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The limited analgesic efficiency of magnesium restricts its application in pain management. Here, we report boron hydride (BH) with ion currents rectification activity that can enhance the analgesic efficiency of magnesium without the risks of drug tolerance or addiction. We synthesize MgB2, comprising hexagonal boron sheets alternating with Mg2+. In pathological environment, Mg2+ is exchanged by H+, forming two‐dimensional borophene‐analogue BH sheets. BH interacts with the charged cations via cation‐pi interaction, leading to dynamic modulation of sodium and potassium ion currents around neurons. Additionally, released Mg2+ competes Ca2+ to inhibit its influx and neuronal excitation. In vitro cultured dorsal root neurons show a remarkable increase in threshold potential from the normal −35.9 mV to −5.9 mV after the addition of MgB2, indicating potent analgesic effect. In three typical pain models, including CFA‐induced inflammatory pain, CINP‐ or CCI‐induced neuropathic pain, MgB2 exhibits analgesic efficiency approximately 2.23, 3.20, and 2.0 times higher than clinical MgSO4, respectively, and even about 1.04, 1.66, and 1.95 times higher than morphine, respectively. The development of magnesium based intermetallic compounds holds promise in addressing the non‐opioid medical need for pain relief. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Loss of refreshment in nucleus pulposus (NP) cellularity leads to intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration. Nevertheless, the cellular sequence of NP cell differentiation remains unclear, although an increasing body of literature has identified markers of NP progenitor cells (NPPCs). Notably, due to their fragility, the physical enrichment of NP‐derived cells has limited conventional transcriptomic approaches in multiple studies. To overcome this limitation, a spatially resolved transcriptional atlas of the mouse IVD is generated via the 10x Genomics Visium platform dividing NP spots into two clusters. Based on this, most reported NPPC‐markers, including Cathepsin K (Ctsk), are rare and predominantly located within the NP‐outer subset. Cell lineage tracing further evidence that a small number of Ctsk‐expressing cells generate the entire adult NP tissue. In contrast, Tie2, which has long suggested labeling NPPCs, is actually neither expressed in NP subsets nor labels NPPCs and their descendants in mouse models; consistent with this, an in situ sequencing (ISS) analysis validated the absence of Tie2 in NP tissue. Similarly, no Tie2‐cre‐mediated labeling of NPPCs is observed in an IVD degenerative mouse model. Altogether, in this study, the first spatial transcriptomic map of the IVD is established, thereby providing a public resource for bone biology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction of C−N bonds is considered one of the most useful reactions in synthetic chemistry due to their widespread presence in pharmaceuticals, natural products, etc. Pd‐catalyzed Buchwald–Hartwig amination (BHA) has provided the most efficient method to form (hetero)aryl amines but it required strong base and sophisticated ligands. In comparison, the combination of photocatalysis and nickel chemistry has revolutionized catalytic strategies and is emerging as a quintessence to realize BHA, termed as Ni‐metallaphotoredox BHA. To pursue a universal protocol, diverse photocatalysts were designed and employed in Ni‐metallaphotoredox BHA, and smoothly promoted C−N bond formations under irradiation of light from ultraviolet to red light, respectively. Note that the matching of photocatalyst and light was critical for success. Therefore, this review mainly focuses on the discussion of Ni‐metallaphotoredox BHA according to the irradiation light's wavelength, covering ultraviolet, purple, blue, red, and white light as well as solar light. We try to find a clue in the relationship of structure‐photophysical behaviors of photocatalysts under the same or different irradiation light. At last, current limitations and potential trends for advancing Ni‐metallaphotoredox BHA are highlighted. We deem that it could encourage chemists to continue designing suitable photocatalyst for C−N bond formations under sunlight mimicking plants' photosynthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Immunogenic cell death (ICD) is a unique mode of cell death, which can release immunogenic damage‐associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) and tumor‐associated antigens to trigger long‐term protective antitumor immune responses. Thus, amplifying "eat me signal" during tumor ICD cascade is critical for cancer immunotherapy. Some therapies (radiotherapy, photodynamic therapy (PDT), photothermal therapy (PTT), etc.) and inducers (chemotherapeutic agents, etc.) have enabled to initiate and/or facilitate ICD and activate antitumor immune responses. Recently, nanostructure‐based drug delivery systems have been synthesized for inducing ICD through combining treatment of chemotherapeutic agents, photosensitizers for PDT, photothermal transformation agents for PTT, radiosensitizers for radiotherapy, etc., which can release loaded agents at an appropriate dosage in the designated place at the appropriate time, contributing to higher efficiency and lower toxicity. Also, immunotherapeutic agents in combination with nanostructure‐based drug delivery systems can produce synergetic antitumor effects, thus potentiating immunotherapy. Overall, our review outlines the emerging ICD inducers, and nanostructure drug delivery systems loading diverse agents to evoke ICD through chemoradiotherapy, PDT, and PTT or combining immunotherapeutic agents. Moreover, we discuss the prospects and challenges of harnessing ICD induction‐based immunotherapy, and highlight the significance of multidisciplinary and interprofessional collaboration to promote the optimal translation of this treatment strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive Summary: Solar‐driven cross‐coupling reactions by dual nickel/photocatalysis under mild conditions have received considerable attention. However, the existing photo/nickel dual catalytic cross‐coupling reactions require the addition of expensive photosensitizers and organic ligands, and the catalytic activity is inadequate. Herein, we report a nickel single‐atom heterogeneous catalyst supported on mesoporous carbon nitride for photocatalytic C—O coupling reaction between 4‐bromobenzonitrile and ethanol, affording 4‐ethoxybenzonitrile in excellent yield compared to a semi‐heterogeneous catalytic system. The catalytic system exhibits a broad substrate scope including ketones, aldehydes, esters, and amides. This work presents a simple and cost‐effective strategy for anchoring metal single atoms onto carbon nitride, providing a new platform for enabling high‐performance photocatalytic production of aryl ether compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive Summary: Solar‐driven cross‐coupling reactions by dual nickel/photocatalysis under mild conditions have received considerable attention. However, the existing photo/nickel dual catalytic cross‐coupling reactions require the addition of expensive photosensitizers and organic ligands, and the catalytic activity is inadequate. Herein, we report a nickel single‐atom heterogeneous catalyst supported on mesoporous carbon nitride for photocatalytic C—O coupling reaction between 4‐bromobenzonitrile and ethanol, affording 4‐ethoxybenzonitrile in excellent yield compared to a semi‐heterogeneous catalytic system. The catalytic system exhibits a broad substrate scope including ketones, aldehydes, esters, and amides. This work presents a simple and cost‐effective strategy for anchoring metal single atoms onto carbon nitride, providing a new platform for enabling high‐performance photocatalytic production of aryl ether compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates effects of elevated rebar casting temperature on the interfacial porosity and Ca/Si ratio of the steel‐concrete interface by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Experimental variables including rebar casting temperatures of 25°C, 40°C, 55°C, 70°C, and 85°C, water/cement ratios of 0.30, 0.45, and 0.60, and rebar diameters of 10 and 20 mm are considered. Large capillary pores of steel–concrete interface (SCI) were quantified by backscattered electron (BSE) imaging and Ca/Si ratio of hydration products of SCI were obtained by energy‐dispersive X‐ray (EDX) spectroscopy. The results were analyzed by using statistical methods (ANOVA analysis and Pearson correlation analysis). Results indicate that the average interfacial porosity and the average Ca/Si ratio can increase as a result of heated rebar effects. Heated rebar effects can be enhanced by increasing rebar diameter. Impact ranges of the heated rebar effects are also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Working memory (WM) deficits are recognized as serious cognitive impairment in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). This review aims to clarify the effects of impaired WM function in patients with MDD and explore non‐invasive and effective treatments that can be adopted in clinical practice. This review (1) synthesizes extant literature examining brain function and brain areas in terms of WM in individuals with depression, (2) utilizes the outcomes of the studies presented in this review to discuss the effects of impaired WM function on cognitive processing in individuals with depression, (3) integrates the treatments explored in current studies and (4) provides some suggestions for future research. We found that (1) central executive (CE) components affect the processing of WM, and this might be one of the factors influencing cognitive biases, as it is implicated in repetitive negative thinking and rumination; (2) the left dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC), the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and the regions of the default mode network (DMN) play a vital role in CE functioning; and (3) psychotherapy, cognitive training, exercise and physical therapy can be used as complementary treatments for MDD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electronic health records (EHR) are widely used sources of real‐world data in pharmacoepidemiologic research. As there is no end‐to‐end guidance for generating medication safety evidence with EHR, this study conducted a systematic review to determine the current and recommended practices in the literature. PubMed, Scopus, and CINAHL were searched for English articles published between 1 January 2010 and 11 June 2020. Selected articles were published in peer‐reviewed journals, conducted in the United States, analyzed structured EHR data, and defined drug exposure and adverse drug events (ADEs). The study evaluated methodological quality with a modified Newcastle‐Ottawa Scale (NOS) score ranging from 0 to 9 points. Data synthesis was performed with thematic analysis. Twenty‐six from 3885 articles were selected. The majority were cohort studies (85%). The studies were well designed, with a median NOS score of 9. Drug exposure was defined with dispensing (58%) and prescribing (31%) records. ADEs were defined across five categories: diagnosis codes (77%), validated outcome algorithms (35%), objective measures (35%), treatment procedures (19%), and antidotes (2%). Common covariates were age (89%), gender (85%), comorbidities (81%), and medication‐co‐medication use (73%). Four studies (15%) empirically defined covariates in a data‐driven manner. Twenty‐two (85%) analyzed covariates as confounders or effect modifiers in their analyses. Results were analyzed with either intention‐to‐treat (73%) or as‐treated (39%) approaches. Key recommendations include selecting dispensing rather than prescribing records, considering a proxy date of dispensation where applicable, selecting new instead of prevalent drug users, improving adoption of validated outcome algorithms, and not utilizing objective measures as the primary indicator of ADEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PdSe2, a star photosensitive functional material, has been successfully used in photodetectors based on sensing mechanisms of photogating, photoconductive, and photovoltaic effects. Here, a photothermoelectric (PTE) effect is observed in photodetectors based on PdSe2 flakes grown by chemical vapor deposition. The unique photoresponse arises from an electron temperature gradient instead of electron–hole separation. Direct evidence of the PTE effect is confirmed by a nonlocal photoresponse under zero bias. Moreover, the PdSe2 photodetector shows high performance in terms of ultrafast response speed (4 µs), high air‐stability, broadband spectrum photodetection, reasonable responsivity, and anisotropic optical response. This study paves a new way for developing high‐performance photodetectors based on PdSe2 layered materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND The soybean cyst nematode (SCN, Heterodera glycines) is the most devastating and yield‐limiting pest in soybean worldwide. With the increasing awareness of environmental protection, biological control becomes more and more urgent. The Bacillus megaterium Sneb207 has previously shown the ability to inhibit the movement of SCN, but little is known about its effect on nematode control in agricultural settings. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of Sneb207 against SCN and investigate the ability of Sneb207 to induce systemic resistance to H. glycines in soybean. RESULTS: The stability and efficiency of SCN control by Sneb207 was assessed in two field experiments. Compared to non‐treated control, Sneb207 significantly reduced the number of cysts, SCN juveniles, and eggs, while it promoted soybean growth. Furthermore, results of two pot experiments showed that the number of initial infections of second‐stage juveniles were 231.75 and 131.3 after Sneb207 treatment, respectively, lower than control (274.75 and 215.33). Sneb207 reduced the total number of juveniles and females, and lengthened SCN development time. Moreover, through the split‐root system and real‐time quantitative PCR experiments, we found that Sneb207 induced systemic resistance and enhanced the gene expression of GmACS9b, GmEDS1, GmPAD4, GmSAMT1, and GmNPR1‐1 involved in the salicylic acid, jasmonic acid and ethylene pathways at different levels. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate that B. megaterium Sneb207 inhibits the invasion, the development, and reproduction of SCN by inducing systemic resistance. The overall outcomes of the present study support B. megaterium Sneb207 as a potential biocontrol agent for H. glycines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The soybean cyst nematode Heterodera glycines (Ichinohe) is the most devastating pathogen affecting soybean production worldwide. Biocontrol agents have become eco‐friendly candidates to control pathogens. The aim of this study was to discover novel biocontrol agents against H. glycines. RESULTS: Microbacterium maritypicum Sneb159, screened from 804 strains, effectively reduced the number of females in field experiments conducted in 2014 and 2015. The stability and efficiency of H. glycines control by Sneb159 was further assessed in growth chamber and field experiments. Sneb159 decreased H. glycines population densities, especially the number of females by 43.9%–67.7%. To confirm Sneb159 induced plant resistance, a split‐root assay was conducted. Sneb159 induced local and systemic resistance to suppress the penetration and development of H. glycines, and enhanced the gene expression of PR2, PR3b, and JAZ1, involved in the salicylic acid and jasmonic acid pathways. CONCLUSION: This is the first report of M. maritypicum Sneb159 suppressing H. glycines infection. This effect may be the result of Sneb159‐induced resistance. Our study indicates that M. maritypicum Sneb159 is a promising biocontrol agent against H. glycines. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: This study aims to investigate the role of miR‐144‐3p and phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), along with their crosstalk with the phosphoinositide 3‐kinase (PI3K)–protein kinase B (Akt) pathway. Methods: Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blot were used to measure the gene expression at the transcriptional and translational levels. 3‐(4,5‐Dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay and colony formation assay were used to examine cell proliferation via standard protocol. Transwell assay was conducted to examine cell invasiveness. A flow cytometer was used to determine cell apoptosis. Dual‐Luciferase Reporter Gene Assay (SLDL‐100) was used to confirm the target relationship between miR‐144‐3p and PTEN. Xenografts were used to detect the in vivo effects of the molecules of interest. Results: miR‐144‐3p was significantly overexpressed, whereas PTEN was more underexpressed in tumor tissues than in adjacent tissues. miR‐144‐3p promoted the proliferation and invasion of NPC cells and inhibited apoptosis by directly targeting PTEN, which improves PI3K–Akt signaling. miR‐144‐3p forced epithelial–mesenchymal transition in NPC. Conclusion: miR‐144‐3p promotes the progression of NPC by directly targeting PTEN via crosstalk with PI3K–Akt signaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT: A combined use of solid plasticizer [poly(ethylene glycol), PEG] with a nominal Mw of 2000 g/mol and liquid plasticizer (epoxidized soybean oil, ESO) for plasticizing poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is proposed in this study. This plasticization method brought an obvious improvement in the melting flowability of the modified PLA, which has been verified by a lower balance torque during blending and a four times increase in the melt flow index compared to neat PLA. Meanwhile, the brittleness of this glassy polymer was also improved significantly; all composites with different contents of combined plasticizers displayed an obvious yield stage and toughness fracture surfaces. The mechanisms of the plasticizing effects were investigated by polarizing optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The PLA/ESO/PEG blends formed a complex reinforcement structure. ESO existed as tiny droplets and uniformly dispersed in the PLA spherulites, and strip‐shaped PEG accumulated along the boundaries of interspherulites. The combined use of these two plasticizers, a liquid one and a solid one, had an excellent effect on plasticizing PLA, not only on melt flowability but also on mechanical properties. Thus, the application areas for PLA could be further expanded, such as melt blowing and melt extrusion. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 46669. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biodegradable composites with low cost and excellent mechanical property, namely PLA/talc blends, have been successfully prepared by using epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) as a reactive compatibilizer with the presence of peroxides to accelerate the in situ grafting between talc and other components. The surface treatment of talc powder was performed through the in situ reactions of its rich hydroxyl groups with the epoxide ring of ESO and scission radical of PLA during the blending process. Both FTIR and the extracting experiment results verified that surface modification mechanisms. Such a facile and efficient one‐step process can bring a dramatic improvement on both miscibility and mechanical properties of the PLA/talc composites. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:E1618–E1625, 2018. © 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Butanol is considered as an advanced biofuel, the development of which is restricted by the intensive energy consumption of product recovery. A novel two-stage gas stripping-pervaporation process integrated with acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) fermentation was developed for butanol recovery, with gas stripping as the first-stage and pervaporation as the second-stage using the carbon nanotubes (CNTs) filled polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) mixed matrix membrane (MMM). Compared to batch fermentation without butanol recovery, more ABE (27.5 g/L acetone, 75.5 g/L butanol, 7.0 g/L ethanol vs. 7.9 g/L acetone, 16.2 g/L butanol, 1.4 g/L ethanol) were produced in the fed-batch fermentation, with a higher butanol productivity (0.34 g/L · h vs. 0.30 g/L · h) due to reduced butanol inhibition by butanol recovery. The first-stage gas stripping produced a condensate containing 155.6 g/L butanol (199.9 g/L ABE), which after phase separation formed an organic phase containing 610.8 g/L butanol (656.1 g/L ABE) and an aqueous phase containing 85.6 g/L butanol (129.7 g/L ABE). Fed with the aqueous phase of the condensate from first-stage gas stripping, the second-stage pervaporation using the CNTs-PDMS MMM produced a condensate containing 441.7 g/L butanol (593.2 g/L ABE), which after mixing with the organic phase from gas stripping gave a highly concentrated product containing 521.3 g/L butanol (622.9 g/L ABE). The outstanding performance of CNTs-PDMS MMM can be attributed to the hydrophobic CNTs giving an alternative route for mass transport through the inner tubes or along the smooth surface of CNTs. This gas stripping-pervaporation process with less contaminated risk is thus effective in increasing butanol production and reducing energy consumption. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2016;113: 120-129. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The soybean cyst nematode (SCN; Heterodera glycines) is a major detriment to soybean production. The endophytic bacterium Sinorhizobium fredii strain Sneb183 is known to inhibit the activity of SCN. In the present study, soybean seedlings were inoculated with Sneb183, to study the penetration juveniles, and their development inside the roots. The number of cysts in the soybean roots was also examined. The induced systemic resistance in soybean was also examined through the split-root system. Our results revealed that the number of juveniles and cysts significantly decreased as a result of Sneb183 inoculation. Sneb183 also prolonged the developmental stage of SCN in the root to 30 days as compared to 27 days in the control. Furthermore, the number of nematodes in each stage was lower in the Sneb183 treated plants than control plants. We also used a split-root system to show that the S. fredii strain Sneb183 induced a systemic resistance to SCN infection in soybean. The repression rate of SCN penetration was 38.75%. Our study showed that Sneb183 can be an effective biocontrol agent for managing SCN infestation in soybean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) show promise as electrocatalysts due to their unique intrinsic features, their activity and stability often fall short. Herein, NiFe‐MOFs is used as a model to introduce group VIB metalates (Na2WO4, Na2CrO4, and Na2MoO4) into the topological conversion process of layer double hydroxide (LDHs)/MOFs, creating a series of interstitial VIB element‐doped LDHs/MOFs catalysts. The metalates engage in the alkaline hydrolysis process of MOF, generating LDHs on the MOF surface. Furthermore, altering the pH value in the reaction environment can modify the catalysts' morphology, dopant/LDHs content, and electronic structure. Consequently, the prepared interstitial W‐doped NiFe‐LDHs/MOFs catalyst displays superior catalytic performance, with overpotentials of only 250 mV at 500 mA cm−2. Moreover, a homemade anion‐exchange membrane water electrolysis (AEMWE) system featuring the fabricated electrocatalyst as the anode can operate stably for 500 hours at 1 A cm−2. The exceptional catalytic activity and stability stem from optimized intermediate adsorption/desorption behavior and the unique LDHs/MOFs nanostructure. This work not only highlights the potential of the catalysts for practical applications but also offers a new design approach for modulating MOFs using an alkaline hydrolysis strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights Polyurethane has been widely studied as a lightweight reinforcing material. This paper uses two types of hollow glass microspheres to modify polyurethane in different proportions to prepare a variety of lightweight cores for reinforcing carbon fiber tubes. A quasi‐static lateral compression test was performed on the reinforced carbon fiber tube to analyze the effect of reinforcement materials on mechanical properties, failure modes and crashworthiness. The results show that BR20 reinforcement material has the best effect on enhancing the mechanical properties and crashworthiness of the structure, and its energy absorption is 3.5 times higher than that of carbon fiber tubes. Hollow glass microspheres can improve the reinforcing effect of polyurethane. Lightweight cores prepared from different types of hollow glass microspheres show different failure modes during lateral compression (polyurethane and BR60 show better ductility, and BR20 shows shear failure). The BR20 and BR60 are mixed in different proportions, the reinforced polyurethane foam reinforced carbon fiber tube can have little difference in the energy absorption. The addition of BR20 and BR60 showed a large difference in the force‐displacement curve during the compression stage. A qualitative analysis is conducted based on the effect of the total energy absorption of the structure on the reinforcement materials. The lightweight core is prepared by hollow glass microspheres and polyurethane. Reinforcement materials enhance the lateral compression performance. Reinforcement materials enhance the crashworthiness performance. Reinforcement materials affect failure modes. The proportion of BR20 and BR60 affects the performance of the lightweight core. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]