A new abdominal drainage tube fixation method for 3-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy improves patients’postoperative quality of life

Objective Laparoscopic surgery has become a routine general surgery with many advantages,such as alleviating abdominal pain.However,postoperative pain caused by abdominal drainage tubes has attracted little attention from medical staff.The aim of this study was to explore the influence of a new abdominal drainage tube fixation method for 3-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy(LC)on patients’postoperative quality of life.Methods Patients who underwent 3-port LC with abdominal drainage tubes in the Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery of Linyi People’s Hospital from March 1,2023 to October 31,2023 due to gallstones with chronic cholecystitis were selected for this study.The patients were randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group.In the experimental group,the new abdominal drainage tube fixation method was used,while in the control group,the traditional method was used.Afterward,the quality of life of patient in terms of pain,activity,recovery time,and mental health status was evaluated.The exudate around the patient’s drainage tube was collected for bacterial culture and analysis.Results A total of 139 patients were randomly divided into an experimental group(70 patients)and a control group(69 patients).The patients’baseline characteristics were not significantly different.The patients in the experimental group had better outcomes in quality of life,with higher pain scores(24.03±2.37 vs.15.48±2.29,p<0.001)and activity scores(20.57±1.78 vs.14.13±1.43,p<0.001),and a shorter postoperative recovery time(2.36±0.68 d vs.2.96±1.34 d,p<0.001).The same results were shown in linear regression analysis scores of the 2 groups.The positive rate of bacterial culture in the exudate around the patient’s drainage tube in the experimental group was significantly lower than that in the control group(12.9%vs.43.5%,p<0.001);and furthermore,the positive rate of conditional pathogenic bacteria was even lower(7.1%vs.33.3%,p<0.001)in the experimental group than in the control group.Conclusion This new abdominal drainage tube fixation method can effectively promote patient rehabilitation and improve the quality of life for patient following 3-port LC with abdominal drainage tubes.

A Shape-Memory Deployable Subsystem with a Large Folding Ratio in China’s Tianwen-1 Mars Exploration Mission

Once China’s Tianwen-1 Mars probe arrived in a Mars orbit after a seven-month flight in the deep cold space environment,it would be urgently necessary to monitor its state and the surrounding environment.To address this issue,we developed a flexible deployable subsystem based on shape memory polymer composites(SMPC-FDS)with a large folding ratio,which incorporates a camera and two temperature telemetry points for monitoring the local state of the Mars orbiter and the deep space environment.Here,we report on the development,testing,and successful application of the SMPC-FDS.Before reaching its Mars remote-sensing orbit,the SMPC-FDS is designed to be in a folded state with high stiffness;after reaching orbit,it is in a deployed state with a large envelope.The transition from the folded state to the deployed state is achieved by electrically heating the shape memory polymer composites(SMPCs);during this process,the camera on the SMPC-FDS can capture the local state of the orbiter from multiple angles.Moreover,temperature telemetry points on the SMPC-FDS provide feedback on the environment temperature and the temperature change of the SMPCs during the energization process.By simulating a Mars on-orbit space environment,the engineering reliability of the SMPC-FDS was comprehensively verified in terms of the material properties,structural dynamic performance,and thermal vacuum deployment feasibility.Since the launch of Tianwen-1 on 23 July 2020,scientific data on the temperature environment around Tianwen-1 has been successfully acquired from the telemetry points on the SMPCFDS,and the local state of the orbiter has been photographed in orbit,showing the national flag of China fixed on the orbiter.

Warming effect of desert and its impact on oasis heat resources and agricultural productivity in arid land,China

This paper provides a positive view of the desert, in terms of the warming effect of deserts on oases and the impact of heat re- sources and agricultural production. We use data from experimental sites in the Manas River Basin in China to characterize these relationships. We note that the warming effect of the desert was found to be significant but gradually reduced with in- creased distance of the oasis from the desert. The range of wanning effect is about 100 km, and the improvement in tempera- ture is about 1.8 ℃. Due to this warming effect, the desert serves as the second heat source for the oasis, which represents one important aspect of the ecologic value of the desert. Our results also show the warming effect has a strong spatial impact on agricultural productivity. Crop productivity fell by about 49 kg/ha with every 10 km increase in distance away from the desert. Our results imply that crop suitability must correspond to the warming effect of the desert. More efficient use of heat resources can contribute towards achieving potential productivity.

Over 18.2% efficiency of layer–by–layer all–polymer solar cells enabled by homoleptic iridium(Ⅲ)carbene complex as solid additive

The vertical phase distribution of active layers plays a vital role in balancing exciton dissociation and cha rge transport for achieving efficient polymer solar cells(PSCs).The layer-by-layer(LbL)PSCs are commonly prepared by using sequential spin-coating method from donor and acceptor solutions with distinct solvents and solvent additives.The enhanced exciton dissociation is expected in the LbL PSCs with efficient charge transport in the relatively neat donor or acceptor layers.In this work,a series of LbL all-polymer solar cells(APSCs)were fabricated with PM6 as donor and PY-DT as acceptor,and triplet material m-Ir(CPmPB)_(3)is deliberately incorporated into PY-DT layer to prolong exciton lifetimes of active layers.The power conversion efficiency(PCE)of LbL APSCs is improved to 18.24%from 17.32%by incorporating 0.3 wt%m-Ir(CPMPB)_(3)in PY-DT layer,benefiting from the simultaneously enhanced short-circuit current density(Isc)of 25.17 mA cm^(-2)and fill factor(FF)of 74.70%.The enhancement of PCE is attributed to the efficient energy transfer of m-Ir(CPmPB)_(3)to PM6 and PY-DT,resulting in the prolonged exciton lifetime in the active layer and the increased exciton diffusion distance.The efficient energy transfer from m-Ir(CPmPB)_(3)to PM6 and PY-DT layer can be confirmed by the increased photoluminescence(PL)intensity and the prolonged PL lifetime of PM6 and PY-DT in PM6+m-Ir(CPmPB)_(3)and PY-DT+m-Ir(CPmPB)_(3)films.This study indicates that the triplet material as solid additive has great potential in fabricating efficient LbL APSCs by prolonging exciton lifetimes in active layers.

Shape Memory Polymer Composites:4D Printing,Smart Structures,and Applications

Shape memory polymers (SMPs) and their composites (SMPCs) are smart materials that can be stably deformed and then return to their original shape under external stimulation, thus having a memory of their shape. Three-dimensional (3D) printing is an advanced technology for fabricating products using a digital software tool. Four-dimensional (4D) printing is a new generation of additive manufacturing technology that combines shape memory materials and 3D printing technology. Currently, 4D-printed SMPs and SMPCs are gaining considerable research attention and are finding use in various fields, including biomedical science. This review introduces SMPs, SMPCs, and 4D printing technologies, highlighting several special 4D-printed structures. It summarizes the recent research progress of 4D-printed SMPs and SMPCs in various fields, with particular emphasis on biomedical applications. Additionally, it presents an overview of the challenges and development prospects of 4D-printed SMPs and SMPCs and provides a preliminary discussion and useful reference for the research and application of 4D-printed SMPs and SMPCs.

Control of Surface Wrinkles on Shape Memory PLA/PPDO Micro‑nanofibers and Their Applications in Drug Release and Anti‑scarring

Micro-and nano-fibers of shape memory polymers(SMP)offer multiple advantages like high specific surface area,poros-ity,and intelligence,and are suitable for biomedical applications.In this study,biodegradable poly(p-dioxanone)(PPDO)materials were incorporated to improve the brittleness of shape memory polylactic acid(PLA),and plasticizers were used to reduce the transition temperature of SMP composites such that their transitions could be induced close to body temperature.Furthermore,an electrostatic spinning technology was applied to prepare SMP fibers with wrinkled structures and regulate their microstructures and morphologies such that the intelligent transition of wrinkled and smooth morphologies can be achieved on the fiber surface.The application of this controllable-morphology fiber membrane in intelligent controlled drug release and scar inhibition after Ahmed Glaucoma Valve(AGV)implantation was also studied.The drug release from the stretched and deformed drug-loaded fiber membranes was faster than those from membranes with the original shape.This membrane with micro-and nano-fibers had good anti-scarring effects that improved after drug loading.The achievement of intelligent controlled drug release and the evident anti-scarring effects of the membrane broaden the application of SMP fibers in the biomedical field.

Adjustable volume and loading release of shape memory polymer microcapsules

Research on microcapsules has been conducted in recent years given trends in miniaturization and novel functionalization.In this work,we designed and prepared a series of unique shape memory polyurethane(SMPU)microcapsules with stimuli-responsive func-tions.The microcapsule has a core-shell structure in which the surface morphology can be adjusted,and it has a certain loadbearing capacity.In addition,the SMPU microcapsule has a stimuliresponsive function for shape memory and solvent response.The temperature of its shape recovery is approximately body tempera-ture,and it can swell to rupture under the stimulation of organic solvents.Thus,the SMPU microcapsule has potential applications in biomedical fields,such as drug release.

Surrogate production of genome-edited sperm from a different subfamily by spermatogonial stem cell transplantation

The surrogate reproduction technique,such as inter-specific spermatogonial stem cells(SSCs)transplantation(SSCT),provides a powerful tool for production of gametes derived from endangered species or those with desirable traits.However,generation of genome-edited gametes from a different species or production of gametes from a phylogenetically distant species such as from a different subfamily,by SSCT,has not succeeded.Here,using two small cyprinid fishes from different subfamilies,Chinese rare minnow(gobiocypris rarus,for brief:Gr)and zebrafish(danio rerio),we successfully obtained Gr-derived genome-edited sperm in zebrafish by an optimized SSCT procedure.The transplanted Gr SSCs supported the host gonadal development and underwent normal spermatogenesis,resulting in a reconstructed fertile testis containing Gr spermatids and zebrafish testicular somatic cells.Interestingly,the surrogate spermatozoa resembled those of host zebrafish but not donor Gr in morphology and swimming behavior.When pou5f3 and chd knockout Gr SSCs were transplanted,Gr-derived genome-edited sperm was successfully produced in zebrafish.This is the first report demonstrating surrogate production of gametes from a different subfamily by SSCT,and surrogate production of genome-edited gametes from another species as well.This method is feasible to be applied to future breeding of commercial fish and livestock.

Efficient generation of zebrafish maternal-zygotic mutants through transplantation of ectopically induced and Cas9/gRNA targeted primordial germ cells

The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats(CRISPR)/Cas9 technology has been widely utilized for knocking out genes involved in various biological processes in zebrafish. Despite this technology is efficient for generating different mutations, one of the main drawbacks is low survival rate during embryogenesis when knocking out some embryonic lethal genes. To overcome this problem, we developed a novel strategy using a combination of CRISPR/Cas9 mediated gene knockout with primordial germ cell(PGC) transplantation(PGCT) to facilitate and speed up the process of zebrafish mutant generation, particularly for embryonic lethal genes. Firstly, we optimized the procedure for CRISPR/Cas9 targeted PGCT by increasing the efficiencies of genome mutation in PGCs and induction of PGC fates in donor embryos for PGCT. Secondly, the optimized CRISPR/Cas9 targeted PGCT was utilized for generation of maternal-zygotic(MZ) mutants of tcf7l1a(gene essential for head development), pou5f3(gene essential for zygotic genome activation) and chd(gene essential for dorsal development) at F1 generation with relatively high efficiency. Finally, we revealed some novel phenotypes in MZ mutants of tcf7l1 a and chd, as MZtcf7l1 a showed elevated neural crest development while MZchd had much severer ventralization than its zygotic counterparts. Therefore, this study presents an efficient and powerful method for generating MZ mutants of embryonic lethal genes in zebrafish. It is also feasible to speed up the genome editing in commercial fishes by utilizing a similar approach by surrogate production of CRISPR/Cas9 targeted germ cells.

Design of 4D printed shape-changing tracheal stent and remote controlling actuation

has a good application prospect.The biodegradable stent can effectively reduce the damage to patients and improve the therapeutic performance of stents.In this work,a series of shape memory polylactic acid(Fe_(3)O_(4))composite tracheal stents were manufactured by 4D printing.The composite tracheal stents with different structures were designed.Moreover,with the addition of magnetic particles Fe3 O4,the shape memory PLA/Fe_(3)O_(4)composite tracheal stent has a magnetic driving effect.Under the magnetic field,the shape recovery process is completed within 40 s,and the shape recovery rate is more than 99%.Moreover,the 4D printed tracheal stent was also triggered by the irradiation of infrared lamp to realize the remote controlling recovery.The research on the structure design and driving method of 4D printing tracheal stent expands the application scope of shape memory polymer composites in biomedical field,provides a new way for personalized implantable medical devices and minimally invasive surgery.It is of great significance for better precision medical treatment.

Shape Memory Polymer Fibers:Materials,Structures,and Applications

Shape memory polymer(SMP)is a kind of material that can sense and respond to the changes of the external environment,and its behavior is similar to the intelligent refection of life.Electrospinning,as a versatile and feasible technique,has been used to prepare shape memory polymer fbers(SMPFs)and expand their structures.SMPFs show some advanced features and functions in many felds.In this review,we give a comprehensive overview of SMPFs,including materials,fabrication methods,structures,multifunction,and applications.Firstly,the mechanism and characteristics of SMP are introduced.We then discuss the electrospinning method to form various microstructures,like non-woven fbers,core/shell fbers,hollow fbers and oriented fbers.Afterward,the multiple functions of SMPFs are discussed,such as multi-shape memory efect,reversible shape memory efect and remote actuation of composites.We also focus on some typical applications of SMPFs,including biomedical scafolds,drug carriers,self-healing,smart textiles and sensors,as well as energy harvesting devices.At the end,the challenges and future development directions of SMPFs are proposed.

Environment-friendly surface cleaning using micro-nano bubbles

Cleaning a surface using a solution containing a large number of micro to nano scale bubbles has significant advantage regarding environmental protection.This review first briefly introduces the cleaning mechanism of micro-nano bubbles(MNBs),including physical and chemical effects.Then the applications of MNBs in cleaning of metal parts,precision parts,cultural relics or food are introduced.After that,coupled cleaning method of ultrasound and bubbles is introduced.Finally,the characterization methods for the cleaning effect are introduced,which mainly focuses on the changes of physico-chemical properties(mass or cleaning area,infiltration,colony number and light scattering intensity)of the cleaned parts or that(like conductivity)of the solvent.It is believed that MNBs technology will be applied in a broader range of surface cleaning applications.

A critical role of foxp3a-positive regulatory T cells in maintaining immune homeostasis in zebrafish testis development

Suppressive regulatory T cells(Treg cells)play a vital role in preventing autoimmunity and restraining excessive immune response to both self-and non-self-antigens.Studies on humans and mice show that the Forkhead box p3(Foxp3)is a key regulatory gene for the development and function of Treg cells.In zebrafish,Treg cells have been identified by using foxp3a as a reliable marker.However,little is known about the function of foxp3a and Treg cells in gonadal development and sex differentiation.Here,we show that foxp3a is essential for maintaining immune homeostasis in zebrafish testis development.We found that foxp3a was specifically expressed in a subset of T cells in zebrafish testis,while knockout of foxp3a led to deficiency of foxp3a-positive Treg cells in the testis.More than 80%of foxp3a^(-/-)mutants developed as subfertile males,and the rest of the mutants developed as fertile females with decreased ovulation.Further study revealed that foxp3a^(-/-)mutants had a delayed juvenile ovary-to-testis transition in definite males and sex reversal in about half of the definite females,which led to a dominance of later male development.Owing to the absence of foxp3a-positive Treg cells in the differentiating testis of foxp3a^(-/-)mutants,abundant T cells and macrophages expand to disrupt an immunosuppressive milieu,resulting in defective development of germ cells and gonadal somatic cells and leading to development of infertile males.Therefore,our study reveals that foxp3a-positive Treg cells play an essential role in the orchestration of gonadal development and sex differentiation in zebrafish.

Shape Memory Epoxy Resin and Its Composites:From Materials to Applications

Shape memory polymers(SMPs)have historically attracted attention for their unique stimulation-responsive and variable stifness and have made notable progress in acrospace,civil industry,and other fields.In particular,epoxy resin(EP)has great potential due to its excellent mechanical properties,fatigue resistance,and radiation resistance.Herein,we focus on the molecular design and network construction of shape memory epoxy resins(SMEPs)to provide opportunities for performance and functional regulation.Multifunctional and high-performance SMEPs are introduced in detail,including multiple SMEPs,two-way SMEPs,outstanding toughness,and termperature resistance.Finally,emerging applications of SMEP's and their composites in aerospace,four-dimensional printing,and self-healing are dermonstrated.Based on this,we point out the challenges ahead and how SMEPs can integrate performance and versatility to meet the needs of technological development.

Progress of passive daytime radiative cooling technologies towards commercial applications

Global warming has become one of the major environmental problems facing mankind in the 21st century,The existing refrigeration technology of buildings,like air conditioning,consumes a lot of energy.Passive daytime radiative cooling technology works without consuming energy.nor emitting carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.This review summarizes the development of daytime passive radiative cooling technologyfrom the basic principles,structure and materials of radiative coolers;analyses and evaluates the various existing radiative coolers.The core of radiative cooling lies in the combination of multi-scale micro/nano structures.The cooler reflects sunlight thus preventing the building from being heated up;while allows the building toradiate its own heat out thus being cooled down;meanwhile maintains the temperature difference by the heat insulation effect ofthe porous structure in theflm.The common challenges and potential solutions for the commercialization of radiative cooling technologies are analyzed,which may promote the applications of the technology in the near future.

Research progress on bulk nanobubbles

There are still fundamental problems lying in the basic research of bulk nanobubbles.Are the bulk nanobubbles reported in the literature nano scale bubbles or contaminants in fact?At present,there is not yet sufficient experimental evidence to show that the bulk nanoparticles are only gas bubbles but not other nano scale contaminants.If they are indeed nanobubbles,what causes the bulk nanobubbles observed in the literature to be much more stable than being predicted by the Epstein-Plesset theory?This paper firstly discusses the contradiction between the traditional theory prediction and the observed lifetime of the bulk nanobubbles,and then discusses whether the so-called nanobubbles are gas aggregates.We review the existing typical models,and the influence of different conditions on the stability of bulk nanobubbles,for paving the road to a clear understanding of the stability mechanism of bulk nanobubbles.In addition,the representative production methods and characterization methods of bulk nanobubbles are discussed in order to offer some guidance to their wide range of commercial applications.

Soil aggregation and aggregate-associated organic carbon under typical natural halophyte communities in arid saline areas of Northwest China

Information on the effects of halophyte communities on soil organic carbon(SOC)is useful for sequestrating C in arid regions.In this study,we identified four typical natural halophyte communities in the Manasi River Basin in Xinjiang Province,Northeast China,namely,Karelinia caspia(Pall.)Less.,Bassia dasyphylla(Fisch.et C.A.Mey.)Kuntze,Haloxylon ammodendron(C.A.Mey.)Bunge,and Tamarix ramosissima Lour.We compared soil aggregation and aggregated-associated SOC under these communities.The aggregate fraction of 0.053–0.25 mm accounted for 47%–75%of the total soil mass,significantly more than the>0.25 and<0.053 mm fractions,under all the halophyte communities.Significant differences in soil aggregate size distribution were observed among the plant communities,with the H.ammodendron and B.dasyphylla communities showing the highest proportions of>0.25 mm aggregates(13.3%–43.8%)and T.ramosissima community having more<0.053 mm aggregates(14.1%–27.2%).Aggregate-associated SOC concentrations were generally the highest in the>0.25 mm fraction,followed by the<0.053 mm fraction,and were the lowest in the 0.053–0.25 mm fraction;however,because of their large mass,0.25–0.053 mm aggregates contributed significantly more to the total SOC.Total SOC concentrations(0–60 cm depth)decreased in the order of H.ammodendron(5.7 g kg^-1)>T.ramosissima(4.9 g kg^-1)>K.caspia(4.2 g kg^-1)>B.dasyphylla(3.4 g kg^-1).The H.ammodendron community had the highest total SOC and aggregate-associated SOC,which was primarily because aggregate-associated SOC content at the 0–10 and 10–20 cm depths under this community were higher than those under other plant communities.The H.ammodendron community could be beneficial for increasing SOC in saline soils in the arid region.

Integrative self-assembly of covalent organic frameworks and fluorescent molecules for ultrasensitive detection of a nerve agent simulant

Binding of fluorescent molecules to the porous matrix through noncovalent interactions will synergistically expand their application spectrum. In this regard, we report an integrative self-assembly of molecule 1 with benzothiadizole and 9,9-dihexyl fluorene units, and covalent organic frameworks(COFs) via an emulsion-modulated polymerization process, within which molecules of 1 are able to interact with the scaffolds of COFs through CH-π interactions. Thus the π-πinteractions between the fluorescent molecules are largely suppressed, giving rise to their remarkable monomer-like optical properties. Of particular interest is that, given by the specific interaction between COFs and a nerve agent simulant diethyl chlorophosphite(DCP), these assembled composites show the ability of ultrasensitive detection of DCP with a detection limit of ~40 ppb. Moreover, the present integrative assembly strategy can be extended to encapsulate multiple fluorescent molecules, enabling the assemblies with white light emission. Our results highlight opportunities for the development of highly emissive porous materials by molecular selfassembly of fluorophores and molecular units of COFs.

软外延生长法构筑纳米粒子超晶格材料

由纳米粒子自下而上自组装而成、高度有序的纳米粒子超晶格材料是近年来兴起的一类新型材料.本文主要概述了软外延生长法构筑纳米粒子超晶格材料的概念及组装策略,结合近几年本课题组的相关研究工作,主要介绍了几种不同的基底材料,以及通过调控基底与纳米粒子之间的相互作用来构建纳米粒子超晶格材料.具体包括以纳米粒子超晶格、有机分子笼晶体以及超分子组装体等作为基底诱导纳米粒子软外延生长.通过软外延生长法可实现对纳米粒子超晶格维度(包括一维、二维以及三维)的有效调控.同时,阐明了纳米粒子与基底材料的弱键相互作用机制,该机制也成为构筑无机纳米粒子/有机分子有序组装体重要的物理化学基础.