Bioactivities and Synergistic Effect of Elsholtzia ciliata Essential Oil and Its Main Components against Lasioderma serricorne.

Investigations have shown that storage bugs seriously harm grains during storage. In the interim, essential oils (EOs) have been proven to be a good botanical pesticide. The anti-Lasioderma serricorne properties of Elsholtzia ciliata essential oil, which was obtained by steam distillation, were evaluated using DL-limonene, carvone, and their two optical isomer components using contact, repelling, and fumigation techniques. Simultaneously, the fumigation, contact, and repellent activities of carvone and its two optical isomers mixed with DL-limonene against L. serruricorne were evaluated. The results showed that E. ciliata, its main components (R-carvone, DL-limonene), and S-carvone exhibited both fumigations (LC50 = 14.47, 4.42, 20.9 and 3.78 mg/L) and contact (LD50 = 7.31, 4.03, 28.62 and 5.63 µg/adult) activity against L.serricorne. A binary mixture (1:1) of R-carvone and DL-limonene displayed an obvious synergistic effect. A binary mixture (1:1) of carvone and its two optical isomers exhibited an obvious synergistic effect, too. Furthermore, the repellent activity of the EO, carvone, and its two optical isomers, DL-limonene, and a combination of them varied. To stop insect damage during storage, E. ciliata and its components can be utilized as bio-insecticides.

Self-Assembled Monolayers of Push-Pull Chromophores as Active Layers and Their Applications.

In recent decades, considerable attention has been focused on the design and development of surfaces with defined or tunable properties for a wide range of applications and fields. To this end, self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of organic compounds offer a unique and straightforward route of modifying and engineering the surface properties of any substrate. Thus, alkane-based self-assembled monolayers constitute one of the most extensively studied organic thin-film nanomaterials, which have found wide applications in antifouling surfaces, the control of wettability or cell adhesion, sensors, optical devices, corrosion protection, and organic electronics, among many other applications, some of which have led to their technological transfer to industry. Nevertheless, recently, aromatic-based SAMs have gained importance as functional components, particularly in molecular electronics, bioelectronics, sensors, etc., due to their intrinsic electrical conductivity and optical properties, opening up new perspectives in these fields. However, some key issues affecting device performance still need to be resolved to ensure their full use and access to novel functionalities such as memory, sensors, or active layers in optoelectronic devices. In this context, we will present herein recent advances in π-conjugated systems-based self-assembled monolayers (e.g., push-pull chromophores) as active layers and their applications.

Influence of periodic pulse intake on the ventilation efficiency of positive pressure explosion-proof robot.

The ventilation work is an important step to be completed before the start of the positive pressure explosion-proof robot. The existing explosion-proof technology uses constant pressure inflation, which will cause explosive gas to accumulate in the corner area of the cavity for a long time. In order to solve this problem, a ventilation method with periodic pulse intake is proposed. Based on the finite element method, the cleaning and ventilation process of the positive pressure explosion-proof robot is simulated and analyzed. The concentration of explosive gas in the robot cavity with time under constant pressure intake and pulse intake with different periods and amplitudes is compared. The simulation results show that the pulse intake is beneficial to the ventilation of the corner position. The period and amplitude of the pulse intake has an effect on the ventilation efficiency, when the period is the same, the greater the amplitude of the pulse intake, the higher the ventilation efficiency; when the amplitude is the same, the smaller the period of the pulse intake, the higher the ventilation efficiency. After experimental verification, the validity of the simulation results is proved. This study helps to improve the ventilation efficiency of positive-pressure explosion-proof robots and provides guidance for practical applications.

Dynamic alternations of interhemispheric functional connectivity in brachial plexus avulsion injury patients with nerve transfer: a resting state fMRI study.

Brachial plexus avulsion injury (BPAI) is a severe peripheral nerve injury that leads to functional reorganization of the brain. However, the interhemispheric coordination following contralateral cervical 7 nerve transfer remains unclear. In this study, 69 BPAI patients underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging examination to assess the voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity (VMHC), which reveals the interhemispheric functional connection. The motor function of the affected upper extremity was measured using the Fugl-Meyer Assessment of Upper Extremity (FMA-UE) scale. The VMHC analysis showed significant differences between the bilateral precentral gyrus, supplementary motor area (SMA), middle frontal gyrus (MFG), and insula. Compared to the preoperative group, the VMHC of the precentral gyrus significantly increased in the postoperative short-term group (PO-ST group) but decreased in the postoperative long-term group (PO-LT group). Additionally, the VMHC of the SMA significantly increased in the PO-LT group. Furthermore, the VMHC of the precentral gyrus in the PO-ST group and the SMA in the PO-LT group were positively correlated with the FMA-UE scores. These findings highlight a positive relationship between motor recovery and increased functional connectivity of precentral gyrus and SMA, which provide possible therapeutic targets for future neuromodulation interventions to improve rehabilitation outcomes for BPAI patients.

Effects of Ambient O3 on Respiratory Mortality, Especially the Combined Effects of PM2.5 and O3.

BACKGROUND: In China, the increasing concentration of ozone (O3) has emerged as a significant air pollution issue, leading to adverse effects on public health, particularly the respiratory system. Despite the progress made in managing air pollution in China, it is crucial to address the problem of environmental O3 pollution at present. METHODS: The connection between O3 exposure and respiratory mortality in Shenyang, China, from 2014 to 2018 was analyzed by a time-series generalized additive regression model (GAM) with quasi-Poisson regression. Additionally, the potential combined effects of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and O3 were investigated using the synergy index (SI). RESULTS: Our findings indicate that each 10 µg/m3 increase in O3 at lag 2 days was associated with a maximum relative risk (RR) of 1.0150 (95% CI: 1.0098-1.0202) for respiratory mortality in the total population. For individuals aged ≥55 years, unmarried individuals, those engaged in indoor occupations, and those with low educational attainment, each 10 µg/m3 increase in O3 at lag 07 days was linked to RR values of 1.0301 (95% CI: 1.0187-1.0417), 1.0437 (95% CI: 1.0266-1.0610), 1.0317 (95% CI: 1.0186-1.0450), and 1.0346 (95% CI: 1.0222-1.0471), respectively. Importantly, we discovered a synergistic effect of PM2.5 and O3, resulting in an SI of 2.372 on the occurrence of respiratory mortality. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirmed a positive association between O3 exposure and respiratory mortality. Furthermore, it highlighted the interaction between O3 and PM2.5 in exacerbating respiratory deaths.

Machine learning-based cluster analysis of immune cell subtypes and breast cancer survival.

Host immunity involves various immune cells working in concert to achieve balanced immune response. Host immunity interacts with tumorigenic process impacting disease outcome. Clusters of different immune cells may reveal unique host immunity in relation to breast cancer progression. CIBERSORT algorithm was used to estimate relative abundances of 22 immune cell types in 3 datasets, METABRIC, TCGA, and our study. The cell type data in METABRIC were analyzed for cluster using unsupervised hierarchical clustering (UHC). The UHC results were employed to train machine learning models. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression survival analyses were performed to assess cell clusters in association with relapse-free and overall survival. Differentially expressed genes by clusters were interrogated with IPA for molecular signatures. UHC analysis identified two distinct immune cell clusters, clusters A (83.2%) and B (16.8%). Memory B cells, plasma cells, CD8 positive T cells, resting memory CD4 T cells, activated NK cells, monocytes, M1 macrophages, and resting mast cells were more abundant in clusters A than B, whereas regulatory T cells and M0 and M2 macrophages were more in clusters B than A. Patients in cluster A had favorable survival. Similar survival associations were also observed in other independent studies. IPA analysis showed that pathogen-induced cytokine storm signaling pathway, phagosome formation, and T cell receptor signaling were related to the cell type clusters. Our finding suggests that different immune cell clusters may indicate distinct immune responses to tumor growth, suggesting their potential for disease management.

Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Multicenter Clinical Study on the Efficacy and Safety of Lidocaine Patches in Chinese Patients with Postherpetic Neuralgia.

INTRODUCTION: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of lidocaine patches in Chinese patients with postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). METHODS: Patients were randomized to receive lidocaine patches or placebo every day for 4 weeks. Efficacy endpoints included the decrease of analogue scale score (VAS) value at week 4, 2 and 1 and the percentage of patients that achieved a 30% decrease of VAS value. Safety analyses were conducted as well. RESULTS: Two hundred forty Chinese patients were randomized. At week 1, lidocaine patch-treated patients had a higher clinical response versus placebo, and at week 4, the mean (SD) decreases of VAS value compared to the baseline were 14.01 (14.35) in the treatment group and 9.36 (12.03) in the placebo group (p = 0.0088). Overall, the safety profile in the treatment group was consistent with that observed in the placebo group [adverse event (AE) incidence rate: 33.33% versus 37.29%, p = 0.5857]. CONCLUSIONS: Lidocaine patches resulted in improved clinical response versus placebo in the treatment of PHN patients and were well tolerated.

Synthesis of Se polysaccharide catalyzed by sulfonic acid functionalized ionic liquids: Synergism effect of anion/cation.

The rational design and construction of controllable selenylation strategy are important for the study on the structure-activity relationship of Se polysaccharides. Herein, selenized Artemisia sphaerocephala polysaccharides (SePASs) were synthesized by using sulfonic acid functionalized ionic liquids (SFILs) as catalysts in order to study the regulation of the cation/anion constitute on the selenylation efficiency and Se polysaccharide structure. Impressively, SFILs could promote the efficient substitution of seleno-group on the polysaccharide backbone through the synergistic catalysis by cation/anions (Se content up to 5582.7 µg/g). Further, reaction mechanism and potential dissolution effect was supported by DFT calculation and polarized light microscopy. 13C NMR and FT-IR spectra analysis of SePASs exhibited that selenite existed in polysaccharides and the substitution position occured at C-6. SEC-MALLS, monosaccharide composition results revealed that strong acidity of SFILs lead to the driving forces toward low molecular mass polysaccharide fragments and synergistic effect of anion/cations in SFILs (-SO3H group of cations as proton donor, anions as nucleophile) showed regulation on average molecular mass. In addition, the strong attractions between the seleno-groups generated agglomeration of polysaccharide chain, which was proved by applying AFM analysis. Therefore, this work provided a new insight for manipulate Se content and MW of Se polysaccharides.

A novel MIL-125(Ti)-based nanocomposite for enhanced adsorption and catalytic degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride: Synergetic mechanism of calcination and the nitrogen-containing reticulated surface layer.

A multi-nitrogen conjugated organic molecule (TPE-2Py) was selected to surface modify the calcined MIL-125(Ti) to prepare a nanocomposite (TPE-2Py@DSMIL-125(Ti)) for adsorption and photodegradation of organic pollutant (tetracycline hydrochloride) under visible light. A novel reticulated surface layer was formed on the nanocomposite, and the adsorption capacity of TPE-2Py@DSMIL-125(Ti) for tetracycline hydrochloride can reach 157.7 mg/g under neutral conditions, which is higher than that of most other reported materials. Kinetic and thermodynamic studies show that the adsorption is a spontaneous heat absorption process, dominated by chemisorption, in which electrostatic interaction, π-π conjugation and Ti-N covalent bonds played dominant roles. The photocatalytic study shows that the visible photo-degradation efficiency of TPE-2Py@DSMIL-125(Ti) for tetracycline hydrochloride can further reach 89.1% after adsorption. Mechanism studies reveal that •O2- and h+ play a major role in the degradation process, and the separation and transfer rate of photo-generated carriers increase, improving its visible photocatalytic performance. This study revealed the relationship between the adsorption/photocatalytic properties of the nanocomposite and the structure of the molecular as well as the calcination, providing a convenient strategy to regulate the removal efficiency of MOFs materials towards organic pollutants. Furthermore, TPE-2Py@DSMIL-125(Ti) exhibits good reusability and even better removal efficiency for tetracycline hydrochloride in real water samples, indicating its sustainable treatment of pollutants in contaminated water.

Multi-b-value diffusion stretched-exponential model parameters correlate with MIB-1 and CD34 expression in Glioma patients, an intraoperative MR-navigated, biopsy-based histopathologic study.

Background: To understand the pathological correlations of multi-b-value diffusion-weighted imaging (MDWI) stretched-exponential model (SEM) parameters of α and diffusion distribution index (DDC) in patients with glioma. SEM parameters, as promising biomarkers, played an important role in histologically grading gliomas. Methods: Biopsy specimens were grouped as high-grade glioma (HGG) or low-grade glioma (LGG). MDWI-SEM parametric mapping of DDC1500, α1500 fitted by 15 b-values (0-1,500 sec/mm2)and DDC5000 and α5000 fitted by 22 b-values (0-5,000 sec/mm2) were matched with pathological samples (stained by MIB-1 and CD34) by coregistered localized biopsies, and all SEM parameters were correlated with these pathological indices pMIB-1(percentage of MIB-1 expression positive rate) and CD34-MVD (CD34 expression positive microvascular density for each specimen). The two-tailed Spearman's correlation was calculated for pathological indexes and SEM parameters, as well as WHO grades and SEM parameters. Results: MDWI-derived α1500 negatively correlated with CD34-MVD in both LGG (6 specimens) and HGG (26 specimens) (r=-0.437, P =0.012). MDWI-derived DDC1500 and DDC5000 negatively correlated with MIB-1 expression in all glioma patients (P<0.05). WHO grades negatively correlated with α1500(r=-0.485; P=0.005) and α5000(r=-0.395; P=0.025). Conclusions: SEM-derived DDC and α are significant in histologically grading gliomas, DDC may indicate the proliferative ability, and CD34 stained microvascular perfusion may be an important determinant of water diffusion inhomogeneity α in glioma.

Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound promotes skeletal muscle regeneration via modulating the inflammatory immune microenvironment.

Background: Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS, a form of mechanical stimulation) can promote skeletal muscle functional repair, but a lack of mechanistic understanding of its relationship and tissue regeneration limits progress in this field. We investigated the hypothesis that specific energy levels of LIPUS mediates skeletal muscle regeneration by modulating the inflammatory microenvironment. Methods: To address these gaps, LIPUS irritation was applied in vivo for 5 min at two different intensities (30mW/cm2 and 60mW/cm2) in next 7 consecutive days, and the treatment begun at 24h after air drop-induced contusion injury. In vitro experiments, LIPUS irritation was applied at three different intensities (30mW/cm2, 45mW/cm2, and 60mW/cm2) for 2 times 24h after introduction of LPS in RAW264.7. Then, we comprehensively assessed the functional and histological parameters of skeletal muscle injury in mice and the phenotype shifting in macrophages through molecular biological methods and immunofluorescence analysis both in vivo and in vitro. Results: We reported that LIPUS therapy at intensity of 60mW/cm2 exhibited the most significant differences in functional recovery of contusion-injured muscle in mice. The comprehensive functional tests and histological analysis in vivo indirectly and directly proved the effectiveness of LIPUS for muscle recovery. Through biological methods and immunofluorescence analysis both in vivo and in vitro, we found that this improvement was attributable in part to the clearance of M1 macrophages populations and the increase in M2 subtypes with the change of macrophage-mediated factors. Depletion of macrophages in vivo eliminated the therapeutic effects of LIPUS, indicating that improvement in muscle function was the result of M2-shifted macrophage polarization. Moreover, the M2-inducing effects of LIPUS were proved partially through the WNT pathway by upregulating FZD5 expression and enhancing ß-catenin nuclear translocation in macrophages both in vitro and in vivo. The inhibition and augment of WNT pathway in vitro further verified our results. Conclusion: LIPUS at intensity of 60mW/cm2 could significantly promoted skeletal muscle regeneration through shifting macrophage phenotype from M1 to M2. The ability of LIPUS to direct macrophage polarization may be a beneficial target in the clinical treatment of many injuries and inflammatory diseases.

Distinguishing glutamate and glutamine in in vivo 1 H MRS based on nuclear spin singlet order filtering.

PURPOSE: The signals of glutamate (Glu) and glutamine (Gln) are often significantly overlapped in routine 1 H-MR spectra of human brain in vivo. Selectively probing the signals of Glu and Gln in vivo is very important for the study of the metabolisms in which Glu and Gln are involved. METHODS: The Glu-/Gln- targeted pulse sequences are developed to selectively probe the signals of Glu and Gln. The core part of the Glu-/Gln- targeted pulse sequences lies on the preparation of the nuclear spin singlet orders (SSOs) of the five-spin systems of Glu and Gln. The optimal control method is used to prepare the SSOs of Glu and Gln with high efficiency. RESULTS: The Glu-/Gln- targeted pulse sequences have been applied on phantoms to selectively probe the signals of Glu and Gln. Moreover, in the in vivo experiments, the signals of Glu and Gln in human brains of healthy subjects have been successfully probed separately. CONCLUSION: The developed Glu-/Gln- targeted pulse sequences can be used to distinguish the 1 H-MR signals of Glu and Gln in human brains in vivo. The optimal control method provides an effective way to prepare the SSO of a specific spin system with high efficiency and in turn selectively probe the signals of a targeted molecule.

Machine Learning-Assisted Synthesis of Two-Dimensional Materials.

Two-dimensional (2D) materials have intriguing physical and chemical properties, which exhibit promising applications in the fields of electronics, optoelectronics, as well as energy storage. However, the controllable synthesis of 2D materials is highly desirable but remains challenging. Machine learning (ML) facilitates the development of insights and discoveries from a large amount of data in a short time for the materials synthesis, which can significantly reduce the computational costs and shorten the development cycles. Based on this, taking the 2D material MoS2 as an example, the parameters of successfully synthesized materials by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) were explored through four ML algorithms: XGBoost, Support Vector Machine (SVM), Naïve Bayes (NB), and Multilayer Perceptron (MLP). Recall, specificity, accuracy, and other metrics were used to assess the performance of these four models. By comparison, XGBoost was the best performing model among all the models, with an average prediction accuracy of over 88% and a high area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) reaching 0.91. And these findings showed that the reaction temperature (T) had a crucial influence on the growth of MoS2. Furthermore, the importance of the features in the growth mechanism of MoS2 was optimized, such as the reaction temperature (T), Ar gas flow rate (Rf), reaction time (t), and so on. The results demonstrated that ML assisted materials preparation can significantly minimize the time spent on exploration and trial-and-error, which provided perspectives in the preparation of 2D materials.

Thermochromic Smart Windows Assisted by Photothermal Nanomaterials.

Thermochromic smart windows are optical devices that can regulate their optical properties actively in response to external temperature changes. Due to their simple structures and as they do not require other additional energy supply devices, they have great potential in building energy-saving. However, conventional thermochromic smart windows generally have problems with high response temperatures and low response rates. Owing to their great effect in photothermal conversion, photothermal materials are often used in smart windows to assist phase transition so that they can quickly achieve the dual regulation of light and heat at room temperature. Based on this, research progress on the phase transition of photothermal material-assisted thermochromic smart windows is summarized. In this paper, the phase transition mechanisms of several thermochromic materials (VO2, liquid crystals, and hydrogels) commonly used in the field of smart windows are introduced. Additionally, the applications of carbon-based nanomaterials, noble metal nanoparticles, and semiconductor (metal oxygen/sulfide) nanomaterials in thermochromic smart windows are summarized. The current challenges and solutions are further indicated and future research directions are also proposed.

Protocol for quantitative ethology on natural social interactions in Drosophila.

Quantitative ethology of social interactions between free-moving animals enables precise measurement of behavioral kinematics critical for various disciplines such as neuroscience. Here, we describe a set of tools for quantitative ethology of social interactions including the analysis pipeline SoAL, the training dataset SDPD, and the camera control software MIAS, along with experimental details. These tools are directly applicable for courtship behavior in Drosophila and can be used for other social interactions in other species after modification. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Ning et al. (2022).

The High Risk Factors and Preventive Measures of Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy under the Guidance of B-Ultrasound in the Treatment of Postoperative Renal Calculi.

Objective: The aim of this study is to explore and analyze the high risk factors and preventive measures of percutaneous nephrolithotomy under the guidance of B-ultrasound in the treatment of postoperative renal calculi. Methods: The clinical data of 220 patients with renal calculi admitted to our hospital from 2018 to October 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were treated with percutaneous nephrolithotomy n = 36) and nonbleeding group (n = 184), comparing the personal data, disease-related data, surgical operation related data of the two groups of patients, single factor and logistic multifactor regression analysis to explore the influence of B-guided percutaneous. Nephrolithotomy is a high-risk factor for postoperative bleeding in patients with kidney stones, and preventive measures are based on high-risk factors. Results: There was no significant difference in the proportion of patients with different genders, whether they had renal surgery, whether they had hypertension, and those with postoperative hepatic insufficiency in the hemorrhagic group and the nonbleeding group (p > 0.05). There was no significant difference in age and body mass index between the bleeding group and the nonbleeding group (p > 0.05). The proportion of patients with diabetes in the bleeding group was higher than that in the nonbleeding group, and the difference between the groups was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Compared with the nonbleeding group, the bleeding group had a higher proportion of patients with calculus diameter ≥2 cm. The proportion of patients with staghorn calculi in the bleeding group was higher than that in the nonbleeding group. The difference between the groups was statistically significant (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the proportion of patients with hemorrhage, single or multiple renal stones, and ureteral stones in the hemorrhage group compared with the nonbleeding group (p > 0.05). Compared with the nonbleeding group, the proportion of patients with bleeding in the first stage was higher, and the proportion of patients with operation time >90 min was higher. The difference between the groups was statistically significant (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the proportion of patients in the bleeding group compared with the nonbleeding group (p > 0.05). Using Logic multifactorial regression analysis, independent risk factors for bleeding after percutaneous nephrolithotomy under ultrasound-guided bovery include diabetes mellitus, stone diameter, staghorn kidney stones, surgical timing, and staging surgery (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The independent high-risk factors affecting bleeding after percutaneous nephrolithotomy guided by B-ultrasound include diabetes, stone diameter, staghorn type kidney stones, operation time, and staged surgery. According to this, effective preventive measures can effectively reduce the operation and the occurrence of postbleeding.

Acute toxicity of Zanthoxylum bungeanum against two stored product insects and synergistic interactions between two major compounds limonene and linalool.

In order to find and develop new botanical pesticides against storage pests, components of the essential oil (EO) from Zanthoxylum bungeanum were identified by GC-MS and their insecticidal activity against the stored product pests were studied. The EO was obtained by steam distillation. Results showed that EO was rich in limonene (23.67), linalool (21.76) and linalyl anthranilate (10.87). In contact assays, linalool exhibited strongest toxicity to red flour beetle adult (LD50 = 17.06 µg/adult) and larvae (LD50 = 16.42 µg/larvae), and linalool was the most active one against the Lasioderma serricorne (LD50 = 15.36 µg/larvae). Then limonene and linalool showed different levels of fumigant activities against the two insect species. Synergism effect existed in the proportion of contact assays against Tribolium castaneum adults, and additive was observed in the proportion of 7:1 against T. castaneum larvae. This work provides important information for the development and utilization of Z. bungeanum and suggests that the EO of Z. bungeanum has the potential to serve as bio-insecticides for controlling pest damage in stored products.

Photodegradation and Photostability of Bamboo: Recent Advances.

Bamboo and its products are widely used in indoor and outdoor fields. Photodegradation occurs easily on the surface when bamboo is exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light from solar radiation. This induces surface discoloration and degrades the physical properties of bamboo, which not only negatively affects its utility and aesthetic characteristics but also restricts its application in outdoor environments. In this work, we review the mechanism of bamboo photodegradation, in which the behavior of lignin is key. The changes in bamboo's microstructure, surface color, and chemical composition during photodegradation are described in detail. Methods for enhancing its photostability, including the application of transparent coatings containing UV absorbers and hindered amine light stabilizer compounds on bamboo surfaces, are then systematically summarized, and potential approaches to combat the photodegradation of bamboo surfaces are discussed. On the basis of the recent advances of photodegradation and photostability of bamboo, this review provides new insights into the scientific application and protection of bamboo in the outdoor field.

Eco-Friendly Preparation of Biomass-Derived Porous Carbon and Its Electrochemical Properties.

High-porosity activated carbon (AC) was prepared from low-cost coconut shells (CS) using KOH as an activating agent with different KOH/char mass ratios. To cut down the amount of KOH used for AC preparation, freezing pretreatment for a certain number of times was carried out on CS before carbonization, which resulted in the maximum increase in the specific surface area (S BET) and total pore volume of 92.8 and 44.4%, respectively, in the resultant biochar. For the sake of description, AC from CS undergoing x times of freezing pretreatment and with a KOH/char ratio of y is denoted as AC-xy. The S BET values of AC-13 and AC-24 are 193 and 166 m2 g-1 larger than that of AC-05 (2217 m2 g-1), respectively. At a current density of 0.25 A g-1, the specific gravimetric capacitance (C g) values of AC-05, AC-13, and AC-24 are 386, 403, and 425 F g-1. Moreover, a symmetric supercapacitor based on AC-24 exhibits a high energy density of 14.7 Wh kg-1 at a power density of 120 W kg-1. The energy density retention rate of AC-24 is 71.1% with the power density increased by about 110 times, indicating excellent rate capability. Additionally, a capacitance retention rate of about 95% after 3000 cycles implies an outstanding cycle lifetime of an AC-24-based capacitor. The freezing strategy developed here provides a novel route for low-cost and eco-friendly production of AC from biomass wastes for high-performance supercapacitors.

Identification of Key Biomarkers in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus by a Multi-Cohort Analysis.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease that affects multiple body systems with heterogeneous clinical manifestations. Since gene expression analyses have been accomplished on diverse types of samples to specify SLE-related genes, single-cohort transcriptomics have not produced reliable results. Using an integrated multi-cohort analysis framework, we analyzed whole blood cells from SLE patients from three transcriptomics cohorts (n=1222) and identified a five-gene signature that distinguished SLE patients from controls. We validated the diagnostic performance of this five-gene signature in six independent validation cohorts (n= 469), with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.88 [95% CI 0.7 - 0.96]. This five-gene signature may be associated with the proportion of SLE immune cells, and generalizable across ages and sample types with real diagnostic value for clinical application.