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Antimony selenide (Sb2Se3) has developed as an eco‐friendly photovoltaic candidate owing to its non‐toxic composition and exceptional optoelectronic properties. However, the toxic and parasitic light‐absorbing CdS are widely used as electron transport layer (ETL) in Sb2Se3 solar cells, which severely limits its development. Herein, an alternative, zinc tin oxide (ZTO) ETL with varying composition‐dependent energy structure is deposited by atomic layer deposition (ALD) technique and used for constructing Cd‐free Sb2Se3 solar cells. It has been found that the ZTO ETL possessing an appropriate Zn/Sn ratio can alter the Sb2Se3/ZTO heterojunction band alignment to an ideal "spike‐like" arrangement. It not only suppresses the accumulation and recombination of charge carriers at the interface, but also effectively enhances carrier transport. In addition, thanks to the formation of passivated Sb2O3 ultra‐thin layer upon ALD process, the non‐radiative recombination within bulk Sb2Se3 can be effectively suppressed, and therefore enhancing carrier lifetime, extraction efficiency, and collection efficiency. Consequently, the as‐fabricated Mo/Sb2Se3/ZTO/ITO/Ag thin‐film solar cell demonstrates an impressive efficiency of 8.63%. This accomplishment establishes it as the most efficient Cd‐free Sb2Se3 solar cell to date, underscoring the significant advantages of incorporating ZTO ETL in the development of Sb2Se3 photovoltaic scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Xylan is one of the major hemicelluloses in plant cell walls and its xylosyl backbone is often decorated at O‐2 with glucuronic acid (GlcA) and/or methylglucuronic acid (MeGlcA) residues. The GlcA/MeGlcA side chains may be further substituted with 2‐O‐arabinopyranose (Arap) or 2‐O‐galactopyranose (Gal) residues in some plant species, but the enzymes responsible for these substitutions remain unknown. During our endeavor to investigate the enzymatic activities of Arabidopsis MUR3‐clade members of the GT47 glycosyltransferase family, we found that one of them was able to transfer Arap from UDP‐Arap onto O‐2 of GlcA side chains of xylan, and thus it was named xylan 2‐O‐arabinopyranosyltransferase 1 (AtXAPT1). The function of AtXAPT1 was verified in planta by its T‐DNA knockout mutation showing a loss of the Arap substitution on xylan GlcA side chains. Further biochemical characterization of XAPT close homologs from other plant species demonstrated that while the poplar ones had the same catalytic activity as AtXAPT1, those from Eucalyptus, lemon‐scented gum, sea apple, 'Ohi'a lehua, duckweed and purple yam were capable of catalyzing both 2‐O‐Arap and 2‐O‐Gal substitutions of xylan GlcA side chains albeit with differential activities. Sequential reactions with XAPTs and glucuronoxylan methyltransferase 3 (GXM3) showed that XAPTs acted poorly on MeGlcA side chains, whereas GXM3 could efficiently methylate arabinosylated or galactosylated GlcA side chains of xylan. Furthermore, molecular docking and site‐directed mutagenesis analyses of Eucalyptus XAPT1 revealed critical roles of several amino acid residues at the putative active site in its activity. Together, these findings establish that XAPTs residing in the MUR3 clade of family GT47 are responsible for 2‐O‐arabinopyranosylation and 2‐O‐galactosylation of GlcA side chains of xylan. Significance Statement: Xylan is one of the major hemicelluloses in plant cell walls and its GlcA side chains may be further substituted with 2‐O‐Arap or 2‐O‐Gal residues. We have uncovered the functions of a subgroup of MUR3‐clade GT47 members in catalyzing the transfer of 2‐O‐Arap and/or 2‐O‐Gal onto GlcA side chains of xylan, which expands our understanding of glycosyltransferases involved in xylan substitutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a study on the skin manifestations of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant. The study found that approximately 18.69% of patients diagnosed with COVID-19 during the Omicron wave experienced skin symptoms related to the Omicron variant. The researchers observed various types of rashes, including a novel papular urticarial-like rash. The study suggests that skin manifestations can vary depending on the specific viral strains involved, providing important information for clinical diagnosis. The researchers also found evidence of endothelial damage caused by the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 in the skin of patients with Omicron-associated rashes. This study provides valuable insights into the diagnosis of Omicron-associated skin eruptions. [Extracted from the article]

Water exchange in the Luzon Strait (LS) is critical for layered circulation in the South China Sea (SCS); however, observational evidence of sandwich‐like water exchange is scarce. This study presents a comprehensive analysis of the meridional and zonal spatial patterns of water exchange in the upper and middle LS, along with its seasonal variations in a sigma–pi diagram using Argo profiles. As observed viewed from the perspective of SCS, inflow and outflow occur in the upper and middle layers, respectively. Upper‐layer Kuroshio intrudes into the SCS primarily in the northern and central regions of the LS, extending along the continental shelf into the inner SCS. A significant middle‐layer eastward outflow is evident at 26.7–27.56 kg/m3 (500–1,500 m) in the northern part of the strait, extending to 123°E. The Kuroshio intrusion intensifies during the winter, whereas the middle‐layer outflow is most pronounced in the autumn. Plain Language Summary: Understanding the circulation in marginal and inland seas is closely tied to comprehending the exchange of water between straits connecting neighboring oceans. The Luzon Strait, as a semi‐enclosed marginal sea, holds a pivotal role in shaping the layered circulation in the South China Sea. This study utilizes an extensive data set of Argo profiles to provide observational evidence of a layered zonal water exchange in the upper and middle Luzon Strait, offering detailed insights into the meridional and zonal patterns of water exchange and how they vary with the seasons. It reveals that inflow and outflow processes occur in the upper and middle layers observed viewed from the perspective of South China Sea, respectively. The upper‐layer intrusion of the Kuroshio is more prominent during the winter, while the middle‐layer outflow is most noticeable in the autumn. This research enhances our understanding of water exchange in the Luzon Strait and contributes to our knowledge of processes like water renewal, heat and salt budgets, and biogeochemical cycles in the South China Sea. Key Points: A novel insight into water exchange in the upper and middle Luzon Strait is provided using the sigma–pi diagramMeridional distribution of inflow (outflow) zonal water exchange in the upper (middle) Luzon Strait are describedUpper‐layer inflow was enhanced in winter, whereas middle‐layer outflow was significant during the autumn [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibiotic‐associated diarrhea is a common adverse reaction caused by the widespread use of antibiotics. The decrease in probiotics is one of the reasons why antibiotics cause drug‐induced diarrhea. However, few studies have addressed the intrinsic mechanism of antibiotics inhibiting probiotics. To investigate the underlying mechanism of levofloxacin against Bifidobacterium adolescentis, we used a metabolomics mass spectrometry‐based approach and molecular docking analysis for a levofloxacin‐induced B. adolescentis injury model. The results showed that levofloxacin reduced the survival rate of B. adolescentis and decreased the number of B. adolescentis. The untargeted metabolomics analysis identified 27 potential biomarkers, and many of these metabolites are involved in energy metabolism, amino acid metabolism and the lipid metabolism pathway. Molecular docking showed that levofloxacin can bind with aminoacyl‐tRNA synthetase and lactic acid dehydrogenase. This result provides a novel insight into the mechanism of the adverse reactions of levofloxacin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porous polyethylene glycol terephthalate (PET) film is a kind of mesopore structure template with pore size ranging from nanometer to micrometer by chemical etching after irradiation of heavy ions. The etching rate is an important factor affecting the pore morphology and quality of the membrane. In this paper, four stacked PET film were irradiated with 140 MeV 32S ions at room temperature and vacuum. During chemical etching of irradiated samples, the path etching rate Vt was determined by conduction method, and the bulk etching rate Vb was determined by weighing method. The relationship between etching temperature, concentration, sensitization time, and etching rate was studied. The results show that the etching rate is exponentially correlated with the etching temperature, and increases linearly with the increase of the etching solution concentration. When the concentration of NaOH is 3 mol·L−1 and the etching temperature is 75°C, the formation of cylindrical micropores is the most favorable. The pore size of porous PET film can be adjusted, and the relationship between pore size and etching time is dnm=15nm+0.24t. This is of great significance for the preparation of nanowires with uniform size and stable properties. Highlights: We have obtained the optimal conditions for obtaining cylindrical holes.The relationship between the diameter of holes and etching time were determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Submesoscale processes are essential in balancing global oceanic energy cascades and stimulating air–sea communications. However, measurements of submesoscale turbulence are still not acquired easily. Based on long‐term (2003–2012) shipboard current observations, we obtained direct evidence of considerable submesoscale energization in the Kuroshio, implied by conspicuous spectral characteristics across multiple scales. The submesoscale motions (peak at ∼26 km) exhibited topographically dependent features and typical contrarotating vortex‐pair forms for island wakes, indicating footprints of upstream islands and seamounts. The vortex regimes and stability were analyzed using dimensionless parameters. Furthermore, the submesoscale motions radiated energy in the form of near‐inertial waves, which exhibited consistent shear structures, and spread widely across the entire strait. These results highlight the role of topography in modulating dynamics by continuously promoting energy cascades into submesoscales, which is expected to be universal for rough topography in the ocean. Plain Language Summary: The Kuroshio flows through the Tokara Strait, which contains an island chain comprising a series of islands and seamounts. Based on long‐term and direct velocity measurements along a section that intersects the Kuroshio mainstream leeward of the island chain, we found that the dynamics across different spatial scales followed previously predicted submesoscale energy injection characteristics. This indicates active energy transfer from large scales to smaller scales and generation of submesoscale motions, which can be attributed to the effects of the upstream islands/seamounts and were further examined as largely near‐inertial waves. These findings suggest that prominent topographic features in the ocean are hotspots for submesoscale processes and energy transmission. Key Points: Nine‐year repeated Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler observations exhibited flat kinetic energy spectra and prominent energy injection in the submesoscale rangeAbrupt fence‐like topographic features promoted forward energy cascade toward submesoscale, flattening the kinetic energy spectraTopographically induced submesoscale motions radiated energy in the form of near‐inertial waves that spread across the strait [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Plant cell wall polysaccharides, including xylan, mannan, xyloglucan, and pectins, are often acetylated and members of the domain of unknown function 231 (DUF231)/trichome birefringence‐like (TBL) family have been shown to be O‐acetyltransferases mediating the acetylation of xylan, mannan, and xyloglucan. However, little is known about the O‐acetyltransferases responsible for pectin acetylation. In this report, we biochemically characterized a suite of Arabidopsis DUF231/TBL proteins for their roles in pectin acetylation. We generated 24 TBL recombinant proteins in mammalian cells and demonstrated that 10 of them were able to transfer acetyl groups from acetyl‐CoA onto the pectins homogalacturonan (HG) or rhamnogalacturonan‐I (RG‐I), and thus were named pectin O‐acetyltransferase 1 to 10 (POAT1 to 10). It was found that POAT2,4,9,10 specifically acetylated HG and POAT5,6 acetylated RG‐I, whereas POAT1,3,7,8 could act on both HG and RG‐I. The acetylation of HG and RG‐I by POATs was further corroborated by hydrolysis with pectin acetylesterases and by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. In addition, mutations of the conserved GDS and DXXH motifs in POAT3 and POAT8 were shown to lead to a loss of their ability to acetylate HG and RG‐I. Furthermore, simultaneous RNA interference downregulation of POAT1,3,6,7,8 resulted in reduced cell expansion, impaired plant growth, and decreased pectin acetylation. Together, our findings indicate that these POATs are pectin O‐acetyltransferases involved in acetylation of the pectin polysaccharides HG and RG‐I. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the problem of membership function‐dependent model predictive control (MFD‐MPC) of interval type‐2 Takagi–Sugeno (IT2 T‐S) fuzzy system is investigated. An online MFD‐MPC optimization problem is formulated to minimize an infinite horizon objective function subject to hard constraints on control input and system state. By using the variable dimension expansion method and dividing the operation domain of independent variables into several subdomains, a subregion‐based state feedback model predictive controller that offers more design flexibility is designed to stabilize the open‐loop fuzzy system. Based on descriptor system theory, the variable mismatching phenomenon between MFs and the coupling between plant, controller, and Lyapunov matrix are eliminated. Then, using the piecewise linear approximation technology, MFD sufficient conditions of low conservatism on guaranteeing recursive feasibility and the stability of IT2 closed‐loop fuzzy system are deduced by tightening terminal constraint set. Finally, a numerical example is provided to further explain the advance of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gastric cancer stem cells (GCSCs) are self‐renewing tumor cells that govern chemoresistance in gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC), whereas their regulatory mechanisms remain elusive. Here, the study aims to elucidate the role of ATOH1 in the maintenance of GCSCs. The preclinical model and GAC sample analysis indicate that ATOH1 deficiency is correlated with poor GAC prognosis and chemoresistance. ScRNA‐seq reveals that ATOH1 is downregulated in the pit cells of GAC compared with those in paracarcinoma samples. Lineage tracing reveals that Atoh1 deletion strongly confers pit cell stemness. ATOH1 depletion significantly accelerates cancer stemness and chemoresistance in Tff1‐CreERT2; Rosa26Tdtomato and Tff1‐CreERT2; Apcfl/fl; p53fl/fl (TcPP) mouse models and organoids. ATOH1 deficiency downregulates growth arrest‐specific protein 1 (GAS1) by suppressing GAS1 promoter transcription. GAS1 forms a complex with RET, which inhibits Tyr1062 phosphorylation, and consequently activates the RET/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway by ATOH1 deficiency. Combining chemotherapy with drugs targeting AKT/mTOR signaling can overcome ATOH1 deficiency‐induced chemoresistance. Moreover, it is confirmed that abnormal DNA hypermethylation induces ATOH1 deficiency. Taken together, the results demonstrate that ATOH1 loss promotes cancer stemness through the ATOH1/GAS1/RET/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in GAC, thus providing a potential therapeutic strategy for AKT/mTOR inhibitors in GAC patients with ATOH1 deficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Dopamine D1 receptor (D1R) hypofunction is associated with negative and cognitive symptoms in schizophrenia; therefore, the mechanism of D1R function modulation needs further investigation. Gm527 is the rodent homologous of the schizophrenia‐related gene C14orf28, encoding a predicated D1R‐interacting protein. However, the role of Gm527‐D1R interaction in schizophrenia needs to be clarified. Methods: Gm527‐floxed mice were generated and crossed with D1‐Cre mice (D1:Gm527−/−) to knockout Gm527 in D1R‐positive neurons. Then behavioral tests were performed to explore the schizophrenia‐related phenotypes. Immunofluorescence, fluorescence in situ hybridization, electrophysiological recording, quantitative real‐time PCR, and western blotting were conducted to investigate the mechanisms. Results: Working memory, long‐term memories, and adult neurogenesis in the DG were enhanced in D1:Gm527−/− mice. LTP was also increased in the DG in D1:Gm527−/− mice, resulting from the Gm527 knockout‐induced D1R expression enhancement on the plasma membrane and subsequently cAMP signaling and NMDA receptor pathways activation. The requirement of Gm527 knockout in the DG was confirmed by reversing Gm527 expression or knockdown Gm527 in the DG D1R‐positive neurons through AAV‐CAG‐FLEX‐Gm527‐GFP or AAV‐CMV‐FLEX‐EGFP‐Gm527‐RNAi injection. Conclusions: The DG Gm527 knockout induces D1R hyperfunction in improving schizophrenia cognitive symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

FAM64A is a mitogen‐induced regulator of the metaphase and anaphase transition. Here, we found that FAM64A messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein expression levels were higher in gastric cancer tissue than in normal mucosa (p <.05). FAM64A methylation was negatively correlated with FAM64A mRNA expression (p <.05). The differentially expressed genes of FAM64A were mainly involved in digestion, potassium transporting or exchanging ATPase, contractile fibers, endopeptidase, and pancreatic secretion (p <.05). The FAM64A‐related genes were principally categorized into ubiquitin‐mediated proteolysis, cell cycle, chromosome segregation and mitosis, microtubule binding and organization, metabolism of amino acids, cytokine receptors, lipid droplet, central nervous system, and collagen trimer (p <.05). FAM64A protein expression was lower in normal gastric mucosa than intestinal metaplasia, adenoma, and primary cancer (p <.05), negatively correlated with older age, T stage, lymphatic and venous invasion, tumor, node, metastasis stage, and dedifferentiation (p <.05), and associated with a favorable overall survival of gastric cancer patients. FAM64A overexpression promoted proliferation, antiapoptosis, migration, invasion, and epithelial–mesenchymal transition via the EGFR/Akt/mTOR/NF‐κB, while the opposite effect was observed for FAM64A knockdown. FAM64A also induced chemoresistance directly or indirectly through lipid droplet formation via ING5. These results suggested that upregulation of FAM64A expression might induce aggressive phenotypes, leading to gastric carcinogenesis and its subsequent progression. Thus, FAM64A could be regarded as a prognosis biomarker and a target for gene therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring better electrochemical energy storage devices is a great challenge. Lithium‐ion capacitors have attracted much attention because they combine the advantages of Li‐ion batteries and supercapacitors, but the mismatch between the kinetics and capacity of the cathode and anode is still an extraordinary gap. In order to address this issue, a cubic‐phase perovskite fluoride KMnF3 via a simple and safe coprecipitation way is synthesized. The KMnF3 electrode exhibits a cubic‐phase structure and a pseudocapacitive kinetics by X‐ray diffractometer and cyclic voltammetry. The high specific capacity (189 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1 for 500 cycles) and fast pseudocapacitive control dynamics (at the sweep speed of 0.2 mV s−1, the pseudocapacitance ratio is 62.12%) can be demonstrated in half cell, while the b‐value is up to 0.95. Further assembled with activate carbon to form lithium‐ion capacitors (LICs), KMnF3//AC delivers high energy density (24 Wh kg−1), high power density (3900 kW kg−1), and long cycle life over 4000 cycles. The findings shed lights on developing advanced electrode materials for high‐performance electrochemical LICs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kesterite Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 (CZTSSe) is a promising candidate for photodetector (PD) applications thanks to its excellent optoelectronic properties. In this work, a green solution‐ processed spin coating and selenization‐processed thermodynamic or kinetic growth of high‐quality narrow bandgap kesterite CZTSSe thin film is developed. A self‐powered CZTSSe/CdS thin‐film PD is then successfully fabricated. Under optimization of light absorber and heterojunction interface, especially tailoring the defect and carrier kinetics, it can achieve broadband response from 300 to 1300 nm, accompanied with a high responsivity of 1.37 A/W, specific detectivity (D*) up to 4.0 × 1014 Jones under 5 nW/cm2, a linear dynamic range (LDR) of 126 dB, and a maximum Ilight/Idark ratio of 1.3 × 108 within the LDR, and ultrafast response speed (rise/decay time of 16 ns/85 ns), representing the leading‐level performance to date, which is superior to those of commercial and well‐researched photodiodes. Additionally, an imaging system with a 905 nm laser is built for weak light response evaluation, and can respond to 718 pW weak light and infrared imaging at a wavelength as low as 5 nW/cm2. It has also been employed for photoplethysmography detection of pulsating signals at both the finger and wrist, presenting obvious arterial blood volume changes, demonstrating great application potential in broadband and weak light photodetection scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecological restoration projects (ERPs) are an indispensable component of natural climate solutions and have proven to be very important for reversing environmental degradation in vulnerable regions and enhancing ecosystem services. However, the level of enhancement would be inevitably influenced by global drought and rising CO2, which remain less investigated. In this study, we took the Beijing‐Tianjin sand source region (which has experienced long‐term ERPs), China, as an example and combined the process‐based Biome‐BGCMuSo model to set multiple scenarios to address this issue. We found ERP‐induced carbon sequestration (CS), water retention (WR), soil retention (SR), and sandstorm prevention (SP) increased by 22.21%, 2.87%, 2.35%, and 28.77%, respectively. Moreover, the ecosystem services promotion from afforestation was greater than that from grassland planting. Approximately 91.41%, 98.13%, and 64.51% of the increased CS, SR, and SP were contributed by afforestation. However, afforestation also caused the WR to decline. Although rising CO2 amplified ecosystem services contributed by ERPs, it was almost totally offset by drought. The contribution of ERPs to CS, WR, SR, and SP was reduced by 5.74%, 32.62%, 11.74%, and 14.86%, respectively, under combined drought and rising CO2. Our results confirmed the importance of ERPs in strengthening ecosystem services provision. Furthermore, we provide a quantitative way to understand the influence rate of drought and rising CO2 on ERP‐induced ecosystem service dynamics. In addition, the considerable negative climate change impact implied that restoration strategies should be optimized to improve ecosystem resilience to better combat negative climate change impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To assess the prognostic effect of plasma Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) DNA load after induction chemotherapy (postIC‐EBV DNA) on survival outcomes in locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (LA‐NPC). Methods: Patients who were diagnosed with LA‐NPC between August 2017 and October 2021 were included. The chi‐squared test, receiver operating characteristic, Kaplan–Meier survival analysis, and Cox proportional hazard model were used for statistical analysis. Results: We included 172 patients with EBV DNA‐positive LA‐NPC in this study. There were 35.5% (n = 61) of patients had plasma residual EBV DNA after induction chemotherapy (IC). Patients with higher EBV DNA before IC (p < 0.001) and advanced nodal stage (p = 0.031) were significantly related to a higher rate of residual postIC‐EBV DNA. Patients with detectable postIC‐EBV DNA had inferior 3‐year locoregional relapse‐free survival (LRFS) (86.7% vs. 96.9%, p = 0.020), distant metastasis‐free survival (DMFS) (76.8% vs. 94.2%, p < 0.001), disease‐free survival (DFS) (68.2% vs. 91.1%, p < 0.001), and overall survival (OS) (87.8% vs. 97.9%, p = 0.044) compared to those with undetectable postIC‐EBV DNA. The multivariate prognostic analyses showed that detectable postIC‐EBV DNA was the independent prognostic factor related to LRFS (p = 0.032), DMFS (p = 0.010), and DFS (p = 0.004) than those with undetectable postIC‐EBV DNA. Pretreatment EBV DNA load had no prognostic effect in the multivariate analyses. Conclusions: The monitoring of plasma postIC‐EBV DNA has improved prognostication in LA‐NPC. Our findings suggest that postIC‐EBV DNA may be a robust indicator to identify the optimal candidate for intensive treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The accuracy of the eighth AJCC ypTNM staging system on the prognosis of gastric cancer (GC) patients after neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) is controversial. This study aimed to develop and validate a novel staging system using the log odds of positive lymph nodes scheme (LODDS). Methods: A retrospective analysis of 606 GC patients who underwent radical gastrectomy after neoadjuvant therapy was conducted as the development cohort. (Fujian Medical University Affiliated Union Hospital (n = 183), Qinghai University Affiliated Hospital (n = 169), Mayo Clinic (n = 236), Lanzhou University First Hospital (n = 18)). The validation cohort came from the SEER database (n = 1701). A novel ypTLoddsS (ypTLM) staging system was established using the 3-year overall survival. The predictive performance of two systems was compared. Results: Two-step multivariate Cox regression analysis in both cohorts showed that ypTLM was an independent predictor of overall survival of GC patients after neoadjuvant therapy (HR: 1.57, 95% CI: 1.30–1.88, p < 0.001). In the development cohort, ypTLM had better discrimination ability than ypTNM (C-index: 0.663 vs 0.633, p < 0.001), better prediction homogeneity (LR: 97.7 vs. 70.9), and better prediction accuracy (BIC: 3067.01 vs 3093.82; NRI: 0.36). In the validation cohort, ypTLM had a better prognostic predictive ability (C-index: 0.614 vs 0.588, p < 0.001; LR: 11,909.05 vs. 11,975.75; BIC: 13,263.71 vs 13,328.24; NRI: 0.22). The time-dependent ROC curve shows that the predictive performance of ypTLM is better than ypTNM, and the analysis of the decision curve shows that ypTLM achieved better net benefits. Conclusion: A LODDS-based ypTLM staging system based on multicenter data was established and validated. The predictive performance was superior to the eighth AJCC ypTNM staging system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Tibetan Plateau's alpine ecosystem has been undergoing accelerated climate change and severe vegetation degradation in the past four decades, which has triggered a sharp increase in soil erosion hazards. However, the combined impacts of climate change and vegetation degradation on soil erodibility (K) across geographical and temporal scales remain unclear. Here, we present the first systematic investigation of spatio‐temporal variations in K under different land uses across the southern Tibetan Plateau over the last 35–40 years, and identify the associated driving factors based on a paired resampling campaign conducted in the 1980s and 2020, covering 148 field sites. K‐values derived for the majority of grassland (75.0%) and cropland (66.2%) sites, as well as for a substantial number of forest sites (46.7%) showed a decreasing tendency with time, with average decreases of 31%, 14%, and 5%, respectively. Changes in K were primarily (17.6%) attributed to soil erosion, but were exacerbated by climate change (8.2%). Interestingly, the declines in K resulted in significant decreases in (predicted) soil erosion rates as long as strong disturbances from climate change and human activities were absent. These findings confirm the existence of a negative feedback mechanism between soil erosion and K in most alpine ecosystems on the southern Tibetan Plateau. Our results reveal the extent to which the impact of vegetation degradation on the magnitude of K is enhanced by climate change, thereby providing new insights into the feedback between alpine ecosystems, climate change, and anthropogenic interference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

8‐methyldecanal is a characteristic ingredient of Australian finger lime (Citrus australasica), and has found important applications in flavour and fragrance industry. A novel and practical preparation method of 8‐methyldecanal is presented. Starting from cheap and readily available 6‐chloro‐1‐hexanol, 8‐methyldecanal was prepared in five steps with an overall yield of 50.7%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interleukin 37 (IL‐37), a member of the IL‐1 family, is considered a suppressor of innate and adaptive immunity and, hence is a regulator of tumor immunity. However, the specific molecular mechanism and role of IL‐37 in skin cancer remain unclear. Here, we report that IL‐37b‐transgenic mice (IL‐37tg) treated with the carcinogenic 7,12‐dimethylbenzoanthracene (DMBA)/12‐o‐tetradecylphorbol‐13‐acetate (TPA) exhibited enhanced skin cancer and increased tumor burden in the skin by inhibiting the function of CD103+ dendritic cells (DCs). Notably, IL‐37 induced rapid phosphorylation of adenosine 5'‐monophosphate (AMP)‐activated protein kinase (AMPK), and via single immunoglobulin IL‐1‐related receptor (SIGIRR), inhibited the long‐term Akt activation. Specifically, by affecting the SIGIRR‐AMPK‐Akt signaling axis, which is related to the regulation of glycolysis in CD103+DCs, IL‐37 inhibited their anti‐tumor function. Our results show that a marked correlation between the CD103+DC signature (IRF8, FMS‐like tyrosine kinase 3 ligand, CLEC9A, CLNK, XCR1, BATF3, and ZBTB46) and chemokines C‐X‐C motif chemokine ligand 9, CXCL10, and CD8A in a mouse model with DMBA/TPA‐induced skin cancer. In a word, our results highlight that IL‐37 as an inhibitor of tumor immune surveillance through modulating CD103+DCs and establishing an important link between metabolism and immunity as a therapeutic target for skin cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, CoF2 was synthesized by a solvothermal method. The characterization results of the phase and morphology of the sample show that it was successfully synthesized and its morphology is composed of micron particles with uneven size and shape. The electrochemical test results of SCs in different electrolytes show that CoF2 has electrochemical activity only in alkaline electrolytes. Notably, the electrochemical behavior of CoF2 in LiOH solution is different from that in other alkaline solutions in that charge‐discharge curve has a quasi‐isosceles triangle shape and the CV curve has no obvious redox peak. That is, it has pseudocapacitance behavior in LiOH. Furthermore, CoF2 as catalyst for HER requires an overpotential of only 168 mV to obtain current density of 10 mA cm−2 and a Tafel slope of 116 mV dec−1 in 1 M KOH solution. This research provides a novel way to explore excellent performance electrode materials for SC and HER. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetic wound healing still faces a dilemma because of the hostile hyperglycemic, oxidative, and easily‐infected wound microenvironment. In addition, advanced glycation end products (AGEs) further impede wound repair by altering the immunological balance. Herein, ceria nanorods with distinctive antiglycative and excellent antioxidative capacities are innovatively introduced into a self‐healing and erasable hydrogel, which could reshape the wound microenvironment by expediting hemostasis, inhibiting infection, reducing AGEs, and continuously depleting reactive oxygen species. The remitted oxidative stress and glycosylation synergistically regulate inflammatory responses, and promote revascularization and extracellular matrix deposition, resulting in accelerated diabetic wound repair. This study provides a highly efficient strategy for constructing nanoenzyme‐reinforced antiglycative hydrogel that regulates every wound healing stage for diabetic wound management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Grass xylan, the major hemicellulose in both primary and secondary cell walls, is heavily decorated with α‐1,3‐linked arabinofuranosyl (Araf) residues that may be further substituted at O‐2 with xylosyl (Xyl) or Araf residues. Although xylan 3‐O‐arabinosyltransferases (XATs) catalyzing 3‐O‐Araf addition onto xylan have been characterized, glycosyltransferases responsible for the transfer of 2‐O‐Xyl or 2‐O‐Araf onto 3‐O‐Araf residues of xylan to produce the Xyl‐Araf and Araf‐Araf disaccharide side chains remain to be identified. In this report, we showed that a rice GT61 member, named OsXAXT1 (xylan arabinosyl 2‐O‐xylosyltransferase 1) herein, was able to mediate the addition of Xyl‐Araf disaccharide side chains onto xylan when heterologously co‐expressed with OsXAT2 in the Arabidopsis gux1/2/3 (glucuronic acid substitution of xylan 1/2/3) triple mutant that lacks any glycosyl substitutions. Recombinant OsXAXT1 protein expressed in human embryonic kidney 293 cells exhibited a xylosyltransferase activity catalyzing the addition of Xyl from UDP‐Xyl onto arabinosylated xylooligomers. Consistent with its function as a xylan arabinosyl 2‐O‐xylosyltransferase, CRISPR‐Cas9‐mediated mutations of the OsXAXT1 gene in transgenic rice plants resulted in a reduction in the level of Xyl‐Araf disaccharide side chains in xylan. Furthermore, we revealed that XAXT1 close homologs from several other grass species, including switchgrass, maize, and Brachypodium, possessed the same functions as OsXAXT1, indicating functional conservation of XAXTs in grass species. Together, our findings establish that grass XAXTs are xylosyltransferases catalyzing Xyl transfer onto O‐2 of Araf residues of xylan to form the Xyl‐Araf disaccharide side chains, which furthers our understanding of genes involved in xylan biosynthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The diagnostic criteria for Parkinson's disease (PD) remain complex, which is especially problematic for nonmovement disorder experts. A test is required to establish a diagnosis of PD with improved accuracy and reproducibility. Objective: The study aimed to investigate the sensitivity and specificity of tests using sniffer dogs to diagnose PD. Methods: A prospective, diagnostic case‐control study was conducted in four tertiary medical centers in China to evaluate the accuracy of sniffer dogs to distinguish between 109 clinically established medicated patients with PD, 654 subjects without PD, 37 drug‐naïve patients with PD, and 185 non‐PD controls. The primary outcomes were sensitivity and specificity of sniffer dog's identification. Results: In the study with patients who were medicated, when two or all three sniffer dogs yielded positive detection results in a sample tested, the index test sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative likelihood ratios were 91% (95% CI: 84%–96%), 95% (95% CI: 93%–97%), and 19.16 (95% CI: 13.52–27.16) and 0.10 (95% CI: 0.05–0.17), respectively. The corresponding sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative likelihood ratios in patients who were drug‐naïve were 89% (95% CI: 75%–96%), 86% (95% CI: 81%–91%), and 6.6 (95% CI: 4.51–9.66) and 0.13 (95% CI: 0.05–0.32), respectively. Conclusions: Tests using sniffer dogs may be a useful, noninvasive, fast, and cost‐effective method to identify patients with PD in community screening and health prevention checkups as well as in neurological practice. © 2022 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Topographic Rossby waves (TRWs) are motions triggered by potential vorticity adjustments, which strongly contribute to deep ocean variabilities. This study discerned near‐36‐day significant along‐slope fluctuations, speculated to be TRWs, using deep current observations over the continental slope in the East China Sea (ECS). The TRWs propagated southwestward along the continental slope with wavelengths of ∼95 km in the northern stations and ∼36 km in the southern stations where the slope is steeper. The group velocity was estimated to be ∼15.5 km/day, and the maximum current speed was ∼10 cm/s. It was assumed that the energy source originates from the Kuroshio path meander, which has a similar typical period to the TRWs and can induce surface eddy kinetic energy, along with depth variations of water column in west of the Tokara Strait. Analyses involving ray tracing model of TRWs showed consistency with the observations in wave characteristics, thereby confirming our postulation regarding the TRWs and their origin. Moreover, the energy rays, emanated from the origin, intensively propagated along the slope; and after climbing over the successive slope, eventually stopped when reaching the flat areas. Additionally, the TRWs' hyperbolic intensification and vertical coherent phase features were revealed in model results. The seasonality of the Kuroshio path meander induced depth variation of water column was estimated to be prevalent in February and August. Overall, this study revealed the propagation features and generation mechanism of TRWs over the continental slope in the ECS for the first time. Plain Language Summary: Energy transfer and cascades are vital for ocean dynamic balance, while topographic Rossby waves (TRWs) may have a similar function in the deep ocean. However, the current scientific understanding regarding TRWs in the East China Sea (ECS) remains limited. Significant near‐36‐day TRWs, with a group velocity of ∼15.5 km/day, beneath the Kuroshio over the continental slope in the ECS were identified through deep current observations. The ray tracing model further revealed that the energy of TRWs originates from the Kuroshio path meander and propagates uphill southwestward. This study is the first, to our knowledge, to establish the relationship between the Kuroshio and TRWs. Collectively, these results provide insights about the influence of the Kuroshio in deep ocean dynamics. Key Points: Near‐36‐day topographic Rossby waves were firstly observed along the continental slope in the East China SeaThe energy source was identified as the frequent Kuroshio path meander with consistent periods in west of the Tokara StraitThe relationship between the topographic Rossby waves and the Kuroshio path meander advance understanding of local multi‐scale dynamics [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recently, functional homotopy (FH) architecture, defined as robust functional connectivity (FC) between homotopic regions, has been frequently reported to be altered in MDD patients (MDDs) but with divergent locations. Methods: In this study, we obtained resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging (R‐fMRI) data from 1004 MDDs (mean age, 33.88 years; age range, 18–60 years) and 898 matched healthy controls (HCs) from an aggregated dataset from 20 centers in China. We focused on interhemispheric function integration in MDDs and its correlation with clinical characteristics using voxel‐mirrored homotopic connectivity (VMHC) devised to inquire about FH patterns. Results: As compared with HCs, MDDs showed decreased VMHC in visual, motor, somatosensory, limbic, angular gyrus, and cerebellum, particularly in posterior cingulate gyrus/precuneus (PCC/PCu) (false discovery rate [FDR] q < 0.002, z = −7.07). Further analysis observed that the reduction in SMG and insula was more prominent with age, of which SMG reflected such age‐related change in males instead of females. Besides, the reduction in MTG was found to be a male‐special abnormal pattern in MDDs. VMHC alterations were markedly related to episode type and illness severity. The higher Hamilton Depression Rating Scale score, the more apparent VMHC reduction in the primary visual cortex. First‐episode MDDs revealed stronger VMHC reduction in PCu relative to recurrent MDDs. Conclusions: We confirmed a significant VMHC reduction in MDDs in broad areas, especially in PCC/PCu. This reduction was affected by gender, age, episode type, and illness severity. These findings suggest that the depressive brain tends to disconnect information exchange across hemispheres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study sought to investigate and evaluate a modified axial translaminar screw fixation for treating odontoid fractures. We performed a retrospective study at Wenzhou Medical University Affiliated Second Hospital between March 2016 and June 2018. We retrospectively collected and analyzed the medical records of 23 cases with odontoid fractures. All patients were identified as type II odontoid fractures without neurological deficiency and serious diseases following the classification of Anderson. The average age, gender ratio, and body mass index (BMI) were 54.3 ± 11.1 years, 12 men to 11 women, and 22.6 ± 2.4 kg/m2, respectively. Patients in this study accepted screw fixation using our modified axial translaminar screw fixation combined with atlas pedicle or lateral mass screw fixation. Within the technique, a small cortical "window" was dug in the middle of the axial contralateral lamina, such that the screws in the lamina were visualized to prevent incorrectly implanting the posterior spinal canal through the visualized "window." A total of 46 bone screws were accurately inserted into the axial lamina without using fluoroscopy. The length of all translaminar screws ranged between 26 and 30 mm, while the diameter was 3.5 mm. During the follow‐up survey, the visual analog scale (VAS) and neck disability index (NDI) were measured. We provide a simple modification of Wright's elegant technique with the addition of "visualized windows" at the middle of the axial lamina. In all patients, screws were inserted accurately without bony breach and the screw angle was 56.1 ± 3.0°. Mean operative time was 102 ± 28 min with an average blood loss of 50 ± 25 mL. Postoperative hemoglobin and mean length of hospital stay were 12.0 ± 1.4 g/dL and 10.4 ± 3.4 days, respectively. The average follow‐up time of all cases was 14.7 months and no internal fixation displacement, loosening, or breakage was found. All patients with odontoid fractures reported being satisfied with the treatment during the recheck period and good clinical outcomes were observed. At 1, 6, and 12 months, NDI and VAS showed that the symptoms of neck pain and limitations of functional disability improved significantly during follow‐up. Our results suggest that the modified translaminar screw fixation technique can efficiently treat Anderson type II odontoid fracture, followed by the benefits of less soft tissue dissection, simple operation, no fluoroscopy, and accurate placement of screws. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we prepared a novel pH‐sensitive drug delivery system based on Daunorubicin (DNR) using POEGMA‐b‐P(ABMA‐co‐AMA) (denoted as POPAA) as drug carrier which was prepared by reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. A charge‐reversal prodrug (DA‐POPAA@imine‐DNR) was obtained after modified with 2,3‐dimethylmaleic anhydride (DA) by copper‐catalyzed alkyne‐azide "click chemistry." The prodrug could self‐assemble into micelles (denoted as M(DNR)) with a mean particle size of about 132 nm. In vitro DNR release performances showed that there was a release of 13% at pH 7.4 while 73% at pH 5.0. Moreover, the zeta potential of M(DNR) could reserve from negative (−4.37 mV) to positive (+5.21 mV) as pH decreased from 7.4 to 6.5. The in vitro cytotoxicity assays showed that M(DNR) exhibited an efficient cell‐killing performance against HeLa cells. The above results confirmed the great potential of the DNR‐conjugated polymeric micelles for enhanced cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to meet the requirements of polymer dielectric materials for high thermal stability and excellent dielectric properties in the application of high‐temperature film capacitors, a series of polyimide (PI) films are fabricated by introducing a self‐synthesized aniline trimer (ACAT) with a conjugated structure in this work. Since the conjugated ACAT in the main chains of PI improves the electron polarization and carrier mobility of the PI molecular chains, the dielectric constant of the ACAT‐PI films is greatly enhanced (4.4–7.4). Meanwhile, the dissipation factor does not increase apparently (0.002–0.013). The dielectric properties are stable even when the temperature is up to 200 °C, the thermal degradation temperature is as high as 450 °C, and the mechanical properties are also excellent (70–105 MPa). Among all the films, the PI film with 5 mol% ACAT exhibits the maximal energy density of 3.6 J cm−3 under the field of 426 kV mm−1, the high tensile strength (90 MPa) and the excellent thermal stability (Td5 = 515 °C). The work paves the way to prepare high‐temperature polymer dielectric film materials with high energy storage density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of different Sn valence states (such as Sn4+ and Sn2+) in the Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 (CZTSSe) precursor solution is especially important for the quality of the subsequent growth of the CZTSSe films. The latest study has found that replacing SnCl2·2H2O with anhydrous SnCl4 can remarkably improve the performance of CZTSSe solar cells, but it needs to be operated in the glovebox. Herein, for the precursor solution, SnCl4·5H2O powder is used instead of anhydrous SnCl4 in air environment, and the proportion of Sn4+ and Sn2+ precursor solutions is further systematically studied. When the ratio of Sn4+ to Sn2+ is 1:1, a uniform, compact, and noncracking CZTSSe thin film is obtained, effectively alleviating the interface recombination and reducing the concentration of deep‐level defects. In particular, the concentration of CuZn antisite defects is decreased by an order of magnitude, and the carrier recombination and band tail effect are alleviated. When JSC is maintained, VOC and FF are considerably improved. Finally, CZTSSe thin‐film solar cells are fabricated with an efficiency of over 11%. Herein, the feasibility of controlling the ratio of Sn4+ to Sn2+ in the CZTSSe precursor solution for higher efficiency of CZTSSe thin‐film solar cells is demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Linear trends in Kuroshio transport during a recent global warming hiatus (1998–2013) were evaluated using long‐term ferryboat ADCP (acoustic Doppler current profiler) data and tidal gauge data in the Tokara Strait south of Japan. The Kuroshio exhibited a remarkable weakening trend of approximately 0.05 Sv year−1 (1 Sv = 106 m3 s−1). The pycnocline in the weakened Kuroshio was relaxed and displayed shoaling at the offshore edge, which was attributed to vertical thermocline displacement rather than to water mass modification. Importantly, Kuroshio transport trends in the Tokara Strait were affected by sea surface height anomalies, which were driven by the combined effects of the clockwise baroclinic‐mode coastal trapped wave propagation along the southern coast of Japan and downstream Kuroshio advection in the East China Sea. Both features were induced by wind stress curl changes related to the global warming hiatus over the North Pacific. Plain Language Summary: The Kuroshio is the western boundary current in the wind‐driven subtropical circulation of the North Pacific. It exits the East China Sea and flows into the North Pacific through the Tokara Strait between the Yakushima and Amami Oshima Islands to the south of Kyushu, Japan. This study revealed that the Kuroshio transport through the Tokara Strait showed a remarkable weakening trend along with a northward shift during 1998–2013. Changes in the wind stress curl in the high (low)‐latitude band over the North Pacific during the global warming hiatus exhibited negative (positive) tendencies, leading to anomalously high (low) sea surface heights. The high (low) sea surface height anomaly arrived at the onshore (offshore) side of Tokara Strait from the high (low)‐latitude band decreasing Kuroshio transport because of geostrophy. Key Points: Kuroshio transport in the Tokara Strait south of Japan decreased by ∼4% during 1998–2013, indicating a rate of about 0.05 Sv year−1Shoaling of the offshore pycnocline in the Kuroshio was due to vertical thermocline displacement rather than to modified water massDynamic‐topography propagation pathways from the northern and southern interior regions caused weakened Kuroshio transport in the hiatus [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Lithium‐ion capacitor (LIC) is a potential candidate for the next generation of energy storage devices due to high power density, high energy density and excellent cycle stability. Nonetheless, the problem of matching optimization is still faced for LIC. Many different approaches are explored to find a balance between the two storage mechanisms so that high performance LICs can be obtained. Here, CoF2, prepared by solvothermal method, showed reversible specific capacity of 307 mAh g−1 after 900 cycles at 0.1 A g−1 and 81 mAh g−1 after 10,000 cycles at 4 A g−1. Meanwhile, coconut shell is used as precursor for preparing natural porous carbon as cathode materials of LIC. The coconut shell biomass carbon (CSBC‐5), outstanding specific surface area (2767 m2 g−1), holds a capacity of 120 mAh g−1 after 1000 cycles at 1 A g−1. The LIC, CoF2 as anode and CSBC‐5 as cathode, shows excellent cycle stability (65 % capacity retention after 5000 cycles), higher energy density of 82 Wh kg−1 (at power density of 190 W kg−1) and higher power density of 3800 W kg−1(at energy density of 50 Wh kg−1). Therefore, the material of CoF2 is a promising choice for the future anode and promotes the development of LIC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Secondary cell wall biosynthesis has been shown to be regulated by a suite of transcription factors. Here, we identified a new xylem vessel‐specific NAC domain transcription factor, secondary wall‐associated NAC domain protein5 (SND5), in Arabidopsis thaliana and studied its role in regulating secondary wall biosynthesis.We showed that the expression of SND5 and its close homolog, SND4/ANAC075, was specifically associated with secondary wall‐containing cells and dominant repression of their functions severely reduced secondary wall thickening in these cells. Overexpression of SND4/5 as well as their homologs SND2/3 fused with the activation domain of the viral protein VP16 led to ectopic secondary wall deposition in cells that are normally parenchymatous. SND2/3/4/5 regulated the expression of the same downstream target genes as do the secondary wall NAC master switches (SWNs) by binding to and activating the secondary wall NAC binding elements (SNBEs).Furthermore, we demonstrated that the poplar (Populus trichocarpa) orthologs of SND2/3/4/5 also activated SNBEs and regulated secondary wall biosynthesis during wood formation.Together, these findings indicate that SND2/3/4/5 and their poplar orthologs regulate the expression of secondary wall‐associated genes through activating SNBEs and they are positioned at an upper level in the SWN‐mediated transcriptional network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the output feedback control problem of a T‐S fuzzy system, an H∞ observer‐controller synthesis method is proposed. First, with parallel distributed compensation fuzzy observer and controller, an augmented error system is obtained. Based on Lyapunov function approaches, system stability and robust conditions are achieved. Then, by dividing the non‐convex conditions into observer‐dominant and controller dominant parts, the conditions are converted into convex form to facilitate the numerical solving process. Also, input saturation and system measurement disturbance are considered in the synthesis procedure. Finally, a numerical and a vessel control example are adopted to make comparisons with existing methods, with the results clearly showing the conservatism reduction effects and good control performance of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the dynamics of tidal and residual currents in a shallow bay with narrow bay mouth and large tidal flat area, this study conducted three sets of coastal acoustic tomography (CAT) observations at 13 stations in deep area of Jiaozhou Bay (JZB), China, from December 6–18, 2015. Thereafter, travel time difference data observed via CAT were assimilated into a barotropic tidal model to realize an extrapolated study in tidal flats. The root mean square difference was 6.5 cm/s between assimilation and acoustic Doppler current profile data. Harmonic analyses indicated that the semidiurnal tide (M2) was predominant; however, relatively large nonlinear tidal currents (M4 and M6) were also found. Moreover, the spatial mean amplitudes of M2, M4, and M6 were 0.35 (excluding the tidal flat), 0.09, and 0.04 m/s, respectively. Dynamic analyses showed that continuity and advection terms were the main contributors to M4 in the bay mouth, whereas M4 in the tidal flats was generated by continuity and friction terms. Furthermore, bottom friction was the primary contributor to M6. In addition, residual currents with multi‐vortex structures appeared near the bay mouth, the maximum speed reached 0.60 m/s, and advection, continuity, and bottom friction contributed more to the generation of residual current eddies. Horizontal pressure gradient of residual elevation and advection of tidal and residual currents were the dominant factors maintaining the residual current near the bay mouth. The generation mechanisms of M4 and M6 were first discussed based on the assimilation of the current field data in JZB. Plain Language Summary: Nonlinear tidal currents M4 and M6, which are principle overtides in the regions where M2 is dominant, have considerable impact on mass transport and marine ecosystems. Observations of M4 and M6 can help us understand physical oceanography processes in coastal regions. However, the current generation mechanisms are complicated in different coastal regions. Furthermore, nonlinear factors, such as advection terms, are difficult to examine by traditional observational technics. Coastal acoustic tomography (CAT) is useful to map tidal current fields over large areas in coastal regions. Thus, it is suitable for analyzing the dynamic mechanisms of M4 and M6. We obtained current fields with high accuracy and spatial resolution in Jiaozhou Bay, China, by assimilating CAT observational data into a barotropic ocean model. Using them, we demonstrate that continuity and advection terms are the main contributors to M4 in the bay mouth, whereas M4 in the tidal flats was generated by continuity and friction terms. Bottom friction is the primary contributor to M6. Our study serves as a good supplement to the previous studies on nonlinear tides in Jiaozhou Bay. Furthermore, CAT can be considered to obtain high accuracy current data and for further dynamic studies. Key Points: Thirteen coastal acoustic tomography stations were deployed to obtain current field data in Jiaozhou Bay, ChinaTidal and residual currents were obtained by data assimilation based on coastal acoustic tomography observationsGeneration mechanisms for nonlinear and residual tidal currents in Jiaozhou Bay were demonstrated [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land‐use intensification has increased soil erosion through biodiversity loss, which affects ecosystem properties and services owing to changes in species compositional and structural diversity. However, information is limited on how land‐use intensity (LUI) affects soil erosion through species compositional diversity, structural diversity and ecosystem properties. In this study we monitored soil erosion in 15 plots over 12 consecutive months on tropical Hainan Island, where land‐use changes and biodiversity loss have been severe. We quantified the direct and indirect effects of LUI, species compositional diversity (plant species diversity and evenness) and structural diversity (tree diameter and height diversity), and ecosystem properties on soil erosion using Bayesian structural equation models (BSEM). The optimal BSEM accounted for 69% of the variation in soil erosion. The LUI did not affect soil erosion directly but showed indirect impacts via species diversity, tree height diversity, and ecosystem properties. Both high species diversity and tree height diversity reduced soil erosion directly and indirectly by promoting root length density (an ecosystem property), but tree height diversity mediated the more important indirect effect of LUI on soil erosion than species diversity and ecosystem properties. We provide evidence for loss of species diversity and tree height diversity as a result of LUI leading to aggravated soil erosion, but the impact of the latter was more serious. Therefore, we emphasize that maintenance of tree height diversity through management practices may be an effective approach to control soil erosion in the context of drastic land‐use changes in tropical areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The implications of the menstrual cycle for disease susceptibility, development, and severity of acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) infection are largely unknown. Here, we describe two women infected with SARS‐CoV‐2 whose real‐time reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) test results and symptoms changed during the menstrual cycle. The first patient developed a fever on the first day of her menstrual period, and again on the first day of her next menstrual period after hospital discharge. RT‐PCR test results were positive during the first menstrual period before admission, but turned negative during hospitalization, and then were positive again during the second menstrual period after hospital discharge. Another one also developed a fever again on the first day of her menstrual period after hospital discharge. RT‐PCR test results were negative before admission and during hospitalization, but turned positive during the first menstrual period after hospital discharge. The cases indicate sex hormones may play an important role in SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. For women with history of exposure to SARS‐CoV‐2, the management protocol should include assessment of the menstrual status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antimony sulfide (Sb2S3) is emerging as a popular photovoltaic candidate for thin‐film solar cells due to its large absorption coefficient, suitable bandgap, nontoxic, and earth‐abundant nature. The performance of thermally evaporated Sb2S3 devices is severely restricted by interfacial recombination leading to high open‐circuit voltage (VOC) losses. CdS as electron transport layer (ETL) has overcome this problem, but triggered lower JSC issues due to parasitic absorption loss conceding to its smaller bandgap. Herein, a spray pyrolysis method is adopted for the deposition of a uniform and compact Zn‐doped TiO2 film with tuned energy levels to facilitate charge extraction and transport. The solar cell fabricated with a modified TiO2 ETL holds superior interface quality, high build‐in potential, and suppressed recombination losses, therefore pronouncedly improves the VOC. As a result, the efficiency of the device is boosted from 4.41% to 5.16%, a record VOC of 702 mV for Cd‐free full‐inorganic Sb2S3 solar cell is achieved. These findings are expected to be implemented in other Sb‐chalcogenide solar cells to further enhance the device performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our understanding of how reforestation affects microbial carbon cycling genes remains limited, restricting our ability to evaluate reforestation methods. We hypothesized that natural reforestation produces soil organic carbon (SOC) with significantly more complex chemical composition and more diverse carbon cycling genes than artificial restoration. The SOC fractions and carbon cycling (primarily fixation and degradation) genes present in natural restoration/regrowth (natural secondary forests), and artificial restoration (Masson and slash pine plantations) were compared. The SOC in natural secondary forests was significantly more abundant and structurally more complex than that of Masson and slash pine plantations. The natural secondary forest soils contained significantly more abundant and diverse carbon cycling genes than plantations. Plant‐, soil‐, and nutrient‐associated factors explained 42.1% of the variation in microbial carbon cycling gene compositions. These factors included tree diversity, fine root surface area, litter stock, clay and silt, labile and recalcitrant organic carbon, available nitrogen and nitrate‐nitrogen contents. These factors affect the microbial carbon cycling gene diversity but not abundance in the natural secondary forest soils. These genes' abundance and diversity in the Masson and slash pine plantation soils were enriched by increasing litter stock and decreasing clay and silt contents; they were also enhanced by higher tree diversity, labile and recalcitrant organic carbon, available nitrogen, and nitrate‐nitrogen contents. These findings indicate that current reforestation methods affect carbon cycling genes, carbon cycling potential, and thus, biogeochemical carbon cycling processes. Natural restoration is better than artificial restoration in terms of organic carbon stability and cycling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resistance to tumor‐necrosis‐factor‐related apoptosis‐inducing ligand (TRAIL) of cancer cell remains a key obstacle for clinical cancer therapies. To overcome TRAIL resistance, this study identifies curcumol as a novel safe sensitizer from a food‐source compound library, which exhibits synergistic lethal effects in combination with TRAIL on non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). SILAC‐based cellular thermal shift profiling identifies NRH:quinone oxidoreductase 2 (NQO2) as the key target of curcumol. Mechanistically, curcumol directly targets NQO2 to cause reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, which triggers endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress‐C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) death receptor (DR5) signaling, sensitizing NSCLC cell to TRAIL‐induced apoptosis. Molecular docking analysis and surface plasmon resonance assay demonstrate that Phe178 in NQO2 is a critical site for curcumol binding. Mutation of Phe178 completely abolishes the function of NQO2 and augments the TRAIL sensitization. This study characterizes the functional role of NQO2 in TRAIL resistance and the sensitizing function of curcumol by directly targeting NQO2, highlighting the potential of using curcumol as an NQO2 inhibitor for clinical treatment of TRAIL‐resistant cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A super high‐resolution OLED display has been fabricated via electrohydrodynamic printing. The solvent properties dominate the ink's printability and printing stability. By using a 1.5 µm diameter nozzle, the line widths of printed polymers are reduced to less than 2 µm. A green‐color passive matrix display with a resolution of 2115 PP1 (pixel per inch) has been successfully realized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymer insulator is employed as efficient hole injection layer (HIL) in lead halide perovskites light‐emitting diodes (PeLEDs) for the first time, by revealing that metal–insulator–semiconductor (MIS) contact is responsible for the hole‐injection mechanism in PeLEDs with indium tin oxide (ITO)/insulator/perovskite structure. For MIS contact of ITO/insulator/perovskite, the electric field is concentrated in the insulator layer, thereby reducing the tunneling distance from ITO to perovskite. By studying the transient current response, it is confirmed that the accumulation of both electrons and ions at the insulator/perovskite interface is responsible for the screening of electric field. With polystyrene (PS) as hole injection layer, the device exhibits a much better device performance than that of PeLEDs with regular polyvinylcarbazole (PVK) HIL, even though the resistivity of PS is 5 orders of magnitude higher than that of PVK, which confirms the universal applicability of MIS contact. By optimizing the thickness of PS layer, the performance of FAPbBr3‐based device achieves a turn‐on voltage of 2.8 V, a peak luminous efficiency of 44.7 cd A−1, and an external quantum efficiency of 10.6%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are associated with intestinal microbiota and diseases in humans. SCFAs have a low response in mass spectrometry, and in order to increase sensitivity, reduce sample consumption, shorten analysis time, and simplify sample preparation steps, a derivatization method was developed. Methods: We converted seven SCFAs into amide derivatives with 4-aminomethylquinoline. The reaction occurred for 20 min at room temperature. The analytes were separated on a reversed-phase C18 column and quantitated in the positive ion electrospray ionization mode using multiple reaction monitoring. Acetic acid-d4 was used as the stable-isotope-labeled surrogate analyte for acetic acid in the working solutions, while the other stable-isotope-labeled standards were used as internal standards (ISs). Results: Method validation showed that the intra-day and inter-day precision of quantitation for the seven SCFAs over the whole concentration range was ≤3.8% (n = 6). The quantitation accuracy ranged from 85.5% to 104.3% (n = 6). Most important, the collected feces were vortexed immediately with ethanol. Conclusions: This study provides a new derivatization method for a precise, accurate, and rapid quantitation of SCFAs in human feces using ultra-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. This method successfully determined the concentration of SCFAs in human feces and could assist in the exploration of intestinal microbiota and diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metastasis is a critical determinant for the treatment strategy and prognosis in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). However, the mechanisms underlying SCCHN metastasis are poorly understood. Our study sought to determine the key microRNA and their functional mechanisms involved in SCCHN metastasis. For The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data analysis, quantitative PCR was used to quantify the level of miR‐30e‐5p in SCCHN and its clinical significance was further analyzed. A series of in vitro and in vivo experiments were applied to determine the effects of miR‐30e‐5p and its target AEG‐1 on SCCHN metastasis. A mechanism investigation further revealed that AEG‐1 was implicated in the angiogenesis and metastasis mediated by miR‐30e‐5p. Overall, our study confirms that miR‐30e‐5p is a valuable predictive biomarker and potential therapeutic target in SCCHN metastasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]