Polydopamine-Induced BMP7-Poly (Lactic-Co-Glycolic Acid)-Nanoparticle Coating Facilitates Osteogenesis in Porous Tantalum Scaffolds.

Bone defects are difficult to treat clinically and most often require bone grafting for repair. However, the source of autograft bone is limited, and allograft bone carries the risk of disease transmission and immune rejection. As tissue engineering technology advances, bone replacement materials are playing an increasingly important role in the treatment of bone defects.

Mild [3 + 3] Annulation of (Trifluoromethyl)alkenes with Thioureas Enabled by Chemoselective Defluorinative Amination: Synthesis of 6-Fluoro-3,4-dihydropyrimidine-2(1)-thiones.

The chemoselective defluorinative [3 + 3] annulation of (trifluoromethyl)alkenes with thioureas is reported. This protocol affords various attractive 6-fluoro-3,4-dihydropyrimidine-2(1)-thiones in high yields, features transition-metal free, mild conditions, efficient, is operationally simple and gram-scalable, tolerates diverse useful functional groups.

Computational Investigation of the Role of Metal Center Identity in Cytochrome P450 Enzyme Model Reactivity.

Mononuclear Fe enzymes such as heme-containing cytochrome P450 enzymes catalyze a variety of C-H activation reactions under ambient conditions, and they represent an attractive platform for engineering reactivity through changes to the native enzyme. Using density functional theory, we study both native Fe and non-native group 8 (Ru, Os) and group 9 (Ir) metal centers in an active site model of P450. We quantify how changing the metal changes spin state preferences throughout the catalytic cycle.

Time-Varying Spatial Propagation of Brain Networks in fMRI Data.

Spontaneous neural activity coherently relays information across the brain. Several efforts have been made to understand how spontaneous neural activity evolves at the macro-scale level as measured by resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI). Previous studies observe the global patterns and flow of information in rsfMRI using methods such as sliding window or temporal lags.

Exploring the Impact of Declarative Learning on the Consolidation of Acquired Motor Skills Under Valence Feedback.

Implicit motor learning involves the acquisition and consolidation of motor skills without conscious awareness, influenced by various factors. Punishment and reward have been identified as significant modulators during training, impacting skill acquisition differently. Additionally, the role of a second declarative task in offline consolidation has been explored, affecting both stabilization and enhancement processes during wake and sleep periods.

Characterization of the binding process between gallic acid and trivalent chromium in tannery wastewater: a spectroscopic perspective.

Trivalent chromium (Cr) is a heavy metal widely present in tannery wastewater, and organic ligands represented by gallic acid (GA) have significant effects on the environmental behavior of Cr. This study explored the binding process of Cr with GA through the integration of ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and fluorescence spectroscopy coupled with two-dimensional correlation analyses (2DCOS). UV-vis results showed that the average molecular weight of the solutions gradually increased with the addition of Cr ions.

Effect of Canna edulis starch addition on the properties of flour, rheology of dough and quality of semi-dry noodles.

Background: Canna edulis is a high-quality resistant starch raw material, especially for making flour products. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Canna edulis starch (CES) on the properties of flour, rheology of dough and quality of semi-dry noodles. The CES replaced part of the wheat flour in the semi-dry noodle formula.

Comparative Effectiveness of Calcium-Channel Blockers, Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme/Angiotensin Receptor Blockers and Diuretics on Cardiovascular Events Likelihood in Hypertensive African-American and Non-Hispanic Caucasians: A Retrospective Study Across HCA Healthcare.

Background: Hypertension, a leading global risk factor for mortality and disability, disproportionately affects racial and ethnic minorities. Our study investigates the association between the type of prior antihypertensive medication use and the likelihood of cardiovascular events (CVE) and assesses whether the patient's race influences this relationship.

Methods: A retrospective study of 14 836 hypertension cases aged ≥ 40 years was conducted using data from HCA Healthcare between 2017 and 2023.

Toward a hyperventilation detection system in freediving: a proof of concept using force sensor technology.

Background And Aim: Hyperventilation before breath-hold diving (freediving) is widely accepted as a risk factor for hypoxic syncope or blackout (BO), but there is no practical way to address it before dives. This study explores the feasibility of using a force sensor to predict end-tidal carbon dioxide ( CO) to assess hyperventilation in freedivers.

Methods And Results: Twenty-one freedivers volunteered to participate during two national competitions.

Carbonic Anhydrase IX Targeted Polyaspartamide fluorescent Probes for Tumor imaging.

Background: Precise intraoperative tumor delineation is essential for successful surgical outcomes. However, conventional methods are often incompetent to provide intraoperative guidance due to lack specificity and sensitivity. Recently fluorescence-guided surgery for tumors to delineate between cancerous and healthy tissues has attracted widespread attention.

Enhancing efficiency and stability in perovskite solar cells: innovations in self-assembled monolayers.

Perovskite solar cells (PVSCs) show remarkable potential due to their high-power conversion efficiencies and scalability. However, challenges related to stability and long-term performance remain significant. Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) have emerged as a crucial solution, enhancing interfacial properties, facilitating hole extraction, and minimizing non-radiative recombination.

An updated review summarizing the anticancer potential of flavonoids via targeting NF-kB pathway.

Nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) cell signaling pathway is essential for the progression and development of numerous human disorders, including cancer. NF-κB signaling pathway regulates a wide range of physiological processes, such as cell survival, growth, and migration. Deregulated NF-kB signaling resulted in unregulated cell proliferation, viability, movement, and invasion, thus promoting tumor development.

The role of fMRI in the mind decoding process in adults: a systematic review.

Background: Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has revolutionized our understanding of brain activity by non-invasively detecting changes in blood oxygen levels. This review explores how fMRI is used to study mind-reading processes in adults.

Methodology: A systematic search was conducted across Web of Science, PubMed, and Google Scholar.

Design of a wasp-inspired biopsy needle capable of self-propulsion and friction-based tissue transport.

Percutaneous pancreatic core biopsy is conclusive but challenging due to large-diameter needles, while smaller-diameter needles used in aspiration methods suffer from buckling and clogging. Inspired by the ovipositor of parasitic wasps, which resists buckling through self-propulsion and prevents clogging via friction-based transport, research has led to the integration of these functionalities into multi-segment needle designs or tissue transport system designs. This study aimed to combine these wasp-inspired functionalities into a single biopsy needle by changing the interconnection of the needle segments.

The influence of different crosslinking agents onto the physical properties, integration behavior and immune response of collagen-based barrier membranes.

This study investigates the mechanical properties as well as and cyto- and biocompatibility of collagen membranes cross-linked with glutaraldehyde (GA), proanthocyanidins (PC), hexamethylendiisocyanate (HMDI) and 1-Ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide/N-hydroxysuccinimide (EC/NHS). A non-crosslinked membrane was used as reference control (RF). The initial cytotoxic analyses revealed that the PC, EC, and HMDI crosslinked membranes were cytocompatible, while the GA crosslinked membrane was cytotoxic and thus selected as positive control in the further study.

Marfan syndrome: insights from animal models.

Marfan syndrome (MFS) is an inherited disorder that affects the connective tissues and mainly presents in the bones, eyes, and cardiovascular system, etc. Aortic pathology is the leading cause of death in patients with Marfan syndrome. The fibrillin-1 gene () is a major gene involved in the pathogenesis of MFS.

Synthesis and Evaluation of PCL/Chitosan/CQD-Fe Magnetic Nanocomposite for Wound Healing: Emphasis on Gene Expression.

The development of an effective and rapid method for healing the skin is of crucial importance. In this study, we prepared a porous scaffold made of polycaprolactone (PCL) and carbon quantum dots (CQDs), Fe, and Chitosan (Cs) as the scaffold core to cover the skin. Then evaluated antibacterial, biocompatibility, and wound healing properties as well as the expression of genes effective in wound healing.

International diet quality index and revised diet quality index relationship with type 2 diabetes disease: a case-control study.

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a global health crisis linked to increased cardiovascular risk. Research indicates that better dietary quality-higher intake of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and lower intake of processed foods-reduces T2DM risk. This study examines the relationship between T2DM and dietary quality indices (DQI-I and DQI-R) to determine if adherence can lower diabetes risk.

Constructing a knee osteoarthritis transplant via the neutrality aggregation operators under spherical fuzzy Z-numbers framework.

Understanding the biomechanics of osteoarthritis is necessary for designing a biomedical knee implant to reduce pain, increase mobility, and enhance the patient's quality of life. The most appropriate implant design may be chosen by using Multi-Attribute Group Decision-Making (MAGDM) techniques, which include a number of variables including material characteristics, biomechanical performance, cost-effectiveness, and patient-specific requirements. Compared to conventional fuzzy set structures, Spherical Fuzzy -Number Sets ( S) provide an enhanced method for resolving uncertainty in MAGDM and are more suited for handling complicated decision-making situations.

Meibomian gland alterations in allergic conjunctivitis: insights from a novel quantitative analysis algorithm.

Purpose: To investigate the changes in meibomian gland (MG) structure in allergic conjunctivitis (AC) patients using an intelligent quantitative analysis algorithm and to explore the relationship between these changes and clinical parameters.

Methods: A total of 252 eyes from patients with AC and 200 eyes from normal controls were examined. Infrared meibography was performed using the non-contact mode of the Keratograph 5M.

Dehydration-enhanced Ion Recognition of Triazine Covalent Organic Frameworks for High-resolution Li+/Mg2+ Separation.

The precise and rapid extraction of lithium from salt-lake brines is critical to meeting the global demand for lithium resources. However, it remains a major challenge to design ion-transport membranes with accurate recognition and fast transport path for the target ion. Here, we report a triazine covalent organic framework (COF) membrane with high resolution for Li+ and Mg2+ that enables fast Li+ transport while almost completely inhibiting Mg2+ permeation.

Cu(II)-Catalyzed Annulative Sulfonylimination of α-Carbonyl-γ-alkynyl Sulfoxonium Ylides through Sulfoxonium Ylide Elimination for Access to ()-1-Isochromenes.

1-Isochromene scaffolds are ubiquitous in natural products and significant bioactive molecules. Although several methods for these molecular syntheses have been developed, reports on the efficient construction of iminated isochromenes are still rather limited. Herein, we report a new Cu(II)-catalyzed annulation and sulfonylimination cascade of α-carbonyl-γ-alkynyl sulfoxonium ylides with sulfamides, enabling direct C-C σ-bond elimination to furnish iminated ()-1-isochromenes in 51-97% yields.

Coplanar Dimeric Acceptors with Bathochromic Absorption and Torsion-Free Backbones through Precise Fluorination Enabling Efficient Organic Photovoltaics with 18.63% Efficiency.

Giant dimeric acceptors (GDAs), a sub-type of acceptor materials for organic solar cells (OSCs), have garnered much attention due to the synergistic advantages of their monomeric and polymeric acceptors, forming a well-defined molecular structure with a giant molecular weight for high efficiency and stability. In this study, for the first time, two new GDAs, DYF-V and DY2F-V are designed and synthesized for OSC operation, by connecting one vinylene linker with the mono-/di-fluorinated end group on two Y-series monomers, respectively. After fluorination, both DYF-V and DY2F-V exhibit bathochromic absorption and denser packing modes due to the stronger intramolecular charge transfer effect and torsion-free backbones.

Next generation bioelectronic medicine: making the case for non-invasive closed-loop autonomic neuromodulation.

The field of bioelectronic medicine has advanced rapidly from rudimentary electrical therapies to cutting-edge closed-loop systems that integrate real-time physiological monitoring with adaptive neuromodulation. Early innovations, such as cardiac pacemakers and deep brain stimulation, paved the way for these sophisticated technologies. This review traces the historical and technological progression of bioelectronic medicine, culminating in the emerging potential of closed-loop devices for multiple disorders of the brain and body.

Strategies for strengthening cervical cancer screening programmes in Gwanda district, Zimbabwe: a qualitative study.

Background: Numerous studies have been conducted on barriers to cervical cancer screening in low resourced settings. Few have however explored the factors that motivate women to make the decision for screening. This study therefore aimed at identifying strategies that could strengthen the utilisation of screening services, with the goal of informing the development of context for enhancing cervical cancer programmes in Gwanda district, Zimbabwe.