Functional Characterization of an Aldol Condensation Synthase PheG for the Formation of Hispidin from Phellinus Igniarius.

Hispidin (1) is a polyphenolic compound with a wide range of pharmacological activities that is distributed in both plants and fungi. In addition to natural extraction, hispidin can be obtained by chemical or enzymatic synthesis. In this study, the identification and characterization of an undescribed enzyme, PheG, from Phellinus igniarius (P.

Detection and Treatment with Peptide Power: A New Weapon Against Bacterial Biofilms.

Bacterial biofilms, complex microbial communities encased in a protective extracellular matrix, pose a significant threat to public health due to their inherent antibiotic resistance. This review explores the potential of peptides, particularly antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), as innovative tools to combat biofilm-related infections. AMPs, characterized by their potent antimicrobial activity and tissue permeability, offer a promising approach to overcome the challenges posed by biofilms.

Blocking the p38 MAPK Signaling Pathway in the Rat Hippocampus Alleviates the Depressive-like Behavior Induced by Spinal Cord Injury.

Patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) may develop depression, which can affect their rehabilitation. However, the underlying mechanism of depression in SCI patients remains unclear. Previous studies have revealed increased p38 MAPK phosphorylation in the rat hippocampus after SCI, accompanied by depression-like behaviors.

Cathodic Deoxygenative Alkylation of Nitro(hetero)arenes with Organic Halides.

We have realized a cathodic deoxygenative alkylation between nitro(hetero)arenes and organic halides, employing bis(pinacolato)diboron (Bpin) and LiCl as additives to trap and stabilize the generated alkyl radicals and carbanions, thereby facilitating efficient N-O cleavage and selective C-N bond formation. The protocol offers an economical method for the efficient synthesis of multiple aromatic(hetero) amines, without the need for reactive reductants and the exclusion of air and moisture. Notably, the protocol is distinguished by scalability, broad functional group compatibility, and safe and mild conditions, demonstrating practicality in the synthesis and late-stage modification of various bioactive compounds.

Abnormal network homogeneity in patients with bipolar disorder in attention network.

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a complex psychiatric condition marked by significant mood fluctuations that deeply affect quality of life. Understanding the neural mechanisms underlying BD is critical for improving diagnostic accuracy and developing more effective treatments. This study utilized resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) to investigate functional connectivity within the ventral and dorsal attention networks in 52 patients with BD and 51 healthy controls.

Targeting Ketone Body Metabolism Improves Cardiac Function and Hemodynamics in Patients With Heart Failure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Context: The impacts of elevated ketone body levels on cardiac function and hemodynamics in patients with heart failure (HF) remain unclear.

Objective: The effects of ketone intervention on these parameters in patients with HF were evaluated quantitatively in this meta-analysis.

Data Sources: We searched the PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases for relevant studies published from inception to April 13, 2024.

Chinese herbal medicine-inspired construction of multi-component hydrogels with antibacterial and wound-healing-promoting functions.

Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) has offered a great treasure and source of inspiration for developing innovative medicinal materials and therapy. In this work, inspired by the macroscopic compatibility of and in CHM, the puerarin (PUE) and CaSO (Ca) as the main constituents, respectively, from the two herbs are co-assembled into two-component molecular hydrogels. Such two-component gels exhibited enhanced mechanical properties compared with the single-component PUE gel due to the introduction of crosslinking hydrogen bonds between PUE and Ca.

Multicolor emission from a 0D-doped hybrid halide (CHN)CdBr single crystal.

Achieving multicolor emission is a fascinating goal that remains challenging for zero-dimensional (0D) hybrid halides. We successfully obtained a three-millimeter-scale 0D (MXDA)CdBr (MXDA = CHN) single crystal (SC) by the solvothermal method. It serves as an outstanding host for doping with various valence activators, such as Cu, Mn and Sb, and these doped single crystals emit blue (470 nm), yellow (580 nm) and red (618 nm) fluorescence, which accurately cover a large visible region and achieve efficient multicolor emission.

The impact of antimony on all-inorganic lead-free perovskites: progress in optical advancement and applications.

The incorporation of Sb ions into all-inorganic halide lead-free perovskites bestows them with remarkable photoluminescence characteristics, including an extensive color tuning range, elevated photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY), and reversible color transitions, which hold significant promise for applications in light-emitting diodes, anti-counterfeiting encryption technologies, and photodetectors. Sb ions not only create new optical absorption channels but also can be integrated into these materials as activators or sensitizers to modulate the bandgap and band structure. This review focuses on the optical properties of Sb ion-doped lead-free halide perovskites while examining potential energy transfer pathways across various doping systems.

Two-dimensional BiTeX crystals with persistent luminescence induced by photochemical reactions.

Two-dimensional (2D) materials are highly valued for their unique properties and potential applications, as they can display exotic behaviors differing from those of their bulk forms. Research on elementary and binary solids has been making great progress recently, while synthesizing multi-component 2D materials experimentally remains a challenge, despite the possibility of greatly extending the number of members of the 2D realm. In this study, we synthesized ternary BiTeX (X = Cl, Br, I) nanosheets with high crystallinity through an electrochemical exfoliation method.

NIR-II absorption and photothermal conversion in a photochromic metal-organic framework based on -2,2'-biquinoline-4,4'-dicarboxylate.

A BCA -coordinated MOF (1) was initially discovered to exhibit electron transfer photochromism. Remarkably, the photogenerated radicals (1P) showed a maximum absorption enhancement peak at 1158 nm, resulting from the synergistic effects of planar π-conjugation induced by -coordination and π-π interactions among [BCA]˙˙ radicals, thereby promoting the NIR-II photothermal effect.

Metasurface Plasmon Resonance Biosensor Enhanced with Dual Gold Nanoparticles for the Ultrasensitive Quantitative Detection of C-Reactive Protein.

The pursuit of cutting-edge diagnostic systems capable of detecting biomarkers with exceptional sensitivity and precision is crucial for the timely and accurate monitoring of inflammatory responses. In this study, we introduce a dual gold nanoparticle-enhanced metasurface plasmon resonance (Bi-MSPR) biosensor for the ultrasensitive detection of C-reactive protein (CRP). The Bi-MSPR sensor is constructed upon a nanocup array chip with gradient-free electron density, where an innovative metasurface structure is built using a PEI-immobilized dual-gold nanoparticle amplification system.

Halting Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Progression and Metastasis by Neuron-Inhibitory Liposomes.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains an aggressive malignancy. The occurrence of perineural invasion is associated with neuropathic pain and poor prognosis of PDAC, underscoring the active participation of nerves and their potential as therapeutic targets. Lidocaine is a local anesthetic with antitumor properties in some tumors in the clinic.

Development of Triphenylamine Derived Photosensitizers for Efficient Hydrogen Evolution from Water.

A series of new (donor)₂-donor-π-acceptor (D2-D-π-A) and (acceptor)₂-donor-π-acceptor (A2-D-π-A) organic photosensitizers based on the framework of (Z)-2-cyano-3-(5-(4-(diphenylamino)phenyl)thiophen-2-yl)acrylic acid have been synthesized and characterized. By incorporating groups with different electron-donating or withdrawing abilities, such as dibenzothiophene (DBT), dibenzofuran (DBF), and triazine (TA), into the triphenylamine segment, their photophysical properties have been regulated.  Theoretical calculations were used to explore how various donor-acceptor combinations influence their hydrogen production performance.

Copper-Mediated Three-Component Synthesis of Diverse Perfluoroalkylated Fullerenes.

The synthesis of perfluoroalkylated fullerenes (PFAFs) holds significant importance due to their enhanced molecular stability, increased lipophilicity, and high electron affinity. Herein, we report a copper-catalyzed multicomponent reaction conducted under aerobic conditions, which enables the production of highly soluble PFAFs with half-wave reduction potentials similar to those of C. Furthermore, the challenges posed by C-F coupling in carbon signal assignment were addressed through fluorine-decoupled carbon spectroscopy, facilitating precise structural characterization of the perfluoroalkyl moieties.

Carbon nanofibre frameworks based on a π-extended oligo(perylene) diimide for high-rate lithium-ion batteries.

Anodes play an important role in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and have received much attention as ideal carbon anode materials for meeting the needs for high-rate capability, long-term stability, and high energy density. In this study, a π-extended oligo(perylene) diimide (PTN) is synthesized by using a solvothermal reaction with NH·HO as the decarboxylation reaction catalyst and perylene anhydride as the precursor. A nanocarbon fiber framework can be produced through self-assembly during the carbonization process of π-extended perylene diimide oligomers.

Microfluidic-assisted sol-gel preparation of monodisperse mesoporous silica microspheres with controlled size, surface morphology, porosity and stiffness.

The controllable synthesis of monodisperse mesoporous silica microspheres with unique physicochemical properties is becoming increasingly important for a variety of applications such as catalysts, chromatography, drug delivery and sensors. Here, we report a facile microfluidic-assisted sol-gel method for the preparation of silica microspheres with precisely controlled properties such as the size of the microspheres, the surface morphology, porosity and stiffness. All these properties can be manipulated by changing specific synthesis parameters, such as changing the microfluidic channels to tune the size of the microdroplets (tens to hundreds of microns), changing the contents of the precursor solution to manipulate the surface morphology (wrinkled to smooth surface) and changing the gelation/annealing conditions to tune the porosity (surface area up to 1021 m g) and stiffness of the microspheres (elastic modulus tunable from 0.

Underwater Superoleophobic and Transparent Films with Mechanical Robustness and High Durability in Harsh Environments.

Underwater superoleophobic and transparent (UST) films are promising in applications, such as advanced optical devices in marine environments. However, the mechanical robustness and durability in harsh environments of the existing UST films are still unsatisfactory. In this work, we present a free-standing nacre-inspired mineralized UST (NIM-UST) film with high aragonite content and excellent mechanical properties toward robust underwater superoleophobicity on two surfaces and transparency (94%) in harsh seawater environments.

Advances in the use of nanotechnology for treating gout.

Gout is a commonly occurring form of inflammatory arthritis caused by persistently elevated levels of uric acid. Its incidence rate rises with the increases of living standards and poor dietary habits, which has a considerable impact on the quality of life of the patients. Although there is a wide assortment of drugs available for the management of gout, the effectiveness and security of these drugs are limited by their poor chemical stability and insufficient targeting.

Erratum to "Sleep Promotion by 3-Hydroxy-4-iminobutyric Acid in Walnut ".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.34133/research.0216.

A bionic 3D-printed hydrogel microneedle of composite mesh for abdominal wall defect repair.

The use of mesh repair is a frequently employed technique in the clinical management of abdominal wall defects. However, for intraperitoneal onlay mesh (IPOM), the traditional mesh requires additional fixation methods, and these severely limit its application in the repair of abdominal wall defects. We drew inspiration from the adhesion properties of mussels for the present study, functionalized carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) with dopamine (DA), and added polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to the composite to further improve the wet adhesive ability of hydrogels.

Study on gas adsorption and separation performance of alkyl functionalized MOF materials under wet conditions.

Metal-organic framework materials exhibit significant potential for diverse applications in gas adsorption and separation. We have studied the performance changes of Cu-BTC, Cu-MBTC and Cu-EBTC under different water-containing conditions. GCMC studies shows that, compared with Cu-BTC, the water absorption properties of Cu-MBTC and Cu-EBTC have a certain degree of decline, which is consistent with the experimental results.

Cellulose nanocrystal composite films for contactless moisture-electric conversion.

The ability to convert moisture signals into electrical signals through contactless control underpins a wide range of applications, including health monitoring, disaster warning, and energy harvesting. Despite its potential, the effective utilization of low-grade energy remains challenging, as it often requires complex device architectures that limit scalability and integration, particularly in wearable technologies. Here, we present a soft, flexible moisture-electric converter made from cellulose nanocrystals and polyvinyl alcohol composite films, designed for a novel touchless interactive platform.

Ethanol-induced ammonium polyphosphate-silver gel paint: breaking the trade-off between conductivity, flame retardancy and adhesion in single-layer functional coatings.

Electrical fires pose significant threats to the lives and property safety of people. Although utilizing coatings to impart conductivity and flame retardancy to materials is convenient and reliable, traditional layer-by-layer preparation methods have the limitations of cost, convenience and scalability. Therefore, a single-layer coating that simultaneously imparts excellent conductivity and flame retardancy to materials presents broader application prospects.

Dual-driven biodegradable nanomotors for enhanced cellular uptake.

Hybrid nano-sized motors with navigation and self-actuation capabilities have emerged as promising nanocarriers for a wide range of delivery, sensing, and diagnostic applications due to their unique ability to achieve controllable locomotion within a complex biological environment such as tissue. However, most current nanomotors typically operate using a single driving mode, whereas propulsion induced by both external and local stimuli could be more beneficial to achieve efficient motility in a biomedical setting. In this work, we present a hybrid nanomotor by functionalizing biodegradable stomatocytes with platinum nanoparticles (Pt NPs).