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The ability to tailor a new crystalline structure and associated functionalities with a variety of stimuli is one of the key issues in material design. Developing synthetic routes to functional materials with partially absorbed nonmetallic elements (i.e., hydrogen and nitrogen) can open up more possibilities for preparing novel families of electronically active oxide compounds. Fast and reversible uptake and release of hydrogen in epitaxial ABO3 manganite films through an adapted low-frequency inductively coupled plasma technology is introduced. Compared with traditional dopants of metallic cations, the plasma-assisted hydrogen implantations not only produce reversibly structural transformations from pristine perovskite (PV) phase to a newly found protonation-driven brownmillerite one but also regulate remarkably different electronic properties driving the material from a ferromagnetic metal to a weakly ferromagnetic insulator for a range of manganite (La1−xSrxMnO3) thin films. Moreover, a reversible perovskite-brownmillerite-perovskite transition is achieved at a relatively low temperature (T ≤ 350 °C), enabling multifunctional modulations for integrated electronic systems. The fast, low-temperature control of structural and electronic properties by the facile hydrogenation/dehydrogenation treatment substantially widens the space for exploring new possibilities of novel properties in proton-based multifunctional materials.

Background: Post-stroke depression (PSD) is the most prevalent neuropsychiatric complication following a stroke. The inflammatory theory suggests that PSD may be associated with an overactive inflammatory response. However, research findings regarding inflammation-related indicators in PSD remain inconsistent and elusive. This study aimed to screen the diagnostic markers that helps to distinguish between PSD and post-stroke non-depressed (PSND) patients. Methods: Two GEO datasets, including patients with major depression disease (MDD) and controls (CON, GSE98793), ischemic stroke (IS) and CON (GSE16561), were used to analyzed differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and perform enrichment analysis. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and Random Forest analysis were used to screen the candidate hub genes. CIBERSORT was performed to analyze the immune infiltration. We analyzed the proteins that interact with the hub genes using string database, circRNA-miRNA-mRNA ceRNA network of the hub genes using RNAInter, miRWalk, miRDB and Starbase databases, and the drugs that regulate the hub genes by DSigDB database. We further verified the expression of the hub genes using Quantitative Real-Time PCR from the blood of patients and CON. Results: From the screened 394 DEGs, the DEGs were found primarily related to activation of immune response. PPI network and random forest analysis obtained the hub genes: IL-7R. ROC analysis showed that IL-7R had a good diagnostic and predictive effect on MDD and IS patients. The proportions of macrophages M0 and monocytes in patients were significantly higher than those in CON. We constructed PPI network and ceRNA network that related to IL-7R. The perturbagen signatures and computational drug signatures were found that can target IL-7R. The expression of IL-7R in MDD, PSND and PSD patients was lower than that in CON, and the expression of IL-7R in PSD patients was lower than that in PSND patients. Conclusion: These findings indicate that IL-7R may serve as a diagnostic marker to distinguish between PSD and PSND patients, and targeting IL-7R as a therapeutic target could potentially improve treatment outcomes for PSD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

N-doped ultra-microporous activated carbon was made from Chenopodium quinoa Willd. straw in the Tibetan Plateau region and cesium chloride as activator and used for H2 adsorption and storage. Its structure was characterized by the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) method and other techniques. The results showed that the adsorbent had a well-developed microporous structure, and its specific surface area was as high as 804 m2 ·g-1. Its major pore sizes were all distributed in the ultra-micropores of 0.62 nm. The adsorbent also had a high H2 adsorption storage capacity, which could reach 12.2 cm3·g-1 at an adsorption pressure of 1 MPa and an adsorption temperature of 298 K. This study provides a new way to improve the high value utilization of Chenopodium quinoa Willd. straw and solid hydrogen storage and provides corresponding evidence that CsCl can be used as an activator for ultra-microporous activated carbon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Marine ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), primarily found in dark fish, may prevent colorectal cancer progression, in part through inhibition of prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2). However, data in humans are limited.Methods: We examined marine ω-3 PUFAs and fish intake and survival among 1,011 colon cancer patients enrolled in Cancer and Leukemia Group B 89803 between 1999 and 2001 and followed through 2009. Diet was assessed during and 6 months after chemotherapy. We used Cox proportional hazards regression to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for disease-free (DFS), recurrence-free (RFS), and overall survival (OS).Results: We observed 343 recurrences and 305 deaths (median follow-up: 7 years). Patients in the highest vs. lowest quartile of marine ω-3 PUFA intake had an HR for DFS of 0.72 (95% CI, 0.54-0.97; Ptrend = 0.03). Individuals who consumed dark fish ≥1/week versus never had longer DFS (HR 0.65; 95% CI, 0.48-0.87; P-value = 0.007), RFS (HR 0.61; 95% CI, 0.46-0.86; Ptrend = 0.007), and OS (HR 0.68; 95% CI, 0.48-0.96; Ptrend = 0.04). In a subset of 510 patients, the association between marine ω-3 PUFA intake and DFS appeared stronger in patients with high PTGS2 expression (HR 0.32; 95% CI, 0.11-0.95; Ptrend = 0.01) compared with patients with absent/low PTGS2 expression (HR 0.78; 95% CI, 0.48-1.27; Ptrend = 0.35; Pinteraction = 0.19).Conclusions: Patients with high intake of marine ω-3 PUFAs and dark fish after colon cancer diagnosis may have longer DFS.Impact: Randomized controlled trials examining dark fish and/or marine ω-3 PUFA supplements and colon cancer recurrence/survival are needed. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 27(4); 438-45. ©2018 AACR.

Purpose After curative resection of gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma, Intergroup Trial 0116 (Phase III trial of postoperative adjuvant radiochemotherapy for high risk gastric and gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma: Demonstrated superior survival for patients who received postoperative chemoradiotherapy with bolus fluorouracil (FU) and leucovorin (LV) compared with surgery alone. CALGB 80101 (Alliance; Phase III Intergroup Trial of Adjuvant Chemoradiation After Resection of Gastric or Gastroesophageal Adenocarcinoma) assessed whether a postoperative chemoradiotherapy regimen that replaced FU plus LV with a potentially more active systemic therapy could further improve overall survival. Patients and Methods Between April 2002 and May 2009, 546 patients who had undergone a curative resection of stage IB through IV (M0) gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma were randomly assigned to receive either postoperative FU plus LV before and after combined FU and radiotherapy (FU plus LV arm) or postoperative epirubicin, cisplatin, and infusional FU (ECF) before and after combined FU and radiotherapy (ECF arm). Results With a median follow-up duration of 6.5 years, 5-year overall survival rates were 44% in the FU plus LV arm and 44% in the ECF arm ( Plogrank = .69; multivariable hazard ratio, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.78 to 1.24 comparing ECF with FU plus LV). Five-year disease-free survival rates were 39% in the FU plus LV arm and 37% in the ECF arm ( Plogrank = .94; multivariable hazard ratio, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.77 to 1.20). In post hoc analyses, the effect of treatment seemed to be similar across all examined patient subgroups. Conclusion After a curative resection of gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma, postoperative chemoradiotherapy using a multiagent regimen of ECF before and after radiotherapy does not improve survival compared with standard FU and LV before and after radiotherapy.

Extensive studies have been conducted to diagnose and predict students' academic performance by analyzing a large amount of data related to their learning behaviors in a blended learning environment. But there is a lack of research examining how individualized learning interventions could improve students' academic performance in such a learning context. In this study, a quasi-experiment was designed to investigate the effect of an individualized intervention approach on students' course performance and learning behaviors in a blended course. Forty-nine Chinese tertiary students undertaking the course were randomly assigned into two groups -- the experimental and control groups. During the course, the experimental group received individualized interventions, while the control group received undifferentiated interventions. The data about these participants' learning behaviors were collected over 15 weeks. The results indicated that, compared with the control group, the experimental group showed significantly better academic performance, a higher level of learning motivation, attitude and self-efficacy, more active learning behaviors, and fewer passive learning behaviors. The control group revealed similar online learning time, but significantly more resource utilization and forum access. It is concluded that personalized learning intervention can effectively improve students' learning behaviors, attitude, motivation, self-efficacy, and academic performance in a blended learning environment.

Lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries are considered as potential candidates for future‐oriented energy storage systems. However, their practical deployment is hampered by the shuttle effect and the sluggish reaction kinetics of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs). A key strategy to mitigate these challenges is to develop efficient heterojunction catalysts to enhance reaction kinetics and suppress the shuttle effect. In this study, a NiS2‐CoS2 heterojunction is introduced to address these challenges with density functional theory (DFT) calculations employed to determine the optimal combination from 5  ×  5 crystal plane configurations. The identified NiS2(210)‐CoS2(200) combination demonstrates excellent anchoring effects and catalytic properties for LiPSs, significantly enhancing rate performance (839.9 mAh g−1 at 2 C and 730.8 mAh g−1 at 3 C) and cycling stability. Furthermore, in situ Raman and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) analyses reveal that the NiS2‐CoS2 heterojunction rapidly catalyzes the conversion of LiPSs, reducing their migration toward the lithium anode and thereby suppressing the shuttle effect. The design strategy for transition metal sulfide heterojunctions offers an efficient approach to accelerating polysulfide conversion kinetics, effectively addressing the limitations of Li–S batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Repeat transurethral resection of bladder tumour (reTURB) is a conventional treatment for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) to enhance prognosis. However, the necessity of reTURB in NMIBC remains controversial owing to upstaging of treatments and new evidence. Objectives: We performed an umbrella review to determine the need for reTURB in patients with NMIBC. Design: We extracted data from meta-analyses that were screened out after a systematic search of PubMed, Embase, the Web of Science and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Methods: Risk of Bias in Systematic Reviews and the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation tools were used to assess the quality of each included meta-analysis and outcomes. Results: Our study included seven meta-analyses. Two studies assessed the efficiency of reTURB in patients who underwent en bloc resection of bladder tumours (ERBT). Patients who underwent ERBT reported low residual tumour and upstaging rates of 5.9% and 0.3%, respectively. Conversely, patients who underwent conventional transurethral resection for bladder cancer (cTURB) had high residual tumour rates. Patients who underwent cTURB and reTURB had significantly improved 1-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) compared to those who underwent initial cTURB alone. In terms of progression-free survival (PFS), a meta-analysis reported that patients who underwent cTURB and reTURB had significantly improved PFS compared with those who underwent initial cTURB alone. In the subgroup analyses of ERBT, reTURB did not affect the RFS and PFS of patients who received ERBT. Currently, only a limited number of randomised clinical trials have evaluated reTURB, and various factors have influenced its efficacy. Conclusion: There was significant variation in survival outcomes among patients undergoing reTURB. The necessity and efficacy of reTURB depend on numerous factors, such as surgical approach, equipment and medication usage. Patients eligible for ERBT may constitute a group that does not require reTURB. Further clinical trials are required to validate these findings. Registration: This umbrella review was registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD42023439078). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endophytic fungi are a crucial microbial resource that can influence plant growth and development through their interactions with host plants. Gentiana straminea Maxim. is an important traditional Tibetan herb used to treat a range of diseases in the Qinghai-Tibetan region. However, the diversity and community structure of endophytic fungi in the species remain poorly understood. In this study, a total of 944 strains of endophytic fungi were isolated from the roots, stems, and leaves of G. straminea from four different altitudes. A total of 87 OTUs were identified through sequence alignment, comprising 6 classes, 15 orders, 25 families, and 44 genera. The colonization rate and diversity of endophytic fungi were affected by tissue type and altitude. With the exception of Xining, the endophytic fungi colonization rate of tissues was roots>leaves>stems. Moreover, the α -diversity of endophytic fungi among different tissues was leaves>stems>roots. Notably, the phylogenetic diversity index in leaves was significantly higher than that in roots. In addition, the colonization rate and diversity of endophytic fungi in leaves and stems demonstrated a decline with the increasing altitude. The β -diversity analysis revealed significant differences in the endophytic fungi of G. straminea at varying altitudes. In roots, geographical factors, such as latitude and longitude, were the primary drivers of variation, whereas environmental factors, including temperature and precipitation, had a greater influence on endophytes in leaves and stems. In addition, the results of the endophytic fungi association preference, linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe), and co-network analysis indicated that these differential endophytic fungi may play a significant role in the authenticity and stress resistance of G. straminea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction of poly‐dioxolane (PDOL) solid‐state electrolytes by in situ polymerization is an effective way to achieve high performance lithium‐metal batteries. However, the poor electrochemical stability and safety issues of linear PDOL limit their further application. In this work, a multifunctional crosslinker has been introduced to construct a flame retardant crosslinked quasi solid‐state electrolyte (FCDOL). Due to the synergistic effect of the crosslinked network, the prepared FCDOL achieves excellent room temperature ionic conductivity (0.72 mS cm−1), high Li+ transference number (0.655), wide electrochemical stabilization window (4.8 V vs Li/Li+), and impressive performance when matched with lithium metal anodes (>4000 h plating/stripping) and high‐voltage cathodes, and the corresponding pouch cells can withstand abusive tests such as bending and cutting, encouraging that in situ polymerization of SPEs provides new insights into high‐energy density and high‐safety solid‐state batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]