Anti-Solvent-Free Preparation for Efficient and Photostable Pure-Iodide Wide-Bandgap Perovskite Solar Cells

The perovskite/silicon tandem solar cell (TSC) has attracted tremendous attention due to its potential to breakthrough the theoretical efficiency set for single-junction solar cells. However, the perovskite solar cell (PSC) designed as its top component cell suffers from severe photo-induced halide segregation owing to its mixed-halide strategy for achieving desirable wide-bandgap (1.68 eV). Developing pure-iodide wide-bandgap perovskites is a promising route to fabricate photostable perovskite/silicon TSCs. Here, we report efficient and photostable pure-iodide wide-bandgap PSCs made from an anti-solvent-free (ASF) technique. The ASF process is achieved by mixing two precursor solutions, both of which are capable of depositing corresponding perovskite films without involving anti-solvent. The mixed solution finally forms Cs0.3DMA0.2MA0.5PbI3 perovskite film with a bandgap of 1.68 eV. Furthermore, methylammonium chloride additive is applied to enhance the crystallinity and reduce the trap density of perovskite films. As a result, the pure-iodide wide-bandgap PSC delivers efficiency as high as 21.30 % with excellent photostability, the highest for this type of solar cells. The ASF method significantly improves the device reproducibility as compared with devices made from other anti-solvent methods. Our findings provide a novel recipe to prepare efficient and photostable wide-bandgap PSCs.

An Adaptive Multi-D-Norm-Driven Sparse Unfolding Deconvolutional Network for Bearing Fault Diagnosis

Impulsive blind deconvolution (IBD) is a popular method to recover impulsive sources for bearing fault diagnosis. Its underpinnings are in the design of objective functions based on prior knowledge of impulsive sources and a transfer function to describe transmission path influences. However, popular objective functions cannot retain waveform impulsiveness and periodicity cyclostationarity simultaneously, and the single convolution operation of IBD methods is insufficient to describe transmission paths composed of multiple linear and nonlinear units. Inspired by the MaxPooling period modulation intensity (MPMI) and convolutional sparse learning (CSL), an adaptive multi-D-norm-driven sparse unfolding deconvolution network (AMD-SUDN) is proposed in this paper. The core strategy is that one target vector with simultaneous impulsiveness and cyclostationarity is constructed automatically through the MPMI; then, this vector is substituted into the multi D-norm to design objective functions. Moreover, an iterative soft threshold algorithm (ISTA) for the CSL model is derived, and its iterative steps are unfolded into one deconvolution network. The algorithm's performance and the hyperparameter configuration are investigated by a set of numerical simulations. Finally, the proposed AMD-SUDN is applied to detect the impulsive features of bearing faults. All comparative results verify that the proposed AMD-SUDN achieves a better deconvolution accuracy than state-of-the-art IBD methods.

Exosomes derived from M2 macrophages prevent steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head by modulating inflammation, promoting bone formation and inhibiting bone resorption

Inflammatory reactions are involved in the development of steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head(ONFH). Studies have explored the therapeutic efficacy of inhibiting inflammatory reactions in steroid-induced ONFH and revealed that inhibiting inflammation may be a new strategy for preventing the development of steroid-induced ONFH. Exosomes derived from M2 macrophages(M2-Exos) display anti-inflammatory properties. This study aimed to examine the preventive effect of M2-Exos on early-stage steroid-induced ONFH and explore the underlying mechanisms involved. In vitro, we explored the effect of M2-Exos on the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells(BMMSCs). In vivo, we investigated the role of M2-Exos on inflammation, osteoclastogenesis, osteogenesis and angiogenesis in an early-stage rat model of steroid-induced ONFH. We found that M2-Exos promoted the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of BMMSCs. Additionally, M2-Exos effectively attenuated the osteonecrotic changes, inhibited the expression of proinflammatory mediators, promoted osteogenesis and angiogenesis, reduced osteoclastogenesis, and regulated the polarization of M1/M2 macrophages in steroid-induced ONFH. Taken together, our data suggest that M2-Exos are effective at preventing steroid-induced ONFH. These findings may be helpful for providing a potential strategy to prevent the development of steroid-induced ONFH.

Dimensionality Engineering of Organic-Inorganic Halide Perovskites for Next-Generation X-Ray Detector

The next-generation X-ray detectors require novel semiconductors with low material/fabrication cost, excellent X-ray response characteristics, and robust operational stability. The family of organic-inorganic hybrid perovskites (OIHPs) materials comprises a range of crystal configuration (i.e., films, wafers, and single crystals) with tunable chemical composition, structures, and electronic properties, which can perfectly meet the multiple-stringent requirements of high-energy radiation detection, making them emerging as the cutting-edge candidate for next-generation X-ray detectors. From the perspective of molecular dimensionality, the physicochemical and optoelectronic characteristics of OIHPs exhibit dimensionality-dependent behavior, and thus the structural dimensionality is recognized as the key factor that determines the device performance of OIHPs-based X-ray detectors. Nevertheless, the correlation between dimensionality of OIHPs and performance of their X-ray detectors is still short of theoretical guidance, which become a bottleneck that impedes the development of efficient X-ray detectors. In the review, the advanced studies on the dimensionality engineering of OIHPs are critically assessed in X-ray detection application, discussing the current understanding on the "dimensionality-property" relationship of OIHPs and the state-of-the-art progresses on the dimensionality-engineered OIHPs-based X-ray detector, and highlight the open challenges and future outlook of this field.

Characterization of Genomic, Physiological, and Probiotic Features of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum JS21 Strain Isolated from Traditional Fermented Jiangshui

This study aimed to understand the genetic and metabolic traits of a Lactiplantibacillus plantarum JS21 strain and its probiotic abilities through laboratory tests and computer analysis. L. plantarum JS21 was isolated from a traditional fermented food known as "Jiangshui" in Hanzhong city. In this research, the complete genetic makeup of JS21 was determined using Illumina and PacBio technologies. The JS21 genome consisted of a 3.423 Mb circular chromosome and five plasmids. It was found to contain 3023 protein-coding genes, 16 tRNA genes, 64 rRNA operons, 40 non-coding RNA genes, 264 pseudogenes, and six CRISPR array regions. The GC content of the genome was 44.53%. Additionally, the genome harbored three complete prophages. The evolutionary relationship and the genome collinearity of JS21 were compared with other L. plantarum strains. The resistance genes identified in JS21 were inherent. Enzyme genes involved in the Embden-Meyerhof-Parnas (EMP) and phosphoketolase (PK) pathways were detected, indicating potential for facultative heterofermentative pathways. JS21 possessed bacteriocins plnE/plnF genes and genes for polyketide and terpenoid assembly, possibly contributing to its antibacterial properties against Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Escherichia coli (K88), Staphylococcus aureus (CMCC 26003), and Listeria monocytogenes (CICC 21635). Furthermore, JS21 carried genes for Na+/H+ antiporters, F0F1 ATPase, and other stress resistance genes, which may account for its ability to withstand simulated conditions of the human gastrointestinal tract in vitro. The high hydrophobicity of its cell surface suggested the potential for intestinal colonization. Overall, L. plantarum JS21 exhibited probiotic traits as evidenced by laboratory experiments and computational analysis, suggesting its suitability as a dietary supplement.

Establishment of patient-derived organoids for guiding personalized therapies in breast cancer patients

Breast cancer has become the most commonly diagnosed cancer. The intra- and interpatient heterogeneity induced a considerable variation in treatment efficacy. There is an urgent requirement for preclinical models to anticipate the effectiveness of individualized drug responses. Patient-derived organoids (PDOs) can accurately recapitulate the architecture and biological characteristics of the origin tumor, making them a promising model that can overtake many limitations of cell lines and PDXs. However, it is still unclear whether PDOs-based drug testing can benefit breast cancer patients, particularly those with tumor recurrence or treatment resistance. Fresh tumor samples were surgically resected for organoid culture. Primary tumor samples and PDOs were subsequently subjected to H&E staining, immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis, and whole-exome sequencing (WES) to make comparisons. Drug sensitivity tests were performed to evaluate the feasibility of this model for predicting patient drug response in clinical practice. We established 75 patient-derived breast cancer organoid models. The results of H&E staining, IHC, and WES revealed that PDOs inherited the histologic and genetic characteristics of their parental tumor tissues. The PDOs successfully predicted the patient's drug response, and most cases exhibited consistency between PDOs' drug susceptibility test results and the clinical response of the matched patient. We conclude that the breast cancer organoids platform can be a potential preclinical tool used for the selection of effective drugs and guided personalized therapies for patients with advanced breast cancer.

Infection Microenvironment-Responsive Coating on Titanium Surfaces for On-Demand Release of Therapeutic Gas and Antibiotic

Aseptic loosening and bacterial infection pose significant challenges in the clinical application of titanium (Ti) orthopedic implants, which are primarily caused by insufficient osseointegration and bacterial contamination. To address these issues, a responsive coating on Ti surface is constructed, which achieves enhanced osseointegration and infection elimination by on-demand release of therapeutic gas hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and antibiotic. TiO2 nanotubes (TNT) are anodized on the Ti surface to enhance its bioactivity and serve as reservoirs for the antibiotic. An infection microenvironment-responsive macromolecular H2S donor layer is coated on top of TNT to inhibit premature leakage of antibiotic. This layer exhibits a sustained release of low-dosage H2S, which is capable of promoting the osteogenic differentiation and migration of cells. Moreover, the compactness of the macromolecular H2S donor layer could be broken by bacterial invasion, leading to rapid antibiotic release thus preventing infection. In vitro antibacterial experiments validates significant antibacterial activity of the coating against both Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) and Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus). Crucially, this coating effectively suppresses implant-associated infection with 98.7% antibacterial efficiency in a rat femoral bone defect model, mitigates inflammation at the defect site and promotes osseointegration of the Ti orthopedic implant.

In Situ Synthesized Low-Dimensional Perovskite for >25% Efficiency Stable MA-Free Perovskite Solar Cells

Developing an additive to effectively regulate the perovskite crystallization kinetics for the optimized optoelectronic properties of perovskite film plays a vital role in obtaining high efficiency and stable perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Herein, a new additive is designed and directly synthesized in perovskite precursor solution by utilizing an addition reaction between but-3-yn-1-amine hydrochloride (BAH) and formamidinium iodide. It is found that its product may control the intermediate precursor phase for regulating perovskite nucleation, leading to advantageous 2D perovskite to induce growth of perovskite along the preferred [001] orientation with not only released lattice strain but also strong interaction with perovskite to passivate its surface defects. By taking advantage of the above synergistic effects, the optimized PSC delivers an efficiency of 25.19% and a high open-circuit voltage (VOC) of 1.22 V. Additionally, the devices demonstrate good stability, remaining over 90% of their initial efficiencies under ambient atmosphere conditions for 60 days, high temperature of 85 °C for 200 h, or maximum power point tracking for 500 h.

Conformal Conversion of Polyphosphazene@Sb2MoO6 Nanowires to N/S-Doped/Carbon-Coated SbPO4/MoOx for High-performance Lithium Storage

Alloy-type antimony (Sb) and conversion-type molybdenum (Mo) anodes have attracted extensive attention in the application of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) owing to their high theoretical capacity. In this study, Sb2MoO6 nanowires are prepared via a hydrothermal method and assessed their thermal behavior upon heat treatment, observing an intriguing transformation from nanowire to Sb2O3/MoOx nanosheets. To enhance structure stability, the Sb2MoO6 nanowires are successfully coated with a polyphosphazene layer (referred to as PZS@Sb2MoO6), which not only preserved the nanowires form but also yielded N/S co-doped carbon-coated SbPO4/MoOx (NS-C@SbPO4/MoOx) nanowires following annealing in an inert environment. This composite benefits from the stable PO4 3- anion that serve as a buffer against volume expansion and form a Li3PO4 matrix during cycling, both of which substantially bolster ion transport and cycle endurance. Doping with heteroatoms introduces numerous oxygen vacancies, augmenting the number of electrochemically active sites, and carbon integration considerably enhances the electronic conductivity of the electrode and alleviates the volume-change-induced electrode pulverization. Employed as anode materials in LIBs, the NS-C@SbPO4/MoOx electrode exhibits remarkable cycling performance (449.8 mA h g-1 at 1000 mA g-1 over 700 cycles) along with superior rate capability (394.2 mA h g-1 at 2000 mA g-1).

Glycine-serine-rich effector PstGSRE4 in Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici targets and stabilizes TaGAPDH2 that promotes stripe rust disease

Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst) secretes effector proteins that enter plant cells and manipulate host processes. In a previous study, we identified a glycine-serine-rich effector PstGSRE4, which was proven to regulate the reactive oxygen species (ROS) pathway by interacting with TaCZSOD2. In this study, we further demonstrated that PstGSRE4 interacts with wheat glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase TaGAPDH2, which is related to ROS signalling. In wheat, silencing of TaGAPDH2 by virus-induced gene silencing increased the accumulation of ROS induced by the Pst virulent race CYR31. Overexpression of TaGAPDH2 decreased the accumulation of ROS induced by the avirulent Pst race CYR23. In addition, TaGAPDH2 suppressed Pst candidate elicitor Pst322-triggered cell death by decreasing ROS accumulation in Nicotiana benthamiana. Knocking down TaGAPDH2 expression attenuated Pst infection, whereas overexpression of TaGAPDH2 promoted Pst infection, indicating that TaGAPDH2 is a negative regulator of plant defence. In N. benthamiana, PstGSRE4 stabilized TaGAPDH2 through inhibition of the 26S proteasome-mediated destabilization. Overall, these results suggest that TaGAPDH2 is hijacked by the Pst effector as a negative regulator of plant immunity to promote Pst infection in wheat.

Boron Quantum Dots Pillared Ti3 C2 Tx Membrane Electrode with High Rate Performance for Supercapacitor

A sonication-assisted liquid-phase preparation technique is developed to prepare boron quantum dots (BQDs) with a lateral size of 3 nm in a solution of NMP and NBA; it shows a direct bandgap semiconductor with a bandgap of 3 eV and a specific capacitance of 41 F g-1 . A BQDs(10)-Ti3 C2 Tx membrane electrode with excellent capacitance and high flexibility is prepared by using Ti3 C2 Tx nanosheets (NSs) as assembled units and BQDs as pillar; it gives a specific capacitance of 524 F g-1 at 1 A g-1 in 6 m H2 SO4 electrolyte, a high capacity retention of 75%, and a minimum relaxation time of 0.51 s. An all-solid-state BQDs(10)-Ti3 C2 Tx flexibility supercapacitor is assembled by using a BQDs(10)-Ti3 C2 Tx membrane as electrodes and PVA/H2 SO4 hydrogel as electrolyte; it not only shows an area specific capacitance of 552 mF cm-2 at 1.25 mA cm-2 , a retention rate of 75%, a capacity retention of 93% after 5000 cycles, and an energy density of 40.4 Wh cm-3 at a volume power density of 416 W cm-3 , but also provides superior flexibility and can be bent to different degrees, showing that the assembled BQDs(10)-Ti3 C2 Tx membrane electrode and BQDs(10)-Ti3 C2 Tx flexible supercapacitor display broad application prospects in field of portable/wearable electronic devices.

Crystallization Control Based on the Regulation of Solvent-Perovskite Coordination for High-Performance Ambient Printable FAPbI3 Perovskite Solar Cells

The critical requirement for ambient-printed formamidinium lead iodide (FAPbI3 ) lies in the control of nucleation-growth kinetics and defect formation behavior, which are extensively influenced by interactions between the solvent and perovskite. Here, a strategy is developed that combines a cosolvent and an additive to efficiently tailor the coordination between the solvent and perovskite. Through in situ characterizations, the direct crystallization from the sol-gel phase to α-FAPbI3 is illustrated. When the solvent exhibits strong interactions with the perovskite, the sol-gel phases cannot effectively transform into α-FAPbI3 , resulting in a lower nucleation rate and confined crystal growth directions. Consequently, it becomes challenging to fabricate high-quality void-free perovskite films. Conversely, weaker solvent-perovskite coordination promotes direct crystallization from sol-gel phases to α-FAPbI3 . This process exhibits more balanced nucleation-growth kinetics and restrains the formation of defects and microstrains in situ. This strategy leads to improved structural and optoelectronic properties within the FAPbI3 films, characterized by more compact grain stacking, smoother surface morphology, released lattice strain, and fewer defects. The ambient-printed FAPbI3 perovskite solar cells fabricated using this strategy exhibit a remarkable power conversion efficiency of 24%, with significantly reduced efficiency deviation and negligible decreases in the stabilized output.

Joint superpixel and Transformer for high resolution remote sensing image classification

Deep neural networks combined with superpixel segmentation have proven to be superior to high-resolution remote sensing image (HRI) classification. Currently, most HRI classification methods that combine deep learning and superpixel segmentation use stacking on multiple scales to extract contextual information from segmented objects. However, this approach does not take into account the contextual dependencies between each segmented object. To solve this problem, a joint superpixel and Transformer (JST) framework is proposed for HRI classification. In JST, HRI is first segmented into superpixel objects as input, and Transformer is used to model the long-range dependencies. The contextual relationship between each input superpixel object is obtained and the class of analyzed objects is output by designing an encoding and decoding Transformer. Additionally, we explore the effect of semantic range on classification accuracy. JST is also tested by using two HRI datasets with overall classification accuracy, average accuracy and Kappa coefficients of 0.79, 0.70, 0.78 and 0.91, 0.85, 0.89, respectively. The effectiveness of the proposed method is compared qualitatively and quantitatively, and the results achieve competitive and consistently better than the benchmark comparison method.

Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals the altered innate immunity in immune checkpoint inhibitor-related myocarditis

Myocarditis has emerged as a rare but lethal immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-associated toxicity. However, the exact mechanism and the specific therapeutic targets remain underexplored. In this study, we aim to characterise the transcriptomic profiles based on single-cell RNA sequencing from ICI-related myocarditis. Peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) samples were collected from four groups for single-cell RNA sequencing: (1) patients with newly diagnosed lung squamous cell carcinoma before treatment (Control Group); (2) patients with lung squamous cell carcinoma with PD-1 inhibitor therapy who did not develop myocarditis (PD-1 Group); (3) patients during fulminant ICI-related myocarditis onset (Myocarditis Group); and (4) Patients with fulminant ICI-related myocarditis during disease remission (Recovery Group). Subcluster determination, functional analysis, single-cell trajectory and cell-cell interaction analysis were performed after scRNA-seq. Bulk-RNA sequencing was performed for further validation. Our results revealed the diversity of cellular populations in ICI-related myocarditis, marked by their distinct transcriptional profiles and biological functions. Monocytes, NKs as well as B cells contribute to the regulation of innate immunity and inflammation in ICI-related myocarditis. With integrated analysis of scRNA-seq and bulk sequencing, we identified S100A protein family as a potential serum marker for ICI-related myocarditis. Our study has created a cell atlas of PBMC during ICI-related myocarditis, which would shed light on the pathophysiological mechanism and potential therapeutic targets of ICI-related myocarditis in continuous exploration.

Bidirectional and Stepwise Rotation of Cells and Particles Using Induced Charge Electroosmosis Vortexes

The rotation of cells is of significant importance in various applications including bioimaging, biophysical analysis and microsurgery. Current methods usually require complicated fabrication processes. Herein, we proposed an induced charged electroosmosis (ICEO) based on a chip manipulation method for rotating cells. Under an AC electric field, symmetric ICEO flow microvortexes formed above the electrode surface can be used to trap and rotate cells. We have discussed the impact of ICEO and dielectrophoresis (DEP) under the experimental conditions. The capabilities of our method have been tested by investigating the precise rotation of yeast cells and K562 cells in a controllable manner. By adjusting the position of cells, the rotation direction can be changed based on the asymmetric ICEO microvortexes via applying a gate voltage to the gate electrode. Additionally, by applying a pulsed signal instead of a continuous signal, we can also precisely and flexibly rotate cells in a stepwise way. Our ICEO-based rotational manipulation method is an easy to use, biocompatible and low-cost technique, allowing rotation regardless of optical, magnetic or acoustic properties of the sample.

Prediction of the risk of severe small bowel obstruction and effects of Houpu Paiqi mixture in patients undergoing surgery for small bowel obstruction

AIM

Small bowel obstruction is a common condition that requires emergency surgery. Slow recovery of bowel function after surgery or the occurrence of one or more complications can exacerbate the disease and result in severe small bowel obstruction (SSBO), significantly impacting recovery. It is characterized by a failure to regain enteral nutrition promptly, requiring long-term intensive care. Therefore, it is necessary to identify factors that predict SSBO, to allow early intervention for patients likely to develop this condition.

METHODS

Of the 260 patients who underwent emergency or elective surgery for small bowel obstruction between January 2018 and December 2022, 45 developed SSBO. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression model was applied to optimize factor selection and multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to construct a predictive model. The performance and clinical utility of the nomogram were determined and internal validation was conducted. In addition, the effects of the Houpu Paiqi mixture on postoperative recovery were analyzed by comparing the clinical data of 28 patients who were treated with the mixture and 61patients who did not receive it.

RESULTS

The predictors included in the prediction nomogram were age, peritonitis, intestinal resection and anastomosis, complications, operation time, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score, white blood cell count, and procalcitonin level. The model had an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.948 (95% confidence interval: 0.814-0.956). Decision curve analysis demonstrated that the SSBO risk nomogram had a good net clinical benefit. In addition, treatment with the Houpu Paiqi mixture reduced postoperative exhaust time, postoperative defecation time, time to first postoperative liquid feed, and length of stay in hospital.

CONCLUSIONS

We developed a nomogram that can assist clinicians in identifying patients at greater risk of SSBO, which may aid in early diagnosis and intervention. Additionally, we found that the Houpu Paiqi mixture promoted postoperative recovery.

Identification of significant m6A regulators and immune microenvironment characterization in ischemic stroke

The role of m6A modification in the regulation of the immune microenvironment (IME) of ischemic stroke (IS) is barely known. Thus, we aim to investigate the impact of m6A modification on the IME of IS and its diagnostic value in IS. We comprehensively assessed the m6A modification patterns, the relationship between these modification patterns and the characteristics of the IME. The m6A modification patterns of individual IS sample were quantified by m6Ascore. The performance of m6A phenotype-related genes as potential biomarkers was evaluated by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. Experimental validation was also performed by qRT-PCR. Six dysregulated m6A regulators were identified and a classification model consisting of four key m6A regulators (METLL3, RBMX, RBM15B, YTDHF3) could distinguish IS and healthy control samples well. METTL3 and YTHDF3 are closely related to circulating neutrophil abundance. Two distinct m6A modification patterns were determined which differed in immunocyte abundance. We also identified six m6A phenotype-related genes (APOBEC3A, PTMA, FCGR3A, LOC440926, LOC649946, and FTH1L11), and further explored their biological function. Among them, APOBEC3A, FCGR3A, and FTH1L11 were positively associated with neutrophil abundance. APOBEC3A and FCGR3A were stable diagnostic m6A-associated genes in both the discovery and validation cohorts. This study reveals that m6A modification plays a non-negligible role in the formation of a diversified and complex IME in IS. The m6A phenotype-related genes could be diagnostic biomarkers of IS.

Au Nanocluster Assisted Microstructural Reconstruction for Buried Interface Healing for Enhanced Perovskite Solar Cell Performance

The heterogeneity of perovskite film crystallization along the vertical direction leads to voids and traps at the buried interfaces, hampering both efficiency and stability of perovskite solar cells. Here, bovine serum albumin-functionalized Au nanoclusters (ABSA), combined with heavy gravity, high surface charge density, and strong interactions with the electron transport layer, are designed to reconstruct the buried interfaces for not only high-quality crystallization, but also improved carrier transfer. The ABSA macromolecules with amine function groups and larger surface charge density interact with the perovskite to improve the crystallinity, and gradually migrate towards the buried interface, healing the defective voids, hence suppressing surface recombination velocity from 3075 to 452 cm s-1 . The healed buried interface and the higher surface potential of ABSA-modified TiO2 lead to improved carrier extraction at the interface. The resulting solar cell attains a power conversion efficiency of 25.0% with negligible hysteresis and remarkable stability, maintaining 92.9% of their initial efficiency after 3200 h of exposure to the ambient atmosphere, they also exhibit better continuous irradiation stability compared to control devices. These findings provide a new metal-protein complex to eliminate the deleterious voids and defects at the buried interface for improved photovoltaic performance and stability.

Prognostic significance of liver stiffness in patients with primary biliary cholangitis: validation of Baveno VII criteria

BACKGROUND

The role of liver stiffness measurements (LSM) in patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) remains to be further elucidated.

AIMS

To clarify the prognostic role of LSM and to validate the "novel concepts" proposed by the Baveno VII Working Group.

METHODS

An analysis of the prognostic significance of LSM was performed involving 672 patients.

RESULTS

LSM and ΔLSM/ΔT were independent risk factors for liver decompensation, liver transplantation, or liver-related death (primary outcomes, p < 0.001, both). A rule of 5 kPa for LSM (10-15-20 kPa) could be used to denote progressively higher relative risks of primary outcomes. Patients with LSM < 10 kPa have a negligible 3-year risk of primary outcomes (< 1%). Cut-off values of 10 and 15 kPa can be used to classify PBC patients into low-, medium-, and high-risk groups. A clinically significant decrease in LSM, evaluated at 6, 12, or 24 months elastography tests, was associated with a substantially reduced risk of primary outcomes (p < 0.05, all), which can be defined as a decrease in LSM of >  - 20% associated with LSM < 20 kPa or any decrease to LSM < 10 kPa. A clinically significant increase in LSM, evaluated at 6, 12, or 24 months elastography tests, was associated with a substantially raised risk of primary outcomes (p < 0.05, all), which can be defined as an increase in LSM of ≥  + 20% or any increase to LSM ≥ 15 kPa.

CONCLUSIONS

LSM can be used to monitor disease progression and predict long-term prognosis in patients with PBC.

Cross-reaction mediated by distinct key amino acid combinations in the complementary-determining region (CDR) of a monoclonal antibody

In immunology, cross-reaction between antigens and antibodies are commonly observed. Prior research has shown that various monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) can recognize a broad spectrum of epitopes related to influenza viruses. However, existing theories on cross-reactions fall short in explaining the phenomena observed. This study explored the interaction characteristics of H1-74 mAb with three peptides: two natural peptides, LVLWGIHHP and LPFQNI, derived from the hemagglutinin (HA) antigen of the H1N1 influenza virus, and one synthetic peptide, WPFQNY. Our findings indicate that the complementarity-determining region (CDR) of H1-74 mAb comprised five antigen-binding sites, containing eight key amino acid residues from the light chain variable region and 16 from the heavy chain variable region. These critical residues formed distinct hydrophobic or hydrophilic clusters and functional groups within the binding sites, facilitating interaction with antigen epitopes through hydrogen bonding, salt bridge formation, and π-π stacking. The study revealed that the formation of the antibody molecule led to the creation of binding groups and small units in the CDR, allowing the antibody to attach to a variety of antigen epitopes through diverse combinations of these small units and functional groups. This unique ability of the antibody to bind with antigen epitopes provides a new molecular basis for explaining the phenomenon of antibody cross-reaction.

Promoting Ruddlesden-Popper Perovskite Formation by Tailoring Spacer Intramolecular Interaction for Efficient and Stable Solar Cells

Low-dimensional Ruddlesden-Popper phase (LDRP) perovskites are widely studied in the field of photovoltaics due to their tunable energy-band properties, enhanced photostability, and improved environmental stability compared to the 3D perovskites. However, the insulating spacers with weak intramolecular interaction used in LDRP materials limit the out-of-plane charge transport, leading to poor device performance of LDRP perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Here, a functional ligand, 3-guanidinopropanoic acid (GPA), which is capable of forming strong intramolecular hydrogen bonds through the carboxylic acid group, is employed as an organic spacer for LDRP PSCs. Owing to the strong interaction between GPA molecules, high-quality LDRP (GPA)2 (MA)n-1 Pbn I3n+1 film with promoted formation of n = 5 phase, improved crystallinity, preferential vertical growth orientations, reduced trap-state density, and prolonged carrier lifetime is achieved using GPAI as the dimensionality regulator compared to butylamine hydroiodide (BAI). As a result, GPA-based LDRP PSC exhibits a champion power conversion efficiency of 18.16% that is much superior to the BA-based LDRP PSC (15.43%). Importantly, the optimized GPA-based LDRP PSCs without encapsulation show enhanced illumination, thermal, storage, and humidity stability compared to BA-based ones. This work provides new insights into producing high n value LDRP films and their efficient and stable PSCs.

N6-methyladenosine modification positively regulate Japanese encephalitis virus replication

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is present in diverse viral RNA and plays important regulatory roles in virus replication and host antiviral innate immunity. However, the role of m6A in regulating JEV replication has not been investigated. Here, we show that the JEV genome contains m6A modification upon infection of mouse neuroblast cells (neuro2a). JEV infection results in a decrease in the expression of m6A writer METTL3 in mouse brain tissue. METTL3 knockdown by siRNA leads to a substantial decrease in JEV replication and the production of progeny viruses at 48 hpi. Mechanically, JEV triggered a considerable increase in the innate immune response of METTL3 knockdown neuro2a cells compared to the control cells. Our study has revealed the distinctive m6A signatures of both the virus and host in neuro2a cells infected with JEV, illustrating the positive role of m6A modification in JEV infection. Our study further enhances understanding of the role of m6A modification in Flaviviridae viruses.

The Calcium-Dependent Protein Kinase TaCDPK7 Positively Regulates Wheat Resistance to Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici

Ca2+ plays a crucial role as a secondary messenger in plant development and response to abiotic/biotic stressors. Calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs/CPKs) are essential Ca2+ sensors that can convert Ca2+ signals into downstream phosphorylation signals. However, there is limited research on the function of CDPKs in the context of wheat-Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst) interaction. In this study, we aimed to address this gap by identifying putative CDPK genes from the wheat reference genome and organizing them into four phylogenetic clusters (I-IV). To investigate the expression patterns of the TaCDPK family during the wheat-Pst interaction, we analyzed time series RNA-seq data and further validated the results through qRT-PCR assays. Among the TaCDPK genes, TaCDPK7 exhibited a significant induction during the wheat-Pst interaction, suggesting that it has a potential role in wheat resistance to Pst. To gain further insights into the function of TaCDPK7, we employed virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) to knock down its expression which resulted in impaired wheat resistance to Pst, accompanied by decreased accumulation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), increased fungal biomass ratio, reduced expression of defense-related genes, and enhanced pathogen hyphal growth. These findings collectively suggest that TaCDPK7 plays an important role in wheat resistance to Pst. In summary, this study expands our understanding of wheat CDPKs and provides novel insights into their involvement in the wheat-Pst interaction.

Encapsulation of Titanium Disulfide into MOF-Derived N,S-Doped Carbon Nanotablets Toward Suppressed Shuttle Effect and Enhanced Sodium Storage Performance

Titanium disulfide (TiS2 ) is a promising anode material for sodium-ion batteries due to its high theoretical capacity, but it suffers from severe volume variation and shuttle effect of the intermediate polysulfides. To overcome the drawbacks, herein the successful fabrication of TiS2 @N,S-codoped C (denoted as TiS2 @NSC) through a chemical vapor reaction between Ti-based metal-organic framework (NH2 -MIL-125) and carbon disulfide (CS2 ) is demonstrated. The C─N bonds enhance the electronic/ionic conductivity of the TiS2 @NSC electrode, while the C─S bonds provide extra sodium storage capacity, and both polar bonds synergistically suppress the shuttle effect of polysulfides. Consequently, the TiS2 @NSC electrode demonstrates outstanding cycling stability and rate performance, delivering reversible capacities of 418/392 mAh g-1 after 1000 cycles at 2/5 A g-1 . Ex situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and transmission electron microscope analyses reveal that TiS2 undergoes an intercalation-conversion ion storage mechanism with the generation of metallic Ti in a deeper sodiation state, and the pristine hexagonal TiS2 is electrochemically transformed into cubic rock-salt TiS2 as a reversible phase with enhanced reaction kinetics upon sodiation/desodiation cycling. The strategy to encapsulate TiS2 in N,S-codoped porous carbon matrices efficiently realizes superior conductivity and physical/chemical confinement of the soluble polysulfides, which can be generally applied for the rational design of advanced electrodes.

Pyrolytic Modification of Heavy Coal Tar by Multi-Polymer Blending: Preparation of Ordered Carbonaceous Mesophase

In order to achieve the high-value utilization of heavy tar for the production of enhanced-performance graphite foam carbon, the carbon mesophase was ready from the heavy component of low-temperature coal tar, and the coal tar was modified by styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS), polyethylene (PE) and ethylene-vinyl-acetate (EVA) copolymers. The order degree of the carbonite mesophase was analyzed using a polarizing microscope test, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction to screen out the most suitable copolymer type and addition amount. Furthermore, the mechanism of modification by this copolymer was analyzed. The results showed that adding SBS, PE and EVA to coal tar would affect the order of carbonaceous mesophase; however, at an addition rate of 10.0 wt.%, the linear-structure SBS copolymer with a styrene/butadiene ratio (S/B) of 30/70 exhibited the optimal degree of ordering in the carbonaceous mesophase. Its foam carbon prepared by polymer modification is the only one that forms a graphitized structure, with d002 of 0.3430 nm, and the maximum values of Lc and La are 3.54 nm and 2.22 nm, respectively. This is because, under elevated pressure and high-temperature conditions, SBS underwent chain scission, releasing a more significant number of methyl and other free radicals that interacted with the coal tar constituents. As a result, it reduced the affinity density of heavy coal tar molecules, enhanced fluidity, promoted the stacking of condensed aromatic hydrocarbons and increased the content of soluble carbonaceous mesophase, ultimately leading to a more favorable alignment of the carbonaceous mesophase.

In Situ Formation of 2D Perovskite Seeding for Record-Efficiency Indoor Perovskite Photovoltaic Devices

With 40% efficiency under room light intensity, perovskite solar cells (PSCs) will be promising power supplies for low-light applications, particularly for Internet of Things (IoT) devices and indoor electronics, shall they become commercialized. Herein, β-alaninamide hydrochloride (AHC) is utilized to spontaneously form a layer of 2D perovskite nucleation seeds for improved film uniformity, crystallization quality, and solar cell performance. It is found that the AHC addition indeed improves film quality as demonstrated by better uniformity, lower trap density, smaller lattice stress, and, as a result, a 10-fold increase in charge carrier lifetime. Consequently, not only does the small-area (0.09 cm2 ) PSCs achieve a power conversion efficiency of 42.12%, the large-area cells (1.00 cm2 , and 2.56 cm2 ) attain efficiency as high as 40.93%, and 40.07% respectively. All of these are the highest efficiency values for indoor photovoltaic cells with similar sizes, and more importantly, they represent the smallest efficiency loss due to area scale-up. This work provides a new method to fabricate high-performance indoor PSCs (i-PSCs) for IoT devices with great potential in large-area printing technology.

Surface Energy Engineering of Buried Interface for Highly Stable Perovskite Solar Cells with Efficiency Over 25

The abundant oxygen-related defects (e.g., O vacancies, O-H) in the TiO2 electron transport layer results in high surface energy, which is detrimental to effective carrier extraction and seriously impairs the photovoltaic performance and stability of perovskite solar cells. Here, novel surface energy engineering (SEE) is developed by applying a surfactant of heptadecafluorooctanesulfonate tetraethylammonium (HFSTA) on the surface of the TiO2 . Theoretical calculations show that the HFSTA-TiO2 is less prone to form O vacancies, leading to lower surface energy, thus improving the carrier-extraction efficiency. The experimental results show that superior perovskite film is obtained due to the reduced heterogeneous nucleation sites and improved crystallization process on the modified TiO2 . Furthermore, the flexible long alkyl chains in HFSTA considerably relieve the compressive stresses at the buried interface. By combining the passivation of TiO2 , crystallization process modulation, and stress relief, a champion PCE up to 25.03% is achieved. The device without encapsulation sustains 92.2% of its initial PCE after more than 2500 h storage under air ambient with relative humidity of 25-30%. The SEE of a buried interface paves a new way toward high-efficiency, stable perovskite solar cells.

Telomere-to-telomere and gap-free genome assembly of a susceptible grapevine species (Thompson Seedless) to facilitate grape functional genomics

Grapes are globally recognized as economically significant fruit trees. Among grape varieties, Thompson Seedless holds paramount influence for fresh consumption and for extensive applications in winemaking, drying, and juicing. This variety is one of the most efficient genotypes for grape genetic modification. However, the lack of a high-quality genome has impeded effective breeding efforts. Here, we present the high-quality reference genome of Thompson Seedless with all 19 chromosomes represented as 19 contiguous sequences (N50 = 27.1 Mb) with zero gaps and prediction of all telomeres and centromeres. Compared with the previous assembly (TSv1 version), the new assembly incorporates an additional 31.5 Mb of high-quality sequenced data with annotation of a total of 30 397 protein-coding genes. We also performed a meticulous analysis to identify nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat genes (NLRs) in Thompson Seedless and two wild grape varieties renowned for their disease resistance. Our analysis revealed a significant reduction in the number of two types of NLRs, TIR-NB-LRR (TNL) and CC-NB-LRR (CNL), in Thompson Seedless, which may have led to its sensitivity to many fungal diseases, such as powdery mildew, and an increase in the number of a third type, RPW8 (resistance to powdery mildew 8)-NB-LRR (RNL). Subsequently, transcriptome analysis showed significant enrichment of NLRs during powdery mildew infection, emphasizing the pivotal role of these elements in grapevine's defense against powdery mildew. The successful assembly of a high-quality Thompson Seedless reference genome significantly contributes to grape genomics research, providing insight into the importance of seedlessness, disease resistance, and color traits, and these data can be used to facilitate grape molecular breeding efforts.

Neural mechanisms for integrating time and visual velocity cues in a prediction motion task: An fNIRS study

Human beings use accurate estimates of the time-to-collision of moving objects effortlessly in everyday life. In the laboratory, researchers typically apply prediction motion (PM) tasks to investigate motion processing. In the PM tasks, time structure refers to the ratio of travel time between the visible segment (first segment) and occluded segment (second segment). The condition of T = 1.0, which indicates that the time spent moving is the same across the two segments, is called equal time structure. The present study investigated the neural mechanisms of time and visual velocity information in prediction motion using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Experiment 1 showed that when visual velocity was not available, participants performed better in equal time structure conditions than in unequal time structure conditions. Moreover, the left inferior parietal lobe (IPL) showed higher activation under equal time structure conditions. Experiment 2 showed that participants also performed better in equal time structure conditions when visual velocity was available. Both the left IPL and superior parietal lobe (SPL) exhibited stronger activation under equal time structure conditions in Experiment 2. A comparison between the two experiments showed that participants integrated time structure and visual velocity to estimate arrival time of the moving object. The fNIRS data indicated that the left SPL could be involved in information integration when judging arrival time.

The association between Helicobacter pylori and gastrointestinal disorders during pregnancy: A Multicenter retrospective study

BACKGROUND

Some gastrointestinal disorders may be associated with Helicobacter pylori infection, which not only affect maternal health, but may also lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes. We aim to explore the association between H. pylori and gastrointestinal disorders in pregnant women.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In total, 503 patients were retrospectively analyzed and divided into the H. pylori-uninfected group, the H. pylori-infected group, or the H. pylori-eradicated group. We analyzed the influence of H. pylori on gastrointestinal diseases during pregnancy among the groups, as well as the severity, symptoms, laboratory tests of the H. pylori-related diseases.

RESULTS

Pregnant women with H. pylori infection had higher risk of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP) (p < 0.001), severe NVP(p = 0.012), hyperemesis gravidarum (p = 0.027), hematemesis (p = 0.018), hyponatremia (p = 0.033), as well as functional dyspepsia symptoms including epigastric pain (p = 0.004), bloating (p = 0.024), and feeling full quickly in a meal (p = 0.031) compared with those without H. pylori infection. While the prevalence of NVP (p = 0.024), severe NVP (p = 0.009), epigastric pain (p = 0.037), and bloating (p = 0.032) were lower in H. pylori-eradicated pregnant women than in H. pylori-infected women. In addition, pregnant women with H. pylori infection had higher risk of spontaneous preterm birth than whom without H. pylori infection (p = 0.033).

CONCLUSIONS

Helicobacter pylori infection was associated with higher risks of NVP, severe NVP, hyperemesis gravidarum, functional dyspepsia, and spontaneous preterm birth in pregnant women.

Purification of Quinoline Insolubles in Heavy Coal Tar and Preparation of Meso-Carbon Microbeads by Catalytic Polycondensation

The quinoline-insoluble (QI) matter in coal tar and coal tar pitch is an important factor affecting the properties of subsequent carbon materials. In this paper, catalytic polycondensation was used to remove QI from heavy coal tar, and meso-carbon microbeads could be formed during the purification process. The results showed that AlCl3 had superior catalytic performance to CuCl2, and the content of QI and heavy components, including pitch, in the coal tar was lower after AlCl3 catalytic polycondensation. Under the condition of catalytic polycondensation (AlCl3 0.9 g, temperature 200 °C, and time 9 h), AlCl3 could reduce the QI content in heavy coal tar. The formed small particles could be filtered and removed, and good carbon materials could be obtained under the condition of catalytic polycondensation (AlCl3 0.9 g, temperature 260 °C, and time 3 h).

Novel Thermoelectric Fabric Structure with Switched Thermal Gradient Direction toward Wearable In-Plane Thermoelectric Generators

Wearable thermoelectric generators (TEGs) have exhibited great potential to convert the temperature gradient between the human body and the environment into electrical energy for maintenance-free wearable applications. A 2D planar device structure is widely employed for fabricating flexible TEGs due to its simple structure and facile fabrication properties. However, this device configuration is more appropriate for utilizing in-plane temperature differences than the out-of-plane direction, which limits their application in wearable cases since the temperature difference between the human body and the environment is in the out-of-plane direction. To solve this problem, a novel fabric-based TEG structure that can utilize the out-of-plane temperature gradient is proposed in this work. By introducing thermally conductive components in the generator, the out-of-plane temperature difference can be switched to the in-plane direction, which can be further utilized for 2D planar devices in wearable applications. The prepared thermoelectric fabric prototype with only 12 p-type TE legs exhibits a maximum open-circuit voltage of 4.69 mV and an output power of 39.7 nW at a temperature difference of 30 K. This strategy exhibits a high degree of versatility and can be readily applied to other 2D planar TEGs, thus expanding their potential application in wearable technology.

Dual-Modified Electrospun Fiber Membrane as Separator with Excellent Safety Performance and High Operating Temperature for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Polyacrylonitrile/Boric acid/Melamine/the delaminated BN nanosheets electrospun fiber membrane (PB3 N1 BN) with excellent mechanical property, high thermal stability, superior flame-retardant performance, and good wettability are fabricated by electrospinning PAN/DMF/H3 BO3 /C3 H6 N6 / the delaminated BN nanosheets (BNNSs) homogeneous viscous suspension and followed by a heating treatment. BNNSs are obtained by delaminating the bulk h-BN in isopropyl alcohol (IPA) with an assistance of Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). Benefiting from the cross-linked pore structure and high-temperature stability of BNNSs, PB3 N1 BN electrospun fiber membrane delivers high thermal dimensional stability (almost no size contraction at 200 °C), excellent mechanical property (19.1 MPa), good electrolyte wettability (contact angle about 0°), and excellent flame retardancy (minimum total heat release of 3.2 MJ m-2 ). Moreover, the assembled LiFePO4 /PB3 N1 BN/Li asymmetrical battery using LiFePO4 as the cathode and Li as the anode has a high capacity (169 mAh g-1 at 0.5 C), exceptional rate capability (129 mAh g-1 at 5 C), the prominent cycling stability without obvious decay after 400 cycles, and a good discharge capacity of 152 mAh g-1 at a high temperature of 80 °C. This work offers a new structural design strategy toward separators with excellent mechanical performance, good wettability, and high thermal stability for lithium-ion batteries.

Hepatoprotective effects of aspirin on diethylnitrosamine-induced hepatocellular carcinoma in rats by reducing inflammation levels and PD-L1 expression

Aspirin, as a widely used anti-inflammatory drug, has been shown to exert anti-cancer effects in a variety of cancers. PD-L1 is widely expressed in tumor cells and inhibits anti-tumor immunity. This study aims to clarify whether aspirin exerts its anti-hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) effect by inhibiting PD-L1 expression. The rat model of HCC was established by drinking 0.01% diethylnitrosamine (DEN), and aspirin was given by gavage. The gross and blood biochemical indexes of rats were analyzed. CD4 and CD8 expression in liver tissues were investigated by immunohistochemistry. CCK8 assay was used to detect the inhibitory effect of aspirin on the proliferation of HCC cells. The regulatory effect of aspirin on PD-L1 expression was analyzed by western blot. As a result, the tumor number and liver weight ratio in the DEN + ASA group were lower than those in the DEN group (P = 0.006, P = 0.046). Compared with the DEN group, the expression of CD4 in the DEN + ASA group was significantly increased, while CD8 was decreased (all P < 0.01). Biochemical indexes showed that there were differences in all indexes between the DEN and control group (P < 0.05). The levels of DBIL, ALP, and TT in the DEN + ASA group were lower than those in the DEN group (P = 0.038, P = 0.042, P = 0.031). In the DEN group, there was an obvious fibrous capsule around the tumor, and the portal vein was dilated. The pathological changes were mild in the DEN + ASA group. Compared with the DEN group, the expression of PD-L1 in liver tissue of the DEN + ASA group was decreased (P = 0.0495). Cytological experiments further showed that aspirin could inhibit the proliferation and PD-L1 expression in Hep G2 and Hep 3B cells. In conclusion, aspirin can inhibit the proliferation of HCC cells and reduce tumor burden by reducing inflammation and targeting PD-L1.

A Lotus Seedpods-Inspired Interfacial Solar Steam Generator with Outstanding Salt Tolerance and Mechanical Properties for Efficient and Stable Seawater Desalination

Interfacial solar steam generators (ISSGs) can capture solar energy and concentrate the heat at the gas-liquid interface, resulting in efficient water evaporation. However, traditional ISSGs have limitations in long-term seawater desalination processes, such as limited light absorption area, slow water transport speed, severe surface salt accumulation, and weak mechanical performance. Inspired by lotus seedpods, a novel ISSG (rGO-SA-PSF) is developed by treating a 3D warp-knitted spacer fabric with plasma (PSF) and combining it with sodium alginate (SA) and reduces graphene oxide (rGO). The rGO-SA-PSF utilizes a core-suction effect to achieve rapid water pumping and employs aerogel to encapsulate the plasma-treated spacer yarns to create the lotus seedpod-inspired hydrophilic stems, innovatively constructing multiple directional water transport channels. Simultaneously, the large holes of rGO-SA-PSF on the upper layer form lotus seedpod-inspired head concave holes, enabling efficient light capture. Under 1 kW m-2 illumination, rGO-SA-PSF exhibits a rapid evaporation rate of 1.85 kg m-2  h-1 , with an efficiency of 96.4%. Additionally, it shows superior salt tolerance (with no salt accumulation during continuous evaporation for 10 h in 10% brine) and self-desalination performance during long-term seawater desalination processes. This biomimetic ISSG offers a promising solution for efficient and stable seawater desalination and wastewater purification.

Association of high-normal albuminuria and vascular aging: Hanzhong adolescent hypertension study

Normoalbuminuria has recently been associated with increased cardiovascular risk, and vascular aging is proposed as the early manifestation of cardiovascular disease. Here, the authors aimed to examine the association of high-normal albuminuria and vascular aging in a Chinese cohort. From our previously established cohort, 1942 participants with estimated glomerular filtration rate ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m2 or urinary albumin-creatinine ratio (UACR) <30 mg/g were enrolled. Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) ≥1400 cm/s and/or carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) ≥0.9 mm were used as indicators of vascular aging. Multivariate regression and receiving operating characteristic curve analysis were performed to examine the relationship between continuous and categorical UACR with vascular aging. We found an average UACR value of 8.08 (5.45-12.52) mg/g in this study. BaPWV and CIMT demonstrated positive correlations with lg-UACR (p < .05). High-normal albuminuria (10-29 mg/g) was significantly associated with the presence of vascular aging after adjusting for multiple cardiovascular confounders (OR = 1.540, 95% CI = 1.203-1.972, p = .001). In addition, a lg-UACR cutoff point of 0.918 lg(mg/g) (equal to UACR of 8.285 mg/g) was significantly associated with the presence of vascular aging and its components for all participants and those without hypertension or diabetes and without medication (p < .05). Briefly, high-normal albuminuria was significantly associated with vascular aging in this sample of Chinese adults. These findings implied the warning of elevated UACR even within normal range in clinical practice and the importance of UACR screening in normoalbuminuria for early detection and prevention of cardiovascular disease in otherwise healthy participants.

A Point-Cloud Segmentation Network Based on SqueezeNet and Time Series for Plants

The phenotyping of plant growth enriches our understanding of intricate genetic characteristics, paving the way for advancements in modern breeding and precision agriculture. Within the domain of phenotyping, segmenting 3D point clouds of plant organs is the basis of extracting plant phenotypic parameters. In this study, we introduce a novel method for point-cloud downsampling that adeptly mitigates the challenges posed by sample imbalances. In subsequent developments, we architect a deep learning framework founded on the principles of SqueezeNet for the segmentation of plant point clouds. In addition, we also use the time series as input variables, which effectively improves the segmentation accuracy of the network. Based on semantic segmentation, the MeanShift algorithm is employed to execute instance segmentation on the point-cloud data of crops. In semantic segmentation, the average Precision, Recall, F1-score, and IoU of maize reached 99.35%, 99.26%, 99.30%, and 98.61%, and the average Precision, Recall, F1-score, and IoU of tomato reached 97.98%, 97.92%, 97.95%, and 95.98%. In instance segmentation, the accuracy of maize and tomato reached 98.45% and 96.12%. This research holds the potential to advance the fields of plant phenotypic extraction, ideotype selection, and precision agriculture.

GRAS family member LATERAL SUPPRESSOR regulates the initiation and morphogenesis of watermelon lateral organs

The lateral organs of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus), including lobed leaves, branches, flowers, and tendrils, together determine plant architecture and yield. However, the genetic controls underlying lateral organ initiation and morphogenesis remain unclear. Here, we found that knocking out the homologous gene of shoot branching regulator LATERAL SUPPRESSOR in watermelon (ClLs) repressed the initiation of branches, flowers, and tendrils and led to developing round leaves, indicating that ClLs undergoes functional expansion compared with its homologs in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), rice (Oryza sativa), and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). Using ClLs as the bait to screen against the cDNA library of watermelon, we identified several ClLs-interacting candidate proteins, including TENDRIL (ClTEN), PINOID (ClPID), and APETALA1 (ClAP1). Protein-protein interaction assays further demonstrated that ClLs could directly interact with ClTEN, ClPID, and ClAP1. The mRNA in situ hybridization assay revealed that the transcriptional patterns of ClLs overlapped with those of ClTEN, ClPID, and ClAP1 in the axillary meristems and leaf primordia. Mutants of ClTEN, ClPID, and ClAP1 generated by the CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing system lacked tendrils, developed round leaves, and displayed floral diapause, respectively, and all these phenotypes could be observed in ClLs knockout lines. Our findings indicate that ClLs acts as lateral organ identity protein by forming complexes with ClTEN, ClPID, and ClAP1, providing several gene targets for transforming the architecture of watermelon.

Association of MMP3, MMP14, and MMP25 gene polymorphisms with cerebral stroke risk: a case-control study

BACKGROUND

Cerebral stroke (CS) is the leading cause of death in China, and a complex disease caused by both alterable risk factors and genetic factors. This study intended to investigate the association of MMP3, MMP14, and MMP25 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with CS risk in a Chinese Han population.

METHODS

A total of 1,348 Han Chinese were recruited in this case-control study. Four candidate loci including rs520540 A/G and rs679620 T/C of MMP3, rs2236302 G/C of MMP14, and rs10431961 T/C of MMP25 were successfully screened. The correlation between the four SNPs and CS risk was assessed by logistic regression analysis. The results were analyzed by false-positive report probability (FPRP) for chance or significance. The interactions between four SNPs associated with CS risk were assessed by multifactor dimensionality reduction (MDR).

RESULTS

rs520540 A/G and rs679620 C/T SNP in MMP3 were associated with risk of CS in allele, codominant, dominant and log-additive models. Ischemic stroke risk were significantly lower in carriers with rs520540-A allele and rs679620-T allele than those with G/G or C/C genotypes. However, rs520540-A allele and rs679620-T allele were associated with higher risk of hemorrhagic stroke. Stratified analysis showed that these two SNPs were associated with reduced risk of CS in aged < 55 years, non-smoking and non-drinking participants, and rs679620 SNP also reduced CS risk in male participants. The levels of uric acid, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and eosinophil were different among patients with different genotypes of rs520540 and rs679620. No statistically significant association was found between MMP14 rs2236302 G/C or MMP25 rs10431961 T/C with CS even after stratification by stroke subtypes, age, gender as well as smoking and drinking conditions in all the genetic models.

CONCLUSION

MMP3 rs520540 A/G and rs679620 C/T polymorphisms were associated with CS risk in the Chinese Han population, which provides useful information for the prevention and diagnosis of CS.

The effect of smartphone addiction on the relationship between psychological stress reaction and bedtime procrastination in young adults during the COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND

Previous studies on bedtime procrastination mainly focused on the influencing factors of stress and draw less attention on the role of family environment.

AIM

This study aimed to explore the effect of psychological stress reaction on bedtime procrastination in young adults, with considering the mediating effect of smartphone addiction, and the moderating effect of family cohesion during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

A sample of 1217 young adults completed psychological stress reaction scale, Smartphone addiction tendency scale for young adults, bedtime procrastination scale and family cohesion scale. A moderated mediation model was conducted to clarify the effect of psychological stress reaction on bad bedtime procrastination in young adults.

RESULTS

The findings showed that: (1) The individual level of psychological stress reaction was positively associated with bedtime procrastination; (2) Smartphone addiction mediated the effect of psychological stress reaction on bedtime procrastination; (3) Family cohesion moderated the relationship among psychological stress reaction, smartphone addiction and bedtime procrastination.

CONCLUSIONS

This study revealed the effect of smartphone addiction on the relationship between psychological stress reaction and bedtime procrastination during the COVID-19 pandemic, and these findings could provide novel evidence that family cohesion may serve as a protective factor against the negative consequences of smartphone addiction on bad bedtime procrastination.

Long Short-Term Memory-Based Multiomics Reveal Lactobacillus casei-Derived Postbiotics Inhibiting Lipids Digestion via Mediating the Upregulation of α-Helices in Lipase

SCOPE

The antiobesity function of probiotics has been declared, while the application in high-risk patients and coding side effect has focused attention to postbiotics. This investigation profiles the mechanism of postbiotics affecting lipid digestion at molecular level, and establishes a momentous foundation for the clinical application of postbiotics in obesity suppression.

METHODS AND RESULTS

An operational framework for butter digestion is constructed to collect the digests in the intestine at 0, 40, 80, and 120 min with various postbiotics supplement. A total of 227 lipids and 414 metabolites are detected by pseudo-targeted lipidomics integrated with the long short-term memory-based metabolomics, and the triacylglycerol (TG, from 134.1 to 184.7 mg kg-1 ) and diacylglycerol (DG, from 4.2 to 8.4 mg kg-1 ) are identified as significantly different lipids with or without postbiotics supplement. A total of eight substances related to the inhibition of gastric lipase and pancreatic lipase are screened through the molecular simulation computation in silicon and enzymatic reaction kinetics, and thus curtailing the bioaccessibility of lipids.

CONCLUSIONS

Lactobacillus casei JCM1134-derived postbiotics propel the structure of lipase to aggregate by increasing the α-helix, and thus hampering the digestion of triglycerides through noncompetitive inhibition.

Fiber Microarchitecture in Interpenetrating Collagen-Alginate Hydrogel with Tunable Mechanical Plasticity Regulates Tumor Cell Migration

The fiber structures of tumor microenvironment (TME) are well-known in regulating tumor cell behaviors, and the plastic remolding of TME has recently been suggested to enhance tumor metastasis as well. However, the interrelationship between the fiber microarchitecture and matrix plasticity is inextricable by existing in vitro models. The individual roles of fiber microarchitecture and matrix plasticity in tuning tumor cell behaviors remain elusive. This study develops an interpenetrating collagen-alginate hydrogel platform with independently tunable matrix plasticity and fiber microarchitecture through an interpenetrating strategy of alginate networks and collagen I networks. With this hydrogel platform, it is demonstrated that tumor cells in high plasticity hydrogels are more extensive and aggressive than in low plasticity hydrogels and fiber structures only have influence in high plasticity hydrogels. The study further elucidates the underlying mechanisms through analyzing the distribution of forces within the matrix and tracking the focal adhesions (FAs) and finds that highly plastic hydrogels can activate the FAs formation, whereas the maturation and stability of FAs are dominated by fiber dispersion. This study not only establishes new ideas on how cells interact with TME cues but also would help to further finely tailor engineered hydrogel platforms for studying tumor behaviors in vitro.

Research Progress of Liquid Electrolytes for Lithium Metal Batteries at High Temperatures

Lithium metal batteries (LMBs) are the most promising high energy density energy storage technologies for electric vehicles, military, and aerospace applications. LMBs require further improvement to operate efficiently when chronically or routinely exposed to high temperatures. Electrolyte engineering with high temperature tolerance and electrode compatibility has been essential to the development of LMBs. In this review, the primary obstacles to achieving high-temperature LMBs are first explored. Subsequently, electrolyte tailoring options, such as lithium salt optimization, solvation structure modification, and the addition of additives are reviewed in detail. In addition, the feasibility of utilizing LMBs at high temperatures has been investigated. In conclusion, this study provides insights and perspectives for future research on electrolyte design at high temperatures.

The serum lipidomics reveal the action mechanism of Danggui-Yimucao herbal pair in abortion mice

Medical abortion is a common medical procedure that women choose to terminate an unwanted pregnancy, but it often brings post-abortion complications. Danggui (Angelica sinensis Radix)-Yimucao (Leonuri Herba), as a herbal pair (DY) in clinical prescriptions of traditional Chinese medicine, is often used in the treatment of gynecological diseases and has the traditional functions of tonifying the blood, promoting blood circulation, removing blood stasis and regulating menstruation. In this study, serum lipidomics were adopted to dissect the mechanism of DY in promoting recovery after medical abortion. A total of 152 differential metabolites were screened by lipidomics. All metabolites were imported into MetaboAnalyst for analysis, and finally key metabolic pathways such as glycerophospholipid metabolism, linoleic acid metabolism and pentose and glucuronate interconversions were enriched. Our results indicated that metabolic disorders in abortion mice were alleviated by DY through glycerophospholipid metabolism, while prostaglandin and leukotriene metabolites might be the key targets of DY to promote post-abortion recovery.

Ultrafast Detection of Monoamine Oxidase A in Live Cells and Clinical Glioma Tissues Using an Affinity Binding-Based Two-Photon Fluorogenic Probe

Abnormal expression of monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) has been implicated in the development of human glioma, making MAO-A a promising target for therapy. Therefore, a rapid determination of MAO-A is critical for diagnosis. Through in silico screening of two-photon fluorophores, we discovered that a derivative of N,N-dimethyl-naphthalenamine (pre-mito) can effectively fit into the entrance of the MAO-A cavity. Substitutions on the N-pyridine not only further explore the MAO-A cavity, but also enable mitochondrial targeting ability. The aminopropyl substituted molecule, CD1, showed the fastest MAO-A detection (within 20 s), high MAO-A affinity and selectivity. It was also used for in situ imaging of MAO-A in living cells, enabling a comparison of the MAO-A content in human glioma and paracancerous tissues. Our results demonstrate that optimizing the affinity binding-based fluorogenic probes significantly improves their detection rate, providing a general approach for rapid detection probe design and optimization.

Risk factors for cognitive dysfunction and glycemic management in older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a retrospective study

BACKGROUND

Epidemiological evidence shows a robust relationship between cognitive dysfunction and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This study identified major risk factors that might prevent or ameliorate T2DM-associated cognitive dysfunction in the realm of clinical practice.

METHODS

Using Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE) in the light of education level, we identified older adults with T2DM on admission aged 50 and above. We conducted this case-control study when eligible participants were divided into Cognitively Normal (CN) group and Cognitively Impaired (CI) group. Analytical data referred to demographic characteristics, clinical features, fluid biomarkers, and scale tests.

RESULTS

Of 596 records screened, 504 cases were included in the final analysis. Modified multivariate logistic regression analysis verified that homocysteine (OR = 2.048, 95%CI = 1.129-3.713), brain infarction (OR = 1.963, 95%CI = 1.197-3.218), dementia (OR = 9.430, 95%CI = 2.113-42.093), education level (OR = 0.605, 95%CI = 0.367-0.997), severity of dependence (OR = 1.996, 95%CI = 1.397-2.851), creatine kinase (OR = 0.514, 95%CI = 0.271-0.974) were significant risk factors of incident T2DM-related cognitive dysfunction in patients of advanced age.

CONCLUSION

Our study supported a robust relationship between T2DM and cognitive dysfunction. Our results provide clinicians with major risk factors for T2DM-related cognitive dysfunction, in particular the protective role of creatine kinase.

Interfacial Engineering for Efficient Low-Temperature Flexible Perovskite Solar Cells

Photovoltaic technology with low weight, high specific power in cold environments, and compatibility with flexible fabrication is highly desired for near-space vehicles and polar region applications. Herein, we demonstrate efficient low-temperature flexible perovskite solar cells by improving the interfacial contact between electron-transport layer (ETL) and perovskite layer. We find that the adsorbed oxygen active sites and oxygen vacancies of flexible tin oxide (SnO2 ) ETL layer can be effectively decreased by incorporating a trace amount of titanium tetrachloride (TiCl4 ). The effective defects elimination at the interfacial increases the electron mobility of flexible SnO2 layer, regulates band alignment at the perovskite/SnO2 interface, induces larger perovskite crystal growth, and improves charge collection efficiency in a complete solar cell. Correspondingly, the improved interfacial contact transforms into high-performance solar cells under one-sun illumination (AM 1.5G) with efficiencies up to 23.7 % at 218 K, which might open up a new era of application of this emerging flexible photovoltaic technology to low-temperature environments such as near-space and polar regions.

Novel Mechanisms Underlying Rubber Accumulation and Programmed Cell Death in Laticiferous Canals of Decaisnea insignis Fruits: Cytological and Transcriptomic Analyses

Natural rubber is one of the most important industrial raw materials, and its biosynthesis is still a fascinating process that is still largely unknown. In this research, we studied Decaisnea insignis, a unique rubber-producing plant that is different from other rubber-producing species due to the presence of lactiferous canals in its pericarp. The present study aims to provide novel insights into the mechanisms underlying rubber accumulation and PCD by subjecting the Decaisnea insignis laticiferous canals to light microscopy, TUNEL assay, and DAPI staining, as well as viability analysis, cellular ultrastructure analysis, and molecular analysis using light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, immunofluorescence labeling, transmission electron microscopy, and transcriptome sequencing. At the cellular level, the origin of small rubber particles in the laticiferous canals had no morphological correlation with other organelles, and these particles were freely produced in the cytosol. The volume of the rubber particles increased at the sunken and expanding stage, which were identified as having the characteristics of programmed cell death (PCD); meanwhile, plenty of the rubber precursors or rubber particles were engulfed by the vacuoles, indicating a vacuole-mediated autophagy process. The accumulation of rubber particles occurred after the degeneration of protoplasts, suggesting a close association between rubber biosynthesis and PCD. The molecular analysis revealed the expression patterns of key genes involved in rubber biosynthesis. The upstream genes DiIPP, DiFPP, and DiGGPPS showed a decreasing trend during fruit ripening, while DiHRT, which is responsible for rubber particle extension, exhibited the highest expression level during the rubber particle formation. Moreover, the transcription factors related to PCD, DiLSD1, and DiLOL2 showed a negative correlation with the expression pattern of DiHRT, thus exhibiting strict rules of sequential expression during rubber biosynthesis. Additionally, the expression trends of DiXCP1 and DiCEP1, which act as proteases during PCD, were positively correlated with DiGGPPS expression. In conclusion, the findings suggest that the autophagic PCD may play a crucial role in rubber accumulation in D. insignis. Further research is still needed to fully understand the complex regulatory network underlying rubber biosynthesis in plants.

Spatiotemporal gait parameter fluctuations in older adults affected by mild cognitive impairment: comparisons among three cognitive dual-task tests

BACKGROUNDS

Gait disorder is associated with cognitive functional impairment, and this disturbance is more pronouncedly when performing additional cognitive tasks. Our study aimed to characterize gait disorders in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) under three dual tasks and determine the association between gait performance and cognitive function.

METHODS

A total of 260 participants were enrolled in this cross-sectional study and divided into MCI and cognitively normal control. Spatiotemporal and kinematic gait parameters (31 items) in single task and three dual tasks (serial 100-7, naming animals and words recall) were measured using a wearable sensor. Baseline characteristics of the two groups were balanced using propensity score matching. Important gait features were filtered using random forest method and LASSO regression and further described using logistic analysis.

RESULTS

After matching, 106 participants with MCI and 106 normal controls were recruited. Top 5 gait features in random forest and 4 ~ 6 important features in LASSO regression were selected. Robust variables associating with cognitive function were temporal gait parameters. Participants with MCI exhibited decreased swing time and terminal swing, increased mid stance and variability of stride length compared with normal control. Subjects walked slower when performing an extra dual cognitive task. In the three dual tasks, words recall test exhibited more pronounced impact on gait regularity, velocity, and dual task cost than the other two cognitive tests.

CONCLUSION

Gait assessment under dual task conditions, particularly in words recall test, using portable sensors could be useful as a complementary strategy for early detection of MCI.

Targeted Removal of Galloylated Flavanols to Adjust Wine Astringency by Using Molecular Imprinting Technology

Excessive galloylated flavanols not only cause instability in the wine but also lead to unbalanced astringency. Although clarification agents are always used to precipitate unstable tannins in wine, the non-specific adsorption of tannins results in the failure to precisely regulate the tannin composition of the wine. In this work, molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) with template molecules of galloylated flavanols were designed to specifically adsorb gallotannins to reduce wine astringency. The results showed that the "pores" on the surface of the MIPs are the structural basis for the specific adsorption of the target substances, and the adsorption process is a chemically driven single-molecule layer adsorption. Moreover, in the mono/oligomeric gallotannin-rich model solution, the adsorption of gallotannins by I-MIPs prepared as single template molecules reached 71.0%, and the adsorption capacity of MIPs for monomeric gallotannins was about 6.0 times higher than polymeric gallotannins. Given the lack of technology for the targeted adsorption of tannins from wine, this work explored the targeted modulation of wine astringency by using molecular imprinting techniques.