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Objectives: Previous studies have examined the benefits of self‐compassion for psychological symptoms in breast cancer patients; however, little is known about the role of self‐compassion for patients' fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) as well as the underlying mediating mechanisms. This study aimed to examine the effect of self‐compassion on FCR, and whether maladaptive cognitive styles mediate this relationship. Methods: This cross‐sectional study included 304 females with breast cancer. A self‐report questionnaire was used to assess patients' self‐compassion, maladaptive cognitive styles (i.e., rumination and catastrophising), and FCR. Parallel mediation analyses were conducted to examine the research questions. Results: Approximately half of the patients with breast cancer reported elevated levels of FCR. Self‐compassion was negatively related to FCR, and the relationship between self‐compassion and FCR was mediated by catastrophising, whereas rumination did not significantly mediate the relationship between self‐compassion and FCR. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that self‐compassion and catastrophising are closely associated with FCR in patients with breast cancer, and catastrophising is a mediator between self‐compassion and FCR. Clinicians could reduce breast cancer patients' FCR by enhancing their self‐compassion and improving their maladaptive cognitive styles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A copper(II) acetate complex with a urea‐functionalized pyridyl ligand, [CuL(OAc)2]2·2AcOH (1) [L = N‐(3‐chlorophenyl)‐N'‐(3‐pyridyl) urea], was synthesized by the reaction of L with Cu(OAc)2 in methanol. A zigzag‐shaped hydrogen bond chain of L is obtained via urea N–H···Npyridyl interactions, and a two‐dimensional hydrogen bond network structure is further formed through the C–H···O interaction. In the complex 1, a paddle‐wheel structure is generated by Cu···Oacetate interactions and Cu···Npyridyl interactions. Furthermore, hydrogen bonding chain structure is extended through weak C–H···O hydrogen bond interactions. Through ultraviolet‐visible (UV/Vis) spectroscopy, the acetate binding properties of L in solution were also evaluated. Variable temperature magnetic susceptibility measurement indicates that the metal complex 1 displays antiferromagnetic coupling property. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The facile anionic polymerization of N‐phenylmaleimide (N‐PMI) using fluorides as an initiator has been discovered and systematically investigated. Effect of different solvents such as dioxane, tetrahydrofuran, dichloromethane (DCM), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), N‐methylpyrrolidone, acetonitrile, toluene, and acetone and effect of anionic initiators such as tetra‐n‐butylammonium fluoride (TBAF), cesium fluoride, and potassium fluoride have been studied. The kinetics of polymerization using TBAF as an initiator in DMSO is also studied. Some of the resulting poly(PMI)s are characterized by gel permeation chromatography, solubility test, attenuated total reflection‐Fourier transform infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and 13C‐NMR spectral analysis. The thermal behaviors are studied by thermogravimetric and differential scanning calorimetric analysis. A proposed polymerization mechanism is also discussed. Our results show fluoride can effectively induce the polymerization of N‐PMI in various solvents under very mild conditions with good to excellent yields. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 137, 48909. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A key target of shale gas exploration and production in China is the organic‐rich black shale of the Wufeng Formation‐Longmaxi Formation in the Sichuan Basin and its periphery. The set of black shale contains abundant graptolites, which are mainly preserved as flattened rhabdosomes with carbonized periderms, is an important organic component of the shale. However, few previous studies had focused on the organic matter (OM) which is derived from graptolite and its pore structure. In particular, the contributions of graptolites to gas generation, storage, and flow have not yet been examined. In this study, focused ion beam‐scanning electron microscope (FIB‐SEM) was used to investigate the characteristics of the graptolite‐derived OM and the micro‐nanopores of graptolite periderms. The results suggested that the proportion of OM in the graptolite was between 19.7% and 30.2%, and between 8.9% and 14.4% in the surrounding rock. The total organic carbon (TOC) content of the graptolite was found to be higher than that of the surrounding rock, which indicated that the graptolite played a significant role in the dispersed organic matter. Four types of pores were developed in the graptolite periderm, including organic gas pores, pyrite moulage pores, authigenic quartz moldic pores, and microfractures. These well‐developed micro‐nano pores and fractures had formed an interconnected system within the graptolites which provided storage spaces for shale gas. The stacked layers and large accumulation of graptolites resulted in lamellation fractures openning easily, and provided effective pathways for the gas flow. A few nanoscale gas pores were observed in the graptolite‐derived OM, with surface porosity lie in 1.5%–2.4%, and pore diameters of 5–20 nm. The sapropel detritus was determined to be rich in nanometer‐sized pores with surface porosity of 3.1%–6.2%, and pore diameters of 20–80 nm. Due to the small amount of hydrocarbon generation of the graptolite, supporting the overlying pressure was difficult, which caused the pores to become compacted or collapsed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The success of nanomedicines in the clinic depends on our comprehensive understanding of nano-bio interactions in tumor microenvironments, which are characterized by dense leaky microvasculature and acidic extracellular pH (pHe) values. Herein, we investigated the accumulation of ultrasmall renal-clearable gold NPs (AuNPs) with and without acidity targeting in xenograft mouse models of two prostate cancer types, PC-3 and LNCaP, with distinct microenvironments. Our results show that both sets of AuNPs could easily penetrate into the tumors but their uptake and retention were mainly dictated by the tumor microvasculature and the enhanced permeability and retention effect over the entire targeting process. On the other hand, increased tumor acidity indeed enhanced the uptake of AuNPs with acidity targeting, but only for a limited period of time. By making use of simple surface chemistry, these two effects can be synchronized in time for high tumor targeting, opening new possibilities to further improve the targeting efficiencies of nanomedicines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synergistic effects arising from the conjugation of organic dyes onto non-luminescent metal nanoparticles (NPs) have greatly broadened their applications in both imaging and sensing. Herein, we report that conjugation of a well-known pH-insensitive dye, tetramethyl-rhodamine (TAMRA), to pH-insensitive luminescent gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) can lead to an ultrasmall nanoindicator that can fluorescently report local pH in a ratiometric way. Such synergy originated from the dimerization of TAMRA on AuNPs, of which geometry was very sensitive to surface charges of the AuNPs and can be reversely modulated through protonation of surrounding glutathione ligands. Not limited to pH-insensitive dyes, this pH-dependent dimerization can also enhance the pH sensitivity of fluorescein, a well-known pH-sensitive dye, within a larger pH range, opening up a new pathway to design ultrasmall fluorescent ratiometric nanoindicators with tunable wavelengths and pH response ranges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

S-adenosyl- l-methionine ( SAM) synthetase is the key enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of SAM, which serves as a common precursor for polyamines ( PAs) and ethylene. A SAM synthetase cDNA ( SlSAMS1) was introduced into the tomato genome using the Agrobacterium tumefaciens transformation method. Transgenic plants overexpressing SlSAMS1 exhibited a significant increase in tolerance to alkali stress and maintained nutrient balance, higher photosynthetic capacity and lower oxidative stress compared with WT lines. Both in vivo and in vitro experiments indicated that the function of SlSAMS1 mainly depended on the accumulation of Spd and Spm in the transgenic lines. A grafting experiment showed that rootstocks from Sl SAMS1-overexpressing plants provided a stronger root system, increased PAs accumulation, essential elements absorption, and decreased Na+ absorption in the scions under alkali stress. As a result, fruit set and yield were significantly enhanced. To our knowledge, this is the first report to provide evidence that Sl SAMS1 positively regulates tomato tolerance to alkali stress and plays a major role in modulating polyamine metabolism, resulting in maintainability of nutrient and ROS balance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]