Polystyrene Nanoplastics Hitch-Hike the Gut-Brain Axis to Exacerbate Parkinson's Pathology.

The neurological implications of micro- and nanoplastic exposure have recently come under scrutiny due to the environmental prevalence of these synthetic materials. Parkinson's disease (PD) is a major neurological disorder clinically characterized by intracellular Lewy-body inclusions and dopaminergic neuronal death. These pathological hallmarks of PD, according to Braak's hypothesis, are mediated by the afferent propagation of α synuclein (αS) via the enteric nervous system, or the so-called gut-brain axis.

The role of green synthesis metal and metal oxide nanoparticles in oral cancer therapy: a review.

There are 275,000 new cases of oral cancer (OC) per year, making it the sixth most common cancer in the world. Severe adverse effects, including loss of function, deformity, and systemic toxicity, are familiar with traditional therapies such as radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery; due to their unique properties, nanoparticles (NPs) have emerged as a superior alternative over chemo/radiotherapy and surgery due to their targeting capability, bioavailability, compatibility, and high solubility. Due to their unique properties, metallic NPs have garnered significant attention in OC control.

Omnidirectionally Stretchable Spin-Valve Sensor Array with Stable Giant Magnetoresistance Performance.

Flexible magnetic sensors, which have advantages such as deformability, vector field sensing, and noncontact detection, are an important branch of flexible electronics and have significant applications in fields such as magnetosensitive electronic skin. Human skin surfaces have complicated deformations, which pose a demand for magnetic sensors that can withstand omnidirectional strain while maintaining stable performance. However, existing flexible magnetic sensor arrays can only withstand stretching along specific directions and are prone to failure under complicated deformations.

Unique hierarchical NiFe-LDH/Ni/NiCoS heterostructure arrays on nickel foam for the improvement of overall water splitting activity.

The development of environmentally friendly, high-efficiency, stable, earth-abundant and non-precious metal-based electrocatalysts with fast kinetics and low overpotential for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is of exceeding significance but still challenging. Herein, a bifunctional electrode of unique hierarchical NiFe-LDH/Ni/NiCoS/NF (NiFe-LDH = nickel-iron layered double hydroxide and NF = nickel foam) electrocatalytic architecture, which is built up from NiFe-LDH nanosheets, Ni nanoparticles and NiCoS nanoneedles sequentially arrayed on a porous NF substrate, has been prepared by a facile hydrothermal and electrodeposition method. This electrocatalytic architecture is binder-free and its outer NiFe-LDH nanosheets can effectively prevent the oxidation of inner Ni nanoparticles and corrosion of NiCoS nanoneedles during water electrolysis.

Validation of a Pretransplant Risk Prediction Model for Early Allograft Dysfunction After Living-donor Liver Transplantation.

Background: Early allograft dysfunction (EAD) affects outcomes in liver transplantation (LT). Existing risk models developed for deceased-donor LT depend on posttransplant factors and fall short in living-donor LT (LDLT), where pretransplant evaluations are crucial for preventing EAD and justifying the donor's risks.

Methods: This retrospective study analyzed data from 2944 adult patients who underwent LDLT at 17 centers between 2016 and 2020.

G-quadruplex structures in 16S rRNA regions correlate with thermal adaptation in prokaryotes.

G-quadruplex (G4) structure is a nucleic acid secondary structure formed by guanine-rich sequences, playing essential roles in various biological processes such as gene regulation and environmental stress adaptation. Although prokaryotes growing at high temperatures have higher GC contents, the pattern of G4 structure associated with GC content variation in thermal adaptation remains elusive. This study analyzed 681 bacterial genomes to explore the role of G4 structures in thermal adaptation.

RNA G-quadruplex structure-based PROTACs for targeted DHX36 protein degradation and gene activity modulation in mammalian cells.

RNA G-quadruplexes (rG4s) are non-canonical secondary nucleic acid structures found in the transcriptome. They play crucial roles in gene regulation by interacting with G4-binding proteins (G4BPs) in cells. rG4-G4BP complexes have been associated with human diseases, making them important targets for drug development.

Direct repeat region 3' end modifications regulate Cas12a activity and expand its applications.

CRISPR-Cas12a technology has transformative potential, but as its applications grow, enhancing its inherent functionalities is essential to meet diverse demands. Here, we reveal a regulatory mechanism for LbCas12a through direct repeat (DR) region 3' end modifications and de-modifications, which can regulate LbCas12a's cis- and trans-cleavage activities. We extensively explored the effects of introducing phosphorylation, DNA, photo-cleavable linker, DNA modifications at the DR 3' end on LbCas12a's functionality.

Abietane diterpenoids from and their cytotoxic activities.

Two new abietane diterpenoids ( and ) and two known analogs ( and ) were isolated from the whole plants of . Their structures were determined by comprehensive spectroscopic methods (UV, IR, NMR, and HRESIMS). Moreover, all compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxic activities against U251 glioblastoma cells.

Suspect and Nontarget Analysis of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Groundwater Underlying Different Land-Use Areas.

Groundwater can be contaminated by PFAS emissions, yet research on the presence and associated risks of PFAS in groundwater underlying different land-use areas remains limited. Herein, high-resolution mass spectrometry-based suspect and nontarget analyses were performed to determine PFAS occurrence in groundwater samples obtained from a rural area, a planting region, and the vicinities of a pharmaceutical park, an airport, and an industrial park in Datong City, China. A total of 31 PFAS (16 emerging and 15 legacy PFAS) were identified, and the ΣPFAS concentrations ranged from 0.

Predictive Value of Left Atrial Strain for Thrombotic Events in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy without Atrial Fibrillation.

Purpose To assess the predictive value of left atrial (LA) fast long-axis strain derived from cardiac MRI for thrombotic events (TEs) in individuals with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Materials and Methods This secondary analysis of an ongoing prospective trial (Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR1900024094) included consecutive participants with HCM without atrial fibrillation (AF) who underwent cardiac MRI from January 2012 to December 2020. The LA fast long-axis strain was obtained by semiautomatically tracking the distance between the atrioventricular junction and the midposterior LA wall.

sp. nov., a new hyphomycete from desertified rocky soil in southwest China.

Two strains of , identified based on morphology and phylogenetic analysis, were isolated from rocky desertification soils in Yunnan province. Phylogenetic analyses inferred from three loci (the internal transcribed spacer of the nuclear ribosomal RNA gene, β-tubulin and RNA polymerase II second-largest subunit) showed that the two strains formed a single clade and were introduced as a new species of , is characterized by having ampulliform or broadly fusiform conidiogenous cells and dark olivaceous-green, oblong-ellipsoidal conidia. Phylogenetically, is most closely related to , but it distinguishes the latter by longer and narrower conidia.

Using Machine Learning to Design a FeMOF Bidirectional Regulator for Electrochemiluminescence Sensing of Tau Protein.

The single-luminophore-based ratiometric electrochemiluminescence (ECL) sensor coupling bidirectional regulator has become a research hotspot in the detection field because of its simplicity and accuracy. However, the limited bidirectional regulator hinders its further development. In this study, by leveraging the robust predictive capabilities of machine learning, we prepared an Fe-based metal-organic framework (FeMOF) as a bidirectional regulator for modulating the dual-emission ECL signals of a single luminophore for the first time.

Design, modeling, and control of coaxial integrated macro-micro composite actuator with high-precision and long-stroke.

This paper presents a coaxial integrated macro-micro composite actuator. The macro-actuator of the macro-micro composite actuator is similar to a moving coil type voice coil motor, and a giant magnetostrictive actuator is installed coaxially inside it as a micro-actuator. In this work, kinetic models are established for both the macro-actuator and micro-actuator, and based on the models, an automatic disturbance rejection controller is adopted to control the macro-actuator, and a fuzzy sliding mode controller is adopted for the micro-actuator.

Development of a novel high-frequency reciprocal structure fiber optical pulsed current sensor.

A novel all-fiber optic current sensor (FOCS) is designed specifically for the measurement of large transient currents based on the Faraday effect. A reciprocal symmetric structure is incorporated into the optical sensing loop, and the current dependent phase demodulation is achieved by using a passive optical fiber coupler and the homodyne detection scheme. This design offers several advantages, including structural simplicity, high voltage insulation, low noise, high linearity, and excellent frequency response, and is highly suitable for use in any system of high-voltage, high-power, and high-frequency in nature.

Highly Efficient Biosynthesis of Rebaudioside M9 through Enzyme Screening and Structure-Guided Engineering.

Steviol glycosides (SGs) are highly valued for their sweetness, safety, and zero calories, but their bitter taste and low solubility limit their application. Modifying glycosyl units is a promising strategy to improve sensory qualities. In this study, we identified the enzyme UGT94E13 through phylogenetic analysis and enzyme screening, which catalyzes the glycosylation of rebaudioside M2 (Reb M2) at the C-13 position, producing the novel β-1,6--glycosylated product rebaudioside M9 (Reb M9).

Propensity of Water Self-Ions at Air(Oil)-Water Interfaces Revealed by Deep Potential Molecular Dynamics with Enhanced Sampling.

The preference of water self-ions (hydronium and hydroxide) toward air/oil-water interfaces is one of the hottest topics in water research due to its importance for understanding properties, phenomena, and reactions of interfaces. In this work, we performed enhanced-sampling molecular dynamics simulations based on state-of-the-art neural network potentials with approximate M06-2X accuracy to investigate the propensity of hydronium and hydroxide ions at air/oil(decane)-water interfaces, which can simultaneously describe well the water autoionization process forming these ions, the recombination of ions, and the ionic distribution along the normal distance to the interface by employing a set of appropriate Voronoi collective variables. A stable ionic double-layer distribution is observed near the air-water interface, while the distribution is different at oil-water interfaces, where hydronium tends to be repelled from the interface into the bulk water, whereas hydroxide, with an interfacial stabilization free energy of -0.

Performance evaluation of the amperometric total residual oxidant sensor with the electrochlorination-based Ballast Water Management System.

Nowadays, performance studies on the amperometric total residual oxidant (TRO) sensor are only in the bench test stage and have not been conducted under specific maritime conditions with Ballast Water Management System (BWMS). In this study, the application of the amperometric TRO sensor in land-based biological efficacy (BE) testing, operation and maintenance (O&M) testing, as well as shipboard (SB) testing, was explored by comparing with the existing di-phenylene-diamine (DPD) TRO sensor. The results showed that the average TRO measurement deviation between the amperometric sensor and the DPD sensor was within ±10% in valid BE test cycles and the O&M testing exceeding 47 operating hours.

Removal of dissolved organic matter in road runoff with sludge-based filters from the drinking water treatment plant.

Road runoff underwent treatment using a filter filled with sludge from drinking water treatment plants to assess its capacity for removing dissolved organic matter (DOM). This evaluation utilized resin fractionation, gel permeation chromatography, three-dimensional excitation-emission matrix fluorescence spectroscopy, and UV-Visible spectroscopy. The filter demonstrated enhanced efficiency in removing dissolved organic carbon, achieving removal rates between 70 and 80%.

Human serum albumin microspheres synchronously loaded with ZIF-8 and triptolide (TP) for the treatment of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is the second most common primary liver tumor and remains a fatal malignancy in most patients. Only 20% to 30% of patients can be treated with potentially curative surgical resection. Local therapies such as radioembolization and hepatic arterial perfusion may be a more effective treatment strategy.

Standardization of Subcutaneous Injection of Prefilled Anticoagulants Through Lean Six Sigma Management: A Before-After Study.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the Lean Six Sigma management approach on the standardization of nurses' prefilled anticoagulant subcutaneous injection practices, with a focus on improving anticoagulation outcomes, reducing patient complications, and enhancing overall patient satisfaction.

Background: The lack of standards for prefilled anticoagulant injection has resulted in a high complication rate, decreased patient satisfaction, and diminished service quality. This study investigated the impact of the Lean Six Sigma management approach on the standardization of nurses' prefilled anticoagulant subcutaneous injection practices.

Discovery of viruses and bacteria associated with swine respiratory disease on farms at a nationwide scale in China using metatranscriptomic and metagenomic sequencing.

Respiratory disease (RD) is a worldwide leading threat to the pig industry, but there is still limited understanding of the pathogens associated with swine RD. In this study, we conducted a nationwide genomic surveillance on identifying viruses, bacteria, and antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) from the lungs of pigs with RD in China. By performing metatranscriptomic sequencing combined with metagenomic sequencing, we identified 21 viral species belonging to 12 viral families.

Reconstruction of the Severe Cervical Scar Contracture Using a Combination of the Pre-expanded Bipedicled Forehead Flap and Lower Trapezius Musculocutaneous Flap.

Reconstructing severe cervical scar contractures (SCSC) remains a considerable challenge. This study presents a novel approach to SCSC reconstruction using a combination of pre-expanded bipedicled forehead and lower trapezius musculocutaneous flaps. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 25 patients who underwent this procedure between April 2004 and July 2020.