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Proso millet is a traditional grain that can be divided into waxy and nonwaxy varieties based on amylose content. However, research on different varieties of cooked proso millet is limited, especially as a whole grain. This paper investigated the quality properties and aroma characterization of cooked nonwaxy proso millet (NPM) and waxy proso millet (WPM). Scanning electron microscopy images showed that cooked NPM exhibited a more compact structure, whereas cooked WPM displayed a porous structure. Cooked NPM presented higher water absorption ratio, expansion ratio, hardness, and better chewiness than cooked WPM. Correlation analysis indicated that the texture properties were positively correlated with the cooking characteristics as well as the amylose and protein contents. The resistant starch content of cooked NPM (35.97%) was higher than that of cooked WPM (28.85%). Aroma analysis revealed that cooked NPM and WPM contained 56 and 67 volatile substances, respectively. Cooked NPM and WPM exhibited different properties mainly attributed to the various amylose and protein contents. These findings may provide a theoretical basis for the processing and commercial development of the proso millet resource.

The current study examined the concurrent and longitudinal protective effects of peer popularity and self‐discipline (control, planning, and the ability to prioritize important things) against depressive symptoms among adolescents. We used multilevel modeling to examine the data of 1676 adolescents aged 12–15 years from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) survey, a large‐scale panel survey with a nationally representative sample. Results showed that both peer popularity and self‐discipline predicted lower levels of depressive symptoms measured concurrently. The buffering effect of self‐discipline against concurrent depressive symptoms was stronger for girls than for boys, especially in middle adolescence. Peer popularity additionally predicted lower levels of depressive symptoms 4 years later, and this effect was stronger for girls than for boys. These patterns of results were maintained after controlling for self‐rated physical health and society‐level factors. We discuss these findings against the background of distinct traditional gender roles.

A new radio frequency (RF) diagnostic, combined B-dot probe with an electrostatic probe array, has been installed on the linear experimental advanced device (LEAD) to characterize the RF wave propagation and plasma parameters. It can directly indicate the RF wave–plasma coupling properties and provide the necessary parametric information for experimental studies of wave physics. The probe’s signal acquisition system has been developed, taking the consideration of electromagnetic compatibility to eliminate RF interference to ensure the reliability of the probe data. The measured magnetic field in the antenna near field in LEAD by B-dot probe coincides with the COMSOL simulation, which validates the measurement. Moreover, the reliability of the data from the electrostatic probe was verified by making a comparison with data measured by other independent Langmuir probes.

Background:: Accumulating evidence supports the potential of exosomes as a promising therapeutic approach for intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). Nevertheless, enhancing the efficiency of exosome treatment remains an urgent concern. This study investigated the impact of quercetin on the characteristics of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and their released exosomes. Methods:: Exosomes were obtained from quercetin pre-treated MSCs and quantified for the production based on nanoparticle tracking and western blot analysis. The molecules involved in the secretion and cargo sorting of exosomes were investigated using western blot and immunofluorescence analysis. Based on the in vitrobiological analysis and in vivohistological analysis, the effects of exosomes derived from conventional or quercetin-treated MSCs on nucleus pulposus (NP) cells were compared. Results:: A significant enhancement in the production and transportation efficiency of exosomes was observed in quercetin-treated MSCs. Moreover, the exosomes derived from quercetin-treated MSCs exhibited a greater abundance of antioxidant proteins, specifically superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), which inhibit the activation of NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in NP cells. Through in vitroand in vivoexperiments, it was elucidated that exosomes derived from quercetin-treated MSCs possessed enhanced anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Conclusion:: Collectively, our research underscores an optimized therapeutic strategy for IDD utilizing MSC-derived exosomes, thereby augmenting the efficacy of exosomes in intervertebral disc regeneration.

Divergence of cis-regulatory elements drives species-specific traits1, but how this manifests in the evolution of the neocortex at the molecular and cellular level remains unclear. Here we investigated the gene regulatory programs in the primary motor cortex of human, macaque, marmoset and mouse using single-cell multiomics assays, generating gene expression, chromatin accessibility, DNA methylome and chromosomal conformation profiles from a total of over 200,000 cells. From these data, we show evidence that divergence of transcription factor expression corresponds to species-specific epigenome landscapes. We find that conserved and divergent gene regulatory features are reflected in the evolution of the three-dimensional genome. Transposable elements contribute to nearly 80% of the human-specific candidate cis-regulatory elements in cortical cells. Through machine learning, we develop sequence-based predictors of candidate cis-regulatory elements in different species and demonstrate that the genomic regulatory syntax is highly preserved from rodents to primates. Finally, we show that epigenetic conservation combined with sequence similarity helps to uncover functional cis-regulatory elements and enhances our ability to interpret genetic variants contributing to neurological disease and traits.

ABSTRACTThis research focuses on the preparation and characterisation of a seed used to remove sulphur and iron simultaneously from sodium aluminate solution. Avrami equation could describe the crystallisation process of sulphur and iron, and their apparent activation energy was calculated. It was found that the Avrami index nof sulphur and iron were between 1.5 and 2, and the crystals grow in one-dimensional acicular and two-dimensional lamellar structures with fine particle size. SEM images displayed that the prepared seed had obvious step morphology, and the growth mechanism was confirmed to be a multilayer spiral growth model. XRD analysis demonstrated that the main components of this seed were Fe2O3, FeS2, NaFeS2·2H2O, Fe(OH)3and NaFeO2. In the experiment, these components could play the dual role of induced crystallisation and reactive crystallisation, and promote the effective removal of sulphur and iron with little effect on the loss of aluminium.

The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of the rhGM-CSF gel on third-degree frostbite wounds. Sixty-two patients who had suffered third-degree frostbite on their hand or foot (91 wounds in total) were selected using a convenience sampling method and randomly allocated to two groups: the rhGM-CSF group(31patients,45 frostbite wounds) received the rhGM-CSF gel when wound dressing change daily; however, the control group (31patients, 46 frostbite wounds) received aloe glue. The wound healing time, the score of inflammation about the wound and the positive bacterial culture of wound secretions were used to measure outcomes, respectively. Data were analyzed using SPSS (25.0), Student’s ttest or Mann–Whitney Utest and chi-square test or Fisher exact test were selected, as appropriate. The healing time of the rhGM-CSF group was (12.2 ± 5.0) days, which was significantly shorter than that of the control group (15.5 ± 4.7) days (P< .0001). The rhGM-CSF group’s wound inflammation scores on the 7th and 14th day of treatment were (0.96 ± 0.21) and (1.88 ± 0.29), respectively, which were better than those of the control group (1.12 ± 0.24) and (1.38 ± 0.15) (both P< .0001). The positive bacterial culture of wound secretions in the rhGM-CSF group was also better than that in the control group on the 3rd, 7th, and 14th day after treatment (P= .027, .004, .030, respectively). According to the results, using rhGM-CSF gel considerably increases the speed of frostbite wounds healing, and have an effect on protecting third-degree frostbite wounds regarding the positive effects.Trial Registration: This trial was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Register, ChiCTR1900021299.

With the widespread adoption of ultrasound guidance, Seldinger puncture techniques, and intracardiac electrical positioning technology for the placement of peripherally inserted central catheters in recent years, an increasing number of medical staff and patients now accept peripheral placement of totally implantable venous access devices (TIVADs) in the upper arm. This approach has the advantage of completely avoiding the risks of hemothorax, pneumothorax, and neck and chest scarring. Medical specialties presently engaged in this study in China include internal medicine, surgery, anesthesiology, and interventional departments. However, command over implantation techniques, treatment of complications, and proper use and maintenance of TIVAD remain uneven among different medical units. Moreover, currently, there are no established quality control standards for implantation techniques or specifications for handling complications. Thus, this expert consensus is proposed to improve the success rate of TIVAD implantation via the upper-arm approach, reduce complication rates, and ensure patient safety. This consensus elaborates on the technical indications and contraindications, procedures and technical points, treatment of complications, and the use and maintenance of upper-arm TIVAD, thus providing a practical reference for medical staff.

Trypsin specifically cleaves the C-terminus of lysine and arginine residues but often fails to cleave modified lysines, such as ubiquitination, therefore resulting in the uncleaved K-ε-GG peptides. Therefore, the cleaved ubiquitinated peptide identification was often regarded as false positives and discarded. Interestingly, unexpected cleavage at the K48-linked ubiquitin chain has been reported, suggesting the latent ability of trypsin to cleave ubiquitinated lysine residues. However, it remains unclear whether other trypsin-cleavable ubiquitinated sites are present. In this study, we verified the ability of trypsin in cleaving K6 and K63 besides K48 chains. The uncleaved K-ε-GG peptide was quickly and efficiently generated during trypsin digestion, whereas cleaved ones were produced with much lower efficiency. Then, the K-ε-GG antibody was proved to efficiently enrich the cleaved K-ε-GG peptides and several published large-scale ubiquitylation datasets were re-analyzed to interrogate the cleaved sequence features. In total, more than 2400 cleaved ubiquitinated peptides were identified in the K-ε-GG and UbiSite antibody-based datasets. The frequency of lysine upstream of the cleaved modified K was significantly enriched. The kinetic activity of trypsin in cleaving ubiquitinated peptides was further elucidated. We suggest that the cleaved K-ε-GG sites with high post-translational modification probability (≥0.75) should be considered as true positives in future ubiquitome analyses.

The ferroelectric photovoltaic effect has been extensively studied for possible applications in energy conversion and photo-electrics. The reversible spontaneous polarization gives rise to a switchable photovoltaic behavior. However, despite its long history, the origin of the ferroelectric photovoltaic effect still lacks a full understanding since multiple mechanisms such as bulk and Schottky-barrier-related interface effects are involved. Herein, we report a comprehensive study on the photovoltaic response of BiFeO3-based vertical heterostructures, using multiple strategies to clarify its origin. We found that, under white light illumination, polarization-modulated Schottky barrier at the interface is the dominating mechanism. By varying the top metal contacts, only the photovoltaic effect of the polarization downward state is strongly modulated, suggesting selective interface contribution in different polarization states. A Schottky-barrier-free device shows negligible photovoltaic effect, suggesting the lack of bulk photovoltaic effect in vertical heterostructures under white light illumination.

Many patients, especially those with chronic diseases, would benefit from personalized drugs that could modulate the treatment regimen. Tailored drug delivery viamicroneedle patches (MNPs) has emerged as a promising technology to address this problem. However, it is still difficult to modulate the treatment regimen in one MNP. Here, multiple treatment regimens were achieved by the same MNP functionalized with modifiable nanocontainers (NCs). The MNPs were biphasic in design, resulting in approximately a twice as high drug loading capacity than that of traditional dissolving MNPs. The drug-loaded NCs could have a zero-order release rate for at least 20 d in vitro. Furthermore, three model MNPs, Type-A (100% drug), Type-B (50% drug and 50% NCs) and Type-C (100% NCs) were generated to simulate various personalized dosing needs. In vivoapplication of these models could achieve effective therapeutic drug concentrations in the first 12 h and adjusted the duration of effective drug action from 24 h to 96 h and 144 h, respectively, with outstanding biocompatibility. These findings indicate that this device holds significant promise for personalized drug delivery.

Stimulator of interferon genes (STING) orchestrates the production of proinflammatory cytokines in response to cytosolic double-stranded DNA; however, the pathophysiological significance and molecular mechanism underlying the folding and maturation of nascent STING protein at the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) remain unknown. Here we report that the SEL1L–HRD1 protein complex—the most conserved branch of ER-associated degradation (ERAD)—is a negative regulator of the STING innate immunity by ubiquitinating and targeting nascent STING protein for proteasomal degradation in the basal state. SEL1Lor HRD1deficiency in macrophages specifically amplifies STING signalling and immunity against viral infection and tumour growth. Mechanistically, nascent STING protein is a bona fide substrate of SEL1L–HRD1 in the basal state, uncoupled from ER stress or its sensor inositol-requiring enzyme 1α. Hence, our study not only establishes a key role of SEL1L–HRD1 ERAD in innate immunity by limiting the size of the activable STING pool, but identifies a regulatory mechanism and therapeutic approach to targeting STING.

We previously reported Paired-Tag, a combinatorial indexing-based method that can simultaneously map histone modifications and gene expression at single-cell resolution at scale. However, the lengthy procedure of Paired-Tag has hindered its general adoption in the community. To address this bottleneck, we developed a droplet-based Paired-Tag protocol that is faster and more accessible than the previous method. Using cultured mammalian cells and primary brain tissues, we demonstrate its superior performance at identifying candidate cis-regulatory elements and associating their dynamic chromatin state to target gene expression in each constituent cell type in a complex tissue.

Ti2O3with an ultranarrow bandgap of 0.1 eV, exhibiting an intriguing thermally induced metal–insulator transition (MIT), has drawn significant attention in photothermal conversion, photocatalysts, and mid-infrared photodetection. However, the ultrafast photoexcitation dynamics of Ti2O3film and whether the laser excitation can trigger the MIT of Ti2O3were rarely discussed. Here, a typical time-resolved optical pump terahertz probe (OPTP) spectroscopy was used to investigate the ultrafast terahertz response of Ti2O3film excited by a femtosecond laser. We found that a transient photoinduced carrier generation process occurred within 4 ps. A fast relaxation with a time constant of approximately 2 ps followed, which can be attributed to the recombination of the photogenerated carriers. Subsequently, a slow transition process was observed after the fast recovery process, and this phenomenon can be ascribed to the ultrafast photothermal conversion through nonradiative relaxation. Our work will provide new sights for investigating MIT characteristics of Ti2O3and open a route toward achieving ultrafast dynamic modulation optoelectronics operating in the terahertz regime.

An improved straw mulching model may be a sustainable agricultural production technology due to its improvements in soil water and the fertilizer environment by the recycling of waste straw resources. A four-year field experiment was conducted in a randomized block design on the Loess Plateau of northwestern China in 2015–2019, which aimed to study the effects of straw strip mulching (SSM) and conventional flat planting without mulching (CK) on soil water storage, water consumption characteristics, water use efficiency, precipitation use efficiency, winter wheat growth, economic benefits, and nutrient benefits. The results obtained for the four years showed that the SSM treatment improved soil water storage in the 0–180 cm soil layer over the whole growth period, which was especially obvious in the 0–60 cm soil layer at the jointing and blooming stages. Compared with CK, SSM increased the contribution rate of precipitation to total evapotranspiration and increased it quite significantly by 20.4 percentage points in the earlier growth period. SSM significantly reduced soil water storage consumption in the 0–180 cm soil layer and ultimately reduced evapotranspiration by 11.2 mm during the whole period. In the 0–180 cm soil layer, SSM decreased evapotranspiration by 33.1 mm from the sowing to the jointing stages, but increased it by 19.5 mm from the jointing to the blooming stages. In addition, SSM improved the water use efficiency of grain yield by 21.6% and improved the precipitation use efficiency of grain yield by 18.6%, and it ultimately increased grain yield by 16.5% through improving spike number by 9.5% and kernel number per spike by 8.9%. SSM improved the water use efficiency of biomass yield by 13.5% and the precipitation use efficiency of biomass yield by 9.9%, and it ultimately increased biomass yield by 8.7% and plant height by 6.5%. Furthermore, SSM increased net income by 413 CNY ha–1and the total amount of straw returned to the field after harvest by 8 876–9 619 kg ha–1. After returning straw to the field, SSM significantly increased the soil nutrient contents, which could significantly reduce the burden of fertilization by farmers after a few years. Therefore, straw strip mulching technology could probably be a sustainable and potentially useful practice, which could save water and increase efficiency in rainfed winter wheat production.

Many enterprises across the European Union (EU) have been hampered by the massive spread of COVID-19. It has severely impacted revenues and financial flows, potentially leading to an increase in corporate insolvency. This study investigates the influence of this new coronavirus on the solvency status of businesses in EU Member States. Several stress scenarios were constructed for non-financial listed enterprises. The results reveal a gradual surge in the possibility of default, a rise in loan repayment, and coverage being refused. According to our findings, the solvency profiles of all firms are deteriorating. Industries, such as mining, mass production, and retail, are the most susceptible to a drop in sales income and market capitalization. Before COVID-19, previous research had looked at policy options for maintaining solvency. Our data imply that a tax delay is adequate if there is a slight deterioration in the economic outlook. There should be hybrid assistance through loans and equity for even a slight deterioration in the state of an economy. This research will benefit policymakers, corporate executives, and creditors.

In recent decades, life history theory (LHT) has provided an important theoretical framework for understanding human individual differences and their developmental processes. The conceptual complexity and multidisciplinary connections involved in the LH research, however, might appear daunting to psychologists whose research might otherwise benefit from the LH perspective. The main purpose of this review, therefore, is to introduce the evolutionary biological backgrounds and basic principles of LHT as well as their applications in developmental psychology. This review is organized into five parts, starting with an overview of key concepts in LHT, which clarifies the relationship among LH strategy, LH‐related traits, and the fast–slow paradigm of LH variation. We proceed to review theoretical and empirical work related to four basic LH trade‐offs, summarized by an integrated descriptive model of LH trade‐offs that shape different LH strategies in humans. We then explain the effects of four aspects of environmental risks (morbidity‐mortality threats, competition, resource scarcity, and unpredictability) on human LH strategy. This is followed by a discussion of LH calibration models in evolutionary developmental psychology that explicates the environmentally sensitive developmental processes that contribute to variation and plasticity in LH‐related traits and ultimately human LH strategies. Finally, we highlight a few outstanding questions and future directions for LH research in psychology and conclude with why we think it is important that developmental psychology should embrace the LH approach.

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The eukaryotic genome is folded into higher-order conformation accompanied with constrained dynamics for coordinated genome functions. However, the molecular machinery underlying these hierarchically organized three-dimensional (3D) chromatin architecture and dynamics remains poorly understood. Here by combining imaging and sequencing, we studied the role of lamin B1 in chromatin architecture and dynamics. We found that lamin B1 depletion leads to detachment of lamina-associated domains (LADs) from the nuclear periphery accompanied with global chromatin redistribution and decompaction. Consequently, the inter-chromosomal as well as inter-compartment interactions are increased, but the structure of topologically associating domains (TADs) is not affected. Using live-cell genomic loci tracking, we further proved that depletion of lamin B1 leads to increased chromatin dynamics, owing to chromatin decompaction and redistribution toward nucleoplasm. Taken together, our data suggest that lamin B1 and chromatin interactions at the nuclear periphery promote LAD maintenance, chromatin compaction, genomic compartmentalization into chromosome territories and A/B compartments and confine chromatin dynamics, supporting their crucial roles in chromatin higher-order structure and chromatin dynamics.

T helper 1 (Th1) immunity is typically viewed as a critical adaptation by vertebrates against intracellular pathogens. Identifying novel targets to enhance Th1 cell differentiation and function is increasingly important for anti-infection immunity. Here, through small-molecule screening focusing on epigenetic modifiers during the in vitro Th1 cell differentiation process, we identified that the selective histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) inhibitors ricolinostat and nexturastat A (Nex A) promoted Th1 cell differentiation. HDAC6-depleted mice exhibit elevation of Th1 cell differentiation, and decreased severity of Listeria monocytogenesinfection. Mechanistically, HDAC6 directly deacetylated CBP-catalyzed acetylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 (STAT4)-lysine (K) 667 via its enzymatic activity. Acetylation of STAT4-K667 is required for JAK2-mediated phosphorylation and activation of STAT4. Stat4K667Rmutant mice lost the ability to normally differentiate into Th1 cells and developed severe Listeriainfection. Our study identifies acetylation of STAT4-K667 as an essential signaling event for Th1 cell differentiation and defense against intracellular pathogen infections, and highlights the therapeutic potential of HDAC6 inhibitors for controlling intracellular pathogen infections.

Chronic pain patients often have anxiety disorders, and some of them suffer from anxiety even after analgesic administration. In this study, we investigated the role of AMPAR-mediated synaptic transmission in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) in chronic pain-induced persistent anxiety in mice and explored potential drug targets. Chronic inflammatory pain was induced in mice by bilateral injection of complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA) into the planta of the hind paws; anxiety-like behaviours were assessed with behavioural tests; S-nitrosylation and AMPAR-mediated synaptic transmission were examined using biochemical assays and electrophysiological recordings, respectively. We found that CFA induced persistent upregulation of AMPAR membrane expression and function in the vmPFC of anxious mice but not in the vmPFC of non-anxious mice. The anxious mice exhibited higher S-nitrosylation of stargazin (an AMPAR-interacting protein) in the vmPFC. Inhibition of S-nitrosylation by bilaterally infusing an exogenous stargazin (C302S) mutant into the vmPFC rescued the surface expression of GluA1 and AMPAR-mediated synaptic transmission as well as the anxiety-like behaviours in CFA-injected mice, even after ibuprofen treatment. Moreover, administration of ZL006, a small molecular inhibitor disrupting the interaction of nNOS and PSD-95 (20 mg·kg−1·d−1, for 5 days, i.p.), significantly reduced nitric oxide production and S-nitrosylation of AMPAR-interacting proteins in the vmPFC, resulting in anxiolytic-like effects in anxious mice after ibuprofen treatment. We conclude that S-nitrosylation is necessary for AMPAR trafficking and function in the vmPFC under chronic inflammatory pain-induced persistent anxiety conditions, and nNOS-PSD-95 inhibitors could be potential anxiolytics specific for chronic inflammatory pain-induced persistent anxiety after analgesic treatment.

ABSTRACTAlthough members of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) exhibit high similarity, they are characterized by differences with respect to virulence, immune response, and transmissibility. To understand the virulence of these bacteria and identify potential novel therapeutic targets, we systemically investigated the total cell protein contents of virulent H37Rv, attenuated H37Ra, and avirulent M. bovis BCG vaccine strains at the log and stationary phases, based on tandem mass tag (TMT) quantitative proteomics. Data analysis revealed that we obtained deep-coverage protein identification and high quantification. Although 272 genetic variations were reported in H37Ra and H37Rv, they showed very little expression difference in log and stationary phase. Quantitative comparison revealed H37Ra and H37Rv had significantly dysregulation in log phase (227) compared with stationary phase (61). While BCG and H37Rv, and BCG and H37Ra showed notable differences in stationary phase (1171 and 1124) with respect to log phase (381 and 414). In the log phase, similar patterns of protein abundance were observed between H37Ra and BCG, whereas a more similar expression pattern was observed between H37Rv and H37Ra in the stationary phase. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that the upregulated proteins detected for H37Rv and H37Ra in log phase were virulence-related factors. In both log and stationary phases, the dysregulated proteins detected for BCG, which have also been identified as M. tuberculosis response proteins under dormancy conditions. We accordingly describe the proteomic profiles of H37Rv, H37Ra, and BCG, which we believe will potentially provide a better understanding of H37Rv pathogenesis, H37Ra attenuation, and BCG immuno protection.

The Nanwenghe Wetlands Reserve in the Yile'huli Mountains is a representative region of the Xing'an permafrost. The response of permafrost to climate change remains unclear due to limited field investigations. Thus, longer-term responses of the ground thermal state to climate change since 2011 have been monitored at four sites with varied surface characteristics: Carex tatowetland (P1) and shrub-C. tatowetland (P2) with a multi-year average temperatures at the depth of zero annual amplitude (TZAA) of −0.52 and −1.19 °C, respectively; Betula platyphylla-Larix gmelinii(Rupr.) Kuzen mixed forest (P3) with TZAAof 0.17 °C, and; the forest of L. gmelinii(Rupr.) Kuzen (P4) with TZAAof 1.65 °C. Continuous observations demonstrate that the ecosystem-protected Xing'an permafrost experienced a cooling under a warming climate. The temperature at the top of permafrost (TTOP) rose (1.8 °C per decade) but the TZAAdeclined (−0.14 °C per decade), while the active layer thickness (ALT) thinned from 0.9 m in 2012 to 0.8 m in 2014 at P1. Both the TTOP and TZAAincreased (0.89 and 0.06 °C per decade, respectively), but the ALT thinned from 1.4 m in 2012 to 0.7 m in 2016 at P2. Vertically detached permafrost at P3 disappeared in summer 2012, with warming rates of +0.42 and + 0.17 °C per decade for TTOP and TZAA, respectively. However, up to date, the ground thermal state has remained stable at P4. We conclude that the thermal offset is crucial for the preservation and persistence of the Xing'an permafrost at the southern fringe.

ABSTRACTThis study aimed to control the degradation of Mg–Zn–Ca alloy and improve its biocompatibility using a biodegradable Zn-modified calcium phosphate coating via dual-pulse electrodeposition. The formation mode and process of the coating were studied herein. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the coating particles were compactly and neatly packed, and X-ray diffraction analysis, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed that the coating comprises CaZn2(PO4)2•2H2O. The introduction of Zn changes the formation mechanism of coating. The degradation behaviour of the coated Mg alloy was investigated via immersion test and electrochemical test in simulated body fluid. The results show that this non-stoichiometric Zn-modified calcium phosphate coating is biodegradable and has a better protective effect. In addition, the Zn-containing coating has hydrophilic property which is beneficial to enhance the cellular response to the implant’s surface and increase apatite formation rate.

This study aimed to control the degradation of Mg–Zn–Ca alloy and improve its biocompatibility using a biodegradable Zn-modified calcium phosphate coating via dual-pulse electrodeposition. The formation mode and process of the coating were studied herein. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the coating particles were compactly and neatly packed, and X-ray diffraction analysis, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed that the coating comprises CaZn2(PO4)2•2H2O. The introduction of Zn changes the formation mechanism of coating. The degradation behaviour of the coated Mg alloy was investigated via immersion test and electrochemical test in simulated body fluid. The results show that this non-stoichiometric Zn-modified calcium phosphate coating is biodegradable and has a better protective effect. In addition, the Zn-containing coating has hydrophilic property which is beneficial to enhance the cellular response to the implant's surface and increase apatite formation rate.

To investigate the substantial changes in cell types, pathways, and cell-cell interactions occurring in the irradiation-induced alopecia and dermatitis (IRIAD) mouse model and to identify potential targets for patients experiencing skin adverse reactions to radiotherapy.