Optimized Interface Engineering Enhances Carrier and Phonon Scattering for Superior Thermoelectric Performance in Yb-Filled Skutterudites.

Thermoelectric (TE) performance in materials is often constrained by the strong coupling between carrier and phonon transport, necessitating trade-offs between electrical and thermal properties that limit improvements in the figure of merit (). Herein, a novel strategy is proposed to achieve simultaneous energy filtering and enhanced phonon scattering, effectively optimizing the TE properties of CoSb-based skutterudites. By introducing CuTe nanoprecipitates into the YbCoSb matrix, interfacial barriers are formed, which selectively filter low-energy charge carriers, significantly improving the Seebeck coefficient while maintaining high carrier mobility.

Pseudo-Nanostructuring and Grain Refinement Enhance the Near-Room-Temperature Thermoelectric Performance in n-type PbSe.

PbSe, a promising Te-free thermoelectric material for medium-temperature applications, has garnered considerable attention due to its substantial thermoelectric potential and relatively low cost. However, the vast majority of research on polycrystalline PbSe thermoelectrics has focused primarily on improving its medium-temperature performance, often neglecting the enhancement of near-room-temperature performance and effective module design. Here, an n-type polycrystalline PbSe material (CuPbGeSe) is presented that exhibits a room-temperature zT of ≈0.

[Effects of maltodextrin on water adsorption and thermodynamic properties of Codonopsis Radix spray-dried powder].

This study aims to reveal the effects of maltodextrin(MD) on the water adsorption and thermodynamic properties of Codonopsis Radix(DS) spray-dried powder by determining the moisture and energy changes of the powder in the process of moisture absorption. The static weighing method was used to obtain the isothermal water adsorption data of the spray-dried powder in 6 saturated salt solutions(KAc, MgCl_2·6H_2O, K_2CO_3, NaBr, NaCl, and KCl) at 3 temperatures(25, 35, and 45 ℃). Six models were used for fitting of the water adsorption process, and the most suitable model was selected based on the model performance.

Association of the Verbal Rating Scale-Measured Dysmenorrhea with Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objectives: Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy (NVP) is a common condition that reduces the quality of life by negatively affecting work and family life, physical and mental health, and economic well-being. However, its risk factors remain unclear. This study aimed to explore the association between NVP and verbal rating scale (VRS)-measured dysmenorrhea and to explore potential protective factors.

PINK1-mediated mitophagy induction protects against preeclampsia by decreasing ROS and trophoblast pyroptosis.

Introduction: Preeclampsia (PE) is a multisystemic disorder attributed to the excessive presentation of placenta-derived immunoinflammatory factors. PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1)-mediated mitophagy participates in the development and persistence of the inflammation. We hypothesized that dysregulated mitophagy might be involved in the pathogenesis of PE by promoting the activation of trophoblast pyroptosis that augment inflammation.

Branching phenomena in nanostructure synthesis illuminated by the study of Ni-based nanocomposites.

Branching phenomena are ubiquitous in both natural and artificial crystallization processes. The branched nanostructures' emergent properties depend upon their structures, but their structural tunability is limited by an inadequate understanding of their formation mechanisms. Here we developed an ensemble of Nickel-Based nano-Composites (NBCs) to investigate branching phenomena in solution-phase synthesis with precision and in depth.

Effects of KCa channels on biological behavior of trophoblasts.

The Ca-activated potassium (KCa) channels are involved in many cellular functions, but their roles in trophoblasts are unclear. This study aimed to clarify the effects of KCa channels on the biological behavior of trophoblasts. The localization and expression of the three types of KCa channels, including large-conductance KCa channels (BKCa), intermediate-conductance KCa channels (IKCa), and small-conductance KCa channels (SKCa), were detected in human chorionic villi taken from pregnant women between 5 and 8 weeks of gestation ( = 15) and HTR-8/SVneo cells.

TREM-1 amplifies trophoblastic inflammation via activating NF-κB pathway during preeclampsia.

Introduction: Excessive activation of maternal systemic inflammation is one of the underlying causes of pathology during the disease course of preeclampsia (PE). The triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (TREM-1) participates in the development and persistence of inflammation. We hypothesized that dysregulated TREM-1 may be involved in the pathogenesis of PE by promoting the secretion of trophoblastic pro-inflammatory cytokines that augment inflammation.

A Participant-assigned Interventional Research of Precesarean Internal Iliac Artery Balloon Catheterization for Managing Intraoperative Hemorrhage of Placenta Previa and Placenta Accreta Spectrum Disorders After Cesarean Section.

Placenta accreta spectrum disorder (PASD) and placenta previa (PP) are two of the most hideous obstetric complications which are usually associated with a history of cesarean section (CS). Moreover, women with PASD, PP and/or a cesarean scarred uterus are more likely to have adverse pregnancy outcomes, including blood transfusion, hysterectomy, pelvic organs damage, postpartum hemorrhage, disseminated intravascular coagulation, multi-organ dysfunction syndrome and even maternal or fetal death. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of precesarean internal iliac artery balloon catheterization (BC) for managing severe hemorrhage caused by PASD and PP with a history of CS.

Evaluation of Minimal Change Lesions Using Linked Color Imaging in Patients With Nonerosive Reflux Esophagitis.

Background And Aims: High prevalence of minimal change lesion (MCL) in nonerosive reflux esophagitis (NERD) patients is commonly recognized by many endoscopists. However, it is difficult to detect MCL with conventional white-light imaging (WLI) endoscopy. Linked color imaging (LCI), a novel image-enhanced endoscopy technology with strong, unique color enhancement, is used for easy recognition of early gastric cancer and detection of Helicobacter pylori infection.

Synergetic effect of high Ni ratio and low oxygen defect interface zone of single crystals on the capacity retention of lithium rich layered oxides.

Li-rich layered oxides (LLOs) are promising cathode materials for Li-ion batteries owing to their high capacities (>250 mAh g), however, they suffered from severe capacity and voltage fading caused by irreversible oxygen loss and phase changes. Herein, the structural stability of single crystalline and polycrystalline LiNiMnCoO was compared in detail. It was found that the stability of oxidized oxygen ions on the near surface was improved in single crystals, which retarded oxygen loss from surface and surficial phase changes, possibly owing to the facet regulating and low surface curvature.

Integrated analysis of multiple microarray studies to identify potential pathogenic gene modules in preeclampsia.

Background: Preeclampsia is a life-threatening hypertensive disorder during pregnancy, while underlying pathogenesis and its diagnosis are incomplete.

Methods: In this study, we utilized the Robust Rank Aggregation method to integrate 6 eligible preeclampsia microarray datasets from Gene Expression Omnibus database. We used linear regression to assess the associations between significant differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and blood pressure.

Synergistic Effect of Mn Formation-Migration and Oxygen Loss on the Near Surface and Bulk Structural Changes in Single Crystalline Lithium-Rich Oxides.

Micron-sized single crystal particles could be used to intensify structural changes between bulk and surface area during the charge-discharge process owing to their long-range order. In this study, the effects of Mn formation-migration and oxygen loss on the structure change from the bulk side to the near surface in single crystalline LiMnNiCoO were decoupled by regulating the voltage windows of 2-4.5, 3-4.

Correction to: HSP20 Exerts a Protective Effect on Preeclampsia by Regulating Function of Trophoblast Cells Via Akt Pathways.

Li F, Xie Y, Wu Y, et al. HSP20 exerts a protective effect on preeclampsia by regulating function of trophoblast cells via Akt pathways. Reproduct Sci.

Delivery of Antisense Oligonucleotide LOR-2501 Using Transferrin-conjugated Polyethylenimine-based Lipid Nanoparticle.

Background/aim: Efficient delivery of antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) by nanoparticle vectors is critical for its clinical application. The aim of this study was to design and evaluate a novel ASO vector TPSH-LP consisting of a reduction-sensitive cationic polymer PEI-SS-HA (PSH), lipids and transferrin (Tf) as a targeting ligand.

Materials And Methods: PSH was synthesized based on PEI 25 kDa.

Tuning the Nanoarea Interfacial Properties for the Improved Performance of Li-Rich Polycrystalline Li-Mn-O Spinel.

The nontoxicity and low cost make LiMnO a competitive cathode material for lithium-ion batteries. LiMnO has a high theoretical capacity (296 mAh g) when cycled in the 3 and 4 V regions. However, it displays a low practical capacity (∼120 mAh g) because of the unavailability of the 3 V region caused by severe Jahn-Teller distortion.

HSP20 Exerts a Protective Effect on Preeclampsia by Regulating Function of Trophoblast Cells Via Akt Pathways.

Preeclampsia (PE) remains the leading cause of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Excessive apoptosis of the placenta and poor remodeling of spiral arteries caused by insufficient invasion of trophoblast cells into uterus have been implicated in the pathogenesis of PE. Accumulating evidence showed that heat shock protein 20 (HSP20) is closely associated with the proliferation, apoptosis, and metastasis of tumor cells.

Impaired Gal-9 Dysregulates the PBMC-Induced Th1/Th2 Imbalance in Abortion-Prone Matings.

Recurrent miscarriage is defined as the loss of 3 or more consecutive pregnancies; however, the underlying immunologic mechanisms that trigger pregnancy loss remain largely unelucidated. Galectin-9 (Gal-9) may modulate a variety of biologic functions and play an important role in Th1/Th2 immune deviation. To analyze the mechanism of Gal-9 in abortion, we used the classical abortion-prone mouse model (DBA/2-mated CBA/J mice) to detect the expression of Gal-9 at the maternal-fetal interface.

Alteration of heat shock protein 20 expression in preeclamptic patients and its effect in vascular and coagulation function.

Preeclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy-specific, multi-system disorder and the leading cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality in obstetrics worldwide. Excessive vasoconstriction and dysregulated coagulation function are closely associated with PE. Heat shock protein 20 (HSP20) is ubiquitously expressed under normal physiological conditions and has important roles in vascular dilatation and suppression of platelet aggregation.

Construction and cellular uptake evaluation of redox-responsive docetaxel prodrug self-assembled nanoparticles.

Docetaxel (DTX) solution has some serious adverse side effects. A redox-responsive DTX prodrug synthesized in our laboratory was used to prepare DTX prodrug self-assembled nanoparticles (DSNPs) with the method of nanoprecipitation. This study aimed at optimizing the formulation to develop stable preparation for the delivery of DTX.

Impairment of BKca channels in human placental chorionic plate arteries is potentially relevant to the development of preeclampsia.

Preeclampsia has known associations with insufficient placental perfusion. The large-conductance Ca-activated K (BKca) channels that have recently been found to play important roles in cellular growth and vasodilatation could potentially participate in the development of preeclampsia. However, the mechanisms by which downregulated BKca channels are involved in the development of preeclampsia remain unknown.