Electron-Donating Conjugation Effect Modulated Zn2+ Reduction Reaction for Separator-Free Aqueous Zinc Batteries

Zinc-based aqueous batteries (ZABs) are attracting extensive attention due to the low cost, high capacity, and environmental benignity of the zinc anode. However, their application is still hindered by the undesired zinc dendrites. Despite Zn-surface modification being promising in relieving dendrites, a thick separator (i.e. glass fiber, 250-700 μm) is still required to resist the dendrite puncture, which limits volumetric energy density of battery. Here, we pivot from the traditional interphase plus extra separator categories, proposing an all-in-one ligand buffer layer (ca. 20 μm) to effectively modulate the Zn2+ transfer and deposition behaviors proved by in situ electrochemical digital holography. Experimental characterizations and density functional theory simulations further reveal that the catechol groups in the buffer layer can accelerate the Zn2+ reduction reaction (ZRR) through the electron-donating p-π conjugation effect, decreasing the negative charge in the coordination environment. Without extra separators, the elaborated system endows low polarization below 28.2 mV, long lifespan of 4950 h at 5 mA cm-2 in symmetric batteries, and an unprecedented volumetric energy density of 99.2 Wh L-1 based on the whole pouch cells. The concomitantly "separator-free" and "dendrite-free" conjugation effect with an accelerated ZRR process could foster the progression of metallic anodes and benefit energetic aqueous batteries.

A Membrane-Free Rechargeable Seawater Battery Unlocked by Lattice Engineering

Seawater batteries that directly utilize natural seawater as electrolytes are ideal sustainable aqueous devices with high safety, exceedingly low cost, and environmental friendliness. However, the present seawater batteries are either primary batteries or rechargeable half-seawater/half-nonaqueous batteries because of the lack of suitable anode working in seawater. Here, a unique lattice engineering to unlock the electrochemically inert anatase TiO2 anode to be highly active for the reversible uptake of multiple cations (Na+, Mg2+, and Ca2+) in aqueous electrolytes is demonstrated. Density functional theory calculations further reveal the origin of the unprecedented charge storage behaviors, which can be attributed to the significant reduction of the cations diffusion barrier within the lattice, i.e., from 1.5 to 0.4 eV. As a result, the capacities of anatase TiO2 with 2.4% lattice expansion are ≈100 times higher than the routine one in natural seawater, and ≈200 times higher in aqueous Na+ electrolyte. The finding will significantly advance aqueous seawater energy storage devices closer to practical applications.

Core training for pain management and functional improvement in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects of core strengthening exercises on pain, mobility, and lower extremity muscle strength in patients with Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFP).

DESIGN

Six databases were searched from inception until August 11, 2023. Pain, function and muscle strength related outcomes were extracted and the quality of the studies was assessed using the PEDro scale and the level of evidence was assessed using the GRADE.

RESULTS

Nineteen studies involving 1138 patients were included. Very low-grade evidence supported the short-term pain-relieving effect of core training (SMD = -0.60 95% CI [-0.95, -0.25]), high-grade evidence supported the short-term functional improvement effects of core training (WMD = 3.61 95% CI [1.44, 5.78]), which was similarly significant within 3-12 months of follow-up. The results of the subgroup analyses suggested that hip-knee training was most advantageous in relieving pain and enhancing motor function.

CONCLUSIONS

Although training that includes trunk core is clearly superior to knee strengthening alone, the effectiveness of hip-knee training, which is also a core training program for pain and function, is more pronounced. The available evidence supports that hip-knee training is the most valuable treatment option for patients with PFP.

[Gemcitabine long-term maintenance chemotherapy benefits patients with survival: a multicenter, real-world study of advanced breast cancer treatment in China]

Objective: This study collected a real-world data on survival and efficacy of gemcitabine-containing therapy in advanced breast cancer. Aimed to find the main reasons of affecting the duration of gemcitabine-base therapy in advanced breast cancer patients. Methods: Advanced breast cancer patients who received gemcitabine-base therapy from January 2017 to January 2019 were enrolled(10 hospitals). The clinicopathological data, the number of chemotherapy cycles and the reasons for treatment termination were collected and analyzed. To identify the reasons related with continuous treatment for advanced breast cancer and the factors which affect the survival and efficacy. Results: A total of 224 patients with advanced breast cancer were enrolled in this study, with a median age of 52 years (26-77 years), 55.4%(124/224) was postmenopausal. Luminal type were 83 cases, TNBC were 97 cases, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER's-2) overexpression were 44. At the analysis, 224 patients who received the gemcitabine-based regimens were evaluated, included 5 complete reponse (CR), 77 partial response (PR), 112 stable disease (SD) and 27 progressive disease (PD). The objective response rate (ORR) was 36.6%(82/224). Seventy patients had serious adverse diseases, including leukopenia (9), neutrophilia (49), thrombocytopenia (15), and elevated transaminase (2). The median follow-up time was 41 months (26~61 months), and the median PFS was 5.6 months. The reasons of termination treatment were listed: disease progression were 90 patients; personal reasons were 51 patients; adverse drug reactions were 18 patients; completed treatment were 65 patients. It was found that progression-free survival (PFS) was significantly longer in patients receiving >6 cycles than that in patients with ≤6 cycles (8.2 months vs 5.4 months, HR=2.474, 95% CI: 1.730-3.538, P＜0.001). Conclusions: Gemcitabine-based regimen is generally well tolerated in the Chinese population and has relatively ideal clinical efficacy in the real world. The median PFS is significantly prolonged when the number of treatment cycles are appropriately increased.

Tandem Chemistry with Janus Mesopores Accelerator for Efficient Aqueous Batteries

A reliable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) on the metallic Zn anode is imperative for stable Zn-based aqueous batteries. However, the incompatible Zn-ion reduction processes, scilicet simultaneous adsorption (capture) and desolvation (repulsion) of Zn2+(H2O)6, raise kinetics and stability challenges for the design of SEI. Here, we demonstrate a tandem chemistry strategy to decouple and accelerate the concurrent adsorption and desolvation processes of the Zn2+ cluster at the inner Helmholtz layer. An electrochemically assembled perforative mesopore SiO2 interphase with tandem hydrophilic -OH and hydrophobic -F groups serves as a Janus mesopores accelerator to boost a fast and stable Zn2+ reduction reaction. Combining in situ electrochemical digital holography, molecular dynamics simulations, and spectroscopic characterizations reveals that -OH groups capture Zn2+ clusters from the bulk electrolyte and then -F groups repulse coordinated H2O molecules in the solvation shell to achieve the tandem ion reduction process. The resultant symmetric batteries exhibit reversible cycles over 8000 and 2000 h under high current densities of 4 and 10 mA cm-2, respectively. The feasibility of the tandem chemistry is further evidenced in both Zn//VO2 and Zn//I2 batteries, and it might be universal to other aqueous metal-ion batteries.

A systematic review on utilization of biodiesel-derived crude glycerol in sustainable polymers preparation

With the rapid development of biodiesel, biodiesel-derived glycerol has become a promising renewable bioresource. The key to utilizing this bioresource lies in the value-added conversion of crude glycerol. While purifying crude glycerol into a pure form allows for diverse applications, the intricate nature of this process renders it costly and environmentally stressful. Consequently, technology facilitating the direct utilization of unpurified crude glycerol holds significant importance. It has been reported that crude glycerol can be bio-transformed or chemically converted into high-value polymers. These technologies provide cost-effective alternatives for polymer production while contributing to a more sustainable biodiesel industry. This review article describes the global production and quality characteristics of biodiesel-derived glycerol and investigates the influencing factors and treatment of the composition of crude glycerol including water, methanol, soap, matter organic non-glycerol, and ash. Additionally, this review also focused on the advantages and challenges of various technologies for converting crude glycerol into polymers, considering factors such as the compatibility of crude glycerol and the control of unfavorable factors. Lastly, the application prospect and value of crude glycerol conversion were discussed from the aspects of economy and environmental protection. The development of new technologies for the increased use of crude glycerol as a renewable feedstock for polymer production will be facilitated by the findings of this review, while promoting mass market applications.

Comparative analysis of the nutritional and biological properties between the pileus and stipe of Morchella sextelata

Morchella sextelata is a highly prized edible mushroom and is widely consumed for its distinctive taste and texture. The stipe of M. sextelata is significantly lower in priced compared to the pileus. The aim of this study was to conduct a comprehensive comparative analysis of the nutritional and biological properties between the pileus and stipe of M. sextelata. The results revealed that the stipe exhibited comparable levels of various nutrients and bioactive compounds to those found in the pileus. The stipe showed significantly higher levels of crude dietary fiber, various mineral elements, vitamins, amino acids, 5'-nucleotides, fatty acids, and specific sugars. Additionally, it also demonstrated significant abundance in bioactive compounds such as total flavonoids and ergothioneine. Overall, our study provides valuable insights into unlocking further knowledge about M. sextelata's nutritional composition while highlighting its potential health benefits associated with different parts of this highly esteemed edible mushroom.

Efficacy of acupuncture combined with active exercise training in improving pain and function of knee osteoarthritis individuals: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the clinical efficacy of acupuncture combined with active exercise training in improving pain and function of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) individuals.

DATA SOURCES

PubMed, EMBASE, The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wan Fang Data, Technology Periodical Database and China Biology Medicine were searched from their inceptions to April 5, 2023.

REVIEW METHODS

We analyzed trials of acupuncture combined with active exercise training for KOA. The included studies were of high quality (Jadad ≥ 4) and RCTs. Study selection, data extraction, risk of bias and quality assessment were independently performed by two reviewers. We performed systematic analyses based on different outcome measures, including total efficiency rate, visual analogue scale (VAS), the Western Ontario and Mcmaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), the Lysholm Knee Scale (LKS) and range of motion (ROM). We used Review Manager 5.3 and Stata/MP 14.0 to analyze the data. And it was verified by trial sequence analysis (TSA). If I2 > 50% and p < 0.05, we performed sensitivity analysis and subgroup analysis to find the source of heterogeneity. Publication bias was studied by funnel plot and Egger's test was used to verify it.

RESULTS

Full 11 high-quality studies (Jadad ≥ 4) including 774 KOA individuals were included in this review for meta-analysis. The results showed that acupuncture combined with active exercise training (combined group) was superior to the acupuncture group in improving the total effective rate [RR = 1.13, 95%CI (1.05, 1.22), I2 = 0%, P = 0.70], reducing the pain level (VAS) [MD = - 0.74, 95%CI (- 1.04,  - 0.43), I2 = 68%, P < 0.05], improving knee joint function (WOMAC) [MD =  - 6.97, 95%CI (- 10.74, - 3.19), I2 = 76%, P < 0.05] and improving joint range of motion (ROM) [MD = 6.25, 95%CI (2.37, 10.04), I2 = 0%, P = 0.71]. Similarly, the combined group showed significant improvements in the total effective rate [RR = 1.31, 95% CI (1.18, 1.47), I2 = 48%, P = 0.10], pain (VAS) [MD = 1.42, 95% CI (- 1.85, - 1.00), I2 = 65%, P = 0.02] and knee function (WOMAC) [MD = 7.05, 95% CI (- 11.43, - 2.66), I2 = 86%, P < 0.05] compared with the non-acupuncture group.

CONCLUSION

The combined effect of all studies showed significant benefits of acupuncture combined with active exercise training in improving the total effective rate, reducing pain, promoting recovery of knee function and expanding range of motion. However, some evaluation indicators are highly subjective and need to be further confirmed by more objective and evidence-based high-quality RCTs in future.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

[PROSPERO], identifier [No. CRD42023425823].

Design and experiments of a compact electrostatic low energy beam transport with a double Einzel-lens for a transportable neutron source

A transportable, compact, accelerator-based neutron source is under development at Xian Jiaotong University. An electrostatic low energy beam transport (LEBT) structure with a double Einzel-lens setup was adopted due to its short length and low power consumption. It can transport a pulsed proton beam to the radio frequency quadrupole with a required beam current of 15 mA and an energy of 30 keV. We performed detailed structure optimization and beam tracking to achieve beam matching and small emittance growth. In addition, the fast chopper, beam steering, and diagnostic devices are integrated into the LEBT. The fabrication and assembly of the proton injector have been completed, and beam commissioning was carried out to measure the beam current and Twiss parameters. The design strategy, beam simulation, and experimental results are presented and discussed in this paper.

Identification of genomic-wide genetic links between cutaneous melanoma and obesity-related physical traits via cFDR

BACKGROUND

Both epidemiological and clinical studies have suggested the comorbidity between cutaneous melanoma (CM) and obesity-related physical traits. However, it remains unclear about their shared genetic architecture.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the shared genetic architecture between CM and obesity-related physical traits through conditional false discovery rate (cFDR) analysis.

METHOD

Quantile-quantile plots were firstly built to assess the pleiotropic enrichment of shared single nucleotide polymorphisms between CM and each trait. Then, cFDR and conjunctional cFDR (ccFDR) were used to identify the shared risk loci between CM and each trait. Moreover, the functional evaluation of shared risk genes was carried out through analyses of expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes and gene ontology, respectively. Finally, single-cell sequence analysis was performed to locate the expression of eQTL-mapped genes in tissues.

RESULTS

Successive pleiotropic enrichment was found between CM and 5 obesity-related traits or height. 24 shared risk loci were identified between CM and 13 traits except appendicular lean mass using ccFDR analysis, with 17 novel and 4 validated loci. The functions of ccFDR-identified and eQTL-mapped genes were revealed to be mainly involved in cellular senescence, proliferation, meiotic nuclear division, cell cycle, and the metabolism of lipid, cholesterol and glucose. Single-cell sequence analysis showed that keratinocytes contribute to the occurrence and aggressiveness of CM through secreting paracrine cytokines.

CONCLUSION

Our findings demonstrate the significant genetic correlation between CM and obesity-related physical traits, which may provide a novel genetical basis for the pathogenesis and treatment of CM.

Effect of different exercise regimens on LVEF and restenosis incidence in patients after PCI: a network meta-analysis and an overview of systematic reviews

Objective

We aimed to evaluate the effects of different exercise rehabilitation (ER) programs on LVEF and the incidence of restenosis in patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) through a systematic review and an integrated network meta-analysis (NMA) to provide a reference for the clinical formulation of ER programs for PCI patients.

Methods

Meta-analyses of the effects of different types of ER programs on LVEF and the incidence of reinfarction in post-PCI patients were retrieved from 11 domestic and foreign databases. The methodological and reporting quality of the included systematic reviews were evaluated using the AMSTAR 2 and PRISMA statements. The GRADE scoring system was used to evaluate the quality of evidence found in the studies included in the meta-analysis, and studies with high and intermediate-quality evidence were qualitatively analyzed. Stata software (version 16.0) was used to conduct an integrated NMA of the original RCTs with moderate and low risk of bias.

Result

Sixteen meta-analyses were included in this evaluation. The reporting quality of the included meta-analyses was relatively complete, and the methodological quality was low. Seventy RCTs were included in the NMA. The results showed that all types of rehabilitative exercises were safe and effectively increased LVEF and reduced the incidence of coronary restenosis in patients. The comprehensive exercise program was the most likely to improve LVEF, and the comprehensive exercise program, early exercise program, and high-intensity interval exercise were better than aerobic exercise. Comprehensive exercise programs, early exercise programs, and aerobic exercise reduced the incidence of restenosis in patients. However, Chinese Qigong did not reduce the incidence of restenosis in patients, and there was a risk of bias and inconsistency in the quantitative analysis of restenosis incidence.

Conclusion

Comprehensive exercise programs have the greatest therapeutic significance in improving cardiac output and reducing restenosis rates in post-PCI patients. The early exercise program has great potential but requires kinesiologists to work with physicians to structure the program and strengthen out-of-hospital management. Aerobic exercise has the least therapeutic significance, and Chinese Qigong is suitable for promotion based on its better efficacy than aerobic exercise and may be an alternative to aerobic exercise, but more experimental evidence is needed.

Systematic Review Registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, PROSPERO CRD42022374590.

Reviving Zn0 Dendrites to Electroactive Zn2+ by Mesoporous MXene with Active Edge Sites

Zinc metal-based aqueous batteries (ZABs) offer a sustainable, affordable, and safe energy storage alternative to lithium, yet inevitable dendrite formation impedes their wide use, especially under long-term and high-rate cycles. How the battery can survive after dendrite formation remains an open question. Here, we pivot from conventional Zn dendrite growth suppression strategies, introducing proactive dendrite-digesting chemistry via a mesoporous Ti3C2 MXene (MesoTi3C2)-wrapped polypropylene separator. Spectroscopic characterizations and electrochemical evaluation demonstrate that MesoTi3C2, acting as an oxidant, can revive the formed dead Zn0 dendrites into electroactive Zn2+ ions through a spontaneous redox process. Density functional theory reveals that the abundant edge-Ti-O sites in our MesoTi3C2 facilitate high oxidizability and electron transfer from Zn0 dendrites compared to their in-plane counterparts. The resultant asymmetrical cell demonstrates remarkable ultralong cycle life of 2200 h at a practical current of 5 mA cm-2 with a low overpotential (<50 mV). The study reveals the unexpected edge effect of mesoporous MXenes and uncovers a new proactive dendrite-digesting chemistry to survive ZABs, albeit with inevitable dendrite formation.

A20 ameliorates advanced glycation end products-induced melanogenesis by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation in human dermal fibroblasts

BACKGROUND

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) promote melanogenesis through activating NLRP3 inflammasome in fibroblasts. Although A20 has been highlighted to inhibit NLRP3 inflammasome activation, its roles and mechanisms remain elusive in photoaging-associated pigmentation.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the significance of fibroblast A20 in AGEs-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation and pigmentation.

METHODS

The correlation between A20 and AGEs or melanin was studied in sun-exposed skin and lesions of melasma and solar lentigo. We then investigated A20 level in AGEs-treated fibroblast and the effect of fibroblast A20 overexpression or knockdown on AGEs-BSA-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation and pigmentation, respectively. Finally, the severity of NLRP3 inflammasome activation and pigmentation was evaluated after mice were injected intradermally with A20-overexpression adeno-associated virus and AGEs-BSA.

RESULTS

Dermal A20 expression was decreased and exhibited negative correlation with either dermal AGEs deposition or epidermal melanin level in sun-exposed skin and pigmentary lesions. Moreover, both AGEs-BSA and AGEs-collagen robustly decreased A20 expression via binding to RAGE in fibroblasts. Further, A20 overexpression or depletion significantly decreased or augmented AGEs-BSA-induced activation of NF-κB pathway and NLRP3 inflammasome and IL-18 production and secretion in fibroblasts, respectively. Importantly, fibroblast A20 potently repressed AGEs-BSA-stimulated melanin content，tyrosinase activity，and expression of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor and tyrosinase in melanocytes. Particularly, fibroblast A20 significantly abrogated AGEs-BSA-promoted melanogenesis in ex vivo skin and mouse models. Additionally, fibroblast A20 inhibited AGEs-BSA-activated MAPKs in melanocytes and the epidermis of ex vivo skin.

CONCLUSIONS

Fibroblast A20 suppresses AGEs-stimulate melanogenesis in photoaging-associated hyperpigmentation disorders by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation.

[Analysis on the secondary attack rates of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant and the associated factors]

Objective: To evaluate the secondary attack rates of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant and the associated factors. Methods: A total of 328 primary cases and 40 146 close contacts of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant routinely detected in local areas of Jiangsu Province from February to April 2022 were selected in this study, and those with positive nucleic acid test results during 7 days of centralized isolation medical observation were defined as secondary cases. The demographic information and clinical characteristics were collected, and the secondary attack rate (SAR) and the associated factors were analyzed by using a multivariate logistic regression model. Results: A total of 1 285 secondary cases of close contacts were reported from 328 primary cases, with a SAR of 3.2% (95%CI: 3.0%-3.4%). Among the 328 primary cases, males accounted for 61.9% (203 cases), with the median age (Q1, Q3) of 38.5 (27, 51) years old. Among the 1 285 secondary cases, males accounted for 59.1% (759 cases), with the median age (Q1, Q3) of 34 (17, 52) years old. The multivariate logistic regression model showed that the higher SAR was observed in the primary male cases (OR=1.632, 95%CI: 1.418-1.877), younger than 20 years old (OR=1.766, 95%CI: 1.506-2.072),≥60 years old (OR=1.869, 95%CI: 1.476-2.365), infected with the BA.2 strain branch (OR=2.906, 95%CI: 2.388-3.537), the confirmed common cases (OR=2.572, 95%CI: 2.036-3.249), and confirmed mild cases (OR=1.717, 95%CI: 1.486-1.985). Meanwhile, the higher SAR was observed in the close contacts younger than 20 years old (OR=2.604, 95%CI: 2.250-3.015),≥60 years old (OR=1.287, 95%CI: 1.052-1.573) and exposure for co-residence (OR=27.854, 95%CI: 23.470-33.057). Conclusion: The sex and age of the primary case of the Omicron variant, the branch of the infected strain, case severity of the primary case, as well as the age and contact mode of close contacts are the associated factors of SAR.

Synthesis and structural characteristics analysis of melanin pigments induced by blue light in Morchella sextelata

Morchella sextelata, a highly sought-after edible mushroom worldwide, is evaluated based on its cap color as an essential commercial property indicator. In the present study, the effects of blue light on cap pigmentation in M. sextelata, as well as the synthesis and structural characteristics of melanin pigments within the cap were examined. The results showed that an increase in the proportion of blue light within the lighting environment promoted melanin synthesis and melanization of the cap. Transmission and scanning electron microscopy revealed the localization of melanin within the mycelium and its ultrastructural characteristics. The UV-visible analysis demonstrated that melanin exhibited a maximum absorption peak at 220 nm and possessed high alkaline solubility as well as acid precipitability. The structural characteristics of melanin were analyzed using FTIR, NMR, HPLC, and elemental analysis, which confirmed the presence of eumelanin, pheomelanin, and allomelanin in both brown and black caps. Furthermore, blue light can stimulate the synthesis of both eumelanin and pheomelanin. The obtained results can serve as the foundation for comprehending the mechanism by which light regulates color formation in mushrooms.

CircRNA-406918 enhances the degradation of advanced glycation end products in photoaged human dermal fibroblasts via targeting cathepsin D

BACKGROUND

Lysosomal cathepsin D (CTSD) can degrade internalized advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in dermal fibroblasts. CTSD expression is decreased in photoaged fibroblasts, which contributes to intracellular AGEs deposition and further plays a role in AGEs accumulation of photoaged skin. The mechanism under downregulated CTSD expression is unclear.

OBJECTIVE

To explore possible mechanism of regulating CTSD expression in photoaged fibroblasts.

METHODS

Dermal fibroblasts were induced into photoaging with repetitive ultraviolet A (UVA) irradiation. The competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks were constructed to predict candidate circRNAs or miRNAs related with CTSD expression. AGEs-BSA degradation by fibroblasts was studied with flow cytometry, ELISA, and confocal microscopy. Effects of overexpressing circRNA-406918 via lentiviral transduction on CTSD expression, autophagy, AGE-BSA degradation were analyzed in photoaged fibroblasts. The correlation between circRNA-406918 and CTSD expression or AGEs accumulation in sun-exposed and sun-protected skin was studied.

RESULTS

CTSD expression, autophagy, and AGEs-BSA degradation were significantly decreased in photoaged fibroblasts. CircRNA-406918 was identified to regulate CTSD expression, autophagy, and senescence in photoaged fibroblasts. Overexpressing circRNA-406918 potently decreased senescence and increased CTSD expression, autophagic flux, and AGEs-BSA degradation in photoaged fibroblasts. Moreover, circRNA-406918 level was positively correlated with CTSD mRNA expression and negatively associated with AGEs accumulation in photodamaged skin. Further, circRNA-406918 was predicted to mediate CTSD expression through sponging eight miRNAs.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that circRNA-406918 regulates CTSD expression and AGEs degradation in UVA-induced photoaged fibroblasts and might exert a role in AGEs accumulation in photoaged skin.

Trade-off between Zincophilicity and Zincophobicity: Toward Stable Zn-Based Aqueous Batteries

Zn-based aqueous batteries (ZABs) hold great promise for large-scale energy storage applications due to the merits of intrinsic safety and low cost. Nevertheless, the thorny issues of metallic Zn anodes, including dendrite growth and parasitic side reactions, have severely limited the application of ZABs. Despite the encouraging improvements for stabilizing Zn anodes through surface modification, electrolyte optimization, and structural design, fundamentally addressing the inherent thermodynamics and kinetics obstacles of Zn anodes remains crucial in realizing reliable ZABs with ultrahigh efficiency, capacity, and cyclability. The target of this perspective is to elucidate the prominent status of Zn metal anode electrochemistry first from the perspective of zincophilicity and zincophobicity. Recent progress in ZABs is critically appraised for addressing the key issues, with special emphasis on the trade-off between zincophilic and zincophobic electrochemistry. Challenges and prospects for further exploration of a reliable Zn anode are presented, which are expected to boost in-depth research and practical applications of advanced ZABs.

MXene Fibers for Flexible and Wearable Electronics: Recent Progress and Future Perspectives

With the impetus of flexible electronics and micro-nano fabrication technology, the human demand for flexible intelligent wearable devices is on an upsurge. In recent years, new functional fibers have undergone rapid development and emerged as an indispensable carrier of flexible wearable e-textiles. However, to achieve their functional applications and durability, new functional fibers must possess good electrical and mechanical properties. As an emerging two-dimensional material, MXenes have attracted immense attention for their high electrical conductivity, mechanical strength, specific surface area, adjustable surface properties, and exceptional processability. As such, MXenes have become an ideal candidate for the primary functional component of functional fibers. This paper presents a comprehensive review of research progress on MXene-based fibers in the construction of flexible wearable electronic textiles. Firstly, we briefly outline the preparation methods of MXenes materials. Next, we summarize the processing types of MXene-based fibers and highlight their performance parameters. Lastly, we summarize the primary application scenarios of MXene-based fibers and anticipate the future development of flexible wearable e-textiles.

Self-Assembled Peptide Hydrogels in Regenerative Medicine

Regenerative medicine is a complex discipline that is becoming a hot research topic. Skin, bone, and nerve regeneration dominate current treatments in regenerative medicine. A new type of drug is urgently needed for their treatment due to their high vulnerability to damage and weak self-repairing ability. A self-assembled peptide hydrogel is a good scaffolding material in regenerative medicine because it is similar to the cytoplasmic matrix environment; it promotes cell adhesion, migration, proliferation, and division; and its degradation products are natural and harmless proteins. However, fewer studies have examined the specific mechanisms of self-assembled peptide hydrogels in promoting tissue regeneration. This review summarizes the applications and mechanisms of self-assembled short peptide and peptide hydrogels in skin, bone, and neural healing to improve their applications in tissue healing and regeneration.

Heterostructured CoFeP/CoP as an Electrocatalyst for Hydrogen Evolution in Alkaline Media

Developing highly efficient and persistent transition-metal-phosphide (TMP)-based electrocatalysts is critical for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) via water splitting in alkaline media. Herein, we constructed a unique heterostructured CoFeP/CoP grown on a nickle foam (NF) via hydrothermal and dipping methods followed by phosphorization at different temperatures for HER. The experimental results exhibit that the HER activity of CoFeP/CoP-400 is accelerated after the construction of heterostructures. The unique heterostructure provides plentiful active sites and a large surface area, which are beneficial for HER in 1.0 M KOH. CoFeP/CoP-400 displays a small overpotential of 78 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm^-2 and a smaller Tafel slope of 55.5 mV dec^-1. Moreover, CoFeP/CoP-400 shows excellent stability with a long-term operating time of 12 h. This work provides an effective method for the construction of TMPs with heterostructures for promoting energy conversion.

The role of monocytes in thrombotic diseases: a review

Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases are the number one killer threatening people's life and health, among which cardiovascular thrombotic events are the most common. As the cause of particularly serious cardiovascular events, thrombosis can trigger fatal crises such as acute coronary syndrome (myocardial infarction and unstable angina), cerebral infarction and so on. Circulating monocytes are an important part of innate immunity. Their main physiological functions are phagocytosis, removal of injured and senescent cells and their debris, and development into macrophages and dendritic cells. At the same time, they also participate in the pathophysiological processes of pro-coagulation and anticoagulation. According to recent studies, monocytes have been found to play a significant role in thrombosis and thrombotic diseases of the immune system. In this manuscript, we review the relationship between monocyte subsets and cardiovascular thrombotic events and analyze the role of monocytes in arterial thrombosis and their involvement in intravenous thrombolysis. Finally, we summarize the mechanism and therapeutic regimen of monocyte and thrombosis in hypertension, antiphospholipid syndrome, atherosclerosis, rheumatic heart disease, lower extremity deep venous thrombosis, and diabetic nephropathy.

Effects of low-frequency rTMS combined with antidepressants on depression in patients with post-stroke depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective

To evaluate the effect of low-frequency (≤1 Hz) repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (low-frequency rTMS) combined with antidepressants on depression and the levels of inflammatory factors IL-6 and TNF-α in patients with post-stroke depression (PSD).

Design

PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library (CBM), China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Technology Periodical Database, and Wanfang Database were searched until October 2022 for randomized controlled trials.

Participants

Patients with post-stroke depression (PSD) participated in the study.

Results

A total of 16 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 1,463 patients with PSD were included. According to the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) quality assessment, three studies received high quality (eight scores) and 13 RCTs received moderate quality (six scores) results. The meta-analysis showed that low-rTMS combined with an antidepressant significantly reduced the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) score and the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, reduced IL-6 and TNF-α levels, and improved the MMSE score in PSD compared to an antidepressant alone.

Conclusion

The results of this meta-analysis evidenced the efficacy and safety of low-rTMS combined with antidepressants in the treatment of depression in PSD patients. The combined therapy could reduce The depression state and the levels of IL-6 and TNF-α, and enhance the cognitive function of patients. In addition, low-rTMS had fewer adverse effects, proving safety. However, there are shortcomings, such as a lack of long-term follow-up, different intervention sites of low-rTMS, and different intervention frequencies (0.5 or 1 Hz). Thus, in the future, RCTs with a larger sample size and longer-term observation are required to verify the efectiveness of low-rTMS combined therapy on PSD. Meantime, a new meta-analysis could be analysized, which intervention sites and frequency are more effective in treating PSD.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier: CRD42022376845.

High-Energy Sn-Ni and Sn-Air Aqueous Batteries via Stannite-Ion Electrochemistry

Tin is promising for aqueous batteries (ABs) due to its multiple electrons' reactions, high corrosion resistance, large hydrogen overpotential, and excellent environmental compatibility. However, restricted to the high thermodynamic barrier and the poor electrochemical kinetics, efficient alkaline Sn plating/stripping at facile conditions has not yet been realized. Here, for the first time, we demonstrate a highly reversible stannite-ion electrochemistry and construct a novel paradigm of high-energy Sn-based ABs. Combined spectroscopic characterization, electrochemical evaluation, and theoretical computation reveal the thermodynamic merits with a low reaction energy barrier and feasible H₂O participation in Sn-ion reduction as well as the kinetic merits with fastened surface charge transfer and SnO₂^2- diffusion. The resultant alkaline Sn anode delivers a low potential of -1.07 V vs Hg/HgO, a specific capacity of 450 mA h g^-1, a Coulombic efficiency of near 100%, superb rate capability at 45.5 A g^-1, and excellent cycling durability without dendrite and dead Sn. As a proof of concept, we developed new high-energy Sn-based ABs, including 1.45 V Sn-Ni with 314 W h kg^-1 (58 kW kg^-1 and over 15,000 cycles) and 1.0 V Sn-air with 420 W h kg^-1 (lifespan over 1900 h), on the basis of masses from cathode and anode active materials. The findings prove the feasibility of the alkaline Sn metal anode, and the new suite of high-energy Sn-based ABs may be of immediate benefit toward safe, reliable, and affordable energy storage.

Preparation of MoFs-Derived Cobalt Oxide/Carbon Nanotubes Composites for High-Performance Asymmetric Supercapacitor

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs)-derived metallic oxide compounds exhibit a tunable structure and intriguing activity and have received intensive investigation in recent years. Herein, this work reports metal–organic frameworks (MOFs)-derived cobalt oxide/carbon nanotubes (MWCNTx@Co3O4) composites by calcining the MWCNTx@ZIF-67 precursor in one step. The morphology and structure of the composite were investigated by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) characterization. The compositions and valence states of the compounds were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Benefiting from the structurally stable MOFs-derived porous cobalt oxide frameworks and the homogeneous conductive carbon nanotubes, the synthesized MWCNTx@Co3O4 composites display a maximum specific capacitance of 206.89 F·g−1 at 1.0 A·g−1. In addition, the specific capacitance of the MWCNT3@Co3O4//activated carbon (AC) asymmetric capacitor reaches 50 F·g−1, and has an excellent electrochemical performance. These results suggest that the MWCNTx@Co3O4 composites can be a potential candidate for electrochemical energy storage devices.

Prioritizing Hetero-Metallic Interfaces via Thermodynamics Inertia and Kinetics Zincophilia Metrics for Tough Zn-Based Aqueous Batteries

Poor thermodynamic stability and sluggish electrochemical kinetics of metallic Zn anode in aqueous solution greatly hamper its practical application. To solve such problems, to date, various zincophilic surface modification strategies are developed, which can facilitate reversible Zn plating/stripping behavior. However, there is still a lack of systematic and fundamental understanding regarding the metrics of thermodynamics inertia and kinetics zincophilia in selecting zincophilic sites. Herein, hetero-metallic interfaces are prioritized for the first time via optimizing different hetero metals (Fe, Co, Ni, Sn, Bi, Cu, Zn, etc.) and synthetic solvents (ethanol, ethylene glycol, n-propanol, etc.). Specifically, both theoretical simulations and experimental results suggest that this Bi@Zn interface can exhibit high efficiency owing to the thermodynamics inertia and kinetics zincophilia. A best practice for prioritizing zincophilic sites in a more practical metric is also proposed. As a proof of concept, the Bi@Zn anode delivers ultralow overpotential of ≈55 mV at a high rate of 10 mA cm^-2 and stable cycle life over 4700 cycles. The elaborated "thermodynamics inertia and kinetics metalphilia" metrics for hetero-metallic interfaces can benchmark the success of other metal-based batteries.

Breathable Bactericide Piezocatalyst Integrating Anode-Cathode Heterojunction Capacitance on a Piezoelectric-Conductive Film

Piezocatalysis has received great attention in recent years. However, despite the great promise therein, high-performance piezocatalysts are still rare and the principles in designing high-performance piezocatalysts remain lacking. We demonstrate here a novel piezocatalyst design by integrating the oxidizing and reducing reaction sites heterojunction on a piezoelectric and conductive matrix. The catalytic composite generates reactive oxidizing species with unprecedented high capabilities. The •O₂^- yield is over 400% that of previously reported catalysts and for the first time realized effective piezocatalytic bactericidal effects over 99%. A range of structural features, including proper energy band alignments, high capacitance, patterned high conductivity, voltage-regulated wettability, and effective piezoelectrical capability, are believed to synergize for their high piezocatalytic performance. This study has extended the piezocatalysts with new design principles, effective descriptors of merits, new applications, and effective performance capabilities.

Nanotechnology in cervical cancer immunotherapy: Therapeutic vaccines and adoptive cell therapy

Immunotherapy is an emerging method for the treatment of cervical cancer and is more effective than surgery and radiotherapy, especially for recurrent cervical cancer. However, immunotherapy is limited by adverse effects in clinical practice. In recent years, nanotechnology has been widely used for tumor diagnosis, drug delivery, and targeted therapy. In the setting of cervical cancer, nanotechnology can be used to actively or passively target immunotherapeutic agents to tumor sites, thereby enhancing local drug delivery, reducing drug adverse effects, achieving immunomodulation, improving the tumor immune microenvironment, and optimizing treatment efficacy. In this review, we highlight the current status of therapeutic vaccines and adoptive cell therapy in cervical cancer immunotherapy, as well as the application of lipid carriers, polymeric nanoparticles, inorganic nanoparticles, and exosomes in this context.

[Clinical and endoscopic characteristics of gastrointestinal mantle cell lymphoma]

Objective: To study the clinical and endoscopic features of mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). Methods: The clinical data and endoscopic characteristics of 20 patients with gastrointestinal MCL treated in the Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University and the Digestive Endoscopy Center of Guizhou Medical University from January 2011 to January 2021 were collected, and the histological and immunohistochemical characteristics of the tumor were observed. Meanwhile, 44 cases of non-gastrointestinal MCL in the above two hospitals in the same period were also enrolled. The clinical and endoscopic differences between the two groups were compared. Results: Among the 20 patients with gastrointestinal MCL, the male to female ratio was 4∶1 (16/4), the average age was (60.3±9.7) years, and 11 patients (55.0%, 11/20) were over 60 years old. The main clinical manifestations of 20 patients at the onset of the disease were bloody stool or black stool in 9 cases (45.0%), abdominal pain in 8 cases (40.0%). Moreover, 5.0% (1/20) had B symptoms (fever, night sweat and weight loss). The most frequently involved site was colorectum (50.0%). Endoscopic findings showed mucosal polypoid lesions in 13 cases (65.0%, 13/20), involving multiple intestinal segments, with polyp diameter of 0.2-3.5 cm. Two cases (10%) were in stage Ⅲ and 18 cases (90%) were in stage Ⅳ according to Ann Arbor staging. Seven cases (35.0%, 7/20) had the involvement of the peritoneal and retroperitoneal lymph nodes, 9 cases (45.0%, 9/20) had the involvement of the superficial lymph nodes in 45.0% (9/20), and 4 cases (20%, 4/20) had other extranodal invasion. Splenomegaly accounted for 35.0% (7/20). CD20, Bcl-2 and CD5 were positive or strongly positive in all gastrointestinal MCL tumor cells in 20 cases. Cyclin D1 was positive or strongly positive, accounting for 90.0% (18/20). The sex-determining region of Y chromosome-related high-mobility-group box 11 (SOX11) was positive or strongly positive, accounting for 65.0% (13/20). The positive index of Ki-67 was 5%-80%. Twenty cases (100%, 20/20) were followed up. The median follow-up was 41.2 months (1-74 months). There was no significant difference in the 3-year overall survival rate between the gastrointestinal MCL patients (70.0%) and non-gastrointestinal MCL patients (72.7%) (χ²=0.051, P=0.822). Conclusions: Abdominal discomfort is the main symptom of gastrointestinal MCL, which often occurs in the colorectum and often presents with multiple polypoid lesions. There are relatively few cases with B symptoms and extranodal invasion, and the prognosis is not different from that of patients with non-gastrointestinal MCL.

[Relationship between opacity of cytomegalovirus retinitis lesion borders and aqueous viral load among patients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation]

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between lesion features of cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis, including lesion size and degree of opacity of lesion borders, and aqueous CMV-DNA load in patients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Methods: It was a retrospective case series study. Data of patients diagnosed as CMV retinitis after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation at the Department of Ophthalmology, Peking University Third Hospital from January 2018 to October 2020 were reviewed. Lesion size was detected by ultra-wide-field fundus image and measured by ImageJ, an image processing and analysis software. Opacity of lesion borders was evaluated by a masked reader. The CMV retinitis lesions were divided into 3 types according to the opacity degree of the border of the lesions: suspected active lesion mildly to moderately opacified lesion and severely opacified lesion. All eyes were diagnosed as active cytomegalovirus retinitis. CMV-DNA in aqueous humor was detected at the first visit and at the end of the induction period of antiviral drugs. CMV-DNA load was quantitatively detected by polymerase chain reaction after 100 μl of aqueous humor was extracted, and were converted to common logarithmic representations. Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between lesion area, opacity degree of lesion border and aqueous humor CMV-DNA load. Results: A total of 71 eyes from 46 patients were included and 26 was male and 20 was female. The age of the patients was 27(13, 33)years. The active lesion size of CMV retinitis was 40(12, 65) disc areas. Eight eyes (11.3%) had a suspected active lesion, 51 eyes (71.8%) had a mildly to moderately opacified lesion border, and 12 eyes (16.9%) had a severely opacified border. At the first visit, 67 eyes (94.4%) were CMV-positive, and the CMV-DNA load was 2.04×10⁴ (6.24× 10², 1.48 ×10⁵) copies/ml. After 2 weeks of induction therapy, the viral load was 2.47×10² (1.08× 10, 6.87 ×10³) copies/ml. The correlation analysis showed that the CMV-DNA load in aqueous humor was significantly correlated with the lesion border opacity both at presentation and 2 weeks after intravitreal antiviral treatment (r=0.765, P<0.001; r=0.761, P<0.001), but was not related with the size of active fundus lesions (r=0.209, P=0.095; r=0.220, P=0.078). Conclusion: Degrees of lesion border opacity can reflect levels of aqueous viral load of CMV retinitis in patients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and can become a useful measurement for investigation of CMV retinitis activity.

[Potential application of improved hard tissue section technique in the clinical pathological diagnosis of bone and bone marrow]

Objective: To discuss the application value of hard tissue section in the clinicopathology diagnosis. Methods: From March 2021 to December 2021, bone slices of 19 patients (1 patient with osteochondroma, 2 patients with chondrosarcoma, 4 patients with osteosarcoma, 2 patients with fibrous dysplasia, 2 patients with bone metastasis from thyroid papillary carcinoma, 2 patients with osteomyelitis, 4 patients with giant cell tumor of bone, 2 patients with Ewing sarcoma) and 16 hemopathy patients were collected from the Department of Pathology, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital. Of the osteopathy patients, there were 14 male and 5 female with a median age of 31 (10-66) years. Meanwhile, there were 7 male and 9 female with a median age of 28 (16-65) years among these hemopathy patients. Thirty-five cases were treated with modified hard tissue slicing technique and paraffin embedding technique, respectively. The advantages and disadvantages of the two methods for clinical diagnosis of bone disease were compared by Hematoxylin-Eosin staining (H&E staining), immunohistochemical staining (IHC), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and Sanger sequencing. Results: The improved resin-embedded method showed better histological morphology and cell structure. Besides, the expression of Ki67, SATB2, CD34, SMA, CD68,MPO,CD4 and CD33 in immunohistochemical staining in bone tissues which were embedded in resin were more clear in the accurate positive localization than those using paraffin-embedded. MDM2 of FISH exhibited a higher fluorescence intensity and more accurate location. Meanwhile, both methods treated with Sanger sequencing met the requirements of DNA purity and mutation detection. Conclusion: The improved hard tissue section method is simple and short time-consuming, which is suitable for optimizing the clinical bone and bone marrow pathological diagnosis process.

Activating sulfur oxidation reaction via six-electron-redox mesocrystal NiS2 for sulfur-based aqueous battery

Sulfur-based aqueous batteries (SABs) are deemed promising candidates for safe, low-cost, and high-capacity energy storage. However, despite their high theoretical capacity, achieving high reversible value remains a great challenge due to the thermodynamic and kinetics problems of elemental sulfur. Here, the reversible six-electron redox electrochemistry is constructed by activating sulfur oxidation reaction (SOR) process of the elaborate mesocrystal NiS2 (M-NiS2). Through the unique 6e− solid-to-solid conversion mechanism, the SOR efficiency can reach an unprecedented degree of ca. 96.0%. The SOR efficiency is further revealed to be closely associated with the kinetics feasibility and thermodynamic stability of the M-NiS2 intermedium in the formation of elemental sulfur. Benefiting from the boosted SOR, compared with the bulk electrode, the M-NiS2 electrode exhibits a high reversible capacity (1258 mAh g−1), ultrafast reaction kinetics (932 mAh g−1 at 12 A g−1), and long-term cyclability (2000 cycles at 20 A g−1). As a proof of concept, a new M-NiS2||Zn hybrid aqueous battery exhibits an output voltage of 1.60 V and an energy density of 722.4 Wh kgcath−1, which opens a new opportunity for the development of high-energy aqueous batteries.

Recent Advances in the Enzymatic Synthesis of Polyester

Polyester is a kind of polymer composed of ester bond-linked polybasic acids and polyol. This type of polymer has a wide range of applications in various industries, such as automotive, furniture, coatings, packaging, and biomedical. The traditional process of synthesizing polyester mainly uses metal catalyst polymerization under high-temperature. This condition may have problems with metal residue and undesired side reactions. As an alternative, enzyme-catalyzed polymerization is evolving rapidly due to the metal-free residue, satisfactory biocompatibility, and mild reaction conditions. This article presented the reaction modes of enzyme-catalyzed ring-opening polymerization and enzyme-catalyzed polycondensation and their combinations, respectively. In addition, the article also summarized how lipase-catalyzed the polymerization of polyester, which includes (i) the distinctive features of lipase, (ii) the lipase-catalyzed polymerization and its mechanism, and (iii) the lipase stability under organic solvent and high-temperature conditions. In addition, this article also focused on the advantages and disadvantages of enzyme-catalyzed polyester synthesis under different solvent systems, including organic solvent systems, solvent-free systems, and green solvent systems. The challenges of enzyme optimization and process equipment innovation for further industrialization of enzyme-catalyzed polyester synthesis were also discussed in this article.

Advances of Carbon Materials for Dual-Carbon Lithium-Ion Capacitors: A Review

Lithium-ion capacitors (LICs) have drawn increasing attention, due to their appealing potential for bridging the performance gap between lithium-ion batteries and supercapacitors. Especially, dual-carbon lithium-ion capacitors (DC-LICs) are even more attractive because of the low cost, high conductivity, and tunable nanostructure/surface chemistry/composition, as well as excellent chemical/electrochemical stability of carbon materials. Based on the well-matched capacity and rate between the cathode and anode, DC-LICs show superior electrochemical performances over traditional LICs and are considered to be one of the most promising alternatives to the current energy storage devices. In particular, the mismatch between the cathode and anode could be further suppressed by applying carbon nanomaterials. Although great progresses of DC-LICs have been achieved, a comprehensive review about the advances of electrode materials is still absent. Herein, in this review, the progresses of traditional and nanosized carbons as cathode/anode materials for DC-LICs are systematically summarized, with an emphasis on their synthesis, structure, morphology, and electrochemical performances. Furthermore, an outlook is tentatively presented, aiming to develop advanced DC-LICs for commercial applications.

Comprehensive analysis of the expression of N6-methyladenosine RNA methylation regulators in pulmonary artery hypertension

Background: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive disease characterized by pulmonary vascular remodeling. The development of PAH involves N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification. However, the functional role of m6A regulators in PAH and the underlying regulatory mechanisms remain unknown so far.

Methods: Microarray data (GSE149713) for monocrotaline induced PAH (MCT-PAH) rat models were downloaded and screened for differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and m6A regulators. Next, we screened for differentially expressed m6A regulators in endothelial cells (ECs), smooth muscle cells (SMCs), fibroblasts, interstitial macrophages, NK cells, B cells, T cells, regulatory T cells (Tregs) using scRNA sequencing data. The target DEGs of m6A regulators in ECs, SMCs, fibroblasts, and Tregs were functionally annotated using the Gene Ontology (GO) functional analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis. In addition, the cellular interaction analysis was performed to reveal the receptor—ligand pairs regulated by m6A regulators. Pseudo-time trajectory analyses were performed and a ceRNA network of lncRNAs-miRNAs-mRNAs was constructed in SMCs. Furthermore, the RNA transcriptome sequencing data for the SMCs isolated from idiopathic PAH (IPAH) patients (GSE144274) were validated for differentially expressed m6A regulators. Moreover, the HNRNPA2B1 levels in the lung samples from PAH patients and MCT-PAH were determined using immunohistochemistry.

Results: The m6A regulators were observed to be dysregulated in PAH. HNRNPA2B1expression level was increased in the PASMCs of scRNAs and IPAH patients. The target DEGs of HNRNPA2B1 were enriched in the regulation of muscle cell differentiation and vasculature development in PASMCs. The HNRNPA2B1 expression levels determined were consistent with the proliferation-related and collagen synthesis-related gene COL4A1. Moreover, the predicted transcription factors (TFs) foxd2/3 and NFκB could be involved in the regulation of HNRNPA2B1. HNRNPA2B1 might be regulating SMCs proliferation and phenotypic transition via rno-miR-330–3p/TGFβR3 and rno-miR-125a-3p/slc39a1. In addition, HNRNPA2B1 was observed to be highly expressed in the lung samples from MCT-PAH rat models and patients with PAH.

Conclusion: In summary, the present study identified certain key functional m6A regulators that are involved in pulmonary vascular remodeling. The investigation of m6A patterns might be promising and provide biomarkers for diagnosis and treatment of PAH in the future.

Deconvoluting the complexity of autophagy in colorectal cancer: From crucial pathways to targeted therapies

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common gastrointestinal tumor with a high degree of malignancy, and most clinical cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage, which has unfortunately missed an opportunity for surgery; therefore, elucidation of the crucial pathways of CRC development and discovery of targeted therapeutic strategies should be anticipated. Autophagy, which is an evolutionarily highly conserved catabolic process, may promote tumorigenesis and development of CRC. On the contrary, autophagy can trigger programmed cell death to inhibit CRC progression. Correspondingly, several targeted therapeutic strategies have been reported in CRC, including small-molecule compounds, polypeptides, non-coding RNAs, photodynamic, and adjuvant therapies. Thus, in this review, we focus on summarizing the crucial pathways of autophagy in CRC, and further discuss the current therapeutic strategies targeting autophagy. Together, these findings may shed light on the key regulatory mechanisms of autophagy and provide more promising therapeutic approaches for the future CRC therapies.

Recent advances in MXenes and their composites for wearable sensors

Flexible wearable sensors have attracted significant interests and created high technological impact on human health monitoring, environmental pollutant detection and bimolecular identification. For sensors, the choice of sensing materials is a crucial priority. As a rising star in the family of two-dimensional materials, MXenes has metal-like electrical properties, adjustable surface chemical property, hydrophilicity and excellent mechanical properties, making them attractive for building different high-performance sensors. This study provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in MXene-based sensor technology. The synthetic methods and basic properties of MXenes are first briefly introduced. The representative research progresses in MXene-based pressure sensors, strain sensors, gas sensors and electrochemical biosensors are then presented. Finally, the main challenges and future prospects of MXene-based materials in wearable sensor applications are discussed.

The central-peripheral coupling effect of ocular acupuncture kinesitherapy in post-stroke dyskinesia: A functional neuroimaging and neurotic electrophysiology study protocol

Background

Dyskinesia is a common manifestation after stroke. Motor functional rehabilitation after stroke is of great significance to the maintenance of national health. Ocular Acupuncture Kinesitherapy (OAKT) can repair nerve injuries, improve motor function, reduce rehabilitation time, and promote dyskinesia recovery after stroke. The mechanism, however, remains a mystery, necessitating urgent research. The M1-thalamus-spinal cord neural signaling pathway is linked to limb motor function. Bold-fMRI can represent the cerebral functional state, and TMS-MEP is of certain practical utility for assessing motor neural function and prognosis. Combining fMRI scanning with TMS-MEP detection is predicted to advance brain-spinal cord regulation and muscle response linkage control mechanism research, as well as completely investigate the central-peripheral coupling effect of Ocular Acupuncture Kinesitherapy on dyskinesia after stroke (PSD).

Methods

This is a prospective functional neuroimaging and neurotic electrophysiological study with a case-control design between the PSD with the HC groups and a randomized controlled design within the 3 PSD groups (OAKT group, ocular acupuncture group, and kinesitherapy group). Using fMRI scans and TMS-MEP approach, we will assess the central-peripheral neural function alterations in PSD as well as the coupling effects of OAKT on PSD. We plan to enroll 90 participants at the Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from Aug 31, 2022, to Dec 31, 2023, including 45 PSD and 45 HC subjects. After enrollment and on the last day after 4-weeks of waiting (HC subjects) or intervention (PSD subjects), all eligible subjects will be evaluated using fMRI scanning, TMS-MEP detection, and the MMT and Fugl-Mayer scales assessment. The MMT and Fugl-Meyer scores will be recorded, and a Pearson correlation analysis will be performed to assess the correlation between clinical and imaging outcomes.

Discussion

Findings of this study will help to explain the central-peripheral coupling effect of OAKT on PSD and to further provide the neural processing of acupuncture kinesitherapy covering the entire pathway from peripheral to central nervous system.

Clinical trial registration

This study is registered with an identifier (ChiCTR2200060483) at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry in June 2022. http://www.chictr.org.cn/index.aspx.

Ordered porous and uniform electric-field-strength micro-supercapacitors by 3D printing based on liquid-crystal V2O5 nanowires compositing carbon nanomaterials

The design of electrode internal structure plays an important role in improving the performance of micro-supercapacitors (MSCs). However, the complexity of the program hinders the development and application of Three-dimensional(3D)-printed MSCs. Herein, printable inks were prepared by using vanadium pentoxide nanowires as active materials, carbon nanotubes as collector and conductive agent, graphene oxide as adhesive, scaffold and water retaining agent. Benefiting from the liquid-crystal properties of materials and 3D printing technology as well as the adjustment of the materials proportion, onion-like structures with ordered porous layered structure and uniform electric-field-strength MSCs were constructed. The 3D-printed MSC has fine area capacitance (34.68 mF cm^-2) and area energy density (1.73 µWh cm^-2 at a current density of 0.24 mA cm^-2). Therefore, using the unique characteristics of materials to build an efficient 3D printing strategy is expected to provide a feasible solution for the construction of various MSCs and other high-energy storage systems.

Ancillary ligand effects on α-olefin polymerization catalyzed by zirconium metallocene: a computational study

The polymerization of α-olefins catalyzed by zirconium metallocene catalyst was systematically studied through experiments and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Having achieved an agreement between theory and experiment, it was found that the effect of the catalyst ligand on the C Created by potrace 1.16, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2019 ]]> C insertion reaction was significantly greater than that on the β-H elimination reaction. Therefore, the molecular weight of polymers can be increased by improving the activity of the CC insertion. In addition, in comparison with propylene, the chain length of α-olefins can directly affect the stereotacticity of polymerization products, owing to steric hindrance between the polymer chain and monomer.

The polymerization of α-olefins catalyzed by zirconium metallocene catalyst was systematically studied through experiments and density functional theory (DFT) calculations.

Morphological Engineering of Sensing Materials for Flexible Pressure Sensors and Artificial Intelligence Applications

Various morphological structures in pressure sensors with the resulting advanced sensing properties are reviewed comprehensively. Relevant manufacturing techniques and intelligent applications of pressure sensors are summarized in a complete and interesting way. Future challenges and perspectives of flexible pressure sensors are critically discussed.

Hierarchical Confinement Effect with Zincophilic and Spatial Traps Stabilized Zn-Based Aqueous Battery

Zn-based aqueous batteries (ZABs) have been regarded as promising candidates for safe and large-scale energy storage in the "post-Li" era. However, kinetics and stability problems of Zn capture cannot be concomitantly regulated, especially at high rates and loadings. Herein, a hierarchical confinement strategy is proposed to design zincophilic and spatial traps through a host of porous Co-embedded carbon cages (denoted as CoCC). The zincophilic Co sites act as preferred nucleation sites with low nucleation barriers (within 0.5 mA h cm^-2), and the carbon cage can further spatially confine Zn deposition (within 5.0 mA h cm^-2). Theoretical simulations and in situ/ex situ structural observations reveal the hierarchical spatial confinement by the elaborated all-in-one network (within 12 mA h cm^-2). Consequently, the elaborate strategy enables a dendrite-free behavior with excellent kinetics (low overpotential of ca. 65 mV at a high rate of 20 mA cm^-2) and stable cycle life (over 800 cycles), pushing forward the next-generation high-performance ZABs.

Tailoring Silver Nanowire Nanocomposite Interfaces to Achieve Superior Stretchability, Durability, and Stability in Transparent Conductors

Silver nanowires (AgNWs) have been considered as a promising candidate for transparent stretchable conductors (TSCs). However, the strong interface mismatch of stiff AgNWs and elastic substrates leads to the stress concentration at their interface and ultimately the low stretchability and poor durability of TSCs. Here, to address the interfacial mismatch of AgNWs-based TSCs we put forward a universal interface tailoring strategy that introduces the mercapto compound as the intermediate cross-linked layer. The mercapto compound strongly interacts with the AgNWs, forming a dense protective layer on their surface to improve their corrosion resistance, and reacts with the polymer substrate, forming a buffer layer to release the concentrated stress. As a result, the optimized TSCs showed superior stretchability (160%), exceptional durability (230 000 cycles), competent optoelectrical performance (18.0 ohm·sq^-1 with a transmittance of 86.5%), and prominent stability. This work provides clear guidance and a strong impetus for the development of transparent stretchable electronics.

MARCH8 attenuates cGAS-mediated innate immune responses through ubiquitylation

Cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) binds to microbial and self-DNA in the cytosol and synthesizes cyclic GMP-AMP (cGAMP), which activates stimulator of interferon genes (STING) and downstream mediators to elicit an innate immune response. Regulation of cGAS activity is essential for immune homeostasis. Here, we identified the E3 ubiquitin ligase MARCH8 (also known as MARCHF8, c-MIR, and RNF178) as a negative regulator of cGAS-mediated signaling. The immune response to double-stranded DNA was attenuated by overexpression of MARCH8 and enhanced by knockdown or knockout of MARCH8. MARCH8 interacted with the enzymatically active core of cGAS through its conserved RING-CH domain and catalyzed the lysine-63 (K63)-linked polyubiquitylation of cGAS at Lys⁴¹¹. This polyubiquitylation event inhibited the DNA binding ability of cGAS, impaired cGAMP production, and attenuated the downstream innate immune response. Furthermore, March8-deficient mice were less susceptible than their wild-type counterparts to herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) infection. Together, our findings reveal a mechanism underlying the functional regulation of cGAS and the fine-tuning of the innate immune response.

ZDHHC18 negatively regulates cGAS-mediated innate immunity through palmitoylation

Double-stranded DNA is recognized as a danger signal by cyclic guanosine monophosphate-adenosine monophosphate synthase (cGAS), triggering innate immune responses. Palmitoylation is an important post-translational modification (PTM) catalyzed by DHHC-palmitoyl transferases, which participate in the regulation of diverse biological processes. However, whether palmitoylation regulates cGAS function has not yet been explored. Here, we found that palmitoylation of cGAS at C474 restricted its enzymatic activity in the presence of double-stranded DNA. cGAS palmitoylation was catalyzed mainly by the palmitoyltransferase ZDHHC18 and double-stranded DNA promoted this modification. Mechanistically, palmitoylation of cGAS reduced the interaction between cGAS and double-stranded DNA, further inhibiting cGAS dimerization. Consistently, ZDHHC18 negatively regulated cGAS activation in human and mouse cell lines. In a more biologically relevant model system, Zdhhc18-deficient mice were found to be resistant to infection by DNA viruses, in agreement with the observation that ZDHHC18 negatively regulated cGAS mediated innate immune responses in human and mouse primary cells. In summary, the negative role of ZDHHC18-mediated cGAS palmitoylation may be a novel regulatory mechanism in the fine-tuning of innate immunity.

A MOF-Derivative Decorated Hierarchical Porous Host Enabling Ultrahigh Rates and Superior Long-Term Cycling of Dendrite-Free Zn Metal Anodes

Aqueous Zn metal batteries have attracted much attention due to their high intrinsic capacity, high safety, and low cost. Nevertheless, uncontrollable dendrite growth and adverse side reactions of Zn anodes seriously hinder their further application. Herein, a three-dimensional (3D) porous graphene-carbon nanotubes scaffold decorated with metal-organic framework derived ZnO/C nanoparticles (3D-ZGC) is fabricated as the host for dendrite-free Zn-metal composite anodes. The zincophilic ZnO/C nanoparticles act as preferred deposition sites with low nucleation barriers to induce homogeneous Zn deposition. The mechanically robust 3D scaffold with high conductivity not only suppresses the formation of dendritic Zn by reducing the local current density and homogenizing Zn²⁺ ion flux, but also inhibits volume changes during the long-term plating/stripping process. As a result, the 3D-ZGC composite anodes afford unprecedented Zn plating-stripping stability at an ultrahigh current density of 20 mA cm^-2 for 1500 cycles with low overpotential (<65 mV) when used in a symmetric cell. When coupled with MnO₂ cathodes, the assembled Zn@3D-ZGC//MnO₂ full batteries deliver an enhanced cycling stability for up to 6000 cycles at 2000 mA g^-1 , demonstrating the potential of the 3D-ZGC composite anode for advanced Zn metal batteries.

In Situ Remediation of Phosphogypsum with Water-Washing Pre-Treatment Using Cemented Paste Backfill: Rheology Behavior and Damage Evolution

The accumulation of original phosphogypsum (OPG) has occupied considerable land resources, which have induced significant environmental problems worldwide. The OPG-based cemented paste backfill (OCPB) has been introduced as a promising solution. In this study, a water-washing pre-treatment was used to purify OPG, aiming to optimize the transport performance and mechanical properties of backfills. The overall results proved that in treated phosphogypsum-based cemented paste backfill (TCPB), the altered particle size distribution can alleviate the shear-thinning characteristic. The mechanical properties were significantly optimized, of which a maximum increase of 183% of stress value was observed. With more pronounced AE signals, the TCPB samples demonstrated better residual structures after the ultimate strength values but with more unstable cracks with high amplitude generated during loading. Principal component analysis confirmed the adverse effects of fluorine and phosphorus on the damage fractal dimensions. The most voluminous hydration products observed were amorphous CSH and ettringite. The interlocked stellate clusters may be associated with the residual structure and the after-peak AE events evident in TCPB, indicate that more significant stress should be applied to break the closely interlocked stitches. Ultimately, the essential findings in this experimental work can provide a scientific reference for efficient OPG recycling.

Rational Design and General Synthesis of Multimetallic Metal-Organic Framework Nano-Octahedra for Enhanced Li-S Battery

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), which consist of central metal nodes and organic linkers, constitute a fast growing class of crystalline porous materials with excellent application potential. Herein, a series of Mn-based multimetallic MOF (bimetallic and trimetallic MIL-100) nano-octahedra are prepared by a facile one-pot synthetic strategy. The types and proportions of the incorporated elements can be tuned while retaining the original topological structure. The introduction of other metal ions is verified at the atomic level by combining X-ray absorption fine structure experiments and theoretical calculations. Furthermore, these multimetallic Mn-based MIL-100 nano-octahedra are utilized as sulfur hosts to prepare cathodes for Li-S batteries. The MnNi-MIL-100@S cathode exhibits the best Li-S battery performance among all reported MIL-100@S composite cathode materials, with a reversible capacity of ≈708.8 mAh g^-1 after 200 cycles. The synthetic strategy described herein is utilized to incorporate metal ions into the MOF architecture, of which the parent monometallic MOF nano-octahedra cannot be prepared directly, thus rationally generating novel multimetallic MOFs. Importantly, the strategy also allows for the general synthesis and study of various micro-/nanoscale MOFs in the energy storage field.

[Effect of high-fat diet on respiratory function and diaphragm fibers in mice and its mitochondrial mechanism]

Objective: To investigate the effect of high-fat diet (HFD) on respiratory function and its mitochondrial mechanism in mice. Methods: Twenty 4-week-old healthy male C57BL/6 mice were divided by simple random grouping into two groups, 10 mice for each group. Mice were raised with normal diet (NFD) and HFD for 16 weeks, respectively, and weighed once every two weeks. At the end of the intervention, respiratory parameters were measured by whole-body plethysomography, serum and diaphragm tissue lipid species were measured, diaphragm tissue was stained to observe diaphragmmatic morphology, muscle fiber phenotype and mitochondrial ultrastructure. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and immunoblotting were used to detect myosin heavy chain(MHC) and mitochondrial dynamics-related genes and protein expression. Results: The baseline body weights of NFD and HFD mice were (19.17±0.59) and (19.12±0.64) g, respectively, with no statistically significant differences (P=0.857). After 16 weeks of feeding, the body weight of mice in the HFD group was (41.28±2.21) g, which was higher than NFD group [(27.14±0.53) g, P<0.001]. The peak inspiratory flow rate, tidal volume and minute ventilation of mice in the HFD group were (5.72±0.64) ml/s, (0.23±0.04) ml and (97.49±21.68) ml, respectively, which were lower than NFD group [(7.70±1.52) ml/s, (0.31±0.07) ml and (129.99±28.87) ml, respectively, all P values<0.05]. Penh value was 1.16±0.07, which was higher than NFD group (0.98±0.09, P<0.001). The diaphragmatic triglyceride content of mice in the HFD group was (20.43±6.36) mmol/mg, which was higher than NFD group [(11.62±1.78) mmol/mg] (P=0.003), and lipid droplets were deposited in the diaphragm fibers. The percentage of MHC-Ⅰ muscle fibers in the diaphragm of mice in the HFD group was 13.33%±2.95%, which was lower than NFD group (19.20%±1.23%, P=0.034). The mitochondria of the diaphragm in the NFD group were arranged in rows with clear structures, while in the HFD group showed swelling, cristae breakage and vacuoles. The relative expression level of mitochondrial fusion protein 2 in the diaphragm of the HFD group was 0.61±0.16, which was lower than NFD group (1.28±0.03, P<0.001); the relative expression of mitochondrial dynamin-related protein 1 were 1.18±0.06 and 0.91±0.11, respectively, both higher than NFD group (0.61±0.07 and 0.60±0.04, respectively, P<0.001). Conclusion: HFD impairs respiratory function in mice by the mechanism associated with the MHC-Ⅰ muscle fibers decrease and the mitochondrial dynamics imbalance of diaphragm.

Toward Application of Liquid Crystalline Elastomer for Smart Robotics: State of the Art and Challenges

Liquid crystalline elastomers (LCEs) are lightly crosslinked polymers that combine liquid crystalline order and rubber elasticity. Owing to their unique anisotropic behavior and reversible shape responses to external stimulation (temperature, light, etc.), LCEs have emerged as preferred candidates for actuators, artificial muscles, sensors, smart robots, or other intelligent devices. Herein, we discuss the basic action, control mechanisms, phase transitions, and the structure-property correlation of LCEs; this review provides a comprehensive overview of LCEs for applications in actuators and other smart devices. Furthermore, the synthesis and processing of liquid crystal elastomer are briefly discussed, and the current challenges and future opportunities are prospected. With all recent progress pertaining to material design, sophisticated manipulation, and advanced applications presented, a vision for the application of LCEs in the next generation smart robots or automatic action systems is outlined.