Imparting Stability to Chiral Helical Gold Nanoparticle Superstructures.

Realizing the promise of chiral inorganic nanomaterials hinges on improving their structural stability under various chemical and environmental conditions. Here, we examine the stability of 1-D gold nanoparticle (Au NP) single helices prepared using the amphiphilic peptide conjugate Cx-(PEPAuM-ox)2 (PEPAuM-ox = AYSSGAPPMoxPPF; x = 16-22). We present a general template-independent strategy of tuning helix stability that relies on controlling the dimensions of constituent NPs. As NP dimensions increase, Au NP single helices become both more thermally stable and more stable in the presence of chemical denaturants and protein digestion agents (e.g., urea and proteinase K, respectively). We use this strategy for imparting helix stability to create colloidal suspensions of thermally robust Au NP single helices which maintain their plasmonic chiroptical activity up to ∼80 °C.

Ovotransferrin, an alternative and potential protein for diverse food and nutritional applications.

Ovotransferrin(OVT)is a protein found in many types of egg white and has a wide range of functional properties. It has 50% homology with human/bovine lactoferrin, and is expected to be one of the most important alternative proteins for use in food and nutritional applications. This paper mainly reviews the structural characteristics and chemical properties of OVT, as well as its extraction and purification methods. It also systematically describes the various biological activities of OVT and its applications in food and medical industries. The challenges and limitations in the research of OVT were suggested. This review recommends some possible methods such as nanoparticle carriers and microencapsulation to improve the bioavailability and stability of OVT. In addition, this review highlights several strategies to overcome the limitations of OVT in terms of preparation and purification. This review systematically summarizes the recent advances in OVT and will provide guidance for the its development for food and nutritional applications.

Efficacy of MRI-guided rTMS for post-traumatic stress disorder by modulating amygdala activity: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a prevalent and severe psychiatric disorder. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) targeting the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex provides limited relief for symptoms of PTSD. This study will be conducted to validate the efficacy of MRI-guided rTMS in targeting the sites most closely associated with the amygdala for patients with PTSD. We hypothesise that the intervention will improve clinical symptoms by decreasing amygdala activity in patients. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: A randomised, double-blind, sham-controlled trial will be conducted. Forty-eight eligible patients with PTSD will be randomly assigned to receive either active or sham MRI-guided rTMS for 10 consecutive days after the initial MRI scans. MRI scans will be recollected at the end of the intervention. Clinical assessments will be performed at baseline, treatment day 5, treatment day 10, and 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 8 weeks after completion of the intervention to monitor changes in clinical symptoms. The primary assessment outcome is the change in PTSD symptoms between baseline and treatment day 10, as measured by the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5. Repeated measures analysis of variance will be performed using statistical software SPSS V.26.0. The significance level will be set at 0.05. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval has been obtained from the Ethics Committee of Xijing Hospital in Xi'an, China (KY20222176-X-1), and the trial has been registered on ClinicalTrials.gov. The findings of this trial will be disseminated at academic conferences or published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT05544110.

Important role of Bacillus subtilis as a probiotic and vaccine carrier in animal health maintenance.

Bacillus subtilis is a widespread Gram-positive facultative aerobic bacterium that is recognized as generally safe. It has shown significant application value and great development potential in the animal farming industry. As a probiotic, it is frequently used as a feed growth supplement to effectively replace antibiotics due to its favourable effects on regulating the intestinal flora, improving intestinal immunity, inhibiting harmful microorganisms, and secreting bioactive substances. Consequently, the gut health and disease resistance of farmed animals can be improved. Both vegetative and spore forms of B. subtilis have also been utilized as vaccine carriers for delivering the antigens of infectious pathogens for over a decade. Notably, its spore form is regarded as one of the most prospective for displaying heterologous antigens with high activity and stability. Previously published reviews have predominantly focused on the development and applications of B. subtilis spore surface display techniques. However, this review aims to summarize recent studies highlighting the important role of B. subtilis as a probiotic and vaccine carrier in maintaining animal health. Specifically, we focus on the beneficial effects and underlying mechanisms of B. subtilis in enhancing disease resistance among farmed animals as well as its potential application as mucosal vaccine carriers. It is anticipated that B. subtilis will assume an even more prominent role in promoting animal health with in-depth research on its characteristics and genetic manipulation tools.

Progress in Multisensory Synergistic Salt Reduction.

Excessive salt intake, primarily from sodium chloride prevalent in modern food processing, poses a significant public health risk associated with hypertension, cardiovascular diseases and stroke. Researchers worldwide are exploring approaches to reduce salt consumption without compromising food flavor. One promising method is to enhance salty taste perception using multisensory synergies, leveraging gustatory, olfactory, auditory, visual, tactile and trigeminal senses to decrease salt intake while preserving food taste. This review provides a comprehensive overview of salt usage in foods, mechanisms of salty taste perception and evaluation methods for saltiness. Various strategies for reducing salt consumption while maintaining food flavor are examined, with existing salt reduction methods' advantages and limitations being critically analyzed. A particular emphasis is placed on exploring the mechanisms and potential of multisensory synergy in salt reduction. Taste interactions, olfactory cues, auditory stimulation, visual appearance and tactile sensations in enhancing saltiness perception are discussed, offering insights into developing nutritious, appealing low-sodium foods. Furthermore, challenges in current research are highlighted, and future directions for effective salt reduction strategies to promote public health are proposed. This review aims to establish a scientific foundation for creating healthier, flavorful low-sodium food options that meet consumer preferences and wellness needs.

Recovery of Y(III) from wastewater by Pseudomonas psychrotolerans isolated from a mine soil.

While microbial technologies, which are considered to be environmentally friendly, have great potential for the recovery of rare earth elements (REEs) from mining wastewater, their applications have been restricted due to a lack of efficient biosorbents. In this study, a strain of Pseudomonas psychrotolerans isolated from yttrium-enriched mine soil was used to recover yttrium (Y(III)) from rare-earth mining wastewater. At an initial Y(III) dose of 50 mg L-1, the amount of Y(III) adsorbed by P. psychrotolerans reached 99.9 % after 24 h. Various characterization techniques revealed that P. psychrotolerans adsorbed Y(III) mainly through complexation of oxygen-containing functional groups and electrostatic interactions. A high level of adsorption efficiency (>99.9 %) was maintained after five consecutive adsorption/desorption cycles, indicating that P. psychrotolerans was highly reusable. While the efficiency of adsorbing Y(III) by P. psychrotolerans decreased (34.4 %) in actual rare earth mining wastewater, selectivity toward other REEs (≤ 18.4 %) was still observed. Consequently, this study provides a promising green, environmentally friendly and sustainable microbial approach for the selective recovery of REEs from rare earth wastewater.

Biorthogonal Dynamical Quantum Phase Transitions in Non-Hermitian Systems.

By utilizing biorthogonal bases, we develop a comprehensive framework for studying biorthogonal dynamical quantum phase transitions in non-Hermitian systems. With the help of the previously overlooked associated state, we define the automatically normalized biorthogonal Loschmidt echo. This approach is capable of handling arbitrary non-Hermitian systems with complex eigenvalues and naturally eliminates the negative value of Loschmidt rate obtained without the biorthogonal bases. Taking the non-Hermitian Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model as a concrete example, a 1/2 change of dynamical topological order parameter in biorthogonal bases is observed which is not shown in self-normal bases. Furthermore, we discover that the periodicity of biorthogonal dynamical quantum phase transitions depends on whether the two-level subsystem at the critical momentum oscillates or reaches a steady state.

Plasmonic Bound States in the Continuum Metasurface-Semiconductor-Metal Architecture Enables Efficient Hot-Electron-Based Photodetector.

Plasmonic hot-electron-based photodetectors (HEB-PDs) have received widespread attention for their ability to realize effective carrier collection under sub-bandgap illumination. However, due to the low hot electron emission probability, most of the existing HEB-PDs exhibit poor responsivity, which significantly restricts their practical applications. Here, by employing the binary-pore anodic alumina oxide template technique, we proposed a compact plasmonic bound state in continuum metasurface-semiconductor-metal-based (BIC M-S-M) HEB-PD. The symmetry-protected BIC can manipulate a strong gap surface plasmon in the stacked M-S-M structure, which effectively enhances light-matter interactions and improves the photoresponse of the integrated device. Notably, the optimal M-S-M HEB-PD with near-unit absorption (∼90%) around 800 nm delivers a responsivity of 5.18 A/W and an IPCE of 824.23% under 780 nm normal incidence (1 V external bias). Moreover, the ultrathin feature of BIC M-S-M (∼150 nm) on the flexible substrate demonstrates excellent stability under a wide range of illumination angles from -40° to 40° and at the curvature surface from 0.05 to 0.13 mm-1. The proposed plasmonic BIC strategy is very promising for many other hot-electron-related fields, such as photocatalysis, biosensing, imaging, and so on.

Elucidating salt-reduction mechanisms of aroma-active compounds from yeast extracts through sensomics approaches and electroencephalography.

This study investigated the savory intensity of aroma-active compounds derived from yeast extract Maillard reaction models. Sensory evaluation results revealed that beef flavoring model (28.00 g) exhibited the highest savory perception intensity when the yeast extract FA34 (0.50 g) the added. Eleven aroma-active compounds associated with saltiness perception were identified via solid-phase microextraction and extraction combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry/olfactory. The odorant-NaCl mixture model and saltiness intensity evaluation results revealed that thiazole and 4-methylpentanoic acid could significantly (p < 0.05) enhance the saltiness perception of salt solution (5.00 g/L), 2-methylpyrazine, 2-methyl-3-furanthiol, 2,6-dimethylpyrazine, furfuryl mercaptan, and methyl 2-methyl-3-furyl disulfide could significantly (p < 0.01) enhance the saltiness perception of a salt solution (5.00 g/L). Electroencephalography revealed that the main mechanisms underlying aroma-induced saltiness perception enhancement included the strengthening of the saltiness perception signal and prolonging signal stimulation time in the frontal regions of the cerebral cortex.

Casein phosphopeptide interferes the interactions between ferritin and ion irons.

Ferritin, a vital protein required to store iron in a cage-like structure, is critical for maintaining iron balance. Ferritin can be attacked by free radicals during iron reduction and release, thereby leading to oxidative damage. Whether other biomacromolecules such as casein phosphopeptides (CPP) could influence the ferritin's function in iron oxidation and release and affect the ferritin stability remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the effect of CPP on the ferritin­iron ion interaction, thereby focusing on role of CPP on ferritin stability. Results showed that CPP weakened the iron oxidation activity of ferritin but promoted iron release. Moreover, CPP could effectively chelate iron, capture hydroxyl radicals, and reduce the degradation of ferritin. This study highlights the role of CPP in the ferritin­iron relationship, and lays a foundation for understanding the interaction between ferritin, peptides, and metal ions.

Umami Altering Salivary Proteome: A Study across a Sensitivity Spectrum on Subjects.

This study delved into the relationship between umami taste sensitivity (UTS) and variations in the salivary proteome among 12 healthy nonsmokers utilizing 4D data-independent acquisition-based proteomics. By assessing UTS through monosodium l-glutamate (MSG) detection thresholds, we discovered notable differences: individuals with high UTS detected umami at significantly lower MSG concentrations (0.20 ± 0.12 mM) compared to their low UTS counterparts (2.51 ± 1.21 mM). Both groups showed an upregulation of the S100A1 protein under MSG stimulation, indicating a potent biochemical response to umami stimuli. The high UTS group exhibited enhanced metabolic pathways including those for amino acid, lipid, and organic acid biosynthesis, essential for maintaining taste receptor functionality and enhancing signal transduction. This group also demonstrated increased activity in cytochrome P450 enzymes and ribonucleoprotein complexes, suggesting a readiness to manage metabolic challenges and optimize umami perception. In contrast, the low UTS group showed adaptive mechanisms, possibly through modulation of receptor availability and function, with an upregulation of structural and ribosomal proteins that may support taste receptor production and turnover. These findings suggest that varying biological mechanisms underpin differences in umami perception, which could significantly influence dietary preferences and nutritional outcomes, highlighting the intricate interplay of genetic, physiological, and metabolic factors in taste sensitivity.

Gamma-glutamylation of beef protein hydrolysates to improve its overall taste and functions of gastro-intestinal hormone (CCK and GLP-1) pro-secretion and anti-inflammation.

γ-Glutamylation of beef protein hydrolysate (BPH) by L-glutaminase was carried out to improve the taste, as well as enhance the stimulating effect of gastrointestinal hormone (CCK and GLP-1) secretion and the anti-inflammatory property. Results of sensory evaluation showed that the kokumi taste, umaminess, saltiness of the γ-glutamylated product (γ-GBPH) were significantly higher (p < 0.05), whilst the bitterness was remarkably decreased (p < 0.05) than that of BPH. γ-GBPH had a better promoting effect (p < 0.05) on CCK and GLP-1 secretion and a higher inhibition (p < 0.05) on TNF-α and IL-8 production than BPH in vitro cell experiments. In γ-GBPH, 15 γ-Glutamylated amino acids (γ-[Glu](n =1/2)-AAs) and 10 γ-Glutamyl-tripeptide (γ-Glu-AA-AAs) were synthesized from the bitter amino acids and bitter peptides, respectively, and their total production yield was 140.01-170.46 mg/g and 149.06 mg/g, respectively. The synthesized γ-Glu-AA-AAs entered the binding pocket of the calcium-sensitive receptor (CaSR), and they all interacted with three reported amino acid residues (Ser147, Ala168, and Ser170) of CaSR.

Data mining and machine learning in HIV infection risk research: An overview and recommendations.

In the contemporary era, the applications of data mining and machine learning have permeated extensively into medical research, significantly contributing to areas such as HIV studies. By reviewing 38 articles published in the past 15 years, the study presents a roadmap based on seven different aspects, utilizing various machine learning techniques for both novice researchers and experienced researchers seeking to comprehend the current state of the art in this area. While traditional regression modeling techniques have been commonly used, researchers are increasingly adopting more advanced fully supervised machine learning and deep learning techniques, which often outperform the traditional methods in predictive performance. Additionally, the study identifies nine new open research issues and outlines possible future research plans to enhance the outcomes of HIV infection risk research. This review is expected to be an insightful guide for researchers, illuminating current practices and suggesting advancements in the field.

26SCS-Loaded SilMA/Col Composite Sponge with Well-Arranged Layers Promotes Angiogenesis-Based Diabetic Wound Repair by Mediating Macrophage Inflammatory Response.

Diabetic wound healing is a significant clinical challenge because abnormal immune cells in the wound cause chronic inflammation and impair tissue regeneration. Therefore, regulating the behavior and function of macrophages may be conducive to improving treatment outcomes in diabetic wounds. Herein, sulfated chitosan (26SCS)-containing composite sponges (26SCS-SilMA/Col-330) with well-arranged layers and high porosity were constructed based on collagen and silk fibroin, aiming to induce an appropriate inflammatory response and promote angiogenesis. The results indicated that the ordered topological structure of composite sponges could trigger the pro-inflammatory response of Mφs in the early stage, and rapid release of 26SCS in the early and middle stages (within the concentration range of 1-3 mg/mL) induced a positive inflammatory response; initiated the pro-inflammatory reaction of Mφs within 3 days; shifted M1 Mφs to the M2 phenotype within 3-7 days; and significantly up-regulated the expression of two typical angiogenic growth factors, namely VEGF and PDGF-BB, on day 7, leading to rapid HUVEC migration and angiogenesis. In vivo data also demonstrated that on the 14th day after surgery, the 26SCS-SilMA/Col-330-implanted areas exhibited less inflammation, faster re-epithelialization, more abundant collagen deposition and a greater number of blood vessels in the skin tissue. The composite sponges with higher 26SCS contents (the (5.0) 26SCS-SilMA/Col-330 and the (7.5) 26SCS-SilMA/Col-330) could better orchestrate the phenotype and function of Mφs and facilitate wound healing. These findings highlight that the 26SCS-SilMA/Col-330 sponges developed in this work might have great potential as a novel dressing for the treatment of diabetic wounds.

Management and Clinical Outcomes of Membranous Nephropathy, IgA Nephropathy, and Minimal Change Disease Two Years Post-Kidney Biopsy.

INTRODUCTION: This study evaluated the phenotypic and pathology characteristics of patients undergoing kidney biopsy at a single center, while also determining the frequency and factors associated with clinical outcomes. METHODS: The incidence and distribution of biopsy-proven kidney diseases in 2000-2019 were surveyed. Consecutive individuals diagnosed with membranous nephropathy (MN), immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN), and minimal change disease (MCD) between August 2015 and December 2019 were enrolled in the prospective 2-year follow-up study. Outcomes included remission of proteinuria and kidney disease progression events. Multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards model was applied. RESULTS: 4,550 kidney biopsies were performed in 2000-2019, showing a noticeable increase in the proportion of MN. 426 patients were enrolled in the follow-up cohort. 346 (81.2%) achieved remission of proteinuria, 39 (9.2%) suffered kidney disease progression and 51.3% of them were diagnosed with IgAN. Kidney pathological diagnosis (MN vs. MCD: hazard ratio [HR], 0.42; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.31-0.57; IgAN vs. MCD: 0.58; 0.39-0.85), levels of 24-h urine protein at biopsy (1.04; 1.00-1.08) and presence of nodular mesangial sclerosis (0.70; 0.49-0.99) were significantly correlated with remission of proteinuria after adjusting for baseline variables. 24-h urine protein levels at biopsy (1.14; 1.04-1.25) and the presence of crescents (2.30; 1.06-4.95) were the independent risk factors for kidney disease progression events after adjusting for baseline variables. CONCLUSION: The increasing frequency of MN has been affirmed over the past 2 decades. The therapeutic status, clinical outcomes, and factors influencing these outcomes were presented in this single-center study for the three primary glomerular diseases.

Characteristics of saltiness-enhancing peptides derived from yeast proteins and elucidation of their mechanism of action by molecular docking.

This study aimed to identify saltiness-enhancing peptides from yeast protein and elucidate their mechanisms by molecular docking. Yeast protein hydrolysates with optimal saltiness-enhancing effects were prepared under conditions determined using an orthogonal test. Ten saltiness-enhancing peptide candidates were screened using an integrated virtual screening strategy. Sensory evaluation demonstrated that these peptides exhibited diverse taste characteristics (detection thresholds: 0.13-0.50 mmol/L). Peptides NKF, LGLR, WDL, NMKF, FDSL and FDGK synergistically or additively enhanced the saltiness of a 0.30% NaCl solution. Molecular docking revealed that these peptides predominantly interacted with TMC4 by hydrogen bonding, with hydrophilic amino acids from both peptides and TMC4 playing a pivotal role in their binding. Furthermore, Leu217, Gln377, Glu378, Pro474 and Cys475 were postulated as the key binding sites of TMC4. These findings establish a robust theoretical foundation for salt reduction strategies in food and provide novel insights into the potential applications of yeast proteins.

Suture Net Technique for Mid-face Superficial Fat Compartments Restoration.

BACKGROUND: Facial fold and groove formation is influenced by the ptosis of the superficial fat compartments in the mid-face region. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to design a facial rejuvenation technique that targets sagging of the mid-face fat compartments and achieves a youthful facial configuration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 102 patients underwent suture net restoration. Each specific ptosis fat compartment was carefully lifted and held at the regional facial ligaments to effectively restore volume distribution. Patient outcomes were evaluated through preoperative and postoperative photography comparison, 3-D photographic analysis, and postoperative evaluations. RESULTS: Significant mid-cheek rejuvenation was observed. The procedure resulted in a remarkable, 10.89% increase in malar projection. The nasolabial fold improved by at least 1 grade in 61.43% of the patients and by at least 2 grades in 37.14%. A total of 87.65% of the patients expressed high satisfaction or satisfaction with the outcomes of the procedure. CONCLUSION: By specifically targeting the mid-face ptosis fat compartments, the technique demonstrated significant enhancements of both the nasolabial fold and the malar projection. The results indicate that this novel technique holds promise as an efficient approach for satisfactorily addressing facial aging concerns.

Study on the saltiness-enhancing mechanism of chicken-derived umami peptides by sensory evaluation and molecular docking to transmembrane channel-like protein 4 (TMC4).

The previously obtained chicken-derived umami peptides in the laboratory were evaluated for their saltiness-enhancing effect by sensory evaluation and S-curve, and the results revealed that peptides TPPKID, PKESEKPN, TEDWGR, LPLQDAH, NEFGYSNR, and LPLQD had significant saltiness-enhancing effects. In the binary solution system with salt, the ratio of the experimental detection threshold (129.17 mg/L) to the theoretical detection threshold (274.43 mg/L) of NEFGYSNR was 0.47, which had a synergistic saltiness-enhancing effect with salt. The model of transmembrane channel-like protein 4 (TMC4) channel protein was constructed by homology modeling, which had a 10-fold transmembrane structure and was well evaluated. Molecular docking and frontier molecular orbitals showed that the main active sites of TMC4 were Lys 471, Met 379, Cys 475, Gln 377, and Pro 380, and the main active sites of NEFGYSNR were Tyr, Ser and Asn. This study may provide a theoretical reference for low-sodium diets.