Air-Writing Recognition Enabled by a Flexible Dual-Network Hydrogel-Based Sensor and Machine Learning.

Accurate air-writing recognition is pivotal for advancing state-of-the-art text recognizers, encryption tools, and biometric technologies. However, most existing air-writing recognition systems rely on image-based sensors to track hand and finger motion trajectories. Additionally, users' writing is often guided by delimiters and imaginary axes which restrict natural writing movements. Consequently, recognition accuracy falls short of optimal levels, hindering performance and usability for practical applications. Herein, we have developed an approach utilizing a one-dimensional convolutional neural network (1D-CNN) algorithm coupled with an ionic conductive flexible strain sensor based on a sodium chloride/sodium alginate/polyacrylamide (NaCl/SA/PAM) dual-network hydrogel for intelligent and accurate air-writing recognition. Taking advantage of the excellent characteristics of the hydrogel sensor, such as high stretchability, good tensile strength, high conductivity, strong adhesion, and high strain sensitivity, alongside the enhanced analytical ability of the 1D-CNN machine learning (ML) algorithm, we achieved a recognition accuracy of ∼96.3% for in-air handwritten characters of the English alphabets. Furthermore, comparative analysis against state-of-the-art methods, such as the widely used residual neural network (ResNet) algorithm, demonstrates the competitive performance of our integrated air-writing recognition system. The developed air-writing recognition system shows significant potential in advancing innovative systems for air-writing recognition and paving the way for exciting developments in human-machine interface (HMI) applications.

Highly Stretchable, Transparent, Self-Healing Ion-Conducting Elastomers for Long-Term Reliable Human Motion Detection.

The flexible electronic sensor is a critical component of wearable devices, generally requiring high stretchability, excellent transmittance, conductivity, self-healing capability, and strong adhesion. However, designing ion-conducting elastomers meeting all these requirements simultaneously remains a challenge. In this study, a novel approach is presented to fabricate highly stretchable, transparent, and self-healing ion-conducting elastomers, which are synthesized via photo-polymerization of two polymerizable deep eutectic solvents (PDESs) monomers, i.e., methacrylic acid (MAA)/choline chloride (ChCl) and itaconic acid (IA)/ChCl. The as-prepared ion-conducting elastomers possess outstanding properties, including high transparency, conductivity, and the capability to adhere to various substrates. The elastomers also demonstrate ultra-stretchability (up to 3900%) owing to a combination of covalent cross-linking and noncovalent cross-linking. In addition, the elastomers can recover up to 3250% strain and over 94.5% of their original conductivity after self-healing at room temperature for 5 min, indicating remarkable mechanical and conductive self-healing abilities. When utilized as strain sensors to monitor real-time motion of human fingers, wrist, elbow, and knee joints, the elastomers exhibit stable and strong repetitive electrical signals, demonstrating excellent sensing performance for large-scale movements of the human body. It is anticipated that these ion-conducting elastomers will find promising applications in flexible and wearable electronics.

Molecular Interaction Mechanisms Between Lubricant-Infused Slippery Surfaces and Mussel-Inspired Polydopamine Adhesive and DOPA Moiety.

Lubricant-infused slippery surfaces have recently emerged as promising antifouling coatings, showing potential against proteins, cells, and marine mussels. However, a comprehensive understanding of the molecular binding behaviors and interaction strength of foulants to these surfaces is lacking. In this work, mussel-inspired chemistry based on catechol-containing chemicals including 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) and polydopamine (PDA) is employed to investigate the antifouling performance and repellence mechanisms of fluorinated-based slippery surface, and the correlated interaction mechanisms are probed using atomic force microscopy (AFM). Intermolecular force measurements and deposition experiments between PDA and the surface reveal the ability of lubricant film to inhibit the contact of PDA particles with the substrate. Moreover, the binding mechanisms and bond dissociation energy between a single DOPA moiety and the lubricant-infused slippery surface are quantitatively investigated employing single-molecule force spectroscopy based on AFM (SM-AFM), which reveal that the infused lubricant layer can remarkably influence the dissociation forces and weaken the binding strength between DOPA and underneath per-fluorinated monolayer surface. This work provides new nanomechanical insights into the fundamental antifouling mechanisms of the lubricant-infused slippery surfaces against mussel-derived adhesive chemicals, with important implications for the design of lubricant-infused materials and other novel antifouling platforms for various bioengineering and engineering applications.

Recent advances in flexible hydrogel sensors: Enhancing data processing and machine learning for intelligent perception.

With the advent of flexible electronics and sensing technology, hydrogel-based flexible sensors have exhibited considerable potential across a diverse range of applications, including wearable electronics and soft robotics. Recently, advanced machine learning (ML) algorithms have been integrated into flexible hydrogel sensing technology to enhance their data processing capabilities and to achieve intelligent perception. However, there are no reviews specifically focusing on the data processing steps and analysis based on the raw sensing data obtained by flexible hydrogel sensors. Here we provide a comprehensive review of the latest advancements and breakthroughs in intelligent perception achieved through the fusion of ML algorithms with flexible hydrogel sensors, across various applications. Moreover, this review thoroughly examines the data processing techniques employed in flexible hydrogel sensors, offering valuable perspectives expected to drive future data-driven applications in this field.

Double pituitary adenomas: report of two cases and systematic review of the literature.

Objective: Double pituitary adenomas (DPA) are a rare clinical condition, and our knowledge of them is limited. Missing the second lesion leading to incomplete biochemical remission after surgery is an important challenge in DPA management. This study aims to analyze independent prognostic factors in DPA patients and summarize clinical experiences to prevent surgical failure. Methods: Two cases of DPA patients with Cushing's disease diagnosed and surgically treated at Peking Union Medical College Hospital are reported. A literature review was performed on the online database Pubmed, and 57 DPA patients from 22 retrieved articles were included. Demographic characteristics, endocrine manifestations, diagnostic methods, tumor size, and immunohistochemical features of 59 patients were analyzed. Binary logistic regression models were used to identify independent prognostic factors affecting postoperative biochemical remission. Results: Among 59 DPA patients, the mean ± SD age was 43.64 ± 14.42 years, with 61.02% being female (n = 36). The most common endocrine manifestations were Cushing's syndrome (23/59, 38.98%) and acromegaly (20/59, 33.90%). The most prevalent immunohistochemical types were ACTH-immunopositive (31/118, 26.27%) and GH-immunopositive (31/118, 26.27%) tumors. Microadenomas (<1cm) were the most frequent in terms of tumor size (62/92, 67.39%). The detection rate for double lesions on 3.0T MRI was 50.00% (14/28), which significantly higher than 1.5T MRI (P = 0.034). Univariate analysis revealed that female, Cushing's syndrome and only single lesion detected by surgical exploration were associated with significantly worse prognosis (P<0.05). Multivariate analysis identified double lesion detected by surgical exploration (OR = 0.08, P = 0.003) and contiguous type tumor (OR = 0.06, P = 0.017) as independent protective factors for DPA patients. Conclusions: The double lesion detected by surgical exploration is independently associated with a better prognosis for DPA patients. Comprehensive intraoperative exploration are crucial measures to avoid missing causative lesions.

SISTER OF FCA physically associates with SKB1 to regulate flowering time in Arabidopsis thaliana.

BACKGROUND: Proper flowering time is important for the growth and development of plants, and both too early and too late flowering impose strong negative influences on plant adaptation and seed yield. Thus, it is vitally important to study the mechanism underlying flowering time control in plants. In a previous study by the authors, genome-wide association analysis was used to screen the candidate gene SISTER OF FCA (SSF) that regulates FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC), a central gene encoding a flowering suppressor in Arabidopsis thaliana. RESULTS: SSF physically interacts with Protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5, SKB1). Subcellular co-localization analysis showed that SSF and SKB1 interact in the nucleus. Genetically, SSF and SKB1 exist in the same regulatory pathway that controls FLC expression. Furthermore, RNA-sequencing analysis showed that both SSF and SKB1 regulate certain common pathways. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that PRMT5 interacts with SSF, thus controlling FLC expression and facilitating flowering time control.

Mussel-Inspired Cation-π Interactions: Wet Adhesion and Biomimetic Materials.

Cation-π interaction is one of the most important noncovalent interactions identified in biosystems, which has been proven to play an essential role in the strong adhesion of marine mussels. In addition to the well-known catecholic amino acid, l-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine, mussel foot proteins are rich in various aromatic moieties (e.g., tyrosine, phenylalanine, and tryptophan) and cationic residues (e.g., lysine, arginine, and histidine), which favor a series of short-range cation-π interactions with adjustable strengths, serving as a prototype for the development of high-performance underwater adhesives. This work highlights our recent advances in understanding and utilizing cation-π interactions in underwater adhesives, focusing on three aspects: (1) the investigation of the cation-π interaction mechanisms in mussel foot proteins via force-measuring techniques; (2) the modulation of cation-π interactions in mussel mimetic polymers with the variation of cations, anions, and aromatic groups; (3) the design of wet adhesives based on these revealed principles, leading to functional materials in the form of films, coacervates, and hydrogels with biomedical and engineering applications. This review provides valuable insights into the development and optimization of smart materials based on cation-π interactions.

Advances in genetic abnormalities, epigenetic reprogramming, and immune landscape of intracranial germ cell tumors.

Intracranial germ cell tumors (IGCTs) are a rare subtype of central nervous system neoplasms that predominantly affect young individuals and exhibit a higher incidence in East Asia. IGCTs can be pathologically divided into two main categories: germinomas and non-germinomatous germ cell tumors (NGGCTs). Despite the scarcity of this disease, recent advancements in molecular biology techniques have facilitated the discovery of the inherent genetic and molecular characteristics of IGCTs. Somatic mutations that result in the activation of the KIT/RAS/MAPK and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathways, chromosomal instability leading to characteristic changes in chromosomal fragments (notably 12p gain), and potentially diagnostic miRNAs (such as miR-371a-3p) may provide valuable insights for the efficient diagnosis, targeted therapy, and prognosis evaluation of IGCTs. Additionally, transcriptomic and methylomic analyses have provided new perspectives on the intrinsic development of IGCTs, further elucidating their equivalence with GCTs at other sites. The evaluation of the tumor immune landscape may guide prognosis prediction and immunotherapy for IGCT patients. Nevertheless, current research still faces challenges such as the absence of basic laboratory research systems, a single source of large sample research data, and a limited overall volume of research. The incorporation of larger sample sizes, the implementation of more innovative evaluation systems, and the employment of novel experimental methods are urgently required to become the focus of future research.

Case report: Identification of potential prognosis-related LAG3 overexpression and DICER1 mutation in pituitary carcinoma: two cases.

Metastatic PitNETs are a rare life-threatening condition with poor prognosis and documentation. Due to the scarce literature and lack of precise treatment, we hope to better characterise PitNET using the next-generation whole exon sequencing (WES) and RNA sequencing. This case study outlines a 54 years-old man and a 52 years-old woman who were both diagnosed with PitNET and analysis of peripheral blood and tumours were performed by WES and RNA sequencing. Analysis showed that DICER1 mutations in precancerous lesions and LAG3 overexpression were significant in aiding the prognosis and diagnosis of PitNETs. The first case with overexpressed LAG3 and DICER1 mutation died 26 months later, and the second case with LAG3 overexpression achieved partial remission. This study revealed that heightened expression of LAG3 offered promising targets for ICI and mutations in DICER1 could provide markers for effective diagnosis and prognosis.

Supermolecular nanovehicles co-delivering TLR7/8-agonist and anti-CD47 siRNA for enhanced tumor immunotherapy.

Cancer immunotherapy is the most promising method for tumor therapy in recent years, among which the macrophages play a critical role in the antitumor immune response. However, tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) usually display the tumor-promoting M2 phenotype rather than the tumor-killing M1 phenotype. Moreover, the over-expressed CD47 on tumor cells severely hinders the function of macrophages by blocking the CD47/SIRPα pathway. Herein, a nano-assembly system of CHTR/siRNA was constructed through the host-guest interaction of a hyperbranched amino-functionalized ß-cyclodextrin and immune agonist imiquimod (R848), while CD47 siRNA was loaded inside through electrostatic interaction. The Toll-like receptor (TLR) 7/8 agonist R848 can "re-educate" macrophages from the protumoral M2 phenotype to antitumoral M1 phenotype, while CD47 siRNA can down-regulate the "don't eat me" CD47 signal on the surface of cancer cells and enhance the phagocytosis of cancer cells by macrophages. Through the dual regulation of TAMs, the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment was relieved, and the host-guest drug-carrying system resulted in synergistic immunotherapy effect on tumors and inhibited tumor growth. The facile self-assembly of nanodrug offers a new strategy in co-delivery of multiple therapeutic agents for cascade cancer immunotherapy.

Bioinspired engineered proteins enable universal anchoring strategy for surface functionalization.

HYPOTHESIS: Conventional coating strategies and materials for bio-applications with protective, diagnostic, and therapeutic functions are commonly limited by their arduous preparation processes and lack of on-demand functionalities. Herein, inspired by the 'root-leaf' structure of grass, a series of novel polyacrylate-conjugated proteins can be engineered with sticky bovine serum albumin (BSA) protein as a 'root' anchoring layer and a multifunctional polyacrylate as a 'leaf' functional layer for the facile coating procedure and versatile surface functionalities. EXPERIMENTS: The engineered proteins were synthesized based on click chemistry, where the 'root' layer can universally anchor onto both organic and inorganic substrates through a facile dip/spraying method with excellent stability in harsh solution conditions, thanks to its multiple adaptive molecular interactions with substrates that further elucidated by molecular force measurements between the 'root' BSA protein and substrates. The 'leaf' conjugated-polyacrylates imparted coatings with versatile on-demand functionalities, such as resistance to over 99% biofouling in complex biofluids, pH-responsive performance, and robust adhesion with various nanomaterials. FINDINGS: By synergistically leveraging the universal anchoring capabilities of BSA with the versatile physicochemical properties of polyacrylates, this study introduces a promising and facile strategy for imparting novel functionalities to a myriad of surfaces through engineering natural proteins and biomaterials for biotechnical and nanotechnical applications.

OCT3/4 is a potential immunohistochemical biomarker for diagnosis and prognosis of primary intracranial germ cell tumors: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Intracranial germ cell tumors (iGCTs), comprising of germinoma (GE) and non-germinomatous GCT (NGGCT), are a group of heterogenous brain tumors. Immunohistochemical markers, such as placental-like alkaline phosphatase (PLAP), are commonly used in diagnosis but show moderate sensitivity. Organic cation transporter 3/4 (OCT3/4) has been proposed as a novel biomarker for diagnosis and prognosis of iGCTs. This paper aimed to compare OCT3/4 with PLAP as potential immunohistochemical biomarkers in iGCTs diagnosis and clarify the relationship between OCT3/4 and prognosis of patients with iGCTs. Methods: Meta-analyses were performed to estimate pooled percentage point differences in positive rates between OCT3/4 and PLAP, their sensitivities, and correlation between OCT3/4 and prognosis in iGCTs. Results: Nine articles were included representing of 241 patients. A fixed-effects model meta-analysis revealed that OCT3/4s positive rate was 8.6% higher (95% CI, 0.7% lower to 17.9% higher) than that of PLAP. Using fixed-effects models, sensitivities of OCT3/4 as a potential immunohistochemical biomarker in CNS GE and NGGCT were 85% (95% CI, 79% to 89%) and 56% (95% CI, 39% to 71%), respectively. In comparison, PLAP had lower sensitivities in both GE (73%; 95% CI, 64% to 91%) and NGGCT (43%; 95% CI, 27% to 61%). Moreover, OCT3/4 was significantly negatively correlated with 5-year progression free survival in patients with CNS GE (HR = 2.56, 95 % CI 1.47 to 4.44; p = 0.0008). Sensitivity analyses showed similar results. Discussion: This study provides the first comprehensive assessment of the efficacies of OCT3/4 and PLAP in iGCTs detection and prognosis prediction, indicating OCT3/4 seems to be a more sensitive and reliable immunohistochemical marker in iGCT diagnosis.

A pH and Temperature Dual-Responsive Microgel-Embedded, Adhesive, and Tough Hydrogel for Drug Delivery and Wound Healing.

Stimuli-responsive hydrogels have attracted much attention over the past decade for potential bioengineering applications such as wound dressing and drug delivery. In this work, a pH and temperature dual-responsive microgel-embedded hydrogel has been fabricated by incorporating poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid) (PNIPAAm-co-AAc) based microgel particles into polyacrylamide (PAAm)/chitosan (CS) semi-interpenetrating polymer network (semi-IPN), denoted as microgel@PAM/CS. The resultant hydrogel possesses excellent mechanical properties including stretchability, compressibility, and elasticity. In addition, the microgel@PAM/CS hydrogels can tightly adhere to the surfaces of a variety of tissues such as porcine skin, kidney, intestine, liver, and heart. Moreover, it shows controlled dual-drug release profile of both bovine serum albumin (BSA) (as a model protein) and sulfamethoxazole (SMZ), an antibiotic. Excellent antimicrobial properties are obtained for SMZ-loaded microgel@PAM/CS hydrogels. Compared with traditional drug administration methods such as by mouth, injection, and inhalation, the microgel@PAM/CS hydrogels possess advantages such as higher drug loading efficiency (by more than 80%) and controllable and sustained (over 48 h) release. The microgel@PAM/CS hydrogels can significantly enhance the wound healing process. This work provides a facile approach for the fabrication of multifunctional stimuli-responsive microparticle-embedded hydrogels with semi-IPN structures, and the as-prepared microgel@PAM/CS hydrogels have great potential for applications as smart wound dressing materials in biomedical engineering.

Small molecule inhibitors for cancer metabolism: promising prospects to be explored.

BACKGROUND: Abnormal metabolism is the main hallmark of cancer, and cancer metabolism plays an important role in tumorigenesis, metastasis, and drug resistance. Therefore, studying the changes of tumor metabolic pathways is beneficial to find targets for the treatment of cancer diseases. The success of metabolism-targeted chemotherapy suggests that cancer metabolism research will provide potential new targets for the treatment of malignant tumors. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to systemically review recent research findings on targeted inhibitors of tumor metabolism. In addition, we summarized new insights into tumor metabolic reprogramming and discussed how to guide the exploration of new strategies for cancer-targeted therapy. CONCLUSION: Cancer cells have shown various altered metabolic pathways, providing sufficient fuel for their survival. The combination of these pathways is considered to be a more useful method for screening multilateral pathways. Better understanding of the clinical research progress of small molecule inhibitors of potential targets of tumor metabolism will help to explore more effective cancer treatment strategies.

Analysis of acute pancreatitis associated with SGLT-2 inhibitors and predictive factors of the death risk: Based on food and drug administration adverse event report system database.

Background and objectives: The US FDA and Health Canada have successively published potential red flags for acute pancreatitis caused by sodium-dependent glucose transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i). However, existing studies have focused on case reports. We aimed to assess the possible association of SGLT-2i with acute pancreatitis by analyzing postmarketing adverse events reported in the FDA adverse event reporting system (FAERS), to explore risk factors for SGLT-2i-related acute pancreatitis death, and to build a nomogram. Methods and Results: We used a disproportionality analysis of suspected acute pancreatitis-related reports in the FAERS database of patients from the use of SGLT-2i from the first quarter of 2013 to the fourth quarter of 2021. Single-factor and multi-factor logistic regression analyses were performed using the relevant clinical information of patients, and risk factors were combined with the age of patients to construct a SGLT-2i risk prediction model for acute pancreatitis-related death. A total of 757 reports were retrieved. The largest number of acute pancreatitis-related cases were caused by canagliflozin (317 reports), which was also the strongest agent associated with acute pancreatitis, with the information component (IC 2.41, lower 95% one-sided confidence interval 2.16), the reporting odds ratio (ROR 5.37, 95% two-sided confidence interval 4.8-5.99), and the empirical Bayesian geometric mean (EBGM 5.32, lower 90% one-sided confidence interval 4.85). The median time to acute pancreatitis was 54 (interquartile range [IQR] 14-131) days, and approximately 83% of adverse events occurred within 6 months. Odds ratio(OR) adjusted by acute pancreatitis and the coadministration of SGLT-2i with dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitor (DPP-4i), glucagon-like peptide 1 analog (GLP-1RA), and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEIs) was 1.39, 1.97, and 1.34, respectively, all of which were statistically significant. Logistic regression analysis showed that different SGLT-2i type and their combinations with statins were independent risk factors for acute pancreatitis mortality in the patients (p < 0.05). The mortality risk prediction model showed good discrimination and clinical applicability in both the training set (AUC 0.708) and the validation set (AUC 0.732). Conclusion: SGLT-2i may increase the risk of acute pancreatitis especially within the first 6 months of drug administration. Combination with DPP-4i, GLP-1RA or ACEIs significantly increases the risk of acute pancreatitis. In addition, different SGLT-2i type and their combination with statins are risk factors that can predict the risk of death following acute pancreatitis.

Insights into stimuli-responsive diselenide bonds utilized in drug delivery systems for cancer therapy.

Due to the complexity and particularity of cancer cell microenvironments, redox responsive drug delivery systems (DDSs) for cancer therapy have been extensively explored. Compared with widely reported cancer treatment systems based on disulfide bonds, diselenide bonds have better redox properties and greater anticancer efficiency. In this review, the significance and application of diselenide bonds in DDSs are summarized, and the stimulation sensitivity of diselenide bonds is comprehensively reported. The potential and prospects for the application of diselenide bonds in next-generation anticancer drug treatment systems are extensively discussed.

Validation of perihematomal edema expansion as a new imaging biomarker to predict clinical outcome in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage.

OBJECTIVES: The use of hematoma expansion (HE) in intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) patients is limited due to its low sensitivity. Perihematomal edema (PHE) has been considered an important marker of secondary brain injury after ICH. Enrolling PHE expansion to redefine traditional ICH expansion merits exploration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study analyzed a cohort of patients with spontaneous ICH. The hematoma and PHE were manually segmented. Logistic regression analysis was utilized to identify risk factors for poor outcomes. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to calculate the predictive values of PHE expansion and HE. Poor neurological outcome was defined as a modified Rankin Scale score of 4-6 at 90 days. RESULTS: Overall, 223 target patients were enrolled in the study. Multivariable analysis showed the larger PHE expansion is the independent risk factors for poor prognosis. The predictive value of absolute PHE expansion (AUC=0.776, sensitivity=67.9%, specificity=77.0%) was higher than that of absolute HE (AUC=0.573, sensitivity=41.7%, specificity=87.1%) and HE (>6 ml) (AUC=0.594, sensitivity=23.8%, specificity=95.0%). The best cutoff for early absolute/relative PHE expansion resulting in a poor outcome was 5.96 ml and 31%. CONCLUSIONS: Early PHE expansion was associated with a poor outcome, characterized by a better predictive value than HE.

Land Fragmentation, Technology Adoption and Chemical Fertilizer Application: Evidence from China.

Although it has been widely recognized that land fragmentation has increased chemical fertilizer application, little is known about the role of technology adoption in mitigating these adverse effects. To empirically examine the relationship between land fragmentation, technology adoption and chemical fertilizer application, we developed a mediation model. We applied our analysis to a survey data set encompassing 1388 farm-level samples collected in 14 Chinese provinces in 2019. Our study demonstrated that land fragmentation can not only directly increase chemical fertilizer application but also indirectly increase it by hindering the adoption of agricultural mechanization technologies (AMT's) and soil testing fertilization technologies (STFT's). Both are recognized as potent drivers of fertilizer use reductions. Moreover, the adoption of information and communications technologies (ICT's) can help mitigate the negative effects of land fragmentation on technology adoption, thus reducing chemical fertilizer application intensity (CFAI). However, the direct effects of land fragmentation on CAFI was unaffected by ICT's. Our findings suggest that ICT's have revolutionized farmer recognition, promotion and adoption of agricultural technologies by increasing awareness and diffusion of agricultural technology information.

Effective photodegradation of rhodamine B and levofloxacin over CQDs modified BiOCl and BiOBr composite: Mechanism and toxicity assessment.

In this contribution, carbon quantum dots (CQDs) modified 3D-flower like BiOX (X = Cl, Br, I) photocatalyst were successfully prepared via a facile mechanical compounding method. The crystal structure, surface composition, morphologies, optical properties and photocatalytic activities were investigated in detail. The photocatalytic activity of the as-obtained photocatalyst were evaluated by degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) and Levofloxacin (LEV) under near IR-UV-vis light irradiation, the CQDs/BiOX composite displayed enhanced photocatalytic activity as compared with individual BiOX materials. The CQDs/BiOX composite had the outstanding light harvesting and electron transfer ability because of the ordered ultrathin nanosheet structure of the BiOX, the formation of metal Bi under photoinduction, and the synergistic effects between CQDs and pure BiOX. Antibacterial activity and effects on Rye seeds growth of the LEV degradation intermediate were also researched. Reactive-species-trapping experiments exhibited that h+ and O2- were the active reactive species during photodegradation process. This work provided an effective and simple strategy for designing QDs modified Bi-rich oxyhalides in organic pollutant containing wastewater treatment.

Development of vericiguat: The first soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) stimulator launched for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).

In recent years, with improvements in treatments for heart failure (HF), the survival period of patients has been extended. However, the emergence of some patients with repeated hospitalizations due to their worsening conditions and low survival rates followed. Currently, few drugs are available for such patients. Vericiguat was first drug approved for the treatment of symptomatic patients with chronic HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) to reduce the occurrence of worsening HF. This article provides comprehensive information about vericiguat in terms of drug design and development, structure-activity relationship (SAR), synthesis, pharmacological efficacy, and clinical practice. In addition, insights into the current vericiguat trials and treatments of HF are also discussed.