Targeting miR-337 mitigates disuse-induced bone loss.

Disuse-induced bone loss occurs in long-term bed-ridden patients and in astronauts during spaceflight. The underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. In a rodent model of disuse-induced bone loss (called hindlimb unloading (HU)), we observed that decreased numbers of leptin receptor (LepR) positive mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in adult bone marrow, contribute to bone loss.

Mineral-Armored Structure Enhanced the Stability of Polyethylene Microplastics Rather Than Polylactic Acid Microplastics: A Long-Term Natural Aging Study.

The aging of microplastics (MPs) depends on their surrounding environment and has significant implications for their environmental behavior and ecological risks. However, there are limited data on the long-term aging of MPs in different natural environments. The natural aging characteristics of polyethylene MPs (PE-MPs) and polylactic acid MPs (PLA-MPs) exposed to air, soil surface, and subsurface conditions for 6 and 12 months, respectively, were evaluated.

Heteroatom-Doped Carbon Materials for Multifunctional Noncatalytic Applications.

The introduction of heteroatoms (i.e., atoms different from the carbon atom) with different sizes and electronegativities into a pure carbon structure offers a way to control the electron distribution within carbon materials.

Cloning, Heterologous Expression, and Antifungal Activity Evaluation of a Novel Truncated TasA Protein from BS-3.

gene, encoding a functional amyloid protein critical for biofilm formation and antimicrobial activity, was cloned from the endophytic strain BS-3, isolated from rubber tree roots. This study identified the shortest functional variant (483 bp, 160 aa) reported to date, featuring unique amino acid substitutions in conserved domains. Bioinformatics analysis predicted a signal peptide (1-27 aa) and transmembrane domain (7-29 aa), which were truncated to optimize heterologous expression.

Charge-Buffered Sulfidation Stabilized B in 1T MoS: Orbital Alignment for Efficient Alkaline Hydrogen Production.

The sp hybridization of surface sulfur in metallic phase molybdenum disulfide (1T MoS) is identified as the intrinsic bottleneck for alkaline hydrogen production (HER), where their electron-saturated nature elevates the kinetic barrier for water dissociation. To overcome this limitation, a charge-buffered sulfidation strategy is reported to stabilize anionic boron (B) within 1T MoS. By employing molybdenum aluminum boride as the precursor, the B dopants can be efficiently preserved via the topological confinement imposed by Mo─B─Mo network.

Aging reconfigures physicochemical inhibition mechanisms of polyamide microplastics on antibiotic transport in saturated soils: Micro-CT based pore characterization coupled with transport modeling.

Microplastics (MPs) and antibiotics coexist ubiquitously in terrestrial system, yet the mechanistic interplay between MP aging and antibiotic transport remains poorly understood. In this study, the effects of pristine polyamide MPs (PPA-MPs) and aged polyamide MPs (APA-MPs) on trimethoprim (TMP) mobility were investigated through coupled saturated soil column experiments, computed tomography scanning, and mechanistic modeling. Results demonstrate concentration-dependent TMP transport inhibition by both types of MPs, with APA-MPs exhibiting greater inhibitory effect than PPA-MPs at equivalent concentrations.

How the Arrangement of Platinum Atoms on Ruthenium Nanoparticles Improves Hydrogen Evolution Activity.

The platinum-ruthenium (PtRu) system is highly active for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in alkaline media with both Pt and Ru playing active roles in the water dissociation step that generates adsorbed hydrogen atoms. Precise control of the arrangement of Pt atoms on Ru nanoparticles can maximize the Pt-Ru sites for water dissociation and Pt-Pt sites for hydrogen production and can considerably improve HER catalytic performance. By directing the growth and distribution of Pt on Ru hourglass nanoparticles, the arrangement of Pt on Ru is controlled into forming Pt islands, small Pt clusters, and strings of a few Pt atoms.

Synergetic hydrogen-bond network of functionalized graphene and cations for enhanced atmospheric water capture.

Water molecules at the solid-liquid interface display intricate behaviors sensitive to small changes. The presence of different interfacial components, such as cations or functional groups, shapes the physical and chemical properties of the hydrogen-bond network. Understanding such interfacial hydrogen-bond networks is essential for a large range of applications and scientific questions.

Expression level and clinical significance of IL-29 in serum of patients with coronary heart disease.

Background: Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a chronic inflammatory disease carrying high morbidity and mortality. Interleukin (IL)-29 may be used as a biomarker for autoimmune diseases. This paper investigates the diagnostic value of serum IL-29 in CHD patients.

Boron-Activated Single-Metal-Site Catalysts Break Adsorption-Energy Scaling Relations for Robust Bifunctional Oxygen Catalysis.

The electrocatalytic oxygen evolution and reduction reaction (OER/ORR) catalysts are paramount to many renewable energy technologies. Atomically-dispersed transition-metal catalysts are compelling alternatives to current dominant noble-metal catalysts, yet they often show inadequate activity for OER and insufficient durability in practical battery operations. Here, we show a rational methodology that enables single-metal-site catalyst to break universal adsorption-energy scaling limitations for both OER/ORR and push bifunctional catalytic performance of transition-metal-dominated catalysts to unprecedented level.

Selective C Electroproduction via Back Bonding in Asymmetric Copper-Copper Motifs.

CO reduction reaction (CORR) is considered a highly attractive approach to reduce carbon emissions and yet encounters challenges in further converting *C intermediates to valuable two-carbon (C) products. Although copper-based catalysts exhibit satisfactory adsorption energy for *C species, the symmetrical charge distribution at adjacent copper sites leads to a strong repulsive force between adsorbed *C. Herein, asymmetric copper-copper (Cu-Cu) motifs with distinct adsorption behaviors have been constructed on the F-CuN substrate using the in situ isostructural substitution method.

Microneedle-aided nanotherapeutics delivery and nanosensor intervention in advanced tissue regeneration.

Microneedles (MNs) have been extensively used as transdermal therapeutics delivery devices since 1998 due to their capacity to penetrate physiological barriers with minimal invasiveness. Recent advances demonstrate the potential of MNs in improving diverse tissue regeneration when integrated with nanometer-sized therapeutics or sensors. This synergistic strategy can enhance drug delivery efficiency and therapeutic outcomes, and enable precise and personalized therapies through real-time monitoring of the repair process.

Formation of open ruthenium branched structures with highly exposed active sites for oxygen evolution reaction electrocatalysis.

The formation of exposed active sites that have high activity and stability for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysis is a significant opportunity for improving water electrolysers. Low-index facets surface Ru can achieve both high activity and stability for OER. Here, we present a new catalyst design where low-index faceted Ru branches are grown off the corners of Pt nanocubes, forming open Ru branched nanoparticles.

A Novel Piezo1 Agonist Promoting Mesenchymal Stem Cell Proliferation and Osteogenesis to Attenuate Disuse Osteoporosis.

Disuse osteoporosis (OP) is a state of bone loss due to lack of mechanical stimuli, probably induced by prolonged bed rest, neurological diseases, as well as microgravity. Currently the precise treatment strategies of disuse OP remain largely unexplored. Piezo1, a mechanosensitive calcium (Ca) ion channel, is a key force sensor mediating mechanotransduction and it is demonstrated to regulate bone homeostasis and osteogenesis in response to mechanical forces.

First Report on the Artificial Cultivation Techniques of (Boletales, Boletaceae, ) in Southwest China.

is an edible bolete species belonging to the family Boletaceae and the genus . It is found in tropical and subtropical regions, which are known for their rare wild resources. In this study, wild was isolated and cultured, and its biological characteristics and artificial cultivation techniques were studied.

Realizing the Synergy of Interface and Dual-Defect Engineering for Molybdenum Disulfide Enables Efficient Sodium-Ion Storage.

Engineering-rich electrocatalyst defects play a critical role in greatly promoting the charge storage/transfer capability of an energy storage/conversion system. Here, an ingenious and effective two-step strategy was used to synthesize a bimetallic sulfide/oxide composite with a coaxial carbon coating, starting from mixing well-dispersed MoO nanobelts and Co-PAA compound, followed by a selective etching process. The simultaneous formation of dual defects of interlayer defect and sulfur-rich vacancies as well as MoO/MoS/CoS heterojunctions noticeably enhances both electron transfer and ion diffusion kinetics.

Direct Observation of Electron Donation onto the Reactants and a Transient Poisoning Mechanism During CO Electroreduction on Ni Single Atom Catalysts.

Single atom catalysts (SACs) are an important class of materials that mediate chemical reduction reactions, a key subset of which is Ni within a carbon support for the electrochemical CO reduction reaction (CORR). However, how the metal atom/clusters and the carbon-based support act in concert to catalyze CORR is not well understood, with most reports attributing activity solely to the Ni-N/C moieties. To address this gap, we have undertaken a mechanistic investigation, employing in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) coupled with electrochemical studies and density functional theory (DFT) calculations to further understand how Ni single atoms work in conjunction with the nitrogen-doped carbon matrix to promote CORR to CO, and how the presence of impurities such as those present in CO-containing waste flue gases (including NO, and CN) changes the catalyst upon reduction.

The dual role of PGAM5 in inflammation.

In recent years, the focus on human inflammation in research has increased, with aging-related inflammation widely recognized as a defining characteristic of aging. Inflammation is strongly correlated with mitochondrial dysfunction. Phosphoglycerate mutase family member 5 (PGAM5) is a novel modulator of mitochondrial homeostasis in response to mechanical stimulation.

An efficient hydrogen evolution catalyst constructed using Pt-modified NiS/MoS with optimized kinetics across the full pH range.

Electrocatalyst materials play a crucial role in determining the efficiency of the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), directly influencing the overall effectiveness of energy conversion technologies. NiS/MoS heterostructures hold substantial promise as bifunctional catalysts, owing to their synergistic electronic characteristics and plentiful active sites. However, their catalytic efficacy is impeded by the relatively elevated chemisorption energy of hydrogen-containing intermediates, which constrains their functionality in different pH environments.

Second-Shell Coordination Environment Modulation for MnN Active Sites by Oxygen Doping to Boost Oxygen Reduction Performance.

As a category of transition metal-nitrogen-carbon (M-N-C) catalysts, Mn-based single-atom catalysts (SACs) are considered as promising non-precious metal catalysts for stable oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) due to their Fenton-inactive character (versus Fe) and more abundant earth reserves (versus Ni, Co). However, their ORR activity is unsatisfactory. Besides, the structure-activity relationship via tuning the coordination environment of the second coordination shell for transition metal single sites is still elusive.

Direct parallel electrosynthesis of high-value chemicals from atmospheric components on symmetry-breaking indium sites.

To tackle significant environmental and energy challenges from increased greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere, we propose a method that synergistically combines cost-efficient integrated systems with parallel catalysis to produce high-value chemicals from CO, NO, and other gases. We employed asymmetrically stretched InOS with symmetry-breaking indium sites as a highly efficient trifunctional catalysts for NO reduction, CO reduction, and O reduction. Mechanistic studies reveal that the symmetry-breaking at indium sites substantially improves d-band center interactions and adsorption of intermediates, thereby enhancing trifunctional catalytic activity.

Molecule level precise construction of donor-acceptor polymeric carbon nitride for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution.

Constructing donor-acceptor structures in polymeric carbon nitride (CN) provides an attractive pathway for facilitating charge carrier separation in photocatalytic reactions. However, achieving the implantation of donor or acceptor moieties at molecule level precision remains challenging. Here we develop a three-dimensional (3D) porous thiophene implanted carbon nitride (TCN) with donor-acceptor structure via a supramolecular assembly strategy.