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For large amounts of transition metal oxides, sulfides and carbon groups (IVA), the pulverization of electrode materials in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is always a serious and common problem due to volume expansion and stress accumulation resulting from phase transformation or alloying during the charge–discharge process, which leads to capacity fading and thus limits the cycling performance of LIBs. To solve these problems, conventionally, the rational design of electrode materials is needed. Here in this work, we report the synthesis of a novel anode material, hexagonal H4.5Mo5.25O18·(H2O)1.36 microrods (HMs) via a simple hydrothermal method. During the lithium-ion insertion/desertion process of the HMs, it was found that the HMs are first drastically transformed into Li2MoO4 nanotubes and then Li2MoO4 nanowire clusters embedded in amorphous sphere cages with a Li2O matrix, Mo metal and SEI thin film. Surprisingly, we discovered that the HMs exhibited extraordinary long-life cyclability with an unusual phenomenon: the specific capacity first decreased and then increased. The outstanding electrochemical performance could be explained by the formation of intermediate phase Li2MoO4 nanowires and amorphous sphere cages, which can maintain the lithium-ion paths and electronic transport, and prohibit the mechanical and chemical degradation of the electrode materials. The results show that the pulverization of the HM anode materials induced by lithium-ion insertion–extraction played a trigger role in the formation of a continuous pulverization film. Accordingly, a “damage-reconstruction” model based on ex situ XRD and FESEM analyses combined with ex situ XPS, FTIR and TEM characterizations of the charge–discharge process was proposed to explain such an unusual and intriguing finding. Compared with the conventional method for protecting electrode materials from pulverization, the robust continuous gel-like pulverization film containing a unique combination of intermediate phase and amorphous sphere cages provides a new insight into the mechanism for the extraordinary long-term cyclability of electrode materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-powered electronic textiles (e-textiles) and triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have been explored for the development of energy-harvesting facilities which provide sustainable power supplements for portable, wearable, and low-energy electronics. However, it requires the features of excellent structural stability and superior capability in sensing applications. In this study, we present and develop a new kind of fabric-rebound triboelectric nanogenerator (FR-TENG) that could be used for efficient energy harvesting and self-powered sensing. For improvement of electric performance, a systematic study has also been carried out to investigate various structural parameters for the property optimization of FR-TENGs. The as-made FR-TENG has shown stable electric performance in energy harvesting, cyclic washing capability, and mechanical durability. The full-textile structure of FR-TENG enhances its adaptability and rebound ability, and the open-circuit voltage, short circuit current and power density of the FR-TENG reach up to 418.09 V , 65.85 μ A and 199.14 μ W ⋅ cm − 2 , respectively. Furthermore, the FR-TENGs are used as smart carpets to build up a self-powered, wireless and intelligent system for monitoring human motions. This study proposes a new perspective for an all-textile TENGs and shows the advanced human-machine software interface in sensing applications. A fabric-rebound triboelectric nanogenerator with loops and layered structure, ultra-flexibility and structural integrity, cyclic washability and excellent durability is designed, developed and optimized, which creates a natural stable contact-separation space to support itself with good compression resilience, showing enhanced electric performance in energy harvesting and improved sensing capacity in intelligent, wireless, and self-powered carpet system for human motion monitoring. [Display omitted] • Design of fabric-rebound triboelectric nanogenerator with loops/layered structures. • Studying the electric performance, cyclic washability, and mechanical durability. • The full-textile structure has superior adaptability and rebound ability. • Application in powering low-energy electronics harvested from mechanical energy. • Demonstration of self-powered intelligent wireless system for motion monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A widespread dense fog event associated with heavy air pollution occurred in the central and eastern regions of China from 30 December 2016 to 5 January 2017. The fog event was characterized by three distinct propagation processes on different spatial scales. This study investigated the propagation of fog and variations of pollutants during the fog event in order to better understand the mechanisms of fog. The cold high-pressure system moved southward, and the southerly wind on the western flank of the high-pressure system enhanced the temperature inversion, both of which were favorable for fog propagation. In addition, the invasion of the weak cold air and radiative cooling, and the different land-sea thermodynamic properties also contributed to the formation and propagation of the fog. Heavy pollution related to this severe fog was also investigated. The field experiment indicates that amounts of aerosol particles accounted for the enhancement of fog droplets through its role of being the condensation nuclei. As a result, the PM 2.5 concentration decreased when the fog became strong. The strong temperature inversion and gas to particle phase conversion led to an increase of the PM 2.5 concentration and a decrease of pollution gases (SO 2 , NO 2) concentration during the mature stage. • Multi-source dataset is used to detect fog formation and propagation from local to regional scale. • Three key meteorological indications for the fog propagation are determined. • Hygroscopic effects accelerate droplet growth and result in the explosive enhancement of fog. • Hygroscopic effect, strong temperature inversion, and particle-phase conversion control PM 2.5 variation during fog event. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With rapid advancement in wearable electronics, textile-based triboelectric nanogenerators (T-TENGs) have attracted great attention for energy harvesting and bio-motion sensing because of their softness, lightweight, and comfort properties. However, the interface bonding between functional materials and textile substrate, and the compatibility with manufacturing still face considerable challenges. Herein, a kind of scalable core–spun coating yarn-based triboelectric nanogenerators (CSCY-TENGs) with a hierarchical architecture is designed and developed via continuous manufacturing which integrates yarn spinning, coating and braiding technologies to achieve fully continuous production. In this method, spinning technology was used to spin a kind of conductive core-spun yarns with silver-plated nylon yarn (SNY) as core and insulating cotton fibers as shell, where SNY serves as electrode and cotton fibers serve as base materials for absorbing/coating with triboelectric materials. Then multiple core-spun yarns coated with nylon and doped polydimethylsiloxane are used as positive and negative triboelectric materials to realize hierarchical CSCY-TENGs by braiding technology. The CSCY-TENGs can be washed and compatible with industrial-scale manufacturing. Besides, it can achieve an output voltage of 174 V, and a peak power density and an average power density of 275 mW/m2 and 57 mW/m2 respectively. As demonstration, the CSCY-TENG can charge various commercial capacitors and power low-power electronics. It can also be used as an anti-theft alarm carpet and energy harvesting shoes for bio-motion detection and energy harvesting. [Display omitted] A new kind of scalable core–spun coating yarn-based triboelectric nanogenerators with a hierarchical architecture, good flexibility and washability was designed and realized by utilizing core-spun yarn with silver-plated nylon yarn as core and insulating cotton fibers as shell, where silver-plated nylon yarn serves as electrode and cotton fibers serves as base materials for absorbing/coating with nylon as positive triboelectric materials and doped polydimethylsiloxane as negative triboelectric materials by yarn spinning, coating and braiding technology for achieving fully continuous production, and its promising potentials for wearable energy harvesting and sensing applications were demonstrated. • Design of core–spun coating yarn-based TENGs with hierarchical structure; • Integration of scalable technologies to achieve fully continuous production; • Studying various influential factors on the output electric performance; • Application potentials for biomechanical energy harvesting and bio-motion sensing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been reported to have a crucial impact on the pathogenesis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Cuproptosis, a copper-triggered modality of mitochondrial cell death, might serve as a promising therapeutic target for cancer treatment and clinical outcome prediction. Nevertheless, the role of cuproptosis-related lncRNAs in AML is not fully understood. Methods: The RNA sequencing data and demographic characteristics of AML patients were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas database. Pearson correlation analysis, the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator algorithm, and univariable and multivariable Cox regression analyses were applied to identify the cuproptosis-related lncRNA signature and determine its feasibility for AML prognosis prediction. The performance of the proposed signature was evaluated via Kaplan–Meier survival analysis, receiver operating characteristic curves, and principal component analysis. Functional analysis was implemented to uncover the potential prognostic mechanisms. Additionally, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was employed to validate the expression of the prognostic lncRNAs in AML samples. Results: A signature consisting of seven cuproptosis-related lncRNAs (namely NFE4, LINC00989, LINC02062, AC006460.2, AL353796.1, PSMB8-AS1, and AC000120.1) was proposed. Multivariable cox regression analysis revealed that the proposed signature was an independent prognostic factor for AML. Notably, the nomogram based on this signature showed excellent accuracy in predicting the 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival (area under curve = 0.846, 0.801, and 0.895, respectively). Functional analysis results suggested the existence of a significant association between the prognostic signature and immune-related pathways. The expression pattern of the lncRNAs was validated in AML samples. Conclusion: Collectively, we constructed a prediction model based on seven cuproptosis-related lncRNAs for AML prognosis. The obtained risk score may reveal the immunotherapy response in patients with this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is a highly lethal helminth infection. Current chemotherapeutic strategies for AE primarily involve the use of benzimidazoles (BZs) such as mebendazole (MDZ) and albendazole (ABZ), which exhibit limited efficacy. In a previous study, the vaccine of recombinant Echinococcus granulosus P29 (rEgP29) showed significant immunoprotection against E. granulosus in both mice and sheep. In the current study, we utilized hybridoma technology to generate five monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against P29, among which 4G10F4 mAb exhibited the highest antigen-specific binding capacity. This mAb was selected for further investigation of anti-AE therapy, both in vivo and in vitro. In vitro, 4G10F4 inhibited a noteworthy inhibition of E. multilocularis protoscoleces and primary cells viability through complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) mechanism. In vivo, two experiments were conducted. In the first experiment, mice were intraperitoneally injected with Em protoscoleces, and subsequently treated with 4G10F4 mAb (2.5/5/10 mg/kg) at 12 weeks postinfection once per week for 8 times via tail vein injection. Mice that were treated with 4G10F4 mAb only in dosage of 5mg/kg exhibited a significant lower mean parasite burden (0.89±0.97 g) compared to isotype mAb treated control mice (2.21±1.30 g). In the second experiment, mice were infected through hepatic portal vein and treated with 4G10F4 mAb (5mg/kg) at one week after surgery once per week for 8 times. The numbers of hepatic metacestode lesions of the 4G10F4 treatment group were significantly lower in comparison to the isotype control group. Pathological analysis revealed severe disruption of the inner structure of the metacestode in both experiments, particularly affecting the germinal and laminated layers, resulting in the transformation into infertile vesicles after treatment with 4G10F4. In addition, the safety of 4G10F4 for AE treatment was confirmed through assessment of mouse weight and evaluation of liver and kidney function. This study presents antigen-specific monoclonal antibody immunotherapy as a promising therapeutic approach against E. multilocularis induced AE. Author summary: Echinococcosis encompasses two significant zoonotic tapeworm diseases, cystic echinococcosis (CE) and alveolar echinococcosis (AE), caused by Echinococcus granulosus and Echinococcus multilocularis, respectively. AE is widely acknowledged as the most fatal helminth infection, with a mortality rate exceeding 90% within 10–15 years of diagnosis if left untreated or inadequately treated. Two benzimidazole carbamates, albendazole and mebendazole, are the only anti-infective drugs that are clinically efficient in interrupting the larval growth of Echinococcus spp. However, due to their toxicity and limited efficacy, there is a pressing need to explore novel therapeutic strategies for AE. In this study, a therapeutic antibody named 4G10F4 was produced against hydatid P29 using hybridoma technology. This candidate antibody significantly inhibited E. multilocularis both in vitro and in vivo, representing a potentially efficacious and safe antigen-specific monoclonal antibody immunotherapy for the treatment of AE. Additionally, it has been identified as a promising antibody drug and molecular target for the development of anti-AE therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: Naturally crosslinked carbonaceous liquid metal aqueous printable ink mediated by biopolymers. E-textile with conductivity, stability, wearability, and aesthetic characteristics. Multi-applications in health monitoring, pressure sensing, and energy harvesting. Achieving flexible electronics with comfort and durability comparable to traditional textiles is one of the ultimate pursuits of smart wearables. Ink printing is desirable for e-textile development using a simple and inexpensive process. However, fabricating high-performance atop textiles with good dispersity, stability, biocompatibility, and wearability for high-resolution, large-scale manufacturing, and practical applications has remained challenging. Here, water-based multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)-decorated liquid metal (LM) inks are proposed with carbonaceous gallium–indium micro-nanostructure. With the assistance of biopolymers, the sodium alginate-encapsulated LM droplets contain high carboxyl groups which non-covalently crosslink with silk sericin-mediated MWCNTs. E-textile can be prepared subsequently via printing technique and natural waterproof triboelectric coating, enabling good flexibility, hydrophilicity, breathability, wearability, biocompatibility, conductivity, stability, and excellent versatility, without any artificial chemicals. The obtained e-textile can be used in various applications with designable patterns and circuits. Multi-sensing applications of recognizing complex human motions, breathing, phonation, and pressure distribution are demonstrated with repeatable and reliable signals. Self-powered and energy-harvesting capabilities are also presented by driving electronic devices and lighting LEDs. As proof of concept, this work provides new opportunities in a scalable and sustainable way to develop novel wearable electronics and smart clothing for future commercial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Influence of a 12 T high magnetic field on the recovery of tempered martensite in the chromium-containing steel was investigated. The results showed that a high magnetic field caused the percentage of low angle boundaries θ between 5° ~ 8° to increase by about 8%, while correspondingly decreased the percentage of high angle boundaries (>15°) by 9%. With the application of the magnetic field, the strain energy increased due to the higher density of free dislocations in the martensite, which leads to the retardation of recovery and little change in its lath shape due to the inhibition of the transition from low to high angle boundaries to maintain lower energy in the matrix. Image 1 • The recovery of martensite was inhibited by high magnetic field. • The percentage of low angle boundaries increased by 12 Tesla magnetic field. • The strain energy increases due to the higher density of free dislocations. • The strain energy inhibited the transition from low to high angle boundaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Arthroscopic superior capsule reconstruction (SCR) with the long head of the biceps (LHBT) was performed to restore structural stability, force couple balance, and shoulder joint function. This study aimed to evaluate the functional outcomes of SCR using the LHBT over at least 24 months of follow-up. Method: This retrospective study included 89 patients with massive rotator cuff tears who underwent SCR using the LHBT, met the inclusion criteria and underwent follow up for at least 24 months. The preoperative and postoperative shoulder range of motion (forward flexion, external rotation, and abduction), acromiohumeral interval (AHI), visual analog scale (VAS) score, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score and Constant–Murley score were obtained, and the tear size, and Goutallier and Hamada grades were also investigated. Results: Compared with those measured preoperatively, the range of motion, AHI, and VAS, Constant–Murley, and ASES scores were significantly improved immediately postoperatively (P < 0.001) and at the 6-month, 12-month, and final follow-ups (P < 0.001). At the last follow-up, the postoperative ASES score and Constant-Murley score increased from 42.8 ± 7.6 to 87.4 ± 6.1, and 42.3 ± 8.9 to 84.9 ± 10.7, respectively; with improvements of 51 ± 21.7 in forward flexion, 21.0 ± 8.1 in external rotation, and 58.5 ± 22.5 in abduction. The AHI increased 2.1 ± 0.8 mm and the VAS score significantly changed from 6.0 (5.0, 7.0) to 1.0 (0.0, 1.0), at the final follow-up. Eleven of the 89 patients experienced retears, and one patient needed reoperation. Conclusion: In this study with at least 24-months of follow-up, SCR using the LHBT for massive rotator cuff tears could effectively relieve shoulder pain, restore shoulder function and increase shoulder mobility to some extent. Level of evidence: IV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inspired by the formed surface buckling of human skin, we introduced a novel kind of hierarchically buckled stretchable porous microstructured fibers (HBPMFs) based on a general physicochemical strategy consisted of material systems manipulation, interfacial self-assembly, stretching-releasing control, and thermal annealing. By controlling the fabrication parameters, the resultant HBPMFs were constructed with hierarchically skin-like buckling and conformal porous microarchitectures, exhibiting superior advantages of stretchable porous microarchitectures and more exposed porous surface area for higher functional performance. HBPMFs can also be incorporated with various functional nanocomponents for the development of advanced functional material fibers (CAFMFs) with enhanced and customized performance. As a demonstration of application, CAFMFs with incorporation of TiO 2 nanoparticles exhibited significantly enhanced photocatalytic performance for organic pollutants than the control samples. This study provides an efficient strategy and new insights into the design and development of a new kind of functional fiber materials with stretchable porous microstructures and customizable functionalities for advanced applications. [Display omitted] • Design of skin-inspired hierarchically buckled porous microstructured fibers. • Study of various influential factors on the developed skin-inspired fibers. • Incorporation of nanomaterials with more exposed surface area for high performance. • Application demonstration in photocatalytic depredation of organic pollutants. Advanced functional material fibers with surface porous microstructures are widely promising for smart and functional wearables owing to their unique structures and properties. However, design of advanced functional material fibers with surface hierarchically porous microstructures, high stretchability and desired functionalities is still a considerable challenge. In this study, inspired by the formed surface buckling of finger joint skin, we present a novel kind of hierarchically buckled porous microstructured fibers (HBPMFs) based on a general physicochemical strategy consisted of material systems manipulation, interfacial self-assembly, stretching-releasing control, and thermal annealing. The developed HBPMFs showed controllable skin-inspired buckling features and unique stretchable microarchitectures of porosity, and could also be facilely incorporated with functional nanomaterials to form a new kind of advanced functional material fibers that integrate desired functional nanomaterials in stretchable porous microstructures with more exposed porous surface area for higher performance. Influential factors such as polymer bricks, solutes, solvents, concentrations, fiber substrates and pre-stretching strain were also investigated. As demonstration of application, advanced functional material fibers with incorporation of TiO 2 nanoparticles exhibited significantly enhanced photocatalytic performance for organic pollutants than control samples. This study provides an efficient strategy and new insights into design of a new kind of functional fiber materials with stretchable porous microstructures and customizable functionalities for advanced applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An ultra-stretchable MWCNTs:SCCB/SIS (MSSS) fiber-shaped smart electronic is developed with a bioinspired bis-condensed structure. The synergistic and tunneling effect of a well-balanced dual-carbon polymer nanocomposite is studied which exhibited significant stretchability and sensitivity against deformation. In this regard, as a stretchable sensor, the MSSS fiber possesses excellent stretchability, conductivity, conductive stability, high sensitivity, a wide sensing range, and good durability. Furthermore, it can be fabricated as a fiber-based triboelectric nanogenerator, MSSS-TENG, with outstanding electric output performance. It shows promising potential in various applications, including health and physiological detection, biomechanical energy harvesting, and self-powered sensing. [Display omitted] • Design of a fiber-based hybrid smart electronic based on bioinspired structures. • Study of a highly stretchable and conductive carbon-based polymer composite. • Exhibit ultra-stretchability, good conductivity, high sensitivity at a wide range. • Applications in health monitoring, energy harvesting, self-powered sensing. Highly stretchable and multifunctional wearable electronics have shown a desirable attraction recently. However, most fiber-based devices are hindered by the dilemma of stretchability and sensitivity, as well as the decline of performance due to delamination. Herein, a bis-condensed inspired ultra-stretchable dual-carbon fiber (MSSS fiber) is proposed based on the synergistic interaction and tunneling effect of multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNTs)-superconductive carbon black (SCCB)-poly[styrene- b -isoprene- b -styrene] (SIS) conductive polymer composite (CPC) and a strong interlocked layer-by-layer structure. The MSSS fiber is developed as a strain sensor with good electric conductivity and stability, ultra-stretchability, high sensitivity (GF = 1,096 at 1,100 %), and good durability (10,000 at 1,000 %) which shows excellent sensing for various motion applications. Simultaneously, the MSSS fiber is also exploited as a single-electrode fiber-based triboelectric nanogenerator (F-TENG) by triboelectric material coating. It demonstrates a significant output power, good durability over 25,000 cycles and stable electric output performance under high-level deformation (600 %), endowing its reliability as a power source supply and self-powered sensing device. This ultra-stretchable conductive fiber further explores the development of multifunctional subtle wearable electronics. The applications of healthcare sensing and energy harvesting also give promising potential in the field of smart wearable electronics, human–computer interaction, and artificial intelligence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new kind of 3D double-electrode textile triboelectric nanogenerators (3D-FTENG) with integrated positive and negative triboelectric materials and electrode materials was designed and developed by the coated core-spun yarn and programmable spacer fabric technologies. The 3D-FTENG exhibited excellent electric properties with high durability, good air-permeability and washability, demonstrating its great potential in realizing industrial-scale production and practical applications in biomechanical energy harvesting and real-time sensing. [Display omitted] • A 3D double-electrode textile TENG was proposed and developed. • Integration of coated core-spun yarn and programmable spacer fabric technologies. • Different intermediate structures of the fabric TENG were designed and studied. • Excellent electric properties with high air permeability, washability and durability. • Application potentials for biomechanical energy harvesting and real-time sensing. Textile-based triboelectric nanogenerators (T-TENGs) have attracted much attention nowadays because of their excellent flexibility and wearability in biomechanical energy harvesting and sensing. However, T-TENGs prepared by current methods of layer-by-layer stacking, stitching, or coating on the surface of fabric still have some problems such as poor comfort, complicated preparation processes, and easy peeling of coating materials. Herein, a 3D double-electrode and machine-knittable fabric TENG (3D-FTENG) with integrated positive and negative triboelectric materials and electrode materials is proposed by coated core-spun yarn and programmable spacer fabric technologies. The triboelectric materials and electrodes of 3D-FTENG are made of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) coated and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) coated Ag-cotton core-spun yarns. With structural design, three 3D-FTENGs with the same surface structures but different intermediate structures are designed and prepared, and the influence of intermediate structures on performance of 3D-FTENG is further studied. The power density of 3D-FTENG with the crisscross structure as intermediate layer reach up to 200.93 mW/m2. The 3D-FTENG is also soft, comfortable, high air permeable and washable. The output electric performance can be maintained after washing cycles and 50,000 cyclic tests. The 3D-FTENG can not only power small electronic products but also monitor human motions, demonstrating good potentials in wearable electronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant mixtures can enhance soil quality and optimize ecosystem carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) (C:N:P) stoichiometry to support sustainable production; yet this hypothesis has not been thoroughly examined in mixed plantations containing N-fixing tree species (N-fixers). Introduced N-fixers are often used as alternatives to N fertilization in forest plantations but may potentially disrupt the ecosystem C:N:P stoichiometric balance. Here, we compared the effects of N fertilization (100 kg N ha−1 year−1) and the introduction of an N-fixer (Dalbergia odorifera) into Eucalyptus plantations on the C:N:P stoichiometry across soil, microorganisms, enzymes, and leaves and roots. The experiment was organized into a randomized complete block design (n = 5) and lasted five years. N fertilization generally caused an imbalance in ecosystem C:N:P stoichiometry except for the microbial biomass C:N ratio. Introduced the N-fixers decreased the soil C:N ratio and increased the C:P and N:P ratios, whereas the other pools of C:N:P stoichiometry remained unchanged. Two meta-analyses further verified these findings, reinforcing the idea that mixed plantations with N-fixers, as a substitute for N fertilization, can help maintain ecosystem C:N:P stoichiometry to support sustainable production. Comparing the effects of N fertilization and introduced N-fixers using structural equation modeling approach underscored the importance of plant-microbial interactions in maintaining the balance of ecosystem C:N:P stoichiometry. This, in turn, can provide government and policymakers with compelling evidence for a nature-based solution for sustainable plantation management. • N fertilization caused an imbalance C:N:P stoichiometry across plants, soil, microbes, and enzymes. • N-fixers Maintained C:N:P stoichiometry in plants, microbes, and enzymes, but not in soil. • N-fixers Enhanced the sustainable development of the plantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The framework of M 7 C 3 consists of tetrahedron, octahedron and triangular prism. • Substitution of Cr atoms decreases the magnetic moments of the Fe atoms. • Cr atoms significantly influence the bonding property. • The negative magnetic free energy change results in alloy carbide M 7 C 3 precipitation. Previous experiments have proven that a high magnetic field can make alloy carbide M 7 C 3 (M = Fe, Cr) precipitate ahead of time at intermediate temperatures. First-principles calculations are employed to search the source of magnetic-field-induced alloy carbides precipitation behaviors of orthorhombic M 7 C 3. The basic building units for M 7 C 3 crystals are polyhedrons formed by metal atoms and C atoms. The framework structure of o-M 7 C 3 consists of metal tetrahedrons, metal octahedrons and triangular metal prisms. Magnetic calculations show that the substitution of Cr atoms causes the magnetic moments of the Fe atoms to decrease to different extents. Moreover, Cr atoms also have a magnetic moment antiparallel to the Fe atoms. Electronic structure calculations indicate that the bonds in M 7 C 3 are a mixture of ionic, covalent and metal bonds. The substitution of Cr atoms weakens the ionic and covalent bonds between the Fe and C atoms; however, strengthen the metal bonds between the Fe and Cr atoms. The magnetic free energy change of M 7 C 3 is larger than that of M 2 C and M 3 C at 823 K with a 12 Tesla field, which agrees well with the experimental results for a magnetic field promoting the precipitation of M 7 C 3. This study provides a theoretical basis for the precipitation behaviors induced by magnetic fields in steels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) can cause severe liver injury and be fatal if left untreated. Currently, there are no effective therapeutic options for AE-induced liver injury. Therefore, by exploring the changes of gene proteins in mice with damaged liver, we attempted to identify the key molecules of liver damage, and provide data that will enable the development of drugs targeting hepatic AE. BALB/c mice were inoculated with protoscoleces via the hepatic portal vein. Three months later, B-ultrasound examination and Hematoxylin—eosin (H&E) staining were used to confirm liver damage in mice. RNA sequencing and Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) were used to screen differentially expressed molecules associated with liver damage through bioinformatics, and Quantitative Real-Time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to verify their expression. B-ultrasound examination showed liver lesions in the infected group, and H&E staining showed liver inflammation, fibrosis and liver necrosis. RNA sequencing and LC-MS results showed changes in the levels of more than 1000 genes and proteins, with upregulation of immune and inflammation pathways. By contrast, the downregulated genes and proteins were mostly involved in various metabolic reactions. Correlation analysis was conducted between the transcriptome data and proteome data. The results revealed 240 differentially expressed genes, of which 192 were upregulated, and 48 were downregulated. Many of these genes were involved in metabolic reactions, such as Catalase (Cat), fatty acid synthase (Fasn), and IL-16 genes, which may have relevance to liver injury. The results of qRT-PCR were consistent with those of bioinformatics analysis. The mechanisms of liver injury in mice infected with Echinococcus multilocularis are complex, involving abnormal metabolism, oxidative stress, inflammatory response, and many other factors. This study provides the data for preliminary exploration for the development of targeted therapies against AE. Alveolar echinococcosis is a zoonotic parasitic disease that causes cysts to form in a number of organs of the body, but primarily in the liver. It can be a life-threatening infection. In this study, transcriptome sequencing and proteomic mass spectrometry were used to analyze the complex mechanisms of liver damage in mice infected with this parasite, and bioinformatics methods were used to correlate the resulting data to study the liver damage at the genetic level. We found that the liver injury mechanism of multilocular Echinococcus multilocularis -infected mice is very complex, involving metabolic abnormalities, oxidative stress, inflammation, and other factors. According to the transcriptome and proteome and the results of association analysis, immunity and metabolism play a major role. Finally, liver injury genes such as Cat, Fasn, and IL-16 were screened out. The exploration and analysis data of these genes could assist in the study of the pathogenesis of AE and the development of targeted therapeutic drugs. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Targeting histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) has emerged as a promising therapeutic approach for anti-inflammation and related biological pathways, including inflammatory events associated with the brain. In this study, in order to develop brain-permeable HDAC6 inhibitors for anti-neuroinflammation, we report here the design, synthesis, and characterization of a number of N -heterobicyclic analogues that can inhibit HDAC6 with high specificity and strong potency. Among our analogues, PB131 exhibits potent binding affinity and selectivity against HDAC6, with an IC 50 value of 1.8 nM and more than 116-fold selectivity over other HDAC isoforms. In addition, PB131 shows good brain penetration, binding specificity, and reasonable biodistribution through our positron emission tomography (PET) imaging studies of [18F]PB131 in mice. Furthermore, we characterized the efficacy of PB131 on regulating neuroinflammation using the mouse microglia model BV2 cells in vitro and the LPS-induced inflammation mouse model in vivo. These data not only indicate the anti-inflammatory activity of our novel HDAC6 inhibitor PB131, but also strengthen the biological functions of HDAC6 and further extend the therapeutic approach inhibiting HDAC6. Our findings show that PB131 displays good brain permeability, high specificity, and strong potency toward inhibiting HDAC6 and is a potential HDAC6 inhibitor for inflammation-related disease treatment, especially neuroinflammation. [Display omitted] • A series of novel brain-permeable HDAC6 inhibitors were successfully synthesized and characterized. • Compound PB131 exhibited excellent binding affinity and selectivity against HDAC6. • PB131 exhibited good brain penetration and binding specificity in rodents in PET imaging studies. • PB131 showed good anti-inflammatory activity in vitro and in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • First study on the formation mechanism of the BF-induced HPMs on 1D fiber surfaces. • Three stages of the HPMs formation are achieved and systematically investigated. • The SNF@HPMs are manufactured for developing AFFs with customized functionalities. • The versatile SNF@HPMs based TENG and sensor are fabricated as a demonstration. The rapid progress in advanced functional fibers (AFFs) offers unique superiorities in wearable electronics, artificial intelligence, and healthcare monitoring. However, there remain considerable challenges for AFFs to fulfill specific requirements of advanced applications due to their low electrical outputs, limitation in materials selection, and difficulty in regulating microstructures on narrow and curved surface of the fibers. In this study, fabricating and regulating honeycomb porous microstructures (HPMs) on one-dimensional nonplanar fiber surfaces were proposed and systematically studied for developing AFFs with customized functionalities. As a demonstration of application, multifunctional silver-plated nylon fibers surface-engineered with HPMs (SNF@HPMs) were developed with the assistance of the BF method and were further fabricated into SNF@HPMs-based triboelectric nanogenerator (SNF@HPMs-TENG). The SNF@HPMs-TENG showed considerable electrical performances with a power density of 390.8 mW/m2 and good long-term stability, which can power portable electronics as capacitors, calculator, watch, and light up 150 LEDs. Moreover, a self-powered wearable sensor based on SNF@HPMs was also developed for monitoring the bending, tactile, and frictional stimuli in a real-time manner. The comprehension of HPMs mechanism on nonplanar fiber surface and demonstrated capability of the SNF@HPMs-TENG provide insights and guidance in regulating microstructures of fiber materials for developing AFFs with customizable functionalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inadequate immune response remains a critical cause of immunotherapy failure in various tumor treatments. Herein, we offer a new approach to achieve a cross-talk between innate and adaptive immune responses based on a new nanoplatform for photothermal therapeutics. The nanoplatform was formed by linking titanium carbide MXene with Mn2+-contained ovalbumin (OVA), where it can trigger efficient mt-DNA presentation and the release of OVA and Mn2+ upon the irradiation of near-infrared laser. More importantly, the released mt-DNA and Mn2+ synergistically activate innate immunity via the cGAS-stimulator of the interferon genes signaling pathway, and the OVA and protein antigens from tumor cells enhance adaptive immunity. Furthermore, in an osteosarcoma model, we observed that the proposed nanoplatform leads to the effective presentation of tumor antigens, which boost the maturation of dendritic cells (DCs) to the hilt and thus improve the infiltration of cytotoxic T lymphocyte in primary and distant tumors. Collectively, our work not only demonstrates a method for constructing a new nanoplatform for photothermal therapeutics but also provides a general strategy for synchronously activating innate and adaptive immunities to promote the maturation of DCs for antimetastasis tumor therapy. Upon irradiation, tumor-derived antigen and mt-DNA release from dying tumors which recruits the DCs in situ. And TPOM NPs decompose into Mn2+ and OVA under NIR. Immature DCs (iDCs) would uptake the OVA and antigen which promote DCs maturation through the adaptive immunity. MtDNA and Mn2+ could stimulate innate immune response in iDCs by upregulating STING pathway to get activation. Eventually iDC cells transformed into mature DCs to activate T lymphocytes for anti-tumor and anti-mestastic immunotherapy. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Variability of urban fog during the last 50 years in Anhui Province (China) and its possible underlying mechanisms are analyzed based on daily meteorological records from 78 stations. The effects of urban development and aerosols on fog formation are discussed through an analysis of trends in fog frequency and comparison with a number of meteorological parameters, coal consumption and vehicle usage as indicators of economic development and aerosol production, and visibility as an indicator of aerosol load. The impact of urbanization on fog is different at various stages of urban development. The number of annual fog days in most cities studied has increased since the 1960s but decreased after the mid 1980s in large, old cities. New cities, on the other hand, are characterized by still increasing fog frequency. During the last thirty years, fog dissipation time occurred later, average fog duration increased and visibility decreased at most urban stations. The annual total coal combustion of Anhui Province correlates negatively with the average visibility within fog and average annual fog frequency in old cities. The difference in minimum temperature between cities and towns is negatively (positively) correlated with fog frequency in old (new) cities. Our study therefore supports previous findings that the number of fog days in cities is influenced by increased (i) temperatures associated with urban development and (ii) aerosol concentration due to urban development and industrial activity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Developing a biphasic scaffold that can concurrently regenerate both cartilage and bone of osteochondral defects (OCDs) is a challenge. Fish collagen (FC) is currently considered an alternative scaffold to mammalian collagen (MC) due to its safety, accessibility, lower price, and similar biological properties compared to those of MC. Here, we developed bilayer FC-based composite scaffolds with different components and pore sizes to modulate the differentiation fate of bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs): chondroitin sulfate-incorporated FC scaffolds (FC-CS) with small pores (approximately 128 μm) as the top layer and hydroxyapatite-incorporated FC scaffolds (FC-HA) with larger pores (approximately 326 μm) as the bottom layer. Both the FC-CS and FC-HA scaffolds possessed good cytocompatibility, excellent water absorption, suitable biodegradability and high cell seeding efficiency. The in vitro results indicated that FC-CS and FC-HA promote chondrogenesis and osteogenesis of BMSCs, respectively, as validated by gene expression and histological examination. Furthermore, compared to the empty group in a rabbit OCD model, the bilayer scaffold significantly induced simultaneous regeneration of cartilage and subchondral bone after 6 and 12 weeks of implantation, which was confirmed by gross, histological, and microcomputed tomography images. Our findings demonstrated that the FC-based bilayer scaffold is a promising scaffold for the repair of OCD. Unlabelled Image • We developed a novel bilayer FC-based scaffold with different components and pore sizes to modulate the differentiation fate of BMSCs. • The in vitro results showed that FC-CS and FC-HA have the ability to promote chondrogenesis and osteogenesis of BMSCs, respectively. • The bilayer scaffold significantly induced simultaneous regeneration of cartilage and subchondral bone in rabbits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (ITME) of osteosarcoma (OS) poses a significant obstacle to the efficacy of existing immunotherapies. Despite the attempt of novel immune strategies such as immune checkpoint inhibitors and tumor vaccines, their effectiveness remains suboptimal due to the inherent difficulty in mitigating ITME simultaneously from both the tumor and immune system. The promotion of anti-tumor immunity through the induction of immunogenic cell death and activation of the cGAS-STING pathway has emerged as potential strategies to counter the ITME and stimulate systemic antitumor immune responses. Here, a bimetallic polyphenol-based nanoplatform (Mn/Fe-Gallate nanoparticles coated with tumor cell membranes is presented, MFG@TCM) which combines with mild photothermal therapy (PTT) for reversing ITME via simultaneously inducing pyroptosis in OS cells and activating the cGAS-STING pathway in dendritic cells (DCs). The immunostimulatory pathways, through the syngeneic effect, exerted a substantial positive impact on promoting the secretion of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) and proinflammatory cytokines, which favors remodeling the immune microenvironment. Consequently, effector T cells led to a notable antitumor immune response, effectively inhibiting the growth of both primary and distant tumors. This study proposes a new method for treating OS using mild PTT and immune mudulation, showing promise in overcoming current treatment limitations., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Osteoarthritis (OA) is marked by cartilage deterioration, subchondral bone changes, and an inflammatory microenvironment. The study introduces the Microneedle-Delivered Polydopamine-Exosome (PDA@Exo MN), a therapeutic that not only preserves cartilage and promotes bone regeneration but also improves localized drug delivery through enhanced penetration capabilities. PDA@Exo MN shows strong reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging abilities and high biocompatibility, fostering osteogenesis and balancing anabolic and catabolic processes in cartilage. It directs macrophage polarization from M0 to the anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype. RNA sequencing of treated chondrocytes demonstrates restored cellular function and activated antioxidant responses, with modulated inflammatory pathways. The PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway's activation, essential for PDA@Exo's effects, is confirmed via bioinformatics and Western blot. In vivo assessments robustly validate that PDA@Exo MN prevents cartilage degradation and OA progression, supported by histological assessments and micro-CT analysis, highlighting its disease-modifying impact. The excellent biocompatibility of PDA@Exo MN, verified through histological (H&E) and blood tests showing no organ damage, underscores its safety and efficacy for OA therapy, making it a novel and multifunctional nanomedical approach in orthopedics, characterized by organ-friendliness and biosecurity., (© 2024 The Author(s). Advanced Science published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Osteosarcoma is one of the most dreadful bone neoplasms in young people, necessitating the development of innovative therapies that can effectively eliminate tumors while minimizing damage to limb function. An ideal therapeutic strategy should possess three essential capabilities: antitumor effects, tissue-protective properties, and the ability to enhance osteogenesis. In this study, self-assembled Ce-substituted molybdenum blue (CMB) nanowheel crystals are synthesized and loaded onto 3D-printed bioactive glass (CMB@BG) scaffolds to develop a unique three-in-one treatment approach for osteosarcoma. The CMB@BG scaffolds exhibit outstanding photothermally derived tumor ablation within the near-infrared-II window due to the surface plasmon resonance properties of the CMB nanowheel crystals. Furthermore, the photothermally synergistic catalytic effect of CMB promotes the rapid scavenging of reactive oxygen species caused by excessive heat, thereby suppressing inflammation and protecting surrounding tissues. The CMB@BG scaffolds possess pro-proliferation and pro-differentiation capabilities that efficiently accelerate bone regeneration within bone defects. Altogether, the CMB@BG scaffolds that combine highly efficient tumor ablation, tissue protection based on anti-inflammatory mechanisms, and enhanced osteogenic ability are likely to be a point-to-point solution for the comprehensive therapeutic needs of osteosarcoma., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

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., (© 2024 The Authors. Aging Cell published by Anatomical Society and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Osteosarcoma, recognized for its aggressiveness and resistance to chemotherapy, notably doxorubicin, poses significant treatment challenges. This comprehensive study investigated the CXCR4-CARM1-YAP signaling axis and its pivotal function in controlling aerobic glycolysis, which plays a crucial role in doxorubicin resistance. Detailed analysis of Dox-resistant 143b/MG63-DoxR cells has uncovered the overexpression of CXCR4. Utilizing a combination of molecular biology techniques including gene silencing, aerobic glycolysis assays such as Seahorse experiments, RNA sequencing, and immunofluorescence staining. The study provides insight into the mechanistic pathways involved. Results demonstrated that disrupting CXCR4 expression sensitizes cells to doxorubicin-induced apoptosis and alters glycolytic activity. Further RNA sequencing revealed that CARM1 modulated this effect through its influence on glycolysis, with immunofluorescence of clinical samples confirming the overexpression of CXCR4 and CARM1 in drug-resistant tumors. Chromatin immunoprecipitation studies further highlighted the role of CARM1, showing it to be regulated by methylation at the H3R17 site, which in turn affected YAP expression. Crucially, in vivo experiments illustrated that CARM1 overexpression could counteract the tumor growth suppression that resulted from CXCR4 inhibition. These insights revealed the intricate mechanisms at play in osteosarcoma resistance to doxorubicin and pointed toward potential new therapeutic strategies that could target this metabolic and signaling network to overcome drug resistance and improve patient outcomes., (© 2024 The Author(s). Cancer Science published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Japanese Cancer Association.)

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative disease that affects synovial joints and leads to significant pain and disability, particularly in older adults. Infiltration of macrophages plays a key role in the progression of OA. However, the mechanisms underlying macrophage recruitment in OA are not fully understood., Methods: The Serglycin (SRGN) expression pattern was analyzed, along with its association with macrophage infiltration in OA, using bioinformatic methods. SRGN expression in chondrocytes was altered by small interfering RNA (siRNA) and plasmids. Conditioned media (CM) was obtained from transfected chondrocytes to establish a co-culture model of chondrocytes and THP-1 derived macrophages. The impact of SRGN on macrophage recruitment was evaluated using a transwell assay. Furthermore, the regulatory effect of SRGN on CCL3 was validated through qPCR, WB, and ELISA experiments., Results: In OA patients, the upregulation of SRGN positively correlated with K-L grade and macrophage infiltration. It was found that SRGN expression and secretion were up-regulated in OA and that it can promote macrophage migration in vitro. Further investigation showed that SRGN affects macrophage migration by regulating the expression of CCL3., Conclusion: SRGN in chondrocytes plays a role in promoting the recruitment of THP-1 derived macrophages in vitro by regulating production of CCL3.

Brucellosis is a global zoonotic infection caused by Brucella bacteria, which poses a significant burden on society. While transmission prevention is currently the most effective method, the absence of a licenced vaccine for humans necessitates the urgent development of a safe and effective vaccine. Recombinant protein-based subunit vaccines are considered promising options, and in this study, the Brucella BP26 protein is expressed using prokaryotic expression systems. The immune responses are evaluated using the well-established adjuvant CpG-ODN. The results demonstrate that rBP26 supplemented with a CpG adjuvant induces M1 macrophage polarization and stimulates cellular immune responses mediated by Th1 cells and CD8 + T cells. Additionally, it generates high levels of rBP26-specific antibodies in immunized mice. Furthermore, rBP26 immunization activates, proliferates, and produces cytokines in T lymphocytes while also maintaining immune memory for an extended period of time. These findings shed light on the potential biological function of rBP26, which is crucial for understanding brucellosis pathogenesis. Moreover, rBP26 holds promise as an effective subunit vaccine candidate for use in endemic areas.

Alveolar echinococcosis is considered to be one of the most potentially lethal parasitic zoonotic diseases. However, the molecular mechanisms by which Echinococcus multilocularis interacts with hosts are poorly understood, hindering the prevention and treatment of this disease. Due to the great advantages of cell culture systems for molecular research, numerous attempts have been made to establish primary cell cultures for E. multilocularis. In this study we developed a simple, rapid, and economical method that allows E. multilocularis metacestode tissue blocks to generate daughter vesicles without the continuous presence of host feeder cells in a regular medium. We performed anaerobic, hypoxic (1% O2), normoxic, and semi-anaerobic (in sealed tubes) cultures and found that E. multilocularis metacestode tissues can produce daughter vesicles only in the sealed tubes after 4 wk of incubation. The daughter vesicles cultivated in this system were remarkably enlarged under anaerobic conditions after 8 days of culture, whereas vesicles cultured under hypoxic (1% O2) and normoxic conditions showed only a mild increase in volume. Our in vitro cultivated vesicles showed strong viability and could be used to test antiparasitic drugs, isolate primary cells, and infect animals., (© American Society of Parasitologists 2024.)

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., (© 2024 The Authors. Immunity, Inflammation and Disease published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: The Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene, responsible for encoding an enzyme crucial in the metabolism of catecholamines, is known to play a significant role in pain perception. Polymorphisms within this gene, particularly the COMT rs4680 genotypes, have been linked to various acute pain phenotypes. This prospective cohort study examines interactions among the genetic polymorphism COMT rs4680 genotypes, preoperative knee pain, and pain catastrophizing in chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) at 3, 6, and 12 months post-total knee arthroplasty (TKA)., Study Design: A total of 280 patients undergoing primary unilateral TKA participated, sharing demographic details, preoperative knee pain levels, psychological variables (pain catastrophizing), and COMT rs4680 genotyping via venous blood samples. Telephone interviews at specified intervals enabled the application of binary logistic regressions and interaction models., Results: Significant influences of preoperative knee pain and pain catastrophizing on postsurgical outcomes were observed. Specifically, at the first time point (T1, 3 months post-TKA), a notable moderation effect was identified in preoperative knee pain (R 2 change = 0.026, p = 0.026). The Johnson-Neyman regions of significance (RoS) indicated these moderation effects were significant above a threshold of 17.18 (p = 0.05), accounting for 26.4%. At the third time point (T3, 12 months post-TKA), a complex three-way interaction among genotypes (GG, GA, and AA carriers) was evident, resulting in an R 2 change of 0.051 (p = 0.009). Here, the RoS for pain catastrophizing was above 32.74 for 30.5% of GG genotype carriers, above 22.38 for 50.8% of GA carriers, and below 11.94 for 63.2% of AA carriers., Conclusion: This study illuminates the significant role of the COMT Val158Met rs4680 polymorphism in susceptibility to prolonged pain following TKA. It also elucidates how these genetic genotypes interplay with preoperative knee pain and pain catastrophizing. Such intricate genetic-psychological-pain relationships necessitate additional investigation to confirm these findings and potentially guide post-TKA pain management strategies., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.. All rights reserved.)

Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is a zoonotic parasitic disease caused by infection with the larval stage of Echinococcus multilocularis and a major challenge to human public health. Vaccines are the most effective way to prevent and control infectious diseases. We previously revealed that the Echinocuccus granulosus recombinant protein P29 is a good vaccine candidate against E . granulosus . However, the protective and immunological mechanism of rEg.P29 against E . multilocularis remain unclear. In this study, CD4 + T cell-deficient mice are transferred with spleen CD4 + T cells isolated from wild-type mice and subjected to rEg.P29 immunization, and then these immunized mice are infected with E . multilocularis . The cyst inhibition rate is calculated by weighing the body and cyst weights. The level of antibody is detected by ELISA. Flow cytometry is used to detect the level of IFN-γ production by CD4 + T and CD8 + T cells. The cytokines in culture supernatant are detected by ELISA. The expressions of CD44 and CD62L on memory T cells are determined by flow cytometry. The results show the cyst inhibition rate is 41.52% after adoptive transfer of CD4 + T cells. Furthermore, the levels of IgG, IgM, IgA and IgE in serum are significantly increased compared with those in the PBS group. The IFN-γ-secretion by CD8 + T cells and the level of IFN-γ in culture supernatant are obviously increased; and the number of CD4 + T cells is increased, but the number of IFN-γ producing CD4 + T cells has no significant difference compared with PBS group. In addition, the number of CD44 + CD62L ‒ CD8 + memory T cells in the spleen is significantly increased, while the number of CD44 ‒ CD62L + CD8 + memory T cells is not significantly altered. Collectively, rEg.P29 can alleviate E . multilocularis infection by inducing humoral immune responses and CD8 + T cell responses.

Flexible and stretchable triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have been rapidly advanced owing to the demand for portable and wearable electronic devices that can work under universal or motional circumstances. While versatile materials can be applied in a TENG as dielectric materials, flexible and cost-effective electrodes are crucially important for the output performance of TENGs. Herein, we developed a poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogel TENG doped with a novel two-dimensional material, graphitic carbon nitride (g-C 3 N 4 ), which could act as both a cost-effective flexible electrode and a positive dielectric for TENG with different morphologies. The measured peak-to-peak open-circuit voltage of the TENG reached 80 V at a dopant concentration of 2.7 wt % in single-electrode mode, which is far higher than that of the pristine PVA hydrogel TENG. As a demonstration of the application, the g-C 3 N 4 /PVA hydrogel TENG can be adopted as electronic skin to monitor the movement of the human body. Low-frequency mechanical energy-harvesting devices in different morphologies including discoid flake shape, tube shape, and spiral shape in the single-electrode mode or contact-separation mode have been designed, fabricated, and evaluated. All of these merits of the proposed hydrogel TENG after doping two-dimensional (2D) material g-C 3 N 4 have demonstrated their promising potential for versatile applications in biomechanical energy harvesting and self-powered sensing.

Photochromic materials with rapid color-switching, long color retention times, and rewritability are crucial for meeting the requirements of future rewritable ink-free media. However, these requirements are challenging to satisfy simultaneously due to the inherent constraints among these features. Herein, a novel photochromic nanofiber nonwoven fabric was designed and constructed based on a conjugated organic-inorganic hybrid structure through electrospinning and hot-pressing techniques. The as-prepared fabric can change color in merely 5 s under UV irradiation and can reach saturation within 2 min. In addition, upon the introduction of a potent metal chelator, its color retention time exceeds 14 days under ambient conditions, significantly longer than that of most rewritable materials recently reported (several hours to 5 days). Moreover, the fabric exhibits high writing resolution and can be photoprinted and heat-erased for over 100 cycles while still retaining 96% of its initial reflectivity. Hydrophobic thermoplastic polyurethane provides the fabric with excellent waterproof and antifouling properties, thus preventing the composite from swelling or collecting graffiti due to moisture or dust. This work exploits a competitive approach for designing flexible, rewritable, and superior functional wearables with practical applications.

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease that affects millions worldwide. Synovitis and macrophage polarization are important factors in the development of OA. However, the specific components of synovial fluid (SF) responsible for promoting macrophage polarization remain unclear., Methods: Semi-quantitative antibody arrays were used to outline the proteome of SF. Differential expression analysis and GO/KEGG were performed on the obtained data. Immunohistochemistry and ELISA were used to investigate the relationship between SF S100A12 levels and synovitis levels in clinalclinical samples. In vitro cell experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of S100A12 on macrophage polarization. Public databases were utilized to predict and construct an S100A12-centered lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA competing endogenous RNA network, which was preliminarily validated using GEO datasets., Results: The study outlines the protein profile in OA and non-OA SF. The results showed that the S100A12 level was significantly increased in OA SF and inflammatory chondrocytes. The OA synovium had more severe synovitis and higher levels of S100A12 than non-OA synovium. Exogenous S100A12 upregulated the levels of M1 markers and phosphorylated p65 and promoted p65 nuclear translocation, while pretreatment with BAY 11-7082 reversed these changes. It was also discovered that LINC00894 was upregulated in OA and significantly correlated with S100A12, potentially regulating S100A12 expression by acting as a miRNA sponge., Conclusions: This study demonstrated that S100A12 promotes M1 macrophage polarization through the NF-κB pathway, and found that LINC00894 has the potential to regulate the expression of S100A12 as a therapeutic approach.

Background: To investigate whether accurate placement of sustentaculum tali screws have the impacts on the clinical efficacy of calcaneal fractures., Methods: A retrospective analysis of 72 cases (73 feet) of calcaneal fractures from September 2015 to September 2019 treated with open reduction and internal fixation with sustentaculum tali screws was conducted. Patients were divided into the sustentaculum tali fixation group (ST group) and the sustentaculum fragment fixation group (STF group) according to the location of the sustentaculum tali screw placement. The functional outcomes at preoperative, 7 days and 1 year postoperative were collected and analyzed., Results: In the ST group (40 feet), the Gissane's angle altered from (109.89 ± 12.13)° to (121.23 ± 9.34)° and (119.08 ± 8.31)° at 7 days and 1 year postoperative, respectively. For Böhler's angles altered from (11.44 ± 5.94)°, to (31.39 ± 7.54)°, and (30.61 ± 7.94)° at 7 days and 1 year postoperative, respectively. In the STF group (33 feet), Gissane's angle altered from (110.47 ± 14.45)°, to (122.08 ± 8.84)°, and (120.67 ± 9.07)° and Böhler's angle altered from (11.32 ± 6.77)°, to (28.82 ± 8.52)°, and (28.25 ± 9.13)° (P < 0.001). However, there was no statistically significant difference in functional outcomes at 1 week after surgery and 1 year after surgery (P > 0.05). The AOFAS scores at the final follow-up of the two groups: ST group (88.95 ± 6.16) and STF group (89.78 ± 8.76); VAS scores, ST group (0.83 ± 0.98) and STF group (1.03 ± 1.59), all differences were not statistically significant (P > 0.05)., Conclusion: The position of sustentaculum tali screws has no significant difference on the short-term clinical outcome in patients with calcaneal fractures, while reliable fixation of screws to sustentaculum tali fragment can achieve similar clinical outcome., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The role of follicular T helper (Tfh) cells in humoral response has been considered essential in recent years. Understanding how Tfh cells control complex humoral immunity is critical to developing strategies to improve the efficacy of vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 and other emerging pathogens. However, the immunologic mechanism of Tfh cells in SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain (RBD) vaccine strategy is limited. In this study, we expressed and purified recombinant SARS-CoV-2 RBD protein in Drosophila S2 cells for the first time and explored the mechanism of Tfh cells induced by RBD vaccine in humoral immune response. We mapped the dynamic of Tfh cell in lymph node and spleen following RBD vaccination and revealed the relationship between Tfh cells and humoral immune response induced by SARS-CoV-2 RBD vaccine through correlation analysis, blocking of IL-21 signaling pathway, and co-culture of Tfh with memory B cells. Recombinant RBD protein elicited a predominant Tfh1 and Tfh1-17 subset response and strong GC responses in spleen and lymph nodes, especially to enhanced vaccination. IL-21 secreted by Tfh cells affected the development and differentiation of B cells and played a key role in the humoral immune response. These observations will help us further understand the mechanism of protective immune response induced by COVID-19 vaccine and has guiding significance for the development of vaccines against newly emerging mutants., (© 2023. Sichuan International Medical Exchange & Promotion Association.)

Background: Different subtypes of dendritic cells (DCs) can induce different types of immune responses. Our previous study found that Echinococcus granulosus (E. granulosus) antigens (Eg.ferritin, Eg.mMDH and Eg.10) stimulated DC differentiation to different subtypes and produced different immune responses., Objective: To further understand whether Eg.ferritin, Eg.mMDH and Eg.10 affect the DC-mediated immune response by promoting the differentiation of monocytes to DCs., Methods: Bone marrow-derived monocytes were exposed to three antigens of E. granulosus on days 0, 3, 5, and 7. The percentage of monocyte-derived DCs (moDCs), DCs subsets, and the expression of surface molecules of DCs at different time points in different groups were assessed by flow cytometry. The levels of cytokines of IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-13, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-12p70, IL-18, IL-23, and IL-27 in the cell culture supernatant were detected by multi-factorial detection technology., Results: The percentage of moDCs revealed that none of the three antigens blocked monocyte differentiation to DCs. The monocytes of 7-day-old cultures showed increased sensitivity to these antigens. The Eg.ferritin induced more mature DCs, which expressed high levels of MHC II and costimulatory molecules, and secreted Th1 cytokines. Eg10 and Eg.mMDH induced lower degrees of DC maturation, however differentiated DCs were in a semi-mature state due to low expression of MHC II and costimulatory molecules and secretion of higher Th2 and lower Th1 cytokines., Conclusion: Eg.ferritin promotes full maturation of DCs and induces Th1 immune response, whereas Eg.10 and Eg.mMDH induce semi-mature DCs producing higher levels of Th2 cytokines.

3-Hydroxybutyrate (3HB) is a small ketone body molecule produced endogenously by the body in the liver. Previous studies have shown that 3HB can reduce blood glucose level in type 2 diabetic (T2D) patients. However, there is no systematic study and clear mechanism to evaluate and explain the hypoglycemic effect of 3HB. Here we demonstrate that 3HB reduces fasting blood glucose level, improves glucose tolerance, and ameliorates insulin resistance in type 2 diabetic mice through hydroxycarboxylic acid receptor 2 (HCAR2). Mechanistically, 3HB increases intracellular calcium ion (Ca 2+ ) levels by activating HCAR2, thereby stimulating adenylate cyclase (AC) to increase cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) concentration, and then activating protein kinase A (PKA). Activated PKA inhibits Raf1 proto-oncogene serine/threonine-protein kinase (Raf1) activity, resulting in a decrease in extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2) activity and ultimately inhibiting peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) Ser273 phosphorylation in adipocytes. Inhibition of PPARγ Ser273 phosphorylation by 3HB altered the expression of PPARγ regulated genes and reduced insulin resistance. Collectively, 3HB ameliorates insulin resistance in type 2 diabetic mice through a pathway of HCAR2/Ca 2+ /cAMP/PKA/Raf1/ERK1/2/PPARγ., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Existing detection methods for pathogen nucleic acid detection, such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), are complicated and expensive to perform. Here, we report a simple and versatile strategy for highly sensitive detection of pathogen nucleic acid based on toehold-mediated strand displacement initiated primer exchange amplification (t-PER). In the presence of the target, the blocked hairpin substrate is released by toehold-mediated strand displacement, which triggers the primer exchange reaction amplification. Then, multiple long tandem-repeat single-strands generated by PER open the molecular beacon to recover the fluorescence signal. The t-PER protocol also successfully directly detected human papilloma virus from clinical cervical swab samples, with consistent results compared to real time-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Moreover, the versatility and clinical feasibility of this method was further confirmed by measuring Epstein-Barr virus, hepatitis B virus, and Ureaplasma urealyticum from different clinical samples (serum samples and urine samples). This simple platform enabled specific and sensitive detection of pathogen nucleic acid in a format that might hold great potential for point-of-care infection diagnosis., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Muscle atrophy is an increasingly global health problem affecting millions, there is a lack of clinical drugs or effective therapy. Excessive loss of muscle mass is the typical characteristic of muscle atrophy, manifesting as muscle weakness accompanied by impaired metabolism of protein and nucleotide. (D)-3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB), one of the main components of the ketone body, has been reported to be effective for the obvious hemodynamic effects in atrophic cardiomyocytes and exerts beneficial metabolic reprogramming effects in healthy muscle. This study aims to exploit how the 3HB exerts therapeutic effects for treating muscle atrophy induced by hindlimb unloaded mice., Results: Anabolism/catabolism balance of muscle protein was maintained with 3HB via the Akt/FoxO3a and the mTOR/4E-BP1 pathways; protein homeostasis of 3HB regulation includes pathways of ubiquitin-proteasomal, autophagic-lysosomal, responses of unfolded-proteins, heat shock and anti-oxidation. Metabolomic analysis revealed the effect of 3HB decreased purine degradation and reduced the uric acid in atrophied muscles; enhanced utilization from glutamine to glutamate also provides evidence for the promotion of 3HB during the synthesis of proteins and nucleotides., Conclusions: 3HB significantly inhibits the loss of muscle weights, myofiber sizes and myofiber diameters in hindlimb unloaded mouse model; it facilitates positive balance of proteins and nucleotides with enhanced accumulation of glutamate and decreased uric acid in wasting muscles, revealing effectiveness for treating muscle atrophy., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Human body can obtain energy from either carbohydrate or fat digestion. Although glucose metabolism derived from carbohydrate-based diets has long been utilized for energy supply, it has been recently discovered that shifting from glucose to fatty acid metabolism may become a novel way for improving human health especially when carbohydrate is deprived. In recent years, intermittent fasting and ketogenic diets have received a lot of attention in respect to favoring fatty acid metabolism. In all cases, fatty acid metabolism produces D-β-hydroxybutyrate (D3HB), which is a natural ketone body, as well as, a monomer of microbial poly-D-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB). D3HB can be utilized by different cells of the body as an alternative energy fuel or an intracellular signaling molecule with multiple downstream signaling pathways. Usually, the serum level of D3HB is increased during ketogenic diets, however, requires a very long period of adaptation (over 3-months) and exhibits unwanted adverse effects. Hence, exogenous ketone supplements using D3HB have become a more effective approach to induce and maintain nutritional ketosis for subsequent functional effects. This review describes how D3HB is produced and metabolized within the body, the functional roles played by D3HB, and a detailed summary of the different applications of exogenous ketones that have been explored to date in both nutritional and therapeutical context.