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The electrochemical manipulation of organic compounds offers a promising alternative for the synthesis of valuable organic materials under mild conditions. In this study, the MoO2@NiO heterostructure was successfully synthesized as an efficient thin-film electrode material for electrochemical ethanol oxidation, using amorphous Ni(OH)x nanosheets as the precursor. During electrocatalytic ethanol oxidation, this electrode exhibited a significantly reduced overpotential, achieving a value of only 1.41 V at a current density of 50 mA cm−2. Additionally, product analysis revealed that the heterojunction electrode demonstrated high faradaic efficiency (70%) and selectivity (80%) for acetaldehyde. The outstanding performance of this electrode can be attributed to the in situ transformation of MoO2 species during the catalytic process. In the electrolyte, MoO2 exists as MoO42− and undergoes a series of processes including precipitation, dissolution, and redeposition on the electrode surface. These processes lead to the formation of a novel molecular outer layer, significantly enhancing the activity and stability of the electrode material. This study provides valuable insights into the potential replacement of anodes in the electrocatalytic oxidation of ethanol in aqueous solutions, thereby contributing to the development of more efficient and sustainable electrochemical systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reconfigurable and reprocessable thermadapt two‐way shape memory polymers (2W‐SMPs) are highly desirable for many advanced biomimetic applications, but the preparation of these polymers with economical raw materials and convenient approaches still remains a challenge. In this work, thermadapt 2W‐SMPs based on a dual crosslinking network are synthesized by linking polyethylene glycol with hydroxylated modified SBS via dynamic covalent bonds. Benefiting from the synergistic effect of combining a dynamic covalent network and a physical cross‐linking network, the thermadapt 2W‐SMPs exhibit a good balance of mechanical properties and favorable two‐way shape memory effect (2W‐SME) with the reversible actuation strain of 11.9%. The 2W‐SMPs can be reprocessed and transformed into complex 3D shapes after multiple folding processes due to the dynamic covalent exchange as well as the reversible physical crosslinking, and the obtained new samples still exhibit good 2W‐SMEs. Furthermore, the transition temperature of 2W‐SMPs is designed to be close to human body temperature, and it is manufactured into a biomimetic mimosa actuator that can undergo shape changes through finger contact and cooling. This work provides a new idea for the development of thermadapt 2W‐SMPs, and the obtained materials show great potential applications in intelligent actuators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shape‐morphing materials that can exhibit various shape deformations are highly desirable. In this work, shape‐morphing materials with diverse deformation modes are prepared via a facile approach of constructing bilayer structures of SEBS/paraffin blends with different melting temperatures. The bilayer films are prepared using a simple solvent‐coating adhesion method, either by adhering two single‐layers together and stretching or by adhering two pre‐stretched single‐layers. These bilayer films show strong interfacial adhesion due to the similar chemical composition of the two layers. By adjusting the programming method, stretching strain, and thickness ratio, the shape deformation behaviors of the resultant bilayer films can be flexibly tuned. To demonstrate the wide applicability of this approach, several 2D sheets with hinge structures as well as a smart dressing are prepared, in which the former can be transformed into 3D configurations and the latter can automatically fit to the human body and peel off. Owing to the advantages of low cost, easy and large‐scale preparation, recyclability, and high designability, the approach for preparing shape‐morphing bilayer films proposed by this work is versatile and the obtained bilayer films have the potential to satisfy the demands of divergent application fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) has become a standard treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, most patients with NSCLC do not benefit from these treatments. Abnormal vasculature is a hallmark of solid tumors and is involved in tumor immune escape. These abnormalities stem from the increase in the expression of pro-angiogenic factors, which is involved in the regulation of the function and migration of immune cells. Anti-angiogenic agents can normalize blood vessels, and thus transforming the tumor microenvironment from immunosuppressive to immune-supportive by increasing the infiltration and activation of immune cells. Therefore, the combination of immunotherapy with anti-angiogenesis is a promising strategy for cancer treatment. Here, we outline the current understanding of the mechanisms of vascular endothelial growth factor/vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGF/VEGFR) signaling in tumor immune escape and progression, and summarize the preclinical studies and current clinical data of the combination of ICB and anti-angiogenic drugs in the treatment of advanced NSCLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water-responsive actuators have been of increasing interest in various applications. In this work, water-responsive actuators based on the bilayer composite film were prepared using commercialized PVA and SBS by a two-step solution casting method. In order to improve the adhesion between the PVA layer and SBS layer, SBS was firstly epoxidized to improve the polarity. Immediately after a thin film was formed on the surface of the epoxidized-SBS (E-SBS)/tetrahydrofuran solution, the PVA aqueous solution was poured onto the film and dried. It was found that the adhesive property between the two layers was improved and the adhesion strength reached 1005 kPa. The resultant bilayer film displayed the water-responsive two-way shape memory effect and exhibited excellent cyclic performance in five cycles. Flower-like and claw-like actuators based on the bilayer composite film were prepared and the actuation performance was demonstrated, suggesting their potential for applications in the fields of biomedicine and sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study focused on determining whether the 'Fuzi' (FZ) extracts from different extraction methods are related to pregnane X receptor (PXR) and cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4), and explore the mechanism. Methods: FZ was extracted under various conditions, and the components were identified by Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography/Quad Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (UPLC/Q-TOF-MS). Annexin V-FITC and propidium iodide staining assays were used to measure the cell cytotoxicity of these extracts. Real-time PCR, western blot analysis and reporter gene assay were used to detect the expression changes of PXR and CYP3A4. Results: FZ extracts were found to contain high levels of monoester-diterpene alkaloids (MDAs) and diester-diterpene alkaloids (DDAs). FZ extracts were cytotoxic. Interestingly, we found that FZ extracts and DDAs can induce the expressions of PXR and CYP3A4. And the MDAs can inhibit the expressions of PXR and CYP3A4. Conclusion: Different extracts of FZ can induce the expressions of PXR and CYP3A4 in different degrees. This may be related to the drug-drug interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the effect of secondary cytoreductive surgery (SeCRS) followed by platinum-based chemotherapy (PBC) and olaparib tablets as maintenance therapy in patients with BRCA mutated recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer. This was a retrospective study of a prospective database. We collected information on 623 patients diagnosed with BRCA mutated recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer, all of whom underwent SeCRS followed by PBC in combination with or without olaparib. Overall survival and progression-free survival were measured to evaluate treatment effectiveness. Of the 623 patients recruited, 240 underwent SeCRS plus hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy followed by PBC and olaparib maintenance therapy (Group A), 248 underwent SeCRS followed by PBC and olaparib maintenance therapy (Group B), and 135 underwent SeCRS followed by PBC only upon recurrence (Group C). The median progression-free survival for Group A was significantly longer than that for Group B (32.5 vs. 24.2 months, P<0.001), and Group B was significantly longer than Group C (24.2 vs. 15.1 months, P<0.001). The median overall survival for Groups A was significantly longer than that for Group B (71.4 vs. 63.5 months, P<0.001), and Group B was significantly longer than Group C (63.5 vs. 47.5 months, P<0.001). This study suggested that SeCRS followed by PBC and olaparib maintenance therapy resulted in longer overall survival and progression-free survival than SeCRS followed by PBC only in patients with BRCA mutated recurrent ovarian cancer, especially in patients treated with SeCRS plus hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on hollow Co3O4 cubes synthesized via a self-sacrificing template method and their application as an anode material for reversible electrochemical lithium storage. The hollow Co3O4 cube with a porous hierarchical structure increases the contact surface, shortens the diffusion path of ion/electron, and improves its structure stability and collaborative electronic transmission. Due to their ultrathin subunits and hollow interior, the electrodes exhibit excellent electrochemical performance. Impressively, a high discharge specific capacity of 1600 mA h g−1 is obtained at 400 mA g−1 after 100 cycles. And a reversible specific capacity of 1032 mA h g−1 could still be maintained even at 1000 mA g−1 after 150 cycles. This implies the remarkable potential as an anode for lithium ion batteries. Thus, the hollow Co3O4 cube might give insights into transition-metal oxides as energy storage materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Introduction: NAC (NAM, ATAF, and CUC) transcription factor family, one of the important switches of transcription networks in plants, functions in plant growth, development, and stress resistance. Night lily ( Hemerocallis citrina ) is an important horticultural perennial monocot plant that has edible, medicinal, and ornamental values. However, the NAC gene family of night lily has not yet been analyzed systematically to date., Methods: Therefore, we conducted a genome-wide study of the HcNAC gene family and identified a total of 113 HcNAC members from the Hemerocallis citrina genome., Results: We found that 113 HcNAC genes were unevenly distributed on 11 chromosomes. Phylogenetic analysis showed that they could be categorized into 16 instinct subgroups. Proteins clustering together exhibited similar conserved motifs and intron-exon structures. Collinearity analysis indicated that segmental and tandem duplication might contribute to the great expansion of the NAC gene family in night lily, whose relationship was closer with rice than Arabidopsis . Additionally, tissue-specific pattern analysis indicated that most HcNAC genes had relatively higher expression abundances in roots. RNA-Seq along with RT-qPCR results jointly showed HcNAC genes expressed differently under drought and salinity stresses. Interestingly, HcNAC35 was overexpressed in watermelon, and the stress resilience of transgenic lines was much higher than that of wild-type watermelon, which revealed its wide participation in abiotic stress response., Conclusion: In conclusion, our findings provide a new prospect for investigating the biological roles of NAC genes in night lily., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Cao, Wang, Ren, Jia, Liu, Yang, Yu, Guo, Hou, Xu, Li and Xing.)

Thermally insulating aerogels can now be prepared from ceramics, polymers, carbon, and metals and composites between them. However, it is still a great challenge to make aerogels with high strength and excellent deformability. We propose a design concept of hard cores and flexible chains that alternately construct the aerogel skeleton structure. The approach gives the designed SiO 2 aerogel excellent compressive (fracture strain 83.32%), tensile. and shear deformabilities, corresponding to maximum strengths of 22.15, 1.18, and 1.45 MPa, respectively. Also, the SiO 2 aerogel can stably perform 100 load-unload cycles at a 70% large compression strain, demonstrating an excellent resilient compressibility. In addition, the low density of 0.226 g/cm 3 , the high porosity of 88.7%, and the average pore size of 45.36 nm effectively inhibit heat conduction and heat convection, giving the SiO 2 aerogel outstanding thermal insulation properties [0.02845 W/(m·K) at 25 °C and 0.04895 W/(m·K) at 300 °C], and the large number of hydrophobic groups itself also gives it excellent hydrophobicity and hydrophobic stability (hydrophobic angle of 158.4° and saturated mass moisture absorption rate of about 0.327%). The successful practice of this concept has provided different insights into the preparation of high-strength aerogels with high deformability.

Background: Esophageal cancer (EC) is the seventh most common cancer in the world, with 604,000 new cases diagnosed each year. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) including programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) inhibitors have demonstrated a considerable survival advantage over chemotherapy in numerous randomized controlled trials (RCTs), particularly in patients with advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). In this analysis, we aimed to demonstrate that ICIs are more safe and effective than chemotherapy when used as a second-line treatment for advanced ESCC., Methods: Publications on the safety and efficiency of ICIs in advanced ESCC that were available prior to February 2022 were searched in the Cochrane Library, Embase, and PubMed databases. Studies with missing data were eliminated, and studies that compared the treatments between the immunotherapy group and chemotherapy group were included. Statistical analysis was carried out using RevMan 5.3, and risk and quality were evaluated with relevant evaluation tools., Results: Five studies met the inclusion criteria were selected, involving 1,970 patients with advanced ESCC. We compared chemotherapy and immunotherapy in the second-line treatment of advanced ESCC. ICIs considerably enhanced both the objective response rate (P=0.007) and overall survival (OS; P=0.001). However, the effect of ICIs on progression-free survival (PFS) was not significant (P=0.43). ICIs presented fewer grade 3-5 treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs), and there was also a suggested linkage between both PD-L1 expression and the effectiveness of the therapeutic intervention., Conclusions: For patients with advanced ESCC, ICIs are more effective and safer than chemotherapy, and thus have a higher treatment value., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at https://jtd.amegroups.com/article/view/10.21037/jtd-22-1169/coif). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (2023 Journal of Thoracic Disease. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: GATA3 is a transcription factor essential for mammary luminal epithelial cell differentiation. Expression of GATA3 is absent or significantly reduced in basal-like breast cancers. Gata3 loss-of-function impairs cell proliferation, making it difficult to investigate the role of GATA3 deficiency in vivo . We previously demonstrated that CDK inhibitor p18 INK4c (p18) is a downstream target of GATA3 and restrains mammary epithelial cell proliferation and tumorigenesis. Whether and how loss-of-function of GATA3 results in basal-like breast cancers remains elusive. Methods: We generated mutant mouse strains with heterozygous germline deletion of Gata3 in p18 deficient backgrounds and developed a Gata3 depleted mammary tumor model system to determine the role of Gata3 loss in controlling cell proliferation and aberrant differentiation in mammary tumor development and progression. Results: Haploid loss of Gata3 reduced mammary epithelial cell proliferation with induction of p18, impaired luminal differentiation, and promoted basal differentiation in mammary glands. p18 deficiency induced luminal type mammary tumors and rescued the proliferative defect caused by haploid loss of Gata3 . Haploid loss of Gata3 accelerated p18 deficient mammary tumor development and changed the properties of these tumors, resulting in their malignant and luminal-to-basal transformation. Expression of Gata3 negatively correlated with basal differentiation markers in MMTV-PyMT mammary tumor cells. Depletion of Gata3 in luminal tumor cells also reduced cell proliferation with induction of p18 and promoted basal differentiation. We confirmed that expression of GATA3 and basal markers are inversely correlated in human basal-like breast cancers. Conclusions: This study provides the first genetic evidence demonstrating that loss-of-function of GATA3 directly induces basal-like breast cancer. Our finding suggests that basal-like breast cancer may also originate from luminal type cancer., Competing Interests: Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interest exists., (© The author(s).)

Objective: This review summarizes the current status of neoadjuvant therapy and discusses the choice of new clinical research endpoints for non-small cell lung cancer., Background: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is a recognized practice in patients with resectable and locally advanced lung cancer. With the introduction of molecular targeted drugs and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), the overall survival (OS) of patients with lung cancer has been significantly improved, and the original traditional clinical research endpoints are no longer suitable for existing clinical research. In order to accelerate the process of clinical trials and the development and approval of drugs, it is necessary to find suitable alternative indicators as the main indicators of clinical research., Methods: Therefore, this article focuses on clinical trials using disease-free survival (DFS), progression free survival, and pathological evaluation indicators, pathologic complete response and major pathologic response, as surrogate endpoints. We search related literature through PubMed database and clinical trials through clinicaltrials.gov., Conclusions: Pathologic complete response and major pathologic response are recommended as surrogate endpoints in the era of neoadjuvant immunotherapy, and secondary endpoints are listed for the prediction of pathological results. In addition, the definitions of major pathological response (MPR) and PCR should be standardized, and a new pathological evaluation standard should be developed, which is applicable to all current treatment methods., Keywords: Neoadjuvant therapy; resectable lung cancer; clinical research endpoint; pathological response., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at http://dx.doi.org/10.21037/tlcr-21-259). Dr. Guibert reports personal fees from Astra Zeneca, Roche, BMS, MSD, AMGEN, Novartis, Pfizer, Chiesi, outside the submitted work. Dr. RC has received honoraria for lectures, presentations, speakers bureaus, educational events and advisory boards from Astrazeneca, Roche, BMS and MSD, and support for attending meetings and/or travel from MSD and Roche, outside the submitted work. The other authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (2021 Translational Lung Cancer Research. All rights reserved.)