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A bioinspired and degradable riboflavin-containing polypeptide as a sustainable material for energy storage
Inspired by Nature, we present a polypeptide-based organic redox-active material constructed from renewable feedstocks, L-glutamic acid (an amino acid) and riboflavin (vitamin B 2 ), to address challenges with start-to-end-of-life management in energy storage systems (ESSs). The amino acid was utilized to establish a degradable polymer backbone, along which many copies of riboflavin were incorporated to serve as the redox-active pendant groups that enabled energy storage. The overall synthesis involved the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of an l -glutamic acid-derived N- carboxyanhydride (NCA) monomer, followed by side chain activation with azides and, finally, click coupling to achieve installation of alkyne-functionalized riboflavin moieties. The steric bulkiness and rich chemical functionality of riboflavin resulted in synthetic complexities that required reaction optimization to achieve the desired polymer structure. Electrochemical characterization of the resultant riboflavin polypeptide, in organic electrolyte, showed quasireversible redox activity with a half-wave potential (E 1/2 ) of ca. −1.10 V vs. ferrocene/ferrocenium (Fc/Fc + ). Cell viability assays revealed biocompatibility, as indicated by negligible cytotoxicity for fibroblast cells. The polypeptide design, consisting of labile amide backbone linkages and side-chain ester functionalities that tethered the riboflavin units to the backbone, enabled hydrolytic degradation to recover building blocks for future upcycling or recycling. This bioinspired strategy advances the development of degradable redox-active polymers and promotes sustainable materials design for circular energy storage technologies.
A modified generative adversarial networks method for assisting the diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis complications in stroke patients
Decoding the diagnostic biomarkers of mitochondrial dysfunction related gene variants in pediatric T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia
A novel assay incorporating CRISPR with RPA in a single pot for visual and accurate detection of Aphelenchoides besseyi in soybean
Hinokiflavone is a novel CK2 inhibitor promoting apoptosis and synergizing with chemotherapeutic agents in cisplatin resistant bladder cancer cells
Synthesis, characterization, anti-proliferative, and apoptotic activity of a novel quinazoline-containing 1,2,3-triazole toward three human cancer cells
Abstract A novel quinazoline-containing 1,2,3-triazole (4-TCPA) was synthesized to target VEGFR2 signaling for cancer treatment. Although current VEGFR2 inhibitors exhibit strong anticancer activity, their clinical use is limited due to severe side effects. Structural analysis of effective VEGFR2 inhibitors guided the design of 4-TCPA, ensuring the retention of Erlotinib’s essential pharmacophoric features for optimal receptor binding. The compound was tested for its anticancer efficacy against A549 (lung cancer), MCF7 (breast cancer), K562 (leukemia), and human normal fibroblast HFF2 cells. 4-TCPA demonstrated inhibitory activity in nearly all assays, with IC50 concentrations of 35.70 μM for A549, 19.50 μM for MCF7, 5.95 μM for K562, and 135.2 μM for HFF2. Further in vitro biological evaluations examined its mechanistic impact on EGFR, mTOR, Akt, MAPK, and PIK3CA. Apoptotic activity was assessed through Annexin V/PI double staining and caspase-3/7 activation, confirming its ability to induce both early and late apoptosis. Additionally, real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) was conducted to evaluate the expression levels of Akt, mTOR, MAPK, PIK3CA, EGFR, and VEGFR2. Results showed that 4-TCPA down-regulates these targets in a time-dependent manner, triggering apoptosis across all tested cancer cell lines. The study suggests that 4-TCPA may serve as a promising anticancer agent due to its targeted VEGFR2 inhibition and apoptotic induction, warranting further investigation. These findings support the potential of 4-TCPA as an effective treatment strategy for various cancers.
Deep learning model for grading carcinoma with Gini-based feature selection and linear production-inspired feature fusion
Cerebellar reaching ataxia is exacerbated by timing demands and assistive interaction torques
Optimizing rainfed cropping patterns for economic and environmental sustainability in East Lorestan Iran using GIS and LCA
EIAV encodes an accessory protein that antagonizes the host restriction factor equine tetherin
Equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) is an important model for the study of pathogenesis in lentiviruses. Studies of viral genome organization and replication mechanisms are fundamental to the understanding of virus pathogenicity. In this study, we identified an unique transcript from EIAV in vivo and in vitro by Sanger sequencing and Northern blotting. The transcript contains a complete open reading frame and has length 369 nt. We named the protein encoded by this transcript S4 and demonstrated its expression in EIAV-infected cells. An S4-deficient EIAV infectious clone displayed obviously impaired virion release and attenuated virus replication in vitro, demonstrating that S4 plays a role in the release step of EIAV. The host restriction factor tetherin has broad-spectrum antiviral activity and prevents the release of a wide range of enveloped viruses, including lentiviruses. Here, we demonstrated that S4 enhances the release of the EIAV-like particle by counteracting the equine tetherin (eqTHN). S4 interacts with the eqTHN and sequesters it within intracellular membrane compartments, attenuating eqTHN expression on the cell surface and thereby disrupting its antiviral activity. Further investigation revealed that S4 retains eqTHN in the endoplasmic reticulum and trans-Golgi network through impacting its anterograde transport to the cell surface and may interfere with the posttranslational modification of this membrane protein. Collectively, our findings uncover an accessory protein, S4, of EIAV and reveal its ability to promote virion release by antagonizing the antiviral activity of the host restriction factor tetherin.
Disease burden of bladder cancer in China and the different SDI regions over the world from 1990 to 2021
Cross-correlation-based signal pruning method (CCSPM) for effective signal distortion reduction in massive MIMO communications
Long term proliferation and physiological response of embryogenic callus in Slash pine (Pinus Elliottii Engelm)
Abstract Slash pine (Pinus elliottii Engelm.) is an economically significant tree species valued for its timber and resin production. Establishing a somatic embryogenesis system is essential for the effective utilization of slash pine. This study aims to develop an optimized cultivation system for the long-term proliferation of embryogenic callus (EC) in slash pine. The study used the EC induced from immature zygotic embryos as materials to investigated the effects of plant growth regulators (PGRs), subculture cycles, and subculture durations on the EC proliferation coefficient and the number of somatic embryos (SE). Additionally, we monitored the changes in the proliferation coefficient, the number of SE, and physiological and biochemical indicators of EC during long-term proliferation. The EC proliferation coefficient reached its highest value (7.65) when the DCR medium was supplemented with 1.0 mg/L 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 1.0 mg/L 6-benzylaminopurine (6-BA). Refreshing the culture medium every 14 days, EC maintaining proliferation coefficient (4.05) and embryogenic potential for approximately three year (980 d), but the number of somatic embryos was low and significantly declined after 140 days.The additional supplementation of 1.0 mg/L 2- (1-naphthyl) acetic acid (NAA) to the original proliferation medium further enhanced SE induction, achieving a maximum of 143.25 SE per gram of EC. Under the optimal proliferation culture conditions, EC was subcultured for 392 days, with no significant differences observed in the proliferation coefficient and the number of SE. The results of correlation and path analyses between physiological indicators and proliferation coefficient indicate that the proliferation coefficient of EC is mainly related to the content of storage substances (starch and soluble sugars) and the activities of redox-related enzymes (POD and CAT). The optimized long-term proliferation culture system for EC in slash pine provides an efficient approach to enhance the production of EC and SE.
Efficient curve fitting with penalized B-splines for oceanographic and ecological applications
Incidence of palliative treatment among breast cancer patients undergoing neoadjuvant therapy: an analysis of the Brazilian public health system
Abstract Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women globally, including Brazil. This study assesses neoadjuvant treatment patterns, the impact of new therapies, and factors determining palliative care for patients who failed initial treatments. A historical cohort study using secondary data from DATASUS (2008–2017) focused on women aged 18–90 with stages II and III breast cancer who received neoadjuvant treatment. Data on chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, and anti-HER2 treatment were analyzed. The Palliative Treatment Rate (PTR) was calculated by cross-referencing neoadjuvant treatment records with subsequent palliative care records, indicating cases where the initial curative intent was not achieved. The study included 71,181 patients, with a mean age of 51.5 years. Most were diagnosed at Stage III (85%). Anti-HER2 therapy was introduced in 2013, with 10.5% receiving it. The 5-year PTR decreased from 44% (2008–2012) to 36% (2013–2017). The combination of chemotherapy, endocrine therapy, and anti-HER2 therapy had the lowest PTR. Logistic regression identified younger age, higher histological grade, Stage III disease, and compromised lymph nodes as factors increasing the likelihood of needing palliative care, while HER2 positivity and hormonal therapy reduced it. Regional disparities were observed, with patients from the Southeast more likely to receive palliative care. Early diagnosis and access to anti-HER2 therapy significantly reduce palliative care needs. Socio-economic and regional disparities in treatment highlight the need for equitable access to diagnostic tools and therapies to improve survival outcomes in Brazil’s public healthcare system.
Flexible carbon-fiber/g-C3N4 nanosheet array as recyclable photocatalysts and photoelectrocatalysts
Identification of clusters related to programmed cell death and potential prognostic biomarkers for immunotherapy response in endometrial cancer
Dopaminergic and serotonergic genetic variants predict actions and expectations of cooperation and punishment
Abstract Genetic variants in dopaminergic and serotonergic pathways have been linked to individual differences in social behavior. In this study, we investigated the relationship between eight allelic variants within these pathways and both behavior and beliefs in 99 participants playing an online Public Goods Game (PGG) with and without punishment. Our results show that individuals with the 5-HTTLPR L/L genotype contributed less and had lower expectations of others’ contributions in the absence of punishment; the 5-HTR1B-rs13212041 T/T genotype was associated with lower expectations of antisocial and spiteful punishment; the COMT-rs4680 A/A (Met/Met) genotype was linked to lower expectations of contributions in the presence of punishment. These findings suggest that specific alleles modulate both cooperative behavior and social expectations, suggesting a genetic contribution to individual variability in responses to social dilemmas.
Women climate scientists are connected, productive, and successful but have shorter careers
Scholars have long been concerned about gender representation in scientific research but there has been little work on gender differences in participation and performance in climate science, a field that engages with both male-majority disciplines (e.g., geosciences, engineering) and female-majority disciplines (e.g., life sciences, medical science). This has implications for both gender equity and viewpoint representation. Sampling over 400,000 publications and a similar number of authors, we examine gender differences in several scholarly outcomes including publication count, career survival, coauthor gender, journal status, and mean citation count. We find men and women are similarly productive, successful, and connected, though women have shorter research careers and thus fewer papers. We also find gender homophily effects in collaboration, but no evidence of gender bias in peer review.