Enhancing the Electrochemical Energy Storage of Metal-Organic Frameworks: Linker Engineering and Size Optimization.

The electric conductivity and charge transport efficiency of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) dictate the effective utilization of built-in redox centers and electrochemical redox kinetics and therefore electrochemical performance. Reticular chemistry and the tunable microcosmic shape of MOFs allow for improving their electric conductivity and charge transfer efficiency. Herein, we synthesized two Ni-MOFs (Ni-tdc-bpy and Ni-tdc-bpe) by the solvothermal reaction of Ni ions with 2,5-thiophenedicarboxylic acid (Htdc) in the presence of conjugated 4,4'-bipyridyl (bpy) and 1,2-di(4-pyridyl)ethylene (bpe) coligands, respectively.

Enhanced Photocatalytic Nitrogen Fixation over Nano-UiO-66(Zr) via Natural Chlorophyll Sensitization.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are potential semiconductor materials, but they still face limitations, such as insufficient photoresponse, high recombination rates, and inadequate N adsorption/activation capabilities. Herein, a UiO-66-based system is designed via a natural chlorophyll sensitization strategy. Density functional theory calculations confirm the coordination interactions between chlorophyll and UiO-66.

ALG13-Related Epilepsy: Current Insights and Future Research Directions.

The ALG13 gene encodes a subunit of the uridine diphosphate-N-acetylglucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc) transferase enzyme, which plays a key role in the N-linked glycosylation pathway. This pathway involves the attachment of carbohydrate structures to asparagine (Asn) residues in proteins within the endoplasmic reticulum, by which N-glycosylated proteins produced participate a wide range of processes such as electrical gradients formation and neurotransmission. Mutations in the ALG13 gene have been identified as a causative factor for congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG) and have been frequently associated with epilepsy in affected individuals.

OsbHLH5 Synergically Regulates Phenolamide and Diterpenoid Phytoalexins Involved in the Defense of Rice Against Pathogens.

Rice () produces phenolamides and diterpenoids as major phytoalexins. Although the biosynthetic pathways of phenolamides and diterpenoids in plants have been revealed, knowledge of their accumulation regulatory mechanisms remains limited, and, in particular, no co-regulatory factor has been identified to date. Here, using a combined co-expression and evolutionary analysis, we identified the basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor as a positive bifunctional regulator of phenolamide and diterpenoid biosynthesis in rice.

Unconscious temporal attention induced by invisible temporal association cues.

Temporal attention is the ability to prioritize information based on timing. While conscious perception of temporally structured information is known to generate temporal attention, whether it occurs unconsciously remains uncertain. This study used a temporal cueing paradigm with masking techniques to explore the differences between conscious and unconscious temporal attention mechanisms.

Engineering a Zn-NC electron bridge boosting charge transfer in ZnO/CN Z-scheme heterojunction for efficient photocatalytic disinfection.

Although photocatalytic disinfection can avoid secondary pollution and other shortcomings compared to traditional disinfection methods, its development is seriously hindered by poor charge separation and transfer efficiency. Herein, we design a Zn-NC (single Zn atoms embedded in nitrogen-doped carbon) bridged ZnO/CN Z-scheme heterojunction (ZnO/Zn-NC/CN) with robust interface contact by a multi-interfacial engineering strategy to achieve highly efficient separation and transfer of charge. Experimental and theoretical analyses demonstrate that the tightly integrated interface and excellent electrical conductivity of Zn-NC electron bridges ensure effective transfer of photogenerated charge carriers.

Rat copper transport protein 2 (CTR2) is involved in fertilization through interaction with IZUMO1 and JUNO.

In mammalian reproduction, testis-specific protein IZUMO1 and its receptor JUNO on the oocyte surface are essential for sperm-oocyte recognition, binding, and membrane fusion. However, these factors alone are insufficient to accomplish cytoplasmic membrane fusion. It is believed that other gametic proteins interact with them to facilitate sperm-oocyte interaction on the head and mid-tail of rat spermatozoa as well as on the surface of oocytes.

Charged organic ligands inserting/supporting the nanolayer spacing of vanadium oxides for high-stability/efficiency zinc-ion batteries.

Given their high safety, environmental friendliness and low cost, aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) have the potential for high-performance energy storage. However, issues with the structural stability and electrochemical kinetics during discharge/charge limit the development of AZIBs. In this study, vanadium oxide electrodes with organic molecular intercalation were designed based on intercalating 11 kinds of charged organic carboxylic acid ligands between 2D layers to regulate the interlayer spacing.

Modeling bladder cancer in the laboratory: Insights from patient-derived organoids.

Bladder cancer (BCa) is the most common malignant tumor of the urinary system. Current treatments often have poor efficacy and carry a high risk of recurrence and progression due to the lack of consideration of tumor heterogeneity. Patient-derived organoids (PDOs) are three-dimensional tissue cultures that preserve tumor heterogeneity and clinical relevance better than cancer cell lines.

Associations between neutrophil-percentage-to-albumin ratio level and all-cause mortality and cardiovascular disease-cause mortality in general population: evidence from NHANES 1999-2010.

Introduction: Chronic inflammation is a recognized independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), highlighting the need for reliable inflammatory indicator to predict CVDs. As an inflammatory indicator which has been proved to have predictive value for prognosis of CVDs, neutrophil percentage-to-albumin ratio (NPAR) has obtained increasing attention, but further research is needed to confirm the relationship with mortality in the general population.

Method: This prospective cohort study included 21,317 individuals who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 1999 to 2010, where baseline characteristics and NPAR level were extracted.

Aminated lignin and phytic acid-assisted polyacrylic acid hydrogel sensors with enhanced mechanical properties and strong adhesion.

Excellent comprehensive performance of hydrogels can be achieved by synergistically combining multiple interaction mechanisms. In this study, a series of hydrogels with rapid gelation and excellent adhesive, mechanical, self-healing, and conductive properties, driven by covalent bonds and multiple reversible interactions, were constructed by mixing acrylic acid (AA), aminated alkaline lignin (AAL), phytic acid (PA), and Fe. The rigid skeletons of polyacrylic acid (PAA) and AAL, as well as the metal coordination bonds formed between them and Fe, enhance the mechanical properties of the samples.

Meldonium, as a potential neuroprotective agent, promotes neuronal survival by protecting mitochondria in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Background: Stroke is a globally dangerous disease capable of causing irreversible neuronal damage with limited therapeutic options. Meldonium, an inhibitor of carnitine-dependent metabolism, is considered an anti-ischemic drug. However, the mechanisms through which meldonium improves ischemic injury and its potential to protect neurons remain largely unknown.

GABRG2 mutations in genetic epilepsy with febrile seizures plus: structure, roles, and molecular genetics.

Genetic epilepsy with febrile seizures plus (GEFS+) is a genetic epilepsy syndrome characterized by a marked hereditary tendency inherited as an autosomal dominant trait. Patients with GEFS+ may develop typical febrile seizures (FS), while generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCSs) with fever commonly occur between 3 months and 6 years of age, which is generally followed by febrile seizure plus (FS+), with or without absence seizures, focal seizures, or GTCSs. GEFS+ exhibits significant genetic heterogeneity, with polymerase chain reaction, exon sequencing, and single nucleotide polymorphism analyses all showing that the occurrence of GEFS+ is mainly related to mutations in the gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptor gamma 2 subunit (GABRG2) gene.

Enhanced Capacitive Deionization of Hollow Mesoporous Carbon Spheres/MOFs Derived Nanocomposites by Interface-Coating and Space-Encapsulating Design.

Exploring new carbon-based electrode materials is quite necessary for enhancing capacitive deionization (CDI). Here, hollow mesoporous carbon spheres (HMCSs)/metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) derived carbon materials (NC(M)/HMCSs and NC(M)@HMCSs) are successfully prepared by interface-coating and space-encapsulating design, respectively. The obtained NC(M)/HMCSs and NC(M)@HMCSs possess a hierarchical hollow nanoarchitecture with abundant nitrogen doping, high specific surface area, and abundant meso-/microporous pores.

sp. nov. and sp. nov., isolated from kelp seedlings.

Two novel rod-shaped, strictly aerobic, non-motile and Gram-stain-negative bacterial strains, designated SDUM040013 and SDUM040014, were isolated from kelp seedlings in Weihai, PR China. Cells of strain SDUM040013 were 0.3-0.

Associations of neutrophil-percentage-to-albumin ratio level with all-cause mortality and cardiovascular disease-cause mortality among patients with hypertension: evidence from NHANES 1999-2010.

Background: The associations of neutrophil-percentage-to-albumin ratio (NPAR) level with all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD)-cause mortality among patients with hypertension remain unclear. This study aims to investigate the associations of NPAR level with all-cause and CVD-cause mortality among patients with hypertension.

Methods: This prospective cohort study included 8,990 patients with hypertension who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 1999 to 2010.

Novel energy optimizer, meldonium, rapidly restores acute hypobaric hypoxia-induced brain injury by targeting phosphoglycerate kinase 1.

Background: Acute hypobaric hypoxia-induced brain injury has been a challenge in the health management of mountaineers; therefore, new neuroprotective agents are urgently required. Meldonium, a well-known cardioprotective drug, has been reported to have neuroprotective effects. However, the relevant mechanisms have not been elucidated.

Influence of the examination position and distension medium on the rectal sensory test in patients with functional constipation.

Purpose: To evaluate the impact of two different parameters (body position and distension medium) on the rectal sensory test in patients with functional constipation and provide data support for the development of standardized operating procedures in clinical practice.

Methods: Based on a single-center process of the rectal sensory test, 39 patients with functional constipation were recruited for rectal sensory test under different body positions and distension mediums.

Results: Among the items of the Constipation Scoring System, the score of frequency of bowel movements showed a negative correlation with the first constant sensation volume (r = -0.

sp. nov., isolated from coastal sediment.

An orange-pigmented, Gram-stain-negative, strictly aerobic, non-flagellated and rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain DF17, was isolated from coastal sediment collected from Jingzi Wharf, Weihai, PR China. The optimal growth conditions were determined to be at 30 °C, pH 7.5, and in 3 % (w/v) NaCl.

Genetic Dissection of Major Rice QTLs for Strong Culms and Fine Mapping of qWS5 for Breeding Application in Transplanted System.

Background: Rice is one of the major staples that feeds about one half of the global populations, and it is important to identify the genetic loci for the traits related to yield improvement. Lodging will cause severe yield loss when it happens, and stem diameter has been characterized as an important trait for lodging resistance. However, most QTLs for stem diameter have not been finely dissected due to their sensitivity to environmental fluctuation.