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Herein, a method for the assembly of biologically valuable 3‐selenospiro[4,5]decatrienones through CuBr2‐catalyzed ispo‐cyclization of Se powder, boronic acids, and N‐(p‐methoxyaryl)propiolamides has been established. In this protocol, noble transition metal, prefunctionalized selenylation reagent, and strong chemical oxidant are not employed. This method feature wide substrate scope, good functional group tolerance, easy operation, and employing earth‐abundant metal as catalyst and green air as oxidant. Furthermore, several derivatizations of 3‐selenospiro[4,5]decatrienones are performed to showcase the practicability of our strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Currently, the most commonly used methods for linkage analysis of pre‐implantation genetic testing for monogenic disorders (PGT‐M) are next generation sequencing (NGS) and SNP array. We aim to investigate whether the application efficacy of Asian screening array (ASA) in PGT‐M preclinical workup for the Chinese population is superior to NGS based single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) panels. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis by reviewing 294 couples from a single center over the past 4 years and compared the detection results between NGS‐based SNP panels and ASA. Using the numbers of informative SNPs upstream and downstream flanking of variants, we assessed the detection efficiency of both methods in monogenic diseases, chromosomal microdeletion syndrome and males with de novo variants, among other scenarios. Results: Results indicate that ASA offers a greater number of informative SNPs compared with NGS‐based SNP panels. Additionally, data analysis for ASA is generally more straightforward and may require less computational resources. While ASA can address most PGT‐M challenges, we have also identified certain genes in previous tests that are not suitable for PGT‐M using ASA. Conclusion: The application of ASA in PGT‐M preclinical workup for Chinese populations has good practical value as it can perform linkage analysis for most genetic variants. However, for certain variants, NGS or other testing methods, such as mutated allele revealed by sequencing with aneuploidy and linkage analysis (MARSALA), may still be necessary for completion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stream nitrogen concentrations significantly impact nitrogen loads and greenhouse gas emissions, but their spatiotemporal heterogeneity and human influences remain highly uncertain. This study thoroughly explored the spatiotemporal variations in stream nitrogen concentrations in a typical headwater watershed in South China. Spatially distributed measurements were conducted during 2020–2022, and mathematical modeling was implemented based on incorporating these data. More than 4,400 data points were collected for water temperature and concentrations of ammonium nitrogen (NH4‐N), nitrate nitrogen (NOx‐N), dissolved total nitrogen (DTN), total nitrogen (TN), and dissolved oxygen. Results showed that NOx‐N was the largest component of TN, with average concentrations of 1.20 and 1.66 mg L−1, respectively. The stream N2O concentration could be predicted using NH4‐N and NOx‐N concentrations via the Michaelis‐Menten equation. Significant downstream decreases in NH4‐N, NOx‐N, DTN, and TN concentrations were identified in the largest river in the watershed, and clear spatial differences in these nitrogen concentrations existed among the three main rivers. Clear seasonal and annual variations in stream nitrogen concentrations were observed. NH4‐N, NOx‐N, DTN, and TN concentrations correlated with cumulative precipitation from the preceding 8–12 days, while stream N2O concentrations correlated over 13–20 days. Stream N2O concentrations and emissions averaged 12.77 nmol L−1 and 1.12 nmol m−2 s−1, respectively, and were lower in summer than in other seasons. Upstream tea plantations, villages, and adjacent agricultural lands significantly affected nitrogen concentrations, while overflow dams did not. These findings highlight nitrogen cycle's complexity and the need for high‐resolution data to guide effective watershed management. Plain Language Summary: Stream nitrogen concentrations directly influence water nitrogen pollution, eutrophication, and greenhouse gas emissions. Currently, increasingly intensified human activities and climate change have further complicated the already complex spatiotemporal distribution of stream nitrogen concentrations, making it even more uncertain. As a result, in‐depth investigations into the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of stream nitrogen concentrations are urgently needed. In this study, we thoroughly explored the spatiotemporal distribution of stream nitrogen concentrations in a typical headwater watershed in South China, where water quality is significantly influenced by intense human activities, including residential areas, rice and tea cultivation, and the construction of overflow dams. We combined extensive field measurements with mathematical modeling to illustrate the spatiotemporal variations in stream nitrogen concentrations and the corresponding natural and anthropogenic drivers. Our findings revealed that the decreasing trend in stream nitrogen concentrations from upstream to downstream in the largest river could be attributed to upstream human activities, while terrain accounted for the contrasting nitrogen concentrations across different rivers. We also discovered that stream nitrogen concentrations were significantly correlated with cumulative precipitation over the preceding approximately 10 days. Overall, the data and findings from this study have important implications for the management of water environments in headwater watersheds. Key Points: Over 4400 data points are collected to explore spatiotemporal heterogeneity in stream nitrogen concentrations in a headwater watershedStream nitrous oxide concentration can be predicted using stream ammonium and nitrate concentrations via the Michaelis‐Menten equationUpstream tea plantations, villages, and agricultural lands adjacent to streams severely affect stream nitrogen concentrations [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of peptide drugs has made tremendous progress in the past few decades because of the advancements in modification chemistry and analytical technologies. The novel‐designed peptide drugs have been modified through various biochemical methods with improved diagnostic, therapeutic, and drug‐delivery strategies. Researchers found it a helping hand to overcome the inherent limitations of peptides and bring continued advancements in their applications. Furthermore, the emergence of peptide‐drug conjugates (PDCs)—utilizes target‐oriented peptide moieties as a vehicle for cytotoxic payloads via conjugation with cleavable chemical agents, resulting in the key foundation of the new era of targeted peptide drugs. This review summarizes the various classifications of peptide drugs, suitable chemical modification strategies to improve the ADME (adsorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion) features of peptide drugs, and recent (2015–early 2024) progress/achievements in peptide‐based drug delivery systems as well as their fruitful implication in preclinical and clinical studies. Furthermore, we also summarized the brief description of other types of PDCs, including peptide‐MOF conjugates and peptide‐UCNP conjugates. The principal aim is to provide scattered and diversified knowledge in one place and to help researchers understand the pinching knots in the science of PDC development and progress toward a bright future of novel peptide drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concrete in coastal areas is susceptible to structural damage caused by corrosion and expansion of reinforcement. Near‐surface mounted (NSM) fiber‐reinforced polymer (FRP) bars have become effective for strengthening damaged reinforced concrete structures. The bonding performance of NSM FRP bars in concrete is a key factor limiting their application and promotion in civil engineering. In this study, the influences of the conditioned environment, such as the chloride salt concentration, immersion time, and bond length of the FRP bar, on the bonding performance were investigated experimentally. First, material properties in a conditioned environment were studied. Subsequently, the failure mode, bond stress–slip curve, and bond strength of the NSM FRP bar in concrete were investigated. Finally, the microstructure and chemical composition of the materials were revealed using scanning electron microscopy and energy‐dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) images of the materials under environmental conditions. The transfer mechanism of NSM FRP bars in concrete with epoxy was revealed. The results showed that the failure modes of the pullout specimens can be divided into epoxy splitting failure and basalt fiber‐reinforced polymer (BFRP) pulling failure. The chloride‐salt concentration was a critical factor affecting the bond properties, and the longer the bond length, the lower the bond strength. The microstructure clearly shows that the degradation of the bonding behavior at the interface of the NSM FRP bar in concrete in a conditioned environment is attributable primarily to the resin damage of the epoxy, resulting in pit corrosion. There was no significant damage to the fibers in the FRP bar, and the degradation was primarily due to resin matrix damage and interfacial debonding. The EDS results showed that the degradation of the epoxy resin and BFRP bars was caused by CO bond and SiO bond fractures, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The triazine‐based covalent organic frameworks (tCOF), an intriguing subtype of COFs, are expected as highly promising photocatalysts for various photocatalytic applications owing to their fully conjugated structures and nitrogen‐rich skeletons. However, the inherent hydrophobicity and fast recombination of photoexcited electron‐hole pairs are two main factors hindering the application of tCOF in practical photocatalytic reactions. Here, a post‐synthetic modification strategy to fabricate superhydrophilic tCOF‐based photocatalysts is demonstrated by in situ growing FeOOH clusters on TaTz COF (TaTz‐FeOOH) for efficient photocatalytic oxidation of various organic pollutants. The strong polar FeOOH endows TaTz‐FeOOH with good hydrophilic properties. The well‐defined heterogeneous interface between FeOOH and TaTz allows the photoelectrons generated by TaTz to be consumed by Fe (III) to transform into Fe (II), synergistically promoting the separation of holes and the generation of free radicals. Compared with the unmodified TaTz, the optimized TaTz‐FeOOH (1%) shows excellent photocatalytic performance, where the photocatalytic degrade rate (k) of rhodamine B is increased by about 12 times, and the degradation rate is maintained at 99% after 5 cycles, thus achieving efficient removal of quinolone antibiotics from water. This study provides a new avenue for the development of COF‐based hydrophilic functional materials for a wide range of practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cervical cancer is one of the foremost common cancers in women. Lactoferrin (LF) has many biological functions, such as antitumor. This study aimed to explore the regulatory effect of bovine lactoferrin (bLF) on the proliferation and apoptosis of cervical cancer HeLa cells and to clarify the potential mechanism of action of bLF against HeLa cells. This study used CCK‐8, Trypan blue staining, and colony formation assays to verify the effect of bLF on HeLa cell proliferation. Hoechst 33258 fluorescence staining, AO/EB staining, and western blotting were used to determine the effects of bLF on apoptosis and autophagy in HeLa cells. We discovered that bLF significantly reduced the proliferation of HeLa cells in a dose‐ and time‐dependent manner compared to the control group. Furthermore, bLF primarily induced apoptosis in HeLa cells by increasing the expression of the proapoptotic proteins p53, Bax, and Cleaved‐caspase‐3 and downregulating the expression of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl‐2. In addition, the present study also showed that bLF treatment significantly activated autophagy‐related proteins LC3B‐II and Beclin I and down regulated the autophagosome transporter protein p62, indicating that bLF treatment can induce autophagy in HeLa cells. After pretreatment with the autophagy inhibitor, 3‐MA, which markedly found that autophagy inhibition by 3‐MA reversed bLF‐induced apoptosis, indicating that bLF can induce apoptosis by activating intracellular autophagy in HeLa cells. In the present study, our results support the theory of bLF significantly inhibited the proliferation of Hela cells by promoting apoptosis and reinforcing autophagy. The study will play an important role in therapying cervical cancer. Significance statement: Cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers in women, and the way it is currently treated clinically inevitably has specific adverse effects. Therefore, the antitumor effects of natural active ingredients are a current research hotspot. In this study, we examined the antiproliferative effects of bovine LF (bLF) on HeLa cells. We found that bLF significantly reduced HeLa cells viability, and induced apoptosis and autophagy. In addition, we explored the association between bLF‐induced apoptosis and autophagy. Taken together, the present study demonstrated that bLF significantly inhibited the growth of HeLa cells in vitro by inducing apoptosis and activating autophagy. This study provides a theoretical basis for the treatment of cervical cancer by bLF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single‐atomic transition metal–nitrogen–carbon (M–N–C) structures are promising alternatives toward noble‐metal‐based catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalysis involved in sustainable energy devices. The symmetrical electronic density distribution of the M─N4 moieties, however, leads to unfavorable intermediate adsorption and sluggish kinetics. Herein, a Fe–N–C catalyst with electronic asymmetry induced by one nearest carbon vacancy adjacent to Fe─N4 is conceptually produced, which induces an optimized d‐band center, lowered free energy barrier, and thus superior ORR activity with a half‐wave potential (E1/2) of 0.934 V in a challenging acidic solution and 0.901 V in an alkaline solution. When assembled as the cathode of a Zinc–air battery (ZAB), a peak power density of 218 mW cm−2 and long‐term durability up to 200 h are recorded, 1.5 times higher than the noble metal‐based Pt/C+RuO2 catalyst. This work provides a new strategy on developing efficient M–N–C catalysts and offers an opportunity for the real‐world application of fuel cells and metal–air batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The response of net ecosystem exchange (NEE) to environmental changes is strongly nonlinear, characterized with threshold behaviors that are not well understood. Here, we investigated the threshold behaviors in the relationship between NEE and surface air temperature based on FLUXNET2015 observations, Community Land Model simulations, and Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) model outputs. An air temperature threshold of 16.4°C, corresponding to the maximum carbon sink (Tsink), was identified for all 205 FLUXNET2015 sites combined. For deciduous broadleaf and mixed forests, wetlands and wheat‐barley croplands, and rice‐maize‐soybean croplands, we identified a carbon‐source threshold (Tsource) of 6.8, 5.0, and 18.0°C, respectively, beyond which the ecosystem becomes less of a carbon source. Five cold climate types mainly encompassing these plant functional types showed a clear carbon‐source Tsource of 12.2°C. Six CMIP6 models project a threshold temperature increase of 1.0–2.8°C by the 2090s, which results primarily from a shift of the optimum temperature for gross primary production. Not accounting for the warming‐induced threshold changes may lead to an estimated time of the average summer air temperature passing Tsink that is earlier by 4.5–6.7 and 6.4–12.2 years at low (15°N–15°S) and high (≥60°S or ≥ 60°N) latitudes, respectively. Plain Language Summary: Net ecosystem exchange (NEE) reflects the ecosystem's role as a carbon source or sink. Previous studies on NEE indicated a temperature threshold for the size of ecosystem carbon sink. It remains unknown whether a similar threshold for carbon source might exist, how the thresholds for both carbon source and sink may vary with climate and ecosystem types, and how they may change with global warming. The present study fills these gaps. Here we extract patterns of temperature thresholds for different climate and ecosystem types, and project a 1.0–2.8°C increase of threshold temperature by the end of the century. This increase has to be properly accounted for when studying the terrestrial carbon‐climate interactions. Key Points: An air temperature threshold of 16.4°C, corresponding to the maximum carbon sink, was identified for all 205 FLUXNET2015 sites combinedDeciduous broadleaf forests, mixed forests, and croplands showed a temperature threshold corresponding to a sudden change of carbon sourceCoupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 models project a 1.0–2.8°C increase of threshold temperature by the end of the century [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soft tissue sarcoma (STS) is an uncommon malignancy that often carries a grim prognosis. Trophinin‐associated protein (TROAP) is augmented in a variety of tumors and can affect tumor proliferation. Nevertheless, the prognostic value and specific functions of TROAP in STS are still vague. Herein, we display that TROAP exhibits an augmented trend in STS, and its elevation correlates with a poor prognosis of STS. Furthermore, its reduction is related to increased immune cell infiltration, enhanced stroma, and elevation of immune activation. Meanwhile, the TROAP‐derived genomic signature is validated to predict patient prognosis, immunotherapy, and drug response reliably. A nomogram constructed based on age, metastatic status, and a TROAP‐derived risk score of an STS individual could be used to quantify the survival probability of STS. In addition, in vitro experiments have demonstrated that TROAP is overexpressed in STS, and the downregulation of TROAP could affect the proliferation, migration, metastasis, and cell cycle of STS cells. In summary, the TROAP expression is elevated in STS tissues and cells, which is related to the poor prognosis and malignant biological behaviors of STS. It could act as a potential prognostic biomarker for diagnosis and treatment of STS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cardiovascular and cerebrovascular safety of ranibizumab, bevacizumab, and aflibercept for ocular diseases is unclear. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular safety in patients receiving ranibizumab, bevacizumab, and aflibercept for ocular disease. A cross‐sectional study was conducted from 2017 (Q1) to 2021 (Q4) in the US Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database. The outcomes of interest were central nervous system vascular disorders, ischemic heart disease, hypertension, pulmonary hypertension, torsade de pointes/QT prolongation, embolic and thrombotic events, cardiac arrhythmias, cardiac failure, and cardiomyopathy. Data mining was performed by a disproportional method with a compression, using compressed reporting odds ratios (sRORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to measure signals. The results showed 1462 cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events associated with aflibercept, 834 with ranibizumab, and 150 with bevacizumab. Ranibizumab, bevacizumab, and aflibercept were linked to central nervous system vascular disorders (sROR, 5.57[95%CI, 4.95‐6.26] vs sROR, 2.23 [95%CI, 1.75‐2.85] vs sROR, 2.73[95%CI, 2.43–3.06]), ischemic heart disease (sROR, 3.31[95%CI, 2.65–4.13] vs sROR, 1.98 [95%CI, 1.24‐3.16] vs sROR, 3.00 [95%CI, 2.46‐3.65]), embolic and thrombotic (sROR, 3.36 [95%CI, 3.04‐3.72] vs sROR, 2.16 [95%CI, 1.70‐2.74] vs sROR, 5.25 [95%CI, 4.82‐5.72]). Both ranibizumab and bevacizumab produced hypertension (sROR, 1.73 [95%CI, 1.41‐2.12] vs sROR, 1.46 [95%CI, 1.03‐2.06]) and arrhythmias (sROR, 2.82 [95%CI, 1.99‐3.99] vs sROR, 2.13 [95%CI, 1.08‐4.22]) signals. The signals of heart failure were detected in ranibizumab (sROR, 5.64 [95%CI, 4.08‐7.79]) and aflibercept (sROR, 2.80 [95%CI, 2.03‐3.86]). Ranibizumab, bevacizumab, and aflibercept for ocular disease have different safety profiles in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular. The overall cardiovascular and cerebrovascular risk of the patient should be thoroughly assessed in order to select the safest drug for treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a major leukemia with high mortality. Ferroptosis is an important regulator of cancers. However, the role of ferroptosis and its regulatory mechanisms in AML remain largely unknown. In this study, we reported elevated brain and muscle ARNT‐Like protein‐1 (Bmal1) expression in AML patients and cell lines, and its upregulation indicated the poor survival of patients. The correlation analysis showed that Bmal1 expression was closely correlated with cytogenetics and the French–American–British subtypes, but was not correlated with age, gender and white blood cells. RSL3 reduced Bmal1 expression in HL‐60 and NB4 cells. Malondialdehyde, total iron, Fe2+, glutathione and lipid peroxidation were examined to evaluate ferroptosis. Overexpression of Bmal1 repressed RSL3‐induced ferroptosis in AML cells. Bmal1 recruited Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) to the Early B cell factor 3 (EBF3) promoter and enhanced its methylation, thus suppressing EBF3 expression. Moreover, the knockdown of Bmal1 sensitized AML cells to RSL3‐induced ferroptosis, and it was counteracted by EBF3 knockdown. Furthermore, EBF3 bound to the Arachidonate 15‐pipoxygenase (ALOX15) promoter to enhance its expression, and overexpression of EBF3 enhanced RSL3‐induced ferroptosis dependent on ALOX5. We established a subcutaneous AML xenograft tumor model and reported that knockdown of Bmal1 and overexpression of EBF3 restrained AML growth by promoting ALOX15‐mediated ferroptosis in vivo. Collectively, Bmal1 inhibits RSL3‐induced ferroptosis by promoting EZH2‐mediated EBF3 methylation and suppressing the expression of EBF3 and ALOX15, thus accelerating AML. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stability of cationic functional groups is one of the key factors determining lifetime of alkaline anion‐exchange membranes (AAEMs) and the AAEM‐based electrochemical devices. Main‐group metal and crown ether complexes are stable cations due to the absence of degradation pathways including nucleophilic substitution, Hofmann elimination, and cation redox. However, the binding strength, a key feature for AAEM applications, is overlooked in previous work. We herein propose the use of barium [2.2.2]cryptate ([Cryp‐Ba]2+) as a new cationic functional group for AAEMs due to its extremely strong binding (109.5 M−1 in water at 25 °C). The [Cryp‐Ba]2+‐AAEMs with polyolefin backbones remain stable after treatment in 15 M KOH at 60 °C for over 1500 hours. More importantly, these AAEMs are successfully applied in water electrolyzers, and an anolyte‐feeding switch method is designed to further reveal the influence of binding constants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel parameter estimation method is proposed for the permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG), which is implemented by an enhanced self‐learning particle swarm optimization algorithm with Levy flight (SLPSO), and the problem of lower parameter estimation precision of standard PSO is obviated. This method injects currents of different intensities into the d‐axis in a time‐sharing manner to solve the problem of equation under‐ranking, and the mathematical model for full‐rank parameter estimation is developed. The speed term of PSO is simplified to expedite the convergence of PSO, and a strategy with chaotic decline for the inertia weight of PSO is adopted to strengthen its ability to jump out of the local optimum. Moreover, the self‐learning dense fleeing strategy (SLDF) is proposed where particles perform diffusion learning based on population density information and Levy flight, the evolutionary unitary problem and human intervention in the evolutionary process is averted. Furthermore, the memory tempering annealing algorithm (MTA) and greedy algorithm (GA) is integrated into the algorithm, MTA can facilitate the exploration of potentially better regions, and GA for local optimization enhances the convergence speed and accuracy in late stage of the algorithm. Comparing the proposed method with several existing PSO algorithms through simulation and experiments, the experimental data show that the proposed method can effectively track variable parameters under different working conditions and has better robustness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) and abscisic acid (ABA) play important roles in plant heat responses but have not been extensively studied in pea (Pisum sativum L.), whose heat susceptibility is well known. In this study, four pea varieties varying in heat tolerance based on field trials were evaluated. Plants were heat stressed for 3, 6, 12, or 24 h at 38 °C before pollination. Anther and stipule RNA from the same flowering node were sampled for transcriptional profiling of PsHSP18.1 and PsHSP71.2. Additional stipules were sampled for the quantification of ABA concentration and its five key catabolites from the four major ABA catabolic pathways by ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography–selected reaction monitoring mass spectrometry (UHPLC‐SRM/MS). The transcription of both HSP genes was upregulated because of heat stress (HS). In stipules, the upregulation was greatest at 3 h HS, whereas in anthers, the induced transcription was similar among different hours of HS. Likewise, more ABA accumulated in the ABA metabolism pool because of HS, and the ABA response started rapidly after 3 h of treatment. Heat‐tolerant varieties had a higher ABA synthesis and turnover rate at 3 h HS than their respective heat‐susceptible counterparts. This study provides new insights into different heat tolerance among Canadian pea varieties regarding HSP and ABA hormone regulation. Core Ideas: Heat‐induced expression of PsHSP18.1 and PsHSP71.2 was a conserved heat response among four pea varieties.ABA response differential at 3 h heat stress was associated with heat tolerance in pea, similar to previous field trials.The involvement of HSP and ABA in heat response in pea was independent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring low‐cost and high‐efficient electrocatalyst is an exigent task in developing novel sustainable energy conversion systems, such as fuel cells and electrocatalytic fuel generations. 2D materials, specifically 2D superlattice materials focused here, featured highly accessible active areas, high density of active sites, and high compatibility with property‐complementary materials to form heterostructures with desired synergetic effects, have demonstrated to be promising electrocatalysts for boosting the performance of sustainable energy conversion and storage devices. Nevertheless, the reaction kinetics, and in particular, the functional mechanisms of the 2D superlattice‐based catalysts yet remain ambiguous. In this review, based on the recent progress of 2D superlattice materials in electrocatalysis applications, the rational design and fabrication of 2D superlattices are first summarized and the application of 2D superlattices in electrocatalysis is then specifically discussed. Finally, perspectives on the current challenges and the strategies for the future design of 2D superlattice materials are outlined. This review attempts to establish an intrinsic correlation between the 2D superlattice heterostructures and the catalytic properties, so as to provide some insights into developing high‐performance electrocatalysts for next‐generation sustainable energy conversion and storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lake ice sublimation plays an important role in lake water budget, while there is huge uncertainty in estimation of lake ice sublimation and its proportion in annual lake total water vapor flux. In the present study, we investigated the annual total water vapor flux and ice sublimation at 15 frozen lakes or lake groups in China using three different methods, namely, the Community Land Model (CLM) simulations (Penman‐Monteith equation and pan observations) that considers (could not reflect) heat storage of lakes; the potential changes of lake total water vapor flux and ice sublimation with climate warming were also predicted. The results illustrate that the annual lake total water vapor flux obtained from Penman‐Monteith equation, pan observation, CLM simulation decreased in sequence, and ice sublimation obtained from pan observation, Penman‐Monteith equation, CLM simulation decreased in sequence. The lake ice sublimation from CLM occupied 7.4%–26.6% of corresponding annual lake total water vapor flux during 1950s–2010s in different regions of China. The ice sublimation and its proportion in lake total water vapor flux from these three methods were all highly correlated, with R2 being 0.86–0.97. The annual lake total water vapor flux will significantly increase in all frozen‐lake regions in China with the climate warming. Climate warming potentially reduce sublimation at most lakes. Key Points: Community Land Model (CLM) method is more accurate than pan and P‐M methods in calculating lake ice sublimationIce sublimation from CLM occupied 7.4%–26.6% of lake total water vapor fluxAnnual lake total water vapor flux will significantly increase in China with climate warming [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a novel co‐operative mean field type game based task offloading strategy is proposed for multi‐access edge computing networks. The objective is to optimally determine the tasks offloaded to each edge computing node (ECN) in the network so that to balance the overall system performance and individual revenue of each ECN. To do so, the utility function of each ECN is first formulated, which is the payback of his time and energy cost for processing the tasks, tailed with the penalty from the network for not processing the tasks on time. A mean field type game is then formulated, where each ECN can either cooperate or compete with each other to maximize their own utility. With respect to the proposed game, the direct method is applied to find the final solutions. Simulation results reveal that the proposed strategy can well balance the utility of each ECN and the overall efficiency of the system, leading to a better performance compared with its cooperative‐ and competitive‐counterparts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The short‐circuit fault current of the urban rail transit systems is hard to interrupt due to the high amplitude and the high rising rate. The existing air DC circuit breakers applied in the rail transit DC traction system are difficult to interrupt the short‐circuit fault current quickly and reliably, and cannot meet the increasing demand of the system capacity. The objective of this paper is to design a novel DC combined apparatus including a DC fuse module and an artificial zero crossing module series‐connected to solve the problem of rapid isolation of short‐circuit fault current in DC traction systems. The DC fuse module consists of a DC fuse and a transfer switch with additional auxiliary coils. Experimental results show that the DC combined apparatus can interrupt the rated current, overload current, and short‐circuit current effectively within 6 ms. It can interrupt a 20 kA overload current within 5.12 ms, and the interrupting time of a prospective short‐circuit current of 100 kA is less than 5.08 ms. The designed DC combined apparatus has the full range of current interrupting capacity and has the advantages of low on‐state loss and low cost, which can significantly improve the reliability and stability of rail transit systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen (N) doping in graphene‐based materials has been demonstrated as an effective strategy in constructing active sites of metal‐free catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The practical applications of metal‐free electrocatalysts in metal‐air batteries or fuel cells, nevertheless, have been hampered by their unsatisfactory catalytic performance due to insufficient catalytic active sites. In this work, a novel N‐rich graphene nanospheres (NGNs) have been achieved by adopting an edge engineering strategy through annealing the mixture of graphitic carbon nitride (g‐C3N4) and edge‐rich graphene nanospheres (GNs) composed of graphene nanoflakes. Benefiting from the exposure of edge defects in the GNs, the N loading surprisingly achieved as high as 14.01 at%. The half‐wave potential and limiting current density of the synthesized NGNs‐900 catalyst can reach 0.872 V and 4.25 mA cm−2, respectively, which are superior to that of the commercial Pt/C. Based on the experimental and theoretical results, the synergistic effect of graphitic‐N and pyridinic‐N in NGNs catalysts has been distinguished as the origin of the boosted ORR performance. This work proposes a facile synthesis strategy to optimize the N‐doped carbon‐based catalysts for ORR, which have great potential to replace noble‐metal catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An interference leakage minimisation transceiver design for multiple‐input multiple‐output Interference Channel networks is proposed by making use of the full rank constraint of the desired signal, the low rank constraint and low power constraint of the interference signal. The objective is to suppress interference leakage caused by not only the signal from other users, but also the other streams from the same user. To do so, the transmit precoding matrix and the receive filtering matrix are iteratively optimised through convex optimisation tools at stream level. Furthermore, a Min–Max interference leakage algorithm is also proposed to suppress the maximum interference from user, with the purpose of guaranteeing the fairness among users. Simulation results demonstrate that taking inter‐stream interference into consideration can significantly improve the effectiveness of multiple‐input multiple‐output Interference Channel networks, while the Min–Max method can slightly increase the system capacity under certain conditions. It can be also confirmed that the trade‐off among effectiveness, fairness and robustness exists in the transceiver optimisation of multiple‐input multiple‐output Interference Channel networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to improve the release efficiency and physical properties of single polysaccharide membranes, two types of curcumin (Cur)‐loaded composite membranes have been successfully prepared through chitosan (CS)/carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), CS/soluble starch (SS) with triethyl citrate (TEC) as a plasticizer. The structure and properties of the membranes were characterized by infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, and thermogravimetry. The results of mechanical tests and drug release experiments show that TEC changes the intermolecular forces in the membrane matrix, makes the membrane more flexible and increases the cumulative release rate of curcumin. The cumulative release rate of Cur in CS/CMC‐Cur and the CS/SS‐Cur membrane can reach 86.5% and 87.3% at 24 h, respectively. Cur release in CS/CMC‐Cur followed the irregular Fickian diffusion behavior, whereas in CS/SS‐Cur followed the non‐Fickian diffusion behavior. The prepared composite membrane performs good thermal stability, tensile resistance and strong inhibitory effect on Escherichia coli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increased prevalence of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and glioma results in increased risks to abolish the healthy life. This is because of inducing alternation causes into the intracellular compartment as well as noncell compartments. Therefore, herein, a simple and facile radiosynthesis strategy was employed for the development of a novel 99mTc (t1/2 = 6 h, Er = 140 keV) labeled diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) conjugated cyclic heptapeptide (99mTc‐DTPA‐c[RGDKLAK]; cPT). The radiotracer was characterized using various analytical techniques to evaluate the identity, radiolabeling, biocompatibility, in vitro stability, and amenability for preclinical use. The biological specificity and efficacy of the radiolabeled cyclic peptide analog were confirmed by in vivo biodistribution and single‐photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) studies in Alzheimer disease (AD)‐induced animal models. The results demonstrated that 99mTc(CO)3‐DTPA‐cPT showed high radioactivity concentration at the site of αvβ3, α5β1‐integrins expressing brain regions while decreasing radioactivity levels in kidneys and increasing urinary bladder over the period of 3 h suggested the renal clearance route of the radiotracer. The diagnostic outcomes obtained from planar SPECT study are consistent with that of the biodistribution study with a target‐to‐nontarget ratio (T/NT = 28.47 ± 2.53) at 3‐h postinjection. The results are surprisingly supportive to our hypothesis that the small cyclic peptide‐based radiotracer is well‐oriented towards targeted drug delivery and envisaged that our proposed radiotracer 99mTc(CO)3‐DTPA‐cPT has potential diagnostic applications for Alzheimer's disease as a novel SPECT agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate warming increases the frequencies of drought and excessive precipitation, and the influencing mechanisms and magnitudes of these extreme events on the water and carbon cycles of different crops still remain unclear. In this study, single‐point simulations for six irrigated and rain‐fed crops and global simulation were combined to comprehensively investigate the impacts of drought and excessive precipitation on evapotranspiration (ET), irrigation, net ecosystem exchange (NEE), and yields of crops. Results illustrated that the AgroIBIS‐based CLM5 simulated ET and NEE dynamics well for rice, corn, winter wheat, soybeans, sugar beets, and potatoes after parameter optimization. The impacts of abnormal precipitation on ET, NEE, and crop yield were larger at rain‐fed sites than at irrigated sites. The influencing magnitudes of precipitation shortage on ET depended on the occurring time of drought events relative to the growth stages of crops. Precipitation shortage (excessive precipitation) reduced (increased) ET and net carbon uptake by 4%–19% (4%–7%) and 3%–15% (1%–6%) compared to normal precipitation years at irrigated sites, while corresponding decrease (increase) was 7%–35% (24%–27%) and 19%–48% (12%–34%) at rain‐fed sites. The proportional influencing magnitudes of precipitation shortage on ET, NEE, and yield increased sequentially for rain‐fed crops. At the global scale, the simulated theoretical irrigation in extremely dry years was 25%–75% larger than that in normal precipitation years, and the actual irrigation was 3.5–4.0 times as large as the simulated theoretical value at irrigated sites, implying that drought intensified water resource shortage through excessive irrigation besides precipitation shortage. Key Points: CLM5 simulated evapotranspiration (ET) and net ecosystem exchange (NEE) dynamics well for six crops, including the newly added riceInfluencing magnitudes of precipitation shortage on ET and NEE are clearly affected by the occurring time of drought in the growing seasonThe proportional influencing magnitudes of precipitation shortage on ET, NEE, and yield increased sequentially for rain‐fed crops [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Drought stress severely limits plant growth and production in apple (Malus domestica Borkh.). To breed water‐deficit‐tolerant apple cultivars that maintain high yields under slight or moderate drought stress, it is important to uncover the mechanisms underlying the transcriptional regulation of chlorophyll metabolism in apple. To explore this mechanism, we generated transgenic 'Gala3' apple plants with overexpression or knockdown of MdWRKY17, which encodes a transcription factor whose expression is significantly induced by water deficit. Under moderate drought stress, we observed significantly higher chlorophyll contents and photosynthesis rates in overexpression transgenic plants than in controls, whereas these were dramatically lower in the knockdown lines. MdWRKY17 directly regulates MdSUFB expression, as demonstrated by in vitro and in vivo experiments. MdSUFB, a key component of the sulfur mobilization (SUF) system that assembles Fe‐S clusters, is essential for inhibiting chlorophyll degradation and stabilizing electron transport during photosynthesis, leading to higher chlorophyll levels in transgenic apple plants overexpressing MdWRKY17. The activated MdMEK2–MdMPK6 cascade by water‐deficit stress fine‐tunes the MdWRKY17–MdSUFB pathway by phosphorylating MdWRKY17 under water‐deficit stress. This fine‐tuning of the MdWRKY17–MdSUFB regulatory pathway is important for balancing plant survival and yield losses (chlorophyll degradation and reduced photosynthesis) under slight or moderate drought stress. The phosphorylation by MdMEK2–MdMPK6 activates the MdWRKY17–MdSUFB pathway at S66 (identified by LC‐MS), as demonstrated by in vitro and in vivo experiments. Our findings reveal that the MdMEK2–MdMPK6–MdWRKY17–MdSUFB pathway stabilizes chlorophyll levels under moderate drought stress, which could facilitate the breeding of apple varieties that maintain high yields under drought stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Native hagfish intermediate filament proteins have impressive mechanical properties. However, using these native fibres for any application is impractical, necessitating their recombinant production. In the only literature report on the proteins (denoted α and ɣ), heterologous expression levels, using E. coli, were low and no attempts were made to optimize expression, explore wet‐spinning, or spin the two proteins individually into fibres. Reported here is the high production (~8 g l−1 of dry protein) of the hagfish intermediate filament proteins, with yields orders of magnitude higher (325–1000×) than previous reports. The proteins were spun into fibres individually and in their native‐like 1:1 ratio. For all fibres, the hallmark α‐helix to β‐sheet conversion occurred after draw‐processing. The native‐like 1:1 ratio fibres achieved the highest average tensile strength in this study at nearly 200 MPa with an elastic modulus of 5.7 GPa, representing the highest tensile strength reported for these proteins without chemical cross‐linking. Interestingly, the recombinant α protein achieved nearly the same mechanical properties when spun as a homopolymeric fibre. These results suggest that varying the two protein ratios beyond the natural 1:1 ratio will allow a high degree of tunability. With robust heterologous expression and purification established, optimizing fibre spinning will be accelerated compared to difficult to produce proteins such as spider silks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid development of electronic skins has allowed novel multifunctional human–machine interaction interfaces, especially in motion interaction sensors. Although motion sensing is widely used in advanced flexible electronic devices through the integration of single sensing units, the number of electrodes has increased with the increase in integration by the square multiple. This paper presents a self‐powered electronic skin based on the Archimedes spiral structure design, which can detect the multi‐directional movement of the slider without external energy supply. As the rotation angle of the Archimedes spiral increases from 2π to 4π, the maximum resolvable movement direction of the device increases from 24 to 280, and the number of electrodes is kept at 4. Through the exploration of the principle of triboelectricity, the inherent electronegativity of the triboelectric materials is used as the basis for signal discrimination, which not only increases the reliability of the device, but also solves the problem of energy supply during device operation. A reduced number of electrodes and its battery‐free nature enables this electronic skin to be easily integrated into portable electronic devices, such as laptops, smart phones, healthcare devices, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To investigate the genetic aberrations in fetuses with short femur and explore the relationships with respect to degree of femoral shortening and the initial diagnostic gestational age GA. Methods: Singleton pregnancies with fetal short femur who consented to amniocentesis and to single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array and Sanger sequencing for G380R mutations in FGFR3 gene were enrolled in this 5‐year period prospective study. Clinical follow‐up assessments were performed after birth. Results: Of a total of 161 fetuses, the prevalence of genetic aberrations was 16.2% (26/161), comprised of 65.4% (17/26) with chromosomal abnormalities and 34.6% (9/26) with G380R mutations. All fetuses with chromosomal abnormalities had FL 2–4SDs below GA. Fewer chromosomal abnormalities were detected in fetuses with short femurs presenting in the third trimester. Significantly more FGFR3 mutations were detected in fetuses with FL below −4SDs. All fetuses with FL 2–4SDs below GA diagnosed as achondroplasia were between 22 and 24 gestational weeks, and all of those diagnosed in third trimester had FL below −4SDs. Conclusion: In this small cohort study, we demonstrated that different degrees of femur shortness may be attributed to different genetic aberrations. SNP array should be regarded as the first‐tier test for fetuses with FL 2−4SDs below GA. The prognoses for fetuses with FL 2–4SDs below GA was significantly better than those with FL below 4SDs. Key Points: What's already known about this topic?Fetal short femur is a diagnostic challenge for clinicians, as it may be a marker of aneuploidy, associated with skeletal dysplasia, or a sign of IUGR.However, there is a paucity of studies with long‐term follow‐up to investigate the genetic aberrations and clinical prognoses in fetuses with short FL, and which explore their relationships with respect to degree of femoral shortening and the initial diagnostic GA. What does this study add?Different degrees of femoral shortening may be attributable to different genetic aberrations and outcomes are affected accordingly.SNP array should be regarded as the first‐tier test for fetuses with FL 2‐4SDs below GA.The prognoses for fetuses with FL 2‐4SDs below GA was significantly better than those with FL below 4SDs. As this is a small, highly selected cohort study, further study is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coronary microembolization (CME) is a prevalent cardiovascular disease, especially nowadays when percutaneous coronary intervention is widely applied. However, neither cardio‐protective agents nor devices for distal protection could effectively prevent the occurrence of CME. Therefore, we aimed to develop a new drug for CME. Rats were orally administrated with different doses of Cryptotanshinone (CTS, 5, 15, 45 mg/kg) daily for 2 weeks, respectively, following CME surgery. Then cardiac function and cardiac injury were evaluated in CME rats as well as measuring oxidative stress and apoptosis in cardiomyocytes. Compared to sham group, CME operation induced cardiac dysfunction, cardiac injury, the activation of platelet and endothelium, cardiomyocyte apoptosis and oxidative stress, all of which could be dose‐dependently restored by CTS pretreatment. Moreover, NF‐κB signaling pathway participated in the development of CME and also in the preventive process of CTS against CME. CTS might serve as a potential and promising candidate drug to prevent the occurrence of CME. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous efforts have been made to understand stemflow dynamics under different types of vegetation at the inter‐event scale, but few studies have explored the stemflow characteristics and corresponding influencing factors at the intra‐event scale. An in‐depth investigation of the inter‐ and intra‐event dynamics of stemflow is important for understanding the ecohydrological processes in forest ecosystems. In this study, stemflow volume (FV), stemflow funnelling ratio (FR), and stemflow ratio (F%) from Quercus acutissima and Broussonetia papyrifera trees were measured at both inter‐ and intra‐event scales in a subtropical deciduous forest, and the driving factors, including tree species and meteorological factors were further explored. Specifically, the FV, FR and F% of Q. acutissima (52.3 L, 47.2, 9.6%) were lower than those of B. papyrifera (85.1 L, 91.2, 12.4%). The effect of tree species on FV and F% was more obvious under low intensity rainfall types. At the inter‐event scale, FV had a strong positive linear correlation with rainfall amount (GP) and event duration (DE) for both tree species, whereas FR and F% had a positive logarithmic correlation with GP and DE only under high‐intensity, short‐duration rainfall type. FR and F% were mainly affected by wind speed and the maximum 30‐min rainfall intensity under low‐intensity, long‐duration rainfall type. At the intra‐event scale, for both tree species, the mean lag time between the start of rainfall and stemflow was the shortest under high‐intensity, short‐duration rainfall type, while the mean duration and amount of stemflow after rain cessation were the greatest under high‐amount, long‐duration rainfall type. The relationship between stemflow intensity and rainfall intensity at the 5‐min interval scale also depended greatly on rainfall type. These findings can help clarify stemflow dynamics and driving factors at both inter‐ and intra‐event scales, and also provide abundant data and parameters for ecohydrological simulations in subtropical forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Non-coding RNAs play a critical role in the occurrence and development of oral cancer. The present study is aimed to identify long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) that might be novel effective targets for the treatments of oral cancer and the underlying mechanism.Methods: The microarray profiling and RNA-sequencing analysis were performed to identify lncRNAs related to oral cancer development, and lncRNA DNM3OS was selected. DNM3OS knockdown was generated in cancer cell lines, and the specific effects of DNM3OS knockdown on cell phenotype were examined. DNM3OS targeted miRNA and miRNA targeted downstream mRNA were selected, the predicted bindings were verified, and the specific effects of miRNA on oral cancer cells were examined. Finally, the dynamic effects of DNM3OS and miRNA on target mRNA expression and oral cancer cell phenotype were examined.Results: DNM3OS was upregulated in oral cancer tissues and cells. DNM3OS knockdown in CAL27 and SCC-9 cells inhibited cell viability and migration. DNM3OS targeted miR-204-5p to inhibit miR-204-5p expression. miR-204-5p overexpression suppressed oral cancer cell aggressiveness. miR-204-5p targeted HIP1 to inhibit HIP1 expression. HIP1 knockdown inhibited oral cancer cell viability and migration. The effects of DNM3OS knockdown were significantly reversed by miR-204-5p inhibition. Within oral carcinoma tissue samples, expression of DNM3OS and HIP1 was increased whereas the miR-204-5p expression was downregulated; miR-204-5p had a negative correlation with DNM3OS and HIP1, respectively, while DNM3OS and HIP1 were positively correlated with each other.Conclusion: Long non-coding RNA DNM3OS, miR-204-5p, and HIP1 form an axis that modulates oral cancer cell viability and migration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrophobic polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) hollow fibre composite membranes were prepared by the dilute solution coating process to build a special surface structure that was similar to the dual micro‐nano structure on the lotus leaf. Poly(vinylidene fluoride‐co‐hexafluoropropene) was chosen as the hydrophobic polymer candidate in dilute solution. Membrane morphology and surface hydrophobicity were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy and dynamic water contact angle measurement. The prepared PVDF hollow fibre membranes were employed to separate dyes (Congo Red and Methylene Blue) from water by vacuum membrane distillation. The effects of operational conditions (feed temperature, vacuum pressure and feed flow rate) on the vacuum membrane distillation performance of different PVDF membranes were investigated. The results indicated that the water contact angle values of PVDF composite membrane surfaces improved from 93.6° to 130.8°, which was mainly attributed to the formation of micro‐nano rods. This structure was similar to the dual micro‐nano structure on the lotus leaf. Under test feed temperature, vacuum pressure and feed flow rate conditions, the dye rejection rate of Congo Red and Methylene Blue by the hydrophobic PVDF hollow fibre membrane remained above 99.5% and 99%, which was higher than that of the pristine PVDF membrane (99% and 98%, respectively). In addition, the hydrophobic PVDF hollow fibre composite membrane showed higher permeation flux under different conditions compared with the pristine PVDF membrane, which was attributed to membrane surface hydrophobicity and the electrostatic interactions between dyes and the PVDF membrane surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyphenols play roles in plant defense mechanisms and are natural sources of antioxidants in food. A pea (Pisum sativum L.) recombinant inbred line (RIL) population (PR‐20) was developed from CDC Amarillo (white flower) and CDC Dakota (purple flower). Approximately half of the lines had white flowers and half had purple flowers, and these had two seed coat types (speckled and dun). The objective of this study was to use liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry to compare polyphenolic profiles of seed components of four randomly selected PR‐20 lines from each of these three distinct groups to identify polyphenols that can be targeted in pea breeding. We quantified 30, 29, and 27 polyphenols in whole seeds, seed coats, and cotyledons, respectively. Except for gallic acid in whole seeds, no differences were observed between speckled and dun seed coats. Compared with white flower lines, 24, 23, and 12 compounds were at greater concentration in seed coats (3–6100 times), whole seeds (2–820 times) and cotyledons (2–110 times) of purple flower lines. Cotyledons of purple flower lines contained eight times more 3,4‐dihydroxybenzoic acid and 110 times more epigallocatechin than white flower lines. Ferulic acid, dihydrokaempferol, and kaempferol 3‐O‐glucoside were two to three times greater in cotyledons of white flower vs. purple flower lines. This study provides a basis for exploration of pea germplasm to identify accessions with high polyphenol content for breeding pea cultivars with improved health benefits in human diets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel hollow fibre polysulphone (PSF) separation membranes were prepared via the incorporation of carboxylated graphene oxide (cGO) in membrane matrix during the dry‐wet spinning process to improve the membrane performance of water flux and dye adsorption. The surface composition and morphology of the prepared cGO‐incorporated hollow fibre membranes were characterised by means of Fourier Transform–infrared spectra and scanning electron microscopy. The effects of different cGO contents on membrane surface hydrophilicity, separation performance, anti‐compaction and adsorption properties were investigated through measurements of the water contact angle, cross‐flow filtration and methylene blue (MB) adsorption experiments. The results demonstrated that the cGO‐incorporated membranes had more hydrophilic surfaces, higher permeation flux, better anti‐compaction properties and a higher adsorption rate of MB than that of the PSF control membrane. When cGO content was 0.45 wt.%, the pure water flux of the modified membrane increased from 90.56 to 148.26 l m−2 h−1 at 0.1 MPa; also, rejections of bovine serum albumin and polyethylene glycol (PEG‐20000) maintained relatively high values of 98.81 and 93.89%, respectively. The incorporation of cGO nanosheets could effectively improve membrane anti‐compaction properties and the adsorption rate of MB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macroscopic monoliths are highly desirable in many fields of application. Herein, well organized organic–inorganic cryogel composite with a three‐dimensional hierarchical meso‐ and macroporous structure are presented, which were produced by in situ copolymerization of mesoporous multifunctional silica (size: 1–20 μm; pore: 2–20 nm mostly) and monomers (hydroxyethyl methacrylate and diallyldimethylammonium chloride) in water below the freezing point. This copolymerization method effectively adjusted the macropores of the basic cryogel, and the nanosilica was more homogeneously dispersed in the basic cryogel. The specific surface area of the cryogel composite was increased 17 times versus than that of the basic cryogel. The abundant meso‐ and macroporous pores on the cryogel composite provided sufficient reactive sites favorable for the efficient mass transport of target compounds. When the cryogel composite, as solid phase extraction adsorbent, was coupled with high‐performance liquid chromatography, an analytical tool, the nucleosides were quantified with good selectivity, lower detection limits (0.9–1.3 ng/mL) and satisfactory recoveries of greater than 80% from spiked human serum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although long noncoding RNA (LncRNA) are important players in the initiation and progression of many pathological processes, the role of LncRNAENST00000453774.1 (LncRNA 74.1) in renal fibrosis still remains unclear. Lentivirus mediated LncRNA 74.1 overexpressing HK2 cells and overexpression mice models were constructed. HK2 cells induced by transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β) in vitro, and the mice UUO model in vivo were used to simulate renal fibrosis. The expression of LncRNA 74.1 was significantly downregulated in the TGF‐β‐induced HK‐2 cell fibrosis and clinical renal fibrosis specimens. LncRNA 74.1 overexpression obviously attenuated renal fibrosis in vitro and unilateral ureteral obstruction‐induced renal fibrosis in vivo. LncRNA 74.1 promoted reactive oxygen species defense by activating prosurvival autophagy then decreased ECM‐related proteins fibronectin and collagen I involved in renal fibrosis. We also found that Nrf2‐keap1 signaling played important roles in the remission of ECM mediated by LncRNA 74.1. This study indicates that LncRNA 74.1 downregulation would contribute to renal fibrosis and its overexpression might represent a novel anti‐fibrotic treatment in renal diseases. LncRNA 74.1 downregulation would contribute to renal fibrosis. Overexpression of LncRNA 74.1 might promote ROS defense via Nrf2‐keap1/HO‐1/NQO‐1 signaling by activating prosurvival autophagy then decrease the ECM related proteins, fibronectin and collagen I, involved in renal fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) could regulate the function of various immune cells. It remains unclear whether MSCs additionally possess immunostimulatory properties. We investigated the impact of human MSCs on the responsiveness of primary natural killer (NK) cells in terms of induction of anti‐inflammatory purinergic signalling. Material and Methods: We obtained human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) and dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs). NK cells were isolated from peripheral blood of healthy volunteers. Activated NK cells were cultured with MSCs. Proliferation assay, apoptosis analysis, activating or inhibitory receptor expression and degranulation assay were used to explore NK cells' function. High‐performance liquid chromatography was used to investigate the purinergic signalling in activated NK cells. Results: Both DPSCs and BMMSCs could impair proliferation and promote apoptosis of activated NK cells. Also, activated NK cells could cause DPSCs to lyse. Furthermore, the expression of activating NK cells' receptors was decreased, but inhibitory receptors of NK cells were elevated following co‐cultivation. NK cells acquired CD73 expression, while MSCs could release ATP into the extracellular space where nucleotides were converted into adenosine (ADO) following co‐culture system. Under the existence of exogenous 2‐chloroadenosine (CADO), the cytotoxic capacity of NK cells was remarkably depressed in a concentration‐dependent manner. Conclusions: DPSCs and BMMSCs could depress NK cells' function by hydrolysing ATP to ADO using CD39 and CD73 enzymatic activity. Our data suggested that DPSCs might represent a new strategy for treating immune‐related diseases by regulating previously unrecognized functions in innate immune responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large scale and sustainable solar hydrogen evolution through photocatalytic water splitting requires highly active and stable earth‐abundant co‐catalysts to reduce water to H2. There are still a series of key challenges existed for the practical application, although many efforts have been made, such as low efficiency, difficult recovery of powder catalyst and so on. In this work, we constructed a film‐like photocatalyst CdS−Ni3S2/NF with abundant interfaces or junctions for the first time by integrating the CdS and Ni3S2 nanosheets supported on nickel foam (NF). The resultant photocatalyst exhibits a photocatalytic H2 production rate of 100.50 mmol gCdS−1 h−1, which is about 6.8 times that for CdS‐2wt%Pt/NF (14.86 mmol g−1 h−1). And the rate of H2 evolution can be expressed as 589.86 μmol cm−2 day−1, which means 132 L H2 could be generated by using 1 m2 CdS−Ni3S2/NF photocatalyst under visible light irradiation in 12 h. The enhanced photocatalytic activity was attributed to the rich interfaces or junctions between CdS and Ni3S2 nanosheets, and excellent kinetic of Ni3S2 nanosheets for reducing water to H2. This work provides a new avenue for developing high performance photocatalyst system for practically renewable H2 energy generation and environmental remediation. The film‐like photocatalyst CdS−Ni3S2/NF was successfully prepared by a facile two steps solvothermal method. The abundant interfaces or junctions between CdS and Ni3S2 nanosheets and excellent kinetic of Ni3S2 nanosheets over HER have kept the high performance of photocatalytic H2 production. This design philosophy open up a new avenue for developing high performance photocatalyst system for practically renewable H2 energy generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seed oils containing unusual triacylglycerol (TAG) molecules, where one fatty acid of a TAG is substituted by an acetate group (Ac), are uncommon but of considerable interest as potential low‐viscosity biofuels and lubricants or reduced calorie food ingredients. Although the properties and pathway of biosynthesis of 3‐acetyl‐1,2‐diacyl‐sn‐glycerols (sn‐3‐acTAGs) have been described, little is known about the occurrence of 2‐acetyl‐1,3‐diacyl‐sn‐glycerols (sn‐2‐acTAGs). Prompted by a report of sn‐2‐acTAGs in the seeds of Polygala virgata, a study of the seed oil of seven members of this genus, and two related species is conducted. The presence of sn‐2‐acTAG and lesser amounts of conventional TAG is conclusively demonstrated in Polygala seed oil by Matrix‐Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time‐of‐Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI‐TOF MS) and high resolution C13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (C13 NMR). Analysis of seed fatty acids reveals a diversity of composition with oils from P. myrtifolia and P. fruticosa dominated by the medium‐chain fatty acid (MCFA) myristic acid (tetradecanoic acid) at an average of 79.8 and 74.1% of total seed fatty acids, respectively. In contrast, MCFAs are absent from oils from P. tenuifolia and P. virgata, with the very‐long‐chain fatty acid (VLCFA) gondoic acid (cis‐11‐eicosenoic acid) being most abundant. Polygala species therefore represent a rich source of sn‐2‐acTAGs and uncommon fatty acids. Practical applications: The seed oils of Polygala species contain a highly unusual combination of sn‐2‐acTAGs and uncommon fatty acids. These plants can serve as a unique genetic resource for the elucidation of the pathways of biosynthesis of these lipids and the identification of genes for the engineering of novel oils in transgenic plants. As Polygala is morphologically diverse genus ranging from annual herbs to small trees, identification of species with suitable seed production and agronomic characteristics may allow the commercial production of novel oils for specific higher value uses. Plant seed oils are generally composed primarily of triacylglycerol (TAG). In this article, the authors examine the seed oils of seven species in the genus Polygala and report the occurrence of an unusual lipid, 2‐acetyl‐1,3‐diacyl–sn‐glycerol (sn‐2 acTAG). These plants also produce unusual fatty acids in their seed oil, with Polygala tenuifolia being enriched in gondoic acid (cis‐11‐eicosenoic acid, 20:1Δ11) and Polygala myrtifolia containing myristic acid (tetradecanoic acid, 14:0). The genus Polygala represents a potential source of novel oil and a resource for the characterization of sn‐2 acTAG biosynthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) is as a potential zoonotic agent with a wide host range. Here, applying gene splicing by overlap extension PCR (SOE‐PCR), we describe a simple method for producing single‐chain variable fragment (scFv) antibody against EMCV that configurates in the orientation of VH‐(GGGGS)4‐VL. DNA template was resverse transcribed by total RNA that derived from hyperimmunized antibody positive mice spleen after inoculation inactivated EMCV‐PV21 as antigen. Using the degenerate primers designed for the variable regions of IgG of murine antibody, the 417 bp of gene encoding VH‐linker (VHL) and 360 bp of gene encoding linker‐VL (LVL) of the anti‐EMCV was individually amplified from DNA template by PCR, repectively. The 762 bp gene encoding anti‐EMCV scFv was constructed by SOE‐PCR when the mixed VHL and LVL genes were used as the template. The amplified gene subcloned into pGEX‐6P1 to yield pGEX‐6P1/EMCV‐scFv. Recombinant vector transformed into the Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) and a 53 KDa GST‐scFv fusion protein was obtained by SDS‐PAGE electrophoresis. Animal experiment results showed that the pretective rate of mice in group A which challenged 500 μL 104 TCID50 EMCV per mouse for 7 d post‐inoculation scFv 3 d (0.5 mg purified recombinant scFv per mouse) was 91.67% (11/12). The serum anti‐EMCV antibody titer in group A mice was most significantly higher than that in positive control mouse (P < 0.01), coversely the serum relative mRNA copies were significantly lower than that in positive control mouse (P < 0.05). These findings indicated that recombinant anti‐EMCV scFv has remarkable anti‐EMCV effect in mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To discover the candidate biomarker proteins of trisomy 21 (T21) in amniocytes.Methods: Amniocentesis was performed to collect amniotic fluid from women who underwent prenatal diagnosis due to high risk of T21 at 18th to 22nd week of gestation. Amniocyte samples were collected, and karyotyping analysis was used to confirm the chromosomal status (18 samples of T21 amniocytes and 20 samples of chromosomally normal ones). Then, backup samples for cytogenetic test were used in this study. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry were employed for proteomic analysis. Subsequently, western blotting and biological informatic analysis were utilized to validate the identified proteins and their functions.Results: Six proteins were found to be significantly up regulated in T21 amniocytes, and they were calumenin, nucleophosmin, elongation factor 1-beta, cathepsin D, platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase IB subunit beta, and 14-3-3 protein beta/alpha identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Western blotting analysis confirmed the alterations of nucleophosmin and cathepsin D.Conclusion: These proteins may be involved in the pathogenesis of T21. Further studies exploring the exact role of these proteins were essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The advancement of electronic skin envisions novel multifunctional human machine interfaces. Although motion sensing by detecting contact locations is popular and widely used in state‐of‐the‐art flexible electronics, noncontact localization exerts fascinations with unique interacting experiences. This paper presents a self‐powered noncontact electronic skin capable of detecting the motion of a surface electrified object across the plane parallel to that of the electronic skin based on electrostatic induction and triboelectric effects. The displacement of the object is calculated under the system of polar coordinates, with a resolution of 1.5 mm in the lengthwise direction and 0.76° in the angular direction. It can serve as a human machine interface due to its ability to sense noncontact motions. An additional self‐powered feature, enabled by its physical principles, solves the problem of power supply. This electronic skin consists of trilayers of polyethyleneterephthalate–indium tin oxide–polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) films, and microstructured PDMS as the electrified layer, which can be achieved through simplified, low cost, and scalable fabrication. Transparency, flexibility, and less number of electrodes enable such electronic skin to be easily integrated into portable electronic devices, such as laptops, smart phones, healthcare devices, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in the level of the Yangtze River caused by anthropogenic water regulation have major effects on the hydrological processes and water cycle in surrounding lakes and rivers. In this study, we obtained isotopic evidence of changes in the water cycle of Yangtze River during the two drought years of 2006 and 2013. Isotopic evidence demonstrated that the δ18O and δD levels in Yangtze River exhibited high spatial heterogeneity from the upper to lower reaches, which were controlled by atmospheric precipitation, tributary/lake water mixing, damming regulation, and water temperature. Both the slope and intercept of Yangtze River evaporative line (δD = 7.88 δ18O + 7.96) were slightly higher than those of local meteoric water line of Yangtze River catchment (δD = 7.41 δ18O + 6.01). Most of the river isotopic values were located below the local meteoric water line, thereby implying that the Yangtze River water experienced a certain degree of evaporative enrichment on isotopic compositions of river water. The high fluctuations in the isotopic composition (e.g., deuterium excess [d-excess]) in the middle to lower reaches during the initial stage of operation for the Three Gorges Dams (2003-2006) were due to heterogeneous isotopic signatures from the upstream water. In contrast to the normal stage (after 2010) characterized by the maximum water level and largest water storage, a relatively small variability in the deuterium excess was found along the middle to lower reaches because of the homogenization of reservoir water with a longer residence time and complete mixing. The effects of water from lakes and tributaries on the isotopic compositions in mainstream water were highlighted because of the high contributions of lakes water (e.g., Dongting Lake and Poyang Lake) efflux to the Yangtze River mainstream, which ranged from 21% to 85% during 2006 and 2013. These findings suggest that the retention and regulation of the Three Gorges Dams has greatly buffered the isotopic variability of the water cycle in the Yangtze catchment, thereby improving our understanding of the complex lake-river interactions along the middle to lower reaches in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]