Prevalence and genetic diversity of rotavirus among children under 5 years of age in China: a meta-analysis.

Background: This meta-analysis was performed to assess the prevalence and circulating strains of rotavirus (RV) among Chinese children under 5 years of age after the implantation of the RV vaccine. Material and methods: Studies published between 2019 and 2023, focused on RV-based diarrhea among children less than 5 years were systematically reviewed using PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang and SinoMed Data. We synthesized their findings to examine prevalence and genetic diversity of RV after the RV vaccine implementation using a fixed-effects or random-effects model. Results: Seventeen studies met the inclusion criteria for this meta-analysis. The overall prevalence of RV was found to be 19.00%. The highest infection rate was noted in children aged 12-23months (25.79%), followed by those aged 24-35 months (23.91%), and 6-11 months (22.08%). The serotype G9 emerged as the most predominant RV genotype, accounting for 85.48% of infections, followed by G2 (7.70%), G8 (5.74%), G1 (4.86%), and G3 (3.21%). The most common P type was P[8], representing 64.02% of RV cases. Among G-P combinations, G9P[8] was the most frequent, responsible for 78.46% of RV infections, succeeded by G8P[8] (31.22%) and G3P[8] (8.11%). Conclusion: Despite the variation of serotypes observed in China, the G1, G2, G3, G8 and G9 serotypes accounted for most RV strains. The genetic diversity analysis highlights the dynamic nature of RV genotypes, necessitating ongoing surveillance to monitor changes in strain distribution and inform future vaccine strategies.

METTL14 downregulation drives S100A4+ monocyte-derived macrophages via MyD88/NF-κB pathway to promote MAFLD progression.

Without intervention, a considerable proportion of patients with metabolism-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) will progress from simple steatosis to metabolism-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), liver fibrosis, and even hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the molecular mechanisms that control progressive MAFLD have yet to be fully determined. Here, we unraveled that the expression of the N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methyltransferase METTL14 is remarkably downregulated in the livers of both patients and several murine models of MAFLD, whereas hepatocyte-specific depletion of this methyltransferase aggravated lipid accumulation, liver injury, and fibrosis. Conversely, hepatic Mettl14 overexpression alleviated the above pathophysiological changes in mice fed on a high-fat diet (HFD). Notably, in vivo and in vitro mechanistic studies indicated that METTL14 downregulation decreased the level of GLS2 by affecting the translation efficiency mediated by YTHDF1 in an m6A-depedent manner, which might help to form an oxidative stress microenvironment and accordingly recruit Cx3cr1+Ccr2+ monocyte-derived macrophages (Mo-macs). In detail, Cx3cr1+Ccr2+ Mo-macs can be categorized into M1-like macrophages and S100A4-positive macrophages and then further activate hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) to promote liver fibrosis. Further experiments revealed that CX3CR1 can activate the transcription of S100A4 via CX3CR1/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway in Cx3cr1+Ccr2+ Mo-macs. Restoration of METTL14 or GLS2, or interfering with this signal transduction pathway such as inhibiting MyD88 could ameliorate liver injuries and fibrosis. Taken together, these findings indicate potential therapies for the treatment of MAFLD progression.

Cadaverine and putrescine exposure influence carbon and nitrogen cycling genes in water and sediment of the Yellow River.

The response patterns of microbial functional genes involved in biogeochemical cycles to cadaver decay is a central topic of recent environmental sciences. However, the response mechanisms and pathways of the functional genes associated with the carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling to cadaveric substances such as cadaverine and putrescine remain unclear. This study explored the variation of functional genes associated with C fixation, C degradation and N cycling and their influencing factors under cadaverine, putrescine and mixed treatments. Our results showed only putrescine significantly increased the alpha diversity of C fixation genes, while reducing the alpha diversity of N cycling genes in sediment. For the C cycling, the mixed treatment significantly decreased the total abundance of reductive acetyl-CoA pathway genes (i.e., acsB and acsE) and lig gene linked to lignin degradation in water, while only significantly increasing the hydroxypropionate-hydroxybutylate cycle (i.e., accA) gene abundance in sediment. For the N cycling, mixed treatment significantly decreased the abundance of the nitrification (i.e., amoB), denitrification (i.e., nirS3) genes in water and the assimilation pathway gene (i.e., gdhA) in sediment. Environmental factors (i.e., total carbon and total nitrogen) were all negatively associated with the genes of C and N cycling. Therefore, cadaverine and putrescine exposure may inhibit the pathway in C fixation and N cycling, while promoting C degradation. These findings can offer some new insight for the management of amine pollution caused by animal cadavers.

Additive manufacturing of dental ceramics in prosthodontics: The status quo and the future.

PURPOSE: This review aims to summarize the available technologies, material categories, and prosthodontic applications of additive manufacturing (AM) dental ceramics, evaluate the achievable accuracy and mechanical properties in comparison with current mainstream computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) subtractive manufacturing (SM) methods, and discuss future prospects and directions. STUDY SELECTION: This paper is based on the latest reviews, state-of-the-art research, and existing ISO standards on AM technologies and prosthodontic applications of dental ceramics. PubMed, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect were amongst the sources searched for narrative reviews. RESULTS: Relatively few AM technologies are available and their applications are limited to crowns and fixed partial dentures. Although the accuracy and strength of AM dental ceramics are comparable to those of SM, they have the limitations of relatively inferior curved surface accuracy and low strength reliability. Furthermore, functionally graded additive manufacturing (FGAM), a potential direction for AM, enables the realization of biomimetic structures, such as natural teeth; however, specific studies are currently lacking. CONCLUSIONS: AM dental ceramics are not sufficiently developed for large-scale clinical applications. However, with additional research, it may be possible for AM to replace SM as the mainstream manufacturing technology for ceramic restorations.

Development of Oxadiazolone Activity-Based Probes Targeting FphE for Specific Detection of Staphylococcus aureus Infections.

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a major human pathogen that is responsible for a wide range of systemic infections. Since its propensity to form biofilms in vivo poses formidable challenges for both detection and treatment, tools that can be used to specifically image S. aureus biofilms are highly valuable for clinical management. Here, we describe the development of oxadiazolone-based activity-based probes to target the S. aureus-specific serine hydrolase FphE. Because this enzyme lacks homologues in other bacteria, it is an ideal target for selective imaging of S. aureus infections. Using X-ray crystallography, direct cell labeling, and mouse models of infection, we demonstrate that oxadiazolone-based probes enable specific labeling of S. aureus bacteria through the direct covalent modification of the FphE active site serine. These results demonstrate the utility of the oxadizolone electrophile for activity-based probes and validate FphE as a target for the development of imaging contrast agents for the rapid detection of S. aureus infections.

Effects of cadmium exposure on gut microbiota and antibiotic resistance genes in Haliotis diversicolor abalone.

Heavy metals in soil, water, and industrial production can affect the antibiotic resistance of bacteria. Antibiotic resistance in gut microbiota has been extensively researched. The effects of cadmium (Cd) was investigated on the gut microbiota and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) of Haliotis diversicolor, a commercially important abalone species. By exposing H. diversicolor to four concentrations of Cd (0 µg L-1 (control), 6.5 µg L-1 (low), 42.25 µg L-1 (medium), and 274.63 µg L-1 (high)) for 30 and 60 days, 16 types of ARG (aadA-01, aadA-02, cfr, dfrA1, ermB, floR, folA, mecA, sul2, tetB-01, tetC-01, tetD-01, tetG-01, tetM-02, tetQ, vanC-01), and 1213 genus and 27 phylum microbiomes were detected. ARGs can be resistant to aminoglycoside, beta-lactamase, macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B, multidrug, florfenicol, macrolide, sulfonamides, tetracyclines, and vancomycin. Cadmium exposure significantly alters the abundance of tetC-01, tetB-01, tetQ, sul2, and aadA-01. About 5% (61) of genus-level microorganisms were significantly affected by Cd exposure. Microbiota alpha and beta diversities in the 60-day 42.25 µg L-1 Cd treatment differed significantly from those in other treatments. In addition, 26 pathogens were detected, and two pathogens (Vibrio and Legionella) were significantly affected by Cd exposure. Significant correlations between pathogens and ARGs increased with increased Cd concentration after 60 days of Cd exposure. Cadmium exposure may cause gut microbiota disturbance in H. diversicolor and increase the likelihood of ARG transfer to pathogens, increasing potential ecological and economic risks.

Similarity of Chinese and Pakistani oral microbiome.

Oral microbiota is vital for human health and can be affected by various factors (i.e. diets, ethnicity). However, few studies have compared oral microbiota of individuals from different nationalities in the same environment. Here, we explored the assembly and interaction of oral microbial communities of Chinese and Pakistanis in one university. Firmicutes and Proteobacteria were the predominant microorganisms in the oral cavity of Chinese and Pakistanis. Streptococcus and Neisseria were the dominant genera of China, while Streptococcus and Haemophilus were the dominant genera of Pakistanis. In addition, the oral community membership and structure were not influenced by season, Chinese/Pakistani student and gender, reflecting the stability of the human oral microbiome. The beta diversity of oral microbiomes between Chinese and Pakistanis significantly differed in winter, but not in spring. The alpha diversity of Chinese students and Pakistani students was similar. Moreover, oral microbial community of both Chinese and Pakistani students was mainly driven by stochastic processes. The microbial network of Chinese was more complexity and stability than that of Pakistanis. Our study uncovers the characteristics of human oral microbiota, which is of great significance for oral and human health.

Toxic effect of chromium on nonspecific immune, bioaccumulation, and tissue structure of Urechis unicinctus.

The contamination of toxic heavy metals in aquatic environments has garnered significant global attention due to its detrimental effects on marine organisms and human health. Hexavalent chromium is a typical environmental and occupational heavy metal pollutant, identified as carcinogenic heavy metal. This study aimed to assess the impact of different Cr (VI) concentrations (0.05-2.5 mg/L) on Urechis unicinctus (U. unicinctus) by investigating bioaccumulation, antioxidant defense system, expression of resistance-related genes, and histological issues. A clear concentration-effect relationship was observed in the bioaccumulation of Cr (VI) in muscle tissues of U. unicinctus. Moreover, exposure to Cr (VI) can alter the activities of lysozyme (LSZ), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) to enhance cellular defense mechanisms in U. unicinctus. Likewise, maintained the normal protein structure and functional stability by regulating protein folding. The heat shock cognitive protein (HSC70) gene showed an upward and then downward trend after Cr (VI) exposure. At 12 h, the HSC70 gene expression reached the maximum values of 4.75 and 4.61-fold in the 0.1 and 1.5 mg/L groups, respectively. The organism produced a large number of free radicals, and elevated level of metallothionein (MT) was used to scavenge free radicals and alleviate oxidative stress. Additionally, histopathological examination revealed disorganization in the midgut, atrophic changes in intestinal connective tissue, uneven distribution in respiratory tissues, and irregular shape with a significant reduction in epithelial cells within the gastric cavity. These findings can serve as a valuable reference for elucidating the toxicity mechanisms of heavy metals towards marine benthic organisms and enhancing water environment monitoring strategies.

A nanoemulsion targeting adipose hypertrophy and hyperplasia shows anti-obesity efficiency in female mice.

Obesity often leads to severe medical complications. However, existing FDA-approved medications to combat obesity have limited effectiveness in reducing adiposity and often cause side effects. These medications primarily act on the central nervous system or disrupt fat absorption through the gastrointestinal tract. Adipose tissue enlargement involves adipose hyperplasia and hypertrophy, both of which correlate with increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) and hyperactivated X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1) in (pre)adipocytes. In this study, we demonstrate that KT-NE, a nanoemulsion loaded with the XBP1 inhibitor KIRA6 and α-Tocopherol, simultaneously alleviates aberrant endoplasmic reticulum stress and oxidative stress in (pre)adipocytes. As a result, KT-NE significantly inhibits abnormal adipogenic differentiation, reduces lipid droplet accumulation, restricts lipid droplet transfer, impedes obesity progression, and lowers the risk of obesity-associated non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in female mice with obesity. Furthermore, diverse administration routes of KT-NE impact its in vivo biodistribution and contribute to localized and/or systemic anti-obesity effectiveness.

Nonspecific immune, histology and accumulation of marine worm, Urechis unicinctus in response to bisphenol A (BPA).

Bisphenol A (BPA) is one of the environmental endocrine disruptors, due to its chemical stability it exists in abundant concentrations in water and soil consequently accumulating in the food chain and causing many endocrine-related health problems. So far, studies on the effects of BPA on marine invertebrates have focused on acute toxicity, endocrine regulation, reproduction, and development. However, fewer studies have been conducted on marine benthos. The current study aimed to detect the accumulation of BPA and its impact on tissue structure, antioxidant capacity, and immune indexes in marine worm, Urechis unicinctus. U. unicinctus, as a common marine benthic animal, were exposed to different concentrations of BPA. Blood cells and intestinal tract were taken for tissue structure inspection, and supernatant of the coelomic fluid was collected for oxidative and antioxidant biomarkers. Results showed that the accumulation of BPA in muscles of U. unicinctus tended to increase with exposure time. BPA induced a rise in H2O2 and MDA content, and altered the activities of CAT, T-SOD, GST, LSZ and ACP, weaken the immune system functions. Moreover, pathological observation showed that BPA caused severe histopathology in the respiratory intestine, stomach, and midgut. These results will be helpful to understand the response mechanism of U. unicinctus under BPA exposure and provide a reference for controlling the aquaculture conditions and marine water quality of U. unicinctus.

Aldehyde modified nanocellulose-based fluorescent hydrogel toward multistage data security encryption.

In view of the insecurity of encode information storage based on fluorescence switch single-stage encryption, a fluorescent hydrogel for multistage data security encryption were proposed, named as polyvinyl alcohol/dialdehyde cellulose nanofibrils/carbon quantum dots hydrogel. Herein, the interpenetrating network was formed by chemically crosslinking between polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and dialdehyde cellulose nanofibrils (DACNF). Additionally, nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots (CDs) synthesized by one-step hydrothermal method were introduced into the above hydrogel system by hydrogen bonds. The resultant fluorescent hydrogels possessed high stretchability up to 530 %, good strength of 0.96 MPa, Fe3+-responsive fluorescence quenching, fluorescence recovery triggered by ascorbic acid and borax-triggered shape memory. Moreover, various complex 3D hydrogel geometries were fabricated by folding/assembling 2D fluorescent hydrogel sheets, extending data encryption capability from 2D plane to 3D space. More remarkably, the 3D data encryption-erasing process of fluorescent hydrogel was realized by the strategy of alternating treatment of Fe3+ solution and ascorbic acid solution. This work provided a facile and general strategy for constructing high security important information encryption and protection.

Effect of rosin based quaternary ammonium salt on mechanical, hydrophily, antibacterial of cornstarch/polydopamine film for food packaging.

Food packaging made of biobased materials is environmentally friendly, among which starch film is a type of biobased packaging with great development value. Some existing studies have attempted to add polydopamine (PDA) to enhance cross-linking, but there are still problems such as weakness and hydrophilicity, which greatly limit its application. Therefore, this study synthesized rosin based quaternary ammonium salt-modified cornstarch (ST-B), which was used to replace part of unmodified cornstarch (ST). In the prepared ST/PDA0.5/ST-B5 film, the introduction of a rigid rosin structure increased the stress and water contact angle of the ST/PDA0.5 film by 62 % and 26 %, respectively, while reducing its wettability and WVP; thus, further enhancing its antioxidant activity. Due to the antibacterial ability of rosin quaternary ammonium cations, the packaging film containing 7 wt% ST-B can kill >94.6 % of S. aureus and 99.9 % of E. coli, and can also extend the shelf life of strawberries. In addition, it is proven that the packaging film has good biocompatibility and high safety within cytotoxicity tests and 30-day gavage tests in mice. Therefore, the prepared ST/PDA/ST-B film has more potential for application in food preservation.

Gut diazotrophs in lagomorphs are associated with season but not altitude and host phylogeny.

Invertebrates such as termites feeding on nutrient-poor substrate receive essential nitrogen by biological nitrogen fixation of gut diazotrophs. However, the diversity and composition of gut diazotrophs of vertebrates such as Plateau pikas living in nutrient-poor Qinghai-Tibet Plateau remain unknown. To fill this knowledge gap, we studied gut diazotrophs of Plateau pikas (Ochotona curzoniae) and its related species, Daurian pikas (Ochotona daurica), Hares (Lepus europaeus) and Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) by high-throughput amplicon sequencing methods. We analyzed whether the gut diazotrophs of Plateau pikas are affected by season, altitude, and species, and explored the relationship between gut diazotrophs and whole gut microbiomes. Our study showed that Firmicutes, Spirochaetes, and Euryarchaeota were the dominant gut diazotrophs of Plateau pikas. The beta diversity of gut diazotrophs of Plateau pikas was significantly different from the other three lagomorphs, but the alpha diversity did not show a significant difference among the four lagomorphs. The gut diazotrophs of Plateau pikas were the most similarly to that of Rabbits, followed by Daurian pikas and Hares, which was inconsistent with gut microbiomes or animal phylogeny. The dominant gut diazotrophs of the four lagomorphs may reflect their living environment and dietary habits. Season significantly affected the alpha diversity and abundance of dominant gut diazotrophs. Altitude had no significant effect on the gut diazotrophs of Plateau pikas. In addition, the congruence between gut microbiomes and gut diazotrophs was low. Our results proved that the gut of Plateau pikas was rich in gut diazotrophs, which is of great significance for the study of ecology and evolution of lagomorphs.

Gender dimorphism in hepatocarcinogenesis-DNA methylation modification regulated X-chromosome inactivation escape molecule XIST.

BACKGROUND: Sex disparities constitute a significant issue in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the mechanism of gender dimorphism in HCC is still not completely understood. METHODS: 5-Hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC)-Seal technology was utilised to detect the global 5hmC levels from four female and four male HCC samples. Methylation of XIST was detected by Sequenom MassARRAY methylation profiling between HCC tissues (T) and adjacent normal liver tissues (L). The role of Tet methylcytosine dioxygenase 2 (TET2) was investigated using diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-administered Tet2-/- female mice, which regulated XIST in hepatocarcinogenesis. All statistical analyses were carried out by GraphPad Prism 9.0 and SPSS version 19.0 software. RESULTS: The results demonstrated that the numbers of 5hmC reads in the first exon of XIST from female HCC tissues (T) were remarkably lower than that in female adjacent normal liver tissues (L). Correspondingly, DNA methylation level of XIST first exon region was significantly increased in female T than in L. By contrast, no significant change was observed in male HCC patients. Compared to L, the expression of XIST in T was also significantly downregulated. Female patients with higher XIST in HCC had a higher overall survival (OS) and more extended recurrence-free survival (RFS). Moreover, TET2 can interact with YY1 binding to the promoter region of XIST and maintain the hypomethylation state of XIST. In addition, DEN-administered Tet2-/- mice developed more tumours than controls in female mice. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provided that YY1 and TET2 could interact to form protein complexes binding to the promoter region of XIST, regulating the methylation level of XIST and then affecting the expression of XIST. This research will provide a new clue for studying sex disparities in hepatocarcinogenesis. HIGHLIGHTS: XIST was significantly downregulated in HCC tissues and had gender disparity. Methylation levels in the XIST first exon were higher in female HCC tissues, but no significant change in male HCC patients. The TET2-YY1 complex regulate XIST expression in female hepatocytes. Other ways regulate XIST expression in male hepatocytes.

Distraction osteogenesis promotes temporomandibular joint self-remodeling in the treatment of mandibular deviation caused by condylar ankylosis.

Craniofacial deformity and malocclusion are primary concerns following temporomandibular joint ankylosis (TMJa) in growing patients, and they pose even greater challenges in adult patients. The treatment objectives always involve restoring proper jawbone structure, achieving stable occlusion, and attaining satisfactory joint mobility. This report presents a 4-year follow-up of an adult patient with TMJa-induced mandibular deviation, who underwent a combined treatment approach involving distraction osteogenesis (DO) and orthodontic-orthognathic surgery. Orthodontic treatment resulted in favorable occlusion and improved facial esthetics. A new condyle with a reconstructed glenoid fossa in a forward position was established after mandibular DO and the damaged TMJ experienced self-remodeling owing to functional improvement. Thus, this case demonstrates the efficacy of DO in promoting adaptive TMJ self-remodeling with long-term stability when treating mandibular deviation caused by condylar ankylosis in adult patients.

Precisely Regulating M2 Subtype Macrophages for Renal Fibrosis Resolution.

Macrophages are central to the pathogenesis of kidney disease and serve as an effective therapeutic target for kidney injury and fibrosis. Among them, M2-type macrophages have double-edged effects regarding anti-inflammatory effects and tissue repair. Depending on the polarization of the M2 subtypes (M2a or M2c) in the diseased microenvironment, they can either mediate normal tissue repair or drive tissue fibrosis. In renal fibrosis, M2a promotes disease progression through macrophage-to-myofibroblast transition (MMT) cells, while M2c possesses potent anti-inflammatory functions and promotes tissue repair, and is inhibited. The mechanisms underlying this differentiation are complex and are currently not well understood. Therefore, in this study, we first confirmed that M2a-derived MMT cells are responsible for the development of renal fibrosis and demonstrated that the intensity of TGF-ß signaling is a major factor determining the differential polarization of M2a and M2c. Under excessive TGF-ß stimulation, M2a undergoes a process known as MMT cells, whereas moderate TGF-ß stimulation favors the polarization of M2c phenotype macrophages. Based on these findings, we employed targeted nanotechnology to codeliver endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) inhibitor (Ceapin 7, Cea or C) and conventional glucocorticoids (Dexamethasone, Dex or D), precisely modulating the ATF6/TGF-ß/Smad3 signaling axis within macrophages. This approach calibrated the level of TGF-ß stimulation on macrophages, promoting their polarization toward the M2c phenotype and suppressing excessive MMT polarization. The study indicates that the combination of ERS inhibitor and a first-line anti-inflammatory drug holds promise as an effective therapeutic approach for renal fibrosis resolution.

Cost-of-illness of gastroenteritis caused by rotavirus in Chinese children less than 5 years.

Acute gastroenteritis (AGE) caused by rotavirus (RV) remains a public health issue in China. To accelerate the mass rotavirus vaccination, it is important to inform the policy maker, and the public of the economic burden caused by rotavirus infection. A meta-analysis was conducted applying standardized algorithms. Articles published before January 1, 2023, in English and Chinese were searched through PubMed, CNKI, and WanFang Data. Studies with cost analysis of RV AGE were included. A random-effects model was applied to synthesize the total cost of RV AGE from the societal perspective. A prospective survey aimed to measure the cost of RV AGE was conducted in 2021 and 2022 in Shaoxing city, Zhejiang province, that can represent the developed region. The cost data was applied as deviation indicator, in comparison with the pooled estimate generated from meta-analysis. Totally 286 articles were identified, and eventually 12 studies were included. The pooled total social cost of RV AGE was US$282.1 (95%CI: US$213.4-350.7). The pooled private cost of RV AGE was US$206.4 (95%CI: US$155.2-257.5). RV AGE hospitalized and RV AGE incurred in developed regions caused remarkable higher burden (US$631.2 [95%CI: US$512.6-749.8], and US$333.6 [95%CI: US$234.1-433.2] respectively), compared to RV AGE treated at outpatient, and incurred in less developed regions. Our study demonstrates that RV AGE causes a significant economic burden in China. Given the promising effectiveness and highly cost-effective, introduction of rotavirus vaccines in national immunization programs could substantially reduce the economic burden in China.

A Free-Standing Polymer Polypyrrole/Cellulose Composite Film via Spatial-Confined Interfacial Electrodeposition for Flexible Supercapacitors.

As a kind of energy storage device, a flexible supercapacitor has the characteristics of high capacity, fast charge/discharge rate, good stability, portability and softness. Conductive polymer polypyrrole (PPy) can be used as an electrode material for supercapacitors due to its environmental friendliness, simple synthesis process, good conductivity and potential for large-scale production. However, pristine PPy inevitably suffers from structural rupture due to repeated doping/de-doping during charge and discharge processes, which in turn impairs its cycle stability. In general, compounding with flexible substrates like soft carbon materials, cellulose or nylon fabric, is a good strategy to weaken the inner stress and restrain the structure pulverization of PPy. Herein, cellulose is utilized as a soft substrate to compound with PPy based on the electrochemical oxidation of polypyrrole. The interfacial electrodeposition method can successfully obtain a smooth, uniform and flexible PPy/cellulose composite film, which shows good conductivity. The assembled symmetric supercapacitor with PPy/cellulose film has an optimized specific capacitance of 256.1 mF cm-2, even after 10,000 cycles at a current density of 1 mA cm-2. Furthermore, there is no significant capacitance loss even after 180° bending of the device. This work provides a new means to prepare flexible, low-cost, environmentally friendly and high-performance electrode materials for energy conversion and storage systems.

RobustMat: Neural Diffusion for Street Landmark Patch Matching Under Challenging Environments.

For autonomous vehicles (AVs), visual perception techniques based on sensors like cameras play crucial roles in information acquisition and processing. In various computer perception tasks for AVs, it may be helpful to match landmark patches taken by an onboard camera with other landmark patches captured at a different time or saved in a street scene image database. To perform matching under challenging driving environments caused by changing seasons, weather, and illumination, we utilize the spatial neighborhood information of each patch. We propose an approach, named RobustMat, which derives its robustness to perturbations from neural differential equations. A convolutional neural ODE diffusion module is used to learn the feature representation for the landmark patches. A graph neural PDE diffusion module then aggregates information from neighboring landmark patches in the street scene. Finally, feature similarity learning outputs the final matching score. Our approach is evaluated on several street scene datasets and demonstrated to achieve state-of-the-art matching results under environmental perturbations.

Solvent exchange-motivated and tunable in situ forming implants sustaining triamcinolone acetonide release for arthritis treatment.

Arthritis is a syndrome characterized by inflammation in the joints. Triamcinolone acetonide (TA) was used as an anti-inflammatory agent in the treatment of this disease. However, there are limitations to its clinical application, including rapid clearance from the joint cavity, potential joint damage from multiple injections, and adverse joint events. To address these drawbacks, we developed a tunable in situ forming implant loaded with TA. This injectable polymer solution utilized poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) as an extended-release material. When injected into the joints, the solution solidifies into implants through a solvent exchange in the aqueous environment. The implants demonstrated robust retention at the injection site and released TA over several weeks even months through diffusion and erosion. By adding different proportions of low water-miscible plasticizers, the release period of the drug could be precisely adjusted. The plasticizers-optimized implants exhibited a tough texture, enhancing the therapeutic efficiency and drug safety in vivo. In arthritic model studies, the tunable TA-loaded implants significantly reduced swelling, pain, and motor discoordination, and also showed suppression of arthritis progression to some extent. These findings suggested that TA-loaded ISFI holds promise for managing inflammatory disorders in individuals with arthritis.