DataSheet1_OsB9−: An Aromatic Osmium-Centered Monocyclic Boron Ring.docx

Transition-metal-centered monocyclic boron wheels are important candidates in the family of planar hypercoordinate species that show intriguing structure, stability and bonding situation. Through the detailed potential energy surface explorations of MB9− (M = Fe, Ru, Os) clusters, we introduce herein OsB9− to be a new member in the transition-metal-centered borometallic molecular wheel gallery. Previously, FeB9− and RuB9− clusters were detected by photoelectron spectroscopy and the structures were reported to have singlet D9h symmetry. Our present results show that the global minimum for FeB9− has a molecular wheel-like structure in triplet spin state with Cs symmetry, whereas its heavier homologues are singlet molecular wheels with D9h symmetry. Chemical bonding analyses show that RuB9− and OsB9− display a similar type of electronic structure, where the dual σ + π aromaticity, originated from three delocalized σ bonds and three delocalized π bonds, accounts for highly stable borometallic molecular wheels.</p

Aloin decelerates the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma through circ_0011385/miR-149-5p/WT1 axis

CircRNA/miRNA/mRNA axis has been reported to play crucial regulatory roles in multiple cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In addition, recent investigations revealed that aloin exerted anti-tumor functions in HCC. However, the underlying mechanism of aloin on anti-tumor functions in HCC remained elusive. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate whether circRNA/miRNA/mRNA axis medicated the anti-tumor effect of aloin in HCC. Cell viability, invasion, apoptosis and autophagy were accessed by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), transwell invasion assay, flow cytometry, Western blot and immunofluorescence analysis, respectively. Expression levels of circ_0011385, miR-149-5p and WT1 mRNA were determined using qRT-PCR assay. Binding sites between miR-149-5p and circ_0011385 or WT1 were predicted in starBase database. The binding relationship among circ_0011385, miR-149-5p and WT1 were verified by dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation. Besides, the rescue experiments were performed by co-transfection with cric_0011385 overexpression plasmid, si-cric_0011385, miR-149-5p mimic and inhibitor, WT1 pDNA and si-WT1 in HCC cells. Furthermore, tumor growth was also investigated in the xenograft mouse model. Aloin inhibited HCC proliferation and invasion as well as promoted apoptosis and autophagy both in vitro and in vivo. Besides, aloin suppressed circ_0011385 expression. Overexpressed circ_0011385 partially reversed the anti-tumor effect of aloin on HCC. In addition, it was revealed that the circ_0011385, miR-149-5p and WT1 genes were abnormally expressed in HCC. Furthermore, the binding interactions between circ_0011385, miR-149-5p and WT1 were predicted and confirmed. Moreover, the effect of circ_0011385 on the anti-tumor role of aloin in HCC was rescued by miR-149-5p mimics. MiR-149-5p regulated HCC progression via modulating WT1. Aloin suppressed cell proliferation, invasion and tumor growth and promoted apoptosis and autophagy in HCC through regulating circ_0011385/miR-149-5p/WT1 axis. Aloin may be a potential candidate drug for HCC treatment.Abbrevations: HCC: Hepatocellular carcinoma; ceRNA: competing endogenous RNA; miRNA: microRNA; MREs: miRNA response elements; WT1: Wilms’ tumor 1; MMP-2: Matrix metalloproteinase; EMT: epithelial-mesenchymal transition; GADPH: glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase; WT: wild type; MUT: mutant type; DMEM: dulbecco’s modified eagle medium.</p

Ferroelectricity, High Permittivity, and Tunability in Millimeter-Size Crack-Free Ba_1–<i>x</i>Sr_<i>x</i>TiO₃ Flexible Epitaxial Sheets

Flexible oxide sheets exhibiting ferroelectricity and high permittivity are crucial for the advancement of various emerging technologies. However, achieving large-area crack-free flexible oxide sheets remains difficult because oxides easily crack when their thicknesses are significantly reduced. In this study, we focused on Ba1–xSrxTiO3 (BST), which is an important material owing to its high permittivity and electric-field-induced tunability. By employing an amorphous AlOx protective layer with a thickness greater than 10 nm, we successfully fabricated millimeter-sized crack-free BST epitaxial sheets. In contrast, the sheets fabricated without protective layers exhibited breakage. In addition, we observed that a polycrystalline indium tin oxide layer acted as a suitable bottom electrode. The BST sheet with a composition of x = 0.25 exhibited excellent ferroelectric switching behavior and minimal current leakage, even when used with electrodes with a diameter of 100 μm. Furthermore, the BST sheet with a composition of x = 0.5 simultaneously exhibited high permittivity (εr ∼ 3500 at 10 kHz) and tunability (56%), combining the desirable characteristics of both bulk and thin-film materials. These improved dielectric properties are attributed to the absence of substrate-induced strain, which is a characteristic not observed in thin-film materials

Insight into the Synergic Effect of Fe-SSZ-13 Zeolite and FeMnTiZrO_<i>x</i> Catalyst with Enhanced Reactivity in NH₃–SCR of NO_<i>x</i>

The relatively low activity at low temperatures and poor performance at high temperatures with low N2 selectivity are the major problems of Fe-SSZ-13 zeolite and Mn-based metal oxides for NH3 selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NOx, respectively. Hybrid catalysts have been prepared by mechanically mixing Fe(1.6)-SSZ-13 zeolite and Fe0.2Mn0.4TiZr0.03Ox to remedy the defects of both catalysts. The optimized mass ratio of zeolite and metal oxide components in hybrid catalysts is 7:1, which shows superior NH3 SCR performances with NO conversion above 80% and N2O yield below 12 ppm at wide-temperature window ranging from 200 to 550 °C. NO-TPD and in situ DRIFTS studies indicate that the metal oxide component in hybrid catalyst can provide more active nitrite/nitrate species as well as more active sites for NH3 activation to promote low-temperature activity. The migration of active intermediate from NO on the metal oxide component to react with NH3 adsorbed on zeolite component may be responsible for the enhancement of low-temperature activity. Strong adsorption of NH3 on zeolite component during SCR reaction can hinder NH3 oxidation, so high NO conversions and N2 selectivity at high temperatures are maintained for hybrid catalyst. These insightful understandings on the synergic effect may be beneficial to rational design of high-performance hybrid catalysts in NH3-SCR reaction

Additional file 1: of Relationship of sarcopenia with steatohepatitis and advanced liver fibrosis in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a meta-analysis

Table S1. Methodological quality of included studies assessed using a method based in the 9-star Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. (DOCX 26 kb

Topologically protected Dirac plasmons in graphene

Topological optical states exhibit unique immunity to defects and the ability to propagate without losses rendering them ideal for photonic applications.A powerful class of such states is based on time-reversal symmetry breaking of the optical response.However, existing proposals either involve sophisticated and bulky structural designs or can only operate in the microwave regime. Here, we propose and provide a theoretical proof-of-principle demonstration for highly confined topologically protected optical states to be realized at infrared frequencies in a simple 2D material structure-a periodically patterned graphene monolayer-subject to a magnetic field below 1 tesla. In our graphene honeycomb superlattice structures plasmons exhibit substantial nonreciprocal behavior at the superlattice junctions, leading to the emergence of topologically protected edge states and localized bulk modes enabled by the strong magneto-optical response of this material, which leads to time-reversal-symmetry breaking already at moderate static magnetic fields. The proposed approach is simple and robust for realizing topologically nontrivial 2D optical states, not only in graphene, but also in other 2D atomic layers, and could pave the way for realizing fast, nanoscale, defect-immune devices for integrated photonics applications

Table1_Efficacy of Chinese traditional patent medicines for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: a Bayesian network meta-analysis of 64 randomized controlled trials.docx

BackgroundHeart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality, and modern medicine offers less effective treatment for HFpEF. Much evidence shows that Chinese traditional patent medicines (CTPMs) have good efficacy for HFpEF, but the advantages and disadvantages of different CTPMs for HFpEF are still unclear. This study used network meta-analysis (NMA) to compare clinical efficacies of different CTPMs for HFpEF.MethodsRandomized controlled trials (RCTs) of CTPMs for treating HFpEF were searched in seven Chinese and English databases from inception to September 2023: China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang, VIP, China Biology Medicine, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase. Two researchers independently screened the literature, extracted data, and evaluated the quality of the included studies. The GeMTC package in R (version 4.1.2) was used to perform Bayesian NMA.ResultsA total of 64 RCTs were included, involving six CTPMs and 6,238 patients. The six CTPMs were Qili Qiangxin capsule (QLQXC), Qishen Yiqi dropping pill (QSYQDP), Yixinshu capsule (YXSC), Yangxinshi tablet (YXST), Shexiang Baoxin Pill (SXBXP), and Tongxinluo capsule (TXLC). Conventional Western medicine (CWM) treatment was given to the control group, and CWM treatment combined with CTPM treatment was given to the experimental group. The results indicated that CPTMs + CWM were all superior to CWM alone; SXBXP + CWM had the best efficacies in improving the New York Heart Association cardiac functional classification efficiency; TXLC + CWM was best at improving the ratio of early diastolic mitral inflow velocity to late diastolic mitral inflow velocity (E/A); QSYQDP + CWM was best at reducing N-terminal pro-B type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP); and QSYQDP + CWM was best at improving the 6-min walking test. In terms of safety, there was no significant difference between CTPMs + CWM and CWM.ConclusionCompared with CWM alone, CTPMs + CWM combinations have certain advantages and good safety in the treatment of HFpEF. QSYQDP + CWM and SXBXP + CWM may be the potential optimal integrative medicine-based treatments for HFpEF. Given the limitations of this study, further high-quality, multicenter, large sample, randomized, and double-blind studies are needed to confirm the current results.Systematic Review Registrationidentifier, CRD42022303938.</p

Table5_Efficacy of Chinese traditional patent medicines for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: a Bayesian network meta-analysis of 64 randomized controlled trials.docx

BackgroundHeart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality, and modern medicine offers less effective treatment for HFpEF. Much evidence shows that Chinese traditional patent medicines (CTPMs) have good efficacy for HFpEF, but the advantages and disadvantages of different CTPMs for HFpEF are still unclear. This study used network meta-analysis (NMA) to compare clinical efficacies of different CTPMs for HFpEF.MethodsRandomized controlled trials (RCTs) of CTPMs for treating HFpEF were searched in seven Chinese and English databases from inception to September 2023: China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang, VIP, China Biology Medicine, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase. Two researchers independently screened the literature, extracted data, and evaluated the quality of the included studies. The GeMTC package in R (version 4.1.2) was used to perform Bayesian NMA.ResultsA total of 64 RCTs were included, involving six CTPMs and 6,238 patients. The six CTPMs were Qili Qiangxin capsule (QLQXC), Qishen Yiqi dropping pill (QSYQDP), Yixinshu capsule (YXSC), Yangxinshi tablet (YXST), Shexiang Baoxin Pill (SXBXP), and Tongxinluo capsule (TXLC). Conventional Western medicine (CWM) treatment was given to the control group, and CWM treatment combined with CTPM treatment was given to the experimental group. The results indicated that CPTMs + CWM were all superior to CWM alone; SXBXP + CWM had the best efficacies in improving the New York Heart Association cardiac functional classification efficiency; TXLC + CWM was best at improving the ratio of early diastolic mitral inflow velocity to late diastolic mitral inflow velocity (E/A); QSYQDP + CWM was best at reducing N-terminal pro-B type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP); and QSYQDP + CWM was best at improving the 6-min walking test. In terms of safety, there was no significant difference between CTPMs + CWM and CWM.ConclusionCompared with CWM alone, CTPMs + CWM combinations have certain advantages and good safety in the treatment of HFpEF. QSYQDP + CWM and SXBXP + CWM may be the potential optimal integrative medicine-based treatments for HFpEF. Given the limitations of this study, further high-quality, multicenter, large sample, randomized, and double-blind studies are needed to confirm the current results.Systematic Review Registrationidentifier, CRD42022303938.</p

Additional file 1: of Relationship of sarcopenia with steatohepatitis and advanced liver fibrosis in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a meta-analysis

Table S1. Methodological quality of included studies assessed using a method based in the 9-star Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. (DOCX 26 kb