The Innovation最新文献

Human skin exhibits extreme sensitivity to spatiotemporal contact events, especially important for dynamic interactions in human-machine interfaces. However, replicating non-invasive haptic feedback for dynamic interaction with a spatiotemporal resolution that matches the human somatosensory system remains challenging because the spatiotemporal design criteria of the haptic interface and the perception characteristic of human beings are not clearly understood. Here, we report a thin electrostatic-enhanced vibro-haptic interface constructed with piezoelectric actuator pixels driven by relativity low voltage, capable of being spatiotemporally programmed for wearable and noninvasive dynamic haptic interaction. Systematic psychophysical tests systematically reveal the relationship between the spatiotemporal parameters (duration, interval, delay, and two-point distance) and human perception characteristics (intensity, continuity, and pixel asynchronous activation perceptibility). Accordingly, wearable haptic music is designed to reproduce the smooth rhythmic beats on a finger (distinguishing accuracy of 95%). Moreover, we demonstrate the reproduction of virtual dynamic interactions, such as recognizing moving directions, textures, and action modes. This work provides clear criteria for designing vibro-haptic interfaces with high spatiotemporal resolution for both physical and virtual applications.

Profiling the thiol proteome in live cells is a critical yet challenging task for elucidating oxidative stress-related processes due to the scarcity of multifunctional probes that directly integrate fluorescence imaging with chemical proteomics. Here, we constructed a fluorescent, enrichable, and mass spectrometry-compatible probe based on fluorinated porphyrin, termed the FP probe. By eliminating the need for attaching separate reporter modules after probe labeling, the FP probe not only directly visualizes the thiol proteome in cells but also enables the visualization of thiol proteome enrichment for reliable site identification by mass spectrometry. This capability drives the development of a visualization-guided proteomics (VGP) workflow, which seamlessly merges fluorescence imaging with chemical proteomics. In addition, the FP probe demonstrated an advantage in the capture of cysteines with low solvent accessibility. We successfully identified Cys818 of AP2B1, a residue with a relative solvent accessible area of 0.02 that is sensitive to the protein interactions induced by diamide stress in live cells. Our probe may pave the way for the design of multifunctional probes and become an important tool for applications including target identification, drug discovery, and diagnostics.

This phase 3 trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of Firsekibart, a novel, fully human anti-interleukin-1β monoclonal antibody, in patients with frequent acute gout flares unsuitable for standard therapy. Patients were randomized (1:1, stratified by baseline pain visual analog scale [VAS]) to the Firsekibart (200 mg) or compound betamethasone (CB; 7 mg) group. Co-primary endpoints included change in pain intensity in the target joint at 72 h (non-inferiority testing) and time to first new flare within 12 weeks (superiority testing). The non-inferiority margin was 10 mm. The full analysis set included 311 patients (Firsekibart: N = 156; CB: N = 155). At 72 h, the least squares mean change in pain VAS scores from baseline was -57.09 mm (95% confidence interval [CI]: -60.08 to -54.10) for Firsekibart and -53.77 mm (95% CI: -56.77 to -50.77) for CB, with treatment difference of -3.32 mm (95% CI: -7.56 to 0.91), establishing non-inferiority. The median time to first new flare was not reached within 12 weeks in the Firsekibart group compared with 45.0 days (95% CI: 28.00 to 63.00) in the CB group. Firsekibart significantly reduced the risk of new flare by 90% vs. CB (hazard ratio: 0.10; 95% CI: 0.06 to 0.17; stratified log rank p < 0.0001). Efficacy was consistent across subgroups. Treatment-emergent adverse events occurred in 71.2% of Firsekibart-treated patients and 69.9% of those receiving CB. In conclusion, Firsekibart is effective and well tolerated for acute gout flares in patients unsuitable for standard therapy, demonstrating non-inferiority in rapid pain relief and significant superiority in preventing flare compared with CB.

The locomotion strategies adopted by animals have been continuously optimized through the long history of evolution. The locomotion of fish, adapted to their appearances, exhibits high efficiency, superb maneuverability, and excellent stealth. Inspired by the swimming gait of Taeniura lymma, we develop an untethered, soft robotic fish that can realize continuous, stable directional underwater movement via the periodic, reversible mechanical deformation of flexible rods and films. The fish is driven by the elastic-snapping-induced shape transition of the rods, which can be controlled by only one actuator. Theoretical analysis and numerical simulation are carried out to investigate the post-buckling morphological evolution of the bioinspired design. In a deformation period, the elastic strain energy of the rods first increases slowly up to a critical value, beyond which the snap-through is triggered and the elastic strain energy stored in the rods is released rapidly. The relation between the mechanical responses of the fish and its structural parameters is revealed. Further, several physical prototypes are fabricated and tested to validate the swimming performance of our bionic design. It is found that the robotic rays can swim efficiently, stably, and quietly, with the advantage of convenient control. In comparison with existing underwater robots, our robotic ray is featured by moderate swimming speed and substantially lower energy consumption. This work holds promise in the design of shape morphing robots and other soft machines.

In this study, we present an innovative and efficient approach to amine conjugation that offers many advantages over existing methods. Our method employs an easily prepared β-alkoxy enone as the core reagent, achieving unparalleled specificity to primary amines. It operates effectively under neutral pH conditions and at room temperature. This eliminates the need for metal catalysts or additives, thereby simplifying the process and reducing potential contaminants. A key attribute of our method is its remarkable cleanliness, with ethanol as the sole by-product, ensuring minimal environmental and biological impact. The conjugation products exhibit exceptional stability, even in the presence of diverse biomolecules, making this method highly suitable for intricate biological systems. Our approach demonstrates a broad substrate scope, effectively conjugating a range of compounds from lysine derivatives to complex protein and drug conjugates as well as amino-sugar conjugates. Its ability to selectively target different amine types while remaining unreactive toward anilines and secondary amines such as proline underscores its potential for advancing drug development and biologic synthesis. This method marks a significant breakthrough, offering promising avenues for exploration in biochemical and pharmaceutical research.