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Selenium sulfides are considered attractive cathode materials for lithium storage due to their higher specific capacities than elemental selenium and better electrical conductivity than sulfur. However, due to the dissolution of intermediate polyselenides and polysulfides, selenium sulfides suffer from fast capacity degradation and low coulombic efficiency. Herein, we report a chelation competition induced polymerization (CCIP) strategy for the synthesis of multi-yolk–shell Co4N@carbon (MYS-Co4N@C) nanoboxes as an advanced SeS2 host material, which can simultaneously achieve good rate capability and cycling stability. Due to both physical confinement by carbon shells and strong chemical affinity of polar Co4N yolks, the MYS-Co4N@C nanoboxes can restrict the outward diffusion of Sx2− and Sex2− intermediates to suppress self-discharge and boost cycling stability. Benefitting from the high metallic conductivity and catalytic activity of Co4N, the SeS2-filled MYS-Co4N@C composite cathode also shows good electron/ion transport properties, and thus the redox kinetics and utilization ratio of the SeS2 active material can be improved. As a result, a high specific capacity retention and a superior rate capability can be achieved at a high SeS2 loading content of 70 wt%. When the mass loading of SeS2 is increased to 4.5 mg cm−2, the composite cathode still exhibits high reversible capacity and stable cycle performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Effective traction is an important prerequisite for successful endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). The combined orthodontic rubber band (ORB) and clip method was effective in colorectal cancer ESD. To date, the method was not reported in gastric ESD. This study aimed to investigate its efficacy and safety for gastric neoplasms ESD. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data of 118 patients with gastric neoplasms treated by ESD from November 2020 to April 2022, 43 by ORB-ESD and 75 by the conventional ESD. The primary outcome measure was the ESD procedure time. Clinical data on efficacy and safety were also collected and analyzed. Propensity score matching (PSM) matched the patients in both groups. Results: PSM successfully matched 31 pairs of patients. The ORB-ESD operation time was shorter (median [interquartile range], 35 [30–48] vs. 49 [40–70] min, P < 0.001) and dissection speed was higher (median [interquartile range], 22.6 [14.4–29.3] vs. 13.5 [9.6–17.9] mm2/min, P < 0.001) than in the conventional ESD. The groups were similar in muscular injury rate, frequency and time of use of thermal hemostatic forceps, postoperative adverse events, en bloc resection, and R0 resection rate (P > 0.05). Conclusions: Compared to the conventional ESD, ORB-ESD significantly reduced the procedure time and increased the dissection speed, proving beneficial to gastric ESD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Steel fenders have been widely used to protect bridges from vessel collisions because of their relatively large plastic deformability and energy dissipation capacity. In the design of a steel fender, detailed finite element (FE) models are usually employed. However, detailed FE analysis involves complicated modeling and substantial computation time. This method is often not applicable, particularly during preliminary design iterations. For this reason, a simplified analytical method was developed in this paper with the aim to efficiently design steel fenders under vessel collisions. For primary individual members of steel fenders, the deformation mechanisms and models as well as participations during various collision scenarios were discussed in detail. By combining the contributions of primary members, a general analytical procedure was presented to rapidly estimate the force-deformation relationship of steel fenders under various bow impacts. For the fixed and floating steel fenders, several collision scenarios were simulated by FE models to verify the accuracy of the developed analytical method. The crushing resistances and energy dissipation capacities estimated by the developed analytical method were in good agreement with those obtained from the FE simulations. Based on the analytical method, an energy-based design approach was proposed for the efficient design of steel fenders. The developed design approach was demonstrated to be capable of predicting the crush depth and peak impact force of a steel fender with good accuracy. • A simplified analytical method was developed to rapidly evaluate the performance of steel fenders under vessel collisions. • The crushing resistances and energy dissipation capacities of steel fenders can be predicted well by the proposed method. • An energy-based design approach using the developed method was proposed and verified for the design of a steel fender. • A measure combining steel plates with rubbers was proposed to reduce an initial slamming force for floating fenders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium metal anode is regarded as an attractive option for next-generation high-energy-density rechargeable batteries. However, the unstable solid-electrolyte interphases between lithium anode and electrolyte lead to uncontrolled growth of lithium dendrites. Herein, we describe the surface reconstruction of Li anode by molecular beam epitaxy deposition of an ultrathin and compact bismuth film. During Li plating process, the electrochemical active bismuth film is prone to form a close-knit lithiophilic lithium-bismuthide (Li x Bi) alloy layer through electrochemical alloying with lithium metal. Benefiting from its high ionic conductivity, lithiophilic characteristics, high chemical stability, good mechanical properties and air/moisture tolerance, the Li x Bi-rich layer efficiently inhibit the parasitic reactions between Li anode and electrolyte, and thus favor a dendrite-free Li plating/stripping process, as verified by electrochemical tests and in-depth analyses. Symmetric cells with Bi-coated Li electrodes show a stable and dendrite-free cycling behavior at 1.0 mAh cm − 2 for 300 h and superior rate performance up to 5.0 mA cm−2. When Bi-coated lithium anodes are paired with a LiNi 0.5 Co 0.2 Mn 0.3 O 2 cathode, a stable cycling life for over 300 cycles at 0.5C with a high capacity retention rate of 97% is obtained. This work provides new insights and strategies for the construction of Li-rich alloy layers on lithium metal surface via molecular beam epitaxy that enables dendrite-free and high-performance lithium metal batteries. A compact and ultrathin bismuth film is deposited on Li anode surface by molecular beam epitaxy method, leading to the in-situ formation of a lithiophilic Li x Bi alloy interphase after lithium plating. The as-formed Li x Bi-rich layer exhibits favorable charge transfer characteristics, mechanical properties, electrochemical stability and air/moisture tolerance, enabling uniform Li nucleation and dendrite-free homogeneous Li electrodeposition. Image 1 • A compact and ultrathin bismuth film is deposited on Li metal surface by molecular beam epitaxy method. • The Bi-coated Li anode offers good ionic conductivity, lithiophilicity, chemical stability and air/moisture tolerance. • The LixBi-rich surface layer formed on Bi-coated Li anode inhibits parasitic reactions and leads to homogeneous Li plating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Layered transition metal (TM) oxides of the stoichiometry NaxMO2 (M = TM) have shown great promise in sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs); however, they are extremely sensitive to moisture. To date, most reported titanium‐based layered anodes exhibit a P2‐type structure. In contrast, O3‐type compounds are rarely investigated and their synthesis is challenging due to their higher percentage of unstable Ti3+ than the P2 type. Here, a pure phase and highly crystalline O3‐type Na0.73Li0.36Ti0.73O2 with high performance is successfully proposed in SIBs. This material delivers a reversible capacity of 108 mAh g−1 with a stable and safe potential of 0.75 V versus Na/Na+. In situ X‐ray diffraction reveals that this material does not undergo any phase transitions and exhibits a near‐zero volume change upon Na+ insertion/de‐insertion, which ensures exceptional long cycle life over 6000 cycles. Importantly, it is found that this O3‐Na0.73Li0.36Ti0.73O2 shows superior moisture stability, even when immersed into water, which are both elusive for conventional layered TM oxides in SIBs. It is believed that the small interlayer distance and high occupation of interlayer vacancy promise such unprecedented water stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Bone morphogenetic protein 6 (BMP-6) is known for its ability to stimulate bone and cartilage formation. The rib cage is an important skeletal structure; however, there has been limited research undertaken on the effects of the bmp6 gene on rib development. This study showcases the effective utilisation of CRISPR/Cas9 technology for the purpose of disrupting the bmp6 gene in silver carp, leading to the creation of chimeras in the P0 generation, marking the first instance of such an achievement. The chimeras exhibited complete viability, normal appearance, and partial intermuscular bones loss, with approximately 30% of them displaying rib bifurcation or bending. Subsequently, a transcriptome analysis on ribs of P0 chimeras and wild-type silver carp was conducted, leading to the identification of 934 genes exhibiting differential expression. A KEGG analysis revealed that the up-regulated genes such as tnfα, fos, and ctgf may facilitate the proliferation and differentiation of osteoclasts, whereas the down-regulation of genes such as tgfb2 and tgfbr1 may hinder the formation and specialisation of osteoblasts, ultimately resulting in rib abnormalities. This study presents novel findings on the impact of bmp6 gene deletion on the rib development of silver carp, while simultaneously investigating the previously unexplored molecular mechanisms underlying rib defects in fish. Bone morphogenetic protein 6 (BMP-6) is a constituent of the TGF-β superfamily, known for its ability to stimulate bone and cartilage formation. The investigation of bmp6's involvement in the formation of intermuscular bones in fish has garnered significant attention in recent years. The rib cage is an important skeletal structure that plays a protective function for internal organs in fish. However, there has been limited research conducted on the effects of the bmp6 gene on rib development. Silver carp is one of four major fish in China, favoured for its affordability and tender muscle. Nevertheless, the presence of numerous intermuscular bones in silver carp significantly hinders the advancement of its palatability and suitability for processing. This study showcases the effective utilisation of CRISPR/Cas9 technology for the purpose of disrupting the bmp6 gene in silver carp, leading to the creation of chimeras in the P0 generation, marking the first instance of such an achievement. The chimeras exhibited complete viability, normal appearance, and partial intermuscular bones loss, with approximately 30% of them displaying rib bifurcation or bending. Subsequently, a transcriptome analysis on ribs of P0 chimeras and wild-type silver carp was conducted, leading to the identification of 934 genes exhibiting differential expression, of which 483 were found to be up-regulated and 451 were found to be down-regulated. The results of the KEGG analysis revealed that the "NF-kappa B signalling pathway", "Hippo signalling pathway", "osteoclast differentiation", and "haematopoietic cell lineage" exhibited enrichment and displayed a significant correlation with bone development. The up-regulated genes such as tnfα, fos, and ctgf in pathways may facilitate the proliferation and differentiation of osteoclasts, whereas the down-regulation of genes such as tgfb2 and tgfbr1 in pathways may hinder the formation and specialisation of osteoblasts, ultimately resulting in rib abnormalities. This study presents novel findings on the impact of bmp6 gene deletion on the rib development of silver carp, while simultaneously investigating the previously unexplored molecular mechanisms underlying rib defects in fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We analyzed human papillomavirus (HPV) transmission among men who have sex with men (MSM) during the COVID-19 nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs). • HPV transmission among MSM changed during the implementation of COVID-19 NPIs. • The prevalence and incidence of HPV decreased during implementation of NPIs. • The clearance of HPV increased during implementation of NPIs. • The impact of COVID-19 NPIs on HPV may be due to disruption of sexual behavior. This study aimed to assess the effects of COVID-19 nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) on the human papillomavirus (HPV) epidemic among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Xinjiang, China. In our cohort study, we enrolled and followed HIV-negative MSM in Xinjiang, China, between 2016 and 2022. Anal swab samples were collected to test for HPV DNA. We used interrupted time series analysis to characterize the temporal trends in HPV prevalence, incidence, and clearance before (September 01, 2016, to July 16, 2020) and during the implementation of COVID-19 NPIs in Xinjiang (July 17, 2020, to March 31, 2022). We used binomial segmented regression models to estimate the impact of COVID-19 NPIs on HPV prevalence, incidence, and clearance. We recruited 1296 MSM who contributed to a total of 5374 HPV tests in our study. COVID-19 NPIs were associated with a 37.9% decrease in the prevalence (prevalence ratio, 0.621; 95% confidence interval, 0.465-0.830), 52.2% decrease in the incidence (risk ratio, 0.478; 0.377-0.606), and 40.4% increase in the clearance (risk ratio, 1.404; 1.212-1.627) of HPV of any genotype after the implementation of COVID-19 NPIs in Xinjiang. COVID-19 NPIs may lead to lower transmission and higher clearance of HPV among MSM. Future studies are needed to clarify the longer-term impact of COVID-19 on the transmission and natural history of HPV among MSM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the modified KM (Kock–Mecking) model, a cutting constitutive model of AA7050-T7451 considering anisotropy is established in this article. With the aid of high-speed cutting FEM simulation and experiment, the micro-influence mechanism of anisotropy on high-speed cutting hardening of AA7050-T7451 was studied from three aspects: micro-morphology, residual strain, and plastic deformation. By analyzing the macro-micro correlation mechanism of dislocation density, work hardening, and cutting temperature, a "Three-Stage" model of work hardening is put forward. The results show that the work-hardening behavior of high-speed cutting AA7050-T7451 shows obvious anisotropic characteristics. And the work hardening degree is less than 0° and 90° at the material forming angle of 45°. At the 45° forming angle, the material dislocation density is the highest, and the grains are most prone to the dislocation slip. The macroscopic properties show that the microhardness of the material is small. The "Three-stage" model reveals the micro-evolution mechanism of work-hardening behavior. It is found that the dislocation density dominates the work-hardening behavior in stages I and II, and cutting temperature dominates the work-hardening behavior in stage III. The microhardness of the material increases sharply at first and then tends to be flat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ti-6Al-4V with significant anisotropy was taken as the research object to analyze the influence of sampling direction and cutting speed on the chip morphology. Based on the fracture damage model of Ti-6Al-4V which was constructed in the previous stage, high-speed orthogonal cutting simulation was carried out in finite element software. The accuracy of the model was verified by cutting experiments. The chip morphology was quantitatively characterized by the chip segmentation degree and chip segmentation frequency. The results showed that the accuracy of the model was high, and it could accurately reproduce the chip formation process of the material in the high-speed cutting process. It was found that material direction and cutting speed had significant effects on chip morphology. When the cutting speed was constant, the chip morphology under different directions was different. The critical cutting speed of chip changing from serrated chips to fragmented chips was different when the direction ranged from 0° to 90°. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Properties of alkali-excited fly ash aerogel foam concrete were studied. • The microstructure of alkali-excited fly ash aerogel foamed concrete was analyzed. • Test variable included aerogel particles, fly ash, foam and polypropylene fiber. • Developed concrete exhibited excellent thermal performance and mechanical strength. • Aerogel used in concrete had excellent thermal insulation performance. With increasing focus on low-carbon energy conservation and environmental protection, there is a need to consider all aspects of life in future developments. To meet the concept and requirements of energy conservation and environmental protection in the building industry, we have developed alkali-excited aerogel-foamed concrete that exhibits excellent thermal insulation performance and mechanical strength. The variables involved in its production include fly ash, foam, aerogels, and polypropylene fibres. In this study, the microstructure and mechanical and thermal properties of alkali-excited fly ash aerogel foam concrete was analysed. The results indicated that fly ash can replace a portion of the cement, resulting in a reduction in the thermal conductivity of the concrete. The addition of aerogels and foams to the concrete can significantly decrease its thermal conductivity. Specifically, when the aerogel content reaches 12 % and the foam content reaches 75 %, the thermal conductivity of the concrete decreases from 0.498 W/m·K to 0.183 W/m·K and 0.19 W/m·K, respectively. However, this decrease in thermal conductivity comes at a cost of approximately 50 % reduction in the flexural and compressive strengths of the concrete. The findings reveal that the aerogel has excellent thermal insulation performance similar to that of the foam, but it has little influence on the mechanical properties of the concrete. Additionally, an increase in the polypropylene fibre content significantly improves the mechanical properties of alkali-excited fly ash aerogel concrete, but the thermal properties of the concrete remain mostly unaffected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, TA1 was selected as the research object, and EBSD was used to determine the microstructure information of the samples, then grain size considering the distribution was calculated according to the expected value and standard deviation of the log-normal distribution. The attenuation coefficients at different frequencies were extracted. Based on the Rayleigh scattering, the grain size prediction model was established by fitting the attenuation coefficient at different frequencies to the grain size. Taking the attenuation coefficients at different frequencies as inputs and grain size as output, the GA-BP neural network model was established. The average prediction error of the GA-BP model was 10.48%, which verified the feasibility of GA-BP neural network in grain size characterization and prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability to freeze and stabilize reaction intermediates in their metastable states and obtain their structural and chemical information with high spatial resolution is critical to advance materials technologies such as catalysis and batteries. Here, we develop an electrified operando -freezing methodology to preserve these metastable states under electrochemical reaction conditions for cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) imaging and spectroscopy. Using Cu catalysts for CO 2 reduction as a model system, we observe restructuring of the Cu catalyst in a CO 2 atmosphere while the same catalyst remains intact in air at the nanometer scale. Furthermore, we discover the existence of a single valence Cu (1+) state and C-O bonding at the electrified liquid-solid interface of the operando -frozen samples, which are key reaction intermediates that traditional ex situ measurements fail to detect. This work highlights our novel technique to study the local structure and chemistry of electrified liquid-solid interfaces, with broad impact beyond catalysis.

Histones methyltransferase NSD3 targeting H3K36 is frequently disordered and mutant in various cancers, while the function of NSD3 during cancer initiation and progression remains unclear. In this study, it is proved that downregulated level of NSD3 is linked to clinical features and poor survival in lung adenocarcinoma. In vivo, NSD3 inhibited the proliferation, immigration, and invasion ability of lung adenocarcinoma. Meanwhile, NSD3 suppressed glycolysis by inhibiting HK2 translation, transcription, glucose uptake, and lactate production in lung adenocarcinoma. Mechanistically, as an intermediary, NSD3 binds to PPP1CB and p-STAT3 in protein levels, thus forming a trimer to dephosphorylate the level of p-STAT3 by PPP1CB, leading to the suppression of HK2 transcription. Interestingly, the phosphorylation function of PPP1CB is related to the concentration of carbon dioxide and pH value in the culture environment. Together, this study revealed the critical non-epigenetic role of NSD3 in the regulation of STAT3-dependent glycolysis, providing a piece of compelling evidence for targeting the NSD3/PPP1CB/p-STAT3 in lung adenocarcinoma., (© 2024 The Author(s). Advanced Science published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Background and Study Aims: Endoscopic submucosal excavation (ESE) and endoscopic full-thickness resection (EFTR) are common endoscopic minimally invasive methods for treatment of gastric submucosal tumors (SMTs). However, it is sometimes difficult to expose the tumor optimally. This study aimed to explore the safety and effectiveness of tumor traction using orthodontic rubber band (ORB) combined with clips to assist ESE and EFTR of gastric SMTs., Patients and Methods: The data of patients with gastric SMTs who underwent ESE or EFR at the Endoscopy Center of the 900th Hospital of PLA from January 2021 to May 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Baseline characteristics and clinical outcomes, including operation time and postoperative adverse events, were compared between patients receiving ORB-ESE/EFTR and conventional ESE/EFTR., Results: A total of 52 patients were enrolled: 16 patients who underwent ORB-ESE /EFTR and 36 patients who underwent conventional ESE/EFTR. Median procedure time was significantly shorter in the ORB-ESE/EFTR group than in the conventional ESE/EFTR group (32 [IQR, 23.8, 38.0] minutes vs. 39.0 [IQR, 34.6-67.3] minutes, P = 0.002). Baseline characteristics, en bloc resection rate, incidence of postoperative adverse events, and postoperative pathology results were comparable between the two groups (P > 0.05)., Conclusion: Use of ORB with clips-assisted traction during ESE/EFTR of gastric SMT can shorten the surgical time. Further large prospective studies are needed to confirm the findings of this study., (Copyright © 2024 Pan-Arab Association of Gastroenterology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Simvastatin (Sim), a hydroxy-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor, has been widely used in prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Studies have suggested that Sim exerts anti-fibrotic effects by interfering fibroblast proliferation and collagen synthesis. This study was to determine whether Sim could alleviate silica-induced pulmonary fibrosis and explore the underlying mechanisms., Methods: The rat model of silicosis was established by the tracheal perfusion method and treated with Sim (5 or 10 mg/kg), AICAR (an AMPK agonist), and apocynin (a NOX inhibitor) for 28 days. Lung tissues were collected for further analyses including pathological histology, inflammatory response, oxidative stress, epithelial mesenchymal transformation (EMT), and the AMPK-NOX pathway., Results: Sim significantly reduced silica-induced pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis at 28 days after administration. Sim could reduce the levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α and transforming growth factor-β1 in lung tissues. The expressions of hydroxyproline, α-SMA and vimentin were down-regulated, while E-cad was increased in Sim-treated rats. In addition, NOX4, p22pox, p40phox, p-p47phox/p47phox expressions and ROS levels were all increased, whereas p-AMPK/AMPK was decreased in silica-induced rats. Sim or AICAR treatment could notably reverse the decrease of AMPK activity and increase of NOX activity induced by silica. Apocynin treatment exhibited similar protective effects to Sim, including down-regulating of oxidative stress and inhibition of the EMT process and inflammatory reactions., Conclusions: Sim attenuates silica-induced pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis by downregulating EMT and oxidative stress through the AMPK-NOX pathway., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Clinical management of Asian BRCA1 and BRCA2 pathogenic variants (PV) carriers remains challenging due to imprecise age-specific breast (BC) and ovarian cancer (OC) risks estimates. We aimed to refine these estimates using six multi-ethnic studies in Asia., Methods: Data were collected on 271 BRCA1 and 301 BRCA2 families from Malaysia and Singapore, ascertained through population/hospital-based case-series (88%) and genetic clinics (12%). Age-specific cancer risks were estimated using a modified segregation analysis method, adjusted for ascertainment., Findings: BC and OC relative risks (RRs) varied across age groups for both BRCA1 and BRCA 2. The age-specific RR estimates were similar across ethnicities and country of residence. For BRCA1 carriers of Malay, Indian and Chinese ancestry born between 1950 and 1959 in Malaysia, the cumulative risk (95% CI) of BC by age 80 was 40% (36%-44%), 49% (44%-53%) and 55% (51%-60%), respectively. The corresponding estimates for BRCA2 were 29% (26-32%), 36% (33%-40%) and 42% (38%-45%). The corresponding cumulative BC risks for Singapore residents from the same birth cohort, where the underlying population cancer incidences are higher compared to Malaysia, were higher, varying by ancestry group between 57 and 61% for BRCA1, and between 43 and 47% for BRCA2 carriers. The cumulative risk of OC by age 80 was 31% (27-36%) for BRCA1 and 12% (10%-15%) for BRCA2 carriers in Malaysia born between 1950 and 1959; and 42% (34-50%) for BRCA1 and 20% (14-27%) for BRCA2 carriers of the same birth cohort in Singapore. There was evidence of increased BC and OC risks for women from >1960 birth cohorts (p-value = 3.6 × 10 -5 for BRCA1 and 0.018 for BRCA 2)., Interpretation: The absolute age-specific cancer risks of Asian carriers vary depending on the underlying population-specific cancer incidences, and hence should be customised to allow for more accurate cancer risk management., Funding: Wellcome Trust [grant no: v203477/Z/16/Z]; CRUK (PPRPGM-Nov20∖100002)., Competing Interests: Z.Z received honorarium from AstraZeneca. J.N received research funding from AstraZeneca and MiRXES. A.C.A is listed as creator of the BOADICEA model which has been licensed by Cambridge Enterprise, from which University of Cambridge may receive royalties. N.A.M.T received honoraria for lectures from Zuellig Pharma Sdn Bhd and Astra Zeneca, received support for attending meetings and/or travel from MSD and Astra Zeneca. S.Y.Y received speaker's honoraria from Astra Zeneca, she is the president of Genetic Counselling Society Malaysia., (© 2024 The Author(s).)

We expand the concept of epitaxy to a regime of "twisted epitaxy" with the epilayer crystal orientation between two substrates influenced by their relative orientation. We annealed nanometer-thick gold (Au) nanoparticles between two substrates of exfoliated hexagonal molybdenum disulfide (MoS 2 ) with varying orientation of their basal planes with a mutual twist angle ranging from 0° to 60°. Transmission electron microscopy studies show that Au aligns midway between the top and bottom MoS 2 when the twist angle of the bilayer is small (<~7°). For larger twist angles, Au has only a small misorientation with the bottom MoS 2 that varies approximately sinusoidally with twist angle of the bilayer MoS 2 . Four-dimensional scanning transmission electron microscopy analysis further reveals a periodic strain variation (<|±0.5%|) in the Au nanodisks associated with the twisted epitaxy, consistent with the Moiré registry of the two MoS 2 twisted layers.

Abstract: Cancer is a major threat to human health and causes death worldwide. Research on the role of radiotherapy (RT) in the treatment of cancer is progressing; however, RT not only causes fatal DNA damage to tumor cells, but also affects the interactions between tumor cells and different components of the tumor microenvironment (TME), including immune cells, fibroblasts, macrophages, extracellular matrix, and some soluble products. Some cancer cells can survive radiation and have shown strong resistance to radiation through interaction with the TME. Currently, the complex relationships between the tumor cells and cellular components that play major roles in various TMEs are poorly understood. This review explores the relationship between RT and cell-cell communication in the TME from the perspective of immunity and hypoxia and aims to identify new RT biomarkers and treatment methods in lung cancer to improve the current status of unstable RT effect and provide a theoretical basis for further lung cancer RT sensitization research in the future., (Copyright © 2023 The Chinese Medical Association, produced by Wolters Kluwer, Inc. under the CC-BY-NC-ND license.)

Due to a lack of ancestry-matched, functional, and segregation data, Asians have a higher rate of receiving a variant of uncertain significance (VUS) result following panel testing. Managing VUS results presents challenges, as it often leads to increased anxiety and distress among cancer patients undergoing genetic testing. This exploratory study aims to investigate the experience of Asian cancer patients upon receiving a VUS result. A qualitative, semi-structured interview study was conducted, involving cancer patients who had received a VUS result through the Cancer Genetics Service of the National Cancer Centre Singapore. Twenty participants were interviewed, and their responses were transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis to identify key themes. Thematic analysis revealed five major themes: (1) VUS results are interpreted as uncertain outcomes; (2) a VUS result provides relief and prompts positive behavioral adjustments; (3) patients employ fatalism and religion as coping mechanisms to navigate uncertainty; (4) genetic counselors, family, and the community offer reassurance and support; (5) patients value updates on variant classifications for future management. While this novel study provides unique insights into the perspectives of Asian patients who receive VUS results, it also highlights patients' effective management of VUS results and uncertainty, which has implications for improving counseling practices in Asia. Emphasis must be placed on accurate interpretation and clear communication of VUS results to dispel the possibility of misconceptions, misdiagnosis, and mismanagement in cancer care., (© 2023 The Authors. Journal of Genetic Counseling published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of National Society of Genetic Counselors.)

The association between HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and the natural history of human papillomavirus (HPV) has not been well documented. Our objective was to evaluate the impact of PrEP on the prevalence, incidence, and clearance of anal HPV among men who have sex with men (MSM). Sexually active, HIV-negative MSM aged 18 years and older in Xinjiang, China since September 1, 2016, were enrolled in an ongoing observational cohort study of HPV. At baseline and every 6 months, an anal swab was taken to test for HPV and a questionnaire on sociodemographic characteristics and sexual behaviors was collected. Those who consented to receive PrEP were enrolled in an open-label PrEP intervention study from November 1, 2019, to June 30, 2021. This study analyzed data from participants present in the HPV cohort between November 1, 2019, and June 30, 2021. We compared the prevalence, incidence, and clearance of anal HPV between men who received PrEP (PrEP users) and those who did not (non-PrEP users), and compared men before and after initiating PrEP. We calculated prevalence ratios (PRs), incidence rate ratios (IRRs), and clearance rate ratios (CRRs) for both comparisons. Of the 870 participants present in the HPV cohort during the period between November 1, 2019, and June 30, 2021, 859 had adequate β-globin for HPV genotype testing and were included in our study. Among them, 429 were PrEP users, while 430 were non-PrEP users. Median age was 32 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 26-38). Among PrEP users, 217 were tested for anal HPV before PrEP initiation. PrEP users had lower prevalence of HPV 45, 51, and 54 (PRs: 0.27 [95% CI: 0.09-0.80], 0.42 [0.21-0.85], and 0.41 [0.17-0.99], respectively) and lower clearance of HPV 16 (CRR: 0.31 [0.10-0.91]) compared with non-PrEP users. PrEP users exhibited lower prevalence of HPV 51 (PR: 0.31 [0.12-0.84]), lower incidence of HPV 6, 11, 16, 39 and 61 (IRRs: 0.34 [0.13-0.90], 0.26 [0.08-0.87], 0.44 [0.21-0.91], 0.21 [0.05-0.93], and 0.19 [0.04-0.82], respectively), as well as higher clearance of HPV 52 (CRR: 2.17 [1.08-4.35]) after PrEP initiation. PrEP use may lower the risk of HPV infection among MSM in Xinjiang, China. Our findings further extend the knowledge of the impact of PrEP on sexually transmitted infections., (© 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Manganese-based aqueous batteries utilizing Mn 2+ /MnO 2 redox reactions are promising choices for grid-scale energy storage due to their high theoretical specific capacity, high power capability, low-cost, and intrinsic safety with water-based electrolytes. However, the application of such systems is hindered by the insulating nature of deposited MnO 2 , resulting in low normalized areal loading (0.005-0.05 mAh cm -2 ) during the charge/discharge cycle. In this work, the electrochemical performance of various MnO 2 polymorphs in Mn 2+ /MnO 2 redox reactions is investigated, and ɛ-MnO 2 with low conductivity is determined to be the primary electrochemically deposited phase in normal acidic aqueous electrolyte. It is found that increasing the temperature can change the deposited phase from ɛ-MnO 2 with low conductivity to γ-MnO 2 with two order of magnitude increase in conductivity. It is demonstrated that the highly conductive γ-MnO 2 can be effectively exploited for ultrahigh areal loading electrode, and a normalized areal loading of 33 mAh cm -2 is achieved. At a mild temperature of 50 °C, cells are cycled with an ultrahigh areal loading of 20 mAh cm -2 (1-2 orders of magnitude higher than previous studies) for over 200 cycles with only 13% capacity loss., (© 2023 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Pancreatic cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Treatment outcomes remain largely dismal despite significant medical advancements. This lends urgency to the need to understand its risk factors in order to guide early detection and improve outcomes. There are both modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors, the more established of such being that of age, smoking, obesity, diabetes mellitus (DM), alcohol and certain genetic predisposition syndromes with underlying germline mutations. Some genetic predisposition syndromes such as BRCA1/2, PALB2, ATM, and CDKN2A are well-established, arising from germline mutations that result in carcinogenesis through mechanisms such as cell injury, dysregulation of cell growth, dysfunctional DNA repair, and disruption of cell mobility and adhesion. There is also a significant proportion of familial pancreatic cancer (FPC) for which the underlying predisposing genetic mechanism is not yet understood. Nuances have emerged in the ethnic and geographical differences of pancreatic cancer predisposition, and these may be attributed to differences in lifestyle, standard of living, socioeconomic factors, and genetics. This review describes in detail the factors contributing to pancreatic cancer with focus on ethnic and geographical differences and hereditary genetic syndromes. Greater insight into the interplay of these factors can guide clinicians and healthcare authorities in addressing modifiable risk factors, implementing measures for early detection in high-risk individuals, initiating early treatment of pancreatic cancer, and directing future research towards existing knowledge deficits, in order to improve survival outcomes.

Background: Although Singapore is one of the highest vaccinated countries in the world, vaccine hesitancy remains in a subpopulation, including individuals with cancer predisposition syndromes. At the Cancer Genetics Service National Cancer Centre Singapore, we see patients with germline genetic alterations, most being BRCA1/2 pathogenic/likely pathogenic variant (PV/LPV) carriers. While reported safe for cancer patients, there are limited studies addressing the safety profile and outcomes of COVID-19 vaccination among individuals with germline PV/LPV in cancer predisposition genes such as BRCA1/2. This study aims to evaluate the outcomes of COVID-19 vaccination among germline PV/LPV carriers in BRCA1/2., Methods: We conducted a phone call survey of COVID-19 vaccination uptake and toxicity in a prospective cohort of 189 participants with germline BRCA1/2 PV/LPV between 1st Sept 2021 and 30th Sept 2021. We collected demographics data including gender, race, age, history of cancer, types of cancer, and number of cancers. Statistical difference in baseline demographics between responders with history of cancer and those without were assessed using Chi-square, Fisher's exact and independent t-test analysis. Logistic regression was used to evaluate effect of demographics on the occurrence of post-vaccination side effects., Results: Among 189 BRCA1/2 PV/LPV carriers responded, 97 carried PV/LPV in BRCA1 and 92 in BRCA2. Majority were vaccinated (89.5%) and had completed the two-dose vaccine schedule, with 7 (4.1%) received only one dose. The most common post-vaccination side effects was myalgia (56.5%) followed by fever (40.2%), headache (16.3%) and fatigue (11.2%). There were no major severe side events. Evaluation by logistic regression showed that the occurrence of side effects was not affected by PV/LPV gene (BRCA1 or BRCA2), gender, race, age or history of cancer., Conclusion: The post-vaccination side effects profile among individuals with germline PV/LPV in BRCA1/2 is consistent with the Singaporean general population, hence recommendations for COVID-19 vaccination for these individuals should not differ from non-carriers and should be encouraged by their healthcare providers., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Inorganic-rich solid-electrolyte interphases (SEIs) on Li metal anodes improve the electrochemical performance of Li metal batteries (LMBs). Therefore, a fundamental understanding of the roles played by essential inorganic compounds in SEIs is critical to realizing and developing high-performance LMBs. Among the prevalent SEI inorganic compounds observed for Li metal anodes, Li 3 N is often found in the SEIs of high-performance LMBs. Herein, we elucidate new features of Li 3 N by utilizing a suspension electrolyte design that contributes to the improved electrochemical performance of the Li metal anode. Through empirical and computational studies, we show that Li 3 N guides Li electrodeposition along its surface, creates a weakly solvating environment by decreasing Li + -solvent coordination, induces organic-poor SEI on the Li metal anode, and facilitates Li + transport in the electrolyte. Importantly, recognizing specific roles of SEI inorganics for Li metal anodes can serve as one of the rational guidelines to design and optimize SEIs through electrolyte engineering for LMBs.

Ginger, an important cash crop, has been cultivated for thousands of years in China. However, comparative studies on soil bacterial communities of Chinese ginger varieties, especially after flooding, are lacking. Here, we comprehensively compared the bacterial communities of two types of ginger soils from four different locations. Surprisingly, the 100-year flood (20 July 2021, in Henan, China) did not significantly affect the soil bacterial composition compared with previous reports. In contrast, flooding may have brought in nutrients and promoted the propagation of eutrophic bacteria, and Alphaproteobacteria were the most abundant in the Zhangliang region (~25%). However, due to the most severe flooding and inundation, the Zhangliang region, also probably contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and heavy metals, showed the lowest microbial diversity. Moreover, the geographical location influenced the microbial communities more than did the soil type or ginger variety. These findings help us understand the species and composition of bacteria and infection of ginger after flooding and soaking. Further, the interaction mechanisms underlying these emerging phenomena need to be further investigated. IMPORTANCE There are few comparative studies on the soil bacterial communities of Chinese ginger varieties after flooding. After a 100-year flood (20 July 2021, in Henan, China), we comprehensively compared the bacterial communities of two types of ginger soils from four different locations. Surprisingly, this flood did not significantly affect the soil bacterial composition compared with previous reports. In contrast, it was found that the flooding may have brought in nutrients and promoted the propagation of eutrophic bacteria for the Zhangliang region. However, the flooding had also brought in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon and heavy metal contamination. Moreover, we also verified that geographical location influenced the microbial communities more than did the soil type or ginger variety. These findings help us understand the species and composition of bacteria and infection of ginger after flooding and soaking.

Fast-charging is considered as one of the most desired features needed for lithium-ion batteries to accelerate the mainstream adoption of electric vehicles. However, current battery charging protocols mainly consist of conservative rate steps to avoid potential hazardous lithium plating and its associated parasitic reactions. A highly sensitive onboard detection method could enable battery fast-charging without reaching the lithium plating regime. Here, we demonstrate a novel differential pressure sensing method to precisely detect the lithium plating event. By measuring the real-time change of cell pressure per unit of charge (dP/dQ) and comparing it with the threshold defined by the maximum of dP/dQ during lithium-ion intercalation into the negative electrode, the onset of lithium plating before its extensive growth can be detected with high precision. In addition, we show that by integrating this differential pressure sensing into the battery management system (BMS), a dynamic self-regulated charging protocol can be realized to effectively extinguish the lithium plating triggered by low temperature (0 °C) while the conventional static charging protocol leads to catastrophic lithium plating at the same condition. We propose that differential pressure sensing could serve as an early nondestructive diagnosis method to guide the development of fast-charging battery technologies., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a specific family of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) with important function in disease progression. This research is performed to study circRNA Ring Finger Protein 220 (circRNF220) in acute myeloid leukemia (AML)., Methods: CircRNF220, microRNA-330-5p (miR-330-5p) and sex-determining region Y-related high-mobility group box 4 (SOX4) were measured via quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-y1)-2, 5- diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and EdU assays were used to assess cell proliferation. Cell cycle and apoptosis were detected using flow cytometry. Cell invasion was determined by transwell assay. Glycolytic metabolism was assessed by glucose consumption and lactate production. The target interaction was implemented via dual-luciferase reporter and RNA pull-down assays. SOX4 protein detection was conducted by western blot., Results: Expression detection identified that circRNF220 was overexpressed in AML. In vitro experiments showed that silence of circRNF220 promoted cell apoptosis but impeded proliferation, cell cycle progression, invasion and glycolytic metabolism in AML cells. Target analysis indicated that circRNF220 directly targeted miR-330-5p, and the effects of si-circRNF220 were abrogated by miR-330-5p inhibitor. Moreover, circRNF220 targeted miR-330-5p to increase the expression of SOX4 and SOX4 promoted cell progression of AML., Conclusion: All these findings revealed that circRNF220 contributed to AML cell development in vitro via upregulating SOX4 expression by targeting miR-330-5p., (©The Author(s) 2022. Open Access. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons CC-BY International License.)

Designing a stable solid-electrolyte interphase on a Li anode is imperative to developing reliable Li metal batteries. Herein, we report a suspension electrolyte design that modifies the Li + solvation environment in liquid electrolytes and creates inorganic-rich solid-electrolyte interphases on Li. Li 2 O nanoparticles suspended in liquid electrolytes were investigated as a proof of concept. Through theoretical and empirical analyses of Li 2 O suspension electrolytes, the roles played by Li 2 O in the liquid electrolyte and solid-electrolyte interphases of the Li anode are elucidated. Also, the suspension electrolyte design is applied in conventional and state-of-the-art high-performance electrolytes to demonstrate its applicability. Based on electrochemical analyses, improved Coulombic efficiency (up to ~99.7%), reduced Li nucleation overpotential, stabilized Li interphases and prolonged cycle life of anode-free cells (~70 cycles at 80% of initial capacity) were achieved with the suspension electrolytes. We expect this design principle and our findings to be expanded into developing electrolytes and solid-electrolyte interphases for Li metal batteries., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

The increasing demand for next-generation energy storage systems necessitates the development of high-performance lithium batteries 1-3 . Unfortunately, current Li anodes exhibit rapid capacity decay and a short cycle life 4-6 , owing to the continuous generation of solid electrolyte interface 7,8 and isolated Li (i-Li) 9-11 . The formation of i-Li during the nonuniform dissolution of Li dendrites 12 leads to a substantial capacity loss in lithium batteries under most testing conditions 13 . Because i-Li loses electrical connection with the current collector, it has been considered electrochemically inactive or 'dead' in batteries 14,15 . Contradicting this commonly accepted presumption, here we show that i-Li is highly responsive to battery operations, owing to its dynamic polarization to the electric field in the electrolyte. Simultaneous Li deposition and dissolution occurs on two ends of the i-Li, leading to its spatial progression toward the cathode (anode) during charge (discharge). Revealed by our simulation results, the progression rate of i-Li is mainly affected by its length, orientation and the applied current density. Moreover, we successfully demonstrate the recovery of i-Li in Cu-Li cells with >100% Coulombic efficiency and realize LiNi 0.5 Mn 0.3 Co 0.2 O 2 (NMC)-Li full cells with extended cycle life., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

The presence of organic contaminants in wastewater poses considerable risks to the health of both humans and ecosystems. Although advanced oxidation processes that rely on highly reactive radicals to destroy organic contaminants are appealing treatment options, substantial energy and chemical inputs limit their practical applications. Here we demonstrate that Cu single atoms incorporated in graphitic carbon nitride can catalytically activate H 2 O 2 to generate hydroxyl radicals at pH 7.0 without energy input, and show robust stability within a filtration device. We further design an electrolysis reactor for the on-site generation of H 2 O 2 from air, water and renewable energy. Coupling the single-atom catalytic filter and the H 2 O 2 electrolytic generator in tandem delivers a wastewater treatment system. These findings provide a promising path toward reducing the energy and chemical demands of advanced oxidation processes, as well as enabling their implementation in remote areas and isolated communities.

Rechargeability and operational safety of commercial lithium (Li)-ion batteries demand further improvement. Plating of metallic Li on graphite anodes is a critical reason for Li-ion battery capacity decay and short circuit. It is generally believed that Li plating is caused by the slow kinetics of graphite intercalation, but in this paper, we demonstrate that thermodynamics also serves a crucial role. We show that a nonuniform temperature distribution within the battery can make local plating of Li above 0 V vs. Li 0 /Li + (room temperature) thermodynamically favorable. This phenomenon is caused by temperature-dependent shifts of the equilibrium potential of Li 0 /Li + Supported by simulation results, we confirm the likelihood of this failure mechanism during commercial Li-ion battery operation, including both slow and fast charging conditions. This work furthers the understanding of nonuniform Li plating and will inspire future studies to prolong the cycling lifetime of Li-ion batteries., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interest.

Purpose: We designed the study to investigate the incidence risk of Programmed Cell Death-1 (PD-1) or Ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitor-related endocrine dysfunction in patients with lung cancer., Method: All the data were collected by 1 primary reviewer and then independently reviewed by 2 secondary reviewers according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISM) guidelines. Incidence risk of all-grade and grade 3-5 PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors related endocrine dysfunction in patients with lung cancer were taken into account., Results: Overall, 12 clinical trials comprising 6108 patients were identified in this systematic review and meta-analysis. The incidence risk of hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism and adrenal insufficiency was higher in NSCLC patients receiving combination treatments. The incidence rate of all-grade of hypothyroidism was lower in PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor subgroup compared to chemotherapy (OR = 22.62, 95%CI:9.79-52.25), while the similar result was seen in another treatment regimen (PD-1 + platinum-based chemotherapy vs platinum-based chemotherapy) (OR = 2.93, 95%CI: [2.08, 4.11). The different result can be seen in the group related to the other treatment regimen (1PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor vs 2 PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors) (OR = 0.40, 95%CI:0.21-0.76). All the results of the above analysis were considered to be statistical significant. Similar result could also be seen in meta-analysis related to hyperthyroidism and adrenal insufficiency., Conclusion: The incidence risk of endocrine dysfunctions, including hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism and adrenal insufficiency, were higher for PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors group.

Despite rapid progress of hybrid organic-inorganic halide perovskite solar cells, using transmission electron microscopy to study their atomic structures has not been possible because of their extreme sensitivity to electron beam irradiation and environmental exposure. Here, we develop cryogenic-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) protocols to preserve an extremely sensitive perovskite, methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI 3 ) under various operating conditions for atomic-resolution imaging. We discover the precipitation of lead iodide nanoparticles on MAPbI 3 nanowire's surface after short UV illumination and surface roughening after only 10 s exposure to air, while these effects remain undetected in conventional x-ray diffraction. We establish a definition for critical electron dose, and find this value for MAPbI 3 at cryogenic condition to be 12 e - /Å 2 at 1.49 Å spatial resolution. Our results highlight the importance of cryo-EM since traditional techniques cannot capture important nanoscale changes in morphology and structure that have important implications for perovskite solar cell stability and performance., Competing Interests: DECLARATION OF INTERESTS The authors declare no competing financial interests.

The stability of modern lithium-ion batteries depends critically on an effective solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI), a passivation layer that forms on the carbonaceous negative electrode as a result of electrolyte reduction. However, a nanoscopic understanding of how the SEI evolves with battery aging remains limited due to the difficulty in characterizing the structural and chemical properties of this sensitive interphase. In this work, we image the SEI on carbon black negative electrodes using cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) and track its evolution during cycling. We find that a thin, primarily amorphous SEI nucleates on the first cycle, which further evolves into one of two distinct SEI morphologies upon further cycling: (1) a compact SEI, with a high concentration of inorganic components that effectively passivates the negative electrode; and (2) an extended SEI spanning hundreds of nanometers. This extended SEI grows on particles that lack a compact SEI and consists primarily of alkyl carbonates. The diversity in observed SEI morphologies suggests that SEI growth is a highly heterogeneous process. The simultaneous emergence of these distinct SEI morphologies highlights the necessity of effective passivation by the SEI, as large-scale extended SEI growths negatively impact lithium-ion transport, contribute to capacity loss, and may accelerate battery failure.

Lithium-sulfur batteries (Li-S) have attracted soaring attention due to the particularly high energy density for advanced energy storage system. However, the practical application of Li-S batteries still faces multiple challenges, including the shuttle effect of intermediate polysulfides, the low conductivity of sulfur and the large volume variation of sulfur cathode. To overcome these issues, here we reported a self-templated approach to prepare interconnected carbon nanotubes inserted/wired hollow Co 3 S 4 nanoboxes (CNTs/Co 3 S 4 -NBs) as an efficient sulfur host material. Originating from the combination of three-dimensional CNT conductive network and polar Co 3 S 4 -NBs, the obtained hybrid nanocomposite of CNTs/Co 3 S 4 -NBs can offer ultrahigh charge transfer properties, and efficiently restrain polysulfides in hollow Co 3 S 4 -NBs via the synergistic effect of structural confinement and chemical bonding. Benefiting from the above advantages, the S@CNTs/Co 3 S 4 -NBs cathode shows a significantly improved electrochemical performance in terms of high reversible capacity, good rate performance, and long-term cyclability. More remarkably, even at an elevated temperature (50 °C), it still exhibits high capacity retention and good rate capacity.