PbOI: A Lead Oxyhalide IR Optical Crystal with an Unprecedented [OPb] Chain Featuring a Wide Transmittance Range and Large Birefringence.

Among the infrared (IR) optical material systems, the heavy-metal oxyhalide system has become an emerging system in recent years. Introducing heavy-metal cations and halogen anions with large atomic numbers is conducive to widening the IR transparency window and improving the birefringence value. Our experiments focus on the PbO-PbI system and find a new lead oxyhalide, PbOI.

Nonlinear association between liver fat content and lumbar bone mineral density in overweight and obese individuals: evidence from a large-scale health screening data in China.

Background: The impact of fatty liver disease on lumbar bone mineral density (BMD) represents an intriguing area of study, particularly in light of established research linking obesity to bone metabolism. However, there remains limited investigation into the correlation between quantifying liver fat content (LFC) and lumbar BMD among overweight and obese populations, particularly within the Chinese demographic. This study aims to accurately quantify LFC and investigate its association with lumbar BMD in overweight or obese individuals.

Decreases in frequency-dependent intrinsic activity of the default mode network are associated with depression and cognition in patients with postacute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

A significant proportion of patients who have recovered from COVID-19 suffer from persistent symptoms, referred to as "post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC)". Abnormal brain intrinsic activity has been observed in PASC patients, but the patterns of frequency-dependent intrinsic activity in the PASC and non-PASC (recovered COVID-19 patients without persistent symptoms) groups and their association with neuropsychiatric sequelae remain unclear in PASC. Twenty-nine PASC patients, 27 non-PASC subjects, and 31 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited.

Piezo-Capacitive Flexible Pressure Sensor with Magnetically Self-Assembled Microneedle Array.

Flexible pressure sensors are pivotal in advancing artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things (IoT), and wearable technologies. While microstructuring the functional layer of these sensors effectively enhances their performance, current fabrication methods often require complex equipment and time-consuming processes. Herein, we present a novel magnetization-induced self-assembly method to develop a magnetically grown microneedle array as a dielectric layer for flexible capacitive pressure sensors.

An efficient direct electrolysis method for the synthesis of 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropyxy substituted imidazo[1,2-]pyridines.

Electrochemical oxidative cross-dehydrogenative-coupling (CDC) is an ideal strategy to conduct the C3-alkoxylation of imidazo[1,2-]pyridine, but it remains a challenge owing to limitation imposed by the use of alkyl alcohols and carboxylic acids. Herein, we report a mild and efficient 2-electrode constant-potential electrolysis of imidazo[1,2-]pyridine with hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) to produce various imidazo[1,2-]pyridine HFIP ethers. Mechanistic studies indicated that the electrooxidation reaction might involve radical coupling and ionic reaction.

Core-Satellite Gold Nanoparticle@Silver Nanocluster Nanohybrids for Milk Allergen β-Lactoglobulin Detection Using the Electrochemical Aptasensor.

Detecting β-lactoglobulin (β-Lg) with high sensitivity and selectivity is an urgent requirement due to nearly 80% of milk anaphylaxis, such as respiratory tract, skin urticaria, and gastrointestinal disorders, being caused by β-Lg. An ultrasensitive β-Lg electrochemical aptasensor utilizing core-satellite gold nanoparticle@silver nanocluster (AuNPs@AgNCs) nanohybrids as electrocatalysts was developed. First, β-Lg aptamer was anchored on gold electrodes and AuNPs to obtain high selectivity.

Low Neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA5248, XBB15 and JN1 by Homologous Booster and Breakthrough Infection.

Immunity against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can be induced through either infection with the virus or vaccination, providing protection against reinfection or reducing the risk of severe clinical outcomes. In this study, we recruited 172 volunteers who received different vaccination regimens, including 124 individuals who had recovered from breakthrough infections caused by the Omicron variant (27 with 2 doses, 49 with 3 doses, and 48 with 4 doses) and 48 healthy donors who did not experience breakthrough infections (all of whom received a fourth dose during the infection wave). We measured neutralizing antibody levels against Omicron BA.

Disrupted Cross-Scale Network Associated With Cognitive-Emotional Disorders in Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss.

Background: Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is associated with abnormal changes in the brain's central nervous system. Previous studies on the brain networks of SSNHL have primarily focused on functional connectivity within the brain. However, in addition to functional connectivity, structural connectivity also plays a crucial role in brain networks.

Role of drug induced nuclear CTSL (nCTSL) in DNA damage response in cancer- therapeutic implications.

In our efforts to enhance sensitivity to PARP inhibitors, we identified clofarabine (CLF) as a potential therapy for drug-resistant ovarian cancer and nuclear trafficking of Cathepsin L (CTSL) as a treatment- responsive biomarker. Using PARP inhibitor-sensitive and -resistant OC cell lines, ex vivo cultures of patient-derived ovarian ascites (OVA), primary ovarian tumors, and xenografts (PDX), we found that CLF monotherapy induces nuclear CTSL (nCTSL) in CLF-responsive cells (CLF-r) and sensitizes them to PARP inhibitors olaparib and rucaparib. In CLF non-responsive cells (CLF-nr), a combination of CLF with olaparib is necessary for nCTSL trafficking and synergy.

Enforced E-selectin ligand installation enhances homing and efficacy of adoptively transferred T cells.

Adoptive T-cell transfer has revolutionized the treatment of hematological malignancies. However, this approach has had very limited success in treating solid tumors, largely due to inadequate infiltration of vascularly administered T cells at tumor sites. The shear-resistant interaction between endothelial E-selectin and its cognate ligand expressed on leukocytes, sialyl Lewis X (sLe), is an essential prerequisite for extravasation of circulating leukocytes.

Cancer vaccine designed from homologous ferritin-based fusion protein with enhanced DC-T cell crosstalk for durable adaptive immunity against tumors.

Peptide vaccines based on tumor antigens face the challenges of rapid clearance of peptides, low immunogenicity, and immune suppressive tumor microenvironment. However, the traditional solution mainly uses exogenous substances as adjuvants or carriers to enhance innate immune responses, but excessive inflammation can damage adaptive immunity. In the current study, we propose a straightforward novel nanovaccine strategy by employing homologous human ferritin light chain for minimized innate immunity and dendritic cell (DC) targeting, the cationic KALA peptide for enhanced cellular uptake, and suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS1) siRNA for modulating DC activity.

Engineering the solid electrolyte interphase for enhancing high-rate cycling and temperature adaptability of lithium-ion batteries.

In overcoming the barrier of rapid Li transfer in lithium-ion batteries at extreme temperatures, the desolvation process and interfacial charge transport play critical roles. However, tuning the solvation structure and designing a kinetically stable electrode-electrolyte interface to achieve high-rate charging and discharging remain a challenge. Here, a lithium nonafluoro-1-butanesulfonate (NFSALi) additive is introduced to optimize stability and the robust solid electrolyte interface film (SEI), realizing a rapid Li transfer process and the structural integrity of electrode materials.

Development and validation of a glycolysis-associated gene signature for predicting the prognosis, immune landscape, and drug sensitivity in bladder cancer.

Background: Bladder cancer (BCa) is one of the most common malignancies worldwide, and its prognostication and treatment remains challenging. The fast growth of various cancer cells requires reprogramming of its energy metabolism using aerobic glycolysis as a major energy source. However, the prognostic and therapeutic value of glycolysis-related genes in BCa remains to be determined.

Survival after venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for acute high-risk Pulmonary Embolism: A meta-analysis of comparative studies.

Objective: The survival benefit of venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) for the management of acute high-risk pulmonary embolism (PE) remains unclear. This meta-analysis combines data from comparative studies to assess the risk of mortality after ECMO vs standard care in the management of acute high-risk PE.

Methods: Databases of PubMed, CENTRAL, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase were searched from 01 January 2000 to 24 March 2023 for comparative studies with at least 10 patients/group comparing ECMO vs standard treatment.

Efficacy of 4-dimensional hysterosalpingo-contrast sonography and X-ray hysterosalpingography in infertility.

Objective: To assess and compare efficacy of 4-dimensional hysterosalpingo-contrast sonography (4D-HyCoSy) and X-ray hysterosalpingography (HSG) for fallopian tube examination.

Methods: Clinical data of patients with suspected tubal infertility, who underwent examinations in Qingdao Women and Children's Hospital from September 2021 to December 2023, were retrospectively analyzed. Of them, 40 patients received laparoscopy and dye test+ 4D-HyCoSy (4D-HyCoSy group), and 36 patients received laparoscopy and dye test +HSG (HSG group).

Assessing the Value of Further Investment in R&D Using Mixed Methods: A Case Study of Biosensor-Integrated Arteriovenous Grafts.

This study illustrates the utility of a mixed-methods approach in assessing the value of an example novel technology-biosensor-integrated self-reporting arteriovenous grafts (smart AVGs). Currently in preclinical development, the device will detect arteriovenous graft stenosis (surveillance-only use case) and treat stenosis (interventional use case). The approach to value assessment adopted in this study was multifaceted, with one stage informing the next and comprised a stakeholder engagement with clinical experts to explore the device's clinical value, a cost-utility analysis (CUA) from a US Medicare perspective to estimate pricing headroom, and an investment model estimating risk-adjusted net present value analysis (rNPVs) to determine commercial viability.

Global research hotspots and trends in oxidative stress-related diabetic nephropathy: a bibliometric study.

Background: Oxidative stress is widely acknowledged as a key pathogenic mechanism in diabetic nephropathy (DN). In recent years, the role of oxidative stress in DN has garnered increasing attention. However, no bibliometric analysis has yet been conducted on the relationship between oxidative stress and DN.

Geometrical determinants of cerebral artery fenestration for cerebral infarction.

Purpose: Few data are available on the causality of cerebral artery fenestration (CAF) triggering cerebral infarction (CI) and this study aims to identify representative morphological features that can indicate risks.

Methods: A cohort comprising 89 patients diagnosed with CAF were enrolled from a total of 9,986 cranial MR angiographies. These patients were categorized into Infarction Group ( = 55) and Control Group ( = 34) according to infarction events.

Lead Phosphate Material for Exclusive Detection of Hydrogen Sulfide Gas.

Efficient gas sensors that can accurately detect and identify hydrogen sulfide are essential for various practical applications. Conventional resistive sensors often lack the necessary selectivity, which hampers timely and effective HS detection. This study presents lead phosphate-based gas sensors specifically designed for HS detection, which effectively eliminate interference effects.

Interfacial Work Function Modulation of Wide Bandgap Perovskite Solar Cell for Efficient Perovskite/CIGS Tandem Solar Cell.

Wide-bandgap perovskite solar cells (PVSCs), a promising top-cell candidate for high-performance tandem solar cells, often suffer from larger open-circuit voltage (V) deficits as the bandgap increases. Surface passivation is a common strategy to mitigate these V deficits. However, understanding the mechanisms underlying the differences in passivation effects among various types of molecules remains limited, which is crucial for developing universal interface passivation strategies and guiding the design of passivation molecules.

Mechanochemical Synthesis of Type III Porous Liquids from Solid Precursors for the Removal and Conversion of Waste CO from CH.

Porous liquids (PLs) have emerged as a promising class of flow porous materials, offering distinctive benefits for sustainable separation processes coupled with catalytic transformations in the chemical industry. Despite their potential, challenges remain in the realms of synthesis complexity, stability, and the strategic engineering of separation and catalytic sites. In this study, a scalable mechanochemical synthetic approach is reported to fabricate Type III PLs from solid precursors with high stability.

Hydrogen-Bonded Organic Framework Films Integrated with Wavy Structured Design for Wearable Bioelectronics.

The integration of hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (HOFs) with flexible electronic technologies offers a promising strategy for monitoring detailed health information, owing to their inherent porosity, excellent biocompatibility, and tunable catalytic capabilities. However, their application in wearable and real-time health monitoring remains largely unexplored, primarily due to the mechanical mismatch between the traditionally fragile HOFs particles and the softness of human skin. Herein, this study demonstrates an epidermal biosensor that maintains reliable sensing capability even under extreme deformation and complex environmental conditions by integrating HOFs films with wavy bioelectrodes.

Identification of disulfide bond-linking sites in biosynthesized platelet factor 4 by establishing a partial reduction method without alkylation.

Platelet factor 4 (PF4), a specific protein primarily found in megakaryocytes and platelet α-granules, plays an essential role in the coagulation process. It carries a high positive charge and thus has a unique ability to readily form complexes with negatively charged heparin. This interaction between PF4 and heparin plays a crucial role in platelet aggregation and thrombosis, resulting in heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT).

Correlation of P53 expression and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Investigation of a potential prognostic marker expressed in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) can help patients benefit from new target therapeuticmodalities.

Aims: To study the expression and correlation of P53 protein and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) related makers in NSCLC.

Materials And Methods: 32 cases were selected for immunohistochemistry analysis to evaluate the expression of P53 and EMT-related makers.

Evaluating H2BC9 as a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Histone H2B is highly expressed in many types of cancers and is involved in cancer development. H2B clustered histone 9 (H2BC9), a member of the H2B family, plays critical roles in gene expression regulation, chromosome structure, DNA repair stability, and cell cycle regulation. However, the diagnostic and prognostic value of H2BC9 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains unclear.