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Abstract The lower-strength defect of inorganic phosphate adhesive had been definitely improved by self-generating multiple high-temperature resistant phases. Compared to our previous product, the best bonding performance of this novel adhesive for mullite was increased by 270%, which was close to some popular preceramic polymer-based adhesives. The apparent shear strength at room temperature was up to 33.1 MPa after calcination at 900 °C, while the high-temperature strength researched 23.3 MPa at 900 °C and maintained above 17 MPa from 700° to 1200 °C. The reinforced effect of adhesive owed to the introduction of various Cu-based intermetallics, the premature generation of Al 4 B 2 O 18 at 900 °C, and the structure optimizing through the oxidization of Si and B 4 C. Besides, the novel adhesive displayed good resistance to thermal-shock, especially for air-cooling test. After 15 thermal cycles in air, the residual strength of 1300 °C-calcined joints was still above 13 MPa (~40%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The effect of H content on pyrolytic pathways of fluorinated alkanes is unveiled. • The thermal stability of fluorinated alkanes decreases with the rising H content. • Fluorinated alkanes with lower H contents yield more suffocating pyrolytic products. • Yields of flammable alkenes, corrosive and toxic products rise with the H content. Halon extinguishants have been prohibited due to the caused damages to the stratospheric ozone layer. For Halon replacement, ozone-friendly fluorinated alkanes are used as transitional Halon substitutes. In order to unravel the relationship between chemical structures and fire-extinguishing performance of fluoroalkane agents, we investigated the effects of hydrogen content on pyrolytic and fire-extinguishing mechanisms of fluoroalkanes including HFC-236fa (CF 3 CH 2 CF 3), HFC-227ea (CF 3 CHFCF 3) and PFC-218 (CF 3 CF 2 CF 3), which may provide some guidance on efficient exploration of new substitutes for Halon extinguishant. Both the experimental and theoretical methods were employed in this study. It was found that the energy barrier of CF 3 · fire extinguishing free radical generated by the three fluorinated alkanes increases slightly with the increase of H content. The reduction of hydrogen content notably promotes the thermal stability of fluorinated alkanes and the productivity of incombustible pyrolytic products. The HFC-236fa agent exhibits remarkable cooling effect upon the combustion cycle via endothermic pyrolysis, while the PFC-218 agent extinguishes flame predominantly through the dilution effect on the flammable gas. Remarkably, a lower hydrogen content effectively inhibits the production of flammable alkenes, corrosive and toxic pyrolytic products. Although PFC-218 agent exhibits the highest fire-extinguishing concentration (FEC) relative to the other two counterparts, the PFC-218 manifests the subtlest combustion promotion and releases the least corrosive products, which inhibits the suddenly risen temperature in the combustion region and reduces corrosive and poisonous products. These findings provide new understanding and guidance on the molecular designing and screening of environmental-friendly and efficient Halon substitutes. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The thermal decomposition of fire-extinguishing agent CF 3 I in high-temperature oxidizing environments was studied by experimental and theoretical methods. • The effects of initial concentration, temperature, and residence time on the decomposition rate were investigated. • The kinetics of thermal decomposition was calculated using the Arrhenius equation in which activation energy E a is 15.18 kJ/mol and pre-exponential factor (A) is 13.87s−1. • The reaction of CF 3 I in an oxidizing environment at high temperatures is with singlet oxygen. • O 2 participates in the thermal decomposition reaction and promotes the decomposition of CF 3 I. CF 3 I, as a novel "Halon" replacement fire-extinguishing agent, has the characteristics of low fire-extinguishing concentration, high efficiency, and safety. However, there are still some gaps in its thermal decomposition studies when it is released into the high-temperature fire, so the thermal decomposition of CF 3 I in oxidizing environments was studied to simulate its diffusive decomposition. The decomposition of CF 3 I was demonstrated to be accelerated by O 2 through experiments in the temperature range of 100°C-800°C in air and N 2 atmosphere. The effects of initial concentration, temperature, and residence time on the decomposition rate of CF 3 I and decomposition characteristics were investigated by tube furnace simulation. The kinetics of thermal decomposition was calculated using the Arrhenius equation in which activation energy E a is 15.18 kJ/mol and pre-exponential factor (A) is 13.87s−1. Additionally, the thermal decomposition products were examined by GC-MS and FTIR. The experimental results showed that the pyrolysis gas products were mainly CF 4 , C 2 F 6 , and CF 2 O. Using quantum chemistry and density flooding theory (DFT) calculations, it was concluded that the main decomposition pathway was the reaction of CF 3 I with singlet oxygen. The reaction pathway of the thermal decomposition of CF 3 I under a high-temperature fire oxidation environment was proposed based on the products. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel method was used for preparing 1,1-dichlorooctafluorocyclopentane and 1,2-dichlorooctafluorocyclopentane through the reaction of 1,2-dichlorohexafluorocyclopentene, anhydrous hydrogen fluoride, and chlorine. A series of single- and multi-component catalysts were prepared by means of impregnation and coprecipitation, respectively. The catalyst containing Fe(III), Zr(IV), Co(II), Zn(II) and Cu(II) showed the highest catalytic activity among these catalysts. Moreover, the main reaction routes and catalytic mechanism were investigated through experiments and theoretical analysis. Given the environmental and economic benefits, this method has a great application potential in industrial production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • AuNCs-engineered nanofibrous film was fabricated for the detection of explosives. • The dual-emitting AuNCs exhibit rapid response, high sensitivity and specificity for CL-20 and TNT. • The "BUF" and "NOT" logic gates were designed based on distinct response patterns. • The sensing film enables visual and quantitative detection of CL-20 and TNT. Development of reliable sensors for explosive detection is important to reduce explosion-related safety risks and mitigate widespread environmental concerns. However, it remains highly challenging to achieve on-site detection of multiple analytes in a simple yet efficient way. Herein, a flexible electrospun film-based sensing platform by engineering with dual-emitting gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) has been fabricated for the simultaneous fluorescent detection of two representative explosives, hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane (CL-20) and trinitrotoluene (TNT). Particularly, two types of AuNCs with different emission colors (green and red) and surface chemistry are designed, which can specifically respond to trace amounts of two explosives separately. While the presence of CL-20 can remarkably enhance the green emission of l -arginine/6-aza-2-thiothymine-protected AuNCs, the presence of TNT can efficiently quench the red emission of glutathione-protected AuNCs. Consequently, ratiometric fluorescent sensing of CL-20 and TNT can be achieved with these dual-emitting AuNCs (G/R-AuNCs), which exhibits a detection limit down to 0.55 and 2.38 µM, respectively. The distinct "turn on" and "turn off" response patterns of G/R-AuNCs towards two explosives could be harnessed to construct fluorescent "BUF" and "NOT" logic gates. Moreover, the present AuNCs-based explosive sensors were deposited into flexible electrospun nanofibrous film for visual and quantitative detection of CL-20 and TNT, which exhibit good mechanical property and promising sensing performance. This work provides a new approach to design explosive sensing platform by coupling the attractive features of fluorescent AuNCs to the electrospun nanofibrous film, which holds great potential for further practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • An inorganic amorphous aluminum phosphate emulsion was applied as intumescent coating matrix. • The addition of B 4 C effectively improve the porous structure and increase the ablation resistance. • The backside temperature was controlled below 140℃ in 1 h, 33.4 % lower than blank coating. • The smoke density was only 64.73 %, 36.3 % lower than that of blank coating. • After combustion, the thickness of coating expanded about 5.8 times. In response to high environmental requirements, an incombustible inorganic intumescent flame retardant coating was prepared from amorphous aluminum phosphate emulsion as the matrix, with boron carbide as the modifier. The influence of boron carbide (B 4 C)on the fire resistance performance and physic-chemical properties of coatings were studied by means of large panel combustion method, smoke density test, Fourier transformed infra-red analysis (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), specific surface area (BET method) and pore size analysis. With the addition of 0.75 wt% B 4 C, the backside temperature of APB3 coating (aluminum phosphate-based coating modified with 0.75 wt% B 4 C) after an hour was only 140 ℃, 33.4 % lower than that of blank APB0 coating. And the smoke density (Ds) of APB3 was only 64.73 %, 36.3 % lower than that of blank APB0. The foaming expansion caused by decomposition reactions, the structural improvement caused by boron carbide oxidation, and the formation of ablative resistant ceramics and glass were the main reasons for excellent flame retardant and thermal insulation performance. Remarkably, the melting B 2 O 3 generated from the oxidation of B 4 C could repair cracks, modify pore structure, improve the integrity of closed pores, increase the specific surface area of porous structure, and promote the formation of borosilicate glass. Due to the structural integrity of the outermost coating surface caused by the oxidation of B 4 C and the construction of borosilicate glass, much gas was shielded inside the coating, making the coating more eco-friendly. Besides, APB3 coating has good water resistance. After immersion in water for 360 h, the reduction rate of fire resistance performance of the coating was only 17.1 %. This work provides theoretical guidance for broadening the types of intumescent coatings and promotes the development of inorganic green coatings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Material compatibility analysis between a new fire extinguishing agent and typical elastomer sealing materials. • In depth theoretical analysis of the damage mechanisms for agent-polymer interaction. • This is beneficial to the material selection of fire extinguishing system. The seals are usually used to fill the gap between the storage containers and discharge pipes in the built-in fire extinguishing system of the aircraft. These seals inevitably touch the fire extinguishing agents, which may reduce the hermeticity of seals. In this paper, the compatibility experiment of 2-bromo-3,3,3-trifluoropropene, a new clean fire extinguishing agent, with fluorosilicone rubber and fluoro rubber was performed at 25 ℃, 0.1Mpa. The volume, weight, hardness, and mechanical properties of the sealings were tested, and the changes in cross-section and infrared spectrum were analyzed. The results show that during the contact with 2-bromo-3,3,3-trifluoropropene, fluoro rubber is damaged more severely than fluorosilicone rubber, the hardness measured directly and after drying decreased by 12.9 % and 17.6 % respectively, while the tensile strength decreased by 51.2 % and 86.1 % respectively. It is proved that 2-bromo-3,3,3-trifluoropropene have poor compatibility with the fluoro rubber and fluorosilicone rubber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For lithium/fluorinated carbon batteries, the carbon sources play a key role in improving the cell performances. In this work, we developed a new type of fluorinated carbon using Cr-MOF as precursor via a direct F 2 fluorination method. The prepared samples not only keep the morphology of Cr-MOF but also contain plenty of in-situ fabricated nano-voids during the process of fluorination. Benefitting from the advantage of the nano-porous structure, the samples fluorinated at different temperatures show the highest energy density of 2110.7 W‧h kg−1 at a current density of 10 mA g−1 and a maximum power density of 6540 W kg−1 at 3000 mA g−1. Moreover, the MOF-derived fluorinated carbon cathodes possess an anti-swelling function (volume expansion is no more than 12%). This work delivers a new approach for designing advanced multifunctional fluorinated carbons. Image 1 • Fluorinated carbons were firstly prepared by MOF-derived method. • MOF-derived fluorinated carbon cathodes showed an anti-swelling function. • Nano-porous structure was in-situ fabricated during the process of fluorination. • This study delivers a new approach for designing advanced multifunctional fluorinated carbons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A 2D material with promising stability and deep UV absorption was theoretically designed. • This material may be fabricated by dehydrogenation and polymerization of B@Be 3 N 3 clusters. • The deep UV response of it could be well sustained in hostile environments. • The stabilization mechanism of Be 3 BN 3 monolayer and the B@Be 3 N 3 cluster are also analyzed. In this study, the Be 3 BN 3 two-dimensional (2D) system with strong ionicity and ultrawide band gap was theoretically obtained. The computational results suggest that the Be 3 BN 3 sheet is thermodynamically stable and may be experimentally realized through dehydrogenation and polymerization of the B@Be 3 N 3 H 6 cluster, which is an isoelectronic molecule to benzene and has promising stability and strong aromaticity. This newly designed 2D material exhibits ultrawide band gap of 5.25 eV and deep ultraviolet (DUV) absorption (λ < 222 nm), implying its possible applications for photodetectors in the visible-blind or solar-blind regions. Remarkably, the sustainable DUV response (λ < 305 nm) under external strain, electric field and high temperature indicates the probable utilization of the Be 3 BN 3 monolayer in severe environment. This newly designed graphene-like material could further enrich the variety of ultrawide-gap nanomaterials and propose an outstanding candidate for DUV applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three-dimensional (3D) mesoporous network provides favorable structural features for ion diffusion, electroactive sites and contact with electrolyte, but fabricating the 3D networks of transition metal oxides is still challenging. Based upon template-free method, NiCo 2 O 4 network constructed from ultrathin mesoporous nanosheets (NiCo 2 O 4 MNN) was designed and synthesized. NiCo 2 O 4 nanosheets (~5 nm of thickness, 2–5 nm of pore diameters) are highly interlaced with each other to form a 3D network and create porous nanostructure. Benefiting from the specific structural advantages, NiCo 2 O 4 MNN delivers superior electrocatalytic performance as counter electrode (CE) in dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC), with a higher power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 8.05% than Pt electrode (7.32%). We believe that this research will open a new avenue for the design and development of efficient and cost-effective metal oxides electrocatalysts in DSSC. Unlabelled Image [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The extinguishing concentration of HFO-1336 is lower than most HFCs extinguishants. • The extinguishing concentration of HFO-1336 is related to the flame base temperature. • The heat release of the flame reached maximum value at 5 vol % loading of HFO-1336. • the main inhibiting reactions of HFO-1336 on flame are CF 3 reactions. Cis-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-butene (HFO-1336mzz(Z)) conforms the most of necessary requirements as an environment-friendly extinguishant. However, its fire suppression performance has not been investigated. In this study, the fire suppression effectiveness of HFO-1336 was evaluated by a cup burner apparatus. The extinguishing concentration indicates nonpositive correlation with the fuel flow. On the other hand, to characterize the heat release of the reaction kernel, the temperature of the flame base was measured. The results showed that the temperature increased with HFO-1336 loading in the range of 2–5 %, while decreased as the concentration exceeded 5 %. In addition, the thermal decomposition properties of HFO-1336 were investigated over a temperature range of 100–800 ℃ and the products were analyzed by GC–MS. According to the detected products, the possible decomposition pathways were proposed and the extinguishing mechanism were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Harnessing engineered living materials for energy application represents a promising avenue to sustainable energy conversion and storage, with bio-batteries emerging as a pivotal direction for sustainable power supply. Whereas, the realization of miniaturized and portable bio-battery orchestrating off-the-shelf devices remains a significant challenge. Here, this work reports the development of a miniaturized and portable bio-battery using living hydrogels containing conductive biofilms encapsulated in an alginate matrix for nerve stimulation. These hydrogels, which can be 3-D printed into customized geometries, retained biologically active characteristics, including electroactivity that facilitates electron generation and the reduction of graphene oxide. By fabricating the living hydrogel into a standard 2032 battery shell with a diameter of 20 mm, this work successfully creates a miniaturized and portable bio-battery with self-charging performance. The device demonstrates remarkable electrochemical performance with a coulombic efficiency of 99.5% and maintains high cell viability exceeding 90% after operation. Notably, the electricity generated by the bio-battery can be harnessed for nerve stimulation to enable precise control over bioelectrical stimulation and physiological blood pressure signals. This study paves the way for the development of novel, compact, and portable bio-energy devices with immense potential for future advancements in sustainable energy technologies., (© 2025 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Background: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rapidly progressing and rare neurodegenerative disease. Therefore, evaluating the risk factors affecting the survival of patients with ALS is crucial. Constipation, a common but overlooked symptom of ALS, can be effectively managed. It is currently unknown whether constipation contributes to the progression and survival of ALS., Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the association between constipation and ALS development and survival using a novel overlap-weighted (OW) method to enhance the robustness and reliability of results., Design: This prospective matching nested case-control (NCC) study was conducted within an ongoing ALS cohort at the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University. Baseline data were collected from patients meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria, with constipation as the exposure factor. A 9-month follow-up was conducted, with death as the endpoint event., Methods: We primarily used the OW method in NCC studies to examine the association between constipation and ALS development and survival. Weighted Cox proportional hazards model was used to assess risk factors associated with overall survival. Survival differences between the two groups were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier's plots and log-rank tests. Finally, the bioinformatic analysis explored common pathways between ALS and constipation., Results: Among the 190 patients included, the prevalence of constipation was 50%. Patients with ALS constipation exhibited faster disease progression ( p  < 0.001), with a positive correlation between constipation severity and progression rate ( r  = 0.356, p  < 0.001). The constipation group had poorer survival before and after OW (log-rank test, p  < 0.0001). In the Cox proportional hazards model of 114 patients, constipation was a risk factor for ALS both before (hazard ratio (HR) = 5.840, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.504-22.675, p  = 0.011) and after (HR = 5.271, 95% CI = 1.241-22.379, p  = 0.024) OW., Conclusion: Constipation in individuals with ALS is associated with faster disease progression and reduced survival rates, potentially through the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor pathway., (© The Author(s), 2025.)

Objective. To promote the development of objective and comprehensive motion function assessment for patients, based on high-density surface electromyography (HD-sEMG), this study investigates the temporal and spatial variations of neuromuscular activities related to upper limb motor dysfunction. Approach. Patients with unilateral upper limb motor dysfunction and healthy controls were enrolled in the study. HD-sEMG was collected from both arms while they were performing eight hand and wrist movements. Muscle synergies were extracted from the HD-sEMG. Symmetry of bilateral upper limb synergies and synergy differences between motions were proposed as spatial indicators to measure alterations in synergy spatial distribution. Additionally, as a temporal characteristic, the correlation of bilateral upper limb activation coefficient was proposed to describe the coordination control of the central nervous system. All temporal and spatial indicators were compared between patients and healthy subjects. Main results. The patients showed a significant decrease ( p < 0.05) in the symmetry of bilateral upper limb synergy spatial distribution and correlation of bilateral upper limb activation coefficient. Patients with motor dysfunction also showed an increase in synergy similarity between motions, indicating altered spatial distribution of muscle synergies. Significance. These findings provide valuable insights into specific patterns associated with motor dysfunction, informing motor function assessment, and guiding targeted interventions and rehabilitation strategies for neurologically disordered patients., (Creative Commons Attribution license.)

Thermosensation is vital for the survival, propagation, and adaption of all organisms, but its mechanism is not fully understood yet. Here, we find that TMC6, a membrane protein of unknown function, is highly expressed in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons and functions as a Gαq-coupled G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)-like receptor to sense noxious heat. TMC6-deficient mice display a substantial impairment in noxious heat sensation while maintaining normal perception of cold, warmth, touch, and mechanical pain. Further studies show that TMC6 interacts with Gαq via its intracellular C-terminal region spanning Ser 780 to Pro 810 . Specifically disrupting such interaction using polypeptide in DRG neurons, genetically ablating Gαq, or pharmacologically blocking Gαq-coupled GPCR signaling can replicate the phenotype of TMC6 deficient mice regarding noxious heat sensation. Noxious heat stimulation triggers intracellular calcium release from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of TMC6- but not control vector-transfected HEK293T cell, which can be significantly inhibited by blocking PLC or IP3R. Consistently, noxious heat-induced intracellular Ca 2+ release from ER and action potentials of DRG neurons largely reduced when ablating TMC6 or blocking Gαq/PLC/IP3R signaling pathway as well. In summary, our findings indicate that TMC6 can directly function as a Gαq-coupled GPCR-like receptor sensing noxious heat., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Lanthanum modified bentonite (LMB) is typical P-inactivating agent that has been applied in over 200 lakes. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and high pH restrict the phosphorus (P) immobilization performance of LMB. However, the P immobilization/release behaviors of LMB-amended sediment when suspended to overlying water with high pH and DOC have not yet been studied. In the present work, batch adsorption and long-term incubation experiments were performed to study the combined effects of pH and DOC on the P control by LMB. The results showed that the coexistence of low concentration of DOC or preloading with some DOC had a negligible effect on P binding by LMB. In the presence of DOC, the P adsorption was more pronounced at pH 7.5 and was measurably less at pH 9.5. Additionally, the pH value was the key factor that decided the P removal at low DOC concentration. The increase in pH and DOC could significantly promote the release of sediment P with a higher EPC 0 . Under such condition, a higher LMB dosage was needed to effectively control the P releasing from sediment. In sediment/water system with intermittent resuspension, the alkaline conditions greatly facilitated the release of sediment P and DOC, which increased from 0.087 to 0.581 mg/L, and from 11.05 to 26.56 mg/L, respectively. Under the dual effect of pH and DOC, the P-immobilization performance of LMB was weakened, and a tailor-made scheme became essential for determining the optimum dosage. The desorption experiments verified that the previously loaded phosphorus on LMB was hard to be released even under high pH and DOC conditions, with an accumulative desorption rate of less than 2%. Accordingly, to achieve the best P controlling efficiency, the application strategies depending on LMB should avoid the high DOC loading period such as the rainy season and algal blooms., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Flexible pressure sensors can convert mechanical stimuli to electrical signals to interact with the surroundings, mimicking the functionality of the human skins. Piezocapacitive pressure sensors, a class of most widely used devices for artificial skins, however, often suffer from slow response-relaxation speed (tens of milliseconds) and thus fail to detect dynamic stimuli or high-frequency vibrations. Here, we show that the contact-separation behavior of the electrode-dielectric interface is an energy dissipation process that substantially determines the response-relaxation time of the sensors. We thus reduce the response and relaxation time to ~0.04 ms using a bonded microstructured interface that effectively diminishes interfacial friction and energy dissipation. The high response-relaxation speed allows the sensor to detect vibrations over 10 kHz, which enables not only dynamic force detection, but also acoustic applications. This sensor also shows negligible hysteresis to precisely track dynamic stimuli. Our work opens a path that can substantially promote the response-relaxation speed of piezocapacitive pressure sensors into submillisecond range and extend their applications in acoustic range., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The detection of physiological phosphates (PPs) is of great importance due to their essential roles in numerous biological processes, but the efficient detection of different PPs simultaneously remains challenging. In this work, we propose a fluorescence sensor array for detecting PPs based on metal-ion-regulated gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) via an indicator-displacement assay. Zn 2+ and Eu 3+ are selected to assemble with two different AuNCs, resulting in quenching or enhancing their fluorescence. Based on the competitive interaction of metal ions with AuNCs and PPs, the fluorescence of AuNCs will be recovered owing to the disassembly of AuNC-metal ion ensembles. Depending on different PPs' distinct fluorescence responses, a four-channel sensor array was established. The array not only exhibits good discrimination capability for eight kinds of PPs (i.e., ATP, ADP, AMP, GTP, CTP, UTP, PPi, and Pi) via linear discriminant analysis but also enables quantitative detection of single phosphate (e.g., ATP) in the presence of interfering PPs mixtures. Moreover, potential application of the present sensor array for the discrimination of different PPs in real samples (e.g., cell lysates and serum) was successfully demonstrated with a good performance. This work illustrates the great potential of a metal ion-regulated sensor array as a new and efficient sensing platform for differential sensing of phosphates as well as other disease-related biomolecules.

Background: Cryptorchidism is a condition in which one or both of a baby's testicles do not fully descend into the bottom of the scrotum. Newborns with cryptorchidism are at increased risk of developing infertility later in life. The aim of this study was to develop a novel diagnostic model for cryptorchidism and to identify new biomarkers associated with cryptorchidism., Methods: The study data were obtained from RNA sequencing data of cryptorchid patients from Nantong University Hospital and the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Differential expression analysis was used to obtain differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the control and cryptorchid groups. These DEGs were analyzed for their functions by Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment using GSEA software. Random Forest algorithm was used to screen central genes based on these DEGs. Neuralnet software package was used to develop artificial neural network models. Based on clinical data, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) was used to validate the models. Single-cell sequencing analysis was used for the pathogenesis of cryptorchidism., Results: We obtained a total of 525 important DEGs related to cryptorchidism, which are mainly associated with biological functions such as supramolecular complexes and microtubule cytoskeleton. Random forest approach screening obtained eight hub genes. A neural network based on the hub genes showed a 100% success rate of the model. Finally, single-cell sequencing analysis validated the hub genes., Conclusion: We developed a novel diagnostic model for cryptorchidism using artificial neural networks and validated its utility as an effective diagnostic tool., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: Although retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is the most common type of hereditary retinal dystrophy, approximately 25%-45% of cases remain without a molecular diagnosis. von Willebrand factor A domain containing 8 ( VWA8 ) encodes a mitochondrial matrix-targeted protein; its molecular function and pathogenic mechanism in RP remain unexplained., Methods: Family members of patients with RP underwent ophthalmic examinations, and peripheral blood samples were collected for exome sequencing, ophthalmic targeted sequencing panel and Sanger sequencing. The importance of VWA8 in retinal development was demonstrated by a zebrafish knockdown model and cellular and molecular analysis., Results: This study recruited a Chinese family of 24 individuals with autosomal-dominant RP and conducted detailed ophthalmic examinations. Exome sequencing analysis of six patients revealed heterozygous variants in VWA8 , namely, the missense variant c.3070G>A (p.Gly1024Arg) and nonsense c.4558C>T (p.Arg1520Ter). Furthermore, VWA8 expression was significantly decreased both at the mRNA and protein levels. The phenotypes of zebrafish with VWA8 knockdown are similar to those of clinical individuals harbouring VWA8 variants. Moreover, VWA8 defects led to severe mitochondrial damage, resulting in excessive mitophagy and the activation of apoptosis., Conclusions: VWA8 plays a significant role in retinal development and visual function. This finding may provide new insights into RP pathogenesis and potential genes for molecular diagnosis and targeted therapy., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: In this study, we aimed to explore the antihypertensive effect of 23 and 52% concentrations of low-sodium salt combined with the Chinese Modified Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (CM-DASH) diet in patients with hypertension and type 2 diabetes., Methods: We conducted a randomized controlled single-blind trial with a semi-open design. One hundred and thirty-two participants were randomly assigned into Group A (control group), Group B (52% low-sodium salt group), Group C (23% low-sodium salt group), and Group D (meal pack group) for 8 weeks of dietary intervention. All participants were followed weekly to collect data on blood pressure, salt use, and adverse events. Blood and 24-h urine samples were analyzed at baseline, 4 weeks, and the end of the intervention., Results: At the end of the intervention, the mean blood pressure decreased significantly by 10.81/5.03 mmHg, 14.32/6.32 mmHg, 14.20/6.59 mmHg, and 19.06/7.82 mmHg in Groups A-D, respectively, compared with baseline ( p  < 0.001). Comparison between groups showed that the systolic blood pressure was lower in Groups C and D than in Groups A (-6.54 mmHg, -8.70 mmHg, p  < 0.05) and B (-6.60 mmHg, -8.76 mmHg, p < 0.05), and the diastolic blood pressure was lower in Group D than in Group A (-5.17 mmHg, p  = 0.006). The 24-h urinary Na + and Na + /K + values were significantly decreased in participants using low-sodium salt ( p  < 0.001). No serious adverse events occurred during the trial., Conclusion: Our preliminary results suggest that 23 and 52% concentrations of low-sodium salt combined with the CM-DASH diet can effectively reduce sodium intake and increase potassium intake in patients with hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus, thus achieving "salt reduction" and attaining standard, smooth, comprehensive management of patients with hypertension and type 2 diabetes., Clinical Trial Registration: http://www.chictr.org.cn/, ChiCTR2000029017., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Zhang, Zhou, Mei, Bu, Tang, Gong, Liu, Cai, Ren and Mu.)

Objectives: Sleep disturbances are common in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). However, previous studies have explored sleep quality at the cross-sectional level and the longitudinal variability characteristics are currently unknown. Our study aimed to longitudinally explore the effect of sleep quality on disease progression in patients with ALS., Methods: All enrolled patients with ALS were first diagnosed and completed the 6- and 12-month follow-ups. Subjective sleep disturbance was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Based on the PSQI score at baseline, patients with ALS were classified as poor sleepers (PSQI >5) and good sleepers (PSQI ≤5). Disease progression was assessed using the rate of disease progression, the absolute change from baseline forced vital capacity (ΔFVC) and the percentage change from baseline FVC (ΔFVC%) over the follow-up period., Results: Sixty-three patients were included in the study, 24 (38.1%) were poor sleepers and 39 were good sleepers. The percentage of patients with poor sleep quality was 38.1% at baseline, increasing to 60.3% and 74.6% at 6- and 12-month, respectively. Compared to good sleepers, ΔFVC and ΔFVC% values were greater in poor sleepers ( P < 0.001 and P = 0.001, respectively). Poor sleep quality at diagnosis is associated with rapid deterioration of respiratory function during disease progression., Conclusions: Sleep disturbances maybe a potential risk factor for deterioration of respiratory function in patients with ALS. The role of sleep disturbances in disease progression deserves attention, and early assessment and intervention may slow disease progression and improve life quality of patients with ALS., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2023 Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology.)

Although the connections between race, poverty, and foster care placement seem obvious, the link has not in fact been studied extensively. To address this gap, we view poverty and placement through longitudinal and cross-sectional lenses to more accurately capture how changes in poverty rates relate to changes in placement frequency. The longitudinal study examines the relationship between poverty rate changes and changes in the placement of Black and White children between 2000 and 2015. The cross-sectional study extends the longitudinal analysis by using a richer measure of socio-ecological diversity and more recent foster care data. Using Poisson regression models, we assess the extent to which changes in race-differentiated child poverty rates are correlated with Black and White child placement frequencies and placement disparities. Regardless of whether one looks longitudinally or cross-sectionally, we find that Black children are placed in foster care more often than White children. Higher White child poverty rates are associated with substantially reduced placement differences; however, higher Black child poverty rates are associated with relatively small changes in placement disparity. Black and White child placement rates are more similar in counties with the fewest socio-ecological assets.

Visible light communication (VLC) has become a popular method for indoor communication, due to its high transmission speed and robustness against electromagnetic interference. Indoor VLC scenarios commonly consist of multiple users in line-of-sight (LOS) and non-line-of-sight (NLOS) paths. In NLOS, the light waves suffer from attenuation due to diffuse reflection from obstacles in the room, leading to significant attenuation in light intensity. This paper proposes a wavefront shaping method to enhance indoor VLC for multiple users, including both LOS and NLOS. By employing a spatial division scheme, we can simultaneously achieve a light intensity gain of 5.43 dB in NLOS through stepwise partitioning wavefront shaping and an opening angle range of 27° for two LOS users through computational holography. By employing bit-power-loading discrete multi-tone (DMT) modulation, we demonstrated VLC with transmission data rates of 3.082 Gbit/s and 3.052 Gbit/s for two LOS links and 2.235 Gbit/s for NLOS with 30.7% improvement compared with that without wavefront shaping, satisfying the 7% forward-error-correction (FEC) threshold.

Thin film electronics that are capable of deforming and interfacing with nonplanar surfaces have attracted widespread interest in wearable motion detection or physiological signal recording due to their light weight, low stiffness, and high conformality. However, it is still a challenge to fabricate freestanding thin film substrates or matrices with only sub-micron thickness in a simple way, especially for those materials with metastable conformations, like regenerated silk protein. Herein, we developed a dip-coating method for the fabrication of sub-micron thick freestanding silk films inspired by blowing soap bubbles. Using a closed-loop frame to dip-coat in a concentrated silk fibroin aqueous solution, the substrate-free silk films with a thickness as low as hundreds of nanometres (∼150 nm) can be easily obtained after solvent evaporation. The silk films have extremely smooth surfaces ( R q < 3 nm) and can be tailored with different geometric shapes. The naturally dried silk films possess random coil dominated uncrystallized secondary structures, exhibiting high modulation ability and adaptability, which can be conformally attached on wrinkled skin or wrapped on human hair. Considering the methodological advantages and the unique properties of the obtained sub-micron thick silk films, several thin film based programmable electronics including transient/durable circuits, skin electrodes, transferred skin light-emitting devices and injectable electronics are successfully demonstrated after being deposited with gold or conducting polymer layers. This research provides a new avenue for preparing freestanding thin polymer films, showing great promise for developing thin film electronics in wearable and biomedical applications.

Post-amputation pain causes great suffering to amputees, but still no effective drugs are available due to its elusive mechanisms. Our previous clinical studies found that surgical removal or radiofrequency treatment of the neuroma at the axotomized nerve stump effectively relieves the phantom pain afflicting patients after amputation. This indicated an essential role of the residual nerve stump in the formation of chronic post-amputation pain (CPAP). However, the molecular mechanism by which the residual nerve stump or neuroma is involved and regulates CPAP is still a mystery. In this study, we found that nociceptors expressed the mechanosensitive ion channel TMEM63A and macrophages infiltrated into the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons worked synergistically to promote CPAP. Histology and qRT-PCR showed that TMEM63A was mainly expressed in mechanical pain-producing non-peptidergic nociceptors in the DRG, and the expression of TMEM63A increased significantly both in the neuroma from amputated patients and the DRG in a mouse model of tibial nerve transfer (TNT). Behavioral tests showed that the mechanical, heat, and cold sensitivity were not affected in the Tmem63a -/- mice in the naïve state, suggesting the basal pain was not affected. In the inflammatory and post-amputation state, the mechanical allodynia but not the heat hyperalgesia or cold allodynia was significantly decreased in Tmem63a -/- mice. Further study showed that there was severe neuronal injury and macrophage infiltration in the DRG, tibial nerve, residual stump, and the neuroma-like structure of the TNT mouse model, Consistent with this, expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β all increased dramatically in the DRG. Interestingly, the deletion of Tmem63a significantly reduced the macrophage infiltration in the DRG but not in the tibial nerve stump. Furthermore, the ablation of macrophages significantly reduced both the expression of Tmem63a and the mechanical allodynia in the TNT mouse model, indicating an interaction between nociceptors and macrophages, and that these two factors gang up together to regulate the formation of CPAP. This provides a new insight into the mechanisms underlying CPAP and potential drug targets its treatment., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Large ambient temperature changes (-20->25 °C) bring great challenges to the purification of the indoor pollutant formaldehyde. Within such a large ambient temperature range, we herein report a manganese-based strategy, that is, a mullite catalyst (YMn 2 O 5 ) + ozone, to efficiently remove the formaldehyde pollution. At -20 °C, the formaldehyde removal efficiency reaches 62% under the condition of 60,000 mL g cat -1 h -1 . As the reaction temperature is increased to -5 °C, formaldehyde and ozone are completely converted into CO 2 , H 2 O, and O 2 , respectively. Such a remarkable performance was ascribed to the highly reactive oxygen species generated by ozone on the YMn 2 O 5 surface based on the low temperature-programed desorption measurements. The in situ infrared spectra showed the intermediate product carboxyl group (-COOH) to be the key species. Based on the superior performance, we built a consumable-free air purifier equipped with mullite-coated ceramics. In the simulated indoor condition (25 °C and 30% relative humidity), the equipment can effectively decompose formaldehyde (150 m 3 h -1 ) without producing secondary pollutants, rivaling a commercial removal efficiency. This work provides an air purification route based on the mullite catalyst + ozone to remove formaldehyde in an ambient temperature range (-20->25 °C).

To explore the clinical efficacy of clonazepam in the treatment of status epilepticus. Totally 60 patients with status epilepticus were identified as research subjects and assigned (1:1) via the randomized double-blind method to receive either diazepam (Valium) comparison group) or clonazepam (observation group). After treatment and follow-up visits, the treatment efficacy, incidence of adverse reactions, quality of life, and recurrence were evaluated and compared between the two groups. The total effective rate of the observation group was 93.33%, which was higher than that of 66.67% in the comparison group (P<0.05). A longer mean duration of drug effect was observed in the observation group than in the comparison group (P<0.05). The observation group outperformed the comparison group in terms of quality of life (P<0.05). The observation group had a lower incidence of adverse reactions than the comparison group (P<0.05). The overall recurrence rate in the comparison group was 23.33%, which was significantly higher than that of 6.67% in the observation group (P<0.05). Clonazepam yields a promising efficacy in the treatment of patients with status epilepticus.

Background: Varicella zoster virus (VZV) can remain lifelong in the latent state in ganglionic neurons and adrenal glands after the initial infection. However, it can be reactivated anytime and can trigger several severe neurological manifestations such as encephalitis, meningitis, Ramsay-Hunt syndrome, cerebellitis, myelitis, and stroke. In addition, due to the diversity of clinical manifestations, clinical diagnosis of VZV can be difficult, especially in the absence of varicella. Here, we describe the case of a 52-year-old male who presented with symptoms of acute myelitis as well as polycranial neuritis, and was finally diagnosed with VZV infection through metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS)., Case Presentation: A 52-year-old male came to our hospital with complaint of headache, fever, weakness of right lower limb, abdominal distension, and hearing loss. T2-weighted MRI revealed a hyperintense lesion in the spinal cord extending from T8 to T11. In addition, enhanced MRI showed small patches and strips hyperintensities in both the spinal cord and meninges. Plain abdominal radiographs and abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan displayed air-fluid levels and incomplete bowel obstruction. Moreover, electrophysiological evaluation of the peripheral neuropathy in the extremities was found to be normal. Finally, by using metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) we found that the copy number of VZV DNA in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was significantly increased and IgG antibody against VZV in CSF was also noted to be positive. Hence, VZV infection was identified in patient's central neuron system. Finally, after a few days of low dose steroid treatment, the patient's symptoms were found to be significantly improved., Conclusions: The findings indicate that we should pay proper attention to the various symptoms caused by VZV infection due to the clinical heterogeneity, especially in the absence of cutaneous lesions., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

The mechanism of thermal decomposition and fire suppression, and the fire-extinguishing performance of HFO-1234yf, HCFO-1233xf and 2-BTP agents were investigated by using both experimental and theoretical methods. The different halogen atoms connected with the middle carbon atom result in the varied strength of C-X (X = F, Cl, Br) bonds, and thus different thermal stability of these agents, which could further affect the pyrolysis mechanism/products and the fire-extinguishing mechanism/performance of these agents. Owing to the generation of CF3˙, Cl˙ and Br˙ radicals, as well as some unsaturated small molecules produced by their pyrolysis, the HFO-1234yf, HCFO-1233xf and 2-BTP agents have minimum extinguishing concentrations (MECs) of 9.80 vol%, 7.28 vol% and 2.92 vol% (9.80 vol%, 7.28 vol% and 2.56 vol%) for suppressing propane-air (methane-air) flame, respectively, which are comparable to or even better than those of other hydrofluoroolefin (HFO) and hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) agents. Despite the contribution of directly produced Br˙ radicals, which have the lowest energy barrier and the highest efficiency in capturing free radicals, the Br˙ and CF3˙ radicals produced by the follow-up reactions with OH˙/H˙ radicals may also contribute a lot to the best fire-suppressing performance of 2-BTP. Due to the high reactivity of these unsaturated halogenated olefins and their pyrolysis products, exothermic reactions could occur between the original agents (or their pyrolysis products) and the OH˙/O: radicals, thus leading to the combustion-promotion effect of the HFO-1234yf, HCFO-1233xf and 2-BTP agents. The slightest combustion-promotion effect of the 2-BTP extinguishant may result from the easier generation and best performance of the Br˙ radicals, as well as the lowest energies released by the exothermic reactions.

Morphology- and size-controlled 3D mesoporous Cr 2 O 3 have always been a research hotspot due to their wide applications. Herein, we for the first time report that the carbonized Cr-MOFs can ignite spontaneously at room temperature and form the corresponding 3D mesoporous Cr 2 O 3 with high specific surface areas (219.25 to 303.44 cm 2 g -1 ). More importantly, the shape and size of 3D mesoporous Cr 2 O 3 can be well controlled by a facile adjustment of the Cr-MOF synthesis conditions. Furthermore, these materials showed an exceptionally high catalytic performance in formaldehyde oxidation. These results are predicted to offer a novel method in the design and synthesis of 3D porous Cr 2 O 3 ., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

Mn 3 O 4 nanoparticles (NPs) are one of the most important nanomaterials, and have a wide range of applications ( i.e. , catalysis, solar-electron transformation and molecular adsorption). However, their biological effect remains to be detailed. In this study, we investigated the in vivo toxicity of the synthesized Mn 3 O 4 NPs using a long-term exposure model. After exposure to the Mn 3 O 4 NPs for 60-120 days, rats preferentially accumulated manganese in the livers. Histopathological observation and apoptosis assays revealed that the Mn 3 O 4 NPs caused severe liver injury associated with apoptosis. Transcription profiling analysis, immune histochemistry (IHC) staining and western blotting showed that the NPs significantly up-regulated expression of the cytochrome P450 (CYP1A2). Accordingly, the NP-treated livers exhibited high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidative damage. Moreover, ROS scavenging by N -acetylcysteine (NAC) attenuated Mn 3 O 4 NP-caused liver injury, but had no impact on the expression of CYP1A2. These results indicated that the toxicity of the Mn 3 O 4 NPs was attributed to cytochrome P450-dependent ROS accumulation and consequent oxidative damage. This study uncovers the contribution of cytochrome P450-induced oxidative stress to nanotoxicity., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

By employing first-principles computations and particle-swarm optimization calculations, we theoretically confirmed the honeycomb geometry of experimentally realized BC 3 sheet, which is constructed by the hexagonal carbon-ring fragments surrounded by six boron atoms and has pronounced thermodynamic stabilities. Remarkably, the computations also demonstrate the visible-light absorption, high carrier mobilities, and promising reduction and oxidation capacities of the BC 3 monolayer, indicating its efficient absorption of solar radiation, fast migration of electron and holes, and excellent capabilities of photoinduced carriers in a photocatalytic process, respectively. Additionally, its indirect band gap, spatially separated charge distributions, and great difference in mobilities of electrons and holes should lead to the restricted recombination of photoactivated e - -h + pairs within BC 3 monolayer. All above-mentioned characteristics suggest that the honeycomb BC 3 monolayer should be a recommendable candidate for metal-free photocatalysts, which is worthy of further verifications and explorations in experimental studies., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest.

Protease, serine, 3 (PRSS3), a member of the trypsin family of serine proteases, has been shown to be aberrantly expressed in several cancer types and to play important roles in tumor progression and metastasis. However, the expression and function of PRSS3 gene in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unclear. Here we found that PRSS3 expression was decreased in human HCC cell lines and HCC surgical specimens. This was associated with intragenic methylation of PRSS3 gene. Treatment with DNA methyltransferase inhibitor 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine and/or histone deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin A restored PRSS3 expression in HCC cell lines. Ectopic overexpression of PRSS3 gene in HCC cell lines significantly suppressed cell proliferation and colony formation and arrested cell cycle at G1/S phase, accompanied with downregulation of cyclin D1 (CCND1)/CDK4 and cyclin E1 (CCNE1)/CDK2 complexes. Moreover, PRSS3 overexpression in HCC cells inhibited HCC cell migration and invasion with downregulation of matrix metallopeptidase 2 (MMP2). Further study showed that PRSS3 overexpression diminished the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular-signal-regulated kinase signaling protein, mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1 (MEK1)/mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 2 (MEK2) and extracellular-signal related kinase 1 (ERK1)/extracellular-signal related kinase 2 (ERK2), in HCC cells. In contrast, knockdown of PRSS3 by small interfering RNA resulted in opposite effects on an HCC cell line SNU-387 which constitutively expresses PRSS3. These results demonstrate that downregulation of PRSS3 by intragenic hypermethylation provides growth and metastasis advantage to HCC cells. The clinical relevance of PRSS3 to human HCC was shown by the intragenic methylation of PRSS3 in HCC specimens and its association with poor tumor differentiation in patients with HCC. Thus, PRSS3 is a potential prognostic biomarker and an epigenetic target for intervention of human HCC., Key Messages: • PRSS3 is downregulated by intragenic hypermethylation in HCC. • Epigenetic silencing of PRSS3 facilitates growth, migration, and invasion of HCC. • PRSS3 intragenic methylation has implication in diagnosis of HCC.