A study on the configuration of factors influencing overweight and obesity in adolescents based on fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Overweight and obesity among adolescents are grave public health issues around the world. Although the conditions that contribute to obesity have been extensively researched, little is known about how multiple conditions interact to cause overweight and obesity. The current study intends to investigate the histomorphic configuration pathways of several conditions of adolescent overweight and obesity by gender. METHOD: The data came from a social survey conducted in June 2021 in Changchun, Jilin Province, China. The sample collected was 14-year-old adolescents, including 167 boys and 137 girls. The school physicians examined the participants' weight and height, and questionnaires were used to collect risk indicators from adolescents, such as sleep duration, electronic screens times, consumption of sugary drinks and fried foods, and physical activity. Simultaneously, a Fuzzy Qualitative Comparative Analysis will be performed to investigate the combinations of diverse conditions. RESULT: We found that there is no determining necessary condition that, once present, directly determines that an individual is in a state of overweight and obesity. Simultaneously, this study revealed nine alternative configurational paths of overweight and obesity in teenagers of different genders, with a concordance of 0.805 for six male groupings and 0.916 for three female groupings. The outcomes of overweight obesity in adolescents under different genders are similar but not identical. CONCLUSION: This study examined the interactions of a number of conditions from the individual, behavioral, learning and living environment that led to the same overweight obese outcome among adolescents of different genders. Our research will be useful to policymakers in that interventions should take into account the combined effects of a number of different aspects rather than focusing on a single factor that causes overweight and obesity.

In Situ Polymerization of a Self-Healing Polyacrylamide-Based Eutectogel as an Electrolyte for Zinc-Ion Batteries.

Gel electrolytes have attracted extensive attention in flexible batteries. However, the traditional hydrogel electrolyte is not enough to solve the fundamental problems of zinc anodes, such as dendrite growth, side reactions, and freezing failure at temperatures below zero, which seriously restricts the development of zinc-ion batteries. As a flexible energy storage device, the zinc-ion battery inevitably undergoes multiple stretches, bends, folds, or twists in daily use. Here, a self-healing and stretchable eutectogel, designated as deep eutectic solvent-acrylamide eutectic gel (DA-ETG), was developed as a solid-state electrolyte for zinc-ion batteries. This gel was prepared by immobilizing a high-concentration ZnCl2 deep eutectic solvent (DES) into a polyacrylamide matrix through in situ polymerization under ultraviolet light. The eutectogel electrolyte showed exceptional mechanical properties with a maximum fracture strength of 0.6 MPa and a high ionic conductivity of 6.4 × 10-4 S cm-1. The in situ polymerization of the DA-ETG electrolyte in the assembly of a full solid-state zinc-ion battery increased the electrode-electrolyte interface area contact, reduced the ion transport distance between the electrode and electrolyte, minimized the internal resistance, and enhanced the battery's long-term cycling stability. Using the DA-ETG electrolyte, a remarkably high capacity of 580 mAh g-1 at 0.1 A g-1 was achieved by the zinc-ion battery, and a considerable capacity of 234 mAh g-1 was maintained even at 5 A g-1, showing exceptional rate performance. After 2000 cycles at 2 A g-1, the cell with the eutectogel retained a capacity of 85% with a cycling efficiency close to 98%, which demonstrated excellent cycling stability. The self-healing function enabled the prepared soft battery to be reused multiple times, with full contact between the electrode and electrolyte interface, and without device failures.

Accurate and highly sensitive detection of Alzheimer's disease-related extracellular vesicles via förster resonance energy transfer.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease in the world and poses a huge challenge to global healthcare. Early and accurate detection of amyloid-ß (1-42) (Aß42), a key biomarker of AD, is crucial for effective diagnosis and intervention of AD. Specific or overexpressed proteins on extracellular vesicles (EVs) describe a close correlation with the occurrence and development of diseases. EVs are a very promising non-invasive biomarker for the diagnosis of AD and other diseases. As a sensitive, simple and rapid analytical method, fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) has been widely applied in the detection of EVs. Herein, we developed a dual labelling strategy for simultaneously detecting EV membrane proteins of Aß42 and CD63 based on FRET pair consisting of Au nanoclusters (AuNCs) and polydopamine nanospheres (PDANSs). The constructed nanoprobe, termed EVMPFAP assay, could specifically measure the Aß42 and CD63 on EVs with excellent sensitivity, high specificity and satisfactory accuracy. The limit of detection of EVMPFAP assay was 1.4 × 103 particles mL-1 and the linear range was from 104 to 108 particles mL-1. EVMPFAP assay was successfully used to analyze plasma EVs to distinguish AD and healthy mice. We expect that EVMPFAP assay can be routinely applied for early diagnosis and development-monitoring of AD, thus facilitating the fight against AD.

Vernalization promotes bolting in sugar beet by inhibiting the transcriptional repressors of BvGI.

Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.), a biennial sugar crop, contributes about 16% of the world's sugar production. The transition from vegetative growth, during which sugar accumulated in beet, to reproductive growth, during which sugar exhausted in beet, is determined by vernalization and photoperiod. GIGANTEA (GI) is a key photoperiodic flowering gene that is induced by vernalization in sugar beet. To identify the upstream regulatory factors of BvGI, candidate transcription factors (TF) that were co-expressed with BvGI and could bind to the BvGI promoter were screened based on weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and TF binding site prediction. Subsequently, their transcriptional regulatory role on the BvGI was validated through subcellular localization, dual-luciferase assays and yeast transformation tests. A total of 7,586 differentially expressed genes were identified after vernalization and divided into 18 co-expression modules by WGCNA, of which one (MEcyan) and two (MEdarkorange2 and MEmidnightblue) modules were positively and negatively correlated with the expression of BvGI, respectively. TF binding site predictions using PlantTFDB enabled the screening of BvLHY, BvTCP4 and BvCRF4 as candidate TFs that negatively regulated the expression of BvGI by affecting its transcription. Subcellular localization showed that BvLHY, BvTCP4 and BvCRF4 were localized to the nucleus. The results of dual-luciferase assays and yeast transformation tests showed that the relative luciferase activity and expression of HIS3 was reduced in the BvLHY, BvTCP4 and BvCRF4 transformants, which suggested that the three TFs inhibited the BvGI promoter. In addition, real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR showed that BvLHY and BvTCP4 exhibited rhythmic expression characteristics similar to that of BvGI, while BvCRF4 did not. Our results revealed that vernalization crosstalked with the photoperiod pathway to initiate bolting in sugar beet by inhibiting the transcriptional repressors of BvGI.

Focuses, Developments, and Publication Trends in Facial Bone Aging and Related Fields: A Systematic Bibliometric Analysis (1990-2023).

There is a current lack of bibliometric analysis in facial bone aging and relevant fields. By providing clear and intuitive references, predictions, and guidance for future research, this study aims to fill the gap in the current field, summarize the related research, and guide the researchers' future work. Literature data were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection database. Results Analysis and Citation Report of Web of Science, and CiteSpace software were used to optimize the visualization results, including publication characteristics, disciplines, journals, literature, countries/regions, institutions, authors, research focuses, etc. A total of 277 publications were included after manual screening, and the overall trend of annual publications and citations was increasing. On the basis of the analysis, the characteristics of facial bone aging, aging of facial soft tissue, and facial rejuvenation have been the focuses of research in this field. As stem cell research advances and researchers, deepen their comprehension of facial bone aging, basic scientific research on facial bones has witnessed a growing trend.

Effects of non-pharmacological interventions for adults with subjective cognitive decline: a network meta-analysis and component network meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Non-pharmacological interventions have a myriad of available intervention options and contain multiple components. Whether specific components of non-pharmacological interventions or combinations are superior to others remains unclear. The main aim of this study is to compare the effects of different combinations of non-pharmacological interventions and their specific components on health-related outcomes in adults with subjective cognitive decline. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, CINAHL, PsycINFO, CENTRAL, Web of Science, and China's two largest databases, CNKI and Wanfang, were searched from inception to 22nd, January 2023. Randomized controlled trials using non-pharmacological interventions and reporting health outcomes in adults with subjective cognitive decline were included. Two independent reviewers screened studies, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias. Component network meta-analysis was conducted employing an additive component model for network meta-analysis. This study followed the PRISMA reporting guideline and the PRISMA checklist is presented in Additional file 2. RESULTS: A total of 39 trials with 2959 patients were included (range of mean ages, 58.79-77.41 years). Resistance exercise might be the optimal intervention for reducing memory complaints in adults with subjective cognitive decline; the surface under the cumulative ranking p score was 0.888, followed by balance exercise (p = 0.859), aerobic exercise (p = 0.832), and cognitive interventions (p = 0.618). Music therapy, cognitive training, transcranial direct current stimulation, mindfulness therapy, and balance exercises might be the most effective intervention components for improving global cognitive function (iSMD, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.36 to 1.29), language (iSMD, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.24 to 0.38), ability to perform activities of daily living (iSMD, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.21 to 0.89), physical health (iSMD, 3.29; 95% CI, 2.57 to 4.00), and anxiety relief (iSMD, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.26 to 1.16), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The form of physical activity performed appears to be more beneficial than cognitive interventions in reducing subjective memory complaints for adults with subjective cognitive decline, and this difference was reflected in resistance, aerobic, and balance exercises. Randomized clinical trials with high-quality and large-scale are warranted to validate the findings. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO registry number. CRD42022355363.

Global Research Trends and Focuses on Pierre Robin Sequence From 1992 to 2023: A Bibliometric Analysis of the Past 3 Decades.

There is currently a lack of scientific bibliometric analyses in the field of Pierre Robin sequence (PRS). Pierre Robin sequence is known for its clinical triad of micrognathia, glossoptosis, airway obstruction, and possible secondary cleft palate. These defects can lead to upper airway obstruction, sleep apnea, feeding difficulties, affect an individual's growth and development, education level, and in severe cases can be life-threatening. Through analysis of literature retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database using Results Analysis and Citation Report and Citespace software, 933 original articles and reviews were included after manual screening. The overall trend for the number of annual publications and citations was increasing. On the basis of the analysis, airway evaluation and treatment, mandibular distraction osteogenesis (MDO), as well as descriptions of PRS characteristics have been the focus of research in this field. In addition, with advances in new technologies such as gene sequencing and expanding understanding of diseases among researchers, research on genetics and etiology related to PRS has become a growing trend.

Identifying the Quantitative Trait Locus and Candidate Genes of Traits Related to Milling Quality in Rice via a Genome-Wide Association Study.

Milling quality directly affects production efficiency in rice, which is closely related to the brown rice recovery (BRR), the milled rice recovery (MRR) and the head milled rice recovery (HMRR). The present study investigated these three traits in 173 germplasms in two environments, finding abundant phenotypic variation. Three QTLs for BRR, two for MRR, and three for HMRR were identified in a genome-wide association study, five of these were identified in previously reported QTLs and three were newly identified. By combining the linkage disequilibrium (LD) analyses, the candidate gene LOC_Os05g08350 was identified. It had two haplotypes with significant differences and Hap 2 increased the BRR by 4.40%. The results of the qRT-PCR showed that the expression of LOC_Os05g08350 in small-BRR accessions was significantly higher than that in large-BRR accessions at Stages 4-5 of young panicle development, reaching the maximum value at Stage 5. The increase in thickness of the spikelet hulls of the accession carrying LOC_Os05g08350TT occurred due to an increase in the cell width and the cell numbers in cross-sections of spikelet hulls. These results help to further clarify the molecular genetic mechanism of milling-quality-related traits and provide genetic germplasm materials for high-quality breeding in rice.

Physical frailty intensifies the positive association of oral frailty with poor global cognitive function and executive function among older adults especially for females: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Oral frailty is reported to increase the risk of new onset of mild cognitive impairment. Whereas, the association of oral frailty with cognition among older adults in both physical frail and non-physical frail status has not been sufficiently explored, and whether there are sex differences in the association is unclear. This study investigated the association of oral frailty and physical frailty with global cognitive function and executive function among older adults, as well as the sex differences in such association. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 307 participants aged ≥ 60 years old from communities between June 2023 and August 2023, in Nanjing, China. Global cognitive function and executive function were assessed by using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Trail Making Tests A (TMT-A), respectively. Oral frailty was identified by the combination of natural tooth, Oral Frailty Index-8 (OFI-8), and oral diadochokinesis. Physical frailty was measured by using Fried phenotype model which contained 5 criteria: unintentional weight loss, weakness, exhaustion, slowness, and low physical activity. Multiple linear regression analyses for overall participants and stratified by sex and presence or absence of physical frailty were performed, respectively, to examine the association between oral frailty and cognitive functions. RESULTS: The median age of participants was 70 years old. The study included 158 (51.5%) females, 53 (17.3%) individuals with physical frailty, and 65 (21.2%) participants with oral frailty. After adjustment, the association between oral frailty and global cognitive function was observed in the physical frailty group (B = -2.67, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: -5.27 to -0.07, p = 0.045) and the females with physical frailty (B = -4, 95% CI: -7.41 to -0.58, p = 0.024). Oral frailty was associated with executive function in overall participants (B = 0.12, 95% CI: 0.01 to 0.22, p = 0.037), physical frailty group (B = 23.68, 95% CI: 1.37 to 45.99, p = 0.038). In the adjusted models, oral frailty was significantly associated with executive function in all females (B = 0.21, 95% CI: 0.05 to 0.36, p = 0.009), in females without physical frailty (B = 0.19, 95% CI: 0.02 to 0.36, p = 0.027), and in females with physical frailty (B = 48.69, 95% CI: 7.17 to 90.21, p = 0.024). CONCLUSIONS: Physical frailty intensifies the positive association of oral frailty with poor global cognitive function and executive function among older adults, particularly among females. It is ponderable to consider sex differences and facilitate the management of physical frailty when it comes to promoting cognitive health based on the perspective of oral health among older adults.

Light-Activated Nanodiamond-Based Drug Delivery Systems for Spatiotemporal Release of Antisense Oligonucleotides.

Nanodiamonds (NDs) are considered promising delivery platforms, but inaccurate and uncontrolled release of drugs at target sites is the biggest challenge of NDs in precision medicine. This study presents the development of phototriggerable ND-based drug delivery systems, utilizing ortho-nitrobenzyl (o-NB) molecules as photocleavable linkers between drugs and nanocarriers. UV irradiation specifically cleaved o-NB molecules and then was followed by releasing antisense oligonucleotides from ND-based carriers in both buffer and cellular environments. This ND system carried cell nonpermeable therapeutic agents for bypassing lysosomal trapping and degradation. The presence of fluorescent nitrogen-vacancy centers also allowed NDs to serve as biological probes for tracing in cells. We successfully demonstrated phototriggered release of antisense oligonucleotides from ND-based nanocarriers, reactivating their antisense functions. This highlights the potential of NDs, photocleavable linkers, and light stimuli to create advanced drug delivery systems for controlled drug release in disease therapy, opening possibilities for targeted and personalized treatments.

Genome assembly of Melilotus officinalis provides a new reference genome for functional genomics.

BACKGROUND: Sweet yellow clover (Melilotus officinalis) is a diploid plant (2n = 16) that is native to Europe. It is an excellent legume forage. It can both fix nitrogen and serve as a medicine. A genome assembly of Melilotus officinalis that was collected from Best corporation in Beijing is available based on Nanopore sequencing. The genome of Melilotus officinalis was sequenced, assembled, and annotated. RESULTS: The latest PacBio third generation HiFi assembly and sequencing strategies were used to produce a Melilotus officinalis genome assembly size of 1,066 Mbp, contig N50 = 5 Mbp, scaffold N50 = 130 Mbp, and complete benchmarking universal single-copy orthologs (BUSCOs) = 96.4%. This annotation produced 47,873 high-confidence gene models, which will substantially aid in our research on molecular breeding. A collinear analysis showed that Melilotus officinalis and Medicago truncatula shared conserved synteny. The expansion and contraction of gene families showed that Melilotus officinalis expanded by 565 gene families and shrank by 56 gene families. The contacted gene families were associated with response to stimulus, nucleotide binding, and small molecule binding. Thus, it is related to a family of genes associated with peptidase activity, which could lead to better stress tolerance in plants. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the latest PacBio technology was used to assemble and sequence the genome of the Melilotus officinalis and annotate its protein-coding genes. These results will expand the genomic resources available for Melilotus officinalis and should assist in subsequent research on sweet yellow clover plants.

Changes in corneal biomechanics in patients with glaucoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Corneal biomechanics has been implicated in a variety of ocular diseases. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the glaucoma and corneal biomechanical properties, and exploring the value of corneal biomechanics in the diagnosis and follow-up of glaucoma diseases. METHODS: We searched studies in PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and clinicaltrials.gov., as of October 8, 2022. Only English studies were included, without publication time limit. We also searched the reference lists of published reviews. This meta-analysis was conducted with random-effects models, we used mean difference(MD) to evaluate the outcome, and the heterogeneity was assessed with the I2 statistic. Subgroup analyses were performed under the appearance of high heterogeneity. We used 11 items to describe the characteristics of included studies, publication bias was performed through the Egger's test. The quality assessment were evaluated by Newcastle-Ottawa Scale(NOS) items. RESULTS: A total of 27 eligible studies were identified for data synthesis and assessment. The result of meta-analysis showed that in the comparison of included indicators, the corneal biomechanics values of glaucoma patients were statistically lower than those of normal subjects in a similar age range. The covered indicators included central corneal thickness(CCT) (MD = -8.34, 95% CI: [-11.74, -4.94]; P < 0.001), corneal hysteresis(CH)(MD = -1.54, 95% CI: [-1.88, -1.20]; P < 0.001), corneal resistance factor(CRF)( MD = -0.82, 95% CI: [-1.21, -0.44]; P < 0.001), and intraocular pressure(IOP)( corneal-compensated intraocular pressure (IOPcc): MD = 2.45, 95% CI: [1.51, 3.38]; P < 0.001); Goldmann-correlated intraocular pressure (IOPg): MD = 1.30, 95% CI: [0.41, 2.20]; P = 0.004), they all showed statistical difference. While the value of axial length(AL) did not show statistically different(MD = 0.13, 95% CI: [-0.24, 0.50]; P = 0.48). CONCLUSION: Corneal biomechanics are associated with glaucoma. The findings can be useful for the design of glaucoma screening, treatment and prognosis.

Hierarchical self-recognition and response in CSC and non-CSC micro-niches for cancer therapy.

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) characterized by self-renewal, invasiveness, tumorigenicity and resistance to treatment are regarded as the thorniest issues in refractory tumors. We develop a targeted and hierarchical controlled release nano-therapeutic platform (SEED-NPs) that self-identifies and responds to CSC and non-CSC micro-niches of tumors. In non-CSC micro-niche, reactive oxygen species (ROS) trigger the burst release of the chemotherapeutic drug and photosensitizer to kill tumor cells and reduce tumor volume by combining chemotherapy and photodynamic therapy (PDT). In CSC micro-niche, the preferentially released differentiation drug induces CSC differentiation and transforms CSCs into chemotherapy-sensitive cells. SEED-NPs exhibit an extraordinary capacity for downregulating the stemness of CD44+/CD24- SP (side population) cell population both in vitro and in vivo, and reveal a 4-fold increase of tumor-targeted accumulation. Also, PDT-generated ROS promote the formation of tunneling nanotubes and facilitate the divergent network transport of drugs in deep tumors. Moreover, ROS in turn promotes CSC differentiation and drug release. This positive-feedback-loop strategy enhances the elimination of refractory CSCs. As a result, SEED-NPs achieve excellent therapeutic effects in both 4T1 SP tumor-bearing mice and regular 4T1 tumor-bearing mice without obvious toxicities and eradicate half of mice tumors. SEED-NPs integrate differentiation, chemotherapy and PDT, which proved feasible and valuable, indicating that active targeting and hierarchical release are necessary to enhance antitumor efficacy. These findings provide promising prospects for overcoming barriers in the treatment of CSCs.

Sneaky tactics: Ingenious immune evasion mechanisms of Bartonella.

Gram-negative Bartonella species are facultative intracellular bacteria that can survive in the harsh intracellular milieu of host cells. They have evolved strategies to evade detection and degradation by the host immune system, which ensures their proliferation in the host. Following infection, Bartonella alters the initial immunogenic surface-exposed proteins to evade immune recognition via antigen or phase variation. The diverse lipopolysaccharide structures of certain Bartonella species allow them to escape recognition by the host pattern recognition receptors. Additionally, the survival of mature erythrocytes and their resistance to lysosomal fusion further complicate the immune clearance of this species. Certain Bartonella species also evade immune attacks by producing biofilms and anti-inflammatory cytokines and decreasing endothelial cell apoptosis. Overall, these factors create a challenging landscape for the host immune system to rapidly and effectively eradicate the Bartonella species, thereby facilitating the persistence of Bartonella infections and creating a substantial obstacle for therapeutic interventions. This review focuses on the effects of three human-specific Bartonella species, particularly their mechanisms of host invasion and immune escape, to gain new perspectives in the development of effective diagnostic tools, prophylactic measures, and treatment options for Bartonella infections.

Advances in Metabolism and Metabolic Toxicology of Quinoxaline 1,4-Di-N-oxides.

Quinoxaline 1,4-di-N-Oxides (QdNOs) have been used as synthetic antimicrobial agents in animal husbandry and aquaculture. The metabolism and potential toxicity have been also concerns in recently years. The metabolism investigations showed that there were 8 metabolites of Carbadox (CBX), 34 metabolites of Cyadox (CYA), 33 metabolites of Mequindox (MEQ), 35 metabolites of Olaquindox (OLA), and 56 metabolites of Quinocetone (QCT) in different animals. Among them, Cb3 and Cb8, M6, and O9 are metabolic residual markers of CBX, MEQ and OLA, which are associated with N → O reduction. Toxicity studies revealed that QdNOs exhibited severe tumorigenicity, cytotoxicity, and adrenal toxicity. Metabolic toxicology showed that toxicity of QdNOs metabolites might be related to the N → O group reduction, and some metabolites exhibited higher toxic effects than the precursor, which could provide guidance for further research on the metabolic toxicology of QdNOs and provide a wealth of information for food safety evaluation.

Robust Low-Friction and Low-Wear TiNbMoTaCr High-Entropy Film Enabled by Periodically Inserting Curved MoS2 Sheets.

The well-known integration of physical, chemical, and mechanical properties enables high-entropy alloys (HEAs) to be applied in various fields; however, refractory HEAs are brittle and susceptible to abrasive wear at high coefficients of friction (COF), resulting in insufficient mechanical durability against abrasion. Herein, curved MoS2 nanosheets are periodically introduced into the TiNbMoTaCr film for triggering the self-assembly mixed metal oxides @MoS2 nanoscrolls, which contain hard mixed metal oxides cores and the low-shearing lubricant MoS2 shells, during the friction in the air environment; such mixed metal oxides@MoS2 nanoscrolls in the friction interfaces can contribute to the robust low friction and low wear. Compared to the pure TiNbMoTaCr film (with high COF of ∼0.78, low abrasive durability identified by worn-out event), the periodic incorporation of 10 nm thickness curved MoS2 sheets can successfully achieve a low COF of ∼0.08 and low wear rate of ∼9.561 × 10-8 mm3/ Nm, much lower than the pure MoS2 film (COF = ∼ 0.21, wear rate = ∼ 1.03 × 10-6 mm3/ Nm). Such superior tribological properties originate from the cooperative interaction of TiNbMoTaCr nanolayers and curved MoS2 nanosheets, accompanied by the self-assembly of mixed metal oxides@MoS2 nanoscrolls. In these nanoscrolls, TiNbMoTaCr can act as an 'air-absorbing agent' to form high-loading mixed metal oxide cores and serve as an 'oxygen sacrificer,' preventing the low-shearing lubricant curved MoS2 nanosheets from oxidation. In addition, even with the soft MoS2, the hardness of the TiNbMoTaCr/MoS2 nanomultilayers can still be well maintained and increased above the calculated values by mixing law, further favoring superior mechanical durability. The synergetic effect of TiNbMoTaCr and curved MoS2 nanosheets during the friction in air can provide a route to design HEA films with enhanced tribological properties for better mechanical durability and broader application prospects.

Near-gapless genome and transcriptome analyses provide insights into fruiting body development in Lentinula edodes.

Fruiting body development in macrofungi is an intensive research subject. In this study, high-quality genomes were assembled for two sexually compatible monokaryons from a heterokaryotic Lentinula edodes strain WX1, and variations in L. edodes genomes were analyzed. Specifically, differential gene expression and allele-specific expression (ASE) were analyzed using the two monokaryotic genomes and transcriptome data from four different stages of fruiting body development in WX1. Results revealed that after aeration, mycelia sensed cell wall stress, pheromones, and a decrease in CO2 concentration, leading to up-regulated expression in genes related to cell adhesion, cell wall remodeling, proteolysis, and lipid metabolism, which may promote primordium differentiation. Aquaporin genes and those related to proteolysis, mitosis, lipid, and carbohydrate metabolism may play important roles in primordium development, while genes related to tissue differentiation and sexual reproduction were active in fruiting body. Several essential genes for fruiting body development were allele-specifically expressed and the two nuclear types could synergistically regulate fruiting body development by dominantly expressing genes with different functions. ASE was probably induced by long terminal repeat-retrotransposons. Findings here contribute to the further understanding of the mechanism of fruiting body development in macrofungi.

CoO/Co-graphene quantum dots as an oxidative mimetic nanozyme for the colorimetric detection of L-cysteine.

The preparation of cobalt-based nanozymes with high oxidase-like activity still needs more efforts. In this paper, we report the synthesis of a CoO/Co-tryptophan-functional graphene quantum dot hybrid (CoO/Co-Try-GQD). Firstly, cobalt ions coordinate with the indole nitrogen on Try-GQD to form a complex, followed by thermal reduction and oxidation. The resulting hybrid presents a three-dimensional network structure, and CoO/Co nanoparticles are uniformly dispersed on the graphene sheet with an average size of 10 ± 0.24 nm. This unique structure improved the oxidase-like activity of the hybrid, enabling it to catalyze the oxidation of colorless 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) to rapidly produce deep blue ox-TMB with a strong absorbance at 652 nm (A652). A colorimetric method was developed for the highly sensitive determination of L-cysteine (L-cys) based on the inhibition of the hybrid's oxidase-like activity and low A652 caused by the binding of L-cys with Co atoms on CoO/Co via the Co-S bond. The A652 linearly decreased with increasing L-cys concentration in the range of 0.05-2 µM, and the detection limit was 0.032 µM. Further, the established method has been successfully applied to the determination of L-cys in milk.