Single-walled carbon nanotube-protein complex: A strategy to improve the immune response to protein in mice.

Vaccines represent an effective tool for controlling disease infection. As a key component of vaccines, many types of adjuvants have been developed and used today. This study is designed to investigate the efficacy of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) as a new adjuvant. The results showed that SWCNT could adsorb the antigen by intermolecular action, and the adsorption rate was significantly higher after dispersion of the SWCNTs in a sonic bath. The titer of specific antibody of mice in the SWCNTs group was higher than that of the mice in the antigen control group, confirming the adjuvant efficacy of SWCNTs. During immunisation, the specific antibody was detected earlier in the mice of the SWCNTs group, especially when the amount of antigen was reduced. And it was proved that the titer of antibodies was higher after subcutaneous and intraperitoneal injection compared to intramuscular injection. Most importantly, the mice immunised with SWCNTs showed almost the same level of immunity as the mice in the FCA (Freund's complete adjuvant) group, indicating that the SWCNTs were an effective adjuvant. In addition, the mice in the SWCNT group maintained antibody levels for 90 days after the last booster vaccination and showed a good state of health during the observed period. We also found that the SWCNTs were able to induce macrophages activation and enhance antigen uptake by mouse peritoneal macrophages.

"Let's get back to normal": emotions mediate the effects of persuasive messages on willingness to vaccinate for COVID-19.

Objective: We examined the effectiveness of three different messages for persuading individuals to get vaccinated against COVID-19, and the role that emotions play in persuasion. Methods: Four hundred-thirty-six participants reported their concern about the COVID-19 pandemic and confidence/hesitancy toward vaccines. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three text conditions: (1) self-interest: a persuasive message that focused on how much of a "serious threat COVID-19 is to you," and to get vaccinated to "protect yourself"; (2) self-interest + altruistic: a persuasive message that focused on the "threat to you and your community" and to get vaccinated to "protect you and your loved ones"; (3) self-interest + altruistic + normal: a persuasive message that included (2) but added "This is the only way we can get back to a normal life."; and, (4) a baseline control: no text. After reading, participants reported their emotions toward COVID-19 vaccines and their willingness to get vaccinated. Results: Individuals in the self-interest + altruistic + normal condition were more willing to get vaccinated compared to the control condition and self-interest + altruistic condition. However, there were no differences in willingness between the self-interest + altruistic + normal condition and the self-interest condition. Moreover, emotions mediated relations between vaccine confidence/hesitancy and willingness. Conclusion: A message that focuses on "getting back to normal" can achieve important public health action by increasing vaccine uptake to protect the population. Future work is needed across multiple countries and contexts (i.e., non-pandemic) to assess message effectiveness.

Influence of periodontal status on patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: A retrospective analysis.

Objective: This retrospective analysis aimed to evaluate the prevalence of periodontitis in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and investigate the effects of various periodontal statuses and risk factors on oral infection incidence. Study design: Medical records of patients pre- and post-hematopoietic stem cell transplantation from June 2019 to October 2021were reviewed. The study examined the effort of different periodontal statuses on oral complications and infections in patients during transplantation. Results: Of 549 transplant patients studied, 363 had periodontitis. Patients with or without periodontitis showed significant differences in mean age, male proportion, and mucositis incidence during transplantation (P < 0.05). Bacteremia rates were slightly higher in patients with periodontitis, but not significant. Male proportion, age, and hospitalization duration significantly increased with advancing periodontitis stages. Only two patients experienced periodontal complications, that were effectively managed and did not interfere in the grafting process. Conclusion: Periodontitis is prevalent in patients with hematopoietic diseases. Despite its association with oral mucositis, the occurrence of periodontal infection remains low and controllable.

Strain- and Electron Doping-Induced In-Plane Spin Orientation at Room Temperature in Single-Layer CrTe2.

Ferromagnets with a Curie temperature surpassing room temperature (RT) are highly sought after for advancing planar spintronics. The ultrathin CrTe2 is proposed as a promising two-dimensional (2D) ferromagnet with a Curie temperature above 300 K. However, its single-layer film is highly susceptible to specific external perturbations, leading to variable magnetic features depending on the environment. The magnetic ordering of single-layer CrTe2 remains a topic of debate, and experimental confirmation of ferromagnetic order at RT is still pending. In our study, we utilized molecular beam epitaxy to create a single-layer 1T-CrTe2 on bilayer graphene, demonstrating ferromagnetism above 300 K with in-plane magnetization through superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUID) measurements. Our density functional theory (DFT) calculations suggest that the ferromagnetic properties stem from epitaxial strain, which increases the distance between adjacent Cr atoms within the layer by about 1.6% and enhances the Cr-Te-Cr angle by approximately 1.6°. Due to its interaction with the graphene substrate, the magnetic moment transitions from an out-of-plane to an in-plane orientation, while electronic doping exceeds 1.5 e/u.c. Combining DFT calculations with in situ scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) characterizations allowed us to determine the configuration of the CrTe2 single layer on graphene. This discovery presents the first experimental proof of ferromagnetic order in single-layer CrTe2 with a Curie temperature above RT, laying the groundwork for future applications of CrTe2 single-layer-based spintronic devices.

Microemulsions based on Acer truncatum seed oil and its fatty acids: fabrication, rheological property, and stability.

AIMS: To construct the microemulsion delivery system (ME) loading ATSO and NA and study their physicochemical characteristics to enhance their stability and water solubility. METHODS: By plotting ternary phase diagrams, the composition and proportions of the MEs were determined. The physicochemical characteristics and stability of MEs were evaluated by mean diameter, polydispersity index (PDI), pH, electrical conductivity, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), rheological behaviour measurement, and phase inversion temperature (PIT). RESULTS: The MEs was composed with EL-40 as a surfactant and specifically with the addition of ethanol as a cosurfactant in NA-loaded ME. The mean diameters of ATSO-loaded ME and NA-loaded ME were 39.65 ± 0.24 nm and 32.90 ± 2.65 nm, and PDI were 0.49 ± 0.01 and 0.28 ± 0.14, respectively. The TEM confirmed the spherical and smooth morphology of MEs. The rheological results indicated that MEs are dilatant fluids with the advantages of low viscosity, high fluidity, and tolerance to temperature fluctuations. The mean diameter and PDI of MEs showed no significant change after storage at 25 °C for 28 days and centrifugation. CONCLUSION: The prepared microemulsions could expand the application prospects of ATSO and NA products in cosmetics, medicine, foods and other fields.

Triglyceride glucose index is associated with functional coronary artery stenosis in hypertensive patients.

Background: The triglyceride glucose (TyG) index is an effective method for determining insulin resistance (IR). Limited research has explored the connection between the TyG index and functionally significant stenosis in hypertensive patients. Furthermore, the connections between the TyG index, fat attenuation index (FAI) and atherosclerotic plaque characteristics are also worth exploring. Methods: The study screened 1622 hypertensive participants without coronary artery disease history who underwent coronary computed tomography angiography. The TyG index was calculated as ln (fasting glucose [mg/dL] * fasting TG [mg/dL]/2). Adverse plaque characteristics (HRPCs), high-risk plaques (HRPs), FAI, and CT-derived fractional flow reserve (FFRCT) were analyzed and measured for all patients. Functionally significant stenosis causing ischemia is defined as FFRCT ≤ 0.80. Two patient groups were created based on the FFRCT: the FFRCT < 0.80 group and the FFRCT > 0.80 group. In hypertensive patients, the association between the TyG index and FFRCT was examined applying a logistic regression model. Results: The TyG index was higher for people with FFRCT ≤ 0.80 contrast to those with FFRCT > 0.80. After controlling for additional confounding factors, the logistic regression model revealed a clear connection between the TyG index and FFRCT ≤ 0.80 (OR = 1.718, 95% CI 1.097-2.690, p = 0.018). The restricted cubic spline analysis displayed a nonlinear connection between the TyG index and FFRCT ≤ 0.80 (p for nonlinear = 0.001). The TyG index increased the fraction of individuals with HRPs and HRPCs, FAI raised, and FFRCT decreased (p < 0.05). The multivariate linear regression analysis illustrated a powerfulcorrelation between high TyG index levels and FAI, FFRCT, positive remodeling (PR), and low-attenuation plaque (LAPs) (standardized regression coefficients: 0.029 [p = 0.007], -0.051 [p < 0.001], 0.029 [p = 0.027], and 0.026 [p = 0.046], separately). Conclusion: In hypertensive patients, the TyG index showed an excellent association with a risk of FFRCT ≤ 0.80. Additionally, the TyG index was also linked to FAI, FFRCT, PR, and LAPs.

Sesquiterpenoids and steroids from Eupatorium fortunei and their inhibitory effects on NO production.

Two heterodimers including a clovane-phenylpropanoid hybrid (1) and a clovane-menthane hybrid (2), five linear sesquiterpenoids incorporating a tetrahydrofuran ring (3-6 & 8), and four steroids (7 & 9-11), were separated from the ethanolic extract of a well-known aromatic and medicinal herb Eupatorium fortunei. Their structures were characterised by detailed analyses of spectroscopic data and comparison with known analogues, with seven (1-7) of them being described for the first time. The hybrids 1 and 2 represent the first examples of clovane type sesquiterpenoids hybridising with other class of natural products, and compounds 3-6 and 8 are first linear sesquiterpenyl constituents reported from the title species. All the isolates were evaluated for their inhibitory effect on the NO production induced by LPS in murine RAW264.7 macrophage cells, and 1, 7, 10 and 11 exhibited moderate activity with IC50 values in the range of 24.4-43.5 µM.

Shenkang injection for the treatment of acute kidney injury: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Shenkang injection (SKI) has been widely used in China for many years for the treatment of kidney disease. The objective of this systematic review was to assess the efficacy of Shenkang injection for the treatment of acute kidney injury (AKI). METHODS: A search was conducted across seven databases, encompassing data from the inception of each database through October 8th, 2023. Randomized controlled trials comparing SKI-treated AKI patients with control subjects were extracted. The main outcome measure was serum creatinine (SCr) levels. Secondary outcomes included blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum cystatin C (CysC), 24-h urine protein (24 h-Upro) levels, APACHE II score and adverse reactions. RESULTS: This meta-analysis included eleven studies, and the analysis indicated that, compared with the control group, SKI significantly decreased SCr [WMD = -23.31, 95% CI (-28.06, -18.57); p < 0.001]; BUN [WMD = -2.07, 95% CI (-2.56, -1.57); p < 0.001]; CysC [WMD = -0.55, 95% CI (-0.78, -0.32), p < 0.001]; 24-h urine protein [WMD = -0.43, 95% CI (-0.53, -0.34), p < 0.001]; and the APACHE II score [WMD = -3.07, 95% CI (-3.67, -2.48), p < 0.001]. There was no difference in adverse reactions between the SKI group and the control group [RR = 1.32, 95% CI (0.66, 2.63), p = 0.431]. CONCLUSION: The use of SKI in AKI patients may reduce SCr, BUN, CysC, 24-h Upro levels, and APACHE II scores in AKI patients. The incidence of adverse reactions did not differ from that in the control group. Additional rigorous clinical trials will be necessary in the future to thoroughly evaluate and establish the effectiveness of SKI in the treatment of AKI.

A predictive model of 30-day mortality in patients with acute type A aortic dissection.

OBJECTIVE: Acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) is a life-threatening cardiovascular disease that requires an effective predictive model to predict and assess a patient's risk of death. Our study aimed to construct a model for predicting the risk of 30-day death in patients with ATAAD and the prediction accuracy of the German Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection Type A (GERAADA) Score and the European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (EuroSCORE II) was verified. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between June 2019 and June 2023, 109 patients with ATAAD underwent surgical treatment at our hospital (35 in the death group and 74 in the survival group). The differences in image parameters between the two groups were compared. Search for independent predictors and develop models that predict 30-day mortality in patients with ATAAD. GERAADA Score and EuroSCORE II were retrospectively calculated and indicated mortality was assessed using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. RESULTS: Logistic regression analysis showed that ascending aortic length and pericardial effusion were independent predictors of death within 30 days in patients with ATAAD. We constructed four models, GERAADA Score (Model 1), EuroSCORE II (Model 2), Model 1, ascending aorta length, and pericardial effusion (Model 3), and Model 2, ascending aorta length, and pericardial effusion (Model 4). The area under the curve (AUC = 0.832) of Model 3 was significantly different from those of Models 1 (AUC = 0.683) and 2 (AUC = 0.599), respectively (p < 0.05, DeLong test). CONCLUSIONS: Adding ascending aorta length and pericardial effusion to the GERAADA Score can improve the predictive power of 30-day mortality in patients with ATAAD.

Preclinical Advances in LNP-CRISPR Therapeutics for Solid Tumor Treatment.

Solid tumors, with their intricate cellular architecture and genetic heterogeneity, have long posed therapeutic challenges. The advent of the CRISPR genome editing system offers a promising, precise genetic intervention. However, the journey from bench to bedside is fraught with hurdles, chief among them being the efficient delivery of CRISPR components to tumor cells. Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have emerged as a potential solution. This biocompatible nanomaterial can encapsulate the CRISPR/Cas9 system, ensuring targeted delivery while mitigating off-target effects. Pre-clinical investigations underscore the efficacy of LNP-mediated CRISPR delivery, with marked disruption of oncogenic pathways and subsequent tumor regression. Overall, CRISPR/Cas9 technology, when combined with LNPs, presents a groundbreaking approach to cancer therapy, offering precision, efficacy, and potential solutions to current limitations. While further research and clinical testing are required, the future of personalized cancer treatment based on CRISPR/Cas9 holds immense promise.

Adhesion Energy-Assisted Low Contact Thermal Resistance Epoxy Resin-Based Composite.

Although intense efforts have been devoted to the development of thermally conductive epoxy resin composites, most previous works ignore the importance of the contact thermal resistance between epoxy resin composites and mating surfaces. Here, we report on epoxy resin/hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) composites, which show low contact thermal resistance with the contacting surface by tuning adhesion energy. We found that adhesion energy increases with increasing the ratio of soybean-based epoxy resin/amino silicone oil and h-BN contents. The adhesion energy has a negative correlation with the contact thermal resistance; that is, enhancing the adhesion energy will lead to reduced contact thermal resistance. The contact thermal conductance increases with the h-BN contents and is low to 0.025 mm2·K/W for the epoxy resin/60 wt % h-BN composites, which is consistent with the theoretically calculated value. By investigating the wettability and chain dynamics of the epoxy resin/h-BN composites, we confirm that the low contact thermal resistance stems from the increased intermolecular interaction between the epoxy resin chains. The present study provides a practical approach for the development of epoxy resin composites with enhanced thermal conductivity and reduced contact thermal resistance, aiming for effective thermal management of electronics.

Cardiac-specific deletion of heat shock protein 60 induces mitochondrial stress and disrupts heart development in mice.

Congenital heart diseases are the most common birth defects around the world. Emerging evidence suggests that mitochondrial homeostasis is required for normal heart development. In mitochondria, a series of molecular chaperones including heat shock protein 60 (HSP60) are engaged in assisting the import and folding of mitochondrial proteins. However, it remains largely obscure whether and how these mitochondrial chaperones regulate cardiac development. Here, we generated a cardiac-specific Hspd1 deletion mouse model by αMHC-Cre and investigated the role of HSP60 in cardiac development. We observed that deletion of HSP60 in embryonic cardiomyocytes resulted in abnormal heart development and embryonic lethality, characterized by reduced cardiac cell proliferation and thinner ventricular walls, highlighting an essential role of cardiac HSP60 in embryonic heart development and survival. Our results also demonstrated that HSP60 deficiency caused significant downregulation of mitochondrial ETC subunits and induced mitochondrial stress. Analysis of gene expression revealed that P21 that negatively regulates cell proliferation is significantly upregulated in HSP60 knockout hearts. Moreover, HSP60 deficiency induced activation of eIF2α-ATF4 pathway, further indicating the underlying mitochondrial stress in cardiomyocytes after HSP60 deletion. Taken together, our study demonstrated that regular function of mitochondrial chaperones is pivotal for maintaining normal mitochondrial homeostasis and embryonic heart development.

Natural organic small molecules promote the aging of plastic wastes and refractory carbon decomposition in water.

Microplastics and nanoplastics are ubiquitous in rivers and undergo environmental aging. However, the molecular mechanisms of plastic aging and the in-depth effects of aging on ecological functions remain unclear in waters. The synergies of microplastics and nanoplastics (polystyrene as an example) with natural organic small molecules (e.g., natural hyaluronic acid and vitamin C related to biological tissue decomposition) are the key to producing radicals (•OH and •C). The radicals promote the formation of bubbles on plastic surfaces and generate derivatives of plastics such as monomer and dimer styrene. Nanoplastics are easier to age than microplastics. Pristine plastics inhibit the microbial Shannon diversity index and evenness, but the opposite results are observed for aging plastics. Pristine plastics curb pectin decomposition (an indicator of plant-originated refractory carbon), but aging plastics promote pectin decomposition. Microplastics and nanoplastics undergoing aging processes enhance the carbon biogeochemical cycle. For example, the increased carbohydrate active enzyme diversity, especially the related glycoside hydrolase and functional species Pseudomonas and Clostridium, contributes to refractory carbon decomposition. Different from the well-studied toxicity and aging of plastic pollutants, this study connects plastic pollutants with biological tissue decomposition, biodiversity and climate change together in rivers.

Adverse birth outcomes and childhood overweight at age of 3-8 years in a prospective cohort study in Tianjin, China.

OBJECTIVES: To explore associations between adverse birth outcomes and childhood overweight at 3-8 years of age. DESIGN: A prospective cohort study. SETTING: Six central urban districts of Tianjin, China. PARTICIPANTS: 1681 woman-child pairs. METHODS: 1681 woman-child pairs were followed up for 8 years in Tianjin, China. Demographic and clinical information including birth outcomes was collected longitudinally, commencing from first antenatal care visit till postpartum period. Offspring height and weight were measured at 3-8 years of age. High and low weight/length ratios (WLR) at birth were, respectively, defined as ≥90th and ≤10th gestational week and sex-specific percentiles. Overweight for children at 3-5 and 6-8 years of age were, respectively, defined as body mass index (BMI)-for-age and -sex above the 2 z-score and 1 z-score curves of the WHO's child growth standards. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to obtain ORs and 95% CI with a stepwise backward selection method to select independent predictors. PRIMARY OUTCOMES MEASURES: Childhood overweight. RESULTS: Of 1681 children, 10.7% (n=179) and 27.8% (n=468) developed overweight at 3-5 and 6-8 years of age, respectively. Large for gestational age (LGA) was associated with increased risk of overweight at 3-5 years of age (aOR: 1.86, 95% CI: 1.27 to 2.72) while high WLR at birth was associated with increased risk of overweight at 6-8 years of age (1.82, 1.41 to 2.34). Low WLR at birth was associated with decreased risk of overweight at 6-8 years of age (0.52, 0.30 to 0.90). CONCLUSIONS: LGA and high WLR at birth predicted childhood overweight at 3-5 and 6-8 years of age, respectively. Low WLR at birth was associated with decreased risk of childhood overweight at 6-8 years of age.

Effects of Probiotic Lactiplantibacillus plantarum HJLP-1 on Growth Performance, Selected Antioxidant Capacity, Immune Function Indices in the Serum, and Cecal Microbiota in Broiler Chicken.

This research study aimed to investigate the effects of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) on growth performance, oxidation resistance, immunity, and cecal microbiota in broilers. This work classed three hundred and sixty 1-day-old male broilers into three groups randomly, including a control group (CON, basal diet) and antibiotic (ANT, 75 mg kg-1 chlortetracycline added into basal diet) and probiotic groups (LP, 5 × 108 CFU kg-1Lactiplantibacillus plantarum HJLP-1 contained within basal diet). Animals were then fed for 42 days, and each group comprised eight replicates with 15 broilers. Compared with CON, L. plantarum supplementation significantly improved the average daily weight gain (AWDG) (p < 0.05) while reducing the feed-gain ratio over the entire supplemental period (p < 0.05). Birds fed L. plantarum had markedly lower serum ammonia and xanthine oxidase levels (p < 0.05) than those in the ANT and CON groups. Significant improvements (p < 0.05) in superoxide dismutase, catalase, and serum IgM and IgY contents in broilers fed L. plantarum were also observed when compared with those in the CON and ANT groups. Both L. plantarum and antibiotics decreased pro-inflammatory factor IL-1ß levels significantly (p < 0.05), while only L. plantarum promoted anti-inflammatory factor IL-10 levels in the serum (p < 0.05) compared with CON. L. plantarum (p < 0.05) increased acetic acid and butyric acid concentrations in cecal contents when compared to those in CON and ANT. Among the differences revealed via 16S rRNA analysis, L. plantarum markedly improved the community richness of the cecal microbiota. At the genus level, the butyric acid-producing bacteria Ruminococcus and Lachnospiraceae were found in higher relative abundance in samples of L. plantarum-treated birds. In conclusion, dietary L. plantarum supplementation promoted the growth and health of broilers, likely by inducing a shift in broiler gut microbiota toward short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria. Therefore, L. plantarum has potential as an alternative to antibiotics in poultry breeding.

In Situ-Sprayed Bioinspired Adhesive Conductive Hydrogels for Cavernous Nerve Repair.

Cavernous nerve injury (CNI), resulting in erectile dysfunction (ED), poses a significant threat to the quality of life for men. Strategies utilizing conductive hydrogels have demonstrated promising results for the treatment of peripheral nerves with a large diameter (>2 mm). However, integrating convenient minimally invasive operation, antiswelling and immunomodulatory conductive hydrogels for treating small-diameter injured cavernous nerves remains a great challenge. Here, a sprayable adhesive conductive hydrogel (GACM) composed of gelatin, adenine, carbon nanotubes, and mesaconate designed for cavernous nerve repair is developed. Multiple hydrogen bonds provide GACM with excellent adhesive and antiswelling properties, enabling it to establish a conformal electrical bridge with the damaged nerve and aiding in the regeneration process. Additionally, mesaconate-loaded GACM suppresses the release of inflammatory factors by macrophages and promotes the migration and proliferation of Schwann cells. In vivo tests demonstrate that the GACM hydrogel repairs the cavernous nerve and restores erectile function and fertility. Furthermore, the feasibility of sprayable GACM in minimally invasive robotic surgery in beagles is validated. Given the benefits of therapeutic effectiveness and clinical convenience, the research suggests a promising future for sprayable GACM materials as advanced solutions for minimally invasive nerve repair.

Differences of Pine Wood Nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus) Developmental Stages under High-Osmotic-Pressure Stress.

Under ion imbalance, water deficiency, and salt stress, the osmotic pressure of the tree sap increases, and pine wood nematodes (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, PWN) parasitizing in the trees may be subjected to high-osmotic-pressure stress. KCl, L-malic acid, sucrose, and glycerol solutions were used as osmolytes to explore the highest osmotic concentration that PWN can tolerate. Survival analysis showed that when the treatment concentration exceeded 90%, only a few nematodes in the glycerol group survived under 6 h treatment, and most of the survivors were third-stage dispersal juveniles (DJ3). Further examination revealed that under different concentrations of glycerol-induced high osmotic pressure, the survival rate and body length change rate were the highest in the DJ3 and the lowest in the second-stage propagative juveniles. In order to explore the molecular mechanism of resistance of DJ3 to high osmotic stress, transcriptome sequencing was performed at each developmental stage of PWN and differentially expressed genes that were up-regulated or down-regulated only in DJ3 were screened. The expression of genes related to CoA in DJ3, a key enzyme in metabolism, was significantly higher than the other developmental stages. In addition, the expression of the anti-reversal signal pathway-related gene AKT-1 in DJ3 was significantly lower than in the other development stages. Therefore, the specific expression of genes in DJ3 under high osmotic pressure may help them rapidly produce and accumulate energy-related compounds and activate the adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway to respond to damage caused by high-osmotic-pressure stress in time, thus promoting survival.

A Review of Sensing Technologies for Indoor Autonomous Mobile Robots.

As a fundamental issue in robotics academia and industry, indoor autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) have been extensively studied. For AMRs, it is crucial to obtain information about their working environment and themselves, which can be realized through sensors and the extraction of corresponding information from the measurements of these sensors. The application of sensing technologies can enable mobile robots to perform localization, mapping, target or obstacle recognition, and motion tasks, etc. This paper reviews sensing technologies for autonomous mobile robots in indoor scenes. The benefits and potential problems of using a single sensor in application are analyzed and compared, and the basic principles and popular algorithms used in processing these sensor data are introduced. In addition, some mainstream technologies of multi-sensor fusion are introduced. Finally, this paper discusses the future development trends in the sensing technology for autonomous mobile robots in indoor scenes, as well as the challenges in the practical application environments.

Mechanical Stimulation of Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Hydrogels for Rapid Re-Epithelialization.

The epithelium, an essential barrier to protect organisms against infection, exists in many organs. However, rapid re-epithelialization to restore tissue integrity and function in an adverse environment is challenging. In this work, a long-term anti-inflammatory and antioxidant hydrogel with mechanical stimulation for rapid re-epithelialization, mainly composed of the small molecule thioctic acid, biocompatible glycine, and γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles is reported. Glycine-modified supramolecular thioctic acid is stable and possesses outstanding mechanical properties. The incorporating γ-Fe2O3 providing the potential contrast function for magnetic resonance imaging observation, can propel hydrogel reconfiguration to enhance the mechanical properties of the hydrogel underwater due to water-initiated release of Fe3+. In vitro experiments show that the hydrogels effectively reduced intracellular reactive oxygen species, guided macrophages toward M2 polarization, and alleviated inflammation. The effect of rapid re-epithelialization is ultimately demonstrated in a long urethral injury model in vivo, and the mechanical stimulation of hydrogels achieves effective functional replacement and ultimately accurate remodeling of the epithelium. Notably, the proposed strategy provides an advanced alternative treatment for patients in need of large-area epithelial reconstruction.

Low C0 and normal C16 and C18:1 masking the diagnosis of carnitine palmitoyltransferase II deficiency including a novel CPT2 variant: A case report.

The cases were a pair of siblings with a carnitine palmitoyltransferase (CPT2) deficiency detected by tandem mass spectrometry. Their C16 and C18:1 levels were both within the normal range, while C0 was low, and the (C16+C18:1)/C2 ratio was high. Following genetic testing, a novel CPT2 gene mutation was identified in both patients. The male patient had a normal growth rate during 5 years of follow-up after treatment. By contrast, the female patient did not take l-carnitine supplements and died after an infectious disease-associated illness when she was 1 year old. These data emphasize the need to raise awareness about CPT2 deficiency so as to correctly diagnose and accurately manage the disease.