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Summary: Sterols have long been associated with diverse fields, such as cancer treatment, drug development, and plant growth; however, their underlying mechanisms and functions remain enigmatic. Here, we unveil a critical role played by a GmNF‐YC9‐mediated CCAAT‐box transcription complex in modulating the steroid metabolism pathway within soybeans. Specifically, this complex directly activates squalene monooxygenase (GmSQE1), which is a rate‐limiting enzyme in steroid synthesis. Our findings demonstrate that overexpression of either GmNF‐YC9 or GmSQE1 significantly enhances soybean stress tolerance, while the inhibition of SQE weakens this tolerance. Field experiments conducted over two seasons further reveal increased yields per plant in both GmNF‐YC9 and GmSQE1 overexpressing plants under drought stress conditions. This enhanced stress tolerance is attributed to the reduction of abiotic stress‐induced cell oxidative damage. Transcriptome and metabolome analyses shed light on the upregulation of multiple sterol compounds, including fucosterol and soyasaponin II, in GmNF‐YC9 and GmSQE1 overexpressing soybean plants under stress conditions. Intriguingly, the application of soybean steroids, including fucosterol and soyasaponin II, significantly improves drought tolerance in soybean, wheat, foxtail millet, and maize. These findings underscore the pivotal role of soybean steroids in countering oxidative stress in plants and offer a new research strategy for enhancing crop stress tolerance and quality from gene regulation to chemical intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Haplotype‐resolved 3D chromatin architecture related to allelic differences in avian skeletal muscle development has not been addressed so far, although chicken husbandry for meat consumption has been prevalent feature of cultures on every continent for more than thousands of years. Here, high‐resolution Hi‐C diploid maps (1.2‐kb maximum resolution) are generated for skeletal muscle tissues in chicken across three developmental stages (embryonic day 15 to day 30 post‐hatching). The sequence features governing spatial arrangement of chromosomes and characterize homolog pairing in the nucleus, are identified. Multi‐scale characterization of chromatin reorganization between stages from myogenesis in the fetus to myofiber hypertrophy after hatching show concordant changes in transcriptional regulation by relevant signaling pathways. Further interrogation of parent‐of‐origin‐specific chromatin conformation supported that genomic imprinting is absent in birds. This study also reveals promoter‐enhancer interaction (PEI) differences between broiler and layer haplotypes in skeletal muscle development‐related genes are related to genetic variation between breeds, however, only a minority of breed‐specific variations likely contribute to phenotypic divergence in skeletal muscle potentially via allelic PEI rewiring. Beyond defining the haplotype‐specific 3D chromatin architecture in chicken, this study provides a rich resource for investigating allelic regulatory divergence among chicken breeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive Summary: A general and convenient photoredox‐catalyzed acylation and alkylcyanation of MBH acetates has been established, enabling the assembly of the C(sp2)–C(sp3) bond by a nitrogen‐centered radical strategy for the synthesis of trisubstituted alkenes in moderate to excellent chemical yields (48 examples in total). The reaction of MBH acetates with acyl (indanone) oxime esters afforded trisubstituted alkenes containing 1,4‐dicarbonyl groups. Interestingly, the use of Eosin Y as a photocatalyst in the catalytic system resulted in the formation of distal cyano group‐anchored trisubstituted alkenes via deconstructive functionalization of cycloketone oxime esters. Notably, these resulting 1,4‐dicarbonyl compounds could be applied to late‐stage transformations, providing important methods for the synthesis of dihydropyridazin‐3(2H)‐one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As deep learning evolves, neural network structures become increasingly sophisticated, bringing a series of new optimisation challenges. For example, deep neural networks (DNNs) are vulnerable to a variety of attacks. Training neural networks under privacy constraints is a method to alleviate privacy leakage, and one way to do this is to add noise to the gradient. However, the existing optimisers suffer from weak convergence in the presence of increased noise during training, which leads to a low robustness of the optimiser. To stabilise and improve the convergence of DNNs, the authors propose a neural dynamics (ND) optimiser, which is inspired by the zeroing neural dynamics originated from zeroing neural networks. The authors first analyse the relationship between DNNs and control systems. Then, the authors construct the ND optimiser to update network parameters. Moreover, the proposed ND optimiser alleviates the non‐convergence problem that may be suffered by adding noise to the gradient from different scenarios. Furthermore, experiments are conducted on different neural network structures, including ResNet18, ResNet34, Inception‐v3, MobileNet, and long and short‐term memory network. Comparative results using CIFAR, YouTube Faces, and R8 datasets demonstrate that the ND optimiser improves the accuracy and stability of DNNs under noise‐free and noise‐polluted conditions. The source code is publicly available at https://github.com/LongJin‐lab/ND. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traumatic brain injury (TBI), recognized as the world's most serious public health problem, currently lacks effective treatment options. The development of the patch has great clinical significance whether it is used as a skull implant material or TBI repair. In response to this critical health challenge, a novel 3D‐printed bi‐layer cranial‐brain patch (SMB6) with dual functionality, addressing both TBI repair and skull regeneration, is developed. In the first layer, the incorporation of high concentrations of mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles establishes a microenvironment for bone regeneration. Meanwhile, the second layer, comprised of methacrylated silk fibroin hydrogel, provides essential mechanical support for nanocell membrane vesicles loaded with macrophage colony‐stimulating factor and interleukin‐6. This innovative design aims to interrupt the cascade of secondary brain injury. In experimental models of TBI, SMB6 demonstrates remarkable efficacy in inhibiting brain edema, exerting therapeutic effects on blood vessels, nerves, and inflammation. Additionally, promising outcomes are observed in promoting bone regeneration in skull defect models. This work not only introduces a potential therapeutic patch for TBI‐related diseases but also provides novel insights for the clinical translation of cranial patches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The derivatization of pillar[n]arenes is a prerequisite for endowing them with functions, as well as enriching the application of pillar[n]arene materials in advanced material science. Herein, we report the self‐assembly of amphiphilic rim‐differentiated pillar[5]arene (H1). One side of the pillar[5]arene is composed of hydrophilic poly(ethylene oxide) chains, benzene and azobenzene groups connected with ether bonds, and the other side is composed of ethoxy groups. In CHCl3 solvent, the amphiphile H1 self‐assembled into spherical micelles, while in H2O/THF mixed solvent H1 self‐assembled into nanorod‐like assemblies. Interestingly, addition of a guest molecule composed of tetraphenylethene and hexanenitrile groups (G1) to the CHCl3 solution of H1 produces large sheet aggregates via the strong π–π stacking of rod segments. The reversible transformation between the nanosheet assemblies of host–guest complexes and nanoparticles is achieved by addition of the guest molecule 1,4‐butylamine (G2) and pillar[5]arene with ethoxy groups as competitive molecules. Notably, worm‐like and nanorod micelles of H1 were constructed in H2O/THF solution triggered by light irradiation, which assemblies can be used as photosensitive erasable writing materials. © 2023 Society of Industrial Chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The meta‐analysis aimed to assess renal function (RF) as a risk factor for diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). Using dichotomous or contentious random or fixed effect models, the outcomes of this meta‐analysis were examined, and the odds Ratio (OR) and the mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were computed. 16 examinations from 2004 to 2023 were enrolled for the present meta‐analysis, including 808 914 individuals with diabetes mellitus (DM). DFU had significantly higher chronic renal failure (OR, 3.17; 95% CI, 1.97–5.09, p < 0.001), higher serum Creatinine (MD, 29.30; 95% CI, 9.68–48.92, p = 0.003), and a low estimated glomerular filtration rate (MD, −15.31; 95% CI, −19.36 to −11.26, p < 0.001) compared to non‐DFU patients with DM. The examined data revealed that DFU had significantly higher chronic renal failure, higher serum Creatinine, and a low estimated glomerular filtration rate compared to non‐DFU patients with DM. Yet, attention should be paid to its values since some comparisons had a low number of selected studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cadmium (Cd) as a ubiquitous toxic heavy metal is reported to affect the nervous system. Selenium (Se) has been shown to have antagonistic effects against heavy metal toxicity. In addition, it shows potential antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory properties. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine the possible mechanism of brain injury after high Cd exposure and the mitigation of Nano‐selenium (Nano‐Se) against Cd‐induced brain injury. In this study, the Cd‐treated group showed a decrease in the number of neurons in brain tissue, swelling of the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria, and the formation of autophagosomes. Nano‐Se intervention restored Cd‐caused alterations in neuronal morphology, endoplasmic reticulum, and mitochondrial structure, thereby reducing neuronal damage. Furthermore, we found that some differentially expressed genes were involved in cell junction and molecular functions. Subsequently, we selected eleven (11) related differentially expressed genes for verification. The qRT‐PCR results revealed the same trend of results as determined by RNA‐Seq. Our findings also showed that Nano‐Se supplementation alleviated Cx43 phosphorylation induced by Cd exposure. Based on immunofluorescence colocalization it was demonstrated that higher expression of GFAP and lower expressions of Cx43 were restored by Nano‐Se supplementation. In conclusion, the data presented in this study establish a direct association between the phosphorylation of Cx43 and the occurrence of autophagy and neuroinflammation. However, it is noteworthy that the introduction of Nano‐Se supplementation has been observed to mitigate these alterations. These results elucidate the relieving effect of Nano‐Se on Cd exposure‐induced brain injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a miniaturized broadband microstrip patch antenna with a simple geometry. The radiation patch of this antenna comprises two rectangular patches with slightly different sizes, one side of each patch is grounded by metal via‐holes. Two rectangular patches are connected by a microstrip line and fed by a single port. Two rectangular patches produce two closely resonant frequencies achieving broadband performance. This antenna operates on the resonant method of short‐circuiting on one side. Metal via‐holes act as a short‐circuit wall allowing each patch to operate in TM0.5,0 mode. The size of a 1/4 wavelength resonant patch is only half of a conventional microstrip antenna, the overall size of this antenna is almost as same as a conventional rectangular microstrip antenna, making it compact in size. The wideband is achieved by combining two radiating patches, resulting in stable radiation and flat gain. Measurement results show that the antenna has an impedance bandwidth of 4.35− $-$5.10 GHz (15.8%) using a common dielectric substrate without air layer thickness additionally. The maximum measured realized gain is 4.61 dB. This antenna has advantages of wide bandwidth, low profile, flat gain and ease of manufacturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Genetic diversity driven by natural selection contributes to population divergence in amphibians, thus facilitating local adaptation to climate change. Understanding the mechanisms of genetic adaptation is one of the important issues in evolutionary biology. This study set out to reveal drivers responsible for intraspecific divergence in Fejervarya multistriata and further investigate the potential involvement of selected genes in responding to climate challenges. Location: China. Method: To identify adaptive traits associated with climate change, we conducted genome RAD‐seq of 300 F. multistriata individuals from 15 locations across a bio‐geographical range with gradual climatic variation in China. Results: The results indicate a substantial genetic diversity among populations of F. multistriata and highlight specific genes and pathways that likely contribute to intraspecific divergence. The demographic history of F. multistriata can be traced back to the last interglacial period, during which elevated temperatures may have led to a significant decline in effective population size. The analysis of genome‐climate association identified five candidate genes (BMP2K, NRAP, ZW10, MYH1 and PLB1) potentially involved in local climate adaptation. Main Conclusions: Our findings have shed light on the genetic mechanisms of local adaptation to climate change in F. multistriata, thereby aiding in determining the possible fate of populations under future climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a gastrointestinal tract malignancy. Exosomes secreted by cancer‐associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are reported to participate in tumor progression by delivering noncoding RNA or small proteins. However, the function of exosomal miR‐522‐3p in CRC remains unclear. Methods: CAFs were derived from tumor tissues, and exosomes were identified by western blot or TEM/NTA and originated from CAFs/NFs. The viability, invasion, and migration of HUVECs and CRC cells was examined using MTT, Transwell, and wound healing assays, respectively. The molecular interactions were validated using dual luciferase reporter assay and RIP. Xenograft and lung metastasis mouse models were generated to assess tumor growth and metastasis. Results: Exosomes extracted from CAFs/NFs showed high expression of CD63, CD81, and TSG101. CAF‐derived exosomes significantly increased the viability, angiogenesis, invasion, and migration of HUVECs and CRC cells, thereby aggravating tumor growth, invasion, and angiogenesis in vivo. miR‐522‐3p was upregulated in CAF‐derived exosomes and CRC tissues. Depletion of miR‐522‐3p reversed the effect of exosomes derived from CAFs in migration, angiogenesis, and invasion of HUVECs and CRC cells. Furthermore, bone morphogenetic protein 5 (BMP5) was identified as a target gene of miR‐522‐3p, and upregulation of BMP5 reversed the promoting effect of miR‐522‐3p mimics or CAF‐derived exosomes on cell invasion, migration, and angiogenesis of HUVECs and CRC cells. Conclusion: Exosomal miR‐522‐3p from CAFs promoted the growth and metastasis of CRC through downregulating BMP5, which might provide new strategies for the treatment of CRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of adalimumab (ADA) combined with Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F (TwHF) in the treatment of methotrexate (MTX)‐inadequate response patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: In this multicenter, open‐label, randomized controlled clinical trial, 64 RA patients with inadequate response to MTX were 1:1 randomly assigned into treatment or control groups. The treatment group was treated with ADA in combination with TwHF, and the control group was treated with ADA in combination with MTX for 24 weeks. The primary endpoint was the percentage of patients having low disease activity (2.6 ≤ DAS28‐ESR < 3.2) and remission rates (DAS28‐ESR < 2.6) at week 24. Results: In total, 53 of the 64 patients (82.8%) completed this 24‐week clinical trial. By intent‐to‐treat (ITT) analysis, a comparable outcome was observed between the two groups. The percentage of patients achieving low disease activity in the treatment group and control group were 43.8% and 46.9% (95% CI, 21.28 to 27.48, p =.802). Percentage of patients achieving low disease activity rates were respectively 28.1% and 31.3% in the treatment group and control group (95% CI, 19.18 to 25.58, p =.784). In per‐protocol (PP) analysis, the results were consistent with the ITT model. The incidence of adverse events was comparable between the two groups. Conclusions: There were no significant differences in efficacy and safety between ADA combined with TwHF versus ADA combined with MTX in the treatment of RA. TwHF might be an alternative treatment for RA patients who are intolerant to MTX. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mesoscale effect of climate change and engineering activities on a superficial frozen soil–rock mixture (FSRM) in regions is complex. The decrease in strength caused by particle ice film ablation under temperature rise has various effects, such as upper subgrade settlement deformation. However, the internal mechanism of FSRM strength degradation remains unclear. Triaxial and nuclear magnetic resonance tests on FSRM were performed at various temperatures to clarify the mechanism of FSRM internal degradation. The results show that the strength, cohesion, and internal friction angle of FSRM decrease with increasing temperature, and the attenuation is significant in the range of −5 to 0°C. The change in ice–water content can be divided into three stages (i.e., freezing, phase transformation, and complete melting). In the three stages, the maximum free water is only 24%, while the maximum bound water is 100% above 0°C. Based on the microscopic test results, a mesoscopic calculation model for FSRM particles was developed. It was found that the work between particles is consistent with the law of strength degradation, and the friction function by particles gradually changes to bite work with increasing temperature. By introducing the strain energy theory, the strain energy generated by particle shear work is considered the key index to reflect FSRM strength. The particle ice film locking effect is weakened under temperature rise, and the increase in water weakens the strain energy generated by the work of the bite friction between particles during the shear process. At the macro level, the strength of FSRM deteriorates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epidemiological data show people with diabetes mellitus (DM) have three‐fold increase in risk of periodontitis. A vitamin D insufficiency can affect the progression of DM and periodontitis. This study evaluated the effects of different‐dose vitamin D supplementation to nonsurgical periodontal therapy for vitamin‐D‐insufficient diabetic patients coexisting with periodontitis and changes of gingival bone morphogenetic protein‐2 (BMP‐2) levels. The study included 30 vitamin‐D‐insufficient patients receiving nonsurgical treatment followed by administration of 25,000 international units (IU) vitamin D3 per week (the low‐VD group) and 30 patients receiving 50,000 UI vitamin D per week (the high‐VD group). The decreases of probing pocket depth, clinical attachment loss, bleeding index, and periodontal plaque index values of patients after the six‐month supplementation of 50,000 UI vitamin D3 per week to nonsurgical treatment were more significant than those after the six‐month supplementation of 25,000 UI vitamin D3 per week to nonsurgical treatment. It was found that 50,000 IU per week vitamin D supplementation for 6 months could lead to a better glycemic control for vitamin‐D‐insufficient diabetic patients coexisting with periodontitis after nonsurgical periodontal therapy. Increased levels of serum 25(OH) vitamin D3 and gingival BMP‐2 were found in both low‐ and high‐dose VD groups, and the high‐dose VD group exhibited higher levels than the low‐dose VD group. Vitamin D supplementation in large doses for 6 months tended to improve the treatment of periodontitis and increase gingival BMP‐2 levels in diabetic patients coexisting with periodontitis who were vitamin D deficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recycling of molybdenum isotopes in continental subduction zones remains debated. In this contribution, we re‐visit the Mo isotope compositions of the Sailipu post‐collisional ultrapotassic rocks in the Himalaya‐southern Tibet orogen. These ultrapotassic rocks have very varying δ98/95Mo values of −0.66 to −0.07‰ and Mo/Ce ratios of 0.0008–0.005, which are lower than those of mid‐ocean ridge basalts (MORB; δ98/95Mo = −0.20 ± 0.06‰, and Mo/Ce = 0.03) and oceanic subduction‐related (i.e., mantle source involving fluids, residual slab, or oceanic sediments) magmatic rocks (e.g., modern arc lavas, Cenozoic OIB‐type basalts in eastern China and the central Mariana Trough basalts in the back‐arc basin, syn‐collisional andesitic rocks in southern Tibet). Combined with the light Mo isotopes of the Himalayan schists and gneisses, we suggest that the light Mo isotopic signature of the Sailipu ultrapotassic rocks is derived from subducted Indian continental crust. This is consistent with the extremely low δ11B (−17.4 to −9.7‰) and B/Nb (0.16–1) values and enriched Sr‐Nd‐Pb isotopes of the Sailipu ultrapotassic rocks. Thus, this study reveals the recycling of light Mo‐B isotopes during continental subduction and demonstrates that Mo‐B isotopes can effectively distinguish between continental and oceanic subduction. Plain Language Summary: Mo isotope systematics have been widely applied in the study of tracing recycled crustal materials, and abundant researches have proposed that heavy Mo isotopic compositions of arc‐mafic magma can be ascribed to slab‐dehydrated fluids. However, in continental subduction zones, the origin of the light Mo isotopes of post‐collisional mafic rocks (oceanic sediments during prior oceanic subduction vs. subducted continental crust) remains controversial, hindering our understanding of the recycling of continental crustal materials. In this study, we report new Mo isotope data of post‐collisional ultrapotassic rocks in the Lhasa block of the southern Tibetan plateau. We have used Mo isotope data along with B‐Sr‐Nd‐Pb isotopes of these ultrapotassic rocks, in combination with Mo‐B‐Sr‐Nd‐Pb isotopes of the Himalayan crustal rocks (e.g., gneisses and schists) to trace the crustal components in the post‐collisional mantle beneath southern Tibet. We concluded that the light Mo and B isotope compositions in southern Tibet were derived from subducted Indian continental crust rather than Neo‐Tethyan oceanic sediments. Thus, this study not only reveals the recycling of light Mo‐B isotopes in this typical collision orogen (i.e., Himalaya‐Tibet orogen) but also shows the potential in discriminating between oceanic subduction metasomatism and continental subduction metasomatism. Key Points: Post‐collisional ultrapotassic rocks in southern Tibet have extremely light Mo and B isotope compositionsThese light Mo‐B isotope features are derived from subducted Indian continental crustMo‐B isotopes have the potential to discriminate between oceanic and continental subduction [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deciphering variations in chromosome conformations based on bulk three‐dimensional (3D) genomic data from heterogenous tissues is a key to understanding cell‐type specific genome architecture and dynamics. Surprisingly, computational deconvolution methods for high‐throughput chromosome conformation capture (Hi‐C) data remain very rare in the literature. Here, a deep convolutional neural network (CNN), deconvolve bulk Hi‐C data (deCOOC) that remarkably outperformed all the state‐of‐the‐art tools in the deconvolution task is developed. Interestingly, it is noticed that the chromatin accessibility or the Hi‐C contact frequency alone is insufficient to explain the power of deCOOC, suggesting the existence of a latent embedded layer of information pertaining to the cell type specific 3D genome architecture. By applying deCOOC to in‐house‐generated bulk Hi‐C data from visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissues, it is found that the characteristic chromatin features of M2 cells in the two anatomical loci are distinctively bound to different physiological functionalities. Taken together, deCOOC is both a reliable Hi‐C data deconvolution method and a powerful tool for functional extraction of 3D genome architecture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) has attracted attention for flexible electronics in the past decade. MXene is gradually applied in TENGs for performance enhancement, but the surface triboelectrification mechanism still needs to be further investigated experimentally. Herein, an experimental approach of regulating MXene fluorine groups by alkalization as a contrast to validate the mechanism is proposed. The MXene film and alkalized MXene film are studied to exploit the surface state. Compared with alkalized MXene‐based TENGs, MXene‐based TENG obtains enhancement in open‐circuit voltage, short‐circuit current, and output power by 4.1 times, 4.6 times, and even 136.6 times, respectively. The excellent performance enables flexible sensing and energy harvesting. Notably, this work reveals MXene surface triboelectrification mechanism and might motivate a new approach for TENG performance enhancement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Management practices are expected to influence the capacity of forests to mitigate climate change. However, the long‐term effects of afforestation on soil carbon accumulation in response to contrasting management regimes remain poorly understood. Here, we combined organic matter fractionation with a nine‐year‐long organic fertilization experiment to investigate the influences of largely accepted practices such as biochar (BC) and biogas‐slurry (BS) inputs on the accumulation of soil particulate organic carbon (POC) and mineral‐associated organic carbon (MAOC) in three soil horizon depths (0–25, 25–50, and 50–75 cm, respectively). Our results suggested that both BS and BC significantly enhanced the POC and total soil organic carbon (SOC) content but overall did not significantly influence MAOC. Moreover, the POC and MAOC was more responsive to BS than BC. Further, our analyses revealed that the effects of BC on POC and MAOC were indirectly regulated by changes in the SOC: total nitrogen (TN) ratio, while BS influenced POC and MAOC by regulating TN. However, the responses of MAOC to the infiltration of organic fertilizers into the mineral soil should not be ignored, especially under high BC levels. Our work revealed that management practices are critical for supporting the long‐term capacity of new forests to accumulate soil carbon, thereby facilitating the provision of nature‐based solutions in response to climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Cadmium (Cd), known as a vital contaminant in the environment, penetrates the blood–brain barrier and accumulates in the cerebrum. Acute toxicosis of Cd, which leads to lethal cerebral edema, intracellular accumulation and cellular dysfunction, remains to be illuminated with regard to the exact molecular mechanism of cerebral toxicity. Resveratrol (RES), present in the edible portions of numerous plants, is a simply acquirable and correspondingly less toxic natural compound with neuroprotective potential, which provides some theoretical bases for antagonizing Cd‐induced cerebral toxicity. RESULTS: This work was executed to research the protective effects of RES against Cd‐induced toxicity in chicken cerebrum. Markedly, these lesions were increased in the Cd group, which also exhibited a thinner cortex, reduced granule cells, vacuolar degeneration, and an enlarged medullary space in the cerebrum. Furthermore, Cd induced CYP450 enzyme metabolism disorders by disrupting the nuclear xenobiotic receptor response (NXRs), enabling the cerebrum to reduce the ability to metabolize exogenous substances, eventually leading to Cd accumulation. Meanwhile, accumulated Cd promoted oxidative damage and synergistically promoted the damage to neurons and glial cells. CONCLUSION: RES initiated NXRs (especially for aromatic receptor and pregnancy alkane X receptor), decreasing the expression of CYP450 genes, changing the content of CYP450, maintaining CYP450 enzyme normal activities, and exerting antagonistic action against the Cd‐induced abnormal response of nuclear receptors. These results suggest that the cerebrum toxicity caused by Cd was reduced by pretreatment with RES. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to quantify the effect of mixed uncertainties on the reliability of mechanisms, this paper proposes a method for analyzing the reliability of mechanisms with mixed uncertainties using polynomial chaos expansion. Based on the performance margin theory, a mechanism reliability model considering mixed uncertainties is developed, and the Sobol indices can be easily calculated by an arbitrarily polynomial chaos expansion (aPCE) of the reliability function to quantify the independent contribution of each parameter to the global sensitivity and the effect of parameter coupling. Additionally, this paper also introduces a mixed uncertainties propagation method based on PCE, which treats cognitive uncertainties as fuzzy variables, converts the fuzzy variable into an interval variable using cut set theory, and transforms the PCE containing interval uncertainties into a Bernstein polynomial to calculate the membership function of the output quantity and the non‐probabilistic reliability index by area method. The final case study of a simplified automaton motion mechanism illustrates that the proposed method is effective and convincing, and the mechanism reliability decreases with increasing mixed uncertainties. The mechanism reliability index considering mixed uncertainties will give a more conservative reliability estimation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The origins of Cenozoic granites in the Himalaya are key to understanding the evolution of the Himalayan orogen. However, it is unclear whether these granites represent primary melts, and the nature of their magma source is controversial. Here, we present a systematic element and Sr–Nd–B–Mo isotope study of Cenozoic granites from the Yardoi area in the eastern Tethyan Himalaya, China. These granites can be divided into two groups: mid‐Eocene porphyritic two‐mica granites with low SiO2 contents (65.9−69.6 wt.%) and adakitic geochemical signatures, and mid‐Eocene to Miocene equigranular granites with high SiO2 contents (71.6−75.5 wt.%). The high‐SiO2 granites (HSG) have similar Sr−Nd isotope compositions to the low‐SiO2 granites (LSG), but they have distinct δ11B values of −19.4‰ to −11.4‰ and −10.6‰ to −6.89‰. This indicates that the two groups have different sources, with the LSG derived by partial melting dominantly of metamafic rocks at thickened lower crustal conditions, and the HSG generated by partial melting of the mid‐crust metasedimentary rocks with less enriched Nd isotope compositions. The δ98/95Mo of the LSG and HSG are highly variable with values of −0.68‰ to 0.12‰ and −1.13‰ to 0.46‰, respectively. δ11B values of the HSG correlate positively with δ98/95Mo and Sr/Y values and correlate negatively with K2O, Rb, Zr, and Rb/Sr, reflecting the addition of external metamorphic fluids during anatexis of the metapelites. The B–Mo isotope data robustly suggest source‐controlled compositional diversity of the Himalayan granites, which could provide clues to the physical and geochemical responses during the evolution of a large orogen. Plain Language Summary: Partial melts derived from crustal anatexis exhibit large compositional diversity. The relative influence of source compositions and magmatic differentiation on such heterogeneity is a subject of ongoing debate. B−Mo isotopes have the potential to trace the source compositions of crustal magmas. In this study, we present whole‐rock geochemical and B–Mo isotopic compositions of Cenozoic granites in the eastern Tethyan Himalaya. Samples with diverse mineralogical and geochemical features and ages (mid‐Eocene, early Oligocene, and Miocene) were investigated and can be divided into low‐SiO2 granites (LSG) and high‐SiO2 granites (HSG). Boron isotopes reveal different source compositions for the two groups, with the LSG derived by partial melting dominantly of metamafic rocks at thickened lower crustal conditions, and the HSG generated by partial melting of the mid‐crust metapelites. B–Mo isotopes combined with the variations in element contents/ratios provide evidence for the involvement of external fluids during the formation of the HSG. Our new data suggest that the geochemical diversity of anatectic melts is dominated by the nature of the source, including source lithology and fluid effects. This implies that the Himalayan granites could be potentially in tracing the thermal and tectonic evolution of the Himalayan orogen. Key Points: Boron isotopes reveal different source compositions for the Himalayan Cenozoic granitesB–Mo isotopes provide evidence for the involvement of external fluids during crustal anatexisHimalayan Cenozoic granites can potentially trace the evolution of a large orogen [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The patterns of isolation by distance (IBD) entailing increased genetic differentiation among populations have aroused extensive concerns for evolutionary biologists. Although the IBD may act on spatial processes contributing to the genetic differentiation among populations in anuran species, the factors shaping the IBD of frogs among populations in natural systems are largely unknown. Here, we studied the genetic differentiation among six populations with 24 individuals of the spotted‐leg treefrog along a latitudinal gradient (1860.31 km) based on 1020 single nucleotide polymorphisms from restriction site‐associated DNA sequencing. The results showed that the genetic diversity differed significantly among populations and that the insular populations had higher genetic diversity than the mainland populations. Furthermore, we also found a significant genetic differentiation among populations (FST = 0.277) and no sign of inbreeding (FUNI = −0.145). The IBD was detected for all populations, and a higher degree of the IBD was indicated when controlling for the effects of the isolation between Hainan and mainland populations caused by the Qiongzhou Strait. Our findings suggest that the form of the Qiongzhou Strait plays a key role in shaping the genetic diversity and population differentiation in treefrogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding how and why species evolve requires knowledge on intraspecific divergence. In this study, we examined intraspecific divergence in the endangered hot‐spring snake (Thermophis baileyi), an endemic species on the Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau (QTP). Whole‐genome resequencing of 58 sampled individuals from 15 populations was performed to identify the drivers of intraspecific divergence and explore the potential roles of genes under selection. Our analyses resolved three groups, with major intergroup admixture occurring in regions of group contact. Divergence probably occurred during the Pleistocene as a result of glacial climatic oscillations, Yadong‐Gulu rift, and geothermal fields differentiation, while complex gene flow between group pairs reflected a unique intraspecific divergence pattern on the QTP. Intergroup fixed loci involved selected genes functionally related to divergence and local adaptation, especially adaptation to hot spring microenvironments in different geothermal fields. Analysis of structural variants, genetic diversity, inbreeding, and genetic load indicated that the hot‐spring snake population has declined to a low level with decreased diversity, which is important for the conservation management of this endangered species. Our study demonstrated that the integration of demographic history, gene flow, genomic divergence genes, and other information is necessary to distinguish the evolutionary processes involved in speciation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Functional traits impact species interactions, community composition, and ecosystem functioning. However, few studies have focused on the diversification and phylogenetic correlation of multiple functional traits over geological time. We conducted phylogenetic comparative analysis for boreal forest understory species in northeast China to examine the diversification and phylogenetic correlation in several functional traits: leaf area (LA), leaf carbon content (LCC), leaf dry matter content (LDMC), leaf nitrogen content (LNC), plant height (PH), and specific leaf area (SLA). Phylogenetic signals showed that there were very low levels of phylogenetic niche conservatism (PNC) in understory leaf‐related traits and plant height, suggesting divergence of functional traits for the co‐occurring understory species. The disparity through time analyses (DTT) indicated that trait disparities mainly originated during recent divergence events and there were no differences in the observed trait disparities compared with that expected under Brownian motion. Furthermore, we found both positive and negative phylogenetic correlations among the measured functional traits. The very low levels of PNC suggest that these functional traits diverged among co‐occurring understory species, and that those species are distantly phylogenetically related. The phylogenetic correlations among traits may be caused by both positively and negatively correlated adaptions that correspond to resource acquisition strategies. This study provides evidence that divergence in functional traits may reflect understory adaptions to boreal conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Heat processing has a significant effect on the flavour of walnut kernels, while the related analyses on their characteristic flavour changes have not been extensively studied yet. In this study, headspace solid phase micro‐extraction combined with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry‐olfactometry (HS‐SPME‐GC–MS‐O), electronic nose (E‐nose) and multivariate analysis methods were used to explore the effects of microwave, baking and drying treatments on the characteristic flavour of walnut kernels. The results showed that the content of aldehydes and heterocyclic compounds increased significantly after heat treatment. A total of eighty‐nine volatile compounds were identified by the above three heat processing methods, mainly aldehydes and alkanes, including twenty‐five aroma active substances and twelve potential markers. It also discovered that the flavour characteristics of walnut kernels changed from green to roasted and burnt odours after heat treatment, in which the microwave treatment group displayed the strongest roasted and burnt flavours among the above processing methods. The comparative analysis of the differences in characteristic flavour on walnut kernels via different heat processing methods could provide a technical support for the development of walnut products and their industrial utilisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is well‐known that conventional‐concentration electrolytes (CCEs) will undergo serious oxidative decomposition in high‐voltage lithium‐ion batteries, while high‐concentration electrolytes (HCEs) have good oxidation stability. However, HCEs are difficult to scale‐up for industrial applications due to their high viscosity and cost. Herein, based on the anti‐oxidation mechanism of HCE, a novel scheme to improve the stability of CCE at high voltage was proposed. By means of magnetron sputtering LiF on LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 surface and introducing LiPO2F2 additive, a stable cathode electrolyte interphase (CEI) film is constructed in CCE. AFM results show that the constructed CEI film in CCE has better mechanical strength and adhesion than that formed by HCE. Moreover, the battery performance with the constructed CEI film in CCE, which affords high stability at high voltage, fast‐charging kinetics, and improved cycling stability (135 mAh g−1 after 200 cycles), is comparable to that with HCE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Amphibians require both terrestrial and aquatic environments to complete their life cycles. Thus, they are subject to complex selection pressures stemming from different environments, and these selection pressures are likely to vary geographically with variation in temperature and precipitation. Studies of genetic differentiation along geographical clines allow identification of footprints of these selection pressures. Location: China. Methods: To identify possible signatures of local adaptation to particular environmental conditions, we conducted a genome‐scan with 20,572 single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) obtained with restriction site‐associated DNA sequencing of pooled samples from 10 Microhyla fissipes populations spanning a 1,398 km long latitudinal gradient in China. Results: The results revealed significant genetic differentiation among populations (FST =0.090). Numerous outlier SNPs associated with variation in both annual average temperature (n = 69) and precipitation (n = 248) were detected. Main conclusions: The degree and pattern of population differentiation in the SNPs supported the hypothesis that these SNPs have been subject to directional natural selection associated with temperature and precipitation and, hence, are reflective of geographically varying local adaptation. Hence, conservation and management plans for Microhyla fissipes should take into account this heterogeneity in genetic constitution in its populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A four‐channel directly modulated square‐rectangular laser array was demonstrated in 1.3 μm wavelength range with the wavelength interval about 5 nm. The laser array shows stable single mode operation with the side‐mode suppression ratio (SMSR) over 30 dB, 3‐dB modulation bandwidth above 11.8 GHz and an open‐eye diagram is obtained at data rates of 10 Gb/s, and the relative intensity noise (RIN) about −138 dB/Hz up to 5 GHz for all channels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Esophageal cancer (EC) is the most aggressive malignancy in the gastrointestinal tract. Long noncoding RNA cyclin‐dependent kinase inhibitor 2 B antisense RNA 1 (CDKN2B‐AS1) is implicated in EC development. However, the specific mechanisms involved remain poorly defined. Therefore, this research aimed to explore the mechanism of action of CDKN2B‐AS1 in EC. Quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction was conducted to measure CDKN2B‐AS1 expression in EC cells and western blotting was utilized to evaluate transcription factor AP‐2 alpha (TFAP2A) and fascin actin‐bundling protein 1 (FSCN1) expression. After gain‐of‐function and loss‐of‐function assays, cell proliferation, migration, invasion, apoptosis, and apoptosis‐related protein expression were assessed using cell counting kit‐8, scratch tests, Transwell assays, flow cytometry, and western blotting, respectively. The binding relationship between CDKN2B‐AS1 and TFAP2A was assessed by RNA immunoprecipitation and RNA pull‐down assays. The binding relationship between TFAP2A and FSCN1 was evaluated using dual‐luciferase reporter and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. Tumor xenografts from nude mice were used for in vivo verification. CDKN2B‐AS1, TFAP2A, and FSCN1 were upregulated in EC cells. Mechanistically, CDKN2B‐AS1 transcriptionally activated FSCN1 by recruiting TFAP2A to the FSCN1 promoter. Silencing CDKN2B‐AS1 or TFAP2A suppressed EC cell proliferative, migrating, and invasive properties and augmented apoptosis. TFAP2A was bound to CDKN2B‐AS1 and the FSCN1 promoter. Overexpression of TFAP2A or FSCN1 abolished the effects of CDKN2B‐AS1‐silencing on EC cell function. CDKN2B‐AS1 silencing curtailed tumorigenesis in nude mice, which was nullified by the upregulation of TFAP2A or FSCN1. Our findings demonstrated the antioncogenic effects of silencing CDKN2B‐AS1 in EC through inactivation of the TFAP2A/FSCN1 axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrospun piezoelectric membranes are compelling building blocks for constructing wearable bioelectronics. However, the efficiency of electromechanical conversion over a wide bandwidth is still insufficient due to the restriction between fiber dipole alignment and energy absorption. Topology optimization is a mathematical method that lets us optimize the layout of a system to maximize its performance given a set of boundary conditions and constraints. Here, topological designs as a reinforcement mechanism are developed to enhance the electromechanical response of electrospun piezoelectric membranes. The topologically optimized membranes show a 300% increase in electric output and a 478% increase in frequency response range compared with traditional electrospun membranes. With the optimized piezoelectric membrane design, the developed textile acoustic sensors can capture the human voice for speech recognition with a classification accuracy of up to 100% with the help of deep learning. Because of the universality and superiority of this new topologically optimal design, it represents a milestone in designing electrospun membranes for electromechanical conversion and high‐performance soft bioelectronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Sacubitril/valsartan (SAC/VAL) has been used in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), and cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) could benefit the HFrEF patients with wide QRS durations. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical impacts of SAC/VAL on reverse cardiac remodelling in CRT‐eligible and CRT‐ineligible HFrEF patients with different QRS durations. Methods and results: The TAROT‐HF study was a multicentre, observational study enrolling patients who initiated SAC/VAL from 10 hospitals since 2017. Patients with baseline left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 35% were classified into two groups: (i) Group 1: CRT‐eligible group, patients with left bundle branch block (LBBB) morphology plus QRS duration ≥130 ms or non‐LBBB morphology plus QRS duration ≥150 ms; and (ii) Group 2: CRT‐ineligible group. Propensity score matching was performed to adjust for confounders, and 1168 patients were analysed. Baseline characteristics were comparable between the two groups. The improvements in LVEF and left ventricular end‐systolic volume index (LVESVi) were more significant in Group 2 than in Group 1 after 1 year SAC/VAL treatment (LVEF: 8.4% ± 11.3% vs. 4.5% ± 8.1%, P < 0.001; change percentages in LVESVi: −14.4% ± 25.9% vs. −9.6% ± 23.1%, P = 0.004). LVEF improving to ≥50% in Groups 1 and 2 constituted 5.2% and 20.2% after 1 year SAC/VAL treatment (P < 0.001). Multivariate analyses showed that wide QRS durations were negatively associated with the reverse cardiac remodelling in these HFrEF patients with SAC/VAL treatment. Conclusion: Despite SAC/VAL treatment, wide QRS durations are associated with lower degrees of left ventricular improvement than narrow ones in the HFrEF patients. Optimal intervention timing for the CRT‐eligible patients requires further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aims to optimize the human extended pluripotent stem cell (EPSC) to trophectoderm (TE)‐like cell induction with addition of EGF and improve the quality of the reconstructing blastoids. Materials and Methods: TE‐like cells were differentiated from human EPSCs. RNA‐seq data analysis was performed to compare with TE‐like cells from multiple human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) and embryos. A small‐scale compound selection was performed for optimizing the TE‐like cell induction and the efficiency was characterized using TE‐lineage markers expression by immunofluorescence stanning. Blastoids were generated by using the optimized TE‐like cells and the undifferentiated human EPSCs through three‐dimensional culture system. Single‐cell RNA sequencing was performed to investigate the lineage segregation of the optimized blastoids to human blastocysts. Results: TE‐like cells derived from human EPSCs exhibited similar transcriptome with TE cells from embryos. Additionally, TE‐like cells from multiple naive hPSCs exhibited heterogeneous gene expression patterns and signalling pathways because of the incomplete silencing of naive‐specific genes and loss of imprinting. Furthermore, with the addition of EGF, TE‐like cells derived from human EPSCs enhanced the TE lineage‐related signalling pathways and exhibited more similar transcriptome to human embryos. Through resembling with undifferentiated human EPSCs, we elevated the quality and efficiency of reconstructing blastoids and separated more lineage cells with precise temporal and spatial expression, especially the PE lineage. Conclusion: Addition of EGF enhanced TE lineage differentiation and human blastoids reconstruction. The optimized blastoids could be used as a blastocyst model for simulating early embryonic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding community processes is essential to predict community dynamics and succession processes. To explore how shrub canopy removal frequency (hereafter 'removal frequency') and distance from shrubs affect herbs and grasses community assembly in a shrub‐encroached grassland, we carried out a 4‐year shrub canopy removal experiment with three removal frequencies (no removal, removal once, and removal twice per year) in a Caragana microphylla shrub‐encroached grassland, and assessed community assembly mechanisms directly beneath shrubs (0 m from shrubs, i.e., in the centre of the shrub) and in shrub interspaces (at least 2 m from shrubs) under each removal frequency treatment using both functional trait‐based and phylogenetic‐based approaches. Removal frequency positively affected standard effect sizes (SESs) of the mean pairwise distance (MPD) for multi‐trait, specific leaf area (SLA) and leaf dry matter content (LDMC), denoted by SES.MPDMulti‐trait, SES.MPDSLA, and SES.MPDLDMC, indirectly via regulating soil nitrogen (N) and soil carbon (C) content, while it negatively affected SES.MPDHeight indirectly via regulating soil available phosphorus (P) content. Distance from shrubs negatively affected SES.MPDHeight indirectly via regulating soil available P content, and negatively affected SES.MPDLDMC indirectly via regulating soil C content. The trait‐based approach was more powerful than the phylogenetic‐based one in explaining the responses of community assembly processes to environmental changes. These findings highlight the importance of shrub canopy removal and distance from shrubs in affecting soil nutrient status and consequently community assembly processes, which provides a new insight into how canopy removal or fertile island effects affect community assembly in the shrub‐encroached grassland regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chiral materials with circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) are currently attracting great attention for their wide applications in bioresponsive imaging, 3D displays, and storage of information. Herein, CPL‐active enantiomorphic hybrids (R)‐ and (S)‐C6H15Cl2NO⋅SbCl5 are obtained by self‐assembling chiral R/S‐(3‐chloro‐2‐hydroxypropyl)trimethylammonium chloride with antimony(III) chloride, giving a 0D structure with SbCl5 pyramids isolated by (3‐chloro‐2‐hydroxypropyl)trimethylammonium chloride cations. The formed enantiomers exhibit brilliant orange emission peaked at 604 nm with photoluminescence quantum yield as high as 71.2%, originating from the self‐trapped exciton emission demonstrated by photophysical characterization. Due to the existence of chiral organic cations, the enantiomers exhibit strong chiral‐optical properties with mirror‐image circular dichroism signals in ground state and obvious CPL activity with the dissymmetry factor glum of 2.5 × 10−4 and −1.6 × 10−4 for R‐type and S‐type, respectively. It should be mentioned that these are the first reported 0D hybrids with CPL‐activity. This work paves an avenue for developing eco‐friendly CPL materials with highly ‐efficient luminescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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A distinct greening trend is evident in Asia, especially on the Loess Plateau (LP) of China, which is driven by climate change and large‐scale land‐use‐related ecological projects, especially the 'Grain for Green Program' (GFGP). However, the specific contributions of the GFGP to vegetation greening and the variation of this greening on a large spatiotemporal scale are not yet clear. We used long‐time‐series normalized difference vegetation index datasets and climate datasets based on the double mass curve method to quantify the contributions of ecological projects and climate change to the greening trend on the LP. We found that the interannual fluctuation of vegetation change was likely related to the interannual fluctuation of climate, especially precipitation. The increasing trend of vegetation change after 2005 indicated that the GFGP, as a type of external disturbance, began to improve vegetation growth. The GFGP failed initially to make a positive contribution in the first few years because of the drought conditions in 1999 and 2005. The increased precipitation played a critical role in enhancing the output of the GFGP on the LP after 2005. Then, the contribution of the GFGP increased quickly until 2013, after which it remained stable and reached average values of 58.8% ± 19.34% and 31.7% ± 24.3% in the representative areas that conducted the GFGP and in other regions with a lower implementation intensity of the GFGP, respectively. Our results highlight the contribution the GFGP has made to spatiotemporal variation due to the spatial heterogeneity of the projects, their intensity and the effect of forest stand age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orthotrichum Hedw. s.l. and Ulota Mohr s.l. are two of the most speciose genera of the xerophytic moss family Orthotrichaceae. We reconstructed the phylogeny of these two genera using three data matrices: (i) organellar genomes and 33 taxa; (ii) six loci from three genomes and 144 taxa; and (iii) two plastid loci and 163 taxa. The present phylogeny, based on the maximum sampling of genes or taxa to date, generally confirms the new classification of Orthotrichum and Ulota, and indicated that all Ulota species, except Ulota phyllantha Brid., form a clade and three lineages comprise the cryptoporous Orthotrichum clade. We provided new morphological characters that support the present division of the two genera. Ancestral state reconstruction of stoma indicates that superficial stomata in Orthotrichum represent a plesiomorphic character and semi‐immersed stomata were derived from immersed stomata. The results also suggest that immersed stomata independently arose once in Orthotrichum, whereas semi‐immersed stomata probably arose more than once. Molecular dating analysis reveals that the occurrence of immersed stomata is probably related to arid environments during the early Oligocene to late Miocene, whereas the appearance of semi‐immersed stomata might be associated with the mesic–xeric or semiarid environments during the middle Miocene to Pliocene. Ancestral state reconstruction of habitat indicates that the saxicolous habitat is apomorphic and independently evolved multiple times in Orthotrichum and Ulota, which supports the former hypothesis. Considering morphological statistics, the development of the cryptopore in Orthotrichum could provide increased resilience to dry habitats, and might promote their habitat shift during evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A few groups of cyanobacteria have been characterized as having far‐red light photoacclimation (FaRLiP) that results from chlorophyll f (Chl f) production. In this study, using a polyphasic approach, we taxonomically transferred the Cf. Leptolyngbya sp. CCNUW1 isolated from a shaded freshwater pond, which produces Chl f under far‐red light, to the genus Kovacikia and named this taxon Kovacikia minuta sp. nov. This strain was morphologically similar to Leptolyngbya‐like strains. The thin filaments were purplish‐brown under white light but became grass green under far‐red light. The 31‐gene phylogeny grouped K. minuta CCNU0001 into order Synechococcales and family Leptolyngbyaceae. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences further showed that K. minuta CCNU0001 was clustered into Kovacikia with similarities of 97.2–97.4% to the recently reported type species of Kovacikia muscicola HA7619‐LM3. Additionally, the internal transcribed spacer region between 16S–23S rRNA genes had a unique sequence and secondary structure compared with other Kovacikia strains and phylogenetically related taxa. Draft genome sequences of K. minuta CCNU0001 (8,564,336 bp) were assembled into one circular chromosome and two circular plasmids. A FaRLiP 20‐gene cluster comprised two operons with the unique organization. In sum, K. minuta was established as a new species, and it is the first species reported to produce Chl f and for which a draft genome was produced in genus Kovacikia. This study expanded our knowledge regarding the diversity of Chl f‐producing cyanobacteria in far‐red light‐enriched environments and provides important foundational information for future investigations of FaRLiP evolution in cyanobacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DNA high methylation is one of driving force for colorectal carcinoma (CRC) pathogenesis. Transcription factors (TFs) can determine cell fate and play fundamental roles in multistep process of tumorigenesis. Dysregulation of DNA methylation of TFs should be vital for the progression of CRC. Here, we demonstrated that TBX20, a T‐box TF family protein, was downregulated with hypermethylation of promoter in early‐stage CRC tissues and correlated with a poor prognosis for CRC patients. Moreover, we identified PDZRN3 as the E3 ubiquitin ligase of TBX20 protein, which mediated the ubiquitination and degradation of TBX20. Furthermore, we revealed that TBX20 suppressed cell proliferation and tumor growth through impairing non‐homologous DNA end joining (NHEJ)‐mediated double‐stranded break repair by binding the middle domain of both Ku70 and Ku80 and therefore inhibiting their recruitment on chromatin in CRC cells. Altogether, our results reveal the tumor‐suppressive role of TBX20 by inhibiting NHEJ‐mediated DNA repair in CRC cells, and provide a potential biomarker for predicting the prognosis of patients with early‐stage CRC and a therapeutic target for combination therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glutathione (GSH), the most common and abundant antioxidant in the body, is particularly concentrated in cancer cells (2–10 mM). This concentration is approximately 1000 times that of normal cells, making GSH a specific tumor marker. Overexpression of GSH is critical for mapping the redox state of cancer cells. However, there are few probes and detection methods responsive to GSH that can quantitatively visualize GSH in vivo in two‐photon excitation fluorescence (TPEF) imaging mode. The experimental results show that TPEF‐GSH could not only target GSH in tumors, but also establish the quantitative relationship between TPEF signal and GSH concentration. We explored the optimal two‐photon excitation wavelength of TPEF‐GSH, the optimal cell incubation duration with TPEF‐GSH, the best imaging time point for GSH in cells, and the quantitative relationship between the TPEF signal and the changes in GSH concentrations. In zebrafish embryo and zebrafish experiments, the ratiometric value of TPEF‐GSH increased with the decrease of GSH concentration. Microinjection and co‐incubation were used to verify whether the ratiometric value could quantify endogenous GSH in tumor‐bearing zebrafish, and the obtained GSH levels were 4.66 mM and 5.16 mM, respectively. The ratio TPEF probe could accurately visualize and quantify GSH in vivo, reflecting the redox status of the tumor. The design of the ratiometric molecular probe provides a reliable strategy for the development of TPEF nanoprobe in vivo. In this article, a new GSH sensitive molecular probe, TPEF‐GSH, has been developed with good specificity and sensitivity. TPEF‐GSH was successfully used to image cancer cells in vitro and tumor‐bearing zebrafish in vivo, and to further detect GSH levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]