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Fluorination is a useful approach for tailoring the physicochemical properties of nanocarbon materials. However, owing to the violent reactivity of fluorination, achieving edge-perfluorination of nanographene while maintaining its original π-conjugated structure is challenging. Instead of using traditional fluorination, here, we employed a bottom-up strategy involving fluorine preinstallation and synthesized decafluorinated and perfluorinated warped nanographenes (DFWNGand PFWNG, respectively) through a 10-fold Suzuki–Miyaura coupling followed by a harsh Scholl reaction, whereby precisely edge-perfluorinated nanographene with an intact π-conjugated structure was achieved for the first time. X-ray crystallography confirmed the intact π-conjugated structure and more twisted saddle-shaped geometry of PFWNGcompared to that of DFWNG. Dynamic study revealed that the 26-ring carbon framework of PFWNGis less flexible than that of DFWNGand the pristine WNG, enabling chirality resolution of PFWNGand facilitating the achievement of CD spectra at −10 °C. The edge-perfluorination of PFWNGresulted in improved solubility, lower lowest unoccupied molecular orbital, and a surface electrostatic potentials/dipole moment direction opposite those of the pristine WNG. Likely owing to its intact π-conjugated structure, PFWNGexhibits comparable electron mobility with well-known PC61BM. Furthermore, perfluorination improves thermal stability and hydrophobicity, making PFWNGsuitable for use as a thermostable/hydrophobic n-type semiconductor material. In the future, this fluorination strategy can be used to synthesize other perfluorinated nanocarbon materials, such as perfluorinated graphene nanoribbons and porous nanocarbon.

Meat adulteration detection is crucial for ensuring food safety, protecting consumer rights, and maintaining market integrity. However, the current methods face challenges in achieving multiplexed detection through efficient signal conversion and output. This study introduces a nanopore-based approach for the simultaneous detection of multiple meat adulteration. Leveraging the interaction between DADA dipeptide and vancomycin, we designed a series of biomimetic ssDNA reporters with DADA-Van tags for multiplexed signal output. These ssDNA reporters can generate highly distinctive current blockage signals, which can be discriminated simultaneously by the current waveform. Combined with PCR-based strand displacement, ssDNA reporters can be released from magnetic beads in the presence of the target gene and are analyzed using α-hemolysin (α-HL) nanopores for multiplexed signal output. The signal frequency for each target gene has a linear relationship with the specific concentration range (for duck: 1 × 10–3∼ 10 nmol/L, for pork: 1 × 10–2∼ 10 nmol/L, and for chicken: 1 × 10–3∼ 10 nmol/L). The limits of detection are as follows: 0.418 pmol/L for duck, 4.473 pmol/L for pork, and 0.531 pmol/L for chicken. This method effectively enables the simultaneous detection of adulterated chicken, pork, and duck meat in lamb samples and holds potential for broad applications in ensuring the authenticity and safety of meat products.

(S)-Methoprene has been widely applied as a powerful biochemical pesticide to control disease vectors and other pestiferous arthropods of economic importance. As a juvenile hormone analogue, many products based on (S)-methoprene are developed and commercialized in the USA, Europe, and elsewhere. However, the agricultural use of (S)-methoprene and its analogues remains underexplored. Here, based on an intermediate derivatization strategy and structural modification, a series of enantiopure (S)-methoprene derivatives were designed for their expected bioactivity against two crop-threatening pests. Six compounds showed more than 2-fold stronger inhibition of emergence against Plutella xylostellathan (S)-methoprene, among which one that was designated as B2showed even superior activity to the conventional chemical pesticide and biopesticide with IE50of 0.02 mg/L. Nine compounds exhibited over 2-fold higher bioactivity against Aphis craccivoragrowth than (S)-methoprene. The physicochemical property evaluation and toxicological test showed that the potent (S)-methoprene derivatives were low toxic to the nontarget organism and the environment. Molecular docking studies further demonstrated that the high bioactivity of B2may be partially attributed to its great affinity for binding to juvenile hormone receptors of P. xylostella. The current study suggests that B2is a biochemical pesticide candidate with potency to be developed as a new agrochemical for lepidopteran control.

This study aimed is to evaluate the impact of pre- and postoperative pulmonary-related training, including respiratory and aerobic training, on postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) after radical resection of gastric cancer (GC).

Litchi downy blight, caused by the plant pathogenic oomycete Peronophythora litchii, is one of the most devastating diseases on litchi and resulted in huge economic losses. Autophagy plays an essential role in the development and pathogenicity of the filamentous fungi. However, the function of autophagy in oomycetes remain elusive. Here, an autophagy-related protein Atg3 homolog PlAtg3 was identified and characterized in P. litchii. The absence of PlATG3through the CRISPR/Cas9 gene replacement strategy compromised vegetative growth and sexual/asexual development. Cytological analyses revealed that the deletion of PlATG3impaired autophagosome formation with monodansylcadaverine (MDC) staining and significantly disrupted zoospore release due to defects of sporangial cleavage with FM4-64 staining. Atg8 is considered to be an autophagy marker protein in various species. Western blot analysis indicated that PlAtg3 is involved in degradation of PlAtg8-PE. Interestingly, PlAtg3 was unable to interact with PlAtg8 in yeast two hybrid (Y2H) assays, possibly due to the absence of the Atg8 family interacting motif (AIM) in PlAtg3. Furthermore, pathogenicity assays revealed that the deletion of PlATG3considerably reduced the virulence of P. litchii. Taken together, our data reveal that PlAtg3 plays an important role in radial growth, asexual/sexual development, sporangial cleavage and zoospore release, autophagosome formation, and pathogenicity in P. litchii. This study contributes to a better understanding of the pathogenicity mechanisms of P. litchiiand provides insights for the development of more effective strategies to control oomycete diseases.

The establishment of an early pro-regenerative niche is crucial for tissue regeneration1,2. Gasdermin D (GSDMD)-dependent pyroptosis accounts for the release of inflammatory cytokines upon various insults3–5. However, little is known about its role in tissue regeneration followed by homeostatic maintenance. Here we show that macrophage GSDMD deficiency delays tissue recovery but has little effect on the local inflammatory milieu or the lytic pyroptosis process. Profiling of the metabolite secretome of hyperactivated macrophages revealed a non-canonical metabolite-secreting function of GSDMD. We further identified 11,12-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (11,12-EET) as a bioactive, pro-healing oxylipin that is secreted from hyperactive macrophages in a GSDMD-dependent manner. Accumulation of 11,12-EET by direct supplementation or deletion of Ephx2, which encodes a 11,12-EET-hydrolytic enzyme, accelerated muscle regeneration. We further demonstrated that EPHX2 accumulated within aged muscle, and that consecutive 11,12-EET treatment rejuvenated aged muscle. Mechanistically, 11,12-EET amplifies fibroblast growth factor signalling by modulating liquid–liquid phase separation of fibroblast growth factors, thereby boosting the activation and proliferation of muscle stem cells. These data depict a GSDMD-guided metabolite crosstalk between macrophages and muscle stem cells that governs the repair process, which offers insights with therapeutic implications for the regeneration of injured or aged tissues.

This letter presents a novel 3-D-printed spiral inverted ridge horn antenna with excellent broadband circularly polarized (CP) performance in the frequency range of 8 GHz to 16 GHz. For the first time, a circled dash-shaped inverted ridge is proposed to enhance the bandwidth of the circular waveguide. Through careful investigation of the propagation characteristics of the proposed inverted ridge, it has been found that, in order to achieve high-performance circular polarization over one-octave bandwidth, the total length of the spiral inverted ridge should be one guided wavelength of the lowest operating frequency. 3-D printing technology is utilized to manufacture the proposed antenna for the desired geometric complexity. The measured results validate the accuracy of simulated results, with a measured axial ratio (AR) of less than 1.5 dB and a reflection coefficient of less than −14 dB from 8 GHz to 16 GHz. Moreover, the measured 3 dB beamwidth of the radiation pattern remains stable between 41° and 70°.

Landslides occurring in sensitive clay often result in widespread destruction, posing a significant risk to human lives and property due to the substantial decrease in undrained shear strength during deformation. Assessing the consequences of these landslides is challenging and necessitates robust numerical methods to comprehensively investigate their failure mechanisms. While studies have extensively explored upward progressive landslides in sensitive clays, understanding downward progressive cases remains limited. In this study, we utilised the nodal integration-based particle finite element method (N-PFEM) with a nonlinear strain-softening model to analyse downward progressive landslides in sensitive clay on elongated slopes, induced by surcharge loads near the crest. We focused on elucidating the underlying failure mechanisms and evaluating the effects of different soil parameters and strain-softening characteristics. The simulation results revealed the typical pattern for downward landslides, which typically start with a localised failure in proximity to the surcharge loads, followed by a combination of different types of failure mechanisms, including single flow slides, translational progressive landslides, progressive flow slides, and spread failures. Additionally, inclined shear bands occur within spread failures, often adopting distinctive ploughing patterns characterised by triangular shapes. The sensitive clay thickness at the base, the clay strength gradient, the sensitivity, and the softening rate significantly influence the failure mechanisms and the extent of diffused displacement. Remarkably, some of these effects mirror those observed in upward progressive landslides, underscoring the interconnectedness of these phenomena. This study contributes valuable insights into the complex dynamics of sensitive clay landslides, shedding light on the intricate interplay of factors governing their behaviour and progression.

Embodied cognition theories propose that language comprehension triggers a sensorimotor system in the brain. However, most previous research has paid much attention to concrete and factual sentences, and little emphasis has been put on the research of abstract and counterfactual sentences. The primary challenges for embodied theories lie in elucidating the meanings of abstract and counterfactual sentences. The most prevalent explanation is that abstract and counterfactual sentences are grounded in the activation of a sensorimotor system, in exactly the same way as concrete and factual ones. The present research employed a dual-task experimental paradigm to investigate whether the embodied meaning is activated in comprehending action-related abstract Chinese counterfactual sentences through the presence or absence of action-sentence compatibility effect (ACE). Participants were instructed to read and listen to the action-related abstract Chinese factual or counterfactual sentences describing an abstract transfer word towards or away from them, and then move their fingers towards or away from them to press the buttons in the same direction as the motion cue of the transfer verb. The action-sentence compatibility effect was observed in both abstract factual and counterfactual sentences, in line with the embodied cognition theories, which indicated that the embodied meanings were activated in both action-related abstract factuals and counterfactuals.

The efficient synthesis of chiral macrocycles with highly enantioselective recognition remains a challenge. We have addressed this issue by synthesizing a pair of chiral macrocycles, namely, R/S-BINOL[2], achieving total isolated yields of up to 62% through a two-step reaction sequence. These macrocycles are readily purified by column chromatography over silica gel without the need for chiral separation, thus streamlining the overall synthesis. R/S-BINOL[2] demonstrated enantioselective recognition toward chiral ammonium salts, with enantioselectivity (KS/KR) values reaching up to 13.2, although less favorable separations were seen for other substrates. R/S-BINOL[2] also displays blue circularly polarized luminescence with a |glum| value of up to 2.2 × 10–3. The R/S-BINOL[2] macrocycles of this study are attractive as chiral hosts in that they both display enantioselective guest recognition and benefit from a concise, high-yielding synthesis. As such, they may have a role to play in chiral separations.

This study delves into the formation of ferryl ions (Fe(IV)) within the Fe(II)/peroxydisulfate (PDS) process, a pivotal reaction in advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) aimed at organic pollutant removal. Our findings challenge the conventional view that Fe(IV) predominantly forms through oxygen transfer from PDS to Fe(II), revealing that sulfate radicals (SO4•–) play a crucial role in Fe(IV) generation. By employing competitive kinetics, the second-order rate constant for Fe(III) oxidation by SO4•–was quantified as 4.58 × 108M–1s–1. Factors such as the probe compound concentration, chloride presence, and iron species influence Fe(IV) generation, all of which were systematically evaluated. Additionally, the study explores Fe(IV) formation in various Fe(II)-activated AOPs, demonstrating that precursors like peroxymonosulfate and H2O2can also directly oxidize Fe(II) to Fe(IV). Through experimental data, kinetic modeling, and oxygen-18 labeling experiments, this research offers a comprehensive understanding of the Fe(II)/PDS system, facilitating the optimization of AOPs for pollutant degradation. Finally, introducing HSO3–was proposed to shift the Fe(II)/PDS process from Fe(IV)-dominated to SO4•–-dominated mechanisms, thereby enhancing pollutant removal efficiencies.

Colloidal lead halide perovskite nanocrystals (LHP NCs) are promising semiconductor materials for optoelectronic devices, but the high ionicity of LHP NCs makes their crystallization control and post-treatment difficult. Here, phosphonic acids (PAs) are employed as ligands to design a solid-liquid heterogeneous reaction system to regulate the LHP NC crystallization and achieve the desired focusing growth. During the heterogeneous synthesis, the precursors in the liquid phase are responsible for the burst nucleation and initial growth of NCs. Afterwards, the focusing growth of NCs is supported by the precursors released from the solid phase. In addition, the strong binding ability of PAs enables effective passivation of LHP NCs. Without post-treatment, gram-scale monodisperse CsPbBr3NCs having photoluminescence with a full width at half-maximum of 18 nm and a quantum yield of near-unity are obtained. The CsPbBr3NCs covered by a compact ligand layer keep initial quantum yield even after 18 cycles of purification, exhibiting excellent stability against polar solvents, ultraviolet irradiation and heat treatment. As scintillators, the prepared CsPbBr3NCs show strong radioluminescence emission and high-resolution X-ray imaging.

Protecting consumers from water shut-offs During the COVID-19 pandemic, many US states and localities are enacting moratoriums on water disconnection. This is new. Historically, the US has been reluctant to [...]

The insufficient antioxidant reserves in tumor cells play a critical role in reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated therapeutics. Metallothionein-2 (MT-2), an intracellular cysteine-rich protein renowned for its potent antioxidant properties, is intricately involved in tumor development and correlates with a poor prognosis. Consequently, MT-2 emerges as a promising target for tumor therapy. Herein, we present the development of copper-doped carbon dots (Cu-CDs) to target MT-2 to compromise the delicate antioxidant reserves in tumor cells. These Cu-CDs with high tumor accumulation and prolonged body retention can effectively suppress tumor growth by inducing oxidative stress. Transcriptome sequencing unveils a significant decrease in MT-2 expression within the in vivotumor samples. Further mechanical investigations demonstrate that the antitumor effect of Cu-CDs is intricately linked to apolipoprotein E (ApoE)-mediated downregulation of MT-2 expression and the collapse of the antioxidant system. The robust antitumor efficacy of Cu-CDs provides invaluable insights into developing MT-2-targeted nanomedicine for cancer therapies.

Second-harmonic-generation (SHG) switching is an emerging phenomenon with potential applications in bistable storage and optical switches while also serving as a sensitive probe for inversion-symmetry. Temperature-induced disorder–order phase transition has been proven to be a rational design strategy for achieving SHG bi-state switching; however, pressure-sensitive SHG switching via a disorder–order structural transition mechanism is rarely reported and lacks sensitivity and cyclicity as practical switching materials. Herein, we demonstrate the pressure-induced “dynamical disorder–order” phase transition as an effective strategy for triggering SHG and SHG switching in NH4Cl. The “dynamical disorder–order” phase transition of NH4Cl occurring at as low as 1 GPa is confirmed by comprehensive in situhigh-pressure XRD, molecular vibrational spectra, and Brillouin scattering spectra. The pressure-induced SHG is responsive to a wide excitation wavelength region (800–1500 nm), and the “off–on” switching is reversible for up to 50 cycles, setting a record for pressure-driven switching materials. It is worth noting that when pressure is further increased to 14 GPa, NH4Cl exhibits another SHG “on–off” switching, which makes it the first triplet SHG “off–on–off” switching material. Molecular dynamics simulations reveal the key role of N–H···Cl hydrogen bonding in the pressure-induced “dynamic disorder–order” mechanism. Finally, we verified that chemical pressure and physical pressure can jointly regulate the SHG switching behavior of NH4X (X = Cl, Br). The pressure-driven “dynamic disorder–order” transition mechanism sheds light on the rational design of multistable SHG switching materials for photoswitches and information storage.

• Thirteen newly-designed alloys were considered to investigate the combined effect of solid solution elements on solidification cracking, liquefaction cracking and strain-age cracking during additive manufacturing. • The six alloys were designed to investigate the individual impact of the solid solution elements on solidification cracking index (SCI), freezing range (FR), and the value of solid-state cracking (SSC). • The results can provide an insight for the chemical composition design of Ni-based superalloys fabricated by AM. Alloy composition design usually contributes to eliminating cracking in Ni-based superalloys during additive manufacturing (AM). However, a detailed understanding of each solid solution element in the cracking susceptibility of Ni-based superalloys during AM is still missing. Thirteen newly designed alloys are considered to investigate the combined effect of solid solution elements on cracking susceptibility. The behaviors of solidification cracking, liquation cracking, and solid-state cracking were analyzed by the microstructural characterization and thermodynamic calculations. The results showed that W and Mo cause the formation of high melting-point carbides at grain boundaries (GBs), which increase solidification cracking susceptibility. Moreover, W and Mo lead to a slightly higher solidification cracking index (SCI) compared to Co, Cr, and Re. In the successive solidification and remelting process, the borides enriched in W, Mo, and B around GBs will cause grain boundary segregation and liquation cracking. W and Re extend the freezing range (FR) and exacerbate the segregation of Al and Ti in the inter-dendritic regions, contributing to the formation of eutectics. Similarly, complete or partial melting of the eutectic can induce liquation cracking during the thermal cycling in AM. The solid-state cracking susceptibility can be reduced by solid solution elements, especially Re and Co. In summary, compared to Co, Cr, and Re, W and Mo exacerbate the cracking susceptibility. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exogenous polysulfhydryls (R-SH) supplementation and nitric oxide (NO) gas molecules delivery provide essential antioxidant buffering pool components and anti-inflammatory species in cellular defense against injury, respectively. Herein, the intermolecular disulfide bonds in bovine serum albumin (BSA) molecules were reductively cleaved under native and mild conditions to expose multiple sulfhydryl groups (BSA-SH), then sulfhydryl-nitrosylated (R-SNO), and nanoprecipitated to form injectable self-sulfhydrated, nitro-fixed albumin nanoparticles (BSA-SNO NPs), allowing albumin to act as a NO donor reservoir and multiple sulfhydryl group transporter while also preventing unfavorable oxidation and self-cross-linking of polysulfhydryl groups. In two mouse models of ischemia/reperfusion-induced and endotoxin-induced acute liver injury (ALI), a single low dosage of BSA-SNO NPs (S-nitrosothiols: 4 μmol·kg–1) effectively attenuated oxidative stress and systemic inflammation cascades in the upstream pathophysiology of disease progression, thus rescuing dying hepatocytes, regulating host defense, repairing microcirculation, and restoring liver function. By mechanistically upregulating the antioxidative signaling pathway (Nrf-2/HO-1/NOQ1) and inhibiting the inflammatory cytokine storm (NF-κB/p-IκBα/TNF-α/IL-β), BSA-SNO NPs blocked the initiation of the mitochondrial apoptotic signaling pathway (Cyto C/Bcl-2 family/caspase-3) and downregulated the cell pyroptosis pathway (NLRP3/ASC/IL-1β), resulting in an increased survival rate from 26.7 to 73.3%. This self-sulfhydrated, nitro-fixed functionalized BSA nanoformulation proposes a potential drug-free treatment strategy for ALI.

A low-content (5 wt%) magnesium (Mg)-alloyed lithium metal anode is proposed to mitigate the reaction kinetics between lithium metal and electrolytes, which decreases the consumption rate of active lithium and electrolytes and increases the cycle life of lithium metal batteries under demanding conditions.

Multipath transmission brings strong bandwidth aggregation capability for services in wireless networks. Nonetheless, the heterogeneous nature of paths and the motion of terminals results in varying transmission delays, leading to out-of-order (OFO) delivery and transmission quality decrease. Traditional algorithms, due to their solid operating logic, fail to strike a balance between high bandwidth and low OFO extent. Recent studies have focused on utilizing learning algorithms to find a multi-metric joint optimal transmission strategy. In light of this, this paper proposes a framework called DRL-based OFO-Friendly Multipath Scheduling (DOFMS) to ensure high bandwidth and low OFO extent transmission in mobile heterogeneous networks. In particular, the framework introduces a novel OFO evaluation index to assess the degree of OFO more accurately. To achieve elastic scheduling, the framework employs the Double Deep Q Network (DDQN) to dynamically regulate the scheduling ratio. Recognizing the dynamic and unpredictable nature of path delays, an asynchronous module is introduced to enhance learning accuracy. Experimental results demonstrate that the DOFMS reduces the OFO rate by 25% compared to traditional bandwidth aggregation algorithms, while maintaining low bandwidth and packet loss rates. Furthermore, compared to conventional OFO avoidance algorithms, the DOFMS improves bandwidth by 4% and reduces fluctuation by 90%.

A visible-light-induced radical–radical cross-coupling reaction between 1,3,4-oxadiazoles and hydroxamic acid derivatives has been realized under base- and metal-free conditions. The protocol was characterized by broad substrate scope, excellent functional group tolerance, and simple operation procedures. By using this protocol, a variety of biologically important 5-aryl-1,3,4-oxadiazole-2-methylamines were obtained in good yields with excellent chemoselectivity.

Uncertainty exists about whether lowering systolic blood pressure to less than 120 mm Hg is superior to that of less than 140 mm Hg, particularly in patients with diabetes and patients with previous stroke.

Intrinsic or acquired resistance to chemical drugs severely limits their therapeutic efficacy in cancer treatment. Various intracellular antioxidant molecules, particularly glutathione (GSH), play a crucial role in maintaining intracellular redox homeostasis by mitigating the overproduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) due to rapid cell proliferation. Notably, these antioxidants also eliminate chemical-drug-induced ROS, eventually diminishing their cytotoxicity and rendering them less effective. In this study, we combined erastin, a GSH biosynthesis inhibitor, with 2′-deoxy-5-fluorouridine 5′-monophosphate sodium salt (FdUMP), an ROS-based drug, to effectively disrupt intracellular redox homeostasis and reverse chemotherapy resistance. Therefore, efficient ferroptosis and apoptosis were simultaneously induced for enhanced antitumor effects. Additionally, we employed small interfering RNA targeting PD-L1 (siPD-L1) as a third agent to block immune-checkpoint recognition by CD8+T cells. The highly immunogenic cell peroxidates or damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) induced by erastin acted synergistically with downregulated PD-L1 to enhance the antitumor effects. To codeliver these three drugs simultaneously and efficiently, we designed GE11 peptide-modified lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) containing calcium phosphate cores to achieve high encapsulation efficiencies. In vitrostudies verified its enhanced cytotoxicity, efficient intracellular ROS induction and GSH/GPX4 downregulation, substantial lipid peroxidation product accumulation, and mitochondrial depolarization. In vivo, this formulation effectively accumulated at tumor sites and achieved significant tumor inhibition in subcutaneous colon cancer (CRC) mouse models with a maximum tumor inhibition rate of 83.89% at a relatively low dose. Overall, a strategy to overcome clinical drug resistance was verified in this study by depleting GSH and activating adaptive immunity.

Tumor-derived extracellular vesicles (TEVs) are rich in cellular information and hold great promise as a biomarker for noninvasive cancer diagnosis. However, accurate measurement of TEVs presents challenges due to their low abundance and potential interference from a high number of EVs derived from normal cells. Herein, an aptamer-proximity-ligation-activated rolling circle amplification (RCA) method for EV membrane recognition, coupled with single particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (sp-ICP-MS) for the quantification of TEVs, is developed. When DNA-labeled ultrasmall gold nanoparticle (AuNP) probes bind to the long chains formed by RCA, they aggregate to form large particles. Notably, small AuNPs scarcely produce pulse signals in sp-ICP-MS, thereby detecting TEVs in a wash-free manner. By leveraging the strong binding affinity of aptamers, dual aptamers for EpCAM and PD-L1 recognition, and the sp-ICP-MS technique, this method offers remarkable sensitivity and selectivity in tracing TEVs. Under optimized conditions, the present method shows a favorable linear relationship between the pulse signal frequency of sp-ICP-MS and TEV concentration within the range of 105–107particles/mL, along with a detection limit of 1.1 × 104particles/mL. The pulse signals from sp-ICP-MS combined with machine learning algorithms are used to discriminate cancer patients from healthy donors with 100% accuracy. Due to its simple and fast operation and excellent sensitivity and accuracy, this approach holds significant potential for diverse applications in life sciences and personalized medicine.

This study investigated the influence of solution-processed indium oxide (In2O3) thin-film transistors (TFTs) with various iodine vapor (I2) doping times. Prolonged iodine doping time is found to induce some important changes in the devices: (i) increase in In2O3film thickness and nanoparticle size; (ii) decrease in the metal-hydroxyl bonding and increase in the metal–oxygen bonding; (iii) the positive moved threshold voltage, lower field-effect mobility, and higher on/off current ratio from 0 s (sec) to 10 s. Furthermore, vacuum thermal treatment, as a facial, novel method to recover the electrical performances of I2-doped In2O3TFTs was examined. I2-doped In2O3TFTs for 10 s with vacuum thermal treatment at 200 ℃ exhibited excellent recovery properties of electrical. The results indicate that iodine doping can change the electrical properties of In2O3TFTs and could potentially be used for I2gas sensor.

Metallographic microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and TiN growth thermodynamic and kinetic equations were used to investigate the morphology, quantity, and size of TiN in the center of high-titanium high-strength steels under different solidification cooling rates. The results showed that TiN in the center of the experimental steels mainly existed in three forms: single, composite (Al2O3–TiN), and multi-particle aggregation. TiN began precipitating at around 1497 °C (solidification fraction of 0.74). From the end of melting to solidification for 180 s, the cooling rates in the center of the experimental steels for furnace cooling, air cooling, refractory mold cooling, and cast iron mold cooling tended to stabilize at 0.17, 0.93, 1.65, and 2.15 °C/s, respectively. The size of TiN in the center of the experimental steel cooled using furnace cooling was mainly concentrated in the 5–15 µm range. In contrast, the size of TiN in the center of the experimental steels cooled using air cooling, refractory mold cooling, and cast iron mold cooling were mainly concentrated in the 1–5 µm range. In addition, their density of TiN in the center of the experimental steels is significantly higher than that of the furnace-cooled experimental steel. Thermodynamic and kinetic precipitation models of TiN established predicted the growth size of TiN in a high-titanium high-strength steel when the solidification cooling rates are not below 0.93 °C/s.

The Clinical Practice Guideline on Acupuncture and Moxibustion: Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)(WFAS 007.9-2023), officially released by the World Federation of Acupuncture-Moxibustion Societies (WFAS) on October 9, 2023, represents the inaugural acupuncture and moxibustion clinical practice guideline dedicated to GERD globally. This guideline outlines its purpose, scope, target audience, and relevant environments, along with detailing the acupuncture and moxibustion treatment methodology for GERD, as well as the guideline development process and recommendations. This article specifically emphasizes the recommendations of the guideline, highlighting the crucial importance of both the dissemination and adherence to this guideline to standardize acupuncture and moxibustion treatments for GERD. Such standardization plays a pivotal role in the advancement and widespread utilization of acupuncture and moxibustion in the management of GERD.

IMPORTANCE: Uninterrupted targeted therapy until disease progression or intolerable toxic effects is currently the routine therapy for advanced non−small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) involving driver gene variations. However, drug resistance is inevitable. OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical feasibility of adaptive de-escalation tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) treatment guided by circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) for achieving complete remission after local consolidative therapy (LCT) in patients with advanced NSCLC. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This prospective nonrandomized controlled trial was conducted at a single center from June 3, 2020, to July 19, 2022, and included 60 patients with advanced NSCLC with driver variations without radiologically detectable disease after TKI and LCT. The median (range) follow-up time was 19.2 (3.8-29.7) months. Data analysis was conducted from December 15, 2022, to May 10, 2023. INTERVENTION: Cessation of TKI treatment and follow-up every 3 months. Treatment was restarted in patients with progressive disease (defined by the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors 1.1 criteria), detectable ctDNA, or elevated carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels, whichever manifested first, and treatment ceased if all indicators were negative during follow-up surveillance. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary end points were objective response rate, time to next treatment, and overall survival. RESULTS: Among the total study sample of 60 participants (median [range] age, 55 [21-75] years; 33 [55%] were female), the median PFS was 18.4 (95% CI, 12.6-24.2) months and the median (range) total treatment break duration was 9.1 (1.5-28.1) months. Fourteen patients (group A) remained in TKI cessation with a median (range) treatment break duration of 20.3 (6.8-28.1) months; 31 patients (group B) received retreatment owing to detectable ctDNA and/or CEA and had a median PFS of 20.2 (95% CI, 12.9-27.4) months with a median (range) total treatment break duration of 8.8 (1.5-20.6) months; and 15 patients (group C) who underwent retreatment with TKIs due to progressive disease had a median PFS of 5.5 (95% CI, 1.5-7.2) months. For all participants, the TKI retreatment response rate was 96%, the median time to next treatment was 29.3 (95% CI, 25.3-35.2) months, and the data for overall survival were immature. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The findings of this nonrandomized controlled trial suggest that this adaptive de-escalation TKI strategy for patients with NSCLC is feasible in those with no lesions after LCT and a negative ctDNA test result. This might provide a de-escalation treatment strategy guided by ctDNA for the subset of patients with advanced NSCLC. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03046316

Phenazines are aromatic compounds with antifungal and cytotoxic activities. Phenazines incorporating phenazine 1-carboxylic acid have widespread applications in agriculture, medicine, and industry. Griseoluteic acid is a cytotoxic compound secreted by Streptomyces griseoluteusP510, displaying potential medical applications. However, the biosynthetic pathway of griseoluteic acid has not been elucidated, limiting its development and application. In this study, a conserved phenazine biosynthetic gene cluster of S. griseoluteusP510 was identified through genomic analysis. Subsequently, its was confirmed that the four essential modification enzymes SgpH, SgpI, SgpK, and SgpL convert phenazine-1,6-dicarboxylic acid into griseoluteic acid by heterologous expression in Escherichia coli. Moreover, the biosynthetic pathway of griseoluteic acid was established in Pseudomonas chlororaphischaracterized by a high growth rate and synthesis efficiency of phenazines, laying the foundation for the efficient production of griseoluteic acid.

T cell exhaustion has emerged as a major hurdle that impedes the clinical translation of stimulator of interferon genes (STING) agonists. It is crucial to explore innovative strategies to rejuvenate exhausted T cells and potentiate the antitumor efficacy. Here, we propose an approach utilizing MSA-2 as a STING agonist, along with nanoparticle-mediated delivery of mRNA encoding interleukin-12 (IL-12) to restore the function of T cells. We developed a lipid nanoparticle (DMT7-IL12LNP) that encapsulated IL12mRNA. Our findings convincingly demonstrated that the combination of MSA-2 and DMT7-IL12LNP can effectively reverse the exhausted T cell phenotype, as evidenced by the enhanced secretion of cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor alpha, interferon gamma, and Granzyme B, coupled with reduced levels of inhibitory molecules such as T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-3 and programmed cell death protein-1 on CD8+ T cells. Furthermore, this approach led to improved survival and tumor regression without causing any systemic toxicity in melanoma and lung metastasis models. These findings suggest that mRNA encoding IL-12 in conjunction with STING agonists has the potential to confer superior clinical outcomes, representing a promising advancement in cancer immunotherapy.

Inaccurate or cumbersome clinical pathogen diagnosis between Gram-positive bacteria (G+) and Gram-negative (G–) bacteria lead to delayed clinical therapeutic interventions. Microelectrode-based electrochemical sensors exhibit the significant advantages of rapid response and minimal sample consumption, but the loading capacity and discrimination precision are weak. Herein, we develop reversible fusion–fission MXene-based fiber microelectrodes for G+/G–bacteria analysis. During the fissuring process, the spatial utilization, loading capacity, sensitivity, and selectivity of microelectrodes were maximized, and polymyxin B and vancomycin were assembled for G+/G–identification. The surface-tension-driven reversible fusion facilitated its reusability. A deep learning model was further applied for the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) identification in diverse ratio concentrations of G+and G–of (1:100–100:1) with higher accuracy (>93%) and gave predictable detection results for unknown samples. Meanwhile, the as-proposed sensing platform reached higher sensitivity toward E. coli(24.3 CFU/mL) and S. aureus(37.2 CFU/mL) in 20 min. The as-proposed platform provides valuable insights for bacterium discrimination and quantification.

Touch panels are deemed as a critical platform for the future of human–-computer interaction. Recently, flexible touch panels have attracted much attention due to their superior adhesivity and integratability to the human body. However, hydrogel- or organogel-based devices suffer from instability due to liquid evaporation or low-conductivity substrates. It demands an alternative functional touch panel featuring temperature tolerance, high conductivity, and stretchability. Here, we introduce an eutectogel by immobilizing a novel deep eutectic solvent (DES) within 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA) covalently cross-linked polymer scaffolds. In this DES (ethylene carbonate(EC)–LiTFSI), the C═O group of EC is unique as an electron donor exhibiting strong coordination interactions with Li+, promoting the dissociation of Li+from LiTFSI to achieve excellent conductivity. Benefiting from their traits, eutectogel presents high conductivity, transmittance, antifreezing, and mechanical strength. In addition, using the surface-capacitive sensing mechanism, the eutectogel can be designed as a 1D strip and 2D rectangular touch panel which can achieve high-resolution touching tracks, even in a low-temperature environment and pressure-then-recovered state. This eutectogel strategy is envisioned to facilitate the development of next-generation intelligent devices, especially in extreme stretching and low-temperature application scenarios.

A recent study described a rare subtype of tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC)-mutated renal cell carcinoma primarily characterized by Xanthomatous giant cell morphology. Only 2 cases in young individuals have been reported so far, making the correct diagnosis challenging from a pathological perspective. It remains unknown whether this tumor represents an independent subtype or belongs to other TSC-mutated tumors. We conducted a clinicopathologic evaluation and immunohistochemical profiling of 5 cases of Xanthomatous Giant Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma (XGC RCC) with confirmed TSC2mutations through targeted DNA sequencing. In addition, we analyzed transcriptomic profiles using RNA-seq for the following samples: XGC RCC, Low-grade Oncocytic tumors (LOT), High-grade Oncocytic tumors/Eosinophilic Vacuolar Tumors (HOT/EVT), Eosinophilic Solid and Cystic Renal Cell Carcinomas (ESC RCC), Chromophobe cell Renal Cell Carcinomas (ChRCC), Renal Oncocytomas (RO), clear cell Renal Cell Carcinomas (ccRCC), and normal renal tissues. There were 2 female and 3 male patients, aged 22 to 58 years, who underwent radical nephrectomy for tumor removal. The tumor sizes ranged from 4.7 to 9.5 cm in diameter. These tumors exhibited ill-defined boundaries, showed an expansive growth pattern, and featured distinctive tumor giant cells with abundant eosinophilic to Xanthomatous cytoplasm and prominent nucleoli. All tumors had low Ki-67 proliferation indices (<1%) and demonstrated immune reactivity for CD10, PAX8, CK20, CathepsinK, and GPNMB. Next-generation sequencing confirmed TSC2mutations in all cases. RNA sequencing-based clustering indicated a close similarity between the tumor and ESC RCC. One patient (1/5) died of an accident 63 months later, while the remaining patients (4/5) were alive without tumor recurrences or metastases at the time of analysis, with a mean follow-up duration of 43.4 months. Our research supports the concept that Xanthomatous giant cell renal cell carcinoma (XGC RCC) shares clinicopathological and molecular characteristics with ESC RCC and shows a relatively positive prognosis, providing further support for a close morphologic spectrum between the two. We propose considering XGC RCC as a distinct subtype of ESC RCC.

Psoriasis is a chronic, recurrent, inflammatory systemic disease that is not only characterized by skin manifestations but may also be accompanied by various comorbidities, imposing a heavy burden on patients’ physical and mental health and affecting their quality of life. Although the continuous approval of various biological agents for clinical use has provided more effective treatment options to patients with psoriasis, no consensus on the evaluation of comprehensive treatment goals has yet been established. The treat-to-target (T2T) strategy requires consideration of multiple dimensions of treatment outcomes, the development of long-term management goals, and regular assessments of treatment conditions, which are often used in the management of chronic diseases. Therefore, based on the latest consensuses and guidelines, research data, and clinical experience as well as the combination of survey results and expert group discussions, the present consensus focuses on 4 dimensions of short- and long-term integrated management goals for biological agents: alleviating skin lesions, improving quality of life, screening and managing psoriasis comorbidities, and ensuring drug safety. The implementation methods, evaluation time, treatment monitoring, and program adjustments are also herein described to achieve comprehensive management of psoriasis to the maximum extent. This consensus provides a reference for clinical practice.

Lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries are highly considered as next-generation energy storage techniques. Weakly solvating electrolyte with low lithium polysulfide (LiPS) solvating power promises Li anode protection and improved cycling stability. However, the cathodic LiPS kinetics is inevitably deteriorated, resulting in severe cathodic polarization and limited energy density. Herein, the LiPS kinetic degradation mechanism in weakly solvating electrolytes is disclosed to construct high-energy-density Li–S batteries. Activation polarization instead of concentration or ohmic polarization is identified as the dominant kinetic limitation, which originates from higher charge-transfer activation energy and a changed rate-determining step. To solve the kinetic issue, a titanium nitride (TiN) electrocatalyst is introduced and corresponding Li–S batteries exhibit reduced polarization, prolonged cycling lifespan, and high actual energy density of 381 Wh kg–1in 2.5 Ah-level pouch cells. This work clarifies the LiPS reaction mechanism in protective weakly solvating electrolytes and highlights the electrocatalytic regulation strategy toward high-energy-density and long-cycling Li–S batteries.

A series of mixed ligand, photoluminescent organometallic Ir(III) complexes have been synthesized to incorporate substituted 2-phenyl-1H-naphtho[2,3-d]imidazole cyclometalating ligands. The structures of three example complexes were categorically confirmed using X-ray crystallography each sharing very similar structural traits including evidence of interligand hydrogen bond contacts that account for the shielding effects observed in the 1H NMR spectra. The structural iterations of the cyclometalated ligand provide tuning of the principal electronic transitions that determine the visible absorption and emission properties of the complexes: emission can be tuned in the visible region between 550 and 610 nm and with triplet lifetimes up to 10 μs. The nature of the emitting state varies across the series of complexes, with different admixtures of ligand-centered and metal-to-ligand charge transfer triplet levels evident. Finally, the use of the complexes as photosensitizers in triplet–triplet annihilation energy upconversion (TTA-UC) was investigated in the solution state. The study showed that the complexes possessing the longest triplet lifetimes showed good viability as photosensitizers in TTA-UC. Therefore, the use of an electron-withdrawing group on the 2-phenyl-1H-naphtho[2,3-d]imidazole ligand framework can be used to rationally promote TTA-UC using this class of complex.

Guest-induced (crystal-to-crystal) transformation, i.e., periodic flexibility, is a typical feature of molecule-based crystalline porous materials, but its role for adsorptive separation is controversial. On the other hand, aperiodic flexibility is rarely studied. This work reports a pair of isomeric Cu(I) triazolate frameworks, namely, α-[Cu(fetz)] (MAF-2Fa) and β-[Cu(fetz)] (MAF-2Fb), which show typical periodic and aperiodic flexibility for CO chemical adsorption, respectively. Quantitative mixture breakthrough experiments show that, while MAF-2Fa exhibits high adsorption capacity at high pressures but negligible adsorption below the threshold pressure and with leakage concentrations of 3–8%, MAF-2Fb exhibits relatively low adsorption capacity at high pressures but no leakage (residual CO concentration <1 ppb). Tandem connection of MAF-2Fa and MAF-2Fb can combine their advantages of high CO adsorption capacities at high and low pressures, respectively. MAF-2Fa and MAF-2Fb can both keep the separation performances unchanged at high relative humidities, but only MAF-2Fb shows a unique coadsorption behavior at a relative humidity of 82%, which can be used to improve purification performances.

Separation of methanol/benzene azeotrope mixtures is very challenging not only by the conventional distillation technique but also by adsorbents. In this work, we design and synthesize a flexible Ca-based metal–organic framework MAF-58 consisting of cheap raw materials. MAF-58 shows selective methanol-induced pore-opening flexibility. Although the opened pores are large enough to accommodate benzene molecules, MAF-58 shows methanol/benzene molecular sieving with ultrahigh experimental selectivity, giving 5.1 mmol g–1high-purity (99.99%+) methanol and 2.0 mmol g–1high-purity (99.97%+) benzene in a single adsorption/desorption cycle. Computational simulations reveal that the preferentially adsorbed, coordinated methanol molecules act as the gating component to selectively block the diffusion of benzene, offering a new gating adsorption mechanism.

Tailoring the local microenvironment of a single-atom active site is an effective pathway to promote electrocatalytic performance. Herein, we introduced a sulfur site to address the undesirable electron selectivity of a single-atom Fe-N4catalyst for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Comprehensive X-ray spectroscopic results, coupled with theoretical calculations, reveal that the introduction of a second-shell S site optimizes the local electron distribution of the Fe-N4moiety, enhancing its ORR activity. Furthermore, in situsynchrotron spectroscopy demonstrates that the presence of S in the Fe-N4moiety facilitates the breakage of the O-O bonding by reinforcing the adsorption of *OOH intermediates, accounting for enhanced ORR activity and four-electron selectivity. The well-designed catalyst exhibits satisfactory alkaline ORR activity, featuring a half-wave potential of 0.93 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode. Importantly, it effectively suppresses the yield of hydrogen peroxide to 4%, achieving a maximum power density of 241.1 mW cm-2in a Zn–air battery.

Severe acute pancreatitis (AP) is a life-threatening pancreatic inflammatory disease with a high mortality rate (~40%). Existing pharmaceutical therapies in development or in clinical trials showed insufficient treatment efficacy due to their single molecular therapeutic target, poor water solubility, short half-life, limited pancreas-targeting specificity, etc. Herein, acid-responsive hollow mesoporous Prussian blue nanoparticles wrapped with neutrophil membranes and surface modified with the N,N-dimethyl-1,3-propanediamine moiety were developed for codelivering membrane-permeable calcium chelator BAPTA-AM (BA) and trypsin activity inhibitor gabexate mesylate (Ga). In the AP mouse model, the formulation exhibited efficient recruitment at the inflammatory endothelium, trans-endothelial migration, and precise acinar cell targeting, resulting in rapid pancreatic localization and higher accumulation. A single low dose of the formulation (BA: 200 µg kg–1, Ga: 0.75 mg kg–1) significantly reduced pancreas function indicators to close to normal levels at 24 h, effectively restored the cell redox status, reduced apoptotic cell proportion, and blocked the systemic inflammatory amplified cascade, resulting in a dramatic increase in the survival rate from 58.3 to even 100%. Mechanistically, the formulation inhibited endoplasmic reticulum stress (IRE1/XBP1 and ATF4/CHOP axis) and restored impaired autophagy (Beclin-1/p62/LC3 axis), thereby preserving dying acinar cells and restoring the cellular “health status”. This formulation provides an upstream therapeutic strategy with clinical translation prospects for AP management through synergistic ion homeostasis regulation and pancreatic autodigestion inhibition.

This work was designed to evaluate the effect of four enzyme-assisted extraction (EAE) combined hydrodistillation (HD) methods on the yield, microstructure and chemical composition of essential oil (EO) from leaves of Cinnamomum longepaniculatum(Gamble) N. Chao ex H. W. Li. The chemical composition of EO was analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Changes in the microstructure of leaf residues were observed by scanning electron microscopy. Response surface methodology was used to predict the best conditions for the EO extraction with the most effective enzyme pretreatment. Further, the anxiolytic effect and mechanism of the optimized EO were investigated by the open-field test (OFT), elevated plus-maze test (EPMT), hole-board test (HBT) and the assay of neurotransmitter concentrations (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT; γ-aminobutyric acid, GABA; norepinephrine, NE). The results showed that different enzyme pretreatments increased the yield and quality of EO and disrupted the cell wall. The circumscribed-β-glucan/hemicellulose enzyme (1:1) pretreatment (4.33%) was the most effective compared to the enzyme-free group (2.82%). The optimum extraction process conditions were: pH:5, enzymolysis time: 67 min and digestion temperature: 48.5 °C. Under these conditions, the maximum yield of EO was 4.37%. After inhalation of EO, mice showed significant anxiolytic effects in EPMT, HBT, and OFT. In addition, EO significantly down-regulated 5-hydroxytryptamine and NE levels and up-regulated GABA levels. Cinnamomum longepaniculatumEO may be related to 5-HTergic, GABAergic and NEergic neurotransmitter systems for better anxiolytic effect.

Unsymmetrical 1,6-dicarbonyl compounds are useful building blocks in organic synthesis. However, the synthetic methods are limited. Herein we report a three-component one-pot reaction for the synthesis of unsymmetrical 1,6-diketones. This reaction utilizes sulfides as radical precursors and enol ethers as building blocks. It takes advantage of photocatalysis and Lewis acid catalysis. Its synthetic utility was demonstrated in the modification of biorelevant compounds.

A migratory insertion of carbenes into distal γ-C(sp3)–H bonds of aliphatic amines has been successfully developed. The synergistic interplay among a palladium catalyst, picolinamide directing group, a carefully selected base additive, and an essential ligand proved crucial in achieving high yields. These findings hold significant value for advancing the exploration of regioselective carbene insertions into nonactivated C(sp3)–H bonds.

Vegetation restoration and reconstruction are effective approaches to desertification control and achieving social and economic sustainability in desert areas. However, the self-succession ability of native plants during the later periods of vegetation restoration remains unclear. Therefore, this study was conducted to bridge the knowledge gap by investigating the regeneration dynamics of artificial forest under natural conditions. The information of seed rain and soil seed bank was collected and quantified from an artificial Caragana korshinskiiKom. forest in the Tengger Desert, China. The germination tests were conducted in a laboratory setting. The analysis of species quantity and diversity in seed rain and soil seed bank was conducted to assess the impact of different durations of sand fixation (60, 40, and 20 a) on the progress of vegetation restoration and ecological conditions in artificial C. korshinskiiforest. The results showed that the top three dominant plant species in seed rain were Echinops gmeliniiTurcz., Eragrostis minorHost., and Agropyron mongolicumKeng., and the top three dominant plant species in soil seed bank were E. minor, Chloris virgataSw., and E. gmelinii. As restoration period increased, the density of seed rain and soil seed bank increased first and then decreased. While for species richness, as restoration period increased, it gradually increased in seed rain but decreased in soil seed bank. There was a positive correlation between seed rain density and soil seed bank density among all the three restoration periods. The species similarity between seed rain or soil seed bank and aboveground vegetation decreased with the extension of restoration period. The shape of the seeds, specifically those with external appendages such as spines and crown hair, clearly had an effect on their dispersal, then resulting in lower seed density in soil seed bank. In addition, precipitation was a crucial factor in promoting rapid germination, also resulting in lower seed density in soil seed bank. Our findings provide valuable insights for guiding future interventions during the later periods of artificial C. korshinskiiforest, such as sowing and restoration efforts using unmanned aerial vehicles.

Introduction: Patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy (VATL) often experience chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP). Postoperative pain can affect the recovery of postoperative lung function, prolong postoperative recovery time, and increase patient hospitalization expenses. Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) is an alternative therapy based on acupuncture that has shown promise in postoperative recovery and pain management across various medical fields. However, research specifically focused on the improvement of CPSP after VATL is currently lacking. The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether TEAS can effectively reduce the severity and occurrence of chronic postsurgical pain in patients undergoing VATL. By investigating the potential benefits of TEAS in mitigating CPSP after VATL, this study aims to provide valuable clinical evidence to support the integration of TEAS into postoperative care protocols for patients undergoing VATL. Methods: This study is a prospective, single-center, double-blinded, randomized controlled trial to be conducted at the 920th Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force. Eighty patients undergoing VATL will be randomly divided into an experimental group (TEAS group) and a control group (sham group). The experimental group will receive TEAS at bilateral PC6, LI4, LR3, LU5, TE5, and LI11. The control group will not receive TEAS at the same acupoints. Both groups will receive TEAS or no TEAS before anesthesia induction and 1–7 days after surgery, with each session lasting 30 min. Planned Outcomes: The primary outcome will be the incidence of CPSP at 3 months after surgery. Secondary outcomes will include the incidence of CPSP at 6 months after surgery, the numerical rating scale (NRS) scores at 3 and 6 months after surgery, as well as the NRS scores at 24, 48, and 72 h after surgery, remifentanil consumption during general anesthesia, demand for rescue analgesics, number and duration of indwelling chest tubes, incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting, and changes of norepinephrine (NE), cortisol (Cor), tumor necrosis factor (TNF- α), and interleukin 6 (IL-6) in serum. Trial Registration: ChiCTR2300069458. Registered on March 16, 2023.

Thrombosis is a major and serious complication in patients with artificial heart pump assist device (HPAD). There is an urgent need for an efficient and safe method to solve the clinical challenge. We have developed a new type of ultrasound integrated heart pump assist device (uHPAD) with a pair of ultrasonic transducer rings installed around the pump. Based on the in-vitroexperiments, the sonothrombolysis protocol was determined. Then, in-vivoexperiments were performed on sheep to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the novel uHPAD. It is found that the ultrasound assisted thrombolysis with the drug-loaded microbubbles can accelerate the dissolution of the thrombus in the pump, while have no significant negative effect on blood cell components, coagulation-hemolysis system, and the structure and function of main organs. The ultrasound assisted thrombolysis is demonstrated to be a promising method to solve the clinical problem of thrombosis in the HPAD.

The yield stability of the neutron generator directly affects the accuracy of elemental analysis. This paper presents an industrial fully automatic neutron generator with a 48 mm neutron tube based on PLC to improve the stability and reliability of the neutron generator in industrial applications. By integrating a Kalman Filter with the PID algorithm in a PLC, the neutron yield of the generator is remarkably stabilized, achieving 1 × 108n/s. The neutron generator has been employed for industrial online elemental analysis. The results demonstrate that only a slight fluctuation of ±0.82 % exists in the neutron yield, and the reproducibility of the generator holds at a significant level of 0.05. This improved neutron generator can be applied to the online bulk analysis of carbon in coal-fired power stations and absolute measurement of neutron source emission rate.