Microcapsule Modification Strategy Empowering Separator Multifunctionality to Enhance Safety of Lithium-Metal Batteries.

The uncontrollable growth of lithium dendrites and the flammability of electrolytes are the direct impediments to the commercial application of high-energy-density lithium metal batteries (LMBs). Herein, this study presents a novel approach that combines microencapsulation and electrospinning technologies to develop a multifunctional composite separator (P@AS) for improving the electrochemical performance and safety performance of LMBs. The P@AS separator forms a dense charcoal layer through the condensed-phase flame retardant mechanism causing the internal separator to suffocate from lack of oxygen. Furthermore, it incorporates a triple strategy promoting the uniform flow of lithium ions, facilitating the formation of a highly ion-conducting solid electrolyte interface (SEI), and encouraging flattened lithium deposition with active SiO2 seed points, considerably suppressing lithium dendrites growth. The high Coulombic efficiency of 95.27% is achieved in Li-Cu cells with additive-free carbonate electrolyte. Additionally, stable cycling performance is also maintained with a capacity retention rate of 93.56% after 300 cycles in LFP//Li cells. Importantly, utilizing P@AS separator delays the ignition of pouch batteries under continuous external heating by 138 s, causing a remarkable reduction in peak heat release rate and total heat release by 23.85% and 27.61%, respectively, substantially improving the fire safety of LMBs.

Detection of HBV DNA integration in plasma cell-free DNA of different HBV diseases utilizing DNA capture strategy.

The landscape of hepatitis B virus (HBV) integration in the plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA) of HBV-infected patients with different stages of liver diseases [chronic hepatitis B (CHB), liver cirrhosis (LC), and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)] remains unclear. In this study, we developed an improved strategy for detecting HBV DNA integration in plasma cfDNA, based on DNA probe capture and next-generation sequencing. Using this optimized strategy, we successfully detected HBV integration events in chimeric artificial DNA samples and HBV-infected HepG2-NTCP cells at day one post infection, with high sensitivity and accuracy. The characteristics of HBV integration events in the HBV-infected HepG2-NTCP cells and plasma cfDNA from HBV-infected individuals (CHB, LC, and HCC) were further investigated. A total of 112 and 333 integration breakpoints were detected in the HepG2-NTCP cells and 22 out of 25 (88%) clinical HBV-infected samples, respectively. In vivo analysis showed that the normalized number of support unique sequences (nnsus) in HCC was significantly higher than in CHB or LC patients (P values < 0.05). All integration breakpoints are randomly distributed on human chromosomes and are enriched in the HBV genome around nt1800. The majority of integration breakpoints (61.86%) are located in the gene-coding region. Both non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) and microhomology-mediated end-joining (MMEJ) interactions occurred during HBV integration across the three different stages of liver diseases. Our study provides evidence that HBV DNA integration can be detected in the plasma cfDNA of HBV-infected patients, including those with CHB, LC, or HCC, using this optimized strategy.

Kaolin-Derived Porous Silico-Aluminate Nanoparticles as Absorbents for Emergency Disposal of Toluene Leakage.

To rapidly eliminate toluene from aqueous environments during leakage accidents, this paper synthesized porous silico-aluminate nanoparticles (SANs) via a hydrothermal method, using cost-effective and non-toxic natural kaolin as the basic raw material. The morphology and structure of the porous SANs were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and BET-specific surface area tests. The effects of different conditions, such as the dosage of porous SANs, initial concentration of toluene, temperature, capture time, and pH, on the adsorption performance of porous SANs were analyzed. The as-prepared SANs exhibited a high removal efficiency and rapid adsorption performance toward toluene in aqueous solution. Finally, the kinetics of the adsorption of toluene in aqueous solution by porous SANs were investigated. The mechanism of the adsorption of toluene by porous SANs was further discussed. These findings provide a cost-effective and highly efficient absorbent for the emergency disposal of toluene leakage accidents.

Improving Sag Resistance in Geopolymer Coatings Using Diatomite Filler: Effects on Rheological Properties and Early Hydration.

The reduction in the rheological parameters and dissolution rate of precursors in geopolymer coatings during early hydration significantly contributes to sagging. This study aims to improve the sag resistance of these coatings by incorporating diatomite filler. Rheological testing was conducted to assess the impact of diatomite and its concentration on the yield stress, plastic viscosity, and thixotropy of the geopolymer coatings. The results indicated that diatomite's large specific surface area and high reactivity have a significant influence on the rheological parameters and early dissolution rate of precursors. With a diatomite concentration of 1.1%, the coating exhibited a yield stress of 2.749 Pa and a plastic viscosity of 0.921 Pa·s, maintaining stability, homogeneity, and no sagging at a thickness of 600 µm. Furthermore, the highly active SiO2 in diatomite participates in the secondary hydration reaction of the geopolymer materials led to the formation of substantial C-(A)-S-H gel. This gel enhances internal interconnectivity within the coating, thereby improving its rheological and mechanical properties.

The microbiome compositional and functional differences between rectal mucosa and feces.

In recent years, most studies on the gut microbiome have primarily focused on feces samples, leaving the microbial communities in the intestinal mucosa relatively unexplored. To address this gap, our study employed shotgun metagenomics to analyze the microbial compositions in normal rectal mucosa and matched feces from 20 patients with colonic polyps. Our findings revealed a pronounced distinction of the microbial communities between these two sample sets. Compared with feces, the mucosal microbiome contains fewer genera, with Burkholderia being the most discriminating genus between feces and mucosa, highlighting its significant influence on the mucosa. Furthermore, based on the microbial classification and KEGG Orthology (KO) annotation results, we explored the association between rectal mucosal microbiota and factors such as age, gender, BMI, and polyp risk level. Notably, we identified novel biomarkers for these phenotypes, such as Clostridium ramosum and Enterobacter cloacae in age. The mucosal microbiota showed an enrichment of KO pathways related to sugar transport and short chain fatty acid metabolism. Our comprehensive approach not only bridges the knowledge gap regarding the microbial community in the rectal mucosa but also underscores the complexity and specificity of microbial interactions within the human gut, particularly in the Chinese population. IMPORTANCE: This study presents a system-level map of the differences between feces and rectal mucosal microbial communities in samples with colorectal cancer risk. It reveals the unique microecological characteristics of rectal mucosa and its potential influence on health. Additionally, it provides novel insights into the role of the gut microbiome in the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer and paves the way for the development of new prevention and treatment strategies.

The RNA binding protein EHD6 recruits the m6A reader YTH07 and sequesters OsCOL4 mRNA into phase-separated ribonucleoprotein condensates to promote rice flowering.

N6-Methyladenosine (m6A) is one of the most abundant modifications of eukaryotic mRNA, but its comprehensive biological functionality remains further exploration. In this study, we identified and characterized a new flowering-promoting gene, EARLY HEADING DATE6 (EHD6), in rice. EHD6 encodes an RNA recognition motif (RRM)-containing RNA binding protein that is localized in the non-membranous cytoplasm ribonucleoprotein (RNP) granules and can bind both m6A-modified RNA and unmodified RNA indiscriminately. We found that EHD6 can physically interact with YTH07, a YTH (YT521-B homology) domain-containing m6A reader. We showed that their interaction enhances the binding of an m6A-modified RNA and triggers relocation of a portion of YTH07 from the cytoplasm into RNP granules through phase-separated condensation. Within these condensates, the mRNA of a rice flowering repressor, CONSTANS-like 4 (OsCOL4), becomes sequestered, leading to a reduction in its protein abundance and thus accelerated flowering through the Early heading date 1 pathway. Taken together, these results not only shed new light on the molecular mechanism of efficient m6A recognition by the collaboration between an RNA binding protein and YTH family m6A reader, but also uncover the potential for m6A-mediated translation regulation through phase-separated ribonucleoprotein condensation in rice.

Small molecule inhibitors targeting m6A regulators.

As the most common form of epigenetic regulation by RNA, N6 methyladenosine (m6A) modification is closely involved in physiological processes, such as growth and development, stem cell renewal and differentiation, and DNA damage response. Meanwhile, its aberrant expression in cancer tissues promotes the development of malignant tumors, as well as plays important roles in proliferation, metastasis, drug resistance, immunity and prognosis. This close association between m6A and cancers has garnered substantial attention in recent years. An increasing number of small molecules have emerged as potential agents to target m6A regulators for cancer treatment. These molecules target the epigenetic level, enabling precise intervention in RNA modifications and efficiently disrupting the survival mechanisms of tumor cells, thus paving the way for novel approaches in cancer treatment. However, there is currently a lack of a comprehensive review on small molecules targeting m6A regulators for anti-tumor. Here, we have comprehensively summarized the classification and functions of m6A regulators, elucidating their interactions with the proliferation, metastasis, drug resistance, and immune responses in common cancers. Furthermore, we have provided a comprehensive overview on the development, mode of action, pharmacology and structure-activity relationships of small molecules targeting m6A regulators. Our aim is to offer insights for subsequent drug design and optimization, while also providing an outlook on future prospects for small molecule development targeting m6A.

Patient Perspectives of the Manifestations and Treatment of Anti-MDA5 Antibody-Positive Dermatomyositis: An Observational Survey.

Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) are a heterogeneous group of autoimmune disorders classically characterized by proximal skeletal muscle inflammation leading to weakness, but they often possess additional systemic manifestations such as cutaneous, pulmonary, and articular disease.1 Although originally dichotomized as either dermatomyositis (DM) or polymyositis, the discovery of new myositis-specific antibodies (MSA) and myositis-associated antibodies has led to the delineation of more refined IIM patient subgroups.

Noncombustible gel polymer electrolyte inspired by bio-radicalchemistry for high voltage and high safety Ni-rich lithium batteries.

For high energy density lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) with nickel-rich ternary cathodes, the chemical degradation of electrolytes caused by free radical reactions and the hazards of thermal runaway have always been significant challenges. Inspired by the free radical scavenging of living organisms and multiphase synergistic flame retardant mechanism, we innovatively designed and prepared a multifunctional flame retardant HCCP-TMP that combines flame retardancy and free radical scavenging by combining hindered amine and cyclophosphazene. Only 1 wt% HCCP-TMP can make the polyacrylate-based gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) incombustible. Moreover, the equipped NCM811//Graphite pouch cells don't exhibit combustion behavior after thermal runaway and can resist mechanical abuse. Based on the above noncombustible GPE, the NCM811//Li battery exhibits capacity retention rate of 82.2 % after 100 cycles at a current density of 2 C and in the voltage range of 3.0-4.7 V, exhibiting excellent cyclability under high voltage. This simple molecular design simultaneously improves the fire safety and high voltage stability, demonstrating enormous application potential in the field of advanced LIBs with high safety and high energy density.

Integrated HS-GC-IMS and UPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS-based metabolomics revealed the characteristics and differential volatile and nonvolatile metabolites of different citrus peels.

Citrus is an important genus in the Rutaceae family, and citrus peels can be used in both food and herbal medicine. However, the bulk of citrus peels are discarded as waste by the fruit processing industry, causing environmental pollution. This study aimed to provide guidelines for the rational and effective use of citrus peels by elucidating the volatile and nonvolatile metabolites within them using metabolomics based on headspace-gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-Q-Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry. In addition, the antioxidant activities of the citrus peels were evaluated using DPPH radical scavenging, ABTS radical scavenging, and ferric reducing antioxidant power. In total, 103 volatile and 53 nonvolatile metabolites were identified and characterized. Alcohols, aldehydes, and terpenes constituted 87.36% of the volatile metabolites, while flavonoids and carboxylic acids accounted for 85.46% of the nonvolatile metabolites. Furthermore, (Z)-2-penten-1-ol, L-pipecolinic acid, and limonin were identified as characteristic components of Citrus reticulata Blanco cv. Ponkan (PK), C. reticulata 'Unshiu' (CLU), and C. reticulata 'Wo Gan' (WG), respectively. Principal component analysis and partial least squares discriminant analysis indicated that C. reticulata Blanco 'Chun Jian' (CJ), PK, CLU, and C. reticulata 'Dahongpao' (DHP) were clustered together. DHP is a traditional Chinese medicine documented in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, suggesting that the chemical compositions of CJ, PK, and CLU may also have medicinal values similar to those of DHP. Moreover, DHP, PK, C. reticulata 'Ai Yuan 38'(AY38), CJ, C. reticulata 'Gan Ping'(GP), and C. reticulata 'Qing Jian'(QJ) displayed better antioxidant activities, recommending their use as additives in cosmetics and food. Correlation analysis suggested that some polyphenols including tangeritin, nobiletin, skullcapflavone II, genistein, caffeic acid, and isokaempferide were potential antioxidant compounds in citrus peel. The results of this study deepen our understanding of the differences in metabolites and antioxidant activities of different citrus peel varieties and ultimately provide guidance for the full and rational use of citrus peels.

Influence of microorganisms on flavor substances and functional components of sojae semen praeparatum during fermentation: A study integrating comparative metabolomics and high-throughput sequencing.

Sojae semen praeparatum (SSP), a fermented product known for its distinctive flavor and medicinal properties, undergoes a complex fermentation process due to the action of various microorganisms. Despite its widespread use, the effect of these microorganisms on the flavor compounds and functional components of SSP remains poorly understood. This study aimed to shed light on this aspect by identifying 20 metabolites as potential key flavor substances in SSP. Moreover, glycine and lysine were identified as crucial flavor substances. Additionally, 24 metabolites were identified as key functional components. The dominant microorganisms involved in the fermentation process were examined, revealing six genera of fungi and 12 genera of bacteria. At the species level, 16 microorganisms were identified as dominant through metagenome sequencing. Spearman correlation analysis demonstrated a strong association between dominant microorganisms and both flavor substances and functional components. Furthermore, the study validated the significance of four core functional microorganisms in improving the flavor and quality of SSP. This comprehensive exploration of functional microorganisms of SSP on key flavor substances/functional components during SSP fermentation. The study findings serve as a valuable reference for enhancing the overall flavor and quality of SSP.

Terpinen-4-ol from tea tree oil prevents Aspergillus flavus growth in postharvest wheat grain.

Plant volatile organic compounds (PVOCs) have gained increasing attention for their role in preventing fungal spoilage and insect contamination in postharvest agro-products owing to their effectiveness and sustainability. In this study, the essential oil was extracted from fresh M. alternifolia (tea tree) leaves, and the fumigation vapor of tea tree oil (TTO) completely inhibited the growth of Aspergillus flavus on agar plates at a concentration of 1.714 µL/mL. Terpinen-4-ol was identified as the major component (40.76 %) of TTO volatiles analyzed using headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Terpinen-4-ol vapor completely inhibited the A. flavus growth on agar plates and 20 % moisture wheat grain at 0.556 and 1.579 µL/mL, respectively, indicating that terpinen-4-ol serves as the main antifungal constituent in TTO volatiles. The minimum inhibitory concentration of terpinen-4-ol in liquid-contact culture was 1.6 µL/mL. Terpinen-4-ol treatment caused depressed, wrinkled, and punctured mycelial morphology and destroyed the plasma membrane integrity of A. flavus. Metabolomics analysis identified significant alterations in 93 metabolites, with 79 upregulated and 14 downregulated in A. flavus mycelia exposed to 1.6 µL/mL terpinen-4-ol for 6 h, involved in multiple cellular processes including cell membrane permeability and integrity, the ABC transport system, pentose phosphate pathway, and the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Biochemical analysis and 2,7-dichlorofluorescein diacetate staining showed that terpinen-4-ol induced oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in A. flavus mycelia. This study provides new insights into the antifungal effects of the main TTO volatile compounds terpinen-4-ol on the growth of A. flavus.

Assessing urban resilience based on production-living-ecological system using degree of coupling coordination: A case of Sichuan.

The issue of urban resilience plays great significance and value for the sustainable development of cities, which has attracted increasing attention from scholars and governments, especially in the western region of China. Based on the Production-Living-Ecological (PLE) system, this study attempts to describe urban resilience by the combination system that contains with P,L,E subsystem. The integrated approach including FAHP-EM,GRA-TOPSIS, CCDM, and ODM is proposed to reveal the urban resilience level and seek out the key constraints' indicators. Then, an empirical analysis of panel data of 18 cities in Sichuan Province from 2011 to 2021 was conducted to analyze the development process. The valuation results suggested that:(1)for urban resilience level, most cities at the moderate imbalance level and basically maintained at this level, only Chengdu is reaching the basic coordination level since in 2013.(2)The insufficient development of P,L,E subsystem is the reason for the moderate imbalance development, especially the key limiting factor is the P subsystem's low development level.(3)the most prominent obstacle indicators are x1(per capita local financial expenditure on science and technology), x2(per capita of R&D spending), x8(total export-import per capita), x14(number of people with basic medical insurance), x22(length of urban drainage pipeline), x23(number of public toilets per person) and the contribution values reach 7.56%,7.49%,11.02%, 9.14%,12.53%, 12.60% respectively. The detailed reference suggestions and effective measures put forwarded for policy makers and planners to promote urban resilience in Western China.

The biomedical knowledge graph of symptom phenotype in coronary artery plaque: machine learning-based analysis of real-world clinical data.

A knowledge graph can effectively showcase the essential characteristics of data and is increasingly emerging as a significant means of integrating information in the field of artificial intelligence. Coronary artery plaque represents a significant etiology of cardiovascular events, posing a diagnostic challenge for clinicians who are confronted with a multitude of nonspecific symptoms. To visualize the hierarchical relationship network graph of the molecular mechanisms underlying plaque properties and symptom phenotypes, patient symptomatology was extracted from electronic health record data from real-world clinical settings. Phenotypic networks were constructed utilizing clinical data and protein‒protein interaction networks. Machine learning techniques, including convolutional neural networks, Dijkstra's algorithm, and gene ontology semantic similarity, were employed to quantify clinical and biological features within the network. The resulting features were then utilized to train a K-nearest neighbor model, yielding 23 symptoms, 41 association rules, and 61 hub genes across the three types of plaques studied, achieving an area under the curve of 92.5%. Weighted correlation network analysis and pathway enrichment were subsequently utilized to identify lipid status-related genes and inflammation-associated pathways that could help explain the differences in plaque properties. To confirm the validity of the network graph model, we conducted coexpression analysis of the hub genes to evaluate their potential diagnostic value. Additionally, we investigated immune cell infiltration, examined the correlations between hub genes and immune cells, and validated the reliability of the identified biological pathways. By integrating clinical data and molecular network information, this biomedical knowledge graph model effectively elucidated the potential molecular mechanisms that collude symptoms, diseases, and molecules.

Insights into vaccines for elderly individuals: from the impacts of immunosenescence to delivery strategies.

Immunosenescence increases the risk and severity of diseases in elderly individuals and leads to impaired vaccine-induced immunity. With aging of the global population and the emerging risk of epidemics, developing adjuvants and vaccines for elderly individuals to improve their immune protection is pivotal for healthy aging worldwide. Deepening our understanding of the role of immunosenescence in vaccine efficacy could accelerate research focused on optimizing vaccine delivery for elderly individuals. In this review, we analyzed the characteristics of immunosenescence at the cellular and molecular levels. Strategies to improve vaccination potency in elderly individuals are summarized, including increasing the antigen dose, preparing multivalent antigen vaccines, adding appropriate adjuvants, inhibiting chronic inflammation, and inhibiting immunosenescence. We hope that this review can provide a review of new findings with regards to the impacts of immunosenescence on vaccine-mediated protection and inspire the development of individualized vaccines for elderly individuals.

Assessment of Left Ventricular Longitudinal Systolic Function Using Global Tissue Motion Annular Displacement in Patients with Chronic Severe Aortic Regurgitation.

Background: In patients with chronic aortic regurgitation (AR), the left ventricle (LV) develops compensatory mechanisms to sustain its function. LV global longitudinal strain (GLS) is a key means to detect subclinical LV dysfunction, even when LV ejection fraction (LVEF) remains within the normal range. Compared to GLS, Tissue motion annular displacement (TMAD) is a simpler strain-based method to assess LV systolic function. This study investigated the correlation among TMAD parameters, LVEF, and GLS, and determined the diagnostic value and threshold of TMAD parameters for left ventricular systolic dysfunction. Methods: A prospective study was conducted at a single center. The case and control groups consisted of patients with chronic severe AR and healthy volunteers, respectively. Speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) was used to assess the GLS and TMAD parameters in the apical 4-chamber and apical 2-chamber. Subsets of participants were analyzed for inter- and intra-observer variability and analysis time. A correlation analysis was performed among the TMAD parameters, LVEF, and GLS. Receiver operating characteristic curves and the area under the curves (AUCs) were used to evaluate the predictive value of the TMAD parameters for LVEF <50% and GLS > -18%. Results: This study involved 96 patients with severe chronic AR and 45 healthy volunteers. Compared to GLS, TMAD demonstrated superior intra- and inter-observer consistency and shorter average analysis time. Biplane global Midpt% showed the highest correlation with GLS and LVEF among all the TMAD parameters, with r values of 0.81 and 0.74, respectively. Furthermore, global Midpt% had AUCs of 0.89 and 0.92 for predicting LVEF< 50% and GLS > -18%, respectively. Conclusion: The TMAD global Midpt% has the potential to replace GLS in clinical practice and find wide applications.

Imidazole-Intercalated Cobalt Hydroxide Enabling the Li+ Desolvation/Diffusion Reaction and Flame Retardant Catalytic Dynamics for Lithium Ion Batteries.

Lithium-ion batteries have found extensive applications due to their high energy density and low self-discharge rates, spanning from compact consumer electronics to large-scale energy storage facilities. Despite their widespread use, challenges such as inherent capacity degradation and the potential for thermal runaway hinder sustainable development. In this study, we introduce a unique approach to synthesize anode materials for lithium-ion batteries, specifically imidazole-intercalated cobalt hydroxide. This innovative material significantly enhances the Li+ desolvation/diffusion reaction and flame-retardant dynamics through complexing and catalytic synergetic effects. The lithium-ion batteries incorporating these materials demonstrate exceptional performance, boasting an impressive capacity retention of 997.91 mAh g-1 after 500 cycles. This achievement can be attributed to the optimization of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) interface engineering, effectively mitigating anode degradation and minimizing electrolyte consumption. Experimental and theoretical calculations validate these improvements. Importantly, imidazole intercalated Co(OH)2 (MI-Co(OH)2) exhibits a remarkable catalytic effect on electrolyte carbonization and the conversion of CO to CO2. This dual action suppresses smoke and reduces toxicity significantly. The presented work introduces a novel approach to realizing high-performance and safe lithium-ion batteries, addressing key challenges in the pursuit of sustainable energy solutions.

Class IIa HDAC4 and HDAC7 cooperatively regulate gene transcription in Th17 cell differentiation.

Class II histone deacetylases (HDACs) are important in regulation of gene transcription during T cell development. However, our understanding of their cell-specific functions is limited. In this study, we reveal that class IIa Hdac4 and Hdac7 (Hdac4/7) are selectively induced in transcription, guiding the lineage-specific differentiation of mouse T-helper 17 (Th17) cells from naive CD4+ T cells. Importantly, Hdac4/7 are functionally dispensable in other Th subtypes. Mechanistically, Hdac4 interacts with the transcription factor (TF) JunB, facilitating the transcriptional activation of Th17 signature genes such as Il17a/f. Conversely, Hdac7 collaborates with the TF Aiolos and Smrt/Ncor1-Hdac3 corepressors to repress transcription of Th17 negative regulators, including Il2, in Th17 cell differentiation. Inhibiting Hdac4/7 through pharmacological or genetic methods effectively mitigates Th17 cell-mediated intestinal inflammation in a colitis mouse model. Our study uncovers molecular mechanisms where HDAC4 and HDAC7 function distinctively yet cooperatively in regulating ordered gene transcription during Th17 cell differentiation. These findings suggest a potential therapeutic strategy of targeting HDAC4/7 for treating Th17-related inflammatory diseases, such as ulcerative colitis.