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Objective To investigate the effects of lycopene (Lyc) on hippocampal inflammation, social deficits and repetitive stereotyped behaviors in BTBR T+ Itpr3tf/J autistic mice (BTBR, a mouse strain showing lower sociability as a model for autism spectrum disorder). Methods Adult male C57BL/6J (C57) and BTBR mice aged 7-8 weeks were randomly divided into (n=8): C57+Veh group, C57+Lyc group, BTBR+Veh group and BTBR+Lyc group. The mice from the C57+Lyc group and BTBR+Lyc group were given 20 mg/kg Lyc by gavage once a day for 7 d, and those of the C57+Veh group and BTBR+Veh mice were given equal volume of corn oil. Then three-chamber social test, male-female reciprocal social interactions, self-grooming, marble buying, open field test, object recognition test, nest building, and Y-maze test were conducted in these mice. Immediately after the behavioral tests, the mice were sacrificed and their brain samples were harvested for RT-qPCR and Western blotting. Results Behavioral results showed that in the three-chamber social test, the mice of the BTBR+Veh group spent longer time in the chamber with the object, showing much curiosity about the object (P < 0.05), while the mice after Lyc treatment showed a preference for strange mice (P < 0.05). In the self-grooming and marble burying behavior test, the BTBR+Veh group showed markedly increased repeated stereotyped behaviors than the C57+Veh group mice (P < 0.05), which could be alleviated by Lyc treatment (P < 0.05). The hippocampal expression of NLRP3 at mRNA and protein levels (P < 0.05), and the mRNA levels of IL-1β, IL-18, IL-6, NF-κB, and TNF-α were significantly increased in the BTBR+Veh group mice when compared with the C57+Veh group mice, and Lyc treatment obviously reversed above changes (P < 0.05). Conclusion Lyc treatment improves three-chamber social deficits and repetitive stereotyped behaviors in BTBR mice by reducing NLRP3 inflammasome in the hippocampus of BTBR mice.

Tunable semiconductor lasers have many important applications such as wavelength division multiplexing, light detection and ranging, and gas detection. The increased interest in silicon photonics has led to the rapid development of miniaturized on-chip tunable semiconductor lasers. However, silicon has poor light-emitting properties. Therefore, realizing high-performance tunable semiconductor lasers requires the integration of light sources with silicon. In this study, we review silicon-based light source integration methods and the development of silicon-based integrated tunable semiconductor lasers. Considering that narrow-linewidth performance greatly expands the applications of tunable semiconductor lasers, methods for reducing the linewidth of tunable lasers are summarized. Finally, the development trends and prospects for silicon-based integrated light sources and silicon-based integrated tunable lasers are analyzed and discussed.

Objective To investigate the effects of Chaihu Oral Liquid (CHOL) on the neurogenesis in hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) and short-term memory defects in BTBR T+ Itpr3tf/J (BTBR) autism model mice. Methods Healthy adult male C57BL/6J(C57) mice (7~8 weeks old, 24.72±1.35 g) and BTBR mice (7~ 8 weeks old, 27.7±1.42 g) were randomly divided into groups as follows (n=4 in each group): C57 control, C57 drug treatment, BTBR control, and BTBR drug treatment. Mice in the treatment groups were given CHOL solution gavage (10 μL/g) once a day for 7 consecutive days, while those of the control group received equal volume of normal saline. Daily changes of body weight were recorded. After the last administration, hair grooming, bead embedding, new object recognition and open field experiments were conducted on the next day and lasted for 4 d. Finally, the samples of mice brain tissue were harvested, and immunofluorescence staining was performed to detect the NeuN, DCX, SOX2/GFAP labeled nerve cells in hippocampal DG. Results Behavioral results suggested that mice in the BTBR control group showed a more obvious preference for old objects in the new object recognition experiment (P < 0.01), as compared with the C57 control group, while the new object recognition index was significantly improved in the BTBR drug treatment group (P < 0.05). Moreover, the BTBR control group presented more repetitive behavior and longer movement distance than the C57 control during the hair grooming, bead embedding and open field experiments, as well as higher body weight (P < 0.05), whereas the BTBR treatment group had no significant changes in comparison with the BTBR control regarding these aspects. There were no notable differences between the C57 control and C57 treatment groups in terms of new object recognition index, repetitive behavior, motor ability and body weight. Immunofluorescence staining results indicated that the numbers of NeuN labeled mature neurons and DCX labeled newborn neurons in hippocampal DG were greatly decreased in the BTBR control group, so as the number of SOX/GFAP labeled neural progenitor cells (P < 0.01), while the number of neurocytes was remarkably increased in the BTBR drug treatment group (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the numbers of NeuN, DCX and SOX2/GFAP labeled neurocytes between the C57 control and the C57 treatment groups. Conclusion CHOL promotes the generation of hippocampal DG nerve progenitor cells, new and mature neurons in adult BTBR mice, and improves the short-term learning and memory dysfunction.

All‐solid Na‐ion batteries (ASNIBs) present significant potential for integration into large‐scale energy storage systems, capitalizing on their abundant raw materials, exemplary safety, and high energy density. Among the pivotal components propelling the advancement of ASNIBs, inorganic solid electrolytes (ISEs) have garnered substantial attention in recent years due to their high ionic conductivity (σ), wide electrochemical stability window (ESW), and high shear modulus. Herein, this review systematically encapsulates the latest strides in Na‐ion ISEs, furnishing a comprehensive panorama of various ISE systems along with their interface engineering strategies against the electrodes. The prime focus resides in accentuating key strategies for refining ion conduction properties and interfacial compatibility of ISEs through structure design and interface modification. Furthermore, the review explores the foremost challenges and prospects inherent to sodium‐ion ISEs, striving to deepen our understanding of how to engineer more robust and efficient ISEs and interface stability, poised for the forthcoming era of advanced ASNIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All‐solid‐state Li metal batteries (ASSLMBs) using inorganic solid‐state electrolytes (ISEs) are considered promising energy storage technologies owing to their intrinsic safety and high energy density. Nevertheless, one critical challenge confronting ASSLMBs is the inability of the ISEs to prevent Li dendrite growth, which has not yet been fully addressed. Herein, general design principles of artificial solid electrolyte interphases (ASEI) for suppressing Li dendrites in ASSLMBs are proposed by systematically exploring the formation mechanism of Li dendrites. Subsequently, a tailored LiF‐Li3N ASEI is constructed to inspect the Li‐dendrite‐free design principles. The LiF‐Li3N modified Li (LFN‐Li) can effectively inhibit the side reactions and suppress the growth of Li dendrites, thus boosting the critical current densities of Li10GeP2S12 (LGPS) to a record‐high value of 3.4 mA cm−2. Furthermore, the LFN‐Li/LGPS/LFN‐Li can cycle stably for over 5000 h at 0.2 mA cm−2. Crucially, the versatility of the designed ASEI is highlighted as it ensures outstanding long‐term stability in symmetric cells featuring oxide Li1.3Al0.3Ti1.7(PO)3 or halide Li2ZrCl6 ISEs. As a result, the ASEI enables LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2/LGPS/LFN‐Li and FeS2/LGPS/LFN‐Li cells to achieve high discharge‐specific capacities and desirable cyclic stability at room temperature. The generalized ASEI design principles rationalize the development of high‐energy ASSLBMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All‐solid‐state lithium batteries (ASSLBs) are considered a promising technology for next‐generation energy storage systems due to their inherent safety. However, the conventional laboratory‐scale ASSLBs reported to date are based on pellet‐type structures with thick solid electrolyte layers, leading to challenges related to low energy densities and poor electrochemical performance. In this study, porous adhesive poly(ethylene vinyl acetate) (PEVA) scaffolds and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) binders are utilized to interweave sulfide solid electrolytes into freestanding films with an ultra‐low thickness of 40 µm, high ionic conductivity of 1.1 mS cm−1, and a high tensile strength of 74 MPa. To mitigate the reduction reaction between the PTFE binder and the lithium metal anode, a Li3N‐rich solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) in situ on lithium metal is formed, and the assembled symmetric cell shows excellent cycling stability within 800 h at the current density of 0.2 mA cm−2 and room temperature. Additionally, the ASSLBs using oxidatively stable Li2ZrCl5F in the composite cathode and the prepared solid electrolyte film demonstrate exceptional cycling performance and fast‐charging capability, with a high cell‐level energy density of 354.4 Wh kg−1. The ASSLBs prepared by coupling E‐LPSCl film and stable interface design exhibit excellent electrochemical performance and a high cell‐level energy density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]