Spatial and Single Cell Analyses Reveal Heterogeneity of DNAM-1 Receptor-Ligand Interactions that Instructs Intratumoral γδT-Cell Activity.

The dynamic interplay between tumor cells and γδT cells within the tumor microenvironment (TME) significantly influences disease progression and immunotherapy outcome. Here, we delved into the modulation of γδT-cell activation by tumor cell ligands CD112 and CD155, which interact with the activating receptor DNAM-1 on γδT cells. Spatial and single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), as well as spatial metabolome analysis, from neuroblastoma (NB) revealed that the expression levels and localization of CD112 and CD155 varied across and within tumors, correlating with differentiation status, metabolic pathways, and ultimately disease prognosis and patient survival.

Development of Highly Sensitive Immunochromatography Using Time-Resolved Fluorescence Microspheres for Amantadine Detection.

Amantadine (AMA), commonly used to treat viral infections in livestock and poultry, has been banned owing to its potential hazards to human well-being. To detect unauthorized AMA usage in livestock, we developed a polyclonal antibody with a high affinity for the specific recognition of AMA through a rational design based on a structure similar to AMA and revealed the availability of the hapten design by computational chemistry analysis. Using this antibody, we established a highly responsive time-resolved fluorescence immunochromatographic assay (TRFICA).

Sensitivity-Enhanced, Room-Temperature Detection of NH with Alkalized TiCT MXene.

A layered TiCT MXene structure was prepared by etching MAX-phase TiAlC with hydro-fluoric acid (HF), followed by alkalization in sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solutions of varying concentrations and for varying durations. Compared to sensors utilizing unalkalized TiCT, those employing alkalized TiCT MXene exhibited enhanced sensitivity for NH detection at room temperature and a relative humidity of 40%. Both the concentration of NaOH and duration of alkalization significantly influenced sensor performance.

Progress in Gallium Oxide Field-Effect Transistors for High-Power and RF Applications.

Power electronics are becoming increasingly more important, as electrical energy constitutes 40% of the total primary energy usage in the USA and is expected to grow rapidly with the emergence of electric vehicles, renewable energy generation, and energy storage. New materials that are better suited for high-power applications are needed as the Si material limit is reached. Beta-phase gallium oxide (β-GaO) is a promising ultra-wide-bandgap (UWBG) semiconductor for high-power and RF electronics due to its bandgap of 4.

Reconfigurable spin tunnel diodes by doping engineering VS monolayers.

We propose a reconfigurable spin tunnel diode based on a small spin-gapped semiconductor (non-doped VS monolayer) and semi-metallic magnets (doped VS monolayer) separated by a thin insulating tunneling barrier (h-BN). By using first-principles calculations assisted by the nonequilibrium Green's function method, we have carried out a comprehensive study of spin-dependent current and spin transport properties while varying the bias. The device exhibited a magnetization-controlled diode-like behavior with forward-allowed current under antiparallel magnetizations and reverse-forbidden current under parallel magnetizations at the two electrodes.

Species-Selective Detection of Volatile Organic Compounds by Ionic Liquid-Based Electrolyte Using Electrochemical Methods.

The detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is an important topic for environmental safety and public health. However, the current commercial VOC detectors suffer from cross-sensitivity and low reproducibility. In this work, we present species-selective detection for VOCs using an electrochemical cell based on ionic liquid (IL) electrolytes with features of high selectivity and reliability.

Elevated exosome-transferrable lncRNA EPB41L4A-AS1 in CD56 NK cells is responsible for the impaired NK function in neuroblastoma patients by suppressing cell glycolysis.

NK cells are one of key immune components in neuroblastoma (NB) surveillance and eradication. Glucose metabolism as a major source of fuel for NK activation is exquisitely regulated. Our data revealed a diminished NK activation and a disproportionally augmented CD56 subset in NB.

Microfluidic on-chip valve and pump for applications in immunoassays.

On-chip valves can simplify a microfluidic chip and make it easy to operate. However, most on-chip valves already reported still need complicated manufacture and sophisticated supporting devices. In this work, we present a straightforward on-chip valve, which can be serially connected, to form an on-chip pump.

Methylmalonic acid levels in serum, exosomes, and urine and its association with cblC type methylmalonic acidemia-induced cognitive impairment.

Background: The cblC type methylmalonic acidemia is the most common methylmalonic acidemia (MMA) in China. The biochemical characteristics of this disease include elevated methylmalonic acid and homocysteine (HCY), increased propionylcarnitine (C3), decreased free carnitine (C0). In this study, we aimed to clarify the roles of these biomarkers in cblC-MMA induced cognitive impairment and evaluate the capacity of methylmalonic acid in different fluids or exosomes to distinguish cblC-MMA induced cognitive impairment.

Steep-slope transistors enabled with 2D quantum coupling stacks.

As down scaling of transistors continues, there is a growing interest in developing steep-slope transistors with reduced subthreshold slope (SS) below the Boltzmann limit. In this work, we successfully fabricated steep-slope MoStransistors by incorporating a graphene layer, inserted in the gate stack. For our comprehensive study, we have applied density functional theory to simulate and calculate the change of SS effected by different 2D quantum materials, including graphene, germanene and 2D topological insulators, inserted within the gate dielectric.

Optimal Design for 3-PSS Flexible Parallel Micromanipulator Based on Kinematic and Dynamic Characteristics.

This paper proposes two optimal design schemes for improving the kinematic and dynamic performance of the 3-PSS flexible parallel micromanipulator according to different application requirements and conditions. Firstly, the workspace, dexterity, frequencies, and driving forces of the mechanism are successively analyzed. Then, a progressive optimization design is carried out, in which the scale parameters of this mechanism are firstly optimized to maximize the workspace, combining the constraints of the minimum global dexterity of the mechanism.

Reference intervals of 14 biochemical markers for children and adolescence in China: the PRINCE study.

Objectives: The Pediatric Reference Intervals in China (PRINCE) was initiated to establish the reference intervals (RIs) of Chinese children, as well as to make it possible to compare the variability of biochemical markers among countries internationally.

Methods: Healthy participants, aged up to 20 years, from 11 provinces across China, were enrolled in PRINCE and according to a standard screening procedure, that included a questionnaire survey, physical examinations and laboratory tests. Fasting venous blood specimens were collected.

The transcription factor TOX is involved in the regulation of T-cell exhaustion in neuroblastoma.

T-cell exhaustion is one of the key reasons for attenuated T-cell cytotoxicity against tumours. At both the expression and epigenetic levels, a number of genes, including the transcription factor TOX, are believed to be implicated in regulating T-cell exhaustion. In the present study, we found that in NB patients, the ratio of exhausted T cells, featuring upregulated PD-1 and Tim-3, was increased.

Age and sex specific reference intervals of 13 hematological analytes in Chinese children and adolescents aged from 28 days up to 20 years: the PRINCE study.

Objectives: Pediatric Reference Intervals in China (PRINCE) is a nationwide initiative that aims to establish and validate harmonized reference intervals (RIs) for Chinese children and adolescents, in which 15,150 healthy volunteers aged up to 20 years were recruited from 11 centers to establish RIs and 7,557 children and adolescents were enrolled from 21 centers to validate RIs.

Methods: The complete blood cell counts (CBC) of venous whole blood were measured by hematology analyzers through Sysmex systems in different centers. Age- and sex-specific RIs were calculated according to the guidelines.

Continuous reference intervals for 21 biochemical and hematological analytes in healthy Chinese children and adolescents: The PRINCE study.

Objectives: Critical gaps have existed in pediatric reference intervals in China. In this study, we presented the sex and age distributions of 21 laboratory analytes from childhood to adolescence, and established the corresponding continuous reference intervals based on direct samples.

Methods: We used the data from the Pediatric Reference Intervals in China (PRINCE), which is a nation-wide cross-sectional study enrolling 15,150 healthy children and adolescents aged 0 - <20 years from 11 centers across China.

Recent Progress in Smart Electronic Nose Technologies Enabled with Machine Learning Methods.

Machine learning methods enable the electronic nose (E-Nose) for precise odor identification with both qualitative and quantitative analysis. Advanced machine learning methods are crucial for the E-Nose to gain high performance and strengthen its capability in many applications, including robotics, food engineering, environment monitoring, and medical diagnosis. Recently, many machine learning techniques have been studied, developed, and integrated into feature extraction, modeling, and gas sensor drift compensation.

Determination of Cytokines and Oxidative Stress Biomarkers in Cognitive Impairment Induced by Methylmalonic Acidemia.

Objective: Methylmalonic acidemia (MMA) is the most common organic acidemia in children. Many patients with MMA suffered from cognitive impairments. The aim of this study was to identify the significance of cytokines and oxidative stress biomarkers in MMA-induced cognitive impairment.

Photonic arbitrary waveform generation based on the temporal Talbot effect.

In this paper, we propose a novel photonic approach for generating arbitrary waveform. The approach is based on the property of real-time Fourier transform in the temporal Talbot effect, where the spectrum of the modulating analog signal is converted into the output time-domain waveform in each period. We present a concise and strict theoretical framework to reveal the relationship of real-time Fourier transform between the optical signals before and after the dispersion.

Families of asymmetrically functionalized germanene films as promising quantum spin Hall insulators.

Topological insulators (TIs), exhibiting the quantum spin Hall (QSH) effect, are promising for developing dissipationless transport devices that can be realized under a wide range of temperatures. The search for new two-dimensional (2D) TIs is essential for TIs to be utilized at room-temperature, with applications in optoelectronics, spintronics, and magnetic sensors. In this work, we used first-principles calculations to investigate the geometric, electronic, and topological properties of GeX and GeMX (M = C, N, P, As; X = H, F, Cl, Br, I, O, S, Se, Te).

Comparison of four algorithms on establishing continuous reference intervals for pediatric analytes with age-dependent trend.

Background: Continuous reference intervals (RIs) allow for more precise consideration of the dynamic changes of physiological development, which can provide new strategies for the presentation of laboratory test results. Our study aimed to establish continuous RIs using four different simulation methods so that the applicability of different methods could be further understood.

Methods: The data of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and serum creatinine (Cr) were obtained from the Pediatric Reference Interval in China study (PRINCE), in which healthy children aged 0-19 years were recruited.

Enhanced performance of InO nanowire field effect transistors with controllable surface functionalization of Ag nanoparticles.

Indium oxide (InO) nanowire field effect transistors (FETs) have great potential in electronic and sensor applications owing to their suitable band width and high electron mobility. However, the InO nanowire FETs reported previously were operated in a depletion-mode, not suitable to the integrated circuits result of the high-power consumption. Therefore, tuning the electrical properties of InO nanowire FETs into enhancement-mode is critical for the successful application in the fields of high-performance electronics, optoelectronics and detectors.

Casimir torque and force in anisotropic saturated ferrite three-layer structure.

Based on the scattering formalism and transfer matrix method, we calculate the Casimir energy in multilayer system containing general anisotropic media and apply the result to the anisotropic saturated ferrite three-layer structure. We investigate the stable equilibrium resulting from repulsive Casimir force in the three-layer anisotropic ferrite structure, focusing on the control of the equilibrium position by means of the external magnetic field, which might provide possibility for Casimir actuation under external manipulation. Furthermore, we propose a Casimir torque switch where the torque acting on the intermediate layer can be switched on and off by tuning the relative orientation between the external magnetic fields applied on the outer ferrite layers.

New Alternating Current Noise Analytics Enables High Discrimination in Gas Sensing.

Feature analysis has been increasingly considered as an important way to enhance the discrimination performance of gas sensors. In this work, a new analytical method based on alternating current noise spectrum is developed to discriminate chemically and structurally similar gases with remarkable performance. Compared with the conventional analytics based on the maximum, integral, and time of response, the noise spectrum of electrical response introduces a new informative feature to discriminate chemical gases.