Glucuronidation dynamics of curcumin and tetrahydrocurcumin for differential structures and chemical reactivities in human liver microsome and uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase 2B7

THC is the main metabolite of curcumin with better bioactivity. This study aimed to explore the factors that cause differences in the bioactivity of curcumin and THC. We analyzed the metabolic activities of curcumin and THC and the factors responsible for the differences in their activities by glucuronidation activity assay, LC-MS, HPLC, homologous sequence comparisons, and molecular docking. Curcumin has higher metabolic activity than THC in HLM and UGT2B7, while the keto-enol isomers of curcumin and THC were distinctly different under different pH, and their structural transformations were hypothesized. Furthermore, UGT1A and UGT2B are differential sequences of curcumin and THC in UGTs. The binding sites and patterns of curcumin and THC in UGT2B7 are markedly different. In summary, the difference in keto-enolic interconversion isomerism between curcumin and THC is the main factor causing the difference in their activities, which provides a scientific basis for the development of curcumin.

Composite of formamidinium lead bromide perovskite FAPbBr3 with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) for efficient H2 evolution from HBr splitting

Solar hydrobromic acid (HBr) splitting using perovskite photocatalysts provides an attractive avenue to store solar energy into hydrogen (H2) and bromine (Br2), while an efficient photocatalytic system is still demanded. As for the semiconductor photocatalyst, formamidinium perovskites show some superiorities in structural stability, light adsorption and charge dynamics compared to their methylammonium counterparts, which are fitter for the photocatalysis process. Herein, the composite of formamidinium lead bromide perovskite (FAPbBr3) with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) is prepared using a facile photoreduction method. Under simulated sunlight irradiation (AM1.5G, 100 mW cm-2), this FAPbBr3/rGO composite (100 mg) demonstrates a noteworthy enhancement in photocatalytic H2 evolution activity of 386.7 μmol h-1, and it exhibits a notable stability with no significant decrease after 50 h of repeated tests. The single particle PL (photoluminescence) microscope is employed to study the charge dynamics, revealing that rGO in the composite effectively promotes the carrier separation. This work provides a highly efficient and stable photocatalyst for HBr splitting, and offers an effective modification strategy on lead bromide perovskites.

Vesical Imaging-Reporting and Data System (VI-RADS) as a grouping imaging biomarker combined with a decision-tree mode to preoperatively predict the pathological grade of bladder cancer

AIM

To investigate whether the Vesical Imaging-Reporting and Data System (VI-RADS) could be used to develop a new non-invasive preoperative grade-prediction system to partially predict high-grade bladder cancer (HG-BC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The present study enrolled 89 primary BC patients prospectively from March 2022 to June 2023. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of VI-RADS for predicting HG-BC and muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) in the entire group. In the low VI-RADS (≤2) group, the decision tree-based method was used to obtain significant predictors and construct the decision-tree model (DT model). The performance of the DT model and low VI-RADS scores for predicting HG-BC was determined using ROC, calibration, and decision curve analyses.

RESULTS

At a cut-off of ≥3, the specificity and positive predictive value of VI-RADS for predicting HG-BC in the entire group was 100%, and the area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.697. Among 65 patients with low VI-RADS scores, the DT model showed an AUC of 0.884 in predicting HG-BC compared to 0.506 for low VI-RADS scores. Calibration and decision curve analyses showed that the DT model performed better than the low VI-RADS scores.

CONCLUSION

Most VI-RADS scores ≥3 correspond to HG-BCs. VI-RADS could be used as a grouping imaging biomarker for a pathological grade-prediction procedure, which in combination with the DT model for low VI-RADS (≤2) populations, would provide a potential preoperative non-invasive method of predicting HG-BC.

[Construction of a model based on multipoint full-layer puncture biopsy for predicting pathological complete response after neoadjuvant therapy for locally advanced rectal cancer]

Objective: To investigate the value of transanal multipoint full-layer puncture biopsy (TMFP) in predicting pathological complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy (nCRT) in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) and to establish a predictive model for providing clinical guidance regarding the treatment of LARC. Methods: In this multicenter, prospective, cohort study, we collected data on 110 LARC patients from four hospitals between April 2020 and March 2023: Beijing Chaoyang Hospital of Capital Medical University (50 patients), Beijing Friendship Hospital of Capital Medical University (41 patients), Qilu Hospital of Shandong University (16 patients), and Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University (three patients). The patients had all received TMFP after completing standard nCRT. The variables studied included (1) clinicopathological characteristics; (2) clinical complete remission (cCR) and efficacy of TMFP in determining pCR after NCRT in LARC patients; and (3) hospital attended, sex, age, clinical T- and N-stages, distance between the lower margin of the tumor and the anal verge, baseline and post-radiotherapy serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen (CA)19-9 concentrations, chemotherapy regimen, use of immunosuppressants with or without radiotherapy, radiation therapy dosage, interval between surgery and radiotherapy, surgical procedure, clinical T/N stage after radiotherapy, cCR, pathological results of TMFP, puncture method (endoscopic or percutaneous), and number and timing of punctures. Single-factor and multifactorial logistic regression analysis were used to determine the factors affecting pCR after NCRT in LARC patients. A prediction model was constructed based on the results of multivariat analysis and the performance of this model evaluated by analyzing subject work characteristics (ROC), calibration, and clinical decision-making (DCA) curves. pCR was defined as complete absence of tumor cells on microscopic examination of the surgical specimens of rectal cancer (including lymph node dissection) after NCRT, that is, ypT0+N0. cCR was defined according to the Chinese Neoadjuvant Rectal Cancer Waiting Watch Database Study Collaborative Group criteria after treatment, which specify an absence of ulceration and nodules on endoscopy; negative rectal palpation; no tumor signals on rectal MRI T2 and DWI sequences; normal serum CEA concentrations, and no evidence of recurrence on pelvic computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging. Results: Of the 110 patients, 45 (40.9%) achieved pCR after nCRT, which was combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors in 34 (30.9%). cCR was diagnosed before puncture in 38 (34.5%) patients, 43 (39.1%) of the punctures being endoscopic. There were no complications of puncture such as enterocutaneous fistulae, vaginal injury, prostatic injury, or presacral bleeding . Only one (2.3%) patient had a small amount of blood in the stools, which was relieved by anal pressure. cCR had a sensitivity of 57.8% (26/45) for determining pCR, specificity of 81.5% (53/65), accuracy of 71.8% (79/110), positive predictive value 68.4% (26/38), and negative predictive value of 73.6% (53/72). In contrast, the sensitivity of TMFP pathology in determining pCR was 100% (45/45), specificity 66.2% (43/65), accuracy 80.0% (88/110), positive predictive value 67.2% (45/67), and negative predictive value 100.0% (43/43). In this study, the sensitivity of TMFP for pCR (100.0% vs. 57.8%, χ2=24.09, P<0.001) was significantly higher than that for cCR. However, the accuracy of pCR did not differ significantly (80.0% vs. 71.8%, χ2=2.01, P=0.156). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that a ≥4 cm distance between the lower edge of the tumor and the anal verge (OR=7.84, 95%CI: 1.48-41.45, P=0.015), non-cCR (OR=4.81, 95%CI: 1.39-16.69, P=0.013), and pathological diagnosis by TMFP (OR=114.29, the 95%CI: 11.07-1180.28, P<0.001) were risk factors for pCR after NCRT in LARC patients. Additionally, endoscopic puncture (OR=0.02, 95%CI: 0.05-0.77, P=0.020) was a protective factor for pCR after NCRT in LARC patients. The area under the ROC curve of the established prediction model was 0.934 (95%CI: 0.892-0.977), suggesting that the model has good discrimination. The calibration curve was relatively close to the ideal 45° reference line, indicating that the predicted values of the model were in good agreement with the actual values. A decision-making curve showed that the model had a good net clinical benefit. Conclusion: Our predictive model, which incorporates TMFP, has considerable accuracy in predicting pCR after nCRT in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer. This may provide a basis for more precisely selecting individualized therapy.

Hydrogen Bonds Induced Ultra-Long Stability of Conductive Π-d Conjugated FeCo3(DDA)2 with High OER Activity

Conductive π-d conjugated metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have attracted wide concerns in electrocatalysis due to their intrinsic high conductivity. However, the poor electrocatalytic stability is still a major problem that hinders the practical application of MOFs. Herein, we report a novel approach to enhancing the stability of MOF-based electrocatalyst, namely, the introduction of hydrogen bonds (H-bonds). Impressively, the π-d conjugated MOF FeCo3(DDA)2 exhibits ultra-high oxygen evolution reaction (OER) stability (up to 2000 h). The experimental studies demonstrate that the presence of H-bonds in FeCo3(DDA)2 is responsible for its ultra-high OER stability. Besides that, FeCo3(DDA)2 also displays a prominent OER activity (an overpotential of 260 mV versus RHE at a current density of 10 mA cm-2 and a Tafel slope of 46.86 mV dec-1). Density functional theory (DFT) calculations further indicate that the synergistic effect of the Fe and Co sites in FeCo3(DDA)2 contributes to its prominent OER performance. This work provides a new avenue of boosting the electrocatalytic stability of conductive π-d conjugated MOFs. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Topology-Engineered Orbital Hall Effect in Two-Dimensional Ferromagnets

Recent advances in the manipulation of the orbital angular momentum (OAM) within the paradigm of orbitronics presents a promising avenue for the design of future electronic devices. In this context, the recently observed orbital Hall effect (OHE) occupies a special place. Here, focusing on both the second-order topological and quantum anomalous Hall insulators in two-dimensional ferromagnets, we demonstrate that topological phase transitions present an efficient and straightforward way to engineer the OHE, where the OAM distribution can be controlled by the nature of the band inversion. Using first-principles calculations, we identify Janus RuBrCl and three septuple layers of MnBi2Te4 as experimentally feasible examples of the proposed mechanism of OHE engineering by topology. With our work, we open up new possibilities for innovative applications in topological spintronics and orbitronics.

Strong Second-Harmonic Generation Induced by a Triphenylamine-Based Bismuth-Organic Framework for Photocatalytic Activity Enhancement

Taking advantage of the well-defined geometry of metal centers and highly directional metal-ligand coordination bonds, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as promising candidates for nonlinear optical (NLO) materials. In this work, taking a photoresponsive carboxylate triphenylamine derivative as an organic ligand, a bismuth-based MOF, Bi-NBC, NBC = 4',4‴,4‴″-nitrilotris(([1,1'-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid)) is obtained. Structure determination reveals that it is a potential NLO material derived from its noncentrosymmetric structure, which is finally confirmed by its rarely strong second harmonic generation (SHG) effect. Theoretical calculations reveal that the potential difference around Bi atoms is large; therefore, it leads to a strong local built-in electric field, which greatly facilitates the charge separation and transfer and finally improves the photocatalytic performance. Our results provide a reference for the exploration of MOFs with NLO properties.

Enhanced Charge Transfer Process and Photocatalytic Activity over a Phosphonate-based MOF via Amorphization Strategy

Recently, amorphous materials have gained great attention as an emerging kind of functional material, and their characteristics such as isotropy, absence of grain boundaries, and abundant defects are very likely to outrun the disadvantages of crystalline counterparts, such as low conductivity, and ultimately lead to improved charge transfer efficiency. Herein, we investigated the effect of amorphization on the charge transfer process and photocatalytic performance with a phosphonate-based metal-organic framework (FePPA) as the research object. Comprehensive experimental results suggest that compared to crystalline FePPA, amorphous FePPA has more distorted metal nodes, which affects the electron distribution and consequently improves the photogenerated charge separation efficiency. Meanwhile, the distorted metal nodes in amorphous FePPA also greatly promote the adsorption and activation of O2. Hence, amorphous FePPA exhibits a better performance of photocatalytic C(sp3)-H bond activation for selective oxidation of toluene to benzaldehyde. This work illustrates the advantages of amorphous MOFs in the charge transfer process, which is conducive to the further development of high performance MOFs-based photocatalysts.

Pd-Decorated Cu2O-Ag Catalyst Promoting CO2 Electroreduction to C2H4 by Optimizing CO Intermediate Adsorption and Hydrogenation

Electrocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) to high value-added products, such as ethylene (C2H4), offers a promising approach to achieve carbon neutrality. Although recent studies have reported that a tandem catalyst (for example, Cu-Ag systems) exhibits advantage in C2H4 production, its practical application is largely inhibited by the following: (1) a traditional tandem catalyst cannot effectively stabilize the *CO intermediate, resulting in sluggish C-C coupling, and (2) inadequate H2O activation ability hinders the hydrogenation of intermediates. To break through the above bottleneck, herein, palladium (Pd) was introduced into Cu2O-Ag, a typical conventional tandem catalyst, to construct a Cu2O-Pd-Ag ternary catalyst. Extensive experiment and density functional theory calculation prove that Pd can efficiently stabilize the *CO intermediate and promote the H2O activation, which contributes to the C-C coupling and intermediate hydrogenation, the key steps in the conversion of CO2 to C2H4. Beneficial to the efficient synergy of Cu2O, Pd, and Ag, the optimal Cu2O-Pd-Ag ternary catalyst achieves CO2RR toward C2H4 with a faradaic efficiency of 63.2% at -1.2 VRHE, which is higher than that achieved by Cu2O-Ag and most of other reported catalysts. This work is a fruitful exploration of a rare ternary catalyst, providing a new route for constructing an efficient CO2RR electrocatalyst.

Unveiling pH-Dependent Adsorption Strength of *CO2 - Intermediate over High-Density Sn Single Atom Catalyst for Acidic CO2-to-HCOOH Electroreduction

The acidic electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) for direct formic acid (HCOOH) production holds promise in meeting the carbon-neutral target, yet its performance is hindered by the competing hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Understanding the adsorption strength of the key intermediates in acidic electrolyte is indispensable to favor CO2RR over HER. In this work, high-density Sn single atom catalysts (SACs) were prepared and used as catalyst, to reveal the pH-dependent adsorption strength and coverage of *CO2 - intermediatethat enables enhanced acidic CO2RR towards direct HCOOH production. At pH=3, Sn SACs could deliver a high Faradaic efficiency (90.8 %) of HCOOH formation and a corresponding partial current density up to -178.5 mA cm-2. The detailed in situ attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopic studies reveal that a favorable alkaline microenvironment for CO2RR to HCOOH is formed near the surface of Sn SACs, even in the acidic electrolyte. More importantly, the pH-dependent adsorption strength of *CO2 - intermediate is unravelled over the Sn SACs, which in turn affects the competition between HER and CO2RR in acidic electrolyte.

Revealing the Lattice Carbonate Mediated Mechanism in Cu2(OH)2CO3 for Electrocatalytic Reduction of CO2 to C2H4

Understanding the CO2 transformation mechanism on materials is essential for the design of efficient electrocatalysts for CO2 reduction. In aconventional adsorbate evolution mechanism (AEM), the catalysts encounter multiple high-energy barrier steps, especially CO2 activation, limiting the activity and selectivity. Here, lattice carbonate from Cu2(OH)2CO3 is revealed to be a mediator between CO2 molecules and catalyst during CO2 electroreduction by a 13C isotope labeling method, which can bypass the high energy barrier of CO2 activation and strongly enhance the performance. With the lattice carbonate mediated mechanism (LCMM), the Cu2(OH)2CO3 electrode exhibited ten-fold faradaic efficiency and 15-fold current density for ethylene production than the Cu2O electrode with AEM at a low overpotential. Theoretical calculations and in situ Raman spectroscopy results show that symmetric vibration of carbonate is precisely enhanced on the catalyst surface with LCMM, leading to faster electron transfer, and lower energy barriers of CO2 activation and carbon-carbon coupling. This work provides a route to develop efficient electrocatalysts for CO2 reduction based on lattice-mediated mechanism.

Targeting Magnaporthe oryzae effector MoErs1 and host papain-like protease OsRD21 interaction to combat rice blast

Effector proteins secreted by plant pathogenic fungi are important artilleries against host immunity, but there is no precedent of such effectors being explored as antifungal targets. Here we demonstrate that MoErs1, a species-specific effector protein secreted by the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae, inhibits the function of rice papain-like cysteine protease OsRD21 involved in rice immunity. Disrupting MoErs1-OsRD21 interaction effectively controls rice blast. In addition, we show that FY21001, a structure-function-based designer compound, specifically binds to and inhibits MoErs1 function. FY21001 significantly and effectively controls rice blast in field tests. Our study revealed a novel concept of targeting pathogen-specific effector proteins to prevent and manage crop diseases.

Enhancing the stability of mung bean-based milk: Insights from protein characteristics and raw material selection

Plant-based milk (PBM) alternatives are gaining popularity worldwide as the change of consumers' nutritional habits and health attitudes. Mung beans, recognized for their nutritional value, have gained attention as potential ingredients for PBM. Nevertheless, mung bean-based milk (MBM) faces instability issues common to other plant-based milks. This study investigated the factors influencing MBM stability focusing on raw materials. We selected 6 out of 20 varieties based on their MBM centrifugation sedimentation rates, representing both stable and unstable MBM. Stable MBM exhibited distinct advantages, including reduced separation rate, smaller particle size, lower viscosity, fewer protein aggregates, higher soluble protein content, and increased consumer acceptance. Major nutritional components such as protein, starch, and lipids were not significant different between stable and unstable MBM varieties. The pivotal distinction may lay in the protein properties and composition. Stable MBM varieties exhibited significantly improved protein solubility and emulsion stability, along with elevated concentrations of legume-like acidic subunits, basic 7S proteins, and 28 kDa and 26 kDa vicilin-like subunits. The increasement of these proteins likely contributed to the improvement in protein characteristics that affect MBM stability. These findings offer valuable insights for raw material selection and guidance for future mung bean breeding to enhance mung bean milk production.

MRI-based bone marrow radiomics for predicting cytogenetic abnormalities in multiple myeloma

AIM

To develop a radiomics signature applied to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-images to predict cytogenetic abnormalities in multiple myeloma (MM).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients with newly diagnosed MM were enrolled retrospectively from March 2019 to September 2022. They were categorised into the high-risk cytogenetics (HRC) group and standard-risk cytogenetics (SRC) group. The patients were allocated randomly at a ratio of 7:3 into training and validation cohorts. Volumes of interest (VOI) was drawn manually on fat suppression T2-weighted imaging (FS-T2WI) and copied to the same location of the T1-weighted imaging (T1WI) sequence. Radiomics features were extracted from two sequences and selected by reproducibility and redundant analysis. The least absolute shrinkage selection operation (LASSO) algorithm was applied to build the radiomics signatures. The performance of the radiomics signatures to distinguish HRC with SRC was evaluated by ROC curves. The area under the curve (AUC), specificity, and sensitivity were also calculated.

RESULTS

A total of 105 MM patients were enrolled in this study. The four and 11 most significant and relevant features were selected separately from T1WI and FS-T2WI sequences to build the radiomics signatures based on the training cohort. Compared to the T1WI sequence, the radiomics signature based on the FS-T2WI sequence achieved better performance with AUCs of 0.896 and 0.729 in the training and validation cohorts respectively. A sensitivity of 0.833, specificity of 0.667, and Youden index of 0.500 were achieved for the FS-T2WI radiomics signature in the validation cohort.

CONCLUSIONS

The radiomics signature based on MRI provides a non-invasive and convenient tool to predict cytogenetic abnormalities in MM patients.

Mathematical Modeling of Initial Exothermic Behavior and Thixotropic Properties in Nanoclay-Enhanced Cementitious Materials

In the realm of cementitious materials, integrating nanoclay shows promise in enhancing properties relevant to additive manufacturing. This paper presents a novel mathematical model that combines simple empirical dissolution/nucleation Avrami-like kinetics with a thixotropic kinetics equation. To analyze the initial exothermic peak, two sets of the calculation parameter function are built to describe the exothermic rate as a function of time, following an exponential pattern. This allows for the prediction of the changes in cumulative heat and heat rate during hydration, considering different concentrations of nanoclay. In the rheological aspect, the relationship between shear stress, shear rate, and time is modeled as a combination of exponential dependencies. This enables the prediction of the variations in shear stress with one variable while holding the other constant (either time or shear rate). By integrating these aspects, this model effectively describes both the first exothermal peak and the rheological behavior during cement hydration with the inclusion of nanoclay. Validated against experimental results, these models demonstrate good accuracy (overall below 3% error), reliability, and applicability. The findings offer valuable insights into the thermal and rheological aspects of concrete printing, enabling informed design decisions for both scientific and industrial applications.

Engineering Layertronics in Two-Dimensional Ferromagnetic Multiferroic Lattice

Layertronics, rooted in the layer Hall effect (LHE), is an emerging fundamental phenomenon in condensed matter physics and spintronics. So far, several theoretical and experimental proposals have been made to realize LHE, but all are based on antiferromagnetic systems. Here, using symmetry and tight-binding model analysis, we propose a general mechanism for engineering layertronics in a two-dimensional ferromagnetic multiferroic lattice. The physics is related to the band geometric properties and multiferroicity, which results in the coupling between Berry curvature and layer degree of freedom, thereby generating the LHE. Using first-principles calculations, we further demonstrate this mechanism in bilayer (BL) TcIrGe2S6. Due to the intrinsic inversion and time-reversal symmetry breakings, BL TcIrGe2S6 exhibits multiferroicity with large Berry curvatures at both the center and corners of the Brillouin zone. These Berry curvatures couple with the layer physics, forming the LHE in BL TcIrGe2S6. Our work opens a new direction for research on layertronics.

Enhanced cycloaddition between CO2 and epoxide over a bismuth-based metal organic framework due to a synergistic photocatalytic and photothermal effect

The cycloaddition reaction between CO2 and epoxide is an efficient way to convert CO2 into high value-added chemicals. Therefore, it is particularly important to develop efficient catalysts that can catalyze the reaction under mild conditions. In this work, a metal-organic framework (Bi-HHTP, consisting of bismuth (Bi) as metal dots and 2,3,6,7,10,11-hexahydroxy-triphenylene (HHTP) as organic linkers) with zigzagging corrugated topology was successfully synthesized, which shows excellent catalytic activity under visible light irradiation. Various characterizations suggest that the excellent activity is derived from the following reasons: (1) the abundant exposed Bi sites provide Lewis sites for adsorption of epoxides and CO2; (2) the free holes produced over Bi-HHTP under light irradiation which could oxidize epoxide, which consequently facilitateing the subsequent ring-opening reaction; and (3) the existence of synergistic photocatalytic and photothermal effect in Bi-HHTP. This study provides a new avenue of developing bismuth-based metal organic frameworks to promote the efficiency of cycloaddition of CO2 under mild conditions.

Bending deformation modulation of the optoelectronic properties of molybdenum ditelluride doped with nonmetallic atoms X (X = B, C, N, O): a first-principles study

CONTEXT

A first-principles approach based on density functional theory was used to explore the effect of bending deformation on the electrical structure of molybdenum ditelluride doped with nonmetallic atoms X (X = B, C, N, and O). The study included alternate doping of nonmetallic atoms, as well as a comparison of the effects of intrinsic bending deformation and nonmetallic doping deformation. The results demonstrate that boron atom doping raises the Fermi energy level. Examining the energy band structure indicates that the intrinsic molybdenum ditelluride is a direct band gap semiconductor, which is transformed from a direct band gap to an indirect band gap after doping. We selected boron-doped systems for bending deformation and compared them with the intrinsic systems. With increasing deformation, all systems start to shift from semiconductor to metal. When the deformation reaches 8°, the energy levels fill and the electron energy increases. The intrinsically bent systems transition from direct band gap to indirect band gap and eventually to metal. The indirect band gap semiconductor-to-metal transition process occurs after the bending deformation of the boron-doped atoms. The analytical results show that the absorption and reflection peaks of the molybdenum ditelluride system are blue-shifted after the bending deformation of the boron-doped atoms.

METHODS

Under fundamental principles, this research depends on the density functional theory framework (DFT) using the CASTEP module in the Materials-Studio software. The plane-wave pseudopotential approach with modified gradient approximation and the Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof (PBE) generalized function is used for structure optimization and total energy calculations of the X-doped (X = B, C, N, O) MoTe2 system at different shape variables. Geometry optimization of the 27-atom superlattice MoTe2 was carried out, followed by alternative doping of tellurium atoms in the molybdenum ditelluride with B, C, N, and O. In this paper, the intrinsic bending deformation and B-doping of molybdenum ditelluride were selected for deformation analysis. Intrinsic bending deformations and boron-doped molybdenum ditelluride with bending angles ranging from 2° to 8° were employed for deformation investigation. In Fig. 1, pink is used to represent doped B atoms, orange is used to describe Te atoms, and green is used to represent Mo atoms. For the degree of deformation of molybdenum ditelluride, in this paper, it is expressed by the bending angle, i.e., the angle of the plane of molybdenum ditelluride after bending and deformation of a single layer of molybdenum ditelluride concerning the angle of the plane folded for the deformed plane. How to do it: For ease of presentation, the atomic chains are set to different colors. The purple part on both sides of the figure is bent and deformed, 3-5 atoms are fixed appropriately, and the middle part is deformed. On this basis, the bending deformation of intrinsically doped and boron-doped MoTe2 is comparatively analyzed. The effect of boron-doped atoms on the structure of MoTe2 is systematically investigated to study its structural stability and electronic structure. Fig. 1 a1 and a2 The main and side views of intrinsic MoTe2; b1 and (b2) the main and side views of MoTe2 doped with boron atoms bent by 8°.

Layer-coupled corner states in two-dimensional topological multiferroics

The structural diversity and controllability in two-dimensional (2D) materials offers an intriguing platform for exploring a wide range of topological phenomena. The layer degree of freedom, as a novel technique for material manipulation, requires further investigation regarding its association with topological states. Here, using first-principles calculations and a tight-binding model, we propose a novel mechanism that couples the second-order topological corner states with the layer degree of freedom. By analyzing the edge states, topological indices, and spectra of nanoflakes, we identify ferromagnetic H'-Co2XF2 (X = C, N) as 2D second-order topological insulators with intrinsic ferroelectricity. Moreover, the topological corner states strongly couple with the layer degree of freedom, and, remarkably, ferroelectricity provides a nonvolatile handle to manipulate the layer-polarized corner states. These findings open an avenue for the manipulation of second-order topological states and establish a bridge between ferroelectricity and nontrivial topology.

A specific fluorescence resonance energy quenching-based biosensor for measuring thrombin activity in whole blood

BACKGROUND

At sites of vessel injury, thrombin acts as the central mediator of coagulation by catalyzing fibrin clot formation and platelet activation. Thrombin generation is most frequently measured in plasma samples using small-molecule substrates; however, these have low specificity for thrombin and limited utility in whole blood. Plasma assays are limited because they ignore the hemostatic contributions of blood cells and require anticoagulation and the addition of supraphysiological concentrations of calcium.

OBJECTIVES

To overcome these limitations, we designed and characterized a fluorescence resonance energy quenching-based thrombin sensor (FTS) protein.

METHODS

The fluorescence resonance energy quenching pair of mAmetrine and tTomato, separated by a thrombin recognition sequence, was developed. The protein was expressed using Escherichia coli, and purity was assessed using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The cleavage of FTS was monitored by fluorescence using excitation at 406 nm and emission at 526 nm and 581 nm.

RESULTS

Compared with small-molecule substrates, the FTS demonstrated high specificity for thrombin; it is not cleaved by thrombin or inhibited by α2-macroglobulin and interacts with thrombin's anion-binding exosite I. The FTS can effectively measure thrombin generation in plasma and in finger-prick whole blood, which allows it to be developed into a point-of-care test of thrombin generation. The FTS does not inhibit standard thrombin-generation assays. Lastly, FTS-based thrombin generation in nonanticoagulated finger-prick blood was delayed but enhanced compared with that in citrated plasma.

CONCLUSION

The FTS will broaden our understanding of thrombin generation in ways that are not attainable with current methods.

Experience of humanistic nursing in hemodialysis nursing for patients with diabetic kidney disease

BACKGROUND

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a prevalent complication of diabetes that often requires hemodialysis for treatment. In the field of nursing, there is a growing recognition of the importance of humanistic care, which focuses on the holistic needs of patients, including their emotional, psychological, and social well-being. However, the application of humanistic nursing in the context of hemodialysis for DKD patients remains relatively unexplored.

AIM

To explore the experience of humanistic nursing in hemodialysis nursing for DKD patients.

METHODS

Ninety-six DKD patients treated with hemodialysis from March 2020 to June 2022 were included in the study and divided into the control cluster (48 cases) and the study cluster (48 cases) according to different nursing methods; the control cluster was given routine nursing and the study cluster was given humanized nursing. The variances of negative emotion mark, blood glucose, renal function, the incidence of complications, life mark and nursing satisfaction before and after nur-sing were contrasted between the two clusters.

RESULTS

No significant difference in negative emotion markers between the two clusters were observed before nursing (P > 0.05), and the negative emotion markers of the two clusters decreased after nursing. The Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale markers were lower in the study cluster than the control cluster. The healing rate of patients in the study cluster was significantly higher than the control cluster (97.92% vs 85.42%, P < 0.05). Blood glucose parameters were not significantly different between the groups prior to nursing (P > 0.05). However, after nursing, blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine (SCr) levels in the study cluster were lower than those in the control cluster (P < 0.05). The incidence rate of complications was significantly lower in the study group compared to the control cluster (6.25% vs 20.83%, P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the life markers between the two clusters before nursing. While the life markers increased after nursing for both groups, the 36-item health scale markers in the study cluster were higher than those within the control cluster (P < 0.05). Finally, the nursing satisfaction rate was 93.75% in the study cluster, compared to 75% in the control cluster (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

In hemodialysis for DKD patients, the implementation of humanistic nursing achieved ideal results, effectively reducing patients' psychological negative emotion markers so that they can actively cooperate with the diagnosis and nursing, facilitate the control of blood glucose and the maintenance of residual renal function, reduce the occurrence of complications, and finally enhance the life quality and nursing satisfaction of patients. It is worthy of being widely popularized and applied.

The Identification of Gamma-Glutamyl Hydrolase in Uterine Corpus Endometrial Carcinoma: a Predictive Model and Machine Learning

BACKGROUND

Poor neoplastic differentiation contributes to the rapid progression of uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma (UCEC). Thus, it is essential to identify candidate genes, clarifying the carcinogenesis and progression of UCEC.

METHODS

We screened genes that affect differentiation and prognosis in UCEC. Least absolute selection and shrinkage operator (LASSO) regression, univariate Cox, and multivariate Cox proportional risk regression analyses were performed to screen out γ-glutamyl hydrolase (GGH) as the candidate gene. The clinical value of GGH on prognosis was evaluated. The relationship between GGH and immune infiltration was assessed by CIBERSORT, EPIC, ssGSEA, unsupervised clustering and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Additionally, we investigated the effect of GGH knockdown in vitro.

RESULTS

Among the GGH, CDKN2A, and SIX1 genes, the impact of GGH was predominant on immune infiltration in UCEC. A nomogram containing GGH and other clinical features showed good predictive performance via curve analysis (DCA). In the functional analysis, GGH affected differentiation, tumour proliferation, and immune regulation. The immunosuppressive components were enriched in the GGH-high group, with poor immunotherapy efficacy. The study suggests that GGH may influence the progression of UCEC by regulating the glycolytic process.

CONCLUSIONS

GGH is closely associated with various immune cell infiltrations. Our study demonstrates the prognostic role of GGH in carcinogenesis in UCEC.

Bifunctional solid-state ionic liquid supported amidoxime chitosan adsorbents for Th(IV) and U(VI): Enhanced adsorption capacity from the synergistic effect

Uranium and thorium of symbiotic relationship commonly appear in one kind of raw or spent ore. The simultaneous enrichment toward both metals in the first step is essential during many hydrometallurgy processing. Therefore bifunctional solid-state ionic liquid supported amidoxime chitosan (ACS) adsorbents were developed to simultaneously adsorb the two metal from the aqueous solution. The adsorption capacity of the bifunctional adsorbents toward uranium and thorium were significantly superior to the ionic liquid-free amidoxime chitosan, obviously proving the synergistic effect. For both uranium and thorium, the adsorption capacity in the consequence of ACS-[N4444][DEHP], ACS-[N4444][EHEHP], ACS-[N1888][DEHP] and ACS-[N1888][EHEHP] prove the steric effect and PO bonding played important roles in the adsorption. Study on isotherms and kinetics demonstrated the adsorption of ionic liquid-ACS adopted monolayer and chemical way. The ΔGo of very small negative values highlighted ionic liquid-ACS were prone to adsorb uranium and thorium. The study showed feasibility of bifunctional solid-state ionic liquid supported amidoxime chitosan adsorbents for Th(IV) and U(VI).

Model-based dosing optimization and therapeutic drug monitoring practices of teicoplanin in patients with complicated or non-complicated methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus infection

AIMS

This study aims to establish a population pharmacokinetic (PK) model of teicoplanin in Chinese adult patients to evaluate the dosing regimen in the label sheet and optimize it.

METHODS

Nonlinear mixed-effects modelling was used to estimate PK parameters. Monte Carlo simulations were used to evaluate the attainment of various dosing regimens in achieving the target trough concentrations in patients with normal or decreased renal function.

RESULTS

A total of 115 patients were enrolled in this retrospective study. Creatinine clearance (CrCL) and albumin (ALB) were identified as covariates on the clearance of teicoplanin. For the treatment of non-complicated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections in patients with normal renal function and serum ALB concentration, the recommended dosing regimen was 600 mg q12h with five administrations as the loading dose followed by 600 mg qd as the maintenance dose; for the treatment of serious and/or complicated MRSA infections, the recommended dosing regimen was 800 mg q12h with five administrations as the loading dose followed by 800 mg qd as the maintenance dose. It is worth noting that both the loading and maintenance doses ought to be modified based on the patient's renal function and serum ALB concentration. In addition, trough concentrations of teicoplanin were significantly increased every other week.

CONCLUSIONS

Both loading dosing and maintenance dosing regimens were recommended to be adjusted according to patient's renal function and serum ALB concentration. In addition, it is necessary to perform follow-up therapeutic drug monitoring of teicoplanin at least once every week.

Layer-Polarized Anomalous Hall Effects from Inversion-Symmetric Single-Layer Lattices

In the field of physics and materials science, the discovery of the layer-polarized anomalous Hall effect (LP-AHE) stands as a crucial development. The current research paradigm is rooted in topological or inversion-asymmetric valleytronic systems, making such a phenomenon rather rare. In this work, a universal design principle for achieving the LP-AHE from inversion-symmetric single-layer lattices is proposed. Through tight-binding model analysis, we demonstrate that by stacking into antiferromagnetic van der Waals bilayer lattices, the coupling physics between PT symmetry and vertical external bias can be realized. This coupling reveals the previously neutralized layer-locked Berry curvature, compelling the carriers to move in a specific direction within a given layer, thereby realizing the LP-AHE. Intriguingly, the chirality of the LP-AHE can be effectively switched by modulating the direction of vertical external bias. First-principles calculations validate this mechanism in bilayer T-FeCl2 and MnPSe3. Our results pave the way for new explorations of the LP-AHE.

Circulating blood biomarkers correlated with the prognosis of advanced triple negative breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) can improve survivals of metastatic triple negative breast cancer (mTNBC); however, we still seek circulating blood biomarkers to predict the efficacy of ICIs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this study, we analyzed the data of ICIs treated mTNBC collected in Anhui Medical University affiliated hospitals from 2018 to 2023. The counts of lymphocytes, monocytes, platelets, and ratio indexes (NLR, MLR, PLR) in peripheral blood were investigated via the Kaplan-Meier curves and the Cox proportional-hazards model.

RESULTS

The total of 50 mTNBC patients were treated with ICIs. High level of peripheral lymphocytes and low level of NLR and MLR at baseline and post the first cycle of ICIs play the predictable role of immunotherapies. Lymphocytes counts (HR = 0.280; 95% CI: 0.095-0.823; p = 0.021) and NLR (HR = 1.150; 95% CI: 1.052-1.257; p = 0.002) are significantly correlated with overall survival. High NLR also increases the risk of disease progression (HR = 2.189; 95% CI:1.085-4.414; p = 0.029). When NLR at baseline ≥ 2.75, the hazard of death (HR = 2.575; 95% CI:1.217-5.447; p = 0.013) and disease progression (HR = 2.189; 95% CI: 1.085-4.414; p = 0.029) significantly rise. HER-2 expression and anti-tumor therapy lines are statistically correlated with survivals.

CONCLUSIONS

Before the initiation of ICIs, enriched peripheral lymphocytes and poor neutrophils and NLR contribute to the prediction of survivals.

Engineering Gapless Edge States from Antiferromagnetic Chern Homobilayer

We put forward that stacked Chern insulators with opposite chiralities offer a strategy to achieve gapless helical edge states in two dimensions. We employ the square lattice as an example and elucidate that the gapless chiral and helical edge states emerge in the monolayer and antiferromagnetically stacked bilayer, characterized by Chern number C = - 1 and spin Chern number C S = - 1 , respectively. Particularly, for a topological phase transition to the normal insulator in the stacked bilayer, a band gap closing and reopening procedure takes place accompanied by helical edge states disappearing, where the Chern insulating phase in the monolayer vanishes at the same time. Moreover, EuO is revealed as a suitable candidate for material realization. This work is not only valuable to the research of the quantum anomalous Hall effect but also offers a favorable platform to realize magnetic topologically insulating materials for spintronics applications.

Neighborhood predictors of short sleep duration and bedtime irregularity among children in the United States: results from the 2019-2020 National Survey of Children's Health

BACKGROUND

Environmental factors may contribute to short sleep duration and irregular bedtime in children. Neighborhood factors and children's sleep duration and bedtime regularity remain a less investigated area. The aim of this study was to investigate the national and state-level proportions of children with short sleep duration and irregular bedtime and their neighborhood predictors.

METHODS

A total of 67,598 children whose parents completed the National Survey of Children's Health in 2019-2020 were included in the analysis. Survey-weighted Poisson regression was used to explore the neighborhood predictors of children's short sleep duration and irregular bedtime.

RESULTS

The prevalence of short sleep duration and irregular bedtime among children in the United States (US) was 34.6% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 33.8%-35.4%] and 16.4% (95% CI = 15.6%-17.2%) in 2019-2020, respectively. Safe neighborhoods, supportive neighborhoods, and neighborhoods with amenities were found to be protective factors against children's short sleep duration, with risk ratios ranging between 0.92 and 0.94, P < 0.05. Neighborhoods with detracting elements were associated with an increased risk of short sleep duration [risk ratio (RR) = 1.06, 95% CI = 1.00-1.12] and irregular bedtime (RR = 1.15, 95% CI = 1.03-1.28). Child race/ethnicity moderated the relationship between neighborhood with amenities and short sleep duration.

CONCLUSIONS

Insufficient sleep duration and irregular bedtime were highly prevalent among US children. A favorable neighborhood environment can decrease children's risk of short sleep duration and irregular bedtime. Improving the neighborhood environment has implications for children's sleep health, especially for children from minority racial/ethnic groups.

High-Throughput Screening of Effective Dual Atom Catalysts for the Nitric Oxide Reduction Reaction

Electrochemical NO-to-NH3 conversion has been attracting more attention in the field of green energy, which, however, imposes restrictions on the catalysts. We therefore design a family of dual atom catalysts (DACs) TM1TM2@g-CN and perform high-throughput screening to position the effective catalysts for electrocatalytic NO-to-NH3 conversion from first-principles computations. We identify that TiCr@g-CN (-0.37 V), TiMo@g-CN (-0.36 V), and MnMo@g-CN (-0.43 V) are promising candidates with low overpotentials. In particular, we find that MoMo@g-CN can spontaneously reduce NO to NH3, which makes it an excellent electrocatalyst for the NO reduction reaction (NORR) to be translated to experiments. In terms of the local geometry feature and local electronic structures, we unravel the origin of the high NORR activity and high selectivity of the DAC MoMo@g-CN.

A Conductive 3D Dual-Metal π-d Conjugated Metal-Organic Framework Fe3 (HITP)2 /bpm@Co for Highly Efficient Oxygen Evolution Reaction

Although 2D π-d conjugated metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) exhibit high in-plane conductivity, the closely stacked layers result in low specific surface area and difficulty in mass transfer and diffusion. Hence, a conductive 3D MOF Fe3 (HITP)2 /bpm@Co (HITP = 2,3,6,7,10,11-hexaiminotriphenylene) is reported through inserting bpm (4,4'-bipyrimidine) ligands and Co2+ into the interlayers of 2D MOF Fe3 (HITP)2 . Compared to 2D Fe3 (HITP)2 (37.23 m2  g-1 ), 3D Fe3 (HITP)2 /bpm@Co displays a huge improvement in the specific surface area (373.82 m2  g-1 ). Furthermore, the combined experimental and density functional theory (DFT) theoretical calculations demonstrate the metallic behavior of Fe3 (HITP)2 /bpm@Co, which will benefit to the electrocatalytic activity of it. Impressively, Fe3 (HITP)2 /bpm@Co exhibits prominent and stable oxygen evolution reaction (OER) performance (an overpotential of 299 mV vs RHE at a current density of 10 mA cm-2 and a Tafel slope of 37.14 mV dec-1 ), which is superior to 2D Fe3 (HITP)2 and comparable to commercial IrO2 . DFT theoretical calculation reveals that the combined action of the Fe and Co sites in Fe3 (HITP)2 /bpm@Co is responsible for the enhanced electrocatalytic activity. This work provides an alternative approach to develop conductive 3D MOFs as efficient electrocatalysts.

Mathematical models of apparent viscosity as a function of water-cement/binder ratio and superplasticizer in cement pastes

The water-cement/binder ratio and the admixture of water-reducing agents strongly affect the rheological properties of cement pastes. This study develops mathematical models to predict the apparent viscosity of cement pastes with varying water-cement/binder ratios and polycarboxylate-based superplasticizer content by introducing the power law shear stress-shear strain relation of non-Newtonian fluids into the Navier-Stokes motion equations. The developed models are compared with the results of rheological experiments and verified for their accuracy in simulating the apparent viscosity of cement pastes. These models provide insight into the rheological behaviour of cement pastes and could have practical applications in the construction industry.

Intestinal Symptoms Among Children aged 2-7 Years with Autism Spectrum Disorder in 13 Cities of China

BACKGROUND

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a multifactorial, pervasive, neurodevelopmental disorder, of which intestinal symptoms collectively represent one of the most common comorbidities.

METHODS

In this study, 1,222 children with ASD and 1,206 typically developing (TD) children aged 2-7 years were enrolled from 13 cities in China. Physical measurement and basic information questionnaires were conducted in ASD and TD children. The Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS), Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS), and Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC) were used to evaluate the clinical symptoms of children with ASD. The six-item Gastrointestinal Severity Index (6-GSI) was used to evaluate the prevalence of intestinal symptoms in two groups.

RESULTS

The detection rates of constipation, stool odor, and total intestinal symptoms in ASD children were significantly higher than those in TD children (40.098% vs. 25.622%, 17.021% vs. 9.287%, and 53.601% vs. 41.294%, respectively). Autistic children presenting with intestinal comorbidity had significantly higher scores on the ABC, SRS, CARS, and multiple subscales than autistic children without intestinal symptoms, suggesting that intestinal comorbidity may exacerbates the core symptoms of ASD children.

CONCLUSION

Intestinal dysfunction was significantly more common in autistic than in TD children. This dysfunction may aggravate the core symptoms of children with ASD.

[Anticancer effect of parasites and its underlying mechanisms: a review]

Both parasitic diseases and cancers are disorders that seriously threaten human health. A strong correlation has been recently found between parasitic infections and cancers, and multiple species of parasites and their derived products have shown effective to suppress cancer development, progression and metastasis. Therefore, deciphering the interaction among parasites, cancers and hosts not only provides new insights into the development of cancer therapy, but also provides the basis for screening of parasites-derived active anticancer molecules. This review summarizes the latest advances in the anticancer activity of parasites and underlying mechanisms.

The effect of heat treatment on the lactosylation of milk proteins

Protein lactosylation is a significant modification that occurs during the heat treatment of dairy products, causing changes in proteins' physical-chemical and nutritional properties. Knowledge of the detailed lactosylation information on milk proteins under various heat treatments is important for selecting appropriate thermo-processing and identifying markers to monitor heat load in dairy products. In the present study, we used proteomics techniques to investigate lactosylated proteins under different heating temperatures. We observed a total of 123 lactosylated lysines in 65 proteins, with lactosylation even occurring in raw milk. The number of lactosylated lysines and proteins increased moderately at 75°C to 130°C, but dramatically at 140°C. We found that 6 out of 10, 9 out of 16, 6 out of 12, and 5 out of 15 lysine residues in κ-casein, β-lactoglobulin, α-lactalbumin, and αS1-casein, respectively, were lactosylated under the applied heating treatment. Moreover, different lactosylation states of individual lysines and proteins can indicate the intensity of heating processes. Lactosylation of K14 in β-lactoglobulin could distinguish pasteurized and UHT milk, while lactosylation of lactotransferrin can reflect moderate heat treatment of products.

Associations of circulating immunomarkers with the efficacy of immunotherapy for primary hepatic carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Peripheral blood immunomarkers are associated with prognosis in patients with solid tumors receiving chemotherapy or immunotherapy. In this study, the associations of circulating neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), as well as their dynamic changes were investigated in relation to the efficacy of immunotherapy in patients with primary liver cancer.

METHODS

Comparisons were made between NLR, MLR, and PLR among individuals exhibiting disease control (defined as the best response of partial response [PR] or stable disease [SD]) and those with progressive disease (PD). Additionally, disease control rate (DCR), overall survival (OS), and progression-free survival (PFS) were compared between individuals with different NLR, MLR, and PLR levels before initiating palliative immunotherapy. Furthermore, comparisons were made between patients with different alterations in the ratios at the second cycle of immunotherapy compared to baseline. These analyses were performed using univariate and multivariate approaches. A total of 119 Chinese patients with liver cancer who underwent immunotherapy were included in this study, which focused on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

RESULTS

In cases with HCC (n = 104), the cutoffs of NLR, MLR, and PLR to differentiate treatment responders from nonresponders were 3.38, 0.28, and 227.18, respectively. Patients with the best response of PR or SD had significantly lower NLR and MLR. Patients with NLR <3.38 and those with MLR <0.28 significantly had longer OS and PFS than their counterparts, and those with PLR <227.18 had significantly longer PFS, both in overall patients and in various patient subgroups. Lower NLR, MLR, or PLR was associated with earlier BCLC stage, fewer metastatic sites, less frequent extrahepatic metastasis, or better performance status. For individuals who had an unfavorable baseline NLR ≥3.38, MLR ≥0.28, or a favorable baseline PLR <227.18 prior to first immunotherapy, a decrease in NLR, MLR, or PLR at Cycle 2 of immunotherapy was significantly associated with a higher DCR.

CONCLUSIONS

Among patients with HCC who received immunotherapy, lower NLR, and MLR at baseline in overall patients were significantly associated with better disease control and more favorable survival outcomes (both OS and PFS), and lower PLR was significantly associated with longer PFS. The findings of this research may offer useful hints foranoptimized selection of patients with liver cancer who may benefit more from immunotherapy.

Continuous In Vivo Monitoring of Indole-3-Acetic Acid and Salicylic Acid in Tomato Leaf Veins Based on an Electrochemical Microsensor

Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and salicylic acid (SA), as critical plant hormones, are involved in multiple physiological regulatory processes of plants. Simultaneous and continuous in vivo detection of IAA and SA will help clarify the mechanisms of their regulation and crosstalk. First, this study reports the development and application of an electrochemical microsensor for simultaneous and continuous in vivo detection of IAA and SA. This electrochemical microsensor system consisted of a tip (length, 2 mm) of platinum wire (diameter, 0.1 mm) modified with carbon cement and multi-walled carbon nanotubes, an untreated tip (length, 2 mm) of platinum wire (diameter, 0.1 mm), as well as a tip (length, 2 mm) of Ag/AgCl wire (diameter, 0.1 mm). It was capable of detecting IAA in the level ranging from 0.1 to 30 µM and SA ranging from 0.1 to 50 µM based on the differential pulse voltammetry or amperometric i-t., respectively. The dynamics of IAA and SA levels in tomato leaf veins under high salinity stress were continuously detected in vivo, and very little damage occurred. Compared to conventional detection methods, the constructed microsensor is not only suitable for continuously detecting IAA and SA in microscopic plant tissue in vivo, it also reduces the damage done to plants during the detection. More importantly, the continuous and dynamic changes in IAA and SA data obtained in stiu through this system not only can help clarify the interaction mechanisms of IAA and SA in plants, it also helps to evaluate the health status of plants, which will promote the development of basic research in botany and precision agriculture.

A prediction model for the progression from gestational hypertension to pre-eclampsia complicated with HELLP syndrome

OBJECTIVE

HELLP syndrome is a severe complication of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy that can cause multiple organ dysfunction and maternal death in a short period of time. Although HELLP syndrome is more common in patients with pre-eclampsia (PE), there is currently no effective way to identify high-risk individuals who may progress from gestational hypertension (GH) to PE complicated with HELLP syndrome. This study aimed to establish and validate a prediction model for PE complicated with HELLP syndrome, providing a basis for early detection and identification of high-risk individuals in clinical practice.

METHODS

This retrospective case-control study collected data on 326 patients with GH and 139 patients with PE complicated with HELLP syndrome from January 2015 to December 2019. An additional 206 patients with GH and 70 patients with PE complicated with HELLP syndrome who were treated from January 2020 to December 2022 were collected for external validation. General and clinical data were collected, and single-and multiple-factor logistic regression analyses were used to screen for independent factors affecting PE complicated with HELLP syndrome. The diagnostic performance of different indicators was evaluated using ROC curves. A prediction model for PE complicated with HELLP syndrome was constructed, and its efficacy was verified using ROC curves.

RESULTS

The results of single-factor analysis showed that age, SBP, DBP, MAP, hemoglobin, AST, ALT, cholinesterase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, total protein, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, indirect bilirubin, BUN, UA, creatinine, APTT, international normalized ratio of prothrombin, D-dimer, fibrinogen, fibrinogen degradation products, Ca, and aspartate-aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI) were factors influencing PE with HELLP syndrome. The results of multiple-factor logistic regression analysis showed that MAP, APRI, CHE, FDP, and Ca were independent factors affecting PE complicated with HELLP syndrome. Based on these results, a prediction model was established, with Y = 9.861 + 2.998APRI + 0.055MAP + 0.014FDP - 0.005CHE - 7.452*Ca.

CONCLUSIONS

The predictive model for PE complicated with HELLP syndrome includes APRI, MAP, FDP, CHE, and Ca. This model can be used as a quantitative tool for predicting and evaluating the development of GH into PE complicated with HELLP syndrome.

Nursing care of patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma treated with B-cell mature antigen-targeted universal chimeric antigen receptor T cells

To investigate the efficacy of a nursing approach using B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-targeted universal chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (BCMA-UCART) immunotherapy in the treatment of 8 patients with relapsed refractory multiple myeloma (MM). In this study, 16 patients with relapsed and refractory MM who were treated with BCMA-targeted UCART in our department from May 2020 to November 2022 were selected, and were divided into a control group and an experimental group of 8 cases each according to the difference in the nursing methods, and the control group adopted the conventional universal nursing program. The experimental group used the nursing protocol that cooperated with the immunotherapy of this study, and the main points of nursing care included timely assessment of organ functional status, safe and accurate infusion of BCMA-UCART, identification and management of hyperthermia, hypotension, arrhythmia and central nervous system adverse reactions caused by cytokine release after BCMA-UCART infusion, as well as management of fluid imbalance, maintenance of stable blood pressure, and cooperation with physicians to effectively control of inflammatory factors. In addition, patients were provided with psychological and dietary support. The duration of hospitalization was compared between the two groups after the intervention. The discharge time of the experimental group was significantly shorter than that of the control group (P he.05), and the experimental group effectively controlled cytokine release syndrome, immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome and acute graft-versus-host disease. The nursing program with BCMA-UCART immunotherapy is effective in intervening MM patients and promotes their early recovery and discharge from the hospital.

A Conductive Two-dimensional Trimetallic FeCoNi-Benzenehexathiol π-d Conjugated Metal-organic Framework for Highly Efficient Oxygen Evolution Reaction

The poor electrically conductivity of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) is the main factor hinder their application in electrocatalysis field. In this work, we synthesize a conductive two-dimensional (2D) trimetallic π-d conjugated metal-organic framework (MOF) FeCoNi-BHT (BHT = 1,2,3,4,5,6-benzenehexathiol) through coordinating Co, Fe and Ni ions with 1,2,3,4,5,6-benzenehexathiol ligands. FeCoNi-BHT is demonstrated possessing homogeneously dispersed abundant Co-S4, Fe-S4, Ni-S4 single-atom active sites (14.26 wt% of the metal elements) and a large specific surface area (267.05 m2g-1). The room temperature conductivity of FeCoNi-BHT is measured to be 92 S m-1, indicating its metallic behavior. DFT theoretical calculation reveals that the π-d conjugation structure of FeCoNi-BHT is responsible for its metallic behavior. In addition, FeCoNi-BHT exhibits prominent oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activity (an overpotential of 266 mV vs. RHE at 10 mA cm-2 and a Tafel value of 58 mV dec-1) in alkaline media. The combined experimental and DFT studies reveal that the synergistic effect of Co, Fe, Ni sites of FeCoNi-BHT contribute to its prominent OER activity. This work paves a new avenue of developing 2D π-d conjugated MOFs with different metal centers as highly efficient eletrocatalysts.

Lifetime evaluation of left ventricular structure and function in male ApoE null mice after gamma and space-type radiation exposure

The space radiation (IR) environment contains high charge and energy (HZE) nuclei emitted from galactic cosmic rays with the ability to overcome current shielding strategies, posing increased IR-induced cardiovascular disease risks for astronauts on prolonged space missions. Little is known about the effect of 5-ion simplified galactic cosmic ray simulation (simGCRsim) exposure on left ventricular (LV) function. Three-month-old, age-matched male Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) null mice were irradiated with 137Cs gamma (γ; 100, 200, and 400 cGy) and simGCRsim (50, 100, 150 cGy all at 500 MeV/nucleon (n)). LV function was assessed using transthoracic echocardiography at early/acute (14 and 28 days) and late/degenerative (365, 440, and 660 days) times post-irradiation. As early as 14 and 28-days post IR, LV systolic function was reduced in both IR groups across all doses. At 14 days post-IR, 150 cGy simGCRsim-IR mice had decreased diastolic wall strain (DWS), suggesting increased myocardial stiffness. This was also observed later in 100 cGy γ-IR mice at 28 days. At later stages, a significant decrease in LV systolic function was observed in the 400 cGy γ-IR mice. Otherwise, there was no difference in the LV systolic function or structure at the remaining time points across the IR groups. We evaluated the expression of genes involved in hemodynamic stress, cardiac remodeling, inflammation, and calcium handling in LVs harvested 28 days post-IR. At 28 days post-IR, there is increased expression of Bnp and Ncx in both IR groups at the lowest doses, suggesting impaired function contributes to hemodynamic stress and altered calcium handling. The expression of Gals3 and β-Mhc were increased in simGCRsim and γ-IR mice respectively, suggesting there may be IR-specific cardiac remodeling. IR groups were modeled to calculate the Relative Biological Effectiveness (RBE) and Radiation Effects Ratio (RER). No lower threshold was determined using the observed dose-response curves. These findings do not exclude the possibility of the existence of a lower IR threshold or the presence of IR-induced cardiovascular disease (CVD) when combined with additional space travel stressors, e.g., microgravity.

Intrinsic ferromagnetism in two-dimensional 1T-MX2 monolayers with tunable magnetocrystalline anisotropy

Two-dimensional (2D) ferromagnetic materials with tunable magnetocrystalline anisotropy (MCA) provide unique opportunities for developing the next-generation data-storage and information devices. Herein we systematically investigate the electronic and magnetic properties of the 1T-MX2 (M = Cr, Mn, Fe, Co; X = As, Sb) monolayers, and identify the stable 2D ferromagnets as well as their MCA energies. Notably, the results demonstrate that the biaxial strain and carrier doping effects have a significant influence on their magnetic behaviors. In addition to the robust FM states, three FM monolayers yield tunable MCA depending on the applied strain type and carrier doping values. The dominant contributions to these complicated modifications in MCA are mainly attributed to the strain or carrier doping induced alterations of specific M-derived 3d states, which in turn lead to the changes of their spin-orbit coupling (SOC) energies. These findings show effective approaches to control 2D magnetism and suggest that these 2D FM materials may be promising candidates to design highly efficient memory devices.

Torsional deformation modulation of the electronic structure and optical properties of molybdenum ditelluride systems doped with halogen atoms X (X = F, Cl, Br, I): a first-principles study

CONTEXT

Using a first-principles plane-wave pseudopotential technique within the context of density-functional theory, the electronic structure and optical properties of the molybdenum ditelluride system doped with halogen atoms X (X = F, Cl, Br, I) were investigated. The electronic structure, density of states, charge transfer, and optical properties of halogen atom X doped on MoTe2 monolayer are systematically calculated and analyzed. It shows that the Fermi energy level is shifted upward after doping with halogen atoms. With F-MoTe2 doping, the geometrical distortion is the most pronounced, the charge transfer number is the highest, and the semiconductor shifts from a direct band gap to an indirect band gap. When the torsional deformation is between 1° and 5°, the F-doped MoTe2 system stays an indirect band gap semiconductor and transitions to quasi-metal at 6°. It is shown that the torsional deformation can modulate the electronic properties of the doped structure and realize the semiconductor-metal transition.

OPTICAL PROPERTIES

The F-doped system has a strong absorption peak reflection peak after torsion, and with the increase of torsion angle, the absorption peak is red-shifted, and the reflection peak is blue-shifted. Moreover, the absorption and reflection peaks start to decrease with the rise of the torsion angle.

METHODS

We apply the generalized gradient approximation plane-wave pseudopotential technique based on Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof (PBE) generalized functions, under the first principles of the density-functional theory framework. The overall optimization of the intrinsic molybdenum ditelluride structure and the halogen atom X-doped molybdenum ditelluride structure was carried out. Then, the F-doped molybdenum ditelluride system was selected for torsional deformation with torsion angles from 1° to 6° for computational analysis.

SPECIFIC METHOD

To make the presentation more accessible, the atoms in the F-doped molybdenum ditelluride system were colored differently. The pink chain edge atoms were first reversed by θ°. Then, the blue chain edge atoms were reversed by θ° in the other direction. The middle row of atoms was adjusted accordingly to the different twisting angles of the two sides by doing the corresponding torsion with the torsion angle θ°/2 and fixing the individual atoms. The calculation employs the Monkhorst-Pack particular K-point sampling method. The 3 × 3 × 1 inverted-space K-point grid is utilized for material structure optimization calculations in each model, and the 9 × 9 × 1 K-point grid is used for material electronic structure calculations. A 15 Å vacuum layer is put on the crystal surface of vertical monolayer molybdenum ditelluride supercells to avoid interactions with adjoining cells.

Boosting the Electrochemical 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural Oxidation by Balancing the Competitive Adsorption of Organic and OH- over Controllable Reconstructed Ni3 S2 /NiOx

The electrocatalytic oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) is a promising method for the efficient production of biomass-derived high-value-added chemicals. However, its practical application is limited by: 1) the low activity and selectivity caused by the competitive adsorption of HMF and OH- and 2) the low operational stability caused by the uncontrollable reconstruction of the catalyst. To overcome these limitations, a series of Ni3 S2 /NiOx -n catalysts with controllable compositions and well-defined structures are synthesized using a novel in situ controlled surface reconstruction strategy. The adsorption behavior of HMF and OH- can be continuously adjusted by varying the ratio of NiOx to Ni3 S2 on the catalysts surface, as indicated by in situ characterizations, contact angle analysis, and theoretical simulations. Owing to the balanced competitive adsorption of HMF and OH- , the optimized Ni3 S2 /NiOx -15 catalyst exhibited remarkable HMF electrocatalytic oxidation performance, with the current density reaching 366 mA cm-2 at 1.5 VRHE and the Faradaic efficiency of the product, 2,5-furanedicarboxylic acid, reaching 98%. Moreover, Ni3 S2 /NiOx -15 exhibits excellent durability, with its activity and structure remaining stable for over 100 h of operation. This study provides a new route for the design and construction of catalysts for value-added biomass conversion and offers new insights into enhancing catalytic performance by balancing competitive adsorption.

Anterior Quadratus Lumborum Block for Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to investigate the perioperative analgesic effects of anterior quadratus lumborum block (QLB) for total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

One hundred patients undergoing TLH were randomized to receive an anterior QLB or placebo before general anesthesia. The primary and secondary outcomes were postoperative sufentanil consumption, intraoperative remifentanil demand, time to first opioid demand, numeric rating scale (NRS) pain scores, heart rate, mean arterial pressure, and complications within 24 hours after surgery.

RESULTS

No significant intergroup differences were observed in sufentanil consumption within 24 hours after surgery. Remifentanil consumption during surgery was lower in the QLB group than in the placebo group. At 1 hour after surgery, the NRS scores of abdominal visceral pain at rest and during activity were 1.26 and 1.41 points lower than those in the placebo group. In other time points, the differences in abdominal visceral pain were neither statistically significant nor clinically significant (pain difference <1) or both. No significant differences in NRS scores of shoulder pain, abdominal incisional pain, and perineal pain were observed between the 2 groups, at rest or during activity. There were no significant differences in other secondary outcome variables between the 2 groups.

DISCUSSION

Preoperative bilateral anterior QLB only reduced intraoperative opioid demand and postoperative abdominal visceral pain scores at 1 hour after surgery. Thus, the clinical significance of anterior QLB in TLH may be limited.

Discriminating minimal residual disease status in multiple myeloma based on MRI: utility of radiomics and comparison of machine-learning methods

AIM

To explore the possibility of discriminating minimal residual disease (MRD) status in multiple myeloma (MM) based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and identify optimal machine-learning methods to optimise the clinical treatment regimen.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 83 patients were analysed retrospectively. They were divided randomly into training and validation cohorts. The regions of interest were segmented and radiomics features were extracted and analysed on two sequences, including T1-weighted imaging (WI) and fat saturated (FS)-T2WI, and then radiomics models were built in the training cohort and evaluated in the validation cohort. Clinical characteristics were calculated to build a traditional model. A combined model was also built using the clinical characteristics and radiomics features. Classification accuracy was assessed using area under the curve (AUC) and F1 score.

RESULTS

In the training cohort, only the bone marrow (BM) infiltrate ratio (p=0.005) was retained after univariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis. In T1WI, the linear support vector machine (SVM) achieved the best performance compared to other classifiers, with AUCs of 0.811 and 0.708 and F1 scores of 0.792 and 0.696 in the training and validation cohorts, respectively. Similarly, in FS-T2WI sequence, linear SVM achieved the best performance with AUCs of 0.833 and 0.800 and F1 score of 0.833 and 0.800. The combined model constructed by the FS-T2WI-linear SVM and BM infiltrate ratio outperformed the traditional model (p=0.050 and 0.012, Delong test), but showed no significant difference compared with the radiomics model (p=0.798 and 0.855).

CONCLUSION

The linear SVM-based machine-learning method can offer a non-invasive tool for discriminating MRD status in MM.

Bloch-type magnetic skyrmions in two-dimensional lattices

Magnetic skyrmions in two-dimensional lattices are a prominent topic of condensed matter physics and materials science. Current research efforts in this field are exclusively constrained to Néel-type and antiskyrmions, while Bloch-type magnetic skyrmions are rarely explored. Here, we report the discovery of Bloch-type magnetic skyrmions in a two-dimensional lattice of MnInP2Te6, using first-principles calculations and Monte-Carlo simulations. Arising from the joint effect of broken inversion symmetry and strong spin-orbit coupling, monolayer MnInP2Te6 presents large Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction. This, along with ferromagnetic exchange interaction and out-of-plane magnetic anisotropy, gives rise to skyrmion physics in monolayer MnInP2Te6, in the absence of a magnetic field. Remarkably, different from all previous works on two-dimensional lattices, the resultant magnetic skyrmions feature Bloch-type magnetism, which is protected by D3 symmetry. Furthermore, Bloch-type magnetic bimerons are also identified in monolayer MnTlP2Te6. The phase diagrams of these Bloch-type topological magnetisms under a magnetic field, temperature and strain are mapped out. Our results greatly enrich the research on magnetic skyrmions in two-dimensional lattices.

Long scleral tunnel technique for prevention of drainage tube-related complications during Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of modified Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV) implantation (long scleral tunnel technique) in the treatment of neovascularization glaucoma (NVG). This retrospective observational case series included 23 patients (23 eyes) diagnosed with NVG secondary to proliferative diabetic retinopathy from January 2020 to June 2021. All 23 cases received anti-vascular endothelial growth factor treatment. Then, after 3 to 7 days, these cases were treated with modified AGV implantation (long scleral tunnel technique) and were followed up for at least 6 months. The best corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure, numbers of antiglaucoma medications used, and postoperative complications were observed at 1 week and 1, 3, and 6 months after treatment. With treatment, the mean best corrected visual acuity improved significantly (P < .001) from 1.62 ± 0.52 logMAR preoperatively to 1.29 ± 0.36 logMAR at the 6-month follow-up. The mean postoperative intraocular pressure was significantly lower than that before modified AGV implantation during follow-up period, decreasing from 45.48 ± 7.86 mm Hg preoperatively to 14.87 ± 1.96 mm Hg at 1 week, 18.39 ± 2.25 mm Hg at 1 month, 16.61 ± 1.47 mm Hg at 3 months, and 17.48 ± 1.38 mm Hg at 6 months (F = 256.646, P < .001). The median number of antiglaucoma medications used by patients also significantly decreased from 3 (3-4) preoperatively to 0 (0-1) at the 6-month follow-up after surgery (Z = -4.248, P < .001). Postoperative complications included hyphema in 2 cases and vitreous hemorrhage in 1 case, and all 3 patients achieved satisfactory recovery with treatment. No drainage tube-related complications occurred among our patients. Long scleral tunnel technique is a safe and effective surgical treatment for NVG with fewer drainage tube-related complications.

Cutaneous metastasis from cervical cancer to the scalp and trunk: a case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND

An estimated 119,300 new cases of cervical cancer occur annually in China, accounting for 372,00 deaths. Cutaneous metastasis from cervical cancer is a rare event, with an incidence of 0.1-1.3% and typically a preterminal occurrence. Scalp metastasis from cervical cancer is exceptionally anecdotal, with only a dozen examples well documented.

CASE PRESENTATION

The patient is a 33-year-old Chinese woman who was diagnosed with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage IVB cervical cancer in November 2021. From December 2021 to April 2022, the patient was enrolled in the clinical trial of sintilimab combined with chemotherapy and radiotherapy for treatment of stage IV cervical cancer and underwent six cycles of immunotherapy and chemotherapy (sintilimab plus paclitaxel liposome and cisplatin). Treatment was well tolerated and led to a partial response. The masses adjacent to the spine and iliac bone was largely reduced. Thus, radiotherapy of the metastatic residues was carried out and followed by radiotherapy to the primary tumor at the cervix uteri. However, by the time of the radiotherapy completion in October 2022, the patient noticed painless nodules at the left scapular region and the right hypochondrium. The following month, more nodules occurred on the scalp and trunk, including the left axilla, anterior abdomen, and left back, along with a lesion invading the sternum that caused acute bone pain. The cutaneous masses were white, discrete with a rubbery consistency, and fixed to the skin. Several nodules increased in size and eventually ulcerated. Fine‑needle aspiration cytology of the left back swellings revealed metastatic squamous cell carcinoma, P16 positive. No visceral or brain metastasis was observed at this point.

CONCLUSIONS

Cervical cancer metastases to the scalp are extremely uncommon. When a scalp metastasis is present, it might be the only symptomatic sign of disease progression or widespread metastatic lesions. So far, there is no clear guideline regarding skin metastases treatment. Such skin lesions warrant a thorough radiologic and pathologic workup to form a comprehensive management plan.