Search

SUMMARY Basic helix–loop–helix (bHLH) proteins comprise one of the largest families of transcription factors in plants, which play roles in plant development, secondary metabolism, and the response to biotic/abiotic stresses. However, the roles of bHLH proteins in thermotolerance are largely unknown. Herein, we identified a heat‐inducible member of the bHLH family in lily (Lilium longiflorum), named LlbHLH87, which plays a role in thermotolerance. LlbHLH87 was rapidly induced by transient heat stress, and its encoded protein was localized to the nucleus, exhibiting transactivation activity in both yeast and plant cells. Overexpression of LlbHLH87 in Arabidopsis enhanced basal thermotolerance, while silencing of LlbHLH87 in lily reduced basal thermotolerance. Further analysis showed that LlbHLH87 bound to the promoters of HEAT STRESS TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR A2 (LlHSFA2) and ETHYLENE‐INSENSITIVE 3 (LlEIN3) to directly activate their expression. In addition, LlbHLH87 interacted with itself and with SPATULA (LlSPT) protein. LlSPT was activated by extended heat stress and its protein competed for the homologous interaction of LlbHLH87, which reduced the transactivation ability of LlbHLH87 for target genes. Compared with that observed under LlbHLH87 overexpression alone, co‐overexpression of LlbHLH87 and LlSPT reduced the basal thermotolerance of lily to sudden heat shock, but improved its thermosensitivity to prolonged heat stress treatment. Overall, our data demonstrated that LlbHLH87 regulates thermotolerance via activation of LlEIN3 and LlHSFA2, along with an antagonistic interaction with LlSPT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By means of salt‐bath austempering treatment, microstructure observation, X‐Ray diffraction analysis, microhardness measurement, and friction and wear performance tests for 8Cr4Mo4V steels with standard composition and with trace addition of 0.005% boron, the effect of boron on the phase composition and mechanical properties of the steel is studied. The results show that trace element boron greatly increases the content of needle‐like lower bainite in the quenched microstructure, promotes the dissolution of undissolved carbides, reduces the content of M/A island, but coarsens grains. After tempering, trace element B increases the amount of bainite generation, refines the lath martensite, and significantly promotes the precipitation of carbides, whose size is finer, and the distribution is more dispersed. In terms of mechanical properties, trace element B improves the hardness by promoting the precipitation of the second phase and refining the lath martensite, and the increase in the bainite content changes the wear mechanism and enhances the wear resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrochemical coupling of biomass oxidation and nitrogen conversion presents a potential strategy for high value‐added chemicals and nitrogen cycling. Herein, in this work, CuO/Co3O4 with heterogeneous interface is successfully constructed as a bifunctional catalyst for the electrooxidation of 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural to 2,5‐furandicarboxylic acid and the electroreduction of nitrate to ammonia (NH3). The open‐circuit potential spontaneous experiment shows that more 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural molecules are adsorbed in the Helmholtz layer of the CuO/Co3O4 composite, which certifies that the CuO/Co3O4 heterostructure is conducive to the kinetic adsorption of 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural. In situ electrochemical impedance spectroscopy further shows that CuO/Co3O4 has faster reaction kinetics and lower reaction potential in oxygen evolution reaction and 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural electrocatalytic oxidation. Moreover, CuO/Co3O4 also has a good reduction effect on NO3−. The ex‐situ Raman spectroscopy shows that under the reduction potential, the metal oxide is reduced, and the generated Cu2O can be used as a new active site for the reaction to promote the electrocatalytic conversion of NO3− to NH3 synthesis. This work provides valuable guidance for the synthesis of value‐added chemicals by 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural electrocatalytic oxidation coupled with NO3− while efficiently producing NH3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heat stress transcription factors (HSFs) are core factors of plants in response to heat stress (HS), but their regulatory network is complicated and remains elusive in a large part, especially HSFBs. In this study, we reported that the LlERF012‐LlHSFA1 module participates in heat stress response (HSR) by directly regulating HSF pathway in lily (Lilium longiflorum). LlHSFB1 was confirmed as a positive regulator in lily thermotolerance and a heat‐inducible AP2/ERF member LlERF012 (Ethylene Response Factor 012) was further identified to be a direct trans‐activator of LlHSFB1. Overexpression of LlERF012 elevated the thermotolerance of transgenic Arabidopsis and lily, but silencing LlERF012 reduced thermotolerance in lily. Further analysis showed LlERF012 interacted with LlHSFA1, which led to enhanced transactivation activity and DNA‐binding capability of LlERF012. In addition, LlERF012 also directly activated the expression of LlHSFA1 by binding its promoter. As expected, we found that LlERF012 bound the promoters of LlHSFA2, LlHSFA3A, and LlHSFA3B to stimulate their expression, and LlERF012‐LlHSFA1 interaction enhanced these activation effects. Overall, our data suggested that LlERF012 was a key factor for lily thermotolerance and the LlERF012‐LlHSFA1 interaction synergistically regulated the activity of the HSF pathway including the class A and B members, which might be of great significance for coordinating the functions of different HSFs. Summary Statement: An unreported regulatory mechanism of heat stress response mediated by the module LlERF012‐LlHSFA1 was proposed, which confers thermotolerance by activating both the class A and the class B HSF pathway. The results provide new evidence on ERF‐mediated coordination of different HSFs in plant thermotolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) materials that exhibit simultaneously high photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY), rapid reverse intersystem crossing (RISC), and a high horizontal transition dipole ratio are highly desirable for realizing high‐performance organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs). However, achieving this goal remains a formidable challenge due to the stringent molecular design principles involved. Herein, three highly efficient TADF materials based on lactam‐type electron‐acceptors are reported. The inherent rigidity and planar structure of lactam units, along with the ordered molecular arrangement in solid states, contribute to the reduction of nonradiative decay and the high horizontal transition dipole ratio in the optimized TADF emitters. Moreover, through precise control of the alignment of the lowest excited states by adjusting the charge transfer strength, the rate constants for reverse intersystem crossing (kRISC) are dramatically boosted. Consequently, the two optimized emitters exhibit outstanding merits of ultra‐high PLQYs (98% and 99%), high horizontal transition dipole ratios (91% and 87%), and fast RISC (kRISC ≈ 1.7 × 106 s−1). Thanks to these merits, the doped OLEDs achieve excellent performance. The top‐performing device achieve a maximum external quantum efficiency of 34.3%, a peak luminance of 57376 cd m−2, and small efficiency roll‐off. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intramuscular fat (IMF) content and distribution significantly contribute to the eating quality of pork. However, the current methods used for measuring these traits are complex, time‐consuming and costly. To simplify the measurement process, this study developed a smartphone application (App) called Pork IMF. This App serves as a rapid and portable phenotyping tool for acquiring pork images and extracting the image‐based IMF traits through embedded deep‐learning algorithms. Utilizing this App, we collected the IMF traits of the longissimus dorsi muscle in a crossbred population of Large White × Tongcheng pigs. Genome‐wide association studies detected 13 and 16 SNPs that were significantly associated with IMF content and distribution, respectively, highlighting NR2F2, MCTP2, MTLN, ST3GAL5, NDUFAB1 and PID1 as candidate genes. Our research introduces a user‐friendly digital phenotyping technology for quantifying IMF traits and suggests candidate genes and SNPs for genetic improvement of IMF traits in pigs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Left bundle branch block (LBBB) and atrial fibrillation (AF) are commonly coexisting conditions. The impact of LBBB on catheter ablation of AF has not been well determined. This study aims to explore the long‐term outcomes of patients with AF and LBBB after catheter ablation. Methods: Forty‐two patients with LBBB of 11,752 patients who underwent catheter ablation of AF from 2011 to 2020 were enrolled as LBBB group. After propensity score matching in a 1:4 ratio, 168 AF patients without LBBB were enrolled as non‐LBBB group. Late recurrence and a composite endpoint of stroke, all‐cause mortality, and cardiovascular hospitalization were compared between the two groups. Results: Late recurrence rate was significantly higher in the LBBB group than that in the non‐LBBB group (54.8% vs. 31.5%, p =.034). Multivariate analysis showed that LBBB was an independent risk factor for late recurrence after catheter ablation of AF (hazard ratio [HR] 2.19, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.09–4.40, p =.031). LBBB group was also associated with a significantly higher incidence of the composite endpoint (21.4% vs. 6.5%, HR 3.98, 95% CI 1.64–9.64, p =.002). Conclusions: LBBB was associated with a higher risk for late recurrence and a higher incidence of composite endpoint in the patients underwent catheter ablation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Heat stress transcription factors (HSFs) are core regulators of plant heat stress response. Much research has focused on class A and B HSFs, leaving those of class C relatively understudied.Here, we reported a lily (Lilium longiflorum) heat‐inducible HSFC2 homology involved in thermotolerance. LlHSFC2 was located in the nucleus and cytoplasm and exhibited a repression ability by binding heat stress element. Overexpression of LlHSFC2 in Arabidopsis, tobacco (Nicotiana benthamiana), and lily, all increased the thermotolerance. Conversely, silencing of LlHSFC2 in lily reduced its thermotolerance.LlHSFC2 could interact with itself, or interact with LlHSFA1, LlHSFA2, LlHSFA3A, and LlHSFA3B of lily, AtHSFA1e and AtHSFA2 of Arabidopsis, and NbHSFA2 of tobacco. LlHSFC2 interacted with HSFAs to accelerate their transactivation ability and act as a transcriptional coactivator. Notably, compared with the separate LlHSFA3A overexpression, co‐overexpression of LlHSFC2/LlHSFA3A further enhanced thermotolerance of transgenic plants. In addition, after suffering HS, the homologous interaction of LlHSFC2 was repressed, but its heterologous interaction with the heat‐inducible HSFAs was promoted, enabling it to exert its co‐activation effect for thermotolerance establishment and maintenance.Taken together, we identified that LlHSFC2 plays an active role in the general balance and maintenance of heat stress response by cooperating with HSFAs, and provided an important candidate for the enhanced thermotolerance breeding of crops and horticulture plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The titer of anti‐severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) in the human body is an essential reference for evaluating the acquired protective immunity and resistance to SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. In this study, a fluorescence‐quenching lateral flow immunoassay (FQ‐LFIA) is established for quantitative detection of anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 NAbs in the sera of individuals who are vaccinated or infected within 10 min. The ultrabright aggregation‐induced emission properties encapsulated in nanoparticles, AIE490NP, are applied in the established FQ‐LFIA with gold nanoparticles to achieve a fluorescence "turn‐on" competitive immunoassay. Under optimized conditions, the FQ‐LFIA quantitatively detected 103 positive and 50 negative human serum samples with a limit of detection (LoD) of 1.29 IU mL−1. A strong correlation is present with the conventional pseudovirus‐based virus neutralization test (R2 = 0.9796, P < 0.0001). In contrast, the traditional LFIA with a "turn‐off" mode can only achieve a LoD of 11.06 IU mL−1. The FQ‐LFIA showed excellent sensitivity to anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 NAbs. The intra‐ and inter‐assay precisions of the established method are below 15%. The established FQ‐LFIA has promising potential as a rapid and quantitative method for detecting anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 NAbs. FQ‐LFIA can also be used to detect various biomarkers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new class of near‐infrared (NIR) fluorophores, PAI, is obtained by consecutive C−N/C−C bond formation between diphenylamines and 9,10‐dibromoperylenecarboximide. Owing to the rigid structure, extended π‐conjugation and pronounced push‐pull substitution, these fluorophores show emission maxima up to 804 nm and large Stokes shifts. The extraordinarily high fluorescence quantum yields from 47 % to 70 % are attributed to chloro substitution in the bay positions of the perylene core. These characteristics, together with high photostability, qualify them as useful NIR emitters for applications as biomarkers and security inks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the last decade, the rapid development of lithium‐ion battery (LIB) energy storage systems has provided significant support for the efficient operation of renewable energy stations. In the coming years, the service life demand of energy storage systems will be further increased to 30 years from the current 20 years on the basis of the equivalent service life of renewable energy stations. However, the life of the present LIB is far from meeting such high demand. Therefore, research on the next‐generation LIB with ultra‐long service life is imminent. Prelithiation technology has been widely studied as an important means to compensate for the initial coulombic efficiency loss and improve the service life of LIBs. This review systematically summarized the different prelithiation methods from anode and cathode electrodes. Moreover, the large‐scale industrialization challenge and the possibility of the existing prelithiation technology are analyzed, based on three key parameters: industry compatibility, prelithiation efficiency, and energy density. Finally, the future trends of improvement in LIB performance by other overlithiated cathode materials are presented, which gives a reference for subsequent research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Use of electronic cigarettes (e‐cigarettes) has increased significantly over the past decade due to consumer perception that these products represent a less risky alternative to combustible cigarettes. E‐liquids generally contain a simple mix of vegetable glycerin, propylene glycerol, nicotine, organic acids, and flavourings. Regulators require that harmful and potentially harmful constituents (HPHCs) that might cause harm to the consumer must be monitored in the aerosol generated by e‐cigarettes and in cigarette smoke (CS). To quantify HPHCs in aerosols from commercial flavoured e‐cigarettes in Chinese market, this study has systematically compared levels of HPHCs, including eight carbonyls, five volatile organic compounds, four tobacco‐specific nitrosamines, 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and seven heavy metals, in the aerosols of four market‐leading flavoured e‐cigarettes and mainstream CS, alongside in vitro cytotoxicity and mutagenicity assays. The vast majority of HPHCs were either undetected or significantly lower in the e‐cigarette aerosols than in commercial CS or reference CS (3R4F). Where HPHCs were detected, there were small variations among the different flavoured e‐cigarettes. In the neutral red uptake and Ames assays, aqueous extracts of the e‐cigarette aerosols did not induce obvious cytotoxicity or mutagenicity, whereas CS aqueous extract showed dose‐related cytotoxicity and mutagenicity. Collectively, these results indicate that use of e‐cigarettes might potentially lead to a significant reduction in exposure to harmful substances, with fewer cytotoxic and mutagenic effects, as compared with conventional smoking. Further studies based on human puffing conditions and longer evaluation periods will be needed to substantiate this potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy transfer between 2D MoS2 films and fluorescent emitters is widely used in biological detection and imaging. In this paper, by regulating the thickness of the MoS2 film on the diamond surface through the number of atomic layer deposition (ALD) cycles, the energy transfer efficiency between the nitrogen vacancy (NV) center and the MoS2 film is improved and precisely controlled. When the number of ALD cycles is 8, the energy transfer efficiency between the 2D MoS2 film and the NV center is 86.35%. Furthermore, when the number of ALD cycles is more significant than 140, compared with 2D and 3D graphene structures, the energy transfer efficiency of the NV center is increased by 126.55% and 24.60%, respectively. Meantime, the fluorescence lifetime of the NV center is reduced in the presence of the MoS2 film, indicating that the MoS2 film provides a new, additional fluorescence decay channel for the NV center in the MoS2 film and the NV center system. Moreover, ALD can also effectively improve the tightness of the contact interface between the MoS2 film and the diamond. This paper provides a new method and experimental basis for regulating the photon emission behavior of emitters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water electrolysis is recognized as a green hydrogen production technology, but the high voltage required for anodic oxygen evolution reaction restricts the practical application. In this work, a Fe(II)/Fe(III) redox mediated SO2 conversion is proposed to couple the cathodic hydrogen evolution reaction to achieve sulfur dioxide conversion and hydrogen production at low voltage. The onset potential of Fe(II) electrooxidation to Fe(III) is as low as 0.75 VRHE (vs reversible hydrogen electrode). Ex situ ultraviolet spectroscopy (UV) spectrum and ion chromatography indicate that SO2 in electrolyte can reduce Fe(III) to Fe(II), completing the Fe(II)/Fe(III) redox cycle as well as the conversion of SO2 to sulfuric acid. The assembled flow cell electrolyzer requires a low operating voltage of 0.97 V at 10 mA cm−2 and shows good performance under both acidic and neutral conditions. This study proposes an innovative energy saving and environment friendly strategy for simultaneous hydrogen production and sulfur dioxide capture based on low‐cost catalyst materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Problem: In recent years, the incidence of female infertility has risen sharply, which is affected by many factors. It was recognized that female reproductive tract microbes play a role in the process of female conception. If the reproductive tract microbes could solve a certain proportion of infertility, it would certainly reduce the pain and economic burden of many patients. The objective of this study was to investigate the microbial community composition of follicular fluid in infertile patients and its potential impact on infertility. Method of study: Follicular fluid from 49 primary infertility and 52 secondary infertility patients was collected by a negative pressure needle, and the microbiota was analyzed by 16S rDNA sequencing. Results: It was found that Lactobacillus, especially L. crispatus, might have a positive effect on female pregnancy. Considering the presence or absence of male factors and different body mass indices, L. iners might inhibit female pregnancy. However, L. iners seemed to play a positive role in egg maturation, while Gardnerella and Cutibacterium acnes might have a negative effect on female pregnancy. Conclusions: This study suggested the potential role of Lactobacillus in follicular fluid in improving female infertility and provided a theoretical basis for the future microbiological treatment of female infertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Statins have been proven to be effective in minimizing the risk of cardiovascular adverse events, however, their effect on BP variability is debatable with respect to their significance and their use as a potential anti‐hypertensive. Using a meta‐analysis approach, the aim of this study was to explore whether certain statins have the potential to lower blood pressure (BP). For the period 2002–2022, Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases were searched for the studies that examined the effect of statins on blood pressure in normotensive or hypertensive individuals. Randomized controlled clinical trials that investigated this effect were included based on our inclusion criteria. Our primary outcomes were changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). The final analysis of the study included 49 RCTs involving 45 173 participants randomized to receive either statins or placebo. Among the two groups, the total weighted mean difference (WMD) for systolic blood pressure (ΔSBP) was –1.42 (95% CI: –2.38, –0.46; p =.004) and diastolic blood pressure (ΔDBP) was 0.82 (95% CI: –1.28, –0.36; p =.0005). Despite various studies suggesting the efficacy of statins in blood pressure lowering to be significant and non‐significant both, we observed a decrease in SBP and DBP both, although the change was not as large and could be considered significant. A large multicenter, multi‐ethnic, large sample pool size, and a long period follow‐up study is still required to assert these claims. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of near‐infrared (NIR) organic absorbers, named FNs and FPs, have been obtained with absorption maxima from 870 nm to 1100 nm and thus falling into the attractive second near‐infrared region (NIR‐II). The synthesis of their extended aromatic cores utilized an initial aryl‐amination between 4‐aminonaphthalene‐1,8‐dicarboximide (NMI‐NH2) or 9‐aminoperylene‐3,4‐dicarboximide (PMI‐NH2) with chloro‐substituted 9,10‐anthraquinones followed by a novel base‐induced cyclodehydrogenation. A NIR‐II pigment, compound FPP, was obtained through de‐alkylation of a soluble precursor. The synthesis of this photostable pigment is high‐yielding and avoids column chromatographic purification which is important for many applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The mechanism by which low androgen status inhibit erectile function has not yet been clearly elucidated. Neurogranin (Ng) is a Ca2+‐sensitive calmodulin binding protein that is expressed in endothelial cells and regulates eNOS function. Objectives: To investigate whether low androgen status inhibit erectile function by regulating the Ng/CaN/AKT/eNOS pathway in the penile cavernous tissue of rats. Materials and methods: Thirty‐six 8‐week‐old male Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly divided into six groups as follows (n = 6): 4‐week control group (4w‐control), 4‐week castration group (4w‐cast), 4‐week castration+testosterone replacement group (4w‐cast+T), 8‐week control group (8w‐control), 8‐week castration group (8w‐cast), and 8‐week castration+testosterone replacement group (8w‐cast+T). Four weeks and eight weeks after surgery, the ratio of the maximum intracavernous pressure/mean arterial pressure (ICPmax/MAP) was examined. The level of NO and the expression of Ng, calcineurin (CaN), AKT, p‐AKT(S473), eNOS, and p‐eNOS(Ser1177) in the penile cavernous tissue of each group were determined. Results: Ng and CaN were mainly expressed in the membrane and cytoplasm of endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells in the penile cavernous tissue of rats. The ICPmax/MAP and the concentration of NO in the cast group were significantly lower than those in the control group and cast+T replacement group (p < 0.01). The expression of Ng and the ratios of p‐AKT/AKT and p‐eNOS/eNOS in the penile cavernous tissue of rats in the cast group were significantly lower than those in the control group and cast+T replacement group (p < 0.01). The expression of CaN in the penile cavernous tissue of rats in the cast group was significantly increased compared with that in the control group and the cast+T replacement group (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Inhibiting the expression of Ng and subsequently upregulating the expression of CaN in the rat penile cavernous tissue was one of the upstream mechanisms of low androgen status inhibiting erectile function by inhibiting the AKT/eNOS signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: A runner, as an elongated branch, develops from the axillary bud (AXB) in the leaf axil and is crucial for the clonal propagation of cultivated strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.). Runner formation occurs in at least two steps: AXB initiation and AXB outgrowth. HANABA TARANU (HAN) encodes a GATA transcription factor that affects AXB initiation in Arabidopsis and promotes branching in grass species, but the underlying mechanism is largely unknown. Here, the function of a strawberry HAN homolog FaHAN in runner formation was characterized. FaHAN transcripts can be detected in the leaf axils. Overexpression (OE) of FaHAN increased the number of runners, mainly by enhancing AXB outgrowth, in strawberry. The expression of the strawberry homolog of BRANCHED1 , a key inhibitor of AXB outgrowth in many plant species, was significantly downregulated in the AXBs of FaHAN ‐OE lines, whereas the expression of the strawberry homolog of SHOOT MERISTEMLESS, a marker gene for AXB initiation in Arabidopsis, was upregulated. Moreover, several genes of gibberellin biosynthesis and cytokinin signaling pathways were activated, whereas the auxin response pathway genes were repressed. Further assays indicated that FaHAN could be directly activated by FaNAC2, the overexpression of which in strawberry also increased the number of runners. The silencing of FaNAC2 or FaHAN inhibited AXB initiation and led to a higher proportion of dormant AXBs, confirming their roles in the control of runner formation. Taken together, our results revealed a FaNAC2–FaHAN pathway in the control of runner formation and have provided a means to enhance the vegetative propagation of cultivated strawberry. Significance Statement: The FaNAC2–FaHAN module promotes runner formation by activating axillary bud initiation and outgrowth, which enhances the vegetative propagation of cultivated strawberry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has received widespread attentions in biological detection since its single‐molecule sensitivity. The SERS substrate with numerous highly active hotspots can effectively capture target, whose precise fabrication is undoubtedly extremely challenging but attractive. Therefore, this work tries to achieve an ultrasensitive SERS platform based on the accurate regulations of its composition, structure, and distribution. Specifically, ordered CdS/MoS2@Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) nanopillars are fabricated by the aid of atomic layer deposition (ALD). Optimal selection and precise control of ALD cycles in MoS2 fabrication can accurately adjust the pillar diameter and obtain the most favorable minimum gap (8 nm) between pillars, which is advantageous to form multidimensional and high‐density hotspots thus generating a 9.4‐times promotion as compared with the control group. On the other hand, calculated analysis shows that appropriate spacing distance between pillars slightly larger than analyte molecule can produce considerable capillary force, which is advantageous to capture analyte and anchor it in the high‐charged‐density region for higher self‐activation of hotpots. Based on the above two favorable factors, a linear detection window from 10 × 10−18 to 1 × 10−8m with an ultralow detection limit of 0.82 × 10−18 m for miRNA‐182 is achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the design of electromagnetic (EM) wave absorbing materials, it is still a great challenge to optimize the relationship between the attenuation capability and impedance matching synergistically. Herein, a 3D porous MoS2/MXene hybrid aerogel architecture with conformal heterogeneous interface has been built by atomic layer deposition (ALD) based on specific porous templates to optimize the microwave absorption (MA) performance comprehensively. The original porous structure of pristine Ti3C2Tx aerogel used as templates can be preserved well during ALD fabrication, which prolongs the reflection and scattering path and ameliorates the dielectric loss. Meanwhile, plenty of heterointerfaces between MoS2 and Ti3C2Tx have been fabricated based on conformally ALD‐deposited MoS2 with controlled thickness on the porous surfaces of the templates, which can effectively optimize the impedance matching and transform its response to EM waves from shielding into absorbing. Moreover, the interaction between the attenuation capability and impedance matching can also be modulated by the number of ALD cycle in MoS2 fabrication. After optimization, MoS2/MXene hybrid aerogel obtained under 300 ALD cycles shows a minimum reflection loss of −61.65 dB at the thickness of 4.53 mm. In addition, its preferable lightweight, high surface area, mechanical, and hydrophobicity properties will also be conducive to further practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synthesis of vertical heterostructures that include atomically thin layers of materials with topologically nontrivial energy bands is desirable for exploring exotic quantum states. Here, the authors report on atomic‐layer‐by‐layer deposition of magnesium on copper(111) surface by molecular beam epitaxy, monitored in situ by low‐energy electron microscopy and diffraction, and modeled by ab initio theory. It is found that a 2D MgCu2 intermetallic compound forms during initial Mg deposition and persists till a full monolayer of Mg is formed. Deposition of additional Mg triggers a phase transition from the commensurate MgCu2 to an incommensurate Mg2Cu layer and enables growth of the second layer of Mg. Ab initio calculations indicate non‐trivial topology of the electron bands in the interfacial Mg2Cu layer and the existence of Dirac nodal lines near the Fermi level. The new 2D Mg2Cu material emerges as a promising platform to study new topological states of matter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium metal batteries (LMBs) have aroused extensive interest in the field of energy storage owing to the ultrahigh anode capacity. However, strong solvation of Li+ and slow interfacial ion transfer associated with conventional electrolytes limit their long‐cycle and high‐rate capabilities. Herein an electrolyte system based on fluoroalkyl ether 2,2,2‐trifluoroethyl‐1,1,2,3,3,3‐hexafluoropropyl ether (THE) and ether electrolytes is designed to effectively upgrade the long‐cycle and high‐rate performances of LMBs. THE owns large adsorption energy with ether‐based solvents, thus reducing Li+ interaction and solvation in ether electrolytes. With THE rich in fluoroalkyl groups adjacent to oxygen atoms, the electrolyte owns ultrahigh polarity, enabling solvation‐free Li+ transfer with a substantially decreased energy barrier and ten times enhancement in Li+ transference at the electrolyte/anode interface. In addition, the uniform adsorption of fluorine‐rich THE on the anode and subsequent LiF formation suppress dendrite formation and stabilize the solid electrolyte interphase layer. With the electrolyte, the lithium metal battery with a LiFePO4 cathode delivers unprecedented cyclic performances with only 0.0012% capacity loss per cycle over 5000 cycles at 10 C. Such enhancement is consistently observed for LMBs with other mainstream electrodes including LiCoO2 and LiNi0.5Mn0.3Co0.2O2, suggesting the generality of the electrolyte design for battery applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

2‐isopropyl‐N,2,3‐trimethylbutyramide (WS‐23) is a well‐known artificial synthesis cooling agent widely used in foods, medicines, and tobaccos. As a commonly cooling agent in e‐cigarette liquids, WS‐23 has led to concerns about the inhalation toxicity with the prosperous of e‐cigarettes in recent years. Thus, the aim of this study is to assess the acute and subacute inhalation toxicity of WS‐23 in Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) guidelines. In the acute toxicity study, there was no mortality and behavioral signs of toxicity at the limit test dose level (340.0 mg/m3) in the exposure period and the following 14‐day observation period. In the subacute inhalation toxicity study, there was no significant difference observed in the body weights, feed consumption, and relative organ weights. Haematological, serum biochemical, urine, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) analysis revealed the non‐adverse effects after 28‐day repeated WS‐23 inhalation (342.85 mg/m3), accompanied by slight changes in few parameters which returned to normal during the 28‐day recovery period. The histopathologic examination also did not show any differences in vital organs. In conclusion, the maximum tolerated dose for WS‐23 acute inhalation is not less than 340.0 mg/m3, and the No Observed Adverse Effect Level (NOAEL) of WS‐23 subacute inhalation was determined to be over 342.85 mg/m3. The acute and subacute inhalation toxicity of WS‐23 in Sprague‐Dawley (SD) rats have been evaluated in this study. The results suggested that the maximum tolerated dose for WS‐23 acute inhalation is not less than 340 mg/m3, and the No Observed Adverse Effect Concentration (NOAEC) for WS‐23 subacute inhalation is over 342.85 mg/m3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Problem: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormonal disorder that has a huge impact on the human infertility. Increased levels of various circulating inflammatory cytokines have been observed in PCOS patients, which can contribute to the pathogenesis of PCOS. Monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 (MCP‐1), a secretory chemokine, is a potent chemotactic factor that recruits monocytes/macrophages to inflammatory foci. Several previous studies comparing the circulating MCP‐1 levels between non‐PCOS and PCOS patients have yielded contradictory results. Therefore, the aim of this meta‐analysis was to investigate whether circulating MCP‐1 levels vary between non‐PCOS and PCOS patients. Methods: Research articles published before November 11, 2020, were screened to identify eligible studies. Heterogeneity, sensitivity, and publication bias were analyzed using STATA software. Standardized mean difference (SMD) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated by the STATA software using a random‐effects model. Results: 11 studies were included in this meta‐analysis involving 897 individuals: 368 non‐PCOS patient and 529 PCOS patients. Our pooled meta‐analysis results show that circulating MCP‐1 levels were significantly higher in PCOS patients than in non‐PCOS patients (SMD = 0.84, 95% CI = [0.37, 1.31], Z = 3.50, p < 0.01). However, due to the limited number of studies included in this meta‐analysis, subgroup analysis determined that circulating MCP‐1 levels were not significantly varied between obese non‐PCOS and obese PCOS patients (SMD = 0.42, 95% CI = [−0.65, 1.49], Z = 0.77, p = 0.442) as well as between non‐PCOS and PCOS patients without obesity (SMD = 2.04, 95% CI = [−0.84, 4.93], Z = 1.39, p = 0.166). In addition, circulating MCP‐1 levels were also not significantly different between obese and non‐obese PCOS patients (SMD = −0.04, 95% CI = [−0.68, 0.60], Z = 0.11, p = 0.909). Conclusion: Our findings reveal that circulating MCP‐1 levels are upregulated in women with PCOS and are associated with an increased risk of PCOS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing high‐quality electret layer is important for the fabrication of high‐performance nonvolatile organic field effect transistor memory devices (OFET‐NVMs). In this work, three representative aromatic diimide frameworks are employed for comparative studies as n‐type doping materials for the electret layers in OFET‐NVMs, which are naphthalene diimide (NDI), perylene diimide (PDI), and pyrene diimide (PyDI). When blended with polystyrene (PS) to prepare the electret layers, all the memory devices containing aromatic diimide dopants exhibited significantly improved performances compared with the undoped counterparts, indicating that low‐lying LUMO energy levels of these dopants are beneficial for charge injection. All the devices with n‐type dopants exhibited long retention times (more than 104 s) and good switching reliability in more than 400 continuous write‐read‐erase‐read cycles. Among them, the PyDI‐based memory device exhibited superior performance compared with other aromatic diimides, which achieved a memory window of 34.0 V, a trapping charge density of 1.98 × 1012 cm−2 along with an on/off ratio higher than 104. This work indicates that PyDI framework could be a new platform for the future design of n‐type dopant for high‐performance nonvolatile organic field‐effect transistor memory devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atomic magnetometers are highly sensitive detectors of magnetic fields that monitor the evolution of the macroscopic magnetic moment of atomic vapors, and opening new applications in biological, physical, and chemical science. However, the performance of atomic magnetometers is often limited by hidden systematic effects that may cause misdiagnosis for a variety of applications, for example, in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and in biomagnetism. In this work, a hitherto unexplained interference effect in atomic magnetometers is uncovered, which causes an important systematic effect to greatly deteriorate the accuracy of measuring magnetic fields. A standard approach to detecting and characterizing the interference effect in, but not limited to, atomic magnetometers is presented. As applications of the work, the effect of the interference in NMR structural determination and locating the brain electrophysiological symptom is considered, and it is shown that it will help to improve the measurement accuracy by taking interference effects into account. Through the experiments, good agreement is indeed found between the prediction and the asymmetric amplitudes of resonant lines in ultralow‐field NMR spectra—an effect that has not been understood so far. It is anticipated that the work will stimulate interesting new researches for magnetic interference phenomena in a wide range of magnetometers and their applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mixing of topological states with superconductivity could result in topological superconductivity with the elusive Majorana fermions potentially applicable in fault‐tolerant quantum computing. One possible candidate considered for realization of topological superconductivity is thin bismuth films on Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ (Bi2212). Here, angle‐resolved and core‐level photoemission spectroscopy studies of thin Bi films grown in‐situ on as‐grown Bi2212 showing the absence of proximity effect are presented. It is found that the electron transfer from the film to the substrate and the resulting severe underdoping of Bi2212 at the interface is a likely origin for the absence of proximity effect. A possible way of preventing a total loss of proximity effect in this system is also proposed. These results offer a better and more universal understanding of the film/cuprate interface and resolve many issues related to the proximity effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: In this paper, observers and observability for uncertain nonlinear systems are systematically discussed. It is shown that for the convergence of a large class of observers, featured with the augment state to estimate the uncertainty, it requires not only the observability condition for the augment matrix pair but, more importantly, requires a structural condition first proposed in this paper. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that the combination of this structural condition and the observability of the augment matrix pair is a necessary and sufficient condition for the convergence of the observers and the observability of the original uncertain nonlinear systems. This implies that both the structural condition and the observability condition of the augment matrix pair reveal essential feature of the observing problems for uncertain nonlinear systems. In addition, for unobservable uncertain nonlinear systems, which do not satisfy this necessary and sufficient condition, the biased estimation error is explicitly presented, which can be used to evaluate the estimation performance of this class of observers. The numerical simulations for three typical examples are carried out to validate our theoretical analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To study the association in resistance to uterine artery blood flow and recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) and find its potential influencing factors. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in 870 RPL and 237 non‐RPL patients visiting to the Clinic from January 2014 to February 2018. All participants underwent comprehensive examinations and were scanned by transvaginal Doppler ultrasonography during the midluteal phase to measure the pulsatility index (PI), resistance index (RI) and systolic/diastolic ratio (S/D) values of the left and right main uterine arteries. P value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The mean PI, RI and S/D values for uterine arteries were significantly higher in RPL patients than in non‐RPL patients (P < 0.001). When subjects were grouped according to the different etiologies of RPL, significant higher indices of uterine arteries were found in RPL patients with antiphospholipid syndrome (P < 0.001), autoimmune diseases (P < 0.001), endocrinological abnormalities (P < 0.05), thrombophilia (P < 0.001), uterine anomalies (P < 0.01) and unexplained RPL (P < 0.001). No differences were found between patients with chromosomal anomalies and uterine arteries blood flow (P > 0.05). In RPL patients, mean PI, mean RI and mean S/D values shows no difference among groups (P > 0.05). The Similar results were observed in age and number of spontaneous abortion (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Impaired uterine artery blood perfusion may be an underlying pathology to RPL, and it can be used as an independent risk factor for pregnancy failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Si/SiOC composites are promising high‐capacity anode materials for lithium‐ion batteries since the SiOC matrix can effectively buffer the volumetric change of Si during cycling. However, a structure of Si nanoparticles (NPs) enwrapped by a continuous SiOC phase typically shows poor cyclic stability and low charge/discharge rate due to structure failure of bulk SiOC shells derived from carbon‐rich organosilicon. To address this issue, in this work, an Si/SiOC nanocomposite with volume‐change‐buffering microstructure, in which Si NPs are uniformly dispersed in a matrix of SiOC nanospheres, has been synthesized. Our results show that the space between Si and SiOC NPs can accommodate the large volume change of Si during cycling and facilitate infiltration of the electrolyte. The nanostructured SiOC skeleton serves as both a mechanically robust buffer to alleviate the intrinsic expansion of Si and an effective electron conductor. The Si/SiOC NP composite displays significantly increased capacity and cyclic stability compared with pure SiOC, and delivers reversible capacities of around 800 mA h−1 g−1 at a current density of 100 mA g−1 (approximately 100 % capacity retention after 100 cycles) and around 600 mA h−1 g−1 at 500 mA g−1 (capacity retention about 80 % after 500 cycles). Expanding into the gaps: Combining Si and SiOC nanoparticles in appropriate proportions affords an electrode material with superior properties as an anode for lithium‐ion batteries. The voids between the particles accommodate the volume changes of Si during cycling (see figure). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Macamides, the main active components contained in maca, have attracted increasing attention due to their various bioactivities. In this study, crude macamide extract (CME) and purified macamide extract (PME) were prepared by enzyme‐assisted extraction and macroporous resin separation, and the anti‐fatigue effects of CME and PME were evaluated in a forced swimming model. RESULTS: The composition analysis results revealed that both CME and PME mainly contain eight kinds of macamide. Based on the results of a weight‐loaded forced swimming test, compared with a control group, CME and and PME groups could prolong exhaustive swimming time, increase levels of liver glycogen (LG) and muscle glycogen (MG), accelerate fatty acid oxidation in serum to provide energy, eliminate the accumulation of blood lactic acid (BLA) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and decrease the serum biomarkers for muscle damage, such as lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase (CK). Histological analysis also indicated that CME and PME attenuated damage to skeletal muscle and the myocardium in mice during exercise. CONCLUSION: Two macamide extracts have a beneficial effect on relieving physical fatigue by attenuating the damage of skeletal muscle and myocardium during exercise, and a better effect was observed in the PME group. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we apply the active disturbance rejection control approach to output-feedback stabilization for uncertain lower triangular nonlinear systems with stochastic inverse dynamics and stochastic disturbance. We first design an extended state observer (ESO) to estimate both unmeasured states and stochastic total disturbance that includes unknown system dynamics, unknown stochastic inverse dynamics, external stochastic disturbance, and uncertainty caused by the deviation of control parameter from its nominal value. The stochastic total disturbance is then compensated in the feedback loop. The constant gain and the time-varying gain are used in ESO design separately. The mean square practical stability for the closed-loop system with constant gain ESO and the mean square asymptotic stability with time-varying gain ESO are developed, respectively. Some numerical simulations are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed output-feedback control scheme. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The design and synthesis of high-performance n-type organic semiconductors are important for the development of future organic optoelectronics. Facile synthetic routes to reach the K-region of pyrene and produce 4,5,9,10-pyrene diimide (PyDI) derivatives are reported. The PyDI derivatives exhibited efficient electron transport properties, with the highest electron mobility of up to 3.08 cm2 V−1 s−1. The tert-butyl-substituted compounds (t-PyDI) also showed good one- and two-photon excited fluorescence properties. The PyDI derivatives are a new family of aromatic diimides that may exhibit both high electron mobility and good light-emitting properties, thus making them excellent candidates for future optoelectronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BiVO4/β-Bi2O3 photocatalysts have been fabricated by a facile Ag doping route. The method involves the substitution of the lattice Bi3+ ions in BiVO4 with dopant Ag+ ions, and the supplanted Bi3+ ions generate the β-Bi2O3 (tetragonal phase) under thermal treatment in air. TEM observations and XRD results confirm that BiVO4 and β-Bi2O3 coexist in the Ag-doped BiVO4. The diffuse-reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) results demonstrate that all of the BiVO4/β-Bi2O3 photocatalysts show enhanced absorption in the visible region between λ = 550 and 650 nm, and the absorption intensity increases as the Ag content increases. The experimental results reveal that these BiVO4/β-Bi2O3 nanostructures exhibit much higher visible-light photocatalytic activities than that of BiVO4 for the degradation of the model dye Rhodamine B (RhB) under visible-light irradiation. The enhanced photocatalytic efficiencies are attributed to charge transfer between BiVO4 and β-Bi2O3, which significantly promotes the separation of the photogenerated electrons and holes and, therefore, enhances the photocatalytic properties of the heterojunction. Furthermore, the doped Ag ions might play an important role in this improvement. This approach is expected to be beneficial for the design and optimization of heterojunction photocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A broadband and compact rectangular waveguide twist are presented and verified. Adopting an axially rotating 45° ridge waveguide, the rectangular waveguide twist provides a very compact interconnection of two rectangular waveguides with different on‐axis angle rotation. Compared to conventional waveguide twist, the superiority of the proposed waveguide twist is the easiness for manufacturing and the overall dimension is compact, the thickness is only 0.25 times the waveguide wavelength of the TE10 mode. For verification purpose, a Ka‐band 90° waveguide twist has been designed, fabricated, and tested. Measurement results show that the return loss is <−20 dB and the insertion loss is in excess of −0.2 dB. The measurements are in good agreement with simulations and demonstrate the excellent performance of the waveguide twist at the Ka‐band. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A therapeutic carrier in the second near-infrared (NIR) window is created that features magnetic target, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) diagnosis, and photothermal therapy functions through the manipulation of a magnet and NIR laser. A covellite-based CuS in the form of rattle-type Fe3O4@CuS nanoparticles is developed to conduct photoinduced hyperthermia at 808 and 1064 nm of the first and second NIR windows, respectively. The Fe3O4@CuS nanoparticles exhibit broad NIR absorption from 700 to 1300 nm. The in vitro photothermal results show that the laser intensity obtained using 808 nm irradiation required a twofold increase in its magnitude to achieve the same damage in cells as that obtained using 1064 nm irradiation. Because of the favorable magnetic property of Fe3O4, magnetically guided photothermal tumor ablation is performed for assessing both laser exposures. According to the results under the fixed laser intensity and irradiation spot, exposure to 1064 nm completely removed tumors showing no signs of relapse. On the other hand, 808 nm irradiation leads to effective inhibition of growth that remained nearly unchanged for up to 30 d, but the tumors are not completely eliminated. In addition, MRI is performed to monitor rattle-type Fe3O4@CuS localization in the tumor following magnetic attraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The retention behaviour of amino acids was studied in hydrophilic LC on zwitterionic stationary phases. Evaluation of the influences of acetonitrile/water content, ammonium acetate (NH4Ac) concentration and mobile phase pH values was performed. Fourteen amino acids were tested and they were all retained to varying extents, with poorer retention in high water content eluents. The linear relationship between the logarithm of retention factor and log(water content) indicated that adsorption dominated or at least was partly involved in the separation mechanism. Electrostatic and hydrophilic interactions also contributed to the retention of these amino acids under different separation conditions with various mobile phase pH values and NH4Ac concentrations. Thus, the overall retention mechanism could be explained as a combination of adsorption, electrostatic and hydrophilic interactions. The magnitude and contribution of each mechanism is dependent on the nature of the analyte and the separation conditions applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The subcultivation of positive blood cultures for organism identification is a time-consuming process. We explored the use of fluorescent quantum dots ( QDs) as probes for the improved detection and identification of Staphylococcus aureus directly from positive blood culture media. Immunofluorescence probes were synthesized by linking biotin-conjugated QDs to streptavidin-conjugated IgG molecules. This QDs- IgG complex is capable of binding anti- SPA antibodies which specifically bind to a cell surface protein of S. aureus. The specificity of the method was confirmed using reference strains. Among 372 positive blood cultures, 73 containing gram-positive cocci in clusters were investigated. Relative to the standard culture method, the immunofluorescence assay showed 90.5% (19/21) sensitivity and 100% (52/52) specificity for S. aureus. These results suggest that this immunofluorescence assay allows the rapid identification of S. aureus directly from specimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

J. Neurochem. (2012) 122, 374-381. Abstract Alzheimer's disease (AD) affects about 35.6 million people worldwide, and if current trends continue with no medical advancement, one in 85 people will be affected by 2050. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop a cost-effective, easy to use, sensor platform to diagnose and study AD. The measurement of peptide amyloid beta (Aβ) found in CSF has been assessed as an avenue to diagnose and study the disease. The quantification of the ratio of Aβ1-40/42 (or Aβ ratio) has been established as a reliable test to diagnose AD through human clinical trials. Therefore, we have developed a multiplexed, implantable immunosensor to detect amyloid beta (Aβ) isoforms using triple barrel carbon fiber microelectrodes as the sensor platform. Antibodies act as the biorecognition element of the sensor and selectively capture and bind Aβ1-40 and Aβ1-42 to the electrode surface. Electrochemistry was used to measure the intrinsic oxidation signal of Aβ at 0.65 V (vs. Ag/AgCl), originating from a single tyrosine residue found at position 10 in its amino acid sequence. Using the proposed immunosensor Aβ1-40 and Aβ1-42 could be specifically detected in CSF from mice within a detection range of 20-50 nM and 20-140 nM respectively. The immunosensor enables real-time, highly sensitive detection of Aβ and opens up the possibilities for diagnostic ex vivo applications and research-based in vivo studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of alkylphenol polyethoxylates (APnEOs) in one-dimensional (1-D) mode usually separates either the ethoxy or alkyl moiety distribution and requires different modes for adequate resolution. Simultaneous complete separation of variable ethoxymer chain lengths and variable alkyl end groups using 1-D-HPLC has not been reported and suggests that multidimensional (MDLC) or comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography (LC×LC) might offer a suitable separation approach for this goal. This study compares different separation modes - normal phase LC (NPLC), reversed-phase LC (RPLC) and hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) - in terms of separation for alkyl and ethoxy distributions. RPLC provided adequate separation of octyl and nonyl APnEOs using an isocratic elution program and was selected as second dimension (2D) for LC×LC. NPLC offered better resolution than HILIC; however, non-polar NPLC solvent immiscibility with RPLC mobile phases leads to HILIC being chosen as first dimension (1D). The HILIC×RPLC system was evaluated by analysis of four APnEO mixtures. Complete simultaneous separation of APnEOs into individual oligomers, with each alkyl end group resolved, demonstrated the capability of the LC×LC method. Different descriptors and metrics for assessing system orthogonality were investigated to evaluate HILIC×RPLC performance. A relatively high dimensionality of 1.76 was demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The trophoblast lineage differentiation represents a rate‐limiting step in successful embryo implantation. Adhesion, invasion and migration processes within the trophoblast are governed by several transcription factors. Among them, CDX2 is a critical regulator shaping the destiny of the trophoblast. While its altered expression is a linchpin initiating embryo implantation in mice, the precise influence of CDX2 on the functionality and lineage differentiation of early human trophoblast remains unclear. In this study, we employed well‐established human trophoblast stem cell (hTSC) lines with CDX2 overexpression coupled with a 3D in vitro culture system for early human embryos. We revealed that the downregulation of CDX2 is a prerequisite for syncytialization during human embryo implantation based on immunofluorescence, transcriptome analysis, CUT‐tag sequencing and the construction of 3D human trophoblast organoids. While CDX2 overexpression inhibited syncytialization, it propelled hTSC proliferation and invasive migration. CDX2 exerted its influence by interacting with CGA, PTGS2, GCM1, LEF1 and CDH2, thereby hindering premature differentiation of the syncytiotrophoblast. CDX2 overexpression enhanced the epithelial–mesenchymal transition of human trophoblast organoids. In summary, our study provides insights into the molecular characteristics of trophoblast differentiation and development in humans, laying a theoretical foundation for advancing research in embryo implantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In article number 1800598, Hao‐Li Zhang and co‐workers describe a series of 9,10‐imide‐pyrene‐fused pyrazaacene (IPPA) derivatives as n‐type electret layer doping components for high performance nonvolatile organic field effect transistor memory devices. This investigation provides a general guideline for the design of n‐type organic semiconductors as efficient doping material for organic memory devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fabrication of high‐performance nonvolatile organic field effect transistor (OFET) memory devices is reported using a series of pyrene‐fused pyrazaacene (PPA) and 9,10‐imide‐pyrene‐fused pyrazaacene (IPPA) derivatives as n‐type doping components. The obtained memory devices exhibit stable switching behaviors (>100 times) and good retention properties (>104 s). Devices based on chlorinated IPPA (IPPA‐Cl) show the largest memory window of 40.8 V, with a trapping charge density of 2.66 × 1012 cm−2 and on/off ratio higher than 106. Our investigation reveals that low‐lying lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy levels and small dipole moment are key parameters for achieving high memory performance. This work provides a general guideline for the design of n‐type organic semiconductors as highly efficient doping materials for organic memory devices. N‐type doping components of 9,10‐imide‐pyrene‐fused pyrazaacene (IPPA) derivatives are synthesized and used in nonvolatile organic field effect transistor memory devices. The IPPA‐Cl doped memory devices achieve wider superior memory window (40.8 V) and higher on/off ratio (106) than that reported for fullerene‐based devices. This investigation reveals that low‐lying lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy levels and small dipole moment are key parameters for achieving high memory performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The isolation and structure elucidation of carteriofenones A - K is reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]