Bio-inspired snapshot polarization-hyperspectral camera.

The mantis shrimp is recognized to have one of the most powerful vision systems in nature, with up to 16 color-perceiving channels and the perception of linear and circular polarization detection. Inspired by its biostructure, we developed a snapshot polarization-hyperspectral camera (pHScam) to detect linear polarization in four directions and spectral signature in 21 bands of incident light, resulting in a 4D polar-spectral hypercube, represented as (,,,→). We introduced two bio-mimetic encoding mechanisms, viz.

[Analysis of positioning errors in head and neck cancers during radiotherapy assisted by the 6D treatment couch and image-guided radiation therapy].

Objective: To evaluate the intra-fraction and inter-fraction positional deviations in head and neck tumor patients undergoing intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) guided by cone-beam CT (CBCT), as well as the correction capability and stability of the HexaPOD evo RT 6D couch in addressing these deviations.

Methods: From May 2019 to April 2022, 59 consecutive patients with head and neck tumors were enrolled at the Department of Radiation Oncology, Peking University Third Hospital.Using the Elekta AXESSE image-guided stereotactic treatment system, a pre-treatment CBCT scan was performed, followed by bone window mode registration with the planning reference images.

A stable zeolite with atomically ordered and interconnected mesopore channel.

Zeolites are crystalline microporous materials constructed by corner-sharing tetrahedra (SiO and AlO), with many industrial applications as ion exchangers, adsorbents and heterogeneous catalysts. However, the presence of micropores impedes the use of zeolites in areas dealing with bulky substrates. Introducing extrinsic mesopores, that is, intercrystal/intracrystal mesopores, in zeolites is a solution to overcome the diffusion barrier.

Association between 24-hour urine volume and 28-day intensive care unit mortality in sepsis patients: a multi-center retrospective cohort study.

Background: Sepsis is defined as a dysregulated host response to infection that results in life-threatening organ dysfunction. The 24-hour urine volume plays a crucial role in assessing the prognosis of septic patients. This study aims to investigate the relationship between 24-hour urine volume and 28-day intensive care unit (ICU) mortality in septic patients and exploring the dose-response relationship between these variables.

Abnormal changes of brain function and structure in patients with T2DM-related cognitive impairment: a neuroimaging meta-analysis and an independent validation.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) seriously threatens human health and the quality of life, cognitive impairment is considered as a common complication of T2DM. Neuroimaging meta-analysis found brain functional and structural abnormality in patients with T2DM. Therefore, the purpose of the meta-analysis was to identify brain regions of patients with T2DM-related cognitive impairment (T2DM-CI) where functional and structural indicators changed together or could not synchronize.

Three-dimensional random-access confocal microscopy with 3D remote focusing system.

Understanding biological activities in cells or deep tissues requires high-speed three-dimensional (3D) imaging. Substantial progress has been made with the emergence of 3D random-access microscopy. However, current solutions for fast 3D random-access imaging remain complex and costly.

ANK Deficiency-Mediated Cytosolic Citrate Accumulation Promotes Aortic Aneurysm.

Background: Disturbed metabolism and transport of citrate play significant roles in various pathologies. However, vascular citrate regulation and its potential role in aortic aneurysm (AA) development remain poorly understood.

Methods: Untargeted metabolomics by mass spectrometry was applied to identify upregulated metabolites of the tricarboxylic acid cycle in AA tissues of mice.

Integrated omics profiling reveals systemic dysregulation and potential biomarkers in the blood of patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders.

Background: Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) are autoimmune conditions that affect the central nervous system. The contribution of peripheral abnormalities to the disease's pathogenesis is not well understood.

Methods: To investigate this, we employed a multi-omics approach analyzing blood samples from 52 NMOSD patients and 46 healthy controls (HC).

The value of blood flow velocity and pressure gradient in differentiating patients with different types of heart failure.

Background: Patients with different types of heart failure (HF) exhibit varying rates of blood flow through cardiac chambers and pressure gradients across the aortic valve, attributed to differing degrees of myocardial contractility. Assessment of these dynamics offers insights into early HF diagnosis. This study aimed to analyze left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) blood flow parameters, specifically peak blood flow velocity and pressure gradient derived from four-dimensional flow cardiovascular magnetic resonance (4D flow CMR), and to evaluate 4D flow CMR's utility in distinguishing HF types.

Nano-rods in Ni-rich layered cathodes for practical batteries.

Lithium transition metal oxide layers, Li[NiCo(Mn and/or Al)]O, are widely used and mass-produced for current rechargeable battery cathodes. Development of cathode materials has focused on increasing the Ni content by simply controlling the chemical composition, but as the Ni content has almost reached its limit, a new breakthrough is required. In this regard, microstructural modification is rapidly emerging as a prospective approach, namely in the production of nano-rod layered cathode materials.

Long-Lifespan 522 Wh kg Lithium Metal Pouch Cell Enabled by Compound Additives Engineering.

Matching high-voltage cathodes with lithium metal anodes represents the most viable technological approach for developing secondary batteries with ultra-high energy density exceeding 500 Wh kg. Nevertheless, the instability of electrolyte/electrode interface film and commercial electrolytes with cut-off voltage above 4.3 V is still a major concern.

Four-dimensional (4D) Ultrasound Shear Wave Elastography Using Sequential Excitation.

Objective: Current shear wave elastography methods primarily focus on 2D imaging. To explore mechanical properties of biological tissues in 3D, a four-dimensional (4D, x, y, z, t) ultrasound shear wave elastography is required. However, 4D ultrasound shear wave elastography is still challenging due to the limitation of the hardware of standard ultrasound acquisition systems.

Piezo tube stacked scanning tunneling microscope for use in extreme and confined environments.

Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM) is widely used for observing atomic structures due to its ultra-high spatial resolution. As the core units of STM, the coarse stepper motor and imaging unit, have conflicting size requirements for piezo tubes. Longer piezo tubes yield greater output force and easier movement for the motor, while shorter tubes enhance imaging precision and stability for the scanner.

Switchable Quantized Signal between Longitudinal Conductance and Hall Conductance in Dual Quantum Spin Hall Insulator TaIrTe.

Topological insulating states in 2-dimensional (2D) materials are ideal systems to study different types of quantized response signals due to their in gap metallic states. Very recently, the quantum spin Hall effect was discovered in monolayer TaIrTe via the observation of quantized longitudinal conductance that rarely exists in other 2D topological insulators. The nontrivial topological charges can exist at both charge neutrality point and the van Hove singularity point with correlation-effect-induced bandgap.

Integrative Multiomics in the Lung Reveals a Protective Role of Asporin in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.

Background: Integrative multiomics can elucidate pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) pathobiology, but procuring human PAH lung samples is rare.

Methods: We leveraged transcriptomic profiling and deep phenotyping of the largest multicenter PAH lung biobank to date (96 disease and 52 control) by integration with clinicopathologic data, genome-wide association studies, Bayesian regulatory networks, single-cell transcriptomics, and pharmacotranscriptomics.

Results: We identified 2 potentially protective gene network modules associated with vascular cells, and we validated , coding for asporin, as a key hub gene that is upregulated as a compensatory response to counteract PAH.

Pore-Free Single-Crystalline Particles for Durable Na-Ion Battery Cathodes.

The O3-type Na[NiCoMn]O cathodes have received significant attention in sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) due to their high energy density. However, challenges such as structural instability and interfacial instability against an electrolyte solution limit their practical use in SIBs. In this study, the single-crystalline O3-type Na[NiCoMn]O (SC-NCM) cathode has been designed and synthesized to effectively relieve the degradation pathways of the polycrystalline O3-type Na[NiCoMn]O (PC-NCM) cathode for SIBs.

A Multimodal Point Cloud-Based Method for Tumor Localization in Robotic Ultrasound-Guided Radiotherapy.

Part of the tumor localization methods in radiotherapy have poor real-time performance and may generate additional radiation. We propose a multimodal point cloud-based method for tumor localization in robotic ultrasound-guided radiotherapy, which only irradiates computed tomography (CT) during radiotherapy planning to avoid additional radiation. The tumor position was determined using the CT point cloud, and the red green blue depth (RGBD) point cloud was used to determine body surface scanning location corresponding to the tumor location.

Mesenchymal Stem Cells Injection Is More Effective Than Hyaluronic Acid Injection in the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis With Similar Safety: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intra-articular injection of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) versus hyaluronic acid (HA) in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis (KOA).

Methods: Eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were identified through a search of PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, SinoMed, and CNKI databases from inception to March 2024. For meta-analysis, data on clinical outcomes were measured using visual analog scale (VAS) and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), and data on cartilage repair were measured using the Whole-Organ Magnetic Resonance Imaging Score (WORMS); data on safety were evaluated by the incidence of adverse events.