Origins of High Air Sensitivity and Treatment Strategies in O3-Type NaMn1/3 Fe1/3Ni1/3O2.

Sodium-ion layered oxides are one of the most highly regarded sodium-ion cathode materials and are expected to be used in electric vehicles and large-scale grid-level energy storage systems. However, highly air-sensitive issues limit sodium-ion layered oxide cathode materials to maximize cost advantages. Industrial and scientific researchers have been developing cost-effective air sensitivity treatment strategies with little success because the impurity formation mechanism is still unclear. Using density functional theory calculations and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations, this work shows that the poor air stability of O3-type NaMn1/3Fe1/3Ni1/3O2 (NMFNO) may be as follows: (1) low percentage of nonreactive (003) surface; (2) strong surface adsorption capacity and high surface reactivity; and (3) instability of the surface sodium ions. Our physical images point out that the high reactivity of the NMFNO surface originates from the increase in electron loss and unpaired electrons (magnetic moments) of the surface oxygen active site as well as the enhanced metal coactivation effect due to the large radius of the sodium ion. We also found that the hydrolysis reaction requires a higher reactivity of the surface oxygen active site, while the carbon hybridization mode transformation in carbonate formation depends mainly on metal activation and does not even require the involvement of surface oxygen active sites. Based on the calculation results and our proposed physical images, we discuss the feasibility of these treatment strategies (including surface morphology modulation, cation/anion substitution, and surface configuration design) for air-sensitive issues.

Risk Factors for Pneumocystis jirovecii Pneumonia in Children With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Exposed to Prolonged High-Dose Glucocorticoids.

BACKGROUND: Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) is a life-threatening opportunistic infection in immunocompromised children with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Prophylaxis against PJP in high-risk children is crucial, but the risk factors for PJP in children with SLE are not adequately characterized. This study sought to identify the risk factors for PJP in long-term glucocorticoid-treated pediatric SLE patients. METHODS: This study encompassed 71 treatment episodes involving 64 children with prolonged (≥4 weeks) high-dose (≥20 mg/d prednisone) steroid regimens. Fourteen treatment episodes involved the PJP, whereas others did not. Risk factors for PJP were assessed through Cox regression. The predictive value of these factors was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curves. The incidence of PJP in different risk groups was compared using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: The creatinine (hazard ratio, 1.009; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.001-1.017; p = 0.021) and the lowest lymphocyte count (hazard ratio, 0.007; 95% CI, 0.000-0.373; p = 0.014) were independent risk factors for PJP in children with SLE. The receiver operating characteristic curve showed that using creatinine greater than 72.5 µmol/L and the lowest lymphocyte count less than 0.6 × 109/L as risk predictors for PJP resulted in an area under the curve value of 0.934 (95% CI, 0.870-0.997; p < 0.001). The study revealed a significant increase in PJP prevalence (p < 0.001) in children with elevated creatinine levels and low lymphocyte count. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated levels of creatinine and decreased lymphocyte count are identified as distinct risk factors for PJP in children with SLE who receive prolonged high-dose steroid therapy.

Influence of Different Pt Functionalization Modes on the Properties of CuO Gas-Sensing Materials.

The functionalization of noble metals is an effective approach to lowering the sensing temperature and improving the sensitivity of metal oxide semiconductor (MOS)-based gas sensors. However, there is a dearth of comparative analyses regarding the differences in sensitization mechanisms between the two functionalization modes of noble metal loading and doping. In this investigation, we synthesized Pt-doped CuO gas-sensing materials using a one-pot hydrothermal method. And for Pt-loaded CuO, Pt was deposited on the synthesized pristine CuO surface by using a dipping method. We found that both functionalization methods can considerably enhance the response and selectivity of CuO toward NO2 at low temperatures. However, we observed that CuO with Pt loading had superior sensing performance at 25 °C, while CuO with Pt doping showed more substantial response changes with an increase in the operating temperature. This is mainly due to the different dominant roles of electron sensitization and chemical sensitization resulting from the different forms of Pt present in different functionalization modes. For Pt doping, electron sensitization is stronger, and for Pt loading, chemical sensitization is stronger. The results of this study present innovative ideas for understanding the optimization of noble metal functionalization for the gas-sensing performance of metal oxide semiconductors.

Exploring prognostic DNA methylation genes in bladder cancer: a comprehensive analysis.

The current study aimed to investigate the status of genes with prognostic DNA methylation sites in bladder cancer (BLCA). We obtained bulk transcriptome sequencing data, methylation data, and single-cell sequencing data of BLCA from public databases. Initially, Cox survival analysis was conducted for each methylation site, and genes with more than 10 methylation sites demonstrating prognostic significance were identified to form the BLCA prognostic methylation gene set. Subsequently, the intersection of marker genes associated with epithelial cells in single-cell sequencing analysis was obtained to acquire epithelial cell prognostic methylation genes. Utilizing ten machine learning algorithms for multiple combinations, we selected key genes (METRNL, SYT8, COL18A1, TAP1, MEST, AHNAK, RPP21, AKAP13, RNH1) based on the C-index from multiple validation sets. Single-factor and multi-factor Cox analyses were conducted incorporating clinical characteristics and model genes to identify independent prognostic factors (AHNAK, RNH1, TAP1, Age, and Stage) for constructing a Nomogram model, which was validated for its good diagnostic efficacy, prognostic prediction ability, and clinical decision-making benefits. Expression patterns of model genes varied among different clinical features. Seven immune cell infiltration prediction algorithms were used to assess the correlation between immune cell scores and Nomogram scores. Finally, drug sensitivity analysis of Nomogram model genes was conducted based on the CMap database, followed by molecular docking experiments. Our research offers a reference and theoretical basis for prognostic evaluation, drug selection, and understanding the impact of DNA methylation changes on the prognosis of BLCA.

Global, regional, and national burden of cancers attributable to particulate matter pollution from 1990 to 2019 and projection to 2050: Worsening or improving?

Particulate matter pollution (PMP) has been identified as a substantial contributor to cancer. However, accurately delineating the evolving trends in cancer burden attributable to PMP remains an ongoing challenge. The 1990-2019 disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) were used for cancers attributable to PMP from the Global Burden and Disease Study (GBD) 2019, including ambient particulate matter pollution (APMP) and household air pollution from solid fuels (HAP). The joinpoint regression and the Bayesian age-period-cohort (BAPC) model were employed to assess the corresponding trends over the periods 1990-2019 and 2020-2050, respectively. Additionally, statistical models such as frontier analysis and health inequality analysis were also utilized. During the 30-year period, cancer DALYs attributable to APMP increased globally, while those attributable to HAP and PMP decreased. Cancer DALYs attributable to APMP were positively correlated with socio-demographic index (SDI), while those attributable to PMP and HAP were negatively correlated with SDI. Frontier analysis identified the countries and regions requiring urgent action to mitigate PMP-attributable cancer. Finally, it was anticipated that the cancer burden attributable to APMP would increase during 2020 to 2050, while the burden attributable to HAP and PMP would decrease. This study conducted an epidemiological investigation of the burden of cancer attributable to APMP, HAP and PMP in various regions and populations worldwide, providing epidemiological insights into the global burden of cancer attributable to PMP and guiding policy and research directions.

Hollow CoVOx/Ag nanoprism with tailored electronic structure for high efficiency oxygen evolution reaction.

Developing high-active and inexpensive electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is very important in the field of water splitting. The catalytic performance of electrocatalysts can be significantly improved by optimizing the electronic structure and designing suitable nanostructure. In this work, we represent the synthesis of hollow CoVOx/Ag-5 for OER. Due to the interaction of CoVOx and Ag nanoparticles, the electronic structure is optimized to improve the intrinsic catalytic activity. Additionally, the extrinsic catalytic activity of CoVOx/Ag is enhanced by the abundant active sites from the hollow structure. As a result, the CoVOx/Ag-5 demonstrates significantly enhanced OER catalytic activity with a low overpotential of 247 mV at 10 mA cm-2. In addition, it also exhibits excellent durability, without obvious attenuation in performance after continuous operation for 60 h. Furthermore, the catalyst can enable full water splitting with appropriate 100 % Faraday efficiency, demonstrating its practical application.

Ru doping induced interface engineering in flower-liked CoMoO4-RuO2 boosts oxygen electrocatalysis for rechargeable Zn-air battery.

Constructing heterogeneous catalysts can significantly boost the electrocatalytic activity due to the improved intrinsic catalytic activity induced by tailored electronic structure and optimized chemisorption to the reaction intermediates. RuO2 based electrocatalysts are especially attractive due to the high catalytic activity of RuO2. To reduce the usage of noble metal and improve the catalytic activity of catalyst, CoMoO4-RuO2 micro-flower was synthesized using a facile hydrothermal-calcination method in this work. CoMoO4-RuO2 exhibits a low overpotential of 177 mV at 10 mA cm-2 for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and a high half-wave potential of 0.858 V for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Moreover, the Zn-air battery assembled using CoMoO4-RuO2 exhibit shows a high maximum discharge power density of 149 mW cm-2 and a large open circuit voltage of 1.38 V. The good performance can be attributed to the incorporation of RuO2, which not only induces extra catalytic active sites, but also forms heterojunction with CoMoO4 to optimize the electronic structure of CoMoO4-RuO2, thereby achieving a better equilibrium of absorption and desorption of intermediates. The work provides insights into designing RuO2 based electrocatalysts for advanced electrocatalysis.

Integration of caveolin-mediated cytosolic delivery and enzyme-responsive releasing of squalenoyl nanoparticles enhance the anti-cancer efficacy of chidamide in pancreatic cancer.

We explored the potential of overcoming the dense interstitial barrier in pancreatic cancer treatment by enhancing the uptake of hydrophilic chemotherapeutic drugs. In this study, we synthesized the squalenoyl-chidamide prodrug (SQ-CHI), linking lipophilic squalene (SQ) with the hydrophilic antitumor drug chidamide (CHI) through a trypsin-responsive bond. Self-assembled nanoparticles with sigma receptor-bound aminoethyl anisamide (AEAA) modification, forming AEAA-PEG-SQ-CHI NPs (A-C NPs, size 116.6 ± 0.4 nm), and reference nanoparticles without AEAA modification, forming mPEG-SQ-CHI NPs (M-C NPs, size 88.3 ± 0.3 nm), were prepared. A-C NPs exhibited significantly higher in vitro CHI release (74.7 %) in 0.5 % trypsin medium compared to release (20.2 %) in medium without trypsin. In vitro cell uptake assays revealed 3.6 and 2.3times higher permeation of A-C NPs into tumorspheres of PSN-1/HPSC or CFPAC-1/HPSC, respectively, compared to M-C NPs. Following intraperitoneal administration to subcutaneous tumor-bearing nude mice, the A-C NPs group demonstrated significant anti-pancreatic cancer efficacy, inducing cancer cell apoptosis and inhibiting proliferation in vivo. Mechanistic studies revealed that AEAA surface modification on nanoparticles promoted intracellular uptake through caveolin-mediated endocytosis. This nanoparticle system presents a novel therapeutic approach for pancreatic cancer treatment, offering a delivery strategy to enhance efficacy through improved tumor permeation, trypsin-responsive drug release, and specific cell surface receptor-mediated intracellular uptake.

Research on carbon dioxide capture materials used for carbon dioxide capture, utilization, and storage technology: a review.

In recent years, climate change has increasingly become one of the major challenges facing mankind today, seriously threatening the survival and sustainable development of mankind. Dramatically increasing carbon dioxide concentrations are thought to cause a severe greenhouse effect, leading to severe and sustained global warming, associated climate instability and unwelcome natural disasters, melting glaciers and extreme weather patterns. The treatment of flue gas from thermal power plants uses carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technology, one of the most promising current methods to accomplish significant CO2 emission reduction. In order to implement the technological and financial system of CO2 capture, which is the key technology of CCUS technology and accounts for 70-80% of the overall cost of CCUS technology, it is crucial to create more effective adsorbents. Nowadays, with the development and application of various carbon dioxide capture materials, it is necessary to review and summarize carbon dioxide capture materials in time. In this paper, the main technologies of CO2 capture are reviewed, with emphasis on the latest research status of CO2 capture materials, such as amines, zeolites, alkali metals, as well as emerging MOFs and carbon nanomaterials. More and more research on CO2 capture materials has used a variety of improved methods, which have achieved high CO2 capture performance. For example, doping of layered double hydroxides (LDH) with metal atoms significantly increases the active site on the surface of the material, which has a significant impact on improving the CO2 capture capacity and performance stability of LDH. Although many carbon capture materials have been developed, high cost and low technology scale remain major obstacles to CO2 capture. Future research should focus on designing low-cost, high-availability carbon capture materials.

Integrated analysis identifies GABRB3 as a biomarker in prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: Treatment failure following androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) presents a significant challenge in the management of advanced prostate cancer. Thus, understanding the genetic factors influencing this process could facilitate the development of personalized treatments and innovative therapeutic strategies. The phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT signaling pathway plays a pivotal role in controlling cell growth and tumorigenesis. We hypothesized that genetic variants within this pathway may affect the clinical outcomes of patients undergoing ADT for prostate cancer. METHODS: We genotyped 399 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) across 28 core PI3K/AKT pathway genes in a cohort of 630 patients with prostate cancer undergoing ADT. We assessed the potential association of the SNPs with patient survival. Functional analyses of the implicated genes were also performed to evaluate their effects on prostate cancer. RESULTS: After multivariate Cox regression analysis and multiple testing correction, GABRB3 rs12591845 exhibited the most significant association with both overall and cancer-specific survivals (P < 0.003). A comprehensive pooled analysis of 16 independent gene expression datasets revealed elevated expression of GABRB3 in prostate cancer tissues compared to that in normal tissues (P < 0.001). Furthermore, gene set enrichment analysis unveiled differential enrichment of pathways such as myogenesis, interferon γ and α responses, and the MYC proto-oncogene pathway in tumors with elevated GABRB3 expression, implying a role for GABRB3 in prostate cancer. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that rs12591845 could potentially serve as a valuable prognostic indicator for patients undergoing ADT. The potential role of GABRB3 in promoting prostate tumorigenesis is also highlighted.

Taxonomic profiling of Nasutitermes takasagoensis microbiota to investigate the role of termites as vectors of bacteria linked to ironwood tree decline in Guam.

The ironwood tree (Casuarina equisetifolia, family Casuarinaceae), an indigenous agroforestry species in Guam, has been threatened by ironwood tree decline (IWTD) since 2002. Formation of bacterial ooze by the wilt pathogen from the Ralstonia solanacearum species complex and wetwood bacteria (primarily Klebsiella species) has been linked to IWTD. In addition, termite infestation of trees was statistically associated with IWTD. Termites are known carriers of a diverse microbiome. Therefore, we hypothesized that termites could be vectors of bacteria linked to IWTD. To investigate the potential role of termites as pathogen vectors, we employed next-generation 16S rRNA gene sequencing to describe the bacteria diversity of Nasutitermes takasagoensis (Family Termitidae) workers collected from 42 ironwood trees of different disease stages in Guam in association with tree-, plot-, and location-related factors. Nasutitermes takasagoensis workers account for the majority of termite infestations of ironwood trees. The bacterial phyla composition of N. takasagoensis workers was typical for wood-feeding higher termites consisting mainly of Spirochaetes and Fibrobacteres. However, Ralstonia species were not detected and Klebsiella species were rare even in termites collected from trees infected with Ralstonia and wetwood bacteria. Feeding experiments suggested that termites prefer to consume wood with low pathogen content over wood with high pathogen load. Termites were able to ingest Ralstonia but Ralstonia could not establish itself in healthy termite bodies. We concluded that N. takasagoensis workers are not vectors for Ralstonia spp. or the bacterial endophytes associated with wetwood (Klebsiella, Pantoea, Enterobacter, Citrobacter, and Erwinia) that were previously observed in IWTD-infested trees. The bacterial diversity in termite samples was significantly influenced by various factors, including Tree Health, Site Management, Plot Average Decline Severity, Proportion of Dead Trees in the Plot, Proportion of Trees with Termite Damage in the Plot, Presence of Ralstonia, and Altitude.