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Nodosin, a prominent diterpenoid derived from Rabdosia serra [Maxim] Hara extracts, exhibits notable antitumor activity in various cancers. However, its effect on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the underlying molecular mechanism remain inadequately understood, which is important for its clinical prescription. This study aims to reveal the mechanism through which nodosin exerts its effects, thereby providing further insights for its application. Nodosin was prepared in concentrations of 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0, and 2.0 μM. The effect of nodosin on the viability of SNU378 and HCCLM3 cells was evaluated using CCK8 and flow cytometry assays. Furthermore, the regulation of PI3K/AKT signaling was assessed by Western blot analysis. The results demonstrated that nodosin significantly suppressed the viability of SNU378 and HCCLM3 cells, yielding IC50 values of 0.890 and 0.766 μM, respectively. Notably, ERCC6L was downregulated in cells treated with nodosin. Overexpressing ERCC6L was found to reverse the proliferation inhibition and the apoptosis enhancement by nodosin in HCC cells. Additionally, ERCC6L was observed to mitigate the inhibitory effects of nodosin on PI3K/AKT signaling in both SNU378 and HCCLM3 cells. Conversely, the inhibition of PI3K/Akt signaling could counteract the effect of ERCC6L. Thus, the anti‐proliferation effects of nodosin on HCC cells are mediated by the ERCC6L/PI3K/AKT axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infection is a known cause of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), and matrix metalloproteases‐2 (MMP‐2) secreted by vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) plays a key role in the structural disruption of the middle layer of the arteries during AAA progression. The periodontal pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis is highly associated with the progression of periodontitis. GroEL protein of periodontal pathogens is an important virulence factor that can invade the body through either the bloodstream or digestive tract and is associated with numerous systemic diseases. Although P. gingivalis aggravates AAA by increasing the expression of MMP‐2 in animal studies, the molecular mechanism through which P. gingivalis regulates the expression of MMP‐2 is still unknown and requires further investigation.In this study, we first confirmed through animal experiments that P. gingivalis GroEL promotes MMP‐2 secretion from vascular SMCs, thereby aggravating Ang II‐induced aortic remodeling and AAA formation. In addition, rat vascular SMCs and A7r5 cells were used to investigate the underlying mechanisms in vitro. The results demonstrated that GroEL can promote the interaction between the K639 site of MMP‐2 and SUMO‐1, leading to MMP‐2 SUMOylation, which inhibits the reoccurrence of non–K639‐mediated monoubiquitylation. Hence, the monoubiquitylation‐mediated lysosomal degradation of MMP‐2 is inhibited, consequently promoting MMP‐2 stability and production. SUMOylation may facilitate intra‐endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi trafficking of MMP‐2, thereby enhancing its transport capacity. In conclusion, this is the first report demonstrating the presence of a novel posttranslational modification, SUMOylation, in the MMP family, suggesting that P. gingivalis GroEL may exacerbate AAA formation by increasing MMP‐2 production through SUMOylation in vascular SMCs. This study also provides a novel perspective on the role of SUMOylation in MMP‐2–induced systemic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elastin‐like polypeptide (ELP) is a thermo‐sensitive biosynthetic polymer composed of a Val‐Pro‐Gly‐Xaa‐Gly repeating unit possessing a sharp reversible phase transition property at specific temperatures. Here, ELP was fused to human superoxide dismutase 1 (hSOD1) modified with His tag to produce recombinant hSOD1‐Linker‐ELP‐His (hSODLEH) which was expressed in E. coli and purified via inverse thermal cycling (ITC) and Ni‐NTA resin. The results showed that ELP tag did not affect the soluble expression of SOD1. The purification by ITC was superior to Ni‐NTA resin due to its convenient purification process, improved recovery rate and purification fold, thus indicating industrial suitability for large scale protein purification in a cost‐ and time‐efficient manner. Moreover, one round of ITC was sufficient for the recovery of highly purified recombinant SOD. The results further showed that ELP improved the stability of the SOD, and did not affect its secondary structure nor its ability to bind divalent metal ions. Overall, ELP‐protein fusion system could be a promising tool for large scale enzyme purification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) are increasingly encouraged to enhance their environmental friendliness and safety while maintaining optimal energy density and cost‐effectiveness. Although various electrolytes using greener and safer glyme solvents have been reported, the low charge voltage (usually lower than 4.0 V vs Li/Li+) restricts the energy density of LIBs. Herein, tetraglyme, a less‐toxic, non‐volatile, and non‐flammable ether solvent, is exploited to build safer and greener LIBs. It is demonstrated that ether electrolytes, at a standard salt concentration (1 m), can be reversibly cycled to 4.5 V vs Li/Li+. Anchored with Boron‐rich cathode‐electrolyte interphase (CEI) and mitigated current collector corrosion, the LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2 (NMC811) cathode delivers competitive cyclability versus commercial carbonate electrolytes when charged to 4.5 V. Synchrotron spectroscopic and imaging analyses show that the tetraglyme electrolyte can sufficiently suppress the overcharge behavior associated with the high‐voltage electrolyte decomposition, which is advantageous over previously reported glyme electrolytes. The new electrolyte also enables minimal transition metal dissolution and deposition. NMC811||hard carbon full cell delivers excellent cycling stability at C/3 with a high average Coulombic efficiency of 99.77%. This work reports an oxidation‐resilient tetraglyme electrolyte with record‐high 4.5 V stability and enlightens further applications of glyme solvents for sustainable LIBs by designing Boron‐rich interphases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferrohydrodynamic pumps, with their compact design, offer a practical and efficient alternative to traditional pneumatic or mechanical pumps for driving microfluidic channels and fluidic devices, eliminating mechanical vibrations. A novel self‐circulating ferrohydrodynamic system has been developed to remotely control fluid flow within a linear acoustic cavity using a laser‐induced photothermal temperature gradient. This system enables the modulation of fluid flow rates in compact channels through adjustments in a D.C. magnetic field or laser‐induced surface temperature changes. Notably, laser intensity can accelerate, decelerate, or reverse flow rates within the channel, influencing ultrasonic waves propagating through fluidic cavities designed to resonate between 500 kHz and 700 kHz. The dynamic nature of the magnetoactive fluid cavity enhances wave‐matter interactions, particularly in acoustic domains. Laser‐induced flow control allows for precise manipulation of ultrasonic wave characteristics such as frequency, amplitude, mode splitting, phase shifting, and unidirectional transmission. This capability also supports the optical regulation of acoustic energy flow rates by halting or reversing fluid motion within the cavity. These advancements hold significant potential for applications in cavity acoustodynamics and underwater signal processing, promising innovations in remote fluidic control and acoustic modulation technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the diagnostic and therapeutic value of contrast‐enhanced ultrasound‐guided endoscopic retrograde appendicitis treatment (ERAT) in patients with uncomplicated appendicitis. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on clinical and ultrasound data collected from 105 pediatric patients with uncomplicated appendicitis between January 2020 and December 2023. The ultrasound findings before and after treatment, as well as postoperative follow‐up and recurrence rates, were summarized and analyzed. Results: Successful intubation was achieved in 96 patients (91.4%). The conventional ultrasound appendix visualization rate was 39.6% (38/105), while the appendix visualization rate after contrast‐enhanced ultrasound‐guidance was 75% (72/105). Contrast‐enhanced ultrasound revealed various appendiceal morphologic changes in 89 patients, such as twisting, tortuosity, stiffness, rough inner wall, dilated diameter, and narrowing of the lumen. Additionally, local filling defects, which indicated the presence of fecal stones or debris deposition, were noted in 68 patients. No leakage of the contrast agent occurred. Post‐treatment evaluation showed improvement in appendiceal diameter, lumen, and filling defects (P <.01). The follow‐up rate was 82 of 89 patients (92.1%), all of whom recovered well without a recurrence. The recurrence rate was 7.9% (7/89). Among the patients with recurrences, five patients resolved after medical treatment and two patients recovered after surgical treatment. Conclusion: Contrast‐enhanced ultrasound‐guided ERAT for uncomplicated appendicitis is safe and effective. Specifically, the appendix is increased, which facilitates an evaluation of therapeutic effectiveness. ERAT serves as a valuable supplementary modality to determine the need for surgical treatment of acute appendicitis, which is of significant clinical value. Access the CME test here and search by article title. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Previous proteomics studies in dysferlinopathy muscle have been limited in scope, often utilizing 2D‐electrophoresis and yielding only a small number of differential expression calls. To address this gap, this study aimed to employ high‐resolution proteomics to explore the proteomic landscapes of dysferlinopathy and analyze the correlation between muscle pathological changes and alterations in protein expression in muscle biopsies. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive approach to investigate the proteomic profile and disease‐associated changes in the muscle tissue proteome from 15 patients with dysferlinopathy, exhibiting varying degrees of dystrophic pathology, alongside age‐matched controls. Our methodology encompasses tandem mass tag (TMT)‐labeled liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS)‐based proteomics, protein–protein interaction (PPI) network analysis, weighted gene co‐expression network analysis, and differential expression analysis. Subsequently, we examined the correlation between the expression of key proteins and the clinical characteristics of the patients to identify pathogenic targets associated with DYSF mutations in dysferlinopathy. Results: A total of 1600 differentially expressed proteins were identified, with 1321 showing high expression levels and 279 expressed at lower levels. Our investigation yields a molecular profile delineating the altered protein networks in dysferlinopathy‐afflicted skeletal muscle, uncovering dysregulation across numerous cellular pathways and molecular processes, including mRNA metabolic processes, regulated exocytosis, immune response, muscle system processes, energy metabolic processes, and calcium transmembrane transport. Moreover, we observe significant associations between the protein expression of ANXA1, ANXA2, ANXA4, ANXA5, LMNA, PYGM, and the extent of histopathologic changes in muscle biopsies from patients with dysferlinopathy, validated through immunoblotting and immunofluorescence assays. Conclusions: Through the aggregation of expression data from dysferlinopathy‐impacted muscles exhibiting a range of pathological alterations, we identified multiple key proteins associated with the dystrophic pathology of patients with dysferlinopathy. These findings provide novel insights into the pathogenesis of dysferlinopathy and propose promising targets for future therapeutic endeavors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The population of people living with dementia (PLwD) continues to grow in Japan where advance care planning (ACP) for PLwD is relatively new. Our aim was to evaluate the feasibility and cultural acceptability of a dementia‐specific ACP communication skills toolkit for Japanese primary care clinicians. Methods: We delivered 13 training sessions in primary care clinics across central Japan and conducted a post‐training survey to assess whether the toolkit increased confidence in dementia‐specific ACP communication skills and the acceptability of the toolkit with the following four statements: (1) The language in the sessions was clear, (2) The sessions took an appropriate amount of time to complete, (3) The design of the sessions was an effective educational method, and (4) The sessions were culturally appropriate for communication with Japanese patients with dementia and their family members. We asked participants to respond using a 5‐point Likert scale from strongly agree to strongly disagree. Results: All participants were Japanese and included 80 physicians (mean age 39.8 years), 33 nurses (mean age 45.7 years), and 58 other participants (mean age 42.9 years), who were 30.0%, 87.9%, and 55.2% female, respectively. Most participants practiced in rural settings. In pre‐ post‐comparisons, participant confidence increased in determining capacity, understanding dementia prognosis, goals of care, eliciting surrogates, recommending self‐care practices to families, and leading family meetings (all p < 0.001). Most participants strongly agreed or agreed that the toolkit was an effective method (96.9%), took an appropriate amount of time (94.5%), contained clear language (89.8%), and was culturally appropriate (73.6%). Conclusions: Dementia‐specific ACP communication skills toolkit can be delivered in Japan. Japanese primary care clinicians generally felt the dementia‐specific ACP toolkit increased their confidence in ACP communication skills and was acceptable. The language, time, and design were well received, though further work is needed to improve the cultural appropriateness of the toolkit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The relationship between systemic immune‐inflammation index (SII) and psoriasis and its prognosis is not yet clear. In this study, the correlation between SII and psoriasis, psoriasis comorbidities, and all‐cause mortality was investigated based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Methods: The study population was derived from five NHANES cycles: 2003–2006, 2009–2014, and survival follow‐up was as of December 31, 2019. The association between SII and psoriasis and its comorbidities was analyzed using weighted multivariate logistic regression models. Weighted COX regression was used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Restricted cubic spline, subgroup and sensitivity analyses were also used. Logarithmic conversion was performed on SII(log2SII) to reduce the impact of outliers. Results: A total of 21,431 participants were included in this study. As a continuous variable, log2SII was significantly associated with psoriasis in the fully adjusted model [OR = 1.20(1.04–1.39), p =.01]. log2SII remained positively associated with psoriasis after excluding participants with a history of cancer or cardiovascular disease (CVD), or non‐Hispanic black participants. Among psoriasis patients, log2SII was significantly associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS) [OR = 1.68(1.19,2.38), p =.004] and all‐cause mortality [HR = 1.48(1.09,1.99), p =.01]. Similar results were consistently observed when SII was analyzed as a categorical variable (in quartiles). Conclusion: This study suggested a positive association between SII and the prevalence of psoriasis. Among psoriasis patients, SII was positively correlated with MetS and all‐cause mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Commercial lithium‐ion batteries are gradually approaching their theoretical specific energy, which cannot meet the fast‐growing energy storage demands. Lithium‐sulfur (Li−S) batteries are anticipated to supersede lithium‐ion batteries as the next‐generation energy storage system owing to their high atheoretical specific capacity (1675 mAh g−1) and energy density (2600 Wh kg−1). Nonetheless, Li−S batteries encounter several challenges, including the inadequate conductivity of sulfur and lithium sulfide, sulfur's volume expansion, and the shuttle effect of lithium polysulfides, all of which significantly impact the practical utilization of Li−S batteries. Electrospun carbon‐based nanofibers can simultaneously resolve these issues with their economical preparation, distinctive nanostructure, and exceptional flexibility. This review presents the most recent research findings on electrospun carbon‐based nanofibers materials serving as sulfur hosts and interlayer components in Li−S batteries. We analyzed the impact of the material's structural design on the performance of Li−S batteries and the relative underlying mechanism. Finally, the current challenges and issues faced by carbon‐based nanofibers composites in the application of Li−S batteries are summarized, and the future development trajectory are outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nuclear factor Y (NF‐Y) has been shown to be involved in plant growth and development in response to various environmental signals. However, the integration of these mechanisms into breeding practices for new cultivars has not been extensively investigated. In this study, the Arabidopsis gene AtNF‐YB1 was introduced into rice, including inbred Kasalath and the hybrids Jinfeng × Chenghui 727 and Jinfeng × Chuanhui 907. The obtained transgenic rice showed early flowering under both natural long day (NLD) and natural short day (NSD) conditions. For the inbred Kasalath, the transgenic lines clearly showed a shorter plant height and lower grain yield, with a decrease in spike length and grain number but more productive panicles. However, the hybrids with AtNF‐YB1 had much smaller or even zero reduction in spike length and grain number and more productive panicles. Thus, maintained or even increased grain yields of the transgenic hybrids were recorded under the NLD conditions. Quantitative PCR analysis indicated that the rice flowering initiation pathways were early activated via the suppression of Ghd7 induction in the transgenic rice. RNA‐Seq further demonstrated that three pathways related to plant photosynthesis were markedly upregulated in both Jinfeng B and the hybrid Jinfeng × Chuanhui 907 with AtNF‐YB1 expression. Moreover, physiological experiments showed an upregulation of photosynthetic rates in the transgenic lines. Taken together, this study suggests that AtNF‐YB1 expression in rice not only induces early flowering but also benefits photosynthesis, which might be used to develop hybrid varieties with early ripening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammation is an intrinsic protective mechanism against various forms of cellular injuries in humans; however, its undesired activation results in tissue damage and cell death. The onset of chronic inflammation and oxidative stress are the key characteristics of autoimmune inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), for which an effective treatment is yet to be developed. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the protective effects and molecular mechanisms of a novel herbal preparation, Jing‐Si herbal tea (JS), against H2O2‐induced inflammation and cellular damage in HIG‐82 synoviocytes. We found that JS did not show any significant alterations in cell viability at <188 μg/mL; however, a cytotoxic effect was observed at 188–1883 μg/mL concentrations tested. We found that expressions of inflammation associated extracellular matrix (ECM)‐degrading proteases MMP‐13, ADAMTS‐2, ‐8, and ‐17 were abnormally enhanced under H2O2‐induced pathological oxidative stress (ROS) in HIG‐82 cells. Interestingly, JS treatment not only reduced the ROS levels but also significantly repressed the protein expressions of collagen degrading proteases in a dose‐dependent manner. Treatment with JS showed enhanced cell viability against H2O2‐induced toxic ROS levels. The expressions of cell protective aggrecan, Collagen II, and Bcl‐2 were increased, whereas MMP‐13, ADAMTS‐2, Cytochrome C, and cleaved Caspase 3 were decreased by JS under inflammatory agents H2O2, MIA, LPS, and TNF‐α treatment, respectively, in HIG‐82 cells. Interestingly, the cytoprotective effect of JS treatment was attributed to a decreased mitochondrial localization of Bax and a reduction of Cytochrome C release into the cytoplasm of H2O2‐treated HIG‐82 cells. Collectively, our results suggest a novel protective mechanism of JS for RA treatment, which could be potentially applied as a complementary treatment or as an alternative therapeutic approach to mitigate inflammatory diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatial epidemiology often involves the analysis of spatial count data with an unusually high proportion of zero observations. While Bayesian hierarchical models perform very well for zero‐inflated data in many situations, a smooth response surface is usually required for the Bayesian methods to converge. However, for infectious disease data with excessive zeros, a Wombling issue with large spatial variation could make the Bayesian methods infeasible. To address this issue, we develop estimating equations associated with disease mapping by including over‐dispersion and spatial noises in a spatial zero‐inflated Poisson model. Asymptotic properties are derived for the parameter estimates. Simulations and data analysis are used to assess and illustrate the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

β‐Galactosidases are crucial enzymes that hydrolyse oligosaccharides and polysaccharides with terminal β‐1,4‐glycosidic bonds. Though the traditional application of β‐Galactosidases has been to catalyse the breakdown of lactose in dairy products, its application extends beyond the production of lactose‐free products since variants capable of facilitating lactose condensation and exhibiting galactosyl transferase activity are extensively utilised for the synthesis of prebiotic galacto‐oligosaccharides. This review analyses β‐Galactosidase in multiple aspects, including sources, classification, characterisation, immobilisation, genetic engineering and applications in terms of whey treatment, biofuel production, production of lactose‐free dietary product, synthesis of galacto‐oligosaccharides and the early detection of cellular senescence and tumours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Photoperiod employs complicated networks to regulate various developmental processes in plants, including flowering transition. However, the specific mechanisms by which photoperiod affects epigenetic modifications and gene expression variations in plants remain elusive. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of DNA methylation, small RNA (sRNA) accumulation, and gene expressions under different daylengths in facultative long‐day (LD) grass Brachypodium distachyon and short‐day (SD) grass rice. Our results showed that while overall DNA methylation levels were minimally affected by different photoperiods, CHH methylation levels were repressed under their favorable light conditions, particularly in rice. We identified numerous differentially methylated regions (DMRs) that were influenced by photoperiod in both plant species. Apart from differential sRNA clusters, we observed alterations in the expression of key components of the RNA‐directed DNA methylation pathway, DNA methyltransferases, and demethylases, which may contribute to the identified photoperiod‐influenced CHH DMRs. Furthermore, we identified many differentially expressed genes in response to different daylengths, some of which were associated with the DMRs. Notably, we discovered a photoperiod‐responsive gene MYB11 in the transcriptome of B. distachyon, and further demonstrated its role as a flowering inhibitor by repressing FT1 transcription. Together, our comparative and functional analysis sheds light on the effects of daylength on DNA methylation, sRNA accumulation, and gene expression variations in LD and SD plants, thereby facilitating better designing breeding programs aimed at developing high‐yield crops that can adapt to local growing seasons. Significance Statement: Our comprehensive analysis of DNA methylation, small RNA accumulation, and gene expressions combined with functional analysis of long‐day (LD) photoperiod‐induced MYB11 in Brachypodium distachyon offers insights into the impact of daylength on epigenetic modifications, and gene expression variations in LD and short‐day plants. Our research fosters the potential for more calculated scheming of breeding programs that strive to produce high‐yielding crops capable of adapting to their respective local growing seasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To reduce the occurrence of information loss and distortion in image style transfer, a method is proposed for researching and designing image style transfer technology based on multi‐scale convolutional neural networks (CNNs) feature fusion. Initially, the VGG19 model is designed for coarse and fine‐scale networks to achieve multi‐scale CNN feature extraction of target image information. Subsequently, while setting the corresponding feature loss function, an additional least‐squares penalty parameter is introduced to balance the optimal total loss function. Finally, leveraging the characteristics of stochastic gradient descent iteration, image features are fused and reconstructed to obtain better style transfer images. Experimental evaluations utilize peak signal‐to‐noise ratio (PSNR), structural similarity index (SSIM), information entropy (IE), and mean squared error (MSE) as metrics for assessing the transferred images, comparing them with three typical image style transfer methods. Results demonstrate that the proposed method achieves optimal performance across all metrics, realizing superior image style transfer effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HLA‐B*15:359 differs from HLA‐B*15:01:01:01 by one nucleotide substitution in exon 3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HLA‐A*02:407 differs from HLA‐A*02:01:01:01 by one nucleotide substitution in codon 109 in exon 3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HLA‐B*15:358 differs from HLA‐B*15:02:01:01 by one nucleotide substitution at position 685 in exon 4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) offers a standardized international terminology to operationalize function management across multiple domains, but the summary score of the ICF qualifier scale provides limited information on the comparison of personal abilities and functioning difficulties. Objectives: To enhance the interpretative power of the ICF‐based Health‐oriented Personal Evaluation for the community‐dwelling older person (iHOPE‐OP) scale through the implementation of the item response theory (IRT) modelling. Methods: This cross‐sectional, multi‐centre study administrated 161 ICF categories (58 on body functions, 15 on body structures, 60 on activities or participation and 28 on environmental factors) to evaluate the functional level of 338 older citizens (female = 158, male = 180) residing in community or supportive living facilities. The validation process encompassed assessing the IRT model fitness and evaluating the psychometric properties of the IRT‐derived iHOPE‐OP scale. Results: The age of participants ranged from 60 to 94.57, with the mean age of 70. The analysis of non‐parametric and parametric models revealed that the three‐parameter logistic IRT model, with a dichotomous scoring principle, exhibited the best fit. The 53‐item iHOPE‐OP scale demonstrated high reliability (Cronbach's α = 0.9729, Guttman's lambda‐2 = 0.9749, Molenaar‐Sijtsma Statistic = 0.9803, latent class reliability coefficient = 0.9882). There was a good validity between person abilities and the Barthel Index (p <.001, r =.83), as well as instrumental activities of daily living (p <.001, r =.84). Conclusions: IRT methods generate the reliable and valid iHOPE‐OP scale with the most discriminable and minimal items to represent the older person's functional performance at a comprehensive level. The use of the Wright map can aid in presby‐functioning management by visualizing item difficulties and person abilities. Implications for practice: Considering the intricate and heterogeneous health status of older persons, a single functional assessment tool might not fulfil the need to fully understand the multifaceted health status. For use in conjunction with the IRT and ICF framework, the reliable and valid iHOPE‐OP scale was developed and can be applied to capture presby‐functioning. The Wright map depicts the distribution of item difficulties and person abilities on the same scale that facilitates person‐centred goal setting and tailors intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines how product design affects museum visits and museum product loyalty. Based on the gaps in previous research, the study posits interrelationships among product design (esthetics and symbolism), emotional states (pleasure and arousal), attitude toward the product, loyalty repurchase intention and electronic word‐of‐mouth (eWOM), and museum visit intention. This research applied partial least squares‐structural equation modeling to analyze data from 316 customers who purchased the museum's random boxes. The empirical results suggest that (1) esthetics and symbolism are antecedents of attitude, pleasure, and arousal; (2) attitude toward the product mediates the effect of product design on product loyalty and museum visit intention; (3) arousal helps mediate the relationship between symbolism and repurchase intention; and (4) pleasure is an antecedent of attitude toward the product. This study provides valuable practical simplications and offers new areas for future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We found that GroEL in Porphyromonas gingivalis accelerated tumor growth and increased mortality in tumor‐bearing mice; GroEL promoted proangiogenic function, which may be the reason for promoting tumor growth. To understand the regulatory mechanisms by which GroEL increases the proangiogenic function of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), we explored in this study. In EPCs, MTT assay, wound‐healing assay, and tube formation assay were performed to analyze its activity. Western blot and immunoprecipitation were used to study the protein expression along with next‐generation sequencing for miRNA expression. Finally, a murine tumorigenesis animal model was used to confirm the results of in vitro. The results indicated that thrombomodulin (TM) direct interacts with PI3K/Akt to inhibit the activation of signaling pathways. When the expression of TM is decreased by GroEL stimulation, molecules in the PI3K/Akt signaling axis are released and activated, resulting in increased migration and tube formation of EPCs. In addition, GroEL inhibits TM mRNA expression by activating miR‐1248, miR‐1291, and miR‐5701. Losing the functions of miR‐1248, miR‐1291, and miR‐5701 can effectively alleviate the GroEL‐induced decrease in TM protein levels and inhibit the proangiogenic abilities of EPCs. These results were also confirmed in animal experiments. In conclusion, the intracellular domain of the TM of EPCs plays a negative regulatory role in the proangiogenic capabilities of EPCs, mainly through direct interaction between TM and PI3K/Akt to inhibit the activation of signaling pathways. The effects of GroEL on tumor growth can be reduced by inhibiting the proangiogenic properties of EPCs through the inhibition of the expression of specific miRNAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the nonlinear parameter‐varying (NPV) model of unmanned surface vehicle with the consideration of the velocities on yaw and surge as well as wave disturbances, a robust H∞$$ {H}_{\infty } $$ control method is proposed based on extended homogeneous polynomial Lyapunov function (EHPLF) to regulate heading for the superior performance on the rapidity, accuracy, and robustness. First, a NPV model of heading error is established to design a general form of a state feedback controller with a robust H∞$$ {H}_{\infty } $$ performance. Second, a Lyapunov matrix with full states and varying parameter is constructed to derive the robust H∞$$ {H}_{\infty } $$ global exponential stability conditions by Euler's homogeneity relation for the NPV system, known as the EHPLF stability conditions. Third, since the EHPLF stability conditions consist of a set of nonlinear coupled inequalities that cannot be directly solved by sum of squares (SOS) toolboxes, they are decoupled with matrix transformations to obtain the EHPLF‐SOS stability conditions, which is solved for the parameters of the state feedback controller. Finally, the simulation results indicate that EHPLF method exhibits a superior performance on dynamic, steady‐state, and robustness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute type A aortic dissection (AAAD) has a high probability of postoperative adverse outcomes (PAO) after emergency surgery, so exploring the risk factors for PAO during hospitalization is key to reducing postoperative mortality and improving prognosis. An artificial intelligence approach was used to build a predictive model of PAO by clinical data‐driven machine learning to predict the incidence of PAO after total arch repair for AAAD. This study included 380 patients with AAAD. The clinical features that are associated with PAO were selected using the LASSO regression analysis. Six different machine learning algorithms were tried for modeling, and the performance of each model was analyzed comprehensively using receiver operating characteristic curves, calibration curve, precision recall curve, and decision analysis curves. Explain the optimal model through Shapley Additive Explanation (SHAP) and perform an individualized risk assessment. After comprehensive analysis, the authors believe that the extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) model is the optimal model, with better performance than other models. The authors successfully built a prediction model for PAO in AAAD patients based on the XGBoost algorithm and interpreted the model with the SHAP method, which helps to identify high‐risk AAAD patients at an early stage and to adjust individual patient‐related clinical treatment plans in a timely manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the development of a transgenic rice line that is resistant to four devastating rice viruses. Traditional breeding for viral resistance in rice is challenging due to the lack of natural resistance sources. The researchers used RNA interference (RNAi) technology to generate transgenic rice plants that express a hairpin RNA construct targeting the viral genomes. The transgenic rice plants showed strong and broad resistance against all four viruses. This study provides a promising approach for engineering viral resistance in rice and potentially other crops. [Extracted from the article]

A small‐scale data‐selection method is proposed for deep‐learning‐based inverse design of reflective metasurface antennas (MAs). The overall design process involves discretization, coding, data selection, simulation, feature representation, training, prediction, and metasurface design. Unlike conventional method that selects the training data empirically after simulation from a large quantity of unit cells, the proposed statistically random data filtering (SRDF) method selects the training data set randomly before simulation by leveraging the geometric‐coding statistics of the unit cells. The advantages of the proposed data‐selection method include lower simulation cost (due to fewer simulations needed), improved generality, and higher design accuracy simultaneously. The design process starts from the discretization of a unit cell into a grid array of binaurally‐coded pico‐cells. Afterwards, the proposed SRDF method selects 0.01% of all the possible unit cells for simulation. With the simulated results, a deep‐convolutional‐variational‐autoencoder network is trained, leading to an accurate and bidirectional prediction of both the geometry and reflection phase of a unit cell in seconds. The proposed data‐selection method is validated by designing two reflective MAs with the predicted unit cells, each pointing a pencil beam off the boresight by 30° and 60°, respectively. Experiments are in line with full‐wave simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Total neointima implantation (patch neointima technique + triple‐branched stent graft placement) has been performed in proximal aortic repair for acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) for more than 10 years at a center. However, there is no report on the mid‐term outcomes with a control group of the surgical procedure. Consequently, the authors aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of this technique in this study. Patients who underwent the total neointima implantation were classified as Group A, and those who underwent the conventional aortic root reconstruction with the "sandwich" technique and the total aortic arch replacement were classified as Group B. Furthermore, the authors described the preoperative characteristics, operative data, and patient outcomes. Group A patients experienced a shorter surgery duration, lower volumes of perioperative bleeding, and fewer red blood cell transfusions. The incidence of neurological complications was significantly reduced in Group A. All patients maintained a normal range of proximal aortic sizes after surgery. Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed no significant differences between the patients in the two groups regarding cumulative mortality and the incidence of moderate‐to‐severe aortic insufficiency. In well‐selected patients, total neointima implantation is an alternative procedure for the surgical repair of ATAAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Studies on the epidemiological information and prognosis of primary malignant lacrimal gland tumors (MLGTs) are rare for its low occurrence. The goal of our research was to investigate the epidemiological characteristics and survival outcomes of patients with MLGTs. Methods: Incidence and demographic information of patients with MLGTs were collected from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. To identify independent prognostic factors for disease‐specific survival (DSS) and overall survival (OS), univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis were performed. Results: The overall incidence of primary MLGTs from 1975 to 2020 was 0.413/1,000,000 (according to the 2000 American standard population), with a steadily increasing incidence over years. A total of 964 patients with primary MLGTs were diagnosed, with an average age of 59.3 years. Of these, 53.2% were aged ≥60 years, 57.4% were female, and 77.1% were whites. Multivariate Cox regression analysis demonstrated that year of diagnosis, age, sex, histological type, SEER stage, surgery, and chemotherapy were independent prognostic factors of DSS or OS. Conclusions: Although primary MLGT is rare, its incidence has steadily increased in the past 46 years, and surgery was related to a better prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Media convergence works by processing information from different modalities and applying them to different domains. It is difficult for the conventional knowledge graph to utilise multi‐media features because the introduction of a large amount of information from other modalities reduces the effectiveness of representation learning and makes knowledge graph inference less effective. To address the issue, an inference method based on Media Convergence and Rule‐guided Joint Inference model (MCRJI) has been proposed. The authors not only converge multi‐media features of entities but also introduce logic rules to improve the accuracy and interpretability of link prediction. First, a multi‐headed self‐attention approach is used to obtain the attention of different media features of entities during semantic synthesis. Second, logic rules of different lengths are mined from knowledge graph to learn new entity representations. Finally, knowledge graph inference is performed based on representing entities that converge multi‐media features. Numerous experimental results show that MCRJI outperforms other advanced baselines in using multi‐media features and knowledge graph inference, demonstrating that MCRJI provides an excellent approach for knowledge graph inference with converged multi‐media features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Rhodiola L. is a genus that has undergone rapid radiation in the mid‐Miocene and may represent a typic case of adaptive radiation. Many species of Rhodiola have also been widely used as an important adaptogen in traditional medicines for centuries. However, a lack of high‐quality chromosome‐level genomes hinders in‐depth study of its evolution and biosynthetic pathway of secondary metabolites. Here, we assembled two chromosome‐level genomes for two Rhodiola species with different chromosome number and sexual system. The assembled genome size of R. chrysanthemifolia (2n = 14; hermaphrodite) and R. kirilowii (2n = 22; dioecious) were of 402.67 and 653.62 Mb, respectively, with approximately 57.60% and 69.22% of transposable elements (TEs). The size difference between the two genomes was mostly due to proliferation of long terminal repeat‐retrotransposons (LTR‐RTs) in the R. kirilowii genome. Comparative genomic analysis revealed possible gene families responsible for high‐altitude adaptation of Rhodiola, including a homolog of plant cysteine oxidase 2 gene of Arabidopsis thaliana (AtPCO2), which is part of the core molecular reaction to hypoxia and contributes to the stability of Group VII ethylene response factors (ERF‐VII). We found extensive chromosome fusion/fission events and structural variations between the two genomes, which might have facilitated the initial rapid radiation of Rhodiola. We also identified candidate genes in the biosynthetic pathway of salidroside. Overall, our results provide important insights into genome evolution in plant rapid radiations, and possible roles of chromosome fusion/fission and structure variation played in rapid speciation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the midterm efficacy of the Castor stent (CS) versus in situ fenestration (ISF) for reconstructing the left subclavian artery (LSA) in patients with type B aortic dissection (TBAD). Between July 2017 and July 2022, a total of 247 patients with TBAD were enrolled. One hundred thirty‐seven patients were treated using CSs (group A), while the remaining 110 patients received ISFs (group B). Data of the two groups were retrospectively analyzed. The success rates of surgery were 99.3% and 95.5% in groups A and B (p =.053), There were no deaths during hospitalization. During surgery, group B showed a longer surgical duration [68.0 (66.0, 77.0) vs. 62.0 (59.0, 66.0) min, p <.001] and intraoperative fluoroscopy time [18.0 (16.0, 20.0) vs. 16.0 (14.0, 18.0) min, p <.001] than group A. The follow‐up duration was similar for both groups (44.0 vs. 43.0 months, p =.877), and no patient died. Stent‐related complications were significantly lower in group A than in group B (1.5% vs. 8.4%, p =.009). Group A had fewer instances entry flow (0.7% vs. 4.7%, p =.048) and stent stenosis (0.7% vs. 2.8%, p =.206) than group B. All reintervention cases (4.7%) were from group B (p =.011). The rate of false aortic lumen thrombosis was significantly higher in group A than in group B (84.6% vs. 72.9%, p =.024). Both CSs and ISFs are evidently safe, feasible, and effective in achieving positive early outcomes in patients undergoing treatment for TBAD. Notably, at midterm follow‐up, CSs appeared to be superior to ISF in terms of reducing stent‐related complications and minimizing the need for reintervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oral nirmatrelvir/ritonavir is approved as treatment for acute COVID‐19, but the effect of treatment during acute infection on risk of Long COVID is unknown. We hypothesized that nirmatrelvir treatment during acute SARS‐CoV‐2 infection reduces risk of developing Long COVID and rebound after treatment is associated with Long COVID. We conducted an observational cohort study within the Covid Citizen Science (CCS) study, an online cohort study with over 100 000 participants. We included vaccinated, nonhospitalized, nonpregnant individuals who reported their first SARS‐CoV‐2 positive test March–August 2022. Oral nirmatrelvir/ritonavir treatment was ascertained during acute SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. Patient‐reported Long COVID symptoms, symptom rebound and test‐positivity rebound were asked on subsequent surveys at least 3 months after SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. A total of 4684 individuals met the eligibility criteria, of whom 988 (21.1%) were treated and 3696 (78.9%) were untreated; 353/988 (35.7%) treated and 1258/3696 (34.0%) untreated responded to the Long COVID survey (n = 1611). Among 1611 participants, median age was 55 years and 66% were female. At 5.4 ± 1.3 months after infection, nirmatrelvir treatment was not associated with subsequent Long COVID symptoms (odds ratio [OR]: 1.15; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.80–1.64; p = 0.45). Among 666 treated who answered rebound questions, rebound symptoms or test positivity were not associated with Long COVID symptoms (OR: 1.34; 95% CI: 0.74–2.41; p = 0.33). Within this cohort of vaccinated, nonhospitalized individuals, oral nirmatrelvir treatment during acute SARS‐CoV‐2 infection and rebound after nirmatrelvir treatment were not associated with Long COVID symptoms more than 90 days after infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyploids are common in Camellia sect. Paracamellia, which contain many important oil crop species. However, their complex evolutionary history is largely unclear. In this study, 22 transcriptomes and 19 plastomes of related species of Camellia were sequenced and assembled, providing the most completed taxa sampling of Camellia sect. Oleifera and C. sect. Paracamellia. Phylogenetic trees were reconstructed with predicted single‐copy nuclear genes and plastomes. Phylogenetic trees with nuclear genes demonstrated that C. sect. Oleifera should be merged into C. sect. Paracamellia. Cytonuclear discordance and network analyses suggested hybridizations among polyploid species and relatives. The divergence of major clades in C. sect. Paracamellia was dated to be during the middle to late Miocene from the ancestral Lingnan region, and a rapid diversification during the Quaternary was found, probably through hybridization and polyploidization. The tetraploid Camellia meiocarpa Hu may have originated from hybridization between closely related diploid species. The hexaploid Camellia oleifera C. Abel probably originated from hybridization between closely related diploid and tetraploid (e.g., C. meiocarpa) species. The octoploid Camellia vietnamensis T. C. Huang ex Hu could have originated from hybridization between hexaploid C. oleifera and the closely related diploid species. Hybridization and polyploidization played an important role in generating the rich variation of important fruit traits, especially increased fruit size in polyploid species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal‐halide perovskites have emerged as one of the most promising contenders for the next‐generation X‐ray scintillators on account of their large absorption coefficients, high light yields, and low‐cost fabrication. However, the existing X‐ray scintillators are plagued either by poor stability or high toxicity. Here, highly stable and flexible CsCu2I3@polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) composite films are fabricated simply by a facile one‐step drop‐coating technique. Benefiting from the reasonable light yields (24 100 photons MeV−1), short photoluminescence decay time (207 ns), and flat surface, a low detection limit of 39 nGyair s−1 and a record‐high resolution of up to 25 lp mm−1 are demonstrated in these CsCu2I3@PMMA composite films. The X‐ray imaging tests show that the CsCu2I3@PMMA composite films display excellent properties in the dynamic and irregular objects imaging. In addition, the CsCu2I3@PMMA composite films exhibit a desirable endurance to the high‐energy X‐ray's irradiation and the water erosion (photoluminescence quantum yield remains up of 90% of its initial value even after submersion in water for 300 h). This work provides a potential to develop eco‐friendly and highly stable halide perovskite materials for high‐resolution X‐ray imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purposes of this study were to develop and validate a nomogram for predicting postoperative transient neurological dysfunctions (TND) in patients with acute type A aortic dissection (AAAD) who underwent modified triple‐branched stent graft implantation. This retrospective study developed a nomogram‐based model in a consecutive cohort of 146 patients. Patient characteristics, preoperative clinical indices, and operative data were analyzed. Univariate and multivariable analyses were applied to identify the most useful predictive variables for constructing the nomogram. Discrimination and the calibration of the model was evaluated through the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC), the Hosmer–Lemeshow goodness‐of‐fit test and the decision curve analysis (DCA). At the same time, to identify and compare long‐term cumulative survival rate, Kaplan‐Meier survival curve was plotted. The incidence rate of postoperative TND observed in our cohort were 40.9%. Supra‐aortic dissection with or without thrombosis, creatinine >115 μmol and albumin <39.7 g/L, selective antegrade cerebral perfusion (SACP) time >7 min and total operation time >303 min, were confirmed as independent predictors that enhanced the likelihood of TND. Internal validation showed good discrimination of the model with under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.818 and good calibration (Hosmer–Lemeshow test, p >.05). DCA revealed that the nomogram was clinically useful. In the long‐term survival there was no significant difference between patients with or without TND history. The results showed the predict model based on readily available predictors has sufficient validity to identify TND risk in this population, that maybe useful for clinical decision‐making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recycling the degraded graphite is becoming increasingly important, which can helped conserve natural resources, reduce waste, and provide economic and environmental benefits. However, current regeneration methods usually suffer from the use of harmful chemicals, high energy and time consumption, and poor scalability. Herein, we report a continuously high‐temperature heating (≈2000 K) process to directly and rapidly upcycle degraded graphite containing impurities. A sloped carbon heater is designed to provide the continuous heating source, which enables robust control over the temperature profile, eliminating thermal barrier for heat transfer compared to conventional furnace heating. The upcycling process can be completed within 0.1 s when the degraded graphite rolls down the sloped heater, allowing us to produce the upcycled graphite on a large scale. High‐temperature heating removes impurities and enhances the graphitization degree and (002) interlayer spacing, making the upcycled graphite more suitable for lithium intercalation and deintercalation. The assembled upcycled graphite||Li cell displays a high reversible capacity of ≈320 mAh g−1 at 1 C with a capacity retention of 96% after 500 cycles, comparable to current state‐of‐the‐art recycled graphite. The method is a chemical‐free, rapid, and scalable way to upcycle degraded graphite, and is adaptable to recycle other electrode materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of hybrid materials consisting of alternating layers of metal alloys and polymeric composites has revolutionized the engineering field. These metal‐composite laminates combine the merits of each individual component, forming advanced and promising structures which could be employed for structural applications. The low fatigue crack growth rate and high damage tolerance of these materials are particularly fascinating. When developing metal‐composite laminates with superb functional properties, the combination of several metal surface treatment techniques is a common practice to ensure optimum metal‐composite adhesion. Today, a new cutting‐edge manufacturing technique utilizing nano‐porous network film has been established to get rid of the massive infrastructure of conventional autoclave techniques and produce first‐rate materials. Even though various techniques can be adopted to manufacture metal‐composite laminates, the selection of the techniques is highly dependent on the nature of the polymer matrix. After the manufacture of the metal‐composite laminates, post‐stretching is considered a critical step to alleviate the unfavorable residual stress to ensure the optimum performance of these materials for long‐term service. When dealing with natural fibers, it is worth mentioning that the processing temperature should be limited to below 200°C regardless of manufacturing technique to avoid fiber degradation. Metal‐composite laminates consisting of synthetic/natural fibers are considered a viable option to offset the demerits of each kind of fibers. By incorporating fatigue‐resilient natural fibers in the laminates, it is expected that the overall fatigue resistance of the laminates can be apparently enhanced, which is in line with the initial goal of developing metal‐composite laminates. Highlights: Fiber bridging offers fiber‐metal laminates with superior fatigue properties.Metal surface treatment is vital to ensure an optimum fiber‐bridging mechanism.A novel out‐of‐autoclave method can produce first‐grade fiber‐metal laminates.Post‐stretching is needed to lessen residual stress in fiber‐metal laminates.Hybrid fiber‐metal laminates are feasible for structural applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

InGaZnO (IGZO) thin‐film transistors (TFTs) have gained widespread use in active matrix (AM) displays due to their decent field‐effect mobility and low off current. However, the wide bandgap of IGZO limits their application in visible light detection. This study presents an industry process‐compatible method to achieve visible light detection in IGZO TFTs through N2 treatment during the sputtering and annealing process for the first time. A comparison with control IGZO TFTs shows that the N2‐treated IGZO TFTs exhibit a high responsivity of 0.66 A W−1 and detectivity of 5.40 × 1014 Jones for visible light detection. Based on X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis and technology computer‐aided design simulations, a model, focusing on oxygen vacancy modulation, is proposed to explain the visible‐light sensitivity in IGZO TFTs with N2 treatment. This work opens up new possibilities for the integration of IGZO photodetector into AM display panels to realize in‐cell environmental detection and biometric recognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogels are characterized by high water content and are typically used in water environments. However, when used in air environments, hydrogels face limitations due to instability caused by water loss. This study reports the development of PAM/glycerol hydrogels with improved stability. By using water–glycerol bi‐solvents to lock in water internally, a closed environment was established to reduce water exchange with the outside world. The hydrogel was made by forming a single PAM crosslinking network using UV crosslinked acrylamide (AM) monomer. The weight of the hydrogel varied by no more than 2% within 6 days, and the visible light transmittance was higher than 90%. In addition, the hydrogel had adjustable refractive index and mechanical properties. The hydrogels with stable performance could be used to fabricate optical lens with practical function in air environment. Meanwhile, the gels also have certain advantages in making a fluid‐driven hydrogel actuator with stable performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]