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TiO2‐based materials are considered to be the promising anodes of sodium‐ion batteries (NIBs) because of their high safety and good stability. However, their low specific capacity and high safety operating voltage plateau impose a severe challenge for high energy density batteries. Herein, interconnected micro‐sheets consisting of carbon nanotubes and sulfur doped TiO2 (CNT/S‐TiO2) are synthesized via an ultrasonic process and subsequent calcination, enabling the fabrication of high‐performance material. The utilization of SWCNT overcomes the structure instabilities during electrode preparation of thick electrodes. The incorporation of SWCNT and sulfur dopants in the CNT/S‐TiO2 composite not only enhances conductivity but also improves ion transport dynamics, resulting in rapid charge delivery and high specific capacity at the thick electrode level. Consequently, CNT/S‐TiO2 demonstrates excellent rate performance (from 0.3 to 15 C, with 72.4% capacity retention) and long cycling stability (10000 cycles at a load of 1.96 mg cm−2). More importantly, the high S‐TiO2 content (90%) in the thick electrode (21.2 mg cm−2) achieves a high areal capacity retention of 3.4 mA h cm−2 after 100 cycles, which surpasses the actual application requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zn metal as one of the promising anodes of aqueous batteries possesses notable advantages, but it faces severe challenges from severe side reactions and notorious dendrite growth. Here, ultrathin nanosheets of α‐zirconium phosphate (ZrP) are explored as an electrolyte additive. The nanosheets not only create a dynamic and reversible interphase on Zn but also promote the Zn2+ transportation in the electrolyte, especially in the outer Helmholtz plane near ZrP. Benefited from the enhanced kinetics and dynamic interphase, the pouch cells of Zn||LiMn2O4 using this electrolyte remarkably improve electrochemical performance under harsh conditions, i.e. Zn powders as the Zn anode, high mass loading, and wide temperatures. The results expand the materials available for this dynamic interphase, provide an insightful understanding of the enhanced charge transfer in the electrolyte, and realize the combination of dynamic interphase and enhanced kinetics for all‐climate performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zn metal as one of the promising anodes of aqueous batteries possesses notable advantages, but it faces severe challenges from severe side reactions and notorious dendrite growth. Here, ultrathin nanosheets of α‐zirconium phosphate (ZrP) are explored as an electrolyte additive. The nanosheets not only create a dynamic and reversible interphase on Zn but also promote the Zn2+ transportation in the electrolyte, especially in the outer Helmholtz plane near ZrP. Benefited from the enhanced kinetics and dynamic interphase, the pouch cells of Zn||LiMn2O4 using this electrolyte remarkably improve electrochemical performance under harsh conditions, i.e. Zn powders as the Zn anode, high mass loading, and wide temperatures. The results expand the materials available for this dynamic interphase, provide an insightful understanding of the enhanced charge transfer in the electrolyte, and realize the combination of dynamic interphase and enhanced kinetics for all‐climate performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clickable unnatural sugars have been widely used in studying glycosylation in living systems via the metabolic glycan labelling (MGL) strategy. Partial protection of unnatural sugars by 1,6‐di‐O‐acylation increases the labelling efficiency while avoiding the non‐specific S‐glyco‐modification. Herein, we report the facile synthesis of a series of clickable unnatural sugars in both the unprotected and 1,6‐di‐O‐acylated forms at the ten‐gram scale. By evaluation of the labelling specificity, efficiency, and biocompatibility of various 1,6‐di‐O‐acylated sugars for MGL in cell lines and living mice, we demonstrate that 1,6‐di‐O‐propionylated unnatural sugars are optimal chemical reporters for glycan labelling. The synthetic routes developed in this work should facilitate the widespread use of MGL with no artificial S‐glyco‐modification for investigating the functional roles of glycans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of the cation field strength (CFS) of the glass network-modifier cations on the structure and properties of borosilicate glasses (BS) were examined for a large ensemble of mixed-cation (R /2) M (2) O–(R /2)Na 2 O–B 2 O 3 – K SiO 2 glasses with M + ={Li+, Na+, K+, Rb+} and M 2+ ={Mg2+, Ca2+, Sr2+, Ba2+} from four series of { K , R } combinations of K = n (SiO 2)/ n (B 2 O 3) = {2.0, 4.0} and R =[ n (M (2) O) ​+ ​ n (Na 2 O)]/ n (B 2 O 3) = {0.75, 2.1}. Combined with results from La3+ bearing glasses enabled the probing of physical-property variations across a wide CFS range, encompassing the glass transition temperature (T g), density, molar volume and compactness, as well as the hardness (H) and Young's modulus (E). We discuss the inferred composition–structure/CFS–property relationships. Each of T g , H , and E revealed a non-linear dependence against the CFS and a strong T g / H correlation, where each property is maximized for the largest alkaline-earth metal cations, i.e., Sr2+ and Ba2+, along with the high-CFS La3+ species. The 11B MAS NMR-derived fractional BO 4 populations decreased linearly with the average M z +/Na+ CFS within both K –0.75 glass branches, whereas the NBO-rich K –2.1 glasses manifested more complex trends. Comparisons with results from RM 2 O–B 2 O 3 – K SiO 2 glasses suggested no significant "mixed alkali effect". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anode materials with a high initial coulombic efficiency and a long lifespan are highly desirable for sodium-ion batteries. Here, bimetallic μ-BiSn microspheres well combine the high capacity of Sn and the good stability of Bi together, exhibiting superior electrochemical performance, such as a high initial Coulombic efficiency (90.6%), a good cycling stability (541 mA h g−1 after 3000 cycles at 2 A g−1) and an excellent rate capability (393 mA h g−1 at 10 A g−1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, TiN, TiN-Ag and TiN-Cu coatings were prepared by multi-arc ion plating. TiO 2 nanotube arrays were constructed on the coatings by anodization reaction at room temperature. Building TiO 2 nanotube arrays on the coating can retain the performance of the hard coating itself and reduce the process of destroying the structure of the TiO 2 nanotubes. Non-metallic N doping and co-doping of metallic Ag, Cu and non-metallic N make the nanotubes catalyzed by visible light. The specific surface area of TiO 2 by changed the anodizing voltage. The results show that the anodic oxidation voltage is 15V and Cu, N co-doped TiO 2 photocatalytic degradation performance is the best. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to discuss the wear situation of nc-CrC/GLC film sliding against different counterparts in seawater, the nc-CrC/GLC film was fabricated by unbalance magnetron sputtering technique on silicon wafer and 304L stainless steel. The SEM, Raman, TEM were used to measure the morphologies, components and microstructures of nc-CrC/GLC film. The nanoindentation test was used to acquire the hardness and elastic modulus of nc-CrC/GLC film. The tribological performances of nc-CrC/GLC film sliding against different metallic counterparts including Al, Ti, H62, GCr15 in seawater were comparatively investigated by a reciprocating tribo-meter and the tribological mechanisms were highly analyzed via Hertz contact theory. The tribo-chemical products, worn surfaces of nc-CrC/GLC film and metallic counterpart were observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results showed that the hardness and elastic modulus of nc-CrC/GLC film were about 14.09 ± 1.32 and 169.16 ± 13.39 GPa, respectively The friction coefficients of nc-CrC/GLC film sliding against H62, GCr15, Ti, Al counterparts were about 0.18, 0.135, 0.085 and 0.06, respectively. Meanwhile, it was found that the wear rate of nc-CrC/GLC-Al was the lowest value of 0.23 × 10 − 7 mm 3 /Nm, while the wear rate of nc-CrC/GLC-H62 was the highest value of 1.79 × 10 − 7 mm 3 /Nm. The tribological performances of nc-CrC/GLC film would be improved by chosen an appropriate counterpart. The nc-CrC/GLC-Al showed low friction and wear in mixed lubrication, and the wear mechanism was regarded as adhesive and corrosion wear. Whereas the nc-CrC/GLC-Ti and nc-CrC/GLC-GCr15 were known as corrosion and three-body abrasive wear, the nc-CrC/GLC-H62 showed a hybrid mechanism of adhesive, abrasive and corrosion wear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tribological performances of Cr/GLC film coupling with Si 3 N 4 , SiC, WC, Al 2 O 3 and ZrO 2 were comparatively studied in seawater. Results indicated that the Cr/GLC film coupling with different ceramic counterparts exhibited different friction behaviors, which was closely related to the mechanical performances of mating ceramics. Meanwhile, the tribo-chemical products between the Cr/GLC film and ceramics also played an important role in improving the tribological performances. Friction coefficient and wear rate of the Cr/GLC film sliding against Si 3 N 4 were lower than others, which indicated that the Cr/GLC film coupled to Si 3 N 4 ceramic exhibited optimum tribological performance in seawater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the patterns of micro-dimples with different area densities and the Cr/GLC films were fabricated by laser surface texturing and magnetron sputtering technology, respectively. The morphologies and surface chemical states of the Cr/GLC films were characterized by AFM, SEM, and XPS. The effects of dimple area density on the tribological behavior of Cr/GLC films under seawater condition were investigated by UMT-3 tribometer in a ball-on-plate reciprocating mode. The experimental results showed that the Cr/GLC film was mainly composed by Cr–C and C–C bonds. Both the friction coefficients and wear rates of the Cr/GLC films in seawater decreased with the increase of dimple area densities in the lower range, whereas, they were constant when the dimple area densities further increased. The Cr/GLC films with proper dimple area density (G3 film) were effective in enhancing the tribological properties because of the entrapment of graphitized particles and seawater in the dimples. The graphitized particles can reduce the strong adhesive interaction between contact surfaces, resulting in the low frictional shear resistance during sliding process. Furthermore, Ca 2 + and Mg 2 + in seawater will be deposited on the counterface in the form of Mg(OH) 2 and CaCO 3 , which with sludge-like matters have some lubricating effects. At the same time, the Cr/GLC films with low dimple area densities exhibited low surface roughness, which could decrease the resistance in sliding process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Genes involved in tumorigenesis may be targets for cancer immunotherapy. For many tumor types, molecular signatures do not yet exist. Methods that identify novel, tissue-specific tumor-related genes therefore have potentially important implications for developing cancer immunotherapy. Here, we used cross-reactive serological analysis of recombinant cDNA expression (CR-SEREX) to identify the novel testicular cancer-related gene, rat testicular antigenic protein 2 (RTAP2). We identified two RTAP2 splice variants (RTAP2a and RTAP2b) encoding 191 and 358 amino acid proteins, respectively. RTAP2a and RTAP2b proteins have identical N-termini but different C-terminal regions arising from alternative splicing of exon 4. Bioinformatics and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) revealed that the RTAP2a transcript was expressed selectively in adult testis and several tumor cell lines, while RTAP2b was ubiquitous. Our results suggest that RTAP2a may contribute to testicular development and tumorigenesis, and may be a candidate gene for cancer immunotherapy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Dual-phase high entropy alloys have been proved to have the ability to overcome the strength-ductility trade-off. However, high-entropy alloy films are difficult to obtain a dual-phase structure due to the extremely high cooling rate during the preparation process and the high-entropy effect of the film itself. In this paper, the dual-phase CuNiTiNbCr high-entropy alloy films were prepared by high-power pulsed magnetron sputtering at different working pressures. The composition, microstructures, mechanical properties and electrochemical corrosion performance were tested by energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), nano-indentation, Vickers indentation and electrochemical polarization. The CuNiTiNbCr films exhibited a dual-phase structure composed of FCC matrix phase and Cu-rich BCC precipitated phase. The film presented a two-layer structure, the single FCC phase structure near the substrate and the FCC + BCC structure above. Comparing with FCC phase, the dual-phase structure exhibited higher hardness. With the increase of deposition pressure, the structure of the film became looser, and the hardness, toughness and corrosion resistance were all decreased due to the influence of the structure. It is proved that high-power pulsed magnetron sputtering is a feasible way for the phase structure regulation and performance improvement of high-entropy alloy films. • CuNiTiNbCr films were deposited by high-power pulsed magnetron sputtering. • CuNiTiNbCr films present a FCC + BCC nano dual-phase structure. • The formation of Cu-rich phase is related to the substrate temperature. • The dual-phase HEAFs deposited at 0.4 Pa present a high hardness of 11.35 GPa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heat-stable antifungal factor (HSAF), which was first isolated from Lysobacter enzymogenes , exhibits inhibitory activities against a wide range of pathogens; however, a low level of HSAF was obtained from L. enzymogenes cultured in 0.1 × tryptic soy broth (TSB), an amount that does not satisfy HSAF application in disease control. In this study, the optimization of media components and environmental conditions were examined for improving the production of HSAF from L. enzymogenes OH11. The one factor at a time method was used to screen optimal nitrogen and carbon sources and inorganic salt. Then the orthogonal matrix method was used to determine the optimal concentration of the media components and environmental factors. The results showed that the maximum level of HSAF (23361 mAU·s) was achieved when OH11 cultured in the media of 0.7% (w/v) soybean powder, 0.5% (w/v) glucose and 0.08% CaCl2 at 200 rpm at 30°C for 60 h, which is much higher than that cultured in 0.1 × TSB. This opens up the possibility of HSAF or L. enzymogenes utilization for biological control of plant disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Influenza viruses accounted for a large proportion of respiratory virus infection even during the epidemic of COVID-19 in Beijing. • No single symptom or laboratory finding was suggestive of a specific respiratory virus. • The epidemic history was important for screening of COVID-19. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is spreading. Here, we summarized the composition of pathogens in fever clinic patients and analyzed the characteristics of different respiratory viral infections. Retrospectively collected patients with definite etiological results using nasal and pharyngeal swabs in a fever clinic. Overall, 1860 patients were screened, and 136 patients were enrolled. 72 (52.94%) of them were diagnosed as influenza (Flu) A virus infection. 32 (23.53%) of them were diagnosed as Flu B virus infection. 18 (13.24%) and 14 (10.29%) of them were diagnosed as COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections, respectively. The COVID-19 group had a higher rate of contact with the epidemic area within 14 days and of clustering onset than other groups. Fever was the most common symptom in these patients. The ratio of fever to the highest temperature was higher in Flu A virus infection patients than in COVID-19 patients. COVID-19 patients had a lower white blood cell count and neutrophil count than Flu A virus and RSV infection groups, but higher lymphocyte count than Flu A and B virus infection groups. The COVID-19 group (83.33%) had a higher rate of pneumonia in chest CT scans than Flu A and B virus infection groups. Influenza viruses accounted for a large proportion of respiratory virus infection even during the epidemic of COVID-19 in Beijing. No single symptom or laboratory finding was suggestive of a specific respiratory virus; however, epidemic history was significant for the screening of COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple and low-cost bottom-up method for the preparation of water-soluble Carbon dots (CDs) by tuning the carbonization degree of ammonium citrate. The structure and morphology of CDs were characterized by Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). And the investigation on the lubricating property and inhibition effect of CDs as nanoadditives of water-based lubricants is discussed in this work. The results show that the CDs as eco-friendly nanoadditives exhibit low friction coefficient, outstanding wear-resistance and excellent inhibition effect. Image 103913 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To report a case of labour induction during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support in a patient with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) caused by influenza and review of the literature.Methods: Case report and the literature search of all English articles on delivery while on ECMO in patients with ARDS caused by influenza.Results: A 25-year-old pregnant woman was initiated with ECMO due to severe ARDS caused by influenza A (H1N1) virus. When the patient had symptoms of colporrhagia and uterine contractions, the medical team decided to start labour induction while on ECMO. There were in total five case reports identified. Maternal oxygenation was improved after delivery and ECMO was successfully discontinued.Conclusions: Maternal oxygenation was improved after delivery, which may be beneficial to reduce the duration of ECMO. Caesarean section (CS) may be the most used mode and labour induction could be another option. The procedure should be performed by an experienced ECMO team, cooperating with the obstetrician, anaesthesiologist, and ICU doctors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims Systemic inflammation occurs commonly during many human disease settings and increases vascular permeability, leading to organ failure, and lethal outcomes. Lipocalin 10 (Lcn10), a poorly characterized member of the lipocalin family, is remarkably altered in the cardiovascular system of human patients with inflammatory conditions. Nonetheless, whether Lcn10 regulates inflammation-induced endothelial permeability remains unknown. Methods and results Systemic inflammation models were induced using mice by injection of endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or caecal ligation and puncture (CLP) surgery. We observed that the expression of Lcn10 was dynamically altered only in endothelial cells (ECs), but not in either fibroblasts or cardiomyocytes isolated from mouse hearts following the LPS challenge or CLP surgery. Using in vitro gain- and loss-of-function approaches and an in vivo global knockout mouse model, we discovered that Lcn10 negatively regulated endothelial permeability upon inflammatory stimuli. Loss of Lcn10 augmented vascular leakage, leading to severe organ damage and higher mortality following LPS challenge, compared to wild-type controls. By contrast, overexpression of Lcn10 in ECs displayed opposite effects. A mechanistic analysis revealed that both endogenous and exogenous elevation of Lcn10 in ECs could activate slingshot homologue 1 (Ssh1)-Cofilin signalling cascade, a key axis known to control actin filament dynamics. Accordingly, a reduced formation of stress fibre and increased generation of cortical actin band were exhibited in Lcn10-ECs, when compared to controls upon endotoxin insults. Furthermore, we identified that Lcn10 interacted with LDL receptor-related protein 2 (LRP2) in ECs, which acted as an upstream factor of the Ssh1-Confilin signalling. Finally, injection of recombinant Lcn10 protein into endotoxic mice showed therapeutic effects against inflammation-induced vascular leakage. Conclusion This study identifies Lcn10 as a novel regulator of EC function and illustrates a new link in the Lcn10-LRP2-Ssh1 axis to controlling endothelial barrier integrity. Our findings may provide novel strategies for the treatment of inflammation-related diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To meet the performance requirements in harsh marine service environment, developing coatings with excellent trbibocorrosion performance is necessary. Herein, TiSiCN/nitride duplex treatment coatings are prepared by gas nitriding and multi-arc ion plating in turn in this work. The hardness and density are enhanced by nitriding treatment. Duplex treatment coatings exhibit more excellent mechanical properties possessing the maximum hardness values (33 GPa) and exceptional load bearing capacity (88 N) compared to TiSiCN coating. Meanwhile, the effect of wear on corrosion is significant and the action of corrosion determines the total degree of synergy in tribocorrosion system. Furthermore, the friction coefficient is greatly reduced through duplex treatment coatings during tribocorrosion test due to the good resistance to the seawater and the graphitization effect produced by TiSiCN layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract CrSiN coatings with various Si contents were prepared on 304L substrate through medium frequency magnetron sputtering. Toughness, corrosion resistance and tribology property of as-prepared coatings in 0.1 M HCl solution were studied. The result showed that the toughness of CrN coating was effectively enhanced by the incorporation of proper silicon. Compared with other coatings, the CrSiN coating with high silicon proportion presented lower i corr and higher |Z| 0.01 Hz. When the silicon proportion exceeded 16.0 at.%, the inhibition efficiency was up to 99.10%. During tribology test, the COF and wear rate descended at the early stage and then ascended as the silicon proportion increased as a whole, which was ascribed to the combined action between toughness, anti-corrosion and lubrication behaviors. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • The addition of proper silicon can effectively enhance the toughness of CrN coating. • When the Si/(Cr + Si) ratio exceeds to 16.0 at%, the inhibition efficiency is 99.1%. • CrSiN coating with 8.9–16.0 at% Si shows the ideal friction and wear performances. • Wear models of CrN and CrSiN coatings in 0.1 M HCl solution are summarized in paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel super-hydrophobic aniline trimer-containing siliceous coatings were carefully acquired through electrodeposition in a mixed solution of tetraethoxysilane and triethoxysilylpropyl isocyanate modified aniline trimer (M-AT). Chemical constitution, morphology, hydrophobicity and anticorrosion ability of as-prepared hybrid coatings were investigated by corresponding equipment. Compared to pure silica coating, the AT-containing silica coatings presented excellent super-hydrophobicity and enhanced anticorrosion performance. The impedance was the highest and the corrosion current density was the lowest for modified silica coating with proper M-AT (5 wt%). The super-hydrophobic of AT-containing silica coating was conductive to avoid the direct contact between corrosion medium and metal substrate. The peculiar oxidation-reduction feature of AT was help to promote the generation of passivation films (ferric oxide and ferroferric oxide). The combined action of above-mentioned two functions facilitated the perfection of corrosion performance for AT-containing silica coating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: While the use of telemedicine had been expanding before the initial outbreak of COVID-19, the pandemic has dramatically accelerated its implementation and expanded its usage in many hospitals. Tele-intensive care unit (ICU) is a specialized type of telemedicine that adapts available technologies to the unique needs of critically ill patients. We published an editorial in 2020 describing our initial experiences of Tele-ICU application in Shandong Province. Here, we update our insights gained over the past 2 years, and we provide a systematic review of the literature to compare our perspectives with those from other institutions. Methods: We performed a systematic literature review of publications describing the use of telemedicine in an ICU setting during COVID-19. The PubMed database was searched for studies published after January 1, 2020, which offered detailed descriptions of tele-ICU usage. Extracted data included details regarding tele-ICU technologies, descriptions of the institution, usage cases, assessments of tele-ICU effectiveness, and site-reported opinions (e.g., advantages, disadvantages). Results: We screened 162 studies resulting from the PubMed literature search, along with one expert recommendation. Of the 112 full-text articles retrieved, 11 were selected for inclusion in this qualitative summary. All were retrospective descriptions of tele-ICU experiences at a single site. Some pairs of included articles reported results from the same institution, with seven unique sites being described. Three sites employed centralized models of tele-ICU, while four allowed staff to participate from distant locations. Five sites collected user-reported feedback regarding tele-ICU. While the advantages and disadvantages described rarely overlapped directly between sites, many reported positive opinions of tele-ICU use overall. Conclusions: The potential applications of tele-ICU technologies vary widely, making them highly adaptable to the needs of individual institutions. Tele-ICU has proven invaluable to some hospitals during COVID-19 due to its effectiveness at aiding patient care while mitigating risk to health care workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A switchable bandpass filter is presented in this paper, which is able to operate at two different frequencies. The “open-ring” resonators and cantilever microelectromechanical systems (MEMSs) switches are employed to form the switchable filter with a high rejection at out-of passband and a controlled dc bias of 26 V. A hybrid resonance circuit with both series circuit and parallel circuit are used as the equivalent circuit, which is used to accurately analyze the structure parameters. The MEMS switch capacitance, used for equivalent circuit and driving voltage estimation, is analyzed to achieve an exact predicted value by equivalent microstrip line model. The isolation of designed MEMS switch is greater than 40 dB with awideband from4 to 9GHz, the filter is switched on and off to achieve the center frequency at ~7.81 and ~8.35 GHz separately. The filter is fabricatedon high-resistance silicon, and the measured results showed a good agreement with the simulated results. The filter performance shows a sharp rejection greater than 40dB at the frequency of ( \textsf f { {{\textsf {0}}}} \pm 0.5 GHz), and the insertion loss is >−3.4 dB in the passband. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

[Display omitted] • The prepared N interstitial doped V 2 O 5 has excellent rate and cycling properties. • N interstitial doping reduces bandgap energy of V 2 O 5 , improving the conductivity. • The doped N weakens forces between Zn2+ and V 2 O 5 , accelerating Zn2+ diffusion. • N doping turns Zn2+ move path from vertical interlayer into planer intralayer. • H bond connecting NH 2 and VO 5 hinders layer exfoliation and enhances layer stable. Rechargeable aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) are the prospective substitution for lithium-ion batteries applied in large scale energy storage system due to their low-cost, environmentally friendliness, and high safety. However, the development of cathodes in aqueous ZIBs suffers from sluggish Zn2+ migration. Herein, nitrogen doped V 2 O 5 is introduced to resolve the above problem. N -doping lowers the bandgap energy of V 2 O 5 to improve its electronic conductivity, and weakens the forces between Zn2+ and V 2 O 5 to fasten Zn2+ diffusion. Further density functional theory (DFT) calculation testifies that N -doping reduces diffusion energy barrier and changes Zn2+ diffusion pathway from the vertical interlayer diffusion to planer intralayer diffusion. Meanwhile, the structural stability of electrode material also benefits from the N -doping, which can prevent the interlayer V 2 O 5 from gliding or exfoliation during cycling. Profiting from these merits, N -doping V 2 O 5 exhibits the outstanding electrochemical properties, such as high rate capability (116.8 mAh/g at 6 A/g) and long cycling performance (3000 cycles at 10 A/g). Dynamics and post-cycling analyses reveal the high capacitive ratio and the stable N distribution in N -doped V 2 O 5 during charging/discharging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) is the recommended mode of ventilation used in acute respiratory failure secondary to an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). Recent data has shown that high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) treatment can be an alternative for patients with hypercapnic respiratory failure. The purpose of this study is to evaluate HFNC with sequential NIV versus NIV alone as the initial ventilatory strategy in AECOPD. Methods: This investigator-initiated, unblinded, single center, randomized controlled trial will be conducted in the emergency department, emergency intensive care unit, or respiratory intensive care unit of a tertiary-care urban teaching hospital. A total of 66 patients will be enrolled and randomized into the intervention group (HFNC with sequential NIV) or the control group (NIV group). The primary endpoint will be the mean difference in PaCO2 from baseline to 24 h after randomization. Secondary endpoints include the mean difference in PaCO2 from baseline to 6, 12, and 18 h, as well as the dyspnea score, overall discomfort score, rate of treatment failure, respiratory rate, rate of endotracheal intubation, length of hospital stay, and mortality. Discussion: Taking the advantages of both HFNC and NIV on AECOPD patients into account, we designed this clinical trial to investigate the combination of these ventilatory strategies. This trial will help us understand how HFNC with sequential NIV compares to NIV alone in treating AECOPD patients. Trial registration: ChiCTR2100054809. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zn metal as one of promising anode materials for aqueous batteries suffers from notorious dendrite growth, serious Zn corrosion and hydrogen evolution. Here, a bifunctional electrolyte additive, N‐methyl pyrrolidone (NMP), is developed to improve the electrochemical performance of Zn anode. NMP not only alters the solvation structure of Zn2+, but also in situ produces a dense N‐rich solid‐electrolyte‐interphase layer on Zn foils. This layer protects Zn foils from corrosive electrolytes and benefits the uniform plating/stripping of Zn. Hence, the asymmetrical cells with NMP in the electrolyte retain a high coulombic efficiency of 99.8 % over 1000 cycles. The symmetric cells survive ≈200 h for 10 mAh cm−2 at a high Zn utilization of 85.6 %. The full cells of Zn||MnO2 show an impressive cumulative capacity even with lean electrolyte (E/C ratio=10 μL mAh−1), limited Zn supply (N/P ratio=2.3) and high areal capacity (5.0 mAh cm−2). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zn metal as one of promising anode materials for aqueous batteries suffers from notorious dendrite growth, serious Zn corrosion and hydrogen evolution. Here, a bifunctional electrolyte additive, N‐methyl pyrrolidone (NMP), is developed to improve the electrochemical performance of Zn anode. NMP not only alters the solvation structure of Zn2+, but also in situ produces a dense N‐rich solid‐electrolyte‐interphase layer on Zn foils. This layer protects Zn foils from corrosive electrolytes and benefits the uniform plating/stripping of Zn. Hence, the asymmetrical cells with NMP in the electrolyte retain a high coulombic efficiency of 99.8 % over 1000 cycles. The symmetric cells survive ≈200 h for 10 mAh cm−2 at a high Zn utilization of 85.6 %. The full cells of Zn||MnO2 show an impressive cumulative capacity even with lean electrolyte (E/C ratio=10 μL mAh−1), limited Zn supply (N/P ratio=2.3) and high areal capacity (5.0 mAh cm−2). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dual‐ion batteries have shown promising prospect in energy storage, owing to their low material costs, high power capability, and environmental friendliness. However, graphite as the cathode always suffers from structural damage and electrode/electrolyte interface instability, which greatly deteriorate their electrochemical performance. Here, tris(trimethyl‐silyl) phosphite (TMSP) is added as an electrolyte additive to improve the electrochemical performance. TMSP not only scavenges the deleterious species generated by electrolytes, but also produces a thin and uniform cathode–electrolyte interphase layer on graphite. Hence, the electrochemical performance is greatly promoted. In graphite||graphite, the capacity retention is ≈96.8% at 30 °C or 92.5% after 3000 cycles in the presence of TMSP, much better than those without TMSP (62% at 30 °C or 27% after 200 cycles). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pattern‐recognition receptors (PRRs) have been shown to promote tumour metastasis via sensing tumour cell‐derived small extracellular vesicles (EVs). Nucleotide‐binding oligomerisation domain 1 (NOD1), a cytoplasmic PRR, plays a role in colorectal cancer (CRC) by detecting bacterial products. However, the precise mechanisms underlying the effects of NOD1, following identification of CRC cell‐derived EVs (CRC‐EVs), to potentiate CRC liver metastasis (CRC‐LM), remain poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that CRC‐EVs activate NOD1 in macrophages to initiate secretion of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. NOD1‐activated macrophages also promote CRC cell migration, while in a murine model of liver metastasis (LM), NOD1‐deficient mice exhibit reduced metastasis following CRC‐EV treatment. Furthermore, cell division cycle 42 (CDC42), a small Rho guanosine‐5′‐triphosphate (GTP)ase, is delivered by CRC‐EVs into macrophages where it activates NOD1. In addition, EVs from the plasma of patients with CRC‐LM mediate NOD1 activation in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Moreover, high NOD1 expression in tumour tissues is associated with poor prognosis of CRC‐LM. Our findings suggest that CRC‐EVs activate NOD1 to promote tumour metastasis, thus, NOD1 may serve as a potential target in the diagnosis and treatment of CRC‐LM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CrCN coatings were deposited using the multi-arc ion plating with different C 2 H 2 flow rates. Microstructures, mechanical and tribological performances were systematically investigated. The results showed that the peak intensity correlated to Cr 7 C 3 crystal phase became stronger when the flow rates increased from 0 to 15 sccm, whereas, it was decreased when the C 2 H 2 flow rate increased to 30 sccm. The hardness increased to 32.5 GPa due to formation of Cr 7 C 3 phase and amorphous CN x at 10 sccm. CrCN coatings deposited at 10–15 sccm exhibited a better comprehensive performance, indicating their potential application as a protective coating for tribo-components in seawater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An accurate and dynamic evaluation of the latent heat flux (LE) of greenhouse crops is imperative for advancing precision irrigation. Previous studies used the Penman-Monteith model to evaluate LE and treated the canopy as a holistic leaf, overlooking the discrepancies in structure and microclimate across canopy vertical sections. This study divided the canopy into a shaded and a sunlit layer in line with the structural characteristics of the tomato canopy and the shift in solar elevation angle β. A full-layer model (PMI) and a semi-layer model (PMT) were established based on the layering difference in the evaluation of canopy resistance (r c) and aerodynamic resistance (r a). Eight models: PMI 1 , PMI 2 , PMI 3 , PMI 4 , PMT 1 , PMT 2 , PMT 3 , and PMT 4 , were obtained using meteorological data from 2 m above the ground and 2/3 of the canopy height in 2022 and 2023. The performance was compared with the big leaf model (PMB) and verified based on the LE measured by the lysimeter (LE m). The results indicated that LE had the highest sensitivity to canopy absorbed net radiation during the flowering stage (1≤ LAI ≤3), while PMI 2 and PMI 4 overestimated LE with the fitting slopes (LE-LE m) of 1.72 and 1.67 in 2022 and 1.70 and 1.55 in 2023, respectively. PMT 3 and PMB underestimated LE ; the fitting slopes in two years were both 0.83 and 0.80, respectively; PMI 3 with the fitting slopes were 0.99 and 0.96 in two years, respectively. In the picking period (LAI≥5), LE was the most sensitive to vapor pressure deficit (VPD); PMI 3 and PMB accurately simulated LE with the fitting slops, both over 0.9 in two years. Therefore, the canopy was layered when evaluating r c while treating it as a unit in evaluating r a , PMI 3 showed the best comprehensive performance when simulating LE in different seasons and growth periods using meteorological data at 2 m above the ground. • Suggest dividing the canopy into two layers when evaluating canopy resistance. • Suggest regard the canopy as a whole when evaluating aerodynamic resistance. • Tomato latent heat fluxes have different sensitivity to variables at different stage. • The modified model has the highest accuracy using above-canopy meteorological data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) cells presents a challenge to effective cancer therapy. Curcumin (CUR) has multifunctional anticancer properties, but its clinical use has been limited by poor solubility. We developed biodegradable polymeric micelles entrapping CUR in order to improve its antitumor activity and to explore whether it could treat MDR cells. This delivery system produced small micelles with a high encapsulation efficiency, good stability, and slow release of CUR. CUR micelles showed cytotoxic effects in wild-type drug-sensitive A2780s and in paclitaxel-resistant A2780t ovarian adenocarcinoma cells. The concentration of free CUR that reduced cell viability by 50% (IC 50 ) was 1.5 fold and 1.2 fold higher than that of CUR micelles in A2780s and A2780t cells, respectively. Cellular uptake studies indicated that delivery by micelles improved CUR uptake into both cell lines. Cell cycle analysis suggested that CUR micelles induced apoptosis and enhanced G2/M arrest. Overall, CUR micelles may provide a novel strategy to improve the clinical management of MDR ovarian cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • (AlCrWTiMo)N films were deposited via direct current magnetron sputtering. • (AlCrWTiMo)N showed gradient structure from amorphous to nanocrystalline. • The width of amorphous region decreased with increase of substrate temperature. • The wear mechanisms of (AlCrWTiMo)N were mainly abrasive with less fatigue. The (AlCrWTiMo)N films were deposited at different substrate temperatures by magnetron sputtering. The microstructures, mechanical properties and tribological performances of the (AlCrWTiMo)N films were investigated. Results showed that the deposition rate and nitrogen content of the film decreased slightly with the increase of the substrate temperature. From the interlayer surfaces to the film surfaces, the films showed gradient structures, which gradually transformed from amorphous to nanocrystalline. With the increase of the substrate temperature, the width of the amorphous region decreased, and the width of the nanocrystalline region increased. The top nanocrystalline regions were typical face-centered cubic (FCC) structures. The grain size and surface roughness of the film decreased gradually with the increase of the substrate temperature. The critical load (L C1), hardness and elastic modulus of the film increased first and then decreased, and reached the maximum value when the substrate temperature was 200 ℃, which were 16.06 N, 24.5 GPa and 263 GPa, respectively. The friction coefficient and wear rate of the film decreased first and then increased, and reached the minimum value at substrate temperature 200℃, which were 0.71 and 1.1 × 10−5 mm3/Nm, respectively. The wear mechanism of film was mainly abrasive wear accompanied by mild fatigue wear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The mechanical and structural property changes were investigated in an iron phosphate glass irradiated by 5 MeV Xe-ion. • Property degradation is predominantly caused by collision-induced bond rupture. • The self-recovery effect in hardness change is attributed to ionization-induced defect healing. • Iron phosphate glass demonstrates enhanced resistance against ion irradiation. We investigated the irradiation effects of a ternary 36Fe 2 O 3 −10B 2 O 3 –54P 2 O 5 glass (in molar percent; denoted as "10B") which has been deemed as an advanced candidate for high-level nuclear waste in recent years. The mechanical property changes upon 5.0 MeV Xe20+-ion irradiation were studied by nanoindentation, and the structural response was studied by grazing-incidence X-ray diffractometer (GIXRD) and Fourier-transform infrared microspectroscopy (μFTIR). Both hardness and Young's modulus decreased after irradiation, and the saturated variations (–24 % for hardness and –5 % for modulus) are lower than those of international simplified glass (ISG). The 10B glass also manifests an extended lifespan over ISG in terms of mechanical durability. The GIXRD confirms that the sample remains amorphous even irradiated after the maximum dose, while the μFTIR-derived structure changes suggest a depolymerized P-network, a P–B demixture, and a decreased boron coordination number, which should be the main cause of the mentioned mechanical property changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the early 2000s, emerging SARS‐CoV‐2, which is highly pathogenic, posed a great threat to public health. During COVID‐19, epigenetic regulation is deemed to be an important part of the pathophysiology and illness severity. Using the Illumina Infinium Methylation EPIC BeadChip (850 K), we investigated genome‐wide differences in DNA methylation between healthy subjects and COVID‐19 patients with different disease severities. We conducted a combined analysis and selected 35 "marker" genes that could indicate a SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, including 12 (ATHL1, CHN2, CHST15, CPLX2, CRHR2, DCAKD, GNAI2, HECW1, HYAL1, MIR510, PDE11A, and SMG6) situated in the promoter region. The functions and pathways of differentially methylated genes were enriched in biological processes, signal transduction, and the immune system. In the "Severe versus Mild" group, differentially methylated genes, after eliminating duplicates, were used for PPI analyses. The four hub genes (GNG7, GNAS, PRKCZ, and PRKAG2) that had the highest degree of nodes were identified and among them, GNG7 and GNAS genes expressions were also downregulated in the severe group in sequencing results. Above all, the results suggest that GNG7 and GNAS may play a non‐ignorable role in the progression of COVID‐19. In conclusion, the identified key genes and related pathways in the current study can be used to study the molecular mechanisms of COVID‐19 and may provide possibilities for specific treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. Computed tomography (CT) scan is a method to predict the progression and prognosis of COVID-19. It is not sufficient merely to measure the prognosis of COVID-19 without other clinical methods. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between the CT scan and clinical laboratory indicators as well as clinical manifestations. Method. A total of 335 patients were enrolled from January 26, 2020, to February 26, 2020, in Shandong province and Huanggang city. Demographic and clinical characteristics, laboratory variables, and the data from the CT scans were collected for analysis. Scatter plot analysis and correlation analysis were used to calculate the relationship between CT evaluation and other indicators. Multivariable linear regression analysis was used to establish a model for diagnostic and prognostic prediction. Age, CRP, LDH, and lymphocyte counts as independent variables were selected to develop a predictive model, and the results from the CT scans to reflect the degree of lung injury were taken as the dependent variable. Result. The median age was 44 years (IQR: 34–56); among them, 188 (56%) were male. Severe patients were older (56 vs. 40, P < 0.001). There were statistically significant differences in lymphocyte counts, platelet counts, C-reactive protein (CRP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), procalcitonin (PCT), and creatine kinase (CK) between the general patients and severe patients. We found that, without effective antiviral treatment, mild patients had a 6-day interval from symptom onset to CRP elevation, but in severe patients, CRP started to increase from day 2. Lung injury score from a chest CT scan and incidence of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) were significantly higher in severe patients than in mild patients. Lung injury score from a chest CT scan was closely correlated with CRP (rs = 0.704, P < 0.01), and they reflected the severity of the disease. The receiver operating curve (ROC) value of the injury score from the chest CT scan was 0.854 (95% CI: 0.808–0.901), and the area under the curve (AUC) value of CRP was 0.823 (95% CI: 0.769–0.878). Conclusion. The results from CRP and chest CT scans were indicators of the severity of COVID-19. Combining patient age, CRP, LDH, and lymphocyte counts, we developed a model that could help to predict lung injury/function of patients with COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The optimal order of vasopressor discontinuation during shock resolution remains unclear. We evaluated the incidence of hypotension in patients receiving concomitant vasopressin (VP) and norepinephrine (NE) based on the order of their discontinuation. In this retrospective cohort study, consecutive patients receiving concomitant VP and NE infusions for shock admitted to intensive care units were evaluated. The primary outcome was hypotension incidence following discontinuation of VP or NE (VP1 and NE1 groups, respectively). Secondary outcomes included the incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) and arrhythmias. Subgroup analysis was conducted by examining outcomes based on the type of shock. Of the 2,035 included patients, 952 (46.8%) were VP1 and 1,083 (53.2%) were NE1. VP1 had a higher incidence of hypotension than NE1 (42.1% vs. 14.2%; P < 0.001), longer time to shock reversal (median: 2.5 vs. 2.2 days; P =.009), higher hospital [29% (278/952) vs. 24% (258/1083); P =.006], and 28-day mortality [37% (348/952) vs. 29% (317/1,083); P < 0.001] when compared with the NE1 group. There were no differences in ICU mortality, ICU and hospital length of stay, new-onset arrhythmia, or AKI incidence between the two groups. In subgroup analyses based on different types of shock, similar outcomes were observed. After adjustments, hypotension in the following 24 h and 28-day mortality were significantly higher in VP1 (Odds ratios (OR) 4.08(3.28, 5.07); p-value <.001 and 1.27(1.04, 1.55); p-value <.001, respectively). Besides, in a multivariable model, the need for renal replacement therapy (OR 1.68 (1.34, 2.12); p-value <.001) was significantly higher in VP1. Among patients with shock who received concomitant VP and NE, the VP1 group was associated with a higher incidence of hypotension in comparison with NE1. Future studies need to validate our findings and their impact on clinical outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Tough short-fluorinated nanocoatings were fabricated by solvent-free iCVD. • Isocyanate chemistry induced self-crosslinking and fixated surface fluorinated chains. • Self-crosslinking enabled excellent dynamic water repellency and mechanical strength. • Conformal nanocoating imparted fabrics ultradurable superhydrophobicity. As long-perfluorinated side chain polymers are phasing out due to healthy and environmental concerns, short-fluorinated polymers are garnering increasing attention as a substitute for superhydrophobic coatings. Challenges, however, are to be addressed due to the poor dynamic water repellency and unsatisfactory durability of short-fluorinated polymer coatings. This work reports the fabrication of self-crosslinkable poly(perfluorohexylethyl acrylate- co -isocyanato ethyl methacrylate) nanocoating with good dynamic water repellency and high mechanical strength using a solvent-free initiated chemical vapor deposition (iCVD) method. The employment of highly reactive isocyanate groups in the coating not only facilitated covalent binding with functional groups on the substrate surface, but also enabled self-crosslinking reactions in the presence of water vapor. Crosslinking immobilized the fluorinated chains on the surface, thus alleviating the contact angle hysteresis. The crosslinked network also significantly improved the mechanical strength of the coating. Without affecting fabric morphology, the coating enabled superhydrophobicity of different fabrics with water sliding angle as low as 3˚. Such superhydrophobicity was well maintained after various harsh durability tests, including sandpaper abrasion for up to 20,000 cm, ultrasonication and boiling for more than 12 h, etc. The achieved durability was attributed to the enhanced adhesion strength and excellent mechanical property of the coating. This work thus paves a novel way towards eco-friendly fabrication of durable superhydrophobic fabrics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The a-C:H films with plasma-induced in-situ transition layer were fabricated on Polyether ether ketone (PEEK) substrates by continuous acetylene plasma treatment, using plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) method. Microstructure, chemical bonding state, mechanical and tribological properties of the as-fabricated a-C:H and Cr/a-C:H films were systematically investigated. Based on these, a self-consistent in-situ growth mechanism is discussed in detail. Results show that the a-C:H films with plasma-induced in-situ transition layer endows the treated PEEK substrates high hardness, toughness and adhesion strength. In addition, the interaction of in-situ transition layer and amorphous enhanced phase show better load-bearing capacity in the scratch and tribological test. The failure mechanism of scratch test is proposed and wear mechanisms in vacuum, air and seawater environment are analyzed. Importantly, this novel plasma-induced in-situ transition layer structure is a further development of the concept of gradient coatings in its application to polymers. • An in-situ growing a-C:H film was fabricated on PEEK substrate using PECVD technique. • The formation of in-situ transition layer enhances film-substrate adhesion. • In-situ growth mechanism of a-C:H film on PEEK surface was revealed. • The a-C:H coating on PEEK exhibits the mechanical and tribological adaptability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Juvenile COVID-19 patients had faster times to re-detectable positive (RP) results than any other age groups. • Sampling from the digestive tract may be better for identifying RP. • No marked difference in imaging changes between RP and no RP patients were observed. • Nearly three-quarters of patients had protective antibodies 6 months post-discharge. • The disappearance rate of antibodies was more rapid in juveniles than adults. Almost a year after the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), many hospitalized COVID-19 patients have recovered. However, little is known about the long-term follow-up (> 2 months) of discharged patients. This study enrolled 527 discharged COVID-19 patients from 05 February to 11 March 2020. Basic characteristics, imaging features, nucleic acid detection results, and antibody levels of these patients were retrospectively reviewed. Of the 527 discharged patients, 32 (6.1%) had re-detectable positive (RP) nucleic acid results for SARS-CoV-2 during follow-up examinations, with 11 and four detections entailing stool samples and anal swabs, respectively, rather than respiratory samples. Juveniles were more susceptible to "infection recurrence" than other age groups, with shorter time spans for re-detectable positive (RP) RNA tests (an average of 8.8 days [6.0–9.0 days]), while the reverse was true for the middle-aged group (17.5 days on average [14.0–17.5 days]). Similar improvements in the imaging features of both RP and no RP (NRP) groups were observed. Negative antibody detections in patients at 3 and 6 months after discharge were 14.2% and 25.0%, respectively. Cases evidencing negative antibodies were more common among juvenile patients (40% vs. 15.6%, P = 0.03) 6 months post-discharge. A total of 6.1% of 527 discharged patients showed RP status, which may be easier to be identified from stool samples than from other samples. Given the dropping rate of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, reinfection may happen, especially in juvenile patients (aged < 18 years). These findings have implications for the long-term management of recovered COVID-19 patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The two-layer and multi-layer Cr/Cr x N coatings were fabricated on 316 L stainless steel (316 L SS) substrates by the arc ion plating technique. The two-layer Cr/Cr x N coating was a typical CrN coating with an adhesive Cr layer. And the multi-layer Cr/Cr x N coating design was in two dimensions. In the first dimension, the multi-layer Cr/Cr x N coating consisted of alternative Cr/CrN layers with the thickness ratio of 1:5; in the second dimension, the alternative Cr 2 N layers with the thickness of 10 nm were inserted in CrN layers. This design was expected to increase transverse interfaces in a smaller scale. The microstructures, mechanical, corrosion and tribocorrosion performances of both Cr/Cr x N coatings were systematically investigated. The results showed that the special multi-layer design of Cr/Cr x N coatings improved mechanical, anti-corrosion and anti -tribocorrosion performances. Compared with the two-layer Cr/Cr x N coating, the reduced tribocorrosion damage of the muti-layer Cr/Cr x N coating was closely related to the inhibited synergistic effect between electrochemical corrosion and mechanical wear. In conclusion, the multi-layer Cr/Cr x N coating was more suitable to work as the surface protective coating than the two-layer Cr/Cr x N coating in seawater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Since 1990s, directly observed therapy (DOT) has been the standard-of-care for tuberculosis (TB), although it is cumbersome for patients as well as service providers. For raising implementation, an alternative delivery method with good potential is telehealth. The current study assessed the clinical and cost benefit of video directly observed therapy (VDOT), compared with DOT service. Methods: This prospective randomized controlled trial randomized adults with bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary TB to the intervention (VDOT) or control (DOT) group. The observation data for DOT and VDOT were updated by observers until the end of treatment or until the study concluded. The primary outcome was the TB treatment result defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as used in some other studies conducted in North India and England as follows: good (cured and treatment completed), poor (death and failure), relocation, and lost to follow-up and others (refused, adverse reaction, not a TB case). Other secondary measures were treatment adherence, patient satisfaction, time and cost spent on DOT or VDOT. Results: On analyzing the results from 405 participants from each study arm, we found very high rates of treatment completion (96.1% with VDOT vs. 94.6% with DOT). The two observed treatment methods had no statistical differences, and all could accomplish their tasks well. Average time per dose observed was 16.5 min (standard deviation [SD] 12.1) for VDOT, while 44.1 min (SD 3.7) for DOT (including travel time), p < 0.01. And the cost incurred on VDOT was ￥34.3 (SD 3.8) manmo, which was statistically lower compared with ￥71.6 (SD 49.7) manmo in the DOT group, p < 0.01. Most of the patients in both groups believed that observed treatment (VDOT/DOT) helped them not to miss doses (185 [93.0%] vs. 171 [86.7%], p = 0.057). Patients in the VDOT group had a better experience compared with those in DOT group. They thought the way was convenient and comfortable (191 [96.0%] vs. 111 [56.6%], p < 0.001), would choose the original way if necessary (191 [96.0%] vs. 113 [57.7%], p < 0.001), and would recommend the method to other patients (191 [96.0%] vs. 113 [57.7%], p < 0.001). Conclusion: The study showed that VDOT enabled meaningful direct observation for TB patients through mobile devices, which was highly acceptable to patients and health care providers. It also saved time and is a cost-effective method, enabling the use of the saved money to other much-needed areas for TB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Aconitine, the natural product extracted from Aconitum species, is widely used for the treatment of various diseases, including rheumatism, arthritis, bruises, fractures and pains. However, many studies have reported cardiotoxicity and neurotoxicity caused by aconitine, but the detailed mechanism underlying aconitine's effect on these processes remains unclear. Materials and methods: The effects of aconitine on the inflammation, apoptosis and viability of H9c2 rat cardiomyocytes were evaluated by flow cytometry, Western blot, RNA sequencing and bioinformatics analysis. Results: Aconitine suppressed cardiomyocyte proliferation and induced inflammation and apoptosis in a dose‐ and time‐dependent manner. These inflammatory damages could be reversed by a TNFα inhibitor and BNIP3‐mediated mitophagy. Consistent with the in vitro results, overexpression of BNIP3 in heart tissue partially suppressed the cardiotoxicity of aconitine by inhibiting apoptosis and the NLRP3 inflammasome. Conclusions: Our findings lay a foundation for the application of a TNFα inhibitor and BNIP3 to aconitine‐induced cardiac toxicity prevention and therapy, thereby demonstrating potential for further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the number of adult critical care beds in Asian countries and regions in relation to population size.Design: Cross-sectional observational study.Setting: Twenty-three Asian countries and regions, covering 92.1% of the continent's population.Participants: Ten low-income and lower-middle-income economies, five upper-middle-income economies, and eight high-income economies according to the World Bank classification.Interventions: Data closest to 2017 on critical care beds, including ICU and intermediate care unit beds, were obtained through multiple means, including government sources, national critical care societies, colleges, or registries, personal contacts, and extrapolation of data.Measurements and Main Results: Cumulatively, there were 3.6 critical care beds per 100,000 population. The median number of critical care beds per 100,000 population per country and region was significantly lower in low- and lower-middle-income economies (2.3; interquartile range, 1.4-2.7) than in upper-middle-income economies (4.6; interquartile range, 3.5-15.9) and high-income economies (12.3; interquartile range, 8.1-20.8) (p = 0.001), with a large variation even across countries and regions of the same World Bank income classification. This number was independently predicted by the World Bank income classification on multivariable analysis, and significantly correlated with the number of acute hospital beds per 100,000 population (r = 0.19; p = 0.047), the universal health coverage service coverage index (r = 0.35; p = 0.003), and the Human Development Index (r = 0.40; p = 0.001) on univariable analysis.Conclusions: Critical care bed capacity varies widely across Asia and is significantly lower in low- and lower-middle-income than in upper-middle-income and high-income countries and regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphite-like carbon films with various Cu contents (Cu/GLC films) were successfully deposited on 304 stainless steel substrates via RF/DC magnetron sputtering techniques. The effects of Cu dopant on the microstructure, tribological performance, mechanical properties, antifouling ability and corrosion resistant of Cu/GLC composite films are systematically investigated. The results indicate that the sp2/sp3 ratio of Cu/GLC films increased with the increase of Cu content. The tribological performance and adhesion strength of Cu/GLC films are significantly improved due to the addition of Cu. In particular, the algae adhesion test demonstrates that the algae adhesion rate of Cu/GLC films could reduce from 6.87% to 0.82%. Moreover, the anti-corrosion capability of Cu/GLC film increases and then decreases as the change of Cu content. The antifouling ability and anti-corrosion performance of Cu/GLC films are significantly improved compared with pure GLC film. In short, the GLC film with 7.4–9.3 at.% Cu display the best comprehensive performance, combining friction, antifouling and anti-corrosion properties. This indicates that the as-prepared Cu/GLC films could be suitable for using as a promising protective material in marine environments. • Cu/GLC composite films with various Cu content were deposited by RF/DC magnetron sputtering techniques. • Cu/GLC films was a two-phase structure and the sp2/sp3 ratio of Cu/GLC films increased with Cu content increase. • The mechanical and tribological properties of Cu/GLC films were also significantly improved by Cu doping. • The mild doped Cu/GLC films can significantly improve antifouling properties and corrosion resistant [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) shows several kinds of disorders, which acutely harm the kidney. However, the current medical methods have limited therapeutic effects. The present study aimed to find out the molecular mechanism of AKI pathogenesis, which may provide new insights for future therapy. Methods: Bioinformatic analysis was conducted using the R language (AT&T BellLaboratories, University of Auckland, New Zealand) to acquire the differentially expressed long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and messenger RNAs (mRNAs) in AKI. The expression levels of RNAs and related proteins in tissues and cells were detected by quantitative real‐time PCR (qRT‐PCR) and western blot. Dual‐luciferase reporter gene assays were performed to verify the target relationship between microRNA (miRNA) and lncRNA as well as miRNA and mRNA. Flow cytometry and tunnel assay were used to detect the cell apoptotic rate in AKI. Results: LINC00520, miR‐27b‐3p, and OSMR form an axis to regulate AKI. Knockdown of LINC00520 reduced acute renal injury both in vitro and in vivo. LINC00520 activated the PI3K/AKT pathway to aggravate renal ischemia/reperfusion injury, while upregulation of miR‐27b‐3p or downregulation of OSMR could accelerate the recovery of AKI. Conclusion: Overexpression of LINC00520 contributes to the aggravation of AKI by targeting miR‐27b‐3p/ OSMR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A waterborne epoxy composite coating integrating barrier/inhibition property was achieved. • h-BN nanosheets took a positive barrier effect on coatings' corrosive protection. • SZP molecules effectively inhibited the corrosive process. • The synergistic effects provided by h-BN nanosheets and SZP molecules were confirmed by EIS and LEIS methods. Herein, we employed the impermeability of hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) nanosheets and the inhibition property of strontium zinc phosphate (SZP) corrosion inhibitor to prepare h-BN/SZP waterborne epoxy composite coatings and explored their corrosion protection performance while immersed in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution. On the basis of lip-lip interaction between hexagonal boron nitride, the h-BN nanosheets were exfoliated to a few layers and functionalized with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES). The anti-corrosion performance of the as-prepared waterborne epoxy composite coatings applied on mild steels was evaluated using potential and impedance measurements, fitted pore (pinhole) resistance and salt spray. The corrosion products and the localized electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (LEIS) analysis of the synthesized (Fh-BN, SZP)/EP coating suggested that the superior corrosion resistance of the coated mild steel was attributed to a synergetic effect between physical barrier role of h-BN and inhibition of SZP. Our strategy provides a new protection method in coatings for metallic substrates and will ameliorate the basic research and industrial applications of h-BN nanosheets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diabetic wound is hard to repair due to bacterial infection, lasting inflammation, and so on. Therefore, it is vital to fabricate a multi-functional hydrogel dressing for the diabetic wound. In this study, a kind of dual-network hydrogel loaded with gentamicin sulfate (GS) based on sodium alginate oxide (OSA) and glycidyl methacrylate gelatin (GelGMA) was designed through the Schiff base bonding and photo-crosslinking to promote the diabetic wound healing. The hydrogels exhibited stable mechanical properties, high water absorbency, and good biocompatibility and biodegradability. Antibacterial results showed that gentamicin sulfate (GS) had a remarkable antibacterial effect on Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. In a diabetic full-thickness skin wound model, the GelGMA-OSA@GS hydrogel dressing dramatically decreases inflammation and accelerated re-epithelialization and granulation tissue formation, promising applications in promoting diabetic wound healing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Biomimetic texture could widen the application of titanium alloys materials in biological fields. In this work, the electrochemical corrosion and unidirectional tribological properties of Ti-6Al-4V substrate textured with three types of bionic hierarchical morphologies in the modified simulated body fluids (m -SBF) have been evaluated. The experimental results reveal that the corrosion resistance of textured surfaces is improved by reducing the β phase /α phase volume ratio on the substrate and increasing the texture density. Moreover, the effect of friction-reducing of 79% and friction-increasing of 47% in unidirectional sliding can be easily tuned with laser processing parameters. Interestingly, the textured surface displays anisotropic tribological behaviour in m -SBF solution, with reducing friction along the stacked ring direction and increasing friction in other directions. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights ● Three types of bionic hierarchical morphologies on the Ti-6Al-4V alloy substrates were fabricated using laser surface texturing. ● The effect of friction-reducing and friction-increasing in unidirectional sliding is easily achieved by tuning the laser processing parameters. ● The corrosion resistance of textured surfaces is improved by reducing the β phase /α phase volume ratio of the grain and increasing the texturing density. ● The mechanism of anisotropic tribological behaviour on textured Ti-6Al-4V surface is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]