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The tensile mechanical behavior of tetragonal zirconia micro/nano-fibers and beams was studied with push-to-pull (PTP) devices equipped in an in situ nanoindenter. The small-volume ceramics generally experienced linear elastic deformation before fracture. Polycrystalline and oligocrystalline micro/nano-fibers exhibit a tensile strength of ∼0.9–1.4 GPa, while single-crystal beams exhibit a much higher tensile strength (∼2.1–3.2 GPa). The tensile strength of the small-volume zirconia is found comparable to the corresponding compressive strength, which indicates the large discrepancy between the tensile and compressive strength observed in bulk zirconia becomes insignificant at micro/nano-scales. No martensitic transformation induced shape memory strain was detected in the zirconia fibers and beams. Further variation in dopant concentration and crystal orientation was explored for single-crystal beams and their significance in controlling the tensile strength was discussed. Our work offers a new insight into the mechanical behavior of tetragonal zirconia-based ceramics at small scales. The authors would like to acknowledge the funding support under project agreements PA 9013103290.

A 60‐year‐old man was hospitalized because of numbness and weakness in the right upper limb. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a large mass in the right upper lobe invading the right eighth cervical and first thoracic nerve root. Biopsy pathology confirmed primary lung adenocarcinoma with a clinical stage of cT4N0M0 IIIA, negative for anaplastic lymphoma kinase fusion gene and epidermal growth factor receptor mutations but positive for programmed death ligand 1 (3%). Neoadjuvant tislelizumab and chemotherapy were offered to this patient with Pancoast tumor, and tumor shrinkage of 71% was achieved. After the operation, surgical pathology indicated pathologic complete response (pCR). Circulating tumor cells testing was negative after the first adjuvant treatment. In this case, we provide real‐world evidence of encouraging pCR with neoadjuvant tislelizumab and chemotherapy for a patient with Pancoast tumor., • Neoadjuvant tislelizumab and chemotherapy was offered for a patient with Pancoast tumor (TNM stage, cT4N0M0 IIIA). • Surgical resection was successfully performed and a pCR was achieved.

Severe reduction in the β‐cell number (collectively known as the β‐cell mass) contributes to the development of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Recent pharmacological studies have suggested that increased pancreatic β‐cell proliferation could be due to specific inhibition of adenosine kinase (ADK). However, genetic evidence for the function of pancreatic β‐cell ADK under physiological conditions or in a pathological context is still lacking. In this study, we crossed mice carrying LoxP‐flanked Adk gene with Ins2‐Cre mice to acquire pancreatic β ‐cell ADK deficiency (Ins2‐Cre±Adkfl/fl) mice. Our results revealed that Ins2‐Cre+/‐Adkfl/fl mice showed improved glucose metabolism and β‐cell mass in younger mice, but showed normal activity in adult mice. Moreover, Ins2‐Cre±Adkfl/fl mice were more resistant to streptozotocin (STZ) induced hyperglycaemia and pancreatic β‐cell damage in adult mice. In conclusion, we found that ADK negatively regulates β‐cell replication in young mice as well as under pathological conditions, such as STZ induced pancreatic β‐cell damage. Our study provided genetic evidence that specific inhibition of pancreatic β‐cell ADK has potential for anti‐diabetic therapy.

Nano- and microscale CeO2-ZrO2 (CZ) shape memory ceramics are promising materials for smart micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS), sensing, actuation and energy damping applications, but the processing science for scalable production of such small volume ceramics has not yet been established. Herein, we report a modified sol-gel method to synthesize highly monodisperse spherical CZ particles with diameters in the range of ~0.8-3.0 μm. Synchrotron X-ray micro-diffraction (μSXRD) confirmed that most of the particles are single crystal after annealing at 1450°C. Having a monocrystalline structure and a small specimen length scale, the particles exhibit significantly enhanced shape memory and superelasticity properties with up to ~4.7% of compression being completely recoverable. Highly reproducible superelasticity through over five hundred strain cycles, with dissipated energy up to ~40 MJ/m3 per cycle, is achieved in the CZ particles containing 16 mol% ceria. This cycling capability is enhanced by ten times compared with our first demonstration using micropillars (only 50 cycles in Lai et.al, Science, 2013, 341, 1505). Furthermore, the effects of cycling and testing temperature (in 25-400°C) on superelasticity have been investigated. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

In this paper, high reliable a-IGZO TFT gate driving circuit was designed. Series-connected two-transistor (STT) structure and dual low-voltage-level power signal (Vss) were used to solve the initial negative Vth of IGZO TFTs. Special pull-down holding part was designed for wider Vth shift window during panel operation. The Vth shift margin of this proposed GOA design is from -5V to +9V by using Eldo-Spice simulation system. In addition, the pull-up control part could also play a role to pull the Q node voltage down and it is helpful for narrow border design. Finally, a 31-in. 8K4K 287-ppi TFT-LCD was successfully demonstrated based on the study above.

Coniothyrium minitans (Cm) is a mycoparasite of the phytopathogenic fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Ss). Ss produces a virulence factor oxalic acid (OA) which is toxic to plants and also to Cm, and Cm detoxifies OA by degradation. In this study, two oxalate decarboxylase genes, Cmoxdc1 and Cmoxdc2, were cloned from Cm strain Chy-1. OA and low pH induced expression of Cmoxdc1, but not Cmoxdc2. Cmoxdc1 was partially responsible for OA degradation, whereas Cmoxdc2 had no effect on OA degradation. Disruption of Cmoxdc1 in Cm reduced its ability to infect Ss in dual cultures where OA accumulated. Compared with Chy-1, the Cmoxdc1-disrupted mutants had reduced expression levels of two mycoparasitism-related genes chitinase (Cmch1) and β-1,3-glucanase (Cmg1), and had no detectable activity of extracellular proteases in the presence of OA. On the other hand, the cultural filtrates of the Cmoxdc1-disrupted mutants in OA-amended media showed enhanced antifungal activity, possibly because of increased production of antifungal substances under acidic pH condition resulted from reduced Cmoxdc1-mediated OA degradation. This study provides direct genetic evidence of OA degradation regulating mycoparasitism and antibiosis of Cm against Ss, and sheds light on the sophisticated strategies of Cm in interacting with metabolically active mycelia and dormant sclerotia of Ss.

An organocatalytic enantioselective domino α-amination/oxidative coupling/cyclization of thioamides to azodicarboxylates catalyzed by an easily available organic catalyst has been developed. The key step, oxidative coupling, is smoothly fulfilled in air. Optically active spiroannulated 1,2,3-thiadiazole derivatives are obtained with high yields and enantioselectivities for the first time.

A convenient approach for the synthesis of 1,4-diketones bearing an amino group has been developed through the K2CO3-catalyzed reaction of 2-oxindoles with enones with the assistance of atmospheric O2 via sequential Michael addition–oxidation–ring-cleavage process. The further intramolecular reaction leads to the formation of benzoazepinone, quinoline, and 3-oxindole derivatives.

Using Takemoto′s organocatalyst, the reaction between (E)-β-nitrostyrenes (II) and N-aryltetralon-2-carbothioamides (I) or (IV) gives the spiro compounds (III) and (V) with excellent chemo-, regio-, diastereo-, and enantioselectivities.

Three pyrrololactam alkaloids have been isolated from the marine sponge Phacellia fusca Schmidt collected from the South China Sea, and their structures were determined as 1–3, on the grounds of spectral data. This is the first report of these compounds from this sponge. The structure of 1 was confirmed by X-ray analysis.

Two new dolabellane diterpenoids named clavudiol B(2) and clavirolide F(5), have been isolated from the soft coral Clavularia viridis, collected from Xisha Islands in the South China Sea. Their structures have been determined as 2 and 5 by spectral analysis and chemical reactions.

Dysamide U, a new trichlorinated diketopiperazine (1) along with seven known ones (2–8) were isolated from the sponge of Dysidea sp. collected from the Pacific ocean. The structure of dysamide U (l) was elucidated by high resolution FABMS and 1H NMR data including COSY and RCT-COSY.

A new sterol, 5α-cholesta-8(14),24(25)-diene-3β, 6α-diol (1) and a known sterol (24Z)-24-ethyl-cholesta-7(8),24(28)-diene-3β,5α,6β-triol (2) have been isolated from the South China Sea sponge Dysidea fragilis. The structure and relative stereochemistry of 1 were established by spectral analysis, including 2D NMR experiments.

A new sesquiterpene, ent-furodysin (1), has been isolated from the South China Sea Sponge Dysidea fragilis, along with a known sesqui-terpene, ent-furodysinin (2). The structure and relative stereochemistry of 1 and 2 were established by spectral analysis.

Two new flavonoids, acanthophorin A (1) and acanthophorin B (2), along with three known compounds tiliroside (3), (-)-catechin (4) and quercetin (5) were isolated from the red alga Acanthophora spicifera. The structures of 1 and 2 were determined to be kaempferol 3-O-α-L-fucopyranoside (1) and quercetin 3-O-α-L-fucopyranoside (2) by spectroscopic methods. Both 1 and 2 showed significant antioxidant activity.

Two new sesquiterpenoids, ferulactones A and B (1 and 2, resp.), have been isolated from the roots of Ferula ferulaeoides (Steud.) Korov. Their structures and relative configurations were established by analysis of spectroscopic data. Their absolute configuration was assigned by application of the CD technique.

Three new Daphne diterpenes, yuanhuaoate A (1), yuanhuaoate B (2), and yuanhuaoate C (3), were isolated from the buds of Daphne genkwaSieb. etZucc. processed by rice vinegar. Their structures and relative configurations were established by analysis of spectroscopic data. Their absolute configurations were assigned by the CD technique, applied for the first time to Daphne diterpenes.

BACKGROUND: Electrospinning is a powerful and effective method to produce nanofibers. Beads have been observed widely in electrospun products, but effects of solvents, weight concentrations and salt additives on the number and morphology of beads in the electrospinning process have not been systematically studied. RESULTS: Both theoretical analysis and experimental results show that beads strongly depend upon solvents, weight concentrations and salt additives. Either a suitable weight concentration or a suitable salt additive can completely prevent the occurrence of beads in the electrospinning process; solvents can affect the number of beads and the morphology of electrospun fibers. CONCLUSION: Beads are mainly caused by lower surface tension. With a higher surface tension, the size and number of beads in electrospun products are smaller and fewer, respectively. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry

Canopy exchanges of H+ and N (NH4+-N, NO3−-N) and other major ions were evaluated and quantified in two-layer canopies based on throughfall measurements in Shaoshan Forest during the period 2000–2002, central-south China. The collected annual rainfall, throughfall, and sub-throughfall were 1401,1191, and 1 084 mm/year, respectively. Fifteen percent and 8% of rainfall (or 9% of throughfall) were intercepted by the top canopy and sub-canopy layers, respectively. The foliar leaching of base cations from the top canopy was significantly higher than that from the sub-canopy, and the latter accounted for 25% of the former. The uptake of H+ and NH4+ was significantly higher in the top canopy than in the sub-canopy, indicating that the canopy buffering capacity in the top canopy was stronger than the sub-canopy; Mg2+ can be absorbed from water flux on the sub-canopy foliar surfaces to compensate for the Mg deficit in the forest soil during the growing season. (Managing editor: Ya-Qin Han)

A new 4-sulfated ceramide, ircisulfamide (=N-[(1S*,2S*,3R*)-2-hydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl)-3-(sulfooxy)heptadecyl]hexadecanamide; 1), and a new glycosphingolipid, ircicerebroside (=(2R*)-N-{(1S*,2R*,3E,7E)-1-[(β-D-glucopyranosyloxy)methyl]-2-hydroxy-8-methylheptadeca-3,7-dienyl}-2-hydroxyeicosanamide; 2), were isolated from the aqueous EtOH extract of the marine sponge Ircinia fasciculata (Pallas). The structures of the new compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis and by means of chemical methods.

Background To date, there has been no systematic study of DNA-based prenatal diagnosis of thalassemia in pregnant Hakka women in southern China. Methods A total of 279 pregnant Hakka women with confirmed cases of thalassemia who had been treated at the Meizhou People's Hospital in China's Guangdong Province from January 2014 to December 2016 were here enrolled. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood of couples and villus, amniotic fluid, or fetal cord blood. DNA-based diagnosis was performed on the tissues of fetuses whose parents had tested positive for α- and β-globin gene mutations were found using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and flow-through hybridization technique. Follow-up visits were performed 6 months after the fetuses were born. Prenatal diagnosis was performed on 279 fetuses in at-risk pregnancies. Results Here, 211 α-thalassemia fetuses were confirmed, including 41 (19.43%) that tested positive for Bart's hydrops syndrome and 15 (7.11%) for Hb H disease. There were 103 (48.81%) heterozygotes. β-thalassemia was confirmed in 68 fetuses, including 23 (33.82%) with severe thalassemia and 27 (39.71%) heterozygotes. Another 12 cases were confirmed with α+β-thalassemia, including three cases of severe β-thalassemia. DNA-based testing prenatal diagnosis of thalassemia was found to be highly reliable. Conclusions Our findings provide key information for clinical genetic counseling of prenatal diagnosis for major thalassemia in pregnant Hakka women in southern China.

A novel lanostanoid lactone (1) was first isolated from the Alga Hypnea cerricornis collected from the Xisha Islands in the South China Sea. The structure of 1 was determined on spectral evidence as 5α-lansta-8-en-3β, 22°-dihydroxy-22 (R), 24 (S)-lactone.

A new polyhydroxylated sterol, named sardisterol, was isolated from the soft coral Sarcophyton digitatum Moser. Its structure was determined as (22R, 24ξ)-methylcholest-5-en-3β, 22, 25, 28-tetraol-3-acetate on the basis of spectroscopic methods.

The authors' chemical studies on the secondary metabolites from marine organisms are summarized. From marine sponges, algae and soft corals grown in the South China Sea, thirty five compounds were isolated. Their structures were elucidated mainly on the basis of spectral evidence. The biological activities of dysamides, 1–6, stelletin 21 and lactone 23 are reported.

Novel, efficient, and recyclable bifunctional catalysts bearing SiO2-supported RuCl3 and iodoarene moieties were developed and used for environmentally benign oxidation of alcohols or alkylarenes at the benzylic position. These reactions in the presence of oxone as stoichiometric oxidant afforded the corresponding carbonyl compounds in high yields under mild conditions and convenient work-up. Furthermore, these SiO2-supported bifunctional catalysts can be recovered by simple filtration and directly reused.

A facile preparation of novel polystyrene-supported iodosylbenzene (PS-TSB, loading of IO up to 1.50 mmol/g) from iodopolystyrene is described. This resin has been successfully used for efficient oxidation of a diverse collection of alcohols to aldehydes and ketones in the presence of BF 3 ·OEt 2 . PS-ISB can also be employed as efficient co-catalyst in combination with RuCl 3 in the catalytic oxidation of alcohols and aromatic hydrocarbons, respectively, to corresponding carboxylic acids and ketones using Oxone as the stoichiometric oxidant.

The reagent is found to be convenient for the chlorination of alkenes, carbonyl compounds and electron-rich arenes.

A new polymer-supported hypervalent iodine reagent, polystyrene-supported iodosylbenzene sulfate (PS-IBS), can be conveniently prepared by the reaction of polystyrene-supported (diacetoxyiodo)benzene (PS-DIB) with sodium bisulfate monohydrate under solvent-free conditions. This new recyclable reagent effects clean and efficient oxidation of a wide range of alcohols and sulfides to the corresponding carbonyl compounds or sulfoxides in high conversions under mild conditions. The final products are conveniently separated from the polymeric byproduct by simple filtration and isolated in good purity after evaporation of solvent. Recycling of the resin is possible with minimal loss of activity after several reoxidations.

Two new sesquiterpenoids, ferulactones A and B (1 and 2, resp.), have been isolated from the roots of Ferula ferulaeoides (Steud.) Korov. Their structures and relative configurations were established by analysis of spectroscopic data. Their absolute configuration was assigned by application of the CD technique.

A 1,3,5-sym-triazine derivative, halimedin, was isolated from the alga, Halimeda xishaensis. Its structure was established by spectroscopic methods and X-ray crystallographic diffraction analvsis.

Hantzsch 1,4-dihydropyridines undergo smooth aromatization oxidized by o-iodoxybenzoic acid (IBX) in water/acetone in the presence of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) to afford the corresponding pyridine derivatives in excellent yields. The IBX and β-CD can be recycled and reused.

Three new Daphne diterpenes, yuanhuaoate A (1), yuanhuaoate B (2), and yuanhuaoate C (3), were isolated from the buds of Daphne genkwaSieb. etZucc. processed by rice vinegar. Their structures and relative configurations were established by analysis of spectroscopic data. Their absolute configurations were assigned by the CD technique, applied for the first time to Daphne diterpenes.