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Objective: Solanum nigrum L. (SNL) is a natural drugwith diverse bioactive components and multi‐targeted anti‐tumor effects, gaining increasing attention in clinical application. Method and Results: This paper reviews the studies on SNL by searching academic databases (Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct,and Web of Science, among others), analyzing its chemical compositions (alkaloids, saponins, polysaccharides, and polyphenols, among others), andbriefly describes the anti‐tumor mechanisms of the main components. Discussion: This paper discusses the shortcomings of the current research on SNL and proposes corresponding solutions, providing theoretical support for further research on its biological functions and clinical efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The slug test has been commonly used to estimate aquifer parameters. Previous studies on the slug test mainly focused on a single‐layer aquifer. However, understanding the interaction between layers is particularly important when assessing aquifer parameters under certain circumstances. In this study, a new semi‐analytical model on transient flow in a three‐layered aquifer system with a partially penetrating well was developed for the slug test. The proposed model was solved using the Laplace transform method and the Goldstein‐Weber transform method, where the semi‐analytical solution for the model was obtained. The drawdowns of the proposed model were analyzed to understand the impacts of the different parameters on the drawdowns in a three‐layered aquifer system. The results indicated that groundwater interactions between the layers have a significant impact on the slug test. In addition, a shorter and deeper well screen as well as a greater permeability ratio between the layers creates a greater interface flow between them, leading to a higher drawdown in the slug test. Finally, a slug test in a three‐layered aquifer system was conducted in our laboratory to validate the new model, which indicated that the proposed model performed better in the interpretation of the experimental data than a previous model proposed by Hyder et al. (1994). We also proposed an empirical relationship to qualitatively identify the errors in the application of single‐layer model for the analysis of response data in a three‐layered aquifer system. Article impact statement: The study presents a new analytical solution for improving aquifer parameter estimations in a three‐layered system. It adds to the commonly employed slug test in field operations to improve our understanding of the interactions between multiple aquifer layers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The introduction of additives with specific functional groups is an important approach to extend the operational lifetime of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Herein, the effect of the additives of benzoic acid (0F‐B), 4‐fluorobenzoic acid (1F‐B), and 2,3,4,5,6‐pentafluorobenzoic acid (5F‐B) on the performance and stability of MAPbI3‐based PSCs is systematically investigated. These additives can both chelate onto lead ions and form hydrogen bond with methyl ammonium ions. These combined interactions result in an increased activation energy for nucleation of perovskite crystals, thereby, increasing crystal size, reducing defect formation, improving electronic properties, as well as reducing ion migration. As a result, PSCs added with 5F‐B achieve the highest power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 20.50% with a narrow distribution compared to those PSC devices added with 1F‐B (19.25 %), 0F‐B (18.80 %), and pristine devices (18.53 %). Notably, 5F‐B‐added PSCs retain 80% of their initial PCE after ≈100‐day humidity test (at 25 °C and 50% relative humidity), 30‐day thermal stability test (at 85 °C in nitrogen environment), and 12‐day light illumination test (under continuous simulated solar radiation). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Catalytic materials are effective in promoting sulfur utilization in lithium‐sulfur batteries. Co phthalocyanine (CoPc) presents a unique planner single‐molecular structure with a highly active Co‐N4 center for sulfur reduction catalysis. The high flexibility of phthalocyanines offers rich opportunities for electronic structure modulation toward enhanced catalytic activities. To guide future design and screening, this study aims to understand the impact of peripheral substitution, the most common method to obtain CoPc derivatives, by examining two typical substituents: the electron‐withdrawing nitro and electron‐donating amino groups. Co tetranitrophthalocyanine (CoTnPc) presents a significantly higher activity in promoting the liquid‐solid transition process than Co tetraaminophthalocyanine (CoTaPc). Substitution alters the stable binding geometry of Li2S4 by influencing the electrostatic potential and Li─bond, making the Co─S bond energetically favorable with the bridging S atoms on CoTnPc. CoTnPc also enables a greater electron donation from the S 3pz orbital to the singly occupied Co 3dz2${d}_{{z}^2}$ orbital, significantly weakening the bridging S─S bond to enhance the reactivity of Li2S4 for the subsequent liquid‐solid transition. A framework of theoretical calculation is tested, providing descriptors for the screening of related materials. The potential of CoPc derivatives is demonstrated by pouch cells with CoTnPc under high sulfur loading and limited electrolyte addition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) is a common orthopedic disease with a high disability rate. The clinical effect of BuShenHuoXue decoction (BSHX) for ONFH is satisfactory. We aimed to elucidate the potential angiogenic mechanisms of BSHX in a rat femoral osteonecrosis model and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). Methods: With in vivo experiments, we established the steroid‐induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head (SONFH) model using Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats (8‐week‐old). The rats were randomly divided into five group of 12 rats each and given the corresponding interventions: control, model (gavaged with 0.9% saline), BSHX low‐, medium‐ and high‐dose groups (0.132 3, 0.264 6, and 0.529 2 g/mL BSHX solution by gavage). After 12 weeks, haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining was preformed to evaluate rat osteonecrosis. the expression of angiogenic factors (CD31, VEGFA, KDR, VWF) in rat femoral head was detected by immunohistochemistry, qPCR and western blotting. In cell experiment, BMSCs were isolated and cultured in the femoral bone marrow cavity of 4‐week‐old SD rats. BMSCs were randomly divided into eight groups and intervened with different doses of BSHX‐containing serum and glucocorticoids: control group (CG); BSHX low‐, medium‐, and high‐dose groups (CG + 0.661 5, 1.323, and 2.646 g/kg BSHX gavage rat serum); dexamethasone (Dex) group; and Dex + BSHX low‐, medium‐, and high‐dose groups (Dex + 0.661 5, 1.323, and 2.646 g/kg BSHX gavaged rat serum), the effects of BSHX‐containing serum on the angiogenic capacity of BMSCs were examined by qPCR and Western blotting. A co‐culture system of rat aortic endothelial cells (RAOECs) and BMSCs was then established. Migration and angiogenesis of RAOECs were observed using angiogenesis and transwell assay. Identification of potential targets of BSHX against ONFH was obtained using network pharmacology. Results: BSHX upregulated the expression of CD31, VEGFA, KDR, and VWF in rat femoral head samples and BMSCs (p < 0.05, vs. control group or model group). Different concentrations of BSHX‐containing serum significantly ameliorated the inhibition of CD31, VEGFA, KDR and VWF expression by high concentrations of Dex. BSHX‐containing serum‐induced BMSCs promoted the migration and angiogenesis of RAOECs, reversed to some extent the adverse effect of Dex on microangiogenesis in RAOECs, and increased the number of microangiogenic vessels. Furthermore, we identified VEGFA, COL1A1, COL3A1, and SPP1 as important targets of BSHX against ONFH. Conclusion: BSHX upregulated the expression of angiogenic factors in the femoral head tissue of ONFH model rats and promoted the angiogenic capacity of rat RAOECs and BMSCs. This study provides an important basis for the use of BSHX for ONFH prevention and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is a widely available and environmentally friendly phase change material known for its high energy storage capacity. However, its application in various industries is limited due to slow heat absorption and release, poor mechanical properties, and inadequate weather resistance. PEG was blended with waterborne epoxy resin (WER) to improve its mechanical properties and weather resistance. Furthermore, graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) and boron nitride (BN) were incorporated into the WER/PEG resin substrate to prepare WER/PEG/BN@GNP coatings, resulting in enhanced thermal conductivity. When the GNP content was 0.5 wt%, the WER/PEG/BN@GNP coatings performed excellent anti‐corrosion. Otherwise, the leakage of PEG under heat‐cool cycling was addressed by the preparation of WER/PEG/BN@GNP coatings, as well as the low rates of heat absorption and release. In this work, the preparation method successfully combines the phase‐change characteristics of PEG, the outstanding mechanical properties of WER, and the high thermal conductivity of BN and GNP. The WER/PEG/BN@GNP coatings present significant potential for practical applications. Highlights: A new coating is prepared by incorporation of BN/GNP into PEG/WER matrix.The prepared coating performs phase change and good heat conduction efficiency.The phase‐transition leakage of PEG is resolved by the combination with WER.The synergy of BN and GNP fillers can enhance thermal conductivity effectively.The prepared coating exhibits insulation and anti‐corrosion at low GNP content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vascular remodeling is the process of structural alteration and cell rearrangement of blood vessels in response to injury and is the cause of many of the world's most afflicted cardiovascular conditions, including pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Many studies have focused on the effects of vascular endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells (SMCs) during vascular remodeling, but pericytes, an indispensable cell population residing largely in capillaries, are ignored in this maladaptive process. Here, we report that hypoxia-inducible factor 2α (HIF2α) expression is increased in the lung tissues of PAH patients, and HIF2α overexpressed pericytes result in greater contractility and an impaired endothelial-pericyte interaction. Using single-cell RNAseq and hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension (PH) models, we show that HIF2α is a major molecular regulator for the transformation of pericytes into SMC-like cells. Pericyte-selective HIF2α overexpression in mice exacerbates PH and right ventricular hypertrophy. Temporal cellular lineage tracing shows that HIF2α overexpressing reporter NG2+ cells (pericyte-selective) relocate from capillaries to arterioles and co-express SMA. This novel insight into the crucial role of NG2+ pericytes in pulmonary vascular remodeling via HIF2α signaling suggests a potential drug target for PH. Synopsis: HIF2α signaling plays an important role in the transition of pericytes into smooth muscle cell-like cells in pulmonary hypertension. Hence, targeting HIF2α in pericytes may be a potential therapeutic approach for pulmonary hypertension. Overexpressing HIF2α selectively in pericytes results in vigorous muscularization of distal microvessels and loss of endothelial integrity. Deletion of HIF2α in pericytes alleviates muscularization and remodeling of precapillary arterioles. Lineage tracing of the reporter color labeled cells show that HIF2α overexpressing NG2 cells gain a SMC-like phenotype during disease progression. Inhibition of HIF2α downstream signaling pathways using AMD3100 protects mice from hypoxia induced pulmonary hypertension. HIF2α signaling plays an important role in the transition of pericytes into smooth muscle cell-like cells in pulmonary hypertension. Hence, targeting HIF2α in pericytes may be a potential therapeutic approach for pulmonary hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Nearly 85% of maternally inherited diabetes and deafness (MIDD) are caused by the m.3243A>G mutation in the mitochondrial DNA. However, the clinical phenotypes of MIDD may also be influenced by the nuclear genome, this study aimed to investigate nuclear genome variants that influence clinical phenotypes associated with m.3243A>G mutation in MIDD based on whole‐genome sequencing of the patients belonging to pedigrees. Materials and Methods: We analyzed a whole‐genome sequencing (WGS) dataset from blood samples of 38 MIDD patients with the m.3243A > G mutation belonging to 10 pedigrees, by developing a Kinship‐graph convolutional network approach, called Ki‐GCN, integrated with the conventional genome‐wide association study (GWAS) methods. Results: We identified eight protective alleles in the nuclear genome that have protective effects against the onset of MIDD, related deafness, and also type 2 diabetes. Based on these eight protective alleles, we constructed an effective logistic regression model to predict the early or late onset of MIDD patients. Conclusions: There are protective alleles in the nuclear genome that are associated with the onset‐age of MIDD patients and might also provide protective effects on the deafness derived from MIDD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a machine learning‐based model predictive control (MPC) scheme for stabilization of hybrid dynamical systems, for which the evolution of states exhibits both continuous and discrete dynamics described by differential and difference equations, respectively. We first present the development of two recurrent neural networks (RNNs) for approximating continuous‐ and discrete‐time dynamics of hybrid dynamical systems, respectively, and then construct a unified hybrid RNN by integrating the two RNN models to capture both continuous and discrete dynamics. The hybrid RNN is used as the prediction model in Lyapunov‐based MPC (RNN‐LMPC), under which closed‐loop stability of hybrid dynamical systems is established. Finally, two case studies including a bouncing ball example and a chemical process are utilized to illustrate the open‐ and closed‐loop performance of the proposed RNN‐LMPC scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic refractory wounds have become a severe threat to public health and are characterized by repeated bacterial infections, persistent hypoxia, abnormal immune regulation, and obstruction of angiogenesis. However, current treatment strategies usually perform only one or two therapeutic functions and cannot satisfy the dynamic and complex demands of chronic wound healing. Herein, a versatile dynamic Schiff base and borate ester cross‐linked glycopeptide hydrogel is prepared from phenylboronic acid‐grafted ε‐polylysine (EPBA), epigallocatechin‐3‐gallate (EGCG), and oxidized alginate. Customized polydopamine‐coated honeycomb MnO2 nanoparticles loaded with herb‐derived salvianolic acid B (PHMS) are embedded into the hydrogel before gelation. Under the distinct acidic and oxidative microenvironment of chronic refractory wounds, the hydrogel gradually dissociates, and the released EPBA effectively eliminates bacteria, while the released EGCG and PHMS eradicates reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, promotes M2 polarization of macrophages, and continuously generates oxygen. Then PHMS further disintegrates, and the released salvianolic acid B promotes angiogenesis through the PI3K/Akt pathway. The versatile glycopeptide hydrogel accelerates Staphylococcus aureus‐infected diabetic cutaneous wound repair in vivo and is a promising candidate dressing for chronic refractory wound healing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing bifunctional water‐splitting photocatalysts is meaningful, but challenged by the harsh requirements of specific‐facet single crystals with spatially separated reactive sites and anisotropic charge transfer paths contributed by well‐built charge driving force. Herein, tunable ferroelectric polarization is introduced in Bi4NbO8Cl single crystal nanosheets to strengthen the orthogonal charge transfer channels. By manipulating the in‐plane polarization from octahedral off‐centering of Nb5+ and out‐of‐plane polarization from lone pair electron effect of anisotropic Bi3+, both the fast charge recombination in bulk catalyst and the process of charge trapping into surface states can be effectively modulated. Collaborating with modest polarization electric field and facet junction induced built‐in electric field, cooperative charge tractive force is constructed, which reinforces the spatial separation and migration of photogenerated electrons and holes to {110} reductive site facet and {001} oxidation site facet, respectively. While excessive polarization charges impair the facet‐selective charge separation characteristics and conversely promote charge recombination on the surface. As a result, polarity‐optimized Bi4NbO8Cl shows an excellent H2 and O2 evolution rate of 54.21 and 36.08 μmol ⋅ h−1 in the presence of sacrificial reagents under visible light irradiation. This work unveils the function of ferroelectric polarization in tuning the intrinsic facet‐selective charge transfer process of photocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sarcopenia is characterized of muscle mass loss and functional decline in elder individuals which severely affects human physical activity, metabolic homeostasis, and life quality. Physical exercise is considered effective in combating muscle atrophy and sarcopenia, yet it is not feasible to elders with limited mobility. PGC‐1α4, a short isoform of PGC‐1α, is strongly induced in muscle under resistance training, and promotes muscle hypertrophy. In the present study, we showed that the transcriptional levels and nuclear localization of PGC1α4 was reduced during aging, accompanied with muscle dystrophic morphology, and gene programs. We thus designed NLS‐PGC1α4 and ectopically express it in myotubes to enhance PGC1α4 levels and maintain its location in nucleus. Indeed, NLS‐PGC1α4 overexpression increased muscle sizes in myotubes. In addition, by utilizing AAV‐NLS‐PGC1α4 delivery into gastrocnemius muscle, we found that it could improve sarcopenia with grip strength, muscle weights, fiber size and molecular phenotypes, and alleviate age‐associated adiposity, insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis, accompanied with altered gene signatures. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that NLS‐PGC‐1α4 improved insulin signaling and enhanced glucose uptake in skeletal muscle. Besides, via RNA‐seq analysis, we identified myokines IGF1 and METRNL as potential targets of NLS‐PGC‐1α4 that possibly mediate the improvement of muscle and adipose tissue functionality and systemic energy metabolism in aged mice. Moreover, we found a negative correlation between PGC1α4 and age in human skeletal muscle. Together, our results revealed that NLS‐PGC1α4 overexpression improves muscle physiology and systematic energy homeostasis during aging and suggested it as a potent therapeutic strategy against sarcopenia and aging‐associated metabolic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Banxia Xiexin decoction (BXD), a traditional Chinese medicine, was widely used in treating ulcerative colitis (UC). However, the active components of BXD and its mechanism in UC remain elusive. Therefore, we used network pharmacology in vivo experiments, molecular docking, and surface plasmon resonance strategy (SPR) to uncover BXD's potential mechanism. A UC rat model was established by orally administering 7% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in drinking water, BXD and palmatine were orally administered for 7 days. Network pharmacology was used to investigate the main bioactive components and crucial targets of BXD in treating UC. Molecular docking was used to investigate interactions between components and crucial targets, verifying the results by SPR. By network pharmacology predicting, 20 active components and 44 candidate anti‐UC targets of BXD were identified, and the crucial proteins were screeded from PPI network, including extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK), AKT1, and tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF). In addition, some key active components (palmatine, sexangularetin, and skullcapflavone II) were screened out from the active components‐targets network. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment and in vivo experiments showed that protein‐serine‐threonine kinase (Akt)/MAPK pathway was involved in BXD treatment for UC; BXD and palmatine significantly ameliorated the severity of DSS‐induced UC in rats. Our study might assist in further investigation of the active components in Chinese medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Piezocatalytic pure water splitting for H2 evolution carries the virtues of efficacious utilization of mechanical energy, easy operation, and high value‐added products, while lacking desirable piezoelectrics for high chemical energy production. Here, two polar layered bismuth‐rich oxyhalides Bi4O5X2 (XBr, I) thin nanosheets (≈4 nm) are first exploited as efficient piezocatalysts to be capable of dissociating pure water. The unique asymmetrical layered structures of Bi4O5X2 (XBr, I) composed of the interleaved [Bi4O5]2+ layer and double X− ions slabs along the [1 0 1_] orientation cause large intrinsic dipole moment, excellent piezoelectricity and easy deformation. Without any cocatalyst and sacrificial agent, Bi4O5Br2 and Bi4O5I2 thin nanosheets display remarkable piezocatalytic H2 production rate of 1149.0 and 764.5 µmol g−1 h−1, respectively, standing among the best piezocatalysts, accompanied by H2O2 and hydroxyl radicals (·OH) as oxidative products. The smaller radius and higher electronegativity of interleaved Br than I cause a more strongly polar crystal structure in Bi4O5Br2, contributing to the higher piezocatalytic activity compared to Bi4O5I2. This study broadens the scope of piezoelectric materials applied to sustainable energy catalysis by efficiently converting mechanical energy and illustrates the importance of crystal configuration and composition in fabricating efficient piezocatalytic systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: EGFR‐mutant (EGFR‐M) and ALK‐positive (ALK‐P)are common in malignant pleural effusion (MPE) with metastatic non‐small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (MPE‐NSCLC). The impact of thoracic tumor radiotherapy on survival in such patients remains unclear. We aimed to investigate whether thoracic tumor radiotherapy could improve overall survival (OS) in such patients. Methods: According to whether or not patients accepted thoracic tumor radiotherapy, 148 patients with EGFR‐M or ALK‐P MPE‐NSCLC treated with targeted therapy were classified into two groups: DT group without thoracic tumor radiotherapy and DRT group with thoracic tumor radiotherapy. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to balance clinical baseline characteristics. Overall survival was analyzed by Kaplan–Meier, compared by log‐rank test, and evaluated using Cox proportional hazards model. Results: Median survival time (MST) was 25 months versus 17 months in the DRT group and DT group. The OS rates at 1, 2, 3, 5 years in the DRT group and DT group were 75.0%, 52.8%, 26.8%, 11.1% and 64.5%, 28.4%, 9.2%, 1.8%, respectively (χ2 = 12.028, p = 0.001). Compared with DT group, the DRT group still had better survival after PSM (p = 0.007). Before and after PSM, factors associated with better OS through multivariable analysis were that thoracic tumor radiotherapy, radiotherapy, N0‐2, and ALK‐TKIs. Grades 4–5 radiation toxicities were not observed in patients; 8 (11.6%) and 7 (10.1%) out of the DRT group suffered from Grade 3 radiation esophagitis and radiation pneumonitis, respectively. Conclusion: Our results for EGFR‐M or ALK‐P MPE‐NSCLC showed that thoracic tumor radiotherapy may be crucial factor in improving OS with acceptable toxicities. Potential biases should not be neglected: Further randomized controlled trials are necessary to confirm this result. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coptis chinensis Franch. and Sophora flavescens Ait. is a herbal pair frequently used in treating ulcerative colitis. However, the bio‐disposition profile of the major components in the inflamed gut remains unclear, which is essential to understand the pharmacological material basis of this herb pair. Here we established an integral quantitative and chemometric method to deduce the colonic metabolism differences of this herbal pair in normal and colitis mice. With this LC‐MS method, a total of 41 components have been found in the Coptis chinensis Franch. and Sophora flavescens Ait. extract, and 28 metabolites were found in the colon after oral administration. Alkaloid and its phase I metabolites were the main components in the colon of normal and colitis mice. The results of principal component analysis at 6 h after oral administration showed significant colonic metabolism differences between normal and colitis mice. Heamap results showed that colitis induced significant changes in the colonic bio‐disposition of this herbal pair extract. In particular, in the context of colitis, the phase I metabolism of berberine, coptisine, jatrorrhizine, palmatine,and epiberberine has been inhibited. These results may provide a basis for understanding the pharmacological material basis of Coptis chinensis Franch. and Sophora flavescens Ait. in treating ulcerative colitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work develops a transfer learning (TL) framework for modeling and predictive control of nonlinear systems using recurrent neural networks (RNNs) with the knowledge obtained in modeling one process transferred to another. Specifically, transfer learning uses a pretrained model developed based on a source domain as the starting point, and adapts the model to a target process with similar configurations. The generalization error for TL‐based RNN (TL‐RNN) is first derived to demonstrate the generalization capability on the target process. The theoretical error bound that depends on model capacity and the discrepancy between source and target domains is then utilized to guide the development of pretrained models for improved model transferability. Subsequently, the TL‐RNN model is utilized as the prediction model in model predictive controller (MPC) for the target process. Finally, the simulation study of chemical reactors via Aspen Plus Dynamics is used to demonstrate the benefits of transfer learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The regulation of the biodegradation rate of 3D‐regenerated silk fibroin scaffolds and the avoidance of premature collapse are important concerns for their effective applications in tissue engineering. In this study, bromelain, which is specific to sericin, was used to remove sericin from silk, and high molecular weight silk fibroin was obtained after the fibroin fibers were dissolved. Afterwards, a 3D scaffold was prepared via freeze‐drying. The Sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis results showed that the average molecular weight of the regenerated silk fibroin prepared by using the bromelain‐degumming method was approximately 142.2 kDa, which was significantly higher than that of the control groups prepared by using the urea‐ and Na2CO3‐degumming methods. The results of enzyme degradation in vitro showed that the biodegradation rate and internal three‐dimensional structure collapse of the bromelain‐degumming fibroin scaffolds were significantly slower than those of the two control scaffolds. The proliferation activity of human umbilical vein vascular endothelial cells inoculated in bromelain‐degumming fibroin scaffolds was significantly higher than that of the control scaffolds. This study provides a novel preparation method for 3D‐regenerated silk fibroin scaffolds that can effectively resist biodegradation, continuously guide cell growth, have good biocompatibility, and have the potential to be used for the regeneration of various connective tissues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High energy density and intrinsic safety are the central pursuits in developing rechargeable Zinc‐ion batteries (ZIBs). The capacity and stability of nickel cobalt oxide (NCO) cathode are unsatisfactory because of its semiconductor character. Herein, we propose a built‐in electric field (BEF) approach by synergizing cationic vacancies and ferroelectric spontaneous polarization on cathode side to facilitate electron adsorption and suppress zinc dendrite growth on the anode side. Concretely, NCO with cationic vacancies was constructed to expand lattice spacing for enhanced zinc‐ion storage. Heterojunction with BEF leads to the Heterojunction//Zn cell exhibiting a capacity of 170.3 mAh g−1 at 400 mA g−1 and delivering a competitive capacity retention of 83.3 % over 3000 cycles at 2 A g−1. We conclude the role of spontaneous polarization in suppressing zinc dendrite growth dynamics, which is conducive to developing high‐capacity and high‐safety batteries via tailoring defective materials with ferroelectric polarization on the cathode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

eIF3, whose subunits are frequently overexpressed in cancer, regulates mRNA translation from initiation to termination, but mRNA‐selective functions of individual subunits remain poorly defined. Using multiomic profiling upon acute depletion of eIF3 subunits, we observed that while eIF3a, b, e, and f markedly differed in their impact on eIF3 holo‐complex formation and translation, they were each required for cancer cell proliferation and tumor growth. Remarkably, eIF3k showed the opposite pattern with depletion promoting global translation, cell proliferation, tumor growth, and stress resistance through repressing the synthesis of ribosomal proteins, especially RPS15A. Whereas ectopic expression of RPS15A mimicked the anabolic effects of eIF3k depletion, disruption of eIF3 binding to the 5′‐UTR of RSP15A mRNA negated them. eIF3k and eIF3l are selectively downregulated in response to endoplasmic reticulum and oxidative stress. Supported by mathematical modeling, our data uncover eIF3k‐l as a mRNA‐specific module which, through controlling RPS15A translation, serves as a rheostat of ribosome content, possibly to secure spare translational capacity that can be mobilized during stress. Are there mRNA‐selective functions of individual eIF3 subunits? Here, multiomic profiling upon acute depletion of eIF3 subunits uncovers eIF3k‐l as an mRNA‐specific module that serves as a rheostat of ribosome content, securing spare translational capacity that can be mobilized during stress. Acute depletion of eIF3 subunits has subunit‐selective impact on holo‐eIF3 architecture.eIF3k depletion uniquely causes increased tumor growth and ribosome content.eIF3k depletion boosts the translation of RPS15A mRNA through an eIF3‐binding site in the 5′‐UTR.eIF3k and eIF3l are selectively downregulated by cellular stress, thus promoting cell survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to investigate potential roles of LRRC75A‐AS1 delivered by M2 macrophage exosomes in inducing cervical cancer progression. We demonstrated LRRC75A‐AS1 was highly expressed in exosomes from M2 macrophages which could be absorbed by Hela cells. M2 macrophage‐derived exosomes promoted Hela cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and EMT process by delivering LRRC75A‐AS1. LRRC75A‐AS1 directly targeted and suppressed miR‐429 in Hela cells. The regulation of cell functions by exosomes from LRRC75A‐AS1‐overexpressing M2 macrophages was abrogated by miR‐429 mimics. miR‐429 directly targeted and repressed SIX1 expression. SIX1 overexpression alleviated the modulation of cellular functions and STAT3/MMP‐9 signaling by miR‐429 mimics. Also, miR‐429 overexpression or SIX1 silence repressed tumor formation and metastasis in nude mice, which was mitigated by exosomes from LRRC75A‐AS1‐overexpressing M2 macrophages. In conclusion, LRRC75A‐AS1 delivered by M2 macrophage exosomes repressed miR‐429 to elevate SIX1 expression and promote cervical cancer progression through activating the STAT3/MMP‐9 axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neuregulin 4 (Nrg4) is an adipose tissue‐enriched secreted factor that modulates glucose and lipid metabolism. Nrg4 is closely associated with obesity and preserves diet‐induced metabolic disorders. However, the specific mechanisms via which Nrg4 regulates metabolic homeostasis remain incompletely understood. Here, this work finds that the Nrg4 receptor, ErbB4, is highly expressed in the hypothalamus, and the phosphorylation of hypothalamic ErbB4 is reduced in diet‐induced obesity (DIO) mice. Peripheral Nrg4 can act on ErbB4 via blood circulation and excite neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus (PVN). Central administration of recombinant Nrg4 protein (rNrg4) reduces obesity and related metabolic disorders by influencing energy expenditure and intake. Overexpression of ErbB4 in the PVN protects against obesity, whereas its knock down in oxytocin (Oxt) neuron accelerates obesity. Furthermore, Nrg4‐ErbB4 signaling excites Oxt release, and ablation of Oxt neuron considerably attenuates the effect of Nrg4 on energy balance. These data suggest that the hypothalamus is a key target of Nrg4, which partially explains the multifaceted roles of Nrg4 in metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coal mining ranks as the largest anthropogenic CH4 source in China with emission factors (EFs) varying up to 30‐fold among inventories when applied to different provinces. The lack of independent evaluation of coal mining CH4 EFs in China is one of the main uncertainties in estimating national total CH4 emissions. Shanxi province, which supplies 25% of the national coal production, is the largest coal mining CH4 emission region in China and even among the world's largest coal production regions. This area is also a significant anthropogenic CO2 source because of high‐density power and industrial activities. Given the large uncertainties in CH4 and CO2 inventories from provincial to city scales, questions remain whether state‐of‐the‐art inventories have accurately estimated these emission hotspots. Here, we evaluate CH4 and CO2 emissions from one of the world's largest coal production regions near Taiyuan City, the capital of Shanxi province, China. CH4 and CO2 concentrations were measured from March 2018 to February 2019 from a 30‐m tower. These data were used within an inverse modeling framework to simulate both CH4 and CO2 concentrations and to evaluate EFs for this region. Results show generally good agreement between observed and simulated CH4 concentrations. However, the CO2 simulations were much lower compared to the observations. Given the minor role of NEE‐induced CO2 enhancements, we believe that the large difference is attributed to the underestimation of anthropogenic CO2 emissions. In general, the derived posteriori anthropogenic CH4 emissions were 85.2(±18.1)% of a priori emissions, where fugitive CH4 from coal mining accounted for ∼92.7% of total anthropogenic emissions. The derived coal mining EF was 23.2(±4.9) m3 CH4/ton coal, close to the default value of high CH4‐content coal, but twofold the province average that were reported by previous observation‐based studies in Shanxi province, indicating large spatial inhomogeneity in the coal mining CH4 EF. The posteriori CO2 emissions were 1.6‐fold of the a priori emissions, highlighting underestimation of CO2 emissions in industrial cities and some potential large emission sources that are missing from state‐of‐the‐art inventories. Finally, we also emphasize the use of satellite observations and denser tower‐based networks are essential in resolving the spatial inhomogeneity of greenhouse gas emissions. Plain Language Summary: The understanding of anthropogenic CH4 and CO2 emissions is basis for climate mitigation especially for global top emitting countries, but the largest issue before addressing above question is that many previous studies have found considerable bias of greenhouse gas emission for almost all inventories from city to regional scales. These facts hindered the government to make and evaluate corresponding mitigation policies. Here, to quantify CH4 and CO2 emissions at one of global largest CH4 and CO2 hotspot in China, we conducted 1 year tower‐based atmospheric CH4 and CO2 concentration measurements and used atmospheric inversion method to constrain and evaluate their emissions, we found coal mining CH4 emission factor has less bias but CO2 emissions were underestimated by 1.6‐fold, highlighting underestimation of CO2 emissions in industrial cities and some potential large emission sources that are missing from state‐of‐the‐art inventories. Our findings indicate more work is needed for urban government to fully understand their greenhouse gases emissions. Key Points: CH4 emission factor for coal mining was 23.2(±4.9) m3 CH4/ton coal, close to the default value of high CH4‐content coal in ChinaThe posteriori CO2 emissions were 1.6‐fold of the a priori emissions, indicating CO2 emissions in industrial cities were largely underestimatedSome large CO2 emissions are missing and more work is needed for urban government to fully understand their greenhouse gases emissions [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Each year, billions of birds migrate across the globe, and interpretation of weather radar signals is increasingly being used to document the spatial and temporal migration patterns in Europe and America. Such approaches are yet to be applied in the East Asian‐Australasian Flyway (EAAF), one of the most species‐rich and threatened flyways in the world. Logistical challenges limit direct on‐ground monitoring of migratory birds in many parts of the EAAF, resulting in knowledge gaps on population status and site use that limit evidence‐based conservation planning. Weather radar data have great potential for achieving comprehensive migratory bird monitoring along the EAAF. In this study, we discuss the feasibility and challenges of using weather radar to complement on‐ground bird migration surveys in the flyway. We summarize the location, capacity and data availability of weather radars across EAAF countries, as well as the spatial coverage of the radars with respect to migrants' geographic distribution and migration hotspots along the flyway, with an exemplar analysis of biological movement patterns extracted from Chinese weather radars. There are more than 430 weather radars in EAAF countries, covering on average half of bird species' passage and non‐breeding distributions, as well as 70% of internationally important sites for migratory shorebirds. We conclude that the weather radar network could be a powerful resource for monitoring bird movements over the full annual cycle throughout much of the EAAF, providing estimates of migration traffic rates, site use, and long‐term population trends, especially in remote and less‐surveyed regions. Analyses of weather radar data would complement existing ornithological surveys and help understand the past and present status of the avian community in a highly threatened flyway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we propose degradation test sampling plans (DTSPs) used to determine the acceptability of a product in a Wiener process model. A test statistic and the acceptance criterion based on Wiener process parameter estimates are proposed. The design of a degradation test is investigated using a model incorporating test cost constraint to minimize the asymptotic variance of the proposed test statistic. Some important variables, including the sample size, measurement frequency, and the total test time, are chosen as decision variables in a degradation test plan. The asymptotic variance of the test statistic and the approximate functional forms of the optimal solutions are derived. A search algorithm is also represented in a flow chart for the purpose of finding the optimal DTSPs. In addition, we assess the minimum cost requirement for the result of the test procedure to satisfy the minimum requirements for the producer's risk and the consumer's risk. When the given test budget is not large enough, we suggest some methods to find appropriate solutions. Finally, a numerical example is used to illustrate the proposed methodology. Optimum DTSPs are obtained and tabulated for some combinations of commonly used producer and consumer risk requirements. A sensitivity analysis is also conducted to investigate the sensitivity of the obtained DTSPs to the cost parameters used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The treatments currently used for prostate cancer (PC) do not meet clinical needs, and thus, new therapies with greater effectiveness are urgently required. Metabolic reprogramming of tumor cells is emerging as an exciting field for cancer therapy. Although the Warburg effect is a common feature of glucose metabolism in many cancers, PC cells have a unique metabolic phenotype. Non‐neoplastic prostate cells show reduced oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) because large, accumulated zinc inhibits citrate oxidation. During transformation, there are low levels of zinc in PC cells, and the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle is reactivated. However, metastatic PC exhibits the Warburg effect. Due to metabolic differences in prostate tissue, targeting metabolic alterations in PC cells is an attractive therapeutic strategy. In this study, we investigated the effect of juglone on energy metabolism in PC cells. We found that juglone inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that juglone suppressed OXPHOS and glycolysis due to its inhibition of hexokinase (HK), phosphofructokinase (PFK), and pyruvate kinase (PK) activity. Furthermore, downregulation of PFK and PK, but not HK contributed to the inhibition of these enzyme activities. The current study indicates that further development of juglone for PC treatment would be beneficial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work develops a model predictive control (MPC) scheme using online learning of recurrent neural network (RNN) models for nonlinear systems switched between multiple operating regions following a prescribed switching schedule. Specifically, an RNN model is initially developed offline to model process dynamics using the historical operational data collected in a small region around a certain steady‐state. After the system is switched to another operating region under a Lyapunov‐based MPC with suitable constraints to ensure satisfaction of the prescribed switching schedule policy, RNN models are updated using real‐time process data to improve closed‐loop performance. A generalization error bound is derived for the updated RNN models using the notion of regret, and closed‐loop stability results are established for the switched nonlinear system under RNN‐based MPC. Finally, a chemical process example with the operation schedule that requires switching between two steady‐states is used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed RNN‐MPC scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with the problems of quasi‐projective synchronization (QPS) and finite‐time synchronization (FTS) for a kind of delayed fractional‐order BAM neural networks (DFOBAMNNs). In order to reach the goals of synchronization and more accurately gauge of settling time and error level, several fresh quantized controllers are structured to make the utmost of confined communication resources. Then, based on the finite‐time theorem, quantized control strategy, Lyapunov function theory and properties of Mittag–Leffler function as well as inequality analysis techniques, some plentiful criteria are formed to set up a relation between control gains and quantization parameters. In addition, the corresponding error bound of QPS and guages of the settling time on FTS are also given. Finally, a few numerical examples are introduced to validate the effectiveness of the presented control protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid recombination of photoinduced charges on the surface and in the bulk phase of semiconductors severely hinders the photocatalytic performance. The synchronous regulation of photocarriers at different locations is also a huge challenge. With these issues in mind, the simultaneous enhancement of surface and bulk carrier separation of g‐C3N4 for highly selective reduction of CO2 to CH4 by coupling with dual functional ZnS is reported. The introduction of ZnS not only acts as a cocatalyst to capture the photogenerated electrons of g‐C3N4, but also forms a polarization electric field to drive the prompt migration and separation of photogenerated charges from bulk to surface. Under concurrent vibration and visible‐light irradiation, the as‐obtained ZnS/g‐C3N4 demonstrates significantly enhanced piezo‐photocatalytic for CO2 reduction, which is higher than that of photocatalytic and piezocatalytic performance, respectively. In addition, the selectivity of the reduction products is enhanced through optimization of the mass ratio of ZnS/g‐C3N4. When the ZnS content is increased to 7.95 wt%, high selectivity (95.7 %) of CO2 reduction to CH4 is achieved on ZnS/g‐C3N4. This work provides a means to regulate the carrier movement pathway and to enhance charge separation in the bulk phase and on the surface of the semiconductor for selective CO2 conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endowing silk fibroin (SF) with the thermosensitivity of rapid in situ gelation remains a challenge in the field of silk fibroin‐based tissue engineering scaffolds and injectable soft tissue fillers. In this study, thermosensitive hydroxybutyl chitosan (HBC)/SF hybrid hydrogels are prepared by physical interaction between HBC and SF. In HBC/SF hybrid system, hydrophobic segments of HBC are aggregated to form microaggregates at physiological temperature, which induce hydrophobic segments of SF to aggregate to the microaggregates by hydrophobic interaction, thus achieving the sol–gel transformation of the two components jointly. The observations and tests of the gelation process show that HBC/SF hybrids with mass ratios of 95/5, 90/10, 85/15, 80/20, 75/25, and 70/30 can complete sol–gel transition rapidly within 5–8 min at 37 °C, and have the reversibility of sol–gel transition. CCK‐8 assay results reveal that the cytotoxicity of HBC hydrogel is effectively reduced by the introduction of SF component. Thermosensitive HBC/SF hybrids have the potential to be used as injectable tissue engineering scaffolds and soft tissue filler. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing efficient piezocatalytic systems for two‐electron water splitting (TEWS) with producing H2 and H2O2 shows great promise to meet the industrial demand. Herein, Ag single atoms (SAs) and clusters are co‐anchored on carbon nitride (AgSA+C−CN) to serve as the multifunctional sites for efficient TEWS. The Ag SAs enhance the in‐plane piezoelectric polarization of CN that is intimately modulated by the atomic coordination induced charge redistribution, and Ag clusters afford strong interfacial electric field to remarkably promote the out‐of‐plane migration of piezoelectrons from CN. Moreover, AgSA+C−CN yields a larger piezoresistive effect that elevates carrier mobility under strain. Consequently, a superior H2 and H2O2 evolution rate of 7.90 mmol g−1 h−1 and 5.84 mmol g−1 h−1 is delivered by AgSA+C−CN, respectively, far exceeding that of the previously reported piezocatalysts. This work not only presents the SAs decoration as an available polarization enhancement strategy, but also sheds light on the superiority of multi‐sites engineering in piezocatalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: 12(S)‐hydroxyeicosatetraenoic (12(S)‐HETE), an alternate arachidonic acid metabolite, has been recently examined in metabolic disease. However, the role of 12(S)‐HETE in diabetic kidney disease (DKD) remains unclear. We studied for the first time the relationship of serum 12(S)‐HETE and DKD and renal function parameters in a Chinese population. Materials and Methods: We recruited 275 subjects who were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) for more than 10 years, including 149 DKD patients and 126 T2DM patients without DKD. Serum 12(S)‐HETE was measured using the enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Serum 12(S)‐HETE was significantly higher in DKD patients than controls [384.69 (77.54, 1003.05) pg/ml and 17.77 (8.11, 75.13) pg/ml, respectively, p < 0.0001]. Compared to controls, 12(S)‐HETE was significantly increased in both macroalbuminuria and microalbuminuria groups (p < 0.0001). Further, the macroalbuminuria group also had a higher serum 12(S)‐HETE level compared to the microalbuminuria group (p = 0.0063). Moreover, serum 12(S)‐HETE was positively correlated with the albuminuria level (r = 0.5833, p < 0.0001), serum creatinine (r = 0.2725, p < 0.0001), and was negatively associated with the estimated glomerular filtration rate (r = −0.2085, p = 0.0005). Further, receiver operating characteristic analysis (ROC) revealed that 12(S)‐HETE had a good performance of distinguishing DKD from controls (AUC 0.828) with a sensitivity of 0.913 and a specificity of 0.711. Conclusion: Our findings revealed that serum 12(S)‐HETE significantly associated with DKD and disease severity, suggesting that serum 12(S)‐HETE may be used as a potential biomarker for the early diagnosis of DKD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, to analyze the oxygen corrosion of the casing string under the nitrogen blanket condition of the salt cavern underground gas storage and to predict the casing's service life, an indoor corrosion weight‐loss experiment was used to study the effects of oxygen concentration, temperature, and pressure on the gas and liquid phase of N80 steel pipe corrosion laws. The corrosion products were examined using scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray fluorescence spectroscopy, and X‐ray diffraction analyses. Finally, the corrosion life of the casing was predicted based on the uniform corrosion rate and casing strength check. The results indicated the following: (1) under the experimental conditions, the gas–liquid two‐phase corrosion rate gradually decreased with the increase in nitrogen concentration, while when the concentration was 78%–95%, the liquid‐phase corrosion was serious, and in the liquid nitrogen environment (nitrogen concentration is 99.9%), the liquid‐phase corrosion rate was lower than the oilfield corrosion control index (0.076 mm/a); (2) the temperature and pressure had no significant effect on the casing corrosion; (3) with the increase in nitrogen concentration, the service life of the inner and outer pipes under different working conditions gradually increased, with the minimum service life equaling 28 years when the concentration was 99.99%; (4) nitrogen concentrations of 99.99%, 95%, 90%, and 78% can meet the column strength of the 3‐year cavity‐building cycle, while under the 5‐year cavity‐building cycle, it is recommended that the lower limit of the purity is 90%. Overall, the research results will provide a strong information basis for the construction of salt cavern gas storage cavities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Few studies have constructed a genetic risk score (GRS) to predict the risk of gestaional diabetes mellitus (GDM). We tested the hypothesis that single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) confirmed for diabetes and obesity and the GRS are associated with GDM. Methods: We conducted a case‐control study comprising 971 GDM cases and 1682 controls from the University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Hospital. A total of 1448 SNPs reported with type 2 diabetes (T2D), type 1 diabetes (T1D), and obesity were selected and the GRS based on SNPs associated with GDM was created. Results: We confirmed that rs10830963 (OR = 1.41,95% CI = 1.25, 1.59) in MTNR1B and rs2206734 (OR = 1.38, 95% CI = 1.22, 1.55) in CDKAL1 were strongly associated with the risk of GDM. Compared with participants with GRS based on T2D SNPs in the low tertile, the ORs of GDM across increasing GRS tertiles were 1.63 (95% CI 1.29, 2.06) and 2.72 (95% CI 2.18, 3.38) in the middle and high tertile, respectively. The positive associations between the GRS and the risk of GDM were also observed in GRS based on obesity/waist‐to‐hip ratio (WHR)/body mass index (BMI) SNPs. The resulting GRS for each allele increase was significantly associated with higher glycemic indices and lower HOMA‐B values for GRS based on T2D SNPs, but not for GRS based on T1D SNPs and GRS based on obesity/WHR/BMI SNPs. Conclusion: These findings indicate that GDM may share a common genetic background with T2D and obesity and that SNPs associated with insulin secretion defects have a vital role in the development of GDM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Innervation and extracellular vesicle secretion co‐exist in the local tissue microenvironment for message transfer, but whether they are interconnected to regulate organ homeostasis remains unknown. Sympatho‐adrenergic activation is implicated in stress‐induced depression and leads to bone loss, but the mechanisms and therapeutics are incompletely elucidated. Here, it is revealed that sympathetic neurostress through the β1/2‐adrenergic receptor (β1/2‐AR) signaling triggers the transcription response of a microRNA, miR‐21, in osteoblasts, which is transferred to osteoclast progenitors via exosomes for dictating osteoclastogenesis. After confirming that miR‐21 deficiency retards the β1/2‐AR agonist isoproterenol (ISO)‐induced osteopenia, it is shown that the pharmacological inhibition of exosome release by two clinically‐relevant drugs, dimethyl amiloride and omeprazole, suppresses osteoblastic miR‐21 transfer and ameliorates bone loss under both ISO and chronic variable stress (CVS)‐induced depression conditions. A targeted delivery approach to specifically silence osteoblastic miR‐21 is further applied, which is effective in rescuing the bone remodeling balance and ameliorating ISO‐ and CVS‐induced osteopenias. These results decipher a previously unrecognized paradigm that neural cues drive exosomal microRNA communication to regulate organ homeostasis and help to establish feasible strategies to counteract bone loss under psychological stresses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To report the efficacy and safety of bleb‐independent penetrating canaloplasty in the management of primary angle‐closure glaucoma (PACG). Methods: This single‐centre prospective interventional case series enrolled 57 eyes from 53 PACG patients with medically uncontrolled intraocular pressure (IOP) and peripheral anterior synechiae of over 270°. Penetrating canaloplasty, mainly consisted of tensioning suture‐aided Schlemm's canal dilation and a trabeculectomy, was performed to create a direct communication between the anterior chamber and the Schlemm's canal. Postoperative IOP, number of glaucoma medications and procedure‐related complications were evaluated. Rate of success was defined as IOP ≤ 21, ≤18 and ≤15 mmHg, and a ≥30% IOP reduction without (complete) or with/without (qualified) IOP‐lowering medications. Results: A total of 45 eyes had 360° catheterization successfully completed. The mean preoperative IOP was 33.9 ± 11.7 mmHg (range, 13–59.6 mmHg), on 3.2 ± 0.8 glaucoma medications (range 2–5), which was decreased to 15.4 ± 3.7 mmHg (range, 8.6–22.5) and 0.2 ± 0.6 (range, 0–3) medications at 6 months and 14.8 ± 3.5 mmHg (range, 9–24) and 0.1 ± 0.3 (range, 0–1) medications at 12 months postoperatively. Complete success at 12 months were achieved in 78.9% (95% CI: 0.65–0.93), 71.1% (0.56–0.86) and 50.0% (0.33–0.67) eyes at IOP ≤ 21, ≤18 and ≤15 mmHg, respectively. Transient IOP elevation (>30 mmHg, 26.7%) and hyphema (11.1%) were the most common early surgical complications. Conclusion: Penetrating canaloplasty in PACG appeared to have good efficacy and safety profiles in this pilot study. Further studies are justified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vascular dysfunction can lead to a variety of fatal diseases, including cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome, and cancer. Although a large number of studies have reported the therapeutic effects of natural compounds on vascular‐related diseases, ginseng is still the focus of research. Ginseng and its active substances have bioactive effects against different diseases with vascular dysfunction. In this review, we summarized the key molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways of ginseng, its different active ingredients or formula in the prevention and treatment of vascular‐related diseases, including cardiac‐cerebral vascular diseases, hypertension, diabetes complications, and cancer. Moreover, the bidirectional roles of ginseng in promoting or inhibiting angiogenesis have been highlighted. We systematically teased out the relationship between ginseng and vascular dysfunction, which could provide a basis for the clinical application of ginseng in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid capture of 129I with high volatility and toxicity in the environment has attracted much attention. Herein we reported a firstly synthesized nonporous material: pyridine N‐oxides (NTPO and ATPO) as iodine adsorbent. Both of NTPO and ATPO exhibit remarkable performance on the adsorption of iodine in aqueous solution, vapor state and organic solvents. Upon the capture of iodine, pyridine N‐oxides were transformed to binary cocrystals combined with the pyridine N‐oxides and iodine which is driven by halogen bond between iodine and oxygen atoms. Moreover, pyridine N‐oxides shows high chemical, thermal and moisture stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accumulation of non‐degradable petrochemical plastics imposes a significant threat to the environment and ecosystems. We addressed this challenge by designing a new type of phototunable plastics based on the unique lignin chemistry to enable readily end‐life recycling. The advanced material design leveraged the efficient photocatalytic lignin depolymerization by ZnO nanoparticles to build lignin‐polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)‐ZnO blends. We first demonstrated the highly effective phototunable lignin depolymerization in the complex polymer blend matrix and explored the molecular mechanisms. The technical barriers of mechanical property and recycling processing were then addressed by a new blend design with lignin core grafted with PMMA polymer. The new process has resulted in a new type of PMMA‐g‐lignin blend, which significantly improved the mechanical properties, making it comparable to PMMA alone. More importantly, the mechanical properties of the UV‐treated blend decreased drastically in the new design, whereas the properties did not reduce in the non‐grafted blends upon UV exposure. The results highlighted that the new blend design based on graftization maximized the impact of lignin depolymerization on blend structure and recyclability. Based on the results, we developed a process integrating UV and alkaline treatments to recycle PMMA for plastics and fractionated lignin for bioconversion or other applications in the new phototunable plastics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article considers the consensus of multi‐agent systems (MASs) with external disturbances by using sliding mode control. First, by establishing a novel sliding mode surface and designing a sliding mode control protocol with constant gains, the consensus of MASs with unknown bounded disturbances is studied. Second, based on the barrier function, a new type of adaptive sliding mode switching protocol is proposed, in which the control gains can be chosen randomly and the upper bound of the disturbance does not need to be known in a prior. By using this protocol, the consensus error can converge to any given region of zero in finite time. Moreover, the leaderless consensus and leader‐following tracking problem of MASs with general dynamics and external disturbances are also investigated via extending the proposed adaptive sliding mode protocol. Finally, some examples are presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the control strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oncolytic virotherapies are perceived as remarkable immunotherapies coming into view and represent highly promising cancer treatments, yet to figure out its specific immune responses and underlying barriers remains critical. Albeit recent studies have demonstrated that oncolytic viruses (OVs) could fine tune tumor microenvironment (TME) to elicit tumor suppression mainly due to effective T‐cell responses, the interaction between suppressive T cells and OVs is barely undetermined. Herein, we found that regulatory T cells (Treg cells) were increased in the TME following systemic administration of oncolytic virus M1 along with the higher expression of relative cytokines and chemokines in both mouse RM‐1 prostatic carcinoma model and mouse B16F10 melanoma model. Besides, Treg cells expressed high levels of CD25 post‐M1 treatment, and its suppressive effect on CD8+ T cells was also elevated. Depletion of Treg cells in M1‐treated groups significantly reinforced antitumor effect of M1. Specific targeting of Treg cells using cytotoxic T lymphocyte‐associated protein 4 (CTLA‐4) antibody (Ab) in combination with M1 treatment elicited a more profound tumor suppression and longer overall survival time than M1 alone in both tumor models. Moreover, CTLA‐4 Ab further aggrandized antitumor immune response elicited by M1, including increased infiltration of CD45+ immune cells and CD8+ or CD4+ T lymphocytes, decreased ratio of Treg cells to CD4+ T lymphocytes, the intensified lymphocytotoxicity and elevated secretion of cytotoxic cytokines like interferon‐γ, granzyme B and perforin. Therefore, our findings constituted a suggestive evidence that targeting Treg cells in M1‐based oncolytic virotherapy may achieve a highly response in clinical cancer research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]