Machine learning-assisted investigation on the thermal transport of β-Ga2O3 with vacancy.

β-Ga2O3 is a promising ultra-wide bandgap semiconductor in high-power and high-frequency electronics. The low thermal conductivity of β-Ga2O3, which can be further suppressed by the intrinsic vacancy, has been a major bottleneck for improving the performance of β-Ga2O3 power devices. However, deep knowledge on the thermal transport mechanism of β-Ga2O3 with defect is still lacking now.

Short-Peptide-Modified Copper Nanoclusters as a Fluorescent Probe for the Specific Detection of Ascorbic Acid.

Metal nanoclusters assembled using short peptides as templates exhibit significant potential for development and application in the fields of catalysis and biomedicine, owing to their distinctive electronic structure, favorable optical properties, and biocompatibility. Among them, tripeptides exhibit a simpler structure and greater flexibility, enabling them to readily co-assemble with other functional components to create novel materials with significant application value. They can be assembled with copper ions to synthesize highly efficient luminescent nanoclusters, which can serve as an effective fluorescent probe.

Polysaccharides of natural products alleviate antibiotic-associated diarrhea by regulating gut microbiota: a review.

Antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) is diarrhea caused by disturbances in intestinal microbiota and metabolism following inappropriate use of antibiotics. With the over-reliance on antibiotics, the incidence of AAD is increasing worldwide. Recently, the role of probiotics and prebiotic preparations in the prevention and treatment of AAD has received increasing attention.

Rapid shift in methane carbon isotopes suggests microbial emissions drove record high atmospheric methane growth in 2020-2022.

The growth rate of the atmospheric abundance of methane (CH) reached a record high of 15.4 ppb yr between 2020 and 2022, but the mechanisms driving the accelerated CH growth have so far been unclear. In this work, we use measurements of the C:C ratio of CH (expressed as C) from NOAA's Global Greenhouse Gas Reference Network and a box model to investigate potential drivers for the rapid CH growth.

Pyroptosis-related genes features on prediction of the prognosis in liver cancer: An integrated analysis of bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing.

Objective: This study explores the impact of pyroptosis-related genes (PRG) on the prognosis of liver cancer (LC).

Methods: 421 samples (371 tumor samples and 50 normal samples) from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) were included in this study. GSE14520 dataset (data of RNA expression and relevant clinicopathological features), GSE125449 dataset (single-cell data in LC) and HCCDB18 dataset (validation on the reliability of the model) were downloaded as appropriate.

Epigenetic regulators of clonal hematopoiesis control CD8 T cell stemness during immunotherapy.

Epigenetic reinforcement of T cell exhaustion is known to be a major barrier limiting T cell responses during immunotherapy. However, the core epigenetic regulators restricting antitumor immunity during prolonged antigen exposure are not clear. We investigated three commonly mutated epigenetic regulators that promote clonal hematopoiesis to determine whether they affect T cell stemness and response to checkpoint blockade immunotherapy.

Online identification of potential antioxidant components and evaluation of DNA oxidative damage protection ability in Prunus persica flowers.

A high performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet-visible detector-electrospray ionization-ion trap-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry-total antioxidant capacity determination (HPLC-UVD-ESI-IT-TOF-MS-TACD) new online technique was developed for efficient screening of potential antioxidant active components in Prunus persica flowers (PPF) from 4 origins. Through this online system, 46 compounds were initially identified, while 20 compounds with DPPH binding activity and 21 compounds with FRAP binding activity were detected. The antioxidant activities of 9 compounds obtained from the screening were then validated in DNA oxidative damage protection study.

Morin Regulates M1/M2 Microglial Polarization via NF-κB p65 to Alleviate Vincristine-Induced Neuropathic Pain.

Background: Morin can alleviate vincristine-induced neuropathic pain via inhibiting neuroinflammation. Microglial cells play an important role in initiating and maintenance of pain and neuroinflammation. It remains unclear whether morin exerts antinociceptive properties through the regulation of microglial cells.

Oligomerization and a distinct tRNA-binding loop are important regulators of human arginyl-transferase function.

The arginyl-transferase ATE1 is a tRNA-dependent enzyme that covalently attaches an arginine molecule to a protein substrate. Conserved from yeast to humans, ATE1 deficiency in mice correlates with defects in cardiovascular development and angiogenesis and results in embryonic lethality, while conditional knockouts exhibit reproductive, developmental, and neurological deficiencies. Despite the recent revelation of the tRNA binding mechanism and the catalytic cycle of yeast ATE1, the structure-function relationship of ATE1 in higher organisms is not well understood.

Advanced Separator Materials for Enhanced Electrochemical Performance of Lithium-Sulfur Batteries: Progress and Prospects.

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries are promising energy storage devices owing to their high theoretical specific capacity and energy density. However, several challenges, including volume expansion, slow reaction kinetics, polysulfide shuttle effect and lithium dendrite formation, hinder their commercialization. Separators are a key component of Li-S batteries.

The role of perirenal adipose tissue deposition in chronic kidney disease progression: Mechanisms and therapeutic implications.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) represents a significant and escalating global health challenge, with morbidity and mortality rates rising steadily. Evidence increasingly implicates perirenal adipose tissue (PRAT) deposition as a contributing factor in the pathogenesis of CKD. This review explores how PRAT deposition may exert deleterious effects on renal structure and function.

The influence of sleep disorders on perioperative neurocognitive disorders among the elderly: A narrative review.

This review comprehensively assesses the epidemiology, interaction, and impact on patient outcomes of perioperative sleep disorders (SD) and perioperative neurocognitive disorders (PND) in the elderly. The incidence of SD and PND during the perioperative period in older adults is alarmingly high, with SD significantly contributing to the occurrence of postoperative delirium. However, the clinical evidence linking SD to PND remains insufficient, despite substantial preclinical data.

An Unbiased Proteomic Platform for Activity-based Arginylation Profiling.

Protein arginylation is an essential posttranslational modification (PTM) catalyzed by arginyl-tRNA-protein transferase 1 (ATE1) in mammalian systems. Arginylation features a post-translational conjugation of an arginyl to a protein, making it extremely challenging to differentiate from translational arginine residues with the same mass in a protein sequence. Here we present a general activity-based arginylation profiling (ABAP) platform for the unbiased discovery of arginylation substrates and their precise modification sites.

Antitumor progenitor exhausted CD8 T cells are sustained by TCR engagement.

The durability of an antitumor immune response is mediated in part by the persistence of progenitor exhausted CD8 T cells (Tpex). Tpex serve as a resource for replenishing effector T cells and preserve their quantity through self-renewal. However, it is unknown how T cell receptor (TCR) engagement affects the self-renewal capacity of Tpex in settings of continued antigen exposure.

Near-complete recycling of real mix electroplating sludge as valuable metals via Fe/Cr co-crystallization and stepwise extraction route.

In electroplating sludge, iron (Fe) and aluminum (Al) are common impurities that need to be separated before recycling valuable heavy metals. However, the traditional Fe/Al separation process often leads to significant losses of heavy metals. To address this issue, a new approach was developed to sequentially separate Fe/Al and recycle chromium (Cr) and nickel (Ni) from real electroplating sludge.

A framework to evaluate the impact of a hazard chain and geographical covariates on spatial extreme water levels: A case study in the Pearl River Delta.

The interactions and collective impacts of different types of hazards within a compound hazard system, along with the influence of geographical covariates on flooding are presently unclear. Understanding these relationships is crucial for comprehending the formation and dynamic processes of the hazard chain and improving the ability to identify flood warning signals in complex hazard scenarios. In this study, we presented a multivariate spatial extreme value hierarchical (MSEVH) framework to assess the spatial extreme water levels (EWL) at different return levels under the influence of a hazard chain and geographical covariates.

Effect of Esketamine on Postoperative Delirium in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Valve Replacement with Cardiopulmonary Bypass: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of esketamine on the risk of postoperative delirium (POD) in adults undergoing on-pump cardiac valve surgery.

Methods: In this randomized, triple-blind, controlled trial, 116 adult patients with an American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade Ⅱ or Ⅲ and a New York Heart Association (NYHA) grade Ⅱ or Ⅲ who underwent cardiac valve surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass were included. Esketamine (0.

The competitive relationship of scrub plants for water use in the subalpine zone of the Qilian Mountains in China.

Samples of scrub plants and soil were collected from May to October 2019 in the subalpine scrub zone of the Qilian Mountains. Based on measured oxygen isotope values (δO) in plant xylem water and soil water, the multivariate linear mixed model (IsoSource) and the proportional similarity index (PS index) were used to analyze the using proportion for each potential water source and the competition relationship for water use of scrub plants in different growing periods and habitats. The results showed that the soil water content gradually decreased with increasing depth of the soil layer, with the maximum value in the soil layer of 0-10 cm.

Experimental Investigation and Damage Identification of High-Pile Wharf Framed Bents under Horizontal Impact Loads.

This study investigates damage characteristics, dynamic structural performance changes, and quantitative damage assessment of high-pile wharf framed bents exposed to horizontal impact loads. Through extensive testing of wharf framed bents under such loads, a damage identification approach based on stiffness, natural vibration period, and acceleration data derived from experiments is presented. The findings reveal that under horizontal impact loads, framed bents initially exhibit tensile damage and leaning piles, followed by short straight piles.

Laser acupuncture and photobiomodulation therapy in Bell's palsy with a duration of greater than 8 weeks: a randomized controlled trial.

To investigate the efficacy of laser acupuncture and photobiomodulation therapy in alleviating symptoms among patients diagnosed with Bell's palsy with duration of greater than 8 weeks. The randomized controlled trial has been performed from May 2021 to April 2023. Patients were eligible who had Bell's palsy with duration of greater than 8 weeks on out-patient Department of Otorhinolaryngology in Beijing Tongren Hospital.

Molecular Dynamics Simulation of the CuSn/Cu Interfacial Diffusion Mechanism under Electrothermal Coupling.

With the increasing power density of electronic devices, solder joints are prone to electromigration under high currents, which results in a significant threat to reliability. In this study, the molecular dynamics method is used to study the diffusion mechanism of the CuSn/Cu interface under the action of electrothermal coupling. The results show that the diffusion activation energy decreases with an increase in electric field intensity, accelerating the diffusion of the CuSn/Cu interface.

PSMC5 regulates microglial polarization and activation in LPS-induced cognitive deficits and motor impairments by interacting with TLR4.

Luteolin is a flavonoid found in high concentrations in celery and green pepper, and acts as a neuroprotectant. PSMC5 (proteasome 26S subunit, ATPase 5) protein levels were reduced after luteolin stimulation in activated microglia. We aimed to determine whether regulating PSMC5 expression could inhibit neuroinflammation, and investigate the underlying mechanisms.

Effects of season and slope orientation on stable isotopes of different water bodies in the subalpine shrub zone of the eastern Qilian Mountains in China.

The subalpine shrub zone of the Qilian Mountains is an important water-retaining area, and it is crucial to clarify the processes of its hydrological cycle. Therefore, based on the stable isotope values of different water bodies in the subalpine shrub zone of the eastern Qilian Mountains from May to October 2019, the characteristics of δD and δO of different water bodies and their hydraulic relationships with each other were studied. The results showed that the stable isotope values of precipitation exhibited the largest fluctuations, while they were the most stable for groundwater.

Cellular and molecular waypoints along the path of T cell exhaustion.

Thirty years of foundational research investigating molecular and cellular mechanisms promoting T cell exhaustion are now enabling rational design of T cell-based therapies for the treatment of chronic infections and cancer. Once described as a static cell fate, it is now well appreciated that the developmental path toward exhaustion is composed of a heterogeneous pool of cells with varying degrees of effector potential that ultimately converge on a terminally differentiated state. Recent description of the developmental stages along the differentiation trajectory of T cell exhaustion has provided insight into past immunotherapeutic success and future opportunities.

Major depressive disorder and chronic gastritis: A bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization study.

Objective: Observational studies have posited a strong correlation between chronic gastritis (CG) and major depressive disorder (MDD), but the nature of this association remains uncertain, owing to the challenges of establishing the temporal sequence. The present study sought to elucidate the elusive relationship between CG and MDD by employing a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) approach.

Methods: We extracted instrumental variants for MDD and CG from published genome-wide association study data, focusing on individuals of primarily European descent.