Boosting sodium storage performance of Na0.44MnO2 through surface modification with conductive polymer PPy utilizing sonication-assisted dispersion.

The search for suitable electrode materials for sodium storage in sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) poses significant challenges. Na0.44MnO2 (NMO) has emerged as a promising candidate among various cathode materials due to its distinct three-dimensional tunnel structure, which facilitates Na+ diffusion and governs structural stress fluctuations during Na+ intercalation/deintercalation. However, NMO faces obstacles such as limited electronic conductivity, lattice distortion induced by the Jahn-Teller effect of Mn3+ during cycling, and Mn3+ disproportionation leading to material dissolution, which affects cycling durability. To overcome these problems, Na0.44MnO2/polypyrrole (NMO/PPy) composites were fabricated through surface modification of the conductive PPy using an ultrasonically assisted dispersion method. Experimental results show that NMO/PPy with a 7 wt% PPy content exhibits superior sodium storage capabilities. Specifically, at a current density of 0.5C, the initial specific discharge capacity reaches 135.2 mA h g-1, a 12.1% increase over pristine NMO, with a capacity retention of 94.5% after 100 cycles. Of particular note is a capacity retention of 82% after 500 cycles at 1C, attributed to the PPy coating, which suppresses Mn3+ side reactions, enhances the structural stability and electronic conductivity of NMO, and accelerates Na+ diffusion. These results suggest that the use of conductive polymer coatings represents a simple and effective strategy to improve the sodium storage capacity of NMO, paving the way for the further development of high-performance SIB cathodes.

Microenvironment-Responsive Antibacterial, Anti-Inflammatory, and Antioxidant Pickering Emulsion Stabilized by Curcumin-Loaded Tea Polyphenol Particles for Accelerating Infected Wound Healing.

Multiphase Pickering emulsions, including two or more active agents, are of great importance to effectively manage complicated wounds. However, current strategies based on Pickering emulsions are still unsatisfying since they involve only stabilization by inactive particles and encapsulation of the hydrophobic drugs in the oil phase. Herein, thyme essential oil (TEO) was encapsulated in the shell of functional tea polyphenol (TP)-curcumin (Cur) nanoparticles (TC NPs) to exemplarily develop a novel Pickering emulsion (TEO/TC PE). Hydrophobic Cur was loaded with hydrophilic TP to obtain TC NPs, and under homogenization, these TC NPs adsorbed on the surface of TEO droplets to form a stable core-shell structure. Owing to such an oil-in-water (O/W) structure, the sequential release of the first Cur from pH-responsive disintegrated TC NPs and then the leaked TEO from the emulsion yielded synergetic functions of TEO/TC PE, leading to enhanced antibacterial, biofilm elimination, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities. This injectable TEO/TC PE was applied to treat the infected full-thickness skin defects, and satisfactory wound healing effects were achieved with rapid angiogenesis, collagen deposition, and skin regeneration. The present TEO/TC PE constituted entirely of plant-sourced active products is biosafe and expected to spearhead the future development of novel wound dressings.

Salt Resistant PPy/MXene Flexible Waffle Type Fabric for Efficient Solar Evaporation and Water Purification Production.

In recent years, with the development of solar seawater desalination technology, many solar evaporators are affected by precipitated salts during the evaporation process, which can reduce efficiency. In this work, flexible fabrics made of polypyrrole (PPy)/MXene are obtained by impregnating the prepared PPy ink onto waffle like fabrics. The combination of PPy and fabric greatly improves the water absorption and evaporation performance of the fabric. The average evaporation rate of this structure is 1.43 kg m-2 h-1, and the average evaporation efficiency under a single light source is 85.13%. After a 15-h testing cycle and a total of 8 cycles, lasting nearly 120 h, the performance of the device remained stable. The structural characteristics of waffle fabric, based on the Marangoni thermal effect, make it possible to suppress salt precipitation during evaporation, avoiding large salt particles covering the evaporation surface and reducing efficiency. This experiment successfully demonstrated long-term stable water evaporation, providing new ideas for the development of fabric evaporators.

The Study of Associated Factors for Non-Tuberculous Mycobacterial Pulmonary Disease Compared to Pulmonary Tuberculosis: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis.

Objective: Investigate the differences in clinical manifestations, imaging features, and associated inflammatory markers between Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Pulmonary Disease (NTM-PD) and Pulmonary Tuberculosis (PTB), identify potential risk factors for NTM-PD, and establish a logistic regression model to evaluate its diagnostic value. Methods: Baseline data were collected from 145 patients with NTM-PD and 206 patients with PTB. Propensity score matching (PSM) was utilized to achieve a 1:1 match between the two groups, resulting in 103 matched pairs. The differences in comorbidities, imaging features, and inflammatory markers were compared between the two groups. Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify independent influencing factors, and the diagnostic value of the established model was evaluated. Results: After matching, significant differences were observed between the NTM-PD group and the PTB group in terms of diabetes, bronchiectasis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD), cystic and columnar changes, lung cavity presentation, and monocyte percentage (MONO%), lymphocyte count (LYMPH#), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) (P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis confirmed that diabetes, bronchiectasis, COPD, and lung cavities were risk factors for NTM-PD. The established regression analysis model was analyzed by the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve, the Area Under the Curve (AUC) was obtained as 0.795 (P<0.001, 95% CI 0.734-0.857). At a Youden index of 0.505, the sensitivity was 84.5% and the specificity was 66.6%. The Hosmer-Lemeshow test was used to evaluate the model's calibration, with a chi-square value of 11.023 and P=0.200>0.05, indicating no significant difference between predicted and observed values. Conclusion: For patients without diabetes but with bronchiectasis, COPD, and imaging characteristics of lung cavities, a high level of vigilance and active differential diagnosis for NTM-PD should be exercised. Given that the clinical manifestations of NTM-PD are similar to those of PTB, a detailed differential diagnosis is necessary during the diagnostic process to avoid misdiagnosis.

Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of ADK Gene Family Members in Cotton under Abiotic Stress.

Adenosine kinase (ADK) is a key enzyme widely distributed in plants, playing an important role in maintaining cellular energy homeostasis and regulating plant growth, development, and responses to environmental stresses. However, research on ADK genes in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum), an economically significant crop, has been limited. This study identified 92 ADK genes from four cotton species (G. arboreum, G. raimondii, G. hirsutum, and G. barbadense) using HMMER and Local BLASTP methods and classified them into six groups. Chromosomal localization revealed a random distribution of ADK genes in G. hirsutum, with 13 genes located on the At subgenome and 14 genes on the Dt subgenome. Gene structure analysis showed consistency in exon-intron organization within subgroups, while conserved motif analysis identified subgroup-specific motifs, indicating functional diversity. Synteny and collinearity mapping analysis revealed that the primary expansion mechanisms of the ADK gene family in cotton are polyploidy and segmental duplication. Cis-regulatory elements in GhADK promoters were classified into light response, hormone response, developmental regulation, and stress response. We also analyzed the expression patterns of GhADK genes under a low temperature (4 °C) and drought conditions. Most GhADK genes responded to cold stress with different expression patterns, indicating their roles in rapid response and long-term cold adaptation. Under drought stress, expression patterns varied, with some genes showing sustained high expression levels. The qRT-PCR validation of transcriptomic data confirmed the stress-induced expression patterns of selected GhADK genes. Functional analysis through the VIGS silencing of GhADK25 demonstrated its importance in cold and drought stress responses, with silencing resulting in poor growth under stress, highlighting its significance in stress tolerance. This study provides a basis for further understanding the evolutionary relationships and functions of the cotton ADK gene family.

Consensus clustering and novel risk score model construction based on m6A methylation regulators to evaluate the prognosis and tumor immune microenvironment of early-stage lung adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between m6A methylation regulators and cell infiltration characteristics in tumor immune microenvironment (TIME), so as to help understand the immune mechanism of early-stage lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). METHODS: The expression and consensus cluster analyses of m6A methylation regulators in early-stage LUAD were performed. The clinicopathological features, immune cell infiltration, survival and functional enrichment in different subtypes were analyzed. We also constructed a prognostic model. Clinical tissue samples were used to validate the expression of model genes through real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). In addition, cell scratch assay and Transwell assay were also performed. RESULTS: Expression of m6A methylation regulators was abnormal in early-stage LUAD. According to the consensus clustering of m6A methylation regulators, patients with early-stage LUAD were divided into two subtypes. Two subtypes showed different infiltration levels of immune cell and survival time. A prognostic model consisting of HNRNPC, IGF2BP1 and IGF2BP3 could be used to predict the survival of early-stage LUAD. RT-PCR results showed that HNRNPC, IGF2BP1 and IGF2BP3 were significantly up-regulated in early-stage LUAD tissues. The results of cell scratch assay and Transwell assay showed that overexpression of HNRNPC promotes the migration and invasion of NCI-H1299 cells, while knockdown HNRNPC inhibits the migration and invasion of NCI-H1299 cells. CONCLUSIONS: This work reveals that m6A methylation regulators may be potential biomarkers for prognosis in patients with early-stage LUAD. Our prognostic model may be of great value in predicting the prognosis of early-stage LUAD.

Investigating the proliferative inhibition of HepG2 cells by exosome-like nanovesicles derived from Centella asiatica extract through metabolomics.

Nano-particles demonstrating excellent anticancer properties have gradually found application in cancer therapy. However, their widespread use is impeded by their potential toxicity, high cost, and the complexity of the preparation process. In this study, we achieved exosome-like Centella asiatica-derived nanovesicles (ADNVs) through a straightforward juicing and high-speed centrifugation process. We employed transmission electron microscopy and nanoparticle flow cytometry to characterize the morphology, diameter, and stability of the ADNVs. We evaluated the in vitro anticancer effects of ADNVs using Cell Counting Kit-8 and apoptosis assays. Through sequencing and bicinchoninic acid protein analysis, we discovered the abundant presence of proteins and microRNAs in ADNVs. These microRNAs can target various diseases such as cancer and infection. Furthermore, we demonstrated the effective internalization of ADNVs by HepG2 cells, resulting in an increase in reactive oxygen species levels, mitochondrial damage, cell cycle arrest at the G1 phase, and apoptosis. Finally, we analyzed changes in cellular metabolites post-treatment using cell metabolomics techniques. Our findings indicated that ADNVs primarily influence metabolic pathways such as amino acid metabolism and lipid biosynthesis, which are closely associated with HepG2 treatment. Our results demonstrate the potential utility of ADNVs as anticancer agents.

Multidimensional biomarker approach integrating tumor markers, inflammatory indicators, and disease activity indicators may improve prediction of rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease.

INTRODUCTION: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) often leads to interstitial lung disease (ILD), significantly affecting patient outcomes. This study explored the diagnostic accuracy of a multi-biomarker approach to offer a more efficient and accessible diagnostic strategy for RA-associated ILD (RA-ILD). METHODS: Patients diagnosed with RA, with or without ILD, at Beijing Tiantan Hospital from October 2019 to October 2023 were analyzed. A total of 125 RA patients were included, with 76 diagnosed with RA-ILD. The study focused on three categories of indicators: tumor markers, inflammatory indicators, and disease activity measures. The heatmap correlation analysis was employed to analyze the correlation among these indicators. Logistic regression was used to determine odds ratios (OR) for indicators linked to RA-ILD risk. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was employed to evaluate the diagnostic potential of these indicators for RA-ILD. RESULTS: The results of logistic regression analysis showed that tumor markers (carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9), carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125), and cytokeratin 19 fragment (CYFRA21-1)), as well as inflammatory indicators (neutrophil, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet, C-reactive protein (CRP)) and disease activity measures (disease activity score-28-CRP (DAS28-CRP), rheumatoid factor (RF), and anti-cyclic peptide containing citrulline (anti-CCP)), were significantly associated with RA-ILD. The correlation coefficients among these indicators were relatively low. Notably, the combination indicator 4, which integrated the aforementioned three categories of biomarkers, demonstrated improved diagnostic accuracy with an AUC of 0.857. CONCLUSION: The study demonstrated that combining tumor markers, inflammatory indicators, and disease activity measures significantly enhanced the prediction of RA-ILD. Key Points • Multidimensional strategy: Integrated tumor markers, inflammatory indicators, and disease activity measures to enhance early detection of rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD). • Diagnostic accuracy: Employed heatmap correlation and logistic regression, identifying significant associations and improving diagnostic accuracy with a multidimensional biomarker combination. • Superior performance: The combined multidimensional biomarker strategy demonstrated higher diagnostic precision compared to individual or dual-category indicators. • Clinical relevance: Offers a promising, accessible approach for early detection of RA-ILD in clinical settings, potentially improving patient outcomes.

Effectiveness of tofacitinib monotherapy for patients with IgG4-RD or idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the effectiveness of tofacitinib for immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) and idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis (IRF), and investigate the expression of JAKs in the lesion of these diseases. METHODS: Clinical data of patients with IgG4-RD or IRF who were administered with tofacitinib monotherapy were collected. IgG4-RD responder index (IgG4-RD RI) was assessed. The expression of JAK1, JAK2, JAK3, and TYK2 were analysed with immunohistochemistry staining in three salivary glands specimens of IgG4-RD and one retroperitoneal tissue of IRF. RESULTS: Two patients with IRF and two patients with IgG4-RD used tofacitinib monotherapy. Two patients with IRF achieved complete remission with diminished retroperitoneal mass and decreased CRP, as IgG4-RD RI decreased from 6 to 1 in both of them. One with IgG4-RD achieved complete remission with alleviated enlargement of pancreas and IgG4 level decreased from 13.7 g/L to 2.4 g/L, as IgG4-RD RI decreased from 12 to 1. One with IgG4-RD achieved partial response with IgG4 level decreased from 77.1g/L to 25.8g/L as IgG4-RD RI from 18 to 6. JAK1, JAK2, JAK3, and TYK2 expression were detected in biopsy tissues. The staining intensity of the JAK family on the lesion from one IRF patient was similar to those from IgG4-RD patients. CONCLUSIONS: Tofacitinib is a potentially effective treatment for IgG4-RD and IRF and it is reasonable to conduct clinical trial to validate its efficacy. The JAKs were expressed in the inflammatory lesions of IgG4-RD and IRF and they may share a common pathogenesis pathway that is independent of IgG4 production.

Xianglian Pill combined with 5-fluorouracil enhances antitumor activity and reduces gastrointestinal toxicity in gastric cancer by regulating the p38 MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Perioperative or postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy based on 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is a common first-line adjuvant therapy for gastric cancer (GC). However, drug resistance and the side effects of 5-FU have reduced its efficacy. Among these side effects, gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity is one of the most common. Xianglian Pill (XLP) is a Chinese patent medicine that is commonly used for the treatment of diarrhoea. It can reduce inflammation and has a protective effect on the intestinal mucosa. Recent studies have shown that many components of XLP can inhibite tumor cell growth. However, the therapeutic effect of XLP in combination with 5-FU on GC is unclear. AIM OF THE STUDY: To investigate whether the combination of XLP and 5-FU can enhance anti-GC activity while reducing GI toxicity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: XLP was administered orally during intraperitoneal injection of 5-FU in GC mice model. Mice were continuously monitored for diarrhea and xenograft tumor growth. After 2 weeks, the mice were sacrificed and serum was collected to determine interleukin-6 levels. Pathological changes, the expression of pro-inflammatory factors and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in GI tissue were determined by Western blot analysis. Pathological changes, apoptosis levels and p38 MAPK expression levels in xenograft tissues were also determined. RESULTS: The results showed that XLP could alleviate GI mucosal injury caused by 5-FU, alleviated diarrhea, and inhibited the expression of nuclear factor (NF)-κB and myeloid differentiation primary response-88. Besides, XLP could promote the 5-FU-induced apoptosis of GC cells and enhance the inhibitory effect of 5-FU on tumor xenografts. Further study showed that XLP administration could regulate the expression of p38 MAPK. CONCLUSIONS: XLP in combination with 5-FU could alleviate its GI side effects and enhance its inhibitory effect on xenograft tumor. Moreover, these effects were found to be related to the regulation of the p38 MAPK/NF-κB pathway.

pH-Responsive Carrier-Free Polyphenol Nanoparticles Assembled by Oxidative Polymerization with Enhanced Stability and Antioxidant Activity for Improved Bioaccessibility.

Encapsulation of plant polyphenols with micro-/nano-carriers for enhanced bioavailability has been well documented, but the preparation of these carriers and subsequent loading of polyphenols is a multiple process, which is generally complicated with potentially unexpected negative effects on the bioactivity of the polyphenols. Here, we reported a convenient method to assemble carrier-free polyphenol nanoparticles (NPs) based on oxidative coupling polymerization. The effectiveness was assessed with five different polyphenols including pyrocatechol (PY), catechin (CA), epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), tannic acid (TA), and proanthocyanidin (PC). The structural characteristics of these assembled nanoparticles (PY NPs, CA NPs, EG NPs, TA NPs, and PC NPs) were systematically analyzed with dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV-visible spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). All NPs were colloidally stable with varying NaCl concentrations from 0 to 300 mM, were acid-resistant and alkali-intolerant, and were suitable for oral administration. An array of antioxidant assays further confirmed the superior antioxidant capabilities of NPs over Trolox and polyphenol monomers, indicating that the oxidative polymerization of polyphenols did not compromise the polyphenol activity of NPs. The in vitro simulated digestion studies validated that these responsive NPs were actually gastrointestinal pH-responsive and applicable to the gastrointestinal physiological environment. The bioaccessibility assessments by using a static in vitro digestion model revealed that better results were achieved with NPs than polyphenol monomers, with TA NPs showing about 1.5-fold higher bioaccessibility than other polyphenol nanoparticles. The present study with five polyphenols demonstrated that the oxidative polymerization of polyphenols provides an effective platform to assemble various carrier-free NPs with enhanced antioxidant activity, favorable stability, and improved bioaccessibility, which could be used promisingly as a functional food ingredient in food matrices or as oral drug delivery candidates for helping to manage human health or treating various gastrointestinal disorders in both the pharmaceutical and nutritional fields.

Collagen Scaffolds Functionalized by Cu2+-Chelated EGCG Nanoparticles with Anti-Inflammatory, Anti-Oxidation, Vascularization, and Anti-Bacterial Activities for Accelerating Wound Healing.

Skin injury is a common health problem worldwide, and the highly complex healing process poses critical challenges for its management. Therefore, wound dressings with salutary effects are urgently needed for wound care. However, traditional wound dressing with a single function often fails to meet the needs of wound repair, and the integration of multiple functions has been required for wound repair. Herein, Cu2+-chelated epigallocatechin gallate nanoparticles (EAC NPs), with radical scavenging, inflammation relieving, bacteria restraining, and vascularization accelerating capacities, are adopted to functionalize collagen scaffold, aiming to promote wound healing. Radical scavenging experiments verify that EAC NPs could efficiently scavenge radicals. Additionally, EAC NPs could effectively remove Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. H2O2 stimuli-responsive EAC NPs show slow and sustained release properties of Cu2+. Furthermore, EAC NPs exhibit protective effects against H2O2-induced oxidative-stress damage and anti-inflammatory activity in vivo. Physicochemical characterizations show that the introduction of EAC NPs does not disrupt the gelation behavior of collagen, and the composite scaffolds (CS) remain porous structure similar to collagen scaffold. Animal experiments demonstrate that CS could promote wound healing through improving the thickness of renascent epidermis and number of new vessels. CS with multiple salutary functions is a promising dressing for wound care.

Influences of carboxymethyl chitosan upon stabilization and gelation of O/W Pickering emulsions in the presence of inorganic salts.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) on the stabilization and gelation of oil-in-water (O/W) Pickering emulsions (PEs) with polyphenol-amino acid particles in the presence of inorganic salts. The results revealed that the CMCS-induced depletion interactions contributed to improving the emulsification ability and interfacial adsorption efficiency of polyphenol-amino acid particles as well as constructing the network structures in the continuous phase. These relevant changes collectively resulted in elevating stability, viscosity and moduli of PEs. The additional effects of different inorganic salts with varying additions were further investigated, and the addition-dependent phenomena were observed. At low additions of inorganic salts, the occurrence of the chelation of inorganic salts with CMCS consolidated the constructed network structure, favorable to the gelation of PEs. With increasing additions, this chelation effect became stronger which compromised the CMCS-induced depletion, gradually leading to destabilization of PEs. In terms of ion species, the more pronounced effect on emulsion stability was achieved with calcium ions than with potassium and iron ions. This study expects to provide a new perspective on the extending application of cationic CMCS for improving the stability of O/W PEs in the food industry.

Galangin: A food-derived flavonoid with therapeutic potential against a wide spectrum of diseases.

Galangin is an important flavonoid with natural activity, that is abundant in galangal and propolis. Currently, various biological activities of galangin have been disclosed, including anti-inflammation, antibacterial effect, anti-oxidative stress and aging, anti-fibrosis, and antihypertensive effect. Based on the above bioactivities, more and more attention has been paid to the role of galangin in neurodegenerative diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, skin diseases, and cancer. In this paper, the natural sources, pharmacokinetics, bioactivities, and therapeutic potential of galangin against various diseases were systematically reviewed by collecting and summarizing relevant literature. In addition, the molecular mechanism and new preparation of galangin in the treatment of related diseases are also discussed, to broaden the application prospect and provide reference for its clinical application. Furthermore, it should be noted that current toxicity and clinical studies of galangin are insufficient, and more evidence is needed to support its possibility as a functional food.

Upregulated FADD is associated with poor prognosis, immune exhaustion, tumor malignancy, and immunotherapy resistance in patients with lung adenocarcinoma.

Background: FAS-associated death structural domain (FADD) proteins are important proteins that regulate apoptosis and are also involved in many nonapoptotic pathways in tumors. However, how dysregulated FADD affects the development of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remains unknown. Method: Transcriptome profiles and corresponding clinical information of LUAD patients were convened from different databases, and the results were validated by qRT-PCR and cell counting kit-8 using LUAD cell lines. Potential associations between FADD and tumor malignancy, the immune microenvironment, genomic stability, and treatment sensitivity in LUAD patients were revealed by systematic bioinformatics analysis. Results: FADD was significantly overexpressed in LUAD, and patients with higher expression levels of FADD had a worse prognosis and more advanced tumor stage. Functional analysis revealed that elevated expression of FADD was associated with cell cycle dysregulation, angiogenesis, and metabolic disturbances. In addition, overexpression of FADD was associated with a higher infiltration of suppressive immune cells. From a single-cell perspective, cells with lower FADD expression are more active in immune-related pathways. FADD was associated with more genomic mutations, especially TP53. Patients with high FADD expression are more likely to benefit from conventional chemotherapy, while those with low FADD expression are more suitable for immunotherapy. Conclusions: Upregulated FADD is associated with worse prognosis, immune exhaustion, and tumor malignancy in LUAD patients. In addition, FADD can be an efficient indicator for assessing sensitivity to chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Therefore, FADD has the potential to serve as a new target for precision medicine and targeted therapy for LUAD.

Bimetallic Cobalt-Nickel Selenide Nanocubes Embedded in a Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Matrix as an Excellent Li-Ion Battery Anode.

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have been widely used for portable electronics and electric vehicles; however, the low capacity in the graphite anode limits the improvement of energy density. Transition-metal selenides are promising anode material candidates due to their high theoretical capacity and controllable structure. In this study, we successfully synthesize a bimetallic transition-metal selenide nanocube composite, which is well embedded in a nitrogen-doped carbon matrix (denoted as CoNiSe2/NC). This material shows a high capacity and excellent cycling for Li-ion storage. Specifically, the reversible capacity approaches ∼1245 mA h g-1 at 0.1 A g-1. When cycled at 1 A g-1, the capacity still remains at 642.9 mA h g-1 even after 1000 cycles. In-operando XRD tests have been carried out to investigate the lithium storage mechanism. We discover that the outstanding performance is due to the unique CoNiSe2/NC nanocomposite characteristics, such as the synergistic effect of bimetallic selenide on lithium storage, the small particle size, and the stable and conductive carbon structure. Therefore, this morphology structure not only reduces the volume change of metal selenides but also produces more lithium storage active sites and shortens lithium diffusion paths, which results in high capacity, good rate, and long cycling.

Rosai-Dorfman Disease in the Skull Base: A Case Series Study.

OBJECTIVE: Rosai-Dorfman disease (RDD) is a rare, idiopathic, and non-neoplastic histio-proliferative disease that is uncommon in the central nervous system. Hence, reports of management of RDD in the skull base are scarce and only a few studies on skull base RDD are available. The objective of this study was to analyze the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of RDD in the skull base and explore an appropriate treatment strategy thereof. METHODS: Nine patients with clinical characteristics and follow-up data from our department between 2017 and 2022 were included in this study. From this information, the clinical profiles, imaging, treatment, and prognosis data were collected. RESULTS: There were 6 male and 3 female patients with skull base RDD. These patients ranged in age from 13 to 61 years, with a median age of 41 years. The locations included 1 anterior skull base orbital apex, 1 parasellar region, 2 sellar regions, 1 petroclivus, and 4 foramen magnum regions. Six patients underwent total resection and 3 underwent subtotal resection. Patient follow-up lasted 11-65 months, with a median duration of 24 months. One patient died, 2 experienced recurrence, and the other patients' lesions were stable. The symptoms worsened and new complications occurred in 5 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Skull base RDDs are intractable diseases with a high rate of complications. Some patients are at risk of recurrence and death. Surgery may be the basic treatment for this disease, and combined therapy including targeted therapy or radiation therapy may also be a valuable therapeutic strategy.

Occurrence, partition behavior, source and ecological risk assessment of nitro-PAHs in the sediment and water of Taige Canal, China.

Nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (NPAHs) are widespread organic pollutants that possess carcinogenic and mutagenic properties, so they may pose a risk to the environment and human health. In this study, the concentrations of 15 NPAHs and 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in 30 surface water samples and 26 sediment samples were measured in 2018 from the Taige Canal, one of the main rivers flowing into Taihu Lake, China. The total NPAH concentrations in water and sediment ranged from 14.7 to 235 ng/L and 22.9 to 96.5 ng/g dw, respectively. 9-nitrophenanthrene (nd-76.3 ng/L) was the dominant compound in surface water, while 2+3-nitrofluoranthene (1.73-18.1 ng/g dw) dominated in sediment. Among PAHs, concentration ranging from 1,097 to 2,981 ng/L and 1,089 to 4,489 ng/g dw in surface water and sediment, respectively. There was a strong positive correlation between the log octanol-water partition coefficient (Kow) and log sediment-water partition coefficient due to hydrophobic interaction. The fugacity fraction value increased with the decrease of log Kow, and chrysene was transferred from water into sediment. The residual NPAHs in surface water and sediment of the Taige Canal have partial correlation. Diesel engine and coal combustion emissions were probably the principal sources of NPAHs in surface water and sediment. The results of ecological risk assessment showed that some NPAHs in water (e.g, 1-nitropyrene and 6-nitrochrysene) and sediment (e.g., 2-nitrobiphenyl, 5-nitroacenaphthene, 9-nitrophenanthrene and 2+3-nitrofluoranthene) had moderate ecological risks, which should be of concern.

An aptasensor for cadmium ions detection based on PEI-MoS2@Au NPs 3D flower-like nanocomposites and Thi-PtPd NPs core-shell sphere.

A novel ultrasensitive electrochemical aptasensor was proposed for quantitative detection of Cd2+. To this end, flower-like polyethyleneimine-functionalized molybdenum disulfide-supported gold nanoparticles (PEI-MoS2 NFs@Au NPs) were used as substrates for the modification of bare gold electrodes (AuE). PEI-MoS2 NFs@Au NPs not only possessed excellent biocompatibility and large specific surface area to enhance the cDNA loading capacity, but also possessed good conductivity to accelerate the electron transfer rate. Furthermore, the preparation of dendritic platinum-palladium nanoparticles (PtPd NPs) can effectively load Cd2+-aptamer. Thionine and aptamers were loaded onto PtPd NPs to construct Thi-PtPd NPs-aptamer signal probes. The signal probes were captured by the cDNA immobilized on the electrode via base-pairing rule, and the signal of Thi was detected by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). In the presence of Cd2+, aptamer-cDNA unwinded, and the combination of aptamer and Cd2+ caused the signal probes to fall off the electrode and the electrical signal decreases. Under optimal conditions, the proposed aptasensor exhibited a linear relationship between the logarithm of Cd2+ concentration and the current response over a wide range of 1 × 10-3 nM to 1 × 102 nM, with a detection limit of 2.34 × 10-4 nM. At the same time, the aptasensor was used to detect Cd2+ in tap water with satisfactory results. In addition, it has good reproducibility, selectivity and stability, and has broad application prospects in heavy metal analysis.