Protective prototype-Beta and Delta-Omicron chimeric RBD-dimer vaccines against SARS-CoV-2.

Breakthrough infections by SARS-CoV-2 variants become the global challenge for pandemic control. Previously, we developed the protein subunit vaccine ZF2001 based on the dimeric receptor-binding domain (RBD) of prototype SARS-CoV-2. Here, we developed a chimeric RBD-dimer vaccine approach to adapt SARS-CoV-2 variants. A prototype-Beta chimeric RBD-dimer was first designed to adapt the resistant Beta variant. Compared with its homotypic forms, the chimeric vaccine elicited broader sera neutralization of variants and conferred better protection in mice. The protection of the chimeric vaccine was further verified in macaques. This approach was generalized to develop Delta-Omicron chimeric RBD-dimer to adapt the currently prevalent variants. Again, the chimeric vaccine elicited broader sera neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 variants and conferred better protection against challenge by either Delta or Omicron SARS-CoV-2 in mice. The chimeric approach is applicable for rapid updating of immunogens, and our data supported the use of variant-adapted multivalent vaccine against circulating and emerging variants.

Circular RNA vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 and emerging variants.

As the emerging variants of SARS-CoV-2 continue to drive the worldwide pandemic, there is a constant demand for vaccines that offer more effective and broad-spectrum protection. Here, we report a circular RNA (circRNA) vaccine that elicited potent neutralizing antibodies and T cell responses by expressing the trimeric RBD of the spike protein, providing robust protection against SARS-CoV-2 in both mice and rhesus macaques. Notably, the circRNA vaccine enabled higher and more durable antigen production than the 1mΨ-modified mRNA vaccine and elicited a higher proportion of neutralizing antibodies and distinct Th1-skewed immune responses. Importantly, we found that the circRNARBD-Omicron vaccine induced effective neutralizing antibodies against the Omicron but not the Delta variant. In contrast, the circRNARBD-Delta vaccine protected against both Delta and Omicron or functioned as a booster after two doses of either native- or Delta-specific vaccination, making it a favorable choice against the current variants of concern (VOCs) of SARS-CoV-2.

Mesophilic Argonaute-Mediated Polydisperse Droplet Biosensor for Amplification-Free, One-Pot, and Multiplexed Nucleic Acid Detection Using Deep Learning.

Detection of nucleic acids from a single multiplexed and amplification-free test is critical for ensuring food safety, clinical diagnostics, and environmental monitoring. In this study, we introduced a mesophilic Argonaute protein from Clostridium butyricum (CbAgo), which exhibits nucleic acid endonuclease activity, to achieve a programmable, amplification-free system (PASS) for rapid nucleic acid quantification at ambient temperatures in one pot. By using CbAgo-mediated binding with specific guide DNA (gDNA) and subsequent targeted cleavage of wild-type target DNAs complementary to gDNA, PASS can detect multiple foodborne pathogen DNA (<102 CFU/mL) simultaneously. The fluorescence signals were then transferred to polydisperse emulsions and analyzed by using deep learning. This simplifies the process and increases the suitability of polydisperse emulsions compared to traditional digital PCR, which requires homogeneous droplets for accurate detection. We believe that PASS has the potential to become a next-generation point-of-care digital nucleic acid detection method.

Solution-Processable Large-Area Black Phosphorus/Reduced Graphene Oxide Schottky Junction for High-Temperature Broadband Photodetectors.

2D materials-based broadband photodetectors have extensive applications in security monitoring and remote sensing fields, especially in supersonic aircraft that require reliable performance under extreme high-temperature conditions. However, the integration of large-area heterostructures with 2D materials often involves high-temperature deposition methods, and also limited options and size of substrates. Herein, a liquid-phase spin-coating method is presented based on the interface engineering to prepare larger-area Van der Waals heterojunctions of black phosphorus (BP)/reduced graphene oxide (RGO) films at room temperature on arbitrary substrates of any required size. Importantly, this method avoids the common requirement of high-temperature, and prevents the curling or stacking in 2D materials during the liquid-phase film formation. The BP/RGO films-based devices exhibit a wide spectral photo-response, ranging from the visible of 532 nm to infrared range of 2200 nm. Additionally, due to Van der Waals interface of Schottky junction, the array devices provide infrared detection at temperatures up to 400 K, with an outstanding photoresponsivity (R) of 12 A W-1 and a specific detectivity (D*) of ≈2.4 × 109 Jones. This work offers an efficient approach to fabricate large-area 2D Schottky junction films by solution-coating for high-temperature infrared photodetectors.

Metal-Organic Framework Based Mucoadhesive Nanodrugs for Multifunction Helicobacter Pylori Targeted Eradication, Inflammation Regulation and Gut Flora Protection.

The prevalence of drug-resistant bacteria presents a significant challenge to the antibiotic treatment of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), while traditional antimicrobial agents often suffer from shortcomings such as poor gastric retention, inadequate alleviation of inflammation, and significant adverse effects on the gut microbiota. Here, a selenized chitosan (CS-Se) modified bismuth-based metal-organic framework (Bi-MOF@CS-Se) nanodrug is reported that can target mucin through the charge interaction of the outer CS-Se layer to achieve mucosal adhesion and gastric retention. Additionally, the Bi-MOF@CS-Se can respond to gastric acid and pepsin degradation, and the exposed Bi-MOF exhibits excellent antibacterial properties against standard H. pylori as well as clinical antibiotic-resistant strains. Remarkably, the Bi-MOF@CS-Se effectively alleviates inflammation and excessive oxidative stress by regulating the expression of inflammatory factors and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), thereby exerting therapeutic effects against H. pylori infection. Importantly, this Bi-MOF@CS-Se nanodrug does not affect the homeostasis of gut microbiota, providing a promising strategy for efficient and safe treatment of H. pylori infection.

Climate and Environmental Variables Drive Stream Biofilm Bacterial and Fungal Diversity on Tropical Mountainsides.

High mountain freshwater systems are particularly sensitive to the impacts of global warming and relevant environmental changes. Microorganisms contribute substantially to biogeochemical processes, yet their distribution patterns and driving mechanism in alpine streams remain understudied. Here, we examined the bacterial and fungal community compositions in stream biofilm along the elevational gradient of 745-1874 m on Mt. Kilimanjaro and explored their alpha and beta diversity patterns and the underlying environmental drivers. We found that the species richness and evenness monotonically increased towards higher elevations for bacteria, while were non-significant for fungi. However, both bacterial and fungal communities showed consistent elevational distance-decay relationships, i.e., the dissimilarity of assemblage composition increased with greater elevational differences. Bacterial alpha diversity patterns were mainly affected by chemical variables such as total nitrogen and phosphorus, while fungi were affected by physical variables such as riparian shading and stream width. Notably, climatic variables such as mean annual temperature strongly affected the elevational succession of bacterial and fungal community compositions. Our study is the first exploration of microbial biodiversity and their underlying driving mechanisms for stream ecosystems in tropical alpine regions. Our findings provide insights on the response patterns of tropical aquatic microbial community composition and diversity under climate change.

Association of subclinical hypothyroidism with metabolic syndrome and its components among outpatients with first-episode drug-naïve major depressive disorder: a large-scale cross-sectional study.

Both metabolic syndrome (MetS) and subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) are prevalent in major depressive disorder (MDD) patients. However, their relationship in this population remains unknown. The study assessed the association between SCH and MetS in 1706 first-episode drug-naïve (FEDN) MDD patients. We also compared the relationship between MetS and clinical symptoms in patients with and without comorbid SCH. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale positive subscale, the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale were used to detect clinical symptoms. Serum levels of free triiodothyronine, free thyroxine, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), anti-thyroglobulin, thyroid peroxidases antibody, cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and fasting glucose were measured. The Area Under the Curve (AUC) was used to test the performance of serum TSH in identifying MetS patients. The prevalence of MetS and SCH was 34.5% (n = 585) and 61% (n = 1034), respectively. The presence of SCH increased the risk of MetS, hyperglycemia, hypertension, obesity, and low HDL-C by 4.91, 3.51, 3.54, 2.02, and 2.34 times, respectively. Serum TSH had a nice ability to distinguish MetS patients from non-MetS patients (AUC value = 0.77). MetS and its components exhibited a positive association with clinical profiles only in SCH patients, but not in non-SCH patients. Taken together, our study suggested SCH was closely related to MetS and might play a vital role in the relationship between MetS and clinical symptoms. Regular thyroid function checks might help early detect MetS.

Employing Bayesian analysis to establish a cut-off point and assess stigma prevalence in substance use disorder: a comprehensive study of the Chinese version of the Substance Use Stigma Mechanism Scale.

PURPOSE: In China, individuals with substance use disorders (SUD) face severe stigma, but reliable stigma assessment tool is lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to validate the Chinese version of the Substance Use Stigma Mechanism Scale (SU-SMS-C) and set its cut-off point. METHODS: We recruited 1005 individuals with SUDs from Chinese rehabilitation centers. These participants completed a battery of questionnaires that included the SU-SMS-C, The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), and Perceived Devaluation and Discrimination (PDD). Confirmatory factor analysis was used to assess the construct validity of the scale. Additionally, the Naive Bayes classifier was used to establish the cut-off point for the SU-SMS-C. We additionally explored the correlation between patient demographic characteristics and stigma. RESULTS: A confirmatory factor analysis was utilized, revealing a second-order five-factor model. Based on the Naive Bayes classifier, the area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUCROC) of 0.746, the cut-off point for the SU-SMS-C was established at 44.5. The prevalence of stigma observed in the study population was 49.05%. Significant disparities were observed in the distribution of stigma across genders, with males experiencing more pronounced stigma than females. Moreover, patients consuming different primary substances reported diverse levels of stigma. Notably, those primarily using heroin endured a higher degree of stigma than users of other substances. CONCLUSION: The study is the first to identify a cut-off point for the SU-SMS-C by Naive Bayes classifier, bridging a major gap in stigma measurement research. SU-SMS-C may help treat and manage SUDs by reducing stigma.

Molecular and Functional Characterization of Three General Odorant-Binding Protein 2 Genes in Cydia pomonella (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae).

General odorant-binding proteins (GOBPs) play a crucial role in the detection of host plant volatiles and pheromones by lepidopterans. Previous studies identified two duplications in the GOBP2 gene in Cydia pomonella. In this study, we employed qRT-PCR, protein purification, and fluorescence competitive binding assays to investigate the functions of three GOBP2 genes in C. pomonella. Our findings reveal that CpomGOBP2a and CpomGOBP2b are specifically highly expressed in antennae, while CpomGOBP2c exhibits high specific expression in wings, suggesting a potential divergence in their functions. Recombinant proteins of CpomGOBP2a, CpomGOBP2b, and CpomGOBP2c were successfully expressed and purified, enabling an in-depth exploration of their functions. Competitive binding assays with 20 host plant volatiles and the sex pheromone (codlemone) demonstrated that CpomGOBP2a exhibits strong binding to four compounds, namely butyl octanoate, ethyl (2E,4Z)-deca-2,4-dienoate (pear ester), codlemone, and geranylacetone, with corresponding dissolution constants (Ki) of 8.59993 µM, 9.14704 µM, 22.66298 µM, and 22.86923 µM, respectively. CpomGOBP2b showed specific binding to pear ester (Ki = 17.37481 µM), while CpomGOBP2c did not exhibit binding to any tested compounds. In conclusion, our results indicate a functional divergence among CpomGOBP2a, CpomGOBP2b, and CpomGOBP2c. These findings contribute valuable insights for the development of novel prevention and control technologies and enhance our understanding of the evolutionary mechanisms of olfactory genes in C. pomonella.

Recent Advances in Metabolic Engineering for the Biosynthesis of Phosphoenol Pyruvate-Oxaloacetate-Pyruvate-Derived Amino Acids.

The phosphoenol pyruvate-oxaloacetate-pyruvate-derived amino acids (POP-AAs) comprise native intermediates in cellular metabolism, within which the phosphoenol pyruvate-oxaloacetate-pyruvate (POP) node is the switch point among the major metabolic pathways existing in most living organisms. POP-AAs have widespread applications in the nutrition, food, and pharmaceutical industries. These amino acids have been predominantly produced in Escherichia coli and Corynebacterium glutamicum through microbial fermentation. With the rapid increase in market requirements, along with the global food shortage situation, the industrial production capacity of these two bacteria has encountered two bottlenecks: low product conversion efficiency and high cost of raw materials. Aiming to push forward the update and upgrade of engineered strains with higher yield and productivity, this paper presents a comprehensive summarization of the fundamental strategy of metabolic engineering techniques around phosphoenol pyruvate-oxaloacetate-pyruvate node for POP-AA production, including L-tryptophan, L-tyrosine, L-phenylalanine, L-valine, L-lysine, L-threonine, and L-isoleucine. Novel heterologous routes and regulation methods regarding the carbon flux redistribution in the POP node and the formation of amino acids should be taken into consideration to improve POP-AA production to approach maximum theoretical values. Furthermore, an outlook for future strategies of low-cost feedstock and energy utilization for developing amino acid overproducers is proposed.

Self-reporting and Biodegradable Thermosetting Solid Polymer Electrolyte.

To date, significant efforts have been dedicated to improve their ionic conductivity, thermal stability, and mechanical strength of solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs). However, direct monitoring of physical and chemical changes in SPEs is still lacking. Moreover, existing thermosetting SPEs are hardly degradable. Herein, by overcoming the limitation predicted by Flory theory, self-reporting and biodegradable thermosetting hyperbranched poly(ß-amino ester)-based SPEs (HPAE-SPEs) are reported. HPAE is successfully synthesized through a well-controlled "A2+B4" Michael addition strategy and then crosslinked it in situ to produce HPAE-SPEs. The multiple tertiary aliphatic amines at the branching sites confer multicolour luminescence to HPAE-SPEs, enabling direct observation of its physical and chemical damage. After use, HPAE-SPEs can be rapidly hydrolysed into non-hazardous ß-amino acids and polyols via self-catalysis. Optimized HPAE-SPE exhibits an ionic conductivity of 1.3×10-4  S/cm at 60 °C, a Na+ transference number ( t N a + ${{t}_{Na}^{+}}$ ) of 0.67, a highly stable sodium plating-stripping behaviour and a low overpotential of ≈190 mV. This study establishes a new paradigm for developing SPEs by engineering multifunctional polymers. The self-reporting and biodegradable properties would greatly expand the scope of applications for SPEs.

Association between white matter microstructure and cognitive function in patients with methamphetamine use disorder.

Methamphetamine use disorder (MUD) has been associated with broad neurocognitive impairments. While the cognitive impairments of MUD have been demonstrated, the neuropathological underpinnings remain inadequately understood. To date, the published human diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) studies involving the correlation between diffusion parameters and neurocognitive function in MUD are limited. Hence, the present study aimed to examine the association between cognitive performance and white matter microstructure in patients with MUD. Forty-five patients with MUD and 43 healthy controls (HCs) completed their demographic information collection, cognitive assessments, and DTI imaging. DTI images were preprocessed to extract fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), axial diffusivity (AD), and radial diffusivity (RD) of various fiber tracts. Univariate tests were used to examine group differences in cognitive assessments and DTI metrics. Linear regression was used to examine the relationship between these two metrics. The results revealed that patients with MUD had lower subset scores of the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB), which reflects five cognitive domains: processing speed, attention, verbal learning, visual learning, problem-solving. Patients with MUD also had significantly higher AD, MD, and RD values of the left superior longitudinal fasciculus than HCs. Furthermore, the RD value of the left superior longitudinal fasciculus was a significant predictor of processing speed and problem-solving ability, as shown by the digit-symbol coding test and NAB-Mazes scores, respectively. Findings extended our understanding of white matter microstructure that is related to neurocognitive deficits in MUD and provided potential targets for the prevention and treatment of this chronic disorder.

Carbonized Platycladus orientalis Derived Carbon Dots Accelerate Hemostasis through Activation of Platelets and Coagulation Pathways.

Achieving rapid and effective hemostasis remains a multidisciplinary challenge. Here, distinctive functional carbon dots derived from carbonized Platycladus orientalis (CPO-CDs) are developed using one-step hydrothermal method. The negatively charged surface of CPO-CDs retains partial functional groups from CPO precursor, exhibiting excellent water solubility and high biocompatibility. Both rat liver injury model and tail amputation model have confirmed the rapid and effective hemostatic performance of CPO-CDs on exogenous hemorrhage. Further, on endogenous blood-heat hemorrhage syndrome rat model, CPO-CDs could inhibit hemorrhage and alleviate inflammation response. Interestingly, the excellent hemostasis performance of CPO-CDs is ascribed to activate exogenous coagulation pathway and common coagulation pathway. More importantly, metabolomics of rat plasma suggests that the hemostasis effect of CPO-CDs is closely related to platelet functions. Therefore, the designed in vitro experiments are performed and it is discovered that CPO-CDs significantly promote platelets adhesion, activation, and aggregation. Further, the underlying mechanism investigation suggests that Src/Syk signal pathway plays a key role in platelets activation triggered by CPO-CDs. Overall, CPO-CDs with rapid and excellent hemostatic performance are discovered for the first time, which could be an excellent candidate for the treatment of hemorrhagic diseases.

Dynamically Stabilized Electronic Regulation and Electrochemical Reconstruction in Co and S Atomic Pair Doped Fe3 O4 for Water Oxidation.

The electronic regulation and surface reconstruction of earth-abundant electrocatalysts are essential to efficient oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Here, an inverse-spinel Co,S atomic pair codoped Fe3 O4 grown on iron foam (Co,S-Fe3 O4 /IF) is fabricated as a cost-effective electrocatalyst for OER. This strategy of Co and S atomic pair directional codoping features accelerates surface reconstruction and dynamically stabilizes electronic regulation. CoS atomic pairs doped in the Fe3 O4 crystal favor controllable surface reconstruction via sulfur leaching, forming oxygen vacancies and Co doping on the surface of reconstructed FeOOH (Co-FeOOH-Ov /IF). Before and after surface reconstruction via in situ electrochemical process, the Fe sites with octahedral field dynamically maintains an appropriate electronic structure for OER intermediates, thus exhibiting consistently excellent OER performance. The electrochemically tuned Fe-based electrodes exhibit a low overpotential of 349 mV at a current density of 1000 mA cm-2 , a slight Tafel slope of 43.3 mV dec-1 , and exceptional long-term electrolysis stability of 200 h in an alkaline medium. Density functional theory calculations illustrate the electronic regulation of Fe sites, changes in Gibbs free energies, and the breaking of the restrictive scaling relation between OER intermediates. This work provides a promising directional codoping strategy for developing precatalysts for large-scale water-splitting systems.

Large-Area Black Phosphorus/PtSe2 Schottky Junction for High Operating Temperature Broadband Photodetectors.

High operating temperature (HOT) broadband photodetectors are urgently necessary for extreme condition applications in infrared-guided missiles, infrared night vision, fire safety imaging, and space exploration sensing. However, conventional photodetectors show dramatic carrier mobility decreases and carrier losses with low photoresponsivity at HOT due to the increased carrier scattering in channels at high temperatures. Herein, the HOT broadband photodetectors from room temperature to 470 K are developed for the first time by large-area black phosphorus (BP)/PtSe2 films device arrays via a depletion-enhanced photocarrier dynamics strategy. Attributed to the 2D Schottky junction at BP/PtSe2 interface and resulting in full depleted working channels, the BP/PtSe2 photodetector arrays exhibit high tolerance to carrier mobility decrease during the increasing operating temperature in a wide wavelength range from 532 to 2200 nm. Thus, the photodetector shows a state-of-the-art operating temperature at 470 K with the photo-responsivity (R) and specific detectivity (D*) of 25 A W-1 and 6.4 × 1011 Jones under 1850 nm illumination, respectively. Moreover, BP/PtSe2 photodetector arrays show high-uniformity photo-response in a large area. This work provides new strategies for high-performance broadband photodetector arrays with HOT by Schottky junction of large-area BP/PtSe2 films.

SARS-CoV-2 Omicron (B.1.1.529) infection in rhesus macaques, hamsters, and BALB/c mice with severe lung histopathological damage.

Since the first SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in late 2019, the SARS-CoV-2 genome has harbored multiple mutations, especially spike protein mutations. The currently fast-spreading Omicron variant that manifests without symptoms or with upper respiratory diseases has been recognized as a serious global public health problem. However, its pathological mechanism is largely unknown. In this work, rhesus macaques, hamsters, and BALB/C mice were employed as animal models to explore the pathogenesis of Omicron (B.1.1.529). Notably, Omicron (B.1.1.529) infected the nasal turbinates, tracheae, bronchi, and lungs of hamsters and BALB/C mice with higher viral loads than in those of rhesus macaques. Severe histopathological damage and inflammatory responses were observed in the lungs of Omicron (B.1.1.529)-infected animals. In addition, viral replication was found in multiple extrapulmonary organs. Results indicated that hamsters and BALB/c mice are potential animal models for studies on the development of drugs/vaccines and therapies for Omicron (B.1.1.529).

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Shift Soil Bacterial Community Composition and Reduce Soil Ammonia Volatilization and Nitrous Oxide Emissions.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) establish mutualistic relationships with the majority of terrestrial plants, increasing plant uptake of soil nitrogen (N) in exchange for photosynthates. And may influence soil ammonia (NH3) volatilization and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions directly by improving plant N uptake, and/or indirectly by modifying soil bacterial community composition for the soil C availability increasing. However, the effects of AMF on soil NH3 volatilization and N2O emissions and their underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We carried out two independent experiments using contrasting methods, one with a compartmental box device (in 2016) and the other with growth pot experiment (in 2020) to examine functional relationships between AMF and soil NH3 volatilization and N2O emissions under varying N input. The presence of AMF significantly reduced soil NH3 volatilization and N2O emissions while enhancing plant biomass and plant N acquisition, and reducing soil NH4+ and NO3-, even with high N input. The presence of AMF also significantly reduced the relative abundance within the bacterial orders Sphingomonadales and Rhizobiales. Sphingomonadales correlated significantly and positively with soil NH3 volatilization in 2016 and N2O emissions, whereas Rhizobiales correlated positively with soil N2O emissions. High N input significantly increased soil NH3 volatilization and N2O emissions with increasing relative abundance of Sphingomonadales and Rhizobiales. These findings demonstrate the contribution of AMF in regulating NH3 and N2O emission by improving plant N uptake and altering soil bacterial communities. They also suggest that altering the rhizosphere microbiome might offer additional potential for restoration of N-enriched agroecosystems.

Dual-Functional Eu-Metal-Organic Framework with Ratiometric Fluorescent Broad-Spectrum Sensing of Benzophenone-like Ultraviolet Filters and High Proton Conduction.

The construction of attractive dual-functional lanthanide-based metal-organic frameworks (Ln-MOFs) with ratiometric fluorescent detection and proton conductivity is significant and challenging. Herein, a three-dimensional (3D) Eu-MOF, namely, [Eu4(HL)2(SBA)4(H2O)6]·9H2O, has been hydrothermally synthesized with a dual-ligand strategy, using (4-carboxypiperidyl)-N-methylenephosphonic acid (H3L = H2O3PCH2-NC5H9-COOH) and 4-sulfobenzoic acid monopotassium salt (KHSBA = KO3SC6H4COOH) as organic linkers. Eu-MOF showed ratiometric fluorescent broad-spectrum sensing of benzophenone-like ultraviolet filters (BP-like UVFs) with satisfactory sensitivity, selectivity, and low limits of detection in water/ethanol (1:1, v/v) solutions and real urine systems. A portable test paper was prepared for the convenience of actual detection. The potential sensing mechanisms were thoroughly analyzed by diversified experiments. The synergistic effect of the forbidden energy transfer from the ligand to Eu3+, the internal filtration effect (IFE), the formation of a complex, and weak interactions between the KHSBA ligand and BP-like UVFs is responsible for the ratiometric sensing effect. Meanwhile, Eu-MOF displayed relatively high proton conductivity of 2.60 × 10-4 S cm-1 at 368 K and 95% relative humidity (RH), making it a potential material for proton conduction. This work provides valuable guidance for the facile and effective design and construction of multifunctional Ln-MOFs with promising performance.

Suicidal ideation in Chinese patients with chronic schizophrenia: prevalence, clinical correlates, and relationship with alexithymia.

Suicidal ideation (SI) is common among people with schizophrenia. However, it has received less attention than suicide attempts (SA), especially in the Chinese population. Alexithymia is a well-established risk factor for SI across different populations. Nevertheless, very few studies evaluated their relationship in schizophrenia patients. We aimed to determine the prevalence and clinical correlates of SI and its relationship with alexithymia in 812 Chinese chronic schizophrenia inpatients. We assessed SI, clinical symptoms, and alexithymia by the Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation, the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale, respectively. A multiple logistic regression model was conducted to identify independent correlates of SI. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and area under the curve (AUC) were performed to determine the ability of our model to distinguish between patients with and without SI. 10% (n = 84) reported current SI. Lifetime SA (OR, 4.68; 95% CI 2.76-7.94, p < 0.001), PANSS depressive factor (OR, 1.24; 95% CI 1.12-1.38, p < 0.001), PANSS positive subscale (OR, 1.055; 95% CI 1.004-1.108, p = 0.035), and difficulty identifying emotions (OR, 1.07; 95% CI 1.03-1.12, p = 0.002) were associated with SI. The AUC value was 0.80, indicating excellent distinguishing capabilities. Timely assessments of these factors may help identify schizophrenia patients who are at risk for SI.

Positive association between increased homocysteine and deficit syndrome in Chinese patients with chronic schizophrenia: a large-scale cross-sectional study.

Emerging studies indicate that oxidative stress may contribute to deficit syndrome (DS) in patients with schizophrenia. Homocysteine (Hcy) is a well-known marker and mediator of oxidative stress that exhibits tight associations with schizophrenia. However, no previous studies have assessed the relationship of DS with Hcy. This study evaluated the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and association of DS with Hcy in 491 patients with schizophrenia. Plasma levels of Hcy and other metabolic parameters were measured. Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale and the proxy scale for deficit syndrome were employed to assess psychiatric symptoms and DS. The logistic regression model was conducted to assess independent factors associated with DS, and the Area Under the Curve (AUC) was used to assess the performance of our model. There was a high incidence of hyperhomocysteinemia (58.8%) and DS (24.4%). Plasma Hcy levels were significantly higher in patients with DS. Age, Hcy levels, and psychiatric symptoms were independently associated with DS. The combination of these variables perfectly differentiated DS and non-DS patients with an AUC value of 0.89. Our study suggests that elevated Hcy levels may be related to DS. Routine monitoring of Hcy is essential and may facilitate early detection of DS in patients with schizophrenia.