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Edible oils are one of the renewable sources that enable the possibility of producing biodiesel sustainably. The transesterification of canola oil with methanol using cesium-modified phosphotungstic acid (Cs2.5H0.5PW12O40) as a heterogeneous catalyst was studied. Reaction conditions, specifically reaction time, catalyst loading, and the ratio of methanol to canola oil, were systematically explored. The canola oil conversion reached 55% at room temperature after 24 h. The reusability tests showed that the conversion of canola oil to biodiesel was maintained.

Abstract To explore the morphology of polyetheretherketone (PEEK), this study employed fast scanning calorimetry (FSC) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The objective was to observe the PEEK microstructure under various thermal profiles replicating the additive manufacturing material extrusion process. Samples were observed using SEM directly from the FSC chips, allowing high-accuracy evaluation of the microstructure relative to the thermal profiles. This approach allowed for the evaluation of the microstructure with high accuracy concerning the thermal profiles to which the samples were previously exposed. Each sample was coated with a 10 nm layer of gold–palladium (20–80% ratio), and no etching was necessary to observe the micro features of the microstructure. The approach enabled successful observation and quantification of PEEK microstructure, linking substrate temperature and temperature peaks to microstructural outcomes. Notably, temperature peaks during the process enhanced the formation of well-developed, thick lamellae due to increased chain mobility. Additionally, embryos formed post-remelting of the substrate structure were observed.

Abstract Driven by the need to make high temperature thermoplastic polymers more processable and expand the range of applications, this study reports on the properties of a novel PAEK material developed by Victrex (Thornton Cleveleys, UK) which is capable of undergoing crosslinking or crystallisation, two competing processes that can be adapted via specific processing temperature and time conditions. The uniqueness of this PAEK material resides in its manufacturing approach, where the crosslinkers are incorporated during the polymerisation process, and its distinct properties, including a controllable viscosity that can be tuned from low to high to allow its application in complex manufacturing processes, such as thermoplastic carbon fibre manufacturing.

Peripheral nerve injury is one of the more common forms of peripheral nerve disorders, and the most severe type of peripheral nerve injury is a defect with a gap. Biosynthetic cellulose membrane (BCM) is a commonly used material for repair and ligation of nerve defects with gaps. Meanwhile, exosomes from mesenchymal stem cells can promote cell growth and proliferation. We envision combining exosomes with BCMs to leverage the advantages of both to promote repair of peripheral nerve injury. Prepared exosomes were added to BCMs to form exosome-loaded BCMs (EXO-BCM) that were used for nerve repair in a rat model of sciatic nerve defects with gaps. We evaluated the repair activity using a pawprint experiment, measurement and statistical analyses of sciatica function index and thermal latency of paw withdrawal, and quantitation of the number and diameter of regenerated nerve fibers. Results indicated that EXO-BCM produced comprehensive and durable repair of peripheral nerve defects that were similar to those for autologous nerve transplantation, the gold standard for nerve defect repair. EXO-BCM is not predicted to cause donor site morbidity to the patient, in contrast to autologous nerve transplantation. Together these results indicate that an approach using EXO-BCM represents a promising alternative to autologous nerve transplantation, and could have broad applications for repair of nerve defects.

Abstract The current study investigates the melting behavior of polyetheretherketone (PEEK) using both Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Fast Scanning Calorimetry (FSC) thermal analysis techniques. The PEEK melting peaks are examined under various conditions, including isothermal and non‐isothermal crystallization conditions, as well as a thermal profile mimicking the material extrusion process (MEX). The results of the analysis reveal changes in the crystalline morphology, as indicated by a shift in intensity between melting peaks crystalized at different isothermal temperatures and cooling rates. Furthermore, the behavior of the deconvoluted melting peaks differs depending on the substrate temperature during the MEX process simulation. The presence of double or multiple melting peaks suggests the presence of different crystalline populations during the manufacturing process. Understanding the formation and changes in these melting peaks can help inform the development of better printing strategies and improve the mechanical performance of printed parts.

Since 2017, a new Neopestalotiopsis sp. has been reported causing severe Pestalotia leaf spot (PLS) outbreaks in Florida. The threat of this new species has forced several strawberry growers to destroy their fields early in the season. The need for a fast and accurate diagnosis of PLS came from growers’ concerns and the fact that PLS symptoms can be easily confused with leaf spots caused by other pathogens. Moreover, although N. rosae can be isolated from symptomatic tissues, it is not as aggressive as the new Neopestalotiopsis sp. in Florida. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a high-resolution melting (HRM) assay to accurately detect and differentiate Neopestalotiopsis spp. associated with strawberry and validate this assay for its practical application in a plant diagnostic clinic. Two sets of primers were designed based on the partial beta-tubulin gene (β-tub) and by cross-comparison of their HRM results. This molecular assay was able to differentiate Neopestalotiopsis spp. into three groups: the new Neopestalotiopsis sp. associated with PLS outbreaks, N. rosae, and other Neopestalotiopsis spp. represented by several other species within the genus. The HRM assay had a detection limit of 10 pg of genomic DNA or 10 conidia and was found to be efficient and accurate to be implemented in our plant diagnostic clinic, allowing for a quick turnaround of results. [Figure: see text] Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.

Abstract Phytophthora crown rot (PhCR) caused by Phytophthora cactorum is one of the most damaging diseases of strawberry worldwide. Mefenoxam is one of the major fungicides currently used to manage PhCR. However, the emergence and spread of resistant isolates have made controlling the pathogen in the field problematic. In the present study, using whole genome sequencing analysis, mutations associated with mefenoxam-resistant isolates were identified in six different genomic regions of P. cactorum. The 95.54% reads from a sensitive isolate pool and 95.65% from a resistant isolate pool were mapped to the reference genome of P. cactorum P414. Four point mutations were in coding regions while the other two were in noncoding regions. The genes harboring mutations were functionally unknown. All mutations present in resistant isolates were confirmed by sanger sequencing of PCR products. For the rapid diagnostic assay, SNP-based high-resolution melting (HRM) markers were developed to differentiate mefenoxam-resistant P. cactorum from sensitive isolates. The HRM markers R3-1F/R3-1R and R2-1F/R2-1R were suitable to differentiate both sensitive and resistant profiles using clean and crude DNA extraction. None of the mutations associated with mefenoxam resistance found in this study were in the RNA polymerase subunit genes, the hypothesized target of this compound in oomycetes. Our findings may contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms of resistance of mefenoxam in oomycetes since serves as a foundation to validate the candidate genes as well as contribute to the monitoring of P. cactorum populations for the sustainable use of this product.

Abstract Almost 50% of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) patients progressed from Barrett’s esophagus (BE). EAC is often diagnosed at late stages and is related to dismal prognosis. However, there are still no effective methods for stratification and therapy in BE and EAC. Two public datasets (GSE26886 and GSE37200) were analyzed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between BE and EAC. Then, a series of bioinformatics analyses were performed to explore potential biomarkers associated with BE-EAC. 27 up- and 104 down-regulated genes were observed between GSE26886 and GSE37200. The GO and KEGG enrichment analysis indicated that the DEGs were highly involved in tumorigenesis. Subsequently, Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) were performed to explore the potential genes related to BE-EAC, which were validated in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, and 5 up-regulated genes (MYO1A, ACE2, COL1A1, LGALS4, and ADRA2A) and 3 down-regulated genes (AADAC, RAB27A, and P2RY14) were found in EAC. Meanwhile, ADRA2A and AADAC could contribute to EAC pathogenesis and progression. MYO1A, ACE2, COL1A1, LGALS4, ADRA2A, AADAC, RAB27A, and P2RY14 could be potential novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in BE-EAC.

Abstract The silver nanowires with different morphology and size have been synthesised via the one‐step solvothermal synthesis method. Three as‐synthesised samples 1–3 with different size have been obtained by changing the crystallisation time of the silver wire. The synthesised strategies for 1–3 provide us with new synthesised methods in designing and obtaining the silver nanowires with desired morphology. For the treatment of oral implant repair infection, the biological activity of silver nanowires 1–3 was evaluated, and the related mechanism was discussed at the same time. Firstly, the CFU assay was conducted to measure the inhibitory activity of silver nanowires 1–3 on the survival of Porphyromonas periodontium. Then, the real time RT‐PCR assay was performed and the relative expression of Porphyromonas periodontium survival gene expression was measured after silver nanowires 1–3 treatment. The CCK‐8 assay was conducted to measure the toxicity of the silver nanowires 1–3.

AIM: To elucidate the role of vascular endothelial growth factor-165b (VEGF-165b) in blood-retinal barrier (BRB) injury in the rat acute glaucoma model. METHODS: In this study, the rat acute high intraocular pressure (HIOP) model was established before and after intravitreous injection of anti-VEGF-165b antibody. The expression of VEGF-165b and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) in rat retina was detected by double immunofluorescence staining and Western blotting, and the breakdown of BRB was detected by Evans blue (EB) dye. RESULTS: The intact retina of rats expressed VEGF-165b and ZO-1 protein, which were mainly located in the retinal ganglion cell layer and the inner nuclear layer and were both co-expressed with vascular endothelial cell markers CD31. After acute HIOP, the expression of VEGF-165b was up-regulated; the expression of ZO-1 was down-regulated at 12h and then recovered at 3d; EB leakage increased, peaking at 12h. After intravitreous injection of anti-VEGF-165b antibody, the expression of VEGF-165b protein was no significantly changed; and the down-regulation of the expression of ZO-1 was more obvious; EB leakage became more serious, peaking at 3d. EB analysis also showed that EB leakage in the peripheral retina was greater than that in the central retina. CONCLUSION: The endogenous VEGF-165b protein may protect the BRB from acute HIOP by regulating the expression of ZO-1. The differential destruction of BRB after acute HIOP may be related to the selective loss of retinal ganglion cells.

Abstract TP53 mutation frequently occurs in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Senescence also plays a vital role in the ongoing process of HCC. P53 is believed to regulate the advancement of senescence in HCC. However, the exact mechanism of TP53 mutation‐related senescence remains unclear. In this study, we found the TP53 mutation was positively correlated with senescence in HCC, and the differential expressed genes were primarily located in macrophages. Our results proved that the risk score could have an independent and vital role in predicting the prognosis of HCC patients. In addition, HCC patients with a high risk score may most probably benefit from immune checkpoint block therapy. We also found the risk score is elevated in chemotherapy‐treated HCC samples, with a high level of senescence‐associated secretory phenotype. Finally, we validated the risk‐score genes in the protein level and noticed the risk score is positively related with M2 polarization. Of note, we considered that the risk score under the TP53 mutation and senescence is a promising biomarker with the potential to aid in predicting prognosis, defining tumor environment characteristics, and assessing the benefits of immunotherapy for HCC patients.

AIM: To clarify the role of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in blood-retinal barrier (BRB) injury after acute high intraocular pressure (IOP) in rats. METHODS: Forty-two Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomized into 7 groups [control (Cont), 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72h, n=6]. Except Cont group, other groups' retina tissue was obtained at corresponding time points after a model of acute high IOP have been established in rats. The expression of iNOS and tight junction protein zonula occludens (ZO)-1 was detected by Western blotting. Evans blue (EB; 3% ) was injected into the great saphenous vein to detect the leakage of EB by spectrophotometer. Nine rats were divided into Cont, 6h, 12h groups, the expression of iNOS was localized by immunofluorescence. In order to verify the role of iNOS in the damage to BRB, thirty-six rats were randomly divided into 4 groups [Cont, Cont+inhibitor (Inh), 6h and 6h+Inh, n=9]. After treatment with the iNOS-specific inhibitor 1400W, the expression of iNOS and ZO-1 and the leakage of BRB were detected again. RESULTS: The immunofluorescence results showed that the expression of iNOS was observed in the Cont group and 6h group, but not in the 12h group. iNOS was mainly expressed in the retinal nerve fiber layer, ganglion cell layer and inner nuclear layer and that it did not colocalize with the retinal ganglion cell marker NeuN but was co-expressed with the vascular endothelial cell marker CD31. Western blotting showed that in the early period (3h, 6h) after acute high IOP, the expression of iNOS was upregulated, then the down-regulation of iNOS were tested in the follow-up timing spots. ZO-1 expression showed a continuous down-regulation after 6h. The quantitative results for EB showed that the amount of EB leakage began to increase at 3h after acute high IOP. At 6h, the leakage of EB was lower, but at 12h, the leakage of EB was highest, after which it gradually recovered but remained higher than that in the Cont group. The expression of iNOS was down-regulated after 1400W treatment. ZO-1 expression was not significantly changed in the Cont+Inh group and the 6h group, and significantly down-regulated in the 6h+Inh group, and the leakage of EB was significantly increased after 1400W treatment. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the upregulation of iNOS expression in the early stage after acute high IOP may have a protective effect on BRB injury.

Ethnopharmacological relevanceDanshen preparations are widely used in the treatment of ischaemic cerebrovascular disease. However, the clinical efficacy of such preparations remains unclear. Consequently, Danshen preparations are used to a lesser extent in vascular cognitive impairment (VCI).Aim of the studyIn this study, we aimed to systematically assess the clinical efficacy and safety of Danshen preparations in VCI. To this end, we examined and performed a meta-analysis (MA) of the evidence available from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of Danshen preparations conducted in patients with VCI.MethodsWe queried the following sources and collected all articles reporting on RCTs of Danshen preparations published prior to December 2021: PubMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Data, Chongqing VIP Database (CQVIP), and China Biology Medicine (CBM) disc databases. The assessment of treatments that were included in references were performed by RevMan 5.2 software based on guidelines from Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions.ResultsWe included a total of 12 RCTs that included data on clinical therapeutic effects. The evaluation criteria included the following: National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), modified Rankin Scale (mRS), Barthel Index (BI), Mini-Mental State Assessment (MMSE), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA), Activities of Daily Living Scale (ADL), treatment effect index, and incidence of adverse reaction index. In the included studies, the observation groups included 656 cases and the control groups included 660 cases. The results of the MA were as follows: the mean difference (MD) value after combining the effect size for NIHSS was −2.91, with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of −4.22 to −1.59; the combined effect quantity hypothesis test revealed that Z = 4.33 (p

A high-power ultraviolet light-emitting diode (UV-LED) array is promising for dye decolorization. However, its practical application is limited by the heat dissipation efficiency of UV-LED. Hence, a coupling system combined with heat management of UV-LED arrays and great photocatalytic activity was proposed. In this work, multilayer wall-type active heat dissipation was first designed and compared from UV-LED beads irradiance, heat dissipation, and AR26 decolorization performance. Simulation and light intensity tests show that uniform arrangement, quincunX arrangement, and one-typed/rectangular arrangement are optimal for one, two, and three-layers system, respectively. Among these arrangements, the two-layer system shows the best performance compared with others, which owns the lower junction temperature (44 °C) and highest rate constant kapp (0.027 min−1). The effect of sewage temperature on photocatalytic performance under a two-layer system was further probed, and sewage with 20 to 40 °C is most beneficial to dye removal due to the trade-off relationship between light intensity and photocatalytic reaction rate. The life test verified the long-term stability of the coupling system, and only 15% luminous attenuation was reached after 85-day tests under high power conditions, which is much lower than that with conventional air cooling (35% reduction after 40-day tests). Our study paves the way to effectively use high-power UV-LED in dye wastewater treatments.

Objectives To investigate the incidence, predisposing factors, diagnosis and management of subcapsular renal haematoma (SRH) after ureteroscopic lithotripsy (URSL).Design Retrospective observational study.Setting Shandong Provincial Hospital, a 4500-bed tertiary hospital in China.Participants The data from 1535 consecutive patients treated with URSL (including rigid URSL and flexible URSL) between January 2015 and October 2020 were retrospectively analysed.Main outcome measures SRH after URSL confirmed via CT. The characteristics, operative data and outcomes of these patients were documented and compared.Results Six patients were confirmed to have an SRH after URSL on CT. The total incidence of SRH after URSL was 0.39%. The incidences of SRH after rigid URSL and flexible URSL were 0.38% and 0.41%, respectively. Unendurable ipsilateral flank pain and a significant decrease in haemoglobin after surgery were the typical clinical manifestations of SRH after URSL. There were no significant differences in age, sex, history of diabetes mellitus, preoperative hypertension, body mass index, stone laterality or perfusion pressure (p>0.05). However, SRH was significantly associated with the stone size, stone location, degree of hydronephrosis and operative duration (p

Maternal stress has been associated with poor birth outcomes, including preterm birth, infant mortality, and low birth weight. Bone development disorders in the embryo as a result of maternal stress are believed to be mediated through oxidative stress damage. Various species of free radicals, such as alkoxyl radicals, can be formed through endogenous redox response or exogenous stimuli in the womb and transmitted to embryos. Yet, whether these free radicals lead to abnormal fetal bone development is unclear. Here, we demonstrate prenatal bone growth retardation and ferroptosis-related signals of chondrocytes were induced by classic alkoxyl radical generators. We also show that alkoxyl radicals lead to significant accumulation of oxidized phospholipids in chondrocytes, through the iron-mediated Fenton reaction in embryos. We further demonstrate a role for the lipid peroxidation end product, 4-HNE, which forms adducts with the pivotal chondrogenesis transcription factor SOX9, leading to its degradation, therefore dampening chondrogenesis. Our data define a critical role for phospholipid peroxidation in alkoxyl radicals-evoked abnormal chondrogenesis, and pinpoint it being a precise target for treating oxidative stress-related bone development disorders.

Copper‑titanium dioxide (Cu-TiO2) catalysts are pretreated with hydrogen‑helium and oxygen‑helium before evaluation of the carbon monoxide oxidation. Pre-reduced Cu-TiO2 catalysts showed higher initial and overall activity than pre-oxidized Cu-TiO2 catalysts. H2-TPR results revealed that copper species are dispersed differently after pre-reduction and pre-oxidation treatments. XPS results confirmed that Cu+ and Cu2+ species exist for both treatments. Meanwhile, IR results suggested Cu+ species promote the absorption of CO, leading to increased reaction rates.

A series of nickel- and iron-modified titanium dioxide (Ni-Fe/TiO2) are studied for the dry reforming of methane (DRM) at 550 °C. Temperature-programmed surface reactions using CH4 and CO2 as probe molecules, as well as activity results, confirmed that both CO2 and CH4 conversion decreased with the addition of Fe. The XPS results obtained from reduced and used catalysts suggested changes in the surface nickel and iron species. Characterizations, particularly thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Raman spectroscopy over used catalysts, revealed that the addition of Fe can greatly inhibit the coke formation. In situ DRIFTS further identified that the addition of Fe favored the formation of carbonate species, which can facilitate the removal of coke deposited on the surface.

Our general purpose was to provide a theoretical and practical foundation for the use of exosomes (EXOs) that have high levels of CD47 as stable and efficient drug carriers. Thus, we prepared EXOs from adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (ADMSCs) that had high levels of CD47 (EXOsCD47) and control EXOs (without CD47), and then compared their immune escape in vivo and their resistance to phagocytosis in vitro. Nanoflow cytometry was used to determine the CD47 level in these EXOs, and the amount of EXOsCD47 that remained in rat plasma at 3 h after intraperitoneal injection. Phagocytosis of the EXOs was also determined using in vitro rat macrophage bone marrow (RMA-BM) experiments. Our in vitro results showed that macrophages ingested significantly more control EXOs than EXOsCD47 (p < 0.01), with confirmation by ultra-high-definition laser confocal microscopy. Consistently, our in vivo results showed that rats had 1.377-fold better retention of EXOsCD47 than control EXOs (p < 0.01). These results confirmed that these engineered EXOsCD47 had improved immune escape. Our results therefore verified that EXOsCD47 had increased immune evasion relative to control EXOs, and have potential for use as drug carriers.

A large amount of fluorine−containing wastewater was produced with the rapid development of the industry. Excessive fluoride content in water will not only endanger ecological security but also pose threat to human health. In this study, common new adsorbents for defluorination, such as metal−based adsorbents, natural adsorbents, and nanomaterial adsorbents were reviewed for its physicochemical properties and fluorine removal efficiency. The fluorine removal mechanism of different adsorbents was introduced in detail, and the future work of the removal of fluorine using novel adsorbents was proposed. This research also introduces the application of the coupling of the adsorption method with the technology of chemical precipitation, filtration, and super−magnetic separation to treat high concentration of fluoride wastewater. A good selection of process combinations according to different needs can achieve high−efficiency defluorination in water. Finally, some existing problems of practical operation of fluorine using removal materials in the environment are summarized, hoping to contribute to the future research of fluorine removal materials.

The history of experimental hydrology in China is important but poorly documented. Here we review 94 papers (86 of these in Chinese) from the CNKI and Web of Science websites to chronicle the history of experimental studies in China before 2000. Professor Wei‐Zu Gu—the focus of this Special Issue—factors heavily into this history. Perhaps more than any country, the experimental hydrology history of China is influenced by socioeconomic development and political change. Our analysis shows 4 main periods of development associated with (1) an early development stage before 1949, the founding year of People's Republic of China (PRC), (2) an initial period of rapid transition in experimental studies in China (1949–1965), (3) a struggling and recovering stage for during and shortly after the Cultural Revolution, from 1965 to 1978, and (4) significant progress associated with new policies for reform and opening up in China from 1978 to 2000, that included contributions of Wei‐Zu Gu and other scientists. In terms of experimental hydrological findings, two notable contributions are a mathematical description of saturation overland flow derived from streamflow and precipitation data and calculated water storage deficit in the unsaturated zone by Zhao and Zhuang (1963), several years before its process‐based 'discovery' in the USA (and elsewhere) and the 'interface runoff generation law' of Yu (1985) which was ahead of its time in understanding linking the notion of the commonality of all runoff forms. In terms of model development stemming from experimental studies, the development of the Xinanjiang Model of Zhao (1980) was a significant achievement, later partly adopted into the VIC model in the USA and the ARNO model in Europe. Finally, the Hydrohill catchment developed by Wei‐Zu Gu led the way for the rapid rise in process studies and internationalization of experimental hydrology in China. Overall, the experimental hydrological studies from 1949 to 2000 had a strong engineering focus, with many links to water conservation construction and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the hydrological processes on the Tibetan Plateau (TP) under climate change is an important scientific question. The frequent multiphase transfer exacerbates the complexity of hydrological processes on the TP, which brings equifinality problem to hydrological models and causes large uncertainties in quantifying the contributions of runoff components. Tracer‐aided hydrological models are helpful for improving model performances and have been adopted in cryospheric regions, but the influence of frozen soil has yet to be considered. This study adopted the Tracer‐aided Tsinghua Representative Elementary Watershed model (THREW‐T) in a typical cold basin with widespread frozen soil on the TP. The model structure was diagnosed with isotope by identifying the influences of frozen soil. A simplified catchment‐scale frozen soil module was incorporated into the model. Results showed that: (a) The THREW‐T model cannot simultaneously simulate baseflow and stream water isotope well. The imbalance of simulations on two objectives could be attributed to the influence of frozen soil, resulting in seasonal variation of soil‐related parameters, which was not considered in the model. (b) Incorporating the frozen soil module significantly improved the balance of baseflow and isotope simulation, simultaneously producing low baseflow and high contribution of subsurface runoff during wet seasons. (c) The frozen soil had little influence on the annual streamflow, but changed the runoff seasonality by reducing baseflow during dry seasons and increasing subsurface runoff during wet seasons. The frozen soil module was still simplified, and further work is needed to improve the physical representation of soil freeze‐thaw process. This study highlights the value of tracer‐aided hydrological modeling method on diagnosing model structure by identifying the influence of specific processes such as frozen soil. Plain Language Summary: Soil freeze‐thaw process has important impact on hydrological processes by influencing the hydraulic properties of soil, leading to complex hydrological processes in cold regions and uncertainties in hydrological modeling. Tracer‐aided hydrological models incorporating the simulations of tracers (e.g., stable isotope in water) are helpful for improving model performances, but their values on identifying the impact of frozen soil and reducing related uncertainties are inadequately explored. In this study, we found that the Tracer‐aided Tsinghua Representative Elementary Watershed model (THREW‐T) cannot achieve good simulation of baseflow and stream water isotope simultaneously. We attributed the imbalance of two objectives to the seasonal variation of soil‐related parameters caused by frozen soil, which was not considered in the original model. We developed a simplified frozen soil module to characterize the variations of soil storage and hydraulic conductivity. The model incorporated with this module performed well on the baseflow and isotope simulations, by simulating low baseflow during dry seasons and high contribution of subsurface runoff during wet seasons simultaneously. Given that the streamflow could be simulated well even if not considering frozen soil, this study highlights the value of tracer‐aided modeling on diagnosing model structure by identifying the hydrological impact of frozen soil. Key Points: Frozen soil resulted in the imbalanced simulation on baseflow and isotope of THREW‐T modelThe developed frozen soil module improved the balance of simulations on multiple objectivesThe tracer‐aided modeling method has significant value on diagnosing model structure and identifying the hydrological impact of frozen soil [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leptadenia hastata (Pers.) Decne is a commonly used food source and prescribed as a traditional African medicine for treatment of various diseases, such as diabetes, skin disorders, wounds, and ulcers. However, quality control has become a bottleneck restricting the therapeutic development and utilization of this plant. In this study, a reliable method for qualitative and quantitative determination of components in Leptadenia hastata was established. The components of L. hastata were profiled using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadruple time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS). Subsequently, an ultra-high performance tandem diode array detector (UHPLC-DAD)-based method was used for simultaneous quantitative analysis of five major constituents in six batches of L. hastata samples. As a result, 35 compounds were tentatively identified. The quantities of the five constituents (vicenin-ll, orientin, schaftoside, chrysin 6-C- arabinoside 8-C-glucoside, chrysin 6-C-glucoside 8-C-arabinoside) were determined as 124.8-156.9 pg/g, 170.5-216.0 pg/g, 61.31-93.73 pg/g, 85.13-119.3 pg/g and 99.82-129.4 pg/g, respectively. This method offers a successful strategy for precise and effective evaluation of the constituents of L. hastata, providing a robust foundation for holistic quality assessment of medicinal plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]