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Summary: In this paper, a prescribed performance model‐free adaptive platooning sliding mode control (PP‐MFAP‐SMC) problem for the nonlinear vehicular platooning systems (VPSs) under denial‐of‐service (DoS) attacks is studied. Firstly, the partial form dynamic linearization (PFDL) technique is employed to convert the nonlinear VPSs into an equivalent linear data model, in which the nonlinear features of the VPSs are compressed into an unknown time‐varying pseudo gradient (PG) vector. Then, an observer is devised to acquire the estimation value of the unknown time‐varying PG vector. To lower the complication of the design, the constrained tracking error is converted into the unconstrained one. Based on which, the sliding mode control (SMC) strategy is proposed to enhance the robustness of the VPSs. Further, a PP‐MFAP‐SMC algorithm with an attack compensation mechanism is developed to ensure that the vehicular tracking errors of the position and velocity can converge to the predefined regions, respectively. Eventually, the effectiveness of the developed algorithm is demonstrated by an actual VPS with the comparisons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT In this article, a hierarchical distributed model‐free adaptive fault‐tolerant vehicular platooning control scheme for nonlinear vehicular platooning systems (VPSs) is studied. First of all, the dynamic linearization technique (DLT) is utilized to acquire an equivalent linear data model for nonlinear VPSs. Secondly, a hierarchical control structure is developed to realize the vehicular platooning tracking control task, which consists of the upper‐layer adaptive distributed observer and the under‐layer decentralized model‐free adaptive vehicular platooning tracking controller. In order to make each follower vehicle get the leader's information, the adaptive distributed observer is employed to get the estimation value of leader's information. In addition, for the purpose of ensuring the safety of driving, the radial basis function neural network (RBFNN) algorithm is utilized to address the problem of sensor failures. Based on this, a novel hierarchical distributed model‐free adaptive fault‐tolerant vehicular platooning control scheme is designed to achieve simultaneous tracking of vehicular position and speed. Lastly, the validity of the theoretical control scheme is demonstrated through a realistic and detailed simulation example of a VPS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under global warming, the convective heating over the western Pacific (WP) has exhibited a significantly intensifying trend during the boreal spring, while the surface air temperatures in the Middle East (ME) have increased more rapidly than those in other tropical regions. Are these climate phenomena of the two regions physically connected? If yes, what are the responsible dynamical mechanisms involved? Utilizing the ERA5 reanalysis data and model simulations, this study reveals a significant seesaw variation in the convection and temperature trends between WP and ME. When convective heating intensifies over the WP, the ME tends to be drier and hotter during the spring, and vice versa. A further investigation indicates that the enhanced WP convective heating can induce anticyclonic circulation anomalies in the upper and middle troposphere over the Iranian and Tibetan plateaus. These anomalous high pressures extend westward, exhibiting a barotropic structure, which leads to stronger sinking motions, reduced cloud cover, and increased surface solar radiation over the ME. Consequently, these conditions result in drier and hotter soils and an increase in heatwave days in the ME. This study provides useful information for enhancing our understanding of the role of tropical WP climate change in influencing the upstream climate conditions with a focus on the ME. Plain Language Summary: Under global warming, the western Pacific (WP) has experienced a significant increase in convective heating during the spring, while the Middle East (ME) is seeing a faster rise in surface temperatures compared to other tropical regions. This study investigates whether these climate changes in WP and ME are interconnected and what mechanisms may be involved. The results show that when convective heating intensifies over the WP, the ME tends to become drier and hotter in the spring. The findings suggest that increased heating over the WP can lead to anomalous high pressures over the Iranian and Tibetan plateaus, which result in reduced precipitation, decreased cloud cover, and increased solar radiation, causing higher temperatures in the ME. This study enhances our understanding of how climate changes in the tropical WP can influence weather and climate conditions in the ME. Key Points: The convection in the western Pacific (WP) has been intensifying during spring in 1979–2022Surface air temperatures have been rising faster in the Middle East (ME) than in other tropical regionsThe intensified WP convection likely contributes to the increase in heatwave days over the ME [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive Summary: Designing new materials and architectures to maintain activity and stability requires a better understanding on the anticorrosion dynamics of nanoparticles. Under‐coordinated atoms on the surface of nanoparticles can be protected by deposited shells. Real‐time observation on how protective shells grow and play a role is challenging but worthwhile. Here, protective effects of AuCl3 shells on Au nanobipyramids (NBPs) are studied in HAuCl4 aqueous solutions by in‐situ liquid cell transmission electron microscopy (LCTEM). This study is the first to observe the formation of Au‐AuCl3 core‐shell nanostructure and the corresponding anticorrosion behaviors of AuCl3 deposited shell. The presence of CTAB can substantially influence the growth mode and structure of AuCl3 shell, by a direct or indirect way, intervene the dissolution of Au NBP. These growth or dissolution kinetics here revealed at the nanoscale provide insights towards engineering of the surface anticorrosion to pursue Au nanoparticles with improved stability in acidic environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanobodies (Nbs) are one of the most promising therapeutics for overcoming immune escape in various diseases, including SARS‐CoV‐2 infection and cancers. However, the small sizes of nanobodies make them prone to renal clearance, thus decreasing circulation half‐life and hindering therapeutic efficacy. Traditional modification technologies, i.e., biotinylation and Fc‐fusion, aim to enhance nanobody pharmacokinetics, but they may introduce heterogeneous products with impaired functions and potentially affect binding to the Fc receptor. Here, a versatile nanobody engineering strategy is presented via molecular modification mediated by an intrinsically disordered protein. The engineered nanobody nano‐formulations retain their high‐affinity binding to the spike protein receptor binding domain and possess submicromolar levels of half‐maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) against the pseudotyped SARS‐CoV‐2 variants, comparable to the unmodified nanobodies. Notably, the nano‐formulations show elongated half‐lives that are up to ≈15 times higher than those of original nanobodies and superior to other reported modified nanobodies. Furthermore, the in vivo therapeutic efficacy of such nano‐formulation toward breast cancer is significantly enhanced. Therefore, this nanobody engineering strategy offers a convenient and broadly applicable solution to address the suboptimal in vivo performance of nanobodies, holding substantial promise for effectively combating treatment‐tolerant cancers and future pandemics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microglia are critically involved in post‐stroke inflammation affecting neurological outcomes. Lipid droplet (LD) accumulation in microglia results in a dysfunctional and pro‐inflammatory state in the aged brain and worsens the outcome of neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases. However, the role of LD‐rich microglia (LDRM) under stroke conditions is unknown. Using in vitro and in vivo stroke models, herein accumulation patterns of microglial LD and their corresponding microglial inflammatory signaling cascades are studied. Interactions between temporal and spatial dynamics of lipid profiles and microglial phenotypes in different post‐stroke brain regions are found. Hence, microglia display enhanced levels of LD accumulation and elevated perilipin 2 (PLIN2) expression patterns when exposed to hypoxia or stroke. Such LDRM exhibit high levels of TNF‐α, IL‐6, and IL‐1β as well as a pro‐inflammatory phenotype and differentially expressed lipid metabolism‐related genes. These post‐ischemic alterations result in distinct lipid profiles with spatial and temporal dynamics, especially with regard to cholesteryl ester and triacylglycerol levels, further exacerbating post‐ischemic inflammation. The present study sheds new light on the dynamic changes of brain lipid profiles and aggregation patterns of LD in microglia exposed to ischemia, demonstrating a mutual mechanism between microglial phenotype and function, which contributes to progression of brain injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploration of high‐temperature bosonic condensation is of significant importance for the fundamental many‐body physics and applications in nanodevices, which, however, remains a huge challenge. Here, in combination of many‐body perturbation theory and first‐principles calculations, a new‐type spatially indirect exciton can be optically generated in two‐dimensional (2D) Bi2S2Te because of its unique structure feature. In particular, the spin‐singlet spatially indirect excitons in Bi2S2Te monolayer are dipole/parity allowed and reveal befitting characteristics for excitonic condensation, such as small effective mass and satisfied dilute limitation. Based on the layered Bi2S2Te, the possibility of the high‐temperature excitonic Bose–Einstein condensation (BEC) and superfluid state in two dimensions, which goes beyond the current paradigms in both experiment and theory, are proved. It should be highlighted that record‐high phase transition temperatures of 289.7 and 72.4 K can be theoretically predicted for the excitonic BEC and superfluidity in the atomic thin Bi2S2Te, respectively. It therefore can be confirmed that Bi2S2Te featuring bound bosonic states is a fascinating 2D platform for exploring the high‐temperature excitonic condensation and applications in such as quantum computing and dissipationless nanodevices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manipulating the electronic structure and geometric coordination environment of single metal atoms has been considered as promising approach for enhancing dipole polarization and enriching electromagnetic attenuation mechanisms. However, achieving precise control of the dielectric polarization response at atomic scale remains a huge challenge. Herein, a metal‐acetate coordination complexes‐assisted strategy is proposed to prepare spatially isolated cobalt (Co) atoms embedded in accordion‐like nitrogen‐doped carbon (NC) matrix. The interactions between metal atoms and NC matrix are carefully tailored through the successive evolution of dispersion states of Co species, ranging from individual atoms to atomic clusters to nanoparticles. Density functional theory reveals that the orbital hybridization between the d electrons of embedded Co atoms and p electrons of coordinated N atoms induces the electron redistribution at N sites, enabling enhanced electric dipole polarization and robust room temperature magnetism (a saturation magnetization of 0.108 emu g−1 at 300 K). Consequently, Co‐SAs@NC exhibits optimal electromagnetic wave absorption properties with a minimum reflection loss of ‐54.4 dB and an effective absorption bandwidth of 8.4 GHz. This work demonstrates an efficient strategy for modulating electromagnetic response at atomic level and provides a novel insight into the d/p electrons orbital hybridization between single metal atoms and NC species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Catalyst‐controlled switchable (4+3) and (4+2) annulation reactions of Morita–Baylis–Hillman carbonates with benzofuran‐derived azadienes have been established. Employing PCy3 as the catalyst, the reaction could provide a variety of synthetically useful benzofuro[3,2‐b]azepines in good yields (80–92%) with excellent chemo‐ and regioselectivities via (4+3) cycloaddition reactions. Whereas changing the catalyst from PCy3 to DMAP, the chemo‐ and regioselectivities were switched to construct highly substituted spirotetrahydroquinoline scaffolds with three sequential stereocenters containing all‐carbon spiro‐quaternary stereocenters in excellent efficiency and diastereoselectivities (92–96% yields with all cases>25:1 dr) via (4+2) annulations. In addition, the synthetic utility of this method was further showcased by gram‐scale reactions and synthetic transformations of the product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pursuit of high on‐to‐off ratio (IOn/IOff), as one of the important performances for organic electrochemical transistor (OECT) has been ongoing, but to date, limited solutions are available. The interaction between light and matter has been demonstrated as a rich source for advanced electronic applications. However, its potential in IOn/IOff modulation has not been fully explored. Herein, the challenge is addressed through the unique light‐material interplay, which is represented by organic photoelectrochemical transistor (OPECT) gated by photosensitive COF‐LZU1 on mixed‐ligand MOF (COF‐on‐MOF) upon appropriate exposure illumination. Notably, the interplay between light and COF‐on‐MOF can adjust the device physics, optimizing the IOn/IOff to its maximum and enhancing signal transduction. Toward bio‐application, via exonuclease‐assisted cyclic cleavage amplification and hybridization chain reaction, such a device is validated for highly sensitive detection capabilities for human T‐cell lymphotropic virus type II (HTLV‐II) DNA down to 0.003 fM. This study features the possibility of Ag/AgCl‐like photogating of organic transistors via light‐matter interplay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trophic niche is the result of the long‐term evolution of species and can reflect the pressures they experience in habitats. The whole‐genome sequencing of giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) has indicated that populations distributed in Qinling (QIN) and non‐QIN probably diverged 300 ky ago. Although many studies regarding foraging strategy, habitat preference, and niche partition have been conducted on these populations, there is still a lack of precise quantification of trophic niches. Here, we calculated and compared isotopic trophic niche widths of giant pandas from Sichuan (SC) and QIN populations by measuring carbon and nitrogen isotopes of their hairs; combined with data from sympatric mammals, we explored the relative trophic positions of giant pandas in the ecosystem, respectively. The Stable Isotope Bayesian Ellipses in R (SIBER) model results showed the trophic niche width of QIN pandas was 3.44‰2, which was significantly bigger than those of the SC population (2.03‰2), with an overlapping about 1.45‰2; and they both occupied a unique position in the context, almost one trophic level lower than herbivores. Then, we determined the isotopic ratios of the main foods from the habitats of these pandas; the results suggested that the isotopic difference between bamboo shoots and other parts plus the various feeding selections of pandas on them accounted for pandas' trophic niche widths. We considered the higher nutrition availability and digestible food resources giving QIN pandas a wider trophic niche than pandas from SC. This conclusion provides a new insight into the resource use and trophic ecology of giant pandas and is important to develop refined management plans for the two populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Hyphenated chromatographic techniques are widely used to analyze and characterize complex samples. Chemometric methods are generally needed to extract the qualitative and quantitative information of the target analytes from complex hyphenated chromatographic data. However, neither two‐way nor three‐way chemometric methods are efficient enough in analyzing hyphenated chromatographic data with both severe peak overlapping and retention time shift across samples. To address this issue, a practical framework was proposed herein. It consists of three chemometric algorithms, that is, (1) “fix‐sized moving window evolving target spectral projection” for locating the possible peak positions of the target analytes, (2) “target identification based on singular value comparison” for determining whether the identified peaks are indeed the chromatographic peaks of the target analytes, and (3) “fix‐sized moving window evolving trilinear decomposition” for obtaining the quantitative results of the target analytes. Experimental results on the GC‐MS data sets of mixture samples of 10 compounds verified that the proposed framework could deal with the problems of both severe peak overlapping and retention time shift across samples. The proposed framework has the advantages of simplicity in concept, easy implementation, and good performance and hence is expected to be a competitive alternative to existing methods for the analysis of hyphenated chromatographic data of complex samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mutations in isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) are important markers of glioma prognosis. However, few studies have examined the gene expression regulatory network (GRN) in IDH‐mutant and wild‐type gliomas. In this study, single‐cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptome sequencing were used to analyze the GRN of cell subsets in patients with IDH‐mutant and wild‐type gliomas. Through gene transcriptional regulation analysis, we identified the M4 module, whose transcription factor activity is highly expressed in IDH wild‐type gliomas compared to IDH‐mutants. Enrichment analysis revealed that these genes were predominantly expressed in microglia and macrophages, with significant enrichment in interferon‐related signaling pathways. Interferon regulatory factor 7 (IRF7), a transcription factor within this pathway, showed the highest percentage of enrichment and was primarily localized in the core region of wild‐type IDH tumors. A machine‐learning prognostic model identified novel subgroups within the wild‐type IDH population. Additionally, IRF7 was shown to promote the proliferation and migration of T98G and U251 cells in vitro, and its knockdown affected glioma cell proliferation in vivo. This study systematically established the regulatory mechanism of IDH transcriptional activity in gliomas at the single‐cell level and drew a corresponding cell map. The study presents a transcriptional regulatory activity map for IDH wild‐type gliomas, involving single‐cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics to identify gene regulatory networks, machine learning models for IDH subtyping, and experimental validation, highlighting the role of IRF7 in glioma progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to investigate the influences of maternal dietary patterns on the triacylglycerol (TAG) composition, particular medium‐ and long‐chain triacylglycerol (MLCT) in human breast milk. A total of 180 Chinese human breast milk samples were collected and divided into three dietary patterns groups accounting to semi‐quantitative food intake frequency questionnaire and a 24‐h dietary recall. The 180 samples were from 121 mothers in Nanjing, all of whom were mature milk (1 month postpartum and 3 months postpartum). Using high performance liquid chromatography combined with quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry, 108 TAGs were identified and quantified. In breast milk samples, MLCTs accounted for 25.76% (median of 24.63%; 95% CI: 24.60, 26.92) of the total TAGs. In human breast milk, the main type of MLCT is the triacylglycerol with one medium‐chain fatty acid and two long‐chain fatty acids (MLL type) which accounted for ~81% of total MLCTs. Among the molecular species of MLCT, O‐P‐La and O‐L‐La are the two most abundant configurations in MLCT (2.28% and 2.17% of total TAGs, respectively). MLCT in breast milk was positively correlated with the energy supply ratio of carbohydrates (p = 0.205), which was significantly higher than that of the other two groups (p = −0.150 and −0.232). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Branched‐chain fatty acids (BCFAs) have recently gained increasing attention as bioactive lipids with potential nutritional properties and a wide array of applications in human health. The current study reviews the most recent progress in the BCFA preparation. An overview of BCFA extraction from natural sources, including lanolin and butter, is provided. Further, we explore how clay catalysts and zeolites can be used to chemically synthesize BCFAs. The chemically synthetic BCFAs are mainly isostearic acids. Some bacterial membranes contain a high proportion of BCFAs and have been studied as natural raw materials to obtain BCFAs. Engineering the microbial production of BCFA is also reviewed. Special attentions have been given to the molecular structure of the BCFAs during different preparation methods. Future research will focus on obtaining BCFAs with specific structures in high purity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lipid profile including total fatty acid (FA), sn‐2 positional distribution on triacylglycerol, and phospholipid (PL) FA in human milk, infant formulas, and animal milk (cow, goat, camel, donkey, and yak milk) were analyzed. Animal milk contained higher saturated fatty acids (45.08%–66.29%) than human milk (37.44%) and infant formula (33.46%). In the perspective of FA, human milk and the commercial formulas showed a better similarity. Human milk contained significantly (p < 0.05) higher 16:0 at the sn‐2 position (50.88%) than infant formulas (23.09%) and animal milk (28.95%–46.72%). As to PL‐FA, human milk contained significantly (p < 0.05) higher 16:0 and 18:0 but lower 18:1 n‐9 than other milk. The relative contents of arachidonic acid (AA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and nervonic acid (NA) in human milk were higher in PL‐FA than that in total FA. Noteworthy, the contents of AA, DHA, and NA in both total FA and PL‐FA were higher in human milk than other milk. These results indicated that the fortification of 16:0 at the sn‐2 position, and AA, DHA, and NA in both total FA and PL‐FA could improve the quality of infant formulas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The attack detection and data‐driven resilient control problem for heterogeneous nonlinear nonaffine multi‐agent systems (MASs) in the presence of intermittent false data injection (FDI) attacks is investigated in this article. First, an attack detection and isolation mechanism based on the distributed observer are designed to determine the attack signals and isolate the attacked communication links in time. Then, in order to solve the problem of the unknown system model, the dynamic linearization method is used to convert the nonlinear nonaffine MASs into an equivalent linear data model. Further, based on the linear data model, the data‐driven resilient controller with the attack isolation mechanism is designed to achieve the leader‐following tracking control objective. Finally, the simulation result illustrates the performance of the proposed scheme with comparisons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

G‐protein‐coupled receptors (GPRs) are critical regulators of various biological behaviors, and their role in gastric cancer (GC) progression is gaining increasing attention. Among them, the immune regulatory mechanisms mediated by chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) remain insufficiently understood. This study aims to explore the immune regulatory functions of CXCR4 and the heterogeneity of the tumor microenvironment (TME) by examining GPR‐related gene expression in GC. Through multi‐omics approaches, including spatial transcriptomics and single‐cell RNA sequencing, we investigated the oncogenic mechanisms of CXCR4, particularly its role in T cell immune exhaustion. In vitro experiments, including ELISA, PCR, CCK8 assays, cell scratch assays, and colony formation assays, were used to validate the role of CXCR4 in the migration and invasion of AGS and SNU‐1 cell lines. CXCR4 silencing using siRNA further demonstrated its regulatory effects on these cellular processes. Our results revealed a strong correlation between elevated CXCR4 expression and increased exhaustion of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in the TME. Furthermore, heightened CXCR4 expression was linked to increased TME heterogeneity, driven by oxidative stress and activation of the NF‐κB pathway, promoting immune evasion and tumor progression. Silencing CXCR4 significantly inhibited the invasive and proliferative abilities of AGS and SNU‐1 cells, while also reducing the expression of pro‐inflammatory cytokines IL‐1β and interleukin‐6, thus alleviating chronic inflammation and improving TME conditions. In conclusion, our comprehensive investigation highlights CXCR4 as a key mediator of TME dynamics and immune modulation in GC. Targeting CXCR4 presents a promising therapeutic strategy to slow tumor progression by reducing Tregs‐mediated immune exhaustion and TME heterogeneity, positioning it as a novel therapeutic target in GC treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrochemical propylene epoxidation reaction (PER) provides a promising route for ecofriendly propylene oxide (PO) production, instantly generating active halogen/oxygen species to alleviate chloride contamination inherent in traditional PER. However, the complex processes and unsatisfactory PO yield for current electrochemical PER falls short of meeting industrial application requirements. Herein, a spatial‐coupling strategy over RuO2/Ti hollow‐fiber penetration electrode (HPE) is adopted to facilitate efficient PO production, significantly improving PER performance to ampere level (achieving over 80 % PO faradaic efficiency and a maximum PO current density of 859 mA cm−2). The synergetic combination of the penetration effect of HPE and the spatial‐coupled reaction sequence, enables the realization of ampere‐level PO production with high specificity, exhibiting significant potentials for economically viable PER applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyolefins such as polyethylenes and polypropylenes are the most‐produced plastic waste globally, yet are difficult to convert into useful products due to their unreactivity. Pyrolysis is a practical method for large‐scale treatment of mixed, contaminated plastic, allowing for their conversion into industrially‐relevant petrochemicals. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), despite their tremendous utility in heterogeneous catalysis, have been overlooked for polyolefin depolymerization due to their perceived thermal instabilities and inability of polyethylenes and polypropylenes to penetrate their pores. Herein, we demonstrate the viability of UiO‐66 MOFs containing coordinatively‐unsaturated zirconium nodes, as effective catalysts for pyrolysis that significantly enhances the yields of valuable liquid and gas hydrocarbons, whilst halving the amounts of residual solids produced. Reactions occur on the Lewis‐acidic UiO‐66 nodes, without the need for noble metals, and yield aliphatic product distributions distinctly different from the aromatic‐rich hydrocarbons that can be obtained from zeolite catalysis. We also demonstrate the first unambiguous characterization of polyolefin penetration into UiO‐66 pores at pyrolytic temperatures, allowing access to the abundant Zr‐oxo nodes within the MOF interior for efficient C−C cleavage. Our work highlights the potential of MOFs as highly‐designable heterogeneous catalysts for depolymerisation of plastics, which can complement conventional catalysts in reactivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the efficacy of highly active antiretroviral therapy in controlling the incidence and mortality of AIDS, effective interventions for HIV-1-induced neurological damage and cognitive impairment remain elusive. In this study, we found that HIV-1 infection can induce proteolytic cleavage and aberrant aggregation of TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43), a pathological protein associated with various severe neurological disorders. The HIV-1 accessory protein Vpu was found to be responsible for the cleavage of TDP-43, as ectopic expression of Vpu alone was sufficient to induce TDP-43 cleavage, whereas HIV-1 lacking Vpu failed to cleave TDP-43. Mechanistically, the cleavage of TDP-43 at Asp89 by HIV-1 relies on Vpu-mediated activation of Caspase 3, and pharmacological inhibition of Caspase 3 activity effectively suppressed the HIV-1-induced aggregation and neurotoxicity of TDP-43. Overall, these results suggest that TDP-43 is a conserved host target of HIV-1 Vpu and provide evidence for the involvement of TDP-43 dysregulation in the neural pathogenesis of HIV-1. Synopsis: HIV-1 Vpu triggers the cleavage of TDP-43 by stimulating Caspase 3 activation. The cleavage products generated can induce the cytoplasmic aggregation and inactivation of TDP-43, thereby exerting neurotoxic effects. HIV-1 infection promotes the cleavage and cytoplasmic aggregation of TDP-43 proteins. Vpu contributes to HIV-1-mediated cleavage of TDP-43 by enhancing Caspase 3 activity. TDP-43 fragments function as dominant-negative mutants and promote the aggregation of full-length TDP-43. Vpu serves as a neurotoxic factor during HIV-1 infection by inactivating TDP-43. HIV-1 Vpu triggers the cleavage of TDP-43 by stimulating Caspase 3 activation. The cleavage products generated can induce the cytoplasmic aggregation and inactivation of TDP-43, thereby exerting neurotoxic effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis of multicarbon (C2+) products remains a substantial challenge in sustainable CO2 electroreduction owing to the need for sufficient current density and faradaic efficiency alongside carbon efficiency. Herein, we demonstrate ampere‐level high‐efficiency CO2 electroreduction to C2+ products in both neutral and strongly acidic (pH=1) electrolytes using a hierarchical Cu hollow‐fiber penetration electrode (HPE). High concentration of K+ could concurrently suppress hydrogen evolution reaction and facilitate C−C coupling, thereby promoting C2+ production in strong acid. By optimizing the K+ and H+ concentration and CO2 flow rate, a faradaic efficiency of 84.5 % and a partial current density as high as 3.1 A cm−2 for C2+ products, alongside a single‐pass carbon efficiency of 81.5 % and stable electrolysis for 240 h were demonstrated in a strong acidic solution of H2SO4 and KCl (pH=1). Experimental measurements and density functional theory simulations suggested that tensile‐strained Cu HPE enhances the asymmetric C−C coupling to steer the selectivity and activity of C2+ products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transconductance (gm) is one important figure of merit for benchmarking organic electrochemical transistor (OECT) biosensors, which nevertheless experiences undesired fluctuation instead of keep constant during the target detection of varied concentrations. Light‐matter interplay is recently shown as a potential way to regulate the OECT characteristics, e.g. maximum gm at zero gate bias is achieved. In this work, the challenge of unstable gm is addressed by using a unique metal‐organic framework (MOF)‐derived hollow tube indium sulfide (m‐In2S3) as the photogate. Interestingly, the light irradiation on m‐In2S3 generate a straight transfer curve, leading to a stable gm that is desirable for biological application. Exemplifying by an aptasening, such a device is then tested for protein quantification with a stable sensitivity during the detection. This work features the feasibility of light‐matter interplay to achieve a stable gm in organic electronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non‐coding RNAs that play pivotal roles in the host response to invading pathogens. Among these pathogens, Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) is one of the main causes of substantial economic losses in sericulture, and there are relatively few studies on the specific functions of miRNAs in the B. mori–BmNPV interaction. Therefore, we conducted transcriptome sequencing to identify differentially expressed (DE) messenger RNAs (mRNAs) and miRNAs in the midgut of 2 B. mori strains (BmNPV‐susceptible strain P50 and BmNPV‐resistant strain A35) after BmNPV infection. Through correlation analysis of the miRNA and mRNA data, we identified a comprehensive set of 21 miRNAs and 37 predicted target mRNAs. Notably, miR‐3351, which has high expression in A35, exhibited remarkable efficacy in suppressing BmNPV proliferation. Additionally, we confirmed that miR‐3351 binds to the 3′ untranslated region (3′ UTR) of B. mori glutathione S‐transferase epsilon 6 (BmGSTe6), resulting in its downregulation. Conversely, BmGSTe6 displayed an opposite expression pattern to miR‐3351, effectively promoting BmNPV proliferation. Notably, BmGSTe6 levels were positively correlated with glutathione S‐transferase activity, consequently influencing intracellular glutathione content in the infected samples. Furthermore, our investigation revealed the protective role of glutathione against BmNPV infection in BmN cells. In summary, miR‐3351 modulates glutathione content by downregulating BmGSTe6 to inhibit BmNPV proliferation in B. mori. Our findings enriched the research on the role of B. mori miRNAs in the defense against BmNPV infection, and suggests that the antiviral molecule, glutathione, offers a novel perspective on preventing viral infection in sericulture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Transcriptional regulation mechanisms underlying chilling injury (CI) development have been widely investigated in model plants and cold‐sensitive fruits, such as banana (Musa acuminata). However, unlike the well‐known NAC and WRKY transcription factors (TFs), the function and deciphering mechanism of heat shock factors (HSFs) involving in cold response are still fragmented. Here, we showed that hot water treatment (HWT) alleviated CI in harvested banana fruits accomplishing with reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and increased antioxidant enzyme activities. A cold‐inducible but HWT‐inhibited HSF, MaHsf24, was identified. Using DNA affinity purification sequencing (DAP‐seq) combined with RNA‐seq analyses, we found three heat shock protein (HSP) genes (MaHSP23.6, MaHSP70‐1.1 and MaHSP70‐1.2) and three antioxidant enzyme genes (MaAPX1, MaMDAR4 and MaGSTZ1) were the potential targets of MaHsf24. Subsequent electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), chromatin immunoprecipitation coupled with quantitative PCR (ChIP‐qPCR) and dual‐luciferase reporter (DLR) analyses demonstrated that MaHsf24 repressed the transcription of these six targets via directly binding to their promoters. Moreover, stably overexpressing MaHsf24 in tomatoes increased cold sensitivity by suppressing the expressions of HSPs and antioxidant enzyme genes, while HWT could recover cold tolerance, maintaining higher levels of HSPs and antioxidant enzyme genes, and activities of antioxidant enzymes. In contrast, transiently silencing MaHsf24 by virus‐induced gene silencing (VIGS) in banana peels conferred cold resistance with the upregulation of MaHSPs and antioxidant enzyme genes. Collectively, our findings support the negative role of MaHsf24 in cold tolerance, and unravel a novel regulatory network controlling bananas CI occurrence, concerning MaHsf24‐exerted inhibition of MaHSPs and antioxidant enzyme genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to explore the pharmacodynamics and mechanisms of different processing methods of Ligustrum lucidum Ait. (LLA) in addressing kidney‐yin deficiency (KYD). Forty‐eight Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into eight groups based on their weight. The KYD model was established by intragastric administration of levothyroxine sodium. Each group was administered the corresponding treatment for 15 consecutive days. The general condition of the rats during the treatment period was observed. In addition, the levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), and the ratio of cAMP to cGMP in the serum of rats from different groups were measured. Serum samples were analyzed using the ultra‐performance liquid chromatography (UPLC)‐Orbitrap Fusion MS technique for metabolomics analysis. Compared with the model group, the general condition of the rats in the wine‐steamed L. lucidum group (WL) and salt‐steamed L. lucidum group (SSL) groups showed significant improvement. The serum levels of cAMP, cGMP, and the cAMP‐to‐cGMP ratio tended to return to normal. Metabolic analysis identified 38 relevant biomarkers and revealed 3 major metabolic pathways: phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis; phenylalanine metabolism; and sphingolipid metabolism. The different processing methods of LLA demonstrated therapeutic effects on KYD in rats, likely related to the restoration of disturbed metabolism by adjusting the levels of endogenous metabolites in the kidney. The SSL demonstrated significantly superior effects compared with the other four types of LLA processed products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To investigate the inhibitory effects of STM2457, which is a novel METTL3 (m6A writer) inhibitor, both as a monotherapy and in combination with anlotinib, in the treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) both in vitro and in vivo. Materials and Methods: The efficacy of STM2457 or STM2457 plus anlotinib was evaluated using two OSCC cell lines by CCK8, transwell, colony formation, would‐healing, sphere formation, cell cycle, apoptosis assays, and nude mice tumor xenograft techniques. The molecular mechanism study was carried out by western blotting, qRT‐PCR, MeRIP‐qPCR, immunofluorescence, and immunohistochemistry. Results: STM2457 combined with anlotinib enhanced inhibition of cellular survival/proliferation and promotion of apoptosis in vitro. Moreover, this combinatorial approach exerted a notable reduction in stemness properties and EMT (epithelial‐mesenchymal transition) features of OSCC cells. Remarkably, in vivo studies validated the efficacy of the combination treatment. Mechanistically, our investigations revealed that the combined action of STM2457 and anlotinib exerted downregulatory effects on EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) expression in OSCC cells. Conclusions: The combination of STM2457 and anlotinib targeting EGFR exerted a multiple anti‐tumor effect. In near future, anlotinib combined with STM2457 may provide a novel insight for the treatment of OSCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A pair of racemic oxacalix[4]arenes featuring planar chirality and a mesomer with a symmetric plane were conveniently synthesized under mild conditions via a one‐pot dynamic SNAr reaction and separated in 20 % and 49 % yields, respectively. X‐ray single crystal analyses confirmed their structures unambiguously. The racemic mixture could further be resolved using HPLC on a chiral column. Time‐dependent products distribution and interconversion between products with CsF as a catalyst were revealed by 1H NMR studies, convincing the dynamic nature of SNAr reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Theoretical modeling of the solid‐state photocatalysis is one of the important issues as various useful photocatalysts have been developed to date. In this work, we investigated the mechanism of the alcohol photooxidation on niobium oxide (Nb2O5) which was experimentally developed, using the density functional theory (DFT)/time‐dependent (TD)DFT calculations based on the cluster model. The alcohol adsorption and the first hydrogen transfer from hydroxy group to surface occur in the ground state, while the second hydrogen transfer from CH proceeds in the excited states during the photoirradiation of UV or visible light. The spin crossing was identified and the low‐lying triplet states were solved for the reaction pathway. The photoabsorption in the visible light region was characterized as the charge transfer transition from O 2p of alcohol to Nb 4d of the Nb2O5 surface. The spin density and the natural population analysis indicated the generation of spin density in the moiety of carbonyl compound and its dissipation to the interface of the surface, which partly explains the electron paramagnetic resonance measurement. It was confirmed that the rate determining step is the desorption of carbonyl compound and water molecule in agreement with the experimental rate equation analysis. The present findings with the theoretical modeling will provide useful information for the further studies of the solid‐state photocatalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This paper addresses the adaptive saturation prescribed performance control problem for air‐breathing hypersonic vehicles with parameter uncertainties and unknown external disturbances. First of all, different from the traditional performance function, a novel class of performance functions is presented without the initial state information, which does not require to reset parameters even if the initial velocity and altitude change. To ensure the successful design of the velocity controller and altitude controller, the constrained errors are transformed into the unconstrained errors by the projection technique. Secondly, the adaptive neural network and the sliding mode control techniques are combined to design the adaptive neural network sliding mode controllers, which guarantee that the velocity and altitude tracking errors can respectively approach the predetermined regions within the identical preset finite time. Finally, the effectiveness of the designed controllers is verified by an example with comparisons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrocatalysis represents an efficient and eco‐friendly approach to energy conversion, enabling the sustainable synthesis of valuable chemicals and fuels. The deliberate engineering of electrocatalysts is crucial to improving the efficacy and scalability of electrocatalysis. Notably, the occurrence of in situ amorphization within electrocatalysts has been observed during various electrochemical processes, influencing the energy conversion efficiency and catalytic mechanism understanding. Of note, the dynamic transformation of catalysts into amorphous structures is complex, often leading to various amorphous configurations. Therefore, revealing this amorphization process and understanding the function of amorphous species are pivotal for elucidating the structure‐activity relationship of electrocatalysts, which will direct the creation of highly efficient catalysts. This review examines the mechanisms behind amorphous structure formation, summarizes characterization methods for detecting amorphous species, and discusses strategies for controlling (pre)catalyst properties and electrochemical conditions that influence amorphization. It also emphasizes the importance of spontaneously formed amorphous species in electrochemical oxidation and reduction reactions. Finally, it addresses challenges in the in situ amorphization of electrocatalysts. aiming to guide the synthesis of electrocatalysts for efficient, selective, and stable electrochemical reactions, and to inspire future advancements in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interferons (IFNs) activate JAK‐STAT pathways to induce downstream effector genes for host defense against invaded pathogens and tumors. Here both type I (β) and II (γ) IFNs are shown that can activate the transcription factor IRF3 in parallel with STAT1. IRF3‐deficiency impairs transcription of a subset of downstream effector genes induced by IFN‐β and IFN‐γ. Mechanistically, IFN‐induced activation of IRF3 is dependent on the cGAS‐STING‐TBK1 axis. Both IFN‐β and IFN‐γ cause mitochondrial DNA release into the cytosol. In addition, IFNs induce JAK1‐mediated tyrosine phosphorylation of cGAS at Y214/Y215, which is essential for its DNA binding activity and signaling. Furthermore, deficiency of cGAS, STING, or IRF3 impairs IFN‐β‐ or IFN‐γ‐mediated antiviral and antitumor activities. The findings reveal a novel IRF3 activation pathway parallel with the canonical STAT1/2 activation pathways triggered by IFNs and provide an explanation for the pleiotropic roles of the cGAS‐STING‐IRF3 axis in host defense. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among clinical trialists, there has been a growing interest in using external data to improve decision‐making and accelerate drug development in randomized clinical trials (RCTs). Here we propose a novel approach that combines the propensity score weighting (PW) and the multi‐source exchangeability modelling (MEM) approaches to augment the control arm of a RCT in the rare disease setting. First, propensity score weighting is used to construct weighted external controls that have similar observed pre‐treatment characteristics as the current trial population. Next, the MEM approach evaluates the similarity in outcome distributions between the weighted external controls and the concurrent control arm. The amount of external data we borrow is determined by the similarities in pretreatment characteristics and outcome distributions. The proposed approach can be applied to binary, continuous and count data. We evaluate the performance of the proposed PW‐MEM method and several competing approaches based on simulation and re‐sampling studies. Our results show that the PW‐MEM approach improves the precision of treatment effect estimates while reducing the biases associated with borrowing data from external sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of high‐performance thermoelectric devices (TEDs) with personal thermoregulation is crucial for the advancement of next‐generation wearable technologies. Most efforts focus on optimizing mechanical flexibility in fully encapsulated devices, but parasitic heat loss induced by the layer‐packed polymer matrices with high thermal impedance typically leads to degradation in sensing and bidirectional conversion capabilities. Here, a bioinspired architectural strategy is proposed for this problem that demonstrates the feasibility of single‐sided assembly based on a soft‐rigid "skin‐spine" configuration to improve heat utilization efficiency. With active TE units connected via serpentine electrodes, skin‐spine‐structured wearable thermoelectric devices (SSSW‐TEDs) are successfully fabricated enabling temperature sensing and bidirectional heat‐to‐electricity conversion under mild forced convection. This contributes to significant enhancements in power delivery (by 300%) and cost‐benefit analysis (by 100%) through efficient air convection heat dissipation. Moreover, SSSW‐TED enables personal thermal regulation by harnessing body heat, cooling the skin, and perceiving behaviors such as touching and blowing. This study not only provides novel insights for high‐performance TEDs but also lays the foundation for the widespread implementation of skin thermoregulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temperature‐responsive hydrogels, or thermogels, have emerged as a leading platform for sustained delivery of both small molecule drugs and macromolecular biologic therapeutics. Although thermogel properties can be modulated by varying the polymer's hydrophilic‐hydrophobic balance, molecular weight and degree of branching, varying the supramolecular donor‐acceptor interactions on the polymer remains surprisingly overlooked. Herein, to study the influence of enhanced hydrogen bonding on thermogelation, we synthesized a family of amphiphilic polymers containing urea and urethane linkages using quinuclidine as an organocatalyst. Our findings showed that the presence of strongly hydrogen bonding urea linkages significantly enhanced polymer hydration in water, in turn affecting hierarchical polymer self‐assembly and macroscopic gel properties such as sol‐gel phase transition temperature and gel stiffness. Additionally, analysis of the sustained release profiles of Aflibercept, an FDA‐approved protein biologic for anti‐angiogenic treatment, showed that urea bonds on the thermogel were able to significantly alter the drug release mechanism and kinetics compared to usage of polyurethane gels of similar composition and molecular weight. Our findings demonstrate the unrealized possibility of modulating gel properties and outcomes of sustained drug delivery through judicious variation of hydrogen bonding motifs on the polymer structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we developed a direct strategy to fabricate Palladene (i. e. Palladium metallene) aerogels and propose a temperature‐dependent growth mechanism. Besides the typical three‐dimensional networks and wrinkled surface morphologies, the as‐prepared Palladene50 ${{Palladene}_{50}}$ aerogel is endowed with abundant Pd2+. The as‐prepared Palladene50 ${{Palladene}_{50}}$ aerogel exhibits an excellent mass activity in the formic acid oxidation reaction and a good half‐wave potential in the oxygen reduction reaction in comparison with Pd/C and a Pd aerogel. This work expands the range of metal aerogels from the perspective of the building block units and demonstrates a direct approach to fabricate highly promising bifunctional electrocatalysts for fuel cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nine quinoline‐1,2,4‐triazine hybrids (5 a–5 i) were designed, synthesized, and subjected to evaluation as potential anti‐cancer agents. Structures validation of the synthesized analogues was accomplished through comprehensive analysis employing NMR, HRMS, and IR spectroscopy techniques. Furthermore, the molecular structures of compounds 5 a, 5 d and 5 h were authenticated via single crystal X‐ray diffraction. In an extensive screening process against the human pancreatic cancer PANC‐1 cell line utilizing the MTT assay, all quinoline‐1,2,4‐triazine hybrids (5 a–5 i) manifested significant anti‐proliferative activity. Compound 5 g demonstrated a significant anti‐proliferative effect with an IC50 value of 26.8 μM, similar to the positive control, 5‐Fu. Subsequent investigations revealed varying degrees of cell viability in MDA‐MB‐231, A549, and UM‐UC‐3 cell lines upon exposure to different concentrations of compound 5 g. These findings lead us to postulate that compound 5 g may impede the migration, invasion, and adhesion of PANC‐1 cells, similar to the effects observed with 5‐Fu. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To summarize and compare the accuracy of transvaginal ultrasound (TVS), 3D‐TVS, and sonohysterography (SHG) for the diagnosis of intrauterine adhesions (IUA). Methods: The computer searches databases such as web of science, Medline, EMBASE, and PubMed collecting diagnostic studies of IUA via ultrasound. The retrieval time was included from inception to January 1, 2023. Two researchers independently screened the literature, extracted information, and used RevMan 5.3 to complete an assessment of the risk of bias in the included literature. Meta‐analysis of included studies using Stata 16.0 and Meta Disc 1.4 software. Results: Thirteen studies were included. The analysis results of 2D‐TVS are The sensitivity (SEN): 0.54 (95% CI [0.28078]), specificity (SPE): 0.96 (95% CI [0.78, 0.99]), and the area (AUC) under the operating characteristic curve (SROC): 0.83 (95% CI [0.80, 0.86]); the SEN, SPE, and AUC of 3D‐TVS are: 0.96 (95% CI [0.90, 0.98]), 0.84 (95% CI [0.68, 0.93]), 0.97 (95% CI [0.95, 0.98]); and the SEN, SPE, and AUC of SHG are: 0.74 (95% CI [0.53, 0.88]), 0.97 (95% CI [0.94, 0.99]), 0.95 (95% CI [0.93, 0.97]). Conclusion: The current results show that the diagnostic value of 3D‐TVS for IUA is better than SHG and significantly higher than that of 2D‐TVS. However, the analysis of subgroups is still limited by the number of included studies. In order to better explore the application of ultrasound in intrauterine adhesion, more high‐quality studies are needed in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is characterized by rapid renal decline. Periodontitis, a chronic oral inflammatory disease, is increasingly associated with renal dysfunction. Although periodontitis is recognized as a contributor to kidney damage, the mechanisms linking it to AKI remain unclear. Methods: This study explored the effects of Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) W83‐infected periodontitis on AKI in C57BL/6J mice, using ischemia‐reperfusion injury 55 days post‐infection. Gingipain inhibitors, KYT‐1 and KYT‐36, were applied. Detection of P. gingivalis was performed using quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) and PCR, while transcriptome sequencing, qRT‐PCR, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence staining assessed renal damage. In vitro, HK‐2 cells were exposed to P. gingivalis at a multiplicity of infection of 10 for 48 h, with inhibition by gingipain or oncostatin M (OSM). Disruption of tight junctions (TJs) was quantified using qRT‐PCR, transepithelial electrical resistance, and cell counting kit‐8 assays. Results: Periodontitis worsened AKI, linked to P. gingivalis infection and renal TJ disruption in the kidney. P. gingivalis infection activated OSM expression, which correlated positively with gingipain. Significantly, OSM and gingipain might collaboratively contribute to the damage of renal TJs, with the reduced expression of TJ proteins. Suppressing gingipain activity presented itself as a protective strategy against the destruction of TJs and the attendant worsening of AKI due to periodontitis. Conclusions: Our study enhances the understanding of the interplay between periodontitis and AKI, highlighting the harmful impact of P. gingivalis in AKI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the fixed‐time adaptive neural tracking control for a class of second‐order uncertain nonlinear systems is investigated. First, a novel fast fixed‐time stable (FTS) autonomous system with the switched nonlinear term is constructed. Compared with the traditional FTS system (FTSS), the state of the proposed fast FTS system has a faster convergence rate for arbitrary initial state. Then, a fixed‐time terminal sliding mode control (FTSMC) scheme is developed based on the novel fast FTSS, and the tracking error of the closed‐loop system is verified to converge to the origin within a fixed time. The proposed FTSMC scheme not only realizes the upper bound of the settling time independent of the initial conditions but also completely avoids the singularity problem by introducing the switching sliding mode surface. Moreover, an adaptive neural FTSMC scheme is developed for the general uncertain nonlinear systems with the help of the approximation capabilities of neural networks (NNs). The feasibility of the presented control strategy is examined by the simulation of a single‐link robot system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although epoxy resin (EP) has been widely used in many fields, it is still urgent to effectively improve its flame retardancy by halogen‐free strategies. Herein, a silicon‐containing cyclotriphosphazene derivative (HEP‐Si) was synthesized by nucleophilic substitution and silicon–hydrogen addition reaction using eugenol, hexachlorophosphazene and triethylsilane as raw materials. Then it served as a halogen‐free flame retardant for an EP/4,4′‐diaminodiphenylmethane system, and its performance was compared with that of commercial flame retardant hexaphenoxycyclotriphosphazene (HPP). The results showed that although the initial thermal decomposition temperature (T5%) of the cured products of EP/HEP‐Si was slightly lower than that of pure EP, T5% did not decrease further as the amount of HEP‐Si increased, indicating that good thermal stability was maintained. In addition, the char yield of the cured products of EP/HEP‐Si was significantly increased (more than 20 wt%) compared to that of pure EP. The cured EP with the addition of HPP and HEP‐Si both achieved a V‐0 rating in UL‐94 vertical burning test at 0.5 wt% phosphorus content, while the limiting oxygen index of the EP/HEP‐Si system was higher, reaching 33.2%. From cone calorimetric test results, the peak heat release rate, total heat release and total smoke production of the cured products of EP/HEP‐Si decreased by 61.5%, 37.1% and 26.2%, respectively, compared with that of pure EP. The cured EP/HEP‐Si materials also exhibited good thermomechanical and mechanical properties. Therefore, HEP‐Si is suggested to be a promising P/N/Si‐containing halogen‐free flame retardant for EP. © 2024 Society of Industrial Chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: More than 60% children exhibit anxiety before undergoing an anesthetic‐surgical procedure, particularly among pre‐school paediatric patients. Oral midazolam can provide procedural sedation for children prior to anesthesia. However, extemporaneous solutions of midazolam are usually prepared from injectable drug solutions, leading to inconsistent efficacy due to variable preparation methods. Xiaoerjing® is the first commercially available oral formulation of midazolam for procedural sedation in children in China. Despite the recommended dosage range of 0.25–0.5 mg/kg, its effective dose is still largely unknown. Aim: To determine the 95% effective dose (ED95) of midazolam oral solution (Xiaoerjing®) for alleviating preoperative anxiety in children prior to mask induction of general anesthesia. Design: The study included 61 children between the ages of 1 and 6 years undergoing elective surgery under general anesthesia. The first patient received a single dose of 0.5 mg/kg midazolam oral solution, which was adjusted for subsequent patients using the biased coin design method based on their response to the previous dose. Doses were increased or decreased at the rate of 0.1 mg/kg. An effective response was defined as having a modified Ramsay sedation score ≥3a, separation anxiety score ≤2, and mask acceptance score ≤2 during inhalational anesthesia induction. Results: Fifty‐six children were included in the final analysis. Of those, sedation was successful in 50 patients, with a median separation time of 15 (IQR: 25) min. Midazolam oral solution has an ED95 of 0.8254 mg/kg (95% CI: 0.6915–0.8700 mg/kg) for relieving preoperative anxiety in children. No adverse events occurred following drug administration. Conclusion: Midazolam oral solution is a safe and effective medication for relieving preoperative anxiety in children. The ED95 of a single oral dose of midazolam oral solution is 0.8254 mg/kg (95% CI: 0.6915–0.8700 mg/kg). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive Summary: We report herein the first observation of MOF nanozyme enabling dual‐functional photo‐induced charge transfer and biomimetic precipitation for advanced organic photoelectrochemical transistor (OPECT) bioanalysis. Specifically, Fe/Co‐MIL‐88, serving simultaneously as the semiconductor and nanozyme, was explored as a dual‐functional gating module in OPECT. Upon light illumination, it could accelerate the charge transfer of the photogate to produce enhanced photo‐induced voltage. Meanwhile, its catalytic property could efficiently produce biomimetic precipitation to block the nanopores in Fe/Co‐MIL‐88 and thus alter the device characteristics. The generic bioanalytical potential of such a rationale was then demonstrated with an aptasensing assisted by magnetic separation. This work represents the first exploration of biomimetic precipitation from MOF nanozymes for generic OPECT bioanalysis, it is expected to attract more interest in various nanozymes for novel optoelectronic bioanalytics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemotherapy plays a crucial role in the clinical treatment of triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC), but drug resistance limits its clinical application. The active ingredients of Chaihu Shugan Powder (CSP; Bupleurum Liver‐Coursing Powder), quercetin and luteolin, both belong to flavonoid compounds and have significant anti‐tumor potential, which can promote chemotherapy sensitivity. However, the correlation between the two and TNBC paclitaxel (PTX) chemotherapy sensitivity is unknown. We collected herbal components of CSP from the TCMSP database, and screened effective molecules and corresponding targets. STRING database was utilized to construct a protein–protein interaction network combining effective molecules and target genes. The top 50 nodes ranked by affinity were chosen for subsequent functional analysis, and the drug‐active ingredient‐gene interaction network was established using Cytoscape software. Molecular docking was used to determine the small molecules that target TNBC PTX resistance. The "clusterProfiler" package was utilized for GO and KEGG enrichment analyses on the top 50 genes to determine the pathways affected by CSP. Cell counting and colony formation assays evaluated cell viability, IC50 values, and proliferation capacity. Flow cytometry tested PTX intracellular accumulation. Western blot assayed the expression of TNF pathway‐related proteins. Active ingredients of CSP, quercetin and luteolin, could inhibit TNBC cell proliferation and promote PTX chemotherapy sensitization. Quercetin and luteolin repressed the TNF signaling pathway and promoted PTX chemotherapy sensitization. Quercetin and luteolin could inhibit TNBC cell proliferation and promote PTX chemotherapy sensitization through the TNF signaling pathway. Therefore, the use of quercetin and luteolin plus PTX treatment provides a prospective strategy for TNBC treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Gene expression is regulated at multiple levels, including RNA processing and DNA methylation/demethylation. How these regulations are controlled remains unclear.Here, through analysis of a suppressor for the OsEIN2 over‐expressor, we identified an RNA recognition motif protein SUPPRESSOR OF EIN2 (SOE). SOE is localized in nuclear speckles and interacts with several components of the spliceosome. We find SOE associates with hundreds of targets and directly binds to a DNA glycosylase gene DNG701 pre‐mRNA for efficient splicing and stabilization, allowing for subsequent DNG701‐mediated DNA demethylation of the transgene promoter for proper gene expression. The V81M substitution in the suppressor mutant protein mSOE impaired its protein stability and binding activity to DNG701 pre‐mRNA, leading to transgene silencing.SOE mutation enhances grain size and yield. Haplotype analysis in c. 3000 rice accessions reveals that the haplotype 1 (Hap 1) promoter is associated with high 1000‐grain weight, and most of the japonica accessions, but not indica ones, have the Hap 1 elite allele.Our study discovers a novel mechanism for the regulation of gene expression and provides an elite allele for the promotion of yield potentials in rice. See also the Commentary on this article by Bazin & Crespi, 243: 1631–1632. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Although there are various model‐based approaches to individualized vancomycin (VCM) administration, few have been reported for adult patients with periprosthetic joint infection (PJI). This work attempted to develop a machine learning (ML)‐based model for predicting VCM trough concentration in adult PJI patients. Methods: The dataset of 287 VCM trough concentrations from 130 adult PJI patients was split into a training set (229) and a testing set (58) at a ratio of 8:2, and an independent external 32 concentrations were collected as a validation set. A total of 13 covariates and the target variable (VCM trough concentration) were included in the dataset. A covariate model was respectively constructed by support vector regression, random forest regression and gradient boosted regression trees and interpreted by SHapley Additive exPlanation (SHAP). Results: The SHAP plots visualized the weight of the covariates in the models, with estimated glomerular filtration rate and VCM daily dose as the 2 most important factors, which were adopted for the model construction. Random forest regression was the optimal ML algorithm with a relative accuracy of 82.8% and absolute accuracy of 67.2% (R2 =.61, mean absolute error = 2.4, mean square error = 10.1), and its prediction performance was verified in the validation set. Conclusion: The proposed ML‐based model can satisfactorily predict the VCM trough concentration in adult PJI patients. Its construction can be facilitated with only 2 clinical parameters (estimated glomerular filtration rate and VCM daily dose), and prediction accuracy can be rationalized by SHAP values, which highlights a profound practical value for clinical dosing guidance and timely treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]