Metrological traceable calibration of organic carbon and elemental carbon based on laboratory-generated reference materials.

Carbonaceous aerosol, including organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC), has significant influence on human health, air quality and climate change. Accurate measurement of carbonaceous aerosol is essential to reduce the uncertainty of radiative forcing estimation and source apportionment. The accurate separation of OC and EC is controversial due to the charring of OC. Therefore, the development of reference materials (RM) for the validation of OC/EC separation is an important basis for further study. Previous RMs were mainly based on ambient air sampling, which could not provide traceability of OC and EC concentration. To develop traceable RMs with known OC/EC contents, our study applied an improved aerosol generation and mixing technique, providing uniform deposition of particles on quartz filters. To generate OC aerosol with similar pyrolytic property of ambient aerosol, both water soluble organic carbon (WSOC) and water insoluble organic carbon (WIOC) were used, and amorphous carbon was selected for EC surrogate. The RMs were analyzed using different protocols. The homogeneity within the filter was validated, reaching below 2%. The long-term stability of RMs has been validated with RSD ranged from 1.7%-3.2%. Good correlation was observed between nominal concentration of RMs with measured concentration by two protocols, while the difference of EC concentration was within 20%. The results indicated that the newly developed RMs were acceptable for the calibration of OC and EC, which could improve the accuracy of carbonaceous aerosol measurement. Moreover, the laboratory-generated EC-RMs could be suitable for the calibration of equivalent BC concentration by Aethalometers.

17ß-Estradiol, through activating the G protein-coupled estrogen receptor, exacerbates the complication of benign prostatic hyperplasia in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients by inducing prostate proliferation.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the major chronic complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and sex steroid hormones are common risk factors for the occurrence of T2DM and BPH. The profiles of sex steroid hormones are simultaneously quantified by LC-MS/MS in the clinical serum of patients, including simple BPH patients, newly diagnosed T2DM patients, T2DM complicated with BPH patients and matched healthy individuals. The G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) inhibitor G15, GPER knockdown lentivirus, the YAP1 inhibitor verteporfin, YAP1 knockdown/overexpression lentivirus, targeted metabolomics analysis, and Co-IP assays are used to investigate the molecular mechanisms of the disrupted sex steroid hormones homeostasis in the pathological process of T2DM complicated with BPH. The homeostasis of sex steroid hormone is disrupted in the serum of patients, accompanying with the proliferated prostatic epithelial cells (PECs). The sex steroid hormone metabolic profiles of T2DM patients complicated with BPH have the greatest degrees of separation from those of healthy individuals. Elevated 17ß-estradiol (E2) is the key contributor to the disrupted sex steroid hormone homeostasis, and is significantly positively related to the clinical characteristics of T2DM patients complicated with BPH. Activating GPER by E2 via Hippo-YAP1 signaling exacerbates high glucose (HG)-induced PECs proliferation through the formation of the YAP1-TEAD4 heterodimer. Knockdown or inhibition of GPER-mediated Hippo-YAP1 signaling suppresses PECs proliferation in HG and E2 co-treated BPH-1 cells. The anti-proliferative effects of verteporfin, an inhibitor of YAP1, are blocked by YAP1 overexpression in HG and E2 co-treated BPH-1 cells. Inactivating E2/GPER/Hippo/YAP1 signaling may be effective at delaying the progression of T2DM complicated with BPH by inhibiting PECs proliferation.

Polydopamine-Cloaked Nanoarchitectonics of Prussian Blue Nanoparticles Promote Functional Recovery in Neonatal and Adult Ischemic Stroke Models.

Ischemic stroke is a devastating disease and one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. Overproduction of reactive oxygen species and inflammatory response contribute to secondary damage following ischemic insult. Nanozymes with robust anti-oxidative stress properties possess therapeutic possibility for ischemic insult. However, insufficiency of nanozyme accumulation in the neuronal mitochondria hindered their application. Herein, we constructed polydopamine-coated Prussian blue nanoparticles (PB@PDA NPs) to realize the targeting neuronal mitochondria for ischemic stroke, with the properties of antioxidant and anti-inflammation. After administration, much higher accumulation of PB@PDA NPs in the brain was observed compared to that in the PB NP group. Moreover, PB@PDA NPs effectively attenuated brain infarct than that of PB NPs in neonatal mice following hypoxia-ischemia (HI) insult. PB@PDA NPs mainly colocated with neuronal mitochondria in vivo and in vitro. Apart from attenuating oxidative stress, PB@PDA NPs also suppressed neuronal apoptosis and counteracted inflammation, which effectively promote a short- and long-term functional recovery in HI mice. Further, the therapeutic efficacy of PB@PDA NPs was also found in adult ischemic mice via tail vein injection. Collectively, these findings illustrate that PB@PDA NPs via system injection accumulate in neuronal mitochondria and are beneficial for ischemic stroke.

Development of a staging system for hepatoid adenocarcinoma of the stomach based on multicenter data: A retrospective cohort study: A Staging System for Hepatoid Adenocarcinoma of the Stomach.

BACKGROUND: Hepatoid adenocarcinoma of the stomach (HAS) is a rare subtype of gastric cancer (GC) with a poor prognosis. Furthermore, the current pathological staging system for HAS does not distinguish it from that for common gastric cancer (CGC). METHODS: The clinicopathological data of 251 patients with primary HAS who underwent radical surgery at 14 centers in China from April 2004 to December 2019 and 5082 patients with primary CGC who underwent radical surgery at 2 centers during the same period were retrospectively analyzed. A modified staging system was established based on the differences in survival. RESULTS: After 1:4 propensity score matching (PSM), 228 patients with HAS and 828 patients with CGC were analyzed. Kaplan-Meier (K-M) analysis showed patients with HAS had a poorer prognosis compared with CGC. Multivariate analysis identified pN stage, CEA level, and perineural invasion (PNI) as independent prognostic factors in patients with HAS. A modified pT (mpT) staging was derived using recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) incorporating PNI and pT staging. The modified pathological staging system (mpTNM) integrated the mpT and the 8th American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) pN definitions. Multivariate analysis showed that mpTNM stage outperformed other pathological variables as independent predictors of OS and RFS in patients with HAS. The mpTNM staging system exhibited significantly higher predictive accuracy for 3-year OS in patients with HAS (0.707, 95% CI: 0.650-0.763) compared to that of the 8th AJCC staging system (0.667, 95% CI: 0.610-0.723, P<0.05). Analysis using the Akaike information criterion favored the mpTNM staging system over the 8th AJCC staging system (824.69 vs. 835.94) regarding the goodness of fit. The mpTNM stages showed improved homogeneity in survival prediction (likelihood ratio: 41.51 vs. 27.10). Comparatively the mpTNM staging system outperformed the 8th AJCC staging system in survival prediction, supported by improvements in the net reclassification index (NRI: 47.7%) and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI: 0.083, P<0.05). Time-dependent ROC curve showed that the mpTNM staging system consistently outperformed the 8th AJCC staging system with increasing observation time. CONCLUSION: The mpTNM staging system exhibited superior postoperative prognostic accuracy for patients with HAS compared to the 8th AJCC staging system.

Genome characterization of a novel fowl adenovirus serotype 8b isolate and construction of the reverse genetic system for rapid genome manipulation.

Inclusion body hepatitis (IBH) induced by fowl adenovirus serotype 8b (FAdV-8b) infection is an important avian infectious disease circulating around the globe, posing significant losses to the poultry industry. In this study, a FAdV-8b strain, CH/SDQD/2021, was isolated from IBH-affected chickens in Shandong province, China and the genetic properties of CH/SDQD/2021 were characterized. The full genome length of CH/SDQD/2021 is 44,000 bp, with a G+C content of 58 % and 32 open reading frames (ORF). Sequencing alignment and phylogenetic analysis indicated that the genome identity of CH/SDQD/2021 compared to 30 other FAdV-E strains retrieved from GenBank ranges from 89.72 % to 96.71 %. Animal regression test indicated that CH/SDQD/2021 infection induced IBH in one-week-old SPF chickens. Subsequently, a reverse genetic system was developed to facilitate rapid genome manipulation of FAdV-8b for gene function study and vaccine development. To explore potential foreign gene insertion sites in FAdV-8b, ORF0-1-2, ORF11 and ORF19 of CH/SDQD/2021 were substituted by the green fluorescent gene ZsGreen, respectively, and the corresponding recombinant viruses were successfully rescued. The results showed that comparing with the parental FAdV-8b, the replication efficiency of the ORF0-1-2-substituted recombinant was reduced, while the replication efficiency of the ORF11-substituted recombinant was promoted. The findings of this study enrich the epidemiological data for the prevalent FAdV strains in China. Furthermore, the establishment of the FAdV-8b reverse genetic system will provide an efficient technique platform for FAdV-8b gene function research at the whole virus level and developing related multivalent vaccine candidates.

A Route to the Colorimetric Detection of Alpha-Fetoprotein Based on a Smartphone.

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a key marker for early cancer detection and assessment. However, the current detection methods struggle to balance accuracy with the need for decentralized medical treatment. To address this issue, a new AFP analysis platform utilizing digital image colorimetry has been developed. Functionalized gold nanoparticles act as colorimetric agents, changing from purple-red to light gray-blue when exposed to different AFP concentrations. A smartphone app captures these color changes and calculates the AFP concentration in the sample. To improve detection accuracy, a hardware device ensures uniform illumination. Testing has confirmed that this system can quantitatively analyze AFP using colorimetry. The limit of detection reached 0.083 ng/mL, and the average accuracy reached 90.81%. This innovative method enhances AFP testing by offering portability, precision, and low cost, making it particularly suitable for resource-limited areas.

Construction of acenaphthylenes via C-H activation-based tandem penta- and hexaannulation reactions.

Acenaphthylene-containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (AN-PAHs) are noteworthy structural motifs for organic functional materials due to their non-alternant electronic structure, which increases electron affinity. However, the synthesis of AN-PAHs has traditionally required multiple sequential synthetic steps, limiting structural diversity. Herein, we present a tandem C-H penta- and hexaannulation reaction of aryl alkyl ketone with acetylenedicarboxylate. This integrated approach enhances overall efficiency and selectivity, marking a significant advancement in AN-PAH synthesis. Mechanistic studies unveil an orchestrated extension of five- and six-membered rings through C-H activation-annulation and Diels-Alder reaction. Additionally, the tandem annulation reaction can be performed stepwise, further validating the proposed mechanism and increasing the structural diversity of AN-PAHs.

An inhalable nanoparticle enabling virulence factor elimination and antibiotics delivery for pneumococcal pneumonia therapy.

Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) is a major cause of community-acquired pneumonia. Current standard clinical therapies mainly focus on combating S. pneumoniae through antibiotics. However, the limited delivery of antibiotics and the undetoxified hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) virulence factor secreted by S. pneumoniae impede the therapeutic outcomes. Here we report an inhalable catalase (CAT)-tannic acid (TA) nanoassembly for local antibiotic (levofloxacin) delivery and simultaneously neutralizing the secreted H2O2 virulence factors to treat pneumococcal pneumonia. After aerosol inhalation, the inhalable formulation (denoted as CT@LVX) effectively accumulates in lung tissues through TA-mediated mucoadhesion. CAT can reduce alveolar epithelial cells apoptosis by catalyzing the decomposition of accumulated H2O2 in the infected lung tissues. In synergy with antibiotic LVX-mediated S. pneumoniae elimination, CT@LVX significantly decreases lung injury companied with reduced inflammatory, resulting in 100 % survival of mice with pneumonia. In a clinically isolated S. pneumoniae strain-induced pneumonia mouse model, CT@LVX also shows superior outcomes compared to the traditional antibiotic treatment, highlighting its potential clinical application prospects.

Hydrogen inhalation: A novel approach to alleviating allergic rhinitis symptoms by modulating nasal flora.

Background: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is an allergic reaction dominated by the Th2 immune response in the nasal mucosa. The bacterial infection process affects the balance between Th1 and Th2 immune responses, and the level of exposure to environmental flora is closely related to the development of AR. Hydrogen (H2) is a medical molecule with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. This study aimed to explore the possible mechanism of action of H2 on AR through its ability to regulate the balance of nasal flora. Methods: Serum eosinophil count (EOS), immunoglobulin E (IgE) concentration, visual analog scale (VAS), total nasal symptom score (TNSS), and rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire (RQLQ) were observed before and after hydrogen inhalation in AR patients. Skin prick test (SPT) was used to determine allergen sensitisation. Community composition and relative abundance of nasal flora were examined before and after hydrogen inhalation and in normal subjects using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Results: There were no adverse reactions during and after hydrogen inhalation in AR patients, with a favorable safety profile and significant improvements in VAS, TNSS, EOS, and IgE (P < 0.05). Cavity flora 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed higher abundance of Ruminococcus and Erysipelotrichaceae flora in the nasal cavity of AR patients than in normal subjects, and their abundance could be down-regulated after H2 inhalation. H2 significantly increased the abundance of Blautia_faecis and negatively correlated with VAS, TNSS, EOS, and IgE. Conclusions: H2 may improve symptoms in AR patients by modulating the distribution of nasal flora. Trials with larger sample sizes are required to further test this hypothesis. Trial registration: This trial was registered in the China Clinical Trial Registry (Registration No. ChiCTR2200062253).

Precisely Tunable Instantaneous Carbon Rearrangement Enables Low-Working-Potential Hard Carbon Toward Sodium-Ion Batteries with Enhanced Energy Density.

As the preferred anode material for sodium-ion batteries, hard carbon (HC) confronts significant obstacles in providing a long and dominant low-voltage plateau to boost the output energy density of full batteries. The critical challenge lies in precisely enhancing the local graphitization degree to minimize Na+ ad-/chemisorption, while effectively controlling the growth of internal closed nanopores to maximize Na+ filling. Unfortunately, traditional high-temperature preparation methods struggle to achieve both objectives simultaneously. Herein, a transient sintering-involved kinetically-controlled synthesis strategy is proposed that enables the creation of metastable HCs with precisely tunable carbon phases and low discharge/charge voltage plateaus. By optimizing the temperature and width of thermal pulses, the high-throughput screened HCs are characterized by short-range ordered graphitic micro-domains that possess accurate crystallite width and height, as well as appropriately-sized closed nanopores. This advancement realizes HC anodes with significantly prolonged low-voltage plateaus below 0.1 V, with the best sample exhibiting a high plateau capacity of up to 325 mAh g-1. The energy density of the HC||Na3V2(PO4)3 full battery can therefore be increased by 20.7%. Machine learning study explicitly unveils the "carbon phase evolution-electrochemistry" relationship. This work promises disruptive changes to the synthesis, optimization, and commercialization of HC anodes for high-energy-density sodium-ion batteries.

Modified montmorillonite armed probiotics with enhanced on-site mucus-depleted intestinal colonization and H2S scavenging for colitis treatment.

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are often associated with dysregulated gut microbiota and excessive inflammatory microenvironment. Probiotic therapy combined with inflammation management is a promising approach to alleviate IBD, but the efficacy is hindered by the inferior colonization of probiotics in mucus-depleted inflammatory bowel segments. Here, we present modified montmorillonite armed probiotic Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (MMT-Fe@EcN) with enhanced intestinal colonization and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) scavenging for synergistic alleviation of IBD. The montmorillonite layer that can protect EcN against environmental assaults in oral delivery and improve on-site colonization of EcN in the mucus-depleted intestinal segment due to its strong adhesive capability and electronegativity, with a 22.6-fold increase in colonization efficiency compared to EcN. Meanwhile, MMT-Fe@EcN can manage inflammation by scavenging H2S, which allows for enhancing probiotic viability and colonization for restoring the gut microbiota. As a result, MMT-Fe@EcN exhibits extraordinary therapeutic effects in the dextran sulfate sodium-induced mouse colitis models, including alleviating intestinal inflammation and restoring disrupted intestinal barrier function, and gut microbiota. These findings provide a promising strategy for clinical IBD treatment and potentially other mucus-depletion-related diseases.

Systematic discovery of DNA-binding tandem repeat proteins.

Tandem repeat proteins (TRPs) are widely distributed and bind to a wide variety of ligands. DNA-binding TRPs such as zinc finger (ZNF) and transcription activator-like effector (TALE) play important roles in biology and biotechnology. In this study, we first conducted an extensive analysis of TRPs in public databases, and found that the enormous diversity of TRPs is largely unexplored. We then focused our efforts on identifying novel TRPs possessing DNA-binding capabilities. We established a protein language model for DNA-binding protein prediction (PLM-DBPPred), and predicted a large number of DNA-binding TRPs. A subset was then selected for experimental screening, leading to the identification of 11 novel DNA-binding TRPs, with six showing sequence specificity. Notably, members of the STAR (Short TALE-like Repeat proteins) family can be programmed to target specific 9 bp DNA sequences with high affinity. Leveraging this property, we generated artificial transcription factors using reprogrammed STAR proteins and achieved targeted activation of endogenous gene sets. Furthermore, the members of novel families such as MOON (Marine Organism-Originated DNA binding protein) and pTERF (prokaryotic mTERF-like protein) exhibit unique features and distinct DNA-binding characteristics, revealing interesting biological clues. Our study expands the diversity of DNA-binding TRPs, and demonstrates that a systematic approach greatly enhances the discovery of new biological insights and tools.

Carbon emissions from the 2023 Canadian wildfires.

The 2023 Canadian forest fires have been extreme in scale and intensity with more than seven times the average annual area burned compared to the previous four decades1. Here, we quantify the carbon emissions from these fires from May to September 2023 on the basis of inverse modelling of satellite carbon monoxide observations. We find that the magnitude of the carbon emissions is 647 TgC (570-727 TgC), comparable to the annual fossil fuel emissions of large nations, with only India, China and the USA releasing more carbon per year2. We find that widespread hot-dry weather was a principal driver of fire spread, with 2023 being the warmest and driest year since at least 19803. Although temperatures were extreme relative to the historical record, climate projections indicate that these temperatures are likely to be typical during the 2050s, even under a moderate climate mitigation scenario (shared socioeconomic pathway, SSP 2-4.5)4. Such conditions are likely to drive increased fire activity and suppress carbon uptake by Canadian forests, adding to concerns about the long-term durability of these forests as a carbon sink5-8.

The association of blood urea nitrogen-to-creatinine ratio and in-hospital mortality in acute ischemic stroke patients with atrial fibrillation: data from the MIMIC-IV database.

Objective: This research aimed to investigate the association between the blood urea nitrogen-to-creatinine (BUN/Cr) ratio and the rate of in-hospital mortality in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and atrial fibrillation (AF), who are also receiving care in intensive care unit (ICU). Methods: A retrospective study was conducted using the MIMIC-IV database. We collected data on BUN/Cr levels at admission for patients with AIS and concurrent AF. To assess the association between BUN/Cr and in-hospital mortality rate, statistical analysis was conducted employing multivariable logistic regression models and restricted cubic spline models. These models were utilized to investigate the potential relationship and provide insights into the impact of BUN/Cr on the likelihood of in-hospital mortality. Interaction and subgroup analyses were performed to evaluate the consistency of the correlation. Results: There were a total of 856 patients (age ≥ 18 years) with a median age of 78.0 years, of which 466 (54.4%) were female. Out of 856 patients, 182 (21.26%) died in the hospital. Upon controlling for confounding factors, the multivariable logistic regression analysis elucidated that patients falling within the third trisection (Q3 > 22.41 mg/dL) exhibited a noticeably increased susceptibility to in-hospital mortality when contrasted with their counterparts positioned in the second trisection (Q2: 17.2-22.41 mg/dL) (OR = 2.02, 95% CI: 1.26-3.26, p = 0.004). A non-linear J-shaped relationship was observed between BUN/Cr at ICU admission and in-hospital mortality rate (p = 0.027), with a turning point at 19.63 mg/dL. In the threshold analysis, there was a 4% rise in in-hospital mortality for each 1 mg/dL increase in BUN/Cr (OR: 1.04, 95% CI: 1.01-1.06, p = 0.012). Conclusion: In patients with AIS complicated by AF, BUN/Cr at admission shows a J-shaped correlation with in-hospital mortality rate. When BUN/Cr exceeds 19.63 mg/dL, the in-hospital mortality rate increases.

Relationship among micro-pollutants, economic growth, renewable energy, nanotechnology and ecological foot prints of China: evidence from panel data analysis.

An important concern is the availability of clean drinking water, which is an essential need for human survival. This issue arises due to the existence of hazardous micropollutants originating from various emission sources. Nanotechnology aids in the mitigation of micropollutants by assimilating and counteracting their effects, hence diminishing their influence on water and other ecosystems. The study investigates the relationship between nanotechnological progress, the adoption of renewable energy, environmental consequences, and economic growth in China, using the Environmental Kuznets Curve theory as a conceptual framework. The study employs panel cointegration tests to analyze structural breaks from 2000 to 2020. Nanotechnology is expected to reduce environmental degradation and the presence of micro-pollutants by increasing the use of renewable energy and promoting energy conservation. Nanotechnology is crucial for mitigating micro-pollutants and advancing sustainable development in this specific context. However, the literature also highlights the harmful consequences of nanoparticle emissions caused by nanotechnology on human and environmental health for a long duration, requiring more examination. This research is the first empirical inquiry into the relationship between improvements in nanotechnology, the use of renewable energy, economic growth, and ecological effect, all within the context of the Environmental Kuznets Curve theory. The results confirm the successful incorporation of all components with a focus on long-term outcomes. The findings suggest that the EKC hypothesis is relevant in China. In China, advancements in nanotechnology have a moderating effect on environmental degradation. The use of renewable energy sources in China enhances environmental circumstances. Given the offered empirical evidence, it is advisable for the government to have a leading role in the development of innovative nanotechnologies that have low emissions of nanoparticles. By using this approach, it will be possible to encourage the conservation of energy and the use of renewable sources in a more secure way, hence improving the effectiveness of sustainable development initiatives.

The role of halophyte-induced saline fertile islands in soil microbial biogeochemical cycling across arid ecosystems.

Halophyte shrubs, prevalent in arid regions globally, create saline fertile islands under their canopy. This study investigates the soil microbial communities and their energy utilization strategies associated with tamarisk shrubs in arid ecosystems. Shotgun sequencing revealed that high salinity in tamarisk islands reduces functional gene alpha-diversity and relative abundance compared to bare soils. However, organic matter accumulation within islands fosters key halophilic archaea taxa such as Halalkalicoccus, Halogeometricum, and Natronorubrum, linked to processes like organic carbon oxidation, nitrous oxide reduction, and sulfur oxidation, potentially strengthening the coupling of nutrient cycles. In contrast, bare soils harbor salt-tolerant microbes with genes for autotrophic energy acquisition, including carbon fixation, H2 or CH4 consumption, and anammox. Additionally, isotope analysis shows higher microbial carbon use efficiency, N mineralization, and denitrification activity in tamarisk islands. Our findings demonstrate that halophyte shrubs serve as hotspots for halophilic microbes, enhancing microbial nutrient transformation in saline soils.

Investigating the filtration performance and service life of vehicle cabin air filters in China.

To protect occupants in vehicle cabin environments from the health risks of high concentrations of particulate matter (PM), it is important to install vehicle cabin air filter (VCAF) to eliminate PM. In this study, we investigated the filtration performance of 22 VCAFs. Results showed that the minimum average filtration efficiency was 56.1 % for particles with a diameter of 0.1-0.3 µm, a pressure drop of 33.2-250 Pa at air velocity of 2.5 m/s, and the dust-holding capacity ranged from 5.8 to 19.4 g. In addition, as the filter area increased from 0.23 m2 to 0.50 m2, the filtration efficiency for particles with a diameter of 0.1-0.3 µm increased from 56.7 % to 77.5 %, the pressure drop decreased from 96.1 to 62.5 Pa, and the dust holding capacity increased 2.7 times. Furthermore, we compared the service life of VCAF from 31 major Chinese cities and found that the service life varied greatly from maximum of 1730 h for Haikou to minimum of 352 h for Shijiazhuang. Considering occupant health risks, Beijing requires that VCAFs have PM2.5 filtration efficiency at least 88.1 %, and Liaoning requires minimum of 97.5 %. Hence, choosing the appropriate VCAF based on the atmospheric environment of different cities deserves our attention.

What tool or method do you wish existed?

We asked researchers from a range of disciplines across biology, engineering, and medicine to describe a current technological need. The goal is to provide a sample of the various technological gaps that exist and inspire future research projects.

Differential games in the supply chain of innovative products with consumer purchase regret induced returns.

Innovative products entering the market will cause dynamic changes in market demand, and consumers' purchase regret and their return behavior make the market environment more and more complex, which in turn affects the dynamic decision-making in the supply chain. In this paper, under the situation of discrete decision time, combining with the objective reality, we make discrete modification to the classical Bass diffusion model (Bass model), construct a manufacturer-led, retailer-followed supply chain differential game model, analyze the optimal decision-making of the manufacturer and the retailer by combining with the theory of discrete optimal control, and then verify the conclusions by numerical simulation. The results show that: when retailers purchase directly from the manufacturer and sell in the market, the optimal pricing of the innovative product can make the supply chain as a whole, realizing Pareto optimality; consumer's purchase regret will increase the amount of returns, which will lead to the decrease of product sales and the profits of the manufacturer and the retailer; when the innovative product accounts for a different share of the market, the impact of purchase regret on the wholesale price and the retail price are also different. Therefore, manufacturers need to have an extensive comprehension of the market to minimize the negative effects of consumer regret and returns, and to formulate a reasonable pricing strategy for their products to gain as much profit as possible.

In situ implantable DNA hydrogel for diagnosis and therapy of postoperative rehemorrhage following intracerebral hemorrhage surgery.

Postoperative rehemorrhage following intracerebral hemorrhage surgery is intricately associated with a high mortality rate, yet there is now no effective clinical treatment. In this study, we developed a hemoglobin (Hb)-responsive in situ implantable DNA hydrogel comprising Hb aptamers cross-linked with two complementary chains and encapsulating deferoxamine mesylate (DFO). Functionally, the hydrogel generates signals upon postoperative rehemorrhage by capturing Hb, demonstrating a distinctive "self-diagnosis" capability. In addition, the ongoing capture of Hb mediates the gradual disintegration of the hydrogel, enabling the on-demand release of DFO without compromising physiological iron-dependent functions. This process achieves self-treatment by inhibiting the ferroptosis of neurocytes. In a collagenase and autologous blood injection model-induced mimic postoperative rehemorrhage model, the hydrogel exhibited a 5.58-fold increase in iron absorption efficiency, reducing hematoma size significantly (from 8.674 to 4.768 cubic millimeters). This innovative Hb-responsive DNA hydrogel not only offers a therapeutic intervention for postoperative rehemorrhage but also provides self-diagnosis feedback, holding notable promise for enhancing clinical outcomes.