Feng Xu

• Shaanxi Normal University

Precisely controlling the cutting of water using mechanical forces remains challenging due to water's inherent surface tension and rapid self‐healing properties. Inspired by the effortless movement of water striders, a strategy is developed involving magnetic manipulation of a hydrophobic sphere across hydrophobic particle‐encapsulated water (HPEW)...

Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the clinical and prognostic differences in immune-mediated membranous nephropathy (MN) concurrent with other forms of glomerulonephritis. Materials and methods: A retrospective cohort study at Jinling Hospital from 2015 to 2023 included patients with PLA2R antibody levels ≥ 14RU/mL who underwent renal biop...

Manipulating different magnetic ground states in single-phase compounds is crucial for understanding and achieving a significant exchange bias effect. Here, Fe-vacancy doping into the perfect lattice of two-dimensional antiferromagnet Fe1/4NbS2 is achieved by growing Fe1/4-δNbS2 (δ = 0.01, 0.02, 0.05, and 0.09) single crystals. Coexistence of vacan...

In Alzheimer's disease (AD), microglia are activated by mechanical and biochemical cues in the amyloid‐β (Aβ) plaque‐associated microenvironment, causing neuroinflammation. While the impact of Aβ stiffness on microglial activation and the dynamic interplay between inflammation and phagocytosis remain unclear. Here, an in vitro Aβ plaque‐associated...

Developing organic aggregation‐induced emission luminogen (AIEgen) excitable with the second near‐infrared (NIR‐II) light, which offers enhanced tissue penetration and a high maximum permissible exposure to light, is highly advantageous for bioimaging applications but remains a significant challenge. In this work, the molecular lock strategy is emp...

Soft magnetic alloys, featured with high permeability, hold significant potential in low‐frequency electromagnetic wave absorption. However, the limitations of narrow absorbing bandwidth and susceptibility to corrosion restrict their extensive application. Here, this work demonstrates a joint magnetic‐structural strategy in FeSi alloys, successfull...

Deformation occurs in a thin liquid film when it is subjected to a non-uniform electric field, which is referred to as the electrohydrodynamic patterning. Due to the development of a non-uniform electrical force along the surface, the film would evolve into microstructures/nanostructures. In this work, a linear and a nonlinear model are proposed to...

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) has emerged as a significant global public health challenge, imposing substantial burdens on both individuals and society. Growing evidence suggests that modulating the mechanical microenvironment and alleviating inflammation in degenerated IVDs can promote tissue regeneration. In this study, we integrated na...

The ear harbors a wealth of critical physiological and pathological information, positioning it as an ideal site for healthcare monitoring. However, the intricate geometry and physiological sensitivity of the ear pose formidable technical hurdles to effective healthcare monitoring. Soft electronics, renowned for their mechanical deformability, exce...

Stem cell-laden hydrogel patches are promising candidates to treat chronic ulcers due to cells’ long-lasting and dynamic responses to wound microenvironment. However, their clinical translations are prohibited by the cryopreservation difficulty due to their weak mechanical strength and slow biotransport capability, and by the morphological mismatch...

Skeletal muscle insulin resistance (IR) is a critical deficiency in IR pathophysiology that significantly affects overall metabolic health. Skeletal muscle is mechanically sensitive since its structure and function are significantly influenced by factors, such as mechanical stretching and tissue stiffness. These mechanical stimuli can cause adaptiv...

In article number 2412726, Feng Xu and co-workers present an ionic conductive hydrogel with excellent conductivity, self-healing, self-adhesion, and long-term stability under extreme cold conditions. It shows significant potential for non-invasive, continuous health monitoring without signal crosstalk, and enabling real-time, high-fidelity signal t...

The KDIGO 2021 guidelines suggest that individuals who test positive for serum anti-phospholipase A2 receptor (anti-PLA2R) antibodies may not require a renal biopsy to establish a diagnosis of membranous nephropathy (MN). However, it is imperative to acknowledge that MN can coexist with other chronic kidney diseases. In instances where MN is comorb...

Immunoglobulin light chain (AL) amyloidosis is a rare clonal plasma cell disorder with high rate of missed diagnosis, misdiagnosis and mortality. Conventional assays, such as serum immunofixation electrophoresis (IFE) and serum free light chain (FLC) assay, are unable to accurately detect low concentrations of monoclonal protein (M protein), especi...

The present study demonstrates a remarkable synergy between a wide temperature span of negative thermal expansion (ΔTNTE) and a lightweight character in the Al1-xGexFe2B2 alloys. This is realized by introducing a < 001 > crystallographic texture in the Al1-xGexFe2B2 alloys using the directional-solidification method. The Al0.9Ge0.1Fe2B2 alloy exhib...

Extending the shelf life of red blood cells (RBCs) is vital for transfusion medicine, yet traditional storage methods like refrigeration and cryopreservation suffer from limitations such as storage lesions and ice-induced damage. We developed an improved supercooling preservation system for large-volume (100 ml) RBC suspensions in commercial polyvi...

Photothermal conversion in metallic nanofluids, driven by localized surface plasmon resonances, is essential for applications in biomedicine, such as cancer treatment and biosensing. However, accurately predicting photothermal conversion performance, particularly the spatial temperature distribution, remains challenging due to the complex interplay...

Background Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a prevalent and severe complication of diabetes and plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis and progression of DKD. However, the current clinical application of the treatment methods does not yield effective results. Tacrolimus has been utilized in the management of immune-mediated and genetic-mediated n...

Ionic conductive hydrogels (ICHs) are emerging as key materials for advanced human‐machine interactions and health monitoring systems due to their unique combination of flexibility, biocompatibility, and electrical conductivity. However, a major challenge remains in developing ICHs that simultaneously exhibit high ionic conductivity, self‐healing,...

As a promising candidate for altermagnet, CrSb possesses a distinctive compensated spin split band structure that could lead to groundbreaking concepts in the field of spintronics. In this work, we have grown high-quality CrSb single crystals and comprehensively investigated their electronic and magneto-transport properties. We have observed large,...

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the most traumatizing and poses serious health risks to people's bodies due to its unique pathophysiological characteristics. The investigations on the pathological mechanism and valid interventions of TBI have attracted widespread attention worldwide. With bio‐mimic mechanic cues, the dynamic hydrogels with d...

Aims Light chain proximal tubulopathy (LCPT) is a rare complication of paraprotein-related diseases. We report a case series to present the clinicopathological characteristics and outcomes of LCPT. Methods A multicentre retrospective case series of 47 patients with LCPT, consisting of 36 crystalline, three non-crystalline, and eight mixed LCPTs, w...

After myocardial infarction (MI), ventricular dilation and the microscopic passive stretching of the infarcted border zone is the meaning contributor to the continuous expansion of myocardial fibrosis. Epicardial hydrogel patches have been demonstrated to alleviate this sequela of MI in small-animal models. However, these have not been successfully...

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) Renal Risk Score has not been widely validated in Chinese patients with myeloperoxidase -ANCA-associated glomerulonephritis and its predictive ability needs to be improved. Three hundred and forty patients with biopsy-proven myeloperoxidase-ANCA-associated glomerulonephritis were included in this study. T...

Ischemic stroke and reperfusion injury result in neuronal damage and dysfunction associated with oxidative stress, leading to overproduction of cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS). In situ monitoring of the transient ROS and RNS effluxes during rapid pathologic processes is crucial for understanding the relati...

Objectives Intracapillary monoclonal IgM deposits disease (ICMDD) has long been considered a hallmark of Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM) nephropathy. Intracapillary immunoglobulin thrombi are the characteristic features of cryoglobulinemic glomerulonephritis. Here, we reported 4 cases of ICMDD with massive pseudothrombi but without WM or cryoglo...

Versatile mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) play an important role in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. MSCs in 3D spheroid have shown higher secretion and differentiation functions than suspended counterparts, and, thus, in vitro cryopreservation of MSC spheroids is an indispensable technology to bridge the spatiotemporal gaps between sphe...

In this study, we have proposed an anisotropic microstructure in La-Fe-Si magnetocaloric composites for thermal management. This is vital to the rapid heat exchange and high working efficiency in magnetic refrigerator system. We demonstrate the anisotropic microstructure in composites can be fabricated via powder metallurgy in this work. By adjusti...

Objective This study aimed to evaluate the density of tubulointerstitial macrophages with renal outcomes in patients with myeloperoxidase-anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody associated glomerulonephritis (MPO-ANCA-associated GN). Methods This study analysed patients with MPO-ANCA-associated GN who had renal biopsies at Jinling Hospital. It looked...

The eye is a remarkably intricate organ, encompassing various health-related biophysical signals and biochemical signals. Smart contact lenses (SCLs) have emerged as wearable intelligent devices capable of noninvasively and continuously monitoring these signals in the eyes. Recent advancements in wearable SCLs have significantly transformed the...

Magnetic cooling, a solid-state refrigeration technology based on the magnetocaloric effect, has attracted significant attention in space cooling due to its high energy-efficiency and environmental friendliness. Transition metal-based magnetocaloric materials (MCMs) with the merit of low-cost have emerged as promising candidates for efficient magne...

As a promising candidate for altermagnet, CrSb possesses a distinctive compensated spin split band structure that could bring groundbreaking concepts to the field of spintronics. In this work, we have grown high-quality CrSb single crystals and comprehensively investigated their electronic and magneto-transport properties. We have observed large, p...

The rapid development of wide bandgap semiconductor technology has set a higher standard for the permeability, core loss, and DC-bias performance of soft magnetic materials. In order to prepare soft magnetic materials with excellent high-frequency properties, novel Fe-based amorphous soft magnetic composites (SMCs) composed of FeSiBCCr amorphous po...

Background: Membranous nephropathy (MN) is an immune complex-mediated disease. Massive proteinuria can lead to Fanconi syndrome, clinically manifesting as renal glycosuria. The prevalence and prognosis of M-type phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R)-related MN with renal glycosuria remain unknown. Materials and methods: Patients diagnosed with PLA2R...

Background Extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness is closely related to the progress of diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) and the response of treatment of DCM to anti-diabetic drugs. Dapagliflozin (Dapa) has been proven to have cardio-protective efficacy for diabetes and listed as the first-line drug to treat heart failure. But the regulatory relationshi...

The magnetic proximity effect at ferromagnet/semiconductor interface has been demonstrated as an effective method to generate and control valley splitting states in the semiconductor, which has potential for valley-based information processing devices. However, currently, this method typically requires cryogenic temperature or continuous applicatio...

MgZn2-type (Hf,Ta)Fe2, known for its negative thermal expansion during magnetic transition, is a key component in the production of zero thermal expansion composites. This paper presents a basic approach for designing such composites by introducing an additional Laves phase through atomic substitution. Specifically, Co, Ni, Al and V were chosen to...

Background Patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) are more likely to be complicated by venous thromboembolism (VTE). The aim of the study was to investigate the potential association between anti-phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) antibodies and hypercoagulability in patients with IMN. Methods A total of 168 patients with biopsy-prov...

Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), a common cause of primary glomerulonephritis, has a poor prognosis and is pathologically featured by tubulointerstitial injury. Thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) is an extracellular matrix protein that acts in combination with different receptors in the kidney. Here, we analyzed the tubular expression of TSP-1 and...

Artificial moiré superlattices created by stacking 2D crystals have emerged as a powerful platform with unprecedented material‐engineering capabilities. While moiré superlattices are reported to host a number of novel quantum states, their potential for spintronic applications remains largely unexplored. Here, the effective manipulation of spin–orb...

Peroxisomal l -bifunctional enzyme (EHHADH) plays a role in the classic peroxisomal fatty acid β-oxidation pathway; however, the relationship between EHHADH expression and diabetic kidney disease has not been well understood. Here, we found that endogenous EHHADH levels were strongly correlated with the progression and severity of diabetic nephropa...

A comprehensive analysis of the impact of strain on spin-orbit coupling (SOC) in permalloy (Py, Ni80Fe20) thin films is presented. Utilizing a combination of ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) and x-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) techniques, we systematically evaluate the modifications in SOC as a function of applied strain. Our FMR data indicat...

Positive autoregulation (PAR), one type of network motifs, provides a high phenotypic heterogeneity for cells to better adapt to their microenvironments. Typical mechanosensitive proteins can also form PAR, e.g., integrin mediated PAR, but the role of such mechanical PAR in physiological development and pathological process remains elusive. In this...

Cell behaviors are regulated by the physical cues in their microenvironment, where extracellular fluid (ECF) viscosity is an important yet relatively underexplored cue. Recent evidence indicates that ECF viscosity plays a critical role in regulating cellular processes with pathological relevance to various diseases, such as cardiovascular related d...

Soft magnetic microwave absorbents have merits of sufficient magnetic loss and unique magnetism-frequency response characteristics, yet are limited by the low natural resonance frequencies and simplex loss mechanism. Introducing second phase has been proven to be efficient in evoking structure, magnetism and conductivity changes, but the effects on...

Chemotherapy is widely used for cancer therapy but with unsatisfied efficacy, mainly due to the inefficient delivery of anticancer agents. Among the critical “five steps” drug delivery process, internalization into tumor cells and intracellular drug release are two important steps for the overall therapeutic efficiency. Strategy based on active tar...

Background Accurately predicting kidney outcomes in IgA nephropathy is crucial for clinical decision making. Insufficient use of longitudinal data in previous studies has limited the accuracy and interpretability of prediction models for failing to reflect the chronic nature of IgA nephropathy. This study aimed at establishing a multivariable dynam...

Background Patients with lupus podocytopathy show a high incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) and relapse, but the risk factors and mechanisms were unclear. This study analyzed the clinical-pathological features, and risk factors for AKI and relapse in lupus podocytopathy patients. Methods The cohort of lupus podocytopathy was generated by scree...

The biophysical properties of the extracellular matrix (ECM) play a pivotal role in modulating cancer progression via cell‐ECM interactions. However, the biophysical properties specific to gastric cancer (GC) remain largely unexplored. Pertinently, GC ECM shows significantly heterogeneous metamorphoses, such as matrix stiffening and intricate restr...

Background Glomerular lesions are the main injuries of diabetic nephropathy (DN) and are used as a crucial index for pathologic classification. Manual quantification of these morphologic features currently used is semi-quantitative and time-consuming. Automatically quantifying glomerular morphologic features is urgently needed. Methods A series of...

The thermal-elastic martensitic transformation from high-temperature Ni 2 In-type hexagonal structure to low-temperature TiNiSi-type orthorhombic structure has been widely observed in MnMX (M=Ni or Co, and X=Ge or Si) alloys. However, the answer to how the orthorhombic martensite nucleates and grows within the hexagonal parent is still unclear. Thi...

Present research on TiNiSi-type MnCoSi-based alloys focuses on finding a suitable doping element to effectively reduce the critical magnetic field (μ0Hcri) required to induce a metamagnetic transition. This paper provides a guide to achieve this goal through an experimental investigation of Mn1-xPtxCoSi and MnCo1-xPtxSi alloys. In Mn1-xPtxCoSi, as...

Magnetic multilayered spin valve is the fundamental element for constructing high frequency spintronics devices such as magnetic random-access memory (MRAM). We prepared CoFeB/Ta/CoFeB sandwich spin valve with different interlayer thickness of Tantalum (Ta) on Si substrates using the RF magnetron sputtering technique and investigated the effect of...

The achievement of significant negative thermal expansion (NTE) over a wide temperature range (ΔTNTE) has posed a formidable challenge for NTE materials. In the present study, textured MnCo(Ge,Si)/epoxy composites were prepared by magnetic field-assisted dynamic self-assembly of multi-component Mn0.945Co1.055Ge1-xSix particles. The utilization of m...

Background The analytical renal pathology system (ARPS) based on convolutional neural networks has been used successfully in native IgA nephropathy (IgAN) patients. Considering the similarity of pathologic features, we aim to evaluate the performance of the ARPS in allograft IgAN patients and broaden its implementation. Methods Biopsy-proven allog...

Background Lupus nephritis (LN) is a common disease with diverse clinical and pathological manifestations. A major challenge in the management of LN is the inability to predict its treatment response at an early stage. The objective of this study was to determine whether the density of tubulointerstitial macrophage infiltration can be used to predi...

Spin‐gapless semiconductors (SGS) are highly attractive for spintronics applications due to their unique spin‐polarized band structure. In this study, the potential SGS candidate of Mn 2 CoGa alloy is focused on by growing thin films using magnetron sputtering on Si(001)/SiO 2 substrates. By applying appropriate heat treatment, the Mn 2 CoGa thin f...