Colorectal liver metastases: Correlations of contrast-enhanced ultrasound features with tumor clinicopathological factors and clinical outcomes following conversion therapy.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the prognostic impact of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) features for initially unresectable colorectal liver metastases (CLMs) in a clinical setting of conversion therapy. METHODS: Between March 2015 and November 2020, consecutive patients with CLMs who received conversion treatment were prospectively enrolled. All participants underwent liver CEUS at baseline. The primary endpoint was conversion resection rate (R0 and overall resection). Secondary endpoints were objective response rate (ORR), overall survival (OS), and progression-free survival (PFS). RESULTS: 104 participants who completed conversion treatment were included. CEUS enhancement pattern was correlated with index lesion (size and echogenicity), primary (site, differentiation, perineural invasion, and RAS genotype) and serum (CA19-9 level) characteristics (P = <0.001-0.016). CEUS enhancement pattern was significantly associated with R0 resection rate, ORR, PFS, and OS (P = 0.001-0.049), whereas enhancement degree was associated with PFS and OS (P = 0.043 and 0.045). Multivariate analysis showed that heterogeneous enhancement independently predicted R0 and overall resection (P = 0.028 and 0.024) while rim-like enhancement independently predicted ORR and OS (P = 0.009 and 0.026). CONCLUSION: CEUS enhancement pattern was significantly associated with tumor characteristics and clinical outcomes following conversion therapy, and thus might be of prognosis impact for initially unresectable CLMs.

ZnO/ZnS core-shell quantum dots with enhanced ultraviolet fluorescence and low cytotoxicity for cell imaging.

Zinc oxide quantum dots (ZnO QDs) have gained wide attention due to their wide excitation spectrum, large Stokes shift, adjustable photoluminescence (PL) spectrum, and excellent biocompatibility. However, low fluorescence intensity and poor stability restrict their further applications. In this work, zinc sulfide (ZnS) as a surface modifier, ZnO/ZnS core-shell QDs with type-I core-shell structure and particle size of 5 nm were prepared via sol-gel method. Transmission electron microscope characterization demonstrates the core-shell structure and spherical morphology of the as-synthesized ZnO/ZnS QDs. The PL spectra show that ultraviolet fluorescence has been greatly enhanced. The maximum fluorescence intensity of ZnO/ZnS core-shell QDs increases by 5288.6% compared with that of bare ZnO QDs. The PL quantum yield increases from 9.53% to 30.95%. After being stored for three weeks, the fluorescence performance can be well retained. Furthermore, the cytotoxicity tests confirm the excellent biocompatibility of ZnO/ZnS core-shell QDs, demonstrating they are good candidates for cell imaging.

Covalent Grafting of Dielectric Films on Cu(111) Surface via Electrochemical Reduction of Aryl Diazonium Salts.

Covalent grafting of dielectric films containing polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) on the surface of Cu(111) is performed by a one-step electrochemical reduction of diazonium salts. This method is efficient and economic and performs in a proton-polar solvent of deionized water and tetrahydrofuran (THF), where the monomer employs an octavinylsilsesquioxane (OVS) containing a POSS core. The eight vinyl bonds contained in OVS are used to participate in aryl radical-initiated polymerization reactions to form films. The formed film is dense and covers the copper surface completely and uniformly. The thickness of the film can be controlled by adjusting the reaction time. The components of the films are mainly polynitrophenyl (PNP) or polyaminophenyl (PAP) as well as poly(octavinylsilsesquioxane) (POVS), and the POVS content could be adjusted by the applied voltage. The introduction of POSS prevents the copper surface from being oxidized and often gives the film good properties such as good dielectric properties, mechanical properties, and thermal properties. In addition, the presence of Cu-O-C and Cu-C bonds between the film and copper interface is confirmed at different film thicknesses by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), which allowed the construction of covalent bonds between metal and nonmetal, further enhancing the bonding between the film and copper. Organic films prepared by electrochemical reduction of diazonium salts using OVS as a monomer will have potential significance for the future development of the electronics industry.

A conversion-type lithium artificial synapse with dispersed nano-silica fabricated by UV-curing method.

The rapid growth of information puts forward new requirements for computer including denser memory capacity and faster response beyond the traditional von Neumann architecture. One promising strategy is to employ novel computing devices such as artificial synapses (AS). Here, an Au/LPSE-SiO2/Si AS (LPSE-SiO2AS) with a simple sandwich structure was fabricated by UV curing. LPSE-SiO2AS emulated synaptic plasticity including excitatory postsynaptic current, paired-pulse facilitation, and spike-dependent plasticity. It also simulated the memory strengthening and forgetting analogue to biological system. The realization of synaptic plasticity is due to the homogeneously dispersed nano-silica in LPSE, which acts as lithium ions trapping center and conducts a reversible electrochemical conversion reaction with Li ions with pulse stimulation. These results indicate the potential for LPSE-SiO2AS in future large-scale integrated neuromorphic networks.

Paracandidimonas lactea sp. nov., a urea-utilizing bacterium isolated from landfill.

A urea-utilizing bacterium, designated Q2-2 T, was isolated from landfill. Cells of strain Q2-2 T were Gram stain-negative, aerobic, short-rod bacteria. Strain Q2-2 T was observed to grow at a temperature range of 15-37℃ (optimum 30 â„ƒ), a pH range of 5.5-9.5 (optimum pH 8.0) and 0-4% (w/v) NaCl (optimum 1%). The major respiratory quinone was Q-8, and the major polar lipids were diphosphatidyl glycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylmethylethanolamine, and phosphatidyl glycerol. Based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence, strain Q2-2 T had the highest similarity with Paracandidimonas caeni 24 T (98.0%), followed by Pusillimonas soli MJ07T (97.5%), Parapusillimonas granuli Ch07T (97.2%), Pusillimonas ginsengisoli DCY25T (97.1%) and Paracandidimonas soli IMT-305 T (96.4%). The ANI values between strain Q2-2 T and the above related type strains were 71.02%, 73.52%, 74.32%, 74.59% and 72.29%, respectively. The DNA G + C content of strain Q2-2 T was 61.1%. Therefore, strain Q2-2 T represents a novel species of the genus Paracandidimonas, for which the name Paracandidimonas lactea sp. nov. (type strain Q2-2 T = CGMCC 1.19179 T = JCM 34906 T) is proposed.

Biopolymer based artificial synapses enable linear conductance tuning and low-power for neuromorphic computing.

Neuromorphic computing is considered a promising method for resolving the traditional von Neumann bottleneck. Natural biomaterial-based artificial synapses are popular units for constructing neuromorphic computing systems while suffering from poor linearity and limited conduction states. In this work, a AgNO3 doped iota-carrageenan (ι-car) based memristor is proposed to resolve the non-linear limitation. The memristor presents linear conductance tuning with a higher endurance (∼104), more enriched conduction states (>2000), and much lower power consumption (∼3.6 µW) than previously reported biomaterial-based analog memristors. AgNO3 is doped to ι-car to suppress the formation of Ag filaments, thereby eliminating uneven Joule heating. Using deep learning of hand-written digits as an application, a doping-enhanced recognition accuracy (93.8%) is achieved, close to that of an ideal synaptic device (95.7%). This work verifies the feasibility of using biopolymers for future high-performance computational and wearable/implantable electronic applications.

Ultralow Set Voltage and Enhanced Switching Reliability for Resistive Random-Access Memory Enabled by an Electrodeposited Nanocone Array.

Resistive random-access memory (RRAM) has been extensively investigated for 20 years due to its excellent advantages, including scalability, switching speed, compatibility with the complementary metal oxide semiconductor process, and neuromorphic computing application. However, the issue of memristor reliability for cycle to cycle and device to device resulting from the random ion drift and diffusion in solid-state thin films is still a great challenge for commercialization. Therefore, controlling the internal ionic process to improve the memristor performance and reliability is a primary and urgent task. Here, a Ni nanocone array prepared by an electrodeposition method is integrated with an Ag/Al2O3/Pt resistive switching device. The nanocone-array-based memristor yields superior switching performance, including an ultralow set voltage (-0.37 V), a concentrated voltage/resistance distribution (CV 14.8%/32.7%), robust endurance (>105 cycles), and multilevel storage capability. A finite element analysis, transmission electron microscope observation, and current mapping test indicate that the local enhancement of the electric field confines the ionic migration process and yields a predictable formation and dissolution process of the conductive filament. The nanocone-array-based RRAM device provides a new and feasible method to control the conductive filament growth reliably, which paves the way for memristor development.

Application of electrodeposited Cu-metal nanoflake structures as 3D current collector in lithium-metal batteries.

Since uncontrolled lithium (Li) dendrite growth and dendrite-induced dead Li severely limit the development of Li metal batteries, 3D Cu current collectors can effectively alleviate these problems during Li plating/stripping. Herein, one-step galvanostatic electrodeposition method is employed to fabricate a new current collector on Cu foam decorated with large-scale and uniform 3D porous Cu-based nanoflake (NF) structures (abbreviated as 3D Cu NF@Cu foam). This 3D structure with large internal surface areas not only generates lithophilic surface copper oxides and hydroxides as charge centers and nucleation sites for Li insertion/extraction, but also endows abundant space with interlinked NFs for buffering the cell volume expansion and increasing battery performance. As a result, Li-deposited 3D Cu NF@Cu foam current collector can realize stable cycling over 455 cycles with an average Coulombic efficiency of 98.8% at a current density of 1.0 mA cm-2, as well as a prolonged lifespan of >380 cycles in symmetrical cell without short-circuit, which are superior to those of blank Cu foam current collector. This work realizes Li metal anode stabilization by constructing 3D porous Cu NFs current collectors, which can advance the development of Li metal anode for battery industries.

The association between soluble suppression of tumorigenicity-2 and long-term prognosis in patients with coronary artery disease: A meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Findings regarding the prognostic value of soluble suppression of tumorigenecity-2 (sST2) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) remain inconsistent. Therefore, we conducted this meta-analysis to investigate the long-term prognostic value of sST2 in patients with CAD. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases up to June 3, 2020. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiac events (MACEs). The secondary outcomes were all-cause mortality, cardiovascular (CV) death, heart failure (HF), and myocardial infarction (MI). Pooled estimations and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were assessed using a random-effects model. RESULTS: Twenty-two articles that enrolled a total of 17,432 patients with CAD were included in the final analysis. CAD patients in the highest categories of baseline sST2 had a significantly higher risk of MACEs (HR: 1.42, 95% CI: 1.09-1.76), all-cause mortality (HR: 2.00, 95% CI: 1.54-2.46), and CV death (HR: 1.42, 95% CI: 1.15-1.68), HF (HR: 2.41, 95% CI: 1.87-2.94), but not that of MI (HR: 1.15, 95% CI: -0.73-3.04), than those in the lowest categories. These results were consistent when baseline sST2 was presented as continuous values in one unit increments. Moreover, subgroup analysis showed that elevated baseline sST2 levels increased the long-term risk of MACEs in the acute coronary syndrome (ACS) population (HR: 1.74, 95% CI: 1.39-2.09) but only showed a trend toward higher risk of MACEs in the non-ACS population (HR: 1.09, 95% CI: 0.87-1.30). CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that a higher concentration of baseline sST2 is associated with a higher risk of MACEs, all-cause mortality, CV death, and HF in patients with CAD. Elevated sST2 levels could significantly predict future MACEs in the ACS population but not in the non-ACS population.

Development of Reliable, High Performance WLCSP for BSI CMOS Image Sensor for Automotive Application.

To meet the urgent market demand for small package size and high reliability performance for automotive CMOS image sensor (CIS) application, wafer level chip scale packaging (WLCSP) technology using through silicon vias (TSV) needs to be developed to replace current chip on board (COB) packages. In this paper, a WLCSP with the size of 5.82 mm × 5.22 mm and thickness of 850 µm was developed for the backside illumination (BSI) CIS chip using a 65 nm node with a size of 5.8 mm × 5.2 mm. The packaged product has 1392 × 976 pixels and a resolution of up to 60 frames per second with more than 120 dB dynamic range. The structure of the 3D package was designed and the key fabrication processes on a 12" inch wafer were investigated. More than 98% yield and excellent optical performance of the CIS package was achieved after process optimization. The final packages were qualified by AEC-Q100 Grade 2.

Battery-free, lightweight, injectable microsystem for in vivo wireless pharmacology and optogenetics.

Pharmacology and optogenetics are widely used in neuroscience research to study the central and peripheral nervous systems. While both approaches allow for sophisticated studies of neural circuitry, continued advances are, in part, hampered by technology limitations associated with requirements for physical tethers that connect external equipment to rigid probes inserted into delicate regions of the brain. The results can lead to tissue damage and alterations in behavioral tasks and natural movements, with additional difficulties in use for studies that involve social interactions and/or motions in complex 3-dimensional environments. These disadvantages are particularly pronounced in research that demands combined optogenetic and pharmacological functions in a single experiment. Here, we present a lightweight, wireless, battery-free injectable microsystem that combines soft microfluidic and microscale inorganic light-emitting diode probes for programmable pharmacology and optogenetics, designed to offer the features of drug refillability and adjustable flow rates, together with programmable control over the temporal profiles. The technology has potential for large-scale manufacturing and broad distribution to the neuroscience community, with capabilities in targeting specific neuronal populations in freely moving animals. In addition, the same platform can easily be adapted for a wide range of other types of passive or active electronic functions, including electrical stimulation.

Transient Light-Emitting Diodes Constructed from Semiconductors and Transparent Conductors that Biodegrade Under Physiological Conditions.

Transient forms of electronics, systems that disintegrate, dissolve, resorb, or sublime in a controlled manner after a well-defined operating lifetime, are of interest for applications in hardware secure technologies, temporary biomedical implants, "green" consumer devices and other areas that cannot be addressed with conventional approaches. Broad sets of materials now exist for a range of transient electronic components, including transistors, diodes, antennas, sensors, and even batteries. This work reports the first examples of transient light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that can completely dissolve in aqueous solutions to biologically and environmentally benign end products. Thin films of highly textured ZnO and polycrystalline Mo serve as semiconductors for light generation and conductors for transparent electrodes, respectively. The emitted light spans a range of visible wavelengths, where nanomembranes of monocrystalline silicon can serve as transient filters to yield red, green, and blue LEDs. Detailed characterization of the material chemistries and morphologies of the constituent layers, assessments of their performance properties, and studies of their dissolution processes define the underlying aspects. These results establish an electroluminescent light source technology for unique classes of optoelectronic systems that vanish into benign forms when exposed to aqueous conditions in the environment or in living organisms.

Bioresorbable photonic devices for the spectroscopic characterization of physiological status and neural activity.

Capabilities in real-time monitoring of internal physiological processes could inform pharmacological drug-delivery schedules, surgical intervention procedures and the management of recovery and rehabilitation. Current methods rely on external imaging techniques or implantable sensors, without the ability to provide continuous information over clinically relevant timescales, and/or with requirements in surgical procedures with associated costs and risks. Here, we describe injectable classes of photonic devices, made entirely of materials that naturally resorb and undergo clearance from the body after a controlled operational lifetime, for the spectroscopic characterization of targeted tissues and biofluids. As an example application, we show that the devices can be used for the continuous monitoring of cerebral temperature, oxygenation and neural activity in freely moving mice. These types of devices should prove useful in fundamental studies of disease pathology, in neuroscience research, in surgical procedures and in monitoring of recovery from injury or illness.

Applicable Superamphiphobic Ni/Cu Surface with High Liquid Repellency Enabled by the Electrochemical-Deposited Dual-Scale Structure.

Until now, scalable fabrication and utilization of superamphiphobic surfaces based on sophisticated structures has remained challenging. Herein, we develop an applicable superamphiphobic surface with nano-Ni pyramid/micro-Cu cone structures prepared by cost-effective electrochemical deposition. More importantly, excellent dynamic wettability is achieved, exhibiting as ultralow sliding angle (∼0°), multiple droplets rebounding (13 times), and a total rejection. The supportive cushions trapped within the dual-scale micro/nanostructures is proved to be the key factor contributing to such high liquid repellency, whose existence is intuitively ascertained at both solid-air-liquid and water-solid-oil systems in this work. In addition, the enduring reliability of the wetting performance under various harsh conditions further endows the surface with broader application prospects.

Battery-free, skin-interfaced microfluidic/electronic systems for simultaneous electrochemical, colorimetric, and volumetric analysis of sweat.

Wearable sweat sensors rely either on electronics for electrochemical detection or on colorimetry for visual readout. Non-ideal form factors represent disadvantages of the former, while semiquantitative operation and narrow scope of measurable biomarkers characterize the latter. Here, we introduce a battery-free, wireless electronic sensing platform inspired by biofuel cells that integrates chronometric microfluidic platforms with embedded colorimetric assays. The resulting sensors combine advantages of electronic and microfluidic functionality in a platform that is significantly lighter, cheaper, and smaller than alternatives. A demonstration device simultaneously monitors sweat rate/loss, pH, lactate, glucose, and chloride. Systematic studies of the electronics, microfluidics, and integration schemes establish the key design considerations and performance attributes. Two-day human trials that compare concentrations of glucose and lactate in sweat and blood suggest a potential basis for noninvasive, semi-quantitative tracking of physiological status.

Tunable resistance switching in solution processed chromium-doped strontium titanate nanoparticles films.

In this work, resistance switching behaviours in solution processed chromium (Cr)-doped strontium titanate (SrTiO3) films have been investigated. Undoped SrTiO3 film shows I-V characteristics of typical nonlinear resistor and no resistance hysteresis loops are observed. On the contrary, Cr-doped SrTiO3 films show stable and reversible hysteresis loops, which can be controlled by applying different voltage bias. Based on a series of characterization results, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), we infer that Ti4+ is substituted by Cr3+, giving rise to increased concentration of oxygen vacancies. Therefore, the observed resistance switching phenomenon is attributed to voltage driven oxygen vacancy migration. Furthermore, gradually decreased overall resistance is also realized under repeated sweeping cycles.

Electrodeposition of High Density Silver Nanosheets with Controllable Morphologies Served as Effective and Reproducible SERS Substrates.

Silver nanosheets with a nanogap smaller than 10 nm and high reproducibility were constructed through simple and environmentally friendly electrodeposition method on copper plate. The sizes of the nanogaps can be varied from around 7 to 150 nm by adjusting the deposition time and current density. The nanosheets with different nanogaps exhibited varied surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) properties due to electromagnetic mechanism (EM). The optimized high density silver nanosheets with a nanogap smaller than 10 nm showed effective SERS ability with an enhanced factor as high as 2.0 × 10(5). Furthermore, the formation mechanism of the nanosheets during the electrodeposition process has been investigated by discussing the influence of boric acid and current density. This method has proved to be applicable on different metal substrates, which exhibits the potential to be widely used in different fields.

Associations of C1q/TNF-Related Protein-9 Levels in Serum and Epicardial Adipose Tissue with Coronary Atherosclerosis in Humans.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation of CTRP9 with coronary atherosclerosis. METHODS: Coronary angiography confirmed CAD in 241 patients (62 received CABG) and non-CAD in 121 (55 received valve replacement). RESULTS: Serum levels of LDL-C, CRP, TNF-α, IL-6, and leptin in CAD patients were significantly higher than those in non-CAD patients (P < 0.05), but APN and CTRP9 were lower (P < 0.05). Serum levels of CTRP9 and APN were negatively related to BMI, HOMA-IR, TNF-α, IL-6, and leptin but positively to HDL-C (P < 0.05) in CAD patients. After adjustment of APN, CTRP9 was still related to the above parameters. Serum CTRP9 was a protective factor of CAD (P < 0.05). When compared with non-CAD patients, leptin mRNA expression increased dramatically, while CTRP9 mRNA expression reduced markedly in epicardial adipose tissue of CAD patients (P < 0.05). The leptin expression and macrophage count in CAD group were significantly higher than in non-CAD group, but CAD patients had a markedly lower CTRP9 expression (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Circulating and coronary CTRP9 plays an important role in the inflammation and coronary atherosclerosis of CAD patients. Serum CTRP9 is an independent protective factor of CAD.

Wetting transition of the caterpillar-like superhydrophobic Cu/Ni-Co hierarchical structure by heat treatment.

Caterpillar-like hierarchical structured Cu/Ni-Co coatings were fabricated by a simple two-step method of combined electroless and electrodeposition. Both contact angles and sliding angles were measured to investigate the hydrophobicity after stearic acid modification. The results revealed the contact angle was as high as 165.5°(superhydrophobic), while the sliding angle was only 3.5°, which makes it very promising as self-cleaning material. Wetting transition from slippery hydrophobicity to sticky hydrophobicity happened upon heat treatment. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis disclosed the morphology change of the hierarchical structure during the heat treatment leading to the wetting state transition. Different models of wetting states were raised and calculated to provide further confirmation of the transition. The contact angle remained larger than 156° when the pH value ranged from 1 to 14 and the heat-treatment temperature was from 100 to 250 °C. Such hierarchical micronanostructure and its special hydrophobicity are expected to have practical application in industry.

Bioinspired multifunctional Au nanostructures with switchable adhesion.

Inspired by the self-cleaning of cicada wings, well-aligned Au-coated Ni nanocone arrays (Au@Ni NAs) have been fabricated by a simple and cheap electrodeposition method. After surface modification of n-hexadecanethiol, self-cleaning can be realized on this long-lived superhydrophobic surface with extremely low adhesive force. Switchable adhesion is obtained on its complementary porous surface. The porous Au structure is fabricated by a geometric replica of the nanocone arrays. After the same surface modification, it shows superhydrophobicity with high adhesion. The different adhesive behaviors on the two lock-and-key Au structures are ascribed to their different contact modes with a water droplet. Combining the superhydrophobic properties of the two complementary structures, they can be used to transport precious microdroplets without any loss. The bioinspired periodic Au@Ni NAs can also be potentially employed as surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates due to its electromagnetic enhancement effect, especially at the tips of the nanocones. Thus, superhydrophobic, SERS, long-lived, self-cleaning, microtransportation functions are realized on the basis of the two surfaces.