Porous Carbon Fabricated by Microbial Pretreatment of Brewer's Grain for the Improvement of Toluene Adsorption Performance.

Porous activated carbons (AC-AN and AC-AO) for toluene adsorption were prepared starting from brewer's grain biomass pretreated with microorganisms ( van Tieghem for AC-AN and RIB40 for AC-AO). The structures and chemical properties of the three activated carbon materials (AC-AN, AC-AO, and AC that was not pretreated with microorganisms) were characterized by N adsorption-desorption isotherms, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The adsorption behavior of the three activated carbons for toluene was studied and correlated with the physical and chemical properties of these materials.

FBXW7 in gastrointestinal cancers: from molecular mechanisms to therapeutic prospects.

F-box and WD repeat domain-containing 7 (FBXW7), formerly known as hCdc4, hAGO Fbw7, or SEL10, plays a specific recognition function in SCF-type E3 ubiquitin ligases. FBXW7 is a well-established cancer suppressor gene that specifically controls proteasomal degradation and destruction of many key oncogenic substrates. The FBXW7 gene is frequently abnormal in human malignancies especially in gastrointestinal cancers.

Single-cell RNA sequencing identifies CXADR as a fate determinant of the placental exchange surface.

The placenta is the critical interface between mother and fetus, and consequently, placental dysfunction underlies many pregnancy complications. Placental formation requires an adequate expansion of trophoblast stem and progenitor cells followed by finely tuned lineage specification events. Here, using single-cell RNA sequencing of mouse trophoblast stem cells during the earliest phases of differentiation, we identify gatekeepers of the stem cell state, notably Nicol1, and uncover unsuspected trajectories of cell lineage diversification as well as regulators of lineage entry points.

X-ray triggered bimetallic nanoassemblies as radiosensitizers and STING agonists for a CDT/radio-immunotherapy strategy.

Radiotherapy (RT) is a cornerstone of cancer therapy, but its effectiveness is constrained by dose-limiting toxicity and inadequate systemic immune activation. To overcome these limitations, we have engineered an X-ray-responsive nanoassembly (sMnAu NAs) by cross-linking monodisperse MnAu nanoparticles (NPs) with radiation-responsive diselenide-containing linkers. MnAu alloy NPs not only provide Au NPs for radiosensitization, but also control Mn (0) release, which stimulates Fenton-like reaction for chemodynamic therapy and is transferred into Mn to activate the STING pathway for immunotherapy.

Enhancing the Deformability of the Adjuvant: Achieving Lymph Node Targeted Delivery to Elicit a Long-Lasting Immune Protection.

A key challenge in vaccine development is to induce an effective and durable immune response. Live virus vaccines induce lifelong antibody responses; however, the immune responses induced by inactivated or subunit vaccines decrease gradually. Activation of the germinal center (GC) reaction, which generates long-lived plasma cells (LLPCs), is a key mediator of long-term antibody responses.

Development of Stable and Intensified Mixing Processes for the Precise and Scalable Production of Uniform Drug Delivery Nanocarriers.

Nanocarriers show great promise in drug delivery but face challenges in stability, uniformity, and morphology control. This work introduces an enhanced mixing process to overcome these obstacles, specifically aiming to produce consistently sized poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) nanoparticles loaded with anti-tumor drugs. By innovatively integrating a pulsation dampener into the microfluidic channels of a continuous flow preparation system, the flow stability of piston pumps is improved nearly tenfold.

Developing engineered muscle tissues utilizing standard cell culture plates and mesenchymal stem cell-conditioned medium.

The construction of engineered muscle tissues that resemble the function and microstructure of human muscles holds significant promise for various applications, including disease modeling, regenerative medicine, and biological machines. However, current muscle tissue engineering approaches often rely on complex equipment which may limit their accessibility and practicality. Herein, we present a convenient approach using a standard 24-well cell culture plate to construct a platform to facilitate engineered muscle tissues formation and culture.

De novo construction of amine-functionalized metal-organic cages as heterogenous catalysts for microflow catalysis.

Microflow catalysis is a cutting-edge approach to advancing chemical synthesis and manufacturing, but the challenge lies in developing efficient and stable multiphase catalysts. Here we showcase incorporating amine-containing metal-organic cages into automated microfluidic reactors through covalent bonds, enabling highly continuous flow catalysis. Two FeL tetrahedral cages bearing four uncoordinated amines were designed and synthesized.

Construction of a 12-Gene Prognostic Risk Model and Tumor Immune Microenvironment Analysis Based on the Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma Model.

Objectives: Accurate survival predictions and early interventional therapy are crucial for people with clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC).

Methods: In this retrospective study, we identified differentially expressed immune-related (DE-IRGs) and oncogenic (DE-OGs) genes from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset to construct a prognostic risk model using univariate Cox regression and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) analysis. We compared the immunogenomic characterization between the high- and low-risk patients in the TCGA and the PUCH cohort, including the immune cell infiltration level, immune score, immune checkpoint, and T-effector cell- and interferon (IFN)-γ-related gene expression.

Organophotocatalytic access to -glycosides: multicomponent coupling reactions using glycosyl bromides.

Photochemical multi-component coupling reactions initiated by the activation of glycosyl bromides in the presence of 1,4-bis(diphenylamino)benzene (BDB) as an organic photocatalyst were developed. -glycosides accompanied by olefin (di)functionalization were obtained. This method allows us to access various -glycosides with alkene, carbonyl, alcohol, ether, and amide functionalities.

Hypervalent Iodine Promoted Selective [2 + 2 + 1] Cycloaddition of Aromatic Ketones and Methylamines: A One-Pot Access to 1-Pyrrolines.

Herein, a versatile highly regioselective three-component annulation of simple aromatic ketones and methylamines using a hypervalent iodine reagent for polyarylated 1-pyrrolines has been described in good to excellent yields. Meanwhile, unsymmetrical 1-pyrroline isomers could be realized and synthesized. Such an intriguing one-pot two-step tandem assembly strategy with green conditions and high regioselectivity shows predictable inspiration in related annulation reactions.

Advanced biomedical and electronic dual-function skin patch created through microfluidic-regulated 3D bioprinting.

Artificial skin involves multidisciplinary efforts, including materials science, biology, medicine, and tissue engineering. Recent studies have aimed at creating skins that are multifunctional, intelligent, and capable of regenerating tissue. In this work, we present a specialized 3D printing ink composed of polyurethane and bioactive glass (PU-BG) and prepare dual-function skin patch by microfluidic-regulated 3D bioprinting (MRBP) technique.

Prognostic and clinicopathological significance of systemic immune-inflammation index in upper tract urothelial carcinoma: a meta-analysis of 3911 patients.

Background: Systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), a novel prognostic indicator, is being more commonly utilized in different types of cancer. This research project involved combining information from previously published studies to examine how pre-treatment SII can predict outcomes in individuals with upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC). Further examination of the correlation between SII and clinical and pathological features in UTUC.

Advancing Engineered Plant Living Materials through Tobacco BY-2 Cell Growth and Transfection within Tailored Granular Hydrogel Scaffolds.

In this study, an innovative approach is presented in the field of engineered plant living materials (EPLMs), leveraging a sophisticated interplay between synthetic biology and engineering. We detail a 3D bioprinting technique for the precise spatial patterning and genetic transformation of the tobacco BY-2 cell line within custom-engineered granular hydrogel scaffolds. Our methodology involves the integration of biocompatible hydrogel microparticles (HMPs) primed for 3D bioprinting with capable of plant cell transfection, serving as the backbone for the simultaneous growth and transformation of tobacco BY-2 cells.

Hydrodynamics-Controlled Single-Particle Electrocatalysis.

Electrocatalysis is considered promising in renewable energy conversion and storage, yet numerous efforts rely on catalyst design to advance catalytic activity. Herein, a hydrodynamic single-particle electrocatalysis methodology is developed by integrating collision electrochemistry and microfluidics to improve the activity of an electrocatalysis system. As a proof-of-concept, hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is electrocatalyzed by individual palladium nanoparticles (Pd NPs), with the development of microchannel-based ultramicroelectrodes.

Governance effects of pollution reduction and carbon mitigation of carbon emission trading policy in China.

China's carbon emission trading policy plays a crucial role in achieving both its "3060" dual carbon objectives and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 13 (SDG 13) on climate action. The policy's effectiveness in reducing pollution and mitigating carbon emissions holds significant importance. This paper investigated whether China's carbon emission trading policy affects pollution reduction (PM and SO) and carbon mitigation (CO) in pilot regions, using panel data from 30 provinces and municipalities in China from 2005 to 2019 and employing a multi-period difference-in-differences (DID) model.

Room-temperature stabilizing strongly competing ferrielectric and antiferroelectric phases in PbZrO by strain-mediated phase separation.

PbZrO has been broadly considered as a prototypical antiferroelectric material for high-power energy storage. A recent theoretical study suggests that the ground state of PbZrO is threefold-modulated ferrielectric, which challenges the generally accepted antiferroelectric configuration. However, such a novel ferrielectric phase was predicted only to be accessible at low temperatures.

Activation of CGRP receptor-mediated signaling promotes tendon-bone healing.

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), an osteopromotive neurotransmitter with a short half-life, shows increase while calcitonin receptor-like (CALCRL) level is decreased at the early stage in bone fractures. Therefore, the activation of CALCRL-mediated signaling may be more critical to promote the tendon-bone healing. We found CGRP enhanced osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs through PKA/CREB/JUNB pathway, contributing to improved sonic hedgehog (SHH) expression, which was verified at the tendon-bone interface (TBI) in the mice with overexpression.

Locally delivered hydrogels with controlled release of nanoscale exosomes promote cardiac repair after myocardial infarction.

Compared with stem cells, exosomes as a kind of nanoscale carriers intrinsically loaded with diverse bioactive molecules, which had the advantages of high safety, small size, and ethical considerations in the treatment of myocardial infarction, but there are still problems such as impaired stability and rapid dissipation. Here, we introduce a bioengineered injectable hyaluronic acid hydrogel designed to optimize local delivery efficiency of trophoblast stem cells derived-exosomes. Its hyaluronan components adeptly emulates the composition and modulus of pericardial fluid, meanwhile preserving the bioactivity of nanoscale exosomes.

ZNF460-mediated circRPPH1 promotes TNBC progression through ITGA5-induced FAK/PI3K/AKT activation in a ceRNA manner.

Background: Circular RNAs are highly stable regulatory RNAs that have been increasingly associated with tumorigenesis and progression. However, the role of many circRNAs in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and the related mechanisms have not been elucidated.

Methods: In this study, we screened circRNAs with significant expression differences in the RNA sequencing datasets of TNBC and normal breast tissues and then detected the expression level of circRPPH1 by qRT‒PCR.

Hierarchical Label Distribution Learning for Disease Prediction.

The prediction of disease can facilitate early intervention, comprehensive diagnosis and treatment, thereby benefiting healthcare and reducing medical costs. While single class and multi-class learning methods have been applied for disease prediction, they are inadequate in distinguishing between primary and secondary diagnoses, which is crucial for treatments. In this paper, label distribution is suggested to describe the diagnosis, which assigns the description degree to quantify the diagnosis.

The values of HER-2 expression in the non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer: a retrospective clinical study.

Purpose: The purpose of this research is to evaluate the association between HER-2 expression and clinicopathological features in patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC).

Methods: Between 2019 and 2022, 204 patients treated with Transurethral resection of the bladder tumor (TURBT) were included in this study. Data of pathologic T (pT) stage, grades of the tumor, age, sex, tumor size and number of the tumors were collected and compared according to the expression level of the human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER-2).

Multifunctional Injectable Hydrogel Microparticles Loaded with miR-29a Abundant BMSCs Derived Exosomes Enhanced Bone Regeneration by Regulating Osteogenesis and Angiogenesis.

The study investigated whether both the osteogenic and angiogenic potential of Exos (Exosomes) can be enhanced by overexpression of exosomal miRNA (microRNA) and to confirm whether Exos loaded in HMPs (Hydrogel microparticles) exert long-term effects during new bone formation. BMSCs and Exos are successfully obtained. In vitro and in vivo experiments confirmed that HDAC4 (Histone deacetylase 4) is inhibited by miR-29a overexpression accompanied by the upregulation of RUNX2 (Runt-related transcription factor 2) and VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor), thereby enhancing osteogenic and angiogenic capabilities.