PegIFN alpha-2a reduces relapse in HBeAg-negative patients after nucleo(s)tide analogue cessation: A randomized-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Nucleo(s)tide analogue (NUC) cessation can lead to HBsAg clearance but also a high rate of virological relapse. However, the effect of pegylated interferon alpha-2a (PegIFN-α-2a) on virological relapse after NUC cessation is unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of switching from NUC to PegIFN-α-2a treatment for 48 weeks on virological relapse until week 96. METHODS: In this multicentre randomized controlled clinical trial, 180 non-cirrhotic HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B patients on continuous NUC therapy for ≥ 2.5 years with HBV DNA levels < 60 IU/mL were randomized to discontinue NUC (n=90) or receive 48 weeks of PegIFN-α-2a treatment (n=90) and followed up till 96 weeks. The primary endpoint was the virological relapse rate until week 96. RESULTS: Intention-to-treat analysis revealed patients in the interferon monotherapy group had significantly lower cumulative virological relapse rates than the NUC cessation group until week 96 (20.8% vs. 53.6%, P < 0.0001). Consistently, a significantly lower proportion of patients in the interferon monotherapy group had virological relapse than those in the NUC cessation group at 48 weeks off treatment (17.8% vs. 36.7%, P = 0.007). The virological relapse rate positively correlated with HBsAg levels in the NUC cessation group. The interferon monotherapy group had a lower cumulative clinical relapse rate (7.8% vs. 20.9%, P = 0.008) and a higher HBsAg loss rate (21.5% vs. 9.0%, P = 0.03) than the NUC cessation group. CONCLUSIONS: Switching from NUC to PegIFN-α-2a treatment for 48 weeks significantly reduces virological relapse rates and achieves higher HBsAg loss rates than NUC treatment cessation alone in HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B patients. IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS: Nucleo(s)tide analogue (NUC) cessation can lead to HBsAg clearance but also a high rate of virological relapse, but an optimised scheme to reduce the virological relapse rate after NUC withdrawal is yet to be reported. This randomized controlled trial investigated the effect of switching from NUC to PegIFN-α-2a treatment for 48 weeks on virological relapse until week 96 in HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B patients. The interferon monotherapy group had a significantly lower cumulative virological relapse rate (20.8% vs. 53.6%, P < 0.0001) and higher HBsAg loss rate (21.5% vs. 9.0%, P= 0.03) than the NUC cessation group until week 96. This provides an optimized strategy for NUC cessation in HBeAg-negative patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02594293.

Method for fabricating circular polarization beam splitters based on polarization holography.

Based on polarization holography, circular polarization beam splitters with separation angles of up to 100° have been fabricated. The left- and right-handed circularly polarized waves can be reconstructed by the two holograms that were designed by the tensor theory of polarization holography, respectively. In the fabrication of circular polarization beam splitters, two holograms were recorded only by the interference method in the same area of the polarization-sensitive material. This method is simple, inexpensive, and easy to adjust the separation angles and element size. The diffraction efficiency and the polarization state of the reconstructed waves were tested under different incident waves, and the experimental results are in good agreement with the theory. This work not only deepens our understanding of polarization holography but also expands the applications of polarization holography.

Regional disparities in the prevalence and correlated factors of myopia in children and adolescents in Gansu, China.

Background: Myopia is a significant public health problem across the globe. This study aimed to examine the regional disparity in prevalence and correlated factors of myopia in children and adolescents in two typical regions, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (Gannan Prefecture for short, a Tibetan residential area) and Wuwei City (a Han residential area) in Gansu Province, China, and to provide a reference for the prevention and control of regional myopia. Methods: The study was a cross-sectional study of children and adolescents in Gansu Province, China. A total of 6,187 (Wuwei City: 3,266, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture: 2,921) students were selected by stratified cluster sampling. Eye examinations and questionnaires were administered to the participants. Myopia is defined as a condition in which the spherical equivalent refractive error of an eye is less than or equal to -0.50 D when ocular accommodation is relaxed. The χ2 test and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the correlated factors of myopia. Results: The myopia rate of 6,187 students was 71.4%, and students had a higher rate of myopia (77.5%) in Wuwei City compared to Gannan Prefecture (64.6%) (p < 0.001). The results of multivariate analysis in Wuwei City showed that girls (odds ratio (OR) = 1.325), junior students (OR = 2.542), senior students(OR = 4.605), distance between eyes and book less than one foot (OR = 1.291), and parents with myopia (one, OR = 2.437; two, OR = 4.453) had higher risks of myopia (all, p < 0.05). For Gannan Prefecture, girls (OR = 1.477), senior students (OR = 1.537), daily time spent doing homework ≥2 h (OR = 1.420), the distance between eyes and book less than one foot (OR = 1.205), mean time continuous eye use (0.25-<0.5 h, OR = 1.345, 0.5-<1 h, OR = 1.317, ≥1 h, OR = 1.313), average daily sleep duration <8 h (OR = 1.399), and parents with myopia (one, OR = 1.852; two, OR = 2.913) had higher risks of myopia (all, p < 0.05). Conclusion: The prevalence of myopia is at a relatively high level in Gansu Province. The prevalence and risk factors for myopia vary by region.

Integrative single-cell analysis of human colorectal cancer reveals patient stratification with distinct immune evasion mechanisms.

The tumor microenvironment (TME) considerably influences colorectal cancer (CRC) progression, therapeutic response and clinical outcome, but studies of interindividual heterogeneities of the TME in CRC are lacking. Here, by integrating human colorectal single-cell transcriptomic data from approximately 200 donors, we comprehensively characterized transcriptional remodeling in the TME compared to noncancer tissues and identified a rare tumor-specific subset of endothelial cells with T cell recruitment potential. The large sample size enabled us to stratify patients based on their TME heterogeneity, revealing divergent TME subtypes in which cancer cells exploit different immune evasion mechanisms. Additionally, by associating single-cell transcriptional profiling with risk genes identified by genome-wide association studies, we determined that stromal cells are major effector cell types in CRC genetic susceptibility. In summary, our results provide valuable insights into CRC pathogenesis and might help with the development of personalized immune therapies.

Spatial and Temporal Distribution Characteristics and Cytotoxicity of Atmospheric PM2.5 in the Main Urban Area of Lanzhou City.

PM2.5, as one of the most harmful pollutant in the atmospheric environment and population health, has received much attention. We monitored PM2.5 levels at five sampling sites in the Lanzhou City and collected PM2.5 particles from two representative sites for cytotoxicity experiment. The cytotoxicity of PM2.5 samples on A549 cells and migration ability of the cells were respectively detected by Cell Counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and scratch assay. We detected the levels of cellular inflammatory factors and oxidative damage-related biochemical indexes. RT-qPCR was used to detect the mRNA levels of NF-κB and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related genes. We found that the Lanlian Hotel station had the highest PM2.5 annual average concentration. The annual average concentration change curve of PM2.5 showed a roughly "U"-shaped distribution during the whole sampling period. The cytotoxicity experiment showed the viability of A549 cells decreased and the scratch healing rate increased in the 200 and 400 µg/mL PM2.5-treated groups. We also found 400 µg/mL PM2.5 induced changes in the mRNA levels of NF-κB and EMT-related genes, the mRNA levels of IKK-α, NIK, and NF-κB in the 400 µg/mL PM2.5 group were higher than those in the control group. The mRNA levels of E-cadherin decreased and α-SMA increased in the 400 µg/mL PM2.5 groups, and the mRNA levels of Fibronectin increased in the 400 µg/mL PM2.5 groups. Moreover, we found hydroxyl radical scavenging ability and T-AOC levels were lower, and LPO levels were higher in the 200 and 400 µg/mL PM2.5 groups, and the SOD activity of cells in the 400 µg/mL PM2.5 group decreased. And compared with the control group, the levels of TNF-α were higher in the 200 and 400 µg/mL PM2.5 groups and the levels of IL-1 were higher in the 400 µg/mL PM2.5 group. The results indicated that the cytotoxicity of atmospheric PM2.5 was related to oxidative damage, inflammatory response, NF-κB activity and EMT.

Key Lipoprotein Receptor Targeted Echinacoside-Liposomes Effective Against Parkinson's Disease in Mice Model.

Introduction: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. The precise molecular mechanisms underlying neuronal loss in PD remain unknown, and there are currently no effective treatments for PD-associated neurodegeneration. Echinacoside (ECH) is known for its neuroprotective effects, which include scavenging cellular reactive oxygen species and promoting mitochondrial fusion. However, the blood-brain barrier (BBB) limits the bioavailability of ECH in the brain, posing a significant challenge to its use in PD treatment. Methods: We synthesized and characterized PEGylated ECH liposomes (ECH@Lip) and peptide angiopep-2 (ANG) modified liposomes (ECH@ANG-Lip). The density of ANG in ANG-Lip was optimized using bEnd.3 cells. The brain-targeting ability of the liposomes was assessed in vitro using a transwell BBB model and in vivo using an imaging system and LC-MS. We evaluated the enhanced neuroprotective properties of this formulation in a the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced PD model. Results: The ECH@ANG-Lip demonstrated significantly higher whole-brain uptake compared to ECH@Lip and free ECH. Furthermore, ECH@ANG-Lip was more effective in mitigating MPTP-induced behavioral impairment, oxidative stress, dopamine depletion, and dopaminergic neuron death than both ECH@Lip and free ECH. Conclusion: The formulation used in our study significantly enhanced the neuroprotective efficacy of ECH in the MPTP-induced PD model. Thus, ECH@ANG-Lip shows considerable potential for improving the bioavailability of ECH and providing neuroprotective effects in the brain.

Schisandra chinensis lignans regulate and cooperate with endogenous cannabinoid systems to ameliorate intestinal barrier injury associated with depression.

BACKGROUND: Schisandra chinensis lignan (SCL), a major active component of the traditional functional Chinese medicine Schisandra chinensis, has been reported to have antidepressant effects. Its mechanisms include alleviating intestinal barrier injury (IBI) by resolving intestinal microflora, anti-inflammation, and neuroprotection. SCL also regulates endogenous cannabinoid system, and it is closely related to the onset and development of depression. PURPOSE: We investigated a new treatment strategy for depression, i.e., alleviating IBI by regulating the endogenous cannabinoid system for antidepressant effects, as well as conducted in-depth research to explore the specific mechanism. METHODS: Behavioral analysis was conducted to detect the occurrence of depressive-like behavior in C57BL/6 mice. We used hematoxylin-eosin staining, periodic acid-Schiff staining, and immunofluorescence to evaluate IBI. Network pharmacology and Western blotting (WB) were used to predict and confirm that the amelioration effect of SCL was associated with anti-inflammation and anti-apoptosis. Combined with the levels of anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), we conducted the Pearson analysis between the AEA, 2-AG levels and the major targets identified and validated by network pharmacology and WB. Subsequently, URB-597, a fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) antagonist with an AEA hydrolase-inhibiting effect, was administered to the mice, and behavioral analysis and apoptotic proteins were verified. Plasma endocannabinoid levels after URB-597 supplementation were measured via 6470 Triple Quadrupole LC/MS. Finally, the cannabinoid receptor type 2 (CB2R) antagonist AM630 was administered to mice, and immunofluorescence and WB were performed to assess the proteins of IBI and anti-inflammation. RESULTS: The study demonstrated that SCL alleviated depressive-like behaviours and ameliorated IBI. Network pharmacology and WB confirmed that the improvement of IBI was related to the anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic pathways. Pearson results showed that AEA levels were positively correlated with inflammation and apoptosis, with a greater contribution to apoptosis. In-depth studies validated that the URB-597 administration reversed the positive effects of SCL on depressive-like behavior and anti-apoptosis. Similarly, URB-597 counteracted AEA levels reduced by SCL and decreased 2-AG levels. Furthermore, AM630 supplementation antagonized SCL's effect of improving IBI by reactivating the MAPK/NF-κB inflammation pathway. CONCLUSION: Overall, SCL, in collaboration with the endogenous cannabinoid system regulated by SCL, alleviates depression associated IBI. The specific mechanism involes SCL decreasing AEA levels to inhibit colon tissue cell apoptosis by up-regulating FAAH. Simultaneously, it directly triggers CB2R to reduce inflammation responses, further alleviating IBI.

Associations of objective sleep duration and physical activity with risk of heart failure: A prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the independent and joint associations of accelerometer-derived sleep duration and physical activity (PA) in different intensities with the risk of incident heart failure (HF). METHODS: The study included 89,572 participants (mean age 62.2 ± 7.8 years, 42.8% male) from the UK Biobank. Sleep duration (short: <6 h/day; normal: 6-8 h/day; long: >8 h/day) and PA [total PA, light PA (LPA), moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA), vigorous PA (VPA)] were measured using accelerometers over 7 days. MVPA and VPA were categorized according to the World Health Organization's recommended levels, while LPA and total PA were categorized based on the median. HF cases were identified through hospital records or death registries. RESULTS: Over a 7-year follow-up period, 1324 participants (2.1%; incidence rate, 2.1 per 1000 person-years) developed HF. Short, but not long, sleep duration was linked to a 33% increased risk of HF [hazard ratio (HR) 1.33, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.11-1.59]. This increased risk associated with short sleep could be mitigated by increasing PA, especially to the levels of recommended MVPA or VPA. In joint analyses, compared to participants meeting the recommended MVPA and with normal sleep duration, those not meeting the MVPA recommendation and with short sleep had the highest HF risk (HR 1.78, 95% CI: 1.42-2.25). CONCLUSIONS: Accelerometer-derived short, but not long, sleep duration was associated with a higher risk of incident HF. Engaging in sufficient PA, especially recommended MVPA or VPA, can partially mitigate this risk.

Effect of Triterpenoid Saponins as Foaming Agent on Mechanical Properties of Geopolymer Foam Concrete.

Geopolymer foam concrete (GFC), an emerging thermal insulation material known for its environmentally friendly and low-carbon attributes, has gained prominence for its use in bolstering building energy efficiency. A critical challenge in GFC production is foam destabilization by the alkaline environment in which foam is supersaturated with salt. In this study, GFC was prepared by using triterpene saponin (TS), sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as blowing agents, with fly ash as the precursor and calcium carbide slag (CA) combined with Glauber's salt (GS, Na2SO4 ≥ 99%) as the activator. The effect of GFC on mechanical properties was analyzed by examining its fluidity, pore structure, dry density, and compressive strength. The results show that TS has a stable liquid film capable of adapting to the adverse effects of salt supersaturation and alkaline environments. TS is highly stable in the GFC matrix, and so the corresponding pore size is small, and the connectivity is low in the hardened GFC. In addition, the hydration products of GFC exhibit different morphologies depending on the surfactant used. TS has better water retention due to hydrogen bonding, which facilitates the hydration process.

Remote coupling of electrical and mechanical cues by diurnal photothermal irradiation synergistically promotes bone regeneration.

Recapitulating the natural extracellular physical microenvironment has emerged as a promising method for tissue regeneration, as multiple physical interventions, including ultrasound, thermal and electrical therapy, have shown great potential. However, simultaneous coupling of multiple physical cues to highly bio-mimick natural characteristics for improved tissue regeneration still remains formidable. Coupling of intrinsic electrical and mechanical cues has been regarded as an effective way to modulate tissue repair. Nevertheless, precise and convenient manipulation on coupling of mechano-electrical signals within extracellular environment to facilitate tissue regeneration remains challengeable. Herein, a photothermal-sensitive piezoelectric membrane was designed for simultaneous integration of electrical and mechanical signals in response to NIR irradiation. The high-performance mechano-electrical coupling under NIR exposure synergistically triggered the promotion of osteogenic differentiation of stem cells and enhances bone defect regeneration by increasing cellular mechanical sensing, attachment, spreading and cytoskeleton remodeling. This study highlights the coupling of mechanical signals and electrical cues for modulation of osteogenesis, and sheds light on alternative bone tissue engineering therapies with multiple integrated physical cues for tissue repair.

Dietary patterns and the risk of tuberculosis-drug-induced liver injury: a cohort study.

Background and purpose: Nutrition is associated with tuberculosis drug-induced liver injury (TBLI). How dietary patterns relate to tuberculosis drug-induced liver injury is still unknown. The objective of this study is to explore the relation between dietary patterns and the risk of tuberculosis drug-induced liver injury. Methods: This cohort study was conducted at two hospitals in Shandong Province, China, between 2011 and 2013. A total of 605 tuberculosis patients were included in the final analysis. The blood aspartate aminotransferase or alanine aminotransferase level was monitored through the 6-month tuberculosis treatment. The semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaires were used to survey dietary intake in the second month of the tuberculosis treatment. The China Healthy Diet Index (CHDI), which was previously validated in the Chinese population, was used as an a priori dietary pattern. A posteriori dietary patterns were extracted by principal component analysis (PCA). Results: The CHDI was negatively associated with the risk of liver injury [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) per standard deviation (SD) (95% CI): 0.61 (0.40-0.94)] and liver dysfunction [aOR per SD (95% CI): 0.47 (0.35-0.64)] in the multivariate logistic model. A positive association between "Organ meat, poultry, and vegetable oil" dietary pattern scores (extracted by PCA) and the risk of liver injury [aOR (95% CI): 3.02 (1.42-6.41)] and liver dysfunction [aOR (95% CI): 1.83 (1.09-3.05)] was observed. Conclusion: In conclusion, a high CHDI score was a protective factor for tuberculosis drug-induced liver injury, while the "Organ meat, poultry, and vegetable oil" dietary pattern, which was rich in organ meat, poultry, and vegetable oil and low in vegetables, was an independent risk factor for tuberculosis drug-induced liver injury.

Realizing the Efficient Dissolution of Drag Reducer upon pH-Induced Demulsification of Inverse Polymer Emulsion.

The increasing exploitation of fossil resources needs to shift people's attention to developing unconventional reservoir resources. Polyacrylamide-based emulsion drag reducers can effectively reduce the turbulence of fracturing fluid and improve oil recovery, but their release effect is poor, which limits their practical application. Here, we constructed a pH-responsive inverse polymer emulsion of poly(acrylamide-2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid). Interestingly, HOA/Tween 80 exhibits remarkable pH-responsive behavior, which enables the monomer emulsion to change the type of emulsion under pH stimulation. Our results propose that the P(AM-AMPS) polymer emulsion is eluted with the same aqueous phase as the W/O P(AM-AMPS) polymer emulsion, thereby achieving the effect of drag reduction. P(AM-AMPS) can be rapidly released from the inverse polymer emulsion within 70 s upon pH stimulation, the drag reduction rate of which was 60.4%. Obviously, the inverse polymer emulsion prepared by a pH-responsive surfactant not only has good stability but also can achieve rapid release of the polymer upon pH stimulation, which supplies an interesting indication to explain why a balance exists between the stability of the emulsion and release of P(AM-AMPS).

Advances in biomaterials for oral-maxillofacial bone regeneration: spotlight on periodontal and alveolar bone strategies.

The intricate nature of oral-maxillofacial structure and function, coupled with the dynamic oral bacterial environment, presents formidable obstacles in addressing the repair and regeneration of oral-maxillofacial bone defects. Numerous characteristics should be noticed in oral-maxillofacial bone repair, such as irregular morphology of bone defects, homeostasis between hosts and microorganisms in the oral cavity and complex periodontal structures that facilitate epithelial ingrowth. Therefore, oral-maxillofacial bone repair necessitates restoration materials that adhere to stringent and specific demands. This review starts with exploring these particular requirements by introducing the particular characteristics of oral-maxillofacial bones and then summarizes the classifications of current bone repair materials in respect of composition and structure. Additionally, we discuss the modifications in current bone repair materials including improving mechanical properties, optimizing surface topography and pore structure and adding bioactive components such as elements, compounds, cells and their derivatives. Ultimately, we organize a range of potential optimization strategies and future perspectives for enhancing oral-maxillofacial bone repair materials, including physical environment manipulation, oral microbial homeostasis modulation, osteo-immune regulation, smart stimuli-responsive strategies and multifaceted approach for poly-pathic treatment, in the hope of providing some insights for researchers in this field. In summary, this review analyzes the complex demands of oral-maxillofacial bone repair, especially for periodontal and alveolar bone, concludes multifaceted strategies for corresponding biomaterials and aims to inspire future research in the pursuit of more effective treatment outcomes.

Risk Factors of Poststroke Cognitive Impairment: A Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the potential risk factors of post stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) by conducting a meta-analysis. METHODS: Literature search was performed in databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CNKI) using keywords of PSCI. Cochrane ROB tool was adopted for evaluating the quality of the included studies. Afterwards, data was independently extracted by 2 investigators. Heterogeneity was quantified across studies by Chi-squared-based Q statistic test and I2 statistic. The random-effects model or fixed-effects model was employed to compute the pooled estimates depends on whether the heterogeneity was significant (I2 > 50% or P < .05) or not. Publication bias was evaluated by the funnel plot and Egger's test. Sensitivity analysis was accomplished through eliminating studies 1 at a time to evaluate the stability of the pooled estimates. RESULTS: 23 high-quality studies with 13322 patients were included. Compared with patients with no cognitive impairment, PSCI was more likely to develop in the elderly (pooled MD = 3.58, 95% CI = [1.82, 5.34]), female (pooled RR = 1.23, 95% CI = [1.07, 1.41]), or less-educated (pooled MD = -1.63, 95% CI = [-2.96, -.31]) patients with a history of hypertension (pooled RR = 1.07, 95% CI = [1.03, 1.11]), diabetes mellitus (pooled RR = 1.10, 95% CI = [1.03, 1.17]), atrial fibrillation (pooled RR = 1.38, 95% CI = [1.10, 1.74]), or stroke (pooled RR = 1.36, 95% CI = [1.09, 1.70]). Smoking did not affect the development of PSCI in patients (pooled RR = .96, 95% CI = [.78, 1.19]). Ischemic heart disease and region represented the sources of significant heterogeneity across studies. The pooled estimates were robust, and no publication bias was seen. CONCLUSION: Age, gender, education, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, atrial fibrillation, and stroke were the risk factors of PSCI. Controlling these risk factors can help prevent PSCI.

Research on cross-regional emergency materials intelligent dispatching model in major natural disasters.

The increasingly frequent occurrence of major natural disasters can pose a serious threat to national stability and the safety of people's lives, and cause serious economic losses. How to quickly and accurately dispatch emergency materials to all disaster areas across regions in post-disaster has attracted wide attention from the government and academia. In response to the characteristic of high uncertainty in emergency rescue for major natural disasters, and considering differentiated disaster severity levels in different disaster areas, the entropy weight method is used to determine the urgency coefficient of emergency material demand for disaster areas. This study aims to minimize the emergency materials dispatching time and cost, also maximize the dispatching fairness for disaster areas. The triangular fuzzy number method is used to represent the uncertain variables mentioned above, so that a cross-regional emergency materials intelligent dispatching model in major natural disasters (CREMIDM-MND) is constructed. The extremely heavy rainstorm disaster in Henan Province of China in 2021 is selected as a typical case. Based on objective disaster data obtained from official websites, this study applies the constructed model to real disaster case and calculates the results by MATLAB. The ant colony algorithm is further used to optimize the transportation route based on the calculation results of the emergency material dispatching for disaster areas, and finally forms the intelligent emergency materials dispatching scheme that meets the multiple objectives. The research results indicate that compared to the actual situation, CREMIDM-MND can help decision-maker to develop a cross-regional emergency materials intelligent dispatching scheme in time, thereby effectively improving the government's emergency rescue performance in major natural disasters. Moreover, some managerial insights related to cross-regional emergency materials dispatching practice problem in major natural disasters are presented.

A holistic platform for accelerating sorbent-based carbon capture.

Reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions urgently requires the large-scale deployment of carbon-capture technologies. These technologies must separate CO2 from various sources and deliver it to different sinks1,2. The quest for optimal solutions for specific source-sink pairs is a complex, multi-objective challenge involving multiple stakeholders and depends on social, economic and regional contexts. Currently, research follows a sequential approach: chemists focus on materials design3 and engineers on optimizing processes4,5, which are then operated at a scale that impacts the economy and the environment. Assessing these impacts, such as the greenhouse gas emissions over the plant's lifetime, is typically one of the final steps6. Here we introduce the PrISMa (Process-Informed design of tailor-made Sorbent Materials) platform, which integrates materials, process design, techno-economics and life-cycle assessment. We compare more than 60 case studies capturing CO2 from various sources in 5 global regions using different technologies. The platform simultaneously informs various stakeholders about the cost-effectiveness of technologies, process configurations and locations, reveals the molecular characteristics of the top-performing sorbents, and provides insights on environmental impacts, co-benefits and trade-offs. By uniting stakeholders at an early research stage, PrISMa accelerates carbon-capture technology development during this critical period as we aim for a net-zero world.

Polarization evolution on higher and hybrid-order Poincaré spheres with coaxial polarization holograms.

Based on the tensor polarization holography theory, we propose a simple and convenient method in the recording material, phenanthrenequinone-doped polymethylmethacrylate, to generate beams on higher and hybrid-order Poincaré spheres, and realize their polarization evolution on the spheres by combining the recorded phase with the Pancharatnam-Berry phase. By simultaneously adjusting the polarization azimuth angle and relative phase of the recorded waves, independent phase-shifts can be imparted onto two orthogonal circular polarization states in reconstruction process of polarization holography. The beams on basic Poincaré sphere are transformed into that on arbitrary higher or hybrid-order Poincaré spheres. We get the Poincaré spheres' type and polarization distribution of the reconstructed wave by interferometry and polarizer, and the results match well with the theoretical predictions.

The specificities, influencing factors, and medical implications of bone circadian rhythms.

Physiological processes within the human body are regulated in approximately 24-h cycles known as circadian rhythms, serving to adapt to environmental changes. Bone rhythms play pivotal roles in bone development, metabolism, mineralization, and remodeling processes. Bone rhythms exhibit cell specificity, and different cells in bone display various expressions of clock genes. Multiple environmental factors, including light, feeding, exercise, and temperature, affect bone diurnal rhythms through the sympathetic nervous system and various hormones. Disruptions in bone diurnal rhythms contribute to the onset of skeletal disorders such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis and skeletal hypoplasia. Conversely, these bone diseases can be effectively treated when aimed at the circadian clock in bone cells, including the rhythmic expressions of clock genes and drug targets. In this review, we describe the unique circadian rhythms in physiological activities of various bone cells. Then we summarize the factors synchronizing the diurnal rhythms of bone with the underlying mechanisms. Based on the review, we aim to build an overall understanding of the diurnal rhythms in bone and summarize the new preventive and therapeutic strategies for bone disorders.

Hyperspectral imaging for in situ visual assessment of Industrial-Scale ginseng.

In industrial production, the timely assessment of ginseng-derived ingredients is crucial and requires nondestructive techniques for identifying and analyzing composition. Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) effectively visualizes the three-dimensional spatial distribution of phytochemicals in dried ginseng. This study explores the in-situ prediction and visualization of moisture content (MC) and ginsenoside content (GC) in thermally processed ginseng using dual-band HSI. We collected hyperspectral images from 216 raw ginseng samples, which underwent dimensionality reduction, noise reduction, and feature enhancement via Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Minimum Noise Separation (MNF). Linear regression models were developed following these pretreatments and evaluated using a validation set. The PCA-based models demonstrated superior performance over those based on MNF, especially in predicting GC in the near-infrared (NIR) spectrum. Similarly, models predicting MC in the visible spectrum showed favorable results. HSI enables rapid generation of distribution maps, facilitating real-time imaging for commercial applications. Repeated drying cycles and increased duration primarily affect the textural characteristics and visible color of the ginseng surface, without significantly altering its intrinsic properties. The deployment of this predictive model alongside real-time content inversion using HSI technology holds promise for integrating visual and intelligent quality monitoring in the trade of valuable herbal commodities.

Localized, highly efficient secretion of signaling proteins by migrasomes.

Migrasomes, enriched with signaling molecules such as chemokines, cytokines and angiogenic factors, play a pivotal role in the spatially defined delivery of these molecules, influencing critical physiological processes including organ morphogenesis and angiogenesis. The mechanism governing the accumulation of signaling molecules in migrasomes has been elusive. In this study, we show that secretory proteins, including signaling proteins, are transported into migrasomes by secretory carriers via both the constitutive and regulated secretion pathways. During cell migration, a substantial portion of these carriers is redirected to the rear of the cell and actively transported into migrasomes, driven by the actin-dependent motor protein Myosin-5a. Once at the migrasomes, these carriers fuse with the migrasome membrane through SNARE-mediated mechanisms. Inhibiting migrasome formation significantly reduces secretion, suggesting migrasomes as a principal secretion route in migrating cells. Our findings reveal a specialized, highly localized secretion paradigm in migrating cells, conceptually paralleling the targeted neurotransmitter release observed in neuronal systems.