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Background Effective removal of pathogenic bacteria is key to improving the prognosis of sepsis. Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) are the most important components of innate cellular immunity and play vital roles in clearing pathogenic bacteria. However, the metabolic characteristics and immunomodulatory pathways of PMNs during sepsis have not been investigated. In the present study, we explored the immune metabolism characteristics of PMNs and the mechanism by which neutrophilic glycolysis is regulated during sepsis. Methods Metabolomics analysis was performed on PMNs isolated from 14 septic patients, 26 patients with acute appendicitis, and 19 healthy volunteers. Transcriptome analysis was performed on the PMNs isolated from the healthy volunteers and the patients with sepsis to assess glycolysis and investigate its mechanism. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was used to stimulate the neutrophils isolated from the healthy volunteers at different time intervals to build an LPS-tolerant model. Chemotaxis, phagocytosis, lactate production, oxygen consumption rate (OCR), and extracellular acidification rate (ECAR) were evaluated. Results Transcriptomics showed significant changes in glycolysis and the mTOR/HIF-1α signaling pathway during sepsis. Metabolomics revealed that the Warburg effect was significantly altered in the patients with sepsis. We discovered that glycolysis regulated PMNs’ chemotaxis and phagocytosis functions during sepsis. Lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) downregulation was a key factor in the inhibition of glycolysis in PMNs. This study confirmed that the PI3K/Akt-HIF-1α pathway was involved in the LDHA expression level and also influenced PMNs’ chemotaxis and phagocytosis functions. Conclusions The inhibition of glycolysis contributed to neutrophil immunosuppression during sepsis and might be controlled by PI3K/Akt-HIF-1α pathway-mediated LDHA downregulation. Our study provides a scientific theoretical basis for the management and treatment of patients with sepsis and promotes to identify therapeutic target for the improvement of immune function in sepsis.

Promoting the formation of high-oxidation-state transition metal species in a hydroxide catalyst may improve its catalytic activity in the oxygen evolution reaction, which remains difficult to achieve with current synthetic strategies. Herein, we present a synthesis of single-layer NiFeB hydroxide nanosheets and demonstrate the efficacy of electron-deficient boron in promoting the formation of high-oxidation-state Ni for improved oxygen evolution activity. Raman spectroscopy, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, and electrochemical analyses show that incorporation of B into a NiFe hydroxide causes a cathodic shift of the Ni 2+ (OH) 2  → Ni 3+δ OOH transition potential. Density functional theory calculations suggest an elevated oxidation state for Ni and decreased energy barriers for the reaction with the NiFeB hydroxide catalyst. Consequently, a current density of 100 mA cm –2 was achieved in 1 M KOH at an overpotential of 252 mV, placing it among the best Ni-based catalysts for this reaction. This work opens new opportunities in electronic engineering of metal hydroxides (or oxides) for efficient oxygen evolution in water-splitting applications. While water-splitting electrolysis offers a potential renewable means to store energy, the oxygen evolution half-reaction’s sluggish kinetics limits performances. Here, authors incorporation boron into nickel-iron hydroxide catalysts to promote electrocatalytic water oxidation activities

High-temperature measurements above 1000 °C are critical in harsh environments such as aerospace, metallurgy, fossil fuel, and power production. Fiber-optic high-temperature sensors are gradually replacing traditional electronic sensors due to their small size, resistance to electromagnetic interference, remote detection, multiplexing, and distributed measurement advantages. This paper reviews the sensing principle, structural design, and temperature measurement performance of fiber-optic high-temperature sensors, as well as recent significant progress in the transition of sensing solutions from glass to crystal fiber. Finally, future prospects and challenges in developing fiber-optic high-temperature sensors are also discussed.

AbstractObjectiveTo identify an optimal lifestyle profile to protect against memory loss in older individuals.DesignPopulation based, prospective cohort study.SettingParticipants from areas representative of the north, south, and west of China.ParticipantsIndividuals aged 60 years or older who had normal cognition and underwent apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotyping at baseline in 2009.Main outcome measuresParticipants were followed up until death, discontinuation, or 26 December 2019. Six healthy lifestyle factors were assessed: a healthy diet (adherence to the recommended intake of at least 7 of 12 eligible food items), regular physical exercise (≥150 min of moderate intensity or ≥75 min of vigorous intensity, per week), active social contact (≥twice per week), active cognitive activity (≥twice per week), never or previously smoked, and never drinking alcohol. Participants were categorised into the favourable group if they had four to six healthy lifestyle factors, into the average group for two to three factors, and into the unfavourable group for zero to one factor. Memory function was assessed using the World Health Organization/University of California-Los Angeles Auditory Verbal Learning Test, and global cognition was assessed via the Mini-Mental State Examination. Linear mixed models were used to explore the impact of lifestyle factors on memory in the study sample.Results29 072 participants were included (mean age of 72.23 years; 48.54% (n=14 113) were women; and 20.43% (n=5939) were APOE ε4 carriers). Over the 10 year follow-up period (2009-19), participants in the favourable group had slower memory decline than those in the unfavourable group (by 0.028 points/year, 95% confidence interval 0.023 to 0.032, P<0.001). APOE ε4 carriers with favourable (0.027, 95% confidence interval 0.023 to 0.031) and average (0.014, 0.010 to 0.019) lifestyles exhibited a slower memory decline than those with unfavourable lifestyles. Among people who were not carriers of APOE ε4, similar results were observed among participants in the favourable (0.029 points/year, 95% confidence interval 0.019 to 0.039) and average (0.019, 0.011 to 0.027) groups compared with those in the unfavourable group. APOE ε4 status and lifestyle profiles did not show a significant interaction effect on memory decline (P=0.52).ConclusionA healthy lifestyle is associated with slower memory decline, even in the presence of the APOE ε4 allele. This study might offer important information to protect older adults against memory decline.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT03653156.

Common methods of ocean remote sensing and seafloor surveying are mainly carried out by airborne and spaceborne hyperspectral imagers. However, the water column hinders the propagation of sunlight to deeper areas, thus limiting the scope of observation. As an emerging technology, underwater hyperspectral imaging (UHI) is an extension of hyperspectral imaging technology in air conditions, and is undergoing rapid development for applications in shallow and deep-sea environments. It is a close-range, high-resolution approach for detecting and mapping the seafloor. In this paper, we focus on the concepts of UHI technology, covering imaging systems and the correction methods of eliminating the water column’s influence. The current applications of UHI, such as deep-sea mineral exploration, benthic habitat mapping, and underwater archaeology, are highlighted to show the potential of this technology. This review can provide an introduction and overview for those working in the field and offer a reference for those searching for literature on UHI technology.

Developing aluminium gallium nitride deep-ultraviolet (UVC) micro-light-emitting diodes (micro-LEDs) with sufficient power has been a challenge, which particularly limits these devices to various applications. However, advanced fabrication processes have been developed to enable the demonstration of highly efficient 270 nm UVC micro-LEDs and large-format UVC micro-LED displays with high resolution for maskless photolithography. Optical and electrical characterizations were performed on UVC micro-LEDs with sizes ranging from 3 µm to 100 μm to evaluate these emerging devices. The 3 μm device achieved a record-high peak external quantum efficiency of 5.7% and a maximum brightness of 396 W cm –2 . Moreover, 2,540 pixels per inch parallel-connected UVC micro-LED arrays featuring rear-side reflection layers exhibited emission uniformity and collimation. UVC micro-LED displays, with a resolution of 320 × 140, were explicitly designed for maskless photolithography applications utilizing a customized integrated circuit driver for optimal performance. The UVC micro-LEDs and UVC micro-displays provide sufficient doses to fully expose the photoresist film within seconds, owing to their enhanced current spreading uniformity, improved heat dispersion and superior light extraction efficiency. This work may open a path to maskless photolithography, potentially leading to revolutionary developments in the semiconductor industry. Deep-ultraviolet micro-light-emitting diodes based on aluminium gallium nitride are fabricated for maskless photolithography. The peak wavelength is 270 nm, and the 3 μm device achieved a peak external quantum efficiency of 5.7% and a maximum brightness of 396 W cm –2 .

Metastable noble metal nanocrystals may exhibit distinctive catalytic properties to address the sluggish kinetics of many important processes, including the hydrogen evolution reaction under alkaline conditions for water-electrolysis hydrogen production. However, the exploration of metastable noble metal nanocrystals is still in its infancy and suffers from a lack of sufficient synthesis and electronic engineering strategies to fully stimulate their potential in catalysis. In this paper, we report a synthesis of metastable hexagonal Pt nanostructures by coherent growth on 3 d transition metal nanocrystals such as Ni without involving galvanic replacement reaction, which expands the frontier of the phase-replication synthesis. Unlike noble metal substrates, the 3 d transition metal substrate owns more crystal phases and lower cost and endows the hexagonal Pt skin with substantial compressive strains and programmable charge density, making the electronic properties particularly preferred for the alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction. The energy barriers are greatly reduced, pushing the activity to 133 mA cm geo –2 and 17.4 mA μg Pt –1 at –70 mV with 1.5 µg of Pt in 1 M KOH. Our strategy paves the way for metastable noble metal catalysts with tailored electronic properties for highly efficient and cost-effective energy conversion. Synthesis and modulation of metastable noble metal nanocrystal catalysts is interesting yet challenging. Here the authors report synthesis of metastable hexagonal Pt skins on Ni nanocrystals with modulated electronic structures and enhanced hydrogen evolution activities.

With advancements in industrial technology, the switching power supply has gradually emerged as a preferred choice for laser power supplies due to its advantages of lower power consumption and compact size. However, the simultaneous achievement of short rise time, current flatness, and high accuracy pose significant difficulties for the switching power supply. In this paper, a mixed-mode control of multiple interleaving parallel circuits is proposed. The proposed mixed-mode control incorporates burst-mode voltage control for the light-load state of the laser diode to both fasten the response and eliminate extra current. And a dual-loop current control is employed, where the inner controller averages the branch current and the outer controller regulates the total output current, and hence a balanced current distribution in each branch is achieved to increase the stability of the system. The control mode changing depends on whether the pulse is required to be output in correspondence to the control signal. A simulation model and a multiphase interleaved parallel circuit were constructed to validate the control scheme. Experimental results demonstrate that this algorithm effectively reduces rise time and ensures a stable output current.

Acinetobacter baumannii (AB) infection has become a threat to global public health. AB is one of the main pathogens causing nosocomial infections, especially ventilator-associated pneumonia. AB easily develops resistance against a variety of antibiotics, which makes the treatment of AB infections difficult. Therefore, it is necessary to study new treatment plans like anti-infection immunity. Both animal models of AB infection and in vitro cell experiments show that macrophages are activated in the early stage of the immune response and regulate the recruitment of neutrophils, thus playing a role in clearing AB. AB components and the immune responses they induce can lead to injury of the infected organ, mostly in the lungs. Understanding the response of innate immunity to ABs at different stages after infection and the relationship between the response and lung injury can help to develop new immunotherapy methods and prevent lung injury. This article provides a comprehensive review of the response of neutrophils and macrophages to AB infection and their association with lung injury to develop effective therapies for AB infection and prevent lung injury.

EZH2 is an oncogene and therapeutic target. Only a small proportion of cancer patients benefit from treatment with EZH2 inhibitors (EZH2is). The mechanisms underlying EZH2 overexpression and EZH2i resistance are not clear. Here, we report that the nuclear respiratory factor 1 gene ( NRF1 ) is the gene whose expression is most strongly correlated with that of the EZH2 gene in various cancer cell lines and that changes in NRF1 expression consistently cause changes in EZH2 expression in cancer cells. Mechanistically, as a transcription factor, NRF1 directly binds to the NRF1-binding sequence within the EZH2 promoter and increases EZH2 promoter activity. Deletion of the DNA-binding motif within the NRF1 or NRF1-binding sequence within the EZH2 promoter abolishes the effects of NRF1 on EZH2 expression. Notably, we further found that the status of NRF1 expression affected the sensitivity of human cancer cells to EZH2is, including GSK343 and tazemetostat. The sensitivity of cancer cells actively expressing both NRF1 and EZH2 to EZH2i is significantly greater than that of cancer cells actively expressing individual EZH2 or NRF1 alone and much greater than that of cancer cells expressing low levels of EZH2 and NRF1 . The effect of NRF1 on the sensitivity of cancer cells to EZH2is is EZH2 dependent. In conclusion, our findings reveal that NRF1 is a dominant cause of EZH2 overexpression in human cancers and that NRF1 overexpression increases the sensitivity of cancer cells to EZH2is. Active NRF1 and EZH2 expression may be a useful combined predictor for the treatment of cancers with EZH2is.