Reversible Isomerization of Stiff-Stilbene by an Oriented External Electric Field.

Understanding and effectively controlling molecular conformational changes are essential for developing responsive and dynamic molecular systems. Here, we report that an oriented external electric field (OEEF) is an effective catalyst for the cis-trans isomerization of stiff-stilbene, a key component of overcrowded alkene-based rotary motors. This reversible isomerization occurs under ambient conditions, is free from side reactions, and has been verified using ultraperformance liquid chromatography and UV-vis absorption spectroscopy.

Attitudes towards vaccination against COVID-19 during pregnancy and its determinants among people of reproductive age.

The attitudes of reproductive-age individuals toward COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy are still not well understood. We aimed to explore the attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccines during pregnancy and the determinants among the Chinese reproductive-age population. An anonymous cross-sectional study was conducted in China from July 4 to August 11, 2023.

Colon-Targeted Ginseng Polysaccharides-Based Microspheres for Improving Ulcerative Colitis via Anti-Inflammation and Gut Microbiota Modulation.

Natural plant-derived polysaccharides exhibit substantial potential for treating ulcerative colitis (UC) owing to their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and favorable safety profiles. However, their practical application faces several challenges, including structural instability in gastric acid, imprecise targeting of inflamed regions, and limited intestinal retention times. To address these limitations, pH-responsive, colon-targeting microspheres (pWGPAC MSs) are developed for delivering phosphorylated wild ginseng polysaccharides (pWGP) to alleviate UC.

Research Progress in Fiber Bragg Grating-Based Ocean Temperature and Depth Sensors.

Fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) are widely used in stress and temperature sensing due to their small size, light weight, high resistance to high temperatures, corrosion, electromagnetic interference, and low cost. In recent years, various structural enhancements and sensitization to FBGs have been explored to improve the performance of ocean temperature and depth sensors, thereby enhancing the accuracy and detection range of ocean temperature and depth data. This paper reviews advancements in temperature, pressure, and dual-parameter enhancement techniques for FBG-based sensors.

Development and Characterization of Biodegradable, Binderless Fiberboards from Eggplant Straw Fibers.

Currently, wood-based panels are mainly made from wood and adhesives containing formaldehyde. With the growing demand for raw materials and increasing concern for human health, the use of residues from annual crops to manufacture binder-free biodegradable biomass boards has attracted increasing interest. The aim of this study was to develop a biodegradable bio-board without any adhesives using eggplant straw fibers.

Synthesis of CF-Indazoles via Rh(III)-Catalyzed C-H [4+1] Annulation of Azobenzenes with CF-Imidoyl Sulfoxonium Ylides.

An efficient Rh(III)-catalyzed C-H activation of azobenzenes and subsequent [4+1] cascade annulation with CF-imidoyl sulfoxonium ylides was developed, yielding diverse CF-indazoles. This protocol featured easily available starting materials, excellent functional group tolerance and high efficiency. Moreover, the antitumor activities of selected CF-indazoles against human cancer cell lines were also studied, and the results indicated that several compounds displayed considerable antiproliferative activities.

Biomechanical insights into anterolateral vertebral screw fixation in osteoporotic spines: a comparative study of fixation methods and positions using porcine vertebrae.

Objective: Combining oblique lumbar interbody fusion (OLIF) with posterior pedicle screw fixation (PPSF) has been proposed to reduce cage subsidence, especially in osteoporotic spines. Recently, anterolateral screw-rod fixation has gained interest as it allows direct pathology observation and avoids a posterior approach. However, controversies exist between anterolateral screw fixation systems and traditional PPSF due to variations in osteoporotic vertebral mineral density, screw fixation positions, and fixation methods (bicortical vs.

Development of monoclonal antibodies for ASFV K205R protein and precise mapping of linear antigenic epitopes.

African swine fever virus (ASFV) is a complex DNA virus belonging to the family Asfarviridae. The outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) has caused huge economic losses to the pig farming industry. The K205R protein is a key target for detecting ASFV antibodies and represents an important antigen for early serologic diagnosis.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Parkinson's Disease: Brain Tissue Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Interactions.

This study utilises amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Parkinson's disease (PD) human brain samples from the GEO database and employs differential expression gene (DEG) analysis to identify genes that are pivotal in both neurodegenerative diseases. Through in depth GO and KEGG enrichment analyses, we elucidated the biological functions and potential pathways associated with these DEGs. Furthermore, by constructing protein‒protein interaction networks, we highlight the significance of shared DEGs in both cellular physiology and disease contexts.

Spin Canting Promoted Manipulation of Exchange Bias in a Perpendicular Coupled FeGaTe/CrSBr Magnetic van der Waals Heterostructure.

Recently, two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals (vdW) magnetic materials have emerged as a promising platform for studying exchange bias (EB) phenomena due to their atomically flat surfaces and highly versatile stacking configurations. Although complex spin configurations between 2D vdW interfaces introduce challenges in understanding their underlying mechanisms, they can offer more possibilities in realizing effective manipulations. In this study, we present a spin-orthogonal arranged 2D FeGaTe (FGaT)/CrSBr vdW heterostructure, realizing the EB effect with the bias field as large as 1730 Oe at 2 K.

Costs of Influenza Illness and Acute Respiratory Infections by Household Income Level: Catastrophic Health Expenditures and Implications for Health Equity.

Background: Seasonal influenza illness and acute respiratory infections can impose a substantial economic burden in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We assessed the cost of influenza illness and acute respiratory infections across household income strata.

Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis of data from a prior systematic review of costs of influenza and other respiratory illnesses in LMICs and contacted authors to obtain data on cost of illness (COI) for laboratory-confirmed influenza-like illness and acute respiratory infection.

Effects of COVID-19 on short-term outcomes of hip arthroplasty: a multicenter, retrospective, propensity score matched study.

Purpose: The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic delayed elective procedures such as total joint arthroplasty. As surgical volumes return to prepandemic levels, understanding the implications of COVID-19 becomes imperative. This study explored the effects of COVID-19 on the short-term outcomes of hip arthroplasty.

Development of Bayesian segmented Poisson regression model to forecast COVID-19 dynamics based on wastewater data: a case study in Nanning City, China.

Introduction: COVID-19 has caused tremendous hardships and challenges around the globe. Due to the prevalence of asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic carriers, relying solely on disease testing to screen for infections is not entirely reliable, which may affect the accuracy of predictions about the pandemic trends. This study is dedicated to developing a predictive model aimed at estimating of the dynamics of COVID-19 at an early stage based on wastewater data, to assist in establishing an effective early warning system for disease control.

Development of deep-underground engineering structures via 2D and 3D RQD prediction using non-invasive CSAMT.

The stability criterion based on the characterization of rock masses can be used to advance deep underground engineering projects. A key geomechanical criterion in geotechnical engineering is rock quality designation (RQD), which assesses risk for engineering design success criteria. Time, cost, and credibility constraints make it difficult to accurately estimate RQD.

A portable optical detection system for rapid quantification of two rheumatoid arthritis biomarkers.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes joint damage and progressive destruction of adjacent cartilage and bones. Quick and accurate detection of rheumatoid factors (RF) and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (anti-CCP) in serum is effective in diagnosing RA and preventing its progression. However, current methods for detecting these two biomarkers are costly, time-consuming, labor-intensive, and require specialized equipment.

Generation of a KDM5D knockout human embryonic stem cell line with CRISPR/Cas9 technology.

KDM5D is a gene implicated in spermatogenic failure and sex-related differences in colon cancer progression, though its role in spermatogenesis remains unclear. We successfully generated a KDM5D knockout human embryonic stem cells using CRISPR/Cas9 technology. This knockout cell line provides a valuable model for studying KDM5D's function in spermatogenesis and its influence on sex differences in various diseases.

Integrative physiological, biochemical, and proteomic analysis of the leaves of two cotton genotypes under heat stress.

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), a crucial global fibre and oil seed crop faces diverse biotic and abiotic stresses. Among these, temperature stress strongly influences its growth, prompting adaptive physiological, biochemical, and molecular changes.

RNF7-Mediated ROS Targets Malignant Phenotype and Radiotherapy Sensitivity in Glioma With Different IDH1 Genotypes.

RNF7 (Ring Finger Protein 7) is a key component of CRLs (Cullin-RING-type E3 ubiquitin ligases) and has been found to possess intrinsic anti-ROS capabilities. Aberrant expression of RNF7 has been observed in various tumor types and is known to significantly influence tumor initiation and progression. However, the specific role of RNF7 in glioblastoma remains unclear.

A machine learned potential for investigating single crystal to single crystal transformations in complex organic molecular systems.

The packing of organic molecular crystals is often dominated by weak non-covalent interactions, making their rearrangement under external stimuli challenging to understand. We investigate a pressure-induced single-crystal-to-single-crystal (SCSC) transformation between two polymorphs of 2,4,5-triiodo-1-imidazole using machine learning potentials. This process involves the rearrangement of halogen and hydrogen bonds combined with proton transfer within a complex solid-state system.

Isomer-Effects of Aminophenol Decorated Gold Nanoclusters for HO Photoproduction via Two-Step One-Electron Oxygen Reduction Reaction.

Gold (Au) nanoclustersare promising photocatalysts for biomedicine, sensing, and environmental remediation. However, the short carrier lifetime, inherent instability, and unclear charge transfer mechanism hinder their application. Herein, the Au nanoclusters decorated with three different isomers of o-Aminophenol, m-Aminophenol, and p-Aminophenol are synthesized, namely o-Au, m-Au, and p-Au, which achieve efficient hydrogen peroxide (HO) photoproduction through two-step one-electron oxygen reduction reaction (ORR).

Anchorable Polymers Enabling Ultra-Thin and Robust Hole-Transporting Layers for High-Efficiency Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells.

Currently, the development of polymeric hole-transporting materials (HTMs) lags behind that of small-molecule HTMs in inverted perovskite solar cells (PSCs). A critical challenge is that conventional polymeric HTMs are incapable of forming ultra-thin and conformal coatings like self-assembly monolayers (SAMs), especially for substrates with rough surface morphology. Herein, we address this challenge by designing anchorable polymeric HTMs (CP1 to CP5).

Exploring artificial intelligence for differentiating early syphilis from other skin lesions: a pilot study.

Background: Early diagnosis of syphilis is vital for its effective control. This study aimed to develop an Artificial Intelligence (AI) diagnostic model based on radiomics technology to distinguish early syphilis from other clinical skin lesions.

Methods: The study collected 260 images of skin lesions caused by various skin infections, including 115 syphilis and 145 other infection types.

Towards healthier low-sugar and low-fat beverages: Design, production, and characterization.

Many consumers are adopting low-sugar and low-fat beverages to avoid excessive calories and the negative impact of high trans- and/or saturated fat on health and wellbeing. This article reviews strategies to reduce sugar, fat, and high trans- and/or saturated fat content in beverages while maintaining their desirable physicochemical and sensory attributes. It assesses the impact of various sugar and fat replacers on the aroma, taste, texture, appearance, and nutritional profile of beverages.

An Adverse Outcome Pathway for food nanomaterial-induced intestinal barrier disruption.

Introduction: The ingestion of nanomaterials (NMs) may impair the intestinal barrier, but the underlying mechanisms remain evasive, and evidence has not been systematically gathered or produced. A mechanistic-based approach would be instrumental in assessing whether relevant NMs disrupt the intestinal barrier, thereby supporting the NM risk assessment in the food sector.

Methods: In this study, we developed an adverse outcome pathway (AOP) based on biological plausibility and by leveraging information from an existing NM-relevant AOP that leads to hepatic outcomes.

Condition-Controlled Rh(III)-Catalyzed Chemodivergent Cyclization of 2-Arylpyridines with CF-Imidoyl Sulfoxonium Ylides via Triple C-H Activation.

A condition-controlled Rh(III)-catalyzed selective synthesis of CF-substituted indoles and pyrido[2,1-]isoindoles from 2-arylpyridines and CF-imidoyl sulfoxonium ylides has been developed. The Cp*Rh(MeCN)(SbF)/HFIP system afforded CF-substituted indoles via triple C-H activation, while the [Cp*RhCl]/MeCN condition selectively furnished CF-substituted pyrido[2,1-]isoindoles through C-H [4 + 1] annulation. The notable advantages of this developed method included readily available starting materials, broad substrate scope, and excellent chemoselectivity.