Search

Bi4Br4 is a material rich in intriguing topological properties. Monolayer Bi4Br4 film exhibits helical edge states characteristic of a quantum spin Hall insulator, while bulk Bi4Br4 represents a higher-order topological insulator with hinge states. However, direct exfoliation from single crystal can only obtain thin nanowires due to the weak van der Waals forces between Bi4Br4 chains, which limits its optical analysis and application, while the growth of Bi4Br4 thin films is also full of challenges due to the extremely narrow growth temperature range and the accurate control of the BiBr3 flux. Here, we reported the controlled growth of α-Bi4Br4 thin films on intrinsic silicon substrates using molecular beam epitaxy. The growth temperature, BiBr3 flux, and the flux ratio of Bi and BiBr3 were accurately controlled. Then, the morphology, composition, and bonding of the prepared films were investigated using atomic force microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The growth of large, uniform thin films provides an ideal material platform for studying the physical properties of Bi4Br4. Additionally, we utilized Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy to explore the film's infrared characteristics, revealing strong absorption in the low frequency range due to the high proportion of one-dimensional topological edge states and laying the groundwork for further exploration of its potential applications in the optoelectronic field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For a continuous‐time switched linear system, the spectral abscissa, that is, the maximum Lyapunov exponent, essentially characterizes the worst‐case asymptotic divergence or convergence rate under arbitrary switching. In this study, based on the n×(n+2)$$ n\times \left(n+2\right) $$ generalized coordinate transformation method, a computational algorithm is proposed to get the performance estimation of the switched linear system under arbitrary switching by estimating the spectral abscissa of the system. Simulation examples are presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme, which gives a better estimation of the spectral abscissa than the existing results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the transport mechanism is crucial for developing inhibitors that block allergen absorption and transport and prevent allergic reactions. However, the process of how beta-conglycinin, the primary allergen in soybeans, crosses the intestinal mucosal barrier remains unclear. The present study indicated that the transport of beta-conglycinin hydrolysates by IPEC-J2 monolayers occurred in a time- and quantity-dependent manner. The beta-conglycinin hydrolysates were absorbed into the cytoplasm of IPEC-J2 monolayers, while none were detected in the intercellular spaces. Furthermore, inhibitors such as methyl-beta-cyclodextrin (MβCD) and chlorpromazine (CPZ) significantly suppressed the absorption and transport of beta-conglycinin hydrolysates. Of particular interest, sodium cromoglycate (SCG) exhibited a quantity-dependent nonlinear suppression model on the absorption and transport of beta-conglycinin hydrolysates. In conclusion, beta-conglycinin crossed the IPEC-J2 monolayers through a transcellular pathway, involving both clathrin-mediated and caveolae-dependent endocytosis mechanisms. SCG suppressed the absorption and transport of beta-conglycinin hydrolysates by the IPEC-J2 monolayers by a quantity-dependent nonlinear model via clathrin-mediated and caveolae-dependent endocytosis. These findings provide promising targets for both the prevention and treatment of soybean allergies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the role of body fat percentage (BFP) changes in diabetes remission (DR) and the association between baseline body composition and its changes after bariatric surgery. Methods: We analyzed 203 patients with type 2 diabetes who underwent Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass. Body composition was measured using a gold‐standard‐derived predictive equation and magnetic resonance imaging. Body composition changes were calculated as 100 × (baseline value – follow‐up value)/baseline value. We verified the results in a laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy cohort with 311 patients. Results: Compared with non‐remission patients in the Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass cohort, those who achieved DR showed a higher baseline fat‐free mass index (FFMI) and experienced the most significant changes in BFP (p < 0.001). In comparative analyses, BFP changes were significantly better than BMI changes in identifying short‐ and long‐term DR. Linear regression analysis identified FFMI as the most significant baseline variable correlated with BFP changes (p < 0.001). Baseline BMI was positively correlated with changes in BFP but negatively correlated with changes in FFMI. These findings were replicated in the laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy cohort. Conclusions: BFP changes determine DR after bariatric surgery, and baseline FFMI is crucial for BFP changes. A low initial BMI is associated with a smaller BFP reduction and greater FFMI loss after bariatric surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soybean allergen entering the body is the initial step to trigger intestinal allergic response. However, it remains unclear how glycinin, the major soybean allergen, is transported through the intestinal mucosal barrier. The objective of this study was to elucidate the pathway and mechanism of glycinin hydrolysate transport through the intestinal epithelial barrier using IPEC‐J2 cell model. Purified glycinin was digested by in vitro static digestion model. The pathway and mechanism of glycinin hydrolysates transport through intestinal epithelial cells were investigated by cellular transcytosis assay, cellular uptake assay, immunoelectron microscopy and endocytosis inhibition assay. The glycinin hydrolysates were transported across IPEC‐J2 cell monolayers in a time/dose‐dependent manner following the Michaelis equation. Immunoelectron microscopy showed a number of glycinin hydrolysates appeared in the cytoplasm, but no glycinin hydrolysates were observed in the intercellular space of IPEC‐J2 cells. The inhibitors, colchicine, chlorpromazine and methyl‐β‐cyclodextrin, significantly inhibited the cellular uptake of glycinin hydrolysates. The glycinin hydrolysates crossed IPEC‐J2 cell monolayers through the transcellular pathway. Both clathrin‐ and caveolae‐dependent endocytosis were involved in the epithelial uptake of the hydrolysates. These findings provided potential targets for the prevention and treatment of soybean allergy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate and rapid detection of the causative agent of a disease is of great importance in controlling the spread of the disease. This work developed a biosensor with the Bi 2 Te 3 family of topological insulators for detection of the SARS-CoV-2 virulence factor. The Bi 2 Te 3 family is a three-dimensional topological insulator material with topologically protected surface states; the presence of these surface states facilitates charge transfer between the electrode and electrolyte interface. Compared with the detection performance of Bi 2 Se 3 , BiSbTeSe 2 , and a trivial insulator like Sb 2 Se 3 , Bi 2 Te 3 exhibits superior characteristics. A Bi 2 Te 3 electrochemical detection platform is utilized to fabricate a sensor that can detect SARS-CoV-2 DNA, RNA, and antigen for label-free target detection. The concentration range of DNA detection by the biosensor using Bi 2 Te 3 is between 1.0 × 10 -15 and 1.0 × 10 -10 M, and the detection limit can reach 1.41 × 10 -16 M. Furthermore, it exhibits excellent selectivity and maintains good stability even after being stored for 14 days. This study provides a new way to apply topological insulator materials in the field of biosensors and use their unique electronic structure to improve the accuracy and speed of disease detection and diagnosis.

Intermittent fasting (IF) plays a critical role in mitigating obesity, yet the precise biological mechanisms require further elucidation. Here Orosomucoid 2 (Orm2) is identified as an IF-induced hepatokine that stimulates adipose browning. IF induced Orm2 expression and secretion from the liver through peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα). In adipose tissue, Orm2 bound to glycoprotein 130/interleukin 23 receptor (GP130/IL23R) and promoted adipose browning through the activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (p38-MAPK). In obese mice, Orm2 led to a significant induction of adipose tissue browning and subsequent weight loss, an effect that is not replicated by a mutant variant of Orm2 deficient in GP130/IL23R binding capability. Crucially, genetic association studies in humans identified an obesity-associated Orm2 variant (D178E), which shows decreased GP130/IL23R binding and impaired browning capacity in mice. Overall, the research identifies Orm2 as a promising therapeutic target for obesity, mediating adipose browning through the GP130/IL23R-p38 signalling pathway., (© 2024 The Author(s). Advanced Science published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)