High strength chitosan-based nanocomposites with aligned nanosheets and crosslinked networks.

High strength/toughness nanocomposites are increasingly in demand due to the development needs of high-end applications. However, the aggregation and random orientation of nanofillers and the weak crosslinking of the polymer matrix lead to the degradation of the mechanical properties of nanocomposites. Here, we present a strategy to prepare chitosan-based nanocomposites with aligned nanosheets the photo-crosslinking of modified chitosan.

Association of early-life factors with biological age acceleration and the mediating effect of social environment risks in middle-aged and older adults.

Background: Adverse early-life events influence the health with ageing throughout the life course. However, the effects of combined early-life risks on ageing acceleration in adults and the roles of social environment risks remain unknown.

Objective: To investigate associations of maternal smoking, breastfeeding and birth weight with accelerated biological age (BA), and to explore genetic-predicted effect and mediating effect of social environment risks.

[Observation on the clinical effect of He's fire needle therapy combined with walnut-shell moxibustion on perimenopausal dry eye disease].

Objectives: To observe the clinical effect on perimenopausal dry eye disease treated with He's fire needle therapy combined with walnut-shell moxibustion.

Methods: A total of 60 patients with perimenopausal dry eye disease were randomized into an observation group (30 cases) and a control group (30 cases). In the observation group, the pricking technique with fire needle was operated at bilateral Naokong (GB19), Feishu (BL13), Xinshu (BL15), Ganshu (BL18), Pishu (BL20), Shenshu (BL23), 3 times a week, for 4 weeks, and the walnut-shell moxibustion was combined, 30 minutes each time, 3 times a week, for 4 weeks.

Medium- and long-chain triacylglycerols as enteral nutrition enhancing the nutritional status of postoperative rats undergoing chemotherapy by increasing the bioavailability of functional fatty acids.

Medium- and long-chain triacylglycerols (MLCTs) have been widely used in the field of pharmaceutical nutrition. However, the application of MLCT as enteral nutrition remains underexplored. Our previous in vitro digestion experiment revealed that MLCTs can improve the bioaccessibility of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in comparison with physically mixed oils (MOs).

Integrin Subtypes and Lamellipodia Mediate Spatial Sensing of RGD Ligands during Cell Adhesion.

Understanding how the spatial distribution of adhesive ligands regulates cell behavior is crucial for designing biomaterials. This study investigates how precisely controlled ligand spacing affects cell spreading and integrin subtype engagement. Using engineered polyacrylamide hydrogels with gold nanoparticle arrays, we explored the impact of RGD ligand spacings (30 and 150 nm) on human mesenchymal stromal cells.

Identification of novel SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro inhibitors by molecular docking, assays, molecular dynamics simulations and DFT analyses.

Introduction: SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has presented a significant threat to global health and the economy, necessitating urgent efforts to develop effective antiviral drugs. The main protease (3CLpro) of SARS-CoV-2 is a critical target for antiviral therapy due to its essential role in viral replication.

Methods: In order to find new structural types of 3CLpro inhibitors to facilitate the solution to the problem of new virus resistance.

The evolutionary dynamics of genome sizes and repetitive elements in Ensifera (Insecta: Orthoptera).

Background: In evolutionary biology, identifying and quantifying inter-lineage genome size variation and elucidating the underlying causes of that variation have long been goals. Repetitive elements (REs) have been proposed and confirmed as being among the most important contributors to genome size variation. However, the evolutionary implications of genome size variation and RE dynamics are not well understood.

A type-I van der Waals heterostructure formed by monolayer WS and trilayer PdSe.

Two-dimensional (2D) heterostructures, formed by stacking 2D semiconductors through the van der Waals force, have been extensively studied recently. However, the majority of the heterostructures discovered so far possess type-II interfaces that facilitate interlayer charge separation. Type-I interfaces, on the other hand, confine both electrons and holes in one layer, which is beneficial for optical applications that utilize electron-hole radiative recombination.

Universal synthesis of pure-phase IB-group Sn-based alloys with modulable electrocatalytic CO reduction products.

We present a universal preparation method for synthesizing a range of pure-phase IB-group Sn-based alloy catalysts (CuSn, AgSn, and AuSn) for electrochemical reduction of CO to C product. The selectivity can be widely adjusted by altering metal composition and potential, improving the understanding of the structure-activity relationship in various Sn-based alloys.

Metabolic regulation of the glioblastoma stem cell epitranscriptome by malate dehydrogenase 2.

Tumors reprogram their metabolism to generate complex neoplastic ecosystems. Here, we demonstrate that glioblastoma (GBM) stem cells (GSCs) display elevated activity of the malate-aspartate shuttle (MAS) and expression of malate dehydrogenase 2 (MDH2). Genetic and pharmacologic targeting of MDH2 attenuated GSC proliferation, self-renewal, and in vivo tumor growth, partially rescued by aspartate.

Discovery of Anti-Inflammatory Alkaloids from Sponge Suggests New Biosynthetic Pathways for Pyrrole-Imidazole Alkaloids.

Pyrrole-imidazole alkaloids (PIAs) are a class of marine sponge derived natural products which have complex carbon frameworks and broad bioactivities. In this study, four new alkaloids, stylimassalins A-B (-), , and , together with two known compounds ( and ), were isolated from . Compounds , , and are the C-2 brominated analogues of , , and , respectively.

The aging heart in focus: The advanced understanding of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) accounts for 50 % of heart failure (HF) cases, making it the most common type of HF, and its prevalence continues to increase in the aging society. HFpEF is a systemic syndrome resulting from many risk factors, such as aging, metabolic syndrome, and hypertension, and its clinical features are highly heterogeneous in different populations. HFpEF syndrome involves the dysfunction of multiple organs, including the heart, lung, muscle, and vascular system.

Wearable Hydrogel SERS Chip Utilizing Plasmonic Trimers for Uric Acid Analysis in Sweat.

Uric acid is typically measured through blood tests, which can be inconvenient and uncomfortable for patients. Herein, we propose a wearable surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) chip, incorporating a hydrogel membrane with integrated plasmonic trimers, for noninvasive monitoring of uric acid in sweat. The plasmonic trimers feature sub 5 nm nanogaps, generating strong electromagnetic fields to boost the Raman signal of surrounding molecules.

A Review on BiWO-Based Materials for Photocatalytic CO Reduction.

Photocatalytic reduction of CO (PCR) technology offers the capacity to transmute solar energy into chemical energy through an eco-friendly and efficacious process, concurrently facilitating energy storage and carbon diminution, this innovation harbors significant potential for mitigating energy shortages and ameliorating environmental degradation. Bismuth tungstate (BiWO) is distinguished by its robust visible light absorption and distinctive perovskite-type crystal architecture, rendering it highly efficiency in PCR. In recent years, numerous systematic strategies have been investigated for the synthesis and modification of BiWO to enhance its photocatalytic performance, aiming to achieve superior applications.

Changes in gut microbiota and metabolites of mice with intravenous graphene oxide-induced embryo toxicity.

Unlabelled: The expanding applications of graphene oxide (GO) nanomaterials have attracted interest in understanding their potential adverse effects on embryonic and fetal development. Numerous studies have revealed the importance of the maternal gut microbiota in pregnancy. In this study, we established a mouse GO exposure model to evaluate embryo toxicity induced by intravenous administration of GO during pregnancy.

Self-Assembled Ultra-Long Hybrid Nanowire Formed by Simple Mixing: An Untapped Feature of Peroxydisulfate.

Peroxydisulfate (PDS), a popular molecule that is able to oxidize organic compounds, is garnering attention across various disciplines of chemistry, materials, pharmaceuticals, environmental remediation, and sustainability. Methylene blue (MB) is a model pollutant that can be readily oxidized by PDS-derived radicals. Unlike the conventional degradation process, here a reversible "dissolution-precipitation" phenomenon is discovered, triggered by a simple mixing of PDS and MB, revealing a novel application of PDS in fabricating self-assembled ultra-long nanowires with MB.