Electrospinning-derived transition metal/carbon nanofiber composites as electrocatalysts for Zn-air batteries.

The sluggish kinetics of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) significantly impede the broader implementation of Zn-air batteries (ZABs), underscoring the necessity for advanced high-efficiency materials to catalyze these electrochemical processes. Recent advancements have highlighted the potential of transition metal/carbon nanofiber (TM/CNF) composite materials, synthesized via electrospinning technology, due to their expansive surface area, profusion of active sites, and elevated catalytic efficacy. This review comprehensively examines the structural characteristics of TM/CNFs, with a particular emphasis on the pivotal role of electrospinning technology in fabricating diverse structural configurations. Additionally, it delves into the mechanistic underpinnings of various strategies aimed at augmenting the catalytic activity of TM/CNFs. A meticulous discourse is also presented on the application scope of TM/CNFs in the realm of electrocatalysis, with a special focus on their impact on the performance of assembled ZABs. Lastly, this review encapsulates the challenges and future prospects in the development of TM/CNF composite materials via electrospinning, aiming to provide an exhaustive understanding of the current state of research in this domain and to foster further advancements in the commercialization of ZABs.

Organic amendments increased Chinese milk vetch symbiotic nitrogen fixation by enriching Mesorhizobium in rhizosphere.

Symbiotic nitrogen fixation of Chinese milk vetch (Astragalus sinicus L.) can fix nitrogen from the atmosphere and serve as an organic nitrogen source in agricultural ecosystems. Exogenous organic material application is a common practice of affecting symbiotic nitrogen fixation; however, the results of the regulation activities remain under discussion. Studies on the impact of organic amendments on symbiotic nitrogen fixation have focused on dissolved organic carbon content changes, whereas the impact on dissolved organic carbon composition and the underlying mechanism remain unclear. In situ pot experiments were carried out using soils from a 40-year-old field experiment platform to investigate symbiotic nitrogen fixation rate trends, dissolved organic carbon concentration and component, and diazotroph community structure in roots and in rhizosphere soils following long-term application of different exogenous organic substrates, i.e., green manure, green manure and pig manure, and green manure and rice straw. Remarkable increases in rate were observed in and when compared with that in green manure treatment, with the greatest enhancement observed in the treatment. Moreover, organic amendments, particularly pig manure application, altered diazotroph community composition in rhizosphere soils, therefore increasing the abundance of the host-specific genus Mesorhizobium. Furthermore, organic amendments influence the diazotroph communities through two primary mechanisms. Firstly, the components of dissolved organic carbon promote an increase in available iron, facilitated by the presence of humus substrates. Secondly, the elevated content of dissolved organic carbon and available iron expands the niche breadth of Mesorhizobium within the rhizosphere. Consequently, these alterations result in a modified diazotroph community within the rhizosphere, which in turn influences Mesorhizobium nodulation in the root and symbiotic nitrogen fixation rate. The results of the present study enhance our understanding of the impact of organic amendments on symbiotic nitrogen fixation and the underlying mechanism, highlighting the key role of dissolved organic carbon composition on diazotroph community composition in the rhizosphere.

Long-term organic amendments increase the vulnerability of microbial respiration to environmental changes: Evidence from field and laboratory studies.

Organic amendments can improve soil fertility and microbial diversity, making agroecosystems more resilient to stress. However, it is uncertain whether organic amendments will enhance the functional capacity of soil microbial communities, thereby mitigating fluctuations in microbial respiration caused by environmental changes. Here, we examined the impacts of long-term organic amendments on the dynamics of microbial catabolic capacity (characterized by enzyme activities and carbon source utilization) and microbial respiration, as well as their interrelationships during a period with fluctuating temperature and rainfall in the field. We then subjected the field soil samples to laboratory heating disturbances to further evaluate the importance of microbial catabolic capacity in explaining patterns of microbial respiration. In both field and laboratory experiments, organic amendments tended to increase the stability of microbial catabolic capacity, but significantly increased the vulnerability of microbial respiration to environmental changes. However, the direction and driving factors of microbial respiration affected by environmental changes differed between the field and laboratory experiments. Environmental changes in the field suppressed the promotional effects of organic amendments on microbial respiration mainly through reducing microbial catabolic capacity, while laboratory heating further enhanced microbial respiration mainly due to increased soil resource availability. Together, these findings suggest that increased microbial respiration variations under organic amendments may potentially increase the uncertainty in predicting soil carbon emissions in the scenario of ongoing climate/anthropogenic changes, and highlight the necessity of linking laboratory studies on environmental changes to field conditions.

Underdog entrepreneurship in the digital era: The effect of digital servitization on household entrepreneurship in China.

In today's digital era, households are empowered by digital servitization, which could potentially impact their ability to become entrepreneurs. Using data from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) and the National Bureau of Statistics of China, we construct the digital servitization index to analyze the impact of digital servitization on household entrepreneurship. The results show that the utilization of digital servitization by households significantly increases the likelihood of them engaging in entrepreneurial endeavors. This result remains robust after a series of robustness tests. We also find that digital servitization can help households identify entrepreneurial opportunities and access entrepreneurial resources by alleviating information and financial constraints, and increasing social capital. Further, the effect is more among households with rural residences, low material assets, elderly household heads, and household heads with low cognitive abilities, which means that digital servitization can promote underdog entrepreneurship. In conclusion, this paper provides micro-level evidence supporting the idea that digital servitization can foster household entrepreneurship, particularly among underprivileged groups. Ultimately, this paper highlights the potential of digitization as an essential resource to drive economic growth and help households in need become successful entrepreneurs.

Recent advances and promise of MXene-based composites as electrode materials for sodium-ion and potassium-ion batteries.

With the increasing demand for sustainable energy and concerns about the scarcity of lithium resources, sodium and potassium ion batteries have emerged as promising alternative energy storage technologies. MXene, as a novel two-dimensional material, possesses exceptional electrical conductivity, high surface area, and tunable structural features that make it an ideal candidate for high-performance electrode materials. However, its limited theoretical capacity hinders its widespread application. To overcome this limitation, MXene has been combined with other materials through synergistic effects between different components to enhance the overall electrochemical performance and expand its application in sodium/potassium ion batteries. Recently, substantial advancements have been realized in the exploration of MXene-based composites as energy storage materials, encompassing their synthesis, design, and the comprehension of charge storage mechanisms. This paper aims to propose a comprehensive summary of the latest developments in MXene-based composites as electrode materials for sodium ion batteries and potassium ion batteries, with a particular emphasis on the enhanced physicochemical properties resulting from composite formation. Moreover, the challenges faced by MXene materials in sodium ion batteries and potassium ion batteries are thoroughly discussed, and future research directions to further advance this field are proposed.

Changes in soil stoichiometry, soil organic carbon mineralization and bacterial community assembly processes across soil profiles.

Soil organic carbon (SOC) mineralization is essential to biogeochemical recycling in terrestrial ecosystem. However, the microbial mechanisms underlying the nutrient-induced SOC mineralization remain uncertain. Here, we investigated how SOC mineralization was linked to microbial assembly processes as well as soil nutrient availability and stoichiometric ratio in a paddy rice ecosystem at four soil profile levels. Our results showed a sharp decrease in SOC mineralization from topsoil (112.61-146.34 mg CO2 kg-1 day-1) to subsoil (33.51-61.41 mg CO2 kg-1 day-1). High-throughput sequencing showed that both abundance and diversity of specialist microorganisms (Chao1: 1244.30-1341.35) significantly increased along the soil profile, while the generalist microorganisms (Chao1: 427.67-616.15; Shannon: 7.46-7.97) showed the opposite trend. Correspondingly, the proportion of deterministic processes that regulate specialist (9.64-21.59 %) and generalist microorganisms (21.17-53.53 %) increased and decreased from topsoil to subsoil, respectively. Linear regression modeling and partial least squares path modeling indicated that SOC mineralization was primarily controlled by the assembly processes of specialist microorganisms, which was significantly mediated by available soil C:N:P stoichiometry. This study highlighted the importance of soil stoichiometry-mediated bacterial community assembly processes in regulating SOC mineralization. Our results have an important implication for the integration of bacterial community assembly processes into the prediction of SOC dynamics.

Injectable Bioadhesive Hydrogels Scavenging ROS and Restoring Mucosal Barrier for Enhanced Ulcerative Colitis Therapy.

Despite the progress in the therapy of ulcerative colitis (UC), long-lasting UC remission can hardly be achieved in the majority of UC patients. The key pathological characteristics of UC include an impaired mucosal barrier and local inflammatory infiltration. Thus, a two-pronged approach aiming at repairing damaged mucosal barrier and scavenging inflammatory mediators simultaneously might hold great potential for long-term remission of UC. A rectal formulation can directly offer preferential and effective drug delivery to inflamed colon. However, regular intestinal peristalsis and frequent diarrhea in UC might cause transient drug retention. Therefore, a bioadhesive hydrogel with strong interaction with intestinal mucosa might be preferable for rectal administration to prolong drug retention. Here, we designed a bioadhesive hydrogel formed by the cross-linking of sulfhydryl chondroitin sulfate and polydopamine (CS-PDA). The presence of PDA would ensure the mucosa-adhesive behavior, and the addition of CS in the hydrogel network was expected to achieve the restoration of the intestinal epithelial barrier. To scavenge the key player (excessive reactive oxygen species, ROS) in inflamed colon, sodium ferulic (SF), a potent ROS inhibitor, was incorporated into the CS-PDA hydrogel. After rectal administration, the SF-loaded CS-PDA hydrogel could adhere to the colonic mucosa to allow prolonged drug retention. Subsequently, sustained SF release could be achieved to persistently scavenge ROS in inflammatory areas. Meanwhile, the presence of CS would promote the restoration of the mucosal barrier. Ultimately, scavenging ROS and restoring the mucosal barrier could be simultaneously achieved via this SF-loaded bioadhesive hydrogel scaffold. Our two-pronged approach might provide new insight for effective UC treatment.

The effects of a polystyrene nanoplastic on the immune response and gut microbiota of Eriocheir sinensis and its post-recovery state.

Although there is increasing concern about the toxicity of nanoplastics, the effects of nanoplastic exposure and subsequent recovery on immune responses, as well as antioxidant responses and gut microbiota, in crustaceans are rarely reported. In this study, the nonspecific immunity and antioxidant defense of Eriocheir sinensis were evaluated after acute exposure to various concentrations (0, 2.5, 5, 10 and 20 mg/L) of 75-nm polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) for 48 h, as well as after 7 days of recovery from the nanoplastic environment. The results showed that, after 48 h of exposure, nanoplastics were observed in the gills, hepatopancreas and gut. However, no nanoplastics were found in the gut after 7 days of recovery. Under nanoplastic-induced stress, Hc, Relish, proPO, and LITAF mRNA levels increased in the gills and hepatopancreas for 48 h. Expression of the myd88, Hc, Relish and proPO genes decreased in the gills during the 7-day recovery period. Exposure to nanoplastics for 48 h and recovery for 7 days significantly decreased the activities of lysozyme (LZM) alkaline phosphatase (AKP), total superoxide dismutase (SOD) and phenoloxidase (POD) and, glutathione peroxidase (GPX) in the hepatopancreas. Meanwhile, the relative abundance of pathogens exposed to 10 mg/L nanoplastics for 48 h increased at the species level, and these pathogens decreased significantly in the 7-day recovery period. These results suggested that exposure to nanoplastics for 48 h affected the activities of immune system enzymes and expression of immune-related genes in Eriocheir sinensis and altered the diversity and composition of their gut microbiota. E. sinensis could not recover from damage to the hepatopancreas within a 7-day recovery period. The results of this study provided insight into the effects of nanoplastics on crustaceans and it filled a gap in research on crustacean recovery after exposure to nanoplastics.

Complete mitochondrial genome and phylogenetic analysis of Sineleotris saccharae (Perciformes, Odontobutiae).

The freshwater sleeper, Sineleotris saccharae Herre, 1940 is a member of the Odontobutiae family, widely distributed in southern China. In the present study, we determined the complete mitochondrial genome of S. saccharae for the first time and analyzed its evolutionary relationship. The complete mitochondrial genome of S. saccharae was 16,487 bp long, and had 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNAs (tRNAs), 2 ribosomal RNA (rRNAs) and a control region (CR). The mitogenome of S. saccharae shared the same gene organization and orientation as other teleosts. According to phylogenetic research, S. saccharae was sister to S. chalmersi with high support value, providing the monophyly of the genus Sineleotris. These results will be helpful for understanding the systematics of the odontobutids.

Advantages and robustness of partial VMAT with prone position for neoadjuvant rectal cancer evaluated by CBCT-based offline adaptive radiotherapy.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: This study aims to explore the advantages and robustness of the partial arc combined with prone position planning technique for radiotherapy in rectal cancer patients. Adaptive radiotherapy is recalculated and accumulated on the synthesis CT (sCT) obtained by deformable image registration between planning CT and cone beam CT (CBCT). Full and partial volume modulation arc therapy (VMAT) with the prone position on gastrointestinal and urogenital toxicity, based on the probability of normal tissue complications (NTCP) model in rectal cancer patients were evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-one patients were studied retrospectively. The contours of different structures were outlined in 155 CBCT images. First, full VMAT (F-VMAT) and partial VMAT (P-VMAT) planning techniques were designed and calculated using the same optimization constraints for each individual patient. The Acuros XB (AXB) algorithm was used in order to generate more realistic dose distributions and DVH, considering the air cavities. Second, the Velocity 4.0 software was used to fuse the planning CT and CBCT to obtain the sCT. Then, the AXB algorithm was used in the Eclipse 15.6 software to conduct re-calculation based on the sCT to obtain the corresponding dose. Furthermore, the NTCP model was used to analyze its radiobiological side effects on the bladder and the bowel bag. RESULTS: With a CTV coverage of 98%, when compared with F-VMAT, P-VMAT with the prone position technique can effectively reduce the mean dose of the bladder and the bowel bag. The NTCP model showed that the P-VMAT combined with the prone planning technique resulted in a significantly lower complication probability of the bladder (1.88 ± 2.08 vs 1.62 ± 1.41, P = 0.041) and the bowel bag (1.28 ± 1.70 vs 0.95 ± 1.52, P < 0.001) than the F-VMAT. In terms of robustness, P-VMAT was more robust than F-VMAT, considering that less dose and NTCP variation was observed in the CTV, bladder and bowel bag. CONCLUSION: This study analyzed the advantages and robustness of the P-VMAT in the prone position from three aspects, based on the sCT fused by CBCT. Whether it is in regards to dosimetry, radiobiological effects or robustness, P-VMAT in the prone position has shown comparative advantages.

Targeted Therapy of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer and Liver Cancer: Functional Nanocarriers for the Delivery of Cisplatin and Tissue Factor Pathway Inhibitor-2.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the study was to construct folic acid-modified PEGylated paramagnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) co-carrying tissue factor pathway inhibitor-2 (TFPI-2) and cisplatin (CDDP), and to study the molecular-targeting and inhibitory effects of the nanocomposite on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and liver cancer. METHODS: Nanocomposites were prepared using amino-modified iron oxide nanoparticles as carriers, co-loading CDDP and PEGylated FA/TFPI-2. Transmission electron microscopy, UV absorption spectrum, and dynamic light scattering were employed to characterize the morphology, structure, particle size, and zeta potential of the nanocomposite. The phenylenediamine method was used to detect the loading of CDDP, and the CCK-8 assay was used to detect the toxic effect of the nanocomposite on HUVECs, A549, and NCI-H460 cells. In tumor-bearing mice models, the antitumor effects of the nanocomposites were assessed using TUNEL staining (at the molecular level), reverse transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction (at the gene level), hematoxylin and eosin staining (at the cellular level), and the appearance of the mice models. RESULTS: The synthesized FA-MNP/CDDP/TFPI-2 nanocomposite was uniformly dispersed and spherical in shape (approximate diameter: 10 nm). The zeta potential of particles was -9.44 mV, and the average particle size was 25 nm. The loading amount of CDDP was 70.24 µg/mL (23.33%). The nanocomposite was nontoxic to HUVECs, while it showed a favorable inhibitory effect on A549 and NCI-H460 cells. In vivo experiments in mice demonstrated satisfactory imaging properties and therapeutic effects of nanocomposite against liver cancer. DISCUSSION: FA-MNP/CDDP/TFPI-2 may provide insights for the development of new chemotherapeutic drugs.

Trade Flow Optimization Model for Plastic Pollution Reduction.

Managing plastic waste from an international perspective is complex, with many countries in the trade network playing distinct roles at different stages of the life-cycle of plastics. Trade flows are therefore the key to understanding global plastic market and its supply chains. In this paper, we formulate an optimization problem from the perspective of reducing global ocean plastic pollution, and create a novel framework based on a network flow model to identify the optimal international trade flows over the life-cycle of plastics. Our model quantifies global flows of production, consumption, and trade across the life-cycle of plastics from raw inputs and subsequent plastic products to its final stage as waste. Using panel data on plastic consumption, waste, and production, we compare the trade flows in reality and the optimal trade flows determined by our model and find that the two are highly correlated. We highlight the policy implications based on our model: increasing trade capacity and improving recycle rates in developing countries.

Porric acid E, a natural compound from Rhytidhysteron sp. BZM-9, suppresses colorectal cancer growth via an autophagy-dependent pathway.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the major killer diseases worldwide, and more effective therapeutic compounds for CRC treatment are urgently needed. Although bioactive natural products derived from endophytic fungi have been extensively employed as antibiotics and anticancer agents, little is known about the effect of Rhytidhysteron sp. BZM-9 (an endophytic fungus)-derived compounds on CRC. Herein, a natural molecule porric acid E was isolated from Rhytidhysteron sp. BZM-9. Alamar Blue cell viability assay, Western blotting, transmission electron microscopy, flow cytometry analysis, and fluorescence image examination were employed to evaluate the antitumor effects of porric acid E on CRC cell lines. To establish the xenograft tumor model, nude mice received subcutaneous implants consisting of CRC cells on their flanks. Then the mice were treated with porric acid E or vehicle to assess the tumor-killing effects. The results revealed that porric acid E exhibited cytotoxicity by inhibiting proliferation and promoting apoptosis in CRC cells in vitro. Additionally, compared with fluorouracil (5-FU), porric acid E exhibited a more potent inhibitory effect on CRC HT29 cells. Importantly, extensive autophagy induced by porric acid E was detected in CRC cells, whereas inhibition of autophagy could significantly ameliorate porric acid E-mediated cytotoxic effect on CRC cells. Moreover, porric acid E treatment could markedly suppress subcutaneous HT29 xenograft tumor growth in vivo. Bioinformatics prediction indicated that Beclin-1 might be the potential target of porric acid E. These findings might afford a useful and important method for the treatment of CRC through fungal endophyte-derived natural compounds.

Inflammation-responsive nanoparticles suppress lymphatic clearance for prolonged arthritis therapy.

The clearance of nanomedicine in inflamed joints has been accelerated due to the increased lymph angiogenesis and lymph flow in arthritic sites. To maximize the therapeutic efficacy for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), it is necessary to facilitate targeted delivery and extended drug retention in inflamed synovium simultaneously. In general, nanosized particles are more likely to achieve prolonged circulation and targeted delivery. While drug carriers with larger dimension might be more beneficial for extending drug retention. To balance the conflicting requirements, an inflammation-responsive shape transformable nanoparticle, comprised of amyloid ß-derived KLVFF peptide and polysialic acid (PSA), coupled with therapeutic agent dexamethasone (Dex) via an acid-sensitive linker, was fabricated and termed as Dex-KLVFF-PSA (DKPNPs). Under physiological condition, DKPNPs can keep stable nanosized morphology, and PSA shell could endow DKPNPs with long circulation and active targeting to arthritic sites. While in inflamed joints, acidic pH-triggered Dex dissociation or macrophages-induced specific binding with PSA would induce the re-assembly of DKPNPs from nanoparticles to nanofibers. Our results reveal that intravenously injected DKPNPs display prolonged in vivo circulation and preferential distribution in inflamed joints, where DKPNPs undergo shape transition to fibrous structures, leading to declined lymphatic clearance and prolonged efficacy. Overall, our dual-stimulus responsive transformable nanoparticle offers an intelligent solution to achieve enhanced therapeutic efficacy in RA.

Evaluation of Hybrid VMAT Advantages and Robustness Considering Setup Errors Using Surface Guided Dose Accumulation for Internal Lymph Mammary Nodes Irradiation of Postmastectomy Radiotherapy.

Objectives: Setup error is a key factor affecting postmastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT) and irradiation of the internal mammary lymph nodes is the most investigated aspect for PMRT patients. In this study, we evaluated the robustness, radiobiological, and dosimetric benefits of the hybrid volumetric modulated arc therapy (H-VMAT) planning technique based on the setup error in dose accumulation using a surface-guided system for radiation therapy. Methods: We retrospectively selected 32 patients treated by a radiation oncologist and evaluated the clinical target volume (CTV), including internal lymph node irradiation (IMNIs), and considered the planning target volume (PTV) margin to be 5 mm. Three different planning techniques were evaluated: tangential-VMAT (T-VMAT), intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), and H-VMAT. The interfraction and intrafraction setup errors were analyzed in each field and the accumulated dose was evaluated as the patients underwent daily surface-guided monitoring. These parameters were included while evaluating CTV coverage, the dose required for the left anterior descending artery (LAD) and the left ventricle (LV), the normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) for the heart and lungs, and the second cancer complication probability (SCCP) for contralateral breast (CB). Results: When the setup error was accounted for dose accumulation, T-VMAT (95.51%) and H-VMAT (95.48%) had a higher CTV coverage than IMRT (91.25%). In the NTCP for the heart, H-VMAT (0.04%) was higher than T-VMAT (0.01%) and lower than IMRT (0.2%). However, the SCCP (1.05%) of CB using H-VMAT was lower than that using T-VMAT (2%) as well as delivery efficiency. And T-VMAT (3.72) and IMRT (10.5).had higher plan complexity than H-VMAT (3.71). Conclusions: In this study, based on the dose accumulation of setup error for patients with left-sided PMRT with IMNI, we found that the H-VMAT technique was superior for achieving an optimum balance between target coverage, OAR dose, complication probability, plan robustness, and complexity.

Changes in life-history traits, antioxidant defense, energy metabolism and molecular outcomes in the cladoceran Daphnia pulex after exposure to polystyrene microplastics.

Ubiquitous plastic pollution is a threat to the organisms' survival and ecosystem functions, especially in aquatic environments. Although there is increasing concern about the toxicity of microplastics, knowledge about the effects of microplastics of diverse sizes and adverse impacts on freshwater organisms is still limited. In the present study, the alteration in life-history traits, antioxidant defense and energy metabolism of the model freshwater zooplankton Daphnia pulex were assessed after chronic exposure to gradient concentrations (0.5, 1, 2 and 4 mg/L) of 500-nm polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs). Changes in protein abundance were analyzed using proteomics after exposure to 1 mg/L of PS-MPs for 14 days. The results showed that ingested PS-MPs accumulated in the digestive tract of D. pulex. 2 and 4 mg/L of PS-MPs inhibited the survival function and 4 mg/L of PS-MPs reduced the body length of D. pulex after 14 or 21 days of exposure. The exposure did not decrease the fecundity of D. pulex. After 14 days of exposure, PS-MPs changed the antioxidant capacity in a dose-dependent way and all concentrations of PS-MPs induced lipid oxidative damage. Exposure to 500-nm PS-MPs for 14 days decreased glucose and fructose contents and disturbed the lipid transport and utilization in D. pulex. Meanwhile, PS-MPs activated DNA repair and transcription regulation but inhibited lipid metabolism and response to unfolded or misfolded proteins. These results indicated that chronic exposure to 500-nm PS-MPs negatively affected D. pulex and showed similar toxic mechanisms to smaller nano-sized microplastics. Exposure to 500-nm PS-MPs resulted in restricted resources such as inhibited antioxidant capacity or energy metabolisms and D. pulex showed a potential trade-off among life-history traits to maintain fecundity at the cost of self-maintenance. The present study offers perspectives for understanding the differences in ecological effects caused by microplastics of different sizes.

Inflammation-homing "living drug depot" for efficient arthritis treatment.

Delivering therapeutic agents efficiently to inflamed joints remains an intractable problem in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatment due to the complicated physiological barriers. Circulating monocytes could selectively migrate to inflamed sites and differentiate into resident macrophages to aggravate RA. Therefore, a drug carrier that can be specifically internalized by circulating monocytes and switch monocytes into anti-inflammatory phenotype when reaching inflamed sites, might bypass the in vivo physiological barriers and achieve efficient RA therapy. Herein, we design a dextran sulfate (DS) functionalized nanoparticle (ZDNP) to selectively deliver anti-inflammatory agent dexamethasone (Dex) to circulating monocytes via the scavenger receptors on monocytes. Monocytes engulfing drug-loaded ZDNP could subsequently home to arthritic joints and act as a "living drug depot" to combat RA. Results revealed that ZDNP could be preferentially internalized by circulating monocytes when intravenously administrated in vivo. In a rat arthritic model, we found that circulating monocytes remarkably facilitated drug distribution and retention in inflamed joints. Moreover, monocytes engulfing drug-loaded nanoparticles exhibited favorable anti-inflammatory ability and M2-biased differentiation. Our work offers a facile approach to achieve site-directed anti-inflammatory therapy by taking advantage of the inflammation-homing ability of circulating monocytes. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Circulating monocytes can migrate to inflamed sites and then differentiate into macrophages to aggravate arthritis. Therefore, a drug carrier that can be specifically internalized by circulating monocytes and switch monocytes into anti-inflammatory phenotype when reaching inflamed sites may achieve efficient arthritis therapy. Here, we designed a monocyte-targeting nanoparticle (ZDNP) to selectively deliver anti-inflammatory Dex to circulating monocytes. When injected intravenously, ZDNP was effectively internalized by circulating monocytes via a scavenger receptor and subsequently was transported to arthritic joints, where monocytes engulfing the drug-loaded nanoparticles could switch to an anti-inflammatory phenotype to inhibit arthritis progress. We provide detailed evidence about the in vivo fate of ZDNP and unravel how monocytes act as a "living drug depot" to achieve site-directed arthritis therapy.

The Effect of Big Data-Based Digital Payments on Household Healthcare Expenditure.

Whether families using big data-based digital payments will increase household healthcare expenditure is a subject that needs to be investigated in the era of big data. Based on the data from China Family Panel Studies (CFPS), 24,126 samples from 2014 to 2018 are used to examine the impact and mechanism of big data-based digital payments on household healthcare expenditure. The empirical results of this paper show that the use of digital payments by households can significantly increase household healthcare expenditure with the empowerment of big data. This research employs the instrumental variable method to verify and produce consistent estimation results in order to address potential endogeneity issues such as measurement error and missing variables. We learn via mechanism analysis that household adoption of big data-driven digital payments can remove credit limitations and build social capital, resulting in higher household health-care spending. We also perform a heterogeneity analysis. The findings reveal that when a family's traditional financial accessibility is high, the head of the household is young or middle-aged, and the head of the household has a higher level of education, digital payment will play a larger role in encouraging household healthcare expenditure. The conclusions of this paper are still solid after changing the indicators of household healthcare expenditure substituting the indicators of digital payment, and adjusting the variables. As a result, this article provides micro-evidence for the usage of digital payments by households to enhance healthcare spending. JEL Classification: D12 G21 O30 O53 I12.

Quantification of peripapillary vessel density in non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy patients with optical coherence tomography angiography.

BACKGROUND: Quantitative assessments based on optical coherence tomographic angiography (OCTA) may have potential promising value in the early detection of non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NA-AION), but there is limited information on the ability of OCTA to distinguish eyes with NA-AION. This study was conducted to evaluate the ability of measurements of peripapillary perfusion using OCTA to distinguish healthy eyes from eyes with NA-AION. METHODS: In this retrospective case-control study, newly diagnosed NA-AION patients and healthy controls matched at a ratio of 1:3 by gender and age (±5 years) were enrolled from 1 September 2020 to 30 June 2021. Peripapillary vessel density (pVD) was examined based on the area of vessels by means of a 4.5 mm OCTA scan. In addition, peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thickness was obtained from structural optical coherence tomography (OCT), as was the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC). RESULTS: A total of 29 eyes from 28 cases with NA-AION and 99 healthy eyes from 68 participants were imaged. All participants were Chinese. The NA-AION group showed a significant reduction of the pVD (P<0.001), while all subregions of pRNFL thickness were prominent in all 8 quadrants (P>0.05). The pVD of the optic disc in the superior temporal (ST) region showed better diagnostic accuracy (AUC =0.86) in discriminating the NA-AION group from healthy controls. After adjusting for confounders, ST was independently associated with the presence of NA-AION [odds ratio (OR) =0.971, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.943-0.990, P=0.048]. CONCLUSIONS: Decreased pVD was detected by non-invasive measurements of OCTA in the eyes of NA-AION patients. This finding may reveal an association between the ST region and the presence of NA-AION. The pVD may have potential diagnostic ability and may serve as an additional biomarker in the management of the disease.

Modelling the effect of rainfall patterns on the runoff control performance of permeable pavements.

With the implementation of low impact development (LID) in urban areas, it is necessary to quantify the actual effectiveness of LID facilities. In this study, a coupled hydrology-hydrodynamic numerical model was utilized to investigate the runoff control effectiveness of permeable pavements in the city centre of Shijiazhuang, China. Two groups of designed rainfall events with the same duration but different rainfall amounts and peak rainfall intensity locations were presented, and the effectiveness of permeable pavement was demonstrated by the reduction in the total runoff volume, water depth, and inundated area. The results indicate that the rainfall amount is the main factor affecting the runoff control of permeable pavements, and their effectiveness decreases with increasing rainfall amounts and peak intensity coefficients. Moreover, permeable pavements are more effective in reducing the residential waterlogging area, and the proportion of the inundated area above a depth of 0.2 m is considerably diminished. This study reveals the response of the runoff control of permeable pavements to different rainfall patterns, which is essential for supporting the design and practical operation of permeable pavements.