Interface engineering based NiCoMoO4/Ti3C2Tx MXene heterostructure for high-performance flexible supercapacitors.

The advancement of interface engineering has demonstrated remarkable efficacy in overcoming the primary impediment associated with sluggish reaction kinetics in supercapacitor electrodes. In this investigation, we employed a facile co-precipitation method to synthesize NiCoMoO4/MXene heterostructures utilizing Ti3C2Tx MXene nanosheets as carriers. This heterostructure inhibits the restacking of MXene nanosheets and simultaneously enhances the exposure of electrochemically active sites in NiCoMoO4 nanorods, thereby mitigating the reduction in specific capacitance resulting from volumetric fluctuations. The NiCoMoO4/MXene electrode, possessing pseudo-capacitance properties, demonstrates an impressive level of specific capacitance, exceptional performance across various charging rates, and consistent behavior throughout repeated cycles. By optimizing the mass ratio, this electrode achieves a specific capacity of 1900 F/g under a current density of 1 A/g. Even after enduring 10,000 cycles at a significantly higher current density of 5 A/g, it still maintains an impressive retention rate of 94.73 %. Our density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicate that the enhanced electrochemical performance can be attributed to the improved electronic coupling within the NiCoMoO4/MXene heterostructure. The integration of NiCoMoO4/MXene cathode and activated carbon (AC) anode with an alkaline gel electrolyte containing potassium ferricyanide in flexible quasi-solid-state supercapacitors (FSSCs) results in exceptional electrochemical performance and flexibility. These FSSCs demonstrate a maximum energy density of 72.89 Wh kg-1 at a power density of 850 W kg-1, while maintaining an impressive power output of 16,780 W kg-1 with an energy density of 37.28 Wh kg-1. Based on these outstanding properties, it is evident that the NiCoMoO4/MXene heterojunction possesses significant advantages as electrode material for supercapacitors, and the fabricated FSSCs devices pave a new pathway for flexible electronic devices.

Micro Reference Electrode with an Ultrathin Ionic Path.

Reference electrode (RE) plays the core role in accurate potential control in electrochemistry. However, nanoresolved electrochemical characterization techniques still suffer from unstable potential control of pseudo-REs, because the commercial RE is too large to be used in the tiny electrochemical cell, and thus only pseudo-RE can be used. Therefore, microsized RE with a stable potential is urgently required to push the nanoresolved electrochemical measurements to a new level of accuracy and precision, but it is quite challenging to reproducibly fabricate such a micro RE until now. Here, we revisited the working mechanism of the metal-junction RE and clearly revealed the role of the ionic path between the metal wire and the borosilicate glass capillary to maintain a stable potential of RE. Based on this understanding, we developed a method to fabricate micro ultrastable-RE, where a reproducible ultrathin ionic path can form by dissolving a sandwiched sacrificial layer between the Pt wire and the capillary for the ion transfer. The potential of this new micro RE was almost the same as that of the commercial Ag/AgCl electrode, while the size is much smaller. Different from commercial REs that must be stored in the inner electrolyte, the new RE could be directly stored in air for more than one year without potential drift. Eventually, we successfully applied the micro RE in the electrochemical tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (EC-TERS) measurement to precisely control the potential of the working electrode, which makes it possible to compare the results from different laboratories and techniques to better understand the electrochemical interface at the nanoscale.

Association of Anticoagulant Use With Hemorrhage Location and Etiology in Incident Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: It is unknown whether hypertensive microangiopathy or cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) predisposes more to anticoagulant-associated intracerebral hemorrhage (AA-ICH). The purpose of our study was to determine whether AA-ICH is associated with lobar location and probable CAA. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional analysis of patients with first-ever spontaneous ICH admitted to a tertiary hospital in Boston, between 2008 and 2023. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression were used to investigate the association between anticoagulation use and both lobar hemorrhage location and probable CAA on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) by Boston Criteria 2.0 or computed tomography by Simplified Edinburgh Criteria. RESULTS: A total of 1104 patients (mean [SD] age, 73 [12]; 499 females [45.0%]) were included. Of the 1104 patients, 268 (24.3%) had AA-ICH: 148 (55.2%) with vitamin K antagonists and 107 (39.9%) with direct oral anticoagulants. Brain MRI was performed in 695 (63.0%) patients. The proportion of patients with lobar hemorrhage was not different between those with and without AA-ICH (121/268 [45.1%] versus 424/836 [50.7%]; odds ratio [OR], 0.80 [95% CI, 0.61-1.05]; P=0.113). Patients with AA-ICH were less likely to have probable CAA on MRI (17/146 [11.6%] versus 127/549 [23.1%]; OR, 0.44 [95% CI, 0.25-0.75]; P=0.002) and probable CAA on MRI or computed tomography if MRI not performed (27/268 [10.0%] versus 200/836 [23.9%]; OR, 0.36 [95% CI, 0.23-0.55]; P<0.001). Among patients with AA-ICH, there were no differences in the proportion with lobar hemorrhage (63/148 [42.6%] versus 46/107 [43.0%]; OR, 1.02 [95% CI, 0.62-1.68]; P=0.946) or probable CAA on MRI (10/72 [13.9%] versus 7/69 [10.1%]; OR, 0.70 [95% CI, 0.25-1.96]; P=0.495) between vitamin K antagonists and direct oral anticoagulant users. CONCLUSIONS: AA-ICH was not associated with lobar hemorrhage location but was associated with reduced odds of probable CAA. These results suggest that hypertensive microangiopathy may predispose more toward incident AA-ICH than CAA and emphasize the importance of blood pressure control among anticoagulant users. These findings require replication in additional cohorts.

Corrigendum to 'Injectable and high-strength PLGA/CPC loaded ALN/MgO bone cement for bone regeneration by facilitating osteogenesis and inhibiting osteoclastogenesis in osteoporotic bone defects' [Mater. Today Bio 26, June 2024, 101092].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2024.101092.].

Relative contribution of Hepatitis B and C Viruses in primary liver cancer in China: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: China, which has the largest number of patients with primary liver cancer (PLCs), lacks data on the overall prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) in PLCs. We aimed to comprehensively assess the seroprevalence of HBV and HCV among PLCs in China. METHODS: We included and pooled observational studies reporting seroprevalence of HBsAg and anti-HCV antibodies among PLCs in China by searching PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, Scopus, Embase, CNKI, Wanfang, and CBM. Multivariate meta-regression and subgroup analyses were used to explore sources of heterogeneity, and publication bias was assessed by funnel plots and Egger's test. PROSPERO registration number is CRD42023450382. RESULTS: A total of 217 eligible studies were included in the meta-analysis. The estimated seroprevalence of HBV and HCV was 75.09% (95% CI 73.12-77.02) and 11.82% (95% CI 9.79-14.00), respectively. After stratifying and analysing subgroups by region and study period, we found geographic differences in HBV and HCV prevalence among PLCs, with an overall increasing trend in the proportion of HBV and a decreasing trend in the proportion of HCV as well as co-infections in the last 40 years. CONCLUSIONS: HBV and HCV infections still accounts for a high proportion of PLCs in China.

Associations between peripheral whole blood cell counts derived indexes and cancer prognosis: An umbrella review of meta-analyses of cohort studies.

Meta-analyses have reported conflicting data on the whole blood cell count (WBCC) derived indexes (neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio [NLR], platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio [PLR], and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio [LMR]) and cancer prognosis. However, the strength and quality of this evidence has not been quantified in aggregate. To grade the evidence from published meta-analyses of cohort studies that investigated the associations between NLR, PLR, and LMR and cancer prognosis. A total of 694 associations from 224 articles were included. And 219 (97.8%) articles rated as moderate-to-high quality according to AMSTAR. There were four associations supported by convincing evidence. Meanwhile, 165 and 164 associations were supported by highly suggestive and suggestive evidence, respectively. In this umbrella review, we summarized the existing evidence on the WBCC-derived indexes and cancer prognosis. Due to the direction of effect sizes is not completely consistent between studies, further research is needed to assess causality and provide firm evidence.

Real-Time Simulation of the Reaction Kinetics of Supported Metal Nanoparticles.

A common issue with supported metal catalysts is the sintering of metal nanoparticles, resulting in catalyst deactivation. In this study, we propose a theoretical framework for realizing a real-time simulation of the reactivity of supported metal nanoparticles during the sintering process, combining density functional theory calculations, microkinetic modeling, Wulff-Kaichew construction, and sintering kinetic simulations. To validate our approach, we demonstrate its feasibility on α-Al2O3(0001)-supported Ag nanoparticles, where the simulated sintering behavior and ethylene epoxidation reaction rate as a function of time show qualitative agreement with experimental observation. Our proposed theoretical approach can be employed to screen out the promising microstructure feature of α-Al2O3 for stable supported Ag NPs, including the surface orientation and promoter species modified on it. The outlined approach of this work may be applied to a range of different thermocatalytic reactions other than ethylene epoxidation and provide guidance for the development of supported metal catalysts with long-term stability.

Mitochondrion-based organellar therapies for central nervous system diseases.

As most traditional drugs used to treat central nervous system (CNS) diseases have a single therapeutic target, many of them cannot treat complex diseases or diseases whose mechanism is unknown and cannot effectively reverse the root changes underlying CNS diseases. This raises the question of whether multiple functional components are involved in the complex pathological processes of CNS diseases. Organelles are the core functional units of cells, and the replacement of damaged organelles with healthy organelles allows the multitargeted and integrated modulation of cellular functions. The development of therapies that target independent functional units in the cell, specifically, organelle-based therapies, is rapidly progressing. This article comprehensively discusses the pathogenesis of mitochondrial homeostasis disorders, which involve mitochondria, one of the most important organelles in CNS diseases, and the machanisms of mitochondrion-based therapies, as well as current preclinical and clinical studies on the efficacy of therapies targeting mitochondrial to treat CNS diseases, to provide evidence for use of organelle-based treatment strategies in the future.

Meta-Analysis of eVisit Technology on Psychological Anxiety and Factors Influencing the Parents of NICU Newborns.

BACKGROUND: Due to the geographical distance, work obligations, and parenting responsibilities, it is often difficult for parents to visit the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Limited parent presence might also constrain updates about infant status thus increasing anxiety, which potentially leads to a stronger necessity for visitation. PURPOSE: Examine the evidence for use of electronic visit (eVisit) technology for parents of newborns in NICU, for example, do eVisits decrease anxiety and are there other factors that demonstrate effectiveness. DATA SOURCES: Seven databases were used to search for evidence from 1 January 2000 to 13 November 2023. STUDY SELECTION: Studies were included with terms related to eHealth, NICU, infant, parent and 41 eligible studies were assessed. DATA EXTRACTION: Data were extracted by 2 reviewers with a systematic-staged review approach. RESULTS: Eight studies with a total of 1450 cases were included. Results of meta-analysis showed that eVisit technology improved anxiety compared with conventional visitation (MD = - 5.04, 95% CI [-5.92, - 4.17], P < .01) and hospitalization satisfaction (RR = 1.09, 95% CI [1.05, 1.13], P < .01), but the effect was not significant with regard to reduction in infant length of stay (MD = - 1.07, 95% CI [-5.39, 3.25], P = .63). IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE AND RESEARCH: A large sample, high-quality, multi-centered randomized controlled study needs to be conducted to validate the effect of eVisit technology on the psychological state of parents, implications for nursing practice as well as potential newborn affects to improve future ease of use. VIDEO ABSTRACT: Available for more insights from the authors. This video shows the concept, current status, significance, and implications for practice and research of eVisit technology.

Orthodontic tension promotes cementoblast mineralization by regulating autophagy.

Background/purpose: External root resorption is a main side effect of orthodontic treatment and is more likely to occur on the pression side than the tension side. To explore the potential protective mechanisms on the tension side, this study investigated the influence of mechanical tension on cementoblast mineralization and elucidated the role of autophagy in mediating this process. Materials and methods: Mechanical tension was applied to cementoblasts using iStrain. The expression of mineralization-related and autophagy-related markers was detected by qRT-PCR, Western blot analysis, and immunofluorescence staining. RNA sequencing identified key regulators. Immunohistochemical staining assessed related markers expression in in vivo experiments. Results: Applying tension to cementoblasts increased mineralization-related gene expression in a force-dependent and time-dependent manner. The immunohistochemical staining result of in vivo experiments supported these findings, demonstrating elevated expression of mineralization markers under tension. Mechanical tension also enhanced autophagic activity in cementoblasts, which was demonstrated by the results of qRT-PCR, Western blot analysis, immunofluorescence staining, and in vivo experiments. Suppression of autophagy with chloroquine attenuated the mineralization of cementoblasts induced by tension stimulus. RNA-seq identified Postn as a key regulator, and the knockdown of Postn impaired the mechanical tension-promoted mineralization of cementoblasts. Conclusion: This study proposed the tension-induced promotion in mineralization of cementoblasts and emphasized the mediating role of autophagy in this process. Postn, a mediator connecting autophagy and mineralization, was identified as a key regulator. These discoveries helped elucidate orthodontic-related microprocesses on tooth roots and offer potential targets for therapeutic interventions to prevent and restore external root resorption clinically.

Downregulation of the m6A reader YTHDC2 upregulates exosome content in lung adenocarcinoma via inhibiting IFIT and OAS family members.

N6-Methyladenosine (m6A) is the most prevalent mRNA modification. Its biological function primarily relies on its "Reader" protein, such as YTHDC2. Previous studies have shown that YTHDC2 downregulation is a pro-carcinogenic phenomenon in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). However, further investigation is needed to understand the molecular mechanisms of downstream genes and the associated biological phenomena following YTHDC2 downregulation. Here, we found that YTHDC2 knockout upregulated exosome content in LUAD. Following YTHDC2 knockout, the mRNA levels of OAS family members (OASs) and IFIT family members (IFITs) also decreased; and inhibition of OASs and IFITs could promote exosome content. Several m6A modification sites on the NT domain of OASs and the TPR12 domain of IFITs were found to increase the stability of OASs and IFITs in a YTHDC2-dependent manner. OASs and IFITs affected exosome content through target genes including RAB5A, RAB7 and RAB11A, and three arginine (R) amino acids on IFITs were critical for combination IFITs with targeted RAB mRNAs and subsequent degradation. Simultaneously, OASs degraded targeted RABs through RNAseL. Additionally, mutual bindings between OASs and IFITs were critical for their target gene degradation. Collectively, the above findings might provide a theoretical basis for the treatment of LUAD patients with low YTHDC2 expression.

The age-related effects on orthodontic tooth movement and the surrounding periodontal environment.

Orthodontic treatment in adults is often related to longer treatment time as well as higher periodontal risks compared to adolescents. The aim of this review is to explore the influence of age-related chages on orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) from macro and micro perspectives. Adults tend to show slower tooth movement speed compared to adolescence, especially during the early phase. Under orthodontic forces, the biological responses of the periodontal ligament (PDL) and alveolar bone is different between adult and adolescents. The adult PDL shows extended disorganization time, increased cell senescence, less cell signaling and a more inflammatory microenvironment than the adolescent PDL. In addition, the blood vessel surface area is reduced during the late movement phase, and fiber elasticity decreases. At the same time, adult alveolar bone shows a higher density, as well as a reduced osteoblast and osteoclast activation, under orthodontic forces. The local cytokine expression also differs between adults and adolescents. Side-effects, such as excessive root resorption, greater orthodontic pain, and reduced pulpal blood flow, also occur more frequently in adults than in adolescents.

Encapsulated TADF macrocycles for high-efficiency solution-processed and flexible organic light-emitting diodes.

Macrocyclic thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) emitters have been demonstrated to realize high efficiency OLEDs, but the design concept was still confined to rigid π-conjugated structures. In this work, two macrocyclic TADF emitters, Cy-BNFu and CyEn-BNFu, with a flexible alkyl chain as a linker and bulky aromatic hydrocarbon wrapping units were designed and synthesized. The detailed photophysical analysis demonstrates that the flexible linker significantly enhances the solution-processibility and flexibility of the parent TADF core without sacrificing the radiative transition and high PLQY. Moreover, benefiting from sufficient encapsulation of both horizontal and vertical space, the macrocyclic CyEn-BNFu further isolated the TADF core and inhibited the aggregation caused quenching, which benefits the utilization of triplet excitons. As a result, the non-doped solution-processed OLEDs based on CyEn-BNFu exhibit high maximum external quantum efficiencies (EQE) up to 32.3%, which were 3 times higher than those of the devices based on the parent molecule. In particular, these macrocyclic TADF emitters ensure the fabrication of flexible OLEDs with higher brightness, color purity and bending resistance. This work opens a way to construct macrocyclic TADF emitters with a flexible alkyl chain linker and highlights the benefits of such encapsulated macrocycles for optimizing the performance of flexible solution-processed devices.

Low methyl-esterified ginseng homogalacturonan pectins promote longevity of Caenorhabditis elegans via impairing insulin/IGF-1 signalling.

Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer (ginseng) is a medicinal plant widely used for promoting longevity. Recently, homogalacturonan (HG) domain-rich pectins purified from some plants have been reported to have anti-aging-related activities, leading us to explore the longevity-promoting activity of the HG pectins from ginseng. In this study, we discovered that two of low methyl-esterified ginseng HG pectins (named as WGPA-2-HG and WGPA-3-HG), whose degree of methyl-esterification (DM) was 16 % and 8 % respectively, promoted longevity in Caenorhabditis elegans. Results showed that WGPA-2-HG/WGPA-3-HG impaired insulin/insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) signalling (IIS) pathway, thereby increasing the nuclear accumulation of transcription factors SKN-1/Nrf2 and DAF-16/FOXO and enhancing the expression of relevant anti-aging genes. BLI and ITC analysis showed that the insulin-receptor binding, the first step to activate IIS pathway, was impeded by the engagement of WGPA-2-HG/WGPA-3-HG with insulin. By chemical modifications, we found that high methyl-esterification of WGPA-2-HG/WGPA-3-HG was detrimental for their longevity-promoting activity. These findings provided novel insight into the precise molecular mechanism for the longevity-promoting effect of ginseng pectins, and suggested a potential to utilize the ginseng HG pectins with appropriate DM values as natural nutrients for increasing human longevity.

A Review of the Establishment of Effective Conductive Pathways of Conductive Polymer Composites and Advances in Electromagnetic Shielding.

The enhancement of the electromagnetic interference shielding efficiency (EMI SE) for conductive polymer composites (CPCs) has garnered increasing attention. The shielding performance is influenced by conductivity, which is dependent on the establishment of effective conductive pathways. In this review, Schelkunoff's theory on outlining the mechanism of electromagnetic interference shielding was briefly described. Based on the mechanism, factors that influenced the electrical percolation threshold of CPCs were presented and three main kinds of efficient methods were discussed for establishing conductive pathways. Furthermore, examples were explored that highlighted the critical importance of such conductive pathways in attaining optimal shielding performance. Finally, we outlined the prospects for the future direction for advancing CPCs towards a balance of enhanced EMI SE and cost-performance.

3D genome contributes to MHC-II neoantigen prediction.

Reliable and ultra-fast DNA and RNA sequencing have been achieved with the emergence of high-throughput sequencing technology. When combining the results of DNA and RNA sequencing for tumor cells of cancer patients, neoantigens that potentially stimulate the immune response of either CD4+ or CD8+ T cells can be identified. However, due to the abundance of somatic mutations and the high polymorphic nature of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) it is challenging to accurately predict the neoantigens. Moreover, comparing to HLA-I presented peptides, the HLA-II presented peptides are more variable in length, making the prediction of HLA-II loaded neoantigens even harder. A number of computational approaches have been proposed to address this issue but none of them considers the DNA origin of the neoantigens from the perspective of 3D genome. Here we investigate the DNA origins of the immune-positive and non-negative HLA-II neoantigens in the context of 3D genome and discovered that the chromatin 3D architecture plays an important role in more effective HLA-II neoantigen prediction. We believe that the 3D genome information will help to increase the precision of HLA-II neoantigen discovery and eventually benefit precision and personalized medicine in cancer immunotherapy.

Preservation of minimally processed carrots using the combination of ultrasound and mild heat ascorbic acid.

Ultrasound (US) in combination with chemical disinfectants is an efficient and cost-effective hurdle technology for disinfecting minimally processed produce (MPP). However, the demand for non-chemical disinfection methods is increasing. In addition, chemical methods have been ineffective in simultaneously improving the physiological properties and inactivating pathogens in MPP. In this study, a novel and safe method called mild heat ascorbic acid (MHAsA; 1 % AsA at 50 °C) was combined with US to process minimally processed carrots. Physiological properties and microbial inactivation efficacy were analyzed during the storage period (0-5 days). The findings indicated that US-MHAsA induced the highest levels of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and catalase) activities and accelerated the glutathione-ascorbate cycle, resulting in lower reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde content compared to US and MHAsA. The efficacy of US-MHAsA in inactivating phenylalanine lyase, the initial enzyme in the lignin synthesis process, was lower than that of US. On the other hand, its ability to inactivate cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase, the final enzyme in the process, was better than that of both US and MHAsA. However, there were no significant differences in lignin content among the three groups. The inactivation efficacy against enzymes (polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase) involved in browning was consistent across the three treatments. Analysis of the disinfection efficacy against Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella Typhimurium revealed that US-MHAsA achieved the lowest cross-contamination incidence (10-12 %) during washing, which was significantly lower than the incidence achieved by US (75-82 %). During the period from day 0 to day 5, two pathogens on carrots in the control group increased from 6.25 to 6.64 log CFU/g, while the lowest counts were observed in the US-MHAsA group, decreasing from 4.44 to 3.74 log CFU/g. However, the counts in the US group increased from 5.22 to 6.32 log CFU/g, and the counts at day 5 were not significantly lower than the control. These findings indicate that US-MHAsA is a novel hurdle technology that effectively reduces the risk of pathogen contamination and enhances the ability of MPP to scavenge ROS.

Human neural stem cell-derived artificial organelles to improve oxidative phosphorylation.

Oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) in the mitochondrial inner membrane is a therapeutic target in many diseases. Neural stem cells (NSCs) show progress in improving mitochondrial dysfunction in the central nervous system (CNS). However, translating neural stem cell-based therapies to the clinic is challenged by uncontrollable biological variability or heterogeneity, hindering uniform clinical safety and efficacy evaluations. We propose a systematic top-down design based on membrane self-assembly to develop neural stem cell-derived oxidative phosphorylating artificial organelles (SAOs) for targeting the central nervous system as an alternative to NSCs. We construct human conditionally immortal clone neural stem cells (iNSCs) as parent cells and use a streamlined closed operation system to prepare neural stem cell-derived highly homogenous oxidative phosphorylating artificial organelles. These artificial organelles act as biomimetic organelles to mimic respiration chain function and perform oxidative phosphorylation, thus improving ATP synthesis deficiency and rectifying excessive mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production. Conclusively, we provide a framework for a generalizable manufacturing procedure that opens promising prospects for disease treatment.

Advancements in DNA computing: exploring DNA logic systems and their biomedical applications.

DNA computing is regarded as one of the most promising candidates for the next generation of molecular computers, utilizing DNA to execute Boolean logic operations. In recent decades, DNA computing has garnered widespread attention due to its powerful programmable and parallel computing capabilities, demonstrating significant potential in intelligent biological analysis. This review summarizes the latest advancements in DNA logic systems and their biomedical applications. Firstly, it introduces recent DNA logic systems based on various materials such as functional DNA sequences, nanomaterials, and three-dimensional DNA nanostructures. The material innovations driving DNA computing have been summarized, highlighting novel molecular reactions and analytical performance metrics like efficiency, sensitivity, and selectivity. Subsequently, it outlines the biomedical applications of DNA computing-based multi-biomarker analysis in cellular imaging, clinical diagnosis, and disease treatment. Additionally, it discusses the existing challenges and future research directions for the development of DNA computing.