Advancements in electrochemical glucose sensors.

The development of electrochemical glucose sensors with high sensitivity, specificity, and stability, enabling real-time continuous monitoring, has posed a significant challenge. However, an opportunity exists to fabricate electrochemical glucose biosensors with optimal performance through innovative device structures and surface modification materials. This paper provides a comprehensive review of recent advances in electrochemical glucose sensors. Novel classes of nanomaterials-including metal nanoparticles, carbon-based nanomaterials, and metal-organic frameworks-with excellent electronic conductivity and high specific surface areas, have increased the availability of reactive sites to improved contact with glucose molecules. Furthermore, in line with the trend in electrochemical glucose sensor development, research progress concerning their utilisation with sweat, tears, saliva, and interstitial fluid is described. To facilitate the commercialisation of these sensors, further enhancements in biocompatibility and stability are required. Finally, the characteristics of the ideal electrochemical glucose sensor are described and the developmental trends in this field are outlines.

High-throughput arousing interconnected interfaces for excellent sodium storage chemistry.

Heterostructures endow electrochemical hybrids with promising energy storage properties owing to synergistic effects and interfacial interaction. However, developing a facile but effective approach to maximize interface effects is crucial but challenging. Herein, a bimetallic sulfide/carbon heterostructure is realized in a confined carbon network via a high-throughput template-assisted strategy to induce highly active and stable electrode architecture. The designed heterostructures not only yield abundant interconnected Co9S8/MoS2/N-doped carbon (Co9S8/MoS2/NC) heterojunctions with continuous channels for ion/electron transfer but maintain excellent conversion reversibility. Serving as anode for sodium storage, the Co9S8/MoS2/NC framework displayed excellent sodium storage properties (reversible capacity of 480 mAh/g after 100 cycles at 0.2 A/g and 286.2 mAh/g after 500 cycles at 2 A/g). Given this, this study can guide future design protocols for interface engineering by forming dynamic channels of conversion reaction kinetics for potential applications in high-performance electrodes.

GC-MS-based metabonomic analysis of silkworm haemolymph reveals four-stage metabolic responses to nucleopolyhedrovirus infection.

Silkworm, Bombyx mori, an economically significant insect, plays a crucial role in silk production. However, silkworm breeding is highly susceptible to various pathogens, particularly the Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV), which poses a serious threat. Recent metabonomic studies have provided insights into the metabolic changes associated with BmNPV infection. BmNPV infection has obvious temporal characteristics. However, few studies have investigated the silkworms infected in different periods. This study employed gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to perform a comprehensive analysis of haemolymph metabolites in silkworms at 48, 72, 96 and 120 h post-infection (h.p.i.). Through the integration of time-course analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment, the study revealed distinct four-stage metabolic characteristics in the silkworm's response to BmNPV infection. At Stage 1 (48 h.p.i.), silkworms activate antioxidant defence mechanisms, with significant enrichment in metabolic pathways involving key antioxidants such as glutathione, to mitigate oxidative stress induced by viral invasion. By Stage 2 (72 h.p.i.), pathways related to amino acid metabolism and protein synthesis become active, indicating an increase in protein synthesis. In Stage 3 (96 h.p.i.), energy metabolism and substance transport pathways are significantly upregulated to support the rapid viral replication and the enhanced locomotor behaviour of silkworm. Finally, at Stage 4 (120 h.p.i.), there is a further enhancement of pathways related to energy metabolism, nucleic acid synthesis, and substance transport, which align with peak viral assembly and release. These findings contribute to an in-depth understanding of the biochemical basis of silkworm resistance to NPV.

The Impact of Metal Ions on MXene Membranes: Critical Role of Titanium Vacancies.

Two-dimensional transition metal carbides and nitrides (MXenes) and MXene-based membranes hold promise for applications including water purification and seawater desalination; however, their environmental behavior and fate in these matrices remain unknown. In this study, we systematically assessed the reaction efficiencies of Ti3C2Tx at varying important environmental conditions. Our experiments revealed that copper and iron ions accelerated the oxidation rate of Ti3C2Tx 55.4 and 33.4 times, respectively. TiO2 and amorphous carbon were identified as the primary solid products. Based on in situ water-phase atomic force microscopy, atomic high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy, and theoretical results, we postulate that metal ions enhance Ti3C2Tx oxidation by spontaneously migrating and anchoring at Ti vacancies, which then become active sites for this reaction. This process increases the adsorption of H2O and oxygen, making the Ti vacancy-rich surface convex area the most vulnerable site to attack. The findings in this study provide useful information for a comprehensive understanding of the interaction between MXene structural defects and metal ions as well as for the design and modification of MXene membranes resistant to metal ion impact.

Metabolomics and quantitative analysis to determine differences in the geographical origins and species of Chinese dragon's blood.

Objective: The aim of this study was to comprehensively analyze the differences in Chinese dragon's blood (CDB), specifically Dracaena cochinchinensis and Dracaena cambodiana, from different geographical origins. Methods: Metabolomic analysis of CDB was performed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). A reliable ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography method with a photodiode array detector (UHPLC-PDA) was developed and applied for the quantitative analysis of 12 phenolic compounds in 51 batches of samples. Results: A total of 1394 metabolites were detected, of which 467 were identified as differentially accumulated metabolites. Multivariate analysis revealed that both origin and species had an effect on the composition of CDB, with greater variation between species. 19 phenolic compounds were selected as quality markers to distinguish D. cochinchinensis (Hdsp) from D. cambodiana (Hdca), and oppositin and spinoflavanone a were identified as quality markers to discriminate D. cochinchinensis samples from Hainan (Hdsp) and Guangxi Provinces (Gdc). Quantitative analysis indicated that four phenolic compounds, including loureirin D, 4H-1-benzopyran-4-one,2,3-dihydro-3,5,7-trihydroxy-3-[(4-methoxyphenyl)methyl]-,(R)-, loureirin B, and pterostilbene, showed significant differences between Gdc and Hdsp. Additionally, five phenolic compounds, namely resveratrol, loureirin D, pinostilbene, 4H-1-benzopyran-4-one,2,3-dihydro-3,5,7-trihydroxy-3-[(4-methoxyphenyl)methyl]-, (R)-, and loureirin B, exhibited significant differences between Hdsp and Hdca. Conclusion: There are significant differences in the quality of CDB from different geographical origins and species, which lays the foundation for the in-depth development and utilization of different sources of CDB.

When microplastics/plastics meet metal-organic frameworks: turning threats into opportunities.

Significant efforts have been devoted to removal and recycling of microplastics (MPs; <5 mm) to address the environmental crises caused by their ubiquitous presence and improper treatment. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) demonstrate compatibility with MPs/plastics through adsorption, degradation, or assembly with the MPs/plastic polymers. Above 90% of MPs/plastic particles can be adsorbed on MOF materials via the hydrophobic interaction, electrical attraction, π-π stacking, and van der Waals forces. Meanwhile, certain MOFs have successfully converted various types of plastics into high-valued small molecules through thermocatalysis and photocatalysis. In thermocatalysis, the primary process should be C-O bond cleavage, whereas in photocatalysis it ought to be the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Moreover, the construction of novel MOFs using waste MPs/plastics as the ligands was mostly accomplished through three dominant ways, including glycolysis, hydrolysis and methanolysis. Once successfully composited, the MOF@plastic materials illustrated tremendous promise for interdisciplinary research in multifunctional applications, including sewage treatment, gas adsorption/separation, and the preparation of microbial fuel cells, plastic scintillators and other sensors. The review explicated the relationships between MPs/plastics and MOF materials, as well as the challenges and perspectives for their development. It can provide a deeper understanding of how MOFs remove/degrade MP/plastic particles, how MPs/plastics are recycled to prepare MOFs, and how to build multifunctional MOF@plastic composites. Overall, this analysis is anticipated to outline future prospects for turning the threats (MPs/plastics contamination) into opportunities (e.g., as ligands to prepare MOF or MOF@plastic materials for further applications).

Effect of Phosphoric Acid and Soluble Phosphate on the Properties of Magnesium Oxychloride Cement.

This study investigates the effects of phosphoric acid (H3PO4), potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KH2PO4) and sodium dihydrogen phosphate (NaH2PO4) admixtures on the setting time, compressive strength and water resistance of magnesium oxychloride cement (MOC). MOC samples incorporating different admixtures are prepared, and their hydration products and microstructures are studied via X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results indicate that the addition of H3PO4, KH2PO4 and NaH2PO4 reduces the initial and final setting times and decreases the compressive strength. However, the compressive strength of MOC is higher than 30.00 MPa with the addition of 2.0 wt.% phosphoric acid and its phosphate after 14 days of air curing. The water resistance of modified MOC slurries is significantly improved. The softening coefficient of MOC with 2.0 wt.% H3PO4 is 1.2 after 14 days of water immersion, which is 3.44 times higher than that of the neat MOC. The enhancement in water resistance is attributed to the formation of amorphous gel facilitated by H3PO4, KH2PO4 and NaH2PO4. Furthermore, the improvement in water resistance is manifested as H3PO4 > KH2PO4 > NaH2PO4.

Transcriptome analysis of tilapia streptococcus agalactiae in response to baicalin.

Streptococcus agalactiae (S. agalactiae) is a highly pathogenic bacterial pathogen in aquatic animals. Our previous study has demonstrated the significant inhibitory effect of baicalin on ß-hemolytic/cytolytic activity, which is a key virulence factor of S. agalactiae. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the mechanism underlying baicalin's inhibition of S. agalactiae ß-hemolytic/cytolytic activity by transcriptomic analysis. Bacteria were exposed to 39.06 µg/mL baicalin for 6 h, and their ß-hemolytic/cytolytic activities were assessed using blood plates. Then, the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified and characterized by RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq), and further confirmed using the qRT-PCR. A total of 10 DEGs with 7 significantly up-regulated and 3 significantly down-regulated, were found to be affected significantly under baicalin treatment. These DEGs were associated with 5 biological processes, 5 cellular components, and 3 molecular functions. They were primarily enriched in 3 pathways: lacD and lacC in galactose metabolism, lrgA and lrgB in the two-component system, and ribH/rib4 in riboflavin metabolism. These suggested that baicalin might inhibit the conversion of pyruvate to acetyl-CoA and malonyl-CoA, which are crucial precursors for ß-hemolysin/cytolysin synthesis, and result in the accumulation of pyruvate, suppress the expressions of pyruvate cell membrane channel protein genes lrgA and lrgB. Baicalin could compensatory up-regulate the expressions of tryptophan/tyrosine ABC transporter family genes, ABC.X4.A, ABC.X4.P, and ABC.X4.S by inhibiting the expression of cyl A/B in cyl operons. Moreover, it hinders the conversion of D-glucose 1-phosphate to the dTDP-L-rhamnose pathway and leads to a deficiency of L-rhamnose, an important precursor for ß-hemolysin/cytolysin synthesis.

Fish oil supplementation, genetic susceptibility and risk of new-onset hypertension.

OBJECTIVES: The risk of new-onset hypertension is influenced by habitual fish oil supplementation, but whether the association is modified by genetic predisposition is unknown. METHODS: A total of 213,604 participants without hypertension were identified at baseline from the UK Biobank between 2006 and 2010. The weighted polygenetic risk score (PRS) comprising 118 identified single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) was used to quantify genetic susceptibility. Cox regression models were applied to determine the association between fish oil supplementation, PRS, and hypertension and evaluate the effect modification of genetic susceptibility. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 13.8 years, 18,498 new-onset hypertension cases were identified. Approximately 30.6 % (65,452) of participants were habitual fish oil users. The hazard ratio (HR) of habitual fish oil users for hypertension was 0.94 (95 % confidence interval [CI], 0.91-0.98). Fish oil nonusers with a high genetic risk had an increased risk of hypertension (HR, 1.52; 95 % CI, 1.41-1.64) compared to fish oil users with a low genetic risk. In addition, an interaction on the additive scale between the fish oil use and intermediate or high levels of genetic susceptibility was observed. The interactive effects accounted for approximately 7 % and 22 % of the risk of developing hypertension, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This cohort study indicates regular fish oil supplementation could be beneficial in preventing hypertension, particularly among individuals with intermediate or high genetic susceptibility on an additive scale.

PCSK9 inhibitor attenuates cardiac fibrosis in reperfusion injury rat by suppressing inflammatory response and TGF-ß1/Smad3 pathway.

Progressive cardiac fibrosis, a hallmark of heart failure, remains poorly understood regarding Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) 's role. This study aims to elucidate PCSK9's involvement in cardiac fibrosis. After ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury surgery in rats, PCSK9 inhibitors were used to examine their effects on the transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1)/small mother against decapentaplegic 3 (Smad3) pathway and inflammation. Elevated PCSK9, TGF-ß1, and Smad3 levels were observed in cardiac tissues post-I/R injury, indicating fibrosis. PCSK9 inhibition reduced pro-fibrotic protein expression, protecting the heart and mitigating I/R-induced damage and fibrosis. Additionally, it ameliorated cardiac inflammation and reduced post-myocardial infarction (MI) size, improving cardiac function and slowing heart failure progression. PCSK9 inhibitors significantly attenuate myocardial fibrosis induced by I/R via the TGF-ß1/Smad3 pathway.

Association of weight change with all-cause and cause-specific mortality: an age-stratified analysis.

BACKGROUND: The associations of weight change with all-cause and cause-specific mortality stratified by age remains unclear. We evaluated the age-stratified (< 65 vs ≥ 65 years) associations of weight change with all-cause and cause-specific mortality in a large sample of Chinese adults. METHODS: Our cohort study included 746,991 adults aged at least 45 years from the Shenzhen Healthcare Big Data Cohort in China. BMI change were categorized as change within 5% (stable), decrease by 5% to 10%, decrease by > 10%, increase by 5% to 10%, and increase by > 10%. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for all-cause, non-communicable disease, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and cancer mortality according to BMI change, with adjustment for potential confounders. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 2.2 years (2,330,180 person-years), there were 10,197 deaths. A notable interaction emerged between weight change and age. For participants ≥ 65 years, compared with stable BMI, more than a 10% decrease in BMI was associated with higher risk of all-cause mortality (HR: 1.69, 95% CI: 1.54-1.86), non-communicable disease mortality (HR: 1.67, 95% CI: 1.52-1.84), CVD mortality (HR: 1.55, 95% CI: 1.34-1.80), and cancer mortality (HR: 1.59, 95% CI: 1.33-1.92). Similar patterns of results for 5% to 10% decrease in BMI were observed. More than a 10% increase in BMI was associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality (HR: 1.13, 95% CI: 1.04-1.24), non-communicable disease mortality (HR: 1.14, 95% CI: 1.04-1.25), and CVD mortality (HR: 1.27, 95% CI: 1.12-1.44). For participants < 65 years, only more than a 10% decrease in BMI was associated with higher risk of all-cause mortality (HR: 1.41, 95% CI: 1.12-1.77), non-communicable disease mortality (HR: 1.43, 95% CI: 1.13-1.81), and cancer mortality (HR: 1.79, 95% CI: 1.29-2.47). CONCLUSIONS: Weight loss and excessive weight gain were associated with increased risks of mortality among older adults, while only excessive weight loss was associated with increased risks of mortality among middle-aged adults.

Synergistic bioremediation of petroleum-contaminated soil using immobilized consortium of Rhodococcus rhodochrous and Bacillus subtilis laccase.

Petroleum-contaminated soil represents a significant environmental and public health challenge on a global scale. Microbial bioremediation has shown potential, yet the role of enzymes in enhancing petroleum degradation remains underexplored. In this study, the synergistic effects of Rhodococcus rhodochrous (R.rh) and Bacillus subtilis-derived laccase (BsLac) was investigated in the remediation of petroleum-contaminated soil. Immobilized R.rh (PSIMRH) and BsLac (ADIMLac) exhibited higher petroleum degradation rates than their free state, achieving 78.3% and 56.3% degradation in liquid systems, respectively. The combined treatment of PSIMRH and ADIMLac demonstrated a synergistic effect on petroleum degradation, achieving 43.6% with a maximum degradation constant of 0.0335 d-1, representing a 202.7% improvement over untreated soil. PSIMRH enhanced petroleum degradation through microbial metabolism, while ADIMLac accelerated the initial breakdown of complex hydrocarbons into simpler, more bioavailable ones via enzymatic oxidation, providing growth substrates for microbes and significantly improving petroleum degradation rates. The microbial analysis revealed an increase abundance of known petroleum-degrading bacterial genera, including Rhodococcus, Lysobacter, Micromonospora, and Streptomyces. However, the presence of BsLac appeared to reduce the competitive advantage of Rhodococcus, promoting the proliferation of indigenous strains like Lysobacter and Streptomyces. These results suggest that enzyme-microbe synergy can enhance the bioremediation process by altering microbial community dynamics and accelerating petroleum degradation. This study attempts to remediate petroleum-contaminated pollution with the combined use of strains and enzymes, providing a new approach for the remediation of other pollution problems.

Enhanced degradation of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) microplastics by an engineered Stenotrophomonas pavanii in the presence of biofilm.

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) microplastics pose significant environmental and human health risks due to their resistance to degradation and accumulation in ecosystems. In this study, we engineered Stenotrophomonas pavanii JWG-G1, a robust biofilm-forming bacterium, to overexpress the PET hydrolase (DuraPETase) for PET microplastics degradation at ambient temperature. Nine endogenous PET hydrolases were identified through genome sequencing of S. pavanii, and were successfully expressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3). Among them, hydrolase Est_B achieved 100 % degradation of bis(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate (BHET) at an initial concentration of 0.23 mg/mL at 30 °C within 4 h, identifying it as a novel BHETase. However, the PET degradation performance of all endogenous PET hydrolases was inferior to that of DuraPETase. The engineered strain overexpressing DuraPETase demonstrated a significant enhancement in PET degradation, achieving a 38.04 µM total product release of high-crystallinity PET microplastics after 30 days at 30 °C. The degradation extent was greater than that of low biofilm-forming engineered strains, attributing to the aggregation of DuraPETase on the PET surface in the presence of biofilm. Additionally, this engineered strain also maintained PET degradation activity across various water environments and demonstrated effectiveness in degrading other polyester plastics. This is the first report demonstrating that an engineered strain of Stenotrophomonas species is capable of simultaneously secreting exogenous hydrolase and degrading polyester microplastics, representing a novel approach in the development of engineered bacteria with potential applications in bioreactor systems and environmental remediation.

Short-term ozone exposure on stroke mortality and mitigation by greenness in rural and urban areas of Shandong Province, China.

BACKGROUND: Short-term exposure to ozone (O3) has been associated with higher stroke mortality, but it is unclear whether this association differs between urban and rural areas. The study aimed to compare the association between short-term exposure to O3 and ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke mortality across rural and urban areas and further investigate the potential impacts of modifiers, such as greenness, on this association. METHODS: A multi-county time-series analysis was carried out in 19 counties of Shandong Province from 2013 to 2019. First, we employed generalized additive models (GAMs) to assess the effects of O3 on stroke mortality in each county. We performed random-effects meta-analyses to pool estimates to counties and compare differences in rural and urban areas. Furthermore, a meta-regression model was utilized to assess the moderating effects of county-level features. RESULTS: Short-term O3 exposure was found to be associated with increased mortality for both stroke subtypes. For each 10-µg/m3 (lag0-3) rise in O3, ischaemic stroke mortality rose by 1.472% in rural areas and 1.279% in urban areas. For each 0.1-unit increase in the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) per county, the ischaemic stroke mortality caused by a 10-µg/m3 rise in O3 decreased by 0.60% overall and 1.50% in urban areas. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings add to the evidence that short-term O3 exposure increases ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke mortality and has adverse effects in urban and rural areas. However, improving greenness levels may contribute to mitigating the detrimental effects of O3 on ischaemic stroke mortality.

Facilitating Ion Storage and Transport Pathways by In Situ Constructing 1D Carbon Nanotube Electric Bridges between 2D MXene Interlayers.

Multiple van der Waals (vdW) gaps invoke abundant opportunities for contriving artificial architectures and tailoring desired properties via the intercalation route beyond the reach of conventional concepts. Intriguingly, the electrochemical intercalation strategy can precisely and reversibly tune the intercalation stage of charged functional species. This study presents a valid structural editing protocol facilitated by electrochemical intercalation to engineer MXene interlayers, ultimately incorporating in situ constructed carbon nanotube (CNT) electric bridges for enhanced ion storage and transport pathways. The method allows for the precise modulation of electrochemical forces to tailor materials for specific applications. Deep intercalation and in situ growth processes establish robust anchoring sites and connectivity hubs between MXenes and CNTs, ensuring structural homogeneity and stability in advanced electrode materials. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of electrochemistry-mediated interlayer nanoengineering in MXenes, offering a versatile approach to design vdW heterostructures with tailored functionalities for energy storage and conversion applications. This work highlights the potential of electrochemical modulation in advancing materials engineering strategies for next-generation energy storage technologies.

Enhanced Peroxidase-like Activity of Ruthenium-Modified Single-Atom-Thick A Layers in MAX Phases for Biomedical Applications.

Nanozymes have demonstrated significant potential as promising alternatives to natural enzymes in biomedical applications. However, their lower catalytic activity compared to that of natural enzymes has limited their practical utility. Addressing this challenge necessitates the development of innovative enzymatic systems capable of achieving specific activity levels of natural enzymes. In this study, we focus on enhancing the catalytic performance of nanozymes by introducing Ru atoms into the single-atom-thick A layer of the V2SnC MAX phase, resulting in the formation of V2(Sn0.8Ru0.2)C with Ru single-atom sites. The V2(Sn0.8Ru0.2)C MAX phase demonstrated an exceptional peroxidase-like specific activity of up to 1792.6 U mg-1, surpassing the specific activity of a previously reported horseradish peroxidase (HRP). Through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and density functional theory (DFT) investigations, it has been revealed that both the V2C atom layers and single-atom-thick Sn readily accept a negative charge from Ru, leading to a reduction of the energy barrier for H2O2 adsorption. This discovery has enabled the successful application of V2(Sn0.8Ru0.2)C in the development of a lateral flow immunoassay for heart failure biomarkers, achieving a detection sensitivity of 4 pg mL-1. Additionally, V2(Sn0.8Ru0.2)C demonstrated exceptional broad-spectrum antibacterial efficacy. This study lays the groundwork for the precise design of MAX phase-based nanozymes with high specific activity, offering a viable alternative to natural enzymes for various applications.

Rapid Hemostasis Tumor In Situ Hydrogel Vaccines for Colorectal Cancer Chemo-Immunotherapy.

Due to the high heterogeneity and the immunosuppressive microenvironment of tumors, most single antigen tumor vaccines often fail to elicit potent antitumor immune responses in clinical trials, resulting in unsatisfactory therapy effects. Hence, personalized tumor vaccines have become a promising modality for cancer immunotherapy. Here, we have developed a tumor in situ hydrogel vaccine (AH/DA-OR) capable of rapid hemostasis for personalized tumor immunotherapy, composed of dopamine-grafted hyaluronic acid (HA/DA) combined with sodium alginate (ALG), with coloaded oxaliplatin (OXA) and resiquimod (R848). The ALG and HA framework imparts excellent biocompatibility to the hydrogel, and dopamine (DA) modification endows it with rapid hemostatic functionality. Following local peritumor injection of AH/DA-OR into the tumor, the in situ hydrogel vaccine achieved the sustained release of the chemotherapeutic agent, OXA, inducing immunogenic cell death in tumor cells and effectively releasing personalized tumor-associated antigens to activate immune responses. Simultaneously, local R848 adjuvant sustained release at the tumor site enhanced immune responses, minimized drug side effects, and amplified immunotherapy effects. Finally, the hydrogel vaccine effectively activated host immune responses to suppress CT26 colorectal cancer growth in vivo, also exhibiting superior inhibition of untreated tumor growth at distant sites. This strategy of rapid hemostasis of tumor in situ hydrogel vaccine holds significant clinical potential and provides a paradigm for achieving secure and robust immunotherapy.

Inductor-capacitor passive wireless sensors using nonlinear parity-time symmetric configurations.

An inductor-capacitor passive wireless sensor is essential to physical, chemical, and biological sensing for scenarios where physical access is difficult. Exceptional points of parity-time symmetric inductor-capacitor systems featuring the linear loss and gain have been utilized for enhancing sensing. However, the exceptional point sensing scheme might bring about fundamental resolution limits and noise enhancement. Here we show, employing a nonlinear saturable gain, the responsivity has a cube-root singularity distinct from a square-root singularity of the linear exceptional point scheme. The saturable gain eliminates the imaginary part of the eigenfrequencies and significantly suppresses the noise. Through an example of inductor-capacitor wireless wearable temperature sensors, we demonstrate the high figure of merit for the nonlinear PT-symmetric configuration. Our results resolve a debate on the effectiveness of the exceptional point sensing scheme for inductor-capacitor sensors and provide a way of enhancing precision for these types of sensors.

Exploring Factors Influencing Cervical Cancer Screening Participation among Singaporean Women: A Social Ecological Approach.

Background/Objectives: Cervical cancer screening uptake in Singapore remains suboptimal. This study employed the Social Ecological Model (SEM) to investigate factors influencing cervical cancer screening participation among Singaporean women. Methods: The study included 665 women, aged 25-69 years, who reported awareness of cancer screening and no personal cancer history. Data were collected through a previously described online survey. Hierarchical logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify significant factors influencing screening participation. Results: Only 30% of participants reported cervical cancer screening participation. Women aged 25-29 years (OR = 0.33; 95% CI = 0.12-0.77), Malay women (OR = 0.42; 95% CI = 0.20-0.83), and unmarried women (OR = 0.30; 95% CI = 0.18-0.48) were less likely to be screened. Positive associations with screening participation were observed with good cervical cancer screening knowledge (OR = 2.90; 95% CI = 1.96-4.32), awareness of primary care providers' role in delivering screening services (OR = 1.94; 95% CI = 1.24-3.10), cancer information seeking behavior (OR = 1.59; 95% CI = 1.07-2.39), and acceptance of self-sampling options (OR = 1.81; 95% CI = 1.22-2.70). Conclusions: Our study highlights the cumulative impact of factors at various SEM levels on screening participation and underscores the necessity for more targeted and multi-pronged strategies to improve cervical cancer screening uptake in Singapore.

[Correlations of salivary ion concentration, Streptococcus and Bifidobacterium in children with caries].

PURPOSE: To analyze the correlation between the changes in salivary ion concentration, Streptococcus and Bifidobacterium in children with dental caries and the severity of the disease. METHODS: Eighty children with dental caries treated from May 2022 to April 2023 were selected as the experimental group. According to the DMFT, they were divided into mild group (DMFT≤15%, n=35) and severe group (DMFT>15%, n=45). Another 80 children without dental caries were selected as the control group. The calcium ion concentration in saliva was detected by methanol-permeabilized calciometric method, the level of Streptococcus and Bifidobacterium was detected by real-time single-quantity PCR technology, and the correlation between DMFT and salivary calcium ion concentration, Streptococcus and Bifidobacterium was analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis. The diagnostic value of salivary calcium ion concentration, Streptococcus and Bifidobacterium for the severity of dental caries in children was evaluated by the receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC), and the area under the curve(AUC) was calculated. SPSS 22.0 software package was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The level of salivary calcium ion concentration, Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sobrinus and Bifidobacterium in the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the control group(P＜0.05), and significantly higher in the severe group than in the mild group(P＜0.05). DMFT was significantly positively correlated with salivary calcium ion concentration, Streptococcus and Bifidobacterium (P＜0.05). Based on DMFT, ROC curve was prepared, and AUCs of salivary calcium ion concentration, Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sobrinus and Bifidobacterium for assessing the severity of dental caries in children were 0.760, 0.658, 0.718 and 0.705, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Increased salivary ion concentration, Streptococcus sobrinus, Streptococcus mutans and Bifidobacterium levels are related to dental caries in children, and are positively correlated with the severity of the disease, which has a certain value for assessing the severity of the disease.