Ultrasensitive detection of microRNAs based on cascade amplification strategy of RCA-PER and Cas12a.

Since microRNAs (miRNAs) serve as markers for early cancer diagnosis, it is crucial to develop a novel biosensor to detect miRNAs quickly, sensitively and selectively. Hence, we developed a fluorescence biosensor based on target miRNA-initiated rolling circle amplification (RCA) to generate RCA products with multiple tandem catalytic hairpin DNA templates that trigger primer exchange reactions (PER) which extend short single-strand DNA (ssDNA) primers into long ssDNA. Subsequently, the long ssDNA activates the -cleavage activity of the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas12a system to cleave a fluorescent reporter chain, enabling ultrasensitive detection of miRNAs through the output fluorescence signal.

Using Energetic Information Quantities from Density Functional Theory to Simultaneously Identify Both Covalent and Noncovalent Interactions.

Covalent bonding and noncovalent interactions are important chemical concepts and how to identify them has been of current interest in the literature. Within the framework of density functional theory (DFT), we recently proposed a few qualitative descriptors to categorize different types of interactions with Pauli energy and its derivatives. In this work, we expand the scope by including the quantities derived from energetic information, which were recently proposed and thoroughly investigated by us from the framework of information-theoretic approach (ITA) in DFT.

Exploring the multifaceted roles of metal-organic frameworks in ecosystem regulation.

Achieving microecological balance is a complex environmental challenge. This is because the equilibrium of microecological systems necessitates both the eradication of harmful microorganisms and preservation of the beneficial ones. Conventional materials predominantly target the elimination of pathogenic microorganisms and often neglect the protection of advantageous microbial species.

Enhanced dielectric losses in α-MnO protonation modulation.

MnO octahedra without distortions in α-MnO have a low dipole content, which limits their dielectric loss capabilities. Herein, we develop protonated MnO with distorted MnO octahedra for increased dipole numbers a two-step hydrothermal method. In comparison with α-MnO, this protonated MnO provides greatly improved dipole polarization loss capabilities, resulting in a reflection loss value of -19.

AA-Stacked Hydrogen-Substituted Graphdiyne for Enhanced Lithium Storage.

Graphdiyne (GDY) has been considered a promising electrode material for application in electrochemical energy storage. However, studies on GDY featuring an ordered interlayer stacking are lacking, which is supposed to be another effective way to increase lithium binding sites and diffusion pathways. Herein, we synthesized a hydrogen-substituted GDY (HsGDY) with a highly-ordered AA-stacking structure via a facile alcohol-thermal method.

Glycosylation profiling of monkeypox virus structural proteins with poly Ser-Arg materials.

Although the glycosylation of viral proteins plays a critical role in the process of viral invasion into host cells, studies on the glycosylation of monkeypox virus (MPXV) structural proteins have not yet been reported. To investigate the importance of MPXV protein glycosylation, poly Ser-Arg (poly SR) materials capable of simultaneously enriching both -glycopeptides and -glycopeptides were synthesized by surface-initiated reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (SI-RAFT) polymerization. The poly SR materials were evaluated using the digest mixture of standard proteins containing bovine fetuin and bovine serum albumin, and the digest of complex biological samples including bovine sperm tail lysate, mouse sperm tail lysate, mouse brain lysate, and human serum.

A Regio- and Stereoselective Ring-Opening Polymerization Approach to Isotactic Alternating Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) with Stereocomplexation.

Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) has been widely employed for various biomedical applications owing to its biodegradability and biocompatibility. The discovery of the stereocomplex formation between enantiomeric alternating PLGA pairs underscored its potential as high-performance biodegradable materials with diverse material properties and biodegradability. Herein, we have established a regio- and stereoselective ring-opening polymerization approach for the synthesis of stereocomplexed isoenriched alternating PLGA from racemic methyl-glycolide (rac-MG).

Analysis of Platelet Morphological Parameters as Clinical Risk Stratification in Acute Coronary Syndrome.

Background: Platelet activation plays a central role in the pathogenesis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Platelet morphological parameters, including MPV, PDW, and P-LCR, are emerging as biomarkers for predicting the severity of ACS and prognosis.

Aims: This study aims to assess the relationship between these parameters and coronary severity and to evaluate their predicting adverse outcomes.

Edaravone Mitigates Hippocampal Neuronal Death and Cognitive Dysfunction by Upregulating BDNF Expression in Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Rats.

Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a severe neurological injury during infancy, often resulting in long-term cognitive deficits. This study aimed to investigate the neuroprotective effects of Edaravone (EDA), a free radical scavenger, and elucidate the potential role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in mediating these effects in neonatal HIE rats. Using the Rice-Vannucci model, HIE was induced in neonatal rats, followed by immediate administration of EDA after the hypoxic-ischemic insult.

A female sterilization method for use in field-based behavioral studies of the invasive Asian longhorned beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis).

Asian longhorned beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis Motschulsky), a wood borer (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) native to China, has been unintentionally and repeatedly introduced to North American and European landscapes as a stow-away in the wood packing material commonly used in international trade. Asian longhorned beetle causes extensive damage and mortality in multiple deciduous tree species and in response, countries in both North America and Europe have adopted policies of eradication. Models that integrate patterns of Asian longhorned beetle dispersal with records of infested trees are critical in optimizing survey and eradication efforts and tracking eradication progress.

The interplay between RNA m6A modification and radiation biology of cancerous and non-cancerous tissues: a narrative review.

The diverse radiation types in medical treatments and the natural environment elicit complex biological effects on both cancerous and non-cancerous tissues. Radiation therapy (RT) induces oncological responses, from molecular to phenotypic alterations, while simultaneously exerting toxic effects on healthy tissue. N-methyladenosine (mA), a prevalent modification on coding and non-coding RNAs, is a key epigenetic mark established by a set of evolutionarily conserved enzymes.

Protective immunity induced by a novel P1 adhesin C-terminal anchored mRNA vaccine against infection in BALB/c mice.

(Mp), a unique pathogen devoid of a cell wall, is naturally impervious to penicillin antibiotics. This bacterium is the causative agent of pneumonia, an acute pulmonary affliction marked by interstitial lung damage. Non-macrolide medications may have potential adverse effects on the developmental trajectory of children, thereby establishing macrolides as the preferred treatment for in pediatric patients.

Retrospective analysis of disease characteristics and treatment patterns among patients with esophageal cancer across 14 surgically represented centers.

Objective: Esophageal cancer (EC) ranks eighth among cancers in cancer-related deaths globally, and ~44% of new cases occur in China. We sought to describe the clinical characteristics and treatment landscape of EC in China before the approval of immunotherapy in 2020.

Methods: CHANNEL was a large, retrospective study using patient-level data from 14 hospitals/cancer centers across China, including adults initiating therapy for newly diagnosed EC (January to December 2018).

Validation of the ANDON KD-7920 wrist blood pressure monitor in general population according to the ISO 81060-2:2018+AMD1:2020 protocol.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of the ANDON KD-7920 oscillometric wrist blood pressure monitor in general population according to the ISO 81060-2:2018+AMD1:2020.

Methods: The same arm sequential method was used for blood pressure measurement among qualified participants according to the ISO 81060-2:2018+AMD1:2020. The validation results were assessed following the criteria of the protocol, and the Bland-Altman scatter plot was used to present the difference between the test device and reference results.

Validation of the Hanvon FY730 upper-arm blood pressure monitor according to the AAMI/ESH/ISO universal standard (ISO 81060-2:2018).

This study evaluates the measurement accuracy of the Hanvon FY730 upper-arm blood pressure (BP) monitor, which uses the Korotkoff sound method, in compliance with the AAMI/ESH/ISO universal standard (ISO 81060-2:2018). A clinical trial involving 86 eligible adults was conducted, and data were analyzed based on standardized protocols. The mean differences between the device and reference measurements for systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were -0.

Multi-Vortex Regulation in a Simple Semicircular Microchannel with Ordered Micro-Obstacles for High-Throughput Buffer Exchange.

Microfluidics is an emerging technology for buffer exchange in bioprocessing applications. However, achieving buffer exchange with simplicity of operation and high throughput in a straightforward channel design remains a challenge. This study presents a novel semicircular microchannel design that allows for the deterministic regulation of helical and Dean vortices through geometric confinement.

Effect of a calcium-channel blocker and β-blocker combination on reading-to-reading blood pressure variability: a randomized crossover trial.

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy of the nitrendipine/atenolol combination in comparison with standard-dose nitrendipine or atenolol monotherapy in reducing blood pressure (BP) and blood pressure variability (BPV) as assessed by ambulatory BP monitoring.

Methods: In a randomized, crossover trial, 32 patients (30-65 years) with grade 1 hypertension and elevated daytime reading-to-reading BPV were randomly assigned to receive either the nitrendipine/atenolol combination (10/20 mg) or standard-dose nitrendipine (10 mg) or atenolol (25 mg) monotherapy for 6 weeks, followed by a crossover to another treatment for 6 weeks.

Results: The final analysis included 31 patients (mean [±SD] age, 49.

Density Functional Study on the Condensation and Evaporation Heats of the Nanoconfined Fluids.

Within the framework of classical density functional theory, the isosteric heat and condensation/evaporation heat of the confined methane are studied. First, the theoretical expression for condensation/evaporation heat is derived on the basis of the first law of thermodynamics. The method for computation is also proposed.

Resource Segmentation: A New Dimension of the Segmentation Hypothesis in Drought Adaptive Strategies and Its Links to Tree Growth Performance.

The segmentation hypothesis, a framework for understanding plant drought adaptive strategy, has long been based on hydraulic resistance and vulnerability. Storage of water and carbohydrate resources is another critical function and shapes plant drought adaption and fitness together with hydraulic efficiency and vulnerability. However, patterns and implications of the interdependency of stored water and carbohydrate resources in the context of the segmentation hypothesis are poorly understood.

Continuous Abrupt Vegetation Shifts in the Global Terrestrial Ecosystem.

Previous studies have primarily focused on single abrupt shifts; however, the actual ecosystem will experience continuous abrupt shifts (CAS), including different directions shifts (DDS) and same direction shifts (SDS). The patterns and drivers of these CAS remain unclear. We examined the patterns of the DDS and SDS by two vegetation datasets and then tested climate drivers comprising atmospheric temperature (MAT), atmospheric precipitation (MAP), soil temperature (ST) and soil water content (SW); finally, hysteresis effects were examined with reference to principal drivers.

The Association Between Neutrophil-Percentage-to-Albumin Ratio (NPAR) and Mortality Among Individuals With Cancer: Insights From National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Background: Neutrophils interact with tumor cells, potentially exacerbating cancer progression. Additionally, decreased albumin levels are a marker of poor cancer prognosis. The neutrophil-percentage-to-albumin ratio (NPAR) has been used for prognostic assessment in non-cancerous diseases, but its relationship with mortality risk in cancer patients has not been explored.

The Burden of Diabetes in the Southeastern Coastal Region of China From 1990 to 2019 and Projections for 2030: A Systematic Analysis of the 2019 Global Burden of Disease Study.

Aim: This study examined the diabetes burden in Fujian Province, China, from 1990 to 2019, comparing it with China and global levels to inform policymakers.

Materials And Methods: We used data from GBD 2019 to analyse diabetes prevalence, death, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs). We assessed the average annual percentage change (AAPC) and estimated the impact of 17 risk factors.

Rapid identification of pathogenic bacteria from clinical positive blood cultures virus-like magnetic bead enrichment and MALDI-TOF MS profiling.

Reducing the time required for the detection of bacteria in blood samples is a critical area of investigation in the field of clinical diagnosis. Positive blood culture samples often require a plate culture stage due to the interference of blood cells and proteins, which can result in significant delays before the isolation of single colonies suitable for matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) analysis. In this study, we developed a non-specific enrichment strategy based on SiO-encapsulated FeO nanoparticles combined with MALDI-TOF MS for direct identification of bacteria from aqueous environments or positive blood culture samples.

Integration of neuromuscular control for multidirectional horizontal planar reaching movements in a portable upper limb exoskeleton for enhanced stroke rehabilitation.

Globally, the prevalence of stroke is significant and increasing annually. This growth has led to a demand for rehabilitation services that far exceeds the supply, leaving many stroke survivors without adequate rehabilitative care. In response to this challenge, this study introduces a portable exoskeleton system that integrates neural control mechanisms governing human arm movements.

Root functional traits are important predictors for plant resource acquisition strategies in subtropical forests.

Intercorrelated aboveground traits associated with costs and plant growth have been widely used to predict vegetation in response to environmental changes. However, whether underground traits exhibit consistent responses remains unclear, particularly in N-rich subtropical forests. Responses of foliar and root morphological and physiological traits of tree and herb species after 8-year N, P, and combined N and P treatments (50 kg N, P, N and P ha year) were examined in leguminous Acacia auriculiformis (AA) and nonleguminous Eucalyptus urophylla (EU) forests in southern China.