Disentangled Representation Learning.

Disentangled Representation Learning (DRL) aims to learn a model capable of identifying and disentangling the underlying factors hidden in the observable data in representation form. The process of separating underlying factors of variation into variables with semantic meaning benefits in learning explainable representations of data, which imitates the meaningful understanding process of humans when observing an object or relation. As a general learning strategy, DRL has demonstrated its power in improving the model explainability, controlability, robustness, as well as generalization capacity in a wide range of scenarios such as computer vision, natural language processing, and data mining. In this article, we comprehensively investigate DRL from various aspects including motivations, definitions, methodologies, evaluations, applications, and model designs. We first present two well-recognized definitions, i.e., Intuitive Definition and Group Theory Definition for disentangled representation learning. We further categorize the methodologies for DRL into four groups from the following perspectives, the model type, representation structure, supervision signal, and independence assumption. We also analyze principles to design different DRL models that may benefit different tasks in practical applications. Finally, we point out challenges in DRL as well as potential research directions deserving future investigations. We believe this work may provide insights for promoting the DRL research in the community.

Personalized, parcel-guided non-invasive transcranial magnetic stimulation for the treatment of post-concussive syndrome: safety and proof of concept.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the safety and proof of concept of a parcel-guided, repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) in patients who develop a heterogeneous array of symptoms, known collectively as post-concussive syndrome (PCS), following traumatic brain injury (TBI). METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of off-label, individualized, parcel-guided rTMS in 19 patients from December 2020 to May 2023. Patients had at least one instance of mild, moderate, or severe TBI and developed symptoms not present prior to injury. rTMS targets were identified based on machine learning connectomic software using functional connectivity anomaly matrices compared to healthy controls. EuroQol (EQ-5D), as a measurement of quality of life, and additional questionnaires dependent on individual's symptoms were submitted prior to, after, and during follow-up from rTMS. RESULTS: Nineteen patients showed improvement in EQ-5D and Rivermead Post Concussion Symptoms Questionnaires - 3 after treatment and follow-up. For nine patients who developed depression, five (55%) attained response and remission based on the Beck Depression Inventory after treatment. Eight of ten patients with anxiety had a clinically significant reduction in Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scores during follow-up. CONCLUSION: Parcel-guided rTMS is safe and may be effective in reducing PCS symptoms following TBI and should incite further controlled studies.

Fabrication of a Terbium-Functionalized Cadmium Organic Framework with Proper Energy Levels as a Ratiometric Probe of an Anthrax Biomarker.

Anthrax bacillus is a very dangerous zoonotic pathogen that seriously endangers public health. Rapid and accurate qualitative and quantitative detection of its biomarkers, 2,6-dipicolinic acid (DPA), is crucial for the prevention and treatment of this pathogenic bacterium. In this work, a novel Cd-based MOF (TTCA-Cd) has been synthesized from a polycarboxylate ligand, [1,1':2',1″-terphenyl]-4,4',4″,5'-tetracarboxylic acid (H4TTCA), and further doped with Tb(III), forming a dual-emission lanthanide-functionalized MOF hybrid (TTCA-Cd@Tb). TTCA-Cd@Tb can be developed as a high-performance ratiometric fluorescent sensor toward DPA with a very low detection limit of 7.14 nM and high selectivity in a wide detection range of 0-200 µM, demonstrating a big advancement and providing a new option for the detection of DPA.

Four three-dimensional rare earth metal - organic framework fluorescent sensor for efficient detection of gentamicin sulfate and Fe3.

Excessive use of gentamicin sulfate can cause severe nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity, abnormal levels of Fe3+ intake can also cause serious damage to body. Therefore, establishing a fast and accurate detection method for the above-mentioned substances is of great significance. However, traditional detection methods such as high-performance liquid chromatography still have certain problems such as high cost and complex operation. Fluorescent MOFs are favored by analysts due to their high specific surface area, high porosity, adjustable pore size, and good stability. In this paper, we have synthesized four rare earth MOFs based on the pyridinecarboxylic acid ligand (H2L), which are [Eu(L)1/2H2O]n, [Gd(L)1/2H2O]n, [Sm(L)1/2H2O]n, [Y(L)3/2H2O·DMF]n. The structures of four MOFs were confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction, which proved that MOF-1, MOF-2 and MOF-3 were isostructural, and all the four MOFs were three-dimensional structures. In the fluorescence test, gentamicin sulfate and Fe3+ can cause significant fluorescence quenching of MOF-1 and MOF-4 respectively, and show good selectivity and anti-interference performance, as well as low detection limit and wide detection range. This work may provide a possibility for the detection of gentamicin sulfate and iron ions in complex environments.

The influence of sleep disorders on perioperative neurocognitive disorders among the elderly: A narrative review.

This review comprehensively assesses the epidemiology, interaction, and impact on patient outcomes of perioperative sleep disorders (SD) and perioperative neurocognitive disorders (PND) in the elderly. The incidence of SD and PND during the perioperative period in older adults is alarmingly high, with SD significantly contributing to the occurrence of postoperative delirium. However, the clinical evidence linking SD to PND remains insufficient, despite substantial preclinical data. Therefore, this study focuses on the underlying mechanisms between SD and PND, underscoring that potential mechanisms driving SD-induced PND include uncontrolled central nervous inflammation, blood-brain barrier disruption, circadian rhythm disturbances, glial cell dysfunction, neuronal and synaptic abnormalities, impaired central metabolic waste clearance, gut microbiome dysbiosis, hippocampal oxidative stress, and altered brain network connectivity. Additionally, the review also evaluates the effectiveness of various sleep interventions, both pharmacological and nonpharmacological, in mitigating PND. Strategies such as earplugs, eye masks, restoring circadian rhythms, physical exercise, noninvasive brain stimulation, dexmedetomidine, and melatonin receptor agonists have shown efficacy in reducing PND incidence. The impact of other sleep-improvement drugs (e.g., orexin receptor antagonists) and methods (e.g., cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia) on PND is still unclear. However, certain drugs used for treating SD (e.g., antidepressants and first-generation antihistamines) may potentially aggravate PND. By providing valuable insights and references, this review aimed to enhance the understanding and management of PND in older adults based on SD.

Discernible interindividual patterns of global efficiency decline during theoretical brain surgery.

The concept of functional localization within the brain and the associated risk of resecting these areas during removal of infiltrating tumors, such as diffuse gliomas, are well established in neurosurgery. Global efficiency (GE) is a graph theory concept that can be used to simulate connectome disruption following tumor resection. Structural connectivity graphs were created from diffusion tractography obtained from the brains of 80 healthy adults. These graphs were then used to simulate parcellation resection in every gross anatomical region of the cerebrum by identifying every possible combination of adjacent nodes in a graph and then measuring the drop in GE following nodal deletion. Progressive removal of brain parcellations led to patterns of GE decline that were reasonably predictable but had inter-subject differences. Additionally, as expected, there were deletion of some nodes that were worse than others. However, in each lobe examined in every subject, some deletion combinations were worse for GE than removing a greater number of nodes in a different region of the brain. Among certain patients, patterns of common nodes which exhibited worst GE upon removal were identified as "connectotypes". Given some evidence in the literature linking GE to certain aspects of neuro-cognitive abilities, investigating these connectotypes could potentially mitigate the impact of brain surgery on cognition.

The impact of deep-inspiration breath-hold total-body PET/CT imaging on thoracic 18F-FDG avid lesions compared with free-breathing.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate PET/CT registration and quantification accuracy of thoracic lesions of a single 30-second deep-inspiration breath-hold (DIBH) technique with a total-body PET (TB-PET) scanner, and compared with free-breathing (FB) PET/CT. METHODS: 137 of the 145 prospectively enrolled patients finished a routine FB-300 s PET/CT exam and a 30-second DIBH TB-PET with chest to pelvis low dose CT. The total-body FB-300 s, FB-30 s, and DIBH-30 s PET images were reconstructed. Quantitative assessment (SUVmax and SUVmean of lung and other organs), PET/CT registration assessment and lesion analysis (SUVmax, SUVpeak, SUVmean and tumor-background ratio) were compared with Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. RESULTS: The SUVmax and SUVmean of the lung with DIBH-30 s were significantly lower than those with FB. The distances of the liver dome between PET and CT were significantly smaller with DIBH-30 s than with FB. 195 assessable lesions in 106 patients were included, and the detection sensitivity was 97.9 % and 99.0 % in FB-300 s, and DIBH-30 s, respectively. For both small co-identified lesions (n = 86) and larger co-identified lesions with a diameter ≥ 1 cm (n = 91), the lesion SUVs were significantly greater with DIBH-30 s than with FB-300 s. Regarding lesion location, the differences of the SUVs for the lesions in the lower thorax area (n = 97, p < 0.001) were significant between DIBH-30 s and FB-300 s, while these differences were not statistically significant in the upper thorax (n = 80, p > 0.05). The lesion tumor-to-surrounding-background ratio (TsBR) was significantly increased, both in the upper and lower thorax. CONCLUSION: The TB DIBH PET/CT technique is feasible in clinical practice. It reduces the background lung uptake and achieves better registration and lesion quantification, especially in the lower thorax.

The micro-ecological feature of colonies is a potential strategy for Phaeocystis globosa bloom formation.

Phaeocystis globosa is among the dominant microalgae associated with harmful algal blooms. P. globosa has a polymorphic life cycle and its ecological success has been attributed to algal colony formation, however, few studies have assessed differences in microbial communities and their functional profiles between intra- and extra-colonies during P. globosa blooms. To address this, environmental and metagenomics tools were used to conduct a time-series analysis of the bacterial composition and metabolic characteristics of intra- and extra-colonies during a natural P. globosa bloom. The results show that bacterial composition, biodiversity, and network interactions differed significantly between intra- and extra-colonies. Dominant extra-colonial bacteria were Bacteroidia and Saccharimonadis, while dominant intra-colonial bacteria included Alphaproteobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria. Despite the lower richness and diversity observed in the intra-colonial bacterial community, relative to extra-colonies, the complexity and interconnectedness of the intra-colonial networks were higher. Regarding bacterial function, more functional genes were enriched in substance metabolism (polysaccharides, iron element and dimethylsulfoniopropionate) and signal communication (quorum sensing, indoleacetic acid-IAA) pathways in intra- than in extra-colonies. Conceptual model construction showed that microbial cooperative synthesis of ammonium, vitamin B12, IAA, and siderophores were strongly related to the P. globosa bloom, particularly in the intra-colonial environment. Overall, our data highlight the differences in bacterial structure and functions within and outside the colony during P. globosa blooms. These findings represent fundamental information indicating that phenotypic heterogeneity is a selective strategy that improves microbial population competitiveness and environmental adaptation, benefiting P. globosa bloom formation and persistence.

Sodium thiosulfate: A donor or carrier signaling molecule for hydrogen sulfide?

Sodium thiosulfate has been used for decades in the treatment of calciphylaxis and cyanide detoxification, and has recently shown initial therapeutic promise in critical diseases such as neuronal ischemia, diabetes mellitus, heart failure and acute lung injury. However, the precise mechanism of sodium thiosulfate remains incompletely defined and sometimes contradictory. Although sodium thiosulfate has been widely accepted as a donor of hydrogen sulfide (H2S), emerging findings suggest that it is the executive signaling molecule for H2S and that its effects may not be dependent on H2S. This article presents an overview of the current understanding of sodium thiosulfate, including its synthesis, biological characteristics, and clinical applications of sodium thiosulfate, as well as the underlying mechanisms in vivo. We also discussed the interplay of sodium thiosulfate and H2S. Our review highlights sodium thiosulfate as a key player in sulfide signaling with the broad clinical potential for the future.

Advantages and Challenges of Total-Body PET/CT at a Tertiary Cancer Center: Insights from Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center.

In recent decades, researchers worldwide have directed their efforts toward enhancing the quality of PET imaging. The detection sensitivity and image resolution of conventional PET scanners with a short axial field of view have been constrained, leading to a suboptimal signal-to-noise ratio. The advent of long-axial-field-of-view PET scanners, exemplified by the uEXPLORER system, marked a significant advancement. Total-body PET imaging possesses an extensive scan range of 194 cm and an ultrahigh detection sensitivity, and it has emerged as a promising avenue for improving image quality while reducing the administered radioactivity dose and shortening acquisition times. In this review, we elucidate the application of the uEXPLORER system at the Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, including the disease distribution, patient selection workflow, scanning protocol, and several enhanced clinical applications, along with encountered challenges. We anticipate that this review will provide insights into routine clinical practice and ultimately improve patient care.

Three undescribed dihydrostilbene glycosides from leaves of Camellia oleifera Abel. And their anti-inflammatory activity.

Three previously unidentified dihydrostilbene glycosides, named oleiferaside A (1), oleiferaside B (2), and oleiferaside C (3), were discovered through a phytochemical exploration on Camellia oleifera Abel. leaves. Additionally, nine known secondary metabolites (4-12) were also identified. The undescribed secondary metabolites 1-3 were elucidated as 3,5-dimethoxydihydrostilbene 4'-O-α-l-arabinofuranosyl-(1 â†’ 6)-ß-d- glucopyranoside, 3,5-dimethoxydihydrostilbene 4'-O-α-l-arabinopyranosyl-(1 â†’ 6)-ß-d- glucopyranoside and 3,5-dimethoxydihydrostilbene 4'-O-ß-d-apiofuranosyl-(1 â†’ 6)-ß-d- glucopyranoside, respectively. HR-MS and NMR spectroscopy were utilized for determining the structures of the isolates. The natural products were assessed for their anti-inflammatory effect using RAW264.7 macrophage stimulated by LPS. The findings demonstrated that compounds 1-4 exhibited inhibitory activities on NO and PGE2 production without causing cytotoxicity. These observations suggest that these compounds may have potential anti-inflammatory properties.

Post-traumatic hyperoxia after pediatric TBI.

OBJECTIVE: Hyperoxia has been suggested as a mechanism for secondary injury following adult traumatic brain injury (TBI), but its effects have not been well described in pediatric patients. METHODS: Pediatric (≤18yo) TBI patients were identified in a prospective institutional registry from October 2008 to April 2022. The first, highest, and the Area Under the Curve (AUC) PaO2 in the first 24 hours were collected and calculated for each patient from arterial blood gas reports after admission to the ICU. Neurological outcome after 6 months was measured using dichotomized modified Rankin Scale (mRS) and Glasgow Outcome Scale - Extended (GOS-E). Multivariable logistic regression models were used to determine if the three measurements for hyperoxia predicted an unfavorable outcome after controlling for well-established clinical and imaging predictors of outcome. RESULTS: We identified 98 pediatric patients with severe accidental TBI during the study period. Hyperoxia (PaO2 > 300 mmHg) occurred in 33% of the patients. The presence of elevated PaO2 values, determined by all three evaluations of hyperoxia, was not associated with unfavorable outcome after 6 months. CONCLUSION: Utilizing multiple methods to assess exposure, hyperoxia was present in a substantial number of patients with severe TBI but was not associated with an unfavorable outcome.

MMCA-NET: A Multimodal Cross Attention Transformer Network for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Tumor Segmentation Based on a Total-Body PET/CT System.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a malignant tumor primarily treated by radiotherapy. Accurate delineation of the target tumor is essential for improving the effectiveness of radiotherapy. However, the segmentation performance of current models is unsatisfactory due to poor boundaries, large-scale tumor volume variation, and the labor-intensive nature of manual delineation for radiotherapy. In this paper, MMCA-Net, a novel segmentation network for NPC using PET/CT images that incorporates an innovative multimodal cross attention transformer (MCA-Transformer) and a modified U-Net architecture, is introduced to enhance modal fusion by leveraging cross-attention mechanisms between CT and PET data. Our method, tested against ten algorithms via fivefold cross-validation on samples from Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center and the public HECKTOR dataset, consistently topped all four evaluation metrics with average Dice similarity coefficients of 0.815 and 0.7944, respectively. Furthermore, ablation experiments were conducted to demonstrate the superiority of our method over multiple baseline and variant techniques. The proposed method has promising potential for application in other tasks.

NBR1-p62-Nrf2 mediates the anti-pulmonary fibrosis effects of protodioscin.

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a persistent disease of the lung interstitium for which there is no efficacious pharmacological therapy. Protodioscin, a steroidal saponin, possesses diverse pharmacological properties; however, its function in pulmonary fibrosis is yet to be established. Hence, in this investigation, it was attempted to figure out the anti-pulmonary fibrosis influences of protodioscin and its pharmacological properties related to oxidative stress. METHODS: A mouse lung fibrosis model was generated using tracheal injections of bleomycin, followed by intraperitoneal injection of different concentrations of protodioscin, and the levels of oxidative stress and fibrosis were detected in the lungs. Multiple fibroblasts were treated with TGF-ß to induce their transition to myofibroblasts. It was attempted to quantify myofibroblast markers' expression levels and reactive oxygen species levels as well as Nrf2 activation after co-incubation of TGF-ß with fibroblasts and different concentrations of protodioscin. The influence of protodioscin on the expression and phosphorylation of p62, which is associated with Nrf2 activation, were detected, and p62 related genes were predicted by STRING database. The effects of Nrf2 inhibitor or silencing of the Nrf2, p62 and NBR1 genes, respectively, on the activation of Nrf2 by protodioscin were examined. The associations between p62, NBR1, and Keap1 in the activation of Nrf2 by protodioscin was demonstrated using a co-IP assay. Nrf2 inhibitor were used when protodioscin was treated in mice with pulmonary fibrosis and lung tissue fibrosis and oxidative stress levels were detected. RESULTS: In vivo, protodioscin decreased the levels of fibrosis markers and oxidative stress markers and activated Nrf2 in mice with pulmonary fibrosis, and these effects were inhibited by Nrf2 inhibitor. In vitro, protodioscin decreased the levels of myofibroblast markers and oxidative stress markers during myofibroblast transition and promoted Nrf2 downstream gene expression, with reversal of these effects after Nrf2, p62 and NBR1 genes were silenced or Nrf2 inhibitors were used, respectively. Protodioscin promoted the binding of NBR1 to p62 and Keap1, thereby reducing Keap1-Nrf2 binding. CONCLUSION: The NBR1-p62-Nrf2 axis is targeted by protodioscin to reduce oxidative stress and inhibit pulmonary fibrosis.

Incidence of pediatric narcolepsy diagnosis and management: evidence from claims data.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to characterize the incidence of pediatric narcolepsy diagnosis, subsequent care, and potential sociodemographic disparities in a large US claims database. METHODS: Merative MarketScan insurance claims (n = 12,394,902) were used to identify youth (6-17 years of age) newly diagnosed with narcolepsy (International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision codes). Narcolepsy diagnosis and care 1 year postdiagnosis included polysomnography with Multiple Sleep Latency Test, pharmacological care, and clinical visits. Potential disparities were examined by insurance coverage and child race and ethnicity (Medicaid-insured only). RESULTS: The incidence of narcolepsy diagnosis was 10:100,000, primarily type 2 (69.9%). Most diagnoses occurred in adolescents with no sex differences, but higher rates in Black vs White youth with Medicaid. Two thirds had a prior sleep disorder diagnosis and 21-36% had other co-occurring diagnoses. Only half (46.6%) had polysomnography with Multiple Sleep Latency Test (± 1 year postdiagnosis). Specialty care (18.9% pulmonary, 26.9% neurology) and behavioral health visits were rare (34.4%), although half were prescribed stimulant medications (51.0%). Medicaid-insured were 86% less likely than commercially insured youth to have any clinical care and 33% less likely to have polysomnography with Multiple Sleep Latency Test. CONCLUSIONS: Narcolepsy diagnoses occurred in 0.01% of youth, primarily during adolescence, and at higher rates for Black vs White children with Medicaid. Only half overall had evidence of a diagnostically required polysomnography with Multiple Sleep Latency Test, underscoring potential misdiagnosis. Many patients had co-occurring conditions, but specialty and behavioral health care were limited. Results suggest misdiagnosis, underdiagnosis, and limited narcolepsy treatment, as well as possible disparities. Results highlight the need to identify determinants of evidence-based pediatric narcolepsy diagnosis and management. CITATION: Tang SH, Min J, Zhang X, et al. Incidence of pediatric narcolepsy diagnosis and management: evidence from claims data. J Clin Sleep Med. 2024;20(7):1141-1151.

ACBP4-WRKY70-RAP2.12 module positively regulates submergence-induced hypoxia response in Arabidopsis thaliana.

ACYL-CoA-BINDING PROTEINs (ACBPs) play crucial regulatory roles during plant response to hypoxia, but their molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. Our study reveals that ACBP4 serves as a positive regulator of the plant hypoxia response by interacting with WRKY70, influencing its nucleocytoplasmic shuttling in Arabidopsis thaliana. Furthermore, we demonstrate the direct binding of WRKY70 to the ACBP4 promoter, resulting in its upregulation and suggesting a positive feedback loop. Additionally, we pinpointed a phosphorylation site at Ser638 of ACBP4, which enhances submergence tolerance, potentially by facilitating WRKY70's nuclear shuttling. Surprisingly, a natural variation in this phosphorylation site of ACBP4 allowed A. thaliana to adapt to humid conditions during its historical demographic expansion. We further observed that both phosphorylated ACBP4 and oleoyl-CoA can impede the interaction between ACBP4 and WRKY70, thus promoting WRKY70's nuclear translocation. Finally, we found that the overexpression of orthologous BnaC5.ACBP4 and BnaA7.WRKY70 in Brassica napus increases submergence tolerance, indicating their functional similarity across genera. In summary, our research not only sheds light on the functional significance of the ACBP4 gene in hypoxia response, but also underscores its potential utility in breeding flooding-tolerant oilseed rape varieties.

Retrospective study on the short-term efficacy of different doses of Spironolactone in patients with heart failure of ischemic cardiomyopath and the influence of ventricular remodeling markers.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of varying dosages of Spironolactone on the short-term effectiveness and ventricular remodeling indicators in patients with Heart Failure of Ischemic Cardiomyopathy (HFIC). METHODS: A cohort of 141 HFIC patients, admitted to our hospital between October 2018 and February 2023, were enrolled for this study. Alongside the standard treatment for Chronic Congestive Heart Failure (CHF), these patients were randomly assigned to either a low-dose (20 mg/d, N=70) or a high-dose (60 mg/d, N=71) Spironolactone group. After four weeks, various parameters were assessed and compared within each group before and after the treatment. These parameters included echocardiographic indices (LVEF, LVESD, LVEDD, LVESV, and LVEDV), New York Heart Association (NYHA) cardiac function classification, ventricular remodeling markers (hs-CRP, TNF-α, NT-pro BNP, Gal-3, MMP-9, and TIMP-4), and the Six Minute Walk Distance (6MWD). RESULTS: Both low-dose and high-dose Spironolactone significantly improved LVEF and 6MWD in HFIC patients (P<0.05), as well as markedly reduced LVESD, LVEDD, LVESV, LVEDV, and NYHA cardiac function grades (P<0.05). The high-dose group exhibited the most pronounced improvements (P<0.05). High-dose Spironolactone was more effective in improving the clinical and total effective rate compared to the low-dose, significantly reducing treatment inefficacy (P<0.05). Both dosages significantly increased serum potassium levels within normal ranges. They also improved the expression of ventricular remodeling markers (hs-CRP, TNF-α, NT-pro BNP, Gal-3, MMP-9, and TIMP-4) in HFIC patients, with the high-dose group showing the most significant results (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: High-dose Spironolactone (60 mg/d) demonstrates superior efficacy over the low-dose (20 mg/d) in rapidly diminishing ventricular remodeling damage and enhancing cardiac function and clinical symptoms in HFIC patients over a short duration.

Bet hedging in a unicellular microalga.

Understanding how organisms have adapted to persist in unpredictable environments is a fundamental goal in biology. Bet hedging, an evolutionary adaptation observed from microbes to humans, facilitates reproduction and population persistence in randomly fluctuating environments. Despite its prevalence, empirical evidence in microalgae, crucial primary producers and carbon sinks, is lacking. Here, we report a bet-hedging strategy in the unicellular microalga Haematococcus pluvialis. We show that isogenic populations reversibly diversify into heterophenotypic mobile and non-mobile cells independently of environmental conditions, likely driven by stochastic gene expression. Mobile cells grow faster but are stress-sensitive, while non-mobile cells prioritise stress resistance over growth. This is due to shifts from growth-promoting activities (cell division, photosynthesis) to resilience-promoting processes (thickened cell wall, cell enlargement, aggregation, accumulation of antioxidant and energy-storing compounds). Our results provide empirical evidence for bet hedging in a microalga, indicating the potential for adaptation to current and future environmental conditions and consequently conservation of ecosystem functions.

Interlayer Engineering of Layered Materials for Efficient Ion Separation and Storage.

Layered materials are characterized by strong in-plane covalent chemical bonds within each atomic layer and weak out-of-plane van der Waals (vdW) interactions between adjacent layers. The non-bonding nature between neighboring layers naturally results in a vdW gap, which enables the insertion of guest species into the interlayer gap. Rational design and regulation of interlayer nanochannels are crucial for converting these layered materials and their 2D derivatives into ion separation membranes or battery electrodes. Herein, based on the latest progress in layered materials and their derivative nanosheets, various interlayer engineering methods are briefly introduced, along with the effects of intercalated species on the crystal structure and interlayer coupling of the host layered materials. Their applications in the ion separation and energy storage fields are then summarized, with a focus on interlayer engineering to improve selective ion transport and ion storage performance. Finally, future research opportunities and challenges in this emerging field are comprehensively discussed.