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Background: The cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) non‐response rate can reach 30% in heart failure (HF) patients with left bundle branch block (LBBB). This study aimed to evaluate the value of baseline q waves in leads I, V5, or V6 in predicting response to CRT in patients with HF and LBBB. Methods: Patients with HF (left ventricular ejection fraction ≤35%) and LBBB receiving CRT implantation were retrospectively enrolled. Baseline characteristics and electrocardiogram parameters, including lateral and left precordial q waves were evaluated. Non‐response to CRT was defined as the improvement of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) < 5% at a 6‐month follow‐up. Results: A total of 132 patients (mean age 63.0 ± 10.4 years, 94 [71.2%] male) were included. Among them, 32 patients with q waves in leads I, V5, or V6 were classified into the qLBBB (+) group, and the rest without q waves in these leads were defined as the qLBBB (‐) group. The CRT non‐response rate in the qLBBB (+) group was markedly higher than that in the qLBBB (‐) group (68.8% vs. 33.3%, p <.001). Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that the presence of baseline q waves in leads I, V5, or V6 remained significantly associated with a higher rate of CRT non‐response in patients with HF and LBBB (odds ratio: 4.8, 95% confidence interval: 1.5–15.0, p =.007). Conclusion: Any q wave in leads I, V5, or V6 was an independent predictive factor for CRT non‐response in patients with HF and LBBB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regarding the complex properties of various cations, the design of aqueous batteries that can simultaneously store multi‐ions with high capacity and satisfactory rate performance is a great challenge. Here an amorphization strategy to boost cation‐ion storage capacities of anode materials is reported. In monovalent (H+, Li+, K+), divalent (Mg2+, Ca2+, Zn2+) and even trivalent (Al3+) aqueous electrolytes, the capacity of the resulting amorphous MoOx is more than quadruple than that of crystalline MoOx and exceeds those of other reported multiple‐ion storage materials. Both experimental and theoretical calculations reveal the generation of ample active sites and isotropic ions in the amorphous phase, which accelerates cation migration within the electrode bulk. Amorphous MoOx can be coupled with multi‐ion storage cathodes to realize electrochemical energy storage devices with different carriers, promising high energy and power densities. The power density exceeded 15000 W kg−1, demonstrating the great potential of amorphous MoOx in advanced aqueous batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aqueous zinc‐ion battery is one of the candidates for the next generation batteries due to its reliable safety, environmental friendliness and low cost. While the poor structurally stability and limited cyclic reversibility of the cathode restricts its practical application. In this work, we elaborately design hierarchical three‐dimensional (3D) carbon networks (CNs) for the embedding of non‐stoichiometry MnOx with abundant defects (MnOx/CNs), which provide 3D diffusion pathway and efficient electrochemical active sites for zinc‐ion storage. The as‐designed Zn//MnOx/CNs battery delivers high energy density of 452.2 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 133.0 W kg−1, much superior to that of MnO2/CNs and pristine MnO2. Moreover, defective manganese species experience stable phase transformation during charging/discharging process, providing a long‐term cycling performance with a high reversible capacity of 263.3 mAh g−1 at 1 A g−1 after 1000 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diacylglycerol kinases (DGKs) play important roles in restraining diacylglycerol (DAG)‐mediated signaling. Within the DGK family, the ζ isoform appears to be the most important isoform in T cells for controlling their development and function. DGKζ has been demonstrated to regulate T cell maturation, activation, anergy, effector/memory differentiation, defense against microbial infection, and antitumor immunity. Given its critical functions, DGKζ function should be tightly regulated to ensure proper signal transduction; however, mechanisms that control DGKζ function are still poorly understood. We report here that DGKζ dynamically translocates from the cytosol into the nuclei in T cells after TCR stimulation. In mice, DGKζ mutant defective in nuclear localization displayed enhanced ability to inhibit TCR‐induced DAG‐mediated signaling in primary T cells, maturation of conventional αβT and iNKT cells, and activation of peripheral T cells compared with WT DGKζ. Our study reveals for the first time nuclear sequestration of DGKζ as a negative control mechanism to spatially restrain it from terminating DAG mediated signaling in T cells. Our data suggest that manipulation of DGKζ nucleus‐cytosol shuttling as a novel strategy to modulate DGKζ activity and immune responses for treatment of autoimmune diseases and cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zinc‐ion batteries (ZIBs) have attracted considerable attention and global interest due to their high gravimetric and high volumetric capacities (820 mAh g−1 and 5855 mAh cm−3). However, the Zn protrusions/dendrites during the plating/stripping process of Zn (Zn2+) severely affect the performance of Zn anode, causing a low Coulombic efficiency, rapid degradation of capacity, and even failure of Zn‐anode‐based batteries. In order to reduce the dendritic deposition of Zn, the key is to adjust the initial uniform nucleation, which determines the subsequent uniform deposition of Zn. Herein, a cathode material (MnO2) ultrathin film is first modified on the surface of the carbon cloth as active sites for the in situ nucleation and directed epitaxial growth of metal Zn. As a result, the CC@MnO2‐UTF@Zn anode can be cycled in aqueous electrolyte and maintain stable cycling performance during repeated Zn deposition/stripping processes. Subsequently, the CC@MnO2‐UTF@Zn anode and CC@MnO2 cathode are assembled into full cells, which deliver a superior electrochemical performance. Moreover, the flexible solid‐state ZIBs with the CC@MnO2‐UTF@Zn anode show excellent capacities and high energy/power densities, which is superior to the most reported results so far. This work provides a new strategy to design an advanced flexibility Zn anode toward future high‐performance wearable electronic ZIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mucosal‐associated invariant T (MAIT) cells participate in both protective immunity and pathogenesis of diseases. Most murine MAIT cells express an invariant TCRVα19‐Jα33 (iVα19) TCR, which triggers signals crucial for their development. However, signal pathways downstream of the iVα19TCR and their regulation in MAIT cells are unknown. Diacylglycerol (DAG) is a critical second messenger that relays the TCR signal to multiple downstream signaling cascades. DAG is terminated by DAG kinase (DGK)‐mediated phosphorylation and conversion to phosphatidic acid. We have demonstrated here that downregulation of DAG caused by enhanced DGK activity impairs late‐stage MAIT cell maturation in both thymus and spleen. Moreover, deficiency of DGKζ but not DGKα by itself causes modest decreases in MAIT cells, and deficiency of both DGKα and ζ results in severe reductions of MAIT cells in an autonomous manner. Our studies have revealed that DAG signaling is not only critical but also must be tightly regulated by DGKs for MAIT cell development and that both DGKα and, more prominently, DGKζ contribute to the overall DGK activity for MAIT cell development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3 ( NBT) platelets with high aspect ratio were synthesized from Na0.5Bi4.5Ti4O15 ( NBIT) precursors via a topochemical microcrystal conversion in molten salt conditions. The effect of the synthesis parameters, such as the molten salt system, synthesis temperature, and the molar ratio of Na2 CO3 and NBIT, was investigated. The results showed that NaCl- KCl molten salt environment and excess Na2 CO3 played a positive role in the synthesis, square-shaped NBT was obtained at 950°C in NaCl- KCl molten salt and a TiO2-free environment, and it was a suitable template candidate to achieve NBT-based textured ceramics using the reactive template grain growth ( RTGG) method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]