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The remotely controlled shape memory behaviors of a two-dimensional (2D) sheet to controlled helix structure upon external stimuli is of great significance in the field of smart materials. Herein, we devise a strategy to fabricate a series of shape memory polycaprolactone/[W.sub.18][O.sub.49] nanowire film via highly efficient UV-triggered thiol-acrylate click chemistry. The resultant polymer composites exhibited desirable photothermal transfer efficiency and can enable rapid temperature increase over the melting temperature of polymeric matrix, thus remotely actuating shape transformation within 8 s. Owing to the well- defined architecture of the polymer network, the fabricated elastic composite film exhibited a high degree of crystallinity and showed excellent shape memory properties with [R.sub.f] of 93.12% and [R.sub.r] of 95.32%. Remarkably, under a 160 mW/[cm.sup.2] simulated sunlight illumination, the transformation of flat 2D film into 3D chiral actuators is driven by designing anisotropic bilayer thin sheet, and it yields right- and left-handed helix. This work will pave the way for designing biomimetic flexible actuators toward multifunctional shape-shifting devices. Highlights * Shape memory polycaprolactone/[W.sub.18][O.sub.49] nanowires composite film is fabricated via UV-triggered thiol-ene click chemistry. * Polymer composites exhibit light-activated shape memory behaviors. * The composite films show excellent shape fixity and shape recovery ratio based on the well-defined network. * The shape morphing behaviors of a flexible 2D bilayer strip into 3D chiral actuators are achieved. KEYWORDS flexible actuators, polycaprolactone, shape memory polymers, stimuli- responsive polymers, 1 | INTRODUCTION Stimuli-responsive morphing materials belong to one kind of molecules with 'intelligent' behavior, which can generate corresponding response signals upon the stimuli of heat, light, electric field, etc. [...]

Energy consumption of air-conditioning in wet and hot climates is not only for cooling but, to a large extent, for dehumidification. Taking urban agglomeration in the Pearl River Delta region as a case study, this study analysed the cooling and dehumidification loads during the past 20 years. In addition, the impacts of cooling and dehumidification loads on carbon emissions were determined. The results showed that there was large spatial heterogeneity in the variations of the cooling and dehumidification loads. The cooling design loads in 1991–2020 was increased 1.83% to 5.56% compared to those in 1971–2000, while the loads for dehumidification was decreased 0.92% to 5.5%. Carbon emissions from cooling were increased, exceeding the carbon reduction from dehumidification, which leads to a weak increase in total carbon emissions. This study revealed that air-conditioning design should fully consider climate change impact by separating cooling and dehumidification loads, increasing the cooling load to avoid insufficient air-conditioning output but reducing the dehumidification load to promote energy efficiency of the air-conditioning system and to reduce carbon emissions. More importantly, an assessment of design loads with climate change in city or small scales should be made before determining summer air-conditioning system design capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gout is a chronic inflammatory diseases caused by monosodium urate crystal deposition. However, the role of interleukin (IL)-36 in gout has not dbeen elucidated. Methods: We enrolled 75 subjects, including 20 healthy controls (HC), 30 patients with acute gout attack and 25 patients in remission. Baseline data were obtained through clinical interrogation and laboratory data were obtained through tests of blood samples. Serum levels of IL-36α were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Spearman correlation analysis was used to investigate the correlation of IL-36α with other parameters. The diagnostic value of IL-36α was demonstrated using a receiver operating characteristic curve. Results: The serum IL-36α level of gout patients in acute attack and remission stage was significantly higher than that of HC. Serum IL-36α was positively correlated with alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST). Serum amyloid A (SAA) levels positively correlated with C-reactive protein levels and erythrocyte sedimentation rates. Glutamyl transpeptidase levels positively correlated with AST and ALT levels. Conclusion: In conclusion, serum IL-36α levels were elevated in patients with gout and correlated with the clinical markers of inflammation. Our findings suggest that IL-36α may be a novel inflammatory indicator for gout. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant growth regulators (PGRs) are commonly used in cereal cropping systems to restrict plant height and control lodging. Ethephon has been reported to shorten internodes and increase grain yield of maize. To analyze the transcriptomic profiles of maize internode elongation following ethephon treatment, differentially expressed genes were compared between the treatment and control samples of inbred line Zong 31 using the Affymetrix Maize Genome Array. According to the microarray data, 326 probe sets showed significant change in expression. Further research revealed that the most remarkable effects of ethephon on maize internodes elongation occurred during a 48 h period, when 89 differentially expressed genes were detected. There were dramatic change in transcript levels at 24 h and six Auxin transport genes and four gibberellin biosynthesis pathway genes were differentially expressed in Zong 31 in response to ethephon treatment. In summary, we showed that gaseous ethylene release is involved in internode meristem cell elongation through the regulation of plant hormone signaling in maize. This work provides a platform for studies in which candidate genes will be functionally tested for involvement in internode elongation.