Development of deep learning algorithm for detecting dyskalemia based on electrocardiogram.

Dyskalemia is a common electrolyte abnormality. Since dyskalemia can cause fatal arrhythmias and cardiac arrest in severe cases, it is crucial to monitor serum potassium (K+) levels on time. We developed deep learning models to detect hyperkalemia (K+ ≥ 5.5 mEq/L) and hypokalemia (K+ < 3.5 mEq/L) from electrocardiograms (ECGs), which are noninvasive and can be quickly measured. The retrospective cohort study was conducted at two hospitals from 2006 to 2020. The training set, validation set, internal testing cohort, and external validation cohort comprised 310,449, 15,828, 23,849, and 130,415 ECG-K+ samples, respectively. Deep learning models demonstrated high diagnostic performance in detecting hyperkalemia (AUROC 0.929, 0.912, 0.887 with sensitivity 0.926, 0.924, 0.907 and specificity 0.706, 0.676, 0.635 for 12-lead, limb-lead, lead I ECGs) and hypokalemia (AUROC 0.925, 0.896, 0.885 with sensitivity 0.912, 0.896, 0.904 and specificity 0.790, 0.734, 0.694) in the internal testing cohort. The group predicted to be positive by the hyperkalemia model showed a lower 30-day survival rate compared to the negative group (p < 0.001), supporting the clinical efficacy of the model. We also compared the importance of ECG segments (P, QRS, and T) on dyskalemia prediction of the model for interpretability. By applying these models in clinical practice, it will be possible to diagnose dyskalemia simply and quickly, thereby contributing to the improvement of patient outcomes.

Exploring Doping Mechanisms and Modulating Carrier Concentration in Copper Iodide: Applications in Thermoelectric Materials.

Due to its small hole-effective mass, flexibility, and transparency, copper iodide (CuI) has emerged as a promising p-type alternative to the predominantly used n-type metal oxide semiconductors. However, the lack of effective doping methods hinders the utility of CuI in various applications. Sulfur (S)-doping through liquid iodination is previously reported to significantly enhance electrical conductivity up to 511 S cm-1. In this paper, the underlying doping mechanism with various S-dopants is explored, and suggested a method for controlling electrical conductivity, which is important to various applications, especially thermoelectric (TE) materials. Subsequently, electric and TE properties are systematically controlled by adjusting the carrier concentration from 3.0 × 1019 to 4.5 × 1020 cm-3, and accurately measured thermal conductivity with respect to carrier concentration and film thickness. Sulfur-doped CuI (CuI:S) thin films exhibited a maximum power factor of 5.76 µW cm-1 K-2 at a carrier concentration of 1.3 × 1020 cm-3, and a TE figure of merit (ZT) of 0.25. Furthermore, a transparent and flexible TE power generator is developed, with an impressive output power density of 43 nW cm-2 at a temperature differential of 30 K. Mechanical durability tests validated the potential of CuI:S films in transparent and flexible TE applications.

Fabrication and integration of a low-cost 3D printing-based glucose biosensor for bioprinted liver-on-a-chip.

In the last two decades, significant progress has been made in the development of more physiologically relevant organ-on-a-chip (OOC) systems that can mimic tissue microenvironments. Despite the advantages of these microphysiological systems, such as portability, ability to mimic physiological flow conditions, and reduction of the number of reagents required for preparation and detection, they lack real-time analyte detection with high accuracy. To address this limitation, biosensor technologies have been integrated with OOC systems to facilitate simultaneous analysis of different analytes with a single device. However, the integration of biosensors with OOC systems is challenging because of the competing demands of low-cost, simple fabrication processes and speed. In this study, we fabricate a glucose-sensing device and integrate it with a liver-on-a-chip (LOC) platform. A carbon black-polylactic acid-based three-electrode system was printed using fused deposit molding 3D printing technology to simplify the fabrication process. The sensitivity of the fabricated glucose biosensing device was enhanced by coating the electrodes with multi-walled carbon nanotubes. A biosensing integration study performed using a perfusion-based LOC demonstrated the stability, biocompatibility, and sensitivity of the proposed glucose sensing device. Furthermore, drug-toxicity studies conducted using the LOC platform demonstrated the ability of the device to detect a broad range of glucose concentrations and its enhanced sensitivity.

Transformation of K2Sb8Q13 and KSb5Q8 Bulk Crystals to Sb2Q3 (Q = S, Se) Nanofibers by Acid-Base Solution Chemistry.

The ability to manipulate crystal structures using kinetic control is of broad interest because it enables the design of materials with structures, compositions, and morphologies that may otherwise be unattainable. Herein, we report the low-temperature structural transformation of bulk inorganic crystals driven by hard-soft acid-base (HSAB) chemistry. We show that the three-dimensional framework K2Sb8Q13 and layered KSb5Q8 (Q = S, Se, and Se/S solid solutions) compounds transform to one-dimensional Sb2Q3 nano/microfibers in N2H4·H2O solution by releasing Q2- and K+ ions. At 100 °C and ambient pressure, a transformation process takes place that leads to significant structural changes in the materials, including the formation and breakage of covalent bonds between Sb and Q. Despite the insolubility of the starting crystals in N2H4·H2O under the given conditions, the mechanism of this transformation can be rationalized by applying the HSAB principle. By adjusting factors such as the reactants' acid/base properties, temperature, and pressure, the process can be controlled, allowing for the achievement of a wide range of optical band gaps (ranging from 1.14 to 1.59 eV) while maintaining the solid solution nature of the anion sublattice in the Sb2Q3 nanofibers.

3D bioprinting strategy for engineering vascularized tissue models.

Leveraging three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting in the fields of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine has rapidly accelerated progress toward the development of living tissue constructs and biomedical devices. Ongoing vigorous research has pursued the development of 3D in vitro tissue models to replicate the key aspects of human physiology by incorporating relevant cell populations and adequate environmental cues. Given their advantages of being able to intimately mimic the heterogeneity and complexity of their native counterparts, 3D in vitro models hold promise as alternatives to conventional cell cultures or animal models for translational application to model human physiology/pathology and drug screening. Research has highlighted the importance of in vitro models, and a sophisticated biomanufacturing strategy is vitally required. In particular, vascularization is critical for the prolonged survival and functional maturation of the engineered tissues, which has remained one of the major challenges in the establishment of physiologically relevant 3D in vitro models. To this end, 3D bioprinting can efficiently generate solid and reproducible vascularized tissue models with high architectural and compositional similarity to the native tissues, leading to improve the structural maturation and tissue-specific functionality. Multiple bioprinting strategies have been developed to vascularize in vitro tissues by spatially controlled patterning of vascular precursors or generating readily perfusable vascular structures. This review presents an overview of the advanced 3D bioprinting strategies for vascularized tissue model development. We present the key elements for rebuilding functional vasculature in 3D-bioprinted tissue models and discuss the recent achievements in the engineering of 3D vascularized in vitro models using 3D bioprinting. Finally, we delineate the current challenges and future outlooks of 3D bioprinting-based vascularized tissue models.

Development of lumen-based perfusable 3D liver in vitro model using single-step bioprinting with composite bioinks.

Hepatic sinusoids are uniquely organized structures that help maintain a spectrum of hepatic functions. Although several in vitro liver models have been developed to replicate liver sinusoids, most of these platforms require complex, multi-step fabrication methods making it difficult to achieve truly three-dimensional (3D) channel geometries. In this study, a single-step bioprinting technique was demonstrated to simultaneously print a chip platform and develop a perfusable vascularized liver sinusoid in vitro model. The integrated system uses a co-axial-based bioprinting approach to develop a liver sinusoid-like model that consists of a sacrificial core compartment containing a perfusable pre-vascular structure and an alginate-collagen-based shell compartment containing hepatocytes. The lumen-based perfusable 3D liver sinusoid-on-a-chip (LSOC-P) demonstrated significantly better hepatocyte viability, proliferation, and liver-specific gene and protein expression compared to a 3D hepatocyte-based core/shell model with static media and the standard hepatocyte-based 2D sandwich culture system. A drug toxicity evaluation of hepatotoxins highlighted the comparatively higher sensitivity of the LSOC system with a close estimation of the therapeutic range of safe drug concentrations for humans. In conclusion, the current findings indicate that the combinatorial single-step co-axial bioprinting technique is a promising fabrication approach for the development of a perfusable LSOC platform for drug screening applications.

Engineering In vitro Models: Bioprinting of Organoids with Artificial Intelligence.

In the last decade, organoids have gained popularity for developing mini-organs to support advancements in the study of organogenesis, disease modeling, and drug screening and, subsequently, in the development of new therapies. To date, such cultures have been used to replicate the composition and functionality of organs such as the kidney, liver, brain, and pancreas. However, depending on the experimenter, the culture environment and cell conditions may slightly vary, resulting in different organoids; this factor significantly affects their application in new drug development, especially during quantification. Standardization in this context can be achieved using bioprinting technology-an advanced technology that can print various cells and biomaterials at desired locations. This technology offers numerous advantages, including the manufacturing of complex three-dimensional biological structures. Therefore, in addition to the standardization of organoids, bioprinting technology in organoid engineering can facilitate automation in the fabrication process as well as a closer mimicry of native organs. Further, artificial intelligence (AI) has currently emerged as an effective tool to monitor and control the quality of final developed objects. Thus, organoids, bioprinting technology, and AI can be combined to obtain high-quality in vitro models for multiple applications.

Electronic Structure Manipulation of the Mott Insulator RuCl3 via Single-Crystal to Single-Crystal Topotactic Transformation.

The core task for Mott insulators includes how rigid distributions of electrons evolve and how these induce exotic physical phenomena. However, it is highly challenging to chemically dope Mott insulators to tune properties. Herein, we report how to tailor electronic structures of the honeycomb Mott insulator RuCl3 employing a facile and reversible single-crystal to single-crystal intercalation process. The resulting product (NH4 )0.5 RuCl3 ⋅1.5 H2 O forms a new hybrid superlattice of alternating RuCl3 monolayers with NH4 + and H2 O molecules. Its manipulated electronic structure markedly shrinks the Mott-Hubbard gap from 1.2 to 0.7 eV. Its electrical conductivity increases by more than 103 folds. This arises from concurrently enhanced carrier concentration and mobility in contrary to the general physics rule of their inverse proportionality. We show topotactic and topochemical intercalation chemistry to control Mott insulators, escalating the prospect of discovering exotic physical phenomena.

Coaxial cell printing of a human glomerular model: anin vitroglomerular filtration barrier and its pathophysiology.

Much effort has been expended in emulating the kidney's glomerular unit because of its limitless potential in the field of drug screening and nephrotoxicity testing in clinics. Herein, we fabricate a functional bilayer glomerular microvessel-on-a-chip that recapitulates the specific arrangement of the glomerular endothelial cell, podocyte layers, and the intervening glomerular basement membrane (GBM) in a single step. Our perfusable chip allows for the co-culture of monolayer glomerular endothelium and podocyte epithelium, which display mature functional markers of glomerular cells, and their proper interactions produce GBM proteins, which are the major components of the GBMin vivo. Furthermore, we test the selective permeability capacity, a representative hallmark function of the glomerular filtration barrier. Lastly, we evaluate the response of our glomerular model to Adriamycin- and hyperglycemia-induced injury to evaluate its applicability for drug screening and glomerular disease modeling.

Sacrificial-Rotating Rod-Based 3D Bioprinting Technique for the Development of an In Vitro Cardiovascular Model.

Several studies have attempted to develop complex cardiovascular models, but the use of multiple cell types and poor cell alignments after fabrication have limited the practical application of these models. Among various bioprinting methods, extrusion-based bioprinting is the most widely used in the bioengineering field. This method not only has the potential to construct complex 3D biological structures but it also enables the alignment of cells in the printing direction owing to the application of shear stress to the cells during the printing process. Therefore, this study developed an in vitro cardiovascular model using an extrusion-based bioprinting method that utilizes a rotating rod as a printing platform. The rotating rod was made of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and used as a sacrificial rod. This rotating platform approach enabled the printing of longer tubular-vascular structures of multiple shapes, including disease models, and the water-soluble properties of PVA facilitated the isolation of the printed vascular models. In addition, this method enabled the printing of the endothelial cells in the bloodstream direction and smooth muscle cells in the circumferential direction to better mimic the anatomy of real blood vessels. Consequently, a cardiovascular model was successfully printed using a gelatin methacryloyl bioink with cells. In conclusion, the proposed fabrication method can facilitate the fabrication of various cardiovascular models that mimic the alignment of real blood vessels.

Atomic Level Defect Structure Engineering for Unusually High Average Thermoelectric Figure of Merit in n-Type PbSe Rivalling PbTe.

Realizing high average thermoelectric figure of merit (ZTave ) and power factor (PFave ) has been the utmost task in thermoelectrics. Here the new strategy to independently improve constituent factors in ZT is reported, giving exceptionally high ZTave and PFave in n-type PbSe. The nonstoichiometric, alloyed composition and resulting defect structures in new Pb1+ x Se0.8 Te0.2 (x = 0-0.125) system is key to this achievement. First, incorporating excess Pb unusually increases carrier mobility (µH ) and concentration (nH ) simultaneously in contrast to the general physics rule, thereby raising electrical conductivity (σ). Second, modifying charge scattering mechanism by the authors' synthesis process boosts a magnitude of Seebeck coefficient (S) above theoretical expectations. Detouring the innate inverse proportionality between nH and µH ; and σ and S enables independent control over them and change the typical trend of PF to temperature, giving remarkably high PFave ≈20 µW cm-1 K-2 from 300 to 823 K. The dual incorporation of Te and excess Pb generates unusual antisite Pb at the anionic site and displaced Pb from the ideal position, consequently suppressing lattice thermal conductivity. The best composition exhibits a ZTave of ≈1.2 from 400 to 823 K, one of the highest reported for all n-type PbQ (Q = chalcogens) materials.

Serum cystatin C to creatinine ratio is associated with sarcopenia in non-dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease.

BACKGROUND: Sarcopenia is a prevalent complication in patients with chronic kidney disease and is associated with poor quality of life, morbidity, and mortality. Several candidate biomarkers have been evaluated for this condition. This study assessed the serum cystatin C to creatinine (serum cystatin C/Cr) ratio as a potential biomarker for sarcopenia in patients with non-dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease. METHODS: This study enrolled 517 outpatients. Muscle mass (lean tissue index) was measured using a bioimpedance spectroscopic device, and muscle strength (handgrip strength) was also measured. Sarcopenia was defined as a combination of low muscle strength and low muscle mass. RESULTS: Sarcopenia was observed in 25.5% of patients, and the mean serum cystatin C/Cr ratio was significantly higher in patients with sarcopenia than in those without it (1.14 ± 0.26 vs. 1.01 ± 0.27, p < 0.001). The prevalence of sarcopenia and low lean tissue index increased as the cystatin C/Cr ratio increased. The negative predictive value of the cystatin C/Cr ratio for sarcopenia or low lean tissue index was ≥80%. Multivariate analyses revealed that when the serum cystatin C/Cr ratio increased by 1, the risk of sarcopenia, low lean tissue index, and low handgrip strength increased by 4.6-, 7.2-, and 2.6-fold, respectively (p = 0.003, p < 0.001, and p = 0.048). The association was maximized in patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate of <30 mL/min/1.73 m2. CONCLUSION: Calculating the serum cystatin C/Cr ratio could be helpful for detecting and managing sarcopenia in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Data-Driven Enhancement of ZT in SnSe-Based Thermoelectric Systems.

Doping and alloying are fundamental strategies to improve the thermoelectric performance of bare materials. However, identifying outstanding elements and compositions for the development of high-performance thermoelectric materials is challenging. In this study, we present a data-driven approach to improve the thermoelectric performance of SnSe compounds with various doping. Based on the newly generated experimental and computational dataset, we built highly accurate predictive models of thermoelectric properties of doped SnSe compounds. A well-designed feature vector consisting of the chemical properties of a single atom and the electronic structures of a solid plays a key role in achieving accurate predictions for unknown doping elements. Using the machine learning predictive models and calculated map of the solubility limit for each dopant, we rapidly screened high-dimensional material spaces of doped SnSe and evaluated their thermoelectric properties. This data-driven search provided overall strategies to optimize and improve the thermoelectric properties of doped SnSe compounds. In particular, we identified five dopant candidate elements (Ge, Pb, Y, Cd, and As) that provided a high ZT exceeding 2.0 and proposed a design principle for improving the ZT by Sn vacancies depending on the doping elements. Based on the search, we proposed yttrium as a new high-ZT dopant for SnSe with experimental confirmations. Our research is expected to lead to novel high-ZT thermoelectric material candidates and provide cutting-edge research strategies for materials design and extraction of design principles through data-driven research.

Engineering Hydrogels for the Development of Three-Dimensional In Vitro Models.

The superiority of in vitro 3D cultures over conventional 2D cell cultures is well recognized by the scientific community for its relevance in mimicking the native tissue architecture and functionality. The recent paradigm shift in the field of tissue engineering toward the development of 3D in vitro models can be realized with its myriad of applications, including drug screening, developing alternative diagnostics, and regenerative medicine. Hydrogels are considered the most suitable biomaterial for developing an in vitro model owing to their similarity in features to the extracellular microenvironment of native tissue. In this review article, recent progress in the use of hydrogel-based biomaterial for the development of 3D in vitro biomimetic tissue models is highlighted. Discussions of hydrogel sources and the latest hybrid system with different combinations of biopolymers are also presented. The hydrogel crosslinking mechanism and design consideration are summarized, followed by different types of available hydrogel module systems along with recent microfabrication technologies. We also present the latest developments in engineering hydrogel-based 3D in vitro models targeting specific tissues. Finally, we discuss the challenges surrounding current in vitro platforms and 3D models in the light of future perspectives for an improved biomimetic in vitro organ system.

Bulk Metamaterials Exhibiting Chemically Tunable Hyperbolic Responses.

Extraordinary properties of traditional hyperbolic metamaterials, not found in nature, arise from their man-made subwavelength structures causing unique light-matter interactions. However, their preparation requiring nanofabrication processes is highly challenging and merely provides nanoscale two-dimensional structures. Stabilizing their bulk forms via scalable procedures has been a sought-goal for broad applications of this technology. Herein, we report a new strategy of designing and realizing bulk metamaterials with finely tunable hyperbolic responses. We develop a facile two-step process: (1) self-assembly to obtain heterostructured nanohybrids of building blocks and (2) consolidation to convert nanohybrid powders to dense bulk pellets. Our samples have centimeter-scale dimensions typically, readily further scalable. Importantly, the thickness of building blocks and their relative concentration in bulk materials serve as a delicate means of controlling hyperbolic responses. The resulting new bulk heterostructured material system consists of the alternating h-BN and graphite/graphene nanolayers and exhibits significant modulation in both type-I and type-II hyperbolic resonance modes. It is the first example of real bulk hyperbolic metamaterials, consequently displaying the capability of tuning their responses along both in-plane and out-of-plane directions of the materials for the first time. It also distinctly interacts with unpolarized and polarized transverse magnetic and electronic beams to give unique hyperbolic responses. Our achievement can be a new platform to create various bulk metamaterials without complicated nanofabrication techniques. Our facile synthesis method using common laboratory techniques can open doors to broad-range researchers for active interdisciplinary studies for this otherwise hardly accessible technology.

A case report of refractory otalgia after Ramsay Hunt syndrome successfully treated by applying pulsed radiofrequency to the great auricular nerve: A CARE-compliant article.

RATIONALE: Ramsay Hunt syndrome is a type of herpes zoster infection involving geniculate ganglion and facial nerve. Unilateral facial palsy, otalgia, and painful vesicular rash on the auricle and external auditory canal are the typical symptoms. Although postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is a devastating complication of herpes zoster infection, PHN following Ramsay Hunt syndrome has rarely been reported. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 55-year-old immunocompetent female patient visited our pain clinic, for left-sided refractory otalgia (PHN) that persisted for 3 months after she was diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome. Although facial palsy and tinnitus had recovered within 2 to 4 weeks after symptom onset, the patient had been experiencing a persistent and severe otalgia radiating to mandibular angle, temporal and upper cervical area of neuropathic nature. DIAGNOSES: The patient's pain persisted despite conservative medication and administration of ultrasound-guided stellate ganglion block, facial nerve block, and great auricular nerve block several times. INTERVENTIONS: The patient was treated with the application of ultrasound-guided pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) to the great auricular nerve. OUTCOMES: The patient experienced significant pain reduction more than 50% on a numeric rating scale after 2 weeks of PRF treatment. LESSONS: Chronic otalgia might be a type of PHN after Ramsay Hunt syndrome with cervical nerve involvement. PRF treatment to the great auricular nerve can be a therapeutic option for refractory otalgia following Ramsay Hunt syndrome.

Late stage 3 chronic kidney disease is an independent risk factor for sarcopenia, but not proteinuria.

Most epidemiologic studies assessing the relationship between chronic kidney disease (CKD) and sarcopenia have been performed in dialysis patients. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), proteinuria, and sarcopenia in patients with non-dialysis-dependent CKD. A total of 892 outpatients who did not show any rapid changes in renal function were enrolled in this observational cohort study. We measured the muscle mass using bioimpedance analysis and handgrip strength (HGS), and sarcopenia was defined as low HGS and low muscle mass. Sarcopenia was found in 28.1% of the patients and its prevalence decreased as the body mass index (BMI) increased; however, in patients with BMI ≥ 23 kg/m2, the prevalence did not increase with BMI. As eGFR decreased, the lean tissue index and HGS significantly decreased. However, the eGFR did not affect the fat tissue index. The risk of sarcopenia increased approximately 1.6 times in patients with eGFR < 45 mL/min/1.73 m2. However, proteinuria was not associated with sarcopenia. With a decrease in eGFR, the lean muscle mass and muscle strength decreased, and the prevalence of sarcopenia increased. In patients with late stage 3 CKD, further assessment of body composition and screening for sarcopenia may be needed.

Dexmedetomidine-induced hemodynamic instability in patients undergoing orthopedic upper limb surgery under brachial plexus block: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Hemodynamic instability is a frequent adverse effect following administration of dexmedetomidine (DMED). In this study, we evaluated the incidence of DMED-induced hemodynamic instability and its predictive factors in clinical regional anesthesia practice. METHODS: One hundred sixteen patients who underwent orthopedic upper limb surgery under brachial plexus block with intravenous DMED administration were retrospectively identified. The primary outcome was the incidence of DMED-induced hemodynamic instability. The participants were allocated to a stable or unstable group by their hemodynamic instability status. Patients' characteristics were compared between the groups. The relationship between the potential risk factors and development of DMED-induced hemodynamic instability was analyzed with a logistic regression model. RESULTS: DMED-induced hemodynamic instability was observed in 14.7% of patients (17/116). The unstable group had more women than the stable group (76.5% vs. 39.4%, P = 0.010). When patients were classified into four subgroup according to body mass index (underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obesity), there was significant difference in the composition of the subgroups in the two groups (P = 0.008). In univariate analysis, female sex, obesity, and pre-existing hypertension were significant predictors of DMED-induced hemodynamic instability. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that female sex (adjusted OR 3.86, CI 1.09; 13.59, P = 0.036) and obesity (adjusted OR 6.41, CI 1.22; 33.57, P = 0.028) were independent predictors of DMED-induced hemodynamic instability. CONCLUSIONS: Female and obese patients are more likely to have hemodynamic instability following intravenous DMED administration in clinical regional anesthesia practice. This study suggests that DMED dose may be diminished to prevent hypotensive risk in these populations. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This article was retrospectively registered at WHO clinical trial registry platform (Trial number: KCT0005977 ).

Polycrystalline SnSe with a thermoelectric figure of merit greater than the single crystal.

Thermoelectric materials generate electric energy from waste heat, with conversion efficiency governed by the dimensionless figure of merit, ZT. Single-crystal tin selenide (SnSe) was discovered to exhibit a high ZT of roughly 2.2-2.6 at 913 K, but more practical and deployable polycrystal versions of the same compound suffer from much poorer overall ZT, thereby thwarting prospects for cost-effective lead-free thermoelectrics. The poor polycrystal bulk performance is attributed to traces of tin oxides covering the surface of SnSe powders, which increases thermal conductivity, reduces electrical conductivity and thereby reduces ZT. Here, we report that hole-doped SnSe polycrystalline samples with reagents carefully purified and tin oxides removed exhibit an ZT of roughly 3.1 at 783 K. Its lattice thermal conductivity is ultralow at roughly 0.07 W m-1 K-1 at 783 K, lower than the single crystals. The path to ultrahigh thermoelectric performance in polycrystalline samples is the proper removal of the deleterious thermally conductive oxides from the surface of SnSe grains. These results could open an era of high-performance practical thermoelectrics from this high-performance material.

Promoting Long-Term Cultivation of Motor Neurons for 3D Neuromuscular Junction Formation of 3D In Vitro Using Central-Nervous-Tissue-Derived Bioink.

3D cell printing technology is in the spotlight for producing 3D tissue or organ constructs useful for various medical applications. In printing of neuromuscular tissue, a bioink satisfying all the requirements is a challenging issue. Gel integrity and motor neuron activity are two major characters because a harmonious combination of extracellular materials essential to motor neuron activity consists of disadvantages in mechanical properties. Here, a method for fabrication of 3D neuromuscular tissue is presented using a porcine central nervous system tissue decellularized extracellular matrix (CNSdECM) bioink. CNSdECM retains CNS tissue-specific extracellular molecules, provides rheological properties crucial for extrusion-based 3D cell printing, and reveals positive effects on the growth and maturity of axons of motor neurons compared with Matrigel. It also allows long-term cultivation of human-induced-pluripotent-stem-cell-derived lower motor neurons and sufficiently supports their cellular behavior to carry motor signals to muscle fibers. CNSdECM bioink holds great promise for producing a tissue-engineered motor system using 3D cell printing.