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Aims: The aim of the study was to explore the experiences of female new nurse managers during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Design: This was a phenomenological study, and qualitative descriptive analysis was used. Methods: New nurse managers were defined as new nurse managers with less than 3 years of management experience in this study. During November and December of 2021, 18 female new nurse managers were interviewed face‐to‐face with a semi‐structured interview guide in three municipal hospitals. The study followed the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) guidelines for evaluating qualitative research reports. Data analysis was performed using Colaizzi's seven‐step method. Results: Four main themes and 10 sub‐themes were extracted from the collected data. The four major themes were as follows: (1) a shift in stress; (2) work‐related physical and psychological discomfort; (3) reflection on the cause; (4) coping and struggles. Conclusions: New nurse managers were experiencing great stress and exhaustion in their roles. It is important that they are helped to handle situations. Providing them with readily accessible support, addressing their psychosocial needs and addressing exhaustion is necessary. Considering their short management time, the hospital should provide adequate support in human, financial and material areas and provide training to help new nurse managers better adapt to their new roles. In addition, nurse directors should create a culture of mutual respect, identify workplace bullying and create a harmonious and cooperation‐oriented work environment for new nurse managers. Patient or Public Contribution: No patient or public contribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor γ (PPARγ) is highly expressed in trophoblast tissues in pregnancy during which the protein participates in diverse events, including embryo implantation and placental formation. However, little is known about the role of PPARγ in embryonic development. This study investigated the function of PPARγ in sheep trophoblast cells. The coding sequence of sheep PPARγ encoded 475 amino acids and included one synonymou mutation compared with the sheep reference sequence for PPARγ. The PPARγ protein was localized in the nucleus and cytoplasm of sheep trophoblasts. The relative expression of PPARγ was elevated in cells treated with rosiglitazone and reduced following administration of GW9662. Activation of PPARγ promoted cell proliferation and mobility, but inhibited apoptosis. In addition, stimulation of PPARγ promoted the expression of lipid metabolism‐related genes FABP4 and PLIN2. The expression of prostaglandin metabolism‐related genes PLA2G4A, PTGS2 and PTGES also was upregulated significantly in trophoblast cells when PPARγ was activated. In contrast, activation of PPARγ did not impact expression of the prostaglandin‐related genes PGFS and SLCO2A1. At the same time, activation of PPARγ activity increased the ratio of PGE2 to PGF2α. Furthermore, fluorescence labelling showed that the numbers of cell lipid droplets increased after stimulation of PPARγ activity, but decreased when PPARγ was inhibited. In conclusion, PPARγ is critical for the regulation of lipid metabolism and prostaglandin synthesis and secretion in sheep trophoblast cells and also has a potent effect on cell proliferation and viability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposes a space vector pulse width modulation (SVPWM) driving method for the switched reluctance motor (SRM), which enables the use of a standard full‐bridge power converter to drive a three‐phase SRM with a ring structure, in place of the traditional asymmetric H‐bridge (AHB). Based on this driving topology, the SVPWM approach is employed to drive the SRM, and its performance is compared with that of the conventional SRM driving method utilising the AHB. The findings indicate that the SVPWM method can effectively reduce torque ripple in the SRM. Moreover, the experimental validation performed to verify the proposed driving topology and method yields results that closely align with the simulated outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of a combination treatment of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in scalp seborrheic dermatitis (SSD) of differing severity. Methods: Our study included patients with typical SSD who visited the Medical Research Center for Hair and Skin at our hospital. Symptoms were evaluated using a "16‐point scale" developed at the center. Patients who had mild SSD were treated with Pi Fu Kang Xi Ye (PFKXY), those with moderate SSD were treated with PFKXY combined with Run Zao Zhi Yang Jiao Nang (RZZYJN), and those with severe dermatitis were treated with PFKXY and RZZYJN along with garlicin enteric‐coated tablets. Patients were asked to revisit 4 weeks later to evaluate the efficacy. Results: Symptom scores of all patients decreased by (5.48 ± 2.51) after treatment as compared with before treatment, and the results of t‐test and correlation test were significant (p < 0.01). The scores of patients with mild, moderate and severe SSD decreased by 3.14 ± 1.83, 4.90 ± 1.77, and 8.05 ± 2.21, respectively, after treatment as compared with before treatment. Among them, the changes in scores of patients with moderate dermatitis before and after treatment were significant in the t‐test and correlation test (p < 0.01). Conclusion: In this study, the combination treatment of TCM showed significant efficacy in the treatment of mild, moderate, and severe SSD, and the efficacy was stable, especially for patients with moderate SSD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laterally epitaxial two‐dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) heterojunctions are of considerable interest in recent years due to atomically sharp interfaces and tunable band alignment, which have potential applications in novel functional electronics and optoelectronics. However, the studies of 2D lateral heterostructures have mainly focused on the synthesis methods and pristine performance of the fabricated heterojunctions. Herein, the controllable photocurrent generation and enhanced performances of the lateral bilayer (LBL) MoS2–WS2 heterojunctions are reported. A tunable and abrupt built‐in field forms at the interface, and the gate‐tunable rectifying behavior and photovoltaic effect are realized. It is demonstrated that the generation of the photocurrent in the device can be highly controlled to realize ultrahigh responsivity of 1.06 × 104 A W−1 and detectivity of 1.14 × 1013 Jones at a 638 nm incident light. The lateral TMDs heterostructures are expected to constitute the ultimate functional elements of novel electronics and optoelectronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a series of semi‐crystalline semi‐aromatic poly (ether amides) (PAT‐2–PAT‐10) with varying length of polymethylene moiety (2, 4, 6, 8 or 10 methyl groups) and number of ether groups in the main chain were synthesized by the nucleophilic substitution reaction of semi‐aromatic difluorobenzamido alkanes with 1, 4‐benzenediol at about 190–200°C, using K2CO3 as catalyst, N‐methyl pyrrolidione (NMP) as reaction solvent. And their viscosities, thermal, and mechanical properties were investigated. The inherent viscosities, glass transition, melting and degradation temperatures and tensile strength values of the synthesized polymers were in the range 0.141–1.829 dL g−1, 119.1–165.0°C, 272.4–345.4°C, and 371.4–451.1°C, and 61.2–79.2 MPa respectively. Moreover, they were found to have good solubility in concentrated sulfuric acid and trifluoroacetic acid at room temperature. The length of poly methylene group and ether bond in the polymer main chain had significantly influenced their thermo mechanical properties. The polyamides PAT‐6–PAT‐10 had better thermo mechanical property than that of commercial polyamide, PA6T/66. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: Discretionary, energy‐dense, nutrient‐poor food and drinks are heavily marketed and readily available in retail settings frequented by adolescents. This study examines associations between food purchasing practices in various retail settings and dietary intake among Australian adolescents. Methods: Participants were students in years 8 to 11 (ages 12‐17 years) who completed the 2009‐10 (n = 13 790), 2012‐13 (n = 10 309) or 2018 (n = 9102) National Secondary Students' Diet and Activity (NaSSDA) cross‐sectional survey. Multistage stratified random sampling was used. An online survey completed at school assessed self‐reported frequency of food purchasing practices in various retail settings and consumption of discretionary food, sugary drinks, fruit and vegetables. Generalised linear regression models examined associations between food purchasing practices and dietary behaviour. Results: Relative to students who brought lunch from home, those who purchased lunch from school or nearby outlets reported higher intake of discretionary food and sugary drinks and lower fruit intake. Buying lunch from school was also associated with lower vegetable intake. Buying food or drinks on the school commute, outside school grounds during school hours, from supermarket checkouts, and using mobile phone apps were each associated with higher discretionary food and sugary drink intake (all P <.01). Conclusions: Purchasing food or drink in various retail settings is associated with higher intake of discretionary food and drink among Australian adolescents, and some purchasing practices appeared to displace fruit and vegetable intake. So What?: These findings highlight a need to improve the accessibility and promotion of healthier food and drink options in schools and other retail settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to compare the effects of laparoscopic repeat liver resection (LRLR) and open repeat liver resection (ORLR) on surgical site wound infection and pain in recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma. PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang Data were systematically searched for studies comparing LRLR with ORLR for the treatment of recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma, with a search timeframe from their inception to December 2022. Two investigators independently screened the literature, extracted information, and evaluated the quality of the studies according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. This study was performed using RevMan 5.4 software. A total of 20 publications with 4380 patients were included, with 1108 and 3289 patients in the LRLR and ORLR groups, respectively. The results showed that LRLR significantly reduced surgical site wound infection rate (1.71% vs. 5.16%, odds ratio [OR]:0.32, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.18‐0.56, P <.001), superficial wound infection rate (1.29% vs. 4.92%, OR: 0.29, 95% CI: 0.14‐0.58, P <.001), bile leakage (3.34% vs. 6.05%, OR: 0.59, 95% CI: 0.39‐0.90, P =.01), organ/space wound infection rate (0.4% vs. 5.11%, OR: 0.23, 95% CI: 0.07‐0.81, P =.02), and surgical site wound pain (mean difference: −2.00, 95% CI: −2.99 to −1.02, P <.001). Thus, the findings of this study showed that LRLR for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma significantly reduced wound infection rates and improved postoperative wound pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mitral regurgitation may occur when hypertension causes left ventricular (LV) and left atrial (LA) remodeling. However, its role in LA function in hypertensive patients remains unclear. Purpose: To explore how mitral regurgitation affects LA function in hypertension and to investigate atrioventricular interaction in hypertensive patients with mitral regurgitation. Study Type: Retrospective. Population: A total of 193 hypertensive cases and 64 controls. Field Strength/Sequence: A 3.0 T/balanced steady‐state free precession. Assessment: LA volume (LAV), LA strain (reservoir, conduit, and active), LA ejection fraction, and LV strain (global peak longitudinal [GLS], circumferential [GCS], and radial strain [GRS]) were evaluated and compared among groups. Regurgitant fraction (RF) was evaluated in regurgitation patients and used to subdivide patients into mild (RF: 0%–30%), moderate (RF: 30%–50%), and severe (RF: >50%) regurgitation categories. Statistical Tests: One‐way analysis of variance, Spearman and Pearson's correlation coefficients (r), and multivariable linear regression analysis. A P value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Hypertensive patients without mitral regurgitation showed significantly impaired LA reservoir and conduit functions and significantly decreased LV GLS but preserved pump function and LAV compared to controls (P = 0.193–1.0). Hypertensive cases with mild regurgitation (N = 22) had significantly enlarged LAV and further reduced LA reservoir function, while the group with moderate regurgitation (N = 20) showed significantly reduced LA pump function, further impaired conduit function, and significantly reduced LV strain. The severe regurgitation (N = 13) group demonstrated significantly more severely impaired LA and LV functions and LAV enlargement. Multivariable linear regression showed that regurgitation degree, GRS, GCS, and GLS were independently correlated with the LA reservoir, conduit, and active strain in hypertensive patients with mitral regurgitation. Data Conclusion: Mitral regurgitation may exacerbate LA and LV impairment in hypertension. Regurgitation degree, LV GRS, GCS, and GLS were independent determinants of the LA strain in hypertensive patients with mitral regurgitation, which demonstrated atrioventricular interaction. Evidence Level: 4. Technical Efficacy: Stage 3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Evaluate the impact of peritoneal dialysis catheter (PDC) tail‐end design variations on PDC‐related complications. Method: Effective data were extracted from databases. The literature was evaluated according to the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions, and a meta‐analysis was conducted. Results: Analysis revealed that the straight‐tailed catheter was superior to the curled‐tailed catheter in minimizing catheter displacement and complication‐induced catheter removal (RR = 1.73, 95%CI:1.18–2.53, p = 0.005). In terms of complication‐induced PDC removal, the straight‐tailed catheter was superior to the curled‐tailed catheter (RR = 1.55, 95%CI: 1.15–2.08, p = 0.004). Conclusion: Curled‐tail design of the catheter increased the risk of catheter displacement and complication‐induced catheter removal, whereas the straight‐tailed catheter was superior to the curled‐tailed catheter in terms of reducing catheter displacement and complication‐induced catheter removal. However, the analysis and comparison of factors such as leakage, peritonitis, exit‐site infection, and tunnel infection did not reveal a statistically significant difference between the two designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring and understanding the structure‐mechanical property relations in hierarchical graphene assemblies is crucial for optimizing their mechanical properties and developing new functionalities, as the tensile strength is two orders of magnitude degradation from pristine graphene to graphene assemblies. Yet, quantifying the strength degradation across multiscale is a challenge due to the complex hierarchical structures. Thus, key structures and dominated factors at different lengthscales that affect the mechanical properties of graphene assemblies should be extracted for the reasonable unveiling of this problem. In this study, the multiscale mechanical degradation of graphene assemblies through practical microstructure‐guided multiscale modeling is characterized. Combining with experimental observations, three representative models are developed to study the mechanical behaviors of graphene assemblies at different lengthscales. Then, the dominated factors affecting the strength at these lengthscales are identified, that is the defects in monolayer graphene, tension‐shear load transfer for stacked graphene, and uniformity of graphene assemblies. Based on the simulation results, the structure‐strength relation of graphene assemblies is given, and practical strategies are proposed followed by experimental realization, to significantly improve the mechanical properties of graphene‐based nanocomposites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Therapy discontinuation of systemic glucocorticoid treatment for pemphigus remains uncertain at the clinical end point of complete remission. The objective of this study was to identify the factors associated with achieving complete remission off therapy (CROT) and analyze the occurrence of relapse after therapy discontinuation. A retrospective cohort study was conducted at the Department of Dermatology of Peking University First Hospital. A total of 447 patients with pemphigus treated from 2005 to 2020 were identified. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to analyze the associated factors of CROT and to evaluate the outcomes. The mean age was 48 years (±13.4 years), and 54.6% of the patients were women. During a median follow‐up of 59 months (43–87.5 months), 160 of 447 (35.8%) patients achieved CROT after a median treatment duration of 51 months (38–66.2 months). Patients with a shorter therapy duration to complete remission on minimal therapy and negative desmoglein antibodies tested in remission were more likely to achieve early CROT. Thirty‐five of 160 (21.9%) patients experienced relapse after CROT. Patients who discontinued therapy without guidance experienced significantly faster and higher occurrences of relapse than those withdrawing under guidance (log‐rank p = 0.01). Minimal therapy maintenance ≤8 months from complete remission on minimal therapy and positive desmoglein antibodies tested at withdrawal increased the risk of early relapse after CROT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complexes of metal center and nitrogen ligands are the most representative systems for catalyzing hydrogenation reactions in small molecule conversion. Developing heterogeneous catalysts with similar active metal‐nitrogen functional centers, nevertheless, still remains challenging. In this work, we demonstrate that the metal‐nitrogen coupling in anti‐perovskite Co4N can be effective modulated by Cu doping to form Co3CuN, leading to strongly promoted hydrogenation process during electrochemical reduction of nitrate (NO3−RR) to ammonia. The combination of advanced spectroscopic techniques and density functional theory calculations reveal that Cu dopants strengthen the Co−N bond and upshifted the metal d‐band towards the Fermi level, promoting the adsorption of NO3− and *H and facilitating the transition from *NO2/*NO to *NO2H/*NOH. Consequently, the Co3CuN delivers noticeably better NO3−RR activity than the pristine Co4N, with optimal Faradaic efficiency of 97 % and ammonia yield of 455.3 mmol h−1 cm−2 at −0.3 V vs. RHE. This work provides an effective strategy for developing high‐performance heterogeneous catalyst for electrochemical synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

2D cell culture occupies an important place in cancer progression and drug discovery research. However, it limitedly models the "true biology" of tumors in vivo. 3D tumor culture systems can better mimic tumor characteristics for anticancer drug discovery but still maintain great challenges. Herein, polydopamine (PDA)‐modified decellularized lung scaffolds are designed and can serve as a functional biosystem to study tumor progression and anticancer drug screening, as well as mimic the tumor microenvironment. PDA‐modified scaffolds with strong hydrophilicity and excellent cell compatibility can promote cell growth and proliferation. After 96 h treatment with 5‐FU, cisplatin, and DOX, higher survival rates in PDA‐modified scaffolds are observed compared to nonmodified scaffolds and 2D systems. The E‐cadhesion formation, HIF‐1α‐mediated senescence decrease, and tumor stemness enhancement can drive drug resistance and antitumor drug screening of breast cancer cells. Moreover, there is a higher survival rate of CD45+/CD3+/CD4+/CD8+ T cells in PDA‐modified scaffolds for potential cancer immunotherapy drug screening. This PDA‐modified tumor bioplatform will supply some promising information for studying tumor progression, overcoming tumor resistance, and screening tumor immunotherapy drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing high‐performance oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts are critical for the practical application of many electrochemical energy devices. In this study, taking layered perovskite oxide thin films as the model system, it is demonstrated that the OER pathway can be effectively shifted by activating lattice oxygen, leading to strongly enhanced intrinsic activity. The OER performance of Ruddlesden‐Popper (RP)‐phase cobaltite is significantly enhanced as Sr doping at the A site increases, which is attributed to the shift of the reaction pathway from adsorbate evolution mechanism (AEM) to lattice oxygen‐mediated mechanism (LOM). Advanced spectroscopic techniques and density functional theory calculations reveal that the Sr dopant effectively facilitates oxygen ligand hole formation, charge transfer from the oxygen sites, and the formation and migration of oxygen vacancy, hence promoting lattice oxygen to participate in surface reactions. The results provide critical insight into the role of oxygen activity and offer a potential way for constructing highly active electrocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A variety of functionalized 2‐pyrrolidinones bearing N‐trifluoromethylphenyl moieties were prepared in moderate to good yields with high diastereoselectivity through copper(II)‐catalyst and base co‐catalyzed formal [4+1] cycloaddition of cinnamaldehyde nitrones with 1‐ethynylnaphthalen‐2‐ols in the presence of m‐CPBA as the oxidant. The triple bond of 1‐ethynylnaphthalen‐2‐ol served as one‐carbon synthon for the pyrrolidinone ring formation. Mechanistic studies revealed that m‐CPBA played an important role to interrupt the intramolecular O‐cyclization to afford the 2‐pyrrolidinones. Moreover, the reaction could be easily performed at gram scales and the obtained products were selectively converted into diverse pyrroline scaffolds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supersymmetry (SUSY) laser array with superpartner structure can suppress excess modes to achieve high‐intensity and high‐coherent radiation. Compared with complex superpartner, using parity time (PT) symmetry broken to manipulate SUSY laser arrays is a more flexible approach. Herein, based on ultrathin perovskite single crystal, a SUSY laser array is constructed without superpartner, but with auxiliary gain–loss structure. PT symmetry broken with high‐order exceptional point (EP) is realized in the visible spectral range. It intrinsically avoids superpartner field mismatch and improves side mode suppression ratio 8.8–12 dB for single‐mode lasing. Furthermore, variations in EP‐order enable the transition from single‐mode to dual‐mode or tri‐mode radiation and retain amplified radiation characteristics. In addition, these SUSY laser arrays with the high‐order EP have the potential to be small‐volume optical sensor devices. The new design combining SUSY and PT symmetry broken presents its potential in micro‐nanophotonic devices with the benefit of small size, flexibility in spectral control, expandability, simplicity, and multifunctionality feature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Predictive biomarkers for oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) immunotherapy are lacking, and immunotherapy resistance remains to be addressed. The role of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) in ESCC immune escape and immunotherapy resistance remains to be elucidated. Methods: The tumour‐associated macrophage‐upregulated lncRNAs and the exosomal lncRNAs highly expressed in ESCC immunotherapy nonresponders were identified by lncRNA sequencing and polymerase chain reaction assays. CRISPR‐Cas9 was used to explore the functional roles of the lncRNA. RNA pull‐down, MS2‐tagged RNA affinity purification (MS2‐TRAP) and RNA‐binding protein immunoprecipitation (RIP) were performed to identify lncRNA‐associated proteins and related mechanisms. In vivo, the humanized PBMC (hu‐PBMC) mouse model was established to assess the therapeutic responses of specific lncRNA inhibitors and their combination with programmed cell death protein 1 (PD‐1) monoclonal antibody (mAb). Single‐cell sequencing, flow cytometry, and multiplex fluorescent immunohistochemistry were used to analyze immune cells infiltrating the tumour microenvironment. Results: We identified a lncRNA that is involved in tumour immune evasion and immunotherapy resistance. High LINC02096 (RIME) expression in plasma exosomes correlates with a reduced response to PD‐1 mAb treatment and poor prognosis. Mechanistically, RIME binds to mixed lineage leukaemia protein‐1 (MLL1) and prevents ankyrin repeat and SOCS box containing 2 (ASB2)‐mediated MLL1 ubiquitination, improving the stability of MLL1. RIME‐MLL1 increases H3K4me3 levels in the promoter regions of programmed death‐ligand 1 (PD‐L1) and indoleamine 2,3‐dioxygenase 1 (IDO‐1), constitutively increasing the expression of PD‐L1/IDO‐1 in tumour cells and inhibiting CD8+ T cells infiltration and activation. RIME depletion in huPBMC‐NOG mice significantly represses tumour development and improves the effectiveness of PD‐1 mAb treatment by activating T‐cell‐mediated antitumour immunity. Conclusions: This study reveals that the RIME‐MLL1‐H3K4me3 axis plays a critical role in tumour immunosuppression. Moreover, RIME appears to be a potential prognostic biomarker for immunotherapy and developing drugs that target RIME may be a new therapeutic strategy that overcomes immunotherapy resistance and benefits patients with ESCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Idiopathic type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a neglected subtype of T1D. Our aim was to investigate the frequency, clinical characteristics, and human leucocyte antigen (HLA) genotypes of idiopathic T1D. Methods: We enrolled 1205 newly diagnosed T1D patients in our analysis. To exclude monogenic diabetes in autoantibody‐negative patients, we utilised a custom monogenic diabetes gene panel. Individuals negative for autoantibodies and subsequently excluded for monogenic diabetes were diagnosed with idiopathic T1D. We collected clinical characteristics, measured islet autoantibodies by radioligand assay and obtained HLA data. Results: After excluding 11 patients with monogenic diabetes, 284 cases were diagnosed with idiopathic T1D, accounting for 23.8% (284/1194) of all newly diagnosed T1D cases. When compared with autoimmune T1D, idiopathic T1D patients showed an older onset age, higher body mass index among adults, lower haemoglobin A1c, higher levels of fasting C‐peptide and 2‐h postprandial C‐peptide, and were likely to have type 2 diabetes (T2D) family history and carry 0 susceptible HLA haplotype (all p < 0.01). A lower proportion of individuals carrying 2 susceptible HLA haplotypes in idiopathic T1D was observed in the adult‐onset subgroup (15.7% vs. 38.0% in child‐onset subgroup, p < 0.001) and in subgroup with preserved beta‐cell function (11.0% vs. 30.1% in subgroup with poor beta‐cell function, p < 0.001). Multivariable correlation analyses indicated that being overweight, having T2D family history and lacking susceptible HLA haplotypes were associated with negative autoantibodies. Conclusions: Idiopathic T1D represents about 1/4 of newly diagnosed T1D, with adult‐onset and preserved beta‐cell function patients showing lower HLA susceptibility and more insulin resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biofilms and their associated infections have posed serious threats to the society from both an economical concern and a healthcare perspective. Graphene oxide (GO) has recently prompted the emergence of applications in the area of antibacterial materials owing to its high biocompatibility and surface functionalization. However, the weak biological interactions with microbial cells limit the antibiotic activity of GO. Herein, by combining GO with currently utilized antibacterial metal ions, copper ion‐graphene oxide composite (Cu2+@GO) with exceptional bactericidal activity is achieved in this work. Cu2+@GO composite possessed more than 95% antimicrobial efficiency of both Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) compared with the Cu2+ only group or GO only group. Additionally, the composite inhibits the formation of bacterial biofilms, making it a potential candidate for the development of alternative antimicrobials. Antibacterial mechanism study shows that Cu2+@GO has both bacteria‐binding ability and the property of producing reactive oxygen species (ROS) to cause the bacterial destruction. In vivo experiments indicate that Cu2+@GO possess an inhibition effect to P. aeruginosa‐induced keratitis. Overall, this work demonstrates that Cu2+@GO may be promising antibacterial agents for the treatment of bacterial infection, which contributes to designing more antibiotic and safe graphene‐based materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The urban expansion‐induced heat can exacerbate heat stress for urban dwellers, especially during heat waves. With a focus on the intra‐urban variability of urban heat islands (UHIs) and thermal comfort, the urban parameterization within the Community Land Model version 5 (CLM5) was modified incorporating the local climate zones (LCZs) framework, named CLM5‐LCZs, to simulate the urban climate during a heat wave (HW) event in the summer of 2013. The evaluation of model performance demonstrated that it did a reasonable job of simulating surface energy balance and thermal regimes in cities against observational fluxes from a flux tower measurement site and temperatures from automatic meteorological stations in Nanjing, China. Then we investigated the characteristics and causes of UHIs associated with local background climate, intra‐urban inhomogeneity and HW intensity in East China. The results exhibited that daytime and nighttime canopy urban heat island intensity (CUHII) were highest in the Compact Low Rise (LCZ3) and the Compact High Rise (LCZ1) areas, respectively, while surface urban heat island intensity (SUHII) peaked in the Large Low Rise (LCZ8) and the Compact High Rise (LCZ1) areas during daytime and nighttime, respectively. Urban dwellers were easier exposed to serious heat environment in LCZ3 and LCZ1 areas over the north subtropical climate zone. Contrasts of CUHII and SUHII among different urban classes could exceed 1.7°C and 5.4°C. The intra‐urban heterogeneity may alter the dominant factors controlling SUHII, which were also modulated by local climate and HW intensity. Unlike other controlling factors, the impact of local climate on the contribution from the urban‐rural contrast of convection efficiency was larger than urban features. Overall, CLM5‐LCZs displayed potential of implementing detailed simulations for inter‐ and intra‐city UHIs at a larger scale, and enhancing the capabilities in modeling urban climate and exploring the causes and controls of UHIs. Plain Language Summary: The Community Land Model Urban (CLMU) is the urban parameterization within the Community Land Model version 5 (CLM5) to simulate urban climate and human thermal comfort. The local climate zones (LCZs) framework has been utilized to facilitate communications and studies of urban climate knowledge, which was applied to update the CLMU by substituting the current urban density class representation in the model in this study. The modified model was evaluated by comparing its simulated results with observations to demonstrate its credibility. This work aimed to investigate: (a) the intra‐urban variability of urban heat islands (UHIs) and heat stress, (b) the impact of urban features on UHIs, (c) the response of UHIs, thermal comfort and controlling factors of UHIs to the occurrence of heat waves. It was useful to investigate the features, causes and controls of UHIs as well as the combined effects of between heat waves and UHIs for this model. The results indicated that temperature behaviors and thermal comfort levels varied with urban form and materials. This intra‐urban heterogeneity significantly affected quantitative contributions to surface UHIs from the urban‐rural contrast of various biogeophysical properties, which were regulated by local background climate and heat wave intensity. Key Points: The Community Land Model Urban (CLMU) was developed by incorporating the local climate zones (LCZs) frameworkThe intra‐urban variability of urban heat islands (UHIs) and urban thermal comfort modulated by background climate in the 2013 heatwave episode were exploredThe dominant factors of surface UHIs vary with intra‐urban heterogeneity and are also regulated by heat wave intensity and local climate [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interfacial solar desalination is widely regarded as a very promising strategy to alleviate global water shortages. In practical application, salting out, poor stability, short service life, complex structure preparation technology, and high cost are always the problems that people intend to solve. Here, a photothermal conversion film with hydrophilic and hydrophobic double‐layer structure is prepared by a simple brush coating process. Among them, the top is used with hydrophobic acetylene black as a photothermal material, and the bottom is used with hydrophilic melamine foam as a carrier. The evaporation rate of the photothermal conversion film can reach 1.6 kg m−2 h−1 during continuous testing at a solar coefficient. At the same time, the photothermal conversion film has a very long service life and can still work after 24 days of continuous testing. A portable desalination device with the photothermal conversion film is designed and the average evaporation rate of water can reach 1.28 kg m−2 h−1 under an average solar illumination of 0.51 kw m−2 in outdoor environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A systemic and local inflammatory immune imbalance is thought to be the cause of traumatic tracheal stenosis (TS). However, with CD4+ T lymphocytes being the predominant immune cells in TS, the mechanism of action and recruitment has not been described. In our research, using flow cytometry, ELISA, immunofluorescence, and Transwell chamber assays, the expression, distribution, and potential chemotactic function of CD4+ T cells in TS patients were examined before and after treatment. The results showed that the untreated group had significantly more CD4+ T cells and their secreted TGF‐β1 than the treated group. Additionally, the untreated group's CD4+ T cells showed a significant rise in CCL22 and CCL1, as well as a larger proportion of CCR4 and CCR8. CD4+ T cells and CD68+ macrophages located in TS also expressed CCL1 and CCL22. In vitro, anti‐CCL1 and anti‐CCL22 can partially block the chemoattractant effect of TS bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) on purified CD4+ T cells. The findings of this study indicated that TS contained unbalanced CD4 immune cells that were actively recruited locally by CCR4/CCL22 and CCR8/CCL1. As a result, it is anticipated that CD4 immune rebalancing can serve as a novel treatment for TS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution from natural seawater faces the severe challenges of abundant salts, which adsorb on the active sites and result in undesirable side reactions and photocatalyst poisoning. Herein, a series of main‐chain‐engineered discontinuously conjugated polymer (DCP) photocatalysts is presented with bifunctional crown ether (CE) structures for hydrogen evolution from seawater. The hydrophilic CE can significantly inhibit the aggregation of DCPs induced by salts. Meanwhile, cyclic CE can effectively adsorb cations to uncover the active sites to increase their interaction with protons, which can increase the hydrogen evolution rates and significantly reduce the efficiency roll‐off in natural seawater. Through atomistic studies, the formation of hydrogen bonds with bifunctional CE is elucidated and further analysis of the microscale mechanisms is also conducted using molecular dynamics and ab initio techniques. This work suggests that CE‐based polymer has the potential to enhance its ability to produce hydrogen through photocatalysis using seawater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) is a chemical softener and plasticizer commonly used in toys, food packaging, wallpaper, detergents and shampoos. The estrogenic actions of BBP have detrimental effects on humans and animals. In this study, the specific influence of BBP on mouse oocyte maturation was investigated using in vivo and in vitro models. The experiment first verified that BBP exposure significantly affected the rate of oocyte exclusion of the first polar body, although it did not affect germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) through in vitro oocyte culture system. Results of in vitro fertilization show that BBP exposure affects blastocyst rate. Subsequently, the results obtained by immunofluorescence staining technology showed that oocyte spindle organization, chromosomal arrangement and the distribution of cortical actin were disrupted by BBP exposure, and led to the failure of oocyte meiotic maturation and the subsequent early embryo development. Singe‐cell transcriptome analysis found that BBP exposure altered the expression levels of 588 genes, most associated with mitochondria‐related oxidative stress. Further analysis demonstrated that the detrimental effects of BBP involved the disruption of mitochondrial function and oxidative stress‐induced early apoptosis. Nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) supplementation reduced the adverse effects of BBP. Collectively, these findings revealed a mechanism of BBP‐induced toxicity on female reproduction and showed that NMN provides an effective treatment for BBP actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a narrow‐bandgap semiconductor, InSb is widely used in infrared (IR) detection due to its excellent performance and other characteristics such as ultrahigh electron mobility, extremely high quantum efficiency, and robust chemical properties. Herein, an ultralow dark current room‐temperature IR photodetector based on InSb nanosheets (NSs)/MoS2 flakes van der Waals (vdW) heterostructure is presented. Benefiting from a large surface‐to‐volume ratio and phonon scattering suppressed on the nanostructure, InSb NSs devices have high photosensitivity and low dark current density (16.67 A cm−2). To further suppress the dark current, a vdW heterojunction composed of InSb NSs and MoS2 is fabricated. When the InSb NSs/MoS2 vdW heterostructures' photodetector work on a photovoltaic model (zero‐bias operation), the device shows a dark current density as low as 0.12 A cm−2 at room temperature, exhibiting a high external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 3.6 × 102%, the responsivity of 3.8 A W−1, and detectivity of 1.2 × 109 cm Hz1/2 W−1 under 1310 nm laser illumination. These results demonstrate that InSb NSs vdW heterostructure is a feasible scheme to realize InSb room‐temperature IR detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The characterization of protein stability is essential for understanding the functions of proteins. Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase is involved in the biosynthesis of steroid hormones and the detoxification of xenobiotic carbonyl compounds. However, the stability of hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases has not yet been characterized in detail. Here, we determined the changes in Gibbs free energy, enthalpy, entropy, and heat capacity of unfolding for 3α‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/carbonyl reductase (3α‐HSD/CR) by varying the pH and urea concentration through differential scanning fluorimetry and presented pH‐dependent protein stability as a function of temperature. 3α‐HSD/CR shows the maximum stability of 30.79 kJ mol−1 at 26.4°C, pH 7.6 and decreases to 7.74 kJ mol−1 at 25.7°C, pH 4.5. The change of heat capacity of 30.25 ± 1.38 kJ mol−1 K−1 is obtained from the enthalpy of denaturation as a function of melting temperature at varied pH. Two proton uptakes are linked to protein unfolding from residues with differential pKa of 4.0 and 6.5 in the native and denatured states, respectively. The large positive heat capacity change indicated that hydrophobic interactions played an important role in the folding of 3α‐HSD/CR. These studies reveal the mechanism of protein unfolding in HSD and provide a convenient method to extract thermodynamic parameters for characterizing protein stability using differential scanning fluorimetry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Image segmentation plays a pivotal role in image processing. Level set model is a traditional variation image segmentation method. In order to achieve level set evolution equation, the level set energy functionals are minimized with the gradient descent methods and then the partial differential equation (PDE) was solved by finite difference scheme. Slow speed is one of its disadvantages. We propose a sweep optimization algorithm based on global cosine fitting (GCF) energy. Instead of calculating the PDE and the curvature, the proposed sweeping algorithm directly calculates the energy change when a pixel moves from one side of evolving contour to the other. It checks whether the GCF energy is decreased or not. The proposed algorithm has many advantages. For example, independent of initial level set contour positions and parameters, need not consider the Courant Friedrichs Lew condition and the regularization energy term. The proposed algorithm can be easily extended to high dimension image segmentation. The experiments on synthetic images, noise images and real images demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed sweeping optimization algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meanwhile, another study showed that AD is more common in patients with severe versus mild AA.[9] Dupilumab is the first biological medicine approved for moderate to severe AD treatment. Alopecia areata (AA) is a chronic immune-mediated non-scarring alopecia. In addition, a transcriptomic analysis of AA skin biopsy showed increased gene expression associated with the Th2 immune response, while increased serum interleukin-13 levels were identified.[8] It was found that filaggrin mutations are an important risk factor for AD and related to AA severity. [Extracted from the article]

Supramolecular copolymers have attracted much attention due to their potential functionalities. However, the co‐assembly strategies to construct co‐assemblies of small molecules with well‐defined sequence structures are still limited, especially for more complex crystalline block co‐assemblies. Herein, we target this challenge by designing IrIII complexes 1 and 2, which possess unique self‐assembly pathways and are capable of forming crystalline assemblies in aqueous systems. Specifically, block and random co‐assemblies of 1 and 2 can be synthesized by kinetic and thermodynamic control, respectively. Meanwhile, by adjusting the water content to orthogonalize the on‐pathway and the off‐pathway, an unprecedented pathway‐switching approach is realized to synthesize block and random co‐assemblies. By coupling the kinetic pathways, the present co‐assembly strategies are expected to pave the way for the synthesis of crystalline co‐assemblies of small molecules and the construction of organic heterostructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: About 5%–15% of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients undergoing stent implantation have concomitant atrial fibrillation and need both antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapies. The optimal antithrombotic regimen remains uncertain in this scenario. Hypothesis: A multicenter randomized controlled trial (OPtimal management of anTIthroMbotic Agents [OPTIMA]‐4) is designed to test the hypothesis that, for ACS patients with concomitant nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) and having low‐to‐moderate risk of bleeding, clopidogrel is comparable in efficacy but superior in safety compared to ticagrelor while being used in combination with dabigatran after new‐generation drug‐eluting stent (DES) implantation. Methods: ACS patients who have low‐to‐moderate risk of bleeding (e.g., HAS‐BLED score ≤ 2) and require anticoagulation therapy (CHA2DS2‐VASc score ≥ 2) will be recruited after implantation of new‐generation DES. A total of 1472 eligible patients will be randomly assigned to receive a 12‐month dual antithrombotic treatment of either clopidogrel 75 mg daily or ticagrelor 90 mg twice daily in combination with dabigatran 110 mg twice daily. Participants will be followed up for 12 months after randomization. The primary efficacy endpoint is a composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, unplanned revascularization, ischemic stroke, and systemic thromboembolism. The primary safety endpoint is set as major bleeding or clinically relevant nonmajor bleeding defined by the International Society of Thrombosis and Hemostasis. The enrollment and follow‐up have been launched. Results: The first enrollment occurred on March 12, 2018. The recruitment is anticipated to be completed before December 31, 2024. Conclusions: The OPTIMA‐4 trial offers an opportunity to assess the optimal dual antithrombotic regimen in ACS patients with concomitant NVAF after the implantation of new‐generation DES. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Objective: A rapid and accurate forecast for the early prognosis of ICH patients is challenging. This study investigated whether heart rate variability (HRV) and skin sympathetic nerve activity (SKNA) could prognosticate poor neurological outcomes in ICH patients. Methods: Between November 2020 and November 2021, we studied 92 spontaneous ICH patients in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University. Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) score at 2 weeks after the ICH was used to categorize patients into good and poor outcome groups. The modified Rankin Scale (mRS) assessed patients' ability to live independently for 1 year. We utilized a portable high‐frequency electrocardiogram (ECG) recording system to record the HRV and SKNA information in ICH patients and control participants. Results: 77 patients were eligible for the prediction of neurological outcome and were allocated into the good (n = 22) or poor (n = 55) outcome groups based on the GOS grade. In univariate logistic regression analysis, significant variables that could differentiate the outcomes were age, hypertension, tracheal intubation, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, existing intraventricular hemorrhage, white blood cells, neutrophil, lnVLF, lnTP, and aSKNA. Variables in the best fit multivariable logistic regression model were age, hypertension, GCS score, neutrophils, and aSKNA. The GCS score was the only independent risk factor for poor outcomes. At 30 days and 1 year of follow‐up, patients with lower aSKNA had poor outcomes. Interpretation: ICH patients had reduced aSKNA, which could be a prognostic indicator. A lower aSKNA suggested a worse prognosis. The present data indicate that ECG signals could be helpful for prognosticating ICH patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Real‐world data on target vessel of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for patients with prior coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) was still limited. Hypothesis: A prospective cohort was examined to determine the frequency and outcomes of native coronary artery PCI versus bypass graft PCI in patients with prior CABG. Methods: A large‐sample observational study enrolled a total of 10 724 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) underwent PCI in 2013. Two‐ and five‐year clinical outcomes were compared between graft PCI group and native artery PCI group in patients with prior CABG. Results: A total of 438 cases had CABG history in the total cohort. Graft PCI group and native artery PCI group accounted for 13.7% and 86.3%, respectively. The rates of 2‐ and 5‐year all‐cause death and major adverse cardiovascular and cerebral events (MACCE) showed no significant difference between the two groups (p >.05). Two‐year revascularization risk was lower in graft PCI group than native artery PCI group (3.3% and 12.4%, p <.05), but 5‐year myocardial infarction (MI) risk was higher (13.3% and 5.0%, p <.05). In multivariate COX regression models, graft PCI group was independently associated with lower 2‐year revascularization risk (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.21; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.05–0.88; p =.033), but higher 5‐year MI risk than native artery PCI group (HR: 2.61; 95% CI: 1.03–6.57; p =.042). Five‐year all‐cause death and MACCE risk showed no difference between the two groups in model. Conclusions: In patients with prior CABG underwent PCI, patients in graft PCI group had higher 5‐year MI risk than patients received native artery PCI. But, 5‐year mortality and MACCE was not significantly different between graft PCI group and native artery PCI group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Limb‐girdle muscular dystrophy recessive 1 (LGMDR1), previously known as LGMD2A, is a specific LGMD caused by a gene mutation encoding the calcium‐dependent neutral cysteine protease calpain‐3 (CAPN3). In our study, the compound heterozygosity with two missense variants c.635 T > C (p.Leu212Pro) and c.2120A > G (p.Asp707Gly) was identified in patients with LGMDR1. However, the pathogenicity of c.635 T > C has not been investigated. To evaluate the effects of this novel likely pathogenic variant to the motor system, the mouse model with c.635 T > C variant was prepared by CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technique. The pathological results revealed that a limited number of inflammatory cells infiltrated the endomyocytes of certain c.635 T > C homozygous mice at 10 months of age. Compared with wild‐type mice, motor function was not significantly impaired in Capn3 c. 635 T > C homozygous mice. Western blot and immunofluorescence assays further indicated that the expression levels of the Capn3 protein in muscle tissues of homozygous mice were similar to those of wild‐type mice. However, the arrangement and ultrastructural alterations of the mitochondria in the muscular tissues of homozygous mice were confirmed by electron microscopy. Subsequently, muscle regeneration of LGMDR1 was simulated using cardiotoxin (CTX) to induce muscle necrosis and regeneration to trigger the injury modification process. The repair of the homozygous mice was significantly worse than that of the control mice at day 15 and day 21 following treatment, the c.635 T > C variant of Capn3 exhibited a significant effect on muscle regeneration of homozygous mice and induced mitochondrial damage. RNA‐sequencing results demonstrated that the expression levels of the mitochondrial‐related functional genes were significantly downregulated in the mutant mice. Taken together, the results of the present study strongly suggested that the LGMDR1 mouse model with a novel c.635 T > C variant in the Capn3 gene was significantly dysfunctional in muscle injury repair via impairment of the mitochondrial function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies reported human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) could enhance human papillomavirus (HPV)‐induced cervical cancer. Therefore, the burden of cervical cancer associated with HIV across different regions and time periods need to be assessed. We aim to investigate the global burden of cervical cancer associated with HIV infection. Age standardized rates (ASRs) of cervical cancer disability‐adjusted life‐years (DALYs) in females (≥15 years old) were calculated by standardization, according the age‐specific DALYs numbers extracted from GBD data set 2019. Population attributable fractions was calculated by combining the published risk ratio, with the HIV prevalence (≥15 years old) from Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS), and transferred to estimate the HIV‐associated cervical cancer burden. Expected annual percentage changes (EAPCs) was calculated to describe the temporal trend of ASR from 1990 to 2019. Pearson correlation analysis were conducted to assess the correlation between the ASR or EAPCs and the socio‐demographic index. The worldwide DALYs ASR caused by HIV‐associated cervical cancer rose from 3.78 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.19–5.56) in 1990 to 9.50 (95% CI: 5.66–13.79) in 2019 per 100k population. In 2019, the region with the greatest burden was Eastern and Southern Africa, with the highest DALYs of 273 900 (95% CI: 149 100–476 400) and ASR of 254.44 per 100k population (95% CI: 168.86–329.28). Notably, the Eastern Europe and Central Asia regions had the highest EAPC (14.07%) of HIV‐associated DALYs ASR. Women in Eastern and Southern Africa experience the greatest burden of HIV‐associated cervical cancer, while the Eastern Europe and Central Asia regions had witnessed the largest increase over the last 30 years. Prioritize the promotion of HPV vaccination and cervical cancer screening for women living with HIV were crucial in these regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Few studies have meta‐analyzed different prognostic models developed for older adults, especially nursing home residents. We aimed to systematically review and meta‐analyze the performance of all published models that predicted all‐cause mortality among older nursing home residents. Methods: We systematically searched PubMed and EMBASE from the databases' inception to January 1, 2020 to capture studies developing and/or validating a prognostic/prediction model for all‐cause mortality among nursing home residents. We then carried out both qualitative and quantitative analyses evaluating these models' risks of bias and applicability. Results: The systematic search yielded 23,975 articles. We identified 28 indices that predicted the risk of all‐cause mortality from 14 days to 39 months among older adults in nursing homes. The most used predictors were age, sex, body weight, swallowing problem, congestive heart failure, shortness of breath, body mass index, and activities of daily living. Of the 28 indices, 8 (29%) and 3 (11%) were internally and externally validated, respectively. None of the indices was validated in more than one cohort. Of the 28 indices, 22 (79%) reported the C‐statistic, while only 6 (6%) reported the 95% confidence interval for the C statistic in the development cohorts. In the validation cohorts, 11 (39%) reported the C‐statistic and 8 (29%) reported the 95% confidence interval. The meta‐analyzed C statistic for all indices is 0.733 (95% prediction interval: 0.669−0.797). All studies/indices had high risks of bias and high concern for applicability according to PROBAST. Conclusion: We identified 28 indices for predicting all‐cause mortality among older nursing home residents. The overall quality of evidence was low due to a high degree of bias and poor reporting of model performance statistics. Before any prediction model could be recommended in routine care, future research is needed to rigorously validate existing prediction models and evaluate their applicability and develop new prediction models. Key Points: •This study is among the first systematic reviews and meta‐analyses of prognostic models of all‐cause mortality targeting older adults in nursing homes.•We included all prognostic models and indices for all‐cause mortality among older nursing home residents from 1989 to 2020.•All studies/indices had high risks of bias and high concern for applicability. The overall quality of evidence was low, and more efforts are needed before any prognostic model could be recommended for research or clinical practice for this increasingly large population. Why does this paper matter? The size of nursing home residents is projected to grow rapidly. However, few studies have evaluated the performance and applicability of prognostic models for mortality among this vulnerable population. A comprehensive review and meta‐analysis of prognostic models is, therefore, needed to provide early identification of individuals with high mortality risk for designing and implementing patient‐tailored care plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jinhua dry‐cured ham (JDH) is a traditional Chinese food with a unique flavor. Its sensory profiles have not been studied using a developed lexicon. In this study, a lexicon to profile sensory characterization of JDHs was developed to characterize samples starting from smelling, during oral processing, and after swallowing. Then the lexicon was composed to profile JDHs using descriptive analysis (DA) and check‐all‐that‐apply (CATA). Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to examine DA data, and correspondence analysis (CA) was used to examine CATA data. The DA data from trained panelists and CATA data from naive consumers were compared by multiple factor analysis (MFA). The result showed a total of 33 attributes composed of the lexicon to describe JDHs including seven terms for odor, six terms for texture, seven terms for flavor, four terms for taste, and nine terms for aftertaste. The application of the lexicon to describe JDHs using DA and CATA showed good discrimination among samples. The comparison between DA and CATA using MFA showed attributes with distinct intensity or significant variances among tested samples located closely on the map, but attributes with weak intensity could varied largely on the map. This lexicon can be useful for manufacturers, producers, and consumers and helpful for the standardization of JDHs. Practical Applications: The development of a sensory lexicon for JDH can be helpful for the breeding of pigs, and the production of JDH with desired characteristics. It also assists manufacturers in differentiating products, optimizing processes, and developing new products with a consistent and expected JDH. The development of a lexicon will help both the trained panelists and consumers to fill knowledge gaps in JDH research from a sensory and consumer point of view. Such data are critical in sensory studies for conducting JDHs from different regions and countries in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Post‐polymerization modification (PPM) offers a versatile approach for engineering multifunctional polymers, but this advantage has not been fully exploited to fabricate multifunctional liquid crystal polymers (LCPs). Here, we design a facile synthetic approach towards multifunctional LCP by combining the ring‐opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) with PPM, in which ROMP helps to prepare a reactive LCP precursor with high molecular weight, and PPM provides a facilitation to introduce functional groups into the precursor. Consequently, a photo‐ and humidity‐responsive linear LCP (LLCP) is demonstrated to show the potential of this synthetic strategy to diversify functions of the LCPs. Under light irradiation and humidity changes, the deformation modes of the LLCP films are converted to complex shapes (bending, twisting, and curling). The obtained dual‐responsive LLCP with high molecular weight possesses excellent processability and recyclability, making it possible to construct 3D shape actuators with programmable deformation behaviors under light/humidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The greater duckweed (Spirodela polyrhiza 7498) exhibits trophic diversity (photoautotrophic, heterotrophic, photoheterotrophic, and mixotrophic growth) depending on the availability of exogenous organic carbon sources and light.Here, we show that the ability to transition between various trophic growth conditions is an advantageous trait, providing great phenotypic plasticity and metabolic flexibility in S. polyrhiza 7498.By comparing S. polyrhiza 7498 growth characteristics, metabolic acclimation, and cellular ultrastructure across these trophic modes, we show that mixotrophy decreases photosynthetic performance and relieves the CO2 limitation of photosynthesis by enhancing the CO2 supply through the active respiration pathway. Proteomic and metabolomic analyses corroborated that S. polyrhiza 7498 increases its intracellular CO2 and decreases reactive oxygen species under mixotrophic and heterotrophic conditions, which substantially suppressed the wasteful photorespiration and oxidative‐damage pathways. As a consequence, mixotrophy resulted in a higher biomass yield than the sum of photoautotrophy and heterotrophy.Our work provides a basis for using trophic transitions in S. polyrhiza 7498 for the enhanced accumulation of value‐added products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photonic spin‐orbit interactions describe the interactions between spin angular momentum and orbital angular momentum of photons, which play essential roles in subwavelength optics. However, the influence of frequency dispersion on photonic angular‐momentum coupling is rarely studied. Here, by elaborately designing the contribution of the geometric phase and waveguide propagation phase, the dispersion‐enabled symmetry switching of photonic angular‐momentum coupling is experimentally demonstrated. This notion may induce many exotic phenomena and be found in enormous applications, such as the spin‐Hall effect, optical calculation, and wavelength division multiplexing systems. As a proof‐of‐concept demonstration, two metadevices, a multi‐channel vectorial vortex beam generator and a phase‐only hologram, are applied to experimentally display optical double convolution, which may offer additional degrees of freedom to accelerate computing and a miniaturization configuration for optical convolution without collimation operation. These results may provide a new opportunity for complex vector optical field manipulation and calculation, optical information coding, light‐matter interaction manipulation, and optical communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD)‐induced lower back pain (LBP) is a common problem worldwide. The underlying mechanism is partially accredited to ferroptosis, based on sequencing analyses of IVDD patients from the gene expression omnibus (GEO) databases. In this study, it is shown that polydopamine nanoparticles (PDA NPs) inhibit oxidative stress‐induced ferroptosis in nucleus pulposus (NP) cells in vitro. PDA NPs scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS), chelate Fe2+ to mitigate iron overload, and regulate the expression of iron storage proteins such as ferritin heavy chain (FHC), ferritin, and transferrin receptor (TFR). More importantly, PDA NPs co‐localize with glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) around the mitochondria and suppress ubiquitin‐mediated degradation, which in turn exerts a protective function via the transformation and clearance of phospholipid hydroperoxides. PDA NPs further down‐regulate malondialdehyde (MDA) and lipid peroxide (LPO) production; thus, antagonizing ferroptosis in NP cells. Moreover, PDA NPs effectively rescue puncture‐induced degeneration in vivo by targeting ferroptosis and inhibiting GPX4 ubiquitination, resulting in the upregulation of antioxidant pathways. The findings offer a new tool to explore the underlying mechanisms and a novel treatment strategy for IVDD‐induced LBP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Polo‐like kinase 1 (PLK1), a serine/threonine‐protein kinase, functions as a potent oncogene in the initiation and progression of tumor. The aim of this study is to assess potential correlations between PLK1 expression and immune infiltration in breast cancer (BRCA) and construct a PLK1‐based immune risk model applicable for prognosis and treatment response prediction in BRCA. Methods: We collected data on PLK1 gene expression in BRCA patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Thereafter, we analyzed the associations of PLK1 expression with immune cell infiltration and immunomodulators, and established a prognostic risk model based on seven PLK1‐associated immunomodulator genes and a nomogram for survival prediction. Results: BRCA prognosis, clinical stage progression, and tumor classification were all shown to be substantially correlated with PLK1 expression. The PLK1 gene was significantly enriched in T cell and B cell receptors and molecules of the chemokine signaling pathways. Specifically, PLK1 expression was positively correlated with the CD8+ T cell and regulatory T cell (Tregs) activation and negatively correlated with M2 macrophage infiltration. The seven‐genes‐based risk model could serve as an independent prognostic factor of BRCA. The risk model was markedly correlated with the expression of programmed cell death protein 1/programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD‐1/PD‐L1; both p < 0.001) immune checkpoints, and tumor mutation burden (TMB). High‐ and low‐risk BRCA patients identified by the risk model responded differently to anti‐PD‐1 and/or anti‐CTLA4 therapy, as well as common chemotherapy drugs, like cisplatin, paclitaxel, and gemcitabine. Conclusion: This PLK1‐based immune risk model can effectively predict the prognosis and tumor progression of BRCA, identify gene mutations, and evaluate patient's response toward immunotherapy and chemotherapy regimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]