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Background: Lymph node characteristics markedly affect nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) prognosis. Matted node (MN), an important characteristic for lymph node, lacks explored MRI‐based prognostic implications. Purpose: Investigate MRI‐determined MNs' prognostic value in NPC, including 5‐year overall survival (OS), distant metastasis‐free survival (DMFS), local recurrence‐free survival (LRFS), progression‐free survival (PFS), and its role in induction chemotherapy (IC). Study Type: Retrospective cohort survival study. Population: Seven hundred ninety‐two patients with non‐metastatic NPC (female: 27.3%, >45‐year old: 50.1%) confirmed by biopsy. Field Strength/Sequence: 5‐T/3.0‐T, T1‐, T2‐ and post‐contrast T1‐weighted fast spin echo sequences acquired. Assessment: MNs were defined as ≥3 nodes abutting with intervening fat plane replaced by extracapsular nodal spread (ENS). Patients were observed every 3 months for 2 years and every 6 months for 5 years using MRI. Follow‐up extended from treatment initiation to death or final follow‐up. MNs were evaluated by three radiologists with inter‐reader reliability calculated. A 1:1 matched‐pair method compared survival differences between MN‐positive patients with or without IC. Primary endpoints (OS, DMFS, LRFS, PFS) were calculated from therapy initiation to respective event. Statistical Tests: Kappa values assessed inter‐reader reliability. Correlation between MN, ENS, and LNN was studied through Spearman's correlation coefficient. Clinical characteristics were calculated via Fisher's exact, Chi‐squared, and Student's t‐test. Kaplan–Meier curves and log‐rank tests analyzed all time‐to‐event data. Confounding factors were included in Multivariable Cox proportional hazard models to identify independent prognostic factors. P‐values <0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: MNs incidence was 24.6%. MNs independently associated with decreased 5‐year OS, DMFS, and PFS; not LRFS (P = 0.252). MN‐positive patients gained significant survival benefit from IC in 5‐year OS (88.4% vs. 66.0%) and PFS (76.4% vs. 53.5%), but not DMFS (83.1% vs. 69.9%, P = 0.145) or LRFS (89.9% vs. 77.8%, P = 0.140). Data Conclusion: MNs may independently stratify NPC risk and offer survival benefit from IC. Evidence Level: 3 Technical Efficacy: Stage 2 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-entropy oxides (HEOs) are considered promising electrode materials as they have great potential to provide much higher energy density and cyclability than their conventional electrode counterparts such as graphite. In the present work, nanostructured HEOs were fabricated on the surface of conductive carbon black using laser beam irradiation, which generally implements the rapid bottom-up carbothermal process. Furthermore, electrochemical performances of Co-free and Co-incorporated HEO nanoparticles in comparison with bulk-HEO counterparts were investigated. In particular, the Co-free (LiFeNiMnCuZn)3O4 nanoparticle electrode showed the best capability presenting both the highest cycling value of 866 mA h g−1 (100% capacity retention) after 800 cycles at 0.5 A g−1 and rate performances of 585 at 2.0 A g−1 and 436 mA h g−1 at 5.0 A g−1 without decay. The long cycling performance of Co-free HEOs could be derived from the reversible spinel structure, according to the in situ X-ray diffraction (XRD) results, as well as the strong thermal stability of high-entropy mixing phases, as indicated by a large positive decomposition enthalpy according to density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Additionally, the assembled full cell (LiFeNiMnCuZn)3O4‖LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2 delivered a power density of 670 W h kg−1 with a high discharge voltage around 3.7 V based on the 0.1C discharge profile. As manifested by the DFT calculations, the low anode voltage of HEOs measured here is due to the electron-sufficient Zn, which favors the Ni2+/Ni3+ redox couple. This work is expected to provide a guideline for the development of advanced high-entropy nanostructured electrode materials for efficient batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The contact network is important for the traction power supply system to supply power to electric locomotives. It is significant to ensure that the contact network works properly. Whether the locator is intact directly affects the operation of the contact network. The traction power supply system has dynamic load vibration and wind dance vibration during operation. The contact network positioner and the wrist arm support structure appear to be separated, and there is a potential difference between the positioner and the support structure, which generates an electric arc and ablates the positioner and the wrist arm support structure device. Therefore, this paper selects the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) mathematical model with reference to the arcing model modelling method. COMSOL Multiphysics software is used to simulate the arc transient process of the contact network locator support structure separation, analyse the electric field between the locator articulated parts, give the temperature distribution of the locator and the articulated parts, and analyse the influencing factors of the temperature distribution between the locator and the articulated parts. This provides guiding suggestions for the design of contact networks and the selection of positioners in engineering.

Introduction: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by relapsed eczema and serious pruritus. High-mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) is a nuclear-binding protein and serves as an alarmin to promote inflammatory responses. Methods: In this study, we established an AD mouse model by topical use of MC903 on ears and then used a specific HMGB1-binding peptide cIY8 and a HMGB1 inhibitor of glycyrrhizin to investigate HMGB1 on fibroblast activation in the pathogenesis of AD-like symptoms. Results: Topical use of cIY8 and oral use of glycyrrhizin significantly improved the MC903-induced AD-like symptoms and pathological changes of the ears and scratching behavior in an AD mouse model; cIY8 treatment inhibited the higher mRNAs of IL-1α, IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, and IL-31 in the ears. In human fibroblasts, HMGB1 caused nuclear translocation of NF-kB, and the nuclear translocation could be inhibited by pre-treatment of HMGB1 with cIY8, suggesting that NF-κB signaling pathway participates in the HMGB1-induced inflammation of AD in fibroblasts and that cIY8 effectively impedes the function of HMGB1. Glycyrrhizin inhibited the Ca2+ signaling induced by ionomycin in mouse primary fibroblasts. The fibroblast-related proteins of α-SMA, Hsp47, and vimentin and the pruritus-related proteins of IL-33 and periostin were increased in the ears of the AD mouse model, the ratio of EdU incorporation became higher in mouse fibroblasts treated with MC903, and the higher proliferation and inflammatory responses of the fibroblasts could be reversed by glycyrrhizin treatment. Conclusions: Fibroblast activation by HMGB1 is one of the critical processes in the development of inflammation and pruritus in the AD mouse model. The specific HMGB1-binding peptide cIY8 and the HMGB1 inhibitor glycyrrhizin inactivate skin fibroblasts to alleviate the inflammation and pruritus in the AD mouse model. Peptide cIY8 may be topically used to treat AD patients in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]