Role of hsa_circ_0007482 in pterygium development: insights into proliferation, apoptosis, and clinical correlations

AIM:To investigate the impact of hsa_circ_0007482 on the proliferation and apoptosis of human pterygium fibroblasts(HPFs)and its correlation with the severity grades of pterygium.METHODS:Pterygium and normal conjunctival tissues were collected from the superior area of the same patient’s eye(n=33).The correlation between pterygium severity and hsa_circ_0007482 expression using quantitative reversetranscription polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR)were analyzed.Three distinct siRNA sequences targeting hsa_circ_0007482,along with a negative control sequence,were transfected into HPFs.Cell proliferation was assessed using the cell counting kit-8.Expression levels of Ki67,proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA),Cyclin D1,Bax,B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2),and Caspase-3 were measured via RT-qPCR.Immunofluorescence staining was employed to detect Ki67 and vimentin expressions.Apoptosis was evaluated using flow cytometry.RESULTS:Hsa_circ_0007482 expression was significantly higher in pterygium tissues compared to normal conjunctival tissues(P<0.001).Positive correlations were observed between hsa_circ_0007482 expression and pterygium severity,thickness,and vascular density.Knockdown of hsa_circ_0007482 inhibited cell proliferation,reducing the mRNA expression of Ki67,PCNA,and Cyclin D1 in HPFs.Hsa_circ_0007482 knockdown induced apoptosis,increasing mRNA expression levels of Bax and Caspase-3,while decreasing Bcl-2 expression in HPFs.Additionally,hsa_circ_0007482 knockdown attenuated vimentin expression in HPFs.CONCLUSION:The downregulation of hsa_circ_0007482 effectively hampers cell proliferation and triggers apoptosis in HPFs.There are discernible positive correlations detected between the expression of hsa_circ_0007482 and the severity of pterygium.

Artificial intelligence assisted pterygium diagnosis:current status and perspectives

Pterygium is a prevalent ocular disease that can cause discomfort and vision impairment.Early and accurate diagnosis is essential for effective management.Recently,artificial intelligence(AI)has shown promising potential in assisting clinicians with pterygium diagnosis.This paper provides an overview of AI-assisted pterygium diagnosis,including the AI techniques used such as machine learning,deep learning,and computer vision.Furthermore,recent studies that have evaluated the diagnostic performance of AI-based systems for pterygium detection,classification and segmentation were summarized.The advantages and limitations of AI-assisted pterygium diagnosis and discuss potential future developments in this field were also analyzed.The review aims to provide insights into the current state-of-the-art of AI and its potential applications in pterygium diagnosis,which may facilitate the development of more efficient and accurate diagnostic tools for this common ocular disease.

Analysis of retinal arteriolar and venular parameters in primary open angle glaucoma

AIM: To measure the retinal vessels of primary open angle glaucoma(POAG) patients on spectral domain optical coherence tomography(SD-OCT) with a full-width at half-maximum(FWHM) algorithm to better explore their structural changes in the pathogenesis of POAG.METHODS: In this retrospective case-control study, the right eyes of 32 patients with POAG and 30 healthy individuals were routinely selected.Images of the supratemporal and infratemporal retinal vessels in the B zones were obtained by SD-OCT, and the edges of the vessels were identified by the FWHM method.The internal and external diameters, wall thickness(WT), wall cross-sectional area(WCSA) and wall-to-lumen ratio(WLR) of the blood vessels were studied.RESULTS: Compared with the healthy control group, the POAG group showed a significantly reduced retinal arteriolar outer diameter(RAOD), retinal arteriolar lumen diameter(RALD) and WSCA in the supratemporal(124.22±12.42 vs 138.32±10.73 μm, 96.09±11.09 vs 108.53±9.89 μm,and 4762.02 ± 913.51 vs 5785.75 ± 114 8.28 μm^(2), respectively, all P<0.05) and infratemporal regions(125.01±15.55 vs 141.57±10.77 μm, 96.27±13.29 vs 110.83 ± 10.99 μm, and 4925.56 ± 1302.88 vs 6087.78±1061.55 μm^(2), all P<0.05).The arteriolar WT and WLR were not significantly different between the POAG and control groups, nor were the retinal venular outer diameter(RVOD), retinal venular lumen diameter(RVLD) or venular WT in the supratemporal or infratemporal region.There was a positive correlation between the arteriolar parameters and visual function.CONCLUSION: In POAG, narrowing of the supratemporal and infratemporal arterioles and a significant reduction in the WSCA is observed, while the arteriolar WT and WLR do not change.Among the venular parameters, the external diameter, internal diameter, WT, WLR, and WSCA of the venules are not affected.

CORRIGENDUM:Artificial intelligence-assisted pterygium diagnosis:current status and perspectives

The authors would like to make the following change to the above article:Co-first authors:Bang Chen and Xin-Wen Fang.The authors apologize for any inconvenience caused by this error.

Low expression of ARID1A correlates with poor prognosis in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

AIM: To investigate the relationship between ARID1 A expression and clinicopathologic parameters, as well as its prognostic value, for patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma(IHCC).METHODS: We assessed ARID1 A protein and m RNA expression in IHCC tissues and paracarcinomatous(PC) tissues from 57 patients with IHCC using western blot and quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, respectively. We used Fisher's exact and χ2 tests to analyze relationships between clinicopathological parameters and ARID1 A expression. The Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression were used to analyze survival.RESULTS: The mean ARID1 A protein level in IHCC tissues was 1.16 ± 0.36 relative units(RU), which was significantly lower than that in PC tissues(1.26 ± 0.21 RU, P < 0.01) and NL tissues(1.11 ± 0.31, P < 0.001).The mean ARID1 A m RNA level in IHCC tissues(1.20 ± 0.18) was also lower than that in PC tissues(1.27 ± 0.15, P < 0.001) and normal liver tissues(1.15 ± 0.34, P < 0.001). Low ARID1 A expression was significantly associated with tumor nodules, vein invasion, and recurrence. Median overall survival(OS) and disease-free survival(DFS) for the low ARID1 A expression group was 15.0 and 7.0 mo, respectively, which were significantly shorter than those for the high ARID1 A expression group at 25.0 and 22.0 mo(OS: P < 0.01; DFS: P < 0.001), respectively. Low ARID1 A expression was significantly associated with worse OS(HR = 3.967, 95%CI: 1.299-12.118, P = 0.016) in multivariate analyses.CONCLUSION: Low expression of ARID1 A is associated with poor prognosis in patients with IHCC, and thus may be a potential prognostic biomarker candidate in IHCC.

Downregulation of KIF1B mRNA in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues correlates with poor prognosis

AIM: To compare kinesin family member 1B(KIF1B) expression with clinicopathologic parameters and prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) patients.METHODS: KIF1 B protein and m RNA expression was assessed in HCC and paracarcinomatous(PC) tissues from 68 patients with HCC using Western blot and quantitative real-time reverse transcription-PCR, respectively. Student's t-tests were used to analyze relationships between clinicopathologic parameters and KIF1 B expression, the Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze survival outcomes, and the log-rank test was used to compare survival differences between groups.RESULTS: Mean protein and m RNA levels of KIF1 B were similar between HCC and PC tissues. However, HCC tissues with vein invasions had significantly lower KIF1 B protein levels compared to those without vein invasions(2.30 ± 0.82 relative units vs 2.77 ± 0.84 relative units, P < 0.05). KIF1 B protein levels in HCC tissues from patients with recurrence during the followup period were significantly lower than those without recurrence(2.31 ± 0.92 relative units vs 2.80 ± 0.80 relative units, P < 0.05). However, KIF1 B protein and m RNA expression in HCC patients was not associated with other clinicopathologic parameters. Ratios of KIF1 B m RNA expression in HCC tissues to those in PC tissues were correlated with overall survival(13.5 mo vs 20.0 mo, P < 0.05) and disease-free survival(11.5 mo vs 19.5 mo, P < 0.05).CONCLUSION: Downregulation of KIF1 B in HCC tissues is associated with poor prognosis; additional clinical studies are needed to confirm whether KIF1 B can serve as a prognostic marker.

Unveiling strain-enhanced moiréexciton localization in twisted van der Waals homostructures

Moirésuperlattices,arising from the controlled twisting of van der Waals homostructures at specific angles,have emerged as a promising platform for quantum emission applications.Concurrently,the manipulation of strain provides a versatile strategy to finely adjust electronic band structures,enhance exciton luminescence efficiency,and establish a robust foundation for two-dimensional quantum light sources.However,the intricate interplay between strain and moirépotential remains partially unexplored.Here,we introduce a meticulously designed fusion of strain engineering and the twisted 2L-WSe_(2)/2L-WSe_(2) homobilayers,resulting in the precise localization of moiréexcitons.Employing low-temperature photoluminescence spectroscopy,we unveil the emergence of highly localized moiré-enhanced emission,characterized by the presence of multiple distinct emission lines.Furthermore,our investigation demonstrates the effective regulation of moirépotential depths through strain engineering,with the potential depths of strained and unstrained regions differing by 91%.By combining both experimental and theoretical approaches,our study elucidates the complex relationship between strain and moirépotential,thereby opening avenues for generating strain-induced moiréexciton single-photon sources.

Observation of robust anisotropy in WS_(2)/BP heterostructures

Two-dimensional(2D)anisotropic materials have garnered significant attention in the realm of anisotropic optoelectronic devices due to their remarkable electrical,optical,thermal,and mechanical properties.While extensive research has delved into the optical and electrical characteristics of these materials,there remains a need for further exploration to identify novel materials and structures capable of fulfilling device requirements under various conditions.Here,we employ heterojunction interface engineering with black phosphorus(BP)to disrupt the C_(3) rotational symmetry of monolayer WS_(2).The resulting WS_(2)/BP heterostructure exhibits pronounced anisotropy in exciton emissions,with a measured anisotropic ratio of 1.84 for neutral excitons.Through a comprehensive analysis of magnetic-field-dependent and temperature-evolution photoluminescence spectra,we discern varying trends in the polarization ratio,notably observing a substantial anisotropy ratio of 1.94 at a temperature of 1.6 K and a magnetic field of 9 T.This dynamic behavior is attributed to the susceptibility of the WS_(2)/BP heterostructure interface strain to fluctuations in magnetic fields and temperatures.These findings provide valuable insights into the design of anisotropic optoelectronic devices capable of adaptation to a range of magnetic fields and temperatures,thereby advancing the frontier of material-driven device engineering.

Unveiling optical anisotropy in disrupted symmetry WSe2/SiP heterostructures

Two-dimensional(2D)transition metal dichalcogenides(TMDs)have garnered considerable attention for their promising applications in sensors and optoelectronic devices,owing to their exceptional optical,electronic,and optoelectronic properties.However,the inherent high symmetry of TMD lattices imposes limitations on their functional versatility.Here,we present a strategy to disrupt the C_(3)rotational symmetry of monolayer WSe_(2)by fabricating a heterostructure incorporating WSe_(2)and SiP flakes.Through comprehensive experimental investigations and first-principle calculations,we elucidate that in the WSe_(2)/SiP heterostructure,excitons-both neutral and charged-emanating from WSe_(2)exhibit pronounced anisotropy,which remains robust against temperature variations.Notably,we observe an anisotropic ratio reaching up to 1.5,indicating a substantial degree of anisotropy.Furthermore,we demonstrate the tunability of exciton anisotropy through the application of a magnetic field,resulting in a significant reduction in the anisotropic ratio with increasing field strength,from 1.57 to 1.18.Remarkably,the change in heterojunction anisotropy ratio reaches 24.8%as the magnetic field increases.Our findings elucidate that the perturbation of the C_(3)rotational symmetry of the WSe_(2)monolayer arises from a non-uniform charge density distribution within the layer,exhibiting mirror symmetry.These results underscore the potential of heterostructure engineering in tailoring the properties of isotropic materials and provide a promising avenue for advancing the application of anisotropic devices across various fields.

Enhanced valley polarization in WSe_(2)/YIG heterostructures via interfacial magnetic exchange effect

Exploiting the valley degrees of freedom as information carriers provides new opportunities for the development of valleytronics.Monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides(TMDs)with broken space-inversion symmetry exhibit emerging valley pseudospins,making them ideal platforms for studying valley electronics.However,intervalley scattering of different energy valleys limits the achievable degree of valley polarization.Here,we constructed WSe_(2)/yttrium iron garnet(YIG)heterostructures and demonstrated that the interfacial magnetic exchange effect on the YIG magnetic substrate can enhance valley polarization by up to 63%,significantly higher than that of a monolayer WSe_(2)on SiO_(2)/Si(11%).Additionally,multiple sharp exciton peaks appear in the WSe_(2)/YIG heterostructures due to the strong magnetic proximity effect at the magnetic-substrate interface that enhances exciton emission efficiency.Moreover,under the effect of external magnetic field,the magnetic direction of the magnetic substrate enhances valley polarization,further demonstrating that the magnetic proximity effect regulates valley polarization.Our results provide a new way to regulate valley polarization and demonstrate the promising application of magnetic heterojunctions in magneto-optoelectronics.

Localization-enhanced moiréexciton in twisted transition metal dichalcogenide heterotrilayer superlattices

The stacking of twisted two-dimensional(2D)layered materials has led to the creation of moirésuperlattices,which have become a new platform for the study of quantum optics.The strong coupling of moirésuperlattices can result in flat minibands that boost electronic interactions and generate interesting strongly correlated states,including unconventional superconductivity,Mott insulating states,and moiréexcitons.However,the impact of adjusting and localizing moiréexcitons in Van der Waals heterostructures has yet to be explored experimentally.Here,we present experimental evidence of the localization-enhanced moiréexcitons in the twisted WSe_(2)/WS_(2)/WSe_(2)heterotrilayer with type-II band alignments.At low temperatures,we observed multiple excitons splitting in the twisted WSe_(2)/WS_(2)/WSe_(2)heterotrilayer,which is manifested as multiple sharp emission lines,in stark contrast to the moiréexcitonic behavior of the twisted WSe_(2)/WS_(2)heterobilayer(which has a linewidth 4 times wider).This is due to the enhancement of the two moirépotentials in the twisted heterotrilayer,enabling highly localized moiréexcitons at the interface.The confinement effect of moirépotential on moiréexcitons is further demonstrated by changes in temperature,laser power,and valley polarization.Our findings offer a new approach for localizing moiréexcitons in twist-angle heterostructures,which has the potential for the development of coherent quantum light emitters.

Effect of layered-coupling in twisted WSe_(2) moiré superlattices

Recently,the discovery of a variety of moiré-related properties in the twisted vertical stacking of two different monolayers has attracted considerable attention.The introduction of small twist angles in transition metal dichalcogenide(TMD)heterostructures leads to the emergence of moirépotentials,which provide a fascinating platform for the study of strong interactions of electrons.While there has been extensive research on moiréexcitons in twisted bilayer superlattices,the capture and study of moiréexcitons in homostructure superlattices with layer-coupling effects remain elusive.Here,we present the observation of moiréexcitons in the twisted 1L-WSe_(2)/1L-WSe_(2)and 1L-WSe_(2)/2L-WSe_(2)homostructures with various layer-coupling interactions.The results reveal that the moirépotential increases(~260%)as the number of underlying layers decreases,indicating the effect of layer coupling on the modulation of the moirépotential.The effects of the temperature and laser power dependence as well as valley polarization on moiréexcitons were further demonstrated,and the crucial spectral features observed were explained.Our findings pave the way for exploring quantum phenomena and related applications of quantum information.

Exploring the regulatory effect of stacked layers on moiréexcitons in twisted WSe_(2)/WSe_(2)/WSe_(2)homotrilayer

Moirésuperlattices in van der Waals structures have emerged as a powerful platform for studying the novel quantum properties of two-dimensional materials.The periodic moirépatterns generated by these structures lead to the formation of flat mini-bands,which alter the electronic energy bands of the material.The resulting flat electronic bands can greatly enhance strong correlative interactions between electrons,leading to the emergence of exotic quantum phenomena,including moiréphonons and moiréexcitons.While extensive research has been conducted on the exotic quantum phenomena in twisted bilayers of transition metal dichalcogenides(TMDs),and the regulatory effect of stacked layers on moiréexcitons remains unexplored.In this study,we report the fabrication of a twisted WSe_(2)/WSe_(2)/WSe_(2) homotrilayer with two twist angles and investigate the influence of stacked layers on moiréexcitons.Our experiments reveal multiple moiréexciton splitting peaks in the twisted trilayer,with moirépotential depths of 78 and 112 meV in the bilayer and trilayer homostructures,respectively.We also observed the splitting of the moiréexcitons at 90 K,indicating the presence of a deeper moirépotential in the twisted trilayer.Moreover,we demonstrate that stacked layers can tune the moiréexcitons by manipulating temperature,laser power,and magnetic field.Our results provide a new physical model for studying moirésuperlattices and their quantum properties,which could potentially pave the way for the development of quantum optoelectronics.

A scalable synthesis of silicon nanoparticles as high-performance anode material for lithium-ion batteries

In this work, a scalable and cost-effective method including mechanical milling, centrifugation and spray drying was developed to fabricate Si nanoparticles.The synthesized Si nanoparticles show an average size of 62 nm and exhibit a narrow particle size distribution. The influence of particle sizes on electrochemical performance of Si-based electrode was investigated, and it is found that as the particle size decreases in the studied range, the Si particles show a lower specific capacity and a higher irreversible capacity loss(ICL). Furthermore, an oxide layer with thickness of ～3 nm was detected on the surface of the as-received Si nanoparticles, and this layer can be effectively removed by hydrofluoric acid(HF) etching,resulting in much improved electrochemical performance over the as-received samples.

Effect of posterior condylar offset on clinical results after posterior-stabilized total knee arthroplasty

Purpose： To determine the effect of the posterior condylar offset （PCO） on clinical results after total knee arthroplasty （TKA） using a high-flex posterior-stabilized （PS） fixed-bearing prosthesis. Methods： We prospectively studied the clinical and radiographic materials of 89 consecutive female patients （89 knees）, who had undergone primary TKAs for end-stage osteoarthritis. All operations were performed by a single senior surgeon or under his supervision using the same operative technique. Based on the corrected PCO change, we divided all cases into two groups： group A （corrected PCO change _〉0 mm, 58 knees） and group B （corrected PCO change 〈0 ram, 31 knees）. One-year postoperatively, clinical and radiographic variables from the two groups were compared by independent t-test. The as- sociations between the corrected PCO changes and the improvements of clinical variables in all patients were analyzed by Pearson linear correlation. Results： One-year postoperatively, the Knee Society Scores, the Western Ontario and McMaster Uni- versities Osteoarthritis Index, non-weight-bearing active and passive range of knee flexion, flexion contracture, extensor lag, and their improvements had no statistical differences between the two groups （all p 〉 0.05）. The corrected PCO change was not significantly correlated with the improvement of any clinical variable （all p 〉 0.05）. Group A demonstrated greater flexion than group B during active weight bearing （p 〈 0.05）. Conclusions： Restoration of PCO plays an important role in the optimization of active knee flexion during weight-bearing conditions after posterior-stabilized TKA, while it has no benefit to non-weight-bearing knee flexion or any other clinical result.

Electrochemical preparation of silicon nanowires from porous Ni/SiO2 blocks in molten CaCl2

Silicon nanowires(SiNWs)with diameter distributions ranging from 80 to 350 nm were prepared by electrochemical reduction of Ni/SiO2 in molten CaCl2.The effect of the content of nickel additives on the morphology of produced silicon was investigated.Large quantities of SiNWs are obtained by the electrochemical reduction of Ni/SiO2 blocks with SiO2 to Ni molar ratio of 20 and 10.Nickel additives repress the growth of irregular branches and promote longitudinal growth of SiNWs.Wire morphologies and surfaces are influenced by the electrolysis temperature.SiNWs become thicker with the increase of the electrolysis temperature.The optimum temperature to prepare single crystal SiNWs with high aspect ratio and extraordinary surface quality seems to be 1173 K.The amorphous layer of the silicon nanowire is thinner compared to the SiNWs obtained from the pure SiO2 pellets.The produced SiNWs show a photoluminescence emission peak at about 758 nm at room temperature.This work demonstrates the potentiality for the electrochemical reduction process to obtain large quantities of SiNWs with high quality.

Hot Deformation Behavior of Ni_3Al-based Alloy MX246A

The hot deformation behavior of homogenized Nia Al-based alloy MX246A has been characterized on the basis of its flow stress variation obtained by isothermal constant true strain rate compression testing on the MTS 810 machine in the temperature range of 1 150--1225 ℃ and strain rate range of 0. 001-0.1 s-1. Microstructural obser- vation revealed striped secondary γ＇ phase which was vertical to compression axis, and precipitation of fine ternary γ＂ phase. The amount of striped secondary γ＇ phase reduced and that of fine ternary γ＇ phase increased with increasing temperature and decreasing strain rate. The material exhibited peak stress followed by flow softening, but no obvious steady-state flow behavior. Microstructural investigations have shown no dynamic recrystallization happened. TEM studies indicated that the flow softening was controUed by dynamic recovery mechanism.

Improvement of cycle behavior of Si/Sn anode composite supported by stable Si–O–C skeleton

A Si/Sn/SiOC/graphite(SSSG) composite with high efficiency and long-term cycling stability was synthesized by a cost-effective and scalable method, including the processes of mechanical milling and pyrolysis. The composite was characterized by X-ray diffraction(XRD),scanning electron microscope(SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry(EDX). The electrochemical properties were investigated until the 25th cycle. As a result, the SSSG composite anode exhibits excellent long-term cycling stability and capacity. Such SSSG composite anode shows excellent cycling stability with a specific capacity of 568.2 mAh·g^(-1) and ~80% capacity retention over 25 cycles at 0.3C rate. The reasons for good electrochemical characteristics are considered that the SiOC net with favorable chemical stability acts as a skeleton to support and segregate Si/Sn nanostructures, and the graphitic mixing in the composite is used as conductive material to enhance the electrical conductivity in this composite. The results suggest that the design of this new structure has the potential to provide a way for the other functional composite materials.

Lithium-ion cell inconsistency analysis based on three-parameter Weibull probability model

The inconsistency of lithium-ion cells degrades battery performance,lifetime and even safety.The complexity of the cell reaction mechanism causes an irregular asymmetrical distribution of various cell parameters,such as capacity and internal resistance,among others.In this study,the Newman electrochemical model was used to simulate the 1 C discharge curves of 100 LiMn2 O4 pouch cells with parameter variations typically produced in manufacturing processes,and the three-parameter Weibull probability model was used to analyze the dispersion and symmetry of the resulting discharge voltage distributions.The results showed that the dispersion of the voltage distribution was related to the rate of decrease in the discharge voltage,and the symmetry was related to the change in the rate of voltage decrease.The effect of the cells’capacity dominated the voltage distribution thermodynamically during discharge,and the phase transformation process significantly skewed the voltage distribution.The effects of the ohmic drop and polarization voltage on the voltage distribution were primarily kinetic.The presence of current returned the right-skewed voltage distribution caused by phase transformation to a more symmetrical distribution.Thus,the Weibull parameters elucidated the electrochemical behavior during the discharge process,and this method can guide the prediction and control of cell inconsistency,as well as detection and control strategies for cell management systems.

Interface stabilization of 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl-2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropyl ether to high-voltage Li-rich Mn-based layered cathode materials

Non-aqueous electrolyte solvents play a pivotal role in improving the cycling performance of high-voltage Li-rich Mn-based layered cathode materials. In this study, a fluoroether (1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl-2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropyl ether, TFEPE) was added to 1.2 mol·L^(-1)LiPF_(6)EC/EMC/DEC at different concentrations to synthesize a series of electrolytes for enhancing the cycling performance of highvoltage Li_(1.18)Mn_(0.50)Ni_(0.26)Co_(0.06)O_(2)(LMNC).