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Abstract SARS-CoV-2 infection causes severe pulmonary manifestations, with poorly understood mechanisms and limited treatment options. Hyperferritinemia and disrupted lung iron homeostasis in COVID-19 patients imply that ferroptosis, an iron-dependent cell death, may occur. Immunostaining and lipidomic analysis in COVID-19 lung autopsies reveal increases in ferroptosis markers, including transferrin receptor 1 and malondialdehyde accumulation in fatal cases. COVID-19 lungs display dysregulation of lipids involved in metabolism and ferroptosis. We find increased ferritin light chain associated with severe COVID-19 lung pathology. Iron overload promotes ferroptosis in both primary cells and cancerous lung epithelial cells. In addition, ferroptosis markers strongly correlate with lung injury severity in a COVID-19 lung disease model using male Syrian hamsters. These results reveal a role for ferroptosis in COVID-19 pulmonary disease; pharmacological ferroptosis inhibition may serve as an adjuvant therapy to prevent lung damage during SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Abstract Purpose This study aims to explore the role of circ_0032704 in sorafenib‐resistant hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods The expression of circ_0032704, miR‐514a‐3p, and programmed death‐ligand 1 (PD‐L1) mRNA was detected by quantitative real‐time PCR (qPCR). The expression of multidrug resistant‐related proteins, migration/invasion‐related proteins, exosome‐related proteins, and PD‐L1 protein was detected by western blot. Cell viability was detected by CCK‐8 assay. Cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were assessed by EdU assay, wound healing assay, and transwell assay. The binding between miR‐514a‐3p and circ_0032704 or PD‐L1 was verified by RIP assay, pull‐down assay, and dual‐luciferase reporter assay. Cell‐ or serum‐derived exosomes were isolated and identified by TEM and NTA. Xenograft models were established to determine the effect of circ_0032704 on drug resistance in vivo. Results Circ_0032704 was overexpressed in sorafenib‐resistant HCC tissues and cells. Circ_0032704 knockdown reduced sorafenib resistance in HCC cells and inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of sorafenib‐resistant HCC cells, while these effects were reversed by PD‐L1 overexpression. We found that circ_0032704 positively regulated PD‐L1 expression via targeting miR‐514a‐3p. Exosomes with circ_0032704 inhibition reduced sorafenib resistance in HCC cells and inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of sorafenib‐resistant HCC cells. Exosomes with circ_0032704 inhibition also inhibited tumor growth in vivo. The expression of circ_0032704 in exosomes was stable and possessed diagnostic value. Conclusion Circ_0032704 enhanced sorafenib resistance in HCC and promoted the malignant development of sorafenib‐resistant HCC. Circ_0032704 could be transported by exosomes, and exosomal circ_0032704 had diagnostic value.

Geothermal energy is a clean, abundant, and dependable energy source. Because the formation of a geothermal field is often closely linked to the distribution and development of granite, it is crucial to understand the regularity and formation mechanism of granite geothermal resources to advance the field of geothermal energy. Lancang County is located on the southern edge of the Lincang granite, and contains many hot springs. In this paper, we synthesize rock geochemistry, zircon U–Pb chronology, and other methods to interpret the genesis of granites in Lancang County and their geothermal formation patterns. The study area mainly comprises a Middle Triassic S-type granite with high contents of heat-producing elements. Zircon U–Pb dating results show that the intrusion time of the Lancang granite was 239 Ma. The granite is rich in light rare earth elements, depleted in heavy rare earth elements, and characterized by a negative Eu anomaly. The ɛHf values range from −20.3 to 13.6, indicating the presence of mantle material in the source area. Igneous rocks in Lancang County likely formed in the background of an active continental margin associated with the subduction of the Tethys Ocean to the east, which formed an intra-land orogeny. High contents of radioactive thermogenic elements in the granite, fracture development, and additional heat sources from metamorphic rocks combined to generate high-temperature geothermal resources in the study area. The hydrothermal geothermal model of the granite has the following characteristics: a near heat source, large drop, water storage in fractures, simultaneous geothermal influence in deep and shallow layers, and hot spring and geothermal distribution along deep and large faults, etc. The geothermal reservoirs in the study area are classified into four types: internal fissures in granite, granite paleo-weathering crust, tectonic nappe fractures, and sedimentary deposits associated with granite cooling collapse. These types are of great significance to the understanding of the formation of hydrothermal geothermal heat in this granite area.

As an important component of the exploration and evaluation of geothermal resources, the formation model has unique formation and distribution rule in different regions. Reliable geological models need to be established to help in temperature prediction, favorable area selection, and drilling design studies prior to the development of geothermal resources. This paper provides an integrated approach for analyzing the formation models of geothermal resources by combining geological studies and the wide-field electromagnetic method. The resistivity profile is converted into a geologic profile by analyzing the fault distribution, stratigraphic lithology, magmatic rock development, and signal changes of the profile. Comprehensively analyzing the geological elements including the heat sources, water sources, thermal reservoirs, transport conditions, cap rock, and preservation conditions, we investigate the matching relationship of the geological elements on the geologic profile and establish a formation model of the geothermal resources. This approach avoids the respective limitations of geological and geophysical methods, and the formation model established by this approach is comprehensive, intuitive, and accurate and can provide support for the development of geothermal resources.

Geothermal energy is a renewable energy with large scale and wide distribution. Geothermal resources are abundant in western Yunnan, China, but the work is less. In this study, a wide field electromagnetic method (WFEM) was applied to geothermal exploration in Sanying Basin, and six survey lines were deployed. On the basis of the inversion results, the paper conducts a progressive study on the four genetic factors of geothermal exploration, including “source, storage, channel, and circulation”. The Sanying Basin has three sets of intrusive rock masses, two kinds of lateral and vertical additional heating modes. Two sets of deep and shallow reservoir systems were identified. Two major strike-slip deep faults were identified as heat conduction channels. Two sets of water circulation systems were established, and the formation mechanism of hot springs was clarified. Anomaly 1 is a favorable target area for hydrothermal development, and invasion Ⅱ is a favorable target area for hot dry rock.

Abstract Background Increasing evidence has showed that inflammatory biomarkers, including neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and fibrinogen can be used as predictors in the prognosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). The aim of this study was to explore prognostic value of these biomarkers and evaluate the clinicopathological and prognostic significance of combined score based on plasma fibrinogen and platelet-lymphocyte ratio (F-PLR score). Methods A total of 506 patients with ESCC were enrolled in this study. Harrell’s concordance index (c-index) was used to determine the optimal cut-off values of these markers and evaluate their prognostic significance. The relationship between factors with survival rates (including overall survival [OS] and disease-free survival [DFS]) was explored by Kaplan-Meier curve, univariate analysis and multivariate cox hazard analysis. Results Our result indicated that high F-PLR score was significantly associated with longer tumor length and deeper depth of tumor invasion (p

This study investigated the physicochemical and flavor quality changes in fresh-cut papaya that was stored at 4 °C. Multivariate statistical analysis was used to evaluate the freshness of fresh-cut papaya. Aerobic plate counts were selected as a predictor of freshness of fresh-cut papaya, and a prediction model for freshness was established using partial least squares regression (PLSR), and support vector machine regression (SVMR) algorithms. Freshness of fresh-cut papaya could be well distinguished based on physicochemical and flavor quality analyses. The aerobic plate counts, as a predictor of freshness of fresh-cut papaya, significantly correlated with storage time. The SVMR model had a higher prediction accuracy than the PLSR model. Combining flavor quality with multivariate statistical analysis can be effectively used for evaluating the freshness of fresh-cut papaya.

Abstract Treatment for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears depends on the condition of the ligament. We aimed to identify different tear statuses from preoperative MRI using deep learning-based radiomics with sex and age. We reviewed 862 patients with preoperative MRI scans reflecting ACL status from Hunan Provincial People’s Hospital. Based on sagittal proton density-weighted images, a fully automated approach was developed that consisted of a deep learning model for segmenting ACL tissue (ACL-DNet) and a deep learning-based recognizer for ligament status classification (ACL-SNet). The efficacy of the proposed approach was evaluated by using the sensitivity, specificity and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and compared with that of a group of three orthopedists in the holdout test set. The ACL-DNet model yielded a Dice coefficient of 98% ± 6% on the MRI datasets. Our proposed classification model yielded a sensitivity of 97% and a specificity of 97%. In comparison, the sensitivity of alternative models ranged from 84 to 90%, while the specificity was between 86 and 92%. The AUC of the ACL-SNet model was 99%, demonstrating high overall diagnostic accuracy. The diagnostic performance of the clinical experts as reflected in the AUC was 96%, 92% and 88%, respectively. The fully automated model shows potential as a highly reliable and reproducible tool that allows orthopedists to noninvasively identify the ACL status and may aid in optimizing different techniques, such as ACL remnant preservation, for ACL reconstruction.

Abstract Norepinephrine (NA), a stress hormone, can accelerate hair graying by binding to β2 adrenergic receptors (β2AR) on melanocyte stem cells (McSCs). From this, NA-β2AR axis could be a potential target for preventing the stress effect. However, identifying selective blockers for β2AR has been a key challenge. Therefore, in this study, advanced computer-aided drug design (CADD) techniques were harnessed to screen natural molecules, leading to the discovery of rhynchophylline as a promising compound. Rhynchophylline exhibited strong and stable binding within the active site of β2AR, as verified by molecular docking and dynamic simulation assays. When administered to cells, rhynchophylline effectively inhibited NA-β2AR signaling. This intervention resulted in a significant reduction of hair graying in a stress-induced mouse model, from 28.5% to 8.2%. To gain a deeper understanding of the underlying mechanisms, transcriptome sequencing was employed, which revealed that NA might disrupt melanogenesis by affecting intracellular calcium balance and promoting cell apoptosis. Importantly, rhynchophylline acted as a potent inhibitor of these downstream pathways. In conclusion, the study demonstrated that rhynchophylline has the potential to mitigate the negative impact of NA on melanogenesis by targeting β2AR, thus offering a promising solution for preventing stress-induced hair graying. Graphical Abstract

The chemical recycling of polyolefin presents a considerable challenge, especially as upcycling methods struggle with the reality that plastic wastes typically consist of mixtures of polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), and polypropylene (PP). We report a catalytic aerobic oxidative approach for polyolefins upcycling with the corresponding carboxylic acids as the product. This method encompasses three key innovations. First, it operates under atmospheric pressure and mild conditions, using O2 or air as the oxidant. Second, it is compatible with high-density polyethylene, low-density polyethylene, PS, PP, and their blends. Third, it uses an economical and recoverable metal catalyst. It has been demonstrated that this approach can efficiently degrade mixed wastes of plastic bags, bottles, masks, and foam boxes.

Numerous health hazards have been connected to advanced glycation end products (AGEs). In this investigation, using reaction models including BSA-fructose, BSA- methylglyoxal (MGO), and BSA-glyoxal (GO), we examined the anti-glycation potential of eight different berry species on AGEs formation. Our results indicate that black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) exhibited the highest inhibitory effects, with IC50 values of 0.35 ± 0.02, 0.45 ± 0.03, and 0.48 ± 0.11 mg/mL, respectively. Furthermore, our findings suggest that black chokeberry inhibits AGE formation by binding to BSA, which alleviates the conformation alteration, prevents protein cross-linking, and traps reactive α-dicarbonyls to form adducts. Notably, three major polyphenols, including cyanidin-3-O-galactoside, cyanidin-3-O-arabinoside, and procyanidin B2 from black chokeberry, showed remarkably inhibitory effect on MGO/GO capture, and new adducts formation was verified through LC-MS/MS analysis. In summary, our research provides a theoretical basis for the use of berries, particularly black chokeberry, as natural functional food components with potential anti-glycation effects.

Abstract As stretchable conductive materials, ionogels have gained increasing attention. However, it still remains crucial to integrate multiple functions including mechanically robust, room temperature self‐healing capacity, facile processing, and recyclability into an ionogel‐based device with high potential for applications such as soft robots, electronic skins, and wearable electronics. Herein, inspired by the structure of spider silk, a multilevel hydrogen bonding strategy to effectively produce multi‐functional ionogels is proposed with a combination of the desirable properties. The ionogels are synthesized based on N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM), N, N‐dimethylacrylamide (DMA), and ionic liquids (ILs) 1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([EMI][TFSI]). The synergistic hydrogen bonding interactions between PNIPAM chains, PDMA chains, and ILs endow the ionogels with improved mechanical strength along with fast self‐healing ability at ambient conditions. Furthermore, the synthesized ionogels show great capability for the continuous fabrication of the ionogel‐based fibers using the melt‐spinning process. The ionogel fibers exhibit spider‐silk‐like features with hysteresis behavior, indicating their excellent energy dissipation performance. Moreover, an interwoven network of ionogel fibers with strain and thermal sensing performance can accurately sense the location of objects. In addition, the ionogels show great recyclability and processability into different shapes using 3D printing. This work provides a new strategy to design superior ionogels for diverse applications.

Phenylpropanoids play important roles in plant physiology and the enzyme 4-coumarate: coenzyme A ligase (4CL) catalyzes the formation of thioesters. Despite extensive characterization in various plants, the functions of 4CLs in the liverwort Marchantia paleacea remain unknown. Here, four 4CLs from M. paleacea were isolated and functionally analyzed. Heterologous expression in Escherichia coli indicated the presence of different enzymatic activities in the four enzymes. Mp4CL1 and Mp4CL2 were able to convert caffeic, p-coumaric, cinnamic, ferulic, dihydro-p-coumaric, and 5-hydroxyferulic acids to their corresponding CoA esters, while Mp4CL3 and Mp4CL4 catalyzed none. Mp4CL1 transcription was induced when M. paleacea thalli were treated with methyl jasmonate (MeJA). The overexpression of Mp4CL1 increased the levels of lignin in transgenic Arabidopsis. In addition, we reconstructed the flavanone biosynthetic pathway in E. coli. The pathway comprised Mp4CL1, co-expressed with chalcone synthase (CHS) from different plant species, and the efficiency of biosynthesis was optimal when both the 4CL and CHS were obtained from the same species M. paleacea.

Abstract Changes in winter cloudy days (CDs) exert substantial impacts on agricultural production, public transport, and the solar photovoltaic (PV) power industry. However, the physical mechanism behind the variability of winter CDs over China remains largely unclear, making it challenging to predict the future dynamics of winter CDs. In this study, we explored the spatiotemporal features of winter CDs over China from 1961 to 2013 and identified two independent formation mechanisms associated with its leading mode. Then, we projected the future changes (2021–2099) in winter CDs under global warming constrained by the identified formation mechanisms. Results revealed that: (a) The leading mode of winter CDs from 1961 to 2013 presents a homogeneous pattern. The positive winter CDs anomaly is connected to the anomalous southerlies related to the Eurasian Rossby wave train triggered by the Barents Sea thermal forcing, as well as the Asia‐Pacific zonal geopotential height gradient induced by the convection over the Maritime Continent; (b) Selected state‐of‐the‐art climate models project a notable decrease in winter CDs in the Tibetan Plateau and southern China regions, and almost unchanged winter CDs over northern China, under global warming; (c) In contrast to present‐day mechanisms, in the future, the shift of the Eurasian mean flow will terminate the role of the Barents Sea thermal forcing. Instead, the enhanced convection over the Maritime Continent emerges as the primary contributor to the decline in winter CDs. Our findings provide valuable insights for policymakers in the solar PV industry, particularly in relation to the challenges faced under global warming.

Abstract Background Postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) is now well-accepted as standard for high-risk stage II and stage III colorectal cancer (CRC) patients, however the optimal time to initiate AC remains elusive. Methods A comprehensive literature search was performed using the PubMed and Embase databases. The Hazard ratio (HR) with the corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) was used as an effect measure to evaluate primary endpoints. All analyses were conducted using Stata software version 12.0 with the Random-effects model. Results A total of 30 studies were included in our study. Upon comparison on overall survival (OS), we identified that delaying the initiation of AC for > 8 weeks after operation was significantly associated with poor OS (HR: 1.37; 95% CI: 1.27—1.48; P 8 weeks was not undermined by subgroup analysis based on region, tumor site, sample size and study quality. No obvious differences were observed in survival between AC within 5–8 weeks and ≤ 4 weeks (HR: 1.03; 95% CI: 0.96 -1.10; P = 0.46). Moreover, two studies both highlighted that the survival benefit of AC was still statistically significant when AC was applied 5–6 months after surgery compared with the non-chemotherapy group. Conclusions Delaying the initiation of AC for > 8 weeks after surgery was significantly associated with poor OS. AC started within 8 weeks after surgery brought more benefits to CRC patients. There were no obvious differences in survival benefits between AC within 5–8 weeks and ≤ 4 weeks. Compared to patients not receiving AC after surgery, a delay of approximately 5–6 months was still useful to improve prognosis.

Abstract Fibers, with over 100 million tons produced each year, have been widely used in various areas. Recent efforts have focused on improving mechanical properties and chemical resistance of fibers via covalent cross-linking. However, the covalently cross-linked polymers are usually insoluble and infusible, and thus fiber fabrication is difficult. Those reported require complex multiple-step preparation processes. Herein, we present a facile and effective strategy to prepare adaptable covalently cross-linked fibers by direct melt spinning of covalent adaptable networks (CANs). At processing temperature, dynamic covalent bonds are reversibly dissociated/associated and the CANs are temporarily disconnected to enable melt spinning; at the service temperature, the dynamic covalent bonds are frozen, and the CANs exhibit favorable structural stability. We demonstrate the efficiency of this strategy via dynamic oxime-urethane based CANs, and successfully prepare adaptable covalently cross-linked fibers with robust mechanical properties (maximum elongation of 2639%, tensile strength of 87.68 MPa, almost complete recovery from an elongation of 800%) and solvent resistance. Application of this technology is demonstrated by an organic solvent resistant and stretchable conductive fiber.

Abstract Background To evaluate the value of a deep learning-based computer-aided diagnostic system (DL-CAD) in improving the diagnostic performance of acute rib fractures in patients with chest trauma. Materials and methods CT images of 214 patients with acute blunt chest trauma were retrospectively analyzed by two interns and two attending radiologists independently firstly and then with the assistance of a DL-CAD one month later, in a blinded and randomized manner. The consensusdiagnosis of fib fracture by another two senior thoracic radiologists was regarded as reference standard. The rib fracture diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, diagnostic confidence and mean reading time with and without DL-CAD were calculated and compared. Results There were 680 rib fracture lesions confirmed as reference standard among all patients. The diagnostic sensitivity and positive predictive value of interns weresignificantly improved from (68.82%, 84.50%) to (91.76%, 93.17%) with the assistance of DL-CAD, respectively. Diagnostic sensitivity and positive predictive value of attendings aided by DL-CAD (94.56%, 95.67%) or not aided (86.47%, 93.83%), respectively. In addition, when radiologists were assisted by DL-CAD, the mean reading time was significantly reduced, and diagnostic confidence was significantly enhanced. Conclusions DL-CAD improves the diagnostic performance of acute rib fracture in chest trauma patients, which increases the diagnostic confidence, sensitivity, and positive predictive value for radiologists. DL-CAD can advance the diagnostic consistency of radiologists with different experiences.

ObjectiveTo analyse the influencing factors of anxiety, disease uncertainty and acute stress response in patients with acute ischaemic stroke, and to verify the mediating role of anxiety in the post-epidemic era.Methods240 patients with acute ischaemic stroke were selected from a tertiary hospital in Wuhan City and investigated by questionnaire and convenience sampling methods.ResultsThe total anxiety score, disease uncertainty and acute stress reaction were at moderate levels. Anxiety was positively correlated with illness uncertainty, and anxiety and acute stress response were negatively correlated. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that Sickness uncertainty, acute stress response, age, and work status influenced anxiety. Anxiety mediated the prediction of Sickness uncertainty and acute stress response, with the mediating effect accounting for 35.6% of the total effect.ConclusionDisease uncertainty in patients with acute ischaemic stroke in the post-epidemic era directly affects the acute stress response and indirectly through anxiety.

Summary: The magnetic interaction is a necessary ingredient to break the time-reversal symmetry in realizing quantum anomalous Hall, or Chern insulating phases. Here, we study topological phases in the α−T3 model, a minimal theoretical model supporting the flat band, taking account of Rashba spin-orbit coupling and flat-band-induced spontaneous ferromagnetism. By analyzing the interaction-driven phase diagrams, band structures, topological edge states, and topological invariants, we demonstrate that this system offers a platform for realizing a wide range of phases, including normal insulators, semimetals, and Chern insulators. Uniquely, there exist both high-Chern-number insulators and valley-polarized Chern insulators. In the latter phase, edge channels exist in the single valley, leading to nearly 100% valley polarization. These findings demonstrate the potential of interaction-driven systems in realizing exotic phases and their promising role in future applications in topology electronics and valleytronics.

Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is an essential method for Acute exacerbation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) recovery. We perform a meta-analysis to compare early PR with usual care. A literature search was performed through these databases: PubMed, MEDLINE database, Google Scholar, Cochrane, Embase from inception to July 2021. Eligible trials were clinical randomized controlled trials comparing the effects of early PR and usual care in AECOPD patients. The primary endpoint of this meta-analysis was FEV1% predicted, 6-min walk test (6MWD), modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) and George Respiratory Questionnaire-total (SGRQ-total). The secondary outcomes were borg dyspnea score, short-form 36 health survey questionnaire physical (SF-36 physical) and SF-36 mental. We included 13 RCTs with a total of 866 patients. There were no significant effects of the PR group on measures of FEV1% predicted (MD = 0.50, 95%CI −1.43 to 2.44, Z = 0.51, p = 0.61), borg dyspnea score (MD = −0.88, 95%CI −1.89 to 0.13, Z = 1.71, p = 0.09) and SF-36 mental (MD = 4.34, 95%CI −1.64 to 10.32, Z = 1.42, p = 0.16) compared with usual care. PR group achieved better 6MWD (MD = 97.58, 95%CI 17.21 to 177.96, Z = 2.38, p = 0.02), mMRC (MD = −0.36, 95%CI −0.52 to −0.21, Z = 4.56, p ˂ 0.00001), SGRQ-total (MD= −9.67, 95%CI −16.23 to −3.11, Z = 2.89, p = 0.004) and SF-36 physical (MD = 4.98, 95%CI 0.60 to 9.35, Z = 2.23, p = 0.03) compared with usual care group. Early PR in AECOPD patients would lead to better 6MWD, mMRC, SGRQ-total and SF-36 physical. But there were no significant effects of the PR group on measures of FEV1% predicted, borg dyspnea score and SF-36 mental.

Pathogen infection is one of the major causes of yield loss in the crop field. The rapid increase of antimicrobial resistance in plant pathogens has urged researchers to develop both new pesticides and management strategies for plant protection. The antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) showed potential on eliminating plant pathogenic fungi and bacteria. Here, we first summarize several overlooked advantages and merits of AMPs, which includes the steep dose-response relations, fast killing ability, broad synergism, slow resistance selection. We then discuss the possible application of AMPs for plant protection with above merits, and highlight how AMPs can be incorporated into a more efficient integrated management system that both increases the crop yield and reduce resistance evolution of pathogens.

IntroductionBrain structure and function changes are considered major brain damages in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), which likely has a close relationship with cognitive impairment. Many previous studies have shown by using brain structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods that brain white and gray matter are damaged in T2DM, leading to cognitive impairment. Researches neglected patients of T2DM without cognitive dysfunction might also have brain changes.MethodsIn this study, subjects with early stage T2DM with no cognitive dysfunction were enrolled to detect brain damages using the tract-based spatial statistics analysis (TBSS) method to demonstrate white matter (WM) micro changes and surface-based morphometry (SBM) method to assess cerebral cortex macro changes.ResultsThe whole-brain TBSS analysis revealed that there were no statistically significant changes in fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD), but the FA declined in some area of cerebral WM (p < 0.1). The SBM results showed no changes in cortical thickness (CT), cortical volume (CV), surface area (SA), and cortical sulcal curve (CSC) between these two groups, but pial local gyration index (LGI) was decreased in the precuneus (−log10, p = −3.327).DiscussionIn conclusion, early stage T2DM patients without cognitive impairment had brain micro and macro structural damages, suggesting the potential use of MRI as an imaging marker to detect brain changes in early stage T2DM, which could not be observed and assessed clinically.

Increased competition has forced banks to undertake off-balance sheet business (OBS), but the contribution of OBS to bank efficiency remains controversial. Therefore, using panel data collected from 57 Chinese commercial banks for 2013-19, this paper takes a step and investigates the relationship between OBS and bank efficiency at various levels of financial innovation matching. Results reveal that OBS generally has a negative effect on bank efficiency and that the effect wanes when local financial innovation matching levels increase. Scale heterogeneity is also found in the link as in small-sized banks OBS bring about more profits than risks. Besides, opening a direct bank mitigates the negative impact of off-balance sheet business, especially in regions with lower financial innovation matching levels. Findings suggest that conducting OBS is most beneficial in small-sized banks and that local governments should improve regional financial innovation matching levels as ways to harness the development of banks.

Abstract Background Flavonoid C-glycosides have many beneficial effects and are widely used in food and medicine. However, plants contain a limited number of flavonoid C-glycosides, and it is challenging to create these substances chemically. Results To screen more robust C-glycosyltransferases (CGTs) for the biosynthesis of flavonoid C-glycosides, one CGT enzyme from Stenoloma chusanum (ScCGT1) was characterized. Biochemical analyses revealed that ScCGT1 showed the C-glycosylation activity for phloretin, 2-hydroxynaringenin, and 2-hydroxyeriodictyol. Structure modeling and mutagenesis experiments indicated that the glycosylation of ScCGT1 may be initiated by the synergistic action of conserved residue His26 and Asp14. The P164T mutation increased C-glycosylation activity by forming a hydrogen bond with the sugar donor. Furthermore, when using phloretin as a substrate, the extracellular nothofagin production obtained from the Escherichia coli strain ScCGT1-P164T reached 38 mg/L, which was 2.3-fold higher than that of the wild-type strain. Finally, it is proved that the coupling catalysis of CjFNS I/F2H and ScCGT1-P164T could convert naringenin into vitexin and isovitexin. Conclusion This is the first time that C-glycosyltransferase has been characterized from fern species and provides a candidate gene and strategy for the efficient production of bioactive C-glycosides using enzyme catalysis and metabolic engineering.

Targeting cancer-associated metabolism is evolving as a promising approach for cancer therapy. Here, the authors generate cancer cell-membrane encapsulated nanoparticles to induce cell cycle arrest and cytotoxicity in lactate-high cancer cells, reducing tumourigensis in glioblastoma cell-line and patient-derived models.

Abstract Background The present study aimed to explore the boundary of acquisition time and propose an optimized acquisition time range for total-body positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) oncological imaging using half-dose (1.85 MBq/kg) 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose activity based on diagnostic needs. Methods In this retrospective study based on a total-body PET system (uEXPLORER), an exploration cohort (October 2019–December 2019) of 46 oncology patients was first studied. The acquisition time for all patients was 15 min, and the acquired images were reconstructed and further split into 15-, 8-, 5-, 3-, 2-, and 1-min duration groups (abbreviated as G15, G8, G5, G3, G2, and G1). The image quality and lesion detectability of reconstructed PET images with different acquisition times were evaluated subjectively (5-point scale, lesion detection rate) and objectively (standardized uptake values, tumor-to-background ratio). In the same way, the initial optimized acquisition times were further validated in a cohort of 147 oncology patients (December 2019–June 2021) by using the Gs images (the images obtained using the 15- and 10-min acquisition times) as controls. Results In the exploration cohort, the subjective scores for G1, G2, G3, G5, and G8 images were 2.0 ± 0.2, 2.9 ± 0.3, 3.0 ± 0.0, 3.9 ± 0.2, and 4.2 ± 0.4, respectively. Two cases in G1 were rated as 1 point. No significant difference in scores was observed between G5 and G8 (p > 0.99). In general, groups with a longer acquisition time showed lower background uptake and lesion conspicuity. Compared with G15, lesion detection rate significantly reduced to 85.3% in G1 (p 0.99). The detection rates (204 lesions) significantly reduced to 94.1–90.2% in G3 and G2 (all p

ObjectivesTo investigate the significance of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) and glutamate chemical exchange saturation transfer (Glu-CEST) techniques in assessing the condition and prognosis of acute bilirubin encephalopathy patients and to understand the mechanism of nerve injury in this disease.Materials and methodsFrom September 2019 to February 2021, 31 neonates with acute bilirubin encephalopathy and 16 healthy neonates were enrolled in this study. All the quantitative results of 1H-MRS, Glu-CEST, and conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of all neonates were analyzed. The associations between statistically significant indicators of imaging and developmental quotients (DQ) were analyzed.ResultsThe 31 cases were assigned to the mild subgroup (n = 21) and moderate and severe subgroup (n = 10) according to the bilirubin-induced neurologic dysfunction (BIND) scores. The case group had elevated Cho and GABA absolute concentrations compared to the normal control group (all p < 0.05). Compared with the normal control group, the absolute concentration of GABA of the moderate and severe subgroup was significantly larger (p < 0.05). Compared with the normal control group, the Glu-CEST% values in the left basal ganglia, right thalamus, left frontal cortex and bilateral medial geniculate body of the case group was significantly larger (all p < 0.05). The moderate and severe subgroup had higher Glu-CEST% values in the left basal ganglia, right thalamus, and bilateral medial geniculate body than the normal control group (all p < 0.05). A negative association was revealed between the DQ scores and the Glu-CEST% values in the left basal ganglia (r = −0.888, p < 0.05).ConclusionThe combination of 1H-MRS and Glu-CEST techniques can monitor the intracerebral metabolite level of acute bilirubin encephalopathy and evaluate the illness severity.

Abstract In the past few decades, 2D layer materials have gradually become a central focus in materials science owing to their uniquely layered structural qualities and good optoelectronic properties. However, in the development of 2D materials, several disadvantages, such as limited types of materials and the inability to synthesize large‐scale materials, severely confine their application. Therefore, further exploration of new materials and preparation methods is necessary to meet technological developmental needs. Organic molecular materials have the advantage of being customizable. Therefore, if organic molecular and 2D materials are combined, the resulting 2D organic materials would have excellent optical and electrical properties. In addition, through this combination, the free design and large‐scale synthesis of 2D materials can be realized in principle. Furthermore, 2D organic materials exhibit excellent properties and unique functionalities along with great potential for developing sensors, biomedicine, and electronics. In this review, 2D organic materials are divided into five categories. The preparation methods and material properties of each class of materials are also described in detail. Notably, to comprehensively understand each material's advantages, the latest research applications for each material are presented in detail and summarized. Finally, the future development and application prospects of 2D organic materials are briefly discussed.

Hydrogels prepared from natural polymer have attracted extensive attention in biomedical fields such as drug delivery, wound healing, and regenerative medicine due to their good biocompatibility, degradability, and flexibility. This review outlines the commonly used natural polymer in hydrogel preparation, including cellulose, chitosan, collagen/gelatin, alginate, hyaluronic acid, starch, guar gum, agarose, and dextran. The polymeric structure and process/synthesis of natural polymers are illustrated, and natural polymer-based hydrogels including the hydrogel formation and properties are elaborated. Subsequently, the biomedical applications of hydrogels based on natural polymer in drug delivery, tissue regeneration, wound healing, and other biomedical fields are summarized. Finally, the future perspectives of natural polymers and hydrogels based on them are discussed. For natural polymers, novel technologies such as enzymatic and biological methods have been developed to improve their structural properties, and the development of new natural-based polymers or natural polymer derivatives with high performance is still very important and challenging. For natural polymer-based hydrogels, novel hydrogel materials, like double-network hydrogel, multifunctional composite hydrogels, and hydrogel microrobots have been designed to meet the advanced requirements in biomedical applications, and new strategies such as dual-cross-linking, microfluidic chip, micropatterning, and 3D/4D bioprinting have been explored to fabricate advanced hydrogel materials with designed properties for biomedical applications. Overall, natural polymeric hydrogels have attracted increasing interest in biomedical applications, and the development of novel natural polymer-based materials and new strategies/methods for hydrogel fabrication are highly desirable and still challenging.

All-solid-state lithium batteries (ASSLBs) employ high-capacity lithium (Li) metal as the anode and exhibit a higher energy density than that of conventional Li-ion batteries. However, the problems arose from the Li dendrites induce severely parasitic reaction between Li and electrolytes, leading to low coulombic efficiency (CE) and poor cyclic stability. Herein, a poly(vinylidene-co-hexafluoropropylene)/lithium nitrate (PVDF-HFP/LiNO3, marked as PFH/LN) artificial layer is employed to modified Li and achieve high CE ASSLBs with polyethylene oxide-Li6.4La3Zr1.4Ta0.6O12 (PEO-LLZTO) electrolyte. LN serves as a functionalized additive to facilitate the formation of a robust solid electrolyte interface (SEI), efficiently suppressing the formation of Li dendrites. Additionally, LN as a “binder” effectively links PFH with Li, providing good contact. PFH possesses high mechanical strength and moderate flexibility, which can not only physically inhibit the growth of Li dendrites, but also maintain the structural integrity of artificial layer over long-term cycles. Finally, Li/Li cells with such artificial layer demonstrate ultralong cycle life of 1800 and 1000 h under 0.2 and 0.4 mA cm−1, respectively. Furtherly, high CE can be achieved when applied in both LiFePO4 full cells and Li-Cu half cells. This work offers a facile and efficient strategy to greatly promote CE in PEO-based ASSLBs.

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the image quality and diagnostic performance of different reconstructions over a wide range of patient body mass indices (BMIs) obtained by total-body PET/CT with ultra-low 18F-FDG activity (0.37 MBq/kg). Methods A total of 63 patients who underwent total-body PET/CT with ultra-low activity (0.37 MBq/kg) 18F-FDG were enrolled. Patients were grouped by their BMIs. Images were reconstructed with the following two algorithms: the ordered subset expectation maximization (OSEM) algorithm (2, 3 iterations), both with time of flight (TOF) and point spread function (PSF) corrections (hereinafter referred as OSEM2, OSEM3) and HYPER Iterative algorithm (β-values of 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6) embedded TOF and PSF technologies (hereinafter referred as HYPER0.3, HYPER0.4, HYPER0.5 and HYPER0.6, respectively). Subjective image quality was assessed by two experienced nuclear medicine physicians according to the Likert quintile, including overall image quality, image noise and lesion conspicuity. The standard deviation (SD) and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the liver, and maximum standard uptake value (SUVmax), peak standard uptake value (SUVpeak), tumour background ratio (T/N) and the largest diameter of lesions were quantitatively analysed by a third reader who did not participate in the subjective image assessment. Results Increased noise was associated with increased BMI in all reconstruction groups. Significant differences occurred in the liver SNR among BMI categories of OSEM reconstructions (P 0.05). With the increase in BMI, overall image quality and image noise scores decreased significantly in all reconstructions, but there was no statistically significant difference of lesion conspicuity. The overall image quality score of the obese group was not qualified (score = 2.7) in OSEM3, while the others were qualified. The lesion conspicuity scores were significantly higher in HYPER Iterative reconstructions and lower in OSEM2 than in OSEM3 (all P

Abstract Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a highly aggressive brain tumor with an extremely low survival rate. New and effective approaches for treatment are therefore urgently needed. Here, we successfully developed M1-like macrophage-derived extracellular vesicles (M1EVs) that overcome multiple challenges via guidance from two macrophage-related observations in clinical specimens from GBM patients: enrichment of M2 macrophages in GBM; and origination of a majority of infiltrating macrophage from peripheral blood. To maximize the synergistic effect, we further functionalized the membranes of M1EVs with two hydrophobic agents (the chemical excitation source CPPO (C) and the photosensitizer Ce6 (C)) and loaded the hydrophilic hypoxia-activated prodrug AQ4N (A) into the inner core of the M1EVs. After intravenous injection, the inherent nature of M1-derived extracellular vesicles CCA-M1EVs allowed for blood-brain barrier penetration, and modulated the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment via M2-to-M1 polarization, which increased hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) levels. Furthermore, the reaction between H2O2 and CPPO produced chemical energy, which could be used for Ce6 activation to generate large amounts of reactive oxygen species to achieve chemiexcited photodynamic therapy (CDT). As this reaction consumed oxygen, the aggravation of tumor hypoxia also led to the conversion of non-toxic AQ4N into toxic AQ4 for chemotherapy. Therefore, CCA-M1EVs achieved synergistic immunomodulation, CDT, and hypoxia-activated chemotherapy in GBM to exert a potent therapeutic effect. Finally, we demonstrated the excellent effect of CCA-M1EVs against GBM in cell-derived xenograft and patient-derived xenograft models, underscoring the strong potential of our highly flexible M1EVs system to support multi-modal therapies for difficult-to-treat GBM.

Background. High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) can be used in stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients, but the effect of HFNC on clinical outcomes in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) is still uncertain. Methods. We searched electronic literature databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing HFNC with noninvasive ventilation (NIV) in hypercapnic patients with AECOPD. The primary endpoint of this meta-analysis was PaCO2, PaO2, and SpO2. The secondary outcomes were the respiratory rate, mortality, complications, and intubation rate. Results. We included 7 RCTs with a total of 481 patients. There were no significant differences on measures of PaCO2 (MD = −0.42, 95%CI −3.60 to 2.75, Z = 0.26, and P = 0.79), PaO2 (MD = −1.36, 95%CI −4.69 to 1.97, Z = 0.80, and P = 0.42), and SpO2 (MD = −0.78, 95%CI −1.67 to 0.11, Z = 1.72, P = 0.08) between the HFNC group and the NIV group. There was no significant difference in measures of the mortality and intubation rate between the HFNC group (OR = 0.72, 95%CI 0.30 to 1.69, Z = 0.76, and P = 0.44) and the NIV group (OR = 2.38, 95%CI 0.49 to 11.50, Z = 1.08, and P = 0.28), respectively. But the respiratory rate in the HFNC group was lower than that in the NIV group (MD = −1.13, 95%CI −2.13 to −0.14, Z = 2.23, and P = 0.03), and fewer complications were found in the HFNC group (OR = 0.26, 95%CI 0.14 to 0.47, Z = 4.46, and P

Sustained wear damages on the sliding surfaces of alloys are generally the culprit responsible for the failure of various mechanical systems. Inspired by high-entropy effects, here we deliberately deploy nanohierarchical architecture with composition undulation in a Ni50(AlNbTiV)50 complex concentrated alloy, which yields ultralow wear rate within the order of 10−7 to 10−6 mm3/Nm between room temperature and 800 °C. Such remarkable wear resistance heretofore represents one of the highest wear resistance reported for the bulk alloys or composites, and originates from the multi-type adaptive friction interface protection governed by intrinsically nano-coupled grains and nanoprecipitates. This cooperative heterostructure releases gradient frictional stress in stages upon wear at room temperature through the coexistence of multiple deformation pathways while activating a dense nanocrystalline glaze layer upon wear at 800 °C to minimize adhesive and oxidative wear. Our work uncovers a practical avenue for tailoring wear properties with multicomponent heterostructures over a wide temperature range.

Mitochondria-targeted and pH-triggered charge-convertible polymeric micelles (GPTD) were developed for doxorubicin (DOX) delivery and targeted anticancer therapy. GPTD surface was negatively charged under physiological pH (7.4), while it converted to positive charge under tumor pH (6.8). Sustained release of DOX from the drug loaded polymeric micelles was observed and the drug release was accelerated by decreasing the medium pH from 7.4 to 6.8. Cellular uptake by U251 glioma cells showed that GPTD can enhance the accumulation of polymeric micelles inside the mitochondria after charge-mediated cellular internalization and release DOX into the cellular interior. In vivo anticancer activity performed on glioma Balb/c nude mice demonstrated that the DOX-containing GPTD could remarkably inhibit the tumor growth, and displayed a significant reduction of tumor tissue cells and fewer Ki67 positive cells compared to the PBS group. Hence, this mitochondrial targeted and pH-triggered charge-convertible polymeric micellar system showed substantial promise for anticancer therapy.

Abstract Background The focus of clinical care after treating congenital heart disease (CHD) has shifted from saving patients’ lives to improving their quality of life. This study aimed to examine the influence of minimally invasive and traditional surgeries on the quality of life of children with CHD. Methods This was a retrospective cross-sectional study. A total of 459 children aged 2–18 years with CHD treated at Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University from July 2016 to June 2017 were enrolled, among whom 219 underwent minimally invasive surgery and 240 traditional surgery. The quality of life of children with CHD after surgery was reported by the patients’ parents. We applied propensity score matching to correct for confounding factors and conducted multiple linear regression analysis to examine the related effects of minimally invasive and traditional surgeries on the quality of life of children with CHD. Results The scores of problems related to perceived physical appearance in children undergoing minimally invasive surgery was higher than those in those undergoing traditional surgery (p = 0.004). Different treatment modes were independent influencing factors for problems related to perceived physical appearance in children with CHD. There was no significant difference in average treatment effect scores of children undergoing different surgical procedures in other quality of life dimensions (problems related to cardiac symptoms and their treatment, drug treatment, anxiety regarding treatment, cognitive psychology, and communication), suggesting that different operation modes were not independent influencing factors for these related problems. Conclusion Compared with traditional surgery, minimally invasive surgery can significantly improve the physical appearance perception scores of children with CHD after surgery. Therefore, minimally invasive surgery can improve the quality of life of children with CHD.

In this study, A time-domain seismic response analysis method and a calculation model of the underground structure that can realize the input of seismic P, SV and Rayleigh waves are established, based on the viscoelastic artificial boundary elements and the boundary substructure method for seismic wave input. After verifying the calculation accuracy, a comparative study on seismic response of a shallow-buried, double-deck, double-span subway station structure under incident P, SV and Rayleigh waves is conducted. The research results show that there are certain differences in the cross-sectional internal force distribution characteristics of underground structures under different types of seismic waves. The research results show that there are certain differences in the internal force distribution characteristics of underground structures under different types of seismic waves. At the bottom of the side wall, the top and bottom of the center pillar of the underground structure, the section bending moments of the underground structure under the incidences of SV wave and Rayleigh wave are relatively close, and are significantly larger than the calculation result under the incidence of P wave. At the center of the side wall and the top floor of the structure, the peak value of the cross-sectional internal force under the incident Rayleigh wave is larger than the calculation result under SV wave. In addition, the floor of the underground structure under Rayleigh waves vibrates in both the horizontal and vertical directions, and the magnification effect in the vertical direction is more significant. Considering that the current seismic research of underground structures mainly considers the effect of body waves such as the shear waves, sufficient attention should be paid to the incidence of Rayleigh waves in the future seismic design of shallow underground structures.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an irreversible neurodegenerative disorder, which is pathologically characterized by the deposits of β-amyloid (Aβ), and plays an important role in neuronal death. Indirubin-3′-monoxime (I3M) showed neuroprotective effects against Aβ-induced neuronal apoptosis. However, the use of I3M in AD treatment is limited due to its low bioavailability. Herein, PLGA-PEG nanoparticles were synthesized for I3M loading. I3M could release sustainedly sustain release from the I3M-loaded PLGA-PEG nanoparticles (PLGA-PEG-I3M NPs) without obvious burst release. What's more, the PLGA-PEG-I3M NPs could significantly promote the uptake of I3M by PC12 ​cells through nanoparticle-mediated transport, and improve the efficacy of I3M on the inhibition of Aβ fibrillization and oligomerization as well as the neuroprotective activity of I3M on Aβ oligomers-induced neuronal death. Thus, the PLGA-PEG-I3M NPs may be a promising platform for AD therapy.

Abstract Purpose A 2-m axial field-of-view, total-body PET/CT scanner (uEXPLORER) has been recently developed to provide total-body coverage and ultra-high sensitivity, which together, enables opportunities for in vivo time-activity curve (TAC) measurement of all investigated organs simultaneously with high temporal resolution. This study aims at quantifying the cumulated activity and patient dose of 2-[F-18]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (F-18 FDG ) imaging by using delayed time-activity curves (TACs), measured out to 8-h post-injection, for different organs so that the comparison between quantifying approaches using short-time method (up to 75 min post-injection) or long-time method (up to 8 h post-injection) could be performed. Methods Organ TACs of 10 healthy volunteers were collected using total-body PET/CT in 4 periods after the intravenous injection of F-18 FDG. The 8-h post-injection TACs of 6 source organs were fitted using a spline method (based on Origin (version 8.1)). To compare with cumulated activity estimated from spline-fitted curves, the cumulated activity estimated from multi-exponential curve was also calculated. Exponential curve was fitted with shorter series of data consistent with clinical procedure and previous dosimetry works. An 8-h dynamic bladder wall dose model considering 2 voiding were employed to illustrate the differences in bladder wall dose caused by the different measurement durations. Organ absorbed doses were further estimated using Medical Internal Radiation Dose (MIRD) method and voxel phantoms. Results A short-time measurement could lead to significant bias in estimated cumulated activity for liver compared with long-time-measured spline fitted method, and the differences of cumulated activity were 18.38% on average. For the myocardium, the estimated cumulated activity difference was not statistically significant due to large variation in metabolism among individuals. The average residence time differences of brain, heart, kidney, liver, and lungs were 8.38%, 15.13%, 25.02%, 23.94%, and 16.50% between short-time and long-time methods. Regarding effective dose, the maximum differences of residence time between long-time-measured spline fitted curve and short-time-measured multi-exponential fitted curve was 9.93%. When using spline method, the bladder revealed the most difference in the effective dose among all the investigated organs with a bias up to 21.18%. The bladder wall dose calculated using a long-time dynamic model was 13.79% larger than the two-voiding dynamic model, and at least 50.17% lower than previous studies based on fixed bladder content volume. Conclusions Long-time measurement of multi-organ TACs with high temporal resolution enabled by a total-body PET/CT demonstrated that the clinical procedure with 20 min PET scan at 1 h after injection could be used for retrospective dosimetry analysis in most organs. As the bladder content contributed the most to the effective dose, a long-time dynamic model was recommended for the bladder wall dose estimation.

Bone-targeted polymeric nanoparticles for alendronate delivery based on Poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) conjugated chitosan (CS-PLGA) and alendronate conjugated PLGA (Alen-PLGA) are fabricated and their superior performances are evaluated. The nanoparticles exhibited sustained Alen release without obvious burst release and good cytocompatibility against MC3T3 cells. Alen-modified nanoparticles demonstrated a high affinity to hydroxyapatite, which is the main mineral component of bone, indicating their feasibility for bone-targeted delivery. In addition, unlike nanoparticles without Alen, Alen-modified nanoparticles were preferentially taken up by MC3T3 cells, compared to HDF cells, revealing their specific uptake for osteoblast-like cells. Thus, the Alen-modified nanoparticles can potentially be developed as bone-targeted carriers for osteoporosis treatment.

Intestinal diseases have always been a highly focused concern since recorded. Although endless efforts have been devoted, the underlying pathogenesis of alimentary canal disease remains mysterious and effective therapies are still in development. Intriguingly, the emerging of biomedical engineering has sprung up to unveil the enigmas of alimentary canal diseases, thus ameliorating the therapies and relieving the sufferings of patients. In this review, we present a comprehensive and deep-going perception into therapies of digestive disease with the assistance of biomaterials, involving the constructions of biomaterials and their mechanisms in digestive disease therapy. This review aims at conveying fundamentals of biomaterials in treating alimentary canal diseases, a critical analysis of their current applications and challenges, and a perspective on their future development. It is believed that this review will facilitate the communications between material science and medical fields.

Because of the unique features of spherical symmetry, angle-independency, good monodispersity, controllable components and morphologies, structural color particles (SCPs) have found great significances in various fields such as sensing, monitoring, biological assays, etc. Here, inspired by the melanosome-derived bright structural colors and the self-adhesivity of mussels, we present a kind of bioinspired SCPs assembled from polydopamine (PDA)-adhered multi-layer graphene oxide (GO) encapsulated silica nanoparticles (SNs). It is demonstrated that compared with traditional SCPs, the designed particles possess brighter and more vibrant structural colors, and no complicated modification is required during the functionalization process due to the abundant inherent functional groups of GO. The resultant SCPs are verified to be capable for direct hybridization chain reaction and multiplexed nucleic acid assays. These properties indicate the promising prospects of our designed SCPs.

Abstract The development of a high-performance solid-lubricating composite with excellent self-lubricity over a broad temperature range in vacuum is significant to solve the frictional problems of spatial mechanisms. In this study, the vacuum tribological behaviors of nickel-matrix/Ag/(Ca, Ba)F2/graphite (0–2 wt%) composites were studied from 25 to 800 °C. The results show that the synergistic effects of solid lubricants can significantly improve the tribological properties of the composites in vacuum, with the graphite content contributing considerably. For 2 wt% graphite, a low friction coefficient (0.14–0.25) and the lowest wear rate ((0.12−4.78)×10−5 mm3·N−1·m−1) were observed in vacuum over the entire testing temperature range. Moreover, the wear mechanisms were clarified via analysis of the chemical composition and morphologies of the sliding surfaces.

Abstract To date, how pH affects starch–polyphenol mixtures has not been thoroughly investigated. This study explored the impact of combining apple polyphenol (AP) with both normal rice starch (NRS) and normal maize starch (NMS) across a range of pH conditions. NRS–AP mixture particle sizes across a pH range of 3–8 varied from 169.9 ± 5.4 to 187.5 ± 6.9 μm, while for NMS–AP particles, these sizes ranged from 161.8 ± 8.0 to 176.0 ± 4.9 μm, indicating that the aggregation of starch–AP was inhibited under low pH condition. The melting enthalpy (△H) values of the NRS–AP mixture across a pH range of 3–8 were 8.50 ± 0.06–9.56 ± 0.12 J/g, while the corresponding value for the NMS–AP mixture was 5.77 ± 0.05–6.21 ± 0.08 J/g. FTIR analyses revealed that the degree of order of these starch–AP mixtures significantly decreased under low pH conditions. XRD analysis further revealed that both NRS–AP and NMS–AP mixtures exhibited V‐type structures, and relative crystallinity levels decreased significantly under low pH conditions. Together, these results indicate that low pH values inhibit the recrystallization of NRS–AP and NMS–AP mixtures. Overall, these findings provide additional evidence regarding the interactions between AP and specific starches under a range of pH conditions.

It has been shown that an arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) modified pH-triggered delivery system for the urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) is resistant to enzymatic degradation and improves thrombolytic ability in vitro. Herein, we aimed to compare the thrombolytic efficacies of uPA-oxidized dextran (Oxd)-RGD and uPA using a rat model of middle cerebral ischemia occlusion (MCAO) in vivo. We found that the uPA-Oxd conjugates delayed the release of active uPA after MCAO. Thus, the rats treated with uPA-Oxd-RGD showed significantly decreased neurological deficits and infarct volume compared with those of the rats treated with uPA alone after MCAO. Furthermore, the administration of uPA-Oxd-RGD attenuated blood–brain barrier disruption and downregulated matrix metalloproteinase expression while upregulating the expression of tight junction proteins. In addition, uPA-Oxd-RGD inhibited apoptosis by suppressing pro-apoptotic caspase expression. These results suggest that the administration of uPA-Oxd-RGD is a more effective intervention in an MCAO model than uPA alone and that the pH changes in the brain tissue after an ischemic stroke may be a novel thrombolytic target.

A Cu-10 Ni-2Ti wt.% alloy has been fabricated by induction melting and casting. The microstructure evolutions of the studied alloy treated with thermal-mechanical treatment were characterized. After homogenized at 950 °C for four hours, hot rolling by 80% at 900 °C solid solution treated at 970 °C for four hours, cold-rolled by 50%, aged at 450 °C for one hour, the hardness, electrical conductivity, tensile strength, yield strength, and the elongation of the studied alloy approached 181 HV, 22.1% IACS, 576 MPa, 486 MPa, and 14.6%, respectively. The studied alloy shows large products of strength and elongation (15.4 GPa·%, 9.3 GPa·%, 8.41 GPa·%, and 10.1 GPa·% for the samples treated with a solid solution, under aged, peak aged, and over-aged states), which are much higher than those of other high strength conductive copper alloys. These findings are helpful in designing new high damage tolerance conductive materials. Keywords: Cu alloy, Damage tolerance, Precipitation, Strength, Microstructure

Cross-linking mass spectrometry can provide insights into protein structures and interactions but its scope depends on the reactivity of the cross-linker. Here, the authors develop Arg-Arg and Lys-Arg cross-linkers, which provide structural information elusive to the widely used Lys-Lys cross-linkers.

Abstract Purpose Our purpose was to combine intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion-weighted MR imaging (IVIM-DWI) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to differentiate osteoporotic fractures from osteolytic metastatic vertebral compression fractures (VCFs). Methods A total of 70 patients with VCFs were included and divided into two groups, according to their causes of fractures based on pathological findings or clinical follow-up. All patients underwent conventional sagittal T1WI, T2WI, STIR, IVIM-DWI, and single-voxel MRS. The diffusion coefficient (D), pseudo diffusion (D*), and perfusion fraction (f) parameters from IVIM-DWI and the lipid water ratio (LWR) and fat fraction (FF) parameters from MRS were obtained and compared among groups. Furthermore, the diagnostic performance of MRS, IVIM-DWI, and IVIM-DWI combined with MRS for differentiation between osteoporotic and osteolytic metastatic VCFs was assessed by using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results Compared with the osteoporotic group, the metastatic group had significantly lower values for f, D, and FF, but higher D* (all P < 0.05). The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of MRS, IVIM-DWI, and IVIM-DWI combined with MRS were 0.73, 0.88, and 0.94, respectively. Among these, the IVIM-DWI combined with MRS showed the highest sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy, which are 90.63% (29/32), 97.37 % (37/38), and 94.29% (66/70), respectively. Conclusions IVIM-DWI combined with MRS can be more accurate and efficient for differentiation between osteoporotic and osteolytic metastatic VCFs than single MRS or IVIM-DWI.

Liverworts, considered to be the first plant type to successfully make the transition from water to land, can resist different oxidative stress. As characteristic constituents of liverworts, the bibenzyls are efficient antioxidants. In this study, spatial distributions of the bibenzyls within Marchantia polymorpha L., the model species of liverworts, were mapped using airflow-assisted desorption electrospray ionization imaging mass spectrometry. Bibenzyls were found to largely exist in the female receptacle of M. polymorpha, where lunularic acid was found to focus in the central region and bisbibenzyls were enriched in the periphery. The region-specific gene expression and antioxidant activities were characterized. In line with the spatial feature of bibenzyls, higher MpSTCS1A and Mp4CL expression levels and antioxidant ability were exhibited in the archegoniophore. The expression level of MpSTCS1A, and the content of total phenolic acid was increased after UV-B irradiation, suggesting bibenzyls play an important role in UV-B tolerance. Moreover, lunularic acid and extract of archegoniophore at a certain concentration can stimulate the spore germination under normal conditions and UV-B stress. These works broaden our understanding of the significance of bibenzyls in spore propagation and environmental adaptation.

Dendrobium findlayanum Par. et Rchb. f. 1874 has the high ornamental and medicinal value. Here, we report the first complete chloroplast genome of D. findlayanum. The complete chloroplast genome of D. findlayanum is 153,713 bp in length with 120 genes, including 75 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes. The total content of GC of the whole genome is 37.46%. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that D. findlayanum was closely related to other species in Dendrobium, and this study provides new genetic resources for species identification and phylogenetic analyses in Dendrobium.