Dynamical Symmetry-Reduction-Induced Giant Anharmonicity in IV-VI Compounds: Role of Cation Lone-Pair s Electrons.

The low thermal conductivity of group IV-VI semiconductors is often attributed to the soft phonons and giant anharmonicity observed in these materials. However, there is still no broad consensus on the fundamental origin of this giant anharmonic effect. Utilizing first-principles calculations and group symmetry analysis, we find that the cation lone-pairs s electrons in IV-VI materials cause a significant coupling between occupied cation s orbitals and unoccupied cation p orbitals due to the symmetry reduction when atoms vibrate away from their equilibrium positions under heating. This leads to an electronic energy gain, consequently flattening the potential energy surface and causing soft phonons and strong anharmonic effects. Our findings provide an intrinsic understanding of the low thermal conductivity in IV-VI compounds by connecting the anharmonicity with the dynamical electronic structures, and can also be extended to a large family of hybrid systems with lone-pair electrons, for promising thermoelectric applications and predictive designs.

Gut microbiota regulation of T lymphocyte subsets during systemic lupus erythematosus.

BACKGROUND: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease characterized by disturbance of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory lymphocytes. Growing evidence shown that gut microbiota participated in the occurrence and development of SLE by affecting the differentiation and function of intestinal immune cells. The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes of gut microbiota in SLE and judge its associations with peripheral T lymphocytes. METHODS: A total of 19 SLE patients and 16 HCs were enrolled in this study. Flow cytometry was used to detect the number of peripheral T lymphocyte subsets, and 16 s rRNA was used to detect the relative abundance of gut microbiota. Analyzed the correlation between gut microbiota with SLEDAI, ESR, ds-DNA and complement. SPSS26.0 software was used to analyze the experimental data. Mann-Whitney U test was applied to compare T lymphocyte subsets. Spearman analysis was used for calculating correlation. RESULTS: Compared with HCs, the proportions of Tregs (P = 0.001), Tfh cells (P = 0.018) and Naïve CD4 + T cells (P = 0.004) significantly decreased in SLE patients, and proportions of Th17 cells (P = 0.020) and γδT cells (P = 0.018) increased in SLE. The diversity of SLE patients were significantly decreased. Addition, there were 11 species of flora were discovered to be distinctly different in SLE group (P < 0.05). In the correlation analysis of SLE, Tregs were positively correlated with Ruminococcus2 (P = 0.042), Th17 cells were positively correlated with Megamonas (P = 0.009), γδT cells were positively correlated with Megamonas (P = 0.003) and Streptococcus (P = 0.004), Tfh cells were positively correlated with Bacteroides (P = 0.040), and Th1 cells were negatively correlated with Bifidobacterium (P = 0.005). As for clinical indicators, the level of Tregs was negatively correlated with ESR (P = 0.031), but not with C3 and C4, and the remaining cells were not significantly correlated with ESR, C3 and C4. CONCLUSION: Gut microbiota and T lymphocyte subsets of SLE changed and related to each other, which may break the immune balance and affect the occurrence and development of SLE. Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention to the changes of gut microbiota and provide new ideas for the treatment of SLE.

Nickel augmented biochar for sustaining produced water treatment to decarbonize oil and gas industrial waste using anaerobic-aerobic granular cylindrical periodic discontinuous batch reactors.

This study assessed the efficacy of granular cylindrical periodic discontinuous batch reactors (GC-PDBRs) for produced water (PW) treatment by employing eggshell and waste activated sludge (WAS) derived Nickel (Ni) augmented biochar. The synthesized biochar was magnetized to further enhance its contribution towards achieving carbon neutrality due to carbon negative nature, Carbon dioxide (CO2) sorption, and negative priming effects. The GC-PDBR1 and GC-PDBR2 process variables were optimized by the application of central composite design (CCD). This is to maximize the decarbonization rate. Results showed that the systems could reduce total phosphorus (TP) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) by 76-80% and 92-99%, respectively. Optimal organic matter and nutrient removals were achieved at 80% volumetric exchange ratio (VER), 5 min settling time and 3000 mg/L mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) concentration with desirability values of 0.811 and 0.954 for GC-PDBR1 and GC-PDBR2, respectively. Employing four distinct models, the biokinetic coefficients of the GC-PDBRs treating PW were calculated. The findings indicated that First order (0.0758-0.5365) and Monod models (0.8652-0.9925) have relatively low R2 values. However, the Grau Second-order model and Modified Stover-Kincannon model have high R2 values. This shows that, the Grau Second Order and Modified Stover-Kincannon models under various VER, settling time, and MLSS circumstances, are more suited to explain the removal of pollutants in the GC-PDBRs. Microbiological evaluation demonstrated that a high VER caused notable rises in the quantity of several microorganisms. Under high biological selective pressure, GC-PDBR2 demonstrated a greater percentage of nitrogen removal via autotrophic denitrification and a greater number of nitrifying bacteria. The overgrowth of bacteria such as Actinobacteriota spp. Bacteroidota spp, Gammaproteobacteria, Desulfuromonas Mesotoga in the phylum, class, and genus, has positively impacted on granule formation and stability. Taken together, our study through the introduction of intermittent aeration GC-PDBR systems with added magnetized waste derived biochar, is an innovative approach for simultaneous aerobic sludge granulation and PW treatment, thereby providing valuable contributions in the journey toward achieving decarbonization, carbon neutrality and sustainable development goals (SDGs).

Osteoporotic Precise Screening Using Chest Radiography and Artificial Neural Network: The OPSCAN Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background Diagnosing osteoporosis is challenging due to its often asymptomatic presentation, which highlights the importance of providing screening for high-risk populations. Purpose To evaluate the effectiveness of dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) screening in high-risk patients with osteoporosis identified by an artificial intelligence (AI) model using chest radiographs. Materials and Methods This randomized controlled trial conducted at an academic medical center included participants 40 years of age or older who had undergone chest radiography between January and December 2022 without a history of DXA examination. High-risk participants identified with the AI-enabled chest radiographs were randomly allocated to either a screening group, which was offered fully reimbursed DXA examinations between January and June 2023, or a control group, which received usual care, defined as DXA examination by a physician or patient on their own initiative without AI intervention. A logistic regression was used to test the difference in the primary outcome, new-onset osteoporosis, between the screening and control groups. Results Of the 40 658 enrolled participants, 4912 (12.1%) were identified by the AI model as high risk, with 2456 assigned to the screening group (mean age, 71.8 years ± 11.5 [SD]; 1909 female) and 2456 assigned to the control group (mean age, 72.1 years ± 11.8; 1872 female). A total of 315 of 2456 (12.8%) participants in the screening group underwent fully reimbursed DXA, and 237 of 315 (75.2%) were identified with new-onset osteoporosis. After including DXA results by means of usual care in both screening and control groups, the screening group exhibited higher rates of osteoporosis detection (272 of 2456 [11.1%] vs 27 of 2456 [1.1%]; odds ratio [OR], 11.2 [95% CI: 7.5, 16.7]; P < .001) compared with the control group. The ORs of osteoporosis diagnosis were increased in screening group participants who did not meet formalized criteria for DXA compared with those who did (OR, 23.2 [95% CI: 10.2, 53.1] vs OR, 8.0 [95% CI: 5.0, 12.6]; interactive P = .03). Conclusion Providing DXA screening to a high-risk group identified with AI-enabled chest radiographs can effectively diagnose more patients with osteoporosis. Clinical trial registration no. NCT05721157 © RSNA, 2024 Supplemental material is available for this article. See also the editorial by Smith and Rothenberg in this issue.

Efficacy and safety of antibody-drug conjugates in the treatment of urothelial cell carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective clinical trials.

Introduction: Urothelial carcinoma (UC) is a refractory disease for which achieving satisfactory outcomes remains challenging with current surgical interventions. Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are a novel class of targeted therapeutics that have demonstrated encouraging results for UC. Although there is a limited number of high-quality randomized control trials (RCTs) examining the use of ADCs in patients with UC, some prospective non-randomized studies of interventions (NRSIs) provide valuable insights and pertinent information. We aim to assess the efficacy and safety of ADCs in patients with UC, particularly those with locally advanced and metastatic diseases. Methods: A systematic search was conducted across PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases to identify pertinent studies. Outcomes, such as the overall response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), adverse events (AEs), and treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs), were extracted for further analyses. Results: Twelve studies involving 1,311 patients were included in this meta-analysis. In terms of tumor responses, the pooled ORR and DCR were 40% and 74%, respectively. Regarding survival analysis, the pooled median PFS and OS were 5.66 months and 12.63 months, respectively. The pooled 6-month PFS and OS were 47% and 80%, while the pooled 1-year PFS and OS were 22% and 55%, respectively. The most common TRAEs of the ADCs were alopecia (all grades: 45%, grades ≥ III: 0%), decreased appetite (all grades: 34%, grades ≥ III: 3%), dysgeusia (all grades: 40%, grades ≥ III: 0%), fatigue (all grades: 39%, grades ≥ III: 5%), nausea (all grades: 45%, grades ≥ III: 2%), peripheral sensory neuropathy (all grades: 37%, grades ≥ III: 2%), and pruritus (all grades: 32%, grades ≥ III: 1%). Conclusion: The meta-analysis in this study demonstrates that ADCs have promising efficacies and safety for patients with advanced or metastatic UC. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier: CRD42023460232.

Q&A with Jun Wei Pek and Amanda Yunn Ee Ng.

Investigator Jun Wei Pek (J.P.) and graduate student Amanda Yunn Ee Ng (A.Y.) spoke to Cell Reports about their scientific journeys and love of science, their work on gene expression regulation during reproductive development, and challenges encountered during the pandemic.

Versatile Landscape of Low-k Polyimide: Theories, Synthesis, Synergistic Properties, and Industrial Integration.

The development of microelectronics and large-scale intelligence nowadays promotes the integration, miniaturization, and multifunctionality of electronic and devices but also leads to the increment of signal transmission delays, crosstalk, and energy consumption. The exploitation of materials with low permittivity (low-k) is crucial for realizing innovations in microelectronics. However, due to the high permittivity of conventional interlayer dielectric material (k ∼ 4.0), it is difficult to meet the demands of current microelectronic technology development (k < 3.0). Organic dielectric materials have attracted much attention because of their relatively low permittivity owing to their low material density and low single bond polarization. Polyimide (PI) exhibits better application potential based on its well permittivity tunability (k = 1.1-3.2), high thermal stability (>500 °C), and mechanical property (modulus of elasticity up to 3.0-4.0 GPa). In this review, based on the synergistic relationship of dielectric parameters of materials, the development of nearly 20 years on low-k PI is thoroughly summarized. Moreover, process strategies for modifying low-k PI at the molecular level, multiphase recombination, and interface engineering are discussed exhaustively. The industrial application, technological challenges, and future development of low-k PI are also analyzed, which will provide meaningful guidance for the design and practical application of multifunctional low-k materials.

Mechanism of electroacupuncture in treating uterine endometrial fibrosis in intrauterine adhesions rats based on Wnt/ß-catenin pathway-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition. / 基于Wnt/ß-cateniné€šè·¯ä»‹å¯¼çš„ä¸Šçš®é—´è´¨è½¬åŒ–æŽ¢è®¨ç”µé’ˆæ²»ç–—å®«è ”ç²˜è¿žå¤§é¼ å­å®«å† è†œçº¤ç»´åŒ–çš„ä½œç”¨æœºåˆ¶.

OBJECTIVES: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related proteins in rats with intrauterine adhesions (IUA), so as to explore the possible mechanisms of EA in repairing endometrial damage in IUA. METHODS: Female SD rats were randomly divided into blank, model, EA, and ICG-001 groups, with 10 rats in each group. The IUA model was established by using mechanical scraping combined with lipopolysaccharide infection for double injury. In the EA group, "Guanyuan" (CV4) was needled and EA (2 Hz/15 Hz, 1-2 mA) was applied to "Zusanli" (ST36) and "Sanyinjiao"(SP6) on both sides. In the ICG-001 group, ICG-001 (5 mg/kg), the inhibitor of ß-catenin was intraperitoneally injected. After intervention, samples were taken from 5 rats in each group, and uterine endometrium morphology, endometrial thickness, and gland counts were observed using HE staining. Masson staining was used to assess the degree of fibrosis in the endometrial tissue. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the positive expression of transforming growth factor ß1 (TGF-ß1), α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), fibronectin (FN), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), type I collagen (Col- Ⅰ), glycogen synthase kinase-3ß (GSK-3ß), ß-catenin, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and Vimentin in the endometrial tissue. Western blot was used to detect the relative expression of GSK-3ß, ß-catenin, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and Vimentin proteins in the endometrial tissue. Another 5 rats from each group were placed in cages with male rats after intervention to record the number of embryo implantations. RESULTS: Necrosis and loss of endometrial tissue in the model group observed after HE staining were alleviated in the EA group, better than those in the ICG-001 group. Compared with the blank group, the numbers of glands and endometrial thickness in the uterine endometrial tissue, relative expression and positive expression of E-cadherin and GSK-3ß proteins in the uterine endometrial tissue, and embryo implantation numbers were reduced(P<0.000 1, P<0.001, P<0.01) in the model group, while fibrosis area ratio in the uterine endometrial tissue, TGF- ß 1, α -SMA, FN, CTGF, Col- Ⅰ positive expressions, N-cadherin, Vimentin, and ß-catenin proteins expression and positive expression were increased(P<0.000 1, P<0.001, P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the number of glands and endometrial thickness, E-cadherin and GSK-3ß proteins expression and positive expression, and embryo implantation numbers were increased (P<0.001, P<0.05, P<0.01) in the EA and ICG-001 groups, while the fibrosis area ratio in the uterine endometrial tissue, TGF-ß1, α-SMA, FN, CTGF, Col- Ⅰ positive expression, and N-cadherin, Vimentin, and ß-catenin proteins expression and positive expression were decreased(P<0.001, P<0.01, P<0.05). Compared with the EA group, the differences of the above-mentioned indicators in the ICG-001 group were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: EA may reverse the EMT process and reduce the degree of fibrosis in endometrial tissue by inhibiting the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway, thereby promoting the repair of endometrial damage in IUA.

Assessing the Utility, Impact, and Adoption Challenges of an Artificial Intelligence-Enabled Prescription Advisory Tool for Type 2 Diabetes Management: Qualitative Study.

BACKGROUND: The clinical management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) presents a significant challenge due to the constantly evolving clinical practice guidelines and growing array of drug classes available. Evidence suggests that artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled clinical decision support systems (CDSSs) have proven to be effective in assisting clinicians with informed decision-making. Despite the merits of AI-driven CDSSs, a significant research gap exists concerning the early-stage implementation and adoption of AI-enabled CDSSs in T2DM management. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the perspectives of clinicians on the use and impact of the AI-enabled Prescription Advisory (APA) tool, developed using a multi-institution diabetes registry and implemented in specialist endocrinology clinics, and the challenges to its adoption and application. METHODS: We conducted focus group discussions using a semistructured interview guide with purposively selected endocrinologists from a tertiary hospital. The focus group discussions were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were thematically analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 13 clinicians participated in 4 focus group discussions. Our findings suggest that the APA tool offered several useful features to assist clinicians in effectively managing T2DM. Specifically, clinicians viewed the AI-generated medication alterations as a good knowledge resource in supporting the clinician's decision-making on drug modifications at the point of care, particularly for patients with comorbidities. The complication risk prediction was seen as positively impacting patient care by facilitating early doctor-patient communication and initiating prompt clinical responses. However, the interpretability of the risk scores, concerns about overreliance and automation bias, and issues surrounding accountability and liability hindered the adoption of the APA tool in clinical practice. CONCLUSIONS: Although the APA tool holds great potential as a valuable resource for improving patient care, further efforts are required to address clinicians' concerns and improve the tool's acceptance and applicability in relevant contexts.

Prognostic value of the Naples prognostic score in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma after hepatectomy.

BACKGROUND: The Naples Prognostic Score (NPS), integrating inflammatory and nutritional biomarkers, has been reported to be associated with the prognosis of various malignancies, but there is no report on intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). This study aimed to explore the prognostic value of NPS in patients with ICC. METHODS: Patients with ICC after hepatectomy were collected, and divided into three groups. The prognosis factors were determined by Cox regression analysis. Predictive efficacy was evaluated by the time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. RESULTS: A total of 174 patients were included (Group 1: 33 (19.0%) patients; Group 2: 83 (47.7%) patients; and Group 3: 58 (33.3%) patients). The baseline characteristics showed the higher the NPS, the higher the proportion of patients with cirrhosis and Child-Pugh B, and more advanced tumors. The Kaplan-Meier curves reflect higher NPS were associated with poor survival. Multivariable analysis showed NPS was an independent risk factor of overall survival (NPS group 2 vs. 1: HR = 1.671, 95% CI: 1.022-3.027, p = 0.009; NPS group 3 vs. 1: HR = 2.208, 95% CI: 1.259-4.780, p = 0.007) and recurrence-free survival (NPS group 2 vs. 1: HR = 1.506, 95% CI: 1.184-3.498, p = 0.010; NPS group 3 vs. 1: HR = 2.141, 95% CI: 2.519-4.087, P = 0.001). The time ROC indicated NPS was superior to other models in predicting prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: NPS is a simple and effective tool for predicting the long-term survival of patients with ICC after hepatectomy. Patients with high NPS require close follow-up, and improving NPS may prolong the survival time.

Adsorption of terbutaline ß-agonists from wastewater by mechano-synthesized iron oxide nanoparticles modified copper (II) isonicotinate metal-organic framework.

Frequent detection of terbutaline in wastewater highlights its potential risks to human health associated in the environment. Exposure to terbutaline through contaminated water sources or food chain have adverse effects to human health. This work emphasized on the removal of terbutaline from wastewater using adsorption technology. Mechanochemically synthesized [Cu(INA)2] metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and its magnetic composite ([Cu(INA)2]-MOF@Fe3O4) are designed with higher specific surface areas and tailored features to accommodate the molecular size and structure of terbutaline. Thus, batch experiment has been conducted using the [Cu(INA)2]-MOF and [Cu(INA)2]-MOF@Fe3O4 for the terbutaline adsorption. The adsorption efficiency achieved by the MOFs was 91.8% and 99.3% for the Cu(INA)2]-MOF and [Cu(INA)2]-MOF@Fe3O4 respectively. The optimum for the adsorption study included terbutaline concentration of 40 mg/L, adsorbent dose of 5 mg/L, pH of 11, temperature of 25 °C and equilibrium time of 40 min. The kinetics and isotherms have been described by pseudo-second order and Langmuir models, while the thermodynamics revealed the exothermic and spontaneous nature of the process. The promising performance of the MOFs is manifested on the ease of regeneration and reusability, achieving adsorption efficiency of 85.0% and 94.7% by the Cu(INA)2]-MOF and [Cu(INA)2]-MOF@Fe3O4, respectively at five consecutive cycles. The higher performance of the MOFs demonstrates their excellent potentialities for the terbutaline adsorption from the aqueous solution.

Breeding a new Ganoderma lucidum strain with increased contents of individual ganoderic acids by mono-mono crossing of genetically modified monokaryons.

Ganoderic acids (GAs) are major functional components of Ganoderma lucidum. The study aimed to breed a new G. lucidum strain with increased contents of individual GAs. Two mating-compatible monokaryotic strains, G. 260125 and G. 260124, were successfully isolated from the dikaryotic G. lucidum CGMCC 5.0026 via protoplast formation and regeneration. The Vitreoscilla hemoglobin gene (vgb) and squalene synthase gene (sqs) were overexpressed in the monokaryotic G. 260124 and G. 260125 strain, respectively. Mating between the G. 260124 strain overexpressing vgb and the G. 260125 strain overexpressing sqs resulted in the formation of the new hybrid dikaryotic G. lucidum strain sqs-vgb. The maximum contents of ganoderic acid (GA)-T, GA-Me, and GA-P in the fruiting body of the mated sqs-vgb strain were 23.1, 15.3, and 39.8 µg/g dry weight (DW), respectively, 2.23-, 1.75-, and 2.69-fold greater than those in G. lucidum 5.0026. The squalene and lanosterol contents increased 2.35- and 1.75-fold, respectively, in the fruiting body of the mated sqs-vgb strain compared with those in the G. lucidum 5.0026. In addition, the maximum expression levels of the sqs and lanosterol synthase gene (ls) were increased 3.23- and 2.13-fold, respectively, in the mated sqs-vgb strain. In summary, we developed a new G. lucidum strain with higher contents of individual GAs in the fruiting body by integrating genetic engineering and mono-mono crossing.

Dual-Salts Localized High-Concentration Electrolyte for Li- and Mn-Rich High-Voltage Cathodes in Lithium Metal Batteries.

Limited electrochemical stability windows of conventional carbonate-based electrolytes pose a challenge to support the Lithium (Li)- and manganese (Mn)-rich (LMR) high-voltage cathodes in rechargeable Li-metal batteries (LMBs). To address this issue, a novel localized high-concentration electrolyte (LHCE) composition incorporating LiPF6 and LiTFSI as dual-salts (D-LHCE), tailored for high-voltage (>4.6 Vvs.Li) operation of LMR cathodes in LMBs is introduced. 7Li nuclear magnetic resonance and Raman spectroscopy revealed the characteristics of the solvation structure of D-LHCE. The addition of LiPF6 provides stable Al-current-collector passivation while the addition of LiTFSI improves the stability of D-LHCE by producing a more robust cathode-electrolyte interphase (CEI) on LMR cathode and solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) on Li-metal anode. As a result, LMR/Li cell, using the D-LHCE, achieved 72.5% capacity retention after 300 cycles, a significant improvement compared to the conventional electrolyte (21.9% after 100 cycles). The stabilities of LMR CEI and Li-metal SEI are systematically analyzed through combined applications of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and distribution of relaxation times techniques. The results present that D-LHCE concept represents an effective strategy for designing next-generation electrolytes for high-energy and high-voltage LMB cells.

The complete chloroplast genome of Meconopsis torquata (Papaveraceae), a traditional Tibetan medicine.

Meconopsis torquata Prain 1906, a national second-class rare and endangered plant, is reported here for the first time for its complete chloroplast genome. The genome is 153,290 bp in length, comprising a large single-copy region (LSC, 83,918 bp), a small single-copy region (SSC, 17,740 bp), and two inverted repeat sequences (IRa and IRb, each 25,816 bp). The overall GC content is 38.7%, with the IR region having the highest content (43.1%). The genome is annotated with 112 unique genes, including 4 rRNA genes, 29 tRNA genes, and 79 protein-coding genes. Analysis of codon usage bias reveals that codons ending in A/T account for 96.7% of those with a Relative Synonymous Codon Usage (RSCU) value above 1. This predominance of A/T-ending codons might be indicative of M. torquata adaptation to high-altitude environments. Phylogenetic analysis reveals a close kinship between M. torquata and M. pinnatifolia and M. paniculata, indicating that the ancestral groups of these species might have a complex evolutionary history. This study uncovers the genetic characteristics and adaptive evolution of M. torquata, offering a new perspective in understanding the phylogenetic relationships within the genus. The findings not only provide a solid theoretical foundation for the conservation and sustainable use of this rare and endangered species but also offer significant scientific support for the conservation of biodiversity.

A Dual-Polarization Programmable Metasurface for Green and Secure Wireless Communication.

Dual-polarization programmable metasurfaces can flexibly manipulate electromagnetic (EM) waves while providing approximately twice the information capacity. Therefore, they hold significant applications in next-generation communication systems. However, there are three challenges associated with the existing dual-polarization programmable metasurfaces. This article aims to propose a novel design to address them. First, the design overcomes the challenge of element- and polarization-independent controls, enabling more powerful manipulations of EM waves. Second, by using more energy-efficient tunable components and reducing their number, the design can be nearly passive (maximum power consumption of 27.7 mW), leading to a significant decrease in the cost and power consumption of the system (at least two orders of magnitude lower than the power consumption of conventional programmable metasurfaces). Third, the design can operate in a broad bandwidth, which is attractive for practical engineering applications. Both the element and array of the metasurface are meticulously designed, and their performance has been carefully studied. The experiments demonstrate that 2D wide-angle beam scanning can be realized. Moreover, secure communication based on directional information modulation can be implemented by exploiting the metasurface and an efficient discrete optimization algorithm, showing its programmable, multiplexing, broadband, green, and secure features.

Multicenter propensity score-matched analysis to compare perioperative morbidity after laparoscopic or robotic complex hepatectomy for solitary hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative complications are vital factors affecting the prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), especially for complex hepatectomy. The present study aimed to compare perioperative complications between laparoscopic and robotic complex hepatectomy (LCH vs. RCH). METHODS: Patients with solitary HCC after complex hepatectomy were collected from a multicenter database. Propensity score-matched (PSM) analysis was adopted to control confounding bias. Multivariable analysis was performed to determine the prognostic factors. RESULTS: 436 patients were included. After PSM, 43 patients were included in both the LCH and RCH groups. The results showed that compared to LCH, RCH had lower rates of blood loss and transfusion, and lower postoperative 30-day and major morbidity, and post-hepatectomy liver failure (PHLF) (all P < 0.05). Additionally, the length of hospital stay was shorter in the RCH group (P = 0.026). Multivariable analysis showed RCH is an independent protective factor for reducing the 30-day morbidity, major morbidity and PHLF. CONCLUSION: RCH has advantages over LCH in the minimally invasive treatment of complex HCC, as it can reduce the incidence of postoperative morbidity. Therefore, RCH should be considered for patients with HCC who require complex hepatectomy.

The regulatory effect of electroacupuncture on endometrial M1-type macrophages in rats with intrauterine adhesions. / ç”µé’ˆå¯¹å®«è ”ç²˜è¿žå¤§é¼ å­å®«å† è†œM1型巨噬细胞的调控作用.

OBJECTIVES: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture(EA) on endometrial fibrosis and M1-type macrophages in rats with intrauterine adhesions(IUA), so as to explore the possible mechanism of EA in the treatment of IUA. METHODS: Fifteen female SD rats were randomly divided into blank group, model group and EA group, with 5 rats in each group. The IUA rat model was established by double damage method using mechanical scraping combined with lipopolysaccharide infection. Rats in the EA group were treated with acupuncture at "Guanyuan"(CV4), and EA at bilateral "Zusanli"(ST36) and "Sanyinjiao"(SP6)for 20 minutes each time, once a day, for 3 consecutive cycles of estrus. Five rats in each group were sampled during the estrous period, and the endometrial morphology, endometrial thickness and the number of blood vessels and glands were observed after HE staining. The fibrotic area of the uterus was observed after Masson staining. The positive expressions of Runt-related transcription factor(RUNX1), transforming growth factor-ß1(TGF-ß1), connective tissue growth factor(CTGF), α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA), collagen type I(Col-Ⅰ), cluster of differentiation 86(CD86), interleukin-1ß(IL-1ß), and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) in endometrial tissue were detected by immunohistochemistry. Western blot was used to detect relative protein expressions of RUNX1, TGF-ß1, α-SMA, CD86, and TNF receptor 2 (TNFR2), and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR was used to detect mRNA expressions of RUNX1, TGF-ß1, α-SMA, CD86, and TNF-α in the endometrium. RESULTS: During the estrous phase, the endometrial layer in the model group was damaged, with reduced folds, disordered arrangement of epithelial cells, loose fibrous connective tissue, significant narrowing and adhesions in the uterine cavity, interstitial congestion, edema, and a significant infiltration of inflammatory cells with sparse glands. While uterine tissue structure of the EA group was basically intact, resembling a normal uterus, with more newly formed glands and a small amount of inflammatory cell infiltration. In comparison with the blank group, the endometrial thickness, the number of blood vessels, and the number of glands were significantly decreased(P<0.001) in the model group, while the ratio of uterine fibrosis area, the positive expressions of RUNX1, TGF-ß1, CTGF, α-SMA, Col-Ⅰ, CD86, IL-1ß, and TNF-α, the protein relative expressions of RUNX1, TGF-ß1, α-SMA, CD86 and TNFR2, and the mRNA relative expression levels of RUNX1, TGF-ß1, α-SMA, CD86 and TNF-α in the endometrium were significantly increased (P<0.001, P<0.01). Compared to the model group, the endometrial thickness, the number of blood vessels, and the number of glands were significantly increased(P<0.01, P<0.05) in the EA group, while the ratio of uterine fibrosis area, the positive expressions of RUNX1, TGF-ß1, CTGF, α-SMA, Col-Ⅰ, CD86, IL-1ß and TNF-α in the endometrial tissue, the protein expressions of RUNX1, TGF-ß1, α-SMA, CD86 and TNFR2, and the mRNA relative expressions of RUNX1, TGF-ß1, α-SMA, CD86 and TNF-α in the endometrium were significantly decreased (P<0.001, P<0.01, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: EA can improve endometrial fibrosis in IUA rats, which may be related to its function in decreasing the level of endometrial M1-type macrophages and the secretion of related inflammatory factors.

Combined effects of cadmium and sulfamethoxazole on Eisenia fetida: Insights into accumulation, subcellular partitioning, biomarkers and toxicological responses.

Cadmium (Cd) and sulfamethoxazole (SMX) frequently coexist in farmlands, yet their synergistic toxicological impacts on terrestrial invertebrates remain unexplored. In this study, earthworms were exposed to artificial soils percolated with Cd (5 mg/kg), SMX (5 mg/kg) or combination of them for 7 days, followed by a 12-day elimination phase in uncontaminated soil. The uptake of Cd and SMX by the earthworms, along with their subcellular distribution, was meticulously analyzed. Additionally, a suite of biomarkers-including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA), and weight loss-were evaluated to assess the health status of the earthworms and the toxicological effects of the Cd and SMX mixture. Notably, the cotreatment with Cd and SMX resulted in a significantly higher weight loss in Eisenia fetida (41.25 %) compared to exposure to Cd alone (26.84 %). Moreover, the cotreatment group exhibited substantially higher concentrations of Cd in the total internal body, fraction C (cytosol), and fraction E (tissue fragments and cell membranes) in Eisenia fetida compared to Cd alone counterparts. The combined exposure also significantly elevated the SMX levels in the total body and fraction C compared with the SMX-only treated earthworms. Additionally, Eisenia fetida subjected to the combined treatment showed markedly increased activities of SOD, CAT, and MDA compared to those treated with Cd alone. The effect addition indices (EAIs), ranging from 1.00 to 2.23, unequivocally demonstrated a synergistic effect of the combined treatments. Interestingly, relocating the earthworms to clean soil did not mitigate the observed adverse effects. These findings underscore the increased risk posed by the Cd-SMX complex to terrestrial invertebrates in agricultural areas.

Tetraborated Intrinsically Axial Chiral Multi-resonance Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence Materials.

Chiral multi-resonance thermally activated delayed fluorescence (CP-MR-TADF) materials hold promise for circularly polarized organic light-emitting diodes (CP-OLEDs) and 3D displays. Herein, we present two pairs of tetraborated intrinsically axial CP-MR-TADF materials, R/S-BDBF-BOH and R/S-BDBT-BOH, with conjugation-extended bidibenzo[b,d]furan and bidibenzo[b,d]thiophene as chiral sources, which effectively participate in the distribution of the frontier molecular orbitals. Due to the heavy-atom effect, sulfur atoms are introduced to accelerate the reverse intersystem crossing process and increase the efficiency of molecules. R/S-BDBF-BOH and R/S-BDBT-BOH manifest ultra-pure blue emission with a maximum at 458/459 nm with a full width at half maximum of 27 nm, photoluminescence quantum yields of 90 %/91 %, and dissymmetry factors (|gPL|) of 6.8×10-4/8.5×10-4, respectively. Correspondingly, the CP-OLEDs exhibit good performances with an external quantum efficiency of 30.1 % and |gEL| factors of 1.2×10-3.