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Bacterial infection at wound sites can easily induce robust inflammation. M1 macrophages at wound sites can cause cascade inflammatory reactions to mediate a vicious inflammation cycle. Meanwhile, the hypoxia situation further aggravates the destruction and contraction of blood vessels in the wound microenvironment, therefore, hindering the infected wound healing process. Here, a thermosensitive hydrogel is reported to solve the above challenges by eliminating bacteria based on the photothermal effect, regulating the inflammatory immune microenvironment, and providing oxygen (O2). In vitro and in vivo experiments confirmed that the hydrogel has great O2‐producing properties. Based on the excellent photothermal properties of AIEgens, the hydrogel has a good bactericidal effect against S. aureus (100%) and E. coli (98.85%). The RNA‐sequencing revealed that Cur@AIE@MnO2/gel can interfere with the metabolic process and genetic material repair process to impact bacteria proliferation and biofilm dispersal, thus achieving excellent anti‐bacterial efficacy. Moreover, Cur@AIE@MnO2/gel can also up‐regulate anti‐inflammatory genes, down‐regulate pro‐inflammatory genes in macrophages, and facilitate the promotion of macrophage polarization from M1 to M2 to relieve inflammation. The therapeutic experiments show that this hydrogel accelerated the wound‐healing process. Therefore, this work may open new avenues for the development of novel dressings for bacterial‐infected wounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A highly efficient oxidative desulfurization composite catalyst NH2‐Uio‐66‐Mo has been prepared and applied in the catalytic oxidative desulfurization. It was elucidated that Mo6+ could increase the oxygen vacancies and active sites on the catalyst and increase the pore size of UiO‐66. Meanwhile, the removal rate of dibenzothiophene (DBT) reached 99.2 % after 60 min under optimal conditions and remained above 90 % after 5 cycles, showing the composite catalyst's remarkable catalytic performance and satisfactory reusability NH2‐UiO‐66‐Mo. In addition, kinetic studies revealed that the desulfurization process can present a pseudo‐first‐order kinetic process. The apparent activation energy was 10.6 kJ/mol. Finally, in combination with oxides, possible oxidation pathways were identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Aims: We aimed to develop a Transformer‐based deep learning (DL) network for prognostic stratification in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients undergoing RFA. Methods: A Swin Transformer DL network was trained to establish associations between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) datasets and the ground truth of microvascular invasion (MVI) based on 696 surgical resection (SR) patients with solitary HCC ≤3 cm, and was validated in an external cohort (n = 180). The multiphase MRI‐based DL risk outputs using an optimal threshold of.5 was employed as a MVI classifier for prognosis stratification in the RFA cohort (n = 180). Results: Over 90% of all enrolled patients exhibited hepatitis B virus infection. Liver cirrhosis was significantly more prevalent in the RFA cohort compared to the SR cohort (72.2% vs. 44.1%, p <.001). The MVI risk outputs exhibited good performance (area under the curve values =.938 and.883) for predicting MVI in the training and validation cohort, respectively. The RFA patients at high risk of MVI classified by the MVI classifier demonstrated significantly lower recurrence‐free survival (RFS) and overall survival rates at 1, 3 and 5 years compared to those classified as low risk (p <.001). Multivariate cox regression modelling of a‐fetoprotein > 20 ng/mL [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.53; 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.02–2.33, p =.047], high risk of MVI (HR = 3.76; 95% CI: 2.40–5.88, p <.001) and unfavourable tumour location (HR = 2.15; 95% CI: 1.40–3.29, p =.001) yielded a c‐index of.731 (bootstrapped 95% CI:.667–.778) for evaluating RFS after RFA. Among the three risk factors, MVI was the most powerful predictor for intrahepatic distance recurrence. Conclusions: The proposed MVI classifier can serve as a valuable imaging biomarker for prognostic stratification in early‐stage HCC patients undergoing RFA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider the global existence of solutions and input‐to‐state stability for a class of stochastic delayed recurrent neural networks without uniform Lipschitz condition. Under local Lipschitz condition, we find new sufficient conditions that ensure the solutions of given neural networks exist globally and are mean‐square exponentially input‐to‐state stable. Furthermore, we highlight the advantages of our novel results by comparing with some known results as well as a numerical example. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Multi‐segmental thoracolumbar fracture (MSF) generally refers to fractures occurring in two or more segments of the thoracolumbar spine. With the development of minimally invasive concept, there is little research on its application in the field of MSF. The purpose of this study is to compare two minimally invasive surgical techniques and determine which one is more suitable for treating patients with neurologically intact MSF. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 49 MSF patients with intact nerves who were admitted from January 2017 to February 2019. Among them, 25 cases underwent percutaneous pedicle screw fixation (PPSF), and 24 cases underwent Wiltse approach pedicle screw fixation (WAPSF). The operation time, number of fixed segments, blood loss, length of incision, postoperative ambulation time, accuracy of pedicle screw placement, facet joint violation (FJV), number of C‐arm exposures, as well as pre‐ and postoperative visual analogue scale (VAS), Oswestry disability index (ODI), local Cobb's angle (LCA), and percentage of anterior vertebral body height (PAVBH) were recorded for both groups. Paired sample t‐test was used for intra‐group comparison before and after surgery while independent sample t‐test was used for inter‐group comparison. Results: The differences in the number of fixed segments, intraoperative bleeding, postoperative bed time, accuracy rate of pedicle screw placement, VAS, and ODI between the two groups were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). However, the operative time and total surgical incision length were significantly shorter in the WAPSF group than in the PPSF group (p < 0.05), and the FJV was significantly higher in the PPSF group than in the WAPSF group (p < 0.05). Also, the PPSF group received more intraoperative fluoroscopy (p < 0.05). The result of LCA and PAVBH in the WAPSF group were significantly better than in the PPSF group (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Both PPSF and WAPSF were found to be safe and effective in the treatment of MSF without neurological deficits through our study. However, considering radiation exposure, FJV, vertebral height restoration, correction of kyphosis, and learning curve, WAPSF may be a better choice for neurologically intact MSF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neural network models have recently made striking progress in natural language processing, but they are typically trained on orders of magnitude more language input than children receive. What can these neural networks, which are primarily distributional learners, learn from a naturalistic subset of a single child's experience? We examine this question using a recent longitudinal dataset collected from a single child, consisting of egocentric visual data paired with text transcripts. We train both language‐only and vision‐and‐language neural networks and analyze the linguistic knowledge they acquire. In parallel with findings from Jeffrey Elman's seminal work, the neural networks form emergent clusters of words corresponding to syntactic (nouns, transitive and intransitive verbs) and semantic categories (e.g., animals and clothing), based solely on one child's linguistic input. The networks also acquire sensitivity to acceptability contrasts from linguistic phenomena, such as determiner‐noun agreement and argument structure. We find that incorporating visual information produces an incremental gain in predicting words in context, especially for syntactic categories that are comparatively more easily grounded, such as nouns and verbs, but the underlying linguistic representations are not fundamentally altered. Our findings demonstrate which kinds of linguistic knowledge are learnable from a snapshot of a single child's real developmental experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrating responsive photonic crystals (RPCs) and quantum dots (QDs) effectively to realize multimode dynamic color regulation is of great significance for promoting advances in color display science. Herein, a new type of flexible dynamic color display with multimode reversible switching between transparent and colorful states based on the combination of RPCs and CdTe QDs is designed. This unique system is fabricated by encapsulating a thin layer of ordered arrays of SiO2@CdTe@SiO2 (SQS) colloids with poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS), which generates an elastic film with sandwiched structure of PDMS/SQS/PDMS. Owing to the similarity in the optical properties of PDMS and SQS, the display is highly transparent in the normal state. Moreover, the resultant flexible display exhibits obvious change in color by mechanical stimuli or UV exposure. Finally, the ability to display joints motion amplitudes of human body as well as the applications in advanced security is demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Counterfeiting is a growing global issue causing severe negative impacts on the social economy and posing serious security threats to individuals and communities. However, the current anticounterfeiting technologies are relatively well known to fakers and lack sufficient security owing to the development and commercialization of high‐resolution equipment. Thus, designing new anticounterfeiting materials and systems is urgently needed. Photonic crystals (PCs) with vivid structural colors are promising materials for advanced security applications because of their unique optical characteristics. In particular, responsive PCs (RPCs), whose optical signals can be readily adjusted by external stimuli, are expected to provide improved security and may be used to determine the authenticity of banknotes, documents, and drugs. In this review, the strategies are summarized for designing RPCs, including filling responsive materials into the interstitial space of periodic photonic structures and using responsive materials as construction blocks of PCs. Subsequently, the latest progress in developing RPCs constructed for optical encryption and information security is discussed in detail. Finally, the challenges and outlook of using RPCs for optical encryption technologies are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Distinct from the existing spin–orbit torque devices to only generate Rashba‐like spin current, it is proposed to generate Dresselhaus‐like spin current based on a single‐crystal ferromagnetic metal. By employing the second harmonic Hall measurement, it is found that the second harmonic Hall signal in single‐crystal ferromagnet exhibits an antisymmetric angular dependence induced by Dresselhaus‐like spin current, opposite to the reported symmetric angular dependence induced by Rashba‐like spin current. Such anomalous Dresselhaus‐like spin current is further confirmed by the current‐induced shift of the hysteresis loop when the magnetic field is swept along the current direction. However, when the ferromagnetic metal exhibits amorphous crystal structure or polycrystal structure, the Dresselhaus‐like spin current is absent. This result complements the missing type of spin currents due to charge‐to‐spin conversion and benefits the formulation of comprehensive spin–orbit coupling mechanism, by considering additional broken symmetry caused by ferromagnetic order and the structure symmetry of the crystalline lattice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of nanoparticles (NPs) to deliver small inhibiting microRNAs (miRNAs) has shown great promise for treating cancer. However, constructing a miRNA delivery system that targets brain cancers, such as glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), remains technically challenging due to the existence of the blood‐tumor barrier (BTB). In this work, a novel targeted antisense miRNA‐21 oligonucleotide (ATMO‐21) delivery system is developed for GBM treatment. Bradykinin ligand agonist‐decorated spermine‐modified acetalated dextran NPs (SpAcDex NPs) could temporarily open the BTB by activating G‐protein‐coupled receptors that are expressed in tumor blood vessels and tumor cells, which increase transportation to and accumulation in tumor sites. ATMO‐21 achieves high loading in the SpAcDex NPs (over 90%) and undergoes gradual controlled release with the degradation of the NPs in acidic lysosomal compartments. This allows for cell apoptosis and inhibition of the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor by downregulating hypoxia‐inducible factor (HIF‐1α) protein. An in vivo orthotopic U87MG glioma model confirms that the released ATMO‐21 shows significant therapeutic efficacy in inhibiting tumor growth and angiogenesis, demonstrating that agonist‐modified SpAcDex NPs represent a promising strategy for GBM treatment combining targeted gene therapy and antiangiogenic therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of nanoparticles (NPs) to deliver small inhibiting microRNAs (miRNAs) has shown great promise for treating cancer. However, constructing a miRNA delivery system that targets brain cancers, such as glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), remains technically challenging due to the existence of the blood‐tumor barrier (BTB). In this work, a novel targeted antisense miRNA‐21 oligonucleotide (ATMO‐21) delivery system is developed for GBM treatment. Bradykinin ligand agonist‐decorated spermine‐modified acetalated dextran NPs (SpAcDex NPs) could temporarily open the BTB by activating G‐protein‐coupled receptors that are expressed in tumor blood vessels and tumor cells, which increase transportation to and accumulation in tumor sites. ATMO‐21 achieves high loading in the SpAcDex NPs (over 90%) and undergoes gradual controlled release with the degradation of the NPs in acidic lysosomal compartments. This allows for cell apoptosis and inhibition of the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor by downregulating hypoxia‐inducible factor (HIF‐1α) protein. An in vivo orthotopic U87MG glioma model confirms that the released ATMO‐21 shows significant therapeutic efficacy in inhibiting tumor growth and angiogenesis, demonstrating that agonist‐modified SpAcDex NPs represent a promising strategy for GBM treatment combining targeted gene therapy and antiangiogenic therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we consider the existence and global exponential stability of positive pseudo almost periodic solutions for a delayed Nicholson‐type system with patch structure. With the aid of ergodic theory and differential inequality technique, we prove the existence and global exponential stability of positive pseudo almost periodic solutions for the addressed system, which generalize and improve some known results. Specially, an example and its numerical simulations are provided to manifest the effectiveness of theoretical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Combination therapies for tumors based on different therapeutic approaches should try to improve treatment efficacy, but also to reduce side‐effects related to the exogenous stimulus and premature release. In the following study, we established and validated a pH/near‐infrared (NIR)/glutathione (GSH)/‐responsive multifunctional disulfide cross‐linked Fe3O4@C nanocarriers (ss‐Fe3O4@C NCs) with black phosphorus quantum dots (BPQDs) as a capping agent. BPQDs and carbon shell of Fe3O4@C nanoparticles (NPs) were used as a photothermal agents, while the inner empty nucleus that allows for a high drug payload served as an effective drug carrier. These magnetofluorescent BPQDs@DOX@ss‐Fe3O4@C NPs were conjugated with a targeting aptamer (epidermal growth factor receptor: EGFR), denoted as BPQDs@DOX@ss‐Fe3O4@C‐EGFR NPs, for targeting dual modal magnetic resonance (MR)/fluorescence imaging. The synthetic NCs showed that drug release was dependent on pH, near‐infrared (NIR), and intracellular GSH levels, with minimum systemic release in the blood and maximum drug release within the tumors. Also, the photothermal effect resulting from the Fe3O4@C NPs and BPQDs upon application to NIR light caused a rapid rise in local temperature, which accounted for the highest enhancement of cell cytotoxicity. Thus, a theranostic system consisting of BPQDs@DOX@ss‐Fe3O4@C‐EGFR NPs is shown to generate excellent advantages in combined chemotherapy/photothermal therapy (PTT) with minimal side effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pheochromocytoma is an adrenal medullary neuroendocrine tumor that rarely metastasizes to the spine. Currently, its specific treatment methods still present challenges. Case Description: A 41‐year‐old male patient who underwent left total adrenalectomy due to pheochromocytoma 3 years ago presented with lower back pain, accompanied by numbness and decreased muscle strength in both legs, as well as decreased sensation. Abnormal transmittance of the L3 vertebral body could be seen on anterior–posterior and lateral lumbar X‐rays, irregular bone destruction of the L3 vertebral body was found on CT, and an MRI scan showed that the tumor was located within the L3 vertebral body, protruding into the spinal canal and compressing the epidural sac. No recurrence was found in the abdomen. Preoperatively, perform local embolization of the blood vessels supplying the tumor. First, the L2‐3 intervertebral disc, L3‐4 intervertebral disc and L3 vertebral body were removed using an anterior approach, the whole tumor was removed, and some of the vertebrae were taken for pathological examination and replaced with a 3D‐printed prosthesis. Then, four pedicle screws were placed in the bilateral pedicles of L2 and L4 using the posterior approach, pre‐bent connecting rods were installed to replace the bone cortex of the lamina and articular process followed by bone graft fusion of the interlaminar and facet joints. The postoperative results were satisfactory, and there were no perioperative complications. Conclusion: Lumbar pheochromocytoma metastasis is rare, difficult to treat, and should be considered in spinal metastases' differential diagnoses so early diagnosis can be made based on medical history and imaging. Preoperative local vascular imaging and embolization of the blood supply vessels were performed. After total en‐bloc spondylectomy of the tumor during surgery, a prosthesis was implanted and combined with pedicle screw fixation to reconstruct spinal biomechanical stability, achieving satisfactory results. Therefore, 3D printed artificial vertebral bodies are a good choice for treating adrenal pheochromocytoma lumbar metastasis. The key to successful treatment is close interdisciplinary collaboration in formulating rigorous comprehensive perioperative plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly tunable localized surface plasmon (LSP) resonances in metal nanostructures are of great importance for manipulating light waves and enhancing light–matter interactions at the nanoscale. Here, a new type of plasmonic resonators based on hollow elliptical nanotubes, which can generate highly tunable LSP resonances in the visible frequencies, are reported. High‐quality hollow gold (Au) elliptical nanotubes with fine controllable size and morphology are experimentally fabricated. Dark‐field scattering measurements reveal the presence of multiple plasmon resonances including longitudinal Fabry–Pérot resonances and transverse hybridized LSP resonances due to rotational symmetry breaking. Upon varying the ellipticity, the hybridized LSP resonances exhibit continuously spectral evolution behaviors, such as the hybridized modes shifting and crossing. The experimental results show good agreement with the rigorous electromagnetic modeling and Raman spectroscopic measurements. The hollow anisotropic geometries provide highly tunable plasmonic responses together with homogeneous field distributions and high surface‐to‐volume ratio, which hold great potential for practical applications in sensing, nonlinear optics, surface‐enhanced spectroscopies, and bio‐medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Protein phosphatase Mg2+/Mn2+‐dependent 1F (PPM1F) is a serine/threonine phosphatase, and its dysfunction in depression in the hippocampal dentate gyrus has been previously identified. Nevertheless, its role in depression of another critical emotion‐controlling brain region, the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), remains unclear. We explored the functional relevance of PPM1F in the pathogenesis of depression. Methods: The gene expression levels and colocalization of PPM1F in the mPFC of depressed mice were measured by real‐time PCR, western blot and immunohistochemistry. An adeno‐associated virus strategy was applied to determine the impact of knockdown or overexpression of PPM1F in the excitatory neurons on depression‐related behaviors under basal and stress conditions in both male and female mice. The neuronal excitability, expression of p300 and AMPK phosphorylation levels in the mPFC after knockdown of PPM1F were measured by electrophysiological recordings, real‐time PCR and western blot. The depression‐related behavior induced by PPM1F knockdown after AMPKα2 knockout or the antidepressant activity of PPM1F overexpression after inhibiting acetylation activity of p300 was evaluated. Results: Our results indicate that the expression levels of PPM1F were largely decreased in the mPFC of mice exposed to chronic unpredictable stress (CUS). Behavioral alterations relevant to depression emerged with short hairpin RNA (shRNA)‐mediated genetic knockdown of PPM1F in the mPFC, while overexpression of PPM1F produced antidepressant activity and ameliorated behavioral responses to stress in CUS‐exposed mice. Molecularly, PPM1F knockdown decreased the excitability of pyramidal neurons in the mPFC, and restoring this low excitability decreased the depression‐related behaviors induced by PPM1F knockdown. PPM1F knockdown reduced the expression of CREB‐binding protein (CBP)/E1A‐associated protein (p300), a histone acetyltransferase (HAT), and induced hyperphosphorylation of AMPK, resulting in microglial activation and upregulation of proinflammatory cytokines. Conditional knockout of AMPK revealed an antidepressant phenotype, which can also block depression‐related behaviors induced by PPM1F knockdown. Furthermore, inhibiting the acetylase activity of p300 abolished the beneficial effects of PPM1F elevation on CUS‐induced depressive behaviors. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate that PPM1F in the mPFC modulates depression‐related behavioral responses by regulating the function of p300 via the AMPK signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DELLA proteins are master regulators of gibberellic acid (GA) signaling through their effects on gene expression. Enhanced DELLA accumulation in rice and wheat varieties has greatly contributed to grain yield increases during the green revolution. However, the molecular basis of DELLA‐mediated gene repression remains elusive. In this work, we show that the rice DELLA protein SLENDER RICE1 (SLR1) forms a tripartite complex with Polycomb‐repressive complex 2 (PRC2) and the histone deacetylase HDA702 to repress downstream genes by establishing a silent chromatin state. The slr1 mutation and GA signaling resulted in dissociation of PRC2 and HDA702 from GA‐inducible genes. Loss‐of‐function or downregulation of the chromatin regulators impaired SLR1‐dependent histone modification and gene repression. Time‐resolved analysis of GA signaling revealed that GA‐induced transcriptional activation was associated with a rapid increase of H3K9ac followed by H3K27me3 removal. Collectively, these results establish a general epigenetic mechanism for DELLA‐mediated gene repression and reveal details of the chromatin dynamics during transcriptional activation stimulated by GA signaling. Synopsis: DELLA proteins are master repressors of gibberellin (GA) signaling, but the molecular basis of this repression is not well understood. This work shows that one DELLA forms a tripartite complex with Polycomb‐repressive complex 2 (PRC2) and histone deacetylase HDA702 to repress GA‐inducible genes by establishing a silent chromatin state in rice. The rice DELLA protein SLENDER RICE1 (SLR1) interacts with PRC2 and HDA702.SLR1 is required for H3K27 trimethylation (H3K27me3) at a subset of PRC2 targets.GA signaling increases H3K9 acetylation (H3K9ac) and decreases H3K27me3.GA signaling dissociates PRC2 and HDA702 from target genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Video S1 introduces the case of 39-year-old female patient in whom a pedicled greater omentum flap was transplanted into the posterior rectal space after TME + total ISR for ultra-low rectal cancer in order to relieve LARS. From the splenic curvature, the greater omentum was released and dissociated along the right side of the vascular arch of the greater omentum, and the vertical vessels and marginal vessels on the right side of the greater omentum were retained. Total mesorectal excision plus total intersphincteric resection combined with pedicled omentum flap transplantation - A video vignette. [Extracted from the article]

Abstract: As an external stimulus for stimuli‐responsive chromic materials, a magnetic field has the benefits of contactless control, instant action, and ease of integration into electronic devices. Hence, the development of a magnetically responsive photonic crystal provides a new platform for color displays. However, magnetically controlled display systems have been primarily limited to liquid systems of colloidal crystals; their application to solid chromic systems has been difficult because the ordered array structure is fixed by a polymer network. A novel solid magnetochromic photonic hydrogel is developed that enables colorimetric responses to an alternating magnetic field (AMF). This notable magnetochromic performance is attributed to the superior magnetothermal effect of 1D aggregates of magnetic chains fixed in a thermosensitive hydrogel. The AMF‐responsive magnetic hydrogel exhibits excellent stability for repeated use. This study presents a basis for the development of responsive solid materials with new optical effects for future chromatic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The separation and determination of proteins in food is an important aspect in food industry. Inspired by the self-polymerization of dopamine under alkaline conditions and the natural adhesive properties of polydopamine, in this paper, a simple and economical method was developed for the preparation of polydopamine-coated open tubular column, in which ammonium persulfate was used as the source of oxygen to induce and facilitate the polymerization of dopamine to form polydopamine. In comparison with a naked fused-silica capillary, the direction and magnitude of the electro-osmotic flow of the as-prepared polydopamine-coated open tubular column could be manipulated by varying the pH values of background solutions due to the existence of amine and phenolic hydroxyl groups on polydopamine coating. The surface morphology of the polydopamine-coated open tubular column was studied by scanning electron microscopy, and the thickness of polydopamine coating was 106 nm. The performance of the polydopamine-coated open tubular column was validated by analysis of proteins. The relative standard deviations of migration times of proteins representing run-to-run, day-to-day, and column-to-column were less than 3.5%. In addition, the feasibility of the polydopamine-coated open tubular column for real samples was verified by the separation of proteins in chicken egg white and pure milk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple, easy and economical approach for the preparation of a hybrid carbon/silica monolithic capillary column was described for the first time by using silica monolith as framework in combination with hydrothermal carbonization at 180°C. During the preparation process, formamide was introduced to the reaction solutions to reduce the dissolution rate of monolithic silica skeleton and its optimal concentration was 1.5 M. Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry, and inverse size exclusion chromatography were carried out to characterize the as-prepared column. The results demonstrated that carbon spheres ranging from 150 to 1000 nm were successfully attached to the surface of silica skeleton. The prepared hybrid carbon/silica column had a permeability of 4.4 × 10−14 m2. Chromatographic performance of the column was evaluated by separation of various compounds including alkylbenzenes, nucleosides and bases, and aromatic acids. The column exhibited an efficiency of 75 000 plates/m for butylbenzene at the optimal linear velocity of 0.23 mm/s. The successful separation of these compounds and the study on mechanism indicated that the column can be applied in mixed-mode chromatography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A compact bandstop frequency selective surface (FSS) using fractal structure is proposed. This flexuous design elongates the cell perimeter of the ring-shaped FSS, which means the cell size gets smaller at the same resonance frequency. Furthermore, the unit cells adopt regular hexagon and the array employs equilateral triangle form. Because of its symmetric configuration, good frequency stability has been achieved for both horizontal and vertical polarizations at different oblique angles. For the stable bandstop character, this FSS can be used for protecting the staff of S-band radars against electromagnetic radiation, while the 900/1800/1900 MHz mobile bands and the 5.2/5.8 GHz wireless local area network signals are not affected. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 51: 2541–2544, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.24676 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The current study reported a case with a history of neuroradiculitis. Within 2 months of the COVID‐19 vaccine, critical Guillain‐Barre Syndrome (GBS) appeared after acute diarrhea, progressive myasthenia, and sudden respiratory and cardiac symptoms. Methods: The syndrome was addressed with measures, such as endotracheal intubation and cardiopulmonary resuscitation vasoactive drugs. Next, we conducted six cycles of human immunoglobulin treatment (dose of 400 mg/kg·d intravenously for 5 days consecutively) and three times plasma exchange (PE, 30 ml/kg), followed by methylprednisolone sodium succinate. Rehabilitation training was carried out continuously. Results: The consciousness of the patient returned to normal, wherein he carried out normal communication. The muscle strength recovered gradually but still could not stand independently. Presently, he is recovering at home. Conclusions: For patients with previous radiculitis, COVID‐19 vaccination may increase the susceptibility to GBS. Thus, it is recommended to extend the vaccination interval for these patients and ensure that any potential increased risk is continually assessed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new type of low‐Mo Nb–V–Ti complex microalloyed fire‐resistant steel is designed. Two kinds of controlled rolling and controlled cooling processes are employed to obtain the two steels with predominantly composed of fine‐grained proeutectoid ferrite (1#) and coarse‐grained full bainite (2#), respectively. The microstructures and precipitates of the experimental steels in room temperature and 600 oC are characterized by means of the scanning electron microscope (SEM), electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and physicochemical phase analysis, and the strengthening mechanisms at room temperature and elevated temperature are quantitatively calculated and analyzed. The results show that the mechanical properties of the two steels are close to each other at room temperature. However, the fire resistance of bainite steel is much better than that of ferrite steel. Nanosized M(C, N) further precipitates from bainite at elevated temperature, which improves the stability of the bainitic structure and compensates for the loss of yield strength caused by the shear modulus decreased at high temperature. The grain refinement strengthening may not play a role at 600 oC in proeutectoid ferrite steel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Constructing microsupercapacitors (MSCs) with an outstanding stretchability is urgent for wearable electronics, and an intrinsic biodegradability is also meaningful. Herein, laser‐induced graphene/NiO/Co3O4 (NiO/Co3O4/LIG) is in situ synthesized on a polyimide (PI) film during laser processing, then the electrodes are transferred to a biodegradable waterborne polyurethane (WPU) substrate to fabricate stretchable MSCs. Experimentally, the as‐prepared stretchable MSCs exhibit an excellent areal capacitance of 2.4 mF cm−2, high capacitance retention of 77.1% at 50% strain, and capacitance degradation of less than 19.8% after 1000 stretching cycles. These desirable properties are mainly attributed to the gradient structure of NiO/Co3O4/LIG, the synergistic effect of hybrid NiO/Co3O4 nanoparticles, and the intensive interface adhesion between the electrodes and WPU. Interestingly, the robust function of stretchable MSCs is further presented by using them to power a microsensor and assembling them with triboelectric nanogenerators to generate power from mechanical contact with skin, which makes the stretchable MSCs promising as a sustainable driving source for wearable electronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melanoma, the most aggressive skin cancer type, is challenging to treat due to its high metastatic potential and low response to conventional therapies. Innovative approaches, including combination therapies, are crucial for enhancing treatment efficacy while minimizing side effects. It is developed boronophenylalanine‐containing polydopaine (B‐PDA) nanoparticles by encapsulating boronophenylalanine in polydopamine through nitrogen‐boronate coordination, targeting both boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) and photothermal therapy (PTT). With stability and biocompatibility under physiological conditions, these nanoparticles utilize the phenylalanine residues in BPA to target the overexpressed neutral amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1) in melanoma cells, resulting in enhanced cell‐specific targeting. B‐PDA nanoparticles demonstrated significant photothermal effects under external stimulation, inducing localized heating and triggering heterogeneous tumor cell death, thereby enhancing sensitivity to BNCT. Combining BNCT and PTT, the B‐PDA nanoparticles offer a promising strategy for melanoma treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between hypothyroidism in early pregnancy and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) and the effect of probiotics. Patients with hypothyroidism in early pregnancy and normal pregnant women during the same period were included in the methane–hydrogen breath test to compare the incidence of SIBO, smoothed curve fit, and differences in clinical symptoms. For those who combined with SIBO, the rate of clinical symptom conversion, thyroid hormones, and changes in associated inflammatory indexes were compared after 21 days of treatment with probiotics on top of conventional levothyroxine sodium tablets. The results are as follows: (1) The incidence of combined SIBO in patients with hypothyroidism in pregnancy was 56.0%, significantly higher than the 28.0% of normal pregnant women during the same period. (2) The highest value of hydrogen plus methane gas in 90 min in pregnancy hypothyroid patients showed a significant negative correlation with FT4 (p <.001, SD = 0.169). (3) Abdominal distension symptoms were significantly increased in both groups after combined SIBO (p =.036, p =.025), and the conversion rate after treatment was 69.2% and 75.0%, respectively. (4) In hypothyroidism, pregnancy combined with SIBO, TSH, and CRP was higher before treatment (p =.001, p =.012) and decreased significantly after treatment (p =.001, p =.008). Hypothyroidism in early pregnancy is associated with SIBO, and probiotic treatment is significantly effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From core observations of shales of the Niutitang formation in the northern part of Guizhou Province, China, calcite was often found to act as a natural fracture filler and affect the extension of fractures in hydraulic fracturing. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the tensile mechanical behavior of shales by calcite veins. In this paper, by computed tomography scanning of shales containing calcite veins of different dip angles from the Niutitang formation, a three‐dimensional numerical model reflecting the internal fine structure of the shale was constructed. Direct tensile numerical simulations were carried out to investigate the effect of calcite veins at different angles on the fine‐scale damage process and mechanical properties of shale. The experimental results show that the tensile capacity of the shale increases with the increase in calcite veins. Depending on the dip angle of the calcite vein, the damage pattern of the shale is divided into three types of damage: pull‐off damage along the calcite vein, jagged damage, and horizontal damage perpendicular to the loading method. At high dip angles, the shale damage is more intense and the fracture network more complex. The temporal and spatial characteristics of the acoustic emissions provide a good indication of the microscopic behavior of the shale specimens during the damage process. The box dimension method was used to calculate the fractal dimension of the shale specimens at the final damage, and it was found that the damage was more intense and the fracture network was more complex at high dip angles, and there was an angular threshold. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple and scalable manufacturing of flexible energy storage units with high electrochemical performance is essential for wearable electronic devices. Herein, a carbon cloth (CC) coated with Mo ion homo‐dispersed hydrogel ink is used as a precursor for laser scribing, during which laser‐induced graphene/MoO2 (LIG/MoO2) is in‐situ synthesized on the substrate. By regulating the surface topography and nanoparticle distribution, the as‐prepared LIG/MoO2‐CC electrode shows a network structure composed of multiple core‐shell fibers. Among them, the carbon‐fiber core phase provides strong mechanical stability, and the in‐situ growth shell of LIG/MoO2 ensures high electrochemical performance. Experimentally, the MSCs assembled by interdigital electrodes can deliver an areal capacitance of 81.8 mF cm−2 and areal energy density of 113.7 μWh cm−2 at a power density of 2.5 mW cm−2, placing them among the best performing LIG‐based MSCs. Through the series‐parallel structure design of electrodes, the output voltage and total capacitance of MSCs can be adjusted according to the demands of actual applications, presenting a huge potential for integration with other wearable electronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A functional wheat bran (FWB) was obtained from wheat grains that were rich in wheat aleurone. The effects of the microwave (MW) power (2.5, 5.0, 7.5, and 10.0 kW) and treatment time (15, 30, 60, 90, and 120 s) on the moisture and free fatty acid (FFA) content, lipase activity, and antioxidant activity of the FWB were investigated. The purpose of this study is to stabilize the FWB against lipid oxidation and rancidity and as much as possible to retain its antioxidant activities. MW treatment significantly decreased the FFA content, moisture content, and lipase activity of the FWB. Moreover, MW treatment significantly increased the total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity of the FWB without drastically altering its color. MW treatment at 7.5 kW and 120 s was found to be optimal for stabilizing the FWB and increasing its antioxidant activity. The stabilized FWB was proven to be far more stable than the control FWB during storage. Thus, MW treatment is an effective stabilization method for the storage and utilization of FWB. Additional research is needed for the exact mechanism of the decrease of FFA content and increase of antioxidant activity of FWB induced by MW treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, bis‐1,2,4‐triazine ligands have been widely used in actinide separation processes for their good separation ability and stability in high acidity. However, the hard stripping of BTP, kinetics sluggish of BTBP, and inexhaustive separation of BTPhen are still issues to be improved. Here, we evaluated the effects of bis‐1,2,4‐triazine ligands containing 6‐membered aliphatic rings L1‐3 and bis‐1,2,4‐triazine ligands containing 5‐membered aliphatic rings L4‐6 on selective separation of Am(III)/Eu(III) to understand the structure‐effect relationship of ligands (skeleton of pyridine L1,4, bipyridine L2,5, and phenanthroline L3,6). Six bis‐1,2,4‐triazine ligand structures are optimized based on density function theory(DFT). Herein, complexations of L2, L3L5L6 with Am/Eu ions were investigated. The results show that all BTPs ligands preferentially bind to Am(III). The electronic structures of the [M(L)2(NO3)]2+ (M = Am, Eu) complex and the bonding properties between metal and ligand were investigated. The results suggest that phenanthroline containing six‐membered aliphatic rings L3 shows the best affinity for Am(III) and phenanthroline containing five‐membered aliphatic rings L6 show faster dynamics. The calculated thermodynamic and separation factors indicate that L6 has the best selective separation of Am(III)/Eu(III). In conclusion, the skeleton of phenanthroline has the best extraction effect on Am(III), while the kinetics and separation effect can be improved by adjusting aliphatic rings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalytic CO2 reduction (PCR) expresses great attraction to convert useless greenhouse gas into valuable chemical feedstock. However, the weak interactions between catalytic sites and PCR intermediates constrains the PCR activity and selectivity. Herein, we proposed a new strategy to match the intermediates due to the maximum orbital overlap of catalytic sites and C1 intermediates by establishing dual Jahn–Teller (J–T) sites, in which, the strongly asymmetric J–T sites can break the nonpolar CO2 molecules and self‐adapt the different structure of C1 intermediates. Taking cobalt carbonate hydroxide as an example, the weakly symmetric dual cobalt (Co2) dual J–T sites, weakly asymmetric Fe&Co sites and strongly asymmetric Cu&Co sites were assembled. After illumination, the interaction between dual J–T sites and the CO2 molecules enhances J–T distortion, which further modulates the PCR activity and selectivity. As a result, the Cu&Co sites exhibited CO yield of 8137.9 μmol g−1, about 2.3‐fold and 4.2‐fold higher than that of the Fe&Co and Co2 sites within 5‐hour photoreaction, respectively. In addition, the selectivity achieved as high as 92.62 % than Fe&Co (88.67 %) and Co2 sites (55.33 %). This work provides a novel design concept for the construction of dual J–T sites to regulate the catalytic activity and selectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Poor mechanical and water barrier properties of starch‐based films severely restrict their applications as packaging materials. In this study, glycerol was combined with various small molecular esters (SMEs) with different molecular structures to plasticize high‐content starch/poly(butylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate) (80/20, w/w) films (SPFs) prepared by extrusion blowing. The effects of co‐plasticization on the physicochemical properties and film‐forming mechanism of SPFs were investigated. RESULTS: The addition of glycerides to SPFs reduced intermolecular interaction, increased molecular chain mobility, and decreased glass transition, melting temperatures, and crystallinity. Mechanical and water barrier properties of SPFs were improved significantly with the co‐plasticization of glycerol and SMEs. The incorporation of triacetate glyceride increased tensile strength of SPFs by 54% and the water contact angle by up to 95°. The SPF with diacetate glyceride exhibited the minimum water vapor permeability, which decreased by 39%. CONCLUSION: The levels of hydrophilic/hydrophobic groups in SMEs and their molecular weights were essential for the plasticizing effects. Glycerides tended to infiltrate into starch for effective plasticization compared with citrates. The combination of glycerol and glycerides had better plasticizing effects on starch. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: At present, most studies have focused on the preparation of modified starches by dry grinding. As an excellent starch plasticizer, water might enhance the action of grinding on the structure of starch granules, and water grinding might improve the gel properties of starch. Therefore, this article explored the influence mechanism of water grinding on the gel properties of corn starch based on the changes in its structure and properties. RESULTS: The results showed that water grinding could make water enter the starch granules and hydrate the starch molecules, and the starch gelatinized after water grinding for 20 min. Thus, water enhanced the action of grinding on the structure of the starch granules. Under the plasticization and grinding action of water grinding, the mechanochemical effect of the starch granules occurred. When the starch was in the aggregation stage (7.5–10 min), the crystallinity of the starch increased, and the starch molecules rearranged into a more stable structure, which increased apparent viscosity (η), elastic modulus (G′) and viscous modulus (G″) of the starch gels. CONCLUSION: Therefore, appropriate water grinding (10 min) contributed to increasing the viscoelasticity of starch gels. This study provided a theoretical foundation for research on improving the properties of starch by mechanical modification in future. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalytic CO2 reduction (PCR) expresses great attraction to convert useless greenhouse gas into valuable chemical feedstock. However, the weak interactions between catalytic sites and PCR intermediates constrains the PCR activity and selectivity. Herein, we proposed a new strategy to match the intermediates due to the maximum orbital overlap of catalytic sites and C1 intermediates by establishing dual Jahn–Teller (J–T) sites, in which, the strongly asymmetric J–T sites can break the nonpolar CO2 molecules and self‐adapt the different structure of C1 intermediates. Taking cobalt carbonate hydroxide as an example, the weakly symmetric dual cobalt (Co2) dual J–T sites, weakly asymmetric Fe&Co sites and strongly asymmetric Cu&Co sites were assembled. After illumination, the interaction between dual J–T sites and the CO2 molecules enhances J–T distortion, which further modulates the PCR activity and selectivity. As a result, the Cu&Co sites exhibited CO yield of 8137.9 μmol g−1, about 2.3‐fold and 4.2‐fold higher than that of the Fe&Co and Co2 sites within 5‐hour photoreaction, respectively. In addition, the selectivity achieved as high as 92.62 % than Fe&Co (88.67 %) and Co2 sites (55.33 %). This work provides a novel design concept for the construction of dual J–T sites to regulate the catalytic activity and selectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Catalytic oxidative transformations of alcohols constitute one of the greatly important protocols for the synthesis of various aldehydes, ketones, acids, imines, amides, etc. that are required to make drug intermediates, food additives, plastics, detergents and cosmetics. The potential of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) in catalytic oxidation reactions is generally competent owing to their tendency to activate oxygen. Supports play a conspicuous and increasingly important role not only in the preparation and stabilization of Au NPs, but also can address the issues of sustainability by facilitating separation and reusability of the catalyst. This review aims to systematically discuss the impressive developments in catalytic oxidative transformations of alcohols promoted by supported Au NPs in the last five years. These Au NPs exhibit unique electronic properties and crystal structures, which gives us an excellent opportunity to correlate atomic structure with intrinsic catalytic properties over Au NPs. The effect of a support on the significant properties of Au NPs in terms of catalytic activity, selectivity, recyclability, and stability is discussed at length. The tentative reaction mechanisms and the structure‐performance relationships are also discussed at appropriate places, which will provide some clues for the design of efficient Au NPs‐based catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glycerol electrooxidation (GOR), as a typical nucleophile oxidation reaction, is deemed as a promising alternative anodic route to assist cathodic hydrogen evolution reaction. However, the investigations of high‐performance catalysts and industrial‐scale application of GOR remain a grand challenge. Herein, biphasic Ni3N/Co3N heterostructure nanowires (denoted as Ni3N/Co3N‐NWs) are proposed as an efficient bifunctional catalyst, which realizes a high Faradaic efficiency of 94.6% toward formate production. Importantly, the flow electrolyzer achieves an industry‐level current density of 1 A cm−2 at 2.01 V with impressive stability for steady running over 200 h, realizing lower electricity expense of 4.82 kWh m−3H2 and energy saving efficiency of 9.7%, as well as outstanding co‐production rates of 11 and 21.4 mmol cm−2 h−1 toward formate and H2, respectively. Theoretical calculations reveal that the efficient electron transfer on Ni3N/Co3N heterointerfaces simultaneously optimizes nucleophile reaction tendency and glycerol dehydrogenation kinetics, thus contributing to excellent GOR performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: An experimental approach is presented for identifying the scaling laws for polymer chains grafted onto gold nanoparticles. Poly(ethylene oxide) of various molecular weights are grafted onto gold nanoparticles via thiol end‐functional groups. The polymer‐grafted nanoparticles are self‐assembled into monolayers from solvents of different quality. Over a significant range of graft densities, nanoparticle monolayers deposited from good (athermal) solvent exhibit particle spacing that scales according to theoretical predictions for chains in dilute solution. This unexpected result for ordered nanoparticle monolayers is discussed in the context of the deposition process. In monolayers deposited from theta solvent, molecular weight scaling of particle spacing breaks down, possibly due to chain length dependence of solvent quality. In poor solvent, the structure of nanoparticle assemblies is not sufficiently ordered to obtain reliable measurements, possibly due to loss of nanoparticle dispersion. This approach opens up the possibility for accurate measurement of the effect of solvent on grafted chain scaling in nanoparticle assemblies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various aliphatic and aromatic alcohols and amines are reacted under mild conditions to afford the corresponding amides in good to excellent yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared to other insects, the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum has a reduced immune system with an absence of genes coding for a lot of immunity‐related molecules. Notably, nitric oxide synthase (NOS), which catalyses the synthesis of nitric oxide (NO), is present in the pea aphid. However, the role of NO in the immune system of pea aphid remains unclear. In this study, we explored the role of NO in the defence of the pea aphid against bacterial infections and found that the NOS gene of the pea aphid responded to an immune challenge, with the expression of ApNOS observably upregulated after bacterial infections. Knockdown of ApNOS using RNA interference or inhibition of NOS activity increased the number of live bacterial cells in aphids and the mortality of aphids after bacterial infection. Conversely, the increase in NO level in aphids using NO donor inhibited the bacterial growth, increased the survival of bacteria‐infected aphids, and upregulated immune genes, such as Toll pathway and phagocytosis related genes. Thus, NO promotes immune responses and plays an important role in the immune system of pea aphid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Venom-derived ion channel inhibitors have strong channel selectivity, potency, and stability; however, tracking delivery to their target can be challenging. Herein, we utilized luminescent quantum dots ( QDs) conjugated to margatoxin (MgTx) as a traceable vehicle to target a voltage-dependent potassium channel, Kv1.3, which has a select distribution and well-characterized role in immunity, glucose metabolism, and sensory ability. We screened both unconjugated (MgTx) and conjugated MgTx ( QD-MgTx) for their ability to inhibit Shaker channels Kv1.1 to Kv1.7 using patch-clamp electrophysiology in HEK293 cells. Our data indicate that MgTx inhibits 79% of the outward current in Kv1.3-transfected cells and that the QD-MgTx conjugate is able to achieve a similar level of block, albeit a slightly reduced efficacy (66%) and at a slower time course (50% block by 10.9 ± 1.1 min, MgTx; vs. 15.3 ± 1.2 min, QD-MgTx). Like the unbound peptide, the QD-MgTx conjugate inhibits both Kv1.3 and Kv1.2 at a 1 nM concentration, whereas it does not inhibit other screened Shaker channels. We tested the ability of QD-MgTx to inhibit native Kv1.3 expressed in the mouse olfactory bulb (OB). In brain slices of the OB, the conjugate acted similarly to MgTx to inhibit Kv1.3, causing an increased action potential firing frequency attributed to decreased intraburst duration rather than interspike interval. Our data demonstrate a retention of known biophysical properties associated with block of the vestibule of Kv1.3 by QD-MgTx conjugate compared to that of MgTx, inferring QDs could provide a useful tool to deliver ion channel inhibitors to targeted tissues in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Latest advances have witnessed the laser scribing of various active materials from synthetic polymers to natural sources without masks, post‐treatment, or toxic substances. However, laser induced graphene (LIG) on renewable precursors usually requires flame‐retardant pretreatment and multistep pulsed or defocused irradiation. Laser scribing of silicon carbide (SiC) from polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is limited by its high transparency over a broad wavelength range. Here, a structural design strategy is adopted to solve these two dilemmas at the same time, that is, laser scribing of carbonized cloth/PDMS to prepare LIG/SiC composites. Natural cotton cloth is precarbonized and inserted in PDMS substrate to facilitate heat absorption for the in situ formation of SiC, while the soft PDMS attached to the carbonized cloth absorbs heat and isolates oxygen, enabling the conversion of amorphous carbon to LIG. Under these multifield coupling effects, a core–shell LIG/SiC electrode is formed on the carbonized cloth with tunable mass ratio, morphology, and graphene defects. Experimentally, the LIG/SiC pressure sensor exhibits a good sensitivity of 1.91 kPa−1 in the super‐wide sensing range of 0–226.7 kPa. By demonstrating different scenarios such as real‐time monitoring of large body movements, tiny pulses and heartbeats, the flexible pressure sensors hold great promise in wearable electronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The correlation between cirrhosis and the long‐term oncological outcome in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is debatable, and this study aimed to explore the impact of cirrhosis on the long‐term prognosis of patients with ICC. Methods: A total of 398 ICC patients were identified in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database from 2000 to 2018. The diagnosis of cirrhosis was based on the Ishak fibrosis score provided by the SEER database. Propensity score matching (PSM) and inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) analysis were performed to minimize the potential confounders. Overall survival (OS) and cancer‐specific survival (CSS) were observed, and the Cox regression model was used to select potential factors that affect the prognosis of the patients with ICC. Results: Of the included patients, there were 142 patients and 256 patients in the cirrhotic and noncirrhotic groups, respectively. Additionally, 299 of 398 patients (75.1%) died following a median follow‐up of 19 months (interquartile range [IQR], 7, 43). The OS and CSS indicated advantage trend in the noncirrhotic group than the cirrhotic group in either the original cohort (OS: 17 vs 12 months, p = 0.023; CSS: 26 vs 15 months, p = 0.004) or the PSM (OS: 17 vs 12 months, p = 0.52; CSS: 22 vs 14 months, p = 0.15) or IPTW (OS: 20 vs 13 months, p = 0.163; CSS: 22 vs 15 months, p = 0.059) cohorts. Subgroup analyses displayed that the prognosis of patients who experienced surgery for ICC in the noncirrhotic group was better than that of the cirrhotic group with regard to OS and CSS. Conclusions: Collectively, it seems that the noncirrhotic patients have similar relative OS but better CSS compared with that of the cirrhotic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neutral‐theory‐based stochastic and niche‐theory‐based determinative processes are commonly used to explain the mechanisms of natural community assembly. However, considerable uncertainty remains regarding the relative importance of different ecological processes in shaping forest communities. Functional traits and phylogeny provide important information about plant environmental adaptation strategies and evolutionary history and promise a better mechanistic and predictive understanding of community assembly. Based on nine leaf functional traits and phylogenetic data of 18 dominant species in a Lithocarpus glaber–Cyclobalanopsis glauca evergreen broad‐leaved forest, we analyzed the variation in traits, explored the influence of phylogeny and environment on leaf traits, and distinguished the relative effects of spatial and environmental variables on functional traits and phylogenetic compositions. The results showed the following: (i) Leaf traits had moderate intraspecific variation, and significant interspecific variation existed especially among life forms. (ii) Significant phylogenetic signals were detected only in leaf thickness and leaf area. The correlations among traits both supported "the leaf economics spectrum" at the species and community levels, and the relationships significantly increased or only a little change after removing the phylogenetic influence, which showed a lack of consistency between the leaf functional trait patterns and phylogenetic patterns. We infer the coexistent species tended to adopt "realism" to adapt to their habitats. (iii) Soil total potassium and phosphorus content, altitude, aspect, and convexity were the most critical environmental factors affecting functional traits and phylogenetic composition. Total environmental and spatial variables explained 63.38% of the variation in functional trait composition and 47.96% of the variation in phylogenetic structures. Meanwhile, the contribution of pure spatial factors was significantly higher than that of the pure environment. Stochastic processes played dominant roles in driving community functional trait assembly, but determinative processes such as environmental filtering had a stronger effect on shaping community phylogenetic structure at a fine scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to improve the stability of dough with soybean oil, this article explored the effect of soybean oil addition on the rheological characteristics of dough under high hydrostatic pressure. The results showed that, compared with the dough without soybean oil, the β‐sheet, disulfide bonds content, and gauche‐gauche‐gauche in the dough increased by 4.23%, 0.85 μmol/g, and 4.16%, respectively when the dough was added with 6% soybean oil, which improved the degree of cross‐linking polymerization of gluten protein and the stability of gluten network. Meanwhile, the dough had the highest elastic modulus and the lowest maximum creep compliance (6.85 × 10−4 Pa−1), indicating that 6% soybean oil significantly increased the elasticity and hardness of the dough. The results of short‐range ordered structure and paste properties showed that with the addition of soybean oil, the ordered structure and paste viscosity decreased with the increase of soybean oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Habitat loss induced by climate warming is a major threat to biodiversity, particularly to threatened species. Understanding the genetic diversity and distributional responses to climate change of threatened species is critical to facilitate their conservation and management. Cupressus gigantea, a rare conifer found in the eastern Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP) at 3000–3600 m.a.s.l., is famous for its largest specimen, the King Cypress, which is >55 m tall. Here, we obtained transcriptome data from 96 samples of 10 populations covering its whole distribution and used these data to characterize genetic diversity, identify conservation units, and elucidate genomic vulnerability to future climate change. After filtering, we identified 145,336, 26,103, and 2833 single nucleotide polymorphisms in the whole, putatively neutral, and putatively adaptive datasets, respectively. Based on the whole and putatively neutral datasets, we found that populations from the Yalu Tsangpo River (YTR) and Nyang River (NR) catchments could be defined as separate management units (MUs), due to distinct genetic clusters and demographic histories. Results of gradient forest models suggest that all populations of C. gigantea may be at risk due to the high expected rate of climate change, and the NR MU had a higher risk than the YTR MU. This study deepens our understanding of the complex evolutionary history and population structure of threatened tree species in extreme environments, such as dry river valleys above 3000 m.a.s.l. in the QTP, and provides insights into their susceptibility to global climate change and potential for adaptive responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High‐temperature pretreatment that is currently used in camellia oil extraction can have negative effects on the quality of camellia oil. In this study, the enzymatic pretreatment of camellia seeds is explored as an alternative to high‐temperature pretreatment. The main conditions for enzymatic pretreatment of camellia seeds including enzyme, pH, temperature, time, and buffer solution are optimized using the response surface methodology. Under the optimal conditions of enzymatic pretreatment, the oil recovery is close to 75%. Moreover, residual oil recovery from camellia seeds subjected to 1398 neutral protease pretreatment (4 g per kg seeds) and high‐temperature pretreatment are 5.62 ± 0.08% and 9.97 ± 0.18%, respectively. The enzymatic pretreatment is further applied to pre‐pressing solvent extraction of camellia oil, the cake oil recovery from camellia seeds subjected to enzymatic pretreatment is higher than that from high‐temperature pretreatment. These results show that enzymatic pretreatment of camellia seeds has potential for application in the oil industry. Practical Applications : This study suggests that enzymatic pretreatment can replace high‐temperature pretreatment and improve oil recovery and oil quality. Ultimately, this method can be used to extract camellia oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immunotherapy is an efficient approach to clinical oncology. However, the immune privilege of the central nervous system (CNS) limits the application of immunotherapeutic strategies for brain cancers, especially glioblastoma (GBM). Tumor resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors is a further challenge in immunotherapies. To overcome the immunological tolerance of brain tumors, a novel multifunctional nanoparticle (NP) for highly efficient synergetic immunotherapy is reported. The NP contains an anti‐PDL1 antibody (aPDL1), upconverting NPs, and the photosensitizer 5‐ALA; the surface of the NP is conjugated with the B1R kinin ligand to facilitate transport across the blood‐tumor‐barrier. Upon irradiation with a 980 nm laser, 5‐ALA is transformed into protoporphyrin IX, generating reactive oxygen species. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) further promotes intratumoral infiltration of cytotoxic T lymphocytes and sensitizes tumors to PDL1 blockade therapy. It is demonstrated that combining PDT and aPDL1 can effectively suppress GBM growth in mouse models. The proposed NPs provide a novel and effective strategy for boosting anti‐GBM photoimmunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The purpose of this study was to expand the application range of pea protein isolates by improving the rheological properties of their acid‐induced gels. A pea protein isolate was ground for different durations, and changes in the structure and properties of its gels were studied. Furthermore, the influence mechanism of grinding on gelation was revealed. The results showed that grinding slightly changed the secondary structure of the pea protein isolate and had a great impact on its tertiary structure. Compared with the unground pea protein isolate, the solubility of the ground pea protein isolate increased from 45.89% to 69.84%, and the water‐holding capacity of the gels increased from 52.04% to 94.67% at 7.5 min of grinding. After grinding for 15 min, the particle size of the pea protein isolate decreased from 1292.4 to 945.7 nm, and the polydispersity index decreased from 0.387 to 0.321. Rheological measurements showed that the storage modulus (G′), viscosity and recovery of protein gel samples improved after grinding. Thus, grinding enhanced the potential of protein gels for new applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]