Unleashing pyroelectricity enhancement via phase transition-driven defect alignment in KNN-based ferroelectrics.

The pyroelectric effect plays a critical role in thermal imaging and energy harvesting. Despite extensive efforts to enhance performance through doping and composite engineering, the mechanisms underlying defect dipole coupling with phase structures remain poorly understood, impeding the advancement of defect-engineered symmetry modulation. Here, we report an abnormal pyroelectric phenomenon where the pyroelectric coefficient () increases notably when poling temperature exceeds the orthorhombic-to-tetragonal phase transition temperature () in potassium sodium niobate ceramics.

Three undescribed Schinortriterpenoids from Schisandra chinensis and their neuroprotective effects.

Three undescribed SNTs, schisaterpene SU (1-3), were isolated from the extract of Schisandra chinensis. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of HR-ESI-MS, NMR data and ECD calculation. All compounds were evaluated for their Neuroprotective activity induced by MPP in SH-SY5Y cells.

Underlying mechanisms of pollutant removal enhancement through the formation of low levels of granular sludge in an innovative continuous-flow reactor.

In situ cultivation and long-term stabilization of continuous-flow aerobic granular sludge (AGS) pose significant challenges for the sustainable advancement of wastewater technology. Herein, we demonstrated the successful 330-day operation of a novel continuous-flow self-circulating AcOA-Zier reactor. Aeration-driven liquid recirculation achieved recirculation-to-influent (R/I) ratios of 26-70, optimizing dissolved oxygen gradients and enabling exceptional contaminant removal of 96 % for chemical oxygen demand (COD) and 95 % for total inorganic nitrogen (TIN).

Effects of Polarization Behavior on Wake-Up and Fatigue of Hafnium-Based Ferroelectric Thin Films.

The pronounced wake-up and fatigue phenomena in HfO-based ferroelectric materials present significant reliability challenges, limiting their potential in microelectronic applications. In this study, high-quality (Hf, Zr)O (HZO) thin-film capacitors are fabricated and their ferroelectric behavior is systematically explored under unipolar and bipolar electric field cycling. It is observed that transient overshoot during polarization switching under bipolar fields induces metal─O (Hf─O/Zr─O) bond breakage, creating oxygen vacancy defects that cause inevitable fatigue and increased leakage current.

Integrated gene co-expression network analysis and experimental validation identified ITGB1 as a candidate gene affecting milk production in dairy cattle.

Identification of functional genes associated with milk production is essential for establishing effective breeding programs in dairy cattle. To date, the specific functional genes involved in milk production in dairy cows remain to be identified. In this study, we used public RNA-seq data from dairy cows and employed gene co-expression network analysis to identify ITGB1 as a potential candidate gene related to lactation.

The Impact of Helicobacter pylori Infection on Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer and Macula.

Purpose: This study aims to elucidate the effects of Helicobacter pylori infection on the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and macula.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was undertaken at the Health Examination Center of the First Hospital of Handan from 2021 to 2022. Participants who underwent both the 14C-urea breath test and ocular examinations were selected.

Development of Mid-Infrared Spectroscopy (MIR) Diagnostic Model for Udder Health Status of Dairy Cattle.

The somatic cell count (SCC) and differential somatic cell count (DSCC) are proxies for the udder health of dairy cattle, regarded as the criterion of mastitis identification with healthy, suspicious mastitis, mastitis, and chronic/persistent mastitis. However, SCC and DSCC are tested using flow cytometry, which is expensive and time-consuming, particularly for DSCC analysis. Mid-infrared spectroscopy (MIR) enables qualitative and quantitative analysis of milk constituents with great advantages, being cheap, non-destructive, fast, and high-throughput.

Giant intrinsic electrocaloric effect in ferroelectrics by local structural engineering.

The electrocaloric effect of ferroelectrics holds great promise for solid-state cooling, potentially replacing traditional vapor-compression refrigeration systems. However, achieving adequate electrocaloric cooling capacity at room temperature remains a formidable challenge due to the need for a high intrinsic electrocaloric effect. While barium titanate ceramic exhibits a pronounced electrocaloric effect near its Curie temperature, typical chemical modifications to enhance electrocaloric properties at room temperature often reduce this intrinsic electrocaloric effect.

Fluctuating local polarization: a generic fingerprint for enhanced piezoelectricity in Pb-based and Pb-free perovskite ferroelectrics.

Understanding the atomistic mechanism underlying high piezoelectricity has long been a central focus in research of functional ferroelectric materials. Despite decades of research across various perovskite piezoelectric systems, a clear consensus on the underlying mechanisms remains elusive. We propose a new concept-fluctuating local polarization-a critical factor that effectively correlates with piezoelectricity and could serve as a generic fingerprint for enhanced piezoelectricity.

Identification of SMYD2 as a candidate diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for gastric cancer.

Background: Histone modification enzymes (HMEs) are associated with cancer development, treatment response, and prognosis. However, the potential roles of HMEs in gastric cancer (GC) remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate their biological functions and mechanisms in GC, with additional focus on exploring the clinical value of SMYD2.

Identification of the T-box transcription factor t-bet in chickens and its role in immune response.

T-bet (T-box transcription factor TBX21), encoded by the Tbx21 gene, is a key regulator of T helper 1 (Th1) cell differentiation and cellular immunity. However, the role of T-bet in avian species remains elusive. To investigate the role of T-bet in avian immune response, we cloned chicken T-bet (chT-bet) from a White Leghorn chicken spleen-derived cDNA library.

Use of early-lactation milk Fourier-transform mid-infrared spectroscopy and farm data to predict the calving-to-conception interval in Chinese dairy cows.

The potential of milk Fourier-transform mid-infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy in predicting cow fertility has been extensively examined, but largely based on the number of services per conception (NSC). Compared with NSC, Calving-to-conception interval (CCI) may be a more critical factor influencing the profitability, productivity, and sustainability of dairy herds, as it reflects days to first breeding, voluntary waiting period, NSC, and service intervals. Our objectives were to evaluate the ability of FTIR spectroscopy and farm data collected from early lactation to predict CCI length postcalving in Holstein cows from a highly productive TMR system.

Development of a Starvation Response-Based Model and Its Application in Prognostic Assessment of Liver Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) is a highly prevalent and poorly prognostic malignancy worldwide, and nutrient deprivation in the tumor microenvironment activates the starvation response in tumor cells. Starvation response-related genes (SRRGs) play critical roles in maintaining energy metabolism and promoting tumor development, but their value in prognostic prediction of LIHC has not been clarified. We based on public databases to obtain transcriptome and single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data for LIHC and SRRG from previous studies.

Purification and Inhibitor Screening of the Full-Length SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid Protein.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 has undergone several mutations since 2020, and novel variants continue to emerge to this day. The immune escape ability of the emerging mutants is enhanced and results in robust transmissibility. The neutralizing ability of the antibodies produced in the human body during previous infections is decreased against some of these mutants, which poses a severe challenge to the preventive and therapeutic effectiveness of vaccines and antibody drugs.

Establishing a knowledge-based planning model for left-sided breast cancer patients receiving hypofractionated postmastectomy and regional nodal irradiation.

We aimed to validate and evaluate a RapidPlan model for left-sided breast cancer patients receiving hypofractionated PM-RNI. This study included 89 patients with left-sided breast cancer who were enrolled in a clinical trial and received PM-RNI using IMRT. A RapidPlan KBP model was developed using 40 clinical IMRT plans treated at Institution A.

Sex differences and age-related changes of large-scale brain networks.

Background: Previous studies have identified sex differences in brain structure, function, and connectivity. However, the sex differences and age-related changes at the large-scale brain network level remain unclear.

Methods: Resting-state functional MRI data from 436 healthy adults were analyzed using independent component analysis to extract large-scale brain networks.

Ferroelectric materials toward next-generation electromechanical technologies.

Ferroelectric materials have been widely used in various electromechanical devices, from ultrasonic transducers and actuators to mechanical energy harvesters. The key performance metrics of these devices, such as sensitivity, efficiency, and bandwidth of ultrasonic transducers, are largely determined by the piezoelectric properties. This Review highlights recent research progress in improving the piezoelectricity of ferroelectric materials and offers potential strategies for further enhancement to meet the ever-increasing demands for high-performance piezoelectric devices and systems.

Improper antiferroelectricity in NaNbO-based perovskites driven by antiferrodistortive modulation.

Perovskite materials exhibit a wide array of fascinating properties arising from various structural instabilities and the interplay between them. Probing such instabilities demands the use of high-resolution, high-sensitivity characterization techniques to prototypical materials with minimized complexity. Here we present the discovery of unconventional improper antiferroelectricity driven by antiferrodistortive modulation in NaNbO-based perovskites, using advanced scanning transmission electron microscopy conducted on compositionally engineered samples, with a focus on Mn-doped (NaAgCa)(NbTi)O.

Cardiac Substructure Dose Reduction and Toxicity Risk Assessment: IMPT Versus IMRT for Breast Cancer.

Purpose: Intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT) significantly reduces mean heart dose (MHD), but data on cardiac substructure dose and toxicity compared to intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) are limited. This study evaluated dose reduction in cardiac substructures between IMPT and IMRT and assessed cardiac toxicity risks using 2 normal tissue complication probability models.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 30 breast cancer patients from a randomized trial with the highest MHD receiving IMRT.

Energy-Efficient Fabrication of Biomimetic Materials for Sustainable Infrastructure Applications.

Despite significant advances in the synthesis of biomimetic materials, the scalable fabrication of high-performance bulk materials under ambient conditions remains a formidable challenge- particularly when it comes to achieving rapid processing while preserving superior mechanical properties. Herein, inspired by nacre's "brick-and-mortar" structure, this work develops an energy-efficient approach that utilizes ice-templating technology as the structure framework and carbon mineralization for rapid CaCO production, resulting in a strong yet tough carbon mineralized material (CMM) while also fixing CO. This material replicates both the hierarchical microstructure and chemical composition of nacre.

Synergistic Defect-Driven Chemocatalysis and Ultrasound-Activated Piezocatalysis by Two-Dimensional SnSe Nanosheets.

Osteosarcoma (OS) constitutes a severe malignant disorder affecting bone tissue and poses a significant global public health risk. Here, we introduce an injectable, synergistic chemopiezodynamic therapy utilizing tin selenide (SnSe) two-dimensional nanosheets, which generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) to target OS effectively. We observed clear antitumor effects in OS following treatment with SnSe.

Engineered small extracellular vesicles for targeted delivery of perlecan to stabilise the blood-spinal cord barrier after spinal cord injury.

Background: Destruction of the blood-spinal cord barrier (BSCB) following spinal cord injury (SCI) can result in various harmful cytokines, neutrophils, and macrophages infiltrating into the injured site, causing secondary damage. Growing evidence shows that M2 macrophages and their small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) contribute to tissue repair in various diseases.

Methods And Results: In our previous proteomics-based analysis of protein expression profiles in M2 macrophages and their sEVs (M2-sEVs), the proteoglycan perlecan, encoded by HSPG2, was found to be upregulated in M2-sEVs.

General principle of ferroelectric topological domain formation.

We propose a general principle for the formation of topological structures in ferroelectrics, demonstrating that the fundamental formation mechanism of ferroelectric vortex is the superposition of two orthogonal dipole waves, which has also been validated by the mathematical deduction, phase-field simulations, and angle-resolved piezoelectric force microscopy. Moreover, it is demonstrated that this principle can also be extended to a range of nontrivial topological structures, including Ising, Néel, and Bloch domain walls, merons, skyrmions, Hopf rings, Solomon rings, and others. These findings not only improve our understanding of the fundamental formation mechanism of existing topological structures but also enable the prediction of topological structures, such as Star of David rings, in ferroelectric/ferromagnetic materials, liquid crystals, and Bose-Einstein condensate states (superconductors and superfluids).

Multifunctional Sr/Zn Co-Doped Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles in Injectable Hydrogel for Ameliorating Osteoporotic Osseointegration.

Developing advanced biomaterials with controllable nanostructures and biological multifunctionality is highly promising in biomedical fields. In this study, novel Sr/Zn co-doped mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) are fabricated using a designated substitution and etching method. The obtained SrZn-MSNs possess unique hollow mesoporous structures, round spherical morphology, high specific surface areas, and suitable pore sizes.

Mineral Profiles Characteristics in Milk from Dairy Cows in Xinjiang, China, and Production Plan for Season-Dependent High-Calcium Milk Sources.

Mineral content is an important nutrient component in milk. At present, there is not much research and application on the ecological mineral profiles of milk, especially in the development and utilization of the dominant milk source in Xinjiang. This study uses a mid-infrared spectroscopy (MIRS) model to predict the mineral content of seven key minerals in milk, explores the secretion patterns and characteristics of mineral profiles in milk, provides production methods for the efficient utilization of high-calcium milk sources, and analyzes the possible economic benefits.