Metagenomic research on the structural difference of plaque microbiome from different caries stages and the construction of a caries diagnostic model.

Development of dental caries is a dynamic process; yet, there is limited knowledge on microbial differences at various stages of caries at higher resolution. To investigate the shifting microbiome profiles across different caries stages, 30 children were enrolled in this study, including 15 caries-active patients and 15 caries-free individuals. Plaque samples were collected from the buccal surface of caries-free subjects, defined as confident health (CH; = 15).

Phototherapeutic antibacterial applications of porphyrin-based metal-organic frameworks.

In recent years, photosensitizer-based phototherapy has gained increasing attention in antibacterial applications due to its low cost, noninvasive nature, and low drug resistance. Among various materials, porphyrin-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have demonstrated great potential, due to their good biocompatibility, facile designability, and excellent light absorption capabilities that enable highly efficient antibacterial efficacy. However, further optimization of their antibacterial performance remains a key challenge.

Low-Frequency Polarized Electric Field Enhances Postharvest Disease Resistance in Grapes by Activating Ca-Dependent Signaling and Phospholipid Metabolism, and Promoting Ca-Mediated Reinforcement of Cellular Structure.

This study investigated the effects of a low-frequency polarized electric field (LFPEF) on postharvest disease resistance and storage quality of grapes. LFPEF treatment (3 h/d) significantly reduced weight loss, suppressed lesion expansion, and maintained fruit firmness by reinforcing cell wall integrity and enhancing defense-related enzyme activities. Mechanistic analyses indicated that LFPEF activated Ca signaling, promoted calcium accumulation, and upregulated calcium sensor genes, thereby contributing to membrane stabilization.

Hemispheric Asymmetry of Neuromelanin-Iron Dysfunction in the Substantia Nigra: MRI-Based Evidence for Lateralized Motor Onset in Early-Stage Parkinson's Disease.

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) often presents with lateralized motor symptoms at onset, reflecting asymmetric degeneration of the substantia nigra (SN). Neuromelanin (NM) loss and iron accumulation are hallmarks of SN pathology in PD, but their spatial distribution and interrelationship in PD patients with right-sided (PDR) or left-sided (PDL) motor symptom onset remain unclear.

Purpose: To investigate the spatial vulnerability and interrelationship of NM and iron in the SN among PDR, PDL, and healthy controls (HCs) using MRI.

Childhood leukemia trend analysis from 1990 to 2021 and projections from 2021 to 2040: a global burden perspective.

Background: Childhood leukaemia remains a major global health challenge and its impact varies significantly by region. Understanding the patterns of incidence, mortality, prevalence, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) is crucial for crafting effective public health initiatives and enhancing care outcomes, especially in regions with constrained resources.

Methods: This study evaluates the worldwide, regional, and country-specific effects of childhood leukemia between 1990 and 2021, leveraging data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) initiative.

Tunable Ferroelectricity, Valley Polarization, Layer Polarization, and Magnetism Via Stacking in 2D van der Waals Bilayers.

Magnetic two-dimensional van der Waals (vdWs) materials hold potential applications in low-power and high-speed spintronic devices due to their degrees of freedom such as valley and spin. In this Letter, we propose a mechanism that uses stacking engineering to control valley polarization (VP), ferroelectricity, layer polarization (LP), and magnetism in vdWs bilayers. Through first-principles calculations, we predict that the T-VSI monolayer is a magnetic semiconductor with a sizable VP.

Ultrastable Copper Cluster Enables Highly Site-Selective and Chemoselective Carbocation C(sp)-H and C(sp)-H Bonds Functionalization.

The C-H functionalization represents a universal and important method for constructing new C-C bonds by carrying out reactions directly on inert C-H bonds. The major challenges are to control the site-selectivity and chemoselectivity because most complex organic compounds have many similar C-H bonds or different functional groups, such as a C═C bond or O-H bond. Here, we develop a versatile copper cluster (CuNC) with high stability and dynamic catalytic sites.

Multiplexed Fluorescent Microarrays on MIL-101(Cr) Thin Films as Luminescent Probes for pH and Disease-Associated Molecules.

Recently, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have shown high potential in the field of sensing. However, fluorescent-based detection with MOFs in solution needs complex pre-treatments and has stability issues, complicating measurements and handling for sensing applications. Here, an easy-to-handle and low-cost strategy is introduced to convert MOF-based sensing from solution to surface using scanning probe lithography.

Should Be Removed or Taken Biopsy in Early Stage: A Retrospective Study of 953 Cases of Nevus Sebaceous From a Single Center.

No consensus was made on whether all Nevus sebaceous (NS) should undergo prophylactic excision and the best age of surgery. This is a retrospective study. Patients who underwent surgery and were confirmed as NS by pathology during January 2014 to December 2023 in the Department of Dermatology of Xinhua hospital were included in this study.

Urease-Mediated Reversible Calcium Carbonate Mineralization for Single Living Yeast Cell Nanoencapsulation.

Modifying cells to achieve desired functions has attracted extensive attention in bioengineering and bio-manufacturing. Approaches based on cell-surface engineering have the potential to endow cells with multiple functions and also create a protective shell around them. However, such shells are generally irreversible and lack functionality, leading to various drawbacks associated with irreversible dynamics.

Integrating Cell Population Data With Hematology Analyzer Messages for Improved Detection of Immature White Blood Cells and Laboratory Efficiency.

Background: Improving efficiency and reducing turnaround time are crucial in clinical laboratories. While automated analyzers such as the Beckman Coulter DxH 900 streamline workflow, subtle abnormalities like blasts and immature granulocytes (IGs) may be missed, especially in the absence of WBC-related suspect messages. This study evaluated whether integrating cell population data (CPD) with instrument messages could enhance detection accuracy.

Bandgap-Tailored (BiSb)Se Thin Films Enabling Fast Broadband Near-Infrared Photodetection and Imaging.

Antimony selenide (SbSe), a narrow-bandgap semiconductor with strong light absorption, exhibits photoresponse up to ≈1050 nm due to its intrinsic 1.15 eV bandgap. To extend detection into the near-infrared (NIR, 700-1350 nm), Bi-alloyed (BiSb)Se is developed via vacuum sputtering and postselenization.

Click chemistry-driven adhesive hydrogel for efficient healing of infected wounds through multistage comprehensive management.

Infected wound treatment remains a critical challenge in clinical medicine. Although existing treatments, like local debridement, antimicrobial agents, and growth factor therapies, have demonstrated certain therapeutic effects, they primarily target only specific stages of wound healing. Moreover, the escalating issue of antibiotic resistance limits their efficacy.

Multilayered Sandwich Structure Sensor: Confinement-Mediated HO Enrichment Strategy for Ultrasensitive and Long-term Stable Prostate Cancer Biomarker Detection.

Sarcosine (Sar), a critical potential biomarker for prostate cancer (PCa), is primarily detected via enzyme cascade reactions involving sarcosine oxidase (SOx) and peroxidase. Nevertheless, the intermediate product hydrogen peroxide (HO) tends to diffuse to the bulk solution phase without entering subsequent reaction, leading to suboptimal detection sensitivity and compromised analytical performance. To tackle this challenge, a multilayered sandwich nanozyme cascade sensor (designated as Cu-MOF/Rf@BDC) is proposed through a confinement-mediated HO enrichment strategy.

Phase Crosslinking Strategy to Construct Impact-Resistant and Buffer-Enhanced Bilayer Hydrogels with High Interfacial Adhesion.

Inspired by the rigid exoskeleton and elastic inner tissues of crustaceans, a bilayer gel integrating high-strength rigidity and soft cushioning with high interfacial adhesion (1060 ± 40 J m ) is developed via a stepwise solid-liquid phase crosslinking strategy. Herein, a prefrozen high-concentration polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) solution forms a solid-state structural framework, while a subsequently cast low-concentration PVA solution generates a flexible layer. Partial thawing of the frozen gel during casting triggers molecular chain interpenetration at the interface, synergistically enhanced by controlled molecular penetration, freeze-thaw cycles, and salt-induced crystallization.

Bonding-Guided Anisotropic Growth of Quasi-1D MXSe Thermoelectric Nanowires.

Quasi-1D van der Waals materials have emerged as promising candidates for flexible electronic and thermoelectric applications due to their intrinsic anisotropy, narrow band gaps, and mechanical flexibility. Herein, MXSe (M = Nb, Ta, X = Pd, Pt) nanowires are studied to understand the bonding-directed growth mechanism. Bond valence sums and binding energy analyses reveal that weak X2-Se2 interactions perpendicular to the c-axis facilitate anisotropic growth.

Pure-Green Circularly Polarized Multiple Resonance Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence Enantiomers with Discontinuous Fused Benzene Rings.

Helicene-based circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) materials suffer from severely low color purity in circularly polarized organic light-emitting diodes (CP-OLEDs). Here, a novel molecular engineering strategy is introduced by replacing helicene containing continuous fused benzene rings with a multiple resonance (MR) framework comprising discontinuous fused benzene rings. This approach effectively suppresses high-frequency C─C bond stretching vibrations and enhances short-range charge transfer, enabling high color purity, CPL activity, and efficient thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF).

Effect of diverticulum entrance diameter on sigmoid sinus hemodynamics: a CFD and PIV experimental validation study.

Geometric changes in the sigmoid sinus diverticulum (SSD) can alter its hemodynamic - a primary factor contributing to pulsatile tinnitus (PT). However, not all SSD cases lead to clinical PT symptoms. This study aims to investigate the influence of the diameter of the diverticulum (EDD) on the hemodynamics of the sigmoid sinus in PT.

High Carrier Mobility in N-Type PbSSe Crystal Enhances Thermoelectric Properties and Module Performance.

Thermoelectric technology has significant applications in waste heat harvesting and temperature control of electronic devices. PbS has long been seen as a robust candidate for large-scale thermoelectric applications due to its low cost and high mechanical strength. However, the low ZT near room temperature hinders its further application.

Spectral Photon-Counting Detector Coronary CTA With Reduced Radiation and Contrast Media Doses in Inflammation-Associated Coronary Artery Disease: A Prospective Study.

Patients with inflammation-associated coronary artery disease (CAD) may exhibit rapid progression and require regular coronary imaging. To evaluate the diagnostic performance of spectral photon-counting detector (PCD) coronary CTA with reduced radiation and contrast media doses for detecting coronary stenosis and in-stent restenosis in patients with inflammation-associated CAD. This prospective study enrolled patients with inflammation-associated CAD from January 2023 to March 2024.

Diatom-Inspired Scaffold for Infected Bone Defect Therapy: Achieving Stable Photothermal Properties and Coordinated Antibacterial-Osteogenic Functions.

Bone defect therapy frequently encounters bacterial infections and chronic inflammation, which impair bone regeneration and threaten implant stability. Iron oxide nanoparticles have attracted attention due to cost-effectiveness, biocompatibility, and metabolic safety. However, iron oxide nanoparticles still struggle to balance low-temperature efficient antibacterial activity, effective immunomodulation, and bone regeneration.

Phase Stabilization of InSe by Disordered Ni Intercalation and its Enhanced Thermoelectrical Performance.

Van der Waals (vdW) layered materials have gained significant attention owing to their distinctive structure and unique properties. The weak interlayer bonding in vdW layered materials enables guest atom intercalation, allowing precise tuning of their physical and chemical properties. In this work, a ternary compound, NiInSe (x = 0-0.

Citric acid-modified chitosan hydrogel loaded with shikonin promotes skin wound healing.

Background: Despite the advancements of pharmacological treatments and gauze dressings in the field of skin wound healing, these methods present numerous limitations. Therefore, developing a multifunctional material capable of efficiently promoting skin wound healing is particularly crucial.

Methods: Citric acid (CA)-modified chitosan (CS) loaded with Shikonin (SK) (CA-CS-SK) hydrogel was prepared via the freeze-thaw method.