Lithium Orbital Hybridization Chemistry to Stimulate Oxygen Redox with Reversible Phase Evolution in Sodium-Layered Oxide Cathodes.

Searching for high energy-density electrode materials for sodium ion batteries has revealed Na-deficient intercalation compounds with lattice oxygen redox as promising high-capacity cathodes. However, anionic redox reactions commonly encountered poor electrochemical reversibility and unfavorable structural transformations during dynamic (de)sodiation processes. To address this issue, we employed lithium orbital hybridization chemistry to create Na-O-Li configuration in a prototype P2-layered Na43/60Li1/20Mg7/60Cu1/6Mn2/3O2 (P2-NaLMCM') cathode material. That Li+ ions, having low electronegativity, reside in the transition metal slabs serves to stimulate unhybridized O 2p orbitals to facilitate the stable capacity contribution of oxygen redox at high state of charge. The prismatic-type structure evolving to an intergrowth structure of the Z phase at high charging state could be simultaneously alleviated by reducing the electrostatic repulsion of O-O layers. As a consequence, P2-NaLMCM' delivers a high specific capacity of 183.8 mAh g-1 at 0.05 C and good cycling stability with a capacity retention of 80.2% over 200 cycles within the voltage range of 2.0-4.5 V. Our findings provide new insights into both tailoring oxygen redox chemistry and stabilizing dynamic structural evolution for high-energy battery cathode materials.

Examination of learning ability development through the implementation of the "autonomy-collaboration" learning mode grounded in evidence-based medicine practice.

OBJECTIVE: Currently, there are still some shortcomings in EBM education in China.The study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of the novel evidence-based medicine (EBM) learning model of "autonomy-collaboration." METHODS: A total of 91 undergraduate students majoring in clinical medicine at Zhongshan Clinical College of Dalian University from the 2019 batch were selected as the participants in this study. They were instructed to follow the EBM learning model of "autonomy-collaboration." Upon completion of the course, questionnaires, records of participants' sentiments and insights, and evidence-based clinical practice reports were used as indicators to evaluate the effectiveness of the training. RESULTS: This learning modality effectively enhanced independent learning ability of the students, stimulated their interest in learning, and strengthened the communication between students and teachers, thereby improving the quality of teaching. CONCLUSION: The novel EBM learning model of "autonomy-collaboration," exhibited robust effectiveness in instruction and facilitated the seamless integration of theoretical knowledge with clinical practice. Consequently, its widespread adoption is strongly recommended.

Improvements in Wear and Corrosion Resistance of Ti-W-Alloyed Gray Cast Iron by Tailoring Its Microstructural Properties.

The improved wear and corrosion resistance of gray cast iron (GCI) with enhanced mechanical properties is a proven stepping stone towards the longevity of its versatile industrial applications. In this article, we have tailored the microstructural properties of GCI by alloying it with titanium (Ti) and tungsten (W) additives, which resulted in improved mechanical, wear, and corrosion resistance. The results also show the nucleation of the B-, D-, and E-type graphite flakes with the A-type graphite flake in the alloyed GCI microstructure. Additionally, the alloyed microstructure demonstrated that the ratio of the pearlite volume percentage to the ferrite volume percentage was improved from 67/33 to 87/13, whereas a reduction in the maximum graphite length and average grain size from 356 ± 31 µm to 297 ± 16 µm and 378 ± 18 µm to 349 ± 19 µm was detected. Consequently, it improved the mechanical properties and wear and corrosion resistance of alloyed GCI. A significant improvement in Brinell hardness, yield strength, and tensile strength of the modified microstructure from 213 ± 7 BHN to 272 ± 8 BHN, 260 ± 3 MPa to 310 ± 2 MPa, and 346 ± 12 MPa to 375 ± 7 MPa was achieved, respectively. The substantial reduction in the wear rate of alloyed GCI from 8.49 × 10-3 mm3/N.m to 1.59 × 10-3 mm3/N.m resulted in the upgradation of the surface roughness quality from 297.625 nm to 192.553 nm. Due to the increase in the corrosion potential from -0.5832 V to -0.4813 V, the impedance of the alloyed GCI was increased from 1545 Ohm·cm2 to 2290 Ohm·cm2. On the basis of the achieved experimental results, it is suggested that the reliability of alloyed GCI based on experimentally validated microstructural compositions can be ensured during the operation of plants and components in a severe wear and corrosive environment. It can be predicted that the proposed alloyed GCI components are capable of preventing the premature failure of high-tech components susceptible to a wear and corrosion environment.

Single-center retrospective study of the diagnostic value of double-balloon enteroscopy in Meckel's diverticulum with bleeding.

BACKGROUND: The study aimed to analyze the characteristic clinical manifestations of patients with intestinal disease Meckel's diverticulum (MD) complicated by digestive tract hemorrhage. Moreover, we aimed to evaluate the value of double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) in MD diagnosis and the prognosis after laparoscopic diverticula resection. AIM: To evaluate the value of DBE in the diagnosis and the prognosis after laparoscopic diverticula resection for MD with bleeding. METHODS: The study retrospectively analyzed relevant data from 84 MD patients treated between January 2015 and March 2022 and recorded their clinical manifestations, auxiliary examination, and follow-up after laparoscopic resection of diverticula. RESULTS: (1) Among 84 MD patients complicated with hemorrhage, 77 were male, and 7 were female with an average age of 31.31 ± 10.75 years. The incidence was higher in men than in women of different ages; (2) Among the 84 MD patients, 65 (78.40%) had defecated dark red stools, and 50 (58.80%) had no accompanying symptoms during bleeding, indicating that most MD bleeding appeared a dark red stool without accompanying symptoms; (3) The shock index of 71 patients (85.20%) was < 1, suggesting that the blood loss of most MD patients was less than 20%-30%, and only a few patients had a blood loss of > 30%; (4) The DBE-positive rate was 100% (54/54), 99mTc-pertechnetate-positive scanning rate was 78% (35/45) compared with capsule endoscopy (36%) and small intestine computed tomography (19%). These results suggest that DBE and 99mTc-pertechnetate scans had significant advantages in diagnosing MD and bleeding, especially DBE was a highly precise examination method in MD diagnosis; (5) A total of 54 MD patients with hemorrhage underwent DBE examination before surgery. DBE endoscopy revealed many mucosal manifestations including normal appearance, inflammatory changes, ulcerative changes, diverticulum inversion, and nodular hyperplasia, with ulcerative changes being the most common (53.70%). This suggests that diverticular mucosal ulcer was the main cause of MD and bleeding; and (6) Laparoscopic dissection of diverticulae was performed in 76 patients, The patients who underwent postoperative follow-up did not experience any further bleeding. Additionally, follow-up examination of the 8 cases who had declined surgery revealed that 3 of them experienced a recurrence of digestive tract bleeding. These findings indicate that laparoscopic diverticula resection in MD patients complicated by bleeding had a favorable prognosis. CONCLUSION: Bleeding associated with MD was predominantly observed in male adolescents, particularly at a young age. DBE was a highly precise examination method in MD diagnosis. Laparoscopic diverticula resection effectively prevented MD bleeding and had a good prognosis.

Calcitonin gene-related peptide: a possible biomarker in migraine patients with patent foramen ovale.

BACKGROUND: Serum CGRP has been found to increase during migraine attack. However, whether CGRP can identify MA with PFO subtypes in MA remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the differential expression of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) between migraine (MA) patients with and without patent foramen ovale (PFO), and to evaluate the predictive value of CGRP for MA with PFO. METHODS: A total of 153 patients with MA, 51 patients with PFO and 102 patients without. Venous blood was drawn and HIT-6 score was calculated during the onset of MA, and blood routine, inflammatory indexes and serum CGRP were detected. The differences in serum markers and HIT-6 scores were compared between the two groups, and the risk factors of MA with PFO were determined by univariate and multivariate logistics regression. Furthermore, the correlation between CGRP level with right-to-left shunt (RLS) grades and headache impact test-6 (HIT-6) score in MA patients with PFO were assessed. Independent risk factors were screened out by multivariate Logistic regression analysis. We used the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve to analyze the diagnostic value of these risk factors in MA complicated with PFO. RESULTS: The serum CGRP level and HIT-6 scores in the MA with PFO group were significantly higher than those in the MA group (P < 0.001). Multivariate regression analysis showed that CGRP was an independent risk factor for MA with PFO (OR = 1.698, 95% CI = 1.325-2.179, P < 0.001). CGRP values ​​increased with the increase of RLS grade(Spearmen rho = 0.703, P < 0.001). Furthermore, a positive correlation between CGRP and HIT-6 scores was found (Spearmen rho = 0.227; P = 0.016). ROC curve showed that the optimal cut-off value for diagnosing MA with PFO was 79 pg/mL, the area under the curve (AUC) for predicting MA with PFO was 0.845, with 72.55% sensitivity and 78.43% specificity. CONCLUSIONS: MA patients with PFO have higher serum CGRP level. elevated CGRP concentration was associated with higher RLS grade and increased HIT-6 score. Higher serum CGRP level has certain clinical value in predicting PFO in MA patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Zhuhai Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine (Ethics batch number: 20,201,215,005).

Boosting Sodium Compensation Efficiency via a CNT/MnO2 Catalyst toward High-Performance Na-Ion Batteries.

The formation of a solid electrolyte interphase on carbon anodes causes irreversible loss of Na+ ions, significantly compromising the energy density of Na-ion full cells. Sodium compensation additives can effectively address the irreversible sodium loss but suffer from high decomposition voltage induced by low electrochemical activity. Herein, we propose a universal electrocatalytic sodium compensation strategy by introducing a carbon nanotube (CNT)/MnO2 catalyst to realize full utilization of sodium compensation additives at a much-reduced decomposition voltage. The well-organized CNT/MnO2 composite with high catalytic activity, good electronic conductivity, and abundant reaction sites enables sodium compensation additives to decompose at significantly reduced voltages (from 4.40 to 3.90 V vs Na+/Na for sodium oxalate, 3.88 V for sodium carbonate, and even 3.80 V for sodium citrate). As a result, sodium oxalate as the optimal additive achieves a specific capacity of 394 mAh g-1, almost reaching its theoretical capacity in the first charge, increasing the energy density of the Na-ion full cell from 111 to 158 Wh kg-1 with improved cycle stability and rate capability. This work offers a valuable approach to enhance sodium compensation efficiency, promising high-performance energy storage devices in the future.

Bismuth-doping boosting Na+ diffusion kinetics of layered oxide cathode with radially oriented {010} active lattice facet for sodium-ion batteries.

O3-type layered oxide cathodes (NaxTMO2) for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) have attracted significant attention as one of the most promising potential candidates for practical energy storage applications. The poor Na+ diffusion kinetics is, however, one of the major obstacles to advancing large-scale practical application. Herein, we report bismuth-doped O3-NaNi0.5Mn0.5O2 (NMB) microspheres consisting of unique primary nanoplatelets with the radially oriented {010} active lattice facets. The NMB combines the advantages of the oriented and exposed electrochemical active planes for direct paths of Na+ diffusion, and the thick primary nanoplatelets for less surface parasitic reactions with the electrolyte. Consequently, the NMB cathode exhibits a long-term stability with an excellent capacity retention of 72.5% at 1C after 300 cycles and an enhanced rate capability at a 0.1C to 10C rate (1C = 240 mA g-1). Furthermore, the enhancement is elucidated by the small volume change, thin cathode-electrolyte-interphase (CEI) layer, and rapid Na+ diffusion kinetics. In particular, the radial orientation-based Bi-doping strategy is demonstrated to be effective at boosting electrochemical performance in other layered oxides (such as Bi-doped NaNi0.45Mn0.45Ti0.1O2 and NaNi1/3Fe1/3Mn1/3O2). The results provide a promising strategy of utilizing the advantages of the oriented active facets of primary platelets and secondary particles to develop high-rate layered oxide cathodes for SIBs.

Protective effect of alizarin on vascular endothelial dysfunction via inhibiting the type 2 diabetes-induced synthesis of THBS1 and activating the AMPK signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND: In this study, we investigated the protective effects of alizarin (AZ) on endothelial dysfunction (ED). AZ has inhibition of the type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)-induced synthesis of thrombospondin 1 (THBS1). Adenosine 5'-monophosphate- activated protein kinase (AMPK), particularly AMPKα2 isoform, plays a critical role in maintaining cardiac homeostasis. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the ameliorative effect of AZ on vascular injury caused by T2DM and to reveal the potential mechanism of AZ in high glucose (HG)-stimulated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and diabetic model rats. STUDY DESIGN: HUVECs, rats and AMPK-/- transgenic mice were used to investigate the mitigating effects of AZ on vascular endothelial dysfunction caused by T2DM and its in vitro and in vivo molecular mechanisms. METHODS: In type 2 diabetes mellitus rats and HUVECs, the inhibitory effect of alizarin on THBS1 synthesis was verified by immunohistochemistry (IHC), immunofluorescence (IF) and Western blot (WB) so that increase endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) content in vitro and in vivo. In addition, we verified protein interactions with immunoprecipitation (IP). To probe the mechanism, we also performed AMPKα2 transfection. AMPK's pivotal role in AZ-mediated prevention against T2DM-induced vascular endothelial dysfunction was tested using AMPKα2-/- mice. RESULTS: We first demonstrated that THBS1 and AMPK are targets of AZ. In T2DM, THBS1 was robustly induced by high glucose and inhibited by AZ. Furthermore, AZ activates the AMPK signaling pathway, and recoupled eNOS in stressed endothelial cells which plays a protective role in vascular endothelial dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: The main finding of this study is that AZ can play a role in different pathways of vascular injury due to T2DM. Mechanistically, alizarin inhibits the increase in THBS1 protein synthesis after high glucose induction and activates AMPKα2, which increases NO release from eNOS, which is essential in the prevention of vascular endothelial dysfunction caused by T2DM.

Fast Na+ Kinetics and Suppressed Voltage Hysteresis Enabled by a High-Entropy Strategy for Sodium Oxide Cathodes.

O3-type layered transition metal cathodes are promising energy storage materials due to their sufficient sodium reservoir. However, sluggish sodium ions kinetics and large voltage hysteresis, which are generally associated with Na+ diffusion properties and electrochemical phase transition reversibility, drastically minimize energy density, reduce energy efficiency, and hinder further commercialization of sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). Here, this work proposes a high-entropy tailoring strategy through manipulating the electronic local environment within transition metal slabs to circumvent these issues. Experimental analysis combined with theoretical calculations verify that high-entropy metal ion mixing contributes to the improved reversibility of redox reaction and O3-P3-O3 phase transition behaviors as well as the enhanced Na+ diffusivity. Consequently, the designed O3-Na0.9Ni0.2Fe0.2Co0.2Mn0.2Ti0.15Cu0.05O2 material with high-entropy characteristic could display a negligible voltage hysteresis (<0.09 V), impressive rate capability (98.6 mAh g-1 at 10 C) and long-term cycling stability (79.4% capacity retention over 2000 cycles at 5 C). This work provides insightful guidance in mitigating the voltage hysteresis and facilitating Na+ diffusion of layered oxide cathode materials to realize high-rate and high-energy SIBs.

Floralozone regulates MiR-7a-5p expression through AMPKα2 activation to improve cognitive dysfunction in vascular dementia.

BACKGROUND: The pathogenesis of vascular dementia (VD) is complex, and currently, no effective treatments have been recommended. Floralozone is a colorless liquid first discovered in Lagotis Gaertn. Recently, its medicinal value has been increasingly recognized. Our previous study has demonstrated that Floralozone can improve cognitive dysfunction in rats with VD by regulating the transient receptor potential melastatin 2 (TRPM2) and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) signaling pathways. However, the mechanism by which Floralozone regulates TRPM2 and NMDAR to improve VD remains unclear. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is an energy regulator in vivo; however, its role of AMPK activation in stroke remains controversial. MiR-7a-5p has been identified to be closely related to neuronal function. PURPOSE: To explore whether Floralozone can regulate the miR-7a-5p level in vivo through AMPKα2 activation, affect the TRPM2 and NR2B expression levels, and improve VD symptoms. METHODS: The VD model was established by a modified bilateral occlusion of the common carotid arteries (2-VO) of Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats and AMPKα2 KO transgenic (AMPKα2-/-) mice. Primary hippocampal neurons were modeled using oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD). Morris water maze (MWM) test, hematoxylin-eosin staining (HE staining), and TUNEL staining were used to investigate the effects of Floralozone on behavior and hippocampal morphology in rats. Minichromosome maintenance complex component 2(MCM2) positive cells were used to investigate the effect of Floralozone on neurogenesis. Immunofluorescence staining, qRT-PCR, and western blot analysis were used to investigate the effect of Floralozone on the expression levels of AMPKα2, miR-7a-5p, TRPM2, and NR2B. RESULTS: The SD rat experiment revealed that Floralozone improved spatial learning and memory, improved the morphology and structure of hippocampal neurons, reduced apoptosis of hippocampal neurons and promoted neurogenesis in VD rats. Floralozone could increase the miR-7a-5p expression level, activate AMPKα2 and NR2B expressions, and inhibit TRPM2 expression in hippocampal neurons of VD rats. The AMPKα2 KO transgenic (AMPKα2-/-) mice experiment demonstrated that Floralozone could regulate miR-7a-5p, TRPM2, and NR2B expression levels through AMPKα2 activation. The cell experiment revealed that the TRPM2 and NR2B expression levels were regulated by miR-7a-5p, whereas the AMPKα2 expression level was not. CONCLUSION: Floralozone could regulate miR-7a-5p expression level by activating the protein expression of AMPKα2, control the protein expression of TRPM2 and NR2B, improve the morphology and structure of hippocampus neurons, reduce the apoptosis of hippocampus neurons, promote neurogenesis and improve the cognitive dysfunction.

Force-triggered hypso- and bathochromic bidirectional fluorescence switching beyond 120 nm and its anticounterfeiting applications.

Achieving high-contrast tricolor emissive regulation of a single-component molecule using a single type of external stimulus is highly desirable but challenging. In the present study, we report a symmetric acceptor-donor-acceptor (A-D-A)-type aggregation-induced emission-active luminogen, which displays a sequential high-contrast fluorescence switching just by anisotropic mechanical grinding. Specifically, upon light grinding, an orange-yellow-to-blue hypsochromic mechanofluorochromic response with a distinct color contrast (change in the maximum emission wavelength, Δλem,max = 122 nm) is noticed, and the slightly ground solid exhibits a blue-to-red high-contrast (Δλem,max = 185 nm) bathochromic mechanofluorochromic conversion upon vigorous grinding. Thus, using a single luminogen developed here, we can realize wide-range (Δλem,max > 100 nm) hypso- and bathochromic fluorescence mechanochromisms simultaneously. The tricolored mechanofluorochromic phenomenon is attributed to two different morphological transitions involving crystalline-to-crystalline and crystalline-to-amorphous states. Furthermore, three information anticounterfeiting systems are developed using the luminogen presented here.

NEFA can serve as good biological markers for the diagnosis of depression in adolescents.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of adolescent depression has markedly risen in recent years, with a high recurrence rate into adulthood. Diagnosis in adolescents is challenging due to subjective factors, highlighting the crucial need for objective diagnostic markers. METHODS: Our study enrolled 204 participants, including healthy controls (n = 88) and first-episode adolescent depression patients (n = 116). Serum samples underwent gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis to assess non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) expression. Machine learning and ROC analysis were employed to identify potential biomarkers, followed by bioinformatics analysis to explore underlying mechanisms. RESULTS: Nearly all differentially expressed NEFA exhibited significant downregulation. Notably, nonanoic acid, cis-10-pentadecenoic acid, cis-10-carboenoic acid, and cis-11-eicosenoic acid demonstrated excellent performance in distinguishing adolescent depression patients. Metabolite-gene interaction analysis revealed these NEFAs interacted with multiple genes. KEGG pathway analysis on these genes suggested that differentially expressed NEFA may impact PPAR and cAMP signaling pathways. LIMITATIONS: Inclusion of diverse populations for evaluation is warranted. Biomarkers identified in this study require samples that are more in line with the experimental design for external validation, and further basic research is necessary to validate the potential depressive mechanisms of NEFA. CONCLUSIONS: The overall reduction in NEFA expression in first-episode adolescent depression patients suggests a potential mediation of depression symptoms through cAMP and PPAR signaling pathways. NEFA levels show promise as a diagnostic tool for identifying first-episode adolescent depression patients.

Citronellal can alleviate vascular endothelial dysfunction by reducing ectopic miR-133a expression.

AIMS: Endothelial dysfunction (ED) is the initial cause of atherosclerosis (AS) and an early marker of many cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Citronellal (CT), a monoterpenoid natural product extracted from grass plant Citronella, has been shown to have anti-thrombotic, anti-hypertensive and anti-diabetic cardiomyopathy activities. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of citronellal on vascular endothelial dysfunction and the underlying mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The left common carotid artery was subjected to one-time balloon injury to cause vascular endothelial injury, and the AS model was established by feeding with high-fat diet. Use of HUVECs H2O2 treatment induced HUVECs oxidative stress damage model. The blood lipid level, histopathology, Western blot, immunohistochemistry, RT-PCR, ELISA and in situ fluorescence hybridization of common carotid artery tissues and HUVECs were studied. KEY FINDINGS: CT significantly reduced vascular plate area and endothelial lipid and cholesterol deposition in the common carotid artery of mice in a dose-dependent manner. CT increased the expression of activated protein 2α (AP-2α/TFAP2A) and circRNA_102979, and inhibited the ectopic expression level of miR-133a. However, the constructed lentivirus with AP-2α silencing and circRNA_102979 silencing reversed this phenomenon. SIGNIFICANCE: The current study verifies CT can increase the expression levels of AP-2α and circRNA_102979 in vascular endothelium, increase the adsorption effect of circRNA_102979 on miR-133a and relieve the inhibitory effect of miR-133a on target genes, thereby alleviating AS-induced ED.

A new metal ion chelator attenuates human tau accumulation-induced neurodegeneration and memory deficits in mice.

Neuronal neurofibrillary tangles containing Tau hyperphosphorylation proteins are a typical pathological marker of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The level of tangles in neurons correlates positively with severe dementia. However, how Tau induces cognitive dysfunction is still unknown, which leads to a lack of effective treatments for AD. Metal ions deposition occurs with tangles in AD brain autopsy. Reduced metal ion can improve the pathology of AD. To explore whether abnormally phosphorylated Tau causes metal ion deposition, we overexpressed human full-length Tau (hTau) in the hippocampal CA3 area of mice and primary cultured hippocampal neurons (CPHN) and found that Tau accumulation induced iron deposition and activated calcineurin (CaN), which dephosphorylates glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK3ß), mediating Tau hyperphosphorylation. Simultaneous activation of CaN dephosphorylates cyclic-AMP response binding protein (CREB), leading to synaptic deficits and memory impairment, as shown in our previous study; this seems to be a vicious cycle exacerbating tauopathy. In the current study, we developed a new metal ion chelator that displayed a significant inhibitory effect on Tau phosphorylation and memory impairment by chelating iron ions in vivo and in vitro. These findings provide new insight into the mechanism of memory impairment induced by Tau accumulation and develop a novel potential treatment for tauopathy in AD.

Refined Electrolyte and Interfacial Chemistry toward Realization of High-Energy Anode-Free Rechargeable Sodium Batteries.

Anode-free rechargeable sodium batteries represent one of the ultimate choices for the 'beyond-lithium' electrochemical storage technology with high energy. Operated based on the sole use of active Na ions from the cathode, the anode-free battery is usually reported with quite a limited cycle life due to unstable electrolyte chemistry that hinders efficient Na plating/stripping at the anode and high-voltage operation of the layered oxide cathode. A rational design of the electrolyte toward improving its compatibility with the electrodes is key to realize the battery. Here, we show that by refining the volume ratio of two conventional linear ether solvents, a binary electrolyte forms a cation solvation structure that facilitates flat, dendrite-free, planar growth of Na metal on the anode current collector and that is adaptive to high-voltage Na (de)intercalation of P2-/O3-type layered oxide cathodes and oxidative decomposition of the Na2C2O4 supplement. Inorganic fluorides, such as NaF, show a major influence on the electroplating pattern of Na metal and effective passivation of plated metal at the anode-electrolyte interface. Anode-free batteries based on the refined electrolyte have demonstrated high coulombic efficiency, long cycle life, and the ability to claim a cell-level specific energy of >300 Wh/kg.

Proteome profiling of early gestational plasma reveals novel biomarkers of congenital heart disease.

Prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease (CHD) relies primarily on fetal echocardiography conducted at mid-gestational age-the sensitivity of which varies among centers and practitioners. An objective method for early diagnosis is needed. Here, we conducted a case-control study recruiting 103 pregnant women with healthy offspring and 104 cases with CHD offspring, including VSD (42/104), ASD (20/104), and other CHD phenotypes. Plasma was collected during the first trimester and proteomic analysis was performed. Principal component analysis revealed considerable differences between the controls and the CHDs. Among the significantly altered proteins, 25 upregulated proteins in CHDs were enriched in amino acid metabolism, extracellular matrix receptor, and actin skeleton regulation, whereas 49 downregulated proteins were enriched in carbohydrate metabolism, cardiac muscle contraction, and cardiomyopathy. The machine learning model reached an area under the curve of 0.964 and was highly accurate in recognizing CHDs. This study provides a highly valuable proteomics resource to better recognize the cause of CHD and has developed a reliable objective method for the early recognition of CHD, facilitating early intervention and better prognosis.

Impact of brain segmentation methods on regional metabolism quantification in 18F-FDG PET/MR analysis.

BACKGROUND: Accurate analysis of quantitative PET data plays a crucial role in studying small, specific brain structures. The integration of PET and MRI through an integrated PET/MR system presents an opportunity to leverage the benefits of precisely aligned structural MRI and molecular PET images in both spatial and temporal dimensions. However, in many clinical workflows, PET studies are often performed without the aid of individually matched structural MRI scans, primarily for the sake of convenience in the data collection and brain segmentation possesses. Currently, two commonly employed segmentation strategies for brain PET analysis are distinguished: methods with or without MRI registration and methods employing either atlas-based or individual-based algorithms. Moreover, the development of artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted methods for predicting brain segmentation holds promise but requires further validation of their efficiency and accuracy for clinical applications. This study aims to compare and evaluate the correlations, consistencies, and differences among the above-mentioned brain segmentation strategies in quantification of brain metabolism in 18F-FDG PET/MR analysis. RESULTS: Strong correlations were observed among all methods (r = 0.932 to 0.999, P < 0.001). The variances attributable to subject and brain region were higher than those caused by segmentation methods (P < 0.001). However, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC)s between methods with or without MRI registration ranged from 0.924 to 0.975, while ICCs between methods with atlas- or individual-based algorithms ranged from 0.741 to 0.879. Brain regions exhibiting significant standardized uptake values (SUV) differences due to segmentation methods were the basal ganglia nuclei (maximum to 11.50 ± 4.67%), and various cerebral cortexes in temporal and occipital regions (maximum to 18.03 ± 5.52%). The AI-based method demonstrated high correlation (r = 0.998 and 0.999, P < 0.001) and ICC (0.998 and 0.997) with FreeSurfer, substantially reducing the time from 8.13 h to 57 s on per subject. CONCLUSIONS: Different segmentation methods may have impact on the calculation of brain metabolism in basal ganglia nuclei and specific cerebral cortexes. The AI-based approach offers improved efficiency and is recommended for its enhanced performance.

Protective effect of vitamin B6 against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity by modulating NHE1 expression.

Doxorubicin (DOX) has been used to treat various types of cancer, but its application is limited due to its heart toxicity as well as other drawbacks. Chronic inhibition of Na+ /H+ exchanger (NHE1) reduces heart failure and reduces the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS); vitamin B6 (VitB6 ) has been demonstrated to have a crucial role in antioxidant mechanism. So, this study was designed to explore the effect of VitB6 supplement on the DOX-induced cardiotoxicity and to imply whether NHE1 is involved. Ultrasonic cardiogram analysis revealed that VitB6 supplement could alleviate DOX-induced cardiotoxicity; hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and Masson's staining further confirmed this effect. Furthermore, VitB6 supplement exhibited significant antioxidative stress and antiapoptosis effect, which was evidenced by decreased serum malondialdehyde (MDA) content and increased serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) content, and decreased Bcl-2-associated X protein/B-cell lymphoma-2 ratio, respectively. Collectively, VitB6 supplement may exert antioxidative and antiapoptosis effects to improve cardiac function by decreasing NHE1 expression and improve DOX-induced cardiotoxicity.

Seaweed-like phosphates/MOF heterostructures as a synergistic electrocatalyst for alcohol oxidation.

A series of seaweed-like heterogeneous Co3(PO4)2/Ni3(PO4)2/MOF-74-x electrocatalysts were synthesized via a hydrothermal method. The optimal composite exhibits excellent catalytic performance toward methanol/ethanol oxidation reactions (MOR/EOR) with peak current densities reaching 27.5 and 32.6 mA cm-2, respectively. This work heralds the advent of more efficient heterogeneous electrocatalysts for DAFCs and other energy conversion systems.