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Abstract Recent advances in direct electron detectors and low-dose imaging techniques have opened up captivating possibilities for real-space visualization of radiation-induced structural dynamics. This has significantly contributed to our understanding of electron-beam radiation damage in materials, serving as the foundation for modern electron microscopy. In light of these developments, the exploration of more precise and specific beam damage mechanisms, along with the development of associated descriptive models, has expanded the theoretical framework of radiation damage beyond classical mechanisms. We unravel, in this work, the nonclassical beam damage mechanisms of an open-framework material, i.e. UiO-66(Hf) metal-organic framework, by integrating low-dose electron microscopy and ab initio simulations of radiation induced structural dynamics. The physical origins of radiation damage phenomena, spanning across multiple scales including morphological, lattice, and molecular levels, have been unequivocally unveiled. Based on these observations, potential alternative mechanisms including reversible radiolysis and radiolysis-enhanced knock-on displacement are proposed, which account for their respective dynamic crystalline-to-amorphous interconversion and site-specific ligand knockout events occurring during continuous beam radiation. The current study propels the fundamental understanding of beam damage mechanisms from dynamic and correlated perspectives. Moreover, it fuels technical innovations, such as low-dose ultrafast electron microscopy, enabling imaging of beam-sensitive materials with uncompromised spatial resolution.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, global efforts to mitigate the spread of the virus have led to widespread lockdowns and movement restrictions. Earlier studies have reported a notable positive correlation between nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels and mobility during the initial 2020 lockdowns. However, our explorative investigation in Southeast Asia observed that, despite their similar spatial distribution, NO2 does not consistently align with mobility patterns. This observation indicates the existence of additional influential factors apart from mobility contributing to NO2 variation, necessitating a more comprehensive examination. Subsequently, we developed a trained Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP) model and leveraged SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) values. Our analysis extends beyond mobility to encompass diverse potential factors such as travel modes and meteorological factors. The model results suggest that, while as expected mobility has a strong impact on NO2 column density, a more accurate prediction requires considering different travel modes (i.e. driving and walking). Furthermore, the study reveals that spatio-temporal heterogeneity and meteorological factors also play roles in shaping NO2 level. These findings emphasize the importance of integrating such multifaceted considerations in future NO2 study for a more accurate and holistic understanding.

Abstract Direct photocatalytic conversion of methane to value-added C1 oxygenate with O2 is of great interest but presents a significant challenge in achieving highly selective product formation. Herein, a general strategy for the construction of copper single-atom catalysts with a well-defined coordination microenvironment is developed on the basis of metal-organic framework for selective photo-oxidation of CH4 to HCHO. We propose the directional activation of O2 on the mono-copper site breaks the original equilibrium and tilts the balance of radical formation almost completely toward •OOH. The synchronously generated •OOH and •CH3 radicals rapidly combine to form HCHO while inhibiting competing reactions, thus resulting in ultra-highly selective HCHO production (nearly 100%) with a time yield of 2.75 mmol gcat −1 h−1. This work highlights the potential of rationally designing reaction sites to manipulate reaction pathways and achieve selective CH4 photo-oxidation, and could guide the further design of high-performance single-atom catalysts to meet future demand.

Arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) are transmitted to humans by arthropod vectors and pose a serious threat to global public health. Neurotropic arboviruses including Sindbis virus (SINV) persistently infect the central nervous system (CNS) of vector insects without causing notable pathological changes or affecting their behavior or lifespan. However, the mechanisms by which vector insects evade these viral infections in the brains are poorly understood. In this study, we found that loss of the carbonyl reductase Sniffer (Sni) led to a significant increase in SINV infection in the Drosophila brain. Sni regulates reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and its depletion leads to elevated ROS, which in turn disrupts the septate junctions (SJs) between subperineurial glia (SPG) cells, compromising the integrity and barrier function of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Genetic and pharmacological reduction of ROS restored BBB integrity and reduced viral load in the brains of Sni-depleted flies. Additionally, we identified Sni homologs and revealed that the antiviral function of Sni is highly conserved in mosquitoes, where it regulates ROS and protects BBB integrity. Our results revealed an evolutionarily conserved antiviral mechanism in which Sni acts as an antioxidant that protects BBB integrity and restricts viral infection in the vector insect brain.

Background/Objectives: Since its emergence in 2019, the rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2 led to the global pandemic. Recent large-scale dengue fever outbreaks overlapped with the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to increased cases of co-infection and posing severe public health risks. Accordingly, the development of effective combined SARS-CoV-2 and dengue virus (DENV) vaccines is necessary to control the spread and prevalence of both viruses. Methods: In this study, we designed Sindbis virus (SINV) replicon-based SARS-CoV-2 and DENV chimeric vaccines using two delivery strategies: DNA-launched self-replicating RNA replicon (DREP) and viral replicon particle (VRP) systems. Results: Cellular and animal experiments confirmed that the vaccines effectively produced viral proteins and elicited strong immunogenicity. These vaccines induced robust immune responses and neutralizing activity against live SARS-CoV-2, DENV1, and DENV2 viruses. In addition, passively transferred sera from BALB/c mice immunized with these vaccines into AG129 mice provided significant protection against lethal DENV2 challenge. The transferred sera protected the mice from physical symptoms, reduced viral loads in the kidney, spleen, liver, and intestine, and prevented DENV2-induced vascular leakage in these tissues. Conclusions: Therefore, combined vaccines based on the SINV replicon system are promising candidates for pandemic control. These results lay a foundation for further development of a safe and effective combination vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 and DENV.

Abstract Riemann surfaces inspired chemists to design and synthesize such multidimensional curved carbon architectures. It has been predicted that carbon nanosolenoid materials with Riemann surfaces have unique structures and novel physical properties. Here we report the first synthesis of a nitrogen-doped carbon nanosolenoid (N-CNS) using bottom-up approach with a well-defined structure. N-CNS was obtained by a rational Suzuki polymerization, followed by oxidative cyclodehydrogenation. The successful synthesis of N-CNS was fully characterized by GPC, FTIR, solid-state 13C NMR and Raman techniques. The intrinsic single-strand molecular structures of N-CNS helices can be clearly resolved using low-dose integrated differential phase contrast scanning transmission electron microscopy (iDPC-STEM) technique. Possessing unique structural and physical properties, this long π-extended polymer N-CNS can provide new insight towards bottom-up syntheses of curved nanoribbons and potential applications as a metal-free photocatalyst for visible-light-driven H2 evolution and highly efficient photocatalyst for photoredox organic transformations.

Abstract There are various internal fixation methods in treating lumbosacral spinal tuberculosis. The study compared the stability and stress distribution in surrounding tissues/implants, such as discs, endplates and screw-rod internal fixation system, etc. when applying three different lumbar internal fixation methods to treat lumbosacral spinal tuberculosis. A finite element model was constructed and validated. The spinal stability was restored using three methods: a titanium cage with lateral double screw-rod fixation (group 1), autologous bone with posterior double screw-rod fixation (group 2), and a titanium cage with posterior double screw-rod fixation (group 3). For comparison, group 4 represented the intact L3-S1 spine. Finally, a load was applied, and the ranges of motion and Von Mises stresses in the cortical endplates, screw-rod internal fixation system and cortical bone around the screws in the different groups were recorded and analyzed. All six ranges of motion (flexion, extension, left/right lateral bending, left/right rotation) of the surgical segment were substantially lower in groups 1 (0.53° ~ 1.41°), 2 (0.68° ~ 1.54°) and 3 (0.55° ~ 0.64°) than in group 4 (4.48° ~ 10.12°). The maximum stress in the screw-rod internal fixation system was clearly higher in group 2 than in groups 1 and 3 under flexion, left/right lateral bending, and left/right rotation. However, in extension, group 1 had the highest maximum stress in the screw-rod internal fixation system. Group 2 had the lowest peak stresses in the cortical endplates in all directions. The peak stresses in the cortical bone around the screws were higher in group 1 and group 2 than in group 3 in all directions. Thus, titanium cage with posterior double screw-rod fixation has more advantages in immediate reconstruction of lumbosacral spinal stability and prevention of screw loosening.

Abstract Background Insulin-like signaling (IS) in insects is a conserved pathway that regulates development, reproduction and longevity. Insulin-like peptides (ILPs) activate the IS pathway by binding to the insulin receptor (InR) and trigger the ERK and AKT cascades. A varying number of ILPs were identified in Aedes aegypti mosquito and other insects. Aedes albopictus is an invasive mosquito which transmits dengue and Zika viruses worldwide. Until now, the molecular and expression characteristics of IS pathway in Ae. albopictus have not been investigated. Methods The orthologues of ILP in Ae. albopictus genome assembly was analyzed by using sequence blast. Phylogenetic analysis and molecular characterization were performed to identify the functional domains of ILPs. Quantitative analysis was performed to determine the expression characteristics of ILPs, InR as well as ERK and AKT in mosquito development and different tissues of female adults after blood-feeding. In addition, the knockdown of InR was achieved by feeding larvae with Escherichia coli-producing dsRNA to investigate the impact of IS pathway on mosquito development. Results We identified seven putative ILP genes in Ae. albopictus genome assembly, based on nucleotide similarity to the ILPs of Ae. aegypti and other insects. Bioinformatics and molecular analyses suggested that the ILPs contain the structural motif which is conserved in the insulin superfamily. Expression levels of ILPs, InR as well as ERK and AKT varied in Ae. albopictus development stages and between male and female adults. Quantitative analyses revealed that expression of ILP6, the putative orthologue of the insulin growth factor peptides, was highest in the midgut of female adults after blood-feeding. Knockdown of Ae. albopictus InR induces a significant decrease in the phosphorylation levels of ERK and AKT proteins and results in developmental delays and smaller body sizes. Conclusions The IS pathway of Ae. albopictus mosquito contains ILP1-7, InR and ERK/AKT cascades, which exhibited different developmental and tissue expression characteristics. Feeding Ae. albopictus larvae with E. coli-producing InR dsRNA blocks the ERK and AKT cascades and interferes with the development of mosquito. Our data suggest that IS pathway plays an important role in the metabolism and developmental process and could represent a potential target for controlling mosquito-borne diseases. Graphical Abstract

The design of porous structure that mimic trabecular bone is an effective method for optimizing the elastic modulus and osseointegration properties of titanium alloy implants. However, there is no consensus on which structure is best. In this study, we fabricated 24 different types of Ti6Al4V trabecular bone scaffolds with varying porosity and average pore size using Voronoi algorithm and selective laser melting technology. The biomechanics and osseointegration properties were studied by mechanical tests, computational fluid dynamics, cell and animal experiments. Our results showed that with an increase of porosity and average pore size, the scaffold's yield strength, ultimate strength, elastic modulus and shear stress exhibited an overall decreasing trend while the permeability and nutrient transport improved. Cell experiments showed that reducing the average pore size enhanced the adhesion and proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cells when the porosity was constant. Animal experiments showed that the scaffold with 65% porosity and 550 μm pore size had the most significant new bone formation effect. Based on our research results, we concluded that a porous structure design with 65% porosity and an average pore size of 550 μm, resembling bone trabecular, had the most significant effect on enhancing the comprehensive performance of titanium alloy implants.

The decline in NO2 and PM2.5 pollutant levels were observed during COVID-19 around the world, especially during lockdowns. Previous studies explained such observed decline with the decrease in human mobility, overlooking the meteorological changes that could simultaneously mediate air pollution levels. This pitfall could potentially lead to over- or under-estimation of the effect of COVID-19 on air pollution. This study, thus, aims to re-evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on NO2 and PM2.5 pollutant levels in Singapore, by incorporating the effect of meteorological parameters in predicting NO2 and PM2.5 baseline in 2020 using machine learning methods. The results show that the mean NO2 and PM2.5 declined by 12% and 19%, which were less than the observed drops (i.e. 54% and 29%, respectively) without considering the effect of meteorological parameters. As two proxies for change in human mobility, taxi availability and carpark availability were found to increase and decrease by a maximum of 12.6% and 9.8%, respectively, in 2020 from 2019. Two correlation analyses were conducted to investigate how human mobility influenced air pollutant levels: one between daily PM2.5 and mobility changes at a regional scale and the other between weekly NO2 and mobility changes at a spatial resolution of 0.01°. The NO2 variation was found to be more associated with the change in human mobility and a cluster of stronger correlations was found in the South and East Coast of Singapore. Contrarily, PM2.5 and mobility had a weak correlation, which could be due to the limit of a coarse spatial resolution.

Defects in porous materials can alter the pore structure and chemical properties. Here authors demonstrate an approach for studying defects in metal-organic frameworks using 31P NMR and probe molecules.

The hydrogenation of CO2 to methanol, which is restricted by water products, requires a selective removal of water from the reaction system. Here, we show that physically combining hydrophobic polydivinylbenzene with a copper catalyst supported by silica can increase methanol production and CO2 conversion. Mechanistic investigation reveals that the hydrophobic promoter could hinder the oxidation of copper surface by water, maintaining a small fraction of metallic copper species on the copper surface with abundant Cuδ+, resulting in high activity for the hydrogenation. Such a physically mixed catalyst survives the continuous test for 100 h owing to the thermal stability of the polydivinylbenzene promoter.

Abstract Background The biological activity and regenerative medicine of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) have been focal topics in the broad fields of diabetic wound repair. However, the molecular mechanisms are still largely elusive for other cellular processes that are regulated during BMSC treatment. Our previous studies have shown that hypoxia is not only a typical pathological phenomenon of wounds but also exerts a vital regulatory effect on cellular bioactivity. In this study, the beneficial effects of hypoxic BMSCs on the cellular behaviors of epidermal cells and diabetic wound healing were investigated. Method The viability and secretion ability of hypoxic BMSCs were detected. The autophagy, proliferation and migration of HaCaT cells cultured with hypoxic BMSCs-derived conditioned medium were assessed by estimating the expression of autophagy-related proteins, MTS, EdU proliferation and scratch assays. And the role of the SMAD signaling pathway during hypoxic BMSC-evoked HaCaT cell autophagy was explored through a series of in vitro gain- and loss-of-function experiments. Finally, the therapeutic effects of hypoxic BMSCs were evaluated using full-thickness cutaneous diabetic wound model. Results First, we demonstrated that hypoxic conditions intensify HIF-1α-mediated TGF-β1 secretion by BMSCs. Then, the further data revealed that BMSC-derived TGF-β1 was responsible for the activation of epidermal cell autophagy, which contributed to the induction of epidermal cell proliferation and migration. Here, the SMAD signaling pathway was identified as downstream of BMSC-derived TGF-β1 to regulate HaCaT cell autophagy. Moreover, the administration of BMSCs to diabetic wounds increased epidermal autophagy and the rate of re-epithelialization, leading to accelerated healing, and these effects were significantly attenuated, accompanied by the downregulation of Smad2 phosphorylation levels due to TGF-β1 interference in BMSCs. Conclusion In this report, we present evidence that uncovers a previously unidentified role of hypoxic BMSCs in regulating epidermal cell autophagy. The findings demonstrate that BMSC-based treatment by restoring epidermal cell autophagy could be an attractive therapeutic strategy for diabetic wounds and that the process is mediated by the HIF-1α/TGF-β1/SMAD pathway.

Fabrication of large π-conjugated carbon nanosolenoid materials with helicoid topology remains a challenge. Here the authors demonstrate synthesis of a metal-free π-extended carbon nanosolenoid material with a helical structure, exhibiting unique photophysical and magnetic properties.

Introduction: Ti6Al4V titanium alloy is widely used in producing orthopedic and maxillofacial implants, but drawbacks include high elastic modulus, poor osseointegration performance, and toxic elements. A new medical titanium alloy material with better comprehensive performance is urgently needed in the clinic.Methods: Ti10Mo6Zr4Sn3Nb titanium alloy (referred to as Ti-B12) is a unique medical ß titanium alloy material developed by us. The mechanical properties of Ti-B12 depict that it has advantages, such as high strength, low elastic modulus, and fatigue resistance. In our study, the biocompatibility and osseointegration properties of Ti-B12 titanium alloy are further studied to provide theoretical guidance for its clinical transformation.Results and Discussion: The titanium alloy Ti-B12 displays no significant effect on MC3T3-E1 cell morphology, proliferation, or apoptosis in vitro. Neither Ti-B12 titanium alloy nor Ti6Al4V titanium alloy depicts a significant difference (p > 0.05); Ti-B12 material extract injected into the abdominal cavity of mice does not cause acute systemic toxicity. The skin irritation test and intradermal irritation test reveal that Ti-B12 does not cause skin allergic reactions in rabbits. Compared to Ti6Al4V, Ti-B12 titanium alloy material has more advantages in promoting osteoblast adhesion and ALP secretion (p < 0.05). Although there is no significant difference in OCN and Runx2 gene expression between the three groups on the 7th and 14th days of differentiation induction (p > 0.05), the expression of Ti-B12 group is higher than that of Ti6Al4V group and blank control group. Furthermore, the rabbit in vivo test present that 3 months after the material is implanted in the lateral epicondyle of the rabbit femur, the Ti-B12 material fuses with the surrounding bone without connective tissue wrapping. This study confirms that the new β-titanium alloy Ti-B12 not only has low toxicity and does not cause rejection reaction but also has better osseointegration performance than the traditional titanium alloy Ti6Al4V. Therefore, Ti-B12 material is expected to be further promoted in clinical practice.

Metal/oxide interface is of fundamental significance to heterogeneous catalysis. Here, the authors construct a nanometer Pd/Bi2O3 interface by grafting Pd clusters onto Bi2O3 clusters and demonstrate its essential roles in the low-temperature semi-hydrogenation of acetylene.

Copper oxide has aroused great concern in energy storage fields due to its properties of high theoretical capacitance, low cost and mild toxicity. However, its wide application still remains challenges owing to its poor electrical conductivity and unstable cycling life. Binder-free foam electrodes possess abundant porous structures and high specific surface area, which could get good contact with electrolyte. Herein, we demonstrate Ag nanoparticles decorated CuxO nanowires grown spontaneously on copper foam (CF) electrode for asymmetric supercapacitor. The skeleton structure of CF provides large amounts of active sites for the growth of CuxO nanowires. Moreover, Ag nanoparticles further decrease the internal resistance and enhance the electrochemical performance. Ag/CuxO/CF-40 electrode presents a high area specific capacitance of 1192 mF cm−2 at 2 mA cm−2 and the influence of surface capacitance-dominated process and diffusion-controlled process are discussed in detail. Besides, the energy density of the as-prepared asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) reaches 46.32 μWh cm−2 at a power density of 3.00 mW cm−2. A 2V LED is lighted successfully by two ASC in series. This work provides a new strategy to prepare low internal resistance and binder-free flexible Ag/CuxO/CF electrode, which demonstrates a good potential application in flexible supercapacitors or other wearable electronic devices.

The intrinsic properties of graphene and the resulting device performance are hindered by the impurities produced during the synthesis process. Here, the authors elucidate the origin of contaminations in CVD-grown graphene and devise a strategy towards the scalable production of ultra-clean graphene with >99% clean regions and low contact resistance.

Zeolites have attracted attention and have been applied as haemostatic agents; however, there are issues associated with released zeolite powder. Here, the authors report on the growth of zeolites on cotton fibres with high stability and haemostatic ability.

Hyla annectans is a tree frog living in the southwestern plateau area of China where there is strong ultraviolet radiation and long duration of sunshine. So their naked skin may possess chemical defense components that protect it from acute photo-damage. However, no such peptide or components has been identified till to date. In the current work, two novel peptides (FW-1, FWPLI-NH2 and FW-2, FWPMI-NH2) were identified from the skin of the tree frog. Five copies of FW-1 and four copies of FW-2 are encoded by an identical gene and released from the same protein precursor, which possess 167 amino acid residues. FW-1 and -2 can exert significant anti-inflammatory functions by directly inhibiting Ultraviolet B irradiation (UVB)-induced secretion of inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). They may achieve this function by modulating the UV-induced stress signaling pathways such as Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) and Nuclear Factor Kappa B (NF-κB). Besides, FW-1 and -2 showed potential antioxidant effects on epidermis by attenuating the UVB-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production through an unknown mechanism. Considering small peptides’ easy production, storage, and potential photo-protective activity, FW-1/2 might be exciting leading compounds or templates for the development of novel pharmacological agents for the suppression of UVB-induced skin inflammation. Moreover, this study might expand our knowledge on skin defensive mechanism of tree frog upon UVB irradiation.

Understanding of the structures and roles of catalyst promoters markedly lags behind the understanding of the structures and roles of catalytic sites. Here, the authors address this challenge by incorporating a single-site promoter—tin—on a TiO2 surface to enhance the catalytic activity of various metals on the TiO2 in selective hydrogenation of nitroarenes.

Using precious noble elements as single atom metal catalysts is highly desirable and effective. Here the authors show the use of platinum atom catalysts anchored in mesoporous Al2O3for selective hydrogenation and CO oxidation that have better stability and performance compared to their nanoparticle counterparts.

De novosynthesis is the primary way to tune the emission colour of lanthanide-doped upconversion nanocrystals. Here, the authors introduce post-synthetic cation exchange as a strategy to access multiple colours of luminescent nanocrystals, preserving the size and morphology of the original template.

PURPOSE:Circulating molecules play important roles in lung cancer diagnosis. In addition, plasma lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase (CK) have been shown to be closely related to tumor progression in breast cancer, prostate cancer, and colonel cancer. However, the relationships between LDH and CK levels with metastasis occurrence and the survival status of lung cancer patients remain unclear. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN:A total of 1142 lung cancer patients were enrolled in this study and were separated into negative or positive groups, according to the plasma levels of CK or LDH. Patients in both groups were assessed for clinical characteristics, metastasis occurrence, and survival status. The Cox regression model was then introduced to confirm whether CK and LDH could act as independent factors for predicting a poor prognosis. RESULTS:The results indicated that CK had a close relationship with bone (p < 0.05) and lymph node (p < 0.05) metastases. In addition, LDH was strongly related with bone (p < 0.05), adrenal gland (p < 0.05), and lymph node (p < 0.05) metastases. CK and LDH were also correlated with the survival status of the lung cancer patients (all p < 0.001). According to specific histological classification analysis, it was found that CK was closely related to the survival status of adenocarcinoma (ADC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) patients, while LDH was only correlated with that of ADC patients. Cox regression analysis confirmed that CK and LDH could act as independent factors for predicting a poor prognosis in ADC but not SCC patients. CONCLUSIONS:For the first time, our study confirmed the role of CK in metastasis occurrence and the survival status of lung cancer patients. In addition, it also demonstrated that CK and LDH could be used as independent factors to predict a poor prognosis in ADC patients. The identification of CK and LDH will play important roles in lung cancer diagnosis and poor outcome prediction in the future.

The importance of CD4+ T cells in cancer immunotherapy has gained increasing recognition. Particularly, a specific subset of CD4+ T cells coexpressing the T helper type 1 (Th1) and Th17 markers has demonstrated remarkable antitumor potential. However, the underlying mechanisms governing the differentiation of these cells and their subsequent antitumor responses remain incompletely understood. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data reanalysis demonstrated the presence of Th171 cells within tumors. Subsequent trajectory analysis found that these Th171 cells are initially primed under Th17 conditions and then converted into IFN-γ-producing cells. Following the in vivo differentiation trajectory of Th171 cells, we successfully established in vitro Th171 cell culture. Transcriptomic profiling has unveiled a substantial resemblance between in vitro-generated Th171 cells and their tumor-infiltrating counterparts. Th171 cells exhibit more potent antitumor responses than Th1 or Th17 cells. Additionally, Th171chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cells eradicate solid tumors more efficiently. Importantly, Th171 cells display an early exhaustion phenotype while retaining stemness. Mechanistically, Th171 cells migrate faster and accumulate more in tumors in an extracellular matrix protein 1 (ECM1)-dependent manner. Furthermore, we show that IFN-γ up-regulated IRF7 to promote the type I interferon response network and ECM1 expression but decreased the exhaustion status in Th171 cells. Taken together, our findings position Th171 cells as a great candidate for improving targeted immunotherapies in solid malignancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crohn's disease (CD) is a major type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) characterized by idiopathic, chronic inflammation with a patchy transmural inflammatory pattern. CD patients experience a decreased quality of life due to symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, anemia and fever. This study had a cross-sectional single-center design. The experimental group was composed of patients diagnosed with CD according to the Chinese consensus on diagnosis and treatment in inflammatory bowel disease (2018, Beijing). Fifty CD patients and 41 healthy controls were involved in this study and underwent quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG). Analysis showed that the LZC of QEEG in electrode positions O1, O2 and P4 was lower in the CD group than in the control group. Significant differences in EEG LZC were found at electrode positions F4 and P3 when comparing CD patients with a disease duration of over 10 years to those with a duration of less than 10 years. In CD, the connections between the occipital region and other brain regions may be reduced, and the dynamic behaviors may be simplified. With greater durations of CD, patients may gradually develop simplification of behavioral dynamics in particular brain regions.

In the process of modern breeding, high-concentrate diets are widely used to meet the high energy nutritional requirements of animals but change the form of access to energy and nutrients and the way the organism metabolizes them. Goat psoas major (PM) muscle is a hybrid skeletal muscle whose characteristics are important for the motility and meat quality of goats. However, there are few studies on the effects of high-concentrate diets on the muscle type and metabolic characteristics of PM in goats. In this study, two treatment groups were set up: high concentrate group (HC) and control group (C). The expression of genes related to muscle type and metabolism of the PM was examined by quantitative PCR. The results showed that high concentrate promoted the conversion of PM fibers from intermediate to slow type at the mRNA level, improved the absorption, transport, and oxidation of fat by PM, and upregulated the expression of calpain system. These changes may be regulated by the involvement of differential expression of MSTN, Myf-5, and IGF-2. These results suggest that high concentrate may exert a positive effect on skeletal muscle function, metabolism, and meat quality in goats by affecting the expression of muscle type and metabolism-related genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new tetragonal phase of PbTi[O.sub.3] is described, in which each Ti[O.sub.6] octahedron pair has shared an edge and has stacked over following pairs in an interlaced manner to form a one-dimensional (1D) columned structure along the c-axis. The new tetragonal phase of PbTi[O.sub.3] is transformed into a normal perovskite phase in air at elevated temperature.

The article offers information on a study regarding ultrathin graphdiyne film on graphene through solution-phase van der Waals epitaxy. It mentions that Graphdiyne (GDY) is an ordered two-dimensional (2D) carbon allotrope comprising sp- and sp2-hybridized carbon atoms with high degrees of p-conjugation, which features a natural band gap and superior electric properties.

Atomically dispersed supported metal catalysts are drawing wide attention because of the opportunities they offer for new catalytic properties combined with efficient use of the metals. We extend this class of materials to catalysts that incorporate atomically dispersed metal atoms as promoters. The catalysts are used for the challenging nitroarene hydrogenation and found to have both high activity and selectivity. The promoters are single-site Sn on TiO2 supports that incorporate metal nanoparticle catalysts. Represented as M/Sn- TiO2 (M = Au, Ru, Pt, Ni), these catalysts decidedly outperform the unpromoted supported metals, even for hydrogenation of nitroarenes substituted with various reducible groups. The high activity and selectivity of these catalysts result from the creation of oxygen vacancies on the TiO2 surface by single-site Sn, which leads to efficient, selective activation of the nitro group coupled with a reaction involving hydrogen atoms activated on metal nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-resolution imaging of electron beam–sensitive materials is one of the most difficult applications of transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The challenges are manifold, including the acquisition of images with extremely low beam doses, the time-constrained search for crystal zone axes, the precise image alignment, and the accurate determination of the defocus value. We develop a suite of methods to fulfill these requirements and acquire atomic-resolution TEM images of several metal organic frameworks that are generally recognized as highly sensitive to electron beams. The high image resolution allows us to identify individual metal atomic columns, various types of surface termination, and benzene rings in the organic linkers. We also apply our methods to other electron beam–sensitive materials, including the organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite CH3NH3PbBr3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal nanocatalysts hold great promise for a wide range of heterogeneous catalytic reactions, while the optimization strategy of catalytic activity is largely restricted by particle size or shape control. Here, we demonstrate that a reversible microstructural control through the crossover between multiply twinned nanoparticle (MTP) and single crystal (SC) can be readily achieved by solvent post-treatment on gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). Polar solvents (e.g., water, methanol) direct the transformation from MTP to SC accompanied by the disappearance of twinning and stacking faults. A reverse transformation from SC to MTP is achieved in nonpolar solvent (e.g., toluene) mixed with thiol ligands. The transformation between two different microstructures is directly observed by in situ TEM and leads to a drastic modulation of catalytic activity toward the gas-phase selective oxidation of alcohols. On the basis of the combined experimental and theoretical investigations of alcohol chemisorption on these nanocatalysts, we propose that the exposure of {211}-like microfacets associated with twin boundaries and stack faults accounts for the strong chemisorption of alcohol molecules on MTP AuNPs and thus the exceptionally high catalytic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While theoretical simulations predict contradictory results about how the intercalation of foreign metal atoms affects the order of atomic layers in black phosphorus (BP), no direct experimental visualization work has yet clarified this ambiguity. By in situ electrochemical sodiation of BP inside a high-resolution transmission electron microscope and first-principles calculations, we found that sodium intercalation induces a relative glide of ¹/2 ⟨010⟩ {001}, resulting in reordering of atomic stacks from AB to AC in BP. The observed local amorphization in our experiments is triggered by lattice constraints. We predict that intercalation of sodium or other metal atoms introduces n-type carriers in BP. This potentially opens a new field for two-dimensional electronics based on BP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The roles of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), cytokeratin 19 fragments (CYFRA21-1) and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) in metastases occurrence and poor diagnosis in specific histological classifications of lung cancer need further exploring. In this study, we investigated relationship between elevated levels of three biomarkers of CEA, CYFRA21-1 and NSE (individually and in combination) and metastasis, survival status and prognosis in lung cancer patients.Methods: Eight hundred and sixty eight lung cancer patients including adenocarcinoma (ADC, N = 445), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC, N = 215), small cell lung cancer (SCLC, N = 159) and other types (N = 49) were categorized into negative, moderate and high groups according to serum levels of biomarkers, and were then categorized into negative, single, double and triple groups according to any positive combination of three biomarkers. The cutoff values of three biomarkers for groupings were developed on the training group (N = 432) and verified in a validation group (N = 436). Clinical and laboratory characteristics were then assessed for correlation with occurrence of metastasis, survival status and prognosis between the two groups. Further correlation analyses were also conducted by different subtypes (ADC, SCC and SCLC) and tumor stages (I + II, III and IV) of lung cancers.Results: The consistent results between training and validation group confirmed the rationality of grouping methods. CYFRA21-1 levels had stronger association with metastases and survival status than CEA and NSE in all lung cancer patients. When stratified by subtypes, these significances only existed in ADC patients for CYFRA21-1. Cox regression analyses showed that CYFRA21-1 and NSE were independent prognostic factors for lung cancer patients. However, only CYFRA21-1 was an independent prognostic factor in ADC and SCLC patients subtypes. Cox-regression results also indicated that CYFRA21-1 could act as independent prognostic factor in different stages (I + II, III and IV) of lung cancer.Conclusion: CYFRA21-1 was more important in metastasis occurrence and in predicting poor prognosis in lung cancer patients than CEA, NSE and positive numbers of biomarkers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asymmetric nanocrystals have practical significance in nanotechnologies but present fundamental synthetic challenges. Thiol ligands have proven effective in breaking the symmetric growth of metallic nanocrystals but their exact roles in the synthesis remain elusive. Here, we synthesized an unprecedented Au nanorod-Au nanoparticle (AuNR-AuNP) dimer structure with the assistance of a thiol ligand. On the basis of our experimental observations, we unraveled for the first time that the thiol could cause an inhomogeneous distribution of surface strains on the seed crystals as well as a modulated reduction rate of metal precursors, which jointly induced the asymmetric growth of monometallic dimers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]