Boosting the Zn2+ storage capacity of MoO3 nanoribbons by modulating the electrons spin states of Mo via Ni doping.

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) have received considerable potential for their affordability and high reliability. Among potential cathodes, α-MoO3 stands out due to its layered structure aligned with the (010) plane, offering extensive ionic insertion channels for enhanced charge storage. However, its limited electrochemical activity and poor Zn2+ transport kinetics present significant challenges for its deployment in energy storage devices. To overcome these limitations, we introduce a new strategy by doping α-MoO3 with Ni (Ni-MoO3), tuning the electron spin states of Mo. Thus modification can activate the reactivity of Ni-MoO3 towards Zn2+ storage and weaken the interaction between Ni-MoO3 and intercalated Zn2+, thereby accelerating the Zn2+ transport and storage. Consequently, the electrochemical properties of Ni-MoO3 significantly surpass those of pure MoO3, demonstrating a specific capacity of 258 mAh g-1 at 1 A g-1 and outstanding rate performance (120 mAh g-1 at 10 A g-1). After 1000 cycles at 8 A g-1, it retains 76 % of the initial capacity, with an energy density of 154.4 Wh kg-1 and a power density of 11.2 kW kg-1. This work proves that the modulation of electron spin states in cathode materials via metal ion doping can effectively boost their capacity and cycling durability.

Tentacle Microelectrode Arrays Uncover Soft Boundary Neurons in Hippocampal CA1.

Hippocampal CA1 neurons show intense firing at specific spatial locations, modulated by isolated landmarks. However, the impact of real-world scene transitions on neuronal activity remains unclear. Moreover, long-term neural recording during movement challenges device stability. Conventional rigid-based electrodes cause inflammatory responses, restricting recording durations. Inspired by the jellyfish tentacles, the multi-conductive layer ultra-flexible microelectrode arrays (MEAs) are developed. The tentacle MEAs ensure stable recordings during movement, thereby enabling the discovery of soft boundary neurons. The soft boundary neurons demonstrate high-frequency firing that aligns with the boundaries of scene transitions. Furthermore, the localization ability of soft boundary neurons improves with more scene transition boundaries, and their activity decreases when these boundaries are removed. The innovation of ultra-flexible, high-biocompatible tentacle MEAs improves the understanding of neural encoding in spatial cognition. They offer the potential for long-term in vivo recording of neural information, facilitating breakthroughs in the understanding and application of brain spatial navigation mehanisms.

Primary Robotic Versus Conventional Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass in Morbidly Obese Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Robotic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RRYGB) and conventional laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) are commonly performed as primary bariatric procedures. The aim of this article was to assess the role of RRYGB in patients undergoing primary bariatric procedures. METHODS: All of the qualified studies were selected from the PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases, etc. We mainly compared the outcomes and safety between RRYGB and LRYGB. The outcomes evaluation included surgical effect and surgical safety. RESULT: In total, 35 studies containing 426,463 patients were selected. The mortalities of patients adopting these 2 bariatric procedures were similar (RRYGB: 59/28,023, 0.21%; LRYGB: 612/397,945, 0.15%). We found no significant difference between RRYGB and LRYGB in the incidence of postoperative complications (30-day: OR=1.06, P=0.18; 1-y: OR=1.06, P=0.92). The incidence of 30-day readmission after the operation was higher in RRYGB patients (OR=1.24, P=0.003). However, we found that the RRYGB group had a lower incidence of anastomotic stricture 1 year after the operation when compared with LRYGB (OR=0.35, P=0.0004). The 1-year %EBMIL of these 2 groups was similar (78.53% vs. 76.02%). There was no significant difference in length of hospital stay (LOS) (WMD=-0.03d, P=0.59), conversion rate (OR=0.84, P=0.75), or anastomotic leak (OR=1.00, P=0.99) between these 2 groups. The mean hospital charges were higher in the RRYGB group ($11234.75 vs. $9468.58). CONCLUSION: This systematic review and meta-analysis showed no significant advantage of RRYGB in surgical effect or reduction of intraoperative complications. RRYGB may reduce the incidence of some postoperative long-term complications. The mean hospital charges of RRYGB were higher.

NR4A1 transcriptionally regulates the differentiation of stem-like CD8+ T cells in the tumor microenvironment.

CD8+ T cells are rendered exhausted in tumor and chronic infection. Among heterogeneous exhausted T cells, a subpopulation of progenitor-like (Tpex) cells have been found important for long-term tumor or pathogen control and are also the main responders in immunotherapy. Using an RFP reporter mouse for the orphan nuclear receptor NR4A1, originally characterized as critical in T cell dysfunction, we discover that the reporter is highly expressed in Tpex cells in tumor and chronic infection. Enforced expression of Nr4a1 promotes Tpex cell accumulation, whereas tumor control is improved after Nr4a1 deletion, associated with increased effector function but decreased long-term maintenance of CD8+ T cells. Integrating chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis, NR4A1 is found to bind and promote the expression of Tpex-related genes, as well as suppress terminal differentiation-associated genes. This study therefore has identified a key role of NR4A1 in Tpex regulation and provides a promising target for immunotherapy.

Evaluating high-flow oxygen therapy after mechanical thrombectomy under general anesthesia in acute ischemic stroke: A retrospective single-center study.

BACKGROUND: The use of mechanical thrombectomy for acute intracranial vascular occlusion under general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation is well-established as a safe and effective method. However, the process of extubation post-surgery presents challenges for certain patients. This retrospective study assesses the safety and efficacy of combining mechanical ventilation with high-flow oxygen inhalation as an interim strategy, while also examining its impact on long-term clinical outcomes. METHODS: This research enrolled 119 patients with acute intracranial large vessel occlusion who underwent mechanical thrombectomy under general anesthesia with tracheal intubation between January 2020 and November 2023. Participants were categorized into two groups: Group 1 (n=55), which received high-flow oxygen (HFO) post-extubation, and Group 2 (n=64), which was treated with routine oxygen supplementation (RO). The study compared reintubation and tracheotomy rates between these groups to determine safety and effectiveness. Additionally, it analyzed long-term clinical outcomes by comparing NIHSS and mRS scores before treatment and at 90-day follow-up. RESULTS: The reintubation rate post-extubation was significantly lower in the HFO group (12.7 %, n=7) compared to the RO group (31.2 %, n=20, p=0.016). The incidence of tracheotomy within 7 days was also reduced in the HFO group compared to the RO group (7.3 %, n=4 vs 20.3 %, n=13, p=0.043). Moreover, a greater proportion of patients in the HFO group achieved mRS scores of 0-2 at 90 days post-stroke than those in the RO group (60 %, n=33 vs 40.6 %, n=26, p=0.035). The median NIHSS score at 90 days was more favorable in the HFO group than in the RO group (6, IQR [1-18] vs 8, IQR [1-20], p=0.005). CONCLUSION: The study suggests that high-flow oxygen therapy after mechanical thrombectomy under general anesthesia with tracheal intubation may lessen the need for reintubation and tracheotomy, potentially leading to improved long-term prognosis.

Six undescribed 23-norursane triterpenoids from the biotransformation of ilexgenin a by endophytic fungi and their vascular protective activity.

Biotransformation of ursane-type triterpenoid ilexgenin A by endophytic fungi Lasiodiplodia sp. MQD-4 and Pestalotiopsis sp. ZZ-1, isolated from Ilex pubescences and Callicarpa kwangtungensis respectively, was investigated for the first time. Six previously undescribed metabolites (1-6) with 23-norursane triterpenoids skeleton were isolated and their structures were unambiguously established by the analysis of spectroscopic data and single-crystal X-ray crystallographic experiments. Decarboxylation, oxidation, and hydroxylation reactions were observed on the triterpenoid skeleton. Especially, the decarboxylation of C-23 provided definite evidence to understand the biogenetic process of 23-norursane triterpenoids. Moreover, the qualitative analysis of the extract of I. pubescences showed metabolites 1, 3, 4, and 6 could be detected in the originated plant, indicating biotransformation by endophytic fungi is a practical strategy for the isolation of novel natural products. Finally, all isolates were evaluated for the protective activities against H2O2-induced HUVECs dysfunction in vitro. Compound 5 could improve the viability of endothelial cells and decrease the level of intracellular ROS.

Linking sequences of exposure to residential (dis)advantage, individual socioeconomic status, and health.

Life course theories suggest that the relationship between residential (dis)advantage and health is best understood by examining the ordering and duration of cumulative exposures across the life course. This study employs sequence and cluster analysis on two decades of residential histories linked to the Survey of the Health of Wisconsin to define typologies of exposure to residential (dis)advantage and use these typologies to predict self-rated fair/poor health. Exposure to residential (dis)advantage is mostly stable across the adult life course and greater disadvantage predicts fair/poor health. Longitudinal exposures to residential (dis)advantage shape health independently of and in tandem with individual-level resources.

FGF21 attenuates salt-sensitive hypertension via regulating HNF4α/ACE2 axis in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus of mice.

BACKGROUND: Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) has a protective effect against cardiovascular disease. However, the role of FGF21 in hypertension remains elusive. METHODS: Ten-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into normal-salt (NS) group, NS+FGF21 group, deoxycorticosterone acetate-salt (DOCA) group and DOCA+FGF21 group. The mice in NS group underwent uninephrectomy without receiving DOCA and 1% NaCl and the mice in DOCA group were subjected to uninephrectomy and DOCA-salt (DOCA and 1% NaCl) treatment for 6 weeks. At the same time, the mice were infused with vehicle (artificial cerebrospinal fluid, aCSF) or FGF21 (1 mg/kg) into the bilateral paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of mice. RESULTS: Here, we showed that FGF21 treatment lowered DOCA salt-induced inflammation and oxidative stress in the PVN, which reduced sympathetic nerve activity and hypertension. Mechanistically, FGF21 treatment decreased the expression of HNF4α and inhibited the binding activity of HNF4α to the promoter region of ACE2 in the PVN of DOCA salt-treated mice, which further up-regulated ACE2/Ang (1-7) signals in the PVN. In addition, ACE2 deficiency abolished the protective effect of FGF21 in DOCA salt-treated mice, suggesting that FGF21-mediated antihypertensive effect was dependent on ACE2. CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrate that FGF21 protects against salt-sensitive hypertension via regulating HNF4α/ACE2/Ang (1-7) axis in the PVN of DOCA salt-treated mice via multi-organ crosstalk between liver, brain and blood vessels.

A Narrative Review of the Published Pre-Clinical Evaluations: Multiple Effects of Arachidonic Acid, its Metabolic Enzymes and Metabolites in Epilepsy.

Arachidonic acid (AA), an important polyunsaturated fatty acid in the brain, is hydrolyzed by a direct action of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) or through the combined action of phospholipase C and diacylglycerol lipase, and released into the cytoplasm. Various derivatives of AA can be synthesized mainly through the cyclooxygenase (COX), lipoxygenase (LOX) and cytochrome P450 (P450) enzyme pathways. AA and its metabolic enzymes and metabolites play important roles in a variety of neurophysiological activities. The abnormal metabolites and their catalytic enzymes in the AA cascade are related to the pathogenesis of various central nervous system (CNS) diseases, including epilepsy. Here, we systematically reviewed literatures in PubMed about the latest randomized controlled trials, animal studies and clinical studies concerning the known features of AA, its metabolic enzymes and metabolites, and their roles in epilepsy. The exclusion criteria include non-original studies and articles not in English.

Effectiveness and safety of segmentectomy vs. wedge resection for the treatment of patients with operable non­small cell lung cancer: A meta­analysis and systematic review.

The present study compared the differences in effectiveness and safety between segmentectomy (ST) and wedge resection (WR) in patients with operable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and Web of Science databases were searched for papers published from inception until July 2023. The inclusion criteria were based on the population, intervention, comparator, outcomes and study designs. ROBINS-I was selected to assess the risk of bias and quality of evidence in the included non-randomised studies. Appropriate effect sizes were selected, and subgroup analyses, heterogeneity tests, sensitivity analyses and publication bias were applied. A total of 18 retrospective studies were included, involving 19,381 patients with operable NSCLC. The 5-year overall survival rate [hazard ratio (HR), 0.19; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.04, 0.34; P=0.014; I2=76.3%], lung cancer-specific survival rate (HR, 0.3; 95% CI, 0.21, 0.38; P<0.01; I2=13.8%) and metastasis rate [odds ratio (OR), 1.56; 95% CI, 1.03, 2.38; P=0.037] in patients with operable NSCLC treated with WR were worse than those in patients treated with ST. The incidence of postoperative complications (OR, 0.44; 95% CI, 0.23, 0.82) in the WR group was lower than in the ST treatment group. There was no difference in postoperative recurrence (OR, 2.15; 95% CI, 0.97, 4.74; P=0.058) and mortality (risk difference, 0.04; 95% CI, -0.03, 0.11; P=0.287) between groups. Based on current evidence, patients with NSCLC treated with ST surgery have better postoperative survival but more complications than those patients treated with WT, while the effect of WR and ST on the recurrence rate and distant metastasis rate remains controversial.

The Mediating Role of Self-efficacy in Acute Myocardial Infarction Patients between Post-PCI Fatigue and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Additionally, the study will analyze the correlation between self-efficacy and PTSD in patients with acute myocardial infarction who have undergone PCI. Methods: This study focused on 268 AMI patients admitted to our hospital between April 2019 and March 2022. We utilized the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Scale-Civilian Version (PCL-C) to conduct a questionnaire survey and analyzed the correlation between self-efficacy, postoperative fatigue, and PTSD using Pearson. Additionally, we established a structural equation model (SEM) using Amos 21.0 software and conducted a mediation effect test. Results: (1) The PTSD score of 268 AMI patients in this study after PCI was (36.62 ± 4.62), the fatigue score was (8.62 ± 0.82), and the fatigue score was (8.62 ± 0.82). 0.82), and the self-efficacy score was (19.34 ± 2.24); (2) Gender, educational level, and complications were the influencing factors of PTSD in AMI patients (P < .05); (3) Pearson analysis showed that PTSD after PCI in AMI patients was correlated positively with fatigue and had a negative correlation with self-efficacy; fatigue It was negatively correlated with self-efficacy (both P < .01); (4) The mediating effect of self-efficacy between fatigue and PTSD in AMI patients after PCI was established, and the mediating effect value was 29.31%. Conclusion: PTSD, fatigue, and self-efficacy after PCI in AMI patients are all at moderate levels, which need clinical attention-29.31% mediating effect between fatigue and PTSD, confirming that fatigue can affect PTSD by regulating self-efficacy.

Global expansion of tropical cyclone precipitation footprint.

Precipitation from tropical cyclones (TCs) can cause massive damage from inland floods and is becoming more intense under a warming climate. However, knowledge gaps still exist in changes of spatial patterns in heavy TC precipitation. Here we define a metric, DIST30, as the mean radial distance from centers of clustered heavy rainfall cells (> 30 mm/3 h) to TC center, representing the footprint of heavy TC precipitation. There is significant global increase in DIST30 at a rate of 0.34 km/year. Increases of DIST30 cover 59.87% of total TC impact areas, with growth especially strong in the Western North Pacific, Northern Atlantic, and Southern Pacific. The XGBoost machine learning model showed that monthly DIST30 variability is majorly controlled by TC maximum wind speed, location, sea surface temperature, vertical wind shear, and total water column vapor. TC poleward migration in the Northern Hemisphere contributes substantially to the DIST30 upward trend globally.

Efficacy of omadacycline in the treatment of Legionella pneumonia: a case report.

Legionella, one of the main pathogens that causes community-acquired pneumonia, can lead to Legionella pneumonia, a condition characterized predominantly by severe pneumonia. This disease, caused by the bacterium Legionella pneumophila, can quickly progress to critical pneumonia and is often associated with damage to multiple organs. As a result, it requires close attention in terms of clinical diagnosis and treatment. Omadacycline, a new type of tetracycline derivative belonging to the aminomethylcycline class of antibiotics, is a semi-synthetic compound derived from minocycline. Its key structural feature, the aminomethyl modification, allows omadacycline to overcome bacterial resistance and broadens its range of effectiveness against bacteria. Clinical studies have demonstrated that omadacycline is not metabolized in the body, and patients with hepatic and renal dysfunction do not need to adjust their dosage. This paper reports a case of successful treatment of Legionella pneumonia with omadacycline in a patient who initially did not respond to empirical treatment with moxifloxacin. The patient also experienced electrolyte disturbance, as well as dysfunction in the liver and kidneys, delirium, and other related psychiatric symptoms.

Biotransformation of Ginsenoside Rb1 to Ginsenoside Rd and 7 Rare Ginsenosides Using Irpex lacteus with HPLC-HRMS/MS Identification.

The biotransformation of ginsenosides using microorganisms represents a promising and ecofriendly approach for the production of rare ginsenosides. The present study reports on the biotransformation of ginsenoside Rb1 using the fungus Irpex lacteus, resulting in the production of ginsenoside Rd and seven rare ginsenosides with novel structures. Employing high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry, the identities of the transformation products were rapidly determined. Two sets of isomers with molecular weights of 980.56 and 962.55 were discovered among the seven rare ginsenosides, which were generated through the isomerization of the olefin chain in the protopanaxadiol (PPD)-type ginsenoside skeleton. Each isomer exhibited characteristic fragment ions and neutral loss patterns in their tandem mass spectra, providing evidence of their unique structures. Time-course experiments demonstrated that the transformation reaction reached equilibrium after 14 days, with Rb1 initially generating Rd and compound 5, followed by the formation of other rare ginsenosides. The biotransformation process catalyzed by I. lacteus was found to involve not only the typical deglycosylation reaction at the C-20 position but also hydroxylation at the C-22 and C-23 positions, as well as hydrogenation, transfer, and cyclization of the double bond at the C-24(25) position. These enzymatic capabilities extend to the structural modification of other PPD-type ginsenosides such as Rc and Rd, revealing the potential of I. lacteus for the production of a wider range of rare ginsenosides. The transformation activities observed in I. lacteus are unprecedented among fungal biotransformations of ginsenosides. This study highlights the application of a medicinal fungi-based biotransformation strategy for the generation of rare ginsenosides with enhanced structural diversity, thereby expanding the variety of bioactive compounds derived from ginseng.

Quantitative assessment and correlational analysis of subjective and objective indicators in patients with allergic rhinitis.

Background: The diagnosis of allergic rhinitis is mainly based on the typical medical history, clinical manifestations, and corresponding allergen test results of the patients. However, there are often clinical inconsistencies among the 3. Objective: To study the clinical characteristics of patients with allergic rhinitis from both subjective and objective aspects to determine the correlations between the quantitative assessment outcomes of subjective and objective indicators. Methods: A total of 111 patients with allergic rhinitis who visited our outpatient clinic from June 2022 to December 2022 were selected. The 22-item sino-nasal outcome test (SNOT-22) and the visual analog scale (VAS) for the severity of the disease were used to score the subjective indicators of allergic rhinitis. The objective indicators of allergic rhinitis were evaluated by serum inhalant allergens immunoglobulin E test, nasal endoscopy modified Lund-Kennedy (MLK) scoring method, and acoustic rhinometry. Results: SNOT-22 score, total VAS score for symptoms, and the VAS score for nasal itching were positively correlated with the number of positive allergens (r = 0.266, P = 0.005, r = 0.576, P < 0.001, and r = 0.271, P = 0.004, respectively). No differences were found in all subjective indicators scores between the total immunoglobulin E positive and negative groups (P > 0.05). SNOT-22 score, total VAS score for symptoms, and the VAS score for nasal congestion were positively correlated with MLK total score of nasal endoscopy (r = 0.343, P < 0.001, r = 0.438, P < 0.001, and r = 0.225, P = 0.018, respectively). Parameters of acoustic rhinometry were not correlated with the subjective indicators scores of allergic rhinitis (P > 0.05). Conclusion: A multifaceted quantitative assessment of allergic rhinitis using a combination of subjective and objective methods can help physicians make an accurate diagnosis and create reasonable treatment plans.

Mobility capillary electrophoresis-native mass spectrometry reveals the dynamic conformational equilibrium of calmodulin and its complexes.

Benefitting from the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence and structural biology, an expanding collection of high-resolution protein structures has greatly improved our understanding of protein functions. Yet, proteins are inherently flexible, and these static structures can only offer limited snapshots of their true dynamic nature. The conformational and functional changes of calmodulin (CaM) induced by Ca2+ binding have always been a focus of research. In this study, the conformational dynamics of CaM and its complexes were investigated using a mobility capillary electrophoresis (MCE) and native mass spectrometry (native MS) based method. By analyzing the ellipsoidal geometries of CaM in the solution phase at different Ca2+ concentrations, it is interesting to discover that CaM molecules, whether bound to Ca2+ or not, possess both closed and open conformations. Moreover, each individual CaM molecule actively "jumps" (equilibrium exchange) between these two distinct conformations on a timescale ranging from milli- to micro-seconds. The binding of Ca2+ ions did not affect the structural dynamics of CaM, while the binding of a peptide ligand would stabilize CaM, leading to the observation of a single, compact conformation of the resulting protein complex. A target recognition mechanism was also proposed based on these new findings, suggesting that CaM's interaction with targets may favor a conformational selection model. This enriches our understanding of the binding principles between CaM and its numerous targets.

Non-nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates and nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates for the treatment of atherosclerosis and vascular calcification: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The role of non-nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates (non-N-BPs) and nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates (N-BPs) in the treatment of atherosclerosis (AS) and vascular calcification (VC) is uncertain. This meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of non-N-BPs and N-BPs in the treatment of AS and VC. METHODS: The PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang databases were searched from their inception to July 5th, 2023. Eligible studies comparing bisphosphonates (BPs) versus no BPs in the treatment of AS and VC were included. The data were analyzed using Review Manager Version 5.3. RESULTS: Seventeen studies were included in this meta-analysis. Twelve were randomized control trials (RCTs), and 5 were nonrandomized studies. Overall, 813 patients were included in the BPs group, and 821 patients were included in the no BPs group. Compared with no BP treatment, non-N-BP or N-BP treatment did not affect serum calcium (P > .05), phosphorus (P > .05) or parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels (P > .05). Regarding the effect on serum lipids, non-N-BPs decreased the serum total cholesterol (TC) level (P < .05) and increased the serum triglyceride (TG) level (P < .01) but did not affect the serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level (P > .05). N-BPs did not affect serum TC (P > .05), TG (P > .05) or LDL-C levels (P > .05). Regarding the effect on AS, non-N-BPs did not have a beneficial effect (P > .05). N-BPs had a beneficial effect on AS, including reducing the intima-media thickness (IMT) (P < .05) and plaque area (P < .01). For the effect on VC, non-N-BPs had a beneficial effect (P < .01), but N-BPs did not have a beneficial effect (P > .05). CONCLUSION: Non-N-BPs and N-BPs did not affect serum calcium, phosphorus or PTH levels. Non-N-BPs decreased serum TC levels and increased serum TG levels. N-BPs did not affect serum lipid levels. Non-N-BPs had a beneficial effect on VC, and N-BPs had a beneficial effect on AS.

Nanodiamond Coating in Energy and Engineering Fields: Synthesis Methods, Characteristics, and Applications.

Nanodiamonds are metastable allotropes of carbon. Based on their high hardness, chemical inertness, high thermal conductivity, and wide bandgap, nanodiamonds are widely used in energy and engineering applications in the form of coatings, such as mechanical processing, nuclear engineering, semiconductors, etc., particularly focusing on the reinforcement in mechanical performance, corrosion resistance, heat transfer, and electrical behavior. In mechanical performance, nanodiamond coatings can elevate hardness and wear resistance, improve the efficiency of mechanical components, and concomitantly reduce friction, diminish maintenance costs, particularly under high-load conditions. Concerning chemical inertness and corrosion resistance, nanodiamond coatings are gradually becoming the preferred manufacturing material or surface modification material for equipment in harsh environments. As for heat transfer, the extremely high coefficient of thermal conductivity of nanodiamond coatings makes them one of the main surface modification materials for heat exchange equipment. The increase of nucleation sites results in excellent performance of nanodiamond coatings during the boiling heat transfer stage. Additionally, concerning electrical properties, nanodiamond coatings elevate the efficiency of solar cells and fuel cells, and great performance in electrochemical and electrocatalytic is found. This article will briefly describe the application and mechanism analysis of nanodiamonds in the above-mentioned fields.

High-Entropy Lanthanide-Organic Framework as an Efficient Heterogeneous Catalyst for Cycloaddition of CO2 with Epoxides and Knoevenagel Condensation.

Multimetallic synergistic effects have the potential to improve CO2 cycloesterification and Knoevenagel reaction processes, outperforming monometallic MOFs. The results demonstrate superior performance in these processes. To investigate this, we created and characterized a selection of single-component Ln(III)-MOFs (Ln = Eu, Tb, Gd, Dy, Ho) and high-entropy lanthanide-organic framework (HE-LnMOF) using solvent-thermal conditions. The experiments revealed that HE-LnMOF exhibited heightened catalytic efficiency in CO2 cycloesterification and Knoevenagel reactions compared to single-component Ln(III) MOFs. Moreover, the HE-LnMOF displayed significant stability, maintaining their structural integrity after five cycles while sustaining elevated conversion and selectivity rates. The feasible mechanisms of catalytic reactions were also discussed. HE-LnMOF possess multiple unsaturated metal centers, acting as Lewis acid sites, with oxygen atoms connecting the metal, and hydroxyl groups on the ligand serving as base sites. This study introduces a novel method for synthesizing HE-LnMOF and presents a fresh application of HE-LnMOF for converting CO2.

Impact of diabetes on the prognosis of patients with oral and oropharyngeal cancer: A meta-analysis.

AIMS/INTRODUCTION: Diabetes has been related to an increased risk of oral cancer. Nevertheless, the impact of diabetes on the outcome of individuals with oral and oropharyngeal cancer is not clear. In this study, a meta-analysis was carried out to assess the link between diabetes and the survival of individuals with oral and oropharyngeal cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Relevant cohort studies for the meta-analysis objective were obtained through searching electronic databases, such as PubMed, Web of Science and Embase. The data were combined using a random effects model that accounted for differences between studies. RESULTS: A total of 10 cohorts involving 21,871 patients with oral and oropharyngeal cancer were included. Pooled results suggest that compared with those with normoglycemia, oral and oropharyngeal cancer patients with diabetes were associated with a poor overall survival (hazard ratio 1.69, 95% confidence interval 1.29-2.22, P < 0.001; I2 = 69%). Subgroup analysis suggested a stronger association between diabetes and poor overall survival in patients aged ≥52 years as compared with those aged <52 years (hazard ratio 2.08 vs 1.34, P = 0.03). Other study characteristics, such as study country, tumor stage or follow-up duration, did not seem to significantly affect the association (P for subgroup difference all >0.05). In addition, diabetes was also associated with a poor progression-free survival of patients with oral and oropharyngeal cancer (hazard ratio 1.61, 95% confidence interval 1.30-1.99, P < 0.001; I2 = 9%). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with oral and oropharyngeal cancer might have a poor survival if they have pre-existing diabetes.