Design strategy for surface hydrogel coatings on metal biomedical devices based on interfacial bonding mechanisms.

Metabolic engineering strategies for enhanced microbial synthesis of lacto-N-neotetraose: a key acetylated human milk oligosaccharide.

Multifunctional, enzyme/pH-responsive gelatin microspheres with aptamer-targeted antibacterial and ionic-mediated dual therapy for infected bone defects.

Advances in transcription factor-based biosensors for natural product biosynthesis: Optimization, emerging technologies, and future prospects.

The growing amount of waste materials, such as plastics, rubber, construction debris, and industrial by-products, presents serious environmental challenges because they do not break down easily and are hard to dispose of. Recycling these materials for road construction provides a sustainable and eco-friendly solution. It reduces pressure on landfills and conserves natural resources. By incorporating recycled materials like waste plastic, crumb rubber from old tires, reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP), and fly ash into road construction, we can address waste management issues while improving pavement performance. These materials can enhance properties such as durability, deformation resistance, and water repellency, while possibly lowering construction costs. This process supports the idea of a circular economy, where waste becomes valuable resources and reduces the environmental impact of infrastructure development. Research and case studies have shown that roads made with recycled materials can equal or exceed the performance of traditional roads when designed and built properly. This method supports global goals for sustainable development and lowering carbon footprints, making it a promising option for future infrastructure projects. Overall, using recycled materials in road construction is a practical, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly innovation in modern civil engineering.

This study introduces a low-cost, portable DNA amplification kit that performs a modified loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) reaction, which produces DNA nanoballs and combines it with a previously developed microfluidic impedance-based digital assay to deliver a potential all-in-one, point-of-care (POC) diagnostic platform for the detection of target nucleic acids. The device combines sample processing and detection in a single streamlined workflow, utilizing induction heating and Arduino-based temperature control, along with several engineering innovations, including a custom-designed polycarbonate microtube holder and an optimized thermocouple-based temperature-control feedback system, ensuring stable reaction conditions for reproducible amplification. System performance was validated through the detection of a synthesized β-lactamase target DNA gene block, including samples with additional non-target background DNA. In addition to a qualitative colorimetric readout, label-free impedance-based quantification confirmed the robust production of DNA nanoballs with high specificity and minimal background interference. The amplification quality was revealed to be comparable to that of a commercial thermal cycler. Subsequent sensitivity testing using serial dilutions of the target DNA (between 101-105 copies per μl) in a complex background DNA mixture demonstrated detection results that strongly correlated with quantitative PCR (qPCR). These findings demonstrate that the amplification kit achieves performance parity with gold-standard nucleic acid detection methods while offering portability, affordability, and ease of use. By enabling accurate, rapid, and decentralized diagnostics without reliance on laboratory infrastructure, this combined workflow holds promise for advancing infectious disease monitoring and antimicrobial resistance surveillance, among other applications, at the point of care.

The application of anion exchange membrane water electrolyzers (AEMWEs) is restricted by low performance, poor catalyst layer stability, and severe gas crossover. To address these challenges, we propose an ordered enhanced-armored membrane electrode assembly (En-Armored MEA) with a stable "cork-neck" structure, which is built by integrating a compression-tuned mesh as armor and a 3D-ordered array membrane together. Compared with the conventional MEA, this compact encapsulation significantly promotes the MEA from three aspects. First, the electrochemically active surface area (ECSA) is increased 4.5 times. Second, the in-plane resistance is reduced by 77.5%. Third, mass transfer is improved by directing bubble release. As a result, the En-Armored MEA boosts current density by 522% to a ten-Ampere-level performance of 15.83 ± 0.30 A/cm2 at 2.0 V (80 °C, 1 M KOH) and maintains 1000 h durability at 1.5 A/cm2 without decay. Notably, the highly interlocked "cork-neck" structure enables stable operation with ultrathin membranes down to 4 μm, whereas conventional MEAs suffer short circuits and severe hydrogen crossover below 15 μm because of the membrane pierced by Ni foam. This work presents an innovative MEA engineering strategy that combines "cork-neck" and armored structures together to greatly improve the performance, catalyst layer stability, and membrane integrity for AEMWEs and other membrane-based electrochemical energy devices.

Photothermal CO2 methanation presents a promising strategy for mitigating the energy crisis and reducing CO2 emissions, however, the critical role of hydrogen migration dynamics in addressing reaction kinetics and thermodynamics has not been thoroughly investigated. Here, we demonstrate the design ofa (NiO/Ru0)/TiO2 photothermal catalyst with optimized interfacial architecture and enhanced hydrogen mobility, which facilitates exceptionally selective conversion of CO2-to-CH4. Both experimental and theoretical analyses reveal that H2 dissociates efficiently on Ru0, subsequently undergoing spillover to O in NiO (ONiO). This process not only redistributes active sites but also influences the reaction kinetics, thereby fundamentally altering the energy landscape associated with CO2 methanation. Consequently, the (NiO/Ru0)/TiO2 catalyst achieves complete CO2 conversion and CH4 selectivity, with a CH4 production rate of 2552.49 μmol h-1 (85.08 mmol g-1 h-1) under an irradiation of 25.5 suns without external heat or pressure. This research underscores an innovative engineering approach that leverages hydrogen spillover to enhance photothermal catalytic efficiency and selectivity, thereby providing a robust framework for the advancement of sophisticated photothermal catalysts for selective CO2 hydrogenation.

The digital economy has injected new momentum into the sustainable development of trade in services. Based on China’s provincial panel data from 2011 to 2022, this study empirically examines the impact of the digital economy on trade in services. The study finds that the digital economy has a significant impact on the development of trade in services, a finding that remains robust after addressing endogeneity and conducting robustness tests. Mechanism analysis reveals that the digital economy facilitates trade in services through two primary channels: promoting industrial structure upgrading and fostering new quality productive forces. Heterogeneity analysis indicates that the positive effect is more pronounced in eastern coastal regions and economically developed areas. Further research reveals that the impact of the digital economy on trade in services follows a nonlinear pattern, with its effect closely related to the threshold range of new quality productive forces. To promote the sustainable development of trade in services, policymakers should strengthen digital infrastructure to consolidate the foundation of the digital economy, accelerate industrial transformation to cultivate new competitive advantages, prioritize the development of new quality productive forces as an innovation engine, and implement regionally differentiated strategies to promote coordinated growth.

Phage genome engineering methods accelerate the study of phage biology, the discovery of new functions, and the development of innovative genetic engineering tools. Here, we present QuickPhage, a rapid, technically accessible, precise, and cost-effective method for engineering Bacillus subtilis phages. Our approach uses CRISPR-Cas9 as a counter-selection system to isolate mutants of the model lytic siphovirus phage, SPP1. Efficient genome editing was achieved using homologous repair patches as short as 40 nucleotides, enabling streamlined patch construction and parallel engineering, resulting in highly accurate genome edits within a day. We applied QuickPhage to delete both essential and nonessential phage genes and to insert reporter genes. Protein production, such as GFP, was synthetically regulated using inducible systems without significantly affecting phage fitness, achieving induction levels of up to 400-fold. Time-series coinfection experiments with fluorescent protein expressing phages also revealed a highly efficient superinfection arrest mechanism that prevents reinfection as early as 13 min after initial infection. These findings highlight the potential of phages for protein production, opening new opportunities for metabolic engineering. This work also lays the foundation for systematic phage genome refactoring workflows and the development of phage-based tools for efficient DNA delivery, thereby expanding the synthetic biology toolbox for B. subtilis.

This literature review explores the advancements in renewable energy technologies within the field of electrical engineering, driven by the increasing demand for sustainable and environmentally friendly energy solutions. Employing a qualitative literature review approach, the study examines scholarly sources from 2015 to 2024 to identify key technical innovations in energy storage systems, power electronics, smart grid integration, and the application of artificial intelligence in energy management. The findings reveal significant improvements in inverter design, battery energy storage systems, and the adoption of Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), all contributing to enhanced reliability, efficiency, and flexibility of renewable energy systems. Despite these advancements, challenges such as grid synchronization, power fluctuations, and system integration persist, requiring adaptive and innovative engineering solutions. This review highlights the vital role of electrical engineering in accelerating the global energy transition through an interdisciplinary approach that bridges theoretical foundations with technological applications.

Electrical and electronic laboratories are crucial for developing engineering talent, yet they face challenges such as outdated hardware, rigid management, and faculty shortages. This paper proposes an integrated reform model featuring virtual-physical equipment upgrades, open and intelligent management platforms, a dual-qualified teaching team, and a full-process safety assurance system. It offers a practical framework for modernizing such laboratories and supporting the cultivation of high-quality innovative engineering professionals.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality despite major advances in pharmacological, devices, and surgical care. Gene editing technologies have introduced a transformative approach to correct pathogenic variants and modulate disease pathways. This review highlights recent progress in editing technologies that are currently or may soon be applied to address cardiovascular disorders, summarizes recent preclinical and clinical studies that demonstrate improved precision and efficacy, and examines technical and translational challenges that must be overcome for broader clinical application. We summarize preclinical advances, including refined target selection, improved delivery strategies, and enhanced therapeutic efficiency. We highlight emerging technologies that aim to overcome longstanding constraints such as limited vector cargo capacity, protospacer-adjacent motif (PAM) incompatibility, chromatin accessibility, suboptimal editing efficiency, and off-target activity. We also summarize the increasing clinical experience with in-vivo editing - particularly using lipid nanoparticle (LNP) and adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based platforms - that has also revealed important safety considerations, including vector immunogenicity, systemic inflammation, and organ-specific toxicities. Despite rapid progress, successful clinical translation of gene and base editing for CVD continues to hinge on two central challenges: efficient and precise delivery and mitigation of immunogenicity and toxicity from both delivery vectors and gene-editing enzymes. Although next-generation editors and targeted delivery systems have expanded the scope of feasible cardiovascular applications, overcoming these biological barriers remains the critical step toward achieving well tolerated, durable, one-time genomic therapies. Continued innovation in vector engineering, tissue-selective delivery, and immunologic risk mitigation will be essential for advancing editing technologies into cardiovascular care.

ABSTRACT Driven by the escalating global emphasis on research impact, contemporary science policy has solidified around a valorisation imperative that increasingly treats knowledge as a strategic asset rather than a common heritage. This paper interrogates the ethical paradox that emerges as research outcomes are progressively viewed through the prism of economic utility, clashing with the foundational mission of science as a public good. By conceptualising publicly funded knowledge as a Polanyian fictitious commodity, the analysis deconstructs the institutional mechanisms that facilitate its disembedding from the social commons. Through a critical examination of two emblematic cases—the commercialisation of CRISPR gene‐editing and the technical enclosure of foundational AI—the inquiry reveals how pathways of legal and technical gatekeeping transform social resources into proprietary assets. Critically, it demonstrates that these valorisation regimes co‐produce systemic injustices, ranging from prohibitive price tags for essential therapies to the concentration of unaccountable digital power. In response to these structural failures, the paper proposes a normative framework wedding the principle of value pluralism with the procedural engine of Responsible Research and Innovation. By advancing these principles, it contributes to a critical reimagining of research valorisation, charting a principled course to better align scientific practice with its noble calling to serve the common weal.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), comprising Ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD), is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) that occurs due to several factors, including, but not limited to, gut microbiota dysbiosis, immune dysregulation, and environmental factors. Despite significant advances in IBD pharmacotherapy, patients often experience treatment failures due to suboptimal treatment responses, frequent relapses, and are also susceptible to developing several adverse effects (AEs), highlighting the need for developing alternative therapies. A growing body of evidence necessitates the importance of maintaining gut microbiome homeostasis, which is commonly disrupted in IBD. Probiotics have emerged as promising adjunctive IBD therapies due to their capacity to modulate immune responses, restore gut microbial balance, and preserve mucosal barrier integrity. Multiple probiotic strains, including Escherichia coli (E. coli) Nissle 1917, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG, Bifidobacterium longum (B. longum), Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. boulardii (S. boulardii), and combination formulations, such as VSL#3 (Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Streptococcus thermophilus), have demonstrated superior efficacy in inducing and maintaining remission in comparison with placebo and comparable efficacy with conventional treatments, such as mesalazine. While the efficacy of probiotics has been demonstrated in UC through several clinical studies, evidence supporting their use in CD remains inconsistent, with studies yielding mixed or inconclusive results. This highlights the necessity for additional carefully designed, large-scale studies specifically targeting CD patients to better understand the therapeutic potential of probiotics in a broader context. Finally, emerging innovations in genetic engineering and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/ CRISPR-associated protein 9 (CRISPR/Cas9) technology offer exciting prospects for the development of precision probiotics, which could possess both diagnostic and treatment benefits and further expand the clinical utility of probiotics in IBD treatment.

Abstract Additive manufacturing (AM) has rapidly evolved into a groundbreaking technology in biomedical engineering, offering unprecedented capabilities for fabricating patient-specific, anatomically complex structures with high precision. This review presents a comprehensive and critical overview of recent innovations in AM-applied biomaterials, focusing on the integration and application of hydrogels, biopolymers, ceramics, metals, and composite systems. These materials, each with unique biological and mechanical attributes, are pivotal in advancing regenerative medicine, tissue engineering, and the development of next-generation medical implants and devices. Special emphasis is placed on hydrogel-based bioinks and photopolymerizable networks used in 3D bioprinting, which offer tunable properties, excellent biocompatibility, and the ability to mimic extracellular matrix environments. Furthermore, the synergistic design of structural and functional materials in AM platforms is explored to address critical challenges such as mechanical durability, degradation kinetics, immunomodulation, and dynamic cell–matrix interactions. By synthesizing current progress in material science, biofabrication strategies, and translational pathways, this review highlights the transformative potential of AM in shaping the future of personalized and precision medicine—bridging the gap between innovative material design and clinically viable biomedical solutions.

Advancing multi-analyte neurochemical detection with carbon-based electrodes: Challenges and future perspectives.

High concentration subcutaneous biological drug products: challenges and advancements.

Thermodynamic simulation of an innovative six-stroke hydrogen-methane dual-fuel engine based on experimentally derived combustion parameters – Part A: fostering Brazil’s energy transition

Thermosetting epoxy resins (TERs) play pivotal roles in aerospace, wind energy, and electronic packaging. However, due to the inherent constraints of these properties in molecular design, previously reported TERs have always faced a "seesaw" dilemma, enhancing glass transition temperature (Tg) and mechanical strength typically compromises elasticity and reprocessability. Herein, an innovative molecular engineering strategy is proposed to integrate high-energy-dissipation acid-base ion pairs (ABIPs) into densely crosslinked covalent adaptable networks, constructing high Tg and ultra-strong TERs (named SEP-COOH). It demonstrated two breakthrough advantages: First, SEP-COOH exhibits an exceptional combination of high Tg (> 245°C), excellent mechanical strength (77.9 ± 1.5MPa), and impact toughness (8.2MJ m-2), and its outstanding performance is comparable to that of low-viscosity resins (Hexion and Toray RS-50) for structural applications. Second, the internal catalytic effect of ABIPs on ester exchange is unprecedented, which not only integrates the internal catalysis of tertiary amines and the effect of neighboring groups but also achieves a breakthrough. This built-in catalysis allows ultrafast surface reprocessing to achieve superhydrophobicity and improve the thermal conductivity of its composites. The integration of toughness, thermal stability, and reprocessability represents a breakthrough in epoxy thermoset design, offering a sustainable pathway for recyclable high-performance polymers.