Binary Organic Solar Cells with Exceeding 19% Efficiency via the Synergy of Polyfluoride Polymer and Fluorous Solvent.

Rational molecular design and suitable device engineering are two important strategies to boost the efficiencies in organic solar cells (OSCs). Yet these two approaches are independently developed, while their synergy is believed to be more productive. Herein, a branched polyfluoride moiety, heptafluoroisopropoxyl group, is introduced into the sidechains of conjugated polymers for the first time. Compared with the conventional alkyl chain, this polyfluoride chain can endow the resulting polymer namely PF7 with highly packing order and strong crystallinity owing to the strong polarization and fluorine-induced interactions, while good solubility and moderate miscibility are retained. As a result, PF7 comprehensively outperforms the state-of-the-art polymer PM6 in photovoltaic properties. More importantly, based on the solubility of heptafluoroisopropoxyl groups in fluorous solvents, a new post-treatment denoted as fluorous solvent vapor annealing (FSVA) is proposed to match PF7. Differing from the existing post-treatments, FSVA can selectively reorganize fluoropolymer molecules but less impact small molecules in blend films. By employing the synergy of fluoropolymer and fluorous solvent, the device achieves a remarkable efficiency of 19.09%, which is among the best efficiencies in binary OSCs. The polymer PF7 and the FSVA treatment exhibit excellent universality in various OSCs with different material combinations or device architectures. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

The effects of BDNF rs6265 and FGF21 rs11665896 polymorphisms on alcohol use disorder-related impulsivity in Han Chinese adults.

Introduction: Patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) often experience repeated withdrawal. Impulsivity is the most relevant factor influencing successful withdrawal. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BNDF) and fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) are associated with impulsivity. Previous studies on the differential effects of BDNF or FGF21 on impulsivity have focused on single-gene effects and have inconsistent results. We aim to investigate the effects of BDNF rs6265 and FGF21 rs11665896, individually and together, on impulsivity during alcohol withdrawal in patients with AUD. Methods: We recruited 482 adult Han Chinese males with AUD and assessed their impulsivity using the Barratt Impulsivity Scale. Genomic DNA was extracted and genotyped from peripheral blood samples. Statistical analysis was conducted on the data. Results: The T-test and 2 × 2 analysis of variance were used to investigate the effects of the genes on impulsivity. There was a significant BDNF × FGF21 interaction on no-planning impulsiveness (F = 9.15, p = 0.003, η2p = 0.03). Simple main effects analyses and planned comparisons showed that BDNF rs6265 A allele × FGF21 rs11665896 T allele was associated with higher no-planning impulsiveness. Finally, hierarchical regression analyses revealed that only the interaction of BDNF and FGF21 accounted for a significant portion of the variance in no-planning impulsiveness. Conclusion and significance: The combination of BDNF rs6265 A allele and FGF21 rs11665896 T allele may increase impulsivity and discourage alcohol withdrawal. Our study provides a possible genetic explanation for the effects of associated impulsivity in patients with AUD from the perspective of gene-gene interactions.

Time-to-go based three-dimensional multi-missile spatio-temporal cooperative guidance law: A novel approach for maneuvering target interception.

This research presents a novel approach called 'Time-to-target-based multi-missile spatio-temporal cooperative guidance' This approach enables the simultaneous guidance of multiple missiles, allowing them to intercept a maneuvering target from different terminal intercept angles to maximize damage. The article introduces a finite-time optimal cooperative guidance technique to reduce the load on missile engines in the line-of-sight (LOS) direction. It proposes a time-varying sliding mode guidance scheme, which is parameterized by the remaining flight time, for both longitudinal and lateral LOS directions. The scheme helps prevent excessive initial acceleration in the longitudinal and lateral LOS directions while ensuring intercept angle constraints. The time-varying cooperative guidance law proposed in this study enables the simultaneous interception of a maneuvering target with different terminal intercept angles at the moment of terminal intercept. The numerical simulation results indicate that the multi-missile spatio-temporal cooperative guidance method is effective, superior, and robust. The method enables multiple missiles to achieve the minimum acceptable intercept distance at different terminal intercept angles while optimizing fuel in the LOS direction.

Increasing expression of dual-specificity phosphatase 12 mitigates oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation-induced neuronal apoptosis and inflammation through inactivation of the ASK1-JNK/p38 MAPK pathway.

Dual-specificity phosphatase 12 (DUSP12) is abnormally expressed under various pathological conditions and plays a crucial role in the pathological progression of disorders. However, the role of DUSP12 in cerebral ischaemia/reperfusion injury has not yet been investigated. This study explored the possible link between DUSP12 and cerebral ischaemia/reperfusion injury using an oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) model. Marked decreases in DUSP12 levels have been observed in cultured neurons exposed to OGD/R. DUSP12-overexpressed neurons were resistant to OGD/R-induced apoptosis and inflammation, whereas DUSP12-deficient neurons were vulnerable to OGD/R-evoked injuries. Further investigation revealed that DUSP12 overexpression or deficiency affects the phosphorylation of apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1), c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in neurons under OGD/R conditions. Moreover, blockade of ASK1 diminished the regulatory effect of DUSP12 deficiency on JNK and p38 MAPK activation. In addition, DUSP12-deficiency-elicited effects exacerbating neuronal OGD/R injury were reversed by ASK1 blockade. In summary, DUSP12 protects against neuronal OGD/R injury by reducing apoptosis and inflammation through inactivation of the ASK1-JNK/p38 MAPK pathway. These findings imply a neuroprotective function for DUSP12 in cerebral ischaemia/reperfusion injury.

Spatial distribution of volatile organic compounds in contaminated soil and distinct microbial effect driven by aerobic and anaerobic conditions.

The vertical distribution of 35 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) was investigated in soil columns from two obsolete industrial sites in Eastern China. The total concentrations of ΣVOCs in surface soils (0-20 cm) were 134-1664 ng g-1. Contamination of VOCs in surface soil exhibited remarkable variability, closely related to previous production activities at the sampling sites. Additionally, the concentrations of ΣVOCs varied with increasing soil depth from 0 to 10 m. Soils at depth of 2 m showed ΣVOCs concentrations of 127-47,389 ng g-1. Among the studied VOCs, xylene was the predominant contaminant in subsoils (2 m), with concentrations ranging from n.d. to 45,400 ng g-1. Chlorinated alkanes and olefins demonstrated a greater downward migration ability compared to monoaromatic hydrocarbons, likely due to their lower hydrophobicity. As a result, this vertical distribution of VOCs led to a high ecological risk in both the surface and deep soil. Notably, the risk quotient (RQ) of xylene in subsoil (2 m, RQ up to 319) was much higher than that in surface soil. Furthermore, distinct effects of VOCs on soil microbes were observed under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Specifically, after the 30-d incubation of xylene-contaminated soil, Ilumatobacter was enriched under aerobic condition, whereas Anaerolineaceae was enriched under anaerobic condition. Moreover, xylene contamination significantly affected methylotrophy and methanol oxidation functions for aerobic soil (t-test, p < 0.05). However, aromatic compound degradation and ammonification were significantly enhanced by xylene in anaerobic soil (t-test, p < 0.05). These findings suggest that specific VOC compound has distinct microbial ecological effects under different oxygen content conditions in soil. Therefore, when conducting soil risk assessments of VOCs, it is crucial to consider their ecological effects at different soil depths.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and their halogenated derivatives in soil from Yellow River Delta: Distribution, source apportionment, and risk assessment.

The distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and halogenated PAHs (HPAHs) in surface soils from the petroleum industrial area of the Yellow River Delta (YRD) in China were investigated. The total concentrations of 16 PAHs ranged from 19.6 to 1560 ng/g, while 22 HPAHs ranged from 2.44 to 14.9 ng/g. Moreover, a high degree of spatial distribution heterogeneity was observed for both PAHs and HPAHs, which is likely attributed to the distinct industrial activities in studied area. The combustion of biomass and petroleum were identified as primary sources of soil PAHs and HPAHs in the YRD. Furthermore, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, and benzo[g,h,i]perylene exhibited high ecological risks (with risk quotients of 1.47, 1.44, and 1.02, respectively) in specific sites within the YRD. Considering the high toxicity of HPAHs and their potential joint environmental effects with PAHs, continuous attention should be directed towards the environmental risks associated with both PAHs and HPAHs.

TRPV3 promotes sebocyte inflammation via transcriptional modulating TLR2 in acne.

Acne is a common chronic inflammatory disease of the pilosebaceous unit. Transient receptor potential vanilloid 3 (TRPV3) is an ion channel that is involved in inflammatory dermatosis development. However, the involvement of TRPV3 in acne-related inflammation remains unclear. Here, we used acne-like mice and human sebocytes to examine the role of TRPV3 in the development of acne. We found that TRPV3 expression increased in the skin lesions of Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes)-injected acne-like mice and the facial sebaceous glands (SGs) of acne patients. TRPV3 promoted inflammatory cytokines and chemokines secretion in human sebocytes and led to neutrophil infiltration surrounding the SGs in acne lesions, further exacerbating sebaceous inflammation and participating in acne development. Mechanistically, TRPV3 enhanced TLR2 level by promoting transcriptional factor phosphorylated-FOS-like antigen-1 (p-FOSL1) expression and its binding to the TLR2 promoter, leading to TLR2 upregulation and downstream NF-κB signaling activation. Genetic or pharmacological inhibition of TRPV3 both alleviated acne-like skin inflammation in mice via the TLR2-NF-κB axis. Thus, our study revealed the critical role of TRPV3 in sebaceous inflammation and indicated its potential as an acne therapeutic target.

The protective effect of vitamin A palmitate eye gel on the ocular surface during general anaesthesia surgery: a randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: To investigate the change in tear production associated with general anesthesia and the protective effect of vitamin A palmitate eye gel on the ocular surface during general anesthesia. METHODS: This double-blind, randomized clinical trial included patients undergoing non-ophthalmic surgery under general anesthesia who randomly received vitamin A palmitate eye gel and taping for one eye (Group A, n = 60) or taping alone for the other eye (Group B, n = 60). Symptom assessment in dry eye (SANDE) score, tear film break-up time (TBUT), corneal fluorescein staining (CFS) score, and Schirmer tear test I (STT-1) were analyzed under a hand-held slit lamp before anesthesia (T0), 0.5 h postoperatively (T1), and 24 h postoperatively (T2). RESULTS: At 0.5 h postoperatively, an increase in CFS score was observed in both groups (P < 0.05 in Group A and P < 0.01 in Group B), and the participants in Group A had less corneal abrasions than those in Group B. STT-1 significantly increased in Group A (P < 0.05), while it significantly decreased in Group B (P < 0.001). The changes between the two groups were statistically significant (P < 0.001). At 24 h postoperatively, both CFS score and STT-1 almost returned to baseline levels in the two groups. In both groups, the SANDE score and TBUT showed little change at 0.5 h and 24 h postoperatively (all P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Vitamin A palmitate eye gel effectively protected the ocular surface and aqueous supplementation during general anesthesia. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2100052140) on 20/10/2021.

Versatile Cu2ZnSnS4-based synaptic memristor for multi-field-regulated neuromorphic applications.

Integrating both electrical and light-modulated multi-type neuromorphic functions in a single synaptic memristive device holds the most potential for realizing next-generation neuromorphic systems, but is still challenging yet achievable. Herein, a simple bi-terminal optoelectronic synaptic memristor is newly proposed based on kesterite Cu2ZnSnS4, exhibiting stable nonvolatile resistive switching with excellent spatial uniformity and unique optoelectronic synaptic behaviors. The device demonstrates not only low switching voltage (-0.39 ± 0.08 V), concentrated Set/Reset voltage distribution (<0.08/0.15 V), and long retention time (>104 s) but also continuously modulable conductance by both electric (different width/interval/amplitude) and light (470-808 nm with different intensity) stimulus. These advantages make the device good electrically and optically simulated synaptic functions, including excitatory and inhibitory, paired-pulsed facilitation, short-/long-term plasticity, spike-timing-dependent plasticity, and "memory-forgetting" behavior. Significantly, decimal arithmetic calculation (addition, subtraction, and commutative law) is realized based on the linear conductance regulation, and high precision pattern recognition (>88%) is well achieved with an artificial neural network constructed by 5 × 5 × 4 memristor array. Predictably, such kesterite-based optoelectronic memristors can greatly open the possibility of realizing multi-functional neuromorphic systems.

Fangji Huangqi Decoction alleviates rheumatoid arthritis through regulating HIF-1α mediated the angiogenesis and the balance between autophagy and apoptosis.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Fangji Huangqi Decoction (FHD) is frequently prescribed for the clinical treatment of wind-cold and wind-dampness pathogenic superficial deficiency syndrome. It also has a notable curative effect on rheumatoid arthritis (RA). AIM OF THE STUDY: The study aimed to explore the possible mechanism of FHD against RA and provided a theoretical basis for alternative therapies for RA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used UPLC-Q-TOF-MS to analysis the ingredients and absorbed blood components of FHD. At the same time, the collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rat model was established to estimate the therapeutic effects on FHD by considering body weight, arthritis score, paw swelling, autonomous movement ability, and synovial microvessel counts. Subsequently, immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, and Western blot were employed to detect the anti-angiogenic capacity of FHD in vivo, as well as the levels of apoptosis and autophagy in the synovial tissue. In addition, flow cytometry and Western blot were used to assess the effects of FHD on apoptosis and autophagy in MH7A cells. The effects of FHD on the proliferation and migration of MH7A cells were measured by CCK8 assay, cell migration and, invasion experiments. Finally, a tube formation assay was performed to evaluate the angiogenic capacity of FHD in co-cultures of MH7A cells and HUVEC cells. RESULTS: Through testing of FHD's original formula, a total of 26 active ingredients have been identified, with 17 of them being absorbed into the bloodstream. FHD significantly improved the pathological symptoms and synovial hyperplasia of CIA rats. FHD could suppress the expression of HIF-1α, promote apoptosis in CIA rat synovial tissue, and suppress autophagy and angiogenesis. In vitro experiments showed that serum containing FHD inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of MH7A cells, and also suppressed the expression of autophagy-related proteins while promoting apoptosis. FHD markedly repressed the expression of HIF-1α protein in TNF-α-stimulated MH7A cells and inhibited the tube formation capacity induced by MH7A cells in HUVEC cells. CONCLUSIONS: The study had proven that FHD played an excellent anti-RA role, which may be attributed to its potential mechanism of regulating the balance between autophagy and apoptosis in RA FLS by suppressing the HIF-1α, thus contributing to its anti-angiogenic activities.

Oral application of magnesium-L-threonate alleviates radicular pain by inhibiting neuro-inflammation dependent central sensitization of rats.

BACKGROUND: We have reported neuro-inflammation is involved in radicular pain by enhancing the efficiency of pain synaptic transmission in spinal level. Recently, peers' studies have confirmed that magnesium deficiency leads to neuro-inflammation, thus contributes to memory and emotional deficits and pain hypersensitivity in antineoplastic agents treated rats. In this study, we explore the effect of oral application of magnesium-L-threonate (L-TAMS) in radicular pain induced by lumbar disc herniation (LDH) of rats and the possible mechanisms. METHODS: Rat model of LDH was induced by autologous nucleus pulposus (NP) implantation. Mechanical and thermal pain thresholds were assessed by von Frey filaments and hotplate test respectively. L-TAMS was applied from drinking water at dosage of 604 mg/kg/day from 2 day before NP implantation and until the end of the experiment. Free Mg2+ content in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was measured by calmagite chromometry. Synaptic transmission efficiency was determined by C-fiber evoked field potentials recorded by electrophysiologic recording in vivo. The activation of microglia in spinal dorsal horn was displayed by immunofluorescence staining and western blotting. The expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines and glutamic N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) subunits (NR2A, NR2B) were assessed by western blotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) respectively. RESULTS: NP implantation induced mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia, accompanied by decreased Mg2+ concentration in serum and CSF which were both obscured by oral application of L-TAMS. L-TAMS inhibited spinal microglia activation and pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1ß) expression of rats with NP. L-TAMS decreased C-fiber evoked potentials and NR2B protein level in rats with NP, which were rescued by extra intrathecal delivery of TNF-α or IL-6 or IL-1ß. CONCLUSIONS: Oral application of L-TAMS alleviates radicular pain by inhibiting neuro-inflammation dependent central sensitization of rats.

Molybdenum disulfide nanosheets promote the plasmid-mediated conjugative transfer of antibiotic resistance genes.

The environmental safety of nanoscale molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) has attracted considerable attention, but its influence on the horizontal migration of antibiotic resistance genes and the ecological risks entailed have not been reported. This study addressed the influence of exposure to MoS2 at different concentrations up to 100 mg/L on the conjugative transfer of antibiotic resistance genes carried by RP4 plasmids with two strains of Escherichia coli. As a result, MoS2 facilitated RP4 plasmid-mediated conjugative transfer in a dose-dependent manner. The conjugation of RP4 plasmids was enhanced as much as 7-fold. The promoting effect is mainly attributable to increased membrane permeability, oxidative stress induced by reactive oxygen species, changes in extracellular polymer secretion and differential expression of the genes involved in horizontal gene transfer. The data highlight the distinct dose dependence of the conjugative transfer of antibiotic resistance genes and the need to improve awareness of the ecological and health risks of nanoscale transition metal dichalcogenides.

Phosphorylation of G3BP1 is involved in the regulation of PDCoV-induced inflammatory response.

Stress granules (SGs), the main component is GTPase-activating protein-binding protein 1 (G3BP1), which are assembled during viral infection and function to sequester host and viral mRNAs and proteins, are part of the antiviral responses. In this study, we found that porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV) infection induced stable formation of robust SGs in cells through a PERK (protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase)-dependent mechanism. Overexpression of SGs marker proteins G3BP1 significantly reduced PDCoV replication in vitro, while inhibition of endogenous G3BP1 enhanced PDCoV replication. Moreover, PDCoV infected LLC-PK1 cells raise the phosphorylation level of G3BP1. By overexpression of the G3BP1 phosphorylated protein or the G3BP1 dephosphorylated protein, we found that phosphorylation of G3BP1 is involved in the regulation of PDCoV-induced inflammatory response. Taken together, our study presents a vital aspect of the host innate response to invading pathogens and reveals attractive host targets for antiviral target.

Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease Outcomes: Critical Mechanisms of Liver Injury Progression.

Alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) is a substantial cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and represents a spectrum of liver injury beginning with hepatic steatosis (fatty liver) progressing to inflammation and culminating in cirrhosis. Multiple factors contribute to ALD progression and disease severity. Here, we overview several crucial mechanisms related to ALD end-stage outcome development, such as epigenetic changes, cell death, hemolysis, hepatic stellate cells activation, and hepatic fatty acid binding protein 4. Additionally, in this review, we also present two clinically relevant models using human precision-cut liver slices and hepatic organoids to examine ALD pathogenesis and progression.

Mechanism of Fat Mass and Obesity-Related Gene-Mediated Heme Oxygenase-1 m6A Modification in the Recovery of Neurological Function in Mice with Spinal Cord Injury.

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the mechanism of fat mass and obesity-related gene (FTO)-mediated heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) m6A modification facilitating neurological recovery in spinal cord injury (SCI) mice. FTO/HO-1 was identified as a key regulator of SCI as well as a potential target for treatment of SCI. METHODS: An SCI mouse was treated with pcDNA3.1-FTO/pcDNA3.1-NC/Dac51. An oxygen/glucose deprivation (OGD) cell model simulated SCI, with cells treated with pcDNA3.1-FTO/si-HO-1/Dac51. Motor function and neurobehavioral evaluation were assessed using the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan (BBB) scale and modified neurological severity score (mNSS). Spinal cord pathology and neuronal apoptosis were assessed. Further, FTO/HO-1 mRNA and protein levels, HO-1 mRNA stability, the interaction of YTHDF2 with HO-1 mRNA, neuronal viability/apoptosis, and HO-1 m6A modification were evaluated. RESULTS: Spinal cord injury mice exhibited reduced BBB, elevated mNSS scores, disorganized spinal cord cells, scattered nuclei, and severe nucleus pyknosis. pcDNA3.1-FTO elevated FTO mRNA, protein expression, and BBB score; reduced the mNSS score of SCI mice; decreased neuronal apoptosis; improved the cell arrangement; and improved nucleus pyknosis in spinal cord tissues. OGD decreased FTO expression. FTO upregulation ameliorated OGD-induced neuronal apoptosis. pcDNA3.1-FTO reduced HO-1 mRNA and protein and HO-1 m6A modification, while increasing HO-1 mRNA stability and FTO in OGD-treated cells. FTO upregulated HO-1 by modulating m6A modification. HO-1 downregulation attenuated the effect of FTO. pcDNA3.1-FTO/Dac51 increased the HO-1 m6A level in mouse spinal cord tissue homogenate, reduced BBB, boosted mNSS scores of SCI mice, aggravated nucleus pyknosis, and increased neuronal apoptosis in spinal cord tissues, confirming that FTO mediated HO-1 m6A modification facilitated neurological recovery in SCI mice. CONCLUSION: The fat mass and obesity-related gene modulates HO-1 mRNA stability by regulating m6A modification levels, thereby influencing HO-1 expression and promoting neurological recovery in SCI mice.

A prospective study of zanubrutinib, a Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor, in relapsed/refractory idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease.

Relapsed and refractory (R/R) idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease (iMCD) is a clinical challenge with no standard treatment. In this preliminary clinical trial, we investigated the efficacy and safety profiles of a Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor (BTKi), zanubrutinib, in patients with R/R iMCD. The primary endpoint was the overall response rate at Week 12 according to the Castleman Disease Collaborative Network (CDCN) response criteria. The trial was terminated early due to a lack of treatment response in the first enrolled 5 patients. Although 3 patients achieved symptomatic response, none of the 5 patients had an overall response by Week 12. One patient had progressive disease and the other 4 had stable disease. The study drug was well tolerated without grade 2 or higher adverse events. Our findings suggest that BTKi therapy is not effective for iMCD, and further attempts at single-agent therapy with zanubrutinib or other BTKis for iMCD should be considered with caution and probably avoided. This trial was registered at www.clinialtrials.gov as #NCT04743687.

Assessing territorial space conflicts in the coastal zone of Wenzhou, China: A land-sea interaction perspective.

Territorial space conflicts (TSCs) in coastal zones stem from the intricate interaction between the land-sea dual system, significantly impacting the sustainable development of these areas. To accurately identify TSCs, our study proposed a theoretical framework based on a land-sea interaction perspective. We also assessed TSCs using the territorial space conflicts index and a social network analysis model. We demonstrated the proposed spatial conflicts assessment methodology through a case study of Wenzhou, a typical city on the east coast of China. Our results indicate that the distribution of TSCs gradually decreased from the coastal zone to the inland zone, with significant variation in the distribution of different conflict types across different zones. The findings also reveal that territorial space use had diverse impacts on the space conflict network, making it urgent to take targeted measures. In the future, it is crucial to comprehensively consider the overall pattern and distribution characteristics of current TSCs, as well as the spatial spillover effect of the overall network, to develop targeted coping strategies and regulation mechanisms that promote the integration and high-quality development of coastal territorial space systems. To maintain a sustainable coastal zone process, we proposed a set of optimization paths for alleviating TSCs and promoting the coordinated development of land and sea regions in China based on our study.

Phase Engineering of Nanomaterials: Transition Metal Dichalcogenides.

Crystal phase, a critical structural characteristic beyond the morphology, size, dimension, facet, etc., determines the physicochemical properties of nanomaterials. As a group of layered nanomaterials with polymorphs, transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have attracted intensive research attention due to their phase-dependent properties. Therefore, great efforts have been devoted to the phase engineering of TMDs to synthesize TMDs with controlled phases, especially unconventional/metastable phases, for various applications in electronics, optoelectronics, catalysis, biomedicine, energy storage and conversion, and ferroelectrics. Considering the significant progress in the synthesis and applications of TMDs, we believe that a comprehensive review on the phase engineering of TMDs is critical to promote their fundamental studies and practical applications. This Review aims to provide a comprehensive introduction and discussion on the crystal structures, synthetic strategies, and phase-dependent properties and applications of TMDs. Finally, our perspectives on the challenges and opportunities in phase engineering of TMDs will also be discussed.

Relationship between four insulin resistance surrogates and left ventricular hypertrophy among hypertensive adults: a case-control study.

Background: Hypertension-induced left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is intricately linked to insulin resistance (IR). This research aimed to elucidate the relationship of advanced indices, namely the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index, the TyG adjusted for body mass index (TyG-BMI), the triglycerides-to-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (TG/HDL-c), and the metabolic score for IR (METS-IR), with LVH in hypertensive cohorts. Methods: This analytical case-control investigation encompassed 800 individuals aged 18 or above from the Cardiology Department of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Baotou Medical College over a span from January 2021 to April 2022. Data extraction was conducted from inpatient records. The nexus between the four metrics and LVH susceptibility was ascertained via logistic regression models. Furthermore, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve's area (AUC) shed light on the discriminative capacities of the distinct IR indicators for LVH, considering other concomitant risk variables. Results: Post multifaceted covariate adjustments, the fourth quartile figures for TyG-BMI emerged as the most starkly significant (OR: 5.211, 95% CI: 2.861-9.492), succeeded by METS-IR (OR: 4.877, 95% CI: 2.693-8.835). In juxtaposition with other IR-derived indices (TyG and TG/HDL-c), TyG-BMI manifested the paramount AUC (AUC: 0.657; 95% CI: 0.606-0.708). Concurrently, METS-IR exhibited commendable predictive efficacy for LVH (AUC: 0.646; 95% CI: 0.595-0.697). Conclusion: TyG-BMI and METS-IR displayed superior discriminative capabilities for LVH, underscoring their potential as supplementary indicators in gauging LVH peril in clinical settings and prospective epidemiological research.

A heterogeneous cobalt cubane polymer co-catalyst for cooperative water oxidation.

We achieve a successful transition of Co4O4 molecules from a homogeneous to a heterogeneous system by modifying the functional groups at their termini. The resulting cocatalyst, denoted as Co4O4-poly, not only preserved the catalytic sites of Co4O4 molecules but also exhibited outstanding performance in catalyzing water oxidation.