Sex differences in aberrant functional connectivity of three core networks and subcortical networks in medication-free adolescent-onset major depressive disorder.

Major depressive disorder demonstrated sex differences in prevalence and symptoms, which were more pronounced during adolescence. Yet, research on sex-specific brain network characteristics in adolescent-onset major depressive disorder remains limited. This study investigated sex-specific and nonspecific alterations in resting-state functional connectivity of three core networks (frontoparietal network, salience network, and default mode network) and subcortical networks in adolescent-onset major depressive disorder, using seed-based resting-state functional connectivity in 50 medication-free patients with adolescent-onset major depressive disorder and 56 healthy controls. Irrespective of sex, compared with healthy controls, adolescent-onset major depressive disorder patients showed hypoconnectivity between bilateral hippocampus and right superior temporal gyrus (default mode network). More importantly, we further found that females with adolescent-onset major depressive disorder exhibited hypoconnectivity within the default mode network (medial prefrontal cortex), and between the subcortical regions (i.e. amygdala, striatum, and thalamus) with the default mode network (angular gyrus and posterior cingulate cortex) and the frontoparietal network (dorsal prefrontal cortex), while the opposite patterns of resting-state functional connectivity alterations were observed in males with adolescent-onset major depressive disorder, relative to their sex-matched healthy controls. Moreover, several sex-specific resting-state functional connectivity changes were correlated with age of onset, sleep disturbance, and anxiety in adolescent-onset major depressive disorder with different sex. These findings suggested that these sex-specific resting-state functional connectivity alterations may reflect the differences in brain development or processes related to early illness onset, underscoring the necessity for sex-tailored diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in adolescent-onset major depressive disorder.

Plasma-Induced Oxygen Defect Engineering in Perovskite Oxide for Boosting Oxygen Evolution Reaction.

Perovskite oxides are considered highly promising candidates for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts due to their low cost and adaptable electronic structure. However, modulating the electronic structure of catalysts without altering their nanomorphology is crucial for understanding the structure-property relationship. In this study, a simple plasma bombardment strategy is developed to optimize the catalytic activity of perovskite oxides. Experimental characterization of plasma-treated LaCo0.9Fe0.1O3 (P-LCFO) reveals abundant oxygen vacancies, which expose numerous active sites. Additionally, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray absorption fine structure analyses indicate a low Co valence state in P-LCFO, likely due to the presence of these oxygen vacancies, which contributes to an optimized electronic structure that enhances OER performance. Consequently, P-LCFO exhibits significantly improved OER catalytic activity, with a low overpotential of 294 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm-2, outperforming commercial RuO2. This work underscores the benefits of plasma engineering for studying structure-property relationships and developing highly active perovskite oxide catalysts for water splitting.

Fabrication of Heterostructural FeNi3-Loaded Perovskite Catalysts by Rapid Plasma for Highly Efficient Photothermal Reverse Water Gas Shift Reaction.

Metal-semiconductor heterostructured catalysts have attracted great attention because of their unique interfacial characteristics and superior catalytic performance. Exsolution of nanoparticles is one of the effective and simple ways for in-situ growth of metal nanoparticles embedded in oxide surfaces and their favorable dispersion and stability. However, both high-temperature and a reducing atmosphere are required simultaneously in conventional exsolution, which is time-consuming and costly, and particles often agglomerate during the process. In this work, Ca0.9Ti0.8Ni0.1Fe0.1O3-δ (CTNF) is exposed to dielectric blocking discharge (DBD) plasma at room temperature to fabricate alloying FeNi3 nanoparticles from CTNF perovskite. FeNi3-CTNF has outstanding catalytic activity for photothermal reverse water gas shift reaction (RWGS). At 350 °C under full-spectrum irradiation, the carbon monoxide (CO) yield of FeNi3-CTNF (10.78 mmol g-1 h-1) is 11 times that of pure CaTiO3(CTO), and the CO selectivity is 98.9%. This superior catalytic activity is attributed to the narrow band gap, photogenerated electron migration to alloy particles, and abundant surface oxygen vacancies. The carbene pathway reaction is also investigated through in-situ Raman spectroscopy. The present work presents a straightforward method for the exsolution of nanoalloys in metal-semiconductor heterostructures for photothermal CO2 reduction.

Negative family and interpersonal relationship are associated with centromedial amygdala functional connectivity alterations in adolescent depression.

The amygdala, known for its functional heterogeneity, plays a critical role in the neural mechanism of adolescent major depressive disorder (aMDD). However, changes in its subregional functional networks in relation to stressful factors remain unclear. We recruited 78 comorbidity-free, medication-naive aMDD patients and 40 matched healthy controls (HC) to explore changes in resting-state functional connectivity (FC) across four amygdala subregions: the centromedial nucleus (CM), the basolateral nucleus (LB), the superficial nucleus (SF), and the amygdalostriatal transition area (Astr). Then, we performed partial correlation analysis to investigate the relationship between amygdala subregional FC and stressful factors as measured by the Chinese Version of Family Environment Scale (FES-CV) and the Adolescent Self-Rated Life Events Scale (ASLEC). Compared to HC, aMDD patients demonstrated significantly decreased functional connectivity between the left CM and left precentral gyrus, as well as between left SF and left precentral gyrus, and between left LB and posterior cingulate gyrus (PCC)/precuneus. In aMDD group, left CM-precentral gyrus FC exhibited negative correlation with interpersonal relationship and punishment, and positive correlation with family cohesion and expressiveness. This study reveals distinct patterns of abnormal functional connectivity among amygdala subregions in aMDD. Our findings suggest that the CM network, in particular, may be involved in stress-related factors in aMDD, which provide a potential target for the prevention and treatment of adolescent depression.

Chemical Fate of Oils on Indoor Surfaces: Ozonolysis and Peroxidation.

Unsaturated triglycerides found in food and skin oils are reactive in ambient air. However, the chemical fate of such compounds has not been well characterized in genuine indoor environments. Here, we monitored the aging of oil coatings on glass surfaces over a range of environmental conditions, using mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) techniques. Upon room air exposure (up to 17 ppb ozone), the characteristic ozonolysis products, secondary ozonides, were observed on surfaces near the cooking area of a commercial kitchen, along with condensed-phase aldehydes. In an office setting, ozonolysis is also the dominant degradation pathway for oil films exposed to air. However, for indoor enclosed spaces such as drawers, the depleted air flow makes lipid autoxidation more favorable after an induction period of a few days. Forming hydroperoxides as the major primary products, this radical-mediated peroxidation behavior is accelerated by indoor direct sunlight, but the initiation step in dark settings is still unclear. These results are in accord with radical measurements, indicating that indoor photooxidation facilitates radical formation on surfaces. Overall, many intermediate and end products observed are reactive oxygen species (ROS) that may induce oxidative stress in human bodies. Given that these species can be widely found on both food and household surfaces, their toxicological properties are worth further attention.

Aberrant intrinsic hippocampal and orbitofrontal connectivity in drug-naive adolescent patients with major depressive disorder.

Alterations in resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) of hippocampus and orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) have been highly implicated in major depressive disorder (MDD) and the researches have penetrated to the subregional level. However, relatively little is known about the intrinsic connectivity patterns of these two regions in adolescent MDD (aMDD), especially that of their functional subregions. Therefore, in the current study, we recruited 68 first-episode drug-naive aMDD patients and 43 matched typically developing controls (TDC) to characterize the alterations of whole-brain rsFC patterns in hippocampus and OFC at both regional and subregional levels in aMDD. The definition of specific functional subregions in hippocampus and OFC were based on the prior functional clustering-analysis results. Furthermore, the relationship between rsFC alterations and clinical features was also explored. Compared to TDC group, aMDD patients showed decreased connectivity of the left whole hippocampus with bilateral OFC and right inferior temporal gyrus at the regional level and increased connectivity between one of the right hippocampal subregions and right posterior insula at the subregional level. Reduced connectivity of OFC was only found in the subregion of left OFC with left anterior insula extending to lenticula in aMDD patients relative to TDC group. Our study identifies that the aberrant hippocampal and orbitofrontal rsFC was predominantly located in the insular cortex and could be summarized as an altered hippo-orbitofrontal-insular circuit in aMDD, which may be the unique features of brain network dysfunction in depression at this particular age stage. Moreover, we observed the distinct rsFC alterations in adolescent depression at the subregional level, especially the medial and lateral OFC.

Multiphase Ozonolysis of Oleic Acid-Based Lipids: Quantitation of Major Products and Kinetic Multilayer Modeling.

Commonly found in atmospheric aerosols, cooking oils, and human sebum, unsaturated lipids rapidly decay upon exposure to ozone, following the Criegee mechanism. Here, the gas-surface ozonolysis of three oleic acid-based compounds was studied in a reactor and indoors. Under dry conditions, quantitative product analyses by 1H NMR indicate up to 79% molar yield of stable secondary ozonides (SOZs) in oxidized triolein and methyl oleate coatings. Elevated relative humidity (RH) significantly suppresses the SOZ yields, enhancing the formation of condensed-phase aldehydes and volatile C9 products. Along with kinetic parameters informed by molecular dynamics simulations, these results were used as constraints in a kinetic multilayer model (KM-GAP) simulating triolein ozonolysis. Covering a wide range of coating thicknesses and ozone levels, the model predicts a much faster decay near the gas-lipid interface compared to the bulk. Although the dependence of RH on SOZ yields is well predicted, the model overestimates the production of H2O2 and aldehydes. With negligible dependence on RH, the product composition for oxidized oleic acid is substantially affected by a competitive reaction between Criegee intermediates (CIs) and carboxylic acids. The resulting α-acyloxyalkyl hydroperoxides (α-AAHPs) have much higher molar yields (29-38%) than SOZs (12-16%). Overall, the ozone-lipid chemistry could affect the indoor environment through "crust" accumulation on surfaces and volatile organic compound (VOC) emission. In the atmosphere, the peroxide formation and changes in particle hygroscopicity may have effects on climate. The related health impacts are also discussed.

Abnormal resting-state functional connectivity of the insula in medication-free patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

BACKGROUND: The function of the insula has been increasingly mentioned in neurocircuitry models of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) for its role in affective processing and regulating anxiety and its wide interactions with the classic cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical circuit. However, the insular resting-state functional connectivity patterns in OCD remain unclear. Therefore, we aimed to investigate characteristic intrinsic connectivity alterations of the insula in OCD and their associations with clinical features. METHODS: We obtained resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data from 85 drug-free OCD patients and 85 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs). We performed a general linear model to compare the whole-brain intrinsic functional connectivity maps of the bilateral insula between the OCD and HC groups. In addition, we further explored the relationship between the intrinsic functional connectivity alterations of the insula and clinical features using Pearson or Spearman correlation analysis. RESULTS: Compared with HCs, patients with OCD exhibited increased intrinsic connectivity between the bilateral insula and bilateral precuneus gyrus extending to the inferior parietal lobule and supplementary motor area. Decreased intrinsic connectivity was only found between the right insula and bilateral lingual gyrus in OCD patients relative to HC subjects, which was negatively correlated with the severity of depression symptoms in the OCD group. CONCLUSION: In the current study, we identified impaired insular intrinsic connectivity in OCD patients and the dysconnectivity of the right insula and bilateral lingual gyrus associated with the depressive severity of OCD patients. These findings provide neuroimaging evidence for the involvement of the insula in OCD and suggest its potential role in the depressive symptoms of OCD.

Study of Chemical Compositions and Anticancer Effects of Paris polyphylla var. Chinensis Leaves.

Paris polyphylla var. chinensis (Franch.) Hara is a perennial herb belonging to the Trilliaceae family. Ultraperformance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC/Q-TOF MS) was used to detect the composition of different fractions of Paris polyphylla var. chinensis leaves. Meanwhile, the extracts of different fractions were evaluated for their cytotoxic activities against four selected human cancer cell lines and one human normal epithelial cell line based on the MTT assay method. Multivariate statistical analysis was performed to screen differential compounds and to analyze the distributions between different fractions. Finally, more than 60 compounds were obtained and identified from the different fractions of Paris polyphylla var. chinensis leaves, and the chloroform and n-butanol extracts showed significant cytotoxic effects on these four cancer cells. Several compounds were preliminarily identified from different fractions, including 36 steroidal saponins, 11 flavonoids, 10 ceramides, 8 lipids, 6 organic acids, and 8 other compounds. Various compounds were screened out as different chemical components of different fractions, which were considered as a potential substance basis for the cytotoxicity of Paris polyphylla var. chinensis leaves.

Comparison of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) alone and combined with embolisation for the management of cardiofundal varices: a retrospective study.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the efficacy of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) with and without adjunctive embolisation in managing cardiofundal varices bleeding. METHODS: The retrospective study comprised 82 patients (54 men; mean age 53.9 years; mean Model of End-stage Liver Disease score 9.3) with cardiofundal varices bleeding who underwent TIPS creation from 2011 to 2015. Variceal rebleeding, the outflow tracts of varices, overt hepatic encephalopathy (HE) and post-procedure varices patency were assessed. RESULTS: Gastrorenal shunt was present in 92.7% of patients (n = 76). Embolisation was performed in 67.1% of patients (n = 55). The 1- and 2-year variceal rebleeding rates in the TIPS combined with embolisation group were significantly lower than those in the TIPS alone group (3.8% and 13.4% vs 13.0% and 28.0%, respectively; p = 0.041). No significant differences between the two groups were found in the cardiofundal varices patency, overt HE or survival (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that TIPS combined with embolisation can reduce the risk of variceal rebleeding for patients with cardiofundal varices. KEY POINTS: • TIPS combined with embolisation reduces the risk of rebleeding in treating cardiofundal varices. • TIPS combined with embolisation could not completely occlude cardiofundal varices. • TIPS combined with embolisation could not prevent the development of hepatic encephalopathy.

Kinetics and Condensed-Phase Products in Multiphase Ozonolysis of an Unsaturated Triglyceride.

Ozone is an important oxidant in the environment. To study the nature of multiphase ozonolysis, an unsaturated triglyceride, triolein, of the type present in skin oil, biological membranes, and most cooking oils was oxidized by gas-phase ozone on a surface. A high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS) method was developed for analyzing triolein and its oxidized products. Upon exposure to ozone, the decay of thin coatings of triolein was observed, accompanied by the formation of functionalized condensed-phase products including secondary ozonides (SOZ), acids, and aldehydes. By studying the reaction kinetics as a function of average coating thickness and ozone mixing ratio, we determined that the reactive uptake coefficient (γ) is on the order of 10-6 to 10-5. It is also concluded that the reaction occurs in the bulk without a major interfacial component, and the reacto-diffusive depth of ozone in the triolein coating is estimated to be between 8 and 40 nm. The specific nature of the reaction products is affected by the reactions of the Criegee intermediate formed during ozonolysis. In particular, although an increase in the relative humidity to 50% from dry conditions has no effect on the kinetics of triolein decay, the yield of SOZs is significantly depressed, indicating reactions of the Criegee intermediates to form hydroperoxides. Once formed, the SOZ products are thermally stable over periods of at least 48 h at room temperature but decomposition was observed under simulated outdoor sunlight, likely forming organic acids. From an environmental perspective, this chemistry indicates that SOZs and other oxygenates will form via ozonolysis of oily indoor surfaces and skin oil.

Comparative Transcriptome Analysis Identifies Genes Involved in Diosgenin Biosynthesis in Trigonella foenum-graecum L.

Trigonella foenum-graecum L. (fenugreek) is a valuable resource of producing diosgenin which serves as a substrate for synthesizing more than two hundred kinds of steroidal drugs. Phytochemical analysis indicated that methyl jasmonate (MeJA) efficiently induced diosgenin biosynthesis in fenugreek seedlings. Though early steps up to cholesterol have recently been elucidated in plants, cytochrome P450 (CYP)- and glycosyltransferase (GT)-encoding genes involved in the late steps from cholesterol to diosgenin remain unknown. This study established comparative fenugreek transcriptome datasets from the MeJA-treated seedlings and the corresponding control lines. Differential gene expression analysis identified a number of MeJA-induced CYP and GT candidate genes. Further gene expression pattern analysis across a different MeJA-treating time points, together with a phylogenetic analysis, suggested specific family members of CYPs and GTs that may participate in the late steps during diosgenin biosynthesis. MeJA-induced transcription factors (TFs) that may play regulatory roles in diosgenin biosynthesis were also discussed. This study provided a valuable genetic resource to functionally characterize the genes involved in diosgenin biosynthesis, which will push forward the production of diosgenin in microbial organisms using a promising synthetic biology strategy.

Association between perfluoroalkyl substances and breast cancer on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Database and meta-analysis.

The relationship between perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and the risk of breast cancer has been controversial. Here, we used the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database and a meta-analysis to examine the association between PFASs and breast cancer incidence. From the NHANES database, we obtained data on PFASs and breast cancer from 2003 to 2014. We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and PsycINFO from the establishment of the databases to August 24, 2023, for research on PFASs related to breast cancer. A meta-analysis was performed using Stata 12.0. A total of 1430 subjects aged 20 years or older were selected from the NHANES. The logistic regression results indicated that there was no correlation between breast cancer and PFASs (P > 0.05). The meta-analysis, included nine studies with a total of 2399 breast cancer patients, included in the meta-analysis, revealed no statistically significant association between PFASs and the risk of breast cancer (odds ratio = 1.04; 95 % confidence interval, 0.88-1.21; P > 0.05). The results show that PFASs are not associated with breast cancer risk.

Molecular Chain Rearrangement-Induced In Situ Formation of Nanofibers for Improving the Strength and Toughness of Hydrogels.

Although poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogel has high elasticity and is suitable for cartilage tissue engineering, it is difficult to have both high strength and toughness. In this study, a simple and universal strategy is proposed to prepare strong and tough PVA hydrogels by in situ forming nanofibers on the original network structure induced by a molecular chain rearrangement. Quenching-tempering alteratively in ethanol and water several times is carried out to strengthen PVA hydrogels (PVA-Etn hydrogels) due to the advantages of noncovalent bonds in adjustability and reversibility. The results show that, after three quenching-tempering cycles, PVA-Et3 hydrogel with water content up to 79 wt % shows comprehensive improved mechanical properties. The compression modulus, tensile modulus, fracture strength, tensile strain, and tear energy of the PVA-Et3 hydrogel are 270, 250, 260, 130, and 180% of the initial PVA hydrogel, respectively. The improved mechanical properties of the PVA-Et3 hydrogel are attributed to the strong cross-linked PVA chains and hydrogen bond-reinforced nanofibers. This study not only provides a simple and efficient solution for the preparation of strong and tough polymer scaffolds in tissue engineering but also provides new insights for understanding the mechanism of improving the mechanical properties of polymer hydrogels by adjusting the molecular structure.

Embryo thermal manipulation modifies development and hepatic lipid metabolism in post-hatch layer-type chicks.

Incubation temperature is a crucial environmental factor affecting embryonic development and chick quality. Metabolism during the embryonic stage, particularly liver lipid metabolism, is essential for the growth and development of poultry. This study aimed to investigate the effects of embryo thermal manipulation with high (TMH, 39.5 °C, 65% RH, 8 h/d) and low (TML, 20 °C, 65% RH, 1 h/d) temperatures during 8th to 15th embryonic age on hatching performance and liver lipid metabolism in layer chicks. Additionally, the duration of TM effects was evaluated through a short-term feeding trial. The results indicated that TMH accelerated the hatching process without significantly affecting hatchability and growth performance. In contrast, TML delayed hatching time and significantly reduced hatchability and chick quality. After hatching, TML also increased residual yolk weight and reduced the relative liver weight in relation to body weight and yolk-free body mass. Moreover, lipid droplets in the liver were stained with Oil Red O, and the lipid content in the liver and serum was further detected. TMH had no significant impact on triglyceride (TG) and total-cholesterol (TCHO) content in the liver and serum but upregulated the expression of lipogenesis-related genes ACC, Fas, and Fatp1 compared to the TML group. Conversely, TML significantly reduced liver TG content, enhanced lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity, and promoted the expression of lipid oxidation-related genes CPT-1, PGC-1α, and PPARα. At 7 d of age, liver LPL activity was significantly increased in the TMH group. However, there were no significant changes in the content of TG and TCHO in the liver and the expression of lipid metabolism-related genes in the TML group. Overall, these results indicate that embryonic TM alters hatching performance and liver lipid metabolism in layer chicks. TML reduces TG content by increasing liver lipid oxidation capacity. However, this effect is not long-lasting, as the influence of TM diminishes as the chicks develop.

Incubation temperature is a crucial environmental factor affecting embryonic development and chick quality. The liver is the primary tissue of lipid metabolism in poultry. During incubation, it is responsible for converting yolk fatty acids into forms usable by the embryo. However, it remains unclear whether changes in embryonic incubation temperature can affect liver lipid utilization. This study aimed to investigate the effects of embryo thermal manipulation with high temperature and low temperature on the hatching performance and liver lipid metabolism of layer chicks. The results showed that high incubation temperature had limited effects on hatchability and liver lipid metabolism, while low incubation temperatures not only delayed hatching time and significantly reduced hatchability, but also altered liver lipid metabolism and promoted the expression of genes related to lipid oxidation. However, these changes weakened or even disappeared as the chicks grew. This suggests that while embryo thermal manipulation affects the hatching performance and liver lipid metabolism of layer-type chicks, these effects are not persistent.

Toward early intervention based on age-specific vision checkups: A vision impairment survey in Yantai, China.

The prevalence of myopia among children and adolescents is currently rising to alarming levels (>80%) in China. This study used several routinely collected demographic factors to quantify myopia and glass-wearing rates for primary and secondary school students. We identified myopia risk factors and proposed new aspects for early intervention. This study was a cross-sectional survey of myopia and glass-wearing rates for students (6-18 years old) in Yantai, China. We collected both vision (vision acuity [VA] and spherical equivalence [SE]) and glass-wearing information to establish respective logistic models for quantifying myopia and glass-wearing rate. We further propose a joint decision region (VA, SE, age) to guide early intervention. Among 10,276 children, 63% had myopia (65% wore glasses). The prevalence of myopia increases with age and levels off during adulthood. Females had a higher overall prevalence rate than males (P < .001). The rural age mode (≈15.5) is about 2 years larger than the urban age (≈13.5) for myopia students. For the myopia rate, in the age ≤14.5, the linear age effect was significant (odds ratio [OR] = 1.73, P < .0001), males had a significant negative baseline effect at the start of schooling (vs. females) (OR = 0.68, P < .0001), and the urban group had a significant positive baseline effect (vs. rural) (OR = 1.39, P < .0001). The correlation between VA and SE increases with age and has a directional shift (from negative to positive) at ages 8 to 9. For the glass-wearing rate, age had a significant positive effect (OR = 1.25, P < .0001), VA had a significant negative effect (OR = 0.002, P < .0001), and body mass index had a slightly significant positive effect (OR = 1.02, P = .03). Urban female have a higher myopia rate than rural male at the start of schooling, and vocational high school has improved vision upon high school. Body mass index was not a significant factor for myopia. The myopia rate model is specific to age range (separated at 14.5 years old). Students of lower ages are less likely to wear glasses for correction, and this may require intervention. The temporal age-specific (VA, SE) correlations and joint distributions strengthen the speculation in the literature that age 8 to 9 is a critical intervention period and motivates us to propose a rigorous intervention decision region for (age, VA, and SE) which mainly applies for this tight age period.

Reinforced dentin remineralization via a novel dual-affinity peptide.

OBJECTIVES: In light of the constantly flowing saliva, anti-caries remineralization agents are inclined to be taken away. Owing to their limited residence time, the remineralization effect is not as desirable as expected. Hence, our study aimed to synthesize a novel peptide (DGP) with high affinity to both collagen fibrils and hydroxyapatite, and investigated its dentin remineralization efficacy in vitro and anti-caries capability in vivo. METHODS: DGP was synthesized through Fmoc solid-phase reaction. The binding ability and interaction mechanism of DGP to demineralized dentin were investigated. Dentin specimens were demineralized, then treated with DGP and deionized water respectively. The specimens were incubated in artificial saliva and in-vitro remineralization effectiveness was analyzed after 14 days. The rat caries model was established to further scrutinize the in-vivo efficacy of caries prevention. RESULTS: DGP possesses an enhanced adhesion force of 12.29 ± 1.12 nN to demineralized dentin. The favorable adsorption capacity is ascribed to the stable hydrogen bonds between S2P-101 and ASP-100 of DGP and GLY33 and PRO-16 of collagen fibers. Abundant mineral deposits and remarkable tubule occlusion were observed in the DGP group. DGP-treated dentin obtained notable microhardness recovery and higher mineral content after a 14-day remineralization regimen. DGP also demonstrated potent caries prevention in vivo, with substantially fewer carious lesions and significantly lower Keyes scoring. SIGNIFICANCE: DGP proves to possess a high affinity to demineralized dentin regardless of saliva flowing, thus enhancing remineralization potency significantly in vitro and in vivo, potential for dental caries prevention and combatting initial dentin caries clinically.

Fusion of two homoleptic truncated tetrahedra into a heteroleptic truncated octahedron.

The exploration of novel structures and structural transformation of supramolecular assemblies is of vital importance for their functions and applications. Herein, based on coordination-driven self-assembly, we prepare a neutral truncated tetrahedron and a heteroleptic truncated octahedron, whose structures are unambiguously confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis. More importantly, the truncated tetrahedron is quantitatively transformed into the truncated octahedron through its fusion with another cationic truncated tetrahedron, as evidenced by fluorescence, mass and NMR spectroscopy. This study not only deepens our understanding of the process of supramolecular fusion but also opens up possibilities for the subsequent preparation of advanced supramolecular assemblies with complex structures and integrated functions.

Exploring Naturally Tailored Bacterial Outer Membrane Vesicles for Selective Bacteriostatic Implant Coatings.

In treating infectious diseases, achieving selective bacterial inhibition is crucial for preserving the microecological equilibrium. The current approaches predominantly rely on synthetic materials tailored to specific bacteria, considering their cell walls or oxygen requirements. Herein, inspired by intricate bacterial communication, a natural implant is proposed coating utilizing bacterial outer membrane vesicles (OMVs), essential components in bacterial signaling, integrated onto diverse implant surfaces through a universal poly (tannic acid) bridging layer. This coating is homogenous and stable, unexpectedly promoting the proliferation of parental bacteria while inhibiting heterologous bacteria both in vitro and in vivo. Through high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics analysis, the selective bacteriostatic ability arises from OMVs, upregulating anti-oxidative stress genes in heterologous bacteria and activating biofilm-related genes in parental bacteria. This study positions OMVs as an appealing biomaterial for selective bacterial inhibition through a biological approach, showcasing their potential in regulating the microecological balance through a natural interface modification strategy.

Multivariate analysis for data mining to characterize poultry house environment in winter.

The processing and analysis of massive high-dimensional datasets are important issues in precision livestock farming (PLF). This study explored the use of multivariate analysis tools to analyze environmental data from multiple sensors located throughout a broiler house. An experiment was conducted to collect a comprehensive set of environmental data including particulate matter (TSP, PM10, and PM2.5), ammonia, carbon dioxide, air temperature, relative humidity, and in-cage and aisle wind speeds from 60 locations in a typical commercial broiler house. The dataset was divided into 3 growth phases (wk 1-3, 4-6, and 7-9). Spearman's correlation analysis and principal component analysis (PCA) were used to investigate the latent associations between environmental variables resulting in the identification of variables that played important roles in indoor air quality. Three cluster analysis methods; k-means, k-medoids, and fuzzy c-means cluster analysis (FCM), were used to group the measured parameters based on their environmental impact in the broiler house. In general, the Spearman and PCA results showed that the in-cage wind speed, aisle wind speed, and relative humidity played critical roles in indoor air quality distribution during broiler rearing. All 3 clustering methods were found to be suitable for grouping data, with FCM outperforming the other 2. Using data clustering, the broiler house spaces were divided into 3, 2, and 2 subspaces (clusters) for wk 1 to 3, 4 to 6, and 7 to 9, respectively. The subspace in the center of the house had a poorer air quality than other subspaces.