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Abstract Electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) occurring at the electrode/electrolyte interface is sensitive to both the potential and concentration polarization. Compared to static electrolysis at a fixed potential, pulsed electrolysis with alternating anodic and cathodic potentials is an intriguing approach that not only reconstructs the surface structure, but also regulates the local pH and mass transport from the electrolyte side in the immediate vicinity of the cathode. Herein, via a combined online mass spectrometry investigation with sub-second temporal resolution and 1-dimensional diffusion profile simulations, we reveal that heightened surface CO2 concentration promotes CO2RR over H2 evolution for both polycrystalline Ag and Cu electrodes after anodic pulses. Moreover, mild oxidative pulses generate a roughened surface topology with under-coordinated Ag or Cu sites, delivering the best CO2-to-CO and CO2-to-C2+ performance, respectively. Surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy elucidates the potential dependence of *CO and *OCHO species on Ag as well as the gradually improved *CO consumption rate over under-coordinated Cu after oxidative pulses, directly correlating apparent CO2RR selectivity with dynamic interfacial chemistry at the molecular level.

Abstract Metal hydrides are crucial intermediates in numerous catalytic reactions. Intensive efforts have been dedicated to constructing molecular metal hydrides, where toxic precursors and delicate mediators are usually involved. Herein, we demonstrate a facile pressure-induced methodology to generate a cost-effective heterogeneous electrocatalytic metal hydride surface for sustainable hydrogen transfer. Taking carbon dioxide (CO2) electroreduction as a model system and zinc (Zn), a well-known carbon monoxide (CO)-selective catalyst, as a model catalyst, we showcase a homogeneous-type hydrogen atom transfer process induced by heterogeneous hydride surfaces, enabling direct hydrogenation pathways traditionally considered “prohibited”. Specifically, the maximal Faradaic efficiency for formate is enhanced by ~fivefold to 83% under ambient conditions. Experimental and theoretical analyses reveal that unlike the distal hydrogenation route for CO2 to CO over pristine Zn, the Zn hydride surface enables direct hydrogenation at the carbon site of CO2 to form formate. This work provides a promising material platform for sustainable synthesis.

Abstract Gamma knife radiosurgery (GKRS) is recommended as the first-line treatment for brain metastases of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) in many guidelines, but its specific mechanism is unclear. We aimed to study the changes in the proteome of brain metastases of LUAD in response to the hyperacute phase of GKRS and further explore the mechanism of differentially expressed proteins (DEPs). Cancer tissues were collected from a clinical trial for neoadjuvant stereotactic radiosurgery before surgical resection of large brain metastases (ChiCTR2000038995). Five brain metastasis tissues of LUAD were collected within 24 h after GKRS. Five brain metastasis tissues without radiotherapy were collected as control samples. Proteomics analysis showed that 163 proteins were upregulated and 25 proteins were downregulated. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses showed that the DEPs were closely related to ribosomes. Fifty-three of 70 ribosomal proteins were significantly overexpressed, while none of them were underexpressed. The risk score constructed from 7 upregulated ribosomal proteins (RPL4, RPS19, RPS16, RPLP0, RPS2, RPS26 and RPS25) was an independent risk factor for the survival time of LUAD patients. Overexpression of ribosomal proteins may represent a desperate response to lethal radiotherapy. We propose that targeted inhibition of these ribosomal proteins may enhance the efficacy of GKRS.

Background: Layilin (LAYN) plays an important role in tumor progression, invasion, and metastasis; however, its role in cholangiocarcinoma (CHOL) has not been elucidated. Methods: We utilized the GEPIA, STRING, and hTFtarget databases for bioinformatics analysis. Overexpression or knockdown cell lines were constructed by transfecting the cells with different plasmids. Western blot (WB) was performed to detect LAYN, TLN1, and CREB1 expression. Cell proliferation, migration, and invasiveness were assessed using CCK-8 and Transwell assays. Immunofluorescence and WB were used to detect epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers. The CHOL metastasis model was established by injecting RBE cells into the tail veins of nude mice. Metastatic lesions were identified using hematoxylin and eosin staining. Co-immunoprecipitation and Chromatin immunoprecipitation were used to validate the interactions. Results: LAYN was highly expressed in the CHOL cells. Knockdown of LAYN significantly inhibited proliferation, migration, invasion, and EMT in both QBC-939 and RBE human CHOL cells, while overexpression of LAYN had the opposite effect. Furthermore, in a CHOL metastasis model using nude mice, knocking down LAYN expression markedly suppressed CHOL liver and lung metastases. LAYN interacts with TLN1, and CREB1 binds to the LAYN promoter, with all three showing a positive correlation. Additionally, bioinformatics analysis revealed high expression of both TLN1 and CREB1 in CHOL. Knockdown of TLN1 or CREB1 in QBC-939 and RBE cells inhibited cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and EMT, reversing the effects of LAYN overexpression. Moreover, knockdown of TLN1 or CREB1 also suppressed the expression of ITGB1 and the phosphorylation levels of c-Jun, p38 MAPK, and ERK, further reversing the effects of LAYN overexpression. Conclusion: Our results suggest that CREB1 promotes CHOL metastasis through transcriptional regulation of the LAYN-mediated TLN1/β1 integrin axis.

Abstract Background Definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy (dCCRT) is the gold standard for the treatment of locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). However, the potential benefits of consolidation chemotherapy after dCCRT in patients with esophageal cancer remain debatable. Prospective randomized controlled trials comparing the outcomes of dCCRT with or without consolidation chemotherapy in patients with ESCC are lacking. In this study, we aim to generate evidence regarding consolidation chemotherapy efficacy in patients with locally advanced, inoperable ESCC. Methods This is a multicenter, prospective, open-label, phase-III randomized controlled trial comparing non-inferiority of dCCRT alone to consolidation chemotherapy following dCCRT. In total, 600 patients will be enrolled and randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either consolidation chemotherapy after dCCRT (Arm A) or dCCRT alone (Arm B). Overall survival will be the primary endpoint, whereas progression-free survival, locoregional progression-free survival, distant metastasis-free survival, and treatment-related toxicity will be the secondary endpoints. Discussion This study aid in further understanding the effects of consolidation chemotherapy after dCCRT in patients with locally advanced, inoperable ESCC. Trial registration ChiCTR1800017646.

The precise generation of train control curves for the on-board Automatic Train Protection (ATP) of the Chinese Train Control System Level 2 (CTCS-2) relies significantly on accurate train control engineering data, which serves as a critical element in ensuring the safe operation of trains. However, the traditional verification methods of train control engineering data depend on manual validation, which lacks timeliness and completeness and makes it easy to overlook potential errors. On the other hand, traditional verification rules are derived from railway technical specifications and standards, expressed in textual language that is often ambiguous, which leads to insufficient completeness in data verification. To address these challenges, this paper proposes a formal verification method for train control engineering data based on a Reduced Ordered Binary Decision Diagram (ROBDD). First, the attribute constraints of the train control data and the implicit constraint relations between different data objects are mined using existing railway technical specifications and expert knowledge of railway signals. These constraints are then converted into Boolean function models. Second, we formulate the ROBDD generation algorithm and the evaluation decision algorithm of the Boolean function using the equivalent canonical data structure ROBDD of the Boolean function. Finally, based on the train control engineering data from actual passenger-dedicated lines, the automatic verification method is developed by constructing four types of “mutation” data, including mutate, swap, add, and remove. The test cases indicate that our proposed formal verification method is feasible and capable of achieving high efficiency and completeness in the verification of CTCS-2 level train control engineering data.

Ensuring road safety is heavily reliant on the effective maintenance of vehicles. Accurate predictions of maintenance requirements can substantially reduce ownership costs for vehicle owners. Consequently, this field has attracted increasing attention from researchers in recent years. However, existing studies primarily focus on predicting a limited number of maintenance needs, predominantly based solely on vehicle mileage and driving time. This approach often falls short, as it does not comprehensively monitor the overall health condition of vehicles, thus posing potential safety risks. To address this issue, we propose a deep fusion network model that utilizes multi-source data, including vehicle maintenance record data and vehicle base information data, to provide comprehensive predictions for vehicle maintenance projects. To capture the relationships among various maintenance projects, we create a correlation representation using the maintenance project co-occurrence matrix. Furthermore, building on the correlation representation, we propose a deep fusion network that employs the attention mechanism to efficiently merge vehicle mileage and vehicle base information. Experiments conducted on real data demonstrate the superior performance of our proposed model relative to competitive baseline models in predicting vehicle maintenance projects.

The balise transmission system (BTS) is essential for train position sensing and safe operation. Transmission loss is a key parameter particularly required for the evaluation of systems. The eddy current loss (ECL), caused by the conductivity of debris, affects the transmission performance of the BTS when the balise is immersed in water. This study proposes an effective modeling for the BTS using S-parameters. Utilizing the electromagnetic coupling analysis in the near-field region, we derived an equivalent circuit with the frequency and conductivity of water taken into consideration. The S21 can be predicted accurately by using the proposed equivalent circuit. For validation, a BTS system was implemented and measured to compare with theoretically calculated results and electromagnetic simulation results in the main lobe zone. The measurement results, simulation, and calculation were in good agreement. Moreover, the modeling was used to predict the I/O characteristics of the balise. The power of the balise uplink FSK signal was measured in the water debris and found to be approximately 0.62 dB less than in air. These findings aligned well with theoretical predictions.

It is of paramount importance to accurately predict the maintenance demands of vehicles in order to guarantee their sustainable use. Nevertheless, the current methodologies merely predict a partial aspect of a vehicle’s maintenance demands, rather than the comprehensive maintenance demands. Moreover, the process of predicting vehicle maintenance demands must give due consideration to the influence of mileage on such demands. In light of the aforementioned considerations, we put forth a vehicle overall maintenance demand prediction method that incorporates vehicle mileage awareness. In order to address the discrepancy between the vector space of mileage and that of the project, we put forth a mileage representation method for the maintenance demand prediction task. To capture the significant impact of key mileage and projects on future demand, we propose a learning module for key temporal information using a fusion of Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks and attention mechanism. Moreover, to integrate maintenance mileage and projects, we propose a fusion method based on a gated unit. The experimental results obtained from real datasets demonstrate that the proposed model exhibits a superior performance compared to existing methods.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is rapidly transforming our lives and work, enabling a wide range of emerging services and applications. However, as the scale of the IoT expands, its security issues are becoming increasingly prominent. Malicious actors can exploit vulnerabilities in IoT devices to launch attacks. Protecting the IoT begins with device identification. Identified devices can have corresponding protective measures selected based on the information, thereby enhancing network security. In this study, we propose a dual-machine-learning-based IoT device identification algorithm, Dual-IoTID, which identifies devices based on the payload of IoT device sessions. In contrast to existing methods that rely on extracting header fields or network layer features, our approach attempts to obtain identification information from session payloads. Dual-IoTID first extracts frequent items from sessions and uses a first-layer classifier to obtain a confidence matrix for initial classification. Then, the confidence matrix, along with extracted session communication features, is fed into a second-layer classifier for IoT device identification. Our proposed method is applicable to any IoT device, and it is also suitable for networks with NAT enabled. Experimental results demonstrate that Dual-IoTID has higher accuracy than existing methods, achieving 99.48% accuracy in the UNSW dataset and accurately identifying IoT devices even in environments containing non-IoT devices.

Focused microwave breast hyperthermia (FMBH) employs a phased antenna array to perform beamforming that can focus microwave energy at targeted breast tumors. Selective heating of the tumor endows the hyperthermia treatment with high accuracy and low side effects. The effect of FMBH is highly dependent on the applied phased antenna array. This work investigates the effect of polarizations of antenna elements on the microwave-focusing results by simulations. We explore two kinds of antenna arrays with the same number of elements using different digital realistic human breast phantoms. The first array has all the elements’ polarization in the vertical plane of the breast, while the second array has half of the elements’ polarization in the vertical plane and the other half in the transverse plane, i.e., cross polarization. In total, 96 sets of different simulations are performed, and the results show that the second array leads to a better focusing effect in dense breasts than the first array. This work is very meaningful for the potential improvement of the antenna array for FMBH, which is of great significance for the future clinical applications of FMBH. The antenna array with cross polarization can also be applied in microwave imaging and sensing for biomedical applications.

Retinoblastoma (RB) is a common intraocular malignancy mostly caused by variation of the tumour suppressor gene RB1. In this study, we successfully generated two induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines from an infant with non-heritable RB. Both cell clones exhibited typical iPSC characteristics with normal karyotypes, consistent pluripotency markers expression and the capability of trilineage differentiation.

This study aimed to investigate the antioxidant effect of soybean milk fermented by a new type of Lactobacillus fermentum (LF-HFY02) by using D-galactose induced aging mice model. Firstly, the optimal fermentation conditions was screened out by detecting the effects of different fermentation temperature and time on the active components and antioxidant activity of soybean milk in vitro. And then unfermented soybean milk and the soybean milk fermented by different Lactobacillus was given by gavage to D-galactose-induced aging mouse. The activities of GSH, GSH-Px, SOD, CAT and T-AOC in serum, brain and liver of soybean milk fermented by LF-HFY02 were significantly increased, while the content of MDA and the level of AGEs in hippocampal were significantly decreased compared with D-galactose induced group. Further more, the mRNA expression of GSH and SOD in mouse liver were obviously up-regulated by soybean milk fermented by LF-HFY02. The skin tissue structure of mice in the LF-HFY02 fermented soybean milk group was more complete, the collagen fibers were increased and arranged orderly and liver inflammation has improved compared with the model group. And Western blot analysis showed that LF-HFY02 effectively upregulated EGFR, SOD and GSH protein expression in mouse liver. These findings suggest that LF-HFY02 can effectively prevent D-galactose-induced oxidation and aging in mice, and the effect was even better than that of the Lactobacillus delbruechii subsp. bulgaricus and vitamin C. Thus, LF-HFY02 may be potentially employed as a probiotic strain. In conclusion, soybean milk fermented by LF-HFY02 can increase the content of antioxidant factors and the activity of antioxidant enzymes by regulating gene and protein expression, and finally inhibit the process of tissue cell peroxidation, and improve the oxidative damage of mouse skin and liver. The results could provide a basis for the research and development and industrial production of probiotic-related fermented soybean milk products.

Electrochemical CO2 reduction is a typical surface-mediated reaction, with its reaction kinetics and product distributions largely dependent on the dynamic evolution of reactive species at the cathode–catholyte interface and on the resultant mass transport within the hydrodynamic boundary layer in the vicinity of the cathode. To resolve the complex local reaction environment of branching CO2 reduction pathways, we here present a differential electrochemical mass spectroscopic (DEMS) approach for Cu electrodes to investigate CO2 mass transport, the local concentration gradients of buffering anions, and the Cu surface topology effects on CO2 electrolysis selectivity at a temporal resolution of ∼400 ​ms. As a proof of concept, these tuning knobs were validated on an anion exchange membrane electrolyzer, which delivered a Faradaic efficiency of up to 40.4% and a partial current density of 121 ​mA ​cm−2 for CO2-to-C2H4 valorization. This methodology, which bridges the study of fundamental surface electrochemistry and the upgrading of practical electrolyzer performance, could be of general interest in helping to achieve a sustainable circular carbon economy.

BackgroundThe incidence of thyroid cancer in China has rapidly increased in recent decades. As the genetic profiles of thyroid cancer vary dramatically between different geographical regions, a comprehensive genetic landscape of thyroid cancer in the Chinese population is urgently needed.MethodsWe retrospectively included thyroid cancer patients from three Chinese medical centers between February 2015 and August 2020. To dissect the genomic profiling of these patients, we performed targeted next-generation sequencing on their tumor tissues using a 1,021-gene panel.ResultsA total of 458 Chinese patients with thyroid cancer were enrolled, including four malignant histological subtypes arising from follicular epithelial thyroid cells. BRAF driver mutations were identified in 76.0% of patients, followed by RET rearrangements (7.6%) and RAS driver mutations (4.1%). Tumors with more somatic mutations correlated with worse clinical characteristics, including older age at diagnosis, less differentiation of tumor, larger tumor size, lymph node metastasis and distal metastasis. Subclonal BRAF mutations occurred in 20% (6/30) of patients and were frequent in poorly differentiated or anaplastic tumors (33.3% [2/6] vs. 4.2% [1/24], P = 0.09) and those with distal metastasis (50.0% [2/4] vs. 8.7% [2/23], P = 0.09). Tumors with TERT promoter mutations had significantly more somatic mutations (average: 6.5 vs. 1.8, P < 0.001). Moreover, TERT promoter mutations were not associated with lymph node metastasis but significantly associated with older age at diagnosis and poorly differentiated or anaplastic tumors, regardless of their clonal architecture.ConclusionOur results shed light on the molecular pathogenesis and clinical characteristics of thyroid cancer in the Chinese population. The number of somatic mutations, TERT promoter mutations, and the clonal architecture of BRAF mutations should be considered in the risk stratification of thyroid cancer.

At present, with the development of “double-carbon”, it has an important impact on the investment form of the power grid, and the emerging investment objects continue to expand, and the new investment management mode is constantly highlighted. In this context, in-depth research is carried out on the total factor carbon measurement of new power system construction projects, and the total factor measurement framework system and technical method are put forward, which is conducive to improving the efficiency and efficiency level of investment control of power grid enterprises. Therefore, this paper puts forward the implicit carbon measurement and structure decomposition technology of power grid engineering based on structural analysis method, which provides support and reference for project type division and scientific decision-making under the new situation of power grid enterprises.

During the construction of overhead transmission lines, it is difficult for construction equipment to arrival the site, and it is difficult to evaluate the optimal approach comprehensively. In this paper, the evaluation of construction temporary road schemes is built, and a multi-dimensional evaluation index system covering the indicators such as technical factors, economy, environment, safety is constructed. The weight of each evaluation index is determined by analytic hierarchy process (AHP), and the comprehensive score of the scheme is obtained, so as to realize the comprehensive ranking of the approach scheme, which can help make decisions of the optimal approach scheme.

Controlling O2 reduction pathways can help optimize catalytic activity and product selectivity. Here the authors report facile manipulation of 2e‒ /4e‒ pathways on Pt-coordinated motifs by varying the Pt site density or the coordination environment.

Abstract Metal sulfides have shown great potential as the anodes of the asymmetric supercapacitors ascribed to their superior theoretical specific capacitance. However, their specific capacitance and rate performances are still far from the expectation due to the intrinsic poor electronic conductivity and sluggish kinetics. Herein, we employ the anion and cation double‐substitution strategy to prepare iron sulfide nanoparticles on graphene composite (denoted as NiFeSP/G) to improve the electronic conductivity of FeS2. The NiFeSP/G composite exhibits greatly improved electrochemical performances with a high specific capacity of 765 C g−1 (765 F g−1) at 5 A g−1 and a remarkable rate capability of 65% at 100 A g−1. Moreover, an aqueous asymmetric supercapacitor is fabricated with the NiFeSP/G as anode and NiCo‐LDH/graphene as cathode presents an impressively high energy density up to 109 Wh kg−1 at 1591 W kg−1 and cycling performance (89% of the initial capacity retained after 8000 cycles).

Aqueous zinc (Zn)-based energy storage devices possess promising applications for large-scale energy storage systems due to the advantage of high safety, low price, and environment-friendliness. However, their development is restricted by dendrite growth and hydrogen evolution issues from the Zn-metal anode. Herein, a facile stress-pressing method is reported for constructing a grid zinc anode (GZn) with a conductive framework. The highly conductive copper (Cu)-mesh framework reduces electrode hydrogen evolution and increases electrode conductivity. Meanwhile, the in situ-formed Cu-Zn nano-alloy stabilizes the Zn deposition interface. As a result, the GZn symmetrical cell presents a low overpotential of 49 mV after cycling for 1,200 h (0.2 mA∙cm−2). In addition, GZn displays its potential application as a universal anode for Zn-ion capacitors and batteries. An activated carbon||GZn Zn-ion capacitor delivers a stable cycling performance after 10,000 cycles at 5 A∙g−1 and MnO2||GZn Zn-ion batteries exhibit satisfactory cycle stability and excellent rate performance. This demonstrates that GZn appears to be a promising universal anode for Zn-ion capacitors and batteries.

Abstract Graphite is the state‐of‐the‐art anode material for most commercial lithium‐ion batteries. Currently, graphite in the spent batteries is generally directly burned, which caused not only CO2 emission but also a waste of precious carbon resources. In this study, we regenerate graphite in lithium‐ion batteries at the end of life with excellent electrochemical properties using the fast, efficient, and green Flash Joule Heating method (FJH). Through our own developed equipment, under constant pressure and air atmosphere, graphite is rapidly regenerated in 0.1 s without pollutants emission. We perform a detailed analysis of graphite material before and after recovery by multiple means of characterization and find that the regenerated graphite displays electrochemical properties nearly the same as new graphite. FJH provides a large current for defect repair and crystal structure reconstruction in graphite, as well as allowing the SEI coating to be removed during ultra‐fast annealing. The electric field guide the conductive agent and binder pyrolysis products to form conductive sheet graphene and curly graphene covering the graphite surface, making the recycled graphite even better than new commercial graphite in terms of electrical conductivity. Regenerated graphite has excellent multiplier performance and cycle performance (350 mAh g−1 at 1 C with a capacity retention of 99% after 500 cycles). At cost, we get recycled graphite that displays the same performance as new graphite, costing just 77 CNY per ton. This FJH method is not only universal for the regeneration of spent graphite generated by various devices but also enables multiple use‐failure‐regeneration steps of graphite, showing great potential for commercial applications.

A total of eleven new dimeric chromanones, paecilins F-P (2–12), were isolated from the endophytic fungus Xylaria curta E10, along with four known analogs (1, 13–15). Their structures and absolute configurations were determined by extensive experimental spectroscopic methods, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and equivalent circulating density (ECD) calculations. In addition, the structure of paecilin A, which was reported to be a symmetric C8-C8′ dimeric pattern, was revised by analysis of the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Compound 1 showed antifungal activity against the human pathogenic fungus Candida albicans with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 16 μg/mL, and Compounds 8 and 10 showed antibacterial activity against the gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli with the same minimum inhibitory concentration of 16 μg/mL.

Abstract Background Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) is the current standard‐of‐care in cases of inoperable early stage non‐small cell lung cancer (ES‐NSCLC). This study aimed to assess the survival outcomes and recurrence patterns after SABR for ES‐NSCLC in a hospital setting. Methods A single‐institution retrospective study was performed which included 109 patients who had undergone SABR. The main study endpoints were overall survival (OS), cancer specific survival (CSS), local recurrence‐free survival (LRFS), regional recurrence free survival (RRFS) and distant metastasis‐free survival (DMFS). Univariate and multivariate analysis were conducted to explore the potential factors which might be related to patient survival. Results A total of 109 patients were enrolled into the study. Median follow‐up was 44 months (range: 2–93 months). (i) Recurrence results: Among 45 patients with recurrence, 30 patients (28%) had distant metastasis (DM), 17 patients (16%) had local recurrence (LR), 10 patients (9%) had regional recurrence (RR) of lymph nodes and two patients (2%) had second primary lung cancer (SPLC). (ii) Survival results: Median OS, CSS, PFS was 78 months, 78 and 40 months. Two‐year OS, CSS, PFS, LRFS, RRFS and DMFS was 84.7%, 87.1%, 69.2%, 86.8%, 92.7% and 78.0%, respectively. Four‐year OS, CSS, PFS, LRFS, RRFS and DMFS was 55.6%, 60.7%, 37.3%, 76.3%, 88.4% and 59.4%, respectively. (iii) Univariate and multivariate analyses indicated that age was a prognostic factor of CSS in patients aged

Abstract Lithium‐sulfur batteries attract lots of attention due to their high specific capacity, low cost, and environmental friendliness. However, the low sulfur utilization and short cycle life extremely hinder their application. Herein, we design and fabricate a three‐dimensional electrode by a simple filtration method to achieve a high‐sulfur loading. Biomass porous carbon is employed as a current collector, which not only enhances the electronic transport but also effectively limits the volume expansion of the active material. Meanwhile, an optimized carboxymethyl cellulose binder is chosen. The chemical bonding restricts the shuttle effect, leading to improved electrochemical performance. Under the ultrahigh sulfur load of 28 mg/cm2, the high capacity of 18 mAh/cm2 is still maintained, and stable cycling performance is obtained. This study demonstrates a viable strategy to develop promising lithium‐sulfur batteries with a three‐dimensional electrode, which promotes sulfur loading and electrochemical performance.

Majority of patients with resected early- and intermediate-stage liver cancer will experience postoperative recurrence. This study aimed to investigate the application of ctDNA sequencing in the postoperative period of hepatocellular carcinoma. A total of 96 patients with liver cancer were enrolled in this study. Postoperative peripheral blood samples were collected from all patients after surgery and analyzed using hybridization capture-based next-generation sequencing. Identification of at least one somatic mutation in the peripheral blood was defined as ctDNA+. Five genetic features in tumor tissues were associated with disease-free survival (DFS) using Lasso-Cox model. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.813 and 0.882 in training and validation cohorts, respectively. The recurrence rate in ctDNA+ and ctDNA- groups was 60.9% and 27.8%, respectively. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the postoperative ctDNA was an independent prognostic predictor of DFS (HR [hazard ratio]: 6.074, 95% Cl [confidence interval]: 2.648-13.929, P

Abstract Sodium ion batteries and capacitors have demonstrated their potential applications for next-generation low-cost energy storage devices. These devices's rate ability is determined by the fast sodium ion storage behavior in electrode materials. Herein, a defective TiO2@reduced graphene oxide (M-TiO2@rGO) self-supporting foam electrode is constructed via a facile MXene decomposition and graphene oxide self-assembling process. The employment of the MXene parent phase exhibits distinctive advantages, enabling defect engineering, nanoengineering, and fluorine-doped metal oxides. As a result, the M-TiO2@rGO electrode shows a pseudocapacitance-dominated hybrid sodium storage mechanism. The pseudocapacitance-dominated process leads to high capacity, remarkable rate ability, and superior cycling performance. Significantly, an M-TiO2@rGO//Na3V2(PO4)3 sodium full cell and an M-TiO2@rGO//HPAC sodium ion capacitor are fabricated to demonstrate the promising application of M-TiO2@rGO. The sodium ion battery presents a capacity of 177.1 mAh g−1 at 500 mA g−1 and capacity retention of 74% after 200 cycles. The sodium ion capacitor delivers a maximum energy density of 101.2 Wh kg−1 and a maximum power density of 10,103.7 W kg−1. At 1.0 A g−1, it displays an energy retention of 84.7% after 10,000 cycles.

Five new isopimarane diterpenes, robustaditerpene A-E (1–5), which include 19-nor-isopimarane skeleton and isopimarane skeleton, were isolated from the liquid fermentation of the endophytic fungus Ilyonectria robusta collected from Bletilla striata. The structure elucidation and relative configuration assignments of all compounds were accomplished by interpretation of NMR and HRESIMS spectrometric analyses and 13C NMR calculation. And the absolute configuration of 1-5 were identified by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and ECD calculation. Compound 3 inhibited lipopolysaccharide-induced B lymphocytes cell proliferation with an IC50 value at 17.42 ± 1.57 μM while compound 5 inhibited concanavalin A-induced T lymphocytes cell proliferation with an IC50 value at 75.22 ± 6.10 μM. These data suggested that compounds 3 and 5 may possess potential immunosuppressive prospect.

Six previously undescribed cytochalasins, Curtachalasins X1–X6 (1–6), together with six known compounds (7–12) were isolated from the endophytic fungus Xylaria curta E10 harbored in the plant Solanum tuberosum. The structures were elucidated by the interpretation of HRESIMS, UV, and NMR data. The absolute configurations of Curtachalasins X1–X6 were determined by comparison of their experimental and calculated electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra. In bioassays, Curtachalasin X1 (1) and X5 (5) showed cytotoxic activity against the MCF-7 cell line with IC50 values of 2.03 μM and 0.85 μM, respectively.

Hair follicle stem cells are extensively reprogrammed by the aging process, manifesting as diminished self-renewal and delayed responsiveness to activating cues, orchestrated by both intrinsic microenvironmental and extrinsic macroenvironmental regulators. Dermal white adipose tissue (dWAT) is one of the peripheral tissues directly adjacent to hair follicles (HFs) and acts as a critical macroenvironmental niche of HF. dWAT directly contributes to HF aging by paracrine signal secretion. However, the altered interrelationship between dWAT and HF with aging has not been thoroughly understood. Here, through microdissection, we separated dWAT from the skin of aged mice (18 months) and young mice (2 months) in telogen and depilation-induced anagen for transcriptome comparing. Notably, compared with young dWAT, aberrant inflammatory regulators were recapitulated in aging dWAT in telogen, including substantial overexpressed inflammatory cytokines, matrix metalloproteinases, and prostaglandin members. Nonetheless, with anagen initiation, inflammation programs were mostly abolished in aging dWAT, and instead of which, impaired collagen biosynthesis, angiogenesis, and melanin synthesis were identified. Furthermore, we confirmed the inhibitory effect on hair growth of CXCL1, one of the most significantly upregulated inflammation cytokines in aging dWAT. Besides this, we also identified the under-expressed genes related to Wnt signaling fibroblast growth factor family members and increased BMP signaling in aging dWAT, further unraveling the emerging role of dWAT in aging HFs malfunction. Finally, we proved that relieving inflammation of aging dWAT by injecting high-level veratric acid stimulated HF regenerative behavior in aged mice. Concomitantly, significantly decreased TNF-a, CCL2, IL-5, CSF2, and increased IL10 in dWAT was identified. Overall, the results elaborated on the complex physiological cycling changes of dWAT during aging, providing a basis for the potential regulatory effect of dWAT on aging HFs.

Establishing personalized medication plans for patients to maximize therapeutic efficacy and minimize the toxicity of vancomycin (VAN) requires rapid, simple, and accurate monitoring of VAN concentration in body fluid. In this study, we have developed a simple and rapid analytical method by integrating Eu (III) chelate nanoparticles (CN-EUs) and lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) to achieve the real-time monitoring of VAN concentration in serum within 15 min. This approach was performed on nitrocellulose (NC) membrane assembled LFIA strips via indirect competitive immunoassay and exhibited a wide linear range of detection (0.1–80 μg*ml−1) with a low limit of detection (69.2 ng*ml−1). The coefficients of variation (CV) of the intra- and inter-assay in the detection of VAN were 7.12–8.53% and 8.46–11.82%, respectively. The dilution test and specificity indicated this method had a stability that was not affected by the serum matrix and some other antibiotics. Furthermore, the applicability of the proposed method was assessed by comparing the determined results with those measured by LC-MS/MS, showing a satisfactory correlation (R2 = 0.9713). The proposed CN-EUs-based LFIA manifested promising analytical performance, which showed potential value in the real-time monitoring of VAN and could help optimize the clinical use of more antibiotics.

Pimarane diterpenes are a kind of tricyclic diterpene, generally isolated from plant and fungi. In nature, fungi distribute widely and there are nearly two to three million species. They provide many secondary metabolites, including pimarane diterpenes, with novel skeletons and bioactivities. These natural products from fungi have the potential to be developed into clinical medicines. Herein, the structures and bioactivities of 197 pimarane diterpenes are summarized and the biosynthesis and pharmacological researches of pimarane diterpenes are introduced. This review may be useful improving the understanding of pimarane diterpenes from fungi.

Background Growing evidence indicates that several inflammatory biomarkers may predict survival in patients with malignant tumors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of pretreatment biomarkers in patients with primary small‐cell carcinoma of the esophagus (PSCCE). Methods A total of 73 PSCCE patients enrolled between January 2009 and December 2017 at the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University. The total lymphocyte counts (TLC), neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (PLR) prior to anticancer therapy were collected as inflammation biomarkers. The cutoff value was determined by Receiver operating characteristic (ROC). The Kaplan‐Meier method was utilized to analyze overall survival (OS). Cox proportional hazards regression was used to identify univariate and multivariate prognostic factors. Results Univariate analysis showed that high NLR group (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.685; 95% CI: 1.001–2.838; P = 0.047) and high PLR group (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.716; 95% CI: 1.039–2.834; P = 0.033) were associated with poor OS, and TLC was not correlated with OS. On multivariate analysis, high PLR (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.751; 95% CI: 1.042–2.945; P = 0.035) was an independent prognostic factor of unfavorable OS. Conclusions Pretreatment PLR and NLR are correlated with OS. These biomarkers are easily accessible, cost effective, and can serve as a marker to identify high‐risk patients for further designing personalized treatment and predicting treatment outcomes.

Abstract Lithium/potassium ion capacitors (LICs/PICs) have been proposed to bridge the performance gap between high-energy batteries and high-power capacitors. However, their development is hindered by the choice, electrochemical performance, and preparation technique of the battery-type anode materials. Herein, a nitrogen and phosphorus dual-doped multilayer graphene (NPG) material is designed and synthesized through an arc discharge process, using low-cost graphite and solid nitrogen and phosphorus sources. When employed as the anode material, NPG exhibits high capacity, remarkable rate capability, and stable cycling performance in both lithium and potassium ion batteries. This excellent electrochemical performance is ascribed to the synergistic effect of nitrogen and phosphorus doping, which enhances the electrochemical conductivity, provides a higher number of ion storage sites, and leads to increased interlayer spacing. Full carbon-based NPG‖LiPF6‖active carbon (AC) LICs and NPG‖KPF6‖AC PICs are assembled and show excellent electrochemical performance, with competitive energy and power densities. This work provides a route for the large-scale production of dual-doped graphene as a universal anode material for high-performance alkali ion batteries and capacitors.

Four new eremophilane-type sesquiterpenes, boeremialanes A–D (1–4) were obtained from solid substrate cultures of Boeremia exigua (Didymellaceae), an endophytic fungus isolated from Fritillaria hupehensis (Liliaceae). Boeremialanes A–C (1–3) are highly oxygenated eremophilanes with a benzoate unit attached at the C-13 position and are rarely found in nature. Their structures and absolute configurations were determined by extensive spectroscopic methods, electronic circular dichroism (ECD), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) calculations with DP4+ analysis. Boeremialane D (4) potently inhibited nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharide-treated RAW264.7 macrophages with an IC50 of 8.62 μM and was more potent than the positive control, pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate (IC50 = 23.1 μM).

Backgrounds/Aims: MicroRNAs (miRs) often contribute to the progression of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) via regulation of mRNAs that are involved in lung homeostasis. We conducted a study aimed at exploring the roles of miR-183 in the proliferation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), invasion and migration of human NSCLC cells via targeting MTA1. Methods: NSCLC and adjacent normal tissues were collected from 194 patients with NSCLC. Positive expression of MTA1 protein was detected by immunohistochemistry. The highest levels of expression of miR-183 were detected using RT-qPCR in SPC-A-1 cells, which were selected and assigned to the following groups: blank, negative control (NC), miR-183 mimic, miR-183 inhibitor, siRNA-MTA1, and miR-183 inhibitor + siRNA-MTA1. The expression of miR-183 and the mRNA and protein expression of MTA1, E-cadherin, Vimentin, Snail, PCNA, Bax and Bcl-2 in tissues and transfected cells were measured using RT-qPCR and western blot analysis. Cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion were evaluated by CCK-8, flow cytometry, scratch tests and Transwell assays. Tumor xenografts were conducted in nude mice to determine tumor growth. Results: SPC-A-1 cells with the highest levels of miR-183 expression were selected. Compared with adjacent normal tissues, the expression of miR-183 and the mRNA and protein expression of E-cadherin and Bax were decreased in NSCLC tissues, while mRNA and protein expression of MTA1, Vimentin, snail, PCNA and Bcl-2 were increased. MiR-183 was over-expressed in the miR-183 mimic group and under-expressed in the miR-183 inhibitor and miR-183 inhibitor + siRNA-MTA1 groups. In the miR-183 mimic and siRNA-MTA1 groups, the mRNA and protein expression of E-cadherin and Bax, as well as cell apoptosis, were enhanced, while the expression levels of MTA1, Vimentin, snail, PCNA and Bcl-2 mRNA and protein, cell proliferation, migration, invasion and tumor growth were reduced relative to the blank and NC groups. The miR-183 inhibitor group exhibited an opposite trend. Conclusion: Our study indicates that miR-183 down-regulates MTA1 to inhibit the proliferation, EMT, migration and invasion of human NSCLC cells.

Abstract We study S-duality of Argyres-Douglas theories obtained by compactification of 6d (2,0) theories of ADE type on a sphere with irregular punctures. The weakly coupled descriptions are given by the degeneration limit of auxiliary Riemann sphere with marked points, among which three punctured sphere represents isolated superconformal theories. We also discuss twisted irregular punctures and their S-duality.

Abstract We use Coulomb branch indices of Argyres-Douglas theories on S 1 × L(k, 1) to quantize moduli spaces ℳH $$ {\mathrm{\mathcal{M}}}_H $$ of wild/irregular Hitchin systems. In particular, we obtain formulae for the “wild Hitchin characters” — the graded dimensions of the Hilbert spaces from quantization — for four infinite families of ℳH $$ {\mathrm{\mathcal{M}}}_H $$, giving access to many interesting geometric and topological data of these moduli spaces. We observe that the wild Hitchin characters can always be written as a sum over fixed points in ℳH $$ {\mathrm{\mathcal{M}}}_H $$ under the U(1) Hitchin action, and a limit of them can be identified with matrix elements of the modular transform ST k S in certain two-dimensional chiral algebras. Although naturally fitting into the geometric Langlands program, the appearance of chiral algebras, which was known previously to be associated with Schur operators but not Coulomb branch operators, is somewhat surprising.

Worldwide, 19.3 million new cancer cases and almost 10.0 million cancer deaths occur each year. Recently, much attention has been paid to the ocean, the largest biosphere of the earth that harbors a great many different organisms and natural products, to identify novel drugs and drug candidates to fight against malignant neoplasms. The marine compounds show potent anticancer activity in vitro and in vivo, and relatively few drugs have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of metastatic malignant lymphoma, breast cancer, or Hodgkin′s disease. This review provides a summary of the anticancer effects and mechanisms of action of selected marine compounds, including cytarabine, eribulin, marizomib, plitidepsin, trabectedin, zalypsis, adcetris, and OKI-179. The future development of anticancer marine drugs requires innovative biochemical biology approaches and introduction of novel therapeutic targets, as well as efficient isolation and synthesis of marine-derived natural compounds and derivatives.

Senna tora has been used as a famous traditional medicine both in China and India to treat skin diseases, cough, hepatitis, fever, and hemorrhoids. Here, the complete chloroplast (cp) genome sequence of S. tora was reported and characterized for the first time. The cp genome is 162,426 bp in length, with a large single copy (LSC) region of 90,673 bp and a small single copy (SSC) region of 18,001 bp separated by a pair of 26,791 bp inverted repeat (IR) regions. There were 130 predicted genes including 85 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and eight rRNA genes in the genome, and the overall GC content of the genome is 36%. The phylogenetic analysis based on the cp genome data indicated that S. tora was closer to S. occidentalis.

Scrophularia ningpoensis has been used as a famous traditional medicinal herb in Asian countries to treat jaundice, dysentery, and the pain of rheumatism. In this paper, the complete chloroplast (cp) genome sequence of S. ningpoensis was reported and characterized. The cp genome is 153,175 bp in length, composed of a pair of 25,490 bp inverted repeat (IR) regions separated by a large single copy (LSC) region of 84,257 bp and a small single copy (SSC) region of 17,938 bp. There were 130 predicted genes (85 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes) in the genome, and the overall GC content of the genome is 38%. Phylogenetic analysis based on the cp genome data showed that S. ningpoensis was sister to S. buergeriana.

N6-methyladenosine (m6A), the most prevalent and conserved RNA modification in eukaryotic cells, profoundly influences virtually all aspects of mRNA metabolism. mRNA plays crucial roles in neural stem cell genesis and neural regeneration, where it is highly concentrated and actively involved in these processes. Changes in m6A modification levels and the expression levels of related enzymatic proteins can lead to neurological dysfunction and contribute to the development of neurological diseases. Furthermore, the proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells, as well as nerve regeneration, are intimately linked to memory function and neurodegenerative diseases. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the roles of m6A in neural stem cell proliferation, differentiation, and self-renewal, as well as its implications in memory and neurodegenerative diseases. m6A has demonstrated divergent effects on the proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells. These observed contradictions may arise from the time-specific nature of m6A and its differential impact on neural stem cells across various stages of development. Similarly, the diverse effects of m6A on distinct types of memory could be attributed to the involvement of specific brain regions in memory formation and recall. Inconsistencies in m6A levels across different models of neurodegenerative disease, particularly Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, suggest that these disparities are linked to variations in the affected brain regions. Notably, the opposing changes in m6A levels observed in Parkinson’s disease models exposed to manganese compared to normal Parkinson’s disease models further underscore the complexity of m6A’s role in neurodegenerative processes. The roles of m6A in neural stem cell proliferation, differentiation, and self-renewal, and its implications in memory and neurodegenerative diseases, appear contradictory. These inconsistencies may be attributed to the time-specific nature of m6A and its varying effects on distinct brain regions and in different environments.

Paederia scandens has been used as a traditional medicine in Asian countries to treat jaundice, dysentery, and the pain of rheumatism. The complete chloroplast (cp) genome sequence of P. scandens was reported and characterized in this study. The cp genome is 153,626 bp in length, composed of a pair of 26,513 bp inverted repeat (IR) regions separated by a large single-copy (LSC) region of 83,712 bp and a small single-copy (SSC) region of 16,888 bp. There were 131 predicted genes (86 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes) in the genome, and the overall GC content of the genome is 37.7%. Phylogenetic analysis based on the cp genome data showed that P. scandens was sister to the clade formed by Galium mollugo and G. aparine.

Iris domestica has been used as Chinese traditional medicine to treat inflammation and throat disorders for many centuries. In this study, the complete plastid genome of I. domestica was first reported and characterized. The complete plastid genome is a typical quadripartite circular molecule of 153,729 bp in length, including a large single copy (LSC) region of 83,136 bp and a small single copy (SSC) region of 18,165 bp separated by two inverted repeat (IR) regions of 26,214 bp. A total of 132 genes including 86 protein-coding genes, 38 tRNA genes, and eight rRNA genes were identified. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that I. domestica was closer to I. gatesii.

OBJECTIVES: The authors evaluated the results of Gamma knife surgery (GKS) for the treatment of metastatic brain tumors from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS AND RESULTS: The authors conducted a retrospective review of the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes in 14 patients with metastatic brain tumors from HCC who underwent GKS. Twelve (85.7%) patients were male. The mean age of the patients was 53±12 years. There were totally 22 brain metastases in 14 patients and 8 patients (57.1%) presented with a single brain lesion. Intracranial hemorrhages occurred in 13 (59.1%) of the 22 lesions. The mean KPS score was 81±14 (range 50-100). Eleven (78.6%) patients were classified as RTOG RPA Class 2. The mean tumor volume was 8.16±8.15 cm(3) (range 0.59-27.0 cm(3)). The mean marginal dose prescribed was 18.7±3.2 Gy (range 10.0-22.0 Gy). The mean number of shots administered was 10±9 (range 1-27). The median overall survival time after GKS was 5.0±0.93 months (95% CI 3.2-6.8). No complications related to the radiosurgical treatment were identified. Multivariate analysis showed that the total volume of brain metastases, the RTOG RPA class and serum AFP level were significantly correlated with patients' survival time. CONCLUSIONS: Although survival was extremely poor in patients with brain metastasis (BM) from HCC, GKS was shown to lead to prolongation of the survival time. Accordingly, GKS can be considered as a valuable treatment option for proper patients with HCC BM.