Performance Descriptor of Subsurface Metal-Promoted Boron Catalysts for Low-Temperature Propane Oxidative Dehydrogenation to Propylene.

Boron-based catalysts have exhibited excellent olefin selectivity in the oxidative dehydrogenation of propane (ODHP) reaction. The substrate material should be a potential platform for performance modulation of boron catalysts in this reaction since the introduction of subsurface Ni promoters significantly improves the activity. In this study, we deciphered the substrate effect and identified a performance descriptor to comprehend the roles of subsurface materials in BO/metal/BN ODHP catalysts by evaluating different metal promoters.

Enhancing lithium storage performance with silicon-based anodes: a theoretical study on transition metal-integrated SiO/M@C (M = Fe, Co, Ni) heterostructures.

In lithium-ion batteries, infusible metals with lithium, such as Mg, Fe, Co, Ni, and Cu are often utilized. However, current research predominantly focuses on the experimental aspects of the (de)lithiation process, with limited exploration from a theoretical calculation perspective. The extensive use of experimental methods to study the many electrochemically inert metals is time-consuming and costly.

Accelerated Proton Transfer in Asymmetric Active Units for Sustainable Acidic Oxygen Evolution Reaction.

The poor durability of Ru-based catalysts limits the practical application in proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE). Here, we report that the asymmetric active units in RuMO (M = Sb, In, and Sn) binary solid solution oxides are constructed by introducing acid-resistant p-block metal sites, breaking the activity and stability limitations of RuO in acidic oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Constructing highly asymmetric Ru-O-Sb units with a strong electron delocalization effect significantly shortens the spatial distance between Ru and Sb sites, improving the bonding strength of the overall structure.

Computed Tomography-Based Intratumor Heterogeneity Predicts Response to Immunotherapy Plus Chemotherapy in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Rationale And Objectives: This study explored the intratumor heterogeneity (ITH) of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) using computed tomography (CT) and investigated the value of CT-based ITH in predicting the response to immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) plus chemotherapy in patients with ESCC.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study included 416 patients with ESCC who received ICI plus chemotherapy at two independent hospitals between January 2019 and July 2022. Multiparametric CT features were extracted from ESCC lesions and screened using hierarchical clustering and dimensionality reduction algorithms.

Constructing Gradient Orbital Coupling to Induce Reactive Metal-Support Interaction in Pt-Carbide Electrocatalysts for Efficient Methanol Oxidation.

Reactive metal-support interaction (RMSI) is an emerging way to regulate the catalytic performance for supported metal catalysts. However, the induction of RMSI by the thermal reduction is often accompanied by the encapsulation effect on metals, which limits the mechanism research and applications of RMSI. In this work, a gradient orbital coupling construction strategy was successfully developed to induce RMSI in Pt-carbide system without a reductant, leading to the formation of L1-PtM-MC (M = Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, and W) intermetallic electrocatalysts.

Elastic Properties of Alloyed Cementite MX (M = Fe, Cr; X = C, B) Phases from First-Principle Calculations and CALPHAD Model.

Fe-Cr-C-B wear-resistant steels are widely used as wear-resistant alloys in harsh environments. The MX (M = Fe, Cr; X = C, B) cementite-type material is a commonly used strengthening phase in these alloys. This study investigated the mechanical properties of cementite (Fe, Cr)(C, B) using the first-principle density functional theory.

Effects of occupational exposure to dust, gas, vapor and fumes on chronic bronchitis and lung function.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide, and therefore the identification of the modifiable risk factors [such as exposure to vapors, gases, dust and fumes (VGDF)] for accelerate disease progression has important significance.

Methods: We conducted COPD surveillance in six cities of southern China between 2014 and 2019. We recorded the diagnosis of chronic bronchitis, respiratory symptoms, occupational exposure to VGDF and other covariates by using a structured questionnaire.

One-Year Outcomes of Early Therapy With Ticagrelor vs Clopidogrel in Loss-of-Function Carriers With Stroke or TIA Trial.

Background And Objectives: The Ticagrelor or Clopidogrel with Aspirin in High-Risk Patients with Acute Nondisabling Cerebrovascular Events II (CHANCE-2) trial showed that among Chinese patients with minor ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) who were carriers of loss-of-function alleles, dual-antiplatelet therapy with ticagrelor-aspirin reduced the 90-day risk of stroke without increased severe or moderate bleeding compared with clopidogrel-aspirin. However, whether dual-antiplatelet therapy with ticagrelor was superior to clopidogrel beyond the 90 days of follow-up remained unclear. In this study, we reported 1-year follow-up outcomes of the CHANCE-2 trial.

Recent advances using MXenes in biomedical applications.

An MXene is a novel two-dimensional transition metal carbide or nitride, with a typical formula of MXT (M = transition metals, X = carbon or nitrogen, and T = functional groups). MXenes have found wide application in biomedicine and biosensing, owing to their high biocompatibility, abundant reactive surface groups, good conductivity, and photothermal properties. Applications include photo- and electrochemical sensors, energy storage, and electronics.

Dual Antiplatelet Treatment up to 72 Hours after Ischemic Stroke.

Background: Dual antiplatelet treatment has been shown to lower the risk of recurrent stroke as compared with aspirin alone when treatment is initiated early (≤24 hours) after an acute mild stroke. The effect of clopidogrel plus aspirin as compared with aspirin alone administered within 72 hours after the onset of acute cerebral ischemia from atherosclerosis has not been well studied.

Methods: In 222 hospitals in China, we conducted a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, two-by-two factorial trial involving patients with mild ischemic stroke or high-risk transient ischemic attack (TIA) of presumed atherosclerotic cause who had not undergone thrombolysis or thrombectomy.

Serum Exosome-Derived microRNA-193a-5p and miR-381-3p Regulate Adenosine 5'-Monophosphate-Activated Protein Kinase/Transforming Growth Factor Beta/Smad2/3 Signaling Pathway and Promote Fibrogenesis.

Introduction: Liver fibrosis results from chronic liver injury and inflammation, often leading to cirrhosis, liver failure, portal hypertension, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Progress has been made in understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying hepatic fibrosis; however, translating this knowledge into effective therapies for disease regression remains a challenge, with considerably few interventions having entered clinical validation. The roles of exosomes during fibrogenesis and their potential as a therapeutic approach for reversing fibrosis have gained significant interest.

A solid-state synthetic strategy toward nickel-based bimetallic interstitial compounds (MNiC, M = Zn, In, Ga).

Bimetallic interstitial compounds with unique geometric properties have attracted increasing attention in energy-related fields and diverse chemical transformations. Current synthesis of these compounds generally involves at least one wet-chemistry step with the use of various solvents to prepare the bimetallic precursors, and no universal protocols for different compositions are yet available. Herein, a novel synthetic strategy toward a platform of nickel-based bimetallic interstitial compounds with the formula MNiC, M = Zn, In, and Ga, was developed based on a straightforward solid-state transformation, , simply annealing the hydroxides of the respective metals in the presence of different carbon precursors (cyanamide, dicyandiamide, melamine, and urea) in a hydrogen stream.

Defect-Free Few-Layer M C T (M = V, Nb, Ta) MXene Nanosheets: Synthesis, Characterization, and Physicochemical Properties.

High-quality few-layer M C T (M = V, Nb, Ta) MXenes are very important for applications and are necessary for clarifying their physicochemical properties. However, the difficulty in etching for themselves and the existence of MC/MC and M-Al alloy impurities in their M AlC precursors seriously hinder the achievement of defect-free few-layer M C T (M = V, Nb, Ta) MXenes nanosheets. Herein, three different defect-free few-layer M C T (M = V, Nb, Ta) nanosheets are obtained by using a universal synthesis strategy of calcination, selective etching, intercalation, and exfoliation.

Halogen Doping Mechanism and Interface Strengthening in the NaSbS Electrolyte via Solid-State Synthesis.

Good-performing sodium solid electrolytes (SSEs) are essential for constructing all-solid-state sodium-ion batteries operating at ambient temperature. Sulfide solid electrolyte, NaSbS (NBS), an excellent SSE with good chemical stability in humid air, can be synthesized with low-cost processing. However, NaSbS-based electrolytes with liquid-phase synthesis exhibit conductivities below milli-Siemens per centimeter.

Algorithm for optimized mRNA design improves stability and immunogenicity.

Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines are being used to combat the spread of COVID-19 (refs. ), but they still exhibit critical limitations caused by mRNA instability and degradation, which are major obstacles for the storage, distribution and efficacy of the vaccine products. Increasing secondary structure lengthens mRNA half-life, which, together with optimal codons, improves protein expression.

Effectiveness of Center of Pressure Trajectory as Anticipatory Postural Adjustment Measurement in Parkinson's Disease With Freezing of Gait History.

Background: Evidence showed that patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) who have a history of freezing of gait (FOG) have hypometric anticipatory postural adjustment (APA) during gait initiation (GI) compared to PD without FOG.

Objectives: This study aimed to test the feasibility of center of pressure (COP) displacement during GI as the measure of APA in PD with and without a history of FOG.

Methods: Patients with PD underwent COP trajectory measurements, including duration, length, velocity, and acceleration in different phases of APA (APA1, APA2a, APA2, and LOC), as well as evaluation of New Freezing of Gait Questionnaire (NFOG-Q), Tinetti balance and gait score, and Postural Instability and Gait Difficulty (PIGD) score in the on and off medication states.

Cell-free DNA methylation biomarker for the diagnosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Background: Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) is being explored as biomarker for non-invasive diagnosis of cancer. We aimed to establish a cfDNA-based DNA methylation marker panel to differentially diagnose papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) from benign thyroid nodule (BTN).

Methods: 220 PTC- and 188 BTN patients were enrolled.

Porous surface with fusion peptides embedded in strontium titanate nanotubes elevates osteogenic and antibacterial activity of additively manufactured titanium alloy.

It is still a big challenge in orthopedics to treat infected bone defects properly using medical metals. The use of three-dimensional (3D) scaffold materials that simultaneously mimic the skeletal hierarchy and induce sustainable osteogenic and antibacterial functions are a promising solution with an increasing appeal. In this study, we first designed a bifunctional fusion peptide (HHC36-RGD, HR) by linking antimicrobial peptide (HHC36) and arginine-glycine-aspartate (RGD) peptide via 6-aminohexanoic acid.

Mediation of Systemic Inflammation on Insulin Resistance and Prognosis of Nondiabetic Patients With Ischemic Stroke.

Background: Insulin resistance is associated with stroke recurrence and poor functional outcomes of nondiabetic patients with ischemic stroke. The study aimed to investigate whether the association between insulin resistance and the prognosis of nondiabetic patients with ischemic stroke was mediated by systematic inflammation.

Methods: Patients with ischemic stroke but without a history of diabetes who were enrolled in CNSR-III (Third China National Stroke Registry) were included in the study and followed up for 1 year after stroke onset.

Ticagrelor Aspirin vs Clopidogrel Aspirin in Loss-of-Function Carriers With Minor Stroke or TIA Stratified by Risk Profile.

Background And Objective: Genotype data of the Clopidogrel with Aspirin in Acute Minor Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack (CHANCE) trial showed that efficacy of clopidogrel aspirin depended on genotype and risk profile. A stratification of patients who carried loss-of-function (LOF) alleles according to the risk of recurrent stroke may be important for selecting optimal antiplatelet therapy. We aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of ticagrelor aspirin with clopidogrel aspirin in LOF carriers with minor stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) stratified by risk profile.

COVID-19 vaccination boosts the potency and breadth of the immune response against SARS-CoV-2 among recovered patients in Wuhan.

The immunity of patients who recover from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) could be long lasting but persist at a lower level. Thus, recovered patients still need to be vaccinated to prevent reinfection by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) or its mutated variants. Here, we report that the inactivated COVID-19 vaccine can stimulate immunity in recovered patients to maintain high levels of anti-receptor-binding domain (RBD) and anti-nucleocapsid protein (NP) antibody titers within 9 months, and high neutralizing activity against the prototype, Delta, and Omicron strains was observed.