Highlighting immune features of the tumor ecosystem and prognostic value of Tfh and Th17 cell infiltration in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma by single-cell RNA-seq.

BACKGROUND: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) typically present with a complex anatomical distribution, often accompanied by insidious symptoms. This combination contributes to its high incidence and poor prognosis. It is now understood that the immune features of cellular components within the tumor ecosystem and their complex interactions are critical factors influencing both tumor progression and the effective immune response. METHODS: We obtained single-cell RNA sequencing data of 26,496 cells from three tumor tissues and five normal tissues and performed subsequent analyses. Immunohistochemical staining on tumor sections was used to validate the presence of malignant cells. Additionally, we included bulk RNA sequencing data from 502 HNSCC patients. Kaplan-Meier analysis and the log-rank test were employed to assess predictors of patient outcomes. RESULTS: We identified three epithelial subclusters exhibiting immune-related features. These subclusters promoted the infiltration of T cells, dendritic cells, and monocytes into the tumor microenvironment. Additionally, cancer-associated fibroblasts displayed tumor-promoting and angiogenesis characteristics, contrasting with the predominant antigen-presenting and inflammatory roles observed in fibroblasts from normal tissues. Furthermore, tumor endothelial subsets exhibited a double-sided effect, promoting tumor progression and enhancing the effectiveness of immune response. Finally, follicular helper T cells and T helper 17 cells were found to be significantly correlated with improved outcomes in HNSCC patients. These CD4+ T cell subpopulations could promote the anti-tumor immune response by recruiting and activating B and T cells. CONCLUSION: Our findings provide deeper insights into the immune features of the tumor ecosystem and reveal the prognostic significance of follicular helper T cells and T helper 17 cells. These findings may pave the way for the development of therapeutic approaches.

Global trends in COVID-19 incidence and case fatality rates (2019-2023): a retrospective analysis.

Objectives: Analyzing and comparing COVID-19 infection and case-fatality rates across different regions can help improve our response to future pandemics. Methods: We used public data from the WHO to calculate and compare the COVID-19 infection and case-fatality rates in different continents and income levels from 2019 to 2023. Results: The Global prevalence of COVID-19 increased from 0.011 to 0.098, while case fatality rates declined from 0.024 to 0.009. Europe reported the highest cumulative infection rate (0.326), with Africa showing the lowest (0.011). Conversely, Africa experienced the highest cumulative case fatality rates (0.020), with Oceania the lowest (0.002). Infection rates in Asia showed a steady increase in contrast to other continents which observed initial rises followed by decreases. A correlation between economic status and infection rates was identified; high-income countries had the highest cumulative infection rate (0.353) and lowest case fatality rate (0.006). Low-income countries showed low cumulative infection rates (0.006) but the highest case fatality rate (0.016). Initially, high and upper-middle-income countries experienced elevated initial infection and case fatality rates, which subsequently underwent significant reductions. Conclusions: COVID-19 rates varied significantly by continent and income level. Europe and the Americas faced surges in infections and low case fatality rates. In contrast, Africa experienced low infection rates and higher case fatality rates, with lower- and middle-income nations exceeding case fatality rates in high-income countries over time.

The superior mesenteric artery angle in diagnosis of nutcracker syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: Nutcracker syndrome (NCS) can be caused by narrowness of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) angle. Nevertheless, the cut-off value of the SMA angle is controversial and variable. Therefore, the present study evaluated the optimal SMA angle to maximize diagnostic performance for NCS diagnosis by conducting a meta-analysis. METHODS: We comprehensively searched the English literature related to the diagnosis of NCS from the perspective of SMA (from the date of database inception to June 2022). The accuracy of an SMA angle less than 41° in the diagnosis of NCS was evaluated by calculating the pooled sensitivity (SEN), pooled specificity (SPE), positive likelihood ratio (LR+), negative likelihood ratio (LR-), summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curve and area under the curve (AUC) value. The I2 test and meta-regression analysis were used to assess heterogeneity and sources of heterogeneity, respectively. Publication bias was assessed using Deeks' funnel plot asymmetry test. RESULTS: Six studies (526 patients) met the inclusion criteria. SEN and SPE were 0.94 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.80-0.99) and 0.85 (95% CI 0.65-0.94), respectively. The LR + value was 6.0, and the LR- value was 0.07, revealing that SMA angles less than 41° exhibited an excellent ability to help confirm or exclude NCS. Additionally, SROC curves showed that the AUC of SMA angles less than 41° for the diagnosis of NCS was 0.96, indicating that SMA angles less than 41° have good efficacy for helping to diagnose NCS. CONCLUSION: This study explored the diagnostic efficacy of the cut-off value of the SMA angle by meta-analysis. According to the high SPE and SEN results, SMA angles less than 41° have good efficacy in facilitating NCS diagnosis.

Accelerating urban energy transitions: Harnessing EEET framework dynamics for sustainable development in resource-based cities of Sichuan Basin, China.

This study examines managing urban energy systems in the Sichuan Basin, considering natural gas production. An integrated approach assessed the economy, energy, ecology, and technology (EEET) connections. The study identifies systemic issues and significant differences across locations and emphasizes the interdependent nature of economic expansion, energy innovations, and environmental commitment. Findings offer valuable insights for policymakers, providing strategic directions for overcoming barriers to sustainable city and energy advancements, and nurturing resilient urban environments. The EEET framework sheds light on the complex interactions of urban development, enabling officials to focus on areas for improvement. Addressing conflicts can create more cohesive and sustainable urban landscapes, uncovering serious environmental and energy-use issues in cities with dense industrial zones. Decision-makers could prioritize solutions like enforcing pollution controls and encouraging green energy use. Addressing disputes among urban development participants can craft strategies to encourage cooperation, finding win-win outcomes for sustainable city growth.

Development of prognostic model incorporating a ferroptosis/cuproptosis-related signature and mutational landscape analysis in muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

BACKGROUND: Muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) is a prevalent and aggressive malignancy. Ferroptosis and cuproptosis are recently discovered forms of programmed cell death (PCD) that have attracted much attention. However, their interactions and impacts on MIBC overall survival (OS) and treatment outcomes remain unclear. METHODS: Data from the TCGA-BLCA project (as the training set), cBioPortal database, and GEO datasets (GSE13507 and GSE32894, as the test sets) were utilized to identify hub ferroptosis/cuproptosis-related genes (FRGs and CRGs) and develop a prognostic signature. Differential expression analysis (DEA) was conducted, followed by univariate and multivariate Cox's regression analyses and multiple machine learning (ML) techniques to select genetic features. The performance of the ferroptosis/cuproptosis-related signature was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier (K-M) survival analysis and receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) curves. Mutational and tumour immune microenvironment landscapes were also explored. Real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) experiments confirmed the expression patterns of the hub genes, and functional assays assessed the effects of SCD knockdown on cell viability, proliferation, and migration. RESULTS: DEA revealed dysregulated FRGs and CRGs in the TCGA MIBC cohort. SCD, DDR2, and MT1A were identified as hub genes. A prognostic signature based on the sum of the weighted expression of these genes demonstrated strong predictive efficacy in the training and test sets. Nomogram incorporating this signature accurately predicted 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival probabilities in the TCGA cohort and GSE13507 dataset. Copy number variation (CNV) and tumour immune microenvironment analysis revealed that high risk score level groups were associated with immunosuppression and lower tumour purity. The associations of risk scores with immunotherapy and chemical drugs were also explored, indicating their potential for guiding treatment for MIBC patients. The dysregulated expression patterns of three hub genes were validated by RT-qPCR experiments. CONCLUSIONS: Targeting hub FRGs and CRGs could be a promising therapeutic approach for MIBC. Our prognostic model offers a new framework for MIBC subtyping and can inform personalized therapeutic strategies.

Study on the inhibitory mechanism of fig leaf extract against postharvest Fusarium in melon.

The objective of this study was to explore the fungistatic mechanism of fig leaf extract against Fusarium and to provide a theoretical basis for the development of new plant-derived fungicides. Methods: The fungistaticity of fig leaf extract were analyzed by the ring of inhibition method. Fusarium equiseti was selected as the target for analyzing its fungistatic mechanism in terms of mycelial morphology, ultrastructure, cell membrane permeability, membrane plasma peroxidation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) content and changes in the activity of protective enzymes. The effect of this extract was verified in melon, and its components were determined by metabolite analysis using ultraperformance liquid chromatography‒mass spectrometry (UPLC‒MS). Results: Fig leaf extract had an obvious inhibitory effect on Fusarium, and the difference was significant (P < 0.05) or highly significant (P < 0.01). Scanning and transmission electron microscopy revealed that F. equiseti hyphae exhibited obvious folding, twisting and puckering phenomena, resulting in an increase in the cytoplasmic leakage of spores, interstitial plasma, and the concentration of the nucleus, which seriously damaged the integrity of the fungal cell membrane. This phenomenon was confirmed by propidium iodide (PI) and fluorescein diacetate (FAD) staining, cell membrane permeability and malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Fig leaf extract also induced the mycelium to produce excessive H2O2,which led to lipid peroxidation of the cell membrane, promoted the accumulation of MDA, accelerated protein hydrolysis, induced an increase in antioxidant enzyme activity, and disrupted the balance of ROS metabolism; these findings showed that fungal growth was inhibited, which was verified in melons. A total of 1,540 secondary metabolites were detected by broad-targeted metabolomics, among which the fungistatic active substances flavonoids (15.45%), phenolic acids (15%), and alkaloids (10.71%) accounted for a high percentage and the highest relative content of these substances 1,3,7,8-tetrahydroxy-2- prenylxanthone, 8-hydroxyquinoline and Azelaic acid were analysed for their antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, preventive effects against plant diseases and acquisition of resistance by plants. This confirms the reason for the fungicidal properties of fig leaf extracts. Conclusion: Fig leaf extract has the potential to be developed into a plant-derived fungicide as a new means of postharvest pathogen prevention and control in melon.

A new nomogram based on ultrasound and clinical features for distinguishing epididymal tuberculosis and nontuberculous epididymitis.

Using ultrasound findings and clinical characteristics, we constructed and validated a new nomogram for distinguishing epididymal tuberculosis from nontuberculous epididymitis, both of which share similar symptoms. We retrospectively examined data of patients with epididymal tuberculosis and nontuberculous epididymitis hospitalized between January 1, 2013, and March 31, 2023. Eligible patients were randomly assigned to derivation and validation cohorts (ratio, 7:3). We drew a nomogram to construct a diagnostic model through multivariate logistic regression and visualize the model. We used concordance index, calibration plots, and decision curve analysis to assess the discrimination, calibration, and clinical usefulness of the nomogram, respectively. In this study, 136 participants had epididymal tuberculosis and 79 had nontuberculous epididymitis. Five variables-C-reactive protein level, elevated scrotal skin temperature, nodular lesion, chronic infection, and scrotal skin ulceration-were significant and used to construct the nomogram. Concordance indices of the derivation and validation cohorts were 0.95 and 0.96, respectively (95% confidence intervals, 0.91-0.98 and 0.92-1.00, respectively). Decision curve analysis of this nomogram revealed that it helped differentiate epididymal tuberculosis from nontuberculous epididymitis. This nomogram may help clinicians distinguish between epididymal tuberculosis and nontuberculous epididymitis, thereby increasing diagnosis accuracy.

Based on PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway, the Effects of Gubi Decoction on Chondrocyte Proliferation, Apoptosis, and Expression of Inflammatory Factors in a Rat Model of Osteoarthritis.

Objective: Given the crucial role of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in chondrocyte survival and inflammation in osteoarthritis (OA), this study aimed to investigate the effects of Gu Bi Tang on chondrocyte proliferation, apoptosis, and inflammatory factor expression in a rat model of OA, with a focus on the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Methods: Forty-five specific pathogen-free (SPF) C57 mice were randomly divided into three groups: the model group (Group A), the Gu Bi Tang group (Group B), and the Amfenac group (Group C), with 15 rats in each group. All 45 rats underwent anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) surgery to establish an OA model. The ACLT procedure is a well-established method for inducing OA in rodents, as it leads to the destabilization of the knee joint and the development of degenerative changes characteristic of human OA. After 8 weeks of modeling, Group A rats received an equivalent volume of normal saline by gastric lavage, Group B rats were administered 13 mL/kg of Gu Bi Tang, and Group C rats received 19.5 mg/kg of Amfenac solution by gastric lavage. The dosages of Gu Bi Tang and Amfenac were selected based on previous studies examining the therapeutic effects of these interventions in rodent OA models. The gastric lavage frequency for all three groups was maintained at twice daily. The researchers analyzed cartilage morphological changes using toluidine blue staining, chondrocyte proliferation and apoptosis using the TUNEL method, and the expression of PI3K/AKT/mTOR proteins in chondrocytes using Western blotting. Additionally, the expression of inflammatory factors (TNF-α and IL-1ß) in serum was measured using ELISA. Results: Staining: Compared to the model group (Group A), both the Gu Bi Tang group (Group B) and the Amfenac group (Group C) showed significant improvement in cartilage tissue, with deeper toluidine blue staining. Toluidine blue staining is a marker of cartilage integrity and glycosaminoglycan content, indicating improved cartilage structure and composition in the treatment groups. Chondrocyte proliferation and apoptosis: Compared to the model group (Group A), both the Gu Bi Tang group (Group B) and the Amfenac group (Group C) significantly reduced chondrocyte apoptosis (P < .05). This reduction in chondrocyte death contributes to a healthier cartilage environment and helps prevent further cartilage degradation. Protein expression: In comparison to the model group (Group A), the expression of PI3K, AKT, and mTOR proteins in the joint cartilage of the Gu Bi Tang group (Group B) and the Amfenac group (Group C) significantly decreased, with the Amfenac group showing a greater reduction than the Gu Bi Tang group (P < .05). The inhibition of this detrimental PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway promotes chondrocyte survival and a more favorable cartilage homeostasis. Inflammatory factor expression: Prior to treatment, there was no significant difference in the expression levels of the inflammatory factors TNF-α and IL-1ß in serum among the three groups (P > .05). However, after treatment, both the Gu Bi Tang group (Group B) and the Amfenac group (Group C) showed a significant reduction in the serum expression of TNF-α and IL-1ß compared to the model group (Group A), with the Amfenac group showing a greater reduction than the Gu Bi Tang group (P < .05). This is important, as TNF-α and IL-1ß are key pro-inflammatory cytokines that drive the destructive processes in osteoarthritis. Conclusion: In summary, this study demonstrates that Gu Bi Tang exerts protective effects on chondrocytes in a rat model of osteoarthritis. Specifically, Gu Bi Tang was shown to inhibit chondrocyte apoptosis, reduce the expression of key proteins in the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, and decrease the levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1ß. These findings suggest that Gu Bi Tang could offer a novel therapeutic approach for osteoarthritis by modulating key signaling pathways and inflammatory responses. The ability of Gu Bi Tang to preserve chondrocyte viability and maintain a more favorable cartilage homeostasis makes it a promising candidate for further investigation as a potential treatment for osteoarthritis. Future studies should explore the precise mechanisms by which Gu Bi Tang exerts its beneficial effects and evaluate its efficacy in additional animal models and clinical settings.

The value of synthetic MRI for quantitative analysis in the diagnosis of cervical lymph node metastasis in thyroid cancer.

BACKGROUND: Preoperative effective assessment of cervical lymph node metastasis in thyroid cancer plays an important role in formulating the surgical plan. PURPOSE: To investigate the significance of synthetic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for quantitatively analyzing cervical lymph node metastasis in thyroid cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 30 patients with thyroid cancer, consisting of 19 thyroid cancer nodules, 45 metastatic lymph nodes, and 47 non-metastatic lymph nodes. Regions of interest (ROIs) for each type of nodule were manually delineated using a workstation. Quantitative parameters, such as T1, T2, and proton density (PD) values, were automatically extracted from synthetic MRI scans. Statistical tests and regression analysis were performed to assess differences and correlations among the quantitative parameters. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the quantitative parameter values between the primary tumor and metastatic lymph node tissues (P > 0.05). However, significant differences were observed in the quantitative parameters between the primary tumor and non-metastatic lymph node tissues and between the metastatic and non-metastatic lymph node tissues (P < 0.05). The diagnostic accuracy for cervical lymph node metastasis in thyroid cancer was 94.4% for the T1 and T2 combined index, 91.9% for T2, 86.8% for T1, and 71.7% for PD values. CONCLUSION: The application of quantitative parameters from synthetic MRI can assist clinicians in accurately planning surgical interventions for thyroid cancer patients before surgery.

Chemoproteomics enables identification of coatomer subunit zeta-1 targeted by a small molecule for enterovirus A71 inhibition.

Human enterovirus A71 (EV-A71) is a significant etiological agent responsible for epidemics of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) in Asia-Pacific regions. There are presently no licensed antivirals against EV-A71, and the druggable target for EV-A71 remains very limited. The phenotypic hit 10,10'-bis(trifluoromethyl) marinopyrrole A derivative, herein termed MPA-CF3, is a novel potent small-molecule inhibitor against EV-A71, but its pharmacological target(s) and antiviral mechanisms are not defined. Here, quantitative chemoproteomics deciphered the antiviral target of MAP-CF3 as host factor coatomer subunit zeta-1 (COPZ1). Mechanistically, MPA-CF3 disrupts the interaction of COPZ1 with the EV-A71 nonstructural protein 2C by destabilizing COPZ1 upon binding. The destruction of this interaction blocks the coatomer-mediated transport of 2C to endoplasmic reticulum, and ultimately inhibits EV-A71 replication. Taken together, our study disclosed that MPA-CF3 can be a structurally novel host-targeting anti-EV-A71 agent, providing a structural basis for developing the COPZ1-targeting broad-spectrum antivirals against enteroviruses. The mechanistic elucidation of MPA-CF3 against EV-A71 may offer an alternative COPZ1-involved therapeutic pathway for enterovirus infection.

Gene expression and immune infiltration analysis comparing lesioned and preserved subchondral bone in osteoarthritis.

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative disease requiring additional research. This study compared gene expression and immune infiltration between lesioned and preserved subchondral bone. The results were validated using multiple tissue datasets and experiments. Methods: Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the lesioned and preserved tibial plateaus of OA patients were identified in the GSE51588 dataset. Moreover, functional annotation and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analyses were performed on the lesioned and preserved sides to explore potential therapeutic targets in OA subchondral bones. In addition, multiple tissues were used to screen coexpressed genes, and the expression levels of identified candidate DEGs in OA were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Finally, an immune infiltration analysis was conducted. Results: A total of 1,010 DEGs were identified, 423 upregulated and 587 downregulated. The biological process (BP) terms enriched in the upregulated genes included "skeletal system development", "sister chromatid cohesion", and "ossification". Pathways were enriched in "Wnt signaling pathway" and "proteoglycans in cancer". The BP terms enriched in the downregulated genes included "inflammatory response", "xenobiotic metabolic process", and "positive regulation of inflammatory response". The enriched pathways included "neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction" and "AMP-activated protein kinase signaling". JUN, tumor necrosis factor α, and interleukin-1ß were the hub genes in the PPI network. Collagen XI A1 and leucine-rich repeat-containing 15 were screened from multiple datasets and experimentally validated. Immune infiltration analyses showed fewer infiltrating adipocytes and endothelial cells in the lesioned versus preserved samples. Conclusion: Our findings provide valuable information for future studies on the pathogenic mechanism of OA and potential therapeutic and diagnostic targets.

Self-Powered Terahertz Modulators Based on Metamaterials, Liquid Crystals, and Triboelectric Nanogenerators.

6G communication mainly occurs in the THz band (0.1-10 THz), which can achieve excellent performance. Self-powered THz modulators are essential for achieving better conduction, modulation, and manipulation of THz waves. Herein, a self-powered terahertz modulator, which is based on metamaterials, liquid crystals (LCs), and rotary triboelectric nanogenerators (R-TENGs), is proposed to realize the driving of different array elements. The corresponding designs can achieve an integrated design and preparation method for dynamic spectrum-reconfigurable liquid crystal metamaterials. In addition, for the type of cross-structure metamaterial liquid crystal box, a phase modulation of 1 GHz is achieved at frequencies of 0.117 and 0.161 THz with modulation depths of 13 and 11%, respectively. Because the R-TENG with a multifan blade and circular electrodes can generate 18 peaks of electric output in every rotation, it can successfully provide sufficient frequency alternating-current electric energy to drive the terahertz modulator and achieve a self-powered function. Our findings lay a solid theoretical foundation for further building self-powered THz communication systems and promote the development of a theoretical system for LC-driving spectrum-reconfigurable devices in the THz domain.

Divergent and gram-scale syntheses of (-)-veratramine and (-)-cyclopamine.

Veratramine and cyclopamine, two of the most representative members of the isosteroidal alkaloids, are valuable molecules in agricultural and medicinal chemistry. While plant extraction of these compounds suffers from uncertain supply, efficient chemical synthesis approaches are in high demand. Here, we present concise, divergent, and scalable syntheses of veratramine and cyclopamine with 11% and 6.2% overall yield, respectively, from inexpensive dehydro-epi-androsterone. Our synthesis readily provides gram quantities of both target natural products by utilizing a biomimetic rearrangement to form the C-nor-D-homo steroid core and a stereoselective reductive coupling/(bis-)cyclization sequence to establish the (E)/F-ring moiety.

Influence of preoperative antituberculosis chemotherapy duration on perioperative complications in patients treated with epididymectomy for epididymal tuberculosis.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to investigate the influence of preoperative antituberculosis chemotherapy duration on perioperative epididymectomy complications in patients with epididymal tuberculosis (ETB). METHODS: This retrospective study examined patients with ETB between January 1, 2013, and March 31, 2023, who underwent unilateral epididymectomy at our hospital. We selected preoperative antituberculosis chemotherapy duration of 2, 4, and 8 weeks as the cutoffs for this study, to explore whether there are differences in the incidence of intraoperative and 30-day postoperative complications among the patients with different preoperative antituberculosis chemotherapy durations. Intraoperative complications were graded according to the Satava classification, and 30-day postoperative complications were defined according to the Clavien-Dindo classification. The study groups were compared using the unpaired t-test, Wilcoxon rank-sum test, Pearson's chi-square test, or Fisher's exact test, as appropriate. RESULTS: Overall, 155 patients were included. Statistical analysis revealed that there were no significant differences in the incidence of intraoperative and 30-day postoperative complications between patients with shorter preoperative antituberculosis chemotherapy duration and those with longer preoperative antituberculosis chemotherapy duration. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with ETB, preoperative antituberculosis chemotherapy duration did not significantly affect the incidence of perioperative complications after epididymectomy.

Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of new bis-benzylisoquinoline-based analogues as potential neuromuscular blocking agents.

Neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs) are widely used in anesthesia for intubation and surgical muscle relaxation. Novel atracurium and mivacurium derivatives were developed, with compounds 18c, 18d, and 29a showing mivacurium-like relaxation at 27.27 nmol/kg, and 15b, 15c, 15e, and 15h having a shorter duration at 272.7 nmol/kg. The structure-activity and configuration-activity relationships of these derivatives and 29a's binding to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors were analyzed through molecular docking. Rabbit trials showed 29a has a shorter duration compared to mivacurium. This suggests that linker properties, ammonium group substituents, and configuration are crucial for NMBA activity and duration, with compound 29a emerging as a potential ultra-short-acting NMBA.

Synchronous Switching Strategy to Enhance the Real-Time Powering and Charging Performance of Triboelectric Nanogenerator.

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) are of great significance as sustainable power sources that harvest energy from the human body and environment. Nevertheless, due to TENG's impedance-dependent output voltage characteristics, in traditional strategy (TS), real-timely powering a sensor with TENG has a poor sensing on/off ratio (or response), and directly charging a capacitor with TENG shows a low charging efficiency. This degraded real-time powering and charging performance of TENG compared to a commercial constant voltage source is a huge challenge of the TENG field for a long time. This work proposes a synchronous switching strategy (SSS) for TENG to real-timely power sensors or charge capacitors without degrading its performance. Compared with TS, this new strategy enables sensors to have 5-7 times sensing on/off ratio enhancement when using TENG as a power source, reaching the powering ability of a commercial constant voltage source, it makes the powering performance of TENG stable under different driving frequency, improving the powering robustness of TENG. In addition, compared with TS, SSS can also enhance the charging efficiency of TENG in every charging cycle by up to 2.4 times when charging capacitors. This work contributes to real-timely powering or charging the distributed, mobile and wireless electronics using TENG.

Electric pulse-tuned piezotronic effect for interface engineering.

Investigating interface engineering by piezoelectric, flexoelectric and ferroelectric polarizations in semiconductor devices is important for their applications in electronics, optoelectronics, catalysis and many more. The interface engineering by polarizations strongly depends on the property of interface barrier. However, the fixed value and uncontrollability of interface barrier once it is constructed limit the performance and application scenarios of interface engineering by polarizations. Here, we report a strategy of tuning piezotronic effect (interface barrier and transport controlled by piezoelectric polarization) reversibly and accurately by electric pulse. Our results show that for Ag/HfO2/n-ZnO piezotronic tunneling junction, the interface barrier height can be reversibly tuned as high as 168.11 meV by electric pulse, and the strain (0-1.34‰) modulated current range by piezotronic effect can be switched from 0-18 nA to 44-72 nA. Moreover, piezotronic modification on interface barrier tuned by electric pulse can be up to 148.81 meV under a strain of 1.34‰, which can totally switch the piezotronic performance of the electronics. This study provides opportunities to achieve reversible control of piezotronics, and extend them to a wider range of scenarios and be better suitable for micro/nano-electromechanical systems.

Piezotronic Transistors Based on GaN Wafer for Highly Sensitive Pressure Sensing with High Linearity and High Stability.

Piezotronic effect utilizing strain-induced piezoelectric polarization to achieve interfacial engineering in semiconductor nanodevices exhibits great advantages in applications such as human-machine interfacing, micro/nanoelectromechanical systems, and next-generation sensors and transducers. However, it is a big challenge but highly desired to develop a highly sensitive piezotronic device based on piezoelectric semiconductor wafers and thus to push piezotronics toward wafer-scale applications. Here, we develop a bicrystal barrier-based piezotronic transistor for highly sensitive pressure sensing by p-GaN single-crystal wafers. Its pressure sensitivity can be as high as 19.83 meV/MPa, which is more than 15 times higher than previous bulk-material-based piezotronic transistors and reaches the level of nanomaterial-based piezotronic transistors. Moreover, it can respond to a very small strain of 3.3 × 10-6 to 1.1 × 10-5 with high gauge factors of 1.45 × 105 to 1.38 × 106, which is a very high value among various strain sensors. Additionally, it also exhibits high stability (current stability of 97.32 ± 2.05% and barrier height change stability of 95.85 ± 3.43%) and high linearity (R2 ∼ 0.997 ± 0.002) in pressure sensing. This work proves the possibility of designing a bicrystal barrier as the interface to obtain a strong piezotronic effect and highly sensitive piezotronic devices based on wafers, which contributes to their applications.

Genome-Wide Identification and Characterization of the GRAS Gene Family in Lettuce Revealed That Silencing LsGRAS13 Delayed Bolting.

Lettuce is susceptible to high-temperature stress during cultivation, leading to bolting and affecting yield. Plant-specific transcription factors, known as GRAS proteins, play a crucial role in regulating plant growth, development, and abiotic stress responses. In this study, the entire lettuce LsGRAS gene family was identified. The results show that 59 LsGRAS genes are unevenly distributed across the nine chromosomes. Additionally, all LsGRAS proteins showed 100% nuclear localization based on the predicted subcellular localization and were phylogenetically classified into nine conserved subfamilies. To investigate the expression profiles of these genes in lettuce, we analyzed the transcription levels of all 59 LsGRAS genes in the publicly available RNA-seq data under the high-temperature treatment conducted in the presence of exogenous melatonin. The findings indicate that the transcript levels of the LsGRAS13 gene were higher on days 6, 9, 15, 18, and 27 under the high-temperature (35/30 °C) treatment with melatonin than on the same treatment days without melatonin. The functional studies demonstrate that silencing LsGRAS13 accelerated bolting in lettuce. Furthermore, the paraffin sectioning results showed that flower bud differentiation in LsGRAS13-silenced plants occurred significantly faster than in control plants. In this study, the LsGRAS genes were annotated and analyzed, and the expression pattern of the LsGRAS gene following melatonin treatment under high-temperature conditions was explored. This exploration provides valuable information and identifies candidate genes associated with the response mechanism of lettuce plants high-temperature stress.