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Abstract Background Manual placement of cervical pedicle screws is risky, and robot-assisted placement of atlantoaxial pedicle screws has not been reported. Case report We describe a 74-year-old female patient with atlantoaxial fracture and dislocation combined with spinal cord injury caused by a car accident. The left lower limb muscle strength was grade 0, the right upper limb muscle strength was grade 1, and the right lower limb muscle strength was grade 2. Loss of sensation below the clavicle level, decreased superficial sensation in the extremities, loss of deep sensation in the left lower extremity, and incontinence were observed. We successfully placed atlas pedicle screws with the assistance of the Mazor X robot. One week after the operation, radiological imaging revealed that the reduction effect was good, the placement of the pedicle screws was satisfactory, the left upper limb and left lower limb muscle strength was level 2, the right upper limb and the muscle strength of the right lower limb were grade 3, and the sensory function was partially restored. No complications related to screw placement were found at the 3-month postoperative follow-up. Conclusions Mazor X robot-assisted descending pedicle screw fixation of the atlas is feasible and safe.

Abstract Understanding the impact of diagenesis on the elastic properties of organic-rich shale reservoirs is essential for evaluating unconventional hydrocarbon reservoirs and interpreting seismic data. Recent advancements in the exploration of the Permian Wujiaping Formation in the eastern Sichuan Basin indicate its potential to become a significant succession within the Sichuan Basin. However, the effect of different lithofacies in the Wujiaping Formation on shale elastic properties under varying diagenetic conditions remains unclear, hindering detailed reservoir interpretation. This study employs X-ray diffraction, thin section analysis, scanning electron microscopy, organic geochemistry, and dynamic elastic property tests to investigate the Wujiaping Formation shale. The results reveal three primary lithofacies types: argillaceous shale, mixed shale, and siliceous shale. Argillaceous shale, subjected to intense compaction, forms a dense rock framework of oriented clay minerals, characterized by low porosity (1.66%), low elastic wave velocity (4122.30 m/s), low elastic modulus (2174.59 m/s), and high Poisson's ratio (32.24 GPa). Mixed shale, dominated by carbonates and quartz, exhibits a rock framework formed through dissolution and cementation, with high elastic wave velocity (5196.54 m/s), relatively high elastic modulus (2975.86 m/s), and moderate Poisson's ratio (58.53 GPa). Siliceous shale, comprising biogenic quartz particles, shows strong resistance to compaction. During hydrocarbon generation, it develops abundant organic matter pores, resulting in the highest porosity (2.36%), high elastic wave velocity (5177.92 m/s), high elastic modulus (2975.86 m/s), and low Poisson's ratio (62.23 GPa). The significant differences in mineral composition and diagenetic processes across the lithofacies lead to distinct elastic properties. This study provides a rock physics framework for the detailed seismic prediction of "sweet spots" in the Wujiaping Formation shale reservoirs and offers new insights into characterizing the diagenesis of unconventional shale reservoirs using geophysical properties.

Abstract Plant chloroplasts have a highly compartmentalized interior, essential for executing photocatalytic functions. However, the construction of a photocatalytic reaction compartment similar to chloroplasts in inorganic–biological hybrid systems (IBS) has not been reported. Drawing inspiration from the compartmentalized chloroplast and the phenomenon of liquid–liquid phase separation, herein, a new strategy is first developed for constructing a photocatalytic subcellular hybrid system through liquid–liquid phase separation technology in living cells. Photosensitizers and in vivo expressed hydrogenases are designed to coassemble within the cell to create subcellular compartments for synergetic photocatalysis. This compartmentalization facilitates efficient electron transfer and light energy utilization, resulting in highly effective H2 production. The subcellular compartments hybrid system (HM/IBSCS) exhibits a nearly 87‐fold increase in H2 production compared to the bare bacteria/hybrid system. Furthermore, the intracellular compartments of the photocatalytic reactor enhance the system's stability obviously, with the bacteria maintaining approximately 81% of their H2 production activity even after undergoing five cycles of photocatalytic hydrogen production. The research brings forward visionary prospects for the field of semi‐artificial photosynthesis, offering new possibilities for advancements in areas such as renewable energy, biomanufacturing, and genetic engineering.

Abstract Background Both instrumented and stand-alone lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) have been widely used to treat lumbar degenerative disease. However, it remains controversial as whether posterior internal fixation is required when LLIF is performed. This meta-analysis aims to compare the radiographic and clinical results between instrumented and stand-alone LLIF. Methods PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Collaboration Library up to March 2023 were searched for studies that compared instrumented and stand-alone LLIF in the treatment of lumbar degenerative disease. The following outcomes were extracted for comparison: interbody fusion rate, cage subsidence rate, reoperation rate, restoration of disc height, segmental lordosis, lumbar lordosis, visual analog scale (VAS) scores of low-back and leg pain and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores. Results 13 studies involving 1063 patients were included. The pooled results showed that instrumented LLIF had higher fusion rate (OR 2.09; 95% CI 1.16–3.75; P = 0.01), lower cage subsidence (OR 0.50; 95% CI 0.37–0.68; P

The stick tea thrip (Dendrothrips minowai) is one of the most serious sucking pests of tea plants (Camellia sinensis) in China, North Korea, and Japan. Plant volatile lures are widely used for both monitoring and mass trapping. Previously, we demonstrated that sticky traps baited with p-anisaldehyde, eugenol, farnesene, or 3-methyl butanal captured significantly more D. minowai in tea plantations, with p-anisaldehyde notably capturing the most. In this study, we showed that D. minowai adults exhibited significantly higher attraction to mixtures of p-anisaldehyde, eugenol, and farnesene compared to an equivalent dose of p-anisaldehyde alone in H-tube olfactometer assays under laboratory conditions. Moreover, in field experiments conducted in 2022, rubber septa impregnated with a ternary blend of p-anisaldehyde, eugenol, and farnesene (at 3–4.5 mg and a ratio of 3:1:1) captured the highest number of adults on sticky traps, outperforming traps bailed with individual components or a solvent control over two weeks. Significantly, the mass trapping strategy employing these lures achieved control efficacies ranging from 62.8% to 70.7% when compared to traps without attractant, which achieved control efficacies of only 14.2% to 35.4% across three test sites in 2023. These results indicate that the combination of p-anisaldehyde, eugenol, and farnesene exhibits an additive or synergistic effect on D. minowai. In conclusion, our findings establish a theoretical framework and provide practical technological support for integrating attractant-based strategies into comprehensive thrips management strategies.

Nickel-rich layered oxides LiNixCoyMn1-x-yO2 (x ≥ 0.8) have been recognized as the preferred cathode materials to develop lithium-ion batteries with high energy density (>300 Wh kg−1). However, the poor cycling stability and rate capability stemming from intergranular cracks and sluggish kinetics hinder their commercialization. To address such issues, a multi-scale boron penetration strategy is designed and applied on the polycrystalline LiNi0.83Co0.11Mn0.06O2 particles that are pre-treated with pore construction. The lithium-ion conductive lithium borate in grain gaps functions as the grain binder that can bear the strain/stress from anisotropic contraction/expansion, and provides more pathways for lithium-ion diffusion. As a result, the intergranular cracks are ameliorated and the lithium-ion diffusion kinetics is improved. Moreover, the coating layer separates the sensitive cathode surface and electrolyte, helping to suppress the parasitic reactions and related gas evolution. In addition, the enhanced structural stability is acquired by strong B-O bonds with trace boron doping. As a result, the boron-modified sample with an optimized boron content of 0.5% (B5-NCM) exhibits a higher initial discharge capacity of 205.5 mAh g−1 at 0.1C (1C = 200 mA g−1) and improved capacity retention of 81.7% after 100 cycles at 1C. Furthermore, the rate performance is distinctly enhanced by high lithium-ion conductive LBO (175.6 mAh g−1 for B5-NCM and 154.6 mAh g−1 for B0-NCM at 5C).

Abstract Rationally designed multiporphyrinic architectures for boosting photodynamic therapy (PDT) have attracted significant attentions recently years due to their great potential for light‐mediated generation of reactive oxygen species. However, there is still a gap between the structure design and their PDT performance for biomedical applications. This tutorial review provides a historical overview on (i) the basic concept of PDT for deeply understanding the porphyrin‐mediated PDT reactions, (ii) developing strategies for constructing porphyrinic architectures, like nanorings, boxes, metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs), covalent‐organic frameworks (COFs), vesicles, etc., where we classified into the following three categories: multiporphyrin arrays, porphyrinic frameworks, and others porphyrin assemblies, (iii) the various application scenarios for clinical cancer therapy and antibacterial infection. Also, the existing challenges and future perspectives on the innovation of porphyrinic architectures for clinical PDT applications are mentioned in the end section. Moreover, the porphyrinic nanomaterials with atomically precise architectures provide an ideal platform for investigating the relationship between structures and PDT outputs, design of personalized “all‐in‐one” theranostic agents, and the popularization and application in wider biomedical fields.

Background: Several medications have been used for glucocorticoids-induced osteoporosis (GIO). However, the best therapeutic option for GIO is still controversial. A Bayesian network meta-analysis was conducted to compare the efficacy and safety of denosumab, teriparatide and bisphosphonates for patients with GIO.Methods: Relevant randomized controlled trials published in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and ClinicalTrials.gov up to August 2023 were searched. The following efficiency and safety outcomes were extracted for comparison: bone mineral density (BMD) percentage changes in lumbar spine, femur neck and total hip, and incidences of adverse events (AEs), serious adverse events (SAEs), vertebrae and non-vertebrae fracture. Bayesian random effects models were used for multiple treatment comparisons.Results: 11 eligible RCTs involving 2,877 patients were identified. All the six medications including alendronate, risedronate, etidronate, zoledronate, teriparatide, and denosumab and were effective in increasing BMD. Teriparatide and denosumab were more effective in improving lumbar spine and femur neck BMD, and reducing vertebrae fracture. Alendronate and denosumab were more effective in improving total hip BMD. Alendronate and teriparatide had the lowest incidences of AEs and SAEs.Conclusion: Teriparatide denosumab and the bisphosphonates are all effective in improving BMD for GIO patients. Based on this network meta-analysis, teriparatide and denosumab have higher efficiency in improving lumbar spine and femur neck BMD, and reducing vertebrae fracture.Systematic Review Registration:10.17605/OSF.IO/2G8YA, identifier CRD42023456305.

Abstract Self‐propelled nanomotors, which can autonomous propelled by harnessing others type of energy, have shown tremendous potential as drug delivery systems for cancer therapy. However, it remains challenging for nanomotors in tumor theranostics because of their structural complexity and deficient therapeutic model. Herein, glucose‐fueled enzymatic nanomotors (GC6@cPt ZIFs) are developed through encapsulation of glucose oxidase (GOx), catalase (CAT), and chlorin e6 (Ce6) using cisplatin‐skeletal zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (cPt ZIFs) for synergetic photochemotherapy. The GC6@cPt ZIFs nanomotors can produce O2 through enzymatic cascade reactions for propelling the self‐propulsion. Trans‐well chamber and multicellular tumor spheroids experiments demonstrate the deep penetration and high accumulation of GC6@cPt nanomotors. Importantly, the glucose‐fueled nanomotor can release the chemotherapeutic cPt and generate reactive oxygen species under laser irradiation, and simultaneously consume intratumoral over‐expressed glutathione. Mechanistically, such processes can inhibit cancer cell energy and destroy intratumoral redox balance to synergistically damage DNA and induce tumor cell apoptosis. Collectively, this work demonstrates that the self‐propelled prodrug‐skeleton nanomotors with oxidative stress activation can highlight a robust therapeutic capability of oxidants amplification and glutathione depletion to boost the synergetic cancer therapy efficiency.

As a crucial component of the autonomous driving task, the vehicle target detection algorithm directly impacts driving safety, particularly in inclement weather situations, where the detection precision and speed are significantly decreased. This paper investigated the You Only Look Once (YOLO) algorithm and proposed an enhanced YOLOv4 for real-time target detection in inclement weather conditions. The algorithm uses the Anchor-free approach to tackle the problem of YOLO preset anchor frame and poor fit. It better adapts to the detected target size, making it suitable for multi-scale target identification. The improved FPN network transmits feature maps to unanchored frames to expand the model's sensory field and maximize the utilization of model feature data. Decoupled head detecting head to increase the precision of target category and location prediction. The experimental dataset BDD-IW was created by extracting specific labeled photos from the BDD100K dataset and fogging some of them to test the proposed method's practical implications in terms of detection precision and speed in Inclement weather conditions. The proposed method is compared to advanced target detection algorithms in this dataset. Experimental results indicated that the proposed method achieved a mean average precision of 60.3%, which is 5.8 percentage points higher than the original YOLOv4; the inference speed of the algorithm is enhanced by 4.5 fps compared to the original, reaching a real-time detection speed of 69.44 fps. The robustness test results indicated that the proposed model has considerably improved the capacity to recognize targets in inclement weather conditions and has achieved high precision in real-time detection.

Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most common musculoskeletal symptoms and severely affects patient quality of life. The majority of people may suffer from LBP during their life-span, which leading to huge economic burdens to family and society. According to the series of the previous studies, intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is considered as the major contributor resulting in LBP. Furthermore, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), mainly including microRNAs (miRNAs), long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs), can regulate diverse cellular processes, which have been found to play pivotal roles in the development of IDD. However, the potential mechanisms of action for ncRNAs in the processes of IDD are still completely unrevealed. Therefore, it is challenging to consider ncRNAs to be used as the potential therapeutic targets for IDD. In this paper, we reviewed the current research progress and findings on ncRNAs in IDD: i). ncRNAs mainly participate in the process of IDD through regulating apoptosis of nucleus pulposus (NP) cells, metabolism of extracellular matrix (ECM) and inflammatory response; ii). the roles of miRNAs/lncRNAs/circRNAs are cross-talk in IDD development, which is similar to the network and can modulate each other; iii). ncRNAs have been attempted to combat the degenerative processes and may be promising as an efficient bio-therapeutic strategy in the future. Hence, this review systematically summarizes the principal pathomechanisms of IDD and shed light on the therapeutic potentials of ncRNAs in IDD.

Abstract Local and general anesthesia are the main techniques used during percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP); however, both are associated with adverse reactions. Monitored anesthesia with dexmedetomidine may be the appropriate sedative and analgesic technique. Few studies have compared monitored anesthesia with other anesthesia modalities during PKP. Our aim was to determine whether monitored anesthesia is an effective alternative anesthetic approach for PKP. One hundred sixty-five patients undergoing PKP for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs) were recruited from a single center in this prospective, non-randomized controlled study. PKP was performed under local anesthesia with ropivacaine (n = 55), monitored anesthesia with dexmedetomidine (n = 55), and general anesthesia with sufentanil/propofol/sevoflurane (n = 55). Perioperative pain was assessed using a visual analogue score (VAS). Hemodynamic variables, operative time, adverse effects, and perioperative satisfaction were recorded. The mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate, VAS, and operative time during monitored anesthesia were significantly lower than local anesthesia. Compared with general anesthesia, monitored anesthesia led to less adverse anesthetic effects. Monitored anesthesia had the highest perioperative satisfaction and the lowest VAS 2 h postoperatively; however, the monitored anesthesia group had the lowest MAP and heart rate 2 h postoperatively. Based on better sedation and analgesia, monitored anesthesia with dexmedetomidine achieved better patient cooperation, a shorter operative time, and lower adverse events during PKP; however, the MAP and heart rate in the monitored anesthesia group should be closely observed after surgery.

Current view of the impact of A-site cation on the stability of perovskite materials and devices is derived from accelerated ageing tests at high temperature, which is beyond normal operation range. Here, the authors reveal the great impact of ageing condition on assessing the photothermal stability of mixed-cation perovskites using high-throughput robot system coupled with machine learning.

Abstract Background Symptomatic osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCF) are increasing, as are acute and chronic pain episodes and progressive spinal deformities. However, there are no clear surgical treatment criteria for patients with these different symptoms. Therefore, this study aims to explore the surgical approaches for the treatment of OVCF with different symptoms and evaluate the feasibility of these surgical approaches. Methods We retrospectively analyzed 238 symptomatic OVCF patients who entered our hospital from June 2013 to 2016. According to clinical characteristics and imaging examinations, these patients were divided into I-V grades and their corresponding surgical methods were developed. I, old vertebral fracture with no apparent instability, vertebral augmentation; II, old vertebral fracture with local instability, posterior reduction fusion internal fixation; III, old fractures with spinal stenosis, posterior decompression and reduction fusion and internal fixation; IV, old vertebral fracture with kyphosis, posterior osteotomy with internal fixation and fusion; V, a mixture of the above types, posterior osteotomy (decompression) with internal fixation and fusion. Postoperative visual analog score (VAS), oswestry disability index (ODI) scores, sagittal index (SI) and ASIA grades of neurological function were observed. Results All 238 patients were followed up for 12–38 months, with an average follow-up of 18.5 months. After graded surgery, the VAS score, ODI score, and vertebral sagittal index SI of 238 patients were significantly improved, and the difference between the last follow-up results and the preoperative comparison was statistically significant (P ˂ 0.05). Besides, the postoperative ASIA grades of 16 patients with nerve injury were improved from 14 patients with preoperative grade C, 2 patients with grade D to 4 patients with postoperative grade D and 12 patients with postoperative grade E. Conclusion In this study, we concluded that graded surgery could better treat symptomatic old OVCF and restore spinal stability. This provides clinical reference and guidance for the treatment of symptomatic old OVCF in the future.

The traditional modelling and simulation analysis methods based on graph theory are difficult to present the structural characteristics and dynamic laws of cyber-physical power systems (CPPS). In order to reduce the complexity of the attack graph, this paper proposes a CPPS robustness analysis method based on the reachable matrix. Based on the evolution of the augmented adjacency matrix of cyber-physical power system, this method uses the reachable matrix to obtain the maximum connectivity matrix of the system (the adjacency matrix corresponding to the largest connected subgraph of cyber-physical power system), and then, evaluates and analyses the robustness of cyber-physical power system. The IEEE118 node standard model is taken as an example to carry out the simulation experiment. The experimental results show that the reachable matrix has feasibility in the robustness analysis of cyber-physical power systems. Further through the contrast experiment found that compared with the robustness analysis method based on graph theory, the proposed method in this paper can reduce the modelling complexity of the mutual coupling network, reduce the complexity of the attack graph, and clearly and intuitively show the structural characteristics and dynamic laws of the network connection in the system.

In this paper, low-electron beam dispersion (EBD) method is used to prepare a kind of double-layer films on different substrates. The bottom layer is a mechanically stirred mixture of the degradable polycaprolactone (PCL) and ciprofloxacin (CIP), and the top layer is polyurethane (PU) film. The molecular structure, chemical composition and morphology of the double-layer films were investigated by FTIR, XPS and SEM. The results showed that the surfaces of the double-layer films are uniform and the thicknesses can reach micron level. In addition, the two layers are well bonded. Then the films were sliced and immersed in PBS solution, and the time-dependent variable was used to analyze the kinetic slow-release behavior of CIP in the double-layer films by agar diffusion antibacterial experiments. It can be seen that sustained release time of CIP in the double-layer films can be up to 7 days, which is due to fact that the upper PU film working as a sealing layer helps to realize the drug slow-release. Based on the above research, the comprehensive performance of the films with the composition of PCL:CIP/PU=1:1/1 is the best.

This paper develops an automatic method to calculate the macrotexture depth of pavement roads, using the tire/road noise data collected by the two directional microphones mounted underneath a moving test vehicle. The directional microphones collect valid tire/road noise signal at the travel speed of 10–110 km/h, and the sampling frequency is 50 kHz. The tire/road noise signal carries significant amount of road surface information, such as macrotexture depth. Using bandpass filter, principal component analysis, speed effect elimination, Gaussian mixture model, and reversible jump Markov Chain Monte Carlo, the macrotexture depth of pavement roads can be calculated from the tire/road noise data, automatically and efficiently. Compared to the macrotexture depth results by the sand-patch method and laser profiler, the acoustic method has been successfully demonstrated in engineering applications for the accurate results of macrotexture depth with excellent repeatability, at the test vehicle’s travel speed of 10-110 km/h.

In order to extend the multisource model to vertical ground motion, we fit the vertical ground motion attenuation relationship of the Wenchuan earthquake. Different from traditional attenuation relationship forms, we propose a simplified ground motion attenuation function including site effect via a flag related to VS30. The regression results show that it has site effect on the vertical ground motion of the Wenchuan earthquake and gradually weakens with the increase in periods. According to residuals analysis, the hanging-wall effect on vertical ground motion is strong for the Wenchuan earthquake, especially in short periods. The result analysis indicates that the shape of the vertical response spectrum based on regression is different from that of the horizontal component and complies with the recommended design vertical response spectrum of FEMA P-1050. V/H (vertical-to-horizontal ratios), as a main way to estimate vertical ground motion, cannot be simply fixed as 2/3. Therefore, site location, site condition, and frequency spectrum have to be considered comprehensively. The regression accuracy of the vertical ground motion of the multisource model is slightly higher than that of the point-source model and lower than that of the finite fault source model. It is expected that this model will serve as an alternative for source-to-site distance when multiple asperities are to be modeled in the absence of the detail fault model to get a general scenario of the future ground motions.

It is more difficult to develop the low-cost spinal cord injury repair materials with high stability and biocompatibility for the biomedical applications. Herein, for the first time, we demonstrated the functional restoration of an injured spinal cord by the nano CeO 2 particles assembled onto poly (∊-caprolactone) (PCL)/resveratrol (RVL) were synthesized using the biocompatible ionic liquid. The as-prepared biocompatible nanomaterials were characterized and confirmed by using different instruments such as Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy for functional groups identification, X-ray diffraction for crystalline nature, Scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy for morphological structure, Dynamic light scattering for size distribution of the nanoparticles and thermogravimetric analysis for thermal properties. The synergetic effect between the uniform distributions of nano-sized CeO 2 particles onto the PCL polymer with RVL can remarkably enhance the catalytic performance. Biofabricated nano-cerium oxide loaded PCL with RVL revealed that treatment significantly preserved hydrogen peroxide and also good catalytic performance. This study presents a nano-sized cerium oxide particles loaded PCL with RVL biocompatible materials have been providing highly efficient regenerative activity and biocompatibility in spinal card regeneration.

Hairy fig (Ficus hirta Vahl.) root is a traditional medicinal and food homologous plant in China. Due to the lignified roots are extremely difficult to cut and package, postharvest treatment is very difficult. Therefore, when the roots of the hairy fig are used as a soup ingredient, the root cortex is simply peeled off and used.In order to promote the development and utilization of hairy fig root, chemical composition, volatile profiles and antioxidant activities of entire root (ER), root cortex (RC) and root internal tissue (RIT) of hairy fig were investigated. Hairy fig root was rich in fat, protein, soluble sugar, polyphenols, flavones and other nutrients, which had significant difference in ER, RC and RIT (P<0.05). Chemical components and nutrients were highest in RC, and lowest in RIT, as well as psoralen and bergapten. In ER, RC and RIT, content of psoralen was 0.70, 0.77, 0.32 mg/g, and 0.27, 0.42, 0.14 mg/g for bergapten. Phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, calcium were the main minerals, and arginine was the main free amino acid. There were 47 volatile components detected in ER, RC and RIT, where aldehydes and heterocyclic compounds were the dominant components. The relative level of aldehydes was 16.98~34.09%, and 6.71~45.23% for heterocyclic compounds. In addition, total relative amount of volatile components was 75.68% in RC, but 57.94% in RIT. From chemical components, nutritional components and volatile components content, the quality of RC was better than ER and RIT. The results might be related to chemicals accumulation position and the physiological structure of different parts of plants. According to antioxidant activity, ER, RC and RIT have scavenging activity of 2,2’-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6- sulphonic acid) (ABTS), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and hydroxyl radicals. The half inhibitory concentration (IC50) of RC on ABTS, DPPH and hydroxyl radical were 3.51, 0.08 and 1360.40 mg/mL, respectively, which were lower than ER and RIT. Based on the drying process of the samples, the RC and RIT exhibited the best drying efficiency. All in all, from the point of view of saving energy and quality, RC not only had better quality but need less energy to dry. These results provided a reference for the development and utilization of hairy fig root cortex as a raw material in medicine, functional food or dietary additives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Graft availability from donation after circulatory death (DCD) is significantly limited by ischaemia reperfusion (IR) injury. Effective strategies to mitigate IR injury in DCD grafts are essential to improve graft quality and expand the donor pool. In this study, liver grafts from DCD pigs were preserved in the University of Wisconsin (UW) solution saturated with 0.1 nM dexmedetomidine (Dex) and various concentrations of noble gases Argon (Ar) and/or Xenon (Xe) at 4 °C for 24 or 72 h. The combined 50% Ar and Dex provided maximum protection to liver grafts by reducing morphological damage, apoptosis, necroptosis, ferroptosis, hepatocyte glycogen depletion, reticulin framework collapse, iron deposition, and oxidative stress. In vitro, human liver Hep G2 cells were preserved in the UW solution saturated with 0.1 nM Dex and 50% Ar in combination at 4 °C for 24 h, followed by recovery in medium at 37 °C for up to 48 h to mimic clinical IR injury. This treatment significantly increased the expression of anti-oxidative stress proteins by promoting the translocation of thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) to mitochondria, thereby inhibiting ferroptosis, increasing plasma membrane integrity, and maintaining cell viability.In summary, The combination of 0.1 nM Dex and 50% Ar may be a promising strategy to reduce ferroptosis and other form cell death, and preserve liver grafts.

Nickel-rich layered oxides (Ni ⩾ 90%) have been recognized as a promising cathode material for Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) owing to their high energy density and low cost. Herein, we prepared 20 LiNi0.90Co0.06Mn0.04O2 (Ni90) samples with various morphologies by regulating sintering temperature and the lithium to transition metal ratio. The correlation between the synthesis conditions, structural properties, and electrochemical performance of Ni90 materials was thoroughly investigated during the evolution from polycrystal to single crystal. A positive and linear relationship was found between sintering temperature and primary particle size (PPS), which affect the electrochemical performance profoundly. Polycrystals with small PPS show a high discharge capacity and low polarization, while single crystals with large PPS have low discharge capacity but excellent cycling stability. Moreover, the sluggish kinetic properties of Ni90 materials at the end of discharge (a sharp drop in lithium-ion diffusion coefficient at the end of discharge) lead the morphology factors to a critical feature that dominates the total discharge capacity. Taking discharge capacity and cycling stability into integrated consideration, the quasi-single crystal Ni90 materials with moderate PPS and the lowest cation disordering is the first choice. These findings contribute to a better understanding of polycrystalline and single-crystal Nickel-rich cathode materials for LIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

FeCoCrNiMo high-entropy alloy was melted by vacuum arc melting. The alloys were vacuum annealed at 873, 1,073, and 1,273 K, respectively. X-ray diffractometer (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), simultaneous thermal analyzer, microhardness tester, and universal testing machine were used to study the microstructure, the thermal stability, hardness and compression mechanics of as-cast and annealed FeCoCrNiMo alloys. The results show that the alloy is composed of face-centered cubic (FCC) phase and σ phase in both as-cast and annealed states, and the σ phase and μ phase can maintain structural stability at 873 K annealing temperature. The μ phase decomposes to form the σ phase after annealing at 1,073 K, and part of the σ phase dissolves in the FCC phase when annealed at 1,273 K. Both the as-cast and annealed alloys have a typical dendritic structure. The σ phase is enriched in dendrites, and the FCC phase exists between the dendrites. The microstructure of the alloys in the annealed state is more refined than that of the alloy in the as-cast state. In the 1,073 K annealed state, the FeCoCrNiMo alloy has the highest hardness, yield strength, and fracture strength. The fracture mechanism of the alloy is intergranular brittle fracture and cleavage fracture.

Article Highlights The microstructure and morphology of WE43 magnesium alloy electron beam welded joints are analyzed. No defects such as oxidation and sag are found in magnesium alloy welds. The test result show, WE43 magnesium alloy electron beam welded joints possess high mechanical properties. By analyzing the tensile fracture morphology of welded joint, it is found that there are both ductile and brittle fracture.

Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most prevalent type of extracranial solid tumour in young children. To improve current understanding of the mechanisms, which modulate cancer cell proliferation, invasion and migration, investigations have focused on microRNAs (miRs), a class of small non-coding RNAs, which post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression during various crucial cell processes. The present study aimed to investigate the role of miR-451 in NB. Human NB tissue and adjacent normal tissue were surgically removed, and the expression of miR-451, and development and pathological characteristics of NB were investigated. The expression of miR-451 was reduced in the NB tissue, compared with that in the adjacent tissue, and correlations between the reduction in miR-451 and unfavourable variables included tumour size (P=0.0081), differentiation (P=0.0217), lymph node metastasis (P=0.0489), tumour-node-metastasis stage (0.0220) and distant metastases (P=0.0201). Transfection of the SK-N-SH and GI-LA-N NB cell lines with miR-451 inhibited cell growth, invasion and migration. Furthermore, the present study demonstrated that macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) was regulated directly by miR-451 and was a critical mediator of the biological effects of miR-451 in NB. The re-expression of MIF markedly reversed the carcinogenic inhibitory property of miR-451. These data provide a more detailed understanding of the essential role of miR-451 in NB, which relies on regulation of the expression of MIF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]