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Ye-Ting Zhou,1,2 Shao-Dan Wang,3 Guang-Sheng Wang,4 Xiao-Dong Chen,4 Dao-Ming Tong4 1Department of Clinical Research, 2Department of General Surgery, 3Department of Intensive Care Medicine, 4Department of Neurology, Affiliated Shuyang People’ Hospital, XuZhou Medical University, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China Background: Coma’s are a major cause of clinical deterioration or death. Identification of risks that predispose to coma are important in managing patients; however, the risk factors for nosocomial nontraumatic coma (NNC) are not well known. Our aim was to investigate the risk factors in patients with NNC.Methods: A retrospective case–control design was used to compare patients with NNC and a control group of patients without coma in a population-based cohort of 263 participants from the neurological intensive care unit in Shuyang County People’s Hospital of Northern China. Coma was diagnosed by a Glasgow Coma Scale score ≤8. Adjusted odds ratios for patients with NNC were derived from multivariate logistic regression analyses.Results: A total of 96 subjects had NNC. The prevalence of NNC was 36.5% among the subjects. Among these, 82% had acute cerebrovascular etiology. Most of the NNC usually occurred at day 3 after admission to the neurological intensive care unit. Patients with NNC had higher hospital mortality rates (67.7% vs 3%, P

In this work, ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (APXPS) was used to investigate the effect of oxygen adsorption on the band bending and electron affinity of Al2O3, ZnO and TiO2 ultrathin films (∼1 nm in thickness) deposited on a Si substrate by atomic layer deposition (ALD). Upon exposure to oxygen at room temperature (RT), upward band bending was observed on all three samples, and a decrease in electron affinity was observed on Al2O3 and ZnO ultrathin films at RT. At 80 °C, the magnitude of the upward band bending decreased, and the change in the electron affinity vanished. These results indicate the existence of two surface oxygen species: a negatively charged species that is strongly adsorbed and responsible for the observed upward band bending, and a weakly adsorbed species that is polarized, lowering the electron affinity. Based on the extent of upward band bending on the three samples, the surface coverage of the strongly adsorbed species exhibits the following order: Al2O3 > ZnO > TiO2. This finding is in stark contrast to the trend expected on the surface of these bulk oxides, and highlights the unique surface activity of ultrathin oxide films with important implications, for example, in oxidation reactions taking place on these films or in catalyst systems where such oxides are used as a support material.

Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) has emerged as a leading chronic liver disease. This condition is characterized by an abnormal accumulation of fat within liver and can progress from simple steatosis to more severe stages involving chronic inflammation and oxidative stress. In this study, we investigated the potential therapeutic effects and underlying mechanism of novel bioactive peptides (EWYF and EWFY) on Western diet-induced MAFLD in C57BL/6J mice. Mice fed a normal chow diet (ND group) and Western diet (WD and treatment groups) for 8 weeks. Treatment groups received EWYF and EWFY peptides in low (10 mg/kg/day) and high (50 mg/kg/day) doses were divided into four groups: EWYF10, EWYF50, EWFY10, and EWFY50. Western diet-induced body weight gain and increased liver weight along with visceral adiposity, which were markedly reversed by bioactive peptides in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, bioactive peptides significantly reduced hepatic steatosis, liver injury and proinflammatory response. Western diet-induced glucose tolerance and insulin resistance, whereas bioactive peptides significantly improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. Persistent intake of Western diet triggered chronic inflammation and severe oxidative stress, which were significantly alleviated by bioactive peptides treatment via inhibiting NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation and mitigated pyroptosis by modulating TLR4/NF-κB and Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathways. Furthermore, molecular docking studies suggest that EWYF and EWFY act as fructokinase antagonists and TLR4 inhibitors, which potentially alleviates Western diet-induced MAFLD. Collectively, these findings highlight EWYF and EWFY as promising candidates for MAFLD treatment due to their potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties via specific molecular inhibition., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Sleep and circadian characteristics are associated with health outcomes, but are often examined cross-sectionally or using variable-centred analyses. Person-centred longitudinal research is needed to identify combined effects of sleep and circadian characteristics while allowing for change over time. We aimed to classify individuals into sleep-circadian statuses (aim 1), determine whether they transitioned between statuses over time (aim 2), and explore associated covariates and health outcomes (aim 3). Young adults (N = 151) wore smartwatches continuously for 6 months. Sleep (total sleep time, wake after sleep onset) and circadian rest-activity cycle indicators (interdaily stability, intradaily variability, relative amplitude) were derived from acceleration data and aggregated into person-means for months 1, 3, and 6. These values were entered into a latent transition model for aims 1 and 2. Multinomial logistic regressions, ANOVA, and ANCOVA addressed aim 3. Four statuses were extracted (entropy = 0.88): optimal sleepers, restless sleepers, short sleepers, and nappers. 10%-13% of optimal sleepers and 21% of restless sleepers became nappers, 7%-18% of nappers transitioned to other statuses, and 94%-100% of short sleepers remained unchanged. Males were more likely than females to be short versus optimal sleepers (p < 0.001). Restless sleepers had more physical dysfunction than nappers and short sleepers (p = 0.014, 0.022), while short sleepers reported more excessive sleepiness than optimal sleepers and nappers (p = 0.006, 0.060). This study identified four sleep-circadian statuses and found evidence for change over time. Our longitudinal person-centred approach could help inform the development of tailored diagnostic guidelines for sleep and circadian-related disorders that fluctuate within-individuals., (© 2025 The Author(s). Journal of Sleep Research published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of European Sleep Research Society.)

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Dill (Anethum graveolens L.) is a typical Uyghur medicine. It is traditionally used to treat sticky and stagnant dampness, hiccups and food stagnation, intestinal obstruction, and anorectal diseases., Study Objective: Our study is designed to investigate the potential of alcohol extract from the aerial part of dill in ameliorating ulcerative colitis induced by Dextran Sulfate Sodium Salt (DSS) in mice., Materials and Methods: In this paper, the chemical composition of the aerial part of dill was speculated from the data obtained by LC-MS and determined by comparing with 10 standards through HPLC. The aerial part of fresh dill was dried, crushed, sieved, and then extracted with 70% ethanol to obtain DE. The lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 cells were used to test the anti-inflammatory activity of DE in vitro. The impact of DE on UC was also studied in vivo. UC was induced by drinking 2.5% DSS to C57BL/6 mice for 6 days. The positive control group received 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) by gavage, and the low and high-dose treatment groups were respectively given 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg of DE by gavage daily for 7 days from the first day., Results: DE significantly reduces the disease activity index (DAI) and colon histopathological damage. DE can also alleviate oxidative stress and inflammation in UC mice by reducing IL-6, IL-1β, MDA, and MPO levels and increasing CAT and GSH levels in colonic tissues. DE can protect the integrity of the colonic mucosal barrier by reducing damage to goblet cells, increasing the levels of mucin MUC2, and regulating the expression of tight junction proteins such as ZO-1, Occludin, Claudin-1, and Claudin-2. In addition, DE improves the ratio of beneficial and harmful bacteria, thus further alleviating the imbalance of intestinal flora., Conclusion: DE has anti-inflammatory activity in vitro and an ameliorative effect on DSS-induced UC in mice by alleviating oxidative stress and inflammation, protecting the integrity of the intestinal barrier, and regulating intestinal flora., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Metabolomics provide a promising tool for understanding dementia pathogenesis and identifying novel biomarkers. This study aimed to identify amino acid biomarkers for Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and Vascular Dementia (VD). By amino acid metabolomics, the concentrations of amino acids were determined in the serum of AD and VD patients as well as age-matched healthy controls. Several differences in the concentration of amino acids were observed in AD patients compared to both healthy controls and VD patients. However, no significant distinction was found between healthy controls and VD patients. Considering comorbidities, cystine levels were higher in AD than in VD among non-diabetic patients, but not in those with diabetes. Notably, creatine, spermidine, cystine, and tyrosine demonstrated favorable results in decision curve analyses and good discriminative performances, suggesting their potential for clinical application. These fundings give novel perspectives of serum amino acids for predicting metabolic pathways in AD and VD pathogenesis., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethical approval: Approval was obtained from the ethics committee of the Ethics Committee of Anhui Medical University, Hefei Hospital Affiliated to Anhui Medical University and the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University. The procedures used in this study adhere to the tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki. Consent to participate: Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

Catalytic NO reduction by CO is imperative to satisfy the increasingly rigorous emission regulations. Identifying the structural characteristic of crucial intermediate that governs the selectivity of NO reduction is pivotal to having a fundamental understanding on real-life catalysis. Herein, benefiting from the state-of-the-art mass spectrometry, we demonstrated experimentally that the Cu 2 VO 3-5 - clusters can mediate the catalysis of NO reduction by CO, and two competitive channels to generate N 2 O and N 2 can co-exist. Quantum-chemical calculations were performed to rationalize this selectivity. The formation of the ONNO unit on the Cu 2 dimer was demonstrated to be a precursor from which two pathways of NO reduction start to emerge. In the pathway of N 2 O generation, only the Cu 2 dimer was oxidized and the VO 3 moiety functions as a "support", while both moieties have to contribute to anchor oxygen atoms from the ONNO unit and then N 2 can be generated. This finding displays a clear picture to elucidate how and why the involvement of VO 3 "support" can regulate the selectivity of NO reduction., (© 2024 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Purpose: Increasing physical activity (PA) is safe and associated with improved health outcomes in patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Mobile health (mHealth) PA interventions that allow for remote monitoring and tailoring to abilities may be particularly useful for MBC patients. However, limited data exist on the acceptability of these interventions for MBC patients. This study examined the acceptability of Fit2ThriveMB, a highly tailored mHealth intervention targeting increased daily steps in MBC patients., Methods: Insufficiently active women with MBC ((N = 25) M age  = 57.2, SD = 11.9) received the Fit2ThriveMB intervention (Fit2ThrviveMB app, Fitbit, weekly coaching calls) for 12 weeks. Participants completed an online questionnaire (n = 22) and semi-structured interview (n = 23) at 12 weeks to assess intervention acceptability. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Interviews were analyzed and coded using thematic content analysis and consensus review., Results: All (n = 23) participants indicated they were satisfied with the intervention, Fit2ThriveMB app design, and Fitbit usability via questionnaire. Four themes emerged from qualitative interview data: (1) Overall satisfaction with implementation, (2) Social interaction is important, but within-app social features need improvement, (3) Fit2ThriveMB was encouraging and enhanced accountability, (4) Fit2ThriveMB helped form sustainable habits. Participants were generally satisfied with the intervention. However, areas for improvement were identified for some study features., Conclusions: Findings indicate Fit2ThriveMB was acceptable among people with MBC. Further refinement of Fit2ThriveMB social feed features and step count goals is warranted for future testing in fully powered trials with a larger sample size., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval: This study was approved by the Northwestern University Institutional Review Board (STU00210628) and was performed in accordance with the ethical standard as laid down in the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments. Consent to participate: Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study. Consent to publish: The authors affirm that human research participants provided informed consent for publication. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Laparoscopic anatomical liver resection has become more challenging because some subsegmental Glissonean pedicles are hard to dissect. Here, we introduce how to dissect every (sub) segmental Glissonean pedicle from the first porta hepatis and perform standardized (sub) segmentectomy [from segment 1 (S1) to S8]., Aim: To summarize our methods of laparoscopic anatomical segmental and subsegmental liver resection., Methods: The Glisson sheath and liver capsule were separated along the Laennec membrane. The Glissonean pedicle could be isolated and transected with little or no parenchymal damage through this extra-Glissonean dissection approach. The basin of the (sub) segment was determined by the ischemia demarcation line or indocyanine green staining. The hepatic vein or intersegmental vein was also used to guide the plane of parenchymal transection., Results: All segmental or subsegmental pedicles or even the pedicle of the cone unit could be dissected along the Laennec membrane using our novel technique through the first porta hepatis. The dorsal branches of S8, the branches of S4a and the paracaval portion branches (b/c vein) of the caudate lobe were the most difficult to dissect., Conclusion: The novel techniques of liver segmental and subsegmental pedicle anatomy is feasible for laparoscopic liver resection and can help accurately guide (sub) segmentectomy from S1 to S8., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article., (©The Author(s) 2024. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Anxiety is a common psychological comorbidity in patients undergoing dialysis, yet its impact on treatment adherence and complication rates remains understudied. We designed a longitudinal observational study to investigate these relationships, based on the hypothesis that higher anxiety symptoms would be associated with increased complication rates and negatively associated with adherence to the dialysis regimen., Aim: To investigate the relationship between anxiety symptoms, dialysis adherence, and complication rates in patients undergoing dialysis over a 24-month period., Methods: This observational study analyzed data from 250 adult patients who underwent hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis at three Affiliated Hospitals of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities over a period of 24 months. Anxiety symptoms were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety subscale at baseline and every 6 months. Dialysis adherence was evaluated through attendance records, interdialytic weight gain, and patient-reported medication adherence. We recorded complications (infections, cardiovascular events, and hospitalizations) and used mixed-effects models and survival analyses to infer associations between anxiety symptoms, adherence measures, and complication rates., Results: Higher anxiety symptoms were significantly associated with poorer dialysis adherence, including increased missed sessions [incidence rate ratio = 1.32, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.18-1.47, P < 0.001], greater interdialytic weight gain ( β = 0.24, 95%CI: 0.15-0.33, P < 0.001), and lower medication adherence (odds ratio = 0.85, 95%CI: 0.78-0.93, P < 0.001). Patients with clinically significant anxiety (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety subscale ≥ 8) had a higher risk of complications [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.68, 95%CI: 1.32-2.14, P < 0.001], particularly infections (HR = 1.89, 95%CI: 1.41-2.53, P < 0.001) and cardiovascular events (HR = 1.57, 95%CI: 1.18-2.09, P = 0.002). The relationship between anxiety and complications was partially mediated by adherence measures., Conclusion: Anxiety symptoms in patients undergoing dialysis are associated with poorer treatment adherence and increased complication rates. Regular screening and targeted interventions to address symptoms may improve adherence and clinical outcomes., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article., (©The Author(s) 2024. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Physical activity (PA) intentions may predict future PA engagement, such that when intentions for PA are strong, an individual may be more likely to engage in PA compared with when intentions for PA are weak. However, intentions do not always translate into behavior, a phenomenon known as the intention-behavior gap. Individual differences in exercise preference (predisposition for high-intensity exercise) and tolerance (ability to continue exercising at higher intensity) may explain this gap. This study examined whether exercise preference and tolerance moderate the within-subject association between PA intention and next-day moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) using ecological momentary assessment and accelerometry., Methods: Exercise preference and tolerance were assessed at baseline using a validated questionnaire. A 14-day smartphone-based ecological momentary assessment protocol captured PA intentions each evening, and next-day MVPA was assessed via accelerometry. Multilevel linear regression models (days [level 1] nested within-people [level 2]) assessed within-subject associations between PA intention and next-day MVPA, along with cross-level interaction effects of exercise preference and tolerance., Results: Data from 62 US adults (mean age = 39 y, SD = 4.29 y) were analyzed. A negative within-subject main effect of PA intention on next-day MVPA was observed (β = -0.20, P < .001), while exercise preference positively moderated this relationship (β = 0.04, P < .001). Exercise tolerance was not a significant moderator., Conclusions: Exercise preference may influence the intention-behavior gap, suggesting that those who prefer high-intensity exercise are more likely to translate PA intentions into next-day MVPA.

The development of cost-effective and highly sensitive short-wave infrared (SWIR) photodetectors is crucial for the expanding applications of SWIR imaging in civilian applications such as machine vision, autonomous driving, and augmented reality. Colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) have emerged as promising candidates for this purpose, offering distinct advantages over traditional III-V binary and ternary semiconductors. These advantages include the ability to precisely tune the bandgap through size modulation of CQDs and the ease of monolithic integration with Si readout integrated circuits (ROICs) via solution processing. Achieving a minimal reverse bias dark current density ( J d ) while maintaining high external quantum efficiency is essential for enhancing the light detection sensitivity of CQDs-based SWIR photodiodes to a level competitive with III-V semiconductors. This challenge has garnered increasing research attention in recent years. Herein, the latest advancements in understanding and mitigating J d in CQDs SWIR photodiodes are summarized. Starting with a brief overview of the material fundamentals of CQDs, the origins of J d in CQDs photodiodes, including reverse injection from electrode, diffusion/drift currents, Shockley-Read-Hall generation/recombination currents, trap-assisted tunneling, and shunt/leakage currents, are discussed together with their latest research progresses about strategies adopted to suppress J d . Finally, a brief conclusion and outlook on future research directions aimed at minimizing J d and retaining high photoresponse of CQDs SWIR photodiodes are provided.

Background: Situs inversus totalis is a rare congenital condition where there is complete inversion of thoracic and abdominal organs. There is limited information on the laparoscopic treatment of rectal cancer in patients with situs inversus totalis accompanied by other underlying conditions., Case Presentation: We report the case of a 61-year-old Chinese male with rectal cancer accompanied by situs inversus totalis, malignant middle cerebral artery infarction, stenosis of the right internal carotid artery and anterior cerebral artery, and diabetes who underwent a successful laparoscopic radical resection of rectal cancer. We discuss the diagnosis, treatment, and considerations for patients with situs inversus totalis accompanied by other underlying conditions. We performed relevant inspections, organized multidisciplinary team discussions, and made sufficient perioperative preparations. The patient had no intraoperative complications and was successfully discharged from the hospital. Pathological stage was T3N0M0, and the patient did not develop tumor recurrence or metastasis in the 24-month follow-up period., Conclusions: We conclude that patients with rectal cancer with situs inversus totalis, even when accompanied by underlying diseases, can undergo surgical treatment with adequate preparation, and surgical treatment is the most effective treatment method., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethical approval and consent to participate: Not applicable. Consent for publication: All authors of the manuscript have read and agreed to its content and are accountable for all aspects of the accuracy and integrity of the manuscript in accordance with ICMJE criteria; and that the article is original, has not already been published in a journal, and is not currently under consideration by another journal. Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this case report and any accompanying images. A copy of the written consent is available for review by the Editor-in-Chief of this journal. Competing interests: No competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Purpose: Physical activity research among patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) is limited. This study examined the feasibility and potential benefits of Fit2ThriveMB, a tailored mHealth intervention., Methods: Insufficiently active individuals with MBC (n = 49) were randomized 1:1 to Fit2ThriveMB (Fit2ThriveMB app, Fitbit, and weekly coaching calls) or Healthy Lifestyle attention control (Cancer.Net app and weekly calls) for 12 weeks. Fit2ThriveMB aimed to increase daily steps via an algorithm tailored to daily symptom rating and step goal attainment. The primary outcome was feasibility defined as ≥ 80% completion rate. Secondary feasibility metrics included meeting daily step goal and wearing the Fitbit ≥ 70% of study days, fidelity, adherence to intervention features and safety. Secondary outcomes included physical activity, sedentary time, patient reported outcomes (PROs), health-related quality of life (QOL) and social cognitive theory constructs. A subsample (n = 25) completed functional performance tests via video conferencing., Results: The completion rate was 98% (n = 1 died). No related adverse events were reported. Fit2ThriveMB participants (n = 24) wore the Fitbit 92.7%, met their step goal 53.1%, set a step goal 84.6% and used the app 94.1% of 84 study days. Intent-to-treat analyses indicated trends toward improvements in activity, QOL, and some PROs, social cognitive theory constructs, and functional performance tests favoring the Fit2ThriveMB group. Significant effects favoring Fit2ThriveMB were observed for self-efficacy and goal-setting. However, some PROs and functional performance improvements favored the control group (p-values > 0.05)., Conclusions: Fit2ThriveMB is feasible and safe for patients with MBC and warrants further evaluation in randomized controlled trials with larger sample sizes. Registration Clinicaltrials.gov NCT04129346, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04129346., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Background and Objectives: The role of social factors in diabetes onset has been obscured by wide variation in their conceptualization and operationalization. We apply 3 theoretical frameworks to categorize social relationship variables along several dimensions and identify which dimension(s) are robustly associated with incident diabetes in the older adult population., Research Design and Methods: The National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (n = 2,365) and the Health and Retirement Study (n =11,824) provided longitudinal data from 57 to 90-year-old respondents over a 4- to 5-year period. Logistic regression models were used to test associations of 15 social variables measured identically in both data sets with diabetes onset measured as respondents' first report of a physician's diagnosis., Results: In both studies, not being married, experiencing strain in a spousal relationship, and feeling lonely were associated with increased risk for diabetes onset at follow-up. Inconsistent or null findings were observed for social support, social activity, network size, number of friends and relatives, living alone, and closeness to network members., Discussion and Implications: Robust findings in 2 large-scale surveys support the importance of the valence dimension (i.e., positive and negative); specifically, alleviating negative aspects of social life might more effectively reduce risk for diabetes than augmenting positive ones. Findings were not aligned with social variables differing on the subjectivity dimension (i.e., structural, functional, and qualitative aspects of social connections). Future work needs consistent conceptualization and measurement of social factors to correctly identify and categorize risk factors for diabetes onset and other health conditions in older adults., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Gerontological Society of America. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Bone regrowth commonly occurs following lumbar decompression surgery. Although it is rare for neurological symptoms to occur due to bone regrowth, this study describes two patients who underwent both decompression and fusion surgeries but experienced spinal canal restenosisthat was severe enough to induce neurological symptoms. A 32-year-old man underwent posterior decompression and posterior lumbar interbody fusion for lumbar canal stenosis at the L4/L5 level 5 years prior. However, the sudden onset of lower back pain occurred 5 years later. Bone overgrowth on the left side was observed at the L4/L5 level. A second surgery was performed, and the patient's symptoms improved significantly. In the second case, a 56-year-old man underwent posterior decompression and posterior lumbar fusion at the L3/L4 and L4/L5 levels for an L4 burst fracture. One month later, he complained of lower back pain and underwent a second posterior decompression surgery. One year later, he presented to an outpatient clinic with lower back pain and neurological symptoms. Bone overgrowth was observed on both sides at the L4/L5 level. Thus, screw removal and laminectomy at the L3, L4, and L5 levels were performed as a third surgery. This study discusses the factors affecting bone regrowth and the methods that can be used to prevent it.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a common microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus (DM). Radix Astragali (RA), a frequently used Chinese herbal medicine in the Leguminosae family, Astragalus genus, with its extracts, has been proven to be effective in DN treatment both in clinical practice and experimental studies. RA and its extracts can reduce proteinuria and improve renal function. They can improve histopathology changes including thickening of the glomerular basement membrane, mesangial cell proliferation, and injury of endothelial cells, podocytes, and renal tubule cells. The mechanisms mainly benefited from antioxidative stress which involves Nrf2/ARE signaling and the PPAR γ -Klotho-FoxO1 axis; antiendoplasmic reticulum stress which involves PERK-ATF4-CHOP, PERK/eIF2 α , and IRE1/XBP1 pathways; regulating autophagy which involves SIRT1/NF- κ B signaling and AMPK signaling; anti-inflammation which involves IL33/ST2 and NF- κ B signaling; and antifibrosis which involves TGF- β 1/Smads, MAPK (ERK), p38/MAPK, JNK/MAPK, Wnt/ β -catenin, and PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathways. This review focuses on the clinical efficacy and the pharmacological mechanism of RA and its representative extracts on DN, and we further document the traditional uses of RA and probe into the TCM theoretical basis for its application in DN., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Hui-zhong Xue et al.)

In the vanguard of neuromorphic engineering, we develop a paradigm of biocompatible polymer memcapacitors using a seamless solution process, unleashing comprehensive synaptic capabilities depending on both the stimulation form and history. Like the human brain to learn and adapt, the memcapacitors exhibit analogue-type and evolvable capacitance shifts that mirror the complex flexibility of synaptic strengthening and weakening. With increasing frequency and intensity of the stimulation, the memcapacitors demonstrate an evolution from short-term plasticity (STP) to long-term plasticity (LTP), and even to metaplasticity (MP) at a higher level. A physical picture, featuring the stimulus-controlled spatiotemporal ion redistribution in the polymer, elaborates the origin of the memcapacitive prowess and resultant versatile synaptic plasticity. The distinctive MP behavior endows the memcapacitors with a dynamic learning rate (LR), which is utilized in an artificial neural network. The superiority of implementing a dynamic LR compared with conventional practices of using constant LR shines light on the potential of the memcapacitors to exploit organic neuromorphic computing hardware.

Herein, by using state-of-the-art mass spectrometry, we demonstrated experimentally that the bimetallic copper-vanadium oxide cluster anions CuVO 3,4 - can catalyze the reduction of NO by CO into N 2 O and CO 2 . Note that the catalysis of NO reduction by CO has been rarely established in the gas phase and noble-metal containing clusters were commonly emphasized. Benefiting from quantum-chemical calculations, the Cu-V synergistic effect that both metal atoms work energetically to favor NO adsorption, N-N coupling, and CO oxidation by facilitating electron transfer can be understood at a strictly molecular level. Theoretical results demonstrated that the precaptured NO molecule encourages the adsorption of the second NO by electron donation. This finding deepens our understanding on NO reduction that NO functions not only as a reactant but also as a promoter during the reactions. This discovery could be helpful to permeate the nature and mechanism of active sites on related copper-vanadium heterogeneous catalyst used in real-life NO reduction.

Water (H 2 O) is ubiquitous in the environment and inevitably participates in many surface reactions, including CO oxidation. Acquiring a fundamental understanding of the roles of H 2 O molecules in CO oxidation poses a challenging but pivotal task in real-life catalysis. Herein, benefiting from state-of-the-art mass-spectrometric experiments and quantum chemical calculations, we identified that the dissociation of a H 2 O molecule on each of the cerium oxide cluster anions (CeO 2 ) n O - ( n = 1-4) at room temperature can create a new atomic oxygen radical (O •- ) that then oxidizes a CO molecule. The size-dependent reactivity of H 2 O-mediated CO oxidation on (CeO 2 ) n O - clusters was rationalized by the orbital compositions (O 2p ) and energies of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals of active O •- radicals modified by H 2 O dissociation. Our findings not only provide new insights into H 2 O-mediated CO oxidation but also demonstrate the importance of H 2 O in modulating the reactivity of the O •- radicals.

Background: Opt2Move is a theory-guided moderate and vigorous physical activity (MVPA) promotion trial that uses multiphase optimization strategy (MOST) methodology to evaluate the individual and combined effects of four intervention components in a full factorial experiment among young adult cancer survivors (YACS; N = 304). All participants will receive the core mHealth MVPA intervention, which includes a Fitbit and standard self-monitoring Opt2Move smartphone application. YACS will be randomized to one of 16 conditions to receive between zero and four additional components each with two levels (yes v. no): E-Coach, buddy, general mindfulness, and MVPA-specific mindfulness., Objective: The primary aim is to determine the individual and combined effects of the components on MVPA post-intervention (12-weeks) and at 24-week follow-up. The secondary aim is to examine how changes in MVPA are associated with patient-reported outcomes, light-intensity activity, sedentary time, and sleep duration and quality. Potential mediators and moderators of component effects will also be examined., Results: Results will support the selection of a package of intervention components optimized to maximize MVPA to be tested in a randomized controlled trial., Conclusion: Opt2Move represents the first systematic effort to use MOST to design an optimized, scalable mHealth MVPA intervention for YACS and will lead to an improved understanding of how to effectively change YACS' MVPA and ultimately, improve health and disease outcomes., Competing Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (© The Author(s) 2024.)

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: The traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) XYQFT is composed of 10 herbs. According to the NHIRD, XYQFT is one of the top ten most commonly used TCM prescriptions for asthma treatment., Aim of the Study: The aim of this study was to explore whether XYQFT reduces asthma symptoms in a mouse model of chronic asthma and determine the immunomodulatory mechanism of mast cells., Materials and Methods: BALB/c mice were intratracheally (it) stimulated with 40 μL (2.5 μg/μL) of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p) once a week for 6 consecutive weeks and orally administered XYQFT at 1 g/kg 30 min before Der p stimulation. Airway hypersensitivity, inflammatory cells in the BALF and total IgE in the blood were assessed in mice. In addition, RBL-2H3 cells (mast cells) were stimulated with DNP-IgE, after which different concentrations of XYQFT were added for 30 min to evaluate the effect of XYQFT on the gene expression and degranulation of DNP-stimulated RBL-2H3 cells. After the compounds in XYQFT were identified using LC‒MS/MS, the PBD method was used to identify the chemical components that inhibited the expression of the GM-CSF and COX-2 genes in mast cells., Results: The airway hypersensitivity assay demonstrated that XYQFT significantly alleviated Der p-induced airway hypersensitivity. Moreover, cell counting and typing of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid revealed a significant reduction in Der p-induced inflammatory cell infiltration with XYQFT treatment. ELISA examination further indicated a significant decrease in Der p-induced total IgE levels in serum following XYQFT administration. In addition, XYQFT inhibited the degranulation and expression of genes (IL-3, IL-4, ALOX-5, IL-13, GM-CSF, COX-2, TNF-α, and MCP-1) in RBL-2H3 cells after DNP stimulation. The compounds timosaponin AIII and genkwanin in XYQFT were found to be key factors in the inhibition of COX-2 and GM-CSF gene expression in mast cells., Conclusion: By regulating mast cells, XYQFT inhibited inflammatory cell infiltration, airway hypersensitivity and specific immunity in a mouse model of asthma. In addition, XYQFT synergistically inhibited the expression of the GM-CSF and COX-2 genes in mast cells through timosaponin AIII and genkwanin., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Intensive longitudinal data (ILD) collection methods have gained popularity in social and behavioral research as a tool to better understand behavior and experiences over time with reduced recall bias. Engaging participants in these studies over multiple months and ensuring high data quality are crucial but challenging due to the potential burden of repeated measurements. It is suspected that participants may engage in inattentive responding (IR) behavior to combat burden, but the processes underlying this behavior are unclear as previous studies have focused on the barriers to compliance rather than the barriers to providing high-quality data., Objective: This study aims to broaden researchers' knowledge about IR during ILD studies using qualitative analysis and uncover the underlying IR processes to aid future hypothesis generation., Methods: We explored the process of IR by conducting semistructured qualitative exit interviews with 31 young adult participants (aged 18-29 years) who completed a 12-month ILD health behavior study with daily evening smartphone-based ecological momentary assessment (EMA) surveys and 4-day waves of hourly EMA surveys. The interviews assessed participants' motivations, the impact of time-varying contexts, changes in motivation and response patterns over time, and perceptions of attention check questions (ACQs) to understand participants' response patterns and potential factors leading to IR., Results: Thematic analysis revealed 5 overarching themes on factors that influence participant engagement: (1) friends and family also had to tolerate the frequent surveys, (2) participants tried to respond to surveys quickly, (3) the repetitive nature of surveys led to neutral responses, (4) ACQs within the surveys helped to combat overly consistent response patterns, and (5) different motivations for answering the surveys may have led to different levels of data quality., Conclusions: This study aimed to examine participants' perceptions of the quality of data provided in an ILD study to contribute to the field's understanding of engagement. These findings provide insights into the complex process of IR and participant engagement in ILD studies with EMA. The study identified 5 factors influencing IR that could guide future research to improve EMA survey design. The identified themes offer practical implications for researchers and study designers, including the importance of considering social context, the consideration of dynamic motivations, and the potential benefit of including ACQs as a technique to reduce IR and leveraging the intrinsic motivators of participants. By incorporating these insights, researchers might maximize the scientific value of their multimonth ILD studies through better data collection protocols., International Registered Report Identifier (irrid): RR2-10.2196/36666., (©Shirlene D Wang, Lori Hatzinger, Jeremy Morales, Micaela Hewus, Stephen Intille, Genevieve F Dunton. Originally published in JMIR Formative Research (https://formative.jmir.org), 02.08.2024.)

Transparent flexible energy storage devices are limited by the trade-off among flexibility, transparency, and charge storage capability of their electrode materials. Conductive polymers are intrinsically flexible, but limited by small capacitance. Pseudocapacitive MXene provides high capacitance, yet their opaque and brittle nature hinders their flexibility and transparency. Herein, the development of synergistically interacting conductive polymer Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene/PEDOT:PSS composites is reported for transparent flexible all-solid-state supercapacitors, with an outstanding areal capacitance of 3.1 mF cm -2 , a high optical transparency of 61.6%, and excellent flexibility and durability. The high capacitance and high transparency of the devices stem from the uniform and thorough blending of PEDOT:PSS and Ti 3 C 2 T x , which is associated with the formation of O─H…O H-bonds in the composites. The conductive MXene/polymer composite electrodes demonstrate a rational means to achieve high-capacity, transparent and flexible supercapacitors in an easy and scalable manner., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Objective: Racial and ethnic minorities are disproportionately affected by diabetes. Social characteristics, such as family structure, social support, and loneliness, may contribute to these health disparities. In a nationally representative sample of diverse older adults, we evaluated longitudinal rates of both progression from prediabetes to diabetes and reversion from prediabetes to normoglycemia., Research Design and Methods: Using the longitudinal Health and Retirement Study (2006-2014), our sample included 2625 follow-up intervals with a prediabetes baseline (provided by 2229 individuals). We analyzed 4-year progression and reversion rates using HbA1c and reported presence or absence of physician-diagnosed diabetes. We utilized chi-square and logistic regression models to determine how race/ethnicity and social variables influenced progression or reversion controlling for comorbidities and demographics., Results: Overall, progression to diabetes was less common than reversion (17% vs. 36%). Compared to Whites, Hispanic/Latino respondents had higher odds of progression to diabetes from prediabetes while Black respondents had lower odds of reversion, adjusting for physical health and demographics. For social variables, Hispanics/Latinos had the highest reliance on and openness with family and the lowest rates of loneliness. The inclusion of social variables in regression models reduced the odds of progression for Hispanics/Latinos but did not alter Black's lower rate of reversion., Conclusions: Hispanic/Latinos and Blacks not only had different transition pathways leading to diabetes, but also had different social profiles, affecting Hispanic/Latino progression, but not Black reversion. These differences in the influence of social variables on diabetes risk may inform the design of culturally-specific efforts to reduce disparities in diabetes burden., (© 2024. W. Montague Cobb-NMA Health Institute.)

Two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides (2D-TMDs) possess appropriate bandgaps and interact via van der Waals (vdW) forces between layers, effectively overcoming lattice compatibility challenges inherent in traditional heterojunctions. This property facilitates the creation of heterojunctions with customizable bandgap alignments. However, the prevailing method for creating heterojunctions with 2D-TMDs relies on the low-efficiency technique of mechanical exfoliation. Sb 2 Te 3 , recognized as a notable p-type semiconductor, emerges as a versatile component for constructing diverse vertical p-n heterostructures with 2D-TMDs. This study presents the successful large-scale deposition of 2D Sb 2 Te 3 onto inert mica substrates, providing valuable insights into the integration of Sb 2 Te 3 with 2D-TMDs to form heterostructures. Building upon this initial advancement, a precise epitaxial growth method for Sb 2 Te 3 on pre-existing WS 2 surfaces on SiO 2 /Si substrates is achieved through a two-step chemical vapor deposition process, resulting in the formation of Sb 2 Te 3 /WS 2 heterojunctions. Finally, the development of 2D Sb 2 Te 3 /WS 2 optoelectronic devices is accomplished, showing rapid response times, with a rise/decay time of 305 μs/503 μs, respectively.

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder affecting up to 20% of children in developed countries. Although probiotics have shown promise as adjuvant treatments for AD, their mechanisms are not well understood., Objective: Building upon our previous studies, we investigated whether Lactobacillus gasseri and its moonlighting glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), namely LGp40, could be beneficial in AD management., Methods: In AD mouse models (SKH and C57BL/6J mice) with ovalbumin (OVA) and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p) allergens, aligning with the "outside-in" and "inside-out" hypotheses, we administered L. gasseri orally and LGp40 intraperitoneally to investigate their protective effects. The evaluation involved measuring physiological, pathological, and immune function parameters. To delve deeper into the detailed mechanism of LGp40 protection in AD, additional assays were conducted using human skin keratinocytes (HaCaT) and monocytes (THP1) cell lines., Results: L. gasseri and LGp40 enhanced skin barrier function and increased skin moisture retention. They also led to reduced infiltration of Langerhans cells in the dermis and mitigated skewed Th2 and Th17 immune responses. Moreover, LGp40 inhibited allergen-induced keratinocyte apoptosis through the blockade of the caspase-3 cascade and reduced the NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in macrophages. These inhibitions were achieved through the activation of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) pathway., Conclusion: The results of this study provide a novel insight into the mechanism of action of probiotics in the prevention and treatment for allergic disorders through the moonlighting GAPDH protein.

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) based on perovskite quantum dots (QDs) have produced external quantum efficiencies (EQEs) of more than 25% with narrowband emission 1,2 , but these LEDs have limited operating lifetimes. We posit that poor long-range ordering in perovskite QD films-variations in dot size, surface ligand density and dot-to-dot stacking-inhibits carrier injection, resulting in inferior operating stability because of the large bias required to produce emission in these LEDs. Here we report a chemical treatment to improve the long-range order of perovskite QD films: the diffraction intensity from the repeating QD units increases three-fold compared with that of controls. We achieve this using a synergistic dual-ligand approach: an iodide-rich agent (aniline hydroiodide) for anion exchange and a chemically reactive agent (bromotrimethylsilane) that produces a strong acid that in situ dissolves smaller QDs to regulate size and more effectively removes less conductive ligands to enable compact, uniform and defect-free films. These films exhibit high conductivity (4 × 10 -4  S m -1 ), which is 2.5-fold higher than that of the control, and represents the highest conductivity recorded so far among perovskite QDs. The high conductivity ensures efficient charge transportation, enabling red perovskite QD-LEDs that generate a luminance of 1,000 cd m -2 at a record-low voltage of 2.8 V. The EQE at this luminance is more than 20%. Furthermore, the stability of the operating device is 100 times better than previous red perovskite LEDs at EQEs of more than 20%., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

MicroRNA-33b (miR-33b) affected various biological pathways in regulating cholesterol homeostasis which may link to the pathogenesis of atherosclerotic lesions. However, whether this marker is associated with the presence and severity of coronary heart disease (CHD) is undetermined. We aim to explore the diagnostic value of circulating miR-33b level in the presence and severity of CHD. Altogether 320 patients were enrolled, including 240 patients diagnosed with CHD while 80 were classified as controls after CAG examination. Circulating miR-33b level was analyzed in all subjects, the Gensini score was calculated to assess the severity of stenotic lesions. The association between miR-33b and the presence and severity of CHD was analyzed, and the diagnostic potential of miR-33b of CHD was performed by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. The CHD group had higher miR-33b levels ( p  < 0.001), and the miR-33b content significantly elevated following an increasing Gensini score ( p for trend < 0.001). After adjustments for potential risk factors, such as several blood lipid markers, miR-33b remained a significant determinant for CHD ( p  < 0.001). ROC analysis disclosed that the AUC was 0.931. The optimal cutoff value of miR-33b was with a sensitivity of 81.3% and a specificity of 98.7% in differentiating CHD. It can prognosticate that the higher level of miR-33b was linked to increased severity of disease in CHD patients. Thus, the application of this marker might assist in the diagnosis and classification of CHD patients. Nevertheless, additional studies with larger sample sizes will be required to verify these results.

Objective: To evaluate the effect and safety of foot baths with Tangbi Waixi Decoction (TW) in treating patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN)., Methods: It is a multicenter double-blinded randomized controlled trial. Participants with DPN were recruited between November 18, 2016 and May 30, 2018 from 8 hospitals in China. All patients received basic treatments for glycemic management. Patients received foot baths with TW herbal granules either 66.9 g (intervention group) or 6.69 g (control group) for 30 min once a day for 2 weeks and followed by a 2-week rest, as a therapeutic course. If the Toronto Clinical Scoring System total score (TCSS-TS) ⩾6 points, the patients received a total of 3 therapeutic courses (for 12 weeks) and were followed up for 12 weeks. The primary outcome was change in TCSS-TS score at 12 and 24 weeks. Secondary outcomes included changes in bilateral motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV) and sensory nerve conduction velocity (SNCV) of the median and common peroneal nerve. Safety was also assessed., Results: Totally 632 patients were enrolled, and 317 and 315 were randomized to the intervention and control groups, respectively. After the 12-week intervention, patients in both groups showed significant declines in TCSSTS scores, and significant increases in MNCV and SNCV of the median and common peroneal nerves compared with pre-treatment (P<0.05). The reduction of TCSS-TS score at 12 weeks and the increase of SNCV of median nerve at 24 weeks in the control group were greater than those in the intervention group (P<0.05). The number of adverse events did not differ significantly between groups (P>0.05), and no serious adverse event was related with treatment., Conclusion: Treatment of TW foot baths was safe and significantly benefitted patients with DPN. A low dose of TW appeared to be more effective than a high dose. (Registry No. ChiCTR-IOR-16009331)., (© 2024. The Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine Press and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

CO oxidation represents an important model reaction in the gas phase to provide a clear structure-reactivity relationship in related heterogeneous catalysis. Herein, in combination with mass spectrometry experiments and quantum-chemical calculations, we identified that the RhMn 2 O 3 - cluster cannot oxidize CO into gas-phase CO 2 at room temperature, while the NO preadsorbed products RhMn 2 O 3 - [(NO) 1,2 ] are highly reactive in CO oxidation. This discovery is helpful to get a fundamental understanding on the reaction behavior in real-world three-way catalytic conditions where different kinds of reactants coexist. Theoretical calculations were performed to rationalize the crucial roles of preadsorbed NO where the strongly attached NO on the Rh atom can greatly stabilize the products RhMn 2 O 2 - [(NO) 1,2 ] during CO oxidation and at the same time works together with the Rh atom to store electrons that stay originally in the attached CO 2 - unit. The leading result is that the desorption of CO 2 , which is the rate-determining step of CO oxidation by RhMn 2 O 3 - , can be greatly facilitated on the reactions of RhMn 2 O 3 - [(NO) 1,2 ] with CO.

Growing evidence suggests that neurovascular dysfunction characterized by blood-brain barrier (BBB) breakdown underlies the development of psychiatric disorders, such as major depressive disorder (MDD). Tight junction (TJ) proteins are critical modulators of homeostasis and BBB integrity. TJ protein Claudin-5 is the most dominant BBB component and is downregulated in numerous depression models; however, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we demonstrate a molecular basis of BBB breakdown that links stress and depression. We implemented an animal model of depression, chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) in male C57BL/6 mice, and showed that hippocampal BBB breakdown was closely associated with stress vulnerability. Concomitantly, we found that dysregulated Cldn5 level coupled with repression of the histone methylation signature at its promoter contributed to stress-induced BBB dysfunction and depression. Moreover, histone methyltransferase enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) knockdown improved Cldn5 expression and alleviated depression-like behaviors by suppressing the tri-methylation of lysine 27 on histone 3 (H3K27me3) in chronically stressed mice. Furthermore, the stress-induced excessive transfer of peripheral cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) into the hippocampus was prevented by Claudin-5 overexpression and EZH2 knockdown. Interestingly, antidepressant treatment could inhibit H3K27me3 deposition at the Cldn5 promoter, reversing the loss of the encoded protein and BBB damage. Considered together, these findings reveal the importance of the hippocampal EZH2-Claudin-5 axis in regulating neurovascular function and MDD development, providing potential therapeutic targets for this psychiatric illness., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: The main objective of this article is to understand trends in the incidence of renal cancer and to construct a nomogram to predict the prognosis of patients with renal cancer by analyzing clinical parameters., Methods: We extracted data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database for patients with renal cancer from 2010 to 2015. The incidence rate was calculated to understand the trend of renal cancer in recent years, and the Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze the relationship between patients' clinical variables and overall survival. Nomogram and calibration curves were constructed based on factors predicted by multivariate Cox regression., Results: Data from 68,496 eligible renal cancer patients were included in the study. The incidence of renal cancer was higher in men than women and tended to stabilize over time. We further found that age, gender, marital status, AJCC stage, histological type, metastatic disease, and surgery were independent parameters for prognosis in renal cancer patients. Finally, a nomogram was constructed based on the above parameters, and its validity was verified with the agreement index and calibration curve., Conclusion: Renal cancer incidence trend gradually stabilized. Seven independent parameters for renal cancer patients were obtained by analysis and utilized to construct a nomogram that could provide guidance for clinical practice.

Anterior dislocation of the coccyx is rare, but it can occur due to trauma. Conservative treatment is usually performed. However, dislocation reduction may be required to control severe pain in the acute phase or to prevent chronic complications. If manual reduction fails, open reduction is required. The extent of the incision and the method used to maintain the reduction should be considered during open reduction. A 56-year-old male patient experienced a dislocation of the sacrococcygeal joint after falling backwards. Despite conservative treatment, the patient complained of persistent pain during sitting and when using the bathroom. A manual reduction was attempted but failed. We performed joystick reduction via minimal incision and maintained the reduction using a one-strand trans-osseous suture passing through the skin. The patient was advised to use a soft cushion when sitting or lying down for four weeks after surgery. The supine position was not restricted. The patient's symptoms significantly improved after surgery. At the 6-month follow-up, the sacrococcygeal joint showed good alignment and no surgical complications occurred. During the treatment of sacrococcygeal dislocation, the rapid alleviation of acute pain and minimizing potential complications are key points. If open reduction is needed, the minimally invasive reduction technique with a one-strand trans-osseous suture may offer patient satisfaction and a good surgical outcome.

Color-tunable room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) with potential in many fields is of great importance but extremely challenging. It is necessary to comprehend the correlation between the molecular structure and property to design and synthesize such materials. Metal-organic coordination polymers (CPs) with good predesignability and precise structure have become a platform to construct RTP materials. Herein, three zinc-based CPs containing halogen and a flexible tetradentate ligand are synthesized. All of these CPs present two constant emission regions and an excitation-dependent emission region. Structure-property analysis shows that these emissions originate from isolated chromophores and dimerized chromophores as well as various charge transfers. The phosphorescence colors of these CPs can be modulated by excitation and temperature. This study provides a novel strategy to construct multicolor and multiresponsive RTP materials based on metal-organic coordination polymers.

Background: Extravillous trophoblast cell (EVT) differentiation and its communication with maternal decidua especially the leading immune cell type natural killer (NK) cell are critical events for placentation. However, appropriate in vitro modelling system and regulatory programs of these two events are still lacking. Recent trophoblast organoid (TO) has advanced the molecular and mechanistic research in placentation. Here, we firstly generated the self-renewing TO from human placental villous and differentiated it into EVTs (EVT-TO) for investigating the differentiation events. We then co-cultured EVT-TO with freshly isolated decidual NKs for further study of cell communication. TO modelling of EVT differentiation as well as EVT interaction with dNK might cast new aspect for placentation research., Results: Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) was applied for comprehensive characterization and molecular exploration of TOs modelling of EVT differentiation and interaction with dNKs. Multiple distinct trophoblast states and dNK subpopulations were identified, representing CTB, STB, EVT, dNK1/2/3 and dNKp. Lineage trajectory and Seurat mapping analysis identified the close resemblance of TO and EVT-TO with the human placenta characteristic. Transcription factors regulatory network analysis revealed the cell-type specific essential TFs for controlling EVT differentiation. CellphoneDB analysis predicted the ligand-receptor complexes in dNK-EVT-TO co-cultures, which relate to cytokines, immunomodulation and angiogenesis. EVT was known to affect the immune properties of dNK. Our study found out that on the other way around, dNKs could exert effects on EVT causing expression changes which are functionally important., Conclusion: Our study documented a single-cell atlas for TO and its applications on EVT differentiation and communications with dNKs, and thus provide methodology and novel research cues for future study of human placentation., (© 2023. BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature.)

Ferroelectric materials with a modulable polarization extent hold promise for exploring voltage-driven neuromorphic hardware, in which direct current flow can be minimized. Utilizing a single active layer of an insulating ferroelectric polymer, we developed a voltage-mode ferroelectric synapse that can continuously and reversibly update its states. The device states are straightforwardly manifested in the form of variable output voltage, enabling large-scale direct cascading of multiple ferroelectric synapses to build a deep physical neural network. Such a neural network based on potential superposition rather than current flow is analogous to the biological counterpart driven by action potentials in the brain. A high accuracy of over 97% for the simulation of handwritten digit recognition is achieved using the voltage-mode neural network. The controlled ferroelectric polarization, revealed by piezoresponse force microscopy, turns out to be responsible for the synaptic weight updates in the ferroelectric synapses. The present work demonstrates an alternative strategy for the design and construction of emerging artificial neural networks.