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Abstract Neurodegenerative diseases, characterized by impairments in cognition, memory, and movement, are becoming increasingly prevalent due to population aging, posing a significant threat to public health. Extensive evidence suggests that neuroinflammation, mediated by microglia, plays a crucial role in the development of these diseases. Notably, the vitamin D receptor (VDR) has been shown to regulate microglia activation by controlling the function of neuroprotective vitamin D. This study aims to elucidate the potential of VDR in modulating neuroinflammation. To mimic neuroinflammation, BV2 cells were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 12 h. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) were used to measure the release of cytokines, including IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, MCP-1, and TNF-α. Western blot assays were performed to assess relative protein expressions and succinylation modifications. Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) experiments were conducted to determine the interaction between VDR and carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A (CPT1A). Immunofluorescence staining was used to analyze the localization of VDR, CPT1A, COX-2, and CD11b. Our findings demonstrated that VDR expression was upregulated in BV2 cells exposed to LPS. Ectopic expression of VDR attenuated the inflammatory response and microglia activation. We discovered that carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A (CPT1A) promoted VDR succinylation. Further investigations revealed that CPT1A enhanced VDR stability by binding to VDR, with lysine K117 being the primary succinylation site. Importantly, depletion of CPT1A abrogated the protective effects of VDR overexpression on microglia-mediated neuroinflammation. Our study highlighted that CPT1A functioned as a suppressor in neuroinflammation by facilitating VDR succinylation, offering potential therapeutic targets for the management of neurodegenerative diseases.

Abstract The Laurani high-sulfidation epithermal deposit, located in the northeastern Altiplano of Bolivia, is a representative gold-polymetallic deposit linked to the late Miocene volcanic rocks that were formed approximately at about 7.5 Ma. At Laurani, four mineralization stages are defined. Stage I primarily consists of ore-barren vuggy quartz that free with metal sulfides. Stage II and stage III generate four predominant styles of mineralization of explosive breccia-style Au–Cu, contact-style Cu–Au–Ag, hydrothermal vein-style Au–Ag–Cu–Pb–Zn and porphyry-style Au–Cu that with a diversity of occurrences, reflecting the strong lithological and structural controls. Stage IV is formed by supergene oxidation of earlier metalliferous minerals postdated the main mineralization. Hydrothermal alteration is characterized by significant intensity and zoning, with phyllic alteration at the center, surrounded by propylitic alteration, and further overlapped by extensive argillic alteration. Additionally, the well-developed quartz–alunite–barite tends to be found along or in close proximity to the hydrothermal vein-style orebodies. Fluid inclusions hosted in the stage I ore-barren quartz indicate that the ore-forming fluids predating predominant metal deposition are low- to moderate-salinity (0.2–23.1 wt.% NaCleq), high-temperature (90% of homogenization temperature > 300 ℃) and CO2-bearing fluids. Subsequently, through processes of boiling (~ 250 to 360 ℃), cooling and mixing with meteoric water, these fluids transform to low-salinity (4.2–6.9 wt.% NaCleq) and low-temperature (90% of homogenization temperature

Abstract Aims To understand the perceptions and experiences of family caregivers of adult patients with dysphagia. Background Dysphagia is a common symptom and burdens caregivers greatly. There is a growing body of studies concentrating on caregivers and caregiving experiences. However, no qualitative meta‐synthesis has been conducted to explore the perceptions and experiences of family caregivers. Design A qualitative meta‐ethnography. Methods A search was conducted for relevant articles in six electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, Ovid, Cochrane Library, ProQuest) and two Chinese databases (CNKI, Wanfang Data) from inception to February 2023. The Joanna Briggs Institute Qualitative Assessment and Review Instrument (JBI‐QARI) was used to evaluate study quality. The meta‐ethnographic method was used to synthesize data from qualitative studies. The study was reported according to EQUATOR guidelines. Results Eleven studies were included and three themes emerged: (1) emotion and perception, (2) change and challenge (3) adaption and coping. Conclusion This review highlighted the challenges and positive coping experienced by caregivers. Findings directly inform the development and implementation of supportive interventions to reduce caregivers' stress and promote adaptive coping. Relevance to clinical practice Pay attention to the needs of family caregivers of dysphagia. Family caregivers' perceived severity of dysphagia requires assessment. Caregivers need knowledge, support, and guidance to reduce their burden and fulfill their role.

Abstract Background Total knee joint replacement (TKR) is an effective method for the treatment of severe knee osteoarthritis. With an increasing number of surgeries, complications such as lower limb edema, pain, and limited mobility have caused a heavy burden. Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) may be a solution to solve the problem. The study aims to evaluate the efficacy of MLD in reducing knee edema, pain, and improving range of motion (ROM) in patients after TKR. Methods A search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, VIPs, WanFang database, and Google Scholar from inception to June 2023. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared the effects of MLD and non-MLD (or another physiotherapy) on improving knee edema, pain, and ROM after TKR were included. Stata 16.0 was used for meta-analysis. GRADE was used to assess the quality of evidence. Results In total, 7 RCTs with 285 patients were identified. There were no significant differences found in the ROM of knee flexion (standardized mean difference (SMD) = 0.03, 95% confidence interval (CI): -0.22, 0.28, P = 0.812) and the ROM of knee extension (SMD= -0.30, 95%CI: -0.64, 0.04, P = 0.084). No differences were observed in the lower extremity circumference after TKR (SMD= -0.09, 95%CI: -0.27, 0.09, P = 0.324). For postoperative pain, there was no significant advantage between the MLD and non-MLD groups (SMD= -0.33, 95%CI: -0.71, 0.04, P = 0.083). Conclusions Based on the current evidence from RCTs, manual lymphatic drainage is not recommended for the rehabilitation of patients following total knee replacement.

Background: The erector spinae plane block (ESPB) was proposed as a part of the postoperative multimodal analgesic regimen to improve pain management after posterior spinal surgery. However, ESPB might cause more surgical incisional wound exudate and poor wound healing, which might be improved after topical lyophilized thrombin application. Materials and methods: We performed a retrospective study on patients who received posterior spinal surgery between January 2018 and December 2021. These patients were assigned into three groups: group A (general anesthesia), group B (general anesthesia with ESPB), and group C (general anesthesia with ESPB and topical 1000-unit thrombin application). Postoperative outcomes, including times of dressing changes, duration of suture removal, and incisional wound healing, were compared among these groups. Results: Our study included 89 patients, with 48, 20, and 21 patients in groups A, B, and C, respectively. Baseline demographics, height, weight, comorbidities, and operation duration were comparable among the three groups. Group B required statistically significantly more dressing changes and had a prolonged duration of suture removal than group A (9.4 ± 4.7 versus 6.5 ± 2.0 times, 16.2 ± 3.7 versus 14.2 ± 1.4 days, respectively), which could be statistically significantly improved after the thrombin application in group C. Group B also had more frequent poor wound healing (25.0 %), which could also be improved after the thrombin application (0.0 %). Conclusions: ESPB could cause more dressing changes and poor surgical wound healing after posterior spinal surgery, which could be improved by topical lyophilized thrombin powder application.

Abstract The nasty urine microenvironment (UME) is an inherent obstacle that hinders urethral repair due to fibrosis and swelling of the oftentimes adopted hydrogel‐based biomaterials. Here, using reduced graphene oxide (rGO) along with double‐freeze‐drying to strengthen a 3D‐printed patch is reported to realize scarless urethral repair. The sodium alginate/gelatin/reduced graphene oxide (SA/Gel/rGO) biomaterial features tunable stiffness, degradation profile, and anti‐fibrosis performance. Interestingly, the 3D‐printed alginate‐containing composite scaffold is able to respond to Ca2+ present in the urine, leading to enhanced structural stability and strength as well as inhibiting swelling. The investigations present that the swelling behaviors, mechanical properties, and anti‐fibrosis efficacy of the SA/Gel/rGO patch can be modulated by varying the concentration of rGO. In particular, rGO in optimal concentration shows excellent cell viability, migration, and proliferation. In‐depth mechanistic studies reveal that the activation of cell proliferation and angiogenesis‐related proteins, along with inhibition of fibrosis‐related gene expressions, play an important role in scarless repair by the 3D‐printed SA/Gel/rGO patch via promoting urothelium growth, accelerating angiogenesis, and minimizing fibrosis in vivo. The proposed strategy has the potential of resolving the dilemma of necessary biomaterial stiffness and unwanted fibrosis in urethral repair.

Abstract Objective Urethral stenosis caused by pelvic fracture urethral injury (PFUI) is a complex urological disease, especially for the redo cased. However, to find the proximal end of the posterior urethra, and to avoid injury to the rectum and to forecast to remove the inferior pubic margin are two key points for a successful surgery. These steps can be challenging for even the most experienced urologists. This study is to describe a new technique for understanding the three-dimensional (3D) anatomy of the urethra, which will also aid in surgical planning and simplify urethroplasty. Materials and methods Three patients underwent routine urethroscopy, X ray urethrography and contrast CT urethrography. The 3D images were then reconstructed, and the data were transmitted to a 3D printer. 3D models were printed with polyacrylic acid to simulate the anatomical structure and relationship of urethral stenosis with pubic symphysis and rectum. Various diagnosis methods were compared with the condition in surgery. The patients and trainee questionnaires were performed. Results Three models of urethral CT were obtained. These models were presented to patients and trainee doctors along with routine urethroscopy, urethrography, and urethral CT. The scores of patients and trainee question forms demonstrated that the 3D printed urethral stenosis model of pelvic fracture has obvious advantages in urethral adjacency and ease of understanding. The 3D printed urethras were easy to show the pubic symphysis and simulate its excision and exposure of urethra. The model could show the precise distance from urethra to rectum to prevent the rectum injury in surgery. Conclusions 3D printing technology can be applied to the preoperative evaluation of urethral stenosis caused by PFUI. It can be auxiliary to understand the anatomical structure of the posterior urethra, the direction of urethral displacement, protecting the rectum and the forecasting for pubectomy. It is especially helpful for the accurate preoperative planning of some complex urethral stenosis and redo cases.

A large-scale rainstorm occurred in southeastern Shaanxi on April 23, 2021, with a number of 18 stations' daily rainfall being exceeded their daily rain extreme value in April, which was relatively rare. The conventional upper air and surface observational data, and ERA5 reanalysis data (0.25°×0.25°) were used to diagnose the causes and extremes of the rainstorm event. The results showed that the positive vorticity advection brought by the strong southwestern airflow in front of the 500 hPa plateau trough was conducive to the enhancement of the low-level rapid flow and the development and the maintenance of the low vortex. There were two strong water vapor conveyor belts in this event, one was the southerly water vapor conveyor belt, and the other was the easterly water vapor conveyor belt outside the tropical cyclone. The 700 hPa shear line and 850 hPa southwest low vortex brought significant water vapor convergence to southern Shaanxi, and the continuous abundant water vapor supply and convergence made the strong rainfall sustained for a long time, which led to heavy rainfall. There was a significant frontal inversion on the sounding map, the frontal region was tilted from south to north, the frontal generation was mainly contributed by the convergence and horizontal deformation terms, and the horizontal deformation term was dominated by the telescopic variability term. The southwestern warm and humid airflow climbed along the lower cold cushion, the wind speed and wind shear in the middle and lower atmosphere as well as the frontal generation caused strong water vapor convergence and uplift, at the same time, the forced uplift of the southerly rapids along the windward slopes of the Qinling and Daba mountains enhanced the precipitation finally. The standardized anomaly (SD) diagnosis showed that the anomalously strong southerly water vapor transport at 700 hPa and 850 hPa which were over 3σ and the anomalously strong easterly water vapor transport at 850 hPa which was over 3σ caused the anomalously strong water vapor content in the whole layer in Shaanxi, at the same time, the mid-level convergence combined with the vertical circulation caused by the frontal generation made the upward movement of southeastern Shaanxi relatively stronger than the climate state anomaly 3σ, which caused the extreme rainstorm process in Shaanxi in April.

Traumatic nerve defects result in dysfunctions of sensory and motor nerves and are usually accompanied by pain. Nerve guidance conduits (NGCs) are widely applied to bridge large-gap nerve defects. However, few NGCs can truly replace autologous nerve grafts to achieve comprehensive neural regeneration and function recovery. Herein, a three-dimensional (3D) sponge-filled nanofibrous NGC (sf@NGC) resembling the structure of native peripheral nerves was developed. The conduit was fabricated by electrospinning a poly(L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) membrane, whereas the intraluminal filler was obtained by freeze-drying a collagen-based matrix (ColM) resembling the extracellular matrix. The effects of the electrospinning process and of the composition of ColM on the physicochemical performance of sf@NGC were investigated in detail. Furthermore, the biocompatibility of the PLGA sheath and ColM were evaluated. The continuous and homogeneous PLGA nanofiber membrane had high porosity and tensile strength. ColM was shown to exhibit an ECM-like architecture characterized by a multistage pore structure and a high porosity level of over 70%. The PLGA sheath and ColM were shown to possess stagewise degradability and good biocompatibility. In conclusion, sf@NGC may have a favorable potential for the treatment of nerve reconstruction.

Over the past decade, deep learning techniques have significantly advanced the field of building change detection in remote sensing imagery. However, existing deep learning-based approaches often encounter limitations in complex remote sensing scenarios, resulting in false detections and detail loss. This paper introduces EFP-Net, a novel building change detection approach that resolves the mentioned issues by utilizing effective feature fusion and foreground perception. EFP-Net comprises three main modules, the feature extraction module (FEM), the spatial–temporal correlation module (STCM), and the residual guidance module (RGM), which jointly enhance the fusion of bi-temporal features and hierarchical features. Specifically, the STCM utilizes the temporal change duality prior and multi-scale perception to augment the 3D convolution modeling capability for bi-temporal feature variations. Additionally, the RGM employs the higher-layer prediction map to guide shallow layer features, reducing the introduction of noise during the hierarchical feature fusion process. Furthermore, a dynamic Focal loss with foreground awareness is developed to mitigate the class imbalance problem. Extensive experiments on the widely adopted WHU-BCD, LEVIR-CD, and CDD datasets demonstrate that the proposed EFP-Net is capable of significantly improving accuracy in building change detection.

Considering the needs of current deep mineral exploration and development, the tunnel gravity exploration method is advantageous, as it is unaffected by electromagnetic interference, is hardly affected by terrain, has a high detection accuracy, and overcomes the multi-solution problem of geophysical anomalies. Herein, to systematically explain the distribution law and principle of the tunnel gravity method in spatial position prediction, a systematic study was performed on upright orebodies, and 18 types of positive and negative combination rules of spatial distribution anomalies are proposed. The method is used for the detection of concealed ore in the deep part of the Huangshaping skarn-type deposit in southern Hunan, China, and accurate results are obtained. The results indicate that tunnel gravity exploration solves the problem of orebodies located in the deep parts of a high-density vertical orebody when a single tunnel or multiple tunnels are detected. This study not only extends the theory and method of tunnel gravity exploration but also provides an important basis for the layout of deep exploration projects.

Hydrogen is one of the most attractive renewables for future energy application, therefore it is vital to develop cost-effective and highly-efficient electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) to promote the generation of hydrogen from mild methods. In this work, Co–Mo phosphide nanosheets with the adjustable ratio of Co and Mo were fabricated on carbon cloth by a facile hydrothermal-annealing method. Owing to the unique nanostructures, abundant active surfaces and small resistance were achieved. Excellent electrocatalytic performances are obtained, such as the small overpotential of ∼67.3 mV to realize a current density of 10 mA cm−2 and a Tafel slope of 69.9 mV dec−1. Rapid recovery of the current response under multistep chronoamperometry is realized and excellent stability retained after the CV test for 2000 cycles. The change of electronic states of different elements was carefully studied which suggested the optimal electrochemical performance can be realized by tuning phosphorous and metal interactions.

A full-space tunnel gravity prediction method for evaluating the deep extension of high-density vertical orebodies has been developed based on the significant density differences between surrounding rocks and their characteristics as large-scale orebodies. This method uses the residual gravity anomaly parameters in the tunnel to determine whether the orebody is upright based on the symmetry of the anomaly. Moreover, it identifies the deep extensional characteristics of high-density upright orebodies based on the positive and negative anomalies. This method has characteristics such as strong anti-interference ability, slight influence from the terrain, and high detection accuracy. It has produced promising outcomes in the detection of deep, concealed orebodies in the Huangshaping skarn-type tin–tungsten polymetallic deposit located in southern Hunan. This method not only resolves the problem of rapid identification of the deep extension of single-hole high-density orebodies and provides reference basis for deep exploration but also proposes a new method for mineral resource evaluation.

Aiming at the problems of insufficient image contrast in three-dimensional reconstruction of UAV in low illumination environment and the unstable iteration times of the RANSAC algorithm in the feature matching process, real-time matching method of UAV aerial image is proposed. First, a new image enhancement algorithm is applied to the image to enhance its quality and visibility. Second, the enhanced fast algorithm in ORB extracts the feature points from the preprocessed image, and cross-matching performs rough matching. Finally, the PROSAC algorithm solves the homography matrix by selecting the highest quality interior points from the extracted feature points. To improve the matching accuracy, some exterior points that do not conform to the geometric characteristics of the image are removed based on the homography matrix and the set mismatch threshold. The results show that the improved ORB algorithm is applied to the low illumination environment of UAV aerial photography, the image matching accuracy in 3D reconstruction is improved, and the correct matching rate tends to 97.24~99.39%. The relevant research findings and conclusions provide a fast and effective method for UAV image matching in different low illumination environments.

In the noisy environment， the composite fault feature extraction is more difficult. The VMD is widely used in gearbox fault diagnosis， but it is a parametric decomposition method. If K is too large or too small， it will lead to over-decomposition or under-decomposition. The number of layers needs to be determined adaptively， a multi-point kurtosis -VMD （Variational Mode Decomposition） composite fault feature extraction method is proposed. Considering the multi-point kurtosis， the number of impact cycles of multiple faults can be extracted， the number of periodic impacts determines the number K of decomposition layers of the VMD， and after VMD processing， the fault features are further determined by FFT. The proposed adaptive composite fault feature extraction method and Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition （EEMD）comparison analysis verify that it can overcome the characteristics of modal aliasing. The effectiveness of this method is further determined by the measured signal processing. The composite fault characteristics such as gear spalling and bearing balls are finally determined.

It remains a challenge to develop efficient electrocatalysts in neutral media for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) due to the sluggish kinetics and switch of the rate determining step. Although metal phosphides are widely used HER catalysts, their structural stability is an issue due to oxidization, and the HER performance in neutral media requires improvement. Herein, a new material, i.e., grapevine‐shaped N‐doped iron phosphide on carbon nanotubes, as an efficient HER catalyst in neutral media is developed. The optimized catalyst shows an overpotential of 256 mV at a large current density of 65 mA cm−2, which is even 10 mV lower than that of the commercial 20% Pt/C catalyst. The excellent performance of the catalyst is further studied by combined computational and experimental techniques, which proves that the interaction between nitrogen and iron phosphides can provide more efficient active structures and stabilize the metal phosphide electrocatalysts for HER.

Application of SiO2 aerogel in thermal protective clothing has been limited due to its brittle nature, ordinary mechanical properties, and poor film forming performance. This work is aimed to develop thermal protective cotton fabrics by coating blended OPU/SiO2 aerogel with enhanced mechanical properties and thermal protection performance. The OPU/SiO2 aerogel composites with different ratio were applied onto cotton fabrics by knife-coating. The morphology, chemical component, crystalline structure, thermal stability and compression strength were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transfer Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TG) and compression test, respectively. Besides, the warmth retention performance and heat protection performance together with air and moisture permeability of the coated fabrics were studied. The results showed that OPU/SiO2 aerogel were successfully coated onto cotton fabrics with enhanced mechanical properties and thermal stability together with better film forming capacity. The heat transfer coefficient of the coated cotton fabrics was distinctly dropped due to the synergistic effect of OPU and SiO2 aerogel, which resulted in higher warmth retention. The OPU/SiO2 aerogel coated fabrics exhibited obvious heat insulation performance with its surface temperate almost 4°C than the uncoated fabrics. This work demonstrates a new strategy of fabricating stronger thermal insulating textiles using OPU/SiO2 aerogel composites.

Although the combination of immune checkpoint blockades with high dose of radiation has indicated the potential of co-stimulatory effects, consistent clinical outcome has been yet to be demonstrated. Bulky tumors present challenges for radiation treatment to achieve high rate of tumor control due to large tumor sizes and normal tissue toxicities. As an alternative, spatially fractionated radiotherapy (SFRT) technique has been applied, in the forms of GRID or LATTICE radiation therapy (LRT), to safely treat bulky tumors. When used alone in a single or a few fractions, GRID or LRT can be best classified as palliative or tumor de-bulking treatments. Since only a small fraction of the tumor volume receive high dose in a SFRT treatment, even with the anticipated bystander effects, total tumor eradications are rare. Backed by the evidence of immune activation of high dose radiation, it is logical to postulate that the combination of High-Dose LATTICE radiation therapy (HDLRT) with immune checkpoint blockade would be effective and could subsequently lead to improved local tumor control without added toxicities, through augmenting the effects of radiation in-situ vaccine and T-cell priming. We herein present a case of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with multiple metastases. The patient received various types of palliative radiation treatments with combined chemotherapies and immunotherapies to multiple lesions. One of the metastatic lesions measuring 63.2 cc was treated with HDLRT combined with anti-PD1 immunotherapy. The metastatic mass regressed 77.84% over one month after the treatment, and had a complete local response (CR) five months after the treatment. No treatment-related side effects were observed during the follow-up exams. None of the other lesions receiving palliative treatments achieved CR. The dramatic differential outcome of this case lends support to the aforementioned postulate and prompts for further systemic clinical studies.

Acute coagulation is one of the vexed problems in transplantation of small-diameter artificial blood vessel. Three-dimensional porous heparin-modified gelatin (Gel)@chitosan (CS) tubular scaffold were successfully acquired by using the method of freeze-drying combined with amination for application in tissue regeneration of blood vessels. Initially, homogeneous gelatin solution was initially poured into a tubular mold and underwent a procedure of vacuum freeze-drying to form a three-dimensional porous tubular skeleton. Chitosan was used to loading heparin (Hep) which is a kind of efficient anticoagulant. The Hep-loaded CS composite solution were poured into Gel tubular skeleton, following freeze-drying matched EDC-NHS crosslinking to form Gel@CS-Hep tubular scaffold exhibited a three-dimensional structure and porous morphology. Then, poly(ester-urethane)urea/gelatin (PU75) micro-nano fibers were electrospinning outside the Gel@CS-Hep tube as mechanical reinforcement layer. The Gel@CS-Hep/PU75 tube showed higher hydrophilicity, stable mechanical properties as well as no cytotoxicity on human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Importantly, the three-dimensional functional Gel@CS-Hep/PU75 tubular scaffold shows a good rapid endothelialization performance and effective anti-acute coagulation properties. Therefore, the developed Gel@CS-Hep/PU75 tube was proposed to be a potential scaffold for remodeling vascular tissue.

Abstract The hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is a critical process in the electrolysis of water. Recently, much effort has been dedicated to developing low‐cost, highly efficient, and stable electrocatalysts. Transition metal phosphides are investigated intensively due to their high electronic conductivity and optimized absorption energy of intermediates in acid electrolytes. However, the low stability of metal phosphide materials in air and during electrocatalytic processes causes a decay of performance and hinders the discovery of specific active sites. The HER in alkaline media is more intricate, which requires further delicate design due to the Volmer steps. In this work, phosphorus‐modified monoclinic β‐CoMoO4 is developed as a low‐cost, efficient, and stable HER electrocatalyst for the electrolysis of water in alkaline media. The optimized catalyst shows a small overpotential of 94 mV to reach a current density of 10 mA cm−2 for the HER with high stability in KOH electrolyte, and an overpotential of 197 mV to reach a current density of 100 mA cm−2. Combined computational and in situ spectroscopic techniques show P is present as a surface phosphate ion; that electron holes localize on the surface ions and both (PO1−) and Co3+OH− are prospective surface active sites for the HER.

In recent years, Prussian blue nanoparticles (PBNPs), also named Prussian blue nano-enzymes, have been shown to demonstrate excellent multi-enzyme simulation activity and anti-inflammatory properties, and can be used as reactive oxygen scavengers. Their good biocompatibility and biodegradability mean that they are ideal candidates for in vivo use. PBNPs are highly efficient electron transporters with oxidation and reduction activities. PBNPs also show considerable promise as nano-drug carriers and biological detection sensors owing to their huge specific surface area, good chemical characteristics, and changeable qualities, which might considerably increase the therapeutic impact. More crucially, PBNPs, as therapeutic and diagnostic agents, have made significant advances in biological nanomedicine. This review begins with a brief description of the synthesis methods of PBNPs, then focuses on the applications of PBNPs in tissue regeneration and inflammation according to the different properties of PBNPs. This article will provide a timely reference for further study of PBNPs as therapeutic agents.

Abstract Background Primary dysmenorrhea (PD), is one of main gynecological complaints in women of child-bearing age. Common medications for PD do not always achieve satisfactory outcome of pain relief. Hence, both health professionals and patients are seeking help from complementary and alternative medicine. The acupoint herbal plaster (AHP), which appears to be a safe and effective way to alleviate menstrual pain, as well as to improve other PD-related symptoms. Despite similar clinical studies for this condition in the past, no high-quality methodology-based clinical trial has been reported to date. The current study aims to assess the efficacy of the AHP compared with the acupoint placebo plaster (APP) and being placed on a waiting-list control group in patients with primary dysmenorrhea. Methods/design This study is a randomized, single-center, placebo-controlled clinical trial. A total of 180 women with PD will be included and randomly allocated to the AHP, APP and waiting-list (WL) groups in a 1:1:1 ratio. Patients in the AHP group will be provided with herbal plasters (Shaofuzhuyu decoction) on various acupoints: Shenque (CV8), Guanyuan (CV4), Qihai (CV5), Ciliao (BL32) and Zigong (EX-CA1). Women in the APP group will receive placebo plasters on the same acupoints, and no intervention will be given to the WL group until completion of the study. The primary outcome will be pain intensity reduction measured by a Visual Analog Scale (VAS), with other outcome measurements including the Cox Menstrual Symptom Scale (CMSS), the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) and the Participant Global Impression of Change (PGIC). All assessments will be performed at baseline, each menstrual cycle during the treatment course and the follow-up course. Any adverse events will be recorded throughout the study. Discussion This is the first study to compare the changes in menstrual pain after three different interventions: the active intervention (AHP), the placebo intervention (APP), and a period of no intervention (WL). This three-arm randomized controlled trial (RCT) aims to investigate the relative contributions of the specific (AHP vs. APP) and non-specific (APP vs. WL) effects to the overall clinical effects of the active AHP on women with PDM. The scientific and rigorous methodology design of this trial should gather good evidence to assess the curative effects and safety of the AHP on PD. Moreover, the results of this study may provide evidence-based references for the treatment of menstrual pain in future. Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ID: ChiCTR-TRC-16008701. Registered on 22 July 2016.

Binary metal oxides composed of molybdenum–vanadium oxides are promising candidates for supercapacitors. Here, we report the synthesis of one-dimensional V0.13Mo0.87O2.935 nanowires through a facile one-step hydrothermal method. This nanowire presented a high specific capacitance of 394.6 F g−1 (1 mV s−1) as an electrode applied to the supercapacitor. Importantly, this electrode showed a perfect rate capability of 91.5% (2 to 10 A g−1) and a continuous verified outstanding cyclic voltammetry of 97.6% after 10,000 cycles. These superior electrochemical properties make the synthesized V0.13Mo0.87O2.935 nanowires a prospective candidate for high-performance supercapacitors.

Optically active polymers are promising multifunctional materials with great application potentials. Herein, environmentally friendly optically active polyurethanes (OPUs) were obtained by introducing rotatory binaphthol monomer to polyurethane. The influence of binaphthol monomer content on the structure, mechanical properties, infrared emissivity, and thermal insulation of OPUs was studied intensively. Structure characterization indicated that the optically active polyurethanes have been successfully synthesized. The OPU synthesized with BIMOL and BDO at the mole ratio of 1:1 presented better thermal resistance. In addition, OPUs showed enhanced tensile strength and stretchability with the increase of BINOL content to a certain extent due to its rigid structural features and high molecular weight. The optically active polyurethanes showed lower infrared emissivity values (8–14 μm) than waterborne polyurethane (WPU), and the infrared emissivity decreased from 0.850 to 0.572 as the content of the BINOL monomer increased. Moreover, OPU4 exhibited the best heat insulation and cooling ability with about a 7 °C temperature difference. The thus-synthesized optically active polyurethanes provide an effective solution for developing highly effective thermal insulation materials.

Various pathological mechanisms represent distinct therapeutic targets for cognitive disorders, but a balance between clearance and production is essential for maintaining the stability of the brain’s internal environment. Thus, the glymphatic system may represent a common pathway by which to address cognitive disorders. Using the established model of the glymphatic system as our foundation, this review disentangles and analyzes the components of its clearance mechanism, including the initial inflow of cerebrospinal fluid, the mixing of cerebrospinal fluid with interstitial fluid, and the outflow of the mixed fluid and the clearance. Each section summarizes evidence from experimental animal models and human studies, highlighting the normal physiological properties of key structures alongside their pathological manifestations in cognitive disorders. The same pathologic manifestations of different cognitive disorders appearing in the glymphatic system and the same upstream influences are main points of interest of this review. We conclude this article by discussing new findings and outlining the limitations identified in current research progress.

Abstract Large-area ultrafine MnO2 nanowire arrays (NWA) directly grew on a carbon fiber (CF, used as a substrate) by a simple electrochemical method, forming three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical heterostructures of a CF@MnO2 NWA composite. As an electrode for supercapacitors, the CF@MnO2 NWA composite exhibits excellent electrochemical performances including high specific capacitance (321.3 F g−1 at 1000 mA g−1) and good rate capability. Further, the overall capacitance retention is ~99.7 % capacitance after 3000 cycles. These outstanding electrochemical performances attribute to a large number of transport channels for the penetration of electrolyte and the transportation of ions and electrons of electrodes. The as-prepared CF@MnO2 NWA composite may be a promising electrode material for high-performance supercapacitors.

Objective Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is common after surgery in elderly patients and is associated with high morbidity. The molecular mechanisms responsible for POCD are unknown. Minocycline, an inhibitor of microglial activation, may be useful in treating and preventing POCD. We explored whether minocycline can inhibit microglial activation and prevent POCD in aged rats as a surgery model. Methods Rats aged 18 to 20 months were randomly allocated to the following groups: naïve, abdominal surgery alone, or minocycline injection before abdominal surgery. Hippocampal cytokine mRNA levels were measured at 3 hours, 1 day, 3 days, and 7 days after surgery, and microglial activation was measured at 3 hours and 7 days after surgery. Memory was assessed using the Morris water maze test. Results Surgery resulted in severe cognitive impairment in aged rats and induced a significant neuroinflammatory response and microglial activation. The use of minocycline can prevent microglial activation after surgery, but delayed microglial activation may occur. The use of minocycline may further impair memory after surgery. Conclusion Minocycline can restrain microglial activation and restrict the inflammatory response in the hippocampus early after surgery, but it may induce delayed microglial activation and cannot prevent POCD in aged rats.

The harmful nature of high concentrations of antibiotics to humans and animals requires the urgent development of novel materials and techniques for their absorption. In this work, CTAB (Cetyltrimethyl Ammonium Bromide)-assisted synthesis of ZIF-8 (zeolitic imidazolate framework)-derived hollow carbon (ZHC) was designed, prepared, and used as a high-performance adsorbent, and further evaluated by Langmuir and Freundlich isothermal adsorption experiments, dynamic analysis, as well as theoretical calculation. The maximum capacities of ZHC for adsorbing tetracycline (TC), norfloxacin (NFO), and levofloxacin (OFO) are 267.3, 125.6, and 227.8 mg g-1, respectively, which delivers superior adsorptive performance when compared to widely studied inorganic adsorbates. The design concept of ZIF-8-derived hollow carbon material provides guidance and insights for the efficient adsorbent of environmental antibiotics.