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Chalcogenide cathodes with multi‐electron transfer characteristics are indispensable to aluminum‐ion batteries (AIBs). Nevertheless, their grievous capacity degradation and sluggish reaction kinetics remain fundamental challenges for the practical application. Herein, a Cu2S/Ni3S2 multiphase structure within the metal‐organic frame (MOF) derived carbon decoration layer (CNS@MC) is constructed to elevate the intrinsic electronic properties of chalcogenide cathode and realize high‐performance AIBs. The existence of outer carbon layer and strong orbital interaction at inner heterointerfaces eliminates the bandgap and arises more electrons at Fermi level, efficiently reducing the energy barrier for electron transfer and achieving high reactivity within cathodes. The CNS@MC also presents a strong electronic interaction with active solvent groups, which is beneficial to capture Al3+ and facilitate the three‐electron charge‐storage reactions. Experimental results demonstrate that the tailored CNS@MC cathode possesses superior redox kinetics due to the sufficient surface area and rapid Al‐ion diffusion during cycling. Meanwhile, the robust CNS@MC delivers ultra‐high electrochemical stability (131.1 mAh g−1 over 3500 cycles) with high coulombic efficiency and outstanding rate performance. This work offers new opportunities for optimizing the intrinsic properties of the chalcogenide electrodes based on MOF derivatives and heterostructure, providing novel thoughts for designing high‐performance AIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardio‐cerebrovascular diseases encompass pathological changes in the heart, brain and vascular system, which pose a great threat to health and well‐being worldwide. Moreover, metabolic diseases contribute to and exacerbate the impact of vascular diseases. Inflammation is a complex process that protects against noxious stimuli but is also dysregulated in numerous so‐called inflammatory diseases, one of which is atherosclerosis. Inflammation involves multiple organ systems and a complex cascade of molecular and cellular events. Numerous studies have shown that inflammation plays a vital role in cardio‐cerebrovascular diseases and metabolic diseases. The absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2) inflammasome detects and is subsequently activated by double‐stranded DNA in damaged cells and pathogens. With the assistance of the mature effector molecule caspase‐1, the AIM2 inflammasome performs crucial biological functions that underpin its involvement in cardio‐cerebrovascular diseases and related metabolic diseases: The production of interleukin‐1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin‐18 (IL-18) and N‐terminal pore‐forming Gasdermin D fragment (GSDMD‐N) mediates a series of inflammatory responses and programmed cell death (pyroptosis and PANoptosis). Currently, several agents have been reported to inhibit the activity of the AIM2 inflammasome and have the potential to be evaluated for use in clinical settings. In this review, we systemically elucidate the assembly, biological functions, regulation and mechanisms of the AIM2 inflammasome in cardio‐cerebrovascular diseases and related metabolic diseases and outline the inhibitory agents of the AIM2 inflammasome as potential therapeutic drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing demands for crop yield and production mechanization, improvement of plant architecture is getting more imperative in cotton. In the present study, we investigated the plant height (PH) and the node of first fruiting branch (NFFB) of 719 upland cotton accessions in six different environments. We used the 10,511 high‐quality single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to perform single‐locus and multi‐locus genome‐wide association study (GWAS). As many as 278 associated SNPs were identified, 142 by the mixed linear model (MLM) in the single‐locus model and 192 by six multi‐locus models. A total of 42 SNPs were identified in at least four environment‐traits or methods, of which 28 SNPs were significantly associated with PH, 22 were significantly associated with NFFB, and eight were co‐associated with the two traits. Notably, most of loci were novel besides i33922Gh located in the reported QTL for PH. Furthermore, we identified nine promising candidate genes, among which the three genes Gh_D03G0738, Gh_D10G2028, and Gh_D05G3600 contained non‐synonymous SNP mutation. The accessions with alleles of the mutations resulted in significant phenotypic differences. The expression of these genes showed significant differences between short‐PH and high‐PH varieties. Moreover, overexpression of Gh_D03G0738 led to reduction of PH in Arabidopsis. These results provided insights into genetic basis of plant architecture in cotton. Core Ideas: We identified 278 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated plant height (PH) and node of the first fruiting branch with single‐ and multi‐locus genome‐wide association study by using 719 cotton accessions.A total of 42 SNPs were identified in at least four environment‐traits or methods.Overexpression of Gh_D03G0738 led to reduction of PH in Arabidopsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Perinatal exposure to maternal obesity predisposes offspring to develop obesity later in life. Immune dysregulation in the hypothalamus, the brain center governing energy homeostasis, is pivotal in obesity development. This study aimed to identify key candidate genes associated with the risk of offspring obesity in maternal obesity. Methods: We obtained obesity‐related datasets from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. GSE135830 comprises gene expression data from the hypothalamus of mouse offspring in a maternal obesity model induced by a high‐fat diet model (maternal high‐fat diet (mHFD) group and maternal chow (mChow) group), while GSE127056 consists of hypothalamus microarray data from young adult mice with obesity (high‐fat diet (HFD) and Chow groups). We identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and module genes using Limma and weighted gene co‐expression network analysis (WGCNA), conducted functional enrichment analysis, and employed a machine learning algorithm (least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression) to pinpoint candidate hub genes for diagnosing obesity‐associated risk in offspring of maternal obesity. We constructed a nomogram receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve to evaluate the diagnostic value. Additionally, we analyzed immune cell infiltration to investigate immune cell dysregulation in maternal obesity. Furthermore, we verified the expression of the candidate hub genes both in vivo and in vitro. Results: The GSE135830 dataset revealed 2868 DEGs between the mHFD offspring and the mChow group and 2627 WGCNA module genes related to maternal obesity. The overlap of DEGs and module genes in the offspring with maternal obesity in GSE135830 primarily enriched in neurodevelopment and immune regulation. In the GSE127056 dataset, 133 DEGs were identified in the hypothalamus of HFD‐induced adult obese individuals. A total of 13 genes intersected between the GSE127056 adult obesity DEGs and the GSE135830 maternal obesity module genes that were primarily enriched in neurodevelopment and the immune response. Following machine learning, two candidate hub genes were chosen for nomogram construction. Diagnostic value evaluation by ROC analysis determined Sytl4 and Kncn2 as hub genes for maternal obesity in the offspring. A gene regulatory network with transcription factor–miRNA interactions was established. Dysregulated immune cells were observed in the hypothalamus of offspring with maternal obesity. Expression of Sytl4 and Kncn2 was validated in a mouse model of hypothalamic inflammation and a palmitic acid‐stimulated microglial inflammation model. Conclusion: Two candidate hub genes (Sytl4 and Kcnc2) were identified and a nomogram was developed to predict obesity risk in offspring with maternal obesity. These findings offer potential diagnostic candidate genes for identifying obesity‐associated risks in the offspring of obese mothers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macrophage‐myofibroblast transition (MMT) is a newly discovered pathway for mass production of pro‐tumoral cancer‐associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in non‐small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) in a TGF‐β1/Smad3 dependent manner. Better understanding its regulatory signaling in tumor microenvironment (TME) may identify druggable target for the development of precision medicine. Here, by dissecting the transcriptome dynamics of tumor‐associated macrophage at single‐cell resolution, a crucial role of a hematopoietic transcription factor Runx1 in MMT formation is revealed. Surprisingly, integrative bioinformatic analysis uncovers Runx1 as a key regulator in the downstream of MMT‐specific TGF‐β1/Smad3 signaling. Stromal Runx1 level positively correlates with the MMT‐derived CAF abundance and mortality in NSCLC patients. Mechanistically, macrophage‐specific Runx1 promotes the transcription of genes related to CAF signatures in MMT cells at genomic level. Importantly, macrophage‐specific genetic deletion and systemic pharmacological inhibition of TGF‐β1/Smad3/Runx1 signaling effectively prevent MMT‐driven CAF and tumor formation in vitro and in vivo, representing a potential therapeutic target for clinical NSCLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing incidence of oral cancer in the world, it has become a hotspot to explore the pathogenesis and prevention of oral cancer. It has been proved there is a strong link between periodontal pathogens and oral cancer. However, the specific molecular and cellular pathogenic mechanisms remain to be further elucidated. Emerging evidence suggests that periodontal pathogens‐induced epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) is closely related to the progression of oral cancer. Cells undergoing EMT showed increased motility, aggressiveness and stemness, which provide a pro‐tumour environment and promote malignant metastasis of oral cancer. Plenty of studies proposed periodontal pathogens promote carcinogenesis via EMT. In the current review, we discussed the association between the development of oral cancer and periodontal pathogens, and summarized various mechanisms of EMT caused by periodontal pathogens, which are supposed to play an important role in oral cancer, to provide targets for future research in the fight against oral cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease with a high prevalence worldwide. This study aimed to examine the correlation between serum bilirubin levels and SLE. Methods: The Cochrane library, Embase, PubMed, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases were examined and assessed until March 2023. RevMan 5.3 software was utilized for the analysis of clinical trails. Results: Five case‐control studies were chosen and incorporated, examining the levels of serum bilirubin in patients with SLE compared to healthy individuals, as well as in active SLE patients versus inactive ones, in different sexes and in SLE patients with or without lupus nephritis (LN). The results of this meta‐analysis demonstrated that serum bilirubin in healthy individuals were obviously increased compared to SLE patients (MD = 4.76; 95% CI, 3.15–6.38, p <.00001). Additionally, inactive SLE patients had higher levels of bilirubin than active SLE patients (MD = 3.15; 95% CI, 0.46–5.84, p =.02), and SLE patients without lupus nephritis had higher levels of serum bilirubin than those with lupus nephritis (MD = 4.91;95% CI, 2.87–6.95, p <.00001). Nevertheless, there were no disparities observed among SLE patients of varying sexes (MD = 0.34; 95% CI, −0.01 to 0.69, p =.06). Conclusion: The concentration of serum bilirubin may potentially be used as an indicator for estimating the advancement of SLE and reflecting the presence of kidney complications in individuals with SLE. Furthermore, more high quality studies were needed to identify these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Li3VO4 is a promising anode material for use in lithium‐ion batteries, however, the conventional synthesis methods for Li3VO4 anodes involve the separate use of lithium and carbon sources, resulting in inefficient contact and low crystalline quality. Herein, lithium polyacrylate (LiPAA) was utilized as a dual‐functional source and an in‐situ polymerization followed by a spray‐drying method was employed to synthesize Li3VO4. LiPAA serves a dual purpose, acting as both a lithium source to improve the crystal process and a carbon source to confine the particle size within a desired volume during high‐temperature treatment. Additionally, the in‐situ synthesis of a porous carbon decorating skeleton prevents the growth and agglomeration of Li3VO4 particles and provides abundant ion/electron diffusion channels and contact areas. Based on the synthesis route and the constructed primary‐secondary structure, the Li3VO4 anodes obtained in this study exhibit an impressive capacity of 596.2 mAh g−1. Moreover, they demonstrate enhanced rate performance over 600 cycles during 10 periods of rate testing, as well as a remarkably long lifespan of 5000 cycles at high currents. The utilization of LiPAA as a dual‐functional source represents a broad approach that holds great potential for future research on high‐performance electrodes requiring both lithium and carbon sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For switchable surfactant to be reusable, its property must be activated by a stimulus after it has been utilized. Nonetheless, a plenty of switchable surfactants are environmentally harmful tertiary amines. This study investigates the biocompatible amino acid derivatives, lauroyl arginate ethyl (LAE) as a new biodegradable CO2‐switchable surfactant. In the study, LAE was prepared and its structure was characterized. The variation of pH value was measured to determine the responsiveness to CO2. The surface tension and interfacial tension were measured to determine the surface activity of the material. Finally, CO2 and N2 were injected into the solution to determine reversible emulsification of emulsion. Not only does the LAE have reversible emulsification capacity, but it is also non‐toxic and biodegradable. In the future, its applications in everyday life and industry will expand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lack of genome editing platforms has hampered efforts to study and improve forage crops that can be grown on lands not suited to other crops. Here, we established efficient Agrobacterium‐mediated clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR‐associated nuclease 9 (Cas9) genome editing in a perennial, stress‐tolerant forage grass, sheepgrass (Leymus chinensis). By screening for active single‐guide RNAs (sgRNAs), accessions that regenerate well, suitable Agrobacterium strains, and optimal culture media, and co‐expressing the morphogenic factor TaWOX5, we achieved 11% transformation and 5.83% editing efficiency in sheepgrass. Knocking out Teosinte Branched1 (TB1) significantly increased tiller number and biomass. This study opens avenues for studying gene function and breeding in sheepgrass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The semi‐open system of lithium‐oxygen batteries (LOBs) results in electrolyte depletion, lithium anode corrosion, and by‐product deposition, and therefore represents a major challenge that hinders their application. Here, the aligned and open microchannel structures of wood are fabricated as separators to provide low‐tortuosity pathways for rapid ionic transport and serve as reservoirs for retaining the electrolyte by capillary forces to improve the electrochemical kinetics. In an open environment, the wood separator can hold 39% of the initial adsorption electrolyte capacity after 40 days, much higher than that of glass fiber (GF, 15%). The cellulose in the wood can confine the crossover effect of water thereby inhibiting the corrosion of lithium anode and reducing the deposition of by‐products. Density functional theory calculations certify that the abundant functional groups and uniform electron distribution in cellulose increase lithium‐ion concentration on the wood surface and promote lithium‐ion migration with a low diffusion barrier. LOBs composed of the wood‐derived separator displayed excellent anodic reversibility (over 1200 h) and effectively improved cathodic lifetime over 300 cycles (1.6 times longer than that of GF separator). These findings illustrate the significant potential of this candidate separator for high‐performance LOBs and are expected to be extended to metal‐air batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crops must efficiently allocate their limited energy resources to survival, growth and reproduction, including balancing growth and defense. Thus, investigating the underlying molecular mechanism of crop under stress is crucial for breeding. Chloroplasts immunity is an important facet involving in plant resistance and growth, however, whether and how crop immunity modulated by chloroplast is influenced by epigenetic regulation remains unclear. Here, the cotton lysine 2‐hydroxyisobutyrylation (Khib) and succinylation (Ksuc) modifications are firstly identified and characterized, and discover that the chloroplast proteins are hit most. Both modifications are strongly associated with plant resistance to Verticillium dahliae, reflected by Khib specifically modulating PR and salicylic acid (SA) signal pathway and the identified GhHDA15 and GhSRT1 negatively regulating Verticillium wilt (VW) resistance via removing Khib and Ksuc. Further investigation uncovers that photosystem repair protein GhPSB27 situates in the core hub of both Khib‐ and Ksuc‐modified proteins network. The acylated GhPSB27 regulated by GhHDA15 and GhSRT1 can raise the D1 protein content, further enhancing plant biomass‐ and seed‐yield and disease resistance via increasing photosynthesis and by‐products of chloroplast‐derived reactive oxygen species (cROS). Therefore, this study reveals a mechanism balancing high disease resistance and high yield through epigenetic regulation of chloroplast protein, providing a novel strategy to crop improvements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) is a pivotal pathogen of periodontitis. Our previous studies have confirmed that mitochondrial dysfunction in the endothelial cells caused by P. gingivalis was dependent on Drp1, which may be the mechanism of P. gingivalis causing endothelial dysfunction. Nevertheless, the signalling pathway induced the mitochondrial dysfunction remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of the RhoA/ROCK1 pathway in regulating mitochondrial dysfunction caused by P. gingivalis. P. gingivalis was used to infect EA.hy926 cells (endothelial cells). The expression and activation of RhoA and ROCK1 were assessed by western blotting and pull‐down assay. The morphology of mitochondria was observed by mitochondrial staining and transmission electron microscopy. Mitochondrial function was measured by ATP content, mitochondrial DNA and mitochondrial permeability transition pore openness. The phosphorylation and translocation of Drp1 were evaluated using western blotting and immunofluorescence. The role of the RhoA/ROCK1 pathway in mitochondrial dysfunction was investigated using RhoA and ROCK1 inhibitors. The activation of RhoA/ROCK1 pathway and mitochondrial dysfunction were observed in P. gingivalis‐infected endothelial cells. Furthermore, RhoA or ROCK1 inhibitors partly prevented mitochondrial dysfunction caused by P. gingivalis. The increased phosphorylation and mitochondrial translocation of Drp1 induced by P. gingivalis were both blocked by RhoA and ROCK1 inhibitors. In conclusion, we demonstrate that the RhoA/ROCK1 pathway was involved in mitochondrial dysfunction caused by P. gingivalis by regulating the phosphorylation and mitochondrial translocation of Drp1. Our research illuminated a possible new mechanism by which P. gingivalis promotes endothelial dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The problem of maximizing the sum of a constrained submodular and a supermodular function has many applications such as social networks, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. In this article, we study the monotone submodular + supermodular maximization problem under a cardinality constraint and a p‐system constraint, respectively. For each problem, we provide a stochastic algorithm and prove the approximation ratio of each algorithm theoretically. Since the algorithm of the latter problem can also solve the former problem, we do some numerical experiments of the two algorithms to compare the time as well as the quality of the two algorithms in solving the former problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perturbed metabolism of ammonia, an endogenous cytotoxin, causes mitochondrial dysfunction, reduced NAD+/NADH (redox) ratio, and postmitotic senescence. Sirtuins are NAD+‐dependent deacetylases that delay senescence. In multiomics analyses, NAD metabolism and sirtuin pathways are enriched during hyperammonemia. Consistently, NAD+‐dependent Sirtuin3 (Sirt3) expression and deacetylase activity were decreased, and protein acetylation was increased in human and murine skeletal muscle/myotubes. Global acetylomics and subcellular fractions from myotubes showed hyperammonemia‐induced hyperacetylation of cellular signaling and mitochondrial proteins. We dissected the mechanisms and consequences of hyperammonemia‐induced NAD metabolism by complementary genetic and chemical approaches. Hyperammonemia inhibited electron transport chain components, specifically complex I that oxidizes NADH to NAD+, that resulted in lower redox ratio. Ammonia also caused mitochondrial oxidative dysfunction, lower mitochondrial NAD+‐sensor Sirt3, protein hyperacetylation, and postmitotic senescence. Mitochondrial‐targeted Lactobacillus brevis NADH oxidase (MitoLbNOX), but not NAD+ precursor nicotinamide riboside, reversed ammonia‐induced oxidative dysfunction, electron transport chain supercomplex disassembly, lower ATP and NAD+ content, protein hyperacetylation, Sirt3 dysfunction and postmitotic senescence in myotubes. Even though Sirt3 overexpression reversed ammonia‐induced hyperacetylation, lower redox status or mitochondrial oxidative dysfunction were not reversed. These data show that acetylation is a consequence of, but is not the mechanism of, lower redox status or oxidative dysfunction during hyperammonemia. Targeting NADH oxidation is a potential approach to reverse and potentially prevent ammonia‐induced postmitotic senescence in skeletal muscle. Since dysregulated ammonia metabolism occurs with aging, and NAD+ biosynthesis is reduced in sarcopenia, our studies provide a biochemical basis for cellular senescence and have relevance in multiple tissues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scattering of light by aerosol particles dictates atmospheric visibility, which is a straightforward indicator of air quality. It is affected by numerous factors, such as particle number size distribution, particle mass concentration (PM2.5), ambient relative humidity (RH), and chemical composition. The latter two factors jointly influence the aerosol liquid water content (ALWC). Here, the particle backscattering coefficient (βp) under ambient RH conditions is investigated to differentiate and quantify the contributions of aerosol properties and meteorology using comprehensive observational datasets acquired at three megacities in China, that is, Beijing (BJ), Nanjing (NJ), and Guangzhou (GZ). Overall, the temporal variations in βp under ambient RH conditions are consistent with those in ALWC at the three sites. The PM2.5 in BJ is systematically higher than in NJ and GZ, while ambient RH and aerosol hygroscopicity in NJ are much higher than in BJ and GZ. Notable differences in the variations of βp with related factors at the three sites are demonstrated. βp is more sensitive to particle hygroscopicity and mass in NJ and ambient RH in BJ. The relative contributions of these factors to βp at the three sites under different pollution conditions are differentiated and quantified. The factor with the largest impact on the variability in βp shifts from particle mass to ambient RH as air quality deteriorated to heavy pollution in BJ. The opposite is true in NJ. In GZ, the contributions of these factors to changes in βp under different pollution conditions are similar, both dominated by PM2.5. Plain Language Summary: Scattering of light by aerosol is a straightforward measure of air quality because of its close link to visibility. It is dictated primarily by aerosol mass loading, size distribution, chemical composition, and humidity. We used comprehensive observational datasets acquired at three sites in China to differentiate and quantify the contributions to the scattering of light by aerosol loading measured by aerosol particulate mass and aerosol properties, as well as humidity. The findings differ among the three cities due to differences in aerosol properties and meteorology. Scattering of light by aerosol is more sensitive to particle hygroscopicity and mass concentration in Nanjing and more sensitive to ambient humidity in Beijing. Local emission control measures can effectively reduce aerosol mass concentrations in Nanjing and Guangzhou. Weather conditions are more influential in Beijing due to the dominant influence of humidity. Key Points: This study differentially quantifies the impacts of aerosol loading and properties and meteorology on scattering at three sites in ChinaScattering of light by aerosol is most sensitive to particle hygroscopicity and mass in Nanjing and humidity in BeijingHumidity substantially affects scattering during heavy haze in Beijing, whereas particle mass is more impactful in Nanjing and Guangzhou [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To explore the relationship between body mass index and varicocele, the range of body mass index that leads to increased odds of varicocele, and the association between body mass index with the position and grade of varicocele. Methods: We conducted a cross‐sectional study of 211 989 Chinese males aged 18–65 years participated in the National Free Pre‐conception Check‐up Projects from January 2013 to December 2018. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were constructed to assess the association between body mass index and varicocele. Results: Overweight and obese males had 13.1% (odds ratio 0.869, 95% confidence interval 0.838–0.902) and 32.3% (odds ratio 0.677, 95% confidence interval 0.632–0.725) lower odds of varicocele than those with normal body mass index, respectively. The association between them was non‐linear, and males with body mass index of 17.74 to 23.09 kg/m2 had an increased odds of varicocele. The overweight and obese males had lower odds of left and bilateral varicocele, but the right varicocele odds was increased by 63.3% in obese males. Conclusion: Body mass index was associated with the odds of varicocele among reproductive‐age males, but the odds varied by position. The effects of weight management and varicocele on fertility should be taken into account in fertility guidance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combining data visualizations, animations, and audio narrations, data videos can increase viewer engagement and effectively communicate data stories. Due to their increasing popularity, data videos have gained growing attention from the visualization research community. However, recent research on data videos has focused on animations, lacking an understanding of narrations. In this work, we study how data videos use narrations and animations to convey information effectively. We conduct a qualitative analysis on 426 clips with visualizations extracted from 60 data videos collected from a variety of media outlets, covering a diverse array of topics. We manually label 816 sentences with 1226 semantic labels and record the composition of 2553 animations through an open coding process. We also analyze how narrations and animations coordinate with each other by assigning links between semantic labels and animations. With 937 (76.4%) semantic labels and 2503 (98.0%) animations linked, we identify four types of narration‐animation relationships in the collected clips. Drawing from the findings, we discuss study implications and future research opportunities of data videos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photonics has spurred a myriad of diagnostic and therapeutic applications for defeating cancer owing to its superiority in spatiotemporal maneuverability and minimal harm. The limits of light penetration depth and elusiveness of photosensitizer utilization, however, impede the implementation of the photodiagnostic and ‐therapy for determining and annihilating the deep‐situated tumor. Herein, a promising strategy that harnesses functional optical fibers is developed and demonstrated to realize an in vivo endoscopic cancer sensing and therapy ensemble. Tumor detection is investigated using hypoxia‐sensitive fluorescent fibers to realize fast and accurate tumor recognition and diagnosis. The tumor treatment is further performed by exploiting the endogenous photothermal effect of rare‐earth‐doped optical fibers. The eradication of orthotopic and subcutaneous xenografts significantly validates the availability of tumoricidal fibers. The strategy opens horizons to inspire the design of optical fiber‐mediated "plug and play" precise tumor theranostics with high safety, which may intrigue broader fields, such as fiber optics, materials, chemistry, medicine, and clinics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although there has been significant progress in designing electrode materials and exploring the electrochemical reaction mechanisms in battery systems, the morphological, structural, and compositional evolution of electrode materials during charge/discharge processes remain poorly understood. This review focuses on the morphological evolution of electrode materials during cycling. First, electrode design in lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs), pointing out the inevitable morphological variations in the electrode during cycling, is discussed. To describe such variations, the origins of electrochemical activation, sintering, and reconstruction in LIBs are introduced. Their development, providing a profound interpretation of the morphological evolution and associated performance, in situ characterization of the reconstruction process, and advanced means for self‐adaptive reconstruction, is summarized. Subsequently, electrode materials and energy‐storage devices applicable to these concepts are introduced. Finally, current research challenges, e.g., deficiencies in the available research methods, limited information available on electrochemical reconstruction, and lack of precise control over electrochemical reconstruction, are discussed. Furthermore, the most likely areas where further breakthroughs in electrochemical reconstruction may be achieved are discussed. This review is expected to promote research interest in studies on the morphological, structural, and compositional variations in electrode materials and expand the connection between electrochemical activation, sintering, and reconstruction, facilitating the development of energy‐storage devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study investigated the effects of constant light exposure on polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)‐like endocrine and metabolic changes in high‐fat diet (HFD)‐fed rats and to elucidate the related microbiotic mechanisms. Methods: A total of 32 female Sprague‐Dawley rats were divided into four groups (n = 8 each): rats on a normal chow diet with standard light‐dark cycle, rats on a normal chow diet with constant light exposure, rats on an HFD with standard light‐dark cycle, and rats on an HFD with constant light exposure. After 16 weeks of treatment, changes in anthropometric parameters, estrous cycle, hormone profiles, ovarian pathology, and gut microbiota and short‐/medium‐chain fatty acids in colon contents were assessed. Results: Constant light exposure aggravated PCOS‐like phenotypes in HFD‐fed rats, such as hyperandrogenism, disrupted estrous cycle, and polycystic ovaries. Additionally, constant light exposure and an HFD synergized to decrease α‐diversity of gut microbiota, create a reduced abundance of Ruminococcus genus, and create an increased abundance of Firmicutes and the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio. In HFD‐fed rats, the group with constant light exposure had an increase in propionate acid and a decrease in total medium‐chain fatty acids in colon contents compared with the standard light‐dark cycle group. Conclusions: Constant light exposure causes gut dysbiosis, alters production of short‐ and medium‐chain fatty acids, and aggravates PCOS‐like traits in HFD‐fed rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to research the role and underlying mechanism of miR-195 involved in pancreatic β-cell dedifferentiation induced by hyperlipemia in type 2 diabetes mellitus.Methods: High-fat-diet-induced obese C57BL/6J mice and palmitate-stimulated Min6 cells were used as the models of β-cell dedifferentiation in vivo and in vitro, respectively. The expression of miR-195 and insulin secretion during β-cell dedifferentiation were measured. Also, the influence of regulated miR-195 expression on β-cell dedifferentiation was examined. Meanwhile, the IRS-1/2/Pi3k/Akt pathway and mitofusin-2 (Mfn2) expression were investigated during β-cell dedifferentiation.Results: MiR-195 was upregulated during lipotoxicity-induced β-cell dedifferentiation in both in vivo and in vitro experiments, and miR-195 functionally contributed to lipotoxicity-induced β-cell dedifferentiation. Furthermore, miR-195 inhibited IRS-1/2/Pi3k/Akt pathway activation, which accompanied β-cell dedifferentiation. Mfn2, a target of miR-195, was found to be downregulated and was associated with increased mitochondrial production of reactive oxygen species during β-cell dedifferentiation. Instructively, inhibition of miR-195, at least partially, reversed the downregulation of Mfn2, restored IRS-1/2/Pi3k/Akt pathway activation, and prevented β-cell dedifferentiation.Conclusions: MiR-195 promoted β-cell dedifferentiation through negatively regulating Mfn2 expression and inhibiting the IRS-1/2/Pi3k/Akt pathway, providing a promising treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a classic NP‐hard problem in machine learning and computational geometry, the k‐means problem aims to partition the given points into k sets to minimize the within‐cluster sum of squares. The k‐means problem with penalties (k‐MPWP), as a generalizing problem of the k‐means problem, allows a point that can be either clustered or penalized with some positive cost. In this paper, we mainly apply the parallel seeding algorithm to the k‐MPWP, and show sufficient analysis to bound the expected solution quality in the case where both the number of iterations and the number of points sampled in each iteration can be given arbitrarily. The approximate guarantee can be obtained as O(f(M)lnk), where f(M) is a polynomial function involving the maximal ratio M between the penalties. On one hand, this result can be viewed as a further improvement on the parallel algorithm for k‐MPWP given by Li et al., where the number of iterations depends on other factors. On the other hand, our result also generalizes the one solving the k‐means problem presented by Bachem et al., because k‐MPWP is a variant of the k‐means problem. Moreover, we present a numerical experiment to show the effectiveness of the parallel algorithm for k‐means with penalties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the influence of diverse anti‐rheumatic agents on the periodontal condition and to provide clinical medication guidance for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and periodontitis. Background: In recent years, the correlation between RA and periodontitis has become a hot research topic, but no medication recommendations for patients with RA and periodontitis are available at present. Methods: The protocol of this review was registered in advance with PROSPERO (CRD42021248827). Electronic search and manual searches up to March 20, 2021 were conducted. The inclusion criteria for the studies were as follows: included patients diagnosed with periodontitis and RA submitted to anti‐rheumatic agent therapy; with a control group receiving no anti‐rheumatic agent therapy; with outcomes including at least one periodontal parameter. Probing depth (PD) and clinical attachment loss (CAL) were pooled using weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) while gingival index (GI)/modified gingival index (MGI) was analyzed by standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% CI. Results: One thousand four hundred and seventy‐eight studies potentially related to the aim of this review were screened, but only 463 patients from 14 studies were included in the qualitative analysis, and 146 patients from 4 studies were included in the meta‐analysis. Statistically significant reductions were observed among the subjects who received anti‐rheumatic agents for PD [WMD = −0.20; 95% CI (−0.33, −0.07); effect p =.003; I2 = 50%; p =.11], CAL [WMD = −0.4; 95% CI (−0.66, −0.15); effect p =.002; I2 = 57%; p =.07] and GI/MGI [SMD = −0.61;95% CI (−0.94, −0.27; effect p =.0004; I2 = 26%; p =.25]. Consistent with the above results, this systematic review produced promising results that PD, CAL, GI/MGI, and bleeding on probing (BOP) decreased when patients with RA and periodontitis were treated with conventional synthetic disease‐modifying anti‐rheumatic drugs (csDMARDs), anti‐B lymphocyte agents, anti‐IL‐6R agents, or JAK inhibitors. PD and CAL declined after the administration of anti‐TNF‐α agents; most studies reported decreased GI/MGI and BOP, while 2 studies reported increased GI/MGI and BOP. Conclusions: These results revealed that csDMARDs, anti‐B lymphocyte agents, anti‐IL‐6R agents, anti‐TNF‐α agents, and JAK inhibitors had potential positive effects in improving the periodontal condition of patients with RA and periodontitis. However, future research is needed to elucidate whether anti‐TNF‐α agents have a side effect of increased gingival inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Sanguinarine (SAN) is a benzophenanthridine alkaloid that broadly targets a range of pathways in mammalian and fungal cells. In this study we set out to explore the molecular mechanism of sanguinarine inhibition of the fungal development and pathogenicity of Magnaporthe oryzae with the hope that sanguinarine will bolster the development of antiblast agents. RESULTS: We found that the fungus exhibited a significant reduction in vegetative growth and hyphal melanization while the spores produced long germ tubes on the artificial hydrophobic surface characteristic of a defect in thigmotropic sensing when exposed to 4, 8 and 0.5 μm sanguinarine, respectively. Consistent with these findings, we observed that the genes involved in melanin biosynthesis and the fungal hydrophobin MoMPG1 were remarkably suppressed in mycelia treated with 8 μm sanguinarine. Additionally, sanguinarine inhibited appressorium formation at a dose of 1.0 μm and this defect was restored by supplementing 5 mM of exogenous cAMP. By qRT‐PCR assay we found cAMP pathway signalling genes such as MoCAP1 and MoCpkA were significantly repressed whereas MoCDTF1 and MoSOM1 were upregulated in sanguinarine‐treated strains. Furthermore, we showed that sanguinarine does not selectively inhibit vegetative growth and appressorium formation of Guy11 but also other strains of M. oryzae. Finally, treatment of sanguinarine impaired the appressorium‐mediated penetration and pathogenicity of M. oryzae in a dose‐dependent manner. CONCLUSION: Based on our results we concluded that sanguinarine is an attractive antimicrobial candidate for fungicide development in the control of rice blast disease. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A bifunctional fluorescence probe (PCT) based on 2‐Hydroxy‐1‐naphthaldehyde and thiosemicarbazide was developed. The probe PCT can selectively detect Ag+ and Al3+ with two clear fluorescence color changes from colorless to yellow and blue violet, respectively. According to the Job's plots and mass spectrum, the binding stoichiometry of the probe PCT with Ag+ and Al3+ was 1 : 1, respectively. Moreover, the detection limit values of PCT for Ag+ and Al3+ in neutral solutions were 1.97 and 1.63 nM and these values were remarkably lower than allowed Ag+ and Al3+ concentrations in potable water determined by the World Health Organization (WHO). The distinct different binding mode were elucidated in this paper. Finally, the probe PCT has been used successfully for the detection of Ag+ and Al3+ in real water samples, logic gate and test paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ga2O3 is a promising anode material for lithium ion batteries (LIBs) owing to its high theoretical capacity and low lithiation potential. However, its performance improvement has been seriously hindered by the sluggish reaction kinetics. Herein, Ga2O3/N doped C nanopapers (Ga2O3/NC NPs) are firstly designed and synthesized via a scalable biomass‐aided approach. The as‐prepared Ga2O3/NC NPs deliver high reversible capacity and prominent rate capability as anode for LIBs, owing to its excellent reaction kinetics. It shows high discharge capacity of 477 mAh g−1 after 200 cycles at 0.2 A g−1, without obvious capacity attenuation upon cycling. After 3 periodic rate performance testing ranging from 0.1 to 1.6 A g−1, the reversible capacity of the Ga2O3/NC NPs still retains to 517 mAh g−1 when the current is reverting to 0.1 A g−1. The low and safe working potential, the prominent electrochemical performance and the scalable synthesis method for the Ga2O3/NC NPs endow it with great promising toward practical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipids are major and essential constituents of plant cells and provide energy for various metabolic processes. However, the function of the lipid signal in defence against Verticillium dahliae, a hemibiotrophic pathogen, remains unknown. Here, we characterized 19 conserved stearoyl‐ACP desaturase family proteins from upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum). We further confirmed that GhSSI2 isoforms, including GhSSI2‐A, GhSSI2‐B, and GhSSI2‐C located on chromosomes A10, D10, and A12, respectively, played a dominant role to the cotton 18:1 (oleic acid) pool. Suppressing the expression of GhSSI2s reduced the 18:1 level, which autoactivated the hypersensitive response (HR) and enhanced cotton Verticillium wilt and Fusarium wilt resistance. We found that low 18:1 levels induced phenylalanine ammonia‐lyase‐mediated salicylic acid (SA) accumulation and activated a SA‐independent defence response in GhSSI2s‐silenced cotton, whereas suppressing expression of GhSSI2s affected PDF1.2‐dependent jasmonic acid (JA) perception but not the biosynthesis and signalling cascade of JA. Further investigation showed that structurally divergent resistance‐related genes and nitric oxide (NO) signal were activated in GhSSI2s‐silenced cotton. Taken together, these results indicate that SA‐independent defence response, multiple resistance‐related proteins, and elevated NO level play an important role in GhSSI2s‐regulated Verticillium wilt resistance. These findings broaden our knowledge regarding the lipid signal in disease resistance and provide novel insights into the molecular mechanism of cotton fungal disease resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polar growth during appressorium formation is vital for the penetration peg formation in the rice blast fungus, Magnaporthe oryzae. Previous research has shown that the Sln1‐septin‐exocyst complex, localized at the base of the appressorium in contact with the leaf surface, forms a ring structure that influences growth polarity and affects penetration peg formation, and is necessary for pathogenicity. Our previous research showed CK2 proteins assemble another ring structure positioned perpendicular to the Sln1‐septin‐exocyst complex. Our research showed that the CK2 ring needs to become correctly assembled for penetration peg function and subsequent plant infection. In the present study, we found that the ring structures of CK2 are absent in the appressorium of ΔMoSep3 septin deletion mutants lacking the septin ring of the Sln1‐septin‐exocyst complex. Sln1 affects the septin proteins that recruit the exocyst complex that localizes as another ring at the appressorium's bottom. Destruction of the exocyst complex by mutation also causes incorrect localization of the CK2 ring structure. In conclusion, CK2 probably takes part in reestablishing the appressorium' spolarity growth necessary for penetration peg formation. We can also conclude that the correct localization and assembly of one or more CK2 ring structures in the appressorium depend on the initial assembly of the Sln1‐septin‐exocyst complex two rings at the base of the appressorium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) is constantly attacked by pathogens and insects. The most efficient control strategy is to develop resistant varieties using broad‐spectrum gene resources. Several resistance loci harboured by superior varieties have been identified through genome‐wide association studies. However, the key genes and/or loci have not been functionally identified. In this study, we identified a locus significantly associated with Verticillium wilt (VW) resistance, and within a 145.5‐kb linkage disequilibrium, two non‐specific lipid transfer protein genes (named GhnsLTPsA10) were highly expressed under Verticillium pathogen stress. The expression of GhnsLTPsA10 significantly increased in roots upon Verticilliumdahliae stress but significantly decreased in leaves under insect attack. Furthermore, GhnsLTPsA10 played antagonistic roles in positively regulating VW and Fusarium wilt resistance and negatively mediating aphid and bollworm resistance in transgenic Arabidopsis and silenced cotton. By combining transcriptomic, histological and physiological analyses, we determined that GhnsLTPsA10‐mediated phenylpropanoid metabolism further affected the balance of the downstream metabolic flux of flavonoid and lignin biosynthesis. The divergent expression of GhnsLTPsA10 in roots and leaves coordinated resistance of cotton against fungal pathogens and insects via the redirection of metabolic flux. In addition, GhnsLTPsA10 contributed to reactive oxygen species accumulation. Therefore, in this study, we elucidated the novel function of GhnsLTP and the molecular association between disease resistance and insect resistance, balanced by GhnsLTPsA10. This broadens our knowledge of the biological function of GhnsLTPsA10 in crops and provides a useful locus for genetic improvement of cotton. Significance Statement: Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) fibre quality and yield often decline sharply when infected with various diseases and insects. Here, we identified a locus which links two non‐specific lipid transfer proteins in cotton. The divergent tissue expression of the genes in the roots and leaves coordinated resistance of cotton to pathogens and insects via redirection of metabolic flux. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By displaying visual elements logically in temporal order, animated infographics can help readers better understand layers of information expressed in an infographic. While many techniques and tools target the quick generation of static infographics, few support animation designs. We propose InfoMotion that automatically generates animated presentations of static infographics. We first conduct a survey to explore the design space of animated infographics. Based on this survey, InfoMotion extracts graphical properties of an infographic to analyze the underlying information structures; then, animation effects are applied to the visual elements in the infographic in temporal order to present the infographic. The generated animations can be used in data videos or presentations. We demonstrate the utility of InfoMotion with two example applications, including mixed‐initiative animation authoring and animation recommendation. To further understand the quality of the generated animations, we conduct a user study to gather subjective feedback on the animations generated by InfoMotion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fenton or Fenton‐like reactions are ubiquitous in nature, and the hydroxyl radicals (·OH) generated in these reactions are accountable for a plethora of oxidation processes both in the environment and in vivo. Among these oxidation reactions, lipid oxidation initiated by ·OH radicals has long been oversimplified as a peroxidation mechanism, but in reality, it is a highly complicated process that can result in a large variety of products. Using the unique field‐induced droplet ionization mass spectrometry (FIDI‐MS) methodology that is capable of selective sampling of amphiphilic molecules that reside at the air–water interface, here, we show distinct mechanisms from the ultraviolet (UV)‐enhanced Fenton oxidations of two phospholipids, POPC and POPG, even though these two lipids possess the same functional groups that are vulnerable to ·OH attack. We postulate that it is the different packing densities that determine the permeability of ambient NO molecules into the monolayers, resulting in highly distinct reaction pathways and products. We anticipate that this work will be a wake‐up call that the lipid peroxidation mechanism is sometimes taken for granted and that lipid oxidation can be subtly affected by various factors that deserves deeper investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Bamboo shoot by‐products are regarded as waste and environmental pollutant. This study aimed to improve the functional properties of dietary fibre from bamboo shoot by‐products. After CO2 extrusion, the particle size of CO2‐extruded bamboo fibre was 17.6% lower than that of the control, and its specific surface area was 2.85 times that of the control. The soluble dietary fibre content was significantly increased from 5.64 g/100 g to 11.05 g/100 g (P < 0.05), and the capacities for water holding, swelling and oil holding were remarkably improved. The cholesterol adsorption of CO2‐extruded bamboo fibre was increased from 96.54 μg g−1 to 174.65 μg g−1 (pH 7.0), and its nitrite ion adsorption capacity was increased from 503.33 μg g−1 to 657.27 μg g−1 (pH 2.0). In summary, the structural changes of bamboo fibre such as internal porosity, surface roughening and low crystallinity indicated that its functional properties were improved after CO2 extrusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While Type I and Type II photosensitizers are often carefully tailored to achieve their respective advantages in treating different cancers, the identifications of the Type I and II mechanisms as such, the key reaction intermediates, and the consequent oxidation products of the substrates have never been easy. Using our unique home‐built field‐induced droplet ionization mass spectrometry (FIDI‐MS) method that selectively samples molecules at the air–water interface, here we show the facile determination of both Type I and II mechanisms of a poster‐child photosensitizer, temoporfin, without the addition of any probes. The unstable doublet radical resulting from the hydrogen abstraction by the triplet temoporfin through the Type I mechanism is captured, manifesting the in situ advantage of FIDI‐MS. We anticipate that the method developed in this study can be widely utilized in the future designs of novel photosensitizers and the screening of their photosensitization mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a growing public health concern worldwide. With the progression of urbanization, light pollution is becoming an inevitable risk factor for NAFLD. However, the role of light pollution on NAFLD is insufficiently understood, and the underlying mechanism remains unclear. The present study explored effects of constant light exposure on NAFLD and elucidated its related mechanisms. Methods: Thirty‐two male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four groups (n = 8 each): (i) rats on a normal diet exposed to standard light–dark cycle (ND‐LD); (ii) rats on a normal diet exposed to constant light (ND‐LL); (iii) rats on a high‐fat diet exposed to standard light–dark cycle (HFD‐LD); and (iv) and rats on a high‐fat diet exposed to constant light (HFD‐LL). After 12 weeks of treatment, rats were sacrificed and pathophysiological assessments were performed. Targeted lipidomics was used to measure sphingolipids, including ceramides, glucosylceramides, and lactosylceramides, sphingomyelins, and sphingosine‐1‐phosphates in plasma and liver tissues. Results: In normal chow rats, constant light exposure led to glucose abnormalities and dyslipidemia. In high‐fat‐fed rats, constant light exposure exacerbated glucose abnormalities, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and inflammation and aggravated steatohepatitis. Compared with HFD‐LD rats, HFD‐LL had decreased plasma sphingosine‐1‐phosphate and elevated liver concentrations of total ceramide and specific ceramide species (ceramide d18:0/24:0, ceramide d18:1/22:0, ceramide d18:1/24:0, and ceramide d18:1/24:1), which were associated with increased hepatocyte apoptosis. Conclusions: Constant light exposure causes dysregulation of sphingolipids and promotes steatohepatitis in high‐fat‐fed rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two novel Co (II)‐ coordination polymers (CPs) based on 2,5‐bis(4‐carboxylpheny)‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole (bcpo), namely [Co/(bcpo)0.5(tib)(H2O)2]n (1) and [Co (bcpo)0.5(bidpe)(H2O)2]n (2) (tib = 1,3,5‐tirs(1‐imidazolyl)benzene, bidpe = 4,4′‐bis (imidazolyl)diphenyl ether) have been synthesized under solvothermal conditions and characterized by powder X‐ray diffraction (PXRD), single crystal X‐ray diffraction, photochemistry as well as electrochemistry. The investigation of the photo‐degradation methyl blue and methyl violet (MB, MV) properties of CPs 1–2 demonstrates that CP 1 shows great performance for the degradation of MB, and CP 2 could efficiently degrade MB/MV. Meanwhile, the possible photo‐degradation mechanism has been proposed and explored. Simultaneously, electrochemistry studies show that both CPs 1 and 2 can catalyze water oxidation under an alkaline condition at the potential around 1.20 V vs. NHE with relatively low overpotential of 330–510 mV vs. NHE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the potential role of Lin28a in the development of restenosis after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, double‐balloon injury surgery and mono‐balloon injury surgery were used to establish restenosis and atherosclerosis models, respectively, so as to better distinguish restenosis from atherosclerotic lesions. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that significantly higher expression of Lin28a was observed in the iliac arteries of restenosis plaques than that of atherosclerosis plaques. Immunofluorescence studies showed the colocalization of Lin28a with α‐smooth muscle actin in restenosis plaques, rather than in atherosclerosis plaques, which suggested that Lin28a might be related to the unique behaviour of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in restenosis. To further confirm above hypothesis, Lin28a expression was up‐regulated by transfection of Lenti‐Lin28a and inhibited by Lenti‐Lin28a‐shRNA transfection in cultured VSMCs, and then the proliferation and migration capability of VSMCs were detected by EdU and Transwell assays, respectively. Results showed that the proliferation and migration of VSMCs were significantly increased in accordance with the up‐regulation of Lin28a expression, while above behaviours of VSMCs were significantly suppressed after inhibiting the expression of Lin28a. In conclusion, the up‐regulation of Lin28a exerts its modulatory effect on VSMCs' proliferation and migration, which may play a critical role in contributing to pathological formation of restenosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oxidation of antioxidants by oxidizers imposes great challenges to both living organisms and the food industry. Here we show that the host–guest complexation of the carefully designed, positively charged, amphiphilic guanidinocalix[5]arene pentadodecyl ether (GC5A‐12C) and negatively charged oleic acid (OA), a well‐known cell membrane antioxidant, prevents the oxidation of the complex monolayers at the air–water interface from two potent oxidizers hydroxyl radicals (OH) and singlet delta oxygen (SDO). OH is generated from the gas phase and attacks from the top of the monolayer, while SDO is generated inside the monolayer and attacks amphiphiles from a lateral direction. Field‐induced droplet ionization mass spectrometry results have demonstrated that the host–guest complexation achieves steric shielding and prevents both types of oxidation as a result of the tight and "sleeved in" physical arrangement, rather than the chemical reactivity, of the complexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tetracycline (TC) is one of the most widely used antibiotics in aquaculture, and its good water solubility makes it a major contaminant in seawater. Therefore, it is very necessary and challenging to develop an efficient detection method. In this work, two novel metal–organic frameworks [Zn (bpydb)(bimmb)0.5]n (1), {[Zn2(bpydb)2(bimb)]·[Zn (bpydb)(bimb)]·H2O}n (2), (bimb = 1,4‐bis (lmidazol) butane, H2bypdb = 4,4′‐(4,4'‐Bipyridine‐2,6‐diyl)dibenzoic acid, bimmb = 1,4‐bis (imidazol‐1‐ylmethyl)benzene) were successfully synthesized under solvothermal conditions. Zn‐MOF 1–2 were characterized by X‐ray powder diffraction (PXRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). As expected, 1–2 have excellent fluorescence properties, thermal stability and good structural stability in water. TC in water can be detected by fluorescence quenching with high selectivity. At the same time, the fluorescence quenching efficiency remains unchanged in the presence of other interfering antibiotics and in aqueous solutions of different pH values (pH = 3–10). The detection ability of 1 in real seawater has not changed substantially, showing considerable practical application prospects. Interestingly, 1–2 also efficiently detected traces of acetone in solution with detection limits of 0.07 μM (4.38 ppb) and 0.18 μM (10.85 ppb), respectively. In addition, the mechanism of fluorescence quenching is further discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Differentiated thyroid cancer involves thyroid follicular carcinoma (FTC) and papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Patients with FTC have a worse prognosis than those with PTC for early metastasis through blood of FTC. However, the mechanism of poor prognosis of FTC is still unclear. Here, we aim to evaluate the role of DUSP5 in the prognostic evaluation of FTC. Method: We searched the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database for the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between FTC and PTC, and then combined with survival analysis of cBioPortal database to locate the gene significantly related to prognosis. Tissue microarrays and clinical tissues were used to examine DUSP5 expression by immunohistochemical (IHC) staining between FTC and PTC tissues. In vitro experiment, proliferation, migration and invasion of FTC were observed after regulation of DUSP5 by transfection of siRNA and plasmids, respectively. Results: After searching the GEO database, 26 DEGs were found. DUSP5 was significantly associated with prognosis of FTC in combination with survival analysis. Data of IHC staining showed lower expression of DUSP5 in FTC compared to PTC tissues. Furthermore, overexpression of DUSP5 inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion accompanied with low level of MMP9 and Vimentin and high level of E‐cadherin. Nevertheless, inhibition of DUSP5 ameliorated above damaging effect on the proliferation, migration and invasion. Conclusion: DUSP5 was differentially expressed in FTC and PTC tissues. Low level of DUSP5 in FTC participates in the high frequency of metastasis, and further contributes to poor prognosis of FTC. DUSP5 could be served as a novel therapeutic target for FTC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Hypertensive nephropathy (HTN) is one of the leading causes of end‐stage renal disease and is closely associated with inflammation and tubule‐interstitial fibrosis. The molecular mechanism underlying HTN remains unclear. This study used bioinformatic analysis to identify the novel gene targets for HTN. Methods: We downloaded the microarray data of GSE99325 and GSE32591 from Gene Expression Omnibus. The dataset comprised 20 HTN and 15 normal samples. The differentially expressed genes (DEG) were identified, and then gene ontology (GO) enrichment was performed, and a GO tree was constructed by using clusterProfiler and ClueGO. In addition, a protein–protein interaction network was established using the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes database and visualized by Cytoscape. The novel hub genes were validated in in vitro experiments. Results: A total of 267 genes (117 up‐regulated and 150 down‐regulated genes) were identified as DEG. GO analysis and the GO tree indicated that the DEG were mainly associated with steroid hormone response and the extracellular matrix. Based on the protein–protein interaction network, we screened out several novel hub genes. Considering the findings and the literature review, we focused on and validated the dual specificity phosphatase 1, tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases 1, fos proto‐oncogene and jun proto‐oncogenes, which may play significant roles in the pathogenesis of HTN. These findings were consistent with the bioinformatic results for the in vitro validation. Conclusion: This study identified for the first time novel hub genes with microarray data in HTN by using bioinformatic analysis and provided novel evidence and clues for future works. SUMMARY AT A GLANCE: This manuscript reported the identification of several differentially expressed genes by using bioinformatic analysis on microarray data. These results provided useful information for further understanding on the pathogenesis of hypertensive nephrosclerosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study is to detect pyroptosis in macrophages stimulated with Porphyromonas gingivalis and elucidate the mechanism by which P. gingivalis induces pyroptosis in macrophages. Methods: The immortalized human monocyte cell line U937 was stimulated with P. gingivalis W83. Flow cytometry was carried out to detect pyroptosis in macrophages. The expression of miR‐155 was detected by real‐time PCR and inhibited using RNAi. Suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) 1, cleaved GSDMD, caspase (CAS)‐1, caspase‐11, apoptosis‐associated speck‐like protein (ASC), and NOD‐like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) were detected by Western blotting, and IL‐1β and IL‐18 were detected by ELISA. Results: The rate of pyroptosis in macrophages and the expression of miR‐155 increased upon stimulation with P. gingivalis and pyroptosis rate decreased when miR‐155 was silenced. GSDMD‐NT, CAS‐11, CAS‐1, ASC, NLRP3, IL‐1β, and IL‐18 levels increased, but SOCS1 decreased in U937 cells after stimulated with P. gingivalis. These changes were weakened in P. gingivalis‐stimulated U937 macrophages transfected with lentiviruses carrying miR‐155 shRNA compared to those transfected with non‐targeting control sequence. However, there was no significant difference in ASC expression between P. gingivalis‐stimulated shCont and shMiR‐155 cells. Conclusions: Porphyromonas gingivalis promotes pyroptosis in macrophages during early infection. miR‐155 is involved in this process through regulating the NLRP3 inflammasome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although lithium–oxygen batteries (LOBs) hold great promise as future energy storage systems, they are impeded by insulated discharge product Li2O2 and sluggish oxygen reduction reaction/oxygen evolution revolution (ORR/OER) kinetics. The application of a highly efficient cathode catalyst determines the LOBs performance. The d‐band modulation and catalytic kinetics promotion are important concept guidelines for the performance enhancement of cathode catalysts. In this work, the homogeneous in‐plane distortion‐derived synergistic catalytic capability of an Ag2Mo2O7 catalyst with modulated d‐band centers and promoted ORR/OER kinetics is demontrated. The uniform elongation of Ag─O bonds and compression of Mo─O bonds in (020) plane leads to d‐band splitting and d‐band center optimization and delivers improved adsorption behavior for high ORR/OER capability. Furthermore, the spatial and energy overlap of Ag dxz and O2 anti‐bonding π* orbitals facilitate electron injection during ORR process and reduce the energy barrier for charge transfer and O2 desorption during OER process, accelerating the ORR/OER kinetics. As a result, the (020) plane‐exposed Ag2Mo2O7 cathode exhibits ultralong cycle stability of 817 cycles at 500 mA g−1 and large specific discharge/charge capacities of 15898/15180 mAh g−1. This work provides facile concept guidance for optimizing catalytic capability through controlled lattice distortion in cathode catalysts for LOBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: As numerical models are increasingly used as a design tool in geotechnical engineering, it is highly desirable if geotechnical reliability analysis can be conducted based on numeral models. Currently, the practical use of geotechnical reliability analysis‐based numerical models is still quite limited. In this study, an easy to access method is derived to conduct geotechnical reliability analysis based on numerical models. To facilitate its application, a procedure is outlined to implement the suggested method such that geotechnical reliability analysis can be automated using existing geotechnical numerical packages. The procedure is illustrated in detail with an example, and the source codes provided can be easily adapted to analyze other similar problems. The method described in this paper is used to study the reliability of a deteriorating reinforced concrete drainage culvert in Shanghai, China. The suggested method provides a convenient means for reliability analysis of complex geotechnical problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The establishment of new enzymatic function in an existing scaffold is a great challenge for protein engineers. In previous work, a highly efficient artificial selenoenzyme with controllable activity was constructed, based on a Ca2+‐responsive recoverin (Rn) protein. In this study, a design strategy combining docking, molecular dynamics, and MM‐PBSA is presented, to predict the catalytically active site of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) on the allosteric domain of Rn. The energy contributions of the binding hot spot residues are evaluated further by energy decomposition analysis to determine the detailed substrate recognition mechanism of Rn, which provides clear guidance for artificial enzyme design for improved substrate binding (Michaelis–Menten constant, Km). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Outliers, the data instances that do not conform with normal patterns in a dataset, are widely studied in various domains, such as cybersecurity, social analysis, and public health. By detecting and analyzing outliers, users can either gain insights into abnormal patterns or purge the data of errors. However, different domains usually have different considerations with respect to outliers. Understanding the defining characteristics of outliers is essential for users to select and filter appropriate outliers based on their domain requirements. Unfortunately, most existing work focuses on the efficiency and accuracy of outlier detection, neglecting the importance of outlier interpretation. To address these issues, we propose Oui, a visual analytic system that helps users understand, interpret, and select the outliers detected by various algorithms. We also present a usage scenario on a real dataset and a qualitative user study to demonstrate the effectiveness and usefulness of our system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]