Tumor­associated macrophages activated in the tumor environment of hepatocellular carcinoma: Characterization and treatment (Review).

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissue is rich in dendritic cells, T cells, B cells, macrophages, natural killer cells and cellular stroma. Together they form the tumor microenvironment (TME), which is also rich in numerous cytokines. Tumor­associated macrophages (TAMs) are involved in the regulation of tumor development. TAMs in HCC receive stimuli in different directions, polarize in different directions and release different cytokines to regulate the development of HCC. TAMs are mostly divided into two cell phenotypes: M1 and M2. M1 TAMs secrete pro­inflammatory mediators, and M2 TAMs secrete a variety of anti­inflammatory and pro­tumorigenic substances. The TAM polarization in HCC tumors is M2. Both direct and indirect methods for TAMs to regulate the development of HCC are discussed. TAMs indirectly support HCC development by promoting peripheral angiogenesis and regulating the immune microenvironment of the TME. In terms of the direct regulation between TAMs and HCC cells, the present review mainly focuses on the molecular mechanism. TAMs are involved in both the proliferation and apoptosis of HCC cells to regulate the quantitative changes of HCC, and stimulate the related invasive migratory ability and cell stemness of HCC cells. The present review aims to identify immunotherapeutic options based on the mechanisms of TAMs in the TME of HCC.

Identification of PANoptosis-relevant subgroups and predicting signature to evaluate the prognosis and immune landscape of patients with biliary tract cancer.

BACKGROUND: This study conducted molecular subtyping of biliary tract cancer patients based on 19 PANoptosis-related gene signatures. METHODS: Through consensus clustering, patients were categorized into two subtypes, A and B. By integrating multi-omics data and clinical information from different cohorts, we elucidated the association between different subtypes of biliary tract cancer and patient prognosis, which correlated with the immune infiltration characteristics of patients. RESULTS: LASSO regression analysis was performed on the 19 gene signatures, and we constructed and validated a 9-gene risk score prognostic model that accurately predicts the overall survival rate of different biliary tract cancer patients. Additionally, we developed a predictive nomogram demonstrating the clinical utility and robustness of our model. Further analysis of the risk score-based immune landscape highlighted potential associations with immune cell infiltration, chemotherapy, and immune therapy response. CONCLUSION: Our study provides valuable insights into personalized treatment strategies for biliary tract cancer, which are crucial for improving patient prognosis and guiding treatment decisions in clinical practice.

The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Nostolachma jenkinsii (Hook.f.) Deb & J.Lahiri, an endangered coffeeae plant.

Nostolachma jenkinsii (Hook.f.) Deb & J.Lahiri, a member of the Rubiaceae family, is an endangered wild plant species with potential economic value. In this research, the complete chloroplast genome of N. jenkinsii was sequenced to gain insight into its genome feature and better understand the phylogenetic relationships among the Rubiaceae species. The chloroplast genome, with a total length of 155,036 bp, comprises two inverted repeats (IR) regions spanning 25,692 bp each, a large single-copy (LSC) region measuring 85,437 bp, and a short single-copy (SSC) region measuring 18,215 bp. There is an overall 37% GC content in the chloroplast genome. By annotation analysis,. 54 tRNA genes, 10 rRNA genes, and 107 protein-coding genes were all annotated in N. jenkinsii. Furthermore, we applied phylogenetic analysis that revealed a close relationship between N. jenkinsii, D. fruticosa and D. dubia, placing them together within the Rubiaceae family.

Concentrated solar CO2 reduction in H2O vapour with >1% energy conversion efficiency.

H2O dissociation plays a crucial role in solar-driven catalytic CO2 methanation, demanding high temperature even for solar-to-chemical conversion efficiencies <1% with modest product selectivity. Herein, we report an oxygen-vacancy (Vo) rich CeO2 catalyst with single-atom Ni anchored around its surface Vo sites by replacing Ce atoms to promote H2O dissociation and achieve effective photothermal CO2 reduction under concentrated light irradiation. The high photon flux reduces the apparent activation energy for CH4 production and prevents Vo from depletion. The defects coordinated with single-atom Ni, significantly promote the capture of charges and local phonons at the Ni d-impurity orbitals, thereby inducing more effective H2O activation. The catalyst presents a CH4 yield of 192.75 µmol/cm2/h, with a solar-to-chemical efficiency of 1.14% and a selectivity ~100%. The mechanistic insights uncovered in this study should help further the development of H2O-activating catalysts for CO2 reduction and thereby expedite the practical utilization of solar-to-chemical technologies.

Solar-Driven Drum-Type Atmospheric Water Harvester Based on Bio-Based Gels with Fast Adsorption/Desorption Kinetics.

Sorption-based atmospheric water harvesting is an attractive technology for exploiting unconventional water sources. A critical challenge is how to facilitate fast and continuous collection of potable water from air. Here, a bio-based gel (cellulose/alginate/lignin gel, CAL gel), resulting from the integration of a whole biomass-derived polymer network with lithium chloride is reported. A fast adsorption/desorption kinetics, with a water capture rate of 1.74 kg kg-1 h-1 at 30% relative humidity and a desorption rate of 1.98 kg kg-1 h-1, is simultaneously realized in one piece of CAL gel, because of its strong hygroscopicity, hydrophilic network, abundant water transport channels, photothermal conversion ability, and ≈200-µm-thick self-supporting bulky structure caused by multicomponent synergy. A solar-driven, drum-type, tunable, and portable harvester is designed that can harvest atmospheric water within a brief time. Under outdoor conditions, the harvester with CAL gels operates 36 switches (180°) per day realizes a water yield of 8.96 kg kggel -1 (18.87 g kgdevice -1). This portable harvester highlights the potential for fast and scalable atmospheric water harvesting in extreme environments.

Tertiary lymphoid structures as a potential prognostic biomarker for combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC-CCA), as a rare primary hepatic tumor, is challenging to accurately assess in terms of the clinical outcomes and prognostic risk factors in patients. This study aimed to clarify the function of tertiary lymphoid structure (TLS) status in predicting the outcome of cHCC-CCA and to preliminarily explore the possible mechanism of TLS formation. METHODS: The TLSs, with different spatial distributions and densities, of 137 cHCC-CCA were quantified, and their association with prognosis was assessed by Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier analyses. We further validated TLS possible efficacy in predicting immunotherapy responsiveness in two cHCC-CCA case reports. TLS composition and its relationship to CXCL12 expression were analysed by fluorescent multiplex immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: A high intratumoural TLS score was correlated with prolonged survival, whereas a high TLS density in adjacent tissue indicated a worse prognosis in cHCC-CCA. Mature TLSs were related to favorable outcomes and showed more CD8 + T cells infiltrating tumor tissues. We further divided the cHCC-CCA patients into four immune grades by combining the peri-TLS and intra-TLS, and these grades were an independent prognostic factor. In addition, our reported cases suggested a potential value of TLS in predicting immunotherapy response in cHCC-CCA patients. Our findings suggested that CXCL12 expression in cHCC-CCA tissue was significantly correlated with TLS presence. CONCLUSION: The spatial distribution and density of TLSs revealing the characteristics of the cHCC-CCA immune microenvironment, significantly correlated with prognosis and provided a potential immunotherapy response biomarker for cHCC-CCA.

Heat's Role in Solution Electrospinning: A Novel Approach to Nanofiber Structure Optimization.

In this study, we explored an innovative application of heat-assisted solution electrospinning, a technique that significantly advances the control of phase separation in polystyrene (PS) fibers. Our experimental approach involved the use of direct heating and a convection air sheath applied through a coaxial needle, focusing on solvents with varying vapor pressures. This method enabled a detailed investigation into how solvent evaporation rates affect the morphology of the electrospun fibers. SEM and AFM measurements revealed that the application of direct heating and a heated air sheath offered precise control over the fiber morphology, significantly influencing both the surface and internal structure of the fibers. Additionally, we observed notable changes in fiber diameter, indicating that heat-assisted electrospinning can be effectively utilized to tailor fiber dimensions according to specific application requirements. Moreover, our research demonstrated the critical role of solvent properties, particularly vapor pressure, in determining the final characteristics of the electrospun fibers. By comparing fibers produced with different solvents, we gained insights into the complex interplay between solvent dynamics and heat application in fiber formation. The implications of these findings are far-reaching, offering new possibilities for the fabrication of nanofibers with customized properties. Furthermore, this could have profound impacts on various applications, from biomedical to environmental, where specific fiber characteristics are crucial. This study not only contributes to the understanding of phase separation in electrospinning but also opens avenues for further research on the optimization of fiber properties for diverse industrial and scientific applications.

3D Printed Cellulose Nanofiber Aerogel Scaffold with Hierarchical Porous Structures for Fast Solar-Driven Atmospheric Water Harvesting.

Hygroscopic salt-based composite sorbents are considered ideal candidates for solar-driven atmospheric water harvesting. The primary challenge for the sorbents lies in exposing more hygroscopically active sites to the surrounding air while preventing salt leakage. Herein, a hierarchically structured scaffold is constructed by integrating cellulose nanofiber and lithium chloride (LiCl) as building blocks through 3D printing combined with freeze-drying. The milli/micrometer multiscale pores can effectively confine LiCl and simultaneously provide a more exposed active area for water sorption and release, accelerating both water sorption and evaporation kinetics of the 3D printed structure. Compared to a conventional freeze-dried aerogel, the 3D printed scaffold exhibits a water sorption rate that is increased 1.6-fold, along with a more than 2.4-fold greater water release rate. An array of bilayer scaffolds is demonstrated, which can produce 0.63 g g-1 day-1 of water outdoors under natural sunlight. This article provides a sustainable strategy for collecting freshwater from the atmosphere.

Biopolymers for Hygroscopic Material Development.

The effective management of atmospheric water will create huge value for mankind. Diversified and sustainable biopolymers that are derived from organisms provide rich building blocks for various hygroscopic materials. Here, a comprehensive review of recent advances in developing biopolymers for hygroscopic materials is provided. It is begun with a brief introduction of species diversity and the processes of obtaining various biopolymer materials from organisms. The fabrication of hygroscopic materials is then illustrated, with a specific focus on the use of biopolymer-derived materials as substrates to produce composites and the use of biopolymers as building blocks to fabricate composite gels. Next, the representative applications of biopolymer-derived hygroscopic materials for dehumidification, atmospheric water harvesting, and power generation are systematically presented. An outlook on future challenges and key issues worthy of attention are finally provided.

Revealing the room temperature superplasticity in bulk recrystallized molybdenum.

Body-centered cubic refractory metallic materials exhibit excellent high-temperature strength, but often suffer from brittle intergranular fracture due to the recrystallization-induced enrichment of trace elements at grain boundaries (GBs). Here, we report a fully-recrystallized pure molybdenum (Mo) material with room temperature (RT) superplasticity, fabricated by a facile method of powder metallurgy, Y-type hot rolling and annealing. By engineering the ultralow concentration of O at GBs, the inherent GB brittleness of Mo can be largely eliminated, which, in conjunction with high fractions of soft texture and low angle GBs, enables a significant development of ordered dislocation networks and the effective dislocation transmission across low angle GBs. Synergy of these factors greatly suppress the brittle intergranular fracture of Mo, contributing to an enhanced deformability of 108.7% at RT. These findings should have general implication for fabricating a broad class of refractory metals and alloys toward harsh applications.

Fermi Level Pinning in Concentrated Light-Induced Band Edge Tuning Maximizes Photocatalytic Solar-to-Hydrogen Efficiency.

Here, we demonstrate a concentrated light-induced band edge tuning effect in photocatalytic hydrogen production. This band movement along with Femi level pinning leads to two distinct catalytic behaviors upon irradiation flux increase. Specifically, the concentration of the light promotes more long-lived carriers bound to the surface electronic states, progressively boosting energy conversion efficiency to a maximum value. Afterward, efficiency diminishes gradually due to poor carrier transfer. This work offers critical insights into efficient and economical photocatalytic hydrogen production.

Efficient and Secure Encapsulation of a Natural Phase Change Material in Nanofibers Using Coaxial Electrospinning for Sustainable Thermal Energy Storage.

In this study, we present an ecofriendly technique for encapsulating lauric acid (LA), a natural phase change material, within polystyrene (PS) nanofibers through coaxial electrospinning. The resulting LAPS core-sheath nanofibers exhibited a melting enthalpy of up to 136.6 J/g, representing 75.8% of the heat storage capacity of pristine LA (180.2 J/g), a value surpassing all previously reported core-sheath fibers. Scanning electron microscopy revealed uniform LAPS nanofibers free of surface LA until the core LA feed rate reached 1.3 mL/h. As the core LA feed rate increased, the fiber diameter shrank from 2.24 ± 0.31 to 0.58 ± 0.45 µm. Infrared spectra demonstrated a proportional increase in the LA content with rising core LA injection rates. Thermogravimetric analysis found the maximum core LA content in core-sheath nanofibers to be 75.0%. Differential scanning calorimetry thermograms displayed a trend line shift upon LA leakage for LA1.3PS nanofibers. LAPS fibers containing 75.0% LA effectively maintained consistent cycling stability and reusability across 100 heating-cooling cycles (20-60 °C) without heat storage deterioration. The core LA remained securely within the PS sheath after 100 cycles, and the LAPS nanofibers retained an excellent structural integrity without rupture. The energy-dense and form-stable LAPS core-sheath nanofibers have great potential for various thermal energy storage applications, such as building insulation, smart textiles, and electronic cooling systems, providing efficient temperature regulation and energy conservation.

Chemoselective Transformations of Amides: An Approach to Quinolones from ß-Amido Ynones.

An efficient and chemoselective transformation of ß-amido ynones to 3-acyl-substituted quinolones 2 and 3-H-quinolones 4 has been developed. In this reaction, ß-cyclic amido ynones can be selectively transformed into quinolones 2 in anhydrous EG via a selective C═O bond cleavage, 1,5-O migration, and C═C bond recombination process. The practical approach of this reaction renders it a viable alternative for the construction of various quinolones.

Advancing Nanofiber Research: Assessing Nonsolvent Contributions to Structure Using Coaxial Electrospinning.

In this study, we explored the influence of molecular interactions and solvent evaporation kinetics on the formation of porous structures in electrospun nanofibers, utilizing polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and polystyrene (PS) as model polymers. The coaxial electrospinning technique was employed to control the injection of water and ethylene glycol (EG) as nonsolvents into polymer jets, demonstrating its potential as a powerful tool for manipulating phase separation processes and fabricating nanofibers with tailored properties. Our findings highlighted the critical role of intermolecular interactions between nonsolvents and polymers in governing phase separation and porous structure formation. Additionally, we observed that the size and polarity of nonsolvent molecules affected the phase separation process. Furthermore, solvent evaporation kinetics were found to significantly impact phase separation, as evidenced by less distinct porous structures when using a rapidly evaporating solvent like tetrahydrofuran (THF) instead of dimethylformamide (DMF). This work offers valuable insights into the intricate relationship between molecular interactions and solvent evaporation kinetics during electrospinning, providing guidance for researchers developing porous nanofibers with specific characteristics for various applications, including filtration, drug delivery, and tissue engineering.

Ambient-conditions spinning of functional soft fibers via engineering molecular chain networks and phase separation.

Producing functional soft fibers via existing spinning methods is environmentally and economically costly due to the complexity of spinning equipment, involvement of copious solvents, intensive consumption of energy, and multi-step pre-/post-spinning treatments. We report a nonsolvent vapor-induced phase separation spinning approach under ambient conditions, which resembles the native spider silk fibrillation. It is enabled by the optimal rheological properties of dopes via engineering silver-coordinated molecular chain interactions and autonomous phase transition due to the nonsolvent vapor-induced phase separation effect. Fiber fibrillation under ambient conditions using a polyacrylonitrile-silver ion dope is demonstrated, along with detailed elucidations on tuning dope spinnability through rheological analysis. The obtained fibers are mechanically soft, stretchable, and electrically conductive, benefiting from elastic molecular chain networks via silver-based coordination complexes and in-situ reduced silver nanoparticles. Particularly, these fibers can be configured as wearable electronics for self-sensing and self-powering applications. Our ambient-conditions spinning approach provides a platform to create functional soft fibers with unified mechanical and electrical properties at a two-to-three order of magnitude less energy cost under ambient conditions.

IntelliSense Bio-Ionotronics Battery for Early Warning of Geological Seepage.

Water seepage-induced geological hazards (SIGHs), including landslides, collapse, debris flow, and ground fissures, often cause substantial human mortality, economic losses, and environmental damage. However, an early warning of geological water seepage remains a significant challenge. A self-powered, cost-effective, reliable, and susceptible SIGH early warning system (SIGH-EWS) is reported herein. This system designed the all-solid, sustainable, fire retardant, and safe-to-use bio-ionotronic batteries to provide a stable power supply for Internet of Things chipsets. Furthermore, the batteries' outstanding humidity and water sensitivity allow sensing of the water seepage emergence. Integrating energy management and wireless communication systems, the SIGH-EWS realizes timely alerts for early water seepage in different water and soil environments with a time resolution in seconds. Based on these merits, the SIGH-EWS demonstrates promising application prospects for early warning of geological disasters and corresponding design strategies that can potentially guide the designs of next-generation geological hazard alarm systems.

Hygrothermic Wood Actuated Robotic Hand.

Stimulus-responsive actuators play a vital role in the new generation of intelligent systems. However, poor mechanical performance, complicated fabrication processes, and the inability to complex deformation limit their practical applications. Herein, these challenges are overcome via designing a strong hygrothermic wood actuator with asymmetric water affinity. The actuator is readily constructed by sandwiching polypyrrole-coated wood with a Ni complex hygroscopic gel top layer for moisture absorption and a polyimide bottom layer as the water barrier. The resulting hygrothermic wood spontaneously stretches and bends itself in response to moisture and thermal/light stimulation. A robotic hand and a series of grippers made of hygrothermic wood demonstrate dexterous object-hand interactions during grasping and holding, while the reversible hygrothermic property allows the actuator to be potentially applied in fire rescue scenarios to rescue trapped objects. A combination of good mechanical properties, multi-stimulus-response, complex deformation, wide working temperature range, low manufacturing cost, and biocompatibility are simultaneously realized by one device. It is thus believed that such a strong wood actuator will open up a new avenue for building intelligent robotic hand systems.

Cytoskeleton-inspired hydrogel ionotronics for tactile perception and electroluminescent display in complex mechanical environments.

The emerging applications of hydrogel ionotronics (HIs) in devices and machines require them to maintain their robustness under complex mechanical environments. Nevertheless, existing HIs still suffer from various mechanical limitations, such as the lack of balance between softness, strength, toughness, and fatigue fracture under cyclic loads. Inspired by the structure of the cytoskeleton, this study develops a sustainable HI supported by a double filamentous network. This cytoskeleton-like structure can enhance the strength of the HI by 26 times and its toughness by 3 times. It also enables HI to tolerate extreme mechanical stimuli, such as severe deformation, long-term cyclic loading, and high-frequency shearing and shocking. The advantages of these structurally- and mechanically-optimized HI devices in tactile perception and electroluminescent display, i.e., two practical applications where complex mechanical stimuli need to be sustained, are demonstrated. The findings reported in this study can inspire the design of human skin-like robust and anti-fatigue-fracture HI devices for long-term stable use.

Mechanistic Study of Interfacial Modification for Stable Zn Anode Based on a Thin Separator.

The interface plays a pivotal role in stabilizing metal anode. Extensive studies have been made but systematic research is lacking. In this study, preliminary studies are conducted to explore the prime conditions of interfacial modification to approach the practical requirements. Critical factors including reaction kinetics, transport rate, and modulus are identified to affect the Zn anode morphology significantly. The fundamental principle to enhance the Zn anode stability is systematically studied using the TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofiber (TOCNF) coating layer with thin a separator. Its advantageous mechanical properties buffer the huge volume variation. The existence of hydrophilic TOCNF in the Zn anode interface enhances the mass transfer process and alters the Zn2+ distribution with a record high double-layer capacitance (390 uF cm-2 ). With the synergetic effect, the modified Zn anode works stably under 5 mA cm-2 with a thin nonwoven paper as the separator (thickness 113 µm). At an ultra-high current density of 10 mA cm-2 , this coated anode cycles for more than 300 h. This strategy shows an immense potential to drive the Zn anode forward toward practical applications.

A Nanostructured Moisture-Absorbing Gel for Fast and Large-Scale Passive Dehumidification.

Dehumidification is significant for environmental sustainability and human health. Traditional dehumidification methods involve significant energy consumption and have negative impact on the environment. The core challenge is to expose hygroscopic surfaces to the air, and appropriately store the captured water and avoid surface inactivation. Here, a nanostructured moisture-absorbing gel (N-MAG) for passive dehumidification, which consists of a hydrophilic nanocellulose network functionalized by hygroscopic lithium chloride, is reported. The interconnected nanocellulose can transfer the captured water to the internal space of the bulky N-MAG, eliminating water accumulation near the surfaces and hence enabling high-rate moisture absorption. The N-MAG can reduce the relative humidity from 96.7% to 28.7% in 6 h, even if the space is over 2 × 104 times of its own volume. The condensed water can be completely confined in the N-MAG, overcoming the problem of environmental pollution. This research brings a new perspective for sustainable humidity management without energy consumption and with positive environmental footprint.