Two-dimensional monolayer C5-10-16: a metallic carbon allotrope as an anode material for high-performance sodium/potassium-ion batteries

Carbonaceous materials are promising candidates as anode materials for non-lithium-ion batteries (NLIBs) due to their appealing properties such as good electrical conductivity, low cost, and high safety. However, graphene, a classic two-dimensional (2D) carbon material, is chemically inert to most metal atoms, hindering its application as an electrode material for metal-ion batteries. Inspired by the unique geometry of a four-penta unit, we explore a metallic 2D carbon allotrope C5-10-16 composed of 5-10-16 carbon rings. The C5-10-16 monolayer is free from any imaginary frequencies in the whole Brillouin zone. Due to the introduction of a non-sp2 hybridization state into C5-10-16, the extended conjugation of π-electrons is disrupted, leading to the enhanced surface activity toward metal ions. We investigate the performance of C5-10-16 as the anode for sodium/potassium-ion batteries by using first-principles calculations. The C5-10-16 sheet has high theoretical specific capacities of Na (850.84 mA h g-1) and K (743.87 mA h g-1). Besides, C5-10-16 exhibits a moderate migration barrier of 0.63 (0.32) eV for Na (K), ensuring rapid charging/discharging processes. The average open-circuit voltages of Na and K are 0.33 and 0.62 V, respectively, which are within the voltage acceptance range of anode materials. The fully sodiated (potassiated) C5-10-16 shows tiny lattice expansions of 1.4% (1.3%), suggesting the good reversibility. Moreover, bilayer C5-10-16 significantly affects both the adsorption strength and the mobility of Na or K. All these results show that C5-10-16 could be used as a promising anode material for NLIBs.

White adipose tissue, a novel antirheumatic target: Clues from its secretory capability and adipectomy-based therapy

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

White adipose tissue (WAT) is involved in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This study explored its potential as an antirheumatic target.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

WAT status of healthy and adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) rats were compared. The contribution of WAT to RA pathology was evaluated by pre-adipocyte transplant experiments and by dissecting perirenal fat pads of AIA rats. The impact of RA on WAT was investigated by culturing pre-adipocytes. Proteins differentially expressed in WAT of healthy and AIA rats were identified by the UPLC/MS2 method. These together with PPARγ siRNA and agonist were used to treat pre-adipocytes in vitro. The medium was used for THP-1 monocyte culture.

KEY RESULTS

Compared with healthy controls, AIA WAT was smaller but secreted more leptin, eNAMPT, MCP-1, TNF-α, and IL-6. AIA rat pre-adipocytes increased the levels of these adipokines in healthy recipients. RA patients' serum induced a similar secretion change and impaired differentiation of pre-adipocytes. Adipectomy eased AIA-related immune abnormalities and arthritic manifestations. Hepatokines PON1, IGFBP4, and GPIHBP1 were among the differential proteins in high levels in RA blood, and induced inflammatory secretions by pre-adipocytes. GPIHBP1 inhibited PPARγ expression and caused differentiation impairment and inflammatory secretion by pre-adipocytes, a similar outcome to PPARγ-silencing. This endowed the cells with an ability to activate monocytes, which can be abrogated by rosiglitazone.

CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS

Certain hepatokines potentiate inflammatory secretions by pre-adipocytes and expedite RA progression by inhibiting PPARγ. Targeting this signalling or abnormal WAT secretion by various approaches may reduce RA severity.

A first-principles study of the BC3N2 monolayer and a BC3N2/graphene heterostructure as promising anode materials for sodium-ion batteries

High-performance sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) require anode materials with high capacity and fast kinetics. Based on first-principles calculations, we propose BC3N2 and BC3N2/graphene (B/G) heterostructure as potential SIB anode materials. The BC3N2 monolayer exhibits intrinsic metallic behavior. In addition, BC3N2 possesses a low Na+ diffusion barrier (0.15 eV), a high storage capacity (777 mA h g-1), a low open-circuit voltage (0.72 V), and a tiny axial expansion (0.36%). Compared with the BC3N2 monolayer, the B/G heterostructure exhibits a lower diffusion barrier of 0.027 eV, suggesting a much faster diffusion. More importantly, although the B/G heterostructure possesses heavier molar weight, its theoretical capacity (689 mA h g-1) is comparable to that of the BC3N2 monolayer. Based on the above-mentioned properties, we hope both the BC3N2 monolayer and the B/G heterostructure would be promising anodes for SIBs.

Boosting Potassium Adsorption and Diffusion Performance of Carbon Anodes for Potassium-Ion Batteries via Topology and Curvature Engineering: From KT-Graphene to KT-CNTs

We propose a two-dimensional carbon allotrope (named KT-graphene) by incorporating kagome and tetragonal lattices consisting of trigonal, quadrilateral, octagonal, and dodecagonal rings. The introduction of non-hexagonal rings can give rise to the localized electronic states that improve the chemical reactivity toward potassium, making KT-graphene a high-performance anode material for potassium-ion batteries. It shows a high theoretical capacity (892 mAh g-1), a low diffusion barrier (0.33 eV), and a low average open-circuit voltage (0.51 V). The presence of electrolyte solvents is propitious to boost the K-ion adsorption and diffusion capabilities. Moreover, one-dimensional nanotubes (KT-CNTs), rolled up by the KT-graphene sheet, are metallic regardless of the tube diameter. As the curvature increases, KT-CNTs exhibit significantly increased surface activity, which can promote the electron-donating ability of K. Furthermore, the curvature effect greatly enhances the efficiency of K diffusion on the inner surface compared to that on the outer surface.

Two-dimensional graphene+ as an anode material for calcium-ion batteries with ultra-high capacity: a first-principles study

Multivalent-ion batteries have garnered significant attention due to their high energy density, low cost, and superior safety. Calcium-ion batteries (CIBs) are regarded as the next-generation energy storage systems for their abundant natural resources and bivalent characteristics. However, the absence of high-performance anode materials poses a significant obstacle to the progress of battery technology. Two-dimensional (2D) Dirac materials have excellent conductivity and abundant active sites, rendering them promising candidates as anode materials. A novel 2D Dirac material known as "graphene+" has been theoretically reported, exhibiting prominent properties including good stability, exceptional ductility, and remarkable electronic conductivity. By using first-principles calculations, we systematically investigate the performance of graphene+ as an anode material for CIBs. Graphene+ exhibits an ultra-high theoretical capacity (1487.7 mA h g-1), a small diffusion barrier (0.21 eV), and a low average open-circuit voltage (0.51 V). Furthermore, we investigate the impact of the electrolyte solvation on the performance of Ca-ion adsorption and migration. Upon contact with electrolyte solvents, graphene+ exhibits strong adsorption strength and rapid migration of Ca-ions on its surface. These results demonstrate the promising potential of graphene+ as a high-performance anode material for CIBs.

SIRT1 inhibitors within Qing-Luo-Yin alleviated white adipose tissues-mediated inflammation in antigen-induced arthritis mice

BACKGROUND

White adipose tissues (WAT) release large amounts of inflammatory mediators, which are responsible for the pathology of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

PURPOSE

The current study investigated the involvement of WAT in the treatments of antigen-induced arthritis (AIA) mice with the herbal formula Qing-Luo-Yin (QLY).

METHODS

Cytokines and biochemical/metabolic indicators were determined by ELISA and colorimetry methods, respectively. Monocytes were analyzed by flow cytometry. Tissues were subjected to PCR, western-blot and histological analyses. Pre-adipocytes were cultured in the different mouse serum from the in vivo experiment, and some of them were treated by certain compounds or/and lipopolysaccharide. Afterwards, the catalytic activity and thermostability of SIRT1 were tested. Gene/protein expression and cytokine production were investigated too. NAMPT and SIRT1 were silenced in some cells by siRNA.

RESULTS

AIA mice suffered from inflammatory adipokines-mediated metabolism and immune disorders. Besides joint protective effects, QLY therapies favored adipocyte differentiation and suppressed inflammatory adipokines release. The up-regulation of fatty acid oxidation and inflammatory monocyte polarization was therefore inhibited in peripheral tissues. PPARγ expression was generally promoted by QLY. Whereas, SIRT1 activity was always impaired, indicated by the declined NAD+ levels and the increased ace-p65 expression. QLY effectively inhibited eNAMPT release in AIA mouse serum-cultured pre-adipocytes. This effect was antagonized by resveratrol (a SIRT1 agonist) and overshadowed by NAMPT silencing. QLY-related compounds berberine, dioscin and sophocarpine showed high binding affinities to SIRT1, stabilized this protein, and inhibited its deacetylation activity in vitro. Their effects on ace-p65 expression were weakened when SIRT1 was silenced.

CONCLUSION

SIRT1 inhibitors in QLY reduced eNAMPT production and up-regulated PPARγ in AIA mice, leading to inflammation remission. These clues show that except for the well-known anti-inflammatory functions, SIRT1 participates in inflammatory reactions too and could be a potential anti-rheumatic target.

[Textual research on Bambusae Concretio Silicea]

By studying various ancient texts such as herbal classics and medical literature from different eras, it was found that there were discrepancies in the records about Bambusae Concretio Silicea(Tian Zhu Huang). In order to establish an accurate foundation, this research was based on ancient herbal literature and combined with plant morphology and investigative studies to examine its earliest mentions in ancient texts, nomenclature, medicinal properties, indications, and quality assessment standards. In the early records, Bambusae Concretio Silicea was referred to by several different names, such as "Zhu Huang" "Tian Zhu Huang" "Zhu Gao" "Zhu Tang", and "Zhu Huang". The earliest known formal usage of the name "Tian Zhu Huang" was found in the book Ri Hua-zi's Materia Medica(Ri Hua Zi Ben Cao). Throughout various ancient texts, the earliest recorded information about Bambusae Concretio Silicea also appeared in Ri Hua-zi's Materia Medica, not in Materia Medica of Sichuan(Shu Ben Cao) or other ancient texts. Ri Hua-zi's Materia Medica provided relevant descriptions of its origin, medicinal properties, and indications, albeit with some errors due to limited knowledge. However, this has been a valuable starting point for future research on Bambusae Concretio Silicea and holds pioneering significance in forming a mature system. As the research delved deeper, the medicinal properties of Bambusae Concretio Silicea have been consistent since Ri Hua-zi's Materia Medica, and the understanding has gradually improved through years of clinical verification. During the investigation process, the authors found limited records on the quality evaluation of Bambusae Concretio Silicea in ancient texts. Although the information is scarce, it serves as a foundational basis for establishing corresponding quality grading standards for Bambusae Concretio Silicea in the future.

Two-dimensional AlB4/Al2B2: high-performance Dirac anode materials for sodium-ion batteries

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) have attracted much attention due to their abundant earth-reserves and low cost. Two-dimensional (2D) Dirac materials show great application prospects as anodes for SIBs because of their excellent electronic conductivity. We explore the performances of AlB4 (Al2B2) monolayers and bilayers as anodes for SIBs by using first-principles calculations. The AlB4 (Al2B2) monolayer exhibits a high theoretical storage capacity of 954.15 (709.17) mA h g-1 and a low diffusion barrier of 0.36 (0.03) eV. The calculated average open-circuit voltage (0.68/0.18 V) falls within the acceptance range of 0.1-1.0 V for anode materials. The fully sodiated AlB4 (Al2B2) monolayer shows a tiny lattice expansion of 0.9% (2.4%), suggesting good reversibility. Furthermore, in comparison with the AlB4 (Al2B2) monolayer, the AlB4 (Al2B2) bilayer can provide stronger binding with Na on the outside surface. These results contribute to a better understanding of the AlB4 (Al2B2) monolayers and bilayers as potential high-performance anode materials for SIBs.

Penta-SiCN monolayer as a well-balanced performance anode material for Li-ion batteries

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) remain irreplaceable for clean energy storage applications. The intrinsic metallic nature of penta-SiCN ensures its promising application in the electrodes of LIBs. Using first-principles calculations, we evaluate the performance of the intrinsic metallic penta-SiCN monolayer as the anode material for LIBs. Penta-SiCN exhibits a low diffusion energy barrier (0.107 eV) for Li atom migration on Si18C18N18, while the diffusion energy barrier for vacancy migration on Li17Si18C18N18 is only 0.006 eV. Additionally, penta-SiCN possesses a high theoretical capacity of 1485.98 mA h g-1, average open-circuit voltage of 0.97 V, and small volume expansion of 1%. Remarkably, penta-SiCN exhibits robust wettability towards the electrolytes (solvent molecules and metal salts) widely used in commercial LIBs, indicating the excellent compatibility in electrode applications. These intriguing theoretical findings make penta-SiCN a high performance anode material for LIBs.

Cardiopulmonary Protection for Bilateral Breast Irradiation: A Dosimetric Comparison between Proton and Photon Plans

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Recent advances in cancer treatment improve cancer survivorship. Cardiovascular disease has become the leading cause of non-cancer death in breast cancer survivors. Therefore, risk of cardiopulmonary toxicities during multimodality treatment should be assessed carefully. It remains to be defined the best scenario for proton therapy to confer meaningful cardiovascular protection in the setting of breast irradiation. We hypothesized proton therapy plan provides optimal cardiopulmonary protection during bilateral breast irradiation. The study aimed to compare cardiopulmonary dosimetric parameters of proton and photon radiotherapy plans.

MATERIALS/METHODS

We conducted a retrospective study and patients with bilateral breast cancer indicated for radiotherapy between January 01, 2010 and December 31, 2020 were included. All patients received whole breast or chest wall irradiation with or without regional nodal irradiation. The dose scheme was 50-50.4 Gy in 25-28 fractions. Boost was allowed if patients receiving breast conserving surgery or known risk factors. The dosimetric parameters included planning target volume, mean dose to the heart, the volume of whole lung receiving 5 Gy, 10 Gy, and 20 Gy. For photon therapy, volumetric modulated arc therapy using double partial arc plans was generated with Pinnacle 9.8, Elekta Synergy and tomotherapy helical plan was generated with Tomo Hi-Art planning system. For proton therapy, treatment planning was generated with Ray station 9A. All data was managed using SAS v.9.4 software. Analysis of variance (α = 0.05) was used to compute the dosimetry of different treatment modalities. The statistical significance was considered with a p-value <0.05.

RESULTS

Thirty-one patients with bilateral breast cancer were included, including 12 bilateral breast irradiation patients and 6 bilateral chest wall irradiation patients. The mean dose of heart was 53.0±43.3 cGy in proton therapy while 736.6±225.1 cGy and 869.67±241.0 cGy in Tomotherapy and volumetric modulated arc therapy respectively. The volume of whole lung receiving 5 Gy was 15.4±7.91% in proton therapy while 46.1±10.8% and 46.3±2.5% in Tomotherapy and volumetric modulated arc therapy respectively. The volume of whole lung receiving 20 Gy was 7.7±4.3% in proton therapy while 15.4±5.6% and 19±3.5% in Tomotherapy and volumetric modulated arc therapy respectively. The effects of cardiopulmonary protection were more significant for chest wall irradiation over breast irradiation.

CONCLUSION

Proton radiotherapy provided significant dose reduction for bilateral breast irradiation. The benefit is more significant is patients receiving bilateral chest wall irradiation. Further clinical validations will be warranted to confirm the clinical relevance of the finding.

Safety Profile of Combination Treatment with Radiotherapy and Immune Checkpoint Blockades: A Multi-Institute Real World Experience

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Immune checkpoint blockades have become widely used in recent years and have been approved as standard first-line and subsequent treatment for different types of malignancy. Combination treatment with irradiation also showed promising results in previous clinical studies. However, the treatment toxicities of this combination strategy have not been well defined. We hypothesized combination therapy does not add additional toxicities to immune checkpoint blockade alone. The study aims to investigate the safety profile of combination treatment with immune checkpoint blockade and radiotherapy in all type cancer patients.

MATERIALS/METHODS

We conducted a population-based retrospective cohort study using the electronic medical records from three hospitals in Taiwan from January 01, 2015, to December 31, 2020. Baseline demographic data, laboratory examination, and treatment history were collected. Patients with radiotherapy exposure and immune checkpoint blockade were enrolled. The primary endpoint was all grade toxicities. All patients were monitored from the date of initiating immune checkpoint blockade or irradiation until the event of death, loss follow-up, or any defined adverse events. All data was managed using SAS v.9.4 software. Kaplan-Meier estimators and cox proportional hazard regression models were used to compute the safety profile of combination treatment. The statistical significance was considered with a p-value <0.05.

RESULTS

A total of 305 cases, including 181 male patients and 124 female patients, received combination treatment with immune checkpoint blockade and radiotherapy with different time sequences. The most common cancer types are lung cancer (33.1%) followed by gastroesophageal cancer (16.7%) and hepatobiliary cancer (13.8%). The most common toxicities were arthralgia (25.9%), followed by enterocolitis (23.6%), and anemia (21%). 11 cases (3.6%) developed pneumonitis, 5 cases (1.6%) developed myocarditis, and 5 cases (1.6%) developed hepatitis during combination treatment.

CONCLUSION

There is no evidence leads to additional toxicities based on current real-world experience. Severe immune related adverse events were not increased with this combination strategy compared to historical data. This warrant further prospective analysis.

Momentum matching induced giant magnetoresistance in two-dimensional magnetic tunnel junctions

Giant magnetoresistance was first experimentally discovered in three-dimensional magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs) in the late 1980s and is of great importance in nonvolatile memory applications. How to achieve a magnetoresistance as large as possible is always a central task in the study of MTJs. However, it is normally only of the order of magnitude of tens of percent in traditional MTJs. The ideal situation is the metal-insulator transition together with the magnetization reversal of one magnetic lead. In this work, we will show that this can be achieved using a two-dimensional ferromagnetic zigzag SiC nanoribbon junction based on quantum transport calculations performed with a combination of density functional theory and non-equilibrium Green's function. Specifically, with the magnetization configuration switching of the two leads from parallel to anti-parallel, the junction will change abruptly from a conducting state to an insulating state, although the two leads are always metallic, with both spin up and spin down channels crossing the Fermi level simultaneously. Extensive analysis indicates that the insulating state in the anti-parallel magnetic configuration originates not from any present mechanisms that cause full suppression of electron transmission but from momentum direction mismatching. This finding suggests a fantastic mechanism for achieving magnetoresistance or electrical switching in nanoscale devices by manipulating band dispersion.

[To compare the efficacy and incidence of severe hematological adverse events of flumatinib and imatinib in patients newly diagnosed with chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia]

Objective: To analyze and compare therapy responses, outcomes, and incidence of severe hematologic adverse events of flumatinib and imatinib in patients newly diagnosed with chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) . Methods: Data of patients with chronic phase CML diagnosed between January 2006 and November 2022 from 76 centers, aged ≥18 years, and received initial flumatinib or imatinib therapy within 6 months after diagnosis in China were retrospectively interrogated. Propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was performed to reduce the bias of the initial TKI selection, and the therapy responses and outcomes of patients receiving initial flumatinib or imatinib therapy were compared. Results: A total of 4 833 adult patients with CML receiving initial imatinib (n=4 380) or flumatinib (n=453) therapy were included in the study. In the imatinib cohort, the median follow-up time was 54 [interquartile range (IQR), 31-85] months, and the 7-year cumulative incidences of CCyR, MMR, MR(4), and MR(4.5) were 95.2%, 88.4%, 78.3%, and 63.0%, respectively. The 7-year FFS, PFS, and OS rates were 71.8%, 93.0%, and 96.9%, respectively. With the median follow-up of 18 (IQR, 13-25) months in the flumatinib cohort, the 2-year cumulative incidences of CCyR, MMR, MR(4), and MR(4.5) were 95.4%, 86.5%, 58.4%, and 46.6%, respectively. The 2-year FFS, PFS, and OS rates were 80.1%, 95.0%, and 99.5%, respectively. The PSM analysis indicated that patients receiving initial flumatinib therapy had significantly higher cumulative incidences of CCyR, MMR, MR(4), and MR(4.5) and higher probabilities of FFS than those receiving the initial imatinib therapy (all P<0.001), whereas the PFS (P=0.230) and OS (P=0.268) were comparable between the two cohorts. The incidence of severe hematologic adverse events (grade≥Ⅲ) was comparable in the two cohorts. Conclusion: Patients receiving initial flumatinib therapy had higher cumulative incidences of therapy responses and higher probability of FFS than those receiving initial imatinib therapy, whereas the incidence of severe hematologic adverse events was comparable between the two cohorts.

Giant tunneling electroresistance in a 2D bilayer-In2Se3-based out-of-plane ferroelectric tunnel junction

Ferroelectric tunnel junctions (FTJs) have great potential in nonvolatile memory devices and have been extensively studied in recent years. Compared with conventional FTJs based on perovskite-type oxide materials as the barrier layer, two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals ferroelectric materials are advantageous in improving the performance of FTJs and achieving miniaturization of FTJ devices due to the features such as atomic thickness and ideal interfaces. In this work, we present a 2D out-of-plane ferroelectric tunnel junction (FTJ) constructed using graphene and bilayer-In₂Se₃. Using density functional calculations combined with the nonequilibrium Green's function technique, we investigate the electron transport properties in the graphene/bilayer-In₂Se₃ (BIS) vdW FTJ. Our calculations show that the FTJ we constructed can be switched from ferroelectric to antiferroelectric by changing the relative dipole arrangement of the BIS to form multiple nonvolatile resistance states. Since the charge transfer between the layers varies for the four different polarization states, the TER ratios range from 10³% to 10¹⁰%. The giant tunneling electroresistance and multiple resistance states in the 2D BIS-based FTJ suggest that it has great potential for application in nanoscale nonvolatile ferroelectric memory devices.

THFS-carbon: a theoretical prediction of metallic carbon allotrope with half-auxeticity, planar tetracoordinate carbon, and potential application as anode for sodium-ion batteries

Two-dimensional (2D) carbon materials integrated with planar tetracoordinate carbon (ptC) and negative Poisson's ratio (NPR) provide a cornerstone for constructing multifunctional energy-storage devices. As a typical 2D carbon material, the pristine graphene is chemically inert, hindering its application in metal-ion batteries. Introducing the ptC in graphene can break the extended conjugation of π-electrons and lead to an enhanced surface reactivity. Inspired by the unique geometry of [4.6.4.6] fenestrane skeleton with ptC, we theoretically design a ptC-containing 2D carbon allotrope, namely THFS-carbon. It is intrinsically metallic with excellent dynamical, thermal, and mechanical stabilities. The Young's modulus along the x direction (311.37 N m^-1) is comparable to that of graphene. Intriguingly, THFS-carbon possesses an in-plane half-NPR distinct from most other 2D crystals. As a promising anode for sodium-ion batteries, THFS-carbon delivers an ultra-high theoretical storage capacity (2233 mA h g^-1), a low diffusion energy barrier (0.03-0.05 eV), a low open-circuit voltage (0.14-0.40 V), and a good reversibility for Na insertion/extraction.

Two-dimensional TiCl2: a high-performance anode material for Na-ion batteries with high capacity and fast diffusion

Na-ion batteries (NIBs) have attracted a great deal of attention for large-scale electric energy storage due to their inherent safety, natural abundant resources, and low cost. The exploration of suitable anode materials is the major challenge in advancing NIB technology. On the basis of first-principles calculations, we systematically explore the potential performance of two-dimensional (2D) TiCl₂ as an electrode material for NIBs. Monolayer TiCl₂ can be easily exfoliated from the bulk structure with a small exfoliation energy of 0.64 J m^-2. It shows good stability, as demonstrated by its high cohesive energy, positive phonon modes, and high thermal stability. Monolayer TiCl₂ has high storage capacity (451.3 mA h g^-1), low diffusion energy barrier (0.02-0.14 eV), moderate average open-circuit voltage (0.81 V), and small lattice change (2.37%). Moreover, bilayer TiCl₂ can significantly enhance the Na adsorption strength but reduce the Na-ion diffusion ability. These results suggest that TiCl₂ is a promising anode candidate for NIBs.

Multi-Omics Analysis Provides Crucial Insights into the Drought Adaptation of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch

Drought adaptation of plants is closely related to resistance and tolerance to drought stress as well as the ability to recover after the elimination of the stress. Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch is a commonly applied herb whose growth and development are greatly affected by drought. Here, we provide the first comprehensive analysis of the transcriptomic, epigenetic, and metabolic responses of G. uralensis to drought stress and rewatering. The hyper-/hypomethylation of genes may lead to up-/downregulated gene expression, and epigenetic changes can be regarded as an important regulatory mechanism of G. uralensis under drought stress and rewatering. Moreover, integrated transcriptome and metabolome analysis revealed that genes and metabolites involved in pathways of antioxidation, osmoregulation, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and flavonoid biosynthesis may regulate the drought adaptation of G. uralensis. This work provides crucial insights into the drought adaptation of G. uralensis and offers epigenetic resources for cultivating G. uralensis with high drought adaptation.

A92 FEMALE AUTHORSHIP IN GASTROENTEROLOGY RANDOMIZED CONTROL TRIALS: 2011 - 2021

Background

Although tremendous strides have been made in the participation of women in medicine, female continues to be underrepresented in leadership positions and higher-level academic medicine. An important factor in determining career advancement in academic medicine is the quality and quantity of an individual’s scholarly publications. To date, no study has looked at female authorship in gastroenterology (GI) randomized control trials (RCTs), which remains the gold standard for evaluating intervention effectiveness.

Purpose

The primary outcome is to assess female authorship in gastroenterology randomized control trials from 2011 to 2021, and the secondary outcome is to assess female authorship within GI subspecialty RCT publications.

Method

In this observational study, the gender of the first and last author of gastroenterology RCTs from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2021 was assessed. Python (v3.8.12) was used to extract publication data from PubMed. A validated algorithm, genderize.io, was used to determine gender. Author first names that cannot be determined by the algorithm were manually searched on publicly-available profiles.

Result(s)

A total of 5690 original gastroenterology RCTs were included from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2021. The gender of the first and senior authors of the papers was determined for 5668 (99.6%) first authors and 5656 (99.4%) senior authors. Overall, 1937 (34.1%) of the first authors and 1138 (20.0%) of senior authors were female.

There was an increase in the proportion of female first authors over the past decade, from 25.4% in 2011 to 37.8% in 2021 (p<0.05). For senior authors, there was a more gradual increase in female authorship from 14.2% in 2011 to 21.6% in 2021 (p<0.05). (Figure 1)

Within GI subspecialties, 612 RCTs were included for inflammatory bowel disease, 1143 RCTs were included for hepatology, and 1856 RCTs were included for therapeutic endoscopy from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2021. Further analysis will be performed to determine the gender trend for GI subspecialties.

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Conclusion(s)

Female authorship in gastroenterology RCTs has increased from 2011 to 2021, although the rate of senior authorship has increased to a slower extent compared to first authors. Across all years, female authorship in gastroenterology RCTs has been lower than males.

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Disclosure of Interest

None Declared

A127 TIMING OF CHOLECYSTECTOMY AFTER ENDOSCOPIC RETROGRADE CHOLANGIOPANCREATOGRAPHY IN A TERTIARY CENTRE: EVALUATION OF OUTCOMES

Background

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is the treatment of choice for patients with choledocholithiasis. Early cholecystectomy (within 24 to 72 hours) is recommended after the initial ERCP to reduce the risk of subsequent biliary events.

Purpose

To investigate the timing of cholecystectomy after ERCP in patients with choledocholithiasis and its associated outcomes in a single tertiary care centre.

Method

This is a retrospective analysis of adult patients who underwent cholecystectomy after ERCP from August 2021 to April 2022 at the University of Alberta Hospital. Outcomes data were stratified according to the length of time between ERCP and cholecystectomy, within 72 hours (early) or after 72 hours (delayed).

Result(s)

During the study period, 55 subjects were examined. Indications for ERCP included gallstone pancreatitis (24/55, 44%), choledocholithiasis (19/55, 34%), and acute cholangitis (12/55, 21%).

In total, 30 (55%) subjects received cholecystectomy within 72 hours, while 25 (45%) subjects received cholecystectomy after 72 hours. The two groups were comparable in age, sex ratios, and comorbidities. Out of the patients who received cholecystectomy after 72 hours, 8 (32%) subjects received their cholecystectomy on a subsequent admission. Of these, 2 subjects developed recurrent biliary events before their cholecystectomy, and 1 subject required a conversion to open cholecystectomy. There were no recurrent biliary events amongst the individuals with early cholecystectomy.

Subjects who received early cholecystectomy had a shorter total hospital stay compared to those with delayed cholecystectomy (4.5 days vs 7.3 days, p=0.0002). There was no significant difference between early and late cholecystectomy in conversion rate (3% vs 8%, p=0.58), average operating time (86min vs 83min, p=0.79), intraoperative complications including adhesions (13% vs 12%, p>0.05) and empyema (27% vs 28%, p>0.05), as well as histological rate of chronic cholecystitis (88% vs 92%, p=0.68).

Reasons associated with significantly delayed (>7 days) cholecystectomy after ERCP (n=12) include requiring coordination/consultation with other services prior to operation (3 subjects), prolonged course of gallstone pancreatitis (3 subjects), poor candidate for operation due to comorbidities (2 subjects), surgical cancellation/delays (2 subjects), post-ERCP pancreatitis (1 subject), and patient preference (1 subject).

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Conclusion(s)

Early cholecystectomy is associated with a shorter length of hospital stay and absence of recurrent biliary events. Other post-cholecystectomy outcomes were comparable. Early laparoscopic cholecystectomy should continue to be encouraged through an interdisciplinary approach.

Please acknowledge all funding agencies by checking the applicable boxes below

None

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared

Monolayer α-beryllene as an anode material for magnesium ion batteries with high capacity and low diffusion energy barrier

High specific capacity and fast charge/discharge rate are important indicators for the development of next-generation ion batteries. Compared with conventional monovalent ion batteries like lithium-ion batteries and sodium-ion batteries, multivalent ion batteries have attracted extensive attention owing to their high energy densities. Here, we systematically explore the interactions between Mg atoms and α-beryllene monolayers by means of density functional theory calculations. Mg atoms can be adsorbed stably on α-beryllene monolayers with the adsorption energy of -0.24 eV. The low diffusion energy barriers (0.099/0.101 eV) indicate the rapid mobility of Mg during the charge/discharge process. Moreover, the α-beryllene monolayer exhibits an ultra-high theoretical specific capacity of 5956 mA h g^-1 for Mg, a low average open-circuit voltage of 0.24 V, and a tiny volume change of -1.08%. Finally, the constructed h-BN/α-beryllene heterostructure shows that h-BN can serve as a protective cover to preserve pristine α-beryllene in respect of metallicity, Mg adsorption capability, and fast ionic mobility. The above mentioned outstanding results make α-beryllene a promising anode material for magnesium-ion batteries.

[Effect of origin, tree age, and harvesting time on content of flavonoids and terpene lactones in Ginkgo Folium]

The content of total flavonol glycosides in Ginkgo Folium in the planting bases was determined by high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC).The samples were extracted by reflux with methanol-25% hydrochloric acid.The HPLC conditions were as follows: Agilent ZORBAX SB-C_(18) column(4.6 mm×250 mm, 5 μm), isocratic elution with mobile phase of 0.4% phosphoric acid solution-methanol(45∶55), flow rate of 1 mL·min~(-1), column temperature of 30 ℃, detection wavelength of 360 nm, and injection vo-lume of 10 μL.A method for the determination of terpene lactones in Ginkgo Folium was established based on ultra-high performance liquid chromatograph-triple-quadrupole/linear ion-trap tandem mass spectrometry(UPLC-QTRAP-MS/MS).The UPLC conditions were as below: gradient elution with acetonitrile-0.1% formic acid, flow rate of 0.2 mL·min~(-1), column temperature of 30 ℃, sample chamber temperature of 10 ℃, and injection volume of 10 μL.The ESI~+and multiple reaction monitoring(MRM) were adopted for the MS.The above methods were used to determine the content of total flavonol glycosides and terpene lactones in 99 batches of Ginkgo Folium from 6 planting bases, and the results were statistically analyzed.The content of flavonoids and terpene lactones in Ginkgo Folium from different origins, from trees of different ages, harvested at different time, from trees of different genders, and processed with different methods was compared.The results showed that the content of total flavonol glucosides in 99 Ginkgo Folium samples ranged from 0.38% to 2.08%, and the total content of the four terpene lactones was in the range of 0.03%-0.87%.The method established in this study is simple and reliable, which can be used for the quantitative analysis of Ginkgo Folium.The research results lay a basis for the quality control of Ginkgo Folium.

Two-dimensional CSiO and CGeO: direct-band-gap semiconductors with normal/anomalous auxeticity for solar cells and alkali-metal-ion batteries

Two-dimensional (2D) materials provide tremendous opportunities for next-generation energy storage technologies. We theoretically propose 2D group-IV oxides (α-, β-, andγ-CXO, X = Si/Ge). Among them,α-CXO monolayers, composed of the C-O-X skeleton of silyl (germyl) methyl ether molecules, are the most stable phase.α-CXO possess robust dynamical, mechanical, and thermal stabilities. Remarkably,α-CGeO has an unusual negative Poisson's ratio (NPR). However,α-CSiO displays a bidirectional half-auxeticity, different from all the already known NPR behaviors. The intrinsic moderate direct-band-gap, high carrier mobility, and superior optical absorption ofα-CXO make them attractive for optoelectronics applications. A series ofα-CXO-based excitonic solar cells can achieve high power conversion efficiencies. Besides,α-CXO monolayers are promising anode materials for sodium- and potassium-ion batteries, exhibiting not only the high specific capacity (532-1433 mA h g^-1) but also low diffusion barrier and open-circuit voltage. In particular, the specific capacity of K onα-CSiO exhibits one of the highest values ever recorded in 2D materials. The multifunctionality rendersα-CXO promising candidates for nanomechanics, nanoelectronics, and nano-optics.

Magnesene: a theoretical prediction of a metallic, fast, high-capacity, and reversible anode material for sodium-ion batteries

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) have attracted great attention owing to their low cost and inherent safety. High-performance anode materials for SIBs should possess intrinsically metallic characteristic and be composed of non-toxic, earth abundant, and lightweight elements. We predict a two-dimensional Mg material (named magnesene) to be an excellent anode material, which can meet these design requirements. It is demonstrated to be stable in terms of the cohesive energy, phonon spectrum, ab initio molecular dynamics simulation, and elastic constants. The magnesene monolayer exhibits good SIB performances, including a high storage capacity of 551.3 mA h g^-1, low diffusion energy barrier (0.16-0.19 eV), low open-circuit voltage (0.71-0.82 V), and small volume change (4.7%). Moreover, graphene or h-BN on top of magnesene could serve as a protective cover to preserve the performances of pristine magnesene, such as metallicity, strong Na adsorption capability, and fast ionic mobility. These intriguing theoretical findings make magnesene a promising anode material for SIBs.

Protein Engineering of PhUGT, a Donor Promiscuous Glycosyltransferase, for the Improved Enzymatic Synthesis of Antioxidant Quercetin 3-O-N-Acetylgalactosamine

Quercetin 3-O-N-acetylgalactosamine (Q3GalNAc), a derivative of dietary hyperoside, had never been enzymatically synthesized due to the lack of well-identified N-acetylgalactosamine-transferase (GalNAc-T). Herein, PhUGT, an identified flavonoid 3-O-galactosyltransferase from Petunia hybrida, was demonstrated to display quercetin GalNAc-T activity, transferring a N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) from UDP-N-acetylgalactosamine (UDP-GalNAc) to the 3-OH of quercetin to form Q3GalNAc with a low conversion of 11.7% at 40 °C for 2 h. Protein engineering was thus performed, and the resultant PhUGT variant F368T got an enhanced conversion of 75.5% toward UDP-GalNAc. The enzymatically synthesized Q3GalNAc exhibited a comparable antioxidant activity with other quercetin 3-O-glycosides. Further studies revealed that PhUGT was a donor promiscuous glycosyltransferase (GT), recognizing seven sugar donors. This finding overturned a previous notion that PhUGT exclusively recognized UDP-galactose (UDP-Gal). The reason why PhUGT was mistaken for a UDP-Gal-specific GT was demonstrated to be a shorter reaction time, in which many quercetin 3-O-glycosides, except hyperoside, could not be effectively synthesized. The fact that the microbial cell factory expressing PhUGT could yield an array of Q3Gs further confirmed the donor promiscuity of PhUGT. This study laid a foundation for the scale production of Q3GalNAc and provided a potent biocatalyst capable of glycodiversifying quercetin as well.

Pharmacotherapy decisions among postmenopausal women attending a group medical consultation or a one-on-one specialist consultation at an osteoporosis center: an observational cohort study

Group medical visits for osteoporosis can improve access to care while being highly accepted by patients. In this study, a similar proportion of women planned to initiate pharmacotherapy after attending a group or traditional one-on-one osteoporosis consultation, indicating that the group consultation model does not produce unexpected treatment decisions.

INTRODUCTION

Group medical consultations for osteoporosis are time-efficient and highly accepted by patients, but effects on treatment decisions are unknown. We aimed to compare women's decisions to initiate or decline osteoporosis pharmacotherapy after attending either a group or transitional one-on-one osteoporosis consultation.

METHODS

In this observational study, we prospectively evaluated postmenopausal women referred to an osteoporosis clinic who attended a group medical visit and compared their decisions regarding pharmacologic osteoporosis treatment with retrospective data from a cohort of women who attended a traditional consultation. Both consultation types involved interaction with a specialist physician, individualized fracture risk estimation (using FRAX®), and education regarding fracture consequences and available osteoporosis medications. Both forms of consultation emphasized shared decision-making; however, group consultation attendees did not receive personalized treatment recommendations from the physician.

RESULTS

We reviewed the records of 125 women (median age 63 years) who attended a group consultation and 83 women (median age 64 years) who attended a traditional consultation between 2016 and 2019. Twenty-four (19%) of the group cohort and 16 (19%) of the traditional cohort were at high 10-year risk of major osteoporotic fracture (FRAX® ≥ 20.0%). A similar proportion planned to initiate pharmacologic therapy after the group and traditional consultations (23% vs 16%, p = 0.22); these proportions were comparable among women at high risk (42% vs 50%, p = 0.75) and moderate risk (19% vs 15%, p = 0.77), but a higher proportion of low-risk women planned to initiate therapy after the group consultation (18% vs 0%, p = 0.009).

CONCLUSION

Patient decisions to initiate pharmacologic treatment made during a group visit are similar to those made during traditional one-on-one consultation. The group consultation model represents an alternative to one-on-one assessment for delivering osteoporosis consultative services.

Germanether: a two-dimensional auxetic semiconductor with tunable direct-band-gap and high electron mobility

Pristine germanene is a zero-gap semi-metal, which may hinder its practical application in semiconducting devices. Here, on the basis of the structural characteristics of digermyl ether, we theoretically design a two-dimensional crystal, namely germanether. Germanether exhibits excellent dynamical and thermal stability. It possesses an indirect band gap of 1.37 eV and a high electron mobility of 2.32 × 10³ cm² V^-1 s^-1. The uniaxial strain and layer stacking order can trigger an indirect-to-direct band gap transition. More interestingly, germanether has remarkable in-plane negative Poisson's ratios with the largest one (∼-0.2) five times of borophenes and three times of penta-graphene. The negative Poisson's ratio arises from the interplay of Ge-O tetrahedron symmetry and Ge-4d orbitals involvement, which is different from previously reported auxetic materials. All these findings render germanether is a competitive material for the future application in nanomechanics and nanoelectronics.

[Determination of caffeine content in Ginkgo Folium by ultra high performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry]

In this experiment, an ultra-high performance liquid chromatographytandem triple quadrupole mass spectrometry was established for the determination of caffeine in commercially available Ginkgo Folium. The samples were extracted by ultrasonic method with methanol, and separated on Waters CORTECS T3 column(2.1 mm×100 mm, 2.7 μm), with mobile phase of 0.1% formic acid solution-0.1% formic acid acetonitrile solution for gradient elution, at flow rate of 0.3 mL·min~(-1); column temperature of 30 ℃, and injection volume of 2 μL. Mass spectrometry was conducted at ESI~+ multiple reaction monitoring(MRM) mode; quantitative analysis was conducted with external standard method. The results showed that in the range of 0.099 6-9.96 ng·mL~(-1), there was a good linear relationship between the mass concentration of caffeine and the peak area, R~2=0.999; the average recovery was 84.51%, with RSD of 6.2%. The results of precision, repeatability and stability showed that the RSD was 5.1%, 5.9%, 7.2%, respectively. The content range of caffeine in 10 batches of Ginkgo Folium was 1.52-60.86 μg·kg~(-1). In conclusion, this method is accurate, reliable and reproducible, which provides a reference for the safety study of Ginkgo Folium.

Metallic two-dimensional BP2: a high-performance electrode material for Li- and Na-ion batteries

Searching for high-performance electrode materials is an important topic in rechargeable batteries. Using first-principles calculations, we systematically explore the potential application of a two-dimensional BP2 monolayer as a cathode material for Li-ion and Na-ion batteries. The pristine BP2 monolayer exhibits metallic characteristics, which facilitate the transportation of electrons. The Li and Na atoms bind strongly to the BP2 monolayer, indicating a good structural stability. Furthermore, the geometrical structure of BP2 is well maintained during the adsorption process. The Li and Na ions prefer to move along the zigzag direction with relatively low energy barriers. Especially, the ultralow Na diffusion barrier (0.03 eV) implies that monolayer BP2 has an excellent charge/discharge capability. The specific capacity and average electrode potential of Li (Na) are 619.45 (279.93) mA h g-1 and 2.89 (2.49) V, respectively. These results reveal that the BP2 monolayer is an appealing cathode material for alkali-metal batteries.

Graphether: a reversible and high-capacity anode material for sodium-ion batteries with ultrafast directional Na-ion diffusion

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) have been attracting great attention as the most promising alternative to lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) for large-scale energy storage. However, the absence of suitable anode materials is the main bottleneck for the commercial application of SIBs. Herein, the adsorption and diffusion behaviors of Na on graphether are predicted by first-principles density functional calculations. Our results show that Na atoms can be adsorbed on graphether forming a uniform and stable coverage on both sides. Even at low intercalated Na concentrations, the semiconducting graphether can be changed to a metallic state, ensuring good electrical conductivity. Due to the structural anisotropy of graphether, the Na+ ions show a remarkable one-dimensional diffusion with an ultralow energy barrier of 0.04 eV, suggesting ultrafast charge/discharge characteristics. The graphether monolayer has a high theoretical specific capacity of 670 mA h g-1, which is much higher than commercial graphite anode materials. Furthermore, the average voltage is 1.58 V, comparable with that of commercial TiO2 anode materials for LIBs (1.5 V). During the charge/discharge process, graphether could mostly preserve the structural integrity upon the adsorption of Na even at the maximum concentration, suggesting its good reversibility. All these results show that graphether is a promising anode material for high-performance SIBs.

[Diagnosis and treatment of 12 cases of sexual activity-related hematuria: Experience and literature review]

OBJECTIVE

To summarize and analyze the experience in the diagnosis and treatment of sexual activity-related hematuria.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was conducted on 12 cases of sexual activity-related hematuria treated in Changhai Hospital from October 2015 to April 2019. The patients ranged in age between 31 and 59 years, with a disease course of 2 weeks to 25 years, 6 complaining of urethral bleeding at penile erection and another 6 hematuria immediately after ejaculation, including 2 accompanied by hemospermia. All the patients underwent urethroscopy and cauterization of the lesioned urethral mucosa with the electric excision ring or holmium laser. In addition, one of the patients received seminal tract endoscopic exploration and seminal vesicle irrigation, and another one seminal tract endoscopy and transurethral resection of the prostate.

RESULTS

All the patients were diagnosed with posterior urethral varicosity, one accompanied with bulbar and posterior urethral varicosity, one with seminal vesiculitis, and still another with BPH. The patients were followed up for 3－45 (mean 23.5) months, during which the symptoms of sexual activity-related hematuria disappeared in 11 cases, with smooth urination and no recurrence, and post-ejaculation hematuria developed in one case at 2 and 10 months postoperatively but never again thereafter. No complications, such as epididymitis, urethral stricture and ED, were observed in any of the patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Urethral varicosity should be first considered in patients with painless hematuria immediately after penile erection or sexual activity though other conditions such as seminal vesicle bleeding can also be taken into account. Urethroscopy combined with seminal tract endoscopy is effective in the diagnosis and treatment of sexual activity-related hematuria.

[Correlation between chemical composition,ecological factors and soil factors of Chinese herbal medicine Daphnes Cortex]

In this paper, the correlation between the chemical constituents of Chinese herbal medicines Daphnes Cortex and the ecological factors and soil factors was studied, which provided a reference for the selection of suitable areas for artificial cultivation of Daphne giraldii and wild tending. The geographic information system(GIS) was applied to obtain the ecological factor information of 23 collection sites of Daphnes Cortex, and the soil factor information was determined by the standard procedure in the soil test standard manual. Combining the information of 93 chemical constituents of Daphnes Cortex in 23 collection sites the correlation between components and ecological factors and soil factors was analyzed by statistical methods. The correlation analysis showed that the longitude, annual average rainfall, annual sunshine intensity, annual average temperature in the ecological factors, soil type, effective copper and pH value were the dominant factors affecting the chemical composition of Daphnes Cortex.

Theoretical prediction of silicether: a two-dimensional hyperconjugated disilicon monoxide nanosheet

The gapless feature and air instability greatly hinder the applications of silicene in nanoelectronics. We theoretically design an oxidized derivative of silicene (named silicether) assembled by disilyl ether molecules. Silicether has an indirect band gap of 1.89 eV with a photoresponse in the ultraviolet-visible region. In addition to excellent thermodynamic stability, it is inert towards oxygen molecules. The material shows the hyperconjugation effect, leading to high performances of in-plane stiffness (107.8 N m^-1) and electron mobility (6.4 × 10³ cm² V^-1 s^-1). Moreover, the uniaxial tensile strain can trigger an indirect-direct-indirect band gap transition. We identify Ag(100) as a potential substrate for the adsorption and dehydrogenation of disilyl ether. The moderate reaction barriers of dehydrogenation may provide a good possibility of bottom-up growth of silicether. All these outstanding properties make silicether a promising candidate for silicon-based nanoelectronic devices.

[Diversity of fungi on surface of Pheretima]

Traditional Chinese medicines( TCMs) are easily contaminated by fungi during planting,harvesting,processing,transportation and storage. The 2015 version of Chinese Pharmacopoeia stipulates the detection of aflatoxin in Dilong. After reviewing the literature,it has been found that there are no domestic and foreign scholars who have studied the surface fungi of Dilong. Pheretima,known as Dilong in China,is a commonly used TCMs in animal. In this experiment,8 batches of Dilong were collected from retail pharmacies in Beijing. The fungi on the surface of Dilong were cultured by traditional plate method and the single strain was obtained by the top purification method. The fungal colony morphology,microstructure characteristics and DNA barcode were used to isolate and identify the fungi. At the same time,based on Illumina Hi Seq 2500 high-throughput sequencing platform,the diversity of fungi on the surface of Dilong was analyzed. The results showed that 287 strains of 9 species of fungi were isolated and identified by plate method. Combined with 3 kinds of identification method,eight of nine fungi could be identified,respectively,Aspergillus niger,Penicillium,Alternaria nees,A. flavus,and Penicillium oxalicum,Humicola sp.,Talaromyces purpurogenus and A. insuetus,1 kind of fungi was not identified yet. Among them,Penicillium and Aspergillus were the dominant genus. The results of high-throughput sequencing belonged to 2 boundaries,6 gates,19 classes,44 orders,98 families,127 genus and 121 species in different classification levels. Wallemia,Aspergillus and Cordyceps were the dominant genus,and the relative abundances are 63. 33%,15. 28%,and 10. 28%,respectively. Through the diversity study on the surface fungi of Dilong in Beijing retail pharmacies,it can provide a reference for its safe storage and clinical use.

Two-dimensional CaFCl: ultra-wide bandgap, strong interlayer quantum confinement, and n-type doping

Two-dimensional (2D) ultra-wide bandgap (UWBG) semiconductors have attracted tremendous attention because of their unique electronic properties and promising applications. Using first-principles calculations, monolayer (bilayer) CaFCl has a cleavage energy of 0.93 J m-2 (0.72 J m-2), suggesting that the exfoliation of monolayer and few-layer materials from the bulk phase could be feasible. The CaFCl monolayer is an UWBG semiconductor with a direct bandgap of 6.62 eV. In addition to the dynamic and thermodynamic stability, it can remain thermally stable at 2200 K, suitable for operation in high-temperature environments. The bandgap of monolayer CaFCl can be tuned by external strain and layer thickness. The decrease of the layer thickness leads to not only a bandgap increase but also an indirect-to-direct bandgap transition, suggesting a strong interlayer quantum confinement effect. Under biaxial strain, the direct bandgap can also be turned into an indirect one. The adsorption of a tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) molecule introduces deep donor states in the gap of CaFCl. Under an external electric field with direction from CaFCl to TTF, the TTF-derived donor states move closer to the conduction band edge of CaFCl and then the adsorption complex becomes effectively n-doped. Furthermore, monolayer CaFCl exhibits pronounced optical absorption in the ultraviolet range of the solar spectrum. These results render CaFCl an attractive 2D material for applications in flexible nanoelectronic and optoelectronic devices.

[Identification and evaluation of Citrus grandis based on DNA barcode,UPLC and chromaticity method]

In order to identify the source of Citrus grandis and evaluate its quality originate from two areas comprehensively,DNA barcode was used to identify 26 samples of C. grandis. The content of naringin,rhoifolin,naringenin and apigenin was determined by UPLC method,and the color difference was numerically studied by color difference analyzer,which was related to the effective components of C. grandis. The results showed that samples was the source of C. grandis in both regions. The ITS2 sequence length was about400-500 bp,and the sequence similarity reached 99. 82%. There was only one base deletion in the two groups. There was one base A in some medicinal materials of Guangdong at 330 bp,but no base in Chongqing. The contents of naringin and rhoifolin in Chongqing samples were higher than those in Guangdong samples,and there were statistical differences between naringenin and apigenin. The chroma value showed that L*value of Guangdong was larger,a*value was smaller,L*value of Chongqing was smaller,and a*value was larger,while the b*value of both was not significantly different; The results of correlation analysis showed that naringin,rhoifolin,naringenin were positively correlated with L*,b*value,negatively correlated with a*value,and apigenin had no correlation with L*,a*,b*value. In this study,the scientific identification and evaluation of C. grandis was carried out to provide a new idea for the further study of the rapid identification and evaluation of C. grandis.

Graphether: a two-dimensional oxocarbon as a direct wide-band-gap semiconductor with high mechanical and electrical performances

Although many graphene derivatives have sizable band gaps, their electrical or mechanical properties are significantly degraded due to the low degree of π-conjugation. Besides the π-π conjugation, there exist hyperconjugative interactions arising from the delocalization of σ electrons. Inspired by the structural characteristics of a hyperconjugated molecule, dimethyl ether, we design a two-dimensional oxocarbon (named graphether) by the assembly of dimethyl ether molecules. Our first-principles calculations reveal the following findings: (1) monolayer graphether possesses excellent dynamic and thermal stabilities as demonstrated by its favourable cohesive energy, the absence of soft phonon modes, and high melting point. (2) It has a direct wide-band-gap energy of 2.39 eV, indicating its potential applications in ultraviolet optoelectronic devices. Interestingly, the direct band gap feature is rather robust against the external strains (-10% to 10%) and stacking configurations. (3) Due to the hyperconjugative effect, graphether has the high intrinsic electron mobility. More importantly, its in-plane stiffness (459.8 N m-1) is even larger than that of graphene. (4) The Pt(100) surface exhibits high catalytic activity for the dehydrogenation of dimethyl ether. The electrostatic repulsion serves as a driving force for the rotation and coalescence of two dehydrogenated precursors, which is favourable for the bottom-up growth of graphether. (5) Replacement of the C-C bond with an isoelectronic B-N bond can generate a stable Pmn21-BNO monolayer. Compared with monolayer hexagonal boron nitride, Pmn21-BNO has a moderate direct band gap energy (3.32 eV) and better mechanical property along the armchair direction.

[Analgesic and sedative effects of Mongolian medicine Syringa pinnatifolia]

The peeled root,stem or twig of Syringa pinnatifolia is a representative Mongolian folk medicine with the effects of antidepression and pain relief. It has been used for the treatments of heart tingling,heart palpitations,upset,insomnia and other symptoms. Inspired by Mongolian medical theory and clinical practices,this study evaluated the analgesic effect of S. pinnatifolia ethanol extract( T) through three analgesic models including acetic acid writhing test,formalin test,and hot plate test,and the sedative effect of T was evaluated by locomotor activity and synergistic sleeping experiments,and furthermore the effects of T on the GABAergic nervous system were investigated by ELISA,immunohistochemistry,Western blot,and PCR methods. The results showed that T can significantly reduce the number of writhing,the time of paw licking and extend the thermal threshold of mice,suggesting the analgesic effect of T.T also can indicate its sedative effect by reducing the number of activities,decreasing latency of sleeping and extending sleeping time of mice. ELISA results showed that T can increase the content of GABA/Glu in rat cortex,hippocampus,and hypothalamus,and the most significant increase in hypothalamus. The immunohistochemistry and Western blot results showed that T can up-regulate the expression of GAD67 protein in hypothalamus,and the PCR results showed that T can up-regulate the expression of GABAA Rα1,α2,α3,α5,β1-3,γ1-3 genes,suggesting a sedative effect through the GABAergic nervous system. In conclusion,this study shed insight into the theoretical basis and clinical application of S. pinnatifolia,and also provides inspiration for subsequent development and application.

Predictive model of hydrogen trapping and bubbling in nanovoids in bcc metals

The interplay between hydrogen and nanovoids, despite long being recognized as a central factor in hydrogen-induced damage in structural materials, remains poorly understood. Here, focusing on tungsten as a model body-centred cubic system, we explicitly demonstrate sequential adsorption of hydrogen adatoms on Wigner-Seitz squares of nanovoids with distinct energy levels. Interaction between hydrogen adatoms on nanovoid surfaces is shown to be dominated by pairwise power-law repulsion. We establish a predictive model for quantitative determination of the configurations and energetics of hydrogen adatoms in nanovoids. This model, combined with the equation of states of hydrogen gas, enables the prediction of hydrogen molecule formation in nanovoids. Multiscale simulations, performed based on our model, show good agreement with recent thermal desorption experiments. This work clarifies fundamental physics and provides a full-scale predictive model for hydrogen trapping and bubbling in nanovoids, offering long-sought mechanistic insights that are crucial for understanding hydrogen-induced damage in structural materials.

[Chemical and pharmacological progress on usnic acid and its derivatives]

Usnic acid and its derivatives, a group of organic molecules with great importance, are characteristic to lichens, possessing pharmacological activities such as anti-virus, anti-bacteria, anti-humor, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and anaesthetic effects. Many of them have been widely used as medicine, but also bring side effects such as dermatitis and liver damages. In the past decades, great efforts by isolation, organic synthesis, and structure modification methods were put on discovery of UA derivatives with higher biological activities or less side effects. This paper describes herein the most progress on natural sources, isolation and structure elucidation, structural characteristics, synthesis and modification results, pharmacological activities and toxicities of UA and its derivatives, hopefully to provide valuable reference for further research.

The impacts of the quantum-dot confining potential on the spin-orbit effect

For a nanowire quantum dot with the confining potential modeled by both the infinite and the finite square wells, we obtain exactly the energy spectrum and the wave functions in the strong spin-orbit coupling regime. We find that regardless of how small the well height is, there are at least two bound states in the finite square well: one has the σ ^x [Formula: see text] = -1 symmetry and the other has the σ ^x [Formula: see text] = 1 symmetry. When the well height is slowly tuned from large to small, the position of the maximal probability density of the first excited state moves from the center to x ≠ 0, while the position of the maximal probability density of the ground state is always at the center. A strong enhancement of the spin-orbit effect is demonstrated by tuning the well height. In particular, there exists a critical height [Formula: see text], at which the spin-orbit effect is enhanced to maximal.

Monolayer CS as a metal-free photocatalyst with high carrier mobility and tunable band structure: a first-principles study

Producing hydrogen fuel using suitable photocatalysts from water splitting is a feasible method to harvest solar energy. A desired photocatalyst is expected to have suitable band gap, moderate band edge position, and high carrier mobility. By employing first-principles calculations, we explore a α-CS monolayer as a metal-free efficient photocatalyst. The α-CS monolayer shows good energetic, dynamic, and thermal stabilities and is insoluble in water, suggesting its experimental practicability. Monolayer and bilayer α-CS present not only appropriate band gaps for visible and ultraviolet light absorption but also moderate band alignments with water redox potentials in pH neutral water. Remarkably, the α-CS monolayer exhibits high (up to 8453.19 cm² V^-1s^-1 for hole) and anisotropic carrier mobility, which is favorable to the migration and separation of photogenerated carriers. In addition, monolayer α-CS experiences an interesting semiconductor-metal transition by applying uniaxial strain and external electric field. Moreover, α-CS under certain strain and electric field is still dynamically stable with the absence of imaginary frequencies. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the graphite (0 0 1) surface is a potential substrate for the α-CS growth with the intrinsic properties of α-CS maintaining. Therefore, our results could pave the way for the application of α-CS as a promising photocatalyst.

Prediction of a new BeC monolayer with perfectly planar tetracoordinate carbons

Recently, there has been a growing interest in exploring planar hypercoordinate carbons in two-dimensional nanostructures. However, atomic monolayers with ideal planar hypercoordinate carbon are quite rare due to the challenge in stabilizing the exotic motifs. We predicted a global minimum two-dimensional BeC monolayer using the global particle-swarm optimization method. Each carbon binds peripheral four atoms in the same plane, forming a perfectly planar tetracoordinate carbon moiety. The cohesive energy, phonon-spectrum and mechanical stability criteria confirm the stability of monolayer BeC. In addition, the BeC monolayer has a large in-plane stiffness (145.54 N m^-1) and thermo-dynamical stability (up to 2000 K). Furthermore, BeC is an indirect semiconductor with a band gap of 1.01 eV and possesses exceptionally high carrier mobilities (∼10⁴ cm² V^-1 s^-1), rendering it suitable for application in electronics and photoelectronics.

A CO monolayer: first-principles design of a new direct band-gap semiconductor with excellent mechanical properties

Group V monolayers, e.g., nitrogene, phosphorene, arsenene, and antimonene have recently emerged as attractive candidates for electronic and optoelectronic applications. However, these pristine monolayers are not able to possess direct band gaps suitable for ultraviolet-blue photoresponse. First-principles calculations show that the Pmma-CO monolayer has a direct band gap of 2.4 eV, and predict that the system has a good stability. Unlike an easy direct-indirect gap transition under small strains in phosphorene, the direct band gap feature of Pmma-CO is maintained under a strain up to 12%. Surprisingly, Pmma-CO shows excellent mechanical stability with an anisotropic in-plane stiffness up to 475.7 N m^-1 along the b direction, which is higher than that of graphene. The in-plane hole carrier mobility is predicted to be 746.42 cm² V^-1 s^-1, similar to that of black phosphorene. When synthesized, the Pmma-CO monolayer may have great potential in the design of new ultraviolet/blue optoelectronic devices.

Peripheral cytokine and chemokine alterations in depression: a meta-analysis of 82 studies

OBJECTIVE

To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies that measured cytokine and chemokine levels in individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD) compared to healthy controls (HCs).

METHOD

The PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PsycINFO databases were searched up until May 30, 2016. Effect sizes were estimated with random-effects models.

RESULT

Eighty-two studies comprising 3212 participants with MDD and 2798 HCs met inclusion criteria. Peripheral levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, IL-10, the soluble IL-2 receptor, C-C chemokine ligand 2, IL-13, IL-18, IL-12, the IL-1 receptor antagonist, and the soluble TNF receptor 2 were elevated in patients with MDD compared to HCs, whereas interferon-gamma levels were lower in MDD (Hedge's g = -0.477, P = 0.043). Levels of IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-8, the soluble IL-6 receptor (sIL-6R), IL-5, CCL-3, IL-17, and transforming growth factor-beta 1 were not significantly altered in individuals with MDD compared to HCs. Heterogeneity was large (I² : 51.6-97.7%), and sources of heterogeneity were explored (e.g., age, smoking status, and body mass index).

CONCLUSION

Our results further characterize a cytokine/chemokine profile associated with MDD. Future studies are warranted to further elucidate sources of heterogeneity, as well as biosignature cytokines secreted by other immune cells.

Sources of varieties and quality of circular Fructus Ligustri Lucidi

This study aimed to trace sources and quantitatively analyze the specnuezhenide content of circular Fructus Ligustri Lucidi for clinical use. Different specifications of Fructus Ligustri Lucidi were identified using DNA barcoding technology and the specnuezhenide content was analyzed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The ITS sequence of circular Fructus Ligustri Lucidi was identical to that of standard privet, which was determined through botanical identification. ITS sequence similarity between circular Fructus Ligustri Lucidi and Fructus Ligustri Lucidi which was registered in NCBI ranged from 99.5% to 100%. The sequences of circular and other Fructus Ligustri Lucidi were clustered in a Neighbor-Joining tree with bootstrap value of 95, and these sequences could be distinguished from adulterants. Conforming to pharmacopoeia standard, the average specnuezhenide content of circular Fructus Ligustri Lucidi was higher than that of chicken waist Fructus Ligustri Lucidi. Circular Fructus Ligustri Lucidi derived from Ligustrum lucidum Ait. and the specnuezhenide content was higher in circular Fructus Ligustri Lucidi than that in chicken waist Fructus Ligustri Lucidi.