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To date, the miRNA expression profile of plasma exosomes in women whose pregnancy is complicated by gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has not been fully clarified. In this study, differentially expressed miRNAs in plasma exosomes were identified by high-throughput small-RNA sequencing in 12 pregnant women with GDM and 12 with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) and validated in 102 pregnant women with GDM and 101 with NGT. A total of 22 exosomal miRNAs were found, five of which were verified by real-time qPCR. Exosomal miR-423-5p was upregulated, whereas miR-122-5p, miR-148a-3p, miR-192-5p, and miR-99a-5p were downregulated in women whose pregnancy was complicated by GDM. IGF1R and GYS1 as target genes of miR-423-5p, and G6PC3 and FDFT1 as target genes of miR-122-5p were associated with insulin and AMPK signaling pathways and may participate in the regulation of metabolism in GDM. The five exosomal miRNAs had an area under the curve of 0.82 (95%CI, 0.73, ∼0.91) in early prediction of GDM. Our study demonstrates that dysregulated exosomal miRNAs in plasma from pregnant women with GDM might influence the insulin and AMPK signaling pathways and could contribute to the early prediction of GDM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Composite anode materials with a unique architecture of carbon nanotubes (CNTs)-chained spinel lithium titanate (Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 , LTO) nanoparticles are prepared for lithium ion capacitors (LICs). The CNTs networks derived from commercial conductive slurry not only bring out a steric hindrance effect to restrict the growth of Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 particles but greatly enhance the electronic conductivity of the CNTs/LTO composites, both have contributed to the excellent rate capability and cycle stability. The capacity retention at 30 C (1 C = 175 mA g−1) is as high as 89.7% of that at 0.2 C with a CNTs content of 11 wt%. Meanwhile, there is not any capacity degradation after 500 cycles at 5 C. The LIC assembled with activated carbon (AC) cathode and such a CNTs/LTO composite anode displays excellent energy storage properties, including a high energy density of 35 Wh kg−1 at 7434 W kg−1, and a high capacity retention of 87.8% after 2200 cycles at 1 A g−1. These electrochemical performances outperform the reported data achieved on other LTO anode-based LICs. Considering the facile and scalable preparation process proposed herein, the CNTs/LTO composites can be very potential anode materials for hybrid capacitors towards high power-energy outputs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy shortages and ecological concerns have led to a focus on efficient waste heat utilization. Phase-change organohydrogels and thermoelectric generators combine to provide electricity from waste heat, which is a promising method for waste heat recovery and reuse. In this work, a multifunctional organohydrogel was elaborately fabricated through the Pickering emulsion method and UV-initiated polymerization, composed of rambutan-like phase change microspheres and polyacrylamide (PAAm) skeleton. In particular, the paraffin wax (PW) was employed as a phase change material and microencapsulated within cellulose nanofibril (CNF)/carbon nanotube (CNT)/Fe 3 O 4 hybrid shells. Attributed to the unique microspheres, the resultant organohydrogel possessed various advanced features. The phase transition behaviors of the microspheres enabled the organohydrogel to store, release, and manage thermal energy. Harvested waste heat can be efficiently stored in the organohydrogel and discharged into the thermoelectric system. The thermoelectric generator achieved remarkable output voltage and current of 518.0 mV and 86.3 mA via thermal-electricity conversion, respectively. Additionally, the organohydrogel also exhibited favorable thermosensitive properties over a wide temperature range (from −18.0 to 90.0 °C), and mechanical responsiveness with a low detection limit (1.0%). Thus, organohydrogels with rambutan-like microstructures presented promising potentials for thermal energy storage systems and next-generation multifunctional electronic devices. A multifunctional organohydrogel with rambutan-like microstructure possesses integrated characteristics, including the advantageous thermal management capacity, temperature-strain double sensing, and thermal-electric conversion, which have tremendous potential in waste heat utilization systems and next-generation multifunctional electronic devices. [Display omitted] • Paraffin wax was microencapsulated in CNF/CNT/Fe 3 O 4 hybrid shells to avoid leaks. • Rambutan-like microspheres enabled organohydrogel to store and release thermal energy. • Organohydrogel achieved waste heat utilization and thermal-electric conversion. • Organohydrogel showed superior temperature-strain double sensing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conductive carbon additives play very important roles on the performance of Li-ion batteries (LIBs) although they only occupy a very small mass percentage in both cathode and anode. Building up a multidimensional carbonaceous conductive network on cathode with the optimized mass ratio of carbon black, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene has been verified to be able to enhance the Li-ion storage performance. Herein, we further demonstrate that applying ternary conductive additives is also very effective in improving the rate and cycle performances of graphite anode although the active material already possess high electronic conductivity. A conductive additive assembly of 2 wt% Super P, 1 wt% CNTs and 1 wt% graphene can weave up an efficient conducting pathway on the mesocarbon microbeads (MCMB) anode and enhance the cycle stability (344 mAh g−1 at 1 C after 200 cycles) and rate performance (226 mAh g−1 at 3 C). The coin-type full cell assembled with the optimized MCMB anode and NCM811 cathode also displays much improved rate capability and cycle stability. As is revealed, the multidimensional conducting network might has led to a more uniform and ion conductive SEI film on MCMB anode, which lowers the polarization and energy barrier for Li+ transportation. [Display omitted] • A multidimensional conducting network is constructed on MCMB anode by modifying the dispersion solvent. • A specific capacity of 344 mAh g−1 is preserved after 200 cycles at 1 C. • The multidimensional conducting network promotes the Li+ transfer in MCMB anode. • Using ternary conductive additives in graphite anode is a practical way to improve the performance of LIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A hierarchical polypyrrole interlayer was introduced on carbon cloth through a MnO 2 templating method to assist high mass loading of Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 nanosheets arrays for greatly enhanced Na ion storage capacity. • Free-standing LTO@CC anode with high mass loading was fabricated. • A rough polypyrrole interlayer was used to increase the mass loading of Li 4 Ti 5 O 12. • High areal Na storage capacities of LTO@CC anode were obtained. • Excellent rate capability and robust cycle stability were measured. A composite anode with a mass loading of Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 nanosheets arrays on carbon cloth up to 10.49 wt% was successfully prepared by a hierarchical polypyrrole interlayer assisted hydrothermal and post-annealing process. With this improved mass loading, the free-standing electrode exhibited high areal Na ion storage capacities of 0.57 mA h cm−2 at 0.05 mA cm−2 and 0.23 mA h cm−2 at 1 mA cm−2, respectively. Concerning to gravimetric specific capacity, high values of 180 mA h g−1 at 100 mA g−1 and 118 mA h g−1 at 1000 mA g−1 were obtained. In addition, excellent cycle stability at both 100 mA g−1 and 1000 mA g−1 was demonstrated due to the robust structural integrity. These excellent electrochemical properties convincingly suggested that the prepared composite can be a potential high capacity and long-life free-standing anode of flexible Na ion storage devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work discusses the electrical break down of tungsten oxide films that form on contacting surfaces of tungsten electrodes in micro-electro-mechanical (MEM) relays. Electrical tests were applied to the contacts of 27 devices to measure the voltage, current and charge required to break down the oxide films, and also to measure the change in current through the contacts as the film healed. The oxide breaks down when an average of 58 $\mu \text{C}$ of electronic charge passes through the oxide, which usually requires applying 1–2 V to drive 100 nA- $10~\mu \text{A}$ of current through the contact. The tungsten oxide heals quickly in laboratory ambient conditions: applying 0.5 V to a contact immediately after breaking down an oxide results in a contact current greater than $5~\mu \text{A}$ , but the same test only induces 1 nA of current 1–5 minutes later. The reduction in contact current with time follows a power law, which is characteristic of charge relaxation in oxides. Additionally, Holm’s experiment shows that current conduction through the contacts is dominated by tunneling through an oxide. These facts together suggest that the break down and healing are electrical processes related to trap accumulation and relaxation in the tungsten oxide. [2021-0161] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To enable energy-efficient electronic devices for the future, nano-electro-mechanical (NEM) relays are promising due to their high ON/OFF current ratio and potential for low operating voltage. To minimize hysteresis and, consequently, relay operating voltage, it is imperative to reduce the relay contact adhesion, which can be achieved by coating the contacts with anti-stiction self-assembled monolayers. Herein we report a 71% reduction in hysteresis voltage by utilizing a branched perfluorocarbon antistiction molecule: Perfluoro (2,3-Dimethylbutan-2-ol) (PDB) on top of the tungsten contact surfaces. Experimental results show the operation of a PDB-coated NEM relay with abrupt switching, undetectably low OFF-state current, hysteresis voltage as low as 20 mV, and a large ON/OFF current ratio (>107). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Self‐renewal and differentiation arrest are two features of leukaemia stem cells (LSCs) responsible for the high relapse rate of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). To screen drugs to overcome differentiation blockade for AML, we conducted screening of 2040 small molecules from a library of United States Food and Drug Administration‐approved drugs and found that the cyclin‐dependent kinase (CDK)4/6 inhibitor, abemaciclib, exerts high anti‐leukaemic activity. Abemaciclib significantly suppressed proliferation and promoted the differentiation of LSCs in vitro. Abemaciclib also efficiently induced differentiation and impaired self‐renewal of LSCs, thus reducing the leukaemic cell burden and improving survival in various preclinical animal models, including patient‐derived xenografts. Importantly, abemaciclib strongly enhanced anti‐tumour effects in combination with venetoclax, a B‐cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl‐2) inhibitor. This treatment combination led to a marked decrease in LSC‐enriched populations and resulted in a synergistic anti‐leukaemic effect. Target screening revealed that in addition to CDK4/6, abemaciclib bound to and inhibited CDK9, consequently attenuating the protein levels of global p‐Ser2 RNA Polymerase II (Pol II) carboxy terminal domain (CTD), Myc, Bcl‐2, and myeloid cell leukaemia‐1 (Mcl‐1), which was important for the anti‐AML effect of abemaciclib. Collectively, these data provide a strong rationale for the clinical evaluation of abemaciclib to induce LSC differentiation and treat highly aggressive AML as well as other advanced haematological malignancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Body-biased micro-electro-mechanical (MEM) relays previously have been demonstrated to be a promising alternative to transistors for ultra-low voltage digital logic applications. A basic requirement for reliable relay-based circuit operation is suitably low and stable relay ON-state resistance ($R_{\mathbf {ON}}$). In this work, the effect of body biasing on $\text{R}_{\mathbf {ON}}$ is investigated for relays of different contact designs. It is found that a single direct contact design not only provides for the smallest hysteresis voltage but also the smallest $R_{\mathbf {ON}}$ , making it the most suitable for low voltage applications. Body-biased operation is found to degrade $R_{\mathbf {ON}}$ stability over many ON/OFF switching cycles, however, due to a reduction in contact velocity. [2020-0297] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energy efficiency of a CMOS digital logic circuit is fundamentally limited by the nonideal switching behavior of transistors, specifically their nonzero off-state current and finite subthreshold slope. In contrast, mechanical switches (relays) can achieve zero off-state current and perfectly abrupt switching characteristics; therefore, they have attracted growing interest for ultralow-power computing applications. A challenge for electro-mechanical relay technology is to reduce the hysteresis voltage, because this sets the minimum operating voltage of the relays. Herein, we report a surface-micromachinedelectrostatically actuated relaywith <70-mV hysteresis voltage, achieved by designing it to have relatively large structural stiffness and to operate in nonpull-inmode. A relay-based inverter circuit is demonstrated to operate reliably with a switching voltage below 100 mV, representing a significant milestone toward ultralow-power mechanical computing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past, electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials have achieved great breakthroughs, however, they still suffer from high reflectivity and poor environmental stability, resulting in detrimental secondary pollution and weak adaptability. Herein, an organohydrogel-based EMI shielding material was prepared through cellulose nanofibril-based Pickering emulsion, composed of an MXene network for electron conduction, encapsulated paraffin wax microspheres with MXene-Fe 3 O 4 shells for multiple scattering of the incident wave, and MXene-CNF-Fe 3 O 4 -polyacrylamide hybrid interfaces for dielectric polarization. The EMI shielding performance of our organohydrogel shows an absorption-dominated feature. It can effectively shield 99.625 % electromagnetic wave, satisfying the requirement of commercial EMI shielding materials. Moreover, the organohydrogel possesses excellent flame retardancy properties and long-time environment properties to improve safety and reliability; and it also demonstrates sensitive deformation responses as an on-skin sensor. Therefore, our organohydrogel can simultaneously detect human motion and protect human from EMI radiation and accidental burn. A wearable organohydrogel was prepared based on the cellulose nanofibril-Pickering emulsion, which possesses advantageous flexibility, shape stability, long-term environmental stability, and durability. The organohydrogel can effectively shield 99.625 % electromagnetic wave and exhibit the potential to decrease secondary electromagnetic interference pollution, but also demonstrates excellent flame retardant and strain sensation properties. It has great potential for next-generation wearable electron devices. [Display omitted] • An organohydrogel was prepared based on the CNF-stabilized Pickering emulsion. • Organohydrogel shows an absorption-dominated feature and SEA/SET value of 99.05 %. • Organohydrogel possesses favorable long-time environmental stability. • Organohydrogel also exhibits excellent flame retardant and strain sensing function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mutations of Tsc1 or Tsc2 can lead to excessive activation of mTORC1 and cause Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC), which is an autosomal dominant genetic disease prominently characterized by seizures, mental retardation and multiorgan hamartoma. In TSC, pathological changes in the central nervous system are the leading cause of death and disability. In decades, series of rodent models have been established by mutating Tsc1 or Tsc2 genes in diverse neural cell lineages to investigate the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms, however, the cellular origin triggering neural pathological changes in TSC is undetermined. In this study, we generated a novel mouse model involving conditional deletion of Tsc1 in lysozyme 2 (Lyz2)-positive cells which replicated several features of brain lesions including epileptic seizures, megalencephaly, highly enlarged pS6-positive neurons and astrogliosis. In addition, we confirmed that bone marrow-derived myeloid cells including microglia with Tsc1 deficiency are not the decisive lineage in the cerebral pathologies in TSC. These histological assays in our murine model indicate an essential contribution of Lyz2-positive neurons to TSC progression. The Lyz2-positive neural population-specific onset of Tsc1 loss in murine postnatal brain might be the key to pathological phenotypes. Our findings thus provided evidences supporting new insights into the role of Lyz2-positive neurons in TSC events. • A population of Lyz2-positive neurons presents in murine cerebral cortex. • Loss of Tsc1 in Lyz2-positive neuronal cells generate a mouse model mimicking TSC. • Lyz2-positive neuronal cells are expressing GAD67. • Tsc1 deficiency in myeloid cells has less impact on TSC pathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]