Self-assembling subnanometer pores with unusual mass-transport properties

A long-standing aim in molecular self-assembly is the development of synthetic nanopores capable of mimicking the mass-transport characteristics of biological channels and pores. Here we report a strategy for enforcing the nanotubular assembly of rigid macrocycles in both the solid state and solution based on the interplay of multiple hydrogen-bonding and aromatic π − π stacking interactions. The resultant nanotubes have modifiable surfaces and inner pores of a uniform diameter defined by the constituent macrocycles. The self-assembling hydrophobic nanopores can mediate not only highly selective transmembrane ion transport, unprecedented for a synthetic nanopore, but also highly efficient transmembrane water permeability. These results establish a solid foundation for developing synthetically accessible, robust nanostructured systems with broad applications such as reconstituted mimicry of defined functions solely achieved by biological nanostructures, molecular sensing, and the fabrication of porous materials required for water purification and molecular separations

Crashworthiness Design and Multiobjective Optimization for Hexagon Honeycomb Structure with Functionally Graded Thickness

Higher energy absorption efficiency and better crashworthiness performance are always the key objectives for different energy absorbing structures applied in numerous industries including aerospace, rail equipment transportation, and automotive. In this study, a functionally graded thickness (FGT) design method is introduced in the design of a hexagon honeycomb structure to improve energy absorbing efficiency on the basis of a traditional honeycomb with uniform thickness (UT). The validation of a numerical analysis model for a UT honeycomb under axial loading is implemented by a nonlinear finite element code LS-DYNA (V971). Furthermore, the multiobjective crashworthiness optimization of an FGT honeycomb subjected to axial quasi-static compression is conducted to maximize specific energy absorption (SEA) and minimize peak crashing force (PCF). In addition, three surrogate models, including radial basis function (RBF), response surface method (RSM), and kriging (KRG), are compared in the accuracy of predicting SEA and PCF and capacity for optimization design of FGT honeycomb structure; the Nondominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm (NSGA-II) is applied to obtain the Pareto optimal solutions for the maximum thickness, minimum thickness, and thickness variation gradient exponent of a honeycomb wall. The optimal points obtained by different surrogate models subjected to an SEA value of 18.5 kJ/kg, 20 kJ/kg, 22 kJ/kg, and 24 kJ/kg are validated, and corresponding optimal parameters are compared; RBF and RSM are more suitable in crashworthiness optimization design of the FGT honeycomb structure. It is indicated that the FGT honeycomb with optimal geometrical parameters presents remarkable enhancement and energy absorbing potential compared to the traditional honeycomb structure

Identification of a circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network to explore the effects of circRNAs on renal injury in systemic lupus erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease. At present, the mechanism of non-coding RNA in renal injury in SLE patients is still unclear. A total of 64 DEcircRNAs, 75 DEmiRNAs, and 249 DEmRNAs were identified. We integrated 10 circRNAs, 10 miRNAs, and 88 target mRNAs into a circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network and obtained 9 hub genes (circ-0000006, miR-766-3p, miR-409-3p, miR-339-3p, miR-331-3p, miR-140-3p, miR-186-5p, miR-149-5p, PSME3). The ROC curve results showed that the diagnostic efficiency of 6 hub miRNA was higher than that of has_circ_0000006 and PSEME3. SsGSEA analysis revealed immune cell composition in SLE and control renal tissues, including 3 types of immune cells up-regulated (gamma delta T cell, effector memory CD4 T cell, central memory CD8 T cell) and 4 types down-regulated (memory B cell, mast cell, macrophage, immature dendritic cell, eosinophil) in SLE patients. In addition, PSME3 was negatively correlated with 3 up-regulated immune cells and positively correlated with 4 down-regulated immune cells in SLE patients. Our study provides a deeper understanding of the circRNA-related competing endogenous RNA regulatory mechanism in the renal injury of systemic lupus erythematosus

Additional file 1 of Increasing ratio of opportunistic infections associated with sunshine exposure and economic level burdening Chinese inflammatory bowel disease hospitalized patients: the first nationwide survey from 2014 to 2019

Supplementary Material

A nomogram for predicting breast cancer specific survival in elderly patients with breast cancer: a SEER population-based analysis

Abstract Background The number of elderly patients diagnosed with breast cancer is increasing worldwide. However, treatment decisions for these patients are highly variable. Although researchers have identified the effects of surgery, radiotherapy, endocrine therapy, and chemotherapy in elderly patients with breast cancer, clinicians still struggle to make appropriate decisions for these patients. Methods We identified 75,525 female breast cancer patients aged ≥ 70 years in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database treated between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2016. The patients were further divided into training and testing cohorts. The cumulative occurrence of breast cancer-specific deaths (BCSDs) and other cause-specific deaths (OCSD) was calculated using the cumulative incidence function. In the univariate analysis, risk factors were screened using the Fine-Gray model. In the multivariate analysis for competing risks, the sub-distribution hazard ratio with a 95% confidence interval for each independent predictor associated with BCSD was calculated for the construction of nomograms. Based on the above analyses, a competing risk nomogram was constructed to predict the probability of BCSD in the 1st, 3rd, and 5th years after treatment. During validation, the concordance index (C-index) was selected to quantify the predictive ability of the competing risk model. Results A total of 33,118 patients were included in this study, with 24,838 in the training group and 8,280 in the testing group. Age, race, marital status, cancer grade, tumor stage, node stage, estrogen receptor status, progesterone receptor status, human epidermal growth factor receptor--2 status, and treatment including surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy were used to establish a nomogram. The C-index of 0.852 (0.842-0.862) in the training cohort and 0.876 (0.868-0.892) in the testing cohort indicated satisfactory discriminative ability of the nomogram. Calibration plots showed favorable consistency between the nomogram predictions and actual observations in both the training and validation cohorts. Conclusions Our study identified independent predictors of BCSD in elderly patients with breast cancer. A prognostic nomogram was developed and validated to aid clinical decision-making

Self-assembling subnanometer pores with unusual mass-transport properties

A long-standing aim in molecular self-assembly is the development of synthetic nanopores capable of mimicking the mass-transport characteristics of biological channels and pores. Here we report a strategy for enforcing the nanotubular assembly of rigid macrocycles in both the solid state and solution based on the interplay of multiple hydrogen-bonding and aromatic π − π stacking interactions. The resultant nanotubes have modifiable surfaces and inner pores of a uniform diameter defined by the constituent macrocycles. The self-assembling hydrophobic nanopores can mediate not only highly selective transmembrane ion transport, unprecedented for a synthetic nanopore, but also highly efficient transmembrane water permeability. These results establish a solid foundation for developing synthetically accessible, robust nanostructured systems with broad applications such as reconstituted mimicry of defined functions solely achieved by biological nanostructures, molecular sensing, and the fabrication of porous materials required for water purification and molecular separations

Engineering BPQDs/PLGA nanospheres-integrated wood hydrogel bionic scaffold for combinatory bone repair and osteolytic tumor therapy

Bone regeneration following the removal of tumor tissues remains a major clinical challenge for the treatment of bone defects, in which materials with combinatory bone repair and osteolytic metastasis therapy is considered as a promising solution. Herein, a highly strong delignified wood/regenerated silk fibroin (RSF) hydrogel scaffold integrated with black phosphorus quantum dots (BPQDs) encapsulated by poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) was engineered to realize efficient mechanical supporting, bone regeneration, and tumor therapy. Following delignification, the white wood (WW) scaffold significantly improved the mechanical properties of RSF composite hydrogel, with the elastic modulus in the L-direction and R-direction of 300 MPa and 3.3 MPa, and compression modulus in the L-direction of 9.3 MPa. Moreover, the WW/RSF hydrogel scaffold with BPQD/PLGA nanospheres effectively promoted the proliferation, migration, and osteogenic differentiation of bone mesenchymal stem cells and enhanced osteogenesis in vivo. Compared with the vertical implantation method, better bone regeneration was observed in parallel implantation system parallel to bone shaft. Importantly, the BPQDs in the hydrogel scaffolds could inhibit osteoclast differentiation and exhibit photothermal effects against metastatic tumor in the spine. Our data provide promising evidence for the potential therapeutic application on bone regeneration and ablation of bone metastasis.</p