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Lymphocytes are crucial to defend against harmful pathogens and sustain adaptive immunity. Developing immunomodulating materials to activate lymphocytes is imperative to induce effective and enduring immune responses. Here, a new polymer serving as a highly efficient activator of B cells is reported and corresponding polymer spheres are synthesized through a droplet‐assisted ternary copolymerization process of ascorbic acid, ethylenediamine, and glyoxal. In‐depth studies are conducted on the polymerization mechanisms and polymer spheres ranging from 250 to 1200 nm with various surface functional groups are synthesized. These prepared polymer materials exhibit remarkable immunomodulatory functions correlated to the polymer spheres' size and surface functional groups, and effective activations on B cells are observed in vivo and in vitro. Through cell phagocytosis experiments and RNA sequencing analysis, it is proposed that the selective phagocytosis of B cells and the presence of CD21 on the B cell membrane contribute to the activation of B cells. This work has extended the realm of immunological research from a unique perspective of chemical synthesis, further substantiating the fundamental research and application potential of designing immunomodulating polymers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pathogenesis of Hirschsprung's disease (HSCR) is complex. Recently, it has been found that histone modifications can alter genetic susceptibility and play important roles in the proliferation, differentiation and migration of neural crest cells. H3K36 methylation plays a significant role in gene transcriptional activation and expression, but its pathogenic mechanism in HSCR has not yet been studied. This study aimed to elucidate its role and molecular mechanism in HSCR. Western blot analysis, immunohistochemistry (IHC) and reverse transcription‐quantitative PCR (RT‒qPCR) were used to investigate H3K36 methylation and methyltransferase levels in dilated and stenotic colon tissue sections from children with. We confirm that SMYD2 is the primary cause of differential H3K36 methylation and influences cell proliferation and migration in HSCR. Subsequently, quantitative detection of m6A RNA methylation revealed that SMYD2 can alter m6A methylation levels. Western blot analysis, RT‐qPCR, co‐immunoprecipitation (co‐IP), and immunofluorescence colocalization were utilized to confirm that SMYD2 can regulate METTL3 expression and affect m6A methylation, affecting cell proliferation and migration. These results confirm that the H3K36 methyltransferase SMYD2 can affect cell proliferation and migration in Hirschsprung's disease by regulating METTL3. Our study suggested that H3K36 methylation plays an important role in HSCR, confirming that the methyltransferase SMYD2 can affect m6A methylation levels and intestinal nervous system development by regulating METTL3 expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is the most common and fatal subtype of ovarian malignancies, with no effective therapeutics available. Our previous studies have demonstrated extraordinary suppressive efficacy of enterolactone (ENL) on EOC. A chemotherapeutic agent, trabectedin (Trabe), is shown to be effective on ovarian cancer, especially when combined with other therapeutics, such as pegylated liposomal doxorubicin or oxaliplatin. Thrombospondin 1 (THBS1), a kind of matrix glycoprotein, plays important roles against cancer development through inhibiting angiogenesis but whether it is involved in the suppression of EOC by ENL or Trabe remains unknown. To test combined suppressive effects of ENL and Trabe on EOC and possible involvement of THBS1 in the anticancer activities of ENL and Trabe. The EOC cell line ES‐2 was transfected with overexpressed THBS1 by lentivirus vector. We employed tube formation assay to evaluate the anti‐angiogenesis activity of ENL and of its combined use with Trabe after THBS1 overexpression and established drug intervention and xenograft nude mouse cancer models to assess the in vivo effects of the hypothesized synergistic suppression between the agents and the involvement of THBS1. Mouse fecal samples were collected for 16S rDNA sequencing and microbiota analysis. We detected strong inhibitory activities of ENL and Trabe against the proliferation and migration of cancer cells and observed synergistic effects between ENL and Trabe in suppressing EOC. ENL and Trabe, given either separately or in combination, could suppress the tube formation capability of human microvascular endothelial cells, and this inhibitory effect became even stronger with THBS1 overexpression. In the ENL plus Trabe combination group, the expression of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 3 and cluster of differentiation 36 was both upregulated, whereas matrix metalloproteinase 9, vascular endothelial growth factor, and cluster of differentiation 47 were all decreased. With the overexpression of THBS1, the results became even more pronounced. In animal experiments, combined use of ENL and Trabe showed superior inhibitory effects to either single agent and significantly suppressed tumor growth, and the overexpression of THBS1 further enhanced the anti‐cancer activities of the drug combination group. ENL and Trabe synergistically suppress EOC and THBS1 could remarkably facilitate the synergistic anticancer effects of ENL and Trabe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Eastern Himalayan Syntaxis (EHS) is one of the fastest exhuming regions on Earth since ∼10 Ma, and the mechanism of its fast exhumation is under debate. Different from many other studies based on tectonics‐driven models, we performed analytical analysis and numerical simulations to investigate an erosion‐driven system. Our results show that fast and focused surface erosion alone is able to exhume the lower crust on the timescale of ∼10 Myr. This process leads to the formation of a domal structure, an elevated geothermal gradient, rapid cooling of crustal rocks, and decompression melting in the lower crust. In the upper‐mid crust, the uplift of crustal rocks is caused by isostatic flow driven by pressure gradient, whose rate is limited by the driving erosional forcing. In the mid‐lower crust where decompression melting occurs, rocks entrained in a buoyant diapir experience fast uplift rate exceeding the erosional forcing. Our erosion‐driven model demonstrates an intricate coupling between surface erosion and crustal processes. Positive feedback between surface erosion and rock uplift is possible under certain conditions and crustal diapirism plays a key role in the feedback. Our study shows that both isostatic and diapiric flows play important roles in the uplift and exhumation of crustal rocks in the EHS. We highlight that erosion‐driven crustal diapirism can be one of the missing pieces explaining the evolution of the Eastern Himalayan Syntaxis. Plain Language Summary: Located in southern Tibet, the Eastern Himalayan Syntaxis (EHS) has undergone fast rock exhumation in the past ∼10 million years. Previous studies show that such exhumation can be driven by tectonic or surface processes. In this study, we built a numerical model in which we directly tested how focused surface erosion can cause the crust to deform. We also uses simple math equations to quantify the relationship between surface erosion and crustal deformation. We confirm that crust can flow in response to pressure gradient and buoyancy. The formal type of flow is limited by the surface erosion rate while the latter occurs if the rocks undergo partially melting. The surface erosion and rock uplift can mutually enhance each other, accelerating both rates, if certain conditions are met. Our study highlights that the rapid ascent of partially molten mid‐lower crustal rocks in the form of a diapir. We suggests that crustal flows driven by both pressure gradient and buoyancy are important to understand the evolution of the EHS. Key Points: Analytical and numerical models were performed to study the dynamics of the crustal flow in an erosion‐driven systemSurface erosion generates pressure‐gradient‐driven isostatic flow and buoyancy‐driven diapiric flow in continental crustDiapirism can trigger positive feedback and it can be one of the missing pieces in the evolution of the Eastern Himalayan Syntaxis [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Although the lamina open angle of making hinges is closely related to the outcomes of French‐door laminoplasty (FDL) for treatment of cervical spondylosis, there have been no methods to predict the lamina open angle preoperatively as yet. The aim of this study was to investigate the accuracy of predicting the laminal open angle using our newly designed sharp rongeur, and to compare the postoperative outcomes and complications between the methods of making hinges using the newly designed sharp rongeur and the traditional high‐speed micro‐drill during the FDL. Methods: This was a single‐center retrospective study. Following the approval of the institutional ethics committee, a total of 39 patients (Male: 28; Female: 11) diagnosed with cervical spondylos who underwent FDL in our institution between January 2018 and May 2019 were enrolled. Patients were divided into two groups based on the method of making hinges (sharp rongeur: 22 cases; high‐speed micro‐drill: 17 cases). The average age at surgery was 59.1 years (range: 16–85 years). The radiological parameters, clinical outcomes, modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (mJOA) scale score, and the recovery rate of mJOA were recorded and compared between the groups, respectively. The radiological parameters and clinical measurements at pre‐ and post‐operation stages were compared using the paired‐sample t‐test, the Wilcoxon signed‐rank test, and the Friedman's test, and variables in the two groups were analyzed using an unpaired Student's t‐test or a Mann–Whitney U test. Results: The average follow‐up period was 20.4 months (range: 14.0–25.9 months), the postoperative open angle was 60.13° ± 3.69° in the rongeur group with 22.78° ± 4.34° of angular enlargement, which was significantly lower than that of 68.96° ± 1.00° in the micro‐drill group with 32.75° ± 4.22° of angular enlargement (U = 19.000, p < 0.001). The rongeur group showed a higher fusion rate (34.1% vs 14.7%, χ2 = 11.340, p = 0.001), and a lower fracture rate of the lamina (7.8% vs 25.5%, χ2 = 14.185, p < 0.001) at 1‐month post‐surgery, compared to the micro‐drill group. There were no significant differences in the clinical outcomes and postoperative complications between the two groups (p > 0.05), except in the recovery rate of mJOA scores (0.836 ± 0.138 vs 0.724 ± 0.180, U = 115.000, p = 0.042) and neck disability index (NDI) at the final follow‐up (7.55 ± 10.65 vs 14.71 ± 8.72, U = 94.000, p = 0.008). Conclusions: The special sharp rongeur with a tip angle of 20° could be a preferred method to make hinges during FDL, which can predict the laminal open angle accurately and enlarge it to about 23°, thus reducing the fracture rate and accelerating the bony fusion of hinges compared with the outcomes of the traditional micro‐drill method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Depending on adjusting substrate temperature during film depositing, a series of NiOx films has been prepared by magnetron sputtering. The electrochromic (EC) advantage of NiOx films modified by substrate temperature is verified. Moderate heating substrate can improve surface charge transfer (from ≈30 to ≈40 mC cm−2) and energy storage capacity (45% increment) without damaging other performance effectively. Considering the different electrochemical mechanisms in varied electrolytes, the EC performance of NiOx films in two electrolytes is discussed. In KOH electrolyte, NiOx films at 300 °C substrates show prominent optical modulation (≈81%) and high charge capacity (≈40 mC cm−2). 300 °C heating compensates for the shortage of poor stability and tedious activation. In LiClO4‐PC electrolyte, NiOx films can undergo long‐term cycles compared with aqueous conditions, the coloration efficiency keeps high level (≈80 cm2 C−2) which means small charge quantities can drive a wide transmittance range. The cyclic discrepancy in two electrolytes can be ascribed to diverse reacted modes between electrolyte ions and NiOx films. In aqueous KOH electrolyte, EC process and activated state strongly relies on Ni2+ distribution on films surface, while NiOx experiences two phases oxidation to get thorough coloration in PC‐Li based electrolyte. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationships between tectonics, climate and sedimentation are important for understanding landscape evolution. In order to elucidate these relationships, we conducted a detailed survey of the thickness of terrace deposits and the altitude of terrace surfaces along the Liyuan River valley, in the Northeast (NE) Tibetan Plateau. We have dated the formation ages of terraces T3 and T4 to 42 ± 3.2 and 93.7 ± 7.5 ka, respectively, using optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) method. By compiling the deposit thickness of terraces, palaeoclimate records and local tectonism, we found that variations in precipitation account for the temporal differences in thickness/rates of sediment deposition in terraces T4 and T3. However, the spatial distribution of terrace deposit thickness was determined by tectonism, including faulting and folding, which changed the local base level. In order to maintain a foreland‐ward‐dipping gradient, the Liyuan River adjusts its sedimentary processes via spatially differentiated aggradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

WO3 and NiOx films with various thicknesses are deposited by reactive direct current magnetron sputtering. The relationship between film thickness and its electrochromic properties is investigated. A typical five‐layer corresponding complementary electrochromic device (CECD) is fabricated using optimized individual thicknesses of WO3 and NiOx, with UV‐curing Li+‐based polymer gel electrolyte. The results show that increasing film thickness can generally enhance the electrochemical and optical properties of WO3 and NiOx films. However, charge capacities and optical modulation drop when the thickness reaches a critical value, due to the dominance of the diffusion‐controlled process. 350 nm WO3 displays a wide optical modulation of 82.21% with a charge density of 36.72 mC cm−2, whereas 360 nm NiOx exhibits an optical modulation of 46.37% with a charge density of 7.66 mC cm−2. The CECD presents a fast response (bleaching and coloring time of 2.4 and 4 s, respectively) and good durability with optical modulation decreasing only 16% after 300 cycles. The current densities exhibit no significant decline till 3000 cycles during the stable period. The involvement of the diffusion‐controlled process in the electrochemical mechanism is substantiated by fitting chronoamperometry data, and the diffusion coefficient in the activated period is about three times larger than that in the stable period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the effect of nano conducting materials on the direct current (DC) dielectric properties of low density polyethylene (LDPE), polypyrrole nanospheres are prepared by the soft template method and then melt‐blended with LDPE to obtain LDPE/polypyrrole nanocomposites. The micro‐structure, space charge distribution, thermally stimulated depolarization current, DC conductivity and DC breakdown strength of the nanocomposites are investigated. The results show there is interaction between polypyrrole nanospheres and LDPE, which will not affect the crystal structure of LDPE, but slightly increase the crystallinity of LDPE/polypyrrole nanocomposites. Polypyrrole nanospheres can introduce deep traps in LDPE to capture space charge carriers, which will suppress the accumulation of space charges in LDPE and reduce the DC conductivity. The DC breakdown strength of LDPE/polypyrrole nanocomposites is improved slightly by adding a small amount of polypyrrole nanospheres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although numerous perovskite oxides can enhance the electrochemical activity via exsolved metallic nanoparticles on the surface, most of them can only be applied as catalysts in a reducing atmosphere. These nanoparticles cause serious performance degradation in oxidizing conditions due to the formation of low‐conductive metal oxides. This poses a big challenge to the design of highly active catalysts of electrochemical devices, especially for symmetrical solid oxide cells. Herein, based on the strategy of exsolved metallic nanoparticles in A‐site deficient perovskite, a unique and simple method is demonstrated for the synthesis of Ru/RuO2 nanoparticles on the surface of perovskite oxide via in situ growth. The electrode material (La0.75Sr0.25)0.9Cr0.5Mn0.45Ru0.05O3−δ (LSCMR) is designed through careful choice of composition and the core idea is to make use of the exsolved nanoparticles concept applied for the first time at both hydrogen electrode and oxygen electrode for symmetrical solid oxide cells. Inspired by exsolved Ru and RuO2, the surface‐decorated LSCMR exhibits significantly enhanced electrochemical activity for both H2 and O2, respectively, accompanied by high redox long‐term stability. Moreover, simple, low‐cost, and environmental‐friendly synthesis of Ru/RuO2 nanoparticles on the substrate of typical perovskites is realized with this in situ growth approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Episodic magmatic flare‐ups are documented in many continental arcs worldwide. Yet, the causes of such episodicity and the sources feeding the flare‐ups are not well‐understood. In this study, we use a 1‐D numerical model and scaling analysis to assess the mass balance and thermodynamic feasibility of generating arc magma as a result of partial melting of underthrusted retro‐arc lower crust. Results show the magma volumetric flux or magmatic thickening rate, is directly correlated with the crustal underthrusting rate and the relative timescales of heat transfer and underthrusting. For a continental arc with dimensions similar to the Sierra Nevada arc in California, we show with a constant underthrusting rate of 5 km/Myr, the magmatic thickening rate is 0.1–0.3 km/Myr. This is slightly below the baseline of arc magma thickening rate (∼0.3 km/Myr) from the mantle wedge and accounts for 10%–30% of the magmatic thickening rate during a flare‐up. The cumulative volume of magma generated from the partial melting of a 20‐km‐thick underthrusted lower crust is on the order of 105 km3, about 10%–40% of the estimated magma volume generated during a flare‐up. Therefore, we argue partial melting of underthrusted lower crust plays a partial or subsidiary role in driving a magmatic flare‐up event. Additional melts from the mantle and/or other crustal sources are needed to achieve the observed magmatic output during flare‐ups. The arc root developed by partial melting of the underthrusted crust reduces the time needed to obtain the critical thickness for root foundering, thus influencing the tempo of arc magmatism. Key Points: Partial melting of underthrusting lower crust alone does not generate sufficient magma to drive arc flare‐upsMagmatic thickening rate correlates with underthrusting rate and is affected by the relative timescales of heat transfer and underthrustingCrustal underthrusting contributes to arc root growth whose subsequent foundering may regulate the tempo of arc magmatism [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of platelet-rich plasma (PRP), autologous blood (AB), and corticosteroid injections in patients with lateral epicondylitis.Type Of Study: Network meta-analysis.Literature Survey: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared any two forms of injections among PRP, AB, and corticosteroid for the treatment of lateral epicondylitis were searched from inception to 30 November 2018, on PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane library.Methodology: Two researchers independently selected and assessed the quality of RCTs with the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. All relevant data from the included studies were extracted and heterogeneity was checked by Cochran's Q test and inconsistency statistic (I2 ). Publication bias was evaluated by constructing contour-enhanced funnel plots. Stata 15 software was applied for pairwise meta-analysis and network meta-analysis. To explore the efficacy between different follow-up periods, we considered the duration within 2 months to be short term, whereas 2 months or more was considered long term.Synthesis: Twenty RCTs (n = 1271) were included in this network meta-analysis. According to ranking probabilities, corticosteroid ranked first for visual analog score (VAS) (surface under the cumulative ranking [SUCRA] = 90.7), modified Nirschl score (82.9), maximum grip strength (69.5), modified Mayo score (MMS) (77.9), and Patient-Related Tennis Elbow Evaluation (PRTEE) score (93.3) for the short-term period. For the long-term period, PRP ranked first for VAS (94.3), pressure pain threshold (99.8), Disabilities of Arm Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score (75.2), MMS (88.2), and the PRTEE score (81.8).Conclusion: PRP was associated with more improvement in pain intensity and function in the long term than were the comparators. However, in the short term, corticosteroids were associated with the most improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cover image is based on the Research Article Enterolactone and trabectedin suppress epithelial ovarian cancer synergistically via upregulating THBS1 by Zheng Zeng and Caiji Lin et al., https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.7942. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]