A Tumor-Activatable Liposomal Nanoprobe for Selective Visualization of Metastatic Lymph Nodes.

The precise identification of sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) during surgery and assessment of their benign status is crucial for accurate tumor staging and optimal treatment strategizing. Currently, a deficiency exists in non-invasive in vivo diagnostic techniques that can accurately pinpoint SLNs during surgery while simultaneously evaluating their benign status. Here, a tumor-activatable liposomal nanoprobe (nTAL) is developed, remotely loaded with clinically approved photosensitizer, methyl aminolevulinate (MAL), to noninvasively visualize the tumor metastasis lymph nodes (LNs) with precision. Benefited from the highly efficient LNs draining of nanosized liposome and tumor cell-specific transformation of the non-fluorescent MAL to fluorescent protoporphyrin IX (PPIX), nTAL succeeded in targeting the SLNs and differentiated the metastatic from the benign ones with a positive correlation between PPIX generation and tumor cell infiltration in LNs. Moreover, the nTAL technology is capable of probing the early metastatic stage with a primary tumor size of 50 mm3. This study provides a new strategy for intraoperative visualization of real-time sentinel node dissection.

Region of Interest Detection in Melanocytic Skin Tumor Whole Slide Images-Nevus and Melanoma.

Automated region of interest detection in histopathological image analysis is a challenging and important topic with tremendous potential impact on clinical practice. The deep learning methods used in computational pathology may help us to reduce costs and increase the speed and accuracy of cancer diagnosis. We started with the UNC Melanocytic Tumor Dataset cohort which contains 160 hematoxylin and eosin whole slide images of primary melanoma (86) and nevi (74). We randomly assigned 80% (134) as a training set and built an in-house deep learning method to allow for classification, at the slide level, of nevi and melanoma. The proposed method performed well on the other 20% (26) test dataset; the accuracy of the slide classification task was 92.3% and our model also performed well in terms of predicting the region of interest annotated by the pathologists, showing excellent performance of our model on melanocytic skin tumors. Even though we tested the experiments on a skin tumor dataset, our work could also be extended to other medical image detection problems to benefit the clinical evaluation and diagnosis of different tumors.

Electrified Operando-Freezing of Electrocatalytic CO2 Reduction Cells for Cryogenic Electron Microscopy.

The ability to freeze and stabilize reaction intermediates in their metastable states and obtain their structural and chemical information with high spatial resolution is critical to advance materials technologies such as catalysis and batteries. Here, we develop an electrified operando-freezing methodology to preserve these metastable states under electrochemical reaction conditions for cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) imaging and spectroscopy. Using Cu catalysts for CO2 reduction as a model system, we observe restructuring of the Cu catalyst in a CO2 atmosphere while the same catalyst remains intact in air at the nanometer scale. Furthermore, we discover the existence of a single valence Cu (1+) state and C-O bonding at the electrified liquid-solid interface of the operando-frozen samples, which are key reaction intermediates that traditional ex situ measurements fail to detect. This work highlights our novel technique to study the local structure and chemistry of electrified liquid-solid interfaces, with broad impact beyond catalysis.

Effectiveness of chest pain center accreditation on the hospital outcome of acute aortic dissection: a nationwide study in China.

BACKGROUND: The National Chest Pain Center Program (NCPCP) is a nationwide, quality enhancement program aimed at raising the standard of care for patients experiencing acute chest pain in China. The benefits of chest pain center (CPC) accreditation on acute coronary syndrome have been demonstrated. However, there is no evidence to indicate whether CPC accreditation improves outcomes for patients with acute aortic dissection (AAD). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective observational study of patients with AAD from 1671 hospitals in China, using data from the NCPCP spanning the period from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2022. The patients were divided into 2 groups: pre-accreditation and post-accreditation admissions. The outcomes examined included in-hospital mortality, misdiagnosis, and Stanford type A AAD surgery. Multivariate logistic regression was employed to explore the relationship between CPC accreditation and in-hospital outcomes. Furthermore, we stratified the hospitals based on their geographical location (Eastern/Central/Western regions) or administrative status (provincial/non-provincial capital areas) to assess the impact of CPC accreditation on AAD patients across various regions. RESULTS: The analysis encompassed a total of 40,848 patients diagnosed with AAD. The post-accreditation group exhibited significantly lower rates of in-hospital mortality and misdiagnosis (12.1% vs. 16.3%, P < 0.001 and 2.9% vs. 5.4%, P < 0.001, respectively) as well as a notably higher rate of Stanford type A AAD surgery (61.1% vs. 42.1%, P < 0.001) compared with the pre-accreditation group. After adjusting for potential covariates, CPC accreditation was associated with substantially reduced risks of in-hospital mortality (adjusted OR 0.644, 95% CI 0.599-0.693) and misdiagnosis (adjusted OR 0.554, 95% CI 0.493-0.624), along with an increase in the proportion of patients undergoing Stanford type A AAD surgery (adjusted OR 1.973, 95% CI 1.797-2.165). Following CPC accreditation, there were significant reductions in in-hospital mortality across various regions, particularly in Western regions (from 21.5 to 14.1%). Moreover, CPC accreditation demonstrated a more pronounced impact on in-hospital mortality in non-provincial cities compared to provincial cities (adjusted OR 0.607 vs. 0.713). CONCLUSION: CPC accreditation is correlated with improved management and in-hospital outcomes for patients with AAD.

Growth of metal nanowire forests controlled through stress fields induced by grain gradients.

Pure metal nanowires (NWs) are one-dimensional nanomaterials with distinctive properties for various applications. Nevertheless, mass-growth forests have not been developed because of vapor pressure limitations, chemical reduction problems, or both. We succeeded in the mass growth of aluminum (Al) NW forests at desired locations by controlling atomic diffusion within the solid film. Whereas prior attention has focused only on how to increase the driving force, we show that focused ion beam irradiation created localized regions of high stress, which provided pathways for atomic diffusion as well as nuclei and driving forces for vertical NW growth. The underlying growth process could in principle be extended to other metals.

Efficient Electrocatalytic Oxidation of Glycerol to Formate Coupled with Nitrate Reduction over Cu-doped NiCo Alloy Supported on Nickel Foam.

Electrooxidation of biomass-derived glycerol which is regarded as a main byproduct of industrial biodiesel production, is an innovative strategy to produce value-added chemicals, but currently showcases slow kinetics, limited Faraday efficiency, and unclear catalytic mechanism. Herein, we report high-efficiency electrooxidation of glycerol into formate via a Cu doped NiCo alloy catalyst supported on nickel foam (Cu-NiCo/NF) in a coupled system paired with nitrate reduction. The designed Cu-NiCo/NF delivers only 1.23 V vs. RHE at 10 mA cm-2, and a record Faraday efficiency of formate of 93.8%. The superior performance is ascribed to the rapid generation of NiIII-OOH and CoIII-OOH and favorable coupling of surface *O with reactive intermediates. Using Cu-NiCo/NF as a bifunctional catalyst, the coupled system synchronously produces NH3 and formate, showing 290 mV lower than the coupling of hydrogen evolution reaction, together with excellent long-term stability for up to 144 h. This work lays out new guidelines and reliable strategies from catalyst design to system coupling for biomass-derived electrochemical refinery.

Visualizing Catalytic Dynamics of Single-Cu-Atom-Modified SnS2 in CO2 Electroreduction via Rapid Freeze-Quench Mössbauer Spectroscopy.

Effective design and engineering of catalysts for an optimal performance depend extensively on a profound understanding of the intricate catalytic dynamics under reaction conditions. In this work, we showcase rapid freeze-quench (RFQ) Mössbauer spectroscopy as a powerful technique for quantitatively monitoring the catalytic dynamics of single-Cu-atom-modified SnS2 (Cu1/SnS2) in the electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR). Utilizing the newly established RFQ 119Sn Mössbauer methodology, we clearly identified the dynamic transformation of Cu1/SnS2 to Cu1/SnS and Cu1/Sn during the CO2RR, resulting in an outstanding Faradaic efficiency for formate production (∼90.9%) with a partial current density of 158 mA cm-2. Results from operando Raman spectroscopy, operando attenuated total reflection surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy (ATR-SEIRAS), quasi in situ electron microscopy, and quasi in situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements indicate that the anchored single Cu atom in Cu1/SnS2 can accelerate the reduction of SnS with in situ formation of Cu1/Sn under CO2RR conditions, which effectively promote the generation of *CO2-/*OCHO intermediates. Theoretical calculations further support that in situ formed Cu1/Sn works as active sites catalyzing the CO2RR, which reduces the energy barrier for the CO2 activation and formation of the *OCHO intermediate, thereby facilitating the conversion of CO2 to formate. The results of this work provide a thorough understanding of the dynamic evolution of Sn-based catalytic sites in the CO2RR and shed light for engineering single atoms with an optimized catalytic performance. We anticipate that RFQ Mössbauer spectroscopy will emerge as an advanced spectroscopic technique for enabling a genuine visualization of catalytic dynamics across various reaction systems.

Design and Assessment of First-Generation Heterobifunctional PPARα/STING Modulators.

Inflammatory retinal diseases such as diabetic retinopathy (DR) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) are prominent causes of blindness in industrialized countries. The complexity of these diseases, involving diverse cell types and pathways that give rise to a multifactorial pathogenesis, complicates drug discovery. As such, therapies exhibiting polypharmacology are expected to improve outcomes through broader disease stage coverage and beneficial spatiotemporal effects. We report herein the first dual modulator of PPARα and STING, two targets tied to disparate pathologies in retinal diseases. Recognizing structural similarities between a reported STING inhibitor SN-013 and our previously described PPARα agonist A229, we designed BH400, which agonizes PPARα (EC50 = 1.2 µM) and inhibits STING (IC50 = 8.1 µM). BH400 demonstrates superior protection over single-target PPARα or STING modulation in microglial and photoreceptor cells. These findings provide compelling evidence for the potential benefit of polypharmacology in common retinal diseases through dual PPARα/STING modulation, motivating further studies.

Improving the creation of SiV centers in diamond via sub-µs pulsed annealing treatment.

Silicon-vacancy (SiV) centers in diamond are emerging as promising quantum emitters in applications such as quantum communication and quantum information processing. Here, we demonstrate a sub-µs pulsed annealing treatment that dramatically increases the photoluminescence of SiV centers in diamond. Using a silane-functionalized adamantane precursor and a laser-heated diamond anvil cell, the temperature and energy conditions required to form SiV centers in diamond were mapped out via an optical thermometry system with an accuracy of ±50 K and a 1 µs temporal resolution. Annealing scheme studies reveal that pulsed annealing can obviously minimize the migration of SiV centers out of the diamond lattice, and a 2.5-fold increase in the number of emitting centers was achieved using a series of 200-ns pulses at a 50 kHz repetition rate via acousto-optic modulation. Our study provides a novel pulsed annealing treatment approach to improve the efficiency of the creation of SiV centers in diamond.

Thyroid hormone receptor-beta agonist HSK31679 alleviates MASLD by modulating gut microbial sphingolipids.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: As the first approved medication for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), thyroid hormone receptor-beta (THR-ß) agonist MGL-3196 (Resmetirom) is highly spotlighted as the liver-directed, bioactive oral drug. However, it was also identified with remarkable heterogeneity of individual clinical efficacy and its interference with gut microbiota in host hepatoenteral circulation was still undocumented. METHODS: We compared MASH attenuation by MGL-3196 and its derivative drug HSK31679 between germ-free (GF) and specific-pathogen free (SPF) mice to evaluate the role of gut microbiota. Then cross-omics analyses of microbial metagenome, metabolome and single-cell RNA-sequencing were applied into the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multiple-ascending-dose (MAD) cohort of HSK31679 treatment (n = 40), to comprehensively investigate the altered gut microbiota metabolism and circulating immune signatures. RESULTS: HSK31679 outperformed MGL-3196 in ameliorating MASH diet-induced steatohepatitis of SPF mice but not GF mice. In the MAD cohort of HSK31679, relative abundance of B. thetaiotaomicron was significantly enriched to impair glucosylceramide synthase (GCS)-catalyzed monoglucosylation of microbial Cer(d18:1/16:0) and Cer(d18:1/24:1). In stark contrast to the non-inferiority MASH resolution between MGL-3196 and HSK31679 for GFBTΔGCS mice, HSK31679 manifested superior steatohepatitis alleviation than MGL-3196 for GFBTWT mice, due to its steric hindrance with R123 and Y401 of gut microbial GCS. For participants with high fecal GCS activity, the administration of 160 mg HSK31679 induced a shift in peripheral compartments towards an immunosuppressive niche, characterized by decreased CD8α+ dendritic cells and MINCLE+ macrophages. CONCLUSIONS: This study provided novel insights into the indispensable gut microbiota for HSK31679 treatment, which revealed microbial GCS may serve as its prognostic biomarker of MASH treatment, as well as the new target for further strategies of microbiota-based MASH therapeutics. IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS: Remarkable heterogeneity of individual clinical efficacy of THR-ß agonists and their interferences with microbiome in host hepatoenteral circulation are poorly understood. In our current germ-free mice models and randomized, double-blind multiple-dose cohort study, we identified microbial GCS as the prognostic biomarker of HSK31679 treatment, as well as the new target for further strategies of microbiota-based MASLD therapeutics.

What exacerbates and what eases Chinese rural residents' depression during the COVID-19?

During the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a growing prevalence of mental disorders, particularly in China, where anti-epidemic measures have been more stringent compared to other countries. This has resulted in a heightened psychological burden on individuals. However, the actual psychological impacts of COVID-19 on Chinese residents have not been clearly established. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of various factors, including personal and household characteristics, social networks, and epidemic-related variables (such as rural residents' knowledge of COVID-19 virus transmission and prevention), on rural residents' depression. Using a two-year balanced panel dataset encompassing 152 villages and 676 samples in both 2019 and 2020, we employed the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) model to estimate the influence of these factors and compare their coefficients to examine the changes in rural residents' depression between the pre-epidemic and during-epidemic periods. Our study highlights significant factors contributing to rural residents' depression during the COVID-19 pandemic, including isolation (2.063, p < 0.01) and concern about COVID-19 infection (0.128, p < 0.05). Conversely, factors such as health status (-0.714, p < 0.01) and the number of friends (-0.017, p < 0.01) were found to significantly alleviate depression among rural residents. Moreover, we identify key moderators that mitigate the negative impact of infection concerns on mental health. Specifically, the health status of rural residents (-0.166, p < 0.01), the size of their family network (-0.036, p < 0.05), and their knowledge of COVID-19 transmission and prevention (-0.184, p < 0.05) significantly moderated the relationship between infection concerns and depression. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the psychological implications of the pandemic and provide valuable insights for the development of targeted interventions to address mental health challenges in rural populations.

Application of fecal immunochemical test in colorectal cancer screening: A community-based, cross-sectional study in average-risk individuals in Hainan.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) in China is steadily rising, with a high proportion of advanced-stage diagnoses. This highlights the significance of early detection and prevention measures to enhance survival rates. Fecal immunochemical testing (FIT) is a globally recommended CRC screening method; however, limited research has been conducted on its application in Hainan. AIM: To assess the efficacy and adherence of FIT screening among average-risk individuals in Hainan, while also examining the risk factors associated with positive FIT results. METHODS: This population-based cross-sectional study implemented FIT screening for CRC in 2000 asymptomatic participants aged 40-75 years from five cities and 21 community health centers in Hainan Province. The study was conducted from August 2022 to April 2023, employing a stratified sampling method to select participants. Individuals with positive FIT results subsequently underwent colonoscopy. Positive predictive values for confirmed CRC and advanced adenoma were calculated, and the relationship between relevant variables and positive FIT results was analyzed using χ 2 tests and multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 1788 participants completed the FIT screening, with a median age of 57 years (interquartile range: 40-75). Among them, 503 (28.1%) were males, and 1285 (71.9%) were females, resulting in an 89.4% compliance rate for FIT screening. The overall positivity rate of FIT was 4.4% [79 out of 1788; 95% confidence interval (CI): 3%-5%]. The specific positivity rates for Haikou, Sanya, Orient City, Qionghai City, and Wuzhishan City were 9.6% (45 of 468; 95%CI: 8%-11%), 1.3% (6 of 445; 95%CI: 0.1%-3.1%), 2.7% (8 of 293; 95%CI: 1.2%-4.3%), 3.3% (9 of 276; 95%CI: 1.0%-6.3%), and 4.2% (11 of 406; 95%CI: 1.2%-7.3%), respectively. Significant associations were found between age, dietary habits, and positive FIT results. Out of the 79 participants with positive FIT results, 55 underwent colonoscopy, demonstrating an 82.2% compliance rate. Among them, 10 had a clean gastrointestinal tract, 43 had polyps or adenomas, and 2 were confirmed to have CRC, yielding a positive predictive value of 3.6% (95%CI: 0.9%-4.2%). Among the 43 participants with polyps or adenomas, 8 were diagnosed with advanced adenomas, resulting in an advanced adenoma rate of 14.5% (95%CI: 10.1%-17.7%). CONCLUSION: In the Hainan region, FIT screening for CRC among asymptomatic individuals at average risk is feasible and well-received.

A combination of risk stratification systems for thyroid nodules and cervical lymph nodes may improve the diagnosis and management of thyroid nodules.

Introduction: To assess the performance of the European Thyroid Association Thyroid Imaging and Reporting Data System (EU-TIRADS) and the Korean Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (K-TIRADS), which combine risk stratification systems for thyroid nodules (TN-RSS) and cervical lymph nodes (LN-RSS) in diagnosing malignant and metastatic thyroid cancer in a single referral center. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 2,055 consecutive patients who underwent thyroidectomy or fine-needle aspiration (FNA) from January 2021 to December 2022. TNs and LNs were categorized according to the ultrasonography (US) features of EU-TIRADS and K-TIRADS, respectively. The diagnostic performance and postponed malignancy rate (PMR) were compared with those of EU-TIRADS and K-TIRADS. PMR was defined as the number of patients with malignant nodules not recommended for biopsy among patients with cervical LN metastasis. Results: According to the EU-TIRADS and K-TIRADS, for TN-RSS alone, there were no significant differences in sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, unnecessary FNA rate (UFR), missed malignancy rate (MMR), and PMR between the two TIRADSs (29.0% vs. 28.8%, 50.5% vs. 51.1%, 32.3% vs. 32.2%, 23.6% vs. 23.5%, 88.6% vs. 88.5%, and 54.2% vs. 54.5%, P > 0.05 for all). Combining the LN-RSS increased the diagnostic accuracy (42.7% vs. 32.3% in EU-TIRADS; 38.8% vs. 32.2% in K-TIRADS) and decreased the PMR (54.2% vs. 33.9% in EU-TIRADS; 54.5% vs. 39.3% in K-TIRADS). EU-TIRADS had higher sensitivity and accuracy and lower PMR than K-TIRADS (41.3% vs. 36.7%, 42.7% vs. 38.8%,33.9% vs. 39.3%, P < 0.05 for all). Conclusions: A combination of TN-RSS and LN-RSS for the management of thyroid nodules may be associated with a reduction in PMR, with enhanced sensitivity and accuracy for thyroid cancers in EU-TIRADS and K-TIRADS. These results may offer a new direction for the detection of aggressive thyroid cancers.

Alterations in electroencephalographic functional connectivity in individuals with major depressive disorder: a resting-state electroencephalogram study.

Background: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is the leading cause of disability among all mental illnesses with increasing prevalence. The diagnosis of MDD is susceptible to interference by several factors, which has led to a trend of exploring objective biomarkers. Electroencephalography (EEG) is a non-invasive procedure that is being gradually applied to detect and diagnose MDD through some features such as functional connectivity (FC). Methods: In this research, we analyzed the resting-state EEG of patients with MDD and healthy controls (HCs) in both eyes-open (EO) and eyes-closed (EC) conditions. The phase locking value (PLV) method was utilized to explore the connection and synchronization of neuronal activities spatiotemporally between different brain regions. We compared the PLV between participants with MDD and HCs in five frequency bands (theta, 4-8 Hz; alpha, 8-12 Hz; beta1, 12-16 Hz; beta2, 16-24 Hz; and beta3, 24-40 Hz) and further analyzed the correlation between the PLV of connections with significant differences and the severity of depression (via the scores of 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, HDRS-17). Results: During the EO period, lower PLVs were found in the right temporal-left midline occipital cortex (RT-LMOC; theta, alpha, beta1, and beta2) and posterior parietal-right temporal cortex (PP-RT; beta1 and beta2) in the MDD group compared with the HC group, while PLVs were higher in the MDD group in LT-LMOC (beta2). During the EC period, for the MDD group, lower theta and beta (beta1, beta2, and beta3) PLVs were found in PP-RT, as well as lower theta, alpha, and beta (beta1, beta2, and beta3) PLVs in RT-LMOC. Additionally, in the left midline frontal cortex-right temporal cortex (LMFC-RT) and posterior parietal cortex-right temporal cortex (PP-RMOC), higher PLVs were observed in beta2. There were no significant correlations between PLVs and HDRS-17 scores when connections with significantly different PLVs (all p > 0.05) were checked. Conclusion: Our study confirmed the presence of differences in FC between patients with MDD and healthy individuals. Lower PLVs in the connection of the right temporal-left occipital cortex were mostly observed, whereas an increase in PLVs was observed in patients with MDD in the connections of the left temporal with occipital lobe (EO), the circuits of the frontal-temporal lobe, and the parietal-occipital lobe. The trends in FC involved in this study were not correlated with the level of depression. Limitations: The study was limited due to the lack of further analysis of confounding factors and follow-up data. Future studies with large-sampled and long-term designs are needed to further explore the distinguishable features of EEG FC in individuals with MDD.

The Dynamic Modulation Doping Effect of Gas Molecules on an AlGaN/GaN Heterojunction Surface.

AlGaN/GaN high-electron-mobility transistors (HEMTs) are widely used in high-frequency and high-power applications owing to the high two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) concentration. However, the microscopic origin of the 2DEG remains unclear. This hinders the development of device fabrication technologies, such as threshold voltage modulation, current collapse suppression, and 2DEG concentration enhancement technologies, as well as AlGaN/GaN sensors with very high sensitivity to polar liquids. To clarify the 2DEG microscopic origin, we studied the effects of gas molecules on AlGaN/GaN surfaces through various experiments and first-principles calculations. The results indicated that the adsorption of gas molecules on the AlGaN/GaN surface is an important phenomenon, clarifying the microscopic origin of the 2DEG. This study elucidates the properties of AlGaN/GaN heterojunctions and promotes the development of new fabrication technologies for AlGaN/GaN devices.

Dynamic Bubbling Balanced Proactive CO2 Capture and Reduction on a Triple-Phase Interface Nanoporous Electrocatalyst.

The formation and preservation of the active phase of the catalysts at the triple-phase interface during CO2 capture and reduction is essential for improving the conversion efficiency of CO2 electroreduction toward value-added chemicals and fuels under operational conditions. Designing such ideal catalysts that can mitigate parasitic hydrogen generation and prevent active phase degradation during the CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR), however, remains a significant challenge. Herein, we developed an interfacial engineering strategy to build a new SnOx catalyst by invoking multiscale approaches. This catalyst features a hierarchically nanoporous structure coated with an organic F-monolayer that modifies the triple-phase interface in aqueous electrolytes, substantially reducing competing hydrogen generation (less than 5%) and enhancing CO2RR selectivity (∼90%). This rationally designed triple-phase interface overcomes the issue of limited CO2 solubility in aqueous electrolytes via proactive CO2 capture and reduction. Concurrently, we utilized pulsed square-wave potentials to dynamically recover the active phase for the CO2RR to regulate the production of C1 products such as formate and carbon monoxide (CO). This protocol ensures profoundly enhanced CO2RR selectivity (∼90%) compared with constant potential (∼70%) applied at -0.8 V (V vs RHE). We further achieved a mechanistic understanding of the CO2 capture and reduction processes under pulsed square-wave potentials via in situ Raman spectroscopy, thereby observing the potential-dependent intensity of Raman vibrational modes of the active phase and CO2RR intermediates. This work will inspire material design strategies by leveraging triple-phase interface engineering for emerging electrochemical processes, as technology moves toward electrification and decarbonization.

PEX3 promotes regenerative repair after myocardial injury in mice through facilitating plasma membrane localization of ITGB3.

The peroxisome is a versatile organelle that performs diverse metabolic functions. PEX3, a critical regulator of the peroxisome, participates in various biological processes associated with the peroxisome. Whether PEX3 is involved in peroxisome-related redox homeostasis and myocardial regenerative repair remains elusive. We investigate that cardiomyocyte-specific PEX3 knockout (Pex3-KO) results in an imbalance of redox homeostasis and disrupts the endogenous proliferation/development at different times and spatial locations. Using Pex3-KO mice and myocardium-targeted intervention approaches, the effects of PEX3 on myocardial regenerative repair during both physiological and pathological stages are explored. Mechanistically, lipid metabolomics reveals that PEX3 promotes myocardial regenerative repair by affecting plasmalogen metabolism. Further, we find that PEX3-regulated plasmalogen activates the AKT/GSK3ß signaling pathway via the plasma membrane localization of ITGB3. Our study indicates that PEX3 may represent a novel therapeutic target for myocardial regenerative repair following injury.

Differentiation of tuberculous and brucellar spondylitis using conventional MRI-based deep learning algorithms.

PURPOSE: To investigate the feasibility of deep learning (DL) based on conventional MRI to differentiate tuberculous spondylitis (TS) from brucellar spondylitis (BS). METHODS: A total of 383 patients with TS (n = 182) or BS (n = 201) were enrolled from April 2013 to May 2023 and randomly divided into training (n = 307) and validation (n = 76) sets. Sagittal T1WI, T2WI, and fat-suppressed (FS) T2WI images were used to construct single-sequence DL models and combined models based on VGG19, VGG16, ResNet18, and DenseNet121 network. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was used to assess the classification performance. The AUC of DL models was compared with that of two radiologists with different levels of experience. RESULTS: The AUCs based on VGG19, ResNet18, VGG16, and DenseNet121 ranged from 0.885 to 0.973, 0.873 to 0.944, 0.882 to 0.929, and 0.801 to 0.933, respectively, and VGG19 models performed better. The diagnostic efficiency of combined models outperformed single-sequence DL models. The combined model of T1WI, T2WI, and FS T2WI based on VGG19 achieved optimal performance, with an AUC of 0.973. In addition, the performance of all combined models based on T1WI, T2WI, and FS T2WI was better than that of two radiologists (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The DL models have potential guiding value in the diagnosis of TS and BS based on conventional MRI and provide a certain reference for clinical work.

Micromachined structures decoupling Joule heating and electron wind force.

Microstructural changes in conductive materials induced by electric current treatments, such as electromigration and electroplasticity, are critical in semiconductor and metal processing. However, owing to the inevitable thermal effect (Joule heating), the athermal effect on microstructural modifications remains obscure. This paper presents an approach of utilizing pre-micromachined structures, which obstruct current flow but maintain a thermal history similar to that of the matrix, effectively disentangling the thermal and athermal effects. A duplex stainless-steel material is selected to validate the feasibility of this method. Microstructural characterizations show that the athermal effect, especially the electron wind force (EWF), primarily governs the element diffusion and phase transformation in this study. Moreover, many σ phases (Cr-enriched) are precipitated in the micromachined structures, whereas no precipitation occurred in the matrix, suggesting that the directional EWF disrupts the Cr aggregation caused by Joule heating. Furthermore, we present a critical formula for determining the dimensions of micromachined structures of commonly used metallic materials. The proposed method may serve as an effective and powerful tool for unveiling the athermal effect on microstructural alterations.

Development and biomechanical analysis of an axially controlled compression spinal rod for lumbar spondylolysis.

BACKGROUND: To elucidate the differences in mechanical performance between a novel axially controlled compression spinal rod (ACCSR) for lumbar spondylolysis (LS) and the common spinal rod (CSR). METHODS: A total of 36 ACCSRs and 36 CSRs from the same batch were used in this study, each with a diameter of 6.0 mm. Biomechanical tests were carried out on spinal rods for the ACCSR group and on pedicle screw-rod internal fixation systems for the CSR group. The spinal rod tests were conducted following the guidelines outlined in the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) F 2193, while the pedicle screw-rod internal fixation system tests adhered to ASTM F 1798-97 standards. RESULTS: The stiffness of ACCSR and CSR was 1559.15 ±â€…50.15 and 3788.86 ±â€…156.45 N/mm (P < .001). ACCSR's yield load was 1345.73 (1297.90-1359.97) N, whereas CSR's was 4046.83 (3805.8-4072.53) N (P = .002). ACCSR's load in the 2.5 millionth cycle of the fatigue four-point bending test was 320 N. The axial gripping capacity of ACCSR and CSR was 1632.53 ±â€…165.64 and 1273.62 ±â€…205.63 N (P = .004). ACCSR's torsional gripping capacity was 3.45 (3.23-3.47) Nm, while CSR's was 3.27 (3.07-3.59) Nm (P = .654). The stiffness of the pedicle screws of the ACCSR and CSR group was 783.83 (775.67-798.94) and 773.14 (758.70-783.62) N/mm (P = .085). The yield loads on the pedicle screws of the ACCSR and CSR group was 1345.73 (1297.90-1359.97) and 4046.83 (3805.8-4072.53) N (P = .099). CONCLUSION: Although ACCSR exhibited lower yield load, stiffness, and fatigue resistance compared to CSR, it demonstrated significantly higher axial gripping capacity and met the stress requirement of the human isthmus. Consequently, ACCSR presents a promising alternative to CSR for LS remediation.