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The manipulation of hydrogen bonding within protic ionic liquids is conducive to conquering the robust hydrogen bonding interactions in cellulose for its effective dissolution, but it is a great challenge to establish the delicate balance of hydrogen bonding network between solvent and cellulose. Herein, we proposed the concept of "hydrogen bond producers" for urea molecules in 1,1,3,3‐tetramethylguanidinium methoxyacetate acid ([TMGH][MAA]) to enhance the dissolution of cellulose. The optimization of physicochemical properties for [TMGH][MAA] solvent as a function of urea concentration revealed a remarkable increase in cellulose solubility from 13% to 17% (w/w) by adding only 0.25 wt% urea, highlighting the efficiency of [TMGH][MAA] as a powerful solvent for the dissolution of cellulose. The experimental and simulation results verified that the significant improvement on dissolution of cellulose was attributed to the hydrogen bonding interaction of urea molecules with ion pairs and part of free ions, reducing the interference with the active ions bonded to cellulose. Furthermore, the considerable enhancement on comprehensive properties of regenerated cellulose films demonstrated the effectiveness of [TMGH][MAA]/urea solvent. The concept of "hydrogen bond producers" presented here opens a new avenue for significantly enhancing the dissolution of natural cellulose, promoting the sustainable development in large‐scale processing of cellulose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a commonly used organic solvent in industry. Our previous studies have found that TCE can cause liver injury accompanied by macrophage polarization, but the specific mechanism is unclear. The epigenetic regulation of macrophage polarization is mainly focused on histone modification. Histone lysine demethylase 4A (KDM4A) is involved in the activation of macrophages. In this study, we used a mouse model we investigated the role of KDM4A in the livers of TCE‐drinking mice and found that the expression of KDM4A, M1‐type polarization indicators, and related inflammatory factors in the livers of TCE‐drinking mice. In the study, BALB/c mice were randomly divided into four groups: 2.5 mg/mL TCE dose group and 5.0 mg/mL TCE dose group, the vehicle control group, and the blank control group. We found that TCE triggered M1 polarization of mouse macrophages, characterized by the expression of CD11c and robust production of inflammatory cytokines. Notably, exposure to TCE resulted in markedly increased expression of KDM4A in macrophages. Functionally, the increased expression of KDM4A significantly impaired the expression of H3K9me3 and H3K9me2 and increased the expression of H3K9me1. In addition, KDM4A potentially represents a novel epigenetic modulator, with its upregulation connected to β‐catenin activation, a signal critical for the pro‐inflammatory activation of macrophages. Furthermore, KDM4A inhibitor JIB‐04 treatment resulted in a decrease in β‐catenin expression and prevented TCE‐induced M1 polarization and the expression of the pro‐inflammatory cytokines TNF‐α and IL‐1β. These results suggest that the association of KDM4A and Wnt/β‐catenin cooperatively establishes the activation and polarization of macrophages and global changes in H3K9me3/me2/me1. Our findings identify KDM4A as an essential regulator of the polarization of macrophages and the expression of inflammatory cytokines, which might serve as a potential target for preventing and treating liver injury caused by TCE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alpha‐1‐antitrypsin (AAT) plays a homeostatic role in attenuating excessive inflammation and augmenting host defense against microbes. We demonstrated previously that AAT binds to the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) resulting in significant anti‐inflammatory and antimycobacterial consequences in macrophages. Our current investigation aims to uncover AAT‐regulated genes that rely on GR in macrophages. We incubated control THP‐1 cells (THP‐1control) and THP‐1 cells knocked down for GR (THP‐1GR‐KD) with AAT, performed bulk RNA sequencing, and analyzed the findings. In THP‐1control cells, AAT significantly upregulated 408 genes and downregulated 376 genes. Comparing THP‐1control and THP‐1GR‐KD cells, 125 (30.6%) of the AAT‐upregulated genes and 154 (41.0%) of the AAT‐downregulated genes were significantly dependent on GR. Among the AAT‐upregulated, GR‐dependent genes, CSF‐2 that encodes for granulocyte‐monocyte colony‐stimulating factor (GM‐CSF), known to be host‐protective against nontuberculous mycobacteria, was strongly upregulated by AAT and dependent on GR. We further quantified the mRNA and protein of several AAT‐upregulated, GR‐dependent genes in macrophages and the mRNA of several AAT‐downregulated, GR‐dependent genes. We also discussed the function(s) of selected AAT‐regulated, GR‐dependent gene products largely in the context of mycobacterial infections. In conclusion, AAT regulated several genes that are dependent on GR and play roles in host immunity against mycobacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Total hip arthroplasty (THA) effectively treats end‐stage hemophilic hip arthropathy. Given hemophilia's unique characteristics, perioperative bleeding remains a significant risk for patients undergoing THA. Tranexamic acid (TXA), an efficient antifibrinolytic agent, may benefit the outcomes of THA for patients with hemophilia (PWH). This study aims to explore the clinical efficacy of intra‐articular injection of TXA in treating perioperative bleeding in PWH and assess its additional clinical benefits. Methods: The retrospective study comprised data of PWH who received THA from January 2015 to December 2021 in the research center. A total of 59 individuals were included in the study, divided into a TXA group (n = 31) and a non‐TXA group (n = 28). We compared various parameters, including total blood loss (TBL), visible blood loss (VBL), occult blood loss (OBL), intraoperative coagulation factor VIII (FVIII) consumption, perioperative total FVIII consumption, hemoglobin (HB), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C‐reactive protein (CRP), length of hospital stay, hospitalization costs, length of surgery, total protein, activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), D‐dimer, rate of joint swelling, hip joint range of motion (ROM), visual analogue scale (VAS), and Harris hip joint function scale (HHS) between the two groups. Follow‐up assessments were conducted for up to 24 months. A Student's t test was utilized for the statistical analysis. Results: This study demonstrated that intra‐articular TXA effectively reduced TBL (1248.19 ± 439.88 mL, p < 0.001), VBL (490.32 ± 344.34 mL, p = 0.003), and OBL (757.87 ± 381.48 mL, p = 0.004) in PWH who underwent THA. TXA demonstrated effectiveness in reducing VAS scores on POD1, POD7, and POD14 and joint swelling rates on POD1, POD7, POD14, and at discharge (p < 0.05). Additionally, the TXA group achieved higher HHS ratings at all follow‐up time points (p < 0.05), showing superior hip joint mobility, lower postoperative inflammation levels, reduced factor VIII consumption during surgery, and less postoperative nutritional loss. No statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of hospital stay, hospitalization costs, surgery duration, and coagulation indicators. Conclusion: Intra‐articular injection of TXA reduces perioperative bleeding in PWH undergoing THA while also improving joint mobility, post‐operative rehabilitation, and quality of life. This may provide value for the future application of TXA in PWH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accumulating evidence indicates that metabolic reprogramming of cancer cells supports the energy and metabolic demands during tumor metastasis. However, the metabolic alterations underlying lymph node metastasis (LNM) of cervical cancer (CCa) have not been well recognized. In the present study, it is found that lymphatic metastatic CCa cells have reduced dependency on glucose and glycolysis but increased fatty acid oxidation (FAO). Inhibition of carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1A (CPT1A) significantly compromises palmitate‐induced cell stemness. Mechanistically, FAO‐derived acetyl‐CoA enhances H3K27 acetylation (H3K27Ac) modification level in the promoter of stemness genes, increasing stemness and nodal metastasis in the lipid‐rich nodal environment. Genetic and pharmacological loss of CPT1A function markedly suppresses the metastatic colonization of CCa cells in tumor‐draining lymph nodes. Together, these findings propose an effective method of cancer therapy by targeting FAO in patients with CCa and lymph node metastasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: 60Co γ‐radiation was applied to blueberry fruits in an effort to investigate a safe, eco‐friendly and effective blueberry preservation technique. However, the preservation effects were variable depending on tissue tolerance to irradiation doses. Moreover, irradiation may cause off‐odour. In this study, we examined the effects of three low doses of 60Co γ‐radiation on the physical and flavour attributes of blueberry. The results showed that 60Co γ‐radiation did not significantly improve fruit quality but extend the shelf life up to 15 days at 25 °C and 30 days at 4 °C. Compared with the control group, the preservation effect of 0.5–1.0 kGy irradiation treatment on blueberry fruit was not obvious before 15 days but maintained 65% of fruit firmness and reduced the loss of nutrients afterwards at 4 °C. At 25 °C, irradiation treatment caused up to a 150% increase in polyphenol oxidase activity, which was relevant to colour changes in late storage. Headspace Gas Chromatography Ion Mobility Spectrometry (HS‐GC‐IMS) was applied, and 33 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in blueberry treated with different radiation doses were identified, including 11 esters, 8 aldehydes, 7 alcohols, 6 ketones and other substances, which increased with increasing radiation dose. Radiation reduced the green taste of blueberry and promoted their ripening. Radiation above the level of 1.02 kGy led to the flavour deterioration of blueberry such as ethyl trans‐2‐butenoate. The side effects of radiation on the aroma of blueberry could be offset by low‐temperature storage. Blueberry stored at 4 °C contained more aldehydes with a heavier fresh/green aroma. Six aromas were proposed to be characteristic odour markers of radiated blueberry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ceramic coatings were obtained by micro‐arc oxidation (MAO) on the surface of AA1060 pure aluminum in alkaline silicate electrolyte with the addition of graphene. The effects of graphene contents in the range of 0–.30 g/L in the electrolyte on surface morphology, corrosion resistance, and wear resistance of the ceramic coatings were investigated. The outer surface structure, outer surface element content, coating cross‐section structure, coating cross‐section element content, coating/substrate interface structure, and coating phase were characterized by scanning electron microscope and X‐ray diffraction. Potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were used to evaluate the corrosion behavior of MAO samples in a 3.5‐wt% NaCl solution. In addition, the resistance to sliding and abrasive wear of the oxide coating were studied experimentally. The results show that the alkaline silicate electrolyte with the addition of graphene has a significant effect on the characteristics of MAO coating. The performance of micro‐arc oxide coatings is best when the graphene content in the electrolyte is.15 g/L, the average thickness of the film is 7.24 μm, the average pore size is 6.07 μm, the impedance value is approximately 4.01 × 106 Ω, and its friction coefficient is.55. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia (PKD) is the most prevalent kind type of paroxysmal Dyskinesia, characterized by recurrent and transient episodes of involuntary movements. Most PKD cases were attributed to the proline‐rich transmembrane protein 2 (PRRT2) gene, in which the c.649 region is a hotspot for known mutations. Even though some patients with PKD have been genetically diagnosed using whole‐exome sequencing (WES) and Sanger sequencing, there are still cases of missed diagnoses due to the limitations of sequencing technology and analytic methods on throughput. Methods: Patients meeting the diagnosis criteria of PKD with negative results of PRRT2‐Sanger sequencing and WES were included in this study. Mutation screening and targeted high‐throughput sequencing were performed to analyze and verify the sequencing results of the potential mutations. Results: Six patients with PKD with high mutation ratios of c.649dupC were screened using our targeted high‐throughput sequencing from 26 PKD patients with negative results of PRRT2‐Sanger sequencing and WES (frequency = 23.1%), which compensated for the comparatively shallow sequencing depth and statistical flaws in this region. Compared with the local normal population and other patients with PKD, the mutation ratios of c.649dupC of these six patients with PKD were much higher and also had truncated protein structures and differentially altered mRNA expression. Conclusion: Based on the above studies, we emphasize the routine targeted high‐throughput sequencing of the c.649 site in the PRRT2 gene in so‐called genetic‐testing‐negative patients with PKD, and manually calculate the deletion and duplication mutations depth and ratios to lower the rate of clinical misdiagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To clarify the role of Eomesodermin (EOMES) to serve as a disease‐relevant biomarker and the intracellular molecules underlying the immunophenotype shifting of CD4+T subsets in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Methods: The derivation and validation cohorts included a total of 148 ALS patients and 101 healthy controls (HCs). Clinical data and peripheral blood were collected. T‐cell subsets and the EOMES expression were quantified using multicolor flow cytometry. Serum neurofilament light chain (NFL) was measured. In 1‐year longitudinal follow‐ups, the ALSFRS‐R scores and primary endpoint events were further recorded in the ALS patients of the validation cohort. Results: In the derivation cohort, the CD4+EOMES+T‐cell subsets were significantly increased (p < 0.001). EOMES+ subset was positively correlated with increased serum NFL levels in patients with onset longer than 12 months. In the validation cohort, the elevated CD4+EOMES+T‐cell proportions and their association with NFL levels were also identified. The longitudinal study revealed that ALS patients with higher EOMES expression were associated with higher progression rates (p =.010) and worse prognosis (p =.003). Conclusions: We demonstrated that increased CD4+EOMES+T‐cell subsets in ALS were associated with disease progression and poor prognosis. Identifying these associations may contribute to a better understanding of the immunopathological mechanism of ALS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whistler mode chorus waves frequently appear as discrete, repetitive, and quasi‐monochromatic emissions with frequency chirping. With different wave amplitude and frequency chirping rate, chorus waves have been observed not only in the magnetosphere of the Earth but also in the magnetospheres of other planets, such as Saturn and Jupiter. Motivated by understanding different properties of chorus waves at these planets using the recently proposed "Trap‐Release‐Amplify" (TaRA) model, we perform a parametric study using Particle‐In‐Cell simulations by varying background magnetic field inhomogeneity and the corresponding threshold hot electron number density. We show the consistency between simulation results and theoretical predictions for threshold hot electron number density, chorus chirping rate, and wave amplitude. Our results suggest the significant role of the background magnetic field inhomogeneity in affecting chorus wave properties, including its amplitude at different planets as predicted by the TaRA model. Plain Language Summary: As an electromagnetic wave in planetary magnetospheres, whistler mode chorus waves play essential roles in energetic electron dynamics. These waves have the distinct feature of rapid frequency variation with time, or frequency chirping, when observed. Chorus waves show different wave properties, such as wave strength and frequency chirping rate, in the magnetospheres of different planets. To understand this, we use first‐principle computer simulations to investigate chorus wave generation and establish a theoretical connection between wave strength and background magnetic field nonuniformity using a recently proposed theoretical model called the "Trap‐Release‐Amplify" (TaRA) model. To simulate the magnetic field environment of different planets, we vary the background magnetic field nonuniformity between simulations. Our simulation results show good consistency with TaRA model predictions and point to a strong impact of background magnetic field nonuniformity on chorus wave properties, including both its strength and frequency chirping rate at various planets. Key Points: A theoretical connection between chorus wave amplitude and background magnetic field inhomogeneity is establishedThe relation between chorus wave amplitude and chirping rate from simulation shows good agreement with the model predictionBackground magnetic field plays a significant role in shaping chorus wave properties including its amplitude [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Allisartan isoproxil (AI) is an angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker and be converted into the active substance EXP3174 in vivo. We evaluated the drug–drug interactions of AI and an indapamide sustained‐release (Ind SR) preparation, as well as the pharmacokinetic characteristics and safety of AI and Ind SR in healthy subjects. The trial was set up in 6 sequences and 3 cycles, and each cycle contained a 7‐day washout period. Subjects received 3 different trial drugs (A, AI; B, Ind SR; C, AI + Ind SR) during 3 different cycles. Twenty‐four subjects were enrolled in the clinical trial. Of these, 22 completed the study, 2 subjects dropped out due to adverse events (AEs). For subjects given AI alone or combined with Ind SR, the pharmacogenetic parameters Cmax and the geometric mean ratio of steady state (combined/single) of EXP3174 was 130%. The geometric mean ratio of area under the concentration–time curve over the dosing interval at steady state (combined/single use) was 144.5%. Therefore, the combination of Ind SR had an impact on the pharmacokinetics of AI. Then, the results indicated that the AI combination had no effect on the pharmacokinetics of Ind SR. Serious AEs did not occur. The AEs in this clinical trial were the same as those for AI and Ind SR. Combined administration resulted in 2 cases (2 subjects) of Grade 3 hypotension and 1 case of Grade 3 hypotension with AI alone. Considering that this trial included healthy volunteers, the risk of hypotension was expected to be manageable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gomphomastacinae is a grasshopper subfamily in Eumastacidae, with a morphology and distribution distinct from other subfamilies. The alpine genera of Gomphomastacinae that inhabit the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau in China show unique characteristics adapted to high‐altitude life. However, their phylogenetic position and biogeographic history remain controversial. Thus, to determine the diversification history of these alpine genera and the origin of the subfamily, we obtained mitochondrial genome sequences from all seven Gomphomastacinae genera distributed in China. The reconstructed phylogeny was well supported and confirmed the phylogenetic position of Gomphomastacinae within Eumastacidae. Time calibration revealed a deep‐time origin of the subfamily dating back to the Cretaceous period, and the diversification among alpine genera was also an ancient pre‐Miocene event (30–50 Ma). Based on phylogeny and time estimates, the most likely biogeographic scenario is that Gomphomastacinae originated from an ancestral lineage that lived in East Gondwana and dispersed to Central and Western Asia through India. Subsequently, the alpine genera likely diverged along with the uplift of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau and survived drastic climate change by in situ adaptation to high‐altitude dwellings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trichloroethylene (TCE) induces occupational medicamentosa‐like dermatitis due to TCE (OMDT) with immune liver injury, and TNF‐α plays an important role in macrophage polarization and liver injury. However, TNF‐α regulating macrophage polarization in liver injury induced by TCE is still unknown. Thus, on the basis of our previous research, we established the TCE‐sensitized BALB/c mouse model with R7050, a specific inhibitor of TNFR1. Then, we observed significant decreases in autophagy related protein and gene levels in M1 macrophage in TCE positive group, and R7050 can relieve M1 macrophage autophagy. We also found the phosphorylated form of mammalian target of Rapamycin (mTOR) was activated and the expression of p‐mTOR protein increased induce by TCE. In vitro, we found TNFR1 and CD11c were increased in RAW264.7 cell line with TNF‐α. And then we use Zafirlukast (Zaf), an TNFR1 antagonist, CD11c and TNFR1 reduced significantly, we also found p‐mTOR expression increased after TNF‐α treatment, but decreased in TNF‐α + Zaf group. Further, we used Rapamycin (RAP), a mTOR‐specific inhibitor, to establish a TCE‐sensitized mice model and found the expression levels of p62 and p‐mTOR proteins increased and LC3B decreased in the TCE positive group, while RAP treatment reversed the trends of all of these proteins. Rapamycin prevented the TNF‐α‐induced p‐mTOR increase and dramatically downregulated IL‐1β expression in the RAW264.7 cell line with TNF‐α treatment. The results uncover a novel role for TNF‐α/TNFR1, which promotes M1 polarization of macrophage and suppresses macrophage autophagy via the mTOR pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A backbone engineering strategy is developed to tune the mechanical and electrical properties of conjugated polymer semiconductors. Four Donor–Acceptor (D–A) polymers, named PTDPPSe, PTDPPTT, PTDPPBT, and PTDPPTVT, are synthesized using selenophene (Se), thienothiophene (TT), bithiophene (BT), and thienylenevinylenethiophene (TVT) as the donors and siloxane side chain modified diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) as acceptor. The influences of the donor structure on the polymer energy level, film morphology, molecular stacking, carrier transport properties, and tensile properties are all examined. The films of PTDPPSe show the best stretchability with crack‐onset‐strain greater than 100%, but the worst electrical properties with a mobility of only 0.54 cm2 V−1 s−1. The replacement of the Se donor with larger conjugated donors, that is, TT, BT, and TVT, significantly improves the mobility of conjugated polymers but also leads to reduced stretchability. Remarkably, PTDPPBT exhibits moderate stretchability with crack‐onset‐strain ≈50% and excellent electrical properties. At 50% strain, it has a mobility of 2.37 cm2 V−1 s−1 parallel to the stretched direction, which is higher than the mobility of most stretchable conjugated polymers in this stretching state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Network function virtualization (NFV) is an appealing solution that transforms complex network functions from dedicated hardware to software instances running in a virtualized environment. However, some new challenges will arise when deploying virtual network functions to meet the needs of NFV and edge‐computing (EC) enabled 5G networks. In this paper, we focus on the service function chain (SFC) orchestration problem for EC‐enabled networks to maximize the profit of network service providers. First, the mathematical model of SFC orchestration in NFV and EC‐enabled networks is defined. Then, a two‐stage heuristic algorithm is proposed to optimize the total revenue. Finally, the performance of the method is evaluated by simulation experiments and the results show its effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small‐fiber neuropathy (SFN) is a disorder that exclusively affects the small nerve fibers, sparing the large nerve fibers. Thinly myelinated Aδ‐fibers and unmyelinated C‐fibers are damaged, leading to development of neuropathic pain, thermal dysfunction, sensory symptoms, and autonomic disturbances. Although many SFNs are secondary and due to immunological causes or metabolic disturbances, the etiology is unknown in up to half of the patients. Over the years, this proportion of "idiopathic SFN" has decreased, as familial and genetic causes have been discovered, thus shifting a proportion of once "idiopathic" cases to the genetic category. After the discovery of SCN9A‐gene variants in 2012, SCN10A and SCN11A variants have been found to be pathogenic in SFN. With improved accessibility of SFN diagnostic tools and genetic tests, many non‐SCN variants and genetically inherited systemic diseases involving the small nerve fibers have also been described, but only scattered throughout the literature. There are 80 SCN variants described as causing SFN, 8 genes causing hereditary sensory autonomic neuropathies (HSAN) described with pure SFN, and at least 7 genes involved in genetically inherited systemic diseases associated with SFN. This systematic review aims to consolidate and provide an updated overview on the genetic variants of SFN to date‐‐‐SCN genes and beyond. Awareness of these genetic causes of SFN is imperative for providing treatment directions, prognostication, and management of expectations for patients and their health‐care providers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an important class of nucleoside triphosphate analogues, α‐P‐modified nucleoside triphosphates (NTPαXs) have long been recognized as versatile tools in molecular biology and medicinal chemistry. However, the available synthetic methods based on modified nucleoside monophosphate and cyclic PVPVPIII‐nucleoside intermediates are only low to moderate‐yielding. Inspired by recent progress on PV‐PIII coupling reactions, we attempted to access NTPαXs via the putative linear PVPVPIII‐nucleoside intermediates. The current research found that a specific type of nucleoside phosphoramidites, fluorenylmethyl (Fm) nucleosidyl‐phosphoromorpholidites, are highly reactive in coupling with nBu4NH3P2O7 even without acidic activators. In situ oxidation of linear PVPVPIII‐nucleosides with specific sulfurizing, boranylating, and selenylating reagents followed by deprotection of α‐P and nucleoside moieties afforded NTPαXs (X=S, Se, and BH3) in excellent isolated yields. By exploiting dicyanoimidazole (DCI)'s promoting effect on PV‐PIII coupling, the current linear PVPVPIII‐nucleoside‐based method was further developed into an efficient route to α‐P‐modified dinucleoside tetraphosphates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: In this case–control study we aimed to investigate the intestinal microbiota profile of patients with Peutz‐Jeghers syndrome (PJS) and its association with polyp growth. Methods: Thirty‐two PJS patients and 35 healthy controls were enrolled. Fecal samples of all participants were collected for gut microbiota analysis via 16S rRNA gene (regions V3–V4) sequencing. SPSS version 22.0 and R software version 3.1.0 were used for the statistical analysis. Results: The richness was comparable, while the overall structure of the gut microbiota differed significantly between the PJS and control groups (weighted UniFrac, P = 0.001; unweighted UniFrac, P = 0.008). Significantly different abundances of two phyla, seven families, and 18 genera as well as twenty‐nine differentially enriched functional modules (false discovery rate, P < 0.05) between the two groups were identified. Morganella was positively associated with the median number of polyps (JPN; r = 0.96, P < 0.001) and number of newly discovered polyps in the jejunum between two recent endoscopic resections (JPNG; r = 0.78, P = 0.04). Desulfovibrio was positively associated with JPNG (r = 0.87, P = 0.01). Blautia was negatively associated with the median maximum size of polyps in the jejunum (JPS). Anaerostipes was negatively associated with JPN, JPNG and JPS. Clostridium XVIII and Fusicatenibacter were negatively associated with JPN and JPS, respectively. Conclusions: We found remarkably different gut microbiota of patients with PJS compared to healthy individuals and associations between specific fecal bacteria and clinical features of PJS. These findings may provide a new perspective for the management of PJS in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One‐pot synthesized twin perovskite oxide composite of BaCe0.5Fe0.5O3−δ (BCF), comprising cubic and orthorhombic perovskite phases, shows triple‐conducting properties for promising solid oxide electrochemical cells. Phase composition evolution of BCF under various conditions was systematically investigated, revealing that the cubic perovskite phase could be fully/partially reduced into the orthorhombic phase under certain conditions. The reduction happened between the two phases at the interface, leading to the microstructure change. As a result, the corresponding apparent conducting properties also changed due to the difference between predominant conduction properties for each phase. Based on the revealed phase composition, microstructure, and electrochemical properties changes, a deep understanding of BCF's application in different conditions (oxidizing atmospheres, reducing/oxidizing gradients, cathodic conditions, and anodic conditions) was achieved. Triple‐conducting property (H+/O2−/e−), fast open‐circuit voltage response (∼16–∼470 mV) for gradients change, and improved single‐cell performance (∼31% lower polarization resistance at 600°C) were comprehensively demonstrated. Besides, the performance was analyzed under anodic conditions, which showed that the microstructure and phase change significantly affected the anodic behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many restaurants have a certain amount of food waste. The monitoring of food waste will help restaurants to eliminate some dishes with outrageous waste and reduce waste from the source. In view of this, this research proposed a method to detect waste of dishes through image processing and deep learning technology. According to the remaining quantity of the dishes, the collected dish images were preliminarily divided into six levels, which were used as sample labels, and then the image of the uneaten dishes and the image of the dishes after eating were stacked as the input of the network. Trained in the InceptionV3, Xception, and ResNet18 network models, we find that compared with the single image data as the input, the effect of stacking the two images data as the input was better. The accuracy of sample label recognition increased by 6.97%, 5.81%, and 4.1% respectively. Further analysis discovered that the sample that predicted wrong on the test set data, its true label, and the predicted wrong label were adjacent. Therefore, with the help of the probability vector output by the trained network model, the definition method of the level of dish waste degree and its corresponding accuracy metric standard was further given. Finally, the recognition accuracy of the best network structure InceptionV3 on the test set data can reach 98.47%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant cuticle as hydrophobic barrier covers almost all aerial plant organs. Herein the cuticular chemical components and the transpiration of various organs of Chinese flowering cabbage (CFC) and Chinese kale (CK) were comprehensively characterized. Numerous species‐ and organ‐specific differences in morphological, chemical, and physiological levels were found. The various organs were relatively smooth in surface for CFC but glaucous with hollow tube‐ and plate‐type crystals for CK. The chemical composition of cuticular waxes were very‐long chain n‐alkanes, ketones, secondary alcohols with a prominent carbon chain of C29 in CK, primary alcohols dominated by C26, and aldehydes prominently C30 in CFC. Cutin monomers accumulated with similar levels as waxes and were dominated by α,ω‐dicarboxylic acids and fatty acids without added groups. The minimum water conductance differed considerably among species and various organs ranging between 8.9 × 10−5 (CK leaf) and 3.7 × 10−4 m s−1 (CFC leaf petiole). These differences in transpiration properties were proposed to be largely related to the cuticular chemicals in various organs and species. The presented results provide further insights to link the transpiration barrier functions with surface characteristics and cuticular chemicals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients with non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are diagnosed in advanced stages and with a poor 5‐year survival rate. There is a critical need to identify novel biomarkers to improve the therapy and overall prognosis of this disease. Methods: Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified from three profiles of GSE101586, GSE101684 and GSE112214 using Venn diagrams. hsa_circ_0043256 were validated using quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR). The circular RNA–microRNA–messenger RNA (circRNA–miRNA–mRNA) regulatory network was constructed with Cytoscape 3.7.0. Hub genes were identified with protein interaction (PPI) and validated with the Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA), Human Protein Atlas (HPA) databases, and immunohistochemistry. Survival analyses were also performed using a Kaplan–Meier (KM) plotter. The effects of hsa_circ_0043256 on cell proliferation and cell cycles were evaluated by EdU staining and flow cytometry, respectively. Results: hsa_circ_0043256, hsa_circ_0029426 and hsa_circ_0049271 were obtained. Following RT‐qPCR validation, hsa_circ_0043256 was selected for further analysis. In addition, functional experiment results indicated that hsa_circ_0043256 could inhibit cell proliferation and cell‐cycle progression of NSCLC cells in vitro. Prediction by three online databases and combining with DEGs identified from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), a network containing one circRNAs, three miRNAs, and 209 mRNAs was developed. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis indicated DEGs might be associated with lung cancer onset and progression. A PPI network based on the 209 genes was established, and five hub genes (BIRC5, SHCBP1, CCNA2, SKA3, and GINS1) were determined. Following verification of five hub genes using GEPIA database, HPA database, and immunohistochemistry. High expression of all five hub genes led to poor overall survival. Conclusion: Our study constructed a circRNA–miRNA–mRNA network of hsa_circ_0043256. hsa_circ_0043256 may be a potential therapeutic target for lung cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Allisartan isoproxil (AI) is a blocker of the angiotensin II type 1 receptor. We evaluated the safety and pharmacokinetics of single‐ and multiple‐dose AI in healthy Chinese individuals. Participants were assigned to receive AI or placebo. Plasma concentration of EXP3174 (carboxylic acid derivative) was measured using liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry. Pharmacokinetic parameters were determined by noncompartmental methods. Twelve subjects were enrolled, and the ratio of men to women was 5:1. Main pharmacokinetic parameters of EXP3174 after single and multiple doses of AI were a mean maximum concentration in plasma (Cmax) of 2242 ± 1037 ng/mL and median time to reach Cmax (Tmax) of 3.5 hours (2.5‐8 hours). The median Tmax, at steady state was 4.0 hours (1.5‐8 hours). The mean Cmax at steady state (Cmax, SS) was 2047 ± 1050 ng/mL. In terms of EXP3174, there was no significant difference in the Cmax, SS, area under the curve from time zero to 24 hours of quantifiable concentration at steady state (AUC0–24 SS), and AUC0‐72 after multiple doses of AI. Serious adverse events did not occur. These data suggest that AI is safe and well tolerated in healthy Chinese individuals at a single dose of 480 or 480 mg once daily for 7 days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PSTPIP1‐associated myeloid‐related proteinemia inflammatory (PAMI) syndrome caused by mutations in PSTPIP1 is a rare inflammatory disorder that can be easily misdiagnosed. It is characterized by anemia, arthritis, cutaneous inflammation, recurrent infections, growth failure, hepatosplenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, hyperzincemia/hypercalprotectinemia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and elevated inflammatory indicators. This study describes the cases of two pediatric female patients with long‐standing recurrent arthralgia in different parts of the extremities and severe anemia, respectively, who were misdiagnosed and treated for aseptic necrosis of the femoral head and severe autoimmune hemolytic anemia, respectively. High‐throughput sequencing analysis revealed a de novo heterozygous missense mutation (c.748G > A, p. Glu250Lys) in exon 11 of PSTPIP1 (NM_003978.5) in both patients, which supported a diagnosis of PAMI. The patients were treated with prednisone and etanercept, which improved their symptoms, but neutropenia remained unchanged. These cases highlight the importance of genetic assessment for the accurate diagnosis of PAMI and to ensure adequate and timely treatment of these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of corporate governance (CG) on earnings management (EM) have been debated for many years. Thus, this paper explores this issue in a novel way that utilizes a quantile regression to revisit the association between CG mechanisms and EM. We find that a non‐uniform relation between CG mechanisms and EM for non‐financial U.S. firms does exist from 2007 to 2015. Specifically, the empirical evidence documents that CG mechanisms can effectively constrain earning manipulation among firms with higher discretionary accruals (High EM). However, this effect becomes insignificant for firms with medium and low levels of discretionary accruals (Low EM). The quantile‐varying results provide further support for the theoretical viewpoint that the CG mechanism can serve as an effective tool for supervising management in the financial accounting process but only in the case of firms with aggressive EM behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The developments of compressive arch action (CAA) and tensile catenary action (TCA) in beams can provide secondary loads for resisting progressive collapse. However, to date, the contributions of CAA and TCA in regards to progressive collapse have not been considered in design codes, owing to inadequate studies. In this study, a division of resistant mechanisms was initially proposed. Then, based on an experimental model of beam‐column subassemblages, a finite‐element model was established using ABAQUS software, and was validated against experimental results. Subsequently, the calibrated finite element model was employed to study the effects of different constraints (such as ideal fixed constraints, sliding constraints, the beam‐column stiffness ratio, and axial compression ratio) on the secondary progressive collapse‐resistance mechanisms of reinforced concrete (RC) subassemblages. The results show that when the constraints are weaker than the fixed supports, the CAA capacity is larger than that of the TCA. The axial compression ratio in the column slightly increases the first peak load, but the beam‐column subassemblages fail earlier, owing to the large eccentric bending moment. The CAA capacity and TCA capacity increase with a decreasing beam‐stiffness ratio, and the CAA capacity increases faster than the TCA capacity. In addition, a theoretical model is proposed for assessing the resistance provided by a CAA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates whether financial reporting quality improves or deteriorates after the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) decided to eliminate the Form 20‐F reconciliation requirement for foreign cross‐listed firms following International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Using a difference‐in‐differences research design, we find that cross‐listed IFRS firms are less likely to restate financial statements after the SEC revoked their reconciliation requirement, as compared to cross‐listed non‐IFRS firms that still need to prepare the reconciliation. Moreover, such a reduction in the occurrence of financial restatements is more prominent when cross‐listed IFRS firms engage global industry‐specialist auditors and originate from common law countries. Together, this paper lends support to the elimination of the reconciliation requirement for cross‐listed IFRS firms and highlights the important roles of auditors and the legal environment in shaping financial reporting quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The prevalence of lung adenocarcinomas (LUADs) has dramatically increased in recent decades. Ferroptosis is a process of iron‐dependent regulatory cell death. It is still unclear whether the expression of ferroptosis‐related genes (FRGs) is involved in the pathogenesis and survival of patients with LUAD. Methods: We retrieved LUAD data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases and used LASSO Cox regression analysis to select the gene signature suitable for modeling. The risk score was calculated according to the model, and the patients were divided into high‐ and low‐risk groups according to the median risk score. Functional enrichment analysis was carried out by this group, and a model for predicting clinical prognosis was established by combining this group with clinical factors. Results: Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and single‐sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) analysis showed that there were several immune‐related pathways and immune infiltration differences between high‐ and low‐risk groups. A prognostic model integrating 10 ferroptosis‐related genes (FR‐DEGs), and clinical factors were constructed and validated in an external cohort. Conclusions: The FR‐DEGs signature was related to immune infiltration, and a model based on FR‐DEGs and clinical factors was established to predict the prognosis of patients with LUAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growth arrest‐specific 5 (GAS5) is a kind of long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs). Previous studies showed that down‐regulation of LncRNA‐GAS5 was involved in the development of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, the regulatory mechanism of down‐expressed LncRNA‐GAS5 in SLE remains obscure. In this study, we aimed to investigate the association of LncRNA‐GAS5 polymorphism with SLE risk. And further explore how LncRNA‐GAS5 is involved in the occurrence of SLE. Here, we evaluated the relationship between the risk for the development of SLE and the 5‐base pair (AGGCA/‐) insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism (rs145204276) in the LncRNA‐GAS5 promoter region. A custom 36‐Plex SNPscan kit was used for genotyping the LncRNA‐GAS5 polymorphisms. The LncRNA‐GAS5 and miR‐21 target prediction was performed using bioinformatics software. Enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and quantitative real‐time PCR (qRT‐PCR) were performed to assess GAS5 and miR‐21 mRNA expression and PTEN protein expression. The results revealed that rs145204276 resulted in a decreased risk of SLE (DD genotypes vs II genotypes: adjusted OR = 0.538, 95% CI, 0.30‐0.97, P =.039; ID genotypes vs II genotypes: adjusted OR = 0.641, 95% CI, 0.46‐0.89, P =.007; ID/DD genotypes vs II genotypes: adjusted OR = 0.621, 95% CI, 0.46‐0.84, P =.002; D alleles vs I alleles: adjusted OR = 0.680, 95% CI, 0.53‐0.87, P =.002). A reduced incidence of renal disorders in SLE was found to be related to ID/DD genotypes and D alleles (ID/DD genotypes vs II genotypes: OR = 0.57, 95% CI, 0.36‐0.92, P =.020; D alleles vs I alleles: OR = 0.63, 95% CI, 0.43‐0.93, P =.019). However, no significant association of rs2235095, rs6790, rs2067079 and rs1951625 polymorphisms with SLE risk was observed (P >.05). Additionally, haplotype analysis showed that a decreased SLE risk resulted from the A‐A‐C‐G‐D haplotype (OR = 0.67, 95% CI, 0.49‐0.91, P =.010). Also, patients in the SLE group showed a down‐regulated expression of LncRNA‐GAS5 and PTEN than the healthy volunteers; however, patients with rs145204276 ID/DD genotypes showed up‐regulated expression of LncRNA‐GAS5 and PTEN compared with patients carrying the II genotype. Furthermore, the miR‐21 levels were considerably up‐regulated in the SLE group than the healthy volunteers, and patients with rs145204276 ID/DD genotype had lower miR‐21 levels than the ones with the II genotype. Thus, we found that the LncRNA‐GAS5/miR‐21/PTEN signalling pathway was involved in the development of SLE, where LncRNA‐GAS5 acted as an miR‐21 target, and miR‐21 regulated the expression of PTEN. These findings indicated that the rs145204276 ID/DD genotypes in the LncRNA‐GAS5 gene promoter region may be protected against SLE by up‐regulating the expression of LncRNA‐GAS5, which consecutively regulated miR‐21 and PTEN levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to establish reference values for middle‐aged subjects and to investigate the age and gender dependence of liver diffusion MRI parameters. The IVIM type of liver diffusion scan was based on a single‐shot spin‐echo–type echo‐planar sequence using a 1.5 T magnet with 16 b‐values. Diffusion‐derived vessel density (DDVD)(b0b2) or DDVD(b0b10) was the signal difference between b = 0 and b = 2 (or b = 10) s/mm2 images after removing visible vessels. IVIM analysis was performed with full fitting and segmented fitting, and with a threshold b‐value of 60 or 200 s/mm2, and fitting started from b = 2 s/mm2. Thirty‐one men (age range: 25‐71 years) and 26 men (age: 22‐69 years) had DDVD and IVIM analysis, respectively, while 37 women (age: 20‐71 years) and 36 women (age: 20‐71 years) had DDVD and IVIM analysis, respectively. DDVD results showed a significant age‐related reduction for women. IVIM results for full fitting showed excellent agreement with those for segmented fitting using a threshold b of 60 s/mm2, but this was less good for results with a threshold b of 200 s/mm2. As age increased, female subjects' Dslow measure showed a significant reduction, while their PF and Dfast measures showed a significant increase. For the age group of 40‐55 years, DDVD(b0b2), DDVD(b0b10), Dslow, PF and Dfast were 12.26 ± 3.90 au/pixel, 16.95 ± 5.45 au/pixel, 1.072 ± 0.067 (10−3 mm2/s), 0.141 ± 0.025 and 61.0 ± 14.0 (10−3 mm2/s) for men, and 13.35 ± 3.6 au/pixel, 17.20 ± 3.62 au/pixel, 1.069 ± 0.074 (10−3 mm2/s), 0.119 ± 0.014 and 57.1 ± 13.2 (10−3 mm2/s) for women, respectively. DDVD measure of this study suggest that aging is associated with a reduction in liver perfusion. There is a possibility that a lower Dslow measure is associated with artificially higher PF and Dfast measures, and that IVIM modeling of the perfusion component is constrained by the diffusion component. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of novel materials with effective defect‐repairing properties will help avoid subtotal gastrectomy in patients with large gastric perforations. We prepared perfused decellularized gastric matrix (PDGM) and analyzed its components, spatial structure, biomechanics, cytotoxicity, and histocompatibility to validate its efficacy in the repair of gastric perforation. PDGM retained large amounts of gastric extracellular matrix, while residual glandular cells and muscle fibers were not found. The spatial structure of the tissue was well preserved, while the DNA and glycosaminoglycan contents were significantly decreased compared with normal gastric tissue (p <.01). There was no obvious deformation of the spatial structure and tissue elasticity of PDGM after sterilization by Cobalt‐60 irradiation. The PDGM had good histocompatibility. PDGM was then used to repair a rat gastric perforation model. Radiography of the upper gastrointestinal tract at 24 hr postoperatively revealed no contrast agent leakage. There was evidence of early fibroblast proliferation, which was complicated by capillary regeneration. The hyperplastic gastric gland was slightly disarranged after repair. Defects of the muscular layer also healed a little with the regeneration process. PDGM is a nontoxic biocompatible biological mesh that may be useful for repairing relatively large gastric defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we investigate the value consequence of a firm's irresponsible environmental behavior, carbon dioxide emissions, through the lens of lenders and bondholders. We firstly find that a firm's carbon risk significantly enhances the cost of debt financing. In particular, we find that the positive nexus between a firm's carbon emissions and the cost of debt has a great discrepancy in countries which have different institutions, cultures, and strength of legal rights. Our empirical evidence suggests that corporate environment risk may raise default risk and ultimately provoke creditors to enhance their required returns. Furthermore, our findings also are consistent with the viewpoints of stakeholders and ethical theories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD), is one of the most lethal malignancies around the world. The aim of this study was to find the long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) acting as diagnostic and prognostic biomarker of STAD. Methods: Base on TCGA dataset, the differentially expressed mRNAs (DEmRNAs) and lncRNAs (DElncRNAs) were identified between STAD and normal tissue. The machine learning and survival analysis were performed to evaluate the potential diagnostic and prognostic value of lncRNAs for STAD. We also build the co‐expression network and functional annotation. The expression of selected candidate mRNAs and lncRNAs were validated by Quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) and GSE27342 dataset. GSE27342 dataset were also to perform gene set enrichment analysis. Results: A total of 814 DEmRNAs and 106 DElncRNAs between STAD and normal tissue were obtained. FOXD2‐AS1, LINC01235, and RP11‐598F7.5 were defined as optimal diagnostic lncRNA biomarkers for STAD. The area under curve (AUC) of the decision tree model, random forests model, and support vector machine (SVM) model were 0.797, 0.981, and 0.983, and the specificity and sensitivity of the three model were 75.0% and 97.1%, 96.9% and 96%, and 96.9% and 97.1%, respectively. Among them, LINC01235 was not only an optimal diagnostic lncRNA biomarkers, but also related to survival time. The expression of three DEmRNAs (ESM1, WNT2, and COL10A1) and three optimal diagnostic lncRNAs biomarkers (FOXD2‐AS1, RP11‐598F7.5, and LINC01235) in qRT‐PCR validation was were consistent with our integrated analysis. Except for FOXD2‐AS1, ESM1, WNT2, COL10A1, and LINC01235 were upregulated in STAD, which was consistent with our integration results. Gene set enrichment analysis results indicated that DNA replication, Cell cycle, ECM‐receptor interaction, and P53 signaling pathway were four significantly enriched pathways in STAD. Conclusion: Our study identified three DElncRNAs as potential diagnostic biomarkers of STAD. Among them, LINC01235 also was a prognostic lncRNA biomarkers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the protologue, Epimedium tianmenshanense (Berberidaceae), a species endemic to western Hunan, China, was described as 'flower small, 0.2–0.4 cm diam., inner sepals white, petals as long as inner sepals or a little shorter than the latter, spur very short, ca 5.0 mm'. However, both morphological characteristics and molecular evidence suggest that E. tianmenshanense is closely related to E. baojingense, a taxon with a long spur, thus suggesting that the size of the floral parts is not as reliable as previously believed. When investigating the variability of E. tianmenshanense in more detail, in the field as well as in cultivation, we found that the petals were are highly variable in morphology (both shape and size), being cucullate, subulate, short to long spurred, and with various transitions. The flowers size varied from small to large accordingly. The flowers with cucullate and subulate petals, which were a little shorter than the inner sepals or almost as long as the latter, were small (about 0.8 cm in diameter). The flowers with long spurs, which were much longer than the inner sepals, were also large (about 2.5–3.5 cm in diameter). Finally, the flowers with short spurs, which were a little longer than the inner sepals, were medium‐sized (about 1.0–1.2 cm in diameter). In addition, the color of inner sepals was revised from 'white, occasionally light mulberry‐purple' to yellowish green or yellowish white. Epimedium tianmenshanense is a perfect example of natural petal evolution, which could be used for further taxonomic and evolutionary studies. The reason for the variation and the taxonomic treatment of the species still need further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the field of LCD, Advanced Super Dimension Switch (ADS) technology is widely used due to its outstanding features, such as high transmittance, wide view, and weak color shift. However, the ADS technology still has intractable problems. One of the most difficult problems is the dark state light leakage under mechanical deformation which is inherent in ADS. In this paper, a novel model called Zero Light Leakage ADS (ZLL‐ADS) is proposed, which can completely eliminate the dark state light leakage even under deformation. The key point of ZLL‐ADS is the introduction of +A plate in ADS panel. The important role of +A is to compensate the phase retardation of liquid crystals to avoid dark state light leakage caused by external stress on ADS panel. By applying ZLL‐ADS technology, the product properties of BOE's ADS Pro, especially the quality of the dark picture has been greatly improved, and the advantages of ADS in high transmittance and wide view are still maintained. The compensation principle is explained theoretically and verified by 18.5 inch FHD flat and curved demoes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temperature sensing is an important adaptive mechanism for warm‐blooded animals such as humans. ThermoTRP ion channels are activated by distinct but overlapping physiological temperatures. Our previous research demonstrated that sorting nexin 11 (SNX11) regulates lysosomal degradation of plasma membrane TRPV3, one of ThermoTRP ion channel proteins. Here, we found that SNX11, a vesicular trafficking protein, modulates mouse behaviour in response to temperature changes. Snx11‐knockout mice exhibit a stronger preference for mild temperatures along with enhanced sensitivity to harmful heat. Mechanistically, keratinocytes from Snx11‐knockout mice exhibit a larger temperature‐gated TRPV3 membrane current and have enhanced thermoTRPV3 expression in the plasma membrane compared to wild‐type keratinocytes. Additionally, Snx11‐knockout mice show higher endogenous TRPV3 protein levels in skin tissues than wild‐type mice do. Therefore, our results indicate that SNX11 may regulate thermal perception via alteration of functional thermoTRPV3 on the plasma membrane of thermally sensitive cells, which is the first link between vesicular trafficking and thermal transduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanism by which miR‐605‐3p regulates hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) metastasis has not been clarified. In this study, we found that miR‐605‐3p was down‐regulated in HCC and that low miR‐605‐3p expression was associated with tumour thrombus and tumour satellites. HCC patients with low miR‐605‐3p expression showed shorter overall survival and disease‐free survival after surgery. Overexpression of miR‐605‐3p inhibited epithelial‐mesenchymal transition and metastasis of HCC through NF‐κB signalling by directly inhibiting expression of TRAF6, while silencing of miR‐605‐3p had the opposite effect. We also found that SNHG16 directly bound to miR‐605‐3p as a competing endogenous RNA. Mechanistically, high expression of SNHG16 promoted binding to miR‐605‐3p and inhibited its activity, which led to up‐regulation of TRAF6 and sustained activation of the NF‐κB pathway, which in turn promoted epithelial‐mesenchymal transition and metastasis of HCC. TRAF6 increased SNHG16 promoter activity by activating NF‐κB, thereby promoting the transcriptional expression of SNHG16 and forming a positive feedback loop that aggravated HCC malignancy. Our findings reveal a mechanism for the sustained activation of the SNHG16/miR‐605‐3p/TRAF6/NF‐κB feedback loop in HCC and provide a potential target for a new HCC treatment strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the fixed aspect ratio of 650 for carbon fiber (CF) in hybrid‐fiber‐reinforced concrete (HFRC), this study investigated the effect of polypropylene fiber (PPF) and the aramid fiber (AF) aspect ratio on the mechanical properties of HFRC under the early stage. For this purpose, compressive, splitting tensile, and flexural tests were carried out to obtain the optimal hybridization parameters with respect to the aspect ratio of polypropylene fiber (PPF‐AR) and aramid fiber (AF‐AR) in HFRC. Additionally, the microstructure of HFRC was also examined by scanning electron microscope method to investigate the bond properties between fiber and a concrete matrix. It can be found from the results that the failure modes of overall tests are a ductile failure. The enhancement of tensile strength is attributed to PPF‐AR, whereas AF‐AR mainly tends to improve the performance in compressive and flexural strength. Meanwhile, the aspect ratio of fibers has little effect on the tensile‐to‐compressive‐strength ratio (TC‐R) or the flexural‐to‐compressive‐strength ratio (FC‐R) of early‐stage HFRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past few years, Leydig cell (LC) transplantation has been regarded as an effective strategy for providing physiological patterns of testosterone in vivo. Recently, we have successfully converted human foreskin fibroblasts (HFFs) into functional Leydig‐like cells (iLCs) in vitro by using the CRISPR/dCas9 system, which shows promising potential for seed cells. However, it is not known whether the reprogrammed iLCs can survive or restore serum testosterone levels in vivo. Therefore, in this study, we evaluate whether reprogrammed iLCs can restore the serum testosterone levels of castrated rats when they are transplanted into the fibrous capsule. We first developed the castrated Sprague Dawley rat model through bilateral orchiectomy and subsequently injected extracellular matrix gel containing transplanted cells into the fibrous capsule of castrated rats. Finally, we evaluated dynamic serum levels of testosterone and luteinizing hormone (LH) in castrated rats, the survival of implanted iLCs, and the expression levels of Leydig steroidogenic enzymes by immunofluorescence staining and Western blotting. Our results demonstrated that implanted iLCs could partially restore the serum testosterone level of castrated rats, weakly mimic the role of adult Leydig cells in the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐gonadal axis for a short period, and survive and secrete testosterone, through 6 weeks after transplantation. Therefore, this study may be valuable for treating male hypogonadism in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Mutations in optineurin (OPTN) have been identified in familial and sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We screened a cohort of Chinese patients for mutations in optineurin. We also performed an extensive literatures review of all mutations in optineurin identified previously to detect genotype–phenotype associations. Methods: All 16 exons of the OPTN gene in a cohort of 15 familial ALS indexes and 275 sporadic ALS patients of Chinese origin were sequenced by targeted next generation sequencing. Results: Two known heterozygous missense mutations in the OPTN, c.1481T> G (p.L494W), and c.1546G> C (p.E516Q), as well as one novel heterozygous missense mutation c.1690G> C (p.D564H) were each detected in one sporadic ALS patient. The patient carrying the p.E516Q mutation developed clinical features of ALS‐frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and the patient carrying the p.D564H mutation showed a phenotype of ALS. They both had an aggressive course, with a survival of 18 and 14 months respectively. Literature review showed that the clinical phenotypes in OPTN mutated ALS were not homogeneous, although some individuals showed a relatively slow progression and a long duration, some mutations carriers developed an aggressive progression and a short survival. Interpretation: OPTN mutations contribute to ALS in Chinese population and account for 0.8% of sporadic ALS patients and 1.5% of familial ALS in the pooled Chinese ALS cohorts. Mutations in optineurin can cause aggressive ALS+/−FTD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, Leydig cell (LC) transplantation has been revealed as a promising strategy for treating male hypogonadism; however, the key problem restricting the application of LC transplantation is a severe lack of seed cells. It seems that targeted activation of endogenous genes may provide a potential alternative. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine whether targeted activation of Nr5a1, Gata4 and Dmrt1 (NGD) via the CRISPR/dCas9 synergistic activation mediator system could convert human foreskin fibroblasts (HFFs) into functional Leydig‐like cells. We first constructed the stable Hsd3b‐dCas9‐MPH‐HFF cell line using the Hsd3b‐EGFP, dCas9‐VP64 and MS2‐P65‐HSF1 lentiviral vectors and then infected it with single guide RNAs. Next, we evaluated the reprogrammed cells for their reprogramming efficiency, testosterone production characteristics and expression levels of Leydig steroidogenic markers by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction or Western blotting. Our results showed that the reprogramming efficiency was close to 10% and that the reprogrammed Leydig‐like cells secreted testosterone rapidly and, more importantly, responded effectively to stimulation with human chorionic gonadotropin and expressed Leydig steroidogenic markers. Our findings demonstrate that simultaneous targeted activation of the endogenous NGD genes directly reprograms HFFs into functional Leydig‐like cells, providing an innovative technology that may have promising potential for the treatment of male androgen deficiency diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Aims: The objective of this study was to analyze the efficacy of polypyrrole/polylactic acid (PPy/PLA) nanofibrous scaffold cotransplanted with bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) in promoting the functional recovery in a rat spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods: Female Sprague‐Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups (n = 18/group): control group, PPy/PLA group, and PPy/PLA/BMSCs group. The SCI was induced in all rats. Consequently, rats in PPy/PLA/BMSCs group were transplanted with 1 × 105 BMSCs after implantation of PPy/PLA, while those in the PPy/PLA group were implanted with PPy/PLA only; no implantation was performed in the control group. Six weeks after surgery, immunofluorescence microscopy, electron microscope, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques were performed to assess the changes in the injured spinal cord tissues. Results: Electrophysiology and locomotor function testing suggested that PPy/PLA nanofibrous scaffold cotransplanted with BMSCs could promote the functional recovery of the spinal cord. Six weeks after the operation, lower amount of scar tissue was found in the PPy/PLA group compared with the control group. Abundant neurofilament (NF) and neuron‐specific marker (NeuN) positive staining, and myelin formations were detected in the injured area. In addition, the transplantation of BMSCs not only improved the efficacy of PPy/PLA but also managed to survive well and was differentiated into neural and neuroglial cells. Conclusions: The implantation of PPy/PLA nanofibrous scaffold and BMSCs has a great potential to restore the electrical conduction and to promote functional recovery by inhibiting the scar tissue formation, promoting axon regeneration, and bridging the gap lesion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymer dielectrics generally have comparatively low dielectric constant, operating temperatures, and/or high dielectric loss, which limits their uses especially in harsh environment. In this article, a novel trilayered nanocomposite film (TNF) was constructed via solution‐casting and, subsequently, hot‐pressing process, which was composed of two outer layers of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF, high dielectric constant) and a middle layer of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA, high glass transition temperature, Tg). The two outer layers of TNF were filled with barium strontium titanate nanoparticles to further increase the dielectric constant of PVDF. The PMMA in the middle layer was used to largely suppress the dielectric loss and simultaneously improve the temperature tolerance of TNF. Results show that the introduction of PMMA induced oriented crystal formation in the interface regions between PVDF and PMMA components. Moreover, most of the impurity ions were dramatically immobilized by partly oriented α crystals and high Tg PMMA layer until the temperature exceeded 120 °C. Therefore, the TNFs showed a high‐temperature tolerance and notably decreased loss, which are promising for widespread energy storage applications where harsh working conditions are present. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2019, 57, 1043–1052 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyperspectral imaging has great achievements in agriculture, astronomy, surveillance, and so on. However, the inherent low spatial resolution of hyperspectral imaging, unfortunately, limits its more widespread applications. Recently, hyperspectral image (HSI) super resolution addresses this problem by fusing a low spatial resolution HSI (LR‐HSI) with a high spatial resolution multispectral image (HR‐MSI), but most of these methods did not consider real‐time restoration of high spatial resolution HSI. In this study, the authors propose a fast HSI super‐resolution method which fills this blank. Specifically, they model the hyperspectral super resolution as a linear regression problem according to the fact that the imaging process is a linear transform and the inverse of this transform can be approximately estimated, as the spectra of a typical scene lie in a very low‐dimensional space. To further exploit the low‐dimensional nature of the spectra, they divide the HR‐MSI and LR‐HSI into several patches and learn the inverse transform patch‐by‐patch. Experiments on several public datasets show that their method approximates state‐of‐the‐art methods in accuracy, but is several orders of magnitude faster than all of them. Furthermore, they provide an efficient C language implementation of their methods, which can meet the real‐time request. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]