Visceral Adipose Tissue Cut-Points for Increased Metabolic Risk in Chinese Adults using Low Dose Computed Tomography: a Nationwide Multi-Centre Study.

Introduction: Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is a significant driver for metabolic disease risk. Low dose computed tomography (LDCT) imaging obtained for other clinical indications is useful for the opportunistic screening of osteoporosis and demonstrates additional potential for the screening of metabolic risk through the measurement of visceral adipose tissue. In this study, we explored LDCT-derived VAT and calculated VAT thresholds indicative of elevated metabolic risk in a population cohort of Chinese men and women.

Conserved multiepitopes in STEVORs enable rational design of a fusion antigen vaccine construct with broad immunogenicity.

There is no vaccine for severe malaria. STEVOR antigens on the surface of -infected red blood cells are implicated in severe malaria and are targeted by neutralizing antibodies, but their epitopes remain unknown. Using computational immunology, we identified highly immunogenic overlapping B- and T-cell epitopes (referred to as multiepitopes, 7-27 amino acids) in the semiconserved domain of four STEVORs linked with severe malaria and clinical immunity.

Identification and Molecular Characterization of Two Novel Picorna-Like Viruses in Mosquitoes in Yunnan, China.

: Mosquitoes harbor diverse insect-specific viruses (ISVs) frequently overlooked in arbovirus surveillance. Comprehensive characterization of ISVs is crucial for understanding their impact on host ecology and potential roles in arbovirus transmission. : Using metagenomic sequencing on Armigeres subalbatus from Yunnan, China, we identified two novel picorna-like viruses, assembled their genomes, and conducted phylogenetic analysis.

An Overview of Destroying SARS-CoV-2 and Proof of the Relationship Between Climate Changes and Airborne Dust on SARS-CoV-2 Prevalence.

In view of Corona pandemic, scientists have taken significant efforts to study and recognize the peculiarities of the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in order to prevent it from spreading. It was discovered that the virus is spreading in many places and nations that have made significant progress in addressing environmental pollution or are not subject to dusty storms. Infections are growing again in the same country, with varied densities of sick persons depending on the weather and windy season.

First Report of in Bats and Ticks Collected from Bat Habitats.

The zoonotic infectious disease, severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), caused by the SFTS virus (SFTSV), , was first identified in China in 2009 and reported in the Republic of Korea in 2013. The primary vector is the tick (.) , which is endemic to the Asia-Pacific region and has a wide range of hosts.

Botanical Nanovesicles Boost Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy: Next-Gen Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products for Spinal Cord Injury.

The poor prognosis constitutes a significant difficulty for spinal cord injury (SCI) individuals. Although mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) hold promises as advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs) for SCI patients, challenges such as Good Manufacturing Practice-compliant manufacturing, cellular senescence, and limited therapeutic efficacy continue to hinder their clinical translation. Recent advances have identified botanical nanovesicles (BNs) as potent bioactive mediators capable of "priming" MSCs to self-rejuvenate, augment paracrine effect, and establish inflammatory tolerance.

Bioinspired Multifunctional Eutectogels for Skin-Like Flexible Strain Sensors with Potential Application in Deep-Learning Handwriting Recognition.

Polymerizable deep eutectic solvents (PDES) have recently emerged as a class of solvent-free ionically conductive elastomers and are considered among the most feasible candidates for next-generation ionotronic devices. However, the fundamental challenge persists in synergistically combining high mechanical strength, robust adhesion, reliable self-healing capacity, and effective antimicrobial performance within a unified material system capable of fulfilling the rigorous operational demands of next-generation ionotronic devices across multifunctional applications. Inspired by the hierarchical structure of spider silk, HCAG eutectogels composed of acrylic acid (AA), 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA), and choline chloride (ChCl) were successfully synthesized via a one-step photopolymerization method.

Medium Effect of Bicontinuous Microemulsion on Cobaltocene-Mediated Electroreduction of Coenzyme NAD.

In this paper, a phosphate buffer (0.10 M, pH 7.5)--hexadecane bicontinuous microemulsion (BME) stabilized by the nonionic surfactant CE was for the first time used as the medium to investigate its effect on the electrochemical behavior of the cobaltocene redox couple ( (III)/ (II)) as electron mediator and the -mediated electroreduction of coenzyme NAD.

Enantioselective Total Synthesis of (+)-Lucidumone via Organocatalytic Double Michael Addition.

A concise enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-lucidumone, a caged polycyclic meroterpenoid with a bicyclo[2.2.2]octane skeleton, was accomplished in 10 steps (LLS) starting from commercially available 2-cyclohexen-1-one.

Novel Insights for α-amylase Improvement: Leveraging Amylopectin into Accurate Molecular Docking and Mutant Selection.

α-Amylase is widely used in various industries. However, current industrial production of α-amylase does not meet the demand, necessitating further enzyme optimization to enhance enzymatic activity. Traditional molecular docking studies have used amylose as a substrate, neglecting the dominant amylopectin structure in natural starch.

Engineering and Functional Expression of the Type III Secretion System in : Enhancing Insecticidal Efficacy and Expanding T3SE Libraries.

Entomopathogenic nematode symbiotic bacteria (EPNB) enhance nematode insecticidal capacity through symbiosis. This study cloned the complete 32-kb type III secretion system (T3SS) gene cluster from TT01 using Red/ET recombineering and functionally expressed it in T3SS-deficient HN_xs01. Heterologous T3SS expression significantly enhanced HN_xs01 adhesion and invasion capabilities in CF-203 cells.

Ultrasound-Enhanced Delivery of Salvianolic Acid F Targets CXCL5 to Suppress Lung Cancer Progression: Insights from PC9 and H1299 Models.

Lung cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide, highlighting the urgent need for more effective and targeted therapeutic strategies. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), known for its favorable safety profile and broad pharmacological effects, offers promising candidates for cancer treatment. Salvianolic acid F (SAF), a key bioactive compound derived from , has demonstrated antitumor potential, but its role and underlying mechanisms in lung cancer remain inadequately characterized.

Microscopic Investigations of Point Defect Interactions in WS Monolayers.

Atomic point defects provide an alternative tuning knob for engineering the properties and functionality of 2D transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs). Prior to engineering point defects to tailor material properties, identification and investigation of their electronic structure is key to their implementation for device applications. The two most common atomic point defects in monolayer WS are sulfur vacancies and oxygen substituents, which have been thoroughly reported on, but their interaction has yet to be investigated.

Peptide-Programmable DNAzyme Converter for Artificial Autocatalytic Gene Regulation.

The in-depth integration of gene regulation with protein modulation can enhance cellular information processing, yet it is significantly constrained by ineffective and complex protein-to-gene transduction strategies. Herein, we developed a simple protease-guided autocatalytic gene silencing platform named iPAD (intelligent peptide-programmed deoxyribonuclease) that converts the protease recognition events into versatile DNA readout signals by rationally designing a native protease-responsive cationic peptide (PP) to efficiently modulate the DNAzyme (Dz) activity. Without requiring additional chemical modifications, the multifunctional PP regulator consists simply of one cell-specific targeting peptide segment and two cationic peptide segments isolated by one protease-specific peptide substrate.

Does Healthy Cooking Lead to Healthy Choices? Exploring the Impact of a Virtual Reality Cooking Game on Healthy Eating Decisions.

Cooking plays a crucial role in healthy eating, and food exposure during cooking significantly influences people's health and well-being. Given the challenges faced by novice cooks and the general lack of interest in cooking, this research proposes utilizing a highly engaging cooking game as an alternative to real-life cooking, allowing individuals to achieve the same health-boosting benefits as traditional cooking while enjoying the game. Additionally, this study will examine the moderating role of food type and cooking manner in this process.

A Qualitative Examination of the Content Validity of the EQ-5D-5L and EQ-5D-Y-3L in Adult and Paediatric Patients With Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

Objective: This study examined the content validity of EQ-5D for Chinese patients with DMD. Specifically, it investigated: (1) the content validity of EQ-5D-5L in adult DMD patients and (2) the content validity of EQ-5D-Y-3L (Y-3L) in DMD patients aged 8-15 years.

Method: This qualitative study used semi-structured interviews and conducted one-on-one and online, with two groups of individuals with DMD to examine the content validity of the EQ-5D-5L and Y-3L.

Record-High Photoluminescence Efficiency and Excellent Scintillation in Two-Dimensional Diamine Hybrid Copper(I) Halides.

To date, Cu(I)-based metal halides with high photoluminescence quantum yields (PLQYs) have primarily focused on their zero-dimensional or one-dimensional structures, significantly reflecting the charge or carrier localization. Designing two-dimensional (2D) hybrid copper(I) halides remains a significant challenge for optoelectronic applications, particularly in simultaneously achieving high PLQY and exceptional structural stability. Here, we report a novel series of 2D hybrid Cu(I) halides, (TDMP)CuX (TDMP = 2,5-dimethylpiperazine and X = Cl, Br), synthesized through simple solution-cooling crystallization methods.

An Activatable and Covalent Tumor-Associated Antigen Capturer Enabling Systemic Injection for Promoted Antitumor Immunity.

Antigen-capturing nanomaterials hold great promise for cancer immunotherapy; however, the need for tumor localized administration and limited antigen-binding affinity remains the "Achilles heel" of this strategy. Herein, we present a tumor microenvironment (TME)-activatable nanoplatform, TDR848@FPB, designed for systemic administration and enhanced covalent capture of tumor-associated antigens (TAAs), enabling effective immunotherapy with minimal off-target effects and independent of localized tumor administration. This platform encapsulates a photosensitizer-conjugated, light-activated toll-like receptor (TLR) agonist, which induces immunogenic cell death and triggers a pro-inflammatory TME conducive to antigen capture upon light irradiation.

Navigating Challenges in Peer Support Work: Perspectives of Peer Supporters From a Stepped Care Intervention for Older Adults With Depressive Symptoms.

Background: Serving as peer supporters in later life has been linked to a greater sense of purpose and meaning in life. How the wisdom of older adults could be leveraged to improve the implementation of peer support work, however, has rarely been considered. We aimed to examine the perspectives of peer supporters in this study, including the challenges they encountered in practice and the strategies they developed to navigate their roles.

Doping and Polar Interface-Induced High-Position Sensing in the PEDOT:PSS/Si Heterojunction and Its Multifunctional Optical Imaging.

A highly sensitive, self-powered position-sensitive detector (PSD) based on a PEDOT:PSS/Si heterojunction is prepared. Band structure optimization via FS-300 additive doping significantly enhances the built-in electric field, achieving a maximum open-circuit voltage of 0.45 V (0.

Recent Progress of 3D Printing Bioceramic Scaffolds for Bone Regeneration.

The reconstruction of critical-sized bone defects remains a challenging clinical problem. At present, the implantation of autogenous and allogeneic grafts is the main clinical treatment strategy but faces some drawbacks, such as inadequate source, donor site-related complications, and immune rejection, driving researchers to develop artificial bone substitutes based on distinct materials and fabrication technologies. Among the bone substitutes, bioceramic-based substitutes exhibit a remarkable biocompatibility, which can also be designed to degrade concomitantly with the formation of new bone.

Machine Learning Approaches for Predicting Head Blight Epidemic Levels from Climatological Time-Series Features.

head blight (FHB), caused by the FHB species complex, is one of the most damaging diseases affecting wheat. Accurately predicting FHB occurrence prior to infection is crucial for preventing outbreaks, minimizing crop losses, and reducing the risks of mycotoxins entering the food chain. This study utilized 55 years of historical weather data and the level of primary inoculum in crop debris to predict FHB severity.

Impact of digital addiction on youth health: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background And Aims: Digital addiction among youth, characterized by excessive and compulsive use of digital devices such as smartphones, computers, and social media platforms, has become a global concern. The present study aimed to investigate the association between digital addiction subtypes in youth and various health outcomes using "digital addiction" as an umbrella term.

Methods: We comprehensively reviewed articles reporting health outcomes related to digital addiction in youth from the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang, PubMed, and Web of Science databases using a targeted search strategy and assessed them using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Critical exponents of the spin-glass transition in a field at zero temperature.

We analyze the spin-glass transition in a field in finite dimension [Formula: see text] below the upper critical dimension directly at zero temperature using a recently introduced perturbative loop expansion around the Bethe lattice solution. The expansion is generated by the so-called [Formula: see text]-layer construction, and it has [Formula: see text] as the associated small parameter. Computing analytically and numerically these nonstandard diagrams at first order in the [Formula: see text] expansion, we construct an [Formula: see text]-expansion around the upper critical dimension [Formula: see text], with [Formula: see text].