Atomic-level imaging of beam-sensitive COFs and MOFs by low-dose electron microscopy.

Electron microscopy, an important technique that allows for the precise determination of structural information with high spatiotemporal resolution, has become indispensable in unravelling the complex relationships between material structure and properties ranging from mesoscale morphology to atomic arrangement. However, beam-sensitive materials, particularly those comprising organic components such as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and covalent organic frameworks (COFs), would suffer catastrophic damage from the high energy electrons, hindering the determination of atomic structures. A low-dose approach has arisen as a possible solution to this problem based on the integration of advancements in several aspects: electron optical system, detector, image processing, and specimen preservation. This article summarizes the transmission electron microscopy characterization of MOFs and COFs, including local structures, host-guest interactions, and interfaces at the atomic level. Revolutions in advanced direct electron detectors, algorithms in image acquisition and processing, and emerging methodology for high quality low-dose imaging are also reviewed. Finally, perspectives on the future development of electron microscopy methodology with the support of computer science are presented.

Effect of endogenous protein and lipid removal on the physicochemical and digestion properties of sand rice (Agriophyllum squarrosum) flour.

The study investigated the effect of removing protein and/or lipid on the physicochemical characteristics and digestibility of sand rice flour (SRF). Morphological images showed that protein removal had a greater impact on exposing starch granules, while lipids acted as an adhesive. The treatment altered starch content in SRF samples, leading to increased starch crystallinity, denser semi-crystalline region, lower onset gelatinization temperature (To), higher peak viscosity and gelatinization enthalpy (ΔH), where Protein removal showed a more pronounced effect on altering physicochemical properties compared to lipid removal. The research revealed a positive correlation between rapidly digestible starch (RDS), maximum degree of starch hydrolysis (C∞), digestion rate constant (k) values and 1047/1022 cm-1 ratio, showing a strong connection between short-range structure and starch digestibility. The presence of endogenous proteins and lipids in SRF hinder digestion by restricting starch swelling and gelatinization, and physically obstructing enzyme-starch interaction. Lipids had a greater impact on starch digestibility than proteins, possibly due to their higher efficacy in reducing digestibility, higher lipid content with greater potential to form starch-lipid complexes. This study provides valuable insights into the interaction between starch and proteins/lipids in the sand rice seed matrix, enhancing its applicability in functional and nutritional food products.

Electrochemical Continuous-Flow Scholl Reaction toward Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons.

The preparation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by the Scholl reaction is typically performed by using superstoichiometric oxidants. Herein, we develop an electrochemical continuous-flow Scholl reaction to access PAHs that features a reduction in the use of supporting electrolytes and easy scale-up without changing the reaction conditions and setups. This reaction allows the synthesis of distorted PAHs containing three [5]helicene units that possess intriguing electronic and optical properties.

The Size Differences of Breast Cancer and Benign Tumors Measured by Two-Dimensional Ultrasound and Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound.

OBJECTIVES: Ultrasound (US) imaging has been observed to underestimate tumor size in clinical practice. This study aims to compare the size measurements of breast cancer and benign tumors using two-dimensional ultrasound (2DUS) and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS). METHODS: The study included 42 clinically confirmed breast cancer and 47 benign breast tumors. Two experienced physicians independently measured the maximal longitudinal and transverse diameters of the masses in 2DUS and CEUS. All analyses were performed in R (4.2.2) and GraphPad Prism 6. RESULTS: The maximal longitudinal and transverse diameters of breast cancer measured by CEUS were 26.61 ± 0.21% and 26.24 ± 0.19% larger compared with 2DUS, and benign breast tumors had an 11.74 ± 0.21% and 11.06 ± 0.14% increase in size compared with 2DUS. The area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) for the difference between 2DUS and CEUS was 0.870 for longitudinal diameters (95% CI: 0.795-0.945, sensitivity 0.842, specificity 0.783, threshold value 0.215), and 0.863 for transverse diameters (95% CI: 0.785-0.942, sensitivity 0.667, specificity 0.936, threshold value 0.203). CONCLUSIONS: The size measurements of both breast cancer and benign tumors were larger in CEUS compared with 2DUS, with CEUS measurements of breast cancer being more pronounced than those of benign breast tumors. These findings suggest that CEUS may provide a more precise assessment of tumor size, which is crucial for determining optimal treatment strategies and improving patient outcomes in breast cancer management.

Spatial engineering of single-atom Fe adjacent to Cu-assisted nanozymes for biomimetic O2 activation.

The precise design of single-atom nanozymes (SAzymes) and understanding of their biocatalytic mechanisms hold great promise for developing ideal bio-enzyme substitutes. While considerable efforts have been directed towards mimicking partial bio-inspired structures, the integration of heterogeneous SAzymes configurations and homogeneous enzyme-like mechanism remains an enormous challenge. Here, we show a spatial engineering strategy to fabricate dual-sites SAzymes with atomic Fe active center and adjacent Cu sites. Compared to planar Fe-Cu dual-atomic sites, vertically stacked Fe-Cu geometry in FePc@2D-Cu-N-C possesses highly optimized scaffolds, favorable substrate affinity, and fast electron transfer. These characteristics of FePc@2D-Cu-N-C SAzyme induces biomimetic O2 activation through homogenous enzymatic pathway, resembling functional and mechanistic similarity to natural cytochrome c oxidase. Furthermore, it presents an appealing alternative of cytochrome P450 3A4 for drug metabolism and drug-drug interaction. These findings are expected to deepen the fundamental understanding of atomic-level design in next-generation bio-inspired nanozymes.

Efficacy of laparoscopic pyeloplasty for pediatric hydronephrosis caused by symptomatic versus asymptomatic endogenous ureteropelvic junction obstruction: a retrospective analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To retrospectively compare the differences in the surgical efficacy and prognosis of laparoscopic pyeloplasty for hydronephrosis caused by symptomatic versus asymptomatic ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) in children and determine whether clinical symptoms affect the surgical outcome and prognosis. METHODS: Children who underwent laparoscopic pyeloplasty in our hospital from January 2018 to December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The children were divided into symptomatic and asymptomatic groups according to their main symptoms. The primary outcomes were the surgical success rate, change in renal parenchymal thickness, and change in renal pelvis anteroposterior diameter. The secondary outcomes were postoperative complications, reoperation rate, operative duration, intraoperative blood loss, and drainage tube indwelling time. RESULTS: In total, 224 children with UPJO were enrolled; 148 (66.1%) were symptomatic and 76 (33.9%) were asymptomatic. The symptomatic group showed a significantly greater mean change in renal parenchymal thickness, significantly higher surgical success rate, and significantly lower postoperative complication rate. CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, asymptomatic children had a lower surgical success rate, less postoperative imaging improvement, and more postoperative complications than symptomatic children. The presence or absence of clinical symptoms may affect the surgical outcome and prognosis.

Exact interval estimation for the linear combination of binomial proportions.

The weighted sum of binomial proportions and the interaction effect are two important cases of the linear combination of binomial proportions. Existing confidence intervals for these two parameters are approximate. We apply the h-function method to a given approximate interval and obtain an exact interval. The process is repeated multiple times until the final-improved interval (exact) cannot be shortened. In particular, for the weighted sum of two proportions, we derive two final-improved intervals based on the (approximate) adjusted score and fiducial intervals. After comparing several currently used intervals, we recommend these two final-improved intervals for practice. For the weighted sum of three proportions and the interaction effect, the final-improved interval based on the adjusted score interval should be used. Three real datasets are used to detail how the approximate intervals are improved.

Electrochemical cascade migratory versus ortho-cyclization of 2-alkynylbenzenesulfonamides.

Efficient control over several possible reaction pathways of free radicals is the chemical basis of their highly selective transformations. Among various competing reaction pathways, sulfonimidyl radicals generated from the electrolysis of 2-alkynylbenzenesulfonamides undergo cascade migratory or ortho-cyclization cyclization selectively. It is found that the incorporation of an extra 2-methyl substituent biases the selective migration of the acyl- over vinyl-linker of the key spirocyclic cation intermediate and thus serves as an enabling handle to achieve the synthetically interesting yet under-investigated cascade migratory cyclization of spirocyclic cations.

Expert consensus on perioperative integrated skincare for noninvasive energy-based device aesthetic procedures in clinical practice in China.

BACKGROUND: Noninvasive energy-based device (NI-EBD) aesthetic procedures has recently gained widespread usage for treating various skin conditions, enhancing skin texture and performing rejuvenation-related procedures. However, practically all NI-EBD procedures result in variable degrees of damage to the skin barrier, inducing pathological and physiological processes such as oxidative stress and inflammation, and only a small percentage of individuals possess the innate ability to restore it. OBJECTIVE: To introduce the concept of integrated skincare and establish standardized operational procedures for perioperative integrated skincare, and furnish a theoretical basis for clinical diagnosis and treatment performed by professional medical aestheticians. METHODS: The author leveraged domestic and international guidelines, clinical practice expertise and evidence-based research, adapting them to suit the specific circumstances in China. RESULTS: The consensus were provided four parts, including concept and essence of integrated skincare, integrated skincare significance during the perioperative phase of NI-EBD procedures, active ingredients and functions of effective skincare products, standardized perioperative skincare procedure for NI-EBD procedures and precautions. For the standardized perioperative skincare procedure, four recommendations were listed according to different stages during NI-EBD procedures. CONCLUSION: These recommendations create the 'Expert Consensus on Perioperative Integrated Skincare for Noninvasive Energy-Based Device Aesthetic Procedures in Clinical Practice in China'.

An integrated model incorporating deep learning, hand-crafted radiomics and clinical and US features to diagnose central lymph node metastasis in patients with papillary thyroid cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the value of an integrated model incorporating deep learning (DL), hand-crafted radiomics and clinical and US imaging features for diagnosing central lymph node metastasis (CLNM) in patients with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). METHODS: This retrospective study reviewed 613 patients with clinicopathologically confirmed PTC from two institutions. The DL model and hand-crafted radiomics model were developed using primary lesion images and then integrated with clinical and US features selected by multivariate analysis to generate an integrated model. The performance was compared with junior and senior radiologists on the independent test set. SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) plot and Gradient-weighted Class Activation Mapping (Grad-CAM) were used for the visualized explanation of the model. RESULTS: The integrated model yielded the best performance with an AUC of 0.841. surpassing that of the hand-crafted radiomics model (0.706, p < 0.001) and the DL model (0.819, p = 0.26). Compared to junior and senior radiologists, the integrated model reduced the missed CLNM rate from 57.89% and 44.74-27.63%, and decreased the rate of unnecessary central lymph node dissection (CLND) from 29.87% and 27.27-18.18%, respectively. SHAP analysis revealed that the DL features played a primary role in the diagnosis of CLNM, while clinical and US features (such as extrathyroidal extension, tumour size, age, gender, and multifocality) provided additional support. Grad-CAM indicated that the model exhibited a stronger focus on thyroid capsule in patients with CLNM. CONCLUSION: Integrated model can effectively decrease the incidence of missed CLNM and unnecessary CLND. The application of the integrated model can help improve the acceptance of AI-assisted US diagnosis among radiologists.

Lower creatinine to cystatin C ratio is associated with an increased risk of MASLD: A cross-sectional and prospective study of 368,634 UK Biobank participants.

OBJECTIVE: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) affects many populations, and screening out the high-risk populations at an early stage is a challenge. As a sarcopenia index, the relationship between creatinine to cystatin C ratio (CCR) and MASLD remains unclear. This cross-sectional, prospective study aimed to explore the relationship between CCR and MASLD. Design Firstly, explored the correlation between CCR and MASLD in cross-sectional analyses. Then excluded the population with baseeline diagnosis of MASLD and analyzed the association with baseline CCR levels and the onset of MASLD in the population with available follow-up data. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) to evaluate the association between CCR levels and MASLD. PATIENTS AND MEASUREMENTS: This study included 368,634 participants from the UK Biobank for cross-sectional and prospective analyses. The demographic characteristics and laboratory measurements of all participants were obtained from the UK Biobank. MASLD was diagnosed according to the multi-society consensus nomenclature. Hepatic steatosis was defined as FLI  ≥60. RESULTS: We grouped the study participants according to CCR tertiles. In cross-sectional analyses, participants in CCR tertile 1 had the highest MASLD risk (OR: 1.070, 95% CI: 1.053-1.088, p < .001). And the similar association was observed in the prospective analyses (CCR tertile 1 OR: 1.340, 95% CI: 1.077-1.660, p = .009; CCR tertile 2 OR: 1.217, 95% CI: 1.021-1.450, p = .029, respectively). After stratification by gender, the significant association between CCR and the onset of MASLD was only observed in males (CCR tertile 1 OR: 1.639, 95% CI: 1.160-2.317, p = .005; CCR tertile 2 OR: 1.322, 95% CI: 1.073-1.628, p = .005, respectively). CONCLUSION: Our results indicated that lower CCR was significantly associated with higher risk of MASLD, based on which predictive models can be developed to screen populations at high risk of developing MASLD.

Topical 5-aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy for recalcitrant facial flat warts.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) uses light energy to excite a photosensitizing agent, leading to production of reactive oxygen species, which exert cytotoxic effects on targeted cells. PDT has emerged as a promising therapeutic modality for the treatment of flat warts caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, by targeting infected keratinocytes and inactivating nonenveloped viral particles. Some patients with recalcitrant flat warts on the face who have poor response to traditional treatment often seek effective therapy to have the warts removed. In this report, we retrospectively evaluated the efficacy of topical 10% 5-aminolevulinic acid PDT (ALA-PDT) in the treatment of 15 patients with recalcitrant facial flat warts. Patients received treatment once every two weeks for a total of two or three sessions. At 24 weeks after the start of treatment, 86.67% of patients showed complete or excellent response. Further more, the remission rate of 100% lesion clearance was 46.67% (seven patients), and the remission rate of 70-100% lesion clearance was 40.00% (six patients). None of the patients experienced disease recurrence or progression. The adverse reactions were generally well tolerated by the patients and mostly resolved in a few days without special treatment. Our findings showed that topical 10% ALA-PDT is a safe and effective treatment for recalcitrant facial flat warts.

Extendable piezo/ferroelectricity in nonstoichiometric 2D transition metal dichalcogenides.

Engineering piezo/ferroelectricity in two-dimensional materials holds significant implications for advancing the manufacture of state-of-the-art multifunctional materials. The inborn nonstoichiometric propensity of two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides provides a spiffy ready-available solution for breaking inversion centrosymmetry, thereby conducing to circumvent size effect challenges in conventional perovskite oxide ferroelectrics. Here, we show the extendable and ubiquitous piezo/ferroelectricity within nonstoichiometric two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides that are predominantly centrosymmetric during standard stoichiometric cases. The emerged piezo/ferroelectric traits are aroused from the sliding of van der Waals layers and displacement of interlayer metal atoms triggered by the Frankel defects of heterogeneous interlayer native metal atom intercalation. We demonstrate two-dimensional chromium selenides nanogenerator and iron tellurides ferroelectric multilevel memristors as two representative applications. This innovative approach to engineering piezo/ferroelectricity in ultrathin transition metal dichalcogenides may provide a potential avenue to consolidate piezo/ferroelectricity with featured two-dimensional materials to fabricate multifunctional materials and distinguished multiferroic.

Correction: Chen et al. Identification of the Causal Agent of Brown Leaf Spot on Kiwifruit and Its Sensitivity to Different Active Ingredients of Biological Fungicides. Pathogens 2022, 11, 673.

In the original publication [...].

Honokiol inhibits Botryosphaeria dothidea, the causal pathogen of kiwifruit soft rot, by targeting membrane lipid biosynthesis.

BACKGROUND: Kiwifruit soft rot is mainly caused by Botryosphaeria dothidea, representing a considerable threat to kiwifruit industry. This investigation assessed the inhibitory consequences and mechanisms of honokiol against B. dothidea, evaluating the inhibitory effects and underlying mechanism. RESULTS: A strain of B.dothidea (XFCT-2) was isolated from infected soft rot kiwifruit. The findings indicate that honokiol hindered the mycelial growth, conidial germination, and pathogenicity of B. dothidea in a dose-dependent manner, both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, ultrastructural examinations showed that honokiol impaired the integrity of B. dothidea, leading to an elevation in cell membrane permeability, engendering a multitude of intracellular substance extravasations and hampering energy metabolism. Transcriptome analysis exhibited that honokiol-regulated genes were related to membrane lipid biosynthesis, comprising ACC1, FAS2, Arp2, gk, Cesle, and Etnk1. These findings indicate that honokiol impedes B. dothidea by obstructing lipid biosynthesis within the cell membrane and compromising its integrity, halting the growth of the mycelia, which could potentially cause cellular demise. CONCLUSION: This investigation illustrates how honokiol functions as an eco-friendly approach to prevent the occurrence of soft rot in kiwifruits. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Genome-wide identification and expression patterns of the laccase gene family in response to kiwifruit bacterial canker infection.

BACKGROUND: Kiwifruit bacterial canker, caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa), is a destructive disease worldwide. Resistance genes that respond to Psa infection urgently need to be identified for controlling this disease. Laccase is mainly involved in the synthesis of lignin in the plant cell wall and plays a prominent role in plant growth and resistance to pathogen infection. However, the role of laccase in kiwifruit has not been reported, and whether laccase is pivotal in the response to Psa infection remains unclear. RESULTS: We conducted a bioinformatics analysis to identify 55 laccase genes (AcLAC1-AcLAC55) in the kiwifruit genome. These genes were classified into five cluster groups (I-V) based on phylogenetic analysis, with cluster groups I and II having the highest number of members. Analysis of the exon-intron structure revealed that the number of exons varied from 1 to 8, with an average of 5 introns. Our evolutionary analysis indicated that fragment duplication played a key role in the expansion of kiwifruit laccase genes. Furthermore, evolutionary pressure analysis suggested that AcLAC genes were under purifying selection. We also performed a cis-acting element analysis and found that AcLAC genes contained multiple hormone (337) and stress signal (36) elements in their promoter regions. Additionally, we investigated the expression pattern of laccase genes in kiwifruit stems and leaves infected with Psa. Our findings revealed that laccase gene expression levels in the stems were higher than those in the leaves 5 days after inoculation with Psa. Notably, AcLAC2, AcLAC4, AcLAC17, AcLAC18, AcLAC26, and AcLAC42 showed significantly higher expression levels (p < 0.001) compared to the non-inoculated control (0 d), suggesting their potential role in resisting Psa infection. Moreover, our prediction indicated that 21 kiwifruit laccase genes are regulated by miRNA397, they could potentially act as negative regulators of lignin biosynthesis. CONCLUSIONS: These results are valuable for further analysis of the resistance function and molecular mechanism of laccases in kiwifruit.

Discovery and Potential Utility of a Novel Non-Invasive Ocular Delivery Platform.

To this day, the use of oily eye drops and non-invasive retinal delivery remain a major challenge. Oily eye drops usually cause ocular irritation and interfere with the normal functioning of the eye, while ocular injections for retinal drug delivery cause significant adverse effects and a high burden on the healthcare system. Here, the authors report a novel topical non-invasive ocular delivery platform (NIODP) through the periorbital skin for high-efficiency anterior and posterior ocular delivery in a non-human primate model (NHP). A single dose of about 7 mg JV-MD2 (omega 3 DHA) was delivered via the NIODP and reached the retina at a Cmax of 111 µg/g and the cornea at a Cmax of 66 µg/g. The NIODP also delivered JV-DE1, an anti-inflammatory agent in development for dry eye diseases, as efficiently as eye drops did to the anterior segments of the NHP. The topical NIODP seems to transport drug candidates through the corneal pathway to the anterior and via the conjunctiva/sclera pathway to the posterior segments of the eye. The novel NIODP method has the potential to reshape the landscape of ocular drug delivery. This is especially the case for oily eye drops and retinal delivery, where the success of the treatment lies in the ocular tolerability and bioavailability of drugs in the target tissue.

Sub-Monolayer SbOx on PtPb/Pt Nanoplate Boosts Direct Formic Acid Oxidation Catalysis.

To promote the commercialization of direct formic acid fuel cell (DFAFC), it is vital to explore new types of direct formic acid oxidation (FAOR) catalysts with high activity and direct pathway. Here, we report the synthesis of intermetallic platinum-lead/platinum nanoplates inlaid with sub-monolayer antimony oxide surface (PtPb/Pt@sub-SbOx NPs) for efficient catalytic applications in FAOR. Impressively, they can achieve the remarkable FAOR specific and mass activities of 28.7 mA cm-2 and 7.2 A mgPt-1, which are 151 and 60 times higher than those of the state-of-the-art commercial Pt/C, respectively. Furthermore, the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray absorption spectroscopy results collectively reveal the optimization of the local coordination environment by the surface sub-monolayer SbOx, along with the electron transfer from Pb and Sb to Pt, driving the predominant dehydrogenation process. The sub-monolayer SbOx on the surface can effectively attenuate the CO generation, largely improving the FAOR performance of PtPb/Pt@sub-SbOx NPs. This work develops a class of high-performance Pt-based anodic catalyst for DFAFC via constructing the unique intermetallic core/sub-monolayer shell structure.

A review of biocontrol agents in controlling late blight of potatoes and tomatoes caused by Phytophthora infestans and the underlying mechanisms.

Phytophthora infestans causes late blight on potatoes and tomatoes, which has a significant economic impact on agriculture. The management of late blight has been largely dependent on the application of synthetic fungicides, which is not an ultimate solution for sustainable agriculture and environmental safety. Biocontrol strategies are expected to be alternative methods to the conventional chemicals in controlling plant diseases in the integrated pest management (IPM) programs. Well-studied biocontrol agents against Phytophthora infestans include fungi, oomycetes, bacteria, and compounds produced by these antagonists, in addition to certain bioactive metabolites produced by plants. Laboratory and glasshouse experiments suggest a potential for using biocontrol in practical late blight disease management. However, the transition of biocontrol to field applications is problematic for the moment, due to low and variable efficacies. In this review, we provide a comprehensive summary on these biocontrol strategies and the underlying corresponding mechanisms. To give a more intuitive understanding of the promising biocontrol agents against Phytophthora infestans in agricultural systems, we discuss the utilizations, modes of action and future potentials of these antagonists based on their taxonomic classifications. To achieve a goal of best possible results produced by biocontrol agents, it is suggested to work on field trials, strain modifications, formulations, regulations, and optimizations of application. Combined biocontrol agents having different modes of action or biological adaptation traits may be used to strengthen the biocontrol efficacy. More importantly, biological control agents should be applied in the coordination of other existing and forthcoming methods in the IPM programs. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.