Efficacy of Shenglin decoction in preventing acute severe lymphocytopenia in patients with non-small cell lung cancer undergoing concurrent chemoradiotherapy: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) followed by maintenance therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors offers the best chance of cure for patients with stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). A significant challenge in this regimen is the occurrence of acute severe lymphopenia (ASL), which can compromise treatment efficacy. Currently, there are no effective strategies for preventing and treating ASL. Shenglin decoction (SLD), a traditional Chinese herbal medicine formulation, has demonstrated preliminary efficacy in mitigating ASL. However, robust evidence from clinical trials and a clear understanding of its mechanism of action are still needed. This study aims to comprehensively assess the efficacy, safety, and underlying mechanisms of SLD in the prevention of ASL. Methods: This prospective, dual-center, open-label, randomized controlled trial will enroll 140 stage III NSCLC patients. Participants will be randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to a control group or an experimental group. Both groups will undergo definitive CCRT. Alongside the commencement of CCRT, the experimental group will receive an additional oral SLD intervention for a duration of three months. The primary outcome is the incidence rate of ASL, defined as the proportion of patients who experience at least one instance of a total lymphocyte count falling below 0.5 × 10^9 cells/L within 3 months of initiating CCRT treatment. Additionally, 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis of fecal samples to assess gut microbiota, as well as metabolomic analysis of fecal/blood samples, will be conducted to explore potential mechanisms. Discussion: This study protocol aims to rigorously evaluate the efficacy and safety of SLD, as well as elucidate its mechanism of action in preventing ASL. Successful outcomes could establish SLD as an evidence-based intervention for ASL prevention in NSCLC patients undergoing CCRT. Trial Registration: The trial was registered at the Chinese Clinical Trials Registry (ChiCTR2300071788, https://www.chictr.org.cn/).

The association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and erectile dysfunction: a two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis.

Considering that vascular endothelial cell dysfunction is the pathological basis of erectile dysfunction (ED), and recognizing the beneficial effects of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) on vascular endothelial cell protection, the researchers diligently investigated the causal relationship between serum 25(OH)D levels and ED. However, inconsistent clinical evidence has left the association between serum 25(OH)D levels and ED unclear. The objective of this work was to employ Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to ascertain the potential causal relationship between serum 25(OH)D levels and ED. We conducted a two-sample MR analysis utilizing data from publicly available genome-wide association studies (GWASs). The primary analysis method for the MR analysis was the inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method, supplemented by the MR-Egger and weighted median methods. In addition, we evaluated heterogeneity with Cochran's Q test, assessed pleiotropy using the MR-Egger intercept test, and performed a leave-one-out analysis to identify single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with potential effects. Outliers were detected using MR-pleiotropy residual sum and outlier (MR-PRESSO). Genetically predicted serum 25(OH)D levels were not found to be causally associated with ED in IVW method (OR = 1.028, 95% CI = 0.845-1.250, P = 0.785), MR-Egger method (OR = 1.057, 95% CI = 0.782-1.430, P = 0.720), and weighted median method (OR = 1.225, 95% CI = 0.920-1.633, P = 0.165). The results of sensitivity analyses reinforced our conclusion, indicating no evidence of heterogeneity or directional pleiotropy. In summary, our findings do not substantiate a genetic-level causal link between serum 25(OH)D levels and the prevalence of ED. Nonetheless, future research, including larger MR studies, clinical trials, and additional observational studies, is essential to validate and reinforce the outcomes of our present study.

Construction of a Soft Antifouling PAA/PSBMA Hydrogel Coating with High Toughness and Low Swelling through the Dynamic Coordination Bonding Provided by Al(OH)3 Nanoparticles.

Marine biofouling, resulting from the adhesion of marine organisms to ship surfaces, has long been a significant issue in the maritime industry. In this paper, we focused on utilizing soft and hydrophilic hydrogels as a potential approach for antifouling (AF) coatings. Acrylic acid (AA) with a polyelectrolyte effect and N-(3-sulfopropyl)-N-(methacryloxyethyl)-N,N-dimethylammonium betaine (SBMA) with an antipolyelectrolyte effect were selected as monomers. By adjusting the monomer ratio, we were able to create hydrogel coatings that exhibited low swelling ratio in both fresh water and seawater. The Al(OH)3 nanoparticle, as a physical cross-linker, provided better mechanical properties (higher tensile strength and larger elongation at break) than the chemical cross-linker through the dynamic coordination bonds and plentiful hydrogen bonds. Additionally, we incorporated trehalose into the hydrogel, enabling the repair of the hydrogel network through covalent-like hydrogen bonding. The zwitterion compound SBMA endowed the hydrogel with excellent AF performance. It was found that the highest SBMA content did not lead to the best antibacterial performance, as bacterial adhesion quantity was also influenced by the charge of the hydrogel. The hydrogel with appropriate SBMA content being close to electrical neutrality exhibits the strongest zwitterionic property of PSBMA chains, resulting in the best antibacterial adhesion performance. Furthermore, the pronounced hydrophilicity of SBMA enhanced the lubrication of the hydrogel surface, thereby reducing the friction resistance when applied to the hull surface during ship navigation.

Effects of laminarin on growth performance and resistance against Pseudomonas plecoglossicida of large yellow croaker （Larimichthys crocea）.

Laminarin (LAM) is widely used as an immunopotentiator in aquaculture, but its protective mechanism is still unclear. In this study, the effects of LAM on the growth performance and resistance against Pseudomonas plecoglossicida of large yellow croaker were studied in vitro and in vivo. The 42 d-feeding trial in large yellow croaker showed that dietary LAM could obviously promote the fish growth by improving the weight gain rate (WGR), specific growth rate (SGR), and feed conversion rate (FCR). Dietary LAM could also improve the survival rate of large yellow croakers subjected to P. plecoglossicida infection, and 500 mg/kg LAM produced the highest relative percent survival (RPS) of 35.00 %. LAM improved fish antioxidant level by enhancing serum total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and reducing malondialdehyde (MDA) content. In addition, LAM also improved fish innate immunity by increasing serum acid phosphatase (ACP) and alkaline phosphatase (AKP) activities and complement 3 (C3) content under P. plecoglossicida infection. What is more, on 9 d post P. plecoglossicida challenge, LAM could significantly decrease the bacteria load in head kidneys, spleens and livers of fish, and the lowest bacterial load was found in 500 mg/kg LAM group. In vitro, LAM exerted a protective role against inactivated P. plecoglossicida-triggered inflammatory injury in primary head kidney macrophages (PKM) of large yellow croaker by recovering cell viability, suppressing NO production, and reversing pro-inflammatory cytokine expression (IL-1ß, IL-6, and IL-8). All these findings therefore will provide insights into the protection mechanism of LAM in fish, facilitating its application in prevention and control of fish bacteriosis.

Randomised controlled trial of Jiandu granule in preventing chemoradiotherapy-induced oral mucositis.

OBJECTIVE: This clinical trial aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Jiandu granule, a Chinese herbal medicine formula, for preventing oral mucositis in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma undergoing concurrent chemoradiotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A single-centre, open-label, randomised controlled trial was conducted, enrolling 138 patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Patients were randomly allocated to either the experimental group (n = 69) or the control group (n = 69). Both groups received concurrent chemoradiotherapy and standard care for oral mucositis, with the experimental group additionally receiving Jiandu granule intervention. The primary outcome was the incidence of severe oral mucositis (grade III to IV). RESULTS: In the full-analysis set, severe oral mucositis occurred in 14 of 69 (20.3%) patients in the experimental group and 31 of 69 (44.9%) patients in the control group (absolute risk reduction: 24.6%; relative risk reduction: 54.8%; p = 0.002; number needed to treat: 4). Jiandu granule was associated with mild/moderate gastrointestinal reactions, with an overall incidence of 5.9%. CONCLUSION: Jiandu granule reduced the incidence of severe oral mucositis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients during concurrent chemoradiotherapy and had an acceptable safety profile.

Governor vessel moxibustion for cancer-related fatigue in colorectal patients: a randomized trial.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and mechanism of action of Governor Vessel Moxibustion (GVM) in the treatment of Cancer-Related Fatigue (CRF) in patients who have completed treatment for colorectal cancer. Methods: We randomly assigned 80 CRF patients in a 1:1 ratio to either the experimental group or the control group. During the three-week treatment period, both groups of patients received usual care for CRF provided by professional nurses. The experimental group received additional GVM treatment (three times a week, nine times total). The primary outcome was the mean change in total fatigue score from baseline to the end of treatment, assessed using the Chinese version of the Piper Fatigue Scale. Results: At baseline, the total fatigue scores were 6.20 ± 0.12 in the experimental group and 6.16 ± 0.14 in the control group. At the end of treatment, the total fatigue scores decreased by 2.03 points (32.7% decrease from baseline) in the experimental group and by 0.99 points (15.6% decrease from baseline) in the control group. The absolute reduction in total fatigue scores in the experimental group was 1.04 points higher than in the control group (95% CI, 0.93 to 1.15; P<0.001), corresponding to a relative difference of 17.1% (95% CI, 15.2% to 18.9%; P<0.001). At the end of treatment, the experimental group showed greater reductions in interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels compared to the control group. No serious adverse events related to GVM treatment were observed. Conclusion: GVM appears to be safe and effective for alleviating CRF in patients who have completed colorectal cancer treatment, which may be related to the modulation of IL-6 and TNF-α levels. Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trials Registry: ChiCTR2300069208.

Quantitative cost­effectiveness index of cancer treatments.

In spite of advancements being made in technology and treatment strategies, which have markedly improved the survival rate of patients, the cost of cancer care worldwide has increased over the past decades. The presence of several cost-effectiveness ratios has provided significant indexes to assess the balance between cost and effectiveness. However, the currently available indexes still fail to provide a comprehensive and objective evaluation of cancer treatment. Therefore, the present study developed a novel approach, namely a quantitative cost-effectiveness index of cancer treatment, based on the calculation of the hospitalization expense index and efficacy evaluation index. The present study used the data of 16 patients with childhood acute myeloid leukemia who received the high-dose chemotherapy as an example, and the quantitative cost-effectiveness index was used to evaluate the value of this approach. As the increasing prevalence of cancer and the rising cost of pharmaceuticals have contributed to the expenditure, the development of this index may help to solve the current dilemma of cancer treatment and may prove to be essential for the development of an effective approach which may be accessible to and affordable by common persons; thus would then lead to a higher cure rate.

An EMT-based gene signature enhances the clinical understanding and prognostic prediction of patients with ovarian cancers.

BACKGROUND: Ovarian cancer (OC) is one of the most common gynecological cancers with malignant metastasis and poor prognosis. Current evidence substantiates that epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a critical mechanism that drives OC progression. In this study, we aspire to identify pivotal EMT-related genes (EMTG) in OC development, and establish an EMT gene-based model for prognosis prediction. METHODS: We constructed the risk score model by screening EMT genes via univariate/LASSO/step multivariate Cox regressions in the OC cohort from TCGA database. The efficacy of the EMTG model was tested in external GEO cohort, and quantified by the nomogram. Moreover, the immune infiltration and chemotherapy sensitivity were analyzed in different risk score groups. RESULTS: We established a 11-EMTGs risk score model to predict the prognosis of OC patients. Based on the model, OC patients were split into high- and low- risk score groups, and the high-risk score group had an inevitably poor survival. The predictive power of the model was verified by external OC cohort. The nomogram showed that the model was an independent factor for prognosis prediction. Moreover, immune infiltration analysis revealed the immunosuppressive microenvironment in the high-risk score group. Finally, the EMTG model can be used to predict the sensitivity to chemotherapy drugs. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that EMTG model was a powerful tool for prognostic prediction of OC patients. Our work not only provide a novel insight into the etiology of OC tumorigenesis, but also can be used in the clinical decisions on OC treatment.

Stimuli-Triggered Multishape, Multimode, and Multistep Deformations Designed by Microfluidic 3D Droplet Printing.

Elastomers generally possess low Young's modulus and high failure strain, which are widely used in soft robots and intelligent actuators. However, elastomers generally lack diverse functionalities, such as stimulated shape morphing, and a general strategy to implement these functionalities into elastomers is still challenging. Here, a microfluidic 3D droplet printing platform is developed to design composite elastomers architected with arrays of functional droplets. Functional droplets with controlled size, composition, position, and pattern are designed and implemented in the composite elastomers, imparting functional performances to the systems. The composited elastomers are sensitive to stimuli, such as solvent, temperature, and light, and are able to demonstrate multishape (bow- and S-shaped), multimode (gradual and sudden), and multistep (one- and two-step) deformations. Based on the unique properties of droplet-embedded composite elastomers, a variety of stimuli-responsive systems are developed, including designable numbers, biomimetic flowers, and soft robots, and a series of functional performances are achieved, presenting a facile platform to impart diverse functionalities into composite elastomers by microfluidic 3D droplet printing.

An Efficiently Doped PEDOT:PSS Ink Formulation via Metastable Liquid-Liquid Contact for Capillary Flow-Driven, Hierarchically and Highly Conductive Films.

With commercial electronics transitioning toward flexible devices, there is a growing demand for high-performance polymers such as poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS). Previous breakthroughs in promoting the conductivity of PEDOT:PSS, which mainly stem from solvent-treatment and transfer-printing strategies, remain as inevitable challenges due to the inefficient, unstable, and biologically incompatible process. Herein, a scalable fabrication of conducting PEDOT:PSS inks is reported via a metastable liquid-liquid contact (MLLC) method, realizing phase separation and removal of excess PSS simultaneously. MLLC-doped inks are further used to prepare ring-like films through a compromise between the coffee-ring effect and the Marangoni vortex during evaporation of droplets. The specific control over deposition conditions allows for tunable ring-like morphologies and preferentially interconnected networks of PEDOT:PSS nanofibrils, resulting in a high electrical conductivity of 6,616 S cm-1 and excellent optical transparency of the film. The combination of excellent electrical properties and the special morphology enables it to serve as electrodes for touch sensors with gradient pressure sensitivity. These findings not only provide new insight into developing a simple and efficient doping method for commercial PEDOT:PSS ink, but also offer a promising self-assembled deposition pattern of organic semiconductor films, expanding the applications in flexible electronics, bioelectronics as well as photovoltaic devices.

Hsa_circ_0097009 regulates proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma cells via miR-568/RNF38 axis.

BACKGROUND: Circular RNAs (circRNAs), a class of non-coding RNAs, has been proved as an essential driver of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression. However, the aim of this study is to explore the role of hsa_circ_0097009 (circ_0097009) in HCC progression. METHODS: Ki67 expression in HCC tissues was labeled and examined by IHC assay. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was applied to assess the expression of circ_0097009, miR-568 and RING finger protein 38 (RNF38). Western blot assay was conducted to analyze protein expression. HCC cell colony formation, proliferation, migration, invasion, angiogenesis ability and apoptosis were determined by colony formation assay, 5-ethynyl-29-deoxyuridine (EdU) assay, wound healing assay, trans well assay, angiogenesis assay and flow cytometry. The interaction between circ_0097009 and miR-568 as well as miR-568 and RNF38 was probed by dual-luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays. RESULTS: We found that circ_0097009 and RNF38 expressions were markedly higher, but miR-568 expression was significantly lower in HCC. Circ_0097009 knockdown blocked HCC cell cloning, proliferation, migration, invasion, angiogenesis and facilitated apoptosis. MiR-568 was a target of circ_0097009 in HCC cells. MiR-568 interference could attenuate the circ_0097009 knockdown-induced inhibition on HCC cells progress. MiR-568 depressed cell clonal formation, proliferation, migration, invasion, angiogenesis and promotion of apoptosis, by targeting RNF38, and RNF38 overexpression reversed the suppression of miR-568 in HCC cells. Also, circ_0097009 knockdown blocked tumor growth in vivoCONCLUSION: Together, this study indicated that the oncogenic function of circ_0097009 in HCC, and circ_0097009/miR-568/RNF38 axis was expected to be a novel therapeutic option for HCC patients (Tab. 1, Fig. 7, Ref. 33). Text in PDF www.elis.sk Keywords: circ_0097009, miR-568, RNF38, hepatocellular carcinoma.

Relationship between inflammatory bowel disease and erectile dysfunction: a 2-sample Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Observational studies have indicated a high prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED) among patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), but a definitive causal relationship remains unestablished. Aim: The primary aim of this study was to assess the potential causal relationship between IBD and ED using Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. Methods: We obtained statistical data for 2 subtypes of IBD, ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD), as well as for ED, from publicly available genome-wide association studies (GWASs). Subsequently, a 2-sample MR analysis was conducted using these datasets. The primary MR analysis utilized the inverse variance-weighted (IVW) method, complemented by secondary analyses employing MR-Egger and weighted median methods. Furthermore, we assessed heterogeneity using Cochran's Q test and evaluated pleiotropy with the MR-Egger intercept test. To identify potential influential single nucleotide polymorphisms, we employed a leave-one-out analysis. Additionally, outliers were identified using the MR-PRESSO method. Outcomes: The study outcomes encompassed results from 3 MR analyses, namely IVW, MR-Egger, and weighted median, along with sensitivity analyses involving Cochran's Q test, the MR-Egger intercept test, leave-one-out analysis, and the MR-PRESSO method. Results: There was no causal effect of UC and CD on ED in the MR analysis (IVW P > .05). Results of complementary methods were consistent with those of the IVW method. The results of sensitivity analyses supported our conclusion, and no directional pleiotropy was found. Clinical Implications: Genetically, despite the absence of a causal link between IBD and ED according to MR analysis, we must emphasize the elevated ED prevalence among IBD patients in observational studies, with particular consideration for the influence of negative emotions on erectile function. Strengths & Limitations: This study is the inaugural application of a 2-sample MR analysis using extensive GWAS datasets to evaluate the causal relationship between IBD and ED, effectively mitigating biases stemming from confounding factors and reverse causality often present in observational studies. Nevertheless, it is imperative to exercise caution when drawing conclusions due to inherent limitations in GWAS data, encompassing factors like samples overlap, gender categorization, population ancestry, and the persistent ambiguity surrounding the precise functionality of specific single nucleotide polymorphisms. Conclusions: MR analysis did not provide genetic-level evidence supporting a direct causal relationship between IBD (UC and CD) and ED.

A clinical report on high­dose cytarabine therapy for children with acute myeloid leukemia.

Despite improvement in the long-term survival rate following pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the rate remains low, even with optimal treatment. The present study reports the long-term outcome of a small patient group treated with a single drug, high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) with cytarabine, including consolidation and maintenance therapy. RT-PCR was conducted to assess 43 fusion genes, and after treatment, all cases have been followed up for 20 years (June 2002-December 2020). With an 80% 5-year survival rate, the results of this study highlight the possibility that pediatric AML can be reasonably effectively treated with relatively simple chemotherapy when necessary. HDCT is clinically safe, effective and relatively inexpensive. We propose that in the context of limited resources, HDCT should be considered as an alternative therapy for pediatric AML.

Astragalus polysaccharides protect against inactivated Vibrio alginolyticus-induced inflammatory injury in macrophages of large yellow croaker.

As an effective immunostimulant, Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) have been widely used in fish aquaculture, however, their action mechanisms remain poorly understood. In the present paper, the inflammatory macrophage model of large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea) was constructed by using formalin-inactivated Vibrio alginolyticus. Inactivated V. alginolyticus could cause cellular damage of primary head kidney macrophages (PKM) by decreasing cell activity and inducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and cell apoptosis. When PKM were pretreated with APS, the depressed cell activity induced by inactivated V. alginolyticus was significantly improved, and ROS overproduction and cell apoptosis were inhibited. Then the protection mechanism of APS was investigated by transcriptome analysis. After treated with inactivated V. alginolyticus, the expression of immune-related genes (TLR5s, TLR13, Clec4e, IKK, IκB, BCL-3, NF-κB2, REL, IL-1ß, and IL-6) and pyroptosis-related genes (caspase-1, NLRP3, and NLRC3) in PKM were significantly up-regulated. However, APS pretreatment reversed the up-regulation of most of the above-mentioned genes, where TLR5s, BCL-3, REL, caspase-1, NLRP12, IL-1ß, and IL-6 were significantly down-regulated compared with inactivated V. alginolyticus-treated group. These results suggested that APS could protect large yellow croaker PKM against inactivated V. alginolyticus-induced inflammatory injury, and may exert their protection effects by activating NF-κB and pyroptosis signaling pathways. These findings therefore advance our understanding of the immune regulation mechanism of APS in fish, and facilitate the application of APS in prevention and control of fish bacteriosis.

Monodomain Liquid Crystals of Two-Dimensional Sheets by Boundary-Free Sheargraphy.

Eliminating topological defects to achieve monodomain liquid crystals is highly significant for the fundamental studies of soft matter and building long-range ordered materials. However, liquid crystals are metastable and sensitive to external stimuli, such as flow, confinement, and electromagnetic fields, which cause their intrinsic polycrystallinity and topological defects. Here, we achieve the monodomain liquid crystals of graphene oxide over 30 cm through boundary-free sheargraphy. The obtained monodomain liquid crystals exhibit large-area uniform alignment of sheets, which has the same optical polarized angle and intensity. The monodomain liquid crystals provide bidirectionally ordered skeletons, which can be applied as lightweight thermal management materials with bidirectionally high thermal and electrical conductivity. Furthermore, we extend the controllable topology of two-dimensional colloids by introducing singularities and disclinations in monodomain liquid crystals. Topological structures with defect strength from - 2 to + 2 were realized. This work provides a facile methodology to study the structural order of soft matter at a macroscopic level, facilitating the fabrication of metamaterials with tunable and highly anisotropic architectures.

Multi-responsive PNIPAM-PEGDA hydrogel composite.

Hydrogels are widely used in applications such as soft robots and flexible sensors due to their sensitivity to environmental stimuli. It is highly demanded to develop multiple-responsive hydrogel structures. In this work, we employ the 3D printing technique to fabricate a PNIPAM-PEGDA hydrogel bilayer that can change shape through controlling the temperature, solvent mixture and magnetic field. The PNIPAM gel is a typical thermo-responsive gel, showing a decrease in swelling ratio with increasing temperature. Meanwhile, the PNIPAM gels also exhibit the cononsolvency effect in ethanol-water mixtures with a smaller swelling ratio in the mixture compared with that in each pure solvent. In comparison, the swelling ratio of PEGDA gels is insensitive to changes in both the temperature and solvent composition. Thus, the bilayer structure of PNIPAM-PEGDA can bend in different directions and with different angles with changing the temperature and solvent composition. Finally, Fe3O4 nanoparticles are incorporated into the matrix of PEGDA gels, endowing the whole structure with deformation and motion in response to an external magnetic field.

Slight Zinc Doping by an Ultrafast Electrodeposition Process Boosts the Cycling Performance of Layered Double Hydroxides for Ultralong-Life-Span Supercapacitors.

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) have attracted much attention in supercapacitors because of the high specific surface area and theoretical capacitance. However, the bad cycling stability has always been their Achilles' heel that restrains their further application. In this paper, a small amount of unactive and single-valence element zinc, which has no contribution to the capacitance of electrodes, was first doped into NiCo-LDHs through two consecutive electrodeposition processes only within 30 min. With a polyaniline (PANI) nanolayer as the interlayer, an ultrathin NiCoZn-LDH nanoplate network was well-anchored on the carbon cloth surface. The slight Zn2+ doping dramatically enhanced the cycling performance of LDHs with little capacitance decay. Zn2+ doping enhanced the cyclic structural stability of NiCoZn-LDHs, while the PANI layer strengthened the interface interaction between LDHs and the current collector. By controlling the doping content of Zn2+ at 2.9%, the composite electrode achieved the best performance with a high specific capacitance of 1749 F g-1 and an ultralong life span with 89% capacitance retention after 40,000 charge-discharge cycles. This work offers a novel strategy to fast build LDH-based supercapacitors with both high specific capacitance and cycling performance.

Bioinspired, Recyclable, Stretchable Hydrogel with Boundary Ultralubrication.

Although hydrogels exhibit excellent low frictional behavior, their friction coefficients cannot meet the requirements for biology, especially at low sliding velocities. Inspired by the natural lubrication mechanism from animals, plants, or even microorganisms, a nonionic surfactant, Tween 80, was introduced into a biofriendly poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogel to construct a composite hydrogel with ultralubrication. Such a combination endows PVA hydrogels with an ultralow coefficient of friction (10-3 to 10-4) under an extremely low sliding velocity (0.01 mm/s). Tween 80 micelles and aggregates, together with hydrophobic molds, induce rough surfaces and high carbon contents on the surface of the hydrogel, promoting excellent lubrication behavior of the composite hydrogel. In addition to the desirable lubrication, this environmentally friendly composite hydrogel also exhibited excellent flexibility at subzero temperatures, tensile properties, and good recyclability. Additionally, the method of introducing Tween 80 into hydrogels to reduce friction is also effective in chemically crosslinked double-network hydrogels.

Metal-Free Tandem Oxidative Cyclization for the Synthesis of 1,2-Dihydropyridazines and Pyrazoles.

Mediated by 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone (DDQ), a novel oxidative coupling of hydrazones and 1,3-diarylpropenes has been disclosed to generate appealing ß,γ-unsaturated hydrazones, which further undergo 5-exo-trig or 6-endo-trig cascade cyclization to give the respective 1,2-dihydropyridazines or pyrazoles selectively under metal-free conditions. The mechanisms of the coupling and subsequent cyclization are proposed.