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The thermophysical properties and elemental abundances of the noble gases in terrestrial materials can provide unique insights into the Earth's evolution and mantle dynamics. Here, we perform extensive ab initio molecular dynamics simulations to determine the melting temperature and sound velocity of neon up to 370 GPa and 7500 K to constrain its physical state and storage capacity, together with to reveal its implications for the deep interior of the Earth. It is found that solid neon can exist stably under the lower mantle and inner core conditions, and the abnormal melting of neon is not observed under the entire temperature (T) and pressure (P) region inside the Earth owing to its peculiar electronic structure, which is substantially distinct from other heavier noble gases. An inspection of the reduction for sound velocity along the Earth's geotherm evidences that neon can be used as a light element to account for the low-velocity anomaly and density deficit in the deep Earth. A comparison of the pair distribution functions and mean square displacements of MgSiO3–Ne and Fe–Ne alloys further reveals that MgSiO3 has a larger neon storage capacity than the liquid iron under the deep Earth condition, indicating that the lower mantle may be a natural deep noble gas storage reservoir. Our results provide valuable information for studying the fundamental behavior and phase transition of neon in a higher T–P regime, and further enhance our understanding for the interior structure and evolution processes inside the Earth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electric dipole polarizabilities and the tune-out wavelengths for the n3S1 (n = 2, 3) states of Be2+ are determined through the application of the relativistic full-configuration-interaction approach. Our calculations directly integrate the mass shift operator into the Dirac–Coulomb–Breit Hamiltonian and further assess the quantum electrodynamics (QED) correction to the dynamic dipole polarizabilities using perturbation theory. The results reveal that the static electric dipole polarizability of the 23S1 and 33S1 states, as well as the 93 nm tune-out wavelength of the 23S1 state and the 238 nm tune-out wavelength of the 33S1 state, exhibits a high sensitivity to QED correction, which exceeds 80 ppm, providing a sensitive test for atomic structure theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The system–bath entanglement theorem (SBET) was established in terms of linear response functions [Du et al., J. Chem. Phys. 152, 034102 (2020)] and generalized to correlation functions [Su et al., J. Chem. Phys. 160, 084104 (2024)] in our previous studies. This theorem connects the entangled system–bath properties to the local system and bare–bath ones. In this work, we extend the SBET to field-dressed conditions with multiple baths at different temperatures. As in reality, the external fields may interact with not only the system but also environments. The extended SBET facilitates, for example, photo-acoustic, photo-thermal, pump–probe related studies. The theorem under the field-free condition (multiple baths) and its counterpart in the classical limit is also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MoS2 can be used for piezoresistive sensors because of its excellent mechanical and electrical properties. Herein, MoS2 nanoparticles with sulfur vacancies synergistically coupled with grain clusters to boost piezoresistive properties are fabricated. Moreover, we have demonstrated that they can be regulated efficiently for gauge factor (GF) from 2.97 to 9.99. In particular, the MoS2 nanoparticles with sulfur vacancies of 31.8% and grain cluster of 29.6 nm at the annealing temperature of 500 °C are compatible with synergistic optimization. The abundant sulfur vacancies provide many free electrons as carriers, benefiting the electron transport capability, and the conductive channels formed by the larger grain clusters endow structural stability and significant piezoresistive properties of the nanoparticles. This work demonstrates the promise of MoS2 nanoparticles as novel piezoresistive advanced materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The behavior of polyatomic molecules around their equilibrium positions can be regarded as that of quantum-coupled anharmonic oscillators. Solving the corresponding Schrödinger equations enables the interpretation or prediction of the experimental spectra of molecules. In this study, we developed a novel approach for solving the excited states of anharmonic vibrational systems. The normal coordinates of the molecules are transformed into new coordinates through a normalizing flow parameterized by a neural network. This facilitates the construction of a set of orthogonal many-body variational wavefunctions. This methodology has been validated on an exactly solvable 64-dimensional coupled harmonic oscillator, yielding numerical results with a relative error of 10−6. The neural canonical transformations are also applied to calculate the energy levels of two specific molecules, acetonitrile (CH3CN) and ethylene oxide (C2H4O). These molecules involve 12 and 15 vibrational modes, respectively. A key advantage of this approach is its flexibility concerning the potential energy surface, as it requires no specific form. Furthermore, this method can be readily implemented on large-scale distributed computing platforms, making it easy to extend to investigating complex vibrational structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inspired by biological channels, achieving precise separation of ion/water and ion/ion requires finely tuned pore sizes at molecular dimensions and deliberate exposure of charged groups. Covalent organic frameworks (COFs), a class of porous crystalline materials, offer well-defined nanoscale pores and diverse structures, making them excellent candidates for nanofluidic channels that facilitate ion and water transport. In this study, we perform molecular simulations to investigate the structure and kinetics of water and ions confined within the typical COFs with varied exposure of charged groups. The COFs exhibit vertically arrayed nanochannels, enabling diffusion coefficients of water molecules within COFs to remain within the same order of magnitude as in the bulk. The motion of water molecules manifests in two distinct modes, creating a mobile hydration layer around acid groups. The ion diffusion within COFs displays a notable disparity between monovalent (M+) and divalent (M2+) cations. As a result, the selectivity of M+/M2+ can exceed 100, while differentiation among M+ is less pronounced. In addition, our simulations indicate a high rejection (R > 98%) in COFs, indicating their potential as ideal materials for desalination. The chemical flexibility of COFs indicates that would hold significant promise as candidates for advanced artificial ion channels and separation membranes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ruderman–Kittel–Kasuya–Yosida (RKKY) theory of oscillatory exchange interaction in synthetic antiferromagnetic multilayers results in the oscillation behavior of giant magnetoresistance ratio. In addition, the formation of Yu–Shiba–Rusinov (YSR) bound states will induce an extra antiferromagnetic interaction, which is expected to mediate stronger exchange coupling than conventional RKKY interaction. However, the YSR bound states have only been studied in some superconducting hosts with magnetic impurities. The narrow range of material systems that are not compatible with the device integration architecture limits the practical application of YSR interaction. Here, we observe the RKKY interaction and provide the evidence for YSR interaction in Pt/(Co/Pt)2/Nb/(Pt/Co)2/Pt synthetic antiferromagnetic multilayers by quantitatively determining the coupling energy via ferromagnetic resonance technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a low-profile optical transparent wideband metamaterial absorber based on radiation–absorption reciprocal theory is proposed. The top layer and bottom layer are composed of indium tin oxide–polyethylene terephthalate films, and the middle layer is a transparent substrate polymethyl methacrylate. The method of transparent wideband absorption using reciprocal theory is proposed to guide the design. Based on characteristic mode analysis and calculated equivalent aperture efficiency, the absorber consisting of composite resonators is analyzed and designed. The equivalent circuit model and surface current distributions are studied to verify the design. The numerical results show that high absorption of greater than 90% in the frequency range of 5.7–16.4 GHz is obtained. A wideband absorption rate of greater than 80% at a 60° incident angle under TM polarization and an absorption rate of greater than 65% at a 60° incident angle under TE polarization are obtained. The proposed design has the advantages of broadband absorption, polarization insensitivity, light transmittance of more than 70%, and compact structure, which can be applied to special scenes that require optical transparency, such as anechoic chamber glass and cockpit glass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measurement of coating–substrate interface stiffness can indirectly characterize interface bonding quality. This paper proposes a noval quantitative inversion coating–substrate interface stiffness method based on the multi-resonance frequencies of a constructed ultrasonic echo phase derivative spectrum (UEPDS). The theoretical relationship between UEPDS resonance frequencies and interface stiffness is derived. The detection frequency and high-sensitivity interface stiffness range are optimized based on the sensitivity analyzed. Numerical simulation and experiment are implemented on a 0.48 mm aluminum layer/carbon steel substrate specimen to prove the validity of the proposed ultrasonic method. The simulation results show that the maximal relative error between the inversion and the preset interface stiffnesses is reduced from 23% to 8% compared with the traditional ultrasonic reflection coefficient amplitude spectrum-based (URCAS-based) method. The experiment results indicate that the UEPDS-based inversion interface stiffnesses have the same trend as the nominal contact pressures between the coating–substrate interface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymers, known for their lightweight, high strength, and ease of processing, serve as a key component in engineering materials. Polymers with high thermal conductivity (TC) present enormous potential applications in thermal management for high-performance electronic devices. However, the discovery of thermally conductive polymers is still in a time-consuming and labor-intensive trial-and-error process, which undoubtedly hinders the progress in related applications. Fortunately, machine learning (ML) enables to overcome this obstacle by building precise models to predict the TC of polymers through learning from a large volume of data and it can quickly identify polymers with high TC and provide significant insights to guide further design and innovation. In this mini review, we briefly describe the general process of using ML to predict polymers with high TC and then give guidance for the selection and utilization of three important components: database, descriptor, and algorithm. Furthermore, we summarize the predicted thermally conductive single polymer chains, amorphous polymers, and metal-organic frameworks via ML and identify the key factors that lead to high TC. Finally, we touch on the challenges faced when utilizing ML to predict the TC of polymer and provide a foresight into future research endeavors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rare-earth titanate oxides are believed to be prospective functional materials for photocatalytic and photoluminescent applications because of their excellent optical properties and thermal stability of their physical properties. However, the relationships between optical properties and photoelectron trapping mechanisms are unclear. Herein, the structure, electronic, and optical properties of pyrochlore-structure Re2Ti2O7 (Re = Sm and Eu) were investigated using the first-principles approach with the Hubbard parameter U (GGA + U). The calculated bandgap is 2.5 eV for Sm2Ti2O7 and 2.4 eV for Eu2Ti2O7, which is in good agreement with the experimental observation. The results indicate that the strongly localized f states at the top of valence band are charge-trapping sites for photoexcitation of Re2Ti2O7, where electrons can absorb photon energy and transfer from the valence band to the conduction band, resulting in the photocatalytic and/or fluorescent effects in the visible and early UV regions. The important optical parameters, dielectric function ε (ω) , refractive index n (ω) , extinction coefficient k (ω) , reflectivity R (ω) , absorption coefficient I (ω) , optical conductivity σ (ω) , and electron energy-loss L (ω) were studied in detail, indicating that these optical parameters of Sm2Ti2O7 and Eu2Ti2O7 are insensitive to the ultra-violet (UV) radiation, but both Sm2Ti2O7 and Eu2Ti2O7 exhibit excellent optical properties in the visible and early UV regions. This work provides a clear understanding on the photoelectron trapping mechanism of pyrochlore-structure Re2Ti2O7, which will help to improve the photocatalytic and photoluminescent performance of Re2Ti2O7 and broaden their applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, low-cost laser marker ablation of vanadium-coated glass was adopted to prepare self-cleaning, anti-reflective, and anti-fog micro-nano structures on its surface. The surface had a hierarchical micro-nano structure composed of a quasi-periodic microstructure and ∼100 nm-sized worm-like clusters interspersed with dispersed nanoparticles. The solar spectrum (AM 1.5) weighted average transmission of treated glass was enhanced by 3.87% over control glass in the wavelength range of 400–1100 nm. Importantly, the water contact angle of the laser-treated samples achieved and maintained 0° for a duration of 25 days, and the laser-treated samples achieved and maintained excellent anti-fog performance for 150 days. The antifog performance degraded substantially afterward, though was still noticeable compared to the reference even after 428 days of storage in the laboratory. Furthermore, co-achievement of exceptional self-cleaning anti-fog performance and broadband transmission enhancement through laser treatment of glass has rarely been previously reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We develop and demonstrate how to use the Graphical Unitary Group Approach (GUGA)-based MRCISD with Core–Valence Separation (CVS) approximation to compute the core-excited states. First, perform a normal Self-Consistent-Field (SCF) or valence MCSCF calculation to optimize the molecular orbitals. Second, rotate the optimized target core orbitals and append to the active space, form an extended CVS active space, and perform a CVS-MCSCF calculation for core-excited states. Finally, construct the CVS-MRCISD expansion space and perform a CVS-MRCISD calculation to optimize the CI coefficients based on the variational method. The CVS approximation with GUGA-based methods can be implemented by flexible truncation of the Distinct Row Table. Eliminating the valence-excited configurations from the CVS-MRCISD expansion space can prevent variational collapse in the Davidson iteration diagonalization. The accuracy of the CVS-MRCISD scheme was investigated for excitation energies and compared with that of the CVS-MCSCF and CVS-CASPT2 methods using the same active space. The results show that CVS-MRCISD is capable of reproducing well-matched vertical core excitation energies that are consistent with experiments by combining large basis sets and a rational reference space. The calculation results also highlight the fact that the dynamic correlation between electrons makes an undeniable contribution in core-excited states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyperdoped silicon is a promising material for near-infrared light detection, but to date, the device efficiency has been limited. To optimize photodetectors based on this material that operate at room temperature, we present a detailed study on the electrical nature of gold-hyperdoped silicon formed via ion implantation and pulsed-laser melting (PLM). After PLM processing, oxygen-rich and gold-rich surface layers were identified and a wet etch process was developed to remove them. Resistivity and Hall effect measurements were performed at various stages of device processing. The underlying gold-hyperdoped silicon was found to be semi-insulating, regardless of whether the surface gold was removed by etching or not. We propose a Fermi level pinning model to describe the band bending of the transformed surface layer and propose a promising device architecture for efficient Au-hyperdoped Si photodetectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The capacity to externally manipulate magnetic properties is highly desired from both fundamental and technological perspectives, particularly in the development of magnetoelectronics and spintronics devices. Here, using first-principles calculations, we have demonstrated the ability of controlling the magnetism of magnetized graphene monolayers by interfacing them with a two-dimensional ferroelectric material. When the 3d transition metal (TM) is adsorbed on the graphene monolayer, its magnetization easy axis can be flipped from in-plane to out-of-plane by the ferroelectric polarization reversal of In2Se3, and the magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy (MAE) can be high to −0.692 meV/atom when adopting the Fe atom at bridge site with downward polarization. This may be a universal method since the 3d TM-adsorbed graphene has a very small MAE, which can be easily manipulated by the ferroelectric polarization. As a result, the inherent mechanism is analyzed by the second variation method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, an ultra-thin metamaterial absorber (UMA) in the S-band is designed. The overall structure adopts a three-layer design. The top layer is a magnetic material, and the middle layer of the UMA is composed of a centrally symmetrical open square ring (four edges are opened) and a circular pattern placed at the center, which is etched on the FR4 dielectric substrate by printed circuit board technology. The absorptivity of the absorber is more than 90% in 1.73–4.04 GHz under normal incidence, and the fractional bandwidth is 80.1%. The total thickness of the absorber is about 3.4 mm, corresponding to 0.02 λ L at the lowest operating frequency. Moreover, it also has good polarization insensitivity and wide-angle incident characteristics. The absorption mechanism of the UMA is analyzed from the aspects of power loss density and surface current. Finally, a sample was fabricated and measured. The measured results are in good agreement with the simulation results, which verifies the effectiveness of the design method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The graphene-based electromagnetic wave absorption materials have attracted extensive attention due to their lightweight, strong absorption, broadband, and thin thickness. In this work, graphene hollow microspheres anchored with FeNi-coupled nanocrystal (GHMs@FeNi3/NiFe2O4) were synthesized using water-in-oil (W/O) emulsification and high-temperature calcination. The GHMs@FeNi3/NiFe2O4 microspheres have a homogeneous spherical morphology and a pronounced hollow structure, and the FeNi-coupled nanocrystals are homogeneously embedded in a spongy shell assembled by rGO nanosheets. Owing to the optimized impedance matching and enhanced attenuation, the GHMs@FeNi3/NiFe2O4 composites exhibit outstanding microwave absorption ability, particularly in the Ku band. The minimum reflection loss (RLmin) value can reach −58.96 dB at 14.43 GHz with a matching thickness of 2.25 mm, and the effective absorption bandwidth (lower than −10 dB) is up to 6.29 GHz (11.71–18 GHz) covering the whole Ku band. We believe that our work provides an idea for the design of high-performance absorbing composite materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have investigated the effects of fermented foods on metabolic outcomes in adult patients suffering from diabetes and prediabetes. However, the results of these RCTs are conflicting. This systematic review and meta-analysis was carried out on data from RCTs to evaluate the effects of fermented foods in patients with diabetes and prediabetes. The PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, the Cochrane Library and Scopus databases were searched up to 21 June, 2022. English-language RCTs of fermented foods consumption were included which gave metabolic outcomes on body composition, glucose control, insulin sensitivity, lipid profile, as well as blood pressure. Eighteen RCTs met the inclusion criteria and 843 participants were included in the final analysis. The pooled results showed a significant reduction of fasting blood glucose (FBG), the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), total cholesterol (TC), low density lipid cholesterol (LDL-C) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in the intervention group versus the control group. The results of this research showed that fermented foods have the potential to improve some metabolic outcomes, including FBG, HOMA-IR, TC, LDL-C, and DBP in patients with diabetes and prediabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) has been improving the patient outcome in multiple cancer types. However, not all patients respond to ICB. Biomarkers are needed for selecting appropriate patients to receive ICB. CD74 is an important chaperone that regulates antigen presentation for immune response. However, the relationship between CD74 expression and ICB response remains elusive. Methods: The unified normalized pan-cancer dataset was downloaded from the UCSC database. Wilcoxon Rank Sum Rank Tests were used to analyze the expression differences between normal and tumor samples in each tumor type. Then, the prognostic value of CD74 was determined using univariable Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. The STRING database was utilized to construct the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of CD74 and the signal pathways were analyzed as well. The correlation of CD74 expression with immune cells and immune regulating genes was investigated in the TIMER database. The TIDE framework was utilized to evaluate the relationship between CD74 expression and the response to immunotherapy. Moreover, the localization of CD74 in the tumor immune microenvironment was verified using multiplex immunohistochemistry. Clinically annotated samples from 38 patients with esophageal cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with ICB were analyzed for CD74 expression using immunohistochemistry. Results: In this study, we investigated the prognostic and predictive value of CD74 in different types of cancer. Compared with normal tissue, the expression of CD74 was higher in tumor tissue in various cancers. High expression of CD74 was associated with improved patient prognosis in the majority of cancers. CD74 and its interacting proteins were mainly enriched in the immune-related pathways. The expression of CD74 was significantly positively correlated with B cells, CD4 T-cells, CD8 T-cells, neutrophils, macrophages and dendritic cells. TIDE analysis showed that tumors with high CD74 expression may have better responses to immunotherapy and improved patient survival. In patients with esophageal cancer who had received ICB, higher intratumoral CD74 expression was associated with improved response to ICB. Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest that the high expression of CD74 may be a potential predictive biomarker of response to ICB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Void number count (VNC) indicates the number of low-density regions in the large-scale structure (LSS) of the Universe, and we propose to use it as an effective cosmological probe. By generating the galaxy mock catalogue based on Jiutian simulations and considering the spectroscopic survey strategy and instrumental design of the China Space Station Telescope (CSST), which can reach a magnitude limit |$\sim$| 23 AB mag and spectral resolution |$R\gtrsim 200$| with a sky coverage of 17 500 deg2, we identify voids using the watershed algorithm without any assumption of void shape and obtain the mock void catalogue and data of the VNC in six redshift bins from |$z=0.3$| to 1.3. We use the Markov chain Monte Carlo method to constrain the cosmological and VNC parameters. The void linear underdensity threshold |$\delta _{\rm v}$| in the theoretical model is set to be a free parameter at a given redshift to fit the VNC data and explore their redshift evolution. We find that the VNC can correctly derive the cosmological information, and the constraint strength on the cosmological parameters is comparable to that from the void size function method, which can reach a few per cent level in the CSST full spectroscopic survey. This is because, since the VNC is not sensitive to void shape, the modified theoretical model can match the data better by integrating over void features, and more voids could be included in the VNC analysis by applying simpler selection criteria, which will improve the statistical significance. It indicates that the VNC can be an effective cosmological probe for exploring the LSS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder, and various molecules associated with PANoptosis are involved in neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative diseases. This work aims to identify key genes, and characterize PANoptosis-related molecular subtypes in AD. Moreover, we establish a scoring system for distinguishing PANoptosis molecular subtypes and constructing diagnostic models for AD differentiation. A total of 5 hippocampal datasets were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. In total, 1324 protein-encoding genes associated with PANoptosis (1313 apoptosis genes, 11 necroptosis genes, and 31 pyroptosis genes) were extracted from the GeneCards database. The Limma package was used to identify differentially expressed genes. Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) was conducted to identify gene modules significantly associated with AD. The ConsensusClusterPlus algorithm was used to identify AD subtypes. Gene Set Variation Analysis (GSVA) was used to assess functional and pathway differences among the subtypes. The Boruta, Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO), Random Forest (RF), and Support Vector Machine Recursive Feature Elimination (SVM-RFE) algorithms were used to select the three PANoptosis-related Key AD genes (PKADg). A scoring model was constructed based on the Boruta algorithm. PANoptosis diagnostic models were developed using the RF, SVM-RFE, and Logistic Regression (LR) algorithms. The ROC curves were used to assess the model performance. A total of 48 important genes were identified by intersecting 725 differentially expressed genes and 2127 highly correlated module genes from WGCNA with 1324 protein-encoding genes related to PANoptosis. Machine learning algorithms identified 3 key AD genes related to PANoptosis, including ANGPT1, STEAP3, and TNFRSF11B. These genes had strong discriminatory capacities among samples, with Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve (ROC) analysis indicating Area Under the Curve (AUC) values of 0.839, 0.8, and 0.868, respectively. Using the 48 important genes, the ConsensusClusterPlus algorithm identified 2 PANoptosis subtypes among AD patients, i.e., apoptosis subtype and mild subtype. Apoptosis subtype patients displayed evident cellular apoptosis and severe functionality damage in the hippocampal tissue. Meanwhile, mild subtype patients showed milder functionality damage. These two subtypes had significant differences in apoptosis and necroptosis; however, there was no apparent variation in pyroptosis functionality. The scoring model achieved an AUC of 100% for sample differentiation. The RF PANoptosis diagnostic model demonstrated an AUC of 100% in the training set and 85.85% in the validation set for distinguishing AD. This study identified two PANoptosis-related hippocampal molecular subtypes of AD, identified key genes, and established machine learning models for subtype differentiation and discrimination of AD. We found that in the context of AD, PANoptosis may influence disease progression through the modulation of apoptosis and necrotic apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Full‐Stokes polarization‐resolved photonic artificial synapse (PAS) devices with in‐sensor computing capabilities show great potential for multimode vision perception and processing. However, current polarization‐resolved PAS devices are limited to monotonic recognition of linearly polarized light or circularly polarized light. Here, the study develops a chiral perovskite nanowire‐based PAS device as a full‐Stokes polarimeter to achieve polarization‐dependent neuromorphic optoelectronics. The device demonstrates a significantly high circular dichroism of over 400 millidegree and intrinsic linear dichroism, contributing to effectively sensing polarized light. Efficient charge separation at the perovskite NW/MXene heterostructure results in a prolonged carrier lifetime, thereby achieving a high responsivity of 2.3 AW−1, excellent synaptic behavior, and low power consumption of 0.5 pJ per synaptic stimuli. Significantly, the polarization‐modulated reservoir computing is developed based on the full‐Stokes PAS device, which exhibits a low normalized root mean square error of 0.023 in the chaotic system forecasting task. The single‐nanowire PAS device with the capability of sensing full‐Stokes parameters demonstrates great significance in building advanced energy‐efficient polarization‐resolved nanoscale neuromorphic vision systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the substantial risks associated with ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation-induced solar dermatitis, enhancing current strategies to combat UVB regarding skin diseases is imperative. The cross-talk between ferroptosis and inflammation has been proven to be an essential factor in UVB-induced solar dermatitis, whereas detailed process of how their interaction contributes to this remains unclear. Therefore, further investigation of ferroptosis-mediated processes and identification of corresponding inhibitory approaches hold promise for repairing skin damage. Senkyunolide I (Sen I), a bioactive component mainly extracted from the traditional Chinese medicinal plants, Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. and Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels, has demonstrated efficacy in combating oxidative stress and inflammation. In this study, we utilized UVB-irradiated HaCaT cells as an in vitro model and C57BL/6J mice as an in vivo model of solar dermatitis. Our findings revealed the pivotal roles of autophagy and ferroptosis in inducing skin inflammation, particularly emphasizing the activation of ferroptosis through macroautophagy. Surprisingly, this mechanism operated independently of ferritinophagy, a classical autophagy-driven ferroptosis pathway. Instead, our results highlighted Transferrin Receptor 1 (TfR1), tightly controlled by autophagy, as a crucial mediator of ferroptosis execution and amplifier of subsequent lethal signals. Furthermore, extracellular High Mobility Group Box 1 protein (HMGB1), released following UVB-induced ferroptotic cells from activated autophagic flux, initiated a feedback loop with TfR1, propagating ferroptosis to neighboring cells and exacerbating damage. Remarkably, Sen I administration showed a significant protective effect against UVB damage in both in vitro and in vivo models by interrupting this cascade. Consequently, we have illuminated a novel therapeutic pathway post-UVB exposure and identified Sen I as a potent natural molecule that safeguarded against UVB-induced solar dermatitis by suppressing the autophagy-ferroptosis-HMGB1-TfR1 axis, highlighting a new frontier in photoprotection. [Display omitted] • UVB triggered autophagy-dependent ferroptosis and subsequent HMGB1 release. • The released HMGB1 activated an intercellular loop with TfR1, exacerbating ferroptosis. • Sen I emerged as a promising natural therapeutic agent for UVB-induced skin lesions. • Sen I inhibited the autophagy-ferroptosis-HMGB1-TfR1 axis in anti-UVB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The metal–metal (M1–M2) interactions in heteronuclear dual‐atom catalysts (HNDACs) significantly optimize the electronic properties of the active sites, resulting in the promotion of the reaction kinetics in electrocatalysis. However, the regulation mechanisms in these M1–M2 dual‐atom sites still remain unclear. Herein, the intrinsic electron transfer in Fe–Zn dual‐atom sites are revealed for facilitating electrocatalytic carbon dioxide reduction (ECO2R) to carbon monoxide (CO). The electronegativity difference between the Fe and Zn centers induces the specific electron transfer from Zn to Fe, which regulates the electron structures of the active Zn sites, leading to the optimized reaction pathway of CO2‐to‐CO conversion on these sites. The Fe–Zn HNDAC (FeZnNC) exhibits superior ECO2R performances than the single‐atom Fe/Zn catalysts (FeNC and ZnNC) in the typical H‐cell system, the maximum CO partial current density on FeZnNC reaches more than 3.3 and 1.8 folds of those on FeNC and ZnNC, respectively. More importantly, in a strongly acidic medium (pH = 1), FeZnNC achieves CO Faradaic efficiencies greater than 94% in the current density range of 100–400 mA cm−2. This work uncovers the intrinsic electron transfer at the heteronuclear diatomic sites, providing new insights for the rational design of high‐performance HNDACs toward industrial electrocatalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) has been suggested to increase the risk of memory decline and Alzheimer's disease (AD), the main cause of dementia in the elderly. However, direct evidence about whether COVID‐19 induces AD‐like neuropathological changes in the brain, especially post recovery from acute infection, is still lacking. Here, using postmortem human brain samples, we found abnormal accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau protein in the hippocampus and medial entorhinal cortex within 4–13 months post clinically recovery from acute COVID‐19, together with prolonged activation of glia cells and increases in inflammatory factors, even though no SARS‐COV‐2 invasion was detected in these regions. By contrast, COVID‐19 did not change beta‐amyloid deposition and hippocampal neuron number, and had limited effects on AD‐related pathological phenotypes in olfactory circuits including olfactory bulb, anterior olfactory nucleus, olfactory tubercle, piriform cortex and lateral entorhinal cortex. These results provide neuropathological evidences linking COVID‐19 with prognostic increase of risk for AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gas explosions mostly occur in turbulent environments in practical situations. Meanwhile, the current research on the explosion characteristics of hydrogen-doped natural gas is mostly methane/hydrogen mixed fuel, ignoring the influence of other components of natural gas on the explosion characteristics of the actual situation. Therefore, the effects of different jet intensities (P jet), hydrogen-doping ratios (X H2) and equivalence ratios (φ) on the explosion characteristics of multi-component natural gas/hydrogen mixed fuel are experimentally investigated in cylindrical tanks of 30 L. Additionally, it extensively explored the dual influence of jet disturbance and gas inerting effect on the flame propagation characteristics of multi-component natural gas/hydrogen mixed fuel. With the increase of P jet , both P max and (d p/ d t) max initially increase and then decrease, while τ continuously decreases. When P jet = 0.4 MPa, the promotion effect on P max and (d p/ d t) max is most significant. The lifting of X H2 leads to a gradual increase in P max and decreasing τ. (d p/ d t) max exhibits a trend of initially increasing and then decreasing with the elevation of X H2 , reaching its maximum at X H2 = 40%. The introduction of jet flow significantly reduces the promotion or inhibition effect on explosions of high hydrogen blending ratio mixtures. Furthermore, the introduction of jet flow is more effective in promoting the explosive performance of multi-component natural gas/hydrogen mixed fuel with high equivalence ratios and low hydrogen doping ratios under rich fuel conditions. This study can provide a key reference for the explosion hazard assessment during the practical application of natural gas/hydrogen mixed fuel. • Hydrogen-doped natural gas is used in explosion experiments collected in real environments. • A gas jet disturbance experimental platform has been established. • The flame propagation characteristics under turbulent conditions have been summarized. • The promotion effect on the explosion is most significant when the jet intensity reaches 0.4 MPa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing non‐platinum group metal catalysts for the sluggish hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) is critical for alkaline fuel cells. To date, Ni‐based materials are the most promising candidates but still suffer from insufficient performance. Herein, we report an unconventional hcp/fcc Ni (u‐hcp/fcc Ni) heteronanocrystal with multiple epitaxial hcp/fcc heterointerfaces and coherent twin boundaries, generating rugged surfaces with plenty of asymmetric convex sites. Systematic analyses discover that such convex sites enable the adsorption of *H in unusual bridge positions with weakened binding energy, circumventing the over‐strong *H adsorption on traditional hollow positions, and simultaneously stabilizing interfacial *H2O. It thus synergistically optimizes the HOR thermodynamic process as well as reduces the kinetic barrier of the rate‐determining Volmer step. Consequently, the developed u‐hcp/fcc Ni exhibits the top‐rank alkaline HOR activity with a mass activity of 40.6 mA mgNi−1 (6.3 times higher than fcc Ni control) together with superior stability and high CO‐tolerance. These results provide a paradigm for designing high‐performance catalysts by shifting the adsorption state of intermediates through configuring surface sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing non‐platinum group metal catalysts for the sluggish hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) is critical for alkaline fuel cells. To date, Ni‐based materials are the most promising candidates but still suffer from insufficient performance. Herein, we report an unconventional hcp/fcc Ni (u‐hcp/fcc Ni) heteronanocrystal with multiple epitaxial hcp/fcc heterointerfaces and coherent twin boundaries, generating rugged surfaces with plenty of asymmetric convex sites. Systematic analyses discover that such convex sites enable the adsorption of *H in unusual bridge positions with weakened binding energy, circumventing the over‐strong *H adsorption on traditional hollow positions, and simultaneously stabilizing interfacial *H2O. It thus synergistically optimizes the HOR thermodynamic process as well as reduces the kinetic barrier of the rate‐determining Volmer step. Consequently, the developed u‐hcp/fcc Ni exhibits the top‐rank alkaline HOR activity with a mass activity of 40.6 mA mgNi−1 (6.3 times higher than fcc Ni control) together with superior stability and high CO‐tolerance. These results provide a paradigm for designing high‐performance catalysts by shifting the adsorption state of intermediates through configuring surface sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two‐photon excited fluorescence is a process in which the excited fluorophore relaxes and emits fluorescence after two‐photon absorption. Combined with appropriate two‐photon fluorescent probes, two‐photon microscopy enables observation deep inside tissue without damage. Former reports showed that the two‐photon absorption cross sections of donor–acceptor (D–A) dipoles, as well as D‐π‐D and D–A–D quadrupoles can be strengthened by using strong D–A groups. In this study, a novel water‐soluble fluorescent probe with D‐π‐A structure containing pyridine‐2,6‐dicarboxylic acid unit was synthesized. The maximum excitation wavelength and emission wavelength of the probe in aqueous solution were 328 nm and 471 nm, respectively. The fluorescence emitted by the probe can be quenched by various metal cations. The pyridyl N and carboxyl O in the probe formed chelates with Cu2+, which resulted in a fluorescence quenching response, and showed a linear relationship between fluorescent intensity and Cu2+ concentration with wide linear range and low limit of detection. CCK‐8 tests showed the probe had no obvious toxicity to 4T1 cells in the range of 0.4–50 μmol L−1, and the cell survival rate was above 86 %. The probe had a large two‐photon absorption cross section ranging from 680 nm to 820 nm. The two‐photon absorption cross section reached 100 GM at 760 nm of excitation wavelength. By means of microscopic imaging of 4T1 cells stained with the probe, one‐photon fluorescence represented blue emission, while two‐photon fluorescence represented bright green emission. The probe was proved to have good cell permeability, and preferred to target nucleus, showing application potential in two‐photon fluorescence imaging technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial conjugation, a commonly used method to horizontally transfer functional genes from donor to recipient strains, plays an important role in the genetic manipulation of bacteria for basic research and industrial production. Successful conjugation depends on the donor‐recipient cell recognition and a tight mating junction formation. However, the efficiency of conjugative transfer is usually very low. In this work, we developed a new technique that employed DNA molecule "glue" to increase the match frequency and the interaction stability between the donor and recipient cells. We used two E. coli strains, ETZ and BL21, as a model system, and modified them with the complementary ssDNA oligonucleotides by click chemistry. The conjugation efficiency of the modified bacteria was improved more than 4 times from 10 %–46 %. This technique is simple and generalizable as it only relies on the active amino groups on the bacterial surface. It is expected to have broad applications in constructing engineered bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapy on platelet function in relapsed/refractory (R/R) multiple myeloma (MM) has not been thoroughly investigated. Our cohort comprised fifty MM patients treated with CAR-T cells. The mean platelet closure time (PCT) induced by collagen/adenosine diphosphate (CADP) in peripheral blood was significantly prolonged before lymphodepletion (195.24 ± 11.740 s) and notably reduced post-CAR-T cell therapy (128.02 ± 5.60 s), with a statistically significant improvement (67.22, 95% CI 46.91–87.53, P < 0.001). This post-treatment PCT was not significantly different from that of healthy controls (10.64, 95% CI 1.11–22.40, P > 0.05). Furthermore, a pronounced enhancement in PCT was observed in patients with a response greater than partial remission (PR) following CAR-T cell infusion compared to pre-treatment values (P < 0.001). An extended PCT was also associated with a less favorable remission status. In patients with cytokine release syndrome (CRS) grades 0–2, those with a PCT over 240.5 s exhibited a shorter progression-free survival (PFS), with median PFS times of 10.2 months for the PCT > 240.5 s group versus 22.0 months for the PCT ≤ 240.5 s group. Multivariate analysis revealed that a PCT value exceeding 240.5 s is an independent prognostic factor for overall survival (OS) in R/R MM patients after CAR-T cell therapy. The study demonstrates that CAR-T cell therapy enhances platelet function in R/R MM patients, and PCT emerges as a potential prognostic biomarker for the efficacy of CAR-T cell therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play an important role in diverse biological processes; however, their origin and functions, especially in plants, remain largely unclear. Here, we used 2 maize (Zea mays) inbred lines, as well as 14 of their derivative recombination inbred lines with different drought sensitivity, to systematically characterize 8,790 circRNAs in maize roots under well-watered (WW) and water-stress (WS) conditions. We found that a diverse set of circRNAs expressed at significantly higher levels under WS. Enhanced expression of circRNAs was associated with longer flanking introns and an enrichment of long interspersed nuclear element retrotransposable elements. The epigenetic marks found at the back-splicing junctions of circRNA-producing genes were markedly different from canonical splicing, characterized by increased levels of H3K36me3/H3K4me1, as well as decreased levels of H3K9Ac/H3K27Ac. We found that genes expressing circRNAs are subject to relaxed selection. The significant enrichment of trait-associated sites along their genic regions suggested that genes giving rise to circRNAs were associated with plant survival rate under drought stress, implying that circRNAs play roles in plant drought responses. Furthermore, we found that overexpression of circMED16, one of the drought-responsive circRNAs, enhances drought tolerance in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Our results provide a framework for understanding the intricate interplay of epigenetic modifications and how they contribute to the fine-tuning of circRNA expression under drought stress. Enhanced expression of circRNAs under drought corresponds with enrichment of long interspersed nuclear element retrotransposons and epigenetic modification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rocking‐chair configurations based on advanced anodes with reliable zinc‐ion storage can intrinsically avoid the deterioration of flexible zinc‐ion energy devices by corrosion, dendrites, and inadequate mechanical stability of zinc metal, yet the identification of durable anode materials is still challenging. Herein, the first reported conversion‐type Cu2‐xSe is proposed as an ultra‐stable anode for flexible rocking‐chair aqueous zinc‐ion batteries. Differing from these well‐recognized intercalation‐type copper selenide anodes, the unique Cu2‐xSe structure features a preferred thermodynamic deep transformation path, and the high‐reversible conversion reaction is fully illuminated by in situ synchrotron X‐ray diffraction and substantial ex situ characterization, demonstrating an outstanding performance combination of high capacity (150 mAh g−1 at 0.5 A g−1) and record‐high stability (91% capacity retention after 20 000 cycles at 5 A g−1 in Cu2‐xSe||ZnxMnO2 full cells). Consequently, fiber‐shaped batteries using Cu2‐xSe as the anode are successfully assembled and exhibited an ultra‐long life (89.8% capacity retention after 900 cycles) and extraordinary flexibility (98% capacity retention after 4500 cycles of bending), far exceeding those of representative flexible batteries previously reported. The findings provide novel insights into the energy storage mechanism of copper selenides and, as an elegant forerunner, offer a plausible path for the development of rocking‐chair flexible aqueous zinc‐ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The measurement of mixing time in a water model of soft-stirring steelmaking ladles is practically facing a problem of bad repeatability. This uncertainty severely affects both the understandings of transport phenomenon in ladles and the measurement accuracy. Scaled down by a ratio of 1:4, a water model based on an industrial 260-ton ladle is used. This paper studies the transport process paths and mixing time of salt solution tracers in the water model of eccentric gas-stirred ladles with a low gas flow rate. After a large number of repeated experiments, the different transport paths of the tracer and the error of the mixing time in each transport path are discussed and compared with the numerical simulation results. The results of a large number of repeated experiments on the water model show that there are five transport paths for the tracer in the ladle. The tracer of the first path is mainly transported by the left-side main circulation flow, which is identical to the numerical simulation results. The tracer of the second and third paths are also mainly transported by the left-side circulation flow, but bifurcations occur when the tracer in the middle area is transported downward. In the third path, the portion and intensity of the tracer transferring to the right side from the central region is higher than in the second path. The fourth path is that the tracer is transported downward from the left, middle, and right sides with a similar intensity at the same time. While the tracer in the fifth path is mainly transported on the right side, and the tracer forms a clockwise circulation flow on the right side. The mixing times from the first transport path to the fifth transport path are 158.3 s, 149.7 s, 171.7 s, 134 s and 95.7 s, respectively, among which the third transport path and the fifth transport path are the maximum and minimum values among all transport paths. The error between the mixing time and the averaged mixing time at each monitoring point in the five transport paths of the tracer is between −34.7% and 40.9%. Furthermore, the error of the averaged mixing time of each path and the path-based average value is between 5.5% and 32.6%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent evidence indicates that the damaged regions in osteoarthritis are accompanied by the accumulation of iron ions. Ferroptosis, as an iron‐dependent form of cell death, holds significant implications in osteoarthritis. Melatonin, a natural product with strong scavenging abilities against reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation, plays a crucial role in the treatment of osteoarthritis. This study aims to demonstrate the existence of ferroptosis in osteoarthritis and explore the specific mechanism of melatonin in suppressing ferroptosis and alleviating osteoarthritis. Our findings reveal that melatonin reverses inflammation‐induced oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation while promoting the expression of extracellular matrix components in chondrocytes, safeguarding the cells. Our research has revealed that NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4) serves as a crucial molecule in the ferroptosis process of osteoarthritis. Specifically, NOX4 is located on mitochondria in chondrocytes, which can induce disorders in mitochondrial energy metabolism and dysfunction, thereby intensifying oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation. LC‐MS analysis further uncovered that GRP78 is a downstream binding protein of NOX4. NOX4 induces ferroptosis by weakening GRP78's protective effect on GPX4 and reducing its expression. Melatonin can inhibit the upregulation of NOX4 on mitochondria and mitigate mitochondrial dysfunction, effectively suppressing ferroptosis and alleviating osteoarthritis. This suggests that melatonin therapy represents a promising new approach for the treatment of osteoarthritis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The movement towards electrification is entailing deep changes in power systems. On the demand side, the adoption of electric heating (EH) has grown rapidly in recent years. To eliminate the voltage fluctuations caused by the random switching‐on/‐off behaviors of EHs in some application scenes with special‐power‐line in low voltage distribution networks (LVDNs), a swarm‐intelligence‐based coordinated control approach of EHs for voltage stabilization with zero communication burden while guaranteeing the users' thermal comforts is researched. A novel bird‐perch‐on‐branch (BPB) ‐based swarm intelligence theory is proposed, which reveals the mapping relation between local observations and global states. On this theoretical basis, a multi‐agent reinforcement learning (MARL) framework is developed for the coordinated dispatch of EHs, where the deep‐Q‐network (DQN) algorithm is adopted to learn and generate the optimal control policy for each EH. The implementation of the proposed MADQN‐BPB approach is described based on the principle of centralized‐training and decentralized‐execution. Comparative control performances of MADQN‐BPB with a commercially available approach, and the global optimal solution are evaluated. Simulation results verify the capability of MADQN‐BPB in voltage stabilization with zero communication burden. Its control performance is close to that of the global optimal solution, and is scalable to the variations of environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Keggin‐type P‐Mo‐W polyoxometalate‐based ionic liquids ([VimAm]Br‐POM, POM is PMo6W6O40) were facilely supported on the green fiber (CA) to obtain a kind of bar‐shaped catalyst. The [VimAm]Br‐POM@CA showed an outstanding oxidative desulfurization performance for model oil and real oils with H2O2 as oxidant, mainly due to the dual role of the [VimAm]Br‐POM with the high activity and its excellent dispersion on CA. The dibenzothiophene (DBT) in model oil could be almost completely removed with [VimAm]Br‐POM@CA‐2 in 60 min at 60 °C without adding other extractants, in which [VimAm]Br acts as this role. Meanwhile, the influences of reaction temperature, molar ratio of H2O2/S, catalyst dosage, and different sulfur‐containing compounds were also investigated. Interestingly, the pretty low activation energy (0.1875 kJ/mol) has been achieved, and no significant loss of activity even after being reused for 5 cycles. The combination of IL‐POM and CA is an efficient strategy to obtain a newly kind desulfurization catalyst, with remarkable results on catalytic efficiency and reuse ability at the same time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanism connecting gut microbiota to appetite regulation is not yet fully understood. This study identifies specific microbial community and metabolites that may influence appetite regulation. In the initial phase of the study, mice were administered a broad‐spectrum antibiotic cocktail (ABX) for 10 days. The treatment significantly reduced gut microbes and disrupted the metabolism of arginine and tryptophan. Consequently, ABX‐treated mice demonstrated a notable reduction in feed consumption. The hypothalamic expression levels of CART and POMC, two key anorexigenic factors, were significantly increased, while orexigenic factors, such as NPY and AGRP, were decreased. Notably, the levels of appetite‐suppressing hormone cholecystokinin in the blood were significantly elevated. In the second phase, control mice were maintained, while the ABX‐treated mice received saline, probiotics, and short‐chain fatty acids (SCFAs) for an additional 10 days to restore their gut microbiota. The microbiota reconstructed by probiotic and SCFA treatments were quite similar, while microbiota of the naturally recovering mice demonstrated greater resemblance to that of the control mice. Notably, the abundance of Akkermansia and Bacteroides genera significantly increased in the reconstructed microbiota. Moreover, microbiota reconstruction corrected the disrupted arginine and tryptophan metabolism and the abnormal peripheral hormone levels caused by ABX treatment. Among the groups, SCFA‐treated mice had the highest feed intake and NPY expression. Our findings indicate that gut microbes, especially Akkermansia, regulate arginine and tryptophan metabolism, thereby influencing appetite through the microbe‐gut‐brain axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) after spinal surgery has recently attracted increasing attention. Patients with spinal metastases who undergo decompression with fixation are at a high risk of developing DVT. D-dimer levels indicate the risk of DVT, and the purpose of our study was to investigate D-dimer levels as a predictor of DVT perioperatively. Methods: We prospectively evaluated 100 patients with spinal metastases. D-dimer tests were performed twice: once before surgery and one day postoperatively. DVT was diagnosed by duplex ultrasonographic assessment of both lower extremities. Pulmonary embolisms (PEs) were diagnosed using multidetector computed tomography and pulmonary angiography. Perioperative serum D-dimer levels were compared between the DVT (+) and DVT (-) groups. The cutoff value of the D-dimer level was calculated using receiver operating characteristic analysis. Results: Preoperative and postoperative DVT prevalences were 8.0% (8/100) and 6.6% (6/91), respectively, and none of the patients developed PE. Before surgery, there was no significant differences in D-dimer levels between the pre-DVT (+) and pre-DVT (-) groups. After surgery, the D-dimer level one-day postoperatively for the post-DVT (+) group (17.6 ± 11.8 mg/L) was significantly higher than that of the post-DVT (-) group (5.0 ± 4.7 mg/L). The cutoff value of the postoperative D-dimer level was 9.51(mg/L), and the sensitivity and specificity for the optimum threshold were 83.3% and 89.4%, respectively. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that preoperative D-dimer level may not be a predictor of DVT. Preoperative ultrasound examinations should be routinely performed in patients with spinal metastases. Postoperative D-dimer levels greater than 9.51(mg/L) are a predictive factor for the early diagnosis of DVT after spine surgery. Trial registration: Our study was registered on Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (No.ChiCTR2000029737). Registered 11 February 2020 - Retrospectively registered, https://www.chictr.org.cn/index.aspx. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atomic Fe sites enabled electrochemical carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction (ECO2R) to carbon monoxide (CO) at low overpotentials. However, the narrow potential ranges for selective CO2 conversion on atomic Fe sites hindered the CO production at high current densities. Therefore, unveiling the CO2 electroreduction processes and clarifying the catalytic mechanisms on different atomic Fe sites are important for better design of atomic Fe catalysts toward efficient ECO2R. Herein, the ECO2R processes on single‐atom, dual‐atom, and cluster Fe sites are systematically investigated, and clarify that the balanced water dissociation and CO2 protonation on dual‐atom Fe sites promote the efficient CO production. The dual‐atom Fe catalyst achieves Faradaic efficiencies of CO (FECO) above 92% over a wide potential range of −0.4–−0.9 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode and maintains FECO of 91% after 153‐h electrolysis in H‐type cell. Benefitting from the favorable CO2 protonation for ECO2R on dual‐atom Fe sites, pH‐universal CO2 electroreduction is achieved in alkali‐/acid‐/bicarbonate‐fed membrane electrode assembly electrolyzer, with FECO exceeds 98% in strongly acidic/alkaline and neutral mediums. The work reveals a water dissociation‐promoted CO2 electroreduction on dual‐atom Fe sites and presents a feasible regulation of atomic Fe sites for highly active/selective ECO2R. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) induce oxidative stress, which may initiate ferroptosis, an iron-dependent programmed cell death, during abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) formation. Mitochondria regulate the progression of ferroptosis, which is characterized by the depletion of mitochondrial glutathione (mitoGSH) levels. However, the mechanisms are poorly understood. This study examined the role of mitoGSH in regulating NET-induced ferroptosis of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) during AAA formation. Concentrations of NET markers were tested in plasma samples. Western blotting and immunofluorescent staining were performed to detect the expression and localization of NET and ferroptosis markers in tissue samples. The role of NETs and SMC ferroptosis during AAA formation was investigated using peptidyl arginine deiminase 4 gene (Padi4) knockout or treatment with a PAD4 inhibitor, ferroptosis inhibitor or activator in an angiotensin II-induced AAA mouse model. The regulatory effect of SLC25A11, a mitochondrial glutathione transporter, on mitoGSH and NET-induced ferroptosis of SMCs was investigated using in vitro and in vivo experiments. Transmission electron microscopy was used to detect mitochondrial damage. Blue native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was used to analyze the dimeric and monomeric forms of the protein. Significantly elevated levels of NETosis and ferroptosis markers in aortic tissue samples were observed during AAA formation. Specifically, NETs promoted AAA formation by inducing ferroptosis of SMCs. Subsequently, SLC25A11 was identified as a potential biomarker for evaluating the clinical prognosis of patients with AAA. Furthermore, NETs decreased the stability and dimerization of SLC25A11, leading to the depletion of mitoGSH. This depletion induced the ferroptosis of SMCs and promoted AAA formation. During AAA formation, NETs regulate the stability of the mitochondrial carrier protein SLC25A11, leading to the depletion of mitoGSH and subsequent activation of NET-induced ferroptosis of SMCs. Preventing mitoGSH depletion and ferroptosis in SMCs is a potential strategy for treating AAA. A schematic diagram of main findings. NETs induce iron-mediated cell death in SMCs during AAA formation, accompanied by mitochondrial dysfunction. Mechanistically, NETs modulate the stability of the mitochondrial carrier protein SLC25A11, leading to depletion of mitoGSH in SMCs. The stability of mitochondrial carrier protein SLC25A11 results in depletion of mitoGSH in SMCs, which in turn induces iron dysregulation in SMCs and promotes AAA formation. These findings propose several potential targets for the development of novel therapeutics for AAA treatment, including inhibition of NETs formation, mitigation of mitoGSH depletion, and suppression of SMC ferroptosis. [Display omitted] • During AAA formation, NETs regulate the stability of the mitochondrial carrier protein SLC25A11. • SLC25A11 regulated the depletion of mitochondrial glutathione and activation of NET-induced ferroptosis of SMCs. • Preventing mitoGSH depletion and ferroptosis in SMCs is a potential strategy for treating AAA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Visual observation and therapeutic intervention against tumors hold significant appeal for tumor treatment, particularly in meeting the demands of intraoperative navigation. From a clinical perspective, the naked‐eye visualization of tumors provides a direct and convenient approach to identifying tumors and navigating during surgery. Nevertheless, there is an ongoing need to develop effective solutions in this frontier. Genetically engineered microorganisms are promising as living therapeutics for combatting malignant tumors, leveraging precise tumor targeting and versatile programmed functionalities. Here, genetically modified Escherichia coli (E. coli) MG1655 bacterial cells are introduced, called MelaBac cells, designed to express tyrosinase continuously. This bioengineered melanogenesis produces melanin capable of pigmenting both subcutaneous CT26 xenografts and chemically induced colorectal cancer (CRC). Additionally, MelaBac cells demonstrate the initiation of photonic hyperthermia therapy and immunotherapy against tumors, offering promising selective therapeutic interventions with high biocompatibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PTPN2 (protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type 2, or TC-PTP) and PTPN1 are attractive immuno-oncology targets, with the deletion of Ptpn1 and Ptpn2 improving response to immunotherapy in disease models. Targeted protein degradation has emerged as a promising approach to drug challenging targets including phosphatases. We developed potent PTPN2/N1 dual heterobifunctional degraders (Cmpd-1 and Cmpd-2) which facilitate efficient complex assembly with E3 ubiquitin ligase CRL4CRBN, and mediate potent PTPN2/N1 degradation in cells and mice. To provide mechanistic insights into the cooperative complex formation introduced by degraders, we employed a combination of structural approaches. Our crystal structure reveals how PTPN2 is recognized by the tri-substituted thiophene moiety of the degrader. We further determined a high-resolution structure of DDB1-CRBN/Cmpd-1/PTPN2 using single-particle cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM). This structure reveals that the degrader induces proximity between CRBN and PTPN2, albeit the large conformational heterogeneity of this ternary complex. The molecular dynamic (MD)-simulations constructed based on the cryo-EM structure exhibited a large rigid body movement of PTPN2 and illustrated the dynamic interactions between PTPN2 and CRBN. Together, our study demonstrates the development of PTPN2/N1 heterobifunctional degraders with potential applications in cancer immunotherapy. Furthermore, the developed structural workflow could help to understand the dynamic nature of degrader-induced cooperative ternary complexes. PTPN2 (protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type 2) and PTPN1 are attractive immuno-oncology targets, however, targeting PTPN2/N1 poses significant challenges. Here, the authors report the development of potent PTPN2/N1 heterobifunctional degraders and reveal biochemical and structural insights into the formation of ternary structures with cereblon E3 ligase by X-ray diffraction, cryo-EM and MD simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel carbonyl-N embedded hetero[7]helicene diastereomers incorporating axially chiral binaphthyl were facilely synthesized and separated. The separated homochiral hetero[7]helicenes exhibit intense green photoluminescence and circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) with luminescence dissymmetry factors (glum) of 1.4 × 10-3 due to the intrinsic helical multiple-resonance skeleton. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Surgical therapy is the most optimal treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) combined with bile duct tumor thrombus (BDTT) patients. However, whether to perform bile duct resection (BDR) is still controversial. The purpose of this multicenter research is to compare the effect of BDR on the prognosis of extrahepatic BDTT patients. Methods: We collected the data of 111 HCC patients combined with extrahepatic BDTT who underwent radical hepatectomy from June 1, 2004 to December 31, 2021. Those patients had either received hepatectomy with extrahepatic bile duct resection (BDR group) or hepatectomy without bile duct resection (NBDR group). Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was used to reduce the potential bias between two groups and balance the influence of confounding factors in baseline data. Then compare the prognosis between the two groups of patients. Cox regression model was used for univariate and multivariate analysis to further determine the independent risk factors that influence the prognosis of HCC-BDTT patients. Results: There were 38 patients in the BDR group and 73 patients in the NBDR group. Before and after IPTW, there were no statistical significance in OS, RFS and intraoperative median blood loss between the two groups (all P > 0.05). Before IPTW, the median postoperative hospital stay in the NBDR group was shorter (P = 0.046) and the grade of postoperative complications was lower than BDR group (P = 0.014). After IPTW, there was no difference in postoperative hospital stay between the two groups (P > 0.05). The complication grade in the NBDR group was still lower than that in the BDR group (P = 0.046). The univariate analysis showed that TNM stage and portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) were significantly correlated with OS (both P < 0.05). Preoperative AFP level, TNM stage and prognostic nutritional index (PNI) were significantly correlated with postoperative RFS (all P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that tumor TNM stage was an independent risk factor for the OS rate (P = 0.014). TNM stage, PNI and AFP were independent predictors of RFS after radical hepatectomy (all P < 0.05). Conclusions: For HCC-BDTT patients, hepatocellular carcinoma resection combined with choledochotomy to remove the tumor thrombus may benefit more. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Direct aromatization of cyclohexanones to synthesize substituted phenols represents a significant challenge in modern synthetic chemistry. Herein, we describe a novel ene‐reductase (TsER) catalytic system that converts substituted cyclohexanones into the corresponding phenols. This process involves the successive dehydrogenation of two saturated carbon‐carbon bonds within the six‐membered ring of cyclohexanones and utilizes molecular oxygen to drive the reaction cycle. It demonstrates a versatile and efficient approach for the synthesis of substituted phenols, providing a valuable complement to existing chemical methodologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Interleukin-17A (IL-17A) plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of ankylosing spondylitis (AS), although not all patients respond to traditional IL-17A antibody treatments. QX002N injection, as a new monoclonal antibody targeting IL-17A, has shown potential in treating AS, offering a new treatment option for patients who do not respond well to existing therapies. Methods: A randomized, open, parallel, single-center, phase I study was conducted to assess the pharmacokinetics, safety, and immunogenicity of single doses of QX002N injection administered intravenously (IV) or subcutaneously (SC) to healthy Chinese volunteers. Blood samples were collected at specified time intervals, and then serum concentrations of QX002N were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Pharmacokinetic analysis of the drug concentration–time data showed that the mean maximum observed serum QX002N concentration (Cmax) was 110 and 33.9 µg/ml, respectively. The average area under the drug concentration–time curves from 0 to the time of the last quantifiable concentration (AUClast) were 52,656 and 36,269 µg·h/ml, respectively and the average area under the drug concentration–time curves from 0 to infinity (AUCinf) were 54,867 and 38,194 µg·h/ml, respectively. The absolute bioavailability of QX002N after SC injection was 69.6%. Conclusions: Immunogenicity was assessed and all the subjects in this study were Anti-drug antibody (ADA)-negative, which means no subjects appeared to develop immunogenicity to QX002N. All the results testify to the safety of QX002N injection, which is satisfactory after IV or SC dosing in healthy subjects. Trial Registration: www.chinadrugtirals.org.cn, CTR20220430. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of this study is to investigate the radiological features of primary pulmonary invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma (IMA) in a relatively large population to help improve its further understanding and its accuracy of initial diagnosis. Methods: This retrospective study included consecutive patients with pathologically confirmed primary pulmonary IMA from January 2019 to December 2021. According to tumor morphology, IMAs were divided into regular nodule/mass, irregular, and large consolidative types. According to tumor density, IMAs were divided into solid, halo, part‐solid, pure ground‐glass, and cystic types. ANOVA, chi‐square, or Fisher exact tests were used to analyze the differences in radiological and clinicopathological characteristics of IMA according to morphological and density subtypes. Results: We analyzed 312 patients. Pulmonary IMA tended to occur in the elderly, with a slightly higher number of women than men. IMA showed a predominance in the lower lobe and adjacent to pleura. IMA of regular nodule/mass, irregular, and large consolidative types accounted for 80.8% (252/312), 13.8% (43/312), and 5.4% (17/312), respectively. Solid, halo, part‐solid, pure ground‐glass, and cystic IMAs accounted for 55.8% (174/312), 28.2% (88/312), 11.2% (35/312), 1.3% (4/312), and 3.5% (11/312), respectively. The lobulated (76.9%), spiculated (63.5%), and air bronchogram (56.7%) signs were common in IMA. Dead branch sign (88.2%), angiogram sign (88.2%), and satellite nodules/skipping lesions (47.1%) were common in large‐consolidative‐type IMA. Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene mutations were common (56.1%), whereas epidermal growth factor receptor mutations were relatively rare (2.3%). Conclusions: Pulmonary IMA of regular nodule/mass type and solid type were the most common at the initial diagnosis. Detailed radiological features can aid in the differential diagnosis of IMA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of patients with COVID-19 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is still increasing. In the case of COVID-19 and tuberculosis (TB), the presence of one disease affects the infectious status of the other. Meanwhile, coinfection may result in complications that make treatment more difficult. However, the molecular mechanisms underpinning the interaction between TB and COVID-19 are unclear. Accordingly, transcriptome analysis was used to detect the shared pathways and molecular biomarkers in TB and COVID-19, allowing us to determine the complex relationship between COVID-19 and TB. Two RNA-seq datasets (GSE114192 and GSE163151) from the Gene Expression Omnibus were used to find concerted differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between TB and COVID-19 to identify the common pathogenic mechanisms. A total of 124 common DEGs were detected and used to find shared pathways and drug targets. Several enterprising bioinformatics tools were applied to perform pathway analysis, enrichment analysis and networks analysis. Protein–protein interaction analysis and machine learning was used to identify hub genes (GAS6, OAS3 and PDCD1LG2) and datasets GSE171110, GSE54992 and GSE79362 were used for verification. The mechanism of protein-drug interactions may have reference value in the treatment of coinfection of COVID-19 and TB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) genes of six endangered goose breeds (Xupu, Yangjiang, Yan, Wuzong, Baizi, and Lingxian) were sequenced and compared to assess the genetic diversity of endangered goose breeds. By constructing phylogenetic trees and evolutionary maps of genetic relationships, the affinities and degrees of genetic variations among the six different breeds were revealed. A total of 92 polymorphic sites were detected in the 741 bp sequence of the mtDNA COI gene after shear correction, and the GC content of the processed sequence (51.11%) was higher than that of the AT content (48.89%). The polymorphic loci within the populations of five of the six breeds (Xupu, Yangjiang, Yan, Baizi, and Lingxian) were more than 10, the haplotype diversity > 0.5, and the nucleotide diversity (Pi) > 0.005, with the Baizi geese being the exception. A total of 35 haplotypes were detected based on nucleotide variation among sequences, and the goose breed haplotypes showed a central star-shaped dispersion; the FST values were −0.03781 to 0.02645, The greatest genetic differentiation (FST = 0.02645) was observed in Yan and Wuzong breeds. The most frequent genetic exchange (Nm > 15.00) was between the Wuzong and Yangjiang geese. An analysis of molecular variance showed that the population genetic variation mainly came from within the population; the base mismatch differential distribution analysis of the goose breeds and the Tajima's D and Fu's Fs neutral detection of the historical occurrence dynamics of their populations were negative (p > 0.10). The distribution curve of the base mismatches showed a multimodal peak, which indicated that the population tended to be stabilised. These results provide important genetic information for the conservation and management of endangered goose breeds and a scientific basis for the development of effective conservation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]