Designing high-efficiency light-to-thermal conversion materials for solar desalination and photothermal catalysis

Light-to-thermal conversion materials(LTCMs)have been of great interest to researchers due to their impressive energy conversion capacity and wide range of applications in biomedical,desalination,and synergistic catalysis.Given the limited advances in existing materials(metals,semiconductors,π-conjugates),researchers generally adopt the method of constructing complex systems and hybrid structures to optimize performance and achieve multifunctional integration.However,the development of LTCMs is still in its infancy as the physical mechanism of light-to-thermal conversion is unclear.In this review,we proposed design strategies for efficient LTCMs by analyzing the physical process of light-tothermal conversion.First,we analyze the nature of light absorption and heat generation to reveal the physical processes of light-to-thermal conversion.Then,we explain the light-to-thermal conversion mechanisms of metallic,semiconducting andπ-conjugated LCTMs,and propose new material design strategies and performance improvement methods.Finally,we summarize the challenges and prospects of LTCMs in emerging applications such as solar water evaporation and photothermal catalysis.

Ketone bodies and inflammation modulation:A mini-review on ketogenic diet’s potential mechanisms in mood disorders

Mental disorders such as depression and anxiety inflict significant burdens on individuals and society.Commonly prescribed treatments often involve cognitive therapy and medications.However,for patients resistant to these conventional methods,alternative therapies like the Ketogenic Diet(KD)offer a promising avenue.KD and its key metabolite,β-hydroxybutyrate(BHB),have been hypothesized to alleviate mental disorders through antiinflammatory actions,a crucial pathway in the pathophysiology of depression.This mini-review examines 15 clinical trials exploring the influence of KD and BHB on inflammation and their potential roles in managing mental disorders.Both human and animal studies were scrutinized to elucidate possible cellular and molecular mechanisms.Out of the 15 trials,10 reported reduced levels of at least one inflammatory mediator or mRNA post KD or BHB treatment,while two observed an elevation in anti-inflammatory agents.These findings suggest that KD and BHB could modulate cellular inflammatory pathways,highlighting their potential for therapeutic application in mental disorders.

3.0T 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy for assessment ofsteatosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C

AIM To investigate the utility of 1H magneticresonance spectroscopy （1H MRS） as a noninvasivetest for steatosis in patients infected with hepatitis Cvirus.METHODS： Ninety patients with chronic hepatitisC and pathology data underwent 3.0T 1H MRS, andthe results of MRS and pathological analysis werecompared.RESULTS： This group of patients included 26 peoplewith mild fatty liver （28.89%）, 16 people withmoderate fatty liver （17.78%）, 18 people with severefatty liver （20.0%）, and 30 people without fatty liver（33.33%）. The water peak was near 4.7 parts permillion （ppm）, and the lipid peak was near 1.3 ppm.Analysis of variance revealed that differences in thelipid peak, the area under the lipid peak, ratio of thelipid peak to the water peak, and ratio of the areaunder the lipid peak to the area under the waterpeak were statistically significant among the groups.Specifically, as the severity of fatty liver increased, thevalue of each index increased correspondingly. In thepairwise comparisons, the mean lipid peak, area underthe lipid peak, ratio of the lipid peak to the waterpeak, and ratio of the area under the lipid peak to thearea under the water peak were significantly differentbetween the no fatty liver and moderate fatty liver groups, whereas no differences were noted betweenthe severe fatty liver group and the mild or moderatefatty liver group. Area under the ROC curve （AUC） ofarea ratio in lipid and water and ratio in lipid and waterin the no fatty liver group to mild fatty liver group, mildfatty liver group to moderate fatty liver group, andmoderate fatty liver disease group to severe fatty livergroup, were 0.705, 0.900, and 0.975, respectively.CONCLUSION： 1H MRS is a noninvasive techniquethat can be used to provide information on the effectof liver steatosis on hepatic metabolic processes. Thisstudy indicates that the 1H MRS can be used as anindicator of steatosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Valproic acid protects neurons and promotes neuronal regeneration after brachial plexus avulsion

Valproic acid has been shown to exert neuroprotective effects and promote neurite outgrowth in several peripheral nerve injury models. However, whether valproic acid can exert its beneficial effect on neurons after brachial plexus avulsion injury is currently unknown. In this study, brachial plexus root avulsion models, established in Wistar rats, were administered daily with valproic acid dis-solved in drinking water （300 mg/kg） or normal water. On days 1, 2, 3, 7, 14 and 28 after avulsion injury, tissues of the C 5-T 1 spinal cord segments of the avulsion injured side were harvested to in-vestigate the expression of Bcl-2, c-Jun and growth associated protein 43 by real-time PCR and western blot assay. Results showed that valproic acid significantly increased the expression of Bcl-2 and growth associated protein 43, and reduced the c-Jun expression after brachial plexus avulsion. Our findings indicate that valproic acid can protect neurons in the spinal cord and enhance neuronal regeneration fol owing brachial plexus root avulsion.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression in dorsal root ganglion neurons in response to reanastomosis of the distal stoma after nerve grafting

Studies have shown that retreatment of the distal stoma after nerve grafting can stimulate nerve regeneration. The present study attempted to verify the effects of reanastomosis of the distal stoma, after nerve grafting, on nerve regeneration by assessing brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression in 2-month-old rats. Results showed that brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression in L2-4 dorsal root ganglia began to increase 3 days after autologous nerve grafting post sciatic nerve injury, peaked at 14 days, decreased at 28 days, and reached similar levels to the sham-surgery group at 56 days. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression in L2-4 dorsal root ganglia began to increase 3 days after reanastomosis of the distal stoma, 59 days after autologous nerve grafting post sciatic nerve injury, significantly increased at 63 days, peaked at 70 days, and gradually decreased thereafter, but remained higher compared with the sham-surgery group up to 112 days. The results of this study indicate that reanastomosis of the distal stoma after orthotopic nerve grafting stimulated brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression in L2.4 dorsal root ganglia.

Bone cement implantation syndrome during hip replacement in a patient with pemphigus and Parkinson’s disease: A case report

BACKGROUND Bone cement implantation syndrome(BCIS)is characterized by hypotension,arrhythmia,diffuse pulmonary microvascular embolism,shock,cardiac arrest,any combination of these factors,or even death following bone cement implantation.CASE SUMMARY An 80-year-old patient with pemphigus and Parkinson’s disease underwent total hip replacement under spinal subarachnoid block and developed acute pulmonary embolism after bone cement implantation.The patient received mask mechanical ventilation with a continuous intravenous infusion of adrenaline(2μg/mL)at a rate of 30 mL/h.Subsequently,the symptoms of BCIS were markedly alleviated,and the infusion rate of adrenaline was gradually reduced until the infusion was completely stopped 45 min later.The patient was then transferred to the Department of Orthopedics,and anticoagulation therapy began at 12 h postoperatively.No other complications were observed.CONCLUSION This is a rare case of BCIS in a high-risk patient with pemphigus and Parkinson’s disease.

Purification and Characterization of Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase MEG1 and Preparation of Anti-PTPMEG1 Antibody

PTPMEGI is an intracellular protein tyrosine phosphatase（PTP）, which contains FERM and PDZ domains This study focuses our attention on the expression, purification and characterization of catalytic domain of PTPMEG1 （AMEG1） and preparation of its polyclonal antibody. A cDNA fragment encoding AMEG1 protein（amino acid residues 643-926） was amplified by PCR and then cloned into the pT7-7 vector. Both soluble and insoluble recombinant AMEG1 proteins were observed after induction by IPTG. Soluble AMEG1 was purified via two chromatographic steps, and the purified enzyme was characterized. With para-nitrophenylphosphate（pNPP） as a substrate, AMEG1 exhibited typical enzymatic characteristics of classic PTPs and classical Michaelis-Menten kinetics. Insoluble AMEG1, which was mainly distributed in the inclusion body of E. coli cells extracts, was purified by preparative electrophoresis gel for the preparation of the polyclonal antibody. A rabbit was immunized with AMEG1 purified by preparative electrophoresis to generate anti-AMEG1 antibody. Anti-serum was collected on 28th day after initial injection and purified via affinity chromatography. The purified polyconal antibody displayed a satisfactory titer and sensitivity.

Importance of Nurses＇ Clothes Etiquette in Medical Education

Good clothes etiquette of nurses can meet the mental needs of patients, which can promote early recovery of patients. A nurse with a good clothes etiquette style conveys the information to the patients, which can produce a positive effect, so nurses＇ appropriate clothes appearance, proper manners, kind and amiable attitude and appropriate discourse and other good clothes etiquettes can achieve the effect that the medicine can not achieve.

Gorgeous Transformation Analysis on Influence of Doctors＇ Clothes on Patients

Doctors＇ clothes have bidden farewell to the historical limitation of only being used as the working clothes, which have become an important part of hospital image. In the eyes of patients, the appearance image of doctors is the image which is most concerned by patients. Doctors＇ clothes beauty reflects the inner beauty of doctors in working, giving the patients the warmth and comfort, which is of great importance to both the physical and mental therapy.

Diverse Teaching Methods of Modem University Teachers

With the rapid development of modem teaching technology, teaching equipment in university has been greatly changed. Some university classrooms have been equipped with modem multimedia classrooms, computers, printers, scanners, recorders, projectors, digital cameras and other advanced electrical teaching equipment; which encourage teachers to collect and accumulate example materials and make auxiliary teaching of multimedia courseware. The teaching methods of pictures, texts, sound, dynamics and colors make the original boring teaching content, which is difficult to understand, become intuitive, vivid and easy to understand. It promotes students＇ positive thinking and stimulates students＇ potential, so as to greatly improve students＇ leaming enthusiasm.

Innovation-- Quality and Knowledge Structure that Modem University Teachers Must Have

The teaching of university teachers is no longer a transfer activity of ＂teachers teaching students listening＂ , but to constantly have innovative teaching methods, teaching environment and teaching philosophy; so as to arouse students＇ ＂enthusiasm for knowledge＂ , making students enthusiastically seek for knowledge under the support of ＂knowledge interest＂ and ＂knowledge belief＂ .

Acid–base Homeostasis and Implications to the Phenotypic Behaviors of Cancer

Acid–base homeostasis is a fundamental property of living cells,and its persistent disruption in human cells can lead to a wide range of diseases.In this study,we conducted a computational modeling analysis of transcriptomic data of 4750 human tissue samples of 9 cancer types in The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA)database.Built on our previous study,we quantitatively estimated the average production rate of OHby cytosolic Fenton reactions,which continuously disrupt the intracellular pH(pHi)homeostasis.Our predictions indicate that all or at least a subset of 43 reprogrammed metabolisms(RMs)are induced to produce net protons(H+)at comparable rates of Fenton reactions to keep the pHi stable.We then discovered that a number of wellknown phenotypes of cancers,including increased growth rate,metastasis rate,and local immune cell composition,can be naturally explained in terms of the Fenton reaction level and the induced RMs.This study strongly suggests the possibility to have a unified framework for studies of cancerinducing stressors,adaptive metabolic reprogramming,and cancerous behaviors.In addition,strong evidence is provided to demonstrate that a popular view that Na+/H+exchangers along with lactic acid exporters and carbonic anhydrases are responsible for the intracellular alkalization and extracellular acidification in cancer may not be justified.

Critical influenza （H1N1） pneumonia： imaging manifestations and histopathological findings

Background The global outbreak of influenza A （H1N1） has led to the Ministry of Health of China listing it as one of the A-class infectious diseases. Pneumonia is the most serious complication of influenza A, commonly causing death. Populations are ordinarily susceptible to influenza A. This study aimed to investigate the imaging manifestation features of critical influenza A （H1 N1 ） pneumonia and to improve its diagnostic techniques. Methods A total of seven death cases from critical influenza A （H1N1） pneumonia were retrospectively analyzed on their imaging manifestations and autopsy data. Pulmonary CT scanning was performed for five cases, with one receiving additional chest X-ray and chest CT scanning, and chest postero-anterior position X-ray examination was performed for other two. Autopsy was performed for five cases and postmortem examinations were performed for other two cases. Results The seven cases of influenza A showed critical manifestations in 4-7 days after symptoms onset, with two having basic diseases of diabetes and one being pregnant. Extensive blurry high-density shadows of bilateral lungs were found in three cases, which were most obvious in middle and inferior parts of lungs. Pulmonary CT scanning revealed bilateral flaky parenchymal shadows in peripheral, dorsal and fundus segments of the middle-inferior parts of lungs, with one case of complicated pneumothorax, atelectasis and pleural effusion and another case of thin-walled cavity and dilated bronchi shadows in the superior parts of lungs. Conclusions Diagnostic imaging is an important assessing tool for critical influenza A （H1N1） pneumonia. The imaging manifestations are characteristic instead of being specific. The definitive diagnosis can be made in combination with clinical examinations and laboratory tests.

In Vivo Corrosion Resistance of Ca-P Coating on AZ60 Magnesium Alloy

Magnesium-based alloys are frequently reported as potential biodegradable orthopedic implant materials. Controlling the degradation rate and mechanical integrity of magnesium alloys in the physiological environment is the key to their applications. In this study, calcium phosphate （Ca-P） coating was prepared on AZ60 magnesium alloy using phosphating technology. AZ60 samples were immersed in a phosphating solution at 37 ± 2 ℃ for 30 min, and the solution pH was adjusted to 2.6 to 2.8 by adding NaOH solution. Then, the samples were dried in an attemperator at 60 ℃. The degradation behavior was studied in vivo using Ca-P coated and uncoated magnesium alloys. Samples of these two different materials were implanted into rabbit femora, and the corrosion resistances were evaluated after 1, 2, and 3 months. The Ca-P coated samples corroded slower than the uncoated samples with prolonged time. Significant differences （p 〈 0.05） in mass losses and corrosion rates between uncoated samples and Ca-P coated samples were observed by micro-computed tomography. The results indicate that the Ca-P coating could slow down the degradation of magnesium alloy in vivo.

Quasi-Static and Dynamic Nanoindentation of Some Selected Biomaterials

This study details an investigation of the viscoelastic behavior of some biomaterials （nacre, cattle horn and beetle cuticle） at lamellar length scales using quasi-static and dynamic nanoindentation techniques in the materials＇ Transverse Direction （TD） and Longitudinal Direction （LD）. Our results show that nacre exhibits high fracture toughness moving towards a larger cam- paniForm as the stress frequency varies from 10 Hz to 200 Hz. Elytra cuticle exhibits the least fracture toughness presenting little energy dissipation in TD. It was initially speculated that the fracture toughness of the subject materials would be directly related to energy-dissipating mechanisms （mechanical hysteresis）, but not the maximum value of the loss tangent tan＆ However, it was found that the materials＇ elastic modulus and hardness are similar in both the TD and LD when assessed using the quasi-static nanoindentation method, but not dynamic nanoindentation. It is believed that the reported results can be useful in the design of new crack arrest and damping materials based on biological counterparts.

An oxygen reduction sensor based on a novel type of porous carbon composite membrane electrode

The development of a simple, efficient and sensitive sensor for dissolved oxygen is proposed using a novel type of porous carbon composite membrane/glassy carbon electrode based on the low-cost common filter paper by a simple method. The resulting device exhibited excellent electrocatalytic activities toward the oxygen reduction reaction. Scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and electrochemical measurements demonstrated that the porous morphology and uniformly dispersed Fe;C nanoparticles of the PCCM play an important role in the oxygen reduction reaction. A linear response range from 2mmol/L up to 110 mmol/L and a detection limit of 1.4 mmol/L was obtained with this sensor. The repeatability of the proposed sensor,evaluated in terms of relative standard deviation, was 3.0%. The successful fabrication of PCCM/GC electrode may promote the development of new porous carbon oxygen reduction reaction material for the oxygen reduction sensor.

Depression in patients with ankylosing spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis(AS)is a chronic inflammatory spondyloarthropathy that can cause severe physical and functional damage.The risk of depression is higher in AS patients than in the general population.Depression in AS patients affects disease prognosis and is receiving greater attention.By mining the literature on depression in AS patients in China and other countries,we analyzed research gaps and flaws in this area.In this review,we describe current knowledge regarding depression status,pathogenesis,disease relevance,and treatment of depression in AS patients.The findings may help to prevent depression,improve treatment,and enhance chronic disease management in AS patients.

First-in-human pilot study of an integrinα6-targeted radiotracer for SPECT imaging of breast cancer

Dear Editor,The molecular classification has been playing a crucial role in the precise theranostics of cancer.Compared with the invasive biopsy,the in vivo noninvasive detection of biomarkers by nuclear imaging possesses advantages due to tumor heterogeneity.As one member of the integrin family,integrinα6 subunit combines the integrinβ1 orβ4 subunit to form integrinα6β1 orα6β4 heterodimers,which function to promote the migration,invasion,and survival of tumor cells,leading to increased metastasis,poor prognosis,and reduced survival.Therefore,the in vivo imaging of integrinα6 expression could play an important role in the treatment planning and prognosis prediction.

Efficacy of different analgesic or sedative drug therapies in pediatric patients with congenital heart disease undergoing surgery: a network meta-analysis

Background Surgery is an effective therapy for congenital heart disease (CHD) and the management after surgery poses challenges for the clinical workers.We performed this network meta-analysis to enhance the corresponding evidence with respect to the relative efficacy of different drug treatments applied after the CHD surgery.Methods Embase and PubMed were systematically retrieved to identify all published controlled trials investigating the effectiveness of drugs for patients up to 25 August,2018.Mean differences (MD),odds ratios and their 95% credible intervals (CrIs) were used to evaluate multi-aspect comparisons.Surface under cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) was used to analyze the relative ranking of different treatments in each endpoint.Results Compared to saline,all the drugs achieved better preference under the efficacy endpoints except fentanyl in JET.As for ventilator time,all drugs were more effective than saline while only the difference of dexmedetomidine was statistically obvious (MD =6.92,95% CrIs 1.77-12.54).Under the endpoint of ICU time,dexmedetomidine was superior to saline as well (MD =1.26,95% CrIs 0.11-2.45).When all the endpoints were taken into consideration and with the help of ranking probabilities and SUCRA values,fentanyl combined with dexmedetomidine was one of the recommended drugs due to its shorter time on ventilator and stay in hospital as well as lower mortality.Conclusions Overall,based on the comprehensive consideration of all the endpoints,fentanyl combined with dexmedetomidine was considered to be the best-recommended clinical interventions among all the methods.

Construction and application of bionic antifouling coatings inspired by soft coral

Marine biofouling will bring a series of environmental and social problems,which restrict the development and utilisation of marine resources.Therefore,how to prevent biofouling has become a global issue.With the exploration of antifouling methods,bionic antifouling technology with environmentally friendly,broad‐spectrum,and long‐term advantages has gradually attracted people's attention.Inspired by the antifouling strategy of soft coral(Sarcophyton trocheliophorum),the silicone rubber(RTV‐2)with similar elasticity to coral skin was selected as the substrate.The composite structure of the upper transparent layer and the lower porous layer was prepared by simulating the structure of soft coral as the structural factors of the bionic antifouling coatings.Meanwhile,several organic antifouling components with high content contained in soft coral were added to the transparent layer and porous layer,respectively,as the component factors of biomimetic coatings.The bionic antifouling coatings,which are highly consistent with the coral structure,obtained the best antifouling performance under static and dynamic conditions.The above results provide new ideas for the synthesis of environmentally friendly bionic antifouling coatings.