ZmASR1 negatively regulates drought stress tolerance in maize.

Abscisic acid-, stress-, and ripening-induced (ASR) proteins in plants play a significant role in plant response to diverse abiotic stresses. However, the functions of ASR genes in maize remain unclear. In the present study, we identified a novel drought-induced ASR gene in maize (ZmASR1) and functionally characterized its role in mediating drought tolerance. The transcription of ZmASR1 was upregulated under drought stress and abscisic acid (ABA) treatment, and the ZmASR1 protein was observed to exhibit nuclear and cytoplasmic localization. Moreover, ZmASR1 knockout lines generated with the CRISPR-Cas9 system showed lower ROS accumulation, higher ABA content, and a higher degree of stomatal closure than wild-type plants, leading to higher drought tolerance. Transcriptome sequencing data indicated that the significantly differentially expressed genes in the drought treatment group were mainly enriched in ABA signal transduction, antioxidant defense, and photosynthetic pathway. Taken together, the findings suggest that ZmASR1 negatively regulates drought tolerance and represents a candidate gene for genetic manipulation of drought resistance in maize.

Multifunctional Buffer Layer Engineering for Efficient and Stable Wide-Bandgap Perovskite and Perovskite/Silicon Tandem Solar Cells.

Inverted perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are preferred for tandem applications due to their superior compatibility with diverse bottom solar cells. However, the solution processing and low formation energy of perovskites inevitably lead to numerous defects at both the bulk and interfaces. We report a facile and effective strategy for precisely modulating the perovskite by incorporating AlOx deposited by atomic layer deposition (ALD) on the top interface. We find that Al3+ can not only infiltrate the bulk phase and interact with halide ions to suppress ion migration and phase separation but also regulate the arrangement of energy levels and passivate defects on the perovskite surface and grain boundaries. Additionally, ALD-AlOx exhibits an encapsulation effect through a dense interlayer. Consequently, the ALD-AlOx treatment can significantly improve the power conversion efficiency (PCE) to 21.80% for 1.66-electron-volt (eV) PSCs. A monolithic perovskite-silicon TSCs using AlOx-modified perovskite achieved a PCE of 28.5% with excellent photothermal stability. More importantly, the resulting 1.55-eV PSC and module achieved a PCE of 25.08% (0.04 cm2) and 21.01% (aperture area of 15.5 cm2), respectively. Our study provides an effective way to efficient and stable wide-bandgap perovskite for perovskite-silicon TSCs and paves the way for large-area inverted PSCs.

Innervation of nociceptor neurons in the spleen promotes germinal center responses and humoral immunity.

Peripheral sensory neurons widely innervate various tissues to continuously monitor and respond to environmental stimuli. Whether peripheral sensory neurons innervate the spleen and modulate splenic immune response remains poorly defined. Here, we demonstrate that nociceptive sensory nerve fibers extensively innervate the spleen along blood vessels and reach B cell zones. The spleen-innervating nociceptors predominantly originate from left T8-T13 dorsal root ganglia (DRGs), promoting the splenic germinal center (GC) response and humoral immunity. Nociceptors can be activated by antigen-induced accumulation of splenic prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and then release calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), which further promotes the splenic GC response at the early stage. Mechanistically, CGRP directly acts on B cells through its receptor CALCRL-RAMP1 via the cyclic AMP (cAMP) signaling pathway. Activating nociceptors by ingesting capsaicin enhances the splenic GC response and anti-influenza immunity. Collectively, our study establishes a specific DRG-spleen sensory neural connection that promotes humoral immunity, suggesting a promising approach for improving host defense by targeting the nociceptive nervous system.

The impact of dyslipidemia on prognosis of patients after endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

Introduction: Dyslipidemia is common in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). However, there is insufficient research on the impact of dyslipidemia on the postoperative outcomes of patients with AAA after endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR). This study aimed to determine the impact of dyslipidemia on the prognosis of patients with AAA treated with EVAR. Method: We retrospectively reviewed patients with AAA who underwent EVAR at our hospital between 2010 and 2020. The baseline characteristics and prognoses of patients in the dyslipidemia and non-dyslipidemia groups were analyzed. Results: A total of 641 patients were included; the prevalence of dyslipidemia in patients with AAA was 42.3% (271/641), and the mean follow-up time was 63.37 ± 26.49 months. The prevalence of diabetes (10.0% vs. 15.1%, P = 0.050), peripheral arterial disease (17.3% vs. 25.8%, P = 0.018), and chronic kidney disease (3.0% vs. 6.3%, P = 0.043) was higher in the dyslipidemia group. The three-year all-cause mortality rate after EVAR was 9.98% (64/641), and there was no difference in the incidence of all-cause mortality (10.27% vs. 9.59%, P = 0.778) between the two groups. A total of 36 (5.62%) major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs) were observed within 3 years and were more common in patients with dyslipidemia (2.97% vs. 9.59%, P < 0.001). The incidence of stent-related complications in all patients was 19.97% (128/641), and there was no difference in the incidence of stent-related complications between the two groups (22.16% vs. 16.97%, P = 0.105); however, the incidence of type I endoleak in the dyslipidemia group was lower than that in the non-dyslipidemia group (9.19% vs. 4.06%, P = 0.012). Cox-regression analysis showed that high level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was the protective factor (HR, 0.203, 95% CI, 0.067-0.616, P = 0.005) for MACCES, but it was the risk factor for type I endoleak (HR, 2.317, 95% CI, 1.202-4.466, P = 0.012). Conclusion: Dyslipidemia did not affect the mortality of patients with AAA who underwent EVAR; however, it may increase the incidence of MACCEs. Dyslipidemia may decrease the incidence of type I endoleaks after EVAR; however, further studies are warranted. We should strengthen the postoperative management of patients with dyslipidemia, prevent the occurrence of MACCEs.

A review of the role of caveolin-1 in APAP-induced liver injury.

BACKGROUND: Acetaminophen is commonly used as an antipyretic and analgesic agent. Excessive APAP can induce liver toxicity, known as APAP induced liver injury (ALI). The metabolism and pathogenesis of APAP have been extensively studied in recent years, and many cellular processes such as autophagy, mitochondrial oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction and liver regeneration have been identified to be involved in the pathogenesis of ALI. Caveolin-1 (CAV-1) as a scaffold protein has also been shown to be involved in the development of various diseases, especially liver disease and tumorigenesis. The role of CAV-1 in the development of liver disease and the association between them remains a challenging and uncharted territory. SUMMARY: In this review, we briefly explore the potential therapeutic effects of CAV-1 on APAP induced ALI through autophagy, oxidative stress, and lipid metabolism. Further research to better understand the mechanisms by which CAV-1 regulates liver injury will not only enhance our understanding of this important cellular process, but also help develop new therapies for human disease by targeting CAV-1 targets. KEY MESSAGES:  This review briefly summarizes the potential protective mechanisms of CAV-1 against liver injury caused by APAP.

Assessment of aortic hemodynamics in patients with thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm using four-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAAs) are rare but complicated aortic pathologies that can result in high morbidity and mortality. The whole-aorta hemodynamic characteristics of TAAA survivors remains unknown. This study sought to obtain a comprehensive view of flow hemodynamics of the whole aorta in patients with TAAA using four-dimensional flow (4D flow) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods: This study included patients who had experienced TAAA or abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and age- and sex-matched volunteers who had attended China Hospital from December 2021 to December 2022 in West. Patients with unstable ruptured aneurysm or other cardiovascular diseases were excluded. 4D-flow MRI that covered the whole aorta was acquired. Both planar parameters [(regurgitation fraction (RF), peak systolic velocity (Vmax), overall wall shear stress (WSS)] and segmental parameters [pulse wave velocity (PWV) and viscous energy loss (VEL)] were generated during postprocessing. The Student's t-test or Mann-Whitney test was used to compare flow dynamics among the three groups. Results: A total of 11 patients with TAAA (mean age 53.2±11.9 years; 10 males), 19 patients with AAA (mean age 58.0±11.7 years; 16 males), and 21 controls (mean age 55.4±15.0 years; 19 males) were analyzed. The patients with TAAA demonstrated a significantly higher RF and lower Vmax in the aortic arch compared to healthy controls. The whole length of the aorta in patients with TAAA was characterized by lower WSS, predominantly in the planes of pulmonary artery bifurcation and the middle infrarenal planes (all P values <0.001). As for segmental hemodynamics, compared to controls, patients with TAAA had a significantly higher PWV in the thoracic aorta (TAAA: median 11.41 m/s, IQR 9.56-14.32 m/s; control: median 7.21 m/s, IQR 5.57-7.79 m/s; P<0.001) as did those with AAA (AAA: median 8.75 m/s, IQR 7.35-10.75 m/s; control: median 7.21 m/s, IQR 5.57-7.79 m/s; P=0.024). Moreover, a greater VEL was observed in the whole aorta and abdominal aorta in patients with TAAA. Conclusions: Patients with TAAA exhibited a stiffer aortic wall with a lower WSS and a greater VEL for the whole aorta, which was accompanied by a higher RF and lower peak velocity in the dilated portion of the aorta.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of endovascular therapy versus open surgical repair for the traumatic lower extremity arterial injury.

OBJECTIVE: For traumatic lower extremity artery injury, it is unclear whether it is better to perform endovascular therapy (ET) or open surgical repair (OSR). This study aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of ET versus OSR for traumatic lower extremity artery injury. METHODS: The Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Databases were searched for studies. Cohort studies and case series reporting outcomes of ET or OSR were eligible for inclusion. Robins-I tool and an 18-item tool were used to assess the risk of bias. The primary outcome was amputation. The secondary outcomes included fasciotomy or compartment syndrome, mortality, length of stay and lower extremity nerve injury. We used the random effects model to calculate pooled estimates. RESULTS: A total of 32 studies with low or moderate risk of bias were included in the meta-analysis. The results showed that patients who underwent ET had a significantly decreased risk of major amputation (OR = 0.42, 95% CI 0.21-0.85; I2=34%) and fasciotomy or compartment syndrome (OR = 0.31, 95% CI 0.20-0.50, I2 = 14%) than patients who underwent OSR. No significant difference was observed between the two groups regarding all-cause mortality (OR = 1.11, 95% CI 0.75-1.64, I2 = 31%). Patients with ET repair had a shorter length of stay than patients with OSR repair (MD=-5.06, 95% CI -6.76 to -3.36, I2 = 65%). Intraoperative nerve injury was just reported in OSR patients with a pooled incidence of 15% (95% CI 6%-27%). CONCLUSION: Endovascular therapy may represent a better choice for patients with traumatic lower extremity arterial injury, because it can provide lower risks of amputation, fasciotomy or compartment syndrome, and nerve injury, as well as shorter length of stay.

Comparison study of surface-initiated hydrogel coatings with distinct side-chains for improving biocompatibility of polymeric heart valves.

Polymeric heart valves (PHVs) present a promising alternative for treating valvular heart diseases with satisfactory hydrodynamics and durability against structural degeneration. However, the cascaded coagulation, inflammatory responses, and calcification in the dynamic blood environment pose significant challenges to the surface design of current PHVs. In this study, we employed a surface-initiated polymerization method to modify polystyrene-block-isobutylene-block-styrene (SIBS) by creating three hydrogel coatings: poly(2-methacryloyloxy ethyl phosphorylcholine) (pMPC), poly(2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid) (pAMPS), and poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (pHEMA). These hydrogel coatings dramatically promoted SIBS's hydrophilicity and blood compatibility at the initial state. Notably, the pMPC and pAMPS coatings maintained a considerable platelet resistance performance after 12 h of sonication and 10 000 cycles of stretching and bending. However, the sonication process induced visible damage to the pHEMA coating and attenuated the anti-coagulation property. Furthermore, the in vivo subcutaneous implantation studies demonstrated that the amphiphilic pMPC coating showed superior anti-inflammatory and anti-calcification properties. Considering the remarkable stability and optimal biocompatibility, the amphiphilic pMPC coating constructed by surface-initiated polymerization holds promising potential for modifying PHVs.

Analysis of the effect of changes in serum osteopontin levels on patients with acute cerebral infarction.

Objective: To investigate the correlation of serum osteopontin levels with disease severity and prognosis in patients with acute cerebral infarction. Methods: This retrospective analysis included forty patients with acute cerebral infarction (ACI) admitted to the Department of Neurology of Baoding Children's Hospital from May, 2019 to May, 2022 within 24 hours of onset were selected as the observation group, while 40 healthy subjects in our hospital during the same period were selected as the control group. The correlation between serum Osteopontin (OPN) levels and risk factors on one day, seven days and 14 days was analyzed. Patients in the observation group were subdivided into the good prognosis group and the poor prognosis group according to mRS score, and the serum OPN levels of the two groups were compared. The correlation between serum OPN and disease severity and prognosis of patients with ACI was analyzed. Results: The serum OPN levels in the observation group were significantly higher than those in control group (P< 0.05), and its level was positively correlated with NIHSS score and infarct size. The proportion of patients with hyperlipidemia, smoking, drinking, hypertension and OPN level on seven day in the poor prognosis group were higher than those in the good prognosis group (P<0.05). The OPN level > 8.720 ng/ml on seven days was an independent risk factor for poor prognosis of cerebral infarction. Conclusion: OPN is involved in the entire pathophysiological process of ACI, and its level can predict the severity of the disease in patients with ACI, and can be used as an important indicator for evaluating their clinical prognosis.

CenterADNet: Infrared Video Target Detection Based on Central Point Regression.

Infrared video target detection is a fundamental technology within infrared warning and tracking systems. In long-distance infrared remote sensing images, targets often manifest as circular spots or even single points. Due to the weak and similar characteristics of the target to the background noise, the intelligent detection of these targets is extremely complex. Existing deep learning-based methods are affected by the downsampling of image features by convolutional neural networks, causing the features of small targets to almost disappear. So, we propose a new infrared video weak-target detection network based on central point regression. We focus on suppressing the image background by fusing the different features between consecutive frames with the original image features to eliminate the background's influence. We also employ high-resolution feature preservation and incorporate a spatial-temporal attention module into the network to capture as many target features as possible and improve detection accuracy. Our method achieves superior results on the infrared image weak aircraft target detection dataset proposed by the National University of Defense Technology, as well as on the simulated dataset generated based on real-world observation. This demonstrates the efficiency of our approach for detecting weak point targets in infrared continuous images.

Fusing hyperspectral imaging and electronic nose data to predict moisture content in Penaeus vannamei during solar drying.

The control of moisture content (MC) is essential in the drying of shrimp, directly impacting its quality and shelf life. This study aimed to develop an accurate method for determining shrimp MC by integrating hyperspectral imaging (HSI) with electronic nose (E-nose) technology. We employed three different data fusion approaches: pixel-, feature-, and decision-fusion, to combine HSI and E nose data for the prediction of shrimp MC. We developed partial least squares regression (PLSR) models for each method and compared their performance in terms of prediction accuracy. The decision fusion approach outperformed the other methods, producing the highest determination coefficients for both calibration (0.9595) and validation sets (0.9448). Corresponding root-mean square errors were the lowest for the calibration set (0.0370) and validation set (0.0443), indicating high prediction precision. Additionally, this approach achieved a relative percent deviation of 3.94, the highest among the methods tested. The findings suggest that the decision fusion of HSI and E nose data through a PLSR model is an effective, accurate, and efficient method for evaluating shrimp MC. The demonstrated capability of this approach makes it a valuable tool for quality control and market monitoring of dried shrimp products.

Multimodality magnetic resonance evaluating the effect of enhanced physical exercise on the growth rate, flow haemodynamics, aneurysm wall and ventricular-aortic coupling of patients with small abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA MOVE trial): a study protocol for an open-label randomised controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: The best lifestyle for small abdominal aortic aneurysms (sAAA) is essential for its conservative management. Physical exercise can improve the cardiopulmonary function of the patients, but it remains unclear which specific type of exercise is most beneficial for individuals with sAAA. The current study was designed to investigate the effect of physician-guided enhanced physical exercise programme on the aorto-cardiac haemodynamic environment, aneurysm sac wall, cardiac function and growth rate of sAAA by multimodality MRI. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: AAA MOVE study is a prospective, parallel, equivalence, randomised controlled trial. Eligible individuals will be recruited if they are diagnosed with sAAA (focal dilation of abdominal aorta with maximum diameter <5 cm), without contraindication for MRI scanning, or severe heart failure, or uncontrolled arrhythmia. Participants will be randomly allocated to intervention group (physician-guided enhanced physical exercise programme: mainly aerobic training) and control group (standard clinical care) separately in a 1:1 ratio. The primary outcome is 12-month growth rate of sAAA. The first set of secondary outcomes involve multimodality MRI parameters covering flow haemodynamics, aortic wall inflammation and cardiac function. The other secondary outcome (safety end point) is a composite of exercise-related injury, aneurysm rupture and aneurysm intervention. Follow-up will be conducted at 6 and 12 months after intervention. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study was approved by the Ethics Committee on Biomedical Research of West China Hospital (approval number: 2023-783) on 16 June 2023. Main findings from the trial will be disseminated through presentations at conferences, peer-reviewed publications and directly pushed to smartphone of participants. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ChiCTR2300073334.

Switchable Synthesis of Spirodihydroindolizines and Indolizines from Aurones and Pyridin-2-yl Active Methylene Compounds.

A novel and flexible domino reaction of aurones with pyridin-2-yl active methylene compounds promoted by I2/BF3 has been developed to afford spirodihydroindolizines and indolizines in a controllable manner. When the reaction was performed in 1,2-dichloroethane at 80 °C, a variety of spirodihydroindolizines were obtained, whereas it almost exclusively provided a series of indolizines when the reaction was performed in a mixed solvent of 1,2-dichloroethane and N,N-dimethylformamide at a relatively higher temperature of 100 °C. Being metal-free, excellent product selectivity, high atom economy, good functional group tolerance, and feasibility for large-scale synthesis are the salient features of the developed methodology.

Gender Differences in Prognosis After Primary Resection for Retroperitoneal Liposarcoma.

BACKGROUND: Current evidence regarding gender difference in retroperitoneal liposarcoma (RLPS) is scarce, so we sought to investigate whether gender may affect prognosis after primary resection of RLPS. METHODS: We used the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database to identify RLPS patients from January 1973 to December 2015. Multivariate cox proportional hazard analysis was adopted to generate adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of survival outcomes. RESULTS: In total, 2108 RLPS patients, including 971 women and 1137 men, were identified, with a median follow-up of 45.0 (17.0-92.0) months. The 5-year and 10-year overall survival rates were 50.5% and 31.5% for men and 60.4% and 42.5% for women. The 5-year and 10-year disease-specific survival rates for men and women were 71.5%, 57.3% and 76.3%, 62.1%, respectively. We found men were associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality (AHR 1.3, 95% CI 1.0-1.6, P = .017) but not disease-specific mortality (AHR 1.2, 95% CI .9-1.6, P = .246). The subgroup analyses revealed that men were associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality in patients with low-grade tumors (AHR 1.8, 95% CI 1.3-2.5) or patients who received non-radical resection (AHR 1.6, 95% CI 1.2-2.1). In the subgroup of low-grade tumors, men were also associated with an increased risk of disease-specific mortality (AHR 2.0, 95% CI 1.2-3.3). CONCLUSION: Men may have worse survival after primary resection of RLPS compared with women, especially in patients with low-grade tumors or patients who received non-radical resection. Gender-based disparities may deserve more attention in patients with RLPS.

EEG-Based Motor BCIs for Upper Limb Movement: Current Techniques and Future Insights.

Motor brain-computer interface (BCI) refers to the BCI that decodes voluntary motion intentions from brain signals directly and outputs corresponding control commands without activating peripheral nerves and muscles. Motor BCIs can be used for the restoration, compensation, and augmentation of motor function by activating the neuromuscular circuit and facilitating neural plasticity. The essential applications of motor BCIs include neurorehabilitation and daily-life assistance for motor-impaired patients. In recent years, studies on motor BCIs mainly concentrate on neural signatures, movement decoding, and its applications. In this review, we aim to provide a comprehensive review of the state-of-the-art research of electroencephalography (EEG) signals-based motor BCIs for the first time. We also aim to give some insights into advancing motor BCIs to a more natural and practical application scenario. In particular, we focus on the motor BCIs for the movements of the upper limbs. Specifically, the experimental paradigms, techniques, and application systems of upper-limb BCIs are reviewed. Several vital issues in developing more natural and practical upper-limb motor BCIs, including developing target-users-oriented, distraction-robust, and multi-limbs motor BCIs, and applying fusion techniques to promote the natural and practical motor BCIs, are discussed.

Heat sensitive E-helix cut ferritin nanocages for facile and high-efficiency loading of doxorubicin.

Ferritin possesses a stable and uniform cage structure, along with tumor-targeting properties and excellent biocompatibility, making it a promising drug delivery vehicle. However, the current ferritin drug loading strategy involves complex steps and harsh reaction conditions, resulting in low yield and recovery of drug loading, which limits the clinical application prospects of ferritin nanomedicine. In this study, we utilized the high-efficiency heat-sensitivity of the multiple channel switch structures of the E-helix-cut ferritin mutant (Ecut-HFn) and Cu2+ assistance to achieve high-efficiency loading of chemotherapeutic drugs in a one-step process at low temperatures. This method features mild reaction conditions (45 °C), high loading efficiency (about 110 doxorubicin (Dox) per Ecut-HFn), and improved protein and Dox recovery rates (with protein recovery rate around 94 % and Dox recovery rate reaching up to 45 %). The prepared ferritin-Dox particles (Ecut-HFn-Cu-Dox) exhibit a uniform size distribution, good stability, and retain the natural tumor targeting ability of ferritin. Overall, this temperature-controlled drug loading strategy utilizing heat-sensitivity ferritin mutants is energy-saving, environmentally friendly, efficient, and easy to operate, offering a new perspective for scaling up the industrial production of ferritin drug carriers.

Functionalization of pine kernel protein by pH-shifting combined with ultrasound treatments: Further improvement with increasing acidity.

As a novel plant protein, developing various aspects of pine kernel protein (PKP) functionality is essential to meet the demand for protein-rich foods. To achieve this, the PKP was functionalized by a combination of pH-shifting and ultrasound techniques. The solubility, emulsification and droplet stability of the PKP in the pH range suitable to food (pH 3 to 7) were further investigated. The pH 12-shifting was an effective strategy to increase the solubility of PKP under extreme acidic and neutral conditions, characterized by a higher content of ß-sheets and random coils, a greater exposure of free sulfhydryl and hydrophobic groups. Furthermore, appropriate ultrasonic power (250 W) further improved the solubility of PKPs by disrupting intermolecular hydrogen and hydrophobic bonds. As the ambient acidity increased, the emulsions exhibited higher viscoelasticity and stronger protein interactions. Especially at pH 3, the oil droplets stabilized by U250-PKP-12 (PKP treated with 250 W ultrasound-assisted pH 12-shifting) were homogeneously dispersed and surrounded by dense protein, maintaining small particle size and large electrostatic repulsion, and there was no apparent creaming or phase separation in the emulsions after 10 days of storage. Thus, the functionality of PKP after pH-shifting combined with ultrasonic treatments is further enhanced by increasing the environmental acidity.

Reversible Stacking of 2D ZnIn2 S4 Atomic Layers for Enhanced Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution.

It is technically challenging to reversibly tune the layer number of 2D materials in the solution. Herein, a facile concentration modulation strategy is demonstrated to reversibly tailor the aggregation state of 2D ZnIn2 S4 (ZIS) atomic layers, and they are implemented for effective photocatalytic hydrogen (H2 ) evolution. By adjusting the colloidal concentration of ZIS (ZIS-X, X = 0.09, 0.25, or 3.0 mg mL-1 ), ZIS atomic layers exhibit the significant aggregation of (006) facet stacking in the solution, leading to the bandgap shift from 3.21 to 2.66 eV. The colloidal stacked layers are further assembled into hollow microsphere after freeze-drying the solution into solid powders, which can be redispersed into colloidal solution with reversibility. The photocatalytic hydrogen evolution of ZIS-X colloids is evaluated, and the slightly aggregated ZIS-0.25 displays the enhanced photocatalytic H2 evolution rates (1.11 µmol m-2 h-1 ). The charge-transfer/recombination dynamics are characterized by time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL) spectroscopy, and ZIS-0.25 displays the longest lifetime (5.55 µs), consistent with the best photocatalytic performance. This work provides a facile, consecutive, and reversible strategy for regulating the photo-electrochemical properties of 2D ZIS, which is beneficial for efficient solar energy conversion.

A First-in-Human Trial to Evaluate the Safety and Immunogenicity of a G Protein-Based Recombinant Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccine in Healthy Adults 18-45 Years of Age.

BACKGROUND: With the enormous morbidity and mortality caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections among infants and the elderly, vaccines against RSV infections are in large market demand. METHODS: We conducted a first-in-human (FIH), randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled dose escalation study to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity response of the rRSV vaccine (BARS13) in healthy adults aged 18-45. A total of 60 eligible participants were randomly assigned to receive one of four dose levels or vaccination regimens of BARS13 or placebo at a 4:1 ratio. RESULTS: The mean age was 27.40, and 23.3% (14/60) were men. No treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) led to study withdrawal within 30 days after each vaccination. No serious adverse event (SAE) was reported. Most of the treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) recorded were classified as mild. The high-dose repeat group had a serum-specific antibody GMC of 885.74 IU/mL (95% CI: 406.25-1931.17) 30 days after the first dose and 1482.12 IU/mL (706.56-3108.99) 30 days after the second dose, both higher than the GMC in the low-dose repeat group (885.74 IU/mL [406.25-1931.17] and 1187.10 IU/ mL [610.01-2310.13]). CONCLUSIONS: BARS13 had a generally good safety and tolerability profile, and no significant difference in terms of adverse reaction severity or frequency was observed between different dose groups. The immune response in repeat-dose recipients shows more potential in further study and has guiding significance for the dose selection of subsequent studies.