Comparative Study of Preoperative Sagittal Spinal Pelvic Alignment in Patients with Cervical Spondylotic Radiculopathy, Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament, and Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy.

OBJECTIVES: Cervical spondylosis may lead to changes in the sagittal parameters of the neck and trigger compensatory alterations in systemic sagittal parameters. However, there is currently a dearth of comparative research on the changes and compensatory alterations to sagittal parameters resulting from different types of cervical spondylosis. This study compared the preoperative sagittal alignment sequences among patients with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy (CSR), ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL), and cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) caused by factors resulting from non-OPLL factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Full length lateral X-ray of the spine and cervical computed tomography (CT) of 256 patients (134 men, 122 women; mean age, 56.9 ± 9.5 years) were analyzed retrospectively. A total of 4096 radiomics features were measured through the lateral X-ray by two spinal surgeons with extensive experience. The clinical symptoms measures were the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, number of hand actions in 10 s, hand-grip strength, visual analog scale (VAS) score. Normally distributed data was compared using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) for parametric variables and χ2 test were used to analyze the categorical data. RESULTS: In the OPLL group, the C2-C7 Cobb angle was greater than in the CSR and CSM groups (19.8 ± 10.4°, 13.3 ± 10.3°, and 13.9 ± 9.9°, respectively, p < 0.001). Additionally, the C7-S1 SVA measure was found to be situated in the anterior portion with regards to the CSM and CSR groups (19.7 ± 58.4°, -6.3 ± 34.3° and -26.3 ± 32.9°, p < 0.001). Moreover, the number of individuals with C7-S1 SVA >50 mm was significantly larger than the CSM group (26/69, 11/83, p < 0.001). In the CSR group, the TPA demonstrated smaller values compared to the OPLL group (8.8 ± 8.5°, 12.7 ± 10.2°, p < 0.001). Furthermore, the SSA was comparatively smaller as opposed to both the OPLL and CSM groups (49.6 ± 11.2°, 54.2 ± 10.8° and 54.3 ± 9.3°, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Patients with OPLL exhibit greater cervical lordosis than those with CSR and CSM. However, OPLL is more likely to result in spinal imbalance when compared to the CSM group. Furthermore, OPLL and CSM patients exhibit anterior trunk inclination and worse global spine sagittal parameters in comparison to CSR patients.

Impact of SiO2 doping on the structure and oil-water separation properties of a PVDF membrane: insights from molecular dynamics simulation.

Hybrid inorganic particles combined with polymers are widely used to modify the properties of polymer membranes. However, the mechanism by which particles affect membranes remains unclear. This study investigates SiO2-hybridized PVDF membranes through molecular dynamic simulation, focusing on the interaction between SiO2 clusters and PVDF chains. It examines the impact of varying SiO2 concentrations (3.5 wt%, 6.8 wt%, 9.9 wt%, 12.8 wt%, and 15.5 wt%) on membrane stability and structure. The results indicate that adding SiO2 can inhibit PVDF chain mobility in the membrane with minimal effect on fractional free volume (FFV), except for altering interactions between PVDF-PVDF, PVDF-SiO2, and SiO2-SiO2, thereby affecting the structure of hybrid membranes. The adsorption and diffusion behavior of water and oil molecules on these membranes were also studied. It was observed that the adsorption energy and diffusion coefficient initially increase and then decrease with increasing SiO2 concentration, reaching an optimum between 6.8 wt% and 12.8 wt%. This phenomenon is attributed to the ability of optimal SiO2 concentrations to create hydrophilic channels in PVDF membranes, enhancing water affinity and reducing oil affinity. Consequently, water permeation through the hybrid membrane is promoted, improving the efficiency of oil/water separation compared to pure PVDF membranes. This research contributes to understanding the function of adding inorganic particles to polymer membranes and provides insights for designing advanced functional hybrid membranes.

Investigation of Enzyme Immobilization and Clogging Mechanisms in the Enzymatic Synthesis of Amoxicillin.

This study investigated the blocking mechanism of immobilized penicillin G acylase (PGA) during the enzymatic synthesis of amoxicillin. Laboratory observations revealed that the primary cause of clogging was the crystallization of the substrate and product on the enzyme surface. Adjusting key parameters can significantly reduce clogging and improve catalytic efficiency. Methanol can decrease enzyme activity, but isopropyl alcohol cleaners can effectively remove clogs and protect enzyme activity. These findings provide an experimental foundation for optimizing the PGA immobilization process, which is crucial for achieving high efficiency and sustainability in industrial production.

A Miniature Modular Fluorescence Flow Cytometry System.

Fluorescence flow cytometry is a powerful instrument to distinguish cells or particles labelled with high-specificity fluorophores. However, traditional flow cytometry is complex, bulky, and inconvenient for users to adjust fluorescence channels. In this paper, we present a modular fluorescence flow cytometry (M-FCM) system in which fluorescence channels can be flexibly arranged. Modules for particle focusing and fluorescence detection were developed. After hydrodynamical focusing, the cells were measured in the detection modules, which were integrated with in situ illumination and fluorescence detection. The signal-to-noise ratio of the detection reached to 33.2 dB. The crosstalk among the fluorescence channels was eliminated. The M-FCM system was applied to evaluate cell viability in drug screening, agreeing well with the commercial cytometry. The modular cytometry presents several outstanding features: flexibility in setting fluorescence channels, cost efficiency, compact construction, ease of operation, and the potential to upgrade for multifunctional measurements. The modular cytometry provides a multifunctional platform for various biophysical measurements, e.g., electrical impedance and refractive-index detection. The proposed work paves an innovative avenue for the multivariate analysis of cellular characteristics.

Enhanced dielectric constant and breakdown strength of sandwiched polymer nanocomposite film for excellent energy storage.

Enhanced dielectric constant and high breakdown strength offers immense promise for excellent energy storage performance, which is of critical significance in modern electronics and power systems. However, polymer nanocomposites with traditional routes have to balance between dielectric constant and breakdown strength, hence hindering substantive increases in energy density. Herein, a sandwiched polymer nanocomposite film has been constructed to take full advantage of the individual component layers. BaTiO3 nanoparticles are coated with a fluoropolymer to form core-shell structures and then introduced into a polymer as the top and the bottom layers of a sandwich film for enhancing polarization. Moreover, boron nitride nanosheets (BNNSs) in the middle layer of the sandwich film exert positive effects on the inhibition of current leakage for high breakdown resistance. The breakdown strength increases from 480 MV m-1 of the neat polymer to 580 MV m-1 of the sandwiched film. Additionally, the film exhibits a higher dielectric constant in comparison with the neat polymer. The sandwiched film displays a superior energy density (15.75 J cm-3), which is about 1.9 times that of the neat polymer. This work proposes a feasible route to achieve excellent energy storage of polymer dielectrics by synergistically introducing insulating fillers and additional dipoles in a sandwiched polymer nanocomposite film.

Different genotypes and species of symbiotic fungi mediate the behavioral response of invasive Sirex noctilio fabricius (Hymenoptera: Siricidae).

In northeast China, the invasive woodwasp., Sirex noctilio, attacks Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica Litv and often shares habitat with native Sirex nitobei. Previous research showed that S. noctilio can utilize the volatiles from its symbiotic fungus (A. areolatum IGS-BD) to locate host trees. Consequently, symbiotic fungi (A. areolatum IGS-D and A. chailletii) carried by S. nitobei may influence the behavioral selection of S. noctilio. This study aimed to investigate the impact of fungal odor sources on S. noctilio's behavior in laboratory and field experiments. Our observations revealed that female woodwasps exhibited greater attraction toward the fungal volatiles of 14-day-old Amylostereum IGS-D in a "Y"-tube olfactometer and wind tunnel. When woodwasps were released into bolts inoculated separately with three strains in the field, females of S. noctilio exhibited a preference for those bolts pre-inoculated with A. areolatum IGS-BD. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis revealed that the volatiles emitted by the two genotypes of A. areolatum were similar yet significantly distinct from those of Ampelopsis chailletii. Hence, we postulate that the existence of native A. areolatum IGS-D could potentially facilitate the colonization of S. noctilio in scenarios with minimal or no A. areolatum IGS-BD present in the host.

Pentacoordinated pyramidal structures and bonding properties of WN10-/0: anion photoelectron spectroscopy and theoretical calculations.

Anion photoelectron spectroscopy and theoretical calculations were used to investigate the structural and bonding properties of WN10-/0. The electron affinity of WN10 is measured to be 1.582 ± 0.030 eV. The frequency of the NN stretch in WN10 is measured to be 2170 ± 80 cm-1, which is red-shifted with respect to that of the dinitrogen molecule indicating that the NN bonds are weakened in WN10. The theoretical adiabatic detachment energy (ADE) and vertical detachment energy (VDE) of WN10- obtained by calculations at the CCSD(T)/CBS level agree well with experimental results. The structures of WN10-/0 are C4v symmetric pentacoordinated pyramidal structures with five end-on dinitrogen ligands. Our experiments show that the peak of WN10- is dominant in the mass spectrum of anionic WNn, whereas the mass peak of WN12+ is dominant in the mass spectrum of cationic WNn, implying that the stabilities of WNn clusters are strongly related to their charge states.

Association of plasma metals with resting-state functional connectivity in ischemic stroke.

BACKGROUND: Metal exposure has long been considered a significant risk factor for ischemic stroke. However, existing data on the effects of metal exposure on brain function in ischemic stroke are limited. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the correlation between exposure to various metals and changes in resting-state functional connectivity (rs-FC) in ischemic stroke patients. METHODS: This study included 28 acute ischemic stroke patients with hemiplegia and 28 matched healthy controls (HCs). All participants underwent T1-weighted MRI and 3.0 T resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). After MRI acquisition, the rs-FC between 137 cortical and subcortical regions was extracted and preprocessed. Plasma levels of 19 metals were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) model and the weighted quantile sum regression (WQS) model were used to assess the overall effect of metal mixture exposure. The severity of neurological deficits in each acute ischemic stroke patient was evaluated using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). Additionally, the associations between exposure to various metals and modifications in brain functional connectivity were determined using Pearson or Spearman correlation analysis. RESULTS: Bilateral brain connectivity was significantly decreased compared to controls and was associated with neurological impairment in ischemic stroke. In patients with ischemic stroke, the plasma concentrations of Cr (p < 0.001), Cu (p = 0.004), As (p = 0.010), Cs (p = 0.046), Rb (p = 0.041), and Sb (p = 0.001) were significantly higher than those in the HCs, whereas the plasma Tl concentrations (p = 0.022) were significantly lower. The results of the BKMR and WQS models showed that combined exposure to metal mixtures was linked to a higher risk of ischemic stroke. Cr was positively correlated with the rs-FC between the left Rolandic_Oper and the left Supp_Motor_Area (r = 0.414, p = 0.029), while negatively correlated with the rs-FC between the right Parietal_Inf and the left supramarginal (r = -0.398, p = 0.037). Cu was negatively correlated with the rs-FC between the left paracentral lobule and the left thalamus (r = -0.409, p = 0.031). Tl was positively correlated with the rs-FC between the right Parietal_Inf and the left supramarginal cortex (r = 0.590, p = 0.001). A negative correlation was observed between Cs and rs-FC between the right Cingulate_Mid and left Occipital_Sup (r = -0.429, p = 0.024). Sb was negatively correlated with the rs-FC between the left Parietal_Inf and the right SupraMarginal (r = -0.384, p = 0.044), the right Parietal_Inf and the left SupraMarginal (r = -0.583, p = 0.001), and the left SupraMarginal and the right SupraMarginal (r = -0.377, p = 0.048). CONCLUSION: Plasma levels of Cr, Cu, Tl, Cs, and Sb were associated with altered rs-FC in brain regions related to motor control, sensory integration, executive function, language processing, and emotional regulation in ischemic stroke patients with basal ganglia infarction.

Silk fibroin biohydrogel composites for loading and ordered release of multiple active ingredients with enhanced bioactivity.

Bioactive hydrogels are currently receiving significant attention. In this study, silk fibroin tyramine-modified gelatin hydrogels (SF-TG) with varying degrees of tyramine root substitution were explored. The physicochemical property and biocompatibility of low degree of substitution tyramine-modified gelatin hydrogel (SF-LTG) and high degree of substitution tyramine-modified gelatin hydrogel (SF-HTG) were compared. The results showed that SF-LTG possessed better mechanical property and higher biocompatibility. Thus, SF-LTG was selected as a bioactive matrix and loaded with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF); subsequently, curcumin-coupled chitosan rods (CCCRs-EGF) enriched with epidermal growth factor (EGF) were added to obtain SF-LTG-bFGF@CCCRs-EGF hydrogels. The results showed that SF-LTG-bFGF@CCCRs-EGF retained the basic structural and mechanical properties of the SF-LTG matrix gel material and underwent multiple loading and orderly release with different activities while displaying antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and pro-cellular proliferation activities and orderly regulation of activity during wound healing. Therefore, the SF-LTG-bFGF@CCCRs-EGF hydrogel is of great value in healing complex wounds.

In vivo evaluation of T-Scan in quantifying occlusal contact.

BACKGROUND: The T-scan system has been used previously to analyse occlusion, but the quantitative analysis of occlusal contact by T-Scan system has yet to be reported. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the reliability and validity of T-Scan system for quantitatively measuring occlusal contact area and occlusal contact number. METHODS: Twenty-two individuals with normal occlusion, 11 men and 11 women, were recruited for the study. Two occlusal analysis methods, including silicone transmission analysis method (STA) and T-Scan occlusion analysis method (TSO), were used to make quantitative analysis to measure occlusal contact area (OCA) and occlusal contact number (OCN). A test-retest check was performed with an interval of 2 weeks. The values of intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) between test-retest of each method were calculated for reliability evaluation. Pearson correlations analysis, paired t-tests, regression analysis and Bland-Altman analysis were performed for validity evaluation. RESULTS: The ICC values of STA were greater than those of TSO for OCA while for OCN, ICC values of TSO were greater than STA. The higher OCA and OCN values were found in TSO compared with STA. Pearson's correlation coefficient indicated strong relations between TSO and STA (0.730-0.812) for OCA, while good relations between then (0.569-0.583) for OCN. Paired t-test showed a significant difference between the OCA and OCN values between TSO and STA. Bland-Altman analysis showed good agreement between OCA and OCN values of TSO and STA both in men and women. Regression analysis identified a linear correlation between OCA values obtained from these two methods. CONCLUSIONS: T-Scan method showed strong reliability for measuring OCA and OCN quantitatively. Strong correlations were found between OCA values from TSO and STA method, but the validity of TSO for measuring OCN needs to be promoted. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: T-Scan system demonstrates good potential in quantitative analysis of occlusion, which will expand its clinical application.

Entropy-Driven Hydrated Eutectic Electrolytes with Diverse Solvation Configurations for All-Temperature Zn-ion Batteries.

Batteries always encounter uncontrollable failure or performance decay under extreme temperature environments, which is largely limited by the properties of electrolytes. Herein, an entropy-driven hydrated eutectic electrolyte (HEE) with diverse solvation configurations is proposed to expand the operating temperature range of Zn-ion batteries. The HEE possesses over 40 types of Zn2+ solvation structure with uniform distribution, contributing to its much higher solvation configurational entropy compared to the conventional aqueous counterpart (only 6 types). These effectively promote its anti-freezing ability under ultralow temperatures, with a high ionic conductivity of 0.42 mS cm-1 even at a low temperature of -40 °C. Moreover, the entropy-driven property can simultaneously enhance the thermal stability under a high temperature over +140 °C. Therefore, the HEE can enable full cells stably working over a wide temperature range of -40~+80 °C, performing over 1500 cycles with 100 % capacity retention at -40 °C and 1000 cycles with ~72 % capacity retention at +80 °C. This inspiring concept of entropy-driven electrolyte with quantized solvation configurational entropy value has charming potential for designing future special batteries with excellent adaptability towards extreme temperature environments.

Occlusal contact characteristics of molar teeth with food impaction: Insights from a new digital technique.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to analyze the occlusal contact characteristics of the food-impacted teeth using a new digital technique. METHODS: A 3D occlusal analysis method was developed for studying the occlusal contact characteristics of teeth affected by food impaction. In this self-controlled study, food-impacted molars from 20 participants constituted the experimental group. The corresponding healthy teeth on the opposite side served as the control group. Variables such as occlusal force (OF), occlusal contact area (OCA), and the number and distribution of occlusal contact points (OCN) in the mesio-distal directions were measured and compared between the two groups. RESULTS: There was no statistical significant difference in the values of OF, OCA and OCN between the food-impacted molars and the healthy control molars (P > 0.05). However, paired T-tests indicated significant difference in the proportion of mesial OF, OCA, and OCN in the second molars of the experimental group (0.22, 0.28 and 0.28, respectively) and the control group (0.66, 0.63, and 0.63 respectively) (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The abnormal distribution of occlusal contacts in the second molar, primarily characterized by excessive occlusal contact in the distal direction may contribute to the occurrence of food impaction. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The present study identified variations in the distribution of occlusal contacts and occlusal component force in food-impacted teeth. These findings can assist dentists in making more targeted occlusal adjustments, or applying other treatment modalities, to effectively address food impaction.

Transposable elements in Rosaceae: insights into genome evolution, expression dynamics, and syntenic gene regulation.

Transposable elements (TEs) exert significant influence on plant genomic structure and gene expression. Here, we explored TE-related aspects across 14 Rosaceae genomes, investigating genomic distribution, transposition activity, expression patterns, and nearby differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Analyses unveiled distinct long terminal repeat retrotransposon (LTR-RT) evolutionary patterns, reflecting varied genome size changes among nine species over the past million years. In the past 2.5 million years, Rubus idaeus showed a transposition rate twice as fast as Fragaria vesca, while Pyrus bretschneideri displayed significantly faster transposition compared with Crataegus pinnatifida. Genes adjacent to recent TE insertions were linked to adversity resistance, while those near previous insertions were functionally enriched in morphogenesis, enzyme activity, and metabolic processes. Expression analysis revealed diverse responses of LTR-RTs to internal or external conditions. Furthermore, we identified 3695 pairs of syntenic DEGs proximal to TEs in Malus domestica cv. 'Gala' and M. domestica (GDDH13), suggesting TE insertions may contribute to varietal trait differences in these apple varieties. Our study across representative Rosaceae species underscores the pivotal role of TEs in plant genome evolution within this diverse family. It elucidates how these elements regulate syntenic DEGs on a genome-wide scale, offering insights into Rosaceae-specific genomic evolution.

The complex world of kefir: Structural insights and symbiotic relationships.

Kefir milk, known for its high nutritional value and health benefits, is traditionally produced by fermenting milk with kefir grains. These grains are a complex symbiotic community of lactic acid bacteria, acetic acid bacteria, yeasts, and other microorganisms. However, the intricate coexistence mechanisms within these microbial colonies remain a mystery, posing challenges in predicting their biological and functional traits. This uncertainty often leads to variability in kefir milk's quality and safety. This review delves into the unique structural characteristics of kefir grains, particularly their distinctive hollow structure. We propose hypotheses on their formation, which appears to be influenced by the aggregation behaviors of the community members and their alliances. In kefir milk, a systematic colonization process is driven by metabolite release, orchestrating the spatiotemporal rearrangement of ecological niches. We place special emphasis on the dynamic spatiotemporal changes within the kefir microbial community. Spatially, we observe variations in species morphology and distribution across different locations within the grain structure. Temporally, the review highlights the succession patterns of the microbial community, shedding light on their evolving interactions.Furthermore, we explore the ecological mechanisms underpinning the formation of a stable community composition. The interplay of cooperative and competitive species within these microorganisms ensures a dynamic balance, contributing to the community's richness and stability. In kefir community, competitive species foster diversity and stability, whereas cooperative species bolster mutualistic symbiosis. By deepening our understanding of the behaviors of these complex microbial communities, we can pave the way for future advancements in the development and diversification of starter cultures for food fermentation processes.

Downregulation of HNRNPA1 induced neoantigen generation via regulating alternative splicing.

BACKGROUND: Immunotherapies effectively treat human malignancies, but the low response and resistance are major obstacles. Neoantigen is an emerging target for tumor immunotherapy that can enhance anti-tumor immunity and improve immunotherapy. Aberrant alternative splicing is an important source of neoantigens. HNRNPA1, an RNA splicing factor, was found to be upregulated in the majority of tumors and play an important role in the tumor immunosuppressive microenvironment. METHODS: Whole transcriptome sequencing was performed on shHNRNPA1 SKOV3 cells and transcriptomic data of shHNRNPA1 HepG2, MCF-7M, K562, and B-LL cells were downloaded from the GEO database. Enrichment analysis was performed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the activation of anti-tumor immunity induced by HNRNPA1 knockdown. mRNA alternative splicing was analyzed and neoantigens were predicted by JCAST v.0.3.5 and Immune epitope database. The immunogenicity of candidate neoantigens was calculated by Class I pMHC Immunogenicity and validated by the IFN-γ ELISpot assay. The effect of shHNRNPA1 on tumor growth and immune cells in vivo was evaluated by xenograft model combined with immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: HNRNPA1 was upregulated in a majority of malignancies and correlated with immunosuppressive status of the tumor immune microenvironment. Downregulation of HNRNPA1 could induce the activation of immune-related pathways and biological processes. Disruption of HNRNPA1 resulted in aberrant alternative splicing events and generation of immunogenic neoantigens. Downregulation of HNRNPA1 inhibited tumor growth and increased CD8+ T cell infiltration in vivo. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated that targeting HNRNPA1 could produce immunogenic neoantigens that elicit anti-tumor immunity by inducing abnormal mRNA splicing. It suggests that HNRNPA1 may be a potential target for immunotherapy.

Chromosome-scale genome assemblies of sexually dimorphic male and female Acrossocheilus fasciatus.

Acrossocheilus fasciatus is a stream-dwelling fish species of the Barbinae subfamily. It is valued for its colorfully striped appearance and delicious meat. This species is also characterized by apparent sexual dimorphism and toxic ovum. Biology and aquaculture researches of A. fasciatus are hindered by the lack of a high-quality reference genome. Here, we report chromosome-level genome assemblies of the male and female A. fasciatus. The HiFi-only genome assemblies for both female and male individuals were 899.13 Mb (N50 length of 32.58 Mb) and 885.68 Mb (N50 length of 33.06 Mb), respectively. Notably, a substantial proportion of the assembled sequences, accounting for 96.15% and 98.35% for female and male genomes, respectively, were successfully anchored onto 25 chromosomes utilizing Hi-C data. We annotated the female assembly as a reference genome and identified a total of 400.62 Mb (44.56%) repetitive sequences, 27,392 protein-coding genes, and 35,869 ncRNAs. The high-quality male and female reference genomes will provide genomic resources for developing sex-specific molecular markers, inform single-sex breeding, and elucidate genetic mechanisms of sexual dimorphism.

HcN57, A Novel Unusual Acidic Silk-Like Matrix Protein from Hyriopsis cumingii, Participates in Framework Construction and Nacre Nucleation During Nacreous Layer Formation.

In the classic molecular model of nacreous layer formation, unusual acidic matrix proteins rich in aspartic acid (Asp) residues are essential for nacre nucleation due to their great affinity for binding calcium. However, the acidic matrix proteins discovered in the nacreous layer so far have been weakly acidic with a high proportion of glutamate. In the present study, several silk-like matrix proteins, including the novel matrix protein HcN57, were identified in the ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid-soluble extracts of the nacreous layer of Hyriopsis cumingii. HcN57 is a highly repetitive protein that consists of a high proportion of alanine (Ala, 34.4%), glycine (Gly, 22.5%), and serine (Ser, 11.4%). It forms poly Ala blocks, GlynX repeats, an Ala-Gly repeat, and a Ser-Ala-rich region, exhibiting significant similarity to silk proteins found in spider species. The expression of HcN57 was specifically located in the dorsal epithelial cells of the mantle pallium and mantle center. Notably, expression of HcN57 was relatively high during nacreous layer regeneration and pearl nacre deposition, suggesting HcN57 is a silk matrix protein in the nacreous layer. Importantly, HcN57 also contains a certain content of Asp residues, making it an unusual acidic matrix protein present in the nacreous layer. These Asp residues are mainly distributed in three large hydrophilic acidic regions, which showed inhibitory activity against aragonite deposition and morphological regulation of calcite in vitro. Moreover, HcN57-dsRNA injection resulted in failure of nacre nucleation in vivo. Taken together, our results show that HcN57 is a bifunctional silk protein with poly Ala blocks and Gly-rich regions that serve as space fillers within the chitinous framework to prevent crystallization at unnecessary nucleation sites and Asp-rich regions that create a calcium ion supersaturated microenvironment for nucleation in the center of nacre tablets. These observations contribute to a better understanding of the mechanism by which silk proteins regulate framework construction and nacre nucleation during nacreous layer formation.

The Preparation and Dust Suppression Performance Evaluation of Iron Ore Tailing-Based Cementitious Composites.

In order to comprehensively utilize iron ore tailings (IOTs), the possibility of using IOTs as raw materials for the preparation of cementitious composites (IOTCCs) was investigated, and IOTCC was further applied to mine interface pollution control. The mechanical properties, hydration products, wind erosion resistance, and freeze-thaw (F-T) cycle resistance of IOTCCs were evaluated rigorously. The activity index of iron tailings increased from 42% to 78% after grinding for 20 s. The IOTCC was prepared by blending 86% IOT, 10% ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS), and 4% cement clinker. Meanwhile, the hydration products mainly comprised ettringite, calcium hydroxide, and C-S-H gel, and they were characterized via XRD, IR, and SEM. It was observed that ettringite and C-S-H gel were principally responsible for the strength development of IOTCC mortars with an increase in curing time. The results show that the kaolinite of the tailings was decomposed largely after mechanical activation, which promoted the cementitious property of IOT.

Inkjet Printing of High-Color-Purity Blue Organic Light-Emitting Diodes with Host-Free Inks.

Inkjet printing technology offers a unique approach to producing direct-patterned pixels without fine metal masks for active matrix displays. Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) consisting of thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) emitters facilitate efficient light emission without heavy metals, such as platinum and iridium. Multi-resonance TADF molecules, characterized by their small full width at half maxima (FWHM), are highly suitable for the requirements of wide color-gamut displays. Herein, host-free TADF inks with a low concentration of 1 mg/mL were developed and inkjet-printed onto a seeding layer, concurrently serving as the hole-transporting layer. Attributed to the proof-of-concept of host-free inks printed on a mixed seeding layer, a maximum external quantum efficiency of 13.1% (improved by a factor of 21.8) was achieved in the inkjet-printed OLED, with a remarkably narrow FWHM of only 32 nm. Highly efficient energy transfer was facilitated by the effective dispersion of the sensitizer around the terminal emitters.