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Tunability of interfacial effects between two-dimensional (2D) crystals is crucial not only for understanding the intrinsic properties of each system, but also for designing electronic devices based on ultra-thin heterostructures. A prerequisite of such heterostructure engineering is the availability of 2D crystals with different degrees of interfacial interactions. In this work, we report a controlled epitaxial growth of monolayer TaSe2 with different structural phases, 1H and 1 T, on a bilayer graphene (BLG) substrate using molecular beam epitaxy, and its impact on the electronic properties of the heterostructures using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. 1H-TaSe2 exhibits significant charge transfer and band hybridization at the interface, whereas 1 T-TaSe2 shows weak interactions with the substrate. The distinct interfacial interactions are attributed to the dual effects from the differences of the work functions as well as the relative interlayer distance between TaSe2 films and BLG substrate. The method demonstrated here provides a viable route towards interface engineering in a variety of transition-metal dichalcogenides that can be applied to future nano-devices with designed electronic properties.

Background Microalbuminuria is a sensitive indicator of early renal microvascular damage and an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Previous studies have shown that long-term chronic inflammation plays an important role in the occurrence and development of microalbuminuria. However, the correlation between blood inflammatory markers and microalbuminuria has been less frequently reported. Objective To investigate the correlation of systemic immune inflammatory index (SII) and systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI) with microalbuminuria in a middle-aged and elderly physical examination population. Methods This was a cross-sectional study in which 2 105 medical examiners over the age of 40 years who underwent health check-ups from April to July 2023 at the Department of Health Medicine, General Hospital of the Eastern Theatre of Operations were selected as study subjects. The study subjects were divided into two groups based on the urinary microalbumin/urinary creatinine ratio (UACR) values: the non-microalbuminuric group (1 857 cases, UACR0.05) ; age, BMI, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, 2 h blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, triglycerides, homocysteine, glomerular filtration rate erythrocyte sedimentation rate, SII, and SIRI levels were higher in the microalbuminuria group than those in the non-microalbuminuria group, and high density lipoprotein cholesterol level was lower than that in the non-microalbuminuria group (P

Photocatalysis driven by abundant yet intermittent solar energy has considerable potential in renewable energy generation and environmental remediation. The outstanding electronic structure and physicochemical properties of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4), together with unique metal-free characteristic, make them ideal candidates for advanced photocatalysts construction. This review summarizes the up-to-date advances on g-C3N4 based photocatalysts from ingenious-design strategies and diversified photocatalytic applications. Notably, the advantages, fabrication methods and limitations of each design strategy are systemically analyzed. In order to deeply comprehend the inner connection of theory–structure–performance upon g-C3N4 based photocatalysts, structure/composition designs, corresponding photocatalytic activities and reaction mechanisms are jointly discussed, associated with introducing their photocatalytic applications toward water splitting, carbon dioxide/nitrogen reduction and pollutants degradation, etc. Finally, the current challenges and future perspectives for g-C3N4 based materials for photocatalysis are briefly proposed. These design strategies and limitations are also instructive for constructing g-C3N4 based materials in other energy and environment-related applications.

Background: Human lysozyme (hLYZ) is a natural antibacterial protein with broad applications in food and pharmaceutical industries. Recombinant production of hLYZ in Komagataella phaffii (K. phaffii) has attracted considerable attention, but there are very limited strategies for its hyper-production in yeast. Results: Here through Atmospheric and Room Temperature Plasma (ARTP)-based mutagenesis and transcriptomic analysis, the expression of two genes MYO1 and IQG1 encoding the cytokinesis core proteins was identified downregulated along with higher hLYZ production. Deletion of either gene caused severe cytokinesis defects, but significantly enhanced hLYZ production. The highest hLYZ yield of 1,052,444 ± 23,667 U/mL bioactivity and 4.12 ± 0.11 g/L total protein concentration were obtained after high-density fed-batch fermentation in the Δmyo1 mutant, representing the best production of hLYZ in yeast. Furthermore, O-linked mannose glycans were characterized on this recombinant hLYZ. Conclusions: Our work suggests that cytokinesis-based morphology engineering is an effective way to enhance the production of hLYZ in K. phaffii. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Thyroid eye disease (TED) is an inflammatory process involving lymphocyte-mediated immune response and orbital tissue damage. The anti-insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) antibodies produced by B lymphocytes are involved in the activation of orbital fibroblasts and the inflammatory process of orbital tissue damage in TED. The purpose of this study was to explore the role of IGF-1R in the mechanistic connection between orbital fibroblasts and B lymphocytes in TED. Methods: Orbital fibroblasts sampled from orbital connective tissues and peripheral B lymphocytes isolated from peripheral blood, which were obtained from 15 patients with TED and 15 control patients, were co-cultured at a ratio of 1:20. The level of IGF-1R expression in orbital fibroblasts was evaluated by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. Transient B lymphocyte depletion was induced with anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody rituximab, while the IGF-1R pathway was blocked by the IGF-1R binding protein. The expression levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and regulated upon activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) in the co-culture model were quantified via ELISA. Results: IGF-1R expression was significantly elevated in TED orbital fibroblasts compared to that of controls. A 24-h co-culture of orbital fibroblasts with peripheral B lymphocytes induced elevated expression levels of IL-6 and RANTES in each group (TED patients and controls), with the highest levels occurring in TED patients (T + T group). Rituximab and IGF-1R binding protein significantly inhibited increased levels of IL-6 and RANTES in the co-culture model of TED patients. Conclusions: IGF-1R may mediate interaction between orbital fibroblasts and peripheral B lymphocytes; thus, blocking IGF-1R may reduce the local inflammatory response in TED. Rituximab-mediated B lymphocyte depletion played a role in inhibiting inflammatory responses in this in vitro co-culture model, providing a theoretical basis for the clinical application of anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies in TED. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]