Genomic analysis uncovers prognostic and immunogenic characteristics of ferroptosis for clear cell renal cell carcinoma

In this study, the characteristic patterns of ferroptosis in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) were systematically investigated with the interactions between ferroptosis and the tumor microenvironment (TME). On the mRNA expression profiles of 57 ferroptosis-related genes (FRGs), three ferroptosis patterns were constructed, with distinct prognosis and immune cell infiltrations (especially T cells and dendritic cells). The high ferroptosis scores were characterized by poorer prognosis, increased T cell infiltration, higher immune and stromal scores, elevated tumor mutation burden, and enhanced response to anti-CTLA4 immunotherapy. Meanwhile, the low ferroptosis scores were distinctly associated with enhanced tumor purity and amino acid and fatty acid metabolism pathways. Following validation, the ferroptosis score was an independent and effective prognostic factor. Collectively, ferroptosis could be involved in the diverse and complex TME. Evaluation of the ferroptosis patterns may heighten the comprehension about immune infiltrations in the TME, assisting oncologists to generate individualized immunotherapeutic strategies

A Microstructured Graphene/Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) Membrane for Intelligent Solar Water Evaporation

Intelligent solar water evaporation (iSWE) was achieved with a thermally responsive and microstructured graphene/poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (mG/PNIPAm) membrane. As the solar intensity varies, the water evaporation is tuned through reversible transformations of microstructures reminiscent of the stomatal opening and closing of leaves. Consequently, this mG/PNIPAm membrane displays a high water evaporation rate change (Delta WER) of 1.66 kg m(-2) h(-1) under weak sunlight (intensity < 1 sun) and a low WER of 0.24 kg m(-2) h(-1) under intense sunlight (1sun < intensity < 2 sun). Because of the double-layer structure with predictable shape and dynamics, the leaf-like membrane can further autonomously modulate the water evaporation by self-curling under intense solar irradiation in accordance with simulation results. This mG/PNIPAm membrane provides a smart material platform with self-adaptability in response to changing environments

Moisture adsorption-desorption full cycle power generation

Environment-adaptive power generation can play an important role in next-generation energy conversion. Herein, we propose a moisture adsorption-desorption power generator (MADG) based on porous ionizable assembly, which spontaneously adsorbs moisture at high RH and desorbs moisture at low RH, thus leading to cyclic electric output. A MADG unit can generate a high voltage of similar to 0.5 V and a current of 100 mu A at 100% relative humidity (RH), delivers an electric output (similar to 0.5 V and -50 mu A) at 15 +/- 5% RH, and offers a maximum output power density approaching to 120 mW m(-2). Such MADG devices could conduct enough power to illuminate a road lamp in outdoor application and directly drive electrochemical process. This work affords a closed-loop pathway for versatile moisture-based energy conversion

Maximization of Spatial Charge Density: An Approach to Ultrahigh Energy Density of Capacitive Charge Storage

Capacitive energy storage has advantages of high power density, long lifespan, and good safety, but is restricted by low energy density. Inspired by the charge storage mechanism of batteries, a spatial charge density (SCD) maximization strategy is developed to compensate this shortage by densely and neatly packing ionic charges in capacitive materials. A record high SCD (ca. 550 C cm(-3)) was achieved by balancing the valance and size of charge-carrier ions and matching the ion sizes with the pore structure of electrode materials, nearly five times higher than those of conventional ones (ca. 120 C cm(-3)). The maximization of SCD was confirmed by Monte Carlo calculations, molecular dynamics simulations, and in situ electrochemical Raman spectroscopy. A full-cell supercapacitor was further constructed; it delivers an ultrahigh energy density of 165 Wh L(-1)at a power density of 150 WL(-1)and retains 120 Wh L(-1)even at 36 kW L-1, opening a pathway towards high-energy-density capacitive energy storage

RGS20 promotes non-small cell lung carcinoma proliferation via autophagy activation and inhibition of the PKA-Hippo signaling pathway

Abstract Background Novel therapeutic targets are urgently needed for treating drug-resistant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and overcoming drug resistance to molecular-targeted therapies. Regulator of G protein signaling 20 (RGS20) is identified as an upregulated factor in many cancers, yet its specific role and the mechanism through which RGS20 functions in NSCLC remain unclear. Our study aimed to identify the role of RGS20 in NSCLC prognosis and delineate associated cellular and molecular pathways. Methods Immunohistochemistry and lung cancer tissue microarray were used to verify the expression of RGS20 between NSCLC patients. CCK8 and cell cloning were conducted to determine the proliferation ability of H1299 and Anip973 cells in vitro. Furthermore, Transcriptome sequencing was performed to show enrichment genes and pathways. Immunofluorescence was used to detect the translocation changes of YAP to nucleus. Western blotting demonstrated different expressions of autophagy and the Hippo-PKA signal pathway. In vitro and in vivo experiments verified whether overexpression of RGS20 affect the proliferation and autophagy of NSCLC through regulating the Hippo pathway. Results The higher RGS20 expression was found to be significantly correlated with a poorer five-year survival rate. Further, RGS20 accelerated cell proliferation by increasing autophagy. Transcriptomic sequencing suggested the involvement of the Hippo signaling pathway in the action of RGS20 in NSCLC. RGS20 activation reduced YAP phosphorylation and facilitated its nuclear translocation. Remarkably, inhibiting Hippo signaling with GA-017 promoted cell proliferation and activated autophagy in RGS20 knock-down cells. However, forskolin, a GPCR activator, increased YAP phosphorylation and reversed the promoting effect of RGS20 in RGS20-overexpressing cells. Lastly, in vivo experiments further confirmed role of RGS20 in aggravating tumorigenicity, as its overexpression increased NSCLC cell proliferation. Conclusion Our findings indicate that RGS20 drives NSCLC cell proliferation by triggering autophagy via the inhibition of PKA-Hippo signaling. These insights support the role of RGS20 as a promising novel molecular marker and a target for future targeted therapies in lung cancer treatment

Fixture-free omnidirectional prestretching fabrication and integration of crumpled in-plane micro-supercapacitors

Multidimensional folded structures with elasticity could provide spatial charge storage capability and shape adaptability for micro-supercapacitors (MSCs). Here, highly crumpled in-plane MSCs with superior conformality are fabricated in situ and integrated by a fixture- free omnidirectional elastic contraction strategy. Using carbon nanotube microelectrodes, a single crumpled MSC holds an ultrahigh volumetric capacitance of 9.3 F cm(-3), and its total areal capacitance is 45 times greater than the initial state. Experimental and theoretical simulation methods indicate that strain-induced improvements of adsorption energy and conductance for crumpled microelectrodes are responsible for the prominent enhancement of electrochemical performance. With outstanding morphological randomicity, the integrated devices can serve as smart coatings in moving robots, withstanding extreme mechanical deformations. Notably, integration on a spherical surface is possible by using a spherical mask, in which a small area of the microdevice array (3.9 cm(2)) can produce a high output voltage of 100 V

Ultralow-resistance electrochemical capacitor for integrable line filtering

Electrochemical capacitors are expected to replace conventional electrolytic capacitors in line filtering for integrated circuits and portable electronics(1-8). However, practical implementation of electrochemical capacitors into line-filtering circuits has not yet been achieved owing to the difficulty in synergistic accomplishment of fast responses, high specific capacitance, miniaturization and circuit-compatible integration(1,4,5,9-12). Here we propose an electric-field enhancement strategy to promote frequency characteristics and capacitance simultaneously. By downscaling the channel width with femtosecond-laser scribing, a miniaturized narrow-channel in-plane electrochemical capacitor shows drastically reduced ionic resistances within both the electrode material and the electrolyte, leading to an ultralow series resistance of 39 m Omega cm(2) at 120 Hz. As a consequence, an ultrahigh areal capacitance of up to 5.2 mF cm(-2) is achieved with a phase angle of -80 degrees at 120 Hz, twice as large as one of the highest reported previously(4,13,14), and little degradation is observed over 1,000,000 cycles. Scalable integration of this electrochemical capacitor into microcircuitry shows a high integration density of 80 cells cm(-2) and on-demand customization of capacitance and voltage. In light of excellent filtering performances and circuit compatibility, this work presents an important step of line-filtering electrochemical capacitors towards practical applications in integrated circuits and flexible electronics