Mechanistic study of leukopenia treatment by Qijiao shengbai Capsule via the Bcl2/Bax/CASAPSE3 pathway.

Background: Leukopenia can be caused by chemotherapy, which suppresses bone marrow function and can impact the effectiveness of cancer treatment. Qijiao Shengbai Capsule (QJSB) is commonly used to treat leukopenia, but the specific bioactive components and mechanisms of action are not well understood. Objectives and results: This study aimed to analyze the active ingredients of QJSB and its potential targets for treating leukopenia using network pharmacology and molecular docking. Through a combination of serum pharmacochemistry, multi-omics, network pharmacology, and validation experiments in a murine leukopenia model, the researchers sought to understand how QJSB improves leukopenia. The study identified 16 key components of QJSB that act in vivo to increase the number of white blood cells in leukopenic mice. Multi-omics analysis and network pharmacology revealed that the PI3K-Akt and MAPK signaling pathways are important in the treatment of leukopenia with QJSB. Five specific targets (JUN, FOS, BCl-2, CASPAS-3) were identified as key targets. Conclusion: Validation experiments confirmed that QJSB regulates genes related to cell growth and inhibits apoptosis, suggesting that apoptosis may play a crucial role in leukopenia development and that QJSB may improve immune function by regulating apoptotic proteins and increasing CD4+ T cell count in leukopenic mice.

Spraying calcium chloride helps to enhance the resistance of kidney bean plants to western flower thrips.

BACKGROUND: The western flower thrips (WFT), Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), is a significant pest in horticulture and ornamental agriculture. While exogenous calcium (Ca) has been shown to confer plant immune responses against thrips, the detailed mechanisms of this interaction remain to be elucidated for improved thrips management strategies. This study aimed to assess the impact of exogenous Ca on WFT feeding behavior and to explore its role in enhancing the defense mechanisms of kidney bean plants against WFT attacks. We compared WFT feeding preferences and efficiency on kidney bean plants treated with H2O or Ca, and examined whether exogenous Ca improves plant defense responses to thrips attack. RESULTS: WFT exhibited less preference for feeding on Ca-treated plants over H2O-treated ones. The total duration of WFT's long-ingestion probes was significantly reduced on Ca-treated plants, indicating impaired feeding efficiency. Furthermore, WFT infestation activated both jasmonic acid (JA) and salicylic acid (SA) signaling pathways in kidney bean plants, and exogenous Ca application led to elevated levels of endogenous Ca2+ and CaM, up-regulation of genes associated with JA and SA pathways (LOX, AOS, PAL, and ß-1,3-glucanase), and increased accumulation of JA, SA, flavonoids, and alkaloids. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate that the application of exogenous Ca enhances endogenous Ca2+, JA, and SA signaling pathways in kidney bean plants. This enhancement results in an up-regulation of the biosynthesis of flavonoid and alkaloid, thereby equipping the plants with an enhanced defense against WFT infestation. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Exploration of the association between new "Life's Essential 8" with hyperuricemia and gout among US adults.

BACKGROUND: Previous researches have reported the relationship between uric acid and cardiovascular disease. We aimed to investigate the association of Life's Essential 8, a recently updated measurement of cardiovascular health, with the prevalence of hyperuricemia (HUA) and gout among US adults. Additionally, we also explored the relationship between LE8 and all-cause mortality among patients with HUA or gout. METHODS: Participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2007-2016 were involved in this study. LE8 score was categorized into low, moderate, high CVH groups according to American Heart Association definitions. Multivariable logistic regression and cox regression analyses, restricted cubic spline models, subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis were used to explore the associations. RESULTS: A total of 23,619 adult participants were included in this study, which included 4,775 hyperuricemia patients and 1,055 gout patients. Among all participants, the overall median LE8 score was 65.62 (21.25) and the prevalence of hyperuricemia and gout of were 20.2% and 4.5%, respectively. After fully adjusted the potential confounders, participants in high CVH group had a lower prevalence of hyperuricemia and gout compared with the low CVH group, with a OR (95%CI) of 0.50 (0.39-0.63) and 0.50 (0.30-0.82), respectively. The restricted cubic spline showed a significantly inverse relationship between LE8 and hyperuricemia and gout. Similar patterns were also identified in the association between LE8 scores and all-cause mortality in HUA and gout patients. CONCLUSIONS: Higher LE8 scores are associated with lower risk and lower all-cause mortality of HUA and gout among US adults. Adherence to optimal CVH metrics may be an appropriate prevention and management strategy for reducing the socioeconomic burden of hyperuricemia and gout.

Periodic Domain Inversion in Single Crystal Barium Titanate-on-Insulator Thin Film.

Experimentally achieving the first-ever electric field periodic poling of single crystal barium titanate oxide (BTO, or BaTiO3) thin film on-insulator is reported. Owing to the outstanding optical nonlinearities of BTO, this result is a key step toward achieving quasi-phase-matching (QPM). First, the BTO thin film is grown on a dysprosium scandate substrate using pulsed laser deposition with a thin layer of strontium ruthenate later serving as the bottom electrode for poling. The characterization of the BTO thin film using x-ray diffraction (XRD) and piezo-response force microscopy to demonstrate single crystal, single domain growth of the film that enables the desired periodic poling, are presented. To investigate the poling quality, both non-destructive piezo force response microscopy and destructive etching-assisted scanning electron microscopy (SEM) are applied, and it is shown that high quality, uniform, and intransient poling with 50% duty cycle and periods ranging from 2 µm to 10 µm is achieved. The successful realization of periodic poling in BTO thin film unlocks the potential for highly efficient nonlinear processes under QPM that seemed far-fetched with prior polycrystalline BTO thin films which predominantly relied on efficiency-limited random or non-phase matching conditions and is a key step toward integration of BTO photonic devices.

Titanium boride nanosheets with photo-enhanced sonodynamic efficiency for glioblastoma treatment.

Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) has garnered significant attention in cancer treatment, however, the low-yield reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation from sonosensitizers remains a major challenge. In this study, titanium boride nanosheets (TiB2 NSs) with photo-enhanced sonodynamic efficiency was fabricated for SDT of glioblastoma (GBM). Compared with commonly-used TiO2 nanoparticles, the obtained TiB2 NSs exhibited much higher ROS generation efficiency under ultrasound (US) irradiation due to their narrower band gap (2.50 eV). Importantly, TiB2 NSs displayed strong localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect in the second near-infrared (NIR II) window, which facilitated charge transfer rate and improved the separation efficiency of US-triggered electron-hole pairs, leading to photo-enhanced ROS generation efficiency. Furthermore, TiB2 NSs were encapsulated with macrophage cell membranes (CM) and then modified with RGD peptide to construct biomimetic nanoagents (TiB2@CM-RGD) for efficient blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetrating and GBM targeting. After intravenous injection into the tumor-bearing mouse, TiB2@CM-RGD can efficiently cross BBB and accumulate in the tumor sites. The tumor growth was significantly inhibited under simultaneous NIR II laser and US irradiation without causing appreciable long-term toxicity. Our work highlighted a new type of multifunctional titanium-based sonosensitizer with photo-enhanced sonodynamic efficiency for GBM treatment. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Titanium boride nanosheets (TiB2 NSs) with photo-enhanced sonodynamic efficiency was fabricated for SDT of glioblastoma (GBM). The obtained TiB2 NSs displayed strong localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect in the second near-infrared (NIR II) window, which facilitated charge transfer rate and improved the separation efficiency of US-triggered electron-hole pairs, leading to photo-enhanced ROS generation efficiency. Furthermore, TiB2 NSs were encapsulated with macrophage cell membranes (CM) and then modified with RGD peptide to construct biomimetic nanoagents (TiB2@CM-RGD) for efficient blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetrating and GBM targeting. After intravenous injection into the tumor-bearing mouse, TiB2@CM-RGD can efficiently cross BBB and accumulate in the tumor sites. The tumor growth was significantly inhibited under simultaneous NIR II laser and US irradiation without causing appreciable long-term toxicity.

Pharmacokinetics and safety profiles of beinaglutide injection, a recombinant human GLP-1, in adults with overweight/obesity: results from a phase I clinical trial.

Background: Beinaglutide, whose active ingredient is rhGLP-1, has been widely used as a pharmacological therapy for T2DM. We explored the safety and pharmacokinetics of beinaglutide in Chinese overweight/obese volunteers to lay a foundation for clinical applications of beinaglutide as an anti-obesity drug. Methods: An open-label, single center, multiple ascending dose phase I clinical trial was conducted in 16 overweight/obese Chinese volunteers. The plasma concentrations of beinaglutide were determined by a validated ELISA method and the pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated via non-compartmental analysis methods. Adverse events were also recorded. Results: Beinaglutide sequentially multiple dosing (three times daily) at different doses were generally well tolerated, without serious AEs leading to discontinuation of the trial. After multiple subcutaneous injections of different doses (0.1, 0.14 and 0.2 mg), the average blood concentration of beinaglutide with or without baseline correction showed a similar trend among different dose groups on different study days. After reaching the peak concentration around 15 min, it began to decrease, and the median of Tmax and Tmax,adj was 10-15 min. The exposure in vivo increased in proportion to the dosage increment, demonstrating linear pharmacokinetic characteristics. There were no statistically significant differences in the main PK parameters and no accumulation of beinaglutide after multiple dosing. After multiple subcutaneous injections, a gender difference was observed, while no differences in BMI were found under the grouping conditions. Conclusion: The safety profile and pharmacokinetic properties support further development and clinical applications of beinaglutide as an anti-obesity drug. Systematic Review Registration: [https://register.clinicaltrials.gov/prs/app/action/SelectProtocol?sid=S000BPEI&selectaction=Edit&uid=U00050YQ&ts=2&cx=wy0ioj].

Characterization of sequence variations in the extended flanking regions using massively parallel sequencing in 21 A-STRs and 21 Y-STRs.

In forensic genetics, utilizing massively parallel sequencing (MPS) to analyze short tandem repeats (STRs) has demonstrated several advantages compared to conventional capillary electrophoresis (CE). Due to the current technical limitations, although flanking region polymorphisms had been mentioned in several previous studies, most studies focused on the core repeat regions of STRs or the variations in the adjacent flanking regions. In this study, we developed an MPS system consisting of two sets of multiplex PCR systems to detect not only the STR core repeat regions but also to observe variants located at relatively distant positions in the flanking regions. The system contained 42 commonly used forensic STRs, including 21 autosomal STRs (A-STRs) and 21 Y-chromosomal STRs (Y-STRs), and a total of 350 male individuals from a Chinese Han population were genotyped. The length and sequence variants per locus were tallied and categorized based on length (length-based, LB), sequence without flanking region (core repeat regions sequence-based, RSB), and sequence with flanking region (core repeat and flanking regions sequence-based, FSB), respectively. Allele frequencies, Y-haplotype frequencies, and forensic parameters were calculated based on LB, RSB, and FSB, respectively, to evaluate the improvement in discrimination power, heterozygosity, and effectiveness of forensic systems. The results suggested the sequence variations have more influence on A-STRs and could improve the identification ability of MPS-STR genotyping. Concordance between MPS and CE methods was confirmed by using commercial CE-based STR kits. The impact of flanking region variations on STR genotype analysis and potential factors contributing to discordances were discussed. A total of 58 variations in the flanking regions (53 SNPs/SNVs and 5 InDels) were observed and most variations (48/58) were distributed in A-STRs. In summary, this study delved deeper into the genetic information of forensic commonly used STR and advanced the application of massively parallel sequencing in forensic genetics.

Synergizing postharvest physiology and nanopackaging for edible mushroom preservation.

The cultivation of edible mushrooms is increasing because of their widely recognized nutritional benefits. Advancements in cultivation techniques have facilitated large-scale mushroom production, meeting the growing consumer demand. This rise in cultivation has led to an increasingly urgent demand for advanced postharvest preservation methods to extend the shelf life of these mushrooms. The postharvest preservation of fresh edible mushrooms involves complex physiological changes and metabolic activities closely associated with gas composition, microbial presence, moisture content, ambient temperature, and enzymatic activity. Preserving edible mushrooms through various preservation strategies (physical, chemical, biological, and nanopackaging approaches) relies on regulating postharvest factors. Nanopackaging can preserve mushrooms' sensory and nutritional qualities due to the specific characteristics of nanomaterials, such as antimicrobial properties and gas/moisture barriers. Furthermore, the review explores current trends, fundamental mechanisms, and upcoming challenges in utilizing nanomaterials, particularly their capacity to enhance the "cell wall" integrity of edible mushrooms by regulating postharvest factors.

The structural basis for the collagen processing by human P3H1/CRTAP/PPIB ternary complex.

Collagen posttranslational processing is crucial for its proper assembly and function. Disruption of collagen processing leads to tissue development and structure disorders like osteogenesis imperfecta (OI). OI-related collagen processing machinery includes prolyl 3-hydroxylase 1 (P3H1), peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase B (PPIB), and cartilage-associated protein (CRTAP), with their structural organization and mechanism unclear. We determine cryo-EM structures of the P3H1/CRTAP/PPIB complex. The active sites of P3H1 and PPIB form a face-to-face bifunctional reaction center, indicating a coupled modification mechanism. The structure of the P3H1/CRTAP/PPIB/collagen peptide complex reveals multiple binding sites, suggesting a substrate interacting zone. Unexpectedly, a dual-ternary complex is observed, and the balance between ternary and dual-ternary states can be altered by mutations in the P3H1/PPIB active site and the addition of PPIB inhibitors. These findings provide insights into the structural basis of collagen processing by P3H1/CRTAP/PPIB and the molecular pathology of collagen-related disorders.

Ping, pong, and freeze: Structural insights into the inhibition of ceramide synthase by Fumonisin B1.

Fumonisin B1 (FB1) targets sphingolipid biosynthesis, inhibiting ceramide synthases. In this issue of Structure, Zhang et al.1 determined the cryoelectron microscopic structures of yeast ceramide synthase in complex with FB1 and its acylated derivative, acyl-FB1, revealing a two-step "ping-pong" mechanism for the N-acylation of FB1 and how it inhibits ceramide synthase.

Macrophage Membrane Spontaneously Encapsulated Cyclodextrin-Based Nanomedicines for Improving Lipid Metabolism and Inflammation in Atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis is a persistent inflammatory condition of the blood vessels associated with abnormalities in lipid metabolism. Development of biomimetic nanoplatforms provides an effective strategy. Herein, inspired by the peptide CLIKKPF spontaneously coupling to phosphatidylserine (PS) on the inner leaflet of cell membranes specifically, MM@NPs were constructed by macrophage membrane spontaneous encapsulation of cyclodextrin-based nanoparticles modified with the peptide CLIKKPF and loaded with the hydrophobic compound resveratrol. MM@NPs could be specifically phagocytized by the activated endothelium with the overexpressed VCAM-1 for enhancing target delivery into the pathological lesion. Additionally, for the ApoE-/- mice, MM@NPs provide comprehensive treatment efficiency in reducing oxidant stress, alleviating the inherent inflammation, and decreasing cholesterol deposition, subsequently resulting in the atherosclerotic plaque regression. Therefore, MM@NPs could be one possible candidate for improving lipid metabolism and inflammation in atherosclerosis.

The m6A regulators in prostate cancer: molecular basis and clinical perspective.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second leading cause of cancer-related death among men in western countries. Evidence has indicated the significant role of the androgen receptor (AR) as the main driving factor in controlling the development of PCa, making androgen receptor inhibition (ARI) therapy a pivotal management approach. In addition, AR independent signaling pathways also contribute to PCa progression. One such signaling pathway that has garnered our attention is N6-Methyladenosine (m6A) signaling, which refers to a chemical modification on RNA with crucial roles in RNA metabolism and disease progression, including PCa. It is important to comprehensively summarize the role of each individual m6A regulator in PCa development and understand its interaction with AR signaling. This review aims to provide a thorough summary of the involvement of m6A regulators in PCa development, shedding light on their upstream and downstream signaling pathways. This summary sets the stage for a comprehensive review that would benefit the scientific community and clinical practice by enhancing our understanding of the biology of m6A regulators in the context of PCa.

Neuroimmune interactions in the development and chronification of migraine headache.

Migraine is highly prevalent and debilitating. The persistent headaches in this condition are thought to arise from the activation and sensitization of the trigeminovascular pathway. Both clinical and animal model studies have suggested that neuroimmune interactions contribute to the pathophysiology of migraine headache. In this review, we first summarize the findings from human studies implicating the dysregulation of the immune system in migraine, including genetic analyses, measurement of circulatory factors, and neuroimaging data. We next discuss recent advances from rodent studies aimed at elucidating the neuroimmune interactions that manifest at various levels of the trigeminovascular pathway and lead to the recruitment of innate and adaptive immune cells as well as immunocompetent glial cells. These cells reciprocally modulate neuronal activity via multiple pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators, thereby regulating peripheral and central sensitization. Throughout the discussions, we highlight the potential clinical and translational implications of the findings.

Listeria monocytogenes: possible mechanism of infection of goat uterus and its effects on uterine autophagy and cell apoptosis.

Listeriosis is highly prevalent in the animal farming industry, with Listeria monocytogenes as the causative pathogen. To identify potential therapeutic targets for LM infection, we investigated the mechanisms of LM infection in goat uteri. We inoculated a group of goats with LM via jugular vein injection, isolated and raised them, and subsequently collected sterile samples of their uterine tissue after they exhibited clinical symptoms of LM infection. We used Giemsa staining, immunohistochemical staining, real-time qPCR, and Western blotting as experimental methods.First, we investigated the mechanism of Listeria monocytogenes (LM) infection in the goat uterus by examining the expression levels of listeriolysin O, E-cadherin, and tyrosine kinase c-Met in the uterus.Furthermore, we investigated the impact of LM infection on uterine autophagy and cell apoptosis. The results indicate that the injection of LM into the goats' jugular veins leads to LM infection in the goats' uteri. During LM survival inside the goat uterine cells, there is a significant increase in the expression levels of LLO, E-cadherin, and c-Met in the host uterine tissue. This suggests that LM may potentially infect goat uteri through the InlA/E-cadherin and InlB/c-Met pathways. Furthermore, LM infection increases the levels of apoptosis and autophagy in goat uteri. Apoptosis genes Bcl-2 and Bax, as well as autophagy-related genes LC3B, PINK1, and Parkin, exhibit varying degrees of changes in localization and expression in goat uteri, mediating the occurrence of apoptotic and autophagic responses.

Future worldwide coronavirus disease 2019 epidemic predictions by Gaidai multivariate risk evaluation method.

Accurate estimation of pandemic likelihood in every US state of interest and at any time. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious illness with a high potential for global dissemination and low rates of fatality and morbidity, placing some strains on national public health systems. This research intends to benchmark a novel technique, that enables hazard assessment, based on available clinical data, and dynamically observed patient numbers while taking into account pertinent territorial and temporal mapping. Multicentre, population-based, and biostatistical strategies have been utilized to process raw/unfiltered medical survey data. The expansion of extreme value statistics from the univariate to the bivariate situation meets with numerous challenges. First, the univariate extreme value types theorem cannot be directly extended to the bivariate (2D) case,-not to mention challenges with system dimensionality higher than 2D. Assessing outbreak risks of future outbreaks in any nation/region of interest. Existing bio-statistical approaches do not always have the benefits of effectively handling large regional dimensionality and cross-correlation between various regional observations. These methods deal with temporal observations of multi-regional phenomena. Apply contemporary, novel statistical/reliability techniques directly to raw/unfiltered clinical data. The current study outlines a novel bio-system hazard assessment technique that is particularly suited for multi-regional environmental, bio, and public health systems, observed over a representative period. With the use of the Gaidai multivariate hazard assessment approach, epidemic outbreak spatiotemporal risks may be properly assessed. Based on raw/unfiltered clinical survey data, the Gaidai multivariate hazard assessment approach may be applied to a variety of public health applications. The study's primary finding was an assessment of the risks of epidemic outbreaks, along with a matching confidence range. Future global COVID-19/severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV2) epidemic risks have been examined in the current study; however, COVID-19/SARS-COV2 infection transmission mechanisms have not been discussed.

Correlations of PSGL-1 VNTR polymorphism with the susceptibility to severe HFMD associated with EV-71 and the immune status after infection.

Enterovirus 71 (EV-71) has strong neurotropism, and it is the main pathogen causing severe hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD). In clinical observations, significant differences were observed in the severity and prognosis of HFMD among children who were also infected with EV-71. Genetic differences among individuals could be one of the important causes of differences in susceptibility to EV-71-induced HFMD. As P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) is an important receptor of EV-71, the correlation between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in PSGL-1 and the susceptibility to severe HFMD following EV-71 infection is worth studying. Given the role of PSGL-1 in immunity, the correlations between PSGL-1 SNPs and the immune status after EV-71 infection are also worth studying. Meanwhile, PSGL-1 variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) represents a research hotspot in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, but PSGL-1 VNTR polymorphism has not been investigated in HFMD caused by EV-71 infection. In this study, specific gene fragments were amplified by polymerase chain reaction, and PSGL-1 VNTR sequences were genotyped using an automatic nucleic acid analyzer. The correlations of PSGL-1 VNTR polymorphism with the susceptibility to EV-71-associated severe HFMD and the post-infection immune status were analyzed. The PSGL-1 VNTR A allele was identified as a susceptible SNP for severe HFMD. The risk of severe HFMD was higher for AA + AB genotype carriers than for BB genotype carriers. The counts of peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets were lower in AA + AB genotype carries than in BB genotype carries. In conclusion, PSGL-1 VNTR polymorphism is associated with the susceptibility to EV-71-induced severe HFMD and the immune status after infection. PSGL-1 VNTR might play a certain role in the pathogenesis of severe cases.

Chinese guidelines for integrated diagnosis and treatment of intestinal microecology technologies in tumor application (2024 Edition).

ABSTRACT: Intestinal microecology (IM) is the largest and most important microecological system of the human body. Furthermore, it is the key factor for activating and maintaining the physiological functions of the intestine. Numerous studies have investigated the effects of the gut microbiota on the different tissues and organs of the human body as well as their association with various diseases, and the findings are gradually being translated into clinical practice. The gut microbiota affects the occurrence, progression, treatment response, and toxic side effects of tumors. The deepening of research related to IM and tumors has opened a new chapter in IM research driven by methods and technologies such as second-generation sequencing and bioinformatics. The IM maintains the function of the host immune system and plays a pivotal role in tumor-control drug therapy. Increasing evidence has proven that the efficacy of tumor-control drugs largely depends on the IM balance, and strategies based on the IM technology show promising application prospects in the diagnosis and treatment of tumor. The Tumor and Microecology Professional Committee of the Chinese Anti-cancer Association gathered relevant experts to discuss and propose the "Chinese guidelines for integrated diagnosis and treatment of IM technologies in tumor application (2024 Edition)," which was established based on the research progress of the application of the IM technology in tumor to provide a basis for the standardization of the diagnosis and treatment of the IM technology in the tumor.

Achieving High-Performance Polymer-Wrapper-Free Aligned Carbon Nanotube Field-Effect Transistors Through Degradable Polymer Wrapping and Efficient Removal Techniques.

Semiconducting carbon nanotubes (s-CNTs) have emerged as a promising alternative to traditional silicon for ultrascaled field-effect transistors (FETs), owing to their exceptional properties. Aligned s-CNTs (A-CNTs) are particularly favored for practical applications due to their ability to provide higher driving current and lower contact resistance compared with individual s-CNTs or random networks. Achieving high-semiconducting-purity A-CNTs typically involves conjugated polymer wrapping for selective separation of s-CNTs, followed by self-assembly techniques. However, the presence of the polymer wrapper on A-CNTs can adversely impact electrical contact, gating efficiency, carrier transport, and device-to-device variations, necessitating its complete removal. While various methods have been explored for polymer removal, accurately characterizing the extent of removal remains a challenge. Traditional techniques such as absorption spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) may not accurately depict the remaining polymer content on A-CNTs due to their inherent detection limits. Consequently, the performance of FETs based on pure polymer-wrapper-free A-CNTs is unclear. In this study, we present an approach for preparing high-semiconducting-purity and polymer-wrapper-free A-CNTs using poly[(9,9-dioctylfluorenyl-2,7-dinitrilomethine)-(9,9-dioctylfluorenyl-2,7-dimethine)] (PFO-N-PFO), a degradable polymer, in conjunction with a modified dimension-limited self-alignment process (m-DLSA). Comprehensive transmission electron microscopy (TEM) characterizations, complemented by absorption and XPS characterizations, provide robust evidence of the successful near-complete removal of the polymer wrapper via a cleaning procedure involving acidic degradation, hot solvent rinsing, and vacuum annealing. Furthermore, top-gated FETs based on these high-semiconducting-purity and polymer-wrapper-free A-CNTs exhibit good performance metrics, including an on-current (Ion) of 2.2 mA/µm, peak transconductance (gm) of 1.1 mS/µm, low contact resistance (Rc) of 191 Ω·µm, and negligible hysteresis, representing a significant advancement in the CNT-based FET technology.

Camrelizumab, apatinib and hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy combined with microwave ablation for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy and camrelizumab plus apatinib (TRIPLET protocol) is promising for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (Ad-HCC). However, the usefulness of microwave ablation (MWA) after TRIPLET is still controversial. AIM: To compare the efficacy and safety of TRIPLET alone (T-A) vs TRIPLET-MWA (T-M) for Ad-HCC. METHODS: From January 2018 to March 2022, 217 Ad-HCC patients were retrospectively enrolled. Among them, 122 were included in the T-A group, and 95 were included in the T-M group. A propensity score matching (PSM) was applied to balance bias. Overall survival (OS) was compared using the Kaplan-Meier curve with the log-rank test. The overall objective response rate (ORR) and major complications were also assessed. RESULTS: After PSM, 82 patients were included both the T-A group and the T-M group. The ORR (85.4%) in the T-M group was significantly higher than that (65.9%) in the T-A group (P < 0.001). The cumulative 1-, 2-, and 3-year OS rates were 98.7%, 93.4%, and 82.0% in the T-M group and 85.1%, 63.1%, and 55.0% in the T-A group (hazard ratio = 0.22; 95% confidence interval: 0.10-0.49; P < 0.001). The incidence of major complications was 4.9% (6/122) in the T-A group and 5.3% (5/95) in the T-M group, which were not significantly different (P = 1.000). CONCLUSION: T-M can provide better survival outcomes and comparable safety for Ad-HCC than T-A.

How enterprise social media usage links to counterproductive work behavior: the mediating role of workplace loneliness and the moderating role of ICT hassle.

Work context transformed. Employees increasingly interact with enterprise social media, wherein employees may feel disconnected from workplace. Drawing on social affiliation theory, we develop and examine a moderated mediation model to explore the indirect effect of enterprise social media usage on counterproductive work behavior (CWB) via workplace loneliness and the moderating role of information and communication technology hassle (ICT hassle). We test hypotheses by conducting a three-wave survey of 345 knowledge workers. Results indicate that enterprise social media usage has a positive effect on workplace loneliness, and workplace loneliness mediated the indirect effect of enterprise social media usage on CWB. The moderated mediation analysis indicated that ICT hassle positively moderates the above mediation effect. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of our findings.