[Treatment of Neer IIb distal clavicular fracture with locking plate under arthroscope].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feasibility and clinical effect of the treatment of NeerⅡb distal clavicular fracture with locking plate under arthroscopy. METHODS: Between June 2018 and September 2022, the medical records of 15 patients with NeerⅡb distal clavicular fracture treated with locking plate under arthroscope were retrospectively analyzed, including 9 males and 6 females, aged from 25 to 57 years old with an average of (42.50±7.75) years old, 5 left shoulder, 10 right shoulder, and duration of the disease ranged from 4 to 7 days with an average of (5.16±0.98) d. Visual analog score (VAS), Constant-Murley shoulder joint score scale and Neer standard score were used before operation, 1 month after operation and the last follow-up. RESULTS: All patients successfully completed the treatment of NeerⅡb distal clavicular fracture with locking plate under arthroscopy, with the operation time ranging from 0.3 to1.0 h with an average of (0.55±0.24) h. All patients were healed at stageⅠ. The follow-up time ranged from 6 to 15 months with an average of (9.2±2.8) months. The preoperative VAS score was 7.23±0.67, the Constant-Murley shoulder joint score was (19.57±0.91), and the Neer standard score was (11.27±1.12);The VAS score was (1.56±0.81), the Constant-Murley shoulder joint score was (52.62±1.54), and the Neer standard score was (61.98±2.99) in the first month after operation;At the last follow-up, the VAS was (0.42±0.54), the Constant-Murley shoulder joint score was (91.24±1.97), and the Neer standard score was (93.24±3.38). The difference between VAS, Constant-Murley shoulder joint score and Neer standard score was statistically significant at one month postoperative and preoperative (P<0.05), and the difference between the last follow-up visit and one month postoperative was statistically significant (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The treatment of NeerⅡb distal clavicular fracture with locking plate under arthroscope can restore the function of shoulder joint, with definite curative effect and feasibility.

Autonomous Scanning Tunneling Microscopy Imaging via Deep Learning.

Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) is a powerful technique that provides the ability to manipulate and characterize individual atoms and molecules with atomic-level precision. However, the processes of scanning samples, operating the probe, and analyzing data are typically labor-intensive and subjective. Deep learning (DL) techniques have shown immense potential in automating complex tasks and solving high-dimensional problems. In this study, we developed an autonomous STM framework powered by DL to enable autonomous operations of the STM without human interventions. Our framework employs a convolutional neural network (CNN) for real-time evaluation of STM image quality, a U-net model for identifying bare surfaces, and a deep Q-learning network (DQN) agent for autonomous probe conditioning. Additionally, we integrated an object recognition model for the automated recognition of different adsorbates. This autonomous framework enables the acquisition of space-averaging information using STM techniques without compromising the high-resolution molecular imaging. We achieved measuring an area of approximately 1.9 µm2 within 48 h of continuous measurement and automatedly generated the statistics on the molecular species present within the mesoscopic area. We demonstrate the high robustness of the framework by conducting measurements at the liquid nitrogen temperature (∼78 K). We envision that the integration of DL techniques and high-resolution microscopy will not only extend the functionality and capability of scanning probe microscopes but also accelerate the understanding and discovery of new materials.

Brevibacterium litoralis sp. nov., a cellulose-degrading strain isolated from marine surface sediment.

A Gram stain-positive, non-spore-forming, non-motile, short-rod actinomyces strain GXQ1321T was isolated from maritime surface sediments in Beihai (21° 41' 21.65″ N, 109° 05' 76.56″ E), Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and a number of categorization studies were performed. Following a period of 72 h of incubation at a temperature of 30 °C within a modified actinomycete culture medium, the colony was light-yellow, circular, smooth, central bulge, convex, opaque, with a 1.2-2.3 mm diameter. Strain GXQ1321T had the ability to degrade cellulose. Chemotaxonomic studies revealed that the major methylnaphthoquinones in strain GXQ1321T was MK-8(H2). The most prevalent cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C19:0, anteiso-C15:0, anteiso-C17:0, and iso-C16:0. The whole-cell sugars of the strain GXQ1321T were identified rhamnose, xylose and glucose. Meso-diaminopimelic acid was found in the peptidoglycan hydrolysate, and the polar lipids were identified as diphosphatidylglycerol, three phosphoglycolipid, phosphatidylglycerol and two unknown glycolipid. This strain had 69.6% DNA G+C content. Strain GXQ1321T is classified as Brevibacterium based on its 16S rRNA gene sequence. It is closely related to Brevibacterium samyangense SST-8 T (96.8%) and Brevibacterium rongguiense 5221 T (96.3%). The average nucleotide identity (ANI) values of GXQ1321T and the above two type strains were 73.9-77.1%, and the digital DNA-DNA hybridisation (dDDH) values were 15.3-21.1%. Based on the phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and physiological data, strain GXQ1321T was considered to be a novel species of the genus Brevibacterium, named Brevibacterium litoralis sp. nov, with the type strain GXQ1321T (= MCCC 1K08964T = KCTC 59167 T).

Transcriptome-associated metabolomics reveals the molecular mechanism of flavonoid biosynthesis in Desmodium styracifolium (Osbeck.) Merr under abiotic stress.

The primary pharmacological components of Desmodium styracifolium (Osbeck.) Merr. are flavonoids, which have a broad range of pharmacological effects and are important in many applications. However, there have been few reports on the molecular mechanisms underlying flavonoid biosynthesis in the pharmacodynamic constituents of D. styracifolium. Flavonoid biosynthesis in D. styracifolium pharmacodynamic constituents has, however, been rarely studied. In this study, we investigated how salt stress, 6-BA (6-Benzylaminopurine) treatment, and PEG 6000-simulated drought stress affect flavonoid accumulation in D. styracifolium leaves. We integrated metabolomics and transcriptomic analysis to map the secondary metabolism regulatory network of D. styracifolium and identify key transcription factors involved in flavonoid biosynthesis. We then constructed overexpression vectors for the transcription factors and used them to transiently infiltrate Nicotiana benthamiana for functional validation. This experiment confirmed that the transcription factor DsMYB60 promotes the production of total flavonoids in Nicotiana tabacum L. leaves. This study lays the foundation for studying flavonoid biosynthesis in D. styracifolium at the molecular level. Furthermore, this study contributes novel insights into the molecular mechanisms involved in the biosynthesis of active ingredients in medicinal plants.

[Effect of Pterostilbene Regulating Nuclear Factor E2-Related Factor 2 on Apoptosis of Colon Cancer Cells in Vitro].

Objective To investigate the effects of pterostilbene on human colon cancer LoVo cells and study the regulatory mechanism of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) in the process of pterostilbene acting on LoVo cells. Methods LoVo cells were treated with different concentrations (5,10,20,40,60,80,100 µmol/L) of pterostilbene.Cell viability,migration,invasion,and apoptosis were examined by CCK-8,scratch,Transwell,and TUNEL assays,respectively.The mitochondrial membrane potential was measured by the mitochondrial membrane potential assay kit with JC-1.The reactive oxygen species level was measured by 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate.The protein levels of Nrf2,phosphorylated Nrf2,heme oxygenase 1,and apoptotic proteins (Bcl2 and Bax) were determined by Western blotting.In addition,cell viability,Nrf2 expression,and apoptosis rate were determined after co-application of the Nrf2-specific agonist sulforaphane. Results Compared with the control group,40,60,80,100 µmol/L pterostilbene reduced the viability of LoVo cells (P=0.014,P<0.001,P<0.001,P<0.001).Pterostilbene at 5,10,20 µmol/L did not show effects on cell viability but inhibited cell migration (P=0.008,P<0.001,P<0.001) and invasion (all P<0.001).Pterostilbene at 40,60,80 µmol/L increased apoptosis (P=0.014,P<0.001,P<0.001),promoted mitochondrial membrane potential depolarization (P=0.026,P<0.001,P<0.001) and reactive oxygen species accumulation (all P<0.001),and down-regulated the expression of phosphorylated Nrf2 (P=0.030,P<0.001,P<0.001),heme oxygenase 1 (P=0.015,P<0.001,P<0.001),and Bcl2 (P=0.039,P<0.001,P<0.001) in LoVo cells.Pterostilbene at 60,80 µmol/L down-regulated Nrf2 expression (P=0.001,P<0.001) and up-regulated Bax expression (both P<0.001).The application of sulforaphane reversed the effects of pterostilbene on cell viability (P<0.001),apoptosis (P<0.001),and Nrf2 expression (P=0.022). Conclusion Pterostilbene is a compound that can effectively inhibit colon cancer cells by inhibiting the Nrf2 pathway.

Microbacterium rhizophilus sp. nov., an indole acetic acid-producing actinobacterium isolated from rhizosphere soil.

A novel gram-stain-positive, short rod, aerobic, non-motile and non-spore-forming actinobacterial strain, designated GXG1230T was isolated from the rhizosphere soil of a coastal mangrove forest in Beihai city, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, PR China. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain GXG1230T was affiliated with the genus Microbacterium. Additionally, it demonstrated a high degree of similarity to Microbacterium paludicola US15T (97.9%) and Microbacterium marinilacus YM11-607T (97.3%). Chemotaxonomic characteristics showed that the whole-cell sugars were glucose, xylose, rhamnose and galactose. Menaquinones MK-11 and MK-12 were detected as respiratory quinones. Lysine was found in the peptidoglycan hydrolysate and the polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, one phospholipid and two unidentified glycolipid. The major fatty acids were anteiso-C15:0, iso-C16:0 and anteiso-C17:0. The strain GXG1230T exhibited a genomic DNA G + C content of 71.7%. Furthermore, the average nucleotide identity values of GXG1230T with the reference strains were 75.4% and 81.9%, respectively, while the digital DNA-DNA hybridization values were 20.1% and 25.0%. Based on physiological, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic information, strain GXG1230T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Microbacterium, for which the name Microbacterium rhizophilus sp.nov is proposed, with GXG1230T (= MCCC 1K09302T = KCTC 59252T) as the type strain.

Making 2D Materials Sparkle in Energy Storage via Assembly.

ConspectusTwo-dimensional (2D) materials such as graphene and MXenes offer appealing opportunities in electrochemical energy storage due to their large surface area, tunable surface chemistry, and unique electronic properties. One of the primary challenges in utilizing these materials for practical electrodes, especially those with industrial-level thickness, is developing a highly interconnected and porous conductive network. This network is crucial for supporting continuous electron transport, rapid ion diffusion, and effective participation of all active materials in electrochemical reactions. Moreover, the demand for efficient energy storage in advanced electronic devices and electric vehicles has led to the need for not only thicker but also denser electrodes to achieve compact energy storage. Traditional densification methods often compromise between volumetric capacitance and ion-accessible surface area, which can diminish rate performance. As versatile building blocks, 2D materials can overcome these limitations through the assembly into complex superstructures such as 1D fibers, 2D thin films, and 3D porous networks, a capability less attainable by other nanomaterials.This Account explores the pathways from exfoliated 2D nanosheets to densely packed, yet porous assemblies tailored for compact energy storage. Focusing on graphene and MXenes, we delve into the intricate relationships between surface structure, assembly behaviors, and electrochemical performance. We emphasize the crucial role of surface chemistry and interfacial interactions in forming stable colloidal dispersions and subsequent macroscopic structures. Furthermore, we highlight how solvents, acting as spacers, are instrumental in microstructure formation and how capillary force-driven densification is essential for creating compact assemblies. With precise control over shrinkage, the customized dense assemblies can strike a balance between high packing density and sufficient porosity, ensuring efficient ion transport, mechanical stability, and high volumetric performance across various electrochemical energy storage technologies.Furthermore, we highlight the importance of understanding and manipulating the surface chemistry of 2D materials at the atomic level to optimize their assembly and enhance electrochemical behaviors. Advanced in situ characterizations with high temporal and spatial resolution are necessary to gain deeper insights into the complex assembly process. Moreover, the integration of machine learning and computational chemistry emerges as a promising method to predict and design new materials and assembly strategies, potentially accelerating the development of next-generation energy storage systems. Our insights into the assembly and densification of 2D materials provide a comprehensive foundation for future research and practical applications in compact, high-performance energy storage devices. This exploration sets the stage for a transformative approach to overcoming the challenges of current energy storage technologies, promising significant advancements in 2D materials in the field.

Unveiling the Role of Electric Double-Layer in Sulfur Catalysis for Batteries.

The metal-catalyzed sulfur reaction in lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries usually suffers from the strong binding of sulfur species to the catalyst surface, which destroys the electric double layer (EDL) region there. This causes rapid catalyst deactivation because it prevents the desorption of sulfur species and mass transport through the EDL is hindered. This work introduces a competitive adsorption factor (fsulfur) as a new indicator to quantify the competitive adsorption of sulfur species in the EDL and proposes an alloying method to change it by strengthening the p-d hybridization of alloying metals with electrolyte solvents. A cobalt-zinc alloy catalyst with a moderate fsulfur lowers the activation energy of the rate-limiting step of the conversion of lithium polysulfides to lithium sulfide, giving a platform capacity proportion that is 96% of the theoretical value and has a greatly improved anti-passivation ability, especially at high sulfur loadings and lean electrolyte conditions (a low E/S ratio of 5 µL mgS -1). A pouch cell using this approach has a high energy density of up to 464 Wh kg-1. Such a competitive adsorption indicator and alloying strategy offer a new guideline for catalyst design and a practical electrocatalysis solution for Li-S batteries.

Changes in Epicardial Adipose Tissue Assessed by Chest CT in Breast Cancer Patients Receiving Adjuvant Chemotherapy with Anthracyclines and Trastuzumab.

Background: Cardiotoxicity (CTX) induced by adjuvant chemotherapy is a significant factor that impacts the prognosis and quality of life in breast cancer (BC) patients. In this study, we aimed to investigate the changes in epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) before and after treatment in BC patients who received anthracyclines adjuvant chemotherapy protocol (AC-T) and anthracyclines combined with trastuzumabadjuvant chemotherapy protocol (AC-TH). Additionally, we assessed whether there were any differences in the changes in EAT between the two groups of patients. Our objective was to examine the effects of anthracyclines and trastuzumab on EAT and determine the potential role of EAT changes on CTX. Methods: We reviewed female BC patients who were treated with adjuvant chemotherapy protocols of AC-T and AC-TH, all of whom underwent baseline (T0) and follow-up (T1) chest computed tomography (CT) and echocardiography. A cohort of healthy women, matched in age, underwent two chest CTs. EAT was quantified on chest CT using semi-automated software. CTX was defined as a > 10% reduction in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) from baseline, with an absolute value of < 53%. Results: A total of 41 BC patients were included in the study, with 23 patients in the AC-T group and 18 patients in the AC-TH group. Additionally, 22 healthy females were included as the normal group. None of the BC patients developed CTX after chemotherapy. The age did not differ significantly between the normal group and the AC-T group (p = 0.341) or the AC-TH group (p = 0.853). Similarly, the body mass index (BMI) of the normal group was comparable to that of the AC-T group (p = 0.377, 0.346) and the AC-TH group (p = 0.148, 0.119) before and after chemotherapy. The EAT volume index (mL/kg/ m 2 ) was significantly higher in both the AC-T group (5.11 ± 1.85 vs. 4.34 ± 1.55, p < 0.001) and the AC-TH group (4.53 ± 1.61 vs. 3.48 ± 1.62, p < 0.001) at T1 compared with T0. In addition, both the AC-T group (-72.95 ± 5.01 vs. -71.22 ± 3.91, p = 0.005) and the AC-TH group (-72.55 ± 5.27 vs. -68.20 ± 5.98, p < 0.001) exhibited a significant decrease in EAT radiodensity (HU) at T1 compared to T0. However, there was no significant difference observed in the normal group. At T0, no difference was seen in EAT volume index (4.34 ± 1.55 vs. 3.48 ± 1.62, p = 0.090) and radiodensity (-71.22 ± 3.91 vs. -68.20 ± 5.98, p = 0.059) between the AC-T and AC-TH groups. Similarly, at T1, there was still no significant difference observed in the EAT volume index (-5.11 ± 1.85 vs. 4.53 ± 1.61, p = 0.308) and radiodensity (-72.95 ± 5.00 vs. -72.54 ± 5.27, p = 0.802) between the two groups. Conclusions: BC patients who underwent AC-T and AC-TH adjuvant chemotherapy protocols demonstrated a significant rise in the volume index of EAT, along with a substantial reduction in its radiodensity post-chemotherapy. These findings indicate that alterations in EAT could potentially aid in identifying cardiac complications caused by chemotherapeutic agents and remind clinicians to focus on changes in EAT after adjuvant chemotherapy in BC patients to prevent the practical occurrence of CTX.

The function and mechanism of LAPTM5 in diseases.

The Lysosomal Protein Transmembrane 5 (LAPTM5) is a lysosomal transmembrane protein preferentially expressed in hematopoietic cells. The human LAPTM5 gene is located at position 1p34 and extends approximately 25 kb. Its protein includes five transmembrane domains, three PY motifs, and one UIM. The PY and UIM motifs can interact with various substrates, mediating sorting of proteins from Golgi to lysosome and subsequently participating in intracellular substrate transport and lysosomal stability regulation. Overexpression of LAPTM5 can induce lysosomal cell death (LCD), although the integrity of LAPTM5 protein is necessary for maintaining lysosome stability. Furthermore, LAPTM5 plays a role in autophagy activation during disease processes and has been confirmed to be closely associated with the regulation of immunity and inflammation. Therefore, LAPTM5 regulates a wide range of physiological processes and is involved in various diseases. This article summarizes the characteristics of the LAPTM5 gene and protein structure and provides a comprehensive review of the mechanisms involved in cell death, autophagy, immunity, and inflammation regulation. It emphasizes the significance of LAPTM5 in the clinical prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, immune system disorders, viral infections, cancer, and other diseases, which could provide new therapeutic ideas and targets for human diseases.

Immobile polyanionic backbone enables a 900-µm-thick electrode for compact energy storage with unprecedented areal capacitance.

Thickening of electrodes is crucial for maximizing the proportion of active components and thus improving the energy density of practical energy storage cells. Nevertheless, trade-offs between electrode thickness and electrochemical performance persist because of the considerably increased ion transport resistance of thick electrodes. Herein, we propose accelerating ion transport through thick and dense electrodes by establishing an immobile polyanionic backbone within the electrode pores; and as a proof of concept, gel polyacrylic electrolytes as such a backbone are in situ synthesized for supercapacitors. During charge and discharge, protons rapidly hop among RCOO- sites for oriented transport, fundamentally reducing the effects of electrode tortuosity and polarization resulting from concentration gradients. Consequently, nearly constant ion transport resistance per unit thickness is achieved, even in the case of a 900-µm-thick dense electrode, leading to unprecedented areal capacitances of 14.85 F cm-2 at 1 mA cm-2 and 4.26 F cm-2 at 100 mA cm-2. This study provides an efficient method for accelerating ion transport through thick and dense electrodes, indicating a significant solution for achieving high energy density in energy storage devices, including but not limited to supercapacitors.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Staphylococcus aureus infections in pediatric patients admitted with community acquired pneumonia.

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly transformed the infection spectrum of various pathogens. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) infections among pediatric patients with community acquired pneumonia (CAP). We retrospectively reviewed pediatric CAP admissions before (from 2018 to 2019) and during (from 2020 to 2022) the COVID-19 pandemic. The epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profiles of S. aureus isolates were examined to assess the pandemic's effect. As a result, a total of 399 pediatric CAP patients with S. aureus infections were included. The positivity rate, gender, and age distribution of patients were similar across both periods. There was a marked reduction in respiratory co-infections with Haemophilus influenzae (H. influenzae) during the COVID-19 pandemic, compared to 2019. Additionally, there were significant changes in the resistance profiles of S. aureus isolates to various antibiotics. Resistance to oxacillin and tetracycline increased, whereas resistance to penicillin, gentamicin, and quinolones decreased. Notably, resistance to erythromycin significantly decreased in methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strains. The number of S. aureus isolates, the proportion of viral co-infections, and the number of resistant strains typically peaked seasonally, primarily in the first or fourth quarters of 2018, 2019, and 2021. However, shifts in these patterns were noted in the first quarter of 2020 and the fourth quarter of 2022. These findings reveal that the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly altered the infection dynamics of S. aureus among pediatric CAP patients, as evidenced by changes in respiratory co-infections, AMR patterns, and seasonal trends.

Hospital-Treated Infectious Diseases, Infection Burden, and Risk of Lung Cancer: An Observational and Mendelian Randomization Study.

BACKGROUND: Although infections play a role in the development of lung cancer, the longitudinal association between infection and the risk of lung cancer is disputed, and data relating to pathogen types and infection sites are sparse. RESEARCH QUESTION: How do infections affect subsequent lung cancer risk, and is the impact limited to specific microbes rather than infection burden? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Data on > 900 infectious diseases were gathered from the UK Biobank study. Short- and long-term effects of infections were assessed by using time-varying Cox proportional hazards models. The analysis was repeated, excluding patients with concurrent multi-pathogen infections or outcomes within the 10 years following the initial hospitalization for the index infection. A life table approach was used to estimate years of life lost from lung cancer. Infection burden was defined as the sum of the number of infection episodes over time and co-occurring infections. The genome-wide association studies used in two-sample Mendelian randomization were obtained from mostly European ancestry. RESULTS: Hospital-treated infectious disease was associated with a greater risk of lung cancer (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.79; 95% CI, 1.74-1.83). aHRs for lung cancer ranged from 1.39 to 2.82 across pathogen types. The impact of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) on lung cancer was the strongest, with an aHR of 3.22 (95% CI, 2.64-3.92); the aHR for extra-LRTIs was 1.29 (95% CI, 1.16-1.44). A dose-response association was observed between infection burden and lung cancer risk across different FEV1 percent predicted (Ptrend < .001). Multiple infections led to significant life lost from lung cancer at the age of 50 years. Mendelian randomization analysis reaffirmed the causal association. INTERPRETATION: Both observational and genetic analyses suggest that infectious diseases could increase the risk of lung cancer. The dual perspective on the LRTIs and extra-LRTIs impacts may inform lung cancer prevention strategies.

Hospital-treated infectious diseases, genetic susceptibility and risk of type 2 diabetes: A population-based longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: The longitudinal association between infectious diseases and the risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) remains unclear. METHODS: Based on the UK Biobank, the prospective cohort study included a total of 396,080 participants without diabetes at baseline. We determined the types and sites of infectious diseases and incident T2D using the International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision codes (ICD-10). Time-varying Cox proportional hazard model was used to assess the association. Infection burden was defined as the number of infection episodes over time and the number of co-occurring infections. Genetic risk score (GRS) for T2D consisted of 424 single nucleotide polymorphisms. RESULTS: During a median of 9.04 [IQR, 8.3-9.7] years of follow-up, hospital-treated infectious diseases were associated with a greater risk of T2D (adjusted HR [aHR] 1.54 [95 % CI 1.46-1.61]), with risk difference per 10,000 individuals equal to 154.1 [95 % CI 140.7-168.2]. The heightened risk persisted after 5 years following the index infection. Bacterial infection with sepsis had the strongest risk of T2D (aHR 2.95 [95 % CI 2.53-3.44]) among different infection types. For site-specific analysis, bloodstream infections posed the greatest risk (3.01 [95 % CI 2.60-3.48]). A dose-response association was observed between infection burden and T2D risk within each GRS tertile (p-trend <0.001). High genetic risk and infection synergistically increased the T2D risk. CONCLUSION: Infectious diseases were associated with an increased risk of subsequent T2D. The risk showed specificity according to types, sites, severity of infection and the period since infection occurred. A potential accumulative effect of infection was revealed.

Engineering catalytic defects via molecular imprinting for high energy Li-S pouch cells.

Heterogeneous catalysis promises to accelerate sulfur-involved conversion reactions in lithium-sulfur batteries. Solid-state Li2S dissociation remains as the rate-limiting step because of the weakly matched solid-solid electrocatalysis interfaces. We propose an electrochemically molecular-imprinting strategy to have a metal sulfide (MS) catalyst with imprinted defects in positions from which the pre-implanted Li2S has been electrochemically removed. Such tailor-made defects enable the catalyst to bind exclusively to Li atoms in Li2S reactant and elongate the Li-S bond, thus decreasing the reaction energy barrier during charging. The imprinted Ni3S2 catalyst shows the best activity due to the highest defect concentration among the MS catalysts examined. The Li2S oxidation potential is substantially reduced to 2.34 V from 2.96 V for the counterpart free of imprinted vacancies, and an Ah-level pouch cell is realized with excellent cycling performance. With a lean electrolyte/sulfur ratio of 1.80 µL mgS -1, the cell achieves a benchmarkedly high energy density beyond 500 Wh kg-1.

Hospital-treated infectious diseases, infection burden and risk of Parkinson disease: An observational and Mendelian randomization study.

BACKGROUND: Experimental and cross-sectional evidence has suggested a potential role of infection in the ethology of Parkinson's disease (PD). We aim to examine the longitudinal association of infections with the incidence of PD and to explore whether the increased risk is limited to specific infection type rather than infection burden. METHODS: Based on the UK Biobank, hospital-treated infectious diseases and incident PD were ascertained through record linkage to national hospital inpatient registers. Infection burden was defined as the sum of the number of infection episodes over time and the number of co-occurring infections. The polygenic risk score (PRS) for PD was calculated. The genome-wide association studies (GWAS) used in two-sample Mendelian Randomization (MR) were obtained from observational cohort participants of mostly European ancestry. RESULTS: Hospital-treated infectious diseases were associated with an increased risk of PD (adjusted HR [aHR] 1.35 [95 % CI 1.20-1.52]). This relationship persisted when analyzing new PD cases occurring more than 10 years post-infection (aHR 1.22 [95 % CI 1.04-1.43]). The greatest PD risk was observed in neurological/eye infection (aHR 1.72 [95 % CI 1.32-2.34]), with lower respiratory tract infection (aHR 1.43 [95 % CI 1.02-1.99]) ranked the second. A dose-response association was observed between infection burden and PD risk within each PD-PRS tertile (p-trend < 0.001). Multivariable MR showed that bacterial and viral infections increase the PD risk. CONCLUSIONS: Both observational and genetic analysis suggested a causal association between infections and the risk of developing PD. A dose-response relationship between infection burden and incident PD was revealed.

Switching Hydrophobic Interface with Ionic Valves for Reversible Zinc Batteries.

Developing hydrophobic interface has proven effective in addressing dendrite growth and side reactions during zinc (Zn) plating in aqueous Zn batteries. However, this solution inadvertently impedes the solvation of Zn2+ with H2O and subsequent ionic transport during Zn stripping, leading to insufficient reversibility. Herein, an adaptive hydrophobic interface that can be switched "on" and "off" by ionic valves to accommodate the varying demands for interfacial H2O during both the Zn plating and stripping processes, is proposed. This concept is validated using octyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (C8TAB) as the ionic valve, which can initiatively establish and remove a hydrophobic interface in response to distinct electric-field directions during Zn plating and stripping, respectively. Consequently, the Zn anode exhibits an extended cycling life of over 2500 h with a high Coulombic efficiency of ≈99.8%. The full cells also show impressive capacity retention of over 85% after 1 000 cycles at 5 A g-1. These findings provide a new insight into interface design for aqueous metal batteries.

Six new quassinoids from Picrasma chinese P·Y. Chen and their cytotoxicity activity.

In the present study, six new compounds namely, picralactones CH (1-6) along with nine known compounds (7-15) were isolated from the branches and leaves of Picrasma chinese P.Y. Chen. Their structures were determined with the help of spectroscopic techniques such as NMR, HR-ESI-MS, UV, IR and CD. Cytotoxicity of all compounds was evaluated against MDA-MB-231, SW-620 and HepG2 human cancer cell lines. Compound 4 showed cytotoxic activities.

High-Entropy Catalysis Accelerating Stepwise Sulfur Redox Reactions for Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

Catalysis is crucial to improve redox kinetics in lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries. However, conventional catalysts that consist of a single metal element are incapable of accelerating stepwise sulfur redox reactions which involve 16-electron transfer and multiple Li2Sn (n = 2-8) intermediate species. To enable fast kinetics of Li-S batteries, it is proposed to use high-entropy alloy (HEA) nanocatalysts, which are demonstrated effective to adsorb lithium polysulfides and accelerate their redox kinetics. The incorporation of multiple elements (Co, Ni, Fe, Pd, and V) within HEAs greatly enhances the catalytically active sites, which not only improves the rate capability, but also elevates the cycling stability of the assembled batteries. Consequently, HEA-catalyzed Li-S batteries achieve a high capacity up to 1364 mAh g-1 at 0.1 C and experience only a slight capacity fading rate of 0.054% per cycle over 1000 cycles at 2 C, while the assembled pouch cell achieves a high specific capacity of 1192 mAh g-1. The superior performance of Li-S batteries demonstrates the effectiveness of the HEA catalysts with maximized synergistic effect for accelerating S conversion reactions, which opens a way to catalytically improving stepwise electrochemical conversion reactions.