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Abstract Increasing evidence suggests an association between exercise duration and Parkinson’s disease. However, no high-quality prospective evidence exists confirming whether differences exist between the two modes of exercise, weekend warrior and equal distribution of exercise duration, and Parkinson’s risk. Hence, this study aimed to explore the association between different exercise patterns and Parkinson’s risk using exercise data from the UK Biobank. The study analyzed data from 89,400 UK Biobank participants without Parkinson’s disease. Exercise data were collected using the Axivity AX3 wrist-worn triaxial accelerometer. Participants were categorized into three groups: inactive, regularly active, and engaged in the weekend warrior (WW) pattern. The relationship between these exercise patterns and Parkinson’s risk was assessed using a multifactorial Cox model. During a mean follow-up of 12.32 years, 329 individuals developed Parkinson’s disease. In a multifactorial Cox model, using the World Health Organization–recommended threshold of 150 min of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per week, both the active WW group [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.58; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.43–0.78; P

Abstract Zinc-ion hybrid supercapacitors (ZHSCs) are attracting significant attention due to their high energies/power densities, safety, and low cost. In this review, recent advances in the development of ZHSCs are summarized. Particular emphasis is placed on state-of-the-art cathodes (including carbon, metal oxides, MXenes, and redox-active polymers), anodes (including Zn-based composites and Zn-free materials) and electrolytes for ZHSCs. Furthermore, the latest research on functional ZHSC devices with miniaturized ZHSCs, fiber-shaped ZHSCs, self-chargeable ZHSCs and self-healing devices is reported. Finally, further developments with ZHSCs are envisaged for future research in this thriving field.

Abstract. Background:. The presence of fibrosis is a criterion for subtype classification in the newly updated hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) guidelines. The present study aimed to summarize differences in clinical characteristics and prognosis of non-fibrotic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (NFHP) and fibrotic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (FHP) and explore factors associated with the presence of fibrosis. Methods:. In this prospective cohort study, patients diagnosed with HP through a multidisciplinary discussion were enrolled. Collected data included demographic and clinical characteristics, laboratory findings, and radiologic and histopathological features. Logistic regression analyses were performed to explore factors related to the presence of fibrosis. Results:. A total of 202 patients with HP were enrolled, including 87 (43.1%) NFHP patients and 115 (56.9%) FHP patients. Patients with FHP were older and more frequently presented with dyspnea, crackles, and digital clubbing than patients with NFHP. Serum levels of carcinoembryonic antigen, carbohydrate antigen 125, carbohydrate antigen 153, gastrin-releasing peptide precursor, squamous cell carcinoma antigen, and antigen cytokeratin 21-1, and count of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) eosinophils were higher in the FHP group than in the NFHP group. BAL lymphocytosis was present in both groups, but less pronounced in the FHP group. Multivariable regression analyses revealed that older age,

The gas-phase hydrogenation of furfural to furfuralcohol over Cr-free Cu-based catalysts has attracted increasing attention due to its environmentally friendly nature and mild operating conditions. Although reduced pure nano-sized CuO exhibits complete furfural hydrogenation and nearly 100% furfuralcohol selectivity, it suffers from rapid deactivation caused by sintering. In this study, we conducted comparative investigations on the catalytic performance and stability of two Cu-based catalysts: 90%CuO-10%SiO2 and 90%CuO-5%CaO-5%SiO2, in the gas-phase furfural hydrogenation. The reaction is carried out under various conditions, including temperatures ranging from 120 to 170 ℃, LHSVs of 1 to 2.2 h−1, and H2 to furfural molar ratios of 3.5 to 12.5. The results indicate that under optimal conditions, the Ca-modified catalyst achieves nearly complete furfural conversion and almost 100% furfuralcohol selectivity for a test duration of 31 h. In contrast, the unmodified catalyst exhibits stable performance for only seven hours despite the similar initial performance. XRD analysis confirms that the gradual deactivation of both catalysts is attributed to the oxidation of reduced metallic Cu sites to Cu oxides. Further characterizations of the two spent catalysts using HRTEM and XPS analyses, along with DFT calculations, suggest that the presence of Ca in Cu lattices prevents the loss of electrons from low-valence Cu sites or the reduced metallic Cu sites, thus inhibiting their oxidation to high-valence Cu oxides. This phenomenon contributes to suppressing the deactivation of Cu-catalysts in the gas-phase furfural hydrogenation process.

Abstract Ambient-temperature sodium-sulfur (Na-S) batteries are potential attractive alternatives to lithium-ion batteries owing to their high theoretical specific energy of 1,274 Wh kg−1 based on the mass of Na2S and abundant sulfur resources. However, their practical viability is impeded by sodium polysulfide shuttling. Here, we report an intercalation-conversion hybrid positive electrode material by coupling the intercalation-type catalyst, MoTe2, with the conversion-type active material, sulfur. In addition, MoTe2 nanosheets vertically grown on graphene flakes offer abundant active catalytic sites, further boosting the catalytic activity for sulfur redox. When used as a composite positive electrode and assembled in a coin cell with excess Na, a discharge capacity of 1,081 mA h gs −1 based on the mass of S with a capacity fade rate of 0.05% per cycle over 350 cycles at 0.1 C rate in a voltage range of 0.8 to 2.8 V is realized under a high sulfur loading of 3.5 mg cm−2 and a lean electrolyte condition with an electrolyte-to-sulfur ratio of 7 μL mg−1. A fundamental understanding of the electrocatalysis of MoTe2 is further revealed by in-situ synchrotron-based operando X-ray diffraction and ex-situ time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry.

For the three-dimensional conductive host, the uneven lithium deposition and the dependence on the pore structure and lithiophility are a great challenge for lithium metal anodes. Herein, we employed facial chemical etching techniques on brass foil to fabricate three-dimensional copper hosts with diverse pore structures and lithiophilities, thus intending to understand the lithium depositing mechanisms in porous hosts. The copper host with a more pronounced pore structure exhibits the lower polarization voltage induced by its large specific surface area, which reduces the local current density and provides a great deal of pathway for lithium ion diffusion. Meanwhile, it exhibits high nucleation overpotential and a short lifespan due to a reduced number of favorable lithium nucleation sites caused by the reduced lithiophilic zinc sites and a marked increase in the routes between nucleation sites. Therefore, the appropriate pore structure needs a consideration of efficient balance between the nucleation overpotential, the polarization voltage, and Coulombic efficiency. This insight underscores the pivotal role of well-suited pore structures in three-dimensional hosts, providing profound guidance for the efficient design of advanced host for lithium metal anode.

As a mineral material widely used in life, chrysotile is a public health concern for its fibrogenicity and carcinogenicity. Currently, more than 50 countries have completely banned the import and use of chrysotile, but China is still the world's largest consumer and second largest producer of chrysotile, with a large occupationally exposed population. Investigations have shown that chrysotile miners are significantly more likely to develop pulmonary fibrosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma than workers in other occupations. Chrysotile-induced cancers generally have a decades-long latency period and are difficult to diagnose and treat in a timely manner. Therefore, the cancer fatality due to chrysotile exposure is significant and is a leading contributor to occupational cancer death. Epithelial mesenchymal transition is a key step in the biological processes of chronic inflammation, fibrosis, carcinogenesis, and cancer metastasis in tissues and organs, also plays an important role in pulmonary fibrosis, lung cancer, and other diseases due to chrysotile exposure. This paper summarized the mechanisms of chrysotile inducing epithelial interstitial transition from dynamics of inflammatory factors, mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways, oxidative stress, and other biological pathways, and proposed possible research directions for further study on chrysotile-induced epithelial mesenchymal transition, aiming to provide a reliable basis and reference for in-depth research on pulmonary fibrosis, lung cancer, and other diseases due to chrysotile exposure.

Abstract Introduction The GAP model was widely used as a simple risk “screening” method for patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Objectives We sought to validate the GAP model in Chinese patients with IPF to evaluate whether it can accurately predict the risk for mortality. Methods A total of 212 patients with IPF diagnosed at China‐Japan Friendship Hospital from 2015 to 2019 were enrolled. The latest follow‐up ended in September 2022. Cumulative mortality of each GAP stage was calculated and compared based on Fine‐Gray models for survival, and lung transplantation was treated as a competing risk. The performance of the model was evaluated in terms of both discrimination and calibration. Results The cumulative mortality in patients with GAP stage III was significantly higher than that in those with GAP stage I or II (Gray's test p

Enhancing the reversibility of Li is crucial for extending the cycle life of Li‐limited anode‐free lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries. Incorporating tellurium (Te) in the system has proven to be highly effective by its reaction with polysulfides and forming a passivating interfacial layer on Li surface, which reduces the Li‐ion diffusion barrier. However, due to the poor utilization of Te, a significant amount of Te is required to improve cell cycling performance. To address this, nanowire‐structured Te (TeNW) is synthesized via a hydrothermal method and applied to Li2S‐based anode‐free cells to minimize the Te content in the system while extending the cell cycle life. Coating TeNW onto the separator greatly enhances Te utilization and demonstrates a significant cycle life improvement (38% retention over 300 cycles) with only 4 wt% TeNW content relative to the active material. The versatility of TeNW is further demonstrated by utilizing them with carbon nanotubes as the anode substrate. The exceptional performance of TeNW is attributed to the high‐surface‐area nanostructure and excellent conductive network, facilitating efficient electron transfer during cell cycling. These advantageous properties position TeNW as a promising material to enhance the cycle life of Li‐limited Li–S batteries.

Self‐powered untethered robots that can meander unrestrictedly, squeeze into small spaces, and operate in diverse harsh environments have received immense attention in recent years. As there is not a universal solution that can be applied to power robots with diverse forms, service functions, and a broad size range from nanometers to meters, the design, fabrication, and implementation of power systems with a suitable weight, desired power and operation duration, and adaptiveness to confined spaces and operation conditions represent one of the greatest challenges in robotic research. Herein, an overview of recent progress and challenges in developing the next‐generation energy harvesting and storage technologies is provided, including direct energy harvesting, energy storage and conversion, and wireless energy transmission for robots across all scales.

ObjectivesWe sought to evaluate the prognostic value of blood routine parameters and biochemical parameters, especially inflammation-related biomarkers, and establish an inflammation-related prognostic model in Chinese patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).Material/methodsPatients diagnosed as IPF at Beijing Chaoyang Hospital and aged 40 years and older were consecutively enrolled from June 2000 to March 2015, and finally, a total of 377 patients were enrolled in the derivation cohort. The follow-up ended in December 2016. We used Cox proportional hazard model to calculate the hazard ratio (HR) and establish the prognostic model. The discrimination and calibration of the prognostic model were evaluated in an independent validation cohort enrolled from China-Japan Friendship Hospital between January 2015 and December 2019.ResultsMultivariate analysis revealed that patients with elevated monocyte-to-red blood cell count ratio (MRR) and monocyte counts showed increased risk of mortality. The clinical-physiological-biomarker (CPB) index and CPB stage we established in this study were a significant predictor, and the C-index for CPB index and CPB stage in the validation cohort was 0.635 (95% CI: 0.558–0.712) and 0.619 (95% CI: 0.544–0.694), respectively. Patients in CPB stage III had the poorest survival.ConclusionWe developed and validated a new inflammation-related prognostic model (CPB index and CPB stage) which was integration of age, gender, FVC (%, predicted), DLCO (%, predicted), Charlson Comorbidity Index, and blood monocyte counts. This prediction model exhibited strong ability in predicting mortality in Chinese patients with IPF.

Background and Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of the pathologic complete response ratio of liver metastases (PCRRLM) in predicting the prognosis and recurrence of colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRLM).Methods: A total of 305 CRLM patients who underwent preoperative chemotherapy followed by hepatectomy were included. PCRRLM was defined as the number of liver metastases exhibiting pathologic complete response (PCR) divided by the number of total resected liver metastases. The Kaplan–Meier method was used to calculate survival, and differences were examined by the log-rank test. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify the predictors of PCRRLM, recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS).Results: Among the 305 included patients, 44 (14.4%) achieved a PCRRLM ≥0.50 (including PCRRLM = 1), and 261 (85.6%) achieved a PCRRLM

Omicron (B.1.1.529) was first detected in a sample collected in Botswana on November 11, 2021, and has rapidly replaced Delta as the dominant global variant given the robust transmissibility. Moreover, it displays a lower virulence than other variants. However, the pathogenicity of Omicron appears to be underestimated in view of the increasing levels of herd immunity through natural infection or vaccination. Additionally, the volume of hospitalizations and deaths increase in proportion to the number of cases due to the high transmissibility of Omicron. Therefore, vaccination remains an important public health priority. Notably, a series of important mutations in the Omicron spike protein, especially in the receptor-binding domain and N-terminal domain, appears to be associated with immune escape capacity, reducing the willingness of people to receive vaccines. Herein, we provide an in-depth discussion to assess the effectiveness of the second and third vaccination against Omicron variant. On the one hand, the two-dose vaccination program adopted by many countries is insufficient to prevent Omicron infection given the mutations correlated with immune escape and the decline in vaccine efficacy over time. On the other hand, booster dose significantly increases the protective efficacy against Omicron infection. Most importantly, heterologous third dose vaccination induces a more robust immune response than homologous booster dose. Therefore, under the special background of this pandemic, there is an urgent need to accelerate the third dose of vaccination, especially providing better booster vaccination strategies, to combat emerging Omicron variant.

G Protein-coupled receptor 3 (Gpr3) plays a critical role in maintaining oocyte meiotic arrest in mammals. To ascertain the function of Gpr3 in oocyte maturation in fish, the Gpr3 cDNA was cloned from orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides). The open reading frame of cloned sequence was 993 bp in length, encoding 330 amino acids. Gpr3 was primarily expressed in brain regions and ovary. During oocyte maturation induced by human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), Gpr3 expression levels were dramatically elevated in follicular cell layers. Functional analysis showed that Gpr3 could constitutively active the cAMP/PKA signaling pathway, and hCG treatment activated Gpr3 promoter activities in cultured eukaryotic cells expressing luteinizing hormone receptors (LHRs). Finally, the role of Gpr3 in oocyte maturation was studied. Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), an agonist of Gpr3, had no effect on oocyte maturation in vivo, suggesting that Gpr3 may be not involved in oocyte maturation in orange-spotted grouper.

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic and progressive disorder with a poor prognosis. Although dihydromyricetin (DHM), extracted from vine tea and other Ampelopsis species, has been proven to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant functions, the effects of DHM on IPF remain unclear.Methods: The effects of DHM on the differentiation, migration, proliferation, and respiratory functions of primary mouse lung fibroblasts (PMLFs) and primary human lung fibroblasts (PHLFs) were detected by western blotting, the Transwell assay, EdU staining, and the Mito Stress test. Then, the impacts of DHM on bleomycin (BLM)-induced pulmonary fibrosis were evaluated by pathological staining, western blotting, and coimmunofluorescence staining. The signaling pathway influenced by DHM was also investigated.Results: DHM could regulate the differentiation of fibroblasts to myofibroblasts and suppress the abnormal migration, proliferation, and respiratory functions of myofibroblasts induced by TGF-β1 or myofibroblasts from IPF patients. DHM could also alleviate pulmonary fibrosis induced by BLM. All these effects were achieved by regulating the STAT3/p-STAT3/GLUT1 signaling pathway.Conclusion: DHM could regulate the abnormal functions of myofibroblasts induced by TGF-β1 and myofibroblasts from IPF patients and alleviate pulmonary fibrosis induced by BLM; thus, DHM might be a candidate medicinal treatment for IPF.

Objective: To explore the molecular mechanism of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi in treating gastric cancer by network pharmacological analysis and molecular docking.Methods: Taking Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi as the object, the active components and corresponding potential drug targets in Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi were obtained from the database of TCM Pharmacological System Analysis Platform (TCMSP). GeneCards/OMIM/DrugBank and other databases were used to collect gastric cancer-related genes, and the obtained genes were intersected with drug targets to obtain the target genes of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi on gastric cancer. Furthermore, the interaction network of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi-active ingredients-target-gastric cancer-related genes was constructed. Protein–protein interaction analysis and gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis were performed on target genes. The PubChem website was used to screen the compounds corresponding to the target genes, and the target protein and 3D structure pdb format files were obtained from the PDB database. Finally, the molecular docking calculation was performed by the AutoDock Vina program. The in vivo cell experiments on the effect of Scutellaria baicalensis on proliferation and migration of gastric cancer cells were used to determine the therapeutic effect of Scutellaria baicalensis on gastric cancer, and the two genes ESR1 and FOS are the key targets of Scutellaria baicalensis on gastric cancer.Results: A total of 10 gastric cancer-related target genes were screened out, and Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi contained 10 active compounds targeting 10 gene sites. There are 30 effective compounds in Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi targeted to treat gastric cancer, and there are 91 corresponding targeting gene sites, involving a total of 10 pathways. The results of molecular docking show that ESR1, FOS, and Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi have good binding free energy and docking fraction. The docking fraction of FOS is −4.200 and the binding free energy is −27.893 kcal/mol. The docking fraction of ESR1 is −5.833 and the binding free energy is −30.001 kcal/mol. The effect of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi on gastric cancer was verified by in vitro cell experiments and Western blotting.Conclusion:Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi can target and regulate multiple signal pathways by acting on ESR1 and FOS gene loci, thus having a potential therapeutic effect on gastric cancer.

Objective: To investigate the clinical efficacy of epidermal growth factor combined with nano silver dressing in the treatment of diabetic foot wounds.Methods: A total of 160 patients with diabetic foot ulcers admitted to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University from 2015-06 to 2018-06 were selected to participate in the experiment. A randomized table method was used to randomly divide 160 patients into 4 groups: 40 in the epidermal growth factor group, 40 in the nano-silver dressing group, 40 in the combined group, and 40 in the saline control group (normal saline). The healing stage of the wound surface and the growth degree of granulation tissue were graded. Each group was given a dressing change every other day, and the time required for wound repairing to each healing stage was observed. After 2 and 4 weeks of treatment, the wound exudate was collected for bacterial culture.Results: There was no significant difference in the time between the four groups of patients reaching the effective phase of treatment (level 1). Compared with the control group, the epidermal growth factor group and the combined group achieved a shorter time for wound repairing to healing stages 2 and 3, and the difference was significant (p < 0.05). The combined group had a shorter wound repairing time than the epidermal growth factor group (p < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the positive rate of bacteria in the combined group and the silver nanoparticles group was significantly lower after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment.Conclusion: There is no significant difference in wound healing between the four groups during the clinically effective period. After this period, the combined use of recombinant epidermis Growth factors and nano-silver dressings have a significant effect on promoting wound healing and can effectively prevent infection.

More and more people realize that implementation of preventive measures is the only option left to counteract the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) before specific antiviral drugs are developed. Hence, a number of behavioral, clinical and state interventions have been conducted by dozens of countries to stop or slow down the spread of the virus in the early stages of the epidemic. At present, with the evolution of COVID-19 pandemic getting worse, synthesizing and implementing all measures available are of paramount importance. However, some measures are still being controversial. We aimed to assist policymakers in decision making for better pandemic preparedness. We reviewed the literature that reported accumulated scientific experience to date and summarized the epidemic prevention and control measures in three aspects: control the source of infection, cut off the routes of transmission and protect the susceptible population. First of all, some new approaches were introduced to control the source of infection, such as implementing contact-tracing apps, nucleic acid mixed detection, repeated testing and the establishment of some specialized laboratories. Second, we need to take various measures to cut off all possible routes of transmission, especially persistently pay close attention to checking cold chain foods. Third, due to no valid vaccine has yet been developed, some measures that can cut development time of more conventional vaccines should be implemented or considered. By synthesizing the scientific experience in fighting the COVID-19 epidemic, we suggested the latest effective measures should be carried out concurrently from three aspects, so as to avoid making grim situation even worse.

Ni-rich layered transition-metal oxides with high specific capacity and energy density are regarded as one of the most promising cathode materials for next generation lithium-ion batteries. However, the notorious surface impurities and high air sensitivity of Ni-rich layered oxides remain great challenges for its large-scale application. In this respect, surface impurities are mainly derived from excessive Li addition to reduce the Li/Ni mixing degree and to compensate for the Li volatilization during sintering. Owing to the high sensitivity to moisture and CO2 in ambient air, the Ni-rich layered oxides are prone to form residual lithium compounds (e.g. LiOH and Li2CO3) on the surface, subsequently engendering the detrimental subsurface phase transformation. Consequently, Ni-rich layered oxides often have inferior storage and processing performance. More seriously, the residual lithium compounds increase the cell polarization, as well as aggravate battery swelling during long-term cycling. This review focuses on the origin and evolution of residual lithium compounds. Moreover, the negative effects of residual lithium compounds on storage performance, processing performance and electrochemical performance are discussed in detail. Finally, the feasible solutions and future prospects on how to reduce or even eliminate residual lithium compounds are proposed.

The ever-growing demand for portable devices and electric vehicles are drawing widespread attention to advanced energy storage systems. Over the past few decades, lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs) have vast potential to act as the next-generation of rechargeable power source due to their high theoretical specific energy, cost-effectiveness, and environmental benignity. However, insufficient sulfur utilization, inferior cyclability, and rate capability originating from the intrinsic insulating features of the sulfur and notorious polysulfide shuttle are major obstacles to fulfilling the industrialization of LSBs. In this respect, the introduction of a functional barrier layer coating on a separator has been verified as an effective strategy to overcome the aforementioned intractable problems. In this review, we focus on summarizing the current progress of the modified polyolefin-based separators (known as functional separators), including functional separator facing cathodes and functional separator facing anodes. According to the working mechanism, functional separator facing cathodes are divided into physical adsorption separators, chemical adsorption separators, catalytic conversion separators, and multifunctional separators. Meanwhile, functional separator facing anodes are classified into physical barrier separators, induced lithium growth separators, regulated lithium nucleation separators, and hybrid mechanism separators. Finally, the future perspective coupled with the practical utilization of functional separators in LSBs is proposed.

ObjectiveTo find new immune-related prognostic markers for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).MethodsWe found GSE14814 is related to NSCLC in GEO database. The non-small cell lung cancer observation (NSCLC-OBS) group was evaluated for immunity and divided into high and low groups for differential gene screening according to the score of immune evaluation. A single factor COX regression analysis was performed to select the genes related to prognosis. A prognostic model was constructed by machine learning, and test whether the model has a test efficacy for prognosis. A chip-in-chip non-small cell lung cancer chemotherapy (NSCLC-ACT) sample was used as a validation dataset for the same validation and prognostic analysis of the model. The coexpression genes of hub genes were obtained by pearson analysis and gene enrichment, function enrichment and protein interaction analysis. The tumor samples of patients with different clinical stages were detected by immunohistochemistry and the expression difference of prognostic genes in tumor tissues of patients with different stages was compared.ResultsBy screening, we found that LYN, C3, COPG2IT1, HLA.DQA1, and TNFRSF17 is closely related to prognosis. After machine learning, we constructed the immune prognosis model from these 5 genes, and the model AUC values were greater than 0.9 at three time periods of 1, 3, and 5 years; the total survival period of the low-risk group was significantly better than that of the high-risk group. The results of prognosis analysis in ACT samples were consistent with OBS groups. The coexpression genes are mainly involved B cell receptor signaling pathway and are mainly enriched in apoptotic cell clearance. Prognostic key genes are highly correlated with PDCD1, PDCD1LG2, LAG3, and CTLA4 immune checkpoints. The immunohistochemical results showed that the expression of COPG2IT1 and HLA.DQA1 in stage III increased significantly and the expression of LYN, C3, and TNFRSF17 in stage III decreased significantly compared with that of stage I. The experimental results are consistent with the previous analysis.ConclusionLYN, C3, COPG2IT1, LA.DQA1, and NFRSF17 may be new immune markers to judge the prognosis of patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

Summary: Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries are an appealing candidate for advanced energy storage systems because of their high theoretical energy density and low cost. However, rapid capacity decay and short cycle life, mainly resulting from polysulfide dissolution, remains a great challenge for practical applications. Herein, we present a metal-organic framework (MOF)-derived Co9S8 array anchored onto a chemical vapor deposition (CVD)-grown three-dimensional graphene foam (Co9S8-3DGF) as an efficient sulfur host for long-life Li-S batteries with good performance. Without polymeric binders, conductive additives, or metallic current collectors, the free-standing Co9S8-3DGF/S cathode achieves a high areal capacity of 10.9 mA hr cm−2 even at a very high sulfur loading (10.4 mg cm−2) and sulfur content (86.9 wt%). These results are attributed to the unique hierarchical nanoarchitecture of Co9S8-3DGF/S. This work is expected to open up a promising direction for the practical viability of high-energy Li-S batteries. : Inorganic Chemistry; Energy Materials; Porous Material Subject Areas: Inorganic Chemistry, Energy Materials, Porous Material

Pavement surface texture features are one of key factors affecting the skid resistance of pavement. In this study, a set of stable and reliable texture measurement equipment was firstly assembled by using the linear laser ranging sensor, control system and data acquisition system. Secondly, the equipment was calibrated, and the superposition error of sensor and control system was tested by making a standard gauge block. Thirdly, four different kinds of asphalt mixture were designed, and their surface texture features were obtained by leveraging a three-dimensional laser scanner. Therefore, the surface texture features were characterized as one-dimensional profile features and three-dimensional surface features. At the end of this study, a multi-scale texture feature characterization method was proposed. Results demonstrate that the measurement accuracy of the laser scanning system in the x-axis direction can be controlled ranging from −0.01 mm to 0.01 mm, the resolution in the XY plane is 0.05 mm, and the reconstructed surface model of surface texture features can achieve a good visualization effect. They also show that the root mean square deviation of surface profiles of different asphalt pavements fluctuates greatly, which is mainly affected by the nominal particle size of asphalt mixture and the proportion of coarse aggregate, and the non-uniformity of pavement texture distribution makes it difficult to characterize the roughness of asphalt pavement effectively by a single pavement surface profile. This study proposed a texture section method to describe the 3D distribution of road surface texture at different depths. The macrotexture of the road surface gradually changes from sparse to dense starting from the shallow layer. The actual asphalt pavement texture can be characterized by a simplified combination model of “cone + sphere + column”. By calculating the surface area distribution of macro and microtextures of different asphalt pavements, it was concluded that the surface area of asphalt pavement under micro scale is about 1.8–2.2 times of the cutting area, and the surface area of macrotexture is about 1.4 times of the cutting area. Moreover, this study proposed texture distribution density to characterize the roughness of asphalt pavement texture at different scales. The SMA index can represent the macroscopic structure level of different asphalt pavements to a certain extent, and the SMI index can well represent the friction level of different asphalt pavements.

Invadopodia or invasive feet, which are actin-rich membrane protrusions with matrix degradation activity formed by invasive cancer cells, are a key determinant in the malignant invasive progression of tumors and represent an important target for cancer therapies. In this work, we presented a microfluidic 3D culture device with continuous supplement of fresh media via a syringe pump. The device mimicked tumor microenvironment in vivo and could be used to assay invadopodia formation and to study the mechanism of human lung cancer invasion. With this device, we investigated the effects of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitor, GM6001 on invadopodia formation by human non-small cell lung cancer cell line A549 in 3D matrix model. This device was composed of three units that were capable of achieving the assays on one control group and two experimental groups' cells, which were simultaneously pretreated with EGF or GM6001 in parallel. Immunofluorescence analysis of invadopodia formation and extracellular matrix degradation was conducted using confocal imaging system. We observed that EGF promoted invadopodia formation by A549 cells in 3D matrix and that GM6001 inhibited the process. These results demonstrated that epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling played a significant role in invadopodia formation and related ECM degradation activity. Meanwhile, it was suggested that MMP inhibitor (GM6001) might be a powerful therapeutic agent targeting invadopodia formation in tumor invasion. This work clearly demonstrated that the microfluidic-based 3D culture device provided an applicable platform for elucidating the mechanism of cancer invasion and could be used in testing other anti-invasion agents.

Fibroblasts, the major cell type in tumor stroma, are essential for tumor growth and survival, and represent an important therapeutic target for cancers. Here we presented a microfluidic co-culture device in which the three-dimensional (3D) matrix was employed to reconstruct an in vivo-like fibroblast-tumor cell microenvironment for investigation of the role of myofibroblasts induced by lung cancer cells in the chemoresistance to VP-16. Composed of a double-layer chip and an injection pump, the device houses fibroblasts and lung cancer cells co-cultured in 3D matrix and 2D mode to induce fibroblasts to become myofibroblasts with the supplement of the medium continuously. With this device, we verified that the cytokines secreted by lung cancer cells could effectively transform the fibroblasts into myofibroblasts. Moreover, compared to fibroblasts, the myofibroblasts showed higher resistance to anticancer drug VP-16. We also demonstrated that this kind of acquired resistance in myofibroblasts was associated with the expression of Glucose-regulated protein 78 (GP78). We concluded that this device allows for the assay to characterize various cellular events in a single device sequentially, facilitating a better understanding of the interactions among heterotypic cells in a sophisticated microenvironment.

Cold regional tunnels have been encountering numerous frost damages as a result of dynamic changes in hydrothermal conditions of tunnel structural layers. The climate change is recognized as a major contributor for the problems. In this study, the hydrothermal conditions of a high speed railway tunnel are evaluated under different climate scenarios based on in-situ data and numerical analysis. Subsequently, the effect of different thicknesses of insulation board on hydrothermal conditions inside the tunnel is compared and the reasonable thickness is obtained. The main findings are: The temperature and unfrozen water content gradually decreased and the ice content gradually increased with the service time of the tunnel in the early 15 years; the maximum frozen depth occurs at the tunnel sidewall and it with a depth of 1.64 m within 30 years after the construction. The hydrothermal conditions inside the tunnel are significantly affected by annual mean air temperature (AMAT) and annual range of air temperature (ARAT); the maximum frozen depth decreases with AMAT, but increases with ARAT. After the XPS board with a thickness of 5 cm is laid in tunnel structural layers, the temperature at the most unfavorable position is 0.55 °C in the cold season, which suggests that frost damages disappeared and this method can be used to protect the tunnel against the frost damages. This paper can provide a basis for heat insulation design of the cold regional tunnels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]