Deep-Learning-Based Approaches for Rational Design of Stapled Peptides With High Antimicrobial Activity and Stability.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) face stability and toxicity challenges in clinical use. Stapled modification enhances their stability and effectiveness, but its application in peptide design is rarely reported. This study built ten prediction models for stapled AMPs using deep and machine learning, tested their accuracy with an independent data set and wet lab experiments, and characterised stapled loop structures using structural, sequence and amino acid descriptors.

Comparison of Wedge Resection and Anatomical Lung Resection in Elderly Patients With Early-Stage Nonsmall Cell Lung Cancer With Visceral Pleural Invasion: A Population-Based Study.

Background: As the global population ages, the prevalence of early-stage nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) among octogenarians is rising. This demographic frequently presents with comorbid conditions, diminished cardiopulmonary function, and increased frailty, which elevate the risks associated with standard treatments. While lobectomy combined with lymph node dissection is still considered the gold standard for managing NSCLC, octogenarians are at significantly higher risk of perioperative mortality.

Incidence and risk factor analysis of moderate-to-severe pain after preoperative CT-guided hook-wire puncture localization of pulmonary nodules.

Background: Pain is a relatively common complication after hook-wire puncture localization. However, the problem of pain occurrence following this localization procedure has not been sufficiently examined. In this prospective study, we aimed to investigate the incidence and risk factors associated with acute pain after preoperative CT-guided hook-wire puncture localization of pulmonary nodules.

DRAMP 4.0: an open-access data repository dedicated to the clinical translation of antimicrobial peptides.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are potential candidates for treating multidrug-resistant bacterial infections, yet only a small number of them have progressed into clinical trials. The main challenges include the poor stability and hemolytic/cytotoxic properties of AMPs. Considering this, in the update of the Data Repository of Antimicrobial Peptides (DRAMP), a new annotation on serum and protease stability is added, and special efforts were made to update the hemolytic/cytotoxic information of AMPs.

Advances in Metabolic Engineering for the Accumulation of Astaxanthin Biosynthesis.

Astaxanthin, a lipophilic carotenoid renowned for its strong antioxidant activity, holds significant commercial value across industries such as feed, food, and cosmetics. Although astaxanthin can be synthesized through chemical methods, it may contain toxic by-products in the synthesized astaxanthin, limiting its application in medicine or functional food. Natural astaxanthin can be extracted from algae, however, the cultivation cycle of algae is relatively longer compared to microorganisms.

DCTPep, the data of cancer therapy peptides.

With the discovery of the therapeutic activity of peptides, they have emerged as a promising class of anti-cancer agents due to their specific targeting, low toxicity, and potential for high selectivity. In particular, as peptide-drug conjugates enter clinical, the coupling of targeted peptides with traditional chemotherapy drugs or cytotoxic agents will become a new direction in cancer treatment. To facilitate the drug development of cancer therapy peptides, we have constructed DCTPep, a novel, open, and comprehensive database for cancer therapy peptides.

Sensing patches for biomarker identification in skin-derived biofluids.

In conventional clinical disease diagnosis and screening based on biomarker detection, most analysis samples are collected from serum, blood. However, these invasive collection methods require specific instruments, professionals, and may lead to infection risks. Additionally, the diagnosis process suffers from untimely results.

CT-guided percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy (PTNB): A thoracic surgeon's learning curve and experience summary.

Background: Few studies have investigated the learning process of percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy (PTNB). Here, we aimed to evaluate the number of cases required to achieve proficiency by plotting the learning curve of PTNB.

Methods: Data were collected from 94 consecutive patients who underwent computed tomography-guided PTNB by a thoracic surgeon at the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University between May 2021 and February 2022.

Mitigating donor interests in the case of COVID-19 vaccine: the implication of COVAX and DAC membership.

Introduction: The COVID-19 vaccine donation process allegedly prioritised national interests over humanitarian needs. We thus examined how donors allocated vaccines by recipient country needs versus donor national interests and how such decisions varied across donation channels (bilateral vs COVAX with country earmarking) or exposure to foreign aid norms (membership status in the Development Assistance Committee-DAC).

Methods: We used the two-part regression model to examine how the probability of becoming a recipient country and the volume of vaccines received were associated with recipient countries' needs (disease burden and GDP per capita), donor countries' interests (bilateral trade volume and voting distance in the United Nations General Assembly) and recipient countries' population size.

[Analysis of Spatiotemporal Variation Characteristics and Driving Forces of NPP in Shanxi Province from 2000 to 2020 Based on Geodetector].

The net primary productivity (NPP) of vegetation, as an indispensable element in carbon cycle studies, characterizes plant growth status. This study applied MODIS NPP products from 2000 to 2020 and multi-source data on elevation, slope, precipitation, temperature, land use, and population density in Shanxi province. We used trend analysis, correlation analysis, and geographic probes to explore the spatial and temporal evolution characteristics and driving factors of NPP in Shanxi province and its national planned coal-mining areas.

Corrigendum: A Chinese medicine formula (kunbixiao granule) for female rheumatoid arthritis: Study protocol for a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.

A chinese medicine formula (kunbixiao granule) for female rheumatoid arthritis: Study protocol for a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease affecting females more than males. Clinical symptoms, disease activity and comorbidities are more severe in females. Moreover, the choice of treatment for females is limited during childbearing age due to the side effects of current drugs.

Identification of cultivated land change trajectory and analysis of its process characteristics using time-series Landsat images: A study in the overlapping areas of crop and mineral production in Yanzhou City, China.

Most studies have extensively evaluated the extent and direction of land-use change in coal mining areas; however, they did not adequately describe the time dimension of cultivated land changes at the pixel scale. In this study, we reconstructed the time-series of the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) using best index slope extraction-wavelet transform (BISE-WT) filtering. The trajectory type of cultivated land change was identified based on the time-series curves of those original cultivated land pixels using the modified normalized difference water index (MNDWI), normalized differences building index (NDBI), and bare soil index (BSI).

Yolk-like non-stoichiometric nickel sulfide-based Janus hydrogel photothermal film for enhanced solar-driven water evaporation and multi-media purification.

Solar-driven interface water evaporation is a promising strategy for desalination and wastewater treatment. However, it remains a huge challenge to simultaneously achieve a high light-to-heat conversion efficiency (η) and multi-media evaporation applications. In this study, a highly efficient Janus hydrogel photothermal film was developed using yolk-like non-stoichiometric nickel sulfide (NiS) microspheres and agar hydrogel.

CoWO -Based Photothermal Membranes for Solar-Driven Water Evaporation and Eutrophic Lake Water Purification.

Solar-driven water evaporation has been proven to be a promising and efficient method for the energy crisis and clean water shortage issues. Herein, we strategically design and fabricate a novel nonstoichiometric CoWO -deposited foam nickel (NF) membrane (CoWO @NF) that possesses all the desirable optical, thermal, and wetting properties for efficient water evaporation and purification. The broadband absorption of CoWO nanoparticles (NPs) obtained by hydrogen reduction contributes to light-to-heat conversion, while NF with a three-dimensional porous structure can support CoWO NPs and ensure the rapid flow of water molecules during the water evaporation process.

Flexible PtNi-S-Deposited Teflon Membrane with High Surface Mechanical Properties for Efficient Solar-Driven Strong Acidic/Alkaline Water Evaporation.

Solar-driven water evaporation provides a promising solution to the energy crisis and environmental issues. Capitalizing on the high photothermal conversion efficiency and excellent resistance to strong acids or strong alkalis of PtNi-S nanowires, we strategically design and prepare a flexible PtNi-S-deposited Teflon (PTFE) membrane for achieving efficient strong acid/alkaline water evaporation under simulated sunlight irradiation (1 sun). By comparing the surface morphology, mechanical properties, and water evaporation performance of the as-prepared three different membranes, we have screened out a high-performance photothermal membrane that has good hydrophobicity (water contact angle = 106°), strong mechanical properties, high light-to-heat conversion efficiency (η = 80%), and excellent durability (10 cycles in a range of pH = 1.

CoS-Based Photothermal Membrane with High Mechanical Properties for Efficient Solar Water Evaporation and Photothermal Antibacterial Applications.

The lack of freshwater resources, or the freshwater crisis, is an important issue in the resource field. One potential green and sustainable method to solve this problem is to implement solar energy-driven water evaporation to collect freshwater. Capitalizing on the low cost, high production yield, and simplified fabrication process properties of nonstoichiometric CoS nanoparticles, we strategically designed and synthesized a CoS-deposited Teflon (PTFE) membrane for realizing efficient solar water evaporation and photothermal antibacterial properties under light irradiation.

[Comparison of the influences of gold alloy metal crown and ni-cr alloy metal crown on gingival health].

Objective: To compare the influences of gold alloy metal crown and Ni-Cr alloy metal crown on gingival health.

Methods: Totally 20 patients requiring one metal crown restoration were divided into the gold alloy metal crown group (n=9) and Ni-Cr alloy metal crown group (n=11). The contra-lateral homonymy natural healthy teeth served as controls.