Alternative splicing of vascular calcification: Insights, opportunities, and challenges.

Vascular calcification(VC) significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular events, leading to thickening of the myocardium and arteries, coronary heart disease, heart failure, and potentially triggering myocardial infarction and sudden cardiac death. Although VC is a reversible process, there are currently no methods or medications in clinical practice that can completely reverse or cure it. The current treatment strategies primarily focus on slowing the progression of VC and exploring new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, making the identification of early diagnostic markers for VC particularly important.

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.

Cracking the code of acrylamide and Nε-(carboxymethyl)lysine: Fish oil use and predictive strategies in potato chips during thermal processing.

Global high consumption of fried potatoes is driven by appealing taste and edible convenience. However, the occurrence of Maillard reaction hazardous products (MRHPs) and joint control recipes have scarcely been concerned. We aim to reveal and predict how fish oil treatment for potato slices reduces simultaneous formation of typical MRHPs in air-based thermal processed potato chips.

Experience of multidisciplinary cooperation in treating 15 extensively burned casualties：The Zhejiang LNG tanker explosion on 13 June 2020.

Background: On June 13, 2020, an explosion involving a liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker truck occurred in eastern China. Fifteen patients with extremely severe burns (referred to as "June 13" patients) were treated in the burn-intensive care unit (ICU) joint ward within the general ICU.

Methods: A multidisciplinary treatment team comprising 129 doctors, 126 nurses, and 165 auxiliary staff members was assembled.

Gut microbiota as a new target for hyperuricemia: A perspective from natural plant products.

Background: Hyperuricemia, a prevalent chronic metabolic disorder caused by purine metabolism disturbances, is characterized by elevated serum uric acid (UA) levels. Prolonged hyperuricemia can cause severe complications such as gout or kidney damage. However, the toxic side effects of and adverse reactions to UA-lowering drugs are becoming increasingly prominent.

Enhancing strategies of MOFs-derived materials for microwave absorption: review and perspective.

Microwave absorption materials (MAMs) gradually exhibit crucial applications in reducing electromagnetic wave (EMW) pollution, avoiding EMW information leakage, and solving radar stealth. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs)-derived materials are flourishing in the domain of EMW absorption attributed to their especial structures, heteroatom doping and controllable components. Herein, various strategies to enhance the EMW absorption ability of MOFs-derived materials are outlined, covering structural design and compositional regulation.

Health risk assessment of dietary cadmium exposure based on cadmium bioavailability in food: Opportunities and challenges.

Long-term exposure to Cd through contaminated food can lead to multiple adverse health effects on humans. Although previous studies have covered global food Cd concentrations and dietary Cd exposures across different populations, there are increasing concerns regarding the adequacy of current food Cd safety standards to protect populations from adverse health effects. Moreover, incorporation of Cd relative bioavailability (Cd-RBA) in foods improves the accuracy of health risk assessment.

Carnivorous fishes can possess higher mercury levels than omnivorous fishes: A selective detection and efficient removal strategy for mercury using magnetic melamine-platinum composites fabricated by supermolecular self-assembly.

Mercury (II) ion (Hg) as highly toxic heavy metal may be accumulated in aquatic ecosystems and animals species so as to enter human body to conduct health harm. To ensure the safety of fishes food, hence, it is of great interest to evaluate the Hg levels in different kinds of fishes as well as Hg removal in aquaculture tailwater. In this article, a selective colormetric detection and efficient removal strategy has been developed for Hg ions by the controlled supermolecular self-assembly of melamine (MA)-platinum (Pt) composites onto mesoporous FeO carriers.

A green cycle strategy for selective leach and recovery of critical metals from spent lithium-ion batteries: Experimental and new mechanistic insights.

With the global surge in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), recycling spent LIBs has become an essential and urgent research area. In the context of global efforts to promote sustainable development, and achieve energy conservation and emission reduction, advancing recycling technologies that efficiently recover critical metals like Ni, Co, Mn, and Li is crucial. Herein, a novel and environmentally friendly simplified process for selectively extracting critical metals from the mixed electrode materials of spent LIBs is proposed for the first time.

The inhibition of anammox system under Cu stress and mechanisms of biochar-mediated recovery.

Copper (Cu)-containing wastewater has proven difficult to effectively treat using the anammox process. In this study, the nitrogen removal efficiency (NRE), sludge characteristics, microbial community and recovery mechanisms of biochar-mediated anammox under Cu stress were elucidated. At a Custress of 5 mg/L, a 73.

Electromagnetism and thermostability of CrCsynthesised with high-temperature and high-pressure quenching method.

The interactions between the carbon skeleton and the metal atoms of a binary transition metal carbide (BTMC) are particular interest for industrial applications with openning physics and chemitry questions, especially in magnetoelectric (ME) functional materials and cemented carbides. Chromium and carbon BTMCs are a series of intermetallic compounds with typical chemical formulas and sharepolycrystalline powder c somehromium special characteristics.and carbon as precursors, In this paper,and synthesized s we usedingle-phase bluk Cr7C3 (orthorhombic, with space group: Pnma) with high density and good crystallinity by means of high-temperature and high-pressure quenching method (HTHPQM).

Dual oxygen supply system of carbon dot-loaded microbubbles with acoustic cavitation for enhanced sonodynamic therapy in diabetic wound healing.

Diabetic wounds present significant treatment challenges due to their complex microenvironment, marked by persistent inflammation from bacterial infections, hypoxia caused by diabetic microangiopathy, and biofilm colonization. Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) offers potential for treating such wounds by targeting deep tissues with antibacterial effects, but its efficacy is limited by hypoxic conditions and biofilm barriers. To overcome these obstacles, we developed a novel approach using oxygen-carrying microbubbles loaded with Mn-doped carbon dots (MnCDs@OMBs) to enhance SDT and disrupt biofilms.

Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of Flavokavain B derivatives as potent TRF2 inhibitors for the treatment of Osteosarcoma.

Telomere repeat-binding factor 2 (TRF2) is a crucial component of the shelterin complex, commonly overexpressed in osteosarcoma (OS) and positively correlated with its progression. To date, effective TRF2 inhibitors for in vivo applications remain limited. In this study, a series of Flavokavain B derivatives were designed and synthesized, and their TRF2 inhibition and antitumor activity were evaluated.

Washable Superhydrophobic Cotton Fabric with Photothermal Self-Healing Performance Based on Nanocrystal-MXene.

Superhydrophobic fabrics suffer from being commonly penetrated by moisture after laundering, seriously deteriorating their water repellency after air drying. Numerous researchers have successfully recovered superhydrophobicity by drying in fluid ovens; however, high energy consumption and equipment dependence limit practical applications. Herein, the superhydrophobic photothermal self-healing cotton fabric (SPS cotton fabric) was fabricated by depositing a composite layer of cellulose nanocrystal-MXene (C-MXene) and polyacrylate (PA) coatings on the cotton cloth.

Preoperative and early postoperative factors associated with visual outcome after macular-off retinal detachment surgery.

Purpose: To evaluate preoperative and early postoperative factors associated with changes in visual acuity in macula-off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) patients.

Methods: A retrospective review of 59 eyes from 59 patients who underwent pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) and silicone oil (SiO) tamponade for macula-off RRD. Preoperative and early postoperative characteristics were analyzed using the classification and regression tree (CART) analysis.

Dynamic characteristics of a compliant seat coupled with the human body and a manikin during the exposure to the whole-body vibration: effect of the polyurethane foam, the track position and the measurement location.

Transmissibility is used to assess dynamic responses of the occupant-seat system, and most studies have exclusively assessed the transmissibility from the floor to the cushion or the backrest surface with the human body. In this investigation, the vertical vibration transmitted from the floor to six specific locations both on the seat surface and the frame when the seat was fixed on three positions on the track was examined utilizing an SAE J826 manikin and 12 male adults (0.25 to 20 Hz) for a duration of 120 seconds at three vibration amplitudes.

Innovative Applications of Bacteria and Their Derivatives in Targeted Tumor Therapy.

Despite significant progress in cancer treatment, traditional therapies still face considerable challenges, including poor targeting, severe toxic side effects, and the development of resistance. Recent advances in biotechnology have revealed the potential of bacteria and their derivatives as drug delivery systems for tumor therapy by leveraging their biological properties. Engineered bacteria, including , , and , along with their derivatives─outer membrane vesicles (OMVs), bacterial ghosts (BGs), and bacterial spores (BSPs)─can be loaded with a variety of antitumor agents, enabling precise targeting and sustained drug release within the tumor microenvironment (TME).

Polyphenylalanine-Baicalein Nanomicelles Reduce Nerve Cell Apoptosis and Inflammation to Enhance Neuroprotection and Poststroke Rehabilitation.

Cerebral ischemic stroke, neuronal death, and inflammation bring difficulties in neuroprotection and rehabilitation. In this study, we developed and designed the ability of natural lactoferrin-polyethylene glycol-polyphenylalanine-baicalein nanomicelles (LF-PEG-PPhe-Bai) to target and reduce these pathological processes, such as neurological damage and cognitive impairment in the stages of poststroke. Nanomicelles made from biocompatible materials have improved bioavailability and targeted distribution to afflicted brain areas.

Jealousy or Abuse? Dispositional Mindfulness Helps Chinese College Students Understand and Save From Cyber Dating Abuse.

Technology advances lead to a high prevalence of cyber dating abuse among youth. Previous studies had demonstrated its detrimental outcomes and predictors, but neglected the characters in Eastern countries. Therefore, exploring the comprehensive mechanisms of cyber dating abuse in different cultures and mitigating it are necessary.

DNA spontaneously wrapping around a histone core prefers negative supercoiling: A Brownian dynamics study.

In eukaryotes, DNA achieves a highly compact structure primarily due to its winding around the histone cores. The nature wrapping of DNA around histone core form a 1.7 left-handed superhelical turns, contributing to negative supercoiling in chromatin.

A novel MADM model integrating hybrid information for evaluating the development prospects of urban new energy vehicles.

As an effective approach to mitigating urban environmental issues, New Energy Vehicles (NEVs) have become a focal point of research regarding their current development status and future prospects in China. Addressing the significant disparities in the development of the NEVs industry across different cities, this study focuses on ten typical Chinese cities and develops a novel multi-attribute decision-making (MADM) framework to evaluate the prospects of NEVs promotion in these cities. The study first establishes a comprehensive indicator system that covers key dimensions such as economy, policy support, infrastructure, technological innovation, and environment, encompassing five different types of evaluation information.

Designing High-Damping, Optically Clear Ionogels through Competitive Binding for Flexible and Impact-Resistant Applications.

Developing damping materials that are both optically transparent and mechanically robust, while offering broad frequency damping capacity, is a significant challenge─particularly for devices that require protection without compromising visual clarity. Conventional methods often either fail to maintain transparency or involve complex designs that are difficult to implement. Here, we present an ionogel system that integrates a physically cross-linked elastic copolymer network with a viscous ionic liquid.

Oral Microalgae-Based Biosystem to Enhance Irreversible Electroporation Immunotherapy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is a novel local tumor ablation technique that can potentially stimulate immune responses. However, IRE alone cannot effectively activate the immune system or prevent distant metastases. Therefore, this study utilized the biocompatibility of Chlorella vulgaris (C.

Observations of Cherenkov-Like Radial Wake in Water Waves.

Cherenkov radiation (CR) is a fascinating phenomenon that occurs not only in electromagnetic (EM) waves but also in water waves. The V-shaped wake formed by a moving object on the water surface results from the constructive interference of water waves of different wavelengths, similar to CR. We designed and fabricated a one-dimensional (1D) water wave crystal to analogize the behavior of moving particles in water waves.