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Emerging large‐area flexible polymer light‐emitting diodes (PLEDs) are crucial for flat‐panel displays. The development of uniform, large‐area, flexible, and ultra‐deep‐blue PLEDs remains challenging owing to the lack of efficient and stable deep‐blue light‐emitting conjugated polymers with robust deep‐blue emission, excellent large‐scale solution‐processing capacity, and stable electrical properties. In this study, a multidimensional steric triphenylethylene (TPE) segment is introduced into the substitution side chain of polydiarylfluorenes (P‐F) for deep‐blue large‐area blade‐coated and flexible PLEDs. The encapsulation of backbone chains with extremely weak interchain π–π interactions facilitated the preparation of large‐area PLEDs via blade coating. Large‐area uniform P‐F films (16 cm2) are fabricated. Flexible PLEDs are fabricated with efficient deep‐blue emission (CIE: 0.15, 0.07) and a maximum brightness of 2314 cd m−2. Notably, the large‐area PLEDs exhibited a narrow‐band deep‐blue emission with a CIE of (0.15, 0.08) at ≈1000 mA cm−2 and an emitting area of 3.6 cm2. Furthermore, a preliminary patterned PLED array display with a pixel size of 800 × 1000 µm2 is successfully created, which exhibited stable and uniform deep‐blue light‐emitting pixel performance (CIE: 0.15 0.08). These results demonstrated the effectiveness of the TPE encapsulation strategy for large‐area PLEDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tumor‐associated p53 mutations induce activities different from wild‐type p53, thus causing loss of the protein's tumor inhibition function. The cells carrying p53 mutations have more aggressive characteristics related to invasion, metastasis, proliferation, and cell survival. By comparing the gene expression profiles of mutant p53 (mutp53) and mutp53 silenced cohorts, we found that FOS‐related antigen‐1 (FRA‐1), which is encoded by FOSL1, is a potential effector of mutp53‐mediated metastasis. We demonstrate that the expression of FRA‐1, a gatekeeper of mesenchymal–epithelial transition, is elevated in the presence of p53 mutations. Mechanistically, mutant p53 cooperates with the transcription factor ELK1 in binding and activating the promoter of FOSL1, thus fostering lung metastasis. This study reveals new insights into how mutant p53 contributes to metastasis in breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regenerative medicine in tissue engineering often relies on stem cells and specific growth factors at a supraphysiological dose. These approaches are costly and may cause severe side effects. Herein, therapeutic small extracellular vesicles (t‐sEVs) endogenously loaded with a cocktail of human vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF‐A) and human bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP‐2) mRNAs within a customized injectable PEGylated poly (glycerol sebacate) acrylate (PEGS‐A) hydrogel for bone regeneration in rats with challenging femur critical‐size defects are introduced. Abundant t‐sEVs are produced by a facile cellular nanoelectroporation system based on a commercially available track‐etched membrane (TM‐nanoEP) to deliver plasmid DNAs to human adipose‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (hAdMSCs). Upregulated microRNAs associated with the therapeutic mRNAs are enriched in t‐sEVs for enhanced angiogenic–osteogenic regeneration. Localized and controlled release of t‐sEVs within the PEGS‐A hydrogel leads to the retention of therapeutics in the defect site for highly efficient bone regeneration with minimal low accumulation in other organs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physalis Calyx seu Fructus (PCF) is a herb widely used in China for its function of clearing heat and detoxifying, benefitting the pharynx and reducing phlegm, both in health care and in tea drinking. However, the quality of its fruit and calyx is uneven and the storage period is short. Therefore, it is crucial to develop other parts of PCF with longer storage periods and obvious medicinal effects. Firstly, high‐performance liquid chromatography was used to develop the fingerprint of different parts of PCF, and various chemometric analyses were conducted to screen out chemical markers. The calyxes of PCF were found to cluster together, distinct from the fruits, roots, stems and leaves. The active components of PCF were concentrated in the persistent calyxes, and flavonoids were mainly found in the persistent calyxes and leaves. Secondly, the extraction of persistent calyxes showed the strongest scavenging ability of DPPH and ABTS. Finally, the important chemical markers were verified by network pharmacological analysis and molecular docking. It provides a reference for the clinical application of PCF, and the obtained chemical markers offer a scientific basis for quality evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microorganisms become new sources for fabricating intricate micro/nano structures via bottom‐up approaches. Produced from nature, microorganism biotemplates exhibit unique structural and material features over thousands of years of revolution. They are considerably superior and cost‐effective for fabricating complex and heterogeneous structures when compared to other micro/nanofabrication techniques. Herein, the recent advances in biologically driven micro/nanofabrication, assembly, and actuation based on microorganisms are consolidated. Detailed development and recent advances of micro/nanoparticle fabrication, their ordered assembly, and controlled actuation properties, as well as certain typical engineering application examples, are mainly involved. The developing perspectives and challenges of microorganism‐based micro/nanofabrication are also discussed, aiming to inspire the relevant researches and promote the development in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green‐processable printed large‐area light‐emitting diode (LED) is the crucial component of the high quality solid lighting and flat‐panel display. Accelerating the replacement from fossil‐based solvents to sustainable ecofriendly solvent is desirable for solution‐based printed organic electronics. Herein, by simple introducing methyl to the benzene groups of polydiarylfluorene‐based polymer, this work realizes the solution processing of blue polymer light‐emitting diodes (PLEDs) with a bio‐based solvent of limonene toward large‐area printed display. Film processed from this solvent exhibits satisfactory morphology and remarkable photophysical performances, even though the polymer chains show more serious aggregation in solution. What's more, devices fabricated with spin‐coated films present higher external quantum efficiency (EQE) and better spectra repeatability. Encouraged by the good film‐forming ability of this polymer in limonene, this work realizes the fabrication of printed large‐area films (5 × 5 cm2) with uniform emission and surface morphology by blade coating. Furthermore, this work develops passive matrix (PM) PLEDs arrays with 20 × 20 pixels that can dynamically display monochrome letters and numbers, demonstrating the potential application of cost‐effective printing techniques in large‐area display. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fabrication of large‐area printed deep‐blue polymer light‐emitting diodes (PLEDs) is a prerequisite for solid‐state lighting and flat‐panel displays. However, manufacturing large‐area narrow‐band deep‐blue PLEDs remains a challenging task owing to the difficulties in reducing structural distortions caused by the transitions from the ground to excited states. Herein, large‐area deep‐blue PLEDs with narrow‐band emission from the planar (β) conformational segments of polydiarylfluorenes are fabricated via brush coating. First, large‐area uniform brush‐coated films (4 × 4 cm2) with a relatively smooth morphology are manufactured. They produce strong, stable, and narrow‐band deep‐blue emission (full width at half maximum (FWHM): 29 nm for the 0–0 and 0–1 emission peaks), which results from single β‐conformational segments without a charge transfer state. Therefore, owing to their efficient emission and excellent printing capability, large‐area brush‐coated PLEDs with an emission area of 3 × 3 cm2 and uniform deep‐blue emission (FWHM: 27 nm; CIE chromaticity coordinate: (0.15, 0.10), brightness: 3780 cd m−2) are obtained, and their maximum external quantum efficiency (1.79%) is two times higher than those of the devices containing spin‐coated films. Finally, considering the key role of deep‐blue PLEDs, the fabrication of a preliminary patterned PLED array confirms their potential display applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive Summary: Talachalasins A—C (1—3), three new cytochalasans (CYTs), were isolated from deep‐sea‐derived fungus Talaromyces muroii sp. SCSIO 40439. The structures of 1—3, including absolute configurations, were determined based on HRESIMS, NMR spectroscopic data, ECD comparison, and single crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis. Talachalasins A—C (1—3) represented the first examples of cytochalasans possessing a unique 16β‐methyl group, distinct from >500 reported CYTs. Talachalasin C (3) was an unprecedented 20,21‐seco‐cytochalasans characterized by a 2‐oxabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan‐3‐one unit. Talachalasin A (1) displayed moderate cytotoxic activity against four tumor cell lines (IC50 3.40—10.02 μM). Talachalasin B (2) showed comparable anti‐RSV and HSV‐1 activities (IC50 12.5 μM or IC50 20.0 μM). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Although several prognostic models have been developed for patients who underwent hip fracture surgery, their preoperative performance was insufficiently validated. We aimed to verify the effectiveness of the Nottingham Hip Fracture Score (NHFS) for predicting postoperative outcomes following hip fracture surgery. Methods: This was a single‐center and retrospective analysis. A total of 702 elderly patients with hip fractures (age ≥ 65 years old) who received treatment in our hospital from June 2020 to August 2021 were selected as the research participants. They were divided into the survival group and the death group based on their survival 30 days after surgery. The multivariate logistic regression model was used to identify the independent risk factors for the 30‐day mortality after surgery. The NHFS and American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) grades were used to construct these models, and a receiver operating characteristic curve was plotted to assess their diagnostic significance. A correlation analysis was performed between NHFS and length of hospitalization and mobility 3 months after surgery. Results: There were significant differences in the age, albumin level, NHFS, and ASA grade between both groups (p < 0.05). The length of hospitalization in the death group was longer than the survival group (p < 0.05). The perioperative blood transfusion and postoperative ICU transfer rates in the death group were higher than in the survival group (p < 0.05). The death group's incidence of pulmonary infections, urinary tract infections, cardiovascular events, pressure ulcers, stress ulcers with bleeding, and intestinal obstruction was higher than the survival group (p < 0.05). The NHFS and ASA III were independent risk factors for the 30‐day mortality after surgery, regardless of age and albumin level (p < 0.05). The area under the curve (AUC) of the NHFS and ASA grade for predicting the 30‐day mortality after surgery was 0.791 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.709–0.873, p < 0.05) and 0.621 (95% CI 0.477–0.764, p > 0.05), respectively. The NHFS positively correlated with hospitalization length and mobility grade 3 months after surgery (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The NHFS demonstrated a better predictive performance than the ASA score for the 30‐day mortality after surgery and positively correlated with the hospitalization length and postoperative activity limitation in elderly patients with hip fractures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Postoperative spindle cell nodule (PSCN) is a pseudosarcomatous proliferative lesion of unclear molecular genetic origins. Methods and results: We examined seven patients with PSCN, using routine haematoxylin–eosin (H&E) slide preparations and a series of immunostains. The latter targeted keratin, vimentin, α‐smooth muscle actin (SMA), anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK [D5F3]), and other proteins. Ubiquitin‐specific peptidase 6 (USP6) and anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene rearrangements were also analysed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). There were histories of prior surgical intervention (n = 6) or trauma (n = 1) in all seven patients. All lesions were highly cellular and mitotically active spindle cell proliferations, with no cytologic atypia, nuclear pleomorphism, or aberrant mitoses. Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining disclosed focal, weak keratin positivity in two lesions, whereas vimentin (diffuse, strongly positive) and SMA (tram‐track pattern) were present in each instance, and ALK (D5F3) was entirely negative. FISH analysis confirmed USP6 gene rearrangements in all seven cases, showing no ALK gene rearrangements. RNA sequencing results showed an MYH9::USP6 gene fusion in only one lesion (No. 6). Conclusion: A subset of PSCN is marked by USP6 gene rearrangements, a genetic feature of nodular fasciitis (NF). Given its similarity to NF, a designation as USP6‐associated neoplasm (UAN) seems reasonable, signifying a transient clonal neoplastic lesion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanisms underlying ischemic infarction in patients with vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia (VBD) remain unclear. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed the imaging characteristics of high‐resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HR‐MRI) in patients with VBD to explore the possible mechanisms of ischemic stroke (IS) in patients with VBD. Patients with VBD were recruited from the HR‐MRI database between July 2017 and June 2021. HR‐MRI was used to evaluate the diameter, bifurcation height, laterality, arterial dissection, and atherosclerotic plaques of the basilar artery (BA). Transcranial Doppler was used to measure the vertebrobasilar mean velocity (Vm), peak systolic velocity (Vs), end‐diastolic velocity (Vd), and pulsatile index. Twenty‐six patients with VBD were enrolled, of which 15 had IS and 11 did not. The incidence of classical vascular risk factors, including age, sex, hypertension, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia, did not differ significantly between the two groups. The BA diameters of the stroke group were significantly higher than that of the nonstroke group (6.57 ± 1.00 mm vs. 5.06 ± 0.50 mm, p = 0.000). The height of the BA bifurcation in the stroke and nonstroke groups was statistically significant (p = 0.002). Compared with the nonstroke group, the Vm, Vs, and Vd of the BA in the stroke group were lower, but the difference was not significant. In the 16 patients with atherosclerotic stenosis, 30 atherosclerotic plaques were found in the BA, 18 (60%) in the greater curvature, and 12 (40%) in the lesser curvature. In addition, one artery dissection (on the lesser curvature) and two dissecting aneurysms (on the greater curvature) were found in the BA of three patients, respectively. The BA diameter and bifurcation height are factors related to IS in patients with VBD. The mechanism of stroke in patients with VBD may involve abnormal hemodynamics, artery dissection, and atherosclerosis. HR‐MRI is a useful method for evaluating the risk and underlying mechanism of stroke in patients with VBD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large‐area polymer light‐emitting diodes (PLEDs) manufactured by printing are required for flat‐panel lighting and displays. Nevertheless, it remains challenging to fabricate large‐area and stable deep‐blue PLEDs with narrowband emission due to the difficulties in precisely tuning film uniformity and obtaining single‐exciton emission. Herein, efficient and stable large‐area deep‐blue PLEDs with narrowband emission are prepared from encapsulated polydiarylfluorene. Encapsulated polydiarylfluorenes presented an efficient and stable deep‐blue emission (peak: 439 nm; full width at half maximum (FWHM): 39 nm) in the solid state due to their single‐chain emission behavior without inter‐backbone chain aggregation. Large‐area uniform blade‐coated films (16 cm2) are also fabricated with excellent smoothness and morphology. Benefitting from efficient emission and excellent printed capacity, the blade‐coated PLEDs with a device area of 9 mm2 realized uniform deep‐blue emission (FWHM: 38 nm; CIE: 0.153, 0.067), with a corresponding maximum external quantum efficiency and the brightness comparable to those of devices based on spin‐coated films. Finally, considering the essential role of deep‐blue LEDs, a preliminary patterned PLED array with a pixel size of 800 × 1000 µm2 and a monochrome display is fabricated, highlighting potential full‐color display applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is concerned with the asymptotic stability and instability of solutions to a variable coefficient logarithmic wave equation with nonlinear damping and memory term. Such model describes wave traveling through nonhomogeneous viscoelastic materials. By choosing appropriate multiplier and using weighted energy method, we prove the exponential decay of the energy. Moreover, we also obtain the instability of the solutions at the infinity in the presence of the nonlinear damping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Control of the secondary conformational behavior of light‐emitting conjugated polymers (LCPs) is essential to obtain deep‐blue emission with a narrowband and stable color purity. Naturally π–π interactions induced by the planar aromatic segments may be easily observed in liner‐type LCPs, which lead to reduced emission efficiency, color purity, and energy bandgap. Herein, an alternating copolymerization strategy is proposed to obtain the singlet exciton behavior of a planar conformational segment from polydiarylfluorenes‐copolymers (P7‐6DPF, P7‐8DPF, and P7‐9DPF) toward deep‐blue polymer light‐emitting diodes (PLEDs). Compared to the highly crystalline capacity of P7DPF, P7‐8DPF, and P8DPF, alternative P7‐6DPF and P7‐9DPF present a feature and well‐resolved emission from a planar conformational segment of polyfluorene without obvious polaron features and charge transfer states. More interestingly, P7‐6DPF and P7‐9DPF show thickness‐independent electroluminescence (EL) behavior with a stable deep‐blue color purity, which is the precondition to fabricate large‐scale and high‐quality PLEDs. Finally, compared to control devices, PLEDs based on the P7‐6DPF and P7‐9DPF planar (β) conformational films present a well‐resolved and narrowband emission, stable EL spectra, high brightness (two‐ to threefold), and high current efficiency (1.3‐fold). Therefore, optimizing hierarchical structure via alternating copolymerization is an effective strategy to improve the performance and stability of deep‐blue PLEDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The characteristics of chemical components or groups of chemical components in traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) determine their clinical efficacy. Quality markers (Q‐markers) is of great significance for standardizing the quality control system of TCM. Objectives: We aimed to develop a new strategy to discover potential Q‐markers of TCM by integrating chemometrics, network pharmacology, and molecular docking, using Centipeda minima (also known as ebushicao [EBSC]) as an example. Materials and methods: First, fingerprints of different batches of EBSC and its counterfeit Arenaria oreophila (also known as zaozhui [ZZ]) were established. Second, chemometric analysis was conducted to determine the influence of varying authenticity/batches of herbs on quality and the chemical markers were screened out. Third, network pharmacology and molecular docking simulations were used to verify the relationship between active ingredients and targets. Lastly, potential Q‐markers were selected based on TCM theory. Results: The chemical profiles of EBSC and ZZ were investigated. It was found that different batches of EBSC have differences in chemical composition. Based on our chemometric analysis, chlorogenic acid, rutin, isochlorogenic acid A, quercetin, arnicolide D, and brevilin A were selected as candidate active ingredients. ATIL6, EGFR, CASP3, MYC, HIF1A, and VEGFA were the main targets. Molecular docking was used to verify the binding ability. Based on the concept of Q‐marker, arnicolide D and brevilin A were identified as potential Q‐markers for EBSC. Conclusions: Our strategy could be used as a practical approach to discover Q‐markers of TCM to evaluate overall chemical consistency. In this study, a strategy was proposed to discover potential Q‐marker of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), and Centipeda minima was used as an example. A variety of modern instrumental analysis techniques and chemical pattern recognition methods were used to comprehensively and systematically evaluate the quality of C. minima from origin and authenticity identification, and the potential Q‐marker was predicted by combining network pharmacology and molecular docking technology. The study found that arnicolide D and brevilin A were identified as potential Q‐marker for C. minima. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface pattern is a promising approach to enhance membrane performance while contradictory results have been reported on its impact on concentration polarization. Here, we provide an experimental and modeling study of the concentration polarization on patterned membranes by varying pattern size, solute size, surface hydrophilicity, and membrane orientation. Interesting trends were observed when comparing different membrane orientations, where relative concentration polarization degree (CPD) was found depend on molecular weight. Salts and small organic molecules encountered more severe CPD in the transverse mode, while molecules larger than a threshold value showed a different trend. Such threshold molecular weight increased at larger pattern size. Simulation results were consistent with experimental observations, and revealed the critical role of diffusivity on such phenomena. Results also showed more severe concentration polarization on patterned membranes in both parallel and transverse modes in most cases, compared to smooth membrane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RNA interference (RNAi) has great potential in functional genomics research and pest control. Gene silencing and phenotypes ranging from appetite loss to death have been observed after larvae fed on leaves of double‐stranded RNA (dsRNA)‐expressing transgenic plants harbouring specific genes from the target insect. In this study, transgenic poplar plants expressing CYP6B53 dsRNA from Lymantria dispar were generated via Agrobacterium‐mediated transformation to control this pest. The CYP6B53 was successfully integrated into the poplar genome by reverse transcription PCR (RT‐PCR) and dsCYP6B53 expression confirmation. Expression was significantly down‐regulated at the transcription level after L. dispar larvae feeding on leaves of the transgenic plants. Meanwhile, CYP6B53 transcription levels in the larvae decreased by 25.31–88.53% compared with those reared on transgenic poplar expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) dsRNA. A bioassay further revealed that transgenic plants expressing dsCYP6B53 not only inhibited larval feeding but also delayed overall growth. In summary, Poplar plants harbouring CYP6B53 dsRNA resulted in suppression of CYP6B53 expression in L. dispar larvae, impairing development, and providing a novel alternative for pest control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Control over soft‐to‐hard tissue interfaces is attracting intensive worldwide research efforts. Herein, a bioactive film‐guided soft–hard interface design (SHID) for multi‐tissue integrative regeneration is shown. Briefly, a soft bioactive film with good elasticity matchable to native ligament tissue, is incorporated with bone‐mimic components (calcium phosphate cement, CPC) to partially endow the soft‐film with hard‐tissue mimicking feature. The hybrid film is elegantly compounded with a clinical artificial ligament to act as a buffer zone to bridge the soft (ligament) and hard tissues (bone). Moreover, the bioactive film‐decorated ligament can be rolled into a 3D bio‐instructive implant with spatial‐controllable distribution of CPC bioactive motifs. CPC then promotes the recruitment and differentiation of endogenous cells in to the implant inside part, which enables a vascularized bone growth into the implant, and forms a structure mimicking the biological ligament–bone interface, thereby significantly improving osteointegration and biomechanical property. Thus, this special design provides an effective SHID‐guided implant‐bioactivation strategy unreached by the traditional manufacturing methods, enlightening a promising technology to develop an ideal SHID for translational use in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: JAZF1 translocation is the most common genetic change in low‐grade (LG) endometrial stromal sarcoma (ESS), and YWHAE and BCOR translocations are common in high‐grade (HG) ESS. Primary extrauterine ESS is rare, and there are limited data on molecular alterations in these tumours. Methods and results: Cases of primary extrauterine ESS, comprising eight LG‐ESS cases and five HG‐ESS cases were collected. Haematoxylin and eosin and immunohistochemical staining were used to observe the histomorphology and analyse related protein expression. JAZF1, YWHAE and BCOR rearrangements were explored with fluorescence in‐situ hybridisation (FISH). In LG‐ESS, the tumour cells resembled normal proliferative‐phase endometrial stromal cells; CD10, oestrogen receptor and progesterone receptor were expressed in all eight cases. In HG‐ESS, the tumour cells had uniform HG round and/or spindle morphology, sometimes with an LG component; CD10 was fully expressed in one case and focally expressed in four cases; BCOR was expressed in all five cases, and cyclin D1 in four of five cases. FISH analysis showed JAZF1 translocation in one of eight LG‐ESS cases (12.5%). YWHAE translocation occurred in four of five HG‐ESS cases, with a positivity rate of 80%. BCOR translocation was absent in all five cases. Conclusions: In extrauterine LG‐ESS, the rate of JAZF1 rearrangement was significantly lower than in uterine LG‐ESS. This result limited the value of JAZF1 translocation for diagnosis. YWHAE rearrangement is a common genetic change in extrauterine HG‐ESS. Further studies are required to confirm these findings, especially in LG‐ESS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Insect G protein‐coupled receptors (GPCRs) have been identified as a new generation of attractive targets for RNA interference (RNAi)‐based pest control. A functional study of the leucine‐rich repeat‐containing (LGR2) gene in Hyphantria cunea (HLGR2) was performed to examine whether it can be used in the molecular control of this notorious pest. RESULTS: The complementary DNA (cDNA) sequence and deduced amino acids of HLGR2 were obtained and analyzed in the present study. HLGR2 is a typical GPCR and shows high structural and sequence similarity with other insect LGR2 proteins. The spatiotemporal expression profiles of HLGR2 showed that HLGR2 was highly expressed at the egg stage and tissues of head and silk gland. After RNAi of HLGR2, distinct phenotypes were observed when HLGR2 expression was suppressed, indicating that HLGR2 is essential in pupation and eclosion. HLGR2 RNAi led to a low pupation rate (45.00%), body malformation, abnormal wing expansion, failed cuticle melanization (63.33%), and high mortality rate (48.33%). Furthermore, we identified eight genes that are regulated by HLGR2. The expression of these eight genes was induced by the HLGR2 signaling pathway and correlated well with cuticle sclerotization. Unlike LGR2 in other insect species, HLGR2 was found to play a crucial role in the control of H. cunea during ecdysis and postecdysial stages. CONCLUSION: HLGR2 is essential for the growth and development and wing expansion and maturation in H. cunea, suggesting HLGR2 is a promising candidate for application in RNAi‐based control of this notorious agriculture‐forest pest. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exciton behavior is crucial for improving the optoelectronic property of a light‐emitting conjugated polymer. Herein, the photoexcitation dynamics of exciton migration and energy transfer in a self‐doped β‐conformation film of the polydiarylfluorenes (poly[4‐(octyloxy)‐9,9‐diphenylfluoren‐2,7‐diyl]‐co‐[5‐(octyloxy)‐9,9‐ diphenylfluoren‐2,7‐diyl], PODPF) are demonstrated. Compared to the first generation of the β‐conformation polyfluorene, poly(9,9‐dioctylfluorene) (PFO), energy transfer occurs in PODPF β‐conformation films in a time period of ≈150 ps, much longer than those of the PFO ones (<5 ps), associated with the effective intrachain energy transfer (few hundred picoseconds), rather than interchain Förster energy transfer (a few picoseconds). Similar to PFO, the PODPF β‐conformation also displays well‐resolved vibronic emission peaks at 20 K, attributed to the planar and rigid conformation. Interestingly, a residual 0‐0 band emission of nonplanar conformation chain segments (435 nm, 2.85 eV) at 20 K also further confirms the exciton migration from the amorphous state to the β‐conformation domain in PODPF films. Therefore, the stable dual amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) behavior of the PODPF self‐doped films at 461 nm (2.69 eV) and 483 nm (2.57 eV), originates from the individual amorphous and β‐conformation domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method combining ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatograph/quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (UPLC–Q‐TOF–MS) and chemometrics was established to evaluate the differences in chemical composition between Aconiti Lateralis Radix (Fuzi in Chinese) before and after combination with Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao in Chinese). UPLC–Q‐TOF–MS was used to characterize the chemical components before and after the combination of Fuzi with Gancao, and genetic algorithm selection variables were applied to extract important variables. Partial least square discriminant analysis was used to verify the reliability of the variables obtained by genetic algorithm selection in differentiating Fuzi and combinations with Gancao, and nine potential chemical markers were obtained. The changes in content of chemical markers in Fuzi before and after combination were visualized using a heat map and hierarchical cluster analysis. Based on the chemical markers, characteristic profiling of UPLC–Q‐TOF–MS data was developed, then unsupervised principal components analysis and a supervised counter‐propagation artificial neural network were used to validate the characteristic profiling approach and showed that it performed well in differentiating between Fuzi and combinations with Gancao. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomaterials play an important role in treating bone defects by promoting direct osteogenic healing through intramembranous ossification (IO). However, majority of the body's bones form via cartilaginous intermediates by endochondral ossification (EO), a process that has not been well mimicked by engineered scaffolds, thus limiting their clinical utility in treating large segmental bone defects. Here, by entrapping corticosteroid dexamethasone within biomimetic recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein (rhBMP)‐loaded porous mesoporous bioglass scaffolds and regulating their release kinetics, significant degree of ectopic bone formation through endochondral ossification is achieved. By regulating the recruitment and polarization of immune suppressive macrophage phenotypes, the scaffold promotes rapid chondrogenesis by activating Hif‐3α signaling pathway in mesenchymal stem cells, which upregulates the expression of downstream chondrogenic genes. Inhibition of Hif‐3α signaling reverses the endochondral ossification phenotype. Together, these results reveal a strategy to facilitate developmental bone growth process using immune modulating biomimetic scaffolds, thus providing new opportunities for developing biomaterials capable of inducing natural tissue regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is an aggressive malignancy. Understanding of the molecular pathogenesis may lead to novel therapeutic targets. Rapamycin, the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor, showed inhibitory effects on T-ALL cells. In this study, we showed that rapamycin significantly reduced MYCN mRNA and protein in a concentration-dependent manner in T-ALL cells. Selective knockdown of MYCN by small interfering RNA had similar effects to rapamycin to inhibit T-ALL proliferation and colony formation and to induce G1-phase cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis. The inhibitory effects of rapamycin and MYCN depletion were also found in a Molt-4 xenograft model. Rapamycin and MYCN inhibition suppressed both Wnt/β-catenin and mTOR signaling pathways. The results suggest the effects of rapamycin on adult T-ALL is likely mediated by downregulation of MYCN. The findings suggest MYCN a potential target for the treatment of adult T-ALL. Additionally, dual targeting of mTOR and Wnt/β-catenin pathways may represent a novel strategy in the treatment of adult T-ALL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the limited ability for perfusion, traditional intramembranous ossification (IMO) often fails to recapitulate the natural regeneration process of most long bones and craniofacial bones. Alternatively, endochondral ossification (ECO) strategy has emerged and has been evidenced to circumvent the drawbacks in the routine application of IMO. Here, an injectable, poly(glycerol sebacate)‐co‐poly (ethylene glycol)/polyacrylic acid (PEGS/PAA) hydrogels are successfully developed to induce a hypoxia‐mimicking environment and subsequently recapitulate ECO via in situ iron chelation. With the incorporation of PAA, these hydrogels present remarkable viscoelasticity and high efficacy of iron ion‐chelating after injection, giving rise to the activation of HIF‐1α signaling pathway and suppression of inflammatory responses, and thereby improving chondrogenic differentiation in the early stage and facilitating vascularization in the later stage, which consequently trigger typical ECO. More importantly, through sustained and stable expression of HIF‐1α regulated by PEGS/PAA hydrogels throughout the regeneration, a harmonious chondrogenic/osteogenic balance can be struck and thereby accelerating the progress of ECO compared to the PEGS. The findings provide an efficient strategy to achieve in situ ECO via biomaterial‐based iron ion‐chelating and ensuing hypoxia‐mimicking, representing a novel and promising concept for future application in bone regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apoptin can specifically kill cancer cells but has no toxicity to normal cells. Human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) can act as a tumour‐specific promoter by triggering the expression of certain genes in tumour cells. This study aims to investigate the inhibitory effects and to explore the inhibitory pathway of a dual cancer‐specific recombinant adenovirus (Ad‐apoptin‐hTERTp‐E1a, Ad‐VT) on breast cancer stem cells. Breast cancer cell spheres were obtained from MCF‐7 cells through serum‐free suspension culture. The cell spheres were detected by flow cytometry for CD44+ CD24− cell subsets. The stemness of MCF‐7‐CSC cells was confirmed by in vivo tumorigenesis experiments. The inhibitory effect of the recombinant adenoviruses on MCF‐7‐CSC cells was evaluated by CCK‐8 assay. In addition, the stemness of adenovirus‐infected MCF‐7‐CSC cells was analysed by testing the presence of CD44+ CD24− cell subsets. The ability of the recombinant adenovirus to induce MCF‐7‐CSC cell apoptosis was detected by staining JC‐1, TMRM and Annexin V. Our results showed that a significantly higher proportion of the CD44+ CD24− cell subsets was present in MCF‐7‐CSC cells with a significantly increased expression of stem cell marker proteins. The MCF‐7‐CSC cells, whlist exhibited a strong tumorigenic ability with a certain degree of stemness in mice, were shown to be strongly inhibited by recombinant adenovirus Ad‐VT through cell apoptosis. In addition, Ad‐VT was shown to exert a killing effect on BCSCs. These results provide a new theoretical basis for the future treatment of breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The four‐and‐a‐half LIM domain protein 1 (FHL1) plays a key role in multiple cancers. Here, we characterized its role in glioblastoma (GBM), the most common and incurable form of brain cancer. Overexpression of FHL1 promotes growth, migration, and invasion of GBM cells in vivo and in vitro. In contrast, FHL1 silencing by RNAi exhibits the opposite effects. FHL1 interacts with the transcription factor SP1 to upregulate epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression and activate the downstream signaling cascades, including Src, Akt, Erk1/2, and Stat3, leading to GBM malignancy. FHL1 is highly expressed and positively correlated with EGFR levels in human GBM, particularly those of the classical subtype. Our results suggest that the FHL1‐SP1‐EGFR axis plays a tumor‐promoting role, and highlight the translational potential of inhibiting FHL1 for GBM treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Negative permittivity is a key characteristic of the distinctive metamaterials, a novel class of artificial materials with particular electromagnetic properties. Negative permittivity has been realized in metallic structures with special designs, but rarely achieved in polymer nanocomposites. Our recent studies discover that negative permittivity can be attained from randomly distributed carbon nanofiber (CNF) filled poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) composites over a wide frequency range, and the negative permittivity values are strongly influenced by CNF and PVDF crystalline structures. The effects of CNF on the crystallization of PVDF, and the resultant negative dielectric permittivity of CNF/PVDF composites influenced by crystallization of PVDF and CNF, are investigated. It is revealed that the introduction of CNF not only affects the dielectric permittivity directly, but also causes indirect effects to the dielectric permittivity through influencing the crystallization of PVDF. In particular, due to addition of more CNF, a α‐ to β‐phase transformation in PVDF is found to affect permittivity of the nanocomposites. Furthermore, the permittivity of CNF/PVDF composites are increased considerably ("more negative") with more CNF, and is affected noticeably by crystalline structures of PVDF. The lowest negative permittivity achieved is −2,500 for the nanocomposite with 5 wt% CNF at 5 kHz. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel intelligent moisture‐controlling polymer composite (IMCPC) with fast response humidity control performance, which can be applied in refrigerators for edible fruits and vegetables, was prepared by intercalation polymerization of acrylamide (AM) with sepiolite. The performance of the resulted IMCPCs was investigated. The results show that vacuum freeze‐dried polyacrylamide/sepiolite composite has a porous structure and excellent moisture absorption properties. The IMCPC responds quickly within 30 min both in high and low humidity inside the refrigerator, maintaining relative humidity in the higher range (80–87% RH). It can effectively extend the storage of fruits and vegetables in the refrigerator box. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020, 137, 48883. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On acid soils, the trivalent aluminium ion (Al3+) predominates and is very rhizotoxic to most plant species. For some native plant species adapted to acid soils including tea (Camellia sinensis), Al3+ has been regarded as a beneficial mineral element. In this study, we discovered that Al3+ is actually essential for tea root growth and development in all the tested varieties. Aluminum ion promoted new root growth in five representative tea varieties with dose‐dependent responses to Al3+ availability. In the absence of Al3+, the tea plants failed to generate new roots, and the root tips were damaged within 1 d of Al deprivation. Structural analysis of root tips demonstrated that Al was required for root meristem development and activity. In situ morin staining of Al3+ in roots revealed that Al mainly localized to nuclei in root meristem cells, but then gradually moved to the cytosol when Al3+ was subsequently withdrawn. This movement of Al3+ from nuclei to cytosols was accompanied by exacerbated DNA damage, which suggests that the nuclear‐targeted Al primarily acts to maintain DNA integrity. Taken together, these results provide novel evidence that Al3+ is essential for root growth in tea plants through maintenance of DNA integrity in meristematic cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thiophene‐based (Th‐based) derivatives have received wide attentions in organic optoelectronics due to their excellent and tuneable optoelectrical properties as well as chemical modification. However, the low photoluminescence quantum yield in solid state limits their application in solution‐processed light‐emitting optoelectronic devices, especially in organic lasers. Herein, a novel blue‐emitting steric Th‐based fluorophore (MC8‐Th) with excellent optical gain behavior for organic laser is reported. Interestingly, MC8‐Th neat film exhibits efficient exceptional deep‐blue amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) behavior with a remarkably low threshold of 6.0 µJ cm−2 and full‐width‐at‐half‐maximum value of 2.6 nm. Furthermore, random laser signals are also obtained with the lowest threshold of 4.1 µJ cm−2 when incorporating the compound into an inert polystyrene (PS) matrix. In addition, low threshold (16 µJ cm−2, fivefold lower than those of F8BT neat films) yellow–green ASE emission (560 nm) is achieved through Förster resonance energy transfer. Meanwhile, ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy is deployed here to observe the single‐molecular excitonic behavior in solution and PS‐blend, intermolecular excited state in neat film, and efficient energy transfer in MC8‐Th:F8BT‐blend films. As far as known, MC8‐Th shows lower threshold ASE/lasing behavior for the Th‐based conjugated materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photoisomerization of azobenzene spatially confined in silver nanoparticle (AgNP) aggregates and in ethanol solution was monitored by Raman spectroscopy inside optically clear colorimetric dishes. After ultraviolet irradiation, overall Raman intensity assigned to trans‐azobenzene of these two samples decreased, and notably, a cis peak appeared at 599 cm−1, assigned to C─N═N─C torsional mode. The Raman intensity at 1,007 cm−1, assigned to trans‐azobenzene, was recorded versus irradiation time for analyzing the trans‐to‐cis photoisomerization quantum yield (PQY). By combining our theoretical derivation and standard curve of Raman spectra, the trans‐to‐cis PQY of azobenzene in AgNP aggregates was roughly calculated to be 79.0% higher than that in ethanol solution. The enhancement mechanism was discussed in terms of the competition between enhanced local optical field from surface plasmon resonance and the accelerated nonradiative decay of excited azobenzene molecules together. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of introducing side‐chain steric hindrance on the optoelectronic properties of the well‐studied green light emitting polymer (poly(9,9‐di‐n‐octylfluorene‐alt‐benzothiadiazole), F8BT) is investigated by means of replacing the 9,9‐dioctylfluorene unit by two novel steric hindrance functionalized monomers, namely, poly(9,9‐diarylfluorene‐alt‐benzothiadiazole) (FDFBT) and poly(9,9‐diarylfluorene‐4‐carbazole‐alt‐benzothiadiazole) (FCzBT). Bathochromic shifts of the optical spectra concomitant with enhanced photoluminescence quantum yields and improved film morphologies are found on the novel copolymers compared to F8BT. Femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy demonstrates how steric hindrance effect in the novel copolymers manifests into enhanced stimulated emission and longer excited state lifetimes, associated with the suppression of polaron formation, all these being favorable features for light amplifying applications. Consequently, random lasing emission is achieved in films based on these copolymers with a threshold of three times lower than that of F8BT (22.95 µJ cm−2 for F8BT; 6.36 µJ cm−2 for FDFBT and 8.44 µJ cm−2 for FCzBT). Polymer light‐emitting diodes based on the novel copolymers exhibit performances comparable to the best reported on fluorene‐based devices. All of these results manifest the great potential of these novel copolymers for the application in the field of light‐emitting devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three‐dimensional (3D) tumor has been considered as the best in vitro model for cancer research. In recent years, various methods have been developed to controllable prepare multisize 3D tumors. Nonetheless, reported technologies are still problematic and difficult to produce 3D tumors with highly uniform size and cell content. Here, a novel and simple microsphere‐based mold approach is proposed to rapidly fabricate spherical microwell arrays for multisize 3D tumors formation, culture, and recovery. Larger amounts of HepG2 3D tumors with excellent quality and uniformity can be efficiently generated using this method. In addition, the tumor size can also be simply controlled by adjusting the diameter of the microwell arrays. All experimental results indicated that the proposed method offers a promising platform to generate and recover highly controlled multisize 3D tumors for various cell‐based biomedical research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study aimed to explore the miR‐342‐3p expression in pre‐eclampsia (PE) placentas and confirm whether miR‐342‐3p exerts effects on proliferation and migration of HTR‐8/SVneo trophoblastic cells. Methods: The PE placentas (n = 8) were taken from gravidas complicated by PE and delivered after 34 weeks. The chorionic plates and the basal plates were separately taken from the placenta disc near the position of umbilical cord insertion. RT‐qPCR was used to measure the expression of miR‐342‐3p in the chorionic plates and the basal plates. Cell invasion assay and MMT assay were used to assess the effects of miR‐342‐3p on proliferation and migration of HTR‐8/SVneo trophoblastic cells. Luciferase reporter assay and Western blotting were used to analyze the target of miR‐342‐3p and investigate the detailed mechanisms. Results: The expression of miR‐342‐3p was upregulated in both basal plates and chorionic plates in patients with PE compared with healthy pregnant individuals. MiR‐342‐3p inhibitor suppressed the cell viability and invasion, and induced apoptosis in trophoblast cells. Furthermore, inhibitor of DNA binding (ID)‐4 (ID4) was a direct target of miR‐342‐3p, and knockdown of ID4 abrogated the regulation effect of miR‐342‐3p on cell viability, apoptosis and invasion. Conclusion: Inhibition of miR‐342‐3p expression may suppress the occurrence of PE by targeting ID4 in vitro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ZnO/NiO nanoparticles supported on ordered mesoporous alumina (OMA) have been prepared by supercritical carbon dioxide impregnation using Zn(NO3)2 ⋅ 6H2O and Ni(NO3)2 ⋅ 6H2O as the precursors, supercritical carbon dioxide as the solvent and methanol as the co‐solvent. The ordered mesostructures of OMA were well‐maintained during the preparation. Ordered mesoporous alumina was prepared via solvent evaporation self‐assembly. The photocatalytic performance of ZnO/NiO/OMA composites for degradation of Congo Red was studied under simulated sunlight irradiation. The results showed that photocatalytic activity of the ZnO/NiO/OMA prepared by supercritical carbon dioxide impregnation was superior to those of commercial P‐25 and the composites prepared via the incipient wetness impregnation. The removal rate of Congo Red was found to be dependent on both the microstructure of the prepared ZnO/NiO/OMA composites and also the molar ratio of ZnO/NiO nanoparticles in OMA. The optimal molar ratio of ZnO/NiO was investigated to achieve a maximum photocatalytic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary of main observation and conclusion: Four acyclic maleimide‐based enediyne compounds with different hydrophilicity were synthesized through Sonogashira reaction to reveal a self‐delivery antitumor drug platform. As proved by ESR analysis, the enediyne compounds undergo Bergman‐like cyclization and generate diradical intermediates at physiological temperature, which are able to induce DNA‐cleavage through the abstraction of H atoms from the sugar‐phosphate backbones. When the critical aggregation concentration is reached in water, the amphiphilic enediyne compounds self‐assemble into nanoparticles and possess the self‐delivery ability to be facilely admitted by tumor cells, resulting in greatly improved cytotoxicity (IC50 down to 10 μmol·L–1) and much higher tumor cell apoptosis rate (up to 86.6%) in comparison with either the hydrophilic or the lipophilic enediyne compound. The enhanced endocytosis of the amphiphilic enediyne compounds was further confirmed through confocal laser scanning microscopy analysis. The unveiled relationship between the hydrophilicity of enediyne drugs and their therapeutic efficacy will provide a guideline for the design of new self‐delivery drugs employed in medicinal applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Hyphantria cunea is a destructive forest pest. To utilise H. cunea nucleopolyhedrovirus (HcNPV) for biological control, understanding insect‐virus interactions is essential. RESULTS: Four cDNA libraries were constructed from H. cunea larvae (two HcNPV‐infected and two uninfected groups) and 76 004 expressed genes were obtained by next‐generation sequencing. Compared with controls, 272 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in infected groups, including 162 up‐regulated and 110 down‐regulated genes. Transcription levels of 20 random DEGs were consistent with the Solexa expression profiles obtained by quantitative real‐time PCR. DEGs associated with innate immunity were grouped into several categories, including pattern recognition proteins, heat‐shock proteins, UDP‐glycosyltransferases, cytochrome P450s, antimicrobial peptides and hormonal signalling proteins. Interestingly, up‐regulated host genes included farnesoic acid O‐methyltransferase, two juvenile hormone (JH) binding proteins, and a circadian clock‐controlled protein related to JH regulation. Pathway enrichment analysis indicates that mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling pathways, key candidate genes and important biological pathways may be associated with molecular modification in H. cunea larvae in response to virus stress. CONCLUSION: These findings provide insight for future research on the molecular mechanisms of HcNPV invasion and anti‐HcNPV mechanisms in H. cunea. A better understanding of gene regulation following HcNPV invasion could help to develop the virus as a bio‐insecticide. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry A better understanding is necessary for insect‐virus interactions. The transcriptomes of HcNPV‐ and non‐infected H. cunea larvae were constructed for expand our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of HcNPV invasion and could assist biological control applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Symbiotic nitrogen (N2) fixation plays a vital role in sustainable agriculture. Efficient N2 fixation requires various materials, including phosphate (Pi); however, the molecular mechanism underlying the transport of Pi into nodules and bacteroids remains largely unknown.A nodule‐localized Pi transporter, GmPT7, was functionally characterized in soybean (Glycine max) and its role in N2 fixation and yield was investigated via composite and whole transgenic plants.GmPT7 protein was localized to the plasma membrane and showed transport activity for Pi in yeast. Altered expression of GmPT7 changed 33Pi uptake from rhizosphere and translocation to bacteroids. GmPT7 was mainly localized to the outer cortex and fixation zones of the nodules. Overexpression of GmPT7 promoted nodulation, and increased plant biomass, shoot nitrogen and phosphorus content, resulting in improved soybean yield by up to 36%. Double suppression of GmPT5 and GmPT7 led to nearly complete elimination of nodulation and over 50% reduction in plant biomass, shoot nitrogen and phosphorus content, indicating that both GmPT7 and GmPT5 contribute to Pi transport for N2 fixation.Taken together, our results indicate that GmPT7 is a transporter responsible for direct Pi entry to nodules and further to fixation zones, which is required for enhancing symbiotic N2 fixation and grain yield of soybean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]