Geographic patterns and climatic drivers of the mean genus age of liverworts in North America.

Phylogenetic niche conservatism posits that species tend to retain ancestral ecological traits and distributions, which has been broadly tested for lineages originating in tropical climates but has been rarely tested for lineages that originated and diversified in temperate climates. Liverworts are thought to originate in temperate climates. Mean lineage age reflects evolutionary history of biological communities.

Effects of traditional Chinese exercises on brain-derived neurotrophic factor in middle-aged and older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) may help middle-aged and older adults resist age-related neurodegenerative conditions and psychiatric disorders. Recent studies suggested that Traditional Chinese exercises (TCEs) may be a promising strategy to improve the BDNF levels of these populations, while the effectiveness has yet to be definitively confirmed due to the variances in the study designs and observations. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to examine the effects of TCEs intervention on BDNF in middle-aged and older adults.

Yip1 interacting factor homolog B mediates the unconventional secretion of ORF8 during SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Severe cases of COVID-19 are associated with immune responses that lead to a surge in inflammatory molecules, resulting in multi-organ failure and death. This significant increase in inflammatory factors is triggered by viral proteins. Open reading frame 8 (ORF8) has received particular attention as a unique accessory protein of SARS-CoV-2.

Risk propagation in emergency supply chain during public health events - From a reliability perspective.

The emergency supply chain is a vital component of the emergency management system and serves as the cornerstone for delivering relief during emergencies. This paper focuses on investigating the propagation mechanism of supply chain risks in public health emergencies. Firstly, by analyzing the characteristics of emergency supply chains, this study enhances the formation mechanism of scale-free networks in emergency supply chains from a reliability perspective through the utilization of Decision Experimentation and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) and Analytic Network Process (ANP) methods.

Opportunities and challenges of lead-free metal halide perovskites for luminescence.

Metal halide perovskites (MHPs) have been developed rapidly for application in light-emitting diodes (LEDs), lasers, solar cells, photodetectors and other fields in recent years due to their excellent photoelectronic properties, and they have attracted the attention of many researchers. Perovskite LEDs (PeLEDs) show great promise for next-generation lighting and display technologies, and the external quantum efficiency (EQE) values of polycrystalline thin-film PeLEDs exceed 20%, which is undoubtedly a big breakthrough in lighting and display fields. However, the toxicity and instabilities of lead-based MHPs remain major obstacles limiting their further commercial applications.

Role of A-Site Cation Hydrogen Bonds in Hybrid Organic-Inorganic Perovskites: A Theoretical Insight.

Hybrid organic-inorganic halide perovskites (HOIPs) have garnered a significant amount of attention due to their exceptional photoelectric conversion efficiency. However, they still face considerable challenges in large-scale applications, primarily due to their instability. One key factor influencing this instability is the lattice softness attributed to the A-site cations.

Engineering Cascade Bio-solar Cells Inspired by the Z-Scheme of Oxygenic Photosynthesis: Layered Chlorophyll and Bacterio-chlorophyll Derivatives.

The natural Z-scheme of oxygenic photosynthesis efficiently drives electron transfer from photosystem II (PSII) to photosystem I (PSI) via an electron transport chain, despite the lower energy levels of PSII. Inspired by this sophisticated mechanism, we present a layered cascade bio-solar cell (CBSC) that emulates the Z-scheme. In this design, chlorophyll derivatives (Chl) act as PSI analogs, while bacteriochlorophyll derivatives (BChl) serve as PSII analogs in the active layer.

Association of whole grain food consumption with lung cancer risk: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Whether the intake of whole grain foods can protect against lung cancer is a long-standing question of considerable public health import, but the epidemiologic evidence has been limited. Therefore we aim to investigate the relationship between whole grain food consumption and lung cancer in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial (PLCO) cohort.

Methods: Diet was assessed with a self-administered Diet History Questionnaire (DHQ) at baseline.

Observation on the efficacy of TPO receptor agonists and platelet transfusion in chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia in malignant tumors.

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of TPO receptor agonists and platelet transfusion in chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia in malignant tumors.

Methods: Clinical data from 120 patients with malignant tumors who developed thrombocytopenia following chemotherapy at our hospital were retrospectively collected and randomly divided into three groups: A, B, and C, with 40 patients in each group. Group A was treated with a TPO receptor agonist (avatrombopag), group B received autologous platelet transfusion, and group C received a combination of both treatments.

DNA origami-based composite nanosandwich for iteratively potentiated chemo-immunotherapy.

Developing effective nanoplatforms for chemo-immunotherapy to achieve enhanced tumor suppression and systemic antitumor immunity has recently received extensive attention. Herein, we formulated a multifunctional DNA sandwich nanodevice, DSWAC/siPD-L1, based on triangular DNA origami, to implement enhanced cancer chemo-immunotherapy. Taking advantage of the tumor-targeting ability of the AS1411 aptamer, DSWAC/siPD-L1 efficiently delivered doxorubicin (DOX), CpG, and siPD-L1 into tumor cells.

Molecular Dynamics Study of Protein-Mediated Electroporation of Kv Channels Induced by nsPEFs: Advantages of Bipolar Pulses.

Nanosecond pulsed electric fields (nsPEFs) can induce protein-mediated electroporation (PMEP) in voltage-gated ion channels. However, their effects on the tetrameric structure of voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channels remain unexplored. Our study pioneered the molecular dynamics (MD) investigation of the open-state (O) Kv channel to understand the effects of PMEP under unipolar and bipolar pulses (UP and BP).

Transcatheter rectal arterial chemoembolization with oxaliplatin and concurrent chemoradiotherapy in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer: A retrospective comparative study.

Background: The aim of the study is to assess whether transcatheter rectal arterial chemoembolization (TRACE) with oxaliplatin could increase the pathologic complete response (pCR) rate of locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) and improve survival outcomes, while minimizing adverse events compared to preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) alone.

Methods: Eligible LARC patients who received TRACE with oxaliplatin plus chemoradiotherapy (the NATRACE-CRT group) or preoperative CRT alone (the NA-CRT group) were retrospectively selected from the database of our institution. Pathological results, treatment-related adverse events and survival in the two groups were compared.

Association between hormone therapy and glioma risk in US women: a cancer screening trial.

Objective: Gliomas are the most common primary brain tumors in adults, and the role of hormone therapy (HT) in their development remains controversial. This study with a cohort design aimed to investigate the association between HT use and glioma risk using the data from the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial.

Methods: We analyzed data from 75,335 women, aged 50-78, who were enrolled between 1993 and 2001.

Pt ( = 1, 3, and 4) Cluster-Modified MoSe Nanosheets: A Potential Sensing and Scavenging Candidate for Lithium-Ion Battery State Characteristic Gases.

Realizing reliable online detection of characteristic gases (H, CH, CO, and CO) in lithium-ion batteries is crucial to maintain the safe and stable operation of power equipment and new energy storage power plants. In this study, transition metal Pt ( = 1, 3, and 4) clusters are attached to MoSe nanosheets for the first time based on density functional theory using the perfect crystalline facet modification method, and the adsorption characteristics and electronic behaviors of H, CH, CO, and CO are investigated and enhanced. The results show that Pt ( = 1, 3, and 4) is reliably chemically connected to the substrate without any significant deformation of the geometry.

Unraveling the conversion mechanism toward spinel sulfides as cathode materials for Mg-ion batteries.

Rechargeable Mg batteries are promising candidates for achieving considerable high-energy-density. Enhancing the energy density can be achieved by integrating metallic Mg anodes with conversion-type cathode materials, which are characterized by multi-electron transfer process and elevated specific capacities in contrast to intercalation-type materials. Despite these advantages, the conversion-type cathodes still have some challenges of substantial volume expansion, sluggish diffusion kinetics and intricate mesophase evolution during repeated electrochemical reactions.

The Evolution of Nucleic Acid Nanotechnology: From DNA Assembly to DNA-Encoded Library.

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), a fundamental biomacromolecule in living organisms, serves as the carrier of genetic information. Beyond its role in encoding biological functions, DNA's inherent ability to hybridize through base pairing has opened new avenues for its application in biological sciences. This review introduces DNA nanotechnology and DNA-encoded library (DEL), and highlights their shared design principles related to DNA assembly.

Thermoelectric Properties of a Light Compound FeS: the Role of Electron Correlation Strengthened Spin-Orbital Coupling.

Spin-orbit coupling (SOC) induced nontrivial bandgap and complex Fermi surface has been considered to be profitable for thermoelectrics, which, however, is generally appreciable only in heavy elements, thereby detrimental to practical application. In this study, the SOC-driven extraordinary thermoelectric performance in a light 2D material Fe₂S₂ is demonstrated via first-principles calculations. The abnormally strong SOC, induced by electron correlation through 3d orbitals polarization, significantly renormalizes the band structures, which opens the bandgap via Fe 3d orbitals inversion, exposes the second conduction valley with weak electron-phonon coupling, and aligns the energy of Fe 3d and S 3p orbitals with divergent momentum in valence band.

Fruquintinib Plus Sintilimab in Patients with Treatment-Naive and Previously Treated Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma: Results from a Phase Ib/II Clinical Trial.

Background: Antiangiogenic inhibitors plus immune checkpoint inhibitors have synergistic antitumor activity and have improved treatment outcomes in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Objective: We report the RCC cohort from a phase Ib/II study in Chinese patients evaluating the efficacy and safety of fruquintinib plus sintilimab in treating advanced clear cell RCC (ccRCC).

Patients And Methods: Eligible patients had pathologically confirmed advanced ccRCC.

Ultrasound-triggered drug-loaded nanobubbles for enhanced T cell recruitment in cancer chemoimmunotherapy.

Chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy is a highly promising approach for treating tumors. However, chemotherapeutic drugs often fail to accumulate effectively at the tumor site after systemic administration and they lack sufficient immunogenicity to activate adaptive immunity, making an effective T-cell immune response within the tumor microenvironment difficult to achieve. Here, this work developed drug-loaded nanobubbles (DTX-R837@NBs) that encapsulate the chemotherapy drug docetaxel and the immune adjuvant R837 via a thin-film hydration method.

Optically controllable nanoregulators enable tumor-specific pro-ferroptosis lipometabolic reprogramming for in-situ adjuvant-free vaccination.

In-situ tumor vaccination remains challenging due to difficulties in the exposure and presentation of tumor-associated neoantigens (TANs). In view of the central role of lipid metabolism in cell fate determination and tumor-immune cell communication, here we report a photo-controlled lipid metabolism nanoregulator (PLMN) to achieve robust in-situ adjuvant-free vaccination, which is constructed through hierarchically integrating photothermal-inducible arachidonate 15-lipoxygenase (ALOX15)-expressing plasmids, cypate and FIN56 into cationic liposomes. Near-infrared light (NIR) stimulation triggers on-demand ALOX15 editing and causes excessive accumulation of downstream pro-ferroptosis lipid metabolites.

Bacteroides Fragilis Transplantation Reverses Reproductive Senescence by Transporting Extracellular Vesicles Through the Gut-Ovary Axis.

The diverse and dynamic population of microorganisms present in the gut microbiota may affect host health. There are evidences to support the role of gut microbiota as a key player in reproductive development. Unfortunately, the relationship between reproductive disorders caused by aging and gut microbiota remains largely unknown.

Stabilizing Lattice Oxygen of BiO by Interstitial Insertion of Indium for Efficient Formic Acid Electrosynthesis.

Bismuth oxide (BiO) emerges as a potent catalyst for converting CO to formic acid (HCOOH), leveraging its abundant lattice oxygen and the high activity of its Bi-O bonds. Yet, its durability is usually impeded by the loss of lattice oxygen causing structure alteration and destabilized active bonds. Herein, we report an innovative approach via the interstitial incorporation of indium (In) into the BiO, significantly enhancing bond stability and preserving lattice oxygen.

Multiscale Mechanical Study of Proanthocyanidins for Recovering Residual Stress in Decellularized Blood Vessels.

Decellularized artificial blood vessels prepared using physical and chemical methods often exhibit limitations, including poor mechanical performance, susceptibility to inflammation and calcification, and reduced patency. Cross-linking techniques can enhance the stiffness, as well as anti-inflammatory and anti-calcification properties of decellularized vessels. However, conventional cross-linking methods fail to effectively alleviate residual stress post-decellularization, which significantly impacts the patency and vascular remodeling following the implantation of artificial vessels.

Efficient degradation of ciprofloxacin in water using nZVI/g-CN enhanced dielectric barrier discharge plasma process.

Residual antibiotics in aquatic environments pose health and ecological risks due to their persistence and resistance to biodegradation. Thus, it is crucial to develop efficient technologies for the degradation of such antibiotics. This study presents a novel approach using a nano zero-valent iron/graphitic carbon nitride (nZVI/g-CN)-enhanced dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma process for the degradation of ciprofloxacin (CIP).