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Substituting slow oxygen evolution reaction (OER) with thermodynamically favorable urea oxidation reaction (UOR) is considered as one of the feasible strategies for achieving energy-saving hydrogen production. Herein, a uniform layer of NiMoO4 nanorods was grown on nickel foam by a hydrothermal method. Then, a series of Ni-MoOx/NF-X nanorod catalysts comprising Ni/NiO and MoOx (MoO2/MoO3) were prepared through regulating annealing atmosphere and reduction temperature. The optimized Ni-MoOx/NF-3 with a large accessible specific area can act as a bifunctional catalyst for electrocatalytic anodic UOR and cathodic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). At a current density of 100 mA cm−2, the introduction of urea can significantly reduce the overpotential of Ni-MoOx/NF-3 by 210 mV compared to OER. In addition, Ni-MoOx/NF-3 has a higher intrinsic activity than other catalysts. It only requires −0.21 and 1.38 V to reach 100 mA cm−2 in HER and UOR, respectively. Such an excellent performance can be attributed to the synergistic function between Ni and MoOx. The presence of metallic Ni and reduced MoOx in pairs is beneficial for improving the electrical conductivity and modulating the electronic structure, resulting in enhancing the electrocatalytic performance. When assembling Ni-MoOx/NF-3 into an overall urea–water splitting system, it can achieve energy-saving hydrogen production and effective removal of urea-rich wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, biopharmaceuticals have received extensive attention from the society, among which recombinant proteins have a good growth trend and a large market share. Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells are the preferred mammalian system to produce glycosylated recombinant protein drugs. A highly efficient and stable cell screening method needs to be developed to obtain more and useful recombinant proteins. Limited dilution method, cell sorting, and semi-solid medium screening are currently the commonly used cell cloning methods. These methods are time-consuming and labor-intensive, and they have the disadvantage of low clone survival rate. Here, a method based on semi-solid medium was developed to screen out high-yielding and stable cell line within 3 weeks to improve the screening efficiency. The semi-solid medium was combined with an expression vector containing red fluorescent protein (RFP) for early cell line development. In accordance with the fluorescence intensity of RFP, the expression of upstream target gene could be indicated, and the fluorescence intensity was in direct proportion to the expression of upstream target gene. In conclusion, semi-solid medium combined with bicistronic expression vector provides an efficient method for screening stable and highly expressed cell lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Anthracycline drugs, as a class of commonly used antitumor chemotherapeutics, play a significant role in the treatment of various cancers. However, they possess notable cardiotoxicity, which seriously undermines the quality of life for cancer patients. Therefore, early monitoring and mitigation of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity (AIC) have become urgent clinical issues to address. This study summarizes the mechanisms of AIC, encompassing oxidative stress, apoptosis, cardiac microenvironment remodeling, ferroptosis, and autophagy. Meanwhile, we have discovered that in addition to traditional medical imaging techniques that can monitor cardiotoxicity, emerging diagnostic tools such as advanced imaging technologies and human induced pluripotent stem cells demonstrate immense potential for early identification of subclinical toxicity and timely pharmacological intervention prior to the occurrence of irreversible cardiac damage. In terms of prevention and treatment of AIC, on the one hand, we can select appropriate drugs based on the molecular mechanisms of AIC to reduce cardiotoxicity. On the other hand, we can use derivatives with lesser cardiotoxicity, such as liposomes and nanoparticles, to prevent AIC, thereby improving the prognosis of cancer patients. Anthracyclines represent a highly efficacious class of chemotherapeutic agents employed extensively in antitumor therapy. They are universally recognized for their potency in treating diverse malignancies, encompassing breast cancer, gastrointestinal tumors, and lymphomas. Nevertheless, the accumulation of anthracyclines within the body can lead to significant cardiac toxicity, adversely impacting both the survival rates and quality of life for tumor patients. This limitation somewhat restricts their clinical utilization. Determining how to monitor and mitigate their cardiotoxicity at an early stage has become an urgent clinical problem to be solved. Therefore, this paper reviews the mechanism of action, early monitoring, and strategies for the prevention of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity for clinical reference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perovskite as an emerging semiconductor luminescent material has attracted widespread attention due to its simple preparation, high luminescence quantum yield, high color purity, tunable spectrum, and ability to cover the entire visible light band. However, due to the influence of water or other highly polar solvents, oxygen, temperature, and radiation, perovskite nanocrystals will aggregate or collapse in the lattice, eventually leading to luminescence quenching. This study starts from the postprocessing of perovskite, uses methyl methacrylate as the monomer and TPO as the photoinitiator, and encapsulates the perovskite powder prepared by the hot injection method through ultraviolet light initiation. A method is proposed to improve the luminescence and crystal structure stability of perovskite. By eliminating the influence of environmental factors on perovskite nanocrystals through the dense structure formed by organic polymers, the resistance of perovskite to strong polar solvents such as water will be greatly improved, and it has great potential in the protection of perovskite. Finally, by changing the proportion of halogen elements in the perovskite resin to change the color of the luminescent resin, a fluorescent coating emitting light in all visible light bands is prepared. Fluorescent coatings are widely used in life and industry fields such as plastics, sol, and paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cyperus stoloniferus is an important species in coastal ecosystems and possesses economic and ecological value. To elucidate the structural characteristics, variation, and evolution of the organelle genome of C. stoloniferus, we sequenced, assembled, and compared its mitochondrial and chloroplast genomes. Results: We assembled the mitochondrial and chloroplast genomes of C. stoloniferus. The total length of the mitochondrial genome (mtDNA) was 927,413 bp, with a GC content of 40.59%. It consists of two circular DNAs, including 37 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 tRNAs, and five rRNAs. The length of the chloroplast genome (cpDNA) was 186,204 bp, containing 93 PCGs, 40 tRNAs, and 8 rRNAs. The mtDNA and cpDNA contained 81 and 129 tandem repeats, respectively, and 346 and 1,170 dispersed repeats, respectively, both of which have 270 simple sequence repeats. The third high-frequency codon (RSCU > 1) in the organellar genome tended to end at A or U, whereas the low-frequency codon (RSCU < 1) tended to end at G or C. The RNA editing sites of the PCGs were relatively few, with only 9 and 23 sites in the mtDNA and cpDNA, respectively. A total of 28 mitochondrial plastid DNAs (MTPTs) in the mtDNA were derived from cpDNA, including three complete trnT-GGU, trnH-GUG, and trnS-GCU. Phylogeny and collinearity indicated that the relationship between C. stoloniferus and C. rotundus are closest. The mitochondrial rns gene exhibited the greatest nucleotide variability, whereas the chloroplast gene with the greatest nucleotide variability was infA. Most PCGs in the organellar genome are negatively selected and highly evolutionarily conserved. Only six mitochondrial genes and two chloroplast genes exhibited Ka/Ks > 1; in particular, atp9, atp6, and rps7 may have undergone potential positive selection. Conclusion: We assembled and validated the mtDNA of C. stoloniferus, which contains a 15,034 bp reverse complementary sequence. The organelle genome sequence of C. stoloniferus provides valuable genomic resources for species identification, evolution, and comparative genomic research in Cyperaceae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Anthracyclines have a central role in anti-cancer therapy, but their side effects of chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity (AIC) during systemic administration have always been a problem for both patients and clinicians. The application of anthracycline agents leads to arrhythmias, causing nonspecific ECG changes. And the incidence rates of abnormal QT changes could be early markers of AIC. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review, meta-analysis, and network meta-analysis to evaluate the arrhythmic risk of anthracyclines and the comparative risk for each agent. We included 4 cohort studies, 8 RCTs, and 18 single-arm studies, and the result shows anthracyclines were associated with a statistically significant 90% increase in the risk of arrhythmia and a 114% increase in the risk of supraventricular arrhythmia. Among them, epirubicin ranked the most likely to have the highest risk of arrhythmia compared with non-anthracycline antineoplastic drugs in the analysis. The purpose of this research is to improve the monitoring of ECGs by clinicians while applying anthracyclines and to try to use molecular imaging technology to study the mechanism of drug action on cardiac electrophysiology in the future. The effects of anthracycline agents on the electrophysiological properties of cardiac cells can be better understood with the help of imaging molecular targets in cardiac cells, which may result in safer and more effective clinical use of the drugs. Background: Chemotherapy is the main first-line treatment, but there is a problem of adverse reactions to systemic drugs. Chemotherapeutic agents may cause adverse effects on the body, influencing the prognosis. Whether the clinical application of anthracyclines is associated with an increased arrhythmic risk remains controversial. To evaluate the arrhythmic risk of anthracyclines as a class, and the comparative risk for each drug, we conducted a systematic review, meta-analysis, and network meta-analysis. Methods: PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library were searched, up to March 2022, for randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, and case–control studies that investigated the association between anthracyclines treatment and the risk of arrhythmia. We followed the PRISMA 2020 guidelines for data selection and extraction. Outcomes were pooled using fixed effects models in cohort studies and randomized controlled studies, and random models in single-arm studies. Direct and indirect comparisons in network meta-analysis were performed using frequentist methods. Results: In total, 4 cohort studies, 8 RCTs, and 18 single-arm studies were included in our analysis. Anthracyclines' use was associated with a statistically significant 90% increase in the risk of arrhythmia (odds ratio [OR] 1.90; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.62–2.24) and a 114% increase in the risk of supraventricular arrhythmia (OR 2.14; 95% CI 1.18–3.89). And the single-arm studies also indicated that the incidence of arrhythmia rate is 20% and the 95% CI is 15/100–25/100. Epirubicin ranked most likely to have the highest risk of arrhythmia compared with non-anthracycline antineoplastic drugs in the analysis (OR 43.07 [95% CI 2.80–2105.83]) by network meta-analysis. Conclusions: Our findings show a significant association between anthracyclines' use and an increased risk of arrhythmia, especially supraventricular arrhythmia. Epirubicin ranked with the highest probability of arrhythmia. These results indicated that cardiac rhythm should be strictly monitored during the application of anthracyclines in clinical practice, and a possible therapy for anthracycline-associated arrhythmia should be explored. Molecular imaging technology is an important means to study the mechanism of drug action on cardiac electrophysiology in the future. By imaging molecular targets in cardiac cells, the effects of drugs on the electrophysiological properties of cardiac cells can be understood, which provides information for the development of safer and more effective drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the development of an improved and eco-friendly synthesis method for (R)-5,7-difluorochroman-4-ol, a key intermediate in the production of Tegoprazan, a medication used to treat acid-related diseases. The researchers optimized the reaction conditions and achieved a high yield and purity of the desired product using lipase-catalyzed resolution and Mitsunobu inversion. This method shows promise for practical use in the green synthesis of Tegoprazan due to its efficiency and environmental sustainability. The document provides a detailed account of the synthesis process and acknowledges financial support from the CQMU Program for Youth Innovation in Future Medicine. [Extracted from the article]

A broad scope of quinazolin-4(3H)-ones or benzothiadiazine 1,1-dioxides was obtained via a transition-metal free and convenient method. This approach involving KHSO4 promoted cyclization and dehydration between diverse functionalized 2-aminobenzamides or 2-aminobenzenesulfonamides and N, N-dimethylformamide derivatives. The protocol offers moderate to excellent yields (45%-93%) under mild condition in a short of reaction time of 6 hours. The use of an environment-friendly and less expensive catalyst KHSO4 also makes this protocol more attractive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) is the application of a low‐level laser device to generate physiological changes and provide therapeutic effects. Till now, the effects of PBMT on the neural differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells have been rarely reported. Herein, the potential effect and mechanism of PBMT on the neural differentiation of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) were preliminarily investigated in our research. The optimal dose of 3.75 J/cm2 was first screened for use in the following neural‐inducing studies. Then, DPSCs were cultured in neural induction medium and treated with laser irradiation for 7 days. From the results of morphology and immunofluorescence, we found that irradiation promoted the formation of neural stem cell‐like spheroids derived from DPSCs and enhanced potential neural differentiation. Furthermore, neural differentiation gene expressions of Nestin, microtubule‐associated protein‐2, and neural cell adhesion molecule were increased after PBMT irradiation. The protein expressions of class III β‐tubulin and neurogenic differentiation factor 1 were also improved. Meanwhile, the involvement of extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK1/2) was investigated by western blot. Our study showed that the neural differentiation of DPSCs was promoted by PBMT, and the underlying mechanism in this process was associated with activating the ERK1/2 signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research explores the causal link between dietary habits and hypertension through Mendelian randomization, providing distinct perspectives on the role of diet in addressing this worldwide health issue. Utilizing instrumental variables, we applied advanced statistical methods, including the weighted median, inverse variance weighted, and MR‐Egger, to evaluate the impact of 17 dietary elements on hypertension. These elements ranged across various food groups, such as fruits, meats, vegetables, and beverages, both alcoholic and nonalcoholic. Our results identified a significant positive association of hypertension with weekly alcohol consumption (OR 1.340 [95%CI 1.0001 to 1.794], p =.0499) and poultry intake (OR 2.569 [95%CI 1.305 to 5.057], p =.00631). Conversely, a negative association was observed with lamb/mutton (OR 0.550 [95%CI 0.343 to 0.881], p =.0129), cheese (OR 0.650 [95%CI 0.519 to 0.813], p =.000159), tea (OR 0.797 [95%CI 0.640 to 0.993], p =.0433), cereal (OR 0.684 [95%CI 0.494 to 0.948], p =.0227), and dried fruit consumption (OR 0.492 [95%CI 0.343 to 0.707], p =.000127). These findings suggest that dietary modifications, such as increasing consumption of specific foods like cheese, lamb/mutton, tea, cereals, and dried fruits, could potentially reduce hypertension risk while reducing intake of alcoholic beverages and poultry might mitigate its increase. No direct causal relationships were established between other dietary factors and hypertension. The study highlights the importance of specific dietary modifications for the prevention and control of hypertension, making a substantial contribution to public health tactics and recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Programmable magnetic soft grippers are highly desirable for diverse applications in drug delivery, object manipulation, and soft robotics. However, current magnetic programming grippers need to be driven by multiple physical fields, which are complicated to operate and single in motion. Here, a method for patterning hard magnetic microparticles in an elastomer matrix is reported. Based on digital light processing (DLP), this method uses controlled reorientation of magnetic particles and selective exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light to encode magnetic particles in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) materials with arbitrary three‐dimensional (3D) orientation. The combination of vertical and horizontal magnetic fields can produce different forces, causing different deformation modes of the grippers. Flexible grippers can be fabricated from a single precursor in one process and produce various deformation and motion forms when a single magnetic field is applied. Moreover, the gripper has the advantages of simple manipulation, fast response, and flexible movement, which is of great significance in the application of biological devices and soft robots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: After myocardial infarction (MI), myocardial tissue undergoes a series of complex biological reactions, among which fibrosis is particularly critical. This process leads to troublesome collagen deposition, which not only affects the normal function of the myocardium but also poses a serious challenge to conventional myocardial injury imaging techniques. Especially in the metabolism of contrast media, the uneven distribution caused by fibrosis greatly reduces the accuracy of imaging. To address this problem, we propose an imaging method for myocardial fibrosis processing after myocardial infarction, aiming to improve the accuracy of myocardial injury imaging. Firstly, a combination of collagenase I and human serum albumin (HSA-C) was used to perform deep clearance of myocardial fibrotic collagen. Collagenase I is an enzyme that specifically acts on collagen fibers and can effectively degrade collagen fibers in the myocardium. However, human serum albumin serves as a carrier to help collagenase better distribute in myocardial tissue. After the successful clearance of fibrotic collagen from the myocardium, optical contrast agents targeting the transferrin receptor were used to precisely localize the damaged myocardium. The expression of the transferrin receptor significantly increased after myocardial injury, so this contrast agent can specifically identify the injured myocardium. This precise localization capability provides an important basis for subsequent imaging techniques. With the use of near-infrared fluorescence imaging, we can precisely track the location of myocardial injury. In the area of myocardial damage, the fluorescence signal is significantly enhanced due to the specific binding of the contrast agent, to achieve accurate tracking of the location of myocardial injury. This pretreatment strategy not only effectively eliminates the background interference caused by contrast agent deposition in fibrotic tissue, but also improves the targeting efficiency of contrast agents in cardiac lesions. The fibrosis process after myocardial infarction (MI) results in a decline in cardiac function due to fibrotic collagen deposition and contrast agents' metabolic disorders, posing a significant challenge to conventional imaging strategies in making heart damage clear in the fibrosis microenvironment. To address this issue, we developed an imaging strategy. Specifically, we pretreated myocardial fibrotic collagen with collagenase I combined with human serum albumin (HSA-C) and subsequently visualized the site of cardiac injury by near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging using an optical contrast agent (CI, CRT-indocyanine green) targeting transferrin receptor 1 peptides (CRT). The key point of this strategy is that pretreatment with HSA-C can reduce background signal interference in the fibrotic tissue while enhancing CI uptake at the heart lesion site, making the boundary between the injured heart tissue and the normal myocardium clearer. Our results showed that compared to that in the untargeted group, the normalized fluorescence intensity of cardiac damage detected by NIR in the targeted group increased 1.28-fold. The normalized fluorescence intensity increased 1.21-fold in the pretreatment group of the targeted groups. These data demonstrate the feasibility of applying pretreated fibrotic collagen and NIR contrast agents targeting TfR1 to identify ferroptosis at sites of cardiac injury, and its clinical value in the management of patients with MI needs further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growth and sustainable development of humanity is heavily dependent upon molecular nitrogen (N2) fixation. Herein we discover ambient catalyst-free disproportionation of N2 by water plasma which occurs via the distinctive HONH-HNOH+• intermediate to yield economically valuable nitroxyl (HNO) and hydroxylamine (NH2OH) products. Calculations suggest that the reaction is prompted by the coordination of electronically excited N2 with water dimer radical cation, (H2O)2+•, in its two-center-three-electron configuration. The reaction products are collected in a 76-needle array discharge reactor with product yields of 1.14 μg cm–2 h–1 for NH2OH and 0.37 μg cm–2 h–1 for HNO. Potential applications of these compounds are demonstrated to make ammonia (for NH2OH), as well as to chemically react and convert cysteine, and serve as a neuroprotective agent (for HNO). The conversion of N2 into HNO and NH2OH by water plasma could offer great profitability and reduction of polluting emissions, thus giving an entirely look and perspectives to the problem of green N2 fixation. The growth and sustainable development of humanity is heavily dependent upon N2 fixation. Herein, authors developed an ambient catalyst-free disproportionation of N2 by water plasma to yield economically valuable nitroxyl and hydroxylamine products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This meta-analysis evaluated the diagnostic accuracy and diagnostic value of [18F]FDG PET/MRI for mediastinal lymph node staging of NSCLC. Methods: Relevant articles in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library were searched until January 2023. Research evaluating [18F]FDG PET/MRI for mediastinal lymph node staging of NSCLC was included. Pooled estimates of sensitivity, specificity, PLR, and NLR were calculated by the "Stata" software. Results: Nine researches were included, containing 618 patients. The pooled sensitivity of [18F]FDG PET/MRI for detecting mediastinal lymph node staging of NSCLC was 0.82 (0.70–0.90), and the pooled specificity was 0.88 (0.82–0.93). PLR and NLR were 7.38 (4.73–11.52) and 0.20 (0.11–0.36), respectively. The AUC value of this imaging modality was 0.92 (0.90–0.94). The post-test probability for [18F]FDG PET/MRI might rise to 88% when the pre-test probability was set at 50%. Conclusions: We considered [18F]FDG PET/MRI as an effective imaging tool with relatively high specificity and sensitivity. It has great potential to be used in the clinical management of patients in NSCLC who are amenable to early surgery. More studies with large sample sizes in the same direction are needed in future to obtain more reliable evidence-based support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Main conclusion: Overexpression of SlBRI1 driven by the Atrd29A promoter could increase the cold resistance of tomato plants during chilling stress but did not improve the expression of SlBRI1 and plant growth under normal conditions. Low temperature is the main limiting factor severely affecting tomato plant development, growth, and fruit quality in winter and spring. Brassinosteroids (BRs) and key BR signaling genes positively regulate tomato plant development and response to chilling stress. Brassinosteroid-insensitive 1 (BRI1) is a major BR receptor that initiates BR signaling. Our results showed that overexpression of SlBRI1 driven by the Atrd29A promoter in transgenic plants did not increase the expression of SlBRI1 under normal conditions but rapidly induced the expression of SlBRI1 during chilling stress. The degree of wilting was lower in Atrd29A promoter-transgenic plants than in wild-type (WT) plants after chilling stress. Atrd29A promoter-transgenic plants exhibited low relative electrolyte leakage and reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation under chilling stress. Transgenic plants showed higher photosynthetic ability and antioxidant enzyme activity than WT plants under chilling stress. The BR content and expression levels of key genes involved in BR biosynthesis in Atrd29A-promoter transgenic plants were significantly lower than those in WT plants during chilling stress. The abscisic acid (ABA) content and expression levels of key ABA biosynthesis genes in the Atrd29A promoter-transgenic plants were significantly higher than those in the WT plants during chilling stress. In addition, Atrd29A promoter-transgenic plants positively enhanced the expression levels of ICE–CBF–COR cold-responsive pathway genes. Therefore, the overexpression of SlBRI1 driven by the Atrd29A promoter in transgenic plants can be a valuable tool for reducing chilling stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structures and properties of hydrophobic association polymers can be controlled using micelles. In this work, we synthesize a reactive hydrophobic surfactant monomer, KS-3, from oleic acid, N,N-dimethylpropylenediamine, and allyl chloride. A strong synergistic effect between KS-3 and cocamidopropyl betaine in aqueous solution enhances the hydrophilic dispersibility of KS-3, thereby transforming spherical micelles into cylindrical micelles. KS-3 was grafted onto a polyacrylamide chain via aqueous free-radical polymerization to obtain RES, a hydrophobic association polymer. Structural analysis revealed that the RES polymers assembled in wormlike micelles were more tightly arranged than those assembled in spherical micelles, resulting in a compact network structure in water, smooth surface, and high thermal stability. Rheological tests revealed that the synthesized polymers with wormlike and spherical micelles exhibited shear-thinning properties along with different structural strengths and viscoelasticities. Therefore, controlling the micellar state can effectively regulate the polymer properties. The polymers obtained through wormlike micelle polymerization have potential applications in fields with high demands, such as drug release, water purification, and oilfield development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The liver is one of the most ordinary metastatic sites of gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma and significantly affects its prognosis. Therefore, this study tried to construct a nomogram that can be applied to predict the likelihood of liver metastases from gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma. 3001 eligible patients diagnosed with gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma between 2010 and 2015 in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database were involved in the analysis. Patients were randomly divided into a training cohort and an internal validation cohort using R software, with an allocation ratio of 7:3. According to the consequences of univariate and multivariate logistic regression, we constructed a nomogram for predicting the risk of liver metastases. The discrimination and calibration ability of the nomogram was appraised by the C-index, ROC curve, calibration plots, and decision curve analysis (DCA). We also used Kaplan–Meier survival curves to compare differences in overall survival in patients with gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma with and without liver metastases. Liver metastases developed in 281 of 3001 eligible patients. The overall survival of patients with gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma with liver metastases before and after propensity score matching (PSM) was obviously lower than that of patients without liver metastases. Six risk factors were finally recognized by multivariate logistic regression, and a nomogram was constructed. The C-index was 0.816 in the training cohort and 0.771 in the validation cohort, demonstrating the good predictive capacity of the nomogram. The ROC curve, calibration curve, and decision curve analysis further demonstrated the good performance of the predictive model. The nomogram can accurately predict the likelihood of liver metastases in gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis of efficient and sustainable heterogeneous Pd-based catalysts has been an active field of research due to their crucial role in carbon–carbon coupling reactions. In this study, we developed a facile and eco-friendly in situ assembly technique to produce a PdFe bimetallic hyper-crosslinked polymer (HCP@Pd/Fe) to use as a highly active and durable catalyst in the Ullmann reaction. The HCP@Pd/Fe catalyst exhibits a hierarchical pore structure, high specific surface area, and uniform distribution of active sites, which promote catalytic activity and stability. Under mild conditions, the HCP@Pd/Fe catalyst is capable of efficiently catalyzing the Ullmann reaction of aryl chlorides in aqueous media. The exceptional catalytic performance of HCP@Pd/Fe is attributed to its robust absorption capability, high dispersion, and strong interaction between Fe and Pd, as confirmed by various material characterizations and control experiments. Furthermore, the coated structure of a hyper-crosslinked polymer enables easy recycling and reuse of the catalyst for at least 10 cycles without any significant loss of activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, a microwave (MW)/millimeter wave (MMW) aperture-sharing antenna is proposed. The antenna is constructed using two orthogonal columns of grounded vias from a 3.5 GHz slot-loaded half-mode substrate-integrated waveguide (HMSIW) antenna. These vias are reused to create two sets of 1 × 4 MMW substrate-integrated dielectric resonator antenna (SIDRA) arrays. With this proposed partial structure reuse strategy, the MW antenna and MMW arrays can be integrated in a shared-aperture manner, improving space utilization and enabling dual-polarized beam steering capability in the MMW band, which is highly desirable for multiple-input multipleoutput (MIMO) applications. The integrated antenna prototype was manufactured and measured for verification. The 3.5 GHz antenna has a relative bandwidth of 3.4% (3.44–3.56 GHz) with a peak antenna gain of 5.34 dBi, and the 28 GHz antenna arrays cover the frequency range of 26.5–29.8 GHz (11.8%) and attain a measured peak antenna gain of 11.0 dBi. Specifically, the 28 GHz antenna arrays can realize dual-polarization and ±45° beam steering capability. The dual-band antenna has a very compact structure, and it is applicable for 5G mobile communication terminals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most sepsis deaths are due to the development of multiple organ failure, in which heart failure is a recognized manifestation of sepsis. To date, the role of liver X receptors α (NR1H3) in sepsis is still uncertain. Here, we hypothesized that NR1H3 mediates multiple essential sepsis‐related signalings to attenuate septic heart failure. Adult male C57BL/6 or Balbc mice and HL‐1 myocardial cell line were performed for in vivo and in vitro experiments, respectively. NR1H3 knockout mice or NR1H3 agonist T0901317 was applied to evaluate the impact of NR1H3 on septic heart failure. We found decreased myocardial expression levels of NR1H3‐related molecules while increased NLRP3 level in septic mice. NR1H3 knockout worsensed cardiac dysfunction and injury in mice subjected to cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), in association with exacerbated NLRP3‐mediated inflammation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and apoptosis‐related markers. The administration of T0901317 reduced systemic infection and improve cardiac dysfunction in septic mice. Moreover, Co‐IP assays, luciferase reporter assays, and chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis, confirmed that NR1H3 directly repressed NLRP3 activity. Finally, RNA‐seq detection further clarified an overview of the roles of NR1H3 in sepsis. In general, our findings indicate that NR1H3 had a significant protective effect against sepsis and sepsis‐induced heart failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Heart failure is a common complication of sepsis with a high mortality rate. It has been reported that melatonin can attenuate septic injury due to various properties. On the basis of previous reports, this study will further explore the effects and mechanisms of melatonin pretreatment, posttreatment, and combination with antibiotics in the treatment of sepsis and septic myocardial injury. Methods and results: Our results showed that melatonin pretreatment showed an obvious protective effect on sepsis and septic myocardial injury, which was related to the attenuation of inflammation and oxidative stress, the improvement of mitochondrial function, the regulation of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS), and the activation of the AMPK signaling pathway. In particular, AMPK serves as a key effector for melatonin-initiated myocardial benefits. In addition, melatonin posttreatment also had a certain degree of protection, while its effect was not as remarkable as that of pretreatment. The combination of melatonin and classical antibiotics had a slight but limited effect. RNA-seq detection clarified the cardioprotective mechanism of melatonin. Conclusion: Altogether, this study provides a theoretical basis for the application strategy and combination of melatonin in septic myocardial injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, college students were required to stay at home and maintain social distance for the entire spring semester of 2020. There is little research on how family functioning influenced mental health problems and how coping styles moderated the relationship between family functioning and mental health problems among college students during their stay-at-home period. Methods: A total of 13,462 college students (age = 16–29 years) completed four online surveys between February and October 2020, namely the outbreak phase, remission phase, online study phase, and school reopening phase in Guangdong Province, China. Family functioning was assessed by the Family APGAR; coping styles were assessed by the Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire (SCSQ), depression symptoms and anxiety symptoms were evaluated by the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7) respectively. Generalized estimating equations were used to assess associations between variables, the logit link function was used to estimate the odds ratio of different subgroups, the Newton–Raphson method was used to estimate parameters, and the Wald test was used to test the main effect and the interaction effect. Results: The incidence rates of depression increased during the stay-at-home period from 33.87%, 95% CI (29.88%, 38.10%) to 40.08% 95% CI (35.76%, 44.55%) after schools reopened, χ2 = 193.68, p < 0.001. The incidence rates of anxiety increased from 17.45%, 95% CI (14.59%, 20.73%) to 26.53%, 95% CI (16.94%, 23.67%) over the entire period, χ2 = 195.74, p < 0.001. The percentages of students with highly functional, moderately dysfunctional and severely dysfunctional family functioning were 48.23%, 43.91 and 7.86% at T1 and 46.20%, 45.28%, and 8.52 at T4, respectively. The percentage of subjects with active coping style was 23.9%, negative coping style was 17.4%, strong response coping was 26.9%, and weak response coping was 31.7%. The incidence rate of depression and anxiety for different family functioning groups varied at different time points, and the interaction effect was significant (χ2 = 52.97, p < 0.001 and χ2 = 51.25, p < 0.001, respectively). The incidence rate of depression and anxiety for different family functioning groups with different coping styles also varied at different time points, the interaction effect was likewise significant (χ2 = 862.09, p < 0.001 and χ2 = 583.29, p < 0.001, respectively). Conclusions: Having a severely dysfunctional family and a negative coping style increase the incidence rates of depression and anxiety. These findings highlight the importance of paying special attention to college students' family functioning and promoting appropriate coping strategies during and after COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

N-acetylcysteine (NAC) possesses a strong capability to ameliorate high-fat diet (HFD)-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in mice, but the underlying mechanism is still unknown. Our study aimed to clarify the involvement of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) in the beneficial effects of NAC on HFD-induced NAFLD. C57BL/6J mice were fed a normal-fat diet (10 % fat), a HFD (45 % fat) or a HFD plus NAC (2 g/l). After 14-week of intervention, NAC rescued the deleterious alterations induced by HFD, including the changes in body and liver weights, hepatic TAG, plasma alanine aminotransferase, plasma aspartate transaminase and liver histomorphology (haematoxylin and eosin and Oil red O staining). Through whole-transcriptome sequencing, 52 167 (50 758 known and 1409 novel) hepatic lncRNA were detected. Our cross-comparison data revealed the expression of 175 lncRNA was changed by HFD but reversed by NAC. Five of those lncRNA, lncRNA-NONMMUT148902·1 (NO_902·1), lncRNA-XR_001781798·1 (XR_798·1), lncRNA-NONMMUT141720·1 (NO_720·1), lncRNA-XR_869907·1 (XR_907·1), and lncRNA-ENSMUST00000132181 (EN_181), were selected based on an absolute log2 fold change value of greater than 4, P -value < 0·01 and P -adjusted value < 0·01. Further qRT-PCR analysis showed the levels of lncRNA-NO_902·1, lncRNA-XR_798·1, and lncRNA-EN_181 were decreased by HFD but restored by NAC, consistent with the RNA sequencing. Finally, we constructed a ceRNA network containing lncRNA-EN_181, 3 miRNA, and 13 mRNA, which was associated with the NAC-ameliorated NAFLD. Overall, lncRNA-EN_181 might be a potential target in NAC-ameliorated NAFLD. This finding enhanced our understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying the beneficial role of NAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liver-resident natural killer cells, a unique lymphocyte subset in liver, develop locally and play multifaceted immunological roles. However, the mechanisms for the maintenance of liver-resident natural killer cell homeostasis remain unclear. Here we show that early-life antibiotic treatment blunt functional maturation of liver-resident natural killer cells even at adulthood, which is dependent on the durative microbiota dysbiosis. Mechanistically, early-life antibiotic treatment significantly decreases butyrate level in liver, and subsequently led to defective liver-resident natural killer cell maturation in a cell-extrinsic manner. Specifically, loss of butyrate impairs IL-18 production in Kupffer cells and hepatocytes through acting on the receptor GPR109A. Disrupted IL-18/IL-18R signaling in turn suppresses the mitochondrial activity and the functional maturation of liver-resident natural killer cells. Strikingly, dietary supplementation of experimentally or clinically used Clostridium butyricum restores the impaired liver-resident natural killer cell maturation and function induced by early-life antibiotic treatment. Our findings collectively unmask a regulatory network of gut-liver axis, highlighting the importance of the early-life microbiota in the development of tissue-resident immune cells. Liver-resident natural killer cells develop locally and have multiple immunological roles in situ. Here the authors investigate the gut-liver axis and show the impact of the intestinal microbiota on the development of liver-resident natural killer cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a member of the ternary sulfides, CdIn2S4 is a visible light responded catalyst with a band gap of 2.2–2.6 eV, which is suitable for solar spectrum. In this study, a simple two-step solvothermal method was used to construct Ni12P5/In(OH)3/CdIn2S4 composite catalysts with type-II and Z-scheme heterojunctions, and there was a synergy between the two heterojunctions. The Ni12P5/In(OH)3/CdIn2S4 composite catalyst formed a donor-mediator-acceptor system for photogenerated electrons, which greatly improved the separation efficiency of the photogenerated carriers. Moreover, the highest hydrogen production activity achieved by the Ni12P5/In(OH)3/CdIn2S4 composites was 5.75 mmol g−1 h−1, which was 21 times the original CdIn2S4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renal tubular atrophy is a hallmark of chronic kidney disease. The cause of tubular atrophy, however, remains elusive. Here we report that reduction of renal tubular cell polynucleotide phosphorylase (PNPT1) causes renal tubular translation arrest and atrophy. Analysis of tubular atrophic tissues from renal dysfunction patients and male mice with ischemia-reperfusion injuries (IRI) or unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) treatment shows that renal tubular PNPT1 is markedly downregulated under atrophic conditions. PNPT1 reduction leads to leakage of mitochondrial double-stranded RNA (mt-dsRNA) into the cytoplasm where it activates protein kinase R (PKR), followed by phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor 2α (eIF2α) and protein translational termination. Increasing renal PNPT1 expression or inhibiting PKR activity largely rescues IRI- or UUO-induced mouse renal tubular injury. Moreover, tubular-specific PNPT1-knockout mice display Fanconi syndrome-like phenotypes with impaired reabsorption and significant renal tubular injury. Our results reveal that PNPT1 protects renal tubules by blocking the mt-dsRNA-PKR-eIF2α axis. Renal tubular atrophy is a hallmark of chronic kidney disease. The study by Zhu et al. reveals the protective role of tubular polynucleotide phosphorylase (PNPT1) against renal atrophy by blocking the leakage of mitochondrial dsRNAs into cytoplasm where they activate the PKReIF2α axis and terminate translation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effects of transitional care (TC) programs on the health outcomes of discharged older patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs). Methods: A total of 160 older patients were recruited from two campuses of a public teaching hospital in China. Patients were grouped according to the campus to which they were admitted. The TC programs commenced one day before discharge and lasted 6 months after discharge. Repeated‐measures analysis of variance was used to analyse the effects of the TC programs. Results: The TC programs improved the discharge of older patients with OVCF in their activities of daily living (ADLs), pain levels and social support, and decreased fracture recurrence rates. Conclusions: This study provides evidence of concurrent clinical improvements and health outcomes in discharged older patients with OVCFs from the effects of TC programs based on social support theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a promising technology for energy storage and conversion, solar-driven reduction of nitrogen to ammonia has attracted a lot of attention. Thus, ternary nanocomposites of PdO/Au–TiO2 and Au/PdO–TiO2 were constructed in order to enhance the photocatalytic activity of TiO2. Because of the distinctive structure of PdO/Au–TiO2, the TiO2 supplies more sites of absorption and reaction; PdO improves whole-light harvesting; and Au is used as an electron transfer medium. All these phenomena facilitate the interfacial charge transfer and efficient separation of photogenerated electrons and holes. Characterization was performed, including XRD, FT-IR, STEM-EDS, and XPS, to confirm the presence of both Au and PdO nanoparticles on the TiO2 surface and, therefore, the formation of these ternary nanocomposites. The photocatalytic activity of the ternary nanocomposites was tested and, as expected, PdO/Au–TiO2 exhibits a higher photocatalytic nitrogen fixation performance (198.4 mg L−1) compared to Au/PdO–TiO2. This is mainly due to the fact that the loading order of Au and PdO on TiO2 has a significant effect on the pathway of electron transport; moreover, the PdO/Au–TiO2 composite has lower carrier recombination efficiency and better charge transfer capability, and thus has the best photocatalytic nitrogen fixation performance. These findings are of great significance in the design of effective photocatalytic materials in the field of solar energy conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Salmonella infection in livestock and poultry causes salmonellosis, and is mainly treated using antibiotics. However, the misuse use of antibiotics often triggers the emergence of multi-drug-resistant Salmonella strains. Currently, Salmonella phages is safe and effective against Salmonella, serving as the best drug of choice. This study involved 16 Salmonella bacteriophages separated and purified from the sewage and the feces of the broiler farm. A phage, vB_SalP_LDW16, was selected based on the phage host range test. The phage vB_SalP_LDW16 was characterized by the double-layer plate method and transmission electron microscopy. Furthermore, the clinical therapeutic effect of phage vB_SalP_LDW16 was verified by using the pathogenic Salmonella Enteritidis in the SPF chicken model. Results: The phage vB_SalP_LDW16 with a wide host range was identified to the family Siphoviridae and the order Caudoviridae, possess a double-stranded DNA and can lyse 88% (22/25) of Salmonella strains stored in the laboratory. Analysis of the biological characteristics, in addition, revealed the optimal multiplicity of infection (MOI) of vB_SalP_LDW16 to be 0.01 and the phage titer to be up to 3 × 1014 PFU/mL. Meanwhile, the phage vB_SalP_LDW16 was found to have some temperature tolerance, while the titer decreases rapidly above 60 ℃, and a wide pH (i.e., 5–12) range as well as relative stability in pH tolerance. The latent period of phage was 10 min, the burst period was 60 min, and the burst size was 110 PFU/cell. Furthermore, gastric juice was also found to highly influence the activity of the phage. The clinical treatment experiments showed that phage vB_SalP_LDW16 was able to significantly reduce the bacterial load in the blood through phage treatment, thereby improving the pathological changes in the intestinal, liver, and heart damage, and promoting the growth and development of the chicken. Conclusions: The phage vB_SalP_LDW16 is a highly lytic phage with a wide host range, which can be potentially used for preventing and treating chicken salmonellosis, as an alternative or complementary antibiotic treatment in livestock farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Septic heart failure accounts for high mortality rates globally. With a strong reducing capacity, zero-valent iron nanoparticles (nanoFe) have been applied in many fields. However, the precise roles and mechanisms of nanoFe in septic cardiomyopathy remain unknown. Results: NanoFe was prepared via the liquid-phase reduction method and functionalized with the biocompatible polymer sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC). We then successfully constructed a mouse model of septic myocardial injury by challenging with cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Our findings demonstrated that nanoFe has a significant protective effect on CLP-induced septic myocardial injury. This may be achieved by attenuating inflammation and oxidative stress, improving mitochondrial function, regulating endoplasmic reticulum stress, and activating the AMPK pathway. The RNA-seq results supported the role of nanoFe treatment in regulating a transcriptional profile consistent with its role in response to sepsis. Conclusions: The results provide a theoretical basis for the application strategy and combination of nanoFe in sepsis and septic myocardial injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a compact broadband planar inverted-F antenna (PIFA) with dual-resonant modes (TM1/2,2 and TM3/2,0) is proposed for 5G applications. By loading a pair of horizontal slots on the patch, the TM3/2,0 mode can be shifted downward and combined with the TM1/2,2 mode, leading to a dual-mode operation. Meanwhile, another pair of slots, which are orthogonal to the previous pair, is introduced to improve the impedance matching of the antenna. Moreover, the substrate with a high dielectric constant is used in this design to achieve a compact antenna size. In order to verify the principle and the design method, an antenna prototype was fabricated and measured. Experimental results show that the PIFA has a good performance with a −10 dB impedance bandwidth of 14.5% (3.17–3.67 GHz), a peak gain of 6.23 dBi, a low cross-polarization level of −17.3 dB, and a compact size of 0.45 × 0.26 × 0.03 λ013 (λ01 is the free-space wavelength at 3.5 GHz). The antenna is predicted to be suitable for 5G terminal applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CdS is always regarded as one of the most focused non-noble metal photocatalysts responding to visible light. However, it is difficult to be widely used in the field of photocatalysis because of the rapid recombination of photo-induced carriers. A rational structural design is urgently needed to separate the electron–hole pairs efficiently. Herein, CdS was loaded on NiS nanorod surface to form a dendritic structure CdS/NiS p-n heterojunction for high reactivity of photocatalytic hydrogen production. A maximum hydrogen production rate of 17.1 mmol g−1 h−1 was achieved from 65% CdS/NiS under visible light irradiation. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Mott–Schottky curve, and several photoelectrochemical tests were applied to study the enhancement mechanism. In conclusion, the photocatalytic activity is enhanced mainly because the p-n heterojunction builds a path for the directional charge transfer induced by the internal electric field, which improves the separation efficiency of photo-induced carriers. This research provides suggestions for the design of efficient hydrogen production photocatalysts. CdS is loaded on NiS nanorod to form a dendritic structure CdS/NiS composite catalyst and showed an excellent hydrogen production rate of 17.1 mmol g−1 h−1 which is attributed to the one-way transmission of the photo-induced electrons through p-n heterojunction. NiS is found to be the reaction site of the photo-oxidation reaction but not of reduction reaction, while CdS is the main source of the photoinduced charge carriers and the place where hydrogen generated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Instrumental support, which is defined as practical, tangible, and informational assistance extended to patients, is crucial for older people in transition. However, little is known about instrumental support in transitional care. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the instrumental support of older people in transitional care. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted using the Questionnaire of Instrumental Support in Transitional Care (QISCT) to collect data from 747 older people in China from September to November 2020. Survey items consisted of a sociodemographic characteristics questionnaire and the QISCT. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine the association between independent variables and the QISCT scores. Results: The total score of the QISCT was 39.43 (± 9.11), and there was a significant gap between the anticipated support and received support. The satisfaction of instrumental support was low. Multiple regression analyses showed that educational level, the number of intimate relationships, monthly family income, monthly costs of transitional care, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were associated with instrumental support in transitional care. Conclusions: To cope with the burden caused by chronic disease, the government and transitional care teams should establish a demand-oriented transitional care service model and pay more attention to helping older people obtain adequate and satisfactory instrumental support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The commensal microbiota is involved in maintaining local pulmonary immune homeostasis under physiological conditions. Alterations in the amount and dominant species of the microbiota can reshape the immune response of the body and lead to a variety of lung diseases, including cancer. The precise mechanisms by which microbiota regulate immune cells during the progression of lung cancer remain obscure. In this study, using a Kras-mutated-driven spontaneous lung cancer mouse model, we found that the depletion of microbiota can alleviate lung lesions in Kras-mutated mice at different stages of tumour development. Long-term antibiotic treatment significantly reduced the number NK cells and IFN-γ secretion and CD8+T cells in the lungs of wild-type (WT) mice, suggesting that the microbiota plays an important role in maintaining homeostasis of NK cells and CD8+T cells under normal conditions. However, in Kras-mutated mice, the altered pulmonary immune microenvironment resulted in a microbiota disorder and in the loss of the ability to regulate the immune responses of NK cells and CD8+T cells, thus promoting the occurrence and development of lung cancer. Further mechanistic studies have shown that the CXCL9-CXCR3 axis participated in the local recruitment of NK cells and CD8+T cells by the microbiota into lung tissues in Kras-mutated mice. Our findings reveal the role of the microbiota in reshaping tumour-related immune responses involving NK cells and CD8+T cells and shed light on the clinical immunotherapy of lung cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For automobile radar systems, the antenna array requires a low sidelobe level (SLL) to reduce interference. A low-SLL and low-cost planar antenna array are proposed in this article for millimeter-wave automotive radar applications. The proposed array consists of six linear series-fed patch arrays, a series distribution network using a grounded co-planar waveguide (GCPW), and a bed of nails. First, a hybrid HFSS-MATLAB optimization platform is set up to easily obtain good impedance matching and low SLL of the linear series-fed patch array. Then, a six-way GCPW power divider is designed to combine the optimized linear sub-array to achieve a planar array. However, since CCPW is a semi-open structure, like a microstrip line, the parasitic radiation generated by the GCPW feeding network will lead to the deterioration of the SLL. To solve this problem, a bed of nails—as an artificial magnetic conductor (AMC)—is designed and placed above the feeding networking to create an electromagnetic stopband in the working band. Its working mechanism has been explained in detail. The feeding network cannot effectively radiate electromagnetic waves into free space. Thus, the parasitic radiation can be suppressed. A low-SLL planar array prototype working at 79 GHz is designed, manufactured, and measured. The measured results confirm that the proposed low-SLL planar array has a −10 dB impedance bandwidth of 3 GHz from 77 to 80 GHz and a maximum peak gain of 21 dBi. The measured SLL is −24 dB and −23 dB in the E-plane and H-plane at 79 GHz, respectively. The proposed low SLL array can be used for adaptive cruise control (ACC) system applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recently, there has been a burgeoning interest in radiofrequency ablation combined with stent (RFA + Stent) for unresectable malignant biliary obstruction (MBO). This study aimed to perform a meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy and safety of RFA + Stent compared with biliary stent alone. Methods: We searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Science databases from their inception dates to June 20, 2021, for studies that compared RFA + Stent and stent alone for unresectable MBO. The main outcomes were survival, patency, and adverse effects. All meta-analyses were calculated using the random-effects model. Results: A total of 19 studies involving 1946 patients were included in this study. Compared with stent alone, RFA + Stent was significantly associated with better overall survival (HR 0.55; 95% CI 0.48, 0.63; P < 0.00001), longer mean survival time (SMD 2.20; 95% CI 1.17, 3.22; P < 0.0001), longer mean stent patency time (SMD 1.37; 95% CI 0.47, 2.26; P = 0.003), higher stent patency at 6 months (OR 2.82; 95% CI 1.54, 5.18; P = 0.0008). The two interventions had similar incidence of postoperative abdominal pain (OR 1.29; 95% CI 0.94, 1.78; P = 0.11), mild bleeding (OR 1.28; 95% CI 0.65, 2.54; P = 0.48), cholangitis (OR 1.09; 95% CI 0.76, 1.55; P = 0.65), pancreatitis (OR 1.39; 95% CI 0.82, 2.38; P = 0.22). Furthermore, the serum bilirubin levels and stricture diameter after operations were significantly alleviated than before operations, but the degree of alleviation between the two groups were not significantly different (all P > 0.05). Conclusion: Although the alleviation of serum bilirubin and stricture diameter did not differ between the two interventions, RFA + Stent can significantly improve the survival and stent patency with comparable procedure-related adverse events than stent alone. Thus, RFA + Stent should be recommended as an attractive alternative to biliary stent alone for patients with unresectable MBO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psoralidin (PSO) is a natural phenolic coumarin extracted from the seeds of Psoralea corylifolia L. Growing preclinical evidence indicates that PSO has anti‐inflammatory, anti‐vitiligo, anti‐bacterial, and anti‐viral effects. Growth arrest‐specific gene 6 (GAS6) and its receptor, Axl, modulate cellular oxidative stress, apoptosis, survival, proliferation, migration, and mitogenesis. Notably, the neuroprotective role of the GAS6/Axl axis has been identified in previous studies. We hypothesize that PSO ameliorates cerebral hypoxia/reoxygenation (HR) injury via activating the GAS6/Axl signaling. We first confirmed that PSO was not toxic to the cells and upregulated GAS6 and Axl expression after HR injury. Moreover, PSO exerted a marked neuroprotective effect against HR injury, represented by restored cell viability and cell morphology, decreased lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Furthermore, PSO pretreatment also elevated the levels of nuclear factor‐related factor 2 (Nrf‐2), NAD(P)H dehydrogenase quinone‐1 (NQO1), heme oxygenase‐1 (HO‐1), silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1), peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor coactivator 1α (PGC‐1α), nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF1), uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2), and B‐cell lymphoma 2 (BCl2) both in the condition of baseline and HR injury. However, GAS6 siRNA or Axl siRNA inhibited the neuroprotective effects of PSO. Our findings suggest that PSO pretreatment attenuated HR‐induced oxidative stress, apoptosis, and mitochondrial dysfunction in neuroblastoma cells through the activation of GAS6/Axl signaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both radiofrequency ablation (RFA), photodynamic therapy (PDT), and biliary stent alone are common local palliative therapies for unresectable malignant biliary obstruction (MBO), but the best modality is uncertain. Embase, Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Web of Science were systematically searched up to 30 January 2022, for eligible studies that compared either two or all modalities in unresectable MBO. Thirty-three studies with 2974 patients were included in this study. The PDT+Stent and RFA+Stent groups had better overall survival and longer mean survival time than Stent alone (all P < 0.05). Moreover, patients with RFA+Stent demonstrated better mean duration of stent patency (MD: 2.0, 95%CI,1.1 to 2.8, P < 0.05) than Stent alone. The three modalities had similar postoperative mild bleeding, cholangitis, and pancreatitis (all P ≥ 0.05). According to network ranking, PDT+Stent was most likely to provide better survival, RFA+Stent was most likely to maintain stent patency. RFA or PDT plus biliary stent is effective and safe local palliative therapy for unresectable MBO, but the current studies cannot absolutely determine which modality is the best. We should offer patients the most appropriate treatment according to the advantage of each therapy and the patient's performance status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this letter, a compact dual-band rectenna is modeled and developed for low radio frequency (RF) power harvesting. The proposed theoretical model can provide a comprehensive analysis of the rectenna, including the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the diode, matching efficiency of the rectifier, and total PCE of the rectenna. In the rectenna design, a very compact omnidirectional dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) is proposed with a broad bandwidth exceeding 40%. Meanwhile, a dual-band rectifier is designed based on a single branch in the low-power range with bandwidths covering the two fifth-generation (5G) frequency bands in China (2.515–2.675 and 3.4–3.6 GHz). It was found that the theoretical model can show a high accuracy with the calculation error within 5% in analyzing the dual-band rectifier. The DRA and the dual-band rectifier are integrated to form a compact dual-band rectenna. It shows a higher PCE than those of the existing multiband designs working at similar low-power levels. It is hoped to be implemented in 5G-enabled Internet of Things (IoT) applications for powering wireless sensor nodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the factorial and concurrent validity of a scale developed for assessing teachers' self-efficacy beliefs in engaging with diversity in early childhood education settings. According to tests of measurement invariance, the conceptualization of the constructs varied to some extent between Finnish student teachers and qualified teachers. Qualified teachers reported, at the item level, higher confidence in engaging with diversity in mainstream early childhood classrooms than student teachers. Structural equation modeling demonstrated that for both groups, higher levels of reported confidence in planning and implementing inclusive teaching–learning interactions were related to a higher level of closeness during interactions with children. The evidence for concurrent validity may imply beneficial and reciprocal influences between teachers' confidence in their professional competence and close teacher–child relationships. The implications of the study are discussed from the perspective of teacher training and professional development in the early childhood education context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To develop a targeted drug for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Methods. In this study, methotrexate (MTX) was combined with glucosamine (Glu) and modified with folic acid (FA) to prepare folic acid-glucosamine/methotrexate polymer (FA-Glu/MTX). The stability, sustained release, cytotoxicity, and therapeutic effect were evaluated based on in vitro and in vivo experiments. Results. FA-Glu/MTX had good stability, sustained release, and low cytotoxicity. In addition, the results of in vivo experiments proved that compared with MTX, FA-Glu/MTX has a stronger therapeutic effect on RA and has certain targeting properties. Conclusion. FA-Glu/MTX is expected to become a new option for RA treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]