Intercalation-Induced Localized Conversion Reaction in h-CuSe for Ultrafast-Rechargeable and Long-Cycling Sodium Metal Battery.

Cathode materials of sodium-based batteries with high specific capacity and fast charge/discharge mode, as well as ultralong reversible cycles at wide applied temperatures, are essential for future development of advanced energy storage system. Developing transition metal selenides with intercalation features provides a new strategy for realizing the above cathode materials. Herein, we report a storage mechanism of sodium ion in hexagonal CuSe (h-CuSe) based on the DFT guidance. We reveal that the two-dimensional ion intercalation triggers localized redox reaction in the h-CuSe bulk phase, termed intercalation-induced localized conversion (ILC) mechanism, to stabilize the sodium storage structure by forming localized Cu7Se4 transition phase and adjusting the near-edge coordination state of the Cu sites to achieve high reversible capacity and ultra-long cycling life, while allowing rapid charge/discharge cycling over a wide temperature range. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Pearl-Inspired Intelligent Marine Hetero Nanocomposite Coating Based on "Brick&Mortar" Strategy: Anticorrosion Durability and Switchable Antifouling.

Corrosion activities and biofouling pose significant challenges for marine facilities, resulting in substantial economic losses. Inspired by the "brick&mortar" structure of pearls, a novel nanocomposite coating (Pun-HJTx) with long-lasting anticorrosion and intelligent antifouling modes is fabricated by integrating a compatible MoS2/MXene heterostructure as the "brick" into a polyurea-modified PDMS (Pun) acting as "mortar." Notably, the presence of multiple hydrogen bonds within the coating effectively reduces the pinholes resulted from solution volatilizing. In the dark, where fouling adhesion and microbial corrosion activities are weakened, the MoS2/MXene plays a role in contact bactericidal action. Conversely, during daylight when fouling adhesion and microbial corrosion activities intensify, the coating releases reactive oxygen species (such as hydroxyl radicals and superoxide ions) to counteract fouling adhesion. Additionally, the coating exhibits multisource self-healing performance under heated or exposed to light (maximum self-healing rate can reach 99.46%) and proves efficient self-cleaning performance and adhesion strength (>2.0 Mpa), making it highly suitable for various practical marine applications. Furthermore, the outstanding performance of the Pun-HJT1 is maintained for ≈180 days in real-world marine conditions, which proving its practicality and feasibility in real shallow sea environments.

Pulsed laser deposition of a Ga2O3 thin film for an optoelectronic synaptic device.

With the rapid development of information era, the traditional von Neumann architecture faces the computing bottleneck, and integration of memory and perception is regarded as a potential solution. Herein, a Ga2O3/Si heterojunction based multi-modulated optoelectronic synaptic device is fabricated and demonstrated. As stimulated by ultraviolet (UV) optical spikes, the heterojunction device reveals typical synaptic functions of excitatory-postsynaptic current (EPSC), paired-pulse facilitation (PPF), spike-timing-dependent plasticity (STDP), and switch between short-term memory (STM) and long-term memory (LTM). In addition, stronger stimulations like higher reading voltage, stronger optical stimulated intensity, and longer pulse duration time can significantly prolong the attenuation of EPSC, which contributes to the improvement of the forgetting process. Our work provides a potential strategy for future neuromorphic computation through a UV light driven stimulation.

Slippery Porous-Liquid-Infused Porous Surface (SPIPS) with On-Demand Responsive Switching between "Defensive" and "Offensive" Antifouling Modes.

Slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces (SLIPS) have received widespread attention in the antifouling field. However, the reduction in antifouling performance caused by lubricant loss limits their application in marine antifouling. Herein, inspired by the skin of a poison dart frog which contains venom glands and mucus, a porous liquid (PL) based on ZIF-8 is prepared as a lubricant and injected into a silicone polyurethane (SPU) matrix to construct a new type of SLIPS for marine antifouling applications: the slippery porous-liquid-infused porous surface (SPIPS). The SPIPS consists of a responsive antifoulant-releasing switch between "defensive" and "offensive" antifouling modes to intelligently enhance the antifouling effect after lubricant loss. The SPIPS can adjust antifouling performance to meet the antifouling requirements under different light conditions. The wastage of antifoulants is reduced, thereby effectively maintaining the durability and service life of SLIPS materials. The SPIPS exhibits efficient lubricant self-replenishment, self-cleaning, anti-protein, anti-bacterial, anti-algal, and self-healing (97.48%) properties. Furthermore, it shows satisfactory 360-day antifouling performance in actual marine fields during boom seasons, demonstrating the longest antifouling lifespan in the field tests of reported SLIPS coatings. Hence, the SPIPS can effectively promote the development of SLIPS for neritic antifouling.

Seascapes Shaped the Local Adaptation and Population Structure of South China Coast Yellowfin Seabream (Acanthopagrus latus).

Understanding the genetic composition and regional adaptation of marine species under environmental heterogeneity and fishing pressure is crucial for responsible management. In order to understand the genetic diversity and adaptability of yellowfin seabream (Acanthopagrus latus) along southern China coast, this study was conducted a seascape genome analysis on yellowfin seabream from the ecologically diverse coast, spanning over 1600 km. A total of 92 yellowfin seabream individuals from 15 sites were performed whole-genome resequencing, and 4,383,564 high-quality single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were called. By conducting a genotype-environment association analysis, 29,951 adaptive and 4,328,299 neutral SNPs were identified. The yellowfin seabream exhibited two distinct population structures, despite high gene flow between sites. The seascape genome analysis revealed that genetic structure was influenced by a variety of factors including salinity gradients, habitat distance, and ocean currents. The frequency of allelic variation at the candidate loci changed with the salinity gradient. Annotation of these loci revealed that most of the genes are associated with osmoregulation, such as kcnab2a, kcnk5a, and slc47a1. These genes are significantly enriched in pathways associated with ion transport including G protein-coupled receptor activity, transmembrane signaling receptor activity, and transporter activity. Overall, our findings provide insights into how seascape heterogeneity affects adaptive evolution, while providing important information for regional management in yellowfin seabream populations.

Imaging misdiagnosis and clinical analysis of significant hepatic atrophy after bilioenteric anastomosis: A case report.

BACKGROUND: The occurrence of long-term bilioenteric anastomotic stenosis can readily induce liver atrophy and hyperplasia, thereby causing significant alterations in the anatomical and morphological aspects of the liver. This condition significantly hampers the accuracy of preoperative imaging diagnosis, while also exacerbating the complexity of surgical procedures and the likelihood of complications. CASE SUMMARY: A 60-year-old female patient was admitted to the hospital presenting with recurring epigastric pain accompanied by a high fever. The patient had a history of cholecystectomy, although the surgical records were not accessible. Based on preoperative imaging and laboratory examination, the initial diagnosis indicated the presence of intrahepatic calculi, abnormal right liver morphology, and acute cholangitis. However, during the surgical procedure, it was observed that both the left and right liver lobes exhibited evident atrophy and thinness. Additionally, there was a noticeable increase in the volume of the hepatic caudate lobe, and the original bilioenteric anastomosis was narrowed. The anastomosis underwent enlargement subsequent to hepatectomy. As a consequence of the presence of remaining stones in the caudate lobe, the second stage was effectively executed utilizing ultrasound-guided percutaneous transhepatic catheter drainage. Following the puncture, three days elapsed before the drain tip inadvertently perforated the liver, leading to the development of biliary panperitonitis, subsequently followed by pulmonary infection. The patient and her family strongly refused operation, and she died. CONCLUSION: The hepatic atrophy-hypertrophy complex induces notable alterations in the anatomical structure, thereby posing a substantial challenge in terms of imaging diagnosis and surgical procedures. Additionally, the long-term presence of hepatic fibrosis changes heightens the likelihood of complications arising from puncture procedures.

The Early Initiation of Perioperative Anticoagulation Therapy in Cirrhotic Patients with Portal Hypertension After Laparoscopic Splenectomy Plus Esophagogastric Devascularization: A 10-Year Single-Center Experience.

Background: Portal veinous system thrombosis (PVST) is a common complication after laparoscopic splenectomy plus esophagogastric devascularization (LSED). Anticoagulation therapy was still in debate in LSED perioperation. This study aimed to determine the postoperative risk factors of PVST, the efficacy and safety of the anticoagulation therapy after LSED procedure, and the potential impact of anticoagulation on patients' liver function and overall survival (OS). Methods: Three hundred patients who underwent LSED were retrospectively enrolled and analyzed in the study. The characteristics of patients, perioperative parameters, risk of PVST, and long-term follow-up data were recorded and analyzed. Results: One hundred eighty six of 300 patients received perioperative anticoagulation therapy (p-AT) postoperation, while 114 patients did not receive p-AT (non-p-AT). The non-p-AT group had more intraoperative blood loss, PVST, longer abdominal drain days, and postoperative hospital stays separately compared with the p-AT group. No significant difference of postoperative complications was found between the two groups. In the 1-year follow-up postoperation, both groups had great improvement in hypersplenism and the portal vein hemodynamics. During the 10-year follow-up period, the incidence of PVST was significantly higher in the non-p-AT group than in the p-AT group. Anticoagulation therapy, sex, variceal hemorrhage history, portal vein diameter, and portal vein velocity were the independent prognostic factors determined by the Cox regression analysis for PVST. The thrombosis-free survival rate (P = .002), recurrent hemorrhage-free survival rate (P < .01), and the OS rate (P < .01) were significantly lower in the non-p-AT group than in the p-AT group. Conclusions: The initiate use of anticoagulation therapy in postoperation of LSED is effective and safe in cirrhotic patients. The anticoagulation therapy after LSED will help decrease portal vein thrombosis, the rebleeding rate, and extend the OS of the patients, especially among women, with variceal hemorrhage history, high portal vein diameter, and low portal vein velocity.

Gradual conductance modulation by defect reorganization in amorphous oxide memristors.

Amorphous oxides show great prospects in revolutionizing memristors benefiting from their abundant non-stoichiometric composition. However, an in-depth investigation of the memristive characteristics in amorphous oxides is inadequate and the resistive switching mechanism is still controversial. In this study, aiming to clearly understand the gradual conductance modulation that is deeply bound to the evolution of defects-mainly oxygen vacancies, forming-free memristors based on amorphous ZnAlSnO are fabricated, which exhibit high reproducibility with an initial low-resistance state. Pulse depression reveals the logarithmic-exponential mixed relaxation during RESET owing to the diffusion of oxygen vacancies in orthogonal directions. The remnants of conductive filaments formed through aggregation of oxygen vacancies induced by high-electric-field are identified using ex situ TEM. Especially, the conductance of the filament, including the remnant filament, is larger than that of the hopping conductive channel derived from the diffusion of oxygen vacancies. The Fermi level in the conduction band rationalizes the decay of the high resistance state. Rare oxidation-migration of Au occurs upon device failure, resulting in numerous gold nanoclusters in the functional layer. These comprehensive revelations on the reorganization of oxygen vacancies could provide original ideas for the design of memristors.

kcnj13 regulates pigment cell shapes in zebrafish and has diverged by cis-regulatory evolution between Danio species.

Teleost fish of the genus Danio are excellent models to study the genetic and cellular bases of pigment pattern variation in vertebrates. The two sister species Danio rerio and Danio aesculapii show divergent patterns of horizontal stripes and vertical bars that are partly caused by the divergence of the potassium channel gene kcnj13. Here, we show that kcnj13 is required only in melanophores for interactions with xanthophores and iridophores, which cause location-specific pigment cell shapes and thereby influence colour pattern and contrast in D. rerio. Cis-regulatory rather than protein coding changes underlie kcnj13 divergence between the two Danio species. Our results suggest that homotypic and heterotypic interactions between the pigment cells and their shapes diverged between species by quantitative changes in kcnj13 expression during pigment pattern diversification.

Comparison of fertility outcomes between oil­based and water­based contrast media during hysterosalpingography: A meta­analysis.

Water-based and oil-based contrast media are both widely used in clinical practice for patients receiving hysterosalpingography (HSG). However, minor controversy exists about whether the oil-based contrast medium has a superior fertility-enhancing effect during HSG. The present meta-analysis intended to comprehensively compare the fertility outcomes of patients receiving either an oil-based or a water-based contrast medium during HSG. Web of Science, PubMed, Excerpta Medica Database, Cochrane, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data and China Science and Technology Journal Database were examined for literature comparing the fertility enhancement between oil-based and water-based contrast media during HSG up to November 10, 2022 and there was no cut off for studies published earlier than any given year. Data for clinical pregnancy, ongoing pregnancy, live birth, miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy were extracted and analyzed. A total of 11 studies with 2,462 patients receiving oil-based contrast medium and 2,830 patients receiving water-based contrast medium during HSG were included. Relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were presented for outcome assessment, and the random effects model was utilized for all analyses. Publication bias was analyzed using Egger's and Begg's tests. The results indicated that the rate of clinical pregnancy was increased using oil-based contrast medium compared with water-based contrast medium [relative risk (RR) (95% CI), 1.29 (1.07, 1.54); P=0.006]. In addition, the rate of ongoing pregnancy [RR (95% CI), 1.39 (1.22, 1.59); P#x003C;0.001] and live birth [RR (95% CI), 1.41 (1.07, 1.87); P=0.016] were also increased using oil-based contrast medium compared with water-based contrast medium. However, miscarriage [RR (95% CI), 1.06 (0.61, 1.86); P=0.833] and ectopic pregnancy [RR (95% CI), 0.66 (0.18, 2.36); P=0.518] were not affected by using oil-based or water-based contrast medium. Begg's test and Egger's test suggested that no publication bias of clinical pregnancy, ongoing pregnancy, live birth, miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy existed (all P>0.05), which indicated the stability of the present meta-analysis. In conclusion, the oil-based contrast medium enhances fertility outcomes compared with the water-based contrast medium in patients receiving HSG.

HiBrowser: an interactive and dynamic browser for synchronous Hi-C data visualization.

With the development of chromosome conformation capture technology, the genome-wide investigation of higher-order chromatin structure by using high-throughput chromatin conformation capture (Hi-C) technology is emerging as an important component for understanding the mechanism of gene regulation. Considering genetic and epigenetic differences are typically used to explore the pathological reasons on the chromosome and gene level, visualizing multi-omics data and performing an intuitive analysis by using an interactive browser become a powerful and welcomed way. In this paper, we develop an effective sequence and chromatin interaction data display browser called HiBrowser for visualizing and analyzing Hi-C data and their associated genetic and epigenetic annotations. The advantages of HiBrowser are flexible multi-omics navigation, novel multidimensional synchronization comparisons and dynamic interaction system. In particular, HiBrowser first provides an out of the box web service and allows flexible and dynamic reconstruction of custom annotation tracks on demand during running. In order to conveniently and intuitively analyze the similarities and differences among multiple samples, such as visual comparisons of normal and tumor tissue samples, and pan genomes of multiple (consanguineous) species, HiBrowser develops a clone mode to synchronously display the genome coordinate positions or the same regions of multiple samples on the same page of visualization. HiBrowser also supports a pluralistic and precise search on correlation data of distal cis-regulatory elements and navigation to any region on Hi-C heatmap of interest according to the searching results. HiBrowser is a no-build tool, and could be easily deployed in local server. The source code is available at https://github.com/lyotvincent/HiBrowser.

Single-Piece Membrane Supercapacitor with Exceptional Areal/Volumetric Capacitance via Double-Face Print of Electrode/Electrolyte Active Ink.

Single-piece flexible supercapacitors (FSCs) have light and ultrathin superiorities, thereby having great potential in portable/wearable electronics. However, all the available single-piece FSCs are fabricated by in situ growth routes, which are incompatible with large-scale technology. This work designs a carboxymethyl cellulose/phytic acid/polyaniline ink, incorporating electrode with electrolyte active compositions. Based on the electrode/electrolyte active ink, a double-face print technique on mixed cellulose ester and nylon membranes to fabricate single-piece membrane-FSCs, where both sides of membranes can be utilized well, is proposed. Consequently, one FSC is measured to be only ≈0.785 cm2 in area, ≈0.021 g in weight, and ≈200 µm in thickness, while it has exceptional areal and volumetric capacitances up to 757 mF cm-2 and 37.8 F cm-3 , respectively, based on the entire device. It also exhibits high flexibility with a capacitance retention of 98% after 2000 bend cycles from 0° to 180°. The state-of-the-art FSCs are expected to have exciting prospects in portable/wearable electronics, smart reading, and flexible displays. The preparation strategy renders the massive production of large-area and mini-size arrayed FSCs, and also the "do-it-yourself" or homemade preparation, which adds more interest and designability for general users.

Effects of hypersplenism on the outcome of hepatectomy in hepatocellular carcinoma with hepatitis B virus related portal hypertension.

Background: Although hepatectomy plus splenectomy is not regularly recommended for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with portal hypertension related hypersplenism due to the high risk accompanied with surgical procedures for now. Many researchers still believe that hypersplenism is a controversial adverse prognostic factor for HCC patients. Thus, the primary objective of the study was to determine the effects of hypersplenism on the prognosis of these patients during and after hepatectomy. Methods: A total of 335 patients with HBV-related HCC who underwent surgical resection as primary intervention were included in this study and categorized into three groups. Group A consisted of 226 patients without hypersplenism, Group B included 77 patients with mild hypersplenism, and Group C contained 32 patients with severe hypersplenism. The influence of hypersplenism on the outcome during the perioperative and long-term follow-up periods was analyzed. The independent factors were identified using the Cox proportional hazards regression model. Results: The presence of hypersplenism is associated with longer hospital stays, more postoperative blood transfusions, and higher complication rates. The overall survival (OS, P = 0.020) and disease-free survival (DFS, P = 0.005) were significantly decreased in Group B compared to those in Group A. Additionally, the OS (P = 0.014) and DFS (P = 0.005) were reduced in Group C compared to those in Group B. Severe hypersplenism was a significant independent prognostic variable for both OS and DFS. Conclusion: Severe hypersplenism prolonged the hospital stay, increased the rate of postoperative blood transfusion, and elevated the incidence of complications. Furthermore, hypersplenism predicted lower overall and disease-free survivals.

Structural Engineering of Hierarchical Aerogels Hybrid Networks for Efficient Thermal Comfort Management and Versatile Protection.

In recent years, growing concerns regarding energy efficiency and heat mitigation, along with the critical goal of carbon neutrality, have drawn human attention to the zero-energy-consumption cooling technique. Passive daytime radiative cooling (PDRC) can be an invaluable tool for combating climate change by dispersing ambient heat directly into outer space instead of just transferring it across the surface. Although significant progress has been made in cooling mechanisms, materials design, and application exploration, PDRC faces challenges regarding functionality, durability, and commercialization. Herein, a silica nanofiber aerogels (SNAs) functionalized poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropene) (P(VDF-HFP)) membrane (SFP membrane), inspired by constructional engineering is constructed. As-prepared membranes with flexible network structure combined hierarchical structure design and practicability principal. As the host material for thermal comfort management (TCM) and versatile protection, the SFP membrane features a large surface area, porous structure, and a robust skeleton that can render excellent mechanical properties. Importantly, the SFP membrane can keep exceptional solar reflectivity (0.95) and strong mid-infrared emittance (0.98) drop the temperature to 12.5 °C below ambient and 96 W m-2 cooling power under typical solar intensities over 910 W m-2 . This work provides a promising avenue for high performance aerogel membranes that can be created for use in a wide variety of applications.

Microbial Diversity, Community Turnover, and Putative Functions in Submarine Canyon Sediments under the Action of Sedimentary Geology.

Sampling challenges in deep-sea ecosystems lead to a lack of knowledge about the distribution of microbes in different submarine canyons. To study microbial diversity and community turnover under different ecological processes, we performed 16S/18S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing for sediment samples from a submarine canyon in the South China Sea. Bacteria, archaea, and eukaryotes made up 57.94% (62 phyla), 41.04% (12 phyla), and 1.02% (4 phyla) of the sequences, respectively. Thaumarchaeota, Planctomycetota, Proteobacteria, Nanoarchaeota, and Patescibacteria are the five most abundant phyla. Heterogeneous community composition was mainly observed in vertical profiles rather than horizontal geographic locations, and microbial diversity in the surface layer was much lower than that in deep layers. According to the null model tests, homogeneous selection dominated community assembly within each sediment layer, whereas heterogeneous selection and dispersal limitation dominated community assembly between distant layers. Different sedimentation processes of sediments, i.e., rapid deposition caused by turbidity currents or slow sedimentation, seem to be primarily responsible for these vertical variations. Finally, functional annotation through shotgun-metagenomic sequencing found that glycosyl transferases and glycoside hydrolases are the most abundant carbohydrate-active enzyme categories. The most likely expressed sulfur cycling pathways include assimilatory sulfate reduction, the link between inorganic and organic sulfur transformation, and organic sulfur transformation, while the potentially activated methane cycling pathways include aceticlastic methanogenesis and aerobic and anaerobic oxidation of methane. Overall, our study revealed high levels of microbial diversity and putative functions in canyon sediments and the important influence of sedimentary geology on microbial community turnover between vertical sediment layers. IMPORTANCE Deep-sea microbes have received growing attention due to their contribution to biogeochemical cycles and climate change. However, related research lags due to the difficulty of collecting samples. Based on our previous study, which revealed the formation of sediments under the dual action of turbidity currents and seafloor obstacles in a submarine canyon in the South China Sea, this interdisciplinary research provides new insights into how sedimentary geology influences microbial community assembly in sediments. We proposed some uncommon or new findings, including the following: (i) microbial diversity was much lower on the surface than in deeper layers (ii) archaea and bacteria dominated the surface and deep layers, respectively; (iii) sedimentary geology played key roles in vertical community turnover; and (iv) the microbes have great potential to catalyze sulfur, carbon, and methane cycling. This study may lead to extensive discussion of the assembly and function of deep-sea microbial communities in the context of geology.

Heterojunctions on Ta2O5@MWCNT for Ultrasensitive Ethanol Sensing at Room Temperature.

Heterojunctions of Ta2O5 and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) have been successfully synthesized by a facile and cost-effective hydrothermal method, with a super thin and uniform Ta2O5 shell wrapped around the MWCNT. The combination of Ta2O5 and MWCNTs at the interface not only modifies the morphology but also forms the p-n heterojunction, which contributes to the reconstruction of band structure, as well as the low resistance of matrix and highly chemisorbed oxygen content. The Ta2O5@MWCNT p-n heterojunction exhibits ultrasensitive performance to ethanol at room temperature, with a response of 3.15 toward 0.8 ppm ethanol and a detection limit of 0.173 ppm. The sensor has a high reproducibility at various concentrations of ethanol, superior selectivity to other gases, and long-term stability. The strategy of hybriding metal oxide semiconductors with MWCNT promises to provide a feasible and further developable pathway for high-performance room-temperature gas sensors.

Downregulation of miR-20b-5p Contributes to the Progression of Liver Fibrosis via the STAT3 Signaling Pathway In Vivo and In Vitro.

BACKGROUND: Activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are primarily involved in liver fibrosis and portal hypertension (PHT). We aimed to investigate the effect of miR-20b-5p on HSCs, liver fibrosis, and PHT. METHODS: MiR-20b-5p expression in HSCs and in mouse liver fibrosis was determined by qPCR. Further, the effects of miR-20b-5p mimic on HSCs migration, proliferation, and apoptosis were investigated in vitro. A dual-luciferase reporter assay was performed to confirm the direct interaction between miR-20b-5p and STAT3. In vivo, mouse liver fibrosis was established by common bile duct ligation and intervened by agomiR-20b-5p. Sirius red staining and hydroxyproline content were used to evaluate collagen deposition. The α-SMA expression in the liver was detected by IHC and Western blotting. The STAT3 signaling pathway and its downregulated cytokines as well as portal pressure and angiogenesis were explored. RESULTS: MiR-20b-5p was significantly downregulated during HSCs activation and in mouse liver fibrosis. The functional analyses demonstrated that miR-20b-5p inhibited cell proliferation, activation, and promoted apoptosis in HSCs in vitro. Moreover, miR-20b-5p regulated STAT3 expression by binding to the 3'UTR of its miRNA directly. Overexpression of miR-20b-5p facilitated HSC activation and proliferation by inhibiting the STAT3 signaling pathway. MiR-20b-5p overexpression suppressed the STAT3 and its downstream cytokines and ameliorated liver fibrosis in mice. The intra- and inter-hepatic angiogenesis were also effectively inhibited. The inhibition of liver fibrosis and neoangiogenesis contributed to the decrease of portal pressure. CONCLUSIONS: MiR-20b-5p plays an important role in the fibrosis and angiogenesis of liver fibrosis by targeting the STAT3 signaling pathway.

Geographic Scale Influences the Interactivities Between Determinism and Stochasticity in the Assembly of Sedimentary Microbial Communities on the South China Sea Shelf.

Determinism and stochasticity in microbial community composition decisions have attracted wide attention. However, there is no consensus on their interrelationships and relative importance, and the mechanism controlling the interaction between the two ecological processes remains to be revealed. The interaction of the two ecological processes on the continental shelf of the South China Sea was studied by performing 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing on 90 sediments at multiple depths in five sites. Three nearshore sites have higher microbial diversity than those two close to the shelf margin. Different microbial composition was observed between sites and microbial composition of nearshore sites was positively correlated with total nitrogen, total sulfur, total organic carbon, and dissolved oxygen, while that of offshore was positively correlated with total carbon, salinity, and photosynthetically active radiation. The null model test showed that the community composition among layers of the same site and between nearby sites was mainly dominated by the homogeneous selection, while that between distant sites was mainly affected by dispersal limitation, which indicates that geographic scale influences the interactivities of determinism and stochasticity. Our research indicates that the balance of these two ecological processes along the geographic scale is mainly determined by the dispersal ability of microbes and environmental heterogeneity between areas. The study provides new insights into how deterministic and stochastic processes shape microbial community composition on the continental shelf.

DupScan: predicting and visualizing vertebrate genome duplication database.

Duplicated genes prevail in vertebrates and are important in the acquisition of new genes and novelties. Whole genome duplication (WGD) is one of the sources of duplicated genes. It can provide raw materials for natural selection by increasing the flexibility and complexity of the genome. WGDs are the driving force for the evolution of vertebrates and contribute greatly to their species diversity, especially in fish species with complicated WGD patterns. Here, we constructed the DupScan database (https://dupscan.sysumeg.com/) by integrating 106 chromosomal-level genomes, which can analyze and visualize synteny at both the gene and genome scales, visualize the Ka, Ks, and 4DTV values, and browse genomes. DupScan was used to perform functional adaptation for the intricate WGD investigation based on synteny matching. DupScan supports the analysis of five WGD rounds (R): VGD2 (vertebrate genome duplication 2), Ars3R (Acipenser-ruthenus-specific 3R), Pss3R (Polyodon-spathula-specific 3R), Ts3R (teleost-specific duplication 3R), Ss4R (salmonid-specific 4R), and Cs4R (carp-specific 4R). DupScan serves as one-stop analysis platform for synteny and WGD research in which users can analyze and predict synteny and WGD patterns across 106 species of whole genome sequences. This further aided us in elucidating genome evolutionary patterns across over 60,000 vertebrate species with synteny and WGD events.

Design of Ion Channel Confined Binary Metal Cu-Fe Selenides for All-Climate, High-Capacity Sodium Ion Batteries.

Exploring special anode materials with high capacity, stable structure, and extreme temperature feasibility remains a great challenge in secondary sodium based energy systems. Here, a bimetallic Cu-Fe selenide nanosheet with refined nanostructure providing confined internal ion transport channels are reported, in which the structure improves the pseudocapacitance and reduces the charge transfer resistance for making a significant contribution to accelerating the reaction dynamics. The CuFeSe2 nanosheets have a high initial specific capacity of 480.4 mAh g-1 at 0.25 A g-1 , showing impressively excellent rate performance and ultralong cycling life over 1000 cycles with 261.1 mAh g-1 at 2.5 A g-1 . Meanwhile, it exhibits a good sodium storage performance at extreme temperatures from -20 °C to 50 °C, supporting at least 500 cycles. Besides, the CuFeSe2 ||Na3 V2 (PO4 )3 /C full cell delivers a high specific capacity of 168.5 mAh g-1 at 0.5 A g-1 and excellent feasibility for over 600 cycles long cycling. Additionally, the Na+ storage mechanisms are further revealed by ex situ X-ray diffraction (XRD) and in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. A feasible channelized structural design strategy is provided that inspires new instruction into the development of novel materials with high structural stability and low volume expansion rate toward the application of other secondary batteries.