Atomic-Level Matching Metal-Ion Organic Hybrid Interface to Enhance Energy Storage of Polymer-Based Composite Dielectrics.

In this work, a distinctive "metal-ion organic hybrid interface" (MOHI) between polyimide (PI) and calcium niobate (CNO) nanosheets is designed. The metal ions in the MOHI can achieve atomic-level matching not only with the inorganic CNO, but also with the PI chains, forming uniform and strong chemical bonds. These results are demonstrated by experiment and theory calculations. Significantly, the MOHI reduces the free volume and introduces deep traps across the filler-matrix interfacial area, thus suppressing the electric field distortion in PI-based composite dielectrics. Consequently, PI-based dielectric containing the MOHI exhibits excellent energy storage performance. The energy storage densities (Ue) of the composite dielectric reach 9.42 J cm-3 and 4.75 J cm-3 with energy storage efficiency (η) of 90% at 25 °C and 150 °C respectively, which are 2.6 and 11.6 times higher than those of pure PI. This study provides new ideas for polymer-based composite dielectrics in high energy storage.

Stigmatized Stroke? A Qualitative Study of Perception of Stroke Among Community Residents With Hypertension.

Objectives: To understand the perception of stroke in the hypertensive population. Hypertension is the primary risk factor for stroke, and current approaches to stroke prevention are inadequate and often fragmented. Understanding the perception of stroke among individuals with hypertension is crucial for a targeted approach. However, empirical evidence on this perception is limited. Methods: A qualitative design involved thematic analysis of focus groups and interview data from urban China with hypertension. Audio recordings were transcribed and subjected to thematic analysis. Results: Three themes were identified. Hypertensive participants first identified stroke patients by their obvious physical disability, and then identified the disease as a negative thing. Finally, they wanted to stay away from stroke, but paradoxically, there is a contradictory approach to avoidance and prevention, such as being willing to prevent the disease or simply avoiding socializing with stroke patients. Conclusion: Hypertensive patients hold complex and diverse perceptions of stroke, including a certain stigma. Future public health education should prioritize improving media promotion and fostering interaction between patients with hypertension and stroke in the community.

The impact of environmental noise on drivers' cognitive abilities: A case study on in-vehicle voice interaction interfaces.

To investigate the impact of environmental noise on the cognitive abilities of drivers, this study, using in-vehicle voice interaction as an example, conducted laboratory experiments to assess the effects of road traffic noise, entertainment noise, and white noise stimuli on drivers' attention and short-term memory. The noise levels simulated to mimic acoustic conditions during car driving ranged from 35 dB(A) to 65 dB(A). The conclusions drawn were as follows: (1) Noise levels directly influenced subjective annoyance levels, with annoyance linearly increasing as noise levels escalated; (2) Both attention and short-term memory task reaction times of drivers were significantly influenced by noise types. Compared to traffic noise and white noise, drivers' cognitive efficiency was lower under entertainment noise. (3) Performance in complex cognitive tasks was more susceptible to noise levels compared to simple cognitive tasks; (4) Experimentally, it was found that drivers exhibited the highest cognitive efficiency in cognitive tasks when the environmental noise level was 55 dB(A), as opposed to noise levels of 35 dB(A), 45 dB(A), and 65 dB(A).

Do redundant graphical attributes reduce decision-making efficiency?

Multiple time-series graphs are commonly used for data visualisation, but few scholars have investigated the impact of graphical attributes on decision-making efficiency. This study explores the effects of graphical attributes of varying redundancy conditions on decision-making efficiency. Two experimental conditions were developed for the experiment: non-redundant (independent graphical attributes: colour, linear and marker) and redundant (combinations of two and more graphical attributes: colour and linear, colour and marker, etc.). A total of 60 people took part in both experiments and performed two tasks: maximisation and discrimination. The experiments revealed that the addition of attributes, such as colour, marker or linear, decreased response time (RT), but the combination of colour & linear & marker increased RT. This is more significant in discrimination tasks. We provide empirical evidence for the design of time-series data visualisations and encourage the combination of two of these graphical attributes, such as colour & linear, colour & marker or linear & marker, when conditions allow, to improve decision-making efficiency.

Few scholars have studied the impact of graphical attributes on decision-making efficiency in data visualisation. This study explores the effect of graphical attributes with different redundancy levels on decision-making efficiency through behavioural experiments. It has been found that moderately redundant graphical attributes in difficult tasks can significantly improve decision-making efficiency.

Hydrogen Bonds-Pinned Entanglement Blunting the Interfacial Crack of Hydrogel-Elastomer Hybrids.

Anchoring a layer of amorphous hydrogel on an antagonistic elastomer holds potential applications in surface aqueous lubrication. However, the interfacial crack propagation usually occurs under continuous loads for amorphous hydrogel, leading to the failure of hydrogel interface. This work presents a universal strategy to passivate the interfacial cracks by designing a hydrogen bonds-pinned entanglement (Hb-En) structure of amorphous hydrogel on engineering elastomers. The unique Hb-En structure is created by pinning well-tailored entanglements via covalent-like hydrogen bonds, which can amplify the delocalization of interfacial stress concentration and elevate the necessary fracture energy barrier within hydrogel interface. Therefore, the interfacial crack propagation can be suppressed under single and cyclic loads, resulting in a high interfacial toughness over 1650 J m-2 and an excellent interfacial fatigue threshold of 423 J m-2. Such a strategy universally works on blunting the interfacial crack between hydrogel coating and various elastomer materials with arbitrary shapes. The superb fatigue-crack insensitivity at the interface allows for durable aqueous lubrication of hydrogel coating with low friction.

Acupuncture Versus Oral Medications for Acute/Subacute Non-Specific Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Pharmacologic intervention do not always achieve benefits in the treatment of acute/subacute non-specific low back pain (NSLBP). We assessed efficacy and safety of acupuncture for acute/subacute NSLBP as alternative treatment. RECENT FINDINGS: We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Epistemonikos, CNKI, Wan Fang Database, VIP database, CBMLD, CSTJ, clinical trials, EUCTR, World WHO ICTRP, and ChiCTR for randomized controlled trials, cross-over studies, and cohort studies of NSLBP treated by acupuncture versus oral medication from inception to 23th April 2022. A total of 6 784 records were identified, and 14 studies were included 1 263 participants in this review. The results of the meta-analysis indicated that acupuncture therapy was slightly more effective than oral medication in improving pain (P < 0.00001, I2 = 92%, MD = -1.17, 95% CI [-1.61, -0.72]). According to the results of the meta-analysis, acupuncture therapy exhibited a significant advantage over oral medication with a substantial effect (P < 0.00001, I2 = 90%, SMD = -1.42, 95% CI [-2.22, -0.62]). Based on the results of the meta-analysis, acupuncture therapy was associated with a 12% improvement rate compared to oral medication in patients with acute/subacute NSLBP (P < 0.0001, I2 = 54%, RR = 1.11, 95% CI [1.05, 1.18]). Acupuncture is more effective and safer than oral medication in treating acute/subacute NSLBP. This systematic review is poised to offer valuable guidance to clinicians treating acute/subacute NSLBP and potentially benefit the afflicted patients. REGISTRATION: This review was registered in PROSPERO ( http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero ) with registration number CRD42021278346.

Cluster Synchronization of Finite-Field Networks.

This technical paper investigates the cluster synchronization of finite-field networks (FFNs) based on the algebraic state space representation. By resorting to the semi-tensor product of matrices, the cluster synchronization of an FFN can be completely converted into the set stability of state trajectory. Then, a necessary and sufficient condition for the cluster synchronization of FFNs is obtained based on the invariant subset and one-step transition matrix. In particular, the obtained results are applicable to check the leader-follower synchronization and group consensus of FFNs. Finally, a numerical example is given to illustrate the feasibility of the obtained results.

Electrochemical reduction of nitrite to ammonia on amorphous MoO3 nanosheets.

Electrocatalytic NO2- reduction to NH3 (NO2RR) is an appealing approach for mitigating NO2- pollution and for the synthesis of valuable NH3, and so the exploration for high-performance NO2RR catalysts is pivotal yet remains challenging. Herein, amorphous MoO3 nanosheets (am-MoO3) were designed as a high-performance NO2RR electrocatalyst, delivering a maximum NO2--to-NH3 faradaic efficiency of 94.8% and NH3 yield rate of 480.4 µmol h-1 cm-2 at -0.6 V vs. RHE. Theoretical computations revealed that the largely enhanced NO2RR activity of am-MoO3 originated from the amorphization-induced O-vacancies, which could enhance the NO2--to-NH3 reaction energetics and hamper the competitive hydrogen evolution.

X-ray excited luminescent nanoparticles for deep photodynamic therapy.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT), as a non-invasive treatment, has received wide attention because of its high selectivity and low side effects. However, traditional PDT is influenced by the excitation light source and the light penetration depth is limited, which can only be used for superficial epidermal tumor treatment, and it is still a great challenge for deep tumor treatment. In recent years, X-ray excitation photodynamic therapy (X-PDT) using penetrating X-rays as an external excitation source and X-ray excited luminescent nanoparticles (XLNP) as an energy transfer medium to indirectly excite photosensitizer (PS) has solved the problem of insufficient penetration depth in tissues and become a research hotspot in the field of deep tumor treatment. In this review, the recent research progress of nanoparticles for efficient X-PDT, listing different types of XLNP and luminescence enhancement strategies. The loading method of PS is highlighted to achieve efficient energy transfer by regulating the intermolecular distance between both XLNP/PS. In addition, the water-soluble modification of XLNP surface is discussed and different hydrophilic modification methods are proposed to provide reference ideas for improving the dispersibility and biocompatibility of XLNP in aqueous solution. Finally, the therapeutic effects about X-PDT are discussed, and the current challenges and future perspectives for its clinical applications are presented.

Reviving Zn0 Dendrites to Electroactive Zn2+ by Mesoporous MXene with Active Edge Sites.

Zinc metal-based aqueous batteries (ZABs) offer a sustainable, affordable, and safe energy storage alternative to lithium, yet inevitable dendrite formation impedes their wide use, especially under long-term and high-rate cycles. How the battery can survive after dendrite formation remains an open question. Here, we pivot from conventional Zn dendrite growth suppression strategies, introducing proactive dendrite-digesting chemistry via a mesoporous Ti3C2 MXene (MesoTi3C2)-wrapped polypropylene separator. Spectroscopic characterizations and electrochemical evaluation demonstrate that MesoTi3C2, acting as an oxidant, can revive the formed dead Zn0 dendrites into electroactive Zn2+ ions through a spontaneous redox process. Density functional theory reveals that the abundant edge-Ti-O sites in our MesoTi3C2 facilitate high oxidizability and electron transfer from Zn0 dendrites compared to their in-plane counterparts. The resultant asymmetrical cell demonstrates remarkable ultralong cycle life of 2200 h at a practical current of 5 mA cm-2 with a low overpotential (<50 mV). The study reveals the unexpected edge effect of mesoporous MXenes and uncovers a new proactive dendrite-digesting chemistry to survive ZABs, albeit with inevitable dendrite formation.

Nb-doped NiO nanoflowers for nitrite electroreduction to ammonia.

Electrocatalytic reduction of nitrite to ammonia (NO2RR) is considered as an appealing route to simultaneously achieve sustainable ammonia production and abate hazardous nitrite pollution. Herein, atomically Nb-doped NiO nanoflowers are designed as a high-performance NO2RR catalyst, which exhibits the highest NH3-Faradaic efficiency of 92.4% with an NH3 yield rate of 200.5 µmol h-1 cm-2 at -0.6 V RHE. Theoretical calculations unravel that Nb dopants can act as Lewis acid sites to render effective NO2- activation, decreased protonation energy barriers, and restricted hydrogen evolution, ultimately leading to a high NO2RR selectivity and activity.

hsa_circ_0005991 promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition by regulating miR-30b-3p/Cdc42EP1 axis in ovary endometriosis.

Endometriosis is a common gynecological disease with an enigmatic pathogenesis. This work explored the function of hsa_circ_0005991 in ovarian endometriosis. High-throughput RNA-Seq was conducted in five matched ectopic (EC) and eutopic (EU) samples. Further, several types of cell function experiments were conducted. According to bioinformatics analysis, a competing endogenous RNA network was established. It included 5 circRNAs, 13 miRNAs, and 551 mRNAs. The expression levels of hsa_circ_0005991 and Cdc42EP1 were significantly elevated, while miR-30b-3p was reduced in the EC group. Upregulation of hsa_circ_0005991 raised Cdc42EP1 levels, induced EMT, and boosted Ishikawa cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. hsa_circ_0005991 knockdown indicated the opposite effects. When co-transfected with miR-30b-3p mimics or inhibitors, these effects could be reversed, respectively. Western blot assays showed alterations of EMT markers in EC samples. hsa_circ_0005991/miR-30b-3p/Cdc42EP1 axis promotes the EMT process in endometriosis, which may offer a theoretical foundation for the mechanism exploration and therapy of this disease.

Distinct roles of the two SEC scaffold proteins, AFF1 and AFF4, in regulating RNA Pol II transcription elongation.

The super elongation complex (SEC) containing P-TEFb plays a critical role in regulating transcription elongation. AFF1 and AFF4, members of the AF4/FMR2 family, act as central scaffold proteins of SEC and are associated with various human diseases. However, their precise roles in transcriptional control remain unclear. We here reveal differences in the genomic distribution patterns of AFF1 and AFF4 around transcription start sites (TSSs). AFF1 mainly binds upstream of the TSSs, while AFF4 is enriched downstream of the TSSs. Notably, disruption of AFF4 results in slow elongation and early termination in a subset of AFF4 bound active genes, whereas AFF1 deletion leads to fast elongation and transcriptional readthrough in the same gene subset. Additionally, AFF1 knockdown increases AFF4 levels at chromatin, and vice versa. In summary, these findings demonstrate that AFF1 and AFF4 function antagonistically to regulate Pol II transcription.

Young LINE-1 transposon 5' UTRs marked by elongation factor ELL3 function as enhancers to regulate naïve pluripotency in embryonic stem cells.

LINE-1s are the major clade of retrotransposons with autonomous retrotransposition activity. Despite the potential genotoxicity, LINE-1s are highly activated in early embryos. Here we show that a subset of young LINE-1s, L1Md_Ts, are marked by the RNA polymerase II elongation factor ELL3, and function as enhancers in mouse embryonic stem cells. ELL3 depletion dislodges the DNA hydroxymethylase TET1 and the co-repressor SIN3A from L1Md_Ts, but increases the enrichment of the Bromodomain protein BRD4, leading to loss of 5hmC, gain of H3K27ac, and upregulation of the L1Md_T nearby genes. Specifically, ELL3 occupies and represses the L1Md_T-based enhancer located within Akt3, which encodes a key regulator of AKT pathway. ELL3 is required for proper ERK activation and efficient shutdown of naïve pluripotency through inhibiting Akt3 during naïve-primed transition. Our study reveals that the enhancer function of a subset of young LINE-1s controlled by ELL3 in transcription regulation and mouse early embryo development.

Enhanced Lithium Storage Performance of α-MoO3/CNTs Composite Cathode.

Orthorhombic molybdenum oxide (α-MoO3), as a one-layered pseudocapacitive material, has attracted widespread attention due to its high theoretical lithium storage specific capacity (279 mAh/g) for lithium-ion batteries' cathode. Nevertheless, low conductivity, slack reaction kinetics, and large volume change during Li+ ions intercalation and deintercalation seriously limit the practical application of α-MoO3. Herein, we added a small number of CNTs (1.76%) to solve these problems in a one-step hydrothermal process for preparing the α-MoO3/CNTs composite. Because of the influence of CNTs, the α-MoO3 nanobelt in the α-MoO3/CNTs composite had a larger interlayer spacing, which provided more active sites and faster reaction kinetics for lithium storage. In addition, CNTs formed a three-dimensional conductive network between α-MoO3 nanobelts, enhanced the electrical conductivity of the composite, accelerated the electron conduction, shortened the ion transport path, and alleviated the structural fragmentation caused by the volume expansion during the α-MoO3 intercalation and deintercalation of Li+ ions. Therefore, the α-MoO3/CNTs composite cathode had a significantly higher rate performance and cycle life. After 150 cycles, the pure α-MoO3 cathode had almost no energy storage, but α-MoO3/CNTs composite cathode still retained 93 mAh/g specific capacity.

Thermally activated dynamic bonding network for enhancing high-temperature energy storage performance of PEI-based dielectrics.

To address the paradox of mutually exclusive confusions between the breakdown strength and polarization of the polymer-based composites at high-temperature, a dynamic multisite bonding network is constructed by connecting the -NH2 groups of polyetherimide (PEI) and Zn2+ in metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). Owing to the multisite bonding network being dynamically stable at high-temperature, the composites possess a high breakdown strength of 588.1 MV m-1 at 150 °C, which is 85.2% higher than that of PEI. Importantly, the multisite bonding network could be thermally activated at high-temperature to generate extra polarization, which is because the Zn-N coordination bonds are evenly stretched. At similar electric fields, the composites show higher energy storage density at high-temperature compared with that at room temperature, and present excellent cycling stability even with increased electrode size. Finally, the reversible stretching of the multisite bonding network against temperature variation is confirmed by the in situ X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) and theoretical calculations. This work presents a pioneering example of the construction of self-adaptive polymer dielectrics in extreme environments, which might be a potential method for designing recyclable polymer-based capacitive dielectrics.

Hedgehog signaling is a potential therapeutic target for vascular calcification.

BACKGROUND: Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) suffered from vascular calcification (VC), one major contributor for their increased mortality rate. Hedgehog (Hh) signaling plays a crucial role in physiological bone mineralization and is associated with several cardiovascular diseases. However, the molecular changes underlying VC is ill defined and it remains unclear whether Hh signaling intervention affects VC. METHODS: We constructed human primary vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) calcification model and performed RNA sequencing. Alizarin red staining and calcium content assay were conducted to identify the occurrence of VC. Three different R packages were applied to determine differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Enrichment analysis and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis were carried out to explore the biological roles of DEGs. qRT-PCR assay was then applied to validate the expression of key genes. By using Connectivity Map (CMAP) analysis, several small molecular drugs targeting these key genes were obtained, including SAG (Hedgehog signaling activator) and cyclopamine (CPN) (Hedgehog signaling inhibitor), which were subsequently used to treat VSMC. RESULTS: Obvious Alizarin red staining and increased calcium content identified the occurrence of VC. By integrating results from three R packages, we totally obtained 166 DEGs (86 up-regulated and 80 down-regulated), which were significantly enriched in ossification, osteoblast differentiation, and Hh signaling. PPI network analysis identified 10 key genes and CMAP analysis predicted several small molecular drugs targeting these key genes including chlorphenamine, isoeugenol, CPN and phenazopyridine. Notably, our in vitro experiment showed that SAG markedly alleviated VSMC calcification, whereas CPN significantly exacerbated VC. CONCLUSIONS: Our research provided deeper insight to the pathogenesis of VC and indicated that targeting Hh signaling pathway may represent a potential and effective therapy for VC.

Study on the protective effect of RNA-binding motif protein 3 in mild hypothermia oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation cell model.

Mild hypothermia is proven neuroprotective in clinical practice. While hypothermia leads to the decrease of global protein synthesis rate, it upregulates a small subset of protein including RNA-binding motif protein 3 (RBM3). In this study, we treated mouse neuroblastoma cells (N2a) with mild hypothermia before oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) and discovered the decrease of apoptosis rate, down-regulation of apoptosis-associated protein and enhancement of cell viability. Overexpression of RBM3 via plasmid exerted similar effect while silencing RBM3 by siRNAs partially reversed the protective effect exerted by mild hypothermia pretreatment. The protein level of Reticulon 3(RTN3), a downstream gene of RBM3, also increased after mild hypothermia pretreatment. Silencing RTN3 weakened the protective effect of mild hypothermia pretreatment or RBM3 overexpression. Also, the protein level of autophagy gene LC3B increased after OGD/R or RBM3 overexpression while silencing RTN3 decreased this trend. Furthermore, immunofluorescence observed enhanced fluorescence signal of LC3B and RTN3 as well as a large number of overlaps after RBM3 overexpressing. In conclusion, RBM3 plays a cellular protective role by regulating apoptosis and viability via its downstream gene RTN3 in the hypothermia OGD/R cell model and autophagy may participate in it.

Survival and prognostic factors in patients with synchronous multiple primary esophageal squamous cell carcinoma receiving definitive radiotherapy: A propensity score-matched analysis.

Purpose: To compare the lesion characteristics and radiotherapy efficacy of patients with single and multiple esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), to evaluate the effect of multiple lesions on ESCC, and establish a nomogram survival prediction model for patients with synchronous multiple primary esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SMPESCC) who received definitive radiotherapy. Materials and methods: The study enrolled 1,034 patients with ESCC who underwent definitive radiotherapy between 2010 and 2020. The efficacy of radiotherapy was compared between 101 patients with SMPESCC and 933 patients with single ESCC. Propensity score matching was used to control for potential confounders. For patients with SMPESCC, a nomogram prediction model was established based on the Cox regression model. Results: The median OS was 30.00 (95% CI = 25.08-34.92) months for the single lesion group and 19.00 (95% CI = 15.51-22.48) months for the multiple cancer group respectively. Multivariate COX regression analysis showed that multiple cancer was an independent prognostic factor for ESCC patients (HR=1.89, 95%CI=1.49-2.38, P<0.001). Cox multivariate analysis of SMPESCC patients showed that T stage (P =0.002), chemotherapy (P =0.006), and lesion spacing (P =0.004) were independent prognostic factors associated with OS. The nomogram was established by combining T stage, chemotherapy, and lesion spacing, and Harrell's C index was 0.711 after internal cross-validation. The calibration curve and decision curve analysis confirmed that the nomogram survival prediction model had a good predictive value for individual survival. Conclusions: The survival rate of single esophageal cancer is significantly better than that of multiple lesions. Patients with SMPESCC exhibit worse survival than patients with single ESCC. Multiple lesions have a significant impact on the survival of patients with ESCC. The nomogram model established for SMPESCC patients can well predict the individual survival of patients.

Thermopressure Coupling Effect Mimicking Natural Graphite Formation to Enhance the Storage K-Ion Performance of Carbonaceous Heterostructures.

Borrowing from natural mechanisms for material design can lead to functional mimicry and improvement. Inspired by graphite formation, a thermopressure coupling strategy under micropressure (<400 Pa) is applied to prepare carbon anodes. A thermopressure response is discovered based on the cellulose precursor. Here, homologous graphene quantum dot/hard carbon (GQD/HC) heterostructures are synthesized. Under 181.4 Pa and 1,200 °C, the product shows a capacity of 310 mAh g-1, while the capacity of the direct carbonization product is only 120 mAh g-1. Prominently, the GQD/HC heterostructure displays marked mechanical strength and flexibility. The experimental and theoretical results illustrate the ion and electron transfer, coordination environment, and electronic states in the GQD/HC heterostructure and elaborate on the origin of the enhanced performance. The thermopressure coupling under micropressure mimics graphite formation, but the heterostructure has better properties than traditional carbon materials. Additionally, micropressure injects new vitality into material research.