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To provide molecular‐scale insight into the structural evolution from tris(methylamino)borane to boron nitride (BN) fiber during the chemical thermal‐treating process, polymeric green fiber is cured in hot synthetic air at 300°C and then treats to 400, 600, 800, and 1000°C in ammonia. The chemical composition and structure of the volatile compounds and residual products are analyzed during the pyrolysis process for the polymeric green fiber. It is demonstrated that oxygen can be used to cure polymeric green fiber rapidly under the premise of ensuring a final fiber content of less than 1 wt% carbon and 2 wt% oxygen while maintaining the fiber tensile strength at 1000°C. The molecular structure evolution during the pyrolysis process for polymeric green fiber after oxygen curing is determined. Specifically, in hot synthetic air, introducing oxygen and releasing methylamine generates a B–O six‐membered ring structure in the polymer in the first stage. Then, the removal of methyl results in the formation of a B–N–O network in hot ammonia. Afterward, nitridation of the B–O six‐membered ring promotes the evolution of the B–N six‐membered ring structure with the release of water and carbon dioxide. Finally, the growth and rearrangement of the BN structure are achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Genetically enhancing drought tolerance and nutrient use efficacy enables sustainable and stable wheat production in drought‐prone areas exposed to water shortages and low soil fertility, due to global warming and declining natural resources. In this study, wheat plants, exhibiting improved drought tolerance and N‐use efficacy, were developed by introducing GmTDN1, a gene encoding a DREB‐like transcription factor, into two modern winter wheat varieties, cv Shi4185 and Jimai22. Overexpressing GmTDN1 in wheat resulted in significantly improved drought and low‐N tolerance under drought and N‐deficient conditions in the greenhouse. Field trials conducted at three different locations over a period of 2–3 consecutive years showed that both Shi4185 and Jimai22 GmTDN1 transgenic lines were agronomically superior to wild‐type plants, and produced significantly higher yields under both drought and N‐deficient conditions. No yield penalties were observed in these transgenic lines under normal well irrigation conditions. Overexpressing GmTDN1 enhanced photosynthetic and osmotic adjustment capacity, antioxidant metabolism, and root mass of wheat plants, compared to those of wild‐type plants, by orchestrating the expression of a set of drought stress‐related genes as well as the nitrate transporter, NRT2.5. Furthermore, transgenic wheat with overexpressed NRT2.5 can improve drought tolerance and nitrogen (N) absorption, suggesting that improving N absorption in GmTDN1 transgenic wheat may contribute to drought tolerance. These findings may lead to the development of new methodologies with the capacity to simultaneously improve drought tolerance and N‐use efficacy in cereal crops to ensure sustainable agriculture and global food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Hypertension requires continuous and long‐term care to prevent associated complications. Chronic disease management mode (CDMM) was developed to improve patients' self‐management. We aimed to evaluate quality of care and clinical outcomes of CDMM versus routine care. Methods: 300 patients aged >30 years with primary hypertension were randomly allocated to the CDMM intervention group (n = 162) or the usual care control group (n = 138). CDMM comprised nursing consultations, telephone contact, online WeChat link, health education, and appropriate referrals during hospitalisation and after discharge. QLICD‐HY (V 2.0) scale was used to evaluate the quality of life. Care outcomes were biochemical parameters, body mass index, blood pressure levels, waist circumference, psychological indicators and quality of life assessed on admission (baseline) and one month post‐care for both groups. Data were collected and analysed using SPSS 20.0. Results: After one month, the intervention group had 6 mm Hg (95% CI: −5.12 to −9.08) lower SBP and 0.6 mM/L (95% CI: −0.52 to −0.68) lower LDL than the control group. In terms of improvements in BMI, UmAlb or waist circumference, there were no differences between both groups. The intervention group scored better on psychological indicators than controls (P < 0.05), and scores reflecting social and psychological function in the intervention group were significantly higher than scores at baseline, and higher than scores of controls after one month (P < 0.05). In the control group, there was no statistically significant difference between the scores at baseline and after one month. Conclusions: Under CDMM hypertension care, improvement of blood pressure and LDL was clinically significant. Intervention care further improves social and psychological function among participants with primary hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Batteries with lithium metal as anodes and gel polymer membranes as electrolytes are promising, because of their high energy densities and improved safety. To achieve metal battery energy densities that are comparable to liquid‐electrolyte batteries, ultrathin and lightweight gel electrolytes with wide electrochemical stability windows are desired. However, it is challenging to make gel polymer electrolyte membranes with comparable thicknesses to commercial polymer electrolyte separators (<20 μm), because of the porous configuration and increased risk of short‐circuiting cells. Here, we report on a 10 μm‐thick compacted gel polymer electrolyte (TCGPE), demonstrated to have a robust chemical interaction between SiO2 nanoparticles and poly(vinylidene fluoride‐co‐hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF‐HFP) chains that are activated via an in situ sol‐gel reaction. The developed TCGPE exhibits an extremely wide electrochemical stability window of 5.5 V vs. Li/Li+ and prevents the batteries from short‐circuiting even at a high current density of 1.0 mA cm−2. Moreover, Li/TCGPE/LiNi0.5Co0.2Mn0.3O2 shows an excellent capacity retention of 99.8 % after 180 cycles at 1 C rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With 7 figures and 2 tables Abstract Attempts have been made to transform C3 crops with C4 genes to improve the photosynthetic rate of C3 plants. In our study, a full-length cDNA for phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase gene ( pepc) was isolated from Zea mays by PCR. The pepc gene was introduced into wheat plants ( Triticum aestivum) by particle bombardment transformation. The integration, transcription and expression of the pepc gene were confirmed by Southern blot, RT-PCR and Western blot analysis. Physiological studies showed that phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase activity in the transgenic plants was 140% higher than that of the untransformed plants. The highest rate of photosynthesis in the transgenic plants was 31.95 μmol CO2/m2/s, which was 26% greater than the rate in untransformed plants. The light saturation point and carboxylation efficiency of pepc transgenic wheat were 20% and 22.57% higher, respectively, than those of untransformed wheat. As a result, the weight of seed per spike and thousand-grain weight were 0.23 g and 1.21 g higher than those of untransformed wheat. Our research will facilitate the further study of the function of the pepc gene in wheat plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]