Conventional electrolytes made by mixing simple Mg2+ salts and aprotic solvents, analogous to those in Li-ion batteries, are incompatible with Mg anodes because Mg metal readily reacts with such ...electrolytes, producing a passivation layer that blocks Mg2+ transport. Here, we report that, through tuning a conventional electrolyteMg(TFSI)2 (TFSI– is N(SO2CF3)2 –)with an Mg(BH4)2 cosalt, highly reversible Mg plating/stripping with a high Coulombic efficiency is achieved by neutralizing the first solvation shell of Mg cationic clusters between Mg2+ and TFSI– and enhanced reductive stability of free TFSI–. A critical adsorption step between Mg0 atoms and active Mg cation clusters involving BH4 – anions is identified to be the key enabler for reversible Mg plating/stripping through analysis of the distribution of relaxation times (DRT) from operando electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), operando electrochemical X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and density functional theory (DFT) calculations.
ObjectiveThis study was performed to evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of percutaneousmechanical thrombectomy (PMT) combined with catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) inpatients with acute ...pulmonary embolism (APE) and lower extremity deep venous thrombosis(LEDVT).MethodsIn total, 20 consecutive patients with APE and LEDVT were prospectively selected forPMT combined with CDT. Mechanical thrombus fragmentation and aspiration using a pigtailrotation catheter followed by CDT was performed in each patient. Details regarding thepatients’ clinical presentation and outcome, pulmonary status parameters (pulmonaryarterial pressure, partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood, Miller score, thigh andcalf circumference, and shock index), and lower extremity parameters (thrombus-lysisgrade and Villalta scale score) were recorded.ResultsAll 20 patients’ clinical manifestations significantly improved. Both the clinicalsuccess rate and technical success rate were 100%. No major adverse events occurredduring hospitalization. Four patients developed iliac vein compression syndrome andunderwent stent implantation in the iliac vein. No pulmonary embolism recurred within16.5±6.8 months of follow-up.ConclusionsThe combination of PMT and CDT is a safe and effective treatment for APE and LEDVT withgood short- and intermediate-term clinical outcomes.
Astragaloside IV (AS-IV) is one of the main active ingredients of Astragalus membranaceus. This study is aimed to investigate AS-IV׳s effects on Ca(2+) channel activity of single cardiomyocytes and ...single Ca(2+) channels. Whole-cell Ca(2+) currents in freshly dissociated cardiomyocytes were measured using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Single Ca(2+) channel currents were examined in cell-attached patches and inside-out patches. In the whole-cell recording, AS-IV reduced the amplitude of L-type Ca(2+) currents (ICaL) in a concentration-dependent manner. Although AS-IV did not alter the steady-state activation curves, the voltage dependence of the current inactivation curves was negatively shifted by AS-IV in a concentration dependent manner. Consistent with the results of the whole-cell recording, in the inside-out configuration the ensemble average of single Ba(2+) current via L-type Ca(2+) channel was dose-dependently reduced by AS-IV. The reduction of unitary Ba(2+) current at 0.1 or 1 µM AS-IV was accounted for a decrease in the channel activity (NPo). In addition to the decrease in NPo, there was a reduction of Po without a change in channel number or an apparent change in single channel current. Furthermore, we found that the open-closed kinetics of the channel were affected by AS-IV. AS-IV induced the shift of L-type Ca(2+) channels from either brief openings (mode 1) or long-lasting openings (mode 2) to no active opening (mode 0). Our results suggest that AS-IV blocks the currents through Ca(2+) channels in guinea-pig ventricular myocytes by affecting the open-closed kinetics of L-type Ca(2+) channels to inhibit the channel activities. This study could provide theoretical basis for the drug exploiting of the monomer of Astragalus membranaceus.
Purpose: Neutrophils act as a non-negligible regulator in the initiation and progression of malignancies, playing bifacial roles in the process. Thus, to understand the heterogeneity of ...tumor-associated neutrophils (TANs) comprehensively in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) at single-cell resolution is necessary and urgent. Materials and Methods: We applied single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) to portray the subtype-specific transcriptome landscape of TANs in advanced NSCLC using nine freshly obtained specimens. The scRNA-seq data were further processed for pseudo-time analysis to depict the developmental trajectory of TANs. Meanwhile, the interplay between TANs and other cell types within tumor microenvironment (TME) was revealed by intercellular interaction analysis. Results: Seven distinct TAN subtypes were defined, of which, the N.sub.3 cluster was considered inflammatory phenotype expressing genes encoding multiple chemotactic cytokines, and correlated with inferior overall survival, indicating that N.sub.3 might be a protumorigenic TAN subtype. N and N.sub.5 clusters were considered to be well differentiated and mature neutrophils based on CXCR2 expression and pseudo-time patterns, and both accounted for relatively high proportions in lung adenocarcinoma. In addition, genes related to neutrophil differentiation were discovered. We also found that TAN subtypes interacted most closely with macrophages through chemokine signaling pathways within TME. Conclusion: Our study refined TAN subtypes and mapped the transcriptome landscape of TANs at single-cell resolution in advanced NSCLC, collectively indicating the heterogeneity of TANs in NSCLC. Neutrophil differentiation- and maturation-related genes were also discovered, which shed light on different functions of TAN subclones in tumor immune escape, and may further provide novel targets for immunotherapy. Keywords: tumor-associated neutrophil, single-cell RNA-sequencing, non-small cell lung cancer, tumor microenvironment, heterogeneity
We consider the fourth-order difference equation: Δ(z(k+1)Δ3u(k-1))=w(k)f(k,u(k)), k∈{1,2,…,n-1} subject to the boundary conditions: u(0)=u(n+2)=∑i=1n+1g(i)u(i), ...aΔ2u(0)-bz(2)Δ3u(0)=∑i=3n+1h(i)Δ2u(i-2), aΔ2u(n)-bz(n+1)Δ3u(n-1)=∑i=3n+1h(i)Δ2u(i-2), where a,b>0 and Δu(k)=u(k+1)-u(k) for k∈{0,1,…,n-1}, f:{0,1,…,n}×0,+∞)→0,+∞) is continuous. h(i) is nonnegative i∈{2,3,…,n+2}; g(i) is nonnegative for i∈{0,1,…,n}. Using fixed point theorem of cone expansion and compression of norm type and Hölder’s inequality, various existence, multiplicity, and nonexistence results of positive solutions for above problem are derived, which extends and improves some known recent results.
The widespread use of the Internet of Things (IoT) has also brought about issues such as fake information and threats to resource security. Trust management, by evaluating the trustworthiness of ...entities and the trust relationships between entities, aims to identify false messages, detect malicious nodes, and maintain network security. Compared to other security techniques, trust management places more emphasis on entity behavior and motives. This paper quantifies entity trustworthiness using weighted Beta distributions and detects malicious nodes based on this quantification. To comprehensively assess the trust status of entities, four conditions are designed to collect detailed information about the entities and their surrounding environment. Each condition forms a Beta distribution, and the weighted sum of these four conditions' distributions represents the entity's trustworthiness value. The paper also analyzes the weight allocation and resistance to malicious attacks of the proposed trust evaluation mechanism, providing corresponding countermeasures against attacks. Furthermore, simulation experiments are conducted to validate the effectiveness of the proposed solution. Compared to other trust evaluation mechanisms, the proposed approach considers a broader range of information about entities. Moreover, in practical applications, the types of conditions can be increased or decreased to accommodate complex and dynamic environments.
Objective To assess the therapeutic efficacy of central venous catheter placement via abdominal puncture in the treatment of refractory ascites. Methods Thirty-six patients with refractory ascites ...due to cirrhosis who were unresponsive to albumin supplement and diuretic treatment and admitted to our hospital from July 2010 to March 2011 were included in this study. Intraperitoneal catheter drainage was performed in these patients, in which generally not more than 800 ml of ascites was drained in the first session and subsequently 1500-2000 ml of ascites was drained daily; in addition, human albumin (10 g/d) was infused, and spironolactone (400 mg/d) and furosemide (160 mg/d) were orally given. Results Reduction in ascites volume, ultrasound examination results, urine volume, and time of stable condition were monitored after 12 days of treatment. Abdominal distension was relieved in all patients after 3 days of treatment. After 12 days of treatment, 17 cases (47.2%) showed a complete response, 15 cases (41.7%) showed a partial response, and 4 cases (11.1%) showed no response, with a response rate of 88.9%. Conclusion The placement of a central venous catheter in the abdominal cavity reduces the number of punctures and lowers the incidence of hepatorenal syndrome. The central venous catheter offers a convenient, safe, and easy-to-use tool for sustained peritoneal drainage in the treatment of intractable ascites.
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