Two-dimensional material assisted-growth strategy: new insights and opportunities.

The exploration and synthesis of novel materials are integral to scientific and technological progress. Since the prediction and synthesis of two-dimensional (2D) materials, it is expected to play an important role in the application of industrialization and the information age, resulting from its excellent physical and chemical properties. Currently, researchers have effectively utilized a range of material synthesis techniques, including mechanical exfoliation, redox reactions, chemical vapor deposition, and chemical vapor transport, to fabricate two-dimensional materials.

Ultra-High-Efficiency Corrosion Protection of Metallic Surface Based on Thin and Dense Hexagonal Boron Nitride Coating Films.

Quest for ultrathin and highly effective anticorrosion coating films is critical for both fundamental community of materials science and industrial economics. A two-dimensional hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) film is a newly developed effective anticorrosion material due to its superior impermeability, thermal stability, and chemical stability. However, research in growth and anticorrosion properties of large-area dense h-BN coating films still lies in its infancy.

Deciphering transcriptional dynamics of cardiac hypertrophy and failure in a chamber-specific manner.

Pressure overload-induced pathological cardiac hypertrophy (CH) is a complexed and adaptive remodeling of the heart, predominantly involving an increase in cardiomyocyte size and thickening of ventricular walls. Over time, these changes can lead to heart failure (HF). However, the individual and shared biological mechanisms of both processes remain poorly understood.

Enhancing the Strengthening Effect of Graphene-Nanoplates in Al Matrix Composites by Heterogeneous Matrix Design.

In the present work, the properties of graphene-nanoplates/aluminum (GNPs/Al) composites with a heterogeneous matrix design were investigated. The advantage of the heterogeneous matrix was investigated by the finite element method. Then, 0.

Engineering the Optoelectronic Properties of 2D Hexagonal Boron Nitride Monolayer Films by Sulfur Substitutional Doping.

Tuning the optical and electrical properties of two-dimensional (2D) hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) is critical for its successful application in optoelectronics. Herein, we report a new methodology to significantly enhance the optoelectronic properties of hBN monolayers by substitutionally doping with sulfur (S) on a molten Au substrate using chemical vapor deposition. The S atoms are more geometrically and energetically favorable to be doped in the N sites than in the B sites of hBN, and the S 3p orbitals hybridize with the B 2p orbitals, forming a new conduction band edge that narrows its band gap.

Evaluation of the Effects of Surface Treatment Methods on the Properties of Coral Aggregate and Concrete.

Coral concrete has low cost and convenient materials, making it an excellent raw material for processing. However, its lower strength limits the application of coral concrete. Surface modification is expected to increase the properties of porous coral concrete.

High-responsivity photodetector based on scrolling monolayer MoShybridized with carbon quantum dots.

The monolayer MoSbased photodetectors have been widely investigated, which show limited photoelectric performances due to its low light absorption and uncontrollable adsorbates. In this paper, we present a MoS-based hybrid nanoscrolls device, in which one-dimensional nanoscrollsof MoSis hybridized with carbon quantum dots (CQDs). This device architecture effectively enhanced the photodetection performance.

Properties of Concrete Prepared with Silane Coupling Agent-Impregnated Coral Aggregate and Coral Concrete.

Silane coupling agent (SCA), a kind of organic solvent, was introduced to improve the performance of coral coarse aggregates and enhance the interfacial adhesion between the inorganic coral aggregate and the cement paste of coral concrete. The crushing indicator and water absorption of the coral aggregates over various dipping times were measured, and the slump, interface microhardness, and compressive strength of coral concrete tested. The microscopic appearances of the coral concrete before and after modification were analyzed based on SEM images.

Design and Evaluation of an Ultrahigh-Strength Coral Aggregate Concrete for Maritime and Reef Engineering.

In this paper, an ultrahigh-strength marine concrete containing coral aggregates is developed. Concrete fabricated from marine sources is considered an effective and economical alternative for marine engineering and the construction of remote islands. To protect sea coral ecosystems, the coral aggregates used for construction are only efflorescent coral debris.

Efficacy and Safety of Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists in the Treatment of Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Clinical trials examining the therapeutic benefits of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) on patients with metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) have reported inconsistent results. The aim of this meta-analysis was to verify the role of GLP-1RA in the treatment of MAFLD patients.

Materials And Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, Medline, and the Cochrane Library for randomized controlled trials published that compared GLP-1RA with the control treatment in patients with MAFLD till to July 30, 2020.

[Down-regulation of IL-25 accompanied by a decrease in the number of M2 macrophages in patients of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease with significant liver fibrosis].

Objective To observe and analyze the relationships among the level of interleukin 25 (IL-25), the stage of liver fibrosis and the polarization of hepatic M2 macrophages in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Methods A total of 36 patients with NAFLD and 20 control patients were enrolled. Fibrotouch, HE staining, and immunohistochemistry were used to evaluate the stage of liver fibrosis.

Analysis of clinical and pathological features of primary bilateral macronodular adrenocortical hyperplasia compared with unilateral cortisol-secreting adrenal adenoma.

Background: Primary bilateral macronodular adrenocortical hyperplasia (PBMAH) is a rare condition with untypical subclinical symptoms of Cushing's syndrome (CS). This study aimed to compare the clinical and pathological features of PBMAH with unilateral cortisol-secreting adrenal adenoma (UAA).

Methods: We prospectively included 46 PBMAH patients and 205 UAA patients from January 2000 to February 2014.

Enrichment differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells into sinoatrial node-like cells by combined modulation of BMP, FGF, and RA signaling pathways.

Background: Biological pacemakers derived from pluripotent stem cell (PSC) have been considered as a potential therapeutic surrogate for sick sinus syndrome. So it is essential to develop highly efficient strategies for enrichment of sinoatrial node-like cells (SANLCs) as seed cells for biological pacemakers. It has been reported that BMP, FGF, and RA signaling pathways are involved in specification of different cardiomyocyte subtypes, pacemaker, ventricular, and atrial cells.

Atorvastatin attenuates TGF‑β1‑induced fibrogenesis by inhibiting Smad3 and MAPK signaling in human ventricular fibroblasts.

Excessive proliferation and myofibroblasts transformation of cardiac fibroblasts play a critical role in the process of cardiac fibrosis. Atorvastatin (ATV), a 3‑hydroxy‑3‑methyl‑glutaryl‑coenzyme A reductase inhibitor, is commonly used to treat hypercholesterolemia. It has previously been shown that ATV has potential anti‑fibrotic effects.

Fecal microbiota transplantation as an effective initial therapy for pancreatitis complicated with severe infection: A case report.

Background: Moderately severe acute pancreatitis (MSAP) is a critical form of acute pancreatitis that is related with high morbidity and mortality. Severe infection (sCDI) is a serious and rare nosocomial diarrheal complication, especially in MSAP patients. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is a highly effective treatment for refractory and recurrent CDI (rCDI).

miR-499 released during myocardial infarction causes endothelial injury by targeting α7-nAchR.

The surged systemic vascular inflammation after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) aggravates the atherosclerotic endothelial injury. To explore roles of miR-499 released from cardiomyocytes during AMI in endothelial injury. Using qPCR and ELISA, we discovered that patients with AMI had significantly increased plasma miR-499, which was directly correlated with serum thrombomodulin, a marker for endothelial injury.

IL-25 protects against high-fat diet-induced hepatic steatosis in mice by inducing IL-25 and M2a macrophage production.

Interleukin (IL)-25 is a cytokine that has previously been shown to have a protective role against nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which is associated with the induction of M2 macrophage differentiation. However, the direct relationships between IL-25 expression regulation, M2 induction and NAFLD remain unknown. In this study, we demonstrate that IL-25 promotes hepatic macrophage differentiation into M2a macrophages both in vivo and in vitro via the IL-13/STAT6 pathway.

Natural history of covert hepatic encephalopathy: An observational study of 366 cirrhotic patients.

Aim: To explore the natural history of covert hepatic encephalopathy (CHE) in absence of medication intervention.

Methods: Consecutive outpatient cirrhotic patients in a Chinese tertiary care hospital were enrolled and evaluated for CHE diagnosis. They were followed up for a mean of 11.

Low levels of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and risk of metabolic syndrome in China.

Recent evidence indicates the potential role of vitamin D in the prevention of Metabolic syndrome (MetSyn). This is an analytical cross sectional study. A total of 3275 subjects were investigated.

The cutoffs and performance of glycated hemoglobin for diagnosing diabetes and prediabetes in a young and middle-aged population and in an elderly population.

The aims were to compare the appropriate cutoffs of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in a population of varying ages and to evaluate the performance of HbA1c for diagnosing diabetes and prediabetes. A total of 1064 participants in the young and middle-aged group and 1671 in the elderly group were included and underwent HbA1c testing and an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) were calculated to evaluate the optimal HbA1c cutoffs.

[Correlation of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and parathyroid hormone levels with metabolic syndrome in aged males].

Objective: To explore the association of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and parathyroid hormone (PTH) with metabolic syndrome (MS) and its components in aged males.

Methods: For this cross-sectional study, 1 729 aged males aged over 60 years were selected from participants in a routine annual health examination at our hospital from May to June 2012. Their mean age was 75 ± 10 years.

[Significance of 2-hour blood glucose after standardized steamed bread meal in diabetic screening].

Objective: To explore the significance of 2-hour blood glucose after standardized steamed bread meal (SB-2 hBG) in diabetic screening.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted for diabetic screening data of annual check-up at PLA General Hospital from May 1996 to June 2002. And 100 g standardized steamed bread meal test was performed for non-diabetic subjects.

[Correlation of thyroid-stimulating hormone with metabolic syndrome in euthyroid male elders].

Objective: To explore the relationship between thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and metabolic syndrome (MS) and its components in euthyroid male elders.

Methods: For this cross-sectional study, 307 euthyroid male elders aged over 60 years participating in a routine annual health screening examination at our hospital during May-June 2011 were enrolled. Their mean age was (72.

[Correlation of sex hormones and parathyroid hormone with biochemical markers of bone turnover in aged men].

Objective: To investigate the correlation of serum sex hormones and parathyroid hormone (PTH) with the biochemical markers of bone turnover in aged men.

Methods: We collected the laboratory data of 465 men aged 60- 93 (73. 1 +/- 8.