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The Budyko models (BM) have been extended in previous studies by incorporating water storage change (ΔS) (subtracting ΔS from precipitation) to estimate evapotranspiration (ET) under non‐steady state conditions at scales finer than the climatological mean scale. However, a systematic assessment of the interannual ET predictability of the extended BM is still lacking, hence its validity and controlling factors of improvement (over the original BM) under globally diverse climates is not yet well understood. Based on a long‐term (1984–2008) gridded water budget data set, we present a comparative analysis of annual ET predictability between the original BM (ET1) and the extended BM considering ΔS (ET2) in 32 global river basins to explore the sensitivity of climate factors and catchment hydrologic responses in determining ET predictability. Results show that the difference between ET1 and ET2 increases linearly with ΔS, with ET2 < ET1 (ET2 > ET1) when ΔS > 0 (ΔS < 0). When both ET1 and ET2 overestimate (underestimate) observed ET, the error in ET2 is smaller than ET1 when ΔS > 0 (ΔS < 0) for all 32 basins considered. When the error signs of ET2 and ET1 differ, however, the difference in the absolute magnitude of ET2 and ET1 errors (REdiff) under extremely humid climates is determined by the difference between potential ET and ET, leading to comparable accuracy between ET2 and ET1. In contrast, under extremely arid climates, REdiff is controlled by the combined influences of ΔS and R, resulting in more accurate ET2 than ET1 under the condition of the in‐phase, positive‐correlated relationship between ΔS and R. Key Points: The difference in evaporation (ET) estimated from original (ET1) and extended Budyko model (ET2) is linearly with water storage change (ΔS)When both ET1 and ET2 overestimate (underestimate) observed ET, ET2 is more accurate than ET1 if ΔS > 0 (ΔS < 0)If the error signs of ET2 and ET1 differ, their similar accuracy in humid climates is caused by similar ET and potential ET variability [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Micro‐arc oxidation (MAO) is a surface treatment technology that enhances the surface properties of valves by creating a ceramic oxide layer on the metal surface. The goal of this study is to investigate the influence of current density on the properties of aluminum coatings during preparation and to improve the tribological properties of MAO/PTFE self‐lubricating films on the coating surface. The characterization of the coating was performed using X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, Raman spectra, and energy dispersive spectroscopy. The roughness, hardness, and elastic modulus of the coatings were tested using atomic force microscopy and nanoindentation. Tribological experiments were conducted to evaluate the tribological properties of the coatings. The experimental results show that the friction coefficient (COF), roughness, hardness, and elastic modulus of the MAO coating increase with the increase of current density. Additionally, the friction coefficient of the MAO composite coating significantly decreases after the addition of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), improving the service life and application range of the metal coating. These findings are expected to promote the development of valve metal in various application fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of emerging artificial intelligence technology, brain–computer interfaces are gradually moving from science fiction to reality, which has broad application prospects in the field of intelligent robots. Looking for devices that can connect and communicate with living biological tissues is expected to realize brain–computer interfaces and biological integration interfaces. Brain‐like neuromorphic devices based on memristors may have profound implications for bridging electronic neuromorphic and biological nervous systems. Ultra‐low working voltage is required if memristors are to be connected directly to biological nerve signals. Therefore, inspired by the high‐efficient computing and low power consumption of biological brain, memristors directly driven by the electrical signaling requirements of biological systems (bio‐voltage) are not only meaningful for low power neuromorphic computing but also very suitable to facilitate the integrated interactions with living biological cells. Herein, attention is focused on a detailed analysis of a rich variety of physical mechanisms underlying the various switching behaviors of bio‐voltage memristors. Next, the development of bio‐voltage memristors, from simulating artificial synaptic and neuronal functions to broad application prospects based on neuromorphic computing and bio‐electronic interfaces, is further reviewed. Furthermore, the challenges and the outlook of bio‐voltage memristors over the research field are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is anticipated that the rapid development of the Internet of Things (IoT) will improve the quality of human life. Nonetheless, large amounts of data need to be replicated, stored, processed, and shared, posing formidable challenges to communication bandwidth and information security. Herein, it is reported that polyimide (PI) threshold‐switching memristors exhibit Gaussian conductance and randomly set voltage distribution with nonideal properties to create a compression and encryption engine with a single chip. The Gaussian conductance distribution is used to achieve compressed sensing (CS) to integrate encryption into compression, and the spontaneous formation of the one‐time‐sampling measurement matrix satisfies absolute security. Moreover, the bitstreams generated by randomly distributed set voltages are used to diffuse the ciphertext from CS to improve security. The engine is shown to be secure even if the eavesdropper knows both the plaintext and the corresponding ciphertext. It has compression performance advantages that take both efficiency and security into account. In addition, due to the superior high temperature and mechanical properties of PI, the engine can continue to function normally in harsh environments. Herein, an excellent solution is offered for ensuring the efficiency and security of IoT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Excessive nitrogen fertilizer application is harmful to the environment and reduces the quality of cereal crops. Maintaining crop yields under low nitrogen (LN) conditions and improving quality are important goals for cereal crop breeding. Although the effects of nitrogen assimilation on crop nitrogen‐use efficiency (NUE) have been intensively studied, natural variations of the key assimilation genes underlying grain development and quality are largely unclear. Here, we identified an NUE‐associated gene, OsGS1;1, encoding glutamine synthase, through genome‐wide association analysis, followed by validation experiments and functional analysis. Fifteen single‐nucleotide polymorphisms in the OsGS1;1 region led to alternative splicing that generated two functional transcripts: OsGS1;1a and OsGS1;1b. The elite haplotype of OsGS1;1 showed high OsGS1;1b activity, which improved NUE, affected grain development, and reduced amylose content. The results show that OsGS1;1, which is induced under LN conditions, affects grain formation by regulating sugar metabolism and may provide a new avenue for the breeding of high‐yield and high‐quality rice (Oryza sativa). Significance Statement: OsGS1;1 affects grain formation by regulating sugar metabolism and may provide a new avenue for the breeding of high‐yield and high‐quality rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Memristors based neuromorphic devices can efficiently process complex information and fundamentally overcome the bottleneck of traditional computing based on von Neumann architecture. Meanwhile, natural biomaterials have attracted significant attention for biologically integrated electronic devices due to their excellent biocompatibility, mechanical flexibility, and controllable biodegradability. Thus, biomaterial‐based memristors may have a transformative impact on bridging electronic neuromorphic systems and biological systems. However, the working voltage in biological system is low, but the operation voltages of conventional memristors are high, violating the energy‐efficient biological system. Here, high‐performance silk fibroin‐based threshold switching (TS) memristors are demonstrated, which reveal an on‐current of 1 mA, a low threshold voltage (Vth) of 0.17 V, a high selectivity of 3 × 106, and a steep turn‐on slope of <2.5 mV dec–1. Meanwhile, the silk TS devices depict outstanding device uniformity and stability even at high humidity (80%) and temperature (70 °C) environments. The silk TS devices exhibit typical short‐term plasticity (STP) of biological synapses including pair‐pulse facilitation (PPF). More importantly, a leaky integrate‐and‐fire (LIF) artificial neuron is successfully realized based on the volatile characteristics of silk TS memristors. These achievements pave the way for utilizing silk biomaterials in advanced bioelectronics and neuromorphic computing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adverse drug reactions of traditional Chinese medicine injection mainly manifested as pseudo‐allergic reactions. In the present study, ginsenoside Rd, Ro, and Rg3 were identified as pseudo‐allergic components in Shengmai injection by a high‐expression Mas‐related G protein‐coupled receptor X2 cell membrane chromatography coupled online with high‐performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. Their pseudo‐allergic activities were evaluated by in vitro and in vivo assay. The three compounds were further found to induce pseudo‐allergic reaction through Mas‐related G protein‐coupled receptor X2. Therefore, we concluded that ginsenoside Rd, Ro and Rg3 may be potential allergens that cause pseudo‐allergic reactions. This study might be helpful for the safe use of Shengmai injection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Diabetes aggravates the risk and severity of periodontitis, but the specific mechanism remains confused. Complement 3 (C3) is closely related to complications of type 2 diabetes (T2DM). In the present study, we concentrated on whether C3 mediates the development of periodontitis in T2DM. Materials and Methods: Levels of C3 in blood and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of patients were measured first. A C3‐knockout diabetic mouse model was established, real‐time PCR, Western blotting and histological investigation were performed to evaluate the progress of periodontitis. Microcomputed tomography (micro‐CT) and TRAP staining were performed to detect alveolar bone resorption. Immunofluorescence was performed to detect polarization of macrophages. Results: Our data showed that C3 levels were elevated in the blood and GCF of T2DM patients compared with non‐diabetic individuals. Increased C3 was closely related to the upregulation of inflammatory cytokines including interleukin (IL)‐1, IL‐6 and tumour necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α), as well as the decline of the bone volume density (BMD) and bone volume over total volume (BV/TV) of the alveolar bones in diabetic mice. The deletion of C3 inhibited inflammatory cytokines and rescued the decreased BMD and BV/TV of the alveolar bones. C3‐mediated polarization of macrophages was responsible for the damage. Conclusion: T2DM‐related upregulation of C3 contributes to the development of periodontitis by promoting macrophages M1 polarization and inhibiting M2 polarization, triggering a pro‐inflammatory effect on periodontal tissues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Peroxisomes are small, ubiquitous organelles that are delimited by a single membrane and lack genetic material. However, these simple‐structured organelles are highly versatile in morphology, abundance and protein content in response to various developmental and environmental cues. In plants, peroxisomes are essential for growth and development and perform diverse metabolic functions, many of which are carried out coordinately by peroxisomes and other organelles physically interacting with peroxisomes. Recent studies have added greatly to our knowledge of peroxisomes, addressing areas such as the diverse proteome, regulation of division and protein import, pexophagy, matrix protein degradation, solute transport, signaling, redox homeostasis and various metabolic and physiological functions. This review summarizes our current understanding of plant peroxisomes, focusing on recent discoveries. Current problems and future efforts required to better understand these organelles are also discussed. An improved understanding of peroxisomes will be important not only to the understanding of eukaryotic cell biology and metabolism, but also to agricultural efforts aimed at improving crop performance and defense. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Au catalysts supported with carbon‐based carriers have been extensively studied for the hydrochlorination of acetylene and expected to replace toxic mercury catalysts. However, removal of the highly corrosive aqua regia used in the preparation of carbon‐based catalysts while maintaining catalytic activity and stability remains a key challenge. Herein, we present a green technology carrier, activated carbon fibers (ACF), to support gold catalysts for the hydrochlorination of acetylene. TPD and XPS analyses confirmed the presence of surface oxygen‐containing functional groups (SOGs) and pyrrolic N species on the ACF. The Au/ACF−H2O catalyst exhibited better catalytic activity and stability than Au/ROX0.8(AQ)−H2O. Characterization results revealed that the catalytic properties of Au/ACF−H2O could be attributed to the anchoring and stabilization of gold active species on the SOGs, leading to atomic dispersion, and to the improvement of HCl adsorption with the synergistic effect of electron‐donating pyrrolic N groups. The results indicated that usage of this green carrier can be considered as the a new approach to reduce or eliminate the use of strong oxidizing reagents in the preparation of Au catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dimethoxycurcumin ( DMC) is a lipophilic analog of curcumin, an effective treatment for colon cancer, which has greater chemical and metabolic stability. Chemotherapy treatments, such as 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu), play a key role in the current management of colon cancer. In this study, we investigated the antitumor efficacy of DMC in combination with 5-Fu in SW480 and SW620 colon cancer cells. CCK-8 assay was used to evaluate the inhibitory effect of DMC and 5-Fu on cancer cells proliferation, and the combination index was calculated. The influence of DMC and 5-Fu on cell cycle, apoptosis, reactive oxygen species ( ROS) production, and mitochondrial membrane potential in SW480 and SW620 cells was determined using flow cytometry, and the related signaling pathways were detected by western blot. Transmission electron microscopy was used to observe endoplasmic reticulum expansion. DMC- and/or 5-Fu-induced apoptosis, stimulated G0/G1 phase arrest, increased ROS levels, decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, and enhanced endoplasmic reticulum expansion. The induction of apoptosis is involved in the increasing of Bax and cytochrome c and decreasing of Bcl2 expressions. Increased production of ROS was accompanied by upregulation of CHOP and Noxa. Combination therapy of DMC and 5-Fu had increased efficacy on the above pathways compared with either drug alone. Based on the calculated IC50, combination treatment with DMC and 5-Fu had an additive antitumor effect in both cell lines. Combined treatment with DMC and 5-Fu led to an additive antitumor effect in colon cancer cells that was related to apoptosis induction, G0/G1 phase arrest, increased ROS production, decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, and enhanced endoplasmic reticulum expansion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Src homology phosphotyrosyl phosphatase 2 (Shp-2) is a ubiquitously expressed protein that is involved in a variety of cellular processes, including antiviral interferon signalling pathways. In this study, we investigated the role of Shp-2 in the host cell interactions of human respiratory syncytial virus ( RSV). We report significant changes in the expression of Shp-2 in human pulmonary alveolar epithelial cells (A549) upon RSV infection. We also report that blocking Shp-2 does not affect viral replication or virus-induced interferon-alpha ( IFN-α) production. Interestingly, whereas A549 cells were activated by IFN-α, the blocking of Shp-2 resulted in increased viral replication that was associated with the reduced expression of the IFN-stimulated genes of 2′,5′-oligoadenylate synthetases and Mx1, and the concomitant inhibition of Stat1 tyrosine phosphorylation. Our findings suggest that Shp-2 contributes to the control of RSV replication and progeny production in pulmonary alveolar epithelial cells by interfering with IFN-α-induced Jak/Stat1 pathway activation rather than by affecting the production of IFN-α itself. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By designing a microwave metamaterial with biaxial dielectric constants, a 2D polarization‐dependent effective gauge field is experimentally realized for electromagnetic waves. Such an effective gauge field is manifested by the oppositely shifted circular dispersions for two polarizations in k‐space. A polarization beam splitter is experimentally demonstrated as an immediate application of the effective gauge field. Rather than the conventional horizontal |H〉 and vertical |V〉 basis, it allows polarization beam splitting into the |H + V〉 and |H − V〉 basis in the transmission regime and works for a large span of incidence angles, and thus provides additional degrees of freedom in optical signal processing. The implementation has proved that biaxial dielectrics can be a straightforward approach to construct gauge‐field‐driven devices and the same design principle can be further extended to the optical regime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]