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ABSTRACT Transpirational cooling is crucial for plant thermal regulation to avoid overheating; however, during prolonged and/or acute heat stress it often necessitates stomatal closure to reduce the risk of hydraulic failure due to dehydration. The intricate interplay between thermal regulation, water transport and use may govern plant performance in water‐limited and simultaneously heat‐stressed environments, yet this remains inadequately understood. Here, in a common garden, we evaluated the functional associations among physiological characteristics related to leaf thermoregulation, heat tolerance, xylem water transport, and stomatal regulation in eight shrub species commonly used for fixing active sand dunes in northern China. Our study showed that traits associated with heat adaptation and xylem hydraulics were closely related to stomatal regulation. More isohydric shrub species with higher water transport efficiency possessed stronger transpirational cooling capacity; whereas the more anisohydric species demonstrated greater tolerance to overheating. Moreover, leaf heat tolerance was strongly coordinated with drought tolerance reflected by leaf turgor loss point. These results underscore the importance of stomatal regulation in shaping plant thermal adaptive strategies and provide valuable insights into the coupling of water and heat‐related physiological processes in plants adapted to sandy land environments prone to combined drought and heat stresses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Basic helix–loop–helix (bHLH) proteins comprise one of the largest families of transcription factors in plants, which play roles in plant development, secondary metabolism, and the response to biotic/abiotic stresses. However, the roles of bHLH proteins in thermotolerance are largely unknown. Herein, we identified a heat‐inducible member of the bHLH family in lily (Lilium longiflorum), named LlbHLH87, which plays a role in thermotolerance. LlbHLH87 was rapidly induced by transient heat stress, and its encoded protein was localized to the nucleus, exhibiting transactivation activity in both yeast and plant cells. Overexpression of LlbHLH87 in Arabidopsis enhanced basal thermotolerance, while silencing of LlbHLH87 in lily reduced basal thermotolerance. Further analysis showed that LlbHLH87 bound to the promoters of HEAT STRESS TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR A2 (LlHSFA2) and ETHYLENE‐INSENSITIVE 3 (LlEIN3) to directly activate their expression. In addition, LlbHLH87 interacted with itself and with SPATULA (LlSPT) protein. LlSPT was activated by extended heat stress and its protein competed for the homologous interaction of LlbHLH87, which reduced the transactivation ability of LlbHLH87 for target genes. Compared with that observed under LlbHLH87 overexpression alone, co‐overexpression of LlbHLH87 and LlSPT reduced the basal thermotolerance of lily to sudden heat shock, but improved its thermosensitivity to prolonged heat stress treatment. Overall, our data demonstrated that LlbHLH87 regulates thermotolerance via activation of LlEIN3 and LlHSFA2, along with an antagonistic interaction with LlSPT. Significance Statement: LlbHLH87 promotes basal thermotolerance by directly activating the expression of LlHSFA2 and LlEIN3 in lily. Moreover, LlSPT interacts with LlbHLH87 to compete for its homologous interaction and antagonistically modulates its transactivation activity for target genes, which may facilitate the heat acclimation of lily under extended heat stress conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Ferulic acid is a prominent bioactive compound found in wheat grains, known for its beneficial health effects, prompting significant interest from breeders and producers. The aim of this study was to identify new quantitative trait loci (QTL) to aid in the development of wheat varieties with increased ferulic acid concentration (FAC). Findings: In this study, a recombinant inbred line population, resulting from a cross between Zhongmai 578 and Jimai 22, was evaluated in five different environments. Genotyping was performed using the wheat 50 K single‐nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array. Three stable QTL, named QFAC.caas‐2D, QFAC.caas‐3B, and QFAC.caas‐4D, were identified. These QTL explained 4.24%–7.09%, 3.7%–4.57%, and 3.20%–5.06% of the phenotypic variances, respectively. Furthermore, three SNPs closely associated with above QTL were successfully converted into kompetitive allele‐specific polymerase chain reaction (KASP) markers. Conclusions: FAC is a complex trait governed by multiple minor‐effect QTL. The successful development of KASP markers opens up avenues for marker‐assisted selection in breeding programs. Significance and Novelty: This study establishes a genetic foundation for understanding the genetic basis of FAC in wheat. The identified QTL and developed KASP markers offer valuable insights for quality breeding initiatives and the production of functional wheat‐based foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: In adult anti‐N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis, corticosteroids are commonly used as first‐line treatment. However, the optimal oral prednisone tapering (OPT) following intravenous methylprednisolone pulse therapy remains unclear. We aim to compare the efficacy and safety of different OPT courses in anti‐NMDAR encephalitis. Methods: The CHASE study, a multicenter prospective observational cohort study, enrolled patients with autoimmune encephalitis from October 2011 to March 2023. Patients were grouped based on oral prednisone tapering course: ≤3 months (Group ≤3 month), 3–6 months (Group 3–6 months, including 3 months), and >6 months (Group > 6 months). Kaplan–Meier plots were used to analyze time to relapse and time to total recovery within 2 years. Results: Among 666 screened patients, 171 (median [IQR] age 27 [21.0–36.5] years, 55.0% female) met selection criteria. Responders at 3 months were prevalent in Group ≤3 months (OR 7.251 [95% CI 2.252 to 23.344] and Group 3–6 months (OR, 3.857 [95% CI 1.107 to 13.440] than in Group >6 months. Clinical Assessment Scale for Autoimmune Encephalitis (CASE) scores at 12 months were higher in Group >6 months than in Group ≤3 months and Group 3–6 months (β, −2.329 [95% CI −3.784 to −.875]; β, −2.871 [95% CI −4.490, −1.253]). CASE seizures subscore was higher in Group >6 months than in Group 3–6 months (β, −.452 [95% CI −.788 to −.116]). No significant difference in seizure freedom rates among the groups. Adverse events were higher in Group 3–6 months and Group >6 months than in Group ≤3 months (OR 6.045 [95% CI 2.352 to 15.538]; OR 6.782 [95% CI 1.911 to 24.073]). Significance: Longer oral prednisone courses for adult patients with anti‐NMDAR encephalitis did not show superior effects compared to shorter courses in improving modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores and CASE scores, reducing the risk of relapse within 2 years, or achieving seizure freedom. Instead, extended prednisone courses may lead to more side effects— particularly weight gain. This outcome recommends evaluating the possibility of shortening the duration of oral prednisone after a thorough patient assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The study used both person‐centered (i.e., parallel process latent class growth modeling) and variable‐centered (i.e., random intercept cross‐lagged panel modeling) approaches to examine developmental changes in global and domain‐specific self‐esteem from middle childhood to early adolescence. Method: A total of 715 Chinese youth participated (54.3% boys; 45.7% girls; Mage = 9.96; SD = 0.51) in a 6‐wave longitudinal study with 6‐month intervals. Results: Parallel process latent class growth modeling identified three co‐developmental trajectories of global and domain‐specific self‐esteem: Congruent high increasing and then flattening global and domain‐specific self‐esteem, congruent moderate domain‐specific self‐esteem with convex global self‐esteem, and congruent low with concave appearance and global self‐esteem. Results from random intercept cross‐lagged panel modeling found reciprocal within‐person associations between academic self‐esteem and global self‐esteem; global self‐esteem significantly predicted social self‐esteem, while physical appearance self‐esteem significantly predicted global self‐esteem. Conclusion: Evidence was provided for top‐down and bottom‐up effects of self‐esteem among Chinese youth. The findings provided new insight into the development of self‐esteem in youth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crown removal revitalises sand‐fixing shrubs that show declining vigour with age in drought‐prone environments; however, the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Here, we addressed this knowledge gap by comparing the growth performance, xylem hydraulics and plant carbon economy across different plant ages (10, 21 and 33 years) and treatments (control and crown removal) using a representative sand‐fixing shrub (Caragana microphylla Lam.) in northern China. We found that growth decline with plant age was accompanied by simultaneous decreases in soil moisture, plant hydraulic efficiency and photosynthetic capacity, suggesting that these interconnected changes in plant water relations and carbon economy were responsible for this decline. Following crown removal, quick resprouting, involving remobilisation of root nonstructural carbohydrate reserves, contributed to the reconstruction of an efficient hydraulic system and improved plant carbon status, but this became less effective in older shrubs. These age‐dependent effects of carbon economy and hydraulics on plant growth vigour provide a mechanistic explanation for the age‐related decline and revitalisation of sand‐fixing shrubs. This understanding is crucial for the development of suitable management strategies for shrub plantations constructed with species having the resprouting ability and contributes to the sustainability of ecological restoration projects in water‐limited sandy lands. Summary statement: Embolism accumulation restricted carbon assimilation in aging shrubs and resulted in growth decline, while the crown‐removal treatment revitalised plants by promoting the construction of new hydraulic systems in resprouts and enhancing carbon balance through the removal of dysfunctional old stems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eco‐friendly and efficient energy production and storage technologies are highly demanded to address the environmental and energy crises. Porous organic polymers (POPs) are a class of lightweight porous network materials covalently linked by organic building blocks, possessing high surface areas, tunable pores, and designable components and structures. Due to their unique structural and compositional advantages, POPs have recently emerged as promising electrode materials for energy storage devices, particularly in the realm of supercapacitors and ion batteries. In this work, a comprehensive overview of recent progress and applications of POPs as electrode materials in energy storage devices, including the structural features and synthesis strategies of various POPs, as well as their applications in supercapacitors, lithium batteries, sodium batteries, and potassium batteries are provided. Finally, insights are provided into the future research directions of POPs in electrochemical energy storage technologies. It is anticipated that this work can provide readers with a comprehensive background on the design of POPs‐based electrode materials and ignite more research in the development of next‐generation energy storage devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Significant progress has been made in kidney xenotransplantation in the past few years, and this field is accelerating towards clinical translation. Therefore, surveillance of the xenograft with appropriate tools is of great importance. Ultrasonography has been widely used in kidney allotransplantation and served as an economical and non‐invasive method to monitor the allograft. However, questions remain whether the ultrasonographic criteria established for human kidney allograft could also be applied in xenotransplantation. Methods: In the current study, we established a porcine‐rhesus life sustaining kidney xenotransplantation model. The xenograft underwent intensive surveillance using gray‐scale, colorful Doppler ultrasound as well as 2D shear wave elastography. The kidney growth, blood perfusion, and cortical stiffness were measured twice a day. These parameters were compared with the clinical data including urine output, chemistry, and pathological findings. Results: The observation continued for 16 days after transplantation. Decline of urine output and elevated serum creatinine were observed on POD9 and biopsy proven antibody‐mediated rejection was seen on the same day. The xenograft underwent substantial growth, with the long axis length increased by 32% and the volume increased by threefold at the end of observation. The resistive index of the xenograft arteries elevated in response to rejection, together with impaired cortical perfusion, while the peak systolic velocity (PSV) was not compromised. The cortical stiffness also increased along with rejection. Conclusion: In summary, the ultrasound findings of kidney xenograft shared similarities with those in allograft but possessed some unique features. A modified criteria needs to be established for further application of ultrasound in kidney xenotransplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The precise regulation of cellular behaviors within a confined, crowded intracellular environment is highly amenable in diagnostics and therapeutics. While synthetic circuitry system through a concatenated chemical reaction network has rarely been reported to mimic dynamic self‐assembly system. Herein, a catalytic self‐defined circuit (CSC) for the hierarchically concatenated assembly of DNA domino nanostructures is engineered. By incorporating pre‐sealed symmetrical fragments into the preying hairpin reactants, the CSC system allows the hierarchical DNA self‐assembly via a microRNA (miRNA)‐powered self‐sorting catalytic hybridization reaction. With minimal strand complexity, this self‐sustainable CSC system streamlined the circuit component and achieved localization‐intensified cascaded signal amplification. Profiting from the self‐adaptively concatenated hybridization reaction, a reliable and robust method has been achieved for discriminating carcinoma tissues from the corresponding para‐carcinoma tissues. The CSC‐sustained self‐assembly strategy provides a comprehensive and smart toolbox for organizing various hierarchical DNA nanostructures, which may facilitate more insights for clinical diagnosis and therapeutic assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green hydrogen production through electrochemical overall water splitting has suffered from sluggish oxygen evolution reaction (OER) kinetics, inferior conversion efficiency, and high cost. Herein, ultrafine PtIr clusters are synthesized via an electrodeposition method and decorated on the Co3O4 nanoflowers assembled by nanowires (PtIr‐Co3O4). The encouraging performances in electrochemical OER and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) are achieved over the PtIr‐Co3O4 catalyst, with the overpotentials as low as 410 and 237 mV at 100 mA cm−2, respectively, outperforming the commercial IrO2 and Pt/C catalysts. Due to the ultralow loading of PtIr clusters, the PtIr‐Co3O4 catalyst exhibits 1270 A gIr−1 for OER at the overpotential of 400 mV. Our detailed analyses also show that the strong interactions between the ultrafine PtIr clusters and the Co3O4 nanoflowers enable the PtIr‐Co3O4 catalyst to afford 10 mA cm−2 for the overall water splitting at the potential of 1.57 V, accompanied by high durability for 100 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insects are rich in various microorganisms, which play diverse roles in affecting host biology. Although most Drosophila species prefer rotten fruits, the agricultural pest Drosophila suzukii attacks ripening fruits before they are harvested. We have reported that the microbiota has positive and negative impacts on the agricultural pest D. suzukii on nutrient‐poor and ‐rich diets, respectively. On nutrient‐poor diets, microbes provide protein to facilitate larval development. But how they impede D. suzukii development on nutrient‐rich diets is unknown. Here we report that Acetobacter pomorum (Apo), a commensal bacterium in many Drosophila species and rotting fruit, has several detrimental effects in D. suzukii. Feeding D. suzukii larvae nutrient‐rich diets containing live Apo significantly delayed larval development and reduced the body weight of emerged adults. Apo induced larval immune responses and downregulated genes of digestion and juvenile hormone metabolism. Knockdown of these genes in germ‐free larvae reproduced Apo‐like weakened phenotypes. Apo was confirmed to secrete substantial amounts of gluconic acid. Adding gluconic acid to the D. suzukii larval diet hindered larval growth and decreased adult body weight. Moreover, the dose of gluconic acid that adversely affected D. suzukii did not negatively affect Drosophila melanogaster, suggesting that D. suzukii is less tolerant to acid than D. melanogaster. Taken together, these findings indicate that D. suzukii is negatively affected by gluconic acid, which may explain why it prefers ripening fruit over Apo‐rich rotting fruit. These results show an insect's tolerance to microbes can influence its ecological niche. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the relationship between the fabrication process and the dielectric behavior of thermo‐responsive dielectric materials and accordingly optimizing the dielectric response behavior through simple regulation is critical to advancing their practical applications. For this purpose, we systematically analyze and demonstrate the effects of blow‐spinning process parameters, the feed rate and airflow pressure, on the orientation of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) chains, the individual phase fractions of PVDF, the structure of the core‐sheath nanofibers, the mechanical properties, and the dielectric pulsing properties in polyethylene glycol (PEG)‐PVDF core‐sheath fiber films, and achieve the goal of effectively regulating the thermo‐responsive dielectric behavior. In particular, by increasing the airflow pressure, the polar phase fraction of the PVDF can be effectively increased, thus strengthening the dielectric pulsing effect. The significant influence of the processing parameters on the nanofiber structure also allows us to tailor the strength and toughness of the nanofiber films over a wide range by adjusting the feed rate and airflow pressure. Our work shows that the regulation of feed rate and airflow pressure can be used as an effective strategy to optimize the dielectric pulsing and mechanical properties of PEG‐PVDF films, enabling a simple and low‐cost performance optimization of thermo‐responsive dielectric materials. Highlights: Effective regulation of thermal dielectric behavior by tuning process parameters.Simple tuning of mechanical properties of nanofiber films over a wide range.High ratio of β‐ and γ‐phases of PVDF by solution blow spinning.Major polar phases contribute to improved mechanical and dielectric properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Full understanding to the origin of the catalytic performance of a supported nanocatalyst from the points of view of both the active component and support is significant for the achievement of high performance. Herein, based on a model electrocatalyst of single‐iridium‐atom‐doped iron (Fe)‐based layered double hydroxides (LDH) for oxygen evolution reaction (OER), we reveal the first completed origin of the catalytic performance of such supported nanocatalysts. Specially, besides the activity enhancement of Ir sites by LDH support, the stability of surface Fe sites is enhanced by doped Ir sites: DFT calculation shows that the Ir sites can reduce the activity and enhance the stability of the nearby Fe sites; while further finite element simulations indicate, the stability enhancement of distant Fe sites could be attributed to the much low concentration of OER reactant (hydroxyl ions, OH−) around them induced by the much fast consumption of OH− on highly active Ir sites. These new findings about the interaction between the main active components and supports are applicable in principle to other heterogeneous nanocatalysts and provide a completed understanding to the catalytic performance of heterogeneous nanocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Zoomorphism, an obverse of conventional anthropomorphism, has been shown in many cases to be a powerful tool with respect to the metaphorical use of animals. Objectives: This study introduced zoomorphism into the instructional video design of pedagogical agents (PAs). Method: We first developed three image sets, each of which corresponded to a type of zoomorphic PA image construct (full panda, a human face with a panda body, and a human body with panda head imagery). Then, we conducted an image‐screening experiment in which 177 second‐grade students from a primary school were asked to select their favourite PA image for each image construct set. We used a realistic human PA as the baseline. Next, 114 second‐grade students from another school were randomly assigned to learn instructional videos on the topic of pandas using a PA with one of four imageries. Results and Conclusions: ANOVA and Kruskal–Wallis tests indicated that students presented with PAs with full‐panda imagery achieved significantly higher learning performance, learning experience, social presence, and learning interest than those presented with other imageries of PAs. The regression results showed that the effect of zoomorphic PAs with full‐panda imagery on learning performance was exerted in a direct way and that its effect on learning experience was mediated by social presence and learning interest. Implications: Our findings suggest that zoomorphic appearance is an essential quality for video learning that merits further investigation for the efficient imagery construction of PAs. Lay Description: What is already known about this topic: The inclusion of pedagogical agents with images that are attributed human qualities to animals known as anthropomorphism is very popular in multimedia education; however, the existing studies on the effects of such images on learning have shown inconsistent results. What this paper adds: We introduced the alternative philosophy of animal use‐zoomorphism, which is the obverse of anthropomorphism, into agent image building. Implications for practice and/or policy: Our study demonstrated that the zoomorphism of agent images increases learning performance and experience; thus, our findings suggest the prospect of zoomorphism in the development of agent image patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the efficacy and safety of immunotherapy for LGI1 antibody encephalitis, and consider the predictors of poor outcomes following immunotherapy. Methods: We searched PubMed and Embase for articles reporting the immunotherapy data of anti‐LGI1 encephalitis patients. The proportions of patients with poor outcomes (modified Rankin Scale [mRS] score > 2) at 3 months, 12 months, and the last follow‐up, as well as the odds ratio [OR] of predictors were pooled. Results: The review included 162 articles with 1066 patients. The proportion of patients with poor functional outcomes was 21% at 3 months, 14% at 12 months, and 14% at the last follow‐up after receiving immunotherapy. The proportion of patients with reported relapse was 16.6%. The mean duration from onset to the first relapse was 15.6 months. Predictors significantly associated with poor outcomes were age (increase of 1 year), the presence of cognitive impairment, and CSF LGI1 antibody positive. We did not find a statistically significant association between the worst mRS score in the acute phase, the presence of faciobrachial dystonic seizures (FBDS), days from symptom onset to immunotherapy, second‐line treatment, maintenance immunotherapy, or follow‐up time and outcomes. Interpretation: Although most patients respond to immunotherapy, a minority of patients still have poor outcomes. Advanced age, cognitive impairment, and CSF LGI1 antibody positive are associated with an increased risk of poor outcomes. However, due to the insufficiency of the data, these conclusions need to be interpreted with caution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Treatment with sirolimus, an inhibitor of the mammalian target of rapamycin pathway, has improved the prognosis of patients with kaposiform hemangioendothelioma (KHE). However, the efficacy, durability and tolerability of long‐term sirolimus treatment in patients with KHE have not been well elucidated. We performed efficacy and safety assessments based on more than 4.5 years of follow‐up in patients receiving sirolimus therapy for KHE. One hundred sixty‐seven patients were analyzed, including 102 (61.1%) patients with the Kasabach‐Merritt phenomenon (KMP). Follow‐up was conducted after a median of 56.0 months. A total of 154 (92.2%) patients had a durable response to sirolimus treatment. No difference in durable response was found between patients without KMP and patients with KMP (95.4% vs 90.2%; difference, 5.2%; 95% confidence interval [CI], −4.0% to 13.1%). Rebound growth occurred in 17.3% of patients upon sirolimus discontinuation. Early treatment discontinuation (odds ratio [OR]: 3.103; 95% CI: 1.529‐6.299; P =.002) and mixed lesion type (OR: 2.271; 95% CI: 0.901‐5.727; P =.047) were associated with tumor rebound growth. No KHE‐related deaths occurred in this cohort. At the last follow‐up, approximately 17.4% of patients had active disease and/or changes in body structures to a variable extent. Serious adverse events occurred most commonly during the first year of sirolimus therapy. Follow‐up of almost 4.5 years demonstrated that the efficacy of sirolimus persisted over time and that long‐term treatment with sirolimus was not associated with unacceptable cumulative toxicities. However, nonresponse, tumor relapse and long‐term sequelae remained challenges despite intensified and prolonged sirolimus therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alloying high‐cost Pt with transition metals has been considered as an effective route to synthesize the electrocatalysts with low Pt loading and excellent activity towards oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) under acid solution. The galvanic replacement method, as featured with efficiency and simplicity, is widely reported to produce Pt‐based bimetallic alloys and thereby declare the significance of reductive transition metal precursor on the enhancement of ORR performance. Herein, mix‐phased Cu−Cu2O precursor was applied to prepare carbon black supported highly dispersed PtCu alloy nanoparticles (PtCu/C). The proper Cu−Cu2O ratios can exactly facilitate the generation of small sized PtCu alloy nanoparticles with regulated bimetallic content. Meanwhile, the Cu2O phase is revealed to benefit the electron transfer from Pt to Cu and thus improve the intrinsic activity of Pt active sites. And the metallic Cu can favor the promotion of electrochemical active surface area. Consequently, the as‐prepared PtCu/C behaves impressive ORR activity with half‐wave potential of 0.88 V (vs. RHE) and mass activity of 0.49 A cm−2 mgPt−1 at 0.8 V, which is 9.8 times of commercial Pt/C catalysts. Our work will offer helpful advices for the development and regulation of novel Pt‐based alloy materials towards diverse electrocatalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cattle‐yak, the hybrid offspring of yak (Bos grunniens) and cattle (Bos taurus), serves as a unique model to dissect the molecular mechanisms underlying reproductive isolation. While female cattle‐yaks are fertile, the males are completely sterile due to spermatogenic arrest at the meiosis stage and massive germ cell apoptosis. Interestingly, meiotic defects are partially rescued in the testes of backcrossed offspring. The genetic basis of meiotic defects in male cattle‐yak remains unclear. Structure‐specific endonuclease subunit (SLX4) participates in meiotic double‐strand break (DSB) formation in mice, and its deletion results in defects in spermatogenesis. In the present study, we examined the expression patterns of SLX4 in the testes of yak, cattle‐yak, and backcrossed offspring to investigate its potential roles in hybrid sterility. The results showed that the relative abundances of SLX4 mRNA and protein were significantly reduced in the testis of cattle‐yak. The results of immunohistochemistry revealed that SLX4 was predominately expressed in spermatogonia and spermatocytes. Chromosome spreading experiments showed that SLX4 was significantly decreased in the pachytene spermatocytes of cattle‐yak compared with yak and backcrossed offspring. These findings suggest that SLX4 expression was dysregulated in the testis of cattle‐yak, potentially resulting in the failure of crossover formation and collapses of meiosis in hybrid males. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly(1,2‐dithiolane)s are a family of intrinsically recyclable polymers due to their dynamic covalent disulfide linkages. Despite the common use of thiolate‐initiated anionic ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) under basic condition, cationic ROP is still not exploited. Here we report that disulfide bond can act as a proton acceptor, being protonated by acids to form sulfonium cations, which can efficiently initiate the ROP of 1,2‐dithiolanes and result in high‐molecular‐weight (over 1000 kDa) poly(disulfide)s. The reaction can be triggered by adding catalytic amounts of acids and non‐coordinating anion salts, and completed in few minutes at room temperature. The acidic conditions allow the applicability for acidic monomers. Importantly, the reaction condition can be under open air without inert protection, enabling the nearly quantitative chemical recycling from bulk materials to original monomers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Membrane‐enclosed transport carriers sort biological molecules between stations in the cell in a dynamic process that is fundamental to the physiology of eukaryotic organisms. While much is known about the formation and release of carriers from specific intracellular membranes, the mechanism of carrier formation from the recycling endosome, a compartment central to cellular signaling, remains to be resolved. In Caenorhabditis elegans, formation of transport carriers from the recycling endosome requires the dynamin‐like, Eps15‐homology domain (EHD) protein, RME‐1, functioning with the Bin/Amphiphysin/Rvs (N‐BAR) domain protein, AMPH‐1. Here we show, using a free‐solution single‐particle technique known as burst analysis spectroscopy (BAS), that AMPH‐1 alone creates small, tubular‐vesicular products from large, unilamellar vesicles by membrane fission. Membrane fission requires the amphipathic H0 helix of AMPH‐1 and is slowed in the presence of RME‐1. Unexpectedly, AMPH‐1‐induced membrane fission is stimulated in the presence of GTP. Furthermore, the GTP‐stimulated membrane fission activity seen for AMPH‐1 is recapitulated by the heterodimeric N‐BAR amphiphysin protein from yeast, Rvs161/167p, strongly suggesting that GTP‐stimulated membrane fission is a general property of this important class of N‐BAR proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The endosymbiont Wolbachia is known for manipulating host reproduction. Wolbachia also can affect host fitness by mediating interactions between plant and herbivores. However, it remains unclear whether saliva proteins are involved in this process. RESULTS: We found that Wolbachia infection decreased the number of deposited eggs but increased the egg hatching rate in the spider mite Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae), a cosmopolitan pest that infects >1000 species of plants. Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses revealed that Wolbachia‐infected mites upregulated the gene expression levels of many T. urticae salivary proteins including a cluster of Tetranychidae‐specific, functionally uncharacterized SHOT1s (secreted host‐responsive proteins of Tetranychidae). The SHOT1 genes were expressed more in the feeding stages (nymphs and adults) of mites than in eggs and highly enriched in the proterosomas. RNA interference experiments showed that knockdown of SHOT1s significantly decreased Wolbachia density, increased the number of deposited eggs and decreased the egg hatching rate. CONCLUSION: Together, these results indicate that SHOT1s are positively correlated with Wolbachia density and account for Wolbachia‐mediated phenotypes. Our results provide new evidence that herbivore salivary proteins are related to Wolbachia‐mediated manipulations of host performance on plants. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To verify the stability of high‐intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) technology and the feasibility of training programs with learning curve cumulative summation (LC‐CUSUM). Methods: A total of 12 physicians and 720 cases were equally assigned to the learning group and the control group, with 6 physicians and 360 cases per group. The learning group was treated by physicians without HIFU experience and the control group was treated by experienced physicians. Nonperfused volume (NPV) ratio was assessed by contrast‐enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. Technical failure was defined as NPV ratio of uterine fibroids <70% and/or major complication, while <80% was set as a stricter standard of training qualification. LC‐CUSUM was used to analyze the learning curve. Results: Physicians with or without HIFU experience in both groups achieved matchable NPV ratios, where a NPV ratio of 92.52% (16.06) was achieved by experienced physicians and 93.82% (16.95) by inexperienced physicians. No major complication was observed. The results of LC‐CUSUM analysis showed that, with the standards of the NPV ratio of 70% or 80%, the learning group mastered the technique on the 11th case and the 16th case, respectively, while the control group was stable. Conclusions: HIFU technology stayed stable in operation, with good safety and sound effectiveness, and was easy to learn. NPV ratio of 70% was considered as an appropriate indicator of training qualification. HIFU has remarkable prospects in achieving a NPV ratio of ≥80% without safety being compromised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivated by a practical production scheduling problem at a factory, this article studies scheduling problems in seru production system (SPS). Seru is a relatively new‐type production mode originating in Japan and has brought inspiring benefits to production practice. Following the just‐in‐time philosophy of SPS, the objective of seru scheduling problem is to minimize the sum of earliness and tardiness penalties. Two common due date types of job are considered, and the seru scheduling problem is formulated as a 0–1 quadratic programming model with linear constraints that is then reformulated using convex reformulation methods to ensure convexity. Computational experiments are implemented. Experimental results indicate that the proposed exact solution method can obtain approximate optimal solutions efficiently and effectively for seru scheduling problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: This study was undertaken to investigate the association between human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genotype and clinical characteristics of anti‐LGI1 encephalitis. Methods: HLA genotyping was performed in 34 patients with anti‐LGI1 encephalitis admitted to West China Hospital between April 2014 and May 2021, as well as in 305 healthy controls. The online tool NetMHCIIpan 4.0 and AutoDock Vina software were used to predict binding between LGI1 peptide and HLA class II molecules. Results: Risk of anti‐LGI1 encephalitis was strongly associated with the DRB1*03:01 allele (odds ratio [OR] = 4.31, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.96–9.25, corrected p = 2.75 × 10−4) and the DRB1*03:01‐DQB1*02:01 haplotype (OR = 4.45, 95% CI = 2.02–9.59, corrected p = 2.94 × 10−4). Compared to carriers of the DRB1*07:01 allele, those with the DRB1*03:01 allele were more likely to be female (93.3% vs. 33.3%, p = 0.004) and to be younger (median age = 38 vs. 65 years, p < 0.001). DRB1*03:01 carriers showed stronger response to immunotherapy than carriers of the DRB1*07:01 allele, based on median score decrease on the modified Rankin scale (2, interquartile range = 1–2 vs. 1, interquartile range = 0–1; p = 0.03) at 4 weeks after immunotherapy. Prediction and docking algorithms suggested that the LGI1 peptide can bind to the DRB1*03:01 molecule strongly. Conclusions: The strong association between anti‐LGI1 encephalitis and certain HLA class II alleles supports a primary autoimmune origin for the disease. Carriers of the DRB1*03:01 allele in Chinese patients with anti‐LGI1 encephalitis are more likely to be female, to suffer earlier disease onset, and to respond better to immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surfaces determine many important physicochemical properties of the solid materials, and the polar surfaces are particularly appealing for their unusual characteristics as they are intrinsically unstable and always reconstruct to compensate for the surface polarity. In this work, by performing density functional theory calculations corrected by on‐site Coulomb interactions (DFT+U), it is determined that for polar CeO2(100), besides the classical O‐t, Ce‐t, and CeO4‐t types of reconstruction, a series of novel "pocket‐like" structures can give significantly better stabilities. It is proposed that the shrinking effect caused by the pocket formation can effectively reduce the surface tension, and specifically, promote the rotation of the CeO4 units at CeO4‐t‐p surface to further stabilize the edge Ce cations of the units. Such CeO4‐t‐p reconstructed CeO2(100) can also act as a promising support for the single metal atoms since the induced shrinking and rotation effects can further promote their adsorption and dispersion. This work provides new models to help understand surface reconstruction and adsorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: PRKAG2 cardiac syndrome is a rare autosomal dominant genetic disorder caused by a PRKAG2 gene variant. There are several major adverse cardiac presentations, including hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and life‐threatening arrhythmia. Two cases with pathogenic variants in the PRKAG2 gene are reported here who presents different cardiac phenotypes. Methods: Exome sequencing and variant analysis of PRKAG2 were performed to obtain genetic data, and clinical characteristics were determined. Results: The first proband was a 9‐month‐old female infant (Case 1), and was identified with severe DCM and resistant heart failure. The second proband was a 10‐year‐old female infant (Case 2), and presented with HCM and ventricular preexcitation. Exome sequencing identified a de novo c.425C > T (p.T142I) heterozygous variant in the PRKAG2 gene for Case 1, and a c.869A > T (p.K290I) for Case 2. The mutated sites in the protein were labeled and identified as p.K290 in the CBS domain and p.T142 in the non‐CBS domain. Differences in the molecular functions of CBS and non‐CBS domains have not been resolved, and variants might lead to the different cardiomyopathy phenotypes. Single‐cell RNA analysis demonstrated similar expression levels of PRKAG2 in cardiomyocytes and conductive tissues. These results suggest that the arrhythmia induced by the PRKAG2 variant was the primary change, and not secondary to cardiomyopathy. Conclusion: In summary, this is the first case report to describe a DCM phenotype with early onset in patients possessing a PRKAG2 c.425C > T (p.T142I) pathogenic variant. Our results aid in understanding the molecular function of non‐CBS variants in terms of the disordered sequence of transcripts. Moreover, we used scRNA‐seq to show that electrically conductive cells express a higher level of PRKAG2 than do cardiomyocytes. Therefore, variants in PRKAG2 are expected to also alter the biological function of the conduction system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study was undertaken to update and evaluate long‐term seizure outcomes in patients with autoimmune encephalitis (AE) based on a large cohort study with long follow‐up. Methods: In this prospective observational registry study, we analyzed data from patients with AE mediated by common types of neuronal surface antibodies (anti‐N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate receptor [NMDAR], anti‐leucine‐rich glioma‐inactivated 1 [LGI1]/contactin‐associated protein‐like 2 [Caspr2], anti‐γ‐aminobutyric acid type B receptor [GABABR]). All patients were recruited from the Department of Neurology at West China Hospital between October 2011 and June 2019, and data were collected prospectively on their demographic and clinical characteristics, treatment strategy, and seizure outcomes, with a median follow‐up of 42 months (range = 6–93 months). Potential risk factors associated with seizure recurrence were also assessed. Results: Of 320 AE patients, 75.9% had acute seizures, among whom >90% of patients had their last seizure within 12 months of disease onset. During our follow‐up, 21 (9.3%) patients experienced seizure recurrence. Patients with anti‐GABABR encephalitis had a higher cumulative incidence of seizure recurrence than those with anti‐NMDAR (log‐rank p =.03) or anti‐LGI1/Caspr2 encephalitis (log‐rank p =.04). Among patients with anti‐NMDAR encephalitis, women had a significantly higher cumulative incidence of seizure recurrence than men (log‐rank p =.01). Interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs) or seizures captured on continuous electroencephalogram (EEG) in the acute phase were identified as potential risk factors for seizure recurrence (p =.04, p =.007). Among 163 patients with ≥24 months of follow‐up, five (3.1%) showed persistent seizures and required ongoing antiseizure medications despite aggressive immunotherapy. Significance: Seizure recurrence occurred in a small number of patients and chronic epilepsy occurred in 3.1% of patients during prolonged follow‐up. Across all types of AE, risk factors for seizure recurrence were IEDs or seizures captured on EEG in the acute phase; for anti‐NMDAR encephalitis, female sex was also a risk factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: The aim was to compare the effectiveness and safety of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) or intravenous methylprednisolone (IVMP) versus IVIg plus IVMP (IPI) as initial therapy in anti‐N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis. Methods: This was a multicenter study of prospectively identified NMDAR encephalitis individuals who presented from October 2011 to August 2020 to the study hospitals of western China, with a median follow‐up of 3.9 years. Prespecified candidate variables were the prescriptions of IVIg, IVMP or IPI. Propensity score matching was also performed to control potential confounders. Results: A total of 347 NMDAR encephalitis patients were finally analyzed in this study. After TriMatch for NMDAR encephalitis, 37 triplets were generated. Compared to IVIg or IVMP, the administration of IPI exhibited a significant benefit of a higher response rate (86.5% vs. 55.6% vs. 68.7%, pcorr < 0.01), improved modified Rankin Scale score at 3, 6 and 12 months (pcorr < 0.05), and reduced further recurrence rate (10 of 37 [27.0%] vs. 9 of 37 [24.3%] vs. 2 of 37 [5.4%]; p log rank = 0.01). There was no association between treatment superiority and patient sex or the presence of tumors (p ≥ 0.05). Patients treated with IVMP had a significantly higher number of adverse events, but 99% of adverse events were mild to moderate and did not lead to a change in treatment. Conclusion: In patients with NMDAR encephalitis, adequate response, favorable outcome and less recurrence were each more likely to occur in individuals treated with a combined immunotherapy than in monotherapy individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Researches were reported that respiratory diseases can lead to male infertility; however, it is unclear whether there is a relationship between pulmonary fibrosis (PF) and male infertility. This study examined the influence of PF on sperm quality and its mechanisms. The key signalling pathway of male infertility caused by PF was predicted based on bioinformatics research. After modelling, we evaluated semen quality. Real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting were used to measure the protein and mRNA expression levels of phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI3K), phosphorylation‐protein kinase B (p‐Akt) and B‐cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl2) in rat testicular cells. Compared with group A (48.77 ± 4.67; 59.77 ± 4.79), the sperm concentration and total sperm viability of group B (8.44 ± 1.71; 15.39 ± 3.48) showed a downward trend (p < 0.05). Western blotting showed that the protein expressions of PI3K, p‐Akt and Bcl2 in the testes of group B (0.30 ± 0.06; 0.27 ± 0.05; 0.15 ± 0.03) was significantly lower than those of group A (0.71 ± 0.07; 0.72 ± 0.06; 0.50 ± 0.06) (p < 0.05). The hypoxic environment induced by PF can inhibit the expression of PI3K, p‐Akt and Bcl2 protein and eventually cause dysfunctional spermatogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In heterogeneous catalysis, the catalytic activity of an active center strongly correlates with its coordination number. In this work, density functional theory calculations corrected by on‐site Coulomb interactions were conducted to investigate the catalytic performances of the CeO4‐terminated reconstructed CeO2(100) (CeO4‐t) and the Ca‐doped CeO4‐t surfaces. The undoped CeO4‐t surface contains single 4‐fold coordinated Ce (Ce4c) sites on its top surface layer, and the Ca‐doped CeO4‐t surface can expose even lower‐coordinated 3‐fold Ce (Ce3c) sites. We found that the empty 4f states of the single Ce3c sites on the Ca‐doped CeO4‐t surface have much lower energies than that of the single Ce4c sites on the undoped CeO4‐t surface, which can effectively boost the reduction of Ce4+ to Ce3+. We further studied the selective oxidation of CH4 to CH3OH on the two surfaces and found that the isolated nature combined with the strong electron‐reservoir character of the single Ce3c site makes it highly desirable for the selective activation of the first C−H bond of CH4, while the subsequent C−H bond cleavage step is less affected by such low‐coordinated Ce and the CH3OH formation becomes more facile on the Ca‐doped CeO4‐t surface, giving rise to the high activity and selectivity of the Ca‐doped CeO4‐t surface toward the selective oxidation of CH4 to CH3OH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Pathological invasion level of extramammary Paget disease (EMPD) is strongly related with its risk staging, treatment, and prognosis. However, the current evaluation before treatments fails to evaluate pathological invasion level of EMPD. High‐frequency ultrasound (HFUS) may play a key role to solve this problem. The purpose was to explore the performance of HFUS in the evaluation of pathological invasion level of EMPD. Methods: Sixty pathologically proven EMPD patients were retrospectively enrolled and divided into 2 groups as follows: in situ in the epidermis (IE) (n = 42) and invasion into the dermis or subcutaneous (ID) (n = 18) groups. Clinical and HFUS features were compared between the 2 groups. Results: Between the 2 groups, HFUS features (lesion shape, internal echogenicity and echotexture, surface shape, epidermal hyperechoic layer on the surface, the "pseudopod sign", and color Doppler ultrasound features) and clinical features were comparable (all P >.05). Tumor growth pattern significantly differed between the 2 groups (P <.05). Infiltration depth was significantly deeper for the ID group than the IE group (P <.05). With a cutoff value of 1.55 mm for infiltration depth, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.833. Conclusions: HFUS features of tumor growth pattern and infiltration depth may contribute to the assessment of invasion level of EMPD. Access the CME test here and search by article title. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stimuli‐responsive mechanical deformations widely occur in biological systems but the design of biomimetic shape‐changing materials, especially those based on noncovalent interactions, remains highly challenging. Here, hydrogen‐bonded supramolecular microfibers are reported, which can perform light‐driven spiral deformation by switching an intrinsic azobenzene unit without monomer dissociation. The key design feature rests on rationally spaced multiple hydrogen bonds, which inhibits the disassembly pathway upon irradiation, allowing partial photomechanical actuation of the azobenzene cores in the confined environment of the assemblies. The light‐controlled deformation process of the supramolecular microfibers can be switched in a fully reversible manner. This combination of confinement‐inhibited disassembly and photoswitching to induce assembly deformation and actuation along length scales supports a distinctive strategy to design supramolecular materials with photomechanical motion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates whether and how investor sentiment affects stock market volatility forecasting from a nonlinear theory perspective. With the use of a novel dataset that contains massive articles about stock market analysis obtained from a Chinese investors' community, we construct four sentiment indices to measure investor sentiment by applying textual analysis techniques. Differing from the developed market, we find that the investor sentiment from an emerging market causes stock volatility by a nonlinear pattern rather than a linear style. Furthermore, we show that the investor sentiment improves stock volatility prediction based on the long short‐term memory model. And the predictability is still significant after considering another sentiment proxy variable. Finally, we demonstrate that this improvement of predictive performance is meaningful from an economic point of view. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diarrhea is a common occurrence in children below the age of 5 years. In chronic cases, it induces malnutrition that severely stunts growth. Bile acid diarrhea (BAD), caused by malabsorption of bile acid (BA), is a rare form of chronic diarrhea seldom observed in pediatric patients. Here, we present a clinical report on a novel case of chronic BAD, with severe stunting in an infant, induced by a homozygous mutation of SLC10A2. Methods: We performed DNA extraction, whole‐exome sequencing analysis, and mutation analysis of SLC10A2 to obtain genetic data on the patient. We subsequently analyzed the patient's clinical and genetic data. Results: The patient's clinical manifestations were chronic diarrhea with increased BAs in the feces and extreme stunting, which was diagnosed as BAD. A homozygous mutation of SLC10A2 at the c.313T>C (rs201206937) site was detected. Conclusion: Our report reveals the youngest case illustrating the characteristics of BAD induced by genetic variant at 313T>C, and the second case entailing a clear association between a SLC10A2 genetic mutation and the onset of BAD. Our findings expand the mutant spectrum of the SLC10A2 gene and contribute to the refinement of the genotype–phenotype mapping of severe stunting induced by pediatric BAD. Moreover, they highlight the value of molecular genetic screening for diagnosing BAD in young patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DNAzyme‐based gene therapy holds immense prospects for effectively treating severe diseases, yet is constrained with inefficient delivery and unconditional activation. Herein, we designed a bioinspired self‐catabolic DNA nanocapsule for sustaining tumor‐specific cascade activation of therapeutic DNAzyme. The exquisite DNAzyme was temporarily masked by the self‐excising DNAzyme in the hierarchical rolling circle replication (RCR) nanostructures, thus stayed in an inactive state in physiological fluids. Through the multivalent tumor‐anchoring aptamer strands, the RCR nanocapsule was specifically accumulated in cancer cells and was sequentially activated for motivating the ultimate DNAzyme‐mediated gene silencing via the intelligent stimuli‐responsive cascade DNAzyme activation. By virtue of the programmable RCR assembly strategy, our compact DNAzyme nanoplatform shows great promise for developing versatile smart gene therapeutics and personalized nanomedicines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study reports the first attempt to address the interplay between surface and bulk in hydride formation in ceria (CeO2) by combining experiment, using surface sensitive and bulk sensitive spectroscopic techniques on the two sample systems, i.e. CeO2(111) thin films and CeO2 powders, and theoretical calculations of CeO2(111) surfaces with oxygen vacancies (Ov) at the surface and in the bulk. We show that, on a stoichiometric CeO2(111) surface, H2 dissociates and forms surface hydroxyls (OH). On the pre‐reduced CeO2−x samples, both films and powders, hydroxyls and hydrides (Ce−H) are formed on the surface as well as in the bulk, accompanied by the Ce3+ ↔ Ce4+ redox reaction. As the Ov concentration increases, hydroxyl is destabilized and hydride becomes more stable. Surface hydroxyl is more stable than bulk hydroxyl, whereas bulk hydride is more stable than surface hydride. The surface hydride formation is the kinetically favorable process at relatively low temperatures, and the resulting surface hydride may diffuse into the bulk region and be stabilized therein. At higher temperatures, surface hydroxyls can react to produce water and create additional oxygen vacancies, increasing its concentration, which controls the H2/CeO2 interaction. The results demonstrate a large diversity of reaction pathways, which have to be taken into account for better understanding of reactivity of ceria‐based catalysts in a hydrogen‐rich atmosphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalytic oxidation of methanol on various anatase TiO2 nanocrystals was studied by in situ and time‐resolved characterizations and DFT calculations. Surface site and resulting surface adsorbates affect the surface band bending/bulk‐to‐surface charge migration processes and interfacial electronic structure/interfacial charge transfer processes. TiO2 nanocrystals predominantly enclosed by the {001} facets expose a high density of reactive fourfold‐coordinated Ti sites (Ti4c) at which CH3OH molecules dissociate to form the CH3O adsorbate (CH3O(a)Ti4c). CH3O(a)Ti4c localized density of states are almost at the valence band maximum of TiO2 surface, facilitating the interfacial hole transfer process; CH3O(a)Ti4c with a high coverage promotes upward surface band bending, facilitating bulk‐to‐surface hole migration. CH3O(a)Ti4c exhibits the highest photocatalytic oxidation rate constant. TiO2 nanocrystals enclosed by the {001} facets are most active in photocatalytic methanol oxidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We treated successfully a man with a femoral artery pseudoaneurysm by ultrasonography-guided application of a suture-mediated closure device. Radiography was not needed, as a guide wire was placed into the femoral artery along the rupture under ultrasonographic guidance alone, and the femoral artery was then sutured with the vascular closure device. The pseudoaneurysm was then completely resolved. This novel approach, which minimizes risks and costs, may be a safe and acceptable option to control iatrogenic pseudoaneurysms, especially when thrombin injection is not feasible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The therapeutic performance of DNAzyme‐involved gene silencing is significantly constrained by inefficient conditional activation and insufficient cofactor supply. Herein, a self‐sufficient therapeutic nanosystem was realized through the delicate design of DNAzyme prodrugs and MnO2 into a biocompatible nanocapsule with tumor‐specific recognition/activation features. The indocyanine green (ICG)‐modified DNA prodrugs are designed by splitting the DNAzyme and then reconstituted into the exquisite catalyzed hairpin assembly (CHA) amplification circuit. Based on the photothermal activation of ICG, the nanocapsule was disassembled to expose the MnO2 ingredient which was immediately decomposed into Mn2+ ions to supplement an indispensable DNAzyme cofactor on‐demand with a concomitant O2 generation for enhancing the auxiliary phototherapy. The endogenous microRNA catalyzes the amplified assembly of DNA prodrugs via an exquisite CHA principle, leading to the DNAzyme‐mediated simultaneous silencing of two key tumor‐involved mRNAs. This self‐activated theranostic nanocapsule could substantially expand the toolbox for accurate diagnosis and programmable therapeutics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is increasing interest in capturing H2 generated from renewables with CO2 to produce methanol. However, renewable hydrogen production is expensive and in limited quantity compared to CO2. Excess CO2 and limited H2 in the feedstock gas is not favorable for CO2 hydrogenation to methanol, causing low activity and poor methanol selectivity. Now, a class of Rh‐In catalysts with optimal adsorption properties to the intermediates of methanol production is presented. The Rh‐In catalyst can effectively catalyze methanol synthesis but inhibit the reverse water‐gas shift reaction under H2‐deficient gas flow and shows the best competitive methanol productivity under industrially applicable conditions in comparison with reported values. This work demonstrates a strong potential of Rh‐In bimetallic composition, from which a convenient methanol synthesis based on flexible feedstock compositions (such as H2/CO2 from biomass derivatives) with lower energy cost can be established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exploration of highly efficient Pd/MOF heterogeneous catalyst system for the Suzuki–Miyaura cross‐coupling (SMC) reactions of aryl chlorides is still challenging. Herein, a PdCl2/UiO‐67‐bpydc was successfully synthesized by immobilizing a low amount of PdCl2 onto the zirconium‐based MOF (UiO‐67‐bpydc). PdCl2/UiO‐67‐bpydc showed excellent catalytic performance and good recycle ability for the SMC reaction of aryl chlorides under an ambient condition. Furthermore, PdCl2/UiO‐67‐bpydc retains the high catalytic activity even after five cycles, and exhibited excellent substrate size selectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the effects of peeling treatment on the properties of quinoa flour, changes in the physical and chemical properties of quinoa flour before and after peeling treatment and the existing grinding process (full and traditional flour) were carried out. The peeling treatment reduced the contents of saponins, phytic acids, ash, and insoluble dietary fiber, but the protein, starch and soluble dietary fiber contents increased compared to full flour (p <.05). The peeling treatment increased the contents of total phenol and mineral elements compared to traditional flour (p <.05). The water‐holding capacity, transparency, freeze–thaw stability, and condensation characteristics of the peeled quinoa flour increased compared with full flour and traditional flour (p <.05). Similarly, reconstituability, and processing quality were all significantly improved compared to full flour and traditional flour (p <.05), even though some indexes were better than traditional flour. After extrusion and puffing to make puffed flour, the agglomeration of the peeled flour and viscosity of the quinoa paste decreased and the dextrose equivalent value increased (p <.05). These results indicated that the peeling treatment retained more of the nutrients of quinoa flour and improved the processing characteristics of quinoa flour. Practical applications: To explore the effects of peeling treatment on the properties of quinoa flour, changes in the physical and chemical properties of quinoa flour before and after peeling treatment and the existing grinding process (full and traditional flour) were carried out. This study provided a theoretical basis for solving the contradiction between the poor taste of full flour and poor nutrition of traditional flour in quinoa processing products, to retain the maximum nutrient composition of quinoa, and to improve the taste, color, and texture of the product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Differences in key physiological characteristics between plant species can result in their contrasting performances in vegetation restoration projects, but ecophysiological comparative studies in close relation to ecological restoration projects are scarce. Hedysarum fruticosum Pall. and Caragana microphylla Lam. are two leguminous shrub species widely used in combination for fixation of active sand dunes in semiarid regions of northern China, but they clearly differ in fitness at different stages of dune vegetation development; that is, H. fruticosum quickly gains a community dominance at the initial stage but yields to C. microphylla in a few years after the fixation of dunes. To reveal the underlying mechanism of such a pattern, key physiological characteristics related to xylem water transport, leaf water use, and drought tolerance were compared between these two species at a typical site of sand dune fixation project in Inner Mongolia. Compared with C. microphylla, H. fruticosum shows an acquisitive and risky water management strategy with substantially higher hydraulic efficiency and photosynthetic capability but reduced resistance to drought‐induced xylem embolism, which endows it an advantage under conditions of relatively high soil water availability at the early stage of dune fixation. In contrast, C. microphylla exhibits more conservative water use and characteristics of greater drought tolerance, which results in greater dominance under the more drought‐stressed conditions of the later stage of dune fixation. Our study for the first time provides a potential mechanistic explanation for the clear switching of dominant positions between the two important sand‐fixing shrub species during the sand dune revegetation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DNAzymes have been recognized as promising transducing agents for visualizing endogenous biomarkers, but their inefficient intracellular delivery and limited amplification capacity (including insufficient cofactor supply) preclude their extensive biological application. Herein, an autocatalytic DNAzyme (ACD) biocircuit is constructed for amplified microRNA imaging in vivo based on a hybridization chain reaction (HCR) and DNAzyme biocatalysis, sustained by a honeycomb MnO2 nanosponge (hMNS). The hMNS not only delivers DNA probes, but also supplies Mn2+ as a DNAzyme cofactor and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) agent. Through the subsequent cross‐activation of HCR and DNAzyme amplicons, the ACD amplifies the limited signal resulting from miRNA recognition. The hMNS/ACD system was used to image microRNA in vivo, thus demonstrating its great promise in cancer diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improvement of sensitivity of electrical piezoresistive sensors is critical for high‐precision and ultrasensitive detection, which mainly depends on the modulation ability of total resistance of sensor under applied pressure. However, in most of the reported sensor devices, the contact resistance and body resistance (the key parts of total resistance of sensor) generally cannot be modulated simultaneously, which results in the limited sensitivity. In this work, an ultrahighly sensitive piezoresistive pressure sensor with an exquisitely designed structure is demonstrated, providing an uncomparable advantage of synergistic modulation of contact resistance and body resistance under applied pressure. As a result, the sensor shows excellent sensing performance, with the highest sensitivity up to 11 668.6 kPa−1, the detection limit as low as 0.425 Pa, and the great stability over 20 000 cycle measurements. In respect of practical application, the high sensitivity endows the sensor with high‐precision recognition ability for detecting the weak pressure signals such as sound wave of ringtone and fluctuation of breath or pulse. These results suggest the synergistic resistance modulation to be an effective method toward piezoresistive pressure sensors with ultrahigh sensitivity and offer a new strategy for the achievement of high‐performance pressure sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the diversity and composition of the fecal microbiota in patients with anti‐N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis. Methods: We enrolled 10 patients in the acute stage with naïve treatment, seven patients with relapse, 13 patients without relapse in the remission phase, and 12 paired healthy controls. The fecal microbiota in different groups was compared by 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) gene pyrosequencing. Results: Prominent dysbiosis in the gut microbiome of patients with anti‐NMDAR encephalitis was found. Our primary findings showed that the overall species richness (alpha diversity indexes) of the microbiota was higher in patients than in controls (P < 0.05). Distance‐based community analysis revealed that the microbiota differed substantially within all subgroups of patients and controls (P < 0.05). The relative abundance of species heatmap showed a tendency toward depletion for some commensal genera, such as Prevotella_6, Bifidobacterium, Faecalibacterium, and other short‐chain fatty acid (SCFA)‐producing bacteria. Additionally, our results showed that all subgroups had a distinct bacterial species, with an increase in the genus Fusobacterium in the acute phase group and the genera Streptococcus and Parabacteroides in patients with relapse. However, the genus Bacteroides was very abundant in patients without relapse. Although the findings regarding the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes (F/B) ratios across the four comparison groups were not statistically significant, the F/B ratio gradually increased in patients from the acute phase group (0.87), to the disease remission group with relapse (1.06), to the group without relapse (1.28), to the healthy group (1.63). Interpretation: Patients with anti‐NMDAR encephalitis exhibit a substantial alteration in fecal microbiota composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]