Dipole field as charge-transfer bridge between Cu atomic clusters/PtCu alloy nanocubes and nitrogen-rich C3N5 for superior photocatalytic hydrogen evolution.

Utilizing spontaneous polarization field to harness charge transfer kinetics is a promising strategy to boost photocatalytic performance. Herein, a novel Cu atom clusters/PtCu alloy nanocubes coloaded on nitrogen-rich triazole-based C3N5 (PtCu-C3N5) with dipole field was constructed through facile photo-deposition and impregnation method. The dipole field-drive spontaneous polarization in C3N5 acts as a charge-transfer bridge to promote directional electron migration from C3N5 to Cu atom clusters/PtCu alloy. Through the synergistic effects between Cu atom clusters, PtCu alloy and dipole field in C3N5, the optimized Pt2Cu3-C3N5 achieved a record-high performance with H2 formation rate of 4090.4 µmol g-1 h-1 under visible light, about 154.4-fold increase compared with pristine C3N5 (26.5 µmol g-1 h-1). Moreover, the apparent quantum efficiency was up to 25.33 % at 320 nm, which is greatly superior than most previous related-works. The directional charge transfer mechanism was analyzed in detail through various characterizations and DFT calculations. This work offers a novel pathway to construct high-efficiency multi-metal photocatalysts for solar energy conversion.

Photoelectrochemical transistors based on semiconducting polymers: an emerging technology for future bioelectronics.

In recent years, organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) have attracted widespread attention due to their significant advantages such as low-voltage operation, biocompatibility, and compatibility with flexible substrates. Organic photoelectrochemical transistors (OPECTs) are OECTs with photoresponse capabilities that achieve photoresponse and signal amplification in a single device, demonstrating tremendous potential in multifunctional optoelectronic devices. In this mini-review, we briefly introduce the channel materials and operation mechanisms of OECTs/OPECTs. Then different types of OPECTs are discussed depending on their device-architecture-related photoresponse generation. Following this, we summarize recent advances in OPECT applications across various fields including biomedical sciences, optoelectronics, and sensor technologies. Finally, we outline the current challenges and explore future research prospects, aiming at extending their further development and applications.

New progress in pediatric allergic rhinitis.

The prevalence of allergic rhinitis (AR) in children is steadily increasing, and its onset is closely associated with genetic factors, living environment, and exposure to allergens. In recent years, an increasing number of diagnostic methods have been employed to assist in diagnosing AR. In addition to pharmaceutical treatments, personalized approaches such as environmental control and allergen-specific immunotherapy are gradually gaining popularity. In this article, we reviewed recent research on the etiology, diagnostic classification, treatment methods, and health management of AR in children. These insights will benefit the implementation of personalized diagnosis and treatment for children with AR, promoting health management strategies that improve symptoms and quality of life.

Synergy of Charged Domain Walls in 2D In-Plane Polarized Ferroelectric GeS for Photocatalytic Water Splitting.

Two-dimensional (2D) ferroelectric (FE) materials have exhibited significant prospects for applications in photocatalysis due to their unique properties. However, studies of 2D FE catalysts have been mostly focused on the electric potential difference between different surfaces of out-of-plane-polarized FE materials. Herein, based on ab initio density functional calculations, we investigate the effects of in-plane (IP) polarizations on the photocatalytic water splitting process by considering the existence of charged domain walls (DWs) in the 2D FEs. Our results show that the metallic states at the DWs significantly expand the optical absorption range and improve the absorbance in the visible-light region. The built-in electric field spreading over the FE domains promotes the separation of photogenerated charges by driving the electrons/holes to the positively/negatively charged DWs. The charged DWs can also affect the active sites on the surface and effectively lower the energy barrier during pathways of both hydrogen reduction and water oxidation half reactions. With all of these effects, the charged DWs are shown to play the synergistic role of cocatalysts and effectively enhance the performance of GeS in the photocatalytic water splitting reaction. Our study provides not only a new insight into the applications of 2D FEs but also an effective way for regulating the photocatalytic performance of 2D IP FE materials.

Constructing a Nomogram for Predicting Pelvic Osteosarcoma: A Retrospective Study Based on the SEER Database and a Chinese Cohort.

Aims/Background Generally, pelvic osteosarcoma has a worse prognosis compared with limb osteosarcoma. This study aims to create and validate a new nomogram for predicting the prognosis of pelvic osteosarcoma. Methods Clinical data of 62 patients derived from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database and 31 Chinese patients diagnosed with pelvic osteosarcoma were gathered. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was utilized to calculate the median survival time for all variables. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression models were employed to identify the prognostic factors of pelvic osteosarcoma. A nomogram was constructed using data gleaned from the SEER cohort and verified using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and calibration plot in the Chinese cohort. Results Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that individuals of other races (Asians) (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.24, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.1-0.57, p = 0.001), aged ≤51 years old (HR = 0.4, 95% CI: 0.22-0.73, p = 0.003), and with tumor size ≤160 mm (HR = 0.37, 95% CI: 0.2-0.71, p = 0.03) had better survival outcomes. Conversely, factors such as no primary surgery (HR = 3.6, 95% CI: 1.81-7.15, p < 0.001), lung metastasis (HR = 1.96, 95% CI: 1.17-3.28, p = 0.010), and radiotherapy (HR = 1.89, 95% CI: 1.10-3.25, p = 0.021) were associated with poorer survival. Multivariate Cox analysis indicated that lung metastasis (HR = 2.57, 95% CI: 1.29-5.13, p = 0.008), other races (Asians) (HR = 0.23, 95% CI: 0.07-0.75, p = 0.015), tumor size (HR = 0.28, 95% CI: 0.13-0.62, p = 0.001) and age (HR = 0.3, 95% CI: 0.16-0.59, p < 0.001) were independent prognostic factors for pelvic osteosarcoma. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression models identified three independent variables in the training cohort: age, lung metastasis, and tumor size. A predictive nomogram was developed based on the data from the SEER cohort and validated in the Chinese cohort. The areas under the curves (AUCs) that are used to predict 1-year, 2-year, and 3-year survival rates were 0.81 (95% CI: 0.68-0.94), 0.75 (95% CI: 0.63-0.86), and 0.80 (95% CI: 0.70-0.89) in the training cohort, and 0.67 (95% CI: 0.30-1.04), 0.66 (95% CI: 0.43-0.90) and 0.71 (95% CI: 0.50-0.93) in the validation cohort. Conclusion The predictive nomogram constructed in this study facilitates accurate and effective prediction of the overall survival of patients with pelvic osteosarcoma and helps enhance the clinical decision-making process.

Pubertal maternal presence reduces anxiety and increases adult neurogenesis in Kunming mice offspring.

Puberty is a critical period of emotional development and neuroplasticity. However, most studies have focused on early development, with limited research on puberty, particularly the parental presence. In this study, four groups were established, and pubertal maternal presence (PMP) was assessed until postnatal days 21 (PD21), 28 (PD28), 35 (PD35), and 42 (PD42), respectively. The social interaction and anxiety behaviors, as well as the expression of oxytocin (OT) in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and supraoptic nucleus (SON), and the number of new generated neurons and the expression of estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) in the dentate gyrus (DG) were assessed. The results suggest that there is a lot of physical contact between the mother and offspring from 21 to 42 days of age, which reduces anxiety in both female and male offspring in adulthood; for example, the PMP increased the amount of time mice spent in the center area in the open field experiment and in the bright area in the light-dark box experiment. PMP increased OT expression in the PVN and SON and the number of newly generated neurons in the DG. However, there was a sexual difference in ERα, with ERα increasing in females but decreasing in males. In conclusion, PMP reduces the anxiety of offspring in adulthood, increases OT in the PVN and SON, and adult neurogenesis; ERα in the DG may be involved in this process.

Gate-Tunable Positive and Negative Photoconductance in Near-Infrared Organic Heterostructures for In-Sensor Computing.

The rapid growth of sensor data in the artificial intelligence often causes significant reductions in processing speed and power efficiency. Addressing this challenge, in-sensor computing is introduced as an advanced sensor architecture that simultaneously senses, memorizes, and processes images at the sensor level. However, this is rarely reported for organic semiconductors that possess inherent flexibility and tunable bandgap. Herein, an organic heterostructure that exhibits a robust photoresponse to near-infrared (NIR) light is introduced, making it ideal for in-sensor computing applications. This heterostructure, consisting of partially overlapping p-type and n-type organic thin films, is compatible with conventional photolithography techniques, allowing for high integration density of up to 520 devices cm-2 with a 5 µm channel length. Importantly, by modulating gate voltage, both positive and negative photoresponses to NIR light (1050 nm) are attained, which establishes a linear correlation between responsivity and gate voltage and consequently enables real-time matrix multiplication within the sensor. As a result, this organic heterostructure facilitates efficient and precise NIR in-sensor computing, including image processing and nondestructive reading and classification, achieving a recognition accuracy of 97.06%. This work serves as a foundation for the development of reconfigurable and multifunctional NIR neuromorphic vision systems.

Mendelian randomization analysis reveals causal associations of serum metabolites with sepsis and 28-day mortality.

Metabolic disorder has been found to be an important factor in the pathogenesis and progression of sepsis. However, the causation of such an association between serum metabolites and sepsis has not been established. We conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study. A genome-wide association study of 486 human serum metabolites was used as the exposure, whereas sepsis and sepsis mortality within 28 days were set as the outcomes. In MR analysis, 6 serum metabolites were identified to be associated with an increased risk of sepsis, and 6 serum metabolites were found to be related to a reduced risk of sepsis. Furthermore, there were 9 metabolites positively associated with sepsis-related mortality, and 8 metabolites were negatively correlated with sepsis mortality. In addition, "glycolysis/gluconeogenesis" (p = 0.001), and "pyruvate metabolism" (p = 0.042) two metabolic pathways were associated with the incidence of sepsis. This MR study suggested that serum metabolites played significant roles in the pathogenesis of sepsis, which may provide helpful biomarkers for early disease diagnosis, therapeutic interventions, and prognostic assessments for sepsis.

Raman lidar at 355 nm using low dead time photon counting for atmospheric aerosol measurements.

Photon counting is an effective way to enhance the dynamic range of the data acquisition system (DAQ) in Raman lidars. However, there exists a deficiency of relatively high dead times among current options, which necessitates an additional calibration procedure for the nonlinearity of the photon counting signal, thus leading to unanticipated errors. A field programmable gate array (FPGA)-based photon counting module has been proposed and implemented in a Raman lidar, offering two operational channels. Through observational experiments, it was determined that this module has an overall dead time of 1.13 ns taking advantage of the high-speed amplifier/discriminator pair and the logic design, a significant improvement compared to the 4.35 ns of a commercially used Licel transient recorder within the same counting rate range. This notably low dead time implies that its output maintains sufficient linearity even at substantially high counting rates. As a result, the need for a dead time calibration procedure prior to signal integration with the analog signal is eliminated, reducing uncertainty in the final integrated signal, and even in the retrieval result. The backscattering result of the comparison between this module and a transient recorder indicates that a more precise performance can be acquired benefiting from this hardware upgrading.

Altered cortical thickness-based structural covariance networks in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Cognitive impairment is a common complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and early cognitive dysfunction may be associated with abnormal changes in the cerebral cortex. This retrospective study aimed to investigate the cortical thickness-based structural topological network changes in T2DM patients without mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Fifty-six T2DM patients and 59 healthy controls underwent neuropsychological assessments and sagittal 3-dimensional T1-weighted structural magnetic resonance imaging. Then, we combined cortical thickness-based assessments with graph theoretical analysis to explore the abnormalities in structural covariance networks in T2DM patients. Correlation analyses were performed to investigate the relationship between the altered topological parameters and cognitive/clinical variables. T2DM patients exhibited significantly lower clustering coefficient (C) and local efficiency (Elocal) values and showed nodal property disorders in the occipital cortical, inferior temporal, and inferior frontal regions, the precuneus, and the precentral and insular gyri. Moreover, the structural topological network changes in multiple nodes were correlated with the findings of neuropsychological tests in T2DM patients. Thus, while T2DM patients without MCI showed a relatively normal global network, the local topological organization of the structural network was disordered. Moreover, the impaired ventral visual pathway may be involved in the neural mechanism of visual cognitive impairment in T2DM patients. This study enriched the characteristics of gray matter structure changes in early cognitive dysfunction in T2DM patients.

Toward High-Performance Mg/S Batteries with M4-Assisted Mg(AlCl4 )2 /PYR14TFSI/DME Electrolyte and MoS2 @CMK/S Cathode.

Rechargeable magnesium batteries (RMBs) are considered as one of the most promising candidates for next-generation batteries. However, the popularization of RMBs is seriously plagued due to the lack of suitable non-nucleophilic electrolytes and the passivation of Mg anode. Herein, a novel non-nucleophilic electrolyte is developed by introducing (s)-1-methoxy-2-propylamine (M4) into themagnesium aluminum chloride complex (MACC)-like electrolyte. The as-synthesizes Mg(AlCl4 )2 -IL-DME-M4 electrolyte enables robust reversible cycling of Mg plating/stripping with low overpotential, high anodic stability, and ionic conductivity (8.56 mS cm-1 ). These features should be mainly attributed to the in situ formation of an MgF2 containing Mg2+ -conducting interphase, which dramatically suppresses the passivation and parasitic reaction of Mg anode with electrolyte. Remarkably, the Mg/S batteries assemble with as-synthesize electrolyte and a new type MoS2 @CMK/S cathode deliver unprecedented electrochemical performance. Specifically, the Mg/S battery exhibited the highest reversible capacity up to 1210 mAh g-1 at 0.1 C, excellent rate capability and satisfactory long-term cycling stability with a reversible capacity of 370 mAh g-1 (coulombic efficiency of ≈100%) at 1.0 C for 600 cycles. The study findings provide a novel strategy and inspiration for designing efficient non-nucleophilic Mg electrolyte and suitable sulfur-host materials for practical Mg/S battery applications.

Regulating Lewis Acidic Sites of 1T-2H MoS2 Catalysts for Solar-Driven Photothermal Catalytic H2 Production from Lignocellulosic Biomass.

Solar-driven photothermal catalytic H2 production from lignocellulosic biomass was achieved by using 1T-2H MoS2 with tunable Lewis acidic sites as catalysts in an alkaline aqueous solution, in which the number of Lewis acidic sites derived from the exposed Mo edges of MoS2 was successfully regulated by both the formation of an edge-terminated 1T-2H phase structure and tunable layer number. Owing to the abundant Lewis acidic sites for the oxygenolysis of lignocellulosic biomass, the 1T-2H MoS2 catalyst shows high photothermal catalytic lignocellulosic biomass-to-H2 transformation performance in polar wood chips, bamboo, rice straw corncobs, and rice hull aqueous solutions, and the highest H2 generation rate and solar-to-H2 (STH) efficiency respectively achieves 3661 µmol·h-1·g-1 and 0.18% in the polar wood chip system under 300 W Xe lamp illumination. This study provides a sustainable and cost-effective method for the direct transformation of renewable lignocellulosic biomass to H2 fuel driven by solar energy.

Carbon price prediction based on multiple decomposition and XGBoost algorithm.

Carbon trading is an effective way to limit global carbon dioxide emissions. The carbon pricing mechanisms play an essential role in the decision of the market participants and policymakers. This study proposes a carbon price prediction model, multi-decomposition-XGBOOST, which is based on sample entropy and a new multiple decomposition algorithm. The main steps of the proposed model are as follows: (1) decompose the price series into multiple intrinsic mode functions (IMFs) by using complete ensemble empirical mode decomposition with adaptive noise (CEEMDAN); (2) decompose the IMF with the highest sample entropy by variational mode decomposition (VMD); (3) select and recombine some IMFs based on their sample entropy, and then perform another round of decomposition via CEEMDAN; (4) predict IMFs by XGBoost model and sum up the prediction results. The model has exhibited reliable predictive performance in both the highly fluctuating Beijing carbon market and the comparatively stable Hubei carbon market. The proposed model in Beijing carbon market achieves improvements of 30.437%, 44.543%, and 42.895% in RMSE, MAE, and MAPE, when compared to the single XGBoost models. Similarly, in Hubei carbon market, the RMSE, MAE, and MAPE based on multi-decomposition-XGBOOST model decreased by 28.504%, 39.356%, and 39.394%. The findings indicate that the proposed model has better predictive performance for both volatile and stable carbon prices.

CRISPR/Cas12a combined with RPA for detection of T. gondii in mouse whole blood.

BACKGROUND: Toxoplasma gondii is an opportunistic protozoan that is ubiquitous in humans and animals. It can invade any human organ and cause severe diseases, including toxoplasma ophthalmopathy, meningoencephalitis, and liver necrosis. Porcine toxoplasmosis is prevalent in China. CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) and Cas (CRISPR-Associated Protein) systems are widely used for gene editing and pathogen detection. CRISPR-based diagnostics are molecular assays that have been developed to detect parasites with high sensitivity and specificity. METHODS: This study aimed to establish a combined CRISPR/Cas12a and RPA rapid detection method for T. gondii by targeting the B1 gene and 529 bp repeat element (529 RE). The detection results could be visualized by the fluorescence or lateral flow strips (LFS). The sensitivity and specificity of the method were evaluated, and T. gondii-infected mouse blood was used for detection. RESULTS: The results indicated that the established method for T. gondii detection was satisfactory, with a detection limit of 1.5 cp/µl for the two loci. Moreover, the B1 gene could detect 1 tachyzoite per reaction, and the 529 RE could detect 0.1 tachyzoite per reaction, consistently with the highly sensitive nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results. The method was suitable for strains, including RH, and did not cross-react with other protozoa DNA with similar habits. The T. gondii-infected mouse blood samples were all positive for T. gondii at 1, 3, and 5 days post infection (dpi). CONCLUSIONS: This study established a rapid, sensitive, and time-saving DNA detection method for T. gondii that has the potential to be an alternative tool for T. gondii detection in the field.

The role of apoptosis in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis.

PURPOSE: Apoptosis is an important physiological process, making a great difference to development and tissue homeostasis. Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic joint disease characterized by degeneration and destruction of articular cartilage and bone hyperplasia. This purpose of this study is to provide an updated review of the role of apoptosis in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis. METHODS: A comprehensive review of the literature on osteoarthritis and apoptosis was performed, which mainly focused on the regulatory factors and signaling pathways associated with chondrocyte apoptosis in osteoarthritis and other pathogenic mechanisms involved in chondrocyte apoptosis. RESULTS: Inflammatory mediators such as reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide (NO), IL-1ß, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and Fas are closely related to chondrocyte apoptosis. NF-κB signaling pathway, Wnt signaling pathway, and Notch signaling pathway activate proteins and gene targets that promote or inhibit the progression of osteoarthritis disease, including chondrocyte apoptosis and ECM degradation. Long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) and microRNAs (microRNAs) have gradually replaced single and localized research methods and become the main research approaches. In addition, the relationship between cellular senescence, autophagy, and apoptosis was also briefly explained. CONCLUSION: This review offers a better molecular delineation of apoptotic processes that may help in designing new therapeutic options for OA treatment.

Chromatic aberration correction based on cross-channel information alignment in microscopy.

A microscope usually consists of dozens of complex lenses and requires careful assembly, alignment, and testing before use. Chromatic aberration correction is a significant step in the design of microscopes. Reducing chromatic aberration by improving optical design will inevitably increase the overall weight and size of the microscope, leading to more cost in manufacturing and maintenance. Nevertheless, the improvement in hardware can only achieve limited correction. In this paper, we propose an algorithm based on cross-channel information alignment to shift some of the correction tasks from optical design to post-processing. Additionally, a quantitative framework is established to evaluate the performance of the chromatic aberration algorithm. Our algorithm outperforms the other state-of-the-art methods in both visual appearance and objective assessments. The results indicate that the proposed algorithm can effectively obtain higher-quality images without changing the hardware or engaging the optical parameters.

Inhibiting virus replication and excessive inflammatory response: Mechanism of combined prescription of Ma-Xing-Shi-Gan decoction and Xiao-Chai-Hu decoction against influenza virus.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The combined prescription of two classical decoctions (Ma-Xing-Shi-Gan decoction with Xiao-Chai-Hu decoction), named as San-Yang-He-Zhi (SYHZ) decoction, has been widely used for the treatment of influenza virus (IFV) infections for decades. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aimed to evaluate the anti-influenza effect of SYHZ decoction and explore the underlying mechanism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The ingredients of SYHZ decoction were analyzed by mass spectrometry. An animal model of IFV infection was established by challenging C57BL/6J mice with PR8 virus. Three groups of mice were infected with lethal or non-lethal doses of IFV, then followed by oral administration of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), or SYHZ, or oseltamir; blank control mice (without IFV infection) were treated with PBS. Survival rate, Lung index, colon length, body weight loss and IFV viral load were measured 7 days post infection; histology and electron-microscopy examinations of lung tissue were performed; cytokine and chemokine levels in lung and serum were measured; and the intestinal metagenome, the cecum metabolome, and the lung transcriptome were analyzed. RESULTS: SYHZ treatment significantly improved survival rate compared with PBS (40% vs 0%); improved lung index, colon length, and body weight loss; and alleviated lung histological damage and viral load. SYHZ-treated mice had significantly lower levels of IL-1ß, TNF-α, IL-6, CCL2, CXCL10 in lung and serum, and increased levels of multiple bioactive components in cecum. Pro-inflammatory cytokines, Toll- and NOD-like receptors, pro-apoptosis molecules, and lung-injury-related proteins were downregulated in SYHZ mice, whereas surfactant protein and mucin were upregulated. The NOD-like receptor pathway, Toll-like receptor pathway, and NF-κB pathway were downregulated by SYHZ treatment. CONCLUSIONS: SYHZ decoction alleviated IFV infection in a mouse model. Multiple bioactive ingredients of SYHZ may inhibit replication of IFV and suppress excessive immune response.

Baicalin ameliorates multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa induced pulmonary inflammation in rat via arginine biosynthesis.

Multidrug-resistance (MDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) is a lethal gram-negative pathogen causing hospital-acquired and ventilator-associated pneumonia, which is difficult to treat. Our previous studies confirmed that baicalin, an essential bioactive component in Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, exhibited anti-inflammatory effects in an acute pneumonia rat model induced by MDR P. aeruginosa. However, this effect of baicalin in constrast its low bioavailability, and its mechanism of action is still unknown. Thus, this study investigated whether the therapeutic effects of baicalin against MDR P. aeruginosa acute pneumonia are owing to the regulation of gut microbiota and their metabolites using pyrosequencing of the 16S rRNA genes in rat feces and metabolomics. As a result, baicalin attenuated the inflammation by acting directly on neutrophils and regulated the production of the inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6, and IL-10. The mechanisms were through down-regulation of TLR4 and inhibition of NF-κB. Furthermore, pyrosequencing of the 16S rRNA genes in rat feces revealed that baicalin regulated the composition of gut microbial communities. At the genus level, baicalin efficiently increased the abundance of Ligilactobacillus, Lactobacillus and Bacteroides, but decreased the abundance of Muribaculaceae and Alistipes. Further, arginine biosynthesis was analyzed as the core pathway regulated by baicalin via combination with predicting gut microbiota function and targeted metabolomics. In conclusion, this study has demonstrated that baicalin relieved inflammatory injury in acute pneumonia rat induced by MDR P. aeruginosa via arginine biosynthesis associated with gut microbiota. Baicalin could be a promising and effective adjunctive therapy for lung inflammation caused by MDR P. aeruginosa infection.