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Ecological traits are functional characteristics measurable at the species level and provide valuable insights into how organisms respond to environmental constraints. Here, we investigated how diatom trait‐groups and individual species respond to environmental variables, and identified indicator species that are particularly sensitive to environmental variation. Diatoms were sampled at 129 sites in the subarctic streams of Norwegian islands and mainland, and were categorised into three trait groups: high‐profile species that live in an erect position, low‐profile species living in low position along the surface, and motile diatoms. Data were analysed using a recently developed method known as Hierarchical Modelling of Species Communities, which is a flexible framework for joint species distribution modelling. We found that diatom trait‐groups responded relatively weakly to measured environmental variables but showed positive or negative relationships with major ion levels of the water (e.g., conductivity, calcium [Ca2+], sodium [Na+] or chlorine [Cl−]). Variance partitioning showed a similar, important contribution of the chemical variables for all of the trait groups, while the contributions of physical variables and especially random (spatial) factors were notably lower for all trait groups. Our findings also highlighted considerable among‐species variation in their relation to environmental variables within the trait groups. Notably, we identified a high number of indicator species within each trait group that were explained by specific environmental factors, mostly chemical variables (conductivity, pH, total nitrogen and phosphorus, Ca2+, Na+, Cl−). Our study suggests that certain diatom species can be considered as useful environmental indicators but the variability in species preferences within the trait group may in some circumstances hamper the use of ecological traits in environmental assessments. Thus, we suggest using species‐level ecology combined with trait information to better track environmental change when using diatoms as indicators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The instability of product quality and low printing efficiency are the main obstacles to the widespread application of 3D printing in the manufacturing industry. Optimizing printing parameters can substantially improve product quality and printing efficiency. However, existing methods for optimizing process parameters primarily rely on computationally expensive numerical simulations or costly physical experiments, which cannot balance model accuracy and experiment cost. To the best of our knowledge, almost no relevant papers have been found to address the issues of product quality and printing efficiency in 3D printing from experimental data‐driven perspective. In this paper, we propose a method that integrates multiobjective Bayesian optimization (MOBO) with experimental data‐driven, aiming at obtaining more accurate optimization results at a lower cost. Distinguishing from previous studies, the proposed method utilizes experimental data instead of predicted values to update the model and find the optimal process parameters based on expected hypervolume improvement. The results of the 3D printing case study show that the proposed method can better model and optimize the highly fluctuating 3D printing process and obtain the optimal process parameters at a much lower cost. In addition, confirmatory experiments verify that the proposed method achieves higher printing efficiency while maintaining product quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Somatic cell totipotency in plant regeneration represents the forefront of the compelling scientific puzzles and one of the most challenging problems in biology. How somatic embryogenic competence is achieved in regeneration remains elusive.Here, we discover uncharacterized organelle‐based embryogenic differentiation processes of intracellular acquisition and intercellular transformation, and demonstrate the underlying regulatory system of somatic embryogenesis‐associated lipid transfer protein (SELTP) and its interactor calmodulin1 (CAM1) in cotton as the pioneer crop for biotechnology application. The synergistic CAM1 and SELTP exhibit consistent dynamical amyloplast–plasmodesmata (PD) localization patterns but show opposite functional effects.CAM1 inhibits the effect of SELTP to regulate embryogenic differentiation for plant regeneration. It is noteworthy that callus grafting assay reflects intercellular trafficking of CAM1 through PD for embryogenic transformation.This work originally provides insight into the mechanisms responsible for embryogenic competence acquisition and transformation mediated by the Ca2+/CAM1‐SELTP regulatory pathway, suggesting a principle for plant regeneration and cell/genetic engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicon nitride (Si3N4) ceramics using four compound sintering aids Er2O3–MgO, Er2O3–MgF3, Er2O3–Mg2Si, and Er2O3–Mg3N2. The effects of binary sintering aid types and temperatures on the microstructure, mechanical properties, and thermal conductivity of Si3N4 ceramics were investigated. The depolymerization effect of fluorine atoms introduced by MgF2 sintering additives on the silicate melt structure reduced the viscosity of the liquid phase. However, the existence of volatile phase leads to low density of Si3N4 ceramics. While the additional Si and N atoms increase the concentration of solute atoms, which was conducive to sintering densification of Si3N4 ceramics. Although Mg2Si and Mg3N2 sintering aids produced higher viscosity liquid phase compared with MgF2, denser Si3N4 ceramics were obtained at 1900°C. The Si3N4 ceramics doped with 5 mol% Er2O3 and 2 mol% Mg3N2 at 1900°C showed the excellent properties: including the highest Vickers hardness (16.8 GPa), flexural strength (912 MPa), and fracture toughness (8.1 MPa m1/2), as well as the desirable thermal conductivity (83 W/(m K)). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The roles of surface characteristics of the feldspar surface on ice nucleation have remained elusive. Here, simple strategies are reported to quantitatively analyze the effects of the surface morphology and molecular composition of the potassium‐feldspar surface on ice nucleation. The steps are found to be responsible to the high ice nucleation efficacy according to the fact that water drop freezing temperature increases by about 4.5 °C atop the freshly cleavage feldspar surface being rich of steps comparing to the flattened ones. After the molecular component and atomic structure are destroyed by the fluorination, a tremendous decrease of the ice nucleation temperatures by around 9.0 °C is observed on both cleavage and flattened surfaces, and the steps still improve the ice nucleation activity of the hydrophobic cleavage surfaces. The influence of the surface composition also implies the importance of the molecular component and structure specificity on K‐feldspar in facilitating ice nucleation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic carbon decomposition in lake sediments contributes substantially to the global carbon cycle and is strongly affected by temperature. However, the magnitude of temperature sensitivity (Q10) of decomposition and the underlying factors remain unclear at the continental scale. Carbon quality temperature (CQT) hypothesis asserts that less reactive and more recalcitrant molecules tend to have higher temperature sensitivities, but its support is challenged by complex composition of organic matter and environmental constraints. Here, we quantified Q10 of the sediments across 50 freshwater ecosystems along a 3500 km north–south transect, and characterized the quality of sediment dissolved organic carbon with chemodiversity reflected in molecular richness, functional traits (i.e., molecular weight, bioavailability, etc.) and composition. We further included classic environmental variables, such as climatic, physicochemical and microbial factors, to explore how Q10 is constrained by these factors or carbon quality. We found that Q10 varied greatly across lakes, with the mean value of 1.78 ± 0.62, but showed nonsignificant latitudinal pattern. Q10 was primarily predicted by chemodiversity and showed an increasing trend with the biochemical recalcitrance indicated by traits such as aromaticity and standard Gibb's Free Energy at both molecular and compositional levels. This suggests that carbon quality is the crucial determinant of Q10 in lakes, supporting the CQT hypothesis. Moreover, Q10 decreased linearly with the increase of molecular richness, implying that the resistance of decomposition to warming is associated with higher molecular diversity. Compared with the structural equation model containing only environmental variables, inclusion of chemodiversity increased 32.8% of the explained variation in Q10, and chemodiversity was the only driver showing direct effects. Collectively, this study illustrates the importance of chemodiversity in shaping the pattern of Q10, and has significant implications for accurately predicting the carbon turnover in lake ecosystems in the context of global warming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoporous graphene membranes are attractive for molecular separations, but it remains challenging to maintain sufficient mechanical strength during scalable fabrication and module development. Inspired by the composite structure of cell membranes and cell walls, a large‐area atomically thin nanoporous graphene membrane supported by a fiber‐reinforced structure with strong interlamellar adhesion is designed. Compared with other graphene‐based membranes of large scale, the fracture stress, fracture strength, and tensile stiffness of the composite membranes can be enhanced by a factor of 17, 67, and 94, respectively. This fiber‐reinforced structure also confers stability of the composite membrane to different curvature states and repeated bending processes after 10 000 times, which provides an opportunity for modularization. The breathable function of such membrane with an ultrahigh gas permeance (≈8.6–23 L m−2 d−1 Pa−1) and an ultralow water vapor transportation rate (WVTR) (≈23–129 g L m−2 d−1) is observed, superior to most commercial materials. This work provides a facile method to fabricate large‐area graphene membranes and paves the road to practical application in the membrane separation field for other 2D films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transcriptional regulation is essential for balancing multiple metabolic pathways that influence oil accumulation in seeds. Thus far, the transcriptional regulatory mechanisms that govern seed oil accumulation remain largely unknown. Here, we identified the transcriptional regulatory network composed of MADS‐box transcription factors SEEDSTICK (STK) and SEPALLATA3 (SEP3), which bridges several key genes to regulate oil accumulation in seeds. We found that STK, highly expressed in the developing embryo, positively regulates seed oil accumulation in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Furthermore, we discovered that SEP3 physically interacts with STK in vivo and in vitro. Seed oil content is increased by the SEP3 mutation, while it is decreased by SEP3 overexpression. The chromatin immunoprecipitation, electrophoretic mobility shift assay, and transient dual‐luciferase reporter assays showed that STK positively regulates seed oil accumulation by directly repressing the expression of MYB5, SEP3, and SEED FATTY ACID REDUCER 4 (SFAR4). Moreover, genetic and molecular analyses demonstrated that STK and SEP3 antagonistically regulate seed oil production and that SEP3 weakens the binding ability of STK to MYB5, SEP3, and SFAR4. Additionally, we demonstrated that TRANSPARENT TESTA 8 (TT8) and ACYL‐ACYL CARRIER PROTEIN DESATURASE 3 (AAD3) are direct targets of MYB5 during seed oil accumulation in Arabidopsis. Together, our findings provide the transcriptional regulatory network antagonistically orchestrated by STK and SEP3, which fine tunes oil accumulation in seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) aerogel fibers exhibit encouraging potential as thermal insulation materials, but their hydrophilicity easily results in severe collapse of the aerogel pore structure. Therefore, hydrophobic modification of PVA aerogel fibers is of significance to their structural stability and durability. Here, a novel process was proposed to continuously generate high‐hydrophobic PVA‐based composite aerogel fibers containing polymethylsilsesquioxane (PMSQ) by introducing methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS) through freeze‐thawing, freeze‐spinning, and freeze‐drying processes. With optimized freezing time and MTMS content, the PVA‐based composite solution showed good spinnability, and the resulting PVA/PMSQ (PVASi) aerogel fibers were endowed with markedly enhanced hydrophobicity and excellent weavability due to sufficient mechanical properties. Most importantly, the aerogel fibers possessed excellent hydrophobic structural stability after 12 h or 50‐cycle soaking and 50‐cycle washing. Benefiting from these superior characteristics, the aerogel fibers were demonstrated to be effective thermal insulators in high humidity (>90% relative humidity) and after washing for 50 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The island species–area relationship (ISAR) describes how species richness increases with increasing area of a given island or island‐like habitat, such as freshwater lakes. While the ISAR is one of the most common phenomena observed in ecology, there is variation in both the form of the relationship and its underlying mechanisms.We compiled a global data set of benthic macroinvertebrates from 524 shallow freshwater lakes, ranging from 1 to 293,300 ha in area. We used individual‐based rarefaction to determine the degree to which ISAR was influenced by mechanisms other than passive sampling (larger islands passively sample more individuals from the regional pool and, therefore, have more species than smaller islands), which would bias results away from expected relationships between rarefied species richness (and other measures that capture relative abundances) and lake area. We also examined how climate may alter the shape of the ISARs.We found that both rarefied species richness (the number of species standardized by area or number of individuals) and a measure of evenness emphasizing common species exhibit shallow slopes in relationships with lake area, suggesting that the expected ISARs in these lakes most likely result from passive sampling. While there was considerable variation among ISARs across the investigated lakes, we found an overall positive rarefied ISAR for lakes in warm (i.e. tropical/subtropical) regions (n = 195), and in contrast, an overall negative rarefied ISAR in cool (i.e. north temperate) lakes (n = 329). This suggested that mechanisms beyond passive sampling (e.g. colonization–extinction dynamics and/or heterogeneity) were more likely to operate in warm lakes. One possible reason for this difference is that the area‐dependent intensity of fish predation, which can lead to flatter ISARs, is weaker in warmer relative to cooler lakes.Our study illustrates the importance of understanding both the pattern and potential processes underlying the ISARs of freshwater lakes in different climatic regions. Furthermore, it provides a baseline for understanding how further changes to the ecosystem (i.e. in lake area or climate) might influence biodiversity patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leaf blight disease (LBD) caused by Pantoea agglomerans is a newly emerged oat disease in China that causes great economic and yield losses of oat production. Laboratory and field experiments were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of 13 antimicrobial agents against P. agglomerans and recommend agents with better control efficacy for use. The antibacterial potential of four concentrations of each agent was evaluated under in vitro conditions. Zhongshengmycin and ethylicin were the most effective in inhibiting the growth of P. agglomerans; their bacteriostatic rates (85.0% and 84.8%, respectively) were higher while EC50 lower (0.31 and 0.90, respectively) than other agents. The greenhouse and field experiment suggested that the greatest fresh weight per plant (57.26 g and 57.93 g), forage yield (22.53 t/ha and 22.21 t/ha) and control efficacy (>75%) were obtained after spraying twice with zhongshengmycin or ethylicin in the LBD occurrence phase, with lower yields and control by kasugamycin + dicopper chloride trihydroxide, kasugamycin + oxine copper, benziothiazolinone, copper hydroxide, phenanthrenecarboxylicacid, copper, picoxystrobin, chloroisobromine cyanuric acid, oxathiapiprolin or azoxystrobin. Foliar application of zhongshengmycin or ethylicin can therefore be used for the effective management of LBD of oat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The formation of thermokarst lakes could make a large amount of carbon accessible to microbial degradation, potentially intensifying the permafrost carbon‐climate feedback via carbon dioxide/methane emissions. Because of their diverse functional roles, prokaryotes could strongly mediate biogeochemical cycles in thermokarst lakes. However, little is known about the large‐scale patterns and drivers of these communities. Location: Permafrost regions in the Northern Hemisphere. Time period: Present day. Major taxa studied: Prokaryotes. Methods: Based on a combination of large‐scale measurements on the Tibetan Plateau and data syntheses in pan‐Arctic regions, we constructed a comprehensive dataset of 16S rRNA sequences from 258 thermokarst lakes across Northern Hemisphere permafrost regions. We also used the local contributions to beta diversity (LCBD) to characterize the variance of prokaryotic species composition and screened underlying drivers by conducting a random forest modelling analysis. Results: Prokaryotes in thermokarst lake water were dominated by the orders Burkholderiales, Micrococcales, Flavobacteriales and Frankiales. The relative abundance of dominant taxa was positively associated with dissolved organic matter (DOM) properties, especially for the chromophoric/aromatic compounds. Microbial structure differed between high‐altitude and high‐latitude thermokarst lakes, with the dominance of Flavobacterium in high‐altitude lakes, and the enrichment of Polynucleobacter in high‐latitude lakes. More importantly, climatic variables were among the main drivers shaping the large‐scale variation of prokaryotic communities. Specifically, mean annual precipitation was the best predictor for prokaryotic beta diversity across the Northern Hemisphere, as well as in the high‐altitude permafrost regions, while mean annual air temperature played a key role in the high‐latitude thermokarst lakes. Main conclusions: Our findings demonstrate significant associations between dominant taxa and DOM properties, as well as the important role of climatic factors in affecting prokaryotic communities. These findings suggest that climatic change may alter DOM conditions and induce dynamics in prokaryotic communities of thermokarst lake water in the Northern Hemisphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we introduce the concept of high contrast ratio to gaming monitor display based on ADS Pro technology. The contrast ratio specification is increased from 1000:1 to 2000:1 to improve picture quality while remaining the specification of native response time with 5ms. We have developed low viscosity negative liquid crystal and optimized panel design, backlight design and process conditions to maximize the white brightness and to minimize the dark brightness. Finally, the contrast ratio is increased to 2225:1, and the response time in the form of grey‐to‐grey time is 5.27 ms, the low blue light ratio is less than 35% for healthier gaming display. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge about elevational β diversity patterns and processes is limited for microorganisms, especially in sensitive aquatic ecosystems at high latitudes. Our aim is to investigate elevational β diversity patterns and underlying assembly processes for three biofilm microbial groups in subarctic freshwater ponds.We sampled 89 ponds covering an elevational gradient from 10 to 1038 m above sea level in subarctic Finland and Norway. The microbial groups studied included benthic diatoms, cyanobacteria, and bacteria (i.e., bacteria other than cyanobacteria). We expected to find elevational distance decay in community similarity, driven primarily by variation in the local environment. We further tested whether the level of β diversity decreased towards higher elevations, and whether the relative influence of deterministic and stochastic processes on community assembly changed along the elevational gradient, with increasing effect of deterministic processes at higher elevations under more extreme environmental conditions. As statistical methods, we used generalised dissimilarity modelling, Mantel tests, and a null model with Raup–Crick dissimilarities.For all microbial groups, community dissimilarities increased with increasing environmental or elevational distances. The pure effects of environment were significant for all groups, and pH was the most important variable affecting community dissimilarities. Mean community dissimilarities generally decreased with elevation for all microbial groups. The communities were influenced by both deterministic and stochastic processes, the former of which was stronger towards higher elevations. The influence of deterministic processes was strongest for bacteria. Generally, the communities under deterministic control were more similar to each other than expected by chance.Elevational β diversity patterns of subarctic pond microorganisms primarily reflected environmental effects, showing decreasing β diversity towards high elevations owing to stronger environmental filtering. The relative effects of deterministic or stochastic assembly processes varied among microbial groups, highlighting the need for including multiple groups when studying biodiversity patterns and underlying ecological processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The freezing of biological fluids is intensively studied but remains elusive as it is affected not only by the various components but also by the crowding nature of the biological fluids. Herein, we constructed spherical crowders, fibrous crowders, and coacervates by various components ranging from surfactants to polymers and proteins, to mimic three typical crowders in biological fluids, i.e. globular proteins, fibrous networks, and condensates of biomolecules. It is elucidated that the three crowders exhibit low, moderate, and strong ice growth inhibition activity, respectively, resulting from their different abilities in slowing down water dynamics. Intriguingly, the coacervate consisting of molecules without obvious ice growth inhibition activity strongly inhibits ice growth, which is firstly employed as a highly‐potent cryoprotectant. This work provides new insights into the survival of freezing‐tolerant organisms and opens an avenue for the design of ice‐controlling materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global climate change mostly impacts river ecosystems by affecting microbial biodiversity and ecological functions. Considering the high functional redundancy of microorganisms, the unknown relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functions obstructs river ecological research, especially under the influence of increasing weather extremes, such as in intermittent rivers and ephemeral streams (IRES). Herein, dry–wet alternation experiments were conducted in artificial stream channels for 25 and 90 days of drought, both followed by 20 days of rewetting. The dynamic recovery of microbial biodiversity and ecosystem functions (represented by ecosystem metabolism and denitrification rate) were determined to analyse biodiversity–ecosystem–function (BEF) relationships after different drought durations. There was a significant difference between bacterial and eukaryotic biodiversity recovery after drought. Eukaryotic biodiversity was more sensitive to drought duration than bacterial, and the eukaryotic network was more stable under dry–wet alternations. Based on the establishment of partial least squares path models, we found that eukaryotic biodiversity has a stronger effect on ecosystem functions than bacteria after long‐term drought. Indeed, this work represents a significant step forward for further research on the ecosystem functions of IRES, especially emphasizing the importance of eukaryotic biodiversity in the BEF relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Sublethal exposure to insecticides causes changes in insect behaviors and physiologies including feeding, mobility, communication, hormone homeostasis, development and fecundity, however, the underlying molecular mechanisms were largely unclear. Our previous studies revealed that sublethal chlorantraniliprole exposure disturbed the hormone homeostasis, reduced the weight and longevity and prolonged the developmental duration of Chilo suppressalis. In the present study, the potential phosphorylation modification regulation mechanisms in C. suppressalis in response to sublethal chlorantraniliprole exposure were explored using comparative and quantitative phosphoproteomics. RESULTS: A total of 2640 phosphopeptides belonging to 1144 phosphoproteins were identified, among which 446 phosphopeptides derived from 303 unique phosphoproteins were differentially phosphorylated between the chlorantraniliprole‐treated and control larvae. The phosphorylation levels of differentially phosphorylated phosphopeptides were further validated using parallel reaction monitoring (PRM). Functional classification and protein–protein interaction of the differentially phosphorylated proteins (DPPs) were analyzed. Generalized analysis of the DPPs and the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) identified in our previous study showed that sublethal chlorantraniliprole exposure significantly changed the transcription and phosphorylation levels of genes/proteins associated with carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, cytoskeleton, signal transduction, transcription, translation and post‐translational modification, leading to the dysfunctions of energy metabolism, transcription regulation, protein synthesis and modification, and signal transduction in C. suppressalis. Further analysis of the phosphorylation motifs in DPPs revealed that the MAPKs, CDKs, CaMK II, PKA, PKC and CK II protein kinases might be directly responsible for the phosphoproteomics response of C. suppressalis to chlorantraniliprole treatment. CONCLUSION: Our results provide abundant phosphorylation information for characterizing the protein modification in insects, and also provide valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms of insect post‐translational modifications in response to sublethal insecticide exposure. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

R‐1,3‐butanediol (R‐1,3‐BDO) is an important chiral intermediate of penem and carbapenem synthesis. Among the different synthesis methods to obtain pure enantiomer R‐1,3‐BDO, oxidation–reduction cascades catalysed by enzymes are promising strategies for its production. Dehydrogenases have been used for the reduction step, but the enantio‐selectivity is not high enough for further organic synthesis efforts. Here, a short‐chain carbonyl reductase (LnRCR) was evaluated for the reduction step and developed via protein engineering. After docking result analysis with the substrate 4‐hydroxy‐2‐butanone (4H2B), residues were selected for virtual mutagenesis, their substrate‐binding energies were compared, and four sites were selected for saturation mutagenesis. High‐throughput screening helped identify a Ser154Lys mutant which increased the catalytic efficiency by 115% compared to the parent enzyme. Computer‐aided simulations indicated that after single residue replacement, movements in two flexible areas (VTDPAF and SVGFANK) facilitated the volumetric compression of the 4H2B‐binding pocket. The number of hydrogen bonds between the stabilized 4H2B‐binding pocket of the mutant enzyme and substrate was higher (from four to six) than the wild‐type enzyme, while the substrate‐binding energy was decreased (from −17.0 kJ/mol to −29.1 kJ/mol). Consequently, the catalytic efficiency increased by approximately 115% and enantio‐selectivity increased from 95% to 99%. Our findings indicate that compact and stable substrate‐binding pockets are critical for enzyme catalysis. Lastly, the utilization of a microbe expressing the Ser154Lys mutant enzyme was proven to be a robust process to conduct the oxidation–reduction cascade at larger scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spontaneous emulsification, resulting from the assembly and accumulation of surfactants at liquid–liquid interfaces, is an interfacial instability where microdroplets are generated and diffusively spread from the interface until complete emulsification. Here, it is shown that an external magnetic field can modulate the assembly of paramagnetic nanoparticle surfactants (NPSs) at liquid–liquid interfaces to trigger an oversaturation in the areal density of the NPSs at the interface, as evidenced by a marked reduction in the interfacial tension, γ, and corroborated with a magnetostatic continuum theory. Despite the significant reduction in γ, the presence of the magnetic field does not cause stable interfaces to become unstable. Upon rapid removal of the field, however, an explosive ejection of a plume of microdroplets from the surface occurs, a dynamical interfacial instability which is termed explosive emulsification. This explosive event rapidly reduces the areal density of the NPSs to its pre‐field level, stabilizing the interface. The ability to externally suppress or trigger the explosive emulsification and controlled generation of tens of thousands of microdroplets, uncovers an efficient energy storage and release process, that has potential applications for controlled and directed delivery of chemicals and remotely controlled soft microrobots, taking advantage of the ferromagnetic nature of the microdroplets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lung cancer (LC) is a common cancer with high incidence and mortality rates. In recent years, ginsenoside Rg3 (Rg3), a traditional medicine, is widely used for the treatment of LC. Herein, we concentrate on assessing the effect of Rg3 on LC cell migration and invasion. The effects of Rg3 (0, 25, 50, and 100 μg/ml) on the viability, migration, invasion, angiogenesis, and expressions of epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT)‐related proteins, cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX2), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) of LC cell lines were evaluated by cell counting kit‐8 (CCK‐8), scratch, transwell, tube formation, and western blot assays. Quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) was performed to assess transfection efficiency. COX2 overexpression plasmid and short hairpin RNA for VEGF (shVEGF) were applied to evaluate whether the effect of Rg3 is related to COX2 and VEGF through rescue assay. In this study, Rg3 significantly dose‐dependently suppressed the viability, migration, invasion, angiogenesis, and protein expressions of N‐cadherin, vimentin, COX2, and VEGF in H1299 and A549 cells, while promoting the expression of E‐cadherin protein. COX2 overexpression markedly reversed the effects of Rg3 on the viability, migration, invasion, angiogenesis, and EMT‐related protein expression levels in LC cells; however, such effects of COX2 overexpression were offset by VEGF knockdown. In sum, Rg3 alleviates the migration, invasion, and angiogenesis of LC cells by inhibiting the expressions of COX2 and VEGF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The species–area relationship (SAR) has over a 150‐year‐long history in ecology, but how its shape and origins vary across scales and organisms remains incompletely understood. This is the first subcontinental freshwater study to examine both these properties of the SAR in a spatially explicit way across major organismal groups (diatoms, insects, and fish) that differ in body size and dispersal capacity. First, to describe the SAR shape, we evaluated the fit of three commonly used models, logarithmic, power, and Michaelis–Menten. Second, we proposed a hierarchical framework to explain the variability in the SAR shape, captured by the parameters of the SAR model. According to this framework, scale and species group were the top predictors of the SAR shape, climatic factors (heterogeneity and median conditions) represented the second predictor level, and metacommunity properties (intraspecific spatial aggregation, γ‐diversity, and species abundance distribution) the third predictor level. We calculated the SAR as a sample‐based rarefaction curve using 60 streams within landscape windows (scales) in the United States, ranging from 160,000 to 6,760,000 km2. First, we found that all models provided good fits (R2 ≥ 0.93), but the frequency of the best‐fitting model was strongly dependent on organism, scale, and metacommunity properties. The Michaelis–Menten model was most common in fish, at the largest scales, and at the highest levels of intraspecific spatial aggregation. The power model was most frequent in diatoms and insects, at smaller scales, and in metacommunities with the lowest evenness. The logarithmic model fit best exclusively at the smallest scales and in species‐poor metacommunities, primarily fish. Second, we tested our framework with the parameters of the most broadly used SAR model, the log–log form of the power model, using a structural equation model. This model supported our framework and revealed that the SAR slope was best predicted by scale‐ and organism‐dependent metacommunity properties, particularly spatial aggregation, whereas the intercept responded most strongly to species group and γ‐diversity. Future research should investigate from the perspective of our framework how shifts in metacommunity properties due to climate change may alter the SAR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Whether vitamin D3 (VD3) supplementation is associated with improved liver fibrosis is controversial. Methods: Liver fibrosis models were treated with VD3, active VD (1,25‐OH2 Vitamin D3), or collaboration with GSK126 (Ezh2 inhibitor), respectively. Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) were co‐cultured with hepatocytes and then stimulated with TGF‐β. Autophagy of hepatocytes was determined after the intervention of 1,25‐OH2 Vitamin D3 and GSK126. Also, the active status of HSCs and the mechanism with 1,25‐OH2 Vitamin D3 and GSK126 intervention were detected. Results: 1,25‐OH2 Vitamin D3, but not VD3, is involved in anti‐fibrosis and partially improves liver function, which might be associated with related enzymes and receptors (especially CYP2R1), leading to decreased of its biotransformation. GSK126 plays a synergistic role in anti‐fibrosis. The co‐culture system showed increased hepatocyte autophagy after HSCs activation. Supplementation with 1,25‐OH2 Vitamin D3 or combined GSK126 reduced these effects. Further studies showed that 1,25‐OH2 Vitamin D3 promoted H3K27 methylation of DKK1 promoter through VDR/Ezh2 due to the weakening for HSCs inhibitory signal. Conclusions: VD3 bioactive form 1,25‐OH2 Vitamin D3 is responsible for the anti‐fibrosis, which might have bidirectional effects on HSCs by regulating histone modification. The inhibitor of Ezh2 plays a synergistic role in this process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel self‐healing poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)‐based hydrogel is developed by cross‐linking PVA chains through multi dynamic covalent bonds by use of a small cross‐linker composed by 4‐formylphenylboric acid (FPBA) and lysine (Lys). The dynamic borate‐imine‐imine‐borate bond structure between PVA chains endows the hydrogel excellent stretchability and ultra‐fast self‐healing ability without external stimulation. The self‐healing efficiency can attain 94% and the elongation at break can reach up to near 1000% after only 3 min healing. Moreover, the self‐healing of the hydrogel through the contact of two faces from both the same cut position and different cut positions has similar excellent efficiency. The hydrogel with the unusual self‐healing performance and stretchability is used as an ideal material in strain sensors monitoring human movement and tiny vibrations caused by human voice. Interestingly, the sensor can continue to function normally after self‐healing for only ≈3 s. It is expected that this simple strategy of fabricating self‐healing hydrogels with multi dynamic bonds will provide new opportunities in the design and preparation of PVA‐based hydrogels to expand their potential applications in sensors and other various fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intensive human activities in river basins have substantial effects on fluvial hydrological and morphological processes and developmental trends. In this study, we assessed the evolutionary characteristics and developmental trends of the fluvial morphological system of the Three Gorges Dam (TGD) downstream to understand the impacts of human activities on the fluvial hydrological–morphological system of the region. The results indicated that the Three Gorges Project (TGP) and other upstream cascade reservoirs promoted sediment retention, which in turn aggravated the trend of declining sediment load and cumulative scouring over a long distance in the channels downstream of the TGD. Approximately 84% of scouring occurred in the low‐water channels, along with thalweg scouring and riverbank collapse. Notably, extended operation of the TGP and other upstream cascade reservoirs has resulted in gradual changes in the downstream riverbeds. Specifically, we found that the most intensive scouring zone shifted downstream from the near‐dam Yichang–Chenglingji reach (0–408 km) to the Chenglingji–Hankou reach. The scouring–silting distribution in swales has also changed: the scouring of deep swales and silting on floodplains prior to the TGP have been replaced by the scouring of both deep swales and floodplains. The scouring intensity of riverbeds in the Yichang–Hukou reach (954 km) was slightly higher than that forecasted prior to the TGP; the scouring intensities increased significantly during 2013–2021, which could be attributed to the TGP and other upstream cascade reservoirs; river sand mining and waterway dredging are secondary factors. We conclude that, owing to the effects of sediment retention by cascade reservoirs in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River (or Changjiang River), the cumulative scouring intensities of riverbeds in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River will continue to increase in future decades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the characteristics of marine heatwaves (MHWs) and the related dynamics in Bay of Bengal (BOB) associated with El Niño events during 1982–2020. This showed that El Niño can induce more MHW days, which displays remarkable seasonality. The strong influences of El Niño were found in the southern BOB at its peak phase in winter and the following spring, characterized by an increase in MHW days by 106% in winter and 83% in spring. In the proceeding summer, its influences weakened and shifted to the central bay. The more MHW days during winter and spring are primarily caused by the enhanced solar radiation associated with El Niño and partly contributed by the thick barrier layer in winter. In contrast, besides atmospheric heating, the deepening thermocline in the central bay induced by equatorial and local winds also plays an important role in the increase in MHWs during summer. Plain Language Summary: Marine heatwaves (MHWs) are warmer‐than‐usual events that occur in the ocean and exert disastrous consequences on marine ecosystems, such as bleached coral reefs. Bay of Bengal (including Andaman Sea) is globally known for its most diverse coral reef species. However, the coral reef there is facing increasing bleaching threats in response to severe MHWs. This study found that El Niño can induce more MHW days in the bay, which shows a remarkable seasonality. The strong influences of El Niño were found in the southern BOB and Andaman Sea in winter and spring, characterized by an increase in MHW days by 106% and 83%, respectively. In the proceeding summer, similar but weaker influences appeared in the central bay. The enhanced MHW days during winter and spring were mainly caused by stronger solar radiation, and partly contributed by the thick barrier layer in winter. In summer, in addition to surface heating, the deepening thermocline in the central bay induced by equatorial and local winds also plays an important role. These results expanded our understanding of the dynamic mechanisms of MHWs under the influence of El Niño, which may contribute to the prediction of MHWs and their ecological impact assessment. Key Points: The increase in marine heatwaves (MHWs) by El Niño showed a strong seasonal diversity in the Bay of BengalMore MHW days in the southern bay and Andaman Sea in winter due to the enhanced solar radiation and thick barrier layerMore MHW days in the central bay in summer caused by the stronger surface heating and deepening thermocline [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates the robust control invariance and robust set stabilization problems based on a semi‐tensor product method for a class of mix‐valued logical control networks (MVLCNs) with disturbances. First, a calculation method for the largest robust control invariant subset contained in a given set is proposed. Second, based on the robust control invariant subset, the robust set stabilization of MVLCNs is discussed, and new results are presented. Furthermore, the design algorithm of time‐optimal state feedback stabilizers via antecedence solution technique is derived. The study of an illustrative example shows the effectiveness of the obtained new results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When estimating a coseismic slip distribution with multiple observation types, the relative weight ratios (the contribution ratios of all kinds of actual observations in the joint inversion, which should be positive by default) and regularization parameter critically impact the inversion accuracy. In this paper, we propose a new method for determining the relative weights of multiple observations of jointing inversion slip distributions. This method regards the observations and the relative weight ratios as the training data sets and training parameters, respectively; in addition, the constructed Loss $Loss$ function was optimized by the gradient descent method and the exponential decay learning rate method under the TensorFlow platform (GDED). We compared the GDED method with the Helmert variance component estimation method (HVCE) and Akaike's Bayesian information criterion method (ABIC) by designing eight simulation experiments. These simulations included changing the errors and resolutions of the observations, the grid size, the strike angle and the dip angle of the fault, the moment magnitudes of earthquakes, the number of observation types, and the complexity of subduction‐zone earthquakes. We analyzed and discussed the characteristics of the above three methods in determining the relative weight ratios during the joint inversion process. The results of these simulation experiments showed that the GDED method and the ABIC method perform much better than the HVCE method when negative variance occurs in the HVCE method, while the accuracies of the slip distributions produced by the three methods were similar when no negative variance occurred; the GDED method can be used to prevent the occurrence of negative variance compared to the HVCE method and is more time efficient than the ABIC method. Furthermore, we applied these methods to invert the source parameters of the 2015 Mw 8.3 Illapel earthquake (in Chile), and the inversion results showed that the slip of the Illapel earthquake was mainly distributed at depths of approximately 10–50 km. The maximum slip of the Illapel earthquake was approximately 7.9 m, distributed 50–70 km northwest of the epicenter at depths of approximately 10–20 km. Plain Language Summary: Different geodetic observations have distinct characteristics due to their unique observation technologies; for example, global positioning system data have a high temporal resolution but a low spatial resolution, while InSAR data have a high spatial resolution but a low temporal resolution. The spatial and temporal resolutions of the inversion results can be guaranteed by combining these two observations to invert the coseismic slip distribution. The joint estimation of the coseismic slip distribution is a research hotspot in the field of seismic source parameter inversions. However, different combinations of relative weight ratios between these two observations may lead to great differences when jointing estimation of the slip distribution. Determining the relative weight ratios of all kinds of observations (actual observations and virtual observations) during the joint inversion process is a key issue. The previous methods used to solve this problem have shortcomings such as subjectivity, low computational efficiency, and unstable effects. Herein, we developed the GDED method and compared it with the HVCE method and ABIC method through system simulation experiments and actual earthquake experiments. Key Points: We proposed the GDED method to determine the relative weight ratios of multiple types observations for coseismic slip distribution inversionThe GDED method was more applicable than Helmert variance component estimation method (HVCE) method and Akaike's Bayesian information criterion method (ABIC) method through the eight simulation experimentsWe applied the GDED method, the HVCE method and the ABIC method to invert the source parameters of the 2015 Mw 8.3 Illapel earthquake [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To avoid disastrous consequences from ice deposition, solar anti‐icing surfaces (SASs) have performed the potential of anti‐icing application because of their excellent photothermal de‐icing effect in the daytime. However, the deposition of ice still cannot be prevented due to the lack of solar energy at cold night, inevitably requiring extra energy consumption such as electrical heating. In this work, a bio‐inspired anti‐icing material (BAM) is presented, showing an energy‐saving design for sustainable ice repellency. By integrating a phase change microcapsule (PCM) layer with a superhydrophobic photothermal (SPT) layer, the BAM can delay icing for more than 8 h at cold night without any external energy. Different from traditional SASs, the PCM layer can store energy in the daytime and release heat energy for keeping temperature up freezing point at night. In addition, the SPT layer displays excellent solar‐to‐heat conversion for sufficient energy and robust self‐cleaning property for avoiding the blockage of sunlight from the contaminants or molten water, thereby resulting in the excellent icing delay. Therefore, this design can be developed and utilized for sustainable ice repellent applications such as power transmission, building infrastructure, and transportation networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intermittent food scarcity is commonly encountered in all organisms including insects. Although the forkhead box O (FOXO) transcription factor is a well‐known component of signalling cascades related to starvation stress, the detailed regulatory mechanisms during long‐term starvation remain poorly understood in insects. In the present study, using the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum, as a model organism, we showed that starvation treatment increased the expression of FOXO at both mRNA and protein levels and promoted its nuclear translocation to activate its transcriptional activity. Knockdown of FOXO leads to a significant reduction in the lifespan of T. castaneum accompanying reduced glycogen and triglyceride depletion as well as decreased glucose and trehalose accumulation under starvation conditions. Consistently, expression patterns of genes involved in gluconeogenesis, glycogenolysis and trehalose metabolism under starvation conditions were significantly affected in dsFOXO‐injected beetles. These results provided evidence that FOXO played an important role in the tolerance to prolonged starvation by regulating metabolic and transcriptional responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The species–area relationship (SAR) is one of the most distinctive biogeographic patterns, but global comparisons of the SARs between island and mainland are lacking for microbial taxa. Here, we explore whether the form of the SAR and the drivers of species richness, including area, environmental heterogeneity, climate and physico‐chemistry, differ between islands and similarly sized areas on mainland, referred to as continental area equivalents (CAEs). Location: Global. Taxon: Stream benthic diatoms. Methods: We generated CAEs on six continental datasets and examined the SARs of CAEs and islands (ISAR). Then, we compared CAEs and islands in terms of total richness and richness of different ecological guilds. We tested the factors contributing to richness in islands and CAEs with regressions. We used structural equation models to determine the effects of area versus environmental heterogeneity, climate and local conditions on species richness. Results: We found a non‐significant ISAR, but a significant positive SAR in CAEs. Richness in islands was related to productivity. Richness in CAEs was mainly dependent on area and climate, but not directly on environmental heterogeneity. Species richness within guilds exhibited inconsistent relationships with island isolation and area. Main conclusions: Ecological and evolutionary processes shaping diatom island biogeography do not depend on area at the worldwide scale probably due to the presence of distinct species pool across islands. Conversely, area was an important driver of diatom richness in continents, and this effect could be attributed to dispersal. Continents had greater richness than islands, but this was a consequence of differences in environmental conditions such as specific island climatic conditions. We stress the need for more island data on benthic diatoms, particularly from archipelagos, to better understand the biogeography of this most speciose group of algae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fully conjugated polyazomethines (PAZs) exhibit large amounts of micropores among their many short branches in relatively planar structures based on their fully conjugated configuration. However, these fully conjugated structures cause insolubility and non‐processability of the PAZs because they may have strong stacking interactions due to their planar structures. In this paper, to overcome this problem, three short lengths of oligodimethylsiloxane (ODMS) grafts (x = 9, 18 and 39) were introduced by end‐capping reaction of aldehydes at the end of insoluble PAZs with amino‐terminated ODMSs as end‐capping agents. As a result, the insoluble PAZs became almost soluble (solubility > 95–100%) and their molecular weight could be estimated using gel permeation chromatography (Mw = 15.9 × 103 g mol−1). PAZ‐embedded mixed‐matrix membranes (MMMs) were fabricated using blend solutions containing only small amounts (1.0 wt%) of the solubilized PAZs with ODMS grafts and crosslinked polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). The PAZs/PDMS MMMs showed ultrahigh permeability to oxygen which achieved 8600 barrer without a decrease of the original permselectivity of PDMS. The excellent oxygen permeability of the PAZs/PDMS MMMs may be caused by an effective increase of porosity based on the fully conjugated PAZ nanosheet. © 2022 Society of Industrial Chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Si3N4 ceramics with high thermal conductivity and outstanding mechanical properties were prepared by adding β‐Si3N4 seeds and nanophase α‐Si3N4 powders as modifiers. The introduction of β‐Si3N4 seeds enhanced the growth of β‐Si3N4 grains. Owing to the interlocked structure induced by the β‐Si3N4 grains, the fracture toughness of Si3N4 ceramics reached a high value of 7.6 MPa·m1/2; also, the large‐sized grains increased the contact possibility of Si3N4 grains, improving the thermal conductivity of Si3N4 ceramics (64 W/(m·K)). Because of the introduction of nanophase α‐Si3N4, the flexural strength, fracture toughness, and thermal conductivity of the Si3N4 ceramics increased to 754 MPa, 7.2 MPa·m1/2, and 54 W/(m·K), respectively. According to the analysis of the growth kinetics of Si3N4 grains, the rapid growth of Si3N4 grains was ascribed to the reduction in the activation energy resulting from the introduction of β‐Si3N4 seeds and nanophase α‐Si3N4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT) fibers have drawn much attention due to their excellent elastic recovery. Currently, PTT fibers with higher elasticity are in high demand in some special applications. In this article, in order to further improve the elasticity of PTT fibers, heat treatment with alternating tension and relaxation (AlterTR) was carried out, and as a comparison, heat treatments under the conditions of tension or relaxation were performed simultaneously. The relationships of conformation transition, crystallinity, and orientation with elastic recovery of heat treated PTT fibers were investigated. With the increase of crystallinity during the treatment, part of the higher‐energy trans conformation of the heat treated PTT fibers was converted to a lower‐energy gauche conformation, which is a primary cause of elastic recovery. AlterTR heat treated PTT fibers had both high crystallinity and high orientation, which resulted in a high elastic recovery of 79% at 30% fixed elongation after 5 cycles of stretching testing, 7% higher than untreated PTT fibers. The elastic recovery was also obviously higher than the PTT fibers heat treated under the conditions of tension or relaxation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Mountains are pivotal to maintaining habitat heterogeneity, global biodiversity, ecosystem functions and services to humans. They have provided classic model natural systems for plant and animal diversity gradient studies for over 250 years. In the recent decade, the exploration of microorganisms on mountainsides has also achieved substantial progress. Here, we review the literature on microbial diversity across taxonomic groups and ecosystem types on global mountains. Microbial community shows climatic zonation with orderly successions along elevational gradients, which are largely consistent with traditional climatic hypotheses. However, elevational patterns are complicated for species richness without general rules in terrestrial and aquatic environments and are driven mainly by deterministic processes caused by abiotic and biotic factors. We see a major shift from documenting patterns of biodiversity towards identifying the mechanisms that shape microbial biogeographical patterns and how these patterns vary under global change by the inclusion of novel ecological theories, frameworks and approaches. We thus propose key questions and cutting‐edge perspectives to advance future research in mountain microbial biogeography by focusing on biodiversity hypotheses, incorporating meta‐ecosystem framework and novel key drivers, adapting recently developed approaches in trait‐based ecology and manipulative field experiments, disentangling biodiversity–ecosystem functioning relationships and finally modelling and predicting their global change responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of the microstructure and the strain rate on the compression behavior of the Al0.1CoCrFeNiTix (x = 0.1, 0.3, and 0.5 in molar ratio) high‐entropy alloys (HEAs) are investigated. Compared with the Al0.1CoCrFeNiTi0.1 with the single‐phase face‐centered cubic (FCC) structure and the Al0.1CoCrFeNiTi0.3 HEAs, both the yield strength (YS) and the work hardening ability of the Al0.1CoCrFeNiTi0.5 HEA are enhanced significantly under the quasistatic condition. This is due to a combination of the solid‐solution strengthening and sigma‐phase precipitation hardening mechanisms. The strong work hardening of the Al0.1CoCrFeNiTi0.1 HEAs under quasistatic loading is attributed to the existence of the dislocation substructures (high‐density dislocation walls and dislocation cells) and the deformation twinning accompanying homogeneous deformation. A significant strain rate sensitivity on the YS is obtained as a result of the phonon drag effect under dynamic loading. Different from the quasistatic condition, the dynamic grain refinement and the nanoscale twins inside the grains are the main microstructure characteristics in the dynamic deformation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Icing and frosting on transparent surfaces compromise visibility on various optical equipment and transparent infrastructures. It remains challenging to fabricate energy-saving coatings for harvesting solar energy while maintaining high transparency. Here, transparent, photothermic, and icephobic composite surfaces composed of photothermal nanomaterials and polyelectrolytes via layer-by-layer assembly are designed and constructed. The positively-charged polypyrrole nanoparticles and negatively-charged poly(acrylic acid) are assembled as exemplary materials via electrostatic attractions. The optically transparent photothermal coatings are successfully fabricated and exhibited photothermal capabilities and light-transmittance performance. Among the various coatings applied, the seven-bilayer coating can increase the temperature by 35 °C under 1.9-sun illumination, maintaining high transmittance (>60%) of visible light. With sunlight illumination at subzero temperatures (> -35 °C), the coatings show pronounced capabilities to inhibit freezing, melt accumulated frost, and decrease ice adhesion. Precisely, the icephobic surfaces remain free of frost at -35 °C as long as sunlight illumination is present; the accumulated frost melts rapidly within 300 s. The ice adhesion strength decreases to -0 kPa as the melted water acts as a lubricant. Furthermore, the negatively-charged graphene oxide and positively-charged poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) show their material diversity applicable in the coating fabrication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) can function as competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) to impact the development of esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC). Human circ_0001946 has been identified as a potential anticancer factor in ESCC, yet our understanding of its molecular basis remains limited. Methods: Circ_0001946, microRNA (miR)‐1290 and SRY‐box transcription factor 6 (SOX6) were quantified by quantitative reasl‐time PCR (qRT‐PCR) or immunoblotting. Cell proliferation was assessed by CCK‐8 and EDU assays. Cell apoptosis and invasion were evaluated by flow cytometry and transwell assays, respectively. Cell migration was detected by transwell and wound‐healing assays. The direct relationship between miR‐1290 and circ_0001946 or SOX6 was determined by dual‐luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays. Xenograft model assays were used to assess the role of circ_0001946 in tumor growth. Results: Circ_0001946 expression was attenuated in human ESCC, and circ_0001946 increase impeded cell proliferation, invasion, migration and enhanced apoptosis in vitro. Moreover, circ_0001946 increase diminished xenograft growth in vivo. Mechanistically, circ_0001946 bound to miR‐1290, and re‐expression of miR‐1290 reversed circ_0001946‐dependent cell properties. SOX6 was a miR‐1290 target and it was responsible for the regulation of miR‐1290 in cell properties. Furthermore, circ_0001946 functioned as a ceRNA to regulate SOX6 expression via miR‐1290. Conclusion: Our findings uncover an undescribed molecular mechanism, the circ_0001946/miR‐1290/SOX6 ceRNA crosstalk, for the anti‐ESCC activity of circ_0001946. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Both forkhead box O (FOXO) and nuclear factor erythroid‐derived 2‐like‐2 (Nrf2) are key transcription factors related to stress responses. Whereas limited studies in mammals and Caenorhabditis elegans have revealed the interaction between FoxO/DAF‐16 and Nrf2/SKN‐1, the role of FOXO in metabolic detoxification and regulation of the Nrf2–Keap1 signaling pathway are poorly understood in insects. RESULTS: Using Tribolium castaneum as a model organism, we found that RNA interference‐mediated knockdown of FOXO enhanced deltamethrin‐induced lethality by affecting the messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of CYP6BQ cluster genes. We further demonstrated that injection of dsFOXO into the beetle larvae decreased expression of CncC and KEAP1 at both the mRNA and protein level. Notably, dual‐luciferase and electrophoretic mobility shift assays both confirmed direct regulation of CncC by FOXO, whereas Keap1 was directly regulated by CncC. CONCLUSION: FOXO can directly regulate the expression of CncC and indirectly regulate the expression of Keap1 through CncC. The data provide insights into the regulatory mechanisms of the Nrf2–Keap1 signaling pathway in insects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient and versatile protocol for the synthesis of C4‐acyl‐tetrofuranosides and C5‐acyl‐pentopyranosides has been established via the Liebeskind‐Srogl cross‐coupling reaction of various uronic acid‐derived thioesters and a wide range of arylboronic acids. Distinctive features of this transformation include mild reaction conditions, broad substrate scopes, impressive compatibility with a wide array of functional groups, and retention of stereochemical configurations. Dapagliflozin‐derived thioester is also amenable to this transformation, demonstrating the potential of this strategy in the late‐stage modifications of the active pharmaceuticals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dependency of resource use efficiency (RUE) on phytoplankton diversity is key for understanding aquatic ecosystem responses to eutrophication and climate change. Here, we studied RUE of nitrogen (RUEN), phosphorous (RUEP), or silicate (RUESi) and the associated abiotic and biotic explanatory variables in 3,016 samples collected from 30 sites in Lake Taihu during 2005‐2017, covering cyanobacteria‐ and macrophyte‐dominated regions. We further examined spatiotemporal dependencies of RUE on phytoplankton taxonomic and functional diversity and their underlying drivers. The annual mean RUEsi of each site exhibited an overall increasing temporal trend, while that of RUEN and RUEP displayed U‐shaped patterns over the study period. RUE was affected by nutrients and water temperature, and also was related to phytoplankton diversity in terms of Shannon diversity and functional dispersion diversity. Interestingly, RUE showed negative spatial dependencies on phytoplankton diversity. These negative spatial dependencies had decreasing temporal trends for RUEN and RUESi, while a hump‐shaped pattern for RUEP. The dependencies were generally related to spatial environmental mean of nutrients, such as nitrate and total phosphorus. Furthermore, RUE showed negative temporal dependencies on phytoplankton diversity mainly in the cyanobacteria‐dominated region, while it was occasionally positive in the macrophyte‐dominated region. These temporal dependencies were driven primarily by temporal environmental stability of nutrients, such as dissolved total nitrogen. Collectively, the direction and strength of spatiotemporal dependencies of RUE on phytoplankton diversity were influenced by nutrient status and stability. These findings can be considered in future environmental management plans for long‐term sustainability of ecosystem functioning under global climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Velvet ash (Fraxinus velutina Torr.) is an important wood and ornamental tree species. Emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire, is a major wood borer of velvet ash. The aim of this study was to identify the secondary metabolites of velvet ash involved in regulating the dominant bacterium group of EAB. RESULTS: The amount of lignans in the phloem of infested trees had increased by 290.96% because of A. planipennis infection. The addition of lignans to the artificial diet significantly reduced the weight of the larvae and decreased the dominant bacterial group in the larval midgut, such as Pseudomonadaceae, Xanthomonadaceae, and Enterobacteriaceae. The FvPLR1, a key gene for lignan synthesis, was obtained based on the phloem transcriptome of velvet ash. The expression of FvPLR1 in the phloem of the infested tree was significantly higher than that in the noninfested tree. Meanwhile, FvPLR1 silenced by virus‐induced gene silencing showed that its expression level and the lignan content were decreased by 69.91% and 31.65%, respectively. Interestingly, silencing FvPLR1 induced alterations in the dominant bacteria group in the larvae, with the reverse trend in the lignan‐fed treatment. CONCLUSION: The evidence showed that FvPLR1 was a positive regulator. The increasing synthesis of lignans leads to resistance improvement in velvet ash, which will provide comprehensive insights into the tree defense system to wood borer infestation. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new leaf blight disease of oat (Avena sativa) was observed in many oat fields in Huan county, Gansu Province of China, during 2018–2019. Typical symptoms appeared as yellow necrotic and water‐soaked lesions. The lesions developed from tip to base of leaves and eventually resulted in leaf withering. Disease incidence on plants (leaves) was approximately 36%–100%. A gram‐negative bacterium was isolated from the necrotic lesions of all samples. Coupled with multigene sequence (16S rRNA and gyrB gene) analyses, Biolog Gen III MicroStation, morphological, physiological, and biochemical characterization identified the pathogen as Pantoea agglomerans. Pathogenicity tests by wounding and injection inoculations in the greenhouse established that P. agglomerans could induce typical symptoms as observed in the field. The infection rate in leaves was 44%–71% after 14 days. In addition, host range tests showed that P. agglomerans could infect other plant hosts, including Sorghum sudanense, Medicago sativa, Fagopyrum esculentum, Setaria italica, and Zea mays. This is the first report of P. agglomerans causing bacterial leaf blight disease (LBD) on oat in China. The current study can provide a foundation for the prevention of this disease in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthropogenic activities such as eutrophication and fishing have prominent effects on freshwater ecosystems. However, the ways in which ecosystem function and biodiversity respond to multiple drivers from eutrophication and top‐down predation remains inconclusive. We studied zooplankton communities in 102 subtropical shallow lakes in the eastern plain of China and further examined the joint effects of nutrient enrichment and predation on biodiversity and ecological networks. We found that alpha diversity was negatively influenced by nutrient conditions (such as total phosphorus and total nitrogen [TN]), whereas beta diversity (β‐diversity) was positively related to nutrients and was also structured by omnivorous fish showing a unimodal pattern. Furthermore, the network skewness of zooplankton increased with nutrient enrichment, especially TN, and was negatively related to omnivorous fish. This skewness is more sensitive than β‐diversity, whereas negative skew is primarily caused by omnivorous fish. Our results demonstrated that top‐down effects were dominant for zooplankton communities and resulted in structural adjustment of zooplankton communities, mainly with an increase in fish predation. A negative skewed network indicates the presence of more generalist species and stronger connections among the zooplankton assemblages, as well as decreased β‐diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aerogel fibers are thermally insulating and can be woven, so they are expected to form a new generation of smart textiles that can efficiently reduce heat consumption. However, producing continuous aerogel fibers that have the necessary strength and toughness to be woven remains a great challenge. Herein, with the aid of freeze‐thaw treatment of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) solution and freeze‐spinning technology, continuous PVA aerogel fibers with an aligned porous morphology are prepared in a large‐scale. Freeze–thaw treatment greatly contributes to improving the spinnability of the spinning dope of aerogel fibers, which leads to the formation of the continuous fibers. Remarkably, through this process the aerogel fibers achieve ultraflexible and ultrastrong features, which results in excellent weaving ability, as well as attractive mechanical properties that benefit from the cross‐linking of PVA molecular chains with the aligned porous structure. More importantly, a textile woven with the special porous structure aerogel fibers shows extraordinary thermal insulation (thermal conductivity as low as 0.026 W m−1 K−1) and infrared stealth. This study illustrates a promising direction for the design of next generation, wearable, intelligent materials that have great potential for personal thermal management applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reliability‐based robust design optimization (RBRDO) is a crucial tool for life‐cycle quality improvement. Gaussian process (GP) model is an effective alternative modeling technique that is widely used in robust parameter design. However, there are few studies to deal with reliability‐based design problems by using GP model. This article proposes a novel life‐cycle RBRDO approach concerning response uncertainty under the framework of GP modeling technique. First, the hyperparameters of GP model are estimated by using the Gibbs sampling procedure. Second, the expected partial derivative expression is derived based on GP modeling technique. Moreover, a novel failure risk cost function is constructed to assess the life‐cycle reliability. Then, the quality loss function and confidence interval are constructed by simulated outputs to evaluate the robustness of optimal settings and response uncertainty, respectively. Finally, an optimization model integrating failure risk cost function, quality loss function, and confidence interval analysis approach is constructed to find reasonable optimal input settings. Two case studies are given to illustrate the performance of the proposed approach. The results show that the proposed approach can make better trade‐offs between the quality characteristics and reliability requirements by considering response uncertainty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Driven by safety issues, environmental concerns, and high costs, rechargeable aqueous zinc‐ion batteries (ZIBs) have received increasing attention in recent years owing to their unique advantages. However, the sluggish kinetics of divalent charge Zn2+ in the cathode materials caused by the strong electrostatic interaction and their unsatisfactory cycle life hinder the development of ZIBs. Herein, organic cations and Zn2+ ions co‐pre‐inserted vanadium oxide ([N(CH3)4]0.77,Zn0.23)V8O20·3.8H2O are reported as the cathode for ultra‐stable aqueous ZIBs, in which the weaker electrostatic interactions between Zn2+ and organic ion‐pinned vanadium oxide can induce the high reversibility of Zn2+ insertion and extraction, thereby improving the cycle life. It is demonstrated that ([N(CH3)4]0.77,Zn0.23)V8O20·3.8H2O cathodes deliver a discharge capacity of 181 mA h g−1 at 8 A g−1 and ultra‐long life span (99.5% capacity retention after 2000 cycles). A reversible Zn2+/H+ ions (de)intercalation storage process and pseudocapacitive charge storage are characterized. The weaker interactions between organic ion and Zn2+ open a novel avenue for the design of highly reversible cathode materials with long‐term cycling stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]