Solution‐Processed GaSe Nanoflake‐Based Films for Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting and Photoelectrochemical‐Type Photodetectors

Gallium selenide (GaSe) is a layered compound, which has been exploited in nonlinear optical applications and photodetectors due to its anisotropic structure and pseudodirect optical gap. Theoretical studies predict that its 2D form is a potential photocatalyst for water splitting reactions. Herein, the photoelectrochemical (PEC) characterization of GaSe nanoflakes (single‐/few‐layer flakes), produced via liquid phase exfoliation, for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in both acidic and alkaline media is reported. In 0.5 m H₂SO₄, the GaSe photoelectrodes display the best PEC performance, corresponding to a ratiometric power‐saved metric for HER (Φ_saved,HER) of 0.09% and a ratiometric power‐saved metric for OER (Φ_saved,OER) of 0.25%. When used as PEC‐type photodetectors, GaSe photoelectrodes show a responsivity of ≈0.16 A W^?1 upon 455 nm illumination at a light intensity of 63.5 µW cm^?2 and applied potential of ?0.3 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE). Stability tests of GaSe photodetectors demonstrated a durable operation over tens of cathodic linear sweep voltammetry scans in 0.5 m H₂SO₄ for HER. In contrast, degradation of photoelectrodes occurred in both alkaline and anodic operation due to the highly oxidizing environment and O₂‐induced (photo)oxidation effects. The results provide new insight into the PEC properties of GaSe nanoflakes for their exploitation in photoelectrocatalysis, PEC‐type photodetectors, and (bio)sensors.     

Influence of the calcium concentration in the presence of organic phosphorus on the physicochemical compatibility and stability of all-in-one admixtures for neonatal use

Background  

Preterm infants need high amounts of calcium and phosphorus for bone mineralization, which is difficult to obtain with parenteral feeding due to the low solubility of these salts. The objective of this study was to evaluate the physicochemical compatibility of high concentrations of calcium associated with organic phosphate and its influence on the stability of AIO admixtures for neonatal use.     

Role of 55- and 75-kDa TNF receptors in the potentiation of Fc-mediated phagocytosis in human neutrophils

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of epidural vs general anesthesia on the incidence of long-term cognitive dysfunction after total knee replacement surgery in older adults. DESIGN: Randomized controlled clinical trial. SETTING: Orthopedic specialty academic hospital. PATIENTS: A total of 262 patients undergoing elective primary total knee replacement with a median age of 69 years; 70% women. INTERVENTION: Random assignment to either epidural or general anesthesia. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A thorough neuropsychological assessment was performed preoperatively and repeated at 1 week and 6 months postoperatively. Cognitive outcome was assessed by within-patient change on 10 tests of memory, psychomotor, and language skills. Prospective standardized surveillance for cardiovascular complications was performed to allow simultaneous assessment of anesthetic effects on cognitive and cardiovascular outcomes. RESULTS: The two groups were similar at baseline in terms of age, sex, comorbidity, and cognitive function. There were no significant differences between the epidural and general anesthesia groups in within-subject change from baseline on any of the 10 cognitive test results at either 1 week or 6 months. Overall, 5% of patients showed a long-term clinically significant deterioration in cognitive function. There was no difference between the anesthesia groups in the incidence of major cardiovascular complications (3% overall). CONCLUSIONS: The type of anesthesia, general or epidural, does not affect the magnitude or pattern of postoperative cognitive dysfunction or the incidence of major cardiovascular complications in older adults undergoing elective total knee replacement. This is the largest trial of the effects of general vs regional anesthesia on cerebral function reported to date, with more than 99% power to detect a clinically significant difference on any of the neuropsychological tests.     

消费者参与区块链技术赋能：食品安全性与消费者信任提升的新兴潘多拉效应？（中英文）

食品安全治理亟需采纳涵盖消费者参与的共治模式,以应对日益复杂的食品安全挑战。企业已经部署了基于区块链技术的去中心化食品追踪系统,这一创新举措旨在通过激发消费者主动参与,显著增强他们对食品安全治理体系的信任度。本文综合社会科学、经济学以及食品安全治理领域的跨学科理论,深入探讨了影响消费者参与度和信任度的因素。为此,着重分析了区块链技术实施在加深消费者信任方面的潜力和影响。还提出一个包含理论分析与实证研究的综合研究议程,以期为全球食品供应链中区块链技术的应用及其对消费者信任的影响提供更深理解。     

Synthesis and Anticancer Evaluation of New Indole-Based Tyrphostin Derivatives and Their (p-Cymene)dichloridoruthenium(II) Complexes

New N-alkylindole-substituted 2-(pyrid-3-yl)-acrylonitriles with putative kinase inhibitory activity and their (p-cymene)Ru(II) piano-stool complexes were prepared and tested for their antiproliferative efficacy in various cancer models. Some of the indole-based derivatives inhibited tumor cell proliferation at (sub-)micromolar concentrations with IC₅₀ values below those of the clinically relevant multikinase inhibitors gefitinib and sorafenib, which served as positive controls. A focus was set on the investigation of drug mechanisms in HCT-116 p53-knockout colon cancer cells in order to evaluate the dependence of the test compounds on p53. Colony formation assays as well as experiments with tumor spheroids confirmed the excellent antineoplastic efficacy of the new derivatives. Their mode of action included an induction of apoptotic caspase-3/7 activity and ROS formation, as well as anti-angiogenic properties. Docking calculations with EGFR and VEGFR-2 identified the two 3-aryl-2-(pyrid-3-yl)acrylonitrile derivatives 2a and 2b as potential kinase inhibitors with a preferential activity against the VEGFR-2 tyrosine kinase. Forthcoming studies will further unveil the underlying mode of action of the promising new derivatives as well as their suitability as an urgently needed novel approach in cancer treatment.     

Assessment of the Proton Pump Inhibitor,Esomeprazole Magnesium Hydrate and Trihydrate,on Pathophysiological Markers of Preeclampsia in Preclinical Human Models of Disease

Previously, we demonstrated that the proton pump inhibitor, esomeprazole magnesium hydrate (MH), could have potential as a repurposed treatment against preeclampsia, a serious obstetric condition. In this study we investigate the difference in the preclinical effectiveness between 100 µM of esomeprazole MH and its hydration isomer, esomeprazole magnesium trihydrate (MTH). Here, we found that both treatments reduced secretion of sFLT-1 (anti-angiogenic factor) from primary cytotrophoblast, but only esomeprazole MH reduced sFLT-1 secretion from primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (assessed via ELISA). Both drugs could mitigate expression of the endothelial dysfunction markers, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and endothelin-1 (via qPCR). Neither esomeprazole MH nor MTH quenched cytotrophoblast reactive oxygen species production in response to sodium azide (ROS assay). Finally, using wire myography, we demonstrated that both compounds were able to induce vasodilation of human omental arteries at 100 µM. Esomeprazole is safe to use in pregnancy and a candidate treatment for preeclampsia. Using primary human tissues and cells, we validated that esomeprazole is effective in enhancing vascular relaxation, and can reduce key factors associated with preeclampsia, including sFLT-1 and endothelial dysfunction. However, esomeprazole MH was more efficacious than esomeprazole MTH in our in vitro studies.     

Recent Advances on the Roles of PCSK-9 Inhibitors in the Management of Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients

Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) represents an important cause of disability and death. Since only a minor percentage of patients with AIS are eligible for acute therapy, the management of risk factors is mandatory. An important risk factor of AIS is hyperlipemia. The current guidelines recommend a strict correction of it. Statins are recommended as the first-line treatment, while proprotein convertase subtilin/kexin type 9 (PCSK-9) inhibitors are administered as a second or even third option when the goal for a low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level is not achieved. PCSK-9 inhibitors effectively decrease the LDL-C levels through the inhibition of PCSK-9-LDL-receptor complex formation. The in-depth understanding of the PCSK-9 protein mechanism in the metabolism of LDL-C led to the development of effective targeted approaches. Furthermore, a better understanding of the LDL-C metabolic pathway led to the development of newer approaches, which increased the therapeutic options. This article aims to offer an overview of the PCSK-9 inhibitors and their mechanism in reducing the LDL-C levels. Moreover, we will present the main indications of the current guidelines for patients with hyperlipemia and for those who have suffered an acute ischemic stroke, as well as the importance of LDL-C reduction in decreasing the rate of a recurrence.     

Cardiac Toxicity Associated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: A Systematic Review

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are an important advancement in the field of cancer treatment, significantly improving the survival of patients with a series of advanced malignancies, like melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), renal cell carcinoma (RCC), and Hodgkin lymphoma. ICIs act upon T lymphocytes and antigen-presenting cells, targeting programmed cell death protein 1 (PD1), programmed cell death protein ligand 1 (PD-L1), and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4), breaking the immune tolerance of the T cells against malignant cells and enhancing the body’s own immune response. A variety of cardiac-adverse effects are associated with ICI-based treatment, including pericarditis, arrhythmias, cardiomyopathy, and acute coronary syndrome, with myocarditis being the most studied due to its often-unexpected onset and severity. Overall, Myocarditis is rare but presents an immune-related adverse event (irAE) that has a high fatality rate. Considering the rising number of oncological patients treated with ICIs and the severity of their potential adverse effects, a good understanding and continuous investigation of cardiac irAEs is of the utmost importance. This systematic review aimed to revise recent publications (between 2016–2022) on ICI-induced cardiac toxicities and highlight the therapeutical approach and evolution in the selected cases.     

Toward unbiased measurement of conscious and unconscious memory processes within the process dissociation framework.

L. L. Jacoby's (1991) process dissociation framework has been welcomed as a tool for differentiating controlled and automatic cognitive processes. Several variants of the original process dissociation measurement model are integrated in this article, and it is shown that the model ignores guessing and, hence, response bias. An extension of the original model is suggested that includes guessing parameters. The original model and the extended model are evaluated empirically. In 3 experiments using a yes–no recognition task, response bias was manipulated in various ways. The original model falsely attributes effects of response biases to either controlled or uncontrolled processes or to both. The extended model, in contrast, results in estimates of the contributions of controlled and uncontrolled memory processes that are relatively unaffected by response biases. The extended model is recommended as a measurement tool. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A double flow cytometric tag allows tracking of the dynamics of cell cycle progression of newborn Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells during balanced exponential growth

Studies on the dynamics of growth of single eukaryotic cells and their relationships with cell cycle regulations are generally carried out following cell synchronization procedures or, on a relatively low number of cells, by time-lapse studies. Establishment of both time-lapse studies and synchronous cell populations usually requires elaborate experimental efforts and is prone to perturb the physiological state of the cell. In this paper we use a new flow cytometric approach which allows, in asynchronous growing Saccharomyces cerevisiae populations, tagging of both the cell age and the cell protein content of a cohort of daughter cells at the different cell cycle set points. Since the cell protein content is a good estimation of the cell size, it is possible to follow the kinetics of the cell size increase during cell cycle progression. The experimental findings obtained indicate an exponential increase of the cell size during growth, that the daughter and the parent subpopulations grow with the same specific growth rate, that the average cell size increase rate of each individual cell is almost identical to the specific growth rate of the overall population and provide the opportunity to estimate the cell cycle length for the daughter cell population as well as the identification of the complex structure of asynchronously growing yeast populations.