Publications by authors named "Zhixiao Xu"

Rapid identification of peptides that bind specifically to a target protein is essential for disease diagnostics and drug development. However, de novo design of peptides without any prior structural knowledge remains a long-standing challenge. Herein, we present Peptide Iterative design with Stochastic Algorithm and Docking (PISAD), a de novo peptide design method, which combines an iterative stochastic searching algorithm with docking assessment.

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Aqueous and seawater energy storage devices hold great potential for electrical grids application due to safety, affordability, and sustainability. However, their broader deployment has been constrained by the absence of a durable thick anode. Here, the first universal thick anode operating stably across 15 simple-ion and 3 complex-ion systems, including nonmetallic (H, NH ), monovalent (Li, Na, K), multivalent ions (Zn, Ca, Mg, Al), and seawater ions (>5 cations) is reported.

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Identifying effective biomarkers has long been a persistent need for early diagnosis and targeted therapy of disease. While mass spectrometry-based label-free proteomics with trace cell has been demonstrated, deep proteomics with ultratrace human biofluid remains challenging due to low protein concentration, extremely limited patient sample volume, and substantial protein contact losses during preprocessing. Herein, we proposed and validated lanthanide metal-organic framework flowers (MOF-flowers), as effective materials, to trap and enrich protein in biofluid jointly through cation-π interaction and O-Ln coordination.

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Background: It has been proposed that repeated exposure of bronchial epithelial cells to atmospheric particulate matter (PM) could disrupt airway epithelial integrity and lead to epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and ultimately airway remodeling. The molecular mechanisms underlying PM-related bronchial epithelial EMT have not yet been elucidated. The aim of this research is to clarify the molecular mechanism of EMT upon PM exposure.

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Background: An imbalance of the pro-oxidant and antioxidant profiles in the body contributes to the development of diseases, including female infertility.

Methods: In this study, we performed a secondary analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and calculated the values of oxidative balance score (OBS). A weighted logistic regression model was used to explore the potential relationship between OBS (continuous factor and quartile set) and female infertility, and the P for trend was calculated.

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Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) technology stands out as a promising energy storage system. However, its journey toward practical implementation is hindered by sluggish sulfur reduction reaction (SRR) kinetics. A free-standing graphene aerogel (GA) combined with a copper-based metal-organic framework (MOF-GA) is fabricated as the sulfur host material for Li-S battery cathodes.

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The early-life organ development and maturation shape the fundamental blueprint for later-life phenotype. However, a multi-organ proteome atlas from infancy to adulthood is currently not available. Herein, we present a comprehensive proteomic analysis of ten mouse organs (brain, heart, lung, liver, kidney, spleen, stomach, intestine, muscle and skin) at three crucial developmental stages (1-, 4- and 8-weeks after birth) acquired using data-independent acquisition mass spectrometry.

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Background: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a prevalent condition that is thought to be significantly impacted by oxidative stress. The oxidative balance score (OBS) has been built to characterize the state of antioxidant/pro-oxidant balance. There is less known regarding the relationship of OBS with ED.

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Lithium metal batteries (LMBs) must have both long cycle life and calendar life to be commercially viable. However, "trial and error" methodologies remain prevalent in contemporary research endeavors to identify favorable electrolytes. Here, a guiding principle for the selection of solvents for LMBs is proposed, which aims to achieve high Coulombic efficiency while minimizing the corrosion.

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Purpose: Oxidative balance stress (OBS) was an important indicator for assessing exposure to oxidative stress related to diet and lifestyle. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between OBS and kidney stone disease (KSD).

Methods: Secondary dataset analysis was performed by the study from six survey cycles (2007-2018) in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

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Background: The oxidative balance score (OBS), an encompassing scoring mechanism for assessing oxidative stress, is formulated based on nutritional and lifestyle components. The emergence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) is intricately linked to oxidative stress. Nonetheless, the correlation between OBS and MetS displays variability within distinct cohorts.

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Background: Extant research has demonstrated a correlation between exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and impaired lung function. The maintenance of an antioxidant-rich diet/lifestyle positively benefits pulmonary health. However, the potential ameliorative impact of an antioxidant-based diet/lifestyle on PAH-induced detrimental effects remains unclear.

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Lead is a widespread environmental hazard that can adversely affect multiple biological functions. Blood cells are the initial targets that face lead exposure. However, a systematic assessment of lead dynamics in blood cells at single-cell resolution is still absent.

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Introduction: 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL), a metabolite of tobacco-specific nitrosamine (TSNA) 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), is a tobacco-specific carcinogen. Spirometry values (FEV1%, PEF%, etc.) are commonly used as clinical indicators to assess the condition of lung function and the results can be used to diagnose respiratory diseases.

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Background: Some literature indicates an association between exposure to cadmium and lead and the presence of emphysema and chronic bronchitis, which are the two primary components of COPD. Understanding whether there is a potential association between cadmium and lead exposure and higher mortality rates in individuals with COPD could provide profound insights into the long-term effects of these two metal exposures on human health.

Methods: This study included 2024 patients with COPD in the US from the NHANES from 1999 through 2016 who were followed up to 2019.

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Zinc-ion batteries show great potential as the next-generation power source due to their nontoxic, low-cost, and safe properties. However, issues with zinc anodes, such as dendrite growth and parasitic hydrogen evolution reactions (HERs), must be addressed to commercialize them. Solutions, such as quasi-solid-state electrolytes made from synthetic polymer hydrogels, have been proposed to improve battery flexibility and energy density.

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Background: Oxidative stress is correlated with sleep quality. A common tool for evaluating dietary and lifestyle exposures to oxidative stress is the Oxidative Balance Score (OBS), with higher OBS suggesting more substantial antioxidant exposures. The relationship between OBS and sleep quality is unclear.

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Acute lung injury (ALI) is associated with an increased incidence of respiratory diseases, which are devastating clinical disorders with high global mortality and morbidity. Evidence confirms that fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) play key roles in mediating ALI. Mice were treated with LPS (lipopolysaccharide: 5 mg/kg, intratracheally) to establish an in vivo ALI model.

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Background: The muscle quality index (MQI), as an important component of sarcopenia, is defined as the ratio of muscle strength to muscle mass. Lung function, is a clinical indicator to assess ventilation and air exchange function. This study investigated the relationship between lung function indices and MQI in the NHANES database from 2011 to 2012.

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Bifunctional electrocatalysts with superior activity and durability are of great importance for electrocatalytic water splitting. Herein, hierarchical structured CoO/CoP heterojunctions are successfully designed as highly efficient and freestanding bifunctional electrocatalysts toward overall water splitting. The unique microstructure combining two-dimensional nanosheets with one-dimensional nanowires enables numerous exposed active sites, shortened ion-diffusion pathways, and enhanced conductivity, significantly improving performance.

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In the lithium-dominated era, rechargeable Zn batteries are emerging as a competitive alternative. However, the sluggish kinetics of ion diffusion and structural destruction of cathode materials have thus far hampered the realization of future large-scale energy storage. Herein, an in situ self-transformation approach is reported to electrochemically boost the activity of a high-temperature, argon-treated VO (AVO) microsphere for effective Zn ion storage.

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Background: Oxidative stress is associated with outcomes of chronic lung disease. The oxidative stress-related exposures of diet and lifestyle can be evaluated by the oxidative balance score (OBS), and higher OBS scores indicate more significant antioxidant exposures. But the relationship between OBS and lung health is unknown.

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The ability to assess adverse outcomes in patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) could improve clinical decision-making to enhance clinical practice, but the studies remain insufficient, and similarly, few machine learning (ML) models have been developed. We aimed to explore the effectiveness of predicting adverse outcomes in CAP through ML models. A total of 2,302 adults with CAP who were prospectively recruited between January 2012 and March 2015 across three cities in South America were extracted from DryadData.

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Zn metal has shown promise as an anode material for grid-level energy storage, yet is challenged by dendritic growth and low Coulombic efficiency. Herein, an ultrafast, stable, and high-loading polymer anode for aqueous Zn-ion batteries and capacitors (ZIBs and ZICs) is developed by engineering both the electrode and electrolyte. The anode polymer is rationally prepared to have a suitable electronic structure and a large π-conjugated structure, whereas the electrolyte is manufactured based on the superiority of triflate anions over sulfate anions, as analyzed and confirmed via experiments and simulations.

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