Geometric phase-encoded stimuli-responsive cholesteric liquid crystals for visualizing real-time remote monitoring: humidity sensing as a proof of concept.

Liquid crystals are a vital component of modern photonics, and recent studies have demonstrated the exceptional sensing properties of stimuli-responsive cholesteric liquid crystals. However, existing cholesteric liquid crystal-based sensors often rely on the naked eye perceptibility of structural color or the measurement of wavelength changes by spectrometric tools, which limits their practical applications. Therefore, developing a platform that produces recognizable sensing signals is critical. In this study, we present a visual sensing platform based on geometric phase encoding of stimuli-responsive cholesteric liquid crystal polymers that generates real-time visual patterns, rather than frequency changes. To demonstrate this platform's effectiveness, we used a humidity-responsive cholesteric liquid crystal polymer film encoded with a q-plate pattern, which revealed that humidity causes a shape change in the vortex beam reflected from the encoded cholesteric liquid crystal polymers. Moreover, we developed a prototype platform towards remote humidity monitoring benefiting from the high directionality and long-range transmission properties of laser beams carrying orbital angular momentum. Our approach provides a novel sensing platform for cholesteric liquid crystals-based sensors that offers promising practical applications. The ability to generate recognizable sensing signals through visual patterns offers a new level of practicality in the sensing field with stimuli-responsive cholesteric liquid crystals. This platform might have significant implications for a broad readership and will be of interest to researchers working in the field of photonics and sensing technology.

[Tiaoshen acupuncture for primary insomnia: a pilot randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of Tiaoshen (regulating the spirit) acupuncture on cognitive function and sleep quality in patients with primary insomnia (PI). METHODS: Sixty patients with PI were randomly divided into an observation group (30 cases, 2 cases dropped off) and a control group (30 cases, 2 cases dropped off, 1 case was excluded). The patients in the observation group were treated with acupuncture at Baihui (GV 20), Shenting (GV 24), Sishencong (EX-HN 1), and bilateral Benshen (GB 13), Shenmen (HT 7), Neiguan (PC 6), Sanyinjiao (SP 6). The patients in the control group were treated with shallow needling at non-effective points. Each treatment was provided for 30 min, once every other day, 3 treatments per week for 4 weeks. The Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA), digit span test (DST), trail making test (TMT)-A, Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), and fatigue scale-14 (FS-14) were used to assess cognitive function and sleep quality before and after treatment, as well as in follow-up of 4-week after treatment completion. Correlation analysis was conducted between the differences in PSQI scores and differences in MoCA scores before and after treatment in the observation group. RESULTS: Compared with before treatment, the total score, visuospatial and executive function score and delayed memory score of MoCA as well as DST backward score were increased (P<0.01), while TMT-A time, PSQI and FS-14 scores were significantly reduced (P<0.01) after treatment and in follow-up in the observation group. Compared with before treatment, the PSQI score in the control group was reduced (P<0.01, P<0.05). After treatment and in follow-up, the observation group had significantly higher total score, visuospatial and executive function score, delayed memory score of MoCA, and DST backward score compared to the control group (P<0.05, P<0.01). In the observation group, the TMT-A time was significantly shorter than that in the control group (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the PSQI and FS-14 scores were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.01). In the observation group, there was a negative correlation between the difference in PSQI scores (post-treatment minus pre-treatment) and the difference in MoCA scores (post-treatment minus pre-treatment) (r=-0.481, P<0.01). A similar negative correlation was found between the difference in PSQI scores (follow-up minus pre-treatment) and the difference in MoCA scores (follow-up minus pre-treatment) (r=-0.282, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Tiaoshen acupuncture could improve cognitive function, enhance sleep quality, and alleviate daytime fatigue in patients with PI. The improvement in cognitive function in patients with PI is correlated with the improvement in sleep quality.

Whole-brain neural connectivity to cholinergic neurons in the nucleus basalis of Meynert.

The cholinergic neurons in the nucleus basalis of Meynert (NBM) are a key structure in cognition, the dysfunction of which is associated with various neurological disorders, especially dementias. However, the whole-brain neural connectivity to cholinergic neurons in the NBM remains to be further and comprehensively researched. Using virus-based, specific, retrograde, and anterograde tracing, we illustrated the monosynaptic inputs and axon projections of NBM cholinergic neurons in choline acetyltransferase (ChAT)-Cre transgenic mice. Our results showed that NBM cholinergic neurons received mainly inputs from the caudate putamen and the posterior limb of the anterior commissure in the subcortex. Moreover, the majority of cholinergic terminals from the NBM were observed in the cortex mantle, including the motor cortex, sensory cortex, and visual cortex. Interestingly, although NBM cholinergic neurons received input projections from the caudate putamen, interstitial nucleus of the posterior limb of the anterior commissure, and central amygdaloid nucleus, NBM cholinergic neurons sparsely sent axon projection to innervate these areas. Furthermore, primary motor cortex, secondary motor cortex, and primary somatosensory cortex received abundant inputs from the NBM but sent few outputs to the NBM. Taken together, our results reveal the detailed and specific connectivity of cholinergic neurons of the NBM and provide a neuroanatomic foundation for further studies to explore the important physiological functions of NBM cholinergic neurons.

Comprehensive Analysis of the Potential Immune-Related Biomarker ATG101 that Regulates Apoptosis of Cholangiocarcinoma Cells After Photodynamic Therapy.

Autophagy related gene 101 (ATG101) plays a significant role in the occurrence and development of tumours by responding to stress. Our research aims to illustrate the correlation between the expression of ATG101 and tumor prognosis and its potential role and mechanism in tumor immunity and photodynamic therapy (PDT). First, integrated analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas and Genotype-Tissue Expression portals were used to analyse the expression of ATG101. Then, Kaplan-Meier curves was applied in cholangiocarcinoma (CHOL) and liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) datasets for survival analysis. Next, the relationship between ATG101 expression and six immune cells, the immune microenvironment and immune checkpoints was analysed. Besides, the relationship between the expression of ATG101 and methyltransferase. GSEA was used to study the function and the related transcript factors of ATG101 in CHOL and LIHC. The effect of PDT on ATG101 was verified by microarray, qPCR and western blot. Then the effect of ATG101 and its regulatory factors on apoptosis were verified by siRNA, lentivirus transfection and Chip-qPCR. Comprehensive analysis showed that ATG101 was overexpressed in different tumours. Kaplan-Meier curves found that ATG101 was associated with poor prognosis in tumours (including CHOL and LIHC). We found that ATG101 can be used as a target and prognostic marker of tumour immunotherapy for different tumours. We also found that ATG101 regulates DNA methylation. GSEA analysis showed that ATG101 may play a critical role in CHOL and LIHC. Subsequent validation tests confirmed that the up-regulated ATG101 after PDT treatment is not conducive to the occurrence of apoptosis of cholangiocarcinoma cells. The high expression of ATG101 may be induced by the early stress gene EGR2. Our study highlights the significance of ATG101 in the study of tumour immunity and photodynamic therapy from a pan-cancer perspective.

The effects of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion on post-operative CSF leak following extended endoscopic anterior skull base surgery.

There is a paucity of high quality evidence regarding the routine placement of lumbar drain (LD) in reducing post-operative (op) cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak after extended endoscopic trans-sphenoidal resection of anterior skull base lesions. In this study, we sought to compare the incidence of post-op CSF leak between patients with upfront LD insertion and those without it. This was a prospective randomized controlled trial conducted over a period of 5 years with patients undergoing extended endoscopic trans-sphenoidal surgery randomly assigned to either LD insertion at the time of surgery, or no LD placement. Thirty-eight patients with anterior skull base tumors were accrued from three tertiary hospitals of Melbourne. Post-op leak was confirmed by ß2-transferrin-positive rhinorrhea, and/or worsening pneumocephalus on brain imaging. Skull base defect size and pedicled nasoseptal flap viability were assessed on post-op CT and MRI, respectively. There was no significant difference in post-op CSF leak incidence between the two subgroups (12.50% in LD arm vs. 9.10% in no LD arm). Patients with LD insertion however, demonstrated substantially raised complication rates, longer hospital lengths of stay and lower subjective quality of life measures at 12 months compared with those without LD. In conclusion, routine placement of LD at the time of surgery for extended anterior skull base trans-nasal approach did not reduce the risk of post-op CSF leak. Discretion is warranted when using LD as an adjunct due to its associated morbidities, prolonged hospital stay and adverse effect on patients' subjective outcome measures.

Nonclassical Phosphomolybdates with Different Degrees of Reduction: Syntheses and Structural and Photo/Electrocatalytic Properties.

Four nonclassical phosphomolybdates, formulated as (H2pytty)8[{Mn(H2pytty)(H2O)3}{Sr⊂P6Mo6(V) Mo12(VI)O73}]2·16H2O (1), [{Mn(H3pytty)(H2O)3}2{Sr⊂P6Mo4(V)Mo14(VI)O73}]·18H2O (2), (H3pytp) (H2pytty)2[{Fe(H2O)4}{Sr⊂P6Mo3(V)Mo15(VI)O73}]·5H2O (3), and (H2pytty)2[{Cd(H2O)4}{Cd(H2O)3 (H3pytty)}{Sr⊂P6Mo5(V)Mo13(VI)O73}]·9H2O (4) (pytty = 3-(pyrazin-2-yl)-5-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)-1,2,4-triazolyl; pytp = 4'-(4″-pyridyl)-2,4':6',4″-terpyridine) were hydrothermally synthesized and fully characterized. The penta- and hexa-reduced basket clusters represent the highest reduced level of basket-based polyoxometalate so far. In addition, transition metal complexes as bridge units were introduced to basket system for the first time to induce rare two-dimensional inorganic-organic hybrid layer. The results indicate that reduced degrees of the basket clusters of compounds 1-4 can be tuned by altering the molar ratio of organic ligand pytty and Na2MoO4. Compounds 1-4 exhibit bifunctional electrocatalytic behaviors for oxidation of dopamine and reduction of H2O2. Electrocatalytic mechanism, chronoamperometric experiments and electrocatalytic stability are studied in detail. In addition, the compounds show highly efficient catalytic ability for the degradation of typical dyes under UV irradiation.