High Moisture-Barrier Performance of Double-Layer Graphene Enabled by Conformal and Clean Transfer.

Graphene films that can theoretically block almost all molecules have emerged as promising candidate materials for moisture barrier films in the applications of organic photonic devices and gas storage. However, the current barrier performance of graphene films does not reach the ideal value. Here, we reveal that the interlayer distance of the large-area stacked multilayer graphene is the key factor that suppresses water permeation. We show that by minimizing the gap between the two monolayers, the water vapor transmission rate of double-layer graphene can be as low as 5 × 10-3 g/(m2 d) over an A4-sized region. The high barrier performance was achieved by the absence of interfacial contamination and conformal contact between graphene layers during layer-by-layer transfer. Our work reveals the moisture permeation mechanism through graphene layers, and with this approach, we can tailor the interlayer coupling of manually stacked two-dimensional materials for new physics and applications.

CircRNA/miRNA/mRNA axis participates in the progression of partial bladder outlet obstruction.

BACKGROUND: More and more evidence showed that circRNA/miRNA/mRNA axis played a vital role in the pathogenesis of some diseases. However, the role of circRNA/miRNA/mRNA axis in partial bladder outlet obstruction (pBOO) remains unknown. Our study aimed to explore the complex regulatory mechanism of circRNA/miRNA/mRNA axis in pBOO. METHODS: The pBOO rat model was established, and the bladder tissues were collected for mRNA sequencing. The differentially expressed mRNAs were analyzed by high-throughput sequencing, and the GO and KEGG analysis of the differentially expressed mRNAs were performed. Competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) analysis identified the potential regulation function of circRNA/miRNA/mRNA axis in pBOO. qRT-PCR detected the expression of circRNA/miRNA/mRNA. miRanda software was performed to predict the relationship between circRNA and miRNA, miRNA and mRNA. RESULTS: Compared with the sham group, a total of 571 mRNAs were differentially expressed in the pBOO group, of which 286 were up-regulated and 285 were down-regulated. GO analysis showed that the mRNAs were mainly involved in cellular process, single-organism process, and cell, etc. KEGG analysis showed that the enriched signaling pathways were metabolic pathways, cell adhesion molecules (CAMs), and HTLV-I infection, etc. Based on the previous transcriptome data and differentially expressed circRNAs, we drew the ceRNA network regulation diagram. qRT-PCR results confirmed that chr3:113195876|113197193/rno-miR-30c-1-3p/Gata4, chr1:126188351|126195625/rno-miR-153-5p/Diaph3, and chr9:81258380|81275269/rno-miR-135b-5p/Pigr axis may have ceRNA function. miRanda confirmed there have the binding sites of circRNA/miRNA/mRNA axis. CONCLUSIONS: CircRNA/miRNA/mRNA axis was involved in the progression of pBOO. Our research on the circRNA/miRNA/mRNA axis revealed new pathogenesis and treatment strategies for pBOO.

Prolonged Inhibitory Effects of Repeated Tibial Nerve Stimulation on the Micturition Reflex in Decorticated Rats.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine whether a short-term repeated stimulation of tibial nerve afferents induces a prolonged modulation effect on the micturition reflex in a decorticated rat model. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifteen female Sprague-Dawley rats (250-350 g) were fully decorticated and paralyzed in the study. Tibial nerve stimulation (TNS) was delivered by inserting two pairs of needle electrodes close to the nerves at the level of the medial malleolus. Constant flow cystometries (0.07 mL/min) at approximately ten-minute intervals were performed, and the micturition threshold volume (MTV) was recorded and used as a dependent variable. After four to five stable recordings, the tibial nerves of both sides were stimulated continuously for five minutes at 10 Hz and at an intensity of three times the threshold for α-motor axons. Six same stimulations were applied repeatedly, with an interval of five minutes between each stimulation. Mean MTV was calculated on the basis of several cystometries in each half-hour period before, during, and after the six repeated TNS. RESULTS: During the experiment, all the animals survived in good condition with relatively stable micturition reflexes, and a significant increase in MTV was detected after TNS. The strongest effect (mean = 178%) was observed during the first 30 minutes after six repeated stimulations. This obvious threshold increase remained for at least five hours. CONCLUSIONS: A prolonged poststimulation modulatory effect on the micturition reflex was induced by short-term repeated TNS in decorticated rats. This study provides a theoretical explanation for the clinical benefit of TNS in patients with overactive bladder and suggests decorticated rats as a promising model for further investigation of the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying the bladder inhibitory response induced by TNS.

Outdoor artificial light at night and male sperm quality: A retrospective cohort study in China.

Due to the worldwide increased rate of infertility among reproductive-age couples, there is a growing interest in the relationship between environmental stimuli and human sperm quality. While animal studies have demonstrated the detrimental effects of outdoor artificial light at night (ALAN) on sperm quality, investigations based on human data are lacking. Therefore, we conducted a retrospective cohort study involving 1991 sperm donor candidates and employed multivariate linear regression and restricted cubic spline models to quantify the association between outdoor ALAN and sperm quality. The aim was to determine whether there exists an association between exposure to outdoor ALAN and sperm quality. The study included 1991 sperm donor candidates with the following characteristics: mean [SD] age, 24.98 [4.78] years; mean [SD] BMI, 22.13 [2.60] kg/m2; mean [SD] sleep duration, 7.66 [1.07] hours/day. Outdoor ALAN exposure of study participants ranged from 0 to 100 nW/cm2/sr. Multiple regression analysis on chronic exposure (0-90 days before sperm donation) and human sperm quality revealed the following associations: for CASA primary motion parameters, every 100-unit (nW/cm2/sr) increase in chronic outdoor ALAN was associated with a change of -0.043 [95%CI: 0.073, -0.014] in Linearity (LIN), and -5.523 [95%CI: 9.100, -1.946] in Curvilinear velocity (VCL). For CASA secondary motion parameters, every 100-unit (nW/cm2/sr) increase in chronic outdoor ALAN was associated with a change of -3.873 [95%CI: 4.926, -2.748] in non-progressive motility rate (NP). Furthermore, the primary sperm quality parameter exhibited a decline of -4.740 [95%CI: 8.853, -0.628] in sperm motility rate per 100-unit (nW/cm2/sr) increase in chronic outdoor ALAN. Similar associations were also observed for acute exposure (0-9 days before sperm donation). This retrospective study suggests that poorer sperm quality is more prevalent among adult males residing in areas with higher levels of outdoor ALAN, with a particularly pronounced impact observed in males below the age of 25 years.

The association between artificial light at night and gestational diabetes mellitus: A prospective cohort study from China.

BACKGROUND: Emerging evidence suggests that exposure to outdoor artificial light at night (ALAN) may be associated with diabetes. However, limited research explores the relationship between outdoor ALAN and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). METHODS: We utilized data from a multilevel infant and early life cohort study conducted in Sichuan Province, China, between February 2018 and April 2021. A total of 9,120 participants were included in the final analysis. Outdoor ALAN exposure at participants' residential locations was estimated using time-varying satellite data, focusing on persistent night-time illumination at a scale of approximately 500x500m. The information about GDM was obtained from medical records. After adjusting for potential confounders, multivariable logistic regression models and restricted cubic splines were employed to estimate the association between ALAN exposure during pregnancy and GDM. RESULTS: Among the total recruitments, 1,484 (16.27%) women were diagnosed with GDM. Compared to women without GDM, those with GDM had a significantly higher mean outdoor ALAN exposure during pregnancy (18.98 nW/cm2/sr1 vs 24.28 nW/cm2/sr1, P < 0.001). Results from multivariable logistic models showed that higher outdoor ALAN exposure during pregnancy could increase the risk of GDM (OR (95% CI) 1st+2nd trimesters ALAN = 1.253 (1.157-1.356)). Meanwhile, results from the restricted cubic spline further indicated a non-linear association between outdoor ALAN exposure during pregnancy and GDM. Generally, with the radiance of the first two trimesters of ALAN increasing to about 17.9 nW/cm2/sr1, outdoor ALAN exposure became a risk factor for GDM. However, when the radiance of ALAN reached about 40.7 nW/cm2/sr1, the continued increasing OR estimation (OR (95% CI) = 1.489 (1.223-1.814)) of outdoor ALAN changed to steady. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggested that high levels of outdoor ALAN exposure during pregnancy can be associated with an increased risk of GDM, and a non-linear relationship pattern might exist. These findings substantially augment existing evidence, positing outdoor ALAN as an emergent, modifiable risk factor for GDM.

Recent trends in the transfer of graphene films.

Recent years have witnessed advances in chemical vapor deposition growth of graphene films on metal foils with fine scalability and thickness controllability. However, challenges for obtaining wrinkle-free, defect-free and large-area uniformity remain to be tackled. In addition, the real commercial applications of graphene films still require industrially compatible transfer techniques with reliable performance of transferred graphene, excellent production capacity, and suitable cost. Transferred graphene films, particularly with a large area, still suffer from the presence of transfer-related cracks, wrinkles and contaminants, which would strongly deteriorate the quality and uniformity of transferred graphene films. Potential applications of graphene films include moisture barrier films, transparent conductive films, electromagnetic shielding films, and optical communications; such applications call different requirements for the performance of transferred graphene, which, in turn, determine the suitable transfer techniques. Besides the reliable transfer process, automatic machines should be well developed for the future batch transfer of graphene films, ensuring the repeatability and scalability. This mini-review provides a summary of recent advances in the transfer of graphene films and offers a perspective for future directions of transfer techniques that are compatible for industrial batch transfer.

Polyacrylonitrile as an Efficient Transfer Medium for Wafer-Scale Transfer of Graphene.

The disparity between growth substrates and application-specific substrates can be mediated by reliable graphene transfer, the lack of which currently strongly hinders the graphene applications. Conventionally, the removal of soft polymers, that support the graphene during the transfer, would contaminate graphene surface, produce cracks, and leave unprotected graphene surface sensitive to airborne contaminations. In this work, it is found that polyacrylonitrile (PAN) can function as polymer medium for transferring wafer-size graphene, and encapsulating layer to deliver high-performance graphene devices. Therefore, PAN, that is compatible with device fabrication, does not need to be removed for subsequent applications. The crack-free transfer of 4 in. graphene onto SiO2/Si wafers, and the wafer-scale fabrication of graphene-based field-effect transistor arrays with no observed clear doping, uniformly high carrier mobility (≈11 000 cm2 V-1 s-1), and long-term stability at room temperature, are achieved. This work presents new concept for designing the transfer process of 2D materials, in which multifunctional polymer can be retained, and offers a reliable method for fabricating wafer-scale devices of 2D materials with outstanding performance.

Tunable Adhesion for All-Dry Transfer of 2D Materials Enabled by the Freezing of Transfer Medium.

The real applications of chemical vapor deposition (CVD)-grown graphene films require the reliable techniques for transferring graphene from growth substrates onto application-specific substrates. The transfer approaches that avoid the use of organic solvents, etchants, and strong bases are compatible with industrial batch processing, in which graphene transfer should be conducted by dry exfoliation and lamination. However, all-dry transfer of graphene remains unachievable owing to the difficulty in precisely controlling interfacial adhesion to enable the crack- and contamination-free transfer. Herein, through controllable crosslinking of transfer medium polymer, the adhesion is successfully tuned between the polymer and graphene for all-dry transfer of graphene wafers. Stronger adhesion enables crack-free peeling of the graphene from growth substrates, while reduced adhesion facilitates the exfoliation of polymer from graphene surface leaving an ultraclean surface. This work provides an industrially compatible approach for transferring 2D materials, key for their future applications, and offers a route for tuning the interfacial adhesion that would allow for the transfer-enabled fabrication of van der Waals heterostructures.

Rapid and Scalable Transfer of Large-Area Graphene Wafers.

Recently, scalable production of large-area graphene films on metal foils with promising qualities is successfully achieved by eliminating grain boundaries, wrinkles, and adlayers. The transfer of graphene from growth metal substrates onto functional substrates remains one inescapable obstacle on the road to the real commercial applications of chemical vaport deposition (CVD) graphene films. Current transfer methods still require time-consuming chemical reactions, which hinders its mass production, and produces cracks and contamination that strongly impede performance reproducibility. Therefore, graphene transfer techniques with fine intactness and cleanness of transferred graphene, and improved production efficiency would be ideal for the mass production of graphene films on destination substrates. Herein, through the engineering of interfacial forces enabled by sophisticated design of transfer medium, the crack-free and clean transfer of 4-inch-sized graphene wafers onto silicon wafers within only 15 min is realized. The reported transfer method is an important leap over the long-lasting obstacle of the batch-scale graphene transfer without degrading the quality of graphene, bringing the graphene products close to the real applications.

Inhibition of EZH2 ameliorates hyperoxaluria-induced kidney injury through the JNK/FoxO3a pathway.

AIMS: Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2), a histone H3 lysine 27 methyltransferase, has been shown to play a role in kidney diseases. However, its role in hyperoxaluria-induced renal tubular epithelial cells (TECs) injury remains unclear. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A hyperoxaluria rat model was established by providing 0.5% ammonium chloride and drinking water containing 1% ethylene glycol. TECs were exposed to oxalate stress. The 3-DZNeP, a selective EZH2 inhibitor, was administered in vivo and in vitro. Cell viability, ROS production, and apoptosis ratio were evaluated. Crystal deposition was detected by Von Kossa staining and kidney tissue injury was detected by HE staining and TUNEL. EZH2, H3K27me3, cleaved-caspase3, IL-6, and MCP-1 were examined by western blot or immunohistochemistry. KEY FINDINGS: Inhibition of EZH2 by 3-DZNeP significantly attenuated hyperoxaluria-induced oxidative and inflammatory injury and CaOx crystal deposition in vivo. Similarly, inhibition of EZH2 using 3-DZNeP or shRNA restored cell viability, suppressed LDH release and the production of intracellular ROS in vitro. Furthermore, the MAPK signaling pathway and FoxO3a levels were activated or elevated in TECs exposed to oxalate. EZH2 inhibition using 3-DZNeP blocked these effects. CC90003 (ERK inhibitor) or SB203580 (p38 inhibitor) did not significantly affect the expression of FoxO3a in TECs treated with 3-DZNeP and oxalate; only SP600125 (JNK inhibitor) significantly decreased FoxO3a expression. SIGNIFICANCE: EZH2 inhibition protects against oxalate-induced TECs injury and reduces CaOx crystal deposition in the kidney may by modulating the JNK/FoxO3a pathway; EZH2 may be a promising therapeutic target in TECs injury.

Large-area transfer of two-dimensional materials free of cracks, contamination and wrinkles via controllable conformal contact.

The availability of graphene and other two-dimensional (2D) materials on a wide range of substrates forms the basis for large-area applications, such as graphene integration with silicon-based technologies, which requires graphene on silicon with outperforming carrier mobilities. However, 2D materials were only produced on limited archetypal substrates by chemical vapor deposition approaches. Reliable after-growth transfer techniques, that do not produce cracks, contamination, and wrinkles, are critical for layering 2D materials onto arbitrary substrates. Here we show that, by incorporating oxhydryl groups-containing volatile molecules, the supporting films can be deformed under heat to achieve a controllable conformal contact, enabling the large-area transfer of 2D films without cracks, contamination, and wrinkles. The resulting conformity with enhanced adhesion facilitates the direct delamination of supporting films from graphene, providing ultraclean surfaces and carrier mobilities up to 1,420,000 cm2 V-1 s-1 at 4 K.

An Immune Atlas of Nephrolithiasis: Single-Cell Mass Cytometry on SIRT3 Knockout and Calcium Oxalate-Induced Renal Injury.

BACKGROUND: As a common urological disease with a high recurrence rate, nephrolithiasis caused by CaOx may elicit a strong immunologic response. We present a CyTOF-based atlas of the immune landscape in nephrolithiasis models to understand how the immune system contributes to, and is affected by, the underlying response caused by SIRT3 knockout and CaOx inducement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a large-scale CyTOF analysis of immune cell abundance profiles in nephrolithiasis. The immunophenotyping data were collected from four different mouse models, including the SIRT3 wild-type or knockout, including and excluding CaOx inducement. Unsupervised analysis strategies, such as SPADE and viSNE, revealed the intrarenal resident immune components and the immune alterations caused by SIRT3 knockout and CaOx-induced renal injury. RESULTS: An overview analysis of the immune landscape identified T cells and macrophages as the main immune cell population in nephrolithiasis models. Highly similar phenotypes were observed among CD4+ and CD8+ T cell subsets, including cells expressing Ki67, Ly6C, Siglec-F, and TCRß. Macrophages expressed a characteristic panel of markers with varied expression levels including MHC II, SIRPα, CD11c, Siglec-F, F4/80, CD64, and CD11b, indicating more subtle differences in marker expression than T cells. The SIRT3KO/CaOx and SIRT3WT/CaOx groups exhibited global differences in the intrarenal immune landscape, whereas only small differences existed between the SIRT3KO/CaOx and SIRT3KO/Ctrl groups. Among the major immune lineages, the response of CD4+ T cells, NK cells, monocytes, and M1 to CaOx inducement was regulated by SIRT3 expression in contrast to the expression changes of B cells, DCs, and granulocytes caused by CaOx inducement. The panel of immune markers influenced by CaOx inducement significantly varied with and without SIRT3 knockout. CONCLUSION: In a CaOx-induced nephrolithiasis model, SIRT3 has a critical role in regulating the immune system, especially in reducing inflammatory injury. The characteristic panel of altered immune clusters and markers provides novel insights leading to improved prediction and management of nephrolithiasis.