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Herein, multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)/silicon nitride (Si3N4)/polyaniline (PANI) ternary composites are prepared. The preparation method involves attaching carboxyl groups to acid‐modified MWCNT surfaces and amino groups to Si3N4 surfaces modified using a silane‐coupling agent. Then they are combined to binary composites using the solvent‐thermal method. Finally, the ternary composites are prepared by coating PANI on the surface of MWCNT/Si3N4 composites in situ polymerization. The morphology and structure of these composites are characterized through X‐ray diffraction, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Results show that the reflection loss at 8.8 GHz reaches −42.57 dB when the feeding ratio of MWCNT:Si3N4:PANI is 3:20:40 and the corresponding effective absorption bandwidth reaches 4.06 GHz when the thickness is 3.5 mm. A conductive network with effective electron leaps is formed among MWCNT, Si3N4, and PANI, which increases the conductive loss of the composites. An abundant number of interfaces have formed in the composite materials and promoted dielectric loss. Multiple loss mechanisms and good impedance matching performance endow MWCNT/Si3N4/PANI with excellent microwave absorption performance, and the incorporation of Si3N4 enables the composites to exhibit satisfactory high‐temperature resistance. Thus, these performances render the composites promising materials to address increasing electromagnetic pollution, particularly at high temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Several studies have investigated the relationship between serum lactate dehydrogenase-to-albumin ratio (LAR) and the prognosis of cancers. However, no studies have explored the association between serum LAR and the survival of oral cancer (OC). This study was aimed to determine the association of serum LAR with the overall survival (OS) of OC. Methods: One hundred and ninety patients with OC were included in this study between January 2018 and December 2019. Log rank test and Kaplan–Meier method were used to compare the survival rate of OC between the low LAR group and the high LAR group. The association between serum LAR and the survival of OC patients was determined via univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses. Results: Kaplan-Meier analysis and Log rank test indicated that the OS rate in low LAR group was significantly higher than that in high LAR group (P < 0.05). Univariate cox analysis showed that TNM III-IV stage, serum LDH > 162 U/L, and serum LAR > 3.79 were significantly associated with the OS of OC patients. Multivariate Cox analysis suggested that the TNM III-IV stage (HR, 2.317; 95% CI, 1.423– 3.774, P = 0.001) and serum LAR > 3.79 (HR, 5.138; 95% CI, 2.245– 11.756, P = 0.000) were independently related with poor OS of OC patients. Conclusion: High serum LAR (> 3.79) is an independent predictor of adverse prognosis in OC patients. LAR could be used as a promising marker for predicting the OS of OC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fe contamination has always been one of the most critical issues in the integrated circuit (IC) industry due to its catastrophic effect on device reliability and electrical characteristics. With complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology scaling down, this issue has been attracting more attention. In this paper, the impact of Fe impurity on the reliability of gate oxide integrity (GOI) in advanced CMOS technology is investigated. Intentional contamination of polysilicon gates was conducted in both boron- and phosphorus-doped devices. Failure analysis of the gate oxide was conducted with high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and the energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) technique. The experimental results disclose that the properties of PMOS are much more sensitive to Fe contamination than those of NMOS. It is suggested that the reason for the above phenomena is that Fe precipitates at the PMOS gate/oxide interface but dissolves uniformly in the NMOS poly gate due to lower formation energy of the FeB pair (0.65 eV) in PMOS than that of the P4-Fe cluster (3.2 eV) in NMOS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The sequelae of pelvic inflammatory disease (SPID) are major causes of secondary infertility. Modified Hongteng Baijiang decoction (MHTBD) has produced positive results in the treatment of patients with chronic pelvic inflammatory disease; however, its role in SPID remains elusive. Therefore, this study clarified the role of MHTBD in SPID pathogenesis. Methods: The main components in MHTBD were analyzed by using liquid chromatography‒mass spectrometry (LC/MS). An SPID rat model was established, and the rats were treated with different doses of MHTBD (0.504 g of raw drug/kg, 1.008 g of raw drug/kg, and 2.016 g of raw drug/kg). Endometrial pinopodes were observed via scanning electron microscopy, endometrial thickness and inflammatory cell infiltration were assessed via HE staining, and the expression of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), integrin β3 (ITGB3), and CD31 in the endometrium was detected by using immunohistochemistry. Western blot analysis was used to detect the protein expression of LIF, JAK2, p‐JAK2, STAT3, and p‐STAT3 in the endometrium. Moreover, the changes in the gut microbiota were analyzed via 16S rRNA sequencing. Results: MHTBD improved endometrial receptivity, attenuated endometrial pathologic damage, reduced inflammatory cell infiltration, decreased ER and PR expression in the endometrium, and promoted the expression of LIF, p‐JAK2, and p‐STAT3 in the endometrium (p <.05) in SPID rats. Additionally, MHTBD treatment affected the composition of the gut microbiota in SPID rats. Furthermore, MHTBD attenuated endometrial receptivity and pathological damage in SPID rats by promoting the LIF/JAK2/STAT3 pathway. Conclusion: MHTBD attenuates SPID in rats by promoting the LIF/JAK2/STAT3 pathway and improving the composition of the gut microbiota. MHTBD may be a valuable drug for SPID therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fe3O4/SiO2 nanocomposites (NCs) were prepared by the interaction of alkyne-functionalized ferric oxide (Fe3O4-Alk) nanoparticles (NPs) and azide-functionalized silicon dioxide (SiO2-N3) NPs via the click reaction. The morphology and structure of the Fe3O4/SiO2 NCs were investigated using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and infrared analyses, and the electromagnetic parameters were measured using a vector network analyzer. For the Fe3O4/SiO2 nanocomposites obtained via the click reaction, the minimum reflection loss reached − 37.15 dB at 16.68 GHz and a matching thickness of 5.0 mm, and the bandwidth below − 10 dB ranged from 3.2 to 6.7 GHz and 15.7 to 17.6 GHz. The Fe3O4/SiO2 composites synthesized via the click reaction exhibited better microwave absorption performance than the physically blended sample. This is mainly because Fe3O4 and SiO2 are covalently bonded through the click reaction in the composites, creating multiple heterogeneous interfaces, which enhance dielectric loss and impedance matching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing need for the multiband photodetection of a single scene has promoted the development of both multispectral coupling and broadband detection technologies. Photodetectors operating across the infrared (IR) to terahertz (THz) regions have many applications such as in optical communications, sensing imaging, material identification, and biomedical detection. In this review, we present a comprehensive overview of the latest advances in broadband photodetectors operating in the infrared to terahertz range, highlighting their classification, operating principles, and performance characteristics. We discuss the challenges faced in achieving broadband detection and summarize various strategies employed to extend the spectral response of photodetectors. Lastly, we conclude by outlining future research directions in the field of broadband photodetection, including the utilization of novel materials, artificial microstructure, and integration schemes to overcome current limitations. These innovative methodologies have the potential to achieve high-performance, ultra-broadband photodetectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Salpingitis obstructive infertility (SOI) refers to infertility caused by abnormal conditions such as tubal adhesion and blockage caused by acute and chronic salpingitis. SOI has a serious impact on women's physical and mental health and family harmony, and it is a clinical problem that needs to be solved urgently.

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to explore the potential pharmacological mechanisms of the Yinjia tablets (Yin Jia Pian, YJP) on tubal inflammation.

Methods: Networks of YJP-associated targets and tubal inflammation-related genes were constructed through the STRING database. Potential targets and pathway enrichment analysis related to the therapeutic efficacy of YJP were identified using Cytoscape and Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery (metascape). E. coli was used to establish a rat model of tubal inflammation and to validate the predictions of network pharmacology and the therapeutic efficacy of YJP. H&E staining was used to observe the pathological changes in fallopian tubes. TEM observation of the ultrastructure of the fallopian tubes. ELISA was used to detect the changes of IL-6 and TNF-α in fallopian tubes. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of ESR1. The changes of Bcl-2, ERK1/2, p-ERK1/2, MEK, p-MEK, EGFR, and p-EGFR were detected by western blot.

Results: Through database analysis, it was found that YJP shared 105 identical targets with the disease. Network pharmacology analysis showed that IL-6, TNF, and EGFR belong to the top 5 core proteins associated with salpingitis, and EGFR/MEK/ERK may be the main pathway involved. The E. coli -induced disease rat model of fallopian tube tissue showed damage, mitochondrial disruption, and increased levels of the inflammatory factors IL-6 and TNF-α. Tubal inflammatory infertility rats have increased expression of Bcl-2, p-ERK1/2, p-MEK, and p-EGFR, and decreased expression of ESR1. In vivo, experiments showed that YJP improved damage of tissue, inhibited shedding of tubal cilia, and suppressed the inflammatory response of the body. Furthermore, YJP inhibited EGFR/MEK/ERK signaling, inhibited the apoptotic protein Bcl-2, and upregulated ESR1.

Conclusion: This study revealed that YJP Reducing tubal inflammation and promoting tissue repair may be associated with inhibition of the EGFR/MEK/ERK signaling pathway.