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Aging is generally associated with declining somatosensory function, which seems at odds with the high prevalence of chronic pain in older people. This discrepancy is partly related to the high prevalence of degenerative diseases such as osteoarthritis in older people. However, whether aging alters pain processing in the primary somatosensory cortex (S1), and if so, whether it promotes pain chronification is largely unknown. Herein, we report that older mice displayed prolonged nociceptive behavior following nerve injury when compared with mature adult mice. The expression of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐gamma coactivator‐1α (PGC‐1α) in S1 was decreased in older mice, whereas PGC‐1α haploinsufficiency promoted prolonged nociceptive behavior after nerve injury. Both aging and PGC‐1α haploinsufficiency led to abnormal S1 neural dynamics, revealed by intravital two‐photon calcium imaging. Manipulating S1 neural dynamics affected nociceptive behavior after nerve injury: chemogenetic inhibition of S1 interneurons aggravated nociceptive behavior in naive mice; chemogenetic activation of S1 interneurons alleviated nociceptive behavior in older mice. More interestingly, adeno‐associated virus‐mediated expression of PGC‐1α in S1 interneurons ameliorated aging‐associated chronification of nociceptive behavior as well as aging‐related S1 neural dynamic changes. Taken together, our results showed that aging‐associated decrease of PGC‐1α promotes pain chronification, which might be harnessed to alleviate the burden of chronic pain in older individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the role of miRNA in liver damage caused by Echinococcus multilocularis infection. Methods: Six female C57BL mice were randomly divided into two groups, the control group and the infection group. Mice in the control group were injected with 100 μL PBS through the hepatic portal vein, and mice in the infection group were infected with E. multilocularis via the hepatic portal vein to establish a mouse model of infection. Small RNA sequencing was performed for detecting the expression of miRNAs in the liver of mice infected with 2000 E. multilocularis after 3 months of infection, screen out miRNAs related to liver damage, and verify by RT‐PCR. Results: Seventy‐one differentially expressed miRNAs were found in the liver in comparison with control, and a total of 36 mouse miRNAs with |FC| >0.585 were screened out, respectively. In addition, Targetscan (V5.0) and miRanda (v3.3a) software were used to predict differential miRNAs target genes and functional enrichment of target genes. Functional annotation showed that "cytokine‐cytokine interaction," "positive regulation of cytokine production," "inflammatory response," and "leukocyte activation" were enriched in the liver of E. multilocularis‐infected mice. Moreover, the pathways "human cytomegalovirus infection," "cysteine and methionine metabolism," "Notch signaling pathway," and "ferroptosis" were involved in liver disease. Furthermore, four miRNAs (mmu‐miR‐30e‐3p, mmu‐miR‐203‐3p, mmu‐miR‐125b‐5p, and mmu‐miR‐30c‐2‐3p) related to liver injury were screened and verified. Conclusion: This study revealed that the expression profiling of miRNAs in the livers was changed after E. multilocularis infection, and improved our understanding of the transcriptomic landscape of hepatic echinococcosis in mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, a rapidly growing demand is witnessed for energy‐conversion technologies. The moisture‐electric generators (MEGs) which can generate electricity without need of mechanical, thermal, or solar energy input have great potential in meeting the demand. Compared with carbon materials, hydrogels and other materials like vitrimers have been rapidly developed for MEGs over the last two years, leading to significant breakthrough in MEG's performance such as much wider working range of humidity, remarkably higher output, and longer duration. Designs of MEGs have also been advanced with elaborated consideration of active material and device structures. Though some reviews present the recent development from their unique aspects, reviews in the view of advanced design for MEGs are few. Here, the newest development is systematically reviewed in the field of MEG devices, reflecting advanced design for moist‐induced power generating systems. First, background and mechanisms are briefed, and then most important considerations for active material design are illustrated together with solutions to the shortcomings of materials. Next, strategies are summarized to obtain MEG devices with high output performance by taking the whole power generating process into consideration, after which, the design thought for future MEGs is proposed. Finally, some perspectives are put forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to the flexible adjustability of laminates, layered double hydroxides (LDHs) can achieve enhanced conductivity and capacitance. However, the regulation of interlayer activity is a great challenge because of the unconquerable charge repulsion between laminates. Herein, a dual‐activity design of LDHs is uniquely realized, including laminate defects and interlayer ZnS quantum dots (QDs). Via pre‐embedding Zn2+ and controllable vulcanization, ZnS‐QDs interpenetrate between CuCo‐LDH layers, exposing abundant active sites and widening the layer spacing. Meanwhile, sulfur replaces part of the oxygen on the laminates to form rich oxygen vacancies (CuCo‐LDH‐S), which does not damage the layered spatial structure and ensures the fast ions/electron transport. Theoretical calculations indicate that the new active centers exhibit higher charge density as compared to CuCo‐LDH. Moreover, the copper foam directly provides copper source to ensure that CuCo‐LDH‐S/ZnS‐QDs present a 3D self‐supporting structure with ultrastability. Hence, it delivers an ultrahigh capacitance of 7.82 F cm−2 at 2 mA cm−2 and 4.43 F cm−2 at 20 mA cm−2. The hybrid supercapacitors display an outstanding energy density of 299 µWh cm−2 at power density of 1600 µW cm−2, with outstanding capacitance retention of 102.3% and coulomb efficiency of 96.2% after 10 000 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presently, a variety of policies and measures has implemented to enhance the scientific research and innovation ability of medical students, but in the process of practice, there are many problems, such as they lack of independent topic selection ability, weak scientific research skills, lack of autonomous learning ability, the research results are simple and ineffective, limited teacher guidance time and so on. This paper attempted to build an effective model for the promotion of medical students' scientific research and innovation ability, in order to establish an efficacy evaluation model of the "Medical students' Innovative Scientific Research Program." Undergraduates, graduate assistants, and tutors were interviewed with the Behavioral Event Interview technique, and a questionnaire of efficacy evaluation characteristics concluded from the interviews was formed. The questionnaire was conducted on medical students in the Medical students' Innovative Scientific Research Program, and the constructed model was analyzed using reliability analysis, validity analysis, and variation analysis. At the same time, the experimental teaching models are summarized and combed, and compared with other methods such as independent sample test. The results show the model could effectively evaluate the efficacy of the Medical students' Innovative Scientific Research Program and its teaching model is effective in cultivating medical students' learning and scientific research ability. It can provide theoretical support and practical reference for the evaluation and reform of the teaching modes related to the cultivation of scientific and innovative ability of medical students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of fibrous energy harvesters and self‐powered sensors gives birth to functional wearable electronics. However, low power outputs, poor sensing abilities, and limited material selections have greatly restricted their developments. Herein, novel polycation‐modified carbon dots (PCDs) tailored PCDs/polyvinyl alcohol nanocomposite polymer electrolytes (NPEs) are prepared and used as dominating triboelectric materials to construct a new NPEs‐based fiber triboelectric nanogenerator (NPE‐TENG) for the first time. The filling of PCDs endows NPEs with enhanced ionic conductivity. The developed NPE‐TENG can respond to different mechanical stimuli with excellent flexibility and deliver a high power density of 265.8 µW m−1. Self‐powered wearable sensor and smart glove based on NPE‐TENG are further developed, which can achieve skin‐level tactile sensing and joint‐related activities monitoring in a rapid, real‐time, and noninvasive way. As a sustainable power source, the NPE‐TENG can drive small electronics and light up hundreds of light‐emitting diodes. This study not only renders new insights into the development of triboelectric materials for fiber‐based TENG but also provides a direction for potential applications of fibrous biomechanical energy harvesters and self‐powered sensors in wearable electronics, personal healthcare monitoring, and human–machine interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tribopositive, scalable, and biocompatible materials are highly desired for high‐performance triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs). In this study, polyethylenimine (PEI) functionalized N‐doped carbon dots (NCDs‐PEI) are synthesized and a novel approach to develop high‐output TENGs by incorporating high permittivity NCDs‐PEI into polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as the tribopositive composite (CPP composite) is proposed for the first time. By systematically manipulating the mass ratio of NCDs/PVA and PEI‐functionalized concentration, the optimized CPP composite‐based TENGs (CPP‐TENGs) reveal a remarkable enhancement in power density by 28.5 times as compared with pure PVA‐based TENGs. The considerable electric outputs of CPP‐TENGs can be attributed to the synergistic effect of interfacial polarization enhanced permittivity of CPP composite and boosted surface charge density induced by dual charge transfer pathways. Moreover, CPP‐TENGs present superior high‐output stability, durability, and humidity‐resistance, and can also effectively drive electronics at different humidity and monitor human body movements. This work renders a simple, feasible, and scalable pathway to boost the electrical performance of TENGs for biomotion energy harvesting as well as providing insights for exploiting novel tribomaterials in the development of high‐output TENGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common primary malignant bone tumour in children and adolescents. The long‐term survival rate of OS patients is stubbornly low mainly due to the chemotherapy resistance. We therefore aimed to investigate the antitumoral effects and underlying mechanisms of proanthocyanidin B2 (PB2) on OS cells in the current study. The effect of PB2 on the proliferation and apoptosis of OS cell lines was assessed by CCK‐8, colony formation, and flow cytometry assays. The target gene and protein expression levels were measured by qRT‐PCR and Western blotting. A xenograft mouse model was established to assess the effects of PB2 on OS proliferation and apoptosis in vivo. Results from in vitro experiments showed that PB2 inhibited the proliferation and induced apoptosis of OS cells, and also increased the expression levels of apoptosis‐related proteins. Moreover, PB2 induced OS cell apoptosis through suppressing the PI3K/AKT signalling pathway. The in vivo experiments further confirmed that PB2 could inhibit OS tumour growth and induce its apoptosis. Taken together, these results suggested that PB2 inhibited the proliferation and induced apoptosis of OS cells through the suppression of the PI3K/AKT signalling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the trends and variations in global health burden of glaucoma by year, age and sex, region and socio‐economic status, using disability‐adjusted life years (DALYs). Method: The DALY numbers, crude DALY rate and age‐standardized DALY rate globally and in each country were obtained the GBD 2015 study database. The corresponding human development index (HDI) and gross domestic product (GDP) per capita were obtained from the United Nations and World Bank. Environmental data were obtained from the WHO Global Health Observatory data repository. Results: From 1990 to 2015, the DALY number and age‐standardized DALY rate due to glaucoma increased by 122% and 15%, respectively. Both male and female showed similar increasing trend with ageing, with the peak at 60 years old and increasing again since 75 years old. Sex disparities in DALY number were noted, with higher burden among female than male in each age group (all p < 0.001). The health burden of glaucoma was substantial unequal, with Gini coefficient of 0.865 for DALY number, 0.235 for crude DALY rate and 0.254 for age‐standardized DALY rate, respectively. The age‐standardized DALY was significantly associated with HDI, accounting for 22.2% variance across countries (R2 = 0.222, p < 0.001). Similarly, the GDP per capita was inversely associated with age‐standardized DALY rate but can explain only 10.6% variations in age‐standardized DALY rate (R2 = 0.106, p < 0.001). The age‐standardized DALY rate due to glaucoma was positively associated with national levels of ultraviolet radiation and PM2.5. Conclusion: The health burden of glaucoma continuously increased in the past 25 years and distributed unequally. Lower socio‐economic level, older age, female, higher ambient ultraviolet radiation and higher level of air pollution were significantly associated with higher burden of glaucoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]