Glucomannan promotes Bacteroides ovatus to improve intestinal barrier function and ameliorate insulin resistance.

Bioactive dietary fiber has been proven to confer numerous health benefits against metabolic diseases based on the modification of gut microbiota. The metabolic protective effects of glucomannan have been previously reported in animal experiments and clinical trials. However, critical microbial signaling metabolites and the host targets associated with the metabolic benefits of glucomannan remain elusive. The results of this study revealed that glucomannan supplementation alleviated high-fat diet (HFD)-induced insulin resistance in mice and that its beneficial effects were dependent on the gut microbiota. Administration of glucomannan to mice promoted the growth of Bacteroides ovatus. Moreover, colonization with B. ovatus in HFD-fed mice resulted in a decrease in insulin resistance, accompanied by improved intestinal barrier integrity and reduced systemic inflammation. Furthermore, B. ovatus-derived indoleacetic acid (IAA) was established as a key bioactive metabolite that fortifies intestinal barrier function via activation of intestinal aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), leading to an amelioration in insulin resistance. Thus, we conclude that glucomannan acts through the B. ovatus-IAA-intestinal AhR axis to relieve insulin resistance.

Cerebrospinal fluid efflux through dynamic paracellular pores on venules as a missing piece of the brain drainage system.

The glymphatic system plays a key role in the clearance of waste from the parenchyma, and its dysfunction has been associated with the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, questions remain regarding its complete mechanisms. Here, we report that efflux of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)/interstitial fluid (ISF) solutes occurs through a triphasic process that cannot be explained by the current model, but rather hints at the possibility of other, previously undiscovered routes from paravenous spaces to the blood. Using real-time, in vivo observation of efflux, a novel drainage pathway was discovered, in which CSF molecules enter the bloodstream directly through dynamically assembled, trumpet-shaped pores (basolateral ϕ<8 µm; apical ϕ < 2 µm) on the walls of brain venules. As Zn2+ could facilitate the brain clearance of macromolecular ISF solutes, Zn2+-induced reconstruction of the tight junctions (TJs) in vascular endothelial cells may participate in pore formation. Thus, an updated model for glymphatic clearance of brain metabolites and potential regulation is postulated. In addition, deficient clearance of Aß through these asymmetric venule pores was observed in AD model mice, supporting the notion that impaired brain drainage function contributes to Aß accumulation and pathogenic dilation of the perivascular space in AD.

Tailoring Stress-Relieved Structure for SnSe Toward High Performance Potassium Ion Batteries.

Metal chalcogenides as an ideal family of anode materials demonstrate a high theoretical specific capacity for potassium ion batteries (PIBs), but the huge volume variance and poor cyclic stability hinder their practical applications. In this study, a design of a stress self-adaptive structure with ultrafine SnSe nanoparticles embedded in carbon nanofiber (SnSe@CNF) via the electrospinning technology is presented. Such an architecture delivers a record high specific capacity (272 mAh g-1 at 50 mA g-1) and high-rate performance (125 mAh g-1 at 1 A g-1) as a PIB anode. It is decoded that the fundamental understanding for this great performance is that the ultrafine SnSe particles enhance the full utilization of the active material and achieve stress relief as the stored strain energy from cycling is insufficient to drive crack propagation and thus alleviates the intrinsic chemo-mechanical degradation of metal chalcogenides.

Calcium-Pillar Boosting Smooth Phase Transition in Potassium Vanadate Nanobelts toward Superior Cycling Performance in Potassium-Ion Batteries.

The depletion of lithium resources has prompted exploration into alternative rechargeable energy storage systems, and potassium-ion batteries (PIBs) have emerged as promising candidates. As an active cathode material for PIBs, potassium vanadate (KxV2O5) usually suffers from structural damage during electrochemical K-ion insertion/extraction and hence leading to unsatisfactory cycling performance. Here, we introduce Ca2+ ions as pillars into the potassium vanadate to enhance its structural stability and smooth its phase transition behavior. The additional Ca2+ not only stabilizes the layered structure but also promotes the rearrangement of interlayer ions and leads to a smooth solid-solution phase transition. The optimal composition K0.36Ca0.05V2O5 (KCVO) exhibits outstanding cyclic stability, delivering a capacity of ∼90 mA h g-1 at 20 mA g-1 with negligible capacity decay even after 700 cycles at 500 mA g-1. Theoretical calculations indicate lower energy barriers for K+ diffusion, promoting rapid reaction kinetics. The excellent performances and detailed investigations offer insights into the structural regulation of layered vanadium cathodes.

A Wood-Derived Periosteum for Spatiotemporal Drug Release: Boosting Bone Repair through Anisotropic Structure and Multiple Functions.

Existing artificial periostea face many challenges, including difficult-to-replicate anisotropy in mechanics and structure, poor tissue adhesion, and neglected synergistic angiogenesis and osteogenesis. Here, inspired by natural wood (NW), a wood-derived elastic artificial periosteum is developed to mimic the structure and functions of natural periosteum, which combines an elastic wood (EW) skeleton, a polydopamine (PDA) binder layer, and layer-by-layer (LBL) biofunctional layers. Specifically, EW derived from NW is utilized as the anisotropic skeleton of artificial periosteum to guide cell directional behaviors, moreover, it also shows a similar elastic modulus and flexibility to natural periosteum. To further enhance its synergistic angiogenesis and osteogenesis, surface LBL biofunctional layers are designed to serve as spatiotemporal release platforms to achieve sequential and long-term release of pamidronate disodium (PDS) and deferoxamine (DFO), which are pre-encapsulated in chitosan (CS) and hyaluronic acid (HA) solutions, respectively. Furthermore, the combined effect of PDA coating and LBL biofunctional layers enables the periosteum to tightly adhere to damaged bone tissue. More importantly, this novel artificial periosteum can boost angiogenesis and bone formation in vitro and in vivo. This study opens up a new path for biomimetic design of artificial periosteum, and provides a feasible clinical strategy for bone repair.

Iron(III) and BF3·OEt2-Promoted O-Transfer Reaction of N-Aryl-α,ß-Unsaturated Nitrones to Prepare Difluoroboron ß-Ketoiminates.

We described an iron(III) and BF3·OEt2-promoted oxygen transfer reaction of N-aryl-α,ß-unsaturated nitrones to prepare various N,O-difluoroboron ß-ketoiminates in good yields ranging from 24% to 87%. Control experiments revealed that the enaminone was the vital intermediate for the formation of N,O-difluoroboron ß-ketoiminates, and iron(III) combined with BF3·OEt2 played as cocatalyst to promote the oxygen transfer reaction through intramolecular cyclization and N-O bond cleavage. More importantly, an estrone-derived N,O-difluoroboron ß-ketoiminate was easily prepared in 40% yield from estrone in four steps.

Micron-Sized Cobalt Niobium Oxide with Multiscale Porous Sponge-Like Structure Boosting High-Rate and Long-Life Lithium Storage.

Niobium-based oxides show great potential as intercalation-type anodes in lithium-ion batteries due to their relatively high theoretical specific capacity. Nevertheless, their electrochemical properties are unsatisfactorily restricted by the poor electronic conductivity. Here, micron-sized Co0.5Nb24.5O62 with multiscale sponge-like structure is synthesized and demonstrated to be a fast-charging anode material. It can deliver a remarkable capacity of 287 mA h g-1 with a safe average working potential of ≈1.55 V vs Li+/Li and a high initial Coulombic efficiency of 91.1% at 0.1C. Owing to the fast electronic/ionic transport derived from the multiscale porous sponge-like structure, Co0.5Nb24.5O62 exhibits a superior rate capability of 142 mA h g-1 even at 10C. In addition, its maximum volume change during the charge/discharge process is determined to be 9.18%, thus exhibiting excellent cycling stability with 75.3% capacity retention even after 3000 cycles at 10C. The LiFePO4//Co0.5Nb24.5O62 full cells also achieve good rate performance of 101 mA h g-1 at 10C, as well as an excellent cycling performance of 81% capacity retention after 1200 cycles at 5C, further proving the promising application prospect of Co0.5Nb24.5O62.

Zero-Strain Sodium Lanthanum Titanate Perovskite Embedded in Flexible Carbon Fibers as a Long-Span Anode for Lithium-Ion Batteries.

"High-capacity" graphite and "zero-strain" spinel Li4Ti5O12 (LTO) occupy the majority market of anode materials for Li+ storage in commercial applications. Nevertheless, their intrinsic drawbacks including the unsafe potential of graphite and unsatisfactory capacity of LTO limit the further development of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), which is unable to satisfy the ever-increasing demands. Here, a novel Na0.35La0.55TiO3 perovskite embedded in multichannel carbon fibers (NLTO-NF) is rationally designed and synthesized through an electrospinning method. It not only has the advantages of a respectable specific capacity of 265 mAh g-1 at 0.1 A g-1 and superb rate capability, but it also possesses the zero-strain characteristic. Impressively, an ultralong cycling life with 96.3% capacity retention after 9000 cycles at 2 A g-1 is achieved in the half cell, and 90.3% of capacity retention ratio is obtained after even 2500 cycles at 1 A g-1 in the coupled LiFePO4/NLTO-NF full cell. This study introduces a new member with excellent performance to the zero-strain materials family for next-generation LIBs.

Insoluble/soluble fraction ratio determines effects of dietary fiber on gut microbiota and serum metabolites in healthy mice.

Both soluble dietary fiber (SDF) and insoluble dietary fiber (IDF) play pivotal roles in maintaining gut microbiota homeostasis; whether the effects of the different ratios of IDF and SDF are consistent remains unclear. Consequently, we selected SDFs and IDFs from six representative foods (apple, celery, kale, black fungus, oats, and soybeans) and formulated nine dietary fiber recipes composed of IDF and SDF with a ratio from 1 : 9 to 9 : 1 (NDFR) to compare their impact on microbial effects with healthy mice. We discovered that NDFR treatment decreased the abundance of Proteobacteria and the ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes at the phylum level. The α diversity and relative richness of Parabacteroides and Prevotella at the genus level showed an upward trend along with the ratio of IDF increasing, while the relative abundance of Akkermansia at the genus level and the production of acetic acid and propionic acid exhibited an increased trend along with the ratio of SDF increasing. The relative abundance of Parabacteroides and Prevotella in the I9S1DF group (the ratio of IDF and SDF was 9 : 1) was 1.72 times and 5.92 times higher than that in the I1S9DF group (the ratio of IDF and SDF was 1 : 9), respectively. The relative abundance of Akkermansia in the I1S9DF group was 17.18 times higher than that in the I9S1DF group. Moreover, a high ratio of SDF (SDF reaches 60% or more) enriched the glycerophospholipid metabolism pathway; however, a high ratio of IDF (IDF reaches 80% or more) regulated the tricarboxylic acid cycle. These findings are helpful in the development of dietary fiber supplements based on gut microbiota and metabolites.

The role of ferroptosis and its mechanism in ischemic stroke.

Ischemic stroke is an acute cerebrovascular disease with a high morbidity, mortality, and disability rate. Persistent ischemia of brain tissue can cause irreversible damage to neurons, leading to neurological dysfunction and seriously affecting patients' quality of life. However, current clinical therapies are limited and have not achieved satisfactory outcome, due to the incomplete understanding of the mechanism of neuronal damage during ischemic stroke. Recent studies have found that ferroptosis is implicated in the pathophysiology of ischemic stroke. Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent regulated cell death driven by lipid peroxidation. Under normal physiological conditions, GSH/GPX4, FSP1/CoQ10, GCH/BH4 and other anti-ferroptosis pathways can function effectively to suppress the occurrence of ferroptosis. After ischemic stroke, two typical ferroptosis characteristics, lipid peroxidation and iron accumulation, are observed, accompanied by changes in the expression of ferroptosis related genes such as GPX4, ACSL4, and SLC7A11, suggesting that ferroptosis plays a key role in ischemic stroke, which provides a new idea for the clinical treatment of ischemic stroke. This article reviewed the pathological mechanisms of ferroptosis in the occurrence and development of ischemic stroke, as well as the related progress of ferroptosis targeted therapy.

Pan-genome Analysis of WOX Gene Family and Function Exploration of CsWOX9 in Cucumber.

Cucumber is an economically important vegetable crop, and the warts (composed of spines and Tubercules) of cucumber fruit are an important quality trait that influences its commercial value. WOX transcription factors are known to have pivotal roles in regulating various aspects of plant growth and development, but their studies in cucumber are limited. Here, genome-wide identification of cucumber WOX genes was performed using the pan-genome analysis of 12 cucumber varieties. Our findings revealed diverse CsWOX genes in different cucumber varieties, with variations observed in protein sequences and lengths, gene structure, and conserved protein domains, possibly resulting from the divergent evolution of CsWOX genes as they adapt to diverse cultivation and environmental conditions. Expression profiles of the CsWOX genes demonstrated that CsWOX9 was significantly expressed in unexpanded ovaries, especially in the epidermis. Additionally, analysis of the CsWOX9 promoter revealed two binding sites for the C2H2 zinc finger protein. We successfully executed a yeast one-hybrid assay (Y1H) and a dual-luciferase (LUC) transaction assay to demonstrate that CsWOX9 can be transcriptionally activated by the C2H2 zinc finger protein Tu, which is crucial for fruit Tubercule formation in cucumber. Overall, our results indicated that CsWOX9 is a key component of the molecular network that regulates wart formation in cucumber fruits, and provide further insight into the function of CsWOX genes in cucumber.

Synthesis of Spirooxindole-1,2-oxazinan-5-ones through 2,2,2-Trifluoroethanol Promoted [3 + 3] Cycloaddition of N-Vinyl Oxindole Nitrones and Oxyallyl Cations.

A variety of spirooxindole-1,2-oxazinan-5-one derivatives were prepared in moderate to excellent yields through 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE)-promoted [3 + 3] cycloaddition of N-vinyl oxindole nitrones with oxyallyl cations generated from α-tosyloxy ketones under mild reaction conditions. Mechanistic studies revealed that [3 + 3] cycloaddition might involve two possible reaction pathways, including direct [3 + 3] cycloaddition of N-vinyl oxindole ntirones with oxyallyl cations, or the addition of TFE to N-vinyl oxindole nitrones, sequential addition to oxyallyl cations, elimination, and cyclization. The present method features mild reaction conditions, broad substrate scope, good functional group tolerance, easy gram scalable preparation, and new applications of TFE.

Parabacteroides distasonis ameliorates insulin resistance via activation of intestinal GPR109a.

Gut microbiota plays a key role in insulin resistance (IR). Here we perform a case-control study of Chinese adults (ChiCTR2200065715) and identify that Parabacteroides distasonis is inversely correlated with IR. Treatment with P. distasonis improves IR, strengthens intestinal integrity, and reduces systemic inflammation in mice. We further demonstrate that P. distasonis-derived nicotinic acid (NA) is a vital bioactive molecule that fortifies intestinal barrier function via activating intestinal G-protein-coupled receptor 109a (GPR109a), leading to ameliorating IR. We also conduct a bioactive dietary fiber screening to induce P. distasonis growth. Dendrobium officinale polysaccharide (DOP) shows favorable growth-promoting effects on P. distasonis and protects against IR in mice simultaneously. Finally, the reduced P. distasonis and NA levels were also validated in another human type 2 diabetes mellitus cohort. These findings reveal the unique mechanisms of P. distasonis on IR and provide viable strategies for the treatment and prevention of IR by bioactive dietary fiber.

Effectiveness of various treatment modalities in children with vesicoureteral reflux grades II-IV: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) is one of the most common risk factors of urinary tract infection (UTI) among children. Various treatment modalities including antibiotic prophylaxis, surgical or endoscopic corrections and conservative treatment were used depending on the severity of VUR. The aim of this study is to compare the effectiveness of these treatment modalities in children with VUR grades II-IV by conducting a systematic review and network meta-analysis. METHODS: A systematic search from different databases was performed from their earliest records to December 2022 without any language restriction. Only randomised controlled trials were included in this study. Effectiveness of treatment modalities was mainly compared by UTI. Other outcomes for renal scarring and resolution by renal units were also measured between treatments. RESULTS: A total of 11 studies with 1447 children were included in this study. While comparing with antibiotic prophylaxis in network meta-analysis for UTI recurrence, surgical treatment probably lowers the rate of UTI recurrence (Log OR -0.26, 95% CI -0.54 to 0.02, high quality). However, endoscopic treatment (Log OR 0.2, 95% CI -1.41 to 1.81, high quality) and conservative treatment (Log OR 0.15, 95% CI -0.45 to 0.75, high quality) revealed probably inferior to antibiotic treatment. CONCLUSION: Both pairwise and network meta-analytic results probably showed no difference between the treatments in terms of their impact on UTI recurrence, progression of previous renal scars, or formation of new renal scars in children with VUR grades II-IV. These findings may offer a better understanding of each treatment and evidence-based suggestions for the choice of treatment, which should be individualised and based on the patient's risk factors.

Circ_MACF1 targets miR-421 to upregulate FMO2 to suppress paclitaxel resistance and malignant cellular behaviors in lung adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Chemoresistance remains an enormous challenge in the treatment of lung adenocarcinoma (LADC). Circular RNAs (circRNAs) exhibit important regulation in tumor progression and chemoresistance. This research focused on exploring the regulatory function and mechanism of circ_MACF1 (has_circ_0011780) in paclitaxel (PTX) resistance in LADC. METHODS: Circ_MACF1, miR-421 and flavin-containing monooxygenase 2 (FMO2) were determined by RT-qPCR. MTT was applied to detect IC50 of PTX. The proliferation analysis was performed using EdU and colony formation assay. Cell apoptosis and motility were examined using flow cytometry and transwell assay, respectively. Western blot was administered for protein detection. A dual-luciferase reporter assay was performed for confirming target interaction. PTX sensitivity in vivo was researched via xenograft tumor assay. RESULTS: Expression of circ_MACF1 was decreased in PTX-resistant LADC tissues and cells. Circ_MACF1 overexpression reduced chemoresistance, proliferation, motility and accelerated apoptosis in PTX-resistant LADC cells. Circ_MACF1 targeted miR-421 and miR-421 upregulation reverted circ_MACF1-evoked effects. FMO2 served as a downstream target of miR-421 and circ_MACF1 sponged miR-421 to elevate the expression of FMO2. MiR-421 enhanced PTX resistance and LADC progression via targeting FMO2. FMO2 knockdown enhanced IC50 of PTX and cell proliferation. In vivo, circ_MACF1 elevated PTX sensitivity of LADC by mediating miR-421/FMO2 axis. CONCLUSION: These findings elucidated that circ_MACF1 inhibited PTX resistance by absorbing miR-421 to upregulate FMO2 in LADC.

Highly anisotropic and elastic cellulosic scaffold guiding cell orientation and osteogenic differentiation via topological and mechanical cues.

Inspired by the similarity of anisotropic channels in wood to the canals of bone, the elastic wood-derived (EW) scaffolds with anisotropic channels were prepared via simple delignification treatment of natural wood (NW). We hypothesize that the degree of delignification will lead to differences in mechanical properties of scaffolds, which in turn directly affect the behaviors and fate of stem cells. The delignification process did not destroy the anisotropic channel structure of the scaffolds, but endowed the scaffolds with good elasticity and rapid stress relaxation. Interestingly, the micron-scale anisotropic channels of the scaffolds can highly promote the polarization of cells along the direction of channels. We also found that the alkaline phosphatase of EW scaffold can reach to about 13.1 U/gprot, which was about double that of NW scaffold. Moreover, the longer the delignification time, the better the osteogenic activity of the EW scaffolds. We further hypothesize that the osteogenic activity of scaffolds is related to the stress relaxation properties. The immunofluorescence staining showed that when the stress relaxation time of scaffold was shortened to about 10 s, the nuclear ratio of YAP of scaffold increased to 0.22, which well supports our hypothesis.

Application of Advanced Technologies-Nanotechnology, Genomics Technology, and 3D Printing Technology-In Precision Anesthesia: A Comprehensive Narrative Review.

There has been increasing interest and rapid developments in precision medicine, which is a new medical concept and model based on individualized medicine with the joint application of genomics, bioinformatics engineering, and big data science. By applying numerous emerging medical frontier technologies, precision medicine could allow individualized and precise treatment for specific diseases and patients. This article reviews the application and progress of advanced technologies in the anesthesiology field, in which nanotechnology and genomics can provide more personalized anesthesia protocols, while 3D printing can yield more patient-friendly anesthesia supplies and technical training materials to improve the accuracy and efficiency of decision-making in anesthesiology. The objective of this manuscript is to analyze the recent scientific evidence on the application of nanotechnology in anesthesiology. It specifically focuses on nanomedicine, precision medicine, and clinical anesthesia. In addition, it also includes genomics and 3D printing. By studying the current research and advancements in these advanced technologies, this review aims to provide a deeper understanding of the potential impact of these advanced technologies on improving anesthesia techniques, personalized pain management, and advancing precision medicine in the field of anesthesia.

Dihydromyricetin Alleviates Ischemic Brain Injury by Antagonizing Pyroptosis in Rats.

Ischemic stroke is a worldwide disease that seriously threatens human health, and there are few effective drugs to treat it. Dihydromyricetin (DHM) has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiapoptotic functions. We identified pyroptosis following ischemic stroke. Here, we investigated the effect of DHM on ischemic stroke and pyroptosis. In the first part of the experiment, Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the sham group and MCAO group. The MCAO model was established by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery for 90 min using a silica gel suture. The ischemic penumbra was used for mRNA sequencing 1 day after reperfusion. In the second part, rats were divided into the sham group, MCAO group, and DHM group. DHM was injected intraperitoneally at the same time as reperfusion starting 90 min after embolization for 7 consecutive days. The changes in pyroptosis were observed by morphological and molecular methods. The transcriptomics results suggested the presence of NLRP3-mediated pyroptotic death pathway activation after modeling. The Longa score was increased after MCAO and decreased after DHM treatment. 2,3,5-Triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining showed that DHM could reduce the infarct volume induced by MCAO. Nissl staining showed disordered neuronal arrangement and few Nissl bodies in the MCAO group, but this effect was reversed by DHM treatment. Analysis of pyroptosis-related molecules showed that the MCAO group had serious pyroptosis, and DHM effectively reduced pyroptosis. Our results demonstrate that DHM has a neuroprotective effect on ischemic stroke that is at least partly achieved by reducing pyroptosis.

Correlation between strength/endurance of paraspinal muscles and sagittal parameters in patients with degenerative spinal deformity.

BACKGROUND: Sagittal imbalance is a common cause of low back pain and dysfunction in patients with degenerative spinal deformity (DSD), which greatly affects their quality of life. Strength and endurance are important functional physical indexes for assessing muscle condition. However, the correlation between sagittal parameters and paraspinal muscle strength/endurance is not yet clear. The purpose of this study was to analyze the correlation between strength/endurance of paraspinal muscles and sagittal parameters in patients with DSD. METHODS: There were 105 patients with DSD and 52 healthy volunteers (control group) enrolled. They were divided into the balance group [sagittal vertical axis (SVA) < 5 cm, n = 68] and imbalance group (SVA ≥ 5 cm, n = 37). The maximal voluntary exertion (MVE)/Endurance time (ET) of paravertebral muscles were assessed using the prone position test stand, and the sagittal parameters of the subjects were measured, namely, SVA, thoracic kyphosis (TK), lumbar lordosis (LL), pelvic incidence (PI), pelvic tilt (PT), and sacral slope (SS). Pearson coefficients were used to assess the correlation between paraspinal muscle MVE/ET and sagittal parameters. RESULTS: MVE and ET of paravertebral muscles in the control group were significantly higher than those in the balance and imbalance groups (P < 0.05), whereas MVE in the balance group was significantly higher than that in the imbalance group (P < 0.05). SVA in the imbalance group was significantly higher than those in the control and balance groups (P < 0.05). SS and TK in the control group were significantly higher than those in the imbalance group (P < 0.05), and PT and PI in the control group were significantly lower than those in the balance and imbalance groups (P < 0.05). LL in the imbalance group was significantly lower than that in the balance and control groups (P < 0.05). MVE, MVE/BH, and MVE/BW of paraspinal muscles in the imbalance group were negatively correlated with SVA and PT. Moreover, they were positively correlated with LL. CONCLUSIONS: Deformity may cause the decrease of MVE and ET of paraspinal muscles in the prone position in patients with DSD. Furthermore, the decline in MVE of paraspinal muscles may be a predisposing factor for the imbalance observed. The decrease of MVE/BW of paraspinal muscles may be involved in spinal compensation, and it is a sensitive indicator for sagittal imbalance and lumbar lordosis.

Fine valence regulation of hydrated vanadium oxide as a novel cathode for stable potassium-ion storage.

Layered V10O24·nH2O with a large interlayer spacing of 14 Å is hydrothermally synthesized and used as a cathode for potassium-ion batteries. It exhibits a capacity of 110 mA h g-1 with a capacity retention of 99.2% over 700 cycles. Its storage mechanism is identified as pseudo-capacitive intercalation.