Raptin, a sleep-induced hypothalamic hormone, suppresses appetite and obesity.

Sleep deficiency is associated with obesity, but the mechanisms underlying this connection remain unclear. Here, we identify a sleep-inducible hypothalamic protein hormone in humans and mice that suppresses obesity. This hormone is cleaved from reticulocalbin-2 (RCN2), and we name it Raptin.

Assessment of Opuntia ficus-indica supplementation on enhancing antioxidant levels.

Opuntia ficus-indica (OFi) is a major fruit source prevalent in semiarid and arid regions across various countries worldwide. It is widely recognised for its potential health benefits; however, most studies investigating its effects have been limited to pre-clinical models, highlighting the need for further validation through clinical trials. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of OFi supplementation in enhancing antioxidant levels.

A practical methodology for incorporating volume-translated equation of states in isochoric-isothermal phase equilibrium calculations for liquid phase pressure prediction.

Accurately predicting the phase behavior and properties of reservoir fluid plays an essential role in the simulation of petroleum recovery processes. Similar to the inaccurate liquid-density prediction issue in the isobaric-isothermal (PT) phase equilibrium calculations, an inaccurate pressure prediction issue can also be observed in isothermal-isochoric (VT) phase equilibrium calculations which involves a liquid phase. In this work, a practical methodology is proposed to incorporate a volume-translated equation of state in VT phase equilibrium calculations for more accurate pressure predictions.

A copy number variation detection method based on OCSVM algorithm using multi strategies integration.

Copy number variation (CNV) is an important part of human genetic variations, which is associated with various kinds of diseases. To tackle the limitations of traditional CNV detection methods, such as restricted detection types, high error rates, and challenges in precisely identifying the location of variant breakpoints, a new method called MSCNV (copy number variations detection method for multi-strategies integration based on a one-class support vector machine model) is proposed. MSCNV establishes a multi-signal channel that integrates three strategies: read depth, split read, and read pair.

Pilot-scale phosphorus recovery from mobile toilet wastewater in Bangkok, Thailand.

The objective of this study is to enhance the capacity of struvite-phosphate forming reactor utilized in the production of phosphorus fertilizer from wastewater collected from mobile toilets, characterized by phosphorus (P) concentrations of 5.0 ± 1.1 g/l.

Insulator-metal transition in VO film on sapphire studied by broadband dielectric spectroscopy.

Vanadium dioxide ([Formula: see text]) is a favorable material platform of modern optoelectronics, since it manifests the reversible temperature-induced insulator-metal transition (IMT) with an abrupt and rapid changes in the conductivity and optical properties. It makes possible applications of such a phase-change material in the ultra-fast optoelectronics and terahertz (THz) technology. Despite the considerable interest to this material, data on its broadband electrodynamic response in different states are still missing in the literature.

Experimental research on resource utilization of iron tailings powder in backfilling engineering.

The goaf formed by mining and other activities is prone to safety hazards. Preparing high-quality and low-cost solidified iron tailings powder (SITP) is an important way to ensure backfill quality and eliminate safety hazards. Using iron tailings powder near the goaf of in Shanxi, comparative experiments were conducted to evaluate the the flowability, stone rate, strength, and water stability of newly mixed SITP under different types and dosages of curing agent, and mixing methods.

Nanoscale nonlocal thermal transport and thermal field emission in high-current resonant tunnel structures.

We present a nonlinear model of thermal field emission in resonant tunneling nanostructures with multiple barriers and potential wells, based on an accurate determination of the quantum potential shape and a rigorous solution of the Schrödinger equation, while considering thermal balance. The model applies to vacuum and semiconductor resonant tunnel diode and triode structures with two and three electrodes and to the general case of two-way tunneling with electrode heating. The complete balance of heat release and transfer is accounted for, with heat transport considered ballistic.

Ferromagnetic Fe-TiO spin catalysts for enhanced ammonia electrosynthesis.

Magnetic field effects (MFE) of ferromagnetic spin electrocatalysts have attracted significant attention due to their potential to enhance catalytic activity under an external magnetic field. However, no ferromagnetic spin catalysts have demonstrated MFE in the electrocatalytic reduction of nitrate for ammonia (NORR), a pioneering approach towards NH production involving the conversion from diamagnetic NO to paramagnetic NO. Here, we report the ferromagnetic Fe-TiO to investigate MFE on NORR.

Temperature-dependent variations in under-canopy herbaceous foliar diseases following shrub encroachment in grasslands.

Shrub encroachment into grasslands poses a global concern, impacting species biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Yet, the effect of shrub encroachment on herbaceous diseases and the dependence of that effect on climatic factors remain ambiguous. This study spans over 4,000 km, examining significant variability in temperature and precipitation.

Assembly of Genetically Engineered Ionizable Protein Nanocage-based Nanozymes for Intracellular Superoxide Scavenging.

Nanozymes play a pivotal role in mitigating excessive oxidative stress, however, determining their specific enzyme-mimicking activities for intracellular free radical scavenging is challenging due to endo-lysosomal entrapment. In this study, we employ a genetic engineering strategy to generate ionizable ferritin nanocages (iFTn), enabling their escape from endo-lysosomes and entry into the cytoplasm. Specifically, ionizable repeated Histidine-Histidine-Glutamic acid (9HE) sequences are genetically incorporated into the outer surface of human heavy chain FTn, followed by the assembly of various chain-like nanostructures via a two-armed polyethylene glycol (PEG).

Skull bone marrow and skull meninges channels: redefining the landscape of central nervous system immune surveillance.

The understanding of neuroimmune function has evolved from concepts of immune privilege and protection to a new stage of immune interaction. The discovery of skull meninges channels (SMCs) has opened new avenues for understanding central nervous system (CNS) immunity. Here, we characterize skull bone marrow and SMCs by detailing the anatomical structures adjacent to the skull, the differences between skull and peripheral bone marrow, mainstream animal processing methods, and the role of skull bone marrow in monitoring various CNS diseases.

Dietary protein intake and PM on ovarian cancer survival: A prospective cohort study.

Background: Evolving evidence suggests both protein consumption and particulate matter less than 2.5 micrometers (PM) might be related to ovarian cancer (OC) mortality. However, no epidemiological studies have explored their potential interaction.

Unleashing the potency of multi-segmental DCIA flap in mandibular reconstruction with the aid of virtual surgery- A retrospective cohort study.

Although the deep circumflex iliac artery (DCIA) flap is a mainstay in mandibular reconstruction, its multi-segmental utilization is infrequently reported, primarily due to concerns regarding the variable cutaneous component and potentially inadequate vascular supply to multi-block segments. This retrospective study analyzed the outcomes of 86 patients undergoing mandibular reconstruction with multi-segmental DCIA flaps, compared to 167 patients who received conventional single-segmental flaps. The survival rate for multi-segmental flaps was comparable to that of single-segmental flaps (100% vs.

Drug-induced thrombocytopenia severity and toxicity（ditpst）:binary classification of drugs by human thrombocytopenia toxicity.

Background: Drug-induced thrombocytopenia (DITP) often occurs in patients during clinical treatment. However, clinicians usually fail to distinguish which drugs can be plausible culprits accurately. We aimed to develop a large comprehensive drug benchmark database with DITP toxicity using the recommended method by FDA.

Microneedle-delivered adeno-associated virus vaccine amplified anti-viral immunity by improving antigen-presenting cells infection.

Adeno-associated viruses (AAV) have significant potential as vaccine carriers due to their excellent biosafety and efficient antigen gene delivery. However, most AAV vaccines show limited capacity to transduce antigen-presenting cells (APCs) following intramuscular injection which may cause inadequate cellular immune responses and undesired side effects due to transducing other tissues or cells. Herein, we developed a soluble microneedle patch for targeting the AAV vaccines to the epidermal and dermal APCs.

The brain-gut microbiota network (BGMN) is correlated with symptom severity and neurocognition in patients with schizophrenia.

The association between the human brain and gut microbiota, known as the "brain-gut-microbiota axis", is involved in the neuropathological mechanisms of schizophrenia (SZ); however, its association patterns and correlations with symptom severity and neurocognition are still largely unknown. In this study, 43 SZ patients and 55 normal controls (NCs) were included, and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) and gut microbiota data were acquired for each participant. First, the brain features of brain images and functional brain networks were computed from rs-fMRI data; the gut features of gut microbiota abundance and the gut microbiota network were computed from gut microbiota data.

Carbon quantum dots amplify beneficial effects of EGCG against neural injuries by NLRP3 inflammasome after intracerebral hemorrhage.

Neuroinflammation plays an indispensable role in neural damages after ICH, responsible for the induced high mortality and poor prognosis. NLRP3 inflammasome, which is known mediated by ROS, has been widely documented to aggravate brain injuries. Therefore, suppressing neural injuries by ROS/NLRP3 pathway may be beneficial in treating ICH.

Enhanced methanol-xylose co-utilization strategy in Komagataella phaffii.

Bio-manufacturing based on non-food carbon sources is conducive to alleviating the global food crisis and greenhouse effect. However, the mechanism of the utilization of methanol and xylose in Komagataella phaffii based on endogenous metabolic pathways has not been fully explored. In this study, transcriptomics revealed a positive correlation between methanol metabolic efficiency and the transcription level of genes related to xylose metabolism and phosphate metabolism.

Association between epigenome-wide DNA methylation changes and early neurodevelopment in preschool children: Evidence from a former impoverished county in Central China.

Background: Existing epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) investigating the association between DNA methylation (DNAm) and child neurodevelopment have been predominantly conducted within Western populations, and yielded inconsistent results, leading to a significant gap within non-Western setting, particularly in resource-limited rural areas of Central China.

Objectives: To investigate the association between altered epigenome-wide DNAm and neurodevelopment in preschool children from resource-limited rural areas of Central China.

Methods: This case-control study involved 64 preschoolers.

Selective activation of mesoscale functional circuits via multichannel infrared stimulation of cortical columns in ultra-high-field 7T MRI.

To restore vision in the blind, advances in visual cortical prosthetics (VCPs) have offered high-channel-count electrical interfaces. Here, we design a 100-fiber optical bundle interface apposed to known feature-specific (color, shape, motion, and depth) functional columns that populate the visual cortex in humans, primates, and cats. Based on a non-viral optical stimulation method (INS, infrared neural stimulation; 1,875 nm), it can deliver dynamic patterns of stimulation, is non-penetrating and non-damaging to tissue, and is movable and removable.

Monitoring of inflammatory preterm responses via myometrial cell based multimodal electrophysiological and optical biosensing platform.

Preterm birth (PTB) remains a leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality, with inflammation-induced PTB posing a significant challenge due to its complex pathophysiology. To address this, we developed an in vitro platform utilizing hTERT-immortalized human myometrial (hTERT-HM) cells integrated with a multielectrode array (MEA) biosensing system and optical calcium imaging. Compared to primary uterine myometrial cells, hTERT-HM cells exhibit superior reproducibility, high scalability, and convenient manipulation, facilitating the consistent and large-scale investigations.

Algal organic matter alters protistan community structure and assembly processes in coastal sediments.

Diatom blooms are a global ecological perturbation that releases algal organic matter (AOM), significantly affecting coastal ecosystems by altering microbial community dynamics. AOM, derived from algal cell lysis, may serve as a nutrient source influencing protistan communities. However, the effects of AOM on protistan ecology, including the community structure and assembly processes, remain largely unexplored in coastal sediments.