Wildfire particulate exposure and risks of preterm birth and low birth weight in the Southwestern United States

OBJECTIVES

Wildfire air pollution is a growing concern on human health. The study aims to assess the associations between wildfire air pollution and pregnancy outcomes in the Southwestern United States.

STUDY DESIGN

This was a retrospective cohort study.

METHODS

Birth records of 627,404 singleton deliveries in 2018 were obtained in eight states of the Southwestern United States and were linked to wildfire-sourced fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and their constituents (black carbon [BC] and organic carbon [OC]) during the entire gestational period. A double-robust logistic regression model was used to assess the associations of wildfire-sourced PM2.5 exposures and preterm birth and term low birth weight, adjusting for non-fire-sourced PM2.5 exposure and individual- and area-level confounder variables.

RESULTS

Wildfire-sourced PM2.5 contributed on average 15% of the ambient total PM2.5 concentrations. For preterm birth, the strongest association was observed in the second trimester (odds ratio [OR]: 1.06, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05-1.07 for PM2.5; 1.06, 95% CI: 1.05-1.07 for BC; 1.04, 95% CI: 1.03-1.05 for OC, per interquartile range increment of exposure), with higher risks identified among non-smokers or those with low socio-economic status. For term low birth weight, the associations with wildfire-sourced PM2.5 exposures were consistently elevated for all trimesters except for the exposure averaged over the entire gestational period. Overall, the associations between wildfire-sourced PM2.5 and pregnancy outcomes were stronger than those with total PM2.5.

CONCLUSIONS

Wildfire-sourced PM2.5 and its constituents are linked to higher risks of preterm birth and term low birth weight among a significant US population than the effects of ambient total PM2.5.

First report of the within-farm prevalence of bovine digital dermatitis in Chinese Holstein dairy cows in Jiangsu, China: A Bayesian modelling approach

Digital dermatitis is one of the most important causes of lameness in dairy cattle, particularly in housed, intensively-managed cattle. The number of modern intensive dairy farms in China has increased markedly in recent years; however, we lack research on digital dermatitis in Chinese dairy cattle. This preliminary study aimed to estimate the prevalence of digital dermatitis on three conveniently selected farms in Jiangsu, China. The washed hind feet of all lactating cows on all three farms were examined during milking with the aid of a mobile phone light source. True prevalence was then estimated from the apparent prevalence using a Bayesian superpopulation approach to account for the imperfect nature of identifying digital dermatitis in cows during milking. Despite none of the farms having thought it necessary to implement routine digital dermatitis monitoring or control, the disease was found on all three sampled farms. All lesions observed were either chronic M4 or M4.1 type-lesions, with no M2 lesions (i.e. acute ulcerated lesions) observed. The estimated true prevalences on the farms were 7.3% (95% credible interval [CrI]: 5.4%-9.6%), 8.3% (95%CrI: 6.3%-10.8%), and 29.8% (95%CrI: 22.9%-37.2%).

Disrupted sleep-wake regulation in the MCI-Park mouse model of Parkinson's disease

Disrupted sleep has a profound adverse impact on lives of Parkinson's disease (PD) patients and their caregivers. Sleep disturbances are exceedingly common in PD, with substantial heterogeneity in type, timing, and severity. Among the most common sleep-related symptoms reported by PD patients are insomnia, excessive daytime sleepiness, and sleep fragmentation, characterized by interruptions and decreased continuity of sleep. Alterations in brain wave activity, as measured on the electroencephalogram (EEG), also occur in PD, with changes in the pattern and relative contributions of different frequency bands of the EEG spectrum to overall EEG activity in different vigilance states consistently observed. The mechanisms underlying these PD-associated sleep-wake abnormalities are poorly understood, and they are ineffectively treated by conventional PD therapies. To help fill this gap in knowledge, a new progressive model of PD - the MCI-Park mouse - was studied. Near the transition to the parkinsonian state, these mice exhibited significantly altered sleep-wake regulation, including increased wakefulness, decreased non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, increased sleep fragmentation, reduced rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, and altered EEG activity patterns. These sleep-wake abnormalities resemble those identified in PD patients. Thus, this model may help elucidate the circuit mechanisms underlying sleep disruption in PD and identify targets for novel therapeutic approaches.

Application-Driven High-Thermal-Conductivity Polymer Nanocomposites

Polymer nanocomposites combine the merits of polymer matrices and the unusual effects of nanoscale reinforcements and have been recognized as important members of the material family. Being a fundamental material property, thermal conductivity directly affects the molding and processing of materials as well as the design and performance of devices and systems. Polymer nanocomposites have been used in numerous industrial fields; thus, high demands are placed on the thermal conductivity feature of polymer nanocomposites. In this Perspective, we first provide roadmaps for the development of polymer nanocomposites with isotropic, in-plane, and through-plane high thermal conductivities, demonstrating the great effect of nanoscale reinforcements on thermal conductivity enhancement of polymer nanocomposites. Then the significance of the thermal conductivity of polymer nanocomposites in different application fields, including wearable electronics, thermal interface materials, battery thermal management, dielectric capacitors, electrical equipment, solar thermal energy storage, biomedical applications, carbon dioxide capture, and radiative cooling, are highlighted. In future research, we should continue to focus on methods that can further improve the thermal conductivity of polymer nanocomposites. On the other hand, we should pay more attention to the synergistic improvement of the thermal conductivity and other properties of polymer nanocomposites. Emerging polymer nanocomposites with high thermal conductivity should be based on application-oriented research.

Engineering a Dynamic Solvent-Phobic Liquid Electrolyte Interphase for Long-Life Lithium Metal Batteries

The heterogeneity, species diversity, and poor mechanical stability of solid electrolyte interphases (SEIs) in conventional carbonate electrolytes result in the irreversible exhaustion of lithium (Li) and electrolytes during cycling, hindering the practical applications of Li metal batteries (LMBs). Herein, this work proposes a solvent-phobic dynamic liquid electrolyte interphase (DLEI) on a Li metal (Li-PFbTHF (perfluoro-butyltetrahydrofuran)) surface that selectively transports salt and induces salt-derived SEI formation. The solvent-phobic DLEI with C-F-rich groups dramatically reduces the side reactions between Li, carbonate solvents, and humid air, forming a LiF/Li3 PO4 -rich SEI. In situ electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and Ab-initio molecular dynamics demonstrate that DLEI effectively stabilizes the interface between Li metal and the carbonate electrolyte. Specifically, the LiFePO4 ||Li-PFbTHF cells deliver 80.4% capacity retention after 1000 cycles at 1.0 C, excellent rate capacity (108.2 mAh g-1 at 5.0 C), and 90.2% capacity retention after 550 cycles at 1.0 C in full-cells (negative/positive (N/P) ratio of 8) with high LiFePO4 loadings (15.6 mg cm-2 ) in carbonate electrolyte. In addition, the 0.55 Ah pouch cell of 252.0 Wh kg-1 delivers stable cycling. Hence, this study provides an effective strategy for controlling salt-derived SEI to improve the cycling performances of carbonate-based LMBs.

On-Demand Preparation of Boron Nitride Nanosheets for Functional Nanocomposites

Boron nitride nanosheets (BNNSs) have garnered significant attention across diverse fields; however, accomplishing on-demand, large-scale, and highly efficient preparation of BNNSs remains a challenge. Here, an on-demand preparation (OdP) method combining high-pressure homogenization and short-time ultrasonication is presented; it enables a highly efficient and controllable preparation of BNNSs from bulk hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN). The homogenization pressure and number of cycles are adjusted, and the production efficiency and yield of BNNSs reach 0.95 g g-1 h-1 and 82.8%, respectively, which significantly exceed those attained by using existing methods. The universality of the OdP method is demonstrated on h-BN raw materials of various bulk sizes from various producers. Furthermore, this method allows the preparation of BNNSs having specific sizes based on the final requirements. Both simulation and experimental results indicate that large BNNSs are particularly suitable for enhancing the thermal conductivity and electrical insulation properties of dielectric polymer nanocomposites. Interestingly, the small BNNS-filled photonic nanocomposite films fabricated via the OdP method exhibit superior daytime radiative cooling properties. Additionally, the OdP method offers the benefits of low energy consumption and reduced greenhouse gas emissions and fossil energy use. These findings underscore the unique advantages of the OdP method over other techniques for a high-efficiency and controllable preparation of large BNNSs.

[Thinking on ideological and political education in Medical Parasitology teaching]

With the deepening reform of ideological and political education, Medical Parasitology teaching needs to update the teaching concept, change the teaching ideas, as well as keep trying to combine ideological and political education with the curriculum content closely. In addition to teaching students' basic knowledge and practical skills, teachers are needed to cultivate their moral literacy and political awareness through course teaching, so as to provide the basis for students' subsequent adaptations to social environments and jobs. Currently, the study of ideological and political education in Medical Parasitology teaching is still in the exploratory stage. Therefore, colleges and universities need to carry out effective construction of ideological and political education in Medical Parasitology teaching, in order to achieve good teaching outcomes and provide insights into ideological and political education in teaching.

Engineering the Dielectric Constants of Polymers: From Molecular to Mesoscopic Scales

Polymers are essential components of modern-day materials and are widely used in various fields. The dielectric constant, a key physical parameter, plays a fundamental role in the light-, electricity-, and magnetism-related applications of polymers, such as dielectric and electrical insulation, battery and photovoltaic fabrication, sensing and electrical contact, and signal transmission and communication. Over the past few decades, numerous efforts have been devoted to engineering the intrinsic dielectric constant of polymers, particularly by tailoring the induced and orientational polarization modes and ferroelectric domain engineering. Investigations into these methods have guided the rational design and on-demand preparation of polymers with desired dielectric constants. This review article exhaustively summarizes the dielectric constant engineering of polymers from molecular to mesoscopic scales, with emphasis on application-driven design and on-demand polymer synthesis rooted in polymer chemistry principles. Additionally, it explores the key polymer applications that can benefit from dielectric constant regulation and outlines the future prospects of this field.

Aromatic-Free Polymers Based All-Organic Dielectrics with Breakdown Self-Healing for High-Temperature Capacitive Energy Storage

High-temperature dielectric polymers are becoming increasingly desirable for capacitive energy storage in renewable energy utilization, electrified transportation, and pulse power systems. Current dielectric polymers typically require robust aromatic molecular frameworks to ensure structural thermal stability at elevated temperatures. Nevertheless, the introduction of aromatic units compromises electrical insulation owing to pronounced π─π interactions that facilitate electron transport and eliminate the breakdown self-healing property owing to their high carbon content. Herein, an aromatic-free polynorborne copolymer exhibiting electrical conductivity-two orders of magnitude lower than that of state-of-the-art polyetherimide-at elevated temperatures and high electric fields owing to its large bandgap (≈4.64 eV) and short hopping conduction distance (≈0.63 nm) is described. Density functional theory calculations demonstrate that the copolymer can effectively suppress the excitation of high-field valence electrons. Furthermore, the incorporation of trace semiconductors results in high discharge density (3.73 J cm-3 ) and charge-discharge efficiency (95% at 150 °C), outperforming existing high-temperature dielectric polymers. The excellent electrical breakdown self-healing capability of the copolymer film at elevated temperatures further demonstrates its potential for use in dielectric capacitors capable of continuous operation under extreme conditions.

Derivation and validation of a novel preoperative risk prediction model for surgical site infection in pancreaticoduodenectomy and comparison of preoperative antibiotics with different risk stratifications in retrospective cohort

BACKGROUND

Surgical site infections (SSIs) are common postoperative complications of pancreaticoduodenectomy.

AIM

To develop a model for preoperative identification of the risk of SSI that may improve outcomes and guide preoperative antibiotics.

METHODS

The prediction model was built by meta-analysis. After literature search and inclusion, data extraction, and quantitative synthesis, the prediction model was established based on the pooled odds ratio of predictors. A single-centre retrospective cohort was the validation cohort. Receiver operating characteristic curves and area under the curve were used to assess the model's ability. We also created a decision curve and a calibration plot to assess the nomogram. The effects of prophylactic antibiotics on SSI were compared between groups by multivariable logistic regression with different risk stratifications.

FINDINGS

Twenty-eight studies were included in the meta-analysis, 17 studies in the derivation cohort. Age, male gender, body mass index, pancreatic duct diameter, high-risk diagnosis, and preoperative biliary drainage were selected to build the prediction model. The model was validated in an external cohort. The cut-off value was 3.5 and area under the curve (AUC) was 0.76 in open pancreaticoduodenectomy (OPD). In laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy, the cut-off value was 4.5 and AUC was 0.69. Decision curve and calibration plot showed good usability of the model, especially in OPD. Multivariable logistic regression did not indicate differences between broad- and narrow-spectrum antibiotics for SSI in different risk stratifications.

CONCLUSION

The model can identify patients with a high risk of SSI preoperatively. The choice of prophylactic antibiotics under different risk stratifications should be investigated further.

Engineering the Structural Uniformity of Gel Polymer Electrolytes via Pattern-Guided Alignment for Durable, Safe Solid-State Lithium Metal Batteries

Ultrathin and super-toughness gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs) are the key enabling technology for durable, safe, and high-energy density solid-state lithium metal batteries (SSLMBs) but extremely challenging. However, GPEs with limited uniformity and continuity exhibit an uneven Li+ flux distribution, leading to nonuniform deposition. Herein, a fiber patterning strategy for developing and engineering ultrathin (16 µm) fibrous GPEs with high ionic conductivity (≈0.4 mS cm-1 ) and superior mechanical toughness (≈613%) for durable and safe SSLMBs is proposed. The special patterned structure provides fast Li+ transport channels and tailoring solvation structure of traditional LiPF6 -based carbonate electrolyte, enabling rapid ionic transfer kinetics and uniform Li+ flux, and boosting stability against Li anodes, thus realizing ultralong Li plating/stripping in the symmetrical cell over 3000 h at 1.0 mA cm-2 , 1.0 mAh cm-2 . Moreover, the SSLMBs with high LiFePO4 loading of 10.58 mg cm-2 deliver ultralong stable cycling life over 1570 cycles at 1.0 C with 92.5% capacity retention and excellent rate capacity of 129.8 mAh g-1 at 5.0 C with a cut-off voltage of 4.2 V (100% depth-of-discharge). Patterned GPEs systems are powerful strategies for producing durable and safe SSLMBs.

A Passive Noise Attenuation Earplug Designed to Minimise Unwanted Air Turbine Driven High-Speed Dental Drill Noise

INTRODUCTION

Air turbine dental drill noise contains high-frequency components that are of concern for patients and dental staff. Meanwhile, verbal communication between the dentist and patient is essential. Conventional active noise-cancelling headphones are ineffective for dental drill noise and simply suppress all sound and hinder communication.

METHOD

A compact passive earplug device was designed specifically to attenuate broadband high-frequency noise ranges from 5 to 8 kHz employing an array of quarter wavelength (QW) resonators. This device was 3D printed and tested against white noise to enhance the objectivity of analysis, using a calibrated ear and cheek simulator to effectively measure its performance.

RESULTS

The results showed that the resonators produced an average reduction of 27 dB across the targeted frequency range. When compared with two proprietary passive earplugs, this developed passive device prototype was able to attenuate an average of 9 dB more across the target frequency range whilst delivering louder speech signals of 14 dB more. The results also show that using an array of resonators exhibits an accumulated effect of individual resonator performance.

CONCLUSIONS

This low-cost passive device could have a place in the dental clinic to reduce unwanted drill noise equivalent to the white noise high frequency spectra tested.

A binary pulsar in a 53-minute orbit

Spider pulsars are neutron stars that have a companion star in a close orbit. The companion star sheds material to the neutron star, spinning it up to millisecond rotation periods, while the orbit shortens to hours. The companion is eventually ablated and destroyed by the pulsar wind and radiation1,2. Spider pulsars are key for studying the evolutionary link between accreting X-ray pulsars and isolated millisecond pulsars, pulsar irradiation effects and the birth of massive neutron stars3-6. Black widow pulsars in extremely compact orbits (as short as 62 minutes7) have companions with masses much smaller than 0.1 M⊙. They may have evolved from redback pulsars with companion masses of about 0.1-0.4 M⊙ and orbital periods of less than 1 day8. If this is true, then there should be a population of millisecond pulsars with moderate-mass companions and very short orbital periods9, but, hitherto, no such system was known. Here we report radio observations of the binary millisecond pulsar PSR J1953+1844 (M71E) that show it to have an orbital period of 53.3 minutes and a companion with a mass of around 0.07 M⊙. It is a faint X-ray source and located 2.5 arcminutes from the centre of the globular cluster M71.

Modulus-Modulated All-Organic Core-Shell Nanofiber with Remarkable Piezoelectricity for Energy Harvesting and Condition Monitoring

The low piezoelectricity of piezoelectric polymers significantly restricts their applications. Introducing inorganic fillers can slightly improve the piezoelectricity of polymers, whereas it is usually at the cost of flexibility and durability. In this work, using a modulus-modulated core-shell structure strategy, all-organic nanofibers with remarkable piezoelectricity were designed and prepared by a coaxial electrospinning method. It was surprisingly found that the introduction of a nonpiezoelectric polymeric core (e.g., polycarbonate, PC) can result in 110% piezoelectric coefficient (d₃₃) enhancement in a poly(vinylidenefluoride-co-trifluoroethylene) (PVDF-TrFE) nanofiber. Accordingly, the all-organic PVDF-TrFE@PC core-shell nanofiber exhibits record-high energy-harvesting performance (i.e., 126 V output voltage, 710 mW m^-2 power density) among the reported organic piezoelectric materials. In addition, the excellent sensing capability of the core-shell nanofiber enabled us to develop a wireless vibration monitoring and analyzing system, which realizes the real-time vibration detection of a power transformer.

Ladderphane copolymers for high-temperature capacitive energy storage

For capacitive energy storage at elevated temperatures1-4, dielectric polymers are required to integrate low electrical conduction with high thermal conductivity. The coexistence of these seemingly contradictory properties remains a persistent challenge for existing polymers. We describe here a class of ladderphane copolymers exhibiting more than one order of magnitude lower electrical conductivity than the existing polymers at high electric fields and elevated temperatures. Consequently, the ladderphane copolymer possesses a discharged energy density of 5.34 J cm-3 with a charge-discharge efficiency of 90% at 200 °C, outperforming the existing dielectric polymers and composites. The ladderphane copolymers self-assemble into highly ordered arrays by π-π stacking interactions5,6, thus giving rise to an intrinsic through-plane thermal conductivity of 1.96 ± 0.06 W m-1 K-1. The high thermal conductivity of the copolymer film permits efficient Joule heat dissipation and, accordingly, excellent cyclic stability at elevated temperatures and high electric fields. The demonstration of the breakdown self-healing ability of the copolymer further suggests the promise of the ladderphane structures for high-energy-density polymer capacitors operating under extreme conditions.

Flexible, Highly Thermally Conductive and Electrically Insulating Phase Change Materials for Advanced Thermal Management of 5G Base Stations and Thermoelectric Generators

Thermal management has become a crucial problem for high-power-density equipment and devices. Phase change materials (PCMs) have great prospects in thermal management applications because of their large capacity of heat storage and isothermal behavior during phase transition. However, low intrinsic thermal conductivity, ease of leakage, and lack of flexibility severely limit their applications. Solving one of these problems often comes at the expense of other performance of the PCMs. In this work, we report core-sheath structured phase change nanocomposites (PCNs) with an aligned and interconnected boron nitride nanosheet network by combining coaxial electrospinning, electrostatic spraying, and hot-pressing. The advanced PCN films exhibit an ultrahigh thermal conductivity of 28.3 W m-1 K-1 at a low BNNS loading (i.e., 32 wt%), which thereby endows the PCNs with high enthalpy (> 101 J g-1), outstanding ductility (> 40%) and improved fire retardancy. Therefore, our core-sheath strategies successfully balance the trade-off between thermal conductivity, flexibility, and phase change enthalpy of PCMs. Further, the PCNs provide powerful cooling solutions on 5G base station chips and thermoelectric generators, displaying promising thermal management applications on high-power-density equipment and thermoelectric conversion devices.

Thermally Conductive but Electrically Insulating Polybenzazole Nanofiber/Boron Nitride Nanosheets Nanocomposite Paper for Heat Dissipation of 5G Base Stations and Transformers

The rapid development of 5G equipment and high-power density electronic devices calls for high thermal conductivity materials for heat dissipation. Dielectric polymer composites are highly promising as the electrical insulation, mechanical property, thermal stability, and even fire retardance are also of great importance for electrical and electronic applications. However, the current thermal conductivity enhancement of dielectric polymer composites is usually at the cost of lowering the mechanical and electrical insulating properties. In this work, we report the facile preparation of highly thermally conductive and electrically insulating poly(p-phenylene benzobisoxazole) nanofiber (PBONF) composites by incorporating a low weight fraction of functionalized boron nitride nanosheets (BNNSs). With strong electrostatic interaction, the BNNSs are encapsulated by PBONFs, and the constructed robust interconnected network makes the nanocomposites exhibit a nacre-like structure. Accordingly, the nanocomposite paper has a high in-plane thermal conductivity of 21.34 W m^-1 K^-1 at a low loading of 10 wt % BNNSs and exhibits an ultrahigh strength of 206 MPa. Additionally, the nanocomposite paper exhibits superior electrical insulation properties up to higher than 350 °C and excellent fire retardance. The strong heat dissipation capability of the nanocomposite paper was demonstrated in 5G base stations and control transformers, showing wide potential applications in high power density electrical equipment and electronic devices.

High Conduction Band Inorganic Layers for Distinct Enhancement of Electrical Energy Storage in Polymer Nanocomposites

Dielectric polymer nanocomposites are considered as one of the most promising candidates for high-power-density electrical energy storage applications. Inorganic nanofillers with high insulation property are frequently introduced into fluoropolymer to improve its breakdown strength and energy storage capability. Normally, inorganic nanofillers are thought to introducing traps into polymer matrix to suppress leakage current. However, how these nanofillers effect the leakage current is still unclear. Meanwhile, high dopant (> 5 vol%) is prerequisite for distinctly improved energy storage performance, which severely deteriorates the processing and mechanical property of polymer nanocomposites, hence brings high technical complication and cost. Herein, boron nitride nanosheet (BNNS) layers are utilized for substantially improving the electrical energy storage capability of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) nanocomposite. Results reveal that the high conduction band minimum of BNNS produces energy barrier at the interface of adjacent layers, preventing the electron in PVDF from passing through inorganic layers, leading to suppressed leakage current and superior breakdown strength. Accompanied by improved Young's modulus (from 1.2 GPa of PVDF to 1.6 GPa of nanocomposite), significantly boosted discharged energy density (14.3 J cm^-3) and charge-discharge efficiency (75%) are realized in multilayered nanocomposites, which are 340 and 300% of PVDF (4.2 J cm^-3, 25%). More importantly, thus remarkably boosted energy storage performance is accomplished by marginal BNNS. This work offers a new paradigm for developing dielectric nanocomposites with advanced energy storage performance.

[Research progress on physiological changes caused by wearing N95 mask in patients with chronic obstruction pulmonary disease]

N95 mask has been shown to reduce lower airway infections requiring hospitalization, mortality and exacerbation frequency in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD), and therefore is recommended for all COPD patients by guidelines. However, the coverage of influenza vaccination in Chinese COPD patients is far from satisfactory. The large-scale COVID-19 vaccination may have a positive impact on the attitude towards influenza vaccines, and healthcare professionals should take active measures to improve the physical activation in patients with COPD.

Dielectric Manipulated Charge Dynamics in Contact Electrification

Surface charge density has been demonstrated to be significantly impacted by the dielectric properties of tribomaterials. However, the ambiguous physical mechanism of dielectric manipulated charge behavior still restricts the construction of high-performance tribomaterials. Here, using the atomic force microscopy and Kelvin probe force microscopy, an in situ method was conducted to investigate the contact electrification and charge dynamics on a typical tribomaterial (i.e., BaTiO₃/PVDF-TrFE nanocomposite) at nanoscale. Combined with the characterization of triboelectric device at macroscale, it is found that the number of transferred electrons increases with contact force/area and tends to reach saturation under increased friction cycles. The incorporated high permittivity BaTiO₃ nanoparticles enhance the capacitance and electron trapping capability of the nanocomposites, efficiently inhibiting the lateral diffusion of electrons and improving the output performance of the triboelectric devices. Exponential decay of the surface potential is observed over monitoring time for all dielectric samples. At high BaTiO₃ loadings, more electrons can drift into the bulk and combine with the induced charges on the back electrode, forming a large leakage current and accordingly accelerating the electron dissipation. Hence, the charge trapping/storing and dissipating, as well as the charge attracting properties, should be comprehensively considered in the design of high-performance tribomaterials.

Study on Preparation and Properties of Ultrahigh Molecular Weight Polyethylene Composites Filled with Different Carbon Materials

The development of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UPE) has been restricted due to its linear structure and low thermal conductivity. In this paper, graphene oxide (GO) was prepared by the modified Hummers method, and then UPE/reduced graphene oxide (rGO) powder was prepared by reduction with hydrazine hydrate. UPE/natural graphite (NG), UPE/carbon nanofiber (CNF), and UPE/rGO are prepared by hot compression molding. With the increase of thermally conductive fillers, the high density of the composite makes the thermal conductivity of the crystal structure more regular and the thermal conductivity path increases accordingly. Both TGA and SEM confirmed the uniform dispersion of carbon filler in epoxy resin. Among the three composites, UPE/NG has the best thermal conductivity. When the NG filling content is 60 phr, the thermal conductivity of the UPE/NG composite is 3.257 W/(mK), outperforming UPE/CNFs (0.778 W/(mK) and pure UPE (0.496 W/(mK) by 318.64 and 556.65%, respectively. UPE/CNFs have the best dielectric properties. Comparison of various carbon fillers can provide some references for UPE's thermal management applications.

Distinct tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte landscapes are associated with clinical outcomes in localized non-small-cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND

Despite the importance of tumor-infiltrating T lymphocytes (TILs) in cancer biology, the relationship between TIL phenotypes and their prognostic relevance for localized non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has not been well established.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Fresh tumor and normal adjacent tissue was prospectively collected from 150 patients with localized NSCLC. Tissue was comprehensively characterized by high-dimensional flow cytometry of TILs integrated with immunogenomic data from multiplex immunofluorescence, T-cell receptor sequencing, exome sequencing, RNA sequencing, targeted proteomics, and clinicopathologic features.

RESULTS

While neither the magnitude of TIL infiltration nor specific TIL subsets were significantly prognostic alone, the integration of high-dimensional flow cytometry data identified two major immunotypes (IM1 and IM2) that were predictive of recurrence-free survival independent of clinical characteristics. IM2 was associated with poor prognosis and characterized by the presence of proliferating TILs expressing cluster of differentiation 103, programmed cell death protein 1, T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin-domain containing protein 3, and inducible T-cell costimulator. Conversely, IM1 was associated with good prognosis and differentiated by an abundance of CD8⁺ T cells expressing cytolytic enzymes, CD4⁺ T cells lacking the expression of inhibitory receptors, and increased levels of B-cell infiltrates and tertiary lymphoid structures. While increased B-cell infiltration was associated with good prognosis, the best prognosis was observed in patients with tumors exhibiting high levels of both B cells and T cells. These findings were validated in patient tumors from The Cancer Genome Atlas.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study suggests that although the number of infiltrating T cells is not associated with patient survival, the nature of the infiltrating T cells, resolved in distinct TIL immunotypes, is prognostically relevant in NSCLC and may inform therapeutic approaches to clinical care.

Prognostic utility of fibrinogen in patients with coronary artery disease and prediabetes or diabetes following percutaneous coronary intervention: five-year findings from a large single-center cohort

Background

The prognosis for patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) remains unfavorable despite advances in treatment. Fibrinogen (FIB) is an independent risk factor for mortality and cardiovascular events in general population. However, the relationship between FIB and long-term mortality among CAD patients undergoing PCI is less investigated, especially in individuals concomitated with diabetes mellitus (DM) and prediabetes (Pre-DM).

Methods

6140 patients with CAD undergoing PCI were consecutively enrolled in our study and subsequently divided into three groups according to FIB levels (FIB-L, FIB-M, FIB-H). These patients were further grouped by glycemic metabolism state [normoglycemia (NG), Pre-DM, DM]. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality. The secondary endpoint was cardiac mortality.

Results

FIB was positively associated with hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and fasting blood glucose (FBG) both in CAD patients with and without DM. During a median follow-up time of 5.1 years, elevated FIB was significantly associated with long-term mortality from all-cause (adjusted HR: 1.86; 95% CI: 1.28–2.69; P=0.001) and cardiac specific (adjusted HR: 1.82; 95% CI: 1.15–2.89; P=0.011). Similarly, patients with DM but not Pre-DM had increased risk of all-cause and cardiac mortality (all P<0.05). When grouped by both FIB levels and glycemic metabolism state, diabetic patients with medium and high FIB levels had higher risk of mortality [(adjusted HR: 2.57; 95% CI: 1.12–5.89), (adjusted HR: 3.04; 95% CI: 1.35–6.82), all P<0.05]. Notably, prediabetic patients with high FIB also had higher mortality risk (adjusted HR: 2.27; 95% CI: 1.01–5.12).

Conclusion

FIB was strongly associated with long-term all-cause and cardiac mortality among CAD patients undergoing PCI, especially in persons concomitated with DM and Pre-DM, indicating FIB test may help identify high-risk individuals in this specific patient population.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): National Key Research and Development Program of China (No. 2016YFC1301300, 2016YFC1301301); National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81770365)

Molecular cloning and characterization of a novel aspartyl aminopeptidase from Trichinella spiralis

Trichinellosis is an important zoonotic parasitic disease worldwide and is principally caused by ingesting animal meat containing Trichinella infective larvae. Aspartyl aminopeptidase is an intracytoplasmic metalloproteinase that specifically hydrolyzes the N-terminus of polypeptides free of acidic amino acids (aspartic acid and glutamate), and plays an important role in the metabolism, growth and development of organisms. In this study, a novel T. spiralis aspartyl aminopeptidase (TsAAP) was cloned and expressed, and its biological properties and roles in worm growth and development were investigated. The results revealed that TsAAP transcription and expression in diverse T. spiralis stages were detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting, and primarily localized at cuticle, stichosome and intrauterine embryos of this nematode by immunofluorescence test. rTsAAP has the enzymatic activity of native AAP to hydrolyze the substrate H-Glu-pNA. There was a specific binding between rTsAAP and murine erythrocyte, and the binding site was localized in erythrocyte membrane proteins. Silencing of TsAAP gene by specific dsRNA significantly reduced the TsAAP expression, enzymatic activity, intestinal worm burdens and female fecundity. The results demonstrated that TsAAP participates in the growth, development and fecundity of T. spiralis and it might be a potential target molecule for anti-Trichinella vaccines.

Spider Web-Inspired Graphene Skeleton-Based High Thermal Conductivity Phase Change Nanocomposites for Battery Thermal Management

Phase change materials (PCMs) can be used for efficient thermal energy harvesting, which has great potential for cost-effective thermal management and energy storage. However, the low intrinsic thermal conductivity of polymeric PCMs is a bottleneck for fast and efficient heat harvesting. Simultaneously, it is also a challenge to achieve a high thermal conductivity for phase change nanocomposites at low filler loading. Although constructing a three-dimensional (3D) thermally conductive network within PCMs can address these problems, the anisotropy of the 3D framework usually leads to poor thermal conductivity in the direction perpendicular to the alignment of fillers. Inspired by the interlaced structure of spider webs in nature, this study reports a new strategy for fabricating highly thermally conductive phase change composites (sw-GS/PW) with a 3D spider web (sw)-like structured graphene skeleton (GS) by hydrothermal reaction, radial freeze-casting and vacuum impregnation in paraffin wax (PW). The results show that the sw-GS hardly affected the phase transformation behavior of PW at low loading. Especially, sw-GS/PW exhibits both high cross-plane and in-plane thermal conductivity enhancements of ~ 1260% and ~ 840%, respectively, at an ultra-low filler loading of 2.25 vol.%. The thermal infrared results also demonstrate that sw-GS/PW possessed promising applications in battery thermal management.

Odderon Exchange from Elastic Scattering Differences between pp and pp[over ¯] Data at 1.96 TeV and from pp Forward Scattering Measurements

We describe an analysis comparing the pp[over ¯] elastic cross section as measured by the D0 Collaboration at a center-of-mass energy of 1.96 TeV to that in pp collisions as measured by the TOTEM Collaboration at 2.76, 7, 8, and 13 TeV using a model-independent approach. The TOTEM cross sections, extrapolated to a center-of-mass energy of sqrt[s]=1.96  TeV, are compared with the D0 measurement in the region of the diffractive minimum and the second maximum of the pp cross section. The two data sets disagree at the 3.4σ level and thus provide evidence for the t-channel exchange of a colorless, C-odd gluonic compound, also known as the odderon. We combine these results with a TOTEM analysis of the same C-odd exchange based on the total cross section and the ratio of the real to imaginary parts of the forward elastic strong interaction scattering amplitude in pp scattering for which the significance is between 3.4σ and 4.6σ. The combined significance is larger than 5σ and is interpreted as the first observation of the exchange of a colorless, C-odd gluonic compound.

Gamma-Ray Observation of the Cygnus Region in the 100-TeV Energy Region

We report observations of gamma-ray emissions with energies in the 100-TeV energy region from the Cygnus region in our Galaxy. Two sources are significantly detected in the directions of the Cygnus OB1 and OB2 associations. Based on their positional coincidences, we associate one with a pulsar PSR J2032+4127 and the other mainly with a pulsar wind nebula PWN G75.2+0.1, with the pulsar moving away from its original birthplace situated around the centroid of the observed gamma-ray emission. This work would stimulate further studies of particle acceleration mechanisms at these gamma-ray sources.

[Protective effect of baicalein on high fat-induced hepatocytes oxidative damage]

Objective: To investigate the effect of baicalein in improving non-alcoholic fatty liver disease caused by high fat-induced oxidative damage in mice. Methods: Male C57BL/6J mice weighing 18-20 g were randomly divided into 4 groups: normal control group (C, 10% fat for energy), high-fat group (H, 60% fat for energy), high-fat + scutellaria baicalein group (H+B, baicalein: 400 mg·kg(-1)·bw(-1)), and baicalein control group (B, baicalein: 400 mg·kg(-1)·bw(-1)). After 12 weeks, mice were sacrificed, and the tissue samples were collected. Liver pathological changes were observed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Mitochondrial morphology was examined by ultramicropathology. Malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH) and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) changing levels in the liver were determined by kit. Sestrin2 and protein carbonylation (PCOS) levels were detected by Western blotting. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) was used to knock-down the Sestrin2 protein expression in HepG2 cells. Intramyocellular lipid changes in HepG2 cells was detected by fluorescent dye BODIPY493/503. One way ANOVA was used LSD pairwise comparison method was used to test the statistical difference. Results: Compared with the normal control group, high-fat fed caused significant fatty degeneration, decreased GSH and SOD levels (P ​​< 0.05), increased MDA and protein carbonylation levels, and increased Sestrin2 expression (P < 0.05) in mice. Mitochondrial shape changes, swelling, lack of cristae, and MMP was down-regulated by 33.3% (t = 13.456, P ​​< 0.001). Baicalein intervention had effectively inhibited hepatic steatosis and oxidative damage caused by high-fat fed, and further up-regulated Sestrin2 expression, MMP (t = 10.104, P ​​< 0.001), and significantly alleviated liver damage in mice. Sestrin2 expression knock-down had further increased the intracellular lipid deposition and PCOs expression (P ​​< 0.05), and reduced baicalein ability to antagonize lipid deposition and antioxidant capacity in Hep2 cells. Conclusion: Baicalein alleviate non-alcoholic fatty liver by regulating Sestrin2 expression and high-fat fed-induced liver oxidative damage.

MicroRNA-489 targets XIAP to inhibit the biological progression of ovarian cancer via regulating PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition

OBJECTIVE

Ovarian cancer (OC) is a deathful malignant tumor in women worldwide, and its poor prognosis mainly results from metastasis. Recently, microRNA (miRNA/miR) has been found to exert crucial functions in the progression of multiple tumors by affecting expressions of their targets. However, the biological roles and the potential mechanism of miR-489 in OC need further elucidation.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) was utilized to confirm the miR-489 expressions in OC tissue samples and cell lines. The functions of miR-489 were analyzed by performing functional assays, such as MTT (3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assays and transwell assays. The downstream target of miR-489 was confirmed by TargetScan and luciferase reporter assay. Western blot was conducted to detect the expression of indicators associated with the down-stream signaling pathway.

RESULTS

MiR-489 was prominently downregulated in OC tissues and cells, and the decreased miR-489 expression was related to malignant clinicopathologic features and poor prognosis of OC patients. Functional assays demonstrated that miR-489 could suppress OC cell viability, invasion, and migration. X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) was identified as a target of miR-489 and partially regulated the functions of miR-489 in OC. Moreover, we found that miR-489 inhibits OC progression via regulating phosphatidyl-inositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B pathway (PI3K/AKT) and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results demonstrated that miR-489 inhibited OC development by directly binding to XIAP and regulating PI3K/Akt and EMT signal pathways, and miR-489 might serve as a promising biomarker for OC treatment in the future.

Construction of an MnO2 nanosheet array 3D integrated electrode for sensitive enzyme-free glucose sensing

MnO₂ based electrochemical enzyme-free glucose sensors remain significantly limited by their low electronic conductivity and associated complex preparation. In this paper, an MnO₂ nanosheet array supported on nickel foam (MnO₂ NS/NF) was prepared using a simple hydrothermal synthesis and employed as a 3D integrated electrode for enzyme-free glucose detection. It was found that MnO₂ NS/NF shows high performance with a wide linear range from 1 μM to 1.13 mM, a high sensitivity of 6.45 mA mM^-1 cm^-2, and a low detection limit of 0.5 μM (S/N = 3). Besides, MnO₂ NS/NF shows high selectivity against common interferences and good reliability for glucose detection in human serum. This work demonstrates the promising role of MnO₂ NS/NF as an efficient integrated electrode in enzyme-free glucose detection with high performance.

Trichinella spiralis: RNAi-mediated silencing of serine protease results in reduction of intrusion, development and fecundity

In previous studies, a Trichinella spiralis serine protease (TsSP) was identified in excretion/secretion (ES) products from intestinal infective L1 larvae (IIL1) using immunoproteomics. The complete cDNA sequence of TsSP gene was 1372 bp, which encoded 429 amino acids with 47.55 kDa. The TsSP was transcribed and expressed at all T. spiralis life cycle phases, as well as mainly located at the cuticle and stichosome of the parasitic nematode. Recombinant TsSP bind to intestinal epithelial cells (IEC) and promoted larva invasion, however, its exact function in invasion, development and reproduction are still unknown. The aim of this study was to confirm the biological function of TsSP during T. spiralis invasion and growth using RNA interference (RNAi) technology. The results showed that on 1 day after electroporation using 2.5 µM siRNA156, TsSP mRNA and protein expression of muscle larvae (ML) was suppressed by 48.35 and 59.98%, respectively. Meanwhile, silencing of TsSP gene by RNAi resulted in a 61.38% decrease of serine protease activity of ML ES proteins, and a significant reduction of the in vitro and in vivo invasive capacity of IIL1 to intrude into the IEC monolayer and intestinal mucosa. When mice were infected with siRNA 156-transfected larvae, adult worm and muscle larva burdens were decreased by 58.85 and 60.48%, respectively. Moreover, intestinal worm growth and female fecundity were evidently inhibited after TsSP gene was knockdown, it was demonstrated that intestinal adults became smaller and the in vitro newborn larval yield of females obviously declined compared with the control siRNA group. The results indicated that knockdown of TsSP gene by RNAi significantly reduced the TsSP expression and enzymatic activity, impaired larvae intrusion and growth, and lowered the female reproductive capacity, further verified that TsSP might participate in diverse processes of T. spiralis life cycle, it will be a new prospective candidate molecular target of anti-Trichinella vaccines.

No pulsed radio emission during a bursting phase of a Galactic magnetar

Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are millisecond-duration radio transients of unknown physical origin observed at extragalactic distances^1-3. It has long been speculated that magnetars are the engine powering repeating bursts from FRB sources^4-13, but no convincing evidence has been collected so far¹⁴. Recently, the Galactic magnetar SRG 1935+2154 entered an active phase by emitting intense soft γ-ray bursts¹⁵. One FRB-like event with two peaks (FRB 200428) and a luminosity slightly lower than the faintest extragalactic FRBs was detected from the source, in association with a soft γ-ray/hard-X-ray flare^18-21. Here we report an eight-hour targeted radio observational campaign comprising four sessions and assisted by multi-wavelength (optical and hard-X-ray) data. During the third session, 29 soft-γ-ray repeater (SGR) bursts were detected in γ-ray energies. Throughout the observing period, we detected no single dispersed pulsed emission coincident with the arrivals of SGR bursts, but unfortunately we were not observing when the FRB was detected. The non-detection places a fluence upper limit that is eight orders of magnitude lower than the fluence of FRB 200428. Our results suggest that FRB-SGR burst associations are rare. FRBs may be highly relativistic and geometrically beamed, or FRB-like events associated with SGR bursts may have narrow spectra and characteristic frequencies outside the observed band. It is also possible that the physical conditions required to achieve coherent radiation in SGR bursts are difficult to satisfy, and that only under extreme conditions could an FRB be associated with an SGR burst.

[Clinical effects of individualized free anterolateral thigh flap in repairing complex refractory wound]

Objective: To explore the clinical effects of individualized free anterolateral thigh flap in repairing complex refractory wound. Methods: From July 2015 to May 2019, 19 patients with complex refractory wounds were hospitalized in Yulin NO.1 People's Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, including 12 males and 7 female, aged 13-67 years. There were 5 patients with multiple tissue defects, 7 patients with large area of wounds, and 7 patients with wounds in special areas. The sizes of wounds after complete debridement were 8 cm×5 cm-23 cm×7 cm. According to the repair demand, the wounds in 5 patients were repaired with anterolateral thigh flaps and flow-through, the wounds in 7 patients were repaired with anterolateral thigh flaps chimed with lateral thigh muscle flaps, with vascular anastomosis in 2 patients, the wounds in 6 patients were repaired with unilateral anterolateral thigh lobulated flaps, and the wound in 1 patient was repaired with bilateral anterolateral thigh flap in series connection. The sizes of flaps were 10 cm×7 cm-25 cm×9 cm. The donor sites were sutured directly or repaired with thin split-thickness skin graft of head. The survival of the flaps, the appearance of the donor sites, and wounds repair after the operation and during follow-up were observed. Results: The lobulated flap in 1 patient had local necrosis after the operation and finally healed by debridement, dressing change, and transplanting medium split-thickness skin graft in groin. The flaps in 18 patients survived with good blood supply, and the lobulated flap tissue was swollen in 1 of 18 patients. The donor sites which were directly sutured in 18 patients only had linear scar, and the donor site which was repaired with thin split-thickness skin graft of head in 1 patient had flaky scar. Follow-up of 1-12 months showed that all the wounds healed well, the flap thinning operations were performed in 5 patients in 3 months post operation because the flaps were slightly bloated. The CT angiography after the operation showed that the anastomosed blood vessels were unobstructed in 7 patients with reconstructed local blood supply. Conclusions: The special forms of anterolateral thigh flap, such as lobulation, series connection, and chimerism can be designed according to the anatomical characteristics of the descending branch of the lateral femoral artery to meet individualized repair demand for complex refractory wounds, and achieve the double purposes of making full use of the donor site tissue and good repair of the recipient site.

[The impact of metabolic syndrome and its individual components on long-term prognosis of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention]

Objective: To investigate the impact of metabolic syndrome (MS) and its individual components on long-term prognosis of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI). Methods: Patients who underwent PCI in Fuwai Hospital in 2013 were enrolled and divided to two groups: with MS and without MS. The primary endpoint of 2-year follow-up was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), including death, myocardial infarction, and repeat revascularization. Results: Of the 10 422 PCI patients, there were 5 656 (54.27%) without MS and 4 766 (45.73%) with MS. Patients in the MS group were younger, tended to be male and had more comorbidities. There were no significant differences between the two groups in the proportion of drug-coated stents and the success rate of interventional therapy. The 2-year follow-up showed that the incidence of MACE in the MS group was significantly higher than that in the MS-free group (12.0% vs 10.0%, P<0.001), which was mainly due to the significantly higher revascularization rate in the MS group than in the non-MS group (9.5% vs 7.9%, P=0.003). Cox's regression analysis showed that MS was an independent risk factor for MACE. In MS component analysis, abnormal glucose metabolism was an independent risk factor for MACE events. Conclusions: Among the patients undergoing PCI, the incidence of MACE in patients with MS is significantly higher than that in patients without MS, and MS was an independent risk factor for MACE. In addition, hyperglycemia is an independent predictor for MACE.

A high performance wearable strain sensor with advanced thermal management for motion monitoring

Resistance change under mechanical stimuli arouses mass operational heat, damaging the performance, lifetime, and reliability of stretchable electronic devices, therefore rapid thermal heat dissipating is necessary. Here we report a stretchable strain sensor with outstanding thermal management. Besides a high stretchability and sensitivity testified by human motion monitoring, as well as long-term durability, an enhanced thermal conductivity from the casted thermoplastic polyurethane-boron nitride nanosheets layer helps rapid heat transmission to the environments, while the porous electrospun fibrous thermoplastic polyurethane membrane leads to thermal insulation. A 32% drop of the real time saturated temperature is achieved. For the first time we in-situ investigated the dynamic operational temperature fluctuation of stretchable electronics under repeating stretching-releasing processes. Finally, cytotoxicity test confirms that the nanofillers are tightly restricted in the nanocomposites, making it harmless to human health. All the results prove it an excellent candidate for the next-generation of wearable devices.

Experimental observation of three-dimensional non-paraxial accelerating beams

We experimentally realize three-dimensional non-paraxial accelerating beams associated with different coordinate systems. They are obtained by Fourier transforming a phase-modulated wave front in an aberration-compensated system. The phase pattern is encoded to include the phase and amplitude modulation for the accelerating beams with additional correction phase for the aberration compensation. These beams propagate along a circular trajectory, but they exhibit rather complex intensity patterns corresponding to the shape-invariant solutions in parabolic, prolate spheroidal and oblate spheroidal coordinate systems.