Half-decomposition of salt-bearing dolomite.

Half-calcined dolomites (HCDs) have been widely used in environmental remediation, medicine, and construction. However, advanced calcination technologies are required to modify their microstructure and thus improve their working performance. Herein, we investigated the effects of a variety of inorganic salts on the decomposition of dolomite based on thermogravimetric, compositional, and morphological analysis. The thermogravimetric data showed that certain salts significantly lowered the half-decomposition temperature of dolomite, which included LiCl, CaCl2, MgCl2, AlCl3, LiNO3, KNO3, K2CO3, Li2CO3, Li2SO4, Na3PO4, and K3PO4. Compositional analysis demonstrated that only half-decomposition occurred when salt-bearing dolomite was calcined at a temperature of 723-923 K, leading to the formation of CaO-free HCDs composed of periclase and Mg-calcite having a Mg level of 2.0-10.5 mol%. Morphological analysis showed that porous HCDs were feasibly obtained by calcining salt-bearing dolomite at 723-923 K. MgO coarsening occurred at a temperature above 873 K, but it could be avoided by controlling the calcination time. The mechanism of salts may be related to the heterovalent doping effect, which may lead to an increase in the concentration of vacancies in the dolomite lattice.

Polarization smoothing based on full Poincaré beams modulated by stress-engineered optics.

In laser-driven inertial confinement fusion (ICF) facilities, nonuniform laser irradiation can cause significant challenges, such as hydrodynamics instability and laser plasma instability, which hinder the success of fusion. This article presents a new idea for improving the uniformity of far-field laser irradiation through a method of single-beam polarization smoothing. The method involves modulating full Poincaré beams using stress-engineered optics made from fused silica. We designed a stress birefringence system and conducted opto-mechanical modeling and analysis on it. The article elaborates on the mechanism and principles of generating large-aperture full Poincaré beams by stress birefringence, as well as the mechanism of polarization smoothing by full Poincaré beams. Near-field polarization measurements were conducted to verify these mechanisms, and the effectiveness of this method in improving the uniformity of laser irradiation in the target area was evaluated through far-field optical tests.

[Correlation between combined deflection angle classification adduction typing and complications after internal fixation of adduction femoral neck fracture].

Objective: To analyze the correlation between postoperative complications and combined deflection angle classification adduction type (CDAC-ADT) of femoral neck fractures after cannulated screw internal fixation. Methods: The clinical data of 121 patients with CDAC-ADT femoral neck fracture admitted between January 2018 and December 2021 and met the selected criteria were retrospectively analyzed. There were 69 males and 52 females, the age ranged from 19 to 79 years (mean, 48.1 years). The causes of injury included 52 cases of traffic accident, 24 cases of falling from height, and 45 cases of fall. The time from injury to operation ranged from 2 to 12 days, with an average of 6.0 days. Among them, there were 18 cases of CDAC-ADT type Ⅰ, 46 cases of type Ⅱ, and 57 cases of type Ⅲ; 6 cases of Garden type Ⅱ, 103 cases of type Ⅲ, and 12 cases of type Ⅳ; and according to the location of the fracture line, there were 26 cases of subcapitate type, 88 cases of transcervical type, and 7 cases of basal type. All patients were treated with cannulated screw internal fixation. The occurrence of complications (including internal fixation failure, fracture nonunion, and osteonecrosis of the femoral head) was recorded, and the correlation between complications and CDAC-ADT typing, Garden typing, and fracture line location were analyzed. Results: The patients were followed up 8-44 months, with a mean of 24.9 months. There were 10 cases of internal fixation failure, 7 cases of fracture nonunion, and 30 cases of osteonecrosis of the femoral head after operation. Correlation analysis showed that patients' CDAC-ADT typing was significantly correlated with the overall incidence of complication and the incidence of internal fixation failure, fracture nonunion, and osteonecrosis of the femoral head ( P<0.05), and the Pearson coefficient of contingency were 0.435, 0.251, 0.254, and 0.241, respectively. Garden typing did not correlate with the overall incidence of complication and the incidence of internal fixation failure and fracture nonunion ( P>0.05), but correlated with the incidence of osteonecrosis of the femoral head ( P<0.05), and the Pearson coefficient of contingency was 0.251. Fracture line position typing had no correlation with the overall incidence of complication and the incidence of internal fixation failure, fracture nonunion, and osteonecrosis of the femoral head ( P>0.05). Conclusion: CDAC-ADT typing has obvious correlation with postoperative complications of femoral neck fracture and can be used to predict complications of femoral neck fracture.

Mesoporous Mo-doped PtBi intermetallic metallene superstructures to enable the complete electrooxidation of ethylene glycol.

Metallenes, intermetallic compounds, and porous nanocrystals are the three types of most promising advanced nanomaterials for practical fuel cell devices, but how to integrate the three structural features into a single nanocrystal remains a huge challenge. Herein, we report an efficient one-step method to construct freestanding mesoporous Mo-doped PtBi intermetallic metallene superstructures (denoted M-PtBiMo IMSs) as highly active and stable ethylene glycol oxidation reaction (EGOR) catalysts. The materials retained their catalytic performance, even in complex direct ethylene glycol fuel cells (DEGFCs). The M-PtBiMo IMSs showed EGOR mass and specific activities of 24.0 A mgPt-1 and 61.1 mA cm-2, respectively, which were both dramatically higher than those of benchmark Pt black and Pt/C. In situ infrared spectra showed that ethylene glycol underwent complete oxidation via a 10-electron CO-free pathway over the M-PtBiMo IMSs. Impressively, M-PtBiMo IMSs demonstrated a much higher power density (173.6 mW cm-2) and stability than Pt/C in DEGFCs. Density functional theory calculations revealed that oxophilic Mo species promoted the EGOR kinetics. This work provides new possibilities for designing advanced Pt-based nanomaterials to improve DEGFC performance.

Domperidone inhibits cell proliferation via targeting MEK and CDK4 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the leading causes of digestive system tumor related death in the world. Unfortunately, effective chemopreventive agent is lack for patients with ESCC in clinical practice, which leads to the extremely high mortality rate. METHODS: A library of prescribed drugs was screened for finding critical anti-tumor properties in ESCC cells. The phosphoproteomics, kinase array, pulldown assay and drug affinity responsive target stabilization assay (DARTS) were applied to explore mechanisms and searched for synergistic targets. Established models of PDX in mice were used to determine the therapeutic effect of domperidone. RESULTS: After screening a library of prescribed drugs, we discovered that domperidone has anti-tumor properties. Domperidone, acting as a gastroprokinetic agent, has been widely used in clinic for gastrointestinal motility disorders. Despite limited research, there are indications that domperidone may have anti-tumor properties. In this study, we determined that domperidone significantly inhibited ESCC proliferation in vitro and in vivo. We employed phosphoproteomics to reveal p-ERK, and p-SMAD3 down-regulation upon domperidone treatment. Then, the results of kinase assay and pulldown assay further validated that domperidone directly combined with MEK1/2 and CDK4, leading to the inhibition of their kinase activity. Furthermore, our results revealed that MEK/ERK and CDK4/SMAD3 signal pathway were major pathways in domperidone against ESCC. CONCLUSION: Collectively, these findings suggest that domperidone serves as an effective "multi-target" inhibitor of MEK1/2 and CDK4, offering potential benefits for the chemoprevention of ESCC.

[Correlation analysis between combined deflection angle and osteonecrosis of femoral head after femoral neck fracture].

Objective: To evaluate the correlation between pelvic incidence (PI) angle, hip deflection angle (HDA), combined deflection angle (CDA) and osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) after femoral neck fracture, in order to explore early predictive indicators for ONFH occurrence after femoral neck fracture. Methods: A study was conducted on patients with femoral neck fractures who underwent cannulated screw internal fixation between December 2018 and December 2020. Among them, 208 patients met the selection criteria and were included in the study. According to the occurrence of ONFH, the patients were allocated into ONFH group and non-NOFH group. PI, HDA, and CDA were measured based on the anteroposterior X-ray films of pelvis and axial X-ray films of the affected hip joint before operation, and the differences between the two groups were compared. The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was used to evaluate the value of the above imaging indicators in predicting the occurrence of ONFH. Results: Among the 208 patients included in the study, 84 patients experienced ONFH during follow-up (ONFH group) and 124 patients did not experience ONFH (non-ONFH group). In the non-ONFH group, there were 59 males and 65 females, the age was 18-86 years (mean, 53.9 years), and the follow-up time was 18-50 months (mean, 33.2 months). In the ONFH group, there were 37 males and 47 females, the age was 18-76 years (mean, 51.6 years), and the follow-up time was 8-45 months (mean, 22.1 months). The PI, HDA, and CDA were significantly larger in the ONFH group than in the non-ONFH group ( P<0.05). ROC curve analysis showed that the critical value of PI was 19.82° (sensitivity of 40.5%, specificity of 86.3%, P<0.05); the critical value of HDA was 20.94° (sensitivity of 77.4%, specificity of 75.8%, P<0.05); and the critical value of CDA was 39.16° (sensitivity of 89.3%, specificity of 83.1%, P<0.05). Conclusion: There is a correlation between PI, HDA, CDA and the occurrence of ONFH after femoral neck fracture, in which CDA can be used as an important reference indicator. Patients with CDA≥39.16° have a higher risk of ONFH after femoral neck fracture.

In sight the behavior of natural Bletilla striata polysaccharide hydrocolloids by molecular dynamics method.

Plant polysaccharides, distinguished by diverse glycosidic bonds and various cyclic sugar units, constitute a subclass of primary metabolites ubiquitously found in nature. Contrary to common understanding, plant polysaccharides typically form hydrocolloids upon dissolution in water, even though both excessively high and low temperatures impede this process. Bletilla striata polysaccharides (BSP), chosen for this kinetic study due to their regular repeating units, help elucidate the relationship between polysaccharide gelation and temperature. It is suggested that elevated temperatures enhance the mobility of BSP molecular chains, resulting in a notable acceleration of hydrogen bond breakage between BSP and water molecules and consequently, compromising the conformational stability of BSPs to some extent. This study unveils the unique relationship between polysaccharide dissolution processes and temperature from a kinetics perspective. Consequently, the conclusion provides a dynamical basis for comprehending the extraction and preparation of natural plant polysaccharide hydrocolloids, pharmaceuticals and related fields.

[Design and application of a drainage tube dredging umbrella and anti-retrograde infection kit].

The consensus has been reached on the benefits of surgical drainage. However, catheter-related blockage and retrograde infection remain bottleneck problems in the treatment process. To this end, with Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, as the main inventors, a drainage tube dredging umbrella and anti-retrograde infection kit have been designed and applied for the national utility model patent (patent number: ZL 2023 2 1300036.2). The main body of the kit consists of a catheter dredging umbrella, drainage tube, and drainage bag. Several isolation layers are installed in the drainage bag to form a maze structure and a reflux valve is added, thereby increasing the distance and resistance of liquid reflux, greatly reducing the possibility of liquid reflux entering the drainage tube, so as to reduce the risk of retrograde infection through physical means. When the drainage tube is blocked, the drainage tube and joint tube of the drainage bag can be separated, the unblocking umbrella can be inserted into the blockage through the guide wire, the cannula can be inserted along the guide wire, the guide wire is pulled to release the dredging umbrella in the contraction state, and the dredging umbrella can be pulled back in the expansion state until the blockage is removed from the drainage tube. The operating procedure is standardized and simple. While preventing retrograde infection (anti-retrograde infection kit), the catheter dredging umbrella could effectively address the issue of catheter blockage. It has certain clinical promotion and application value.

A comprehensive review of the anticancer effects of decursin.

Cancer is a globally complex disease with a plethora of genetic, physiological, metabolic, and environmental variations. With the increasing resistance to current anticancer drugs, efforts have been made to develop effective cancer treatments. Currently, natural products are considered promising cancer therapeutic agents due to their potent anticancer activity and low intrinsic toxicity. Decursin, a coumarin analog mainly derived from the roots of the medicinal plant Angelica sinensis, has a wide range of biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, neuroprotective, and especially anticancer activities. Existing studies indicate that decursin affects cell proliferation, apoptosis, autophagy, angiogenesis, and metastasis. It also indirectly affects the immune microenvironment and can act as a potential anticancer agent. Decursin can exert synergistic antitumor effects when used in combination with a number of common clinical anticancer drugs, enhancing chemotherapy sensitivity and reversing drug resistance in cancer cells, suggesting that decursin is a good drug combination. Second, decursin is also a promising lead compound, and compounds modifying its structure and formulation form also have good anticancer effects. In addition, decursin is not only a key ingredient in several natural herbs and dietary supplements but is also available through a biosynthetic pathway, with anticancer properties and a high degree of safety in cells, animals, and humans. Thus, it is evident that decursin is a promising natural compound, and its great potential for cancer prevention and treatment needs to be studied and explored in greater depth to support its move from the laboratory to the clinic.

Targeting oxidative stress with natural products: A novel strategy for esophageal cancer therapy.

Esophageal cancer (ESC) is a malignant tumor that originates from the mucosal epithelium of the esophagus and is part of the digestive tract. Although the exact pathogenesis of ESC has not been fully elucidated, excessive oxidative stress is an important characteristic that leads to the development of many cancers. Abnormal expression of several proteins and transcription factors contributes to oxidative stress in ESCs, which alters the growth and proliferation of ESCs and promotes their metastasis. Natural compounds, including alkaloids, terpenes, polyphenols, and xanthine compounds, can inhibit reactive oxygen species production in ESCs. These compounds reduce oxidative stress levels and subsequently inhibit the occurrence and progression of ESC through the regulation of targets and pathways such as the cytokine interleukins 6 and 10, superoxide dismutase, the NF-+ACY-kappa+ADs-B/MAPK pathway, and the mammalian Nrf2/ARE target pathway. Thus, targeting tumor oxidative stress has become a key focus in anti-ESC therapy. This review discusses the potential of Natural products (NPs) for treating ESCs and summarizes the application prospects of oxidative stress as a new target for ESC treatment. The findings of this review provide a reference for drug development targeting ESCs. Nonetheless, further high-quality studies will be necessary to determine the clinical efficacy of these various NPs.

Uncovering the Importance of Ligand Mobility on Cellular Uptake of Nanoparticles: Insights from Experimental, Computational, and Theoretical Investigations.

The cellular uptake of nanoparticles (NPs) by biological cells is an important and fundamental process in drug delivery. Previous studies reveal that the physicochemical properties of nanoparticles as well as those of functionalized ligands can both critically affect the uptake behaviors. However, the effect of the conjugation strategy (i.e., the "bond" between the ligand and the NP) on the cellular uptake is overlooked and remains largely elusive. Here, by taking the broadly employed gold nanoparticle as an example, we comprehensively assessed the relationship between the conjugation strategy and uptake behaviors by introducing three ligands with the same functional terminal but different anchoring sites. As revealed by in vitro cell experiments and multiscale molecular simulations, the uptake efficiency of gold NPs was positively correlated with the strength of the "bond" and more specifically the ligand mobility on the NP surface. Moreover, we validated the results presented above by proposing a thermodynamic theory for the wrapping of NPs with mobile ligands. Further, we also showed that the endocytic pathway of NPs was highly dependent on ligand mobility. Overall, this study uncovered a vital role of conjugation strategy in the cellular uptake and may provide useful guidelines for tailoring the biobehaviors of nanoparticles.

PtCu/Pt core/atomic-layer shell hollow octahedra for oxygen reduction and methanol oxidation electrocatalysis.

Engineering effective bifunctional electrocatalysts that outperform the benchmark Pt/C for direct methanol proton exchange membrane fuel cells is desired and challenging. Here, we designed H-PtCu/PtL OH catalysts with a sub-nanometer Pt(111) shell layer featuring Cu- and Co-vacancies, which exhibited high activity in acidic oxygen reduction and methanol oxidation reactions.

Oral administration of lysozyme protects against injury of ileum via modulating gut microbiota dysbiosis after severe traumatic brain injury.

Objective: The current study sought to clarify the role of lysozyme-regulated gut microbiota and explored the potential therapeutic effects of lysozyme on ileum injury induced by severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI) and bacterial pneumonia in vivo and in vitro experiments. Methods: Male 6-8-week-old specific pathogen-free (SPF) C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into Normal group (N), Sham group (S), sTBI group (T), sTBI + or Lysozyme-treated group (L), Normal + Lysozyme group (NL) and Sham group + Lysozyme group (SL). At the day 7 after establishment of the model, mice were anesthetized and the samples were collected. The microbiota in lungs and fresh contents of the ileocecum were analyzed. Lungs and distal ileum were used to detect the degree of injury. The number of Paneth cells and the expression level of lysozyme were assessed. The bacterial translocation was determined. Intestinal organoids culture and co-coculture system was used to test whether lysozyme remodels the intestinal barrier through the gut microbiota. Results: After oral administration of lysozyme, the intestinal microbiota is rebalanced, the composition of lung microbiota is restored, and translocation of intestinal bacteria is mitigated. Lysozyme administration reinstates lysozyme expression in Paneth cells, thereby reducing intestinal permeability, pathological score, apoptosis rate, and inflammation levels. The gut microbiota, including Oscillospira, Ruminococcus, Alistipes, Butyricicoccus, and Lactobacillus, play a crucial role in regulating and improving intestinal barrier damage and modulating Paneth cells in lysozyme-treated mice. A co-culture system comprising intestinal organoids and brain-derived proteins (BP), which demonstrated that the BP effectively downregulated the expression of lysozyme in intestinal organoids. However, supplementation of lysozyme to this co-culture system failed to restore its expression in intestinal organoids. Conclusion: The present study unveiled a virtuous cycle whereby oral administration of lysozyme restores Paneth cell's function, mitigates intestinal injury and bacterial translocation through the remodeling of gut microbiota.

Fe,Co co-implanted dendritic CeO2/CeF3 heterostructure@MXene nanocomposites as structurally stable electrocatalysts with ultralow overpotential for the alkaline oxygen evolution reaction.

Exploring low-cost, high-activity, and structurally stable nonprecious metal electrocatalysts for sluggish oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is paramount for water electrolysis. Herein, we successfully prepare a novel Fe,Co-CeO2/CeF3@MXene heterostructure with Fe-Co dual active sites and oxygen vacancies for alkaline OER using an energy-free consumption co-deposition method. Impressively, Fe,Co-CeO2/CeF3@MXene achieves an ultralow overpotential of 192 mV and a long-term stability of 110 h at 10 mA cm-2 without structural changes, thereby outperforming the commercial IrO2 (345 mV). In addition, Fe,Co-CeO2/CeF3@MXene exhibits much superior activity (271 mV) and durability to IrO2 (385 mV) in the real seawater OER. Wind- and solar energy-assisted water electrolysis devices show their promising prospects for sustainable green hydrogen production. Characterization techniques and theoretical calculations reveal that the Fe,Co co-implanted CeO2/CeF3 heterostructure effectively degrades the energy barrier of the OER and optimizes the adsorption strength of *OH, *O, and *OOH intermediates. It exhibits the dual coupling mechanism of the adsorbed evolution and lattice oxygen mechanisms, which synergistically improves the OER performance. This work provides a facile and efficacious strategy for synthesizing a new class of heterostructures to achieve significant enhancement in the activity and stability of OER catalysts.

Machine learning models for early prediction of potassium lowering effectiveness and adverse events in patients with hyperkalemia.

The aim of this study was to develop a model for early prediction of adverse events and treatment effectiveness in patients with hyperkalemia. We collected clinical data from patients with hyperkalemia in the First Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine between 2015 and 2021. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and multivariate logistic regression were used to analyze the predictors on the full dataset. We randomly divided the data into a training group and a validation group, and used LASSO to filter variables in the training set. Six machine learning methods were used to develop the models. The best model was selected based on the area under the curve (AUC). Shapley additive exPlanations (SHAP) values were used to explain the best model. A total of 1074 patients with hyperkalemia were finally enrolled. Diastolic blood pressure (DBP), breathing, oxygen saturation (SPO2), Glasgow coma score (GCS), liver disease, oliguria, blood sodium, international standardized ratio (ISR), and initial blood potassium were the predictors of the occurrence of adverse events; peripheral edema, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), blood sodium, actual base residual, and initial blood potassium were the predictors of therapeutic effect. Extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) model achieved the best performance (adverse events: AUC = 0.87; therapeutic effect: AUC = 0.75). A model based on clinical characteristics was developed and validated with good performance.

Ligand Phase Separation-Promoted, "Squeezing-Out" Mode Explaining the Mechanism and Implications of Neutral Nanoparticles That Escaped from Lysosomes.

Neutral nanomaterials functionalized with PEG or similar molecules have been popularly employed as nanomedicines. Compared to positive counterparts that are capable of harnessing the well-known proton sponge effect to facilitate their escape from lysosomes, it is yet unclear how neutral substances got their entry into the cytosol. In this study, by taking PEGylated, neutral Au nanospheres as an example, we systematically investigated their time-dependent translocation postuptake. Specifically, we harnessed dissipative particle dynamics simulations to uncover how nanospheres bypass lysosomal entrapment, wherein a mechanism termed as "squeezing-out" mode was discovered. We next conducted a comprehensive investigation on how nanomaterials implicate lysosomes in terms of integrity and functionality. By using single-molecule imaging, specific preservation of PEG-terminated with targeting moieties in lysosomes supports the "squeezing-out" mode as the mechanism underlying the lysosomal escape of nanomaterials. All evidence points out that such a process is benign to lysosomes, wherein the escape of nanomaterials proceeds at the expense of targeting moieties loss. Furthermore, we proved that by fine-tuning of the efficacy of nanomaterials escaping from lysosomes, modulation of distinct pathways and metabolic machinery can be achieved readily, thereby offering us a simple and robust tool to implicate cells.

Overview of Health-Monitoring Technology for Long-Distance Transportation Pipeline and Progress in DAS Technology Application.

There are various health issues associated with the different stages of long-distance pipeline transportation. These issues pose potential risks to environmental pollution, resource waste, and the safety of human life and property. It is essential to have real-time knowledge of the overall health status of pipelines throughout their entire lifecycle. This article investigates various health-monitoring technologies for long-distance pipelines, providing references for addressing potential safety issues that may arise during long-term transportation. This review summarizes the factors and characteristics that affect pipeline health from the perspective of pipeline structure health. It introduces the principles of major pipeline health-monitoring technologies and their respective advantages and disadvantages. The review also focuses on the application of Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) technology, specifically time and space continuous monitoring technology, in the field of pipeline structure health monitoring. This paper discusses the process of commercialization development of DAS technology, the main research progress in the experimental field, and the open research issues. DAS technology has broad application prospects in the field of long-distance transportation pipeline health monitoring.

Abdominal massage for chronic constipation in the elderly: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic constipation (CC) is a highly prevalent health challenge that is particularly challenging to treat in elderly patients. Although lifestyle guidance and laxative therapy often yield positive outcomes, patients occasionally struggle with maintaining dietary control. Therefore, identifying an economical and safe alternative therapy to the existing treatment methods documented in the international literature is necessary. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of abdominal massage in elderly patients with CC to provide a basis for future mechanistic research. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Electronic searches will be conducted to identify clinical randomised controlled trials in various databases, including Web of Science, PubMed, Cumulated Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Cochrane Library, Embase, Airiti Library, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure Databases, Chinese Science and Technology Periodical Database (VIP), Chinese Biomedical Literature Database and Wan Fang Database. Relevant data will be extracted, and a meta-analysis will be conducted using Reviewer Manager V.5.4. Quality and risk assessments of the included studies will be performed, and the outcome indicators of the trials will be observed. This review will evaluate abdominal massage as a treatment option for relieving symptoms and improving quality of life in elderly patients with CC. Moreover, it will provide additional insights for clinical treatment and mechanistic studies. The search will be performed following the publication of this protocol (estimated to occur on 30 December 2023). ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: As this is a literature review, ethics approval will not be required. We will disseminate the findings of this study to publications in peer-reviewed journals as well as presentations at relevant national and international conferences. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42023408629.