A unique three-dimensional network double-core-shell structure S@MnO2@MXene suppresses the shuttle effect in high-sulfur-content high-performance lithium-sulfur batteries.

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries represent the most promising next-generation energy storage systems because of their high theoretical specific capacity and energy density. However, the severe shuttle effect and volume expansion of sulfur cathodes have impeded their commercial viability. Hence, accelerating the conversion of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) is crucial for achieving efficient Li-S batteries. In this study, we employ a straightforward electrostatic self-assembly method to coat ultra-thin MXene nanosheets onto a S@MnO2 core-shell structure, resulting in a highly conductive three-dimensional network. This unique structure not only suppresses the diffusion of LiPSs but also accelerates electron and ion transfer, ensuring a rapid and efficient conversion of LiPSs. The CV curves of symmetrical cells and the Li2S deposition curves demonstrate a significant improvement in the catalytic performance of batteries with S@MnO2@MXene. The capacity of Li-S batteries achieved an impressive 842 mAh/g at the current density of 1C, with a minimal capacity decay of only 0.84 mAh/g per cycle within 500 cycles. Additionally, increasing the sulfur loading mass to 5.88 mg cm-2 resulted in an areal capacity of 6.33 mAh cm-2, demonstrating practical application potential.

A mapped dataset of surface ocean acidification indicators in large marine ecosystems of the United States.

Mapped monthly data products of surface ocean acidification indicators from 1998 to 2022 on a 0.25° by 0.25° spatial grid have been developed for eleven U.S. large marine ecosystems (LMEs). The data products were constructed using observations from the Surface Ocean CO2 Atlas, co-located surface ocean properties, and two types of machine learning algorithms: Gaussian mixture models to organize LMEs into clusters of similar environmental variability and random forest regressions (RFRs) that were trained and applied within each cluster to spatiotemporally interpolate the observational data. The data products, called RFR-LMEs, have been averaged into regional timeseries to summarize the status of ocean acidification in U.S. coastal waters, showing a domain-wide carbon dioxide partial pressure increase of 1.4 ± 0.4 µatm yr-1 and pH decrease of 0.0014 ± 0.0004 yr-1. RFR-LMEs have been evaluated via comparisons to discrete shipboard data, fixed timeseries, and other mapped surface ocean carbon chemistry data products. Regionally averaged timeseries of RFR-LME indicators are provided online through the NOAA National Marine Ecosystem Status web portal.

Moxibustion improves motor function by down-regulating SNX5 and inhibiting ferroptosis in neurons of corpus striatum in mice with Parkinson's disease. / 艾灸调控SNX5å¯¹å¸•é‡‘æ£®ç— æ¨¡åž‹å°é¼ ç¥žç»å ƒé“æ­»äº¡çš„å½±å“.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the effect of moxibustion on the expression of sorting nexin 5 (SNX5), glutathione peroxidase (GPX4) and ferritin heavy chain (FTH1) in the corpus striatum in mice with Parkinson's disease (PD), so as to explore its mechanisms underlying improvement of PD by ameliorating ferroptosis in the substantia nigra striatum. METHODS: C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into normal, sham operation, model, and moxibustion groups, with 10 mice in each group. The PD model was established by unilateral injection of 6-hydroxydopamine (3.5 µL) into the right medial forebrain bundle (AP=-1.2 mm, ML=-1.3 mm, DV=-4.75 mm). The mice in the moxibustion group received moxibustion at "Baihui"(GV20) and "Sishencong"(EX-HN1) for 20 min each time, once a day, 6 times a week for 4 weeks. After the intervention, mice received apomorphine rotation behavior detection and pole climbing test. The expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) in the substantia nigra was detected by immunofluorescence, the contents of Fe2+, malondialdehyde (MDA), the ratio of glutathione/oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) in the corpus striatum were detected by using photocolorimetric method, and the expression levels of SNX5 (endocytosomal protein), GPX4 (one of the key targets for inhibiting ferroptosis) and FTH1 proteins and mRNAs in the corpus striatum were detected by Western blot and qPCR, respectively. RESULTS: Behavior tests showed that the pole climbing time and number of body rotation were significantly increased in the model group relevant to the sham operation group (P<0.01), and strikingly decreased in the moxibustion group relevant to the model group (P<0.01). The immunofluorescence intensity of TH in the substantia nigra, the ratio of GSH/GSSG, and the expression levels of GPX4 and FTH1 mRNAs and proteins in the corpus striatum were markedly decreased (P<0.01, P<0.05), while the contents of Fe2+ and MDA and the expression levels of SNX5 mRNA and protein in the corpus striatum significantly increased in the model group relevant to the sham operation group (P<0.01, P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the decreased immunofluorescence intensity of TH, GSH/GSSH, and the expression levels of GPX4 and FTH1 mRNAs and proteins, and the increased contents of Fe2+ and MDA and the expression levels of SNX5 mRNA and protein were reversed in the moxibustion group relevant to the model group (P<0.01, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Moxibustion may improve motor dysfunction in PD mice, which may be related to its effects in down-regulating the expression of SNX5, promoting the synthesis of GSH, decreasing the contents of Fe2+ and MDA, up-regulating the ratio of GSH/GSSG and the expression of GPX4 and FTH1 mRNAs and proteins in the corpus striatum, and inhibiting the occurrence of ferroptosis.

Three-dimensional lattice Boltzmann model with self-tuning equation of state for multiphase flows.

In this work, the recent lattice Boltzmann (LB) model with self-tuning equation of state (EOS) [Huang et al., Phys. Rev. E 99, 023303 (2019)2470-004510.1103/PhysRevE.99.023303] is extended to three dimensions for the simulation of multiphase flows, which is based on the standard three-dimensional 27-velocity lattice and multiple-relaxation-time collision operator. To achieve the self-tuning EOS, the equilibrium moment is devised by introducing a built-in variable, and the collision matrix is improved by introducing some velocity-dependent nondiagonal elements. Meanwhile, the additional cubic terms of velocity in recovering the Newtonian viscous stress are eliminated to enhance the numerical accuracy. For modeling multiphase flows, an attractive pairwise interaction force is introduced to mimic the long-range molecular interaction, and a consistent scheme is proposed to compensate for the ɛ^{3}-order discrete lattice effect. Thermodynamic consistency in a strict sense is established for the multiphase LB model with self-tuning EOS, and the wetting condition is also treated in a thermodynamically consistent manner. As a result, the contact angle, surface tension, and interface thickness can be independently adjusted in the present theoretical framework. Numerical tests are first performed to validate the multiphase LB model with self-tuning EOS and the theoretical analyses of bulk and surface thermodynamics. The collision of equal-sized droplets is then simulated to demonstrate the applicability and effectiveness of the present LB model for multiphase flows.

Substrate Characterization for Hydrolysis of Multiple Types of Aromatic Esters by Promiscuous Aminopeptidases.

Synthetic aromatic esters, widely employed in agriculture, food, and chemical industries, have become emerging environmental pollutants due to their strong hydrophobicity and poor bioavailability. This study attempted to address this issue by extracellularly expressing the promiscuous aminopeptidase (Aps) from Pseudomonas aeruginosa GF31 in B. subtilis, achieving an impressive enzyme activity of 13.7 U/mg. Notably, we have demonstrated, for the first time, the Aps-mediated degradation of diverse aromatic esters, including but not limited to pyrethroids, phthalates, and parabens. A biochemical characterization of Aps reveals its esterase properties and a broader spectrum of substrate profiles. The degradation rates of p-nitrobenzene esters (p-NB) with different side chain structures vary under the action of Aps, showing a preference for substrates with relatively longer alkyl side chains. The structure-dependent degradability aligns well with the binding energies between Aps and p-NB. Molecular docking and enzyme-substrate interaction elucidate that hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic interactions, and π-π stacking collectively stabilize the enzyme-substrate conformation, promoting substrate hydrolysis. These findings provide new insights into the enzymatic degradation of aromatic ester pollutants, laying a foundation for the further development and modification of promiscuous enzymes.

Charged polystyrene microplastics inhibit uptake and transformation of 14C-triclosan in hydroponics-cabbage system.

INTRODUCTION: Since the outbreak of COVID-19, microplastics (MPs) and triclosan in pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) are markedly rising. MPs and triclosan are co-present in the environment, but their interactions and subsequent implications on the fate of triclosan in plants are not well understood. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate effects of charged polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) on the fate of triclosan in cabbage plants under a hydroponic system. METHODS: 14C-labeling method and liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-QTOF-MS) analysis were applied to clarify the bioaccumulation, distribution, and metabolism of triclosan in hydroponics-cabbage system. The distribution of differentially charged PS-MPs in cabbage was investigated by confocal laser scanning microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. RESULTS: The results showed that MPs had a significant impact on bioaccumulation and metabolism of triclosan in hydroponics-cabbage system. PS-COO-, PS, and PS-NH3+ MPs decreased the bioaccumulation of triclosan in cabbage by 69.1 %, 81.5 %, and 87.7 %, respectively, in comparison with the non-MP treatment (control). PS-MPs also reduced the translocation of triclosan from the roots to the shoots in cabbage, with a reduction rate of 15.6 %, 28.3 %, and 65.8 % for PS-COO-, PS, and PS-NH3+, respectively. In addition, PS-NH3+ profoundly inhibited the triclosan metabolism pathways such as sulfonation, nitration, and nitrosation in the hydroponics-cabbage system. The above findings might be linked to strong adsorption between PS-NH3+ and triclosan, and PS-NH3+ may also potentially inhibit the growth of cabbage. Specially, the amount of triclosan adsorbed on PS-NH3+ was significantly greater than that on PS and PS-COO-. The cabbage biomass was reduced by 76.9 % in PS-NH3+ groups, in comparison with the control. CONCLUSION: The uptake and transformation of triclosan in hydroponics-cabbage system were significantly inhibited by charged PS-MPs, especially PS-NH3+. This provides new insights into the fate of triclosan and other PPCPs coexisted with microplastics for potential risk assessments.

DCAF7 Acts as A Scaffold to Recruit USP10 for G3BP1 Deubiquitylation and Facilitates Chemoresistance and Metastasis in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma.

Despite docetaxel combined with cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil (TPF) being the established treatment for advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), there are patients who do not respond positively to this form of therapy. However, the mechanisms underlying this lack of benefit remain unclear. DCAF7 is identified as a chemoresistance gene attenuating the response to TPF therapy in NPC patients. DCAF7 promotes the cisplatin resistance and metastasis of NPC cells in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, DCAF7 serves as a scaffold protein that facilitates the interaction between USP10 and G3BP1, leading to the elimination of K48-linked ubiquitin moieties from Lys76 of G3BP1. This process helps prevent the degradation of G3BP1 via the ubiquitin‒proteasome pathway and promotes the formation of stress granule (SG)-like structures. Moreover, knockdown of G3BP1 successfully reversed the formation of SG-like structures and the oncogenic effects of DCAF7. Significantly, NPC patients with increased levels of DCAF7 showed a high risk of metastasis, and elevated DCAF7 levels are linked to an unfavorable prognosis. The study reveals DCAF7 as a crucial gene for cisplatin resistance and offers further understanding of how chemoresistance develops in NPC. The DCAF7-USP10-G3BP1 axis contains potential targets and biomarkers for NPC treatment.

Nanobody Mediated Atrazine Resistance in Plants.

In planta expression of recombinant antibodies has been proposed as a strategy for herbicide resistance but is not well advanced yet. Here, an atrazine nanobody gene fused with a green fluorescent protein tag was transformed to Arabidopsis thaliana, which was confirmed with PCR, ELISA, and immunoblotting. High levels of nanobody accumulation were observed in the nucleus, cytoderm, and cytosol. The nanobody expressed in the plant had similar affinity, sensitivity, and selectivity as that expressed in Escherichia coli. The T3 homozygous line showed resistance in a dose-dependent manner up to 380 g ai/ha of atrazine, which is approximately one-third of the recommended field application rate. This is the first report of utilizing a nanobody in plants against herbicides. The results suggest that utilizing a high-affinity herbicide nanobody gene rather than increasing the expression of nanobodies in plants may be a technically viable approach to acquire commercial herbicide-resistant crops and could be a useful tool to study plant physiology.

Biological Evaluation of Lysionotin: a Novel Inhibitor of 5-Lipoxygenase for Anti-glioma.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the potential mechanism of lysionotin in treating glioma. METHODS: First, target prediction based on Bernoulli Naïve Bayes profiling and pathway enrichment was used to predict the biological activity of lysionotin. The binding between 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) and lysionotin was detected by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and molecular docking, and the inhibitory effects of lysionotin on 5-LO and proliferation of glioma were determined using enzyme inhibition assay in vitro and cell viability analysis, respectively. Furthermore, the pharmaceutical effect of lysionotin was explored by cell survival rate analysis and liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The protein expression, intracellular calcium ion concentration and cytoskeleton detection were revealed by Western blot, flow cytometry and fluorescence labeling, respectively. RESULTS: Target prediction and pathway enrichment revealed that lysionotin inhibited 5-LO, a key enzyme involved in the arachidonic acid metabolism pathway, to inhibit the proliferation of glioma. Molecular docking results demonstrated that 5-LO can be binding to lysionotin through hydrogen bonds, forming bonds with His600, Gln557, Asn554, and His372. SPR analysis further confirmed the interaction between 5-LO and lysionotin. Furthermore, enzyme inhibition assay in vitro and cell survival rate analysis revealed that 50% inhibition concentration of lysionotin and the median effective concentration of lysionotin were 90 and 16.58 µmol/L, respectively, and the results of LC-MS/MS showed that lysionotin inhibited the production of 5S-hydroperoxy-eicosatetraenoic acid (P<0.05), and moreover, the LC-MS/MS results indicated that lysionotin can enter glioma cells well (P<0.01) and inhibit their proliferation. Western blot analysis demonstrated that lysionotin can inhibit the expression of 5-LO (P<0.05) and downstream leukotriene B4 receptor (P<0.01). In addition, the results showed that lysionotin affected intracellular calcium ion concentration by inhibiting 5-LO to affect the cytoskeleton, as determined by flow cytometry and fluorescence labeling. CONCLUSION: Lysionotin binds to 5-LO could suppress glioma by inhibiting arachiodonic acid metabolism pathway.

SC-AOF: A Sliding Camera and Asymmetric Optical-Flow-Based Blending Method for Image Stitching.

Parallax processing and structure preservation have long been important and challenging tasks in image stitching. In this paper, an image stitching method based on sliding camera to eliminate perspective deformation and asymmetric optical flow to solve parallax is proposed. By maintaining the viewpoint of two input images in the mosaic non-overlapping area and creating a virtual camera by interpolation in the overlapping area, the viewpoint is gradually transformed from one to another so as to complete the smooth transition of the two image viewpoints and reduce perspective deformation. Two coarsely aligned warped images are generated with the help of a global projection plane. After that, the optical flow propagation and gradient descent method are used to quickly calculate the bidirectional asymmetric optical flow between the two warped images, and the optical-flow-based method is used to further align the two warped images to reduce parallax. In the image blending, the softmax function and registration error are used to adjust the width of the blending area, further eliminating ghosting and reducing parallax. Finally, by comparing our method with APAP, AANAP, SPHP, SPW, TFT, and REW, it has been proven that our method can not only effectively solve perspective deformation, but also gives more natural transitions between images. At the same time, our method can robustly reduce local misalignment in various scenarios, with higher structural similarity index. A scoring method combining subjective and objective evaluations of perspective deformation, local alignment and runtime is defined and used to rate all methods, where our method ranks first.

Core-Shell Gel Nanofiber Scaffolds Constructed by Microfluidic Spinning toward Wound Repair and Tissue Regeneration.

Growing demand for wound care resulting from the increasing chronic diseases and trauma brings intense pressure to global medical health service system. Artificial skin provides mechanical and microenvironmental support for wound, which is crucial in wound healing and tissue regeneration. However, challenges still remain in the clinical application of artificial skin since the lack of the synergy effect of necessary performance. In this study, a multi-functional artificial skin is fabricated through microfluidic spinning technology by using core-shell gel nanofiber scaffolds (NFSs). This strategy can precisely manipulate the microstructure of artificial skin under microscale. The as-prepared artificial skin demonstrates superior characteristics including surface wettability, breathability, high mechanical strength, strain sensitivity, biocompatibility and biodegradability. Notably, this artificial skin has the capability to deliver medications in a controlled and sustained manner, thereby accelerating the wound healing process. This innovative approach paves the way for the development of a new generation of artificial skin and introduces a novel concept for the structural design of the unique core-shell gel NFSs.

SWEET family transporters act as water conducting carrier proteins in plants.

Dedicated water channels are involved in the facilitated diffusion of water molecules across the cell membrane in plants. Transporter proteins are also known to transport water molecules along with substrates, however the molecular mechanism of water permeation is not well understood in plant transporters. Here, we show plant sugar transporters from the SWEET (Sugar Will Eventually be Exported Transporter) family act as water-conducting carrier proteins via a variety of passive and active mechanisms that allow diffusion of water molecules from one side of the membrane to the other. This study provides a molecular perspective on how plant membrane transporters act as water carrier proteins, a topic that has not been extensively explored in literature. Water permeation in membrane transporters could occur via four distinct mechanisms which form our hypothesis for water transport in SWEETs. These hypothesis are tested using molecular dynamics simulations of the outward-facing, occluded, and inward-facing state of AtSWEET1 to identify the water permeation pathways and the flux associated with them. The hydrophobic gates at the center of the transport tunnel act as a barrier that restricts water permeation. We have performed in silico single and double mutations of the hydrophobic gate residues to examine the changes in the water conductivity. Surprisingly, the double mutant allows the water permeation to the intracellular half of the membrane and forms a continuous water channel. These computational results are validated by experimentally examining the transport of hydrogen peroxide molecules by the AtSWEET family of transporters. We have also shown that the transport of hydrogen peroxide follows the similar mechanism as water transport in AtSWEET1. Finally, we conclude that similar water-conduction states are also present in other SWEET transporters due to the high sequence and structure conservation exhibited by this transporter family.

Structure-Mechanics Principles and Mechanobiology of Fibrocartilage Pericellular Matrix: A Pivotal Role of Type V Collagen.

The pericellular matrix (PCM) is the immediate microniche surrounding resident cells in various tissue types, regulating matrix turnover, cell-matrix cross-talk and disease initiation. This study elucidated the structure-mechanical properties and mechanobiological functions of the PCM in fibrocartilage, a family of connective tissues that sustain complex tensile and compressive loads in vivo. Studying the murine meniscus as the model tissue, we showed that fibrocartilage PCM contains thinner, random collagen fibrillar networks that entrap proteoglycans, a structure distinct from the densely packed, highly aligned collagen fibers in the bulk extracellular matrix (ECM). In comparison to the ECM, the PCM has a lower modulus and greater isotropy, but similar relative viscoelastic properties. In Col5a1 +/- menisci, the reduction of collagen V, a minor collagen localized in the PCM, resulted in aberrant fibril thickening with increased heterogeneity. Consequently, the PCM exhibited a reduced modulus, loss of isotropy and faster viscoelastic relaxation. This disrupted PCM contributes to perturbed mechanotransduction of resident meniscal cells, as illustrated by reduced intracellular calcium signaling, as well as upregulated biosynthesis of lysyl oxidase and tenascin C. When cultured in vitro, Col5a1 +/- meniscal cells synthesized a weakened nascent PCM, which had inferior properties towards protecting resident cells against applied tensile stretch. These findings underscore the PCM as a distinctive microstructure that governs fibrocartilage mechanobiology, and highlight the pivotal role of collagen V in PCM function. Targeting the PCM or its molecular constituents holds promise for enhancing not only meniscus regeneration and osteoarthritis intervention, but also addressing diseases across various fibrocartilaginous tissues.

Efficient molecular doping of polymeric semiconductors improved by coupled reaction.

Exploring chemical doping method to improve the electrical conductivity of polymers is still very attractive for researchers. In this work, we report a developed method of doping a polymer semiconductor aided by the coupled reaction that commonly exists in biological systems where a non-spontaneous reaction is driven by a spontaneous reaction. During the doping process, the chemical reaction between the dopant and the polymer is promoted by introducing a thermodynamically favorable reaction via adding additives that are highly reactive to the reduction product of the dopant to form a coupled reaction, thus significantly improving the electrical conductivity of polymers by 3-7 orders. This coupled reaction doping process shows the potential of wide applications in exploring efficient doping systems to prepare functional conducting polymers, which could be a powerful tool for modern organic electronics.

Transcriptomic and metabolomic data of goat ovarian and uterine tissues during sexual maturation.

The ovaries and uterus are crucial reproductive organs in mammals, and their coordinated development ensures the normal development of sexual maturity and reproductive capacity. This study aimed to comprehensively capture the different physiological stages of the goat's sexual maturation by selecting four specific time points. We collected samples of ovarian and uterine tissues from five female Jining Gray goats at each time point: after birth (D1), 2-month-old (M2), 4-month-old (M4), and 6-month-old (M6). By combining transcriptomic sequencing of 40 samples (including rRNA-depleted RNA-seq libraries with 3607.8 million reads and miRNA-seq libraries with 444.0 million reads) and metabolomics analysis, we investigated the transcriptomic mechanisms involved in reproductive regulation in the ovary and uterus during sexual maturation, as well as the changes in metabolites and their functional potential. Additionally, we analyzed blood hormone indices and uterine tissue sections to examine temporal changes. These datasets will provide a valuable reference for the reproductive regulation of the ovary and uterus, as well as the regulation of metabolites during sexual maturation in goats.

Regulation of tillage on grain matter accumulation in maize.

Introduction: To address issues related to shallow soil tillage, low soil nutrient content, and single tillage method in maize production in the Western Inner Mongolia Region, this study implemented various tillage and straw return techniques, including strip cultivation, subsoiling, deep tillage, no-tillage, straw incorporation with strip cultivation, straw incorporation with subsoiling, straw incorporation with deep tillage, and straw incorporation with no tillage, while using conventional shallow spinning by farmers as the control. Methods: We employed Xianyu 696 (XY696) and Ximeng 6 (XM6) as experimental materials to assess maize 100-grains weight, grain filling rate parameters, and grain nutrient quality. This investigation aimed to elucidate how tillage and straw return influence the accumulation of grain material in different maize varieties. Results and discussion: The results indicated that proper implementation of tillage and straw return had a significant impact on the 100-grains weight of both varieties. In comparison to CK (farmer's rotary rotation), the most notable rise in 100-grains weight was observed under the DPR treatment (straw incorporation with deep tillage), with a maximum increase of 4.84% for XY696 and 6.28% for XM6. The proper implementation of tillage and straw return in the field resulted in discernible differences in the stages of improving the grain filling rates of different maize varieties. Specifically, XY696 showed a predominant increase in the filling rate during the early stage (V1), while XM6 exhibited an increase in the filling rates during the middle and late stages (V2 and V3). In comparison to CK, V1 increased by 1.54% to 27.56% in XY696, and V2 and V3 increased by 0.41% to 10.42% in XM6 under various tillage and straw return practices. The proper implementation of tillage and straw return had a significant impact on the nutritional quality of the grains in each variety. In comparison to CK, the DPR treatment resulted in the most pronounced decrease in the soluble sugar content of grains by 25.43% and the greatest increase in the crude fat content of grains by 9.67%. Conclusion: Ultimately, the proper implementation of soil tillage and straw return facilitated an increase in grain crude fat content and significantly boosted grain weight by improving the grouting rate parameters at all stages for various maize varieties. Additionally, the utilization of DPR treatment proved to be more effective. Overall, DPR is the most promising strategy to improve maize yield and the nutritional quality of grain in the long term in the Western Inner Mongolia Region.

Roles of cerebrospinal fluid-contacting neurons as potential neural stem cells in the repair and regeneration of spinal cord injuries.

Cerebrospinal fluid-contacting neurons (CSF-cNs) represent a distinct group of interneurons characterized by their prominent apical globular protrusions penetrating the spinal cord's central canal and their basal axons extending towards adjacent cells. Identified nearly a century back, the specific roles and attributes of CSF-cNs have just started to emerge due to the historical lack of definitive markers. Recent findings have confirmed that CSF-cNs expressing PKD2L1 possess attributes of neural stem cells, suggesting a critical function in the regeneration processes following spinal cord injuries. This review aims to elucidate the molecular markers of CSF-cNs as potential neural stem cells during spinal cord development and assess their roles post-spinal cord injury, with an emphasis on their potential therapeutic implications for spinal cord repair.

Hierarchical Self-Aggregation of Multifunctional Steviol Glycosides in Aqueous Solutions.

Steviol glycosides (SGs) are a natural sweetener widely used in the food and beverage industry, but the low solubility and stability of SG aqueous solutions greatly limit their application performance, especially in liquid formulations. In this work, we explore the solubility behavior of rebaudioside A (Reb A) in water, a major component of SGs, with the aim of clarifying the underlying mechanisms of the solubility and stability constraints of SGs, as well as the impact on their multifunctional properties. We demonstrate for the first time that Reb A exhibits hierarchical self-assembly in solutions, forming spherical micelles first when the concentration exceeds its critical micelle concentration (5.071 mg/mL), which then further assemble into large rod-like aggregates. The formation of such large Reb A aggregates is mainly dominated by hydrogen bonding and short-range Coulomb interaction energy, thus leading to the low solubility and precipitation of Reb A solutions. Surprisingly, aggregated Reb A structures display significantly improved organoleptic properties, revealing that self-aggregation can be developed as a simple, efficient, and green strategy for improving the taste profile of SGs. Additionally, the self-aggregation of Reb A at high concentrations impairs active encapsulation and also affects its interfacial and emulsifying properties.

The clinicopathological features of lung metastases of parathyroid cancinoma.

Parathyroid carcinoma(PC) is an extremely rare malignant tumor of the parathyroid glands. The lung is the most common target organ for PC distant metastases. In this study, twelve patients diagnosed with PC with lung metastases were enrolled in the study. Hematoxylin and Eosin(H&E) stained, immunohistochemical stained and next-generation sequencing (NGS) of a 425-gene panel were performed on tumor tissue samples. At the same time, we also evaluated its histopathologic characteristics. The results indicate that the microscopic examination of metastatic lesions reveals the same structure and characteristics as PC; the tumor was composed of relatively uniform cells organized in nests and separated by thin fibrous bands and abundant blood vessels. Immunohistochemical evaluation of Ki67, CyclinD1, PTH, SYN, CgA, and CD56 was useful in diagnosing PC with lung metastases. The most frequently genetic alterations were mutations of CDC73 and copy number variation (CNV) of MCL1, with a mutation rate of 25 %. In addition, the mutations of CDC73, ATM, TP53, ALK, ERBB2, MAP3K4, TSC1, CCND1 and CNV of CDK4, MCL1, SMARCB1 overlap between metastatic lesions and primary lesions. In conclusions, PC is a rare endocrine malignant tumor that is very difficult to diagnose preoperatively and prone to clinical recurrence or distant metastasis. Genetic mutations, presentation and histological characteristic were the basis for diagnosing PC with lung metastases.

Multi-objective optimization of custom implant abutment design for enhanced bone remodeling in single-crown implants using 3D finite element analysis.

The optimal configuration of a customized implant abutment is crucial for bone remodeling and is influenced by various design parameters. This study introduces an optimization process for designing two-piece zirconia dental implant abutments. The aim is to enhance bone remodeling, increase bone density in the peri-implant region, and reduce the risk of late implant failure. A 12-month bone remodeling algorithm subroutine in finite element analysis to optimize three parameters: implant placement depth, abutment taper degree, and gingival height of the titanium base abutment. The response surface analysis shows that implant placement depth and gingival height significantly impact bone density and uniformity. The taper degree has a smaller effect on bone remodeling. The optimization identified optimal values of 1.5 mm for depth, 35° for taper, and 0.5 mm for gingival height. The optimum model significantly increased cortical bone density from 1.2 to 1.937 g/cm3 in 2 months, while the original model reached 1.91 g/cm3 in 11 months. The standard deviation of density showed more uniform bone apposition, with the optimum model showing values 2 to 6 times lower than the original over 12 months. The cancellous bone showed a similar trend. In conclusion, the depth and taper have a significant effect on bone remodeling. This optimized model significantly improves bone density uniformity.