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Large phylogenies derived from publicly available genetic sequences are becoming a popular and indispensable tool in addressing core questions in ecology and evolution, as well as in tackling challenging conservation issues. Optimizing taxonomic coverage and data quality is essential for improving the precision and reliability of phylogenetic reconstructions and evolutionary inferences. Here we present PyNCBIminer, a user‐friendly software that automates the assembly of large DNA data sets from GenBank for phylogenetic reconstruction using the supermatrix method. PyNCBIminer uses the iterative BLAST procedure to retrieve genetic sequences accurately and efficiently from GenBank. The state‐of‐the‐art strategies also serve to improve taxa coverage and the quality of target DNA markers. PyNCBIminer is designed to efficiently handle large data sets, but it is also suitable for medium and small data sets. It is open source and freely available at GitHub (https://github.com/Xiaoting-Xu/PyNCBIminer) and Gitee (https://gitee.com/xiaotingxu/PyNCBIminer). Its utility and performance are demonstrated through the assembly of phylogenetic data sets encompassing several genetic markers of varying sizes for the angiosperm order Dipsacales. PyNCBIminer holds an advantage over similar programs in that it performs the majority of computations on the NCBI server, eliminating the need for users to build and maintain large local databases and reducing the demands on their computers. In addition, it integrates other commonly used phylogenetic analysis software, providing users from various backgrounds with convenient options for retrieving and assembling GenBank sequence data, along with flexible features that allow for user‐defined parameters and strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Processed Buthus martensii Karsch (BmK) scorpion, also known as Quan-Xie, is a traditional Chinese medicine that is clinically used for the treatment of NAFLD due to its Tong-Luo-San-Jie effects. Our previous study showed that aqueous extract of processed BmK scorpion venom gland (pVg AE) inhibited macrophage inflammation by targeting Kv1.3 and identified the thermostable peptide BmKK2 as a potent Kv1.3 blocker. This study examined the therapeutic effects of processed BmK scorpions on NASH, specifically focusing on the involvement of their anti-inflammatory effects mediated by macrophage-expressed Kv1.3 in NASH. In the present study, the anti-NASH effects of pVg AE were evaluated in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced NASH mouse models. Additionally, the in vitro anti-inflammatory mechanisms of pVg AE and BmKK2 were assessed using a palmitic acid (PA)-induced mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) inflammation model. Protein and cytokine expression related to the Kv1.3-NF-κB pathway was analyzed by real-time PCR, immunoblotting and ELISA. The effect of pVg AE and BmKK2 on potassium channels was detected by whole-cell voltage-clamp recordings on transfected HEK293T cells or mouse BMDMs. Calcium ion imaging was used to evaluate intracellular calcium signaling. Furthermore, the study utilized Kv1.3 siRNA and a BMDMs and hepatocytes co-culture model to investigate the specific role of Kv1.3 in mediating the anti-NASH effects of pVg AE and BmKK2. Lipid accumulation upregulated Kv1.3 expression in macrophages in vivo and in vitro. However, pVg AE significantly reduced Kv1.3 expression and Kv1.3-positive macrophage infiltration. Treatment with pVg AE improved obesity, insulin resistance (IR), hepatic steatosis (HS), inflammation, and fibrosis in HFD-fed mice. Mechanistically, pVg AE and BmKK2 inhibited macrophage inflammation by targeting Kv1.3, which reduced PA-induced intracellular Ca2+ levels, resulting in the inhibition of the NF-κB pathway and TNFα release. This study demonstrates that Kv1.3-mediated macrophage inflammation is involved in the pathogenesis and treatment of NASH. pVg AE effectively alleviates metabolic stress-induced NASH by inhibiting this inflammation. [Display omitted] • We demonstrated the role of Kv1.3 in the pathogenesis of NASH. • pVg AE mitigated metabolic stress-induced NASH by inhibiting Kv1.3-mediated inflammation in liver macrophages. • pVg AE and BmKK2 inhibited macrophage activation through Kv1.3-Calcium-NF-κB signaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

B- and N-heterocyclic fluorophores have reveal promising efficiency in blue organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) with small full-width-at-half-maximum (FWHM). However, their structural determinants for spectral broadening and operating stability are still needed to be investigated in further. Herein, a novel multi-N-heterocycles Diindolo[3,2,1jk:3',2',1'jk]dicarbazole[1,2-b:4,5-b] (DIDCz) is proposed to manipulate the emission color toward pure blue region by extending π-conjugation of the N-π-N bridge. By utilizing computed spectral technique, interrelationships between indolocarbazole (ICz)-cyclization sites and spectral broadening are defined. Molecular backbone modifications involving optimized 2,3,6,7-ICz cyclization and steric hindrance substituents are conducive to restricting swing of peripheral bonds and stretching resonances of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) frameworks, thereby contributing to the reduction of shoulder emission peaks. Consequently, the DIDCz-based chromophore exhibited narrowband blue emission with a FWHM of only 15 nm, achieving highly efficient (external quantum efficiencies of 8.87% in triplet-triplet fusion fluorescence and 22.3% in sensitized fluorescence) and long-term (95% of the initial luminance of 1000 cd m -2 , T95 = 1545 h) electroluminescence performances, showing one of the most narrowband and stable blue OLEDs among the reported PAH chromophores. The current achievements offer a new perspective to manage spectral broadening precisely based on the molecular vibration limiting technique., (© 2025 The Author(s). Advanced Science published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)