Dependable Automated Approach for Measuring the Retrograde Superior Ramus Screw Corridor in Pelvic Fracture Fixation.

BACKGROUND: Precise measurement of the intraosseous corridor within the superior pubic ramus is essential for the accurate percutaneous placement of a retrograde superior ramus screw (SRS). However, conventional manual measurement methods are often subjective, leading to variations in results among observers. Our goal was to develop an automated and dependable method for determining the retrograde SRS corridor. METHODS: We developed an automated technique that utilized a computed tomography (CT) image-based search algorithm to identify the retrograde SRS corridor with the maximum diameter. We evaluated the reliability of this automated approach in comparison to a manual method using 17 pelves. Subsequently, we used both methods to measure the diameter, length, and orientation of the retrograde SRS corridor in 204 pelves in a Chinese population and assessed the intra- and interobserver agreement of each method by calculating the root-mean-square error (RMSE) and constructing Bland-Altman plots. We determined the screw applicability (percentages of hemipelves that could be treated with specific sizes of screws) for each method. Additionally, we investigated potential factors influencing the corridor, such as sex, age, height, and weight, through regression analysis. RESULTS: The intra- and interobserver intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) for the automated method (0.998 and 0.995) were higher than those for the manual approach (0.925 and 0.918) in the assessment of the corridor diameter. Furthermore, the diameter identified by the automated method was notably larger than the diameter measured with the manual method, with a mean difference and RMSE of 0.9 mm and 1.1 mm, respectively. The automated method revealed a significantly smaller corridor diameter in females than in males (an average of 7.5 and 10.4 mm, respectively). Moreover, use of the automated method allowed 80.6% of the females to be managed with a 4.5-mm screw while a 6.5-mm screw could be utilized in 19.4%, surpassing the capabilities of the manual method. Female sex had the most substantial impact on corridor diameter (ß = -0.583). CONCLUSIONS: The automated method exhibited better reliability than the manual method in measuring the retrograde SRS corridor, and showed a larger corridor diameter for screw placement. Females had a significantly smaller corridor diameter than males. Given the intricate nature of the automated approach, which entails utilizing different software and interactive procedures, our current method is not readily applicable for traumatologists. We are working on developing integrated software with the goal of providing a more user-friendly solution for traumatologists in the near future. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Research on the Mechanism and Material Basis of Corn (Zea mays L.) Waste Regulating Dyslipidemia.

Corn (Zea mays L.) is an essential gramineous food crop. Traditionally, corn wastes have primarily been used in feed, harmless processing, and industrial applications. Except for corn silk, these wastes have had limited medicinal uses. However, in recent years, scholars have increasingly studied the medicinal value of corn wastes, including corn silk, bracts, husks, stalks, leaves, and cobs. Hyperlipidemia, characterized by abnormal lipid and/or lipoprotein levels in the blood, is the most common form of dyslipidemia today. It is a significant risk factor for atherosclerosis and can lead to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases if severe. According to the authors' literature survey, corn wastes play a promising role in regulating glucose and lipid metabolism. This article reviews the mechanisms and material basis of six different corn wastes in regulating dyslipidemia, aiming to provide a foundation for the research and development of these substances.

Stereodivergent Total Synthesis of Tacaman Alkaloids.

This paper describes a concise, asymmetric and stereodivergent total synthesis of tacaman alkaloids. A key step in this synthesis is the biocatalytic Baeyer-Villiger oxidation of cyclohexanone, which was developed to produce seven-membered lactones and establish the required stereochemistry at the C14 position (92% yield, 99% ee, 500 mg scale). Cis- and trans-tetracyclic indoloquinolizidine scaffolds were rapidly synthesized through an acid-triggered, tunable acyl-Pictet-Spengler type cyclization cascade, serving as the pivotal reaction for building the alkaloid skeleton. Computational results revealed that hydrogen bonding was crucial in stabilizing intermediates and inducing different addition reactions during the acyl-Pictet-Spengler cyclization cascade. By strategically using these two reactions and the late-stage diversification of the functionalized indoloquinolizidine core, the asymmetric total syntheses of eight tacaman alkaloids were achieved. This study may potentially advance research related to the medicinal chemistry of tacaman alkaloids.

TAX1BP1 and FIP200 orchestrate non-canonical autophagy of p62 aggregates for mouse neural stem cell maintenance.

Autophagy plays a pivotal role in diverse biological processes, including the maintenance and differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs). Interestingly, while complete deletion of Fip200 severely impairs NSC maintenance and differentiation, inhibiting canonical autophagy via deletion of core genes, such as Atg5, Atg16l1, and Atg7, or blockade of canonical interactions between FIP200 and ATG13 (designated as FIP200-4A mutant or FIP200 KI) does not produce comparable detrimental effects. This highlights the likely critical involvement of the non-canonical functions of FIP200, the mechanisms of which have remained elusive. Here, utilizing genetic mouse models, we demonstrated that FIP200 mediates non-canonical autophagic degradation of p62/sequestome1, primarily via TAX1BP1 in NSCs. Conditional deletion of Tax1bp1 in fip200 hGFAP conditional knock-in (cKI) mice led to NSC deficiency, resembling the fip200 hGFAP conditional knockout (cKO) mouse phenotype. Notably, reintroducing wild-type TAX1BP1 not only restored the maintenance of NSCs derived from tax1bp1-knockout fip200 hGFAP cKI mice but also led to a marked reduction in p62 aggregate accumulation. Conversely, a TAX1BP1 mutant incapable of binding to FIP200 or NBR1/p62 failed to achieve this restoration. Furthermore, conditional deletion of Tax1bp1 in fip200 hGFAP cKO mice exacerbated NSC deficiency and p62 aggregate accumulation compared to fip200 hGFAP cKO mice. Collectively, these findings illustrate the essential role of the FIP200-TAX1BP1 axis in mediating the non-canonical autophagic degradation of p62 aggregates towards NSC maintenance and function, presenting novel therapeutic targets for neurodegenerative diseases.

Impacts of audiovisual simultaneity perception on single-task and dual-task gaits in middle-aged and older adults.

BACKGROUND: While dual-task walking requires the ability to integrate sensory information from multiple ongoing sources, it remains unknown whether dual-task walking is more affected than single-task walking by the multisensory integration ability. RESEARCH QUESTION: How does the audiovisual temporal integration ability affect single-task and dual-task gaits in the aging population? METHODS: One hundred and thirty healthy middle-aged and older adults (age = 64.7 ± 6.4 years) completed an audiovisual simultaneity judgment (AVSJ) task and underwent single-task, motor dual-task, and cognitive dual-task gait assessments. In the AVSJ task, participants judged whether a flash and an auditory stimulus presented at different stimulus onset asynchronies were simultaneous. The accuracy and precision of the AVSJ performance were assessed using the point of subjective simultaneity (PSS) and the temporal binding window (δ), respectively. A lower absolute PSS and δ indicated better performance. Participants held a cup of water and performed serial-7 subtraction for motor and cognitive dual-task gait assessments, respectively. The spatiotemporal gait parameters and their variability were calculated. The influences of PSS and δ on the gait parameters of the three gaits were examined with multiple hierarchical regressions. RESULTS: Only the cognitive dual-task gait was significantly affected by PSS and δ. Greater PSS predicted a longer single support time (ß = 0.195, p = 0.024) and its variability (ß = 0.224, p = 0.011). Greater δ predicted greater step time variability (ß = 0.198, p = 0.022). SIGNIFICANCE: Declined perception of audiovisual simultaneity particularly degrades temporal control of cognitive dual-task walking, highlighting the importance of assessing and training this ability after midlife.

Association between screen time and self-reported balance disorders in middle-aged and older adults: national health and nutrition examination survey.

BACKGROUND: Balance disorders can give rise to sensations of instability, lightheadedness, vertigo, disequilibrium, or syncope, ultimately leading to grave medical, physical, emotional, and societal ramifications. These conditions are highly prevalent among individuals aged 40 and above. Screen time encompasses activities associated with television viewing, video game playing, and non-work-related computer usage. Prolonged screen exposure may engender a spectrum of health issues and even elevate overall mortality rates. However, the available evidence on the potential link between excessive screen time and balance dysfunction remains limited. AIMS: The primary aim of this study was to explore the possible association between prolonged screen exposure and impaired balance function. METHODS: This cross-sectional study utilized data from participants who completed a comprehensive questionnaire in the NHANES database between 1999 and 2002, all of whom were aged over 40 and under 85 years. Participants' screen time was categorized into two groups (< 4 h/d and ≥4 h/d) for subsequent data analysis. Logistic regression, combined with propensity score matching (PSM), was employed to investigate the correlation between screen time and balance disorders. RESULTS: A total of 5176 participants were enrolled in this study, comprising 2,586 men and 2,590 women, with a prevalence rate of balance disorders at 25.7% (1331/5176). The incidence of balance disorders was found to be significantly higher among individuals who spent 4 hours or more per day on screen time compared to those with less screen time (P<0.001). Multivariate logistic analysis conducted on the unmatched cohort revealed a significant association between screen time and balance disorders, with an odds ratio (OR) 1.8 (95%CI 1.57 ∼ 2.05). These findings remained consistent even after adjusting for confounding factors, yielding an OR 1.43 (95%CI 1.24 ∼ 1.66). Moreover, the association persisted when employing various multivariate analyses such as propensity score matching adjusted model, standardized mortality ratio weighting model and pairwise algorithmic model; all resulting in ORs ranging from 1.38 to 1.43 and p-values < 0.001. CONCLUSIONS: After controlling for all covariates, screen time (watching TV, playing video games, and using computers outside of work) was associated with balance dysfunction among middle-aged and older adults. This finding may offer a possible idea for the prevention of dizziness and balance disorders. Nevertheless, additional research is imperative to further validate these results.

The natural history and genotype-phenotype correlations of TMPRSS3 hearing loss: an international, multi-center, cohort analysis.

TMPRSS3-related hearing loss presents challenges in correlating genotypic variants with clinical phenotypes due to the small sample sizes of previous studies. We conducted a cross-sectional genomics study coupled with retrospective clinical phenotype analysis on 127 individuals. These individuals were from 16 academic medical centers across 6 countries. Key findings revealed 47 unique TMPRSS3 variants with significant differences in hearing thresholds between those with missense variants versus those with loss-of-function genotypes. The hearing loss progression rate for the DFNB8 subtype was 0.3 dB/year. Post-cochlear implantation, an average word recognition score of 76% was observed. Of the 51 individuals with two missense variants, 10 had DFNB10 with profound hearing loss. These 10 all had at least one of 4 TMPRSS3 variants predicted by computational modeling to be damaging to TMPRSS3 structure and function. To our knowledge, this is the largest study of TMPRSS3 genotype-phenotype correlations. We find significant differences in hearing thresholds, hearing loss progression, and age of presentation, by TMPRSS3 genotype and protein domain affected. Most individuals with TMPRSS3 variants perform well on speech recognition tests after cochlear implant, however increased age at implant is associated with worse outcomes. These findings provide insight for genetic counseling and the on-going design of novel therapeutic approaches.

SAP deletion promotes malignant insulinoma progression by inducing CXCL12 secretion from CAFs via the CXCR4/p38/ERK signalling pathway.

Malignant insulinoma is an extremely rare type of functioning pancreatic neuroendocrine tumour with a high degree of malignancy and a high incidence of metastasis. However, it is still unclear how malignant insulinomas develop and metastasize. Serum amyloid P component (SAP), a member of the pentraxin protein family, is an acute-phase protein secreted by liver cells. The role of SAP in insulinoma and the related mechanism are still unknown. To determine the effect of SAP on insulinoma, we crossed Rip1-Tag2 mice, which spontaneously develop insulinoma, and SAP knockout (KO) mice to generate Rip1-Tag2;SAP-/- mice. We found that SAP deletion significantly promoted the growth, invasion and metastasis of malignant insulinoma through C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12) secreted by cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). Further study showed that SAP deletion promoted CXCL12 secretion by CAFs through the CXCR4/p38/ERK signalling pathway. These findings reveal a novel role and mechanism of SAP in malignant insulinoma and provide direct evidence that SAP may be a therapeutic agent for this disease.

Asymmetric Total Synthesis of Anti-HBV Drug Entecavir: Catalytic Strategies for the Stereospecific Construction of Densely Substituted Cyclopentene Cores.

We have successfully accomplished a catalytic asymmetric total synthesis of entecavir, a first-line antihepatitis B virus medication. The pivotal aspect of our strategy lies in the utilization of a Pd-catalyzed enyne borylative cyclization reaction, enabling the construction of a highly substituted cyclopentene scaffold with exceptional stereoselectivity. Additionally, we efficiently accessed the crucial 1,3-diol enyne system early in our synthetic route through a diarylprolinol organocatalyzed enantioselective cross-aldol reaction and Re-catalyzed allylic alcohol relocation. By strategically integrating these three catalytic protocols, we established a practical pathway for acquiring valuable densely heteroatom-substituted cyclopentene cores.

Unconventional PDZ Recognition Revealed in α7 nAChR-PICK1 Complexes.

PDZ domains are modular domains that conventionally bind to C terminal or internal motifs of target proteins to control cellular functions through the regulation of protein complex assemblies. Almost all reported structures of PDZ-target protein complexes rely on fragments or peptides as target proteins. No intact target protein complexed with PDZ was structurally characterized. In this study, we used NMR spectroscopy and other biochemistry and biophysics tools to uncover insights into structural coupling between the PDZ domain of protein interacting with C-kinase 1 (PICK1) and α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (α7 nAChR). Notably, the intracellular domains of both α7 nAChR and PICK1 PDZ exhibit a high degree of plasticity in their coupling. Specifically, the MA helix of α7 nAChR interacts with residues lining the canonical binding site of the PICK1 PDZ, while flexible loops also engage in protein-protein interactions. Both hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions mediate the coupling. Overall, the resulting structure of the α7 nAChR-PICK1 complex reveals an unconventional PDZ binding mode, significantly expanding the repertoire of functionally important PDZ interactions.

Augmented reality system based on the integration of polarization-independent metalens and micro-LEDs.

Augmented reality (AR), a technology that superimposes virtual information onto a user's direct view of real-world scenes, is considered one of the next-generation display technologies and has been attracting considerable attention. Here, we propose a flat optic AR system that synergistically integrates a polarization-independent metalens with micro light-emitting diodes (LEDs). A key component is a meticulously designed metalens with a numerical aperture of 0.25, providing a simulated focusing efficiency of approximately 76.5% at a wavelength of 532 nm. Furthermore, the laser measurement system substantiates that the fabricated metalens achieves a focusing efficiency of 70.8%. By exploiting the reversibility of light characteristics, the metalens transforms the divergent light from green micro-LEDs into a collimated beam that passes through the pupil and images on the retina. Monochromatic pixels with a size of 5×5 µm2 and a pitch of 10 µm can be distinctly resolved with a power efficiency of 50%. This work illustrates the feasibility of integrating the metalens with microdisplays, realizing a high-efficiency AR device without the need for additional optical components and showcasing great potential for the development of near-eye display applications.

The CXCR4 might be a potential biomarker for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: A meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between CXCL12/CXCR4 and the progress, prognosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), providing evidence for potential early diagnosis, clinical treatment, prognosis evaluation, and therapeutic target of ESCC. METHODS: Databases of PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Science were searched for the relationship between CXCL12/CXCR4 and clinicopathological characteristics and survival time of ESCC. Stata16.0 software was used to conduct meta-analysis. RESULTS: A total of 10 studies involving 1216 cases of patients with ESCC were included in our study. The results indicated that high-level expression of CXCR4 was significantly correlated with tumor differentiation [OR = 0.69, 95% confidence interval (CI): (0.50, 0.97)], tumor infiltration [OR = 0.39, 95% CI: (0.25, 0.61)], lymph node metastasis [OR = 0.36, 95% CI: (0.21, 0.61)], clinical stage [OR = 0.33, 95% CI: (0.24, 0.45)] of ESCC. The expression of CXCR4 was also significantly correlated with OS [HR = 2.00, 95% CI: (1.63, 2.45)] and disease-free survival [HR = 1.76, 95% CI: (1.44, 2.15)] in patients of ESCC after surgical resection. No significant relationship was observed between the expression of CXCL12 and the clinicopathological characteristics of ESCC. CONCLUSION: CXCR4 might be a potential biomarker for the progress and prognosis evaluation, and therapeutic target for ESCC.

Study on the lignin-derived sp2-sp3 hybrid hard carbon materials and the feasibility for industrial production.

Hard carbon has been widely used in anode of lithium/sodium ion battery, electrode of supercapacitor, and carbon molecular sieve for CO2 capture and hydrogen storage. In this study the lignin derived hard carbon products are investigated, and the conclusions are abstracted as follows. (1) The lignin derived hard carbon products consist of microcrystal units of sp2 graphene fragments, jointed by sp3 carbon atoms and forming sp2-sp3 hybrid hard carbon family. (2) From the lignin precursors to the sp2-sp3 hybrid hard carbon products, most carbon atoms retain their original electron configurations (sp2 or sp3) and keep their composition in lignin. (3) The architectures of lignin-derived hard carbon materials are closely dependent on the forms of their lignin precursors, and could be preformed by different pretreatment techniques. (4) The carbonization of lignin precursors follows the mechanism "carbonization in situ and recombination nearby". (5) Due to the high carbon ratio and abundant active functional groups in lignin, new activation techniques could be developed for control of pore size and pore volume. In general lignin is an excellent raw material for sp2-sp3 hybrid hard carbon products, a green and sustainable alternative resource for phenolic resin, and industrial production for lignin derived hard carbon products would be feasible.

[Immune Reconstitution after BTKi Treatment in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the immune reconstitution after BTKi treatment in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). METHODS: The clinical and laboratorial data of 59 CLL patients admitted from January 2017 to March 2022 in Fujian Medical University Union Hospital were collected and analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: The median age of 59 CLL patients was 60.5(36-78). After one year of BTKi treatment, the CLL clones (CD5 +/CD19 +) of 51 cases (86.4%) were significantly reduced, in which the number of cloned-B cells decreased significantly from (46±6.1)×109/L to (2.3±0.4)×109/L (P =0.0013). But there was no significant change in the number of non-cloned B cells (CD19 + minus CD5 +/CD19 +). After BTKi treatment, IgA increased significantly from (0.75±0.09)g/L to (1.31±0.1)g/L (P <0.001), while IgG and IgM decreased from (8.1±0.2)g/L and (0.52±0.6)g/L to (7.1±0.1)g/L and (0.47±0.1)g/L, respectively (P <0.001, P =0.002). BTKi treatment resulted in a significant change in T cell subpopulation of CLL patients, which manifested as both a decrease in total number of T cells from (2.1±0.1)×109/L to (1.6±0.4)×109/L and NK/T cells from (0.11±0.1)×109/L to (0.07±0.01)×109/L (P =0.042, P =0.038), both an increase in number of CD4 + cells from (0.15±6.1)×109/L to (0.19±0.4)×109/L and CD8 + cells from (0.27±0.01)×109/L to (0.41±0.08)×109/L (both P <0.001). BTKi treatment also up-regulated the expression of interleukin (IL)-2 while down-regulated IL-4 and interferon (IFN)-γ. However, the expression of IL-6, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α did not change significantly. BTKi treatment could also restored the diversity of TCR and BCR in CLL patients, especially obviously in those patients with complete remission (CR) than those with partial remission (PR). Before and after BTKi treatment, Shannon index of TCR in patients with CR was 0.02±0.008 and 0.14±0.001 (P <0.001), while in patients with PR was 0.01±0.03 and 0.05±0.02 (P >0.05), respectively. Shannon index of BCR in patients with CR was 0.19±0.003 and 0.33±0.15 (P <0.001), while in patients with PR was 0.15±0.009 and 0.23±0.18 (P <0.05), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: BTKi treatment can shrink the clone size in CLL patients, promote the expression of IgA, increase the number of functional T cells, and regulate the secretion of cytokines such as IL-2, IL-4, and IFN-γ. BTKi also promote the recovery of diversity of TCR and BCR. BTKi treatment contributes to the reconstitution of immune function in CLL patients.

Biomechanical Research of Three Parallel Cannulated Compression Screws in Oblique Triangle Configuration for Fixation of Femoral Neck Unstable Fractures.

OBJECTIVE: Surgical treatment with internal fixation, specifically percutaneous fixation with three cannulated compression screws (CCSs), is the preferred choice for young and middle-aged patients. The mechanical advantage of the optimal spatial configuration with three screws provides maximum dispersion and cortical support. We suspect that the spatial proportion of the oblique triangle configuration (OTC) in the cross-section of the femoral neck isthmus (FNI) may significantly improve shear and fatigue resistance of the fixed structure, thereby stabilizing the internal fixation system in femoral neck fracture (FNF). This study aims to explore the mechanical features of OTC and provide a mechanical basis for its clinical application. METHODS: Twenty Sawbone femurs were prepared as Pauwels type III FNF models and divided equally into two fixation groups: OTC and inverted equilateral triangle configuration (IETC). Three 7.3 mm diameter cannulated compression screws (CCSs) were used for fixation. The specimens of FNF after screw internal fixation were subjected to static loading and cyclic loading tests, respectively, with five specimens for each test. Axial stiffness, 5 mm failure load, ultimate load, shear displacement, and frontal rotational angle of two fragments were evaluated. In the cyclic loading test, the load sizes were 700 N, 1400 N, and 2100 N, respectively, and the fracture end displacement was recorded. Results were presented as means ± SD. Data with normal distributions were compared by the Student's t test. RESULTS: In the static loading test, the axial stiffness, ultimate load, shear displacement, and frontal rotational angle of two fragments were (738.64 vs. 620.74) N/mm, (2957.61 vs. 2643.06) N, (4.67 vs. 5.39) mm, and (4.01 vs. 5.52)° (p < 0.05), respectively. Comparison between the femoral head displacement after 10,000 cycles of 700N cyclic loading and total displacement after 20,000 cycles of 700-1400N cyclic loading showed the OTC group was less than the IETC group (p < 0.05). A comparison of femoral head displacement after 10,000 cycles of 1400N and 2100N cycles and total displacement after 30,000 cycles of 700-2100N cycles showed the OTC group was less than another group, but the difference was not significant (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: When three CCSs are inserted in parallel to fix FNF, the OTC of three screws has obvious biomechanical advantages, especially in shear resistance and early postoperative weight-bearing, which provides a mechanical basis for clinical selection of ideal spatial configuration for unstable FNF.

Competitive Coordination of Sodium Ions for High-Voltage Sodium Metal Batteries with Fast Reaction Speed.

The unstable electrode-electrolyte interface and the narrow electrochemical window of normal electrolytes hinder the potential application of high-voltage sodium metal batteries. These problems are actually related to the solvation structure of the electrolyte, which is determined by the competition between cations coordinated with anions or solvent molecules. Herein, we design an electrolyte incorporating ethyl (2,2,2-trifluoroethyl) carbonate and fluoroethylene carbonate, which facilitates a pronounced level of cation-anion coordination within the solvation sheath by enthalpy changes to reduce the overall coordination of cation-solvents and increase sensitivity to salt concentration. Such an electrolyte regulated by competitive coordination leads to highly reversible sodium plating/stripping with extended cycle life and a high Coulombic efficiency of 98.0%, which is the highest reported so far in Na||Cu cells with ester-based electrolytes. Moreover, 4.5 V high-voltage Na||Na3V2(PO4)2F3 cells exhibit a high rate capability up to 20 C and an impressive cycling stability with an 87.1% capacity retention after 250 cycles with limited Na. The proposed strategy of solvation structure modification by regulating the competitive coordination of the cation provides a new direction to achieve stable sodium metal batteries with high energy density and can be further extended to other battery systems by controlling enthalpy changes of the solvation structure.

Spatially Selective Solvation Structure by Electronegative Micro-Arrays for Stable Lithium-Metal Anode Interface.

For electrolytes with conventional lithium salt concentration, it is not easy to generate sufficient anion-derived beneficial inorganic components to stabilize the electrolyte-lithium metal anode interface due to the repulsion of the free-state anions by the anode. In this study, the above issues are solved through the strong interaction between electronegative materials and lithium ions (Li+ ). A locally high Li+ concentration strategy is proposed by preparing micro-arrays of electronegative nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA) on the Cu foil. It is found that the oxygen atoms in the phosphate group (-PO4 ) of the nHA can strongly adsorb Li+ to form a locally Li+ -rich region, which increases the probability of anions interacting with Li+ . The formation of more Li+ -coordinated anions at the electrolyte-anode interface can reduce the Li+ de-solvation energy barrier, and enable the anions to completely decompose into lithium fluoride (LiF) and lithium nitride (Li3 N) on the Li metal anode. The interfacial transfer dynamics is accelerated and the Li dendrites are effectively suppressed. Under high current density, the anode exhibits a long lifespan with high Coulombic efficiency and small polarization voltage. The nHA micro-arrays achieve the targeted solvation structure at the electrolyte-anode interface while ensuring conventional lithium salt concentration in the bulk electrolyte.

Effectiveness of a multicomponent activity and horticultural intervention for the hospitalized older adults: A randomized controlled trial: Effectiveness of Intervention for the Hospitalized Older Adults.

This study evaluated the effectiveness of different intervention programs in improving function among hospitalized older individuals using the Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA). A randomized controlled trial consisted of three groups: routine care, horticulture, and multicomponent activities (n = 32 each). Horticultural and multicomponent activity interventions showed beneficial effects on the CGA in hospitalized older individuals, particularly regarding cognitive function and quality-of-life. Additionally, horticultural activities significantly contributed to the perception of older adults' health status. We recommend to select older patients in geriatric wards with long-term hospitalization and adjust the frequency of activities or choose a single intervention program to provide long-term and effective intervention effects.

[Application prospect of reaction engineering approach in studying drying behavior of single droplet during spray drying of traditional Chinese medicine].

Spray drying technology is one of the most commonly used unit operations in the production of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) preparations, offering advantages such as short drying time and uniform product quality. However, due to the properties of TCM extracts, such as high viscosity, strong hygroscopicity, and poor flowability, there is limited scope to solve the problems of wall adhesion and clumping in spray drying from the macroscopic perspective of pharmaceutical production. Therefore, it has become a trend to study and optimize the spray drying process from the microscopic point of view by investigating single droplet evaporation behavior. Based on the reaction engineering approach(REA), the single droplet drying system, as a novel method for studying droplets, collects parameter data on individual TCM droplets during the drying process and uses the REA to process the data and establish predictive models. This approach is crucial for understanding the mechanism of TCM spray drying. This paper summarized and analyzed the cha-racteristics of various single droplet systems, the application of REA in single droplet drying systems, and its significance in optimizing the process, predicting drying states, and shortening the development cycle in the field of TCM spray drying, and looked ahead to the prospects of this method, including the introduction of new parameters and imaging techniques, aiming to provide a reference for further research in the field of TCM spray drying.

Study on the microcrystal cellulose and the derived 2D graphene and relative carbon materials.

Microcrystal cellulose (MCC) is a green and sustainable resource that widely exists in various lignocellulose species in percentage 10% to 30%. The fine powder of MCC is often discarded in industrial productions that use lignocellulose as feedstock. The crystal structure of two types of MCC (sugarcane pith and bamboo pith) and their derived carbon materials are studied, and the key findings are summarized as follows. (1) In the MCC refined from sugarcane pith, there are large amount of cellulose 2D crystal, which can be converted to valuable 2D graphene crystal. (2) In the MCC refined from bamboo pith there are large amount of cluster microcrystal cellulose, which can be converted to soft and elastic graphene microcrystal (GMC). (3) The 2D cellulose in MCC of sugarcane pith has large surface area and is easily to be degraded to sugars by acid-base hydrolysis reaction, which can be carbonized to Fullerenes-like carbon spheres. (4) The crystal structures of MCC derived carbon materials are strongly impacted by the crystal structures of MCC, and the carbonization reaction of MCC follows "in situ carbonization" and "nearby recombination" mechanism. In general, the results from this study may open a new way for value-added applications of microcrystal cellulose.