Coupled Ferroelectricity and Optical Activity in Optically Active Ferroelectrics.

Ferroelectricity was initially discovered in 1921 in Rochelle salt (potassium sodium tartrate tetrahydrate), a chiral compound containing a chiral unit. However, the inherent relationship between coupled ferroelectricity and optical activity in chiral ferroelectrics derived from achiral units, as well as in polar ferroelectrics, remains insufficiently explored. In this regard, we propose a fresh concept of optically active ferroelectrics, specifically those crystallizing in seven optically active point groups (1, 2, 4, 3, 6, m, mm2). Subsequently, we elucidate the mechanism of coupled ferroelectricity and optical activity, emphasizing the cooperative interplay of chirality and polarity flipping under the influence of an electric field. Finally, we expound on the applications of this principle for the in situ generation of chiral enantiomers and polar isomers, thereby providing valuable insights into the chiral/polar research community and advancing our comprehension of ferroelectricity.

Successful treatment of severe primary mitral regurgitation due to rheumatic aetiology using a novel-designed transcatheter edge-to-edge repair system.

The transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair (TEER) has been recommended as a reliable treatment option for selected patients with severe degenerative and functional mitral regurgitation (MR). Although MR patients with rheumatic etiology were excluded from two significant trials (EVEREST II and COAPT) that established a role for the TEER in degenerative and functional MR. However, it has been reported that the TEER procedure could be safely and effectively performed in carefully selected rheumatic MR patients. Therefore, we share a case report of successfully treating severe rheumatic MR using a novel-designed TEER system (JensClipTM).

Identification of host proteins interacting with the E protein of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus.

Introduction: Porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) is an acute, highly contagious, and high-mortality enterophilic infectious disease caused by the porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV). PEDV is globally endemic and causes substantial economic losses in the swine industry. The PEDV E protein is the smallest structural protein with high expression levels that interacts with the M protein and participates in virus assembly. However, how the host proteins interact with E proteins in PEDV replication remains unknown. Methods: We identified host proteins that interact with the PEDV E protein using a combination of PEDV E protein-labeled antibody co-immunoprecipitation and tandem liquid-chromatography mass-spectroscopy (LC-MS/MS). Results: Bioinformatical analysis showed that in eukaryotes, ribosome biogenesis, RNA transport, and amino acid biosynthesis represent the three main pathways that are associated with the E protein. The interaction between the E protein and isocitrate dehydrogenase [NAD] ß-subunit (NAD-IDH-ß), DNA-directed RNA polymerase II subunit RPB9, and mRNA-associated protein MRNP 41 was validated using co-immunoprecipitation and confocal assays. NAD-IDH-ß overexpression significantly inhibited viral replication. Discussion: The antiviral effect of NAD-IDH-ß suggesting that the E protein may regulate host metabolism by interacting with NAD-IDH-ß, thereby reducing the available energy for viral replication. Elucidating the interaction between the PEDV E protein and host proteins may clarify its role in viral replication. These results provide a theoretical basis for the study of PEDV infection mechanism and antiviral targets.

Speeding up the classical simulation of Gaussian boson sampling with limited connectivity.

Gaussian boson sampling (GBS) plays a crucially important role in demonstrating quantum advantage. As a major imperfection, the limited connectivity of the linear optical network weakens the quantum advantage result in recent experiments. In this work, we introduce an enhanced classical algorithm for simulating GBS processes with limited connectivity. It computes the loop Hafnian of an n × n symmetric matrix with bandwidth w in O ( n w 2 w ) time. It is better than the previous fastest algorithm which runs in O ( n w 2 2 w ) time. This classical algorithm is helpful on clarifying how limited connectivity affects the computational complexity of GBS and tightening the boundary for achieving quantum advantage in the GBS problem.

Clinical manifestation, lifestyle, and treatment patterns of chronic erosive gastritis: A multicenter real-world study in China.

BACKGROUND: Although chronic erosive gastritis (CEG) is common, its clinical characteristics have not been fully elucidated. The lack of consensus regarding its treatment has resulted in varied treatment regimens. AIM: To explore the clinical characteristics, treatment patterns, and short-term outcomes in CEG patients in China. METHODS: We recruited patients with chronic non-atrophic or mild-to-moderate atrophic gastritis with erosion based on endoscopy and pathology. Patients and treating physicians completed a questionnaire regarding history, endoscopic findings, and treatment plans as well as a follow-up questionnaire to investigate changes in symptoms after 4 wk of treatment. RESULTS: Three thousand five hundred sixty-three patients from 42 centers across 24 cities in China were included. Epigastric pain (68.0%), abdominal distension (62.6%), and postprandial fullness (47.5%) were the most common presenting symptoms. Gastritis was classified as chronic non-atrophic in 69.9% of patients. Among those with erosive lesions, 72.1% of patients had lesions in the antrum, 51.0% had multiple lesions, and 67.3% had superficial flat lesions. In patients with epigastric pain, the combination of a mucosal protective agent (MPA) and proton pump inhibitor was more effective. For those with postprandial fullness, acid regurgitation, early satiety, or nausea, a MPA appeared more promising. CONCLUSION: CEG is a multifactorial disease which is common in Asian patients and has non-specific symptoms. Gastroscopy may play a major role in its detection and diagnosis. Treatment should be individualized based on symptom profile.

Construction of Nickel Single Atoms by Using the Inherent Confined Space in Template-Occupied Mesoporous Silica.

Due to their maximum atomic use of metal sites, single-atom catalysts (SACs) exhibit excellent catalytic activity in a variety of reactions. Although many techniques have been reported for the production of SACs, the construction of single atoms through a convenient strategy is still challenging. Here, we provide a facile method to prepare nickel SACs by utilizing the inherent confined space between the template and silica walls in template-occupied mesoporous silica KIT-6 (TOK). After the introduction of nickel-containing precursors into the inherent confined space of the TOK by solid-phase grinding, Ni SACs can be produced promptly during calcination. Single Ni atoms create a covalent Ni-O-Si structure in the TOK, as indicated by density functional theory (DFT) calculations and experimental data. This synthetic approach is easy to scale up, and 10 g of sample can be effortlessly synthesized using ball milling. The resultant Ni SACs were applied to the oxygen evolution reaction and exhibited higher catalytic activity and stability than the comparative sample synthesized in the absence of confined space.

Efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant sintilimab in combination with FLOT chemotherapy in patients with HER2-negative locally advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma: an investigator-initiated, single-arm, open-label, phase II study.

BACKGROUND: The addition of immune checkpoint inhibitors to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in operable advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction (G/GEJ) cancer aroused wide interest. This study was designed to assess the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant sintilimab, a programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) inhibitor, in combination with fluorouracil, leucovorin, oxaliplatin, and docetaxel (FLOT) chemotherapy for HER2-negative locally advanced G/GEJ cancer. METHODS: Eligible patients with clinical stage cT4 and/or cN+M0 G/GEJ cancer were enroled in this phase II study. Patients received neoadjuvant sintilimab (200 mg every 3 weeks) for three cycles plus FLOT (50 mg/m 2 docetaxel, 80 mg/m 2 oxaliplatin, 200 mg/m 2 calcium levofolinate, 2600 mg/m 2 5-fluorouracil every 2 weeks) for four cycles before surgery, followed by four cycles of adjuvant FLOT with same dosages after resection. The primary endpoint was the pathological complete response (pCR) rate. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients were enroled between August 2019 and September 2021, with a median follow-up of 34.8 (95% CI, 32.8-42.9) months. Thirty-two (100%) patients received neoadjuvant therapy, and 29 underwent surgery with an R0 resection rate of 93.1%. The pCR (TRG0) was achieved in 5 (17.2%; 95% CI, 5.8-35.8%) patients, and the major pathological response was 55.2%. Twenty-three (79.3%) patients had T downstaging, 21 (72.4%) had N downstaging, and 19 (65.5%) had overall TNM downstaging. Six (20.7%) patients experienced recurrence. Patients achieving pCR showed better event-free survival (EFS), disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) than non-pCR. The estimated 3-year EFS rate, 3-year DFS rate, and 3-year OS rate were 71.4% (95% CI, 57.2-89.2%), 78.8% (95% CI, 65.1-95.5%), and 70.9% (95% CI, 54.8-91.6%), respectively. The objective response rate and disease control rate were 84.4% (95% CI, 68.3-93.1%) and 96.9% (95% CI, 84.3-99.5%), respectively. Twenty-five (86.2%) received adjuvant therapy. The main grade ≥3 treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) were lymphopenia (34.4%), neutropenia (28.1%), and leukopenia (15.6%). no patients died from TRAE. The LDH level exhibited a better predictive value to pathological responses than PD-L1 and MSI status. CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrated an encouraging efficacy and manageable safety profile of neoadjuvant sintilimab plus FLOT in HER2-negative locally advanced G/GEJ cancer, which suggested a potential therapeutic option for this population.

CRB1-associated retinal degeneration is dependent on bacterial translocation from the gut.

The Crumbs homolog 1 (CRB1) gene is associated with retinal degeneration, most commonly Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) and retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Here, we demonstrate that murine retinas bearing the Rd8 mutation of Crb1 are characterized by the presence of intralesional bacteria. While normal CRB1 expression was enriched in the apical junctional complexes of retinal pigment epithelium and colonic enterocytes, Crb1 mutations dampened its expression at both sites. Consequent impairment of the outer blood retinal barrier and colonic intestinal epithelial barrier in Rd8 mice led to the translocation of intestinal bacteria from the lower gastrointestinal (GI) tract to the retina, resulting in secondary retinal degeneration. Either the depletion of bacteria systemically or the reintroduction of normal Crb1 expression colonically rescued Rd8-mutation-associated retinal degeneration without reversing the retinal barrier breach. Our data elucidate the pathogenesis of Crb1-mutation-associated retinal degenerations and suggest that antimicrobial agents have the potential to treat this devastating blinding disease.

Room-Temperature Anisotropic Actuation Driven by a Synergistic Order-Disorder and Displacive Phase Transition in a Ferroelectric Crystal.

Actuating materials convert different forms of energy into mechanical responses. To satisfy various application scenarios, they are desired to have rich categories, novel functionalities, clear structure-property relationships, fast responses, and, in particular, giant and reversible shape changes. Herein, we report a phase transition-driven ferroelectric crystal, (rac-3-HOPD)PbI3 (3-HOPD = 3-hydroxypiperidine cation), showing intriguingly large and anisotropic room-temperature actuating behaviors. The crystal consists of rigid one-dimensional [PbI3] anionic chains running along the a-axis and discrete disk-like cations loosely wrapping around the chains, leaving room for anisotropic shape changes in both the b- and c-axes. The shape change is switched by a ferroelectric phase transition occurring at around room temperature (294 K), driven by the exceptionally synergistic order-disorder and displacive phase transition. The rotation of the cations exerts internal pressure on the stacking structure to trigger an exceptionally large displacement of the inorganic chains, corresponding to a crystal lattice transformation with length changes of +24.6% and -17.5% along the b- and c-axis, respectively. Single crystal-based prototype devices of circuit switches and elevators have been fabricated by exploiting the unconventional negative temperature-dependent actuating behaviors. This work provides a new model for the development of multifunctional mechanically responsive materials.

Tuning ferroelectric phase transition temperature by enantiomer fraction.

Tuning phase transition temperature is one of the central issues in phase transition materials. Herein, we report a case study of using enantiomer fraction engineering as a promising strategy to tune the Curie temperature (TC) and related properties of ferroelectrics. A series of metal-halide perovskite ferroelectrics (S-3AMP)x(R-3AMP)1-xPbBr4 was synthesized where 3AMP is the 3-(aminomethyl)piperidine divalent cation and enantiomer fraction x varies between 0 and 1 (0 and 1 = enantiomers; 0.5 = racemate). With the change of the enantiomer fraction, the TC, second-harmonic generation intensity, degree of circular polarization of photoluminescence, and photoluminescence intensity of the materials have been tuned. Particularly, when x = 0.70 - 1, a continuously linear tuning of the TC is achieved, showing a tunable temperature range of about 73 K. This strategy provides an effective means and insights for regulating the phase transition temperature and chiroptical properties of functional materials.

The Potential Application of Aloe Barbadensis Mill. as Chinese Medicine for Constipation: Mini-Review.

Aloe barbadensis Mill. has a long history of medicinal use in the annals of traditional Chinese medicine, wherein it has garnered considerable renown. Its multifaceted therapeutic properties, characterized by its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial attributes, alongside its established efficacy as a laxative agent, have been extensively documented. This review commences with an exploration of the nomenclature, fundamental characteristics, and principal constituents of Aloe barbadensis Mill. responsible for its laxative effects. Subsequently, we delve into an extensive examination of the molecular mechanisms underlying Aloe barbadensis Mill.'s laxative properties, types of constipation treatments, commercially available preparations, considerations pertaining to toxicity, and its clinical applications. This review aims to serve as a comprehensive reference point for healthcare professionals and researchers, fostering an enhanced understanding of the optimal utilization of Aloe barbadensis Mill. in the treatment of constipation.

Chicken Interferon-Alpha and -Lambda Exhibit Antiviral Effects against Fowl Adenovirus Serotype 4 in Leghorn Male Hepatocellular Cells.

Hydropericardium hepatitis syndrome (HHS) is primarily caused by fowl adenovirus serotype 4 (FAdV-4), causing high mortality in chickens. Although vaccination strategies against FAdV-4 have been adopted, HHS still occurs sporadically. Furthermore, no effective drugs are available for controlling FAdV-4 infection. However, type I and III interferon (IFN) are crucial therapeutic agents against viral infection. The following experiments were conducted to investigate the inhibitory effect of chicken IFN against FadV-4. We expressed recombinant chicken type I IFN-α (ChIFN-α) and type III IFN-λ (ChIFN-λ) in Escherichia coli and systemically investigated their antiviral activity against FAdV-4 infection in Leghorn male hepatocellular (LMH) cells. ChIFN-α and ChIFN-λ dose dependently inhibited FAdV-4 replication in LMH cells. Compared with ChIFN-λ, ChIFN-α more significantly inhibited viral genome transcription but less significantly suppressed FAdV-4 release. ChIFN-α- and ChIFN-λ-induced IFN-stimulated gene (ISG) expression, such as PKR, ZAP, IRF7, MX1, Viperin, IFIT5, OASL, and IFI6, in LMH cells; however, ChIFN-α induced a stronger expression level than ChIFN-λ. Thus, our data revealed that ChIFN-α and ChIFN-λ might trigger different ISG expression levels, inhibiting FAdV-4 replication via different steps of the FAdV-4 lifecycle, which furthers the potential applications of IFN antiviral drugs in chickens.

Direct interaction of platelet with tumor cell aggravates hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis by activating TLR4/ADAM10/CX3CL1 axis.

Metastasis is the main culprit of cancer-related death and account for the poor prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma. Although platelets have been shown to accelerate tumor cell metastasis, the exact mechanism remained to be fully understood. Here, we found that high blood platelet counts and increased tumor tissue ADAM10 expression indicated the poor prognosis of HCC patients. Meanwhile, blood platelet count has positive correlation with tumor tissue ADAM10 expression. In vitro, we revealed that platelet increased ADAM10 expression in tumor cell through TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway. ADAM10 catalyzed the shedding of CX3CL1 which bound to CX3CR1 receptor, followed by inducing epithelial to mesenchymal transition and activating RhoA signaling in cancer cells. Moreover, knockdown HCC cell TLR4 (Tlr4) or inhibition of ADAM10 prevented platelet-increased tumor cell migration, invasion and endothelial permeability. In vivo, we further verified in mice lung metastatic model that platelet accelerated tumor metastasis via cancer cell TLR4/ADAM10/CX3CL1 axis. Overall, our study provides new insights into the underlying mechanism of platelet-induced HCC metastasis. Therefore, targeting the TLR4/ADAM10/CX3CL1 axis in cancer cells hold promise for the inhibition of platelet-promoted lung metastasis of HCC.

Pressure-cycling induced transition behaviors of MnBi2Te4.

MnBi2Te4 can generate a variety of exotic topological quantum states, which are closely related to its special structure. We conduct comprehensive multiple-cycle high-pressure research on MnBi2Te4 by using a diamond anvil cell to study its phase transition behaviors under high pressure. As observed, when the pressure does not exceed 15 GPa, the material undergoes an irreversible metal-semiconductor-metal transition, whereas when the pressure exceeds 17 GPa, the layered structure is damaged and becomes irreversibly amorphous due to the lattice distortion caused by compression, but it is not completely amorphous, which presents some nano-sized grains after decompression. Our investigation vividly reveals the phase transition behaviors of MnBi2Te4 under high pressure cycling and paves the experimental way to find topological phases under high pressure.

Stable Mg Single-Atom Solid Base Catalysts Anchored on Metal-Organic Framework-Derived Nitrogen-Doped Carbon.

Solid base catalysts are widely used in the chemical industry owing to their advantages of environmental friendliness and easy separation. However, their application is limited by basic site aggregation and poor stability. In this study, we report the preparation of magnesium (Mg) single-atom catalysts with high activity and stability by a sublimation-trapping strategy. The Mg net was sublimated as Mg vapor at 620 °C, subsequently transported through argon, and finally trapped on the defects of nitrogen-doped carbon derived from metal-organic framework ZIF-8, producing Mg1/NC. Because of the atomically dispersed Mg sites, the obtained Mg1/NC exhibits high catalytic activity and stability for Knoevenagel condensation of benzaldehyde with malononitrile, which is a typical base-catalyzed reaction. The Mg1/NC catalyst achieves a high efficiency with a turnover frequency of 49.6 h-1, which is much better than that of the traditional counterpart MgO/NC (7.7 h-1). In particular, the activity of Mg1/NC shows no decrease after five catalytic cycles, while that of MgO/NC declines due to the instability of basic sites.

Glycyrrhizin Protects Submandibular Gland Against Radiation Damage by Enhancing Antioxidant Defense and Preserving Mitochondrial Homeostasis.

Aims: Radiotherapy inevitably causes radiation damage to the salivary glands (SGs) in patients with head and neck cancers (HNCs). Excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and imbalanced mitochondrial homeostasis are serious consequences of ionizing radiation in SGs; however, there are few mitochondria-targeting therapeutic approaches. Glycyrrhizin is the main extract of licorice root and exhibits antioxidant activity to relieve mitochondrial damage in certain oxidative stress conditions. Herein, the effects of glycyrrhizin on irradiated submandibular glands (SMGs) and the related mechanisms were investigated. Results: Glycyrrhizin reduced radiation damage in rat SMGs at both the cell and tissue levels, and promoted saliva secretion in irradiated SMGs. Glycyrrhizin significantly downregulated high-mobility group box-1 protein (HMGB1) and toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5). Moreover, glycyrrhizin significantly suppressed the increases in malondialdehyde and glutathione disulfide (GSSG) levels; elevated the activity of some critical antioxidants, including superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione (GSH); and increased the GSH/GSSG ratio in irradiated cells. Importantly, glycyrrhizin effectively enhanced thioredoxin-2 levels and scavenged mitochondrial ROS, inhibited the decline in mitochondrial membrane potential, improved adenosine triphosphate synthesis, preserved the mitochondrial ultrastructure, activated the proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1alpha (PGC-1α)/nuclear respiratory factor 1/2 (NRF1/2)/mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) signaling pathway, and inhibited mitochondria-related apoptosis in irradiated SMG cells and tissues. Innovation: Radiotherapy causes radiation sialadenitis in HNC patients. Our data suggest that glycyrrhizin could be a mitochondria-targeted antioxidant for the prevention of radiation damage in SGs. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that glycyrrhizin protects SMGs from radiation damage by downregulating HMGB1/TLR5 signaling, maintaining intracellular redox balance, eliminating mitochondrial ROS, preserving mitochondrial homeostasis, and inhibiting apoptosis.

The Coexistence of Superconductivity and Topological Order in Van der Waals InNbS2.

The research on systems with coexistence of superconductivity and nontrivial band topology has attracted widespread attention. However, the limited availability of material platforms severely hinders the research progress. Here, it reports the first experimental synthesis and measurement of high-quality single crystal van der Waals transition-metal dichalcogenide InNbS2 , revealing it as a topological nodal line semimetal with coexisting superconductivity. The temperature-dependent measurements of magnetization susceptibility and electrical transport show that InNbS2 is a type-II superconductor with a transition temperature Tc of 6 K. First-principles calculations predict multiple topological nodal ring states close to the Fermi level in the presence of spin-orbit coupling. Similar features are also observed in the as-synthesized BiNbS2 and PbNbS2 samples. This work provides new material platforms ANbS2 (A = In, Bi, and Pb) and uncovers their intriguing potential for exploring the interplay between superconductivity and band topology.

Newcastle disease virus activates the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway by targeting PHLPP2 degradation to delay cell apoptosis and promote viral replication.

Newcastle disease (ND) is a highly pathogenic, contagious, and fatal infectious disease in poultry caused by the Newcastle disease virus (NDV). The PI3K/AKT signaling pathway is a phosphorylation cascade that participates in regulating several cellular functions. Viruses reportedly regulate the course of infection through the PI3K/AKT axis. Here, we aimed to analyze the pathogenesis of NDV infection mediated by the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway activation. We found that NDV infection can phosphorylate AKT to activate the PI3K/AKT axis both in vitro and in vivo. Flow cytometry and Caspase-3 activity assay showed that NDV infection could inhibit cell apoptosis. The activation or inhibition of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway activity significantly inhibited or promoted NDV-mediated apoptosis. Furthermore, inhibition of cell apoptosis significantly promoted NDV replication. Overall, our results showed that NDV infection activates the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and inhibits cell apoptosis, thus promoting viral replication. In this context, the reduced expression of PHLPP2 protein mediated by NDV infection could be inhibited by MG132. PHLPP2 expression reversely and positively regulated NDV replication and cell apoptosis, respectively. These results indicated that NDV infection-mediated activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and the inhibition of apoptosis depend on the ubiquitin-proteasome degradation of the PHLPP2 protein. Co-IP and indirect immunofluorescence results showed that NDV V protein could interact with PHLPP2 protein, indicating that NDV targeted PHLPP2 protein degradation through V protein to activate the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. This study deepens our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of NDV infection, providing a theoretical basis for ND prevention and control.

Prevalence and Molecular Characteristics of FAdV-4 from Indigenous Chicken Breeds in Yunnan Province, Southwestern China.

Fowl adenovirus-induced hepatitis-pericardial effusion syndrome outbreaks have been increasingly reported in China since 2015, resulting in substantial economic losses to the poultry industry. The genetic diversity of indigenous chicken results in different immune traits, affecting the evolution of these viruses. Although the molecular epidemiology of fowl adenovirus serotype 4 (FAdV-4) has been well studied in commercial broiler and layer chickens, the prevalence and genetic characteristics of FAdV-4 in indigenous chickens remain largely unknown. In this study, samples were collected from six indigenous chicken breeds in Yunnan province, China. FAdV-positive samples were identified in five of the six indigenous chicken populations via PCR and 10 isolates were obtained. All FAdVs belonged to serotype FAdV-4 and species FAdV-C. The hexon, fiber, and penton gene sequence comparison analysis demonstrated that the prevalence of FAdV-4 isolates in these chickens might have originated from other provinces that exported chicks and poultry products to Yunnan province. Moreover, several distinct amino acid mutations were firstly identified in the major structural proteins. Our findings highlighted the need to decrease inter-regional movements of live poultry to protect indigenous chicken genetic resources and that the immune traits of these indigenous chickens might result in new mutations of FAdV-4 strains.