Characterization of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) and its receptors (TRHRs) in Nile tilapia: Molecular identification, ligand-receptor interaction and expression profile.

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) is a highly conserved tripeptide across vertebrates and regulates various biological processes, including energy metabolism, appetite, and reproduction. The functions of TRH are mediated by TRH receptors (TRHRs). In vertebrates, three TRHR subtypes have been identified, namely TRHR1, TRHR2, and TRHR3.

Silica Nanoparticles as Versatile Carriers for Nanofertilizers and Nanopesticides: Design and Applications.

The application of silica nanoparticles (SNPs) as nanocarriers for delivering nutrients and pesticide components holds great promise, offering the potential to reduce agrochemical usage while enhancing their efficacy. Herein, we initially present the types, synthesis approaches, and structural features of SNPs as nanoagrochemical delivery carriers. Subsequently, the loading and stimulus-responsive release strategies of guest molecules used for preparation of SNPs-based nanofertilizers and nanopesticides are summarized.

Coherently confined single-metal-atom chains in 2D semiconductors.

Single-metal-atom chains (SMACs) possess a variety of unique properties and functionalities but suffer from ambient vulnerability due to their delicate one-atom-width structures. While some SMACs can be effectively stabilized by nanochannel confining, it remains a pressing challenge to experimentally realize more versatile atomic chains with sufficient stability and extended length. Here, we propose a computational protocol to identify transition metals capable of forming SMACs along mirror twin boundaries in two-dimensional metal dichalcogenides.

Guided electrocatalyst design through in-situ techniques and data mining approaches.

Intuitive design strategies, primarily based on literature research and trial-and-error efforts, have significantly contributed to advancements in the electrocatalyst field. However, the inherently time-consuming and inconsistent nature of these methods presents substantial challenges in accelerating the discovery of high-performance electrocatalysts. To this end, guided design approaches, including in-situ experimental techniques and data mining, have emerged as powerful catalyst design and optimization tools.

Activating fast and reversible sodium storage in NASICON cationic defect sites through fluorine doping.

Cycling positive electrode materials with high voltages and long lifetimes remains a challenge. On the one hand, operating electrodes at high voltages is usually accompanied by severe structural distortions and irreversible reactions. On the other hand, the significant volume variation upon Na insertion/extraction limits the long cycling life.

Activating Sodium Intercalation in Cation-Deficient FeO Through Mo Substitution.

Magnetite (FeO), a conversion-type anode material, possesses high capacity, cost-effectiveness and environmental friendliness, positioning it as a promising candidate for the large-scale energy storage applications. However, the multi-electron reactions in sodium-ion batteries face challenges originated from the electrochemical inactivity of Na intercalation in the conversion-type oxides. In this work, controllable Fe vacancies are tailored in FeO lattice through the gradient Mo doping.

A robust, stable, and scalable multifunctional composite foam utilizing full components of lignin and cellulose from lychee pruning waste.

Foam materials hold great promise in construction and packaging applications. However, the non-biodegradability and poor thermal stability of petroleum-based foams present serious environmental and safety concerns. It is crucial to develop sustainable, eco-friendly foam fabrication methods that balance environmental responsibility with high performance.

Nanobody-enhanced chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy: overcoming barriers in solid tumors with VHH and VNAR-based constructs.

CAR-T cells are genetically modified T lymphocytes that express chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) on their surfaces. These receptors enable T lymphocytes to recognize specific antigens on target cells, triggering a response that leads to targeted cytotoxicity. While CAR-T therapy has effectively treated various blood cancers, it faces significant challenges in addressing solid tumors.

OsLC1, a transaldolase, regulates cell patterning and leaf morphology through modulation of secondary metabolism.

Leaf morphogenesis is a crucial process in plants that governs essential physiological functions such as photosynthesis and transpiration. Despite significant advances in understanding leaf development, the mechanism of intricate cellular patterning remains elusive. We characterize the OsLC1 mutant, which displays a curly leaf phenotype alongside reductions in plant height and tiller number, which are indicative of multiple morphological abnormalities.

Challenges and opportunities in single-domain antibody-based tumor immunotherapy.

Single-domain antibodies (sdAbs) have emerged as a promising tool in tumor immunotherapy, garnering significant attention in recent years due to their unique structure and superior properties. Unlike traditional antibodies, sdAbs exhibit several advantages, including small molecular weight, high stability, strong affinity, and high specificity. These characteristics enable sdAbs to effectively target and eliminate tumor cells within the complex tumor microenvironment.

Separating nanobubble nucleation for transfer-resistance-free electrocatalysis.

Electrocatalytic gas-evolving reactions often result in bubble-covered surfaces, impeding the mass transfer to active sites. Such an issue will be worsened in practical high-current-density conditions and can cause sudden cell failure. Herein, we develop an on-chip microcell-based total-internal-reflection-fluorescence-microscopy to enable operando imaging of bubbles at sub-50 nm and dynamic probing of their nucleation during hydrogen evolution reaction.

Nanoscale Identification of Local Strain Effect on TMD Catalysis.

Strain engineering plays a crucial role in activating the basal plane of the TMD catalysts. However, experimental evidence linking strain strength to activity and distinguishing effects of compressive and tensile strain remains elusive due to the absence of high-resolution correlation techniques. Here, we utilize nanobubble imaging by on-chip total-internal reflection microscopy to visualize active sites on the basal plane of strained MoS during hydrogen evolution reaction and atomic force microscopy to correlatively capture the nanoscale morphology and strain maps.

Gastrointestinal Digestion of Corn-Oil-in-Water Pickering Emulsions: Influence of Lignin-Containing Cellulose Nanofibrils Loading.

There is a growing trend in incorporating biomass-based engineered nanomaterials into food products to enhance their quality and functionality. The zeta potential, droplet size, microstructure, and content of free fatty acid (FFA) release were determined to investigate the influence of a plant-derived particle stabilizer, i.e.

A Clinical Bacterial Dataset for Deep Learning in Microbiological Rapid On-Site Evaluation.

Microbiological Rapid On-Site Evaluation (M-ROSE) is based on smear staining and microscopic observation, providing critical references for the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary infectious disease. Automatic identification of pathogens is the key to improving the quality and speed of M-ROSE. Recent advancements in deep learning have yielded numerous identification algorithms and datasets.

Black tea preserves intestinal homeostasis through balancing barriers and microbiota in mice.

Introduction: Black tea, a beverage consumed worldwide, possesses favorable effects on gastrointestinal tract, including nourishing stomach and promoting digestion. Nevertheless, its specific effects on intestinal homeostasis remains inconclusive.

Methods: We applied black tea to mice prior to inducing colitis with DSS and then monitored their body weight and disease activity index (DAI) daily.

A genome-wide association study uncovers a ZmRap2.7-ZCN9/ZCN10 module to regulate ABA signalling and seed vigour in maize.

Seed vigour, including rapid, uniform germination and robust seedling establishment under various field conditions, is becoming an increasingly essential agronomic trait for achieving high yield in crops. However, little is known about this important seed quality trait. In this study, we performed a genome-wide association study to identify a key transcription factor ZmRap2.

Spatially Confined Microcells: A Path toward TMD Catalyst Design.

With the ability to maximize the exposure of nearly all active sites to reactions, two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) has become a fascinating new class of materials for electrocatalysis. Recently, electrochemical microcells have been developed, and their unique spatial-confined capability enables understanding of catalytic behaviors at a single material level, significantly promoting this field. This Review provides an overview of the recent progress in microcell-based TMD electrocatalyst studies.

Effects of montelukast sodium combined with budesonide on pulmonary function, serum IgE levels, and EOS percentage in children with comorbid allergic rhinitis and asthma.

Objective: This study was designed to determine the effects of montelukast sodium combined with budesonide on pulmonary function, serum immunoglobulin (Ig)E levels, and eosinophil (EOS) percentage in children comorbid with allergic rhinitis (AR) and asthma.

Methods: The medical records of 114 children comorbid with AR and asthma treated in the Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital from February 2020 to September 2022 were collected and analyzed retrospectively. Among them, 54 children treated with budesonide were assigned to a control group, and the remaining 60 children treated with montelukast sodium combined with budesonide were assigned to an observation group.

Formulation and stabilization of high internal phase emulsions via mechanical cellulose nanofibrils/ethyl lauroyl arginate complexes.

Motivated by the quest for biocompatibility, we report on oil-in-water (O/W), high-internal-phase Pickering emulsions stabilized via complexes of mechanical cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) and food-grade cationic surfactant ethyl lauroyl arginate (LAE). The complexation of oppositely charged CNF and LAE can be held together by electrostatic interaction. Their effect on suspensions electrostatic stabilization, heteroaggregation state, and emulsifying ability was studied and related to properties of resultant interfacial tension between oil and water and 3D printing of emulsions.

Liubao tea extract ameliorates ovalbumin-induced allergic asthma by regulating gut microbiota in mice.

Asthma, a chronic airway inflammatory disease, has a complicated pathogenesis and limited therapeutic treatment. Evidence shows that the intestinal microbiota exhibits crucial functional interaction with asthma syndrome. Liubao tea (LBT), a type of postfermented tea in China, positively modulates gut microbiota.

The practice of reaction window in an electrocatalytic on-chip microcell.

To enhance the efficiency of catalysis, it is crucial to comprehend the behavior of individual nanowires/nanosheets. A developed on-chip microcell facilitates this study by creating a reaction window that exposes the catalyst region of interest. However, this technology's potential application is limited due to frequently-observed variations in data between different cells.

Case Reports of Low-Temperature Plasma Radiofrequency Treatment for Congenital Epiglottic Cysts in Neonates and Infants.

An uncommon benign condition in neonates, known as congenital epiglottic cyst, can lead to symptoms such as neonatal dyspnea, laryngeal stridor, and, in severe cases, even pose a potential threat of asphyxia-related mortality. A congenital epiglottic cyst is one of the neonatal emergencies. Fibrolaryngoscopy is the predominant method of diagnosis, and early identification, diagnosis, as well as treatment are the key points.

The efficacy of different segments fixation for treatment thoracolumbar fractures: A Bayesian network meta-analysis.

Background: We did this network meta-analysis to comprehensively compare the efficacy of different segments [intermediate segment (IS), short segment (SS) and long segment (LS)] in the fixation of thoracolumbar fractures.

Methods: We searched studies from inception until January 20, 2023 through PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library. All studies comparing different segments in the fixation of thoracolumbar fractures were included in this meta-analysis.