [W/MoO] anionic groups, enabling enhanced X-ray Compton scattering and self-powered capabilities through local electric field ordering.

Nanoparticle-enabled In Situ drug potency activation for enhanced tumor-specific therapy.

Cancer treatment faces significant challenges including inadequate tumor specificity, drug resistance, and severe side effects, often resulting in unsatisfactory patient outcomes. Nanomedicines offer a transformative platform for tumor-targeted drug delivery and antitumor potency activation, providing an indispensable strategy for overcoming the severe damage to normal tissues caused by the inherent "always-on" cytotoxicity of conventional therapeutic agents. This review focuses on the emerging concept of "nanoparticle-enabled in situ drug potency activation", where inactive or minimally toxic agents are selectively activated within tumors to enhance the therapeutic efficacy and minimize the adverse effects.

Intersystem Crossing, Photo-Induced Charge Separation and Regioisomer-Specific Excited State Dynamics in Fully Rigid Spiro Rhodammine-Naphthalene/Anthraquinone Electron Donor-Acceptor Dyads.

We prepared a series fully rigid spiro electron donor-acceptor orthogonal dyads, with closed form of rhodamine (Rho) as electron donor and naphthalene (Np)/anthraquinone (AQ) as electron acceptor, to access the long-lived triplet charge separation (CS) state, via the electron spin control method. We found strong dependency of the photophysical property of the dyads on the amino substitution positions of the Np chromophores in the dyads 1,8-DaNp-Rho and 2,3-DaNp-Rho. Nanosecond transient absorption (ns-TA) spectra show the population of the LE state (lifetime: 47 μs) for 2,3-DaNp-Rho, however, long-lived CS state was observed (τ=0.

High Sensitivity X-Ray Detectors with Low Degradation Based on Deuterated Halide Perovskite Single Crystals.

Methylammonium lead single crystal (MAPbI SC) possesses superior optoelectronic properties and low manufacturing cost, making it an ideal candidate for X-ray detection. However, the ionic migration of the perovskites usually leads to instability, dark current drift, and hysteresis of the detector, limiting their applications in well-established technologies. Here, a series of X-ray detectors of MAPbI SCs are reported with different degrees of deuteration (DMAPbI, x = 0, 0.

Causal Effects of Oxidative Stress on Diabetes Mellitus and Microvascular Complications: Insights Integrating Genome-Wide Mendelian Randomization, DNA Methylation, and Proteome.

Background: Oxidative stress (OS) is involved in the development of diabetes, but the genetic mechanisms are not completely understood. We integrated multi-omics data in order to explore the genetic relations between OS-related genes, diabetes mellitus, and microvascular complications using Mendelian randomization and colocalization analysis.

Methods: Summary-level data related to OS were acquired from respective studies of methylation, expression, and protein abundance quantitative trait loci.

Transcription factor Twist1 drives fibroblast activation to promote kidney fibrosis via signaling proteins Prrx1/TNC.

The transcription factor Twist1 plays a vital role in normal development in many tissue systems and continues to be important throughout life. However, inappropriate Twist1 activity has been associated with kidney injury and fibrosis, though the underlying mechanisms involved remain incomplete. Here, we explored the role of Twist1 in regulating fibroblast behaviors and the development kidney fibrosis.

Global and multi-partition local network analysis of scalp EEG in West syndrome before and after treatment.

West syndrome is an epileptic disease that seriously affects the normal growth and development of infants in early childhood. Based on the methods of brain topological network and graph theory, this article focuses on three clinical states of patients before and after treatment. In addition to discussing bidirectional and unidirectional global networks from the perspective of computational principles, a more in-depth analysis of local intra-network and inter-network characteristics of multi-partitioned networks is also performed.

Value of turbo spin echo-based diffusion-weighted imaging in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant solitary pulmonary lesions.

To quantitatively assess the diagnostic efficacy of multiple parameters derived from multi-b-value diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) using turbo spin echo (TSE)-based acquisition techniques in patients with solitary pulmonary lesions (SPLs). A total of 105 patients with SPLs underwent lung DWI using single-shot TSE-based acquisition techniques and multiple b values. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) parameters, and lesion-to-spinal cord signal intensity ratio (LSR), were analyzed to compare the benign and malignant groups using the Mann-Whitney U test and receiver operating characteristic analysis.

Primary Structural Units "DA" Ion Pairs Dominating Near-Infrared Photothermal Conversion of Organic Ionic Cocrystals.

The specific stacking mode of D/A blocks is often considered to largely determine the physicochemical properties of cocrystals. However, this rule may fail when encountering a large degree of (integer or near-integer) charge transfer situations. Herein, we explore the extensive correlations between the possible smallest structural units, stacking modes, and near-infrared photothermal conversion (NIR-PTC) properties of F4TCNQ-based cocrystals with typical features of integer-charge-transfer.

Long-Acting Nanohybrid Hydrogel Induces Persistent Immunogenic Chemotherapy for Suppressing Postoperative Tumor Recurrence and Metastasis.

Despite the continuous advancement of surgical resection techniques, postoperative tumor recurrence and metastasis remain a huge challenge. Here, we constructed an injectable curcumin/doxorubicin-loaded nanoparticle (NanoCD) hydrogel, which could effectively inhibit tumor regrowth and metastasis reshaping the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) for highly effective postsurgical cancer treatment. NanoCD was prepared by the controlled assembly of curcumin (CUR) and doxorubicin (DOX) π-π stacking and hydrogen bonding in the presence of human serum albumin.

Dietary oregano essential oil supplementation alters meat quality, oxidative stability, and fatty acid profiles of beef cattle.

This study was conducted to elucidate the effects of oregano essential oil (OEO) supplementation on the meat quality, antioxidant capacity, and nutritional value of the longissimus thoracis muscle in steers. Steers were divided into three groups (n = 9) and fed either a basal diet, or a basal diet supplemented with 130 mg/d OEO, or 230 mg/d OEO for 390 days. The results demonstrated that dietary OEO supplementation increased the total antioxidant capacity and activity of catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase, and decreased pH, pH, cooking loss, and malondialdehyde content.

1,2-Dicarbofunctionalization of Trifluoromethyl Alkenes with Pyridinium Salts via a Cycloaddition/Visible-Light-Enabled Fragmentation Cascade.

Although trifluoromethyl alkenes have great synthetic potential, their 1,2-difunctionalization has been a challenge. In this Letter, we disclose the first 1,2-dicarbofunctionalization of trifluoromethyl alkenes with pyridinium salts via a cascade process involving a base-promoted [3 + 2] cycloaddition followed by a visible-light-mediated Norrish-type-II fragmentation. This protocol allows for the formation of pyridines bearing a trifluoromethyl-substituted quaternary center in moderate to excellent yields under mild conditions.

Convergence or divergence? The effects of economic openness on low-carbon innovation in Chinese manufacturing industry.

Low-carbon innovation can address both economic and environmental concerns; patterns of low-carbon innovation convergence can determine the effectiveness of mitigating the adverse consequences of climate change. Considering that economic openness has a huge impact on the development of innovation capability, this paper uses a conditional β convergence model to examine the convergence of low-carbon innovation in Chinese manufacturing industry and its relationship with economic openness. We incorporate the spatial spillover effect into the convergence function by constructing spatial error model, spatial lag model, and spatial Durbin model.

Values of Apparent Diffusion Coefficient and Lesion-to-Spinal Cord Signal Intensity in Diagnosing Solitary Pulmonary Lesions: Turbo Spin-Echo versus Echo-Planar Imaging Diffusion-Weighted Imaging.

Objective: This study is aimed at comparing the image quality and diagnostic performance of mean apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and lesion-to-spinal cord signal intensity ratio (LSR) derived from turbo spin-echo diffusion-weighted imaging (TSE-DWI) and echo-planar imaging- (EPI-) DWI in patients with a solitary pulmonary lesion (SPL).

Methods: 33 patients with SPL underwent chest imaging using EPI-DWI and TSE-DWI with = 600 s/mm in free breathing. A comparison of the distortion ratio (DR), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) was drawn between the two techniques using a Wilcoxon signed-rank test.

Effects of oregano essential oil on in vitro ruminal fermentation, methane production, and ruminal microbial community.

Different inclusion rates of oregano essential oil (OEO) were investigated for their effects on ruminal in vitro fermentation parameters, total gas, methane production, and bacterial communities. Treatments were (1) control, 0 mg/L of OEO (CON); 13 mg/L (OEO1); 52 mg/L (OEO2); 91 mg/L (OEO3); and 130 mg/L (OEO4), each incubated with 150 mL of buffered rumen fluid and 1,200 mg of substrate for 24 h using the Ankom in vitro gas production system (Ankom Technology Corp., Fairport, NY).

Effects of oregano essential oil on the ruminal pH and microbial population of sheep.

Oregano essential oil (OEO), which has antimicrobial properties, may be used for altering the ruminal pH and microbial populations of sheep, as observed by the altered volatile fatty acid patterns. To further elucidate the effects of OEO on ruminal pH and microbial populations of sheep, 3 German merino sheep × local sheep crossbred rams with permanent ruminal fistulas were randomly assigned to a 3 × 3 Latin square design with 12-d periods. The treatments were as follows: control (CON); OEO4: OEO supplied at 4 g•d-1; and OEO7: OEO supplied at 7 g•d-1.

The effect of periodic energy restriction on growth performance, serum biochemical indices, and meat quality in sheep.

Energy is a key factor regulated by the neuroendocrine system. The objective of this study was to compare growth performance, serum biochemical indices, carcass traits, meat quality, and nutrient composition of lambs fed restricted metabolizable energy (ME) intakes to mimic the seasonal changes of the natural grasslands of northwest China. Nineteen male Dorper × Small Tailed Han lambs were assigned to treatments, control (CON) fed at 1.

Investigating the Secondary Structure of Membrane Peptides Utilizing Multiple H-Labeled Hydrophobic Amino Acids via Electron Spin Echo Envelope Modulation (ESEEM) Spectroscopy.

An electron spin echo envelope modulation (ESEEM) approach was used to probe local secondary structures of membrane proteins and peptides. This ESEEM method detects dipolar couplings between H-labeled nuclei on the side chains of an amino acid (Leu or Val) and a strategically placed nitroxide spin-label in the proximity up to 8 Å. ESEEM spectra patterns for different samples correlate directly to the periodic structural feature of different secondary structures.

A Dynamic Protein-Protein Coupling between the TonB-Dependent Transporter FhuA and TonB.

Bacterial outer membrane TonB-dependent transporters function by executing cycles of binding and unbinding to the inner membrane protein TonB. In the vitamin B transporter BtuB and the ferric citrate transporter FecA, substrate binding increases the periplasmic exposure of the Ton box, an energy-coupling segment. This increased exposure appears to enhance the affinity of the transporter for TonB.

Probing the Local Secondary Structure of Human Vimentin with Electron Spin Echo Envelope Modulation (ESEEM) Spectroscopy.

Previously, an electron spin echo envelope modulation (ESEEM) spectroscopic approach was established to probe the local secondary structure of membrane proteins and peptides utilizing site-directed spin-labeling (SDSL). In this method, the side chain of one amino acid residue is selectively H-labeled and a nitroxide spin label is strategically placed 1, 2, 3, or 4 amino acids away from the H-labeled amino acid (denoted as i ± 1 to i ± 4, i represents the H-labeled amino acid). ESEEM can detect the dipolar coupling between the nitroxide spin label and H atoms on the amino acid side chain.

Probing the Secondary Structure of Membrane Peptides Using (2)H-Labeled d(10)-Leucine via Site-Directed Spin-Labeling and Electron Spin Echo Envelope Modulation Spectroscopy.

Previously, we reported an electron spin echo envelope modulation (ESEEM) spectroscopic approach for probing the local secondary structure of membrane proteins and peptides utilizing (2)H isotopic labeling and site-directed spin-labeling (SDSL). In order to probe the secondary structure of a peptide sequence, an amino acid residue (i) side chain was (2)H-labeled, such as (2)H-labeled d10-Leucine, and a cysteine residue was strategically placed at a subsequent nearby position (denoted as i + 1 to i + 4) to which a nitroxide spin label was attached. In order to fully access and demonstrate the feasibility of this new ESEEM approach with (2)H-labeled d10-Leu, four Leu residues within the AChR M2δ peptide were fully mapped out using this ESEEM method.

Determining the Secondary Structure of Membrane Proteins and Peptides Via Electron Spin Echo Envelope Modulation (ESEEM) Spectroscopy.

Revealing detailed structural and dynamic information of membrane embedded or associated proteins is challenging due to their hydrophobic nature which makes NMR and X-ray crystallographic studies challenging or impossible. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) has emerged as a powerful technique to provide essential structural and dynamic information for membrane proteins with no size limitations in membrane systems which mimic their natural lipid bilayer environment. Therefore, tremendous efforts have been devoted toward the development and application of EPR spectroscopic techniques to study the structure of biological systems such as membrane proteins and peptides.

Development of electron spin echo envelope modulation spectroscopy to probe the secondary structure of recombinant membrane proteins in a lipid bilayer.

Membrane proteins conduct many important biological functions essential to the survival of organisms. However, due to their inherent hydrophobic nature, it is very difficult to obtain structural information on membrane-bound proteins using traditional biophysical techniques. We are developing a new approach to probe the secondary structure of membrane proteins using the pulsed EPR technique of Electron Spin Echo Envelope Modulation (ESEEM) Spectroscopy.