Far-infrared therapy promotes exercise capacity and glucose metabolism in mice by modulating microbiota homeostasis and activating AMPK.

The benefits of physical exercise on human health make it desirable to identify new approaches that would mimic or potentiate the effects of exercise to treat metabolic diseases. However, whether far-infrared (FIR) hyperthermia therapy could be used as exercise mimetic to realize wide-ranging metabolic regulation, and its underling mechanisms remain unclear. Here, a specific far-infrared (FIR) rays generated from graphene-based hyperthermia devices might promote exercise capacity and metabolisms. The material characterization showed that the graphene synthesized by chemical vapour deposition (CVD) was different from carbon fiber, with single-layer structure and high electrothermal transform efficiency. The emission spectra generated by graphene-FIR device would maximize matching those adsorbed by tissues. Graphene-FIR enhanced both core and epidermal temperatures, leading to increased blood flow in the femoral muscle and the abdominal region. The combination of microbiomic and metabolomic analysis revealed that graphene-FIR modulates the metabolism of the gut-muscle axis. This modulation was characterized by an increased abundance of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA)-producing bacteria and AMP, while lactic acid levels decreased. Furthermore, the principal routes involved in glucose metabolism, such as glycolysis and gluconeogenesis, were found to be altered. Graphene-FIR managed to stimulate AMPK activity by activating GPR43, thus enhancing muscle glucose uptake. Furthermore, a microbiota disorder model also demonstrated that the graphene-FIR effectively restore the exercise endurance with enhanced p-AMPK and GLUT4. Our results provided convincing evidence that graphene-based FIR therapy promoted exercise capacity and glucose metabolism via AMPK in gut-muscle axis. These novel findings regarding the therapeutic effects of graphene-FIR suggested its potential utility as a mimetic agent in clinical management of metabolic disorders.

Deep learning methods for diagnosis of graves' ophthalmopathy using magnetic resonance imaging.

Background: The effect of diagnosing Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO) through traditional measurement and observation in medical imaging is not ideal. This study aimed to develop and validate deep learning (DL) models that could be applied to the diagnosis of GO based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and compare them to traditional measurement and judgment of radiologists. Methods: A total of 199 clinically verified consecutive GO patients and 145 normal controls undergoing MRI were retrospectively recruited, of whom 240 were randomly assigned to the training group and 104 to the validation group. Areas of superior, inferior, medial, and lateral rectus muscles and all rectus muscles on coronal planes were calculated respectively. Logistic regression models based on areas of extraocular muscles were built to diagnose GO. The DL models named ResNet101 and Swin Transformer with T1-weighted MRI without contrast as input were used to diagnose GO and the results were compared to the radiologist's diagnosis only relying on MRI T1-weighted scans. Results: Areas on the coronal plane of each muscle in the GO group were significantly greater than those in the normal group. In the validation group, the areas under the curve (AUCs) of logistic regression models by superior, inferior, medial, and lateral rectus muscles and all muscles were 0.897 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.833-0.949], 0.705 (95% CI: 0.598-0.804), 0.799 (95% CI: 0.712-0.876), 0.681 (95% CI: 0.567-0.776), and 0.905 (95% CI: 0.843-0.955). ResNet101 and Swin Transformer achieved AUCs of 0.986 (95% CI: 0.977-0.994) and 0.936 (95% CI: 0.912-0.957), respectively. The accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of ResNet101 were 0.933, 0.979, and 0.869, respectively. The accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of Swin Transformer were 0.851, 0.817, and 0.898, respectively. The ResNet101 model yielded higher AUC than models of all muscles and radiologists (0.986 vs. 0.905, 0.818; P<0.001). Conclusions: The DL models based on MRI T1-weighted scans could accurately diagnose GO, and the application of DL systems in MRI may improve radiologists' performance in diagnosing GO and early detection.

A High-Precision Hand-Eye Coordination Localization Method under Convex Relaxation Optimization.

Traditional switching operations require on-site work, and the high voltage generated by arc discharges can pose a risk of injury to the operator. Therefore, a combination of visual servo and robot control is used to localize the switching operation and construct hand-eye calibration equations. The solution to the hand-eye calibration equations is coupled with the rotation matrix and translation vectors, and it depends on the initial value determination. This article presents a convex relaxation global optimization hand-eye calibration algorithm based on dual quaternions. Firstly, the problem model is simplified using the mathematical tools of dual quaternions, and then the linear matrix inequality convex optimization method is used to obtain a rotation matrix with higher accuracy. Afterwards, the calibration equations of the translation vectors are rewritten, and a new objective function is established to solve the coupling influence between them, maintaining positioning precision at approximately 2.9 mm. Considering the impact of noise on the calibration process, Gaussian noise is added to the solutions of the rotation matrix and translation vector to make the data more closely resemble the real scene in order to evaluate the performance of different hand-eye calibration algorithms. Eventually, an experiment comparing different hand-eye calibration methods proves that the proposed algorithm is better than other hand-eye calibration algorithms in terms of calibration accuracy, robustness to noise, and stability, satisfying the accuracy requirements of switching operations.

Ligand-Accelerated Pd-Catalyzed C(sp2)-H and C(sp3)-H Arylation under the Catalytic System.

It is universally acknowledged that ligands can improve the reaction activity to simplify the reaction operating conditions and enrich the applicability of the reaction. Therefore, we developed N-octylglycine ligand-accelerated Pd-catalyzed ortho-arylation of benzoic acids under mild conditions with just 6 h; moreover, this N-octylglycine ligand was successfully implemented to carboxyl-directed Pd-catalyzed ß-C(sp3)-H arylation and ortho-arylation of phenylacetic acids under mild conditions.

Applications of single-cell RNA sequencing in spermatogenesis and molecular evolution.

Spermatogenic cell heterogeneity is determined by the complex process of spermatogenesis differentiation. However, effectively revealing the regulatory mechanisms underlying mammalian spermatogenic cell development and differentiation via traditional methods is difficult. Advances in technology have led to the emergence of many single-cell transcriptome sequencing protocols, which have partially addressed these challenges. In this review, we detail the principles of 10x Genomics technology and summarize the methods for downstream analysis of single-cell transcriptome sequencing data. Furthermore, we explore the role of single-cell transcriptome sequencing in revealing the heterogeneity of testicular ecological niche cells, delineating the establishment and disruption of testicular immune homeostasis during human spermatogenesis, investigating abnormal spermatogenesis in humans, and, ultimately, elucidating the molecular evolution of mammalian spermatogenesis.

Axially Modified Square-Pyramidal CoN4-F1 Sites Enabling High-Performance Zn-Air Batteries.

Cobalt-nitrogen-carbon (Co-N-C) catalysts with a CoN4 structure exhibit great potential for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), but the imperfect adsorption energy toward oxygen species greatly limits their reduction efficiency and practical application potential. Here, F-coordinated Co-N-C catalysts with square-pyramidal CoN4-F1 configuration are successfully synthesized using F atoms to regulate the axial coordination of Co centers via hydrothermal and chemical vapor deposition methods. During the synthesis process, the geometry structure of the Co atom converts from six-coordinated Co-F6 to square-pyramidal CoN4-F1 in the coordinatively unsaturated state, which provides an open binding site for the O2. The introduction of axial F atoms into the CoN4 plane alters the local atomic environment around Co, significantly improving the ORR activity and Zn-air batteries performance. In situ spectroscopy proves that CoN4-F1 sites strongly combine with the OOH* intermediate and facilitate the splitting of O-O bond, making OOH* readily decompose into O* and OH* via a dissociative pathway. Theoretical calculations confirm that the axial F atom effectively reduces the electronic density of the Co centers and facilitates the desorption of the OH* intermediate, efficiently accelerating the overall ORR kinetics. This work advances a feasible synthesis mechanism of axial ligands and provides a route to construct efficient high-coordination catalysts.

Electrochemiluminescence detection of diazinon in vegetables based on the synergistic interaction of WO3-x dots with Au@SiO2 nanocapsules.

In this work, a simple synthesis of low-toxicity transition metal material of WO3-x dots was used as a co-reactant with Au@SiO2 as a core-shell material and a signal amplification factor to collaboratively promote Ru(bpy)32+ electrochemiluminescence (ECL) for the construction of a highly sensitive aptasensor for the detection of diazinon (DZN) in vegetables. Electrodes modified with multi-walled carbon nanotubes-chitosan composite membranes (MWCNTs-CS) were used to load and immobilize more Ru(bpy)32+.can load more Ru(bpy)32+. WO3-x dots synthesized by a simple method showed excellent ECL efficiency as a novel co-reactant for Ru(bpy)32+. Under optimized conditions, this aptasensor for DZN has a wide detection range (10 pg mL-1 - 1 µg mL-1.) and a low detection limit (0.0197 ng L-1). The aptasensor has shown good results in the analysis of real samples in the experiment. This work provides a new approach to the construction of a novel electrochemiluminescence sensor for the detection of pesticides.

Far-Infrared Therapy Based on Graphene Ameliorates High-Fat Diet-Induced Anxiety-Like Behavior in Obese Mice via Alleviating Intestinal Barrier Damage and Neuroinflammation.

The consumption of a high-fat diet (HFD) has been implicated in the etiology of obesity and various neuropsychiatric disturbances, including anxiety and depression. Compelling evidence suggests that far-infrared ray (FIR) possesses beneficial effects on emotional disorders. However, the efficacy of FIR therapy in addressing HFD-induced anxiety and the underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated. Here, we postulate that FIR emitted from a graphene-based therapeutic device may mitigate HFD-induced anxiety behaviors. The graphene-FIR modify the gut microbiota in HFD-mice, particularly by an enriched abundance of beneficial bacteria Clostridiaceae and Erysipelotrichaceae, coupled with a diminution of harmful bacteria Lachnospiraceae, Anaerovoracaceae, Holdemania and Marvinbryantia. Graphene-FIR also improved intestinal barrier function, as evidenced by the augmented expression of the tight junction protein occludin and G protein-coupled receptor 43 (GPR43). In serum level, we observed the decreased free fatty acids (FFA), lipopolysaccharides (LPS), diamine oxidase (DAO) and D-lactate, and increased the glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2) levels in graphene-FIR mice. Simultaneously, inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-1ß, and TNF-α manifested a decrease subsequent to graphene-FIR treatment in both peripheral and central system. Notably, graphene-FIR inhibited over expression of astrocytes and microglia. We further noticed that the elevated the BDNF and decreased TLR4 and NF-κB expression in graphene-FIR group. Overall, our study reveals that graphene-FIR rescued HFD-induced anxiety via improving the intestine permeability and the integrity of blood-brain barrier, and reduced inflammatory response by down regulating TLR4/NF-κB inflammatory pathway.

A novel self-enhanced electrochemiluminescent aptamer sensor based on ternary nanocomposite PEI/RuSi-MWCNTs for the detection of profenofos residues in vegetables.

In this work, a novel ternary nanocomposite of PEI/RuSi-MWCNTs was designed and synthesized for the first time, which an ultrasensitive and self-enhanced electrochemiluminescent (ECL) aptasensor was developed for the detection of profenofos residues in vegetables. The self-enhanced complex PEI-Ru (II) enhanced the emission and stability of ECL, and the multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) acted as an excellent carrier and signal amplification. The PEI/RuSi-MWCNTs were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS). The incorporation of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) improved the performance of the sensor and provided a platform for the immobilization of the aptamer. The results of the experiment showed that the presence of profenofos significantly suppressed the electrochemiluminescence intensity of the sensor. The detection sensitivity of the aptamer sensor was in the range of 1 × 10-2 to 1 × 103 ng/mL. Under optimal conditions, the limit of detection (LOD) of the sensor for profenofos was 1.482 × 10-3 ng/mL. The sensor had excellent stability, reproducibility and specificity. The recoveries of the sensor ranged from 92.29 % to 106.47 % in real sample tests.

Boron-based ternary MgTa2B6 cluster: a turning nanoclock with dynamic structural fluxionality.

Boron-based complex clusters are a fertile ground for the exploration of exotic chemical bonding and dynamic structural fluxionality. Here we report on the computational design of a ternary MgTa2B6 cluster via global structural searches and quantum chemical calculations. The cluster turns out to be a new member of the molecular rotor family, closely mimicking a turning clock at the subnanoscale. It is composed of a hexagonal B6 ring with a capping Ta atom at the top and bottom, whereas the Mg atom is linked to one Ta site as a radial Ta-Mg dimer. These components serve as the dial, axis, and hand of a nanoclock, respectively. Chemical bonding analyses reveal that the inverse sandwich Ta2B6 motif in the cluster features 6π/6σ double aromaticity, whose electron counting conforms to the (4n + 2) Hückel rule. The Ta-Mg dimer has a Lewis-type σ bond, and the Mg site has negligible bonding with B6 ring. The ternary cluster can be formulated as an [Mg]0[Ta2B6]0 complex. Molecular dynamics simulations suggest that the cluster is structurally fluxional analogous to a nanoclock, even at a low temperature of 100 K. The Ta-Mg hand turns almost freely around the Ta2 axis and along the B6 dial. The tiny intramolecular rotation barrier is less than 0.3 kcal mol-1, being dictated by the bonding nature of double 6π/6σ aromaticity. The present system offers a new type of molecular rotor in physical chemistry.

Effect of Qingshen granules on miR-23b and PINKl/Parkin pathway in rat NRK-52E cell transdifferentiation model / 中国药理学通报

Aim To investigate the targeting mechanism of miR-23b on PINKl/Parkin pathway in transdifferentiation of NRK-52E cellsinduced by TGF-β1, and to elucidate the intervention mechanism of Qingshen granules drug-containing serum on NRK-52E cell transdifferentiation. Methods Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography ( UPLC ) fingerprinting method was used to analyze Qingshen granules. The NRK-52E transdifferentiation model induced by TGF-β1 was constructed. The NRK-52E cells were divided into simulated no-load control group, miR-23b-5p simulated group, inhibitor no-load control group, and miR-23b-5p inhibitor group, after transfection with siRNA, and the effect of miR-23b-5p on PINK1 expression was ob-served. The NRK-52E cells were then divided into normal group, TGF-(31 group, Qingshen granule group, miR-23 b-mimic group, miR-23 b-mimic group, and miR-23b-mimic + Qingshen granule group. Western blot was used to detect the expression of Pinkl, Parkin, LC3 n, Beclin-1, P62 and a-SMA proteins, and RT- PCR was used to detect the expression of miR-23 b-5p, Pinkl, Parkin, Beclin-1 and a-SMA mRNA in NRK- 52E cells. Dual-Luciferase Reporter gene experiment was used to detect the targeting relationship between miR-23b-5p and PINKL Results UPLC fingerprinting method found 11 active components in Qingshen granules. After overexpression of miR-23b-5p, the expression of PINkl mRNA significantly increased (P 0. 05 ). The experimental results showed that the expressions of miR- 23b-5p, Pinkl, Parkin, Beclin-1, LC3 II and LC3 II/ I ratio in TGF-β1 group were significantly lower than those in normal group, but the expressions of P62 and a-SMA were significantly higher than those in normal group ( P <0.05). The expressions of miR-23 b-5 p, Pinkl, Parkin, Beclin-1, LC3 II and LC3 11/ I ratio in Qingshen granule group and miR-23 b-mimic group were significantly higher than those in TGF-β1 group, and the expressions of P62 and a-SMA were significantly lower than those in TGF-β1 group (P < 0. 05 ). The performance of miR-23 b-mimic + Qingshen granule group was better than that of miR-23 b-mimic group (P < 0. 05 ). Conclusions Qingshen granules can up- regulate the expression of miR-23b-5p in NRK-52E cellsand inhibit the transdifferentiation process of NRK- 52E cells by enhancing the mitochondrial autophagy activity mediated by PINKl/Parkin pathway.

Ligand Promoted Pd-Catalyzed High para-Selective C-H Olefination.

Achieving high para-selective C-H functionalized products of benzoic acid derivatives using a designed template is still a daunting challenge because the carbonyl group also could coordinate with metal to activate the ortho-C-H bond. Herein, we report the ligand promoted high para-selective C-H olefination of benzoic acid derivatives; we screened a series of ligands increasing the ratio of p:others from 62:38 to 96:4. This work may find application in the construction of para-substituted benzoic acid derivatives.

[Progress on mRNA vaccine for the prevention of major infectious diseases in humans and animals].

A large number of studies have demonstrated that mRNA vaccine has been characterized as a technique with good safety, strong immunogenicity and high developmental potential, which makes it have broad prospects in immunotherapy. In recent years, the stability and in vivo delivery efficiency of mRNA vaccines have been largely addressed by the progresses in mRNA engineering and delivery innovation. And some mRNA vaccines are now clinical approved or in preclinical trials. Here, we summarize current knowledge on the research advances, technology, and application in major infectious diseases in humans and animals of mRNA vaccines, with the aim to provide a reference for improving the development of novel mRNA vaccines.

Effect of Shao's five-needle therapy pretreatment on airway inflammatory response in asthmatic rats based on ROS/TXNIP/NLRP3 pathway. / 基于ROS/TXNIP/NLRP3通路探讨"邵氏五针法"é¢„å¤„ç†å¯¹å“®å–˜å¤§é¼ æ°”é“ç‚Žæ€§ååº”çš„å½±å“.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the possible mechanism of Shao's five-needle therapy pretreatment on relieving airway inflammatory response in asthmatic rats. METHODS: Forty SPF-grade SD rats were randomly divided into a blank group, a model group, an acupuncture group, and a medication group, with 10 rats in each group. Except the blank group, asthma model was established by aerosol inhalation of ovalbumin in the other 3 groups. The rats in the acupuncture group were treated with acupuncture at "Dazhui" (GV 14) and bilateral "Feishu" (BL 13) and "Fengmen" (BL 12), with each session lasting for 20 min. Acupuncture was given before each motivating, once daily for 7 consecutive days. The rats in the medication group were treated with intraperitoneal injection of dexamethasone sodium phosphate solution before each motivating, once daily for 7 days. General situation of the rats was observed in each group; ELISA method was used to detect the levels of inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1ß and IL-18 in serum; immunofluorescence staining method was performed to assess the expression of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in lung tissues; Western blot method was used to measure the protein expression of thioredoxin interacting protein (TXNIP), NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC), and Caspase-1 in lung tissues. RESULTS: The rats in the blank group exhibited normal behavior, while those in the model group showed signs of respiratory distress, ear scratching, cheek rubbing, and dysphoria. Compared with the model group, the rats in the acupuncture group and the medication group showed stable respiration and relatively agile responses. Compared with those in the blank group, the serum levels of IL-18 and IL-1ß were elevated (P<0.01), the expression intensity of ROS was increased, and the protein expressions of TXNIP, NLRP3, ASC and Caspase-1 in lung tissues were increased (P<0.01) in the model group. Compared with those in the model group, the serum levels of IL-18 and IL-1ß were reduced (P<0.01), the expression intensity of ROS was lowered, and the protein expressions of TXNIP, NLRP3, ASC and Caspase-1 in lung tissues were reduced (P<0.01) in the acupuncture group and the medication group. Compared with the medication group, the protein expression of ASC in lung tissue was reduced in the acupuncture group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Pretreatment of Shao's five-needle therapy could alleviate airway inflammatory response in asthmatic rats by reducing ROS levels and decreasing the aggregation and activation of pathway-related proteins in the ROS/TXNIP/NLRP3 pathway, ultimately leading to decreased secretion of IL-1ß and IL-18. This mechanism may contribute to the effectiveness of Shao's five-needle therapy in preventing and treating asthma.

Boron-based Pd3B26 alloy cluster as a nanoscale antifriction bearing system: tubular core-shell structure, double π/σ aromaticity, and dynamic structural fluxionality.

Boron-based nanoclusters show unique geometric structures, nonclassical chemical bonding, and dynamic structural fluxionality. We report here on the theoretical prediction of a binary Pd3B26 cluster, which is composed of a triangular Pd3 core and a tubular double-ring B26 unit in a coaxial fashion, as identified through global structural searches and electronic structure calculations. Molecular dynamics simulations indicate that in the core-shell alloy cluster, the B26 double-ring unit can rotate freely around its Pd3 core at room temperature and beyond. The intramolecular rotation is virtually barrier free, thus giving rise to an antifriction bearing system (or ball bearing) at the nanoscale. The dimension of the dynamic system is only 0.66 nm. Chemical bonding analysis reveals that Pd3B26 cluster possesses double 14π/14σ aromaticity, following the (4n + 2) Hückel rule. Among 54 pairs of valence electrons in the cluster, the overwhelming majority are spatially isolated from each other and situated on either the B26 tube or the Pd3 core. Only one pair of electrons are primarily responsible for chemical bonding between the tube and the core, which greatly weaken the bonding within the Pd3 core and offers structural flexibility. This is a key mechanism that effectively diminishes the intramolecular rotation barrier and facilitates dynamic structural fluxionality of the system. The current work enriches the field of nanorotors and nanomachines.

Screening of hub inflammatory bowel disease biomarkers and identification of immune-related functions based on basement membrane genes.

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), is a chronic, inflammatory, and autoimmune disease, but its specific etiology and pathogenesis are still unclear. This study aimed to better discover the causative basement membrane (BM) genes of their subtypes and their associations. METHODS: The differential expression of BM genes between CD and UC was analyzed and validated by downloading relevant datasets from the GEO database. We divided the samples into 3 groups for comparative analysis. Construction of PPI networks, enrichment of differential gene functions, screening of Lasso regression models, validation of ROC curves, nomogram for disease prediction and other analytical methods were used. The immune cell infiltration was further explored by ssGSEA analysis, the immune correlates of hub BM genes were found, and finally, the hub central genes were screened by machine learning. RESULTS: We obtained 6 candidate hub BM genes related to cellular immune infiltration in the CD and UC groups, respectively, and further screened the central hub genes ADAMTS17 and ADAMTS9 through machine learning. And in the ROC curve models, AUC > 0.7, indicating that this characteristic gene has a more accurate predictive effect on IBD. We also found that the pathogenicity-related BM genes of the CD and UC groups were mainly concentrated in the ADAMTS family (ADAMTS17 and ADAMTS9). Addition there are some differences between the two subtypes, and the central different hub BM genes are SPARC, POSTN, and ADAMTS2. CONCLUSIONS: In the current study, we provided a nomogram model of CD and UC composed of BM genes, identified central hub genes, and clarified the similarities and differences between CD and UC. This will have potential value for preclinical, clinical, and translational guidance and differential research in IBD.

Boron-Based Inverse Sandwich V2B7- Cluster: Double π/σ Aromaticity, Metal-Metal Bonding, and Chemical Analogy to Planar Hypercoordinate Molecular Wheels.

Inverse sandwich clusters composed of a monocyclic boron ring and two capping transition metal atoms are interesting alloy cluster systems, yet their chemical bonding nature has not been sufficiently elucidated to date. We report herein on the theoretical prediction of a new example of boron-based inverse sandwich alloy clusters, V2B7-, through computational global-minimum structure searches and quantum chemical calculations. This alloy cluster has a heptatomic boron ring as well as a perpendicular V2 dimer unit that penetrates through the ring. Chemical bonding analysis suggests that the inverse sandwich cluster is governed by globally delocalized 6π and 6σ frameworks, that is, double 6π/6σ aromaticity following the (4n + 2) Hückel rule. The skeleton B-B σ bonding in the cluster is shown not to be strictly Lewis-type two-center two-electron (2c-2e) σ bonds. Rather, these are quasi-Lewis-type, roof-like 4c-2e V-B2-V σ bonds, which amount to seven in total and cover the whole surface of inverse sandwich in a truly three-dimensional manner. Theoretical evidence is revealed for a 2c-2e Lewis σ single bond within the V2 dimer. Direct metal-metal bonding is scarce in inverse sandwich alloy clusters. The present inverse sandwich alloy cluster also offers a new type of electronic transmutation in physical chemistry, which helps establish an intriguing chemical analogy between inverse sandwich clusters and planar hypercoordinate molecular wheels.

Analysis of retinal arteriolar and venular parameters in primary open angle glaucoma.

AIM: To measure the retinal vessels of primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) patients on spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) with a full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) algorithm to better explore their structural changes in the pathogenesis of POAG. METHODS: In this retrospective case-control study, the right eyes of 32 patients with POAG and 30 healthy individuals were routinely selected. Images of the supratemporal and infratemporal retinal vessels in the B zones were obtained by SD-OCT, and the edges of the vessels were identified by the FWHM method. The internal and external diameters, wall thickness (WT), wall cross-sectional area (WCSA) and wall-to-lumen ratio (WLR) of the blood vessels were studied. RESULTS: Compared with the healthy control group, the POAG group showed a significantly reduced retinal arteriolar outer diameter (RAOD), retinal arteriolar lumen diameter (RALD) and WSCA in the supratemporal (124.22±12.42 vs 138.32±10.73 µm, 96.09±11.09 vs 108.53±9.89 µm, and 4762.02±913.51 vs 5785.75±1148.28 µm2, respectively, all P<0.05) and infratemporal regions (125.01±15.55 vs 141.57±10.77 µm, 96.27±13.29 vs 110.83±10.99 µm, and 4925.56±1302.88 vs 6087.78±1061.55 µm2, all P<0.05). The arteriolar WT and WLR were not significantly different between the POAG and control groups, nor were the retinal venular outer diameter (RVOD), retinal venular lumen diameter (RVLD) or venular WT in the supratemporal or infratemporal region. There was a positive correlation between the arteriolar parameters and visual function. CONCLUSION: In POAG, narrowing of the supratemporal and infratemporal arterioles and a significant reduction in the WSCA is observed, while the arteriolar WT and WLR do not change. Among the venular parameters, the external diameter, internal diameter, WT, WLR, and WSCA of the venules are not affected.

Chemical Bonding and Dynamic Structural Fluxionality of a Boron-Based Na5B7 Sandwich Cluster.

Doping alkali metals into boron clusters can effectively compensate for the intrinsic electron deficiency of boron and lead to interesting boron-based binary clusters, owing to the small electronegativity of the former elements. We report on the computational design of a three-layered sandwich cluster, Na5B7, on the basis of global-minimum (GM) searches and electronic structure calculations. It is shown that the Na5B7 cluster can be described as a charge-transfer complex: [Na4]2+[B7]3-[Na]+. In this sandwich cluster, the [B7]3- core assumes a molecular wheel in shape and features in-plane hexagonal coordination. The magic 6π/6σ double aromaticity underlies the stability of the [B7]3- molecular wheel, following the (4n + 2) Hückel rule. The tetrahedral Na4 ligand in the sandwich has a [Na4]2+ charge-state, which is the simplest example of three-dimensional aromaticity, spherical aromaticity, or superatom. Its 2σ electron counting renders σ aromaticity for the ligand. Overall, the sandwich cluster has three-fold 6π/6σ/2σ aromaticity. Molecular dynamics simulation shows that the sandwich cluster is dynamically fluxional even at room temperature, with a negligible energy barrier for intramolecular twisting between the B7 wheel and the Na4 ligand. The Na5B7 cluster offers a new example for dynamic structural fluxionality in molecular systems.

A Cheap and Efficient Oxidant (n-Bu)4NNO3-Enabled C(sp2)- and C(sp3)-H Olefination at Room Temperature.

To further promote the widely practical application of C-H activation, developing green and mild reaction conditions has invariably been the objective of researchers, especially when it comes to remote C-H activation reactions. Herein, we report a new cheap and powerful (n-Bu)4NNO3 oxidant. This oxidant is efficient and universal for Pd(II)-catalyzed sp2 and sp3 C-H olefination and allows the reaction to be carried out at room temperature. Because of this, we attempted to make C-H functionalization more economical and environmentally benign.