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In this study, the rheological and textural properties and water-holding capacity of pea 7S and 11S globulin gels induced by high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) at 100–500 MPa for 10 min were measured. The major interaction forces maintaining gel morphology were determined by dissolving the gels in different solvents. The microscopic structure of the gels was observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results showed that after HHP treatment at 300 MPa, pea 7S and 11S globulin solutions gradually turned into gels. When the pressure continued to increase to 500 MPa, the formed gels exhibited higher strength, harder texture and higher water-holding capacity. The 11S globulin had weaker gel-forming ability, but higher water-holding capacity (100%) compared with 7S. Furthermore, the overall water-holding capacity and gel strength of 7S–11S mixed gels (in mass ratios of 1:2, 1:1 and 2:1) were significantly improved compared with those of the neat gels. The major forces that maintain the gel structure were hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interaction, followed by disulfide bonds and electrostatic interaction. Therefore, by changing HHP conditions, the strength and texture of pea globulin gels could be controlled.

To meet the ever-increasing demand for the continuous development of human society and carbon neutralization, biomass has been demonstrated to be a pluripotent and powerful alternative. Regardless of the low cost, natural abundance, renewability, and biodegradability of biomass, the role of its unique (bio)chemical features in contributing to the on-demand regulatable structure and widely applicable versatility of the products has sparked growing interest. Besides, sustainable production from biomass to smart materials is believed to be one of the key strategies to achieve the global goals of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality. This review will focus on the green engineering of diverse biomass feedstocks for different applications, and the proposed outline is as follows: First, renewable biomass feedstocks of different hierarchies are introduced. Second, green preparations of biomass-derived materials are systematically categorized from the viewpoint of the structural orientation of the biomass, and the correlation between the biomass's structural features and the sustainability assessments of the preparation process is also discussed. Third, the applications in electrochemical energy storage, biomedical engineering, electronics, and sensing which feature their smart functionality were comprehensively summarized. Fourth, the advantages and the limitations of biomass-derived materials are qualitatively evaluated. Finally, future prospects and directions on the sustainable production of materials with smart functionality from biomass will be presented. We endeavor to offer comparative and balanced views, as well as insights into which biomass is particularly advantageous for specific intelligent applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexible, wearable pressure sensors offer numerous benefits, including superior sensing capabilities, a lightweight and compact design, and exceptional conformal properties, making them highly sought after in various applications including medical monitoring, human–computer interactions, and electronic skins. Because of their excellent characteristics, such as simple fabrication, low power consumption, and short response time, capacitive pressure sensors have received widespread attention. As a flexible polymer material, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is widely used in the preparation of dielectric layers for capacitive pressure sensors. The Young's modulus of the flexible polymer can be effectively decreased through the synergistic application of sacrificial template and laser ablation techniques, thereby improving the functionality of capacitive pressure sensors. In this study, a novel sensor was introduced. Its dielectric layer was developed through a series of processes, including the use of a sacrificial template method using NaCl microparticles and subsequent CO2 laser ablation. This porous PDMS dielectric layer, featuring an array of holes, was then sandwiched between two flexible electrodes to create a capacitive pressure sensor. The sensor demonstrates a sensitivity of 0.694 kPa−1 within the pressure range of 0–1 kPa and can effectively detect pressures ranging from 3 Pa to 200 kPa. The sensor demonstrates stability for up to 500 cycles, with a rapid response time of 96 ms and a recovery time of 118 ms, coupled with a low hysteresis of 6.8%. Furthermore, our testing indicates that the sensor possesses limitless potential for use in detecting human physiological activities and delivering signals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2004, the equine-origin H3N8 canine influenza virus (CIV) first caused an outbreak with lethal cases in racing greyhounds in Florida, USA, and then spread to domestic dogs nationwide. Although transmission of this canine virus to humans has not been reported, it is important to evaluate its zoonotic potential because of the high contact opportunities between companion dogs and humans. To gain insight into the interspecies transmissibility of H3N8 CIV, we tested its adaptability to human respiratory A549 cells through successive passages. We found that CIV acquired high growth properties in these cells mainly through mutations in surface glycoproteins, such as hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). Our reverse genetics approach revealed that HA2-K82E, HA2-R163K, and NA-S18L mutations were responsible for the increased growth of CIV in human cells. Molecular analyses revealed that both HA2 mutations altered the optimum pH for HA membrane fusion activity and that the NA mutation changed the HA-NA functional balance. These findings suggest that H3N8 CIV could evolve into a human pathogen with pandemic potential through a small number of mutations, thereby posing a threat to public health in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dissolution behavior of the main elements of fly ash in acid-base systems. Fly ash mainly leaches aluminum-iron elements in the acid system, and the leaching rate of iron is much higher than that of aluminum. Under alkaline conditions, silicon-aluminum elements are mainly dissolved, and the leaching rate of silicon elements is much higher than that of aluminum elements. Silicon aluminum exists in the amorphous phase state, and the extraction rate of silicon aluminum is low by acid leaching and alkali solution alone, and the use of high temperature melting combined with acid leaching and alkaline solution process can make silicon aluminum bond break and improve the element extraction rate. The types of fly ash synthetic flocculants are summarized, and they are divided into inorganic polymer flocculants and inor- ganic-organic hybrid polymer flocculants according to the chemical components of fly ash to prepare flocculants, among which inorganic polymer flocculants are divided into monoacids, diacids and polyacids according to the number and types of acids contained in their anion series, and anionic acids are mainly silicate, sulfate, chloride ion and phosphate. The development of fly ash synthetic flocculants and the problems to be solved urgently are prospected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent advancements in photoacoustic (PA) imaging have leveraged reversibly photoswitchable chromophores, known for their dual absorbance states, to enhance imaging sensitivity through differential techniques. Yet, their deployment in tumor imaging has faced obstacles in achieving targeted delivery with high efficiency and specificity. Addressing this challenge, we introduce innovative protein assemblies, DrBphP-CBD, by genetically fusing a photosensory module from Deinococcus radiodurans bacterial phytochrome (DrBphP) with a collagen-binding domain (CBD). These protein assemblies form sub-100-nanometer structures composed of 24 DrBphP dimers and 12 CBD trimers, presenting 24 protein subunits. Their affinity for collagens, combined with impressive photoswitching contrast, markedly improves PA imaging precision. In various tumor models, intravenous administration of DrBphP-CBD has demonstrated enhanced tumor targeting and retention, augmenting contrast in PA imaging by minimizing background noise. This strategy underscores the clinical potential of DrBphP-CBD as PA contrast agents, propelling photoswitchable chromoproteins to the forefront of precise cancer diagnosis.

Background: Migraine risk factors are associated with migraine susceptibility, yet their mechanisms are unclear. Evidence suggests a role for inflammatory proteins and immune cells in migraine pathogenesis. This study aimed to examine the inflammo-immune association between eight migraine risk factors and the disorder., Methods: This study utilized inverse variance weighted (IVW) method and colocalization analysis to explore potential causal relationships between eight migraine risk factors, migraine, 731 immune cells, and 91 circulating inflammatory proteins. Mediation Mendelian randomization (MR) was further used to confirm the mediating role of circulating inflammatory proteins and immune cells between the eight migraine risk factors and migraine., Results: Migraine risk factors are linked to 276 immune cells and inflammatory proteins, with cigarettes smoked per day strongly co-localized with CD33-HLA DR+ cells. Despite no co-localization, 23 immune cells/inflammatory proteins relate to migraine. Depression, all anxiety disorders, and sleep apnea are correlated with migraine, and all anxiety disorders are supported by strong co-localization evidence. However, the mediating effect of inflammatory proteins and immune cells between eight migraine risk factors and migraine has not been confirmed., Conclusion: We elucidate the potential causal relationships between eight migraine risk factors, migraine, immune cells, and inflammatory proteins, enhancing our understanding of the molecular etiology of migraine pathogenesis from an inflammatory-immune perspective., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Zhao, Chen, Luo, Gong, Li and Zhao.)

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is largely attributed to tobacco smoke exposure. Investigating how airway epithelial cells functionally adapt to tobacco smoke is crucial for understanding the pathogenesis of COPD. The present study was to set up an in vitro model using primary murine airway epithelial cells to mimic the real-life impact of tobacco smoke. Unlike established cell lines, primary cells retain more in vivo-like properties, including growth patterns, aging, and differentiation. These cells exhibit a sensitive inflammatory response and efficient differentiation, thus closely representing physiological conditions. In this model, primary murine airway epithelial cells were cultured for 28 days under an air-liquid interface with an optimal concentration of cigarette smoke extract (CSE), which led to the transformation of a monolayer of undifferentiated cells into a pseudostratified columnar epithelium, indicative of CSE acclimation. Comprehensive multi-omics analyses were then applied to elucidate the mechanisms by which CSE influences the differentiation of basal airway cells. These insights provide a deeper understanding of the cellular processes underpinning COPD progression in response to tobacco smoke exposure.

Acupuncture has demonstrated positive efficacy in the treatment of brain disorders. However, significant challenges lie in integrating acupuncture with modern technologies, promoting its clinical application in treating brain disorders, elucidating the mechanisms underlying acupuncture's preventive and therapeutic effects on brain disorders, and accelerating the pace of translational development in acupuncture medicine. This paper briefly outlines the current research status, challenges, and potential future directions in acupuncture treatment for brain disorders, aiming to provide essential insights for the modernization and development of acupuncture in the treatment of brain disorders.

Colloidal calcium phosphate (CCP) confers a modifiable structure to micellar casein (MC), which endows it with potential advantages as a delivery carrier. However, it is difficult to achieve multipattern release of the core material in the intestine with MC as a single wall. In this study, we prepared an anthocyanin-casein-based delivery system utilizing MC with different freezing degrees as the wall material with the objective of achieving the controlled release of anthocyanin as the model core in the intestine. The results showed that freezing could significantly reduce the CCP level up to 50%. Static in vitro simulated digestion with the addition of exogenous Ca 2+ showed that the designed delivery system exhibited low anthocyanin release (15%-35%) in the gastric tract. The pattern of release in the intestine depended on the CCP dissociation degree. High and low dissociation degrees corresponded to slow release (from 15% to 65% within 2 h) and burst release (from 35% to 90% within 5 min), respectively. WAXS/SAXS analysis revealed that exogenous serum Ca 2+ inherent in simulated gastric fluid and endogenous serum Ca 2+ induced by CCP dissociation was synergistically involved in the reconstitution of CCP-mediated nanoclusters and large aggregates. The freezing degree of MC determined the endogenous serum Ca 2+ level, which influenced the gastric aggregation behavior of wall MC and ultimately led to a fairly different gastrointestinal release behavior of anthocyanins.