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Background: Effective systemic therapy remains limited for advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), particularly after prior failed treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Theoretically, a combination of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) with ICIs may restore immunotherapy sensitivity. Methods: In this phase 1b study, patients received AL2846, an antiangiogenic TKI with multiple targets (c‐MET, VEGFR1, c‐KIT, Axl, RET, KDR, and VEGFR3), in combination with an anti–PD‐L1 antibody (TQB2450) until disease progression, intolerable toxicity, death, or discontinuation for any cause. The primary end points included overall response rate (ORR) and safety, with secondary end points encompassing progression‐free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), disease control rate (DCR), and duration of response. Results: Between November 2021 and September 2022, 18 patients with ESCC and 15 patients with HCC, whose ORR was 11.1% (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.1%–32.8%) and 0%, respectively, were enrolled. Adverse events (AEs) of any grade and treatment‐related AEs were documented in 32 patients (97.0%) and 31 patients (93.9%), respectively. Grade 3 or higher AEs were observed in 10 patients (30.3%), with vomiting (6.1%) and infectious pneumonia (9.1%) being the most prevalent. Median PFS and OS values were 3.22 months (95% CI, 1.35–5.68 months) and 5.98 months (95% CI, 3.71–8.87 months), respectively, in patients with ESCC, and 5.55 months (95% CI, 2.66 months to not evaluable [NE]) and 16.72 months (95% CI, 4.86 months to NE), respectively, in patients with HCC. The DCRs were 66.7% (95% CI, 43.75%–83.72%) in patients with ESCC and 73.3% (95% CI, 48.05%–89.10%) in patients with HCC. Conclusions: Combined TQB2450 and AL2846 therapy exhibited a favorable safety profile in immunotherapy‐refractory patients with advanced ESCC and HCC. This single‐arm, multicenter, open‐label, phase 1b cohort trial aimed to estimate the safety and efficacy of anti–PD‐L1 antibody TQB2450 and tyrosine kinase receptor inhibitor AL2846 combination therapy in patients with immunotherapy‐refractory advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The combination therapy exhibited a favorable safety profile in immunotherapy‐refractory patients with advanced ESCC and HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seeking new cathode chemistry with high onset potential and compatibility with electrolytes has become a challenge for aqueous Zn ion batteries. Anion intercalation in graphite (4.5 V vs Li+/Li) possesses the potentiality but usually shows a competitive relationship with oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in aqueous solutions. Herein, a decoupled design is proposed to optimize a full utilization of perchlorate ion intercalation in graphite cathode by pH adjustment. Benefiting from the decoupled design, high Coulombic efficiency is obtained by decelerating the kinetic of OER in acidic media. The decoupled Zn‐graphite battery exhibits a wide potential window of 2.01 V, as well as an attractive energy density of 231 Wh kg−1. In addition, a Zn‐graphite battery with SO42−${\mathrm{SO}}_4^{2 - }$ insertion is assembled, which demonstrates the capability of the proposed decoupled strategy to integrate novel electrode chemistries for high‐performance aqueous Zn‐based energy storage systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: MCD (MYD88L265P/CD79Bmut) diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma has a poor prognosis. There is no published clinical research conclusion regarding zanubrutinib or orelabrutinib for the initial treatment of MCD DLBCL. Aims: This study aimed to analyse the efficacy and safety of Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitor (BTKi) (zanubrutinib or orelabrutinib) therapy for newly diagnosed DLBCL patients with MYD88mut and/or CD79Bmut. Materials and Methods: Twenty‐three newly diagnosed DLBCL patients with MYD88mut and/or CD79Bmut from June 2020 to June 2022 received BTKi combined with rituximab plus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone (R‐CHOP) or rituximab + lenalidomide (R2). A control group of 17 patients with MYD88mut and/or CD79Bmut DLBCL who received the standard R‐CHOP therapy was also assessed. We retrospectively analysed clinical characteristics, safety, overall response rate (ORR), complete response (CR) rate and progression‐free survival (PFS) of the two groups. Results: The main clinical features were a high International Prognostic Index (IPI) score (≥3, 22/40, 55%) and a high rate of extranodal involvement (27/40,67.5%). Among the 23 DLBCL patients, 18 received BTKi + R‐CHOP, and five elderly DLBCL patients were treated with BTKi + R2. Compared with those in the control group (ORR 70.6%, CRR 52.9%, 1‐year PFS rate 41.2%), improved ORR, CRR and PFS results were observed in the BTKi + R‐CHOP group (100%, 94.4% and 88.9%, p = 0.019, 0.007, and 0.0001). In subgroup analyses based on genetic subtypes, cell origin, dual expression or IPI score, patients in the BTKi + R‐CHOP group had better PFS than patients in the control group. In the BTKi + R‐CHOP group, no significant difference was found in ORR, CRR and PFS based on subtype analysis, while BTKi‐type subgroups exhibited statistically significant differences in 1‐year PFS (p = 0.028). There were no significant differences in grade 3–4 haematological toxicity (p = 1) and grade 3–4 non‐haematological toxicity (p = 0.49) between the BTKi + R‐CHOP and R‐CHOP treatment groups. In the BTKi + R2 group, the ORR was 100%, the CRR was 80%, and the 1‐year PFS rate was 80%. The incidences of grade 3–4 haematologic toxicity and non‐haematological toxicity were both 40%. No bleeding or cardiovascular events of grade 3 or higher occurred in any patients. Discussion: The efficacy of BTKi combined with R‐CHOP was similar to previous reports, which was significantly better than R‐CHOP alone. It is necessary to fully consider that 14 patients in the BTKi + R‐CHOP group received a BTKi as maintenance therapy when evaluating efficacy. Meanwhile, the addition of a BTKi may improve the prognosis of non‐GCB, DEL or high‐IPI‐score DLBCL patients with MYD88mut and/or CD79Bmut. In our study, five elderly DLBCL patients with MYD88mut and/or CD79Bmut were achieved better ORR, CRR, PFS than the historical data of R‐miniCHOP treatment and Ibrutinib + R2 treatment. However, the efficacy and benefit of BTKis for this type of DLBCL need to be further analysed using a larger sample size. Conclusion: This study suggests that newly diagnosed DLBCL patients with MYD88mut and/or CD79Bmut may benefit from BTKis according to real‐world clinical data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ion‐endohedral‐fullerene has attracted growing interest due to the unique electronic and structural characteristics arising from its distinctive ionic nature. Although there has been only one reported ion‐encapsulated fullerene, Li+@C60, a significant number of fundamental and applied studies have been conducted, making a substantial impact not only in chemistry and physics but also across various interdisciplinary research fields. Nevertheless, studies on ion‐endohedral fullerenes are still in their infancy due to the limitations in variety, and hence, it remains an open question how the size and symmetry of fullerene, as well as the motion and position of the encapsulated ion, affect their physical/chemical properties. Herein, we report the synthesis of lithium‐ion‐endohedral [70]fullerene (Li+@C70 X−, X=PF6− and TFSI−), a novel ionic endohedral fullerene. X‐ray crystallography confirmed the encapsulation of Li+ by C70 cage as well as its ion‐pair structure stabilized by external TFSI− counter anion. The encapsulated Li+ drastically lowered the orbital energy of the C70 cage by Coulomb interactions but did not affect the orbital energy gap and degeneracy. DFT studies were also performed, which supported the experimentally observed electronic effects caused by the encapsulated Li+. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modulation of the microenvironment on the electrode surface is one of the effective means to improve the efficiency of electrocatalytic carbon dioxide reduction (eCO2RR). To achieve high conversion rates, the phase boundary at the electrode surface should be finely controlled to overcome the limitation of CO2 solubility in the aqueous electrolyte. Herein, we developed a simple and efficient method to structure electrocatalyst with a superhydrophobic surface microenvironment by one‐step co‐electrodeposition of Cu and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) on carbon paper. The super‐hydrophobic Cu‐based electrode displayed a high ethylene (C2H4) selectivity with a Faraday efficiency (FE) of 67.3 % at −1.25 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) in an H‐type cell, which is 2.5 times higher than a regular Cu electrode without PTFE. By using PTFE as a surface modifier, the activity of eCO2RR is enhanced and water (proton) adsorption is inhibited. This strategy has the potential to be applied to other gas‐conversion electrocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

γδT cells are important innate immune cells that are involved in the occurrence and development of autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Lupus nephritis (LN) is a serious complication of SLE, characterized by the accumulation of immune cells (including γδT cells) in the target organs to participate in the disease process. Therefore, clarifying how γδT cells chemotactically migrate to target organs may be a key to developing therapeutic methods against LN. Enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect serum levels of chemokines in LN patients and healthy controls. Real‐time polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) and flow cytometry were used to measure the expression of chemokine receptors on the surface of γδT cells. The chemotactic migration ability of γδT cells was detected by Transwell assay. Signalling pathway activation of γδT cells was detected by Automated Capillary Electrophoresis Immunoassay and flow cytometry. The serum levels of chemokines, including monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 (MCP‐1) in LN patients, were significantly increased. CCR2, the receptor of MCP‐1, was also highly expressed on the surface of peripheral γδT cells in LN patients. In addition, the exogenous addition of MCP‐1 can enhance chemotactic migration of γδT cells in LN patients. MCP‐1 could activate STAT3 signalling in LN patients' peripheral γδT cells. γδT cells might participate in the pathogenesis of LN through MCP‐1/CCR2 axis. This finding provides new opportunities for developing treatment methods against LN by targeting MCP‐1/CCR2 axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by β‐amyloid (Aβ) plaques, neurofibrillary tangles, neuronal cell loss, and oxidative stress. Further deposition of Aβ in the brain induces oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and memory dysfunction. Hawthorn (Crataegus pinnatifida Bge.) leaf, a known traditional Chinese medicine, is commonly used for the treatment of hyperlipidemia, heart palpitations, forgetfulness, and tinnitus, and its main bioactive components are Hawthorn Leaf Flavonoids (HLF). In this study, we investigated the neuroprotective effects of the HLF on the Aβ25–35 (bilateral hippocampus injection) rat model of AD. The results showed that the oral administration of HLF at a dose of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg for 30 days significantly ameliorated neuronal cell damage and memory deficits, and markedly increased the enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase, and the content of glutathione whereas it decreased the malondialdehyde content in the Aβ25–35 rat model of AD as well as suppressed the activation of astrocytes. In addition, HLF up‐regulated Nrf‐2, NQO‐1, and HO‐1 protein expressions. Also, it reduced neuroinflammation by inhibiting activation of astrocytes. In summary, these results indicated that HLF decreased the oxidative stress via activating Nrf‐2/antioxidant response element signaling pathways, and may suggest as a potential candidate for AD therapeutic agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy density can be substantially raised and even maximized if the bulk of an electrode material is fully utilized. Transition metal oxides based on conversion reaction mechanism are the imperative choice due to either constructing nanostructure or intercalation pseudocapacitance with their intrinsic limitations. However, the fully bulk utilization of transition metal oxides is hindered by the poor understanding of atomic‐level conversion reaction mechanism, particularly it is largely missing at clarifying how the phase transformation (conversion reaction) determines the electrochemical performance such as power density and cyclic stability. Herein, α‐Fe2O3 is a case provided to claim how the diffusional and diffusionless transformation determine the electrochemical behaviors, as of its conversion reaction mechanism with fully bulk utilization in alkaline electrolyte. Specifically, the discharge product α‐FeOOH diffusional from Fe(OH)2 is structurally identified as the atomic‐level arch criminal for its cyclic stability deterioration, whereas the counterpart δ‐FeOOH is theoretically diffusionless‐like, unlocking the full potential of the pseudocapacitance with fully bulk utilization. Thus, such pseudocapacitance, in proof‐of‐concept and termed as conversion pseudocapacitance, is achieved via diffusionless‐like transformation. This work not only provides an atomic‐level perspective to reassess the potential electrochemical performance of the transition metal oxides electrode materials based on conversion reaction mechanism but also debuts a new paradigm for pseudocapacitance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity is closely related to a poor prognosis in patients with advanced colorectal cancer (CRC), but the mechanisms remain unclear. Ferroptosis is a form of nonapoptotic cell death characterized by lipid reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and iron dependency and is associated with the chemoresistance of tumors. Here, it is shown that adipose‐derived exosomes reduce ferroptosis susceptibility in CRC, thus promoting chemoresistance to oxaliplatin. It is found that microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTTP) expression is increased in the plasma exosomes of CRC patients with a high body fat ratio, serving as an inhibitor of ferroptosis and reducing sensitivity to chemotherapy. Mechanistically, the MTTP/proline‐rich acidic protein 1 (PRAP1) complex inhibited zinc finger E‐box binding homeobox 1 expression and upregulated glutathione peroxidase 4 and xCT, leading to a decreased polyunsaturated fatty acids ratio and lipid ROS levels. Moreover, experiments are carried out in organoids, and a tumor implantation model is established in obese mice, demonstrating that the inhibition of MTTP increases the sensitivity to chemotherapy. The results reveal a novel intracellular signaling pathway mediated by adipose‐derived exosomes and suggest that treatments targeting secreted MTTP might reverse oxaliplatin resistance in CRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lung cancer is one of the fastest growing malignancies in morbidity and mortality, and current therapies are in general not sufficiently effective for this deadly disease. This study characterizes the anticancer effects of glaucocalyxin A (GLA) and explores the underlying mechanisms using human non‐small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) cells. First, our data showed that GLA suppressed the viability of cancer cells, whereas no effect was observed in the normal bronchial epithelial cell BEAS‐2B cells. Second, GLA inhibited colony formation, induced apoptosis of cancer cells. Third, GLA downregulated the expression of B‐cell lymphoma‐2 (Bcl‐2) protein; upregulated the expression of Bcl2‐associated X protein (Bax), and strengthened cleavage of caspase 3 and polyadenyl diphosphate ribose polymerase (PARP). Fourth, GLA also diminished mitochondrial membrane potential and inhibited phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI3K)/Akt/ glycogen synthase kinase‐3β (GSK3β) pathway. In addition, injection of GLA (20 mg/kg) every 2 days significantly inhibited A549 xenograft tumour growth, accompanied by increased apoptosis and decreased proliferation. Together, our study provides evidence that the anticancer effect of GLA in NSCLC is mediated by inducing apoptosis through inhibiting PI3K/Akt/GSK3β pathway and suggests that GLA may be used as a promising natural medicine for NSCLC therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structural details of carbon materials directly affect their properties as an electrode material, such as specific capacitance and coulomb efficiency. Therefore, the structural analysis of carbon materials has always been an important step in the mechanistic insight into their roles in electrochemical energy storage. Raman spectroscopy, as molecular spectroscopy technique, has been widely used in understanding the lattice vibration mechanics of carbon materials and providing information on the chemical structure at molecular level, as well as microstructure analysis of carbon materials. In addition, the development of correlative‐Raman technology enables clarifying more comprehensive and accurate structural information for carbon‐based materials. With this information, it is of great significance to guide the construction of advanced carbon‐based electrode materials for energy storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fatty acid oxidation (FAO) plays a vital role in drug resistance in cancer cells. Carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A (CPT1A), a key enzyme of FAO, is widely recognized as an emerging therapeutic target. Here, we confirmed that CPT1A was heterogeneously expressed in colon cancer cells, with a high expression in oxaliplatin‐resistant cells but low expression in oxaliplatin‐sensitive cells, and expression could be increased by oxaliplatin stimulation. In addition, we verified that CPT1A was more highly expressed in colon cancer tissues than in noncancerous tissues. Silencing CPT1A by siRNA or etomoxir, a specific small‐molecule inhibitor of CPT1A, could reverse the sensitivity of drug‐resistant colon cancer cells to oxaliplatin. Subsequently, the combination of oxaliplatin with CPT1A inhibition promoted apoptosis and inhibited proliferation. In addition, exosomes were generated with the iRGD peptide on the surface, which showed highly efficient targeting compared with control exosomes in vivo. Furthermore, we loaded and therapeutically applied iRGD‐modified exosomes with siCPT1A to specifically deliver siCPT1A into tumours to suppress FAO. As a consequence, iRGD‐modified exosomes showed the significant inhibition of CPT1A in tumour tissues and exhibited the ability to reverse oxaliplatin resistance and inhibit tumour growth by inhibiting FAO with high safety in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Karyopherin α2 (KPNA2), involved in nucleocytoplasmic transport, has been reported to be up‐regulated in tumorigenesis. However, comprehensive studies of KPNA2 functions in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) are still lacking. In this study, we aim to investigate the roles of KPNA2 in kidney tumour development. Our results showed that down‐regulation of KPNA2 inhibited the proliferation and invasion of kidney tumour cell cells in vitro, while the cell cycle arrest and cellular apoptosis were induced once KPNA2 was silenced. Repression of KPNA2 was proved to be efficient to repress tumorigenesis and development of kidney tumour in in nude mice. Furthermore, one related participator, NPM, was identified based on Co‐IP/MS and bioinformatics analyses. The up‐regulation of NPM attenuates the efficiency of knockdown KPNA2. These results indicated that KPNA2 may regulate NPM to play a crucial role for kidney tumour development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atopic dermatitis (AD), which is characterized by intense pruritus and serious inflammation, is a chronic skin disease. Modern studies have testified that the total coumarins from the fructus of Cnidium monnieri (TCFC) possess evident biological activities based on their coumarin compounds. The purpose of this manuscript is to investigate the effects of topical use of TCFC on immune response, inflammation, and skin barrier function in rats with 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB)-induced AD. Results indicated that the skin lesion scores of rats were obviously reduced after the management of TCFC, and the spleen and thymus indices also were markedly repressed. TCFC significantly inhibited the overproduction of TNF-α, interferon-γ, interleukin (IL)-4, IL-13, thymic stromal lymphopoietin, and immunoglobulin E; the epidermal thickness and number of mast cells were notably decreased. The western blot experiment was conducted to determine the effects of TCFC on the mitogen-activated protein kinases signaling pathway. Results indicated that phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases, p38, and c-Jun amino-terminal kinases was significantly blocked by TCFC. In addition, TCFC could upregulate the expression of filaggrin in dorsal skin, which means that TCFC showed a protective effect on skin barrier disruption. Furthermore, TCFC downregulated the levels of IL-1β, IL-4, IL-31, and TSLP mRNA and upregulated the expression of filaggrin mRNA in the dorsal skin of rats. Our research demonstrated the ameliorative effects of TCFC on AD-like rats by inhibiting immune response and inflammation and recovering skin barrier function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the advent of 5G network, polymeric low dielectric constant (low‐k) materials have been indispensable for high speed and stable signal transmission at microwave frequency. Herein, the low‐k composites of 1,2‐polybutadiene/styrene‐butadiene‐styrene triblock copolymer/ethylene‐propylene‐dicyclopentadiene (1,2‐PB/SBS/EPDM) were prepared with cured organic peroxide. Two structurally different organic peroxides, namely dicumyl peroxide (DCP) and bis(1‐(tert‐butylperoxy)‐1‐methylethyl)‐benzene (BIPB), were used as free‐radical initiators. The composites with highly efficient initiator—BIPB exhibited considerably enhanced conversion rate, thermal stability, and cross‐link density compared with the DCP system. Furthermore, the increased cross‐link density contributed to dielectric stability over a broad range of frequency (3‐15 GHz) and superior mechanical properties. The cross‐linked composites possessed the typical low polarity group of C─C single bond with suppressed dielectric constant (Dk) and loss (Df). Especially, the average Dk of 2.36 and average Df of 0.0054 were obtained for the composite containing 4 part‐by‐weight (pbw) BIPB. This work demonstrated that the 1,2‐PB/SBS/EPDM composite with 4 pbw BIPB is a good candidate for high‐frequency substrate materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A convenient and efficient synthetic protocol for the preparation of pyrimidoquinazolinone through Pd(II)‐catalyzed carbonylative cyclization of N‐aryl‐2‐aminopyrimidines with Mo(CO)6 as carbon monoxide source is established. A series of 6H‐pyrimido[2,1‐b]quinazolin‐6‐one derivatives were obtained in good yields. The scale‐up synthesis was investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the Economic Recession in the late 2000s, many neighbourhood coffee bars in Northern and Central Italy have been taken over by Chinese immigrants. This article investigates why neighbourhood bars, which are thought to be at the heart of Italian urban culture, have become a new business niche for Chinese immigrants in spite of overwhelmingly anti‐immigrant discourse. By elucidating the political economy of Italy's coffee bar industry and restructuring of its Chinese ethnic economy, it shows how the formation of this new immigrant business niche is a form of historical contingency embedded in a set of structural transformation processes. The broader purpose of the article is to contribute to an understanding of the structural mechanisms of embedded immigrant entrepreneurship and immigrants' economic incorporation, as well as to debates on the roles of immigrants in the new urban economy and related local cultures of a multi‐ethnic European nation‐state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malignant tumors, including colorectal cancer (CRC), usually rely on ATP generation through aerobic glycolysis for both rapid growth and chemotherapy resistance. The M2 isoform of pyruvate kinase (PKM2) has a key role in catalyzing glycolysis, and PKM2 expression varies even within a single tumor. In this study, we confirmed that expression of PKM2 is heterogeneous in CRC cells, namely high in oxaliplatin‐resistant cells but relatively low in sensitive cells, and found that chemoresistant cells had enhanced glycolysis and ATP production. In addition, we report a PKM2‐dependent mechanism through which chemosensitive cells may gradually transform into chemoresistant cells. The circular RNA hsa_circ_0005963 (termed ciRS‐122 in this study), which was determined to be a sponge for the PKM2‐targeting miR‐122, was positively correlated with chemoresistance. In vitro and in vivo studies showed that exosomes from oxaliplatin‐resistant cells delivered ciRS‐122 to sensitive cells, thereby promoting glycolysis and drug resistance through miR‐122 sponging and PKM2 upregulation. Moreover, si‐ciRS‐122 transported by exosomes could suppress glycolysis and reverse resistance to oxaliplatin by regulating the ciRS‐122–miR‐122–PKM2 pathway in vivo. Exosomes derived from chemoresistant CRC cells could transfer ciRS‐122 across cells and promote glycolysis to reduce drug susceptibility in chemosensitive cells. This intercellular signal delivery suggests a potential novel therapeutic target and establishes a foundation for future clinical applications in drug‐resistant CRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fibre‐reinforced polybutadiene/ styrene‐butadiene‐styrene triblock copolymer/ ethylene‐propylene‐diene terpolymer/titanium dioxide (PB/SBS/EPDM/TiO2) composite laminates with superior dielectric properties were fabricated by impregnation and hot pressing. The effects of concentration and particle size of rutile spherical TiO2 on the microwave dielectric properties of the PB/SBS/EPDM/TiO2 composite laminates were investigated at microwave frequency region. Additionally, the mechanical, thermal, and water absorption properties of the laminates were also evaluated. Results indicated that the dielectric properties were obviously improved with the increase of concentration or the decrease of particle size. The laminate filled with 230 nm TiO2 at a filler loading of 70 wt% possessed high dielectric constant (7.03, 10 GHz), low dielectric loss (0.0042, 10 GHz), outstanding mechanical, thermal properties, and low water absorption. Enhanced dielectric properties and other prominent properties enable the fibre‐reinforced polyolefin‐based composite laminates to be a potential candidate for microwave substrate applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aroma is an important index of tea quality. The volatile C6‐compounds formed from linoleic and linolenic acids in tea leaf lipids are essential components of tea. C6‐compounds are formed and transformed during the postharvest process of tea leaves. However, the metabolic flux of these C6‐compounds, the activities of related enzymes, and the transcription of related genes during the postharvest process of oolong tea remain unclear. In this study, the chemical profiles of C6‐aldehydes and C6‐alcohols, the pattern of ADH enzyme activity, and the level of CsADH gene expression during the postharvest process of oolong tea were investigated. We found that the turnover process had a positive effect on the accumulation of C6‐alcohols and simultaneously induced ADH activity, especially during the withering stage. The expression of CsADH peaked during the turnover stage. The relative expression level of CSA019598 typically increased during the postharvest process. Correlation analysis demonstrated that CSA019598 expression increased as ADH activity increased. This finding suggests that CSA019598 may play a prominent role in regulating ADH. These results advance our understanding of C6‐compound formation during the postharvest process of oolong tea. We aim to evaluate how green leaf volatiles affect the enzymatic formation and genetic transcription of aromatic compounds in oolong tea in future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer‐related cachexia is a metabolic syndrome characterized by a wasting disorder of adipose and skeletal muscle and is accompanied by body weight loss and systemic inflammation. The treatment options for cancer cachexia are limited, and the molecular mechanism remains poorly understood. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a novel family of endogenous noncoding RNAs that have been proposed to regulate gene expression in mammals. Exosomes are small vesicles derived from cells, and recent studies have shown that circRNAs are stable in exosomes. However, little is known about the biological role of circRNAs in exosomes. In our study, we showed that circRNAs in plasma exosomes have specific expression features in gastric cancer (GC), and ciRS‐133 is linked with the browning of white adipose tissue (WAT) in GC patients. Exosomes derived from GC cells deliver ciRS‐133 into preadipocytes, promoting the differentiation of preadipocytes into brown‐like cells by activating PRDM16 and suppressing miR‐133. Moreover, knockdown of ciRS‐133 reduced cancer cachexia in tumor‐implanted mice, decreasing oxygen consumption and heat production. Thus, exosome‐delivered circRNAs are involved in WAT browning and play a key role in cancer‐associated cachexia. What's new? Although metabolic dysfunction has been proposed as a cause for tumor cachexia, a wasting disorder of adipose and skeletal muscle accompanied by systemic inflammation, the mechanisms remain unclear. Here, the authors reveal the role of exosome‐delivered circRNAs in cancer‐associated cachexia. They identify one exosome‐circRNA secreted by cancer cells that plays a key role in regulating differentiation of preadipocytes by working as a microR‐133 sponge. In both gastric cancer patients and animal models, tumor exosomes promote WAT browning. Furthermore, tumor‐derived circRNA accelerates oxygen consumption and glucose expenditure of brown‐like adipocytes in vitro; and in vivo, exosome‐circRNA aggravates cachexia in tumor‐implanted mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymer dielectric composites are fabricated by blending polyimide (PI) with poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) base on different temperature conditions. The dielectric and thermal properties of the composites are studied. Experimental results indicate that the dielectric properties of the composites are enhanced by increasing the reaction temperature, while all the resulted composites exhibit excellent thermal stability. Specifically, the sample showing optimized dielectric properties can be obtained at a reaction temperature of 50 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ni/CeO2 enables either methane decomposition or water electrolysis for pure hydrogen production. Ni/CeO2, prepared by a sol–gel method with only one heat treatment step, was used to catalyze methane decomposition for the generation of H2. The solid byproduct, Ni/CeO2/carbon nanotube (CNT), was further employed as an electrocatalyst in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) for H2 production. The Ni/CeO2 catalyst exhibits excellent activity for methane decomposition because CeO2 prevents carbon encapsulation of Ni nanoparticles during the preparation process and forms a special metal–support interface with Ni. The derived CNTs act as antenna to improve conductivity and promote the dispersion of agglomerated Ni/CeO2. In addition, they provide H2 diffusion paths and prevent Ni/CeO2 from peeling off the HER electrode. Although long‐term methane decomposition reduces the HER activity of Ni/CeO2/CNTs (owing to degradation of the delicate Ni/CeO2 interface), the tunable nature of the synthesis makes this an attractive sustainable approach to synthesize future high‐performance materials. Byproduct recycling: Ni/CeO2 is first used in catalytic methane decomposition to produce H2, and the solid byproduct, Ni/CeO2/CNT (CNT=carbon nanotube) is then employed as an electrocatalyst in the hydrogen evolution reaction for H2 production. Thus, practical production of pure hydrogen and sustainable experimental approaches to byproduct recycling are reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A high cycling stability of dual‐ion batteries is greatly challenging, as the size required for inserting anions matches only insufficiently with the interlayer spacing of graphite which is often used as positive electrode. Herein, an activated expanded graphite (AEG) electrode is successfully prepared via KOH treatment. The loose structure of AEG accommodates the volume expansion caused by anion intercalation, and the large specific surface area facilitates the immersion of electrolyte ions to afford more energy density. Thus, the cycling stability is largely enhanced without losing capacity. Matching with activated carbon as negative electrode and an ionic liquid electrolyte, the assembled dual‐ion battery achieves an energy density of 43 Wh kg−1 at the power density of 756 W kg−1 within a working window of 0–3.6 V. Specifically, the energy density retains 83 % after 50 cycles. Such effective and low‐cost electrode optimization opens up a new route toward full enhancement on the cycling performance of positive electrodes for dual‐ion batteries. Better dual‐ion battery: Activated expanded graphite via a simple KOH treatment as positive electrode, matching with activated carbon negative electrode, enables optimum energy density and power density for a carbon‐based dual‐ion battery. Such excellence is merited by the loose structure and large specific surface area of activated expanded graphite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Cobalt hydroxide (Co(OH)2) is a promising electrode material for hybrid devices because of its intrinsic battery‐mimic mechanism for energy storage. However, conventional electrolytes suitable for Co(OH)2 will lead to performance failure in a harsh environment, which hinders its industrial application at ambient temperature. Here, we propose an anti‐freezing aqueous electrolyte composed of NaOH and a high concentration of NaClO4 for Co(OH)2 electrode, which can still fully function at −30 °C. At this temperature, the energy density of a Co(OH)2–active carbon hybrid capacitor can reach 16.52 Wh kg−1, which has a 72 % energy‐density retention at 20 °C. The hybrid capacitor shows excellent cyclability with the anti‐freezing electrolyte at −30 °C, presenting only 3.5 % drop of the capacitance after 500 cycles. This designed anti‐freezing electrolyte may put more pseudocapacitive materials into more practical use, particularly in northern harsh climates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) are considered as promising candidates for supercapacitors because of high specific area and potential redox sites. However, their shuffled orientations and low conductivity nature lead to severely‐degraded performance. Designing an accessibly‐manipulated and efficient method to address those issues is of outmost significance for MOF application in supercapacitors. It is the common way that MOFs scarify themselves as templates or precursors to prepare target products. But to reversely think it, using target products to prepare MOF could be the way to unlock the bottleneck of MOFs' performance in supercapacitors. Herein, a novel strategy using Co(OH)2 as both the template and precursor to fabricate vertically‐oriented MOF electrode is proposed. The electrode shows a double high specific capacitance of 1044 Fg−1 and excellent rate capability compared to MOF in powder form. An asymmetric supercapacitor was also fabricated, which delivers a maximum energy density of 28.5 W h kg−1 at a power density of 1500 W kg−1, and the maximum of 24000 W kg−1 can be obtained with a remaining energy density of 13.3 W h kg−1. Therefore, the proposed strategy paves the way to unlock the inherent advantages of MOFs and also inspires for advanced MOF synthesis with optimum performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exosomes derived from cells have been found to mediate signal transduction between cells and to act as efficient carriers to deliver drugs and small RNA. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is known to promote the growth of both cancer cells and vascular cells, and the HGF‐cMET pathway is a potential clinical target. Here, we characterized the inhibitory effect of HGF siRNA on tumor growth and angiogenesis in gastric cancer. In addition, we showed that HGF siRNA packed in exosomes can be transported into cancer cells, where it dramatically downregulates HGF expression. A cell co‐culture model was used to show that exosomes loaded with HGF siRNA suppress proliferation and migration of both cancer cells and vascular cells. Moreover, exosomes were able to transfer HGF siRNA in vivo, decreasing the growth rates of tumors and blood vessels. The results of our study demonstrate that exosomes have potential for use in targeted cancer therapy by delivering siRNA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dual-ion batteries are promising devices, owing to their compatibility of high energy density and high power density, provide that the volume expansion of positive graphite and the decomposition of the electrolyte are well addressed. Herein, we report a facile strategy of using low-cost carbon fiber paper for package enhancement of dual-ion batteries. The three-dimensional structure offers both conductivity and structure integrity, while the highly graphitic fiber paper endows the high intercalation potential towards high energy density. High stability results from such integrative electrode structure. Matching with electrical double-layer capacitive graphene and ionic liquids, with a wide electrochemical stability window, a dual-ion battery has been fabricated to achieve a specific energy of 149 Wh/kg at a specific power of 1011 W/kg, and the specific energy retains 85 % after 1000 cycles. This accessible 3D paper electrode provides a new route for an integral electrode construct that can be used in ultrastable, high-efficiency energy-storage devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CO catalytic oxidation on the perovskite oxide LaCoO3, which can be ascribed to a decoration of Co3O4 nanoparticles on the surface, was achieved with 90 % conversion rate at 202 °C. The obtained dual-phase catalyst was successfully synthesized through a non-stoichiometric Ce-induced exsolution-like process, after an electrospinning treatment with subsequent annealing. The enhanced activity originates from the surface oxygen of LaCoO3/Co3O4 and Co3+ in the Co3O4 nanoparticles, as confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray absorption near-edge structure analysis (XANES). The synergic effect of the surfaced Co3O4 and parent LaCoO3 may open a path to unlocking the activity of perovskite oxides for enhanced low-temperature CO oxidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present WS-TaaS, a Web services load testing platform built on a global platform PlanetLab. WS-TaaS enables load testing process to be simple, transparent, and as close as possible to the real running scenarios of the target services. First, we briefly introduce the base of WS-TaaS, Service4All. Second, we provide detailed analysis of the requirements of Web service load testing and present its conceptual architecture as well as algorithm design for improving resource utilization. Third, we present the implementation details of WS-TaaS. Finally, we perform the evaluation of WS-TaaS with a set of experiments based on the testing of real Web services, and the results illustrate that WS-TaaS can efficiently facilitate the whole process of Web service load testing. Especially, comparing with existing testing tools, WS-TaaS can obtain more effective and accurate test results. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we have identified FAM19A3 as a gene that is significantly upregulated in the microglia in the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) mouse model. FAM19A3 expression and secretion were promoted by M2 stimuli, and this indicated that FAM19A3 might be an M2-type gene. Indeed, recombinant FAM19A3 promoted M2 polarization and inhibited M1 polarization of microglia in vitro. Similarly, recombinant FAM19A3 promoted M2 polarization of microglia and macrophages in vivo, and attenuated cerebral ischemia in the MCAO mouse model. Thus, the newly-identified secreted protein FAM19A3 modulates the microglia/macrophage polarization dynamics and ameliorates cerebral ischemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Reverse Transcription Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification ( RT- LAMP) assay was employed to develop a simple and efficient system for the detection of Zucchini yellow mosaic virus ( ZYMV) in squash and melon plants. The RT- LAMP assay took 30 min under isothermal condition at 64°C by employing a set of four primers targeting ZYMV. The sensitivity of RT- LAMP was 10-fold greater than that of the RT- PCR assay in the detection of ZYMV in infected tissues of squash and melon. No reaction was detected from the tissues of healthy plants by either RT- LAMP or RT- PCR assay. The RT- LAMP product of the tested samples can be visualized by staining directly in the tube with SYBR Green I dye. The sensitivity of SYBR Green I staining method is similar to that analyzed by gel electrophoresis. Field-grown squash and melon plants were tested using RT- PCR and RT- LAMP. Both RT- LAMP and PCR could detect ZYMV in symptomatic or symptomless tissues of infected plants. However, the RT- LAMP assay is superior to RT- PCR because it is rapid, simple, and highly sensitive; therefore, RT- LAMP is a useful and practical method for detection of ZYMV in cucurbits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anion intercalation in graphite is deemed as a promising electrode chemistry in aqueous energy storage systems due to its high onset potential. Given the limited space in graphite, multivalent anions are favorable to achieve high specific capacity. However, relevant studies are scarce so that fundamental understandings of multivalent anion intercalation remain unclear. Herein, the intercalation behaviors of ClO4−, SO42−, and PO43− in graphite are systematically investigated. High capacity and interaction between anion and graphite are proved to be contradictory as the electric charge increases. As a result, ClO4− and SO42− intercalation exhibits promising performance in primitive graphite, while PO43− intercalation is much restricted due to the intensified electronic interaction. Two Zn–graphite dual‐ion batteries based on ClO4− and SO42− intercalations display high voltages of 1.85 V, and specific energies of 106 and 112 Wh kg−1. This work provides fundamental understandings of multivalent anion intercalation and guidance to fabricate aqueous batteries (ABs) with high energy density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cover is inspired by a principle known for beautiful aquarium jellyfish that will sink by ejecting carbon monoxide (CO) in order to protect themselves. In their Communication, S. Liu et al. report a newly‐formed Co3O4/LaCoO3 catalyst that is able to effectively oxidize toxic CO to non‐toxic CO2 at lower temperature, also protecting ourselves! It is CO that bridges interestingly from the eye‐catching background of aquarium jellyfish to the exsolution‐like catalyst‐synthesis strategy depicted in the foreground. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]