Dual-functional PCN-242 (FeCo) MOF for sensitive bacterial endotoxin detection.

Endotoxin detection is paramount for monitoring bacterial contamination in food, pharmaceuticals, and clinical diagnostics. The limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) test, which relies on horseshoe crab blood, has long been the gold standard for endotoxin detection. However, the widespread adoption of this method is constrained by ethical concerns and the high costs associated with harvesting endangered species.

A Cu-based metal-organic framework synthesized a green method exhibits unique catecholase-like activity for epigallocatechin gallate detection in teas.

Tea contains various antioxidant compounds, including polyphenols, catechins, theaflavins, theasinensins, and flavonoids. Among these, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is a crucial antioxidant recognized for its potent bioactivity. This study presents the synthesis of a highly selective Cu-PyC NH-based metal-organic framework (MOF) nanozyme that exhibits catecholase-like activity to assess the antioxidant capabilities of EGCG.

Phylogenetic proximity drives temporal succession of marine giant viruses in a five-year metagenomic time-series.

Nucleocytoplasmic Large DNA Viruses (NCLDVs, also called giant viruses) are widespread in marine systems and infect a broad range of microbial eukaryotes (protists). Recent biogeographic work has provided global snapshots of NCLDV diversity and community composition across the world's oceans, yet little information exists about the guiding 'rules' underpinning their community dynamics over time. We leveraged a five-year monthly metagenomic time-series to quantify the community composition of NCLDVs off the coast of Southern California and characterize these populations' temporal dynamics.

Microbial community composition predicts bacterial production across ocean ecosystems.

Microbial ecological functions are an emergent property of community composition. For some ecological functions, this link is strong enough that community composition can be used to estimate the quantity of an ecological function. Here, we apply random forest regression models to compare the predictive performance of community composition and environmental data for bacterial production (BP).

Defect Induced Structural Transition and Lipase Immobilization in Mesoporous Aluminum Metal-Organic Frameworks.

The transition from disorder to order and structural transformation are distinctive metal-organic framework (MOF) features. How to adapt or control both behaviors in MOF has rarely been studied. In this case, we demonstrate that our successful synthesis of [Al(OH)(PDA)]n (AlPDA-53-DEF, AlPDA-53-H, and AlPDA-68) with HPDA=4,4'-[1,4-phenylenebis(ethyne-2,1-diyl)]-di benzoic acid has shown the intricate world of Aluminum Metal-Organic Frameworks (Al-MOFs).

Recent advances in the biological depolymerization and upcycling of polyethylene terephthalate.

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is favored for its exceptional properties and widespread daily use. This review highlights recent advancements that enable the development of biological tools for PET decomposition, transforming PET into valuable platform chemicals and materials in upcycling processes. Enhancing PET hydrolases' catalytic activity and efficiency through protein engineering strategies is a priority, facilitating more effective PET waste management.

Machine Learning and Radiomics of Bone Scintigraphy: Their Role in Predicting Recurrence of Localized or Locally Advanced Prostate Cancer.

Background: Machine-learning (ML) and radiomics features have been utilized for survival outcome analysis in various cancers. This study aims to investigate the application of ML based on patients' clinical features and radiomics features derived from bone scintigraphy (BS) and to evaluate recurrence-free survival in local or locally advanced prostate cancer (PCa) patients after the initial treatment.

Methods: A total of 354 patients who met the eligibility criteria were analyzed and used to train the model.

Harnessing split fluorescent proteins in modular protein logic for advanced whole-cell detection.

Whole-cell biosensors have demonstrated promising capabilities in detecting target molecules. However, their limited selectivity and precision can be attributed to the broad substrate tolerance of natural proteins. In this study, we aim to enhance the performance of whole-cell biosensors by incorporating of logic AND gates.

Exploring the potential of iron-based metal-organic frameworks as peroxidase nanozymes for glucose detection with various secondary building units.

Finding materials in biosensing that balance enzyme-like reactivity, stability, and affordability is essential for the future. Because of their unique peroxidase properties, including variable pore size, surface area, and Lewis acid active sites, iron-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have evolved as viable possibilities. In this study, we constructed a Fe-MOF and tested its peroxidase-like activity and responsiveness toward HO colorimetric techniques.

Symbiotic UCYN-A strains co-occurred with El Niño, relaxed upwelling, and varied eukaryotes over 10 years off Southern California.

Biological nitrogen fixation, the conversion of N gas into a bioavailable form, is vital to sustaining marine primary production. Studies have shifted beyond traditionally studied tropical diazotrophs. Candidatus Atelocyanobacterium thalassa (or UCYN-A) has emerged as a focal point due to its streamlined metabolism, intimate partnership with a haptophyte host, and broad distribution.

Trade-Offs between Competitive Ability and Resistance to Top-Down Control in Marine Microbes.

Trade-offs between competitive ability and resistance to top-down control manifest the "kill-the-winner" hypothesis that explains how mortality caused by protists and viruses can promote bacterial diversity. However, the existence of such trade-offs has rarely been investigated in natural marine bacterial communities. To address this question, we conducted on-board dilution experiments to manipulate top-down control pressure (protists only or protists plus viruses [protists+viruses] combined) and then applied 16S rRNA gene high-throughput sequencing techniques to assess the responses of each bacterial taxon.

The MAEL expression in mitochondria of human spermatozoa and the association with asthenozoospermia.

Purpose: The maelstrom spermatogenic transposon silencer (MAEL) function in postmeiotic germ cells remains unclear, and its protein localization in human testis and spermatozoa awaits determination. This study aims to clarify the MAEL expression in human spermatogenesis and to explore its role in sperm function.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-seven asthenozoospermic men, 40 normozoospermic controls, and three obstructive azoospermic men were enrolled.

A bioinspired copper-based coordination polymer for the detection of pheochromocytoma biomarkers.

Oxidase-mimicking (catechol oxidase/laccase) nanozymes provide outstanding specificity in the detection of epinephrine (Epi) for the assessment of pheochromocytoma; however, epinephrine (Epi) and norepinephrine (NE) co-existing in the same systems will reduce the selectivity of the biosensor. In the current study, we synthesized copper-based coordination polymer (Cu-CP) nanozymes capable of accelerating the oxidation of Epi with high specificity. Furthermore, the Cu-CP is able to detect Epi over a wide linear range of 0.

Effects of phytoplankton, viral communities, and warming on free-living and particle-associated marine prokaryotic community structure.

Free-living and particle-associated marine prokaryotes have physiological, genomic, and phylogenetic differences, yet factors influencing their temporal dynamics remain poorly constrained. In this study, we quantify the entire microbial community composition monthly over several years, including viruses, prokaryotes, phytoplankton, and total protists, from the San-Pedro Ocean Time-series using ribosomal RNA sequencing and viral metagenomics. Canonical analyses show that in addition to physicochemical factors, the double-stranded DNA viral community is the strongest factor predicting free-living prokaryotes, explaining 28% of variability, whereas the phytoplankton (via chloroplast 16S rRNA) community is strongest with particle-associated prokaryotes, explaining 31% of variability.

Clinical Outcomes of Metastatic Breast Cancer in Patients Having Imaging Liver Pseudocirrhosis with or without Evident Varices.

Background: Pseudocirrhosis is an imaging finding of malignancies with liver metastasis with or without clinical liver cirrhosis-related portal hypertension (pHTN). This study defined evident pHTN by the presence of esophageal or gastric varices and compared patients' outcomes of metastatic breast cancer with imaging-diagnosed pseudocirrhosis with or without varices.

Methods: The medical records from patients with metastatic breast cancer and pseudocirrhosis between 2005 and 2017 were retrospectively analyzed.

Validation and Comparison of the Informant-Rated and Self-Rated Versions of the Mild Behavioral Impairment Checklist.

Background: The Mild Behavioral Impairment Checklist (MBI-C) has been developed to assess mild behavioral impairment (MBI). However, no study has validated the use of MBI-C using a promising translation method in Taiwan. Thus, consistency and discrepancy between informant-rated and self-rated scores have not been extensively researched.

Cu-PyC MOF with oxidoreductase-like catalytic activity boosting colorimetric detection of Cr(VI) on paper.

Hexavalent chromium ions (Cr(VI)) are highly toxic and prone to bioaccumulation in the natural environment. This study sought to develop a facile and cost-effective approach to on-site monitoring Cr(VI) content in diverse environmental samples. We synthesized copper-based MOF nanozymes (Cu-PyC MOF) and developed a simple colorimetric method by which to detect Cr(VI) on paper-based devices.

Comparing the Psychometric Properties among Three Versions of the UCLA Loneliness Scale in Individuals with Schizophrenia or Schizoaffective Disorder.

The UCLA Loneliness Scale (Version 3; UCLA-LSV3) is widely used for assessing loneliness. Nevertheless, the validity of this scale for assessing loneliness in individuals with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder has not been determined. Additionally, studies validating the eight-item and three-item versions of UCLA-LSV3 have not included individuals with severe mental illness; therefore, whether the short versions are comparable to the full 20-item version of UCLA-LSV3 for this population is unclear.