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Rationally designing a current collector that can maintain low lithium (Li) porosity and smooth morphology while enduring high‐loading Li deposition is crucial for realizing the high energy density of Li metal batteries, but it is still challengeable. Herein, a Li2ZnCu3 alloy‐modified Cu foil is reported as a stable current collector to fulfill the stable high‐loading Li deposition. Benefiting from the in situ alloying, the generated numerous Li2ZnCu3@Cu heterojunctions induce a homogeneous Li nucleation and dense growth even at an ultrahigh capacity of 12 mAh cm−2. Such a spatial structure endows the overall Li2ZnCu3@Cu electrode with the manipulated steric hindrance and outmost surface electric potential to suppress the side reactions during Li stripping and plating. The resultant Li||Li2ZnCu3@Cu asymmetric cell preserves an ultrahigh average Coulombic efficiency of 99.2 % at 3 mA cm−2/6 mAh cm−2 over 200 cycles. Moreover, the Li‐Li2ZnCu3@Cu||LiFePO4 cell maintains a cycling stability of 87.5 % after 300 cycles. After coupling with the LiCoO2 cathode (4 mAh cm−2), the cell exhibits a high energy density of 407.4 Wh kg−1 with remarkable cycling reversibility at an N/P ratio of 3. All these findings present a doable way to realize the high‐capacity, dendrite‐free, and dense Li deposition for high‐performance Li metal batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aims to examine the geographical variation in physical fitness levels among Chinese children and adolescents in Shaanxi province. Methods: A total of 19,175 children from Shaanxi province with physical fitness data in 2019, participated in the study. Physical fitness was assessed using body mass index, force vital capacity, 50 m sprint, sit and reach, 1 min rope skipping, sit-ups, 50 m × 8 round-trip running, standing long jump, pull-ups, 800 m, and 1000 m running, and their standardized scores were aggregated to form a summary score. The total score is used to classify the physical fitness levels into four grades (excellence to failure). Results: The Guanzhong (GZ) region scored the highest, while Northern Shaanxi (NS) scored the lowest. The excellence rate for physical fitness was highest in GZ and lowest in NS, while the failure rate was highest in NS and lowest in GZ. Notably, children and adolescents in NS demonstrated the best endurance levels despite their overall lower fitness scores. The comprehensive physical fitness among Chinese children and adolescents in Shaanxi province showed significant regional disparities. GZ region exhibited the highest physical fitness levels, while Northern Shaanxi had the lowest. Conclusions: Region-specific interventions and targeted health policies are essential to address these disparities and improve the overall physical health status of children and adolescents in Shaanxi province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the hydrodynamic forces and power absorption performance of an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV)-based two-body wave energy converter (2BWEC) are investigated. A theoretical model is developed within the framework of linear potential flow to solve for added mass, radiation damping, and wave excitation force using the matched eigenfunction expansion method (MEEM). A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model is employed to account for vortex-shedding effects of the floater and inner cylinder with a damping plate under various excitation conditions. Empirical formulas for supplementary added mass and drag coefficients caused by flow separation are proposed based on curve-fitting the differences between CFD results and MEEM calculations. These formulas are integrated into motion equations to enhance accuracy in evaluating the power absorption of the 2BWEC. It has been found that in the context of viscous flow, both the added mass and damping coefficients are increased, particularly for the inner cylinder with a damping plate. In addition, the viscous hydrodynamic coefficients exhibit strong dependence on the Keulegan–Carpenter number, while showing insensitivity to changes in the frequency parameter β. The supplementary (viscous) added mass provides additional inertia for the AUV with a limited mass itself, which is advantageous for the power absorption of the AUV-based 2BWEC. Conversely, the presence of viscous damping from the damping plate impedes wave energy capture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The gut-lung axis, pivotal for respiratory health, is inadequately explored in pulmonary and critical care medicine (PCCM) inpatients. Methods: Examining PCCM inpatients from three medical university-affiliated hospitals, we conducted 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing on stool samples (inpatients, n = 374; healthy controls, n = 105). We conducted statistical analyses to examine the gut microbiota composition in PCCM inpatients, comparing it to that of healthy controls. Additionally, we explored the associations between gut microbiota composition and various clinical factors, including age, white blood cell count, neutrophil count, platelet count, albumin level, hemoglobin level, length of hospital stay, and medical costs. Results: PCCM inpatients exhibited lower gut microbiota diversity than healthy controls. Principal Coordinates Analysis revealed marked overall microbiota structure differences. Four enterotypes, including the exclusive Enterococcaceae enterotype in inpatients, were identified. Although no distinctions were found at the phylum level, 15 bacterial families exhibited varying abundances. Specifically, the inpatient population from PCCM showed a significantly higher abundance of Enterococcaceae, Lactobacillaceae, Erysipelatoclostridiaceae, Clostridiaceae, and Tannerellaceae. Using random forest analyses, we calculated the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs) to be 0.75 (95% CIs 0.69–0.80) for distinguishing healthy individuals from inpatients. The four most abundant genera retained in the classifier were Blautia, Subdoligranulum, Enterococcus, and Klebsiella. Conclusions: Evidence of gut microbiota dysbiosis in PCCM inpatients underscores the gut-lung axis's significance, promising further avenues in respiratory health research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wave particle interactions are very important to understand the intricate evolution of the Earth's radiation belt electrons. Kinetic simulations, in terms of solving the Fokker‐Planck equation based on the quasilinear theory, are usually used to simulate the radiation belt electron dynamic evolution. However, the global wave and plasma density distributions adopted in the kinetic simulations are very difficult to be directly obtained by satellites. Here we present a new model, by integrating the machine learning technique and kinetic simulations, to analyze the spatiotemporal evolution of radiation belt electrons scattered by lower band chorus (LBC). Compared to the observations, our integrated model produces effectively the global distribution of plasmapause location, plasma density, and LBC intensity, and assesses quantitatively the scattering effect driven by LBC waves at different magnetic local times (MLT), L‐shell (the Mcllwain L‐parameter), and time. Incorporating the effect of radiation electron drift, we further use the 2‐D Fokker‐Planck equation to simulate the variations of electron phase space density in different MLT sectors at a fixed L, and find that the integrated model replicates reasonably the multi‐MeV electron acceleration at L = 4.5 during the period from the main phase to the early recovery phase of the storm. Our results demonstrate that such an integrated model, on basis of a combination of the machine learning technique and kinetic simulations, provides valuable means for improved understanding of the global dynamic evolution of the Earth's radiation belt electrons. Plain Language Summary: Understanding the complex behavior of electrons in Earth's radiation belts, including acceleration, loss, and transport, is crucial for space weather research. This study introduces an integrated model that combines machine learning technique and kinetic simulation to quantitatively analyze how lower band chorus (LBC) waves influences electrons during the 17 March 2015 storm. Through comparisons with observations, our results indicate that the integrated model effectively reproduces global distribution of plasmapause location, plasma density, and LBC intensity, and enables a quantitative assessment of how LBC affects electrons over space and time, closely matching observations during the main phase to the early recovery phase of the storm. Incorporating electron drift motion improves the spatial resolution of simulated electron behavior, particularly impacting the simulation of the tens of keV electron behavior during periods of strong LBC intensity. This integrated approach can enhance our understanding of the radiation belt electron dynamics. Key Points: A numerical model integrating machine learning technique and kinetic simulations is developed to study the wave‐driven electron scatteringMachine learning technique provides inputs for kinetic simulations, allowing the wave‐driven evolution to be estimatedThe integrated model reproduces effectively the multi‐MeV electron acceleration during a strong geomagnetic storm [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Macrophage-mediated inflammatory response in the early post-grafting period restricts fat graft retention. Pyroptosis is a novel type of programmed cell death that extensively participates in inflammatory pathologies. Objectives This study sought to determine whether macrophage pyroptosis was activated during the inflammatory phase after fat grafting and to investigate the efficacy of a pyroptosis inhibitor, disulfiram (DSF), in fat graft retention. Methods We established a C57BL/6 mice fat grafting model and then analyzed macrophage pyroptosis. DSF (50 mg/kg, every other day) was intraperitoneally injected starting 1 hour before fat grafting and continued for 14 days. An in vitro co-culture system was established in which mouse RAW264.7 macrophages were co-cultured with apoptotic adipocytes to further validate the findings of the in vivo studies and to explore the underlying mechanisms. Results Here we reported that macrophage pyroptosis was activated in both fat grafts and in vitro co-culture models. DSF was found to be a potent pyroptosis inhibitor, promoting M2 macrophage polarization. In addition, DSF was demonstrated to enhance vascularization and graft retention. Conclusions Our results suggested that pyroptosis plays a crucial role in the inflammatory cascade within fat grafts. DSF, being a clinically available drug, could be translated into a clinically effective drug for improving fat graft survival by inhibiting macrophage pyroptosis, therefore inducing M2 macrophage polarization and promoting neovascularization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pricking blood therapy is a Traditional Chinese Medicine nursing technique which shows the effect of dredging channels and reliving blood stasis. In the treatment of chronic skin ulcer of lower limb, the Traditional Chinese Medicine pricking blood therapy is effective to improve the wound healing and relieve pain. This paper summarized the practice experience of pricking blood therapy for the chronic skin ulcer of lower limb. The syndrome differentiation method, indications and contraindications, operation method and cautions of pricking blood therapy were discussed, in order to provide reference for standardized clinical application. (引血疗法是中医外科特色护理技术之一, 具有舒通局部经络、去除瘀邪等作用。引血疗法用于治疗下肢慢性疮疡, 可以效促进创面愈合, 减轻患者痛苦。本文总结了引血疗法在下肢慢性疮疡中的应用经验, 包括辨证方法、适应症和禁忌症、操作方法、注意事项等, 以期为临床进一步的规范应用提供参考。)

SUMMARY: Chilling stress causes banana fruit softening disorder and severely impairs fruit quality. Various factors, such as transcription factors, regulate fruit softening. Herein, we identified a novel regulator, MaC2H2‐IDD, whose expression is closely associated with fruit ripening and softening disorder. MaC2H2‐IDD is a transcriptional activator located in the nucleus. The transient and ectopic overexpression of MaC2H2‐IDD promoted "Fenjiao" banana and tomato fruit ripening. However, transient silencing of MaC2H2‐IDD repressed "Fenjiao" banana fruit ripening. MaC2H2‐IDD modulates fruit softening by activating the promoter activity of starch (MaBAM3, MaBAM6, MaBAM8, MaAMY3, and MaISA2) and cell wall (MaEXP‐A2, MaEXP‐A8, MaSUR14‐like, and MaGLU22‐like) degradation genes. DLR, Y1H, EMSA, and ChIP‐qPCR assays validated the expression regulation. MaC2H2‐IDD interacts with MaEBF1, enhancing the regulation of MaC2H2‐IDD to MaAMY3, MaEXP‐A2, and MaGLU22‐like. Overexpressing/silencing MaC2H2‐IDD in banana and tomato fruit altered the transcript levels of the cell wall and starch (CWS) degradation genes. Several differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were authenticated between the overexpression and control fruit. The DEGs mainly enriched biosynthesis of secondary metabolism, amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism, fructose and mannose metabolism, starch and sucrose metabolism, and plant hormones signal transduction. Overexpressing MaC2H2‐IDD also upregulated protein levels of MaEBF1. MaEBF1 does not ubiquitinate or degrade MaC2H2‐IDD. These data indicate that MaC2H2‐IDD is a new regulator of CWS degradation in "Fenjiao" banana and cooperates with MaEBF1 to modulate fruit softening, which also involves the cold softening disorder. Significance Statement: MaC2H2‐IDD/MaEBF1 complex modulates banana fruit softening by regulating genes related to starch and cell wall degradation. Chilling stress severely represses the activation of softening‐related genes, causing fruit ripening disorder and impairing the texture quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strontium-doped mesoporous bioactive glass microspheres (Sr-MBGMs) were prepared by sol–gel method for delivering loxoprofen sodium (LX) drug. The loading capacity of the prepared Sr-MBGMs for LX drug was affected by the initial concentration of the drug solution and adsorption time. The LX-loaded Sr-MBGMs obtained under optimum conditions were coated with polydopamine (LX/Sr-MBGMs@PDA) and incorporated into the aminated modified poly-l-lactic acid nanofibrous matrix to develop a functional composite scaffold for bone tissue engineering applications. The in vitro studies revealed that the incorporation of the LX/Sr-MBGMs@PDA could promote cell proliferation and biomineralization, indicating that the as-developed composite scaffolds possessed an improved cell viability and osteogenic ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scaffolds based on gelatin (Gel) play a crucial role in bone tissue engineering. However, the low mechanical properties, rapid biodegradation rate, insufficient osteogenic activity and lacking anti-infective properties limit their applications in bone regeneration. Herein, the incorporation of ibuprofen (IBU)-loaded zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) in a methacrylated gelatin (GelMA) matrix was proposed as a simple and effective strategy to develop the IBU-ZIF-8@GelMA scaffolds for enhanced bone regeneration capacity. Results indicated that the IBU-loaded ZIF-8 nanoparticles with tiny particle sizes were uniformly distributed in the GelMA matrix of the IBU-ZIF-8@GelMA scaffolds, and the IBU-loaded ZIF-8 growing in the scaffolds enabled the controlled and sustained releasing of Zn2+ and IBU in pH = 5.5 over a long period for efficient bone repair and long-term anti-inflammatory activity. Furthermore, the doping of the IBU-loaded ZIF-8 nanoparticles efficiently enhanced the compression performance of the GelMA scaffolds. In vitro studies indicated that the prepared scaffolds presented no cytotoxicity to MC3T3-E1 cells and the released Zn2+ during the degradation of the scaffolds promoted MC3T3-E1 cell osteogenic differentiation. Thus, the drug-loaded ZIF-8 modified 3D printed GelMA scaffolds demonstrated great potential in treating bone defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exact molecular mechanism of arsenic-induced liver injury has not been fully elucidated. The aim of the study was to investigate the potential mechanism of NaAsO2-induced cytotoxicity in BRL-3A cells and to provide a basis for the mechanism of arsenic poisoning. BRL-3A cells were treated with different doses of NaAsO2, DNMT1 inhibitor (DC_517), TLR4 inhibitor (TAK-242), and transfection of SOCS1 plasmid. Cell activity, apoptosis, inflammation and protein expression of DNMT1, SOCS1, TLR4, MyD88, and NF-κB were detected by CCK8 assay, Annexin V-FITC and Western blot, respectively. With increasing NaAsO2 doses, BAX and caspase-3 expression increased, Bcl-2 expression decreased, pro-inflammatory factors TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 increased, and cell activity decreased causing increased apoptosis. When BRL-3A was intervened with 10, and 20 μmol/L NaAsO2, DNMT1 expression was elevated, SOCS1 expression was decreased, and TLR4, MyD88, p-IκBα/IκBα, and p-p65/p65 expression were elevated. After the combination of NaAsO2 and DC_517, compared to the NaAsO2 group, apoptosis and inflammation were attenuated, SOCS1 expression was elevated and TLR4, MyD88, p-IκBα/IκBα and p-p65/p65 expression was decreased. Apoptosis and inflammation were attenuated after co-treatment of SOCS1 high expression with NaAsO2 compared to the NaAsO2 group. In addition, TLR4, MyD88, p-IκBα/IκBα and p-p65/p65 expression was reduced. When NaAsO2 and TAK-242 were combined, apoptosis and inflammation were attenuated. Besides MyD88, p-IκBα/IκBα and p-p65/p65 expression was reduced compared to the NaAsO2 group. We found that NaAsO2 induce apoptosis and inflammation in BLR-3A cells, which may be related to inhibit SOCS1 through regulation of DNMT1 and thus activating the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As zinc finger protein transcription factors (TFs), the molecular mechanism of Cys-Cys-Cys-His (CCCH) TFs in regulating plant development, growth and stress response has been well studied. However, the roles of CCCH TFs in fruit ripening are still obscure. Herein, we report that MaCCCH33-like2 TF and its associated proteins modulate the fruit softening of 'Fenjiao' bananas. MaCCCH33-like2 interacts directly with the promoters of three genes: isoamylase2 (MaISA2), sugar transporter14-like (MaSUR14-like) and β- d -xylosidase23 (MaXYL23), all of which are responsible for encoding proteins involved in the degradation of starch and cell wall components. Additionally, MaCCCH33-like2 forms interactions with abscisic acid–insensitive 5 (ABI5)-like and ethylene F-box protein 1 (MaEBF1), resulting in enhanced binding and activation of promoters of genes related to starch and cell wall degradation. When MaCCCH33-like2 is transiently and ectopically overexpressed in 'Fenjiao' banana and tomato fruit, it facilitates softening and ripening processes by promoting the degradation of cell wall components and starch and the production of ethylene. Conversely, the temporary silencing of MaCCCH33-like2 using virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) inhibits softening and ripening in the 'Fenjiao' banana by suppressing ethylene synthesis, as well as starch and cell wall degradation. Furthermore, the promoter activity of MaCCCH33-like2 is regulated by MaABI5-like. Taken together, we have uncovered a novel MaCCCH33-like2/MaEBF1/MaABI5-like module that participates in fruit softening regulation in bananas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]