Association between basal ganglia infarction and hemorrhagic transformation after mechanical thrombectomy in acute ischemic stroke: insights from the DIRECT-MT trial.

BACKGROUND: Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) often leads to significant morbidity and mortality. Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is an effective intervention for large vessel occlusion strokes. However, hemorrhagic transformation (HT) remains a critical post-procedural complication. This study investigates the relationship between basal ganglia infarction (BGI) and the risk of HT, particularly focusing on hemorrhagic infarction (HI) and parenchymal hematoma (PH). METHODS: Data from the DIRECT-MT trial were analyzed. Patients were categorized based on the presence of BGI identified on initial non-contrast CT. HT was classified into HI and PH following the Heidelberg criteria. Multivariate logistic regression, propensity score matching (PSM), and inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) were used to assess the association between BGI and HT. RESULTS: Among 607 patients, 273 had BGI. BGI was associated with a higher risk of HT, specifically PH. The incidence of PH in the BGI group was 20% compared with 11% in the non-BGI group. Adjusted analyses, including PSM and IPTW, confirmed the significant association between BGI and PH with an adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of 2.51 (95% CI 1.49 to 4.22, P<0.001). However, no significant association was found between BGI and HI. CONCLUSIONS: BGI significantly increases the risk of PH following MT for AIS, underscoring the need for tailored therapeutic strategies in managing these patients. No significant correlation was observed between BGI and HI. Future research should explore the underlying mechanisms and validate these findings across diverse populations to improve patient outcomes.

Multi-omics analyses were combined to construct ubiquitination-related features in colon adenocarcinoma and identify ASNS as a novel biomarker.

Background: As one of the malignant tumors with the highest incidence and fatality in the world, colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) has a very complex pathogenic mechanism, which has not yet been fully elucidated. Ubiquitin can regulate cell proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis, DNA damage repair, and other processes by changing the activity of substrate proteins or causing ubiquitin-proteasome degradation. These are the key links in the pathogenesis of COAD, and ubiquitin plays an important role in the occurrence and development of COAD. Methods: We integrated transcriptomics, single-cell and clinical omics, and TCGA and GEO databases of COAD patient data. Cox and Lasso regression was employed to assess ubiquitination genes in COAD for generating ubiquitination-related features. The aim was to evaluate the prognostic value of these features for tumors and their impact on the immune microenvironment. At the same time, the expression level of model genes was further analyzed using single-cell data. Finally, the expression and function of ASNS, a key gene for this trait, were detected in vitro. Results: In our study, based on identifiable changes in the expression of marker genes, this feature can be used to classify patients with COAD. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis indicated that those with elevated risk scores in each cohort experienced inferior outcomes. There is good validation in both the training queue and the validation queue. The results of the immune infiltration analysis showed that the immune infiltration rate was significantly increased in the high-risk group. After the knockdown of ASNS, an important gene in the signature, the activity and migration capacity of SW620 and RKO cell lines and colony formation capacity were dramatically reduced in cell tests. Conclusion: We screened ubiquitination-related genes and constructed ubiquitination-related features, which can be used as reliable prognostic indicators of COAD. ASNS was identified as a possible biomarker for COAD.

Combined and rapid detection of anti-Brucella IgG/IgM in clinical samples based on surface-enhanced Raman scattering-lateral flow immunochromatography.

Brucellosis is a bacterial infectious disease caused mainly by Brucella. Transmission is mainly by contact with infected domestic or wild animals or their excreta. Clinical diagnosis of brucellosis is usually based on qualitative total antibody tests, which make it difficult to differentiate between acute and pre-existing infections. In this study, for the simultaneous detection of anti-brucellosis IgG and IgM, we innovatively developed a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) detection system, and evaluated its performance and diagnostic effect by using clinical serum samples. The key design of this biosensor involves the preparation of two immunoprobes using two Raman spheres (R-Sphere) with distinct signals conjugated to mouse anti-human IgG and IgM, respectively. In this design, brucellosis-specific antigens are embedded in the T-line, allowing simultaneous capture of anti-brucellosis IgG and IgM in a specific binding reaction. A portable Raman instrument is used to detect the characteristic signal intensities generated by IgM and IgG on the T-line, which can then be used to analyze the target IgM and IgG antibodies. Based on the analysis of 40 clinical samples, the method has a sensitivity and specificity of 100%, and the detection time is only 15 min. The advantages of this technology are fast speed, convenient use, high sensitivity, and it can distinguish the disease course to achieve precise treatment. These features make it an ideal solution for large-scale brucellosis testing in remote and nomadic areas, where it can play a crucial role in improving public health protection.

EXPRESS: MEF2A restrains cisplatin resistance in gastric cancer cells by modulating NFKBIA/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Cisplatin (DDP) resistance represents a pivotal contributing factor to chemotherapy failure and adverse patient outcomes in gastric cancer (GC). The objective of present study was to investigate the roles and underlying mechanisms of myocyte enhancer factor 2A (MEF2A) in DDP resistance in GC. AGS and MKN-45 cells was applied to construct DDP-resistant cells. CCK-8, colony formation, and flow cytometry methods were validated for determining the IC50 value of DDP and cell survival of GC cells. qRT-PCR and western blotting analysis quantified the molecular levels at mRNA and protein, respectively. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and dual luciferase assays validated the molecular relationship between MEF2A and NF-κB inhibitor alpha (NFKBIA). Roles of MEF2A on in vivo were performed employing a xenograft model. The results showed that NFKBIA was greatly decreased in DDP-resistant AGS and MKN-45 cells compared to their respective parental cells. Increasing NFKBIA expression impaired the IC50 value of DDP and cell survival in DDP-resistant cells, while these alterations were rescued upon TNF-α treatment. Mechanistically, MEF2A play as a transcriptional activator of NFKBIA, which led to the reduction of phosphorylation of p65 and cytoplasmic retention. Moreover, MEF2A overexpression promoted the sensitivity of GC cells to DDP and tumor growth, whereas these effects were reversed by NFKBIA silence. Collectively, MEF2A mitigated the DDP resistance in GC cells by modulatory actions on the NFKBIA/NF-κB signaling, shedding light on MEF2A/NFKBIA might be promising intervention target for improving DDP resistance in GC.

Real-Time and Wireless Transmission of a Nitrogen-Doped Ti3C2Tx Wearable Gas Sensor for Efficient Detection of Food Spoilage and Ammonia Leakage.

With the rising popularity of smart homes, there is an urgent need for devices that can perform real-time online detection of ammonia (NH3) concentrations for food quality measurement. In addition, timely warning is crucial to preventing individual deaths from NH3. However, few studies can realize continuous monitoring of NH3 with high stability and subsequent application validation. Herein, we report on an integrated device equipped with a nitrogen-doped Ti3C2Tx gas sensor that shows great potential in detecting food spoilage and NH3 leakage. The nitrogen doping results in the lattice misalignment of Ti3C2Tx, subsequently realizing effective barrier height modulation and enhanced charge transfer efficiency of nitrogen-doped Ti3C2Tx. Density functional theory calculations confirm the greatly enhanced adsorption of NH3 on nitrogen-doped Ti3C2Tx. Our work can inspire the design of efficient gas sensors for real-time and wireless detection of food spoilage and NH3 leakage.

Establishment of a Raman nanosphere based immunochromatographic system for the combined detection of influenza A and B viruses' antigens on a single T-line.

A simple and rapid system based on Raman nanosphere (R-Sphere) immunochromatography was developed in this study for the simultaneous detection of Influenza A, B virus antigens on a single test line (T-line). Two types of R-Sphere with different characteristic Raman spectrum were used as the signal source, which were labeled with monoclonal antibodies against FluA, FluB (tracer antibodies), respectively. A mixture of antibodies containing anti-FluA monoclonal antibody and anti-FluB monoclonal antibody (capture antibody) was sprayed on a single T-line and goat anti-chicken IgY antibody was coated as a C-line, and the antigen solution with known concentration was detected by the strip of lateral flow immunochromatography based on surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). The T-line was scanned with a Raman spectrometer and SERS signals were collected. Simultaneous specific recognition and detection of FluA and FluB were achieved on a single T-line by analyzing the SERS signals. The findings indicated that the test system could identify FluA and FluB in a qualitative manner in just 15 minutes, with a minimum detection threshold of 0.25 ng ml-1, excellent consistency, and specificity. There was no interference with the other four respiratory pathogens, and it exhibited 8 times greater sensitivity compared to the colloidal gold test strip method. The assay system is rapid, sensitive, and does not require repetitive sample pretreatment steps and two viruses can be detected simultaneously on a single T-line by titrating one sample, which improves detection efficiency, and provide a reference for developing multiplexed detection techniques for other respiratory viruses.

Diagnostic accuracy of hemodynamic assessment of intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis from a single angiographic view: a validation study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to assess the feasibility of identifying the hemodynamic status of intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS) using angio-based fractional flow (FF) calculated from a single angiographic view, with wire-based FF as the reference standard. METHOD: The study retrospectively recruited 100 ICAS patients who underwent pressure wire measurement and digital subtraction angiography. The AccuICAD software was used to calculate angio-based FF, with the wire-measured value serving as the reference standard for evaluating the accuracy, consistency, and diagnostic performance of angio-based FF. RESULTS: The mean±SD value of wire-based FF was 0.77±0.18, while the mean value of angio-based FF was 0.77±0.19. A good correlation between angio-based FF and wire-based FF was evident (r=0.90, P<0.001), with good agreement (mean difference 0.00±0.08). The diagnostic accuracy of angio-based FF and percent diameter stenosis (DS%) were 93.23% versus 72.18%, 91.73% versus 72.93%, and 89.47% versus 78.95% for predicted wire-based FF thresholds of 0.70, 0.75, and 0.80, respectively. The area under the curve (AUC) values for angio-based FF and DS% were 0.975 versus 0.822, 0.970 versus 0.814, and 0.943 versus 0.826 at the respective thresholds, respectively. CONCLUSION: The FF calculated from a single angiographic view can be considered an effective tool for functional assessment of cerebral arterial stenosis.

Alternation of gene expression in brain-derived exosomes after cerebral ischemic preconditioning in mice.

Aims: Cerebral ischemic preconditioning is a neuroprotective therapy against cerebral ischemia and ischemia-reperfusion injury. This study aims to demonstrate the alternation of gene expression in exosomes from brain tissue of mice after ischemic preconditioning and their potential functions. Methods: Ten mice were divided into the sham and the cerebral ischemic preconditioning groups. Their brain tissues were harvested, from which the exosomes were extracted. The characteristics and protective effects of exosomes were evaluated. Whole transcriptome sequencing was used to demonstrate the gene expression discrepancy between the exosomes from the two groups of mice brains. Volcano graphs and heatmaps were used to picture the difference in expression quantity of mRNA, lncRNA, and circRNA. Gene ontology (GO) analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis were performed to demonstrate the functions of differentially expressed RNAs. Results: Exosomes were successfully extracted, and those from the cerebral ischemic preconditioning group had better protective effects on cells that received oxygen-glucose deprivation and restoration injury. A total of 306 mRNAs and 374 lncRNAs were significantly upregulated, and 320 mRNAs and 405 lncRNAs were significantly downregulated in the preconditioning group. No circRNAs were differentially expressed between the two groups. GO and KEGG pathway analysis indicated that the functions of differentially expressed RNAs were related to both neural protective and injurious effects. Conclusion: The brain-derived exosomes may participate in the neuroprotective effect of cerebral ischemic preconditioning. Thorough research is necessary to investigate exosome functions derived from the ischemic preconditioned brain.

Organic-Inorganic Coupling Strategy: Clamp Effect to Capture Mg2+ for Aqueous Magnesium Ion Capacitor.

The rapid transport kinetics of divalent magnesium ions are crucial for achieving distinguished performance in aqueous magnesium-ion battery-based energy storage capacitors. However, the strong electrostatic interaction between Mg2+ with double charges and the host material significantly restricts Mg2+ diffusivity. In this study, a new composite material, EDA-Mn2O3, with double-energy storage mechanisms comprising an organic phase (ethylenediamine, EDA) and an inorganic phase (manganese sesquioxide) was successfully synthesized via an organic-inorganic coupling strategy. Inorganic-phase Mn2O3 serves as a scaffold structure, enabling the stable and reversible intercalation/deintercalation of magnesium ions. The organic phase EDA adsorbed onto the surface of Mn2O3 as an elastic matrix, works synergistically with Mn2O3, and utilizes bidentate chelating ligands to capture Mg2+. The robust coordination effect of terminal biprotonic amine in EDA enhances the structural diversity and specific capacity characteristics of the composite material, as further corroborated by density functional theory (DFT) calculations, ex situ XRD, XPS, and Raman spectroscopy. As expected, the EDA-Mn2O3 composite achieved an outstanding specific discharge capacity of 188.97 mAh/g at 0.1 A/g. Additionally, an aqueous magnesium ion capacitor with EDA-Mn2O3 serving as the cathode can reach 110.17 Wh/kg, which stands out among the aqueous magnesium ion capacitors that have been reported thus far. The abundant reversible redox sites are ensured by the strategic design concept based on the synergistic structure and composition advantages of organic and inorganic phases. This study aimed to explore the practical application value of organic-inorganic composite electrodes with double-energy storage mechanisms.

Highly Sensitive Ammonia Gas Sensors at Room Temperature Based on the Catalytic Mechanism of N, C Coordinated Ni Single-Atom Active Center.

Significant challenges are posed by the limitations of gas sensing mechanisms for trace-level detection of ammonia (NH3). In this study, we propose to exploit single-atom catalytic activation and targeted adsorption properties to achieve highly sensitive and selective NH3 gas detection. Specifically, Ni single-atom active sites based on N, C coordination (Ni-N-C) were interfacially confined on the surface of two-dimensional (2D) MXene nanosheets (Ni-N-C/Ti3C2Tx), and a fully flexible gas sensor (MNPE-Ni-N-C/Ti3C2Tx) was integrated. The sensor demonstrates a remarkable response value to 5 ppm NH3 (27.3%), excellent selectivity for NH3, and a low theoretical detection limit of 12.1 ppb. Simulation analysis by density functional calculation reveals that the Ni single-atom center with N, C coordination exhibits specific targeted adsorption properties for NH3. Additionally, its catalytic activation effect effectively reduces the Gibbs free energy of the sensing elemental reaction, while its electronic structure promotes the spill-over effect of reactive oxygen species at the gas-solid interface. The sensor has a dual-channel sensing mechanism of both chemical and electronic sensitization, which facilitates efficient electron transfer to the 2D MXene conductive network, resulting in the formation of the NH3 gas molecule sensing signal. Furthermore, the passivation of MXene edge defects by a conjugated hydrogen bond network enhances the long-term stability of MXene-based electrodes under high humidity conditions. This work achieves highly sensitive room-temperature NH3 gas detection based on the catalytic mechanism of Ni single-atom active center with N, C coordination, which provides a novel gas sensing mechanism for room-temperature trace gas detection research.

Coordination Engineering of Fe-Centered Catalysts for Superior Li-S Battery Performance.

Iron-nitrogen functionalized graphene has emerged as a promising cathode host for rechargeable lithium-sulfur batteries (RLSBs) due to its affordability and enhanced battery performance. To optimize its catalytical efficiency, we propose a novel approach involving coordination engineering. Our investigation spans a plethora of catalysts with varied coordination environments, focusing on elements B, C, N and O. We revealed that Fe-C4 and Fe-B2C2-h are particularly effective for promoting Li2S oxidation, whereas Fe-N4 excels in catalyzing the sulfur reduction reaction (SRR). Importantly, our study identified specific descriptors - namely, the Integrated Crystal Orbital Hamilton Population (ICOHP) and the bond length between Fe and S in Li2S adsorbed state - as the most effective predictive descriptors for Li2S oxidation barriers. Meanwhile, Li2S adsorption energy emerges as a reliable descriptor for assessing the SRR barrier. These identified descriptors are expected to be instrumental in rapidly identifying promising cathode hosts across various metal-centered systems with diverse coordination environments. Our findings not only offer valuable insights into the role of coordination environment, but also present an effective path for rapidly identifying high performance catalysts for RLSBs, enabling the acceleration of advanced RLSBs development.

Patient-specific mutation of Dync1h1 in mice causes brain and behavioral deficits.

AIMS: Cytoplasmic dynein heavy chain (DYNC1H1) is a multi-subunit protein complex that provides motor force for movement of cargo on microtubules and traffics them back to the soma. In humans, mutations along the DYNC1H1 gene result in intellectual disabilities, cognitive delays, and neurologic and motor deficits. The aim of the study was to generate a mouse model to a newly identified de novo heterozygous DYNC1H1 mutation, within a functional ATPase domain (c9052C > T(P3018S)), identified in a child with motor deficits, and intellectual disabilities. RESULTS: P3018S heterozygous (HET) knockin mice are viable; homozygotes are lethal. Metabolic and EchoMRI™ testing show that HET mice have a higher metabolic rate, are more active, and have less body fat compared to wildtype mice. Neurobehavioral studies show that HET mice perform worse when traversing elevated balance beams, and on the negative geotaxis test. Immunofluorescent staining shows neuronal migration abnormalities in the dorsal and lateral neocortex with heterotopia in layer I. Neuron-subtype specific transcription factors CUX1 and CTGF identified neurons from layers II/III and VI respectively in cortical layer I, and abnormal pyramidal neurons with MAP2+ dendrites projecting downward from the pial surface. CONCLUSION: The HET mice are a good model for the motor deficits seen in the child, and highlights the importance of cytoplasmic dynein in the maintenance of cortical function and dendritic orientation relative to the pial surface. Our results are discussed in the context of other dynein mutant mice and in relation to clinical presentation in humans with DYNC1H1 mutations.

Contact-electro-catalytic CO2 reduction from ambient air.

Traditional catalytic techniques often encounter obstacles in the search for sustainable solutions for converting CO2 into value-added products because of their high energy consumption and expensive catalysts. Here, we introduce a contact-electro-catalysis approach for CO2 reduction reaction, achieving a CO Faradaic efficiency of 96.24%. The contact-electro-catalysis is driven by a triboelectric nanogenerator consisting of electrospun polyvinylidene fluoride loaded with single Cu atoms-anchored polymeric carbon nitride (Cu-PCN) catalysts and quaternized cellulose nanofibers (CNF). Mechanistic investigation reveals that the single Cu atoms on Cu-PCN can effectively enrich electrons during contact electrification, facilitating electron transfer upon their contact with CO2 adsorbed on quaternized CNF. Furthermore, the strong adsorption of CO2 on quaternized CNF allows efficient CO2 capture at low concentrations, thus enabling the CO2 reduction reaction in the ambient air. Compared to the state-of-the-art air-based CO2 reduction technologies, contact-electro-catalysis achieves a superior CO yield of 33 µmol g-1 h-1. This technique provides a solution for reducing airborne CO2 emissions while advancing chemical sustainability strategy.

Preparation and Effect of CO2 Response Gel for Plugging Low-Permeability Reservoirs.

In order to solve the problem of gas channeling during CO2 flooding in low-permeability reservoirs, a novel CO2 responsive gel channeling system was prepared by using carrageenan, branched polyethylene imide and ethylenediamine under laboratory conditions. Based on the Box-Behnken response surface design method, the optimal synthesis concentration of the system was 0.5 wt% carrageenan, 2.5 wt% branchized polyethylenimide and 6.5 wt% ethylenediamine. The micromorphology of the system before and after response was characterized by scanning electron microscopy. The rheology and dehydration rate were tested under different conditions. The channeling performance and enhanced oil recovery effect of the gel system were simulated by a core displacement experiment. The experimental results show that the internal structure of the system changes from a disordered, smooth and loosely separated lamellae structure to a more uniform, complete and orderly three-dimensional network structure after exposure to CO2. The viscosity of the system was similar to aqueous solution before contact with CO2 and showed viscoelastic solid properties after contact with CO2. The experiment employing dehydration rates at different temperatures showed that the internal structure of the gel would change at a high temperature, but the gel system had a certain self-healing ability. The results of the displacement experiment show that the plugging rate of the gel system is stable at 85.32% after CO2 contact, and the recovery rate is increased by 17.06%, which provides an important guide for the development of low-permeability reservoirs.

Enhanced Performance of P-Channel CuIBr Thin-Film Transistor by ITO Surface Charge-Transfer Doping.

The process development and optimization of p-type semiconductors and p-channel thin-film transistors (TFTs) are essential for the development of high-performance circuits. In this study, the Br-doped CuI (CuIBr) TFTs are proposed by the solution process to control copper vacancy generation and suppress excess holes formation in p-type CuI films and improve current modulation capabilities for CuI TFTs. The CuIBr films exhibit a uniform surface morphology and good crystalline quality. The on/off current (ION/IOFF) ratio of CuIBr TFTs increased from 103 to 106 with an increase in the Br doping ratio from 0 to 15%. Furthermore, the performance and operational stability of CuIBr TFTs are significantly enhanced by indium tin oxide (ITO) surface charge-transfer doping. The results obtained from the first-principles calculations well explain the electron-doping effect of ITO overlayer in CuIBr TFT. Eventually, the CuIBr TFT with 15% Br content exhibits a high ION/IOFF ratio of 3 × 106 and a high hole field-effect mobility (µFE) of 7.0 cm2 V-1 s-1. The band-like charge transport in CuIBr TFT is confirmed by the temperature-dependent measurement. This study paves the way for the realization of transparent complementary circuits and wearable electronics.

Numerical Modeling of Foam Carrying Sand Transport in Multifactor Horizontal Wells.

The solution of wellbore multiphase flow models has an important position in oil-gas field development. However, the solution of multiphase flow models often involves a series of complicated situations such as interphase mass and energy transfer, surface problems, and so on. Foam carrying sand particles in the wellbore is a solid, liquid, and gas three-phase cylinder flow problem. To solve this problem, we developed a computational fluid dynamics-discrete element method model based on the traditional N-S equations to track the streamline of the foam fluid and sand particles in the wellbore. On this basis, we investigated the influence of three factors, i.e., foam and sand properties and wellbore parameters, on the sand carrying rate of foam. The results show that whether the sand mound at the bottom of wells that can be dispersed is mainly affected by the properties of foam. The location of sand deposition in the wellbore and the effectiveness of foam in sand transportation are mainly influenced by the wellbore parameters and sand properties.

Linear Electro-Optic Effect in 2D Ferroelectric for Electrically Tunable Metalens.

The advent of 2D ferroelectrics, characterized by their spontaneous polarization states in layer-by-layer domains without the limitation of a finite size effect, brings enormous promise for applications in integrated optoelectronic devices. Comparing with semiconductor/insulator devices, ferroelectric devices show natural advantages such as non-volatility, low energy consumption and high response speed. Several 2D ferroelectric materials have been reported, however, the device implementation particularly for optoelectronic application remains largely hypothetical. Here, the linear electro-optic effect in 2D ferroelectrics is discovered and electrically tunable 2D ferroelectric metalens is demonstrated. The linear electric-field modulation of light is verified in 2D ferroelectric CuInP2S6. The in-plane phase retardation can be continuously tuned by a transverse DC electric field, yielding an effective electro-optic coefficient rc of 20.28 pm V-1. The CuInP2S6 crystal exhibits birefringence with the fast axis oriented along its (010) plane. The 2D ferroelectric Fresnel metalens shows efficacious focusing ability with an electrical modulation efficiency of the focusing exceeding 34%. The theoretical analysis uncovers the origin of the birefringence and unveil its ultralow light absorption across a wide wavelength range in this non-excitonic system. The van der Waals ferroelectrics enable room-temperature electrical modulation of light and offer the freedom of heterogeneous integration with silicon and another material system for highly compact and tunable photonics and metaoptics.

The development of the neurocritical care specialty in China based on the analysis of neurocritical care unit volume and quality.

PURPOSE: Through three neurocritical care unit (NCCU) surveys in China, we tried to understand the development status of neurocritical care and clarify its future development. METHODS: Using a cross-sectional survey method and self-report questionnaires, the number and quality of NCCUs were investigated through three steps: administering the questionnaire, sorting the survey data, and analyzing the survey data. RESULTS: At the second and third surveys, the number of NCCUs (76/112/206) increased by 47% and 84%, respectively. The NCCUs were located in tertiary grade A hospitals or teaching hospitals (65/100/181) in most provinces (24/28/29). The numbers of full-time doctors (359/668/1337) and full-time nurses (904/1623/207) in the NCCUs increased, but the doctor-bed ratio and nurse-bed ratio were still insufficient (0.4:1 and 1.3:1). CONCLUSION: In the past 20 years, the growth rate of NCCUs in China has accelerated, while the allocation of medical staff has been insufficient. Although most NCCU hospital bed facilities and instruments and equipment tend to be adequate, there are obvious defects in some aspects of NCCUs.

An Atomically Resolved Schottky Barrier Height Approach for Bridging the Gap between Theory and Experiment at Metal-Semiconductor Heterojunctions.

We propose an atomically resolved approach to capture the spatial variations of the Schottky barrier height (SBH) at metal-semiconductor heterojunctions. This proposed scheme, based on atom-specific partial density of states (PDOS) calculations, further enables calculation of the effective SBH that aligns with conductance measurements. We apply this approach to study the variations of SBH at MoS2@Au heterojunctions, in which MoS2 contains conducting and semiconducting grain boundaries (GBs). Our results reveal that there are significant variations in SBH at atoms in the defected heterojunctions. Of particular interest is the fact that the SBH in some areas with extended defects approaches zero, indicating Ohmic contact. One important implication of this finding is that the effective SBH should be intrinsically dependent on the defect density and character. Remarkably, the obtained effective SBH values demonstrate good agreement with existing experimental measurements. Thus, the present study addresses two long-standing challenges associated with SBH in MoS2-metal heterojunctions: the wide variation in experimentally measured SBH values at MoS2@metal heterojunctions and the large discrepancy between density-functional-theory-predicted and experimentally measured SBH values. Our proposed approach points out a valuable pathway for understanding and manipulating SBHs at metal-semiconductor heterojunctions.

Electrochemical Knocking-Down of Zn Metal Clusters into Single Atoms.

Single Atoms Catalysts (SACs) have emerged as a class of highly promising heterogeneous catalysts, where the traditional bottom-up synthesis approaches often encounter considerable challenges in relation to aggregation issues and poor stability. Consequently, achieving densely dispersed atomic species in a reliable and efficient manner remains a key focus in the field. Herein, we report a new facile electrochemical knock-down strategy for the formation of SACs, whereby the metal Zn clusters are transformed into single atoms. While a defect-rich substrate plays a pivotal role in capturing and stabilizing isolated Zn atoms, the feasibility of this novel strategy is demonstrated through a comprehensive investigation, combining experimental and theoretical studies. Furthermore, when studied in exploring for potential applications, the material prepared shows a remarkable improvement of 58.21% for the Li+ storage and delivers a capacity over 300 Wh kg-1 after 500 cycles upon the transformation of Zn clusters into single atoms.