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Recent droughts have severely threatened water security in many regions worldwide. Reservoirs, designed to combat droughts and secure water supply partially, are reported failing to fill up to the total capacity due to severe droughts. How bad is climate affecting reservoir filling up on a global scale? This issue has not been studied. We present a big picture of reservoirs in crisis using satellite altimetry. Thanks to the unique characteristics of CryoSat‐2, 525 reservoirs worldwide were investigated during 2010–2022. Results show that most reservoirs (93%) are found not fully filled up at least once. About 21% of reservoirs, which are mainly located in the Southern Hemisphere, show a significant decline in water levels. Moreover, about 20% of reservoirs with larger level fluctuations (>3 m) are located in less developed economies, indicating informed operation rules are needed. Further analyses indicate reservoirs are largely affected by extreme climate events, such as ENSO. Plain Language Summary: A reservoir is an artificial lake where water is collected and stored for various purposes, such as flood control, irrigation, hydropower generation, industrial use, etc. In a changing climate, drought events can cause a decline in the natural flow of streams and rivers to the reservoirs. Consequently, many of the functions provided by the reservoir might be halted if the drought continues, just like the cases of Lake Powell and Lake Mead. The past decade saw several record‐breaking global annual temperatures. How have global reservoirs been affected in terms of the filling up? Leveraging more than a decade of CryoSat‐2 altimetry observations, we provided a global picture of this issue. We found that 93% of studied reservoirs have not been fully filled up at least once during 2010–2022. Our analyses revealed that droughts are the most probable culprits. About 86% of the 398 reservoirs with accessible SPEI data exhibited significant susceptibility to drought, while 43% of the 525 reservoirs demonstrated notable sensitivity to ENSO events. These findings have important implications for future reservoir operations to cope with more intensive drought events. It also means the benefits and costs of both existing and planned reservoirs need to be re‐assessed to take adaptation strategies. Key Points: Water levels of reservoirs in the southern hemisphere show a declining trendAbout 93% of the 525 studied reservoirs have not been fully filled up at least once in the past 12 yearsLess developed economies need to develop informed reservoir operation rules to cope with climate change [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ga2O3 photodetectors with demonstrated high sensitivity provide a potential subversive scheme for solar‐blind photodetection. However, the planar structure and the relatively slow response speed of the device have restricted the integration and application of Ga2O3 photodetectors. Herein, a narrow SiO2 barrier layer is introduced on the commercial SiC substrate, and a vertical photodetector is realized based on β‐Ga2O3/SiO2/SiC heterostructure with controllable tunneling effect by tailoring the band structure at the interface. The developed device exhibits unconventional rectification characteristics and photoresponse performance in different biasing modes owing to the controllable tunneling effect at the interface. In particular, the photodetector achieves a high responsivity (186.8 A W−1) under solar‐blind illumination at reverse bias, while exhibiting obvious advantages in dark current (3 pA), photo‐to‐dark current ratio (8.8 × 106), linear dynamic range (138.8 dB), and specific detectivity (1.4 × 1015 Jones) at forward bias. The photodetector also demonstrates excellent photoresponse stability after 6 months in air without encapsulation. In addition, an alternating biasing strategy, inspired by its bidirectional operability, is proposed to suppress the persistent photoconductivity effect and increase the decay speed by 1.23 × 105 times. This work provides a referable strategy for the further development of high‐performance Ga2O3‐based photoelectronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing efficient nanostructured electrocatalysts for N2 reduction to NH3 under mild conditions remains a major challenge. The Fe−Mo cofactor serves as the archetypal active site in nitrogenase. Inspired by nitrogenase, we designed a series of heteronuclear dual‐atom catalysts (DACs) labeled as FeMoN6−aXa (a=1, 2, 3; X=B, C, O, S) anchored on the pore of g‐C3N4 to probe the impact of coordination on FeMo‐catalyzed nitrogen fixation. The stability, reaction paths, activity, and selectivity of 12 different FeMoN6−aXa DACs have been systematically studied using density functional theory. Of these, four DACs (FeMoN5B1, FeMoN5O1, FeMoN4O2, and FeMoN3C3) displayed promising nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) performance. Notably, FeMoN5O1 stands out with an ultralow limiting potential of −0.11 V and high selectivity. Analysis of the density of states and charge/spin changes shows FeMoN5O1′s high activity arises from optimal N2 binding on Fe initially and synergy of the FeMo dimer enabling protonation in NRR. This work contributes to the advancement of rational design for efficient NRR catalysts by regulating atomic coordination environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

FeOOH quantum dots (QDs) were successfully anchored on 2D BiOBr nanosheets as composite photo‐Fenton catalysts by a simple precipitation and impregnation method. Using Rhodamine B (RhB) as an organic dye model, the photo‐Fenton catalytic activity of the composite catalyst was significantly higher than that of BiOBr and FeOOH. Among them, 1.8 % FeOOH/BiOBr has the highest photo‐Fenton catalytic activity. The main reason is that the interface effect between FeOOH and BiOBr can enable photogenerated electrons to rapidly transfer from the surface of BiOBr to FeOOH to participate in the Fe3+/Fe2+ cycle. Meanwhile, the quantum size of FeOOH increases the density of active sites on the surface of the composite catalyst. The influence of external factors on the catalytic activity of the catalyst was also verified. Finally, the electron transfer direction and main active species (h+, ⋅O2−) of the composite catalyst were discussed by electrochemical analysis and radical trapping experiments, and a reasonable catalytic degradation mechanism was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To investigate the detectability of noninvasive prenatal screening (NIPS) with conventional sequencing depth to detect fetal copy number variants. Methods: We performed a retrospective study in a total of 19 144 pregnant women. Their cell‐free plasma DNA were assessed for trisomy 21, trisomy 18, trisomy 13, sex chromosome aneuploidies, and genome‐wide copy number variants by NIPS at conventional sequencing depth. Results: Three hundred seventy‐four cases (2.0%, 374/19 144) with abnormal results were detected, which including 84 cases (0.4%, 84/19 144) with high risk of trisomy 21, 18, and 13, 90 cases (0.5%, 90/19 144) with high risk of sex chromosome abnormalities (SCA), and 44 cases (0.2%, 44/19 144) with high risk of other chromosome aneuploidies. One hundred fifty‐six cases (0.8%, 156/19 144) with high risk of copy number variations (CNVs) were also detected. In following prenatal diagnosis, composite positive predictive value (PPV) of trisomy 21, 18, and 13 was 69.6% (48/69). The PPV of SCAs was 37.3% (19/51). And the PPVs for CNVs was detected as 51.0% (<5 Mb), 71.4% (5 Mb ≤ CNV ≤10 Mb), 56.5% (>10 Mb). Finally, a follow‐up about the pregnancy outcomes were conducted for all available cases. Conclusions: NIPS yielded high PPVs for trisomy 21, 18, and 13 aneuploidies and moderate PPVs for SCAs and CNVs. The screening effectiveness was closely related to the size of CNV fragments. Larger CNVs, especially larger than 5 Mb, could be detected more accurately by NIPS in our analytic technique. Meanwhile, diagnostic confirmation by microarray analysis was highly recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) initiated by hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a complicated process. MiR‐155 can alter the immune microenvironment to affect the host's anti‐infective ability. This study investigated the mechanism by which miR‐155 affects tumour‐associated macrophage (TAM) polarization at a molecular level, thus affecting the malignant progression of HBV+HCC. MiR‐155 and TAM‐related cytokine expression were analysed by qRT‐PCR. The distribution of TAMs was detected by immunohistochemistry. The effect of the aberrant miR‐155 expression on macrophage polarization was examined by flow cytometry. The targeted relationship was verified by dual‐luciferase assay, and the protein level of src homology 2 domain‐containing inositol polyphosphate 5‐phosphatase 1 (SHIP1) was detected by western blot. The proliferation of HCC cells was examined by CCK‐8 and colony formation assays. Invasion and migration of HCC cells were detected by transwell assay. In HBV+HCC tissues, miR‐155 was significantly highly expressed and the number of CD206‐positive TAM (CD206+ TAM) and CD68‐positive TAM (CD68+ TAM) were higher than those in HBV−HCC tissues. In addition, miR‐155 overexpression significantly promoted M2‐type macrophage polarization, whilst miR‐155 silencing expression significantly promoted M1‐type macrophage polarization. Besides, the miR‐155/SHIP1 axis accelerated HCC cell invasion, proliferation and migration by inducing M2‐type macrophage polarization. MiR‐155 accelerates HCC cell proliferation, migration and invasion by targeting SHIP1 expression and inducing macrophage M2 polarization. This finding provides new insights into the development of novel therapeutic strategies for combatting HBV+HCC and a new reference for exploring anti‐tumour immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing nanomaterials with high H2O2‐decomposition capacity to replace traditional biological enzymes is of great importance in environmental, semiconductor, and medical fields. However, a lack of understanding of the reaction mechanism leads to aimless catalyst design and limits further improvement of catalytic activity. Here, the regulatory mechanism based on the electron filling and orbital energies of the metal active centers is demonstrated and a rational catalyst design strategy is provided to achieve ultrahigh H2O2‐decomposition activity. Among the five platinum‐group‐metal active centers investigated in this study, the Ir–N4 with partially occupied dx2−y2 and dxz orbitals and the highest d‐band center most strongly interacts with H2O2, and show the lowest energy barrier for H2O2 decomposition. As expected, the single‐atom Ir catalyst (Ir‐NC) shows an ultrahigh H2O2‐decomposition capacity, which is 1614‐times higher than that of natural catalase. Surface‐adsorbed atomic oxygen is observed and verified to be the key intermediate for O2 generation. Biocompatible Ir‐NC is effective in scavenging intracellular reactive oxygen species and holds great potential for clinical therapeutics associated with oxidative stress. This study advances the mechanistic understanding of H2O2 decomposition and provides useful guidance for rational design of high‐performance artificial nanozymes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) hydrogen production from water splitting is a green technology that can solve the environmental and energy problems through converting solar energy into renewable hydrogen fuel. The construction of host/guest architecture in semiconductor photoanodes has proven to be an effective strategy to improve solar‐to‐fuel conversion efficiency dramatically. In host/guest photoanodes, the absorber layer is deposited onto a high‐surface‐area electron collector, resulting in a significant enhancements in light‐harvesting as well as charge collection and separation efficiency. The present review aims to summarize and highlight recent state‐of‐the‐art progresses in the architecture designing of host/guest photoanodes with integrated enhancement strategies, including i) light trapping effect; ii) optimization of conductive host scaffolds; iii) hierarchical structure engineering. The challenges and prospects for the future development of host/guest nanostructured photoanodes are also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dysregulated hematological and neurological expressed 1‐like (HN1L) has been implicated in carcinogenesis of difference cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma and breast cancer. However, the role of HN1L in the progression of prostate cancer (PCA) remains unknown. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the role of HN1L in stemness and progression of PCA. The expression of HN1L in PCA tissues and cells was determined by quantitative reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR), western blot analysis, and/or immunohistochemistry (IHC). CD133+ cells were sorted from PCA cells using magnetic fluorescence cell sorting technology and were considered as cancer stem cells (CSCs). Sphere formation assays, transwell assays, and animal experiments were conducted to assess cell stemness, migration, invasion, and in vivo tumorigenesis, respectively. The results showed that HN1L expression was higher in PCA tissues and cells as compared with normal tissues and cells, as well as in CD133+ cells as compared with CD133− cells. HN1L knockdown significantly decreased the expression levels of CSC markers including OCT4 (POU class 5 homeobox 1), CD44, and SRY‐box transcription factor 2, inhibited cell migration, invasion, and tumorigenesis and decreased the number of tumor spheroids and CD133+ cell population. Furthermore, we found that HN1L could bind to forkhead box P2 (FOXP2) and positively regulated transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β) expression via upregulation of FOXP2. In addition, the overexpression of TGF‐β in HN1L‐knockdown PCA cells increased the number of tumor spheroids and CD133+ cell population, as well as enhanced cell migration and invasion. Collectively, this study demonstrates that HN1L promotes stem cell‐like properties and cancer progression by targeting FOXP2 through TGF‐β signaling pathway in PCA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anti‐RANKL (receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa‐B ligand) agents function by blocking the differentiation of osteoclasts, thereby proving useful in the clinical management of postmenopausal osteoporosis. The effects of such agents on osseointegration is less well understood. The purpose of the current study was to investigate whether osteoprotegerin (OPG), an osteoclast inhibitor, enhances the known anabolic effects of mechanical loading (VEH) and intermittent PTH (iPTH) using a well‐established rabbit model of osseointegration. In the first set of experiments, OPG was administered either alone or combined with iPTH to study its effects on measured bone mass. The second set of experiments was conducted using a higher dosage of OPG (10 mg/kg) to explore its early impact at the cellular and molecular levels. All subjects had mechanical load applied to the implant on one extremity, and no load applied on the contralateral side. In the first set of experiments, OPG alone decreased peri‐implant bone mass compared to the mechanical loading group, whereas OPG + iPTH increased peri‐implant bone mass compared to the OPG group. In the second set of experiments, high‐dose OPG significantly decreased osteoclast number (−74.3%) at 1 week. However, this effect was not sustained as osteoclast number returned to baseline by 2 weeks. These results suggest that systemic administration of OPG does not enhance osseointegration, but rather has a detrimental effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Aortic dissection (AD) and aortic aneurysm (AA) are critical illnesses with an unclear pathogenetic mechanism that seriously threaten human life. Aortic medial degeneration (AMD) is the main pathological feature of AD and AA. Diseases of iron metabolism can cause a variety of physiological dysfunctions. In this study, we aimed to clarify the state of iron metabolism in patients with AD and AA, and to explore the effect of iron metabolism on AMD. Methods: A total of 200 patients with AD or AA, and 60 patients with hypertension were included in the study. Blood samples were drawn immediately when patients were admitted to the hospital. Aortic specimens from patients with Stanford type A AD were obtained at the time of surgery. The status of iron metabolism in the circulation and the aortic wall was analyzed. In addition, apolipoprotein E knockout mice were fed chow with a different iron content, and angiotensin II (Ang II) was used to induce AMD. Furthermore, transferrin receptor 1 knockout (TFR1−/−) mice were used to study the effects of iron deficiency (ID) on aortic development, to observe the effects of different iron metabolism status on the formation of AMD in mice, and to explore the cytoskeleton of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) under different iron metabolism. Results: Patients with AMD were iron deficient. ID is associated with the development of AMD in hypertensive patients. Iron‐deficient feeding combined with Ang II pumping promoted the formation of AMD and significantly shortened the survival time of mice. ID significantly impaired the cytoskeleton of VSMCs. Conclusions: : Our results highlighted that ID was associated with the formation of AMD in patients with hypertension. In this study, we identified a novel mechanism behind VSMCs dysfunction that was induced by ID, thereby suggesting iron homeostasis as a future precaution in patients with hypertension based on its important role in the maintenance of VSMC function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laser‐induced fluorescence was used to determine the absolute OH density in a pulse‐modulated atmospheric‐pressure surface microdischarge in helium. Measurements were carried out during the discharge and post‐discharge in both plasma layer and downstream region. Experimental findings show that dissipated power, modulation on‐time duration, and the distance from the dielectric surface have more significant effects on the OH(X) lifetime than OH(X) density. The lifetime dependence on power is more pronounced as compared with the modulation duration. Moreover, a dielectric barrier discharge model was presented to estimate the density evolution and loss mechanisms of OH radicals. The results indicate that the decay of OH density is mainly due to the transport process and recombination reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For more than three decades, the depleted Rongchang gas reservoir in China's Sichuan Basin was used for the disposal of unwanted water, which resulted in induced earthquakes, with magnitudes as high as 5.2. After all wells were closed, the frequency of seismic activity was observed to decay following a modified Omori law, and since April 2015, seismic activity again began to increase, and a M4.9 earthquake occurred on 27 December. The results of an epidemic‐type aftershock sequence (ETAS) model analysis show that forced seismicity accounted for more than 70% of the total events. For most M ≥ 3.5 earthquakes, including two M ≥ 4 events, the estimated overpressure was lower than the maximum injection pressure. These results, coupled with the fact that postinjection seismic activity has similar characteristics to seismicity during injection, indicate that the injected overpressure fluid was still the driving factor for postinjection seismic activity. Plain Language Summary: Prior to 2013, unwanted water was intermittently pumped into the depleted Rongchang gas reservoir at a depth of 3 km for approximately three decades, inducing many earthquakes with a magnitude up to 5.2. Although all nearby injection wells were closed in 2013, the seismicity in the area has remained relatively high. At this location, M4.9 and M4.0 earthquakes occurred in December 2016. In order to assess the situation, we carried out an integrated study focused on the area's seismicity before and after the injections ceased. The results, including the overpressure required for major earthquakes and various statistical features, suggest that the postinjection seismicity, which was the same as that during injection, was caused by the delayed rupture of preexisting faults within the reservoir and its surrounding faults. Therefore, at an injection site, at which significant injection‐induced earthquakes occurred during injections, there is still a high probability of continuous occurrence of relatively large earthquakes after injection ends. Key Points: Long‐term injection for wastewater disposal into the depleted Rongchang gas reservoir induced earthquakes with magnitudes as large as 5.2After shutting down of injection, seismicity decayed following a modified Omori law with some major eventsPostinjection seismicity demonstrates features similar to that during injection except for a change in event rate [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is fatal meanwhile unpredictable asymptomatic cardiovascular disease. Available data suggests the potential participation of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in AAA pathogenesis. But direct evidence is limited. The present study is to functionally and mechanically characterize circRNA CCDC66 (circCCDC66) in AAA. Previous work indicated the differentially expressed circCCDC66 in AAA. At molecular level, circCCDC66, miR‐342‐3p and CCDC66 transcript were measured through real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay. Functionally, we examined the cellular behaviours of circCCDC66‐depleted or CCDC66‐depleted vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) including proliferation and apoptosis. It elucidated that depletion of circCCDC66 induced proliferation facilitation and apoptosis reduction. Mechanically, we addressed the interplay among circCCDC66, miR‐342‐3p and CCDC66 transcript using RNA immunoprecipitation, RNA pull‐down and luciferase reporter experiments. Through mechanical validation, we discovered the positive regulation of circCCDC66 on its host gene CCDC66. Loss of CCDC66 mimicked the effects of circCCDC66 silencing on VSMC growth. Moreover, it uncovered that circCCDC66 regulated CCDC66‐dependent VSMC growth through sponging miR‐342‐3p. Rescue experiments aimed to address the functional role of regulatory network formed by circCCDC66, miR‐342‐3p and CCDC66 in VSMC growth and apoptosis. Suppressing miR‐342‐3p or overexpressing CCDC66 could reverse VSMC growth caused by circCCDC66 deficiency. Our study further emphasized and first unveiled the function of circCCDC66 in VSMC proliferation. CircCCDC66 upregulated its host gene through its role of miR‐342‐3p sponge, and hinted a novel molecular mechanism in AAA. Significance of the study: It was firstly displayed in our study that depletion of circCCDC66 induced proliferation augmentation and apoptosis reduction of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Meanwhile, circCCDC66/miR‐342‐3p/CCDC66 axis was proved can play the function of modulating the cell proliferation and apoptosis of VSMCs, which provided us a novel molecular mechanism in AAA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TiO2‐based photoanodes are very well known for their photoresponse performance, however, their inability to work in the visible range is still a challenge. To tackle this issue, Al‐doped or Sn‐coupled Ti3SiC2 (Al‐TSC or Sn‐TSC) is fabricated via a hot‐press sintering technique, and the anodized Al‐TSC or Sn‐TSC is abbreviated as Al‐ATSC or Sn‐ATSC. The Al‐ATSC or Sn‐ATSC with optimized doping content of Al or Sn corresponding to a superior photocurrent of 137.24 μA cm−2 or 126.76 μA cm−2 which is 18 or 16 times higher than that of the anodized Ti3SiC2 (ATSC) (7.6 μA cm−2) respectively. The capacitance for Al‐ATSC or Sn‐ATSC samples can be improved in the presence of visible light illumination. Enhanced photoelectrochemical (PEC) mechanism for Al‐ATSC is that generated defects in Al doped TiO2 (Al‐TiO2) improve the visible light absorption capacity, for Sn‐ATSC is the suppressed recombination of hole‐electron pairs by the coupling effect of SnO2/TiO2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon nitride (g‐C3N4) possesses a bright prospect in transforming solar power into chemical energy by photocatalytic hydrogen production. However, low specific surface area and rapid charges recombination of bulk g‐C3N4 obtained by direct thermal polymerization restrict its photocatalytic water splitting efficiency. Herein, carbon‐bridged g‐C3N4 hybrid nanosheets were synthesized by a two‐step gaseous treatment composed of gaseous stripping in wet N2 ambience and carbon deposition in ethanol ambience. The obtained hybrids possess high optical absorption and low recombination rate at the same time. Furthermore, the deposited carbon acts as the "bridge" between g‐C3N4 and co‐catalyst Pt, which facilitates the electron transfer. With 3 wt% Pt as co‐catalyst, the optimized C/g‐C3N4 (5) hybrid nanosheets achieve the highest hydrogen evolution rate of 8536 μmol⋅h−1⋅g−1, which is 11 times that of bulk g‐C3N4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infections from antimicrobial resistant pathogens have been considered as lethal threats to human health if antibiotic treatments become ineffective. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) show broad‐spectrum antimicrobial activity against resistant strains via a membrane disruptive mechanism without developing further resistance and are promising candidates to combat resistant microbes. However, currently developed small molecular AMPs are limited by weak antimicrobial efficacy and potential cytotoxicity. Herein, an antimicrobial AMP hydrogel based on supramolecular self‐assembly is developed. The hydrogel shows strong antimicrobial activity and high potency against antimicrobial resistant microbes. It also possesses high cytocompatibility and immunoregulative activity. The synergistic effects lead to its significant healing of the skin abscess disease induced by the methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection. This study not only sheds light on the design strategies and immune‐related antimicrobial actions of supramolecular AMP hydrogels, but also advances the development of self‐assembly peptide platform to fight against antimicrobial resistant infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased levels of S100A12 and activated matrix metalloproteinase 2/9 (MMP-2/9) produced by human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) have recently implicated in the development of thoracic aortic disease. In the present study, we investigated the effect of S100A12 on HASMCs and identified the intracellular signal pathways involved by Western blot. The results were shown that up-expression of S100A12 in HASMCs induced cell apoptosis and inhibited cell proliferation. Additionally, S100A12 significantly increased the expression of MMP-2, MMP-9, and VCAM-1 in HASMCs at translational levels. Furthermore, our results also showed that S100A12 induced HASMCs damage by increased related proteins expression was mediated by the activation of ERK1/2 signal pathway, whereas p38 MAPK had no effect on those processes. Blocked the activation of ERK1/2 could decrease S100A12 induced the apoptosis and inhibited cell proliferation of HASMCs. In conclusion, these results indicated that S100A12 could increase the expression of MMP-2, MMP-9, and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) in HASMCs via activation of ERK1/2 signal pathway, which leads to injury of HASMCs. Therefore, antagonists of ERK1/2 may be useful for treating thoracic aortic dissection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims Aortic dissection ( AD) is characterized by changes in the extracellular matrix, including fibrosis with collagen production. P54nrb/NonO is known to be involved in collagen formation. In this study, we examined whether AD is associated with abnormal P54nrb/NonO expression. Methods and results Aortic specimens and serum were obtained from 10 patients with AD and 10 controls. In-vitro cultures of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and adventitial fibroblasts (AFs) were obtained from organ donors. P54nrb/NonO protein and mRNA levels were determined by Western blot, immunohistochemistry and quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (quantitative real-time RT-PCR). To evaluate collagen expression, we stained tissue sections with Masson's trichrome. Serum concentration of TNF-α was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Aortic P54nrb/NonO protein and mRNA were decreased in AD patients, compared with controls. Decreased P54nrb/NonO mRNA correlated significantly with increased collagen deposition and fibrosis in AD aortas. In VSMCs and AFs from normal human aortas, P54nrb/NonO was expressed strongly and localized to the nucleus. Conclusions Patients with AD exhibited significantly decreased expression of P54nrb/NonO. The significant correlation between P54nrb/NonO and collagen may point to novel thinking about collagen metabolism research in AD aorta. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pre-existing central nervous system ( CNS) involvement may influence referral for autologous haematopoietic cell transplantation ( AHCT) for patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma ( NHL). The outcomes of 151 adult patients with NHL with prior secondary CNS involvement ( CNS+) receiving an AHCT were compared to 4688 patients without prior CNS lymphoma ( CNS−). There were significant baseline differences between the cohorts. CNS+ patients were more likely to be younger, have lower performance scores, higher age-adjusted international prognostic index scores, more advanced disease stage at diagnosis, more aggressive histology, more sites of extranodal disease, and a shorter interval between diagnosis and AHCT. However, no statistically significant differences were identified between the two groups by analysis of progression-free survival ( PFS) and overall survival ( OS) at 5 years. A matched pair comparison of the CNS+ group with a subset of CNS− patients matched on propensity score also showed no differences in outcomes. Patients with active CNS lymphoma at the time of AHCT ( n = 55) had a higher relapse rate and diminished PFS and OS compared with patients whose CNS lymphoma was in remission ( n = 96) at the time of AHCT. CNS+ patients can achieve excellent long-term outcomes with AHCT. Active CNS lymphoma at transplant confers a worse prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States, suggesting that there is an urgent need to design novel strategies for achieving better treatment outcome of patients diagnosed with PDAC. Our previous study has shown that activation of Notch and NF-κB play a critical role in the development of PDAC in the compound K-RasG12D and Ink4a/Arf deficient transgenic mice. However, the exact molecular mechanism by which mutated K-Ras and Ink4a/Arf deficiency contribute to progression of PDAC remains largely elusive. In the present study, we used multiple methods, such as real-time RT-PCR, Western blotting assay, and immunohistochemistry to gain further mechanistic insight. We found that the deletion of Ink4a/Arf in K-RasG12D expressing mice led to high expression of PDGF-D signaling pathway in the tumor and tumor-derived cell line (RInk-1 cells). Furthermore, PDGF-D knock-down in RInk-1 cells resulted in the inhibition of pancreatosphere formation and down-regulation of EZH2, CD44, EpCAM, and vimentin. Moreover, we demonstrated that epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) was induced in the compound mice, which is linked with aggressiveness of PDAC. In addition, we demonstrated that tumors from compound transgenic mice have higher expression of cancer stem cell (CSC) markers. These results suggest that the acquisition of EMT phenotype and induction of CSC characteristics could be linked with the aggressiveness of PDAC mediated in part through the activation of PDGF-D, signaling. J. Cell. Physiol. 228: 556-562, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT In this study, D417 resin was characterized using scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectrometry and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Batchwise experiments were carried out to evaluate the thermodynamic and kinetic behaviors of the aqueous nitrate adsorption onto D417 resin. Response surface methodology (RSM) with Box-Behnken design (BBD) was employed to analyze the competition disturbance and matrix effects in terms of pH, organic matter concentration, contact time (CT) and salinity. Test results revealed that the resin was composed of the quaternary ammonium functional group and exhibited a considerable adsorption capacity of 23.46 to 22.81 mg·g−1 at the temperature ranging from 293.15 to 313.15 K. Mean free energy of adsorption calculated from the Dubinin-Radushkevich model showed that the adsorption was realized through ion-exchange pathway. Gibbs free energy change, enthalpy change and entropy change illustrated that the aqueous nitrate sorption was feasible and spontaneous. It was also found that the pseudo-second-order model could well describe the adsorption kinetics, and the intraparticle diffusion was the main rate-limiting step. RSM with BBD showed that CT and salinity had significant effects on aqueous nitrate adsorption, whereas the impacts of pH and dissolved organic matter were negligible. © 2011 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: FBW7 (F-box and WD repeat domain-containing 7) has been characterized as an onco-suppressor protein in human cancers. Recent studies have also shown that FBW7 exerts its anti-tumor function primarily by promoting the degradation of various oncoproteins, through which FBW7 regulates cellular proliferation, differentiation and causes genetic instability. In this review, we will discuss the role of FBW7 downstream substrates and how dysregulation of Fbw7-mediated proteolysis of these substrates contributes to tumorigenesis. Additionally, we will also summarize the currently available various Fbw7-knockout mouse models that support Fbw7 as a tumor suppressor gene in the development and progression of human malignancies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article highlights the new functional aspects of F-box and WD repeat domain-containing 7 (FBW7) tumor suppressor in drug resistance. It summarizes the function of FBW7 in the observed drug resistance and how targeting FBW7 can help design new therapeutic strategies that will improve drug sensitivity and achieve better treatment outcomes. It suggests that designing specific inhibitors to FBW7 downstream targets may be a viable therapeutic approach.

Gallium oxide (Ga2O3), with an ultrawide bandgap corresponding to the deep ultraviolet (DUV) range, has attracted significant attention in optical filter‐free photodetectors. In practical terms, DUV photodetectors employed in extreme conditions, for example, flame detection and space exploration, face the challenges of performance degradation caused by high/low‐temperature transformation. Here, DUV photodetectors are tailored with high durability and stability by one‐step‐grown β‐Ga2O3 films via pulsed laser deposition. A high‐oxygen‐pressure scheme effectively addresses the issue of film‐free deposition at specifically high temperatures, facilitating the formation of polycrystalline high‐resistivity β‐Ga2O3 films. As a result, the devices exhibit outstanding performance, including a low dark current (4.4 pA @30 V), high photoresponsivity (147.36 A W−1), and fast response time (3.1/22.6 ms). Additionally, the photoresponse performance shows minimal degradation at high temperatures up to 300 °C and even improves at low temperatures down to −100 °C, ranking it among the most robust DUV photodetectors. The mechanism of photoresponse, involving the exciton formation, bandgap evolution, carrier‐phonon scatter, etc., is also elucidated in a wide temperature range. This work provides an efficient solution for developing robust Ga2O3 DUV photodetectors with excellent performance for extreme‐condition applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the second most abundant biopolymer, lignin remains underutilized in various industrial applications. Various forms of lignin generated from different methods affect its physical and chemical properties to a certain extent. To promote the broader commercial utilization of currently available industrial lignins, lignin sulfonate (SL), kraft lignin (KL), and organosolv lignin (OL) are utilized to partially replace phenol in the synthesis of phenol formaldehyde (PF) adhesives. The impact of lignin production process on the effectiveness of lignin‐based phenolic (LPF) adhesives is examined based on the structural analysis of the selected industrial lignin. The results show that OL has more phenolic hydroxyl groups, lower molecular weight, and greater number of reactive sites than the other two types of lignins. The maximum replacement rate of phenol by OL reaches 70% w/w, resulting in organosolv lignin phenolic (OLPF) adhesives with a viscosity of 960 mPa·s, a minimal free formaldehyde content of 0.157%, and a shear strength of 1.84 MPa. It exhibits better performance compared with the other two types of lignin‐based adhesives and meets the requirements of national standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In our work, the effects of macroscopic parameters on the temporal evolution of OH radicals are investigatedin both plasma layer and afterglow region. The results reveal that OH lifetime dependence on the power is more pronounced compared to the modulation time, and the density decay is mainly ascribed to the transport process and recombination reactions of OH with itself. Further details can be found in the article by Zhiwei Wang, Chunlei Feng, Liang Gao, and Hongbin Ding (e2000122). [Extracted from the article]

To measure stomatal traits automatically and nondestructively, a new method for detecting stomata and extracting stomatal traits was proposed. Two portable microscopes with different resolutions (TipScope with a 40× lens attached to a smartphone and ProScope HR2 with a 400× lens) are used to acquire images of living stomata in maize leaves. FPN model was used to detect stomata in the TipScope images and measure the stomata number and stomatal density. Faster RCNN model was used to detect opening and closing stomata in the ProScope HR2 images, and the number of opening and closing stomata was measured. An improved CV model was used to segment pores of opening stomata, and a total of 6 pore traits were measured. Compared to manual measurements, the square of the correlation coefficient (R2) of the 6 pore traits was higher than 0.85, and the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of these traits was 0.02%–6.34%. The dynamic stomata changes between wild‐type B73 and mutant Zmfab1a were explored under drought and re‐watering condition. The results showed that Zmfab1a had a higher resilience than B73 on leaf stomata. In addition, the proposed method was tested to measure the leaf stomatal traits of other nine species. In conclusion, a portable and low‐cost stomata phenotyping method that could accurately and dynamically measure the characteristic parameters of living stomata was developed. An open‐access and user‐friendly web portal was also developed which has the potential to be used in the stomata phenotyping of large populations in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Tree peony (Paeonia suffruticosa) undergoes bud endodormancy, and gibberellin (GA) pathway plays a crucial role in dormancy regulation. Recently, a key DELLA protein PsRGL1 has been identified as a negative regulator of bud dormancy release. However, the mechanism of GA signal to break bud dormancy remains unknown.In this study, yeast two‐hybrid screened PsSOC1 interacting with PsRGL1 through its MADS domain, and interaction was identified using pull‐down and luciferase complementation imaging assays Transformation in tree peony and hybrid poplar confirmed that PsSOC1 facilitated bud dormancy release. Transcriptome analysis of PsSOC1‐overexpressed buds indicated PsCYCD3.3 and PsEBB3 were its potential downstream targets combining with promoter survey, and they also accelerated bud dormancy release verified by genetic analysis.Yeast one‐hybrid, electrophoretic mobility shifts assays, chromatin immunoprecipitation quantitative PCR, and dual luciferase assays confirmed that PsSOC1 could directly bind to the CArG motif of PsCYCD3.3 and PsEBB3 promoters via its MADS domain. PsRGL1–PsSOC1 interaction inhibited the DNA‐binding activity of PsSOC1. Additionally, PsCYCD3.3 promoted bud dormancy release by rebooting cell proliferation.These findings elucidated a novel GA pathway, GA‐PsRGL1‐PsSOC1‐PsCYCDs, which expanded our understanding of the GA pathway in bud dormancy release. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stem cell‐derived pancreatic progenitors (SC‐PPs), as an unlimited source of SC‐derived β (SC‐β) cells, offers a robust tool for diabetes treatment in stem cell‐based transplantation, disease modeling, and drug screening. Whereas, PDX1+/NKX6.1+ PPs enhances the subsequent endocrine lineage specification and gives rise to glucose‐responsive SC‐β cells in vivo and in vitro. To identify the regulators that promote induction efficiency and cellular function maturation, single‐cell RNA‐sequencing is performed to decipher the transcriptional landscape during PPs differentiation. The comprehensive evaluation of functionality demonstrated that manipulating LINC MIR503HG using CRISPR in PP cell fate decision can improve insulin synthesis and secretion in mature SC‐β cells, without effects on liver lineage specification. Importantly, transplantation of MIR503HG−/− SC‐β cells in recipients significantly restored blood glucose homeostasis, accompanied by serum C‐peptide release and an increase in body weight. Mechanistically, by releasing CtBP1 occupying the CDH1 and HES1 promoters, the decrease in MIR503HG expression levels provided an excellent extracellular niche and appropriate Notch signaling activation for PPs following differentiation. Furthermore, this exhibited higher crucial transcription factors and mature epithelial markers in CDH1High expressed clusters. Altogether, these findings highlighted MIR503HG as an essential and exclusive PP cell fate specification regulator with promising therapeutic potential for patients with diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To address global pollution caused by contaminants in water bodies, it is crucial to develop an efficient and environmentally friendly treatment process for wastewater from various industries. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) have proven to be highly effective in wastewater treatment due to their high oxidation efficacy and the absence of secondary pollutants. Different methods such as ozone, Fenton, electrochemical, photolysis, and sonolysis can be used in AOPs to degrade emerging pollutants that are resistant to conventional methods. In recent years, nanotechnology has emerged as a viable solution, with various nanomaterials being developed for wastewater treatment. Among them, copper‐based nanocatalysts have shown great potential in AOPs. This review focuses on the progress and mechanisms of copper‐based nanocatalysts in wastewater treatment via AOPs. It also discusses the challenges associated with oxidation, electrochemistry, Fenton, and photocatalysis in wastewater treatment processes. Copper‐based nanocatalysts can be modified to enhance their catalytic activity, selectivity, and stability, leading to improved performance in wastewater treatment. They have shown promising results in degrading pollutants like pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and dyes. However, the practical application of these nanocatalysts still faces challenges, including the high cost of synthesis, potential nanoparticle toxicity, and scalability issues. More research is needed to address these challenges and improve the utilization of copper‐based nanocatalysts in wastewater treatment. In addition, Cu‐based catalysts with magnetic properties offer the advantage of easy recovery and reusability in wastewater treatment. They can also be incorporated into catalytic membranes, forming efficient systems for recycling. Heterogeneous catalysts with diverse structures, including ternary or quaternary systems, are widely used. However, challenges remain in identifying suitable coupling pairs and understanding the complex processes involved in constructing heterogeneous interfaces without generating defects. Therefore, a thorough understanding of the catalyst's band structure is crucial for developing efficient heterogeneous structures. Furthermore, cost implications of synthesis methods and raw materials should be considered in the preparation of transition metal catalysts, and relevant cost analysis data is needed for optimizing the degradation of pollutants. In conclusion, copper‐based nanocatalysts hold great potential in AOPs for wastewater treatment. With their magnetic properties, Cu‐based catalysts offer the advantage of easy recovery and reusability. However, challenges such as high synthesis costs, nanoparticle toxicity, and scalability issues need to be addressed. Further research is needed to overcome these challenges and optimize the utilization of copper‐based nanocatalysts in wastewater treatment processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although nanostructured/nanoporous carbon and silicon‐based materials are a potential replacement for graphite as cost‐effective anodes for lithium ion batteries (LIBs), their extremely low packing density leads to considerably reduced volumetric capacities. Herein, a highly compact carbon anode material constructed from sub‐2 nm nanosized graphitic domains is reported that exhibits excellent capacity density. By introducing a coordination agent in the synthesis precursors, an unusually high concentration of N‐doping (≈26.56 wt%) is achieved, which is mainly confined at the graphitic edges with the pyrrolic‐N and pyridinic‐N configurations. As further supported experimentally and theoretically, the edge‐N dopants, particularly the pyrrolic‐N, favor both ion diffusion kinetics and lithium storage via adsorption. Based on the lithiation‐state electrode volume, the compact anode shows a capacity density of 951 mAh cmtotal−3 that is comparable with Si anodes and surpasses all reported carbon‐based anodes, revealing its potential in promoting the performance of future LIBs. A highly compact nitrogen‐doped carbon material constructed from sub‐2 nm nanosized graphitic domains is developed as an anode for lithium‐ion batteries. The high doping content (≈26.56 wt%) and dominated pyrrolic‐N and pyridinic‐N configurations favor both ion diffusion kinetics and lithium storage. It delivers a capacity density comparable with Si anodes and surpasses all reported carbon‐based anodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the different graphene derivatives, graphene oxide (GO), carboxylic acid‐modified graphene (G‐COOH), and amine‐modified graphene (G‐NH2), were used to prepare polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) composite membranes. The membrane modification performance was evaluated using the extended Derjaguin–Landau–Verwey–Overbeek theory and quartz crystal microbalance dissipation monitoring. The results show that the addition of low‐dose GO and G‐NH2 can improve membrane surface porosity and permeability. The hydrophilicity and electron donor monopolarity of PVDF/GO composite membranes were enhanced by adding more than 0.024 wt% GO, thus improving its antifouling ability. In addition, the enhancement of hydrophilicity, free energy of cohesion, and antifouling ability of composite membrane modified with G‐COOH and G‐NH2 was more significant compared with that of GO with the same dosage, which implies the important role of functional group in additives. This study provides new insights for the blending modification of PVDF membranes by systematically comparing the addition of graphene derivatives with different functional groups. Practitioner points: The comprehensive comparison of membrane modification with different graphene derivatives was investigated.The enhancement of hydrophilicity and antifouling ability of membranes modified with G‐COOH and G‐NH2 was more significant than that of GO.The free energy of cohesion of nanocomposite membrane was affected by the functional group of additives.G‐NH2 composite membrane had the best comprehensive performance with great hydrophilicity, permeability, and antifouling performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Albeit nanozymes‐based tumor catalytic therapy (NCT) relies on endogenous chemical reactions that could achieve tumor microenvironment (TME)‐specialized reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, the unsatisfactory catalytic activity of nanozymes accompanied by complex TME poses a barrier to the therapeutic effect of NCT. Herein, a one‐step in situ synthesis strategy is reported to construct ternary Ru/TiO2−x@TiCN heterojunctions through oxidative conversion of TiCN nanosheets (NSs) to TiO2−x NSs and reductive deposition of Ru3+ to Ru nanoparticles. The narrow bandgap and existence of heterojunctions enhance the ultrasound‐activated ROS generation of Ru/TiO2−x@TiCN because of the accelerated electron transfer and inhibits electron–hole pair recombination. The augmented ROS production efficiency is achieved by Ru/TiO2−x@TiCN with triple enzyme‐like activities, which amplifies the ROS levels in a cascade manner through the catalytic decomposition of endogenous H2O2 to relieve hypoxia and heterojunction‐mediated NCT, as well as depletion of overexpressed glutathione. The satisfactory therapeutic effects of Ru/TiO2−x@TiCN heterojunctions are achieved through synergetic sonodynamic therapy and NCT, which achieve the complete elimination of tumors without recurrence. This strategy highlights the potential of in situ synthesis of semiconductor heterojunctions as enhanced sonosensitizers and nanozymes for efficient tumor therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Topological transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) have attracted much attention due to their potential applications in spintronics and quantum computations. In this work, the structural and electronic properties of topological TMDCs candidate ZrTe2 are systematically investigated under high pressure. A pressure‐induced Lifshitz transition is evidenced by the change of charge carrier type as well as the Fermi surface. Superconductivity is observed at around 8.3 GPa without structural phase transition. A typical dome‐shape phase diagram is obtained with the maximum Tc of 5.6 K for ZrTe2. Furthermore, the theoretical calculations suggest the presence of multiple pressure‐induced topological quantum phase transitions, which coexists with emergence of superconductivity. The results demonstrate that ZrTe2 with nontrivial topology of electronic states displays new ground states upon compression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a research concerning fractal characteristics of shale reservoir, according to high-pressure mercury injection method. Particular focus is given to the lacustrine/continental shale structure in the middle and eastern China. Topics include the use of fractal theory to study pore structure of shale, concentration of lacustrine shale samples' poresize, and relationship between the fractal dimension of shale and other parameters.

Background and Purpose: High‐fat diet (HFD) induces dysregulated pathways in coronary artery endothelial cells (CAECs), which leads to altered regulation of vascular tone, tissue perfusion and increases the risk of coronary artery diseases. Ca2+‐activated K+ (KCa) channels are known to be associated with transient receptor potential (TRP) channels, which are important for regulating endothelial function. But how TRPV4 channels interacts with KCa channels in regulating coronary vascular tone in HFD mice requires further exploration. Experimental Approach: TRPV4 channel activity was assessed by fluorescent Ca2+ imaging. Interactions between TRPV4 and KCa3.1 channels were verified by co‐immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), and their binding site was found by site‐directed mutagenesis. Endothelium‐specific TRPV4 knockout (TRPV4EC−/−) mice were used to study the effect of the interactions between TRPV4‐KCa3.1 channels on coronary vascular tone. Coronary blood flow was measured by Doppler ultrasound device. Key Results: TRPV4 channels were involved in regulating coronary vascular tone, through coupling with a Ca2+‐sensitive K+ channel (KCa3.1) in CAECs, affecting vasodilation and coronary blood flow. In mice fed a HFD diet, the coupling was damaged by a high concentration of plasma 1‐heptadecanoyl‐2‐hydroxy‐sn‐glycero‐3‐phosphocholine. Using a bridging approach, we then identified folic acid as an effective drug to repair the uncoupled TRPV4‐KCa3.1 channels and to improve coronary arterial function. Conclusion and Implications: Our data highlight the importance of coupling between TRPV4 and KCa3.1 channels in the regulation of coronary vascular tone and provide a novel strategy for developing new drugs to reduce the incidence of cardiovascular events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new complex catalytic system for the cleavage of carbon-carbon triple bond is firstly developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The incidence of inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) varies across countries and areas. Currently, there are no studies on IEM using newborn screening (NBS) in eastern coastal areas of China. We aimed to estimate the incidence and genetic variants of IEM and understand the spectrum of diseases caused by IEM and variants among them in this area. Methods: The NBS performed by tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) from 2016 to 2021 was retrospectively reviewed. Heel blood was collected from all newborns 72 h after birth. Targeted massively parallel sequencing was performed for genetic analysis. Results: Among 245,194 newborns, 95 were diagnosed with IEM, the overall incidence observed was—IEM: 1/2581; amino acid metabolism disorder: 1/4715; organic acid metabolism disorder: 1/11676; and fatty acid metabolism disorder: 1/11145. The incidence of different IEM was in the range of 1/245194 to 1/6452. Phenylketonuria (PKU, 1/7211) was the most common IEM, followed by methylmalonic acidemia (MMA, 1/27244), short‐chain acyl‐CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (SCADD, 1/30649), and citrin deficiency (CD, 1/35028). For genetic variants, the common hotspot variants found were—PAH gene for PKU: c.728G > A, c.442‐1G > A, c.611A > G, c.721C > T; PTS gene for non‐classical PKU: c.259C > T; MMACHC gene for MMA: c.658_660delAAG, c.609G > A; MMUT gene for MMA: c.1663G > A; ACADS gene for SCADD: c.1031A > G and c.1130C > T; and SLC25A13 gene for CD: c.1638_1660dup, c.852_855del. Conclusion: This study displayed the diseases and varied spectrum of IEM in eastern coastal areas of China. Implementing NBS for IEM by MS/MS combined with massively parallel sequencing can offer an improved plan for NBS to detect IEM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the first time, MIDA boronates (II) are used in C-H arylation reactions of heterocycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Traps, which are inevitable in organic solar cells, will result in trap‐assisted recombination, an important loss mechanism that limits device performance. Trap‐filling is an efficient approach to suppress the charge traps, and can improve charge transport and modify the electronic properties. This approach fills the defect states where traps reside by introducing additional carriers, rendering the states electronically inert. Herein, charge carrier dynamics in the prototypical system PCE10/PC71BM with/without doping at different concentrations is directly targeted by employing transient absorption spectroscopy. It is found that the charge carriers' lifetime enhances, and the recombination centers can be filled at high doping concentrations, which is beneficial for achieving high power conversion efficiency. These findings indicate that charge transport and electronic characteristics can be improved by trap‐filling, which is the key to pushing the efficiencies of organic solar cells toward theoretical limits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High deep‐ultraviolet (DUV) sensitivity and excellent flexibility of ultrathin gallium oxide (Ga2O3) film with an ultrawide bandgap endow its extreme propensity in flexible DUV photodetector especially for space exploration and wearable electronics. However, an efficient strategy with high throughput and low cost is highly deficient to realize flexible and robust Ga2O3 DUV photodetectors to face potential harsh environments. In this work, flexible and heat‐resistant Ga2O3 DUV photodetectors based on optimized inkjet printing with environmental‐friendly aqueous solvent are demonstrated. The dynamic evolution from Ga(NO3)3 precursor to crystalline Ga2O3 film has been explicitly uncovered. Photodetectors based on printed ultrathin Ga2O3 films on rigid substrate exhibit outstanding performance, including high photo‐to‐dark current ratio about 106, considerable responsivity of 1.3 A W−1, superior detectivity of 1.46 × 1014 Jones, and fast decay time of 0.026 s under 254 nm illumination. In addition, flexible devices on mica substrate not only retain outstanding photoelectrical performance, but also demonstrate excellent mechanical flexibility and thermal stability. Moreover, benefiting from the uniformity of the pixels by high‐throughput inkjet printing, the Ga2O3 DUV photodetector array presents excellent sharp‐imaging capability. This work provides a feasible strategy for printable, flexible, and harsh‐environment‐resistant Ga2O3 DUV photodetectors toward space exploration and wearable electronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Visual illusions have fascinated mankind since antiquity, as they provide a unique window to explore the constructive nature of human perception. The Pinna illusion is a striking example of rotation perception in the absence of real physical motion. Upon approaching or receding from the Pinna-Brelstaff figure, the observer experiences vivid illusory counter rotation of the two rings in the figure. Although this phenomenon is well known as an example of integration from local cues to a global percept, the visual areas mediating the illusory rotary perception in the human brain have not yet been identified. In the current study we investigated which cortical area in the human brain initially mediates the Pinna illusion, using psychophysical tests and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) of visual cortices V1, V2, V3, V3A, V4, and hMT+ of the dorsal and ventral visual pathways. We found that both the Pinna-Brelstaff figure (illusory rotation) and a matched physical rotation control stimulus predominantly activated subarea MST in hMT+ with a similar response intensity. Our results thus provide neural evidence showing that illusory rotation is initiated in human MST rather than MT as if it were physical rotary motion. The findings imply that illusory rotation in the Pinna illusion is mediated by rotation-sensitive neurons that normally encode physical rotation in human MST, both of which may rely on a cascade of similar integrative processes from earlier visual areas. Hum Brain Mapp 37:2097-2113, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale Without accurate peak linking/alignment, only the expression levels of a small percentage of proteins can be compared across multiple samples in Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry/Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) due to the selective nature of tandem MS peptide identification. This greatly hampers biomedical research that aims at finding biomarkers for disease diagnosis, treatment, and the understanding of disease mechanisms. A recent algorithm, PeakLink, has allowed the accurate linking of LC/MS peaks without tandem MS identifications to their corresponding ones with identifications across multiple samples collected from different instruments, tissues and labs, which greatly enhanced the ability of comparing proteins. However, PeakLink cannot be implemented practically for large numbers of samples based on existing software architectures, because it requires access to peak elution profiles from multiple LC/MS/MS samples simultaneously. Methods We propose a new architecture based on parallel processing, which extracts LC/MS peak features, and saves them in database files to enable the implementation of PeakLink for multiple samples. The software has been deployed in High-Performance Computing (HPC) environments. The core part of the software, MZDASoft Parallel Peak Extractor (PPE), can be downloaded with a user and developer's guide, and it can be run on HPC centers directly. The quantification applications, MZDASoft TandemQuant and MZDASoft PeakLink, are written in Matlab, which are compiled with a Matlab runtime compiler. A sample script that incorporates all necessary processing steps of MZDASoft for LC/MS/MS quantification in a parallel processing environment is available. The project webpage is http://compgenomics.utsa.edu/zgroup/MZDASoft. Results The proposed architecture enables the implementation of PeakLink for multiple samples. Significantly more (100%-500%) proteins can be compared over multiple samples with better quantification accuracy in test cases. Conclusion MZDASoft enables large-scale comparison of protein expression levels over multiple samples with much larger protein comparison coverage and better quantification accuracy. It is an efficient implementation based on parallel processing which can be used to process large amounts of data. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 25.23% of newborns ( I n i = 81) carried one P/LP mutations, and 7.17% and 0.93% of newborns ( I n i = 23 and I n i = 3) carried two or three P/LP mutations, respectively. In addition, WGS identified two infants carrying compound heterozygous P/LP variants in I GJB2 i (Figure 3) and four children carrying pathogenic mutations in I MT-RNR1 (c1095T > i I C) i , suggesting an increased risk of late-onset deafness or drug-induced hearing loss, respectively. We investigated whether screening by whole genome sequencing (WGS) in unselected newborns provides more information of potentially curable or treatable medical conditions than routine newborn screening (NBS). Of the 136 P/LP mutations, 42.65% corresponded to genetic disorders, 6.62% were associated with PIDs and 50.74% were related to metabolic disorders, including organic acid conditions (14.71%), amino acid disorders (14.71%), fatty acid oxidation disorders (7.35%) and endocrine disorders (13.97%). [Extracted from the article]

Background and Purpose: Reduced NO levels and activity are signs of endothelial dysfunction, which is important in mediating BP changes. Previously, we demonstrated that transient receptor potential channel V4 (TRPV4) could form a functional complex with other proteins to mediate vasodilation in endothelial cells (ECs). But how TRPV4 interacts with the NO pathway in larger arteries requires further exploration. Experimental Approach We used single‐cell RNA‐sequencing to find the CD106+ TRPV4highNOS3high ECs. The TRPV4–eNOS interaction was verified by co‐immunoprecipitation and immuno‐FRET, and their binding site was found by site‐directed mutagenesis. Endothelium‐specific TRPV4 knockout (TRPV4EC−/−) mice were used to study the effect of the TRPV4–eNOS interaction on BP. A small molecule, JNc‐463, was designed through molecular docking technology. Key Results: We uncovered CD106+ TRPV4highNOS3high ECs in the mouse aorta, which could regulate vasodilation via a TRPV4–eNOS interaction, and were essential to regulate BP. The TRPV4–eNOS interaction markedly decreased during the process of hypertension. We further attempted to identify molecules involved in the TRPV4–eNOS interaction and developed a small‐molecule drug, JNc‐463, which could increase the TRPV4–eNOS interaction to enhance vasodilation and exert antihypertensive effects in mice. Conclusion and Implications: This is the first study integrating single‐cell RNA‐Seq, single‐cell functional study and drug screening in aorta. We identified a subpopulation of CD106+ TRPV4highNOS3high ECs, in which an impaired TRPV4–eNOS interaction was important in the progress of hypertension, and we designed a small molecule, JNc‐463, to improve the impaired TRPV4–eNOS interaction in hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common tumors around the world. Circular RNA is widely involved in tumor progression via unclear mechanisms. Here, circREEP3 is found to be upregulated in CRC tissues. circREEP3 upregulation predicts poor patient survival. circREEP3 knockout suppresses CRC tumorigenesis and metastasis, and impairs stem cell‐like phenotype. Mechanistically, circREEP3 recruits the chromatin remodeling protein CHD7 to FKBP10 promoter and activates its transcription. Moreover, circREEP3 restricts RIG‐1‐dependent antitumor immunity. FKBP10 is highly expressed in CRC tissues and associated with poor prognosis. FKBP10 ectopic expression partially rescues the potential of proliferation and metastasis in circREEP3‐deficient CRC cells. Thus, the findings support circREEP3‐FKBP10 axis drives CRC progression and may be a critical prognostic marker. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cross-linked starch was synthesised using chitosan as cross-linking agent via a dry heating method. Thermal properties measured by DSC showed transition temperatures increased as compared with that of native starch ( P < 0.001), which might indicate the starch and chitosan molecules interacted with each other. XRD demonstrated that the crystalline pattern of the starch remained the same, but there was slight change in the crystallinity degree after the cross-links. The significant reduction of solubility, swelling power and transparency ( P < 0.001) indicated that the cross-links restricted the starch granules swelling and molecules leaching. Agar diffusion test showed that chitosan-cross-linked starch had excellent bacterial growth inhibition, and its antibacterial activity was stronger against Gram-negative bacteria than against Gram-positive bacteria. Its antibacterial activity was further confirmed using liquid broth method. Thus, the cross-linked starch may be directly used in the food formula for protecting food as a natural antimicrobial ingredient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) is a 19-amino-acid cyclic neuropeptide that acts in rodents via the MCH receptor 1 (MCHR1) to regulate a wide variety of physiological functions. MCH is produced by a distinct population of neurons located in the lateral hypothalamus (LH) and zona incerta (ZI), but MCHR1 mRNA is widely expressed throughout the brain. The physiological responses and behaviors regulated by the MCH system have been investigated, but less is known about how MCH neurons are regulated. The effects of most classical neurotransmitters on MCH neurons have been studied, but those of most neuropeptides are poorly understood. To gain insight into how neuropeptides regulate the MCH system, we investigated which neuropeptide receptors are expressed by MCH neurons by using double in situ hybridization. In all, 20 receptors, selected based on either a suspected interaction with the MCH system or demonstrated high expression levels in the LH and ZI, were tested to determine whether they are expressed by MCH neurons. Overall, 11 neuropeptide receptors were found to exhibit significant colocalization with MCH neurons: nociceptin/orphanin FQ opioid receptor (NOP), MCHR1, both orexin receptors (ORX), somatostatin receptors 1 and 2 (SSTR1, SSTR2), kisspeptin recepotor (KissR1), neurotensin receptor 1 (NTSR1), neuropeptide S receptor (NPSR), cholecystokinin receptor A (CCKAR), and the κ-opioid receptor (KOR). Among these receptors, six have never before been linked to the MCH system. Surprisingly, several receptors thought to regulate MCH neurons displayed minimal colocalization with MCH, suggesting that they may not directly regulate the MCH system. J. Comp. Neurol., 522:3817-3833, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many plants have a high polyphenol content, which causes the matrix effect and makes the analysis of trace pesticide residues highly challenging. A common approach to improving matrix effects is to purify pesticides through the use of sorbents, but this requires a combination of multiple sorbents and extensive use. Zeolitic imidazolate framework‐8 is widely used for pesticide analysis due to its high porosity, large specific surface area, and versatility. Here, we established and validated a modified quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe method based on a zeolitic imidazolate framework‐8 that was used to test the removal ability for polyphenols. To this end, 145 pesticide residues in peppermint, perilla, fennel, and mulberry leaves were analyzed by the modified method coupled with liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. The mean recoveries of all pesticide residues were in the range of 74.3–103.7%, with mean relative standard deviations ≤9.1% at spiked concentrations of 1, 10, 50, and 100 μg/kg for mulberry leaves. The limits of quantitation of the method ranged from 1 to 50 μg/kg. This study offers a reliable approach for the accurate quantitative analysis of various trace substances in the polyphenol‐rich plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]