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The list of standard abbreviations for JDS is available at adsa.org/jds-abbreviations-24. Nonstandard abbreviations are available in the Notes. Staphylococcus aureus is a pathogenic bacterium contaminating milk and dairy foods causing food poisoning and foodborne pathogens. In this work, a smartphone-enabled enzyme cascade-triggered colorimetric platform was constructed using a cascade bio-nanozyme formed by immobilized glucose oxidase (GOx) on Fe 3 O 4 @Ag for rapid detection of S. aureus. Benefiting from reasonable experimental design, a bio-nanozyme cascade-triggered reaction was achieved through H 2 O 2 produced by GOx oxidation of glucose, followed by in situ catalysis of 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) by the inherent peroxidase-like activity of Fe 3 O 4 @Ag to produce color signals. Staphylococcus aureus detection could be performed through naked-eye observation and smartphone measurement, and the developed assay can achieve quantitative and qualitative detection of S. aureus. The on-site nanoplatform had satisfactory specificity and sensitivity with a low detection limit of 6.9 cfu·mL−1 in 50 min. Moreover, the nanoplatform has good practicality in the detection of S. aureus in milk samples. Therefore, the assay has potential application prospects in food safety inspection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of geospatial artificial intelligence (GeoAI) systems depends on the ability to learn effective representations of places. To learn accurate place representations from spatial interactions, it is important to extract features that capture both the spatial and non-spatial driving factors. However, existing methods lack a robust interpretation and the explanatory power of the learned representations on spatial factors remains unexplored. Here, we propose an approach to learning place representations from spatial interactions. Our method is inspired by flow allocation, which is the main focus of single-constrained gravity models. We first validate the method on synthetic flows with known driving factors and then apply it to multi-scale real-world flows. Results show that the learned representations can effectively capture features that explain place characteristics, along with the impact of spatial impedance. Our study not only contributes an efficient method to learn place representations from spatial interactions but also offers insights into pre-training procedures in GeoAI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Observational data (e.g. electronic health records) has become increasingly important in evidence-based research on dynamic treatment regimes, which tailor treatments over time to patients based on their characteristics and evolving clinical history. It is of great interest for clinicians and statisticians to identify an optimal dynamic treatment regime that can produce the best expected clinical outcome for each individual and thus maximize the treatment benefit over the population. Observational data impose various challenges for using statistical tools to estimate optimal dynamic treatment regimes. Notably, the task becomes more sophisticated when the clinical outcome of primary interest is time-to-event. Here, we propose a matching-based machine learning method to identify the optimal dynamic treatment regime with time-to-event outcomes subject to right-censoring using electronic health record data. In contrast to the established inverse probability weighting-based dynamic treatment regime methods, our proposed approach provides better protection against model misspecification and extreme weights in the context of treatment sequences, effectively addressing a prevalent challenge in the longitudinal analysis of electronic health record data. In simulations, the proposed method demonstrates robust performance across a range of scenarios. In addition, we illustrate the method with an application to estimate optimal dynamic treatment regimes for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer using a real-world, nationwide electronic health record database from Flatiron Health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combination treatments have been of increasing importance in drug development across therapeutic areas to improve treatment response, minimize the development of resistance, and/or minimize adverse events. Pre‐clinical in‐vitro combination experiments aim to explore the potential of such drug combinations during drug discovery by comparing the observed effect of the combination with the expected treatment effect under the assumption of no interaction (i.e., null model). This tutorial will address important design aspects of such experiments to allow proper statistical evaluation. Additionally, it will highlight the Biochemically Intuitive Generalized Loewe methodology (BIGL R package available on CRAN) to statistically detect deviations from the expectation under different null models. A clear advantage of the methodology is the quantification of the effect sizes, together with confidence interval while controlling the directional false coverage rate. Finally, a case study will showcase the workflow in analyzing combination experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We developed an effective and specific colorimetric strategy to detect Salmonella typhimurium (S. typhimurium) based on hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB)-induced supramolecular assembly of β-cyclodextrin-capped gold nanoparticles (β-CD-AuNPs). In this study, ssDNA aptamer of S. typhimurium could combine with CTAB to form the supramolecular ssDNA-CTAB composite, so the ssDNA aptamer was applied to control the concentration of CTAB. In the presence of S. typhimurium, ssDNA aptamers selectively bound to S. typhimurium but not to CTAB, leading to the host–guest chemistry reaction of CTAB and β-CD resulting in β-CD-AuNP supramolecular assembly aggregation with an obvious color change. The ratio of absorption at 650 and 520 nm (A650nm/A520nm) has a linear correlation to the log scale of the concentration of the bacteria (1 × 102–1 × 107 CFU/mL) with a low limit of detection (LOD) of 13 CFU/mL. In addition, this optical sensor has good selectivity and practicability. In milk samples, the recovery was 93.55–111.32%, which suggested its potential application in real samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As shown in studies conducted in recent decades, polyoxometalates (POMs), as inorganic metal oxides, have promising biological activities, including antitumor, anti-infectious and anti-Alzheimer's activities, due to their special structures and properties. However, some side effects impede their clinical applications to a certain extent. Compared with unmodified POMs, POM-based inorganic–organic hybrids and POM-based nanocomposite structures show significantly enhanced bioactivity and reduced side effects. In this review, we introduce the biological activities of POMs and their derivatives and highlight the side effects of POMs on normal cells and organisms and their possible mechanisms of action. We then propose a development direction for overcoming their side effects. POMs are expected to constitute a new generation of inorganic metal drugs for the treatment of cancer, infectious diseases, and Alzheimer's disease. Graphical abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the areas that show the most visible effects of human-induced land alterations is also the world's most essential resource: water. Decision-makers in arid regions face considerable difficulties in providing and maintaining sustainable water resource management. However, developing appropriate and straightforward approaches for quantifying water use in arid/hyper-arid regions is still a formidable challenge. Meanwhile, a better knowledge of the effects of land use land cover (LULC) changes on natural resources and environmental systems is required. The purpose of this study was to quantify the water consumption in a hyper-arid region (New Valley, Egypt) using two different approaches—LULC based on optical remote sensing data and groundwater storage changes based on Gravity Recovery Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellite data—and to compare and contrast the quantitative results of the two approaches. The LULC of the study area was constructed from 1986 to 2021 to identify the land cover changes and investigate the primary water consumption patterns. The analysis of groundwater storage changes utilized two GRACE mascon solutions from 2002 to 2021 in New Valley. The results showed an increase in agricultural areas in New Valley's oases. They also showed an increased in irrigation water usage and a continuous decrease in the groundwater storage of New Valley. The overall water usage in New Valley for domestic and irrigation was calculated as 18.62 km3 (0.93 km3/yr) based on the LULC estimates. Moreover, the groundwater storage changes of New Valley were extracted using GRACE and calculated to be 19.36 ± 7.96 km3 (0.97 ± 0.39 km3/yr). The results indicated that the water use calculated from LULC was consistent with the depletion in groundwater storage calculated by applying GRACE. This study provides an essential reference for regional sustainability and water resource management in arid/hyper-arid regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a pathogen closely associated with foodborne diseases. We prepared a reliable colorimetric sensor to detect S. aureus using click chemical reaction and immunomagnetic separation. Aptamer-functionalized and ALP-labeled Fe3O4 NPs act as separation and signal transduction elements. Under the optimized conditions, the Cu+ generated by signal transduction triggers a click chemistry reaction, which causes the aggregation of azides and alkyne-AuNPs and a color change. The net extinction ratio of Δ(A530/A760) was linearly correlated with the S. aureus concentration from 10 to 106 cfu mL−1, and the limit detection was 2.4 cfu mL−1. The recoveries were 91.15 ~ 106.36% for the analysis of spiked food and water samples without pre-enrichment. Therefore, we believe that the detection platform can be easily and accurately used for S. aureus detection, providing a broad prospect for on-site visual detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A host–guest colorimetric strategy is described for the detection of Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes). The optical probes were self-assembled based on the supramolecular interactions between the carbonyl groups of cucurbit[7]uril portals and gold nanoparticles (CB[7]-AuNPs). Aptamer and urease modified magnetic nanoparticles were used to specifically recognize and binding to L. monocytogenes, simultaneously hydrolyzing urea to produce ammonium ion (NH4+) that can reverse CB[7] induced AuNPs aggregation. In the presence of L. monocytogenes, the above-mentioned magnetic conjugates preferentially bind to the bacterial surface, which results in blocking the catalytic active sites, thus inhibiting the production of ammonium ions. The normalized absorbance ratio of A700 nm/A525 nm was proportional to the L. monocytogenes concentration ranging from 10 to 106 cfu·mL−1, and the visual determination can be done down to 10 cfu·mL−1. For spiked food samples analyzed without pre-enrichment, recoveries of 98.4% to 99.3% were achieved could be verified and RSD were less than 10%. This work may offer a broad prospect for sensitive and specific determination of pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To systematically analyze differences in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) burden between young and older adults. Methods: We estimated the prevalence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) of ASCVD, including ischemic heart disease (IHD), ischemic stroke (IS), and peripheral artery disease (PAD), in individuals aged 20–54 and > 55 years from 1990–2019, utilizing data from the 2019 Global Burden of Disease Study. The annual percentage changes (EAPCs) for age-specific prevalence, mortality, or DALY rates were calculated to quantify the temporal trends of ASCVD burden. We also analyzed population attribution fractions (PAF) of premature ASCVD mortality and DALYs for different risk factors and compared the burden of extremely premature, premature, and non-premature ASCVD cases based on clinical classifications. Results: From 1990–2019, the global prevalence rates of IHD, IS, and PAD in the 20–54 years age group increased by 20.55% (from 694.74 to 837.49 per 100,000 population), 11.50% (from 439.48 to 490.03 per 100,000 population), and 7.38% (from 384.24 to 412.59 per 100,000 population), respectively. Conversely, the ASCVD prevalence in > 55years age group decreased. Adverse outcome burdens, including mortality and DALYs, varied among ASCVD subtypes. The decrease in the mortality/DALY burden of IHD and IS was lower in the 20–54 years group than in the > 55 years group. For PAD, DALYs among those aged 20–54 increased but decreased among those aged > 55 years. When grouped according to socio-demographic index (SDI) values, lower SDI regions exhibited a higher proportion of young ASCVD burden. The prevalence of young IHD, IS, and PAD in low SDI regions reached 20.70%, 40.05%, and 19.31% in 2019, respectively, compared with 12.14%, 16.32%, and 9.54%, respectively, in high SDI regions. Metabolic risks were the primary contributors to the ASCVD burden in both age groups. Increased susceptibility to ambient particulate matter pollution and inadequate control of high body-mass index and high fasting plasma glucose in young individuals may partially explain the differing temporal trends between young and older individuals. Conclusions: The ASCVD burden in young individuals may become a growing global health concern, especially in areas with lower socioeconomic development levels that require more effective primary prevention strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various big geo-data provide a social sensing approach to measure spatial interactions. Existing studies often aggregate individual-level movement trajectories or social ties to obtain the interaction intensity between places, neglecting the detailed meanings (i.e. the semantics) behind spatial interactions. However, such meanings help to understand the relationship between two places, and consequently, the characteristics of both places. We argue that semantics can be extracted from spatial interactions through features of space, time, symmetry, and individual-based statistics. Whereafter the calculation and applications of the features are given. Furthermore, we discuss the construction of spatial interaction networks with semantics, as well as approaches to representing places according to spatial interactions. Finally, we illustrate the potential value of spatial interaction semantics in facilitating decision-making through an example in the context of tourism planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A colorimetric sensor for S. aureu s detection based on HCR and G-quadruplex DNAzyme. • Cascade amplification was successfully used to detect S. aureu s in milk samples. • Combining the sensor with the APP we developed, on-site detection can be achieved. • Providing a new reference for the detection of pathogens in milk. • Expanding the application of HCR combined with G-quadruplex in pathogens detection. As a foodborne pathogen, Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) poses a serious threat to the dairy industry. A colorimetric sensor based on hybridization chain reaction (HCR) and G-quadruplex for the detection of S. aureu s is reported. The aptamer of S. aureus was hybridized with the target probe and fixed on the magnetic particles. When S. aureus was present, aptamers preferentially coupled with S. aureus. The released target probe triggered the HCR to form long-chain DNAs with multiple G-quadruplex. S. aureus can be quantitatively detected by measuring the catalytic signal of G-quadruplex. Cascade amplification enabled rapid and sensitive detection of S. aureus with a detection limit of 4.4 cfu·mL−1. Meanwhile, combining this method with the smartphone application (APP) developed by us can achieve on-site detection. In addition, the sensor has a good performance in the detection of S. aureus in milk samples. This method provides a new reference for detecting pathogens in milk and expands the application of HCR combined with G-quadruplex in pathogens detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In this paper, we study the distribution of the roots of a kind of exponential polynomial equation which is the characteristic equation of second order neutral differential equations. The results can be regarding as a complementary of the works of Freedman and Kuang Funkcial. Ekvac. 34 (1991) 187. Meanwhile, the stability and existence of Hopf bifurcation of a Liénard neutral delay equation are obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High reduced viscosity meta-polybenzimidazole (mPBI) as well as high-strength fibers of this polymer were fabricated via solution polycondensation and wet spinning, and the content of phosphorus pentoxide (P2O5) in the solvent, the reaction period and the draw ratio were altered. The results indicate that the reduced viscosity of the polymer reached a maximum of 2.75 dL g−1 with 82 wt% P2O5 in the solvent, and the reaction period was 8 h. The polymer displayed good solubility and excellent thermal stability. At a coagulation bath concentration, polymer reduced viscosity and stretch ratio of 61.5 wt%, 2.75 dL g−1 and 1.87, respectively, mPBI fibers that had relatively smooth surfaces and almost circular cross sections were formed (minimum diameter of 138 μm and maximum breaking strength of 306 MPa). In addition, the fibers exhibited good dimensional and chemical stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

we explored the correlation between the stability and descriptors with ML model. The framework of ML prediction for Ehull and screening stable ABO3 candidates for perovskite as described in Fig. 1. [Display omitted] Most of the research on perovskite materials rely on costly experiments or complex density functional theory (DFT) calculations to a large extent. In contrast, machine learning (ML) combined with data mining is more effective in predicting perovskite properties. In this work, by mining data from the Materials Project database and other materials databases, we constructed a raw data set containing the ABO3-type compounds calculated by density functional theory (DFT) and generated a feature set based on multi-scale descriptors including compound properties and component element attributes. By comparing various machine learning models, the optimized support machine regression (SVR) model, Particle swarm optimization-support machine regression (PSO-SVR) were used to predict the energy above the convex hull (Ehull) of ABO3-type compounds that is the criteria for thermodynamic stability of ABO3-type compounds. In addition, the important descriptors that have significant influence on the thermodynamic stability of ABO3-type compounds were screened out, and the relationship between these descriptors and Ehull was discussed. Finally, the stable and ideal ABO3 compounds were screened out for perovskite candidates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dynamics of a kind of reaction–diffusion predator–prey system with strong Allee effect in the prey population is considered. We prove the existence and uniqueness of the solution and give a priori bound. Hopf bifurcation and steady state bifurcation are studied. Results show that the Allee effect has significant impact on the dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of powerful, simple and cost-effective signal amplifiers has significant implications for biological research and analysis. Hybridization chain reaction (HCR) has attracted increasing attention because of its enzyme-free, simple, and efficient amplification. In the HCR process, an initiator probe triggered a pair of metastable hairpins through a cross-opening process to propagate a chain reaction of hybridization events, yielding a long-nicked double-stranded nucleic acid structure. To achieve more noticeable signal amplification, nanomaterials, including graphene oxide, quantum dots, gold, silver, magnetic, and other nanoparticles, were integrated with HCR. Various types of colorimetric, fluorescence, plasmonic analyses or chemiluminescence optical sensing strategies incorporating nanomaterials have been developed to analyze various targets, such as nucleic acids, small biomolecules, proteins, and metal ions. This review summarized the recent advances of HCR technology pairing diverse nanomaterials in optical detection and discussed their challenges. [Display omitted] • This review summarizes HCR developments pairing diverse nanomaterials in optical detection. • This review introduces applications of HCR for nucleic acid and other analytes detection in recent years. • This review provides perspectives of HCR technology for future innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A diffusive predator–prey system withIvlev-typefunctional response subject to Neumann boundary conditions is considered. Hopf and steady-state bifurcation analysis are carried out in detail. First, the stability of the positive equilibrium and the existence of spatially homogeneous and inhomogeneous periodic solutions are investigated by analysing the distribution of the eigenvalues. The direction and stability of Hopf bifurcation are determined by the normal form theory and the centre manifold reduction for partial functional differential equations and then steady-state bifurcation is studied. Finally, some numerical simulations are carried out for illustrating the theoretical results. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

When various urban functions are integrated into one location, they form a mixture of functions. The emerging big data promote an alternative way to identify mixed functions. However, current methods are largely unable to extract deep features in these data, resulting in low accuracy. In this study, we focused on recognizing mixed urban functions from the perspective of human activities, which are essential indicators of functional areas in a city. We proposed a framework to comprehensively extract deep features of human activities in big data, including activity dynamics, mobility interactions, and activity semantics, through representation learning methods. Then, integrating these features, we employed fuzzy clustering to identify the mixture of urban functions. We conducted a case study using taxi flow and social media data in Beijing, China, in which five urban functions and their correlations with land use were recognized. The mixture degree of urban functions in each location was revealed, which had a negative correlation with taxi trip distance. The results confirmed the advantages of our method in understanding mixed urban functions by employing various representation learning methods to comprehensively depict human activities. This study has important implications for urban planners in understanding urban systems and developing better strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microcapsules containing n-Octadecane using styrene (St)-divinybenzene (DVB) co-polymer shells were synthesized by suspension-like polymerization. The effects of stirring rates and monomers/ n-Octadecane mass ratios on the average diameter and phase change properties of microencapsulated n-Octadecane (MicroC18) were investigated. The surface morphology, diameters, phase change properties and thermal decomposition temperature of MicroC18 were investigated by using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electronic Microscope (SEM), Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC), and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). The average diameters of MicroC18 decreased with an increase of stirring rate. When the monomers/ n-Octadecane mass ratio of 1:1 is used, the enthalpy of MicroC18 reaches the highest-126 J/g. Surfaces of majority of MicroC18 show large concaves because of the production of reserved expansion space in the process of micro-encapsulation. The thermal decomposition temperature of MicroC18 is about 230 °C which is higher than that of MicroC18 using melamine-formaldehyde shell. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we cloned the OsHAL3 gene from rice Oryza sativa. Alignment analysis revealed that OsHAL3 has a high sequence identity to Dfp protein in Escherichia coli and AtHAL3a protein in Arabidopsis thaliana, which have 4′-phosphopantothenoylcysteine decarboxylase (PPC-DC) activity. OsHAL3 can complement mutation in the E. coli dfp gene encoding PPC-DC, so that the mutant strains with OsHAL3 can grow on rich media at 42°C and on VB minimal media at 30°C. Complementation tests with point mutations of OsHAL3 suggested that the conserved Cys176 residue of OsHAL3 is a key active-site residue. The mutant OsHAL3 G180A has a partly reduced activity. Related mRNA-level analysis showed that the OsHAL3 gene is induced by calcium pantothenate in rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The roles of the plasma-membrane (PM) NADPH oxidase in nickel-induced oxidative stress were investigated in roots of wheat (Triticum durum D.) seedlings. Treatment with nickel resulted in significant increase in level of membrane lipid peroxidation, content of H2O2, the production rate of O2 − and the activity of the PM NADPH oxidase in wheat roots. The effects caused by nickel were inhibited pronouncedly by pretreatments with three widely used NADPH oxidase inhibitors (diphenylene idonium, imidazole and pyridine). Moreover, the change patterns of the Ni-induced increase and inhibitor-caused decrease in these parameters were quite similar. These data suggest that the Ni-induced enhancements in levels of H2O2 and O2 −, which appear to cause membrane lipid peroxidation, originate mainly from PM NADPH oxidase. A native in-gel assay also confirmed that PM NADPH oxidase participates in the Ni-induced production of reactive oxygen species in wheat. In addition, pharmacological experiments suggest that Ca2+ may be involved in the oxidative stress induced by nickel in wheat roots. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Deals with a study which examined the distribution of aquaporin in the plasma membrane of maize root protoplasts. Function of aquaporins; Materials and methods; Presentation of results; Conclusion.

Objective: To examine the treatment recommendation patterns among urologists and radiation oncologists, the level of concordance or discordance between physician recommendations, and the association between physician recommendations and the treatment that patients received.Method: The study was a secondary analysis of data from a randomized clinical trial conducted November 2010 to April 2014 (NCT02053389). Eligible participants were patients from the trial who saw both specialists. The primary outcome was physician recommendations that were scored using an adapted version of the validated PhyReCS coding system. Secondary outcomes included concordance between physician recommendations and the treatment patients received.Results: Participants were 108 patients (Mean age 61.9 years; range 43-82; 87% non-Hispanic White). Urologists were more likely to recommend surgery (79% of recommendations) and radiation oncologists were more likely to recommend radiation (68% of recommendations). Recommendations from the urologists and radiation oncologists were concordant for only 33 patients (30.6%). Most patients received a treatment that both physicians recommended (59%); however, 35% received a treatment that only one of their physicians recommended. When discordant, urologists more often recommended surgery and radiation oncologists recommended radiation and surgery as equally appropriate options.Conclusion: Urologists and radiation oncologists are more likely to differ than agree in their treatment recommendations for the same patients with clinically localized prostate cancer and more likely to favor treatment aligned with their specialty. Additional studies are needed to better understand how patients make decisions after meeting with two different specialists to inform the development of best practices within oncology clinics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effectiveness of time efficient diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) interventions that include both group and individual sessions is lacking. This study tested the impact of the Diabetes One-Day Education and Care (D1D) Program on A1C and diabetes distress. D1D is an 8-hour DSMES hybrid (group and individual sessions) program delivered by an interdisciplinary team. Group sessions focused on the AADE7 self-care behaviors and included an interactive lunch with chef demonstration. Three 30-minute individual session were with a nurse practitioner/endocrinologist, pharmacist, dietitian, nurse, and/or exercise specialist. A1C and diabetes distress were collected at baseline, 3- and 6-months. Participants (N=213) were 59% female, 85% White, with an average age of 56.4±16 years and average diabetes duration of 11.7±11.3 years. Most participants had type 2 diabetes (80%). Compared to baseline (8.2% ±2.1), A1C levels were significantly lower at 3-months (7.6±1.6%, p<.001) and 6-months (7.6±1.5%, p=.001). Compared to baseline (60.8 ±20.3), diabetes distress levels were significantly lower at 3-months (-11.3, p<001) and 6-months (-10.30, p<001). D1D is a one-day hybrid DSMES program that demonstrated durable reductions in A1C and diabetes distress. Disclosure: M. L. Litchman: Research Support; Self; Abbott Diabetes. S. Fisher: None. X. Wang: None. R. K. Delaney: None. J. Neuberger: None. A. Reeder: None. S. R. Jones: None. J. S. Simonetti: Consultant; Self; Rhythm Pharmaceuticals, Research Support; Self; Rhythm Pharmaceuticals. M. Wahl: None. A. Fagerlin: None. Funding: Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Foundation [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is great demand for high-performance, low-cost electrode materials for anodes of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Herein, we report the recovery of carbon materials by treating waste tire rubber via a facile one-step carbonization process. Electrochemical studies revealed that the waste tire carbon anode had a higher reversible capacity than that of commercial graphite and shows the positive effect of ZnS in the waste tire carbon. When used as the anode for LIBs, waste tire carbon shows a high specific capacity of 510.6 mAh·g−1 at 100 mA·g−1 with almost 97% capacity retention after 100 cycles. Even at a high rate of 1 A·g−1, the carbon electrode presents an excellent cyclic capability of 255.1 mAh·g−1 after 3000 cycles. This high-performance carbon material has many potential applications in LIBs and provide an alternative avenue for the recycling of waste tires. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A ratiometric colorimetric method for AA based on analyte-triggered AgNPs aggregation was established. • The proposed method exhibited a wide AA detection range from 1 μM to500 μM, and a low detection limit of 0.7 μM. • AA can be easily detected in various fruit juices with 10 min employing the proposed one-step method. A simple, fast, one-step method is described for ratiometric colorimetric detection of ascorbic acid (AA) based on 4-mercaptophenylboronic acid (4-MPBA) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). In the presence of AA, the aggregation process of AgNPs can be triggered and accelerated, due to the interaction between 4-MPBA and the cis 1,2-diol moieties of AA through a reversible esterification, resulting in a distinguish color change from yellow to brownish red. The AA concentration-dependent color change can be quantified by the bare eyes or a UV–Vis spectrometer. The whole AA detection procedure was able to complete in 10 min with an excellent linear relationship (1–500 μM) and a low limit of detection (0.70 μM). The proposed approach was also used to accurately evaluate AA levels in orange juice. In our perception, this assay is rapid, sensitive, and specific, which demonstrates its potential on constructing biochemical and clinical sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Asthma is significantly related to chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) both in prevalence and severity. However, the clinical patterns of uncontrolled asthma with and without comorbid CRS are still unclear. This study aimed to explore the clinical characteristics and cytokine patterns of patients with uncontrolled asthma, with and without comorbid CRS.Methods: 22 parameters associated with demographic characteristics, CRS comorbidity, severity of airflow obstruction and airway inflammation, and inflammation type of asthma were collected and assessed in 143 patients with uncontrolled asthma. Different clusters were explored using two-step cluster analysis. Sputum samples were collected for assessment of Th1/Th2/Th17 and epithelium-derived cytokines.Results: Comorbid CRS was identified as the most important variable for prediction of different clusters, followed by pulmonary function parameters and blood eosinophil level. Three clusters of patients were determined: Cluster 1 (n = 46) characterized by non-atopic patients with non-eosinophilic asthma without CRS, demonstrating moderate airflow limitation; Cluster 2 (n = 54) characterized by asthma patients with mild airflow limitation and CRS, demonstrating higher levels of blood eosinophils and immunoglobulin E (IgE) than cluster 1; Cluster 3 (n = 43) characterized by eosinophilic asthma patients with severe airflow limitation and CRS (46.5% with nasal polyps), demonstrating worst lung function, lowest partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2), and highest levels of eosinophils, fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and IgE. Sputum samples from Cluster 3 showed significantly higher levels of Interleukin (IL)-5, IL-13, IL-33, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α than the other two clusters; and remarkably elevated IL-4, IL-17 and interferon (IFN)-γ compared with cluster 2. The levels of IL-10 and IL-25 were not significantly different among the three clusters.Conclusions: Uncontrolled asthma may be endotyped into three clusters characterized by CRS comorbidity and inflammatory cytokine patterns. Furthermore, a united-airways approach may be especially necessary for management of asthma patients with Type 2 features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Provides information on a study which showed that agonists of muscarinic receptor could induce stomatal opening, while the antagonists could block stomatal opening induced by acetylcholine. Materials and methods; Results and discussion.

[Display omitted] • A multi-emissive CDs-based fluorescence array combined with CLSM and LDA. • Synergistic recognition of bacteria and CDs at two pH levels and three excitations. • High discrimination performance for six foodborne bacteria with 100% accuracy. • Rapidly bacterial discrimination in mixture and food samples within a few minutes. The rapid discrimination of multiple foodborne pathogens is vital and challengeable in ensuring food safety. Herein, a facile fluorescence method was developed to distinguish different bacteria using multicolor-emissive carbon dots (CDs) based on confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA). The array employed single CDs as receptors and indicators, two pH solutions and three excitation channels as sensing elements for multicolor imaging and recognition of multiple bacteria. Through one-step staining, the CDs were capable of rapid adsorbing onto all bacteria in 1 minute with varying affinities. The discrimination ability of the array was markedly enhanced by means of the synergistic recognition of bacteria and CDs across diverse pH levels and three excitation channels. By using LDA, six kinds of bacteria could be well discriminated with the classification accuracy of 100%. Meanwhile, the feasibility has been successfully expanded to mixture and food samples discrimination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, polyurethane (PU) microcapsules containing pirimiphos-methyl (PM) were prepared by interfacial reaction between toluene diisocyanate (TDI) trimer and 1, 4-butanediol. The microcapsules with different core-wall ratios were structurally characterized by Fourier infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), laser particle size analysis (LPSA) and so on. The results showed that PM was successfully encapsulated in PU microcapsules and the microcapsules had regular spherical shapes and clean surface. The surface of the microcapsules became wrinkled and some small pores appeared when the core wall ratio was increased to 5:2. The microcapsules could effectively protect PM against degradation below 45 °C and showed sustainable release for 40–80 hours in alcohol aqueous solution (50:50, v/v). From the fitting parameters of the power exponent, the release of PM from PU microcapsules was controlled by mixing mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine the mismatch of desired support versus support received and to evaluate the impact of these mismatches on health outcomes of people with diabetes. This cross-sectional study is a secondary data analysis of medical record and survey data of participants with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes from a diabetes care and education program. Biophysical metrics included HbA1c, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, triglycerides, and high- and low-density lipoproteins. Psychosocial and self-care survey outcomes included diabetes distress, diabetes self-care, and diabetes self-efficacy. Support mismatch was a difference score (support desired-support received). Descriptive statistics were computed for demographics, clinical characteristics, and primary outcomes. Multiple linear regressions were computed. The percentage of participants experiencing support mismatch (surplus/deficits) across six domains was: 15%/27% (foot care), 22%/24% (take medicine), 24%/23% (test blood sugar), 21%/29% (physical activity), and 18%/34% (follow meal plan). Greater support deficits were associated with higher triglyceride levels, increased diabetes distress, and lower diabetes self-efficacy. Findings indicate that greater support deficits can be a risk factor for some poorer physical and psychosocial health outcomes. Interventions to facilitate functional supportive behaviors are an avenue for future research and clinical practice. • 42–52% of participants with diabetes had a mismatch in diabetes-management support. • Support deficits may be a risk factor for poorer health and wellbeing. • Interventions to facilitate functional supportive behaviors are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Vacuolar H + -translocating inorganic pyrophosphatase (V-PPase, EC 3.6.1.1) is an electrogenic proton pump and has been studied in many plants. Here we report characterization of the OVP1 gene from rice (Oryza sativa L.). Quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis (RT-qPCR) showed that OVP1 was induced by cold stress. OVP1 overexpression resulted in enhanced cold tolerance in transgenic rice, which was related to an increased integrity of cell membrane, decreased MDA content and accumulation of proline to higher level as compared with wild type rice seedlings. These results indicated that V-PPase was an important element in the survival strategies of plants under cold stress. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

NO (nitric oxide), known as a key signal molecule in plant, plays important roles in regulation of stomatal movement. In this study, microtubule dynamics and its possible mechanism in the NO signal pathway were investigated. The results were as follows: (i) In vivo stomatal aperture assays revealed that both vinblastine (microtubule-disrupting drug) and SNP (exogenous NO donor) prevented stomatal opening in the light, and vinblastine even could enhance the inhibitory effect of SNP, whereas taxol (a microtubule-stabilizing agent) was able to reduce this effect; (ii) microtubules in the opening Arabidopsis guard cells expressing GFP:α-tubulin-6 (AtGFP:α-tubulin-6) were organized in parallel, straight and dense bundles, radiating from the ventral side to the dorsal side, and most of them were localized perpendicularly to the ventral wall; (iii) under the same environmental conditions, treated with SNP for 30 mm, the radial arrays of microtubules in guard cells began to break down, twisted partially and became oblique or exhibited a random pattern; (iv) furthermore, the involvement of cytosolic Ca2+ in this event was tested. Stomatal aperture assays revealed that BAPTA-AM (a chelator of Ca2+) greatly suppressed the effect of NO on stomatal closure; however, it did not show the same function on stomatal closure induced by vinbiastine. When BAPTA-AM was added to the SNP-pretreated solution, the SNP-induced disordered microtubulue cytoskeleton in guard cells underwent rearrangement in a time-dependent manner. After 30 mm of treatment with BAPTA-AM, the cortical microtubules resumed the original radial distribution, almost the same as the control. All this indicates that NO may promote rearrangement of microtubule cytoskeleton via elevation of [Ca2+]cyt (free Ca2+ concentration in the cytoplasm), finally leading to stomatal closure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The elongation of pollen tube is an important process of sexual reproduction in higher plant. Cytoskeleton plays a major regulatory role in the elongation of pollen tubes. But whether membrane skeleton is involved in the pollen tube elongation is not clear. In this study, immunochemical detection of spectrin-like protein has been carried out in pollen tubes. By use of 2-dimensional electrophoresis(2DE) and western blotting, two spectrin-like proteins are found, one is 150 kD, and the other is 105 kD, with pl being 4.54 and 4.39, respectively. 150 kD spectrin-like protein is located in plasma membrane of pollen tube and 105 kD spectrin-like protein is located in cytoplasm, probably functioning as a subunit to form a dimmer (210 kD) in vivo. The elongation of pollen tubes is inhibited after spectrin antibody was injected into a growing pollen tube. These results suggest that spectrin-like proteins exist in pollen tube and play an important regulating role in the elongation process of pollen tubes from lily. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cytoplasmic free calcium concentration ([Ca[sup2+]][subc]) in pollen cells of Lilium daviddi is measured with confocal laser scanning microscopy to investigate the effect of heterotrimeric G protein (G protein) on [Ca[sup2+]][subc] and the possible signal transduction pathway of G protein triggering cellular calcium signal. After application, cholera toxin (CTX), an agonist of G protein, triggers a transient increase of [Ca[sup2+]][subc] in pollen cells, and evokes a spatial-temporal characteristic calcium dynamics; while pertussis toxin (PTX), a G protein antagonist, leads to the decrease of [Ca[sup2+]][subc]. Both L-type Ca[sup2+] channel blocker verapamil and inhibitor of IP[sub3] receptor heparin inhibit CTX-induced [Ca[sup2+]][subc] increase. The results show that G protein may play a role in the modulation of [Ca[sup2+]][subc] through enhancing the extracellular Ca[sup2+] influx and releasing of Ca[sup2+] from intracellular stores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigates the role of acetylcholine (Ach) on plant root-shoot communication using the root-split system of Vicia faba L. Decrease of Ach content in root tips and increase in the xylem sap transported per time unit, due to a slight osmotic stress; Probable function of Ach content decrease to regulate stomatal behavior.

Discusses the involvement of Ca2+/CaM in the signal transduction of acetylcholine regulating stomatal movement. How the neutrotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh) is able to regulate the movement of stomata in plants; Demonstration that Ca2+/CaM are also involved in the ACh regulated stomatal movement.

The triose phosphate/phosphate translocator (TPT) is located in the inner envelope membrane of plant chloroplast. It catalyzes the counter exchange of triose phosphate/3-phosphoglycerate for phosphate. To reveal the relationship between the TPT structure and its function, a cDNA encoding the complete precursor of TPT has been isolated from rice by using RT-PCR and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) strategies. The rice tpt was identified as a single copy gene by using Southern blotting. And it was mapped to chromosome 1. The rice TPT mRNA encodes a precursor protein of 417 amino acids with a deduced molecular weight of 44 kDa. A putative processing site between Ala-95 and Ala-96 of the precursor protein was suggested by comparison with the TPTs from spinach and maize. Therefore, the mature part of rice TPT consists of 322 amino acid residues with a molecular weight of 35 kDa. It shares 89% homology with maize and 93% with wheat. But the transit peptide and about 20 amino acids at N-end of the mature part showed a much lower homology to other plant TPTs. The mature protein exhibits high hydrophobicity and consists of seven transmembrane regions. High expression level of the TPT mRNA was detected in tissues such as leaf and coleoptile, while no apparent expression was detected in root and seed. These indicated the expression of rice TPT might be restricted to green tissues. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Focuses on a study which addressed the existence and localization of integrin-like guard cells of Vicia faba. Materials and methods; Results and discussion.

The further deployment of silicon-based anode materials is hindered by their poor rate and cycling abilities due to the inferior electrical conductivity and large volumetric changes. Herein, we report a silicon/carbon nanotube (Si/CNT) composite made of an externally grown flexible carbon nanotube (CNT) network to confine inner multiple Silicon (Si) nanoparticles (Si NPs). The in situ generated outer CNTs networks, not only accommodate the large volume changes of inside Si NPs but also to provide fast electronic/ionic diffusion pathways, resulting in a significantly improved cycling stability and rate performance. This Si/CNT composite demonstrated outstanding cycling performance, with 912.8 mAh g−1 maintained after 100 cycles at 100 mA g−1, and excellent rate ability of 650 mAh g−1 at 1 A g−1 after 1000 cycles. Furthermore, the facial and scalable preparation method created in this work will make this new Si-based anode material promising for practical application in the next generation Li-ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compare driving capacity of individuals with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and healthy controls (HC) using a driving simulation program. A prospective study was performed on individuals with ALS who reported they were still driving, and a group of HCs. Demographic data included age and gender. Assessment included cognitive assessments (Montreal cognitive assessment [MoCA] and ALS Cognitive Behavioral Scale [ALS-CBS]); gait speed (m/s); ALS Functional Rating Scale-revised total score (ALSFRS-R); and simulated driving assessment (Lane Change Task [LCT]). The LCT is a simple assessment tool which simulates the visual, cognitive, and motor demands of driving to detect at-risk drivers and uses distractions (secondary tasks) to quantify the performance loss on the primary task (lane changes). Twenty-eight individuals with ALS (22 males, mean age 64 years) and 20 HCs (7 males, mean age 59 years) were studied. Individuals with mild to moderate ALS (ALSFRS-R mean 36.2) were older, had mild cognitive difficulty (MoCA 24 vs 27; ALS-CBS 14.19 [SD 3.85]) and mobility decline (gait speed 1.1 vs 1.4 m/s) compared to HC. Driving assessment using the LCT found no differences in baseline scores or during motor, cognitive, or visually distracting conditions. Individuals with ALS with mild to moderate disease progression, with cognitive and motor weakness still demonstrate similar driving capacity to HCs using a driving simulation task. Driving assessment needs to be expanded longitudinally and perhaps with more robust measures to more precisely identify types of driving challenges that lead to cessation of driving in individuals with ALS. • Identifying impaired driving capacity in ALS is difficult. • No difference in simulated driving task was observed despite mild to moderate functional and cognitive decline. • Results do not imply these are "safe" drivers. • Cost-effective and reliable clinical assessments, to determine medical fitness to drive in individuals with ALS are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poor rate and cycling performance are the most critical drawbacks for Si-based anodes on account of their inferior conductivity and colossal volumetric expansion during lithiation/delithiation. Here we report the fabrication of structurally-integrated urchin-like Si anode, which provides prominent structural stability and distinguished electron and ion transmission pathways for lithium storage. The inexpensive solid Si waste from organosilane industry after acid-washed and further ball-milling serves as the pristine Si-source in this work. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are in-situ grown outside Si microparticles, resulting in an urchin-like structure (Si/CNTs). The optimized Si/CNTs presents ascendant invertible capacity and rate performance, achieving up to 920 mAh g−1 beyond 100 cycles at 100 mA g −1, and a capacity of 606.2 mAh g−1 at 1 A g −1 after long cycling for 1000 cycles. The proposed scalable synthesis can be adopted to advance the performance of other electrode materials with inferior conductivity and enormous volume expansions during cycling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PA66/surface-modified multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) composite fibers with a better dispersion and a stronger interfacial interaction between MWNTs and polyamide 66 (PA66) matrix were fabricated via the method of ball milling and melt-spinning. The effects of unmodified (U-MWNTs), acid-modified (MWNTs-COOH) and sodium dodecyl benzenesulfonate-modified MWNTs (MWNTs-SDBS) on the physical mechanical and thermal properties of PA66 were investigated. The results show that, the surface modified nanotube can provide homogeneous dispersion and there is a strong interfacial bonding between PA66 and MWNTs-COOH. A homogeneous dispersion of MWNTs in PA66 matrices without agglomeration is obtained by a facile ball milling method, which can increase the utilization ratio of MWNTs, reduce the required amount of MWNTs and ultimately improve the mechanical properties at a lower filler loading. The tensile strength of composite fibers reaches a maximum which respectively improved by 27% and 24% than that of PA66 fibers, when the mass fraction of MWNTs-SDBS and MWNTs-COOH is 0.1%. It is helpful for decrease the producing cost of the composite fibers. Moreover, the incorporation of MWNTs into PA66 improves the crystallizing temperature, crystallinity and thermal stability. The research shows that a novel facile method is developed for the fabrication of polymer composite fiber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aquaporins play essential roles in growth and development including stem elongation in plants. Tonoplast aquaporin AtTIP5;1 has been proposed to positively regulate hypocotyl elongation under high concentrations of boron (high-B) in Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. However, the mechanism underlying this process remains unanswered. Here, we show that paclobatrazol, an inhibitor of GA biosynthesis, significantly suppressed the hypocotyl cell elongation of wild-type (WT) seedlings, and more strongly suppressed that of AtTIP5;1 overexpressors under high-B stress. Two AtTIP5;1 null mutants displayed arrested elongation of cells in the upper part of hypocotyls compared with the WT in the presence of high-B or GA3. Moreover, paclobatrazol treatment completely inhibited the increases in AtTIP5;1 transcripts induced by high-B, whereas GA3 application upregulated AtTIP5;1 expression in the WT. In addition, treatment with high-B remarkably elevated the expression levels of GA3ox1, GA20ox1 and GA20ox2 – key biosynthesis genes of GAs – in WT seedlings. The GA3 and GA4 content also increased in WT seedlings grown in MS medium containing high-B. Additionally, application of high-B failed to enhance AtTIP5;1 expression in the double mutant rga-24-gai-t6 of DELLA genes. Together, these results suggest that AtTIP5;1 is an essential downstream target of GAs. High-B induces the accumulation of GAs, which activates AtTIP5;1 through modulation of the DELLA proteins Repressor of ga1-3 and GA-insensitive, further promoting hypocotyl elongation in A. thaliana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sulfurized poly(acrylonitrile) (SPAN) is an attractive cathode material for lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries with demonstrated stable cycling, reduced polysulfide shuttle, and low self-discharge rates. However, the sluggish reaction kinetics of SPAN cathodes greatly limit their capacity output and rate performance. Here, we report novel Se 0.03 SPAN/CNT-3 nanofibers as sulfur cathode materials, aiming to promote the redox kinetics of sulfur conversion by imparting both electronic conductivity and catalytic activity to SPAN. Specifically, selenium is uniformly distributed in the Se 0.03 SPAN/CNT-3 composite through Se–S bonds and facilitates the fast transport of Li-ions. While the CNTs embedded in nanofibers enable high electronic conductivity and provide extra contact between electrode and electrolyte, offering smooth transport channels for both electrons and ions. As a result, the Se 0.03 SPAN/CNT-3 cathode presents a high reversible capacity (791 mAh g−1 composite at 0.2 C), superior rate performance (638 mAh g−1 composite at 4 C), and extremely stable cycle life over 800 cycles. In particular, when tested in practical conditions of high areal loading (Se 0.03 S: 5.2 mg cm−2) and lean electrolyte (E/Se 0.03 S: 10 μL mg−1), this cathode delivers high reversible capacities of 733 mAh g−1 composite (0.1 C) and 672 mAh g−1 composite (0.2 C), demonstrating its great potential for future application. • A novel Se 0.03 SPAN/CNT-3 nanofibers material was prepared and studied as the cathode for Li-S batteries. • The electrode reaction kinetics was greatly enhanced by the catalytic and conductive regulation. • A remarkable active materials utilization of 94.8 % was achieved by the Se 0.03 SPAN/CNT-3 cathode at 0.2 C. • High reversible capacity and good cycle stability were maintained under high areal loading and lean electrolyte conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NIPAm (N-isopropylacrylamide), a thermosensitive monomer, was introduced into a system for synthesis of MicroPCMs (microencapsulated phase change materials) through free radical emulsion polymerization with n-oct (n-octadecane) as the core and cross-linked PMMA (poly (methyl methacrylate)) as the shell. The effect of NIPAm on the formation mechanism, surface morphologies, crystallization properties, and thermal stabilities of the MicroPCMs were studied using FTIR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy), SEM (scanning electron microscopy), DSC (differential scanning calorimetry), and TGA (thermogravimetric analysis), respectively. The results indicate that addition of NIPAm causes a significant increase in the enthalpy of the heterogeneous nucleation (approximately 2–4 times more than without NIPAm). The diameter distribution of microcapsules becomes narrower (the PDI (polydispersity index) has a minimum of 0.073) and the encapsulation ratio and encapsulation efficiency increase. On the contrary, the microcapsules that have some irregular holes were obtained by adding NIPAm prepolymer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shear thickening fluid (STF) has great application potentials in the development of soft armors due to their unique properties. In this present study, the coaxial electrospinning method was used for the first time, using STF as the core of the composite fiber and polyketone (PK) as the sheath to fabricate a soft, foldable and impact-resistant fiber membrane with a mesh structure. The morphology, structure, chemical components, and impact resistance of the fiber membrane were characterized in detail. A core/shell structure was observed in the fiber cross section clearly. The impact resistance of the composite fibers (core to sheath ratio = 1:4, STF content = 46.2%), was about 33.3% higher than that of pure PK fibers without a core. When only one layer of the composite fibers (areal density = 60 g/m2) was added as an interlayer to two layers of aramid 1414 fibers, the impact resistance of the fabric increased by 18.8%. When spray coating resin was used in combination with only one layer of the composite fibers (areal density = 60 g/m2), the impact resistance of the fabric was enhanced by 27.8%. Therefore, the resultant fiber membrane has broad application prospects as an impact protection material. [Display omitted] • Impact-resistant membranes from electrospun fibers with a shear-thickening core. • It provides a feasible solution for the migration and leakage of STF in the traditional impregnation method. • The impact resistance of membranes was about 33.3% higher than that of pure PK fibers. • The impact-resistant membranes can be used as the interlayer of the aramid fabric to improve the impact resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supercooling of micro- and nanoencapsulated phase change material is widely observed as their diameters depress to a limitation upon cooling. The aim of this study is to suppress the supercooling of nanoencapsulated n-octadecane (NanoC18) using a novel copolymer consisting of long n-alkyl side chains as shell. Nanoencapsulations of n-octadecane with various compositions of poly(methyl methacrylate- co-octadecyl methacrylate) copolymer as shells were carried out by means of miniemulsion polymerization. Fabrication, morphology, diameter distributions, phase change behaviours, and thermal stabilities of nanocapsules were investigated using Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, a field-emission scanning electron microscope, a transmission electron microscope, particle size distribution analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetric analysis. The results indicate that a series of nanocapsules with core/shell structure and spherical shapes are fabricated with average diameters ranging from 373 to 398 nm. The average thickness of the shells is about 60 nm. All the NanoC18 crystallize into a stable triclinic phase via a metastable rotator phase (R) from the liquid phase. The crystallization temperature of n-octadecane within poly(methyl methacrylate) nanocapsules is considerably lower than that in bulk phase. Supercooling is effectively suppressed using the comb-like copolymer with crystallizable n-octadecyl side chains as shell. Octadecyl methacrylate is not only employed as a reactive costabilizer to suppress the influence of Ostwald ripening during the formation of nanocapsules but also as a functional monomer in the composition of the copolymer shell in order to suppress the supercooling of NanoC18. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]