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Aim Methodology Results Conclusion Lack of adequate mechanical strength and progressive shrinkage over time remain challenges in scaffold‐free microtissue‐based dental pulp regeneration. Surface collagen cross‐linking holds the promise to enhance the mechanical stability of microtissue constructs and trigger biological regulations. In this study, we proposed a novel strategy for surface preconditioning microtissues using a natural collagen cross‐linker, proanthocyanidin (PA). We evaluated its effects on cell viability, tissue integrity, and biomineralization of dental pulp stem cell (DPSCs)‐derived 3D cell spheroids.Microtissue and macrotissue spheroids were fabricated from DPSCs and incubated with PA solution for surface collagen cross‐linking. Microtissue viability was examined by live/dead staining and 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)−2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, with transverse dimension change monitored. Microtissue surface stiffness was measured by an atomic force microscope (AFM). PA‐preconditioned microtissues and macrotissues were cultured under basal or osteogenic conditions. Immunofluorescence staining of PA‐preconditioned microtissues was performed to detect dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) and F‐actin expressions. PA‐preconditioned macrotissues were subjected to histological analysis, including haematoxylin–eosin (HE), alizarin red, and Masson trichrome staining. Immunohistochemistry staining was used to detect alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and dentin matrix acidic phosphoprotein 1 (DMP‐1) expressions.PA preconditioning had no adverse effects on microtissue spheroid viability and increased surface stiffness. It reduced dimensional shrinkage for over 7 days in microtissues and induced a larger transverse‐section area in the macrotissue. PA preconditioning enhanced collagen formation, mineralized nodule formation, and elevated ALP and DMP‐1 expressions in macrotissues. Additionally, PA preconditioning induced higher F‐actin and DSPP expression in microtissues, while inhibition of F‐actin activity by cytochalasin B attenuated PA‐induced dimensional change and DSPP upregulation.PA surface preconditioning of DPSCs spheroids demonstrates excellent biocompatibility while effectively enhancing tissue structure stability and promoting biomineralization. This strategy strengthens tissue integrity in DPSC‐derived spheroids and amplifies osteogenic differentiation potential, advancing scaffold‐free tissue engineering applications in regenerative dentistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iron (Fe) is an essential trace element for plants, which is involved in photosynthesis and affected many important life activities of Vaccinium spp.. In order to explore the influence of Fe on the important life activities of blueberry (Vaccinium spp.), the blueberry 'Legacy' was used as the material, and 3 Fe environments were set: normal iron (Na-Fe-EDTA), insoluble iron only (Fe2O3) and iron deficiency (without any iron element). The relative chlorophyll content (SPAD value), chlorophyll content and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters of blueberry were analyzed. The results showed that in 2 stress environments of insoluble iron and iron deficiency, the growth indicators, photosynthetic pigment content and SPAD were significantly lower than those under normal iron environment (P< 0.05), while the number, growth amount, ground diameter, leaf area and leaf photosynthetic pigment content of basal branches of blueberry under insoluble iron environment were significantly lower than those in iron-deficient environment (P<0.05). The actual photosynthetic efficiency of leaf PS II under normal iron stress were higher than those under insoluble iron and iron deficiency, while the degree of photoinhibition were significantly lower than those under iron stress and iron deficiency. Leaves of seedlings were damaged and photosynthetic capacity of leaves was weakened in iron-insoluble and iron-deficient environments. The photosystem center conversion efficiency was more unstable in ironinsoluble environments than in iron-deficient environments, and blueberry leaves were the most photoinhibited. Leaf area, biomass per plant and growth of basal shoots were significantly correlated with chlorophyll fluorescence parameters (P<0.01), and photosynthetic pigment content of leaves was significantly positively correlated with SPAD value (P<0.01), but there was no significant correlation between photosynthetic pigment and SPAD and fluorescence parameters (P>0.01). In conclusion, insoluble iron, iron deficiency environment made blueberry growth inhibition and resulted in a decreased leaf chlorophyll content, leaf PS II stress environment reaction center absorption and conversion of light energy was abated, electron transfer and photosynthetic efficiency was lower, which provided reference for deep mining for blueberries in iron nutrient reasonable use way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manipulating light polarization is of fundamental importance in the modern photonic applications such as spectroscopy, laser science, optical communication, quantum information processing, chemical and biological sensing. Polarization control of light is typically achieved by natural chiral or birefringent materials with macroscopic volume due to the weak light–matter interaction. Here, a folded eta‐shaped metamaterial that is capable of generating gigantic optical chirality and spectrally breaking the spin degeneracy of optical transmission at multiband is experimentally demonstrated. The intrinsic chiral configuration is achieved by folding the eta‐shaped metasurface along the vertical direction to break the mirror symmetries. A remarkable circular dichroism approaching unity is experimentally achieved, with the maximum transmittance exceeding 93%. This is the record high value demonstrated to date for single‐layer metasurfaces without diffraction in infrared region. The folded metamaterial provides a straightforward strategy for achieving intrinsic 3D chirality and has great potential for applications in photon‐spin selective devices and chiral biomolecule identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate lower facial profile in females in different skeletal patterns. Methods: Investigation pictures of three females with beautiful lower facial profiles from Department of Orthodontics, Henan Stomatological Hospital were collected. The skeletal patterns of these females were classified as average, low and high angle, respectively.Upper lip process point (UL) was moved backwards horizontally to reach towards the E line and go even further gradually in above pictures. The distance changed according to E line was defined as DE value. If UL was in front of E line,DE value was denoted as positive, or else negative. Collectively, we obtained 30 pictures (10 pictures in each skeletal facial type) with different DE values (-5, -4, -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 mm), which were divided into average, low and high angle group according to the skeletal facial type. The pictures were evaluated by 144 randomly-selected adult orthodontic patients [66 males, 78 females, aged (29.4±7.7) years] who visited Department of Orthodontics, Henan Stomatological Hospital from June to September, 2019 and 138 orthodontists (including qualified orthodontists and postgraduate orthodontic students [60 males, 78 females, aged (32.2±7.1) years] who participated orthodontics conferences in Henan Stomatological Hospital in June, 2019. The acceptance rate was calculated and rate above 60% was deemed as acceptable DE range. Evaluators were also asked to choose the most esthetic profiles for the best DE value in each skeletal facial type.Data discrepancy was analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis analysis and chi -square test. Results: Most accepted DE was -2 mm among total investigators including orthodonticpatients and orthodontists. There was no difference in total acceptance rate between orthodontists and patients ( P> 0.05). There was statistic difference in total acceptance rate in different skeletal patterns between orthodontic patients and orthodontists ( P< 0.05). In total investigators, total acceptance rate was 62.1% (1 752/2 820) in average angle group, 55.4%(1 563/2 820) in high angle group and 33.5%(946/2 820) in low angle group, respectively. Acceptable DE range in three facial types was -4~2 mm (average angle), -2~2 mm (high angle) and -2~-1 mm (low angle), respectively. Conclusions: According to the evaluation of both orthodontic patients and orthodontists, the best DE was-2 mm.Total acceptance rate and acceptable DE range ranked first in average angle group, second in high angle group and third in low angle group.