Porous silicon has attracted significant attention for applications in lithium-ion battery anodes, sensors, and optoelectronic materials due to its high specific capacity, large specific surface area, excellent biocompatibility, and photoluminescence properties. Vapor phase dealloying offers a simple and environmentally friendly synthesis route. In this study, porous silicon was fabricated via vapor phase dealloying using self-synthesized Mg2Si as a precursor. The regulation of dealloying conditions on the pore structure was systematically investigated, and the evolution mechanism was thoroughly analyzed. Results demonstrated that optimizing dealloying conditions yielded superior pore structures, whereas elevated temperature or prolonged time triggered pore closure. Mechanism analysis revealed that the pore evolution involved four stages, with the third being critical for structural regularization. Precise adjustment of dealloying conditions was essential for achieving an optimized architecture. This work provides both theoretical support and practical guidance for optimizing synthesis parameters and achieving controlled fabrication of high-performance porous silicon materials.

This study investigates the thermo-mechanical indentation behavior of aluminum foam sandwich (AFS) structures with metallurgical bonding interfaces (MS). A cost-effective melt-stirring–hot-pressing–foaming route was employed to fabricate metallurgically bonded panels, in which Fe–Al intermetallic layers were formed at the face/core interface. Compared with single foam (SF) and simple stacked sandwiches (SS), the MS panels exhibit higher stiffness, superior deformation stability, and consistent energy absorption efficiency ( 0.8) across a wide temperature range up to 400 °C. The experimental results reveal that the metallurgical interface effectively enables uniform stress transfer and synchronized deformation between the faceplate and the foam core. This cooperative mechanism suppresses interfacial delamination and ensures structural integrity under local loading. Digital image correlation (DIC) analysis further demonstrates that the MS structure develops continuous strain bands through the core, indicating efficient load transfer pathways. Although the total absorbed energy of MS declines faster with temperature than that of SS, its structural integrity and energy utilization efficiency remain superior. These findings reveal the coupled effects of temperature and interfacial synergy on local deformation, providing practical guidance for designing lightweight sandwich structures for high-temperature protective applications.

BACKGROUND:Immunotherapy-based regimens are standard first-line treatments for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), yet integrated comparisons across efficacy, safety, and quality-of-life (QoL) outcomes remain limited. We performed a network meta-analysis (NMA) to identify the optimal treatment strategy. METHODS:A literature search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Scopus to identify phase III randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-based therapies. A Bayesian network meta-analysis was conducted to compare overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), tumor response, safety and QoL, with treatment rankings estimated using surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) values. A subgroup analysis was conducted. A multi-criteria decision making approach, entropy-weighted Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) model was conducted to integrate efficacy, safety, and health-related QoL outcomes RESULTS: Twelve RCTs involving 7908 patients met inclusion criteria. Sintilimab plus IBI305 showed the highest probability of being the most effective treatment for overall survival with highest SUCRA scores (0.91). Finotonlimab plus bevacizumab was most likely to improve overall survival in younger patients (0.95) and those with HBV-related HCC (0.84), as well as PFS in the overall population (0.86). When integrating efficacy, safety, and health-related QoL outcomes, finotonlimab plus bevacizumab and atezolizumab plus bevacizumab demonstrated superior overall performance compared with all other regimens. CONCLUSIONS:Bevacizumab-based immunotherapy combinations (finotonlimab plus bevacizumab and atezolizumab plus bevacizumab) provide a favorable benefit-risk balance in advanced HCC. The robust performance of finotonlimab plus bevacizumab highlights its translational potential. Composite points such as Topsis may facilitate integrated multiple outcomes.

Patients with initially unresectable colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRLM) could derive benefits from active induction regimens by increasing the likelihood of surgical conversion. However, the comparative benefit-risk profiles of currently available regimens remain unclear. We performed an individual patient data (IPD) and network meta-analysis (NMA) to compare the efficacy of active induction regimens. IPD was reconstructed from randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The primary outcome was progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary outcomes included R0–1 resection rate, overall survival (OS), and grade ≥ 3 adverse events (AEs). Subgroup analyses were conducted according to KRAS/BRAF status and primary tumor sidedness. An entropy-weighted TOPSIS model was used to integrate efficacy and safety outcomes. Seven RCTs involving 1368 patients were included. IPD-based network analysis suggested that bevacizumab + triplet-chemotherapy was associated with the highest probability of improving R0-1 resection rate (0.99) and prolonging PFS (0.99). No significant differences in OS were observed among targeted therapy-based regimens. For patients with KRAS/BRAF wild-type tumors, cetuximab + doublet-chemotherapy is the only therapy performed better than chemotherapy in prolonging PFS. Bevacizumab + triplet-chemotherapy demonstrated superior efficacy among patients with KRAS/BRAF-mutant tumors. No significant PFS differences were observed among therapies in both left-sided and right-sided. Bevacizumab + doublet-chemotherapy demonstrated a more balanced benefit-risk profile with the highest Topsis scores (0.67). Bevacizumab plus triplet chemotherapy improves disease control and surgical conversion benefits but is associated with greater toxicity. Bevacizumab plus doublet chemotherapy showed the most favorable benefit–risk balance and may represent an optimal compromise for patients with initially unresectable CRLM.

Designing a non-invasive, portable, and ultrasensitive detection strategy is crucial for the clinical point-of-care diagnosis of liver cancer, particularly given the low abundance of liver cancer biomarkers in complex fluid samples. Field-effect transistors provide an efficient detection method that can be miniaturized and integrated. Additionally, exosomal microRNAs in urine offer a promising approach for minimally invasive detection of biological fluids. However, developing a strategy that meets the requirements of portability, non-invasiveness, and ultra-sensitivity remains a significant challenge. In this study, an interdigitated field-effect transistor that incorporates metal carbide@carbon nanotubes (MC@CNT-iFETs) as the semiconductor material is introduced, specifically designed for the efficient detection of exosomal microRNA-122. The unique two-dimensional structure of the metal carbide significantly enhances sensitivity, while the inclusion of carbon nanotubes improves the electrical conductivity and transconductance of the semiconductor by 0.83-fold and 0.42-fold, respectively. The MC@CNT-iFETs demonstrate a limit of detection for microRNA-122, as low as 0.12 fM. Furthermore, these devices exhibit high specificity, reproducibility, and stability. Clinically, MC@CNT-iFETs demonstrates a strong correlation with q-PCR results, effectively distinguishing between 25 healthy individuals and 25 patients with liver cancer (R2 = 0.8977). Statistical analyses reveal significant differentiation between controls and patients with liver cancer. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis yields an area under the curve of 0.9776. These findings highlight the potential of MC@CNT-iFETs for ultra-sensitive, noninvasive detection of liver cancer in complex biofluids, particularly by providing ultrasensitivity, portability, and non-invasive diagnosis capabilities in personalized diagnostics and medicine.

This study aims to evaluate the bending stiffness and energy absorption capacity of a novel kind of metallurgically bonded aluminum foam sandwich (AFS) beams fabricated based on the melt route, and to explore the effects of core relative density, faceplate thickness (1–3 mm), and test temperature (25–400 °C) on their performance and failure modes. By combining experimental results with theoretical models (Timoshenko beam theory and the modified Gibson–Ashby model), it was found that the experimental stiffness values are in high agreement with the theoretical predicted values under different core densities and panel thicknesses, and the deviations are mostly within 20

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignancy with a poor prognosis, and its heterogeneity affects the response to clinical treatments. Glycolysis is highly associated with HCC therapy and prognosis. The present study aimed to identify a novel biomarker for HCC by exploring the heterogeneity of glycolysis in HCC. The intersection of both marker genes of glycolysis‑related cell clusters from single‑cell RNA sequencing analysis and mRNA data of liver HCC from The Cancer Genome Atlas were used to construct a prognostic model through Cox proportional hazard regression and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator Cox regression. Data from the International Cancer Genome Consortium were used to validate the results of the analysis. Immune status analysis was then conducted. A significant gene in the prognostic model was identified as a potential biomarker and was verified through in vitro experiments. The results revealed that the glycolysis‑related prognostic model divided patients with HCC into high‑ and low‑risk groups. A nomogram combining the model and clinical features exhibited accurate predictive ability, with an area under the curve of 0.763 at 3 years. The high‑risk group exhibited a higher expression of checkpoint genes and lower tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion scores, suggesting that this group may be more likely to benefit from immunotherapy. The tumor tissues had a higher zinc finger protein (ZFP)41 mRNA and protein expression compared with the adjacent tissues. In vitro analyses revealed that ZFP41 played a crucial role in cell viability, proliferation, migration, invasion and glycolysis. On the whole, the present study demonstrates that the glycolysis‑related prognostic gene, ZFP41, is a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target, and may play a crucial role in glycolysis and malignancy in HCC.

In a previous study, we discovered that the level of lnc-TSPAN12 was significantly elevated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and correlated with a low survival rate. However, the function and mechanism of lnc-TSPAN12 in modulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and metastasis in HCC remains poorly understood. This study demonstrates that lnc-TSPAN12 positively influences migration, invasion, and EMT of HCC cells in vitro and promotes hepatic metastasis in vivo. The modification of N6-methyladenosine, driven by METTL3, is essential for the stability of lnc-TSPAN12, which may partially contribute to the upregulation of lnc-TSPAN12. Mechanistically, lnc-TSPAN12 exhibits direct interactions with EIF3I and SENP1, acting as a scaffold to enhance the SENP1-EIF3I interaction. As a result, the SUMOylation of EIF3I is inhibited, preventing its ubiquitin-mediated degradation. Ultimately, this activates the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, stimulating EMT and metastasis in HCC. Our findings shed light on the regulatory mechanism of lnc-TSPAN12 in HCC metastasis and identify the lnc-TSPAN12-EIF3I/SENP1 axis as a novel therapeutic target for HCC.

Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy, while showing promise in various cancers, exhibits limited effectiveness in hepatic carcinoma due to the tumor's immunosuppressive microenvironment (TME) and challenges associated with immune cell infiltration. Efforts to transform the "cold" TME into an "inflamed" state, notably through chemo-immunotherapy, have sparked interest due to their potential to induce immunogenic cell death and augment the infiltration of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). Nonetheless, the efficacy of chemo-immunotherapy is often compromised by suboptimal pharmacokinetics, poor tumor accumulation, and off-target toxicity. Herein, in response, we introduce an innovative, milder thermal therapeutic approach leveraging gold nano frameworks with mesopores for the targeted delivery of the immunostimulant imiquimod and NIR-II photothermal therapy. This strategy employs targeted molecule modifications to ensure precise tumor targeting, guided by photoacoustic imaging. Subsequent to mild thermal treatment, there is a release of immunogenic proteins (CRT and HSP90), enhancing tumor immunogenicity. Assisted by imiquimod, substantial CTL infiltration occurs, accompanied by pro-inflammatory factor release (TNF-α, IL-6), transforming M2 macrophages into the M1 phenotype. Ultimately, the proposed strategy combines PD-L1/PD-1 blockade, imiquimod and mild thermal treatment to synergistically enhance tumor immunogenicity, remodel the TME, and restrain hepatic carcinoma, making strides in ICB synergistic immune-thermal therapy.

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a highly malignant biliary tract cancer with currently suboptimal diagnostic and prognostic approaches. We present a novel system to monitor CCA using exosomal circular RNA (circRNA) via serum and biliary liquid biopsies. A pilot cohort consisting of patients with CCA-induced biliary obstruction (CCA-BO, n = 5) and benign biliary obstruction (BBO, n = 5) was used to identify CCA-derived exosomal circRNAs through microarray analysis. This was followed by a discovery cohort (n = 20) to further reveal a CCA-specific circRNA complex (hsa-circ-0000367, hsa-circ-0021647, and hsa-circ-0000288) in both bile and serum exosomes. In vitro and in vivo studies revealed the three circRNAs as promoters of CCA invasiveness. Diagnostic and prognostic models were established and verified by two independent cohorts (training cohort, n = 184; validation cohort, n = 105). An interpreter-free diagnostic model disclosed the diagnostic power of biliary exosomal circRNA signature (Bile-DS, AUROC = 0.947, RR = 6.05) and serum exosomal circRNA signature (Serum-DS, AUROC = 0.861, RR = 4.04) compared with conventional CA19-9 (AUROC = 0.759, RR = 2.08). A prognostic model of CCA undergoing curative-intent surgery was established by calculating early recurrence score, verified with bile samples (Bile-ERS, C-index=0.783) and serum samples (Serum-ERS, C-index = 0.782). These models, combined with other prognostic factors revealed by COX-PH model, enabled the establishment of nomograms for recurrence monitoring of CCA. Our study demonstrates that the exosomal triple-circRNA panel identified in both bile and serum samples serves as a novel diagnostic and prognostic tool for the clinical management of CCA.

Introduction:Hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) have a high morbidity and mortality rate, and is difficult to cure and prone to recurrence when it has already developed. Therefore, early detection and efficient treatment of HCC is necessary. Methods:In this study, we synthesized a novel NDI polymer with uniform size, long-term stability, and high near-infrared two-zone (NIR-II) absorption efficiency, which can greatly enhance the effect of photothermal therapy (PTT) after intravenous injection into Huh-7-tumor bearing mice. Results:The in vitro and in vivo studies showed that NDI polymer exhibited excellent NIR-guided PTT treatment, and the antitumor effect was approximately 88.5%, with obvious antimetastatic effects. Conclusion:This study developed an NDI polymer-mediated integrated diagnostic and therapeutic modality for NIR-II fluorescence imaging and photothermal therapy.

Cerebral hemodynamics is important for the management of intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS). This study aimed to determine the utility of angiography-based quantitative flow ratio (QFR) to reflect cerebral hemodynamics in symptomatic anterior circulation ICAS by evaluating its association with CT perfusion (CTP). Sixty-two patients with unilateral symptomatic stenosis in the intracranial internal carotid artery or middle cerebral artery who received percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) or PTA with stenting were included. Murray law–based QFR (μQFR) was computed from a single angiographic view. CTP parameters including cerebral blood flow, cerebral blood volume, mean transit time (MTT), and time to peak (TTP) were calculated, and relative values were obtained as the ratio between symptomatic and contralateral hemispheres. Relationships between μQFR and perfusion parameters, and between μQFR and perfusion response after intervention, were analyzed. Thirty-eight patients had improved perfusion after treatment. μQFR was significantly correlated with relative values of TTP and MTT, with correlation coefficients of −0.45 and −0.26, respectively, on a per-patient basis, and −0.72 and −0.43, respectively, on a per-vessel basis (all p < 0.05). Sensitivity and specificity for μQFR to diagnose hypoperfusion at a cut-off value of 0.82 were 94.1 • Murray law–based QFR (μQFR) is associated with CT perfusion parameters in intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis and can differentiate hypoperfusion from normal perfusion. • Post-intervention μQFR, collateral score, and current smoking status are independent factors associated with improved perfusion after treatment.

The effect of monotherapy in cancer is frequently influenced by the tumor’s unique hypoxic microenvironment, insufficient drug concentration at the treatment site, and tumour cells’ increased drug tolerance. In this work, we expect to design a novel therapeutic nanoprobe with the ability to solve these problems and improve the efficacy of antitumor therapy. We have prepared a hollow manganese dioxide nanoprobes loaded with photosensitive drug IR780 for the photothermal/photodynamic/chemodynamic co-therapy of liver cancer. The nanoprobe demonstrates efficient thermal transformation ability under a single laser irradiation, and under the synergistic influence of photo heat, accelerates the Fenton/ Fenton-like reaction efficiency based on Mn2+ ions to produce more ·OH under the synergistic effect of photo heat. Moreover, the oxygen released under the degradation of manganese dioxide further promotes the ability of photosensitive drugs to produce singlet oxygen (ROS). The nanoprobe has been found to efficiently destroy tumour cells in vivo and in vitro experiments when used in combination with photothermal/photodynamic/ chemodynamic modes of treatment under laser irradiation. In all, this research shows that a therapeutic strategy based on this nanoprobe could be a viable alternative for cancer treatment in the near future.

Sintering kinetics of NiFe2O4-based ceramics inert anodes for aluminum electrolysis doped 7 wt% TiN nanoparticles were conducted to investigate densification and grain growth behaviors. The linear shrinkage increased gradually with the increasing sintering temperature between 1000 and 1450 degrees C, whereas the linear shrinkage rate exhibited a broad peak. The maximum linear shrinkage rate was obtained at 1189.4 degrees C, and the highest densification rate was achieved at the relative density of 75.20%. Based on the pressureless sintering kinetics window, the sintering process was divided into the initial stage, the intermediate stage, and the final stage. The grain growth exponent reduced with increased sintering temperature, whereas the grain growth activation energy decreased by increasing sintering temperature and shortening dwelling time. The grain growth was mainly controlled by atomic diffusion. NiFe2O4-based ceramics possessed high-temperature semiconductor essential characteristics. The electrical conductivity of NiFe2O4-based ceramics first increased and then decreased with increasing sintering temperature, reached their maximum value (960 degrees C) of 33.45 S/cm under 1300 degrees C, mainly attributed to the relatively dense and uniform microstructure. The thermal shock resistance of NiFe2O4-based ceramic was improved by a stronger grain boundary bonding strength and lower coefficient of linear thermal expansion.

以白云石(主要成分为MgCO3)为发泡剂、碳化硅颗粒( SiCp )为增黏剂,研究了镁基/SiCp 复合泡沫的熔体发泡制备工艺,分析了SiCp 与镁合金熔体的界面结合状态及SiCp 在镁合金熔体中的分散性,重点考察了发泡剂添加量(质量分数)和颗粒尺寸对镁基/SiCp 复合泡沫的密度、孔隙率和结构的影响. 研究结果表明,通过熔体发泡法可制备出孔结构均匀、孔隙率高、缺陷相对较少、底部无实体层的镁基/SiCp 复合泡沫材料. 热力学计算分析表明,经氧化处理后的SiCp 表面生成一层较薄的氧化膜,可与镁合金熔体发生化学反应形成冶金结合界面,有利于SiCp 的分散. 发泡剂的添加量对试样的孔隙率和密度存在相对较大的影响,而发泡剂颗粒粒度对其影响相对较小. 发泡剂的适宜添加量为3%,适宜平均粒度为110 μm.