Synergistic Tuning of Heterovalent States and Oxygen-Vacancy Defect Engineering in Hydrophilic W-Doped SbOS for Enhanced Nitrogen Photoreduction to Ammonia.

Nitrogen fixation reaction via photocatalysis offers a green and promising strategy for renewable NH synthesis, and catalysts with high-efficiency photocatalytic properties are essential to the process. Herein, we demonstrate a W-doped SbOS bimetal oxysulfide catalyst (labeled as SbWOS) with abundant oxygen vacancies, heterovalent metal states, and hydrophilic surfaces for nitrogen photoreduction to ammonia. The SbWOS-3 with suitable W-doping exhibited excellent nitrogen fixation activity of 408.

Flexible Microfluidic Strain Sensor Made with Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrenesulfonate-MXene-Au Nanocomposites for Monitoring Physiological Signals.

Flexible strain sensors have been widely used in wearable electronics. However, the fabrication of flexible strain sensors with a large strain detection range, high sensitivity, and negligible hysteresis remains a formidable challenge, even after enormous advancements in the field. Herein, a flexible microfluidic strain sensor was fabricated by filling poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrenesulfonate-MXene-gold (PEDOT:PSS-MXene-Au) nanocomposites into microchannels in an elastic matrix.

A wearable nanozyme-enzyme electrochemical biosensor for sweat lactate monitoring.

In this study, we developed a wearable nanozyme-enzyme electrochemical biosensor that enablies sweat lactate monitoring. The biosensor comprises a flexible electrode system prepared on a polyimide (PI) film and the Janus textile for unidirectional sweat transport. We obtained favorable electrochemical activities for hydrogen peroxide reduction by modifying the laser-scribed graphene (LSG) electrode with cerium dioxide (CeO)-molybdenum disulphide (MoS) nanozyme and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs).

Synthesis of Poly-Lactic Acid by Ring Open Polymerization from Beer Spent Grain for Drug Delivery.

Poly-lactic acid (PLA) is a synthetic polymer that has gained popularity as a scaffold due to well-established manufacturing processes, predictable biomaterial properties, and sustained therapeutic release rates. However, its drawbacks include weak mechanical parameters and reduced medicinal delivery efficacy after PLA degradation. The development of synthetic polymers that can release antibiotics and other medicines remains a top research priority.

Superoxide dismutase ameliorates oxidative stress and regulates liver transcriptomics to provide therapeutic benefits in hepatic inflammation.

Background: Oxidative stress refers to the imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants in organisms and often induces hepatic inflammation. Supplementing exogenous superoxide dismutase is an effective way to alleviate oxidative stress; however, the effects and mechanisms by which superoxide dismutase alleviates hepatic inflammation remain unclear.

Methods: This study established a Kunming mouse model to verify and investigate the oxidative stress and hepatic inflammation-alleviating effects of the superoxide dismutase oral supplement that was prepared by our research group in a previous study.

Preparation of Nanopaper for Colorimetric Food Spoilage Indication.

In this study, we are reporting the fabrication of a nanocellulose (NFC) paper-based food indicator for chicken breast spoilage detection by both visual color change observation and smartphone image analysis. The indicator consists of a nanocellulose paper (nanopaper) substrate and a pH-responsive dye, bromocresol green (BCG), that adsorbs on the nanopaper. The nanopaper is prepared through vacuum filtration and high-pressure compression.

Sulfur Substitution and Defect Engineering in an Unfavored MnMoO Catalyst for Efficient Hydrogen Evolution under Visible Light.

A novel and nonstoichiometric MnMo(S,O) oxysulfide catalyst with oxygen vacancies and a partial Mo-to-Mo transition after the substitution of sulfur was synthesized for an efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (PHER). With appropriate sulfur substitution, a MnMoO semiconductor with a wide band gap was converted to MnMo(S,O) with a narrow gap and a suitable band position for PHER. MnMo oxysulfide of 50 mg achieved a high PHER rate of 415.

Morphological Study of the Alimentary Canal and Malpighian Tubules in the Adult of the Pollen Beetle () (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae: Meligethinae).

() is a highly specialized species of Nitidulidae in China that takes pollen as its main food source, and its main host plant is L. (Rosaceae). In this study, the structural morphology of the alimentary canal and Malpighian tubules of adult .

An ultrasensitive FET biosensor based on vertically aligned MoS nanolayers with abundant surface active sites.

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS) nanolayers are one of the most promising two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials for constructing next-generation field-effect transistor (FET) biosensors. In this article, we report an ultrasensitive FET biosensor that integrates a novel format of 2D MoS, vertically-aligned MoS nanolayers (VAMNs), as the channel material for label-free detection of the prostate-specific antigen (PSA). The developed VAMNs-based FET biosensor shows two distinctive advantages.

Comparative Mitogenomic Analysis of Two Longhorn Beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Lamiinae) with Preliminary Investigation into Phylogenetic Relationships of Tribes of Lamiinae.

The subfamily Lamiinae is the most taxonomically diverse subfamily of Cerambycidae, but relationships between tribes of Lamiinae are still unresolved. In order to study the characteristics of the mitogenomes of Lamiinae and the tribal-level phylogenetic relationships, we sequenced the mitogenomes of two species representing two tribes, (Agapanthiini) and (Ceroplesini), with a total length of 15,512 bp and 15,493 bp, respectively. The gene arrangements of these two new mitogenomes were consistent with the inferred ancestral insect mitogenomes.

Scanning Electron Microscope Study of Antennae and Mouthparts in the Pollen-Beetle () (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae: Meligethinae).

() is a common Chinese phytophagous species in the family Nitidulidae. Its main larval host plant is L. (Rosaceae), and adults feed on pollen and other floral parts.

The Change Mechanism of Structural Characterization and Thermodynamic Properties of Tannase from Aspergillus niger NL112 Under High Temperature.

Tannase from Aspergillus niger NL112 was purified 5.1-fold with a yield of 50.44% via ultrafiltration, DEAE-Sepharose Fast Flow column chromatography, and Sephadex G-100 column chromatography.

NanoPADs and nanoFACEs: an optically transparent nanopaper-based device for biomedical applications.

Paper has been a popular material of choice for biomedical applications including for bioanalysis and cell biology studies. Regular cellulose paper-based devices, however, have several key limitations including slow fluid flow; large sample retention in the paper matrix for microfluidic paper-based analytical device (μPAD) application; serious solvent evaporation issues, and contamination and poor control of experimental conditions for cell culture. Here, we describe the development of two novel platforms, nanopaper-based analytical devices (nanoPADs) and nanofibrillated adherent cell-culture platforms (nanoFACEs), that use nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) paper, simply called nanopaper, as the substrate material to create transparent, pump-free and hollow-channel paper-based microfluidic devices.

BATF Interference Blocks Th17 Cell Differentiation and Inflammatory Response in Hepatitis B Virus Transgenic Mice.

Background: B cell-activating transcription factor (BATF) contributes to Th17 cell differentiation and pathological inflammatory responses.

Aims: This study explored BATF as a regulator of Th17 differentiation in normal and hepatitis B virus (HBV) transgenic mice.

Methods: Normal mice were divided into control, short hairpin RNA (shRNA) scramble, and shRNA BATF groups.

Circulating cell-free DNA of methylated insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 7 predicts a poor prognosis in hepatitis B virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma after hepatectomy.

The initiation and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a multistage process involving a variety of changes at the gene level. Methylation of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 7 (IGFBP7) plays a crucial role in HCC development. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between oxidative stress, DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) expression, and IGFBP7 methylation, and to evaluate the prognostic value of serum IGFBP7 methylation status in patients with HCC after hepatectomy.

Nanostructured biosensor using bioluminescence quenching technique for glucose detection.

Background: Most methods for monitoring glucose level require an external energy source which may limit their application, particularly in vivo test. Bioluminescence technique offers an alternative way to provide emission light without external energy source by using bioluminescent proteins found from firefly or marine vertebrates and invertebrates. For quick and non-invasive detection of glucose, we herein developed a nanostructured biosensor by applying the bioluminescence technique.

Hypomethylated Ubiquitin-Conjugating Enzyme2 Q1 (UBE2Q1) Gene Promoter in the Serum Is a Promising Biomarker for Hepatitis B Virus-Associated Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Aberrant DNA methylation, which can be detected in circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA), is one of the major epigenetic alterations in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). UBE2Q1, a putative member of the ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme family, might play substantial roles in tumorigenesis. However, the methylation status of the UBE2Q1 gene in HCC remains unknown.

Hepatocellular carcinoma suppressor 1 promoter hypermethylation in serum. A diagnostic and prognostic study in hepatitis B.

Background: Liver cancer ranks as the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality in man worldwide, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most prevalent malignant neoplasm of the liver. The sensitivity of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) as an HCC diagnostic marker for HCC diagnosis is 39-65%, and one-third patients with HCC are missed using AFP. New biomarkers are needed to diagnose HCC at an earlier stage and to individualize treatment strategies.

Alteration of methyl-CpG binding domain family in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Background And Objective: Epigenetics contributes to the outcome of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. However, the role of methyl-CpG binding domain (MBD) family in the natural history of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) has not been demonstrated. It is aimed to investigate the dynamic expression of MBD family and assess the potential association of MBD family in the progression of CHB.

Nanostructured bioluminescent sensor for rapidly detecting thrombin.

Thrombin plays a key role in thrombosis and hemostasis. The abnormal level of thrombin in body fluids may lead to different diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, glomerulonephritis, etc. Detection of thrombin level in blood and/or urine is one of important methods for medical diagnosis.

Label-free NIR-SERS discrimination and detection of foodborne bacteria by in situ synthesis of Ag colloids.

Background: Rapid detection and discrimination of bacteria for biomedical and food safety applications remain a considerable challenge. We report a label-free near infrared surface-enhanced Raman scattering (NIR-SERS) method for the discrimination of pathogenic bacteria from drinking water. The approach relies on the in situ synthesis of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) within the bacterial cell suspensions.

Development of quantum dots-based biosensor towards on-farm detection of subclinical ketosis.

Early detection of dairy animal health issues allows the producer or veterinarian to intervene before the animals' production levels, or even survival, is threatened. An increased concentration of β-hydroxybutyrate (βHBA) is a key biomarker for diagnosis of subclinical ketosis (SCK), and provides information on the health stress in cows well before any external symptoms are observable. In this study, quantum dots (QDs) modified with cofactor nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD(+)) were prepared for the sensing event, by which the βHBA concentration in the cow's blood and milk samples was determined via fluorescence analysis of the functionalized QDs.

A homogenous fluorescence quenching based assay for specific and sensitive detection of influenza virus A hemagglutinin antigen.

Influenza pandemics cause millions of deaths worldwide. Effective surveillance is required to prevent their spread and facilitate the development of appropriate vaccines. In this study, we report the fabrication of a homogenous fluorescence-quenching-based assay for specific and sensitive detection of influenza virus surface antigen hemagglutinins (HAs).

Ag nanoparticles-decorated ZnO nanorod array on a mechanical flexible substrate with enhanced optical and antimicrobial properties.

Heteronanostructured zinc oxide nanorod (ZnO NR) array are vertically grown on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) through a hydrothermal method followed by an in situ deposition of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) through a photoreduction process. The Ag-ZnO heterostructured nanorods on PDMS are measured with an average diameter of 160 nm and an average length of 2 μm. ZnO NRs measured by high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) shows highly crystalline with a lattice fringe of 0.