Search Results (326)

Background/Objectives: Prenatal exposure to famine can lead to lasting health effects through changes in DNA methylation. This study aims to evaluate the impact of prenatal exposure to the Chinses Great Famine (1959–1961) on human epigenome and the subsequent influence on blood lipids. Methods: We conducted an epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) of peripheral blood-based DNA methylation and prenatal exposure to the Chinese Great Famine as well as blood lipids among eight participants exposed to famine and eight sex-matched participants (born ≤ 3 years after the famine). Genome-wide DNA methylation sites were profiled using the Illumina EPIC BeadChip, which covers 850K methylation positions. Results: After EWAS analyses, seven probes in genes C8orf31, ELAVL1, U6, GBA2, SHOX2, SLC1A4, and NPHP4 reached p < 1 × 10⁻⁵. Of these, famine exposure was associated with decreased methylation levels of a GBA2 exonic probe cg08258661 (p = 4.9 × 10⁻⁶). After false discovery rate (FDR) correction, pathway enrichment analyses for genes harboring nominally significant (p < 0.05) probes identified 44 significant pathways (q < 0.05), and 5 pathways were related to lipid metabolism. After FDR correction in each pathway, probes cg02622866 (5’UTR of ATF2, p = 1.09 × 10⁻³), cg07316730 (body of GRB2, p = 1.32 × 10⁻³), and cg01105385 (body of PIK3R1, p = 1.94 × 10⁻³) in the PI2K-Akt signaling pathway were associated with blood LDL-C (q ≤ 0.04); probes cg09180702 (3’UTR of PIGQ, p = 9.21 × 10⁻⁵, and q = 0.04) and cg01421548 (body of HS3ST4, p = 5.23 × 10⁻⁵, and q = 0.01) in the metabolism pathway were associated with blood LDL-C and HDL-C, respectively; In addition, probe cg08460387 (5’UTR of MAN1C1, p = 1.09 × 10⁻⁴, and q = 0.02) in the vesicle-mediated transport pathway was associated with log-transformed blood triglycerides. Conclusions: Through an epigenetic study of the Chinese Great Famine, we identified six novel genes involved in lipid metabolism. Full article

Accurate pressure monitoring is crucial for both human body applications and intelligent robotic arms, particularly for whole-body motion monitoring in human–machine interfaces. Conventional wearable electronic devices, however, often suffer from rigid connections, non-conformity, and inaccuracies. In this study, we propose a high-precision wireless flexible sensor using a poly(vinyl alcohol)/single-walled carbon nanotube/MXene composite as the sensitive material, combined with a randomly distributed wrinkle structure to accurately monitor pressure parameters. To validate the sensor’s performance, it was used to monitor movements of the vocal cords, bent fingers, and human pulse. The sensor exhibits a pressure measurement range of approximately 0–130 kPa and a minimum resolution of 20 Pa. At pressures below 1 kPa, the sensor exhibits high sensitivity, enabling the detection of transient pressure changes. Within the pressure range of 1–10 kPa, the sensitivity decreases to approximately 54.71 kPa⁻¹. Additionally, the sensor demonstrates response times of 12.5 ms at 10 kPa. For wireless signal acquisition, the pressure sensor was integrated with a Bluetooth chip, enabling real-time high-precision pressure monitoring. A deep learning-based training model was developed, achieving over 98% accuracy in motion recognition without additional computing equipment. This advancement is significant for streamlined human motion monitoring systems and intelligent components. Full article

Improving the transient response performance is a critical challenge in low-dropout regulator (LDO) design. This paper proposes a novel on-chip capacitor-less LDO based on substrate technology implemented in an SMIC (Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation) 0.18 μm CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor technology) process. Central to this innovation is a fast response loop between the PMOS driver’s body and gate, which leverages the body effect to enhance driver control without complex bulk-driven techniques. The proposed LDO achieves a quiescent current of 4.5 μA, an efficiency of $88\%$, an overshoot/undershoot of $12\mathrm{mV}/22\mathrm{mV}$, and a settling time of 1.2 μs. The comparative analysis confirms that this structure increases the maximum load current and reduces the loop response time relative to those for conventional LDOs. These results validate a significant improvement in the transient performance, marking an important advance in integrated voltage regulator technology. Full article

Background: In Kazakhstan, there is a notable demand for fat-tail sheep breeds in both domestic and international markets, which has led to the prioritization of certain breeds for breeding purposes. Among the various sheep breeds raised in the desert and semi-desert regions of Kazakhstan, the Kazakh fat-tailed coarse-wool sheep is particularly valued for its production of high-quality mutton. Objective: This study aimed to identify genomic regions and candidate genes associated with body conformation traits in this breed using a genome-wide association study (GWAS). Methods: A GWAS was performed on 295 Kazakh fat-tailed coarse-wool using OvineSNP50 Genotyping BeadChip (Illumina, San Diego, CA, USA). Results: After quality control, 41,912 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) remained for analysis. Several loci showed suggestive associations (p < 1 × 10⁻⁵) with growth traits. These included s23127.1 and OAR6_56152225.1 for live weight; s08490.1 for chest width; s22731.1 for oblique length; OAR10_1168444.1 for cannon bone circumference; and s58409.1 for both rump height and withers height. Candidate genes near these loci encompassed VCAN, NEK1, NRG1, ADAM12, ERBB4, RUNX1T1, and PDGFD. Conclusion: Thus, these genetic variations have the potential to serve as candidate markers for MAS targeting body conformation traits in Kazakh fat-tailed coarse-wool sheep. Full article

Motivated by the rapid development of SERS technology, trace detection of various viruses in the sewage and body fluid environments and accurate positive and negative diagnosis of detection samples can be achieved. However, evaluating the environmental survival ability of viruses based on SERS technology remains an unexplored issue, but holds significant guiding significance for effective epidemic prevention and control as well as inactivation treatment. In this work, Au nanoarrays were fabricated on silicon substrates through a simple Ar ion sputtering route as ultra-sensitive SERS chips. With the synergistic contribution of the “lightning rod” effect and the enhanced coupling surface plasmon caused by the nanoarrays, the ultra-sensitive detection of SARS-CoV-2 S protein with a concentration of 1 pg/mL and SERS enhancement factor of 4.89 × 10⁹ can be achieved. Exploration of the environmental survival ability of the SARS-CoV-2 virus indicates that the Raman activity of SARS-CoV-2 S protein exhibited higher temperature tolerance from 0 °C to 60 °C than SARS-CoV S protein, suggesting that the SARS-CoV-2 virus has less temperature influence from increasing air temperature than the SARS-CoV virus to a certain extent, which explains the seasonal recurrence pattern and regional transmission pattern of the novel coronavirus that are different from the SARS virus. Full article

Osteoporosis is a common disease characterized by a reduction in bone mineral density (BMD), leading to an increased risk of pathological fractures and even mortality. Although menopause is a major risk factor, osteoporosis can also occur in premenopausal women. The aim of this study was to identify genetic variants associated with the development of osteoporosis in Korean premenopausal women. Subjects were recruited from the Anseong and Ansan cohorts of the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES). Clinical and epidemiological characteristics were assessed, and participants were classified based on BMD values measured at the distal radius and mid-shaft tibia. Individuals with confounding risk factors such as low body weight, smoking, high alcohol consumption, steroid/hormone therapy, or relevant medical history were excluded. A total of 247 healthy controls and 57 osteoporosis patients were included. Genotyping was performed using the Illumina Infinium HumanExome BeadChip and the Affymetrix Axiom Exome Array. Data were analyzed using the SNP and Variation Suite and PLINK, with quality control thresholds set at MAF ≥ 0.05 and HWE p ≥ 0.01. Functional annotation and protein structure predictions were performed using PolyPhen-2, SIFT, and PROVEAN. Genome-wide association analyses identified 113 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 69 genes significantly associated with osteoporosis (p < 0.05) in both platforms, with 18 SNPs showing high cross-platform consistency (p < 0.01). Several of these genes were implicated in bone metabolism (e.g., ESRRG, PECAM1, COL6A5), vitamin D metabolism (e.g., NADSYN1, EFTUD1), skeletal muscle function (e.g., PACSIN2, ESRRG), and reproductive processes (e.g., CPEB1, EFCAB6, ASXL3). Notably, the CPEB1 rs783540 SNP exhibited the strongest association (p < 0.001) in both analyses. Our findings suggest that genetic polymorphisms in pathways related to bone metabolism, vitamin D signaling, muscle–bone interaction, and reproductive hormone regulation may contribute to the development of osteoporosis in Korean premenopausal women. These results provide a genetic basis for early identification of at-risk individuals and warrant further functional studies to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Full article

Plexiform neurofibromas (hereafter called pNF1) are often diagnosed in early childhood and occur in about 30% of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) patients. pNF1 exhibits aggressive growth along a nerve in the body and has substantial potential for progression to malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors that are rarely curable. There are two recently FDA-approved drugs, selumetinib and mirdametinib, for pNF1 patients who have symptomatic and inoperable plexiform neurofibromas; however, these treatments achieve only approximately 30% tumor shrinkage. Fibroblasts, the most abundant cell types within the pNF1 tumor microenvironment, are implicated in pNF1 growth and invasion; however, how fibroblasts affect a drug response of pNF1 remains poorly understood. In the present study, we focused on contributions of fibroblasts to the drug resistance in pNF1 via their secretome. We employed our established three-dimensional (3D) culture system incorporating human pNF1 tumor cells (Nf1^−/−) and primary fibroblasts (Nf1^+/−) grown in our patented microfluidic culture chips for monocultures and parallel cocultures in which 3D pNF1 structures and fibroblasts share their secretome without direct cell-to-cell contact. Three-dimensional pNF1 structures in 3D parallel cocultures with fibroblasts exhibited greater drug resistance than ones in monocultures. We found that pNF1 tumor cells showed increased P-glycoprotein expression when incubated with fibroblast-derived conditioned media or parallel cocultured with fibroblasts, compared to control conditions. Pharmacological inhibition of P-glycoprotein partially restored drug sensitivity. Additionally, fibroblasts showed higher resistance to selumetinib and mirdametinib than pNF1 tumor structures, likely due to elevated P-glycoprotein levels. This study is the first to define precise roles of fibroblasts in pNF1 drug resistance, emphasizing the potential of fibroblast-targeted therapies as a promising approach to improve pNF1 treatment outcomes. Full article

Wearable and implantable Lab-on-Chip (LoC) biosensors are revolutionizing healthcare by enabling continuous, real-time monitoring of physiological and biochemical parameters in non-clinical settings. These miniaturized platforms integrate sample handling, signal transduction, and data processing on a single chip, facilitating early disease detection, personalized treatment, and preventive care. This review comprehensively explores recent advancements in LoC biosensing technologies, emphasizing their application in skin-mounted patches, smart textiles, and implantable devices. Key innovations in biocompatible materials, nanostructured transducers, and flexible substrates have enabled seamless integration with the human body, while fabrication techniques such as soft lithography, 3D printing, and MEMS have accelerated development. The incorporation of nanomaterials significantly enhances sensitivity and specificity, supporting multiplexed and multi-modal sensing. We examine critical application domains, including glucose monitoring, cardiovascular diagnostics, and neurophysiological assessment. Design considerations related to biocompatibility, power management, data connectivity, and long-term stability are also discussed. Despite promising outcomes, challenges such as biofouling, signal drift, regulatory hurdles, and public acceptance remain. Future directions focus on autonomous systems powered by AI, hybrid wearable–implantable platforms, and wireless energy harvesting. This review highlights the transformative potential of LoC biosensors in shaping the future of smart, patient-centered healthcare through continuous, minimally invasive monitoring. Full article

Hericium coralloides is a highly valued gourmet and medicinal species with growing market demand across East Asia, though industrial production remains limited by cultivation challenges. This study investigated the molecular characteristics, biological traits, domestication potential, and cultivation protocols of Hericium coralloides strains collected from the Changbaishan Nature Reserve (Jiling, China). Optimal conditions for mycelial growth included mannose as the preferred carbon source, peptone as the nitrogen source, 30 °C incubation temperature, pH 5.5, and magnesium sulfate as the essential inorganic salt. The fruiting bodies had a protein content of 2.43% g/100 g (fresh sample meter). Total amino acids comprised 53.3% of the total amino acid profile, while essential amino acids accounted for 114.11% relative to non-essential amino acids, indicating high nutritional value. Under optimized domestication conditions—70% hardwood chips, 20% cottonseed hulls, 8% bran, 1% malic acid, and 1% gypsum—bags reached full colonization in 28 days, with a 15-day maturation phase and initial fruiting occurring after 12–14 days. The interval between flushes was 10–12 days. The average yield reached 318.65 ± 31.74 g per bag, with a biological conversion rate of 63.73%. These findings demonstrate that Hericium coralloides possesses significant potential for edible and commercial applications. This study provides a robust theoretical foundation and resource reference for its artificial cultivation, supporting its broader industrial and economic utilization. Full article

Carbon fiber (CF) and carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRPs) are widely used in the aerospace, automotive, and energy sectors due to their high strength, stiffness, and low density. However, significant waste is generated during manufacturing and after the use of CFRPs. Traditional disposal methods like landfilling and incineration are unsustainable. CFRP machining processes, such as drilling and milling, produce fine chips and dust that are difficult to recycle due to their heterogeneity and contamination. This study investigates the oxidation behavior of CFRP drilling waste from two types of materials (tube and plate) under oxidative (non-inert) conditions. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was performed from 200 °C to 800 °C to assess weight loss related to polymer degradation and carbon fiber integrity. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to analyze morphological changes and fiber damage. The optimal range for removing the polymer matrix without significant fiber degradation has been identified as 500–600 °C. At temperatures above 700 °C, notable surface and internal fiber damage occurred, along with nanostructure formation, which may pose health and environmental risks. The results show that partial fiber recovery is possible under ambient conditions, and this must be considered regarding the harmful risks to the human body if submicron particles are inhaled. This research supports sustainable CFRP recycling and fire hazard mitigation. Full article

Nafion has long been recognized as the gold standard for proton exchange membranes, due to its exceptional ion exchange capacity and its advanced performance in chemically aggressive environments. In recent years, a growing body of evidence has demonstrated that Nafion is equally well-suited in complex biological conditions owing to its structural robustness, responsive functionality and intrinsic biocompatibility. These characteristics have enabled its transition into the biomedical and healthcare sectors, where it is currently being explored for a diverse and expanding range of applications. To that end, Nafion has been systematically investigated as a key component in bioelectronic systems for energy harvest, sensors, wearable electronics, tissue engineering, lab-on-a-chip platforms, implants, controlled drug delivery systems and antimicrobial surface coatings. This review examines the distinctive structural and electrochemical characteristics that underpin Nafion’s performance in these biomedical contexts, provides an overview of recent advancements, emphasizes critical performance metrics and highlights the material’s growing potential to shape the future of biomedical technology. Full article

Acoustic coupling agents serve as critical interfacial materials connecting piezoelectric transducers with microfluidic chips in acoustofluidic systems. Their performance directly impacts acoustic wave transmission efficiency, device reusability, and reliability in biomedical applications. Considering the rapidly growing body of research in the field of acoustic microfluidics, this review aims to serve as an all-in-one reference on the role of acoustic coupling agents and relevant considerations pertinent to acoustofluidic devices for anyone working in or seeking to enter the field of disposable acoustofluidic devices. To this end, this review seeks to summarize and categorize key aspects of acoustic couplants in the implementation of acoustofluidic devices by examining their underlying physical mechanisms, material classifications, and core applications of coupling agents in acoustofluidics. Gel-based coupling agents are particularly favored for their long-term stability, high coupling efficiency, and ease of preparation, making them integral to acoustic flow control applications. In practice, coupling agents facilitate microparticle trapping, droplet manipulation, and biosample sorting through acoustic impedance matching and wave mode conversion (e.g., Rayleigh-to-Lamb waves). Their thickness and acoustic properties (sound velocity, attenuation coefficient) further modulate sound field distribution to optimize acoustic radiation forces and thermal effects. However, challenges remain regarding stability (evaporation, thermal degradation) and chip compatibility. Further aspects of research into gel-based agents requiring attention include multilayer coupled designs, dynamic thickness control, and enhancing biocompatibility to advance acoustofluidic technologies in point-of-care diagnostics and high-throughput analysis. Full article

Microfluidic devices have emerged as a pivotal in vitro technology for axon outgrowth studies, facilitating the separation of the cell body from the neurites by geometric constraints. However, traditional microfabrication techniques fall short in terms of scalability for large-scale production, hindering widespread application. This study presents the development of foil-based cell culture chips, made of polyethylene terephthalate and in-house formulated ultraviolet curable liquid resin by high-throughput roll-to-roll (R2R) manufacturing. Here, two microchannel designs were tested to optimize manufacturing quality and assess the neurite outgrowth behavior. The fabricated neuron-foil chips demonstrated biocompatibility and supported neurite outgrowth within microchannels under static cell culture conditions. Furthermore, fluidic flow, oriented either perpendicular or parallel to the microchannel direction, was applied to enhance the biological reproducibility within the neuron-foil chips. These findings suggest that R2R manufacturing offers a promising approach for the high-throughput production of biocompatible microfluidic devices, advancing their potential application in modeling neurological diseases within the biomedical industry. Full article

Objectives: The study investigates runs of homozygosity (ROH) and heterozygosity (ROHet), and their patterns in nine sheep breeds (772 animals in total) maintained in Poland (native and conserved), corresponding to their genetic diversity, inbreeding levels, and selection signatures. Methods: Genotypes were obtained using the Illumina OvineSNP50 BeadChip and quality-filtered SNPs were used to detect ROH and ROHet segments with the detectRUNS R package, following stringent parameters for segment length, SNP density, and genotype quality. Results: Significant variation in ROH characteristics was observed across breeds. Short ROH segments were predominant in all breeds, indicating historical inbreeding events. In contrast, longer ROH segments signified recent inbreeding, particularly in Swiniarka (SW) and Polish Merino of Colored Variety (MPC). The ROH-based genomic inbreeding coefficient (F_ROH) varied across breeds, with SW exhibiting the highest levels, suggesting reduced genetic diversity. ROHet analysis revealed that Uhruska (UHR) had the highest heterozygous segments span, while Black-headed (BH) sheep exhibited the lowest ROHet extent. ROH islands identified across breeds revealed regions under selection, associated with traits such as reproductive performance, wool quality, and body condition. Genes located within these islands (e.g., U6, SPP1, ABCG2) were linked to economically significant traits including milk production, growth, and carcass quality. Conclusions: The presented results highlight the genetic adaptations shaped by selection pressures, while also providing insights into the genetic architecture of sheep breeds maintained in Poland. Full article

Achieving the appropriate primary stability for immediate or early loading in areas with low-density bone, such as the posterior maxilla, is challenging. A three-dimensional (3D) stabilization implant design featuring a tapered body with continuous cutting flutes along the length of the external thread form, with a combination of curved and linear geometric surfaces on the thread’s crest, has the capacity to enhance early biomechanical and osseointegration outcomes compared to implants with traditional buttressed thread profiles. Commercially available implants with a buttress thread design (TP), and an experimental implant that incorporated the 3D stabilization trimmed-thread design (TP 3DS) were used in this study. Six osteotomies were surgically created in the ilium of adult sheep (N = 14). Osteotomy sites were randomized to receive either the TP or TP 3DS implant to reduce site bias. Subjects were allowed to heal for either 3 or 12 weeks (N = 7 sheep/time point), after which samples were collected en bloc (including the implants and surrounding bone) and implants were either subjected to bench-top biomechanical testing (e.g., lateral loading), histological/histomorphometric analysis, or nanoindentation testing. Both implant designs yielded high insertion torque (ITV ≥ 30 N⋅cm) and implant stability quotient (ISQ ≥ 70) values, indicative of high primary stability. Qualitative histomorphological analysis revealed that the TP 3DS group exhibited a continuous bone–implant interface along the threaded region, in contrast to the TP group at the early, 3-week, healing time point. Furthermore, TP 3DS’s cutting flutes along the entire length of the implant permitted the distribution of autologous bone chips within the healing chambers. Histological evaluation at 12 weeks revealed an increase in woven bone containing a greater presence of lacunae within the healing chambers in both groups, consistent with an intramembranous-like healing pattern and absence of bone dieback. The TP 3DS macrogeometry yielded a ~66% increase in average lateral load during pushout testing at baseline (T = 0 weeks, p = 0.036) and significantly higher bone-to-implant contact (BIC) values at 3 weeks post-implantation (p = 0.006), relative to the traditional TP implant. In a low-density (Type IV) bone model, the TP 3DS implant demonstrated improved performance compared to the conventional TP, as evidenced by an increase in baseline lateral loading capacity and increased BIC during the early stages of osseointegration. These findings indicate that the modified implant configuration of the TP 3DS facilitates more favorable biomechanical integration and may promote more rapid and stable bone anchorage under compromised bone quality conditions. Therefore, such improvements could have important clinical implications for the success and longevity of dental implants placed in regions with low bone density. Full article