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Background Aim Material and methods Results Conclusion During the COVID‐19 pandemic, mitigation measures were associated with a reduction in preterm birth rates; while not clearly proven, this observation has sparked significant interest.To understand the cause of this reduction by exploring the characteristics of preterm birth cohorts.We performed a retrospective cohort study where we compared women who delivered preterm in three Melbourne maternity hospitals and conceived between November 2019 and February 2020 (mitigation measures‐exposed cohort) to women who delivered preterm and conceived between November 2018 and February 2019 (non‐exposed cohort). We compared maternal characteristics, pregnancy complications, antenatal interventions, intrapartum care, and indications for delivery.In the exposed cohort, 252/3129 women delivered preterm (8.1%), vs 298/3154 (9.4%) in the non‐exposed cohort (odds ratio (OR) 0.84, 95% CI 0.70–1.00, P = 0.051). The baseline characteristic of two cohorts were comparable. Rates of spontaneous preterm labour (sPTL) without preterm pre‐labour rupture of membranes (PPROM) were lower in the exposed cohort (13.1% vs 24.2%, OR 0.47, P = 0.001) while PPROM occurred more often (48.0% vs 35.6%, OR 1.67, P = 0.003). With a non‐statistically significant prolongation of pregnancy in the cohort exposed to mitigation measures for both sPTL without PPROM (35.4 vs 34.9 weeks, P = 0.703) and PPROM (35.6 vs 34.9 weeks, P = 0.184). The rate of spontaneous labour after PPROM was higher in the exposed cohort compared to the non‐exposed cohort (40.1% vs 24.1%, OR 2.09, P < 0.001).The reduction in preterm delivery during mitigation measures may have been driven by a reduction in spontaneous labour without PPROM, which seemed to result in more PPROM later in pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive Summary: This work describes a general method for the synthesis of a series of sulfenylated and selenylated carboranes at room temperature using readily available iodocarboranes as starting materials via boron‐centered carboranyl radicals. Such hypervalent boron radicals are generated by a visible‐light‐promoted Pd(0)/Pd(I) pathway. They are useful intermediates and can be trapped by disulfides and phenylselenyl chloride for the convenient construction of B—S/Se bonds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seed banks are fundamentally important components of the wetland ecosystem. Water levels on germination in soil seed banks have been documented in many ecosystems. However, there is a lack of knowledge about water levels on seed banks in freshwater wetlands, especially in those buried by sedimentation. Three burial depths (0–5 cm, 5–10 cm and 10–15 cm) within five water level gradient zones along the elevation in Poyang Lake, Eastern China, were sampled. The seedling-emergence method in a greenhouse under moist conditions and submersion was applied to allow all active seeds to be germinated. The experiment continued over an eight-week period in late spring up to early summer. A total of 7090 seedlings emerged, belonged to 20 families, 36 genera and 49 species. In terms of results, an average active soil seed density of 17,328 ± 1675 seeds/m2 was found in 0–15 cm in Poyang Lake, and the greatest average seed density was found at 0–5 cm with 7607 ± 790 seeds/m2, along with 5–10 cm and 10–15 cm with 5419 ± 589 seeds/m2 and 3855 ± 790 seeds/m2, respectively. An obvious difference in composition was found in the species composition of the seed bank at different water levels and burial depths. The highest water level and top layer of soil had the highest diversity index, with a Shannon–Wiener value of 2.011. Seed density, species richness and diversity decreased with the water level gradient zone from low elevation to high elevation and burial depth from surface to deepness. However, there was no interaction between inundation duration and burial depth, indicating that the water level fluctuation and sediment buried had a separate impact on the seed bank composition and diversity index. The present findings can be directly applied to the ecosystem conservation of healthy wetlands, and the ecological restoration of devastated and degraded wetlands in Poyang Lake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and hypothesis: Class action against Ethicon (J&J), manufacturer of transvaginal mesh devices, including mid-urethral slings (MUS), was brought to the Federal Court of Australia in 2016 by Shine Lawyers. As a result, subpoenas to all hospitals and networks were received, which overrode patient privacy concerns. This medical record search allowed a complete audit and communication with patients to offer clinical review. This enabled a review of complications, readmission and re-operation for women who underwent a MUS for stress urinary incontinence. Methods: A cohort study of women who underwent MUS treatment for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) at a single tertiary teaching hospital between 1999 and 2017 was carried out. The main outcome measures were the rate of readmission and re-operation following MUS procedures. These include voiding dysfunction managed by sling loosening or sling division, mesh pain or exposure managed by mesh removal and reoperation for recurrent stress urinary incontinence. Results: Between 1999 and 2017, a total of 1,462 women were identified as having a MUS; of these, 1,195 (81.7%) had full patient records available. Voiding dysfunction requiring surgical intervention with sling loosening or division was 3%, excision for mesh exposure was 2%, and partial or complete excision for pain was 1% at a median of 10 years from index surgery. The reoperation rate for recurrent stress urinary incontinence was 3%. Conclusion(s): This audit of all MUS procedures performed at a tertiary centre confirms an overall low rate of readmission for complications and recurrent SUI surgery; this justifies its continued availability with appropriate informed consent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The optimal treatment strategy for refractory or relapse (R/R) indolent non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (iNHL) has not been fully identified. This study aims to investigate the efficacy and tolerance of bendamustine hydrochloride developed in native Chinese corporation in the treatment of patients with R/R iNHL. Methods: A total of 101 patients from 19 centers were enrolled in this study from July 2016 to February 2019. Bendamustine hydrochloride (120 mg/m2) was given on days 1 and 2 of each 21‐day treatment cycle for six planned cycles or up to eight cycles if tolerated. Parameters of efficacy and safety were analyzed. Results: The median age of the patients was 53.44 (range, 24.4–74.6) years old. A total of 56 (55.44%) patients completed at least six treatment cycles, and the relative dose intensity was 93.78%. The overall response rate was 72.28%, and the median duration of response was 15.84 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 13.77–27.48 months). Median progression‐free survival was 16.52 months (95% CI, 14.72–23.41 months), and the median overall survival was not reached. Grade 3 or 4 hematologic toxicities included neutropenia (77.22%), thrombocytopenia (29.70%), and anemia (15.84%). The most frequent nonhematologic adverse events (any grade) included nausea, vomiting, fatigue, fever, decreased appetite, and weight loss. Seven patients died during the trial, and four cases may be related to the investigational drug. Conclusions: This study reveals that bendamustine hydrochloride is a feasible treatment option for the indolent B‐cell non‐Hodgkin lymphoma patient who has not remitted or relapsed after treatment with rituximab. All adverse events were predictable and manageable. This open‐label, multicenter study demonstrated that bendamustine is a feasible treatment option for indolent B‐cell non‐Hodgkin lymphoma patients in China who have not remitted or relapsed after treatment with rituximab. All adverse events were predictable and manageable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybrid lead halide perovskites are widely studied in photodetectors due to their excellent optoelectronic properties. However, most of the perovskite photodetectors require an external power source, which adds additional costs and limits their application. Here, a self‐powered photodetector based on the heterojunction formed by methylammonium lead tribromide perovskite nanocrystals (MAPbBr3 NCs) and mesoporous TiO2 (m‐TiO2) is demonstrated by a space‐confined growth method. The NCs are uniformly grown on the m‐TiO2 framework and mirco‐heterojunctions are formed. Systematic research shows that the built‐in electric field of the mirco‐heterojunctions increases the exciton dissociation and carrier transport. In the absence of an external power supply, the photodetectors display an impressive on/off ratio (>105) and high detectivity (>1011 Jones) under 100 mW cm−2 solar irradiation. In addition, the winning device shows excellent long‐term stability (photocurrent maintains over 92% after exposure of 102 days to the air), benefiting from the enhanced binding energy and reduced defect density of NCs. It is believed that this study sheds light on the further development of self‐powered perovskite‐based photodetectors with high performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective During a review on postpartum hemorrhage, we identified randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of one author conducted at the same time and place for the same condition, with large differences in baseline characteristics. We assessed the data integrity of the RCTs of this author. Study Design We undertook a focused analysis of the data integrity of all RCTs published by Dr. Ahmed M. Maged. We examined the studies for clinical logic and made pairwise comparisons of baseline characteristics and outcomes between trials. We used mathematical methods to assess whether the distribution of baseline characteristics was compatible with chance. Results Between March 2015 and December 2019, Dr. Maged published 22 RCTs (n = 3,722). The median number of participants randomized per center per month was 32 (range = 1–89). Fifteen studies were either not or retrospectively registered, with one study registered 1 year after publication. One study was submitted for publication prior to the completion of the described study period. There were many unusual findings in the studies, including biologically implausible occurrences such as the absence of an association between gestational age and birthweight in seven studies and very different body mass index between three trials, which ran at the same time in the same hospital on the same topic as well as unlikely occurrences such as limited participant drop outs. One paper contained considerable text duplication and identical data to that in a paper published by a different author group from a different hospital, with both papers submitted at the same time. Mathematical analysis of the baseline characteristics of all 22 trials indicated that at least some of the reported baseline characteristics were unlikely to be the result of proper randomization. Conclusion Our analyses of the 22 RCTs of Dr. Maged suggest potential data integrity issues in at least some of them. We suggest that journals investigate according to the Committee on Publication Ethics guidelines. The procedures demonstrated in this paper may help to assess data integrity in future attempts to verify the authenticity of published RCTs. Key Points We identified a number of findings biologically implausible in RCTs by Maged. Monte Carlo simulation found pooled data of Maged RCTs were unlikely result of proper randomization. Textual overlap and almost identical data were found between a Maged paper and another paper. The methods we described may be useful for future efforts in validating scientific data integrity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ghrelin contributes to the communication between the brain and gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Both decreased ghrelin levels and functional GI disorders are early events in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients and animal models. However, the reason is not clear. Here it is found that choline acetyltransferase (ChAT)‐positive neurons in the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve (DMV), are lost in PD transgenic mice. In response to the selective damaging of DMV neurons with mu p75‐SAP, a rapid reduction both in plasma total and active ghrelin levels is observed. While by contrast, chemogenetic activation of DMV cholinergic neurons can increase the plasma ghrelin levels. Impairment of cholinergic neurons is accompanied by GI disorders, including decreased stool wet weight, stool dry weight, small intestine advancing rate, and gastric emptying rate, while exogenous ghrelin treatment can partially ameliorate GI dysfunction of A53T α‐synuclein transgenic mice. Using pseudorabies virus retrograde trace method, the existence of a direct pathway from the stomach fundus to the DMV is shown. Taken together, the findings suggest that the reduction in plasma ghrelin levels in the early stages of PD may be the result of the lesion of cholinergic neurons in the DMV, thus linking neurodegeneration and GI dysfunction in PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At small scales, sedimentary deposition types mediate hydrological changes to drive wetland vegetation distribution patterns and species diversity. To examine the effects of sediment types on the distribution and diversity of plant communities in a wetland region, 150 quadrats were investigated (elevation range of 10.5–12.5 m) in the lake basin areas of Poyang Lake. We divided the surface soil into three sediment types (lacustrine sediments, fluvio-lacustrine sediments, and fluvial sediments), and then compared and analyzed the distribution and species diversity of the wetland plants among them. The results revealed the following findings: (i) within this elevation range, Carex cinerascens, Carex cinerascens–Polygonum criopolitanum, Polygonum criopolitanum, and Phalaris arundinacea communities exist; (ii) from lacustrine sediments to fluvial sediments, the distribution of plant communities showed a transition trend—with the Carex cinerascens and Phalaris arundinacea communities shifting into the Polygonum criopolitanum community; (iii) detrended correspondence analysis and redundancy analysis demonstrated that the soil particle composition and flood duration in 2017 generated a differential wetland plant distribution under the conditions of three sediment types along the littoral zones of Poyang Lake; and (iv) the plant communities on the lacustrine sediments had a higher species diversity than those established on the fluvio-lacustrine sediments and fluvial sediments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: It is known that nitrogen (N) input modulates the rhizosphere priming effect (RPE); however, the magnitude and driving mechanisms of priming under increasing rates of fertilizer application remain unclear. Methods: 15N-urea (control, 75 (N75), 150 (N150), 225 (N225), and 300 (N300) kg N ha−1) was applied to a plant (maize)-soil (rice paddy) system and the RPE was monitored during the trumpet period (the most active stage) of plant growth. Results: Addition of N decreased soil-derived CO2 emission by 21.1–49.3% in the presence of plants. The RPE declined following N input in the control−N150 as a result of low microbial C:N imbalance, which decreased enzyme activities due to low microbial N mining and microbial activation, and high microbial metabolic efficiency (MME). In contrast, the RPE increased following N input in the N150 − N300, which was attributed to the high microbial C:N imbalance causing low MME, rather than the promotion of microbial N mining or microbial activation mechanisms. The microbial C:N imbalance was the result of N competition between microorganisms and plants. Conclusions: Thus, the combination of enzyme activities and MME mediates N-regulated RPE, while N competition drives the switching of RPE mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PbI2 crystal is a typical layered material with a I–Pb–I monolayer as a repeating unit. Benefiting from the coexistence of ionic and van der Waals bonding, the crystal exhibits low hardness and a low Young's modulus, slips easily along the a–b plane, and is endowed with inherently high flexibility. In this work, bendable three-dimensional (3D)-structured x-ray photodetectors based on PbI2 crystal were prepared, and finite element simulation was employed to reveal the von Mises stress distribution from the surface to the bulk of the crystal, indicating the bending stress associated with the crystal's thickness. The uniformly distributed electric bias field inside the crystal constrains the carrier transport process, provides a consistent geometric variation and electrical contact between the crystal and the electrodes, and further ensures a high effective collection area and enhanced collection capacity for photocarriers, even when the device is subjected to bending. The degradation percentage of the sensitivity after 100 bending cycles is 12.7% and 6.6% for thick (100 μm) and thin (10 μm) samples, respectively. All the simulated and experimental results indicate that PbI2 crystal, when used to construct a 3D-structured device of appropriate thickness, is a promising candidate for the development of flexible x-ray photodetectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of interim positron emission tomography (iPET) in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Among 53 enrolled patients, 39 had iPET-negative (iPET−) and 14 had iPET-positive (iPET+) scans. The objective response rate was 94.3%. The 3-year progression-free survival was 65.7% and the 3-year overall survival was 79.9%. The iPET− patients had significantly higher 3-year PFS rate (78.1% vs. 34.3%) and improved OS (87.1% vs. 62.3%) than iPET+ patients. In the univariate analysis, iPET− was the sole independent prognostic factor for PFS. In conclusion, PET/CT has a good prognostic value in patients with advanced-stage DLBCL. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT 01804127. Registered on March 5th, 2013, https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01804127?term=01804127&rank=1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The optimal treatment strategies for extranodal natural killer/ T‐cell lymphoma (ENKTL) have not been defined. We conducted this prospective, open‐label, phase II, single‐center study aimed to explore the efficacy and safety of radiotherapy followed by DICEP (Dexamethasone, ifosfamide, cisplatin, etoposide, and pegaspargase) regimen in the treatment of patients with untreated, stage IE/IIE, extranodal NK/T‐cell lymphoma. Methods: Thirty eligible patients were enrolled in this study, receiving radiotherapy of 50Gy/25fx, and followed by chemotherapy with DICEP regimen for 3 cycles if tolerated. Median follow‐up time of this study was 70.8 months. We constructed Kaplan‐Meier survival curves for survival analyses. Results: The most common manifestations at the onset of disease were nasal obstruction (80%), with or without fever, and pharyngalgia (20%). The overall response rate (ORR) was 96.7% (29/30). Four patients (13.3%) had progression of the disease (PD), the estimated 5‐year progression‐free survival (PFS) rate was 86%. Four patients (13.3%) died of disease, and the estimated 5‐year cumulative overall survival (OS) was 87%. The most common hematological toxicity was grade 3 or grade 4 neutropenia, which could be successfully managed via using growth‐stimulating factors or dose modifications. Hypoalbuminemia and decreased fibrinogen are the top two nonhematologic toxicities. No treatment‐related death occurred in this study. Conclusions: Our present study showed that radiotherapy followed by DICEP chemotherapy could be an effective and tolerable treatment modality for newly diagnosed, stage IE/IIE ENKTL patients. Adverse events were predictable and manageable. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01667302. Registered: 1 July 2012; [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) is a particular kind of malignant tumour that originates from the B cells. The malignant phenotype of cHL is, at least in part, maintained by epigenetic aberrations, which primarily consist of abnormal histone methylation and acetylation. Progress has been made in clinical trials concerning the histone deacetylases inhibitors (HDACis) in cHL. Also, some demethylation regimens could serve the purpose of preventing and treating tumours. Programmed death‐ligand receptor 1 (PD‐L1, CD274) inhibitors or apoptosis receptor 1 (PD‐1, CD279) inhibitors are used in treating patients with relapsed cHL in recent years. Academic researches indicated that PD‐1/PD‐L1 inhibitors, including nivolumab and pembrolizumab, demonstrate remarkable activity in relapsed cHL. In addition, in recent years, a close association between epigenetic aberrations and immune escape has been explored in cHL. DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) inhibitors, HDACis, and immune checkpoint blockade exhibit synergistic effects. Thus, this review aims to provide an overview on the epigenetic abnormalities of cHL and its effect on immune escape, in order to explore the optimal combination approach to treat the disease. Significance of the study: Cancer Statistics 2018 reported that more than 8000 new cases of Hodgkin lymphoma were diagnosed. In recent years, PD‐1/PD‐L1 inhibitors for cHL have been utilized, and the therapeutic strategies of HDACis combined with PD‐1/PD‐L1 inhibitors have been raised. It is critical for improving the efficacy and decreasing the toxicity in treating the patients with cHL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Oxygen sensitization mechanism of PbSe films is verified by the experiment and theoretical calculation. • The effect of Se vacancies on the conductive type of PbSe and their role in the process of oxygen sensitization are described. • New energy levels formed by O atoms decreases carrier concentration and enhances carrier mobility is demonstrated. • Oxygen sensitization inhibites the dark current and improves the mobility of photon-generated carriers, leads to the enhancement of photodetection performance. Lead selenide (PbSe) is widely considered to be an ideal material for room temperature mid-wave infrared (MWIR) detection. The MWIR response of PbSe leaps obviously after sensitization in a particular oxidizing process. However, the mechanism of such characteristics has not been specifically understood. Here, the oxygen (O) sensitization reaction process is affirmed by experiment and computation. In the process of film preparation, Se atoms fractionate from the (2 0 0) plane of PbSe lattice and leave Se vacancies (V Se). Then, O 2 molecules adsorbed at V Se and subsequently disintegrate into O atoms occupying V Se. The O indrawing forms new energy levels and reduces the band gap (E g), realizes the conductivity transformation from n- to p-type, decreases carrier concentration, and enhances carrier mobility. The variation of conductivity inhibits the dark current of PbSe detectors and increases the mobility of photon-generated carriers at the same time, resulting in the improvement of the IR detection performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The frustrated Lewis pair (FLP) comprised of B(C6F5)3 and 1,2,2,6,6-pentamethylpiperidine (PMP) can efficiently catalyze Z-selective hydrophosphonylation of terminal ynones with a Z/E selectivity of up to 20 : 1. Mechanistic studies suggest that the trans arrangement of the phosphite nucleophilic attack and hydrogen bond formation on the alkyne moiety is responsible for the observed Z-selectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The CASP1 rs2409062 polymorphism correlates with a higher risk of RA. • This polymorphism relates with females, age ≥ 55, CRP-positive, or DAS28 < 3.20. • The level of CASP1 protein in the plasma of RA cases rised significantly. • RA cases displayed greater levels of CASP1 mRNA versus the control group. The goals of present research are to investigate if the genetic polymorphisms in the caspase-1 (CASP1) gene are associated with the risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the clinical characteristics of the illness in Han patients from China. Our team studied the CASP1 rs2409062 A/G polymorphisms in 1095 healthy controls and 805 RA patients, while the genotype was identified via a custom-by-design 48-Plex single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) scan™ Kit. The mRNA expression levels of the CASP1 in 40 RA cases and 40 healthy controls were detected by qRT-PCR, while blood plasma levels of the CASP1 in 40 RA cases and 40 paired controls measured via ELISA. Our research showed that the CASP1 rs2409062 A/G polymorphisms were related to an elevated risk for RA. By stratified analysis, our team discovered a remarkably elevated RA risk in females sufferers, age ≥ 55, CRP-positive, or DAS28 < 3.20. In contrast to the control group, the mean level of CASP1 protein in the plasma of RA cases rised significantly. Moreover, RA cases displayed significantly greater levels of CASP1 mRNA versus the control group (P < 0.05). Those outcomes reveal that the CASP1 rs2409062 A/G gene polymorphisms are associated with an elevated risk for RA in a Chinese Han population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Transforming growth factor-β relates to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. • Comment on some debatable points shown. • Test Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium for this meta -analysis. Recently, He et al. performed a meta -analysis to interpret the association between transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) gene polymorphisms and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) risk. However, we would like to comment on some debatable points shown in this meta -analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Flooding duration and sediment texture were designed in the study to consider the response of hygrophilous plants to environmental dynamics, which involved three plant species commonly found in the Poyang Lake wetland. The results highlight that sediment texture plays a crucial role in the growth and adaptation of hygrophilous plants, although it exhibited a weaker effect than flooding duration. Additionally, sediment texture mediates flooding to affect plant stressing response and survival. Moreover, sediment texture forms interactive effects with flooding duration and has direct influences on hygrophilous plants. Our study helps provide theoretical insights from a more scientific perspective for the prediction of hygrophilous plant dynamics and to facilitate the formulation of wetland management. Flooding duration and sediment texture play vital roles in the growth and adaptation of wetland plants. However, there is a lack of research on the interactive effects of flooding duration and sediments on wetland plants. A two-factor experiment with flooding duration and sediment texture was designed in the study, involving three plant species commonly found in the Poyang Lake wetland (i.e., Carex cinerascens, Phalaris arundinacea, and Polygonum criopolitanum). Our findings were as follows: (i) Sediments play a crucial role in the growth and adaptation of hygrophilous plants, but they exhibited a weaker effect than flooding. (ii) Sediment texture mediates flooding to affect the stressing responses of wetland plant functional traits, including the leaf chlorophyll content, the plant height, and the number of leaves and ramets. (iii) Sediment texture forms interactive effects with flooding duration and directly influences hygrophilous plants. The results of this study help provide theoretical insights from a more scientific perspective for the prediction of hygrophilous plant dynamics and to facilitate the formulation of wetland management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Herein we describe a novel “turn-off” biosensing strategy for thrombin detection based on Surface Enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and the mediation of spacing between 4-mercaptobenzoic acid (4-MBA) labeled gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). The multiple arginine peptides that initiated gold nano-aggregates incorporating Raman reporter molecules due to the formation of “Hot Spots”, are induced to disband by the addition of thrombin in which the peptides are catalytically cleaved into fragments and thus SERS signals of 4-MBA are sharply declined because of the weakened ability of fragments to induce aggregation. Through this strategy, a novel “turn-off” SERS biosensor for thrombin based on enzymatic amplification is established with sensitivity, selectivity and simplicity as AuNPs and peptides are easily accessible. Compared with non-enzymatic amplification based methods, this newly proposed method has improved sensitivity. The limit of detection was 160fM (at the ratio of signal to noise, S/N=3:1). Further, controlled experiments showed that the method exhibited good selectivity over other proteases. The method demonstrated the capability and the potential for application in complex matrix and future biomarker development. The results also presented the potential and superiority of SERS biosensor based on signal amplification. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

[Display omitted] • Double rice conversion to maize-rice (MR) increased Fe-SOC content. • Ferrous iron oxidation and low phenol oxidase activity stabilized Fe-SOC under MR. • Iron gate theory dominated in maize season whereas enzyme latch in rice in MR. • Tradeoffs between enzyme latch and iron gate preserve Fe-SOC in MR system. To assess the impact of the incorporation of maize into double-rice (RR) on soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration, a two-year experiment was conducted and changes in iron-bound SOC (Fe-SOC), as a proxy for stable carbon pool, were measured. The introduction of a maize-rice (MR) rotation enhanced Fe-SOC by 12–17 % in the maize season, and it stayed 13–36 % higher during rice cultivation compared to RR. Following the "iron gate" theory, Fe oxidation in the maize season was the leading mechanism for improving Fe-SOC content. However, "enzyme latch", i.e. the suppression of Fe-SOC loss by decreased phenol oxidase activity, was a dominant factor controlling the increase of Fe-SOC in the rice season of MR. Thus, the introduction of maize into the paddy field increased Fe-SOC, which was caused by combination of "iron gate" mechanism in maize season and "enzyme latch" in rice season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Low-N soil had higher RPEs and relative primed N than high-N ones. • The RPEs and relative primed N were higher in high-Fe than low-Fe oxides soil. • Biotic process was reflected in increased microbial biomass and enzyme activity. • The abiotic process was responsible for C exchanged between root-C and Fe-SOC. • Biotic–abiotic mechanisms regulated soil C and N mineralization in the rhizosphere. The effect of living roots on the co-mineralization of soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrogen (SON) and driving mechanisms of the rhizosphere priming effect (RPE) remains unclear. Moreover, it is still poorly understood whether the abiotic mechanisms, whereby roots accelerate soil organic matter (SOM) loss by destabilizing organo-mineral associations, are involved. Biotic and abiotic processes involved in the RPE and gross N mineralization (GNM) were investigated using three paddy soils (C 3) under maize (C 4 plant) cultivation. The soils had high and low total N (1.79 and 3.3 g kg−1 soil) as well as iron- (Fe-) (hydr-) oxide (1.1 and 2.2 g kg−1 soil) contents, which gave the following combinations: high-Fe/low-N, low-Fe/low-N, and low-Fe/high-N. The RPEs and GNM were measured using a 13C-natural abundance approach and 15N-pool dilution technique, respectively, on day 86 of maize cultivation. Living roots enhanced native SOC mineralization by 70.4–204% and GNM by 118–382%. As expected, biotic mechanisms contributed to RPEs ('microbial activation' and 'microbial N-mining') that was supported by the increase of soil microbial biomass C and extracellular enzyme activities in presence of plant, and the lower C/N ratio of primed SOM than the original SOM in unplanted soils. Higher RPEs and relative primed N mineralization via stronger 'microbial N-mining' were found in low-Fe/low-N vs low-Fe/high-N soils. In contrast to expectations, the RPEs and relative primed N mineralization were greater in high-Fe/low-N versus low-Fe oxide soils. The strongest decrease in SOM-derived Fe-bound C and increase in root-derived Fe-bound C were observed in the high-Fe soil, because root exudates liberated more C from Fe-bound SOM and co-precipitated with Fe oxides. This shows that the abiotic process was involved in RPEs whereby root exudates promoted soil C loss by releasing it from Fe-organic complexes. Thus, this study demonstrated that coupled biotic-abiotic processes could regulate RPEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of biochar additions on N leaching and retention in tea soils and its microbial mechanism are still unclear. In this study, effects of biochar additions at rates of 0, 3% and 6% on N leaching, N retention and microbial responses in two tea soils with 20- and 60-year plantation ages were investigated under application with 15N-labeled urea. The results showed that cumulative mass of leached NH 4 +-N, NO 3 −-N and TN was reduced by 20.9%–91.9%, 35.1%–66.9% and 40.0%–72.8% under biochar additions, respectively. The retention of TN in soil was increased by 1.2%–5.8% under biochar amendment. Fertilizer-N in the leachate was reduced by 28.8%–62.1%, while fertilizer-N retention in the soils was enhanced by 3.2%–23.9% with biochar application. Biochar addition of 6% showed the highest mitigation of N leaching and enhancement of TN retention across the two soils. Biochar additions increased soil microbial biomass and enzyme activities and changed the bacterial community composition, indicating that biochar addition increased the microbial N requirement, stimulated soil N cycling, including nitrification and denitrification processes, and enhanced microbial N immobilization in the tea soils. Those microbial responses to biochar addition were higher in 60-year-old soil relative to 20-year-old soil, leading to a higher enhancement of N retention and mitigation of N leaching. Soil pH was the prime factor that influenced soil microbes, and it strongly correlated with microbial biomass, enzyme activity, the relative abundance of dominant phyla and α-diversity indices. Therefore, the enhancement of microbial biomass, activity and shifts of bacterial community composition related to N cycling in response to biochar additions that increased the soil pH could be an important mechanism to better understand the biochar-induced N leaching mitigation and N retention enhancement in tea soils under different plantation ages. Unlabelled Image • Biochar additions reduced NH 4 +-N, NO 3 −-N and TN leaching in tea soils. • TN retention in tea soils was increased under bamboo biochar additions. • 6% biochar addition optimizes N leaching mitigation and N retention enhancement. • Microbial biomass, activity and community composition were affected by biochar. • Biochar additions affected soil microbes related to N cycling via changing soil pH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil microbial communities are engineers of important biogeochemical processes and play a critical role in regulating the functions and stability of forest ecosystem. However, few studies have assessed microbial interactions during forest conversion, which is essential to the understanding of the structure and function of soil microbiome. Herein, we investigated the co-occurrence network pattern and putative functions of fungal and bacterial communities in forest-transforming areas (five sites that cover the typical forests) using high-throughput sequencing of the ITS genes and 16S rRNA. Our study showed that the bacterial network had higher average connectivity and more links than fungal network, which might indicate that the bacterial community had more complex internal interactions compared with fungal one. Alphaproteobacteria_unclassfied, Telmatobacter, 0319-6A21 and Latescibacteria_unclassfied were the keystone taxa in bacterial network. For the fungal community network, the keystone taxon was Ceratobasidium. A structural equation model indicated that the available potassium and total organic carbon were important soil environmental factors, which affected all microbial modules, including bacterial and fungi. Total nitrogen had significant effects on the bacterial module that contains a relatively rich group of nitrogen cycling functions, and pH influenced the bacterial module which have higher potential functions of carbon cycling. And, more fungal modules were directly affected by forest structure (S Tree) compared with bacterial ones. This study provides new insights into our understanding of the feedback of underground creatures to forest conversion and highlights the importance of microbial modules in the nutrient cycling process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Skin diseases have had a significant impact on the health of deployed military service members throughout history. Given the high prevalence historically of cutaneous disease among United States deployed servicemembers, we review the burden of skin disease on the modern military by analyzing the most common dermatologic diagnoses made in deployed settings from 2008 to 2015. Furthermore, we compare the most common dermatologic diagnoses made in the deployed setting with those made by dermatologists and nondermatologists in the civilian healthcare system to highlight the differences between the civilian and deployed military practice environment.Methods: This study queried the Theater Medical Data Store for International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes to determine the total number of dermatologic encounters as part of all medical encounters from 2008 to 2015 in a deployed setting. These data were provided by the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Branch. For all statistical tests, analyses were conducted using R statistical software, with type I error controlled at 5%.Results: From 2008 to 2015, 92 dermatology-specific ICD-9 codes accounted for 429,837 dermatologic diagnoses that were made in a deployed setting, equating to 10% of all diagnoses. The top 20 dermatologic diagnoses were identified, and the percentage of total medical diagnoses (TMD) was calculated. Once the individual diagnoses were categorized, a direct comparison was made between the top 20 most prevalent disease categories among deployed military servicemembers and those of the United States (US) population as a whole, based on claims. The most prevalent diagnoses were compared amongst four different settings: Deployed military, military teledermatology, civilian dermatologists, and civilian nondermatologists. Overall comparison of the prevalence between each of these groups showed an association between setting and diagnosis prevalence.Conclusions: The total burden of disease based on diagnostic codes from 2008 to 2015 is 429,837 diagnoses. This accounts for 10% of TMD from 2008 to 2015 in the deployed setting. Diagnoses most prevalent in the deployed military setting had more in common with those made by civilian nondermatologists compared with military teledermatology and civilian dermatologists. At 10% of diagnoses made in the deployed military setting in this timeframe, skin disease accounts for a substantial burden on deployed servicemembers. Deployed servicemembers with skin disease should be supported through use of teledermatology resources and improved dermatology education for primary care and deployed medical personnel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Macrophages commonly exist in two distinct subsets in different microenvironments: classically activated macrophages (M1) and alternatively activated macrophages (M2). The imbalance of M1-M2 macrophage polarization is often related to various diseases or inflammatory states. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is an imbalance in the expression of M1 and M2 macrophage-related cytokines in severe chronic periodontitis. METHODS: A total of 30 clinical specimens, including severe chronic periodontitis tissues (n = 15) and healthy control tissues (n = 15), were used in this study. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot methods were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression levels of M1 macrophage-related cytokines (inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1)) and M2 macrophage-related cytokines (arginase-1 (Arg-1) and STAT6), respectively. RESULTS: The mRNA and protein expression levels of M1 macrophage-related cytokines (iNOS and STAT1) and M2 macrophage-related cytokines (Arg-1 and STAT6) were significantly increased in severe chronic periodontitis patients. In addition, the ratios of iNOS/Arg-1 and STAT1/STAT6 in the severe chronic periodontitis group were also significantly increased (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The imbalance of M1/M2 macrophages exists in the pathogenesis of severe chronic periodontitis, and has a tendency towards M1 polarization. Therefore, maintaining the immune balance of M1/M2 macrophages may be a novel therapeutic alternative for the management of severe chronic periodontitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and hypothesis: This study reports the long-term anatomic and subjective outcomes following sacrocolpopexy based on mesh weight and provides device-specific data. Methods: This cohort study compared ultra-lightweight (≤ 20 g/m2) with lightweight mesh (≥ 25 g/m2). The primary outcome was composite failure defined as at least one of ≥ stage 2 apical prolapse, anterior or posterior vaginal wall beyond hymen, complaint of bulge or retreatment. Effect measure estimates were calculated as the incidence rate ratio of composite failure comparing the use of ultra-light with lightweight mesh. Crude and adjusted incidence rate ratios (IRRs) were obtained using uni- and multivariable Poisson regression models. Results: Of 358 women who met inclusion criteria, 220 (61%) agreed to attend for review; 95 (43%) had ultra-lightweight mesh and 125 (57%) had lightweight mesh including UpsylonTM. Median follow-up for ultra-light and lightweight mesh was 36 (IQR 22–42) and 63 (IQR 48–87) months, respectively (p < 0.001). Accounting for differences in follow-up time, there was no significant difference in composite failure between ultra-light and lightweight mesh groups (IRR 1.47, 95% CI 0.83–2.52, p = 0.15). This persisted after adjustment for age, body mass index, parity, smoking and presence of advanced prolapse prior to surgery (IRR 1.52, 95% CI 0.94–2.47, p = 0.087). Mesh exposure for both groups was mostly asymptomatic, and the rate was 7% for the ultra-light group and 8% in the lightweight group. Overall, repeat surgery for recurrent apical prolapse and mesh exposure occurred in 4% and 2%, respectively. Conclusions: Ultra-lightweight mesh appears to have similar incidence rate of failure compared to lightweight mesh. UpsylonTM mesh has a similar low rate of recurrent apical prolapse and mesh exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe herein a novel' “turn-on” SERS-based strategy for protease detection based on surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and the mediation of spacing between 4-mercaptobenzoic acid (4-MBA) labeled gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) through enzyme assays. The method employed non-cross-linking aggregation of 4-MBA-modified AuNPs by peptides after treatment with target protease. Thus, SERS signals of 4-MBA are sharply increased because of the decreased electrostatic stability of AuNPs that initiated gold nanoaggregates incorporating Raman reporter molecules due to the formation of “Hot Spots”. Through this strategy, a novel and facile “turn-on” SERS biosensor for trypsin and thrombin based on enzymatic cleavage activity is established with sensitivity, selectivity and simplicity as AuNPs and peptides are easily accessible. Compared with other methods, this newly proposed method has improved sensitivity. The limit of detection was 85 fM (at the ratio of signal to noise, S/N=3:1) for trypsin. Controlled experiments showed that the method exhibited good selectivity over other proteases. We also proved that this principle could be easily adapted to detection of other proteases such as thrombin. The method demonstrated the capability for application in complex matrix samples. The results also presented the potential and superiority of SERS biosensor as a general approach for proteases based on enzyme activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High‐Ni‐content LiNixCoyMn1−x−yO2 is regarded as a feasible cathode material to meet the urgent requirement for high energy density batteries. However, such cathode has a poor safety performance because of reactive oxygen releasing at elevated temperatures. In pursuit of high‐safety lithium‐ion batteries, a heatproof–fireproof bifunctional separator is designed in this study by coating ammonium polyphosphate (APP) particles on a ceramic‐coated separator modified with phenol‐formaldehyde resin (CCS@PFR). The CCS@PFR separator acts as a thermal‐supporting layer to inhibit the shrinkage of the separator at elevated temperatures, whereas the APP‐coated layer functions as a fireproof layer, forming a dense polyphosphoric acid (PPA) layer above 300 °C. The PPA layer not only isolates the combustibles from the highly reactive oxygen released from the cathodes but also converts violent combustion reactions into mild stepwise exothermic reactions by carbonizing the combustibles in the batteries. Enabled with such a heatproof–fireproof bifunctional separator, LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2|SiOx−Gr full cells are constructed and these exhibit an excellent safety performance by not catching fire during a 30 s combustion test and surviving the 10 min high‐temperature test above 300 °C. Additionally, an adiabatic rate calorimeter and nail penetration test are conducted with 3 Ah LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2|SiOx−Gr pouch cells to further verify the safety performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single-nucleotide variants (SNV) detection with high abundance sensitivity is of great significance in clinical application, molecular diagnostics and biological research. In this study, a high abundance sensitivity SNV detection strategy based on entropy-driven catalytic (EDC) amplification adjusted by stoichiometry is proposed. In EDC, the toehold exchange reaction is used to initiate subsequent catalytic reaction and can be adjusted by stoichiometry. When the by-product concentration in the toehold exchange reaction is excessive, the forward reaction will be inhibited, which can reduce or even block the unexpected reaction between the non-target and the probe. Meanwhile, some targets can still successfully take a toehold exchange reaction with the probe, thus completing the subsequent EDC. By adjusting the EDC, the SNV identification specificity of this system was improved and is superior to any single adjusted stoichiometry or EDC. When the low abundance target is detected from the mixture, this strategy enables SNV detection at 0.1% abundance with high abundance sensitivity. And even if the mixture contains three kind of 1000-fold interference sequences, this strategy can still discriminate the target SNV. Furthermore, the practical applicability of the adjusted EDC system was verified by p53 mutation discrimination in human urine. Image 1 • A SNV detection strategy based on EDC adjusted by stoichiometry is proposed. • EDC adjusted by stoichiometry improves specificity of the SNV detection system. • This strategy can detect SNV at 0.1% abundance with high abundance sensitivity. • Targets can be identified from a mixture containing three 1000-fold interference. • P53 mutation in human urine can be detected by this strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Catalytic hairpin assembly (CHA) is a promising enzyme-free, isothermal signal amplification strategy, but the relatively time-consuming strand replacement limits its application scenarios. Here, we developed an ultrasound-enhanced catalytic hairpin assembly (UECHA) biosensing platform for early screening of Alzheimer's disease by introducing a portable acoustic-drive platform with functionalized microspheres for effective biomarkers enrichment and fluorescence enhancement. By constructing a gradient ultrasonic field in a microcavity, the platform concentrates the functionalized microspheres in a central position, accompanied by an enhanced fluorescence signal with a specific release. In addition, the programmable frequency modulation can also modify the acoustic potential well and effectively promote non-equilibrium chemical reactions such as CHA (25 min). Compared with the conventional catalytic hairpin assembly (CHA), UECHA allows for direct and quantitative measurement of AD miRNAs down to 3.55 × 10−15 M in 1 μL samples. This visual analysis of ultra-trace biomarkers based on acoustic enrichment and promotion provides a new perspective for the rapid and highly sensitive clinical detection of Alzheimer's disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitochondrial genetic diseases are often characterized by heteroplasmic single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) where both wild-type (WT) and mutant-type (MT) coexist, making detection of accurate SNP abundance critical for diagnosis. Here, we present RatioCRISPR, an automated ratiometric biochip sensor based on the CRISPR/Cas12a system for detecting multiple heteroplasmic SNPs in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). The ratiometric sensor output is only influenced by the relative abundance of WT and MT, with minimal impact from sample concentration. Biochips allow the simultaneous detection of multiple SNP sites for more accurate disease diagnosis. RatioCRISPR can accurately detect 8 samples simultaneously within 25 min with a limit of detection (LOD) of 15.7 aM. We successfully detected 13 simulated samples of three mtDNA point mutations (m.3460G>A, m.11778G>A, and m.14484T>C), which lead to Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) and set a threshold (60%) of heteroplasmy to evaluate disease risk. This automated and accurate biosensor has broad applications in diagnosing multiple SNPs, especially those with heteroplasmic variations, making it an advanced and convenient tool for mtDNA disease diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pancreatic acinar cells undergo acinar-to-ductal metaplasia (ADM), a necessary process for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) initiation. However, the regulatory role of POH1, a deubiquitinase linked to several types of cancer, in ADM and PDAC is unclear. In this study, we investigated the role of POH1 in ADM and PDAC using murine models. Our findings suggest that pancreatic-specific deletion of Poh1 alleles attenuates ADM and impairs pancreatic carcinogenesis, improving murine survival. Mechanistically, POH1 deubiquitinates and stabilizes the MYC protein, which potentiates ADM and PDAC. Furthermore, POH1 is highly expressed in PDAC samples, and clinical evidence establishes a positive correlation between aberrantly expressed POH1 and poor prognosis in PDAC patients. Targeting POH1 with a specific small-molecule inhibitor significantly reduces pancreatic tumor formation, highlighting POH1 as a promising therapeutic target for PDAC treatment. Overall, POH1-mediated MYC deubiquitination is crucial for ADM and PDAC onset, and targeting POH1 could be an effective strategy for PDAC treatment, offering new avenues for PDAC targeted therapy. • POH1 is a positive regulator of acinar-to-ductal metaplasia. • POH1 promotes PDAC by deubiquitinating the MYC protein and potentiating acinar-to-ductal metaplasia. • Targeting POH1 with a specific small-molecule inhibitor significantly reduces pancreatic tumor formation. • Clinical evidence shows a positive correlation between aberrantly expressed POH1 and poor prognosis of PDAC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identification of single‐nucleotide variants (SNVs) is of great significance in molecular diagnosis. The problem that should not be ignored in the identification process is that the unexpected secondary structure of the target nucleic acid may greatly affect the detection accuracy. Herein, we proposed a conditional domain‐level SNV diagnosis strategy, in which the subsequent SNV detection can only be carried out after eliminating the unexpected secondary structure of target DNA. Specifically, the target DNA is assembled into a rigid double strand, which makes folding the target DNA difficult and the unexpected secondary structure is eliminated. Based on this double‐stranded structure, specially designed probes are used to detect double‐stranded properties and report abundant domain‐level oligonucleotide information to improve the effective information in the detection results and complete domain‐level SNV diagnosis. If the unexpected secondary structure is not eliminated, the detector will first detect it and feed back to us, ensuring the accuracy of the subsequent detection results. With the occurrence (or not) of SNV and the change of the SNV site, in the proof‐of‐concept experiment, we successfully identified the four homologous sequences to be tested related to BRAF gene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Fermentation is extremely efficient at preparing porous materials on a large scale. • The pore size of FPHs made under mild conditions can be easily adjusted by time. • FPH-30 exhibits high evaporation rate of 1.594 kg m−2 h−1 and η of 95.15%. • FPHs show excellent composite and mechanical stability, and self-cleaning property. Solar interfacial evaporation is a promising technology for the purification of seawater and polluted water using sustainable solar energy. An adjustable shape and internal-channel size of photothermal evaporation material are essential for regulating heat utilization and water supply rate to three-dimensional (3D) evaporation device. However, a simple method for the preparation process is rarely reported to date. Inspired by bread making, a straightforward fermentation method is applied to the preparation of adjustable porous hydrogel as photothermal evaporation materials. It only takes 40 min to ferment and three simple freeze-thawing cycles to construct the final hydrogel materials. A mold can be used to easily adjust the external shape of the fermentation porous hydrogels (FPHs). The internal-channel size of FPHs can be simply tuned by the fermentation time. The flexible porous structure endows FPHs with excellent photothermal evaporation capability and makes it easy to meet the requirements of water supply rates under the light intensity of different latitudes for water treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing water scarcity and demand for biofuels and fodder has resulted in a change to traditional farming cropping system from double paddy rice (early rice–late rice, sign as ERLR) to maize–paddy rice (spring maize–late rice, sign as SMLR) in Asia. Whether the introduction of SMLR would induce lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and higher net carbon (C) sink remains unclear. The objective of this study is to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the C footprint and net ecosystem carbon budget (NECB) for ERLR and SMLR systems, based on a two–year (2017–2018) paddy field experiment in southeastern China. Results showed that introducing SMLR resulted in a slight decrease of grain yield by 3.78% in 2017 and a pronounced increase by 17.6% in 2018. The introduction of SMLR into ERLR significantly reduced the C footprint by 35.1–41.7%. This was attributed to spring maize having a 60.1–64.5% lower C footprint relative to early rice and the C footprint of later rice in SMLR being 17.7–19.0% lower than in ERLR. Methane emissions were the largest contributor to the C footprint in both cropping systems, accounting for 52.7–54.4% and 37.2–39.6% in ERLR and SMLR, respectively. This composition of C footprint was similar to that of early rice in ERLR and late rice in ERLR and SMLR. However, GHG emissions from the manufacture of nitrogen fertilizers were the largest fraction of the C footprint in spring maize production, accounting for 40.0–49.3%. Although SMLR resulted in a greater C output due to increased direct carbon dioxide emissions from soils (by 60.1–142%), the introduction of SMLR produced a higher C input. Furthermore, the increase of C input outweighed the increase of C output, leading to a significant increase of NECB by 80.1–147%. Results from this study demonstrate that the introduction of SMLR into ERLR is highly effective strategy for reducing C footprint and enhancing the net C sink as well as maintaining high grain yield. Image 1 • Introduction of maize–rice (MR) into double rice (RR) decreased GHG emissions. • Crop yield of MR decreased slightly in 2017 and increased greatly in 2018 than RR. • Introducing MR reduced C footprint by lowering it in both season crops. • Higher increase of C input than C output led to larger net C sink in MR. • MR is an alternative system with low C footprint and high C sink and crop yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Gradient structure demonstrates an enhanced capillary effect. • Gradient structure can hinder water flow and inhibit heat convection loss. • An evaporation efficiency of 93.4% is achieved under 1 sun illumination. • Template method (Teflon-glass) is used to prepare gradient structured hydrogel. • Microgels are attracted by the Teflon plate showing gradient distribution. Solar interfacial evaporation is a promising way to generate clean water from seawater using clean, abundant, and sustainable solar energy. However, non-directionally moving water with high thermal conductivity acts inevitably as a medium for heat transfer from the surface to the bottom through heat convection, resulting in low energy efficiency and a low evaporation rate. Herein, a gradient structured composite hydrogel combining a desired functional differentiation is reported. The network sizes in the hydrogel continuously change, demonstrating an enhanced capillary effect and a direction-limited water supply capability, inhibiting the heat convection loss. In addition, the reported gradient hydrogel shows broadband light absorption, satisfactory mechanical properties under a saturated swelling state, an unusually higher water evaporation rate for brine compared with that for pure water, and an inherent ability to evaporate under both 1 sun illumination and dark environment. The proposed gradient channels to restrict the flow direction of liquid, and consequently the heat convection loss, will have an significant impact on the design of other efficient photothermal evaporation systems and even the field of mass and heat transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess the impacts of the incorporation of spring maize into paddy fields on the utilization of nitrogen (N) fertilizer by late rice, a two-year microplot experiment was performed using labeled 15N-urea to trace the fate of N fertilizer in spring maize-late rice (SM-LR) and early rice-late rice (ER-LR) systems. Compared with ER-LR system, SM-LR system showed higher grain yields and total N use of late rice. However, no difference in fertilizer-N use in late rice between the two cropping systems, and the utilization of soil-N rather than fertilizer-N was responsible for the increased total N uptake by late rice. Further microplot experiments on the fate of soil residual 15N showed a greater amount of soil residual 15N in the spring maize season than in the early rice season (122 vs. 72 kg N ha−1). However, soil residual 15N from the first season had a negligible contribution to the utilization of N in late rice. We conclude that the improvement in the soil N supply accounts for the increased total N use in late rice under the incorporation of spring maize into paddy fields. • Incorporation of spring maize in paddy fields increased total N uptake in late rice. • Fertilizer-N uptake in late rice was not improved by incorporating spring maize. • More soil residual 15N was found in the spring maize season than early rice season. • Soil residual 15N had a minor contribution to total N uptake in late rice. • Enhancement of soil-N supply accounted for the increased N uptake in late rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ganjiang River (length: 823 km; drainage area: 82,809 km2) is the largest river that flows into Poyang Lake and an important tributary of the Yangtze River. In this study, fish fauna were collected from 10 stations in the lower reaches of the river (YC: Yichun, XY: Xinyu, SG: Shanggao, GA: Ganan, ZS: Zhangshu, FC: Fengcheng, NC: Nanchang, QS: Qiaoshe, NX: Nanxin, CC: Chucha) from March 2017 to February 2018. The species composition and distribution as well as spatio-temporal variation in biodiversity and abundance were then examined. Overall, 12,680 samples comprising15 families and 84 species were collected, the majority of which belonged to the Order Cypriniformes (69.05% of the total species collected) and Cyprinidae (64.29%). Moreover, of these 84 species, 36 (42.86%) were endemic to China. Dominant species were Cyprinus carpio (index of relative importance (IRI): 17.19%), Pseudobrama simoni (IRI: 10.81%) and Xenocypris argentea (IRI: 10.20%). Subsequent cluster analysis divided the samples into three significantly different groups by sample site. Meanwhile, Margalef species richness and Shannon−Wiener diversity indices were both low, and along with analyses of abundance-biomass curves suggested moderate disturbance. Current threats to the conservation of fish biodiversity in the lower reaches were also reviewed and management solutions suggested. The results will help form the basis for reasonable exploitation and protection of freshwater fish in the lower reaches of the Ganjiang River. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we propose the state and activation mechanisms able to realize the unification of an input signal and addressable sequential execution. Furthermore, a DNA sequential logic circuit (SLC) model was designed and applied in constructing a DNA register that for the first time realizes the generalized storage of identical input molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the application of redundant modules in the molecular cascade circuit, which can help trace the results of each logic gate. This provides a basis for finding the error position and judging the final circuit result to improve the circuit and the reliability of the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract PDMS sponge supported DMAP on polymer brushes can be used as highly efficient recyclable base catalyst and ligand for various organic transformations and provide much better catalytic activities and selectivities than free DMAP in water. Highlights • PDMS sponge DMAP has high catalytic activity and selectivity in water. • The polymer brush nano-structures on sponge can provide excellent reactive sites. • The catalyst's easy preparation by solid-phase synthetic strategy. • Recyclable catalyst and ligand, and easy to scale up by a flow reactor. • This hydrophobic PDMS sponge will be an excellent catalyst carrier in water. Abstract The successfully developed polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS, a stable hydrophobic polymer material) sponge supported DMAP can be used as base catalyst and ligand to facilitate a series of organic transformations with high efficiency and good reusability in water. This PDMS sponge DMAP can provide much better catalytic activities and selectivities than free DMAP in water. Through an easy-to-build continuous flow reactor, the PDMS sponge DMAP facilitated reactions can be facilely scaled up. This porous hydrophobic PDMS sponge material will be a promising carrier for the development of highly efficient recyclable catalysts in water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The CRISPR/Cas system is known as one of the directions of the next generation of mainstream molecular diagnostic technology. However, most current CRISPR/Cas molecular diagnostics still rely on the pre-amplification of nucleic acid due to the limited sensitivity of CRISPR/Cas alone, which has no significant advantage over commercial Taqman-PCR and TwistAmp® Exo kits. Herein, we report an aM-level sensitive cascade CRISPR-Dx system (ASCas) that eliminates nucleic acid pre-amplification, thus avoiding aerosol contamination and greatly reducing the testing environment and personnel skill requirements for molecular diagnostics. Most importantly, the Cas13a nucleases with high sensitivity and trans -cleavage efficiency can rapidly cleaved RNA bubbles on the hybridized cascade probe at low concentration target RNA detection, which results in the destruction of the cascade probe and releases a large amount of trigger DNA for further signal amplification of secondary Cas12a reactions. Therefore, the ASCas system achieves amplification-free, ultra-sensitivity (1 aM), and ultra-fast (20 min) RNA detection. In addition, the ASCas system replaces the complicated screening process of primers and probes with the programmed Cas13a-crRNA design so that a suitable detection system can be constructed more quickly and straightforwardly for the mutation-prone SARS-CoV-2 virus. • A novel cascade CRISPR-Dx system achieves aM-level sensitivity and detects SARS-CoV-2 standard within 20 min. • The cascade probe superimposes the Cas12a and Cas13a reactions, enabling detection without nucleic acid amplification. • This system reduces specialized equipment requirements and is suitable for developing countries. • The ASCas system is suitable for detecting other RNA targets and has potential applications in cancer diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The outbreak of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has seriously harmed human health and economic development worldwide. Studies have shown that timely diagnosis and isolation are the most effective ways to prevent the spread of the epidemic. However, the current polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based molecular diagnostic platform has the problems of expensive equipment, high operation difficulty, and the need for stable power resources support, so it is difficult to popularize in low-resource areas. This study established a portable (<300 g), low-cost (<$10), and reusable molecular diagnostic device based on solar energy photothermal conversion strategy, which creatively introduces a sunflower-like light tracking system to improve light utilization, making the device suitable for both high and low-light areas. The experimental results show that the device can detect SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid samples as low as 1 aM within 30 min. [Display omitted] • The solar device is suitable for resource-poor areas or fieldwork environments. • The portable device is light (300 g), low-cost ($10), and reusable. • Sunflower-like light tracking system maximizes solar energy. • Gold nanoparticles have high photothermal conversion efficiency and low cost. • High frequency and wide coverage testing for SARS-CoV-2 is necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the differential information of four homologous oligonucleotides, two domain-based encoders have been constructed with the molecular information as the input. Based on the one-to-one correspondence between the input and output, SNVs can be identified and their sites can be located at the domain level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel bifunctional organic sponge photocatalyst can enable the efficient coupling of tertiary amines with ketones in water. The asymmetric transformation can be also achieved by using this sponge photocatalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Licorice is a traditional Chinese medicine that has been used for cardiovascular diseases. Recent studies found that supplementation with licorice extracts attenuated the development of atherosclerosis (AS) in hypercholesterolemic patients. Many studies have shown that licorice flavonoids, the main active components of licorice, have a variety of pharmacological effects, including anti-inflammation, regulation of lipid metabolism, and antioxidation. However, the key active components against AS in licorice flavonoids are still unclear. The aim of this paper is to investigate the active components of licorice flavonoids that exert anti-atherosclerotic effects and the underlying mechanisms. Network pharmacology was used to screen the active components of licorice flavonoids that have anti-atherosclerotic effects. Combining bioinformatics analysis and in vitro studies, the effects and underlying mechanisms of the active component isoliquiritigenin (ISL) on cell pyroptosis were further investigated in tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-treated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). We constructed a compound-target network and screened 3 active components, namely, ISL, glabridin, and naringenin in licorice flavonoids. The half maximal effective concentration values of these 3 components suggested that ISL was the key active component against TNF-α-induced endothelial cell injury. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis showed that ISL could potentially treat AS via the nucleotide-binding and oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor signaling pathway. An in vitro study verified that ISL suppressed TNF-α-induced NLRP3 activation and pyroptosis in HUVECs. The molecular docking and cellular thermal shift assay showed good compatibility between ISL and class III histone deacetylase sirtuin 6 (SIRT6). Moreover, we found that ISL upregulated the expression of SIRT6 in TNF-α-treated HUVECs. Further study found that SIRT6 knockdown reduced the inhibitory effect of ISL on pyroptosis, whereas the NLRP3 inhibitor reversed this process in TNF-α-treated HUVECs. Our results demonstrate that ISL is a key active component of licorice flavonoids. ISL attenuates NLRP3-mediated vascular endothelial cell pyroptosis via SIRT6, and SIRT6 may be a potential target of ISL for the treatment of AS. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The successfully developed polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS, a green and highly transparent polymer material) sponge photocatalyst can catalyze cross-dehydrogenative coupling (CDC) of tertiary amines and various nucleophiles with high efficiency and reusability under visible light irradiation. Through an easy-to-build continuous flow reactor, the sponge photocatalytic reaction can be facilely scaled up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]