Covariate-constrained randomization in cluster randomized 2 × 2 factorial trials: application to a diabetes prevention study.

Background: Cluster randomized trials (CRTs) are randomized trials where randomization takes place at an administrative level (e.g., hospitals, clinics, or schools) rather than at the individual level.

ErbB3 is required for hyperaminoacidemia-induced pancreatic α cell hyperplasia.

Blood amino acid levels are maintained in a narrow physiological range. The pancreatic α cells have emerged as the primary aminoacidemia regulator through glucagon secretion to promote hepatic amino acid catabolism. Interruption of glucagon signaling disrupts the liver-α cells axis leading to hyperaminoacidemia, which triggers a compensatory rise in glucagon secretion and α cell hyperplasia.

Covariate-constrained randomization in cluster randomized 2x2 factorial trials: Application to a diabetes prevention study.

Background: Cluster randomized trials (CRTs) are randomized trials where randomization takes place at an administrative level (e.g., hospitals, clinics, or schools) rather than at the individual level.

A highly efficient synthetic strategy for NP encapsulation into metal-organic frameworks: enabling further modulated control of catalytic properties.

encapsulation is a prevalent method to prepare composite materials where the structure-tunable metal nanoparticles (NPs) are holistically coated with metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). This method has been demonstrated to have promise in various fields but the extensive application of this approach is still challenging. This study proposed, for the first time, leveraging a specific surface-energy-dominated (SED) mechanism to achieve a highly efficient synthetic strategy for NP encapsulation.

Crispr-Cas9 mediated complete deletion of glucagon receptor in mice display hyperglucagonemia and α-cell hyperplasia.

Glucagon receptor plays an important role in the regulation of glucose metabolism. Studies have revealed that glucagon receptor antagonism is a potential effective treatment for diabetes. However, the functions of GCGR have not been fully illustrated.

Knockout of Nur77 Leads to Amino Acid, Lipid, and Glucose Metabolism Disorders in Zebrafish.

Orphan nuclear receptor Nur77 has been reported to be implicated in a diverse range of metabolic processes, including carbohydrate metabolism and lipid metabolism. However, the detailed mechanism of Nur77 in the regulation of metabolic pathway still needs to be further investigated. In this study, we created a global knockout zebrafish model by CRISPR/Cas9 technique, and then performed whole-organism RNA sequencing analysis in wildtype and -deficient zebrafish to dissect the genetic changes in metabolic-related pathways.

Aperture-Opening Encapsulation of a Transition Metal Catalyst in a Metal-Organic Framework for CO Hydrogenation.

The aperture-opening process resulting from dissociative linker exchange in zirconium-based metal-organic framework (MOF) UiO-66 was used to encapsulate the ruthenium complex (PNP)Ru(CO)HCl in the framework (PNP = 2,6-bis((di- tert-butyl-phosphino)methyl)pyridine). The resulting encapsulated complex, [Ru]@UiO-66, was a very active catalyst for the hydrogenation of CO to formate. Unlike the analogous homogeneous catalyst, [Ru]@UiO-66 could be recycled five times, showed no evidence for bimolecular catalyst decomposition, and was less prone to catalyst poisoning.

Molecular encapsulation beyond the aperture size limit through dissociative linker exchange in metal-organic framework crystals.

Under linker exchange conditions, large guests with molecular diameters 3-4 times the framework aperture size have been encapsulated into preformed nanocrystals of the metal-organic framework ZIF-8. Guest encapsulation is facilitated by the formation of short-lived "open" states of the pores upon linker dissociation. Kinetic studies suggested that linker exchange reactions in ZIF-8 proceed via a competition between dissociative and associative exchange mechanisms, and guest encapsulation was enhanced under conditions where the dissociative pathway predominates.