Nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots from pumpkin for the sensing of nifuratel and temperature.

Herein, nitrogen doped carbon quantum dots (N-CQDs) were synthesized using a hydrothermal strategy. The raw materials for the preparation of N-CQDs were sourced from pumpkin and melamine. The N-CQDs suggested fascinating water solubility, favorable UV and salt resistance stability.

Rapid and Scalable Preparation of High-Crystalline Carboxyl-Functionalized Covalent Triazine Frameworks via Friedel-Crafts Reaction.

The Friedel-Crafts reaction has been extensively applied to the preparation of various porous organic polymers because of its simple operation and abundant building blocks. However, due to its poor reversibility and excessive random reactive sites, the synthesis of crystalline organic polymers/frameworks by Friedel-Crafts reaction has never been realized so far. Herein, we develop a molecular confined Friedel-Crafts reaction strategy to achieve rapid preparation (within only 30 minutes) of highly crystalline covalent triazine frameworks (CTFs) with tailorable functionality for the first time.

Mandarin-speaking children with different types of cochlear implant exhibit variations in the activation patterns of their central auditory processing.

Background: Cochlear implants (CIs) have the potential to facilitate auditory restoration in deaf children and contribute to the maturation of the auditory cortex. The type of CI may impact hearing rehabilitation in children with CI. We aimed to study central auditory processing activation patterns during speech perception in Mandarin-speaking pediatric CI recipients with different device characteristics.

Corrosion fatigue of as-extruded Mg-xGa alloys in simulated bodily fluids with various glucose contents.

The medical devices are subjected to dynamic loads and surrounding physiological condition of the bodily fluids, which will impact the degradation behavior of magnesium (Mg) alloy implants. In this work, the corrosion fatigue (CF) and corrosion behaviors of Mg-xGa (x = 1, 1.5, and 2 wt%) alloys in Hank's balanced salt solutions (HBSS) with 1 g/L and 3 g/L glucose are thoroughly studied.

Study on the Chemical Composition and Anti-Tumor Mechanisms of Fruit By-Products: Based on LC-MS, Network Pharmacology Analysis, and Protein Target Validation.

(Lour.) Skeels, commonly known as Wampee, are valued for their edible and medicinal qualities, yet their pericarp and seeds are often discarded, resulting in wasted resources. This study investigates the anti-tumor potential of these by-products, focusing on their chemical composition and underlying mechanisms of action.

A microgripper based on electrothermal Al-SiO bimorphs.

Microgrippers are essential for assembly and manipulation at the micro- and nano-scales, facilitating important applications in microelectronics, MEMS, and biomedical engineering. To guarantee the safe handling of delicate materials and micro-objects, a microgripper needs to be designed to operate with exceptional precision, rapid response, user-friendly operation, strong reliability, and low power consumption. In this study, we develop an electrothermal actuated microgripper with Al-SiO bimorphs as the primary structural element.

miRStart 2.0: enhancing miRNA regulatory insights through deep learning-based TSS identification.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression by binding to the 3'-untranslated regions of target mRNAs, influencing various biological processes at the post-transcriptional level. Identifying miRNA transcription start sites (TSSs) and transcription factors' (TFs) regulatory roles is crucial for elucidating miRNA function and transcriptional regulation. miRStart 2.

The role of systemic immune-inflammation index in predicting pathological complete response of breast cancer after neoadjuvant therapy and the establishment of related predictive model.

Objective: To investigate the role of systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) in complete pathological response (pCR) of breast cancer patients after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and to establish and validate a nomogram for predicting pCR.

Methods: Breast cancer patients were selected from the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University from January 2020 to December 2023. The optimal cut-off value of SII was calculated via ROC curve.

J-shaped association of serum uric acid with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in patients with diabetic kidney disease.

Aims: The association of serum uric acid (SUA) with mortality remains unclear in patients with diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Thus, this prospective cohort study aimed to explore the association of SUA with all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality among patients with DKD in a large, nationally representative sample.

Methods: This cohort study included data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2018 and the National Death Index mortality data until 31 December 2019.

Dual-layer capacitance-loaded thin-film lithium niobate electro-optic modulator with high modulation efficiency.

Thin film lithium niobate (TFLN) modulators with low driving voltage and high bandwidth are desirable for fiber-optic communication. Enhancing the modulation efficiency of TFLN modulators can reduce the device length while maintaining a low driving voltage, leading to more dies per wafer and subsequently lower fabrication cost. However, waveguide loss induced by metal absorption limits the electrodes spacing, thereby constraining the modulation efficiency.

Comparison of HBV-specific T cell reactivity across the pregnant, postpartum and non-pregnant women with chronic HBV infection.

Objective: To investigate the features of HBV-specific T cell reactivity across the pregnant, postpartum or non-pregnant women with chronic HBV infection.

Methods: A total of 283 patients with chronic HBV infection were enrolled in this study, including 129 patients during pregnancy, 58 patients during postpartum less than 6 months and 96 non-pregnant patients at childbearing age. A universal ELISpot assay was set up using a broad-spectrum T-cell epitope peptide library which containing 103 functionally validated CD8 T-cell epitopes derived from overall HBsAg, HBc/eAg, HBx and HBpol proteins and fitting to the human leukocyte antigen polymorphisms of Chinese population.

Efficacy of triamcinolone acetonide combined with botulinum toxin A in the treatment of hypertrophic scars and keloids: A meta-analysis.

Background: This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of triamcinolone acetonide (TCA) combined with botulinum toxin type A (BTA) for treating hypertrophic scars and keloids.

Methods: A comprehensive search of randomized controlled trials published before September 2023 was conducted across the Cochrane Library, Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, and CNKI databases. The analysis involved calculating pooled weighted mean difference (WMD), pooled risk ratios (RR), and 95 % confidence intervals (CI).

Dynamics of tumor in situ fluid circulating tumor DNA in recurrent glioblastomas forecasts treatment efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade coupled with low-dose bevacizumab.

Purpose: Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapies have shown efficacy in various tumors, but long-term responses in glioblastoma are less than 10%. Quantifying tumor in situ fluid circulating tumor DNA (TISF-ctDNA) and therapeutic dynamics may enable real-time GBM disease burden evaluation. This study explores the potential of tumor in situ fluid circulating tumor DNA (TISF-ctDNA) dynamics in predicting treatment efficacy.

Comprehensive studies of the serine carboxypeptidase-like (SCPL) gene family in Carya cathayensis revealed the roles of SCPL4 in epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) synthesis and drought tolerance.

Hickory (Carya cathayensis) nuts are rich in epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) with multiple health functions. EGCG also regulates plant growth, development and stress responses. However, research on the synthesis mechanism of EGCG and its function in hickory is currently limited.

Proteomic and metabolomic analysis of plasma for pain at different labor stages.

Labor pain has an important impact on maternal labor experience, mood, and postpartum depression. It is of great emotional significance to pay attention to the pain stress response of pregnant women and take necessary intervention measures in the labor process to weaken the sense of delivery experience and reduce the risk of complications. To better understand the molecular alteration of pain and stress changes during the delivery, we analyzed the metabolomic and proteomic of the plasma collected during the labor process at different stages, revealing the significant changes in metabolites and proteins and the key regulatory pathways.

Compact RNA editors with natural miniature Cas13j nucleases.

Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-Cas13 effectors are used for RNA editing but the adeno-associated virus (AAV) packaging limitations because of their big sizes hinder their therapeutic application. Here we report the identification of the Cas13j family, with LepCas13j (529 aa) and ChiCas13j (424 aa) being the smallest and most highly efficient variants for RNA interference. The miniaturized Cas13j proteins enable the development of compact RNA base editors.

Regulating Intermolecular Interactions and Film Formation Kinetics for Record Efficiency in Difluorobenzothiadizole-Based Organic Solar Cells.

The difluorobenzothiadizole (ffBT) unit is one of the most classic electron-accepting building blocks used to construct D-A copolymers for applications in organic solar cells (OSCs). Historically, ffBT-based polymers have achieved record power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) in fullerene-based OSCs owing to their strong temperature-dependent aggregation (TDA) characteristics. However, their excessive miscibility and rapid aggregation kinetics during film formation have hindered their performance with state-of-the-art non-fullerene acceptors (NFAs).

Triglyceride-Glucose Index Levels Positively Associated with Higher Risk of Low Muscle Mass in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.

Aim: Although the interplay of insulin resistance (IR) and low muscle mass is increasingly recognized, it remains unknown whether the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index, as an indicator of IR, is associated with low muscle mass in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Our study aimed to investigate the association between TyG index and low muscle mass in hospitalized T2D patients.

Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 2687 hospitalized participants with T2D.

Toxicological effects, absorption and biodegradation of bisphenols with different functional groups in Chromochloris zofingiensis.

Bisphenols (BPs) are recognized as endocrine disrupting compounds and have garnered increasing attention due to their widespread utilization. However, the varying biological toxicities and underlying mechanisms of BPs with different functional groups remain unknown. In the present study, the toxic effects of four BPs (BPA, BPS, BPAF, and TBBPA) on a photosynthetic microalgae Chromochloris zofingiensis were compared.

A Large-Scan-Range Electrothermal Micromirror Integrated with Thermal Convection-Based Position Sensors.

This paper presents the design, simulation, fabrication, and characterization of a novel large-scan-range electrothermal micromirror integrated with a pair of position sensors. Note that the micromirror and the sensors can be manufactured within a single MEMS process flow. Thanks to the precise control of the fabrication of the grid-based large-size Al/SiO bimorph actuators, the maximum piston displacement and optical scan angle of the micromirror reach 370 μm and 36° at only 6 Vdc, respectively.