Long-term reliable wireless H2 gas sensor via repeatable thermal refreshing of palladium nanowire.

The increasing significance of hydrogen (H2) gas as a clean energy source has prompted the development of high-performance H2 gas sensors. Palladium (Pd)-based sensors, with their advantages of selectivity, scalability, and cost-effectiveness, have shown promise in this regard. However, the long-term stability and reliability of Pd-based sensors remain a challenge. This study not only identifies the exact cause for performance degradation in palladium (Pd) nanowire H2 sensors, but also implements and optimizes a cost-effective recovery method. The results from density functional theory (DFT) calculations and material analysis confirm the presence of C = O bonds, indicating performance degradation due to carbon dioxide (CO2) accumulation on the Pd surface. Based on the molecular behavior calculation in high temperatures, we optimized the thermal treatment method of 200 °C for 10 minutes to remove the C = O contaminants, resulting in nearly 100% recovery of the sensor's initial performance even after 2 months of contamination.

Effect of Non-Meat Proteins on Storage Characteristics and Amino Acid Composition of Pork Emulsified Sausages.

This study was conducted to confirm the following effects of non-meat binders (NMB) on proximate composition, pH, cooking yield, amino acids, volatile basic nitrogen (VBN), thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS), and correlation of pork emulsified sausages during refrigerated storage. The following groups of sausage samples were manufactured: Control (non-addition), BBP (1% bovine blood plasma); PBP (1% porcine blood plasma), EWP (1% white egg powder), CPPP (1% commercial porcine plasma powder), ISP (1% isolated soy protein), SP (1% seaweed powder), and SC (1% sodium caseinate). When NMB was added, ISP, SP, and SC showed higher heating yields while PBP showed lower heating yields than the control. As a result of amino acid analysis, PBP, CPPP, and SC showed significantly higher serine content than the control. EWP and SC showed significantly lower TBARS values than the control group, and VBN did not exceed 20 mg% in any treatments until the 5th week. These results demonstrate that SC is a NMB that can lower TBARS value while improving heating yield and serine content.

Revealing Bipolar Photoresponse in Multiheterostructured WTe2-GaTe/ReSe2-WTe2 P-N Diode by Hybrid 2D Contact Engineering.

The van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures based on two-dimensional (2D) semiconducting materials have been thoroughly investigated with regard to practical applications. Recent studies on 2D materials have reignited attraction in the p-n junction, with promising potential for applications in both electronics and optoelectronics. 2D materials provide exceptional band structural diversity in p-n junction devices, which is rare in regular bulk semiconductors. In this article, we demonstrate a p-n diode based on multiheterostructure configuration, WTe2-GaTe-ReSe2-WTe2, where WTe2 acts as heterocontact with GaTe/ReSe2 junction. Our devices with heterocontacts of WTe2 showed excellent performance in electronic and optoelectronic characteristics as compared to contacts with basic metal electrodes. However, the highest rectification ratio was achieved up to ∼2.09 × 106 with the lowest ideality factor of ∼1.23. Moreover, the maximum change in photocurrent (Iph) is measured around 312 nA at Vds = 0.5 V. The device showed a high responsivity (R) of 4.7 × 104 m·AW-1, maximum external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 2.49 × 104 (%), and detectivity (D*) of 2.1 × 1011 Jones at wavelength λ = 220 nm. Further, we revealed the bipolar photoresponse mechanisms in WTe2-GaTe-ReSe2-WTe2 devices due to band alignment at the interface, which can be modified by applying different gate voltages. Hence, our promising results render heterocontact engineering of the GaTe-ReSe2 heterostructured diode as an excellent candidate for next-generation optoelectronic logic and neuromorphic computing.

Quintic refractive index profile-based funnel-shaped silicon antireflective structures for enhanced photodetector performance.

Antireflection, vital in optoelectronics devices such as solar cells and photodetectors, reduces light reflection and increases absorption. Antireflective structures (ARS), a primary method by which to realize this effect, control the refractive index (RI) profile based on their shape. The antireflection efficiency depends on the refractive index profile, with the quintic RI profile being recognized as ideal for superior antireflection. However, fabricating nano-sized structures with a desired shape, particularly in silicon with a quintic RI profile, has been a challenge. In this study, we introduce a funnel-shaped silicon (Si) ARS with a quintic RI profile. Its antireflective properties are demonstrated through reflectance measurements and by an application to a photodetector surface. Compared to the film Si and cone-shaped ARS types, which are common structures to achieve antireflection, the funnel-shaped ARS showed reflectance of 4.24% at 760 nm, whereas those of the film Si and cone-shaped ARS were 32.8% and 10.6%, respectively. Photodetectors with the funnel-shaped ARS showed responsivity of 0.077 A/W at 950 nm, which is 19.54 times higher than that with the film Si and 2.45 times higher than that with the cone-shaped ARS.

Fast-Response and Low-Power Self-Heating Gas Sensor Using Metal/Metal Oxide/Metal (MMOM) Structured Nanowires.

With the escalating global awareness of air quality management, the need for continuous and reliable monitoring of toxic gases by using low-power operating systems has become increasingly important. One of which, semiconductor metal oxide gas sensors have received great attention due to their high/fast response and simple working mechanism. More specifically, self-heating metal oxide gas sensors, wherein direct thermal activation in the sensing material, have been sought for their low power-consuming characteristics. However, previous works have neglected to address the temperature distribution within the sensing material, resulting in inefficient gas response and prolonged response/recovery times, particularly due to the low-temperature regions. Here, we present a unique metal/metal oxide/metal (MMOM) nanowire architecture that conductively confines heat to the sensing material, achieving high uniformity in the temperature distribution. The proposed structure enables uniform thermal activation within the sensing material, allowing the sensor to efficiently react with the toxic gas. As a result, the proposed MMOM gas sensor showed significantly enhanced gas response (from 6.7 to 20.1% at 30 ppm), response time (from 195 to 17 s at 30 ppm), and limit of detection (∼1 ppm) when compared to those of conventional single-material structures upon exposure to carbon monoxide. Furthermore, the proposed work demonstrated low power consumption (2.36 mW) and high thermal durability (1500 on/off cycles), demonstrating its potential for practical applications in reliable and low-power operating gas sensor systems. These results propose a new paradigm for power-efficient and robust self-heating metal oxide gas sensors with potential implications for other fields requiring thermal engineering.

S-LIGHT: Synthetic Dataset for the Separation of Diffuse and Specular Reflection Images.

Several studies in computer vision have examined specular removal, which is crucial for object detection and recognition. This research has traditionally been divided into two tasks: specular highlight removal, which focuses on removing specular highlights on object surfaces, and reflection removal, which deals with specular reflections occurring on glass surfaces. In reality, however, both types of specular effects often coexist, making it a fundamental challenge that has not been adequately addressed. Recognizing the necessity of integrating specular components handled in both tasks, we constructed a specular-light (S-Light) DB for training single-image-based deep learning models. Moreover, considering the absence of benchmark datasets for quantitative evaluation, the multi-scale normalized cross correlation (MS-NCC) metric, which considers the correlation between specular and diffuse components, was introduced to assess the learning outcomes.

Non-linear association between the time required to reaching temperature targets and the neurological outcome in patients undergoing targeted temperature management after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: Observational multicentre cohort study.

Purpose: We evaluated associations between outcomes and time to achieving temperature targets during targeted temperature management of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Methods: Using Comprehensive Registry of Intensive Care for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest Survival (CRITICAL) study, we enrolled all patients transported to participating hospitals from 1 July 2012 through 31 December 2017 aged ≥ 18 years with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest of cardiac aetiology and who received targeted temperature management in Osaka, Japan. Primary outcome was Cerebral Performance Category scale of 1 or 2 one month after cardiac arrest, designated as "one-month favourable neurological outcome". Non-linear multivariable logistic regression analyses assessed the primary outcome based on time to reaching temperature targets. In patients subdivided into quintiles based on time to achieving temperature targets, multivariable logistic regression calculated adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Results: We analysed 473 patients. In non-linear multivariable logistic regression analysis, p value for non-linearity was < 0.01. In the first quintile (< 26.7 minutes), second quintile (26.8-89.9 minutes), third quintile (90.0-175.1 minutes), fourth quintile (175.2-352.1 minutes), and fifth quintile (≥ 352.2 minutes), one-month favourable neurological outcome was 32.6% (31/95), 40.0% (36/90), 53.5% (53/99), 57.4% (54/94), and 37.9% (36/95), respectively. Adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals for one-month favourable neurological outcome in the first, second, third, and fifth quintiles compared with the fourth quintile were 0.38 (0.20 to 0.72), 0.43 (0.23 to 0.81), 0.77 (0.41 to 1.44), and 0.46 (0.25 to 0.87), respectively. Conclusion: Non-linear multivariable logistic regression analysis could clearly describe the association between neurological outcome in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and the time from the introduction of targeted temperature management to reaching the temperature targets.

Core-insulator embedded nanosheet field-effect transistor for suppressing device-to-device variations.

Nanosheet field-effect transistors (NSFETs) have attracted considerable attention for their potential to achieve improved performance and energy efficiency compared to traditional FinFETs. Here, we present a comprehensive investigation of core-insulator-embedded nanosheet field-effect transistors (C-NSFETs), focusing on their improved performance and device-to-device (D2D) variability compared to conventional NSFETs through three-dimensional device simulations. The C-NSFETs exhibit enhanced direct-current (DC) performance, characterized by a steeper subthreshold slope and reduced off-current, indicating better gate electrostatic controllability. Furthermore, the structural design of C-NSFETs enables to demonstrate a notable resilience against D2D variations in nanosheet thickness and doping concentration. In addition, we investigate the effects of interface traps in C-NSFETs, emphasizing the importance of thermal oxidation processes in the formation of core-insulating layers to maintain optimal device performance.

Changes in structural plasticity of hippocampal neurons in an animal model of multiple sclerosis.

Structural plasticity is critical for the functional diversity of neurons in the brain. Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is the most commonly used model for multiple sclerosis (MS), successfully mimicking its key pathological features (inflammation, demyelination, axonal loss, and gliosis) and clinical symptoms (motor and non-motor dysfunctions). Recent studies have demonstrated the importance of synaptic plasticity in EAE pathogenesis. In the present study, we investigated the features of behavioral alteration and hippocampal structural plasticity in EAE-affected mice in the early phase (11 days post-immunization, DPI) and chronic phase (28 DPI). EAE-affected mice exhibited hippocampus-related behavioral dysfunction in the open field test during both early and chronic phases. Dendritic complexity was largely affected in the cornu ammonis 1 (CA1) and CA3 apical and dentate gyrus (DG) subregions of the hippocampus during the chronic phase, while this effect was only noted in the CA1 apical subregion in the early phase. Moreover, dendritic spine density was reduced in the hippocampal CA1 and CA3 apical/basal and DG subregions in the early phase of EAE, but only reduced in the DG subregion during the chronic phase. Furthermore, mRNA levels of proinflammatory cytokines ( Il1ß, Tnfα, and Ifnγ) and glial cell markers ( Gfap and Cd68) were significantly increased, whereas the expression of activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein (ARC) was reduced during the chronic phase. Similarly, exposure to the aforementioned cytokines in primary cultures of hippocampal neurons reduced dendritic complexity and ARC expression. Primary cultures of hippocampal neurons also showed significantly reduced extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation upon treatment with proinflammatory cytokines. Collectively, these results suggest that autoimmune neuroinflammation alters structural plasticity in the hippocampus, possibly through the ERK-ARC pathway, indicating that this alteration may be associated with hippocampal dysfunctions in EAE.

Bottom Deposition Enables Stable All-Solid-State Batteries with Ultrathin Lithium Metal Anode.

Modern strides in energy storage underscore the significance of all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) predicated on solid electrolytes and lithium (Li) metal anodes in response to the demand for safer batteries. Nonetheless, ASSBs are often beleaguered by non-uniform Li deposition during cycling, leading to compromised cell performance from internal short circuits and hindered charge transfer. In this study, the concept of "bottom deposition" is introduced to stabilize metal deposition based on the lithiophilic current collector and a protective layer composed of a polymeric binder and carbon black. The bottom deposition, wherein Li plating ensues between the protective layer and the current collector, circumvents internal short circuits and facilitates uniform volumetric changes of Li. The prepared functional binder for the protective layer presents outstanding mechanical robustness and adhesive properties, which can withstand the volume expansion caused by metal growth. Furthermore, its excellent ion transfer properties promote uniform Li bottom deposition even under a current density of 6 mA·cm-2. Also, scanning electron microscopy analysis reveals a consistent plating/stripping morphology of Li after cycling. Consequently, the proposed system exhibits enhanced electrochemical performance when assessed within the ASSB framework, operating under a configuration marked by a high Li utilization rate reliant on an ultrathin Li.

Highly Localized Chemical Sampling at Subsecond Temporal Resolution Enabled with a Silicon Nanodialysis Platform at Nanoliter per Minute Flows.

Microdialysis (MD) is a versatile and powerful technique for chemical profiling of biological tissues and is widely used for quantification of neurotransmitters, neuropeptides, metabolites, biomarkers, and drugs in the central nervous system as well as in dermatology, ophthalmology, and pain research. However, MD performance is severely limited by fundamental tradeoffs between chemical sensitivity, spatial resolution, and temporal response. Here, by using wafer-scale silicon microfabrication, we develop and demonstrate a nanodialysis (ND) sampling probe that enables highly localized chemical sampling with 100 µm spatial resolution and subsecond temporal resolution at high recovery rates. These performance metrics, which are 100-1000× superior to existing MD approaches, are enabled by a 100× reduction of the microfluidic channel cross-section, a corresponding drastic 100× reduction of flow rates to exceedingly slow few nL/min flows, and integration of a nanometer-thin nanoporous membrane with high transport flux into the probe sampling area. Miniaturized ND probes may allow for the minimally invasive and highly localized sampling and chemical profiling in live biological tissues with high spatiotemporal resolution for clinical, biomedical, and pharmaceutical applications.

The Relative Contribution of Facial and Body Information to the Perception of Cuteness.

Faces and bodies both provide cues to age and cuteness, but little work has explored their interaction in cuteness perception. This study examines the interplay of facial and bodily cues in the perception of cuteness, particularly when these cues convey conflicting age information. Participants rated the cuteness of face-body composites that combined either a child or adult face with an age-congruent or incongruent body alongside manipulations of the head-to-body height ratio (HBR). The findings from two experiments indicated that child-like facial features enhanced the perceived cuteness of adult bodies, while child-like bodily features generally had negative impacts. Furthermore, the results showed that an increased head size significantly boosted the perceived cuteness for child faces more than for adult faces. Lastly, the influence of the HBR was more pronounced when the outline of a body's silhouette was the only available information compared to when detailed facial and bodily features were presented. This study suggests that body proportion information, derived from the body's outline, and facial and bodily features, derived from the interior surface, are integrated to form a unitary representation of a whole person in cuteness perception. Our findings highlight the dominance of facial features over bodily information in cuteness perception, with facial attributes serving as key references for evaluating face-body relationships and body proportions. This research offers significant insights into social cognition and character design, particularly in how people perceive entities with mixed features of different social categories, underlining the importance of congruency in perceptual elements.

Formulating Electron Beam-Induced Covalent Linkages for Stable and High-Energy-Density Silicon Microparticle Anode.

High-capacity silicon (Si) materials hold a position at the forefront of advanced lithium-ion batteries. The inherent potential offers considerable advantages for substantially increasing the energy density in batteries, capable of maximizing the benefit by changing the paradigm from nano- to micron-sized Si particles. Nevertheless, intrinsic structural instability remains a significant barrier to its practical application, especially for larger Si particles. Here, a covalently interconnected system is reported employing Si microparticles (5 µm) and a highly elastic gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) through electron beam irradiation. The integrated system mitigates the substantial volumetric expansion of pure Si, enhancing overall stability, while accelerating charge carrier kinetics due to the high ionic conductivity. Through the cost-effective but practical approach of electron beam technology, the resulting 500 mAh-pouch cell showed exceptional stability and high gravimetric/volumetric energy densities of 413 Wh kg-1, 1022 Wh L-1, highlighting the feasibility even in current battery production lines.

Comparison of radiological and functional outcomes of conservative treatment with teriparatide and denosumab in thoracolumbar osteoporotic vertebral fracture.

Teriparatide and denosumab, anti-osteoporosis medications with different mechanisms, have been widely used in the patients with osteoporotic vertebral fracture (OVF) considered as advanced osteoporosis. Teriparatide has been shown to enhance bone formation and fracture healing in OVF, but there are still no sufficient evidences discussing about the role of denosumab in newly developed OVF. In this study, we found the similar radiological deformation and functional outcomes of conservative treatment with teriparatide and denosumab in thoracolumbar (TL) OVF, and teriparatide showed a more frequent incidence of fracture union with paravertebral bone bridge formation compared to denosumab. INTRODUCTION: Teriparatide and denosumab have been widely used to treat advanced osteoporosis and prevent subsequent fractures in patients with OVCF. Unlike teriparatide, which is considered to be effective in fracture healing, there is still no clear role and evidence for the effect of denosumab in acute OVCF. This study compared the radiological and functional outcomes of conservative treatment with teriparatide and denosumab in TL-OVF. METHODS: This retrospective study enrolled 78 women with mean age of 74.69 ± 7.66 (60-92) years diagnosed as a TL-OVF with no neurological deficits. All patients were treated conservatively with teriparatide (34 of group T, once-daily 20 µg) or denosumab (44 of group D, once-6 months 60 mg) for 6 months. We evaluated the radiological deformation (kyphotic angle, segmental vertebral kyphotic angle, and compression ratio) and the incidence of fracture union with paravertebral bone bridge formation (FUPB) and functional outcomes using the visual analog scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) at 0, 3, and 6 months. RESULTS: In the radiological deformation and functional outcomes, there were no significant differences at 0, 3, and 6 months between the two groups (P > 0.05). However, the incidence of FUPB at 6 months was higher in group T (20/34, 58.8%) compared to group D (11/44, 25.0%) (P = 0.004), and teriparatide was the most statistically significant factor for achieving FUPB (OR 4.486, P = 0.012) in multivariable logistic analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Teriparatide and denosumab, despite of their different pharmacological mechanisms, showed similar radiological deformation and functional outcomes in the conservative treatment of TL-OVF. However, teriparatide showed a significantly higher incidence of fracture union with paravertebral bone bridge formation.

SETD2 loss in renal epithelial cells drives epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in a TGF-ß-independent manner.

Histone-lysine N-methyltransferase SETD2 (SETD2), the sole histone methyltransferase that catalyzes trimethylation of lysine 36 on histone H3 (H3K36me3), is often mutated in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). SETD2 mutation and/or loss of H3K36me3 is linked to metastasis and poor outcome in ccRCC patients. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a major pathway that drives invasion and metastasis in various cancer types. Here, using novel kidney epithelial cell lines isogenic for SETD2, we discovered that SETD2 inactivation drives EMT and promotes migration, invasion, and stemness in a transforming growth factor-beta-independent manner. This newly identified EMT program is triggered in part through secreted factors, including cytokines and growth factors, and through transcriptional reprogramming. RNA-seq and assay for transposase-accessible chromatin sequencing uncovered key transcription factors upregulated upon SETD2 loss, including SOX2, POU2F2 (OCT2), and PRRX1, that could individually drive EMT and stemness phenotypes in SETD2 wild-type (WT) cells. Public expression data from SETD2 WT/mutant ccRCC support the EMT transcriptional signatures derived from cell line models. In summary, our studies reveal that SETD2 is a key regulator of EMT phenotypes through cell-intrinsic and cell-extrinsic mechanisms that help explain the association between SETD2 loss and ccRCC metastasis.

Ultrathin Serpentine Insulation Layer Architecture for Ultralow Power Gas Sensor.

Toxic gases have surreptitiously influenced the health and environment of contemporary society with their odorless/colorless characteristics. As a result, a pressing need for reliable and portable gas-sensing devices has continuously increased. However, with their negligence to efficiently microstructure their bulky supportive layer on which the sensing and heating materials are located, previous semiconductor metal-oxide gas sensors have been unable to fully enhance their power efficiency, a critical factor in power-stringent portable devices. Herein, an ultrathin insulation layer with a unique serpentine architecture is proposed for the development of a power-efficient gas sensor, consuming only 2.3 mW with an operating temperature of 300 °C (≈6% of the leading commercial product). Utilizing a mechanically robust serpentine design, this work presents a fully suspended standalone device with a supportive layer thickness of only ≈50 nm. The developed gas sensor shows excellent mechanical durability, operating over 10 000 on/off cycles and ≈2 years of life expectancy under continuous operation. The gas sensor detected carbon monoxide concentrations from 30 to 1 ppm with an average response time of ≈15 s and distinguishable sensitivity to 1 ppm (ΔR/R0 = 5%). The mass-producible fabrication and heating efficiency presented here provide an exemplary platform for diverse power-efficient-related devices.

Ultrafast (∼0.6 s), Robust, and Highly Linear Hydrogen Detection up to 10% Using Fully Suspended Pure Pd Nanowire.

The high explosiveness of hydrogen gas in the air necessitates prompt detection in settings where hydrogen is used. For this reason, hydrogen sensors are required to offer rapid detection and possess superior sensing characteristics in terms of measurement range, linearity, selectivity, lifetime, and environment insensitivity according to the publicized protocol. However, previous approaches have only partially achieved the standardized requirements and have been limited in their capability to develop reliable materials for spatially accessible systems. Here, an electrical hydrogen sensor with an ultrafast response (∼0.6 s) satisfying all demands for hydrogen detection is demonstrated. Tailoring structural engineering based on the reaction kinetics of hydrogen and palladium, an optimized heating architecture that thermally activates fully suspended palladium (Pd) nanowires at a uniform temperature is designed. The developed Pd nanostructure, at a designated temperature distribution, rapidly reacts with hydrogen, enabling a hysteresis-free response from 0.1% to 10% and durable characteristics in mechanical shock and repetitive operation (>10,000 cycles). Moreover, the device selectively detects hydrogen without performance degradation in humid or carbon-based interfering gas circumstances. Finally, to verify spatial accessibility, the wireless hydrogen detection system has been demonstrated, detecting and reporting hydrogen leakage in real-time within just 1 s.

In-hospital extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation for patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: an analysis by time-dependent propensity score matching using a nationwide database in Japan.

BACKGROUND: Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) has been proposed as a rescue therapy for patients with refractory cardiac arrest. This study aimed to evaluate the association between ECPR and clinical outcomes among patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) using risk-set matching with a time-dependent propensity score. METHODS: This was a secondary analysis of the JAAM-OHCA registry data, a nationwide multicenter prospective study of patients with OHCA, from June 2014 and December 2019, that included adults (≥ 18 years) with OHCA. Initial cardiac rhythm was classified as shockable and non-shockable. Patients who received ECPR were sequentially matched with the control, within the same time (minutes) based on time-dependent propensity scores calculated from potential confounders. The odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for 30-day survival and 30-day favorable neurological outcomes were estimated for ECPR cases using a conditional logistic model. RESULTS: Of 57,754 patients in the JAAM-OHCA registry, we selected 1826 patients with an initial shockable rhythm (treated with ECPR, n = 913 and control, n = 913) and a cohort of 740 patients with an initial non-shockable rhythm (treated with ECPR, n = 370 and control, n = 370). In these matched cohorts, the odds ratio for 30-day survival in the ECPR group was 1.76 [95%CI 1.38-2.25] for shockable rhythm and 5.37 [95%CI 2.53-11.43] for non-shockable rhythm, compared to controls. For favorable neurological outcomes, the odds ratio in the ECPR group was 1.11 [95%CI 0.82-1.49] for shockable rhythm and 4.25 [95%CI 1.43-12.63] for non-shockable rhythm, compared to controls. CONCLUSION: ECPR was associated with increased 30-day survival in patients with OHCA with initial shockable and even non-shockable rhythms. Further research is warranted to investigate the reproducibility of the results and who is the best candidate for ECPR.

Immunohistochemical analysis of extracellular signal-regulated kinase expression in mature and immature bulls' testes and epididymides.

Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) has been implicated in mammalian testicular and epididymal development. This study aimed to investigate ERK expression in the immature and mature testes and epididymides of bulls. We evaluated ERK expression using immunoblot analysis and immunohistochemistry. Immunoblot analysis revealed that immature bull testes and epididymides had higher phosphorylated ERK (pERK) expression than mature bull testes and epididymides. pERK immunoreactivity was higher in immature epididymides than in immature testes. pERK was localised mostly in spermatogonia, undifferentiated sustentacular (Sertoli) cells, and interstitial (Leydig) cells in immature testes, as well as in some spermatocytes and spermatids in mature testes. In immature epididymides, the body and tail had higher pERK expression than the head, whereas pERK was broadly distributed throughout the stereocilia, basal cells, and connective tissues. pERK distribution in the head of mature epididymides was similar to that in immature epididymides, whereas few connective tissue cells were expressed in the body and tail of mature epididymides. Collectively, these results suggest that ERK is expressed in the testis and epididymis of immature and mature bulls with varying intensities, and the role of ERK in male reproductive organs may include the specific function of its development.

Printable and Free-Standing Silicon-Based Anode for Current Collector-Free Lithium-Ion Batteries.

The evolution of Li-ion rechargeable batteries has driven a demand for systems exceeding the energy density and shape diversity of conventional lithium-ion batteries. Silicon (Si)-based materials, suitable for high-energy-density applications, have been restricted in practical use due to their inherent structural instability and poor conductivities upon electrochemical cycling. Here, we propose a fully printable and free-standing anode, composed of hollow SiOx/C (H-SiOx/C) composite material and an MXene conductive binder, exhibiting high specific capacity, structural reliability, and superior ionic conductivity without any current collector. The hollow structure of H-SiOx/C accommodates volume changes during cycling, while the MXene binder forms a three-dimensional interconnected conducting structure for maintaining the structural integrity of electrodes without a current collector. Furthermore, the printability and free-standing nature of the H-SiOx/C/MXene anode are validated in both coin-type full cell and heart-shaped pouch cell configurations through a straightforward stencil printing technique. This work establishes a foundation for advanced Si-based anodes, enhancing performance and design flexibility and potentially contributing to practical printable battery systems.