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We investigate the dynamic excitation of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) using vector Laguerre–Gauss (LG) beams, which offer unique properties for manipulating the polarization and spatial distribution of light. Our study demonstrates the efficient coupling of SPPs with LG beams, characterized by their azimuthal and radial indices (m,p), as well as polarization distribution type. Numerical simulations reveal that the vector nature of LG beams enables selective excitation of SPPs, depending on the polarization type of the beam. Experimental verification of our simulations is achieved using a gold circular Bragg grating and a spatial light modulator that generates vector LG beams. Leakage radiation imaging demonstrates the potential of vector LG beams for dynamic SPP excitation and manipulation. This study opens novel ways for the control of SPPs in plasmonic devices, such as modulators, and nanophotonic circuits.

This paper presents the preparation of the parental experimental alloy, featuring a standard composition of Ti1.08Y0.02Zr0.1Fe0.7Ni0.3Mn0.2, via the vacuum induction melting technique. Subsequently, the Ti1.08Y0.02Zr0.1Fe0.7Ni0.3Mn0.2 alloy, with an addition of 2 wt% Ni, underwent mechanical ball milling to yield a TiFe-based composite for experimental purposes. The results of the experimental tests indicate that the composite alloy's phase composition comprises the TiFe primary phase, with a minor quantity of ZrMn2 phase segregated on the surface of the primary TiFe phase, as well as Ni phase. The alloy, which underwent ball-milling for 15 min, displayed excellent activation characteristics, featuring a 12-s incubation period at 150 °C and a hydrogen pressure of 3 MPa. Furthermore, the hydrogen absorption capacity was 1.72 wt% at 90 °C and 33 min. The decrease in particle size and grain refinement of the ball-milled alloy resulted in an increase in the grain boundary specific surface area, which provided more nucleation sites for the hydrides of the ball-milled alloy and enhanced the hydrogen absorption and desorption kinetic performance of the alloy. The thermodynamic properties test indicated that the absolute values of enthalpy (ΔH) and entropy (ΔS) changes exhibited a decreasing trend followed by an increase as the ball milling time extended from 5 min to 180 min during the hydrogen absorption and desorption process. The grain refinement occurring in short-term ball milling and the agglomeration occurring in long-term ball milling are the primary reasons for the variations in the alloy powder. The smallest absolute values of enthalpy and entropy changes were observed for the alloy ball-milled for 15 min, at 19.1 kJ/mol and 22.3 kJ/mol, respectively.

Electrocatalytic water splitting through the electrolyzer is the most promising strategy for hydrogen production. Recently, water electrolysis is mainly based on high‐purity freshwater, which not only consumes a large number of freshwater resources but also improves the overall cost due to the extra water purification system. Hence, direct electrolysis of seawater is more desirable for large‐scale hydrogen generation. As is known, the dominant rate‐determining step of overall water splitting is the anodic oxygen evolution reaction (OER), which involves four‐electron transfer and owns a much larger overpotential than cathodic hydrogen evolution reaction. The large challenge for the design of OER catalysts in the seawater media is the competition reaction between OER and chloride oxidation reaction, which greatly influences energy efficiency. Hence, except for the activity and stability, selectivity is another key point for seawater splitting. Herein, after a brief introduction of two half reactions for water splitting, the latest metal hydr(oxide) electrocatalysts with different crystalline structures are summarized according to the previous reports. Moreover, the advantages and disadvantages of three common water electrolyzers are compared. Finally, the perspectives of seawater electrolysis for hydrogen production are outlined for practical applications.

Due to the high activation energy required for the decomposition of Mg metal hydrides, it can be decomposed into magnesium and H2 when the external temperature reaches 350 °C. In this paper, Nd5Mg41Ni + x wt.% GO (x = 0–4) composites were obtained by planetary ball milling the alloy with GO for 10 h. The alloy has Nd5Mg41, NdMg3, NdMg12 and Mg2Ni phase, and the main phase is Nd5Mg41 phase. The time required for the alloy phase structure composite material to reach the maximum hydrogen desorption capacity of 95 % is 20, 23, 18, 17 and 18 min, and the calculated hydrogen desorption activation energy Ea values are 99.9, 98.1, 95.6, 89.9 and 95.7 kJ/mol H2, the ΔHde of the composites are 77.57, 76.40, 73.48, 70.77 and 81.2 kJ/mol H2, respectively. The alloy particles are embedded in the layered GO to form a special microstructure of the nanocrystalline GO embedded nanocrystalline alloy, which makes the composite material easier to adsorb hydrogen molecules and promotes the dissociation of hydrogen molecules and the diffusion of hydrogen atoms. However, the excessive addition of GO leads to excessive GO coating alloy particles, which hinders the diffusion of hydrogen atoms. The agglomeration of alloy particles leads to the increase of hydrogen desorption enthalpy of the alloy.

The complete exploitation of Brassica napus plants is a study hotspot, since it is an essential oil crop that is widely cultivated across the world. Glucosinolate is a unique secondary metabolite in the Brassicaceae family, and its content has a substantial influence on rapeseed development and quality. Its degradation products have various physiological functions, among which Nitrile specific proteins (NSPs) can hydrolyze glucosinolate and hence influence the balance of plant immunity and growth. However, the related gene families in B. napus have not been investigated. Here, 72 NSP family members were discovered and described in B. napus based on their sequence structures, physiological correlations, phonological locations, and expression levels. According to collinearity studies, the NSP proteins in B. napus and A. thaliana are closely related. Analysis of BnNSP expression patterns in various tissues revealed that BnNSPs exhibit high tissue specificity, implying that BnNSPs may play distinguish functions in various developmental phases. We discovered that NSPs may be regulated by hormones such as abscisic acid (ABA), gibberellin (GA), and metallic jasmonate (MeJA) based on the expression of NSPs during hormone treatment. The results provide valuable information for the future functional characterization of BnNSP genes.

Abstract The RECO is a novel endovascular treatment (EVT) device that adjusts the distance between two mesh segments to axially hold the thrombus. We organized this postmarket study to assess the safety and performance of RECO in acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) patients with large vessel occlusion (LVO). This was a single-arm prospective multicentre study that enrolled patients as first-line patients treated with RECO at 9 stroke centres. The primary outcome measures included functional independence at 90 days (mRS 0–2), symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage (sICH), time from puncture to recanalization and time from symptom onset to recanalization. The secondary outcome measures were a modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction (mTICI) score of 2b or 3 after the first attempt and at the end of the procedure and the all-cause mortality rate within 90 days. From May 22, 2020, to July 30, 2022, a total of 268 consecutive patients were enrolled in the registry. The median puncture-to-recanalization time was 64 (IQR, 45–92), and the symptom onset-to-recanalization time was 328 min (IQR, 228–469). RECO achieved successful reperfusion (mTICI 2b-3) after the first pass in 133 of 268 patients (49.6%). At the end of the operation, 96.6% of the patients reached mTICI 2b-3, and 97.4% of the patients ultimately achieved successful reperfusion. Sixteen (7.2%) patients had sICH. A total of 132 (49.3%) patients achieved functional independence at 90 days, and the all-cause mortality rate within 90 days was 17.5%. In this clinical experience, the RECO device achieved a high rate of complete recanalization with a good safety profile and favourable 90-day clinical outcomes. Clinical trial registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ ; Unique identifier: NCT04840719.

Objective: In the RECO study, we investigated the impact of the operator's choice of stent retriever size on patients with internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion. Methods: Data from the RECO Registry, a prospective multicentre study, were utilized. Patients who underwent mechanical thrombectomy (MT) were divided according to the size of the stent into the RECO 4 × 20 group, the RECO 5 × 30 group and the RECO 6 × 30 group. The outcome measures assessed in the study were the 3-month modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score, occurrence of any intracranial haemorrhage (aICH), workflow timing, recanalization success rate, number of attempts, and all-cause mortality within a 3-month period. Results: Analysis was conducted on a total of 89 patients with ICA occlusion. RECO 4 × 20, 5 × 30, and 6 × 30 stent retrievers were used in 19 (21.3%), 52 (58.4%), and 18 (20.2%) patients, respectively. The demographic and baseline characteristics showed considerable similarity across the three groups. The puncture-to-recanalization time of the RECO 6 × 30 group [56.5 min (IQR, 41.5–80.8)] was significantly shorter than that of the RECO 4 × 20 group [110 min (IQR, 47–135)]. In 10 out of 18 patients (55.6%), the RECO 6 × 30 stent retriever achieved reperfusion (modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction [mTICI] score 2b-3) after the initial attempt, surpassing the rates of 31.6% in the RECO 4 × 20 group and 32.7% in the RECO 5 × 30 group. In the RECO 4 × 20 group, the median number of passes was 2 (IQR, 1–3); in the RECO 5 × 30 group, it was 2 (IQR, 1–3); and in the RECO 6 × 30 groups, it was 1 (IQR, 1–2.5). There were no statistically significant differences observed among the three groups concerning aICH or good outcomes (mRS score 0–2). Conclusion: Our study demonstrated the practical implications of stent-retriever size selection in the context of the MT for ICA occlusion. The routine use of a RECO 6 × 30 stent retriever holds the potential for early revascularization in clinical practice. The significant reduction in the puncture-to-reperfusion time and the greater first-pass effect associated with this stent size underscore its efficiency in treating ICA occlusion.

Airborne diseases including SARS, bird flu, and the ongoing Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) have stimulated the demand for developing novel bioassay methods competent for early-stage diagnosis and large-scale screening. Here, we briefly summarize the state-of-the-art methods for the detection of infectious pathogens and discuss key challenges. We highlight the trend for next-generation technologies benefiting from multidisciplinary advances in microfabrication, nanotechnology and synthetic biology, which allow sensitive, rapid yet inexpensive pathogen assays with portable intelligent device.

Abstract Valence tuning of transition metal oxides is an effective approach to design high‐performance catalysts, particularly for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) that underpins solar/electric water splitting and metal‐air batteries. Recently, high‐valence oxides (HVOs) are reported to show superior OER performance, in association with the fundamental dynamics of charge transfer and the evolution of the intermediates. Particularly considered are the adsorbate evolution mechanism (AEM) and the lattice oxygen‐mediated mechanism (LOM). High‐valence states enhance the OER performance mainly by optimizing the eg‐orbital filling, promoting the charge transfer between the metal d band and oxygen p band. Moreover, HVOs usually show an elevated O 2p band, which triggers the lattice oxygen as the redox center and enacts the efficient LOM pathway to break the “scaling” limitation of AEM. In addition, oxygen vacancies, induced by the overall charge‐neutrality, also promote the direct oxygen coupling in LOM. However, the synthesis of HVOs suffers from relatively large thermodynamic barrier, which makes their preparation difficult. Hence, the synthesis strategies of the HVOs are discussed to guide further design of the HVO electrocatalysts. Finally, further challenges and perspectives are outlined for potential applications in energy conversion and storage.

BackgroundMany Gram-negative bacteria use quorum sensing (QS) signal molecules to monitor their local population density and to coordinate their collective behaviors. The diffusible signal factor (DSF) family represents an intriguing type of QS signal to mediate intraspecies and interspecies communication. Recently, accumulating evidence demonstrates the role of DSF in mediating inter-kingdom communication between DSF-producing bacteria and plants. However, the regulatory mechanism of DSF during the Xanthomonas-plant interactions remain unclear.MethodsPlants were pretreated with different concentration of DSF and subsequent inoculated with pathogen Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Xcc). Pathogenicity, phynotypic analysis, transcriptome combined with metabolome analysis, genetic analysis and gene expression analysis were used to evaluate the priming effects of DSF on plant disease resistance.ResultsWe found that the low concentration of DSF could prime plant immunity against Xcc in both Brassica oleracea and Arabidopsis thaliana. Pretreatment with DSF and subsequent pathogen invasion triggered an augmented burst of ROS by DCFH-DA and DAB staining. CAT application could attenuate the level of ROS induced by DSF. The expression of RBOHD and RBOHF were up-regulated and the activities of antioxidases POD increased after DSF treatment followed by Xcc inoculation. Transcriptome combined with metabolome analysis showed that plant hormone jasmonic acid (JA) signaling involved in DSF-primed resistance to Xcc in Arabidopsis. The expression of JA synthesis genes (AOC2, AOS, LOX2, OPR3 and JAR1), transportor gene (JAT1), regulator genes (JAZ1 and MYC2) and responsive genes (VSP2, PDF1.2 and Thi2.1) were up-regulated significantly by DSF upon Xcc challenge. The primed effects were not observed in JA relevant mutant coi1-1 and jar1-1.ConclusionThese results indicated that DSF-primed resistance against Xcc was dependent on the JA pathway. Our findings advanced the understanding of QS signal-mediated communication and provide a new strategy for the control of black rot in Brassica oleracea.

Background & Aims: Acetaminophen (APAP)-induced acute liver injury (AILI) is a leading cause of acute liver failure (ALF). N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is only effective within 24 h after APAP intoxication, raising an urgent need for alternative approaches to treat this disease. This study aimed to test whether cathelicidin (Camp), which is a protective factor in chronic liver diseases, protects mice against APAP-induced liver injury and ALF. Methods: A clinically relevant AILI model and an APAP-induced ALF model were generated in mice. Genetic and pharmacological approaches were used to interfere with the levels of cathelicidin in vivo. Results: An increase in hepatic pro-CRAMP/CRAMP (the precursor and mature forms of mouse cathelicidin) was observed in APAP-intoxicated mice. Upregulated cathelicidin was derived from liver-infiltrating neutrophils. Compared with wild-type littermates, Camp knockout had no effect on hepatic injury but dampened hepatic repair in AILI and reduced survival in APAP-induced ALF. CRAMP administration reversed impaired liver recovery observed in APAP-challenged Camp knockout mice. Delayed CRAMP, CRAMP(1-39) (the extended form of CRAMP), or LL-37 (the mature form of human cathelicidin) treatment exhibited a therapeutic benefit for AILI. Co-treatment of cathelicidin and NAC in AILI displayed a stronger hepatoprotective effect than NAC alone. A similar additive effect of CRAMP(1-39)/LL-37 and NAC was observed in APAP-induced ALF. The pro-reparative role of cathelicidin in the APAP-damaged liver was attributed to an accelerated resolution of inflammation at the onset of liver repair, possibly through enhanced neutrophil phagocytosis of necrotic cell debris in an autocrine manner. Conclusions: Cathelicidin reduces APAP-induced liver injury and ALF in mice by promoting liver recovery via facilitating inflammation resolution, suggesting a therapeutic potential for late-presenting patients with AILI with or without ALF. Impact and implications: Acetaminophen-induced acute liver injury is a leading cause of acute liver failure. The efficacy of N-acetylcysteine, the only clinically approved drug against acetaminophen-induced acute liver injury, is significantly reduced for late-presenting patients. We found that cathelicidin exhibits a great therapeutic potential in mice with acetaminophen-induced liver injury or acute liver failure, which makes up for the limitation of N-acetylcysteine therapy by specifically promoting liver repair after acetaminophen intoxication. The pro-reparative role of cathelicidin, as a key effector molecule of neutrophils, in the APAP-injured liver is attributed to an accelerated resolution of inflammation at the onset of liver repair, possibly through enhanced phagocytic function of neutrophils in an autocrine manner.

Glucosinolates and their degradation products have a wide range of actions and are important components of plant defense. NSP2 (nitrile-specific protein 2) is a key regulator in the breakdown process of glucosinolates. However, the precise function of NSP2 in plant disease resistance beyond its role in glucosinolate degradation is still unclear. In this study, we discovered that NSP2 which was induced by Pst DC3000, influenced PR genes expression and reactive oxygen burst. Additionally, omics analysis revealed that NSP2 was engaged in plant-pathogen interaction and several hormone signal transduction pathways. Furthermore, immunoprecipitation-tandem mass spectrometry analysis (IP-MS), bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC), and co-immunoprecipitation demonstrated that NSP2 interacts with MPK3. Genetic analysis shows that NSP2 may be a function downstream of MPK3. Upon pathogen inoculation, NSP2 protein levels increase while MPK3 protein levels decrease. Moreover, the level of phosphorylated NSP2 decreases. Taken together, this study sheds light on a new mode of synergistic action between NSP2 and MPK3 in the disease resistance process.

Objective: Aortic diseases, mainly including aortic dilatation, aortic aneurysm (AA) and aortic dissection (AD), have high morbidity and mortality. Many studies have suggested that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) acts as a candidate risk factor for aortic diseases. Thus, we performed a meta-analysis to explore comprehensively the effect of OSA on the risk of aortic disease occurrence. Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library databases from inception to February 2022 to identify studies investigating the association between OSA and aortic diameter dilatation, the prevalence of OSA in individuals with or without AA/AD and the incidence of AA/AD in individuals with or without OSA. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) were respectively used to evaluate the quality of the included cohort and cross-sectional studies. A random or fixed effect model was used to generate pooled effects according to interstudy heterogeneity. Sensitivity analyses were performed to test the robustness of the results. Results: We identified 10 observational publications with 214,127 participants in this meta-analysis. OSA was significantly associated with increased aortic diameter (WMD = 1.46, 95% CI, 1.10–1.83, p < 0.001). OSA prevalence was higher in patients with AA/AD compared to their counterparts without AA/AD (OR = 1.90, 95% CI, 1.30–2.76, p = 0.001). No significant difference in the incidence of AA/AD was observed in individuals with or without OSA (RR = 0.85, 95% CI, 0.62–1.16, p = 0.307). Sensitivity analyses did not modify these results. Conclusions: This meta-analysis suggests that OSA is associated with aortic diameter dilatation but does not affect AA/AD occurrence.

Abstract Identification and differentiation of various bioanalytes with high spatial and temporal resolution have spawned fluorescent barcode‐based detection and imaging. DNA nanostructures with excellent structure programmability, addressability, and near‐atomic structure accuracy have emerged as a versatile platform to develop fluorescent barcodes through finely controlled dye numbers, relative distances, and compositions. A variety of DNA fluorescent barcodes with distinguishable spectral colors, geometries and digitized fluorescence intensities have been constructed and favorably implemented in the field of bioimaging, multiplex bioassay, and information security. In this review, we first summarize the state of the art of self‐assembled DNA nanostructures. Next, the utilization of DNA nanostructure to develop fluorescent barcodes and the photophysical properties of DNA‐templated fluorophores are reviewed. Finally, the applications of DNA fluorescent barcodes for biosensing and imaging, and the challenges and outlook of DNA nanostructure‐engineered fluorescent barcodes are discussed.

Though DNA framework-based scaffolds for biomolecular assembly are attractive for bioimaging applications, realizing super-multiplex fluorescent amplifiers remains a challenge. Here, the authors report a topological engineering approach to designing fractal DNA frameworks for multiplexed amplifiers.

Background: There may be a delay in or a poor outcome of endovascular treatment (EVT) among acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients with large-vessel occlusion (LVO) during off-hours. By using a prospective, nationwide registry, we compared the workflow intervals and radiological/clinical outcomes between patients with acute LVO treated with EVT presenting during off- and on-hours.Methods: We analyzed prospectively collected Endovascular Treatment Key Technique and Emergency Work Flow Improvement of Acute Ischemic Stroke (ANGEL-ACT) data. Patients presenting during off-hours were defined as those presenting to the emergency department from Monday to Friday between 17:30 and 08:00, on weekends (from 17:30 on Friday to 08:00 on Monday), and on national holidays. We used logistic regression models with adjustment for potential confounders to determine independent associations between the time of presentation and outcomes.Results: Among 1,788 patients, 1,079 (60.3%) presented during off-hours. The median onset-to-door time and onset-to-reperfusion time were significantly longer during off-hours than during on-hours (165 vs. 125 min, P = 0.002 and 410 vs. 392 min, P = 0.027). The rates of successful reperfusion and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage were similar in both groups. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) for the 90-day modified Rankin Scale score was 0.892 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.748–1.064]. The adjusted OR for the occurrence of functional independence was 0.892 (95% CI, 0.724–1.098), and the adjusted OR for mortality was 1.214 (95% CI, 0.919–1.603).Conclusions: Off-hours presentation in the nationwide real-world registry was associated with a delay in the visit and reperfusion time of EVT in patients with AIS. However, this delay was not associated with worse functional outcomes or higher mortality rates.Clinical Trial Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT03370939.

Polyethyleneimine (PEI) is a common modifier in the field of CO2 adsorption but rarely used in the immobilization of enzyme catalyzing CO2 conversion. Here, formate dehydrogenase (FDH) was immobilized on the surface of PEI modified polyethylene membrane or silica microspheres and then applied in the reaction of CO2 to formate. After optimizing the immobilization conditions, the catalytic performance of immobilized FDH was respectively 4.3 and 7.4 times of free enzyme attributed to the promotion effect of the carrier. Polydopamine/PEI-SiO2 attached FDH exhibited a higher activity and stability than biocatalytic membrane.

Objectives: Whether uric acid levels were associated with the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) remained controversial. This meta-analysis was aimed to assess the effect of lowering serum uric acid therapy on the progression of CKD to clarify the role of uric acid in the progression of CKD indirectly. Methods: Pubmed, Embase, the Cochrane library, CBM were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that assessed the efficiency of lowering serum uric acid therapy on the progression of CKD without language restriction. Summary estimates of weighted mean differences (WMDs) and relative risk (RR) were obtained by using random-effect or fixed-effect models. Sensitivity analyses were performed to identify the source of heterogeneity. Results: A total of 12 randomized controlled trials with 832 CKD participants were included in the analysis. Pooled estimate for eGFR was in favor of lowering serum uric acid therapy with a mean difference (MD) of 3.88 ml/min/1.73 m2, 95% CI 1.26–6.49 ml/min/1.73 m2, p = .004 and this was consistent with results for serum creatinine. The risk of worsening of kidney function or ESRD or death was significantly decreased in the treatment group compared to the control group (RR 0.39, 95% CI 0.28–0.52, p

The ball milling method was used to prepare CeMg12/Ni composite hydrogen storage materials with nanocrystalline and amorphous structure in order to improve the electrochemical hydrogen storage and kinetic properties of alloy materials. The phase composition and crystalline structure were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and high resolution transmission electronic microscopy (HRTEM). The electrochemical discharging performances were measured though discharge capacity and cycling stability. High rate dischargeability (HRD), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and hydrogen diffusion behavior were utilized for studying the change of electrochemical kinetics. Results indicate that adding Ni significantly strengthens the glass forming ability of alloy samples in the process of ball milling. The maximum discharging capacity of the ball-milled composites monotonously goes upward from 46.7 to 1061.2 mAh/g with an increment in Ni content from 50 to 200 wt%. The increasing Ni content results in an obvious reduction in thermodynamic parameters (including enthalpy change ΔH and entropy change ΔS) of ball-milled composites. Besides, the addition of Ni speeds up the hydrogen diffusion rate inside the alloy. Meantime, the addition of Ni can also diminish the activation energy, which is helpful for ameliorating the electrochemical reaction kinetics on the surface of alloy. Keywords: Cycling stability, Thermodynamic stability, Charge transfer reaction, Hydrogen diffusion coefficient, Activation energy