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Background and Purpose: Airway epithelial cells (AECs) regulate the activation of epithelial–mesenchymal trophic units (EMTUs) during airway remodelling through secretion of signalling mediators. However, the major trigger and the intrinsic pathogenesis of airway remodelling is still obscure. Experimental Approach: The differing expressed genes in airway epithelia related to airway remodelling were screened and verified by RNA‐sequencing and signalling pathway analysis. Then, the effects of increased cathepsin K (CTSK) in airway epithelia on airway remodelling and EMTU activation were identified both in vitro and in vivo, and the molecular mechanism was elucidated in the EMTU model. The potential of CTSK as an an effective biomarker of airway remodelling was analysed in an asthma cohort of differing severity. Finally, an inhibitor of CTSK was administered for potential therapeutic intervention for airway remodelling in asthma. Key Results: The expression of CTSK in airway epithelia increased significantly along with the development of airway remodelling in a house dust mite (HDM)‐stressed asthma model. Increased secretion of CTSK from airway epithelia induced the activation of EMTUs by activation of the PAR2‐mediated pathway. Blockade of CTSK inhibited EMTU activation and alleviated airway remodelling as an effective intervention target of airway remodelling. Conclusion and Implications: Increased expression of CTSK in airway epithelia is involved in the development of airway remodelling in asthma through EMTU activation, mediated partly through the PAR2‐mediated signalling pathway. CTSK is a potential biomarker for airway remodelling, and may also be a useful intervention target for airway remodelling in asthma patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An investigation on the thermal property, fracture mechanism of substrate and coating layer, liquid‐metal embrittlement (LME) crack, coating layer morphology, microstructure, and hardness of Zn‐coated hot‐stamping steel is presented. The effect of forming temperature on the LME is studied. The crack mechanism of substrate at elevated temperature is ductile fracture with various‐sized dimples. The inclusions in the dimples are also detected and researched. However, the fracture mechanism of coating layer and weld spot is different from that of substrate. At high temperature, the liquid Zn invades into the substrate with oxidation reaction, which reduces the thermal formability. The complex chemical reaction and different phase formation occur in the coating layer. The coating layer breaks and peels off from the substrate with sharp edge, indicating brittle fracture. The phase of substrate mainly transforms into martensite phase with the microhardness Vickers hardness 0.2 of 410–490. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute asthma exacerbation refers to the progressive deterioration of asthma symptoms that is always triggered by virus infection represented by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). After RSV infection, exaggerated Th2‐mediated pulmonary inflammation is the critical pathological response of asthmatic patients with acute exacerbation. Significantly, airway epithelial cells, being the primary targets of RSV infection, play a crucial role in controlling the pulmonary inflammatory response by releasing airway epithelial cell‐derived exosomes (AEC‐Exos), which potentially influence the development of asthma. However, the specific role of AEC‐Exos in acute asthma exacerbation after RSV infection remains obscure. The purpose of this study was to determine the distinct function of AEC‐Exos in exacerbating acute asthma following RSV infection. Blockade of exosomes by GW reduce the enhanced pulmonary inflammation significantly. Specifically, the enhanced Th2 inflammation was induced by AEC‐Exos thorough transportation of hsa‐miR‐155‐5p–Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) pathway during acute asthma exacerbation. Targeted inhibition of hsa‐miR‐155‐5p blocks the exaggerated Th2 inflammation effectively in mice with acute asthma exacerbation. In summary, our study showed that during acute asthma exacerbation after RSV infection, AEC‐Exos promote the enhanced Th2 inflammation through transportation of increased hsa‐miR‐155‐5p, which was mediated partly through SIRT1‐mediated pathway. hsa‐miR‐155‐5p is a potential biomarker for early prediction of acute asthma exacerbation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins and are widely used as important ingredients for other nitrogen‐containing molecules. Here, we report the sustainable production of amino acids from biomass‐derived hydroxy acids with high activity under visible‐light irradiation and mild conditions, using atomic ruthenium‐promoted cadmium sulfide (Ru1/CdS). On a metal basis, the optimized Ru1/CdS exhibits a maximal alanine formation rate of 26.0 molAla ⋅ gRu−1 ⋅ h−1, which is 1.7 times and more than two orders of magnitude higher than that of its nanoparticle counterpart and the conventional thermocatalytic process, respectively. Integrated spectroscopic analysis and density functional theory calculations attribute the high performance of Ru1/CdS to the facilitated charge separation and O−H bond dissociation of the α‐hydroxy group, here of lactic acid. The operando nuclear magnetic resonance further infers a unique "double activation" mechanism of both the CH−OH and CH3−CH−OH structures in lactic acid, which significantly accelerates its photocatalytic amination toward alanine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gamma‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) is an inhibitory neurotransmitter in human brains, playing a role in the pathogenesis of various psychiatric disorders. Current methods have some non‐neglectable shortcomings and noninvasive and accurate detection of GABA in human brains is long‐term challenge. Purpose: To develop a pulse sequence capable of selectively detecting and quantifying the 1H signal of GABA in human brains based on optimal controlled spin singlet order. Study Type: Prospective. Subjects/Phantom: A phantom of GABA (pH = 7.3 ± 0.1) and 11 healthy subjects (5 females and 6 males, body mass index: 21 ± 3 kg/m2, age: 25 ± 4 years). Field Strength/Sequence: 7 Tesla, 3 Tesla, GABA‐targeted magnetic resonance spectroscopy (GABA‐MRS‐7 T, GABA‐MRS‐3 T), magnetization prepared two rapid acquisition gradient echoes sequence. Assessment: By using the developed pulse sequences applied on the phantom and healthy subjects, the signals of GABA were successfully selectively probed. Quantification of the signals yields the concentration of GABA in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) in human brains. Statistical Tests: Frequency. Results: The 1H signals of GABA in the phantom and in the human brains of healthy subjects were successfully detected. The concentration of GABA in the dACC of human brains was 3.3 ± 1.5 mM. Data Conclusion: The developed pulse sequences can be used to selectively probe the 1H MR signals of GABA in human brains in vivo. Evidence Level: 1 Technical Efficacy Stage: 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The signals of glutamate (Glu) and glutamine (Gln) are often significantly overlapped in routine 1H‐MR spectra of human brain in vivo. Selectively probing the signals of Glu and Gln in vivo is very important for the study of the metabolisms in which Glu and Gln are involved. Methods: The Glu−/Gln‐ targeted pulse sequences are developed to selectively probe the signals of Glu and Gln. The core part of the Glu−/Gln‐ targeted pulse sequences lies on the preparation of the nuclear spin singlet orders (SSOs) of the five‐spin systems of Glu and Gln. The optimal control method is used to prepare the SSOs of Glu and Gln with high efficiency. Results: The Glu−/Gln‐ targeted pulse sequences have been applied on phantoms to selectively probe the signals of Glu and Gln. Moreover, in the in vivo experiments, the signals of Glu and Gln in human brains of healthy subjects have been successfully probed separately. Conclusion: The developed Glu−/Gln‐ targeted pulse sequences can be used to distinguish the 1H‐MR signals of Glu and Gln in human brains in vivo. The optimal control method provides an effective way to prepare the SSO of a specific spin system with high efficiency and in turn selectively probe the signals of a targeted molecule. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The high level of expertise required for accurate interpretation of prostate MRI. Purpose: To develop and test an artificial intelligence (AI) system for diagnosis of clinically significant prostate cancer (CsPC) with MRI. Study Type: Retrospective. Subjects: One thousand two hundred thirty patients from derivation cohort between Jan 2012 and Oct 2019, and 169 patients from a publicly available data (U‐Net: 423 for training/validation and 49 for test and TrumpeNet: 820 for training/validation and 579 for test). Field Strength/Sequence: 3.0T/scanners, T2‐weighted imaging (T2WI), diffusion‐weighted imaging, and apparent diffusion coefficient map. Assessment: Close‐loop AI system was trained with an Unet for prostate segmentation and a TrumpetNet for CsPC detection. Performance of AI was tested in 410 internal and 169 external sets against 24 radiologists categorizing into junior, general and subspecialist group. Gleason score >6 was identified as CsPC at pathology. Statistical Tests: Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC‐ROC); Delong test; Meta‐regression I2 analysis. Results: In average, for internal test, AI had lower AUC‐ROC than subspecialists (0.85 vs. 0.92, P < 0.05), and was comparable to junior (0.84, P = 0.76) and general group (0.86, P = 0.35). For external test, both AI (0.86) and subspecialist (0.86) had higher AUC than junior (0.80, P < 0.05) and general reader (0.83, P < 0.05). In individual, it revealed moderate diagnostic heterogeneity in 24 readers (Mantel–Haenszel I2 = 56.8%, P < 0.01), and AI outperformed 54.2% (13/24) of readers in summary ROC analysis. In multivariate test, Gleason score, zonal location, PI‐RADS score and lesion size significantly impacted the accuracy of AI; while effect of data source, MR device and parameter settings on AI performance is insignificant (P > 0.05). Data Conclusion: Our AI system can match and to some case exceed clinicians for the diagnosis of CsPC with prostate MRI. Evidence Level: 3 Technical Efficacy: Stage 2 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acetogens are anaerobes using Wood–Ljungdahl pathway (WLP) as the terminal electron acceptor for both assimilation and dissimilation of CO2 and widely distributed in diverse habitats. However, their habitat adaptation is often unclear. Given that bacterial genome evolution is often the result of environmental selective pressure, hereby we analysed gene copy number, phylogeny and selective pressure of genes involved in WLP within known genomes of 43 species to study the habitat adaption of gastrointestinal acetogens. The gene copy number of formate dehydrogenase (FDH) in gastrointestinal acetogens was much lower than that of non‐gastrointestinal acetogens, and in five cases, no FDH genes were found in the genomes of five gastrointestinal acetogens, but that of the other WLP genes showed no difference. The evolutionary pattern of FDH genes was significantly different from that of the other enzymes. Additionally, seven positively selected sites were only identified in the fdhF genes, which means fdhF mutations favoured their adaptation. Collectively, reduction or loss of FDH genes and their evolutionary pattern as well as positive selection in gastrointestinal acetogens indicated their adaptation to formate‐rich habitats, implying that FDH genes catalysing CO2 reduction to formate as the first step of methyl branch of WLP may have evolved independently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel dodecanuclear Zr oxo cluster [Zr6O4(OH)4 (HSCH2CH2COO)12]2 (ZrO‐SH‐10) has been constructed under the room temperature, followed by oxidation of the sulfhydryl group with H2O2 to achieve a bifunctional catalyst with Lewis acid and Brönsted acid sites. The characterization of catalysts indicated that {Zr6O4} cluster core can be stabilized with a shell of carboxylate ligands, and the resulting ZrO‐SO3H was formed as a discrete molecular catalyst, exhibiting superior activity and recyclability for the cascade conversion of furfural to alkyl levulinate by the integration of transfer hydrogenation and alcoholysis in n‐butanol. The yield of n‐butyl levulinate can achieve as high as 91 % under the optimum conditions. Meanwhile, no leaching of the active species was found, which confirmed the structure of the Zr oxo cluster was air and moisture‐stable. On the basis of the studies on the reaction kinetics and isotope tracking, the reaction mechanism was proposed accordingly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The comprehension of spoken language is one of the most essential language functions in humans. However, the neurological underpinnings of auditory comprehension remain under debate. Here we used multi‐modal neuroimaging analyses on a group of patients with low‐grade gliomas to localize cortical regions and white matter tracts responsible for auditory language comprehension. Region‐of‐interests and voxel‐level whole‐brain analyses showed that cortical areas in the posterior temporal lobe are crucial for language comprehension. The fiber integrity assessed with diffusion tensor imaging of the arcuate fasciculus and the inferior longitudinal fasciculus was strongly correlated with both auditory comprehension and the grey matter volume of the inferior temporal and middle temporal gyri. Together, our findings provide direct evidence for an integrated network of auditory comprehension whereby the superior temporal gyrus and sulcus, the posterior parts of the middle and inferior temporal gyri serve as auditory comprehension cortex, and the arcuate fasciculus and the inferior longitudinal fasciculus subserve as crucial structural connectivity. These findings provide critical evidence on the neural underpinnings of language comprehension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adding irinotecan to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) increases the pathologic complete response (pCR) rate but brings more toxicities. Robust biomarkers to predict response to irinotecan‐based nCRT are extremely necessary for selecting the right patients. Our previous study suggests that patient‐derived tumor organoids (PDTOs) sensitivity to chemoradiotherapy matches patient responses. In this study, we investigated whether PDTOs sensitivity to irinotecan can predict complete response (CR) and survival. Eligible patients receiving irinotecan‐based nCRT between April 5, 2017 and December 11, 2020 were enrolled in the training cohort (n = 91) for response prediction and survival analysis. Patients receiving nCRT between February 21, 2021 and September 17, 2021 were included in the validation cohort (n = 27). Predictive performances of irinotecan organoid size ratio (OSR) for CR or pCR were evaluated. The irinotecan‐sensitive groups had higher response rates compared with the insensitive groups (training cohort: 71.8% vs 24.4%, P <.0001; validation cohort, 81.8% vs 18.8%, P =.002). Moreover, the irinotecan‐sensitive group had higher rates of 3‐year disease‐free survival (DFS: 71.6% vs 55.5%, P =.034) and distant metastasis‐free survival (DMFS, 77.9% vs 57.2%, P =.015) than the irinotecan‐insensitive group. 5‐FU and irradiation sensitivities failed to predict 3‐year DFS (5‐FU: 65.4% vs 61.9%, P =.643; irradiation: 84.8% vs 57.8%; P =.072). Performances of irinotecan OSR to predict CR or pCR were good in the training cohort (CR: AUC = 0.828; 95% CI = 0.723‐0.932; pCR: AUC = 0.864; 95% CI = 0.759‐0.961). The validation showed robust predictive ability (CR: AUC = 0.796, 95% CI = 0.5974‐0.9952; pCR: AUC = 0.917, 95% CI = 0.7921‐1.0000). Irinotecan sensitivity in PDTOs was a predictive and prognostic factor in LARC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: DNA damage in airway epithelia under exogenous disruptors can trigger various pulmonary diseases. Integrin beta 4 (ITGB4) is a structural adhesion molecule, which is indicated to regulate the process of DNA damage in airway epithelia for its unique long cytoplasmic domain subunit. Methods: The expression level of ITGB4 and the degree of DNA damage were observed in the house dust mite (HDM)‐stressed model and ozone‐challenged model, respectively. Besides, ITGB4 conditional knockout mice and ITGB4‐deficient airway epithelial cells were constructed to observe the influence of ITGB4 deficiency on DNA damage. Furthermore, the influence of ITGB4 deficiency on HDAC1 expression in airway epithelia was determined under stress stimulation. Finally, corresponding intervention strategies were carried out to verify the involvement of the ITGB4‐mediated HDAC1 pathway in DNA damage of airway epithelial cells. Results: HDM stress and ozone challenge reduced the expression of ITGB4, which is accompanied by the increased expression of 8‐oxoG and γ‐H2AX both in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, ITGB4 deficiency in airway epithelia aggravates the degree of DNA damage under HDM stimulation and ozone stress, respectively. Furthermore, ITGB4 deficiency downregulated the expression of HDAC1 during DNA damage, and restoring HDAC1 can reverse the enhanced DNA damage in airway epithelial cells after exogenous stress. Conclusions: This study confirmed the involvement of ITGB4 in the regulation of DNA damage through mediating HDAC1 in airway epithelial cells under exogenous stress. These results supply some useful insights into the mechanism of DNA damage in airway epithelial cells, which would provide possible targets for early prediction and intervention of pulmonary diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Retroperitoneal sarcoma (RPS) is a rare malignancy which can be difficult to manage due to the variety of clinical behaviors. In this study, we aimed to develop a parametric modeling framework to quantify the relationship between postoperative dynamics of several biomarkers and overall/progression‐free survival of RPS. One hundred seventy‐four patients with RPS who received surgical resection with curative intent at the Peking University Cancer Hospital Sarcoma Center were retrospectively included. Potential prognostic factors were preliminarily identified. Longitudinal analyses of body mass index (BMI), serum total protein (TP), and white blood cells (WBCs) were performed using nonlinear mixed effects models. The impacts of time‐varying and time‐invariant predictors on survival were investigated by parametric time‐to‐event (TTE) models. The majority of patients experienced decline in BMI, recovery of TP, as well as transient elevation in WBC counts after surgery, which significantly correlated with survival. An indirect‐response model incorporating surgery effect described the fluctuation in percentage BMI. The recovery of TP was captured by a modified Gompertz model, and a semimechanistic model was selected for WBCs. TTE models estimated that the daily cumulative average of predicted BMI and WBC, the seventh‐day TP, as well as certain baseline variables, were significant predictors of survival. Model‐based simulations were performed to examine the clinical significance of prognostic factors. The current work quantified the individual trajectories of prognostic biomarkers in response to surgery and predicted clinical outcomes, which would constitute an additional strategy for disease monitoring and intervention in postoperative RPS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global Hangenberg Crisis or Hangenberg Extinction is a mass extinction near the Devonian–Carboniferous boundary. Comprehensive research of petrology and geochemistry on the Devonian–Carboniferous boundary, as exposed in the Nanbiancun auxiliary stratotype section, South China, elucidates paleoenvironmental changes and controls on marine strontium (87Sr/86Sr) and carbonate carbon (δ13Ccarb) isotopes during the Hangenberg Crisis. The new 87Sr/86Sr data reveal a regression in the Middle Siphonodella praesulcata Zone, while the Hangenberg Extinction was occurring in South China. Moreover, the δ13Ccarb data records a negative excursion near the base of the Middle Siphonodella praesulcata Zone that may have been connected with the Hangenberg Extinction. A positive δ13Ccarb excursion, corresponding with the Upper Siphonodella praesulcata Zone, may reflect the effects of a vigorous biological pump. The magnitude of the Hangenberg Carbon Isotopic Excursion in peak δ13carb values and δ13Ccarb gradient in carbonate Devonian–Carboniferous boundary sections of the South China Craton during the Hangenberg Crisis, are a function of depositional water depth and distance from the shore. The carbon cycling during the Hangenberg Carbon Isotopic Excursion had a much stronger impact on oceanic surface waters than on the deep ocean and the δ13Ccarb gradient of local seawater was likely caused by enhanced marine productivity, associated with biological recovery in platform sediments during the Hangenberg Crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cognitive decline of ageing population has become one of the major public health challenges worldwide, and familial factors (such as household income, marital status, etc.) have been identified as risk factors. Currently, we mainly focused on two familial factors: living with spouse/child and intergenerational rearing (taking care of grandchildren), exploring their relations with cognitive ageing. We also tested the possible mediating role of depression between the two family factors and cognitive decline. Methods: Data was derived from China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) database, and a total of 8474 participants (3602 females, mean age = 69.64) were included in the current research. Latent growth model (LGM) has been constructed for cognitive functions, with initial level and declining rate being estimated respectively. We further examined: (1) whether living with spouse/child and intergenerational rearing could influence the declining trajectory (initial level and declining rate) of elders' cognitive functioning; (2) and if so, whether depression could mediate the effects of living with spouse/child and intergenerational rearing on cognitive functioning. Results: First, while living with spouse/child was related to higher initial level of cognitive functions and slower declining rate, intergenerational rearing was associated with neither of them. Second, growth trajectory of depression partly mediated the effects of living with spouse/child on cognitive functioning (Indirect effect = 0.14; p < 0.01). Conclusions: Familial factors (living with spouse/child and intergenerational rearing) may be influential on declining trajectories of elders' cognitive functions, and depression may mediate such effects. More research efforts are needed to investigate the mechanisms underlying the relations between familial factors and cognitive ageing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keywords: biosensors; glutathione; heterogeneous structures; metal-organic frameworks; singlet oxygen EN biosensors glutathione heterogeneous structures metal-organic frameworks singlet oxygen 1 5 5 06/06/22 20220601 NES 220601 A core-shell heterogeneous metal-organic framework (MOF) hybrid is sequentially designed by a photosensitized porous coordination network (PCN)-typed MOF as core and Cu SP 2+ sp -centered zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF-67) as shell encapsulating cyanine 3-labelled siRNA. Taking together, these results manifested that intracellular GSH could be consumed to trigger PSZ for the PDT-assisted gene synergistic therapy, achieving the comprehensive cell apoptosis via the synergistic GSH-controlled siRNA release, GSH depletion and promoted SP 1 sp O SB 2 sb generation. In addition to the GSH-responsive siRNA release and fluorescence enhancement, the GSH unlocking effect on SP 1 sp O SB 2 sb production was also explored for purpose of controllable PDT by monitoring the enhanced fluorescence at 525 nm of a SP 1 sp O SB 2 sb indicator named singlet oxygen sensor green (SOSG). Moreover, the siRNA-encapsulated ZIF-67 (S-ZIF67) without PCN core realized the cellular GSH scavenging similarly, whereas the bare PCN revealed no obvious effect on GSH depletion. [Extracted from the article]

[Co2(BTC)(Cl)(DMA)3] (1) (BTC3– = benzene‐1,3,5‐tricarboxylate, DMA = N,N‐dimethylacetamide) obtained from the reaction between Co2+ and H3BTC in DMA features a three‐dimensional srs framework built of 3‐connected {Co2(COO)3} as secondary building units and BTC3– as spacers. When exposed to DMA solution of Cu(NO3)2, 1 was progressively transformed into the first heterometallic Co‐Cu‐HKUST‐1 ([Co0.14Cu2.86(BTC)2]) (2) of such kind via unusually solvent‐mediated structural transformation and simultaneous partial transmetalation. While the mechanism for such conversion is proposed based on systematic studies, 2 was revealed to be an equally efficient desulfurization adsorbent as the homometallic Cu‐HKUST‐1 in removing thiophene (0.142 mmol S per gram of adsorbent). However, when exposed to Zn(NO3)2 solution in DMA for longer time, 1 retained its framework with limited metal‐ion exchange, resulting in the formation of [Co1.93Zn0.07(BTC)(Cl)(DMA)3] (3). Possible reasons responsible for the formation of 2 and 3 through different routes could be due to the less solubility and more thermodynamic stability of 2 in comparison with those of 1, and the different coordination geometries which Co2+, Zn2+ and Cu2+ prefer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because of the importance of epidermal functions, including stratum corneum hydration and maintenance of permeability barrier homeostasis, in the pathogenesis of a variety of cutaneous and systemic disorders, a wide range of products has been developed to improve epidermal functions. However, the underlying mechanisms whereby certain products, including heparinoid‐containing product, are far little understood. In the present study, we assessed the impact of a heparinoid‐containing product, Hirudoid® cream, on epidermal permeability barrier function and expression levels of a panel of epidermal mRNA related to the formation/maintenance of the permeability barrier in mouse skin. Our results showed that while the baseline levels of transepidermal water rates remained unchanged, treatment with Hirudoid® cream twice daily for 7 days significantly accelerated permeability barrier recovery and increased stratum corneum hydration. In parallel, expression levels of epidermal mRNA for certain differentiation marker‐related proteins, lipid synthetic enzymes, keratinocyte proliferation and antimicrobial peptides also increased significantly. Together, these results provide the underlying mechanisms by which topical Hirudoid® cream improves epidermal permeability barrier and antimicrobial function. Because of its benefits for epidermal functions, heparinoid‐containing product could be more useful in the management of skin conditions, characterized by abnormal permeability barrier and antimicrobial function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The design of DNA‐based logic circuits has become an active research field in DNA nanotechnology and holds great potential in intelligent bioanalysis. To date, although many DNA‐based logic systems have been realized, the implementation of advanced logic functions is still challenging, especially with simple and homogeneous compositions. Herein, by integrating two DNA tetraplex structures (G‐quadruplex and i‐motif), a completely label‐free logic platform with high scalability was established, with which a series of advanced functions were realized, including arithmetic (adders and subtractors) and nonarithmetic ones (majority and dual‐transfer gates). Furthermore, the platform was also applied as an intelligent biosensor to coanalyze two cancer‐related micro‐RNAs with high sensitivities and specificities. Considering the excellent versatility, expandability, and biocompatibility, the platform may promote the development of DNA computing and hold great potential in multiparameter sensing and medical diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tumor deposit (TD) was associated with poor survival in colorectal cancer. However, its prognostic and staging value in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) patients following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (neo‐CRT) is controversial. Four hundred and ninety‐five LARC patients following neo‐CRT and surgery were retrospectively analyzed. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed using Kaplan‐Meier method and Cox proportional hazards regression in all lymph node (LN) ‐negative and LN‐positive patients. Next, we used three methods to classify the counts of LNs and TDs (oN, only LN counts; n1N, counts according to the N1c standards; n2N, total counts of LNs and TDs) to evaluate the impact of TD on N staging. TD‐positive patients were associated with more aggressive clinicopathological features. In multivariate analyses, TD was an independent poor prognostic factor of overall survival (OS), disease‐free survival (DFS), and local recurrence‐free survival in all patients. In LN‐negative patients, TD was an independent poor prognostic factor of OS, DFS and distant metastasis‐free survival (DMFS). In LN‐positive patients, TD has poor prognostic value only in patients with one positive LN. Three multivariate analyses according to three N staging methods showed that oN was not an independent prognostic factor, whereas n1N and n2N were independently associated with poor survival in OS, DFS and DMFS. The n2N method seemed to be better than n1N method. TD is an independent poor prognostic factor in LARC patients following neo‐CRT, especially in patients with no more than one positive LN. TD probably should be considered as one positive LN when performing N staging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Polyanionic Na3V2(PO4)2F3 with a NASICON‐type structure is heralded as a promising cathode material for sodium‐ion batteries due to its fast ionic conduction, high working voltage, and favorable structural stability. However, a number of challenging issues remain regarding its rate capability and cycle life, which must be addressed to enable greater application compatibility. Here, a facile and effective approach that can be used to overcome these disadvantages by introducing an aqueous carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) binder is reported. The resulting conductive network serves to accelerate the diffusion of Na+ ions across the interface as well as in the bulk. The strong binding force of the CMC and stable solid permeable interface protect the electrode from degradation, leading to an excellent capacity of 75 mA h g−1 at an ultrahigh rate of 70 C (1 C = 128 mA g−1) and a long lifespan of 3500 cycles at 30 C while sustaining 79% of the initial capacity value. A full cell based on this electrode material delivers an impressive energy density as high as 216 W h kg−1, indicating the potential for application of this straightforward and cost‐effective route for the future development of advanced battery technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mg-Li hybrid batteries have attracted wide interest in recent years because of their potential safety as well as their cost benefit and high volumetric capacity. However, slow kinetic properties strongly hinder their commercial application. In this study, we have prepared spinel LiCrTiO4 by a solid-state reaction and have conducted a comprehensive study aimed at improving the performance of Mg-Li hybrid batteries by optimizing the dual-salt electrolyte. LiCrTiO4 has been found to show reversible discharge/charge capacities of 178 and 169 mA h g−1 in electrolytes of 1 m LiCl and 0.3 m APC (all-phenyl-complex), respectively. When the concentration of APC was increased to 0.4 m, LiCrTiO4 showed a high capacity retention of 95 % after 30 cycles. In addition, no phase transition could be observed for an LiCrTiO4 electrode in a dual-salt system, suggesting high electrochemical reversibility. Ex situ EDX and SEM studies have indicated that only Li+ ions are inserted into the cathode side, while Mg2+ ions are reversibly deposited on the surface of Mg metal without dendrite-like growth, indicative of good safety of the Mg-Li hybrid batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the role of miR-138 in human coronary artery endothelial cell ( HCAEC) injury and inflammatory response and the involvement of the PI3K/Akt/ eNOS signalling pathway. Oxidized low-density lipoprotein ( OX- LDL)-induced HCAEC injury models were established and assigned to blank, miR-138 mimic, miR-138 inhibitor, LY294002 (an inhibitor of the PI3K/Akt/ eNOS pathway), miR-138 inhibitor + LY294002 and negative control ( NC) groups. qRT- PCR and Western blotting were performed to detect the miR-138, PI3K, Akt and eNOS levels and the protein expressions of PI3K, Akt, eNOS, p-Akt, p- eNOS, Bcl-2, Bax and caspase-3. ELISAs were employed to measure the expressions of TNF-α, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and nitric oxide ( NO) and the activities of lactate dehydrogenase ( LDH) and eNOS. MTT and flow cytometry were performed to assess the proliferation and apoptosis of HCAECs. Compared to the blank group, PI3K, Akt and eNOS were down-regulated in the miR-138 mimic and LY294002 groups but were up-regulated in the miR-138 inhibitor group. The miR-138 mimic and LY294002 groups showed decreased concentrations of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8 and NO and reduced activities of LDH and eNOS, while opposite trends were observed in the miR-138 inhibitor group. The concentrations of IL-4 and IL-10 increased in the miR-138 mimic and LY294002 groups but decreased in the miR-138 inhibitor group. The miR-138 mimic and LY294002 groups had significantly decreased cell proliferation and increased cell apoptosis compared to the blank group. These findings indicate that up-regulation of miR-138 alleviates HCAEC injury and inflammatory response by inhibiting the PI3K/Akt/ eNOS signalling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatial variation in connectivity is an integral aspect of the brain's architecture. In the absence of this variability, the brain may act as a single homogenous entity without regional specialization. In this study, we investigate the variability in functional links categorized on the basis of the presence of direct structural paths (primary) or indirect paths mediated by one (secondary) or more (tertiary) brain regions ascertained by diffusion tensor imaging. We quantified the variability in functional connectivity using an unbiased estimate of unpredictability (functional connectivity entropy) in a neuropsychiatric disorder where structure-function relationship is considered to be abnormal; 34 patients with schizophrenia and 32 healthy controls underwent DTI and resting state functional MRI scans. Less than one-third (27.4% in patients, 27.85% in controls) of functional links between brain regions were regarded as direct primary links on the basis of DTI tractography, while the rest were secondary or tertiary. The most significant changes in the distribution of functional connectivity in schizophrenia occur in indirect tertiary paths with no direct axonal linkage in both early ( P = 0.0002, d = 1.46) and late ( P = 1 × 10−17, d = 4.66) stages of schizophrenia, and are not altered by the severity of symptoms, suggesting that this is an invariant feature of this illness. Unlike those with early stage illness, patients with chronic illness show some additional reduction in the distribution of connectivity among functional links that have direct structural paths ( P = 0.08, d = 0.44). Our findings address a critical gap in the literature linking structure and function in schizophrenia, and demonstrate for the first time that the abnormal state of functional connectivity preferentially affects structurally unconstrained links in schizophrenia. It also raises the question of a continuum of dysconnectivity ranging from less direct (structurally unconstrained) to more direct (structurally constrained) brain pathways underlying the progressive clinical staging and persistence of schizophrenia. Hum Brain Mapp 36:4529-4538, 2015. © 2015 The Authors. Human Brain Mapping Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A dielectric constant transition is chemically triggered and thermally switched in (HPy)2[Na(H2O)Co(CN)6] ( 2, HPy=pyridinium cation) by single-crystal-to-single-crystal transformation and structural phase transition, respectively. Upon dehydration, (HPy)2[Na(H2O)2Co(CN)6] ( 1) transforms to its semi-hydrated form 2, accompanying a transition from a low-dielectric state to a high-dielectric state, and vice versa. This dielectric switch is also realized by a structural phase transition in 2 that occurs between room- and low-temperature phases, and which corresponds to high- and low-dielectric states, respectively. The switching property is due to the variation in the environment surrounding the HPy cation, that is, the hydrogen-bonding interactions and the crystal packing, which exert predominant influences on the dynamics of the cations that transit between the static and motional states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly conductive, crystalline, polymer electrolytes, β-cyclodextrin (β-CD)-polyethylene oxide (PEO)/LiAsF6 and β-CD-PEO/NaAsF6, were prepared through supramolecular self-assembly of PEO, β-CD, and LiAsF6/NaAsF6. The assembled β-CDs form nanochannels in which the PEO/X+ (X=Li, Na) complexes are confined. The nanochannels provide a pathway for directional motion of the alkali metal ions and, at the same time, separate the cations and the anions by size exclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A metal-cyanide framework undergoes a dehydration-rehydration triggered reversible single-crystal-to-single-crystal transformation. The resulting accordion-like contraction-expansion corresponds to a size change along the c axis as much as 24 %. This anisotropic response arises from the cooperativity among the water molecules, K ions, and CN groups between the unique two-dimensional bimetallic layers through weak interactions of hydrogen bonds and electrostatic (ionic) interactions. The key role of the water molecules in the dehydration-rehydration process is revealed by solid-state 1H NMR spectroscopy and dielectric measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The method of applying ultrasound to silica gel regeneration process has been proved to be able to improve regeneration efficiency and reduce regeneration temperature. The average regeneration rate can be increased by 10% and the benefits should owe to the special 'vibration effect' and 'heating effect' induced by ultrasound. In this article, a dynamic one-dimensional mathematical model, validated by experiments, has been developed. It is then used to investigate energy utilization efficiency of the ultrasonic regeneration and respective contribution ratio of the two ultrasonic effects. The results show that the contribution ratio of vibration effect dominates and the energy utilization efficiency of silica gel regeneration with ultrasound can be 1% higher. The ultrasonic regeneration is more energy-saving when the contribution ratio of vibration effect is greater. The results also show that the enhancement of regeneration brought by ultrasound is not a simple sum of their respective contribution. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 60: 1843-1853, 2014 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new category of crystalline polymer electrolyte prepared by the supramolecular self-assembly of polyethylene oxide (PEO), α-cyclodextrin (α-CD), and LiAsF6 is reported. The polymer electrolyte consists of the nanochannels formed by α-CDs in which the PEO/Li+ complexes are confined. The nanochannels formed by α-CD provide the pathway for the directional motion of Li+ ions and at the same time prevent the access of the anions by size exclusion, resulting in good separation of the Li+ ions and the anions. The conductivity of the reported material is 30 times higher than that of the comparable PEO/Li+ complex crystal at room temperature. By using state-of-art solid-state NMR spectroscopy, the structure and dynamics of the material were investigated in detail. The dynamics of the Li+ ions was studied and correlated to the ionic conductivity of the material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A reversible single‐crystal‐to‐single‐crystal transformation is found in a metal–cyanide framework: [CH6N3]2[FeK2(H2O)6(CN)6]. The structure consists of a two‐dimensional bimetallic layer with K4Fe3 defective cubane units in which the guanidinium cations reside. Reversible dehydration and rehydration processes of the compound tuned by weak interactions lead to a uniaxial contraction–expansion cycle along the crystallographic c direction, corresponding to an accordion‐like behavior. See the Communication by Y.‐F. Yao, Z.‐M. Wang, W. Zhang et al. on page 8269 ff. for more details. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the role of miR-138 in human coronary artery endothelial cell (HCAEC) injury and inflammatory response and the involvement of the PI3K/Akt/eNOS signalling pathway. Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (OX-LDL)-induced HCAEC injury models were established and assigned to blank, miR-138 mimic, miR-138 inhibitor, LY294002 (an inhibitor of the PI3K/Akt/eNOS pathway), miR-138 inhibitor + LY294002 and negative control (NC) groups. qRT-PCR and Western blotting were performed to detect the miR-138, PI3K, Akt and eNOS levels and the protein expressions of PI3K, Akt, eNOS, p-Akt, p-eNOS, Bcl-2, Bax and caspase-3. ELISAs were employed to measure the expressions of TNF-α, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and nitric oxide (NO) and the activities of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and eNOS. MTT and flow cytometry were performed to assess the proliferation and apoptosis of HCAECs. Compared to the blank group, PI3K, Akt and eNOS were down-regulated in the miR-138 mimic and LY294002 groups but were up-regulated in the miR-138 inhibitor group. The miR-138 mimic and LY294002 groups showed decreased concentrations of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8 and NO and reduced activities of LDH and eNOS, while opposite trends were observed in the miR-138 inhibitor group. The concentrations of IL-4 and IL-10 increased in the miR-138 mimic and LY294002 groups but decreased in the miR-138 inhibitor group. The miR-138 mimic and LY294002 groups had significantly decreased cell proliferation and increased cell apoptosis compared to the blank group. These findings indicate that up-regulation of miR-138 alleviates HCAEC injury and inflammatory response by inhibiting the PI3K/Akt/eNOS signalling pathway., (© 2017 The Authors. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd and Foundation for Cellular and Molecular Medicine.)