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The social organization of childcare is of special relevance to gender equality and family wellbeing. Childcare provision in China is often recognized as a case of familism, which highly relies on family care with limited state support. However, this all‐encompassing view may mask the local discrepancy generated by a decentralized social welfare system, especially when emerging initiatives have been enacted due to the government's concern about fertility. This article analyses the variation of childcare policies across 31 China mainland provinces, from the perspective of welfare regime theory. Using hierarchical cluster analysis, six policy patterns with varying configurations of familizing and defamilizing support are identified: (1) dual‐earner support, (2) moderate dual‐earner support, (3) moderate support, (4) general family support, (5) modified family support, and (6) a geo‐special case. We further explore the socioeconomic contexts of various policy profiles, with a particular focus on fertility and female employment. Findings suggest that, although with a nationally shared welfare ideology, subnational governments could exploit divergent strategies to support childcare in response to localized socioeconomic conditions. This research also provides insights into how childcare responsibilities are distributed between state and family in a non‐western country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To investigate the role of CD47 expression and its relationship with tumor‐resident macrophages, specifically at the tumor margin, in patients with type II endometrial cancer. This study aims to elucidate whether CD47 could serve as a prognostic marker and to understand the dynamics between CD47 and macrophages, which could inform new therapeutic strategies. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted involving 75 patients of type II endometrial. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed to assess CD47 expression and macrophage markers (CD68 and CD163). Results: The study found no direct correlation between CD47 expression levels and overall survival (p = 0.32), challenging its role as an independent prognostic marker in type II endometrial cancer. The higher expression of CD47 had significantly less incidence of endometrioid carcinoma G3 (p = 0.047). The negative correlation between CD47 H‐score and the density of CD68‐positive macrophages at tumor margin was statistically significant (p = 0.049). A high density of CD68‐positive macrophages at the tumor margin but a low density of CD163‐positive macrophages at the tumor margin were associated with poorer prognosis (p = 0.036). Conclusions: The complex interaction between CD47 and macrophages, particularly at the tumor margin, suggests new avenues for targeted therapy in type II endometrial cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a significant source of environmental pollution, posing threats to human safety. With growing concerns about environmental degradation, catalytic oxidation technology emerges as a paramount and widely adopted approach for VOC elimination, renowned for its operational simplicity, energy efficiency, and environmental friendliness. As a representative transition metal catalyst, cobalt‐based catalysts have garnered widespread use in VOC catalytic oxidation due to their cost‐effectiveness, versatility, and distinctive physicochemical properties. This paper provides a detailed exposition of the construction strategies and structure‐activity relationship of Co3O4‐based catalysts in VOCs oxidation reaction, encompassing both monometallic Co3O4 and multimetallic cobalt‐based catalysts. Furthermore, it offers a comprehensive summary and discussion of the latest research progress concerning Co3O4‐based catalysts in practical applications. Concluding with a meticulous analysis, the paper addresses the technical challenges inherent in developing Co3O4‐based catalysts for VOCs degradation. Additionally, it proposes research directions aimed at overcoming these challenges, contributing to the ongoing discourse on environmental sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Distinguishing similar actions has been a challenging challenge in skeleton‐based action recognition. Since the joint coordinates in these actions are similar, it is difficult to accomplish the recognition task using traditional joint features. To address this issue, the use of angle features to capture subtle nuances in various body parts, along with a critical angle enhancement module that assigns weights to different angle feature representations for a given action are proposed, highlighting the critical angle feature representation. The approach is evaluated using a three‐stream ensemble method on three large action recognition datasets, NTU‐RGB+D, NTU‐RGB+D 120, and Kinetics‐400. The experimental results demonstrate that incorporating angular information can effectively complement joint and skeletal features, leading to improved recognition of similar actions and enhanced model performance and robustness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

G‐quadruplexes (G4s) have been revived as promising therapeutic targets with the development of immunotherapy, but the G4‐mediated immune response remains unclear. We designed a novel class of G4‐binding organic‐platinum hybrids, L1‐cispt and L1‐transpt, with spatial matching for G4 binding and G4 DNA reactivity for binding site locking. The solution structure of L1‐transpt‐MYT1L G4 demonstrated the effectiveness of the covalent binding and revealed the covalent binding‐guided dynamic balance, accompanied by the destruction of the A5‐T17 base pairs to achieve the covalent binding of the platinum unit to N7 of the G6 residue. Furthermore, L1‐cispt‐ and L1‐transpt‐mediated genomic dysfunction could activate the retinoic acid‐induced gene I (RIG‐I) pathway and induce immunogenic cell death (ICD). The use of L1‐cispt/L1‐transpt‐treated dying cells as therapeutic vaccines stimulated a robust immune response and effectively inhibited tumor growth in vivo. Our findings highlight the importance of the rational combination of specific spatial recognition and covalent locking in G4‐trageting drug design and their potential in immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aging is always accompanied by chronic diseases which probably attribute to long‐term chronic inflammation in the aging body. Whereas, the mechanism of chronic inflammation in aging body is still obscure. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are capable of local chemotaxis to sites of inflammation and play a powerful role in immune regulation. Whether degeneration of MSCs in the aging body is associated with unbalanced inflammation is still not clear. In this study, immunosuppressive properties of aged MSCs are found to be repressed. The impaired immunosuppressive function of aged MSCs is associated with lower expression of the Hippo effector Yes‐associated protein 1 (YAP1) and its target gene signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1). YAP1 regulates the transcription of STAT1 through binding with its promoter. In conclusion, a novel YAP1/STAT1 axis maintaining immunosuppressive function of MSCs is revealed and impairment of this signal pathway in aged MSCs probably resulted in higher inflammation in aged mice liver. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The malignant transformation of hepatic progenitor cells (HPCs) in the inflammatory microenvironment is the root cause of hepatocarcinogenesis. However, the potential molecular mechanisms are still elusive. The HPCs subgroup is identified by single‐cell RNA (scRNA) sequencing and the phenotype of HPCs is investigated in the primary HCC model. Bulk RNA sequencing (RNA‐seq) and proteomic analyses are also performed on HPC‐derived organoids. It is found that tumors are formed from HPCs in peritumor tissue at the 16th week in a HCC model. Furthermore, it is confirmed that the macrophage‐derived TWEAK/Fn14 promoted the expression of inhibitor of differentiation‐1 (ID1) in HPCs via NF‐κB signaling and a high level of ID1 induced aberrant differentiation of HPCs. Mechanistically, ID1 suppressed differentiation and promoted proliferation in HPCs through the inhibition of HNF4α and Rap1GAP transcriptions. Finally, scRNA sequencing of HCC patients and investigation of clinical specimens also verified that the expression of ID1 is correlated with aberrant differentiation of HPCs into cancer stem cells, patients with high levels of ID1 in HPCs showed a poorer prognosis. This study provides important intervention targets and a theoretical basis for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The dual‐process theory that two different systems of thought coexist in creative thinking has attracted considerable attention. In the field of creative thinking, divergent thinking (DT) is the ability to produce multiple solutions to open‐ended problems in a short time. It is mainly considered an associative and fast process. Meanwhile, insight, the new and unexpected comprehension of close‐ended problems, is frequently marked as a deliberate and time‐consuming thinking process requiring concentrated effort. Previous research has been dedicated to revealing their separate neural mechanisms, while few studies have compared their differences and similarities at the brain level. Therefore, the current study applied Activation Likelihood Estimation to decipher common and distinctive neural pathways that potentially underlie DT and insight. We selected 27 DT studies and 30 insight studies for retrospective meta‐analyses. Initially, two single analyses with follow‐up contrast and conjunction analyses were performed. The single analyses showed that DT mainly involved the inferior parietal lobe (IPL), cuneus, and middle frontal gyrus (MFG), while the precentral gyrus, inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), parahippocampal gyrus (PG), amygdala (AMG), and superior parietal lobe were engaged in insight. Compared to insight, DT mainly led to greater activation in the IPL, the crucial part of the default mode network. However, insight caused more significant activation in regions related to executive control functions and emotional responses, such as the IFG, MFG, PG, and AMG. Notably, the conjunction analysis detected no overlapped areas between DT and insight. These neural findings implicate that various neurocognitive circuits may support DT and insight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Activation of the cyclic GMP‐AMP synthase‐stimulator of the interferon gene (cGAS‐STING) pathway is a potent anticancer immunotherapeutic strategy, and the induction of pyroptosis is a feasible way to stimulate the anticancer immune responses. Herein, two PtII complexes (Pt1 and Pt2) were designed as photoactivators of the cGAS‐STING pathway. In response to light irradiation, Pt1 and Pt2 could damage mitochondrial/nuclear DNA and the nuclear envelope to activate the cGAS‐STING pathway, and concurrently induce pyroptosis in cancer cells, which evoked an intense anticancer immune response in vitro and in vivo. Overall, we present the first photoactivator of the cGAS‐STING pathway, which may provide an innovative design strategy for anticancer immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Herbicide resistant weeds pose one of the most significant global challenges to sustainable food and fiber production. Plant traits are assumed to play a significant role in determining whether a weed is likely to evolve herbicide resistance but there have been few quantitative assessments to date. There is therefore an urgent need to investigate both the demographic and evolutionary characteristics of weeds to predict which weed species are likely to evolve herbicide resistance. Here, the discriminatory power of multiple plant traits was examined by comparing herbicide resistant and herbicide susceptible weeds in the United States. RESULTS: Despite the taxonomic and agronomic similarity of herbicide resistant and susceptible weeds in the United States, differences between these groups were captured by a relatively small set of explanatory variables. Herbicide resistant weeds were found across more states than susceptible species and this suggests widespread weeds also happen to be more problematic in crops and therefore specifically targeted for weed control. In terms of traits, herbicide resistant species were more likely to be outcrossing, have unisexual flowers and be wind pollinated as well as have larger chromosome numbers and seed size than herbicide susceptible weeds. CONCLUSIONS: A trait‐based approach to understanding herbicide resistance confirms many assumptions as to the genetic attributes that make a weed more likely to evolve herbicide resistance. Scope therefore exists to build better risk assessment tools to identify future herbicide resistance hazards by incorporating plant traits, environmental tolerances, and evidence of herbicide resistance elsewhere in the world. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sequence‐dependent DNA secondary structures possess structure polymorphism. To date, studies on regulated ligands mainly focus on individual DNA secondary topologies, while lack focus on quadruplex–duplex hybrids (QDHs). Here, we design an organic–metal hybrid ligand L1Pt(dien), which matches and selectively binds one type of QDHs with lateral duplex stem‐loop (QLDH) with high affinity, while shows poor affinity for other QDHs and individual G4 or duplex DNA. The solution structure of QLDH MYT1L‐L1Pt(dien) complex was determined by NMR. The structure reveals that L1Pt(dien) presents a chair‐type conformation, whose large aromatic "chair surface" intercalates into the G‐quadruplex‐duplex interface via π–π stacking and "backrest" platinum unit interacts with duplex region through hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions, showing a highly matched lock‐key binding mode. Our work provided guidance for spatial matching design of selectively targeting ligands to QDH structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficiency of thermoelectric (TE) materials depends on an interplay between various material properties, and strategies for co‐optimizing these properties will be necessary for implementing these materials in the future. In this work, bismuth sulfide (Bi2S3) and acid treated multiwalled carbon nanotube (f‐MWNT) composites are fabricated by wet chemical synthesis at room temperature. Bi2S3 is intimately anchored onto the surface of the f‐MWNT to form a coaxial nanostructure. The power factor of the composite is enhanced relative to both the pure Bi2S3 and MWNTs, due to a large enhancement of the electrical conductivity. The enhanced conductivity is attributed to restructuring of the bismuth (Bi) and oxygen (O) bonding environments when Bi2S3 is chemically interfaced with the f‐MWNTs, suggestive of the formation of a strongly coupled complex via BiO/BiS bonds. Strong‐coupling is further supported by scanning transmission electron microscopy, Raman, and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, which reveal fast charge‐transfer between the Bi2S3 and MWNT when interfaced together. These results support material compositing as a potential strategy for engineering enhanced TE materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

G‐quadruplexes (G4s) are prevalent in oncogenes and are potential antitumor drug targets. However, binding selectivity of compounds to G4s still faces challenges. Herein, we report a platinum(II) complex (Pt1), whose affinity to G4‐DNA is activated by adaptive binding and selectivity controlled by binding kinetics. The resolved structure of Pt1/VEGF‐G4 (a promoter G4) shows that Pt1 matches 3′‐G‐tetrad of VEGF‐G4 through Cl−‐dissociation and loop rearrangement of VEGF‐G4. Binding rate constants are determined by coordination bond breakage/formation, correlating fully with affinities. The selective rate‐determining binding step, Cl−‐dissociation upon G4‐binding, is 2–3 orders of magnitude higher than dsDNA. Pt1 potently targets G4 in living cells, effectively represses VEGF expression, and inhibits vascular growth in zebrafish. We show adaptive G4‐binding activation and controlled by kinetics, providing a complementary design principle for compounds targeting G4 or similar biomolecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adverse outcomes of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on pregnancy have been studied in murine animals. However, the potential toxicity of AgNPs to immune balance, which is essential for maintaining a normal pregnancy, still requires further exploration. Therefore, this study assessed the effect of AgNPs on the immune balance during gestation time. Pregnant mice were given a dose of 1 mg/kg of AgNPs and silver ion on gestation days 3.5 to 9.5 by tail vein injection. Results showed that the AgNPs and silver ion decreased the number of CD4+CD25+ Treg cells which were the important cells in the immune system, thereby disrupting the balance of normal immune tolerance function, activated the inflammatory responses, together with the reductive production of placental immunoregulatory genes, and the expression of inflammatory factors in the placenta in the Ag‐treated groups increased. These effects increased the absorption rate. Furthermore, the inflammatory signaling pathway p38MAPK/AP‐1/MMP‐9 in the placenta was activated, indicating that Ag induced inflammation through this signaling pathway. All results indicated that undesirable pregnancy outcome caused by AgNPs could be happened by stimulating immunological dysfunction. Therefore, the potential risks to embryogenesis exposure to AgNPs that caused immune imbalance should be given sufficient attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is of great significance to track the platinum drugs in real time with super‐resolution to elucidate their mechanism of action, such as their behavior and distribution in live cells. Such information is required for further drug development. However, it is always challenging to design platinum complexes suitable for such research. Herein, we design a luminescent building block (L) for metal complexes and a dinuclear platinum complex (Pt2L) for super‐resolution imaging. Because of its super‐large Stokes shift and excellent photophysical properties, Pt2L is capable of serving as an ideal candidate for super‐resolution imaging with extremely low luminescence background and high photobleaching resistance. Moreover, upon light stimulation, a matter flux of Pt2L escaping from autolysosomes to nucleus was observed, which represents a new transportation path. Utilizing the photoactivated escape properties, we can regulate the nuclear accessibility of Pt2L form autolysosomes with photo‐selectivity, which provides a new way to improve the targeting of platinum drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Podocyte injury is the primary cause of glomerular injury in diabetic nephropathy (DN). Advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs), the triggers and markers of oxidative stress in DN, have been linked to podocyte damage. However, the underlying mechanism is not yet clear. Here, we investigated the potential role of FOXO3a, a key transcription factor in the response to stress, in mediating AOPPs‐induced podocyte injury. We found that FOXO3a expression was increased in the glomeruli of kidney biopsies from patients with DN and it was positively correlated with proteinuria. The serum from patients with DN significantly increased FOXO3a and its downstream genes FasL and Bim, thereby inducing the high level of cleaved caspase3 and the loss of nephrin and podocin expressions in podocytes. Blockade of AOPPs signaling by a neutralizing antibody against the receptor of advanced glycation end products (αRAGE) abolished the effect of DN serum on podocytes, confirming the pathogenic role of AOPPs in DN serum. Downregulation of FOXO3a decreased AOPPs‐induced podocyte apoptosis and restored the levels of podocyte markers nephrin and podocin, and upregulation of FOXO3a exacerbated these changes in podocytes after AOPPs treatment. Furthermore, FOXO3a specifically activated proapoptotic genes in podocytes only in the presence of AOPPs. Mechanistically, AOPPs increased the FOXO3a protein levels by inhibiting their autophagic degradation in a ROS/mTOR‐dependent manner. Moreover AOPPs activated the accumulated FOXO3a by maintaining FOXO3a in the nucleus, and this process was dependent on ROS‐mediated AKT signaling deactivation. These studies suggest that FOXO3a plays a critical role in mediating AOPPs‐induced podocyte injury and reveal a new mechanistic linkage of oxidative stress, FOXO3a activation and podocyte injury in DN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Commercial rubber is hardly considered as raw materials to manufacture multifunctional shape‐memory polymers (SMPs) because it is difficult to either tune its glass transition temperature or introduce crystalline domains. Here, we report the manufacture of luminescent SMP composites based on commercial carboxylated nitrile rubber and rare earth organic complex (REOC) with Sm3+ ions. The dispersion of REOC and the properties of the composites were investigated in detail. The increase in the REOC loading did not deteriorate the tensile strength and elongation at break of the composites, when the stresses at low strains were highly improved. The strong filler‐chain interaction increased the glass transition temperature of the rubber composites. Besides, luminescent functions were introduced into such rubber composites, while luminescent intensities and lifetime can also be affected by REOC loadings. Finally, the prepared rubber composites presented a light‐induced shape‐memory effect under the irradiation of near‐infrared light due to the photothermal effect of the REOC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analyzing the ecological strategies of reproductive individuals under grazing stress is a key factor in understanding the adaptation and maintenance mechanisms of populations in grassland ecosystems. In this study, a Stipa breviflora population with reproductive individuals of different ages and individual traits in the desert steppe of the Mongolian Plateau was systematically analyzed in response to heavy grazing, moderate grazing and non‐grazing treatments. The results showed that grazing reduced the density and biomass of the population and reproductive individuals but did not reduce the proportion of reproductive branch biomass. Grazing reduced the proportion of individuals in the young stage and increased the proportion in the adult stage. In addition, grazing reduced the width, length and weight of the foliage branches at each growth stage. The largest numbers of seeds in the heavy grazing, moderate grazing and non‐grazing treatments were in the adult stage, the pre‐aging stage and the aging stage, respectively. Grazing weakened the potential relationships between foliage branch traits and reproductive branch traits and between growth stage and reproductive branch traits, especially under heavy grazing. Our study suggested that under long‐term grazing stress, S. breviflora completed its life cycle by sacrificing some of the growth stage individuals, changing phenotypes and reducing the age of individuals with high‐yielding seeds to maintain resource allocation to reproductive branches in reproductive individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

G‐quadruplex DNA show structural polymorphism, leading to challenges in the use of selective recognition probes for the accurate detection of G‐quadruplexes in vivo. Herein, we present a tripodal cationic fluorescent probe, NBTE, which showed distinguishable fluorescence lifetime responses between G‐quadruplexes and other DNA topologies, and fluorescence quantum yield (Φf) enhancement upon G‐quadruplex binding. We determined two NBTE‐G‐quadruplex complex structures with high Φf values by NMR spectroscopy. The structures indicated NBTE interacted with G‐quadruplexes using three arms through π–π stacking, differing from that with duplex DNA using two arms, which rationalized the higher Φf values and lifetime response of NBTE upon G‐quadruplex binding. Based on photon counts of FLIM, we detected the percentage of G‐quadruplex DNA in live cells with NBTE and found G‐quadruplex DNA content in cancer cells is 4‐fold that in normal cells, suggesting the potential applications of this probe in cancer cell detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The clinical benefit of immunotherapy has been limited to a small subset of patients with cancer. Several clinical trials with immune checkpoint inhibitors in multiple cancers have shown some improvement in obese patients. However, how obesity regulates the immune microenvironment remains unclear. Methods: Bioinformatic analysis was used to discover immune microenvironmental‐related genes associated with body mass index (BMI). The expression of ICOS in tumor tissues was detected using western blot, immunohistochemistry, quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR) and flow cytometry. RT‐qPCR was used to measure the expression of miR‐27a‐3p. The interaction between miR‐27a‐3p and ICOS was confirmed by dual‐luciferase reporter assay. Functional testing of T cells based on proliferation and interferon (IFN)‐gamma secretion was performed using ELISA and flow cytometry. Results: ICOS, an immune microenvironment‐related gene, was significantly upregulated in obese patients with lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). MiR‐27a‐3p showed a negative correlation with ICOS and suppressed the expression of ICOS. We determined that dipocyte‐derived exo‐miR‐27a‐3p could alter the tumor microenvironment by inhibiting ICOS+ T cell proliferation and IFN‐gamma secretion in vitro. Conclusions: Adipocyte‐derived exo‐miR‐27a‐3p can inhibit ICOS+ T cell proliferation and IFN‐gamma secretion. The upregulation of ICOS+ T cell functions caused by the downregulation of miR‐27a‐3p in adipose tissue derived exosomes is one of the potential mechanisms for the improved efficacy of immunotherapy in obese LUAD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peritoneal dissemination of ovarian cancer (OvCa) arises from the surface of the peritoneum, covered by monolayer of mesothelial cells (MCs). Given that both OvCa cells and MCs are present in the same peritoneal metastatic microenvironment, they may establish cell‐to‐cell crosstalk or phenotypic alterations including the acquisition of platinum‐resistance in OvCa cells. Herein, we report how OvCa‐associated mesothelial cells (OCAMs) induce platinum‐resistance in OvCa cells through direct cell‐to‐cell crosstalk. We evaluated mutual associations between OvCa cells and human primary MCs with in vitro coculturing experimental models and in silico omics data analysis. The role of OCAMs was also investigated using clinical samples and in vivo mice models. Results of in vitro experiments show that mesenchymal transition is induced in OCAMs primarily by TGF‐β1 stimulation. Furthermore, OCAMs influence the behavior of OvCa cells as a component of the tumor microenvironment of peritoneal metastasis. Mechanistically, OCAMs can induce decreased platinum‐sensitivity in OvCa cells via induction of the FN1/Akt signaling pathway via cell‐to‐cell interactions. Histological analysis of OvCa peritoneal metastasis also illustrated FN1 expression in stromal cells that are supposed to originate from MCs. Further, we also confirmed the activation of Akt signaling in OvCa cells in contact with TGF‐β1 stimulated peritoneum, using an in vivo mice model. Our results suggest that the tumor microenvironment, enhanced by direct cell‐to‐cell crosstalk between OvCa cells and OCAMs, induces acquisition of platinum‐resistance in OvCa cells, which may serve as a novel therapeutic target for prevention of OvCa peritoneal dissemination. What's new?: The clinical characteristics of refractory advanced ovarian cancer suggest that the peritoneum acts as an anchoring point for metastatic tumors, enabling persistent ovarian cancer (OvCa) cell survival. This study shows that ovarian cancer‐associated mesothelial cells (OCAMs) and OvCa cells invade the extracellular matrix of the peritoneum. OCAMs were further found to directly influence persistent OvCa cell survival via FN1 signaling. FN1 on the surface of OCAMs induced activation of the Akt signaling pathway, thereby fueling platinum resistance in OvCa cells. The findings highlight the potential for targeting OCAMs as a novel therapeutic strategy for preventing peritoneal dissemination of ovarian cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Light‐induced, shape‐changing polymeric microparticles have many applications. Here, the near‐infrared (NIR)‐light‐triggered sequential recovery and separation of assembled large and small polymer microparticles using cross‐linked blends of poly(ethylene‐vinyl acetate) and trans‐polyisoprene as temperature memory polymers as well as two NaYF4 based up‐conversion nanoparticles (UCPs) to provide luminescent and photothermal effects are reported. Under irradiation of NIR light with a low light power density, small particles assembled onto the compressed large one recover first due to the low switching temperature (Tsw) arising from the temperature–memory effect. The small particles can separate from the underlying large particle in flowing aqueous media. The recovery of the large particle occurs at a high power density. Two UCPs of NaYF4: 20Yb, 0.2Tm, 5Gd and NaYF4: 18Yb, 2Er, 5Gd facilitate the detection of small and large microparticles via providing blue and green light emissions, respectively. This work can expand the applications of light‐induced shape‐changing polymer microparticles in the biomedical field, controlled catalysis, microfluidic devices, and so on. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Phytoplasmas are insect‐transmitted phytopathogenic bacteria, which secrete effector proteins that are often responsible for altering the plant morphology and behaviours of their vectors. Phytoplasma multifunctional effector proteins TENGU and SAP11 induce typical witches' broom symptoms, but their mode of action remains unknown. Previously, we have identified a SAP11‐like effector from wheat blue dwarf phytoplasma, SWP1, which induces witches' broom symptoms in Nicotiana benthamiana. In this study, we observed that SWP1‐expressing transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana plants showed typical witches' broom symptoms. On overexpression of SWP1 truncation mutants in N. benthamiana, we identified that the coiled‐coil domain and nuclear localization were responsible for the induction of witches' broom symptoms. In addition, using yeast two‐hybrid and bimolecular fluorescence complementation assays, we demonstrated that SWP1 interacts with A. thaliana transcription factor TCP18 (BRC1), the key negative regulator of branching signals in various plant species. Moreover, in planta co‐expression analysis showed that SWP1 promotes the degradation of BRC1 via a proteasome system. These findings suggest that the phytoplasma effector SWP1 induces witches' broom symptoms through targeting of BRC1 and promoting its degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytogenic hillocks are a type of wind-deposited biological micro-topography exhibiting a bulging shape under plant clusters in arid regions. In this study, we quantitatively measured the phenotypic characteristics of phytogenic hillocks, the soil particle size distribution in phytogenic hillocks and bare surfaces, and the sediment particle size distribution in hillocks of three heights under different grazing treatments. The results showed that the proportion of dense cluster phytogenic hillocks in the no grazing treatment was higher than in the moderate grazing treatment, and the proportion of scattered cluster phytogenic hillocks under moderate grazing was higher than under no grazing. The total area of dense cluster phytogenic hillocks under no grazing was higher than under heavy grazing and under moderate grazing. For the scattered cluster phytogenic hillocks, the total area was greatest under moderate grazing, followed by heavy grazing and, finally, no grazing. For single hillocks, grazing had a significant impact on the width of dense cluster phytogenic hillocks, while the heavy grazing treatment had a significant impact on the height of scattered cluster phytogenic hillocks. The results for windblown sediment showed that the only significant difference among grazing treatments occurred at a height of 2-8 cm. Grazing changed the relationships among the phenotypic characteristics of phytogenic hillocks, the soil particle size of phytogenic hillocks, and the particle size of wind-deposited sediments. Our results suggested that grazing increased the proportion of scattered cluster phytogenic hillocks and caused the relationship between somewhat bare land and phytogenic hillocks to change from symbiosis to competition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the effect of Cd and Sn atoms partly substitution for Zn on among crystal growth, thermal stability, mechanical, and electrical transport property in β‐Zn4Sb3 is reported. In a series of samples prepared from the atomic ratios of Zn:Sb:Cd:Sn = 4.4:3:x:3 (x = 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8). Carrier concentration of all samples varies from 4.52 × 1019 to 6.42 × 1019 cm−3 as carrier mobility changes from 58.27 to 67.93 cm2 V−1 s−1 at room temperature. As a result, electrical transport properties of the samples are optimized by CdSn co‐doped. The experimental density of all the samples varies from 6.26 × 103 to 6.34 × 103 kg m−3 consistent with the theoretical value. The weight loss and melting point of the sample are determined to discuss thermal stability in the heating process in air, indicating that the single crystals β‐Zn4Sb3 possess an excellent thermal stability and it is practical importance in the TE application at high temperature. Consequently, the maximal power factor of 1.70 × 10−3 W m−1 K−2 is achieved at 540 K for the sample with initial Cd content x = 0.2, which is enhanced by 40% compared with the single‐doping system in β‐Zn4Sb3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel method was developed for the construction of biologically active poly-substituted cinnolines from easily accessible hydrazones in good to excellent yields. A simple copper catalyst could efficiently promote C−N bond formation through selective C−H functionalization and dehydrogenative amination. Furthermore, the inert C−Heteroatom (O/F/N) bonds are susceptible to cleavage in high selectivity in the newly developed aerobic annulation, in preference to the alternative C−H bond, which is left intact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zearalenone (ZEN) is a mycotoxin which causes huge economic losses in the food and animal feed industries. The lactonase ZHD101 from Clonostachys rosea, which catalyzes the hydrolytic degradation of ZEN, is the only known ZEN-detoxifying enzyme. Here, a protein homologous to ZHD101, denoted CbZHD, from Cladophialophora batiana was expressed and characterized. Sequence alignment indicates that CbZHD possesses the same catalytic triad and ZEN-interacting residues as found in ZHD101. CbZHD exhibits optimal enzyme activity at 35°C and pH 8, and is sensitive to heat treatment. The crystal structure of apo CbZHD was determined to 1.75 Å resolution. The active-site compositions of CbZHD and ZHD101 were analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This paper aims to propose a combination model for conventional pushover analysis with invariant lateral load patterns to consider the effects of higher mode vibrations on the seismic responses of high‐rise buildings. Rectangular concrete‐filled steel tubular (RCFT) structures having two types of deformation, namely, shear type RCFT frame structures and shear‐flexural type RCFT frame‐shear wall structures, are selected and investigated. Finite element models are created using Perform‐3D. Both pushover analysis with three conventional lateral loading patterns, namely, uniformly distributed loading, first‐mode vibration loading, and concentrated loading at the vertex, and time‐history analysis with 15–21 earthquake records chosen for each RCFT structure are performed. Regression analysis is used to fit the interstory drift ratios obtained by the pushover analysis with those from the time‐history analysis. Further, the relations between the partial regression coefficients and the structural fundamental periods under certain lateral loading patterns are analyzed. On this basis, using these conventional lateral loading patterns, combination models for high‐rise buildings with two types of deformation are proposed and verified. The results demonstrate that the proposed method can estimate the seismic responses of high‐rise buildings with a high accuracy and has the advantages of ease of implementation and operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The title reaction proceeds through a tandem C-C/C-N bond forming process and a N-N bond cleavage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the effect of Cd and Sn atoms partly substitution for Zn on among crystal growth, thermal stability, mechanical, and electrical transport property in β‐Zn4Sb3 is reported. In a series of samples prepared from the atomic ratios of Zn:Sb:Cd:Sn = 4.4:3:x:3 (x = 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8). Carrier concentration of all samples varies from 4.52 × 1019 to 6.42 × 1019 cm−3 as carrier mobility changes from 58.27 to 67.93 cm2 V−1 s−1 at room temperature. As a result, electrical transport properties of the samples are optimized by CdSn co‐doped. The experimental density of all the samples varies from 6.26 × 103 to 6.34 × 103 kg m−3 consistent with the theoretical value. The weight loss and melting point of the sample are determined to discuss thermal stability in the heating process in air, indicating that the single crystals β‐Zn4Sb3 possess an excellent thermal stability and it is practical importance in the TE application at high temperature. Consequently, the maximal power factor of 1.70 × 10−3 W m−1 K−2 is achieved at 540 K for the sample with initial Cd content x = 0.2, which is enhanced by 40% compared with the single‐doping system in β‐Zn4Sb3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]