Explore the vast range of titles available.

Bioinspired architectures are effective in enhancing the mechanical properties of materials, yet are difficult to construct in metallic systems. The structure-property relationships of bioinspired metallic composites also remain unclear. Here, Mg-Ti composites were fabricated by pressureless infiltrating pure Mg melt into three-dimensional (3-D) printed Ti-6Al-4V scaffolds. The result was composite materials where the constituents are continuous, mutually interpenetrated in 3-D space and exhibit specific spatial arrangements with bioinspired brick-and-mortar, Bouligand, and crossed-lamellar architectures. These architectures promote effective stress transfer, delocalize damage and arrest cracking, thereby bestowing improved strength and ductility than composites with discrete reinforcements. Additionally, they activate a series of extrinsic toughening mechanisms, including crack deflection/twist and uncracked-ligament bridging, which enable crack-tip shielding from the applied stress and lead to “Γ”-shaped rising fracture resistance R-curves. Quantitative relationships were established for the stiffness and strengths of the composites by adapting classical laminate theory to incorporate their architectural characteristics. Bioinspired architectures are desired to achieve improved mechanical properties, but challenging to achieve in metallic systems. Here the authors fabricate a Mg-Ti interpenetrating phase composite with brick-and-mortar, Bouligand, and crossed-lamellar architectures by pressureless infiltrating method.

The poor processability of NiTi shape memory alloy with superior resistance to corrosion and wear is an important reason for hindering its extensive application. In this work, NiTi alloy was fabricated by electron beam melting (EBM) using different fabrication parameters including changed speed function and focus offset. Furthermore, the influence of these parameters on the corrosion behavior of EBM NiTi alloys was investigated. It was found that the variation in fabrication parameters caused different defect types and defect number, thus affecting the corrosion resistance of NiTi alloys. The alloy with a large number of cracks displayed the lowest corrosion resistance, while a superior corrosion resistance equivalent to the wrought alloy was observed when a few small pores were uniformly distributed in the alloys. Electrochemical results indicated that the EBM NiTi alloy with optimized fabrication parameters presented a low carrier density indicating good protective ability of the passive films.

Orthopedic hybrid implants combining both titanium (Ti) and magnesium (Mg) have gained wide attraction nowadays. However, it still remains a huge challenge in the fabrication of Mg-Ti composites because of the different temperatures of Ti melting point and pure Mg volatilization point. In this study, we successfully fabricated a new Mg-Ti composite with bi-continuous interpenetrating phase architecture by infiltrating Mg melt into Ti scaffolds, which were prepared by 3D printing and subsequent acid treatment. We attempted to understand the 7-day degradation process of the Mg-Ti composite and examine the different Mg 2+ concentration composite impacts on the MC3T3-E1 cells, including toxicity, morphology, apoptosis, and osteogenic activity. CCK-8 results indicated cytotoxicity and absence of the Mg-Ti composite during 7-day degradation. Moreover, the composite significantly improved the morphology, reduced the apoptosis rate, and enhanced the osteogenic activity of MC3T3-E1 cells. The favorable impacts might be attributed to the appropriate Mg 2+ concentration of the extracts. The results on varying Mg 2+ concentration tests indicated that Mg 2+ showed no cell adverse effect under 10-mM concentration. The 8-mM group exhibited the best cell morphology, minimum apoptosis rate, and maximum osteogenic activity. This work may open a new perspective on the development and biomedical applications for Mg-Ti composites.

Dear editor,The Internet of Things（Io T）refers to a growing trend to create relatively simple devices that interconnect and share data independent of computers or human intervention[1].In these applications,a continuous power supply system is necessary.There are many research studies that focus on environmental energy for self-powered portable electronics,which can minimize battery consumption and extend cell life.

Renal macrophages (RMs) participate in tissue homeostasis, inflammation and repair. RMs consist of embryo-derived (EMRMs) and bone marrow-derived RMs (BMRMs), but the fate, dynamics, replenishment, functions and metabolic states of these two RM populations remain unclear. Here we investigate and characterize RMs at different ages by conditionally labeling and ablating RMs populations in several transgenic lines. We find that RMs expand and mature in parallel with renal growth after birth, and are mainly derived from fetal liver monocytes before birth, but self-maintain through adulthood with contribution from peripheral monocytes. Moreover, after the RMs niche is emptied, peripheral monocytes rapidly differentiate into BMRMs, with the CX3CR1/CX3CL1 signaling axis being essential for the maintenance and regeneration of both EMRMs and BMRMs. Lastly, we show that EMRMs have a higher capacity for scavenging immune complex, and are more sensitive to immune challenge than BMRMs, with this difference associated with their distinct glycolytic capacities. Renal macrophages (RMs) can be of bone marrow or embryonic origin, but their abundance, fate and metabolic profiles in physiological and pathogenic settings are still unclear. Here the authors show, by characterizing these two RMs in multiple transgenic mouse lines, that they exhibit distinct dynamics, homeostasis, immune activity, and metabolic properties.

Neutrophil infiltration around lipotoxic hepatocytes is a hallmark of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH); however, how these 2 types of cells communicate remains obscure. We have previously demonstrated that neutrophil-specific microRNA-223 (miR-223) is elevated in hepatocytes to limit NASH progression in obese mice. Here, we demonstrated that this elevation of miR-223 in hepatocytes was due to preferential uptake of miR-223-enriched extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from neutrophils as well other types of cells, albeit to a lesser extent. This selective uptake was dependent on the expression of low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) on hepatocytes and apolipoprotein E (APOE) on neutrophil-derived EVs, which was enhanced by free fatty acids. Once internalized by hepatocytes, the EV-derived miR-223 acted to inhibit hepatic inflammatory and fibrogenic gene expression. In the absence of this LDLR- and APOE-dependent uptake of miR-223-enriched EVs, the progression of steatosis to NASH was accelerated. In contrast, augmentation of this transfer by treatment with an inhibitor of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9, a drug used to lower blood cholesterol by upregulating LDLR, ameliorated NASH in mice. This specific role of LDLR and APOE in the selective control of miR-223-enriched EV transfer from neutrophils to hepatocytes may serve as a potential therapeutic target for NASH.

This study enhances the ultrafast photonics application of tin selenide (SnSe) nanoflakes via copper (Cu) functionalization to overcome challenges such as low conductivity and weak near‐infrared (NIR) absorption. Cu functionalization enhances concentration, induces strain, and reduces the bandgap through Sn substitution and Sn vacancy filling with Cu ions. Demonstrated by density functional theory calculations and experimental analyses, Cu‐functionalized SnSe exhibits improved NIR optical absorption and superior third‐order nonlinear optical properties. Z‐scan measurements and femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy reveal better performance of Cu‐functionalized SnSe in terms of nonlinear optical properties and shorter carrier relaxation times compared to pristine SnSe. Furthermore, saturable absorbers based on both SnSe types, when integrated into an erbium‐doped fiber laser, show that Cu functionalization leads to a decrease in pulse duration to 798 fs and an increase in 3 dB spectral bandwidth to 3.44 nm. Additionally, it enables stable harmonic mode‐locking of bound‐state solitons. This work suggests a new direction for improving wide bandgap 2D materials by highlighting the enhanced nonlinear optical properties and potential of Cu‐functionalized SnSe in ultrafast photonics. The article examines enhancing tin selenide (SnSe) for ultrafast photonics through copper (Cu) functionalization. Calculations and experiments confirm the enhanced near‐infrared optical properties and nonlinear optical performance after Cu functionalization. Cu‐functionalized SnSe‐based saturable absorbers excel in erbium‐doped fiber lasers, offering shorter pulse durations and stable harmonic mode‐locking, underscoring its potential in advancing ultrafast photonics.

Drought stress, which is increasing with climate change, is a serious threat to agricultural sustainability worldwide. Seed germination is an essential growth phase that ensures the successful establishment and productivity of soybean, which can lose substantial productivity in soils with water deficits. However, only limited genetic information is available about how germinating soybean seeds may exert drought tolerance. In this study, we examined the germinating seed drought-tolerance phenotypes and genotypes of a panel of 259 released Chinese soybean cultivars panel. Based on 4616 Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs), we conducted a mixed-linear model GWAS that identified a total of 15 SNPs associated with at least one drought-tolerance index. Notably, three of these SNPs were commonly associated with two drought-tolerance indices. Two of these SNPs are positioned upstream of genes, and 11 of them are located in or near regions where QTLs have been previously mapped by linkage analysis, five of which are drought-related. The SNPs detected in this study can both drive hypothesis-driven research to deepen our understanding of genetic basis of soybean drought tolerance at the germination stage and provide useful genetic resources that can facilitate the selection of drought stress traits via genomic-assisted selection.

Purpose This study aimed to evaluate the value of diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) for prognostic value for long‐term PFS in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Methods A cohort of 295 NPC patients underwent pretreatment 3.0T MRI with DKI to derive mean kurtosis (MK), mean diffusion (MD), and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC). Clinical parameters (Tumor stage, EBV‐DNA, neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimens) were recorded. Follow‐up extended to December 2023. Statistical analyses (R software v4.3.0) included univariate/multivariate Cox regression and Kaplan–Meier survival analysis. A prognostic nomogram integrating key predictors was developed. Results Median 10‐year follow‐up revealed 2‐, 5‐, and 10‐year PFS rates of 89%, 79%, and 74%, respectively. Univariate Cox regression analysis demonstrated that T stage, Clinical Stages, NAC regimens, ADC_Group, MK_Group, and MD_Group were significant prognostic factors for PFS in NPC (p < 0.05). Multivariate analysis identified Clinical Stage (HR = 2.230, 95% CI 1.44–3.66, p < 0.001), NAC (neoadjuvant chemotherapy) regimens (HR = 0.56, 95% CI 0.35–0.90, p = 0.017), and MK_Group (HR = 0.52, 95% CI 0.33–0.82, p = 0.003) as independent prognostic factors. The MK_Group high exhibited superior survival rates versus MK_Group low (2‐year: 94% vs. 81%; 5‐year: 85% vs. 66%; 10‐year: 79% vs. 64%; all p < 0.05). The nomogram combining Clinical Stage, NAC, and MK_Group demonstrated moderate predictive accuracy for 2‐, 5‐, and 10‐year PFS (AUC = 0.736, 0.718, 0.697). Conclusion Pretreatment MK serves as a robust noninvasive biomarker for long‐term PFS in NPC. Integration with Clinical Stage and NAC regimens enhances prognostic stratification, supporting personalized therapeutic strategies.

Breast cancer is currently the most frequent malignant tumor and the leading cause of cancer death among women globally. Although the five-year survival rate for early breast cancer has risen to more than 90%, medication resistance persists in advanced breast cancer and some intractable breast cancer, resulting in a poor prognosis, a high recurrence rate, and a low survival rate. Single-cell sequencing (SCS) is the study of a single cell’s gene structure and expression level differences in order to discover unusual molecular subgroups, disease development, and a variety of mechanisms. This review briefly discusses single-cell sequencing and its application, and lists the research on single-cell sequencing in the development and metastasis of breast cancer, in order to bring fresh ideas for the comprehensive treatment of breast cancer.