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Coptidis Rhizoma (CR) holds significant clinical importance. In this study, we conducted a comparative analysis of CR's dispensing granule decoction (DGD) and traditional decoction (TD) to establish a comprehensive evaluation method for the quality of DGD. We selected nine batches of DGD (three from each of manufacturers A, B and C) and 10 batches of decoction pieces for analysis. We determined the content of representative components using high‐performance liquid chromatography and assessed the content of blood components in vivo post‐administration using ultra‐performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. The antibacterial activity was measured using the drug‐sensitive tablet method. To evaluate the overall consistency of DGD and TD, we employed the CRITIC method and Grey relational analysis method. Our CRITIC results indicated no significant difference between the CRITIC scores of DGD‐B and TD, with DGD‐B exhibiting the highest consistency and overall quality. However, DGD‐A and DGD‐C showed variations in CRITIC scores compared with TD. After equivalent correction, the quality of DGD‐A and DGD‐C approached that of TD. Furthermore, our Grey relational analysis results supported the findings of the CRITIC method. This study offers a novel approach to evaluate the consistency between DGD and TD, providing insights into improving the quality of DGD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sulfonate esters, one of the genetic impurities, have gained significant attention in recent years due to their potential to cause genetic mutations and cancer. In this study, we reported a novel on‐line column‐switching liquid chromatography method for the quantitative analysis of three p‐toluene sulfonate alkyl esters in active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). The sensitivity was improved by large‐volume injection. A diluting modulation‐based sampling procedure was specifically devised to mitigate the impact of solvent effects and resolve the poor stability of isopropyl p‐toluene sulfonate alkyl ester. The established method was validated in terms of linearity, sensitivity, accuracy, stability, and robustness. The limit of quantitation level was determined to be 1 ng/mL (equivalent to 1 ppm relative to 1 mg/mL API samples). Besides, the method was applied for four APIs Tosuloxacin toluene sulfonate, Lapatinib toluene sulfonate, Nirapalib toluene sulfonate, and Capecitabine. The recoveries of all target analytes in the four‐drug substances were within 89%–110%. The expanded uncertainties of the measurements ranged from 6.8% to 8.4% at a coverage level of k = 2 and a confidence level of approximately 95%. The method described in this paper was compared with other published literature, demonstrating its simplicity and ease of standardization which could be further applied in the quality control and safety assessment of drug substances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Underwater optical communications (UOC) and light imaging have aroused tremendous attention due to the ever‐growing exploration of marine resources. Photoelectrochemical‐type photodetectors (PEC PDs) have good application potential in underwater optoelectronic devices because of their intrinsic aqueous operation characteristics with a self‐powered function and high sensitivity. However, most of the currently reported PEC PDs consist of sandwich‐like device structures, increasing the weight, volume, and complexity of the devices. Here, a planar interdigital electrode (IE) structure for high‐performance self‐powered PEC PDs for the first time is proposed. The CuO‐based IE PEC PDs achieve good photoresponse in the wide region of 365–850 nm with a high responsivity of 21.86 mA W−1 (455 nm irradiation), a fast response time (0.02/0.17 s), and good stability in artificial seawater. The good photoresponse is attributed to the promotion of interfacial electrochemical reaction kinetics and the accelerated charge transport by IE structure. Moreover, the CuO‐based IE PEC PDs show good UOC and underwater light imaging capability. Furthermore, the IE structure successfully applies in p‐Se and CuSe PEC PDs, demonstrating its good universality. The simpler structure and good photoresponse demonstrate that IE structure provides a new perspective for designing high‐performance, low‐cost, and self‐powered PEC PDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photoelectrochemical‐type ultraviolet photodetectors (PEC UV PDs) with simple fabrication processes and high sensitivity have attracted ever‐growing attention. However, the self‐powered performance of PEC UV PDs is still unsatisfying. Herein, the SnO2 nanosheet array (NSA) photoanodes are fabricated and their good self‐powered UV detection capability is demonstrated. The 3D structure of SnO2 NSA not only improves the interfacial charge transfer and carrier transport but also enhances UV absorption. Therefore, the self‐powered SnO2 NSA‐based PEC UV PDs exhibit excellent performance with an ultrahigh responsivity of 207.12 mA W−1, an excellent UV–visible rejection ratio (R254/R455 of 3395), a fast response time (25 ms), and good stability under 254 nm illumination, demonstrating one of the recorded‐high‐performance in the recently reported PEC UV PDs. This work provides more options for developing high‐performance PEC UV PDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the specific ultrasonic manifestations of lower limb joints and impaired kidney function in gouty arthritis. Methods: In this cross‐sectional study, 408 patients with gouty arthritis were divided into two groups based on the status of renal function: normal group (n = 240) and renal impairment (n = 168) group. All patients underwent ultrasound examination of the bilateral knee, ankle, and first metatarsophalangeal joints to detect ultrasound features of double‐contour sign (DC) and tophus. Multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the association between kidney dysfunction and ultrasound features. A number of potential clinical confounders were adjusted in the model. Results: Univariable conditional logistic regression produces several significant risk factors of impaired kidney function which were the highest and current lever of serum urate acid, course of disease, frequency of attack, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease, presence of multiple tophus, and DC (P < 0.05). After correcting the course of disease and other risk factors, tophus was still an independent risk factor of impaired kidney function and the multivariable adjusted odds ratios (95% CI) was 1.789 (1.005–3.185, P = 0.05), however, the association was not significant in DC (OR = 1.098, 95% CI: 0.668–1.803, P = 0.71). Conclusion: The ultrasound feature of tophus was associated with kidney dysfunction in patients with gout, independent of clinical risk factors, which may be helpful in guiding clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sarcopenia is characterized of muscle mass loss and functional decline in elder individuals which severely affects human physical activity, metabolic homeostasis, and life quality. Physical exercise is considered effective in combating muscle atrophy and sarcopenia, yet it is not feasible to elders with limited mobility. PGC‐1α4, a short isoform of PGC‐1α, is strongly induced in muscle under resistance training, and promotes muscle hypertrophy. In the present study, we showed that the transcriptional levels and nuclear localization of PGC1α4 was reduced during aging, accompanied with muscle dystrophic morphology, and gene programs. We thus designed NLS‐PGC1α4 and ectopically express it in myotubes to enhance PGC1α4 levels and maintain its location in nucleus. Indeed, NLS‐PGC1α4 overexpression increased muscle sizes in myotubes. In addition, by utilizing AAV‐NLS‐PGC1α4 delivery into gastrocnemius muscle, we found that it could improve sarcopenia with grip strength, muscle weights, fiber size and molecular phenotypes, and alleviate age‐associated adiposity, insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis, accompanied with altered gene signatures. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that NLS‐PGC‐1α4 improved insulin signaling and enhanced glucose uptake in skeletal muscle. Besides, via RNA‐seq analysis, we identified myokines IGF1 and METRNL as potential targets of NLS‐PGC‐1α4 that possibly mediate the improvement of muscle and adipose tissue functionality and systemic energy metabolism in aged mice. Moreover, we found a negative correlation between PGC1α4 and age in human skeletal muscle. Together, our results revealed that NLS‐PGC1α4 overexpression improves muscle physiology and systematic energy homeostasis during aging and suggested it as a potent therapeutic strategy against sarcopenia and aging‐associated metabolic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims/Introduction: The triglyceride‐glucose (TyG) index is a simple and reliable indicator of insulin resistance, and is associated with the development and poor outcomes of cardiovascular disease. Subclinical left ventricular dysfunction (SLVD) is frequently detected in approximately one‐third of diabetes patients, but it has not been established whether the TyG index correlates with SLVD. We carried out this research to evaluate the relationship between the TyG index and SLVD in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. Materials and Methods: This was a cross‐sectional and observational study of 183 type 2 diabetes mellitus inpatients at Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing, China. The TyG index and homeostasis model assessment 2 estimates for insulin resistance (HOMA2‐IR) were calculated from biochemical measurements, and speckle‐tracking echocardiography was carried out. According to global longitudinal strain (GLS) by echocardiography, participants were categorized into the SLVD (GLS <18%) group or the non‐SLVD (GLS ≥18%) group. Results: In comparison with non‐SLVD participants, SLVD participants had higher insulin resistance, as reflected by elevated TyG and HOMA2‐IR indices, as well as a higher body mass index, waist circumference and triglyceride level (P < 0.05 for each). When grouped by TyG index tertiles, an elevated TyG index was correlated with other cardiometabolic risk factors, as well as a decrease in GLS. In the multivariate logistic regression analyses, the TyG index was an independent risk factor for SLVD in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients (odds ratio 2.047, 95% confidence interval 1.07–3.914, P = 0.03), whereas HOMA2‐IR was not. Conclusions: The TyG index is independently associated with SLVD in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients and is a more reliable indicator of SLVD than HOMA2‐IR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The severe and frequent drought in Poyang Lake, the largest freshwater lake in China, has seriously affected the local water resources security and wetland ecological security. Especially, the impoundment of the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) in the Yangtze River further aggravated the drought in lake. To explore the approaches to alleviate drought in Poyang Lake, this study simulated and quantified the influences of increasing water release of the TGR during the dry periods on water regimes of Poyang Lake, including the lake water level, duration of low water, flow velocity, flow field of lake, as well as potential suitable habitat area of migratory birds, based on a hydrodynamic model. Major results showed that the increase of water release of the TGR raised the lake water level, especially in the northern lake area, with the average lake level increase of 0.2–1.08 m and the lowest lake level increase of 0.16–0.68 m. Meanwhile, the duration of low water was significantly shortened, from 127 days to 87–116 days (threshold lake level of 12.0 m) at Xingzi station. In addition, the hydrodynamic simulations revealed that the increasing water release of the TGR reduced the lake flow velocity and discharge of Poyang Lake, which decreased the outflow of lake by 1.66–17.87 × 108 m3, accounting for about 0.47%–5.11% of the total outflow in the dry season. Finally, the potential suitable habitat area with 0.2–0.6 m water depth increased by 1.7–27.9 km2 in December–February, and showed a significant expansion trend in the central area of Poyang Lake. Outcomes of the study are useful for understanding the influences of water release of the TGR on water regimes of downstream lakes, and can provide valuable references for mitigating lake droughts in complex river–lake system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transparent ceramics have become a research hotspot in the preparation of fluorescent materials in recent years, because of their excellent physical and chemical properties and high transparency. Gadolinium aluminate, as a stable matrix material, is often doped with various active ions to obtain luminescence with different colors. However, it is very difficult to fabricate gadolinium aluminate transparent ceramics by a traditional method, although they are the charming solid lighting materials. Here, we developed a pressureless sintering method to prepare GdAlO3:Mn (GAP:Mn) transparent ceramic films, which were prepared by spin coating layered rare‐earth hydroxide (LRH) on amorphous alumina substrate and sintering at 1550°C for 2 h. Through the interface reaction, the Al2O3 reacted with Gd2O3 to form mesophase Gd4Al2O9 below 1550°C. However, the final products are GdAlO3 at 1550°C. The GAP:Mn4+ film exhibits a high transmittance of about 90%. Under UV excitation at 310 nm, the ceramic film outputs deep red and NIR emissions, which are both arising from the 2Eg–4A2g transition of Mn4+. Due to the electron traps arising from unequal valence substitution, the ceramic film exhibits a negative thermal quenching phenomenon. The ceramic film has a good luminescence thermal stability, because its emission intensity at 150°C maintains over 72% that at room temperature. This work may pave a new way to fabricate transparent ceramics using LRHs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: FBXL8 is a conserved F‐box protein, belonging to the ubiquitin ligase complex, which promotes the development and progression of tumours. However, the regulation function and mechanism of FBXL8's involvement in colorectal cancer (CRC) remain unclear. Methods: RT–PCR is used to detect gene expression levels. Protein levels were determined by western blotting and flow cytometry. The bindings of FBXL8 and p53 and ubiquitination levels were detected by cell transfection and immunoprecipitation. The transwell assay was used to measure the ability of cells to migrate and invade. Animal studies were used to verify the function of FBXL8 in vivo. Results: The expression of FBXL8 was up‐regulated in CRC tissues, and its overexpression was associated with poor prognosis in CRC patients. The up‐regulation of FBXL8 promoted the proliferation, invasion and migration of CRC tumour cells and maintained the stem‐cell characteristics of colorectal tumour cells. Further analysis demonstrated that FBXL8 targeted p53 and reduced its stability through ubiquitination. Knockout of FBXL8 down‐regulated the proliferation, migration and stem‐like properties of tumour cells. CRC mouse xenograft tumour model confirmed that FBXL8 gene knockout inhibited tumour formation and liver metastasis. Conclusion: FBXL8 was highly expressed in CRC. Mechanism studies have shown that FBXL8 degraded tumour suppressor gene p53 by ubiquitination. FBXL8 knockout inhibited the proliferation and stem characteristics of CRC cells, so SCF‐FBXL8‐TP53 has potential to be used as a therapeutic target for CRC in subsequent studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new technology based on transmission Raman spectroscopy was developed for the determination of diclofenac sodium (DS) in commercially available tablets using chemometric tools such as partial least squares (PLS). Based on multifactor orthogonal design of experiment (DOE), we established an initial model consisting of 150 handmade tablets. By adding only two commercially available tablets spectra to the initial model, it was successfully applied to the determination of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) of three commercially available diclofenac sodium tablets. The results showed that the relative error of content measured by TRS for three brands of tablets was less than 4% and the RSD of 20 commercially available tablets under brand of Ouyi was 0.49%. The method can ensure high accuracy and good repeatability in rapid nondestructive quantitative analysis and can be used as a new technology for quality control on production lines to monitor drugs in real time. A method was developed for the determination of diclofenac sodium (DS) in commercially available tablets by TRS with PLS. By adding only two commercially available tablets spectra to the initial model, it was successfully applied to the determination of the API of three commercially available diclofenac sodium tablets. The method can ensure high accuracy and good repeatability in rapid nondestructive quantitative analysis and can be used as a new technology for quality control on production lines to monitor drugs in real time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Automatic skin lesion segmentation is the most critical and relevant task in computer‐aided skin cancer diagnosis. Methods based on convolutional neural networks (CNNs) are mainly used in current skin lesion segmentation. The requirement of huge pixel‐level labels is a significant obstacle to achieve semantic segmentation of skin lesion by CNNs. In this paper, a novel weakly supervised framework for skin lesion segmentation is presented, which generates high‐quality pixel‐level annotations and optimizes the segmentation network. A hierarchical image segmentation algorithm can predict a boundary map for training images. Then, the optimal regions of candidate hierarchical levels are selected. Afterward, Superpixels‐CRF built on the optimal regions is guided by spot seeds to propagate information from spot seeds to unlabeled regions, resulting in high‐quality pixel‐level annotations. Using these high‐quality pixel‐level annotations, a segmentation network can be trained and segmentation masks can be predicted. To iteratively optimize the segmentation network, the predicted segmentation masks are refined and the segmentation network are retrained. Comparative experiments demonstrate that the proposed segmentation framework reduces the gap between weakly and fully supervised skin lesion segmentation methods, and achieves state‐of‐the‐art performance while reducing human labeling efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transient receptor potential vanilloid 2 (TRPV2) channel is a nonselective cation channel that has been implicated in multiple sensory processes in the nervous system. Here, it is shown that TRPV2 in myeloid cells facilitates virus penetration by promoting the tension and mobility of cell membrane through the Ca2+‐LRMDA axis. Knockout of TRPV2 in myeloid cells or inhibition of TRPV2 channel activity suppresses viral infection and protects mice from herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV‐1) and vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) infection. Reconstitution of TRPV2 but not the Ca2+‐impermeable mutant TRPV2E572Q into LyZ2‐Cre;Trpv2fl/fl bone marrow‐derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) restores viral infection. Mechanistically, knockout of TRPV2 in myeloid cells inhibits the tension and mobility of cell membrane and the penetration of viruses, which is restored by reconstitution of TRPV2 but not TRPV2E572Q. In addition, knockout of TRPV2 leads to downregulation of Lrmda in BMDCs and BMDMs, and knockdown of Lrmda significantly downregulates the mobility and tension of cell membrane and inhibits viral infections in Trpv2fl/fl but not LyZ2‐Cre;Trpv2fl/fl BMDCs. Consistently, complement of LRMDA into LyZ2‐Cre;Trpv2fl/fl BMDCs partially restores the tension and mobility of cell membrane and promotes viral penetration and infection. These findings characterize a previously unknown function of myeloid TRPV2 in facilitating viral infection though the Ca2+‐LRMDA axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The success of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in native aortic regurgitation (AR) is limited by the absence of calcified anchoring structures. We sought to evaluate transfemoral TAVR in patients with native AR using a novel aortic root imaging classification. Methods: From March to November 2021, 81 patients with severe AR were prospectively enrolled in 2 cardiac centers in China. All were evaluated using multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) and classified into 4 anatomic types in reference to transcatheter heart valve (THV) anchoring: Type 1: anchoring at the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT), annulus, and ascending aorta (AA); Type 2: anchoring at the annulus and AA; Type 3: anchoring at the annulus and LVOT; and Type 4: anchoring at only 1 level or none at all. Based on the dual‐anchoring strategy, patients with Types 1–3 were considered TAVR candidates. Procedural and 30‐day outcomes were assessed according to Valve Academic Research Consortium‐3 definitions. Results: TAVR was performed in 32 (39.5%) patients (71.9 ± 8.0 years of age, 71.9% were male) using 2 self‐expanding THVs. Types 1, 2, and 3 comprised 13 (40.6%), 11 (34.4%), and 8 (25.0%) cases, respectively. The procedural and device success rates were 100% and 93.8%, respectively, with 2 THV migration. Eight patients (25.0%) required a permanent pacemaker, and 2 (6.3%) developed moderate paravalvular leaks. No deaths or other major complications occurred during the study. Conclusions: The novel anatomic classification and dual‐anchoring strategy were associated with a high procedural success rate with favorable short‐term safety and clinical outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Canterbury Earthquake Sequence (CES), which includes the 2010 and 2011 Christchurch earthquakes, is one of the deadliest disasters in New Zealand history. Following the CES, displacement of the affected population occurred, leading to an out‐migration from affected areas and changes to places of residence. This paper investigates the spatial changes in population following the CES, using a multiscale geographically weighted regression (MGWR) analysis approach to examine if there is a relationship between population change within the Canterbury region, and potential driving forces across two time periods: 2006–2013 and 2013–2018. The findings of this study could assist in informing future decision making and planning for earthquake events and to increase the effectiveness of land use policy decisions for post‐disaster recovery in New Zealand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of supercapacitors for long‐term energy storage is largely limited by their low energy density and self‐discharge behavior. Finding a way to effectively increase the voltage window (and thus the energy density) and suppress the self‐discharge of supercapacitors is a huge research challenge. Herein, by introducing a fluorinated ether, 1,1,2,2‐tetrafluoroethyl‐2,2,3,3‐tetrafluoropropyl ether (TTE), in triethyl ammonium tetrafluoroborate/acetonitrile solution as the electrolyte of supercapacitors, improved electrolyte stability could be achieved. As a result, a working voltage of 3.6 V was obtained, much higher than the typical working voltage of 2.7 V for acetonitrile‐based electrolytes without TTE. In addition, reduced self‐discharge was attained after adding TTE in the electrolyte. When charged to 3.6 V, the supercapacitors using TTE‐based electrolyte exhibited an open circuit voltage (OCV) decay of 2.03 V after 24 h, lower than that of the supercapacitors without TTE (2.60 V). Mechanistic analysis indicated that the slower self‐discharge could be attributed to the suppressed activation‐controlled faradaic reaction process caused by electrolyte decomposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transgenerational plasticity is the plastic response of offspring to ancestral environments. Theoretical studies and experimental evolution have demonstrated the importance of environmental predictability in driving the evolution of transgenerational plasticity. Nevertheless, the contribution of environmental predictability to the variation of transgenerational plasticity in nature remains unexplored. Here, we took advantage of the natural variation of Arabidopsis thaliana, and employed genotypes collected from different geographic locations to explore their transgenerational effects in response to drought and nutrient addition. We found that transgenerational plasticity depended on the offspring environment and the genotype. In particular, we found that genotypes with greater transgenerational plasticity in reproductive traits came from locations with greater temporal autocorrelation of annual temperature and precipitation. These results suggest that the evolutionary process shaping natural variation of transgenerational effect is not random, and the predictability of natural environments may contribute to the evolution of transgenerational effects. While the robustness of our study is limited by the number of genotypes analyzed, we hope this study provides an incentive to conduct a more comprehensive analysis towards understanding natural divergence of transgenerational plasticity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: (‐)‐Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) exhibits multiple biological activities, but unfortunately with poor stability. Poly(butyl‐2‐cyanoacrylate) (PBCA) nanoparticles have been widely elaborated for nearly 50 years. However, PBCA‐based nanowires (PNWs) were reported scarcely. Here, EGCG‐encapsulated PNWs (EGCG@PNWs) were successfully constructed. Employing PNWs as a delivery material, 2.0 mg EGCG into oil phase as optimum allocation was encapsulated in PNWs, forming EGCG@PNWs with the particle sizes of about 200 nm in diameter and 4 μm in length, encapsulation efficiency of about 93.96 ± 3.01%, and the zeta potential more than −30 mV. Further, the slower EGCG release from EGCG@PNWs (Oil) in 95% ethanol fatty simulant exhibited higher antioxidant activity than that of 50% ethanol. The antibacterial activities against E. coli and S. aureus and the growth inhibition effects on non‐small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were also enhanced. Results revealed that EGCG@PNWs can be used as dietary supplements to enhance antioxidant, antibacterial and anti‐NSCLC effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a rapid renal dysfunctional disease, for which no effective drugs or therapies are available to improve prognosis. Loganetin is a natural product with unknown bioactivities. Here, we identified a new protective effect and mechanism of Loganetin in a mouse model of AKI induced by rhabdomyolysis.Experimental Approach: AKI was induced using glycerol by i.m. injection in mice models. Thirty minutes and 24 and 48 hr after injection of glycerol, the mice received 2 and 18 mg·kg-1 of Loganetin i.p. respectively. Then mice blood and kidney were collected for various biochemical and histopathological studies. Mechanistic studies on modulation of AKI by Loganetin were performed using HK-2 cells and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) knockout mice.Key Results: In the Loganetin treated group, kidney damage and mortality rate were declined, and blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine were much lower. Loganetin prevented damage to the tubular structures induced by glycerol and decreased apoptotic cells at the corticomedullary junction. In HK-2 cells, Loganetin could inhibit NF-κB pathway and pro-apoptotic genes expression. However, TLR4 was silenced by a specific shRNA, and the inhibitory effect of Loganetin in HK-2 cells vanished. Loganetin also down-regulated the expression of inflammation factors by suppressing TLR4 activity.Conclusion and Implications: All the results suggested that TLR4 plays a critical role in AKI development, and Loganetin ameliorates AKI by inhibiting TLR4 activity and blocking the JNK/p38 pathway, which provides a new strategy for AKI treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melatonin (N‐acetyl‐5‐methoxytryptamine) plays important roles in plant defences against a variety of biotic and abiotic stresses, including UV‐B stress. Molecular mechanisms underlying functions of melatonin in plant UV‐B responses are poorly understood. Here, we show that melatonin effect on molecular signalling pathways, physiological changes and UV‐B stress resistance in Arabidopsis. Both exogenous and endogenous melatonin affected expression of UV‐B signal transduction pathway genes. Experiments using UV‐B signalling component mutants cop1‐4 and hy5‐215 revealed that melatonin not only acts as an antioxidant to promote UV‐B stress resistance, but also regulates expression of several key components of UV‐B signalling pathway, including ubiquitin‐degrading enzyme (COP1), transcription factors (HY5, HYH) and RUP1/2. Our findings indicate that melatonin delays and subsequently enhances expression of COP1, HY5, HYH and RUP1/2, which act as central effectors in UV‐B signalling pathway, thus regulating their effects on antioxidant systems to protect the plant from UV‐B stress. Several studies have demonstrated that melatonin plays a role in UV‐B responses, however, the molecular mechanism whereby melatonin affects the UV‐B pathway was not clear. This study examined the function of melatonin in molecular signaling pathways, physiological changes, and UV‐B stress resistance under UV‐B radiation in Arabidopsis. Exogenous melatonin treatment experiment indicated that melatonin could enhance the transcriptional level of genes on UV‐B signaling pathway and ameliorate ROS damage caused by UV‐B stress. This result was verified in SNAT overexpressing lines and knock‐down mutant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Pectin, as a functional ingredient, is best known as a gelling and thickening agent, stabilizer, and fat substitute in processed foods. The synthesis of pectin graft copolymers is considered one of the most fascinating ways to improve its physicochemical and functional properties. In this study, therefore, water‐soluble pectin or ultrasound‐treated pectins (UP30 and UP60) grafted with ferulic acid (FA) conjugates, pectin‐g‐FA, UP30‐g‐FA and UP60‐g‐FA, were synthesized via a free radical‐mediated grafting procedure, and their physicochemical, structural, and functional characteristics were investigated. Moreover, 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picryl‐hydrazyl (DPPH)‐radical scavenging activity, Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) assay and ferric‐reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) assay were used to evaluate their antioxidant activities in vitro. RESULTS: Results showed that FA was covalently grafted onto pectin or ultrasound‐treated pectins, and the grafting ratios of pectin‐g‐FA, UP30‐g‐FA and UP60‐g‐FA were 65.43 ± 1.30, 82.55 ± 1.71 and 75.82 ± 0.89 mg FA/g, respectively. Although the molecular weights, apparent viscosities, and thermal stabilities of the three FA‐grafted pectin conjugates decreased and their surface morphologies were different from those of native pectin and ultrasound‐treated pectins, they possessed prominent DPPH‐radical scavenging ability [half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 0.32 to 0.89 mg mL−1) and antioxidant capacity (TEAC of 100.02 to 153.42 μmol Trolox/g sample; FRAP: 166.41 to 270.27 μmol FeSO4/g sample). Their antioxidant potentials were positively correlated with the grafting ratio. CONCLUSION: This study provided a promising strategy for the functionalization of pectin, and the prepared FA‐grafted pectin conjugates could be explored as functional ingredients that showed potential for applications in food and agriculture systems. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Decreased binocular and oculomotor function in strabismics has recently been considered as cortical in origin. This study aimed to investigate functional abnormalities using a frequency‐specific neuroimaging method in patients with concomitant exotropia (XT), and to demonstrate the clinical implications. Methods: Resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging data were collected in 26 XT patients and 26 matched controls. To evaluate the local spontaneous neural activity, the amplitude of low frequency fluctuations (ALFF) was calculated in the typical frequency band (0.01–0.08 Hz) as well as five narrowly‐defined frequency bands (slow‐6: 0–0.01 Hz, slow‐5: 0.01–0.027 Hz, slow‐4: 0.027–0.073 Hz, slow‐3: 0.073–0.167 Hz, and slow‐2: 0.167–0.25 Hz), respectively. Results: Patients with XT showed decreased ALFF in the bilateral parieto‐occipital sulcus (POS), and increased ALFF in the bilateral thalamus within the typical frequency band. Frequency‐dependent ALFF alterations were found in the higher visual areas such as the right lateral occipital complex (LOC). Furthermore, ALFF in the right LOC in the slow‐5 band was positively correlated with fusion control score (r = 0.70, p < 0.0001) and binocular function score (r = 0.67, p = 0.0002). Regression analyses showed that early age of onset remained the only significant explanatory factor for ALFF reduction in the right POS in the typically‐measured frequency band (also referred to as the typical frequency band) (Odds ratio, 0.038; 95% confidence interval, 0.001 to 0.075). Conclusions: Our findings provide spatial information regarding the functionally disrupted regions in XT. Moreover, the frequency‐dependent ALLF alteration in the right LOC might reflect a potential plastic capacity in binocular function, which could be a potential objective index for evaluating disease severity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Green tea extract‐stabilised Zn nanoparticles (GT‐Zn NPs) encapsulated by poly(butyl‐2‐cyanoacrylate) (PBCA@GT‐Zn NPs) were developed for control release of Zn. The crucial parameters, concentrations of GT‐Zn NPs and the monomer n‐butyl‐2‐cyanoacrylate (BCA), which affected the size, polydispersity indexes (PDI) and encapsulation efficiency (EE %), were evaluated to achieve the smaller size, higher EE (%) and stably and uniformly dispersed NPs. The optimised PBCA@GT‐Zn NPs with <100 nm diameter (46.38 ± 3.46 by SEM, 86.91 ± 3.66 by DLS), PDI (0.159 ± 0.042), zeta potential (−20.56 ± 2.53 mV) and EE (89.31 ± 1.09 %) were obtained. In vitro release of Zn ions was conducted at pH 7.4, showing that Zn from the self‐made tablets and lyophilised PBCA@GT‐Zn NPs is released significantly slower than that of GT‐Zn NPs. Additionally, the PBCA@GT‐Zn NP tablets are pH‐responsive, non‐toxic and antioxidative, suggesting that they could be used as safe food material or drug carriers, contributing to relieve Zn deficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contrast‐enhanced transthoracic echocardiography (cTTE) plays an important role in the diagnosis of intramural hematoma (IMH) and aortic dissection (AD), and is also necessary for the adequate management from the assessment of findings. We hereby present an interesting case in which cTTE provides additional value over contrast‐enhanced computed tomography (CT) in the diagnosis and the morphological characterization of IMH and AD. A 58‐year‐old man presented to the emergency department with intermittent chest pain. After emergency consultation, an enhanced CT scan showed an acute aortic intramural hematoma involving aortic arch and descending aorta. Nevertheless, the entry tear and false lumen flow direction were identified by cTTE, which suggested an acute type B AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self‐supported hollow nanoarrays with rich active sites hold great promise as binder‐free electrode for supercapacitors. In this work, the hollow Co‐Ni−S nanowedge arrays (NWAs) have been fabricated on Ni foam (NF) substrate through a facile sulfidation and etch of ZIF−L‐Co NWAs/NF. Structural evolution upon solvothermal time indicates that the formation of hollow Co‐Ni−S NWAs is mainly due to the etch of defect‐rich interior of solid ZIF−L‐Co NWAs. The unique hollow nanowedge structural and compositional advantages ensure the hollow Co‐Ni−S NWAs excellent electrochemical properties with areal capacity of 0.286 mA h cm−2 at 5 mA cm−2, and 78% capacity retention after 2000 cycles. Moreover, the hybrid supercapacitor (HSC) of Co‐Ni−S // AC has been assembled, which illustrates good application performance. The results indicate that the Co‐Ni−S NWAs/NF is a promising binder‐free electrode for high‐performance hybrid supercapacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the first time, 3D networked CoxNi3−xS2 nanosheets were facilely grown on Ni foam via two‐step hydrothermal method forming a composite electrode (CoxNi3−xS2/NF) for electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) under alkaline condition. With x value being 1.4, the as‐prepared Co1.4Ni1.6S2/NF shows superior performance as a HER electrode with low overpotentials of 68 mV, 160 mV and 226 mV at current densities of 10, 50 and 100 mA cm−2 respectively and exhibits remarkable electrochemical durability for 50 h in 1.0 M KOH solution. We propose that the synergistic and electron‐coupling effect between Co and Ni atoms in the CoxNi3−xS2/NF networked nanosheets lead to abundant active sites on surface and optimizes electronic structure. Density functional theory calculations indicate the introduction of Co atom can reduce the adsorption of H* thus optimize the hydrogen adsorption free energy. The CoxNi3−xS2 nanosheets not only break through the limitations of traditional Ni−Co−S materials at the ratio of Ni and Co : S as 3 : 4 but also improve the activity of hydrogen evolution. The 3D CoxNi3−xS2/NF nanomaterials become a promising alternative to the Pt‐based electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Along with rapid global urbanization, cities are challenged by environmental risks and resource scarcity. Sustainable urban planning is central to address the dilemma of economic growth and ecosystem protection, where the use of land is critical. Sustainable land use patterns are spatially explicit in nature, and can be structured and addressed using spatial optimization integrating GIS and mathematical models. This research discusses prominent sustainability concerns in land use planning and suggests a generalized multi‐objective spatial optimization model to facilitate conventional planning. The model is structured to meet land use demand while satisfying the requirements of the physical environment, society and economy. Unlike existing work relying on raster data, due to its simple data structure and ease of spatial relationship evaluation, this research develops an approach for identifying land use solutions based on vector data that better reflects the actual shape and spatial layout of land parcels as well as the ways land use information is managed in practice. An evolutionary algorithm is developed to find the set of efficient (Pareto) solutions given the complexity of vector‐based representations of space. The proposed approach is applied in an empirical study of Dafeng, China in order to support local urban growth and development. The results demonstrate that spatial optimization can be a powerful tool for deriving effective and efficient land use planning strategies. A comparison to results using a raster data approach supports the superiority of land use optimization using vector data as part of planning practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantitative indices of segregation are powerful tools for summarising the spatial relationships between population groups and thereby providing the basis for analysis and public policy intervention. While the broad concept of segregation may be intuitive, measurement is challenging because of the complexity of varied dimensions and spatial arrangements. Many traditional measures can be criticised for over‐simplification or over‐reduction, not least in their treatment of geographical space. Over the last several decades, however, a series of measures has been developed to explicitly incorporate the spatial arrangement of population groups as well as their interactions. This paper reviews the development of spatial segregation measures, particularly focusing on the mathematical formulation of spatial arrangement/relations. In addition, several related issues are discussed, including representation of spatial interaction, spatial scale and statistical inferences. Also, this paper presents an overview of existing software tools that are readily available for calculating some of the reviewed measures. Finally, discussions on challenges and future research are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We provide new closed‐form approximations for the pricing of spread options in three specific instances of exponential Lévy markets, ie, when log‐returns are modeled as Brownian motions (Black‐Scholes model), variance gamma processes (VG model), or normal inverse Gaussian processes (NIG model). For the specific case of exchange options (spread options with zero strike), we generalize the well‐known Margrabe formula (1978) that is valid in a Black‐Scholes model to the VG model under a homogeneity assumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Floodplain systems are most often hydrologically complex settings characterized by highly variable surface water–groundwater interactions that are subjected to wide‐ranging wetting and drying over seasonal timeframes. This study used field methods, statistical analysis, and the Darcy's law approach to explore surface water–groundwater dynamics, interactions, and fluxes in a geographically complex river‐floodplain wetland‐isolated lake system (Poyang Lake, China). The floodplain system of Poyang Lake is affected by strongly seasonal shifts between dry and wet processes that cause marked changes in surface water and groundwater flow regimes. Results indicate that wetland groundwater is more sensitive to variations in river levels than the seasonal isolated lakes. In general, groundwater levels are lower than those of the isolated lakes but slightly higher than river levels. Statistical analysis indicates that the river hydrology plays a more significant role than the isolated lakes in controlling floodplain groundwater dynamics. Overall, the river shows gaining conditions and occasionally losing conditions with highly variable Darcy fluxes of up to +0.4 and −0.2 m/day, respectively, whereas the isolated lakes are more likely to show slightly losing conditions (less than −0.1 m/day). Although seasonal flux rates range from 7.5 to 48.2 m/day for surface water–groundwater interactions in the floodplain, the flux rates for river–groundwater interactions were around four to seven times higher than that of the isolated lake–groundwater interactions. The outcomes of this study have important implications for improving the understanding of the water resources, water quality, and ecosystem functioning for both the river and the lake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Future‐oriented coping is a strategy for coping with events that may happen in the future, including efforts to ensure positive outcome and protection from potential threats. Appropriate future‐oriented coping is essential for well‐being and influences mental health and life satisfaction. However, little is known about the neural mechanism of future‐oriented coping. We examined the neural basis of this coping strategy using resting‐state functional connectivity analysis. Thirty healthy volunteers underwent resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging scanning and completed the Future‐Oriented Coping Inventory. Seed‐based functional connectivity analysis was used to investigate potentially correlated regions, with 11 nodes in the default mode network defined as regions of interest. Multiple regression analysis was performed to measure the correlation between coping behavior and functional connectivity. We found that proactive coping was significantly correlated with the functional connectivity strength between the parahippocampal cortex (PHC) and the claustrum/insula. These novel findings suggest that cooperation between the PHC and the claustrum/insula plays an important role in proactive coping. Moreover, cognitive components, such as future thinking (the PHC) and sensory judgment (the claustrum/insula) could be important process factors in proactive coping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A highly sensitive method was developed for the analysis of short‐chain perfluorinated alkyl acids (PFAAs) in serum samples using solid‐phase extraction (SPE) coupled with ion chromatography–electrospray ionization–mass spectrometry. The synthesized amino‐functionalized graphene oxide nanocomposites were used as an SPE sorbent for the enrichment of trace analytes and purification of samples. They exhibited high selectivity to polar compounds. The suppressor was employed to remove counterions and reduce background signals of mobile phase. These two crucial steps could effectively eliminate matrix effects and enhance analytical sensitivity. The lowest limits of quantification were 2.0 μg L−1 for perfluorobutanoic acid and perfluorovaleric acid, 1.0 μg L−1 for perfluorocaproic acid and 0.50 μg L−1 for perfluorobutane sulfonic acid, respectively. The procedure was successfully applied for determination of trace PFAAs in 25 serum samples. Mean recoveries ranged from 86.3 to 101.4% with relative standard deviations of 1.6–6.8%. The method allowed an excellent separation and quantification of short‐chain PFAAs that were difficult to analyze by conventional chromatography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Primary glomerular disease (PGD) remains the most common renal disease in China. A limited number of single centre studies show that the frequency of membranous nephropathy (MN) has increased; however, IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is still the most common PGD. To the best of our knowledge, there has been no multi-centre study in China that has explored the changes in PGD spectrum. To further investigate the changes in renal histopathological spectrum, we performed the cross-sectional study. Method From June 2010 to May 2015, 5935 patients from 37 hospitals in Shandong Province were involved in this retrospective study. The study was divided into five periods according to 1-year intervals. The patients were divided into four age groups (≤18 years, 19-44 years, 45-59 years and ≥60 years). Result Among the 5935 qualified specimens, 4855 (81.8%) were diagnosed with PGD. MN (43.3%) became the most common PGD instead of IgA (34.1%) ( P < 0.001). The frequency of MN was increased from 30.7% in period 1 to 53.5% in period 5 ( P < 0.001). The prevalence of MN tended to increase in every age section. IgA was the main cause of PGD in periods 1 and 2; however, its proportion decreased significantly from 41.8% in period 2 to 25.2% in period 5 ( P < 0.001). Conclusion Primary glomerular disease remains the most common renal disease in our study. For the first time, this cross-sectional study suggests that MN, in place of IgAN, has grown to be the first leading pathological type of PGD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Backflow, the temporary reversal of discharge at the outlet of a lake, is an important mechanism controlling flow and transport in many connected river-lake systems. This study used statistical methods to examine long-term variations and primary causal factors of backflow from the Yangtze River to a laterally connected, large floodplain lake (Poyang Lake, China). Additionally, the effects of backflow on the lake hydrology were explored using a physically based hydrodynamic model and a particle-tracking model. Although backflow into Poyang Lake occurs frequently, with an average of 16 backflow events per year, and varies greatly in magnitude between years, statistical analysis indicates that both the frequency and magnitude of backflow reduced significantly during 2001-2010 relative to the previous period of 1960-2000. The ratio of Poyang Lake catchment inflows to Yangtze River discharge can be used as an indication of the daily occurrence of backflow, which is most likely to occur during periods when this ratio is lower than 5%. Statistical analysis also indicates that the Yangtze River discharge is the main controlling factor of backflow during July to October, rather than catchment inflows to the lake. Hydrodynamic modelling reveals that, in general, backflow disturbs the normal northward water flow direction in Poyang Lake and transports mass ~20 km southward into the lake. The effects of backflow on flow direction, water velocities and water levels propagate to virtually its upstream extremity. The current study represents a first attempt to explore backflow and causal factors for a highly dynamic floodplain lake system. An improved understanding of Poyang Lake backflow is critical for guiding future strategies to manage the lake, its water quality and ecosystem value, given proposals to modify the lake-river connectivity. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both space and time are fundamental in human activities as well as in various physical processes. Spatiotemporal analysis and modeling has long been a major concern of geographical information science ( GIScience), environmental science, hydrology, epidemiology, and other research areas. Although the importance of incorporating the temporal dimension into spatial analysis and modeling has been well recognized, challenges still exist given the complexity of spatiotemporal models. Of particular interest in this article is the spatiotemporal modeling of local nonstationary processes. Specifically, an extension of geographically weighted regression ( GWR), geographical and temporal weighted regression ( GTWR), is developed in order to account for local effects in both space and time. An efficient model calibration approach is proposed for this statistical technique. Using a 19-year set of house price data in London from 1980 to 1998, empirical results from the application of GTWR to hedonic house price modeling demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method and its superiority to the traditional GWR approach, highlighting the importance of temporally explicit spatial modeling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute lung injury ( ALI) from a variety of clinical disorders, characterized by diffuse inflammation, is a cause of acute respiratory failure that develops in patients of all ages. Previous studies reported that wogonin, a flavonoid-like chemical compound which was found in Scutellaria baicalensis, has anti-inflammatory effects in several inflammation models, but not in ALI. Here, the in vivo protective effect of wogonin in the amelioration of lipopolysaccharide ( LPS) -induced lung injury and inflammation was assessed. In addition, the in vitro effects and mechanisms of wogonin were studied in the mouse macrophage cell lines Ana-1 and RAW264.7. In vivo results indicated that wogonin attenuated LPS-induced histological alterations. Peripheral blood leucocytes decreased in the LPS-induced group, which was ameliorated by wogonin. In addition, wogonin inhibited the production of several inflammatory cytokines, including tumour necrosis factor- α, interleukin-1 β ( IL-1 β) and IL-6, in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and lung tissues after LPS challenge, while the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ ( PPAR γ) inhibitor GW9662 reversed these effects. In vitro results indicated that wogonin significantly decreased the secretion of IL-6, IL-1 β and tumour necrosis factor- α in Ana-1 and RAW264.7 cells, which was suppressed by transfection of PPAR γ small interfering RNA and GW9662 treatment. Moreover, wogonin activated PPAR γ, induced PPAR γ-mediated attenuation of the nuclear translocation and the DNA-binding activity of nuclear factor- κB in vivo and in vitro. In conclusion, all of these results showed that wogonin may serve as a promising agent for the attenuation of ALI-associated inflammation and pathology by regulating the PPAR γ-involved nuclear factor- κB pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Inappropriate land use is considered a main factor in the deterioration of water quality. The relationship between land use and water quality (RLW) is complex, so the exploration of how seasonal water quality is affected by land use at various spatial scales can benefit our understanding of the RLW. We examined data for 110 sampling sites upstream of Dahuofang Reservoir in China. RLWs in three seasons and at three spatial scales were analyzed via Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. After excluding unreliable data attributed to point source pollution and spatial autocorrelation, we found that land use in the riparian zone within 100 m of the river was correlated with water quality during the rainy season. Taking into account the influences of spatial pattern of the land use on water quality, breakpoint regression analysis indicated that when fragmented forest land covers more than 37% of the local riparian zone, the deterioration of water quality will be mitigated, in contrast water pollution would be exacerbated when un-fragmented dry farmland exceeds 54%. Therefore, when analyzing RLW, selection of the appropriate spatial scale and season as well as improvement of land use patterns can facilitate rational and effective basin management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A red-eye colony was established in our laboratory in brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens (Stål), a major rice pest in Asia. Except for the red-eye phenotype, no other differences were observed between the wild-type (brown eye) and the mutant-type (red eye) in external characters. Genetic analysis revealed that the red-eye phenotype was controlled by a single autosomal recessive allele. Biological studies found that egg production and egg viability in the red-eye mutant colony were not significantly different from those in the wild-type BPH. Biochemical analysis and electronic microscopy examination revealed that the red-eye mutants contained decreased levels of both xanthommatin (brown) and pteridine (red) and reduced number of pigment granules. Thus, the changes of amount and ratio of the two pigments is the biochemical basis of this red-eye mutation. Our results indicate that the red-eye mutant gene ( red) might be involved in one common gene locus shared by the two pigments in pigment transportation, pigment granule formation or some other processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Location modelling is employed in urban and regional planning to site facilities that provide services of some sort. Issues to be considered usually include the number of facilities to locate, where to site those facilities and how demand is to be served. Given the geographic nature of location problems, a key issue is how to represent facilities and demand in geographic space. Traditionally, spatial abstraction as discrete demand is assumed as it simplifies model formulation and reduces computational complexity. However, errors in derived solutions are likely not negligible, especially when demand varies continuously across a region. This paper discusses a single facility location problem that considers demand to be continuously distributed and allows a facility to be located anywhere in space, the continuous Weber problem. An approach for dealing with continuous demand is proposed that is integrated through geographical information system (GIS) functionality. Empirical results highlight the advantages of the developed approach and the importance of solution integration with GIS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Assessment of left ventricular ( LV) rotation has become an important approach for quantifying LV function. In this study, we sought to analyze LV rotation and twist using speckle tracking imaging ( STI) in adult patients with isolated ventricular septal defects. Methods Using STI, the peak rotation and time to peak rotation of 6 segments in basal and apical short-axis were measured, respectively, in 32 patients with ventricular septal defect and 30 healthy subjects as controls. The global rotation of the 6 segments in basal and apical and LV twist versus time profile were drawn, the peak rotation and twist of LV were calculated. All the time to peak rotation/twist were expressed as a percentage of end-systole (end-systole = 100%). Left ventricular ejection fraction was measured by biplane Simpson method. Results In patients group, the peak rotation of posterior, inferior, and postsept wall in basal was higher(P ≤ 0.05) and LV twist was also higher (P ≤ 0.05) than healthy controls. There were no significant differences between 2 groups in the peak rotation of the other 9 segments and left ventricular ejection fraction. Different from the control group, the time to peak rotation of the 6 segments in basal were delayed and the global rotation of the base was delayed (P ≤ 0.05) in ventricular septal defect group. Conclusions Left ventricular volume overload due to ventricular septal defect has significant effect on LV rotation and twist, and LV rotation and twist may be a new index predicting LV systolic function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]