Black phosphorus-incorporated novel Ti-12Mo-10Zr implant for multimodal treatment of osteosarcoma.

The repair and reconstruction of large bone defects after bone tumor resection is still a great clinical challenge. At present, orthopedic implant reconstruction is the mainstream treatment for repairing bone defects. However, according to clinical feedback, local tumor recurrence and nonunion of bone graft are common reasons leading to the failure of bone defect repair and reconstruction after bone tumor resection, which seriously threaten the physical and mental health of patients. On this basis, here the self-developed low modulus Ti-12Mo-10Zr alloy (TMZ) was chosen as substrate material. To improve its biological activity and osteointegration, calcium, oxygen, and phosphorus co-doped microporous coating was prepared on TMZ alloy by microarc oxidation (MAO). Then, black phosphorus (BP) nanosheets were incorporated onto MAO treated TMZ alloy to obtain multifunctional composites. The obtained BP-MAO-TMZ implant exhibited excellent photothermal effects and effective ablation of osteosarcoma cancer cells under the irradiation of 808 nm near infrared laser, while no photothermal or therapeutic effects were observed for TMZ alloy. Meanwhile, the structure/component bionic coating obtained after MAO treatment as well as the P-driven in situ biomineralization performance after incorporation of BP nanosheets endowed BP-MAO-TMZ implant with synergistic promoting effect on MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts' activity, proliferation and differentiation ability. This study is expected to provide effective clinical solutions for problems of difficult bone regeneration and tumor recurrence after tumor resection in patients with bone tumors and to solve a series of medical problems such as poor prognosis and poor postoperative quality of patients life with malignant bone tumors.

Waxberry-Like MnS/Ni3 S4 as High-Efficiency Bi-Functional Catalyst for Zn-Air Batteries.

In this paper, a waxberry-like MnS/Ni3 S4 composite catalyst was designed and synthesized. In this coating structure, MnS is located inside and Ni3 S4 is wrapped on the surface to form a spherical structure. This structure makes the material show excellent stability in the electrocatalytic process. The diffusion staggered region structure formed at the two-phase interface greatly enhances the synergistic interaction between MnS and Ni3 S4 . At the same time, the defects and vacancies formed by the diffusion mechanism at the interface of the two phases increase the active site and improve the interfacial electron transfer kinetics. Therefore, MnS/Ni3 S4 composites showed good catalytic performance for ORR/OER. At 10 mA cm-2 , the overpotential of it is only 320 mV, and the half-wave potential can reach 0.81 V. The catalyst also exhibited extraordinary cycle stability and small voltage gap when used as cathode of Zn-air batteries. When the current density is 3 mA cm-2 , the cyclic discharge can be stable for 400 h and the voltage difference between the front and back does not increase more than. When the current density increases to 5 mA cm-2 , the cyclic charge and discharge can be stable for more than 300 h.

Channel Prediction-Based Security Authentication for Artificial Intelligence of Things.

The emerging physical-layer unclonable attribute-aided authentication (PLUA) schemes are capable of outperforming traditional isolated approaches, with the advantage of having reliable fingerprints. However, conventional PLUA methods face new challenges in artificial intelligence of things (AIoT) applications owing to their limited flexibility. These challenges arise from the distributed nature of AIoT devices and the involved information, as well as the requirement for short end-to-end latency. To address these challenges, we propose a security authentication scheme that utilizes intelligent prediction mechanisms to detect spoofing attack. Our approach is based on a dynamic authentication method using long short term memory (LSTM), where the edge computing node observes and predicts the time-varying channel information of access devices to detect clone nodes. Additionally, we introduce a Savitzky-Golay filter-assisted high order cumulant feature extraction model (SGF-HOCM) for preprocessing channel information. By utilizing future channel attributes instead of relying solely on previous channel information, our proposed approach enables authentication decisions. We have conducted extensive experiments in actual industrial environments to validate our prediction-based security strategy, which has achieved an accuracy of 97%.

High Performance Bifunctional Electrocatalysts Designed Based on Transition-Metal Sulfides for Rechargeable Zn-Air Batteries.

Due to the energy crisis by the excessive consumption of fossil fuels, Zinc-air batteries (ZABs) with high theoretical energy density have attracted people's attention. The overall performance of ZABs is largely determined by the air cathode catalyst. Therefore, it is necessary to develop high-efficiency and low-cost bifunctional catalysts to replace noble metal catalysts to promote the development of ZABs. Among a variety of cathode catalysts, TMS has become a research hotspot in recent years because of its better electrical conductivity than metal phosphides and metal oxides. In this work, we focus on the means of improving the electrocatalytic performance of transition-metal sulfides (TMS) providing ideas for us to rationally design high-performance catalysts. Furthermore, the performance improvement law between catalyst performance and ZABs is also discussed in this work. Finally, some challenges and opportunities faced in the research of TMS electrocatalysis are briefly proposed, and strategies for improving the performance of ZABs are prospected.

Hollow Capsule NiCo2 NS Prepared by Self-Sacrificing Template Method for High-Efficiency Bifunctional Catalyst and Its Application in Zn-Air Battery.

Exploring the application of high-efficiency bifunctional oxygen catalysts to rechargeable zinc-air batteries has been a research hotspot in recent years. We succeeded in obtaining NiCo2 NS with a hollow capsule structure through the self-sacrificing template method, which has a larger specific surface area and can provide more active sites for electrocatalysis relative to his solid. The introduction of S can change the valence distribution of N and the electronic structure of the M-N bond, so that NiCo2 NS exhibits excellent performance in the overpotential and stability of the oxygen reduction and oxygen evolution reactions. It shows an overpotential of 154 mV at 10 mA cm-2 and a half-wave potential of 0.76 V. When used as a bi-functional catalyst in zinc-air batteries, it exhibits good stability within 400 h. The flexible battery assembled by NiCo2 NS also shows excellent performance, and can be cycled stably for 20 h. The current maintains good stability when it is bent at different angles during the cycle.

Poultry and Fish Intake and Pancreatic Cancer Risk: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Although several epidemiological studies have investigated associations between poultry and fish consumption and pancreatic cancer (PC) risk, these findings have been inconsistent. The present study aimed to perform a meta-analysis to comprehensively evaluate these associations. We retrieved Eligible cohort studies and case-control studies published before February 2020 from the Medline, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library and applied a random or fixed effects model to calculate the pooled relative risk (RR) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI). Publication bias was detected using funnel plots, Begg's test, and Egger's test, and the study quality was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. We included 25 studies in the analyses. The pooled RR of PC for the highest vs. lowest poultry intake category was 1.14 (95% CI: 1.02-1.26) in cohort studies. There was no appreciable link between fish intake and PC risk (RR: 1.00, 95% CI: 0.93-1.07). Our results suggest that large amount of poultry intake may increase PC risk, while fish intake is unlikely to be linked to PC risk. These links require further investigation, particularly between poultry and PC.

Surface modification of new innocuous Ti-Mo-Zr based alloys for biomedical applications.

To address the clinical challenges of modulus mismatch, lack of initial osteointegration and contain toxic elements towards traditional titanium and its alloys with surrounding bone tissue, a new ß-type titanium alloy (Ti-12Mo-10Zr) designed by our group will be chosen as dental implant in this proposal due to its excellent properties, e.g. low young's modulus (~ 50.8 GPa) and excellent compressive yield strength (~ 430.89 MPa). A modified hydrothermal and pressure method will be deployed to create tailored micro/nano topography and chemistry (phosphorus) on implant surface with the aim of promoting osteointegration. The formation process and mechanism of micro/nano-scaled hierarchical hybrid coating containing phosphorous will be revealed from the perspective of energetics and crystallography to realize co-design of multiple structure and chemical on Ti-12Mo-10Zr surface. The in vitro cytological performance of this hierarchical hybrid coating containing phosphorous will also be evaluated by co-culturing with rat bone marrow stromal cells This proposal will not only provide guidance and experimental database for next generation potential implant named Ti-12Mo-10Zr, but also display new insights to improve long-lasting stability for dental implant which demonstrate tremendous scientific significance.

CoS2 /N-Doped Hollow Spheres as an Anode Material for High-Performance Sodium-Ion Batteries.

In this work, we first synthesized polyacrylic acid (PAA) spheres and then used PAA as a template to load Co(OH)2 particles onto its surface. The product of CoS2 nanoparticles dispersed in N-doped hollow spheres (N-HCS) was prepared through sulfurization treatment (CoS2 /S@N-HCS). During the sulfuration process, sulfur penetrates into the PAA, embedding into the graphite layer along with the carbonization process. It was found that during the charging and discharging process, the sulfur in the carbon layer will gradually dissolve out, thereby forming new ion diffusion channels in the carbon spheres and exposing more CoS2 active sites. The CoS2 /S@N-HCS composite exhibits a specific capacity of 729.6 mAh g-1 after 500 cycles at a current density of 1 A g-1 . The sodium-storage mechanism and reaction kinetics of the materials were further measured by in-situ electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, ex-situ X-ray diffraction, capacitance performance evaluation, and galvanostatic intermittent titration technique. The excellent cycling performance and rate capability demonstrated that the CoS2 /S@N-HCS is a potential and prospective anode material for sodium-ion batteries.

Na2 FePO4 F/Biocarbon Nanocomposite Hollow Microspheres Derived from Biological Cell Template as High-Performance Cathode Material for Sodium-Ion Batteries.

We have successfully synthesized Na2 FePO4 F/biocarbon nanocomposite hollow microspheres from FeIII precursor as cathodes for sodium-ion batteries through self-assembly of yeast cell biotemplate and sol-gel technology. The carbon coating on the nanoparticle surface with a mesoporous structure enhances electron diffusion into Na2 FePO4 F crystal particles. The improved electrochemical performance of Na2 FePO4 F/biocarbon nanocomposites is attributed to the larger electrode-electrolyte contact area and more active sites for Na+ on the surface of hollow microspheres compared with those of Na2 FePO4 F/C. The Na2 FePO4 F/biocarbon nanocomposite exhibits a high initial discharge capacity of 114.3 mAh g-1 at 0.1 C, long-cycle stability with a capacity retention of 74.3 % after 500 cycles at 5 C, and excellent rate capability (70.2 mAh g-1 at 5 C) compared with Na2 FePO4 F/C. This novel nanocomposite hollow microsphere structure is suitable for improving the property of other cathode materials for high-power batteries.

Prognostic significance of thrombocytosis in lung cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

A potential relationship between poor prognosis and thrombocytosis has been suggested by previous studies in lung cancer, but the conclusions continued to be controversial. Here, we performed a meta-analysis to explore the prognostic impact of thrombocytosis in lung cancer. The Cochrane Library, EMBASE and PubMed databases were comprehensively and systematically retrieved from establishment to May 5, 2020. Pooled hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were applied to evaluate overall effects. Heterogeneity was assessed using I2 statistics and Cochran's Q test. Sensitivity and subgroup analyses were performed to analyze the sources of heterogeneity. Publication bias was examined using the Egger's test and pooled HR was regulated using the trim-and-fill approach when publication bias was observed. A total of 37 studies including 14,833 patients were enrolled in the meta-analysis. Thrombocytosis was significantly correlated to poor overall survival (HR 1.033; 95% CI 1.017-1.050), disease-free survival (HR 1.568; 95% CI 1.276-1.928), and progression-free survival (HR 1.653; 95% CI 1.069-2.556). Although publication bias was identified, rectification for this bias using the trim-and-fill approach did not change the combined HR substantially. In conclusion, this meta-analysis result suggested that thrombocytosis is a predictor of poor prognosis in lung cancer.

Synthesis of Porous Ni-Doped CoSe2 /C Nanospheres towards High-Rate and Long-Term Sodium-Ion Half/Full Batteries.

Carbon-layer-coated porous Ni-doped CoSe2 (Ni-CoSe2 /C) nanospheres have been fabricated by a facile hydrothermal method followed by a new selenization strategy. The porous structure of Ni-CoSe2 /C is formed by the aggregation of many small particles (20-40 nm), which are not tightly packed together, but are interspersed with gaps. Moreover, the surfaces of these small particles are covered with a thin carbon layer. Ni-CoSe2 /C delivers superior rate performance (314.0 mA h g-1 at 20 A g-1 ), ultra-long cycle life (316.1 mA h g-1 at 10 A g-1 after 8000 cycles), and excellent full-cell performance (208.3 mA h g-1 at 0.5 A g-1 after 70 cycles) when used as an anode material for half/full sodium-ion batteries. The Na storage mechanism and kinetics have been confirmed by ex situ X-ray diffraction analysis, assessment of capacitance performance, and a galvanostatic intermittent titration technique (GITT). GITT shows that Na+ diffusion in the electrode material is a dynamic change process, which is associated with a phase transition during charge and discharge. The excellent electrochemical performance suggests that the porous Ni-CoSe2 /C nanospheres have great potential to serve as an electrode material for sodium-ion batteries.

Influence of Alkyl Substitution Position on Wide-Bandgap Polymers in High-Efficiency Nonfullerene Polymer Solar Cells.

Two wide-bandgap (WBG) conjugated polymers (PBPD-p and PBPD-m) based on phenyl-substituted benzodithiophene (BDT) with the different substitution position of the alkyl side chain and benzodithiophene-4,8-dione (BDD) units are designed and synthesized to investigate the influence of alkyl substitution position on the photovoltaic performance of polymers in polymer solar cells (PSCs). The thermogravimetric analysis, absorption spectroscopy, molecular energy level, X-ray diffraction, charge transport and photovoltaic performance of the polymers are systematically studied. Compared with PBPD-p, PBPD-m exhibits a slight blue-shift but a deeper highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy level, a tighter alkyl chain packing and a higher hole mobility. The PBPD-m-based PSCs blended with acceptor IT-4F shows a higher power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 11.95% with a high open-circuit voltage (Voc ) of 0.88 V, a short-circuit current density (Jsc ) of 19.76 mA cm-2 and a fill factor (FF) of 68.7% when compared with the PCE of 6.97% with a Voc of 0.81 V, a Jsc of 15.97 mA cm-2 and an FF of 53.9% for PBPD-p. These results suggest that it is a feasible and effective strategy to optimize photovoltaic properties of WBG polymers by changing the substitution position of alkyl side chain in PSCs.

Recent progress in the development of upconversion nanomaterials in bioimaging and disease treatment.

Multifunctional lanthanide-based upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs), which feature efficiently convert low-energy photons into high-energy photons, have attracted considerable attention in the domain of materials science and biomedical applications. Due to their unique photophysical properties, including light-emitting stability, excellent upconversion luminescence efficiency, low autofluorescence, and high detection sensitivity, and high penetration depth in samples, UCNPs have been widely applied in biomedical applications, such as biosensing, imaging and theranostics. In this review, we briefly introduced the major components of UCNPs and the luminescence mechanism. Then, we compared several common design synthesis strategies and presented their advantages and disadvantages. Several examples of the functionalization of UCNPs were given. Next, we detailed their biological applications in bioimaging and disease treatment, particularly drug delivery and photodynamic therapy, including antibacterial photodynamic therapy. Finally, the future practical applications in materials science and biomedical fields, as well as the remaining challenges to UCNPs application, were described. This review provides useful practical information and insights for the research on and application of UCNPs in the field of cancer.

Porous Core-Shell CuCo2 S4 Nanospheres as Anode Material for Enhanced Lithium-Ion Batteries.

Porous core-shell CuCo2 S4 nanospheres that exhibit a large specific surface area, sufficient inner space, and a nanoporous shell were synthesized through a facile solvothermal method. The diameter of the core-shell CuCo2 S4 nanospheres is approximately 800 nm" the radius of the core is about 265 nm and the thickness of the shell are approximately 45 nm, respectively. On the basis of the experimental results, the formation mechanism of the core-shell structure is also discussed. These CuCo2 S4 nanospheres show excellent Li storage performance when used as anode material for lithium-ion batteries. This material delivers high reversible capacity of 773.7 mA h g-1 after 1000 cycles at a current density of 1 A g-1 and displays a stable capacity of 358.4 mA h g-1 after 1000 cycles even at a higher current density of 10 A g-1 . The excellent Li storage performance, in terms of high reversible capacity, cycling performance, and rate capability, can be attributed to the synergistic effects of both the core and shell during Li+ ion insertion/extraction processes.

High-Performance Nonfullerene Polymer Solar Cells Based on a Wide-Bandgap Polymer without Extra Treatment.

Nonfullerene polymer solar cells (PSCs) are developed based on a fluorinated thienyl-based wide-bandgap (WBG) polymer PBBF as the electron donor and nonfullerene small molecule IDIC as the electron acceptor. PBBF exhibits a strong absorption in the range of 300-605 nm with a wide optical bandgap of 2.05 eV, which is complementary with that of IDIC. Meanwhile, it possesses a deeper highest occupied molecular orbital energy level of  -5.52 eV and a higher hole mobility of 7.3 × 10-4  cm2 V-1  s-1 compared to the nonfluorinated polymer PBDTT. The PSCs based on PBBF:IDIC without extra treatment show a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 8.5% with a V oc of 0.95 V, a J sc of 15.3 mA cm-2 , and an FF of 58.8%, which is much higher than that of the devices based on PBDTT:IDIC (a PCE of 5.3% with a V oc of 0.88 V, a J sc of 13.7 mA cm-2 , and an FF of 43.9%). These results indicate that PBBF is a promising WBG polymer donor material for the photovoltaic applications in nonfullerene PSCs.

Antifungal Activities of Isoflavonoids from Uromyces striatus Infected Alfalfa.

Fungal pathogens constitute a severe yield-limiting factor for the pasture crop alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Eleven phenolic compounds, including a new isoflavane, were isolated from the Uromyces striatus Schroet. infected alfalfa. The effect of infection with U. striatus Schroet. on the phytochemical profile of alfalfa was investigated using ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC), and the antifungal properties of isolated compounds against a range of pathogens were tested. It was found that the contents of most of the isolated compounds in U. striatus infected alfalfa were higher than those in healthy alfalfa. Compounds 1-5 exhibited a moderate inhibitory activity against Curvularia lunata with 40.14±1.63 %, 48.03±1.22 %, 57.54±1.18 %, 50.10±1.56 %, and 61.54±2.14 % inhibition ratio at the concentration of 50 µg/mL. Compounds 3 and 5 showed a weak inhibitory activity against Fusarium graminearum with the EC50 values of 104.2±2.66 and 123.0±1.23 µg/mL, and a moderate inhibitory activity against Bipolaris sorokinianum with the EC50 values of 39.1±2.05 and 95.0±1.01 µg/mL, respectively. In pot experiments with wheat, compounds 1-5 possessed desirable protective efficacy of over 80 % and curative effectiveness of over 50 % against Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici at a concentration of 0.5 mg/mL.

[Effects of Gelatin on Performance of α-tricalcium Phosphate Bone Cement].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of gelatin on the performance of calcium phosphate cement (CPC). METHODS: α-tricalcium phosphate (α-TCP) bone cement was mixed with different concentrations of gelatin solutions. The CPC samples were soaked into simulated body fluid for one day before their compressive and bending strengths were measured. We also compared their waterproof performance, solidification time and surface topography. RESULTS: Gelatin solutions changed the performance of CPC. Optimal performance of CPC was achieved when the volume ratio of gelatin solution to CPC (Vgelatin solution:V(CPC liquid)) was set at 25:100, which increased compressive strength from (7.874 54 ± 0.660 97) MPa to (9.936 52 ± 0.433 17) MPa and bending strength from (5.157 06 ± 0.298 30) MPa to (7.959 71 ± 0.281 63) MPa. Gelatin solution also prolonged setting time of CPC, improved its waterproof performance, and promoted formulation of more dense and uniform hydroxyapatite crystals. CONCLUSION: Gelatin can improve the compressive and bending strengths of CPC, and make CPC more suitable for clinic use through improvements in setting time and waterproof performance.

The role of Shenqi Fuzheng injection as adjuvant therapy for breast cancer: an overview of systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer (BC) is the most frequent malignancy in the world. Chemotherapy (CT) is a common treatment for BC but is accompanied by toxicity and side effects. Shenqi Fuzheng Injection (SFI) is an adjuvant therapy with promising results in improving efficacy and reducing toxicity in clinical studies. This overview of systematic reviews and meta-analysis (SRs/MAs) aimed to summarize the benefits and evaluate the quality of evidence supporting SFI adjuvant as CT for BC. METHODS: A systematic search for SRs/MAs of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on SFI treatment for BC was performed by searching PubMed, Web of Science, EMbase, Cochrane Library, CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, and SinoMed databases from inception to October 1, 2022. The quality of SRs/MAs was evaluated using AMSTAR-2, PRISMA 2020, ROBIS, and GRADE by two reviewers. The corrected covered area (CCA) was used to quantify the degree of duplication of the original SRs/MAs. Finally, quantitative analysis of RCTs was conducted using RevMan 5.4 software. This study was registered with PROSPERO, CRD42022377290. RESULTS: Six SRs/MAs including 61 RCTs with 5593 patients were included in this study. Studies were published between 2015 and 2019, the original RCTs ranged from 7-49, with sample sizes ranging from 336-1989. The quantitative meta-analysis found that adjuvant CT of SFI improved the clinical response rate (RR=1.37, 95% CI=1.28, 1.46; P<0.00001) and the KPS score (RR=1.66, 95% CI 1.54, 1.79, P<0.00001) of patients with BC. In terms of immune function, CD3+ (SMD=1.51, 95% CI 0.91, 2.10; P<0.00001), CD4+ (SMD=1.87, 95% CI 1.18, 2.56; P<0.00001), CD4+/CD8+ (SMD=0.86, 95% CI 0.48, 1.23; P<0.00001), and NK cell levels (SMD=0.94, 95% CI 0.63, 1.24; P<0.00001) in the adjuvant CT group SFI were better than those with CT alone. Adverse reactions following SFI adjuvant CT showed reduced incidence of leukopenia (RR=0.53, 95% CI 0.46, 0.62; P<0.00001) and gastrointestinal reactions (RR=0.48, 95% CI 0.39, 0.58; P<0.00001). However, the GRADE results showed 'very low' to 'moderate' evidence for the 42 outcomes, without high-quality evidence supporting them, limited mainly by deficiencies in the design of RCTs (42/42, 100.00%), inconsistency (19/42, 45.24%), publication bias (41/42, 97.62%), and inaccuracy (3/42, 7.14%). The unsatisfactory results of AMSTAR-2, PRISMA 2020, and ROBIS were limited to lack of registration of study protocols, explanation of inclusion basis of RCTs, description of funding sources for the included studies, incomplete search strategy and screening process, addressing heterogeneity and sensitivity, and reporting potential conflicts of interest. CONCLUSION: Adjuvant CT with SFI for BC had better benefits and a lower risk of adverse events. The methodology and quality of the evidence are generally low, highlighting a need of greater attention during study implementation. More objective and high-quality studies are needed to verify the efficacy of adjuvant CT with SFI in clinical decision-making for BC.

From immune checkpoints to therapies: understanding immune checkpoint regulation and the influence of natural products and traditional medicine on immune checkpoint and immunotherapy in lung cancer.

Lung cancer is a disease of global concern, and immunotherapy has brought lung cancer therapy to a new era. Besides promising effects in the clinical use of immune checkpoint inhibitors, immune-related adverse events (irAEs) and low response rates are problems unsolved. Natural products and traditional medicine with an immune-modulating nature have the property to influence immune checkpoint expression and can improve immunotherapy's effect with relatively low toxicity. This review summarizes currently approved immunotherapy and the current mechanisms known to regulate immune checkpoint expression in lung cancer. It lists natural products and traditional medicine capable of influencing immune checkpoints or synergizing with immunotherapy in lung cancer, exploring both their effects and underlying mechanisms. Future research on immune checkpoint modulation and immunotherapy combination applying natural products and traditional medicine will be based on a deeper understanding of their mechanisms regulating immune checkpoints. Continued exploration of natural products and traditional medicine holds the potential to enhance the efficacy and reduce the adverse reactions of immunotherapy.