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Due to inherently poor healable and stretchable features, the most explored polyvinyl alcohol-based gel electrolytes cannot well meet the requirements of stretchable, healable and multifunctional supercapacitors. Here, we report a hydrogel of a copolymer cross-linked by double linkers of Laponite (synthetic hectorite-type clay) and graphene oxide. The resultant hydrogel shows high mechanical stretchability, excellent ionic conductivity, and superior healable performance. Along with designing wrinkled-structure electrodes, supercapacitors fabricated by using this hydrogel as a gel electrolyte not only exhibit ultrahigh mechanical stretchability of 1000%, but also achieve repeated healable performance under treatments of both infrared light irradiation and heating. More significantly, a broken/healed supercapacitor also possesses an ultrahigh stretchability up to 900% with slight performance decay. This hydrogel electrolyte could be easily functionalized by introducing other functional components, and extended for use in other portable and wearable energy related devices with multifunction. Healable and stretchable energy storage devices are gaining interest for wearable electronics and smart textiles. Here the authors report a nanocomposite hydrogel with high stretchability, ionic conductivity, and healing capability for use in a supercapacitor that can stretch 900% after healing.

Experimental and acute exposure studies imply that manganese affects red blood cell production. Nevertheless, the association between environmental exposure and red blood cell distribution width (RDW) has yet to be explored. This research sought to assess the correlation between blood manganese levels and RDW within the general population of the United States. Employing weighted multiple linear regression models, data from the 2011-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were utilized to assess the correlation between manganese levels in the blood and RDW. Restricted cubic spline plots and two-piecewise linear regression models were also employed. The analysis included a total of 15882 participants in which we determined an independent positive relationship between blood manganese levels and RDW among participants(β = 0.079, P<0.001). Moreover, we identified a J-shaped association between blood manganese levels and RDW in total participants (inflection point for blood manganese: 7.32 ug/L) and distinct subgroups following adjusted covariates. Women exhibited a more pronounced association, even after controlling for adjusted covariates. We determined a J-shaped relationship between blood manganese levels and RDW with an inflection point at 7.32 ug/L for blood manganese. Nevertheless, fundamental research and large sample prospective studies are needed to determine the extent to which blood manganese levels correlate with RDW.

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC), as a proportion, makes up only 15–17% of lung cancer cases. The development of treatments for SCLC has remained stagnant for decades, and SCLC is expected to persist as a threat to human health. To date, no publications based on large populations have been reported. We calculated survival changes in patients with SCLC during each decade between 1983 and 2012 to determine the roles of race, sex, age, and socioeconomic status (SES) on survival rates based on the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registries. In total, 106,296 patients with SCLC were identified, with the overall incidence per 100,000 decreasing each decade from 9.6 to 7.8 to 5.8. The median survival for SCLC remained 7 months, and the 12-month relative survival rates (RSRs) remained relatively stable at 32.9%, 33.2% and 33.2% during each decade. The 5-year RSRs significantly improved from 4.9% to 5.9% to 6.4% during each decade, but remained extremely low. In addition, a narrowing of the survival gaps among SES groups and stable survival gaps between sexes were observed. Although the incidence of SCLC decreased during each decade, the overall survival remained relatively stable, highlighting the urgency of developing novel treatments and the importance of prevention and early detection.

Zn metal holds grand promise as the anodes of aqueous batteries for grid‐scale energy storage. However, the rampant zinc dendrite growth and severe surface side reactions significantly impede the commercial implementation. Herein, a universal Zn‐metal oxide Ohmic contact interface model is demonstrated for effectively improving Zn plating/stripping reversibility. The high work function difference between Zn and metal oxides enables the building of an interfacial anti‐blocking layer for dendrite‐free Zn deposition. Moreover, the metal oxide layer can function as a physical barrier to suppress the pernicious side reactions. Consequently, the proof‐of‐concept CeO2‐modified Zn anode delivers ultrastable durability of over 1300 h at 0.5–5 mA cm−2 and improved Coulombic efficiency, the feasibility of which is also evidenced in MoS2//Zn full cells. This study enriches the fundamental comprehension of Ohmic contact interfaces on the Zn deposition, which may shed light on the development of other metal battery anodes. A universal Zn‐metal oxide Ohmic contact interface model is demonstrated to effectively enable improved Zn2+ diffusion kinetics and a reduced Zn nucleation barrier, thus achieving a dendrite‐free and side‐reaction‐free Zn deposition chemistry for significant improvement of the electrochemical performance in both the symmetric cells and full cells.

Capsidiol is a sesquiterpenoid phytoalexin produced in Nicotiana and Capsicum species in response to pathogen attack. Whether capsidiol plays a defensive role and how its biosynthesis is regulated in the wild tobacco Nicotiana attenuata when the plant is attacked by Alternaria alternata (tobacco pathotype), a notorious necrotrophic fungus causing brown spot disease, are unknown. Transcriptome analysis indicated that a metabolic switch to sesquiterpene biosynthesis occurred in young leaves of N. attenuata after A. alternata inoculation: many genes leading to sesquiterpene production were strongly up-regulated, including the capsidiol biosynthetic genes 5-epi-aristolochene synthase (EAS) and 5-epi-aristolochene hydroxylase (EAH). Consistently, the level of capsidiol was increased dramatically in young leaves after fungal inoculation, from not detectable in mock control to 50.68±3.10 μg g−1 fresh leaf at 3 d postinoculation. Capsidiol-reduced or capsidiol-depleted plants, which were generated by silencing EAHs or EASs by virus-induced gene silencing, were more susceptible to the fungus. In addition, this sesquiterpene when purified from infected plants exhibited strong anti-fungal activities against A. alternata in vitro. Furthermore, an ERF2-like transcription factor was found to positively regulate capsidiol production and plant resistance through the direct transactivation of a capsidiol biosynthetic gene, EAS12. Taken together, our results demonstrate that capsidiol, a phytoalexin highly accumulated in N. attenuata plants in response to A. alternata infection, plays an important role in pathogen resistance independent of jasmonate and ethylene signaling pathways, and its biosynthesis is transcriptionally regulated by an ERF2-like transcription factor.

This study investigated the effects of cognitively engaging running on inhibitory control and prefrontal brain activation in children with ADHD, and whether physical self-efficacy moderates these effects. Thirty-six children with ADHD participated in three randomized sessions: cognitively engaging running, traditional running, and sedentary activity. Each exercise lasted 30 min at moderate intensity. Inhibitory control was assessed using the Go/No-Go task, and prefrontal activation was measured via functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) before and after each intervention. Results showed that both running types improved reaction time, but only cognitively engaging running significantly enhanced No-Go accuracy and increased oxygenated hemoglobin levels in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Moreover, improvements in inhibitory control were positively correlated with changes in prefrontal activation. Notably, physical self-efficacy moderated the cognitive outcomes of exercise; children with higher self-efficacy showed greater improvements following cognitively engaging running, while those with lower self-efficacy did not. These findings suggest that integrating cognitive challenges into physical activity and considering individual psychological traits can optimize executive function interventions for children with ADHD.

Background Numerous common oncogenic driver events have been confirmed in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Although targeted therapy has revolutionized NSCLC treatment, some patients still do not respond. NCAPG, also known as non-SMC condensin I complex subunit G, was positively associated with proliferation and migration in several tumor types. Methods We used transcriptional sequencing and TCGA database analysis to identify NCAPG as a new therapeutic target for NSCLC. The oncogenic roles of NCAPG in NSCLC tumor growth and metastasis were detected in vitro and in vivo. Ncapg +/+ or Ncapg +/− mice with urethane treatment were analyzed for oncogenesis of NSCLC. Results We investigated NCAPG as a new oncogenic driver which promoted NSCLC tumorigenesis and progression. We used transcriptome sequencing and the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database analysis to screen and found that NCAPG was negatively correlated with NSCLC survival. Using immunohistochemistry, we demonstrated that NCAPG overexpression was an independent risk factor for NSCLC survival. Functionally, NCAPG knockdown inhibited proliferation, migration, and invasion of NSCLC cells in vitro and in vivo. We exposed wildtype or Ncapg +/− mice to urethane and discovered that urethane-induced lung tumors were reduced in Ncapg +/− mice. Mechanistically, the function of NCAPG in promoting initiation and progression of NSCLC was closely related to LGALS1, which was also upregulated in NSCLC and might interact directly with NCAPG. Conclusions This study indicates that NCAPG is one of the essential factors for NSCLC oncogenesis and progression, providing a new target for prognosis prediction and treatment of NSCLC.

The maintenance of memory B cells is essential for vaccines to protect against infection. In this issue, Jin Wang and colleagues report that autophagy is required to maintain mouse memory B cells and that mice deficient for autophagy have normal primary antibody responses but impaired secondary responses to an influenza vaccine, resulting in their susceptibility to influenza virus infection. Vaccination has been the most widely used strategy to protect against viral infections for centuries. However, the molecular mechanisms governing the long-term persistence of immunological memory in response to vaccines remain unclear. Here we show that autophagy has a critical role in the maintenance of memory B cells that protect against influenza virus infection. Memory B cells displayed elevated levels of basal autophagy with increased expression of genes that regulate autophagy initiation or autophagosome maturation. Mice with B cell–specific deletion of Atg7 (B/ Atg7 −/− mice) showed normal primary antibody responses after immunization against influenza but failed to generate protective secondary antibody responses when challenged with influenza viruses, resulting in high viral loads, widespread lung destruction and increased fatality. Our results suggest that autophagy is essential for the survival of virus-specific memory B cells in mice and the maintenance of protective antibody responses required to combat infections.

Background Histidine metabolism is crucial in role in tumor biology, contributing to tumor progression, immune regulation, and metabolic reprogramming. In hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), dysregulated histidine metabolism may promote tumor growth and immune evasion, although the specific mechanisms remain poorly understood. Methods Using single-cell RNA sequencing, the expression patterns of histidine metabolism–related genes were evaluated across different cell types in HCC samples. In vivo and in vitro experiments were conducted to validate how histidine treatment affects macrophage and T-cell function. Furthermore, the TCGA database was utilized to construct a prognostic model to identify the key gene BUD23 and to examine its correlation with metabolism and immune infiltration. Results The proportion of parenchymal cells exhibiting high histidine metabolism was significantly increased, accompanied by a general reduction in immune and stromal cell infiltration. Notably, macrophages and T cells demonstrated impaired antitumor functions. In the high histidine metabolism group, multiple critical cell communication pathways (e.g., MIF, CLEC, MHC II) were downregulated, macrophages shifted toward immunosuppressive subpopulations, T cells exhibited an exhaustion phenotype, and CD8 + T-cell activation was diminished. Further in vivo and in vitro co-culture experiments confirmed that elevated histidine concentrations promoted M2 polarization in macrophages and weakened T-cell cytotoxicity, accelerating tumor proliferation. According to TCGA analyses, BUD23 was upregulated in the high histidine metabolism group and significantly negatively correlated with patient survival and immune cell infiltration. Silencing BUD23 boosted immune cell activation and cytotoxic effects, effectively reversing the immunosuppressive microenvironment. A multivariable Cox regression–based prognostic model indicated unfavorable outcomes in patients with high histidine metabolism. Conclusion Histidine metabolism drives tumor cell metabolic reprogramming and reshapes the tumor immune microenvironment through intercellular communication, thereby promoting tumor progression. BUD23 shows promise as a biomarker for prognosis and immune response prediction in liver cancer. This study provides new therapeutic targets and theoretical support for liver cancer treatment by targeting histidine metabolism.

Three- and four-part proximal humeral fractures are common in young and elderly populations. Open reduction and fixation with a locking plate is a commonly used surgical technique; however, it is associated with a high incidence of complications. This study aimed to retrospectively evaluate the clinical effectiveness of open reduction and fixation with a locking plate for treating three- and four-part proximal humeral fractures and to analyze potential risk factors for complications. The clinical data of 126 patients with three-part (57 cases) or four-part (69 cases) fractures of the proximal humerus who presented to our center between January 2014 and January 2024 were selected. At the final follow-up (i.e., 12 months post-operation), the postoperative clinical efficacy was evaluated by comparing the Constant-Murley score, Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score, Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score, and range of motion (ROM) of the shoulder joint between the affected side and the unaffected side. Additionally, the relationships between the clinical efficacy and the loss angle of the humeral neck-shaft angle (NSA) as well as the loss humeral head height (HHH) were analyzed. In addition, we also analyzed the most common complications among the patients and the associated risk factors. In the evaluation of clinical efficacy, there were no significant differences in the ROM of the shoulder joint and clinical scores between the unaffected side and the affected side of the patients at 12 months postoperatively ( P  > 0.05). The analysis of the relationship between the clinical efficacy, the loss angle of the NSA, and the loss of HHH showed that for patients with proximal humerus fractures (PHF), there was a significant negative correlation between the postoperative flexion, abduction, external rotation, and internal rotation of the shoulder joint on the affected side, the Constant score, and both the loss angle of the postoperative neck-shaft angle and the height of the humeral head, while there was a positive correlation with the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) score. In the analysis of complications, it was found that the incidence rates of shoulder joint stiffness and internal fixation failure were significantly higher than that of humeral head necrosis. Their occurrences were highly correlated with factors such as age, diabetes, osteoporosis, fracture healing time, rotator cuff repair, rehabilitation methods, medial cortical bone defect, calcar screw, calcar distance, calcar ratio, reduction quality, and so on. In conclusion, in clinical practice, surgical strategies should be tailored to individual patient profiles, incorporating comprehensive preoperative assessments of age, comorbidities (e.g., osteoporosis, diabetes), and fracture morphology. Optimization of surgical precision (e.g., anatomical reduction, calcar screw placement) and adherence to evidence-based postoperative rehabilitation protocols are critical to mitigate risks of complications and maximize therapeutic efficacy.