In the present study, we aimed to characterize gut microbiome and develop a gut microbiome-based diagnostic model in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Prospectively, we collected 309 fecal samples from Central China and Northwest China and carried out the sequencing of the V3-V4 regions of the 16S rRNA gene. The gut microbiome was characterized, and microbial biomarkers were identified in 152 CAD patients and 105 healthy controls (Xinjiang cohort, n = 257). Using the biomarkers, we constructed a diagnostic model and validated it externally in 34 CAD patients and 18 healthy controls (Zhengzhou cohort, n = 52). Fecal microbial diversity was increased in CAD patients compared to that in healthy controls (P = 0.021). Phylum Bacteroidetes was increased in CAD patients versus healthy controls (P = 0.001). Correspondingly, 48 microbial markers were identified through a 10-fold cross-validation on a random forest model, and an area under the curve (AUC) of 87.7% (95% CI 0.832 to 0.916, P less then 0.001) was achieved in the Xinjiang cohort (development cohort, n = 257). Notably, an AUC of 90.4% (95% CI 0.848 to 0.928, P less then 0.001) was achieved using combined analysis of gut microbial markers and clinical variables. This model provided a robust tool for the prediction of CAD. It could be widely employed to complement the clinical assessment and prevention of CAD.Ribose-5-phosphate isomerase B is of great importance for biocatalysis and biosynthesis, but the multifunctional residues in active sites hinder the research efforts. This study employed rational design strategies to locate the key residues of RpiB from Ochrobactrum sp. CSL1 (OsRpiB). A single-mutant S9T of a noncontact residue showed 80% activity improvement toward d-allose. A double-mutant S98H/S134H further increased the activity to 3.6-fold. The mutations were analyzed by kinetics and molecular dynamics analyses, indicating that S9T might enhance the substrate binding and catalysis by inducing a steric effect, and S98H/S134H could strengthen both ring opening and binding of d-allose. Though S98H/S134H showed low temperature stability, its potential was explored by isomerizing d-allose to d-psicose with higher conversion and in less reaction time. The findings of this study were beneficial for illustrating the complex functions of key residues in RpiBs and applying OsRpiB in preparing rare sugars.In this study, a novel metal oxide, lanthanum nickelate (LNO) with a perovskite structure, was introduced into a polymer solar cell (PSC) device, replacing the PEDOTPSS hole transport layer (HTL). The results show that the LNO-based PTB7-ThPC71BM solar cell exhibits a higher circuit current density, power conversion efficiency, and stability compared with a device with PEDOTPSS HTL. To understand the effect of LNO HTL on the performance of devices, the active layer morphology and charge transport characteristics in PSCs were systematically analyzed. The morphology of active layer was affected by the HTL, which further regulated the generation and transport processes of charge carrier in the PSC device. For the LNO HTL, an appropriate thickness (8 nm) and a small surface roughness (Sq = 0.7 nm) can coordinate the energy-level structure of device and improve the interface contact between the FTO electrode and PTB7-ThPC71BM active layer, promoting the charge transport performance of device. Therefore, this work provides a new consideration for the preparation of efficient, stable, and low-cost polymer solar cells.Surface micro- and nano-patterning techniques are often employed to enhance the optical interface to single photoluminescent emitters in diamond, but the utility of such surface structuring in applications requiring ensembles of emitters is still open to investigation. Here, we demonstrate scalable and fault-tolerant fabrication of closely packed arrays of fluorescent diamond nanopillars, each hosting its own dense, uniformly bright ensemble of near-surface nitrogen-vacancy centers. We explore the optimal sizes for these structures and realize enhanced spin and photoluminescence properties resulting in a 4.5 times increase in optically detected magnetic resonance sensitivity when compared to unpatterned surfaces. Utilizing the increased measurement sensitivity, we image the mechanical stress tensor in each diamond pillar across the arrays and show that the fabrication process has a negligible impact on in-built stress compared to the unpatterned surface. Our results represent a valuable pathway toward future multimodal and vector-resolved imaging studies, for instance in biological contexts.Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is a catechin found in green tea that can inhibit the amyloid formation of a wide variety of proteins. EGCG's ability to prevent or redirect the amyloid formation of so many proteins may reflect a common mechanism of action, and thus, greater molecular-level insight into how it exerts its effect could have broad implications. Here, we investigate the molecular details of EGCG's inhibition of the protein β-2-microglobulin (β2m), which forms amyloids in patients undergoing long-term dialysis treatment. Using size-exclusion chromatography and a collection of mass spectrometry-based techniques, we find that EGCG prevents Cu(II)-induced β2m amyloid formation by diverting the normal progression of preamyloid oligomers toward the formation of spherical, redissolvable aggregates. EGCG exerts its effect by binding with a micromolar affinity (Kd ≈ 5 μM) to the β2m monomer on the edge of two β-sheets near the N-terminus. This interaction destabilizes the preamyloid dimer and prevents the formation of a tetramer species previously shown to be essential for Cu(II)-induced β2m amyloid formation. EGCG's binding at the edge of the β-sheets in β2m is consistent with a previous hypothesis that EGCG generally prevents amyloid formation by binding cross-β-sheet aggregation intermediates.Variability in consumer practices and choices is typically not addressed in comparisons of environmental impacts of traditional shopping and e-commerce. Here, we developed a stochastic model to quantify the variability in the greenhouse gas (GHG) footprints of product distribution and purchase of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCGs) via three prevalent retail channels in the United Kingdom (U.K.). We found that shopping via bricks and clicks (click and fulfillment via physical store delivery) most likely decreases the GHG footprints when substituting traditional shopping, while FMCGs purchased through pure players with parcel delivery often have higher GHG footprints compared to those purchased via traditional retail. The number of items purchased and the last-mile travel distance are the dominant contributors to the variability in the GHG footprints of all three retail channels. Elexacaftor We further showed that substituting delivery vans with electric cargo bikes can lead to a GHG emission reduction of 26% via parcel delivery.