Absorptive Function Research Articles

First-principles study on electronic, mechanical, and optical properties of pressure-induced vanadium-based perovskite KVO3

Vanadium-based compounds exhibit a variety of excellent characteristics due to their variable oxidation states. In this study, Density Functional Theory (DFT) is performed to investigate the structural, electronic, mechanical, and optical properties of KVO3 under high pressure. The thermodynamical and mechanical stabilities under high pressure are probed by the negative value of formation enthalpy and Born-mechanical stability criteria, respectively. KVO3 displays a nearly metallic nature in both pressurized and unpressurized systems owing to its remarkably narrow band gap. Furthermore, a positive pressure coefficient of the band gap is revealed from electronic properties. A lower effective mass value for charge carriers indicates KVO3's suitability for optoelectronic applications. The mechanical properties indicate that increasing pressure results in a slight increase in elastic constants, elastic moduli, hardness, and machinability index. Additionally, it has been disclosed that it is capable of enduring localized plastic deformation and fracturing under intense pressure in a prospective application. The calculations of the complex dielectric function, absorption, reflectivity, conductivity, refractive index, and loss function for KVO3 with and without pressure reveal a substantial behavior change. The absorption edge exhibits a significant blue shift with the applied pressure. The high peaks in the UV region suggest that it can be used in UV detectors and anti-reflection coatings. The refractive index shows promising application in waveguides.

Effect of dietary l-glutamine supplementation on the intestinal physiology and growth during Solea senegalensis larval development

The maturation of the intestinal digestive and absorptive functions might limit the amount of absorbed nutrients to fulfil the high requirements of the fast-growing marine fish larva. Glutamine (Gln) has been described to improve intestinal epithelium functions, due to its involvement in energy metabolism and protein synthesis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate dietary 0.2% Gln supplementation on aspects of intestinal physiology, protein metabolism and growth-related genes expression in Senegalese sole larvae. Experiment was carried out between 12 and 33 days post hatching (DPH) and fish were divided into two experimental groups, one fed Artemia spp. (CTRL) and the other fed Artemia spp. supplemented with Gln (GLN). GLN diet had two times more Gln than the CTRL diet. Samples were collected at 15, 19, 26 and 33 DPH for biometry, histology, and digestive enzymes activity, and at 33 DPH for gene expression, protein metabolism and AA content determination. Growth was significantly higher for Senegalese sole fed GLN diet, supported by differences on protein metabolism and growth-related gene expression. Slight differences were observed between treatments regarding the intestinal physiology. Overall, GLN diet seems to be directed to enhance protein metabolism leading to higher larval growth.

In-Ovo Glutamine Administration Enhances Intestinal Development and Functions in Broiler Chickens: Insights from Enteroid Models

BackgroundEarly life events play significant roles in tissue development and animal health in their later life. Early nutrition, through in-ovo delivery, has shown beneficial effects on improving intestinal health in broiler chickens. However, the underlying mechanism is not fully investigated. A recently developed enteroid culture technique allows investigations on intestinal epithelial functions that are close to physiologic conditions. ObjectivesIn this study, we evaluated the short- and long-term effects of in-ovo administration of glutamine (Gln) on intestinal epithelial development and functions by using intestinal enteroid culture and tissue electrophysiologic analysis. MethodsA hundred eggs of commercial Cobb500 broilers were in-ovo injected with 0.2 mL of either phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) or 3% Gln at embryonic day 18 (E18). Chicks were killed on the day of hatch, and at 3- and 14-d posthatch. Enteroids were generated from the small intestine. After 4 d of culture, enteroids were harvested for 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine proliferation, fluorescein isothiocyanate-4 kDa dextran permeability, and glucose absorption assays. At day 3 (d3) and day 14 (d14), intestinal barrier and nutrient transport functions were measured by the Ussing chamber. The gene expression of epithelial cell markers, nutrient transporters, and tight-junction proteins were analyzed in both intestinal tissues and enteroids. ResultsIn comparison with the PBS control group, in-ovo Gln increased intestinal villus morphology, epithelial cell proliferation, and differentiation, and altered epithelial cell population toward increased number of enteroendocrine and goblet cells while decreasing Paneth cells. Enteroids gene expression of nutrient transporters (B0AT1, SGLT1, and EAAT3), tight junction (ZO2), glucose absorption, and barrier functions were enhanced on the day of hatch. Long-term increases of intestinal di-peptide and alanine transport were observed at day 14 posthatch. ConclusionsTogether our results suggested that the in-ovo injection of Gln stimulated intestinal epithelium proliferation and programmed the epithelial cell differentiation toward absorptive cells.

Adaptive green space management strategies for sustainable carbon sink parks

Green spaces, such as urban parks, function as carbon absorption strategies for the attainment of carbon neutrality. However, urban parks are at risk of losing their carbon absorption function based on changes in carbon flux dynamics due to climate change. Therefore, this study proposes an adaptive green space management strategy for establishing a sustainable carbon sink park by analyzing the carbon flux dynamics of urban parks. To this end, first, a system dynamics model was developed to analyze the carbon flux dynamics of city parks. Second, 10 adaptive green space management programs were established to enable the urban park to function as a carbon sink park. After evaluating the effects of the program, third, three scenarios were built according to the pursued values (ecological, social, economic). As a result of analyzing the carbon flux dynamics, the annual net carbon uptake has continuously decreased since the 2030 s. The amount of carbon uptake has decreased due to a decrease in the rate of photosynthesis, an increase in pests, and mortality. As a result, lawn area decreases, increases in broad-leaf trees, and decreases in lawn management strength were the most effective programs for increasing the carbon uptake by the following order. In addition, the ecological scenario was reported to have the highest cumulative net carbon uptake among the three scenarios. However, all programs and scenarios could not prevent urban parks from losing their carbon sink function. These results presented the flexibility of carbon flux dynamics and how climate change threatened the sustainability of carbon sink parks. According to the results of this study, an adaptive green space management program should be modified to increase carbon sequestration without degrading other functions of urban parks. A further study will be conducted to expand the system dynamics model and analyze the effects of the modified program.

Cobalt oxyhydroxide nanosheet-modulated ratiometric fluorescence platform for the selective detection of malachite green in fish.

A ratiometric fluorescence platform was developed based on the cobalt oxyhydroxide (CoOOH) nanosheet-modulated fluorescence response of blue emissive copper nanoclusters (Cu NCs) and yellow emissive o-phenylenediamine (OPD). CoOOH nanosheets showed dual function of strong absorption and oxidation ability, which can effectively quench the blue fluorescence of Cu NCs, with an excitation and emission peak maximum at 390 and 450nm, respectively, and transfer the OPD into yellow fluorescence products, with an excitation and emission peak maximum at 390 and 560nm, respectively. Upon introducing butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) and its substrates, CoOOH nanosheets were decomposed into Co2+, and malachite green (MG) showed strong inhibition ability to this process. This resulted in the obvious difference on the ratio of blue and yellow fluorescence recorded on the system in the presence and absence of MG, which was utilized for the quantitative detection of MG, with a limit of detection of 0.140μM and a coefficient of variation of 3.5%. Thefluorescence ratiometric assay showed excellent detection performances in practical sample analysis.

A novel active and passive integrated vibration isolator based on piezoelectric stack: Characteristic analysis and experimental investigation

Passive vibration isolation has the advantages of simple structure, high reliability, and strong ability to absorb high-frequency vibration. Active vibration isolation has wide application range, strong controllability, and good vibration suppression effect for specific frequency band. Active and passive integrated vibration isolation technology combines the characteristics of both and has obvious advantages in dealing with the complex vibration environment in modern engineering practice. In this work, piezoelectric stack actuator is selected as the active control output source and vulcanized butyl rubber is used as the passive vibration absorber. The dynamic model of the novel active and passive integrated isolator is established, then the effects of different parameters on its vibration transmission performance are studied. Furthermore, a typical two-degree-of-freedom vibration isolation system model is established. By comparing the change of vibration transmissibility under different feedback forms, the design of the feedforward–feedback composite controller is applied. Finally, a double-layer vibration isolation test platform is built to verify the vibration reduction capability of the active and passive integrated isolator. The experimental results show that both the passive vibration absorption and active vibration suppression functions of this novel vibration isolator are particularly effective.

Realizing multi-function absorptions through arbitrary octagonal meta-atoms.

Metasurface absorbers (MA) typically exhibit a single type of absorption function due to their regular structures. In this study, we propose an irregular MA structure with octagonal meta-atoms. The presence of eight vertices in each meta-atom allows for tunable coordinates and offers a multitude of degrees of freedom in terms of geometry. As a result, the proposed MA exhibits diverse functionalities, including perfect absorption, multi-peaks absorption, and high absorption with a filtering window. To predict the geometric parameters of the MA structure based on a given target absorption spectrum, as well as the inverse design of the structure using the absorption spectrum as input, we employ a deep neural network combined with the particle swarm optimization algorithm. Remarkably, the mean-square error for spectrum prediction and inverse design of the MA structure is found to be as low as 0.0008 and 0.0031, respectively. This study opens up new possibilities for designing irregular electromagnetic structures and holds great potential for applications in multifunctional metasurfaces and metamaterials.

Traditional Chinese Medicine formula Dai-Zong-Fang alleviating hepatic steatosis in db/db mice via gut microbiota modulation.

Introduction: Hepatic steatosis is a hepatic pathological change closely associated with metabolic disorders, commonly observed in various metabolic diseases such as metabolic syndrome (MetS), with a high global prevalence. Dai-Zong-Fang (DZF), a traditional Chinese herbal formula, is widely used in clinical treatment for MetS, exhibiting multifaceted effects in reducing obesity and regulating blood glucose and lipids. This study aims to explore the mechanism by which DZF modulates the gut microbiota and reduces hepatic steatosis based on the gut-liver axis. Methods: This study utilized db/db mice as a disease model for drug intervention. Body weight and fasting blood glucose were monitored. Serum lipid and transaminase levels were measured. Insulin tolerance test was conducted to assess insulin sensitivity. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining was employed to observe morphological changes in the liver and intestine. The degree of hepatic steatosis was evaluated through Oil Red O staining and hepatic lipid determination. Changes in gut microbiota were assessed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Serum lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels were measured by ELISA. The expression levels of intestinal tight junction proteins, intestinal lipid absorption-related proteins, and key proteins in hepatic lipid metabolism were examined through Western blot and RT-qPCR. Results: After DZF intervention, there was a decrease in body weight, alleviation of glucose and lipid metabolism disorders, reduction in serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, and mitigation of insulin resistance in mice. DZF significantly modulated the diversity of the gut microbiota, with a notable increase in the abundance of the Bacteroidetes phylum. PICRUSt indicated that DZF influenced various functions in gut microbiota, including carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism. Following DZF intervention, serum LPS levels decreased, intestinal pathological damage was reduced, and the expression of intestinal tight junction protein occludin was increased, while the expression of intestinal lipid absorption-related proteins cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36) and apolipoprotein B48 (ApoB48) were decreased. In the liver, DZF intervention resulted in a reduction in hepatic steatosis and lipid droplets, accompanied by a decrease fatty acid synthase (FASN) and stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1) and fatty acid transport protein 2 (FATP2). Conversely, there was an increase in the expression of the fatty acid oxidation-related enzyme carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1𝛂 (CPT-1𝛂). Conclusion: DZF can regulate the structure and function of the intestinal microbiota in db/db mice. This ameliorates intestinal barrier damage and the detrimental effects of endotoxemia on hepatic metabolism. DZF not only inhibits intestinal lipid absorption but also improves hepatic lipid metabolism from various aspects, including de novo lipogenesis, fatty acid uptake, and fatty acid oxidation. This suggests that DZF may act on the liver and intestine as target organs, exerting its effects by improving the intestinal microbiota and related barrier and lipid absorption functions, ultimately ameliorating hepatic steatosis and enhancing overall glucose and lipid metabolism.

A transparent broadband flexible metamaterial absorber for radar infrared-compatible stealth

The iterative upgrading of the means of warfare has promoted the development of detection technology, and military activities are increasingly demanding target stealth. In this paper, a multifunctional metamaterial absorber is recommended, which simultaneously realizes the integrated stealth functions of ultra-wideband radar wave absorption, low infrared emission, and optically transparent. The structure is composed of an infrared shield, a radar-absorbing layer, and a reflective layer. Simulation results indicate that the absorption bandwidth in the radar band (1.81–20.4 GHz) is more than 90%, and the infrared emissivity is as low as 0.271 in the IR band (3–14 μm). Moreover, it has the features of flexibility, angle stability (0–45°), polarization insensitivity (0–90°), and so on. Furthermore, the electric field current distribution and equivalent circuit model of the structure are analyzed, and a 180 mm*180 mm sample is built and tested; the results show that the simulated and actual measurements are in agreement, and it is expected that such absorbers will be used in areas such as aircraft.

Absorption function loss due to the history of previous ankle sprain explored by unsupervised machine learning

BackgroundAnkle sprains are common and cause persistent ankle function reduction. To biomechanically evaluate the ankle function after ankle sprains, the ground reaction force (GRF) measurement during the single-legged landing had been used. However, previous studies focused on discrete features of vertical GRF (vGRF), which largely ignored vGRF waveform features that could better identify the ankle function. PurposeTo identify how the history of ankle sprain affect the vGRF waveform during the single-legged landing with unsupervised machine learning considering the time-series information of vGRF. MethodsEighty-seven currently healthy basketball athletes (12 athletes without ankle sprain, 49 athletes with bilateral, and 26 athletes with unilateral ankle sprain more than 6 months before the test day) performed single-legged landings from a 20 centimeters (cm) high box onto the force platform. Totally 518 trials vGRF data were collected from 87 athletes of 174 ankles, including 259 ankle sprain trials (from previous sprain ankles) and 259 non-ankle sprain trials (from without sprain ankles). The first 100 milliseconds (ms) vGRF waveforms after landing were extracted. Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to the vGRF data, selecting 8 principal components (PCs) representing 96% of the information. Based on these 8 PCs, k-means method (k = 3) clustered the 518 trials into three clusters. Chi-square test assessed significant differences (p < 0.01) in the distribution of ankle sprain and non-ankle sprain trials among clusters. FindingsThe ankle sprain trials accounted for a significantly larger percentage (63.9%) in Cluster 3, which exhibited rapidly increased impulse vGRF waveforms with larger peaks in a short time. SignificancePCA and k-means method for vGRF waveforms during single-legged landing identified that the history of previous ankle sprains caused a loss of ankle absorption ability lasting at least 6 months from an ankle sprain.

Microbiota-Derived Extracellular Vesicles as a Postbiotic Strategy to Alleviate Diarrhea and Enhance Immunity in Rotavirus-Infected Neonatal Rats.

Rotavirus (RV) infection is a major cause of acute gastroenteritis in children under 5 years old, resulting in elevated mortality rates in low-income countries. The efficacy of anti-RV vaccines is limited in underdeveloped countries, emphasizing the need for novel strategies to boost immunity and alleviate RV-induced diarrhea. This study explores the effectiveness of interventions involving extracellular vesicles (EVs) from probiotic and commensal E. coli in mitigating diarrhea and enhancing immunity in a preclinical model of RV infection in suckling rats. On days 8 and 16 of life, variables related to humoral and cellular immunity and intestinal function/architecture were assessed. Both interventions enhanced humoral (serum immunoglobulins) and cellular (splenic natural killer (NK), cytotoxic T (Tc) and positive T-cell receptor γδ (TCRγδ) cells) immunity against viral infections and downregulated the intestinal serotonin receptor-3 (HTR3). However, certain effects were strain-specific. EcoR12 EVs activated intestinal CD68, TLR2 and IL-12 expression, whereas EcN EVs improved intestinal maturation, barrier properties (goblet cell numbers/mucin 2 expression) and absorptive function (villus length). In conclusion, interventions involving probiotic/microbiota EVs may serve as a safe postbiotic strategy to improve clinical symptoms and immune responses during RV infection in the neonatal period. Furthermore, they could be used as adjuvants to enhance the immunogenicity and efficacy of anti-RV vaccines.

Congenital chloride diarrhea in children

Congenital chloride diarrhea is a genetically determined disease caused by a mutation in the SLC26A3 gene, located on chromosome 7 at the 7q31 locus. It encodes a transmembrane transport protein that is normally present in the colon and small intestine, where it is responsible for the absorption of chloride. Congenital chloride diarrhea is an autosomal recessive congenital disease. Currently, different types of mutations in SLC26A3 have been described. If the gene is defective, protein synthesis is disrupted, as a result the absorption function of the intestinal epithelium decreases, which is accompanied by the development of diarrhea syndrome. This article describes a clinical case of congenital chloride diarrhea. Clinical case demonstrates a late diagnostic, despite the presence of characteristic signs of the disease even at the stage of intrauterine development of the fetus. Early diagnosis and timely start of treatment determine a favorable prognosis of the disease and guarantee the preservation of the patient’s quality of life.

Exceptional PbS/CsPbCl3 heterostructure based on the structural, electronic and optical properties of PbS/CsPbX3(X=Cl, Br, I)

The construction of heterojunction between NIR photoelectric materials and other types of materials has the potential to improve the performance of VIS-NIR photoelectric materials and broaden the absorption spectrum. In this study, the properties and theoretical calculations are carried out using the near-infrared photoelectric material PbS and the perovskite material CsPbX3 (X = Cl, Br, I) to build heterostructures. The appropriate lattice mismatch rates (4.5 %, 2 % and 4.6 %) between PbS and CsPbX3 (X = Cl, Br, I) ensure the feasibility of constructing PbS/CsPbX3 (X = Cl, Br, I) heterogeneous structures. The electronic properties calculations revealed physical mechanisms that improve luminous efficiency. Notably, the I-type band alignment (-5.02eV < PbS < −3.77eV, −5.85eV < CsPbX3 (X = Cl, Br, I) < -3.35eV) at the PbS/CsPbX3 (X = Cl, Br, I) interface facilitates efficient electron and hole transfer from the CsPbX3 (X = Cl, Br, I) quantum dots to the PbS material, which was further validated by the observed difference in charge density. Among them, the electron cloud of PbS/CsPbCl3 heterostructure is more obvious, and the charge transfer ability is better than that of the other two heterostructures. The heterostructures extend the light absorption range of CsPbX3 (X = Cl, Br, I) from visible to near-infrared under the influence of PbS. By comparing the light absorption functions, it is found that PbS/CsPbI3> PbS/CsPbCl3> PbS/CsPbBr3 in this range. Regarding comprehensive stability, charge density transfer, and optical properties, PbS/CsPbCl3 has the best performance. Under the premise of ensuring stability, different light absorption characteristics can be achieved by adjusting the composition of halogen atoms in PbS/CsPbCl3. This study provides a theoretical basis for enhancing the performance of the PbS/CsPbX3 (X = Cl, Br, I) heterostructures in VIS-NIR optoelectronic materials through investigations of their electronic and optical properties. It yields a promising approach for the design of high-performance VIS-NIR heterogeneous materials.

Death receptor 5 is required for intestinal stem cell activity during intestinal epithelial renewal at homoeostasis

Intestinal epithelial renewal, which depends on the proliferation and differentiation of intestinal stem cells (ISCs), is essential for epithelial homoeostasis. Understanding the mechanism controlling ISC activity is important. We found that death receptor 5 (DR5) gene deletion (DR5-/-) mice had impaired epithelial absorption and barrier function, resulting in delayed weight gain, which might be related to the general reduction of differentiated epithelial cells. In DR5-/- mice, the expression of ISC marker genes, the number of Olfm4+ ISCs, and the number of Ki67+ and BrdU+ cells in crypt were reduced. Furthermore, DR5 deletion inhibited the expression of lineage differentiation genes driving ISC differentiation into enterocytes, goblet cells, enteroendocrine cells, and Paneth cells. Therefore, DR5 gene loss may inhibit the intestinal epithelial renewal by dampening ISC activity. The ability of crypts from DR5-/- mice to form organoids decreased, and selective DR5 activation by Bioymifi promoted organoid growth and the expression of ISC and intestinal epithelial cell marker genes. Silencing of endogenous DR5 ligand TRAIL in organoids down-regulated the expression of ISC and intestinal epithelial cell marker genes. So, DR5 expressed in intestinal crypts was involved in the regulation of ISC activity. DR5 deletion in vivo or activation in organoids inhibited or enhanced the activity of Wnt, Notch, and BMP signalling through regulating the production of Paneth cell-derived ISC niche factors. DR5 gene deletion caused apoptosis and DNA damage in transit amplifying cells by inhibiting ERK1/2 activity in intestinal crypts. Inhibition of ERK1/2 with PD0325901 dampened the ISC activity and epithelial regeneration. In organoids, when Bioymifi’s effect in activating ERK1/2 activity was completely blocked by PD0325901, its role in stimulating ISC activity and promoting epithelial regeneration was also eliminated. In summary, DR5 in intestinal crypts is essential for ISC activity during epithelial renewal under homoeostasis.

SLC2A9 rs16890979 reduces uric acid absorption by kidney organoids.

Introduction: The excretion and absorption of uric acid (UA) by the kidneys helps regulate serum UA levels. GLUT9, encoded by SLC2A9, is mainly expressed in the renal tubules responsible for UA absorption. SLC2A9 polymorphisms are associated with different serum UA levels. However, the lack of proper in vitro models has stalled research on the mechanisms of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that affect UA metabolism in human urate transporters. Methods: In this study, we constructed a gene-edited human embryonic stem cells-9 (ESC-H9) derived kidney organoid bearing rs16890979, an SLC2A9 missense mutation with undetermined associations with hyperuricemia or hypouricemia. Kidney organoids derived from ESC-H9 with genetical overexpression (OE) and low expression (shRNA) of SLC2A9 to serve as controls to study the function of SLC2A9. The function of rs16890979 on UA metabolism was evaluated after placing the organoids to urate-containing medium and following histopathological analysis. Results: The kidney organoids with heterozygous or homozygous rs16890979 mutations showed normal SLC2A9 expression levels and histological distribution, phenotypically similar to the wild-type controls. However, reduced absorption of UA by the kidney organoids with rs16890979 mutants was observed. This finding together with the observation that UA absorption is increased in organoids with SLC2A9 overexpression and decreased in those with SLC2A9 knockdown, suggest that GLUT9 is responsible for UA absorption, and the rs16890979 SNP may compromise this functionality. Moreover, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) was detected in organoids after UA treatment, especially in the kidney organoid carrying GLUT9OE, suggesting the cytobiological mechanism explaining the pathological features in hyperuricosuria-related renal injury. Discussion: This study showing the transitional value of kidney organoid modeling the function of SNPs on UA metabolism. With a defined genetic background and a confirmed UA absorption function should be useful for studies on renal histological, cellular, and molecular mechanisms with this organoid model.

Effect of Blending of Shellac, Carbonyl Iron Powder, and Carbonyl Iron Powder/Carbon Nanotube Microcapsules on the Properties of Coatings

Nine sets of orthogonal experimental samples were prepared by examining four factors: shellac microcapsules, carbonyl iron powder (CIP) microcapsules, CIP/ carbon nanotube (CNT) microcapsules, and primer coating thickness. By testing the morphology and performance of the coating and using the fracture elongation of the coating as an orthogonal experimental analysis, the maximum factor affecting the fracture elongation of shellac, CIP, and CIP/CNT microcapsule coatings was determined. The first two factors that had a significant impact on the fracture elongation of the coating were the content of CIP/CNT microcapsules and shellac microcapsules. In order to further optimize the coating performance, important factor experiments were conducted, using the content of CIP/CNT microcapsules and shellac microcapsules as variables. It was found that the coating had the best performance when the content of CIP/CNT microcapsules was 7.0% and the content of shellac microcapsules was 4.0%. The optical properties of coatings with added shellac, CIP, and CIP/CNT microcapsules were tested, and the color difference and glossiness of the coatings showed little change. The mechanical properties of coatings with added shellac, CIP, and CIP/CNT microcapsules were tested. The blending of the three types of microcapsules enhanced the toughness of the coating to a certain extent, and suppressed the generation of micro-cracks, demonstrating a good self-healing effect. The electromagnetic-absorption performance of coatings with added shellac, CIP, and CIP/CNT microcapsules was tested. The blending of shellac, CIP, and CIP/CNT microcapsules exhibited two effective bands of electromagnetic absorption and a good absorption performance at a relatively wide frequency range. The combination of shellac, CIP, and CIP/CNT microcapsules endows the fiberboard surface with self-healing and electromagnetic-absorption functions, while maintaining the original performance of the water-based coating. The results can be used for application of surface coatings on wooden materials with dual functions of self-healing and electromagnetic absorption.

Porcine Kidney Organoids Derived from Naïve-like Embryonic Stem Cells.

The scarcity of donor kidneys greatly impacts the survival of patients with end-stage renal failure. Pigs are increasingly becoming potential organ donors but are limited by immunological rejection. Based on the human kidney organoid already established with the CHIR99021 and FGF9 induction strategy, we generated porcine kidney organoids from porcine naïve-like ESCs (nESCs). The derived porcine organoids had a tubule-like constructure and matrix components. The porcine organoids expressed renal markers including AQP1 (proximal tubule), WT1 and PODO (podocyte), and CD31 (vascular endothelial cells). These results imply that the organoids had developed the majority of the renal cell types and structures, including glomeruli and proximal tubules. The porcine organoids were also identified to have a dextran absorptive function. Importantly, porcine organoids have a certain abundance of vascular endothelial cells, which are the basis for investigating immune rejection. The derived porcine organoids might serve as materials for immunosuppressor screening for xenotransplantation.

Design of terahertz metamaterial absorbers with switchable absorption functions utilizing thermal and electrical dual-modulation strategies.

This work demonstrates a dual-functional tunable terahertz metamaterial absorber based on thermally controllable vanadium dioxide (VO2) and electrically tunable graphene. The switchable absorption functions could be obtained in the same metamaterial, which consists of alternating stacked cross-cut graphene disks (CGDs) and VO2 square rings (VSRs) separated by an ultra-thin dielectric film placed on a continuous gold mirror. The metallic state of VSRs is the dominant factor for the broadband absorption function, resulting in a broadband absorption of 4.746 THz. Based on this, the Fermi energy level of CGDs increases to 0.7 eV, which could broaden the absorption bandwidth to 5.398 THz. When the VSRs are in the insulating state, CGDs dominate the absorption, and the suggested device switches to the dual-band absorption function. These two absorption peaks appear to be larger than 97% and their frequencies could be dynamically controlled by the Fermi energy level of CGDs. In addition to the excellent absorption characteristics of dynamic switching of two different functions, polarization insensitivity and large-angle tolerance are also advantages of this work, which could provide new insights and guidance for the study of dynamically tunable metamaterial absorbers.

A dual functional tunable terahertz metamaterial absorber based on vanadium dioxide.

A dual-functional switchable metamaterial absorber (MMA) based on vanadium dioxide (VO2), which achieves flexible switching between broadband absorption and four-band absorption by adjusting the VO2 conductivity, was proposed. The device has a broadband absorption function when VO2 is in the metal phase, and the conductivity is 3 × 105 S m-1. Numerical simulation shows that the absorption rate of the device reaches over 90% in the frequency range of 3.36-6.98 THz. The absorber exhibits polarization insensitivity and wide-angle absorption to transverse electric (TE) and transverse magnetic (TM) waves. When VO2 is in the insulator phase, and the conductivity is 3 × 102 S m-1, the device switches to a narrowband absorber with a band-efficient absorption function. Numerical simulation shows that the device has an absorption rate of 99.7% at 2.39 THz, 98.3% at 2.83 THz, 95.6% at 3.84 THz, and 96.1% at 4.61 THz. It can be used as a sensor with high sensitivity. In addition, to verify the absorption mechanism of the absorber, we introduced impedance matching theory to analyze the device. Finally, the influence of structural parameters on the performance of resonators was investigated. Through the joint action of multi-layer structures, the proposed MMA concentrates broadband and narrowband absorption functions on one device, achieving flexible switching between tasks without changing the structure. The switchable metamaterial absorber designed through simple tuning methods has broad application prospects in stealth technology and thermal emitters. It provides a wide range of ideas for the design of terahertz functional devices.

Rome IV Clinical Criteria and Management of Functional Constipation: Indonesian Health Care Professionals' Perspective.

The updated ROME IV criteria for functional constipation (FC) in children were published in 2016. However, information on the use of these criteria is scarce. This study aimed to report the frequency of the use of the ROME IV criteria by Indonesian pediatricians and general practitioners (GPs) in FC management in infants and toddlers. An anonymous cross-sectional online survey was conducted between November 2021 and March 2022. A total of 248 respondents (183 pediatricians and 65 GPs) from 24 Indonesian provinces completed the survey. Most respondents reported an estimated prevalence of FC to be less than 5% both in infants and toddlers. On average, only 64.6% of respondents frequently used the ROME IV criteria. Pediatricians used the ROME IV criteria more often than GPs did (p<0.001). The most frequently used criteria were painful or hard bowel movements (75.0%) and ≤2 defecations/week (71.4%). Lactulose as a laxative was the preferred treatment choice, followed by changing the standard formula to a specific nutritional formula. Most of the respondents carried out parenteral reassurance and education. Normal growth, as a marker of good digestion and absorption function, and normal stool consistency and frequency were the most reported indicators of gut health. The ROME IV criteria for functional constipation are not extensively used by pediatricians and GPs in Indonesia. Laxatives and specific nutritional formulas were the most used management approaches in infants and toddlers. Medical education, especially for general practitioners, should be updated.