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The progress of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was sensitively monitored based on the increase in fluorescence of N,N'-bis(3- aminopropyl)-2,7-diamino-1,8-naphthyridine, which was covalently anchored on the cytosine bulge directly neighbouring the 5'-T_G-3'/ 5'-CCA-3' sequence in the hairpin tag at the 5' end of the PCR primer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Applications of low band gap polymers in solar cells have attracted intense attention due to their energetic overlap with the solar spectrum. Recently, low band gap organic photovoltaic (OPV) materials have shown an unprecedented ∼8% efficiency in solar cell devices. Although the energetic alignment is crucial in the optimization of these materials, the structural and kinetic effects are also important factors in the overall device performance. Here we focus on the morphology and charge separation kinetics of several energetically similar low band gap materials. Special emphasis will be on two polymers, PFand PTB, in this report. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chiral metallocene cations, discrete main group anions, dually active ion pairs and nucleophile/electrophile pairs have been utilized to transform the polymerization of polar vinyl monomers from one type to another. These discrete or hybrid catalysts have enabled the development of five types of such polymerizations, including stereospecific and living coordination polymerization, asymmetric coordination polymerization, single-site anionic polymerization, bimolecular polymer-transfer polymerization, and diastereospecific ion-pairing polymerization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrocatalytic site FeN4, which is active towards the oxygen reduction reaction, is incorporated into the graphene layer of aligned carbon nanotubes prepared through a chemical vapour deposition process, as is confirmed by X-ray absorption spectroscopy and other characterization techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Complexes of non-radioactive indium(III) with 2,2';6',2''-terpyridine (tpy) ligands have been rarely explored despite the popularity of tpy as a strong chelating ligand backbone. Herein, three mononuclear indium(III) complexes (In-1, In-2 and In-3) of tpy and its 4'-Cl and 4'-pyridyl derivatives have been synthesized and structurally characterized. While the crystal structure of In-1 has been previously studied, In-2 and In-3 were isolated and characterized for the first time. Two different polymorphs of In-2 were observed by simply varying the concentration of the reactants. Molecules of In-3 were determined by X-ray crystallography and found to adopt the same mononuclear coordination mode as that found in In-1 and In-2, while the remaining 4'-pyridyl ring was uncoordinated. Bioactivity studies revealed that indium(III) complexes In-1, In-2, and In-3 were fungicidal against the human fungal pathogen, Candida albicans , and several other non- albicans Candida species. Moreover, cytotoxicity studies showed these compounds were remarkably antiproliferative against human breast cancer cells (MCF-7 and MDA-MB 468).

Coherent emission, characterized by the collective photon emission from a dense ensemble of emitters, holds great promise for quantum optics and nanophotonics applications. However, achieving robust coherent emission, particularly superfluorescence, at room temperature remains challenging due to thermal decoherence. Here, we demonstrate room-temperature tunable coherent emission from perovskite quantum dot (QD) superlattices. Our approach involves the mesocrystallization of CsPbBr 3 -based QD superlattices driven by oriented attachment, which yields pyramidal-like solids with extended atomic coherency. This level of atomic-scale to nanoscale orientational structure control cannot be realized in previous QD superlattices, and it allows for quantum coherence to persist at ambient conditions. The resulting superlattices exhibit multiple narrowband emissions with exceptional spectral sharpness and tunability, reflecting the collective nature of the coherent emission. Our results establish superlattices as an emerging materials platform capable of robust quantum coherence without cryogenic constraints, opening up new possibilities for quantum optics and nanophotonics applications.

The precise, rapid and direct visualization of 3D topographical dose in the target tissue that is crucial for effective radiation therapy remains a challenge. Herein, by combining hydrogel photonic crystals with film stacking or 3D printing, a 3D radiochromic dosimeter with a dose sensitivity of up to 10 nm Gy -1 , a spatial resolution <50 μm, and the ability to detect complex 3D topographical dose distribution was proposed for clinical radiation dose verification. The sensitivity and response range of the dosimeter by radiation-induced polymer cross-linking and consequent Bragg wavelength shift can be tuned via the solid content and extent of acrylate modification. The combination of rapid readout, low dose response, high spatial resolution, and great pre-irradiation and post-irradiation stability highlights the translational potential of this technology for topographical dose mapping in clinical radiotherapy applications.

In this study, network pharmacology analysis revealed that strawberry anthocyanins mainly interfered with lipid metabolism and nerve-related signaling pathways. Pelargonidin-3-glucoside (Pg3G), one of the main anthocyanins in strawberry, was screened as the most effective anthocyanin for attenuating excess lipid accumulation. Moreover, Pg3G decreased lipid levels, relieved oxidative stress, and restored abnormal behavioral activities in Caenorhabditis elegans under oleic acid (OA) exposure. Meanwhile, Pg3G increased the expression of HSP-6 and HSP-60 proteins and activated the mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPR mt ), while beneficial effects of Pg3G were impaired in the ubl-5 knockout strain, suggesting that ubl-5 may be a key target for improving OA-induced neurotoxicity. Expressions of neurotransmitter transmission-related genes showed great correlations with genes involved in lipid metabolism and UPR mt , further explaining the underlying mechanism of Pg3G in neuroprotection. Our findings emphasize the key role of UPR mt in alleviating OA-induced neurotoxicity of Pg3G, providing a theoretical basis for the research and development of strawberry anthocyanins as a dietary supplement for lipid reduction and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

The stabilization of metal-oxide-bound molecular catalysts is essential for enhancing their lifetime and commercial viability in heterogeneous catalysis. This is particularly relevant in dye-sensitized photoelectrochemical cells (DSPECs), where the surface-bound chromophores and catalysts exhibit instability in aqueous environments, particularly at elevated pH levels. In this work, we have successfully employed molecular layer deposition (MLD) to stabilize ruthenium-based catalysts (RuCP(OH 2 ) 2+ , denoted as RuCat). The application of polyimide (PI) via MLD onto the porous nano ITO surface significantly improved the stabilization of RuCat molecules for water oxidation. Additionally, time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL) spectroscopy and femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy (fs-TAS) results indicated that the MLD-deposited PI effectively preserved the robust redox capacity of the photogenerated electron-hole pairs associated with the catalyst molecules, thereby facilitating more efficient charge transfer. This research presents a novel approach for stabilizing surface-bound small molecules, which may contribute to advancements in heterogeneous catalysis and enhance its commercial viability.

The heat treatment method was used to synthesize starch inclusion complexes from starch and short-chain alkyl gallates (a typical representative of phenololipids), such as butyl gallate, propyl gallate, ethyl gallate and methyl gallate. In an everted rat gut sac model, HPLC-UV analysis revealed that the released alkyl gallates from inclusion complexes were degraded to produce gallic acid. Gallic acids (0.009455-0.014160 nmol min -1 ) and alkyl gallates (0.2695-0.9441 nmol min -1 ) were both able to pass through intestinal membranes. After transmembrane transfer, alkyl gallates could also be hydrolyzed to produce gallic acid (1.947 × 10 -5 -2.290 × 10 -5 min -1 ). It was evident that such an inclusion complex demonstrated superior dual sustained-release characteristics for phenolic compounds. Meanwhile, starch inclusion complexes can also slow down starch digestion by raising resistant starch (from 12.2% to 27.2-46.0%) and lowering rapidly digestible starch (from 51.2% to 22.2-51.2%), according to a glucose oxidase-peroxidase analysis. The delayed digestion behavior of starch in inclusion complexes is very beneficial for blood glucose control. Thus, our work effectively established a theoretical foundation for modifying the dual sustained-release behavior of phenolic compounds and the retardation of starch digestion by adjusting the carbon-chain length in starch inclusion complexes.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common cancer worldwide and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) is an important target in the development of inhibitors for the treatment of liver cancer. So far, however, there are no effective drugs targeting VEGFR-2 to achieve complete treatment of liver cancer. In this study, we employed molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations, molecular mechanics generalized Born surface area (MM-GBSA) method, quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) calculations and steered molecular dynamics simulations to discover the potential inhibitors from COCONUT database targeting VEGFR-2. The molecular docking analyses of 13 743 natural compounds targeting VEGFR-2 identified 96 molecules as promising candidates. Our molecular dynamics simulations revealed that only 5 candidate-docking systems remained stable over 100 ns of production run. Then, steered molecular dynamics simulations showed that CNP0076764, CNP0028810, CNP0177683 and CNP0107283 had higher mean force values than that of sorafenib, reflecting the high potential of candidate molecules. A detailed analysis of the binding modes revealed that Leu840, Val848, Lys868, Glu885, Leu889, Val899, Val916, Leu1035, Cys1045, Asp1046 and Phe1047 play key roles in binding the inhibitors. Overall, this study shows evidence that the four natural products obtained from the COCONUT database could be further used as anti-cancer inhibitors, which provides theoretical guidance for designing new drugs.

Carnosic acid (CA) is a bioactive phenolic diterperne compound found in sage and rosemary. The present study investigated the beneficial effects of CA (50 and 100 mg per kg bw) in diet-induced obese mice and the underlying mechanisms of action. After the intervention, the physiology, lipid metabolism, and tissue morphology, as well as the inflammation, gut microbiota, and metabolomics in the colon were measured. We found that CA improved the composition and metabolism of the gut microbiota in obese mice, with Akkermansia being the dominant bacterium negatively correlated with obesity and various fecal metabolites. Regarding the intestinal barrier function, CA promoted the expression of tight junction proteins and inhibited the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway in obese mice to alleviate colonic inflammation. These results suggest that CA improved multiple aspects of gut health in diet-induced obesity in mice, providing a scientific basis for future clinical studies in humans.

The coexistence of electric and magnetic orders with intrinsic coupling, referred to as magnetoelectric coupling in multiferroics, has been extensively studied in oxide materials but remains relatively unexplored in van der Waals materials. Among these, CuCrP 2 S 6 (CCPS) is notable for its emergent antiferromagnetic (AFM) and antiferroelectric (AFE) characteristics. However, investigations into magnetoelectric coupling in CCPS are limited, and the effects of dopants on its magnetic properties have yet to be fully addressed. In this study, we synthesized CuCr 1- x Fe x P 2 S 6 (CCFPS) samples using the chemical vapor transport (CVT) method to investigate the influence of iron doping on the magnetic and nonlinear optical properties of the CCFPS system. Our results indicate that the AFM state is preserved, while the Néel temperature ( T N ) varies with the doping concentration. First-principles calculations were employed to assess the exchange interactions among magnetic atoms. Notably, for samples with doping concentrations x < 0.5, we observed both magnetic-dielectric coupling and second harmonic generation (SHG) effects. However, these effects were absent at higher doping levels. Furthermore, our analysis revealed a distinct odd-even dependence of SHG, suggesting the presence of interlayer symmetry-breaking coupling. These findings advance our understanding of two-dimensional (2D) multiferroic materials and lay the groundwork for designing and optimizing magnetoelectric coupling materials with enhanced performance.

Non-precious transition metal-based electrocatalysts with high activities are promising candidates for substituting Pt- or Ru-based electrocatalysts in hydrogen evolution. In this study, we propose core-shell engineering to combine the amorphous NiCoP and crystalline Co 2 P (a-NiCoP/Co 2 P@NF), which requires an ultra-low overpotential of only 26 mV to achieve the benchmark current density of 10 mA cm -2 . Furthermore, it achieves an industrial-level hydrogen evolution current density of 500 mA cm -2 with excellent stability. The superior catalytic performance and stability can be attributed to the hierarchical amorphous/crystalline interface and the electron-rich interfacial Co sites. The amorphous NiCoP shell can not only protect the internal Co 2 P from corrosion, but also provide a larger electrochemically active area. Together, the Co 2 P core provides fast electron transport and promotes H 2 emission from the interfacial electron-rich Co sites. This work provides inspiration to the rational design of an advanced core-shell structure between amorphous and crystalline states.

Coal gangue (CG) and fly ash (FA) are generated in large quantities worldwide. In this study, high-strength and lightweight aggregate ceramsites were prepared from CG, FA, and steel slag (SS) without any additional chemical additives through high-temperature sintering. The study aimed at determine the sintering mechanism and optimal production process by evaluating the performance of ceramsites produced under various conditions. The results indicated that the ratio of CG, FA, and SS significantly influenced the ceramsites' properties. When the ratio of CG, FA, and SS was 3 : 1 : 1 and the sintering temperature was 1200 °C, the ceramsites demonstrated optimal performance. These ceramsites had a bulk density of 947 kg m -3 , an apparent density of 1859 kg m -3 , a high compressive strength of 21.17 MPa, and a 1 hour water absorption of 1.35%. The high-strength and lightweight aggregate ceramsites produced from CG, FA, and SS hold promise as construction materials, particularly due to the benefits of waste recycling. This study highlights the potential of utilizing these ceramsites as sustainable alternatives in various construction applications., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

Background : Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a disease with prevalent and serious intestinal inflammation that poses a significant threat to the lives of newborns. Human milk has been shown to prevent and treat the occurrence of NEC; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. MAMP-1 is a significantly overexpressed endogenous peptide derived from β-casein extracted from the human milk of premature mothers, which is resistant to gastrointestinal conditions and exhibits favorable physicochemical properties. This study aims to investigate the mechanism by which the human milk-derived peptide MAMP-1 mitigates NEC in mice, offering new insights for clinical treatment. Methods : The C57BL/6 mice were categorized into three distinct groups randomly on the 7th day after birth, with 40 mice in each group. The NEC model was established using "artificial feeding + hypoxia + cold", and the MAMP-1 group received daily MAMP-1 gavage during NEC modeling. Ileum tissues and feces were collected. Pathological damage in the intestines was evaluated by H&E staining. ZO-1 expression was analyzed through immunofluorescence staining and western blot. Apoptosis in the intestine was assessed using western blot and TUNEL staining. The effects of signaling pathways were confirmed through western blot and RNA sequencing. The expression of inflammatory factors was assessed using RT-PCR. 16S high-throughput sequencing was used to determine the diversity and abundance of the gut microbiota. Results : MAMP-1 reduced the mortality rate of NEC mice, alleviated ileum injury, increased the ZO-1 expression of the intestinal barrier, reduced the apoptotic protein expression, lowered the TUNEL positive area, increased anti-apoptotic protein expression, and reduced the levels of TLR4, P-PI3K, P-AKT, and NF-κB, leading to a reduction in the release of inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, MAMP-1 decreased the abundance of harmful bacteria and increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria at both the phylum and genus levels. Conclusion : MAMP-1 might inhibit the TLR4-PI3K-AKT-NF-κB signaling pathways, further reducing inflammation factor release, and might decrease intestinal cell apoptosis. Results indicated that MAMP-1 might alleviate intestinal damage in NEC mice. Meanwhile, MAMP-1 might positively modulate the composition of the microbiota of NEC mice and further achieve the preventive and therapeutic effect of MAMP-1 on NEC.

Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are one of the most promising energy conversion devices due to their high efficiency and zero emission; however, two major challenges, high cost and short lifetime, have been hindering the commercialization of fuel cells. Achieving low-Pt or non-precious metal oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalysts is one of the main research ideas in this field. In this review, the degradation mechanism of Pt-based catalysts is firstly explained and elucidated, and then five strategies are suggested for the reduction of Pt usage without loss of activity and durability: modulation of metal-support interactions, optimization of local ionomers and mass transport, modulation of composition, modulation of structure, and multi-site synergistic effects. For carbon-based non-precious metal catalysts, the problems and challenges faced by heteroatom/transition-metal doped carbon-based catalysts are discussed, and several strategies to improve the activity of heteroatom/transition-metal doped carbon catalysts are suggested. Particularly, an innovative quantum well catalyst structure reported quite recently is presented which may open up new prospects for the development of fuel cell technology. Finally, this review concludes with a brief conclusion and prospects for future development of low-Pt and non-precious metal fuel cell electrocatalysts.

We constructed the high-quality perovskite films with bottom-up n-p homojunctions via a modified sequential two-step deposition technique, which optimized the energy level alignment between the perovskite layer and the adjacent contacts for promoting charge separation and extraction, as well as suppressing non-radiative recombination. The resultant n-p homojunction-based electron transport layer-free perovskite solar cells achieved improved efficiency, which was ∼13% higher than that of the control counterpart.

The current intense study of ferroelectric nematic liquid crystals was initiated by the observation of the same ferroelectric nematic phase in two independently discovered organic, rod-shaped, mesogenic compounds, RM734 and DIO. We recently reported that the compound RM734 also exhibits a monotropic, low-temperature, apolar phase having reentrant isotropic symmetry (the I R phase), the formation of which is facilitated to a remarkable degree by doping with small (below 1%) amounts of the ionic liquid BMIM-PF 6 . Here we report similar phenomenology in DIO, showing that this reentrant isotropic behavior is not only a property of RM734 but is rather a more general, material-independent feature of ferroelectric nematic mesogens. We find that the reentrant isotropic phases observed in RM734 and DIO are similar but not identical, adding two new phases to the ferroelectric nematic realm. These phases exhibit similar, strongly peaked, diffuse X-ray scattering in the WAXS range (1 < q < 2 Å -1 ) indicative of a distinctive mode of short-ranged, side-by-side molecular packing. The scattering at small q is, however, quite different in the two materials, with RM734 exhibiting a strong, single, diffuse peak at q ∼ 0.08 Å -1 indicating mesoscale modulation with ∼80 Å periodicity, and DIO a sharper diffuse peak at q ∼ 0.27 Å -1 ∼ (2π/molecular length), with second and third harmonics, indicating that in the reentrant isotropic phase of DIO (which we denote I R lam ), short-ranged molecular positional correlation is smectic layer-like. Both reentrant isotropic phases are metastable, eventually generating birefringent crystals.

Methods based on enzyme labelling strategies have been widely developed for capacitance immunoassays, but most suffer from low sensitivity and are unfavorable for routine use in the early stages of diagnostics. Herein, we designed a highly efficient capacitance immunosensing method for the low-abundance neuroblastoma biomarker neuron-specific enolase (NSE) using an interdigitated micro-comb electrode. Initially, monoclonal mouse anti-human NSE capture antibodies were immobilized on the interdigitated gold electrodes using bovine serum albumin. Thereafter, a sandwich-type immunoreaction was carried out in the presence of target NSE using horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-labeled secondary antibodies. The labelled HRP subsequently triggered the formation of tyramine-enzyme conjugate repeats with the help of HRP-tyramine and H 2 O 2 . The concatenated HRP molecules catalyzed the oxidation of 4-chloro-1-naphthol to produce an insoluble precipitate on the interdigitated micro-comb electrode, resulting in a shift in capacitance. Two protocols, with and without tyramine-HRP repeats, were investigated for the detection of NSE, with improved analytical performance achieved through tyramine signal amplification. Under optimum conditions, the interdigitated capacitance immunosensors exhibited good responses to target NSE within a dynamic linear range of 1.0-10 000 pg mL -1 , with a low detection limit of 0.78 pg mL -1 . An intermediate reproducibility of ≤9.67% was accomplished with batch-to-batch consistency, and good anti-interference capacity against other proteins was acquired. No significant differences at the 0.05 significance level were encountered in the analysis of 12 human serum specimens between the developed capacitance immunosensor and the commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

A series of N-Het·B 3 H 7 and AAE·B 3 H 7 complexes were prepared in moderate to high yields and the single-crystal structures of products 3, 31, 34, and 59 were determined. The N-Het·B 3 H 7 and AAE·B 3 H 7 complexes possess high stability, endowing these products with potential applications in luminescent and boron-containing drugs. The optical properties of the representative products have been preliminarily studied.

A practical transition metal-free approach for the selective benzylation of NH-sulfoximines has been disclosed by using simple elemental iodine as the catalyst and tert -butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) as the terminal oxidant. Comparing with known methods for the construction of N -benzylated sulfoximines, our protocol shows broad substrate scope with respect to both diarylmethanes and alkylarenes, and can be conducted in air with good functional group tolerance.

Microtia profoundly affects patients' appearance and psychological well-being. Tissue engineering ear cartilage scaffolds have emerged as the most promising solution for ear reconstruction. However, constructing tissue engineering ear cartilage scaffolds requires multiple passaging of chondrocytes, resulting in their dedifferentiation and loss of their special phenotypes and functions. To tackle these issues, here we employ guanidinobenzoic acid (GBA) modified generation 5 polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers (PG) as a Runx1 plasmid carrier to construct PG/pRunx1 polyplex nanoparticles. The PG/pRunx1 polyplexes are transfected into human auricular chondrocytes, significantly mitigating chondrocyte dedifferentiation and enhancing cartilage regeneration during the in vitro culture. Furthermore, we develop highly porous double-network hydrogels based on methacrylate-functionalized and oxidized chondroitin sulfate and carbohydrazide-modified gelatin and the hydrogels possessed both dynamic adaptability and mechanical support characteristics by reversible dynamic covalent crosslinking and static covalent crosslinking, serving as an ideal scaffold for tissue engineering. Consequently, chondrocytes treated with PG/pRunx1 polyplex nanoparticles are incorporated into the hydrogels to construct tissue-engineered auricular cartilage scaffolds. After subcutaneous implantation in nude mice, the scaffolds containing chondrocytes treated with PG/pRunx1 nanoparticles showed more mature cartilaginous tissue, characterized by prominent ECM deposition and enhanced chondrogenesis. Therefore, this research provides a novel strategy for the development of tissue-engineered auricular cartilage scaffolds.

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) holds remarkable potential for the rapid and portable detection of trace molecules. However, the analysis and comparison of SERS spectra are challenging due to the diverse range of instruments used for data acquisition. In this paper, a spectra instrument transformation framework based on the penalized functional regression model (SpectraFRM) is introduced for cross-instrument mapping with subsequent machine learning classification to compare transformed spectra with standard spectra. In particular, the nonparametric forms of the functional response, predictors, and coefficients employed in SepctraFRM allow for efficient modeling of the nonlinear relationship between target spectra and standard spectra. In the leave-one-out training and test of 20 analytes across four instruments, the results demonstrate that SpectraFRM can provide interpretable corrections to peaks and baseline spectra, leading to approximately 11% error reduction, compared with original spectra. With an additional feature extraction step, the transformed spectra outperform the original spectra by 10% in analytes identification tasks. Overall, the proposed method is shown to be flexible, robust, accurate, and interpretable despite varieties of analytes and instruments, making it a potentially powerful tool for the standardization of SERS spectra from various instruments.

Under mild visible light conditions, formates facilitate C-O cleavage via the EDA complex and SCS strategy, yielding α-carbonyl alkyl radicals. These radicals then react with olefins under air conditions, leading to the synthesis of diaryl 1,4-dicarbonyl compounds. Mechanistic studies reveal that α-formyloxy ketone is generated in situ by the reaction between α-brominated acetophenone and formates, followed by the formation of the EDA complex. Additionally, formates also serve as a single-electron reducing reagent in the reaction.

The surface morphology of the developing mammalian brain is crucial for understanding brain function and dysfunction. Computational modeling offers valuable insights into the underlying mechanisms for early brain folding. Recent findings indicate significant regional variations in brain tissue growth, while the role of these variations in cortical development remains unclear. In this study, we explored how regional cortical growth affects brain folding patterns using computational simulation. We first developed growth models for typical cortical regions using machine learning (ML)-assisted symbolic regression, based on longitudinal real surface expansion and cortical thickness data from prenatal and infant brains derived from over 1000 MRI scans of 735 pediatric subjects with ages ranging from 29 postmenstrual weeks to 2 years of age. These models were subsequently integrated into computational software to simulate cortical development with anatomically realistic geometric models. We comprehensively quantified the resulting folding patterns using multiple metrics such as mean curvature, sulcal depth, and gyrification index. Our results demonstrate that regional growth models generate complex brain folding patterns that more closely match actual brains structures, both quantitatively and qualitatively, compared to conventional uniform growth models. Growth magnitude plays a dominant role in shaping folding patterns, while growth trajectory has a minor influence. Moreover, multi-region models better capture the intricacies of brain folding than single-region models. Our results underscore the necessity and importance of incorporating regional growth heterogeneity into brain folding simulations, which could enhance early diagnosis and treatment of cortical malformations and neurodevelopmental disorders such as cerebral palsy and autism.

Hearing loss (HL) is an otolaryngology disease susceptible to environmental pollutants. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), as a class of chemical pollutants with evaporation propensity, pose a great threat to human health. However, the association between VOCs and HL remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the association between urinary-specific VOC metabolites and HL. It included 1048 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2011 to 2012. Multivariate linear regression models, smooth curve analysis, and stratified analysis were employed to investigate the relationship between urinary-specific VOC metabolite concentrations and pure tone audiometry (PTA) across three different frequencies. A two-piecewise linear regression model was employed to analyze the threshold effects of urinary-specific VOC metabolites on hearing threshold changes. Furthermore, a comparative toxicogenomics database (CTD) and functional gene enrichment were constructed. An interaction network of transcription factors, genes, and non-coding RNA was constructed to further confirm the upstream and downstream regulatory relationships. Molecular docking analyses were conducted to explore the potential binding modes and critical docking sites. Additionally, a moderation analysis was conducted to investigate the role of oxidative stress in moderating the influence of VOC metabolites on hearing. Multivariate linear regression model discerned a significant correlation between cyanide 2-aminothiazoline-4-carboxylic acid (ATCA) with speech-frequency PTA and N -acetyl- S -(3,4-dihydroxybutyl)-L-cysteine (DHBMA) with high-frequency PTA. The smoothed curve and threshold effect analysis corroborated a positive linear relationship between cyanide ATCA and speech-frequency PTA without a threshold effect only in the 20-34 age group. Additionally, the bioinformatics analysis discovered pathogenic genes related to cyanide-induced HL and suggested that oxidative stress responses play a critical role in this biological process. Furthermore, the moderation effect of total bilirubin (TB), an oxidative stress-associated molecule, was ascertained on the effects of ATCA on hearing. Our findings suggest a potential link between VOC metabolites and hearing and indicate the crucial role of oxidative stress responses in this association.

Chitin is the most abundant nitrogen-containing biomass on Earth and presents a compelling alternative to fossil fuels for chemical production. The catalytic conversion of chitin offers a viable approach for harnessing its inherent carbon and nitrogen contents, contributing to developing a green and sustainable society. This feature article reviews recent advances in shell waste biorefinery, with an emphasis on the contributions from our group. Efficient and sustainable chitin extraction methods are highlighted, along with the conversion of chitin biomass ( N -acetyl-D-glucosamine (NAG), D-glucosamine, chitosan, and chitin) into key platform chemicals, mainly including furans, amino/amide sugars, organic acids and amino/amide acids. Catalytic strategies and production pathways are detailed, and current challenges and future research directions in chitin valorization are discussed.

This paper reports an Ag-Bi-S-based nanotheranostic platform with an ingeniously designed heterostructure, an appropriate size, and good imaging and therapy performances. By comparing the fluorescence property and Bi element content, the optimal heterostructure was demonstrated to be Ag 2 S/Bi 2 S 3 core/shell. The hydrophilic Ag 2 S/Bi 2 S 3 -PEG nanocrystals with hydrodynamic diameter of 37.56 nm exhibited near-infrared-II fluorescence, good CT imaging contrast, and a high photothermal conversion efficiency (38.4%), and have shown significant potential in the precision diagnosis and treatment of tumors.

Carboncones and fullerenes are exemplary π-conjugated carbon nanomaterials with unsaturated, positively curved surfaces, enabling the attachment of atoms or functional groups to enhance their physicochemical properties. However, predicting and understanding the addition patterns in functionalized carboncones and fullerenes are extremely challenging due to the formidable complexity of the regioselectivity exhibited in the adducts. Existing predictive models fall short in systems where the carbon molecular framework undergoes severe distortion upon high degrees of addition. Here, we propose an incremental deep learning approach to predict regioselectivity in the hydrogenation of carboncones and chlorination of fullerenes. Utilizing exclusively graph-based features, our deep neural network (DNN) models rely solely on atomic connectivity, without requiring 3D molecular coordinates as input or their iterative optimization. This advantage inherently avoids the risk of obtaining chemically unreasonable optimized structures, enabling the handling of highly distorted adducts. The DNN models allow us to study regioselectivity in hydrogenated carboncones of C 70 H 20 and C 62 H 16 , accommodating up to at least 40 and 30 additional H atoms, respectively. Our approach also correctly predicts experimental addition patterns in C 50 Cl 10 and C 76 Cl n ( n = 18, 24, and 28), whereas in the latter cases all other known methods have been proven unsuccessful. Compared to our previously developed topology-based models, the DNN's superior predictive power and generalization ability make it a promising tool for investigating complex addition patterns in similar chemical systems.

Various oncolytic viruses (OVs) have been adopted as therapeutic tools to increase the efficacy of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells against solid tumors. However, the therapeutic effect of OVs has been limited by pre-existing neutralizing antibodies and poor targeting delivery for systemic administration. Herein, we propose using bioorthogonal OV nanovesicles to boost the antitumor effects of CAR-T cells in solid tumors by reshaping the tumor microenvironment. Using a cell-membrane nanomimetic technique, we embedded artificial chemical ligands on cancer cell surfaces and then encapsulated lysoviral particles to obtain dual-targeted OV nanovesicles with bioorthogonal targeting and homologous recognition. OVs can be directly encapsulated into cancer cell nanovesicles and exhibit a liposome-like nanostructure, efficient loading, and excellent tumor-targeting capability. Encouragingly, OV nanovesicles efficiently induced tumor-cell apoptosis while sparing normal tissues and cells, thereby inhibiting tumor growth. Administration of viral nanovesicles effectively increased the secretion of anti-tumor cytokines such as IL-2, TNF-α and IFN-γ, and significantly promoted the infiltration and activation of CD8 + CAR-T cells in tumors. Our data suggest that bioorthogonal OV nanovesicles hold great potential to overcome the limitations of CAR-T cells as monotherapies against solid tumors and, thus, drive the clinical application of combination therapy.

The ratiometric sensing strategy, which uses dual-signal output, drastically compensates for the background noise and interference from the detection environment, compared to the sensing methods that rely on a single-signal output. However, the stability of the reference signal has become the primary challenge in constructing a ratiometric detection sensor. Therefore, in order to achieve stable ratiometric signal sensing, methylene blue (MB) was encapsulated in the UiO-66-NH 2 framework and printed as a reference signal onto a screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE), facilitating the precise detection of miR-21-5p. Subsequently, based on the ultra-sensitive detection mechanism of catalytic hairpin assembly (CHA), the combination of miR-21-5p with H 1 sequence on the Au-deposited SPCE triggered the loop-open of H1. After that, ferrocene-labeled H 2 (H 2 -Fc) and H 3 -Fc sequences were sequentially added to form a stable "T-shaped" structure, and miR-21-5p was released into the next cycle. Thus, the detection of miR-21-5p was quantified by the current ratio of Fc to MB, obtaining an ultra-low detection limit of 2.7 fM. This ratiometric sensing strategy based on SPCE offers a promising pathway for highly sensitive sensing platforms.

Recent studies confirmed that host-gut microbiota interactions modulate disease-linked metabolite TMA production via TMA lyase. However, microbial enzyme production mechanisms remain unclear. In the present study, we investigated the impact of dietary and intervention factors on gut microbiota, microbial gene expression, and the interplay between TMA lyase and glycolytic pathways in mice. Using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, metagenomics, and metabolomics, the gut microbiota composition and microbial functional gene expression profiles related to TMA lyase and glycolytic enzymes were determined. The results revealed that distinct diets and intervention factors altered gut microbiota, gene expression, and metabolites linked to glycine metabolism and glycolysis. Notably, an arabinoxylan-rich diet suppressed genes linked to choline, glycine, glycolysis, and TMA lyase, favoring glycine utilization via pyruvate pathways. Glycolytic inhibitors amplified these effects, mainly inhibiting pyruvate kinase. Our findings underscored the crosstalk between TMA lyase and glycolytic pathways, regulating glycine levels, and suggested avenues for targeted interventions and personalized diets to curb choline TMA lyase production.

This study investigated the immunomodulatory effects of calcium phosphate (CaP) microspheres, focusing on how particle size influenced macrophage polarization and cytokine secretion patterns. SEM analysis revealed that HA microspheres predominantly exhibited a spherical shape with distinct sizes and sub-micro-sized pores. The average particle sizes for the S1, S2, and S3 groups were 17.36 μm, 27.59 μm, and 47.14 μm, respectively. In vitro experiments demonstrated that small-sized S1 microspheres were more readily phagocytosed by macrophages, leading to a pro-inflammatory M1 phenotype characterized by increased gene expression of iNos and inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α), and a higher proportion of CCR7 + M1 macrophages. In contrast, the larger S2 and S3 microspheres favored an anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype, with higher expression of Arg and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10), and greater proportions of CD206 + M2 macrophages. Additionally, HA microspheres were injected into mouse quadriceps muscles, revealing significant differences in immune cell infiltration and tissue response. The S1 microspheres induced a prolonged and more severe inflammatory response, while the S2 and S3 microspheres were embedded in cell-rich tissue with minimal inflammation or fibrosis. It indicated the potential of larger microspheres (S2 and S3) to create a more favorable immune microenvironment that supported faster and more effective tissue healing. These findings underscore the importance of optimizing microsphere size to achieve desired immunomodulatory effects, thereby enhancing their clinical efficacy.

Intelligent soft robots that integrate both structural color and controllable actuation ability have attracted substantial attention for constructing biomimetic systems, biomedical devices, and soft robotics. However, simultaneously endowing single-layer cholesteric liquid crystal elastomer (CLCE) soft actuators with reversible 3D deformability and vivid structural color changes is still challenging. Herein, a multi-responsive (force, heat and light) single-layer 3D deformable soft actuator with vivid structural color-changing ability is realized through the reduced graphene oxide (RGO) deposition-induced Janus structure of the CLCE using a precisely-controlled evaporation method. This single-layer structural color soft actuator can directly transform from a flat shape to a 3D shape through the photothermal effect. The introduction of RGO not only improves the mechanical properties and color saturation of the CLCE, but also endows it with near-infrared (NIR) light responsiveness via the photothermal effect. Moreover, due to the structural gradient resulting from the spontaneous deposition of RGO during the deswelling process, CLCEs show a stacked structure of the helical CLC layer and RGO-dispersed amorphous layer, which are capable of undergoing multiple reversible 3D deformations. The reversible deformations of biomimetic devices such as petal-like films imitating blooming flowers, thin strips imitating plant tendrils, and a cobweb-inspired catching net are achieved to demonstrate applications of this single-layer RGO/CLCE composite film. This work provides a simple strategy for the construction of single-layer 3D deformable soft actuators.

A sensor array that can distinguish ochratoxins based on the fluorescence of the albumin-ochratoxin complex has been developed. This sensor array enabled the identification of ochratoxins and their mixtures in real food samples.

Despite recent advancements in organic phosphors, the synthesis of monodisperse afterglow microparticles (MPs) suitable for creating photonic crystals remains challenging. The SiO 2 matrix is an attractive host material for activating the long-lived emissions of doped molecules due to several factors, including its cross-linked polymer-like structure, abundance of -OH groups, robustness, and presence of numerous emitter defects. However, the Stöber method struggles to produce monodisperse molecule-doped SiO 2 MPs due to the complexity of the system. Our reported pseudomorphic transformation-assisted doping method shows promise in addressing this issue by using monodisperse SiO 2 MPs as parent materials in the presence of dopants under hydrothermal conditions. This method offers flexibility in controlling the optical properties of the resulting monodisperse molecule-doped SiO 2 MPs. The uniformity allows for the assembly of afterglow SiO 2 MPs into photonic crystals, which demonstrate not only afterglow but also angle-dependent structural colors. Furthermore, adjusting the match between the stopband of the photonic crystals and the emission bands of the doped molecules presents additional opportunities to tune the optical properties of the assemblies. Our findings significantly expand the applications of afterglow materials in fields such as information storage and anticounterfeiting.

Facilitating rapid charge transfer in electrode materials necessitates the optimization of their ionic transport properties. Currently, only a limited number of Li/Na-ion organic cathode materials have been identified, and those exhibiting intrinsic solid-phase ionic conductivity are even rarer. In this study, we present tetra-lithium and sodium salts with the generic formulae: A 4 -Ph-CH 3 P and A 4 -Ph-PhP, wherein A = Li, Na; Ph-CH 3 P = 2,5-dioxido-1,4-phenylene bis(methylphosphinate); Ph-PhP = 2,5-dioxido-1,4-phenylene bis(phenylphosphinate), as novel alkali-ion reservoir cathode materials. Notably, A 4 -Ph-PhP exhibits impressive Li-ion and Na-ion conductivities, measured at 2.6 × 10 -7 and 1.4 × 10 -7 S cm -1 , respectively, in a dry state at 30 °C. To the best of our knowledge, these represent the first example of small-molecule organic cathode materials with intrinsic Li + and Na + conductivity. Theoretical calculations provide further insight into the electrochemical activity of the Li/Na-phenolate groups, as well as the enhanced electron affinity resulting from -phenyl and -Na substitutions. Additionally, Na 4 -Ph-PhP displays two distinct charge-discharge plateaus at approximately 2.2 V and 2.7 V, and 2.0 V and 2.5 V vs. Na + /Na, respectively, and demonstrates stable cycling performance, with 100 cycles at a rate of 0.1C and an impressive 1000 cycles at 1C. This study not only expands the portfolio of phenolate-based organic salts for use in metal-ion batteries but also underscores the potential of phosphonate-based organic materials in advancing energy storage technologies., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries have garnered significant attention for their exceptional energy density, positioning them as a promising solution for next-generation energy storage. A critical factor in their performance is the use of transition metal inorganic compound electrocatalysts, prized for their distinctive catalytic properties. Recently, increasing interest has focused on the sulfurization of these catalysts in polysulfide-rich environments, a process that holds great potential for enhancing their efficiency. This review analyzes the sulfurization reactions of various transition metal compounds in Li-S batteries and their profound impact on electrochemical performance. By elucidating the sulfurization process with the assistance of advanced characterization techniques, we aim to reveal the true active sites and intrinsic catalytic pathways of sulfur redox electrocatalysts, offering new insights into the design of advanced catalysts for more efficient lithium polysulfide conversion. These findings are expected to accelerate the development of high-performance Li-S battery technologies.

We show that stable, freely suspended liquid crystal films can be made from the ferroelectric nematic (N F ) phase and from the recently discovered polar, lamellar SmZ A and SmA F phases. The N F films display two-dimensional, smectic-like parabolic focal conic textures comprising director/polarization bend that are a manifestation of the electrostatic suppression of director splay in the film plane. In the SmZ A and SmA F phases, the smectic layers orient preferentially normal to the film surfaces, a condition never found in typical thermotropic or lyotropic lamellar LC phases, with the SmZ A films exhibiting focal-conic fan textures mimicking the appearance of typical smectics in glass cells when the layers are oriented normal to the plates, and the SmA F films showing a texture of plaquettes of uniform in-plane orientation where both bend and splay are suppressed, separated by grain boundaries. The SmA F phase can also be drawn into thin filaments, in which X-ray scattering reveals that the smectic layer planes are normal to the filament axis. Remarkably, the filaments are mechanically stable even if they break, forming free-standing, fluid filaments supported only at one end. The unique architectures of these films and filaments are stabilized by the electrostatic self-interaction of the liquid crystal polarization field, which enables the formation of confined, fluid structures that are fundamentally different from those of their counterparts made using previously known liquid crystal phases.

Silk fibroin is a naturally abundant biomaterial renowned for its excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability, making it a promising candidate for biomedical applications like wound dressings. However, traditional silk fibroin materials often lack sufficient mechanical strength, adhesion, and the ability to modulate inflammation and oxidative stress-factors crucial for effective wound healing. To address these limitations, regenerated silk fibroin/magnesium ion [RSF/Mg(II)] composite films were developed by incorporating Mg(II) ions into RSF solutions. These films were characterized using Raman spectroscopy, mechanical testing, and biocompatibility assessments, and their wound-healing efficacy was evaluated in a mouse skin defect model. The RSF/Mg(II) composite films exhibited superior adhesion, higher transparency, and enhanced mechanical flexibility compared to pristine RSF films. They also demonstrated anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties, effectively reducing cell apoptosis and reactive oxygen species levels in vitro . In vivo , the RSF/Mg Mg(II) composite films significantly accelerated wound healing in mice, improving epidermal thickness, collagen deposition, and promoting blood vessel formation. This study highlights the potential of RSF/Mg(II) composite films as advanced wound dressings with improved biocompatibility and biological activity, offering valuable insights for the development of Mg(II) ion-based biomaterials in wound healing and tissue regeneration applications.

Microfluidic-based sheath flow focusing methods have been widely used for efficiently isolating, concentrating, and detecting pathogenic bacteria for various biomedical applications due to their enhanced sensitivity and exceptional integration. However, such a microfluidic device usually needs complicated device fabrication and sample dilution, hampering the efficient and sensitive identification of target bacteria. In this study, we develop and fabricate a sheath-assisted and pneumatic-induced nano-sieve device for achieving the improved on-chip concentration and sensitive detection of Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The optimized nanochannel design with diverging configuration is beneficial to the regulation of the hydrodynamic flow while the sheath flow is focusing the sample to the confined region as expected. Per the experimental finding, a high flow ratio (sheath flow/sample flow) presents enhanced target concentration by comparing with a low flow ratio. With this setup, MRSA bacteria with an extremely low concentration of ∼100 CFU mL -1 are successfully and sensitively detected under a fluorescence microscope, less than 30 min, demonstrating a reliable sheath-enhanced concentration and on-chip detection for target bacteria. Additionally, the theoretical model introduced here further rationalizes the working principle of our nano-sieve device, potentially guiding the optimization of next generation devices for highly sensitive and accurate on-chip bacteria detection at a much lower concentration level below 100 CFU mL -1 .

Early diagnosis of liver cancer and appropriate treatment options are critical for obtaining a good prognosis. However, due to technical limitations, it is difficult to make an early and accurate diagnosis of liver cancer, and the traditional imaging model is relatively simple. Therefore, we synthesized multifunctional diagnostic/therapeutic nanoparticles, UMFNPs/Ce6@MBs, loaded with ultra-small manganese ferrite nanoparticles (UMFNPs) and chlorin e6 (Ce6). This nanoplatform can take full advantage of hypoxia, acidic pH (acidosis) and increased levels of reactive oxygen species ( e.g. H 2 O 2 ) in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Specific imaging and drug release can also enhance tumor therapy by modulating the hypoxic state of the TME to achieve the combined effect of sonodynamic therapy and photodynamic therapy (SPDT). In addition, the prepared UMFNPs/Ce6@MBs have H 2 O 2 and pH-sensitive biodegradability and can release UMFNPs and photosensitizer Ce6 in the TME while producing O 2 and Mn 2+ . The obtained Mn 2+ ion nanoparticles can be used for T 1 magnetic resonance imaging of tumor-bearing mice, and the released Ce6 can provide fluorescence imaging function at the same time. Because UMFNPs/Ce6@MB ultrasonic microbubbles show good ultrasonic imaging results, UMFNPs/Ce6@MBs can simultaneously provide multi-modal imaging functions for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound and fluorescence imaging. In conclusion, UMFNPs/Ce6@MBs realize the synergistic treatment of SDT and PDT under multi-mode near-infrared fluorescence imaging and CEUS monitoring, demonstrating its great potential in tumor precision medicine.

Protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5), an epigenetic target with significant clinical potential, is closely associated with the occurrence and development of a range of tumours and has attracted considerable interest from the pharmaceutical industry and academic research communities. According to incomplete statistics, more than 10 PRMT5 inhibitors for cancer therapy have entered clinical trials in recent years. Among them, the second-generation PRMT5 inhibitors developed based on the synthetic lethal strategy demonstrate considerable clinical application value. This suggests that, following the precedent of poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP), PRMT5 has the potential to become the next clinically applicable synthetic lethal target. However, due to the inherent dose-limiting toxicity of epigenetic target inhibitors, none of these PRMT5 inhibitors has been approved for marketing to date. In light of this, we have conducted a review of the design thoughts and the structure-activity relationship (SAR) of known methylthioadenosine (MTA)-cooperative PRMT5 inhibitors. Additionally, we have analysed the clinical safety of representative first- and second-generation PRMT5 inhibitors. This paper discusses the in vivo vulnerability of the aromatic amine moiety of the second-generation PRMT5 inhibitor based on its structure. It also considers the potential nitrosamine risk factors associated with the preparation process., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)