CRISPR-Cas9-based genome-editing technologies in engineering bacteria for the production of plant-derived terpenoids.

Terpenoids are widely used as medicines, flavors, and biofuels. However, the use of these natural products is largely restricted by their low abundance in native plants. Fortunately, heterologous biosynthesis of terpenoids in microorganisms offers an alternative and sustainable approach for efficient production.

A small molecule that selectively inhibits the growth of Epstein-Barr virus-latently infected cancer cells.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), an oncogenic herpesvirus, is predominantly found in the latent infection form and is highly associated with many human malignancies, which mainly have poor prognoses and no effective treatments. Here, we obtained thirteen compounds from small-molecule libraries for specific inhibition of EBV-latently infected cell growth by high-throughput screening. Among them, cetrimonium bromide (CetB) was identified to selectively inhibit the growth of different EBV-infected B lymphoma cell lines.

Does Electroencephalography Seizure Duration Account for an Adequate Treatment of Magnetic Seizure Therapy for Schizophrenia?

Objectives: A seizure lasting >15 s has been considered to indicate treatment for magnetic seizure therapy (MST), a modification of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), without much validation. This study aimed to investigate whether this seizure duration was suitable for the treatment of schizophrenia.

Methods: Altogether, 34 and 33 in-patients with schizophrenia received 10 sessions of MST and ECT, respectively.

Heterojunction polarization enhancement and shielding for AlGaN-based solar-blind ultraviolet avalanche detectors.

AlGaN-based solar-blind ultraviolet avalanche detectors have huge potentials in the fields of corona discharge monitoring, biological imaging, etc. Here, we study the impact of the heterojunction polarization-related effects on the AlGaN-based solar-blind ultraviolet avalanche detectors. Our work confirms that the polarization heterojunction is beneficial to reducing avalanche bias and lifting avalanche gain by improving the electric field in the depletion region, while the polarization-induced fixed charges will lead to a redistribution of the electrons, in turn shielding the charges and weakening the electric field enhancement effect.

Nonvolatile and reconfigurable two-terminal electro-optic duplex memristor based on III-nitride semiconductors.

With the fast development of artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of things (IOT), etc, there is an urgent need for the technology that can efficiently recognize, store and process a staggering amount of information. The AlScN material has unique advantages including immense remnant polarization, superior temperature stability and good lattice-match to other III-nitrides, making it easy to integrate with the existing advanced III-nitrides material and device technologies. However, due to the large band-gap, strong coercive field, and low photo-generated carrier generation and separation efficiency, it is difficult for AlScN itself to accumulate enough photo-generated carriers at the surface/interface to induce polarization inversion, limiting its application in in-memory sensing and computing.

Effect and Regulation Mechanism of Post-deposition Annealing on the Ferroelectric Properties of AlScN Thin Films.

Integrating ferroelectric AlScN with III-N semiconductors to enhance the performance and tunability of nitride devices requires high-quality AlScN films. This work focuses on the effect and regulation mechanism of post-annealing in pure N on the crystal quality and ferroelectric properties of AlScN films. It is found that the crystal quality improves with increasing annealing temperatures.

In Situ Growth of Wafer-Scale Patterned Graphene and Fabrication of Optoelectronic Artificial Synaptic Device Array Based on Graphene/n-AlGaN Heterojunction for Visual Learning.

The unique optical and electrical properties of graphene-based heterojunctions make them significant for artificial synaptic devices, promoting the advancement of biomimetic vision systems. However, mass production and integration of device arrays are necessary for visual imaging, which is still challenging due to the difficulty in direct growth of wafer-scale graphene patterns. Here, a novel strategy is proposed using photosensitive polymer as a solid carbon source for in situ growth of patterned graphene on diverse substrates.

Centimeter-Transferable III-Nitride Membrane Enabled by Interfacial Adhesion Control for a Flexible Photosensitive Device.

Flexible III-nitride-based optoelectronic devices are crucial for the next-generation foldable/wearable lighting sterilization and sensor working in the ultraviolet (UV) region. However, the strong bonding effect at the epitaxial interface of III-nitride and bare sapphire substrate makes it difficult for epilayer separation and flexible applications. Although the emerging van der Waals epitaxy (vdWE) with graphene insertion layer offers a feasible route for weakening the interfacial adhesion, the intact centimeter-transferable III-nitride membrane still remains challenging.

Discovery of [5,5'-bibenzo[d][1,3]dioxol]-6-substituted amine derivatives as potent proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors.

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) has emerged as a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of hyperlipidemia. In discovery of novel small molecules that interfere PCSK9/LDLR protein-protein interaction (PPI), structural modification was performed based on our previously derived compounds. A series of [5,5'-bibenzo[d][1,3]dioxol]-6-amine analogs were designed and synthesized for the activity evaluation.

Predicting tumor deposits in patients with rectal cancer: Using the models of multiple mathematical parameters derived from diffusion-weighted imaging.

Purpose: Using mono-exponential, bi-exponential, and stretched-exponential models of multi-b-value diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) to predict tumor depositions (TDs) in patients with rectal cancer (RC).

Material And Methods: This retrospective study, between January 2018 and November 2021, enrolled 30 TDs-positive and 38 TDs-negative of patients with rectal cancer. The mathematical parameters including ADC from mono-exponential model, D, D* and f from bi-exponential model, and DDC and α from stretched-exponential model, clinical factors (such as age, gender, pathological stage, etc.

Predictors of Electroconvulsive Therapy Outcome in Major Depressive Disorder.

Background: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is an effective therapy for major depressive disorder (MDD) patients. However, few clinical predictors are available to predict the treatment outcome. This study aimed to characterize the response trajectories of MDD patients undergoing ECT treatment and to identify potential clinical and demographic predictors for clinical improvement.

Development and validation of a high-resolution T2WI-based radiomic signature for the diagnosis of lymph node status within the mesorectum in rectal cancer.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to explore the feasibility of a high-resolution T2-weighted imaging (HR-T2WI)-based radiomics prediction model for diagnosing metastatic lymph nodes (LNs) within the mesorectum in rectal cancer.

Method: A total of 604 LNs (306 metastatic and 298 non-metastatic) from 166 patients were obtained. All patients underwent HR-T2WI examination and total mesorectal excision (TME) surgery.

Intravoxel incoherent motion DWI with different mathematical models in predicting rectal adenoma with and without canceration.

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical value of intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) with mono-exponential (ME), bi-exponential (BE), and stretched-exponential (SE) models for predicting rectal adenomas with canceration.

Material And Methods: Sixty patients with postoperative pathology-confirmed rectal adenoma (n = 31) and adenoma with canceration (n = 29) were enrolled and underwent IVIM-DWI scanning. The ME-derived apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), BE-derived true diffusion coefficient (D), pseudo-diffusion coefficient (D*), perfusion fraction (f), SE-derived distributed diffusion coefficient (DDC), and water molecular diffusion heterogeneity index (α) were measured.

Van der Waals Epitaxy of c-Oriented Wurtzite AlGaN on Polycrystalline Mo Substrates for Enhanced Heat Dissipation.

The epitaxy of III-nitrides on metallic substrates is competitive due to the advantages of vertical carrier injection, enhanced heat dissipation, and flexible application in various III-nitride-based devices. However, the serious lattice mismatch, atom diffusion, and interface reaction under the rigorous growth conditions have caused enormous obstacles. Based on the thermal and chemical stability of the graphene layer, we propose the van der Waals epitaxy of c-oriented wurtzite AlGaN on the polycrystalline Mo substrate by high-temperature metal-organic chemical vapor deposition.

Morphology and carrier mobility of high-B-content BAlN ternary alloys from an global search.

The excellent properties of III-nitrides and their alloys have led to significant applications in optoelectronic devices. Boron, the lightest IIIA group element, makes it possible to extend the flexibility of III-nitride alloys. However, both BAlN and BGaN ternary alloys suffer from poor material quality during crystal growth, their B contents in experimental reports are no higher than 22%, and the underlying mechanism is still unclear.

Comprehensive role of SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein in regulating host signaling pathway.

Since the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, global public health and the economy have suffered unprecedented damage. Based on the increasing related literature, the characteristics and pathogenic mechanisms of the virus, and epidemiological and clinical features of the disease are being rapidly discovered. The spike glycoprotein (S protein), as a key antigen of SARS-CoV-2 for developing vaccines, antibodies, and drug targets, has been shown to play an important role in viral entry, tissue tropism, and pathogenesis.

Rapid establishment of murine gastrointestinal organoids using mechanical isolation method.

Gastrointestinal (GI) diseases, including pathological dysplasia, inflammation, neoplasia and injury, suffer millions of patients globally per year. Organoids, three-dimensional cell mass structures supported by biomaterials in dishes, are currently used as a research model for diseases of the small intestine. However, the traditional enzymatic-digestion method for establishing small-intestinal organoids (EnzyOs) is time consuming and often loses the bulk of crypts, a more efficient and reliable method needs to be developed.

Comparison of electroconvulsive therapy and magnetic seizure therapy in schizophrenia: Structural changes/neuroplasticity.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) can effectively reduce the symptoms of schizophrenia, but may also impair cognitive function. A potential alternative is magnetic seizure therapy (MST), which has shown comparable efficacy with less severe cognitive disruption. This study compared ECT to MST for clinical efficacy and cognitive side effects.

Diagnostic and Staging Value of Serum Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme in Sarcoidosis.

Objective: To investigate the diagnostic and staging value of serum angiotensin-converting enzyme (sACE) in sarcoidosis.

Methods: Patients with suspected sarcoidosis treated in the Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine of the China-Japan Friendship Hospital from 2010 to 2020 were included. The data of sACE, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), complete blood count (CBC), lung function, bronchoalveolar lavage, and biopsy were collected.

Functional reconfiguration of cerebellum-cerebral neural loop in schizophrenia following electroconvulsive therapy.

Recent evidence highlights the role of the cerebellum-cerebral loop in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia (SZ). Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is clinically applied to augment the effect of antipsychotic drugs. The study aims to address whether the cerebellum-cerebral loop is involved in the mechanisms of ECT's augmentation effect.

Magnetic Seizure Therapy Compared to Electroconvulsive Therapy for Schizophrenia: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Magnetic seizure therapy (MST) is a potential alternative to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). However, reports on the use of MST for patients with schizophrenia, particularly in developing countries, which is a main indication for ECT, are limited. From February 2017 to July 2018, 79 inpatients who met the DSM-5 criteria for schizophrenia were randomized to receive 10 sessions of MST (43 inpatients) or ECT (36 inpatients) over the course of 4 weeks.