Highly sensitive and selective demethylase FTO detection using a DNAzyme-mediated CRISPR/Cas12a signal cascade amplification electrochemiluminescence biosensor with C-CN/PCNV heterojunction as emitter.

Fat mass and obesity-associated protein (FTO) has gained attention as the first RNA N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification eraser due to its overexpression being associated with various cancers. In this study, an electrochemiluminescence (ECL) biosensor for the detection of demethylase FTO was developed based on DNAzyme-mediated CRISPR/Cas12a signal cascade amplification system and carboxylated carbon nitride nanosheets/phosphorus-doped nitrogen-vacancy modified carbon nitride nanosheets (C-CN/PCNV) heterojunction as the emitter. The biosensor was constructed by modifying the C-CN/PCNV heterojunction and a ferrocene-tagged probe (ssDNA-Fc) on a glassy carbon electrode. The presence of FTO removes the m6A modification on the catalytic core of DNAzyme, restoring its cleavage activity and generating activator DNA. This activator DNA further activates the trans-cleavage ability of Cas12a, leading to the cleavage of the ssDNA-Fc and the recovery of the ECL signal. The C-CN/PCNV heterojunction prevents electrode passivation and improves the electron-hole recombination, resulting in significantly enhanced ECL signal. The biosensor demonstrates high sensitivity with a low detection limit of 0.63 pM in the range from 1.0 pM to 100 nM. Furthermore, the biosensor was successfully applied to detect FTO in cancer cell lysate and screen FTO inhibitors, showing great potential in early clinical diagnosis and drug discovery.

Visible-Light-Driven Z-Type Pg-C3N4/Nitrogen Doped Biochar/BiVO4 Photo-Catalysts for the Degradation of Norfloxacin.

Antibiotics cannot be effectively removed by traditional wastewater treatment processes, and have become widespread pollutants in various environments. In this study, a Z-type heterojunction photo-catalyst Pg-C3N4 (PCN)/Nitrogen doped biochar (N-Biochar)/BiVO4 (NCBN) for the degradation of norfloxacin (NOR) was prepared by the hydrothermal method. The specific surface area of the NCBN (42.88 m2/g) was further improved compared to BiVO4 (4.528 m2/g). The photo-catalytic performance of the catalyst was investigated, and the N-Biochar acted as a charge transfer channel to promote carrier separation and form Z-type heterojunctions. Moreover, the NCBN exhibited excellent performance (92.5%) in removing NOR, which maintained 70% degradation after four cycles. The main active substance of the NCBN was •O2-, and the possible degradation pathways are provided. This work will provide a theoretical basis for the construction of heterojunction photo-catalysts.

A dual-mode biosensor based on silica inverse opal photonic crystals modulated electrochemiluminescence and dye displacement colorimetry for the sensitive detection of synthetic cathinone in water environment.

To address the challenges posed by signal capacity limitations and the reliance of sensing methods on single analytical information, this study developed an electrochemiluminescence (ECL) and colorimetric dual-mode sensing platform for the precise detection of 4-chloroethcathinone (4-CEC) in water environments. Firstly, the accurate alignment of the reflection wavelength of appropriately sized silica inverse opal photonic crystals (SIOPCs) with the ECL emission wavelength of luminescent metal-organic frameworks (PCN-224) has been achieved via diameter modulation. This innovative design, which cleverly utilized the band-edge effect, improved the luminous intensity of the ECL sensor, leading to a significant boost in analytical performance. Secondly, the establishment of a colorimetric detection method for confirming the presence of 4-CEC in samples through visual observation of color changes was achieved by employing an aptamer-based dye displacement reaction, utilizing differential binding affinities between the aptamer and both the sulforhodamine B (SRB) and 4-CEC. Under the optimal experimental conditions, the dual-mode sensor demonstrated ECL detection of limits (LOD) of 2.6 × 10-13 g/L and colorimetric LOD of 6.5 ng/L for 4-CEC. These findings highlighted the tremendous potential of developing streamlined and efficient dual-signal readout platforms using ECL aptamer sensors for the precise determination of other Synthetic cathinones (SCs) in water environments.

Primary analysis of a prospective cohort study of Japanese patients with plasma cell neoplasms in the novel drug era (2016-2021).

The emergence of novel drugs has significantly improved outcomes of patients with plasma cell neoplasms (PCN). The Japanese Society of Hematology conducted a prospective observational study in newly diagnosed PCN patients between 2016 and 2021. The analysis focused on 1385 patients diagnosed with symptomatic PCN between 2016 and 2018. The primary endpoint was the 3-year overall survival (OS) rate among patients requiring treatment (n = 1284), which was 70.0% (95%CI 67.4-72.6%). Approximately 94% of these patients received novel drugs as frontline therapy. The 3-year OS rate was 90.3% (95%CI 86.6-93.1%) in the 25% of patients who received upfront autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT), versus just 61.4% (95%CI 58.0-64.6%) in those who did not receive upfront ASCT. The only unfavorable prognostic factor that affected OS in ASCT recipients was an age of 65 or higher. For patients who did not receive ASCT, independent unfavorable prognostic factors included frontline treatment with conventional chemotherapies, international staging system score of 2/3, extramedullary tumors, and Freiberg comorbidity index of 2/3. This study unequivocally demonstrates that use of novel drugs improved OS in Japanese myeloma patients, and underscores the continued importance of upfront ASCT as the standard of care in the era of novel drugs.

Strong cathode electroluminescence biosensor based on CeO2 functionalized PCN-222@Ag NPs for sensitive detection of p-Tau-181 protein.

Electrochemiluminescence (ECL) biosensors provide a convenient and high sensitivity method for early disease diagnosis. However, creating luminophore arrays relying on powerful ECL signals remains a daunting task. Porphyrin-centered metal organic frameworks (MOFs) exhibit remarkable potential in ECL sensing applications. In this paper, based on a simple one-pot synthesis method, PCN-222@Ag NPs doped with CeO2 was synthesized to enhance the ECL performance. Due to the strong catalytic ability of CeO2, the ECL signal strength of the new material PCN-222@CeO2@Ag NPs is much higher than that of the PCN-222@Ag NPs and PCN-222. The luminous properties of PCN-222@CeO2@Ag NPs become more intense and stable due to the excellent electronic conductivity of Ag NPs. Based on the fact that CuS@PDA composite can quench the ECL signal of PCN-222@CeO2@Ag NPs, we constructed a novel sandwich ECL immune sensor for the detection of phosphorylated Tau 181 (p-Tau-181) protein. The ECL sensor has a great linear relationship with p-Tau-181 protein concentration, ranging from 1 pg/mL to 100 ng/mL. The detection limit is as low as 0.147 pg/mL. This work provides new ideas for developing sensitive ECL sensors for the p-Tau-181 protein, the marker of Alzheimer's disease.

FTA-LAMP based biosensor for a rapid in-field detection of Globodera pallida-the pale potato cyst nematode.

The combination of a sensitive and specific magnetoresistive sensing device with an easy DNA extraction method and a rapid isothermal amplification is presented here targeting the on-site detection of Globodera pallida, a potato endoparasitic nematode. FTA-cards were used for DNA extraction, LAMP was the method developed for DNA amplification and a nanoparticle functionalized magnetic-biosensor was used for the detection. The combinatorial effect of these three emerging technologies has the capacity to detect G. pallida with a detection limit of one juvenile, even when mixed with other related species. This combined system is far more interesting than what a single technology can provide. Magnetic biosensors can be combined with any DNA extraction protocol and LAMP forming a new solution to target G. pallida. The probe designed in this study consistently distinguished G. pallida (∆Vac binding/Vac sensor above 1%) from other cyst nematodes (∆Vac binding/Vac sensor below 1%). It was confirmed that DNA either extracted with FTA-cards or Lab extraction Kit was of enough quantity and quality to detect G. pallida whenever present (alone or in mixed samples), ensuring probe specificity and sensitivity. This work provides insights for a new strategy to construct advanced devices for pathogens in-field diagnostics. LAMP runs separately but can be easily integrated into a single device.

Dramatic fluorescence enhancement of PCN-224 and its application in "turn off" immunoassay for sensitive detection of E. coli O157:H7 in milk.

In this study, a type of luminescent porous coordination network-224 (PCN-224) in alkaline conditions was synthesized with the dramatic fluorescence enhancement by 20.4 times, which was explained by the fact that the decrease of Zr4+ content in alkaline conditions resulted in the partial recovery of the electron cloud density of 4,4',4'',4'''-(Porphine-5,10,15,20-tetrayl) tetrakis(benzoic acid) (TCPP). Given the large overlap between the excitation spectrum of PCN-224 and the absorption band of Ag nanoparticles (Ag NPs), the coating of the Ag layer on PCN-224 triggered the fluorescence quenching effect, which was applied to "turn off" fluorescence immunoassay for sensitive detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7 (E. coli O157:H7) in milk. The proposed immunoassay reached a low limit of detection (LOD) of 3.3 × 102 CFU mL-1, 29.7 times more sensitive than the conventional ELISA. It will provide a novel alternative strategy for sensitively detecting pathogenic bacteria in the field of food safety.

Dressing and undressing MOF nanophotosensitizers to manipulate phototoxicity for precise therapy of tumors.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a clinically approved treatment for tumors, and it relies on the phototoxicity of photosensitizers by producing reactive oxygen species (ROS) to destroy cancer cells under light irradiation. However, such phototoxicity is a double-edged sword, which is also harmful to normal tissues. To manipulate phototoxicity and improve the therapy effect, herein we have proposed a dressing-undressing strategy for de-activating and re-activating therapy functions of photosensitizer nanoparticles. One kind of metal organic framework (PCN-224), which is composed of Zr(IV) cation and tetrakis (4-carboxyphenyl) porphyrin (TCPP), has been prepared as a model of photosensitizer, and it has size of ∼70 nm. These PCN-224 nanoparticles are subsequently coated with a mesoporous organic silica (MOS) shell containing tetrasulfide bonds (-S-S-S-S-), realizing the dressing of PCN-224. MOS shell has the thickness of ∼20 nm and thus can block 1O2 (diffusion distance: <10 nm), deactivating the phototoxicity and preventing the damage to skin and eyes. Furthermore, PCN-224@MOS can be used to load chemotherapy drug (DOX·HCl). When PCN-224@MOS-DOX are mixed with glutathione (GSH), MOS shell with -S-S-S-S- bonds can be reduced by GSH and then be decomposed, which results in the undressing and then confers the exposure of PCN-224 with good PDT function as well as the release of DOX. When PCN-224@MOS-DOX dispersion is injected into the mice and accumulated in the tumor, endogenous GSH also confers the undressing of PCN-224@MOS-DOX, realizing the in-situ activation of PDT and chemotherapy for tumor. Therefore, the present study not only demonstrates a general dressing-undressing strategy for manipulating phototoxicity of photosensitizers, but also provide some insights for precise therapy of tumors without side-effects. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Photosensitizers can generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) under light radiation to destroy cancer cells. However, this phototoxicity is a double-edged sword and also harmful to normal tissues such as the skin and eyes. To control phototoxicity and improve therapeutic efficacy, we prepared a PCN-224@MOS-DOX nanoplatform and proposed a dressing and undressing strategy to deactivate and reactivate the therapeutic function of the photosensitizer nanoparticles. The MOS shell can block the diffusion of 1O2, eliminate phototoxicity, and prevent damage to the skin and eyes. When injected into mice and accumulated in tumors, PCN-224@MOS-DOX dispersions are endowed with an endogenous GSH-driven undressing effect, achieving in situ activation of PDT and tumor chemotherapy.

A large abdominal cyst as a manifestation of pelviureteric junction obstruction in a neonate.

Intraabdominal cystic lesions diagnosed during antenatal period are uncommon. They are found to have varying origins, with renal tract being the most common site. Rarely, a large unilateral cystic lesion of renal origin is caused by Pelviureteric junction obstruction, crossing the midline, leading to compression of the contralateral kidney. We present a case of a neonate who was diagnosed with a large abdominal cyst in the antenatal period. The cyst persisted and crossed the midline causing hydronephrosis on the contralateral side. This is an unusual presentation of a commonly occurring condition, usually such large cyst at birth origins from alimentary tract rather renal system. It is important to understand unusual presentations of intraabdominal lesions and the associated pathology. It is mandatory to rule out renal obstruction, if there is any decompression of renal function, it is mandatory to save renal function till the time of definitive surgery.

Clinical and epidemiological profile of patients with mental disorders in a specialized outpatient clinic and its role in the psychosocial care network.

Introduction: Mental health disorders (MHDs) are responsible for much impairment of quality of life in Brazil and worldwide. Early diagnosis and effective treatment strategies are required due to the heterogeneous symptoms and multifactorial etiology. Methods: A descriptive retrospective observational study was performed aiming to characterize the clinical and psychiatric profiles of patients with MHD attending a Brazilian public tertiary psychiatric outpatient clinic, which is a reference health service for more than 2 million inhabitants. Predominant clinical and sociodemographic aspects of patients were evaluated between March 2019 and March 2021. Results: A total of 8,384 appointments were analyzed. The majority of patients were female, and the mean age was 45 years old. Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) was the most common MHD. The prevailing symptoms were sadness, anxiety, and irritability, with the most prescribed medications being selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Conclusion: The epidemiological characterization of mental disorders in specialized mental health outpatient clinics provides evidence for the establishment of more specific protocols and advocates a dimensional transdiagnostic approach as an aid to public mental health services.

Ultrasound contrast agent assisted ultrasonography guidance percutaneous nephrostomy for non-hydronephrotic kidney.

BACKGROUND: Given the limited success rate and considerable challenges associated with conventional ultrasonography (US) guidance for percutaneous nephrostomy (PCN) in non-hydronephrotic kidneys, this study proposed a solution with ultrasound contrast agent to enhance the success rate and mitigate the difficulties. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2017 to August 2023, a total of thirteen patients diagnosed with non-hydronephrotic kidney were included in the study. Following routine ultrasonography examination, no significant dilatation of the renal collecting system was observed. US-guided percutaneous nephrostomy PCN was performed with the assistance of ultrasound contrast agent (UCA). The patients were subsequently monitored to assess the improvement of symptoms and postoperative recovery. RESULTS: The success rate was found to be 100% for all patients (13/13) and kidneys (20/20). The average volume of UCA solution used was 19 ± 6.7 mL (range, 11-35 mL), while the mean duration of the operation was 18.92 ± 8.96 min (range, 7-36 min). A majority of the patients (12/13) underwent a single puncture procedure. Throughout the follow-up period, no serious complications were observed, and surgery resulted in significant alleviation of symptoms in all patients. CONCLUSION: The use of UCA-assisted US guidance PCN has been shown to be effective in achieving urinary diversion and alleviating associated clinical symptoms in non-hydronephrotic kidneys. In comparison to traditional methods, this approach demonstrates a high success rate and safety profile, while also offering a simplified operative procedure. Consequently, it presents a novel method and concept for managing non-hydronephrotic kidneys afflicted by urine leakage.

A Zn-modified PCN-224 fluorescent nanoprobe for selective and sensitive turn-on detection of glutathione.

Monitoring endogenous glutathione (GSH) levels in living cells is essential for cancer diagnose and treatment. In this work, GSH responsive fluorescent nanoprobe with turn-on property was constructed using Zn-modified porphyrinic metal-organic frameworks (PCN-224-Zn). The introduced Zn2+ could quench the fluorescence of PCN-224 by the metallization of organic ligand (TCPP) and serves as sensing site for GSH. When exposed to GSH, the strong binding affinity of GSH generates the formation of Zn-GSH complex, eliminating the fluorescence quenching effect of Zn2+. Based on the constructed PCN-224-Zn nanoprobe, selective determination of GSH was achieved in the range of 0.01-6 µM with a detection limit of 1.5 nM. Furthermore, the constructed nanoprobe can realize the fluorescence imaging of endogenous GSH in MCF-7 and HeLa cells. Meanwhile, PCN-224-Zn could also monitor GSH in cell lysate with recovery rates from 93.8 % to 102.3 %. The performance of PCN-224-Zn demonstrates its capacities in the application of fluorescence sensing and bio-imaging fields.

Sustainable Gold Nanoparticle (Au-NP) Growth within Interspaces of Porphyrinic Zirconium-Based Metal-Organic Frameworks: Green Synthesis of PCN-224/Au-NPs and Its Anticancer Effect on Colorectal Cancer Cells Assay.

In this work, a simple green synthesis method of the novel metal-organic framework (MOF) nanocomposite PCN-224/Au-NPs (Au-NPs = gold nanoparticles) is described. In this regard, initially, PCN-224 was synthesized. Afterward, in a single-step, one-pot procedure, under visible-light irradiation, Au-NPs were fabricated on PCN-224. The cytotoxicity effect of the synthesized PCN-224/Au-NPs nanocomposite was investigated in human colon cancer cells. Determination of the apoptosis induction was done by the Annexin- V/propidium iodide flow cytometry method. Besides, to ascertain the biocompatibility of the synthesized sample, the cytotoxicity of PCN-224/Au-NPs was evaluated on the human embryonic kidney (HEK)-293 cell line. The substantial anticancer activity with the biocompatibility of the structure, the green facile synthesis, and the MOF surface of the synthesized nanocomposite make it special for utilization in therapeutic applications.

Nitrogen-doped Zn/Fe@PCN derived from metal-organic frameworks activating persulfate to efficiently degrade rhodamine B.

The Zn/Fe@N-doped porous graphitic carbon catalyst (Zn/Fe@PCN) was successfully produced through one-step pyrolysis of g-C3N4 and Zn/Fe-MOF and was used for the activation of persulfate (PS) for the degradation of RhB. The Zn/Fe@PCN/PS system was able to degrade 95.92% of RhB in 30 min at a rate of 0.6453 min-1 when RhB was concentrated at 50 mg L-1. The efficient degradation of RhB is primarily realized through the synergistic activation of PS by Zn, Fe, and N to produce reactive oxygen species 1O2, [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], and ·OH. Zn0/Fe0 in Zn/Fe@PCN forms a galvanic cell with carbon to release electrons to join in the activation of PS. The doping of Zn not only provides sufficient electrons for the activation of PS but also promotes the effective reduction of Fe2+ and thus the Fe2+/Fe3+ cycle. The N doping accelerates the electron transfer during the reaction progress.

Assessing the Impact of Primary Care-Led Optimisation Clinics in the Management of Type 2 Diabetes: A Service Redesign Pilot Study.

Background Many individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in the London Borough of Waltham Forest, treated solely with oral hypoglycaemic medications (OHAs), exhibit increased levels of glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c). While specialised community and secondary care clinics are at full capacity, a gap exists for dedicated diabetes optimisation services at the primary care level. This study aimed to launch a remote Primary Care Network (PCN)-based clinic during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic to enhance the management of OHAs, introduce motivational interviewing, and incorporate patient empowerment strategies in tandem with a secondary care endocrinologist. The primary objective was to evaluate the impact on HbA1c levels and other metabolic parameters. Concurrently, the "behaviour change model" served to measure patient engagement. Methodology We recruited 43 patients in this study, each undergoing a 30-minute consultation focused on diabetes management. A dedicated administrator ensured patient engagement and a three-month follow-up with repeat metabolic profile testing. Sustained, high-quality care was upheld through bimonthly remote consultations, receiving expertise from an endocrinology consultant. Results Of the pilot's 38 patients managed solely with OHAs, 31 achieved an HbA1c reduction of more than 11 mmol/mol. The overall median reduction for the entire cohort was significant (initially 88 mmol/mol versus 70 mmol/mol, p < 0.0001). Triglyceride levels also saw a notable median decline (1.56 mmol/L down to 1.20 mmol/L, p = 0.0247). Of the 38 completing the pilot, 14 had behavioural stages recorded both initially and at follow-up. Employing motivational interviewing led to significant diabetes-related behavioural changes in 11 of the 14 patients. Conclusions A PCN-based optimisation clinic, augmented with active recall strategies, was a cost-effective method to boost awareness, self-management, and glycaemic control among individuals with T2D. These PCN-led clinics orchestrated by primary care clinicians offer a streamlined solution for achieving treatment benchmarks even amid the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Preoperative differentiation of pancreatic cystic neoplasm subtypes on computed tomography radiomics.

Background: Serous cystic neoplasm (SCN), mucinous cystic neoplasm (MCN), and intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) comprise a large proportion of pancreatic cystic neoplasms (PCNs). Patients with MCN and IPMN require surgery due to the potential of malignant transformation, whereas those with SCN require periodic surveillance. However, the differential diagnosis of patients with PCNs before treatment remains a great challenge for all surgeons. Therefore, the establishment of a reliable diagnostic tool is urgently required for the improvement of precision diagnostics. Methods: Between February 2015 and December 2020, 143 consecutive patients with PCNs who were confirmed by postoperative pathology were retrospectively included in the study cohort, then randomized into development and test cohorts at a ratio of 7:3. The predictors of preoperative clinical-radiologic parameters were evaluated by univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses. A total of 1,218 radiomics features were computationally extracted from the enhanced computed tomography (CT) scans of the tumor region, and a radiomics signature was established by the random forest algorithm. In the development cohort, multi- and binary-class radiomics models integrating preoperative variables and radiomics features were constructed to distinguish between the 3 types of PCNs. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and the area under the curve (AUC) were used to evaluate the predictive efficiency of the model. An independent internal test cohort was applied to validate the classification models. Results: All preoperative prediction models were built by integrating the radiomics signature with 13 diagnosis-related radiomics features and 3 important clinical-radiologic parameters: age, sex, and tumor diameter. The multiclass prediction model presented an overall accuracy of 0.804 in the development cohort and 0.707 in the test cohort. The binary-class prediction models displayed higher overall accuracies of 0.853, 0.866, and 0.928 in the development dataset and 0.750, 0.839, and 0.889 in the test dataset. In the test cohort, the binary-class radiomics models showed better predictive performances {AUC =0.914 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.786 to 1.000], 0.863 (95% CI: 0.714 to 0.941), and 0.926 (95% CI: 0.824 to 1.000)} than the multiclass radiomics model [AUC =0.850 (95% CI: 0.696 to 1.000)], with a large net benefit in the decision curve analysis (DCA). The radiomics-based nomogram provided the correct predicted probability for the diagnosis of PCNs. Conclusions: The proposed radiomics models with clinical-radiologic parameters and radiomics features help to predict the accurate diagnosis among PCNs to advance personalized medicine.

Metalloporphyrin-Based Metal-Organic Frameworks for the Ultrasensitive Chemiresistive Detection of NO2: Effect of the Central Metal on Tuning the Sensing Performance.

The highly sensitive and selective detection of trace hazardous gases at room temperature is very promising for health protection and environmental safety. Herein, chemiresistive sensors for NO2 were fabricated based on self-assembled films of the four metalloporphyrin (MPor)-based metal-organic frameworks PCN-222-M (M = Cu, Ni, Co, Fe) by the quasi-Langmuir-Shäfer method. It is found that the relative responses of the four PCN-222-M films are linearly related to the NO2 concentration, and the PCN-222-Cu possessed an unprecedented high response to NO2 with a sensitivity of 2209% ppm-1 in the 4-20 ppb range and a low limit of detection (LOD) of 0.93 ppb, achieving the best performance reported so far for NO2 detection at room temperature. Meanwhile, PCN-222-Ni showed the fastest recovery among the four PCN-222-M films, which can be used for the rapid detection of NO2. Excellent reproducibility, stability, selectivity, and moisture resistance are shown for both PCN-222-Cu and PCN-222-Ni. Combining the experimental study and density functional theory (DFT) calculation, the essential roles of MPor units and the MPor/Zr6 cluster hybrid material in tuning the Fermi level and the electron transfer between PCN-222-M and NO2 were further proved. These were less considered topics in previous studies on MOFs. This work explores the application of MPor-based MOFs in gas sensing by selecting appropriate MPor units, thus providing guidance for the development of MOF-based chemiresistive sensors.

Genome-wide association mapping and genomic prediction for late blight and potato cyst nematode resistance in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.).

Potatoes are an important source of food for millions of people worldwide. Biotic stresses, notably late blight and potato cyst nematodes (PCN) pose a major threat to potato production worldwide, and knowledge of genes controlling these traits is limited. A genome-wide association mapping study was conducted to identify the genomic regulators controlling these biotic stresses, and the genomic prediction accuracy was worked out using the GBLUP model of genomic selection (GS) in a panel of 222 diverse potato accessions. The phenotype data on resistance to late blight and two PCN species (Globodera pallida and G. rostochiensis) were recorded for three and two consecutive years, respectively. The potato panel was genotyped using genotyping by sequencing (GBS), and 1,20,622 SNP markers were identified. A total of 7 SNP associations for late blight resistance, 9 and 11 for G. pallida and G. rostochiensis, respectively, were detected by additive and simplex dominance models of GWAS. The associated SNPs were distributed across the chromosomes, but most of the associations were found on chromosomes 5, 10 and 11, which have been earlier reported as the hotspots of disease-resistance genes. The GS prediction accuracy estimates were low to moderate for resistance to G. pallida (0.04-0.14) and G. rostochiensis (0.14-0.21), while late blight resistance showed a high prediction accuracy of 0.42-0.51. This study provides information on the complex genetic nature of these biotic stress traits in potatoes and putative SNP markers for resistance breeding.

Fe-MOF Catalytic Nanoarchitectonic toward Electrochemical Ammonia Production.

Electrochemical reduction of nitrate into ammonia has lately been identified as one among the promising solutions to address the challenges triggered by the growing global energy demand. Exploring newer electrocatalyst materials is vital to make this process effective and feasible. Recently, metal-organic framework (MOF)-based catalysts are being well investigated for electrocatalytic ammonia synthesis, accounting for their enhanced structural and compositional integrity during catalytic reduction reactions. In this study, we investigate the ability of the PCN-250-Fe3 MOF toward ammonia production in its pristine and activated forms. The activated MOF catalyst delivered a faradaic efficiency of about 90% at -1 V vs RHE and a yield rate of 2.5 × 10-4 mol cm-2 h-1, while the pristine catalyst delivered a 60% faradaic efficiency at the same potential. Theoretical studies further provide insights into the nitrate reduction reaction mechanism catalyzed by the PCN-250-Fe3 MOF catalyst. In short, simpler and cost-effective strategies such as pretreatment of electrocatalysts have an upper hand in aggravating the intrinsic material properties, for catalytic applications, when compared to conventional material modification approaches.

P2Y12 receptor residues crucial for thrombosis regulation.

Thrombosis, or the formation of blood clots, can lead to serious medical conditions such as stroke, heart attack, and deep vein thrombosis. The purinoreceptor P2Y12 plays a critical role in the thrombotic pathway and is targeted for therapy to prevent clot formation. However, it is essential to balance the regulation of thrombosis to avoid adverse situations. This study focuses on the P2Y12 receptor and aims to discern the protein residue network and differentiate residues based on their intramolecular interactions. The study utilized a statistical analysis to characterize the significant residues involved in ligand interaction, which helps to identify critical residues that are essential for the function of the receptor. A parametric analysis of interactions of residues in the intraprotein interaction was conducted, which revealed significant residue-based contacts that facilitate protein interactions. By examining the interactions between residues, the mechanisms underlying protein interactions were studied and the importance of specific residues in facilitating these interactions was determined. This research provides important information on P2Y12, and the findings based on the network based significance of interacting residues may contribute to the development of new therapies that target the receptor to prevent clot formation while maintaining a balance in thrombosis regulation to avoid adverse outcomes. Ultimately, this study could lead to improved treatments for thrombotic disorders and better patient outcomes.