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The article presents a case study of an 18-year-old female diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) who rapidly progressed to the blast phase despite treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Topics discussed include the identification of recurrent fusion genes in CML-blast phase, their potential role in disease progression and drug resistance, and the need for further research to understand their prevalence and clinical implications.

The creation of hierarchical nanostructures can effectively strengthen phonon scattering to reduce lattice thermal conductivity for improving thermoelectric properties in inorganic solids. Here, we use Zn doping to induce a remarkable reduction in the lattice thermal conductivity in SnTe, approaching the theoretical minimum limit. Microstructure analysis reveals that ZnTe nanoprecipitates can embed within SnTe grains beyond the solubility limit of Zn in the Zn alloyed SnTe. These nanoprecipitates result in a substantial decrease of the lattice thermal conductivity in SnTe, leading to an ultralow lattice thermal conductivity of 0.50 W m−1 K−1 at 773 K and a peak ZT of ~0.48 at 773 K, marking an approximately 45 % enhancement compared to pristine SnTe. This study underscores the effectiveness of incorporating ZnTe nanoprecipitates in boosting the thermoelectric performance of SnTe‐based materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and allergic diseases possess similar genetic backgrounds and pathogenesis. Observational studies have shown a correlation, but the exact direction of cause and effect remains unclear. The aim of this Mendelian randomization (MR) study is to assess bidirectional causality between inflammatory bowel disease and allergic diseases. Method: We comprehensively analyzed the causal relationship between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Crohn's disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC) and allergic disease (asthma, Hay fever, and eczema) as a whole, allergic conjunctivitis (AC), atopic dermatitis (AD), allergic asthma (AAS), and allergic rhinitis (AR) by performing a bidirectional Mendelian randomization study using summary‐level data from genome‐wide association studies. The analysis results mainly came from the random‐effects model of inverse variance weighted (IVW‐RE). In addition, multivariate Mendelian randomization (MVMR) analysis was conducted to adjust the effect of body mass index (BMI) on the instrumental variables. Results: The IVW‐RE method revealed that IBD genetically increased the risk of allergic disease as a whole (OR = 1.03, 95% CI = 1.01–1.04, fdr.p =.015), AC (OR = 1.04, 95% CI = 1.01–1.06, fdr.p =.011), and AD (OR = 1.06, 95% CI = 1.02–1.09, fdr.p =.004). Subgroup analysis further confirmed that CD increased the risk of allergic disease as a whole (OR = 1.02, 95% CI = 1.00–1.03, fdr.p =.031), AC (OR = 1.03, 95% CI = 1.01–1.05, fdr.p =.012), AD (OR = 1.06, 95% CI = 1.02–1.09, fdr.p = 2E−05), AAS (OR = 1.05, 95% CI = 1.02–1.08, fdr.p =.002) and AR (OR = 1.03, 95% CI = 1.00–1.07, fdr.p =.025), UC increased the risk of AAS (OR = 1.02, 95% CI = 0.98–1.07, fdr.p =.038). MVMR results showed that after taking BMI as secondary exposure, the causal effects of IBD on AC, IBD on AD, CD on allergic disease as a whole, CD on AC, CD on AD, CD on AAS, and CD on AR were still statistically significant. No significant association was observed in the reverse MR analysis. Conclusion: This Mendelian randomized study demonstrated that IBD is a risk factor for allergic diseases, which is largely attributed to its subtype CD increasing the risk of AC, AD, ASS, and AR. Further investigations are needed to explore the causal relationship between allergic diseases and IBD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Floral transition, the switch from vegetative to reproductive growth, is extremely important for the growth and development of flowering plants. In the summer chrysanthemum, CmBBX8, a member of the subgroup II B‐box (BBX) family, positively regulates the transition by physically interacting with CmERF3 to inhibit CmFTL1 expression. In this study, we show that CmBBX5, a B‐box subgroup I member comprising two B‐boxes and a CCT domain, interacts with CmBBX8. This interaction suppresses the recruitment of CmBBX8 to the CmFTL1 locus without affecting its transcriptional activation activity. CmBBX5 overexpression led to delayed flowering under both LD (long‐day) and SD (short‐day) conditions, while lines expressing the chimeric repressor gene‐silencing (CmBBX5‐SRDX) exhibited the opposite phenotype. Subsequent genetic evidence indicated that in regulating flowering, CmBBX5 is partially dependent on CmBBX8. Moreover, during the vegetative growth period, levels of CmBBX5 expression were found to exceed those of CmBBX8. Collectively, our findings indicate that both CmERF3 and CmBBX5 interact with CmBBX8 to dampen the regulation of CmFTL1 via distinct mechanisms, which contribute to preventing the premature flowering of summer chrysanthemum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, a converter model is established to study the powder spraying process. The effects of powder spraying speed, solid–gas ratio, particle size, and powder spraying position on the distribution of powder in a molten bath and the molten iron splash on a liquid surface are quantitatively studied by using image technology. Increasing the carrier gas flow to 2 m3 h−1 can effectively promote the movement and mixing of the powder in the molten bath, but at the same time, this leads to a degree of splash of 50.61% above the molten bath. A similar situation occurs with increasing solid–gas ratio and decreasing particle size. However, as the powder injection position is gradually moved away from the center of the furnace bottom, the powder distribution before 3 s is more advantageous, and the degree of splash decreases from 25.39 to 12.40%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: WRKY transcription factors (TFs) are crucial regulators in response to pathogen infection. However, the regulatory mechanisms of WRKY TFs in response to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum (Fov), the most devastating pathogen of cotton, remain unclear.Here, transcriptome sequencing indicated that the group IIc WRKY TF subfamily was the most important TF subfamily in response to Fov. Gain‐of‐function and loss‐of‐function analyses showed that group IIc WRKY TFs positively regulated cotton resistance to Fov. A series of chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing, yeast one‐hybrid assay and electrophoresis mobility shift assay experiments indicated that group IIc WRKY TFs directly bound to the promoter of GhMKK2 and regulated its expression.Importantly, a novel mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade composed of GhMKK2, GhNTF6 and GhMYC2 was identified. The functional analysis indicated that group IIc WRKY TFs induced the GhMKK2‐GhNTF6 pathway to increase resistance to Fov by upregulating the GhMYC2‐mediated expression of several flavonoid biosynthesis‐related genes, which led to flavonoid accumulation.In conclusion, our study demonstrated a novel disease defense mechanism by which the WRKY‐MAPK pathway promotes flavonoid biosynthesis to defend against pathogen infection. This pathway improves our understanding of the interaction mode between WRKY TFs and MAPK cascades in plant immunity and the vital role of plant flavonoids in pathogen defense. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myopia is the most common type of refractive errors characterized by excessive elongation of the ocular globe. With the increasing prevalence of myopia, improved knowledge of factors involved in myopia development is of particular importance. There are growing evidence suggesting that the choroid plays an important role in the regulation of eye growth and the development of myopia. Studies have demonstrated that thinning choroid is a structural feature of myopia, with a negative correlation between choroidal thickness and axial length, suggesting that the change in choroidal thickness may be a predictive biomarker for long‐term changes in ocular elongation. Given the fact that the choroid is primarily a vascular structure capable of rapidly changing blood flow, variations of choroidal thickness might be primarily caused by changes in choroidal blood flow. Considering that hypoxia is associated with myopia and choroidal blood flow is the main source of oxygen and nourishment supply, apart from the effect on myopia possibly by changing choroidal thickness, decreasing choroidal blood flow may contribute to scleral ischaemia and hypoxia, resulting in alterations in the scleral structure and thus leading to myopia. This review aims to provide an overview of recent work exploring the influence of the choroid on myopia from perspectives of choroidal thickness and blood flow, which may present new predictive indicators for the onset of myopia and new targets for the development of novel therapeutic approaches for myopia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Face to the suitable ZnO/P3HT heterojunction, improved crystalline quality of zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films is achieved by a simple and effective approach of extending the sputtering time, further the performance of transparent thin‐film solar cells (TFSCs) with P3HT/ZnO heterojunction is greatly enhanced. With extending the sputtering time, the continuous ZnO thin films of necessary thickness is formed on fluorine‐doped tin oxide (FTO) substrate and their crystalline quality is also significantly improved, while the grain size increases and become stable with longer than 60 min. The surface morphology of ZnO thin films with sputtering time of 90 min is smooth. With extending the sputtering time, ZnO thin films show excellent optical property. The improved crystalline quality of ZnO thin films obviously affect the performance of the P3HT‐ZnO SCs, reaching highest fill factor to 0.44, with the sputtering time of 90 min. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The protein tyrosine phosphatase SHP2, encoded by PTPN11, is ubiquitously expressed and essential for the development and/or maintenance of multiple tissues and organs. SHP2 is involved in gastrointestinal (GI) epithelium development and homeostasis, but the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. While studying SHP2's role in skeletal development, we made osteoblast‐specific SHP2 deficient mice using Osterix (Osx)‐Cre as a driver to excise Ptpn11 floxed alleles. Phenotypic characterization of these SHP2 mutants unexpectedly revealed a critical role of SHP2 in GI biology. Mice lacking SHP2 in Osx+ cells developed a fatal GI pathology with dramatic villus hypoplasia. OSTERIX, an OB‐specific zinc finger‐containing transcription factor is for the first time found to be expressed in GI crypt cells, and SHP2 expression in the crypt Osx+ cells is critical for self‐renewal and proliferation. Further, immunostaining revealed the colocalization of OSTERIX with OLFM4 and LGR5, two bona fide GI stem cell markers, at the crypt cells. Furthermore, OSTERIX expression is found to be associated with GI malignancies. Knockdown of SHP2 expression had no apparent influence on the relative numbers of enterocytes, goblet cells or Paneth cells. Given SHP2's key regulatory role in OB differentiation, our studies suggest that OSTERIX and SHP2 are indispensable for gut homeostasis, analogous to SOX9's dual role as a master regulator of cartilage and an important regulator of crypt stem cell biology. Our findings also provide a foundation for new avenues of inquiry into GI stem cell biology and of OSTERIX's therapeutic and diagnostic potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Jiangshan‐Shaoxing‐Pingxiang Fault (JSP Fault) is traditionally considered as the boundary between the Yangtze and Cathaysia blocks in South China. Whether the previously defined Shenshan and Kuli formations located along the JSP fault and near the Xinyu City, Jiangxi Province, are continuous strata or parts of a tectonic mélange is important for understanding the geological history of South China. A carbonaceous phyllite from the area, previously considered as part of the Neoproterozoic Shenshan and Kuli formations, is analyzed palynologically in this study. The Asteridium‐Comasphaeridium acritarch assemblage found in the slate can be correlated with the basal Cambrian Asteridium‐Heliosphaeridium‐Comasphaeridium (AHC) acritarch assemblage in Tarim and the Yangtze Block. The early Cambrian biostratigraphical age assignment for the carbonaceous phyllite indicates the presence of both Neoproterozoic and Cambrian rocks in the sedimentary package, and supports that the package is a part of tectonic mélange rather than a continuous Neoproterozoic strata. The Cambrian slate is the youngest known lithology in the mélange at present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: For a flowering plant, the transition from vegetative stage to reproductive growth is probably the most critical developmental switch. In the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, the product of BBX7, group II member of BBX family, acts to delay floral transition. In this study, a presumed chrysanthemum homolog of a second group gene AtBBX8, designated CmBBX8, had been isolated and characterized. The transcription of CmBBX8 followed a diurnal rhythm as the chrysanthemum floral transition regulator. Overexpression of CmBBX8 accelerated flowering, while its (artificial microRNAs) amiR‐enabled knockdown delayed flowering in plants grown under both long‐ and short‐day conditions. Global expression analysis revealed that genes associated with photoperiod were down‐regulated in amiR‐CmBBX8 lines compared with the wild type, which were verified to be up‐regulated in overexpressing lines (OX‐CmBBX8) by RT‐PCR. A number of in vitro assays were used to show that CmBBX8 targets CmFTL1. Furthermore, the function of CmFTL1 as a floral inducer under long‐day conditions was confirmed by the behaviour of engineered summer‐flowering chrysanthemum plants. The conclusion is that the BBX8‐FT regulatory module is an important determinant of reproductive development in summer‐flowering chrysanthemum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The secondary cell wall is an important carbon sink in higher plants and its biosynthesis requires coordination of metabolic fluxes in the phenylpropanoid pathway. In Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), MYB75 and the KNOX transcription factor KNAT7 form functional complexes to regulate secondary cell wall formation in the inflorescence stem. However, the molecular mechanism by which these transcription factors control different branches of the phenylpropanoid pathway remains poorly understood in woody species. We isolated an R2R3‐MYB transcription factor MYB6 from Populus tomentosa and determined that it was expressed predominately in young leaves. Overexpression of MYB6 in transgenic poplar upregulated flavonoid biosynthetic gene expression, resulting in significantly increased accumulation of anthocyanin and proanthocyanidins. MYB6‐overexpression plants showed reduced secondary cell wall deposition, accompanied by repressed expression of secondary cell wall biosynthetic genes. We further showed that MYB6 interacted physically with KNAT7 and formed functional complexes that acted to repress secondary cell wall development in poplar and Arabidopsis. The results provide an insight into the transcriptional mechanisms involved in the regulation of the metabolic fluxes between the flavonoid and lignin biosynthetic pathways in poplar. Significance Statement: The poplar MYB6 transcription factor is involved in the positive regulation of anthocyanin and proanthocyanidin biosynthesis but the inhibition of secondary cell wall formation with KNAT7 repressor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicon (Si), stands out for its abundant resources, eco‐friendliness, affordability, high capacity, and low operating potential, making it a prime candidate for high‐energy‐density lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs). Notably, the breakthrough use of nanostructured Si (nSi) has paved the way for the commercialization of Si anodes. Despite this, challenges like high processing costs, severe side reactions, and low volumetric energy density have impeded widespread industrial adoption. Micron‐scale Si (µSi) has always faced setbacks compared to nSi due to its greater volume expansion. However, recent years have witnessed a resurgence of interest in µSi‐based anodes. Capitalizing on its inherent advantages, including low cost and high tap density, µSi has once again captured the attention of both academic and industrial communities. This review begins by contrasting the strengths and weaknesses of µSi and nSi, then outline potential solutions to enhance µSi performance, covering aspects like structural regulation, composite anodes, binder design, and electrolyte exploration. Additionally, this work explores the application of machine learning‐assisted high‐throughput screening. Concluding the review, this work provides insights into the future prospects of µSi in LIBs, outlining challenges and proposing integrated coping strategies. This review anticipates that it will provide valuable perspectives for the commercial application of high‐energy‐density Si‐based anodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To improve cure rates for neuroblastoma (NB), it is important and necessary to evaluate therapy response. Our investigation focuses on using plasma cell free DNA (cfDNA) as a biomarker to determine tumor burden and minimal residual disease (MRD) of NB patients during chemotherapy. Methods: Total 58 NB patients were recruited from July 2016 to December 2017. Therapy regime and risk classification were based on COG standard and BCH‐NB‐2007 protocol. RECIST study was used to judge response to therapy at the end of fourth cycle of chemotherapy (CC4) and maintenance stage (MS) respectively. Serial quantifications of cfDNA, NSE, and LDH were examined at four stages, including newly diagnosed, second and CC4, and maintenance. Results: During early chemotherapy, 65.5% of NB kids responded well. Consistently, cfDNA, NSE, and LDH levels were down‐regulated in NB patients with partial remission (PR) compared to those with stable disease (SD). In both training and predicting sets, the levels of cfDNA were significantly comparable between PR and SD only at CC4 stage. To predict the insufficient response to early chemotherapy, the optimal AUC value of cfDNA was 0.732 and 0.747 in training and predicting sets respectively, with a sensitivity of 63.2% and 80% specificity at 11.59 ng/ml and a sensitivity of 68.4% and 90% specificity at 10.35 ng/ml. At MS, responded NB patients were slightly increased up to 70%. This evaluation was confirmed by further decrease in cfDNA and NSE levels during intermediate chemotherapy in comparison with early stage. Conclusion: The dynamic change of cfDNA was considered as a surrogate biomarker to evaluate tumor burden and MRD of NB during early and intermediate therapy periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of oxygen content on the manganese sulfide in the process of cooling and heat treatment is studied. The experimental results show that the changes of oxygen content have a great effect on the formation and growth of sulfide in free‐cutting steel. And the morphology of sulfides transforms from Type II to type I in cooling process with the increase of oxygen content contribute to the formation of some oxides during initial solidification stage, which results in the formation of MnS from eutectic reaction to monotectic reaction. Oxygen content has a great effect on nucleation through decreasing nucleation work, increasing the oxygen content helps heterogeneous nucleation process. In slow cooling and heat treatment process, with the increase of oxygen content, sulfide inclusion coarsening rate is increasing and size of inclusion is remarkably magnifying, using Ostwald ripening theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objectives: Dental tissue‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)‐mediated pulp‐dentin regeneration is considered a potential approach for the regeneration of damaged teeth. Enhancing MSC‐mediated pulp‐dentin regeneration is based on an understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying directed cell differentiation process. Histone demethylation enzyme, lysine demethylase 1A (KDM1A) can regulate the differentiation of some MSCs, but its role in dental tissue‐derived MSCs is unclear. Material and Methods: We obtained SCAPs from immature teeth. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity assay, Alizarin red staining, quantitative calcium analysis, osteogenesis‐related genes expression and in vivo transplantation experiment were used to explore the osteo/dentinogenic differentiation. Co‐immunoprecipitation (Co‐IP) assay was used to investigate the binding protein. Results: Knock‐down of KDM1A reduced ALP activity and mineralization, promoted the expressions of osteo/dentinogenic differentiation markers DSPP, DMP1, BSP and key transcript factors, RUNX2, OSX, DLX2 in SCAPs, and also enhanced the osteo/dentinogenesis in vivo. In addition, KDM1A could associate with PLOD2 to form protein complex. And knock‐down of PLOD2 inhibited ALP activity and mineralization, and promoted the expressions of DSPP, DMP1, BSP, RUNX2, OSX and DLX2 in SCAPs. Conclusions: KDM1A might have different role in different stages of osteo/dentinogenic differentiation process by binding partner with PLOD2, and finally resulted in the inhibited function for the osteo/dentinogenesis in SCAPs. Our studies provided a further understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of dynamic osteo/dentinogenic differentiation process in dental tissue MSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, the effect of Cr2O3 on the crystallization and flow behavior of CaO–SiO2–Al2O3–Na2O–CaF2 continuous casting mold slags is investigated. The viscosity in the slag at 1200–1500 °C is measured by the rotating cylinder method and a quantitative relationship between the viscosity and the Raman structure Q3/Q2 is constructed. The time–temperature–transformation and continuous cooling transformation diagrams for various slags are obtained using a single hot‐thermocouple technique. The results show that with the crystallization temperature decreases, it can be observed that the crystal growth mode gradually changes from 3D spherical and 2D massive to 1D needle‐like. The study finds the transition from network modifier to network forming agent in the slag for Cr2O3 content from 0 to 3 wt%. The Cr2O3 added to 1–2 wt% decreases the viscosity and promotes crystallization. The viscosity increases and the crystallization is inhibited when the content of Cr2O3 increases to 3 wt%. Meanwhile, when Cr2O3 is added to 3 wt%, the Cr2O3 crystalline phase precipitates except for the main crystalline phase 2CaO·SiO2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: To evaluate plasma cell‐free DNA (cfDNA) as a promising biomarker for neuroblastoma (NB) tumor burden. Seventy‐nine eligible patients with newly diagnosed NB were recruited from Beijing Children's Hospital between April 2016 and April 2017. Additionally, from September 2011 to June 2017, 79 patients with stable NB were evaluated with a median follow‐up time of 21 months. Approximately 2 mL of peripheral blood was drawn upon enrollment, and plasma cfDNA levels were measured via quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Total cfDNA analysis was performed using the long interspersed nuclear element 1 (LINE‐1) 79 bp fragment, and DNA integrity was calculated by the ratio of the LINE‐1 300 bp fragment to the LINE‐1 79 bp fragment. A total of 79 NB patients with a median age of 36 months comprised the group of newly diagnosed NB patients. The main primary tumor site was the retroperitoneal and adrenal region (81%). Three or more metastatic sites were found in 17.7% of patients. Stable NB patients older than 18 months comprised 98.7% of the stable NB patients. Neuron‐specific enolase (NSE), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and cfDNA levels were dramatically increased in the newly diagnosed NB patients and significantly different from those in the stable NB patients. Moreover, the concentration of cfDNA was much higher in patients with larger tumors. By analyzing the area under the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC), the areas of total cfDNA, NSE, and LDH levels were 0.953, 0.929, and 0.906, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity data clarified that the level of circulating cfDNA in plasma can be considered as a reliable biomarker for describing tumor load in NB. The plasma cfDNA concentration was as good as the levels of LDH and NSE to discriminate the tumor burden in children with NB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanocomposites of polycarbonate (PC) reinforced with different contents (0-10 wt%) of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), PC/MWCNT, were prepared in a two-step dispersion process: extrusion followed by injection molding. The effects of the MWCNT content and injection conditions on thermal, mechanical, and dynamic mechanical properties of the prepared nanocomposites were investigated and compared. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that a small MWCNT content (i.e., 1 wt%) was more propitious for improving thermal stability of the nanocomposites. Analysis of the mechanical properties demonstrated that the tensile properties of the nanocomposites with low MWCNT content could be comparable to that of PC; but as the content was increased to 10 wt%, the tensile strength and bending strength decreased by 35% and 47%, respectively, from the values for PC. The impact strength and microhardness was improved; however, with the increase in MWCNT content. Results of dynamic mechanical analysis showed that the storage modulus of PC was increased by the incorporation of MWCNTs, particularly at high temperatures. Scanning electron microscopy was also carried out to investigate the microstructures of the nanocomposites. It is concluded that the incorporation of MWCNTs by injection molding was more effective in enhancing the thermal, mechanical, and dynamic mechanical properties of PC. POLYM. COMPOS., 38:E303-E313, 2017. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel method was developed for the determination of two endocrine-disrupting chemicals, bisphenol A and 4-nonylphenol, in vegetable oil by dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction followed by ultra high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. Using a magnetic liquid as the microextraction solvent, several key parameters were optimized, including the type and volume of the magnetic liquid, extraction time, amount of dispersant, and the type of reverse extractant. The detection limits for bisphenol A and 4-nonylphenol were 0.1 and 0.06 μg/kg, respectively. The recoveries were 70.4-112.3%, and the relative standard deviations were less than 4.2%. The method is simple for the extraction of bisphenol A and 4-nonylphenol from vegetable oil and suitable for routine analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method for modulating transverse magnetic intrinsic graphene plasmons by temperature is proposed. In contrast to existing 2D or 3D infinite graphene structures, an intrinsic graphene 3D finite structure with periodicity in all three directions is designed. At the matching point, where the dispersion curve of the intrinsic graphene plasmons intersects with that of electromagnetic radiation, the intrinsic graphene plasmons and electromagnetic radiation can be excited by each other; in other words, the plasmon can be excited by light without additional mechanisms. Furthermore, the influence of environment temperature on the matching point is shown. The study reveals that the plasmon modulation is adaptive to the temperature. These results are beneficial for the design of compact graphene‐based optoelectronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous investigations proposed that the dissolution of chromite ore is the rate‐controlling step for the smelting reduction of chromite ore. The mechanism of chromite ore dissolution in the binary CaO‐SiO2 system is presented. The effect of basicity, temperature, and reducing conditions on chromite ore dissolution is elaborated. The solubility of chromite ore increases considerably when the basicity increases from 0.56 to 0.65. However, the solubility of chromite ore decreases when the basicity further increases from 0.65 to 0.74. The positive effect of reducing conditions on the solubility of chromite ore is evident. The maximum dissolved Cr2O3 in slag under reducing conditions by using a graphite crucible reaches 2.6 wt% after 15 min of dissolution. The element diffusion behavior at the chromite/slag interface is elaborated through SEM‐EDS technology. The analysis suggests that the rate‐controlling step in the early stage is the interface dissolution reaction. After a certain time, the rate‐controlling step becomes the mass transfer of Cr2O3 from the chromite ore to the chromite/slag interface. The activation energy of the dissolution reaction is Er$E_{\text{r}}$ = 285.29 kJ mol−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proanthocyanidins ( PAs) are major defense phenolic compounds in the leaves of poplar ( Populus spp.) in response to abiotic and biotic stresses. Transcriptional regulation of PA biosynthetic genes by the MYB-basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH)-WD40 complexes in poplar is not still fully understood., Here, an Arabidopsis TT2-like gene MYB115 was isolated from Populus tomentosa and characterized by various molecular, genetic and biochemical approaches., MYB115 restored PA productions in the seed coat of the Arabidopsis tt2 mutant. Overexpression of MYB115 in poplar activated expression of PA biosynthetic genes, resulting in a significant increase in PA concentrations. By contrast, the CRISPR/Cas9-generated myb115 mutant exhibited reduced PA content and decreased expression of PA biosynthetic genes. MYB115 directly activated the promoters of PA-specific structural genes. MYB115 interacted with poplar TT8. Coexpression of MYB115, TT8 and poplar TTG1 significantly enhanced the expression of ANR1 and LAR3. Additionally, transgenic plants overexpressing MYB115 had increased resistance to the fungal pathogen Dothiorella gregaria, whereas myb115 mutant exhibited greater sensitivity compared with wild-type plants., Our data provide insight into the regulatory mechanisms controlling PA biosynthesis by MYB115 in poplar, which could be effectively employed for metabolic engineering of PAs to improve resistance to fungal pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polycarbonate/Carbon nanotube (PC/CNT) nanocomposites containing various CNT contents (0-5 wt%) were prepared by injection molding. The effects of CNT contents, injection speed (V) and injection temperature (T) on the electrical resistivity of the PC/CNT nanocomposites were investigated. It was found that the tensile strength of nanocomposites was enhanced slightly with increased CNT contents, and the tensile modulus was 29% greater after the 5 wt% CNT addition, but the brittle tendency became stronger. Aside from tensile properties, the electrical resistivity of the nanocomposites dropped 12 orders of magnitude after the 5 wt% CNT addition. Also, there was a tendency that the electrical resistivity was lower in the case of higher injection temperature and lower injection speed. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images and the distribution of surface layer electrical resistivity, clearly showed a notable influence by surface layer microstructures on the electrical resistivity, and the injection conditions affected both the value of the maximum electrical resistivity and the position where it occurred. This study offers an alternative green and simple molding process to prepare conductive PC nanocomposites and to achieve the industrialization of PC/CNT nanocomposite products which can be used in electromagnetic shielding and anti-static fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keratin, regenerated from wool fibers, is widely used in the textile and medicine fields. In this work, a series of synthesized 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium-based ionic liquids (IL) were used to dissolve wool keratin. Among these IL, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium dimethyl phosphate, [BMIM][DMP], is the best solvent; it can completely dissolve 5.0 wt % wool keratin in 10.5 h at 120 °C. In order to shorten the dissolution time, different cosolvents (sodium dodecyl sulfate, urea, and caprolactam) were utilized. Wool fibers at 5.0 wt % were dissolved under nitrogen within 4.5 h and a urea/[BMIM][DMP] mass ratio of 2.0 %, indicating that synergistic effects between the cosolvent and the IL can shorten the dissolution time. In addition, keratin regeneration was also studied. The results indicate that keratin regenerated in methanol shows better reproducibility and mechanical performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oxidation states of vanadium in the CaO-MgO-Al2O3-SiO2-VO x slag system are investigated with the initial V2O5 concentration in the range of 1-10 mole fraction, in the temperature range, 1823-1923 K, partial pressures of oxygen from 10−5 to 103 Pa, and with the basicities in the range of 0.85-2.20. The valance states of vanadium are determined by the X-Ray Absorption Near-Edge Structure (XANES) method. The results indicates that, for the oxide VO x, at a given temperature, and basicity, x is found to increase slightly with increase of initial V2O5 concentration. With the increase of slag basicity, x is increased. It is also found that x in VO x decreases with the increase of temperature, whereas, at constant basicity, the value of x increases with the increased oxygen partial pressure. The present results are useful in the quantification of V3+/V4+ and V4+/V5+ ratios for a given slag as functions of basicity, temperature, and oxygen partial pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cyclonic-Static Micro-bubble Flotation Column (CSMFC) has been widely used in fine mineral separation. The micro-bubble generator, as a key unit of this flotation column, is used to produce micro-bubble which designed based on the principle of gas liquid jet pump. Unlike the other jet pump, the performance of micro-bubble generator not only focuses on the air suction volume flow rate, but also includes the size and distribution of bubbles. In this paper, the performance of bubble generator is studied both experimentally and numerically. Three-dimensional numerical simulations employing the Eulerian two-phase flow model and S-N drag model by Fluent 14.0 software is carried out. The experimental and Computational Fluid Dynamics results, of air volume flow rate, match closely with each other. The maximum relative error between experiment and numerical simulation is smaller than 7.6%. Then these numerical models are utilized in simulating the 3D flow field of micro-bubble generator with different nozzle-to-throat spacing. Thirteen sets of simulations were conducted to explore the influence of the dimensionless nozzle-to-throat spacing (0-3) on air volume flow rate, bubble diameter and distribution. The results demonstrate that the performance of bubble generator is optimal when the dimensionless nozzle-to-throat spacing is over 1.25-2.5 while the water volume flow rate is fixed to 50m3/h. In this range, the bigger air suction volume flow rate, the smaller bubble diameter and higher bubble distribution uniformity index, which are beneficial for fine minerals flotation, were obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a direct conversion route for the production of ethylene from methane, the oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) is highly promising. The Mn2O3‐Na2WO4/SiO2 catalyst doped with 44 μm anatase‐TiO2, consisting of 5 wt% TiO2, 5 wt% Mn2O3, 8 wt% Na2WO4 and balance SiO2 was prepared, achieving ∼22 % CH4 conversion with ∼72 % selectivity towards C2−C3 hydrocarbons even at the relatively low temperature of 700 °C. This catalyst was found to run stably for at least 300 h without signs of deactivation, which provides promising and comparable low‐temperature activity and selectivity but a more cost‐effective alternative to the previously‐reported Mn2O3‐Na2WO4/Ti‐MWW catalyst containing expensive Ti‐MWW zeolite. XRD and Raman analyses revealed that the in situ formation of MnTiO3 in the TiO2‐doped catalyst is responsible for the gains in low‐temperature OCM activity. In addition, TPR and TPO results also indicated that MnTiO3 activates O2 more readily at ∼650 °C, while three‐step switchover experiments clearly demonstrated that MnTiO3 could trigger facile redox behavior at low reaction temperatures. Thus, the MnTiO3‐induced redox cycle for O2 activation enables this TiO2‐doped catalyst to provide superior CH4 conversion at 700 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To develop efficient heterogeneous catalytic systems for base-catalyzed reactions, two benzimidazole-containing porous organic polymers, BPOP-1 and BPOP-2, were synthesized. As a result of the difference in building units, BPOP-1 exhibits a granular morphology, and BPOP-2 is composed of tiny particles. N2 adsorption measurements show that BPOP-1 is a nonporous framework, whereas BPOP-2 displays good adsorption abilities towards N2, H2, and CO2. Both BPOP-1 and BPOP-2 exhibit a higher catalytic activity in the Knoevenagel condensation reaction than their homogeneous molecular counterpart, and the activity of BPOP-2 is superior to that of BPOP-1. Theoretical calculations show that the Lewis basicity of the N atoms in BPOP-1 is identical to that in BPOP-2. The prominent catalytic performance of BPOP-2 is mainly attributed to its high specific surface area and microporous character. Moreover, the permanent chemical stability of the structural framework endows BPOP-2 with an outstanding recyclability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Starch-based fixatives (SBF), specifically low molecular weight, highly-cationic starches (LHCS), have been reported to efficiently control dissolved and colloidal substances (DCS) in pulp suspensions, and to enhance paper strengths. However, as their degree of substitution (DS) was as high as 0.65, their preparation cost was very high. In this study, two products with lower DSs of just 0.08 (LHCS 0.08) and 0.22 (LHCS 0.22) were prepared and compared to a traditional polyamine (PA) fixative. It was found that the novel LHCSs interacted more readily with the anionic pulp fibers while the PA interacted more readily with the anionic DCS. Consequently, both LHCS 0.08 and LHCS 0.22 increased the paper strength more than the PA. Moreover, it was found that the LHCS 0.22 was most efficient in fixing the colloidal substances onto fibers, while the PA was most efficient in neutralizing the dissolved substances. We conclude that LHCS with DS as low as 0.22 can be used as a good fixative, however, starch with DS of only 0.08 is not efficient enough. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the ubiquity and beneficial role of silicon (Si) in plant biology, structural and chemical mechanisms operating at the single-cell level have not been extensively studied., To obtain insights regarding the effect of Si on individual cells, we cultivated suspended rice ( Oryza sativa) cells in the absence and presence of Si and analyzed single cells using a combination of physical techniques including atomic force microscopy ( AFM)., Si is naturally present as a constituent of the cell walls, where it is firmly bound to the cell wall matrix rather than occurring within intra- or extracellular silica deposition, as determined by using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry ( ICP- MS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy ( XPS). This species of Si, linked with the cell wall matrix, improves the structural stability of cell walls during their expansion and subsequent cell division. Maintaining cell shape is thereby enhanced, which may be crucial for the function and survival of cells., This study provides further evidence that organosilicon is present in plant cell walls, which broadens our understanding of the chemical nature of 'anomalous Si' in plant biology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The folded acoustic phonon and confined optical phonon modes in chirped InGaAs-InAlAs superlattices have been studied by micro-Raman spectroscopy. The folded and confined phonons were probed at the ( [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Arytenoid dislocation (AD) after general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation (EI) is an iatrogenic injury that impairs patient function and requires reduction. We aimed to investigate the risk factors of AD following EI. Methods: This retrospective case‐control study involved surgical adults who received EI for general anesthesia at a single institution from June 2010 to June 2020. Cases included all the patients who had AD. We used a ratio of 1:5 to identify patients in the propensity‐matched control group. Results: Multivariate analysis of 49 cases with AD and 245 controls without AD demonstrated that the use of a nasogastric (NG) tube (odds ratio [OR], 23.9; 95% confidence interval [CI], 6.8–84.1), undergoing abdominal surgery (OR, 3.7; 95% CI, 1.2–11.9), and an operative time longer than 3 h (OR, 5.2; 95% CI, 2.1–12.9) were risk factors for AD. We did not find significant independent associations between AD and 40 years or older age, gender, body mass index, whether a laryngeal mask airway was used, endotracheal tube size, and EI performers' experience. Conclusion: The use of an NG tube, abdominal surgery, and longer operative time were risk factors for AD. Among these, the NG tube application showed a strong association with AD. Preventive measures of informing the patients of the increased risk and providing high‐level patient monitoring can reduce the incidence of AD. Level of Evidence: III [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work was carried out with a view to re-examine the phase diagram aspects of CaOAl2O3SiO2 and CaOMgOAl2O3SiO2 slags with MnO additions. The aim was to confirm the homogeneous liquid range necessitated for sulfide capacities measurements of the above-mentioned slags. The liquidus and solidus temperatures of these slags were measured by DSC and X-ray radiograph techniques. The experimental results were compared with the liquidus and solidus temperatures obtained from literature (Slag Atlas) and commercial softwares ThermoCalc and FactSage. The results indicate that there is good agreement between the experimental values and those retrieved from literature and the commercial software in the case of the ternary system CaOAl2O3SiO2. For the CaOMgOMnOAl2O3SiO2 system, significant deviations were observed between the different sources. The present observations indicate that X-ray radiography can be a very useful tool in estimating the solidus temperatures of slags while DSC would complement the information with respect to liquidus temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Short-term over-expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) with adenoviral gene transfer into peripheral cardiac autonomic neurons can facilitate cholinergic neurotransmission, and inhibit sympathetic transmission, by regulating cyclic nucleotide-dependent pathways coupled to neuronal calcium entry. We tested the idea whether cardiac neuromodulation by nNOS could be sustained by long-term over-expression of the enzyme following lentiviral gene transfer. We developed a lentiviral vector with an elongation factor 1 (EF1α) promoter to drive nNOS or enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) expression. Lenti.EF1α-nNOS or Lenti.EF1α-eGFP was transferred to the right atrium of Spague–Dawley (SD) rats and acetylcholine (ACh) or noradrenaline (NA) release to field stimulation was measured 4 months after gene transfer. Atria transduced with Lenti.EF1α-nNOS had higher nNOS expression compared to the atria treated with Lenti.EF1α-eGFP ( P < 0.05). We also detected significant increases ( P < 0.05) in atrial cGMP and cAMP levels in the same tissue. Immunohistochemistry revealed co-localisation of eGFP in intrinsic cholinergic neurons (choline acetyltransferase positive) and intrinsic adrenergic neurons (tyrosine hydroxylase positive) following gene transfer. nNOS-transduced animals displayed enhanced ACh release ( P < 0.05) and reduced NA release ( P < 0.05) compared to the eGFP-treated group. nNOS-specific inhibition reversed the enhanced ACh release. Persistent nNOS over-expression mediated by a lentiviral vector can modulate sympatho-vagal control of cardiac excitability. This approach may provide a new tool to target impaired cardiac autonomic phenotypes that are disrupted by several cardiovascular pathologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Gq-coupled agonists phenylephrine and endothelin-1 each activate protein synthesis in cardiomyocytes as part of the programme that leads to cardiac hypertrophy. Here we show that they each induce the dephosphorylation of elongation factor (eEF) 2, a protein that in its dephosphorylated state mediates the translocation step of elongation. The ability of both agonists to induce dephosphorylation of eEF2 requires signalling via the mTOR and MEK/Erk signalling pathways, but is independent of phosphoinositide 3-kinase. Expression of an activated form of MEK leads to dephosphorylation of eEF2, in an mTOR independent manner, indicating that signalling via MEK/Erk suffices to cause dephosphorylation of eEF2. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

BACKGROUND: Obesity has been demonstrated as a risk factor that seriously affects health. Insoluble dietary fiber (IDF), as a major component of dietary fiber, has positive effects on obesity, inflammation and diabetes. RESULTS: In this study, complex IDF was prepared using 50% enoki mushroom IDF, 40% carrot IDF, and 10% oat IDF. The effects and potential mechanism of complex IDF on obesity were investigated in C57BL/6 mice fed a high‐fat diet. The results showed that feeding diets containing 5% complex IDF for 8 weeks significantly reduced mouse body weight, epididymal lipid index, and ectopic fat deposition, and improved mouse liver lipotoxicity (reduced serum levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase), fatty liver, and short‐chain fatty acid composition. High‐throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA and analysis of fecal metabolomics showed that the intervention with complex IDF reversed the high‐fat‐diet‐induced dysbiosis of gut microbiota, which is associated with obesity and intestinal inflammation, and affected metabolic pathways, such as primary bile acid biosynthesis, related to fat digestion and absorption. CONCLUSION: Composite IDF intervention can effectively inhibit high‐fat‐diet‐induced obesity and related symptoms and affect the gut microbiota and related metabolic pathways in obesity. Complex IDF has potential value in the prevention of obesity and metabolic syndrome. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Methods Results Conclusions Adequate nutritional knowledge and healthy dietary behaviours are essential for promoting rational nutrition for children. However, lack of nutritional knowledge and unhealthy dietary behaviours are common among Chinese children. Therefore, we developed a school‐based nutrition education (NE) program to assess its impacts on nutritional knowledge and dietary behaviours in pupils.In this trial, one school was assigned as an intervention group (n = 199) and the other two schools were designated as a control group (n = 140). Children in the intervention group received the NE program in addition to their regular health curriculum, whereas the control group continued with their usual health curriculum without any NE program materials.Concerning nutritional knowledge, the mean difference (follow‐up minus baseline) of average knowledge scores in the intervention group was significantly higher than that in the control group (1.99 ± 3.22 vs. 0.66 ± 3.60, p = 0.001). However, subgroup analysis revealed that this difference disappeared among boys and students with malnutrition status. Regarding dietary behaviours, the NE program significantly increased the proportion of children exhibiting high frequencies of meat and nuts consumption in the intervention group, along with diverse food choice at breakfast. Additionally, it markedly reduced the proportion of children exhibiting high frequencies of sugar‐sweetened beverages and fast food consumption. Structural equation modelling analyses indicated a significant direct effect of NE intervention on nutritional knowledge and an indirect effect on dietary behaviours.The NE program effectively enhanced nutritional knowledge scores and further improved dietary behaviours among Chinese primary school students. Future NE programs should pay more attention to boys and children with malnutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Methods Results Conclusion To investigate the relationship between maternal blood pressure (BP) and neonatal cord blood telomere length (TL) during pregnancy, and to clarify the sensitive period.We conducted a prospective cohort study with 621 mother‐newborn pairs from the Guangxi Zhuang Birth Cohort (GZBC) in China. Multiple informant models, restricted cubic spline regression (RCS) models, and quantile regression models were conducted to analyze the correlation between maternal BP and neonatal TL.Maternal diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was inversely related to neonatal cord blood TL in the second trimester (P = 0.015) and the third trimester (P = 0.011). There was a male‐specific relationship between maternal BP and neonatal TL. A 1 mmHg increment in maternal systolic blood pressure (SBP) and DBP during the second trimester was related with 0.42% (95% CI: −0.80%, −0.04%) and 0.61% (95% CI: −1.13%, −0.09%) shorter TL in male newborns, respectively. Per unit increase of maternal DBP during the third trimester was related with 0.54% (95% CI: −1.03%, −0.05%) shorter TL in male newborns. Pregnant women with hypertensive disease of pregnancy (HDP) had male offspring with shorter TL (P = 0.003). However, no significant relationships were found in female newborns (P = 0.570).Maternal BP during pregnancy is inversely correlated with male neonatal TL and the second and third trimesters are sensitive windows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physical unclonable functions (PUFs) have emerged as a promising encryption technology, utilizing intrinsic physical identifiers that offer enhanced security and tamper resistance. Multi‐level PUFs boost system complexity, thereby improving system reliability and fault tolerance. However, crosstalk‐free multi‐level PUFs remain a persistent challenge. In this study, a hierarchical PUF system that harnesses the spontaneous phase separation of silk fibroin /PVA blend and the random distribution of silicon‐vacancy diamonds within the blend is presented. The thermodynamic instability of phase separation and inherent unpredictability of diamond dispersion gives rise to intricate random patterns at two distinct scales, enabling time‐efficient hierarchical authentication for cryptographic keys. These patterns are complementary yet independent, inherently resistant to replication and damage thus affording robust security and reliability to the proposed system. Furthermore, customized authentication algorithms are constructed: visual PUFs authentication utilizes neural network combined structural similarity index measure, while spectral PUFs authentication employs Hamming distance and cross‐correlation bit operation. This hierarchical PUF system attains a high recognition rate without interscale crosstalk. Additionally, the coding capacity is exponentially enhanced using M‐ary encoding to reinforce multi‐level encryption. Hierarchical PUFs hold significant potential for immediate application, offering unprecedented data protection and cryptographic key authentication capabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of BaO and Al2O3 on the viscosity of SiO2–CaO–MgO–Al2O3–BaO slag from 1673 to 1873 K is studied by the rotating cylinder method. The structure of slag is examined by Raman spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulation. In this study of viscosity, Al2O3 shows amphoteric oxide characteristics and BaO shows characteristics different from the basic oxide. The viscosity increases as the BaO increases from 2 to 4 wt% in the slag with CaO/SiO2 = 1.07. However, the viscosity decreases when the BaO content increases from 6 to 8 wt%. From molecular dynamics simulations and Raman analysis, the increase in BaO content leads to a greater aggregation of Al around Ba atoms and increases the number of Al–O bonds. This indicates that higher BaO content promotes the polymerization of the [AlO4] tetrahedral structure. Furthermore, a good quantitative relationship between viscosity and the ratio of Q3/Q2 of the Raman spectrum of the slag is observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On‐chip metasurfaces integrated atop optical waveguides have demonstrated the capability of efficiently radiating guided‐waves into arbitrarily prescribed spatial modes by properly tailoring the phase distribution in the metasurface interface. To date, most on‐chip holographic metasurfaces, typically relying on path multiplexing or wavelength multiplexing to multiply the produced images, encounter certain limitations in further enhancing the image storage capacity due to the limited degrees of freedom available for on‐chip devices. This work introduces an on‐chip metasurface composed of polarization‐sensitive cross meta‐atoms allowing independent control of the propagation phase of diffracted waves from waveguided TE and TM modes. Meanwhile, incorporating the guided‐wave generated in‐plane detour phases into the metasurface yields another two degrees of freedom. Thus, four independent holographic images can be readily switched by simply selecting the excitation modes and waveguide ports. As a proof‐of‐concept, a dual‐port four‐channel multiplexed metasurface, whose optical functionalities are validated by performing full‐wave simulations, is successfully realized. Moreover, the application to the creation of 3D holograms is also extended. Thus, the presented method provides a new approach for multifunctional multiplexing of on‐chip metasurfaces, which could hold great potential for applications in next‐generation wearable AR devices, 3D vision, multifunctional micro‐photonic integrated circuits, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanoluminescence (ML) is a fascinating phenomenon with diverse applications in pressure sensing, damage detection, and stress distribution visualization. However, most ML materials exhibit instantaneous photon emission that requires real‐time recording with a photodetector, and thereby circumscribing their applicability predominantly to real‐time stress‐sensing scenarios. In this work, a novel method is introduced for non‐real‐time stress sensing utilizing Li0.1Na0.9NbO3:Pr3+ phosphor, which allows for the retrieval of pressure location and intensity even 20 days after the event. The influence of heat and pressure on the trap depth distribution is analyzed using thermoluminescence (TL) and ML measurements, and it is proved that both heat and pressure release the captured electrons in the same traps. Leveraging the intricate competition between mechanical and thermal detrapping processes, stress information can be accessed through TL imaging. Furthermore, an algorithm is proposed based on this phenomenon to authenticate the stress information. This research not only advances the fundamental understanding of ML phenomena but also introduces a novel approach for applications such as mechano‐history indicators, security papers, and advanced data storage systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microsporidian Nosema antheraeae is a pathogen of the Chinese oak silkmoth Antheraea pernyi, the molecular karyotype of which is still poorly understood. Here the diplokaryon of N. antheraeae strain NP-YY has been visualized both by fluorescence and electron microscopy. In addition, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) showed that the haploid genome of N. antheraeae is approximately 9.3-9.5 million base pairs organized into 15 chromosomal bands. The mean fluorescence intensity of N. antheraeae and Nosema bombycis DNA measured by flow cytometry confirmed that the genome size of these two species was congruent with measurements obtained by PFGE. These initial results on the chromosome organization of N. antheraeae provide a foundation for the comparative genomics of N. antheraeae with other species of Nosema. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study investigated the impact of an 8‐month daily‐guided intensive meditation‐based intervention (iMI) on persistent hallucinations/delusions and health‐related quality of life (QoL) in male inpatients with schizophrenia with treatment‐refractory hallucinations and delusions (TRHDs). Methods: A randomized controlled trial assigned 64 male inpatients with schizophrenia and TRHD equally to an 8‐month iMI plus general rehabilitation program (GRP) or GRP alone. Assessments were conducted at baseline and the third and eighth months using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), 36‐Item Short Form‐36 (SF‐36), and Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ). Primary outcomes measured PANSS reduction rates for total score, positive symptoms, and hallucinations/delusions items. Secondary outcomes assessed PANSS, SF‐36, and FFMQ scores for psychotic symptoms, health‐related QoL, and mindfulness skills, respectively. Results: In the primary outcome, iMI significantly improved the reduction rates of PANSS total score, positive symptoms, and hallucination/delusion items compared with GRP at both the third and eighth months. Treatment response rates (≥25% reduction) for these measures significantly increased in the iMI group at the eighth month. Concerning secondary outcomes, iMI significantly reduced PANSS total score and hallucination/delusion items, while increasing scores in physical activity and mindfulness skills at both the third and eighth months compared with GRP. These effects were more pronounced with an 8‐month intervention compared with a 3‐month intervention. Conclusions: An iMI benefits patients with TRHDs by reducing persistent hallucinations/delusions and enhancing health‐related QoL. Longer iMI duration yields superior treatment outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photonic devices based on silicon waveguides are essential to versatile high‐performance and low‐cost photonic integrated systems. Extremely complex silicon photonic devices with hundreds or even thousands of degrees of freedom (DOF) are successfully designed and manufactured based on recent advances in data science and nanofabrication technology. At this level, conventional forward‐reasoning may no longer be suitable for designing high‐performance silicon photonic devices with novel functionalities since the light‐matter interaction is complex and non‐intuitive. Therefore, the timely development of sub‐wavelength silicon photonic devices that can precisely mold the flow of light is a critical and urgent issue requiring joint engineering and scientific efforts. In this paper, an inverse design strategy based on heuristic and gradient descendant algorithms, enabling the realization of large‐scale integrated devices is first introduced. Subsequently, the burgeoning deep learning technology, which offers a promising direction for the automation design of silicon photonics with a data‐driven approach, is discussed. Finally, the obstacles and prospects in this emerging research direction are revealed. Detail discussions from multiple perspectives are provided. This review aims to provide general guidance and a comprehensive reference for scientists developing photonic integrated systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infectious oral diseases are longstanding global public health concerns. However, traditional medical approaches to address these diseases are costly, traumatic, and prone to relapse. Here, we propose a foodborne prophylactic strategy using aloin to safeguard dental collagen. The effect of aloin on the stability of dental collagen was evaluated by treating dentin with a solution containing aloin (0.1 mg/mL) for 2 min. This concentration is comparable to the natural aloin content of edible aloe. Furthermore, we investigated the mechanisms underlying the interactions between aloin and dentin collagen. Our findings, obtained through fluorescence spectroscopy, attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Gaussian peak fitting, circular dichroism spectroscopy, and X‐ray diffraction, revealed that aloin interacts with dental collagen through noncovalent bonding, specifically hydrogen bonding in situ. This interaction leads to a reduction in the distance between molecules and an increase in the proportion of stable α‐helical chains in the dental collagen. The ultimate tensile strength and thermogravimetric analysis demonstrated that dental collagen treated with aloin exhibited improved mechanical strength and thermostability. Additionally, the release of hydroxyproline, cross‐linked carboxy‐terminal telopeptide of type I collagen, and C‐terminal cross‐linked telopeptide of type I collagen, along with weight loss, indicated an enhancement in the enzymatic stability of dental collagen. These findings suggest that aloin administration could be a daily, nondestructive, and cost‐effective strategy for managing infectious oral diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disruptions of neural metabolism and function occur in parallel during Alzheimer's disease (AD). While many studies have shown diverse metabolic‐functional relationships in specific brain regions, much less is known about how large‐scale network‐level functional activity is associated with the topology of metabolism in AD. In this study, we took the advantages of simultaneous PET/MRI and multivariate analyses to investigate the associations between AD‐related stereotypical spatial patterns (topographies) of glucose metabolism, measured by fluorodeoxyglucose PET, and functional connectivity, measured by resting‐state functional MRI. A total of 101 participants, including 37 patients with AD, 25 patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 39 cognitively normal controls, underwent PET/MRI scans and cognitive assessments. Three pairs of distinct but optimally correlated metabolic and functional topographies were identified, encompassing large‐scale networks including the default‐mode, executive and control, salience, attention, and subcortical networks. Importantly, the metabolic‐functional associations were not only limited to one‐to‐one‐corresponding regions, but also occur in remote and non‐overlapping regions. Furthermore, both glucose metabolism and functional connectivity, as well as their linkages, exhibited various degrees of disruptions in patients with MCI and AD, and were correlated with cognitive decline. In conclusion, our results support distributed and heterogeneous topographic associations between metabolism and function, which are jeopardized by AD. Findings of this study may deepen our understanding of the pathological mechanism of AD through the perspectives of both local energy efficiency and long‐term interactions between synaptic disruption and functional disconnection contributing to the clinical symptomatology in AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]