Novel Ag@NH2-UiO-66(Zr) photocatalyst with controllable charge transfer pathways for efficient Cr(VI) remediation.

Rational fabrication of core-shell photocatalysts to hamper the charge recombination is extraordinarily essential to enhance photocatalytic activity. In this work, core-shell Ag@NH2-UiO-66 (Ag@NU) Schottky heterojunctions with low Ag content (1 wt%) were constructed by a two-step solvothermal method and adopted for Cr(VI) reduction under LED light. Typically, the one with the Ag: NH2-UiO-66 mass ratio (1 : 100) led to 100% Cr(VI) removal within 1 h, superior to bare NH2-UiO-66 and Ag/NH2-UiO-66 (Ag was directly decorated on NH2-UiO-66 surface). The enhanced photocatalytic activity was related to the migration of the electrons on the CB of NH2-UiO-66 to Ag NPs through a Schottky barrier, and thus the undesired charge carriers recombination was avoided. This result was also evidenced by Density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The computational simulations indicate that the introduction of Ag effectively narrowed the band gap of NH2-UiO-66, facilitating the transfer of photo-generated electrons, expanding the light absorption area, and significantly enhancing photocatalytic efficiency. Most importantly, such a core-shell structure can inhibit the formation of •O2-, letting the direct Cr(VI) reduction by photo-excited e-. In addition, this structure can also protect Ag from being oxidized by O2. Ten cyclic tests evidenced the Ag@NU had excellent chemical and structural stability. This research offers a novel strategy for regulating the Cr(VI) reduction by establishing core-shell photocatalytic materials.

Gut microbiome: a novel preventive and therapeutic target for prostatic disease.

The human gut microbiome (GM) impacts various physiological processes and can lead to pathological conditions and even carcinogenesis if homeostasis is disrupted. Recent studies have indicated a connection between the GM and prostatic disease. However, the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. This review aims to provide a summary of the existing information regarding the connection between the GM and various prostatic conditions such as chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS), benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and prostate cancer (PCa). Furthermore, the review aims to identify possible pathogenic mechanisms and suggest potential ways of targeting GM to prevent and treat prostatic disease. Due to the complexity of the mechanism between GM and prostatic diseases, additional research is required to comprehend the association between the two. This will lead to more effective treatment options for prostatic disease.

Identification of ActivinßA and Gonadotropin Regulation of the Activin System in the Ovary of Chinese Sturgeon Acipenser sinensis.

Activin is a dimeric growth factor with diverse biological activities in vertebrates. This study aimed to investigate the regulatory role of the activin signaling pathway in the ovary of the endangered, cultured sturgeon species Acipenser sinensis. One activinßA subunit was identified, with a full-length complementary DNA (cDNA) sequence of 1572 base pairs. Multiple sequence alignment suggested that ActivinßA shared high sequence identities with its counterparts in four other sturgeon species. Phylogenetic analysis indicated the conserved evolution of ActivinßA among vertebrates from mammals to fish species. Transcripts of activinßA were distributed ubiquitously in the liver, kidney, intestine, ovary, midbrain, hypothalamus, and pituitary, with the highest transcription found in the pituitary. In Chinese sturgeon ovarian cells, in vitro human recombinant Activin A incubation stimulated the activin system-related gene transcriptions of activinßA, follistatin, its receptors -activinRIIA and activinRIIB, and drosophila mothers against decapentaplegic proteins (smads) smad2, smad3, and smad4. Ovary development-related mRNA levels of cyp19a1a and aromatase receptors of erα and erß were enhanced by Activin A or human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) incubation. Furthermore, 15 IU/mL hCG treatment increased the transcription levels of activinßA, follistatin, activinRIIA, and smad2. This suggested that the activin system was functional for the regulation of ovary development in Chinese sturgeon, possibly under the regulation of gonadotropin, by recruiting activinßA, follistatin, activinRIIA, and smad2. These results were helpful for the molecular exploration of activin signaling in fish species, as well as the ovarian maturation regulation of A. sinensis.

Fucoxanthin Inhibits the Proliferation and Metastasis of Human Pharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma by Regulating the PI3K/Akt/mTOR Signaling Pathway.

Human pharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HPSCC) is the most common malignancy in the head and neck region, characterized by high mortality and a propensity for metastasis. Fucoxanthin, a carotenoid isolated from brown algae, exhibits pharmacological properties associated with the suppression of tumor proliferation and metastasis. Nevertheless, its potential to inhibit HPSCC proliferation and metastasis has not been fully elucidated. This study represents the first exploration of the inhibitory effects of fucoxanthin on two human pharyngeal squamous carcinoma cell lines (FaDu and Detroit 562), as well as the mechanisms underlying those effects. The results showed dose-dependent decreases in the proliferation, migration, and invasion of HPSCC cells after fucoxanthin treatment. Further studies indicated that fucoxanthin caused a significant reduction in the expression levels of proteins in the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT)/mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway, as well as the downstream proteins matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9. Specific activators of PI3K/AKT reversed the effects of fucoxanthin on these proteins, as well as on cell proliferation and metastasis, in FaDu and Detroit 562 cells. Molecular docking assays confirmed that fucoxanthin strongly interacted with PI3K, AKT, mTOR, MMP-2, and MMP-9. Overall, fucoxanthin, a functional food component, is a potential therapeutic agent for HPSCC.

Integration of biological and information technologies to enhance plant autoluminescence.

Autoluminescent plants have been genetically modified to express the fungal bioluminescence pathway (FBP). However, a bottleneck in precursor production has limited the brightness of these luminescent plants. Here, we demonstrate the effectiveness of utilizing a computational model to guide a multiplex five-gene-silencing strategy by an artificial microRNA array to enhance caffeic acid and hispidin levels in plants. By combining loss-of-function-directed metabolic flux with a tyrosine-derived caffeic acid pathway, we achieved substantially enhanced bioluminescence levels. We successfully generated eFBP2 plants that emit considerably brighter bioluminescence for naked-eye reading by integrating all validated DNA modules. Our analysis revealed that the luminous energy conversion efficiency of the eFBP2 plants is currently very low, suggesting that luminescence intensity can be improved in future iterations. These findings highlight the potential to enhance plant luminescence through the integration of biological and information technologies.

Physical discharge of spent lithium-ion batteries induced copper dissolution and deposition.

Complete discharge of spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is a crucial step in LIB recycling, with the physical discharge method being particularly noted for its high discharge efficiency and environmental friendliness. However, previous studies and standards have focused on the performances of the discharge methods, neglecting the battery materials changes caused by discharge. Here we demonstrate that although prolonged discharge of spent batteries keeps the voltage around 0 V, an obvious current flow can be still observed, resulting from the dissolution and subsequent deposition of the copper foil. The deposited copper, primarily in the forms of Cu, Cu2O, and CuO, shows a gradient distribution on the surface of the anode and cathode active materials. This copper deposition significantly compromises the electrochemical performance of the discharged battery, with evident deterioration observed in the first charge-discharge capacity, cycling performance, and coulombic efficiency when compared to the original battery. This study provides guidance for the discharge methods and offers new insights into the materials failure mechanisms during discharge of spent batteries.

Early warning of atrial fibrillation using deep learning.

Atrial fibrillation (AF), the most prevalent cardiac rhythm disorder, significantly increases hospitalization and health risks. Reverting from AF to sinus rhythm (SR) often requires intensive interventions. This study presents a deep-learning model capable of predicting the transition from SR to AF on average 30.8 min before the onset appears, with an accuracy of 83% and an F1 score of 85% on the test data. This performance was obtained from R-to-R interval signals, which can be accessible from wearable technology. Our model, entitled Warning of Atrial Fibrillation (WARN), consists of a deep convolutional neural network trained and validated on 24-h Holter electrocardiogram data from 280 patients, with 70 additional patients used for testing and further evaluation on 33 patients from two external centers. The low computational cost of WARN makes it ideal for integration into wearable technology, allowing for continuous heart monitoring and early AF detection, which can potentially reduce emergency interventions and improve patient outcomes.

Cerium Vanadate Nanozyme with pH-Dependent Dual Enzymatic Activity for Glioblastoma Targeted Therapy and Postradiotherapy Damage Protection.

Nanocatalytic therapy is an emerging technology that uses synthetic nanoscale enzyme mimics for biomedical treatment. However, in the field of neuroscience, achieving neurological protection while simultaneously killing tumor cells is a technical challenge. Herein, we synthesized a biomimic and translational cerium vanadate (CeVO4) nanozyme for glioblastoma (GBM) therapy and the repair of brain damage after GBM ionizing radiation (IR). This system exhibited pH dependence: it showed potent Superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme activity in a neutral environment and Peroxidase (POD) enzyme activity in an acidic environment. In GBM cells, this system acted in lysosomes, causing cellular damage and reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation; in neuronal cells, this nanozyme could undergo lysosomal escape and nanozyme aggregation with mitochondria, reversing the mitochondrial damage caused by IR and restoring the expression level of the antiapoptotic BCL-2 protein. Mechanistically, we believe that this distribution difference is related to the specific uptake internalization mechanism and lysosomal repair pathway in neurons, and ultimately led to the dual effect of tumor killing and nerve repair in the in vivo model. In summary, this study provides insight into the repair of brain damage after GBM radiation therapy.

Fucoxanthin Induces Ferroptosis in Cancer Cells via Downregulation of the Nrf2/HO-1/GPX4 Pathway.

This study investigated the mechanism by which fucoxanthin acts as a novel ferroptosis inducer to inhibit tongue cancer. The MTT assay was used to detect the inhibitory effects of fucoxanthin on SCC-25 human tongue squamous carcinoma cells. The levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), and total iron were measured. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western blotting were used to assess glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), Keap1, solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11), transferrin receptor protein 1 (TFR1), p53, and heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) expression. Molecular docking was performed to validate interactions. Compared with the control group, the activity of fucoxanthin-treated SCC-25 cells significantly decreased in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The levels of MMP, GSH, and SOD significantly decreased in fucoxanthin-treated SCC-25 cells; the levels of ROS, MDA, and total iron significantly increased. mRNA and protein expression levels of Keap1, GPX4, Nrf2, and HO-1 in fucoxanthin-treated cells were significantly decreased, whereas levels of TFR1 and p53 were significantly increased, in a concentration-dependent manner. Molecular docking analysis revealed that binding free energies of fucoxanthin with p53, SLC7A11, GPX4, Nrf2, Keap1, HO-1, and TFR1 were below -5 kcal/mol, primarily based on active site hydrogen bonding. Our findings suggest that fucoxanthin can induce ferroptosis in SCC-25 cells, highlighting its potential as a treatment for tongue cancer.

Optimizing the Biocompatibility of PLLA Stent Materials: Strategy with Biomimetic Coating.

Background: Poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) stents have broad application prospects in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases due to their excellent mechanical properties and biodegradability. However, foreign body reactions caused by stent implantation remain a bottleneck that limits the clinical application of PLLA stents. To solve this problem, the biocompatibility of PLLA stents must be urgently improved. Albumin, the most abundant inert protein in the blood, possesses the ability to modify the surface of biomaterials, mitigating foreign body reactions-a phenomenon described as the "stealth effect". In recent years, a strategy based on albumin camouflage has become a focal point in nanomedicine delivery and tissue engineering research. Therefore, albumin surface modification is anticipated to enhance the surface biological characteristics required for vascular stents. However, the therapeutic applicability of this modification has not been fully explored. Methods: Herein, a bionic albumin (PDA-BSA) coating was constructed on the surface of PLLA by a mussel-inspired surface modification technique using polydopamine (PDA) to enhance the immobilization of bovine serum albumin (BSA). Results: Surface characterization revealed that the PDA-BSA coating was successfully constructed on the surface of PLLA materials, significantly improving their hydrophilicity. Furthermore, in vivo and in vitro studies demonstrated that this PDA-BSA coating enhanced the anticoagulant properties and pro-endothelialization effects of the PLLA material surface while inhibiting the inflammatory response and neointimal hyperplasia at the implantation site. Conclusion: These findings suggest that the PDA-BSA coating provides a multifunctional biointerface for PLLA stent materials, markedly improving their biocompatibility. Further research into the diverse applications of this coating in vascular implants is warranted.

Association between cathepsins and benign prostate diseases: a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization study.

Objectives: The relationship between cathepsins and prostate cancer (PCa) has been reported. However, there is a lack of research on cathepsins and benign prostate diseases (BPDs). This study investigated the potential genetic link between cathepsins and BPDs through the utilization of Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to determine if a causal relationship exists. Methods: Publicly accessible summary statistics on BPDs were obtained from FinnGen Biobank. The data comprised 149,363 individuals, with 30,066 cases and 119,297 controls for BPH, and 123,057 individuals, with 3,760 cases and 119,297 controls for prostatitis. The IEU OpenGWAS provided the Genome-wide association data on ten cathepsins. To evaluate the causal relationship between BPDs and cathepsins, five distinct MR analyses were employed, with the primary method being the inverse variance weighted (IVW) approach. Additionally, sensitivity analyses were conducted to examine the horizontal pleiotropy and heterogeneity of the findings. Results: The examination of IVW MR findings showed that cathepsin O had a beneficial effect on BPH (IVW OR=0.94, 95% CI 0.89-0.98, P=0.0055), while cathepsin X posed a threat to prostatitis (IVW OR=1.08, 95% CI 1.00-1.16, P=0.047). Through reverse MR analysis, it was revealed that prostatitis had an adverse impact on cathepsin V (IVW OR=0.89, 95% CI 0.80-0.99, P=0.035), while no favorable association was observed between BPH and cathepsins. The results obtained from MR-Egger, weighted median, simple mode, and weighted mode methods were consistent with the findings of the IVW approach. Based on sensitivity analyses, heterogeneity, and horizontal pleiotropy are unlikely to distort the results. Conclusion: This study offers the initial evidence of a genetic causal link between cathepsins and BPDs. Our findings revealed that cathepsin O was beneficial in preventing BPH, whereas cathepsin X posed a potential threat to prostatitis. Additionally, prostatitis negatively affected cathepsin V level. These three cathepsins could be targets of diagnosis and treatment for BPDs, which need further research.

Wavelength Division Multiplexing-Based High-Sensitivity Surface Plasmon Resonance Imaging Biosensor for High-Throughput Real-Time Molecular Interaction Analysis.

In this study, we report the successful development of a novel high-sensitivity intensity-based Surface Plasmon Resonance imaging (SPRi) biosensor and its application for detecting molecular interactions. By optimizing the excitation wavelength and employing a wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) algorithm, the system can determine the optimal excitation wavelength based on the initial refractive index of the sample without adjusting the incidence angle. The experimental results demonstrate that the refractive index resolution of the system reaches 1.77×10-6 RIU. Moreover, it can obtain the optimal excitation wavelength for samples with an initial refractive index in the range of 1.333 to 1.370 RIU and accurately monitor variations within the range of 0.0037 RIU without adjusting the incidence angle. Additionally, our new SPRi technique realized real-time detection of high-throughput biomolecular binding processes, enabling analysis of kinetic parameters. This research is expected to advance the development of more accurate SPRi technologies for molecular interaction analysis.

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.

Side Reactions/Changes in Lithium-Ion Batteries: Mechanisms and Strategies for Creating Safer and Better Batteries.

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), in which lithium ions function as charge carriers, are considered the most competitive energy storage devices due to their high energy and power density. However, battery materials, especially with high capacity undergo side reactions and changes that result in capacity decay and safety issues. A deep understanding of the reactions that cause changes in the battery's internal components and the mechanisms of those reactions is needed to build safer and better batteries. This review focuses on the processes of battery failures, with voltage and temperature as the underlying factors. Voltage-induced failures result from anode interfacial reactions, current collector corrosion, cathode interfacial reactions, overcharge, and over-discharge, while temperature-induced failure mechanisms include SEI decomposition, separator damage, and interfacial reactions between electrodes and electrolytes. The review also presents protective strategies for controlling these reactions. As a result, the reader is offered a comprehensive overview of the safety features and failure mechanisms of various LIB components.

A Biomimetic Fibrous Composite Scaffold with Nanotopography-Regulated Mineralization for Bone Defect Repair.

The effective regeneration of large bone defects via bone tissue engineering is challenging due to the difficulty in creating an osteogenic microenvironment. Inspired by the fibrillar architecture of the natural extracellular matrix, we developed a nanoscale bioengineering strategy to produce bone fibril-like composite scaffolds with enhanced osteogenic capability. To activate the surface for biofunctionalization, self-adaptive ridge-like nanolamellae were constructed on poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) electrospinning scaffolds via surface-directed epitaxial crystallization. This unique nanotopography with a markedly increased specific surface area offered abundant nucleation sites for Ca2+ recruitment, leading to a 5-fold greater deposition weight of hydroxyapatite than that of the pristine PCL scaffold under stimulated physiological conditions. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) cultured on bone fibril-like scaffolds exhibited enhanced adhesion, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation in vitro. In a rat calvarial defect model, the bone fibril-like scaffold significantly accelerated bone regeneration, as evidenced by micro-CT, histological histological and immunofluorescence staining. This work provides the way for recapitulating the osteogenic microenvironment in tissue-engineered scaffolds for bone repair.

Slow-Release Effect Assisted Crystallization for Sequential Deposition Realizes Efficient Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells.

The two-step sequential deposition strategy has been widely recognized in promoting the research and application of perovskite solar cells, but the rapid reaction of organic salts with lead iodide inevitably affects the growth of perovskite crystals, accompanied by the generation of more defects. In this study, the regulation of crystal growth was achieved in a two-step deposition method by mixing 1-naphthylmethylammonium bromide (NMABr) with organic salts. The results show that the addition of NMABr effectively delays the aggregation and crystallization behavior of organic salts; thereby, the growth of the optimal crystal (001) orientation of perovskite is promoted. Based on this phenomenon of delaying the crystallization process of perovskite, the "slow-release effect assisted crystallization" is defined. Moreover, the incorporation of the Br element expands the band gap of perovskite and mitigates material defects as nonradiative recombination centers. Consequently, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the enhanced perovskite solar cells (PSCs) reaches 20.20%. It is noteworthy that the hydrophobic nature of the naphthalene moiety in NMABr can enhance the humidity resistance of PSCs, and the perovskite phase does not decompose for more than 3000 h (30-40% RH), enabling it to retain 90% of its initial efficiency even after exposure to a nitrogen environment for 1200 h.

Evaluation of the deteriorating effects of microbial primary metabolites on silk fibres.

The silk biodegradation process remains unclear and requires elucidation with advanced analytical tools. To address this challenge, the role of microbial primary metabolites in the deterioration of ancient silk was investigated using metabolomics and proteomics techniques in this work. The oxalic and palmitic acids were separately identified as the most abundant organic and fatty acid metabolites for silk-fabric deterioration via metabolomics. Proteomics showed that oxalic acid accelerated the degradation of silk proteins, revealing changes at the molecular level in silk. A high concentration of oxalic acid promoted the dissolution of peptides by activating the cleavage activity of various amino acids on the molecular chain of silk protein. Palmitic acid formed sedimentary particulate matter with peptides solubilised from silk proteins, indicating the possibility that traces of ancient-silk proteins remained in the fatty acids. The work presented new techniques and concepts for studying the degradation of historical fabrics and contributed to the proposal of effective measures to prevent microbial attack on silk.

The Effects of Dietary n-3 Highly Unsaturated Fatty Acids on Growth, Antioxidant Capacity, Immunity, and Oxylipin Profiles in Acipenser dabryanus.

Currently, the effects of dietary levels of n-3 highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFAs) on the growth performance, antioxidant capacity, immunity, and serum oxylipin profiles of female F2-generation Yangtze sturgeon remain unknown. A total of 75 Yangtze sturgeons, an endangered freshwater fish species, with an average body weight of 3.60 ± 0.83 kg, were randomly allocated to 15 concrete pools, with each dietary group represented by 5 fish per pool. The fish were fed five different experimental diets containing various levels of n-3 HUFAs (0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, 2.0%, and 2.4%). After a feeding period of 5 months, no significant differences in the growth performances of the fish were observed among the five dietary groups (p > 0.05). However, we did note that the serum levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides (TGs), and total cholesterol (TCHO) exhibited a marked increase in the fish that consumed higher dietary n-3 HUFA levels (p < 0.05). Conversely, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities showed a notable decrease as dietary n-3 HUFA levels increased (p < 0.05). Serum antioxidant indices, such as the activity levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), were significantly higher in the 2.4% HUFA group compared to the 0.5% HUFA group. Additionally, muscle antioxidant indices, including total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), catalase (CAT), and SOD activity, exhibited notable increases as dietary n-3 HUFA levels increased (p < 0.05). Furthermore, there was a decrease in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels as dietary n-3 HUFA levels increased (p < 0.05). In relation to immune indices, only serum immunoglobulin M (IgM) and muscle complement 3 (C3) were found to be influenced by dietary n-3 HUFA levels (p < 0.05). A total of 80 oxylipins were quantified, and our subsequent K-means cluster analysis resulted in the classification of 62 oxylipins into 10 subclasses. Among the different n-3 HUFA diets, a total of 14 differential oxylipins were identified in the sera. These findings demonstrate that dietary supplementation with n-3 HUFAs exceeding a 1.0% level can enhance antioxidant capacity and regulate serum lipid metabolism, potentially through modulation of oxylipins derived from ARA, DHA, and EPA. These insights provide novel perspectives on the mechanisms underlying these observations.

[Development the agricultural synthesis biology course for postgraduates].

To attain the aims of high-quality agricultural development, the Ministry of Education is in the process of establishing master's and doctoral programs in biological breeding engineering at universities with a strong agricultural focus. These programs will incorporate a dedicated course on agricultural synthetic biology, aiming to equip graduate students with the ability to tackle critical scientific and technological challenges in biological breeding while fostering innovations in agriculture. The course places emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration, innovation, and the practical application of new advancement, ensuring compatibility with both domestic and international agricultural standards in the future.