MIBiG 4.0: advancing biosynthetic gene cluster curation through global collaboration.

Specialized or secondary metabolites are small molecules of biological origin, often showing potent biological activities with applications in agriculture, engineering and medicine. Usually, the biosynthesis of these natural products is governed by sets of co-regulated and physically clustered genes known as biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs). To share information about BGCs in a standardized and machine-readable way, the Minimum Information about a Biosynthetic Gene cluster (MIBiG) data standard and repository was initiated in 2015.

Unlocking Novel Functionality: Pseudocapacitive Sensing in MXene-Based Flexible Supercapacitors.

Extensively explored for their distinctive pseudocapacitance characteristics, MXenes, a distinguished group of 2D materials, have led to remarkable achievements, particularly in the realm of energy storage devices. This work presents an innovative Pseudocapacitive Sensor. The key lies in switching the energy storage kinetics from pseudocapacitor to electrical double layer capacitor by employing the change of local pH (-log[H]) in MXene-based flexible supercapacitors during bending.

Observational Fear as a Model of Affective Empathy in Mice.

Empathy, characterized by the ability to recognize and share the emotions of others, plays a fundamental role in shaping social interactions. It allows individuals to respond to the emotional states of others, promoting prosocial behaviors and social bonding. Observational fear is a fundamental aspect of affective empathy, where an observer witnesses a demonstrator undergoing aversive experiences and subsequently exhibits fear behaviors.

Retroreflective Multichrome Microdome Arrays Created by Single-Step Reflow.

Structural colors are known for their tunability, fade resistance, and eco-friendliness. Recent advancements have shown that such colors can be efficiently produced using total internal reflection (TIR) on high-refractive-index convex microstructures without the need for periodic nanostructures. However, a reproducible, fast, and programmable production strategy for these microstructures is essential for commercial applications.

Dopamine-conjugated extracellular vesicles induce autophagy in Parkinson's disease.

The application of extracellular vesicles (EVs) as vehicles for anti-Parkinson's agents represents a significant advance, yet their clinical translation is hampered by challenges in efficient brain delivery and complex blood-brain barrier (BBB) targeting strategies. In this study, we engineered dopamine onto the surface of adipose-derived stem cell EVs (Dopa-EVs) utilizing a facile, two-step cross-linking approach. This engineering enhanced neuronal uptake of the EVs in primary neurons and neuroblastoma cells, a process shown to be competitively inhibited by dopamine pretreatment and dopamine receptor antibodies.

Ultrasmall High-Entropy-Alloy Nanozyme Catalyzed In Vivo ROS and NO Scavenging for Anti-Inflammatory Therapy.

High-entropy alloy (HEA) nanoparticles possess finely tunable and multifunctional catalytic activity due to their extremely diverse adsorption sites. Their unique properties enable HEA nanoparticles to mimic the complex interactions of the redox homeostasis system, which is composed of cascade and multiple enzymatic reactions. The application of HEAs in mimicking complex enzymatic systems remains relatively unexplored, despite the importance of regulating biological redox reactions.

Newcastle disease virus harboring the PTEN gene inhibits pancreatic cancer growth by inhibiting PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling and activating apoptosis.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly aggressive and intractable cancer that requires more effective therapies that can improve early detection, enhance treatment efficacy, and provide better patient outcomes. Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) mutations and reduced phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) protein expression are key factors driving the proliferation and severity of PDAC. To address this, a recombinant Newcastle disease virus (rNDV) containing the PTEN gene (rNDV-PTEN) was created to investigate its PDAC cell-killing and tumor-suppression effects in PDAC cells transplanted into mice.

Two-step sintering suppresses grain growth and improves flexural strength of dental zirconia.

Objectives: This study aimed to elucidate the effect of various two-step sintering (TSS) protocols on the physical, mechanical, and optical properties of partially stabilized zirconia with different yttria dopant concentrations (Y-PSZ).

Methods: Disc-shaped specimens were obtained from most widely used commercial dental zirconia powders of various Y contents (Tosoh Corp.) by uniaxial pressing followed by cold-isostatic pressing.

Comparing effects of wearable robot-assisted gait training on functional changes and neuroplasticity: A preliminary study.

Robot-assisted gait training (RAGT) is a promising technique for improving the gait ability of elderly adults and patients with gait disorders by enabling high-intensive and task-specific training. Gait functions involve multiple brain regions and networks. Therefore, RAGT is expected to affect not just gait performance but also neuroplasticity and cognitive ability.

Curvature-Specific Coupling Electrode Design for a Stretchable Three-Dimensional Inorganic Piezoelectric Nanogenerator.

Structures such as 3D buckling have been widely used to impart stretchability to devices. However, these structures have limitations when applied to piezoelectric devices due to the uneven distribution of internal strain during deformation. When strains with opposite directions simultaneously affect piezoelectric materials, the electric output can decrease due to cancellation.

Inverse-designed taper configuration for the enhancement of integrated 1 × 4 silicon photonic power splitters.

Once light is coupled to a photonic chip, its efficient distribution in terms of power splitting throughout silicon photonic circuits is very crucial. We present two types of 1 × 4 power splitters with different splitting ratios of 1:1:1:1 and 2:1:1:2. Various taper configurations were compared and analyzed to find the suitable configuration for the power splitter, and among them, parabolic tapers were chosen.

Scalable hot carrier-assisted silicon photodetector array based on ultrathin gold film.

Silicon (Si) offers cost-effective production and convenient on-chip integration for photodetection due to its well-established CMOS technology. However, the indirect bandgap of Si inherently limits its detection efficiency in the near-infrared (NIR) regime. Here, we propose a strategy to achieve high NIR photoresponse in Si by introducing a strong light-absorbing ultrathin gold (Au) film to generate hot carriers.

Ultrafast acousto-optic modulation at the near-infrared spectral range by interlayer vibrations.

The acousto-optic modulation over a broad near-infrared (NIR) spectrum with high speed, excellent integrability, and relatively simple scheme is crucial for the application of next-generation opto-electronic and photonic devices. This study aims to experimentally demonstrate ultrafast acousto-optic phenomena in the broad NIR spectral range of 0.77-1.

Frequency comb measurements for 6G terahertz nano/microphotonics and metamaterials.

Next-generation 6G communication holds the potential to revolutionize data transfer, enabling the realization of eXtended Reality (XR) with enhanced sensory experiences. To achieve this, advanced components such as high-performance intensity/phase modulators, waveguides, multiplexers, splitters, combiners, and filters operating in terahertz (THz) regime, specifically within the frequency range of 0.1-1 THz, are essential.

Inverse design of color routers in CMOS image sensors: toward minimizing interpixel crosstalk.

Over the past decade, significant advancements in high-resolution imaging technology have been driven by the miniaturization of pixels within image sensors. However, this reduction in pixel size to submicrometer dimensions has led to decreased efficiency in color filters and microlens arrays. The development of color routers that operate at visible wavelengths presents a promising avenue for further miniaturization.

Over a thousand-fold enhancement of the spontaneous emission rate for stable core-shell perovskite quantum dots through coupling with novel plasmonic nanogaps.

High Purcell enhancement structures and stable emitters are essential prerequisites for the successful development of novel fast-operating active devices. Furthermore, a uniform enhancement of the spontaneous emission rate is critical for practical applications. Despite considerable efforts being made to meet these requirements, achieving them still remains a challenging task.