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In this study, a pH-responsive polycaprolactone (PCL)–copper peroxide (CuO2) composite antibacterial coating was developed by suspension flame spraying. The successful synthesis of CuO2 nanoparticles and fabrication of the PCL-CuO2 composite coatings were confirmed by microstructural and chemical analysis. The composite coatings were structurally homogeneous, with the chemical properties of PCL well maintained. The acidic environment was found to effectively accelerate the dissociation of CuO2, allowing the simultaneous release of Cu2+ and H2O2. Antimicrobial tests clearly revealed the enhanced antibacterial properties of the PCL-CuO2 composite coating against both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus under acidic conditions, with a bactericidal effect of over 99.99%. This study presents a promising approach for constructing pH-responsive antimicrobial coatings for biomedical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the cost‐effectiveness of hepatitis E vaccination strategies in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. Methods: Based on the societal perspective, the cost‐effectiveness of three hepatitis E vaccination strategies—vaccination without screening, screening‐based vaccination, and no vaccination—among CHB patients was evaluated using a decision tree–Markov model, and incremental cost‐effectiveness ratios (ICERs) were calculated. Values for treatment costs and health utilities were estimated from a prior investigation on disease burden, and values for transition probabilities and vaccination‐related costs were obtained from previous studies and government agencies. Sensitivity analyses were undertaken for assessing model uncertainties. Results: It was estimated that CHB patients superinfected with hepatitis E virus (HEV) incurred significantly longer disease course, higher economic burden, and more health loss compared to those with HEV infection alone (all p < 0.05). The ICERs of vaccination without screening and screening‐based vaccination compared to no vaccination were 41,843.01 yuan/quality‐adjusted life year (QALY) and 29,147.32 yuan/QALY, respectively, both lower than China's per‐capita gross domestic product (GDP) in 2018. The screening‐based vaccination reduced the cost and gained more QALYs than vaccination without screening. One‐way sensitivity analyses revealed that vaccine price, vaccine protection rate, and decay rate of vaccine protection had the greatest impact on the cost‐effectiveness analysis. Probabilistic sensitivity analyses confirmed the base‐case results, and if the willingness‐to‐pay value reached per‐capita GDP, the probability that screening‐based vaccination would be cost‐effective was approaching 100%. Conclusions: The disease burden in CHB patients superinfected with HEV is relatively heavy in China, and the screening‐based hepatitis E vaccination strategy for CHB patients is the most cost‐effective option. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is known that extracellular free radical reactive oxygen species (ROS) rather than intracellular ROS plays a non‐substitutable role in regulation of tumor‐suppressing (M1) tumor‐associated macrophages (TAMs) polarization. However, most therapeutic nanoplatforms mainly provide intracellular ROS and exhibit insufficient accumulation near TAMs, which strongly limits the macrophage‐based immunotherapeutic effects. Here we design and synthesize chiral MoS2/CoS2 nanozymes with peroxidase (POD)‐like and catalase (CAT)‐like activities to efficiently modulate TAMs polarization and reverse tumor immunosuppression by harnessing their chirality‐specific interactions with biological systems. MoS2/CoS2 nanoparticles coordinated with d‐chirality (d‐NPs, right‐handed) show improved pharmacokinetics with longer circulating half‐life and higher tumor accumulation compared with their l (left‐handed)‐ and dl (racemate)‐counterparts. Further, d‐NPs can escape from macrophage uptake in the tumor microenvironment (TME) with the aid of cell‐unpreferred opposite chirality and act as extracellular hydroxyl radicals (⋅OH) and oxygen (O2) generators to efficiently repolarize TAMs into M1 phenotype. On the contrary, l‐NPs showed high cellular uptake due to chirality‐driven homologous adhesion between l‐NPs and macrophage membrane, leading to limited M1 polarization performance. As the first example for developing chiral nanozymes as extracellular‐localized ROS generators to reprogram TAMs for cancer immunotherapy, this study opens an avenue for applications of chiral nanozymes in immunomodulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is known that extracellular free radical reactive oxygen species (ROS) rather than intracellular ROS plays a non‐substitutable role in regulation of tumor‐suppressing (M1) tumor‐associated macrophages (TAMs) polarization. However, most therapeutic nanoplatforms mainly provide intracellular ROS and exhibit insufficient accumulation near TAMs, which strongly limits the macrophage‐based immunotherapeutic effects. Here we design and synthesize chiral MoS2/CoS2 nanozymes with peroxidase (POD)‐like and catalase (CAT)‐like activities to efficiently modulate TAMs polarization and reverse tumor immunosuppression by harnessing their chirality‐specific interactions with biological systems. MoS2/CoS2 nanoparticles coordinated with d‐chirality (d‐NPs, right‐handed) show improved pharmacokinetics with longer circulating half‐life and higher tumor accumulation compared with their l (left‐handed)‐ and dl (racemate)‐counterparts. Further, d‐NPs can escape from macrophage uptake in the tumor microenvironment (TME) with the aid of cell‐unpreferred opposite chirality and act as extracellular hydroxyl radicals (⋅OH) and oxygen (O2) generators to efficiently repolarize TAMs into M1 phenotype. On the contrary, l‐NPs showed high cellular uptake due to chirality‐driven homologous adhesion between l‐NPs and macrophage membrane, leading to limited M1 polarization performance. As the first example for developing chiral nanozymes as extracellular‐localized ROS generators to reprogram TAMs for cancer immunotherapy, this study opens an avenue for applications of chiral nanozymes in immunomodulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

C-TERMINALLY ENCODED PEPTIDEs (CEPs) are post-translationally modified peptides that play essential roles in root and shoot development, nitrogen absorption, nodule formation and stress resilience. However, it has proven challenging to determine biological activities of CEPs because of difficulties in obtaining loss-of-function mutants for these small genes. To overcome this challenge, we thus assembled a collection of easily detectable large fragment deletion mutants of Arabidopsis CEP genes through the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat/CRISPR-associated protein 9–engineered genome editing. This collection was then evaluated for the usability by functionally analyzing the Arabidopsis growth and development with a focus on the root. Most cep mutants displayed developmental defects in primary and lateral roots showing an increased primary root length and an enhanced lateral root number, demonstrating that the genetic resource provides a useful tool for further investigations into the roles of CEPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

FeSe microparticles coated by ultrathin nitrogen-doped carbon (FeSe@NC) have been synthesized through the dopamine coating of FeOOH precursor and the post-calcination treatment. The strong interfacial interaction between FeSe and NC guarantees FeSe@NC with fast electron/Na+ transport kinetics and outstanding structural stability. [Display omitted] • FeSe@NC exhibits preeminent performance as an anode for sodium-ion batteries. • Analyses of ex-situ XRD, ex-situ TEM and DFT calculations reveal that the electrochemical mechanism in FeSe. • Excellent performance is related to a reversible phase transformation from hexagonal to tetragonal. • NVPF@rGO//FeSe@NC full battery maintains a capacity of 241 mAh/g after 2000 cycles at 1 A/g. Transition metal selenides have gained enormous interest as anodes for sodium ion batteries (SIBs). Nonetheless, their large volume expansion causing poor rate and inferior cycle stability during Na+ insertion/extraction process hinders their further applications in SIBs. Herein, a confined-regulated interfacial engineering strategy towards the synthesis of FeSe microparticles coated by ultrathin nitrogen-doped carbon (NC) is demonstrated (FeSe@NC). The strong interfacial interaction between FeSe and NC endows FeSe@NC with fast electron/Na+ transport kinetics and outstanding structural stability, delivering unexceptionable rate capability (364 mAh/g at 10 A/g) and preeminent cycling durability (capacity retention of 100 % at 1 A/g over 1000 cycles). Furthermore, various ex situ characterization techniques and density functional theory (DFT) calculations have been applied to demonstrate the Na+ storage mechanism of FeSe@NC. The assembled Na 3 V 2 (PO 4) 2 F 3 @rGO//FeSe@NC full cell also displays a high capacity of 241 mAh/g at 1 A/g with the capacity retention of nearly 100 % over 2000 cycles, and delivers a supreme energy density of 135 Wh kg−1 and a topmost power density of 495 W kg−1, manifesting the latent applications of FeSe@NC in the fast charging SIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring the health risks of diseases attributed to PM2.5 and SO2 exposure and analyzing the differences in their distribution over emissions can provide useful insights for decision-makers to reduce premature mortality due to PM2.5 and SO2 exposure. This study used exposure-response functions, health risk inequality curve (HRICU, based on Lorenz curve), and the health risk inequality coefficient (HRICO, based on Gini coefficient) to estimate population health risks of PM2.5 and SO2 exposure in China from 2013 to 2017 based on a full-coverage, high-precision PM2.5 and SO2 concentration and emission dataset. The inequality in the distribution of premature mortality was explored in terms of pollutant emissions. The results showed that (1) premature mortalities from cardiovascular disease (CVD) and respiratory disease (RD) due to PM2.5 and SO2 exposure decreased by 21% and 54%, respectively, from 2013 to 2017. (2) At a national scale, the HRICO value for the distribution of PM2.5 and SO2 health risks on emissions were lower than 0.10 and 0.20, respectively. (3) More than 20% of provinces had HRICO values above 0.1 for PM2.5 or SO2. The provinces near the national borders generally had higher HRICO for PM2.5, while the province with the most severe inequity in the distribution of SO2 health risks on emissions appeared in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, and Hainan Province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pH value in the wound milieu plays a key role in cellular processes and cell cycle processes involved in the process of wound healing. Here, a microfluidic assembly technique is employed to fabricate micro‐gel ensembles that can precisely tune the pH value of wound surface and accelerate wound healing. The micro‐gel ensembles consist of poly (hydroxypropyl acrylate‐co‐acrylic acid)‐magnesium ions (poly‐(HPA‐co‐AA)‐Mg2+) gel and carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) gel, which can release and absorb hydrogen ion (H+) separately at different stages of healing in response to the evolution of wound microenvironment. By regulating the wound pH to affect the proliferation and migration of cell on the wound and the activity of various biological factors in the wound, the physiological processes are greatly facilitated which results in much accelerated healing of chronic wound. This work presents an effective strategy in designing wound healing materials with vast potentials for chronic wound management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pH value in the wound milieu plays a key role in cellular processes and cell cycle processes involved in the process of wound healing. Here, a microfluidic assembly technique is employed to fabricate micro‐gel ensembles that can precisely tune the pH value of wound surface and accelerate wound healing. The micro‐gel ensembles consist of poly (hydroxypropyl acrylate‐co‐acrylic acid)‐magnesium ions (poly‐(HPA‐co‐AA)‐Mg2+) gel and carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) gel, which can release and absorb hydrogen ion (H+) separately at different stages of healing in response to the evolution of wound microenvironment. By regulating the wound pH to affect the proliferation and migration of cell on the wound and the activity of various biological factors in the wound, the physiological processes are greatly facilitated which results in much accelerated healing of chronic wound. This work presents an effective strategy in designing wound healing materials with vast potentials for chronic wound management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, a novel dual single‐atom catalyst comprising adjacent Fe‐N4 and Mn‐N4 sites on 2D ultrathin N‐doped carbon nanosheets with porous structure (FeMn‐DSAC) was constructed as the cathode for a flexible low‐temperature Zn‐air battery (ZAB). FeMn‐DSAC exhibits remarkable bifunctional activities for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Control experiments and density functional theory calculations reveal that the catalytic activity arises from the cooperative effect of the Fe/Mn dual‐sites aiding *OOH dissociation as well as the porous 2D nanosheet structure promoting active sits exposure and mass transfer during the reaction process. The excellent bifunctional activity of FeMn‐DSAC enables the ZAB to operate efficiently at ultra‐low temperature of −40 °C, delivering 30 mW cm−2 peak power density and retaining up to 86 % specific capacity from the room temperature counterpart. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, a novel dual single‐atom catalyst comprising adjacent Fe‐N4 and Mn‐N4 sites on 2D ultrathin N‐doped carbon nanosheets with porous structure (FeMn‐DSAC) was constructed as the cathode for a flexible low‐temperature Zn‐air battery (ZAB). FeMn‐DSAC exhibits remarkable bifunctional activities for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Control experiments and density functional theory calculations reveal that the catalytic activity arises from the cooperative effect of the Fe/Mn dual‐sites aiding *OOH dissociation as well as the porous 2D nanosheet structure promoting active sits exposure and mass transfer during the reaction process. The excellent bifunctional activity of FeMn‐DSAC enables the ZAB to operate efficiently at ultra‐low temperature of −40 °C, delivering 30 mW cm−2 peak power density and retaining up to 86 % specific capacity from the room temperature counterpart. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of efficient catalysts is pivotal for pollution abatement to guarantee a sustainable and green industrial production. Supported single atom catalysts (SACs) with the advantages of maximum atom utilization, unique electronic structure, and distinguished metal support interaction have recently become a hotspot in the catalysis community, and bring new opportunities for environmental catalysis. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the latest progress on the environmental SACs from both the fundamental and practical points of view. It starts with highlighting the state‐of‐the‐art synthesis strategies of great values for the practical use to construct challenging SACs. The applications of SACs in the environmental remediation processes are critically summarized, including CO oxidation, NOx decomposition, volatile organic compounds incineration, CO2 conversion, and water purification. Meanwhile, the topic also sketches out the recent progress for the non‐mercury catalyzed acetylene hydrochlorination reaction to address the environmental‐benign synthesis. Emphasis is placed on the elucidation of the structure–activity relationships and the underlying catalytic mechanisms to shed light on the guidelines for catalyst optimization and upgradation. Finally, the remaining challenges and perspectives for this flourishing field are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Even a well‐designed system can only control stem cell adhesion, release, and differentiation, while other cell manipulations such as in situ labeling and retention in target tissues, are difficult to achieve in the same system. Herein, native ligand cluster‐mimicking islands, composed of topologically engineered ligand, anchoring point AuNP, nuclease mimetics CeIV complexes and magnetic core Fe3O4, are designed to facilitate comprehensive cell manipulations in a programmable manner. Three islands with different amounts of AuNPs are constructed, which means tunable interligand spacing within a cluster. These nanostructures are chemically coupled to a substrate using DNA tethers. Under a tissue‐penetrative magnetic field, this integrated system promotes stem cell adhesion, proliferation, mechanosensing, differentiation, detachment, in situ effective magnetic labeling and retention both in vitro and in vivo, offering fascinating opportunities for a biomimetic matrix in regenerative medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Even a well‐designed system can only control stem cell adhesion, release, and differentiation, while other cell manipulations such as in situ labeling and retention in target tissues, are difficult to achieve in the same system. Herein, native ligand cluster‐mimicking islands, composed of topologically engineered ligand, anchoring point AuNP, nuclease mimetics CeIV complexes and magnetic core Fe3O4, are designed to facilitate comprehensive cell manipulations in a programmable manner. Three islands with different amounts of AuNPs are constructed, which means tunable interligand spacing within a cluster. These nanostructures are chemically coupled to a substrate using DNA tethers. Under a tissue‐penetrative magnetic field, this integrated system promotes stem cell adhesion, proliferation, mechanosensing, differentiation, detachment, in situ effective magnetic labeling and retention both in vitro and in vivo, offering fascinating opportunities for a biomimetic matrix in regenerative medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Main observation and conclusion: The synthesis of an Asp lactam derivative of A‐183, a selective inhibitor of Factor 7a with good anticoagulant and antithrombotic activity, is described. Our synthesis depends on the use of a removable backbone modification (RBM) strategy to prevent aspartimide formation, which thwarted all attempts to synthesize this target using direct solid‐phase peptide synthesis. Validation of the RBM strategy in the synthesis of a second Asp lactam derivative was also accomplished. The RBM strategy is therefore proposed as a general method for the synthesis of Asp lactam cyclic peptides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: In this study, soybean protein isolate (SPI)‐konjac glucomannan (KGM) conjugates were fabricated via the Maillard reaction and their potential to improve enzymatic hydrolysate with ACE inhibitory activity stability was assessed. Briefly, we loaded the enzymatic hydrolysate into SPI‐KGM conjugates using a pH‐driven method. Thereafter, the transport pathway of enzymatic hydrolysate with angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity SPI‐KGM (ACE‐SPI‐KGM) core–shell nanogels was investigated using CaCo‐2 cell monolayer. The results of microstructure, encapsulation efficiency, ACE inhibition ratio and IC50 value verified that the nanogels displayed a spherical structure and excellent physicochemical properties. The ζ‐potential, Z‐average diameter and polydispersity index demonstrated that the stability of the core–shell nanogels was significantly superior to that of the enzymatic hydrolysate. In addition, the transport of the enzymatic hydrolysate in nanogels onto the CaCo‐2 cell monolayer revealed a higher transport capacity and was dominated by cell bypass transport. In summary, the SPI‐KGM conjugates could serve as potential as delivery systems for enzymatic hydrolysate with ACE inhibitory activity to fortify functional foods and medicines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: Genomic editing with CRISPR/Cas9 system can simultaneously modify multiple copies of theBnaFAD2 gene to develop novel variations in fatty acids profiles in polyploidy rapeseed. Fatty acid composition affects edible and processing quality of vegetable oil and has been one of the primary targets for genetic modification in oilseed crops including rapeseed (Brassica napus). Fatty acid desaturase 2 gene, FAD2, is a key player that affects three major fatty acids, namely oleic, linoleic and linolenic acid, in oilseed plants. Previously, we showed that there are four copies of BnaFAD2 in allotetraploid rapeseed. In this study, we further established spatiotemporal expression pattern of each copy of BnaFAD2 using published RNA-seq data. Genomic editing technology based on CRISPR/Cas9 system was used to mutate all the copies of BnaFAD2 to create novel allelic variations in oleic acid and other fatty acid levels. A number of mutants at two targeting sites were identified, and the phenotypic variation in the mutants was systematically evaluated. The oleic acid content in the seed of the mutants increased significantly with the highest exceeding 80% compared with wild type of 66.43%, while linoleic and linolenic acid contents decreased accordingly. Mutations on BnaFAD2.A5 caused more dramatic changes of fatty acid profile than the mutations on BnaFAD2.C5 alleles that were identified with gene editing technique for the first time. Moreover, combining different mutated alleles of BnaFAD2 can even broaden the variation more dramatically. It was found that effects of different mutation types at BnaFAD2 alleles on oleic levels varied, indicating a possibility to manipulate fatty acid levels by precise mutation at specific region of a gene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

XLP‐2 is known as a rare primary immunodeficiency disease, which is characterized by the susceptibility to EBV infection and potential development into the pHLH. The existing studies believe that the dysfunction of XIAP represents one of the most significant pathogenic mechanisms of XLP‐2, and allo‐HSCT is regarded as a crucial treatment for the long‐term survival in XLP‐2 patients. In our present study, a 2‐year‐old male patient was diagnosed with XLP‐2. After receiving chemotherapy by using HLH‐2004 without allo‐HSCT, he reached a complete remission, and his EBV load was brought under control. Our family survey revealed a novel frameshift mutation in the XIAP gene in this patient, as well as in his cousin and grandfather. Until now, the patient has been followed up for 22 months with no recurrence reported yet. Based on these findings, it is believed that for child pHLH patients with XLP‐2, the treatment by controlling symptoms alone without allo‐HSCT and with regular monitoring of EBV load could be conducive to a long‐term survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to determine the disease burden of hepatitis E virus (HEV)-infected inpatients in Jiangsu province, China. Between July 1, 2016 and October 31, 2018, 1152 HEV-infected inpatients were identified from four cities in Jiangsu province, namely, Nanjing, Suzhou, Yancheng, and Zhenjiang. The disease burden comprised the economic burden and loss of health due to HEV infection. Factors influencing the disease burden were analyzed using univariate and multivariate analyses. The average direct, indirect, and total economic burden for 1152 HEV-infected inpatients was US$ 4,986.40, US$ 1,507.28, and US$ 6,493.68, respectively, accounting for 46.66%, 14.11%, and 60.77% of per capita disposable income (PCDI) in Jiangsu province, respectively. The disease burden for HEV-infected inpatients with hepatitis B was significantly higher than that for other inpatients. The average EQ-5D utility value of 1152 HEV-infected inpatients was 0.72 ± 0.18 quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) and the average EQ-visual analogue score (EQ-VAS) was 0.66 ± 0.17 points. Multivariate analysis showed that the direct economic burden and the total economic burden were influenced by variables such as hospitalization days, outcomes, past history of other diseases, and regions (P < 0.05). It was estimated the direct economic burden, the indirect economic burden, and the total economic burden for all HEV-infected inpatients in Jiangsu province in 2018 was approximately US$ 9.2 million, US$ 2.8 million and US$ 12.0 million, respectively. The disease burden of HEV infection in Jiangsu province is severe, and more attention should be paid to the prevention of hepatitis E and the treatment of comorbidities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Residual cathepsin D was identified as the primary cause of fragmentation for in-process mAbs by a combination of proteomic LC-MS and protease inhibitor screen. • A streamlined targeted LC-MS method was developed to quantify residual cathepsin D. • Cathepsin D is co-purified with investigated mAbs under platform purification process and alternative wash strategy at Protein A step can remove cathepsin D effectively. Monoclonal antibody (mAb) fragmentation is a well-known degradation pathway that results in product loss and can significantly impact product quality, efficacy, or even cause immunogenic reactions, thus potentially endangering patients' health. It is recognised that residual proteases present among host cell proteins (HCPs) such as those expressed by Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) can induce fragmentation, and failure of their complete removal during downstream processing could cause fragmentation during mAb production and in the final drug product. We identified, using a protease inhibitor screen, an aspartic protease that contributes to proteolytic fragmentation of partially purified mAbs in multiple projects. Subsequent LC–MS analysis indicated that cathepsin D, a typical aspartic protease, was responsible for the observed fragmentation of in-process samples. To address the issue, an alternative chromatography wash was implemented at the capture step and has been demonstrated to be an effective and scalable solution to mitigate the residual cathepsin D associated fragmentation risk. Furthermore, a near real time targeted mass spectrometry method has been developed to proactively monitor the presence of cathepsin D during upstream and downstream process. Our approach demonstrated an emerging HCP mitigation strategy through integrated upstream and downstream involvement and holds great promise for a range of future applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To summarize the published literature on microwave ablation (MWA) for the treatment of benign thyroid nodules and papillary thyroid microcarcinomas, and to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of MWA as a novel treatment strategy.Methods: Two independent authors carried out the literature search using four databases, including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and Web of Science. The meta-analysis included prospective and retrospective data that compared pre-treatment values to post-treatment outcomes.Results: From the 33 original articles, seven studies met the inclusion criteria for this meta-analysis. Of these, five were retrospective studies, two were prospective trials, one was controlled study, and one was a multi-center study. The results showed significant improvements in nodule volume, clinical symptom scores, and beauty scores between the baseline and final follow-up visits. In all of the studies, the most common adverse effects were hematomas, unbearable pain, and transient or permanent voice change in 3.8%, 2.2%, and 4.6% of patients, respectively. None of these incidents resulted in hospitalization or death.Conclusions: MWA is effective and safe for the treatment of benign thyroid nodules and papillary thyroid microcarcinomas. However, future studies should compare the efficacy of MWA, RFA, and surgical intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Droplet-confined assembly is a powerful tool to fabricate functional nanostructures of block copolymers (BCPs), where the interfacial interaction plays a crucial role. Here, we report an unconventional strategy of using interfacial phase separation to control this assembly. The key lies in the use of an elaborately designed binary surfactant system to tune the interfacial configuration of droplets and realize an asymmetrically directed assembly of BCPs inside droplets, which finally creates unprecedented Janus onion particles with solid surfactant-like properties, e.g., as stabilizers for Pickering emulsions. The formation of Janus onions is due to the strong longitudinal selective interaction and the strong lateral phase separation at the droplet interfaces, provided by our surfactant system. This concept of interfacial phase separation directed assembly not only enriches the routes to controllable assembly of BCPs, but also offers an innovative paradigm to construct distinct regions on droplet surfaces, illuminating potential functions such as smart encapsulation and delivery. Image 1 1. Interfacial phase separation of emulsion droplets was firstly used to direct the droplet-confined assembly of block copolymers. 2. Unprecedented Janus onion-like particles of block copolymers were fabricated. 3. The Janus onions could act as particulate surfactants to stabilize Pickering emulsion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In the present study, we developed a novel method to simultaneously detect eight classes of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PBDD/Fs), polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) and Dechlorane Plus (DP), in sediment and fish tissue samples. The samples were extracted by accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) system, and the extracts were purified and fractionated into fraction1 and fraction2 with multi-layer silica gel column, followed by further fractionation using a basic alumina column (fraction1) and a Florisil column (fraction2), respectively. Finally, fractions were analyzed with different chromatographic columns and different detectors according to the properties of a chemical compound. The limit of detection for eight classes of POPs ranged from 1 to 30 pg/gdw in fish tissue samples, and from 1 to 33 pg/gdw in sediment samples, except for SCCPs (from 5.6 to 7.6 ng/g in fish tissue samples, and from 1.2 to 8.3 ng/gdw in sediment samples). The recoveries of eight classes of POPs spiked in fish tissue and sediment samples ranged from 43% to 120%, and from 45% to 115%, respectively. The relative standard deviation (RSD) was less than 25%. The accuracy of method was satisfactorily demonstrated by analysis of standard reference materials NIST SRM 1649b and WMF-01. In addition, the newly developed method was successfully applied for analysis of sediment and fish samples collected from the Baiyangdian Lake. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • A clean-up method for simultaneous determination of eight classes of POPs in sediment and biota samples. • This newly developed method had advantages for samples of limited mass as well as rare samples rare samples. • The method validation demonstrated by analysis of standard reference material and applied for analysis of real samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposes a simple, low-temperature chemical etching method for selective preparation of monodispersed, hexagonal, single-crystal ZnO nanostructures. The morphological evolution from nanoplates (NPs) to nanoseals (NSs), nanobowls (NBs), and nanorings (NRs) is initiated by positively charged (0 0 0 1) Zn polar surface and driven by the principle of minimum energy. The relationship among the morphology, dimensions, and function of ZnO was determined by investigating polar planes, surface areas, energy bands, defects, optical properties, and catalytic activity for rhodamine B degradation. The ZnO NBs and ZnO NRs exhibit improved photocatalytic performance because of enhanced light harvesting and plasmonic resonance enhanced absorption. Surface recombination plays a key role in the apparent rate constant k for ZnO NBs with small size and those formed at low reaction temperatures. The photocatalytic activity of ZnO NBs formed at high reaction temperatures decreases with increasing size because of the decreased surface area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A facile and electrostatically driven approach has been developed to prepare bicontinuous polymer nanocomposites that is based on the polyoxometalate (POM) macroion induced phase transition of PS- b-P2VP from an initial lamellar phase to a stable bicontinuous phase. The multi-charged POMs can electrostatically cross-link P2VP blocks and give rise to bicontinuous phases in which the POM hybrid conductive domains occupy a large volume fraction of more than 50 %. Furthermore, the POMs can give rise to high proton conductivity and serve as nanoenhancers, endowing the bicontinuous nanocomposites with a conductivity of 0.1 mS cm−1 and a Young's modulus of 7.4 GPa at room temperature; these values are greater than those of pristine PS- b-P2VP by two orders of magnitude and a factor of 1.8, respectively. This approach can provide a new concept based on electrostatic control to design functional bicontinuous polymer materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A facile and electrostatically driven approach has been developed to prepare bicontinuous polymer nanocomposites that is based on the polyoxometalate (POM) macroion induced phase transition of PS- b-P2VP from an initial lamellar phase to a stable bicontinuous phase. The multi-charged POMs can electrostatically cross-link P2VP blocks and give rise to bicontinuous phases in which the POM hybrid conductive domains occupy a large volume fraction of more than 50 %. Furthermore, the POMs can give rise to high proton conductivity and serve as nanoenhancers, endowing the bicontinuous nanocomposites with a conductivity of 0.1 mS cm−1 and a Young's modulus of 7.4 GPa at room temperature; these values are greater than those of pristine PS- b-P2VP by two orders of magnitude and a factor of 1.8, respectively. This approach can provide a new concept based on electrostatic control to design functional bicontinuous polymer materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, long afterglow luminescent materials CaAl 2 O 4 :Eu 2+ , Nd 3+ and SrAl 2 O 4 :Eu 2+ , Dy 3+ were successfully synthesized by high temperature solid state reaction using the alumina extracted from oil shale ash. The properties of samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF) photoluminescence (PL) spectra, thermoluminescent (TL) curve, long afterglow material optical test system. CaAl 2 O 4 :Eu 2+ , Nd 3+ and SrAl 2 O 4 :Eu 2+ , Dy 3+ prepared with alumina extracted from oil shale ash showed persistent phosphorescence in blue (440 nm) and green (515 nm) with persistence time over 10 h for the blue and 8 h for the green. This result indicates that the alumina extracted from oil shale ash can be used to prepare fluorescent materials. This reuse can not only utilize the oil shale ash rationally but also substantially increased the added-value of oil shale ash. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We demonstrate an easy solvothermal method for the synthesis of monodisperse polycrystalline Fe 3 O 4 microspheres ranging in size from 82 nm to 1116 nm. Results show that controlling H 2 O volume fraction ( γ ) modulates the crystal size ( D ) and sphere diameter ( d ) of Fe 3 O 4 microspheres and also changes their surface state. D and d values of Fe 3 O 4 microspheres change with γ in a Gauss model and a Boltzmann mode, respectively. Adding nonreductive H 2 O favors the increased O content. In these cases, the saturation magnetization ( M s ) and coercivity ( H c ) values follow various Gauss models of variation with γ because of the weakened interaction with decreased d , the enhanced surface spin disorder with D , the increased O content, and the critical size for multidomain–monodomain behavior. The cooperation of size ( D and d ) with surface state induces ε ″ and tanδ E to gradually decrease with γ , and μ ″ and tan δ M are significantly enhanced at γ = 9.2% ( d = 728 nm). This work clearly shows the potential to tune magnetic and microwave properties of polycrystalline magnetic nanomaterials by controlling crystal/particle size and surface state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The activation of CD8+ T cells and their trafficking to the skin through JAK-STAT signaling play a central role in the development of vitiligo. Thus, targeting this key disease pathway with innovative drugs is an effective strategy for treating vitiligo. Natural products isolated from medicinal herbs are a useful source of novel therapeutics. Demethylzeylasteral (T-96), extracted from Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F, possesses immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory properties. Methods: The efficacy of T-96 was tested in our mouse model of vitiligo, and the numbers of CD8+ T cells infiltration and melanocytes remaining in the epidermis were quantified using whole-mount tail staining. Immune regulation of T-96 in CD8+ T cells was evaluated using flow cytometry. Pull-down assay, mass spectrum analysis, molecular docking, knockdown and overexpression approaches were utilized to identify the target proteins of T-96 in CD8+ T cells and keratinocytes. Results: Here, we found that T-96 reduced CD8+ T cell infiltration in the epidermis using whole-mount tail staining and alleviated the extent of depigmentation to a comparable degree of tofacitinib (Tofa) in our vitiligo mouse model. In vitro, T-96 decreased the proliferation, CD69 membrane expression, and IFN-γ, granzyme B, (GzmB), and perforin (PRF) levels in CD8+ T cells isolated from patients with vitiligo. Pull-down assays combined with mass spectrum analysis and molecular docking showed that T-96 interacted with JAK3 in CD8+ T cell lysates. Furthermore, T-96 reduced JAK3 and STAT5 phosphorylation following IL-2 treatment. T-96 could not further reduce IFN-γ, GzmB and PRF expression following JAK3 knockdown or inhibit increased immune effectors expression upon JAK3 overexpression. Additionally, T-96 interacted with JAK2 in IFN-γ-stimulated keratinocytes, inhibiting the activation of JAK2, decreasing the total and phosphorylated protein levels of STAT1, and reducing the production and secretion of CXCL9 and CXCL10. T-96 did not significantly inhibit STAT1 and CXCL9/10 expression following JAK2 knockdown, nor did it suppress upregulated STAT1-CXCL9/10 signaling upon JAK2 overexpression. Finally, T-96 reduced the membrane expression of CXCR3, and the culture supernatants pretreated with T-96 under IFN-γ stressed keratinocytes markedly blocked the migration of CXCR3+CD8+ T cells, similarly to Tofa in vitro. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrated that T-96 might have positive therapeutic responses to vitiligo by pharmacologically inhibiting the effector functions and skin trafficking of CD8+ T cells through JAK-STAT signaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

LaFeO 3-δ nanoparticles were prepared by citric sol-gel method, which show weak ferromagnetic (FM) behavior at room temperature with magnetization of 0.11 emu/g at 10 kOe. XPS indicates that La is rich at the surface region and Fe ions are in the mixed state of Fe 3+ and Fe 4+ . The double exchange interaction of Fe 3+ -O 2− -Fe 4+ between neighboring Fe 3+ and Fe 4+ ions would result in strengthened FM shell and weakened AFM core, which contribute to the observed FM behavior. The electrical and magnetic properties are coupled by the formation of Fe 4+ ions, which are mainly caused by oxygen adsorption at the surface region and by electrical valence compensation inside the core. Simultaneous control of electric resistance and magnetization has been achieved by contact of ethanol, which could react with the adsorbed oxygen at the surface region, leading to increased resistance and reduced magnetization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • LBL emulsions including β-Car were encapsulated in vitreous encapsulated solids. • Polyelectrolyte shell composite by WPI/Arabic gum in LBL emulsions was 30 nm. • MD was a suitable carrier and good stabilizer to improve the stability of VES system. • Strength parameter can be linked to the stability and the β-Car loss of VES system. • Controlling of molecular mobility in wall materials slowed down β-Car degradation. β -Carotene (β - Car) is insoluble compounds in water and liable to degradation, which has health benefits for human beings. Although layer-by-layer (LBL) emulsions provide a better protection for β - Car towards environmental stresses, the handling and transportation of LBL emulsions still faces restrictions. In this paper, therefore, the LBL emulsions including β-Car were carefully prepared and encapsulated to obtain vitreous encapsulated solids (VES) using trehalose and maltodextrins (MD) as wall materials. Morphological results indicated that the LBL emulsions were formed a spheric shape, in where the polyelectrolyte shell was 30 nm. The MD exhibited the characteristics of not easy to absorb moisture, suitable carrier, and good stabilizer, which could improve the stability of VES systems at studied environmental stresses. Despite compositional effects from MD and environmental stresses, LBL emulsions changed the water sorption behavior of VES as oil dispersion in storage. Strength analysis indicated that LBL emulsions lubricated systems and increased the molecular mobility of wall materials. Structural collapse, rapid color changes, and β-Car loss were confirmed in VES systems at 0.56 a w from 25 to 45 °C after 30 days of storage. Besides, a relationship between S and β-Car loss kinetics was established, where the β-Car degraded more rapidly in a sample with quicker molecular mobility of wall materials Therefore, the controlling of molecular mobility in wall materials can slow down the β -Car degradation and improve the quality and stability of lipophilic nutrients delivery systems with high total solids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

If the lesions consist of pulmonary TB and LC, the lesions will be misdiagnosed as pulmonary TB, and the entire series is flawed. We applaud Dr. Du and the other researchers for the article on differential diagnosis between active pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) and lung cancer (LC). We read with great interest the research article "Integration of PET/CT Radiomics and Semantic Features for Differentiation between Active Pulmonary Tuberculosis and Lung Cancer" [[1]]. [Extracted from the article]

Chito-oligosaccharides (COSs) were encapsulated by the film-ultrasonic method into three nano-liposomes, which were uncoated liposomes (COSs-Lip), chitosan-coated liposomes (CH-COSs-Lip), and sodium alginate (SA)/chitosan (CH)-coated liposomes (SA/CH-COSs-Lip). The physicochemical and structural properties, as well as the stability and digestive characteristics, of all three nano-liposomes were assessed in the current study. Thereafter, the characteristics of intestinal absorption and transport of nano-liposomes were investigated by the Caco-2 cell monolayer. All nano-liposomes showed a smaller-sized distribution with a higher encapsulation efficiency. The ζ-potential, Z-average diameter (Dz), and polydispersity index (PDI) demonstrated that the stability of the SA/CH-COSs-Lip had much better stability than COSs-Lip and CH-COSs-Lip. In addition, the transport of the nano-liposomes via the Caco-2 cell monolayer indicated a higher transmembrane transport capacity. In summary, the chitosan and sodium alginate could serve as potential delivery systems for COSs to fortify functional foods and medicines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (NK/T-LAHLH) is a rare and life-threatening disorder. Its clinical characteristics and appropriate treatment options are unclear. This study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics and treatment options for this disease. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 84 patients with NK/T-cell lymphoma and compared the characteristics, treatment, and survival between patients with and without HLH. Patients in the NK/T-LAHLH group were more likely to be younger age and have hepatosplenomegaly, B symptoms, neutropenia, anemia, thrombocytopenia, elevated lactate dehydrogenase levels, reduced serum albumin levels, bone marrow involvement, Ann Arbor stage III/IV, and International Prognostic Index score ≥ 3. After multivariate analysis, it was found that elevated lactate dehydrogenase and Ann Arbor stage III/IV were risk factors for HLH in patients with NK/T-cell lymphoma. After 2 weeks of therapy, 78.6% (11/14) patients who received the L-DEP/DEP regimen achieved an overall response rate of HLH, which was higher than that in 42.9% (9/21) patients who received the VP-16 + dexamethasone-based regimen. NK/T-LAHLH patients had poorer survival than non-HLH-NK/TCL patients. For NK/T-LAHLH, the L-DEP/DEP regimen may have a better response rate than the VP-16 + dexamethasone-based regimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoparticles have unique properties that make them useful in biomedicine. However, their extensive use raises concerns about potential hazards to the body. Therefore, it is crucial to establish effective and robust toxicology models to evaluate the developmental and functional toxicity of nanoparticles on the body. This article discusses the use of stem cells to study the developmental and functional toxicity of organs of endodermal origin due to nanoparticles. The study discovered that various types of nanoparticles have varying effects on stem cells. The application of stem cell models can provide a possibility for studying the effects of nanoparticles on organ development and function, as they can more accurately reflect the toxic mechanisms of different types of nanoparticles. However, stem cell toxicology systems currently cannot fully reflect the effects of nanoparticles on entire organs. Therefore, the establishment of organoid models and other advanced assessment models is expected to address this issue. [Display omitted] • This paper reviews the effects of nanoparticles on the development of endoderm by using stem cell model for the first time. • We highlight the key role of stem cells in nanoparticles toxicity studies and propose research directions and models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

3D confined assembly in emulsion droplets is an effective way to prepare block copolymer particles with tunable nanostructures. In this process, the multi-component interaction at the droplet interface plays a crucial role, which is mainly dominated by surfactants. Here, we report the utilization of a polymer surfactant, ammonium-terminated polystyrene chains (N–PS n), to control the 3D confined assembly of poly(styrene- block -2-vinylpyridine) (PS- b -P2VP). N–PS n shows a different interfacial tuning ability from small molecular surfactants, which can not only stabilize the emulsion droplets but also increase the volume fraction of PS components through fusing its PS chains with PS- b -P2VP. Consequently, unusual nanostructured PS- b -P2VP particles were obtained based on a binary surfactant system of N–PS n and poly(vinyl alcohol), e.g. , the rarely reported toroid-stacked ellipsoidal particles. The morphological formation mechanism was systemically studied by regulating the molecular weight of N–PS n. These results provide a new surfactant platform to tune the confined assembly of block copolymers. Image 1 • A unique 3D confined assembly of block copolymers was realized by using polymer surfactants. • Unusual ellipsoidal polymer particles with axially stacked toroidal domains were obtained. • Cationic polymer surfactants with adjustable interfacial controlling ability were synthesized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sarcomatoid carcinoma (SC) is a malignant tumour composed of spindle cells. The incidence of SC is low, especially in the uterus. The imaging features of uterine sarcomatoid carcinoma (USC) are rarely reported. We report a case of USC and discuss the dynamic contrast-enhanced MR (DCE-MR) and PET/CT findings.Case Presentation: A 69-year-old woman presented to the Department of Gynaecology with vaginal bleeding. Ultrasound examination discovered a heterogeneous mass in the cervix. Then, MRI examination of the pelvis was performed. On T2-weighted images, the uterus was replaced by an ill defined and diffuse lesion with inhomogeneous intensity. On T1-weighted images, the lesion appeared with signal hypointensity and was heterogeneously enhanced with contrast material. Additionally, enlarged lymph nodes were found in the pelvic cavity. PET/CT demonstrated high uptake in the region of the uterus and pelvic lymph nodes, which was consistent with MRI findings. The radiologists diagnosed the patient with malignant uterine lesions. The patient underwent hysterectomy and bilateral adnexectomy with pelvic lymph node dissection. Then, systemic radiotherapy and chemotherapy were performed. USC with lymph node metastasis was diagnosed with the help of immuno-histochemical analysis. There was no treatment related complication and no evidence of tumour recurrence at the postoperative 6-month follow-up.Conclusion: MRI and PET/CT features are sufficient to indicate the malignant nature of a USC, but they are not pathognomonic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organophosphorus pesticide poisoning can lead to severe brain damage, but the specific mechanisms involved are not fully understood. Our research aims to elucidate the function of the TRPV4 ion channel in the development of brain injury induced by paraoxon (POX). In vivo, we examined the survival rate, behavioral seizures, histopathological alterations, NMDA receptor phosphorylation, as well as the expression of the NLRP3-ASC-caspase-1 complex and downstream inflammatory factors in the POX poisoning model following intervention with the TRPV4 antagonist GSK2193874. In vitro, we investigated the effects of GSK2193874 on NMDA-induced inward current, cell viability, cell death rate, and Ca2+ accumulation in primary hippocampal neurons. The treatment with the TRPV4 antagonist increased the survival rate, suppressed the status epilepticus, improved pathological damage, and reduced the phosphorylation level of NMDA receptors after POX exposure. Additionally, it inhibited the upregulation of NLRP3 inflammasome and inflammatory cytokines expression after POX exposure. Moreover, the TRPV4 antagonist corrected the NMDA-induced increase in inward current and cell death rate, decrease in cell viability, and Ca2+ accumulation. TRPV4 participates in the mechanisms of brain injury induced by POX exposure through NMDA-mediated excitotoxicity and NLRP3-mediated inflammatory response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) and transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) have been reported to use aminopeptidase N (APN) as a cellular receptor. Recently, the role of APN as a receptor for PEDV has been questioned. In our study, the role of APN in PEDV and TGEV infections was studied in primary porcine enterocytes. After seven days of cultivation, 89% of enterocytes presented microvilli and showed a two- to five-fold higher susceptibility to PEDV and TGEV. A significant increase of PEDV and TGEV infection was correlated with a higher expression of APN, which was indicative that APN plays an important role in porcine coronavirus infections. However, PEDV and TGEV infected both APN positive and negative enterocytes. PEDV and TGEV Miller showed a higher infectivity in APN positive cells than in APN negative cells. In contrast, TGEV Purdue replicated better in APN negative cells. These results show that an additional receptor exists, different from APN for porcine coronaviruses. Subsequently, treatment of enterocytes with neuraminidase (NA) had no effect on infection efficiency of TGEV, implying that terminal cellular sialic acids (SAs) are no receptor determinants for TGEV. Treatment of TGEV with NA significantly enhanced the infection which shows that TGEV is masked by SAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metabolic glycan labeling (MGL) followed by bioorthogonal chemistry provides a powerful tool for tumor imaging and therapy. However, selectively metabolic labeling of cells or tissues of interest remains a challenge. Particularly, owing to tumor heterogeneity including tumor subtypes and interpatient heterogeneity, it is far more difficult to realize tumor‐cell‐selective metabolic labeling for precise diagnosis. Inspired by nature, we designed azidosugar‐functionalized metal–organic frameworks camouflaged with cancer cell membranes to accomplish cancer‐cell‐selective MGL in vivo. With abundant receptors, this biomimetic platform not only selectively targets homotypic cells but also realizes different breast cancer subtype‐selective MGL. Moreover, the endo/lysosomal‐escaped ZIF‐8 can make azidosugar escape from lysosomes and accelerate its metabolic incorporation. This strategy also takes advantage of cancer‐tissue‐derived cell membranes, which may have huge potential for personalized diagnosis and therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metabolic glycan labeling (MGL) followed by bioorthogonal chemistry provides a powerful tool for tumor imaging and therapy. However, selectively metabolic labeling of cells or tissues of interest remains a challenge. Particularly, owing to tumor heterogeneity including tumor subtypes and interpatient heterogeneity, it is far more difficult to realize tumor‐cell‐selective metabolic labeling for precise diagnosis. Inspired by nature, we designed azidosugar‐functionalized metal–organic frameworks camouflaged with cancer cell membranes to accomplish cancer‐cell‐selective MGL in vivo. With abundant receptors, this biomimetic platform not only selectively targets homotypic cells but also realizes different breast cancer subtype‐selective MGL. Moreover, the endo/lysosomal‐escaped ZIF‐8 can make azidosugar escape from lysosomes and accelerate its metabolic incorporation. This strategy also takes advantage of cancer‐tissue‐derived cell membranes, which may have huge potential for personalized diagnosis and therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metabolic glycan labeling (MGL) followed by bioorthogonal chemistry provides a powerful tool for tumor imaging and therapy. However, selectively metabolic labeling of cells or tissues of interest remains a challenge. Particularly, owing to tumor heterogeneity including tumor subtypes and interpatient heterogeneity, it is far more difficult to realize tumor‐cell‐selective metabolic labeling for precise diagnosis. Inspired by nature, we designed azidosugar‐functionalized metal–organic frameworks camouflaged with cancer cell membranes to accomplish cancer‐cell‐selective MGL in vivo. With abundant receptors, this biomimetic platform not only selectively targets homotypic cells but also realizes different breast cancer subtype‐selective MGL. Moreover, the endo/lysosomal‐escaped ZIF‐8 can make azidosugar escape from lysosomes and accelerate its metabolic incorporation. This strategy also takes advantage of cancer‐tissue‐derived cell membranes, which may have huge potential for personalized diagnosis and therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of various amounts of konjac glucomannan on the structural and physicochemical properties of gluten proteins/dough at different periods of frozen storage is evaluated in the present study. As frozen storage time was prolonged, the molecular weight and the free sulfhydryl content of gluten proteins and the tensile properties of frozen dough all decreased. The addition of konjac glucomannan reduced the variations in the structural and rheological properties of gluten proteins/dough. Frozen dough with 2.5% added konjac glucomannan showed the highest water binding capacity and retarded the migration of water. Scanning electron microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry results also revealed that adding konjac glucomannan reduced the cracks and holes in the dough and enhanced its thermal stability. The correlations between mechanical characteristics and structure parameters further indicated that konjac glucomannan could not only stabilize the structures of gluten proteins but also bind free water to form more stable complexes, thereby retaining the rheological and tensile properties of the frozen dough. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Maltose is an essential derivative of starch. To understand the processability and stability of maltose‐containing foods, material characterization of the phase and state transition from its amorphous state is required. Although the crystallization of amorphous maltose is well understood, few studies have reported the relationship between the crystallization and the glass transition temperature (Tg)‐related molecular mobility. In this study, water sorption, crystallization, Tg‐related α‐relaxation, and the corresponding time factor for amorphous maltose and maltose / whey protein isolate (WPI) mixtures are measured at various water activity (aw) levels and 25 °C. RESULTS: The water‐additive principle for maltose / WPI mixtures was observed at aw ≤ 0.440 at the molecular level, whereas the crystallization of amorphous maltose occurred at high aw values (≥0.534). The crystal formation and crystallization kinetics of amorphous maltose were affected by water and WPI at aw ≥ 0.534 and 25 °C, as determined by X‐ray diffraction. The relationship between Tg and the water content was fitted by the Gordon–Taylor model, and its constant showed a compositional dependence for the maltose / WPI mixtures. The α‐relaxation temperature of the amorphous samples decreased due to water plasticization, but increased with an increase in the WPI quantity. The Strength (S) value for amorphous maltose, which was a quantitative estimate of the compositional effects on molecular mobility, was based on the William–Landel–Ferry (WLF) equation. CONCLUSION: The S concept exhibits considerable potential for application in controlling the crystallization of amorphous maltose and improving the processability and stability of maltose‐containing foods. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims This study explores the impact of gut microbiota on body metabolites and the growth rate of sea cucumber seedlings. Methods and results A comprehensive analysis using metabolomics and microbiomics was conducted to ascertain the gut microbiota and body metabolites in sea cucumber seedlings exhibiting varying growth rates. Distinct changes in the intestinal flora were observed in correlation with different growth rates of sea cucumber seedlings. The microbial communities of faster-growing seedlings exhibited greater diversity and evenness of taxa. For example, the abundance of genera Rhodococcus, Woeseia, Lysobacter, Desulfuromonadia_Sva1033 , and Flavobacteriaceae_NS5_marine_group was more than 24 times higher in the fast-growing group compared to the slow-growing group. Metabolomics analysis revealed an association between high growth rates of cucumber seedlings and discrepancies in metabolites, such as amino acids, lipids, and carbohydrates. Isorenieratene, possibly synthesized by Rhodococcus , was more than 2.5 times more abundant in the fast-growing group than the slow-growing group. Slow-growing seedlings showed considerable enrichment of environmental pollutants, such as antibiotics and drugs, while their colonies were devoid of bacteria capable of degrading such pollutants. In addition, significant differences were observed between groups in the biosynthesis of amino acids, metabolism of arginine and proline, biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, and metabolism of linoleic acid. Moreover, significant correlations between the microbial genera and sea cucumber metabolites were identified through correlation analysis. Conclusions Significant differences exist in the gut microbiota and metabolite composition among seedlings with varying growth rates. Microbes residing in the gut have the potential to influence the growth of seedlings through modulation of their metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a new diamine was designed by connecting flexible structures such as ether bond and aliphatic carbon chain between benzene rings, and was synthesized and purified through simple reactions such as Suzuki reaction. Finally, a series of polyimide (PI) films were synthesized by copolymerization with 4.4'-diaminodiphenyl ether (ODA)\pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) in different proportions. We prepared polyimide films with new monomer copolymerization ratios of 1% (PI-1), 5% (PI-2), 10% (PI-3), and 20% (PI-4). The polyimide films showed excellent glass transition temperatures, which were attributed to their unique bent architectures. The mechanical and thermal properties of the thermosets were studied using tensile testing, static thermomechanical analysis (TMA), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). As the results, the films exhibited the optimal glass transition temperatures (317.56°C–381.91°C), and the component with the highest copolymerization ratio has a 15% decrease in glass transition temperature compared to the component without copolymerization. Moreover, PI-1-PI-4 showed good heat resistance in the N2 atmosphere. The temperatures corresponding to a 5% heat loss in the films (T5%) were 458.12 °C–548.75°C, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diversity of medical application scenarios demands fine-tuning of drug release profiles for better patient care. Here we report a facile strategy to construct composite coatings as universal drug delivery systems with tunable release efficacy. A poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA)-polycaprolactone (PCL) coating was fabricated by liquid flame spray and its performance was verified by loading chloramphenicol (CAM) as bactericidal component. Physiochemical analyses revealed the homogeneity of chemistry and integrity of functional groups of the composite coatings. Release of CAM was enhanced by the increase of the PCL content in the composite coatings, showing a controllable manner. Kinetics analysis suggested the release mechanism of Korsmeyer-Peppas model for both the PLLA-CAM and the PCL-CAM coatings, and the release regime for the PLLA-PCL composite coatings transited from the Higuchi model to the Korsmeyer-Peppas model when the PCL content increased from 30 % to 70 %. Further antibacterial testing revealed tailorable antibacterial activity of the coatings against both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Regulating the release of the drug CAM through altering PCL content in the PLLA-PCL coating would give inspiring insight into green fabrication of polymeric coatings with tunable drug release for versatile applications. [Display omitted] • The PLLA-PCL-CAM composite coating was facilely deposited on the 316 L substrate with liquid flame spray. • The morphological, chemical and antibacterial properties of the PLLA-PCL-CAM composite coating were investigated. • The drug release efficacy and antibacterial effect of the composite coating was well tunable with the ratio of PLLA and PCL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic fluorescent dyes are gradually gaining wide application in the fields of sensors, displays, and lighting. However, the use of organic fluorescent dyes for White light-emitting diodes (WLEDs) is still not sufficiently studied to be applied to the market. In this study, FR and FG with red and green fluorescence emission, respectively, were designed and synthesized, and two fluorescent dyes FB and FBP with aggregation-induced luminescence (AIE) properties were selected and dissolved in polyacrylonitrile (PAN) solution (in the ratio of 0.15 wt%, 2 wt%, 2 wt%, 1 wt%, respectively) to make flexible fiber films with fluorescence emission by electrostatic spinning. These fluorescent fiber films still have 78% of luminescence intensity after five days of immersion in water. The fluorescence quantum yields of the four fiber membranes were 12.89% (FR/PAN), 6.23% (FG/PAN), 39.85% (FB/PAN), 11.51% (FBP/PAN), respectively. Then 460 nm light-emitting diode (LED) chips and 365 nm LED chips were used to make WLEDs respectively with their color product coordinates (CIEs) of (0.3176,0.3256) and (0.3144,0.3158). Based on the good flexibility and mechanical strength of the fiber films, we used them to fabricate the wearable bracelet. The results indicate that the organic dye-based fluorescent fiber film has good potential for application in the field of WLED and wearable devices. [Display omitted] • Synthesized red and green fluorescent emitting dyes. • Made fluorescent dyes into fiber films for better luminescence. • WLEDs were fabricated using organic dye-based fluorescent fiber films. • Made a wearable bracelet based on the production of WLED. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Full‐color LED display requires Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage (CIE) 1931 coordinates of (0.14, 0.08), based on the National Television Standards Committee (NTSC) blue standard. However, such deep‐blue perovskite light‐emitting diodes (PeLEDs) still lag far behind in terms of device efficiency. Moreover, spectral stability remains a big challenge. To settle these issues, a kind of deep eutectic solvent (DES) is introduced as the perovskite precursor solvent additive, which is formed from a hydrogen bond acceptor (HBA) choline chloride and a hydrogen bond donor (HBD) urea via the hydrogen bond interaction. The incorporation of DES has multiple advantages, shown as follows: 1) improves the solubility of CsCl to yield dense perovskite morphology, 2) inhibits the growth of the perovskite crystal to achieve low‐n phases with narrow distribution, and 3) stabilizes the halide anions in the lattice to ensure stable electroluminescence (EL) spectra. As a result, the as‐prepared PeLED shows the maximum external quantum efficiency (EQEmax) of 2.71% with a CIE coordinate of (0.134, 0.055). With the increase in the DES concentration, the spectra stability is also obviously enhanced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]