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The 20CrNi4Mo alloy with excellent high‐temperature stability is often used to manufacture low‐alloy steel piercing plugs, which are subject to harsh service conditions and usually fail due to severe wear. Repairing and remanufacturing failed piercing plugs not only extends the product's lifecycle but also has significant resource and environmental benefits. In this work, the feasibility of laser additive repair of failed piercing plugs using 20CrNi4Mo powder by selective laser melting technology is explored and the effect of preoxidation on the surface microstructure and mechanical properties of the repaired layer is investigated. The results show that the repaired layer has good metallurgical bonding with the substrate, and the densification reaches 99.8%. Compared with the substrate, the ultimate tensile strength and microhardness of the repaired layer increase by 88.97% and 70.68% to 1287 MPa and 380 HV, respectively. The oxide film exhibits a clear two‐layer, with the repair layer exhibiting a thicker oxide film. The average friction coefficient of the oxidized repair layer (0.263) is reduced compared with that of the oxidized substrate (0.382). This work provides a feasible and effective way to realize the repairing and remanufacturing of failed piercing plugs with enhanced surface mechanical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) is a pattern recognition receptor involved in innate immunity, but its role in adaptive immunity, specifically in the context of CD8+ T-cell antitumour immunity, remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that RIG-I is upregulated in tumour-infiltrating CD8+ T cells, where it functions as an intracellular checkpoint to negatively regulate CD8+ T-cell function and limit antitumour immunity. Mechanistically, the upregulation of RIG-I in CD8+ T cells is induced by activated T cells, and directly inhibits the AKT/glycolysis signalling pathway. In addition, knocking out RIG-I enhances the efficacy of adoptively transferred T cells against solid tumours, and inhibiting RIG-I enhances the response to PD-1 blockade. Overall, our study identifies RIG-I as an intracellular checkpoint and a potential target for alleviating inhibitory constraints on T cells in cancer immunotherapy, either alone or in combination with an immune checkpoint inhibitor. Synopsis: RIG-I, an innate immune RNA sensor, plays a crucial role in anti-infection and antitumour effects. This study revealed another role of RIG-I as an intracellular immune checkpoint that negatively regulates the antitumour function of CD8+ T cells in multiple tumour models. RIG-I was upregulated in TILs, especially in terminally exhausted CD8+ T cells. RIG-I knockout in CD8+ T cells significantly enhanced antitumour activity in various tumour models. RIG-I negatively regulates the antitumour function of CD8+ T cells through the TCR/AKT/glycolysis signalling pathway. RIG-I knockout in CD8+ T cells in combination with PD-1 antibodies show significant efficacy in PD-1-insensitive tumours. RIG-I, an innate immune RNA sensor, plays a crucial role in anti-infection and antitumour effects. This study revealed another role of RIG-I as an intracellular immune checkpoint that negatively regulates the antitumour function of CD8+ T cells in multiple tumour models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High‐sensitivity wearable radiation detectors are essential for personnel protection in radiation environments such as defense, nuclear facilities, and medical fields. Traditional detectors using bulk crystals lack flexibility, and emerging perovskite films suffer from lead toxicity and poor charge transport. Herein, lead‐free photoferroelectric hybrid metal halide perovskite flexible membranes for wearable detectors are presented, offering superior X‐ray response with sensitivities up to 7872 ± 517 µC Gyair−1 cm−2 at 50 V bias and 394 ± 67 µC Gyair−1 cm−2 in a self‐driven mode, detection limit of lower than 77 nGyair s−1, and excellent imaging capabilities. This exceptional performance is attributed to the spontaneous polarization that promotes efficient charge transport. Additionally, they show remarkable radiation stability, long‐term air stability, mechanical fatigue resistance, and water stability. They also exhibit efficient energy response under the Compton effect and meet the angle response requirements of the International Electrotechnical Commission standard for direct‐reading personal dose equivalent meters, paving the way for their integration into flexible, wearable dosimeters. These advancements have the potential to drive the realization of the next generation of flexible wearable radiation detectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renal fibrosis is closely related to the prognosis of chronic kidney disease (CKD). The increase in cGMP reduces renal fibrosis. Soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) and phosphodiesterase (PDE) are key enzymes that maintain cGMP levels. BAY 41–8543 (1 mg/kg/day) and/or BAY 73–6691 (1 mg/kg/day) were used to treat 5/6 nephrectomized rats for 13 weeks. 5/6 Nephrectomy caused an increase in cystatin C, proteinuria and glomerulosclerosis and renal interstitial fibrosis. Neither sGC stimulation nor PDE9 inhibition alone improved kidney function and morphology, whereas BAY 41–8543 in combination with BAY 73–6691 attenuated renal interstitial fibrosis. This beneficial effect could not be explained by alterations in blood pressure and the renal immune system. BAY 41–8543 in combination with BAY 73–6691 had no effect on renal macrophage, CD4 + T‐cell and CD8 + T‐cell in the late‐stage of 5/6 nephrectomy. RNA sequencing revealed BAY 41–8543 in combination with BAY 73–6691 down‐regulated the expression of fibrosis‐related genes such as Collagen Type I Alpha 1, Collagen Type III Alpha 1 Chain and Collagen Type XIV Alpha 1 Chain. sGC stimulator combined with PDE9 inhibitor attenuated renal fibrosis in 5/6 nephrectomized rats by down‐regulating fibrosis‐related gene expression. This novel approach of using low‐dose combination therapies to minimize side effects while maintaining therapeutic efficacy offers a promising strategy for the treatment of CKD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perovskite solar cells have become a leading contender in next‐generation photovoltaic technologies due to their high efficiency and low‐cost potential. Managing the deep defects present effectively in the crystal lattice and at the interfaces is essential for enhancing the performance and longevity of perovskite solar cells. Here, perovskite's crystallization modulation and interfacial defect passivation are achieved by developing a guanidinium iodide (GAI)‐based surface passivation strategy. The integration of GAI passivates the grain boundaries, leading to a perovskite thin film with a smoother and more uniform grain distribution, facilitating charge carrier transport. Notably, the ammonium group, unsaturated nitrogen atoms, and iodide ions in GAI can collectively repair the surface defects of perovskite through various pathways, effectively suppressing non‐radiative recombination, thereby enhancing the photovoltaic performance of the device. Ultimately, the champion device treated with GAI achieves a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 23.02% and demonstrates similar ambient stability under unencapsulated conditions. These findings underscore the effectiveness of GAI passivation as a strategy to balance the improvement of the performance and stability of perovskite solar cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Atrioventricular block (AVB) is common in the elderly and therefore considered to be a degenerative disease of the cardiac conduction system. However, there exist other etiologies contributing to AVB in young patients. This study aimed to determine the etiologies in patients aged before 60 years receiving their first pacemaker implantation for AVB in China. Methods and Results: Medical records and diagnostic tests of AVB patients were reviewed to identify the etiologies between 2010 and 2021 at Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital. Eight hundred and twenty‐six patients (median age 47 years; 47.9% males) were included. The etiologies were identified in 336 (40.7%) cases, including complications to cardiac surgery (n = 190 [23.0%]), myocarditis (n = 57 [6.9%]), myocardial infarction (n = 25 [3.0%]), complications to catheter‐based interventional procedures (n = 21 [2.5%]) and others (n = 43 [5.2%]). AVB caused by myocardial infarction was more common in men (5.8% vs. 0.5%, p <.001), while women received pacing treatment earlier (48 vs. 46 years, p =.019). Men were more likely to suffer from dilated cardiomyopathy (6.6% vs. 2.1%, p =.001) and atrial fibrillation/flutter (23.0% vs. 12.8%, p <.001). The number of first pacemaker implantation increased with age especially among patients with unclear etiologies. Conclusion: The etiology of AVB was only determined in approximately 40% of patients receiving their first pacemaker implantation aged before 60 years. The predominance of AVB with unknown etiology and potential gender differences warrants further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The retromer complex is a conserved sorting machinery that maintains cellular protein homeostasis by transporting vesicles containing cargo proteins to defined destinations. It is known to sort proteins at the vacuole membranes for retrograde trafficking, preventing their degradation in the vacuole. However, the detailed mechanism of retromer recruitment to the vacuole membrane has not yet been elucidated.Here, we show that the vacuolar SNARE complex MoPep12‐MoVti1‐MoVam7‐MoYkt6 regulates retromer‐mediated vesicle trafficking by recruiting the retromer to the vacuole membrane, which promotes host invasion in Magnaporthe oryzae.Such recruitment is also essential for the retrieval of the autophagy regulator MoAtg8 and enables appressorium‐mediated host penetration. Furthermore, the vacuolar SNARE subunits are involved in suppressing the host defense response by regulating the deployment of retromer‐MoSnc1‐mediated effector secretion.Altogether, our results provide insights into the mechanism of vacuolar SNAREs‐dependent retromer recruitment which is necessary for pathogenicity‐related membrane trafficking events in the rice blast fungus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT) has emerged as a cornerstone in multiple myeloma (MM) management, offering the prospect of prolonged disease control. However, the induction chemotherapy drugs required prior to ASCT carry cardiovascular toxicity (CVT), potentially leading to a range of cardiovascular complications. Methods and Results: This retrospective observational study, conducted at Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital from January 2020 to December 2023, analyzed 47 of the initial 173 patients who met the criteria. The cohort, comprising 22 males (46.81%) and 25 females (53.19%), had a mean age of 55.68 ± 11.38 years. They underwent various induction chemotherapy regimens, receiving a median of 5 (4–6) cycles of the course over an average duration of 7.10 ± 2.46 months. Before ASCT treatment following induction chemotherapy, echocardiographic findings indicated reductions in left ventricular end‐systolic dimension, right atrial diameter, E‐wave velocity, E/e' ratio, and the E/A ratio. The latter altered from a pretreatment value greater than 1 to posttreatment less than 1, marking diastolic dysfunction emergence or aggravation in 51.06% of patients. The electrocardiographic data indicate a reduced heart rate and prolonged P‐wave duration and P‐R duration, with an increase in arrhythmia incidence to 19.15% following induction chemotherapy. Conclusion: Induction chemotherapy, administered prior to ASCT in patients with MM, can lead to the emergence or aggravation of cardiac diastolic dysfunction and increase the incidence of arrhythmic events. Therefore, it is crucial to emphasize the importance of balancing the benefits and risks of induction chemotherapy to maximize its efficacy while minimizing CVT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 1977, the Soviet Union (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR]) notified the World Health Organization (WHO) about an outbreak of H1N1 influenza, which later spread to many countries. The H1N1 strain of 1977 reappeared after being absent from the world for over 20 years. This pandemic simultaneously spread to several cities in the USSR and China. Many theories have been postulated to account for the emergence of this pandemic, including natural and unnatural origins. The purpose of this study was to use the modified Grunow–Finke risk assessment tool (modified Grunow‐Finke tool [mGFT]) to investigate the origin of the 1977 H1N1 pandemic. Data was collected from WHO archives and published documents. The assessment of the pandemic's origin involved the utilization of a modified version of the original Grunow–Finke risk assessment tool (GFT). Using the mGFT, the final score was 37 out of 60 points (probability: 62%), indicating a high likelihood that the Russian influenza pandemic of 1977 was of unnatural origin. Several variables supported this finding, including the sudden re‐emergence of a previously extinct strain, a genetic signature of laboratory modification for vaccine development, and unusual epidemiology. Inter‐rater reliability was moderate to high. By applying the mGFT to the 1977 Russian influenza pandemic, we established a high probability that this pandemic was of unnatural origin. Although this is not definitive, it is consistent with the possibility that it originated from an incompletely attenuated live influenza vaccine. The mGFT is a useful risk analysis tool to evaluate the origin of epidemics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two advanced manufacturing processes, spark plasma sintering (SPS) and selective laser sintering (SLS), have been developed for synthesis of (Zr,Nb,Ta,Ti,W)C compositionally complex carbide (CCC) via reactive sintering of a powder mixture of constitute monocarbides. X‐ray diffraction analysis confirmed that the single‐phase CCC can be formed by both SPS and SLS. While a homogenous microstructure with uniform metal element distributions was developed during SPS, three‐layer microstructures with a thin TiC‐rich layer and two TaC‐rich layers along with a TiO2‐rich surface layer containing W nanoparticles were formed during SLS. In addition, cellular structures with W, Zr, and Ti element segregation and dislocations on cell boundaries were observed in the SLS‐CCC sample, indicating the effect of nonequilibrium conditions on microstructure formation during laser melting followed by rapid cooling and solidification process. Compared to the SPS‐CCC sample, the SLS‐CCC showed enhanced hardness and reduced thermal conductivity, which may be related to their unique cellular structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemically initiated oxidative polymerization stands out as the most suitable method for the large‐scale and controllable synthesis of perfluoropolyether (PFPE). However, the mechanism and related reaction kinetics of this synthesis reaction remain elusive. In this study, PFPE was synthesized through the copolymerization of hexafluoropropylene and oxygen, initiated by fluorine. Subsequently, the synthesis mechanism of this chemically initiated oxidative polymerization was first explored using density functional theory. Simulation results yielded a comprehensive reaction network of the synthesis process, including chain initiation, propagation, decomposition, transfer, and termination. Meanwhile, a detailed kinetic model was constructed based on theoretical reaction rates of relevant elementary reactions. The effects of reaction operating conditions on the molecular weight of PFPE were experimentally investigated, with results in good agreement with the kinetic model. This work stablishes a solid foundation for optimizing and controlling the PFPE synthesis process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT We reported the blood pressure data obtained in the May Measurement Month (MMM) China project in 2020 during the COVID‐19 control period. The study participants were adults (≥ 18 years), ideally in whom blood pressure had not been measured in the previous year. Blood pressure was measured three times consecutively with a 1‐min interval in the sitting position, using a validated automated BP monitor (Omron HEM‐7081IT), and transmitted to a central database via a smartphone app. The measurement was performed at 136 sites across 29 China provinces. The 100 728 participants had a mean (±SD) age of 45.6 (±18.3) years and included 56 097 (55.7%) women. The mean systolic/diastolic blood pressure was 120.0/76.9 mm Hg. The proportion of hypertension was 28.9% (n  =  29 135), and the awareness, treatment, and control rates of hypertension were 45.3% (n = 13 212), 39.7% (n =  1573), and 24.4% (n = 7101), respectively. After adjustment for age, gender, and use of antihypertensive medication, systolic/diastolic BP were significantly higher with cigarette smoking (n = 8070, +0.5/+1.0 mm Hg, p < 0.05), mild (n = 4369, +1.2/+1.3 mm Hg, p < 0.001) and moderate or heavy alcohol drinking (n = 3871, +0.4/+0.7 mm Hg, p < 0.05), and overweight (+1.8/+1.4 mm Hg, p < 0.001) and obesity (+2.3/+1.5 mm Hg, p < 0.001). In conclusion, our study provided unique blood pressure data during the COVID‐19 period, and suggested that hypertension management might have been even more challenging when the medical professionals had to shift their focus on other urgencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effective utilization of self‐assembled monolayers (SAMs) has indeed resulted in significant improvement in the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of inverted perovskite solar cells (PSCs). However, the poor interface contact between self‐assembled monolayer (SAM) and perovskite layers limits the further improvement of inverted PSCs. Herein, polyaniline is employed as a conductive adhesive, enabling interaction with the perovskite and simultaneous coupling with the SAM, to optimize the buried interface contact. Furthermore, the adhesive strategy is validated to alleviate residual tensile strain at the buried interface using the non‐destructive back grazing‐incidence wide‐angle X‐ray scattering (BGIWAXS) technique. As a result, the optimized inverted PSCs achieve a champion PCE of 25.59% with impressive stability by retaining 97.3% of its initial efficiency after 1200 h under ambient conditions and light‐emitting diode illumination. The findings provide a facial adhesive bridging strategy to play more impressive functions in the SAM‐based inverted PSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is imperative to ensure an even distribution of refined precipitates to enhance wear resistance. Herein, different heat treatments are to control the size and distribution of precipitates. The treatments include water quenching at 1100 °C followed by aging at 400 °C for 24, 60, and 84 h, designated as AT24, AT60, and AT84, respectively. The microstructure, mechanical properties, and impact wear properties of high‐manganese steel are investigated under solution and aging conditions using scanning electron microscopy, field‐emission scanning electron microscopy, tensile testing, and impact abrasive wear testing. Notably, the absence of nanoscale precipitates largely accounts for the poor wear resistance of as‐casting steel, whereas the strengthening effect of larger micrometer‐sized precipitates is insufficient. After the solution and aging treatment, nanosized precipitates continuously form within the matrix, conducive to the formation of the deeper work‐hardening layer, thereby improving the wear resistance. The fine micrometer‐sized precipitates and evenly distributed nanoscale precipitates in AT60 actively contribute to toughness. Additionally, these precipitates interact with slip dislocations, providing stronger strengthening via the Orowan looping mechanism. The wear mechanisms of steel can be transformed from wide, deep pits to shallow grooves and microcutting by extending the aging time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BiVO4 has been widely concerned due to its great potential in photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. However, low carrier mobilities and high recombination efficiency of photogenerated carriers impede its photocatalytic performance. Herein, an in situ PEC cyclic‐voltammetry‐induced surface reconstruction of BiVO4 photoanodes (BVO pristine) is developed with significantly enhanced efficiency for solar water splitting. A series of in situ characterizations (including in situ X‐ray diffraction, in situ Raman), together with electrochemical tests and density‐functional theory calculations, reveal that during the photoelectrical activation process, the BVO pristine surfaces undergo a crystal plane reconstruction with greatly increased {040} crystal face to promote the separation of photogenerated carriers. In addition, abundant vanadium vacancies and oxygen vacancies are also introduced into the BiVO4 surface during the crystal face reconstruction process with more favorable surface water adsorption and increased injection efficiency of photogenerated carriers. Therefore, the charge‐transfer resistance (Rct) between BVO pristine and electrolyte under AM 1.5G illumination substantially reduced from the original 15 200 to 2820 Ω after the activation. Moreover, the photocurrent density of activated BVO pristines increases more than 12 times, relative to the original BiVO4. In this work, a new horizon for in situ photoelectric activation of semiconductor photoelectrodes with significantly enhanced PEC water splitting is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The characteristics of the soft component and the ionic‐electronic nature in all‐inorganic CsPbI3‐xBrx perovskite typically lead to a significant number of halide vacancy defects and ions migration, resulting in a reduction in both photovoltaic efficiency and stability. Herein, we present a tailored approach in which both anion‐fixation and undercoordinated‐Pb passivation are achieved in situ during crystallization by employing a molecule derived from aniline, specifically 2‐methoxy‐5‐trifluoromethylaniline (MFA), to address the above challenges. The incorporation of MFA into the perovskite film results in a pronounced inhibition of ion migration, a significant reduction in trap density, an enhancement in grain size, an extension of charge carrier lifetime, and a more favorable alignment of energy levels. These advantageous characteristics contribute to achieving a champion power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 22.14 % for the MFA‐based CsPbI3‐xBrx perovskite solar cells (PSCs), representing the highest efficiency reported thus far for this type of inorganic metal halide perovskite solar cells, to the best of our knowledge. Moreover, the resultant PSCs exhibits higher environmental stability and photostability. This strategy is anticipated to offer significant advantages for large‐area fabrication, particularly in terms of simplicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high crystallinity and sophisticated hierarchical architecture of native animal silk endow it with comprehensive mechanical properties that are superior to those of most synthetic fibers. However, these features also make the direct exfoliation of silk nanofibrils (SNFs) highly challenging. On the other hand, silk‐based materials prepared by conventional method (i.e., through silk fibroin aqueous solution) are usually weak, so the preparation methods based on SNFs have attracted much attention in recent years. Herein, a facile and environmentally friendly route is developed to directly exfoliate SNFs from natural Bombyx mori silkworm silk via ammonium persulfate oxidation followed by ultrasonication. The obtained SNFs have a high yield (nearly 40%) and are well dispersed in water in a wide pH range, so they can act as a good starting material to prepare subsequent silk‐based materials. The main application of the SNFs demonstrated in this article is a curcumin (Cur)/SNFs hydrogel as wound dressing. In vivo experimental results show that the Cur/SNFs hydrogel significantly enhanced the healing rate of wounds on diabetic mice. Therefore, the preparation method developed in this study provides an efficient way to produce SNFs, which have great potential for a wide range of applications, including as wound dressings for diabetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Although magnetically induced hyperthermia has shown great efficiency in the treatment of solid tumors, it is still a challenge to avoid incomplete ablation or overtreatment. In this study, we applied magnetomotive ultrasound shear wave elastography (MMUS‐SWE) as a tool for real‐time image guidance and feedback in the magnetic hyperthermia (MH) process. We called this new method as magneto‐acoustic theranostic approach (MATA). Methods: In MATA, a ferromagnetic particle (fMP) was simultaneously used as a thermoseed for MH and a shear wave source for MMUS‐SWE. The fMP was excited by a high‐frequency magnetic field to induce the heating effect for MH. Meanwhile, the fMP was stimulated by a pulsed magnetic field to generate shear wave propagation for MMUS‐SWE. Thus, the changes in elastic modulus surrounding fMP can be used to estimate the therapy effect of MH. Results: The phantom and in vitro experiments were conducted to verify the feasibility of MATA, which has good performance in magnetothermal conversion and treatment efficacy feedback. The shear wave speed of the isolated pork liver changed significantly after the MH process, which varied from about 1.36 to 4.85 m/s. Conclusions: Preliminary results proved that changes in elastic modulus could be useful to estimate the therapy effect of MH. We expect that MATA, which is the integration of MMUS‐SWE and MH, will be a novel theranostic method for clinical translation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Nurse interns may be at a similar or higher risk than registered nurses. The key elements and mechanisms involved in the effects of safety climate on safety performance are not well understood. This study explores the relationship between the perceived hospital safety climate and compliance with occupational safety practices among nurse interns. Methods: A cross‐sectional study was conducted among 178 nurse interns in three tertiary university hospitals in Chongqing city, China. The Chinese version of the Hospital Safety Climate Scale (HSCS) was used to measure the perceived hospital safety climate of nurse interns. Compliance behavior was measured using the Compliance with Occupational Safety Practice Scale (COSPS). Canonical correlation analysis and multiple linear regression modeling were used to examine their relationship. Results: Total scores for the HSCS and COSPS were 92 (80,100) and 185 (175,185) [M (P25, P75)], respectively. Canonical correlation coefficients for canonical variates 1 and 2 were 0.636 (p < 0.001) and 0.414 (p < 0.001), respectively. Nurse interns' compliance with occupational safety practices was mainly influenced by management support, feedback/training, personal protective and engineering control equipment availability, and absence of job hindrance. Multiple linear regression showed that management support of HSCS accounted for 37.1% of the variance in compliance (β = 0.283, p = 0.039). Conclusion: Nurse interns reported high levels of perceived hospital safety climate and compliance with occupational safety practices. Younger nurse interns reported a lower level of perceived hospital safety climate. Nurse educators can improve interns' compliance by promoting better management support, feedback/training, personal protective and engineering control equipment availability, and fewer job hindrance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Artificial light at night (ALAN) is a common phenomenon and contributes to the severe light pollution suffered by more than 80% of the world's population. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between outdoor ALAN exposure and cardiovascular health (CVH) in patients with diabetes and the influence of various modifiable factors. Methods: A survey method based on the China Diabetes and Risk Factor Monitoring System was adopted. Study data were extracted for 1765 individuals with diabetes in Anhui Province. Outdoor ALAN exposure (nW/cm2/sr) within 1000 m of each participant's residential address was obtained from satellite imagery data, with a resolution of ~1000 m. Health risk behaviors (HRBs) were measured via a standardized questionnaire. A linear regression model was employed to estimate the relationship between outdoor ALAN, HRBs, and CVH. Results: Participants' mean age was 59.10 ± 10.0 years. An association was observed between ALAN and CVH in patients with diabetes (β = 0.205) and exercise (β = −1.557), moderated by HRBs, or metabolic metrics. There was an association between ALAN, ALAN, vegetable intake, and CVH. Conclusions: Exploring the relationship between ALAN exposure and cardiovascular and metabolic health provides policy data for improving light pollution strategies and reducing the risk of cardiovascular and metabolic disease in patients with diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrolyte cations have been demonstrated to effectively enhance the rate and selectivity of the electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR), yet their implementation in electrolyte‐free membrane electrode assembly (MEA) electrolyzer presents significant challenges. Herein, an anchored cation strategy that immobilizes Cs+ on carbon vacancies was designed and innovatively implemented in MEA electrolyzer, enabling highly efficient CO2 electroreduction over commercial silver catalyst. Our approach achieves a CO partial current density of approximately 500 mA cm−2 in the MEA electrolyzer, three‐fold enhancement compared to pure Ag. In situ Raman and theoretical analyses, combined with machine learning potentials, reveal anchored Cs induces an electric field that significantly promotes the adsorption of *CO2− intermediates through performing muti‐point energy calculations on each structure. Furthermore, reduced adsorption of *OH intermediates effectively hampers competing hydrogen evolution reaction, as clarified by disk electrode experiments and density functional theory studies. Additionally, coupling our system with commercial polysilicon solar cells yields a notable solar‐to‐CO energy conversion efficiency of 8.3 %. This study opens a new avenue for developing effective cation‐promoting strategy in MEA reactors for efficient CO2RR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) materials, the drawbacks of conventional fluorescence materials subjected to aggregation‐caused quenching (ACQ) have been resolved. This has allowed for the improvement of novel AIE fluorescent materials that exhibit enhanced photostability, a higher signal‐to‐noise ratio, and better imaging quality. Meanwhile, the enhanced phototherapeutic effect of AIE materials has garnered widespread attention in the realm of tumor treatment. The distinct physiological and anatomical characteristics of the urinary system make it suitable for the use of AIE materials. Additionally, AIE‐based phototherapy provides a superior solution to deal with the weaknesses of conventional treatments for urologic neoplasms. In this review, the scientific advancement on the use of AIE materials in urinary system diseases since the emergence of the AIE concept is reviewed in detail. The review highlights the promise of AIE materials for biomarkers detection, fluorescence imaging (FLI) in vivo and in vitro, AIE‐based phototherapy, and synergistic therapy from both diagnostic and therapeutic viewpoints. It is firmly believed that AIE materials hold immense untapped potential for the diagnosis and treatment of urologic disease, as well as all diseases of the human body. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA1) is critically involved in maintaining episomes during latent infection and promoting tumorigenesis. The development of an epitope‐specific monoclonal antibody (mAb) for EBNA1 holds great promise due to its high affinity and specificity, offering a new and innovative approach for the treatment of EBV‐related diseases. In this proof‐of‐concept study, we employed a structure‐based design strategy to create three unique immunogens specifically targeting the DNA binding state of the EBNA1 DBD. By immunizing mice, we successfully generated a mAb, named 5E2‐12, which selectively targets the DNA binding interface of EBNA1. The 5E2‐12 mAb effectively disrupts the interaction between EBNA1 and DNA binding, resulting in reduced proliferation of EBV‐positive cells and inhibition of xenograft tumor growth in both cellular assays and mouse tumor models. These findings open up new avenues for the development of innovative biological macromolecular drugs that specifically target EBNA1 and provide potential for clinical therapy options for early‐stage EBV‐positive tumors. The epitope‐specific mAb approach demonstrates novelty and innovation in tackling EBV‐related diseases and may have broad implications for precision medicine strategies in the field of viral‐associated cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Positive‐sense RNA viruses remodel cellular cytoplasmic membranes as the membranous sources for the formation of viral replication organelles (VROs) for viral genome replication. In plants, they traffic through plasmodesmata (PD), plasma membrane‐lined pores enabling cytoplasmic connections between cells for intercellular movement and systemic infection. In this study, we employed turnip mosaic virus (TuMV), a plant RNA virus to investigate the involvement of RTNLB3 and RTNLB6, two ER (endoplasmic reticulum) membrane‐bending, PD‐located reticulon‐like (RTNL) non‐metazoan group B proteins (RTNLBs) in viral infection. We show that RTNLB3 interacts with TuMV 6K2 integral membrane protein and RTNLB6 binds to TuMV coat protein (CP). Knockdown of RTNLB3 promoted viral infection, whereas downregulation of RTNLB6 restricted viral infection, suggesting that these two RTNLs play contrasting roles in TuMV infection. We further demonstrate that RTNLB3 targets the α‐helix motif 42LRKSM46 of 6K2 to interrupt 6K2 self‐interactions and compromise 6K2‐induced VRO formation. Moreover, overexpression of AtRTNLB3 apparently promoted the selective degradation of the ER and ER‐associated protein calnexin, but not 6K2. Intriguingly, mutation of the α‐helix motif of 6K2 that is required for induction of VROs severely affected 6K2 stability and abolished TuMV infection. Thus, RTNLB3 attenuates TuMV replication, probably through the suppression of 6K2 function. We also show that RTNLB6 promotes viral intercellular movement but does not affect viral replication. Therefore, the proviral role of RTNLB6 is probably by enhancing viral cell‐to‐cell trafficking. Taken together, our data demonstrate that RTNL family proteins may play diverse complex, even opposite, roles in viral infection in plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Most paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia (PKD) cases are hereditary, yet approximately 60% of patients remain genetically undiagnosed. We undertook the present study to uncover the genetic basis for undiagnosed PKD patients. Methods: Whole‐exome sequencing was performed for 106 PRRT2‐negative PKD probands. The functional impact of the genetic variants was investigated in HEK293T cells and Drosophila. Results: Heterozygous variants in KCNJ10 were identified in 11 individuals from 8 unrelated families, which accounted for 7.5% (8/106) of the PRRT2‐negative probands. Both co‐segregation of the identified variants and the significantly higher frequency of rare KCNJ10 variants in PKD cases supported impacts from the detected KCNJ10 heterozygous variants on PKD pathogenesis. Moreover, a KCNJ10 mutation‐carrying father from a typical EAST/SeSAME family was identified as a PKD patient. All patients manifested dystonia attacks triggered by sudden movement with a short episodic duration. Patch‐clamp recordings in HEK293T cells revealed apparent reductions in K+ currents of the patient‐derived variants, indicating a loss‐of‐function. In Drosophila, milder hyperexcitability phenotypes were observed in heterozygous Irk2 knock‐in flies compared to homozygotes, supporting haploinsufficiency as the mechanism for the detected heterozygous variants. Electrophysiological recordings showed that excitatory neurons in Irk2 haploinsufficiency flies exhibited increased excitability, and glia‐specific complementation with human Kir4.1 rescued the Irk2 mutant phenotypes. Interpretation: Our study established haploinsufficiency resulting from heterozygous variants in KCNJ10 can be understood as a previously unrecognized genetic cause for PKD and provided evidence of glial involvement in the pathophysiology of PKD. ANN NEUROL 2024;96:758–773 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium–gas batteries (LGBs) have garnered significant attention due to their impressive high‐energy densities and unique gas conversion capability. Nevertheless, the practical application of LGBs faces substantial challenges, including sluggish gas conversion kinetics inducing in low‐rate performance and high overpotential, along with limited electrochemical reversibility leading to poor cycle life. The imperative task is to develop gas electrodes with remarkable catalytic activity, abundant active sites, and exceptional electrochemical stability. Electrospinning, a versatile and well‐established technique for fabricating fibrous nanomaterials, has been extensively explored in LGB applications. In this work, we emphasize the critical structure–property for ideal gas electrodes and summarize the advancement of employing electrospun nanofibers (NFs) for performance enhancement in LGBs. Beyond elucidating the fundamental principles of LGBs and the electrospinning technique, we focus on the systematic design of electrospun NF‐based gas electrodes regarding optimal structural fabrication, catalyst handling and activation, and catalytic site optimization, as well as considerations for large‐scale implementation. The demonstrated principles and regulations for electrode design are expected to inspire broad applications in catalyst‐based energy applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mouse models are crucial for understanding pulmonary hypertension (PH) mechanisms and developing therapies, but existing mouse models under hypoxia only exhibit mild PH. To address this, we established a double‐hit model combining unilateral pneumonectomy (LPx) or left pulmonary artery ligation (LPAL) with hypoxia exposure in C57BL/6 mice. Our detailed haemodynamic and histological evaluations post‐surgery demonstrated pronounced elevations in right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) (LPAL: 41.1 ± 4.63 mmHg, P = 0.005; LPx: 38.4 ± 2.95 mmHg, P = 0.002; Sham: 32.1 ± 2.21 mmHg) and pulmonary vascular wall thickness (LPAL: 56.9 ± 3.34%, P = 0.02; LPx: 54.3 ± 4.65%, P = 0.04; Sham: 44.8 ± 3.76%) compared to hypoxia‐exposed sham‐operated controls, reflecting a more severe PH phenotype. These novel models, which exhibit haemodynamic alterations akin to the established hypoxia with SU5416‐induced PH model as per published data, could offer a substantial contribution to future PH research and therapeutic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This paper addresses the problem of fixed‐time (F‐T) control for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) formation under unknown input disturbances to achieve moving target tracking. First, a kinematic model with uncertainties is employed to analyze the transient response of the UAV formation accurately. Next, based on a fast F‐T lemma, an F‐T disturbance observer is constructed to estimate the unknown disturbances. Subsequently, based on the designed observer and fast F‐T lemma, a distributed F‐T guidance law that controls multi‐UAV to track a moving target in a desired formation is introduced. Then, through rigorous mathematical proof, it is established that the control strategy enables the formation system to achieve F‐T stability, and the convergence time is independent of the system's initial states. Finally, the validity of the proposed control method is demonstrated through numerical simulation and presented in a realistic visual simulation scenario created using Unreal Engine 4 (UE4). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

δ‐MnO2 has been vigorously developed as an ideal cathode material for rechargeable aqueous zinc‐ion batteries (AZIBs) due to its spacious layer spacing suitable for ion storage. However, poor intrinsic conductivity, structural collapse, and sluggish reaction kinetics are major limitations restricting their battery performance. Doping engineering has been proven to be an effective strategy for modifying the structure, conductivity, and electronic properties of Mn‐based oxides. Here, a series of δ‐MnO2 hierarchical flowers with different cerium‐doped sites are proposed as high‐performance cathodes for AZIBs, revealing the effects of various Ce doping sites on the MnO2 layer‐by‐layer structure and battery performance. Chemical analysis and theoretical calculations indicate that δ‐MnO2 with both in‐layer and interlayer Ce doping (Cein/inter‐MnO2) allows for sufficient Zn2+ storage sites, higher conductivity, and enhanced reaction kinetics due to enlarged interlayer spacing, increased oxygen defects, and reduced Coulombic repulsion between zinc ions and manganese oxide hosts. As a result, Cein/inter‐MnO2 with extended ion transfer channels and sturdy structure delivers a superior capacity of 348.8 mAh g−1 at a current density of 300 mA g−1 over 100 cycles, and a high retention rate of ≈100% at a current density of 3000 mA g−1 over 2000 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a malignancy that arises within the gastrointestinal tract. Despite ongoing research, the etiology and pathogenesis of CRC remain elusive; particularly, the distribution and characteristics of tumor‐associated macrophages is currently an active area of investigation in understanding the pathological progression and prevention of CRC. Methods: This study utilized CRC patient surgical samples, mouse models of colitis‐associated cancer, colonic organoid, and co‐culture cell line to examine the changes in CD11b/CD86 at different pathological region and detect the Wnt signaling pathway activity. Results: Our findings revealed a sensitive and increased expression of CD11b from the early to the advanced CRC tissues and correlated with poor prognosis, while CD86 expression was reduced in advanced CRC tissues. CD133 expression was also elevated in advanced CRC tissues and mainly co‐localized with CD11b, suggesting a positive regulatory effect of CD11b and CD133 expression that may contribute to CRC progression. In AOM/DSS mouse models, activation of the Wnt signaling pathway was associated with increased CD133 and CD11b expression. In vitro, THP‐1 cell was induced to high expression of CD11b, and the above conditional cultural medium enhanced HCT116 cell colony number and CD133 protein expression. Furthermore, colonic crypts from AOM/DSS mouse models were isolated to culture, and the colonic organoids exhibited dilation and significant increases expression of CD133 and β‐Catenin/N‐P‐B‐Catenin. Conclusions: CD11b might be an important factor to participate the progress of CRC. And the high CD11b of CRC microenviroment might potentially promote CD133 expression and associate with Wnt signal activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Facilitating equilibrium in the nitrogen cycle, electrochemical nitrate reduction (NitRR) to ammonia stands as a carbon‐free method for ammonia synthesis. Copper‐based catalysts, renowned for NitRR, face a hurdle in supplying sufficient hydrogen radicals (*H) for efficient hydrogenation of NitRR intermediates. Addressing this, NiMoO4 is leveraged as an excellent *H donor, synergistically coupling it with a copper‐based catalyst. The work introduces a high‐performance NiMoO4/CuO nanowire (NW)/Copper foam (CF) catalyst for NitRR, achieving a remarkable Faraday efficiency (FE) of 98.8% and a yield of 0.8221 mmol cm−2 h−1. Operating at −0.2 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (vs RHE) in an H‐type electrolytic cell, the catalyst demonstrates exceptional stability over 20 h. Additionally, coupling NitRR with an air stripping process enables efficient collection of NH4Cl products, offering a practical avenue for converting waste nitrates into valuable ammonia products. In‐depth in situ electrochemistry and density‐functional theory (DFT) calculations affirm the transformation of CuO into Cu/Cu2O during the electrocatalytic reduction process. Cu/Cu2O catalyzes nitrate conversion to nitrite, while NiMoO4, serving as a *H donor, facilitates deoxidation and hydrogenation of other N intermediates on the Cu/Cu2O surface, effectively driving the reduction of nitrate to ammonia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the clinical characteristics of primary aldosteronism (PA) screened from patients with hypertension in China. The participants were hypertensive patients who were suspected of PA and registered in the China Primary Aldosteronism Prospective Study. Plasma aldosterone‐to‐renin ratio (ARR) was used as the screening test. In patients screened positive for PA, that is, an ARR exceeding the thresholds and plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) > 100 pg/mL, a confirmatory test was performed for diagnosis. Patients with PA underwent a CT scan and adrenal venous sampling for subtyping. Of the 1497 screened patients, 754 (50.4%) had an ARR exceeding the diagnostic threshold and 637 (84.5% of those eligible) were registered. These registered hypertensive patients with suspected PA had a mean (standard deviation) age of 52.6 ± 12.1 years, and included 442 (58.6%) women. In multiple stepwise logistic regression, the significant odds ratios for the presence of diagnosed (n = 490) versus suspected and non‐diagnosed PA (n = 147) were 4.54 (95% CI: 2.78‐7.39) for a history of hypokalemia, 0.79 (95% CI: 0.64‐0.98) for a 0.9 mmol/l higher serum total cholesterol, and 2.25 (95% CI: 1.63‐3.10) for a doubling of PAC in the supine or standing/sitting position. In multiple stepwise logistic regression, the significant odds ratios for the presence of unilateral (n = 135) versus bilateral PA (n = 53) were 3.04 (95% CI: 1.90‐4.87) for a 0.4 mmol/l lower minimum serum potassium concentration and 1.86 (95% CI: 1.20‐2.86) for a 0.3 mmol/l higher serum high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol. PA might be a biochemical continuum in the adrenal hypersecretion of aldosterone as well as hypokalemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orexin is exclusively produced in neurons localized within the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) and perifornical area (PFA). Orexin has been identified as a key promotor of arousal. The selective loss of orexinergic neurons results in narcolepsy. It is known that the intrinsic electrophysiological properties are critical for neurons to perform their functions in corresponding brain regions. In addition to hypothalamic orexin, other brain nuclei are involved in the regulation of sleep and wakefulness. Quite a lot of studies focus on elucidating orexin‐induced regulation of sleep–wake states and modulation of neuronal electrophysiological properties in several brain regions. Here, we summarize that the orexinergic neurons exhibit spontaneous firing activity which is associated with the states of sleep–wake cycle. Orexin mainly exerts postsynaptic excitatory effects on multiple brain nuclei associated with the process of sleep and wakefulness. This review may provide a background to guide future research about the cellular mechanisms of orexin‐induced maintaining of arousal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Past studies clarified the relationship between dimensions of teaching and achievement emotions. However, more information is needed about the underlying process behind this relationship among students with different mathematical abilities. Aims: This study examined the association between students' perceived teaching quality and achievement emotions in Chinese mathematics classrooms, focusing on students with different mathematics achievements. Samples: There are 1045 secondary school students (49.1% girls; Mage = 13.90, SD =.84) from Chinese mathematics classrooms in the present study. Methods: A multi‐group structural equation model was adopted to test the relationship between teaching quality and achievement emotions between low‐ and high‐achieving students. Results: Control‐value appraisals mediated in teacher support and achievement emotions in both student groups. At the same time, control‐value appraisals failed to mediate cognitive activation and achievement emotions in low‐achieving students, while the mediating effect of control‐value appraisals was identified in high‐achieving students. Besides, classroom management was related to achievement emotions via academic value only in low‐achieving students. In contrast, it was related to achievement emotions via control‐value appraisals in high‐achieving students. Conclusions: The results clarified the mediation roles of control‐value appraisals in teaching quality and achievement emotions in students with low‐ and high‐achieving achievements. Similarities and differences were also identified between the two student groups. Teacher support was beneficial to students' positive emotions while classroom management helped to lessen students' negative emotions. High‐achieving students benefited more from activating teaching compared with low‐achieving students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tunable optical information storage is crucial in artificial retinal systems for mimicking neurobiological visual characteristics. The perception and storage of light signals rely heavily on the regulation of the conductivity states of memristor materials (e.g., transition metal oxides). Controlling light memristor behavior via defects and polymorphic phases remains underexplored and differs from traditional plasticity training via repeated testing. In this study, defect‐driven ultraviolet light perception and memristor storage with phase transitions in vanadium dioxide (VO2) thin films are presented. The effects of oxygen defects and the corresponding polymorphic phases on ultraviolet light memristors are investigated. The dependence of phonon vibrations and insulator–metal transition behavior on defect levels are revealed. Self‐doping and polymorphs enable VO2 to exhibit distinct ultraviolet memristor performance. It is anticipated that defect‐driven light memristors significantly contribute to the realization of artificial synaptic devices and the implementation of advanced electronic neuron systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social support is a crucial factor in the academic engagement of doctoral students, which is vital to their overall success. While past studies have mostly focused on the support from doctoral supervisors, support from other significant groups, including institutions, peers and families, has been largely neglected, and even no study has investigated their contributions to doctoral students' development. Drawing from the job demands‐resources model, this study investigated the contributions of different sources (institutions, supervisors, peers and families) of social support to doctoral students' academic engagement. It further examined the mediating role of grit within these relationships. A sample of 472 doctoral students across various disciplines from 10 universities in mainland China responded to an online survey. Results showed that institutional support and supervisory support positively predicted doctoral students' academic engagement, while peer support and family support did not significantly predict academic engagement. Furthermore, grit was found to mediate the relationship between support from institutions and supervisors and academic engagement. Practical implications for higher education institutions, doctoral supervisors and programs are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fundus photography (FP) is a crucial technique for diagnosing the progression of ocular and systemic diseases in clinical studies, with wide applications in early clinical screening and diagnosis. However, due to the nonuniform illumination and imbalanced intensity caused by various reasons, the quality of fundus images is often severely weakened, brings challenges for automated screening, analysis, and diagnosis of diseases. To resolve this problem, we developed strongly constrained generative adversarial networks (SCGAN). The results demonstrate that the quality of various datasets were more significantly enhanced based on SCGAN, simultaneously more effectively retaining tissue and vascular information under various experimental conditions. Furthermore, the clinical effectiveness and robustness of this model were validated by showing its improved ability in vascular segmentation as well as disease diagnosis. Our study provides a new comprehensive approach for FP and also possesses the potential capacity to advance artificial intelligence‐assisted ophthalmic examination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive Summary: To address the stereoselective synthesis challenge in π‐stacked grids with four chiral centers, we utilized coplanar and highly rigid 11,12‐dihydroindeno[2,1‐a]fluorene‐11,12‐diol and 2,2'‐bithiophene as synthons, employing Friedel‐Crafts gridization (FCG). Leveraging the supramolecular interactions of S···S and π···π within the thiophene moiety, along with the steric effect of the 11,12‐dihydroindeno[2,1‐a]fluorene scaffold, we successfully achieved the exclusive generation of a single isomer of Ladder‐type π‐stacked grids (LGs‐IF) containing six theoretical isomers. By subsequently substituting 2,2'‐bithiophene with thiophene/bithiophene derivatives as synthons, we maintained an exceptionally high level of stereoselectivity. This study introduces a novel approach for the stereo‐controlled preparation of grids involving multi‐chiral centers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared to the traditional open mixing process used for the production of the rubber composites, wet mixing process is a lower shear force mixing method. This article revealed the influence of the open mixing process and the wet mixing process on the microstructure, density, mechanical properties, and ablation performance of ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber/fiber/hollow glass microsphere composite system. The results showed that the wet mixing process increased the fiber length by more than 300% compared to the open mixing process, while the fragmentation rate of the hollow glass beads was reduced by 94.4%, these effectively maintained the structural integrity of the fibers and the hollow glass microsphere filler. By using the wet mixing process, the density of EPDM composite materials can be reduced by about 20%, and the tensile strength and ablation resistance of these composites were also significantly improved. Compared to polyimide fiber and aramid fiber short fibers, the wet mixing process of solution‐based rubber had a more significant effect on improving the length and ablation resistance of phenolic fiber and carbon fiber fibers which having poor shear strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uncertain dynamical system driven by Liu process is of importance to depict the operation laws of real systems disturbed by human epistemic uncertainty. This paper mainly investigates the finite‐time attractivity of uncertain dynamical systems. New concepts of the finite‐time attractivity are first introduced for uncertain dynamical systems from different perspectives, and the relationships among these types of concepts are revealed based on uncertainty theory. The judgement theorems for ensuring the finite‐time exponential attractivity of two classes of uncertain dynamical systems are proposed, respectively. Several examples are provided to illustrate the main concepts and results derived. Finally, the uncertain mean‐reverting process with time‐varying parameters is considered as an application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The improvement of performance and yield in both cultivar and species mixtures has been well established. Despite the clear benefits of crop mixtures to agriculture, identifying the critical mechanisms behind performance increases are largely lacking. We experimentally demonstrated that the benefits of rice cultivar mixtures were linked to relatedness‐mediated intraspecific neighbour recognition and discrimination under both field and controlled conditions. We then tested biochemical mechanisms of responses in incubation experiments involving the addition of root exudates and a root‐secreted signal, (–)‐loliolide, followed by transcriptome analysis. We found that closely related cultivar mixtures increased grain yields by modifying root behaviour and accelerating flowering over distantly related mixtures. Importantly, these responses were accompanied by altered concentration of signalling (–)‐loliolide that affected rice transcriptome profiling, directly regulating root growth and flowering gene expression. These findings suggest that beneficial crop combinations may be generated a‐priori by manipulating neighbour genetic relatedness in rice cultivar mixtures and that root‐secreted (–)‐loliolide functions as a key mediator of genetic relatedness interactions. The ability of relatedness discrimination to regulate rice flowering and yield raises an intriguing possibility to increase crop production. Summary statement: This study identified the role and mechanisms of relatedness‐mediated neighbour discrimination in the improvement of performance and yield in rice cultivar mixtures, and found root‐secreted (–)‐loliolide's role as a key component of rice response to neighbour genetic relatedness interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]