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Load‐bearing biological staggered composites, like nacre, teeth, and bone, possess an exceptional combination of material properties like high stiffness and high toughness. To date, most of the analytical research are for nacre‐like bio‐inspired staggered composites, with highly overlapped platelets. But the collagen fibril‐like staggered composites, with slender or barely overlapped platelets, are out of their scope. This motivates this work. In this paper, based on the previous research, according to the elastic‐viscoelastic corresponding principle, an analytical model for dynamic properties of general bio‐inspired staggered composites is presented. Moreover, the effect of loading frequency in a wide range is studied. The accuracy of the model is verified by comparison with existing models and finite element simulations. Besides, parametric analyses and sensitivity analysis are conducted thoroughly. The results reveal that besides the platelet concentration and the platelet aspect ratio, the platelet overlap ratio also influences the damping behavior of bio‐inspired staggered composites to a certain extent; for biological/biomimetic composites with a larger overlap ratio, higher loss modulus is possible to be achieved, and the optimal aspect ratio is mostly within [5, 30]. These findings are of great significance to the optimal design of bio‐inspired engineering materials in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cGAS‐STING pathway plays an important role in host defense by sensing pathogen DNA, inducing type I IFNs, and initiating autophagy. However, the molecular mechanism of autophagosome formation in cGAS‐STING pathway‐induced autophagy is still unclear. Here, we report that STING directly interacts with WIPI2, which is the key protein for LC3 lipidation in autophagy. Binding to WIPI2 is necessary for STING‐induced autophagosome formation but does not affect STING activation and intracellular trafficking. In addition, the specific interaction between STING and the PI3P‐binding motif of WIPI2 leads to the competition of WIPI2 binding between STING and PI3P, and mutual inhibition between STING‐induced autophagy and canonical PI3P‐dependent autophagy. Furthermore, we show that the STING‐WIPI2 interaction is required for the clearance of cytoplasmic DNA and the attenuation of cGAS‐STING signaling. Thus, the direct interaction between STING and WIPI2 enables STING to bypass the canonical upstream machinery to induce LC3 lipidation and autophagosome formation. Synopsis: STING‐induced autophagy does not depend on ULK1 complex and PIK3C3 complex. Here, we report that STING directly interacts with WIPI2 and brings WIPI2 to STING‐positive vesicles. Our results reveal a mechanism by which WIPI2 is recruited to phagophore for LC3 lipidation and phagophore expansion during STING‐induced autophagosome formation. STING brings WIPI2 to STING‐positive vesicles for autophagosome formation during STING‐induced autophagy.STING and PI3P competitively bind to WIPI2, which leads to mutual inhibition between STING‐induced autophagy and PI3P‐dependent autophagy.STING‐WIPI2 interaction is required for autophagy‐dependent clearance of cytoplasmic DNA and the attenuation of cGAS‐STING signaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Speciation among populations connected by gene flow is driven by adaptation to different environments, but underlying gene–environment associations remain largely unknown. Here, 162 individuals from 32 populations were sampled to obtain 191,648 independent single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) across the genomes of two closely related spruce species, Picea asperata and Picea crassifolia, which occur on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau and in surrounding regions. Using the SNP data set, genotype–environment associations and demographic modelling were used to examine local adaptation and genetic divergence between these two species. While morphologically similar, the two Picea species were genetically differentiated in multiple analyses. These species diverged despite continuous gene flow, and their initial divergence was dated back to the late Quaternary. The effective population sizes of both species have expanded since their divergence, as confirmed by niche distribution simulations. A total of 6365 genes were associated with the tested environmental variables; of these, 41 were positively selected in P. asperata and were mainly associated with temperature, while 83 were positively selected in P. crassifolia and were primarily associated with precipitation. These results deepen our understanding of the adaptive divergence and demographic histories of these two spruce species and highlight the importance of genomic data in deciphering the environmental selection underlying Quaternary interspecific divergence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of macromolecules and materials immobilized in the detection zone of test strips for indicator capture and focusing in label‐free lateral flow assays (LFAs) is described, with emphasis on its future use in low number multiplexing. Several materials such as polyelectrolytes, functionalized mesoporous silica micro‐ and nanoparticles, chemically modified cellulose or glass fibre (GF) membranes and molecularly imprinted polymer gels coated onto membranes were studied in model assays, before the most promising materials were combined with antibody‐gated indicator delivering (gAID) sensor materials. Cellulose, nitrocellulose and GF membranes were used as supports and highly fluorescent dyes of different charge states as model indicators. Combination of the best performing capture materials with gAID systems made it possible to distinctly increase the sensitivity and reduce the measurement uncertainty in the LFA testing of pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) in aqueous samples. In addition, dual‐plexing of PETN and 2,4,6‐trinitrotoluene (TNT) was realized on a single test strip containing two dedicated capture zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Histology slide, tissue microbes, and the host gene expression can be independent prognostic factors of colorectal cancer (CRC), but the underlying associations and biological significance of these multimodal omics remain unknown. Here, we comprehensively profiled the matched pathological images, intratumoral microbes, and host gene expression characteristics in 527 patients with CRC. By clustering these patients based on histology slide features, we classified the patients into two histology slide subtypes (HSS). Onco‐microbial community and tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) were also significantly different between the two subtypes (HSS1 and HSS2) of patients. Furthermore, variation in intratumoral microbes–host interaction was associated with the prognostic heterogeneity between HSS1 and HSS2. This study proposes a new CRC classification based on pathological image features and elucidates the process by which tumor microbes–host interactions are reflected in pathological images through the TIME. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Autoimmunity in plants has been found in numerous hybrids as a form of hybrid necrosis and mutant panels. Uncontrolled cell death is a main cellular outcome of autoimmunity, which negatively impacts growth. Its occurrence highlights the vulnerable nature of the plant immune system. Genetic investigation of autoimmunity in hybrid plants revealed that extreme variation in the immune receptor repertoire is a major contributor, reflecting an evolutionary conundrum that plants face in nature. In this review, we discuss natural variation in the plant immune system and its contribution to fitness. The value of autoimmunity genetics lies in its ability to identify combinations of a natural immune receptor and its partner that are predisposed to triggering autoimmunity. The network of immune components for autoimmunity becomes instrumental in revealing mechanistic details of how immune receptors recognize cellular invasion and activate signaling. The list of autoimmunity‐risk variants also allows us to infer evolutionary processes contributing to their maintenance in the natural population. Our approach to autoimmunity, which integrates mechanistic understanding and evolutionary genetics, has the potential to serve as a prognosis tool to optimize immunity in crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring multiple molecular probes simultaneously establishes their correlations and reveals the holistic mechanism. Current fluorescence imaging, however, is limited to about four colors because of typically circa 100‐nm spectral width. Herein, we show that molecular supracence imparts superior spectral resolution, resolving eight colors in 300‐nm width, about 37.5‐nm per color. A recently discovered light‐molecule interacting phenomenon, supracence only measures molecular emission above its excitation energy due to entanglement between atomic quantum system and electronic quantum system. As such, supracence takes advantage of sharp spectral edge of a single pathway and excitation specificity to produce narrow bands, whereas fluorescence has to deal with multiple pathways spilling out low‐energy long tail, that causes poor resolution. Thus, supracence enables myriad innovative molecular spectroscopy and microscopic imaging with profound impact broadly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring multiple molecular probes simultaneously establishes their correlations and reveals the holistic mechanism. Current fluorescence imaging, however, is limited to about four colors because of typically circa 100‐nm spectral width. Herein, we show that molecular supracence imparts superior spectral resolution, resolving eight colors in 300‐nm width, about 37.5‐nm per color. A recently discovered light‐molecule interacting phenomenon, supracence only measures molecular emission above its excitation energy due to entanglement between atomic quantum system and electronic quantum system. As such, supracence takes advantage of sharp spectral edge of a single pathway and excitation specificity to produce narrow bands, whereas fluorescence has to deal with multiple pathways spilling out low‐energy long tail, that causes poor resolution. Thus, supracence enables myriad innovative molecular spectroscopy and microscopic imaging with profound impact broadly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The currently understood principles about light–molecule interactions are limited, and thus scientific scope beyond current theories is rarely harvested. Herein we demonstrate supracence phenomena, in which the emitted photons have more energy than the absorbed photons. The extra energy comes from couplings of the absorbed and emitted photon to molecular phonons, whose potentials are constantly exchanging with molecular quantum energy and the environment. Thus, supracence is a linear optical process rather than a nonlinear optical process, such as second harmonic generation. Because supracence results in cooled molecular phonons and thus cooled molecules, behavior opposite to that of hot fluorescing emitters is expected. This report reveals certain supracence principles while contrasting fluorescence with supracence in high‐resolution imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The currently understood principles about light–molecule interactions are limited, and thus scientific scope beyond current theories is rarely harvested. Herein we demonstrate supracence phenomena, in which the emitted photons have more energy than the absorbed photons. The extra energy comes from couplings of the absorbed and emitted photon to molecular phonons, whose potentials are constantly exchanging with molecular quantum energy and the environment. Thus, supracence is a linear optical process rather than a nonlinear optical process, such as second harmonic generation. Because supracence results in cooled molecular phonons and thus cooled molecules, behavior opposite to that of hot fluorescing emitters is expected. This report reveals certain supracence principles while contrasting fluorescence with supracence in high‐resolution imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tumor protein p53‐inducible nuclear protein 2 (TP53INP2) has been reported to participate in autophagy by interacting with autophagosome‐localized autophagy‐related protein 8 (Atg8) family proteins, including LC3. Here, we uncover a novel function for TP53INP2 in the autophagic degradation of proteins. We identify the ubiquitin‐interacting motif (UIM) of TP53INP2 that mediates its binding to ubiquitin and ubiquitinated proteins. TP53INP2 lacking the UIM is able to displace autophagic adaptor p62 from LC3, which leads to accumulation of ubiquitinated proteins in cells. Furthermore, overexpression of TP53INP2 lacking the UIM sensitizes cells to chloroquine treatment. Our findings indicate that TP53INP2 may act as a novel autophagic adaptor through recruiting ubquitinated substrates to autophagosomes for degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) sense microbial patterns and activate innate immunity against attempted microbial invasions. The leucine‐rich repeat receptor kinases (LRR‐RK) FLS2 and EFR, and the LRR receptor protein (LRR‐RP) receptors RLP23 and RLP42, respectively, represent prototypical members of these two prominent and closely related PRR families.We conducted a survey of Arabidopsis thaliana immune signaling mediated by these receptors to address the question of commonalities and differences between LRR‐RK and LRR‐RP signaling.Quantitative differences in timing and amplitude were observed for several early immune responses, with RP‐mediated responses typically being slower and more prolonged than those mediated by RKs. Activation of RLP23, but not FLS2, induced the production of camalexin. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that RLP23‐regulated genes represent only a fraction of those genes differentially expressed upon FLS2 activation. Several positive and negative regulators of FLS2‐signaling play similar roles in RLP23 signaling. Intriguingly, the cytoplasmic receptor kinase BIK1, a positive regulator of RK signaling, acts as a negative regulator of RP‐type immune receptors in a manner dependent on BIK1 kinase activity.Our study unveiled unexpected differences in two closely related receptor systems and reports a new negative role of BIK1 in plant immunity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Inflammation is involved in many human pathologies, including osteoarthritis (OA). Hydrogen (H2) is known to have anti‐inflammatory effects; however, the bioavailability of directly administered H2 gas is typically poor. Herein, a local delivery system that can provide a high therapeutic concentration of gaseous H2 at inflamed tissues is proposed. The delivery system comprises poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) microparticles that contain magnesium powder (Mg@PLGA MPs). Mg@PLGA MPs that are intra‐muscularly injected close to the OA knee in a mouse model can act as an in situ depot that can evolve gaseous H2 continuously, mediated by the cycle of passivation/activation of Mg in body fluids, at a concentration that exceeds its therapeutic threshold. The analytical data that are obtained in the biochemical and histological studies indicate that the proposed Mg@PLGA MPs can effectively mitigate tissue inflammation and prevent cartilage from destruction, arresting the progression of OA changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Inflammation is involved in many human pathologies, including osteoarthritis (OA). Hydrogen (H2) is known to have anti‐inflammatory effects; however, the bioavailability of directly administered H2 gas is typically poor. Herein, a local delivery system that can provide a high therapeutic concentration of gaseous H2 at inflamed tissues is proposed. The delivery system comprises poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) microparticles that contain magnesium powder (Mg@PLGA MPs). Mg@PLGA MPs that are intra‐muscularly injected close to the OA knee in a mouse model can act as an in situ depot that can evolve gaseous H2 continuously, mediated by the cycle of passivation/activation of Mg in body fluids, at a concentration that exceeds its therapeutic threshold. The analytical data that are obtained in the biochemical and histological studies indicate that the proposed Mg@PLGA MPs can effectively mitigate tissue inflammation and prevent cartilage from destruction, arresting the progression of OA changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 2,3-diaminophenazine bis-urea fluorescent probe monomer ( 1) was developed. It responds to phenylphosphate and phosphorylated amino acids in a ratiometric fashion with enhanced fluorescence accompanied by the development of a redshifted emission band arising from an excited-state proton transfer (ESPT) process in the hydrogen-bonded probe/analyte complex. The two urea groups of 1 form a cleft-like binding pocket ( Kb>1010 L2 mol−2 for 1:2 complex). Imprinting of 1 in presence of ethyl ester- and fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl (Fmoc)-protected phosphorylated tyrosine (Fmoc-pTyr-OEt) as the template, methacrylamide as co-monomer, and ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate as cross-linker gave few-nanometer-thick molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) shells on silica core microparticles with excellent selectivity for the template in a buffered biphasic assay. The supramolecular recognition features were established by spectroscopic and NMR studies. Rational screening of co-monomers and cross-linkers allowed to single out the best performing MIP components, giving significant imprinting factors (IF>3.5) while retaining ESPT emission and the ratiometric response in the thin polymer shell. Combination of the bead-based detection scheme with the phase-transfer assay dramatically improved the IF to 15.9, allowing sensitive determination of the analyte directly in aqueous media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serial electron crystallography is being developed as an alternative way to collect diffraction data on beam-sensitive polycrystalline materials. Merging serial diffraction data from a large number of snapshots is difficult, and the dynamical nature of electron diffraction prevents the use of existing methods that rely on precise measurement of kinematical reflection intensities. To overcome this problem, an alternative method that uses rank aggregation to combine the rankings of relative reflection intensities from a large number of snapshots has been developed. The method does not attempt to accurately model the diffraction intensity, but instead optimizes the most likely ranking of reflections. As a consequence, the problem of scaling individual snapshots is avoided entirely, and requirements for the data quality and precision are low. The method works best when reflections can be fully measured, but the benefit over measuring partial intensities is small. Since there were no experimental data available for testing rank-based merging, the validity of the approach was assessed through a series of simulated serial electron diffraction datasets with different numbers of frames and varying degrees of errors. Several programs have been used to show that these rank-merged simulated data are good enough for ab initio structure determination using several direct methods programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydroxyproline-rich glycopeptides (HypSys) are small signalling peptides containing 18-20 amino acids. The expression of IbpreproHypSys, encoding the precursor of IbHypSys, was induced in sweet potato ( Ipomoea batatas cv. Tainung 57) through wounding and IbHypSys treatments by using jasmonate and H2O2. Transgenic sweet potatoes overexpressing (OE) and silencing [RNA interference (RNAi)] IbpreproHypSys were created. The expression of the wound-inducible gene for ipomoelin ( IPO) in the local and systemic leaves of OE plants was stronger than the expression in wild-type (WT) and RNAi plants after wounding. Furthermore, grafting experiments indicated that IPO expression was considerably higher in WT stocks receiving wounding signals from OE than from RNAi scions. However, wounding WT scions highly induced IPO expression in OE stocks. These results indicated that IbpreproHypSys expression contributed towards sending and receiving the systemic signals that induced IPO expression. Analysing the genes involved in the phenylpropanoid pathway demonstrated that lignin biosynthesis was activated after synthetic IbHypSys treatment. IbpreproHypSys expression in sweet potato suppressed Spodoptera litura growth . In conclusion, wounding induced the expression of IbpreproHypSys, whose protein product was processed into IbHypSys. IbHypSys stimulated IbpreproHypSys and IPO expression and enhanced lignin biosynthesis, thus protecting plants from insects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CaCu3Ti4O12 ( CCTO) powders have been synthesized by the molten salt method using NaCl as the flux. The effects of the synthesis temperature on their crystal structures and micromorphologies were investigated in this study. A new secondary phase, Na2Ti6O13, was found in the as-synthesized powders when the temperature exceeds 800°C. Na2Ti6O13 and CuO secondary phases result in a significant increase in the dielectric constant and a certain increase in the dielectric loss. 800°C is a suitable synthesis temperature to prepare CCTO ceramics with relatively good dielectric performance using NaCl as the molten salt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leroux et al. performed a set of experiments reported in our study and claim that they failed to reproduce the thermoresponsive liposomal system containing ammonium bicarbonate (ABC) that could trigger drug release under mild heating. We disagree with their assessments and speculate that the different method used by Leroux et al. to prepare the aqueous ABC is the culprit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leroux et al. haben Experimente aus unserer Studie wiederholt und berichten, dass sie das thermoresponsive liposomale System mit Ammoniumbicarbonat (ABC), für das wir Wirkstofffreisetzung unter mildem Erwärmen demonstrierten, nicht reproduzieren konnten. Wir widersprechen ihrer Beurteilung und spekulieren, dass die andersartige Methode, die Leroux et al. für die Herstellung des wässrigen ABC verwendeten, zu dem negativen Ergebnis führte. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gelcasting is a colloidal processing method for fabricating high-strength and complex shape ceramic green bodies. However, industry has been reluctant to use the gelcasting technique because the most commonly used gel, acrylamide ( AM), is a neurotoxin. Here, we report an attempt at the gelcasting of fused silica glass using a natural and nontoxic gel, glutinous rice flour ( GRF) as binder. The GRF-based aqueous system was found to behave excellently in the gelcasting process. Flexural strength of fused silica green bodies solidified with only 3 wt% GRF is up to 11.87 MPa. Bulk density and flexural strength of fused silica glass sintered at 1275 °C are 1.75 g/cm3 and 47.02 MPa, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fluorescence brightness of a molecular probe determines whether it can be effectively measured and its water solubility dictates if it can be applied in real-world biological systems. However, molecules brighter than the most efficient fluorescent dyes or particles brighter than quantum dots are hard to come by, especially when they must also be soluble in water. In this report, chromophoric phosphoramidites are used in a solid-state synthesis to construct functional dendrimers. When highly twisted chromophores are chosen and the proper spacers and dendrons are introduced, the resultant dendrimers emit exceptionally bright fluorescence. Chromophores, spacers, and dendrons are stitched together by efficient phosphoramidite reagents, which afford high-yield water-soluble phosphodiester linkages after deprotection. The resulting water-soluble dendrimers are exceptionally bright. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dinuclear complex [Cu2(HL)2(H2O)2](ClO4)2 ( 1) [H2L = 5′-(pyridin-2-yl)-1- H,2′- H-3, 3′-bis(1, 2,4-triazole)] was obtained and fully characterized. It exhibits a centrosymmetry configuration, in which each copper(II) ion is pentacoordinate with four nitrogen atoms of two triazole ligands and one oxygen atom from a water molecule. The net atomic charges distribution and atomic orbital contribution to frontier molecular orbitals were obtained using the Gaussian 98 program with Hartree-Fock method at LANL2DZ level, indicating that the copper(II) ion has the potential to accept the electron of O2 ·-. The complex showed quasi-reversible one-electron CuII/CuI redox waves with redox potentials of -0.034 V. The SOD-like activity (IC50) of 1 was measured to be 0.18 ± 0.01 μM by xanthine/xanthine oxidase-NBT assay at pH 7.8. The relatively high SOD activity suggests that the positive charge of protonated triazole can effectively steer O2 ·- to and from the active copper ion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Implementation of a computer program package for automated collection and processing of rotation electron diffraction (RED) data is described. The software package contains two computer programs: RED data collection and RED data processing. The RED data collection program controls the transmission electron microscope and the camera. Electron beam tilts at a fine step (0.05-0.20°) are combined with goniometer tilts at a coarse step (2.0-3.0°) around a common tilt axis, which allows a fine relative tilt to be achieved between the electron beam and the crystal in a large tilt range. An electron diffraction (ED) frame is collected at each combination of beam tilt and goniometer tilt. The RED data processing program processes three-dimensional ED data generated by the RED data collection program or by other approaches. It includes shift correction of the ED frames, peak hunting for diffraction spots in individual ED frames and identification of these diffraction spots as reflections in three dimensions. Unit-cell parameters are determined from the positions of reflections in three-dimensional reciprocal space. All reflections are indexed, and finally a list with hkl indices and intensities is output. The data processing program also includes a visualizer to view and analyse three-dimensional reciprocal lattices reconstructed from the ED frames. Details of the implementation are described. Data collection and data processing with the software RED are demonstrated using a calcined zeolite sample, silicalite-1. The structure of the calcined silicalite-1, with 72 unique atoms, could be solved from the RED data by routine direct methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on a study concerning fluorescent sensory microparticles which consist of molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) and silica core. It says that the N-carbobenzyloxy-l-phenylalanine(Cbz-l-Phe or Z-l-Phe, Scheme 1) was used a template and the fluorescent monomer was developed using nitrobenzoxadiazole (NBD) fluorophore. The integration of the MIP on silica microparticles makes the assay response times and the handling of the sensor particles straightforward.

The interaction of an electromagnetic wave with a linear array of fractally fluted chiral cylinders is considered in the present study. The mathematical manipulation is based on the boundary-value technique combined with the translational addition theorem for cylindrical wave functions, and the first-order perturbed formulation for calculating the extinction as well as scattering cross sections of the linear array is obtained, in which the multiple scattering between N parallel fractally fluted chiral cylinders is taken into consideration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The multiple-scattering characteristics of a linear array of parallel rotating dielectric cylinders with finite conductivities are studied, and the normally incident wave is assumed to be either a TM or a TE polarization wave with respect to the z axis. Numerical results are presented to show the first-order velocity effect on the scattering patterns in the far zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The far-field behavior of a chirostrip dipole antenna on chiroferrite substrates is shown using the generalized spectral domain--exponential matrix technique, and such substrates are made from a nonreciprocal chiral medium and ferrite material Numerical results show that both beam scanning and pattern reshaping can be achieved by adjusting the constitutive parameters of chiroferrite, and the dispersion effects of substrates ate considered in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article the radiation characteristics of .a dipole antenna on grounded composite ferrite structures are studied using the generalized spectral-domain-exponential-matrix technique. Numerical results are presented to show the effects of internal do magnetic bias fields, operating frequency, geometrical sizes, and losses of substrates on the radiation pattern and scanning characteristics of dipole antenna. The figures show that it is possible to obtain an optimum radiation pattern by choosing suitable constitutive and geometrical parameters of ferrite materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article describes the case of a 63-year-old woman with hepatic angiomyolipoma (HAML) presenting as an arterially enhancing liver lesion. Topics discussed include clinical features of HAML, reason that the diagnosis of HAML remains challenging, and four subtypes of HAML such as mixed, lipomatous, myomatous, and angiomatous.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder distinguished by a swift cognitive deterioration accompanied by distinctive pathological hallmarks such as extracellular Aβ (β‐amyloid) peptides, neuronal neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), sustained neuroinflammation, and synaptic degeneration. The elevated frequency of AD cases and its proclivity to manifest at a younger age present a pressing challenge in the quest for novel therapeutic interventions. Numerous investigations have substantiated the involvement of C/EBPβ in the progression of AD pathology, thus indicating its potential as a therapeutic target for AD treatment. Aims: Several studies have demonstrated an elevation in the expression level of C/EBPβ among individuals afflicted with AD. Consequently, this review predominantly delves into the association between C/EBPβ expression and the pathological progression of Alzheimer's disease, elucidating its underlying molecular mechanism, and pointing out the possibility that C/EBPβ can be a new therapeutic target for AD. Methods: A systematic literature search was performed across multiple databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, and so on, utilizing predetermined keywords and MeSH terms, without temporal constraints. The inclusion criteria encompassed diverse study designs, such as experimental, case–control, and cohort studies, restricted to publications in the English language, while conference abstracts and unpublished sources were excluded. Results: Overexpression of C/EBPβ exacerbates the pathological features of AD, primarily by promoting neuroinflammation and mediating the transcriptional regulation of key molecular pathways, including δ‐secretase, apolipoprotein E4 (APOE4), acidic leucine‐rich nuclear phosphoprotein‐32A (ANP32A), transient receptor potential channel 1 (TRPC1), and Forkhead BoxO (FOXO). Discussion: The correlation between overexpression of C/EBPβ and the pathological development of AD, along with its molecular mechanisms, is evident. Investigating the pathways through which C/EBPβ regulates the development of AD reveals numerous multiple vicious cycle pathways exacerbating the pathological progression of the disease. Furthermore, the exacerbation of pathological progression due to C/EBPβ overexpression and its molecular mechanism is not limited to AD but also extends to other neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson's disease (PD), and multiple sclerosis (MS). Conclusion: The overexpression of C/EBPβ accelerates the irreversible progression of AD pathophysiology. Additionally, C/EBPβ plays a crucial role in mediating multiple pathways linked to AD pathology, some of which engender vicious cycles, leading to the establishment of feedback mechanisms. To sum up, targeting C/EBPβ could hold promise as a therapeutic strategy not only for AD but also for other degenerative diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The autophagic ubiquitin‐like protein LC3 functions through interactions with LC3‐interaction regions (LIRs) of other autophagy proteins, including autophagy receptors, which stands out as a promising protein–protein interaction (PPI) target for the intervention of autophagy. Post‐translational modifications like acetylation of Lys49 on the LIR‐interacting surface could disrupt the interaction, offering an opportunity to design covalent small molecules interfering with the interface. Through screening covalent compounds, we discovered a small molecule modulator of LC3A/B that covalently modifies LC3A/B protein at Lys49. Activity‐based protein profiling (ABPP) based evaluations reveal that a derivative molecule DC‐LC3in‐D5 exhibits a potent covalent reactivity and selectivity to LC3A/B in HeLa cells. DC‐LC3in‐D5 compromises LC3B lipidation in vitro and in HeLa cells, leading to deficiency in the formation of autophagic structures and autophagic substrate degradation. DC‐LC3in‐D5 could serve as a powerful tool for autophagy research as well as for therapeutic interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The autophagic ubiquitin‐like protein LC3 functions through interactions with LC3‐interaction regions (LIRs) of other autophagy proteins, including autophagy receptors, which stands out as a promising protein–protein interaction (PPI) target for the intervention of autophagy. Post‐translational modifications like acetylation of Lys49 on the LIR‐interacting surface could disrupt the interaction, offering an opportunity to design covalent small molecules interfering with the interface. Through screening covalent compounds, we discovered a small molecule modulator of LC3A/B that covalently modifies LC3A/B protein at Lys49. Activity‐based protein profiling (ABPP) based evaluations reveal that a derivative molecule DC‐LC3in‐D5 exhibits a potent covalent reactivity and selectivity to LC3A/B in HeLa cells. DC‐LC3in‐D5 compromises LC3B lipidation in vitro and in HeLa cells, leading to deficiency in the formation of autophagic structures and autophagic substrate degradation. DC‐LC3in‐D5 could serve as a powerful tool for autophagy research as well as for therapeutic interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern technology constantly requires smaller, more efficient lithium–oxygen batteries (LOBs). To meet this need, a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method is used to create an innovative cathode design with both a hierarchical porous nanostructure and a 3D flexible macroscopical morphology. This method employs architectural optimization to further improve cathodic ORR and OER performance via heteroatom doping, surface‐sprouted carbon nanofibers (CNFs) grafting, and boundary exposing. The cathode consists of a 3D hierarchical porous graphene foam (PGF), along with RuO2 nanoparticles impregnated and nitrogen doped CNFs (RuO2@NCNFs), where the PGF serves as a structural support and cathodic current collector, and the RuO2@NCNFs work as a superior bi‐functional catalyst. The cathode delivers an outstanding discharge capacity of 8440 mAh gcathode−1 while maintaining a recharge plateau at ≈4.0 V, and can cycle for over 700 rounds without obvious degeneration under a fixed capacity. Notably, this free‐standing cathode can be directly used in LOBs without the need for additional substrates or current collectors. Therefore, the current densities and capacities herein are calculated based on the total weight of the cathodes. These results demonstrate the RuO2@NCNFs‐PGF cathode's remarkable potential for LOB applications, and this rational cathodic structure may be extended to other highly efficient catalyst applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dispersion characteristics of propagating modes in a lossy parallel-plate uniaxial chiro-omega waveguide are examined, and numerical results are presented to show the influences of bianisotropy, chirality, and omega parameter on the propagation constant and attenuation rate of different hybrid modes. Furthermore, the field distributions of one- and three-order modes are demonstrated, and the lossy effect is taken into consideration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Recurrent giant cell tumor (RGCT) of the spine represents a clinical challenge for surgeons, and the treatment strategy remains controversial. This study aims to describe the long‐term follow‐up outcomes and compare the efficacy of en bloc spondylectomy versus piecemeal spondylectomy in treating RGCT of the thoracolumbar spine. Methods: A total of 32 patients with RGCT of the thoracolumbar spine treated from June 2012 to June 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. A total of 15 patients received total en bloc spondylectomy (TES) with wide or marginal margin while 17 patients received total piecemeal spondylectomy (TPS) with intralesional margin. Postoperative Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Score (ECOG‐PS), Frankel classification and recurrence‐free survival (RFS) were evaluated after surgery. Survival curves were estimated by the Kaplan–Meier method and differences were analyzed with the log‐rank test. Multivariate analysis was performed with Cox regression to identify the independent prognostic factors affecting RFS. Results: During a median follow‐up of 41.9 ± 17.5 months, all patients with compromised neurologic functions exhibit significant improvement, with the mean ECOG‐PS decreasing from 1.5 ± 1.3 to 0.13 ± 0.3 (p < 0.05). Among the 17 patients treated with TPS, eight patients developed local recurrence after a median time of 15.9 ± 6.4 months and four patients died from progressive disease. On the other hand, local recurrence were well managed with TES, since only one out of 15 patients experienced local relapse and all patients are alive with satisfied function at the latest follow‐up. The median RFS for patients receiving TES and TPS are 75.0 months (95% CI: 67.5–82.5 m) and 38.3 months (95% CI: 27.3–49.3 m) respectively (p = 0.008). Multivariate analysis shows that the Ki67 index (p = 0.016), resection mode (p = 0.022), and denosumab (p = 0.039) are independent risk factors affecting RFS. Conclusions: TES with wide/marginal margin should be offered to patients with RGCT whenever feasible, given its long‐term benefits in local control and symptom alleviation. Additionally, patients with lower Ki67 index and application of denosumab tend to have a better prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims/Introduction: To explore the relationship between plasma iron levels and gestational diabetes mellitus, as well as its impact on macrosomia. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively compared ferritin level and other characteristics between pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and pregnant women without GDM. The correlation between the levels of plasma ferritin, glucose and hemoglobin was explored. Meanwhile, we assessed the risk factors of macrosomia. Furthermore, we explored the relationship between ferritin level and the incidence of macrosomia. Results: A total of 793 pregnant women were enrolled in the present study, of which 92 pregnant women had GDM and 701 pregnant women were healthy. Meanwhile, 51 pregnant women gave birth to infants with macrosomia and another 742 women had normal infants. Compared with non‐GDM women, pregnant women with GDM were older, with higher pre‐pregnancy body mass index, plasma ferritin, fasting plasma glucose, 1‐h postprandial glucose, 2‐h plasma glucose and hemoglobin. In addition, our results showed a significant positive correlation between the levels of ferritin and fasting plasma glucose when ferritin levels were >70 ng/mL. Our results also showed that pre‐pregnancy overweight or obesity, a high concentration of ferritin, as well as abnormal levels of fasting plasma glucose, 1‐h plasma glucose and 2 h plasma glucose were risk factors for macrosomia. Furthermore, as the level of ferritin increased, so did the incidence of macrosomia. Conclusions: The current study provides evidence that pregnant women with high levels of ferritin might be prone to GDM. In addition, a high level of ferritin might be an independent risk factor for macrosomia. Therefore, the negative effect of iron supplementation in non‐anemic pregnant women might be noteworthy. Previous studies showed that, high plasma ferritin level might be associated with oxidative stress, and could induce GDM.In the present study, high plasma ferritin levels in pregnant women are found to be significantly associated with macrosomia, and therefore may be a risk factor for macrosomia. Moreover, as the levels of plasma ferritin increased, so were the incidences of macrosomia enhanced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serial electron crystallography has been developed as a fully automated method to collect diffraction data on polycrystalline materials using a transmission electron microscope. This enables useful data to be collected on materials that are sensitive to the electron beam and thus difficult to measure using the conventional methods that require long exposure of the same crystal. The data collection strategy combines goniometer translation with electron beam shift, which allows the entire sample stage to be probed. At each position of the goniometer, the locations of the crystals are identified using image recognition techniques. Diffraction data are then collected on each crystal using a quasi‐parallel focused beam with a predefined size (usually 300–500 nm). It is shown that with a fast and sensitive Timepix hybrid pixel area detector it is possible to collect diffraction data of up to 3500 crystals per hour. These data can be indexed using a brute‐force forward‐projection algorithm. Results from several test samples show that 100–200 frames are enough for structure determination using direct methods or dual‐space methods. The large number of crystals examined enables quantitative phase analysis and automatic screening of materials for known and unknown phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electron diffraction tomography (EDT) has emerged as a successful tool for ab initio atomic structure determination of nanometre‐sized crystals. However, lattice parameters obtained from EDT data are often of lower accuracy than those from powder X‐ray data, owing to experimental errors and data‐processing methods. This work describes a lattice‐parameter refinement method for EDT data using two‐dimensional diffraction vectors and shows that the accuracy of lattice‐parameter determination can be improved significantly. It is also shown that the method is tolerant to sample displacement during data collection and to geometric distortions in the electron diffraction patterns due to lens imperfections. For the data sets tested, the method reduces the 95% confidence interval of the worst errors in angles from ±1.98 to ±0.82° and the worst relative errors of the unit‐cell lengths from ±1.8% to ±1.3%, compared with the conventional method using clustering of three‐dimensional diffraction vectors. The improvement is attributed to the fact that the new method makes use of the positions of two‐dimensional diffraction spots, which can be determined with high accuracy, and disregards the position of the central beam, the orientation of the rotation axis and the angles of the diffraction frames, whose errors all contribute to the errors for lattice‐parameter determination using the three‐dimensional method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Endoscopic biliary radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has been increasingly used to treat unresectable malignant biliary obstruction (MBO). We aimed to perform this systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy and safety for the treatment of malignant biliary obstruction (MBO) and its impact on patient's survival. Methods A comprehensive search of the Cochrane Library, PubMed and EMBASE databases was conducted. A meta-analysis was performed by extracting the data from the included studies with regard to technical effectiveness, overall survival, adverse events and mortality of endoscopic RFA. Results A total of nine studies comprising 263 patients with MBO were included in the analysis. There was a significant increase in the diameter of stricture (3.446 mm, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.356-3.536 mm) after the endoscopic biliary RFA. The overall survival time was 9.62 months, with pooled 30-day, 90-day and 2-year mortality rates of 2% (95% CI 0.5-5.9%), 21% (95% CI 5-37%), and 48% (95% CI 37-59%), respectively. The pooled rate of adverse events was 17% (95% CI 10-25%), and most complications were mild and managed conservatively. Severe adverse events occurred in three patients (two deaths due to hemobilia and one with partial liver infarction). Conclusions Endoscopic biliary RFA is effective and generally safe in the management of unresectable biliary malignancies, and may improve patients' overall survival. Prospective, randomized controlled studies are required to further support the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structure of a complicated pseudo-decagonal (PD) quasicrystal approximant in the Al-Co-Ni alloy system, denoted as PD1, was solved by the strong-reflections approach on three-dimensional rotation electron diffraction (RED) data, using the phases from the known PD2 structure. RED shows that the PD1 crystal is primitive and orthorhombic, with a = 37.3, b = 38.8, c = 8.2 Å. However, as with other approximants in the PD series, the superstructure reflections (corresponding to c = 8.2 Å) are much weaker than those of the main reflections (corresponding to c = 4.1 Å), so it was decided to solve the PD1 structure in the smaller primitive unit cell first, i.e. with unit-cell parameters a = 37.3, b = 38.8, c = 4.1 Å and space group Pnam. A density map of PD1 was calculated from only the 15 strongest unique reflections. It contained all 31 Co/Ni atoms and many weaker peaks corresponding to Al atoms. The structure obtained from the strong-reflections approach was confirmed by applying direct methods to the complete RED data set. Successive refinement using the RED data set resulted in 108 unique atoms (31 Co/Ni and 77 Al). This is one of the most complicated approximant structures ever solved by electron diffraction. As with other approximants in the PD series, PD1 is built of characteristic 2 nm wheel clusters with fivefold rotational symmetry, which agrees with results from high-resolution electron microscopy images. The simulated electron diffraction patterns for the structure model are in good agreement with the experimental electron diffraction patterns obtained by RED. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoparticles may limit off‐tumor/on‐target ubiquitous activation of signaling by protein‐based drugs. However, many challenges still exist in the design of a nanoparticle for protein delivery. In this study, conditions to establish vaterite nanoparticles as a pH‐sensitive drug delivery system (DDS) for encapsulated protein drugs are comprehensively evaluated. Low coprecipitation pH of vaterite and protein prevents protein denaturation and yields high loading efficiency. Unprotected vaterite recrystallizes in aqueous solutions within 3 h to calcite and releases the loaded protein completely, but surface‐modified particles with carboxyl groups containing polymers prove stable for more than 5 months. Notably, modification of vaterite with sulfonated polymers increases the loading of cationic proteins by a multiple. A system is developed for vaterite exposure to (pH) conditions under body‐like‐flow rates, with the dissolution of vaterite and simultaneous release of active proteins at tumor microenvironmental pH reaching up to 80% and only 20% at physiological pH within 2 h. Importantly, the immunomodulatory protein tumor necrosis factor preserves its native structure and fully retains functional activity in vitro after release from the particles. In conclusion, the studies described here provide a framework for the development of vaterite‐based DDS as a carrier for bioactive protein‐based therapeutics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article a spectral-domain decoupling method of electromagnetic waves propagating and radiating of sources in bianisotropic gyroelectromagnetic chiral media is presented, and the general transmission-line-like equations for the description of field quantities (IE, VE, VM, IM) are obtained using the technique of matrix transformation, which has been developed by Tsalamengas. As a practical application, the propagation behavior of electromagnetic waves in multilayered bianisotropic gyroelectromagnetic parallel-plate chirowaveguides is investigated, and it is shown that in such a nonreciprocal chirowaveguide, propagating modes are always hybrid (EH and HE). Especially, the dyadic Green's function of sources in a grounded bianisotropic gyroelectromagnetic chiral superstrate-substrate structure is derived, and it can be directly used to analyze the radiation characteristics of gyroelectromagnetic chirostrip antennas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with metabolic syndrome. Worryingly, it has been increasingly reported among nonobese patients. This study aims to analyse patient characteristics of biopsy‐proven NAFLD in an Asian cohort and explore differences stratified by body mass index (BMI). Methods: Clinical, laboratory, and histological data were collected from 263 adults with biopsy‐proven NAFLD. Patients with and without obesity (BMI cut‐off 25) were compared. The ability to predict advanced liver fibrosis with three non‐invasive scores, the NAFLD Fibrosis score (NFS), Fibrosis‐4 (FIB4), and the aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI), was compared. Results: Obese subjects had a lower mean age (49.5 ± 12.5 vs 54.0 ± 12.9 years, P = 0.017), a higher prevalence of diabetes (52.4% vs 36.8%, P = 0.037), and a higher waist circumference (113.9 ± 16.0 cm vs 87.0 ± 18.4 cm, P = 0.022). The prevalence of dyslipidaemia (68.0% vs 61.4%, P = 0.353) and hypertension (61.7% vs 49.1%, P = 0.190) was comparable between the two groups. The distribution of non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) (63.1% versus 61.4%, P = 0.710) and advanced fibrosis (31.6% versus 26.3%, P = 0.447) were also similar in both groups. All three non‐invasive scores (NFS, FIB4, and APRI) performed poorly in predicting advanced fibrosis in nonobese patients with NAFLD. The FIB4 was the most accurate non‐invasive score in predicting advanced fibrosis in the obese group. Conclusions: Obese and nonobese patients are equally at risk of NASH and advanced fibrosis. While the FIB4 is the most accurate non‐invasive score in predicting advanced fibrosis among obese individuals, further research is warranted to develop a nonobese specific score to correctly identify nonobese NAFLD patients with advanced fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The continuous rotation electron diffraction (cRED) method has the capability of providing fast three‐dimensional electron diffraction data collection on existing and future transmission electron microscopes; unknown structures could be potentially solved and refined using cRED data collected from nano‐ and submicrometre‐sized crystals. However, structure refinements of cRED data using SHELXL often lead to relatively high R1 values when compared with those refined against single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction data. It is therefore necessary to analyse the quality of the structural models refined against cRED data. In this work, multiple cRED data sets collected from different crystals of an oxofluoride (FeSeO3F) and a zeolite (ZSM‐5) with known structures are used to assess the data consistency and quality and, more importantly, the accuracy of the structural models refined against these data sets. An evaluation of the precision and consistency of the cRED data by examination of the statistics obtained from the data processing software DIALS is presented. It is shown that, despite the high R1 values caused by dynamical scattering and other factors, the refined atomic positions obtained from the cRED data collected for different crystals are consistent with those of the reference models refined against single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction data. The results serve as a reference for the quality of the cRED data and the achievable accuracy of the structural parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]