Synergetic Electrostatic and Steric Effects in α-FAPbI3 Single Crystals For X-Ray Detection and Imaging.

It is still challenging to stabilize α-FAPbI3 perovskite for high performance optoelectrical devices. Herein, a novel strategy is proposed utilizing the synergetic electrostatic and steric effect to stabilize the α-FAPbI3 phase and suppress the ion migration. Dimethylamine (DMA+) cations are chosen as the dopant to fabricate FA0.96DMA0.04PbI3 single crystals (SCs). DFT calculations reveal that DMA+ cations can improve the stability of α-FAPbI3 phase in both thermodynamics (lower Gibbs free energy) and kinetics (higher defect formation and migration energy). The resulting SCs exhibit an environmental stability over 100 days and an extraordinary low dark current drift of 3.7 × 10-7 nA cm-1 s-1 V-1, comparable to 2D perovskite SCs. The X-ray detectors have also achieved the-state-of-the-art performance in X-ray detection and imaging. This work demonstrates the significance of electrostatic and steric effects in improving the phase and operational stability of perovskites.

Association between untreated and treated blood pressure levels and cognitive decline in community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults in China: a longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: Optimal blood pressure (BP) levels to reduce the long-term risk of cognitive decline remains controversial. We aimed to investigate the association between BP and anti-hypertensive treatment status with cognitive decline in older adults. METHODS: This study used data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. Cognitive function was assessed at year 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2018. Global cognitive Z-score was calculated as the average score of episodic memory and mental intactness. BP were measured at the first and second wave. Pulse pressure (PP) was calculated as systolic BP (SBP) minus diastolic BP. Cumulative BP was calculated as the area under the curve using BP measurements from 2011 to 2013. Linear mixed models were used to assess the longitudinal association between BP-related measurements and cognitive decline. RESULTS: We included 11,671 participants (47.3% men and mean age 58.6 years). Individual with BP > 140/90 mm Hg or taking anti-hypertensive medication were independently associated with accelerated cognitive decline (ß=-0.014, 95% CI: -0.020 to -0.007). Individuals with anti-hypertensive medication use, but with controlled SBP to less than 120 mm Hg did not have a significantly increased risk of cognitive decline compared with normotension (ß=-0.003, 95% CI: -0.021 to 0.014). Individuals on anti-hypertensive treatment with PP of more than 70 mm Hg had a significantly higher risk of cognitive decline (ß=-0.033, 95% CI: -0.045 to -0.020). Regardless of anti-hypertensive treatment status, both elevated baseline and cumulative SBP and PP were found to be independently associated with accelerated cognitive decline. CONCLUSIONS: Cumulatively elevated SBP, PP and uncontrolled BP were associated with subsequent cognitive decline. Effectively controlling BP with anti-hypertensive treatment may be able to preserve cognitive decline in older adults.

Electromagnetohydrodynamic (EMHD) flow of Jeffrey fluid through a rough circular microchannel with surface charge-dependent slip.

This research examines the electromagnetohydrodynamic (EMHD) flow of Jeffrey fluid in a rough circular microchannel while considering the effect of surface charge on slip. The channel wall corrugations are described as periodic sinusoidal waves with small amplitudes. The perturbation method is employed to derive solutions for velocity and volumetric flow rate, and a combination of three-dimensional (3D) and two-dimensional (2D) graphical representations is utilized to effectively illustrate the impacts of relevant parameters on them. The significance of the Reynolds number R e $Re$ in investigations of EMHD flow is particularly emphasized. Furthermore, the effect of wall roughness ε $\varepsilon $ and wave number k $k$ on velocity and the influence of wall roughness ε $\varepsilon $ and surface charge density σ s ${\sigma }_s$ on volumetric flow rate are primarily focused on, respectively, at various Reynolds numbers. The results suggest that increasing the wall roughness leads to a reduction in velocity at low Reynolds numbers ( R e = 1 $Re = 1$ ) and an increment at high Reynolds numbers ( R e = 10 $Re = 10$ ). For any Reynolds number, a roughness with an odd multiple of wave number ( k = 6 , 10 $k = 6,10$ ) will result in a more stable velocity profile compared to one with an even multiple of wave number ( k = 4 , 8 $k = 4,8$ ). Decreasing the relaxation time λ ¯ 1 ${\bar{\lambda }}_1$ while increasing the retardation time λ ¯ 2 ${\bar{\lambda }}_2$ and Hartmann number H a $Ha$ can diminish the impact of wall roughness ε $\varepsilon $ and surface charge density σ s ${\sigma }_s$ on volumetric flow rate, independent of the Reynolds number. Interestingly, in the existence of wall roughness, further consideration of the effect of surface charge on slip leads to a 15% drop in volumetric flow rate at R e = 1 $Re = 1$ and a 32% slippage at R e = 10 $Re = 10$ . However, in the condition where the effect of surface charge on slip is considered, further examination of the presence of wall roughness only results in a 1.4% decline in volumetric flow rate at R e = 1 $Re = 1$ and a 1.6% rise at R e = 10 $Re = 10$ . These findings are crucial for optimizing the EMHD flow models in microchannels.

FL% is associated with the severity of acute DeBakey type I aortic dissection in patients undergoing frozen elephant trunk and total arch replacement.

Objectives: The diameter, area, and volume of the true lumen and false lumen (FL) have been measured in previous studies to evaluate the extent of DeBakey type I aortic dissection. However, these indicators have limitations because of the irregular shapes of the true and false lumens and the constant oscillation of intimal flap during systole and diastole. The ratio of arch lengths seems to be a more reliable indicator. FL% was defined as the ratio of the arch length of FL to the circumference of the aorta at the different levels of the aorta. The purpose of this article was to investigate whether FL% is a predictor of the severity of acute DeBakey type I aortic dissection in patients undergoing frozen elephant trunk (FET) and total arch replacement. Methods: In this retrospective observational study, we analyzed a total of 344 patients with acute DeBakey type I aortic dissection that underwent FET and total arch replacement at our center from October 2015 to October 2019. The patients were divided into two groups by cluster analysis according to the perioperative course. Binary logistic regression analyses were performed to determine whether FL% could predict the severity of acute DeBakey type I aortic dissection. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) was used to assess the power of the multivariate logistic regression model for the severity of acute DeBakey type I aortic dissection. Results: The patients in the ultra-high-risk group (109 patients) had significantly more severe clinical comorbidities and complications than the patients in the high-risk group (235 patients). The ascending aortic FL% [odds ratio (OR), 11.929 (95% CI: 1.421-100.11); P = 0.022], location of initial tear [OR, 0.68 (95% CI: 0.47-0.98); P = 0.041], the degree of left iliac artery involvement [OR, 1.95 (95% CI: 1.15-3.30); P = 0.013], and the degree of right coronary artery involvement [OR, 1.46 (95% CI: 1.01-2.12); P = 0.045] on preoperative computed tomography angiography were associated with the severity of acute DeBakey type I aortic dissection. The AUROC value of this multivariate logistic regression analysis was 0.940 (95% CI: 0.914-0.967; P < 0.001). The AUROC value of ascending aortic FL% was 0.841 (95% CI: 0.798-0.884; P < 0.001) for the severity of acute DeBakey type I aortic dissection in patients undergoing FET and total arch replacement. Conclusions: Ascending aortic FL% was validated as an essential radiologic index for assessing the severity of acute DeBakey type I aortic dissection in patients undergoing FET and total arch replacement. Higher values of ascending aortic FL% were more severe.

Source-specific probabilistic health risk assessment of heavy metals in surface water of the Yangtze River Basin.

The detrimental effects of heavy metal accumulation on both ecosystems and public health have raised widespread concern. Source-specific risk assessment is crucial for developing effective strategies to prevent and control heavy metal contamination in surface water. This study aims to investigate the contamination characteristics of heavy metals in the Yangtze River Basin, identifying the pollution sources, assessing the risk levels, and further evaluating the health risks to humans. The results indicated that the average concentrations of heavy metals were ranked as follows: zinc (Zn) > arsenic (As) > copper (Cu) > chromium (Cr) > cadmium (Cd) > nickel (Ni) > lead (Pb), with average concentrations of 38.02 µg/L, 4.34 µg/L, 2.53 µg/L, 2.10 µg/L, 1.17 µg/L, 0.84 µg/L, and 0.32 µg/L, respectively, all below the WHO 2017 standards for safe drinking water. The distribution trend indicates higher concentrations in the upper and lower reaches and lower concentrations in the mid-reaches of the river. By integrating the Absolute Principal Component Scores-Multiple Linear Regression (APCS-MLR) receptor model and Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) model, the main sources of heavy metals were identified as industrial activities (APCS-MLR: 41.3 %; PMF: 42.1 %), agricultural activities (APCS-MLR: 30.1 %; PMF: 27.4 %), and unknown mix sources (APCS-MLR: 29.1 %; PMF: 30.4 %). The calculation of the hazard index (HI) for both children and adults was <1, indicating no non-carcinogenic or carcinogenic risks. Based on the source-specific risk assessment, agricultural activities contribute the most to non-carcinogenic risks, while industrial activities pose the greatest contribution to carcinogenic risks. This study offers a reference for monitoring heavy metals and controlling health risks to residents, and provides crucial evidence for the utilization and protection of surface water in the Yangtze River Basin.

Ag3PO4 enables the generation of long-lived radical cations for visible light-driven [2 + 2] and [4 + 2] pericyclic reactions.

Photocatalytic redox reactions are important for synthesizing fine chemicals from olefins, but the limited lifetime of radical cation intermediates severely restricts semiconductor photocatalysis efficiency. Here, we report that Ag3PO4 can efficiently catalyze intramolecular and intermolecular [2 + 2] and Diels-Alder cycloadditions under visible-light irradiation. The approach is additive-free, catalyst-recyclable. Mechanistic studies indicate that visible-light irradiation on Ag3PO4 generates holes with high oxidation power, which oxidize aromatic alkene adsorbates into radical cations. In photoreduced Ag3PO4, the conduction band electron (eCB-) has low reduction power due to the delocalization among the Ag+-lattices, while the particle surfaces have a strong electrostatic interaction with the radical cations, which considerably stabilize the radical cations against recombination with eCB-. The radical cation on the particle's surfaces has a lifetime of more than 2 ms, 75 times longer than homogeneous systems. Our findings highlight the effectiveness of inorganic semiconductors for challenging radical cation-mediated synthesis driven by sunlight.

Role of long non-coding RNAs in metabolic reprogramming of gastrointestinal cancer cells.

Metabolic reprogramming, which is recognized as a hallmark of cancer, refers to the phenomenon by which cancer cells change their metabolism to support their increased biosynthetic demands. Tumor cells undergo substantial alterations in metabolic pathways, such as glycolysis, oxidative phosphorylation, pentose phosphate pathway, tricarboxylic acid cycle, fatty acid metabolism, and amino acid metabolism. Latest studies have revealed that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), a group of non-coding RNAs over 200 nucleotides long, mediate metabolic reprogramming in tumor cells by regulating the transcription, translation and post-translational modification of metabolic-related signaling pathways and metabolism-related enzymes through transcriptional, translational, and post-translational modifications of genes. In addition, lncRNAs are closely related to the tumor microenvironment, and they directly or indirectly affect the proliferation and migration of tumor cells, drug resistance and other processes. Here, we review the mechanisms of lncRNA-mediated regulation of glucose, lipid, amino acid metabolism and tumor immunity in gastrointestinal tumors, aiming to provide more information on effective therapeutic targets and drug molecules for gastrointestinal tumors.

Copper Chaperone for Superoxide Dismutase Subtypes as a Prognostic Marker in Luminal B Breast Cancer.

Background: Copper chaperone for superoxide dismutase (CCS) is an essential component of the oxidation-reduction system. In breast cancer cells, CCS expression is highly up-regulated, which contributes to cellular proliferation and migration. Breast cancer is a multifaceted disease with different tumor prognoses and responses to clinical treatments, which may be associated with multiple molecular subtypes of CCS. Methods: The CCS expression patterns in breast cancer were investigated by TNMplot, cBioPortal, and HPA network database. The correlation of CCS expression with clinicopathological parameters was analyzed using the UALCAN database. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data set was used to analyze the Clinical characteristics of CCS in luminal B patients. The bc-GenExMiner database was used to analyze the effects of BReast-CAncer susceptibility gene (BRCA)1/2, TP53 mutation status, estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER) expression on CCS expression. The survival curves and prognostic value of CCS in luminal B breast cancer were performed through Kaplan-Meier curves, univariate and multivariate Cox regression using the PrognoScan, bc-GenExMiner, and Clinical bioinformatics analysis platform. Results: We found that CCS expression was associated with patient age, race, ER, and PR status. We also discovered that BRCA1/2 mutations had an effect on CCS expression. The luminal B subtype had the highest CCS expression, which was linked to poor survival compared with other subtypes. In addition, Kaplan-Meier curve analysis showed that luminal B patients with high CCS mRNA expression showed a poor survival and the CCS gene is an independent predictor of outcome in patients with luminal B breast cancer by univariate and multivariate Cox regression. Conclusions: Our findings emphasize the significant expression of CCS in luminal B breast cancer and its potential as an autonomous prognostic determinant for this specific molecular subtype. These findings suggest that CCS holds promise as a prospective marker for the treatment of luminal B breast cancer.

Association of chronic conditions and physical multimorbidity with new-onset incontinence in a nationwide prospective cohort study of older adults ≥ 50 years in China.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between multimorbidity (i.e. ≥ 2 chronic conditions) and incontinence (i.e. urinary and/or faecal incontinence) is underexplored. This study investigated the association between multimorbidity and incident incontinence in Chinese adults aged ≥50 years. METHODS: Data from the 2011 and 2015 waves of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study were used. The association between 12 chronic conditions, multimorbidity and new-onset incontinence was analysed using weighted logistic regression models. Mediation analysis was conducted to explore the potential mediators (self-reported health, subjective memory, depressive symptoms, disability, cognitive function, handgrip strength, mobility limitations, medications and frailty status) between multimorbidity and incontinence. FINDINGS: Among 9,986 individuals aged ≥50 years who were continent at baseline, 5.3% (n = 521) were newly incontinent 4 years later (incident cases). The risk of incident incontinence increased with physical multimorbidity (OR 2.04, 95% CI 1.62-2.57). Compared to no chronic condition, having 1, 2, 3 and ≥ 4 chronic conditions were associated with incident incontinence with OR (95% CI): 1.41 (1.01-1.97), 1.74 (1.24-2.44), 2.82 (1.93-4.12) and 3.99 (2.29-6.95), respectively. The association between multimorbidity and incontinence was mediated by self-reported health (41.2%), medications (26.6%), mobility limitations (20.9%), depressive symptoms (12.8%), disability (11.6%), subjective memory (8.7%) and frailty status (8.3%). CONCLUSION: This longitudinal study found that physical multimorbidity and specific chronic conditions may increase the risk of new-onset incontinence among Chinese adults aged ≥50 years. Self-reported health, medications and mobility limitations seemed to be important intermediate conditions between multimorbidity and incident incontinence.

Predictors and mortality of new onset postoperative atrial fibrillation after STAAD surgery: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Data on new onset postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) after Stanford type A dissection (STAAD) surgery was limited. This study aimed to detect the risk factors for developing POAF after STAAD procedures and the association between POAF and in-hospital mortality. METHODS: A total of 1354 patients who underwent surgical treatment for STAAD in Beijing Anzhen hospital were enrolled in this single-center retrospective study from January 2015 to October 2020. POAF were defined as atrial fibrillation/flutter requiring treatment after surgery procedure. Logistic model was conducted to detect the predictors of POAF, and inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) and subgroup analysis were used to compare the mortality of POAF and non-POAF groups. RESULTS: There were 176 patients (13.0%) diagnosed with POAF according to the definition. Multivariate logistics analyses revealed that advanced age [odds ratio (OR), 1.07; 95% CI: 1.05-1.08; P <0.001)], creatinine (OR, 1.00; 95% CI: 1.00-1.01; P =0.001) and cross-clamp time (OR, 1.00; 95% CI: 1.00-1.01; P =0.021) were independent risk factors of developing POAF in STAAD patients. POAF patients were associated with significantly higher in-hospital mortality compared with non-POAF patients (6.5 vs. 19.9%, OR, 3.60; 95% CI: 2.30-5.54; P <0.001), IPTW and subgroup analysis had reached consistent conclusions. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of POAF was 13.0% after STAAD surgery, advanced age, creatinine, and cross-clamp time were independent risk factors of developing POAF in STAAD patients. POAF is associated with increased mortality after STAAD procedures.

The Association Between Serum Uric Acid and Cognitive Function Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults Without Hyperuricemia: The Mediating Role of Depressive Symptoms.

BACKGROUND: The association between serum uric acid (SUA) and cognitive function remains unclear, especially among individuals without hyperuricemia. We examined the cross-sectional and longitudinal bidirectional associations between SUA and cognition, as well as the mediating effect of depressive symptoms among Chinese adults. METHODS: Data were obtained from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). SUA (continuous) and cognitive function (based on mental intactness and episodic memory) were measured at Wave 1 and Wave 3. Depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale) were assessed at Wave 1. Bivariate latent change score models and mediation analysis were used to investigate these possible associations. RESULTS: A total of 6 236 participants free of hyperuricemia (aged 58.3 ±â€…8.5 years) were included. After controlling for potential confounders, the SUA level was associated with cognition at baseline (standardized r = 0.042; p = .001). Higher baseline SUA level was associated with slower subsequent cognitive decline (standardized ß = 0.026; p = .027), whereas baseline cognition was not significantly associated with subsequent change in SUA (standardized ß = 0.003; p = .817). In mediation analysis, baseline SUA was indirectly associated with subsequent cognition via baseline depressive symptoms (mediation effect 13.3%; p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Higher baseline SUA level is associated with better baseline cognition and less subsequent cognitive decline among Chinese adults without hyperuricemia. Baseline depressive symptoms may partially mediate the association between baseline SUA and later cognition. Continued research is warranted to verify these findings and elucidate the causality and underlying mechanisms.

miPEPPred-FRL: A Novel Method for Predicting Plant MiRNA-Encoded Peptides Using Adaptive Feature Representation Learning.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are an essential type of small molecule RNAs that play significant regulatory roles in organisms. Recent studies have demonstrated that small open reading frames (sORFs) harbored in primary miRNAs (pri-miRNAs) can encode small peptides, known as miPEPs. Plant miPEPs can increase the abundance and activity of cognate miRNAs by promoting the transcription of their corresponding pri-miRNAs, thereby modulating plant traits. Biological experiments are the most effective way to accurately identify miPEPs; however, they are time-consuming and expensive. Hence, an efficient computational method for the identification of miPEPs on a large scale is highly desirable. Up to now, there have been no specialized computational tools for identifying miPEPs. In this work, a novel predictor named miPEPPred-FRL based on an adaptive feature representation learning framework that consists of the feature transformation module and the cascade architecture has been proposed. The feature transformation module integrating a newly designed feature selection method and classifier selection rule is developed to convert sequence-based features into primary class and probabilistic features, which are then fed into the improved cascade architecture to obtain more stable and discriminative augmented features. Finally, the augmented features are utilized to construct the final predictor. Cross-validation experiments illustrate that the novel feature selection method and classifier selection rule contribute to boosting the feature representation ability of the framework. Furthermore, the high accuracy of miPEPPred-FRL on independent testing data suggests that it is a trustworthy and valuable tool for the identification of miPEPs.

Effect of styrene butadiene styrene and desulfurized rubber powder on asphalt modification: Preparation, performance enhancement, mechanism analysis.

The aim of this study is to propose a desulfurized rubber powder / styrene butadiene styrene (DRP/SBS) composite modified asphalt technology by combining the advantages of DRP and SBS. This reduces the production cost of modified asphalt and improves the performance of asphalt. In this paper, orthogonal tests were used to optimize preparation process parameters of DRP/SBS composite modified asphalt. And the physicochemical properties, modification mechanism of composite modified asphalt had been thoroughly studied. Subsequently, the results showed that the optimum content of DRP and SBS modifiers are 25 % and 2 %, respectively. The suitable preparation process is to add SBS first, then DRP, while shearing at 5000 r/min for 50 min. In addition, DRP/SBS composite modified asphalt has better high-temperature performance, viscosity-temperature characteristics, aging resistance, and storage stability. Meanwhile, the storage stability of the composite modified asphalt was verified by fluorescence microscopy test. Through the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy test, it was observed that the composite modified asphalt modification process is a compatible and stable modification of physical and chemical coexistence. Overall, the composite modification method achieves recycling of waste tires while improving pavement performance, thus promoting the sustainability of pavement.

Basin-wide tracking of nitrate cycling in Yangtze River through dual isotope and machine learning.

The nitrate (NO3-) input has adversely affected the water quality and ecological function in the whole basin of the Yangtze River. The protection of water sources and implementation of "great protection of Yangtze River" policy require large-scale information on water contamination. In this study, dual isotope and Bayesian mixing model were used to research the transformation and sources of nitrate. Chemical fertilizers contribute 76 % of the nitrate sources in the upstream, while chemical fertilizers were also dominant in the midstream (39 %) and downstream (39 %) of Yangtze River. In addition, nitrification process occurred in the whole basin. Four machine learning models were used to relate nitrate concentrations to explanatory variables describing influence factors to predict nitrate concentrations in the whole basin of Yangtze River. The anthropogenic and natural factors, such as rainfall, GDP and population were chosen to take as predictor variables. The eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) model for nitrate has a better predictive performance with an R2 of 0.74. The predictive models of nitrate concentrations will help identify the nitrate distribution and transport in the whole Yangtze River basin. Overall, this study represents the first basin-wide data-driven assessment of the nitrate cycling in the Yangtze River basin.

Identification of cuproptosis-related biomarkers and analysis of immune infiltration in allograft lung ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Background: Allograft lung ischemia-reperfusion injury (ALIRI) is a major cause of early primary graft dysfunction and poor long-term survival after lung transplantation (LTx); however, its pathogenesis has not been fully elucidated. Cell death is a mechanism underlying ALIRI. Cuproptosis is a recently discovered form of programmed cell death. To date, no studies have been conducted on the mechanisms by which cuproptosis-related genes (CRGs) regulate ALIRI. Therefore, we explored the potential biomarkers related to cuproptosis to provide new insights into the treatment of ALIRI. Materials and methods: Datasets containing pre- and post-LTx lung biopsy samples and CRGs were obtained from the GEO database and previous studies. We identified differentially expressed CRGs (DE-CRGs) and performed functional analyses. Biomarker genes were selected using three machine learning algorithms. The ROC curve and logistic regression model (LRM) of these biomarkers were constructed. CIBERSORT was used to calculate the number of infiltrating immune cells pre- and post-LTx, and the correlation between these biomarkers and immune cells was analyzed. A competing endogenous RNA network was constructed using these biomarkers. Finally, the biomarkers were verified in a validation set and a rat LTx model using qRT-PCR and Western blotting. Results: Fifteen DE-CRGs were identified. GO analysis revealed that DE-CRGs were significantly enriched in the mitochondrial acetyl-CoA biosynthetic process from pyruvate, protein lipoylation, the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, and copper-transporting ATPase activity. KEGG enrichment analysis showed that the DE-CRGs were mainly enriched in metabolic pathways, carbon metabolism, and the TCA cycle. NFE2L2, NLRP3, LIPT1, and MTF1 were identified as potential biomarker genes. The AUC of the ROC curve for each biomarker was greater than 0.8, and the LRM provided an excellent classifier with an AUC of 0.96. These biomarkers were validated in another dataset and a rat LTx model, which exhibited good performance. In the CIBERSORT analysis, differentially expressed immune cells were identified, and the biomarkers were associated with the immune cells. Conclusion: NFE2L2, NLRP3, LIPT1, and MTF1 may serve as predictors of cuproptosis and play an important role in the pathogenesis of cuproptosis in ALIRI.

The longitudinal bidirectional association between sarcopenia and cognitive function in community-dwelling older adults: Findings from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study.

Background: Although an association between sarcopenia and cognitive function has been demonstrated, the directional association remains unclear. The present study aimed to evaluate the longitudinal reciprocal relationship and identify the possible temporal sequence between sarcopenia and cognitive function in older Chinese adults. Methods: Data were collected from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) baseline survey in 2011 and the follow-up survey in 2015. Cognitive function was measured by episodic memory and executive function. Sarcopenia status (non-sarcopenia, possible sarcopenia and sarcopenia) was defined based on the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 criteria. Linear regression analysis and ordinal logistic regression analysis were employed to investigate the relationship between baseline sarcopenia status and follow-up cognition, as well as the association of baseline cognition with follow-up sarcopenia status, respectively. A cross-lagged panel analysis was performed to simultaneously evaluate the bidirectional association and the strength of the temporal relationship. Results: Of 2689 participants, the median age was 65.0 years and 1249 (46.5%) were female. After adjusting for potential confounders and baseline measurements, baseline sarcopenia status was dose-dependently associated with subsequent cognitive scores (ß = -0.45; P for trend = 0.001), and baseline cognitive scores (in tertiles) were also dose-dependently associated with subsequent sarcopenia status (odds ratio (OR) = 0.86; P for trend = 0.017). The cross-lagged panel analysis indicated that the standardised effect size of sarcopenia status on cognitive function (ß = -0.09; P < 0.001) is larger relative to the effect of cognitive function on sarcopenia status (ß = -0.05; P = 0.019). Conclusions: There is a longitudinal, bidirectional relationship between sarcopenia status and cognitive function in older Chinese adults. Sarcopenia is likely the driving force in these dynamic associations. These findings imply that interventions in either sarcopenia or cognitive decline may have the ability to generate reciprocal benefits over time. More research is warranted to confirm these findings and to further elucidate underlying causal pathways.

Narrow linewidth and wideband tunable continuous-wave terahertz generator based on difference frequency generation with DAST crystal.

A narrow linewidth and wideband tunable continuous-wave terahertz generator with DAST crystal has been demonstrated in this paper. Two narrow-linewidth CW fiber lasers were used as the pump sources for difference frequency generation. The terahertz wave can be continuously tunable in the range of 1.1-3 THz. The maximum output power of 2.79nW was obtained at 2.568 THz. The linewidth of the output THz wave was estimated to be 56.5 MHz by fitting transmission spectrum of CO gas at 450 Pa pressure around 80.52 cm-1 with the Vogit gas model. Furthermore, the output spectra at room temperature and pressure was in good agreement with the air absorption lines in Hitran database. Moreover, the narrower absorption characteristic spectrum of 2-Deoxy-D-Glucose sample has been obtained through the spectrum measurements. Therefore, it could promote the practical prospect of tunable CW-THz source, which will have good potential in THz high-precision spectroscopic detection and multispectral imaging.

Synergy of Organic/Inorganic and Inner/Outer Cooperative Conductive Networks in Polydimethylsiloxane-Based Porous Foam on High-Performance Flexible Sensors.

The development of low-cost and high-performance flexible sensor materials is crucial for the advancement of wearable electronic devices, medical monitoring, and human-machine interfaces. In this study, a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS)-coated multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)-reinforced polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) composite foam with a uniform organic/inorganic and inner/outer cooperative conductive network was developed to detect tensile and compressive forces. The study demonstrates that the internally cross-linked MWCNTs and PEDOT:PSS coatings within the foam framework play a crucial role in the porous structure and sensing properties of the composite foam. Due to the excellent hierarchical pore structure and dual-channel electronic pathway of the PP@MWCNTs/PDMS foam, the sensor exhibited not only high sensitivity to small pressures but also notable perception capability within the stretchable range. It also maintained excellent stability during multiple stretching and compression loading cycles. In terms of applications, the sensor could be used not only to monitor external stimuli and detect subtle movements within the human body in the field of wearable monitoring but also to sense spatial pressure distribution, which validates its potential in the development of flexible wearable sensing devices.

Accumulation of Ag(0) Single Atoms at Water/Mineral Interfaces during Sunlight-Induced Reduction of Ionic Ag by Phenolic DOM.

Silver (Ag) undergoes a complex and dynamic Ag+/Ag0 cycle under environmental conditions. The Ag+ → Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) transformation due to the combined actions of sunlight, O2, and dissolved organic matter has been a well-known environmental phenomenon. In this study, we indicate that this process may be accompanied by a pronounced accumulation of Ag(0) single atoms (Ag-SAs) on the minerals' surfaces. According to spherical aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy and high-energy-resolution X-ray adsorption fine structure analyses, humic acid (HA) and phenol (PhOH) can induce Ag-SAs accumulation, whereas oxalic acid causes only AgNPs deposition. Ag-SAs account for more than 20 wt % of total Ag(0) on the γ-Al2O3 surfaces during HA- and PhOH-mediated photolysis processes. HA also causes Ag-SAs to accumulate on two other prevalent soil minerals, SiO2 and Fe2O3, and the fractions of Ag-SAs are about 15 wt %. Our mechanism studies suggest that a phenolic molecule acts as a reducing agent of Ag+ and a stabilizer of Ag-SAs, protecting Ag-SAs against autocatalytic nucleation.

Self-Assembled Construction of Ion-Selective Nanobarriers in Electrolyte Membranes for Redox Flow Batteries.

Ion-conducting membranes (ICMs) with high selectivity are important components in redox flow batteries. However it is still a challenge to break the trade-off between ion conductivity and ion selectivity, which can be resolved by the regulation of their nanostructures. Here, polyoxometalate (POM)-hybridized block copolymers (BCPs) are used as self-assembled additives to construct proton-selective nanobarriers in the ICM matrix to improve the microscopic structures and macroscopic properties of ICMs. Benefiting from the co-assembly behavior of BCPs and POMs and their cooperative noncovalent interactions with the polymer matrix, ∼50 nm ellipsoidal functional nanoassemblies with hydrophobic vanadium-shielding cores and hydrophilic proton-conducting shells are constructed in the sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) matrix, which leads to an overall enhancement of proton conductivity, proton selectivity, and cell performance. These results present a self-assembly route to construct functional nanostructures for the modification of polymer electrolyte membranes toward emerging energy technologies.