Tuning commensurability in twisted van der Waals bilayers.

Moiré superlattices based on van der Waals bilayers1-4 created at small twist angles lead to a long wavelength pattern with approximate translational symmetry. At large twist angles (θt), moiré patterns are, in general, incommensurate except for a few discrete angles. Here we show that large-angle twisted bilayers offer distinctly different platforms. More specifically, by using twisted tungsten diselenide bilayers, we create the incommensurate dodecagon quasicrystals at θt = 30° and the commensurate moiré crystals at θt = 21.8° and 38.2°. Valley-resolved scanning tunnelling spectroscopy shows disparate behaviours between moiré crystals (with translational symmetry) and quasicrystals (with broken translational symmetry). In particular, the K valley shows rich electronic structures exemplified by the formation of mini-gaps near the valence band maximum. These discoveries demonstrate that bilayers with large twist angles offer a design platform to explore moiré physics beyond those formed with small twist angles.

Visualizing the interplay of Dirac mass gap and magnetism at nanoscale in intrinsic magnetic topological insulators.

In intrinsic magnetic topological insulators, Dirac surface-state gaps are prerequisites for quantum anomalous Hall and axion insulating states. Unambiguous experimental identification of these gaps has proved to be a challenge, however. Here, we use molecular beam epitaxy to grow intrinsic MnBi2Te4 thin films. Using scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy, we directly visualize the Dirac mass gap and its disappearance below and above the magnetic order temperature. We further reveal the interplay of Dirac mass gaps and local magnetic defects. We find that, in high defect regions, the Dirac mass gap collapses. Ab initio and coupled Dirac cone model calculations provide insight into the microscopic origin of the correlation between defect density and spatial gap variations. This work provides unambiguous identification of the Dirac mass gap in MnBi2Te4 and, by revealing the microscopic origin of its gap variation, establishes a material design principle for realizing exotic states in intrinsic magnetic topological insulators.

Miro-mediated mitochondrial transport: A new dimension for disease-related abnormal cell metabolism?

Mitochondria are versatile and highly dynamic organelles found in eukaryotic cells that play important roles in a variety of cellular processes. The importance of mitochondrial transport in cell metabolism, including variations in mitochondrial distribution within cells and intercellular transfer, has grown in recent years. Several studies have demonstrated that abnormal mitochondrial transport represents an early pathogenic alteration in a variety of illnesses, emphasizing its significance in disease development and progression. Mitochondrial Rho GTPase (Miro) is a protein found on the outer mitochondrial membrane that is required for cytoskeleton-dependent mitochondrial transport, mitochondrial dynamics (fusion and fission), and mitochondrial Ca2+ homeostasis. Miro, as a critical regulator of mitochondrial transport, has yet to be thoroughly investigated in illness. This review focuses on recent developments in recognizing Miro as a crucial molecule in controlling mitochondrial transport and investigates its roles in diverse illnesses. It also intends to shed light on the possibilities of targeting Miro as a therapeutic method for a variety of diseases.

Knockdown of circ_0006225 overcomes resistance to cisplatin and suppresses growth in lung cancer by miR-1236-3p/ANKRD22 axis.

Cisplatin-based chemotherapy is the mainstay of therapeutic agents for lung cancer. Hence, we investigated the role and mechanism of circ_0006225 in tumorigenesis and cisplatin resistance in lung cancer. Levels of circ_0006225, microRNA (miR)-1236-3p and ankyrin repeat domain 22 (ANKRD22) were detected. Cell cisplatin (DDP) sensitivity and growth were determined by Cell Counting Kit-8, cell colony formation, 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine, and murine xenograft assays, respectively. A high level of circ_0006225 in lung cancer tissues and cells with cisplatin resistance was observed. Circ_0006225 deletion elevated cisplatin sensitivity and constrained proliferation in DDP-resistant lung cancer cells in vitro. Mechanistically, Circ_0006225 was confirmed to modulate ANKRD22 by sequestering miR-1236-3p. Furthermore, the suppressive effects of circ_0006225 downregulation on cisplatin resistance and proliferation in DDP-resistant lung cancer cells were reversed by miR-1236-3p inhibition or ANKRD22 overexpression. Besides that, circ_0006225 silencing also repressed cisplatin resistance and tumor growth in lung cancer in vivo. In conclusion, knockdown of circ_0006225 restrained the growth and reduced cisplatin resistance in lung cancer by the miR-1236-3p/ANKRD22 axis, suggesting a better effective therapeutic target for overcoming cisplatin resistance in lung cancer patients.

Evaluation of three prediction formulas of 24-hour urinary sodium excretion in Chinese residents: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the appropriateness of three widely used formulas estimating 24-h urinary Na (24hUNa) from spot urine samples in the Chinese population. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis. SETTING: Literature review was conducted to identify studies for estimating 24hUNa using the Kawasaki, Tanaka and INTERSALT formulas simultaneously in PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane library databases. The mean difference (MD) and correlation coefficients (r) between measures and estimates from different formulas were assessed. PARTICIPANTS: Information extraction and quality assessment were performed in thirteen studies involving 8369 subjects. RESULTS: Two studies which affected the overall robustness were excluded in the 'leave-one-out' sensitivity analyses. Within the final meta-analysis included eleven studies and 7197 participants, 36·07 mmol/d (95 %CI 16·89, 55·25) of MD was observed in the Kawasaki formula, and -19·62 mmol/d (95 %CI -37·37, -1·87) in the Tanaka formula and -35·78 mmol/d (95 %CI -50·76, -20·80) in the INTERSALT formula; a pooled r-Fisher's Z of 0·39 (95 %CI 0·32, 0·45) in the Kawasaki formula, 0·43 (95 %CI 0·37, 0·49) in the Tanaka formula and 0·36 (95 %CI 0·31, 0·42) in the INTERSALT formula. Subgroup analyses were conducted to explore the possible factors affecting the accuracy of the formula estimation from three mainly aspects: population types, Na intake levels and urine specimen types. CONCLUSIONS: The meta-analysis suggested that the Tanaka formula performed a more accurate estimate in Chinese population. Time of collecting spot urine specimens and Na intake level of the sample population might be the main factors affecting the accuracy of the formula estimation.

Efficient and Controllable Synthesis of 1-Aminoanthraquinone via High-Temperature Ammonolysis Using Continuous-Flow Method.

Anthraquinone dyes are the second most important type of dyes after azo dyes. In particular, 1-aminoanthraquinone has been extensively utilized in the preparation of diverse anthraquinone dyes. This study employed a continuous-flow method to synthesize 1-aminoanthraquinone safely and efficiently through the ammonolysis of 1-nitroanthraquinone at high temperatures. Various conditions (reaction temperature, residence time, molar ratio of ammonia to 1-nitroanthraquinone (M-ratio), and water content) were investigated to explore the details of the ammonolysis reaction behavior. Operation conditions for the continuous-flow ammonolysis were optimized using Box-Behnken design in the response surface methodology, and ~88% yield of 1-aminoanthraquinone could be achieved with an M-ratio of 4.5 at 213 °C and 4.3 min. The developed process's reliability was evaluated by performing a 4 h process stability test. The kinetic behavior for the preparation of 1-aminoanthraquinone was investigated under continuous-flow mode to guide the reactor design and to gain a deeper understanding of the ammonolysis process.

Diagnostic efficacy of FibroScan for liver inflammation in patients with chronic hepatitis B: a single-center study with 1185 liver biopsies as controls.

BACKGROUND: Noninvasive diagnostic technologies that can dynamically monitor changes in liver inflammation are highly important for the management of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients and thus warrant further exploration. This study assessed the diagnostic efficacy of FibroScan for liver inflammation in CHB patients. METHODS: A total of 1185 patients were selected, and ultrasound-guided liver biopsy was performed within 1 month after the FibroScan test. The liver stiffness measurement (LSM), the reliability criteria (IQR/M) of LSM, the quality of liver biopsy (complete portal area, PA), and the liver inflammation grades were the main observation items of this study. With liver biopsy as the control, the diagnostic efficacy of FibroScan for liver inflammation in CHB patients was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. RESULTS: The grade of liver inflammation was positively correlated with the stage of fibrosis (rho = 0.829, P < 0.001). Different grades of inflammation will have significant rise in LSM values within the same fibrosis stage, and LSM values were positively correlated with liver inflammation grade and fibrosis stage, and the rho is 0.579 and 0.593 respectively (P < 0.001). Significant differences in the LSM of FibroScan were observed among different grades of liver inflammation (P < 0.0001). Liver biopsy (PA > 10) served as the control, and the cutoff point and the area under ROC curves (AUCs) of the LSMs for different inflammation grades were as follows: G2, 8.6 kPa, 0.775; G3 9.8 kPa, 0.818; and G4, 11.0 kPa; 0.832. With LSM cutoff values of 8.6 kPa, 9.8 kPa and 11.0 kPa, FibroScan showed certain diagnostic value for CHB patients with G2, G3 and G4 liver inflammation, especially those with G4 inflammation. CONCLUSIONS: The grade of liver inflammation was positively correlated with the stage of fibrosis, different grades of inflammation will have significant rise in LSM values within the same fibrosis stage. In addition to liver fibrosis, FibroScan could evaluate liver inflammation in CHB patients in a noninvasive manner.

A Highly Efficient Bismuth Nitrate/Keto-ABNO Catalyst System for Aerobic Oxidation of Alcohols to Carbonyl Compounds under Mild Conditions.

An efficient and practical catalytic system for the oxidation of alcohols to aldehydes/ketones using catalytic amounts of Bi(NO3)3 and Keto-ABNO (9-azabicyclo [3.3.1]nonan-3-one N-oxyl) with air as the environmentally benign oxidant was developed. Various primary and secondary alcohols were smoothly oxidized to the corresponding products under mild conditions, and satisfactory yields were achieved. Moreover, this methodology avoids the use of a ligand and base. The gram-scale reaction was demonstrated for the oxidation of 1-phenyl ethanol, and the product of acetophenone was obtained at an isolated yield of about 94%.

PTCDA Molecular Monolayer on Pb Thin Films: An Unusual π-Electron Kondo System and Its Interplay with a Quantum-Confined Superconductor.

The hybridization of magnetism and superconductivity has been an intriguing playground for correlated electron systems, hosting various novel physical phenomena. Usually, localized d or f electrons are central to magnetism. In this study, by placing a PTCDA (3,4,9,10-perylene tetracarboxylic dianhydride) molecular monolayer on ultrathin Pb films, we built a hybrid magnetism/superconductivity (M/SC) system consisting of only sp electronic levels. The magnetic moments reside in the unpaired molecular orbital originating from interfacial charge transfers. We reported distinctive tunneling spectroscopic features of such a Kondo screened π electron impurity lattice on a superconductor in the regime of T_{K}≫Δ, suggesting the formation of a two-dimensional bound states band. Moreover, moiré superlattices with tunable twist angle and the quantum confinement in the ultrathin Pb films provide easy and flexible implementations to tune the interplay between the Kondo physics and the superconductivity, which are rarely present in M/SC hybrid systems.

Multi-omics pan-cancer analyses identify MCM4 as a promising prognostic and diagnostic biomarker.

Minichromosome Maintenance Complex Component 4 (MCM4) is a vital component of the mini-chromosome maintenance complex family, crucial for initiating the replication of eukaryotic genomes. Recently, there has been a growing interest in investigating the significance of MCM4 in different types of cancer. Despite the existing research on this topic, a comprehensive analysis of MCM4 across various cancer types has been lacking. This study aims to bridge this knowledge gap by presenting a thorough pan-cancer analysis of MCM4, shedding light on its functional implications and potential clinical applications. The study utilized multi-omics samples from various databases. Bioinformatic tools were employed to explore the expression profiles, genetic alterations, phosphorylation states, immune cell infiltration patterns, immune subtypes, functional enrichment, disease prognosis, as well as the diagnostic potential of MCM4 and its responsiveness to drugs in a range of cancers. Our research demonstrates that MCM4 is closely associated with the oncogenesis, prognosis and diagnosis of various tumors and proposes that MCM4 may function as a potential biomarker in pan-cancer, providing a deeper understanding of its potential role in cancer development and treatment.

Atomic-scale manipulation of polar domain boundaries in monolayer ferroelectric In2Se3.

Domain boundaries have been intensively investigated in bulk ferroelectric materials and two-dimensional materials. Many methods such as electrical, mechanical and optical approaches have been utilized to probe and manipulate domain boundaries. So far most research focuses on the initial and final states of domain boundaries before and after manipulation, while the microscopic understanding of the evolution of domain boundaries remains elusive. In this paper, we report controllable manipulation of the domain boundaries in two-dimensional ferroelectric In2Se3 with atomic precision using scanning tunneling microscopy. We show that the movements of the domain boundaries can be driven by the electric field from a scanning tunneling microscope tip and proceed by the collective shifting of atoms at the domain boundaries. Our density functional theory calculations reveal the energy path and evolution of the domain boundary movement. The results provide deep insight into domain boundaries in two-dimensional ferroelectric materials and will inspire inventive applications of these materials.

Effect of salt substitute and antihypertensive medications among high cardiovascular risk patients: A sub-study of Salt Substitute and Stroke Study (SSaSS).

The relationship between the differential protective effect of salt substitute between hypertensive and normotensive individuals and the use of cardiovascular medications remains unclear. This study involved 4211 individuals with a history of stroke or hypertension who participated in the Salt Substitute and Stroke Study (SSaSS) from 120 villages in Shanxi Province. The aim of this study was to investigate the differences in major adverse cardiovascular events and blood pressure changes between the salt substitute and the regular salt group in the subgroups of participants taking different antihypertensive medications. Mixed models were employed and adjusted for the cluster effect (village) and potential confounding variables. During the average follow-up period of 4.66 years, a significantly protective effect of salt substitute on reducing the risk of cardiovascular events was observed in the participants who taking antihypertensive medications (rate ratio: 0.81, 95% CI: 0.68 to 0.95. p = 0.011), whereas no significant effect in participants not taking antihypertensive medications (rate ratio: 0.91, 95% CI: 0.62 to 1.32, p = 0.612). Significant effects to lower systolic blood pressure of the salt substitutes were observed in the participants who took different antihypertensive medications. This study emphasized that the use of salt substitutes might enhance the efficacy of anti-hypertensive medications in lowering blood pressure and reducing the risk of adverse cardiovascular events.

The Impact of Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer (ChatGPT) on Oncology: Application, Expectations, and Future Prospects.

The integration of Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer (ChatGPT) into the field of oncology has recently garnered significant attention, with potential implications for enhancing both research and clinical practice. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the evolving landscape of ChatGPT applications in oncology, emphasizing its contributions to diagnosis, treatment, research, and patient education. We examine its role in assisting medical professionals, researchers, and patients in understanding complex cancer-related data and making informed decisions. Ethical considerations and potential challenges associated with the implementation of ChatGPT in oncology are also discussed. This article highlights the promising role of ChatGPT as a valuable tool in the oncology domain and outlines future directions for research and application.

Evaluating the Impact of Information System Quality on Continuance Intention Toward Cloud Financial Information System.

Cloud financial accounting informatization is a product of the combination of accounting work and information technology, a current demand for financial information management in the new era, and a necessary means for enterprises to enhance their core competitiveness. Therefore, this study is based on DeLone and McLean's information system success model, and through theoretical interpretation and derivation, we integrate satisfaction and trust in relationship quality to measure the impact of users' intention to continue using the cloud financial accounting system. A sample of 289 faculty and finance staff with experience in using cloud financial accounting systems was used to test the hypotheses using Partial Least Squares (PLS). The results of the study showed that (1) user participation had a significant positive impact on satisfaction with the system quality, information quality, and service quality of the cloud financial accounting system; (2) the system quality and service quality of the cloud financial accounting system had a significant positive effect on user trust; and (3) the quality of the cloud financial accounting system had a mediating effect on intention to continue using the system through satisfaction and trust. Since there is a lack of research on the antecedents and outcomes of user linkage to cloud financial accounting systems in the literature, especially the empirical results on the mediation relationship from the perspective of relationship quality. Therefore, this study can fill above mentioned research gap and provide specific recommendations for sustainable management practice.

Novel hierarchical urchin-like hollow SnO2 nanostructures with enhanced gas sensing performance.

Novel hierarchical urchin-like hollow SnO2 nanostructures have been synthesized via a facile one-pot template-free hydrothermal approach. The size and density of the SnO2 prickles as well as the morphology of the SnO2 spheres can be modified by tuning the synthetic parameters such as temperature, time, concentration, as well as pH value. The novel hierarchical nano-sized SnO2 hollow urchins possess enriched prickles with diameters of 5-20 nm and lengths of < 70 nm and high surface area up to 116 m2 g(-1), exhibiting advanced sensing performance to the ethanol vapor due to the special hierarchical nanostructures and being promising for the potential gas sensor material.

Identification and Functional Analysis of EPOR+ Tumor-Associated Macrophages in Human Osteosarcoma Lung Metastasis.

BACKGROUND: Tissue-resident macrophages can be educated to tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) by the tumor microenvironment and many types of macrophages express erythropoietic receptor (EPOR); However, little is known about the expression of EPOR on TAMs and the identity of EPOR+ TAMs in osteosarcoma lung metastasis has thus far remained elusive. METHODS: EPOR-eGFPcre mice were used to determine the expression of EPOR on lung tissue-resident macrophages. Flow cytometry, RT-PCR, and Western blot were examined to define the identity of EPOR+ TAMs in 106 osteosarcoma lung metastasis specimens. Moreover, the clinicopathologic factors and prognosis of patients with CD163+EPOR+ macrophages were compared. RESULTS: We found that a subpopulation of mouse lung tissue-resident macrophages express EPOR and EPO enhances the proliferation of EPOR+ macrophages in mouse lung. A subpopulation of CD163+ macrophages expresses EPOR in human osteosarcoma lung metastasis specimens. CD163+EPOR+TAMs increase 2.5 times in human osteosarcoma lung metastasis tissues; CD206, CD163, and PD1, which are known to have a significant role in TAM function had high expression in CD163+EPOR+ TAMs compared with CD163+EPOR- TAMs. Furthermore, CD163+EPOR+ TAMs had higher M2 marker and cytokine expression in osteosarcoma tissues compared with para-osteosarcoma tissues. EPO enhanced the expression of M2 cytokines in primary CD163+EPOR+ TAMs. Importantly, the percentage of CD163+EPOR+ TAMs had a positive linear association with malignant phenotypes as well as poor disease-free survival and overall survival time. CONCLUSIONS: We have characterized TAMs expressing EPOR and CD163+EPOR+ macrophages as TAMs in osteosarcoma lung metastasis patients, which are highly associated with tumor aggressiveness.

Monitoring immunoglobulin heavy chain and T-cell receptor gene rearrangement in cfDNA as minimal residual disease detection for patients with acute myeloid leukemia.

The present study aimed to examine whether monoclonal immunoglobulin heavy chain (IGH) or T-cell receptor (TCR) gene rearrangement in cell-free DNA (cfDNA) may be used for minimal residual disease (MRD) monitoring in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Monoclonal IGH and TCR rearrangement in cfDNA were monitored in patients with AML. A total of 94 (40%) patients had monoclonal IGH or TCR rearrangements in cfDNA at diagnosis; 84% of these patients (79 cases) achieved complete remission following 1-3 courses of induction chemotherapy. Among these cases, 89.9% were negative for monoclonal IGH or TCR rearrangement in cfDNA following consolidation chemotherapies. A total of 8 patients with consistently positive monoclonal IGH or TCR rearrangement in cfDNA relapsed within 6-10 months. During follow up, 39 patients demonstrated positive monoclonal IGH or TCR rearrangement in cfDNA and relapsed. Recurrence of monoclonal IGH or TCR rearrangement in cfDNA was observed 1-3 months earlier than bone marrow relapse and 11 patients with solitary extramedullary relapse demonstrated positive monoclonal IGH or TCR rearrangement recurrence in cfDNA. In conclusion, the detection of monoclonal IGH and TCR rearrangement in cfDNA may represent a useful tool for MRD monitoring in patients with AML.

Pathologic lymph node ratio is a predictor of esophageal carcinoma patient survival: a literature-based pooled analysis.

The positive lymph node ratio (LNR) has been suggested as a predictor of survival in patients with esophageal carcinoma (EC). However, existed evidences did not completely agree with each other. We sought to examine whether LNR was associated with overall survival (OS). Electronic database was searched for eligible literatures. The primary outcome was the relationship between LNR and OS, which was presented as hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). All statistical analyses were performed using STATA 11.0 software. A total of 18 relevant studies which involved 7,664 cases were included. Patients with an LNR of 0.3 or greater had an increased risk of death compared to those with an LNR of less than 0.3(HR = 2.33; 95% CI 2.03-2.68; P<0.01). Similarly, patients with an LNR greater than 0.5 was also associated with a decreased OS(HR = 1.95; 95% CI 1.52-2.50; P<0.01). No publication bias was found. This meta-analysis confirmed that LNR was a significant predictor of survival in patients with EC and should be considered in prognostication.

Analysis of PAEs in semen of infertile men.

OBJECTIVES: Phthalates are environmental chemicals with reproductive toxicity and estrogenic effects in animals. They are of increasing concern to human health. AIM: To determine whether phthalate levels in semen were associated with infertility. METHODS: Using semen samples from 107 infertile and 94 fertile men, the presence and quantity of five phthalate esters were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Using data collected from questionnaires and clinical examinations, the correlation between phthalate exposure and semen quality was analyzed. RESULTS: The cumulative levels of the measured phthalate esters were significantly higher in the infertility group compared to the control group (P<0·05). Concentrations of the five phthalate esters in men varied by age with older men showing higher cumulative levels. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of phthalates may contribute to male infertility in our study population.