In Situ TEM Observation of (Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, and Ni)3O4 High-Entropy Spinel Oxide Formation During Calcination at Atomic Scale.

High-entropy oxides (HEOs) are promising anode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), owing to their stable crystal structure, superionic conductivity, and high capacity. In this study, the (Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, and Ni)3O4 HEO via solid-state reaction is prepared. To improve the synthetic efficiency, it is necessary to understand the formation mechanism. Therefore, a high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) is used to record information during calcination at increasing temperature. The overall formation process included MnO2 and NiO aggregation at 500 °C, followed by (Mn, and Ni)3O4 combined with Co3O4 at 600 °C to form (Mn, Co, and Ni)3O4. At higher temperatures, Fe2O3 and Cr2O3 sequentially combined with (Mn, Co, and Ni)3O4 and formed the (Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni)3O4 at 900 °C. In addition, the valence-state-changing mechanisms and ion arrangements of (Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, and Ni)3O4 are determined using electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS). This study successfully revealed the formation of HEO at atomic scale. The results provide valuable insights for improving the manufacturing process of (Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, and Ni)3O4 HEOs, which is expected to play a vital role in the development of anode materials for next-generation LIBs.

Fine-Tuning Optoelectronic Features in Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Metal Halides: A Focus on the Phenylbutanammonium Series.

Extensive research has been dedicated to exploring the potential applications of organic-inorganic hybrid metal halides in optoelectronics. This study presents findings on three metal halides based on phenylbutanammonium (PBA). Specifically, (PBA)2MnBr4(H2O)2 and (PBA)2Sn(IV)Cl6 exhibit zero-dimensional structures with P21/c and Pnma space groups, respectively, while (PBA)2Sn(II)Br4 features a two-dimensional structure with P1̅ space group. Under UV excitation, (PBA)2MnBr4(H2O)2 exhibits double emission arising from the 4T1 → 6A1 transitions of Mn2+ in two distinct coordination environments. The emission spectrum of (PBA)2SnCl6 aligns with that of PBACl, suggesting that the luminescence originates from the organic component. The yellow emission of (PBA)2SnBr4 is attributed to the self-trapped excitons. This study introduces the PBA series of compounds, revealing that varying metal ions and halogen combinations can adjust the structural dimensions and influence optical properties. The insights gained from this work serve as a guide for the preparation of efficient white light-emitting diodes.

High External Quantum Efficiency and Dual-Band Emission of (C7H18N)3Sb2Cl9 for Sensitivity Temperature Sensing.

Organic-inorganic hybrid halides have gained attention for their ease of processing and remarkable optoelectronic properties. However, the relationship between the structure and optical properties requires further exploration. In this study, the butyltrimethylammonium cation (C7H18N+) was chosen, and seven compounds were synthesized: (C7H18N)3Sb2X9 (X = Cl, Br), (C7H18N)3Bi2X9 (X = Cl, Br, I), and (C7H18N)(C2H8N)MBr5 (M = Sb, Bi). Crystals with a single organic cation exhibit a zero-dimensional structure, while the introduction of dimethylamine ions increases the crystal dimensionality from zero-dimensional (C7H18N)3Sb2Br9 to one-dimensional (C7H18N)(C2H8N)SbBr5. Under 372 nm excitation, (C7H18N)3Sb2Cl9 showed broad orange-red single-band emission with a high photoluminescence quantum yield of 88.4% and an external quantum efficiency of up to 56.9%. A white light-emitting diode based on (C7H18N)3Sb2Cl9 achieved a high color rendering index of 96.3. Moreover, dual-band emission was observed in (C7H18N)3Sb2Cl9 under 308 nm excitation, which exhibits an absolute temperature sensitivity of 1.96 × 10-3 K-1 (320 K), and a flexible film was prepared by incorporating polydimethylsiloxane. This shows the promise of hybrid metal halides as photoluminescent materials and their possibilities for temperature sensing.

Zero-Dimensional Halides with ns2 Electron (Sb3+) Activation to Generate Broad Photoluminescence.

Organic-inorganic metal halides (OIMHs) have various crystal structures and offer excellent semiconducting properties. Here, we report three novel OIMHs, (PPA)6InBr9 (PPA = [C6H5(CH2)3NH3]+), (PBA)2SbBr5, and (PBA)2SbI6 (PBA = [C6H5(CH2)4NH3]+), showing typical zero-dimensional (0D) structure, octahedra dimers, and corner-sharing one-dimensional chains and crystallized in the monoclinic system with P21, P21/c, and C2/c space groups, respectively. (PPA)6InBr9, (PBA)2SbBr5, and (PBA)2SbI6 have experimental optical band gaps of ∼3.16, ∼2.24, and 1.48 eV, respectively. (PPA)6InBr9 exhibits bright-orange light emission centered at 642 nm with a full-width at half-maximum of 179 nm (0.51 eV) and a Stokes shift of 277 nm (1.46 eV). After Sb3+ doping, the peak position did not change, and the photoluminescence quantum yield increased significantly from 9.2 to 53.0%. The efficient emission of Sb:(PPA)6InBr9 stems from the isolated ns2 luminescent center and strong electron-phonon coupling, making the spin-forbidden 3P1-1S0 observable. By combining commercial blue and green phosphors with orange-red-light-emitting (PPA)6In0.99Sb0.01Br9, a white-light-emitting diode was constructed, with the color-rendering index reaching up to 92.3. Our work highlights three novel 0D OIMHs, with chemical doping of Sb3+ shown to significantly enhance the luminescence properties, demonstrating their potential applications in solid-state lighting.

Atomic Imaging and Thermally Induced Dynamic Structural Evolution of Two-Dimensional Cr2S3.

In this study, facile salt-assisted chemical vapor deposition (CVD) was used to synthesize ultrathin non-van der Waals chromium sulfide (Cr2S3) with a thickness of ∼1.9 nm. The structural transformation of as-grown Cr2S3 was studied using advanced in situ heating techniques combined with transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Two-dimensional (2D) and quasi-one-dimensional (1D) samples were fabricated to investigate the connection between specific planes and the dynamic behavior of the structural variation. The rearrangement of atoms during the phase transition was driven by the loss of sulfur atoms at elevated temperatures, resulting in increased free energy. A decrease in the ratio of the (001) plane led to an overall increase in surface energy, thus lowering the critical phase transition temperature. Our study provides detailed insight into the mechanism of structural transformation and the critical factors governing transition temperature, thus paving the way for future studies on intriguing Cr-S compounds.

Effect of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on cancer incidence, non-vascular death, and total mortality: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Omega-3 fatty acids are known to prevent cardiac death. However, previous observational studies have suggested that omega-3 fatty acids are associated with cancer risk in adults. We conducted a meta-analysis based on randomized controlled trials to evaluate the effect of omega-3 fatty acids on the risk of cancer incidence, nonvascular death, and total mortality. METHODS: In February 2013, we performed electronic searches in PubMed, EmBase, and the Cochrane Library to identify randomized controlled trials on cancer incidence, nonvascular death, and total mortality. Relative risk (RR) was used to measure the effect of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on the risk of cancer incidence, nonvascular death, and total mortality using a random-effect model. The analysis was further stratified by factors that could affect the treatment effects. RESULTS: Of the 8,746 identified articles, we included 19 trials reporting data on 68,954 individuals. These studies reported 1,039 events of cancer, 2,439 events of nonvascular death, and 7,025 events of total mortality. Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation had no effect on cancer incidence (RR, 1.10; 95% CI: 0.97-1.24; P = 0.12), nonvascular death (RR, 1.00; 95% CI: 0.93-1.08; P = 1.00), or total mortality (RR, 0.95; 95% CI: 0.88-1.03; P = 0.24) when compared to a placebo. Subgroup analysis indicated that omega-3 fatty acid supplementation was associated with a reduction in total mortality risk if the proportion of men in the study population was more than 80%, or participants received alpha-linolenic acid. CONCLUSIONS: Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation does not have an effect on cancer incidence, nonvascular death, or total mortality.

[Diagnosis of amniotic fluid embolism with blood samples by liquid-based cytology technique].

OBJECTIVE: To establish the diagnosis of amniotic fluid embolism with blood samples by liquid-based cytology technique and to study the validity of method. METHODS: The blood samples were collected from patients who suffered from amniotic fluid embolism. The components of amniotic fluid in blood samples were examined with blood smear by two direct smear methods (supernatant smear, sediment smear) and two liquid-based cytology methods (automatic smear, manual smear). The positive detection rate of each method was calculated. RESULTS: The positive detection rates of two liquid-based cytology methods (84.6% and 92.3%, respectively) were much higher than those of two direct methods (53.8% and 61.5%, respectively). CONCLUSION: The liquid-based cytology technique could improve the positive detection rate of amniotic fluid embolism.

Nuciferine analogs block voltage-gated sodium, calcium and potassium channels to regulate the action potential and treat arrhythmia.

Dysfunction of the Nav1.5, Cav1.2, and Kv channels could interfere with the AP and result in arrhythmias and even heart failure. We herein present a novel library of nuciferine analogs that target ion channels for the treatment of arrhythmias. Patch clamp measurements of ventricular myocytes revealed that 6a dramatically blocked both the INa and ICa without altering the currentvoltage relationship (including the activation potential and peak potential), accelerated the inactivation of Nav and Cav channels and delayed the resurrection of these channels after inactivation. Additionally, 6a significantly decreased the APA and RMP without affecting the APD30 or APD50. The IC50 values of 6a against Nav1.5 and Cav1.2 were 4.98 µM and 4.62 µM, respectively. Furthermore, 6a (10 µM) blocked IKs, IK1, and Ito with values of 17.01 %±2.54 %, 9.09 %±2.78 %, and 11.15 %±3.52 %, respectively. Surprisingly, 6a weakly inhibited hERG channels, suggesting a low risk of proarrhythmia. The cytotoxicity evaluation of 6a with the H9c2 cell line indicated that this compound was noncytotoxic. In vivo studies suggested that these novel nuciferine analogs could shorten the time of arrhythmia continuum induced by BaCl2 and normalize the HR, QRS, QT and QTc interval and the R wave amplitude. Moreover, 6a dose-dependently affected aconitine-induced arrhythmias and notably improved the cumulative dosage of aconitine required to evoke VP, VT, VF and CA in rats with aconitine-induced arrhythmia. In conclusion, nuciferine analogs could be promising ion channel blockers that could be further developed into antiarrhythmic agents.

Advancing nonlinear optics: discovery and characterization of new non-centrosymmetric phenazine-based halides.

Organic-inorganic metal halides (OIMHs) have drawn considerable attention due to their remarkable optoelectronic properties and substantial promise for nonlinear optical applications. In this research, phenazine has been selected as the organic cation because of its π-conjugated feature. Three compounds, (C12H9N2)PbCl3, (C12H9N2)SbCl4, and (C12H9N2)2InBr4·Br, were synthesized. Initial space group assignments were centrosymmetric for (C12H9N2)PbCl3 and (C12H9N2)SbCl4. However, under 1550 nm laser excitation, (C12H9N2)PbCl3 and (C12H9N2)SbCl4 exhibited second harmonic generation intensities ∼1.7 times greater than that of the benchmark KH2PO4. Structural reevaluation ultimately confirmed non-centrosymmetric P1 and P21 space groups for (C12H9N2)PbCl3 and (C12H9N2)SbCl4, respectively. Upon excitation at 335 nm and 470 nm, (C12H9N2)PbCl3, (C12H9N2)SbCl4, and (C12H9N2)2InBr4·Br emit fluorescence at room temperature. (C12H9N2)2InBr4·Br exhibits reversible phase transitions, showing potential for phase change energy storage. Our research underscores the critical role of comprehensive experimental validation in determining the precise crystallographic space groups and reveals the extensive potential of OIMHs as versatile candidates for advanced optoelectronic applications.

Establishment and validation of a prediction model for nonrecovery of left ventricular ejection fraction in acute myocardial infarction patients combined with decreased left ventricular ejection fraction.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the risk factors for nonrecovery of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) during follow-up in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) combined with reduced LVEF, and establish and verify a risk prediction model based on these factors. METHODS: In this study, patients with AMI who underwent PCI in a high-volume PCI center between December 2018 and December 2021 were consecutively enrolled, screened, and randomly assigned to the model establishment and validation cohorts. A predictive model method based on least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression was used for establishment and validation. RESULTS: Cardiac troponin I, myoglobin, left ventricular end-diastolic dimension, multivessel disease, and no-reflow were identified as potential predictors of LVEF recovery failure. The areas under the curve were 0.703 and 0.665 in the model establishment and validation cohorts, respectively, proving that the prediction model had some predictive ability. The calibration curves of the two cohorts showed good agreement with those of the nomogram model. In addition, the decision curve analysis showed that the model had a net clinical benefit. CONCLUSION: This prediction model can assess the risk of nonrecovery of LVEF in patients with AMI undergoing PCI combined with LVEF reduction during follow-up, and conveniently screen high-risk patients with nonrecoverable LVEF early.

[Study on triterpenoid saponins in the rhizome of Anemone hofengensis].

OBJECTIVE: To study the triterpenoid saponins in the rhizome of Anemone hofengensis. METHODS: The constituents were separated with various chromatographic techniques and their structures were elucidated by physicochemical properties and spectral data. RESULTS: Five compounds were isolated and identified as 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 --> 2)-alpha-L-arabino-pyranosyl-oleanolic acid (1), 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 --> 2)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 2)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-oleanolic acid 28-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 --> 4) -beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (2), 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 --> 2) [beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 4)]-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-oleanolic acid-28-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 6)-beta-D-gluco-pyranoside (3), 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 2)-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-oleanolic acid 28-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (4), oleanolic acid-28-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyra-nosyl-(1 --> 4)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (5). CONCLUSION: Compound 1 - 5 are isolated from this plant for the first time.

Second harmonic generation from symmetry breaking stimulated by mixed organic cations in zero-dimensional hybrid metal halides.

Mixing cations with different chemical properties to induce the generation of asymmetric structures is a new approach for tuning the optical properties of hybrid organic-inorganic metal halides (HOIMHs). In this study, zero-dimensional (C9N3H15)(C9H13SO)MBr6 (M = Bi/Sb, [C9N3H15]2+ = [(C4N2H10)(C5NH5)]2+ and [C9H14SO]+ = [CH3(C6H4)OS(CH3)2]+) are synthesized. Two different cations cause both compounds to crystallize in the polar space group P212121, thus resulting in significant phase matchable second harmonic generation under a 1064 nm laser excitation. Thus, (C9N3H15)(C9H13SO)BiBr6 and (C9N3H15)(C9H13SO)SbBr6 exhibit intensities that are approximately 1.8 and 1.7 times that of KH2PO4, respectively. The results of density functional theory calculations show that both (C9N3H15)(C9H13SO)BiBr6 and (C9N3H15)(C9H13SO)SbBr6 exhibit direct bandgaps of 2.95 and 2.81 eV, respectively. Additionally, because of the distortion of the inorganic octahedra, (C9N3H15)(C9H13SO)SbBr6 exhibited bright yellow emission at room temperature, which is attributed to ns2 fluorescence emission. We believe that the symmetry of the HOIMH crystal structure can be broken by introducing spatially differentiated bifunctional organic cations, which consequently enables even-order nonlinear activities.

Fuzheng Xiaoai Decoction 1 ameliorated cancer cachexia-induced muscle atrophy via Akt-mTOR pathway.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Fuzheng Xiaoai Decoction 1 (FZXAD1) is a clinical experience prescription for the treatment of cancer patients at an advanced stage. FZXAD1 has been used for more than 10 years in the clinic and can effectively improve the deficiency syndrome of cancer patients. However, its mechanisms need further clarification. AIM OF THE STUDY: To check the effects of FZXAD1 in colon 26 (C26) cancer cachexia mice and try to clarify the mechanisms of FZXAD1 in ameliorating cancer cachexia symptoms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An animal model of cancer cachexia was constructed with male BALB/c mice bearing C26 tumor cells. Food intake, body weight and tumor size were measured daily during the animal experiment. Tissue samples in different groups including tumor and gastrocnemius muscle, were dissected and weighed at the end of the assay. Serum biochemical indicators such as total protein (TP), glucose (GLU) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were also detected. Network pharmacology-based analysis predicted the possible targets and signaling pathways involved in the effects of FZXAD1 on cancer cachexia therapy. Western blotting assays of the gastrocnemius muscle tissues from C26 tumor-bearing mice were then used to confirm the predicted possible targets of FZXAD1. RESULTS: The results of animal experiments showed that FZXAD1 could ameliorate cancer cachexia by alleviating the muscle wasting as well as kidney atrophy and increasing the body weight of cancer cachexia mice. AKT1, MTOR, MAPK3, HIF1A and MAPK1 were predicted as the core targets of FZXAD1. Western blotting confirmed the prediction that FZXAD1 increased the expression levels of phosphorylated Akt and mTOR in the muscle tissues. In addition, FZXAD1 treatment obviously ameliorated the increased levels of HIF-1α and phosphorylated Erk1/2 in C26 tumor-bearing mice. CONCLUSION: FZXAD1 effectively ameliorated cancer cachexia in an animal model of mice, which is consistent with its efficacy in the treatment of cancer patients. The mechanisms of FZXAD1 might be mainly based on its alleviating effects on muscle atrophy by activating the Akt-mTOR pathway and thus helping to maintain body weight.

All-Solid-State Garnet-Based Lithium Batteries at Work-In Operando TEM Investigations of Delithiation/Lithiation Process and Capacity Degradation Mechanism.

Li7 La3 Zr2 O12 (LLZO)-based all-solid-state Li batteries (SSLBs) are very attractive next-generation energy storage devices owing to their potential for achieving enhanced safety and improved energy density. However, the rigid nature of the ceramics challenges the SSLB fabrication and the afterward interfacial stability during electrochemical cycling. Here, a promising LLZO-based SSLB with a high areal capacity and stable cycle performance over 100 cycles is demonstrated. In operando transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is used for successfully demonstrating and investigating the delithiation/lithiation process and understanding the capacity degradation mechanism of the SSLB on an atomic scale. Other than the interfacial delamination between LLZO and LiCoO2 (LCO) owing to the stress evolvement during electrochemical cycling, oxygen deficiency of LCO not only causes microcrack formation in LCO but also partially decomposes LCO into metallic Co and is suggested to contribute to the capacity degradation based on the atomic-scale insights. When discharging the SSLB to a voltage of ≈1.2 versus Li/Li+ , severe capacity fading from the irreversible decomposition of LCO into metallic Co and Li2 O is observed under in operando TEM. These observations reveal the capacity degradation mechanisms of the LLZO-based SSLB, which provides important information for future LLZO-based SSLB developments.

Lactobacillus paracasei PS23 improves cognitive deficits via modulating the hippocampal gene expression and the gut microbiota in D-galactose-induced aging mice.

Probiotic supplements are potential therapeutic agents for age-related cognitive deficits. A prior study showed that probiotic Lactobacillus paracasei PS23 (PS23) supplementation delayed age-related cognitive decline in mice. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of live or heat-killed PS23 (HK-PS23) on cognitive function in D-galactose (D-gal)-induced aging mice and explore the underlying mechanisms. We designed four groups of mice: control, D-gal aging mice, and PS23 supplemented and HK-PS23 supplemented D-gal aging mice. We evaluated memory function and anxiety using Morris water maze and open field tests, respectively. Neural monoamines and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the hippocampus were evaluated. RNA-seq was used to evaluate hippocampal gene expression profiles in each group, and the composition of the gut microbiota was analyzed. We revealed that PS23 and HK-PS23 supplementation ameliorated D-gal-induced memory deficits and improved motor and anxiety-behaviors in aging mice. In the hippocampus, serotonin levels (5-HT) were increased and the genes involved in neuroplasticity, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant functions were upregulated in PS23 and HK-PS23 supplemented groups. The gut microbiota showed specific changes. Our results suggest that PS23 and HK-PS23 supplements could ameliorate age-related cognitive decline, possibly by upregulating the genes involved in synaptic plasticity and preventing oxidation and inflammation.

Satisfactory Wound Reconstruction with a Local Rotation Flap After Removal of Large Penile Divided Nevi: Original Technique, Early and Mid-Term Results.

Objective: To investigate the application of local rotation flaps for reconstruction of divided nevi of the penises in young male patients. Methods: A group of 8 patients of divided nevi of the penises who underwent wound reconstruction with local rotation flaps after surgical lesion removal was enrolled in a retrospective clinical study. Postoperative complication, sexual function and psychological traits were evaluated during the follow-up. Results: All patients, with ages ranged from 16 to 32 years (mean 23.25 years), were followed up for 6 to 48 months (mean 19.86 months). The patient's average length of hospital stay was 7.85 day (7 to 15 days). The average dimension of the lesions was (2.31±0.44) × (1.46±0.48) cm2 on the glans and (1.38±0.40) × (1.01±0.46) cm2 on the inner prepuce plate. All patients had no postoperative infection and were satisfied with the postoperative outcome upon discharge. Five cases of benign intradermal nevi and 3 cases of compound nevi without malignant transformation were confirmed by pathological evaluation on the removed samples. The sexual function of all patients was unaffected postoperatively by male sexual function scale (BMSFI and IIEF-5) evaluation. The psychological status of depression, anxiety and stress was all improved after the surgical reconstruction confirmed by the psychological traits scale (DASS) evaluation. Conclusion: Reconstruction with the local rotation flap is a simple, safe and appropriate surgical procedure, achieves satisfactory cosmetic outcome, and maintains intact male sexual function when used for the repair of defect after removal of divided nevi of the penises.

Machine learning links different gene patterns of viral infection to immunosuppression and immune-related biomarkers in severe burns.

Introduction: Viral infection, typically disregarded, has a significant role in burns. However, there is still a lack of biomarkers and immunotherapy targets related to viral infections in burns. Methods: Virus-related genes (VRGs) that were extracted from Gene Oncology (GO) database were included as hallmarks. Through unsupervised consensus clustering, we divided patients into two VRGs molecular patterns (VRGMPs). Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was performed to study the relationship between burns and VRGs. Random forest (RF), least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression, and logistic regression were used to select key genes, which were utilized to construct prognostic signatures by multivariate logistic regression. The risk score of the nomogram defined high- and low-risk groups. We compared immune cells, immune checkpoint-related genes, and prognosis between the two groups. Finally, we used network analysis and molecular docking to predict drugs targeting CD69 and SATB1. Expression of CD69 and SATB1 was validated by qPCR and microarray with the blood sample from the burn patient. Results: We established two VRGMPs, which differed in monocytes, neutrophils, dendritic cells, and T cells. In WGCNA, genes were divided into 14 modules, and the black module was correlated with VRGMPs. A total of 65 genes were selected by WGCNA, STRING, and differential expression analysis. The results of GO enrichment analysis were enriched in Th1 and Th2 cell differentiation, B cell receptor signaling pathway, alpha-beta T cell activation, and alpha-beta T cell differentiation. Then the 2-gene signature was constructed by RF, LASSO, and LOGISTIC regression. The signature was an independent prognostic factor and performed well in ROC, calibration, and decision curves. Further, the expression of immune cells and checkpoint genes differed between high- and low-risk groups. CD69 and SATB1 were differentially expressed in burns. Discussion: This is the first VRG-based signature (including 2 key genes validated by qPCR) for predicting survival, and it could provide vital guidance to achieve optimized immunotherapy for immunosuppression in burns.

Surface Antifouling Modification on Polyethylene Filtration Membranes by Plasma Polymerization.

Surface modification on microporous polyethylene (PE) membranes was facilitated by plasma polymerizing with two hydrophilic precursors: ethylene oxide vinyl ether (EO1V) and diethylene oxide vinyl ether (EO2V) to effectively improve the fouling against mammalian cells (Chinese hamster ovary, CHO cells) and proteins (bovine serum albumin, BSA). The plasma polymerization procedure incorporated uniform and pin-hole free ethylene oxide-containing moieties on the filtration membrane in a dry single-step process. The successful deposition of the plasma polymers was verified by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses. Water contact angle measurements and permeation experiments using cell and protein solutions were conducted to evaluate the change in hydrophilicity and fouling resistance for filtrating biomolecules. The EO1V and EO2V plasma deposited PE membranes showed about 1.45 fold higher filtration performance than the pristine membrane. Moreover, the flux recovery reached 80% and 90% by using deionized (DI) water and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution, indicating the efficacy of the modification and the good reusability of the modified PE membranes.

Iridium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation of γ- and δ-Ketoacids for Enantioselective Synthesis of γ- and δ-Lactones.

A highly efficient asymmetric hydrogenation of γ- and δ-ketoacids was developed by using a chiral spiro iridium catalyst (S)-1a, affording the optically active γ- and δ-hydroxy acids/lactones in high yields with excellent enantioselectivities (up to >99% ee) and turnover numbers (TON up to 100000). This protocol provides an efficient and practical method for enantioselective synthesis of Ezetimibe.

Synthesis of novel diselenide-linked porphyrin dimers under phase-transfer catalysis condition and their interactions with DNA.

Novel diselenide-linked porphyrin dimers were synthesized under phase-transfer catalysis conditions. The targeted compounds were characterized by (1)H-NMR, high-resolution mass spectrometry, UV/VIS and fluorescence spectroscopies, redox-potential measurements, and elemental analysis. The interaction of the title compounds with DNA was studied using UV/VIS, fluorescence, and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopies. The relative rates of singlet-oxygen production from the diselenide-linked porphyrin dimers upon photoirradiation were also measured.