Highly scalable prefusion-stabilized RSV F vaccine with enhanced immunogenicity and robust protection.

Stabilizing the RSV F protein in its prefusion conformation is crucial for effective vaccine development but has remained a significant challenge. Traditional stabilization methods, such as disulfide bonds and cavity-filling mutations, have been labor-intensive and have often resulted in suboptimal expression levels. Here, we report the design of an RSV prefusion F (preF) antigen using a proline-scanning strategy, incorporating seven proline substitutions to achieve stabilization.

Improving the Activity of Platinum Nanoparticles in Electrocatalytic Oxidation of Formic Acid via the Surface Grafting of Thiol or Thiophenol Molecules.

Electrocatalytic oxidation of organic molecules, in particular the formic acid oxidation reaction (FAOR), is crucial for applications such as direct liquid fuel cells. As one of the effective catalysts, platinum (Pt) has been widely used as the electrocatalyst for these reactions in the laboratory; however, its utilization in practical FAOR is still limited due to insufficient activity. This study introduces a simple and rapid molecular modification method to improve the FAOR performance of Pt by chemically adsorbing thiol or thiophenol molecules.

A new perspective to explore the bioactive ingredients of honeysuckle tea infusion by structure, function and stability characterization of self-assembled nano/microaggregates.

The self-assembled nano/microaggregates formed by the interaction of polyphenols and polysaccharide are key bioactive ingredients in substitute tea infusions, but lack in-depth investigation. Taking honeysuckle tea infusion as a mode infusion, the self-assembled nano/microaggregates were characterized as compact advanced spherical submicroparticles with a particle size of about 155 nm and composed of 47.75 % esterification pectin, 6.

Inhibition of Mitochondrial Fission Reverses Simulated Microgravity-Induced Osteoblast Dysfunction by Enhancing Mechanotransduction and Epigenetic Modification.

Simulated microgravity (SMG) poses substantial challenges to astronaut health, particularly impacting osteoblast function and leading to disuse osteoporosis. This study investigates the adverse effects of SMG on osteoblasts, focusing on changes in mitochondrial dynamics and their consequent effects on cellular energy metabolism and mechanotransduction pathways. We discovered that SMG markedly reduced the expression of osteoblast differentiation markers and promoted mitochondrial fission, as indicated by an increase in punctate mitochondria, a decrease in mitochondrial length, and a reduction in cristae density.

Assessment of Multifunctional Activity of a Postbiotic Preparation Derived from Postbiotic-P6.

Postbiotics possess various functional activities, closely linked to their source bacterial strains and preparation methods. Therefore, the functional activities of postbiotics need to be evaluated through in vitro and in vivo methods. This study aims to prepare a postbiotic and explore its antihemolytic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial activities.

Extracellular matrix stiffness as an energy metabolism regulator drives osteogenic differentiation in mesenchymal stem cells.

The biophysical factors of biomaterials such as their stiffness regulate stem cell differentiation. Energy metabolism has been revealed an essential role in stem cell lineage commitment. However, whether and how extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness regulates energy metabolism to determine stem cell differentiation is less known.

Selectively Adsorbed -Aminothiophenol Molecules Improve the Electrocatalytic and Photo-Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution on Au/TiO.

Electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is receiving increasing attention as an effective process to produce clean energy. The commonly used precious metal catalysts can be hybridized with semiconductors to form heterostructures for the improvement of catalytic efficiency and reduction of cost. It will be promising to further improve the efficiency of heterostructure-based nanocatalysts in electrocatalytic and photocatalytic HER using a simple and effective method.

Charge Dispersion Strategy for High-Performance and Rain-Proof Triboelectric Nanogenerator.

Triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) is becoming a sustainable and renewable way of energy harvesting and self-powered sensing because of low cost, simple structure, and high efficiency. However, the output current of existing TENGs is still low. It is proposed that the output current of TENGs can be dramatically improved if the triboelectric charges can distribute inside the triboelectric layers.

Multidisciplinary considerations of fairness in medical AI: A scoping review.

Introduction: Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology has been developed significantly in recent years. The fairness of medical AI is of great concern due to its direct relation to human life and health. This review aims to analyze the existing research literature on fairness in medical AI from the perspectives of computer science, medical science, and social science (including law and ethics).

Frizzled-9 triggers actin polymerization and activates mechano-transducer YAP to rescue simulated microgravity-induced osteoblast dysfunction.

Long-term spaceflight can result in bone loss and osteoblast dysfunction. Frizzled-9 (Fzd9) is a Wnt receptor of the frizzled family that is vital for osteoblast differentiation and bone formation. In the present study, we elucidated whether Fzd9 plays a role in osteoblast dysfunction induced by simulated microgravity (SMG).

Lung specific homing of diphenyleneiodonium chloride improves pulmonary fibrosis by inhibiting macrophage M2 metabolic program.

Introduction: Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a fatal disease with a variable and unpredictable course. Effective clinical treatment for PF remains a challenge due to low drug accumulation in lungs and imbalanced polarization of pro/anti-fibrotic macrophages.

Objectives: To identify the alteration of immunometabolism in the pulmonary macrophages and investigate the feasibility of specific inhibition of M2 activation of macrophages as an effective anti-PF strategy in vivo.

Density-of-States Matching-Induced Ultrahigh Current Density and High-Humidity Resistance in a Simply Structured Triboelectric Nanogenerator.

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) can covert mechanical energy into electricity in a clean and sustainable manner. However, traditional TENGs are mainly limited by the low output current, and thus their practical applications are still limited. Herein, a new type of TENG is developed by using conductive materials as the triboelectric layers and electrodes simultaneously.

High-Performance Organic Electrochemical Transistor Based on Photo-annealed Plasmonic Gold Nanoparticle-Doped PEDOT:PSS.

Organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs), particularly the ones based on PEDOT:PSS, are excellent candidates for chemical and biological sensing because of their unique advantages. Improving the sensitivity and stability of OECTs is crucially important for practical applications. Herein, the transconductance of OECT is improved by 8-fold to 14.

A Novel Design Concept of Cemented Paste Backfill (CPB) Materials: Biobjective Optimization Approach by Applying an Evolved Random Forest Model.

For cemented paste backfill (CPB), uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) is the key to ensuring the safety of stope construction, and its cost is an important part of the mining cost. However, there are a lack of design methods based on UCS and cost optimization. To address such issues, this study proposes a biobjective optimization approach by applying a novel evolved random forest (RF) model.

Mixture Optimization of Cementitious Materials Using Machine Learning and Metaheuristic Algorithms: State of the Art and Future Prospects.

The hybrid optimization of modern cementitious materials requires concrete to meet many competing objectives (e.g., mechanical properties, cost, workability, environmental requirements, and durability).

Mitochondrial metabolism mediated macrophage polarization in chronic lung diseases.

As the first line of defence in the lung, alveolar macrophage contributes to maintaining lung immune homoeostasis. Characterized by the heterogeneity and plasticity, macrophages polarize into two pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory phenotypes regarding the biological and pathological environment. In the past decade, numerous studies have revolutionized the relationship between cellular metabolism and macrophage functions.

Groundwater quality assessment and hydrogeochemical processes in typical watersheds in Zhangjiakou region, northern China.

It is of significance to elucidate the groundwater quality and hydrogeochemical processes for sustainable utilization of groundwater resources in water shortage regions. A total of 256 groundwater samples were collected in typical watersheds in Zhangjiakou, northern China. The hydrochemical parameters, conventional ions, and trace elements were measured, and δD and δO data were collected to delineate the groundwater quality and hydrogeochemical processes.

Ascl2 facilitates IL-10 production in Th17 cells to restrain their pathogenicity in inflammatory bowel disease.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been well-documented as a chronic gastrointestinal autoimmune disease, but its etiology remains to be elusive. Ascl2 (achaete-scute complex homologue 2), identified as a homologue of the Drosophila achaete-scute gene, has been shown to play an essential for the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases and cancers. However, whether it is associated with the pathogenesis of IBD remains unclear.

Finite-element vibration analysis of tapping-mode atomic force microscopy in liquid.

Investigation of morphology and mechanical properties of biological specimens using atomic force microscopy (AFM) often requires its operation in liquid environment. Due to the hydrodynamic force, the vibration of AFM cantilevers in liquid shows dramatically different dynamic characteristics from that in air. A good understanding of the dynamics of AFM cantilevers vibrating in liquid is needed for the interpretation of scanning images, selection of AFM operating conditions, and evaluation of sample's mechanical properties.