A systematic comparative analysis of gait characteristics in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty and unicompartmental knee arthroplasty: a review study.

Background: This study systematically reviews recent research comparing clinical outcomes and gait function changes in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) versus unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA).

Methods: A systematic search of the Web of Science, PubMed, and Embase databases was conducted, covering publications from January 2013 to September 2024, to identify studies evaluating changes in clinical scores and gait parameters in patients undergoing TKA or UKA. Following stringent selection criteria, data were synthesized from studies involving 171 TKA and 148 UKA patients, focusing on reported gait outcomes and aggregating findings for comprehensive analysis.

The up-regulation of PAK2 indicates unfavorable prognosis in patients with serous epithelial ovarian cancer and contributes to paclitaxel resistance in ovarian cancer cells.

Background: The main challenge in treating ovarian cancer is chemotherapy resistance. Previous studies have shown that PAK2 is highly expressed in various cancers. This research investigates whether increased PAK2 expression contributes to chemo-resistance and poor prognosis in ovarian cancer.

A continental-scale analysis reveals the latitudinal gradient of stomatal density across amphistomatous species: evolutionary history vs. present-day environment.

Background And Aims: Amphistomy is a potential method for increasing photosynthetic rate; however, the latitudinal gradients of stomatal density across amphistomatous species and their drivers remain unknown.

Methods: Here, the adaxial stomatal density (SDad) and abaxial stomatal density (SDab) of 486 amphistomatous species-site combinations, belonging to 32 plant families, were collected from China, and their total stomatal density (SDtotal) and stomatal ratio (SR) were calculated.

Key Results: Overall, these four stomatal traits did not show significant phylogenetic signals.

A clean transfer approach to prepare centimetre-scale black phosphorus crystalline multilayers on silicon substrates for field-effect transistors.

Recently reported direct growth of highly crystalline centimetre-sized black phosphorus (BP) thin films on mica substrates by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) has attracted considerable research interest. However, an effective and general transfer method to incorporate them into (opto-)electronic devices is still missing. Here, we show a wet transfer method utilizing ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) and an ethylene glycol (EG) solution to transfer high-crystalline large-area PLD-BP films onto SiO/Si substrates.

Distributions of candidate vaccine Targets, virulence Factors, and resistance features of invasive group B Streptococcus using Whole-Genome Sequencing: A Multicenter, population-based surveillance study.

Background: Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in young infants worldwide. This study aimed to investigate candidate GBS vaccine targets, virulence factors, and antimicrobial resistance determinants.

Methods: We used whole-genome sequencing to characterize invasive GBS isolates from infants < 3 months of age obtained from a multicenter population-based study conducted from 2015 to 2021 in China.

Microscopic Understanding of Interfacial Performance and Antifoaming Mechanism of REP Type Block Polyether Nonionic Surfactants.

In many practical applications involving surfactants, achieving defoaming without affecting interfacial activity is a challenge. In this study, the antifoaming performance of REP-type block polymer nonionic surfactant C12EOmPOn was determined, and molecular dynamics simulation method was employed to investigate the molecular behaviors of surfactants at a gas/water interface, the detailed arrangement information of the different structural segments of the surfactant molecules and the inter-/intra-interactions between all the structural motifs in the interfacial layer were analyzed systematically, by which the antifoaming mechanisms of the surfactants were revealed. The results show that the EO and PO groups of REP-type polyether molecules are located in the aqueous phase near the interface, and the hydrophobic tails distribute separately, lying almost flat on the gas/water interface.

Systems Metabolic Engineering of for the High-Level Production of (2)-Eriodictyol.

(2)-eriodictyol (ERD) is a flavonoid widely found in citrus fruits, vegetables, and important medicinal plants with neuroprotective, cardioprotective, antidiabetic, and anti-obesity effects. However, the microbial synthesis of ERD is limited by complex metabolic pathways and often results in a low production performance. Here, we engineered by fine-tuning the metabolism of the ERD synthesis pathway.

From waste to catalyst: Growth mechanisms of ZSM-5 zeolite from coal fly ash & rice husk ash and its performance as catalyst for tetracycline degradation in fenton-like oxidation.

Coal fly ash (CFA), an industrial solid waste, can be utilized to synthesize Zeolite Socony Mobil-5 (ZSM-5) by incorporating an external silica source. In this study, a series of ZSM-5 zeolites were synthesized using rice husk ash (RHA) as the primary silica source and CFA as the primary aluminum source under controlled hydrothermal reaction conditions, and the growth mechanism of ZSM-5 was investigated. The process of ZSM-5 growth was featured by the transformation of hyperpoly silico-aluminate in CFA and RHA into monomers.

Preferences of pregnant women toward a future maternal Group B Streptococcus vaccine in China: A cross-sectional survey with a discrete choice experiment.

Group B streptococcus (GBS) is a major cause of neonatal death worldwide. A GBS vaccine for pregnant women is under development and is expected to be available in the near future. The perceptions and preferences of pregnant women in China of GBS vaccines has not been investigated, and this study aimed to investigate pregnant women's awareness of GBS and their potential preferences for the GBS vaccine.

Direct observation of intrinsic room-temperature ferroelectricity in 2D layered CuCrPS.

Multiferroic materials have ignited enormous interest owing to their co-existence of ferroelectricity and ferromagnetism, which hold substantial promise for advanced device applications. However, the size effect, dangling bonds, and interface effect in traditional multiferroics severely hinder their potential in nanoscale device applications. Recent theoretical and experimental studies have evidenced the possibility of realizing two-dimensional (2D) multiferroicity in van der Waals (vdW) layered CuCrPS.

Strategies adopted by Salmonella to survive in host: a review.

Salmonella, a Gram-negative bacterium that infects humans and animals, causes diseases ranging from gastroenteritis to severe systemic infections. Here, we discuss various strategies used by Salmonella against host cell defenses. Epithelial cell invasion largely depends on a Salmonella pathogenicity island (SPI)-1-encoded type 3 secretion system, a molecular syringe for injecting effector proteins directly into host cells.

How to synergize ecological restoration to co-benefit the beneficial contributions of nature to people on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau?

Understanding the magnitude and spatial distribution of ecological restoration requires a precise assessment of the beneficial contributions of nature to people. However, where the restoration areas should be located and whether the natural contribution of a compensation area can satisfy people's needs in the context of ecological degradation remain unclear. To address these issues, we selected the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau as the study areas, utilizing the offset portfolio analyzer and locator model to identify the compensation sites that offset the losses of ecosystem services and biodiversity resulting from ecological degradation.

Coxsackievirus A6 2C protein antagonizes IFN-β production through MDA5 and RIG-I depletion.

Coxsackievirus A6 (CV-A6) is a major emerging pathogen associated with atypical hand, foot, and mouth disease and can cause serious complications such as encephalitis, acute flaccid paralysis, and neurorespiratory syndrome. Therefore, revealing the associated pathogenic mechanisms could benefit the control of CV-A6 infections. In this study, we demonstrate that the nonstructural 2C suppresses IFN-β production, which supports CV-A6 infection.

Are microplastics in aquaculture an undeniable driver in accelerating the spread of antibiotic resistance genes?

Aquaculture products have been a key source of protein in the human food supply. Contamination by microplastics and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) directly affects food quality and safety. Plastic fishing gear and the long-term misuse of antibiotics result in the persistent residue, migration, and spread of microplastics and ARGs in the aquaculture environment, causing in ecological imbalance and endangering human security.

Research advances on impacts micro/nanoplastics and their carried pollutants on algae in aquatic ecosystems: A review.

The widespread presence of micro/nanoplastics in aquatic ecosystems has certainly affected ecosystem functions and food chains/webs. The impact is worsened by the accumulation of different pollutants and microorganisms on the surface of microplastics. At the tissue, cellular, and molecular levels, micro/nanoplastics and the contaminants they carry can cause damage to aquatic organisms.

Are algae a promising ecofriendly approach to micro/nanoplastic remediation?

How to reduce microplastic pollution in aquatic ecosystem has become the focus of the global attention. The re-removal of microplastics of wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent is gradually being put on the agenda. Recently, algae have been used as an ecofriendly remediation strategy for microplastic removal.