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Premise: Theories of plant–herbivore interactions hold that seedlings are more vulnerable to herbivory in warmer and more stable climates at lower elevations. Hypotheses of plant apparency, resource concentration, and resource availability have been proposed to explain variability in leaf herbivory. However, seasonal differences in the effects of these hypotheses on leaf herbivory on seedlings remain unclear. Methods: We evaluated the three herbivory hypotheses by comparing the percentage and frequency of leaf herbivory in understory broadleaf seedlings in a subtropical forest in May (spring) and October (autumn) along an elevational gradient (290–1370 m a.s.l.). In total, we measured 2890 leaves across 696 seedlings belonging to 95 species and used beta regressions to test the effects of plant apparency (e.g., leaf area, seedling height), resource concentration (e.g., plant species diversity), and resource availability (e.g., canopy openness, soil available N and P) on leaf herbivory. Results: Seedlings exhibited unimodal patterns of leaf herbivory along elevation, with drivers of leaf herbivory varying by the month. Variation in the frequency of leaf herbivory was best explained by the resource concentration hypothesis (e.g., plant species diversity) in both months, and herbivory was lower on seedlings in sites with higher plant diversity. Plant apparency hypothesis (e.g., leaf area, seedling height) was weakly supported only in spring, and the evidence for resource availability hypothesis (e.g., canopy openness, soil nutrients) was mixed. Conclusions: This study supports the resource concentration hypothesis and reveals the importance of seasonal difference on understanding leaf herbivory patterns and the drivers of plant diversity in subtropical forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species range size is a central topic in macroecology, biogeography and conservation biology. Species age has been frequently regarded as a contributor to range size in previous studies on range size, but this has rarely been specifically examined. Using global data from four living terrestrial vertebrate classes (birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians) as a case study, we examine how species range size might be related to species age at a global scale. We found statistically significant positive, albeit weak, species age–range size relationships for all four species groups. However, although the age–range relationships were positive, species with young ages had very different range sizes (both large and small), and those with very old ages always had small ranges. The observed age–range relationships were more complex than expected. The weak, rather than strong, species age–range relationships could be because our data set included all living species with different stages of their life spans (durations) that are either expanding or fluctuating or contracting, which would necessarily have minimized or cancelled species age–range relationship when all species in a group are considered collectively. Our findings shed new light on temporal dimension and macroecological correlates of species ranges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phase change heat storage presents a promising solution to address challenges related to new energy intermittency and waste heat recovery. However, for it to function as an effective energy hub, heat storage becomes crucial. Among the available options, the direct contact heat accumulator stands out due to its simple structure, substantial heat transfer area, and minimal heat transfer resistance, making it a favorable choice for enhancing energy storage rates. Although a great deal of research has been done on phase change materials and heat accumulators over the years, a systematic review of direct‐contact heat accumulators is lacking. This article reviews the related research on direct contact heat storage, aiming to summarize the research work on direct contact phase change heat storage systems. Various phase change materials (PCMs) for direct contact systems are analyzed, and the study of PCM melting crystallization behavior, heat transfer coefficients and system performance in direct contact systems is summarized, as well as the improvement methods for direct contact vessels and PCMs. It provides a useful reference for future research on direct‐contact heat storage systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Group A rotavirus (RVA) is considered an important cause of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in all age groups, especially in children. We investigated the epidemiology of RVA in outpatients aged ≤ 16 years at the Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China. In this study, 16.6% (246/1482) were infected with RVA. The detection rate of RVA was significantly higher in the year of 2021 (20.3%, 147/725) compared to the year of 2020 (14.5%, 77/531) and 2022 (9.7%, 22/226) (p = 0.000). RVA infection was prevalent in all seasons from 2020 to 2022, with a different monthly distribution observed in different years. Among 246 RVA‐positive samples, 14 different RVA genotypes were detected with different frequencies. Overall, G9P[8] (45.5%, 112/246) was the most common RVA genotype, followed by G8P[8] (37.4%, 92/246) and G3P[8] (4.1%, 10/246). The prevalence of G/P combinations varied from 2020 to 2022. G9P[8] was the most prevalent circulating genotype in 2020 (68.2%, 15/22) and 2021 (57.8%, 85/147). However, G8P[8] (68.8%, 53/77) suddenly became the most prevalent genotype in 2022 after being first identified in 2020 and prevalent in 2021. The G8 strains detected in the study were all clustered to DS‐1‐like G8 strains with the closest genetic distance to strains circulating in Southeast Asia. Our study demonstrated the diversity of circulating RVA genotypes in Shanghai. The sudden emergence and high prevalence of unusual G8P[8] strains deserve more concern and indicate the need for continuous surveillance of RVA in children with AGE in the future to refine future vaccine strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Our study aimed at investigating the risk perception of nurses and related factors in the era of COVID‐19 period. Design: Cross‐sectional study. Methods: Four hundred and forty‐two participants completed an online questionnaire relating to their risk perception on public health emergencies. Data were collected between 25 November 2020 and 1 December 2020. Kruskal–Wallis test, Mann–Whitney U test and Ordinal logistic regression analysis were used to examine factors impacting on risk perception. Results: 65.2% of nurses' risk perception of COVID‐19 was the moderate level even below the moderate level in the postperiod of COVID‐19. Kruskal–Wallis test results indicated significant differences in gender, age, education status, working years, professional title, postlevel, COVID‐19 contact experience, marital status and health status (p < 0.05). Ordinal logistic regression showed that gender, education status, professional title, work department, COVID‐19 contact experience, character, health status and nursing work environment are associated with risk perception (p < 0.05). No Patient or Public Contribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sodiophilic micro‐composite films of sodium‐chalcogenide intermetallics (Na2Te and Na2S) and Cu particles are fabricated onto commercial copper foam current collectors (Na2Te@CF and Na2S@CF). For the first time a controllable capacity thermal infusion process is demonstrated. Enhanced wetting by the metal electrodeposition leads to state‐of‐the‐art electrochemical performance. For example, Na2Te@CF‐based half‐cells demonstrate stable cycling at 6 mA cm−2 and 6 mAh cm−2, corresponding to 54 µm of Na electrodeposited/electrodissolved by geometric area. Sodium metal batteries with Na3V2 (PO4)3 cathodes are stable at 30C (7 mA cm−2) and for 10 000 cycles at 5C and 10C. Cross‐sectional cryogenic focused ion beam (cryo‐FIB) microscopy details deposited and remnant dissolved microstructures. Sodium metal electrodeposition onto Na2Te@CF is dense, smooth, and free of dendrites or pores. On unmodified copper foam, sodium grows in a filament‐like manner, not requiring cycling to achieve this geometry. Substrate–metal interaction critically affects the metal–electrolyte interface, namely the thickness and morphology of the solid electrolyte interphase. Density functional theory and mesoscale simulations provide insight into support‐adatom energetics, nucleation response, and early‐stage morphological evolution. On Na2Te sodium atomic dispersion is thermodynamically more stable than isolated clusters, leading to conformal adatom coverage of the surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combined synchrotron X‐ray nanotomography imaging, cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo‐EM) and modeling elucidate how potassium (K) metal‐support energetics influence electrodeposit microstructure. Three model supports are employed: O‐functionalized carbon cloth (potassiophilic, fully‐wetted), non‐functionalized cloth and Cu foil (potassiophobic, nonwetted). Nanotomography and focused ion beam (cryo‐FIB) cross‐sections yield complementary three‐dimensional (3D) maps of cycled electrodeposits. Electrodeposit on potassiophobic support is a triphasic sponge, with fibrous dendrites covered by solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) and interspersed with nanopores (sub‐10 nm to 100 nm scale). Lage cracks and voids are also a key feature. On potassiophilic support, the deposit is dense and pore‐free, with uniform surface and SEI morphology. Mesoscale modeling captures the critical role of substrate‐metal interaction on K metal film nucleation and growth, as well as the associated stress state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electronic ink (E‐ink) displays have become increasingly popular in e‐books due to their paper‐like appearance, readability in direct sunlight, low power consumption, and flexible sizing. However, the slow switching speed of bistable LCDs and E‐ink limits their ability to play animations. This paper proposes a novel method for fabricating fast‐ switching bistable liquid crystal displays capable of playing animations. The research is based on a new type of bistable LCD technology that achieves lower driving voltages than existing E‐ink displays. The research team has significant experience developing bistable displays and has invented many new technologies in their laboratory. The proposed technology combines the benefits of bistable displays with the ability to play animations, a significant advancement in display technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The role of postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) in malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) remains controversial and the eighth edition TNM staging scheme for MPM has not been fully verified. We aimed to develop an individualized prediction model for identifying optimal candidates for PORT among MPM patients who received surgery plus chemotherapy and externally validate the performance of the new TNM staging scheme. Materials and Methods: Detailed characteristics of MPM patients during 2004–2015 were retrieved from SEER registries. Propensity score matching (PSM) was conducted to reduce disparities of baseline characteristics (age, sex, histologic type, stage, and type of surgery) between the PORT group and no‐PORT group. A novel nomogram was constructed based on independent prognosticators identified by multivariate Cox regression model. The discriminatory performance and degree of calibration were evaluated. We stratified patients into different risk groups according to nomogram total scores and estimated the survival benefit of PORT in different subgroups in order to identify the optimal candidates. Results: We identified 596 MPM patients, among which 190 patients (31.9%) received PORT. PORT conferred significant survival benefit in the unmatched population, while there was no significant survival difference favoring PORT in the matched population. The C‐index of the new TNM staging scheme was closed to 0.5, which represented a poor discriminatory ability. A novel nomogram was constructed based on clinicopathological factors, including age, sex, histology, and N stage. We stratified patients into three risk groups. Subgroup analyses indicated that PORT was beneficial for high‐risk group (p = 0.003) rather than low‐risk group (p = 0.965) and intermediate‐risk group (p = 0.661). Conclusion: We established a novel predictive model, which could make individualized prediction of survival benefit of PORT for MPM and could compensate for weakness in TNM staging system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most common electronic paper technology is E‐ink, which enables many novel applications such as e‐readers, watches and electronic shelf labels. However, due to the TFT backplane driving and complex production processes, the cost of this technology is high, which limits its popularity. Recently, a low‐cost π‐bistable twist nematic (π‐BTN) liquid crystal display with a high pretilt angle is proposed. It has the same structure and production method as an ordinary liquid crystal display. Passive driving enables the manufacture of high‐resolution bistable displays without the use of thin‐film transistors. Compared with the current bistable twist nematic display technology, the high pretilt angles structure helps to achieve a lowvoltage and fast‐respond bistable display. This wide viewing angle, high contrast and TFT‐free display is a promising candidate for flexible displays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new concentrated ternary salt ether‐based electrolyte enables stable cycling of lithium metal battery (LMB) cells with high‐mass‐loading (13.8 mg cm−2, 2.5 mAh cm−2) NMC622 (LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2) cathodes and 50 μm Li anodes. Termed "CETHER‐3," this electrolyte is based on LiTFSI, LiDFOB, and LiBF4 with 5 vol% fluorinated ethylene carbonate in 1,2‐dimethoxyethane. Commercial carbonate and state‐of‐the‐art binary salt ether electrolytes were also tested as baselines. With CETHER‐3, the electrochemical performance of the full‐cell battery is among the most favorably reported in terms of high‐voltage cycling stability. For example, LiNixMnyCo1–x–yO2 (NMC)‐Li metal cells retain 80% capacity at 430 cycles with a 4.4 V cut‐off and 83% capacity at 100 cycles with a 4.5 V cut‐off (charge at C/5, discharge at C/2). According to simulation by density functional theory and molecular dynamics, this favorable performance is an outcome of enhanced coordination between Li+ and the solvent/salt molecules. Combining advanced microscopy (high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy) and surface science (X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, time‐of‐fight secondary ion mass spectroscopy, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy), it is demonstrated that a thinner and more stable cathode electrolyte interphase (CEI) and solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) are formed. The CEI is rich in lithium sulfide (Li2SO3), while the SEI is rich in Li3N and LiF. During cycling, the CEI/SEI suppresses both the deleterious transformation of the cathode R‐3m layered near‐surface structure into disordered rock salt and the growth of lithium metal dendrites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MXenes are two‐dimensional transition metal carbides and/or nitrides with unique physiochemical properties and have attracted extensive interest in numerous fields. However, current MXene synthesis methods are limited by hazardous synthesis conditions, high production costs, or difficulty in large‐scale production. Therefore, a general, safe, cost‐effective, and scalable synthesis method for MXenes is crucial. Here, we report the fast synthesis of MXenes in the open air using a molten salt‐shielded synthesis (MS3) method, which uses Lewis‐acid salts as etchants and a low‐melting‐point eutectic salt mixture as the reaction medium and shield to prevent MXene oxidation at high temperatures. Carbide and nitride MXenes, including Ti3C2Tx, Ti2CTx, Ti3CNTx, and Ti4N3Tx, were successfully synthesized using the MS3 method. We also present the flexibility of the MS3 method by scaling the etching process to large batches of 20 and 60 g of Ti3AlC2 MAX precursor in one pot. When used as negative electrodes, the prepared MS3‐MXenes delivered excellent electrochemical properties for high‐rate Li‐ion storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the importance of reproduction in insects, its relation with multi‐stop flight remains poorly understood in migratory species. To clarify whether reproductive maturation commences during the multi‐stop flight or after the completion of migration, we conducted physiological and behavioral assays in the rice leaf roller Cnaphalocrocis medinalis with laboratory‐simulated conditions and field‐captured populations. We found that the ovarian development was significantly promoted by tethered flight treatment for 1–2 nights when compared to the unflown group, while the flight muscle development was not impaired. There was no significant difference in flight duration, flight distance and flight velocity between mated and virgin female moths, indicating that mated moths remained competent for the subsequent flights as did the virgins. Using an integrated field assay, we identified that over 60% of the female moths in the migrating populations captured by high‐altitude searchlights in the Immigration period of a season had completed the ovarian development and mating. Sexually mature and mated moths collected in the rice field in the Emigration period were found capable of engaging in migratory take‐off, as observed using an indoor monitoring platform. Overall, our findings point out that C. medinalis managed to complete reproductive maturation to a large extent during the multi‐stop migratory flight without compromising the migration performance. Such a cost‐effective strategy ensures a successful migration for the moths. These findings advance our understanding of the relationship between reproduction and migration, thus shedding light on the development of novel control measures for the outbreak of migratory insect pests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) taken to combat the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic have not only decreased the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 but also have had an impact on the prevalence of other common viruses. This study aimed to investigate the long‐term impact of NPIs on common respiratory and enteric viruses among children in Shanghai, China, as NPIs were relaxed after June 2020. The laboratory results and clinical data of outpatient children with acute respiratory tract infections (ARTI) and acute gastroenteritis (AGE) were analyzed and compared between the post‐COVID‐19 period (from June 2020 to January 2022) and pre‐COVID‐19 period (from June 2018 to January 2020). A total of 107 453 patients were enrolled from June 2018 to January 2022, including 43 190 patients with ARTI and 64 263 patients with AGE. The positive rates of most viruses decreased during the post‐COVID‐19 period, with the greatest decrease for influenza A (−0.94%), followed by adenoviruses (AdV) (−61.54%), rotaviruses (−48.17%), and influenza B (−40%). However, the positive rates of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and enteric AdV increased during the post‐COVID‐19 period as the NPIs were relaxed. Besides this, in the summer of 2021, an unexpected out‐of‐season resurgence of RSV activity was observed, and the resurgence was more prominent among children older than 5 years. The effectiveness of the current relaxed NPIs in control of common respiratory and enteric viruses was variable. Relaxation of NPIs might lead to the resurgence of common viruses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural killer (NK) cells are regarded as the host's first line of defense against viral infection. Moreover, the involvement of NK cells in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been documented. However, the specific mechanism and biological changes of NK cells in COPD development have not been determined. In this study, we extracted NK cells from the peripheral blood of 18 COPD patients who were recovering from an acute exacerbation and 45 healthy donors (HDs), then we labeled NK cells with different antibodies and analyzed with flow cytometry. The data showed that the frequencies of total NK cells in the peripheral blood of COPD patients were lower compared with HDs. Moreover, the inhibitory receptors on NK cells expressed higher levels and the expression of activating receptors were generally low. Importantly, both the expression levels of CD96 in NK cells and the frequencies of CD96+ NK cells were significantly upregulated in COPD patients. These findings suggest that surface receptor CD96 from NK cells may be a risk factor in the evolution of COPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A strategy for modifying the structure of solid‐state electrolytes (SSEs) to reduce the cation diffusion activation energy is presented. Two heavily W‐doped sodium thioantimonate SSEs, Na2.895W0.3Sb0.7S4 and Na2.7W0.3Sb0.7S4 are designed, both exhibiting exceptionally low activation energy and enhanced room temperature (RT) ionic conductivity; 0.09 eV, 24.2 mS/cm and 0.12 eV, 14.5 mS/cm. At −15 °C the Na2.895W0.3Sb0.7S4 displays a total ionic conductivity of 5.5 mS/cm. The 30 % W content goes far beyond the 10–12 % reported in the prior studies, and results in novel pseudo‐cubic or orthorhombic structures. Calculations reveal that these properties result from a combination of multiple diffusion mechanisms, including vacancy defects, strongly correlated modes and excessive Na‐ions. An all‐solid‐state battery (ASSB) using Na2.895W0.3Sb0.7S4 as the primary SSE and a sodium sulfide (Na2S) cathode achieves a reversible capacity of 400 mAh g−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, the start laminar cooling temperature to obtain different volume fractions of ferrite and bainite/martensite is optimized. Lower start laminar cooling temperature yields a higher volume fraction of ferrite and also decreases the transformation temperature of bainite/martensite. The yield strength of the experimental dual‐phase steel at 600 °C increases from ≈484.8 to ≈526.2 MPa by decreasing the start laminar cooling temperature from 650 to 600 °C. To understand the effect of microstructure, the dislocation density, volume fraction of precipitates, and Young's modulus at elevated temperature are statistically analyzed. A machine learning method, known as gradient boosting decision tree, is used to classify the grain boundaries. The statistical results suggest that the steel subject to lower start laminar cooling temperature shows higher Young's modulus and larger volume fraction of precipitates at elevated temperature. Furthermore, at elevated temperature, the boundary is stable and the proportion of Σ3 boundary is greater, when lower start laminar cooling temperature is adopted. Theoretical calculations results suggest that the lower transformation temperature of bainite/martensite improves the fire resistance of dual‐phase steels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past decades, low‐dose computed tomography (LD‐CT) screening has been widely used for the early detection of lung cancer. Increasing numbers of indeterminate pulmonary nodules are now being discovered. However, it remains challenging to distinguish malignant from benign pulmonary nodules, especially those considered to be small or ground‐glass (GGN) nodules. Liquid biopsies have been successfully applied in the diagnosis of advanced lung cancer, and the potential value for early detection of lung cancer has made great progress. Recent studies have demonstrated the value of various blood‐based tumor biomarkers in determining the nature of pulmonary nodules, including cell‐free DNA (cfDNA), microRNAs (miRNAs), circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and tumor‐associated autoantibodies (AAbs). In this review, we summarize the latest progress of liquid biopsies, and their potential applications and challenges in the diagnosis of malignant pulmonary nodules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) (Diptera: Drosophilidae) is a serious pest that prefers fresh fruits and is native to Southeast Asia. In our study, apple cider vinegar bait traps were used to capture and monitor the population dynamics of this native pest in Wuhu City, China, from May/June 2017 to May 2018. The research was conducted at 15 locations in two fruit orchards in Wuhu. Traps caught more adults in general in a Meiling blueberry orchard than in a Xicun mixed orchard, and the highest trap counts occurred near harvest time (October). Females had more mature eggs from September to November, and the number of mature eggs declined thereafter. We found several non‐crop hosts, which can provide food and reproductive resources for D. suzukii and are common in forests and field margins. By comparing the number of captured adults in the Meiling and Xicun orchards, we found that blueberry was preferred by D. suzukii among the fruits in our search. Fruit ripening times differed among crops; therefore, fly populations moved between crop and non‐crop habitats during the year or had varying population dynamics on different crops in different seasons. The D. suzukii population and the number of mature eggs decreased in summer and winter but increased in spring and autumn. Drosophila suzukii had higher survival rates with blueberry than those with other fruits, and D. suzukii could use four non‐crop species growing around the orchards as host plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Locating the physical position of functional units of the chip is a mandatory first step in various fields of applications, such as reverse engineering and hardware security. This paper presents a frequency mapping method based on the coaxial microscope to locate functional units inside ICs. A visible light camera is employed to focus the laser on the active region of the device under test based on the principle that the laser is strongly reflected at the metal in the active region. The target circuit modulates the laser at its operating frequency and the position of the target circuit could be accurately located by analyzing the frequency characteristics of the reflected laser. The results of transceiver chip localization indicate that the target circuit on the chip can be precisely located by this method without any additional processing of the chip. The coaxial microscopy design provides a good spot quality and signal‐to‐noise ratio, meanwhile, locating areas of the chip with operating currents down to 10−10 A, compared with that of photonic emission analysis can only achieve the sensitivity of 5 × 10−4 A. The sensitivity of the frequency mapping method is much better than that of Photonic Emission Analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anodes for lithium metal batteries, sodium metal batteries, and potassium metal batteries are susceptible to failure due to dendrite growth. This review details the structure–chemistry–performance relations in membranes that stabilize the anodes' solid electrolyte interphase (SEI), allowing for stable electrochemical plating/stripping. Case studies involving Li, Na, and K are presented to illustrate key concepts. "Classical" versus "modern" understandings of the SEI are described, with an emphasis on the new structural insights obtained through novel analytical techniques, including in situ liquid‐secondary ion mass spectroscopy, titration gas chromatography, and tip‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy. This Review highlights diverse approaches for increasing SEI stability, either by inserting a secondary layer between the native SEI and the separator, or by combining the membrane with a native SEI to form a hybrid composite. Exciting and nonintuitive findings are discussed, such as that the metal anode roughness profoundly affects the SEI structure and stability, or that organic artificial SEI‐layers may be more effective than the native inorganic–organic SEIs. Emerging multifunctional architectures are presented, which serve a dual role as metal hosts and metal surface protection layers. Throughout the Review, fruitful future research directions and the critical areas where there is incomplete understanding are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most common electronic paper technology is E‐ink, which enables many novel applications such as e‐readers, watches and electronic shelf labels. However, due to the TFT backplane driving and complex production processes, the cost of this technology is high, which limits its popularity. Recently, a low‐cost π‐bistable twist nematic (π‐BTN) liquid crystal display with a high pretilt angle is proposed. It has the same structure and production method as an ordinary liquid crystal display. Passive driving enables the manufacture of high‐resolution bistable displays without the use of thin‐film transistors. Compared with the current bistable twist nematic display technology, the high pretilt angles structure helps to achieve a low‐voltage and fast‐respond bistable display. This wide viewing angle, high contrast and TFT‐free display is a promising candidate for flexible displays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitric oxide (NO)‐generating materials are beneficial for vascular tissue engineering (VTE) scaffold because the produced NO would enhance endothelial cells viability while inhibit smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation and reduce platelet adhesion, resulting in ideal hemocompatibility and endothelialization. Herein, poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL)/keratin biocomposite mats were first fabricated, followed by in situ gold (Au) nanoparticles loading to afford PCL/keratin/AuNPs mats. These mats were characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The PCL/keratin/AuNPs mats were demonstrated to be capable of catalyzing NO release in the mimicked blood microenvironments. The generated NO could enhance human umbilical vein endothelial cell growth and inhibit human umbilical arterial SMC viability. In addition, these mats maintained the antibacterial activity of Au nanoparticles with good blood compatibility. Taken together, these keratin‐based composite mats have potential usage in the VTE. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 106A: 3239–3247, 2018. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cover Picture: Influence of Potassium Metal-Support Interactions on Dendrite Growth (Angew. Metal Dendrite, Potassium Ion Battery, Potassium Metal Battery, Potassium Sulfur Battery Keywords: Metal Dendrite; Potassium Ion Battery; Potassium Metal Battery; Potassium Sulfur Battery EN Metal Dendrite Potassium Ion Battery Potassium Metal Battery Potassium Sulfur Battery 1 1 1 06/06/23 20230605 NES 230605 B Using advanced analytical techniques b based on synchrotron and electron microscopy as described in their Research Article (e202300943), Pengcheng Liu, David Mitlin et al. were able to "see" and understand the growth of body centered cubic potassium metal dendrites, depicted in the cover picture as corals growing underwater and away from normal sight. [Extracted from the article]

Metal Dendrite, Potassium Ion Battery, Potassium Metal Battery, Potassium Sulfur Battery Keywords: Metal Dendrite; Potassium Ion Battery; Potassium Metal Battery; Potassium Sulfur Battery EN Metal Dendrite Potassium Ion Battery Potassium Metal Battery Potassium Sulfur Battery 1 1 1 05/29/23 20230605 NES 230605 B Using advanced analytical techniques b based on synchrotron and electron microscopy as described in their Research Article (e202300943), Pengcheng Liu, David Mitlin et al. were able to "see" and understand the growth of body centered cubic potassium metal dendrites, depicted in the cover picture as corals growing underwater and away from normal sight. This is represented by the light rays shining down from above. [Extracted from the article]

With revolutionary electric vehicles and the smart grid fast developing, more advanced energy storage technologies become quite crucial issues. Li-ion batteries (LIBs) and Na-ion batteries (NIBs) are considered as the most promising electrochemical energy storage technologies. Low-dimensional nano-structural electrode materials can greatly increase the specific capacity, but they still suffer from poor cycling and rate performances due to their serious self-aggregations. Constructing 3D structures, such as micro/nano-structures and free-standing electrodes, is a quite promising method to address the above issues. Such 3D structures can simultaneously avoid the disadvantages of low-dimensional nanomaterials, and preserve their advantages. As one group of promising high-capacity and low-cost electrode materials, vanadium-based oxides have exhibited an quite attractive electrochemical performance for energy storage applications in many novel works. However, their systematic reviews are quite limited, which is disadvantageous to their further development. Herein, this article provides an overview of vanadium-based oxides in the applications of LIBs and NIBs by focusing mainly on the aspect from low-dimensional nanomaterials synthesis to 3D micro/nano-structures and free-standing electrodes fabrication. Moreover, a feasible strategy to controllably fabricate the 3D micro/nano-structure for the whole vanadium-based oxides family is presented. Furthermore, and importantly, a quite promising solution method for the practical commercialized applications of vanadium oxides cathode materials in the future is proposed, i.e., fabricating the 'vanadium oxides-based cathode/solid electrolyte/Li metal anode-type' all solid-state secondary-ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As intercalation-type anode materials for Li-ion batteries (LIBs), the commercially used graphite and Li4Ti5O12 exhibit good cycling and rate properties, but their theoretical specific capacities are too low to meet the ever-growing demands of high-energy applications such as electric vehicles. Therefore, the development of new intercalation-type anode materials with larger capacity is very desirable. Herein, we design and synthesize novel 3 D hierarchical porous V2O3@C micro/nanostructures consisting of crumpled nanosheets, through self-reduction under annealing from the structurally similar VO2 (B)@C precursors without the addition of any other reducing reagent or gas. Excitingly, it is found for the first time through ex situ XRD technology that V2O3 is a new, promising intercalation-type anode material for LIBs with a high capacity. V2O3@C micro/nanostructures can deliver a large capacity of 732 mAh g−1 without capacity loss at 100 mA g−1 even after 136 cycles, as well as exhibiting excellent cycling and rate performances. The application of V2O3 for Na-ion batteries (NIBs) is elaborated for the first time, and excitingly, it is found that V2O3@C micro/nanostructures may be promising anode materials for NIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new strategy for the direct synthesis of quinazolinones from o-aminobenzonitriles was proposed and accomplished. In the presence of [Cp*IrCl2]2 (Cp*=pentamethylcyclopentadienyl), a variety of desirable products was obtained easily through the one-pot sequential selective hydration/condensation/acceptorless dehydrogenation. This protocol is highly attractive because it uses readily available starting materials, has a high atom efficiency, good to excellent yields, and minimal consumption of chemicals and energy. Notably, this research exhibited new potential for the development of transition-metal-catalyzed one-pot sequential reactions that involve acceptorless dehydrogenation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose To evaluate the diagnostic performance of a newly developed non-contrast-enhanced MR angiography (NCE-MRA) technique using flow-sensitive dephasing (FSD) prepared steady-state free precession (SSFP) for detecting calf arterial disease in patients with diabetes. Materials and Methods Forty-five patients with diabetes who underwent routine contrast-enhanced MR angiography (CE-MRA) of lower extremities were recruited for NCE-MRA at the calf on a 1.5 Tesla MR system. Image quality evaluated on a 4-point scale and diagnostic performance for detecting more than 50% arterial stenosis were statistically analyzed, using CE-MRA as the standard of reference. Results A total of 264 calf arterial segments were obtained in the 45 patients with 88 legs. The percentage of diagnostic arterial segments was all 98% for NCE- and CE-MRA. The image quality, SNR, CNR was 3.3, 177, 138, and 3.5, 103, 99, for NCE-MRA and CE-MRA, respectively. The average sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of NCE-MRA were 97%, 96%, 90%, 99%, and 96%, respectively on a per-segment basis and 90%, 84%, 82%, 91%, and 87%, respectively, on a per-patients basis. Conclusion The NCE-MRA technique demonstrates adequate image quality in the delineation of calf arteries and consistent diagnostic performance for detecting significant stenosis with CE-MRA in patients with diabetes. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2014;40:1422-1429. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cover image is based on the Original Article A frequency mapping method for locating functional units inside ICs based on coaxial microscope by Yingqi Ma et al., https://doi.org/10.1049/ell2.12373. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An increasing number of proteins are found to contain a knot in their polypeptide chain. Although some studies have looked into the folding mechanism of knotted proteins, why and how these complex topologies form are still far from being fully answered. Moreover, no experimental information about how the knot moves during the protein-folding process is available. Herein, by combining single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer (smFRET) experiments with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, we performed a detailed study to characterize the knot in the denatured state of TrmD, a knotted tRNA (guanosine-1) methyltransferase from Escherichia coli, as a model system. We found that the knot still existed in the unfolded state of TrmD, consistent with the results for two other knotted proteins, YibK and YbeA. More interestingly, both smFRET experiments and MD simulations revealed that the knot slid towards the C-terminal during the unfolding process, which could be explained by the relatively strong interactions between the β-sheet core at the N terminal of the native knot region. The size of the knot in the unfolded state is not larger than that in the native state. In addition, the knot slid in a 'downhill' mode with simultaneous chain collapse in the denatured state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pon de relay: A convenient and efficient synthesis of alkene ‐ functionalized furans from cyclopropenes, which proceeds through an isomerization/olefination cascade sequence under copper – palladium relay catalysis, has been developed (see scheme). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A one-step surfactant-free hydrothermal route is developed to prepare platelike NaNbO3 template powders. At optimal KOH concentration, pure platelike NaNbO3 with rhombohedral structure (width and thickness of 20 and 2 μm, respectively) is obtained at 200°C for 16 h. After calcination at 600°C for 4 h, the structure of the hydrothermally synthesized NaNbO3 changes from rhombohedral to orthorhombic, whereas the initial platelike morphology is maintained. Such characteristics in terms of phase structure, elemental composition, and morphology render our hydrothermally synthesized NaNbO3 suitable for textured ceramic fabrications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]