The Role of Long-Range Interactions Between High-Entropy Single-Atoms in Catalyzing Sulfur Conversion Reactions.

Sulfur conversion reactions are the foundation of lithium-sulfur batteries but usually possess sluggish kinetics during practical battery operation. Herein, a high-entropy single-atom catalyst (HESAC) is synthesized for this process. In contrast to conventional dual-atom catalysts that form metal-metal bonds, the center metal atoms in HESAC are not bonded but exhibit long-range interactions at a sub-nanometer distance (<9 Å).

Hsa_circ_0002005 aggravates osteosarcoma by increasing cell proliferation, migration, and invasion.

Emerging evidence suggests that circular RNAs (circRNAs), a class of non-coding RNAs, play a critical role in the progression of several cancers, including osteosarcoma (OS). In this study, we focused on a specific circRNA, hsa_circ_0002005, derived from the mesoderm-induced early response 1 family member 2 (MIER2) gene. We determined the expression levels of hsa_circ_0002005 in OS samples through the use of real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR).

Engineered Extracellular Vesicle-Based Nanoformulations That Coordinate Neuroinflammation and Immune Homeostasis, Enhancing Parkinson's Disease Therapy.

Although conventional intervention to microglia can mitigate neuroinflammation in the short term, immune disorders by peripheral inflammatory cells can infiltrate continuously, resulting in an overactivated immune microenvironment of Parkinson's disease (PD). Here, we design engineered extracellular vesicle-based nanoformulations (EVNs) to address multiple factors for the management of PD. Specifically, EVN is developed by coating CCR2-enriched mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles (MSC EVs) onto a dihydrotanshinone I-loaded nanocarrier (MSeN-DT).

Room temperature high-efficiency welding of an ultra-long silver nanowire network for flexible transparent electrodes.

In the preparation of flexible electronic devices, obtaining a transparent conductive electrode with high electrical conductivity, high transparency, and mechanical flexibility is a significant challenge. This study developed a simple method for preparing ultra-long silver nanowires (ul-AgNWs), obtaining high-purity ul-AgNWs with an average length of 317.66 ± 98.

Quantum Mechanics-Based Fast and Reliable Prediction of Binding Pose Structures.

Predicting the binding poses of docking with an accurate estimation of binding energies is highly important but very challenging in computational drug design. A quantum mechanics (QM) calculation-based docking approach considering multiple conformations and orientations of the ligand is introduced here to tackle the problem. This QM docking consists of three steps: generating an ensemble of binding poses with a conventional docking simulation, computing the binding energies with self-consistent charge density functional theory tightly binding with dispersion correction (DFTB-D) to selecting the 10 top binding modes, and optimizing the selected binding mode structures using the ONIOM(DFTB:PM7) technique to determine the binding poses.

JiaGaSongTang improves chronic cholestasis via enhancing FXR-mediated bile acid metabolism.

Background: Bile acid (BA) enterohepatic circulation disorders are a main feature of chronic cholestatic diseases. Promoting BA metabolism is thus a potential method of improving enterohepatic circulation disorders, and treat enterohepatic inflammation, oxidative stress and fibrosis due to cholestasis.

Purpose: To investigate the effect of JiaGaSongTang (JGST) and its blood-absorbed ingredient 6-gingerol on α-naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT)-induced chronic cholestasis, as well as elucidate the underlying regulatory mechanism.

Green synthesis of epigallocatechin gallate-ferric complex nanoparticles for photothermal enhanced antibacterial and wound healing.

Bacterial infections are a significant global health concern, particularly in the context of skin infections and chronic wounds, which was further exacerbated by the emerging of antibiotic resistance. Therefore, there are urgent needs to develop alternative antibacterial strategies without inducing significant resistance. Photothermal therapy (PTT) is a promising alternative approach but usually faces limitations such as the need for stable and environmental-friendly PTT agents and ensuring biocompatibility with living tissues, necessitating ongoing research for its clinical advancement.

Phyto-inspired sustainable and high-performance fabric generators via moisture absorption-evaporation cycles.

Collecting energy from the ubiquitous water cycle has emerged as a promising technology for power generation. Here, we have developed a sustainable moisture absorption-evaporation cycling fabric (Mac-fabric). On the basis of the cycling unidirectional moisture conduction in the fabric and charge separation induced by the negative charge channel, sustainable constant voltage power generation can be achieved.

Identification of autophagy-related genes in osteoarthritis articular cartilage and their roles in immune infiltration.

Background: Autophagy plays a critical role in the progression of osteoarthritis (OA), mainly by regulating inflammatory and immune responses. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the potential relevance of autophagy-related genes (ARGs) associated with infiltrating immune cells in OA.

Multimode opto-magnetic dual-responsive actuating fibers and fabrics programmed direct ink writing.

Current methods lack one-step actuation programming for weave structures that can achieve multimodal motions in fiber and fabric actuators. Fiber and fabric actuators with dual-response to magnetic fields and near-infrared (NIR) light were fabricated direct ink writing (DIW) in this work, and have 105.3 J kg energy density, enabling multimodal motions including rolling, grasping, and transportation.

Temporal transcriptome highlights the involvement of cytokine/JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway in the osteoinduction of BMSCs.

Background: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)-based therapy offers an effective strategy for bone regeneration to solve the clinical orthopedic problems. However, the transcriptional regulation of multiple transitional stages of continuous osteogenesis from MSCs has not been fully characterized.

Methods: Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) stimulated with osteogenic induction media were utilized to construct the in vitro osteogenic differentiation model.

Polymerized Tannic Acid Offers a Nanosized Platform to Combat Bacterial Infection.

Worldwide antibiotic abuse accelerates the evolution of drug-resistant super bacteria, which goes against the war toward bacterial infection. Antibiotic-loaded nanoparticles as a typical form of nanomedicine hold great promise in combating bacterial infection, which requires the development of a suitable carrier. Tannic acid (TA) showed an inhibition effect on both Gram-positive and -negative strains; however, there are no reports on the development of antibacterial nanoformulations based on TA itself.

Gene therapy with a synthetic adeno-associated viral vector improves audiovestibular phenotypes in Pjvk-mutant mice.

Recessive PJVK mutations that cause a deficiency of pejvakin, a protein expressed in both sensory hair cells and first-order neurons of the inner ear, are an important cause of hereditary hearing impairment. Patients with PJVK mutations garner limited benefits from cochlear implantation; thus, alternative biological therapies may be required to address this clinical difficulty. The synthetic adeno-associated viral vector Anc80L65, with its wide tropism and high transduction efficiency in various inner ear cells, may provide a solution.

Prediction and Identification of GPCRs Targeting for Drug Repurposing in Osteosarcoma.

Background: Osteosarcoma (OS) is a malignant bone tumor common in children and adolescents. The 5-year survival rate is only 67-69% and there is an urgent need to explore novel drugs effective for the OS. G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the common drug targets and have been found to be associated with the OS, but have been seldom used in OS.

Efficient Delivery of Adeno-Associated Virus into Inner Ear Through Trans-Stapes Route in Adult Guinea Pig.

Adeno-associated virus (AAV) are potent vectors to achieve treatment against hearing loss resulting from genetic defects. However, the effects of delivery routes and the corresponding transduction efficiencies for clinical applications remain elusive. In this study, we screened AAV vectors of three serotypes (AAV 8 and 9 and Anc80L65) into the inner ears of adult normal guinea pigs through trans-stapes (oval window) and trans-round window delivery routes .

Cu nanowires modified with carbon-rich conjugated framework PTEB for stabilizing lithium metal anodes.

Lithium metal anodes provide a direction for the development of high-energy-density lithium-ion batteries. To overcome lithium dendritic growth and low Coulombic efficiency in lithium plating/stripping processes, the design of a three-dimensional (3D) host structure is a feasible solution. Herein, copper nanowires -coated with a carbon-rich conjugated framework, poly(1,3,5-triethynylbenzene), and grown on copper foam were constructed as a 3D lithium host, and shown to effectively yield a low nucleation overpotential, smooth lithium deposition, and improved cycling stability.

Genetic Algorithm Embedded with a Search Space Dimension Reduction Scheme for Efficient Peptide Structure Predictions.

The computational determination of peptide conformations is a challenging task of finding minima in a high dimensional space. By combining the sampling efficiency of the genetic algorithm (GA) and the dimensionality reduction resulted from the backbone dihedral angle correlations, named as the path matrix (PM) method, a new searching algorithm, parallel microgenetic algorithm (PMGA), is proposed. Meanwhile, PMGA employs the density functional theory based energy as the fitness function and performs local geometry optimizations to enhance the reliability of its GA encoding strategy.

MCOLN1 gene therapy corrects neurologic dysfunction in the mouse model of mucolipidosis IV.

Mucolipidosis IV (MLIV) is an orphan disease leading to debilitating psychomotor deficits and vision loss. It is caused by loss-of-function mutations in the MCOLN1 gene that encodes the lysosomal transient receptor potential channel mucolipin1, or TRPML1. With no existing therapy, the unmet need in this disease is very high.

Engineering adeno-associated viral vectors to evade innate immune and inflammatory responses.

Nucleic acids are used in many therapeutic modalities, including gene therapy, but their ability to trigger host immune responses in vivo can lead to decreased safety and efficacy. In the case of adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors, studies have shown that the genome of the vector activates Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9), a pattern recognition receptor that senses foreign DNA. Here, we engineered AAV vectors to be intrinsically less immunogenic by incorporating short DNA oligonucleotides that antagonize TLR9 activation directly into the vector genome.

Gene Therapy Preserves Retinal Structure and Function in a Mouse Model of -Associated Retinal Degeneration.

No treatment is available for nicotinamide mononucleotide adenylyltransferase 1 ()-associated retinal degeneration, an inherited disease that leads to severe vision loss early in life. Although the causative gene, , plays an essential role in nuclear nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) metabolism in tissues throughout the body, -associated disease is isolated to the retina. Since this condition is recessive, supplementing the retina with a normal copy of should protect vulnerable cells from disease progression.

Efficient in Utero Gene Transfer to the Mammalian Inner Ears by the Synthetic Adeno-Associated Viral Vector Anc80L65.

Sensorineural hearing loss is one of the most common sensory disorders worldwide. Recent advances in vector design have paved the way for investigations into the use of adeno-associated vectors (AAVs) for hearing disorder gene therapy. Numerous AAV serotypes have been discovered to be applicable to inner ears, constituting a key advance for gene therapy for sensorineural hearing loss, where transduction efficiency of AAV in inner ear cells is critical for success.

Atomic Layer Deposition onto Thermoplastic Polymeric Nanofibrous Aerogel Templates for Tailored Surface Properties.

Poly(vinyl alcohol--ethylene) (EVOH) nanofibrous aerogel (NFA) templates were fabricated through vacuum freeze-drying from EVOH nanofibrous suspensions. Aluminum oxide (AlO) layers were deposited onto highly porous templates to form organic-inorganic hybrid aerogels by the atomic layer deposition (ALD) technique. Chemical and physical measurements showed that mechanical properties were improved through ALD.

Amphiphobic triboelectric nanogenerators based on silica enhanced thermoplastic polymeric nanofiber membranes.

It is necessary to construct an amphiphobic triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) since water, oil and other antistatic agents will have a great impact on its electrical output performance during practical applications. Herein, we put forward a high-performance TENG based on silica enhanced thermoplastic polymeric nanofiber membranes that possess outstanding droplet-repellency after being modified with fluorine-containing polymers. With in situ polycondensation of SiO2 nanoparticles on the surface of the raw materials of garment-thermoplastic nanofiber membranes fabricated by the melt-blending extrusion method, the electrical output performance of the prepared TENGs enhanced a lot, corresponding to an excellent peak power density of 2.

Cross-Packaging and Capsid Mosaic Formation in Multiplexed AAV Libraries.

Generation and screening of libraries of adeno-associated virus (AAV) variants have emerged as a powerful method for identifying novel capsids for gene therapy applications. For the majority of libraries, vast population diversity requires multiplexed production, in which a library of inverted terminal repeat (ITR)-containing plasmid variants is transfected together into cells to generate the viral library. This process has the potential to be confounded by cross-packaging and mosaicism, in which particles are comprised of genomes and capsid monomers derived from different library members.

Comparing cryoablation and microwave ablation for the treatment of patients with stage IIIB/IV non-small cell lung cancer.

The aim of the present study was to compare the safety and efficacy of cryoablation (CA) and microwave ablation (MWA) as treatments for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Patients with stage IIIB or IV NSCLC treated with CA (n=45) or MWA (n=56) were enrolled in the present study. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS); the secondary endpoints included overall survival (OS) time and adverse events (AEs).