Rapid detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis based on cyp141 via real-time fluorescence loop-mediated isothermal amplification (cyp141-RealAmp).

Background: The rapid detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) is essential for controlling tuberculosis. Methods We designed a portable thermocycler-based real-time fluorescence loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay (cyp141-RealAmp) using six oligonucleotide primers derived from cyp141 to detect MTB. A combined number of 213 sputum samples (169 obtained from clinically diagnosed cases of pulmonary TB and 44 from a control group without tuberculosis) underwent Acid-fast bacillus (AFB) smear, culture, Xpert MTB/RIF assays, and cyp141-RealAmp assay. Results: By targeting MTB cyp141, this technique could detect as low as 10 copies/reaction within 30 min, and it was successfully rejected by other mycobacteria and other bacterial species tested. Of the 169 patients, there was no statistical difference between the detection rate of cyp141-RealAmp (92.90%, 95% CI: 89.03-96.07) and that of Xpert MTB/RIF (94.67%, 95% CI: 91.28-98.06) (P > 0.05), but both were statistically higher than that of culture (65.68%, 95% CI: 58.52-72.84) (P< 0.05) and AFB (57.40%, 95% CI: 49.94-64.86) (P< 0.05). Both cyp141-RealAmp and Xpert MTB/RIF had a specificity of 100%. Furthermore, a high concordance between cyp141-RealAmp and Xpert MTB/RIF was found (Kappa = 0.89). Conclusion: The cyp141-RealAmp assay was shown to be effective, responsive, and accurate in this study. This method offers a prospective strategy for the speedy and precise detection of MTB.

Three new flavonoids from the roots of Sophora tonkinensis.

Three new flavonoids including two isoflavanones sophortones A and B (1 and 2), and one chalcone sophortone C (3) were isolated from the roots of Sophora tonkinensis. Their structures were established by UV, IR, HRESIMS, and NMR data. The absolute configurations of 1 and 2 were determined by electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations.

[Spatiotemporal Pattern and Influencing Factors of Thermal Environment Based on SEM Model: A Case Study in Xi'an Metropolitan Area].

The urban thermal environment is an important indicator for evaluating the ecological environment of a city. It directly affects the health of residents and the sustainable development of the urban economy. However, there is currently a lack of analysis on the impact pathways of the thermal environment considering both natural and human factors. Based on the MODIS MYD11A2 land surface temperature data, meteorological data, and human activity data of Xi'an metropolitan area in 2020, ArcGIS spatial geostatistical analysis was used to study the temporal and spatial distribution pattern of the thermal environment in different seasons, and redundancy analysis was utilized to select the main factors affecting the thermal environment. Then, structural equation modeling was used to quantify the direct and indirect effects of the dominant factors on the urban thermal environment. The results showed that:① The surface temperature in the Xi'an urban area showed a spatial pattern of higher temperatures in the north and lower temperatures in the south, with a decrease in temperature from the city center to the surrounding areas. The most severe heat environment pollution occurred in the summer. ② The redundancy analysis (RDA) results indicated that the main factors that affected the thermal environment were air temperature, impermeable surfaces, vegetation, and precipitation. ③ The results of the structural equation modeling (SEM) indicated that meteorological, surface, and anthropogenic factors affected the urban thermal environment mainly through direct pathways, which were much more important than all indirect pathways. Factors such as temperature, impervious surfaces, and point of interest density had a significant positive effect on the thermal environment (0.10 and 0.33). On the other hand, factors such as water bodies, precipitation, and vegetation had a significant negative effect on the thermal environment (-0.29 and -0.25). Human activities had a greater direct impact on nocturnal surface temperatures than surface and meteorological factors. Increasing economic efficiency is beneficial for mitigating the urban heat island effect. The results of the study can provide a reference for studying local climate change in urban heat islands and for the construction of green and ecologically livable urban environments.

SHG Assisted Mixed-Phases Anatomizing in a Molecular Ferroelectric.

Anatomizing mixed-phases, referring to analyzing the mixing profiles and quantifying the phases' proportions in a material, which is of great significance in the genuine applications. Here, by using second-harmonic generation (SHG) polarimetry and piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) techniques, this work elucidates the contributions and distributions of two different symmetric phases mixed in an archetype monoaxial molecular ferroelectric, diisopropylammonium chloride (DIPACl). The two competing phases are preferred in thermodynamics or kinetic process respectively, and this work evidences the switching behavior between the two competing phases facilitated by an external electrical field as opposed to a heating process. This research contributes novel insights into phase engineering in the field of molecular ferroelectrics and is poised to serve as a potent analytical tool for subsequent applications.

The past 10 years of molecular ferroelectrics: structures, design, and properties.

Ferroelectricity, which has diverse important applications such as memory elements, capacitors, and sensors, was first discovered in a molecular compound, Rochelle salt, in 1920 by Valasek. Owing to their superiorities of lightweight, biocompatibility, structural tunability, mechanical flexibility, etc., the past decade has witnessed the renaissance of molecular ferroelectrics as promising complementary materials to commercial inorganic ferroelectrics. Thus, on the 100th anniversary of ferroelectricity, it is an opportune time to look into the future, specifically into how to push the boundaries of material design in molecular ferroelectric systems and finally overcome the hurdles to their commercialization. Herein, we present a comprehensive and accessible review of the appealing development of molecular ferroelectrics over the past 10 years, with an emphasis on their structural diversity, chemical design, exceptional properties, and potential applications. We believe that it will inspire intense, combined research efforts to enrich the family of high-performance molecular ferroelectrics and attract widespread interest from physicists and chemists to better understand the structure-function relationships governing improved applied functional device engineering.

Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Perovskite Ferroelectric Nanosheets Synthesized by a Room-Temperature Antisolvent Method.

Over the past years, the application potential of ferroelectric nanomaterials with unique physical properties for modern electronics is highlighted to a large extent. However, it is relatively challenging to fabricate inorganic ferroelectric nanomaterials, which is a process depending on a vacuum atmosphere at high temperatures. As significant complements to inorganic ferroelectric nanomaterials, the nanomaterials of molecular ferroelectrics are rarely reported. Here a low-cost room-temperature antisolvent method is used to synthesize free-standing 2D organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite (OIHP) ferroelectric nanosheets (NSs), that is, (CHA)2PbBr4 NSs (CHA = cyclohexylammonium), with an average lateral size of 357.59 nm and a thickness ranging from 10 to 70 nm. This method shows high repeatability and produces NSs with excellent crystallinity. Moreover, ferroelectric domains in single NSs can be clearly visualized and manipulated using piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM). The domain switching and PFM-switching spectroscopy indicate the robust in-plane ferroelectricity of the NSs. This work not only introduces a feasible, low-cost, and scalable method for preparing molecular ferroelectric NSs but also promotes the research on molecular ferroelectric nanomaterials.

Polymorph transformation in a mixed-stacking nickel-dithiolene complex with the derivative of 4,4'-bipyridinium.

In this study, two polymorphs of the [1,1'-dibutyl-4,4'-bipyridinium][Ni(mnt)2] salt (1) were synthesized. The dark-green polymorph (designated as 1-g) was prepared under ambient conditions by the rapid precipitation method in aqueous solutions. Subsequently, the red polymorph (labeled as 1-r) was obtained by subjecting 1-g to ultrasonication in MeOH at room temperature. Microanalysis, infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetry (TG), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) techniques were used to characterize the two polymorphs. Both 1-g and 1-r exhibit structural phase transitions: a reversible phase transition at ∼403 K (∼268 K) upon heating and 384 K (∼252 K) upon cooling for 1-g (1-r) within the temperature range below 473 K. Interestingly, on heating 1-r to 523 K, an irreversible phase transition occurred at about 494 K, resulting in the conversion of 1-r into 1-g. Relative to 1-r, 1-g represents a thermodynamically metastable phase wherein numerous high-energy conformations in butyl chains of cations are confined within the lattice owing to quick precipitation or rapid annealing from higher temperatures. Through variable-temperature single crystal and powder X-ray diffractions, UV-visible spectroscopy, dielectric spectroscopy, and DSC analyses, this study delves into the mechanism underlying phase transitions for each polymorph and the manual transformation between 1-g and 1-r as well.

Hydrogel-based immunoregulation of macrophages for tissue repair and regeneration.

The rational design of hydrogel materials to modulate the immune microenvironment has emerged as a pivotal approach in expediting tissue repair and regeneration. Within the immune microenvironment, an array of immune cells exists, with macrophages gaining prominence in the field of tissue repair and regeneration due to their roles in cytokine regulation to promote regeneration, maintain tissue homeostasis, and facilitate repair. Macrophages can be categorized into two types: classically activated M1 (pro-inflammatory) and alternatively activated M2 (anti-inflammatory and pro-repair). By regulating the physical and chemical properties of hydrogels, the phenotypic transformation and cell behavior of macrophages can be effectively controlled, thereby promoting tissue regeneration and repair. A full understanding of the interaction between hydrogels and macrophages can provide new ideas and methods for future tissue engineering and clinical treatment. Therefore, this paper reviews the effects of hydrogel components, hardness, pore size, and surface morphology on cell behaviors such as macrophage proliferation, migration, and phenotypic polarization, and explores the application of hydrogels based on macrophage immune regulation in skin, bone, cartilage, and nerve tissue repair. Finally, the challenges and future prospects of macrophage-based immunomodulatory hydrogels are discussed.

Elucidating the influence and mechanism of different phenols on the properties, food quality and function of maize starch.

This study discusses interaction differences between three phenols (protocatechuic acid, naringin and tannic acid) and starch helix, investigates influences of phenols at different doses on properties of maize starch, and further determines their effects on quality and function of maize-starchy foods. Simulated results indicate variations of phenolic structure (phenolic hydroxyl group amount, glycoside structure and steric hindrance) and dose induce phenols form different complexes with starch helix. Formation of different starch-phenols complexes alters gelatinization (1.65-5.63 J/g), pasting form, water binding capacity (8.83-12.69 g/g) and particle size distribution of starch. Meanwhile, differences in starch-phenols complexes are reflected in fingerprint area (R1045/1022: 0.920 to 1.047), crystallinity (8.3% to 17.0%), rheology and gel structure of starch. Additionally, phenols change texture and color of cold maize cake, giving them different antioxidant capacity and lower digestibility. Findings are beneficial for understanding interaction between starch and different phenols and their potential application.

[Advances on cyclopeptides of plants].

Cyclopeptides isolated from a variety of plants are a class of cyclic nitrogen-containing compounds, and they are primarily formed by peptide bonds between amino acids, generally containing 2 to 37 L-configuration encoded or non-encoded amino acid residues. Cyclopeptides have significant values in scientific research as natural small-molecule metabolites produced by plants. The available studies have revealed that such natural products are ubiquitous in plants, which mainly include cyclic dipeptides, cyclic tetrapeptides, cyclic pentapeptides, cyclic hexapeptides, cyclic heptapeptides, cyclic octapeptides, cyclic nonapeptides, and cyclic decapeptides. Among them, cyclic dipeptides, cyclic hexapeptides, and cyclic octapeptides are the major active compounds. It has been reported that plant cyclopeptides have novel and unique chemical structures. They possess diverse pharmacological activities, such as antineoplastic, antimicrobial, antimalarial, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral activities. This paper summarizes the research achievements of plant cyclopeptides since 2006, aiming to provide theoretical reference for the research and application of plant cyclopeptides in medicine, health, and agriculture fields.

Enhancing Light Outcoupling Efficiency via Anisotropic Low Refractive Index Electron Transporting Materials for Efficient Perovskite Light-Emitting Diodes.

Thanks to the extensive efforts toward optimizing perovskite crystallization properties, high-quality perovskite films with near-unity photoluminescence quantum yield are successfully achieved. However, the light outcoupling efficiency of perovskite light-emitting diodes (PeLEDs) is impeded by insufficient light extraction, which poses a challenge to the further advancement of PeLEDs. Here, an anisotropic multifunctional electron transporting material, 9,10-bis(4-(2-phenyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazole-1-yl)phenyl) anthracene (BPBiPA), with a low extraordinary refractive index (ne) and high electron mobility is developed for fabricating high-efficiency PeLEDs. The anisotropic molecular orientations of BPBiPA can result in a low ne of 1.59 along the z-axis direction. Optical simulations show that the low ne of BPBiPA can effectively mitigate the surface plasmon polariton loss and enhance the photon extraction efficiency in waveguide mode, thereby improving the light outcoupling efficiency of PeLEDs. In addition, the high electron mobility of BPBiPA can facilitate balanced carrier injection in PeLEDs. As a result, high-efficiency green PeLEDs with a record external quantum efficiency of 32.1% and a current efficiency of 111.7 cd A-1 are obtained, which provides new inspirations for the design of electron transporting materials for high-performance PeLEDs.

Insight into the Feasibility of Fatty Acyl Chlorides with 10-18 Carbons for the Ball-Milling Synthesis of Thermoplastic Cellulose Esters.

Fatty acid cellulose esters (FACE) are common cellulose-based thermoplastics, and their thermoplasticity is determined by both the contents and the lengths of the side chains. Herein, various FACE were synthesized by the ball-milling esterification of cellulose and fatty acyl chlorides containing 10-18 carbons, and their structures and thermoplasticity were thoroughly studied. The results showed that FACE with high degrees of substitution (DS) and low melting flow temperatures (Tf) were achieved as the chain lengths of the fatty acyl chlorides were reduced. In particular, a cellulose decanoate with a DS of 1.85 and a Tf of 186 °C was achieved by feeding 3 mol of decanoyl chloride per mole anhydroglucose units of cellulose. However, cellulose stearate (DS = 1.53) synthesized by the same protocols cannot melt even at 250 °C. More interestingly, the fatty acyl chlorides with 10 and 12 carbons resulted in FACE with superior toughness (elongation at break up to 94.4%). In contrast, due to their potential crystallization of the fatty acyl groups with 14-18 carbons, the corresponding FACE showed higher tensile strength and Young's modulus than the others. This study provides some theoretical basis for the mechanochemical synthesis of thermoplastic FACE with designated properties.

Elucidating effects of Epiphyllum oxypetalum (DC.) Haw polysaccharide on the physicochemical and digestive properties of tapioca starch.

Effects of Epiphyllum oxypetalum (DC.) Haw polysaccharide (EP) on physicochemical/digestive properties of tapioca starch (TS) were investigated, and its effects on final quality of TS-based foods were further determined. Results showed EP significantly decreased gelatinization enthalpy (3.92 to 2.11 J/g) and increased breakdown (302 to 382 cp), thereby inducing the gelatinization of TS. Meanwhile, EP decreased setback viscosity (324 to 258 cp), suggesting the retrogradation of TS paste was inhibited. Rheological determination results suggested EP had an impact on the viscoelasticity of TS paste. Moreover, particle size distribution showed EP increased size of TS by cross-linking. Additionally, the suitable addition of EP ameliorated the microstructure and decreased the crystal diffraction peak area of TS gel. Infrared spectroscopy results revealed EP modified the above properties of TS by hydrogen bonds and non-covalent forces. Furthermore, EP inhibited the in vitro digestion of TS paste. Using taro balls as TS-based food model, appropriate addition of EP (0.10 %) improved texture properties, frozen storage stability and color of samples. The present results can not only facilitate the understanding of the modification mechanism of EP on the properties of TS, but also induce the burgeoning of starchy products and the possible application of EP in foods.

Exploring flatfeet morphology in children aged 6-12 years: relationships with body mass and body height through footprints and three-dimensional measurements.

The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between flatfoot morphology and body mass and height in children aged 6-12 years. A total of 6471 Chinese children (mean age 9.0 ± 1.9 years, 41% female) were assessed for foot morphometry, body height, and body mass index. Foot morphology, including foot length, width, girth, arch height, hallux valgus angle, and rearfoot valgus angle, was measured using a 3D laser scanner. Flatfoot evaluations were conducted using the Sztriter-Godunov index (KY) from footprints. All measurements were analyzed by age and sex using the mean values of the left and right sides. Comparisons were performed between flatfoot groups, between body mass index (BMI) groups, and between body height groups. The study revealed a significant decrease in the incidence of bipedal flatfoot with age (p < 0.001), whereas the prevalence of obesity remained consistent (p > 0.05). Bipedal flatfoot was associated with distinct morphological changes, including lower arches, reduced instep height, diminished ankle heights and a greater rearfoot valgus angle (p < 0.05). When comparing the BMI groups, overweight children had larger and thicker feet (p < 0.05), but no differences were found in arch height and ankle height (p > 0.05). When comparing the body height groups, short-statured children had a shorter feet girth, shorter arches, and shorter ankle height (p < 0.05), but no differences were found in the rearfoot valgus angle (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The main characteristics of flat feet include lower arches and instep heights and ankle heights but higher rearfoot valgus angles. In general, overweight children's feet do not have the common features of flat feet. In contrast, short children had similar features of flatfoot except for rearfoot valgus. Assessment of posture, such as rearfoot valgus, can be critical in identifying children with flat feet. WHAT IS KNOWN: • The morphology of children's feet is associated with body growth, but the relationship between flatfeet and body mass and height remains controversial. WHAT IS NEW: • Three-dimensional foot measurement shows that body mass is generally not associated with flatfeet, while short children have lower arches but no rearfoot valgus.

Recent Development and Applications of Polydopamine in Tissue Repair and Regeneration Biomaterials.

The various tissue damages are a severe problem to human health. The limited human tissue regenerate ability requires suitable biomaterials to help damage tissue repair and regeneration. Therefore, many researchers devoted themselves to exploring biomaterials suitable for tissue repair and regeneration. Polydopamine (PDA) as a natural and multifunctional material which is inspired by mussel has been widely applied in different biomaterials. The excellent properties of PDA, such as strong adhesion, photothermal and high drug-loaded capacity, seem to be born for tissue repair and regeneration. Furthermore, PDA combined with different materials can exert unexpected effects. Thus, to inspire researchers, this review summarizes the recent and representative development of PDA biomaterials in tissue repair and regeneration. This article focuses on why apply PDA in these biomaterials and what PDA can do in different tissue injuries.

Designing Yolk-Shell Nanostructures for Reversible Water-Vapor-Responsive Dual-Mode Switching of Fluorescence and Structural Color.

Metal halide perovskites offer ample opportunities to develop advanced optoelectronic devices. This work showcases that the integration of metal halide perovskites into metal oxide nanoshells with controllable interior cavities can enable water-vapor-responsive dual-mode switching of fluorescence and structural color. Through a ship-in-a-bottle method to introduce a controlled amount of CsPbBr3 into MnO2 nanoshells, we have designed CsPbBr3@MnO2 yolk-shell nanostructures, which can uptake a defined amount of water to exhibit rapid (less than 1 s) and reversible (≥100 cycles) responses in both fluorescence on-off and color change when exposed to dynamic water vapor. These responses originate from the water-triggered phase transformation of CsPbBr3 to CsPb2Br5 and the structural color change of the MnO2 shell. The altered electronic and bonding structure at the oxide-halide interface, rapid water accumulation in the yolk-shell cavity, and protective effect of the oxide shell facilitate the reversible transformations. The response characteristics of the yolk-shell nanostructures have been further demonstrated in fabricating patterned films capable of multiple fluorescence/structural color responses, highlighting their potential for applications in advanced anticounterfeiting and encryption.

Dual specific phosphatase 4 suppresses ferroptosis and enhances sorafenib resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma.

AIMS: This investigation aims to elucidate the mechanism underlying sorafenib-induced ferroptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: The role of dual specificity phosphatase 4 (DUSP4) in sorafenib-treated HCC was investigated using comprehensive assessments both in vitro and in vivo, including Western blotting, qRT-PCR, cell viability assay, lipid reactive oxygen species (ROS) assay, immunohistochemistry, and xenograft tumor mouse model. Additionally, label-free quantitative proteomics was employed to identify potential proteins associated with DUSP4. RESULTS: Our study revealed that suppression of DUSP4 expression heightens the susceptibility of HCC cells to ferroptosis inducers, specifically sorafenib and erastin, in both in vitro and in vivo settings. Furthermore, we identified DUSP4-mediated regulation of key ferroptosis-related markers, such as ferritin light chain (FTL) and ferritin heavy chain 1 (FTH1). Notably, label-free quantitative proteomics unveiled the phosphorylation of threonine residue T148 on YTH Domain Containing 1 (YTHDC1) by DUSP4. Further investigations unraveled that YTHDC1, functioning as an mRNA nuclear export regulator, is a direct target of DUSP4, orchestrating the subcellular localization of FTL and FTH1 mRNAs. Significantly, our study highlights a strong correlation between elevated DUSP4 expression and sorafenib resistance in HCC. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings introduce DUSP4 as a negative regulator of sorafenib-induced ferroptosis. This discovery opens new avenues for the development of ferroptosis-based therapeutic strategies tailored for HCC treatment.

MdBT2 regulates nitrogen-mediated cuticular wax biosynthesis via a MdMYB106-MdCER2L1 signalling pathway in apple.

Cuticular waxes play important roles in plant development and the interaction between plants and their environment. Researches on wax biosynthetic pathways have been reported in several plant species. Also, wax formation is closely related to environmental condition. However, the regulatory mechanism between wax and environmental factors, especially essential mineral elements, is less studied. Here we found that nitrogen (N) played a negative role in the regulation of wax synthesis in apple. We therefore analysed wax content, composition and crystals in BTB-TAZ domain protein 2 (MdBT2) overexpressing and antisense transgenic apple seedlings and found that MdBT2 could downregulate wax biosynthesis. Furthermore, R2R3-MYB transcription factor 16-like protein (MdMYB106) interacted with MdBT2, and MdBT2 mediated its ubiquitination and degradation through the 26S proteasome pathway. Finally, HXXXD-type acyl-transferase ECERIFERUM 2-like1 (MdCER2L1) was confirmed as a downstream target gene of MdMYB106. Our findings reveal an N-mediated apple wax biosynthesis pathway and lay a foundation for further study of the environmental factors associated with wax regulatory networks in apple.

Six new iridoid glycosides from the whole plants of Hedyotis diffusa.

Six new iridoid glycosides were isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction of the whole plants of Hedyotis diffusa Willd. They were identified as E-6-O-p-methoxycinnamoyl-10-O-acetyl scandoside acid methyl ester (1), Z-6-O-p-methoxycinnamoyl-10-O-acetyl scandoside acid methyl ester (2), E-6-O-caffeoyl scandoside methyl ester (3), E-6-O-p-coumaroyl-6'-O-acetyl scandoside methyl ester (4), Z-6-O-p-coumaroyl-6'-O-acetyl scandoside methyl ester (5), and E-6-O-p-coumaroyl-4'-O-acetyl scandoside methyl ester (6). The structures of them were elucidated based on unambiguous spectroscopic data (UV, IR, HRESIMS, and NMR). They were screened for anti-inflammatory effect, antioxidant effect, antitumor effect, and neuroprotective effect and did not show potent activities.