Peptide-based functional biomaterials have attracted widespread interest due to their inherent biocompatibility, biodegradability, and structural tunability. Among functional biomaterials, piezoelectric materials are particularly valuable for developing self-powered biodevices in biomedical applications. However, peptide-based piezoresponsive systems remain largely underexplored. In this study, we present a chromophore-conjugated peptide (PEP-A) that self-assembles into nanomaterials exhibiting either piezo-active or inactive states, with the functional behaviour closely linked to their chiroptical properties under different solvent conditions. Through a comprehensive investigation involving spectroscopy, microscopy, and atomistic simulations, we uncover how cosolvent-induced modulation of the self-assembly process co-governs chiroptical and piezoelectric properties. Interestingly, PEP-A forms elongated nanofibers in pure water that are both chiroptically and piezoelectrically inactive. However, the introduction of a minimal amount of cosolvent (1% DMSO or 1% DMF) triggers the emergence of supramolecular chirality alongside a significant piezoresponse, revealing a direct correlation between macroscopic chirality and piezoelectric functionality. Our findings highlight how subtle changes in the assembly environment can drive profound shifts in material properties, offering a powerful strategy to design responsive piezoelectric biomaterials. This study provides a novel approach to designing next-generation, responsive, peptide-based piezoelectric biomaterials for biomedical and bioelectronic applications.
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is one of the most pervasive environmental threats to biological interfaces, driving protein denaturation, structural weakening, and oxidative stress that collectively deteriorate the quality of skin and hair. Despite their widespread use, conventional UV filters are hindered by poor coatability, photoinstability, and safety concerns, underscoring the need for fundamentally new protection strategies. Herein, we report a bioderived melanoidin/tannic acid (MD/TA) nanocomplex that self-assembles into a robust photoprotective coating through synergistic interactions with polyphenols. By leveraging the intrinsic UVA absorption of melanoidin, the broad-spectrum UV shielding of tannic acid, radical-scavenging activity, and interfacial binding, the MD/TA complex forms uniform, durable, and antioxidant-active layers on hair fibers. Beyond surface protection, the coating reprograms oxidative stress responses by suppressing ROS accumulation, thereby restoring cuticle integrity and enhancing tensile resilience. At the molecular level, it activates endogenous antioxidant pathways (SOD2, CAT) while attenuating apoptosis and inflammatory cascades (TNF-α, IL-1β) in the presence of UV irradiation. This work establishes a biocompatible, multifunctional photoprotective platform that transcends the limitations of conventional filters by combining durable adhesion with molecular-level antioxidant reprogramming. Thus, the MD/TA nanocomplex exemplifies a synergistic, bio-inspired strategy for long-lasting hair protection against UV-induced oxidative damage.
Multivariate assessment profiles contain two conceptually distinct sources of variation: overall level and profile shape. Existing approaches recover some aspects of this structure, but none jointly establishes the replicability of latent pattern dimensions and provides a principled, population-referenced summary of person profile differentiation independent of overall level. We introduce the Aggregated Latent Profile Index (ALPI), a variance-weighted Euclidean distance that quantifies the degree to which an individual's profile departs from a flat population reference within a bootstrap-validated latent profile space. ALPI is derived from the Aggregated Latent Profile Space (ALPS), a framework that combines parallel analysis with bootstrap stability diagnostics - principal angles between subspaces and Tucker's congruence coefficients - to identify replicable latent pattern dimensions, then assembles the retained dimensions into a K-dimensional latent space through singular value decomposition, into which individuals and variables are jointly projected. In a simulation benchmark, ALPS recovered the known four-factor population structure as three replicable ipsatized pattern dimensions, confirming that the pipeline performs as intended when the true structure is known. In an application to normative WAIS-IV data (n = 900), ALPS identified a stable three-dimensional pattern space, and ALPI distinguished individuals with identical Full-Scale IQ - ranging from the 7th to the 85th percentile - on the basis of their ipsatized subtest configurations. ALPI provides assessment researchers and clinicians with a single, measurement-principled index of person profile differentiation that is grounded in replicable latent structure and independent of overall score level.
γδ T cells possess significant anti-tumor potential; however, the expression of immune checkpoint molecules on tumor cells often leads to functional exhaustion of these T cells, resulting in variable outcomes in clinical trials. Targeting these immune checkpoints may alleviate the inhibitory effects of the tumor microenvironment on γδ T cell functionality. In this study, we developed a PD-L1-targeting peptide conjugated with maleimide, facilitating self-assembly on the surface of γδ T cells to form fibrous structures via Michael addition reactions with thiol groups on the cell membrane. Our findings demonstrate that this peptide effectively binds and self-assembles without impairing the proliferation or effector functions of γδ T cells. Notably, peptide-modified γδ T cells exhibited enhanced cytotoxic activity against tumor cells in vitro and significantly inhibited tumor growth in vivo. Furthermore, these modified γδ T cells promoted the infiltration of CD8+ T cells and M1 macrophages into the tumor microenvironment. These results indicate that peptide-modified γδ T cells not only inhibit tumor progression but also mitigate the suppressive effects of the tumor microenvironment, thereby enhancing the synergistic anti-tumor responses of other immune cells. This research presents a straightforward and effective strategy for improving the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and augmenting the anti-tumor efficacy of γδ T cells.
The current special issue of the Revue Médicale de Liège assembles 21 articles, which all are devoted to one of the different aspects of One Health, an emergent polymorphic concept. Taken together, these contributions illustrate the diversity of this concept that requires a coordinated interdisciplinary approach to tackle major challenges to which our modern society is confronted. Ce numéro thématique de la Revue Médicale de Liège propose 21 articles, tous consacrés à un des aspects de «Une Seule santé» («One Health»), un concept émergent et polymorphe. Cet ensemble illustre l’aspect multifacette de ce concept, qui requiert une approche interdisciplinaire coordonnée pour répondre aux défis majeurs auxquels est exposée notre société moderne.
The photoluminescence of photoacids in supramolecular assemblies provides crucial insights into proton transfer (PT) processes within biologically relevant confinement. In this work, we present a strategy to activate intermolecular excited-state PT within the hydrophobic cavities of cyclodextrin-based nanotubes. Activation is achieved using a specifically designed amphoteric emitter which undergoes a pKa inversion in the photoexcited state. Despite this photophysical behavior, intramolecular PT does not occur due to the spatial separation between the proton donor and acceptor sites in the compound. However, in the presence of γ-cyclodextrin, the photoacid assembles into guest pairs, enabling pre-organized PT between neighboring molecules. The effects of confinement on photostability, emission lifetime, and quantum yield indicate a mechanistic shift from excited-state protolytic dissociation to intermolecular excited-state PT. Spectroscopic investigation of the assembly mechanism and solvent isotope effect further supports the role of a template effect, reminiscent of enzymatic activation, in facilitating PT in the excited state.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) assembles its viral envelope at the endoplasmic reticulum-Golgi intermediate compartment (ERGIC), yet the minimal molecular requirements for forming a stable viral envelope remain unclear. Here, we used coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations to systematically examine how protein and lipid compositions and protein orientation influence membrane remodeling during viral envelope formation. Starting from bicelle membrane patches, we compared lipid-only systems and membranes containing the matrix (M) and spike (S) proteins under different lipid environments and orientations. Lipid-only membranes closed stochastically, whereas systems containing either M or S proteins reliably formed vesicles but failed to establish correct membrane topology. In contrast, systems containing both M and S proteins in heterogeneous ERGIC-like lipid mixtures consistently produced stable vesicles with correct topology. Mechanistic analyses revealed that protein orientation modulates membrane curvature generation and cholesterol redistribution, while persistent M-S contacts organize protein positioning during closure. Disrupting any of these interactions resulted in failed closure or severely deformed structures. Together, these results support an obligate-synergy model in which three interaction classes─M-S protein-protein contacts, M-lipid interactions, and S-lipid interactions─cooperate to drive robust coronavirus envelope assembly. These findings identify minimal physical requirements for viral envelope formation and provide mechanistic insights that may guide the rational design of coronavirus virus-like particle (VLP) assembly systems.
Mitochondrial genomes are widely used in evolutionary studies due to their maternal inheritance, high mutation rate, and utility for inferring phylogeographic and phylogenetic relationships. The Neotropical frog genus, Pristimantis (Anura: Craugastoridae), with over 620 described species, represents the most species-rich anuran genera in the world, yet no mitogenome assemblies are available from this group. Here we use long-read DNA sequencing to assemble the complete mitogenome of Pristimantis bogotensis, a high-elevation Andean frog endemic to the Eastern Cordillera of Colombia. This mitogenomic characterization represents a valuable resource within this group of direct-developing anurans. The complete mitochondrial genome of P. bogotensis was sequenced using Oxford Nanopore Technologies and assembled de novo. The mitogenome assembly was unusually large at 19,565 bp, yet exhibited the structure typical of vertebrate mitochondrial genomes, with a GC content of 40.2% and containing 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNA genes, 1 light-strand origin of replication, the control region containing the heavy-strand origin of replication and D-loop, and 22 tRNA genes. Notably, the tRNA-Cys lacked the D-arm. A phylogenetic analysis of previously published complete and partial anuran mitogenomes confirmed the placement of P. bogotensis within Pristimantis and supported a previous claim that the loss of the D-arm in tRNA-Cys might serve as a potential synapomorphy for this speciose clade. To our knowledge, this is the first complete mitochondrial genome reported for the family Craugastoridae, and represents an important resource for phylogeography, metabarcoding, and phylogenetic studies in frogs, with direct applications in conservation and taxonomy.
Stem cell-based models resembling murine blastocysts represent a useful system to investigate subsequent developmental processes. While existing cell lines derived from epiblast and trophectoderm can be aggregated to form 'blastoids', some previously tested in vitro cultured extraembryonic endoderm cells tended to progress to later stages of development, so integrated inefficiently into blastoids. We attempted to capture the precursor population for extraembryonic endoderm in vitro by reproducing the mechanical environment of the in vivo peri-implantation embryo as closely as possible. We investigated expression of candidate cell adhesion receptor integrins in the blastocyst inner cell mass, and from this information we assembled an extracellular matrix intended to support primitive endoderm growth by promoting signalling pathways responsible for specification of this lineage. In addition, inner cell mass cells from blastocysts were plated on soft or stiff substrates to investigate whether an appropriate mechano-environment could enhance their self-renewal as primitive endoderm in culture. We could expand nascent primitive endoderm cell lines over several passages, which provided a reproducible, albeit short-term, system sufficient to identify some essential requirements for early primitive endoderm expansion and function.
Microtubule acetylation of lysine 40 of α-tubulin is a hallmark of stable microtubules. This luminal modification is catalyzed by α-tubulin acetyltransferase 1 (αTAT1) and reversed by histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6). However, acetylation regulation within the microtubule lumen and the influence of lattice architecture on enzymatic activity remain poorly understood. Here, we reconstitute microtubule acetylation in vitro using purified αTAT1 and HDAC6 on microtubules assembled with defined lattice conformations. We show that αTAT1 outweighs HDAC6 enzymatic activity, but its acetylation efficiency decreases upon microtubule damage. Importantly, αTAT1 efficiently acetylates microtubules with expanded lattices, while compacted lattices impede its activity. Our findings reveal that both microtubule integrity and lattice conformation are critical regulators for αTAT1 enzymatic activity, suggesting that dynamic transitions between compacted/expanded and intact/damaged lattices modulate the acetylation pattern of microtubules in cells.
Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) utilizing self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) as hole transport layers (HTLs) have been successful. However, the integrity of SAMs is frequently compromised by organic solvent-induced erosion during subsequent deposition of perovskite films. To overcome this critical stability issue without increasing fabrication complexity, we propose a novel strategy in which SAM molecules are directly doped into the perovskite precursor solution. The in situ doping approach effectively compensates for solvent erosion, thereby enhancing the SAM coverage, improving the perovskite crystallinity, and significantly reducing the trap density at the buried interface. Consequently, the optimized devices exhibit superior film quality and a more robust HTL/perovskite interface, yielding a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 25.16% and enhanced thermal and light stability. This straightforward approach offers a promising pathway for the development of low-cost, high-performance photovoltaic technologies.
Rice false smut (RFS), caused by Ustilaginoidea virens (teleomorph: Villosiclava virens), has emerged as a major global threat to rice production, causing reductions in yield, grain quality, and market value. Although first reported in India in the 1870s, genomic resources for this pathogen remain limited, constraining efforts toward understanding pathogen diversity and developing effective disease management strategies. In the present study, a high-quality whole-genome sequence of the Eastern Indian U. virens isolate NRRI-FSM-1 was generated and analyzed. Comparative whole-genome sequence (WGS) analysis was further performed using six U. virens strains to investigate genomic diversity, structural variation, and candidate pathogenicity-related features. The assembled NRRI-FSM-1 genome was 36.3 Mb in size, comprising 985 scaffolds with an N50 of 5,781,932 bp. A total of 328,782 variants were identified, including 302,430 SNPs, 13,224 insertions, and 13,128 deletions. Additionally, 5,977 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) and 9,257 protein-coding genes were identified, representing the highest number of predicted genes reported so far among false smut genomes. Comparative genomics revealed substantial genomic diversity among the six strains, including variation in candidate effector repertoires, gene content, and population structure at both global and intra-Indian levels. Notably, significant diversity was observed among Indian strains, indicating considerable genomic variation across geographical regions. These findings expand the pathogenomic resource base for U. virens in India and globally, and provide insights into genome evolution and genetic plasticity in this important rice pathogen. The generated genomic resource establishes a foundation for future studies on pathogen surveillance, virulence mechanisms, and molecular breeding strategies for rice false smut management.
Nickel hydroxide, Ni(OH)2, is regarded as an attractive electrode material for supercapacitors, owing to its high theoretical specific capacitance, low cost, and facile preparation. However, its capacitive performance is limited by low conductivity, sluggish ion diffusion kinetics, and poor structural stability. In this work, we systematically regulate the nanostructure of NiCo2O4/Ni(OH)2 composites, which significantly enhances the capacitive properties of Ni(OH)2, providing a promising energy storage material for photorechargeable devices. The nanorod-structured NiCo2O4 with a high specific surface area facilitates rapid electron transfer and provides abundant sites for Ni(OH)2 loading. Notably, the cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)-induced porous Ni(OH)2 grows continuously and uniformly over the NiCo2O4 framework, allowing more materials to be utilized for energy storage. Furthermore, the robust NiCo2O4 nanorods serve as a structural backbone, effectively suppressing the pulverization and detachment of the Ni(OH)2 during prolonged cycling. The results show that the composite electrodes exhibit a specific capacitance of 2170.22 F/g (301.42 mAh/g) at 1 A/g and a capacitance retention of 82.3% at 20 A/g, with the assembled supercapacitor maintaining 91.94% of its initial capacitance after 6000 cycles at 2 A/g. Benefiting from the improved performance, particularly the rate capability, the resulting photorechargeable supercapacitors achieve a solar-to-electrochemical energy efficiency of 16.21%. This study provides a nanostructure engineering strategy for improving the capacitive behaviors of materials, advancing high-performance photorechargeable devices.
The pursuit of high-energy solid-state lithium metal batteries (ssLMBs) is challenging, due to the sluggish ion transport in solid electrolytes and unstable electrode-electrolyte interfaces. Herein, we showcase regulating Li+ solid-state coordination as a feasible strategy. By constructing Li+ coordination with poly-1,3-dioxolane chains and anions, an in situ polymerized solid electrolyte (PDTE) is obtained with an ionic conductivity of 1.45 mS cm-1, Li+ transference number of 0.67, and high interfacial compatibility. As the bifunctional promoter, it alleviates Li+ hopping barriers via the ligand-field effects and establishes the conformal solid/cathode-electrolyte interfaces. Its derived Li|PDTE|LiFePO4 ssLMBs maintains cycling for over 1000 cycles at 2 C with 92.5% retention in capacity, and at the fast-charging rate up to 20 C. When coupled with a LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 cathode, PDTE further showcases promises in stable operation under a wide voltage window from 2.8 to 4.5 V and a low-temperature range down to -20 °C. Toward practical promises, 5.7 Ah solid-state pouch cells are further assembled with an energy density of 513 Wh kg-1 and the elevated safety for thermal runaway.
The demand for lightweight and high-strength bio-based sustainable structural materials in food is increasing. However, assembling cellulose microfibers (CMFs) into dense bioplastics with high performance remains challenging because of their strong association with water. In this study, a novel sustainable bioplastic (PMHL) was fabricated from phosphorylated CMFs by combining dual crosslinking strategy (organic acid crosslinking and ionic crosslinking) with hot-press molding. This approach markedly accelerated the assembly of phosphorylated CMFs, reducing the dehydration time by 33.8% and the required pressure by 60.0%. Notably, PMHL exhibited outstanding mechanical performance, with a flexural strength of 321.3 MPa and a flexural modulus of 23.1 GPa, representing 5.65 fold and 15.38 fold increases, respectively, compared with commercial petroleum-based plastics. In addition, PMHL showed good thermal stability, with a coefficient of thermal expansion of only 5 × 10-6 K-1, which was advantageous relative to cellulose-based materials. The limiting oxygen index (LOI) of PMHL reached 48.4%, indicating its classification as a difficult-to-ignite material. Compared with the cellulose source, the LOI of PMHL was increased by 2.1 fold, which could be attributed to the dual-crosslinking strategy that promotes the formation of graphitic carbon in the char residue. In addition, PMHL exhibited partial natural biodegradation over a period of 70 d. Given its functionality, processability, and sustainability, PMHL is expected to be a promising candidate to replace conventional petroleum-based plastics.
We introduce RNA-DNA fusomers, a new class of chemically synthesized oligonucleotides that combine the versatile properties of RNA and DNA within a single sequence and self-assemble into higher-order functional structures via a simple one-pot annealing reaction. This hybrid platform allows precise customization with therapeutic nucleic acids, offering tunable physicochemical, mechanical, and immunological properties, cost-effective production, and the capacity to integrate biological functionalities intrinsic to both RNA and DNA. The modular architecture of fusomers enables straightforward optimization for diverse biomedical applications, including gene silencing, anti-inflammatory therapy, anticoagulation, antibacterial activity, and protein biosensing. We demonstrate efficient delivery and intracellular modulation by fusomers in multiple model systems, including human peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from healthy human donors and 3D organ-on-a-chip models. Molecular dynamics simulations further elucidate the structural behavior of fusomers and their intended interactions with protein targets. Collectively, these findings position fusomers as a next-generation therapeutic platform with broad transformative potential.
A facile synthesis of a rigid fully sp2-hybridized spheriphane C48H30 is reported. Starting from isophthalaldehyde and 2'-bromoacetophenone, a precursor containing six aldehyde groups was synthesized in four steps, which was further assembled into the spheriphane structure by three intramolecular McMurry reactions. Due to the orthogonally arranged alkenes and o-phenylene moieties, this spheriphane has the potential to be developed as a novel building block for framework materials.
Suppressing broadband stray light remains a persistent obstacle in advanced optical instrumentation, where conventional blackening treatments often fall short in spectral range, surface conformity, or substrate compatibility. Here we report a fabrication approach that directly forms parabolic-shaped microstructures on a blackout-ink coating through self-assembled microsphere mask etching. The process is governed by a time-dependent shadowing evolution around the microspheres, which enables continuous tuning of the sidewall curvature-a structural parameter that is difficult to access using conventional micro/nanofabrication and emerges as a key determinant of optical attenuation. The method requires only spray-coating of the ink followed by dry etching and applies to the surfaces of glass, metal, polymer, and other engineering materials. Uniform microstructure formation is maintained across planar and curved surfaces without lithography or substrate-dependent optimization. The parabolic-shaped structures yield an average reflectance 0.89% over 300-1700 nm, enabled by continuous refractive-index grading and efficient photon trapping associated with the controlled sidewall profile. This work establishes a practical route for producing broadband ultra-black surfaces on real optical components while revealing a previously unrecognized mechanism linking microsphere-mediated morphological evolution to macroscopic optical suppression. The approach offers a straightforward and broadly applicable pathway for improving stray-light management in precision metrology, imaging, and spaceborne systems.
Hematologic malignancies (HM) are a group of malignant clonal diseases that pose significant treatment challenges and adversely impact patient survival and quality of life. This study aimed to develop a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program specifically for HM patients and to refine it for application in China. A research team comprised of nursing directors, psychology experts, and other professionals was established, and then a literature review was conducted to assemble information needed to develop the MBSR intervention protocol. Following this, a Delphi expert consultation plan, consisting of two rounds of expert consultations, was carried out to evaluate and refine the MBSR intervention protocol. A total of 15 hematologic disease experts and 15 psychology experts participated in the Delphi expert consultations, with a 100% questionnaire response rate achieved in both rounds. The results of the expert consultations indicated a progressive convergence of expert opinions, with calculated Expert Judgment Basis, Familiarity with Content, and Expert Authority Coefficient values of 0.882, 0.809, and 0.846 in the first round, and 0.92, 0.83, and 0.875 in the second round, respectively. The finalized content contains 2 primary, 9 secondary, and 27 tertiary items. This study developed an MBSR intervention program for patients with HM using the Delphi method for evaluation and refinement through expert consultations. The standardized program provides effective psychological support and physiological adjustment strategies for Chinese patients with HM, and offers a practical protocol for integration into clinical and psychosocial oncology care in China.
Perioperative ischemic stroke is uncommon overall but frequent in cardiac, major vascular, and neurosurgical procedures. Existing calculators often exclude these settings and rarely incorporate cerebrovascular disease markers available in routine electronic health record data. We assembled a retrospective cohort of adults undergoing procedures at 3 hospitals (January 2016-June 2024). The model was derived at Rhode Island Hospital (255 850 procedures) and externally validated at 2 affiliated hospitals (The Miriam Hospital/Newport Hospital; 189 095 procedures). Candidate predictors included age, vascular comorbidities, documented carotid stenosis and intracranial atherosclerosis, procedure setting (ambulatory versus inpatient/emergency), and procedural service (including vascular versus nonvascular neurosurgery and open versus interventional cardiovascular procedures). We fit a multivariable logistic regression model with internal validation using 1000 bootstrap resamples and assessed calibration by observed versus predicted risk across deciles. External validation applied locked derivation coefficients without refitting. Strokes occurred in 1235/255 850 derivation procedures (0.48%) and 418/189 095 validation procedures (0.22%). Independent predictors included older age, prior stroke or transient ischemic attack (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 6.66), inpatient/emergency setting (aOR, 4.25 versus ambulatory), vascular neurosurgery (aOR, 6.70 versus general surgery), and open cardiovascular procedures (aOR, 4.14). Discrimination was high (derivation area under the curve, 0.87 [95% CI, 0.87-0.88]; optimism-corrected area under the curve, 0.87; validation area under the curve, 0.86 [95% CI, 0.84-0.87]) with good calibration. Prespecified risk strata (<1%, 1-5%, >5%) separated observed event rates in both cohorts. A pragmatic, electronic health record-derived model integrating procedural category and cerebrovascular disease accurately predicts 30-day periprocedural ischemic stroke across diverse procedures and is available as a web-based calculator to support counseling and targeted prevention.