Modulating the Electrical Transport in Superconducting NbC Crystals by Fractal Morphology.

The self-similar fractal morphology mediated by nonequilibrium processes is widely observed in low-dimensional materials grown by various techniques. Understanding how these fractal geometries affect the physical and chemical properties of materials and devices is crucial for both fundamental studies and various applications. In particular, the interplay between superconducting phase fluctuations and disorder can give rise to intriguing phenomena depending on the dimensionality.

Clinical-grade whole genome sequencing-based haplarithmisis enables all forms of preimplantation genetic testing.

High-throughput sequencing technologies have increasingly led to discovery of disease-causing genetic variants, primarily in postnatal multi-cell DNA samples. However, applying these technologies to preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) in nuclear or mitochondrial DNA from single or few-cells biopsied from in vitro fertilised (IVF) embryos is challenging. PGT aims to select IVF embryos without genetic abnormalities.

Unusually high thermal conductivity in suspended monolayer MoSiN.

Two-dimensional semiconductors with high thermal conductivity and charge carrier mobility are of great importance for next-generation electronic and optoelectronic devices. However, constrained by the long-held Slack's criteria, the reported two-dimensional semiconductors such as monolayers of MoS, WS, MoSe, WSe and black phosphorus suffer from much lower thermal conductivity than silicon (~142 W·m·K) because of the complex crystal structure, large average atomic mass and relatively weak chemical bonds. Despite the more complex crystal structure, the recently emerging monolayer MoSiN semiconductor has been predicted to have high thermal conductivity and charge carrier mobility simultaneously.

Sustainable production of bacterial flocculants by nylon-6,6 microplastics hydrolysate utilizing Brucella intermedia ZL-06.

Nylon-6,6 microplastics (NMPs) in aquatic systems have emerged as potential contaminants to the global environment and have garnered immense consideration over the years. Unfortunately, there is currently no efficient method available to eliminate NMPs from sewage. This study aims to address this issue by isolating Brucella intermedia ZL-06, a bacterium capable of producing a bacterial polysaccharide-based flocculant (PBF).

Lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase synergized with lignin-degrading enzymes for efficient lignin degradation.

Even though the discovery of lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs) has fundamentally shifted our understanding of biomass degradation, most of the current studies focused on their roles in carbohydrate oxidation. However, no study demonstrated if LPMO could directly participate to the process of lignin degradation in lignin-degrading microbes. This study showed that LPMO could synergize with lignin-degrading enzymes for efficient lignin degradation in white-rot fungi.

Intrinsic peroxidase-like activity of dissolved black carbon released from biochar.

Dissolved black carbon (DBC) is an important constituent of the natural organic carbon pool, influencing the global carbon cycling and the fate processes of many pollutants. In this work, we discovered that DBC released from biochar has intrinsic peroxidase-like activity. DBC samples were derived from four biomass stocks, including corn, peanut, rice, and sorghum straws.

Enhancing Biocidal Capability in Cuprite Coatings.

The SARS-CoV-2 global pandemic has reinvigorated interest in the creation and widespread deployment of durable, cost-effective, and environmentally benign antipathogenic coatings for high-touch public surfaces. While the contact-kill capability and mechanism of metallic copper and its alloys are well established, the biocidal activity of the refractory oxide forms remains poorly understood. In this study, commercial cuprous oxide (CuO, cuprite) powder was rapidly nanostructured using high-energy cryomechanical processing.

Efficient Azo Dye Biodecolorization System Using Lignin-Co-Cultured White-Rot Fungus.

The extensive use of azo dyes by the global textile industry induces significant environmental and human health hazards, which makes efficient remediation crucial but also challenging. Improving dye removal efficiency will benefit the development of bioremediation techniques for textile effluents. In this study, an efficient system for azo dye (Direct Red 5B, DR5B) biodecolorization is reported, which uses the white-rot fungus EN2 and alkali lignin.

Fungal-Modified Lignin-Enhanced Physicochemical Properties of Collagen-Based Composite Films.

Renewable and biodegradable materials have attracted broad attention as alternatives to existing conventional plastics, which have caused serious environmental problems. Collagen is a potential material for developing versatile film due to its biosafety, renewability, and biodegradability. However, it is still critical to overcome the low mechanical, antibacterial and antioxidant properties of the collagen film for food packaging applications.

Polyethylene terephthalate hydrolysate increased bacterial cellulose production.

A major challenge to large-scale production and utilization of bacterial cellulose (BC) for various applications is its low yield and productivity by bacterial cells and the high cost of feedstock. A supplementation of the classical expensive Hestrin and Schramm (HS) medium with 1 % polyethylene terephthalate ammonia hydrolysate (PETAH) resulted in 215 % high yield. Although the physicochemical properties of BC were not significantly influenced, the BC produced in 1 % PETAH-supplemented HS medium showed a higher surface area, which showed 1.

White common bean extract remodels the gut microbiota and ameliorates type 2 diabetes and its complications: A randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled trial.

Objective: Excessive carbohydrate intake is a high risk factor for increased morbidity of type 2 diabetes (T2D). A novel regimen for the dietary care of diabetes that consists of a highly active α-amylase inhibitor derived from white common bean extract (WCBE) and sufficient carbohydrates intake was applied to attenuate T2D and its complications. Furthermore, the role of gut microbiota in this remission was also investigated.

Tetrachlorobisphenol A and bisphenol AF induced cell migration by activating PI3K/Akt signaling pathway via G protein-coupled estrogen receptor 1 in SK-BR-3 cells.

Different subtypes of breast cancer express positively G protein-coupled estrogen receptor 1 (GPER1). Our previous studies found that tetrachlorobisphenol A (TCBPA) and bisphenol AF (BPAF) significantly promoted SK-BR-3 cell proliferation by activating GPER1-regulated signals. The present study further investigated the effects of TCBPA and BPAF on the migration of SK-BR-3 cells and examined the role of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) and its downstream signal targets in this process.

Recent Advancements and Challenges in Lignin Valorization: Green Routes towards Sustainable Bioproducts.

The aromatic hetero-polymer lignin is industrially processed in the paper/pulp and lignocellulose biorefinery, acting as a major energy source. It has been proven to be a natural resource for useful bioproducts; however, its depolymerization and conversion into high-value-added chemicals is the major challenge due to the complicated structure and heterogeneity. Conversely, the various pre-treatments techniques and valorization strategies offers a potential solution for developing a biomass-based biorefinery.

Highly effective electrocatalytic reduction of N-nitrosodimethylamine on Ru/CNT catalyst.

N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) is a commonly identified carcinogenic and genotoxic pollutant in water. In this study, we prepared Ru catalysts supported on carbon nanotube (Ru/CNT) and studied the electrocatalytic reduction of N-nitrosamines on Ru/CNT electrode in a three-electrode system. The results show that Ru-based catalyst exhibits a high activity of 793.

Role of magnesium-doped calcium sulfate and β-tricalcium phosphate composite ceramics in macrophage polarization and osteo-induction.

In the current study, we explored the role of Mg-doped CaSO/β-TCP composite biopolymer in regulating macrophage polarization and its relation with enhanced osteogenic differentiation of periodontal ligament stem cells. Furthermore, mechanism underling the regulation of macrophage polarization by CaSO/β-TCP was evaluated. Mg-doped CaSO/β-TCP composite was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD).

Resonant Scattering in Proximity-Coupled Graphene/Superconducting Mo C Heterostructures.

The realization of high-quality heterostructures or hybrids of graphene and superconductor is crucial for exploring various novel quantum phenomena and devices engineering. Here, the electronic transport on directly grown high-quality graphene/Mo C vertical heterostructures with clean and sharp interface is comprehensively investigated. Owing to the strong interface coupling, the graphene layer feels an effective confinement potential well imposed by two-dimensional (2D) Mo C crystal.

Chl1 helicase controls replication fork progression by regulating dNTP pools.

Eukaryotic cells have evolved a replication stress response that helps to overcome stalled/collapsed replication forks and ensure proper DNA replication. The replication checkpoint protein Mrc1 plays important roles in these processes, although its functional interactions are not fully understood. Here, we show that negatively interacts with , which encodes the helicase protein Chl1, suggesting distinct roles for these factors during the replication stress response.

Molecular mechanism study of BPAF-induced proliferation of ERα-negative SKBR-3 human breast cancer cells in vitro/in vivo.

Bisphenol AF (BPAF) is a known estrogen disruptor of the ERα pathway. The aim of the present study was to characterize the proliferation effects of BPAF on ERα-negative SKBR-3 breast cancer cells with mechanistic insights. BPAF at low concentrations (0.

Insight into the mechanism of tetrachlorobisphenol A (TCBPA)-induced proliferation of breast cancer cells by GPER-mediated signaling pathways.

Tetrachlorobisphenol A (TCBPA), a chlorinated derivative of bisphenol A, is an endocrine disruptor based on interaction with nuclear estrogen receptor alpha (ERα). However, there is only limited data on the mechanisms through which TCBPA-associated estrogenic activity is related to the membrane G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) pathway. In this study, three human breast cancer cell lines-MCF-7, SKBR3, and MDA-MB-231 cells were used to evaluate whether, as well as how, TCBPA at concentration range of 0.

CRISPR/Cas9-based genome engineering: A new breakthrough in the genetic manipulation of filamentous fungi.

Filamentous fungi have several industrial, environmental, and medical applications. However, they are rarely utilized owing to the limited availability of full-genome sequences and genetic manipulation tools. Since the recent discovery of the full-genome sequences for certain industrially important filamentous fungi, CRISPR/Cas9 technology has drawn attention for the efficient development of engineered strains of filamentous fungi.

A Fast Spatial Clustering Method for Sparse LiDAR Point Clouds Using GPU Programming.

Fast and accurate obstacle detection is essential for accurate perception of mobile vehicles' environment. Because point clouds sensed by light detection and ranging (LiDAR) sensors are sparse and unstructured, traditional obstacle clustering on raw point clouds are inaccurate and time consuming. Thus, to achieve fast obstacle clustering in an unknown terrain, this paper proposes an elevation-reference connected component labeling (ER-CCL) algorithm using graphic processing unit (GPU) programing.

Production of a bioflocculant from ramie biodegumming wastewater using a biomass-degrading strain and its application in the treatment of pulping wastewater.

The major bottleneck for industrial applications of microbial flocculants is the high production cost. Here, a novel bacterium, Diaphorobacter nitroreducens R9, was isolated that can secret ligninase and cellulase and simultaneously produce bioflocculants (MBF-9) through conversion of ramie biomass. The production of MBF-9 was closely related to the ligninase and cellulase activities of D.

Bioconversion of citrus peel wastes into bioflocculants and their application in the removal of microcystins.

In this study, the mechanism for converting citrus peel wastes (CPW) into bioflocculants using Alcaligenes faecalis subsp. phenolicus ZY-16 was analysed. The results demonstrated that the ZY-16 strain could produce various lignocellulolytic enzymes, containing cellulase, hemicellulase, pectinase, protease, and ligninase, enhancing the hydrolysis of citrus peel wastes.

Mechanism-Guided Design of Highly Efficient Protein Secretion and Lipid Conversion for Biomanufacturing and Biorefining.

Bacterial protein secretion represents a significant challenge in biotechnology, which is essential for the cost-effective production of therapeutics, enzymes, and other functional proteins. Here, it is demonstrated that proteomics-guided engineering of transcription, translation, secretion, and folding of ligninolytic laccase balances the process, minimizes the toxicity, and enables efficient heterologous secretion with a total protein yield of 13.7 g L.