High-performance supercapacitors based on coarse nanofiber bundle and ordered network hydrogels.

Most of the developed flexible hydrogel supercapacitors struggle to maintain their electrochemical stability and structural integrity under tensile strain. Therefore, developing a flexible supercapacitor with excellent mechanical properties and stable electrochemical performance under different strains remains a challenge. Based on the previous cartilage-like structure, we designed a new coarse nanofiber bundle and ordered network.

Thermostability improvement of the glucose oxidase from Penicillium amagasakiense for efficient antimicrobial performance through computer-aided molecular design.

Glucose oxidases (GODs) induce the catalyzation from β-d-glucose to gluconic acid in an oxygen-consuming process, providing a potential antibiotic substitution strategy. However, the inadequate properties of existing GODs in parallel hinder the antimicrobial capacity for industrial applications. In this study, PaGOD (WT) from Penicillium amagasakiense was enzymatically improved through computer-aided design based on energy optimization.

From immunology to artificial intelligence: revolutionizing latent tuberculosis infection diagnosis with machine learning.

Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) has become a major source of active tuberculosis (ATB). Although the tuberculin skin test and interferon-gamma release assay can be used to diagnose LTBI, these methods can only differentiate infected individuals from healthy ones but cannot discriminate between LTBI and ATB. Thus, the diagnosis of LTBI faces many challenges, such as the lack of effective biomarkers from Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) for distinguishing LTBI, the low diagnostic efficacy of biomarkers derived from the human host, and the absence of a gold standard to differentiate between LTBI and ATB.

Nacre-inspired, strong, tough silk fibroin hydrogels based on biomineralization and the layer-by-layer assembly of ordered silk fabric.

Hydrogels are attractive materials with structures and functional properties similar to biological tissues and widely used in biomedical engineering. However, traditional synthetic hydrogels possess poor mechanical strength, and their applications are limited. Herein, a multidimensional material design method is developed; it includes the in situ gelation of silk fabric and nacre-inspired layer-by-layer assembly, which is used to prepare silk fibroin (SF) hydrogels.

LEARN algorithm: a novel option for predicting non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.

Background: There is an unmet need for accurate non-invasive methods to diagnose non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Since impedance-based measurements of body composition are simple, repeatable and have a strong association with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) severity, we aimed to develop a novel and fully automatic machine learning algorithm, consisting of a deep neural network based on impedance-based measurements of body composition to identify NASH [the bioeLectrical impEdance Analysis foR Nash (LEARN) algorithm].

Methods: A total of 1,259 consecutive subjects with suspected NAFLD were screened from six medical centers across China, of which 766 patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD were included in final analysis.

Cartilage structure-inspired elastic silk nanofiber network hydrogel for stretchable and high-performance supercapacitors.

Flexible supercapacitors are an important portable energy storage but suffer from low capacitance, inability to stretch, etc. Therefore, flexible supercapacitors must achieve higher capacitance, energy density, and mechanical robustness to expand the applications. Herein, a hydrogel electrode with excellent mechanical strength was created by simulating the collagen fiber network and proteoglycan in cartilage using silk nanofiber (SNF) network and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA).

LincRNA_XR209691.3 could promote Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus replication by interacting with BmHSP70.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), a class of transcripts exceeding 200 nucleotides and lacking protein coding potential, have been proven to play important roles in viral infection and host immunity. Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) is an important pathogen, which causes the silkworm disease and leads to a huge challenge to the sericultural industry. At present, research on the roles of insect lncRNAs in host-virus interaction are relatively few.

Soft and elastic silver nanoparticle-cellulose sponge as fresh-keeping packaging to protect strawberries from physical damage and microbial invasion.

Strawberry is a nutritious food that is susceptible to mechanical injury and microbiological infection. Traditional coatings for strawberry packaging provide resistance against microbial infection but not against mechanical damage. In this study, a soft and elastic cellulose sponge modified with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs@CS-1:1) was prepared as strawberry packaging material, and it provided effective protection against mechanical damage.

Evaluation of the Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Mulberry ( L.) Fruits from Different Varieties in China.

Mulberry ( L.) fruit is a fruit with nutritional and medicinal value. It is widely cultivated in different regions of China, which may result in differences in its chemical composition.

Transcriptome of miRNA during inhibition of Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus by geldanamycin in BmN cells.

Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus (BmNPV) is one of several viruses that cause great harm to the sericulture industry, and its pathogenic mechanism is still being explored. Geldanamycin (GA), a kind of HSP90 inhibitor, has been verified to suppress BmNPV proliferation. However, the molecular mechanism by which GA inhibits BmNPV is unclear.

Lowering energy consumption for fermentable sugar production from Ramulus mori: Engineered xylanase synergy and improved pretreatment strategy.

Biorefinery of Ramulus mori with lower energy consumption through improved enzyme and pretreatment strategies was reported. Directed evolution and saturation mutagenesis were used for the modification of xylanase, the yield of fermentable sugars and the degree of synergy (DS) were determined for different pretreatment (seawater/non-seawater) and enzyme treatment groups (xylanase/cellulase/co-treatment). The dominant mutant I133A/Q143Y of Bispora sp.

Knockdown of TRIM32 inhibits tumor growth and increases the therapeutic sensitivity to temozolomide in glioma in a p53-dependent and -independent manner.

Tripartite motif protein 32 (TRIM32), an E3 ubiquitin ligase, has been reported to participate in many human cancers. However, the underlying role of TRIM32 in glioma remains largely unknown. Here, we aimed to explore the function of TRIM32 in glioma cells and the clinical implications and found that TRIM32 was upregulated in glioma tissues.

Mannose-binding lectin 2 gene polymorphisms and their association with tuberculosis in a Chinese population.

Background: Immune- and inflammation-related genes (IIRGs) play an important role in the pathogenesis of tuberculosis (TB). However, the relationship between IIRG polymorphisms and TB risk remains unknown. In this study, the gene polymorphisms and their association with tuberculosis were determined in a Chinese population.

Inhibition of mTORC1 by lncRNA H19 via disrupting 4E-BP1/Raptor interaction in pituitary tumours.

Aberrant expression of long noncoding RNA H19 has been associated with tumour progression, but the underlying molecular tumourigenesis mechanisms remain largely unknown. Here, we report that H19 expression is frequently downregulated in human primary pituitary adenomas and is negatively correlated with tumour progression. Consistently, upregulation of H19 expression inhibits pituitary tumour cell proliferation in vitro and tumour growth in vivo.

Effect of different planting areas on the chemical compositions and hypoglycemic and antioxidant activities of mulberry leaf extracts in Southern China.

Guangdong, Guangxi and Chongqing are emerging sericulture areas in China where the production of mulberry leaves is huge. In order to identity high quality mulberry leaves that are suitable for healthy products to expand planting, 24 samples from three regions (Guangdong, Guangxi, Chongqing) in the south of China were quantified for two alkaloids (1-deoxynojirimycin and fagomine) and five phenols (chlorogenic acid, rutin, isoquercitrin, etc.) using high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS).

Genome-wide association study reveals candidate genes related to low temperature tolerance in rice () during germination.

In this study, relative germination percentage (RGP) and delayed mean germination time (DMGT) were measured in various rice accessions at the germination stage and carried out association analysis to identify candidate genes related to low temperature germination (LTG) using a natural population comprising 137 rice cultivars and inbred lines selected from the Korean rice core set. Genome-wide association study using ~ 1.44 million high-quality SNPs, which were identified by re-sequencing all rice collections, revealed 48 candidate genes on chromosome 10 and 55 candidate genes on chromosome 11 in the high peak SNP sites of associated loci for RGP and DMGT, respectively.

Cabergoline versus bromocriptine for the treatment of giant prolactinomas: A quantitative and systematic review.

The aim of this study is to compare the efficacy of bromocriptine (BRC) versus cabergoline (CAB) in patients with giant prolactinomas. We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL and Clinical Trials.gov for studies dated before March 1st, 2016, that used BRC or CAB for the treatment of patients with giant prolactinomas.

Quantitative study of the correlation between cerebellar retraction factors and hearing loss following microvascular decompression for hemifacial spasm.

Background: This prospective study quantitatively measured the cerebellar retraction factors, including retraction distance, depth and duration, and evaluated their potential relationship to the development of hearing loss after microvascular decompression (MVD) for hemifacial spasm (HFS).

Methods: One hundred ten patients with primary HFS who underwent MVD in our department were included into this study. The cerebellar retraction factors were quantitatively measured on preoperative MR and timed during MVD.

Pituitary Tumor Suppression by Combination of Cabergoline and Chloroquine.

Context: The dopamine agonist cabergoline (CAB) has been used widely in the treatment of prolactinomas and other types of pituitary adenomas, but its clinical use is hampered by intolerance in some patients with prolactinoma and lack of effectiveness in other pituitary tumor types. Chloroquine (CQ) is an old drug widely used to treat malaria. Recent studies, including our own, have revealed that CAB and CQ are involved in induction of autophagy and activation of autophagic cell death.

Activation of DRD5 (dopamine receptor D5) inhibits tumor growth by autophagic cell death.

Dopamine agonists such as bromocriptine and cabergoline have been successfully used in the treatment of pituitary prolactinomas and other neuroendocrine tumors. However, their therapeutic mechanisms are not fully understood. In this study we demonstrated that DRD5 (dopamine receptor D5) agonists were potent inhibitors of pituitary tumor growth.

Correlation Between Cerebellar Retraction and Hearing Loss After Microvascular Decompression for Hemifacial Spasm: A Prospective Study.

Background: This study prospectively investigated the relationship between cerebellar retraction factors measured on preoperative magnetic resonance and the development of postoperative hearing loss and evaluated their potential role in predicting the possibility of hearing loss after microvascular decompression (MVD) for hemifacial spasm (HFS).

Methods: The study included 110 patients clinically diagnosed with primary HFS who underwent MVD in our department. The cerebellar retraction factors were quantitatively measured on preoperative magnetic resonance.