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Summary: Drought is a critical issue in modern agriculture; therefore, there is a need to create crops with drought resilience. The complexity of plant responses to abiotic stresses, particularly in the field of brassinosteroid (BR) signalling, has been the subject of extensive research. In this study, we unveil compelling insights indicating that the BRASSINOSTEROID‐INSENSITIVE 1 (BRI1) receptor in Arabidopsis and Sorghum plays a critical role as a negative regulator of drought responses. Introducing untargeted mutation in the sorghum BRI1 receptor (SbBRI1) effectively enhances the plant's ability to withstand osmotic and drought stress. Through DNA Affinity Purification sequencing (DAP‐seq), we show that the sorghum BRI1‐EMS‐SUPPRESSOR 1 (SbBES1) transcription factor, a downstream player of the BR signalling, binds to a conserved G‐box binding motif, and it is responsible for regulating BR homeostasis, as its Arabidopsis ortholog AtBES1. We further characterized the drought tolerance of sorghum bri1 mutants and decipher SbBES1‐mediated regulation of phenylpropanoid pathway. Our findings suggest that SbBRI1 signalling serves a dual purpose: under normal conditions, it regulates lignin biosynthesis by SbBES1, but during drought conditions, BES1 becomes less active, allowing the activation of the flavonoid pathway. This adaptive shift improves the photosynthetic rate and photoprotection, reinforcing crop adaptation to drought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ENT‐03, a spermine bile acid we recently discovered in the brain of newborn mice acts centrally to regulate energy and metabolism. Obese, diabetic (ob/ob) mice treated with five doses of ENT‐03 over 2 weeks, demonstrated a rapid decrease in blood glucose levels into the range seen in non‐obese animals, prior to any significant weight loss. Weight fell substantially thereafter as food intake decreased, and serum biochemical parameters normalized compared with both vehicle and pair‐fed controls. To determine whether ENT‐03 could be acting centrally, we injected a single dose of ENT‐03 intracerebroventricularly to Sprague–Dawley rats. Weight fell significantly and remained below vehicle injected controls for an extended period. By autoradiography, ENT‐03 localized to the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus, the choroid plexus and cerebrospinal fluid. Significant cFos activation occurred in multiple anatomical regions within the hypothalamus and brainstem involved in appetite suppression, food‐entrained circadian rhythmicity, autonomic function, and growth. These data support a role for ENT‐03 in the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity. Phase 1 studies in subjects with obesity and diabetes are currently in progress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

WDFY4 plays an essential role in the immune system by regulating B‐cell growth and development and participating in antigen processing during cross‐presentation. WDFY4 is closely related to asthma and systemic lupus erythematosus; however, its role in cancer remains unclear. The purpose of this study is to use bioinformatics to determine whether abnormal expression of WDFY4 is a risk factor for cancer and to preliminarily analyze the ways in which WDFY4 affects cancer through experiments. R language packages and bioinformatic database were used to mine the potential carcinogenic effect of WDFY4 and analyze the differential WDFY4 expression in cancer, gene mutations, different tumor prognoses, immune cell infiltration, tumor microenvironment, and DNA methylation correlation. H1975 and A549 cell lines were infected with lentiviruses to overexpress WDFY4, and the effect of WDFY4 on the activity, proliferation, apoptosis, and cell cycle of lung cancer cells was analyzed. WDFY4 was differentially expressed in human tumors in unpaired and paired samples. The differential expression of WDFY4 in unpaired and paired or protein samples from the Clinical Proteome Tumor Analysis Consortium of eight cancers was consistent. WDFY4 methylation was downregulated in 17 cancer types and caused prognostic differences in different directions in some cancers. WDFY4 overexpression significantly inhibited the activity and proliferation of lung cancer cell lines, promoted apoptosis, and caused cell cycle arrest. Differential WDFY4 expression in cancers leads to differences in the prognosis of various cancers. WDFY4 can be an independent prognostic factor for glioma, KIRC, and LUSC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sol–gel nano‐silica antireflective (AR) coatings with moisture resistance are widely used for optical elements, such as potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KDP) crystals, but their mildew resistance is often disregarded. This work reports a double‐layer AR coating with moisture resistance and mildew resistance for KDP crystals. A polydimethylsiloxane‐modified dense silica coating and a quaternary ammonium salt (QAS) modified nanoporous silica coating are selected as the bottom layer and top layer, which effectively serve as a moisture barrier and an antireflection layer, respectively. The coated KDP crystal shows excellent antireflection properties with a maximum transmittance of 99.1% at 532 nm. Perfluorooctyltriethoxysilane vapor treatment is performed further to improve the resistance to moisture and mildew. The resultant double‐layer coating exhibits superior moisture resistance with almost no change in optical transmittance after a 3‐month exposure to a high‐humidity environment. The introduction of QAS and hydrophobicity in the top layer provides exceptional resistance against mildew, achieving an antimicrobial rate of 99.9% against E. coli and A. flavus. Moreover, the laser‐induced damage threshold reaches 17.0 J cm−2 (355 nm, 4.5 ns). This work imparts moisture resistance and mildew resistance to AR coatings, providing valuable insights for designing multifunctional AR coatings on optical components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Isodesmic reactions, in which chemical bonds are redistributed between substrates and products, provide a general and powerful strategy for both biological and chemical synthesis. However, most isodesmic reactions involve either metathesis or functional‐group transfer. Here, we serendipitously discovered a novel isodesmic reaction of indoles and anilines that proceeds intramolecularly under weakly acidic conditions. In this process, the five‐membered ring of the indole motif is broken and a new indole motif is constructed on the aniline side, accompanied by the formation of a new aniline motif. Mechanistic studies revealed the pivotal role of σ→π* hyperconjugation on the nitrogen atom of the indole motif in driving this unusual isodesmic reaction. Furthermore, we successfully synthesized a diverse series of polycyclic indole derivatives; among quinolines, potential antitumor agents were identified using cellular and in vivo experiments, thereby demonstrating the synthetic utility of the developed methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND RESULTS CONCLUSION Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are compounds formed by non‐enzymatic processes in the Maillard reaction and can cause various chronic diseases. This study explores the AGE formation process in a glucose–amino acid system under both wet‐ and dry‐heating conditions, and analyzes the effect of cysteine in AGE formation.Under wet‐heating conditions, Nε‐carboxymethyllysine (CML) and Nε‐carboxyethyllysine (CEL) concentrations rose for the initial 90 min and subsequently declined after 120 min; after 90 min of heating, the maximum yields in the absence of cysteine were 1151.04 ± 14.01 and 3386.90 ± 26.55 ng mL−1, respectively. The concentration of pyrraline (Pyr) increased after 30 min and then decreased after 60 min with a maximum yield of 777.68 ± 23.36 ng mL−1. However, in dry‐heating models, the AGE concentrations consistently increased with increasing heating time; the maximum yields for CML, CEL and Pyr were 468.66 ± 10.96, 1993.57 ± 14.81 and 1085.74 ± 58.06 ng mL−1, respectively. The addition of cysteine showed an inhibitory effect on AGE formation, especially for Pyr in the dry‐heating model, with inhibition rates ranging from 17.14% to 95.60%.Although wet‐heating models produced more CML and CEL, they produced less Pyr than dry‐heating models. The AGE formation in wet‐heating models positively correlated with the reaction rate; however, the dry‐heating reaction demonstrated a more complex relationship between reaction rate and reaction protocol. Moreover, cysteine exhibited a significant inhibitory effect on AGE production, and the degree of inhibition was proportional to the cysteine concentration. This study provides important insights into the mechanisms for AGE formation under various heating conditions, such as those representing baking (dry‐heating) and steaming conditions (wet‐heating). © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), an index of the parasympathetic nervous system activity, has been considered indicative of stress response and emotion regulation. However, the relationship between RSA and anxiety remains inconclusive, partly because previous research has primarily focused on static RSA levels. In this nonclinical sample (N = 75, Mage = 20.89 ± 1.72 SD, 48 males), we used a damped oscillator model to characterize RSA dynamics across 30‐s epochs while participants completed the Trier social stress test. Results showed that RSA constantly oscillated during the three periods of TSST (namely Rest, Stress, and Recovery). Importantly, slower RSA oscillation in the Stress period was related to elevated state anxiety, whereas in the Recovery period, it was related to higher trait anxiety. These findings demonstrated the dynamic nature of RSA during the whole course of stress response. Slower RSA oscillation may indicate inflexible and tardy physiological regulation which may give rise to anxiety issues. Compared to static perspectives on aberrant autonomic arousal and psychopathology, our findings revealed the homeostatic dynamics underlying physiological regulation during stress responses. We found respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) spontaneously oscillated over time to rapidly modulate internal resources in response to contextual demands. Consequently, slower RSA oscillation, indicative of vagal inflexibility, suggested risks of stress dysregulation such as anxiety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding has been widely used in freshwater systems, contributing to the advancements in the monitoring of fish diversity and community species composition. Nevertheless, the accuracy and reliability of eDNA metabarcoding in assessing functional structures and revealing the mechanisms underlying fish community assembly remain unclear. In this study, we combined a traditional survey method (electrofishing) and eDNA metabarcoding to conduct fish stock monitoring in the upper reaches of the Huishui stream. We assessed taxonomic and functional structures, as well as community assembly mechanisms, during dry and wet seasons. The results revealed that, compared with electrofishing surveys, eDNA metabarcoding detected a greater number of species and higher functional richness in both seasons. Despite significant differences in fish taxonomic composition between the seasons, both eDNA and traditional methods indicated that environmental filtering dominated the process of fish community assembly in both dry and wet seasons. We showed that eDNA metabarcoding is comparable to the electrofishing method in monitoring the community composition of stream fish and can accurately and reliably determine fish community assembly mechanisms. Combining functional traits and eDNA is a robust approach for monitoring stream fish community compared to taxonomic uncertainty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding patterns of biodiversity change is essential as coral reefs experience recurrent cycles of disturbance and recovery. Shifts in the total cover and species composition of habitat‐forming corals can have far‐reaching consequences, including shifts in coral functional traits and impacts on local fish assemblages. We surveyed coral and fish assemblages along the southern coast of Hainan Island near Sanya, China, in 2006, 2010, and 2018, during a period with repeated mass bleaching events. We showed that coral biodiversity in this region is in a state of flux, with losses and gains in coral cover and an increase in species richness over time. Despite increasing species diversity, the region suffered a loss of coral trait diversity by 2010, with an incomplete recovery by 2018, owing to declines in species with key habitat‐forming traits (e.g., high surface areas and fractal structure) such as corymbose corals. Concurrently, there was an increase in functional redundancy due to the proliferation of the dominant encrusting and massive corals. Coral cover was positively associated with the abundance of reef fish, indicating that the changes observed in coral abundance can impact reef‐associated species. These results demonstrate that the slow recovery of coral biodiversity in southern Hainan Island has been hampered by the loss of specific coral traits and highlight the importance of protecting vulnerable coral traits in conservation and management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liquids, with their advantages of fluidity, ease of shaping, and tunability, have exhibited promising potential in the creation of reconfigurable metamaterials (MMs). Water, being the ubiquitous liquid and cost‐effective resource on Earth, has been utilized for the construction of liquid‐based microwave metasurface absorber (MSA). However, due to the challenges associated with integrating microfluidics with MMs in both design and manufacturing, current MSs exhibit narrow frequency bands, particularly constrained at lower frequencies. Herein, a reconfigurable solid–liquid composite of liquid‐based MSs, utilizing the interbedded structure of cones, is proposed for ultra‐wideband microwave absorption. When water is used as the filling medium, the absorption rate exceeds 90% across a wide frequency range from 5.9 to 50 GHz. Upon substitution with ionic liquids, the frequency range demonstrating absorption efficiency exceeding 90% extends from 3.3 to 50 GHz. Furthermore, it is confirmed that the designed MSA demonstrates exceptional stability when subjected to oblique incidence and shows a high degree of insensitivity to polarization, highlighting its robust applicability. The low‐cost, easily manufacturable, and ultra‐wideband liquid‐based MSA holds promising potential for applications in radar countermeasures, energy harvesting, radiation protection, and other related fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Designing high‐entropy oxyhydroxides (HEOs) electrocatalysts with controlled nanostructures is vital for efficient and stable water‐splitting electrocatalysts. Herein, a novel HEOs material (FeCoNiWCuOOH@Cu) containing five non‐noble metal elements derived by electrodeposition on a 3D double‐continuous porous Cu support is created. This support, prepared via the liquid metal dealloying method, offers a high specific surface area and rapid mass/charge transfer channels. The resulting high‐entropy FeCoNiWCuOOH nanosheets provide a dense distribution of active sites. The heterostructure between Cu skeletons and FeCoNiWCuOOH nanosheets enhances mass transfer, electronic structure coupling, and overall structural stability, leading to excellent activities in the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), and water splitting reaction. At 10 mA cm−2, the overpotentials for OER, HER, and water splitting in 1.0 m KOH solution are 200, 18, and 1.40 V, respectively, outperforming most current electrocatalysts. The catalytic performance remains stable even after operating at 300 mA cm−2 for 100, 100, and over 1000 h, correspondingly. This material has potential applications in integrated hydrogen energy systems. More importantly, density functional theory (DFT) calculations demonstrate the synergy of the five elements in enhancing water‐splitting activity. This work offers valuable insights for designing industrial water electrolysis systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Ameloblastoma (AM), a locally aggressive tumor with extensive growth capacity, causes significant damage to the jaw and affects facial appearance. Although the high prevalence of BRAF V600E mutation in AM is known, its specific impacts on patients with AM remain unclear. Thus, the present study investigated the role of BRAF V600E mutation, thereby focusing on its impact on AM invasion and growth. Materials and Methods: Immunohistochemical analysis was used to compare BRAF V600E, MMP2, MMP9, and Ki‐67 expressions in AM (n = 49), normal oral mucosa (NOM) (n = 10), and odontogenic keratocyst (OKC) (n = 15) tissues. AM was further classified according to the presence or absence of BRAF V600E. The relationship between BRAF V600E and invasion as well as growth was evaluated. In addition, correlation analysis was performed using immunohistochemistry and confirmed via double‐labeling immunofluorescence. Finally, comparative analyses using mass spectrometry, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence were performed to explore and identify underlying mechanisms. Results: AM exhibited a higher incidence of BRAF V600E mutation than NOM and OKC. BRAF V600E expression was positively correlated with the invasion‐associated proteins MMP2 and MMP9 and the growth‐related protein Ki‐67. Proteomic data revealed that BRAF V600E primarily activates the MAPK signaling pathway in AM, particularly driving the phosphorylation of extracellular signal‐regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2). Conclusions: In summary, the findings suggested that the BRAF V600E mutation enhances the invasion and growth abilities of AM via the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway. Thus, targeting BRAF V600E or the MAPK/ERK pathway may be a potential AM therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease characterised by inflammation and cartilage degeneration. Ellagic acid (EA) might have therapeutic potential in OA, but its molecular mechanisms of action remain unclear. In this study, we aimed to identify the docking protein of EA in M1 macrophage‐related pro‐inflammation in OA. Bioinformatics analysis was performed to identify ellagic acid's potential targets among OA‐related dysregulated genes. THP‐1 cells were induced into M0 and polarised into M1 macrophages for in vitro studies. Mice knee models of OA were generated for in vivo studies. Results showed that PTGS2 (also known as COX‐2) is a potential target of ellagic acid among OA‐related dysregulated genes. EA has multiple low‐energy binding sites on PTGS2, including sites containing amino acid residues critical for the enzyme's catalytic activity. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) assays confirmed the physical interaction between ellagic acid and recombinant PTGS2 protein, with a dissociation constant (KD) of 5.03 ± 0.84 μM. EA treatment suppressed PTGS2 expression and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production in M1 macrophages. Besides, ellagic acid can directly inhibit PTGS2 enzyme activity, with an IC50 around 50 μM. Importantly, in a mouse model of OA, ellagic acid administration alleviated disease severity, reduced collagen II degradation and MMP13 generation, and decreased serum PGE2 levels. Collectively, these results suggest that PTGS2 is a key target of ellagic acid's anti‐inflammatory and chondroprotective effects in OA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure to certain heavy metals has been demonstrated to be associated with a higher risk of preterm birth (PTB). However, studies focused on the effects of other metal mixtures were limited. A nested case‒control study enrolling 94 PTB cases and 282 controls was conducted. Metallic elements were detected in maternal plasma collected in the first trimester using inductively coupled plasma‒mass spectrometry. The effect of maternal exposure on the risk of PTB was investigated using logistic regression, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator, restricted cubic spline (RCS), quantile g computation (QGC) and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR). Vanadium (V) and arsenic (As) were positively associated with PTB risk in the logistic model, and V remains positively associated in the multi‐exposure logistic model. QGC analysis determined V (69.42%) and nickel (Ni) (70.30%) as the maximum positive and negative contributors to the PTB risk, respectively. BKMR models further demonstrated a positive relationship between the exposure levels of the mixtures and PTB risk, and V was identified as the most important independent variable among the elements. RCS analysis showed an inverted U‐shape effect of V and gestational age, and plasma V more than 2.18 μg/L was considered a risk factor for shortened gestation length. Exposure to metallic elements mixtures consisting of V, As, cobalt, Ni, chromium and manganese in the first trimester was associated with an increased risk of PTB, and V was considered the most important factor in the mixtures in promoting the incidence of PTB. Key messages: The positive joint effect of a metal mixture consisting of vanadium (V), arsenic, cobalt, chromium and manganese on preterm birth (PTB) was observed by applying different interdisciplinary statistical methods.V was defined as the most important risk factor for PTB among the metal mixture.Maternal plasma concentration of V of more than 2.18 μg/L was considered a risk factor for shortened gestation length. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anaprazole is a proton pump inhibitor. This study aims to elucidate absorption, metabolism, and excretion pathways of anaprazole sodium in the human body. A total of 4 healthy Chinese male subjects were administered a single oral dose of 20 mg/100 µCi of [14C]‐anaprazole sodium enteric‐coated capsules. The whole blood, plasma, and excreta were analyzed for a total radioactivity (TRA) and metabolite profile. The cumulative radioactivity excretion rate was 93.2%, with 53.3% and 39.9% of the radioactive dose excreted in urine and feces, respectively, and 91.6% of dose recovered within 96 hours after dosing. The parent drug, anaprazole, showed good absorption and was extensively metabolized majorly to thioether M8‐1 via nonenzymatic metabolism. Overall, 35 metabolites were identified in plasma, urine, and fecal samples. Anaprazole was the most abundant component in plasma followed by the thioether M8‐1, accounting for 28.3% and 16.6%, respectively, of the plasma TRA. Thioether carboxylic acid XZP‐3409 (26.3% of urine TRA) and XZP‐3409 oxidation and dehydrogenation product M417a (15.1% of fecal TRA) were the major metabolites present in urine and feces, respectively. Anaprazole was undetectable in urine, while fecal samples showed traces (0.07% dose). Blood/plasma ratios of the radioactivity (approximately 0.60) remained consistent over time. Anaprazole showed good absorption and was extensively metabolized majorly to thioether M8‐1 via nonenzymatic metabolism, and cytochrome P450 3A4 also contributed to its metabolism in healthy individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The hierarchical structure modification and antioxidant traits of broad bean protein (BBP) with low denaturation induced by alternating current electric field (ACEF) were examined. The ultraviolet, Fourier transform infrared, and Raman spectrometry showed that ACEF affected the tertiary and secondary structures of BBP, as evidenced by the significant increase in surface hydrophobicity, more β‐turns and random coils, fewer β‐sheets, and the variation of microenvironments of certain amino acid residues. X‐ray diffractometry revealed that ACEF reduced the relative crystallinity and granular size of BBP, increased lattice spacing, caused the weakening of intermolecular forces, and significantly decreased the compactness of spatial conformations in BBP. Furthermore, the antioxidant capacity of BBP increased following ACEF treatment and was influenced by voltage. This may be due to the BBP structure unfolding and the release of aromatic amino acids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethylene‐octene copolymer (EOC, three EOCs with different octene content used in this study) and propene‐ethylene copolymer (EPC, three EPCs with different ethylene content used in this study) can have effects on the crystallization dynamics, crystal structure, and foaming properties of ethylene‐vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA). For unfoamed EVA/EOC and unfoamed EVA/EPC blends, both EVA/EOC and EVA/EPC blends show phase separation structure. The foam cells in EVA/EOC blends have better uniformity compared to those in EVA/EPC blends, which result from the better compatibility of EVA and EOC than EVA and EPC obtained from the morphology analysis. For the blends with different crystallization ability of EOC or EPC, the blends with lower crystallinity has more uniform cell distribution than blends with higher crystallinity, due to the crystallization zone cause heterogeneous crosslinking and foaming of the blend. Both EOC and EPC can impart higher elasticity to EVA foamed materials. EOC was found to be more suitable for blending with EVA for foamed materials, offering the potential to obtain EVA/EOC foamed materials with excellent performance. Highlights: Ethylene‐octene copolymer with higher octene content has better effect on foaming property of ethylene‐vinyl acetate copolymer than ethylene‐propylene copolymer.Ethylene‐propylene copolymer can decrease the foaming temperature of ethylene‐vinyl acetate copolymer.A mechanism of foaming for ethylene‐vinyl acetate copolymer/semi‐crystallized polymer blends is proposed.Achieved in‐depth understanding of structure–property relationship about ethylene‐vinyl Acetate copolymer/polyolefin elastomer foamed material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENG) not only enable sustainable self‐powered sensing of devices, but also have superhuman noncontact/contact identification capabilities, which are propelling humanity toward the intelligent era. However, the inherently low dielectric constant of triboelectric materials as well as the mechanical mismatch between electrodes and dielectric materials severely limited their efficient and stable output performance. Taking inspiration from the asymmetric structure and function of human skin, a novel single‐electrode TENG is developed, whose electrode and dielectric layer are integrated in a Janus architecture. By tuning the balance between gravity and the internal noncovalent interactions, gradient dispersion of carbon nanotubes in waterborne polyurethane networks can be feasibly achieved, which can boost the device performance by reinforcement in both the charge trapping capacity of the dielectric layer and the charge transfer of the electrode layer. As a proof‐of‐concept, triboelectric sensing and deep learning are integrated to realize the evolution from perception to identification under both noncontact (motion prediction) and contact (material identification) modes. The bionic design strategy of gradient Janus film can offer valuable insights into improving the output performance and durability of TENG. Additionally, the proximal prediction and tactile identification functions are also desirable attempts for future human‐machine interfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite the established negative regulatory effects observed in various diseases like cardiovascular disease and diabetes, the distinct impact of red cell distribution width (RDW) to albumin ratio (RAR) on mortality within the realm of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remains obscure. This study sought to explore the relationship between RAR and mortality in RA patients. Methods: A cohort of 2151 adults with RA from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) spanning 2003–2016 was analyzed for RAR levels derived from red cell distribution width and albumin concentrations. Utilizing Cox regression analysis, Kaplan–Meier curves, and Restricted Cubic Spline (RCS) models, we assessed the association between RAR levels and RA mortality while adjusting for potential confounding variables. Results: Participants with higher RAR had a twofold to threefold increased risk of all‐cause (HR = 3.10, 95% CI: 2.26–4.24) and cardiovascular mortality (HR = 2.46, 95%CI: 1.26–4.79) versus lower RAR. Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed that the higher RAR group had a significantly lower survival rate compared to the lower RAR group for both all‐cause and cardiovascular mortality (both p <.0001), with a more pronounced effect observed for all‐cause mortality. Furthermore, the RCS‐fitted Cox regression model illustrated a nonlinear positive correlation between RAR levels and RA mortality. Conclusion: Overall, a higher RAR was associated with an increased risk mortality in RA patients. These findings underscore the potential of RAR as a prognostic biomarker in predicting outcomes in RA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Formal education would promote symbolic number processing ability, but the relationship between non‐symbolic number sense and mathematical education remains controversial. The current investigation hypothesized that non‐symbolic number sense is independent from the limited human experience of mathematical education, while symbolic number processing could be influenced by related closely to mathematical education. Experiment 1 compared both non‐symbolic number sense and arithmetic computation of undergraduates majoring in STEM fields and humanities. Experiment 2 compared homologous undergraduates from China and Kyrgyzstan in non‐symbolic number sense and mathematical cognitive processing. Both of two experiments found that mathematical education was significantly associated with symbolic mathematics, but not with non‐symbolic number sense. The results suggest that while mathematical education might improve symbolic mathematics, it does not alter non‐symbolic number sense. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advanced artificial nerve conduits offer a promising alternative for nerve injury repair. Current research focuses on improving the therapeutic effectiveness of nerve conduits by optimizing scaffold materials and functional components. In this study, a novel poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT)‐integrated fish swim bladder (FSB) is presented as a conductive nerve conduit with ordered topology and electrical stimulation to promote nerve regeneration. PEDOT nanomaterials and adhesive peptides (IKVAV) are successfully incorporated onto the decellularized FSB substrate through pre‐coating with polydopamine. The obtained PEDOT/IKVAV‐integrated FSB substrate exhibits outstanding mechanical properties, high electrical conductivity, stability, as well as excellent biocompatibility and bioadhesive properties. In vitro studies confirm that the PEDOT/IKVAV‐integrated FSB can effectively facilitate the growth and directional extension of pheochromocytoma 12 cells and dorsal root ganglion neurites. In addition, in vivo experiments demonstrate that the proposed PEDOT/IKVAV‐integrated FSB conduit can accelerate defective nerve repair and functional restoration. The findings indicate that the FSB‐derived conductive nerve conduits with multiple regenerative inducing signals integration provide a conducive milieu for nerve regeneration, exhibiting great potential for repairing long‐segment neural defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA) is considered to be the most severe form of male infertility. Meiotic arrest is one of the major causes of NOA and can be caused by single gene mutations. Here, a novel homozygous missense mutation (c.131G>T) in the MEI1 gene was identified through whole exome sequencing in a Chinese men with NOA caused by meiotic arrest. Bioinformatics and genetic analysis predicted that this novel mutation may be deleterious. Our findings confirm that spermatogenesis is arrested at the primary spermatocyte stage, with defective programed DNA double‐strand breaks (DSBs) formation. In vitro functional analysis revealed that the defects of DSBs formation may be a result of a lower expression level of MEI1 protein in the mutant. Therefore, the NOA in this patient is likely caused by the single novel mutation in the MEI1 gene leading to meiotic arrest. Our report expands the mutation spectrum of MEI1 and provides new evidence that the MEI1 gene may serve as a diagnostic marker for genetic counseling in NOA patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All‐polymer solar cells (all‐PSCs) offer promising potential for large‐scale manufacturing due to their remarkable mechanical and thermal stability. However, the limited capacity of polymer acceptors for near‐infrared (NIR) photon harvesting has impeded their progress in semi‐transparent (ST) all‐PSCs. Here, the study develops a pair of new NIR polymer acceptors, named PYSeF‐T and PYSe2F‐T, with mono‐/di‐fluorinated end groups capped to the selenide monomer backbone, respectively. Owing to the stronger intermolecular interaction and intramolecular charge transfer effect of the di‐fluorinated end groups with the selenide backbone, PYSe2F‐T exhibits a stronger crystallinity and a more bathochromic absorption to 1000 nm. When blended with the donor, PM6, the PY2SeF‐T‐based all‐PSC demonstrates a higher efficiency of 16.73% with a remarkable short‐circuit current (JSC) of 27.7 mA cm−2, which is the highest JSC for all‐PSCs. Based on these, the ST device based on PM6:PYSe2F‐T demonstrates a superior efficiency of 12.52% with an average visible transmittance of 26.2% and a light utilization efficiency of 3.28%, outperforming the mono‐fluorinated counterpart. The work provides an in‐depth understanding of the above synergistic effects to develop NIR polymer acceptors and establishes a solid foundation for future investigations into large‐area and flexible ST all‐PSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Targeted delivery of glutamine metabolism inhibitors holds promise for cholangiocarcinoma therapy, yet effective delivery vehicles remain a challenge. This study reports the development of a biomimetic nanosystem, termed R‐CM@MSN@BC, integrating mesoporous organosilicon nanoparticles with reactive oxygen species‐responsive diselenide bonds for controlled release of the glutamine metabolism inhibitor bis‐2‐(5‐phenylacetamido‐1,3,4‐thiadiazol‐2‐yl) ethyl sulfide (BPTES) and the photosensitizer Ce6. Erythrocyte membrane coating, engineered with Arg‐Gly‐Asp (RGD) peptides, not only enhanced biocompatibility but also improved tumor targeting and tissue penetration. Upon laser irradiation, R‐CM@MSN@BC executed both photodynamic and glutamine‐metabolic therapies, inducing necroptosis in tumor cells and triggering significant immunogenic cell death. Time‐of‐flight mass cytometry analysis revealed that R‐CM@MSN@BC can remodel the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment by polarizing M1‐type macrophages, reducing infiltration of M2‐type and CX3CR1+ macrophages, and decreasing T cell exhaustion, thereby increasing the effectiveness of anti‐programmed cell death ligand 1 immunotherapy. This strategy proposed in this study presents a viable and promising approach for the treatment of cholangiocarcinoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Body temperature is critical indicator of human health, and its real‐time monitoring is crucial for assessing body status and disease diagnosis. In this work, a flexible temperature sensor is presented that employs a graphite/polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)/polyaniline composite and demonstrates a negative temperature coefficient (NTC). This sensor exhibits high sensitivity (−0.832%/ °C), rapid response time (11.05 s), and excellent linearity (R2 = 0.98). Its integration with a self‐adhesion PDMS‐PEG substrate layer ensures close skin contact, enhancing the accuracy of temperature measurements. Notably, the sensor's stability and resistance to sweat and deformation ensure continuous, reliable temperature monitoring, even during extensive exercise. This sensor thus represents a significant advancement in flexible and waterproof temperature sensing technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pb‐free double‐perovskite (DP) scintillators are highly promising candidates for X‐ray imaging because of their superior optoelectronic properties, low toxicity, and high stability. However, practical applications require Pb‐free DP crystals to be ground and mixed with polymers to produce scintillator films. Grinding can compromise film uniformity and optical properties, thereby affecting imaging resolution. In this study, an in situ fabrication strategy is proposed to facilitate the crystalline growth of Pb‐free Cs2AgInxBi1‐xCl6 micron sheets in polymethyl methacrylate in a single step. By adjusting the In3+/Bi3+ ratio, Cs2AgIn0.9Bi0.1Cl6/PMMA composite films (CFs) with excellent scintillation properties are obtained, including a light yield of up to 32000 photons per MeV and an X‐ray detection limit of 87 nGyairs−1. This strategy also enabled the production of large Cs2AgIn0.9Bi0.1Cl6/PMMA CFs, which demonstrated favorable flexibility and stability, fabricating products with advanced eligibility for commercial applications. The CFs exhibited outstanding performances in X‐ray imaging, producing high‐resolution structures and providing a new avenue for the development of Pb‐free DP materials in fields such as medical imaging and safety detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The chemotherapy and immunotherapy combination is currently the primary strategy to treat metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy (NCIT) is being intensively investigated for treating locally advanced ESCC. Objective: We compared the efficacy and safety of NCIT and neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NCRT) to treat locally advanced ESCC. Methods: We included 214 locally advanced ESCC patients who were administered neoadjuvant therapy from May 2014 to April 2022. The patients were grouped according to two neoadjuvant protocols (NCIT and NCRT) routinely used at our institution. Perioperative findings, pathological results, and survival data were compared between the two groups by conducting unmatched and 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM) analyses. Results: Following 1:1 PSM analysis of the confounders, 66 patients were allocated to each of the two groups. Time span between neoadjuvant therapy completion and esophagectomy was significantly longer after NCRT than that after NCIT (47.1 ± 13.2 days vs. 34.7 ± 8.8 days; p < 0.001). The NCIT group exhibited significantly greater number of harvested lymph nodes than the NCRT group (33.6 ± 12.7 vs. 21.7 ± 10.2; p < 0.001). The pathological complete response and major pathological response rates were similar between the two groups [NCIT group: 25.8% (17/66) and 62.1% (41/66), respectively; NCRT group: 27.3% (18/66) and 56.1% (37/66), respectively (p > 0.05)]. The overall incidence of pneumonia, anastomotic leakage, or postoperative complications did not differ significantly between the two groups. The 2‐year cumulative overall survival rates and the 2‐year disease‐free survival rates of the NCIT and NCRT groups were 80.2% and 62.2%, respectively (p = 0.029) and 70.0% and 50.8%, respectively (p = 0.023). Conclusion: In locally advanced ESCC patients, short‐term survival after NCIT is superior to that after NCRT, with similar perioperative and pathological outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The burst of edge‐localized modes (ELMs) leads to an increase in the energy and particle fluxes to the divertor target. Tungsten (W) is chosen as the primary candidate material for plasma‐facing components (PFCs) in the future fusion devices, and EAST has already upgraded all divertors to use W. Therefore, understanding tungsten target erosion during ELMs and finding the correlation between erosion rate and key ELM parameters are crucial for steady‐state operation. In this work, based on the Vlasov–Poisson model (VPM), we develop a one‐dimensional kinetic parallel transport code to investigate the parallel transport of particles in the EAST device during ELMs and the resulting target erosion. The EAST experiment (#102182) is simulated by VPM code. The simulation results are compared with experimental data as well as free‐stream model (FSM) calculation, showing the accuracy of the code. Considering the presence of lithium (Li) impurities in EAST discharge, the erosion of the W target is simulated. The results indicate that during the burst of ELM, the total average tungsten erosion rate, ΓtotalAVG$$ {\Gamma}_{total}^{AVG} $$, is determined by both deuterium (D) and Li ions. D ions dominate the erosion when the ELM frequency (fELM) is low (ranging from 50 to 175 Hz), while Li impurities become more important than D+ in high‐frequency ELMs (fELM > 175 Hz). As fELM increases, the time‐averaged erosion of the W target first increases and then decreases. Therefore, the reduction of W erosion benefits from high‐frequency ELMs, with impurity ions being the primary contributor to the erosion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly(l‐lactic acid) (PLLA) material has superior biocompatibility, degradability, and piezoelectricity, which have been chosen to fabricate electrospinning membranes to provide high surface area, porosity, and flexibility as applied in implantable medical devices. In this study, PLLA nanofiber membranes with adjustable performance were successfully prepared. The piezoelectricity, mechanical properties, and wettability could be tuned by the molecular weight of PLLA and the concentration of PLLA‐Dichloromethane (DCM) solution. The maximum output voltage of the PLLA nanofiber membranes could be adjusted from 0.28 to 0.55 V, and the breaking strength could vary in the range of 6.3–10.1 MPa. Furthermore, the elongation at break can be adjusted between 22% and 142%. In addition, the wettability of PLLA nanofiber membranes could be changed from hydrophobic state to hydrophilic state by surface treatment techniques. The excellent biocompatibility was further demonstrated by cell culture on hydrophilic membranes. These results implied that the molecular weight of PLLA and the concentration of PLLA‐DCM solutions could be an effective method to regulate characteristics of electrospinning membranes, which can provide more application possibilities for implantable medical devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herbal medicine (HM) is crucial in disease management and contains complex compounds with few active pharmacological ingredients, presenting challenges in quality control of raw materials and formulations. Effective separation, identification, and analysis of active components are vital for HM efficacy. Traditional methods like liquid‐liquid extraction and solid‐phase extraction are time‐consuming and environmentally concerning, with limitations such as sorbent issues, pressure, and clogging. Magnetic solid‐phase extraction uses magnetic sorbents for targeted analyte separation and enrichment, offering rapid, pressure‐free separation. However, inorganic magnetic particles' aggregation and oxidation, as well as lack of selectivity, have led to the use of various coatings and modifications to enhance specificity and selectivity for complex herbal samples. This review delves into magnetic composites in HM pretreatment, specifically focusing on encapsulated or modified magnetic nanoparticles and materials like silica, ionic liquids, graphene family derivatives, carbon nanotubes, metal‐organic frameworks, covalent organic frameworks, and molecularly imprinted polymers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human fingers possess stable high sensitivity and a wide range of tactile perception, attributed to the gradient microstructure and the interlocking collagen fiber on the skin's surface. However, challenges persist in achieving simultaneous enhancement of multiple functionalities in artificial skin. Inspired by the unique structure of the skin, a two‐step process involving ion diffusion‐induced and strong‐weak topological crosslinking is synergistically employed to fabricate a bilayer gradient hydrogel. Zn2+ initially diffuses to induce the formation of weak bonds, imparting elasticity. Subsequently, Fe3+/Zn2+ diffusion constructs a strong‐weak topologically crosslinked network, enhancing the toughness of the gel while reducing the brittleness associated with robust bonds. Due to its distinctive design, the gel employs an adaptive energy dissipation strategy subjected to large and small stress, ensuring high sensitivity (3.31 kPa−1, 0–2 kPa), wide sensing range (0.4–40.6 kPa), and exceptional stability (500 cycles). This flexible approach enables programmable design in three dimensions, including ion diffusion type, direction, and shape. This gel can detect the gentle brushing of feathers and human body movements. It utilizes significant differences generated by magnitudes of stress to perform binary information encryption. This study introduces a novel strategy for preparing skin‐like gels, offering promising potential for expanding their applications in complex scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patient adherence status to the newly introduced family‐based Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection control and management strategy remains unclear, so are its influencing factors. We aim to investigate family members' adherence and its influencing factors during the family‐based H. pylori infection management practice for related disease prevention. Materials and Methods: Based on our previously family‐based H. pylori survey in 2021, 282 families including 772 individuals were followed up 2 years after the initial survey to compare if the investigation and education might improve family member's adherence. The participant's adherence to H. pylori infection awareness, retest, treatment, publicity, gastroscopy, and hygiene habits were followed up, and their influencing factors were also analyzed. Results: The overall participant's adherence to recommendations on H. pylori awareness, retest, treatment, publicity, gastroscopy, and hygiene habits were 77% (187/243), 67.3% (138/205), 60.1% (211/351), 46.5% (107/230), 45.6% (159/349), and 39.1% (213/545), respectively; and all showed improvements compared with their prior survey stages. The top reasons for rejection to treatment, retest, and gastroscopy were forgetting or unaware of H. pylori infection (30.3%), busy (32.8%), and asymptomatic (67.9%), respectively. Independent risk factor for low adherence to treatment was occupation (e.g., staff: OR 4.49, 95% CI 1.34–15.10). Independent favorable factors for treatment adherence were individuals at the ages of 18–44 years (OR 0.19, 95% CI 0.04–0.89) and had a large family size (e.g., four family members: OR 0.15, 95% CI 0.06–0.41); for retest adherence, it was individuals at the ages of 60–69 years (OR 0.23, 95% CI 0.06–0.97); for gastroscopy adherence, it was individuals at the age of 60–69 years (OR 0.46, 95% CI 0.28–0.75), and with gastrointestinal symptoms (OR 0.57, 95% CI 0.36–0.90). Conclusions: Family‐based H. pylori management increases individual adherence to treatment, retest, and awareness, and there are also improved adherence to gastroscopy, publicity, and personal hygiene recommendations; further efforts are required to enhance the individual adherence rate for related disease prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Oxidative Balance Score (OBS) is a systematic tool to assess the effects of diet and lifestyle in relation to oxidative stress. The association between OBS and gout has not been reported previously. We conducted a cross‐sectional study to investigate the complex association between OBS and gout in US adults. Methods: In all, 10 492 participants were included in this study. The exposure variable was OBS, which was scored by 16 dietary and four lifestyle factors. Multivariate logistic regression, subgroup analysis, and restricted cubic spline (RCS) regression were used to analyze the association between OBS and gout. Results: Compared with the lowest OBS quartile group (Q1), the multivariate corrected odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval [C]) for the highest quartile of OBS (Q4) was 0.72 (0.52–1.00) (p =.13 for trend); furthermore, the RCS showed a negative linear relationship between OBS and gout (p‐nonlinear =.606). Conclusion: In conclusion, the risk of gout is higher with high OBS. The prevalence of gout decreased with higher OBS. Diabetes may alter this negative correlation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Oxidative stress is associated with risk of pathogenesis between rheumatoid arthritis. The Oxidative Balance Score (OBS) is a systematic tool to assess the effects of diet and lifestyle in relation to oxidative stress. However, the association between OBS and rheumatoid arthritis has not been reported previously. We conducted a cross‐sectional study to investigate the complex association between OBS and rheumatoid arthritis in US adults. Methods: Overall, 9747 participants were included in this cross‐sectional study. The exposure variable was OBS, which was scored by 16 dietary and four lifestyle factors. Multivariate logistic regression, subgroup analysis, and restricted cubic spline (RCS) regression were used to analyze the association between OBS and rheumatoid arthritis. Results: Compared to the lowest OBS quartile group (Q1), the multivariate corrected odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval [CI]) for the highest quartile of OBS (Q4) was 0.69 (0.52–0.90) (p =.013 for trend); furthermore, the RCS showed a negative linear relationship between OBS and rheumatoid arthritis. According to subgroup and RCS analyses, there was a significant difference between the association of OBS and with rheumatoid arthritis in terms of gender (p =.049). Conclusion: In conclusion, high OBS was negatively associated with the risk of rheumatoid arthritis. Gender has an effect on OBS in RA. Our results suggest that OBS can be used as a biomarker to predict rheumatoid arthritis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC), a disease with a poor prognosis and high mortality, is difficult to targeted therapy, due to the metastatic nature of TNBC cells and their lack of estrogen, progesterone, and Her‐2/Neu receptor targets. Here, a novel pretargeting strategy involving self‐assembled peptides and a bioorthogonal reaction are described. This process generates nanofibers on TNBC cell surface that prevent them migration and invasion and deliver untargeted anticancer drugs (e.g., doxorubicin) that synergistically eliminates TNBC cells. The self‐assembled peptide contains four modules: i) an aromatic group‐rich tetraphenylethylene (TPE) unit for promoting self‐assembly and nanofiber formation, ii) a GFFY peptide motif that supports self‐assembly of nanofibers into peptide scaffolds, iii) a targeting RGD motif that binding with the abundant integrin molecules present on TNBC cell surface, and iv) an azide group acting as the bioorthogonal reaction site that reacts with drugs or probes containing the dibenzocyclooctyne (DBCO) group. Results of in vitro and in vivo experiments indicate that the self‐assembled peptide inhibits tumor invasion and metastasis, while also pretargeting and killing TNBC cells with superior effectiveness and lower toxicity to that of current chemotherapies. In conclusion, this novel bioorthogonal pretargeting strategy holds promise as an effective anticancer therapeutic approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unprecedented development of all‐polymer solar cells (all‐PSCs) is hindered by their low short‐circuit current density (Jsc), mainly due to the absence of near‐infrared (NIR) polymer acceptor materials. To tackle this challenge, a molecular design principle is proposed, which involves the regulation of steric hindrance on the fused‐ring backbone to obtain NIR polymer acceptors. Accordingly, three acceptors named PTz‐Ph, PTz‐Me, and PTz‐H are synthesized by substituting the Phenyl, Methyl, and Hydrogen in the beta position of the thiophene unit based on fused‐ring molecules. Different from the necessity of steric hindrance of small molecule acceptors in achieving an outstanding performance, polymer acceptor PTz‐H without steric hindrance‐substitution achieves a record‐high efficiency for the benzotriazole‐based all‐PSCs. Then, introducing PTz‐H into the binary PBDB‐T:PTz‐BO system, the ternary all‐PSC exhibits a splendid efficiency of 18.16%, which has surpassed the efficiencies of most benzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole‐based counterparts. In addition, an organic tandem solar cell is successfully fabricated, which exhibits a high efficiency of 17.49%. This work provides an effective and readily accessible design strategy for designing high‐performance NIR polymer acceptors, showing the great potential for future organic photovoltaic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inspired by nature's flexible and adaptable organisms, soft robotics are motorless robots made from highly compliant materials to work in confined environments and manipulate delicate objects. However, soft robots often suffer from early failure because of unexpected damage. At the same time, it is challenging to manufacture the geometrically complex structures of soft robots. This study introduces resins based on deep eutectic solvents (DES) to fabricate a pneumatically driven soft gripper using digital light processing (DLP). The resins consist of choline chloride (ChCl) as a hydrogen bond acceptor, glycerol (Gly), and acrylamide (AAm) as hydrogen bond donors. By utilizing the intense hydrogen bonding within DES, the resin can be rapidly cured by photopolymerization to form tough ionogels without chemical crosslinkers. The DES ionogels exhibit remarkable toughness and self‐healing performance compared to common hydrogels. Furthermore, the ionogels show not only efficient energy‐dissipating behavior but also achieve rapid self‐recovery. Finally, the DLP‐printed soft gripper from the DES‐based resin performs successful actuation and healing of macroscopic damages. This work presents a simple strategy to 3D print a soft robotic gripper with high toughness and self‐healing capability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]