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The application of virtual synchronous generators (VSGs) in power systems is gradually increasing to address the low inertia issue caused by the high penetration of renewable energy sources. Besides, the stability of microgrids (MGs) is threatened by constant power loads (CPLs) consisting of power electronic converters with closed‐loop controllers. To investigate the stability of the MG composed of VSG and CPL, this paper analyzes the operational principles of VSG and CPL, revealing that only the bipolar switch logic function is suitable for establishing a closed‐loop model if the output of the inner‐loop controller is considered as the duty cycle of the PWM signal. Furthermore, the closed‐loop impedance models of VSG and CPL were established in the dq frame. Impedance‐based analysis results show that the MG is prone to oscillation in the mid‐band. Therefore, the active power loop parameters of the VSG have a small impact on the stability of the MG, while the LC filter and inner loop controllers have a greater impact on the stability. Based on the oscillation mechanism and passivity theory, the impedance reshaping strategy for VSG and CPL is proposed. It is verified that the proposed control strategy can significantly improve the stability of the MG through the comparison of simulation results and theoretical analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The large integration of distributed generation (DG) and electric vehicles (EVs) facilitates daily life and reduces carbon emissions. However, it brings problems such as increased uncertainty and power electronic permeability to the distribution network. In this context, it is important to solve the line loss optimization problem as closely as possible to the real situation. Therefore, this paper solves the line loss optimization problem based on a probabilistic model of three‐phase unbalanced modern power electrical distribution network. Firstly, the paper proposes a frequency domain model of the distribution network and the optimization problem model. Then, to deal with the uncertainty of the system, the point estimation method (PEM) and Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) are used. Finally, this paper proposes two optimization schemes considering the power quality when single and multiple DGs are integrated. The simulation results demonstrate that the PEM using the Gram–Charlier series expansion of the fourth‐order statistical moments to estimate the probability density function (PDF) is significantly less time consuming than the traditional MCS method while maintaining accuracy. The comparative analysis reveals that under the optimization scheme with single DG integration, the expected value of system line loss and expected line loss rate are reduced from 283.95 kW to 218.96 kW (22.89% reduction) and from 13.44% to 10.68%, respectively. Under the dual DG integrated optimization scheme, the expected value of line losses and expected line loss rate are reduced from 283.95 kW to 208.88 kW (26.4% reduction) and from 13.44% to 10.25%, respectively. However, after taking the uncertainty into account, the operational reliability of the system has been enhanced under different scenarios. In addition, it is found that the optimization approach incorporating multiple DG units can effectively mitigate the system line loss under diverse operational scenarios while enhancing the system's DG integration capability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Near ultraviolet (NUV) organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs) have great advantages in the field of light excitation sources, chemical and biological sensors, etc. However, the molecular design of NUV emitters still faces the challenges of spectral broadening and red‐shift. In this study, attaching weak oxygen‐bridged triarylboron acceptor to weak carbazolyl donor is able to address intractable problems by weakening donor–acceptor (D–A) charge transfer. Simultaneously, sterically wrapped and modified oxygen‐bridged triarylboron acceptor by bulk substituents (multiple carbazolyl) can suppress intermolecular π–π stacking through steric hindrance effect. These design strategies are able to obtain short‐wavelength, narrow‐band emission, and great color purity. As a result, carbazolyl derivatives xCz‐BO‐based (x = 2, 3, 4, 5) emitters show EL emission peaks from 406 to 422 nm in the NUV light region and small full‐width at half‐maximums (FWHMs) of 32–41 nm over a wide range of dopant concentrations (10–40 wt.%). The most violet Commission International de I'Eclairage (CIE) color coordinate is (0.16, 0.03). Moreover, 5Cz‐BO can be employed as host for vacuum‐/solution‐processed blue OLEDs and these devices exhibit high performance with EQEs of over 20%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clear species boundaries are crucial for plans and actions on biodiversity conservation. However, morphological similarities among allied species can result in taxonomic difficulties, thus impeding conservation efforts. In China, Cinnamomum japonicumSiebold is a well‐known endangered plant, yet suffers from longstanding taxonomic issues. Here, we explicitly evaluate whether C. japonicum, C. chenii, and C. chekiangense are the same phylogenetic species on the basis of a multi‐individual sampling strategy. We identified three sets of low‐copy orthologous genes from 19 Lauraceae taxa for phylogenetic inferences. Both the concatenation and coalescent‐based phylogenies supported that C. chenii individuals were embedded in the C. japonicum clade, indicating these two taxa are conspecific. Meanwhile, C. chekiangense accessions formed a monophyly which was not sister to C. japonicum. This result, together with the morphological differences that the leaves of C. japonicum are glabrous with a faveolate pattern of venation while those of C. chekiangense have trichomes and inevident lateral veins, led us to consider both as two distinct species. Based on 17 728 neutral single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), the ADMIXTURE analysis suggested that the Chinese C. japonicum populations in Zhoushan Archipelago (=C. chenii) were genetically differentiated from the Japanese and Korean ones. Furthermore, ecological niche modeling predicted that the present distribution area of Chinese C. japonicum is likely to be unsuitable under global warming scenarios. Together with its limited distribution and genetic uniqueness, we recommend that Chinese C. japonicum deserves conservation priorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non‐invasive optical examination plays a crucial role in various aspects of dermatology, such as diagnosis, management and research. Multiphoton microscopy uses a unique submicron technology to stimulate autofluorescence (AF), allowing for the observation of cellular structure, assessment of redox status and quantification of collagen fibres. This advanced imaging technique offers dermatologists novel insights into the skin's structure, positioning it as a promising 'stethoscope' for future development in the field. This review provides an overview of multiphoton microscopy's principles, technology and application in studying normal skin, tumour and inflammatory diseases, as well as collagen‐related and pigmentary diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ionic circuits using ions as charge carriers have demonstrated great potential for flexible and bioinspired electronics. The emerging ionic thermoelectric (iTE) materials can generate a potential difference by virtue of selective thermal diffusion of ions, which provide a new route for thermal sensing with the merits of high flexibility, low cost, and high thermopower. Here, ultrasensitive flexible thermal sensor arrays based on an iTE hydrogel consisting of polyquaternium‐10 (PQ‐10), a cellulose derivative, as the polymer matrix and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) as the ion source are reported. The developed PQ‐10/NaOH iTE hydrogel achieves a thermopower of 24.17 mV K−1, which is among the highest values reported for biopolymer‐based iTE materials. The high p‐type thermopower can be attributed to thermodiffusion of Na+ ions under a temperature gradient, while the movement of OH− ions is impeded by the strong electrostatic interaction with the positively charged quaternary amine groups of PQ‐10. Flexible thermal sensor arrays are developed through patterning the PQ‐10/NaOH iTE hydrogel on flexible printed circuit boards, which can perceive spatial thermal signals with high sensitivity. A smart glove integrated with multiple thermal sensor arrays is further demonstrated, which endows a prosthetic hand with thermal sensation for human–machine interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The authors aimed to identify factors associated with long‐acting reversible contraception (LARC) usage. Methods: The current cross‐sectional study used data from the National Survey of Family Growth from 2011 to 2019. Respondents aged 15 to 44 years were included. Those with previous sterilization, infertility, or pregnant were excluded. The outcome evaluated was use of a LARC. Results: Of 61 543 814 women, 44 287 911 (72.0%) met inclusion criteria. The rate of LARC use was 13.4%. Factors associated with an increased likelihood of LARC usage were married/living with a partner (adjusted relative risk [aRR], 1.18 [95% CI, 1.02–1.37]), perceived good health (aRR, 1.44 [95% CI, 1.13–1.84]), year of survey 2017 to 2019 (aRR, 1.53, [95% CI, 1.28–1.83]), one or two past pregnancies (aRR, 1.62 [95% CI, 1.24–2.12]) or three or more past pregnancies (aRR, 1.67 [95% CI, 1.22–2.28]), age at first live birth <20 years (aRR, 1.58 [95% CI, 1.20–2.08]) or 20 to 24 years (aRR, 1.45 [95% CI, 1.13–1.87]), age at onset of sexual activity 13–19 years (aRR, 1.50 [95% CI, 1.26–1.78]), and a 0‐ to 5‐month period of nonintercourse in the past year (aRR, 1.63 [95% CI, 1.40–1.90]). Factors associated with decreased LARC usage were age ≥ 35 years (aRR, 0.74 [95% CI, 0.65–0.85]), being non‐Hispanic Black (aRR, 0.75 [95% CI, 0.62–0.89]) or non‐Hispanic other (aRR, 0.72 [95% CI, 0.59–0.88]), intending to have children (aRR, 0.65 [95% CI, 0.57–0.74]), and never being sexually active (aRR, 0.10 [95% CI, 0.06–0.16]). Conclusions: Using a nationally representative sample of women in the United States, the authors identified modifiable factors associated with LARC use. Results may be used to plan interventional trials to increase LARC usage. Synopsis: Several modifiable factors are associated with the use of long‐acting reversible contraception, used in only about 1 in 10 individuals as a contraceptive method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate maternal and neonatal adverse outcomes among low‐risk pregnancies delivered at 37 weeks or more by repeat cesarean deliveries (CD). Methods: A population‐based, retrospective study using the US vital statistics data sets (2014–2018) evaluating low‐risk pregnancies with a non‐anomalous singleton non‐laboring repeat CD from 37 to 41 weeks of pregnancy. Women with hypertensive disorders or diabetes were excluded. Primary outcome was composite maternal adverse outcome (CMAO). Secondary outcome was composite neonatal adverse outcome (CNAO). Multivariable Poisson regression models were used to estimate the association between number of repeat CD and outcomes (using adjusted relative risks [aRR] and 95% confidence interval [CI]). Results: Of the 19 623 195 live births, 1 747 610 (8.9%) met the inclusion criteria and among them, 1 144 186 (65.5%) were to women who had one prior CD, 454 817 (26.0%) had two prior CD, 119 087 (6.8%) had three prior CD, and 29 520 (1.7%) had four or more prior CD. Compared with individuals with one prior CD, the risk of CMAO was higher in individuals with two (aRR 1.41, 95% CI 1.34–1.48), three (aRR 1.96, 95% CI 1.83–2.10), and four or more (aRR 2.98, 95% CI 2.69–3.29) prior CD. An increased risk of CNAO was also found with an increasing number of repeat CD. Conclusion: Among women with low‐risk pregnancies undergoing repeat CD, increasing number of prior CD was associated with a higher risk of adverse outcomes. The contents of this page will be used as part of issue TOC only. It will not be published as part of main article. Among low‐risk pregnancies at ≥37 weeks, an increasing number of cesarean deliveries was associated with increasing likelihood of maternal and neonatal adverse outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate species delimitation is the key to precise estimation of species diversity and is fundamental to most branches of biology. Unclear species boundaries within species complexes could lead to the underestimation of species diversity. However, species delimitation of species complexes remains challenging due to the continuum of phenotypic variations. To robustly examine species boundaries within a species complex, integrative approaches in phylogeny, ecology, and morphology were applied to the Stewartia sinensis complex (Theaceae) endemic to China. Multispecies coalescent‐based species delimitation using 572 nuclear ortholog sequences (anchored enrichment) supported reciprocal phylogenetic monophyly of the northern lineage (NL) and southern lineage (SL), which were not sister clades. Niche equivalency and similarity tests demonstrated significant climatic niche differentiation between NL and SL with observed Warren et al.'s I = 0.0073 and Schoener's D = 0.0021. Species distribution modeling also separated their potential distribution. Morphometric analyses suggested significant interlineage differentiation of multiple traits including the ratio of length and width, leaf width, and pedicel length, although overall similarity did not differ. Based on the integrative species concept, two distinct species were proposed with legitimate names of Stewartia gemmata for SL and S. sinensis for NL. Our empirical study of the S. sinensis complex highlights the importance of applying multiple species criteria, in particular the underappreciated niche differentiation, to species delimitation in species complexes pervasive in plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With high‐temperature solid‐state reaction method, a series of Lu2Sr(1−x)Al4SiO12:xEu2+ phosphors have been synthesized. With Rietveld refinement method, the crystal structure of Lu2SrAl4SiO12 has been refined. Under the excitation of the ultraviolet and violet band light, Lu2Sr(1−x)Al4SiO12:xEu2+ emits the Eu2+ characteristic blue broadband light. The photoluminescence properties of concentration quenching, emission peak shift, reflectance spectra, and luminescence decay have been investigated. With the structure analyses, the corresponding physical mechanisms have been discussed. With the increased temperature, this phosphor shows well thermal stabilities. For the xEu = 0.06, 0.08, and 0.1 phosphors, the strong anti‐thermal quenching performance has been observed. The reason for the anti‐thermal quenching of this phosphor has been discussed. The trap capture mechanism may be the suitable physical mechanism to explain the anti‐thermal quenching of this phosphor. This phosphor shows the potential applications in the white LED lighting fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a complex disease. An ongoing accumulation of mutations results in increased genetic diversity, with the tumor acquiring distinct subclones. However, non‐genetic intra‐tumoral heterogeneity, the cellular differentiation state and the interplay between subclonal evolution and transcriptional heterogeneity are poorly understood. Here, the authors perform single‐cell RNA sequencing from 14 untreated PCa patients. They create an extensive cell atlas of the PCa patients and mapped developmental states onto tumor subclonal evolution. They identify distinct subclones across PCa patients and then stratify tumor cells into four transcriptional subtypes, EMT‐like (subtype 0), luminal A‐like (subtype 1), luminal B/C‐like (subtype 2), and basal‐like (subtype 3). These subtypes are hierarchically organized into stem cell‐like and differentiated status. Strikingly, multiple subclones within a single primary tumor present with distinct combinations of preferential subtypes. In addition, subclones show different communication strengths with other cell types within the tumor ecosystem, which may modulate the distinct transcriptional subtypes of the subclones. Notably, by integrating TCGA data, they discover that both tumor cell transcriptional heterogeneity and cellular ecosystem diversity correlate with features of a poor prognosis. Collectively, their study provides the analysis of subclonal and transcriptional heterogeneity and its implication for patient prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This account presents information on all aspects of the biology of Ginkgo biloba L. (Ginkgo, Maidenhair tree) that are relevant to understanding its ecological characteristics. The main topics are presented within the standard framework of the International Biological Flora: distribution, habitat, communities, responses to biotic factors, responses to environment, structure and physiology, phenology, reproductive and seed characters, herbivores and disease, history, conservation and global heterogeneity.Globally, Ginkgo survives a wide range of mean annual temperature (−3.3 to 23.3°C) and annual precipitation (34–3925 mm) conditions, according to a meta‐analysis. It prefers a warm, humid, open‐canopy and a well‐drained environment. The species shows strong tolerance to drought, freezing, fire, air pollution, heavy metals and low‐level salt, whereas it is intolerant to long‐time shade and waterlogging. Six Ginkgo trees even survived the atom bomb in Hiroshima, Japan, during World War II.Ginkgo is susceptible to few diseases. Those occurring in nursery seedlings and juvenile trees involve stem rot and leaf blight. The former is caused by Macrophomina phaseoli, which could lead to a mortality rate of 5%–12% (up to 31.8%) for seedlings. This disease can be mitigated by a 4‐h shading treatment and applying organic fertilisers. The pathogens inducing leaf blight include Alternaria alternata, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Pestalotia ginkgo, which may infect 100% juvenile trees in some regions. The application of 45% carbendazim or 50% Tuzet can effectively prevent leaf blight.Ginkgo biloba is one of the world's most distinctive trees with an important position in plant evolution and human society. It is a tall deciduous dioecious tree native to China. Refugial populations were identified in three glacial refugia located in eastern, southern and south‐western China, respectively, with a patchy distribution pattern and a small population size. It typically grows along flood‐disturbed streamsides in warm‐temperate deciduous (and evergreen mixed) broadleaved forests. Ginkgo may have been introduced repeatedly out of China since the sixth century. It has been planted as a landscape tree world‐wide, except in Antarctica. Ginkgo is also of great value for edible nuts, herbal medicine, religion and art. It is a natural and cultural symbol of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four new cationic iridium (III) complexes: [(cf3piq)2Ir(pzpy)]+PF6- (Ir1), [(cf3piq)2Ir(pzpyz)]+PF6-(Ir2), [(cf3piq)2Ir(impy)]+PF6- (Ir3), and [(cf3piq)2Ir(impyz)]+PF6- (Ir4) (where cf3piq=1-(4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)isoquinoline, pzpy=2-(1H-pyrazol-3-yl) pyridine, pzpyz=2-(1H-pyrazol-3-yl)pyrazine, impy=2-(1H-imidazol-2-yl)pyridine, and impyz=2-(1H-imidazol-2-yl)pyrazine) have been synthesized and fully characterized. The single crystal structure of Ir3 has been determined by X-ray diffraction, and confirmed to have two hydrogen bonds (C14-H14···N2 and C57-H57···N9) and one intermolecular p-p stacking interaction. The UV-vis absorption, photoluminescence, and electrochemistry properties of all complexes have been studied. These complexes emit orange-red photoluminescence with quantum yields of 28-46% and excited state lifetimes of 0.48-0.65 µs in CH2Cl2 solution at room temperature. Based on the DFT calculations, we concluded that their emission originated predominantly from a hybrid 3MLCT/3ILCT excited state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Latitudinal diversity gradients (LDGs) of species richness in most marine taxa appear to be bimodal with a dip at the equator. We compared LDGs for modeled ranges of 5,619 marine fish species, and distinguished between: all, pelagic, demersal, bony and cartilaginous fish groups; five taxonomic levels of class, order, family, genus and species; and four depth zones namely whole water column, 0–200 m, 200–1,000 m, and 1,000–6,000 m; at 5° latitudinal intervals. The modality of 88 LDGs was examined visually and using Hartigan's dip statistic. We found 80 LDGs were bimodal (or not unimodal), two gradients were unimodal and six gradients were ambiguous. All species and genera, and 19 families among fish groups and depth zones had bimodal or not unimodal LDGs. The northern hemisphere mode had 2–6% greater richness from species to order richness. Overall fish, the peak of richness shifted poleward across taxonomic levels, from 25°N for species to median 48°N for class and from 10°S for genus to 35°S for class. Temperature and salinity were significantly correlated with the LDG. Our findings using fish species ranges support previous analyses using species' occurrences, namely that the LDG of marine species is bimodal, by generalizing this to all taxonomic levels and depth zones. That the LDG with a dip near the equator supports the hypothesis that it is primarily temperature driven, and that the equator is already too hot for some species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fiber optic sensor based on array of silica microspheres and air cavity have been fabricated in fusion splicer and experimentally demonstrated in this article. The four‐microspheres structure stimulates higher‐order cladding modes of the gaussian beam, and the air cavity acts as a coupler for Mach‐Zehnder interferometer (MZI) on the one hand and a Fabry‐Perot interferometer (FPI) on the other. The sensing head is subjected to temperature and transverse load where the sensitivity of 160 pm/°C and 124.6 pm/N are obtained, respectively. Compared with similar sensors, the sensor has the advantages of high sensitivity, low‐cost and practical, and it will have a great market prospect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Neuroblastoma (NBL) is an extra‐cranial solid tumor in children. This study was attempted to investigate the regulatory mechanism of long noncoding RNA LINC01410 (LINC01410) on NBL. Methods: The expression of LINC01410, miR‐506‐3p, and WEE1 in NBL was evaluated by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction. The proliferation and colony formation ability of NBL cells were analyzed by MTT and colony formation assay. Flow cytometry assay was executed to measure the apoptosis and cell cycle. Dual‐luciferase reporter assay was used to detect the targeted relationships among LINC01410, miR‐506‐3p, and WEE1. Additionally, the role of LINC01410 on NBL in vivo was evaluated according to a tumor xenograft model. Results: The expression of LINC01410 and WEE1 was enhanced and miR‐506‐3p was inhibited in NBL. LINC01410 knockdown attenuated the cell proliferation, colony formation ability, and inhibited tumor growth. Moreover, LINC01410 silencing facilitated the apoptosis and arrested the cell cycle. LINC01410 interacted with miR‐506‐3p to elevate the WEE1 expression in NBL. Additionally, miR‐506‐3p inhibition or WEE1 overexpression weakened the reduction effects of sh‐LINC01410 on cell proliferation, colony formation ability, apoptosis, and cell cycle. Conclusions: Knockdown of LINC01410 inhibited the development of NBL by miR‐506‐3p/WEE1 axis in vitro, which could serve as a potential therapeutic target for NBL therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Homeobox A10 (HOXA10) has been implicated critical for the promotion of carcinogenesis, but the underlying mechanism between HOXA10 and malignant gastric cancer (GC) phenotype remains elusive. In the present study, we analyzed and validated that HOXA10 and BCL2 expressions were elevated both at the mRNA and protein levels in GC tissues. Upregulated HOXA10 promoted GC cell proliferation with reduced apoptosis in vitro and accelerated GC tumor growth in vivo. Bioinformatics analysis and quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) experiment inferred that HOXA10 might upregulate the expression of BCL2. By performing western blot, chromatin immunoprecipitation and quantitative PCR (ChIP‐qPCR), and rescue experiment, we found that HOXA10 might bind to BCL2 promoter region, induce its expression, and thus inhibit intrinsic apoptosis pathway. Moreover, higher expression of HOXA10 and BCL2 predicted poor overall survival (OS) in GC patients. In summary, our study indicated that HOXA10 was upregulated in GC, and that HOXA10 might promote cell proliferation by elevating BCL2 expression and inhibiting apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nicotinic acid (NA), known as vitamin B3, has been widely studied in pharmaceutical science. Herein, three salts derived from NA and (1R,2R)‐1,2‐diphenylethylenediamine (DPEN), including one solvent‐free salt (DPEN)(NA)2 and two solvated salts, (DPEN)(NA)2(EA) and (DPEN)(NA)2(ACN) (EA: ethyl acetate, ACN: acetonitrile), have been obtained and characterized by solid‐state techniques. By the investigation of single‐crystal structures, the synthons, acid–ammonium heterodimer and Nammonium—H...Npyridine between functional groups of 1,2‐diphenylethylenediammonium and NA are revealed and further identified using Hirshfeld surface analysis. The utility of the synthons is further demonstrated by making salts with the NA isomer, isonicotinic acid. Here the synthon occurrences in cocrystals/salts of NA (including NA derivatives) and diamine coformers reported in the Cambridge Structure Database (CSD) are compared. The robustness of acid–ammonium heterodimer and Nammonium—H...Npyridine is investigated by a search of the CSD. The NA salts also show their improved solubility in pH 1.2, 4.5 and 6.8 buffer mediums compared with pure NA material. The crystal structures and solubilities of three nicotinic acid salts with (1R,2R)‐1,2‐diphenylethylenediamine are discussed and an analysis of synthon preference is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The domestication of maize has spanned a period of over 9000 years, during which time its wild relative teosinte underwent natural and artificial selection. We hypothesize that environmental conditions could have played a major role in this process. One factor of environmental variation is soil composition, which includes sulfur availability. Sulfur is reduced during photosynthesis and is used to synthesize cysteine and methionine, which drive the accumulation of δ10 (Zm00001d045937), δ18 (Zm00001d037436), β15 (Zm00001d035760), γ16 (Zm00001d005793), γ27 (Zm00001d020592), and γ50 (Zm00001d020591) zeins, representing the zein2 fraction (z2) of storage proteins in maize seeds. In this study, polymorphisms and haplotypes were detected based on six z2 genes in 60 maize and teosintes lines. Haplotypes were unevenly distributed, and abundant genetic diversity was found in teosintes. Polymorphism was highest in z2δ18, whereas for z2β15 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) density and insertion/deletion (indel) abundance were the lowest, indicating differential roles in seed evolution. Indels showed a clustered distribution, and most of these derived from teosintes. The indels not only led to tandem repeat polymorphisms, but also to frameshift mutations, which could also be used as null variants. In addition, neutral evolutionary tests, phylogenetic analyses, and population structures indicated that z2δ10 and z2γ50 had undergone natural selection. Indeed, a natural selection imprint could also be found with z2γ27 and z2γ16, whereas z2δ18 and z2β15 tended to be under neutral evolution. These results suggested that genetic diversity and evolution of a subset of sulfur‐rich zeins could be under environmental adaptation during maize domestication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this work, it is reported that poly(γ‐benzyl‐ l‐glutamate)‐block‐poly(ethylene glycol) (PBLG‐b‐PEG) rod‐coil block copolymers (BCPs) can disperse carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in solution and form various surface nanostructures on the CNTs via solution self‐assembly. In an organic solvent that dissolves the BCPs, the PBLG rod blocks adsorb on CNT surfaces, and the BCPs form conformal coatings. Then, by the introduction of water, a selective solvent for PEG blocks, the BCPs in the coatings further self‐assemble into diverse surface nanostructures, such as helices (left‐handed or right‐handed), gyros, spheres, and rings. The morphology of the surface nanostructure can be tailored by initial organic solvent composition, preparation temperature, feeding ratio of BCPs to CNTs, degree of polymerization of PBLG blocks, and diameter of the CNTs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient control of microbubbles is achieved by alcohol shear flows in ceramic membrane channels. The dependence of hydrodynamic and mass transfer properties of microbubbles on liquid viscosity was investigated in a bubble column. The multichannel ceramic membrane worked as the gas sparger, and the shear flow on the membrane surface controlled the microbubble generation. Oxygen gas and glycerin solutions with different viscosities served as gas phase and liquid phase, respectively. The microbubbles were massively generated at different liquid viscosities. With increasing viscosity, the bubble size first decreased and then increased. The dual effect of viscosity on bubble size was related to bubble coalescence. However, an impact of viscosity on gas holdup was not observed for microbubbles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The observation‐minus‐background (O − B) bias characteristics are compared for the Long‐Wave InfraRed (LWIR) channels of the Geostationary Interferometric Infrared Sounder (GIIRS) on board Fengyun‐4A (FY‐4A) and Fengyun‐4B (FY‐4B) satellites under clear‐sky and all‐sky conditions. Under the clear‐sky condition, the data quality of the FY‐4B/GIIRS is better than that of the FY‐4A/GIIRS. Specifically, the standard deviations (<1 K) of the O − B values for FY‐4B/GIIRS LWIR channels are smaller than those (>1 K) of the FY‐4A/GIIRS, especially in carbon dioxide (CO2) and ozone (O3) absorption bands. The diurnal variations of the mean O − B biases for the O3 band of the FY‐4B/GIIRS are less than those of FY‐4A/GIIRS. To our surprise, the diurnal variations of O − B biases for the FY‐4B/GIIRS and FY‐4A/GIIRS channels show an obvious antiphase characteristic in the CO2 band, which could be caused by diurnal environmental field variations from the different geostationary (GEO) platforms. In addition, the FY‐4B/GIIRS channel 7 (703.75 cm−1) has smaller pixel‐dependent biases than those of FY‐4A/GIIRS. Under the all‐sky condition, the observation and cloudy simulation (Bcloudy$$ {\mathrm{B}}_{\mathrm{cloudy}} $$) for channels 7 (703.75 cm−1), 36 (721.875 cm−1), and 320 (900 cm−1) of the FY‐4B/GIIRS are more consistent than those of FY‐4A/GIIRS with smaller root‐mean‐square errors (RMSEs), which also indicates a better observation quality in the cloudy area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Noninvasive skin examination evolved rapidly in recent years, with multiphoton microscopy (MPM) and reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) being used to image in‐vivo skin at high resolution. The aim of this study is to compare the imaging clarity between the two techniques and measure the thickness of the epidermis in different body sites. We also measured the degree of skin aging with noninvasive tools. Methods: Fifty‐six volunteers were evaluated and measured at three different body sites, including the cheek, volar forearm, and back. We used RCM and MPM to evaluate the clarity of each skin layer, including stratum corneum, stratum granulosum, stratum spinosum, dermo‐epidermal junction, and dermis. We measured epidermal thickness (ET) at the three body sites in individuals of different ages and genders. We assessed skin aging by the second harmonic to autofluorescence aging index of dermis (SAAID), and multiple linear regression was used to analyze the factors affecting SAAID. Results: MPM had advantages in observation of stratum granulosum, collagen fiber, and elastic fiber (p < 0.001), but RCM provided better observation in dermo‐epidermal junction layer (p < 0.001). The epidermis was thicker in the cheek area than the volar forearm and back in both RCM and MPM detection, and the average ET measured by MPM was lower than RCM. ET varied among the three body sites with significant differences (p < 0.05). ET was significantly lower at almost all sites in individuals above 40y (p < 0.05). SAAID decreased with age, and more rapidly in women. Cheeks have lower SAAID scores than other body sites. Conclusion: MPM and RCM provide noninvasive methods for imaging skin and each method has its own advantages. Epidermal thickness and SAAID correlated with age, gender, and different body sites. MPM could also assess the degree of skin aging, which could guide the clinical treatment of patients with diffferent ages and genders in the above body sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simultaneous confidence bands have been shown in the statistical literature as powerful inferential tools in univariate linear regression. While the methodology of simultaneous confidence bands for univariate linear regression has been extensively researched and well developed, no published work seems available for multivariate linear regression. This paper fills this gap by studying one particular simultaneous confidence band for multivariate linear regression. Because of the shape of the band, the word 'tube' is more pertinent and so will be used to replace the word 'band'. It is shown that the construction of the tube is related to the distribution of the largest eigenvalue. A simulation-based method is proposed to compute the 1 − α quantile of this eigenvalue. With the computation power of modern computers, the simultaneous confidence tube can be computed fast and accurately. A real-data example is used to illustrate the method, and many potential research problems have been pointed out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been a growing interest in incorporating auxiliary summary information from external studies into the analysis of internal individual‐level data. In this paper, we propose an adaptive estimation procedure for an additive risk model to integrate auxiliary subgroup survival information via a penalized method of moments technique. Our approach can accommodate information from heterogeneous data. Parameters to quantify the magnitude of potential incomparability between internal data and external auxiliary information are introduced in our framework while nonzero components of these parameters suggest a violation of the homogeneity assumption. We further develop an efficient computational algorithm to solve the numerical optimization problem by profiling out the nuisance parameters. In an asymptotic sense, our method can be as efficient as if all the incomparable auxiliary information is accurately acknowledged and has been automatically excluded from consideration. The asymptotic normality of the proposed estimator of the regression coefficients is established, with an explicit formula for the asymptotic variance‐covariance matrix that can be consistently estimated from the data. Simulation studies show that the proposed method yields a substantial gain in statistical efficiency over the conventional method using the internal data only, and reduces estimation biases when the given auxiliary survival information is incomparable. We illustrate the proposed method with a lung cancer survival study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

LDHs (Layered double hydroxides) has broad application prospects as adsorbent. Herein, a facile bio‐template route was developed using pine pollens to fabricate a novel 3D hierarchical MgFe2O4@MgAl‐LDHs adsorbent for rapid removal of organic pollutant from water. The agglomeration of the LDH sheets was prevented and evenly distributed over the surface of MgFe2O4 which resulting in large surface area (108.660 m2 g−1). The adsorption and regeneration of the adsorbent were examined. The as‐prepared MgFe2O4@MgAl‐LDHs exhibited excellent adsorption capacity (191.20 mg g−1) for Congo Red and still remained 81.61 % (156.03 mg g−1) of the first time after regenerated 3 times with methanol. Additionally, it could be conveniently recycled via an external magnetic field. The high adsorption capacity, easy recycling, and the low‐cost and readily available biomass made MgFe2O4@MgAl‐LDHs attractive for water remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Better understanding of the factors associated with formula feeding during the hospital stay can help in identifying potential lactation problems and promote early intervention. Our aim was to ascertain factors associated with exclusive formula feeding in newborns of low‐risk pregnancies. Methods: A population‐based, retrospective study using the United States vital statistics datasets (2014‐2018) evaluating low‐risk pregnancies with a nonanomalous singleton delivery from 37 to 41 weeks. People with hypertensive disorders, or diabetes, were excluded. Primary outcome was newborn feeding (breast vs exclusive formula feeding) during hospital stay. Adjusted relative risks (aRRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Results: Of the 19 623 195 live births during the study period, 11 605 242 (59.1%) met inclusion criteria and among them, 1 929 526 (16.6%) were formula fed. Factors associated with formula feeding included: age < 20 years (aRR 1.31 [95% CI 1.31‐1.32]), non‐Hispanic Black (1.42, 1.41‐1.42), high school education (1.69, 1.69‐1.70) or less than high school education (1.94, 1.93, 1.95), Medicaid insurance (1.52, 1.51, 1.52), body mass index (BMI) < 18.5 (1.10, 1.09‐1.10), BMI 25‐29.9 (1.09, 1.09‐1.09), BMI 30‐34.9 (1.19, 1.19‐1.20), BMI 35‐39.9 (1.31, 1.30‐1.31), BMI ≥ 40 (1.43, 1.42‐1.44), multiparity (1.29, 1.29‐1.30), lack of prenatal care (1.49, 1.48‐1.50), smoking (1.75, 1.74‐1.75), and gestational age (ranged from 37 weeks [1.44, 1.43‐1.45] to 40 weeks [1.11, 1.11‐1.12]). Conclusions: Using a large cohort of low‐risk pregnancies, we identified several modifiable factors associated with newborn feeding (eg, prepregnancy BMI, access to prenatal care, and smoking cessation). Improving the breast feeding initiation rate should be a priority in our current practice to ensure equitable care for all neonates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arsole-containing conjugated polymers are a practically unexplored class of materials despite the high interest in their phosphole analogues. Herein we report the synthesis of the first dithieno[3,2- b;2′,3′- d]arsole derivative, and demonstrate that it is stable to ambient oxidation in its +3 oxidation state. A soluble copolymer is obtained by a palladium-catalyzed Stille polymerization and demonstrated to be a p-type semiconductor with promising hole mobility, which was evaluated by field-effect transistor measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arsole-containing conjugated polymers are a practically unexplored class of materials despite the high interest in their phosphole analogues. Herein we report the synthesis of the first dithieno[3,2- b;2′,3′- d]arsole derivative, and demonstrate that it is stable to ambient oxidation in its +3 oxidation state. A soluble copolymer is obtained by a palladium-catalyzed Stille polymerization and demonstrated to be a p-type semiconductor with promising hole mobility, which was evaluated by field-effect transistor measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Liver disease related to hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV) may temper the success of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in China. Limited data exist on their prevalence in HIV-positive Chinese. A multi-centre, cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the prevalence and disease characteristics of HBV and HCV co-infection in HIV-positive patients across 12 provinces. Methods: HIV-positive ART-naïve patients were recruited from two parent cohorts established during November 2008–January 2010 and August 2012–September 2014. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B e antigen and HCV antibody (anti-HCV) status were retrieved from parent databases at the visit prior to ART initiation. HBV DNA was then determined in HBsAg+ patients. HCV RNA was quantified in anti-HCV+ patients. Aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI) and the fibrosis-4 (FIB4) were calculated. Chi-square test, Kruskal–Wallis test and logistic regression were used for statistical analysis, as appropriate. Results: Of 1944 HIV-positive patients, 186 (9.5%) were HIV–HBV co-infected and 161 (8.3%) were HIV–HCV co-infected. The highest HIV–HBV prevalence (14.5%) was in Eastern China while the highest HIV–HCV prevalence was in the Central region (28.2%). HIV–HBV patients had lower median CD4+T cell count (205 cells/µL) than either HIV monoinfected (242 cells/µL, P=0.01) or HIV–HCV patients (274 cells/µL, P=0.001). Moderate-to-significant liver disease was present in +65% of the HIV– HCV, ~35% of the HIV–HBV and ~20% of the HIV monoinfected patients. Independent associations with moderateto- significant liver disease based on APRI included HBV (Odds ratio, OR 2.37, P < 0.001), HCV (OR 9.64, P<0.001), CD4 count ≤200 cells/µL (OR 2.55, P<0.001) and age ≥30 years (OR 1.80, P=0.001). Conclusions: HBV and HCV prevalence is high in HIV-positive Chinese and differs by geographic region. HBV and HCV co-infection and HIV monoinfection are risks for moderate-to-significant liver disease. Only HIV–HBV is associated with greater HIV-related immunosuppression. Incorporating screening and management of hepatitis virus infections into Chinese HIV programmes is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis of a novel 3,3'-difluoro-4,4'-dihexadecyl-2,2'-bithiophene monomer and its copolymerization with thieno[3,2-b]thiophene to afford the fluorinated analogue of the well-known poly(2,5-bis(3-alkylthiophen-2-yl)thieno[3,2-b]-thiophene) (PBTTT) polymer is reported. Fluorination is found to have a significant influence on the physical properties of the polymer, enhancing aggregation in solution and increasing melting point by over 100 °C compared to nonfluorinated polymer. On the basis of DFT calculations these observations are attributed to inter and intramolecular S...F interactions. As a consequence, the fluorinated polymer PFBTTT exhibits a fourfold increase in charge carrier mobility compared to the nonfluorinated polymer and excellent ambient stability for a nonencapsulated transistor device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives To examine overall and decade-long trends (1999-2009), characteristics, treatment practices, and hospital outcomes in individuals aged 65 and older hospitalized for acute myocardial infarction ( AMI) and to describe how these factors varied in the youngest, middle, and oldest-old individuals. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Population-based Worcester Heart Attack Study. Measurements Analyses were conducted to examine the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, cardiac treatments, and hospital outcomes of older adults in three age strata (65-74, 75-84, ≥85). Participants The study sample consisted of 3,851 individuals aged 65 and older hospitalized with AMI every other year between 1999 and 2009; 32% were aged 65 to 74, 43% aged 75 to 84, and 25% aged 85 and older. Results Advancing age was inversely associated with receipt of evidence-based cardiac therapies. After multivariable adjustment, the odds of dying during hospitalization was 1.46 times as high in participants aged 75 to 84 and 1.78 times as high in those aged 85 and older as in those aged 65 to 74. The oldest-old participants had approximately 25% lower odds of a prolonged hospital stay (>3 days) than those aged 65 to 74. Decade-long trends in the principal study outcomes were also examined. Although the oldest-old participants hospitalized for AMI were at the greatest risk of dying, persistent age-related differences were observed in hospital treatment practices. Similar results were observed after excluding participants with a do-not-resuscitate order in their medical records. Conclusion Although there are persistent disparities in the care and outcomes of older adults hospitalized with AMI, additional studies are needed to delineate the extent to which less-aggressive care reflects individual preferences and appropriate implementation of palliative care approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive and age‐related disease that results from impaired lung repair following injury. Targeting senescent myofibroblasts with senolytic drugs attenuates pulmonary fibrosis, revealing a detrimental role of these cells in pulmonary fibrosis. The mechanisms underlying the occurrence and persistence of senescent myofibroblasts in fibrotic lung tissue require further clarification. In this study, we demonstrated that senescent myofibroblasts are resistant to apoptosis by upregulating the proapoptotic protein BAX and antiapoptotic protein BCL‐2 and BCL‐XL, leading to BAX inactivation. We further showed that high levels of inactive BAX‐mediated minority mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization (minority MOMP) promoted DNA damage and myofibroblasts senescence after insult by a sublethal stimulus. Intervention of minority MOMP via the inhibition of caspase activity by quinolyl‐valyl‐O‐methylaspartyl‐[2,6‐difluorophenoxy]‐methyl ketone (QVD‐OPH) or BAX knockdown significantly reduced DNA damage and ultimately delayed the progression of senescence. Moreover, the BAX activator BTSA1 selectively promoted the apoptosis of senescent myofibroblasts, as BTSA1‐activated BAX converted minority MOMP to complete MOMP while not injuring other cells with low levels of BAX. Furthermore, therapeutic activation of BAX with BTSA1 effectively reduced the number of senescent myofibroblasts in the lung tissue and alleviated both reversible and irreversible pulmonary fibrosis. These findings advance the understanding of apoptosis resistance and cellular senescence mechanisms in senescent myofibroblasts in pulmonary fibrosis and demonstrate a novel senolytic drug for pulmonary fibrosis treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High ambipolar mobility emissive conjugated polymers (HAME‐CPs) are perfect candidates for organic optoelectronic devices, such as polymer light emitting transistors. However, due to intrinsic trade‐off relationship between high ambipolar mobility and strong solid‐state luminescence, the development of HAME‐CPs suffers from high structural and synthetic complexity. Herein, a universal design principle and simple synthetic approach for HAME‐CPs are developed. A series of simple non‐fused polymers composed of charge transfer units, π bridges and emissive units are synthesized via a two‐step microwave assisted C−H arylation and direct arylation polymerization protocol with high total yields up to 61 %. The synthetic protocol is verified valid among 7 monomers and 8 polymers. Most importantly, all 8 conjugated polymers have strong solid‐state emission with high photoluminescence quantum yields up to 24 %. Furthermore, 4 polymers exhibit high ambipolar field effect mobility up to 10−2 cm2 V−1 s−1, and can be used in multifunctional optoelectronic devices. This work opens a new avenue for developing HAME‐CPs by efficient synthesis and rational design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High ambipolar mobility emissive conjugated polymers (HAME‐CPs) are perfect candidates for organic optoelectronic devices, such as polymer light emitting transistors. However, due to intrinsic trade‐off relationship between high ambipolar mobility and strong solid‐state luminescence, the development of HAME‐CPs suffers from high structural and synthetic complexity. Herein, a universal design principle and simple synthetic approach for HAME‐CPs are developed. A series of simple non‐fused polymers composed of charge transfer units, π bridges and emissive units are synthesized via a two‐step microwave assisted C−H arylation and direct arylation polymerization protocol with high total yields up to 61 %. The synthetic protocol is verified valid among 7 monomers and 8 polymers. Most importantly, all 8 conjugated polymers have strong solid‐state emission with high photoluminescence quantum yields up to 24 %. Furthermore, 4 polymers exhibit high ambipolar field effect mobility up to 10−2 cm2 V−1 s−1, and can be used in multifunctional optoelectronic devices. This work opens a new avenue for developing HAME‐CPs by efficient synthesis and rational design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have developed a new precursor, 3,17 β-O-bis(methoxymethyl)-16 β-O-p-nitrobenzenesulfonylestriol (14c) of 16 α-[18F]fluoroestradiol ([18F]FES). Although we could not selectively protect the C17 alcohol in the presence of the C16 alcohol, we were able to prepare and chromatographically isolate the desired C16 TBDMS, C17,C3-dimethoxymethyl (diMOM) protected estriol derivative and convert into the ultimate fluorination precursor. The MOM protective group proved to be more quickly removed than the cyclic sulfate group. The di-MOM protective precursor at the C3 and C17 alcohols instead of a cyclic sulfate group shortened hydrolysis time. We prepared three different sulfonate precursors at C16 alcohol. After checking their reactivity in the [18F]fluorination step and considering the stability of the precursors, we obtained the best results with nosylate precursor 14c. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Superficial basal cell carcinoma (SBCC) is the rare subtype of basal cell carcinoma (BCC). BCC occurs in exposed areas such as the head and face, SCBB prone to form in trunk. Due to the manifestation of erythema and desquamation, it is prone to misdiagnosed as Bowen's disease in clinica. Materials and methods: A 68‐year‐old female presented with coin‐sized erythema located on the lower abdomen for 5 years. Histopathological examination was performed, and results informed the diagnosis of SBCC. Lesions were detected by dermoscopy, reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) and multiphoton microscopy (MPM). Results: Dermoscopy revealed yellow–red background with more dendritic and linear proliferating vessels and more blue‐gray nonaggregated dots structures. RCM displayed streaming of stratum spinosum, tortuous dilated vessels, highlighted inflammatory cells, and medium refraction round and oval tumor cell masses. MPM showed epidermal cells in polar arrangement, increased cell spacing, disorganized stratum granulosum and elastic fibers are gathered in clusters. Conclusion: We described a case of SBCC detected by dermoscopy, RCM and MPM. Noninvasive imaging features may provide a potentially tools in recognition and differentiation of SBCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY The cascaded H-bridge (CHB) multilevel inverter is being recognized as the most suitable topology for high-power medium-voltage power quality conditioning applications. This paper presents mathematical modeling and effective controller design methodology for the CHB-based active power filters (APFs), which achieves dynamic reactive power and harmonic compensation. The most crucial problems in CHB-APF control are the simultaneous requirements of both accurate harmonic current compensation and the dc-link voltage stabilization among the H-bridges, which is the prerequisite for the stable operation of CHB-APF. To achieve dc-link stabilization, a novel voltage balancing algorithm is proposed by splitting the dc-link voltage control task into two parts, namely, the average voltage control and the voltage balancing control, where the sine and cosine functions of the phase angle of the fundamental component of the grid voltage are used, respectively. To ensure accurate phase tracking, a novel phase-locked loop (PLL) is proposed by using the adaptive linear neural network (ADALINE), where the grid voltage background distortion is also taken into account. The superior performance of the ADALINE-PLL is validated by comparison with the existing PLLs in literatures. Furthermore, the proportional-resonant (PR) controller is used for the reference current tracking. A separate ADALINE algorithm is applied for reference current generation (RCG) for the CHB-APF. The excellent performance of the ADALINE-based RCG scheme is verified by comparison with the existing RCG schemes, namely, the low-pass filter approach and the single-phase p − qmethod. The experimental results on the three modules CHB-APF are presented, which verifies the effectiveness of the proposed control algorithms. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction data are analyzed in detail by the Rietveld structure refinement program to obtain microscopic structure changes of Sr0.5Ba0.5Nb2O6 (SBN50) doped with combinations of Ce and Cr. The defects of Ce and (Ce,Cr)-doped SBN50 are determined by the densification behavior, and it is found that creation of Nb vacancies and self-compensation are the defect reactions for Ce and (Ce, Cr) dopants, respectively. The variations of the lattice parameters of a and c axes with doping content are determined by the changes of the distance between A1 and A2 sites via Coulomb interactions and the mean bond length of Nb(1)–O(4), respectively. It is confirmed that the polarization of SBN50 is mainly determined by the displacement of Nb ions. The effect of random fields induced by the impurities of the combinations of Ce and Cr on the displacement of off-center Nb ions has been reasonably explained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electronic conduction behavior above the Verwey-like transition temperature ( Tv) of Ni2+- and Al3+-doped LiMn2O4 has been reassessed. The nonadiabatic small-polaron model is adopted to assess the conduction mechanism. The Jahn–Teller distortion and short-range ordering are found to play a role in the variations of the lattice parameter and conduction behavior above Tv. It is also found that the effect of the dopant content on the activation energy is minor but is significant on the preexponential factor during the hopping process above Tv. In simultaneously comparing the effects of the dopants with quite different chemistry on the electronic-conduction behavior in Ni2+- and Al3+-doped LiMn2O4, it indeed provides a deep sight into understanding the fundamental conduction mechanism above Tv. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are two kinds of conformational forms of adenylate kinase (AK) in equilibrium in solution with different ANS-binding properties. Furthermore, the nature of AP5A inhibition suggests also that the native forms of AK for binding with different substrates pre-exist in the absence of substrates. In the present study, a kinetics approach was used to explore the native forms distinguished by ANS-binding properties and by the nature of AP5A inhibition. The results revealed that the native forms distinguished by ANS probe are two conformational sub-ensembles. Both sub-ensembles are active and consist of a series of forms, which pre-exist in solution and can bind with different substrates. The Km values of N1 for AMP, ADP and MgATP are larger than that of N2, indicating that the N2 sub-ensemble is more specific for binding substrates. This is consistent with the previous observation that the activity of N2 is about 1.8-fold of that of N1. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The controlled wild algebra is introduced, a covering criterion for a finite-dimensional algebra to be controlled wild is given, and this criterion is applied to the algebras with radical square zero, algebras with zero relations, local algebras and finite p-group algebras.2000 Mathematical Subject Classification: 16G20, 16G60. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing amount of electronic exerts a profound impact on both the environment and human health. Looking forward, it is imperative to develop electronic products that can degrade under mind condition, which largely relies on the development of degradable organic semiconductors (OSCs). Yet, designing degradable OSCs with decent electrical properties is challenging. In this study, two degradable n‐type OSCs based on a dynamic covalent C═C bond formed via the Knoevenagel condensation reaction are reported. The cleavage of Knoevenagel formed C═C bond through a retro‐Knoevenagel process imparts the degradability of these two OSCs in the weak base, particularly in the human‐friendly α‐amino acid of lysine. Meanwhile, the C═C bond formed by Knoevenagel reaction preserves optimal backbone planarity and good electron delocalization of the molecules. This, in turn, endows the OSCs with commendable electron transport performance, achieving an electron mobility of up to 0.57 cm2 V⁻¹ s⁻¹ in organic thin‐film transistors. This work provides a new insight into the molecular design strategy for the development of OSCs with degradability and good electrical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Methods Results Conclusions Acute urticaria is a prevalent inflammatory dermatosis characterized by fulminant wheals, often accompanied by severe pruritis. It may also cause nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Numerous studies have substantiated the pivotal involvement of double‐stranded DNA (dsDNA) in autoimmunity. However, the role of dsDNA in the pathogenesis of acute urticaria is unclear.We measured serum dsDNA levels in patients and controls. The relationship between dsDNA levels and environmental exposures (temperature, ultraviolet [UV] index, and season) was investigated by correlating disease onset dates with archived meteorological data. Finally, we used quantitative PCR to determine the expressions of genes encoding dsDNA receptors, single‐stranded RNA (ssRNA) receptors, exosome formation, and type I interferon in the peripheral blood of patients and controls.Serum dsDNA levels were significantly higher in patients with acute urticaria compared with controls (mean values 1.38 and 0.94 ng/ml, respectively, P < 0.001). dsDNA levels were higher in patients exposed to higher environmental temperatures and UV indices and were higher during the summer months. We also found that the expressions of genes encoding dsDNA receptors, ssRNA receptors, absent in melanoma factor 2 (AIM2)‐related inflammatory factors, and interferon alpha were up‐regulated in patients.We demonstrated that serum dsDNA levels are elevated in acute urticaria and are influenced by climatic factors such as temperature, ultraviolet index, and season. We also found that elevated dsDNA promotes the expression of AIM2‐related factors and type I interferons. This study generates new hypotheses regarding the pathogenesis of acute urticaria and suggests novel therapeutic targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of thienoisoindigo (TIG)‐based conjugated polymers (CPs) with high molecular weights are synthesized by direct arylation polycondensation (DArP) by using TIG derivatives as CBr monomer and multi‐halogenated thiophene derivatives, i.e., (E)–1,2‐bis(3,4‐difluorothien‐2‐yl)ethene (4FTVT), (E)–1,2‐bis(3,4‐dichlorothien‐2‐yl)ethene (4ClTVT), 3,3',4,4'‐tetrafluoro‐2,2'‐bithiophene (4FBT), and 3,3',4,4'‐tetrachloro‐2,2'‐bithiophene (4ClBT), as CH monomers. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal the high selectivity between α‐CH bonds in 4FTVT, 4ClTVT, 4FBT, and 4ClBT and β‐CH bonds in TIG CBr monomer. All four resulting CPs exhibit low optical bandgaps of ca. 1.20 eV and ambipolar transport characteristics with both electron and hole mobility above 0.1 cm2 V−1 s−1 as elaborated with organic thin‐film transistors (OTFTs). The polymer TIG‐4FTVT delivers the best device performance. With this polymer, n‐channel OTFTs with electron mobility up to 1.67 cm2 V−1 s−1 and p‐channel OTFTs with hole mobility up to 0.62 cm2 V−1 s−1 are fabricated by modifying source/drain electrodes with polyethylenimine ethoxylated (PEIE) and MoO3, respectively, to selectively inject electrons and holes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Stille cross‐coupling reaction is one of the most common strategies for the construction of C−C bonds. Despite notable strides in the advancement of the Stille reaction, persistent challenges persist in hindering its greener evolution. These challenges encompass multiple facets, such as the high cost of precious metals and ligands, the demand for various additives, and the slow reaction rate. In comparison to the dominant palladium‐catalysed Stille reactions, cost‐effective nickel‐catalysed systems lag behind, and enantioconvergent Stille reactions of racemic stannanes remain undeveloped. Herein, we present a pioneering instance of nickel‐catalysed enantioconvergent Stille cross‐coupling reactions of racemic stannane reagents, resulting in the formation of C−C bonds in good to high yields with excellent stereoselectivity. This strategy provides a practical, scalable, and operationally straightforward method for the synthesis of C(sp3)−C(sp3), C(sp3)−C(sp2), and C(sp3)−C(sp) bonds under exceptionally mild conditions (without additives and bases, ambient temperature). The innovative use of synergistic photoredox/nickel catalysis enables a novel single‐electron transmetalation process of stannane reagents, providing a new research paradigm of Stille reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Stille cross‐coupling reaction is one of the most common strategies for the construction of C−C bonds. Despite notable strides in the advancement of the Stille reaction, persistent challenges persist in hindering its greener evolution. These challenges encompass multiple facets, such as the high cost of precious metals and ligands, the demand for various additives, and the slow reaction rate. In comparison to the dominant palladium‐catalysed Stille reactions, cost‐effective nickel‐catalysed systems lag behind, and enantioconvergent Stille reactions of racemic stannanes remain undeveloped. Herein, we present a pioneering instance of nickel‐catalysed enantioconvergent Stille cross‐coupling reactions of racemic stannane reagents, resulting in the formation of C−C bonds in good to high yields with excellent stereoselectivity. This strategy provides a practical, scalable, and operationally straightforward method for the synthesis of C(sp3)−C(sp3), C(sp3)−C(sp2), and C(sp3)−C(sp) bonds under exceptionally mild conditions (without additives and bases, ambient temperature). The innovative use of synergistic photoredox/nickel catalysis enables a novel single‐electron transmetalation process of stannane reagents, providing a new research paradigm of Stille reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

3,4‐Difluorothiophene‐substituted aryls, i.e., 1,4‐bis(3,4‐difluorothiophen‐2‐yl)‐benzene (Ph‐2FTh), 1,4‐bis(3,4‐difluorothiophen‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐difluorobenzene (2FPh‐2FTh), and 4,7‐bis(3,4‐difluorothiophen‐2‐yl)‐2,1,3‐benzothiadiazole (BTz‐2FTh), are synthesized as C─H monomers for the synthesis of conjugated polymers (CPs) via direct arylation polycondensation (DArP) with diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) and isoindigo (IID) derivatives as C─Br monomers. The Gibbs free energies of activation for direct arylation (ΔG298 K, kcal mol−1) for α─C─H bonds of thiophene moieties as calculated by density functional theory (DFT) are 14.3, 16.5, and 16.4 kcal mol−1 for Ph‐2FTh, 2FPh‐2FTh and BTz‐2FTh, respectively, meaning that inserting an electron‐deficient unit in 3,3′,4,4′‐tetrafluoro‐2,2′‐bithiophene (4FBT, ΔG298K: 14.6 kcal mol−1) may cause a reactivity decrease of the C─H monomers. Photophysical and semiconducting properties of the resulting six CPs (i.e., DPP‐Ph, DPP‐2FPh, DPP‐BTz, 2FIID‐Ph, 2FIID‐2FPh, and 2FIID‐BTz) are characterized in detail. DPP‐based CPs show ambipolar transport properties while IID‐based ones exhibited n‐type behavior owing to the deeper frontier molecular orbital energy levels of IID‐based CPs. With source/drain electrodes modified with polyethylenimine ethoxylated, n‐channel organic thin‐film transistors with maximum electron mobility of 0.40, 0.54, 0.29, 0.05, 0.16, and 0.01 cm2 V−1 s−1 for DPP‐Ph, DPP‐2FPh, DPP‐BTz, 2FIID‐Ph, 2FIID‐2FPh, and 2FIID‐BTz, respectively, are fabricated. DPP‐2FPh exhibits the best device performance due to the good film morphology and the highest intermolecular packing order. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of 1565‐nm nonablative fractional laser (NAFL) combined with mucopolysaccharide polysulfate (MPS) cream in the treatment of erythematous acne scars. Methods: A total of 28 subjects with erythematous acne scars from June 2021 to April 2022 were enrolled. One side of each subject's face was randomly assigned to be treated with 1565‐nm NAFL (at 2 sessions with four‐week intervals) combined with MPS cream (twice daily) for 8 weeks, and the other side with 1565‐nm NAFL combined with placebo cream. CBS® images and parameters, dermoscopic images and the quantitative data processed by ImageJ software, and quantitative global scarring grading system (GSS) score were obtained at baseline and after treatment. Subjects' satisfaction assessment was performed after treatment. Adverse events were recorded during treatment. Results: In CBS® parameters, the red area, red area concentration, and smoothness were improved more significantly on the 1565‐nm NAFL combined with MPS cream side than on the 1565‐nm NAFL combined with placebo cream side after treatment (p = 0.015, p = 0.013, and p = 0.021). For dermoscopy, both scar area and scar redness achieved a significantly greater percentage of improvement on the side of 1565‐nm NAFL combined with MPS cream than the side of 1565‐nm NAFL combined with placebo cream after treatment (p = 0.005 and p = 0.041). The reduction of quantitative GSS score and Subjects' satisfaction assessment were similarly superior on the 1565‐nm NAFL combined with MPS cream side. Temporary erythema was experienced by all subjects after each 1565‐nm NAFL treatment. No subject reported intolerance or allergy to the cream during follow‐up. Conclusions: The combined application of 1565‐nm NAFL and MPS cream could be an effective and safe treatment for erythematous acne scars. ImageJ software enables quantitative evaluation of dermoscopic images of acne scars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, a compact triple‐mode balanced passband filter with intrinsic common‐mode (CM) suppression is designed by using a single isosceles right triangle perturbed half‐mode substrate integrated waveguide (HMSIW) cavity. The perturbation metallic vias are introduced to tune the first three resonant modes of HMSIW cavity to form a passband. Furthermore, the planar differential microstrip‐pin feed structure is designed to excite the perturbed substrate integrated waveguide cavity. Under CM operation, when the substrate's height is less than λg/4, the space between perfect electric conductor and perfect magnetic conductor cannot transmit electromagnetic wave, so CM noise can effectively cut off at the planar differential feed structure in a wide frequency range. Finally, a prototyped prototype at 4.5 GHz is designed and fabricated, and measured results show good agreement with simulated ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]