Half-integer topological defects paired via string micelles in polar liquids.

Ferroelectric nematic (N) liquid crystals present a compelling platform for exploring topological defects in polar fields, while their structural properties can be significantly altered by ionic doping. In this study, we demonstrate that doping the ferroelectric nematic material RM734 with cationic polymers enables the formation of polymeric micelles that connect pairs of half-integer topological defects. Polarizing optical microscopy reveals that these string defects exhibit butterfly textures, featured with a 2D polarization field divided by Néel-type kink walls into domains exhibiting either uniform polarization or negative splay and bend deformations.

Chiral π domain walls composed of twin half-integer surface disclinations in ferroelectric nematic liquid crystals.

Ferroelectric nematic liquid crystals are polar fluids characterized by microscopic orientational ordering and macroscopic spontaneous polarizations. Within these fluids, domain walls that separate regions of different polarizations are ubiquitous. We demonstrate that the π walls in films of the polar fluids consist of twin half-integer surface disclinations spaced horizontally, enclosing a subdomain where the polarization exhibits left- or right-handed π twists across the film.

Mean-Field Theory of the Uniaxial Ferroelectric Smectic A Liquid Crystal Phase.

Following the groundbreaking discovery of the ferroelectric nematic liquid crystal phase (N_{F}), a series of closely-related new polar phases have also been found. An especially interesting one is the ferroelectric smectic A phase (SmA_{F}) with spontaneous polarization along the layer normal observed in a few materials of the N_{F} realm. Here, we present a mean-field molecular model that successfully captures the rich phase diagrams experimentally observed in the literature in terms of two parameters.

Precisely Constructing Superlattices of Soft Giant Molecules via Regulating Volume Asymmetry.

Soft matters, particularly giant molecular self-assembly, have successfully replicated complex structures previously exclusive to metal alloys. These superlattices are constructed from mesoatoms─supramolecular spherical motifs of aggregated molecules, and the formation of superlattices critically depends on the volume distributions of these mesoatoms. Herein, we introduce two general methods to control volume asymmetry (i.

Analysis of the correlation between defunctioning stoma and postoperative low anterior resection syndrome in rectal cancer: a prospective cohort study.

Background: To evaluate the effect of stoma-related factors (stoma or no stoma, stoma type, and stoma reversal time) on the occurrence of low anterior resection syndrome (LARS), a highly prevalent condition that can develop after anal sphincter-sparing surgery for rectal cancer and impair quality of life, which includes fecal incontinence, fecal urgency and frequent defecation.

Methods: Patients who underwent radical rectal cancer surgery from July 2018 to July 2022 in a tertiary hospital were included. Baseline data, tumor condition, operation condition and postoperative recovery were obtained by clinical observation.

Real-world study on the application of enhanced recovery after surgery protocol in video-assisted thoracoscopic day surgery for pulmonary nodule resection.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the real-world effectiveness of applying different levels of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) guidelines to video-assisted thoracic day surgery (VATS). The goal is to determine the optimal degree of ERAS protocols and management requirements to improve postoperative recovery outcomes.

Methods: It was designed as a single-centre, prospective pragmatic randomized controlled trial (PRCT), including patients who underwent VATS at the Day Surgery Center of West China Hospital, between January 2021 and November 2022.

A novel seawater hydrothermal-deep eutectic solvent pretreatment enhances the production of fermentable sugars and tailored lignin nanospheres from Pinus massoniana.

Lignocellulose biorefinery depended on effective pretreatment strategies is of great significance for solving the current global crisis of ecosystem and energy security. This study proposes a novel approach combining seawater hydrothermal pretreatment (SHP) and microwave-assisted deep eutectic solvent (MD) pretreatment to achieve an effective fractionation of Pinus massoniana into high value-added products. The results indicated that complex ions (Mg, Ca, and Cl) in natural seawater served as Lewis acids and dramatically promoted the depolymerization of mannose and xylan into oligosaccharides with 40.

Response of helielectric nematics under an in-plane electric field.

In traditional chiral nematic liquid crystals, the apolar cholesterics, the dielectric effect is the main driving force for responding to an electric field. The emerging polar chiral nematics, dubbed helielectric nematics, are the polar counterparts of the cholesterics. The head-to-tail symmetry breaking of the new matter state enables it to respond sensitively to the polarity of an electric field.

Topology of ferroelectric nematic droplets: the case driven by flexoelectricity or depolarization field.

The recent discovery of ferroelectric nematics provides new opportunities for exploring polar topology in liquid matter. Here, we report numerous potential polarization topological states (, polar vortex-like and line disclination mediated structures) in confined ferroelectric nematics with similar free-energy levels. In the experiment, they appear according to the confinement size and surface anchoring conditions.

Self-assembled soft alloy with Frank-Kasper phases beyond metals.

Soft building blocks, such as micelles, cells or soap bubbles, tend to adopt near-spherical geometry when densely packed together. As a result, their packing structures do not extend beyond those discovered in metallic glasses, quasicrystals and crystals. Here we report the emergence of two Frank-Kasper phases from the self-assembly of five-fold symmetric molecular pentagons.

Insights into the poplar cell wall deconstruction following deep eutectic solvent pretreatment for enhanced enzymatic saccharification and lignin valorization.

In this study, a combination of microcosmic and chemical analysis methods was used to investigate deep eutectic solvent (DES) pretreatment effects on cell wall's micromorphology and lignin's dissolution regular, in order to achieve high-performance biorefinery. The atomic force microscope observed that DES pretreatment peeled off non-cellulose components to reduced "anti-degradation barrier", resulting to improve the enzymatic saccharification from 12.36 % to 90.

Collective and non-collective molecular dynamics in a ferroelectric nematic liquid crystal studied by broadband dielectric spectroscopy.

A great deal of effort has been recently devoted to the study of dielectric relaxation processes in ferroelectric nematic liquid crystals, yet their interpretation remains unclear. In this work, we present the results of broadband dielectric spectroscopy experiments of a prototypical ferroelectric nematogen in the frequency range 10 Hz-110 MHz at different electrode separations and under the application of DC bias fields. The results evidence a complex behavior in all phases due to the magnitude of polar correlations in these systems.

Analysis of 24-hour Death Risk Factors in Circulatory Failure Patients Treated with Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.

Objective: To explore the factors affecting short-term prognosis of circulatory failure patients undergoing venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) treatment.

Methods: A total of 136 patients undergoing VA-ECMO were enrolled in this study and subsequently divided into the death group (n=35) and the survival group (n=101) based on whether death occurred during hospitalisation. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) running time, length of intensive care unit stay, length of hospital stay, costs, and ECMO complications were then compared between the two groups.

Association between obesity and risk of delayed discharge and unplanned readmission for day surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aims: This work aims to investigate the association between obesity and risk of delayed discharge and unplanned readmission in day surgery patients.

Background: Day surgeries are well received and developing rapidly. Associations between obesity and delayed discharge and unplanned readmission, which are clinically relevant outcomes in day surgeries, are complex.

Multifunctional Gomisin B enhances cognitive function in APP/PS1 transgenic mice by regulating Aβ clearance and neuronal apoptosis.

This study aimed to investigate the potential effects of Gomisin B, a natural compound known for its inhibition of CYP3A4, on cognitive dysfunction in APP/PS1 transgenic mice with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Additionally, the study explored the combined effects of Gomisin B and Osthole (OST). The research involved male wild-type (WT) mice and 7-month-old APP/PS1 transgenic AD mice.

Spontaneous periodic polarization wave in helielectric fluids.

By analogy with spin waves in ferromagnetic systems, the polarization (or dipole) wave is the electric counterpart that remains elusive. Here, we discover that the helielectricity, i.e.

Osthole/borneol thermosensitive gel via intranasal administration enhances intracerebral bioavailability to improve cognitive impairment in APP/PS1 transgenic mice.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) poses a significant threat to the global elderly population. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been widely utilized in the treatment of AD. Osthole, a bioactive ingredient classified as an "emperor" in many TCM formulas, has been demonstrated to effectively alleviate AD symptoms.

Polarization patterning in ferroelectric nematic liquids via flexoelectric coupling.

The recently discovered ferroelectric nematic liquids incorporate to the functional combination of fluidity, processability and anisotropic optical properties of nematic liquids, an astonishing range of physical properties derived from the phase polarity. Among them, the remarkably large values of second order optical susceptibility encourage to exploit these new materials for non-linear photonic applications. Here we show that photopatterning of the alignment layer can be used to structure polarization patterns.

Fluorescent Probes with Variable Intramolecular Charge Transfer: Constructing Closed-Circle Plots for Distinguishing DO from HO.

It is difficult to distinguish between HO and DO due to their very similar properties. Triphenylimidazole derivatives with carboxyl groups () show intramolecular charge transfer that responds to polarities and pH of solvents. Here, a series of with very high photoluminescence quantum yields (73-98%) were synthesized to distinguish DO from HO by the method of wavelength-changeable fluorescence.

The Preventive Effect of Distal Perfusion Catheters on Vascular Complications in Patients Undergoing Venous Artery Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.

Objective: To investigate the preventive effect of distal perfusion catheters (DPCs) on vascular complications in patients undergoing venous artery extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO).

Methods: Patients who underwent VA-ECMO through a femoral approach in our hospital were included in this study, and they were divided into two groups according to their use of DPC. Clinical indicators were compared between the two groups, including the ECMO running time, intensive care unit (ICU) time, length of hospital stay, ECMO auxiliary results, the incidence of limb ischemia and vascular complications.

Spontaneous electric-polarization topology in confined ferroelectric nematics.

Topological textures have fascinated people in different areas of physics and technologies. However, the observations are limited in magnetic and solid-state ferroelectric systems. Ferroelectric nematic is the first liquid-state ferroelectric that would carry many possibilities of spatially-distributed polarization fields.