aspartyl protease 2 is required for host cell egress of merozoites and male gametes.

The parasite causes severe diarrheal disease that can be life-threatening, and effective treatments are sorely lacking. Recently, aspartyl proteases (ASP) have emerged as targets with significant therapeutic potential in several related parasites resulting in the development of multiple potent leads. ASPs are critical to the proteolytic activation and maturation of secretory proteins parasites rely on to invade, manipulate, and upon completion of their replication cycle exit the host cells in which they reside.

The emerging role of the gut microbiome in depression: implications for precision medicine.

Major depressive disorder is a debilitating mental illness that seriously endangers human health. Its pathogenesis is highly complex, and traditional treatments face substantial challenges. A growing body of preclinical and clinical findings highlight the important role of the gut microbiome in the pathogenesis of depression and its potential as a diagnostic and therapeutic target.

Universal and highly sensitive detection of influenza A virus and streptococcus pneumoniae using WGA-modified magnetic SERS nanotags-based lateral flow assay.

Infection with influenza A (FluA) virus usually leads to secondary infection with streptococcus pneumoniae (s. pneumoniae). It is urgent to develop rapid, highly sensitive, simultaneous and universal point-of-care testing (POCT) techniques for FluA and s.

Bifidobacterium species associated with breastfeeding alleviate neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia via the gut microbiota-α-linolenic and linoleic acid metabolism-enterohepatic circulation axis.

Background: Recent studies suggest a role of gut microbiota in the development of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, with bifidobacteria showing promise in alleviating symptoms. However, uncertainties persist regarding gut bifidobacterial species composition and their effects on bilirubin metabolism. Therefore, the study investigated the association between the gut microbiota and neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, assessing the potential and underlying mechanisms of Bifidobacterium in managing the condition.

Doubling Polarizability Anisotropy of The Tetrahedral Motifs to Achieve Phase Matching for Melilite-Type Compound.

Oxychalcogenides are extensively studied as infrared nonlinear optical (NLO) materials, as they may hybridize the advantages of oxides and chalcogenides. Here, new EuGaGeOS (EGGOS) was designed using EuGaGeS (EGGS) as the parent through anion partial substitution (APS) and synthesized by the facile flux assisted metal oxide-boron-chalcogen (FMOBQ) solid-state method. Compared with the {[GaGeS]} layer in EGGS, the {[GaGeOS]} layer in EGGOS has a greater distortion degree, thereby improving anisotropy to obtain greater birefringence and achieve phase matching, different from nonphase matching for EGGS.

Preparation and application of modified pectin-whey protein stabilized clove essential oil pickering emulsion sustained-release preservative pads.

Pectin (AP) was modified via alkaline/enzymatic/high-pressure enzymatic methods. High-pressure enzymatic pectin (HPP-AP) exhibited the lowest esterification degree with galacturonic acid content, optimal shear-thinning behavior, and emulsification performance. HPP-AP complexed with whey protein isolate (WPI) through hydrophobic interactions (exposed galacturonic acid-WPI residues) and hydrogen bonding (amide-hydroxyl groups), forming stable composite particles.

A Study on the Characterization of Asphalt Plant Reclaimed Powder Using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy.

Asphalt plant reclaimed powder is a common solid waste in road engineering. Reusing reclaimed powder as filler holds significant importance for environmental protection and resource conservation. The key factors affecting the feasibility of reclaimed powder reuse are its acidity/alkalinity and cleanliness.

Zagociguat prevented stressor-induced neuromuscular dysfunction, improved mitochondrial physiology, and increased exercise capacity in diverse mitochondrial respiratory chain disease zebrafish models.

Background: Zagociguat (zag) is a CNS-penetrant, soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) stimulator that has been evaluated in phase 2a, with phase 2b ongoing, clinical studies of primary mitochondrial disease (PMD) subjects with mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes syndrome (MELAS). To explore its utility in a broader array of PMDs and secondary mitochondrial disorders, we performed prfeclinical modeling of zag across larval and adult zebrafish models with biochemical deficiencies in diverse respiratory chain (RC) complexes or dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (Dldh).

Methods: Zag was evaluated for tissue uptake, gross toxicity, protection from RC toxin-induced brain death, neuromuscular dysfunction, heartbeat loss, and biochemical dysfunction in transgenic or toxin-exposed zebrafish with mitochondrial enzyme deficiencies in complex I ( or rotenone-exposed wild type (WT)), complex IV ( or azide-exposed WT), multiple RC complexes ( ), or pyruvate dehydrogenase complex ( ).

Bisphenol TMC disturbs mitochondrial activity and biogenesis, reducing lifespan and healthspan in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.

Rising concerns about Bisphenol A (BPA) toxicity have prompted the search for safer alternatives. However, concerns persist regarding the safety of replacements like bisphenol TMC (BPTMC), a rapidly emerging BPA substitute. Utilizing the in vivo model organism Caenorhabditis elegans (C.

Binding of Hypoxia-Induced Mitogenic Factor/RELM-β to Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptor 2 Complex Promotes Pulmonary Hypertension.

Background: HIMF (hypoxia-induced mitogenic factor) induces pulmonary hypertension; however, the molecular nature of its extracellular membrane receptor(s) remains unknown.

Methods: A combination of cross-immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting, yeast 2-hybrid assays, and proteomics analysis was performed to screen and identify the candidate receptors. The interaction of HIMF with these candidate(s) was further evaluated using overexpression, silencing, point mutation, and blocking peptide strategies in chronic hypoxia and sugen/hypoxia pulmonary hypertension rat models to decipher the underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms.

Multiscale Construction of Integrated Lithium ion Transport Channels for High-Rate Ni-Rich Cathode Materials in Lithium ion Batteries.

Ni-rich layered oxide cathodes have garnered significant attention in the field of lithium ion batteries (LIBs) due to their exceptionally high energy density. Nevertheless, their performance in terms of rapid charging/discharging and cycle life remains suboptimal. In this study, an integrated, multi-scale optimization of Li⁺ transport kinetics from the interface to the near-surface layer of Ni-rich cathode materials is achieved through a synergistic optimization strategy of constructing a highly conductive interface layer and a lattice channel optimization layer.

Preliminary study of multiple diffusion MRI in defining brain microstructural changes in hypertensive individuals.

Purpose: to use multiple diffusion models to characterize the microstructural changes in the brains of patients with hypertension.

Methods: This study included 35 healthy controls (HC), 21 patients with untreated hypertension, and 25 patients with medically treated hypertension. All subjects underwent both routine MRI and diffusion spectrum imaging (DSI).

Elevated Neutrophil, Lymphocyte, and Platelet Counts as Early Biomarkers of Preeclampsia Risk: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the association between peripheral immune markers during gestational weeks 11-28 and the risk of preeclampsia (PE), and to explore potential causal relationships using Mendelian randomization (MR).

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study involving 19, 028 singleton pregnancies between January 2020 and December 2023. Peripheral immune markers, including neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, and platelets, and derived indices, such as neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), and systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), were analyzed in relation to PE incidence.

Nanoarchitectonics of PEEK Scaffold with VitaFlux Adaptability: Immune Microenvironment Remodeling and Empowered Activation of Latent TGF-β1 Expression.

Once bone is damaged, a rapid surge of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and anaerobic glycolysis will create an oxidative stress and acidic microenvironment, thus inhibiting osteogenic factor expression and disrupting bone regeneration. To address this, we innovatively developed an alkaline hydrogel-coated poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK) porous scaffold with VitaFlux functionality in this study. This decorated PEEK scaffold distinct from those hydrogel-perfused scaffolds with obstructed pores still kept its initial 3D-printed pore structure to allow the ingrowth of bone tissues.

The profound implications of mitochondrial myopathy on activities of daily living: an observational qualitative study of standardized structured and semi-structured patient interviews.

Background: The impact of Mitochondrial Myopathy (MM) symptoms on functional ability across activities of daily living (ADLs) has not been fully characterized, nor is it understood how MM patients define their key symptoms. Furthermore, it is unclear what MM individuals perceive as a clinically meaningful improvement.

Objective: We sought to characterize how MM patients feel about their symptoms in the key MM domains of muscle weakness, muscle fatigue, exercise intolerance, imbalance, and peripheral neuropathy; as well as their functional ability.

Efficient solar-driven tandem catalysis for biomass valorization: selective CC bond cleavage to synthesize xylitol.

The Liquid-Sunshine presents a transformative approach for converting biomass into high-value platform chemicals (HPCs). However, conventional photorefineries suffer from low efficiency and excessive byproduct formation due to the inherent incompatibility between biomass and photocatalysts. Herein, we introduce an innovative tandem oxygen-reforming-photocatalysis (TORP) strategy, which first selectively reforms biomass functional groups before driving photocatalytic CC bond cleavage to produce HPCs.

The growing interests in Epstein-Barr virus: A bibliometric analysis of research trends, collaborations, and emerging hotspots.

Background: Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) is a widespread human γ-herpesvirus linked to cancers and autoimmune diseases, but limited comprehensive bibliometric analysis appear to have been conducted in this field.

Methods: Using Web of Science data, 16,318 EBV-related documents (2014-2023) were analyzed via VOSviewer, Bibliometrix, and Citespace following the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology reporting guideline.

Results: This cross-sectional bibliometric analysis of 16,318 EBV-related documents (2014-2023) revealed a consistent upward trend in annual publications, reflecting growing global interest in EBV research.

(+)-JQ-1 alleviates cardiac injury in myocardial infarction by inhibiting ferroptosis through the NAMPT/SIRT1 pathway.

Myocardial infarction (MI) remains one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide, and cardiomyocyte death plays a critical role in cardiac remodeling after MI. Ferroptosis is a recently identified form of iron-dependent programmed cell death that has been shown to be involved in the progression of various cardiovascular diseases, including MI. Bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) is an epigenetic reader and a key regulator of cell survival.

Resilience Coaching for Adolescent Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain: Protocol for a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of Promoting Resilience in Stress Management (PRISM).

Background: Levels of self-perceived psychological resilience are low to moderate among youth with chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP). Furthermore, resilience has been associated with symptom severity in CMP. Resilience coaching programs may therefore be of benefit in the nonpharmacologic management of adolescent CMP and may serve as an adjunctive way to access mental health services in an approachable and affordable way.

Dizygotic Atomic Platinum and Palladium on Carbon for High-Performance Ethanol and Methanol Electro-Oxidation.

Dizygotic-atom-site catalysts (DASCs), consisting of multi-atomic dispersed catalytic centers, perform well in several reactions but have poor electrocatalytic activity toward alcohol electro-oxidation. In this study, DASCs of atomically dispersed platinum and palladium on nitrogen-doped carbon nanocages (PtPd/NCNC) are successfully synthesized using an impregnation-adsorption method. The PtPd/NCNC catalyst has higher mass activity toward ethanol and methanol oxidation than commercial Pt/C and Pd/C.

Estimating the spatial distribution and exploring the factors influencing cultivated land quality through a hybrid random forest and Bayesian maximum entropy model.

Cultivated land is one of the most valuable agricultural resources; its quality is not only the foundation of national food security but also a crucial issue for global sustainable development. However, owing to data limitations and spatial heterogeneity, large-scale cultivated land quality (CLQ) estimation remains challenging, which further leads to insufficient exploration of the mechanisms of CLQ variation. In this research, a hybrid random forest (RF)-Bayesian maximum entropy (BME) method integrating a field-sampled dataset and environmental auxiliary information was proposed to predict the characteristics and main factors influencing CLQ efficiently.

Neuroimaging patterns in patients with mitochondrial leukoencephalopathies.

Background And Objectives: Leukoencephalopathies are characterized by white matter (WM) abnormalities and include various primary mitochondrial diseases (MD) that impact mitochondrial function across all neuroglial cells. Understanding these associations is vital for effective clinical management.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of patients with genetically confirmed MD who exhibited white matter abnormalities at a pediatric academic medical center.

BRD4770 protects against DOX-induced cardiotoxicity by inhibiting apoptosis and ferroptosis.

Doxorubicin (DOX) is an effective anticancer drug, but its clinical utility is limited mainly by cardiotoxicity causing cardiomyocyte ferroptosis and apoptosis. While DOX-induced cardiotoxicity (DIC) involves epigenetic changes, no systematic epigenetic intervention studies have been reported. Here, we identified BRD4770 as a potential small molecule against DIC through the Epigenetics Compound Library screening.

Voltage-controlled pattern transition of liquid metals in disordered porous media.

Liquid metals (LMs) have emerged as promising materials in microfluidic systems due to their unique combination of metallic conductivity and fluidic properties, enabling applications in soft electronics, robotics, and reconfigurable circuits. While LMs have frequently been utilized as static components, their dynamic behaviors, particularly their flow patterns in complex microchannels upon different electric voltages and flow rates, remain rarely studied. Understanding voltage-induced pattern transitions, driven by capillary, electric, and Marangoni effects, is crucial for practical device integration.