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Although catenated cages have been widely constructed due to their unique and elegant topological structures, cyclic catenanes formed by the connection of multiple catenane units have been rarely reported. Herein, based on the orthogonal metal‐coordination‐driven self‐assembly, we prepare a series of heterometallic [2]catenanes and cyclic bis[2]catenanes, whose structures are clearly evidenced by single‐crystal X‐ray analysis. Owing to the multiple positively charged nature, as well as the potential synergistic effect of the Cu(I) and Pt(II) metal ions, the cyclic bis[2]catenanes display broad‐spectrum antibacterial activity. This work not only provides an efficient strategy for the construction of heterometallic [2]catenanes and cyclic bis[2]catenanes but also explores their applications as superior antibacterial agents, which will promote the construction of advanced supramolecular structures for biomedical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous neuroimaging studies have identified significant individual variability in intertemporal choice, often attributed to three neural mechanisms: (1) increased reward circuit activity, (2) decreased cognitive control, and (3) prospection ability. These mechanisms that explain impulsivity, however, have been primarily studied in the gain domain. This study extends this investigation to the loss domain. We employed a hierarchical Bayesian drift‐diffusion model (DDM) and the inter‐subject representational similarity approach (IS‐RSA) to investigate the potential computational neural substrates underlying impulsivity in loss domain across two experiments (n = 155). These experiments utilized a revised intertemporal task that independently manipulated the amounts of immediate and delayed‐loss options. Behavioral results demonstrated positive correlations between the drift rate, measured by the DDM, and the impulsivity index K in Exp. 1 (n = 97) and were replicated in Exp. 2 (n = 58). Imaging analyses further revealed that the drift rate significantly mediated the relations between brain properties (e.g., prefrontal cortex activations and gray matter volume in the orbitofrontal cortex and precuneus) and K in Exp. 1. IS‐RSA analyses indicated that variability in the drift rate also mediated the associations between inter‐subject variations in activation patterns and individual differences in K. These findings suggest that individuals with similar impulsivity levels are likely to exhibit similar value processing patterns, providing a potential explanation for individual differences in impulsivity within a loss framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The surging global demand for renewable energy has fueled the expansion of offshore wind energy, leveraging superior wind profiles and technological advancements in offshore wind turbine technology. Despite this growth, the operational experience of floating offshore wind turbines still needs to be improved as an emerging technology. Addressing this knowledge gap, our study compiles a comprehensive database of failure events associated with these turbines. Employing a rigorous analytical approach through the Fuzzy Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA) methodology, we conduct an in‐depth failure analysis of floating offshore wind turbines. This investigation allows us to identify the most critical failure modes and pinpoint components vulnerable to failures. The paper delves into the root causes of these significant failure modes, proposing preventive and corrective measures based on our findings. Our recommendations serve as a strategic guide for stakeholders, offering insights to enhance offshore wind turbines' design, operation, and maintenance practices and the broader wind farm infrastructure. Despite this, further clarification on the application and highlights of the fuzzy FMEA model is warranted in the abstract, a point we address in the revised conclusion to enhance our study's overall clarity and completeness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We introduce an online, model‐free algorithm to address the ℒ2$$ {\mathcal{L}}_2 $$ gain optimal tracking problems in discrete linear networked control systems. The algorithm is specifically proposed to handle stochastic information dropout in the feedback loop. Our goal is to design a control law that achieves the system output reference tracking while attenuating the effect of the disturbance input. We first construct an augmented system consisting of the original system and the command generator system. Then, the performance index is expressed in a quadratic form taking into account packet loss. Next, we obtain the optimal solution by solving the dropout generalized algebraic riccati equation (GARE). Finally, a Q$$ Q $$‐learning algorithm is utilized to estimate the control and disturbance feedback gains of the system, using only measurement data with unknown system dynamics in the presence of dropout. Two algorithms are tested on a numerical example to demonstrate the validity and effectiveness of the proposed methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For various chronic wounds, bacterial infection is one of the important reasons that hinder their healing. Ion‐crosslinked antibacterial hydrogel dressings based on Ag+, Cu2+ and Zn2+, have made progress in clinical application. However, the toxicity of released metal ions cannot be ignored. Therefore, how to ensure the antibacterial performance of hydrogel dressing while reducing the amount of metal ions is a major challenge for the fabrication of metal ion based antibacterial hydrogel. In this study, a general method is proposed to design cationic ion‐crosslinked hydrogel based on thiourea groups. Taking the hydrogel formed by mixing thiourea modified hyaluronic acid (H‐ANCSN) with Ag+ (HA‐NCSN/Ag+ hydrogel) as an example, the characteristics and application potential of this kind of hydrogel are thoroughly explored. Due to the strong cationic chelation characteristics of thiourea groups, HA‐NCSN/Ag+ hydrogel can gel at low Ag+ concentration and achieve long‐term slow release of Ag+ at stable concentration to balance the antibacterial and biocompatible properties. Moreover, this dynamic thiourea‐Ag+ crosslinking also endowed the hydrogel with the property of "gelation and encapsulation first, injection to cover wound when necessary". Then, the mangiferin self‐assembled nanoparticles are loaded into HA‐NCSN/Ag+ hydrogel as the radical oxygen species scavenger. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydroelastic effects are particularly pronounced in ultralarge container ships due to their substantial size and high velocity. The computation of combined torsional and bending moments presents a challenge, exacerbated by warping effects. This study focuses on the investigation of wave loads, encompassing vertical, horizontal, and torsional moments, through model tests on a 20,000 TEU container ship. A 1/77 scale model featuring an open U‐shaped backbone was crafted to simultaneously simulate and measure longitudinal, horizontal, and torsional stiffness, along with these loads. Wave loads on the hull, including those resulting from springing effects, were calculated in regular waves, employing hydroelastic theory and accounting for hydrodynamic forces. The study also delves into the characteristics and analysis of spring effects within the wave loads on the hull. The insights garnered from this research contribute to the fatigue analysis and safety assessments of ship structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To solve the problem of high brittleness and easy cracking of cement stone, epoxy resin powder elastic particles (HEEP) were developed to improve the elasticity of cement stone. HEEP was prepared from epoxy resin and trimeric anhydride by solution polymerization. The surface wettability and particle size of HEEP were analyzed by contact angle test and laser particle size analysis respectively. Mechanical performance tests, scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis and x‐ray diffraction analysis were conducted on the cement stone containing HEEP. The results showed that HEEP was the target product, with a hydrophilic surface and a water contact angle of 75.2° on the HEEP surface. The particle size distribution of HEEP was uniform, and the median particle size was 36.5 μm. The initial decomposition temperature of HEEP was 300°C, indicating a good thermal stability. The stress–strain curve showed that when the HEEP dosage was 3%, 6%, and 9%, the elastic modulus of the cement stone was 6.382, 4.017, and 3.148 GPa, respectively. Compared with the blank cement without HEEP, the elastic modulus was reduced by 28.3%, 54.9%, and 64.6%, respectively. This showed that HEEP could effectively improve the elasticity of cement stone. In addition, the compressive strength and flexural strength of cement stone containing HEEP can meet the requirements of on‐site applications. SEM analysis of cement stone showed that HEEP was well filled in cement stone. When the cement stone was subjected to complex stress, HEEP could effectively buffer and disperse the stress, thereby enhancing the resistance of cement stone to external force impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intravitreal (IVT) injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) has greatly improved the treatment of many retinal disorders, including wet age-related macular degeneration (wAMD), which is the third leading cause of blindness. However, frequent injections can be difficult for patients and may lead to various risks such as elevated intraocular pressure, infection, and retinal detachment. To address this issue, researchers have found that IVT injection of anti-VEGF proteins at their maximally viable concentration and dose can be an effective strategy. However, the intrinsic protein structure can limit the maximum concentration due to stability and solution viscosity. To overcome this challenge, we developed a novel anti-VEGF protein called nanoFc by fusing anti-VEGF nanobodies with a crystallizable fragment (Fc). NanoFc has demonstrated high binding affinity to VEGF165 through multivalency and potent bioactivity in various bioassays. Furthermore, nanoFc maintains satisfactory chemical and physical stability at 4°C over 1 month and is easily injectable at concentrations up to 200 mg/mL due to its unique architecture that yields a smaller shape factor. The design of nanoFc offers a bioengineering strategy to ensure both strong anti-VEGF binding affinity and high protein concentration, with the goal of reducing the frequency of IV injections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The design of novel materials for sulfur dioxide (SO2) capture and conversion with considerable efficiency under mild conditions is of great significance for human health and environmental protection yet highly challenging. Herein, we report a series of triazine‐based multicomponent metallacages via coordination‐driven self‐assembly of 2,4,6‐tri(4‐pyridyl)‐1,3,5‐triazine, cis‐Pt(PEt3)2(OTf)2 and different tetracarboxylic ligands. As the increase of the length of the tetracarboxylates, the structures of the metallacages change from pyramids to extended octahedrons. Owing to their N‐rich structure, these metallacages are further used for selective SO2 capture, showing good adsorption capacity and remarkable SO2/CO2 selectivity in ambient conditions, suggesting their potential applications toward real flue gas desulfurization. The metallacages are further employed for the conversion of SO2 into value‐added compounds, showing exceptional efficiency even dilute SO2 is used as the reactant. This study represents a type of structure‐tunable triazine‐based metallacages for SO2 capture and conversion, which will pave the way on the applications of metal‐organic complexes for gas adsorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The drug‐resistant bacterial‐infected skin wound is still a severe healthcare problem. Uncontrolled bacterial infection, abundant reactive oxygen species (ROS) content, and prolonged inflammatory response are detrimental to wound healing. Moreover, excessive vessel growth can result in unsatisfactory scar formation. Herein, a three‐step regenerative strategy based on a bilayered gelatin/acryloyl β‐cyclodextrin (BGACD) hydrogel containing physical host–guest complexations and chemical crosslinks is proposed. The hydrogel is loaded with humic acids (HAs) and astragaloside IV (AS) in the lower layer and verteporfin (Vt) in the upper layer. Different gelatin/acryloyl β‐cyclodextrin ratios endow the lower and upper layers of the hydrogel with different degradation rates. Under light irradiation, the combination of HAs‐induced photothermal therapy (PTT) and verteporfin‐induced photodynamic therapy effectively inhibits MRSA growth. The HAs and astragaloside IV are released from the lower layer to scavenge ROS and promote M2 macrophage polarization and angiogenesis during the inflammation and early proliferation phases, while verteporfin releases from the upper layer suppress excessive vessel growth during the late proliferation and remodeling phases. The HAs‐AS@Vt@BGACD hydrogel successfully achieves rapid and scarless wound healing in an MRSA‐infected wound model in rats. Therefore, the HAs‐AS@Vt@BGACD hydrogel shows promising potential for the treatment of drug‐resistant bacteria‐infected skin wound healing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last decades, near‐infrared (NIR) light has attracted considerable attention due to its unique properties and numerous potential applications in bioimaging and disease treatment. Bone tissue engineering for bone regeneration with the help of biomaterials is currently an effective means of treating bone defects. As a controlled light source with deeper tissue penetration, NIR light can provide real‐time feedback of key information on bone regeneration in vivo utilizing fluorescence imaging and be used for bone disease treatment. This review provides a comprehensive overview of NIR light‐facilitated bone tissue engineering, from the introduction of NIR probes as well as NIR light‐responsive materials, and the visualization of bone regeneration to the treatment of bone‐related diseases. Furthermore, the existing challenges and future development directions of NIR light‐based bone tissue engineering are also discussed. This article is categorized under:Diagnostic Tools > In Vivo Nanodiagnostics and ImagingImplantable Materials and Surgical Technologies > Nanotechnology in Tissue Repair and Replacement [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To address the problems of brittleness and poor elastic deformation ability of oil‐well cement stone, styrene‐butadiene latex powder was prepared using emulsion polymerization with styrene, liquid polybutadiene, 2‐acrylamido‐2‐methyl‐1‐propanesulfonic acid, and fumaric acid as raw materials. The dispersion properties of styrene‐butadiene latex powder in water were investigated, as well as the elastic enhancement effect of the powder in cement. The test results showed that styrene‐butadiene latex powder has good dispersion performance in water and is not easy to agglomerate, which can improve the fluidity of cement slurry. The elastic modulus of cement stone mixed with styrene butadiene latex powder is 43.1% and 27.8% lower than that of blank cement stone without styrene‐butadiene latex powder and the cement stone mixed with commercially available latex powder, respectively. The results of the mechanism analysis showed that the styrene‐butadiene latex powder can be filled in the cement stone, improved the compactness of the cement stone, buffered the external stress impact, and improve the elasticity of the cement stone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sry‐box9 (SOX9) maintains stem cell properties and plays crucial roles in many cancers. However, whether SOX9 is correlated with cervical cancer cell stemness and its detailed mechanism remains obscure. We studied the relationship between SOX9 and prognosis of cervical cancer through public database, and SOX9 was related to poor prognosis of cervical cancer. Elevated SOX9 expression enhanced the self‐renewal properties and promotes tumorigenicity in cervical cancer. Overexpression of SOX9 could promote the expression of stem cell‐related factors in cervical cancer cells and xenografts. Meanwhile, overexpression of SOX9 could also enhance the expressions of FZD10, β‐catenin, and c‐Myc in cervical cancer cells and xenografts, while inhibiting the expression of DDK1. The activation of Wnt pathway by chir‐99 021 raised the tumor spheroid ability of SOX9 knockdown HeLa cells. In addition, SOX9 could transcriptional inhibit DKK1 and activate FZD10 and MYC by binding to their promoters to affect the Wnt/β‐catenin pathway. These results demonstrated SOX9 regulated the self‐renewal and tumorigenicity of cervical cancer through Wnt/β‐catenin pathway by directly transcriptional activation of FZD10, MYC and transcriptional inhibition of DKK1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forecasting complex time series faces a huge challenge due to its high volatility. To improve the accuracy and robustness of prediction, this paper proposes a bi‐level ensemble learning approach by combining decomposition‐ensemble forecasting and resample strategies. The bi‐level ensemble approach consists of four steps: data decomposition via singular spectrum analysis (SSA), resampling by employing a bagging algorithm, individual forecasting utilizing extreme learning machine (ELM), and introducing sorting‐pruning and simple addition ensemble strategies for integrating the inner and outer results, respectively. To verify the effectiveness of the established forecasting approach, three exchange rate time series are selected as samples. The results reveal that the proposed model is significantly better than the other benchmarks at different lead times, which indicates that it can be regarded as an effective and promising tool for complex time series forecasting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fusobacterium nucleatum has been correlated to many poor human conditions including oral infections, adverse pregnancies and cancer, and thus molecular tools capable of detecting this human pathogen can be used to develop diagnostic tests for them. Using a new selection method targeting thermally stable proteins without a counter‐selection step, we derived an fluorogenic RNA‐cleaving DNAzyme, named RFD‐FN1, that can be activated by a thermally stable protein target that is unique to F. nucleatum subspecies. High thermal stability of protein targets is a very desirable attribute for DNAzyme‐based biosensing directly with biological samples because nucleases found inherently in these samples can be heat‐inactivated. We further demonstrate that RFD‐FN1 can function as a fluorescent sensor in both human saliva and human stool samples. The discovery of RFD‐FN1 paired with a highly thermal stable protein target presents opportunities for developing simpler diagnostic tests for this important pathogen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A hexaphenyltriphenylene‐based hexatopic pyridyl ligand is designed and used to prepare three hexagonal prismatic metallacages via metal‐coordination‐driven self‐assembly. Owing to the planar conjugated structures of the hexaphenyltriphenylene skeleton, such metallacages show good host–guest complexation with a series of emissive dyes, which have been further used to tune their emission in solution. Interestingly, based on their complementary emission colors, white light emission is achieved in a mixture of the host metallacages and the guests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the immense potential of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy in tumor treatment, its widespread clinical application is currently limited by unsatisfactory curative effect and off‐target adverse effect. Herein, an injectable sericin (SS)/silk fibroin (SF) recombinant hydrogel, termed SF‐SS‐SMC hydrogel, is developed to enable local delivery of anti‐CD47 antibody (α CD47). The hydrogel displays self‐reinforcement in high H2O2 concentration of tumor microenvironment (TME), as the SS/Fe2+ supramolecular nanocomplex (SS‐SMC) inside the hydrogel converts H2O2 to reactive oxygen species (ROS), further triggering additional crosslinking among the SF polymers. Therefore, the SF‐SS‐SMC hydrogel has an in vivo retention time longer than 21 days and acts as a reservoir for the long‐term sustained release of α CD47. More importantly, the SF‐SS‐SMC hydrogel itself efficiently regulates the remodeling of a protumor immunosuppressive TME to an antitumoral TME through switching of tumor‐associated macrophages from an anti‐inflammatory M2 phenotype to a proinflammatory M1 phenotype without additional drugs. Based on the combined effect of sustained α CD47 release and TME reprogramming, the SF‐SS‐SMC hydrogel has satisfactory immunotherapeutic effects in the treatment of local, abscopal, remitting, and metastatic tumors. Further advantages, including low cost of production, simple fabrication, and ease of use, make it promising for commercial mass production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is one of the most common complications of diabetes, bringing physical and mental challenges for patients due to the lack of efficient curative therapy. Despite considerable advances in pharmacological and surgical approaches, clinical trials for DFU patients remain disappointing due to the local overactive and excessive inflammation. Immunomodulatory hydrogels has significant advantages to overcome the clinical challenge of DFUs therapy. Here, recent fabrication and regenerative advances in the utilization of functional hydrogels for altering the immune microenvironment of DFUs are comprehensively reviewed. The pathological features and the healing processes of DFUs, followed by summarizing the physicochemical properties essential for the design of regenerative hydrogels for immunomodulation in DFUs, are briefly introduced. Then, the potential immuno‐therapeutic modalities of hydrogels and emerging trends used to treat DFUs via multitherapeutic approaches and enhanced efficacy and safety are discussed. Taken together, by linking the structural properties of hydrogels to their functions in DFU therapy with a particular focus on immunomodulatory stimuli, this review can promote further advances in designing advanced hydrogels for DFUs, resulting in improved diabetic wound repair through translation into clinical setting in the near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the effects of essential oils mainly containing Eupatorium fortune Turcz (EFCO, E. fortune Turcz extract, water calamus extract, grapefruit extract, lavender extract, mixed in the ratio of 6:1:1:1:0.1 by volume) on heart rate variability (HRV), forced vital capacity (FVC), and salivary hormones in 33 scientific researchers. The experimental design was a quasi‐experimental study with pre‐ and post‐testing and no control group. Subjects were tested for four immediate indicators before and after essential oils inhalation, for 30 s before each meal for the next 30 days, and for body mass index (BMI) after 30 days. For immediate effects, we observed significant increases in HRV (31%), spirometry (12%) and salivary oxytocin (26%), and a decrease in salivary cortisol (4.5%). BMI decreased by 1% after 1 month of intervention. Based on the observed changes in physiological parameters, EFCO helped to reduce stress, improve exercise performance and mood, and even promote weight loss. © 2022 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A low‐density cement slurry system is commonly used in low‐pressure and leakage‐prone cementing. However, the suspension stability of the system is more difficult to control because of the addition of lightning material. Especially under the condition of large temperature differences, the relative motion between solid particles with large density differences increases, which will aggravate the instability of the slurry and affect the cementing quality. Therefore, to effectively control the suspension stability of the low‐density cementing slurry system, the suspension stabilizer PAND was synthesized by free radical solution polymerization with N‐vinyl caprolactam (NVCL); 2‐acrylamide‐2‐methyl propane sulfonic acid (AMPS), N, N‐dimethyl acrylamide (DMAA) as monomers. The effect of PAND on the stability of low‐density cement slurry under a large temperature difference (40 ~ 120°C) was evaluated. The results showed that under 40 ~ 120°C, adding 0.8% PAND can control the water separation of the cement slurry to 0; the density difference between the upper and lower parts of the cement stone column after curing is less than 0.01 g/cm3. The mechanical properties of cement stone are improved, which shows that it has a good suspension stability effect on low‐density cement slurry systems. The analysis of UV spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy showed that PAND formed an intermolecular hydrophobic association network structure with the increase in temperature, which could maintain the viscosity of the solution system, thus playing an influential suspension stability role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to efficiently utilize lignocellulosic materials, different treatment methods were used to pretreat lignin. In this research, three pretreatment methods, physical pretreatment, chemical pretreatment, and combined physical and chemical pretreatment, were used to investigate the effect of different pretreatment ways on the solid‐state fermentation of lignocellulosic biomass (straw, locust, and walnut shell) by Aspergillus fumigatus G‐13, and the physical and chemical structure changes of the materials before and after pretreatment and fermentation were also analyzed. The study concluded that physical–chemical combined pretreatment was most beneficial to enzyme production. The optimized pretreatment method is that the particle size is 60–80 mesh, the solid‐to‐liquid volume ratio is 1:1.5, and the 8% Ca(OH)2 solution is pretreated at 60°C for 48 h. The maximum enzyme activity was increased by 4.81–28.91 times for the locust, with 7.68–35.20 times for the walnut shell. Research indicated that the combined pretreatment could change the crystallinity and microcrystalline size of lignocellulose samples. In addition, it broke the ester and ether bonds between lignin and hemicellulose as well as weakened the hydrogen bond between hemicellulose and cellulose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structures of the crosslinks in supramolecular polymer networks play an important role on their properties and functions. Herein, emissive metallacages are used as crosslinks to prepare metallacage‐cored polyurethanes. The mechanical properties including storage modulus, toughness, Young's modulus and breaking strength of polymers are greatly enhanced with the increase of crosslinking densities. Moreover, such polymers not only exhibit good fluorescence in the solid state, but also show self‐healing and shape memory properties owing to the dynamic reversible non‐covalent bonds in their structures. This study not only offers a convenient strategy to prepare metallacage‐crosslinked networks, but also explores their applications as self‐healing and shape memory materials, which will promote the study of metallacage‐cored supramolecular networks as smart materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: 3D reconstruction of lumbar intervertebral foramen (LIVF) has been beneficial in evaluating surgical trajectory. Still, the current methods of reconstructing the 3D LIVF model are mainly based on manual segmentation, which is laborious and time‐consuming. This study aims to explore the feasibility of automatically segmenting lumbar spinal structures and increasing the speed and accuracy of 3D lumbar intervertebral foramen (LIVF) reconstruction on magnetic resonance image (MRI) at the L4‐5 level. Methods: A total of 100 participants (mean age: 42.2 ± 14.0 years; 52 males and 48 females; mean body mass index, 22.7 ± 3.2 kg/m2), were enrolled in this prospective study between March and July 2020. All participants were scanned on L4‐5 level with a 3T MR unit using 3D T2‐weighted sampling perfection with application‐optimized contrast with various flip‐angle evolutions (SPACE) sequences. The lumbar spine's vertebra bone structures (VBS) and intervertebral discs (IVD) were manually segmented by skilled surgeons according to their anatomical outlines from MRI. Then all manual segmentation were saved and used for training. An automated segmentation method based on a 3D U‐shaped architecture network (3D‐UNet) was introduced for the automated segmentation of lumbar spinal structures. A number of quantitative metrics, including dice similarity coefficient (DSC), precision, and recall, were used to evaluate the performance of the automated segmentation method on MRI. Wilcoxon signed‐rank test was applied to compare morphometric parameters, including foraminal area, height and width of 3D LIVF models between automatic and manual segmentation. The intra‐class correlation coefficient was used to assess the test‐retest reliability and inter‐observer reliability of multiple measurements for these morphometric parameters of 3D LIVF models. Results: The automatic segmentation performance of all spinal structures (VBS and IVD) was found to be 0.918 (healthy levels: 0.922; unhealthy levels: 0.916) for the mean DSC, 0.922 (healthy levels: 0.927; unhealthy levels: 0.920) for the mean precision, and 0.917 (healthy levels: 0.918; unhealthy levels: 0.917) for the mean recall in the test dataset. It took approximately 2.5 s to achieve each automated segmentation, far less than the 240 min for manual segmentation. Furthermore, no significant differences were observed in the foraminal area, height and width of the 3D LIVF models between manual and automatic segmentation images (P > 0.05). Conclusion: A method of automated MRI segmentation based on deep learning algorithms was capable of rapidly generating accurate segmentation of spinal structures and can be used to construct 3D LIVF models from MRI at the L4‐5 level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glucocorticoid-induced TNF receptor-related (GITR) can act as a costimulatory receptor, representing a potential target for safely enhancing immunotherapy efficacy. GITR is triggered by a GITR ligand or an agonist antibody and activates CD8+ and CD4+ effector T cells, reducing tumor-infiltrating Treg numbers and resulting in activation of immune responses and tumor cell destruction by effector T cells. GITR is an attractive target for immunotherapy, especially in combination therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors, as is being explored in clinical trials. Using H2L2 transgenic mice encoding the human immunoglobulin variable region and hybridoma technology, we generated a panel of fully human antibodies that showed excellent specific affinity and strong activation of human T cells. After conversion to fully human antibodies and engineering modification, we obtained an anti-GITR antibody hab019e2 with enhanced antitumor activity in a B-hGITR MC38 mouse model compared to Tab9H6V3, an anti-GITR antibody that activates T cells and inhibits Treg suppression from XenoMouse. As a fully human antibody with its posttranslational modification hot spot removed, the hab019e2 antibody exerted more potent therapeutic effects, and may have potential as a novel and developable antibody targeting GITR for follow-up drug studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acellular cartilage matrix (ACM)‐based hydrogels hold promise for use in the context of tracheal cartilage regeneration owing to the ease with which they can be molded into specific shapes and their intrinsic cartilage‐specific microenvironmental properties. In this report, an acrylic anhydride‐modified ACM (Ac‐matrix) hydrogel is fabricated for utilization in the context of tracheal cartilage regeneration and circumferential tracheal repair. Hydrogels are successfully prepared with a range of Ac‐matrix concentrations (4%, 6%, and 8%) and found that mechanical strength increases with rising Ac‐matrix concentrations whereas swelling and degradation ratio values decline. These Ac‐matrix hydrogels exhibit satisfactory cytocompatibility when loaded with chondrocytes. Chondrocyte‐loaded 6% hydrogels are able to support cartilage formation both in vitro and in vivo across a range of chondrocyte densities (5, 10, 20, and 40 million chondrocytes per mL), with increasing density being conducive to more homogenous cartilage formation. A homogeneously tubular tracheal cartilage construct is additionally generated and supports circumferential tracheal reconstruction in a rabbit tracheal lesion model system, with a biological structure and function consistent with those of the native trachea. These results suggest that this Ac‐matrix hydrogel platform is well‐suited to use in the context of tracheal cartilage regeneration, thus offering the potential to support circumferential tracheal reconstruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although some studies have explored the relationships between dietary fiber (DF) supplement and gut barrier function, changes of gut microbiota, and clinical outcomes in critically ill patients, the results were not consistent. Objective: The purpose was to explore the effect of DF on gut barrier function, gut microbiota, short‐chain fatty acids (SCFAs), inflammation, and clinical outcomes in critically ill patients. Methods: A search was performed through five databases from inception to July 12, 2021. Data were expressed as mean difference (MD) or odds ratio (OR) with CI. Results: Twenty‐one studies involving 2084 critically ill patients were included. There was a significant reduction in intestinal permeability, demonstrated by lactulose/rhamnose ratio (MD, −0.04; 95% CI, −0.08 to −0.00; P = 0.03) on day 8, C‐reactive protein on day 14 (MD, −36.66; 95% CI, −44.40 to −28.93; P < 0.001) and duration of hospital stay (MD, −3.16; 95% CI, −5.82 to −0.49; P < 0.05) after DF supplement. There were no significant differences in SCFA levels, duration of mechanical ventilation, and mortality between two groups. However, subgroup analysis results indicated significant decreases in duration of hospital stay and risk of mortality were seen in the subgroups with a supplementary fiber dose ≥20 g/day (MD, −5.62 [95% CI, −8.04 to −3.21; P < 0.0001]; OR, 0.18 [95% CI, 0.06–0.57; P = 0.004]), as well as in the medical intensive care unit (MD, −4.77 [95% CI, −7.48 to −2.07; P < 0.01]; OR, 0.13 [95% CI, 0.03–0.65; P < 0.05]). Conclusions: DF may improve gut barrier function, modulate intestinal microbiota, decrease systemic inflammatory response, and advance clinical outcomes in critically ill patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remains a major disease with high morbidity and mortality. The Janus kinases (JAKs) play a significant part in cellular biological process, inflammation and immunity. The role of JAK family in LUAD is still ambiguous. Methods: Various bioinformatics web portals were applied to explore the prognostic value of JAK family and their correlation with immune infiltration in LUAD. Results: JAK1/2 was downregulated, whereas JAK3/TYK2 was upregulated in patients with LUAD compared with the healthy controls in subgroup analyses based on gender, age, smoking habits, cancer stage, TP53 mutation status, and nodal metastasis status. Drug sensitivity indicated that low expression of JAK3 and TYK2 were resistant to most of the small molecules or drugs. High TYK2 expression was associated with favorable overall survival and relapse free survival in LUAD. Moreover, univariate and multivariate analysis revealed that clinical stage, lymphatic node metastasis and TYK2 expression were the independent factors affecting the prognosis of LUAD patients. TYK2 expression in LUAD patients was positively associated with the abundance of immune cells (B cells, CD8+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, neutrophils, and dendritic cells) and immune biomarker sets. Moreover, TYK2 was mainly involved in RNA binding, transcriptional mis‐regulation in cancer and cell cycles. We also identified several TYK2‐associated miRNA or transcription factor targets in LUAD. Conclusion: Our results indicated that TYK2 was a biomarker and associated with prognosis and immune infiltration in LUAD, laying a foundation for further study about the role of TYK2 in the carcinogenesis and progression of LUAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on the fabrication of porous ZnO microspheres (pZnO MSs) grafted with thermo‐responsive polymers of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) via surface‐initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI‐ATRP) for photocatalysis applications. Photodegradation of Rhodamine B (Rh‐B) is used to evaluate the photocatalysis performance of pZnO MSs grafted with PNIPAM (pZnO MSs‐PNIPAM). The results show that pZnO MSs‐PNIPAM exhibits a reversible temperature‐controlled photocatalysis activity and good recycling performance. By adjusting the environmental temperature, the photocatalysis property of pZnO MSs‐PNIPAM can be turned on/off, resulting in a temperature‐controlled switching function of the obvious/unobvious photocatalysis performance below/upon the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of PNIPAM. Additionally, the dispersion property of pZnO MSs‐PNIPAM in water can also be regulated by changing the environment temperature, demonstrating the potential applications in that of photocatalysis‐related fields for the graft systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sand‐attached benthic biofilms drive many important biogeological processes and serve as cooperative "ecosystem engineers". In aquatic environments, biofilms undergo periodic detachment and re‐colonization due to the regular changes in hydrodynamic forcing. However, legacy impacts of past microbial actions on current biofilm formation and the biostabilization of the substratum sands are yet to be fully understood. In this study, a systematic set of flume experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of different depositional histories. Changes in the erosion threshold and rate of erosion were determined from the time sequences of suspended sediment concentrations. The contents of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and particle morphology of the biofilm‐bound sandy matrix were analyzed. Surprisingly, biostabilization is disturbance‐stimulated, rather than disturbance‐limited, as previously thought. Bio‐sandy beds cultivated under intensive disturbance presented an EPS accumulation in each cycle, and showed a more rapid increase in bed strength and stability than when rarely disturbed. All colonies from previous cycles exhibited traces of EPS as "footprints". These stimulated and possibly accelerated the process of recolonization, thereby enhancing the erosion resistance of the bed. In contrast, a stabilized bed was better suited to mature microbial communities. A modified "Windows of Opportunity" framework was therefore put forward. Although biostabilization was not established within short quiescent periods, the system created the "opportunity" to become established in subsequent "windows" by seeding the colonization process. The stabilization, destabilization and re‐stabilization of biofilm may imply a much more important role as ecosystem engineers and is relevant for a range of engineered bio‐systems. Plain Language Summary: "How can I stand on the ground every day and not feel its power? How can I live my life stepping on this stuff and not wonder at it?"—W. B. Logan. As the evidence for early life in the earth's sedimentary environment has shown, microorganisms are at least 3,770 million years old in sedimentary rocks, while each sand grain can harbor a highly diverse bacterial community. It is well known that biofilms, a heterogeneous matrix consisting of microbial communities and their secreted extracellular polymeric substances, can be critical in stabilizing sediments (defined as "biostabilization"), making the benthic stratum more habitable. However, legacy impacts of past microbial actions on current biofilm formation and the biostabilization of the substratum sands are yet to be fully understood. In this study, systematic flume experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of different depositional histories. Our findings highlight the resilience of bio‐sandy beds in response to changing shear. The fascinating interactions between biofilms and sands may help wetlands to survive sea‐level rise by inhibiting bed erosion and thereby enhancing their stability. This provides an important piece of information for the re‐assessment of wetland vulnerability in the face of global change. Key Points: Antecedent microbial conditions significantly influence the resilience of a biofilm‐bound sandy systemBiostabilization can be disturbance‐stimulated rather than disturbance‐limitedA framework is proposed for bio‐sandy systems developed under cyclic shear [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming at the problem of high brittleness of cement stone, we have studied the self‐emulsificating and self‐crosslinking modification of epoxy resin (EP) (E54), and the modified EP was used in oil well cement to improve the cement ring toughness and reduce the cement ring cracked. Using 2‐acrylamide‐2‐methyl propane sulfonic acid and acrylamide as modified monomers, benzoyl peroxide as initiator, and grafting modification method by free radical polymerization to obtain water‐borne epoxy resin (WBE). Fourier transform infrared spectrometer and 1H NMR were used to characterize the modified product, which showed that the WBE contained ─SO3H and ─CONH2 hydrophilic groups, and the connecting method of the hydrophilic side chain was clarified. WBE can achieve good dispersion in an aqueous solution, it can be stabilized for 30 min without stratified at a centrifugal speed of 6000 rpm; when the temperature is >80°C, it can be self‐curing. The addition of WBE can increase the flexural strength of cement stone by 48.3%, the compressive strength by 38.4%, and reduce the modulus of elasticity by 45.3%. Scanning electron microscope analyzed the mechanism of WBE to improve the toughness of cement stone, and found that after WBE cross‐linking, polymer films and three‐dimensional network structures are formed in the cement stone, making the cement structure more compact. WBE can effectively improve the mechanical properties of cement rings and can be used to improve cementing quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in physicochemical properties and myofibrillar protein properties of grass carp meat during brining and brine injection at 4 °C. The time reached equilibrium was 7 h in brining group and 5 h by injection, where the salt content was about 1.76%. The water content, water holding capacity and yield in injection group (86.59%, 9.18% and 110%, respectively) were higher than brining group (84.76%, 11.47%, and 108%, respectively) at equilibrium point significantly (P < 0.05). This was attributed to the more swollen filament lattices and disordered protein structure in injection group (P < 0.05). The myofibrillar protein structure was compared, including sulphydryl content, surface hydrophobicity, solubility, sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis pattern and secondary structure. The injection group presented the better quality of salted fish meat in shorter time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gallium Oxide (Ga2O3) for solar‐blind photodetectors (PDs) has drawing increasing research interest in recent years because of its natural wide bandgap. However, the traditional material growth methods are always complicated and the corresponding PD performance is also not good enough. In this work, amorphous Ga2O3 (a‐Ga2O3) thin film grown by mist chemical deposition applied as solar blind deep ultraviolet phototransistors (PTs) is investigated for the first time, to solve the problem of high cost and time‐consuming by traditional methods. Bottom‐gate a‐Ga2O3 three terminal thin film transistors (TFTs) are fabricated to boost their ultraviolet (UV) photodetection properties. Under the 254 nm UV illumination, the a‐Ga2O3 PTs demonstrates a very high responsivity of 2300 AW−1, external quantum efficiency of 1.12 × 106% and detectivity of 1.87 × 1014 Jones. Such field‐effect PTs with the ultrahigh performance address a significant step toward the feasibility and practicability of Ga2O3 PDs in the future applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexible conductive materials and flexible electronic devices are driving the development of the next generation of cutting‐edge wearable electronics. However, the existing hydrogel‐based flexible conductive materials have limited tensile capacity, low toughness, and poor anti‐fatigue performance, resulting in narrow sensing area and insufficient durability. In this paper, a conductive nanocomposite hydrogel with high ductility, toughness, and fatigue resistance is prepared by combining silver coated copper (Ag@Cu) nanoparticles with gelatin followed by one‐step immersion in sodium sulfate (Na2SO4) solution. The salting‐out of gelatin in Na2SO4 solution greatly improve the mechanical properties of this gelatin‐based hydrogel. The uniform distribution of Ag@Cu nanoparticles inside the whole hydrogel endow the composite hydrogel with excellent electrical conductivity (1.35 S m−1). In addition, it displayed high and stable tensile strain sensitivity over a wide strain range (gauge factor = 2.08). Therefore, the Ag@Cu‐Gel hydrogel is sensitive and stable enough to be successfully utilized as flexible wearable sensor for detecting human motion signals in real time, such as bending of human joints, swallowing, and throat vocalization. Furthermore, this hydrogel is also suitable for application as electronic skin for bionic robots. The above results demonstrate the promising application of Ag@Cu‐Gel hydrogel for wearable electronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Neural tube defect (NTD) is a common birth defect causing much death in the world. Variants in VANGL1 lead to NTD and caudal regression syndrome. NTD displays a complex phenotype encompassing both genetic and environmental factors. Methods: The fetus was diagnosed by prenatal ultrasound examination. Postnatal CT and autopsy were performed. Genetic testing was conducted in the family and Sanger sequencing was validated. Multiple prediction soft‐wares were used to predict the pathogenicity of the variant. Results: The VANGL1 gene variant c.1151C>G (P384R) was detected in a fetus diagnosed with tethered spinal cord and sacrococcygeal lipoma. The VANGL1 variant c.1151C>G (P384R) was reported in a Klippel‐Feil syndrome patient. The VANGL1 variant was validated in the trio‐family but the mother showed no abnormalities. Conclusion: Overall, this study presents fetal NTD caused by the same VANGL1 variant found in a Klippel‐Feil syndrome patient with complete clinical information of prenatal ultrasound, postnatal CT, and genetic results as early as 25 GW. Our study not only expands the VANGL1 mutational spectrum but also sheds light on the important role of the VANGL1 P384R variant in human development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) is a critical transcription factor for inducing production of type I interferons (IFN‐I) and regulating host antiviral response. Although IRF3 activation during viral infection has been extensively studied, the inhibitory regulation of IRF3 remains largely unexplored. Here, we revealed that Midline‐1 (MID1) is a ubiquitin E3 ligase of IRF3 that plays essential roles in regulating the production of IFN‐I. We found that MID1 physically interacts with IRF3 and downregulates IRF3 protein levels. Next, we demonstrated that MID1 can induce K48‐linked polyubiquitination of IRF3, thus lowing the protein stability of IRF3. Our further studies identified Lys313 as a major ubiquitin acceptor lysine of IRF3 induced by MID1. Finally, MID1‐mediated ubiquitination and degradation of IRF3 restrict IFN‐I production and cellular antiviral response. This study uncovers a role of MID1 in regulating innate antiviral immunity and may provide a potential target for enhancing host antiviral activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The channeling resistance of cement slurry is one of the critical factors related to cementing quality, especially in the cementing of adjustment well. Due to the complex pressure layer and large pressure fluctuation, the annular channeling problem is easily caused by water invasion. Using 2‐acrylamide‐2‐methyl propane sulfonic acid (AMPS), acrylamide (AM), maleic anhydride (MA), acrylic ester 18(St) as raw materials, we prepared a hydrophobic associative polymer (SMAL) by free radical micellar polymerization. The synthetic products were characterized by IR, NMR, and SEM, and the evaluated engineering application performance. The results showed that SMAL achieved the expected synthesis purpose. Compared with the water channeling pressure of 0.1 Mpa for blank cement slurry, the water channeling pressure of SMAL cement slurry reaches 5.3 Mpa, which significantly improves the anti‐water channeling ability of cement slurry. After adding SMAL, the 14d flexural strength of cement stone was also increased from 7.7 to 8.3 MPa, which had no adverse effect on cement slurry's rheological property. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the deficiency of traditional acidification or acid pressure technology in the development of carbonate oil and gas resources, a microcapsule which wraps hydrochloric acid and can be released through temperature control was prepared by using microcapsule technology. The microcapsules were prepared with polyurethane prepolymer (PUA) and 1,6‐hexadiol diacrylate (HDDA) polymer as wall material and hydrochloric acid as core material by two emulsification and photocatalysis methods. Its parcel rate is 61.9%. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy characterization confirmed the successful photopolymerization of PUA prepolymer and HDDA in a strong acid environment. The microscopic morphology analysis of electron microscope showed that the microcapsule was regular and uniform spherical with smooth and dense surface. The particle size analysis showed that the microcapsules were mainly distributed between 40 and 300 μm, and the average particle size was 114.02 μm.The glass temperature of microcapsule wall material was 97°C by DSC method. The release rate of microcapsules was accelerated with the increase of release temperature. The cumulative release rate of acid solution of microcapsules for 3 h reached 28.4%, and the final release rate of microcapsules for 12 h reached 90.7% under 100°C. In addition, the release of microcapsules is less affected by the formation salinity. At 90°C, the maximum release rate of 7.5 g/L CaCL2 was 49.1%, lower than that of 59.4% in pure water, showing the good salt resistance of the wall materials of microcapsules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To evaluate cranial ultrasound markers during a first‐trimester routine ultrasound examination for screening for open spina bifida (OSB). Methods: Midsagittal and axial images of the fetal head obtained from fetuses with spina bifida and unaffected control fetuses at 11 weeks to 13 weeks 6 days were analyzed retrospectively. The observed markers of the posterior brain included the 4‐ versus 3‐line view, the brain stem (BS)‐to‐brain stem‐occipital bone (BSOB) distance ratio (BS/BSOB), the position relationship between the maxillo‐occipital (MO) line and the midbrain‐BS junction, and the crash sign status. Results: This study included 9 OSB cases, 2 closed spina bifida (CSB) cases, and 200 unaffected controls. Eight of 9 OSB cases had informative midsagittal views of the head. The 3‐line view (abnormal) and BS/BSOB greater than 1 (abnormal) were observed in 87.5% (7 of 8) and 100% (8 of 8), respectively. The midbrain‐BS junction was below or nearly on the MO line (abnormal) in 100% (8 of 8). Seven of the cases had informative axial views of the head. The crash sign (abnormal) was observed in 85.7% (6 of 7). A 3‐line view was seen in all of the cases that had a positive crash sign. Neither of the 2 cases of CSB and none of the controls had any of the 4 first‐trimester intracranial ultrasound markers of OSB. Conclusions: The 4 first‐trimester intracranial ultrasound markers investigated in this study appear to be very good markers of OSB, especially a BS/BSOB greater than 1 and an abnormal MO line. The crash sign and 3‐line view were observed in the same fetus. In our study, these ultrasound findings were not helpful in CSB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the suitable bandgap, superior chemical and physical properties, the β‐phase gallium oxide (β‐Ga2O3) has the great potential to fabricate the deep ultraviolet solar‐blind photodetectors (DUV PDs). However, the low material quality, high material growth cost, and insufficient device performance, are urgently required to be solved for practical applications. In this work, by using a vacuumfree, low‐cost mist chemical vapor deposition method, the high quality β‐Ga2O3 single crystal films are successfully heteroepitaxially grown on (0001) sapphire substrates. X‐ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy measurements identify the heteroepitaxial relationship with (2¯01) β‐Ga2O3‖(0001) sapphire. At the optimal growth temperature of 800 °C, the film shows a high quality pure β‐Ga2O3 phase with the small full width at half maximum of 0.71°. Furthermore, the metal–semiconductor–metal DUV PDs are fabricated based on such single crystal β‐Ga2O3 films, which exhibit excellent photoelectric performance. A very high photoresponsivity 22 000 A W−1 under 254 nm light illumination, which corresponds to a quantum efficiency of 1.07 × 107% and a high detectivity of 1.1 × 1016 Jones, almost the highest ever reported. The low‐cost film heteroepitaxial growth method and the ultrahigh device performance pave an alternative way for the fabrication of high‐performance β‐Ga2O3 solar‐blind DUV PDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]