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A strained triple nanohoop with a shared central benzene unit is synthesized using a threefold intramolecular ring‐closing approach. Among the five possible constitutional isomers, the isomer with the highest D3h symmetry is isolated, the structure of which contains three nanohoop blades and a central hexaphenylbenzene unit. The structure is elucidated using NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The optical and electrochemical properties are investigated, revealing a moderate fluorescence quantum yield of 40 %. A water‐soluble nanomaterial is prepared using a nanoparticle encapsulation method, and a fluorescence quantum yield of 10 % is retained, which demonstrates the potential of the nanomaterial in biological systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Glioblastoma (GBM) is one of the most aggressive brain tumors and often leads to poor outcomes. Studies have indicated that glycan levels are significantly correlated with the pathogenesis and development of cancers. However, whether glycan levels can serve as diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers in GBM remains unclear. Methods: We obtained glycomic profiles in tissue and serum samples from 55 individuals with GBM using a well‐established lectin biochip platform probing with 11 specific lectins. Results: Our univariate analysis showed that 5 out of the 11 lectin‐probed glycans (LPGs) were significantly higher in GBM tissues than in peri‐tumoral tissues. After logistic regression analyses, only the Jacalin‐probed T‐antigen difference between the two groups remained significant (p = 0.037). Moreover, survival‐related analyses showed that the level of Jacalin‐probed T‐antigen was significantly associated with the progression‐free survival (p = 0.038) of patients. However, none of the LPG levels were correlated with the overall survival or the chemosensitivity to temozolomide therapy. The correlation coefficient analysis showed a moderate‐to‐strong correlation in the Jacalin‐probed T‐antigen levels between GBM tissues and serum samples, indicating its potential usefulness as a non‐invasive GBM progression biomarker. Interpretation: Glycomics analyses can be helpful in the prediction of GBM recurrences and may provide information useful for GBM glycan‐based target therapies or vaccine development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neural stem cells (NSCs) transplantation is an attractive and promising treatment strategy for spinal cord injury (SCI). Various pathological processes including the severe inflammatory cascade and difficulty in stable proliferation and differentiation of NSCs limit its application and translation. Here, a novel physico‐chemical bifunctional neural stem cells delivery system containing magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs and methylprednisolone (MP) is designed to repair SCI, the former regulates NSCs differentiation through magnetic mechanical stimulation in the chronic phase, while the latter alleviates inflammatory response in the acute phase. The delivery system releases MP to promote microglial M2 polarization, inhibit M1 polarization, and reduce neuronal apoptosis. Meanwhile, NSCs tend to differentiate into functional neurons with magnetic mechanical stimulation generated by MNPs in the static magnetic field, which is related to the activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. SCI mice achieve better functional recovery after receiving NSCs transplantation via physico‐chemical bifunctional delivery system, which has milder inflammation, higher number of M2 microglia, more functional neurons, and axonal regeneration. Together, this bifunctional NSCs delivery system combined physical mechanical stimulation and chemical drug therapy is demonstrated to be effective, which provides new treatment insights into clinical transformation of SCI repair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Synaptic dysfunction is a hallmark pathology of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and is strongly associated with cognitive impairment. Abnormal phagocytosis by the microglia is one of the main causes of synapse loss in AD. Previous studies have shown that the absence of melanoma 2 (AIM2) inflammasome activity is increased in the hippocampus of APP/PS1 mice, but the role of AIM2 in AD remains unclear. Methods: Injection of Aβ1‐42 into the bilateral hippocampal CA1 was used to mimic an AD mouse model (AD mice). C57BL/6 mice injected with AIM2 overexpression lentivirus and conditional knockout of microglial AIM2 mice were used to confirm the function of AIM2 in AD. Cognitive functions were assessed with novel object recognition and Morris water maze tests. The protein and mRNA expression levels were evaluated by western blotting, immunofluorescence staining, and qRT‐PCR. Synaptic structure and function were detected by Golgi staining and electrophysiology. Results: The expression level of AIM2 was increased in AD mice, and overexpression of AIM2 induced synaptic and cognitive impairments in C57BL/6 mice, similar to AD mice. Elevated expression levels of AIM2 occurred in microglia in AD mice. Conditional knockout of microglial AIM2 rescued cognitive and synaptic dysfunction in AD mice. Excessive microglial phagocytosis activity of synapses was decreased after knockout of microglial AIM2, which was associated with inhibiting complement activation. Conclusion: Our results demonstrated that microglial AIM2 plays a critical role in regulating synaptic plasticity and memory deficits associated with AD, providing a new direction for developing novel preventative and therapeutic interventions for this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cytology and high‐risk human papilloma virus (hrHPV) cotesting is the mainstay in the detection of cervical carcinoma. Methods: Endocervical adenocarcinoma (EAC) is divided into HPV‐associated adenocarcinoma (HPVA) and HPV‐independent adenocarcinoma (HPVI) by the World Health Organization classification (2020). The detection effect of cotesting is suggested to be different among EAC subtypes and precursors, but has not well‐documented yet. In this study, the authors retrospectively analyzed cotesting among adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS), HPVA, and HPVI. The cohort included 569 AIS and 498 EAC consisting of 371 (74.5%) HPVA, 111 (22.3%) HPVI, and 16 (3.2%) adenocarcinoma, not otherwise specified. Results: The authors found that AIS patients were significantly younger than HPVA and HPVI (mean ± SD, years: 40.7 ± 8.6; HPVA, 44.8 ± 9.3; HPVI, 50.0 ± 11.3; p <.001) and had a higher prevalence of concurrent squamous intraepithelial lesions (75.5%, HPVA, 37.2%; HPVI, 12.6%; p <.001). The detection rate of hrHPV test or cytology was substantially higher in AIS and HPVA than in HPVI (97.7% and 90.2% vs. 16.5%, p <.001, or 71.1% and 71.9% vs. 60.7%, p =.042, respectively). Cytology and hrHPV cotesting was superior to a single test in the detection of EAC and AIS. The detection rate of cotesting amounted to 100% in AIS and 94.3% in HPVA but was substantially lower in HPVI (72.2%) (p <.001). Conclusions: The authors conclude that cytology and hrHPV cotesting can maximize the detection effect for HPVA and AIS but is not optimal for HPVI. The detection efficacy of cytology and high‐risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) cotesting has been analyzed in a large cohort of patients with cervical glandular lesions. Cotesting can maximize the detection effect for adenocarcinoma in situ and HPV‐associated adenocarcinoma; however, cytology and hrHPV cotesting is not optimal for HPV‐independent adenocarcinoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synergistic catalytic effects and metal node modulation are pivotal to the performance of multifunctional catalysts.We present a versatile strategy for constructing bimetallic M1M2 cluster catalysts (polyoxometalates (POMs)/Zr‐based metal‐organic frameworks (Zr‐MOF); M1 = Zr; M2 = W, V, Mo) by a microwave‐assisted in‐situ precoordination‐postmodification approach, which consisted of the grafting of POM single clusters onto Zr–O clusters of hierarchical porous composites (defective Zr‐MOF (HUiO‐66x)) and the modulation of metal nodes in Zr‐MOF. Hierarchical porosity and double active centers in the POMs/Zr‐MOF result in greater accessibility to catalytic sites and adjustable acid–base properties, thus providing opportunities for the catalytic transfer hydrogenation of biomass‐derived aldehydes/ketones. The synergistic acid–base couple sites (W6+–O2−–Zr4+) not only bridge hydrogen donors into the reaction system but also promote the dissociation of α‐C(sp3)‐H from isopropanol and subsequent hydrogen transfer to the activated carbonyl in furfural. Enhanced substrate adsorption and decreased activation barrier of the rate‐determining step are keys for the direct hydrogen transfer from carbonyl compounds to near‐quantitative corresponding alcohols via an eight‐membered‐ring transition state to achieving unprecedented low‐temperature catalytic performance over bimetallic Zr–W clusters. The proposed general method of bimetallic cluster catalysts reveals the roles of accessible metal modulation and synergistic catalytic centers toward specific catalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The olympicenyl radical (OR) has long been a fascinating spin doublet hydrocarbon radical that evoked theoretical and experimental research interests, but the chemistry of olympicenyl was limited by its inherent instability. Recently, this field was revived by the advent of stable, multi‐substituted ORs and the isolation of them in the crystalline phase. In this minireview, we summarize the early studies on the pristine OR, as well as the recent advances on the substituted OR derivatives, heteroatom‐containing OR derivatives, and OR‐based diradicals and polyradicals. The synthetic chemistry, stabilization strategies, self‐association behaviors, reactivities, and applications in the biological field of the abovementioned compounds were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asphaltenes and waxes are the primary factors affecting the cold flow properties of crude oil. In this paper, based on the binary polymer of acrylate‐maleic anhydride (PM22‐MA), different third polar groups of acrylamide, N‐(hydroxymethyl) acrylamide, N‐phenylacrylamide (NPA), and styrene (SM) were introduced to synthesize a series of ternary pour point depressants (PPDs) to explore the effect of asphaltene on the cold flow properties of Xijiang (XJ) crude oil. Thereinto, PM22‐MA‐NPA containing amide group and benzene ring exhibited the best depressive effect, which decreased pour point by 14°C at 1500 ppm. The mechanism of interaction of the polar groups in PPDs with asphaltene was studied. The polar groups could form stronger hydrogen bonds with asphaltene, delaying the asphaltene macromolecule bonding, allowing the synergistic effect of PPDs and asphaltene to be better utilized to improve the cold flow properties of crude oil. Furthermore, the dipole moment magnitude and electron cloud density were calculated with Gaussian. It was found that the polar group with a dipole moment magnitude of 3.2244 debye and an electron cloud density ranging from −1.6364 to 1.9944 eV was the most suitable third polar monomer for the PPDs of XJ crude oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Construction of S‐scheme heterojunction offers a promising way to enhance the photocatalytic performance of photocatalysts for converting solar energy into chemical energy. However, the photocatalytic H2 production in pure water without sacrificial agents is still a challenge. Herein, the IEF‐11 with the best photocatalytic H2 production performance in MOFs and suitable band structure was selected and firstly constructed with g‐C3N4 to obtain a S‐scheme heterojunction for photocatalytic H2 production from pure water. As a result, the novel IEF‐11/g‐C3N4 heterojunction photocatalysts exhibited significantly improved photocatalytic H2 production performance in pure water without any sacrificial agent, with a rate of 576 μmol/g/h, which is about 8 times than that of g‐C3N4 and 23 times of IEF‐11. The novel IEF‐11/g‐C3N4 photocatalysts also had a photocatalytic H2 production rate of up to 92 μmol/g/h under visible light and a good photocatalytic stability. The improved performance can be attributed to the efficient separation of photogenerated charge carriers, faster charge transfer efficiency and longer photogenerated carrier lifetimes, which comes from the forming of S‐scheme heterojunction in the IEF‐11/g‐C3N4 photocatalyst. This work is a promising guideline for obtaining MOF‐based or g‐C3N4‐based photocatalysts with great photocatalytic water splitting performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radical cation salts of π‐conjugated polycycles are rich in physical properties. Herein, two kinds of hetera‐buckybowls, ethoxy‐substituted trithiasumanene (3SEt) and triselenasumanene (3SeEt), are synthesized as electron donors. Galvanostatic oxidation of them affords radical cation salts (3SEt)5(TTFMPB)3, (3SeEt)5(TTFMPB)3, (3SEt)4PMA, and (3SeEt)4PMA, where PMA is Keggin‐type phosphomolybdate and TTFMPB is tetrakis[3,5‐bis(trifluoromethyl)‐phenyl]borate. In these salts, 3SEt/3SeEt are partially charged and show distinct conformation change with the site charge and counter anions. In TTFMPB salts, (TTFMPB)− forms hexagonal channels that accommodate the packing columns of 3SEt/3SeEt. In particular, (3SEt)5(TTFMPB)3 adopts the R3c space group and is a polar crystal with the columns of 3SEt all in the up‐bowl direction. The PMA salts of 3SEt/3SeEt are polar crystals (C2 space group) with 3SEt/3SeEt being planar and forming columnar stacks. (3SeEt)4PMA shows a structural modulation below 200 K, namely, negative thermal expansion (NTE) of the unit cell volume and enlargement of the intermolecular distances between neighboring 3SeEt molecules. The four salts are semiconductors with an activation energy of 0.18–0.38 eV. The conductivity of (3SeEt)4PMA shows a reversible transition upon cooling and heating, in accordance to the NTE structural modulation. This work paves the way toward conducting materials based on hetera‐buckybowls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diarylethene molecular photoswitches hold great fascination as optical information materials due to their unique bistability and exceptional reversible photoswitching properties. Conventional diarylethenes, however, rely on UV light for ring‐closure reactions, typically with modest yields. For practical application, diarylethenes driven by visible lights are preferred but achieving high ring‐closure reaction yield remains a significant challenge. Herein, we synthesized a novel all‐visible‐light‐driven photoswitch, TPAP−DTE, by facilely endcapping the dithienylethene (DTE) core with triphenylamine phenyl (TPAP) groups. Owing to the electron‐donating conjugation effect of TPAP, the open‐form TPAP−DTE responds strongly to short‐wavelength visible lights with considerable photocyclization quantum yields and molar absorption coefficient. Upon 405 nm visible‐light irradiation, TPAP−DTE achieves a ring‐closure reaction yield exceeding 96.3 % (confirmed by both nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and high‐performance liquid chromatography). Its ring‐opening reaction yield is 100 % upon irradiation with long‐wavelength visible light. TPAP−DTE could be regarded as a bidirectional "quasi"‐quantitative conversion molecular switch. Furthermore, TPAP−DTE exhibits robust fatigue resistance over 100 full photoswitching cycles and great anti‐aging property under 85 °C and 85 % humidity for at least 1000 h. Consequently, its rewritable QR‐code, multilevel data storage, and anti‐counterfeiting/encryption applications are successfully demonstrated exclusively using visible lights, positioning TPAP−DTE as a highly promising medium for information recording. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: This study aimed to better characterize the clinical and molecular features in invasive stratified mucin‐producing carcinoma (ISMC), an uncommon aggressive subtype of endocervical adenocarcinoma (EAC). Methods and Results: We recruited 59 ISMC for clinicopathological analysis, immunohistochemistry (n = 56), and targeted next‐generation sequencing (n = 17). Our cases contained 29 pure and 30 mixed‐type ISMC. Five patients developed local recurrence at 6–32 months (median: 13 months), and died of disease at 16–55 months (median: 16 months). Pure and mixed‐type ISMC showed no significant difference in overall survival and tumour relapse (P > 0.05) except larger tumour size in the pure‐type (P = 0.009). Compared to the usual‐type EAC (n = 217), ISMsC were more frequently associated with large tumour size (P = 0.003), advanced FIGO stage (P = 0.017), lymph node metastasis (P = 0.022), Silva pattern C (P < 0.001), and poor overall survival and short tumour recurrence. SOX2 expression was observed in 82.1% (46/56) ISMC, substantially higher than p63 expression (P < 0.001), while positive SOX17 was present in 3.6% (2/56) cases. PD‐L1 was positive in 41/56 ISMC (73.21%) (combined positive score: range: 1–92, median: 22). Three ISMC patients (17.65%) had PIK3CA mutations, while one each (5.88%) patient harboured an ERBB2, TP53, STK11, and PTEN mutation, respectively. Conclusion: We conclude that ISMC is clinically more aggressive than the usual‐type EAC. ISMC may originate from cervical reserve cells with bidirectional differentiation. PD‐L1 overexpression and the molecular profiles raise the possibility that a subset of ISMC patients may benefit from anti‐PD‐L1 immunotherapy and other targeted therapy, such as mTOR inhibitor and T‐DM1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies regarding age‐related erectile dysfunction (ED) based on naturally aging models are limited by their high costs, especially for the acquisition of primary cells from the corpus cavernosum. Herein, d‐galactose (d‐gal) was employed to accelerate cell senescence, and the underlying mechanism was explored. As predominant functional cells involved in the erectile response, corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells (CCSMCs) were isolated from 2‐month‐old rats. Following this, d‐gal was introduced to induce cell senescence, which was verified via β‐galactosidase staining. The effects of d‐gal on CCSMCs were evaluated by terminal deoxynucleoitidyl transferase dUTP nick‐end labeling (TUNEL), immunofluorescence staining, flow cytometry, western blot, and quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR). Furthermore, RNA interference (RNAi) was carried out for rescue experiments. Subsequently, the influence of senescence on the corpus cavernosum was determined via scanning electron microscopy, qRT‐PCR, immunohistochemistry, TUNEL, and Masson stainings. The results revealed that the accelerated senescence of CCSMCs was promoted by d‐gal. Simultaneously, smooth muscle alpha‐actin (alpha‐SMA) expression was inhibited, while that of osteopontin (OPN) and Krüppel‐like factor 4 (KLF4), as well as fibrotic and apoptotic levels, were elevated. After knocking down KLF4 expression in d‐gal‐induced CCSMCs by RNAi, the expression level of cellular alpha‐SMA increased. Contrastingly, the OPN expression, apoptotic and fibrotic levels declined. In addition, cellular senescence acquired partial remission. Accordingly, in the aged corpus cavernosum, the fibrotic and apoptotic rates were increased, followed by downregulation in the expression of alpha‐SMA and the concurrent upregulation in the expression of OPN and KLF4. Overall, our results signaled that d‐gal‐induced accelerated senescence of CCSMCs could trigger fibrosis, apoptosis and phenotypic switch to the synthetic state, potentially attributed to the upregulation of KLF4 expression, which may be a multipotential therapeutic target of age‐related ED. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalytic valorization and selective transformation of biomass‐derived platform compounds offer great opportunities for efficient utilization of renewable resources under mild conditions. Here, the novel three‐dimensional hierarchical flower‐like CdS/Ti3C2 Schottky junction (MCdS) composed of surface‐controlled CdS and pretreated Ti3C2 MXene is created for photocatalytic dehydrogenation‐reductive amination of biomass‐derived amino acid production under ambient temperature with unprecedented activity and selectivity. Schottky junction efficiently promotes photoexcited charge migration and separation and inhibits photogenerated electron‐hole recombination, which results in a super‐high activity. Meanwhile, CdS with the reduced surface energy supplies sufficient hydrogen sources for imine reduction and induces the preferential orientation of alanine, thus contributing superior selectivity. Moreover, a wide range of hydroxyl acids are successfully converted into corresponding amino acids and even one‐pot conversion of glucose to alanine is easily achieved over MCdS. This work illustrates the mechanism of crystal orientation control and heterojunction construction in controlling catalytic behavior of photocatalytic nanoreactor, providing a paradigm for construction of MXene‐based heterostructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common malignant tumors worldwide. Thus, the development of safe and effective therapeutic compounds for GC treatment is urgently required. Here, we aimed to examine the role of picropodophyllin (PPP), a compound extracted from the rhizome of Dysosma versipellis (Hance) M. Cheng ex Ying, on the proliferation of GC cells. Our study revealed that PPP inhibits the proliferation of GC cells in a dose‐dependent manner by inducing apoptosis. Moreover, our study elucidated that PPP suppresses the growth of GC tumor xenografts with no side effects of observable toxicity. Mechanistically, PPP exerts its effects by blocking the AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway; these effects are markedly abrogated by the overexpression of constitutively active AKT. Furthermore, drug affinity responsive target stability (DARTS) and liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS) revealed that heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) may be a potential target of PPP. Surface plasmon resonance and immunoprecipitation assay validated that PPP directly targets HSP90 and disrupts the binding of HSP90 to AKT, thereby suppressing GC cell proliferation. Thus, our study revealed that PPP may be a promising therapeutic compound for GC treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Singlet fission (SF) is an appealing process where one photoexcited singlet transforms to two triplets, which can overcome thermalization energy loss and improve solar cell efficiency. However, it remains unclear how intermolecular coupling, which is subject to molecular stacking, controls SF pathways and dynamics. Here, we prepared polymorph rubrene single crystals with different stacking geometries, including orthorhombic (Orth.), triclinic (Tri.), and monoclinic (Mono.) phases. By micro‐area ultrafast spectroscopy, we find that Orth. and Tri. phases with closer π‐π stacking exhibit co‐existing coherent and incoherent SF channels while loosely stacked Mono. phase shows only incoherent SF. Furthermore, incoherent SF is thermally activated in Orth. but barrierless in Mono. and Tri. phases. Quantum mechanical calculation reveals that different electronic coupling strength in different phases leads to different SF dynamics. This study demonstrates that molecular stacking governs SF dynamics through electronic coupling, providing guidance for designing efficient SF materials via crystal structural engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chlorine (Cl)‐based batteries such as Li/Cl2 batteries are recognized as promising candidates for energy storage with low cost and high performance. However, the current use of Li metal anodes in Cl‐based batteries has raised serious concerns regarding safety, cost, and production complexity. More importantly, the well‐documented parasitic reactions between Li metal and Cl‐based electrolytes require a large excess of Li metal, which inevitably sacrifices the electrochemical performance of the full cell. Therefore, it is crucial but challenging to establish new anode chemistry, particularly with electrochemical reversibility, for Cl‐based batteries. Here we show, for the first time, reversible Si redox in Cl‐based batteries through efficient electrolyte dilution and anode/electrolyte interface passivation using 1,2‐dichloroethane and cyclized polyacrylonitrile as key mediators. Our Si anode chemistry enables significantly increased cycling stability and shelf lives compared with conventional Li metal anodes. It also avoids the use of a large excess of anode materials, thus enabling the first rechargeable Cl2 full battery with remarkable energy and power densities of 809 Wh kg−1 and 4,277 W kg−1, respectively. The Si anode chemistry affords fast kinetics with remarkable rate capability and low‐temperature electrochemical performance, indicating its great potential in practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper designs a finite‐time convergence protocol and an event‐triggered control protocol based on Zero‐Gradient‐Sum (ZGS) algorithm under stochastic switching undirected topology, respectively, which greatly expands the theory of continuous‐time distributed optimization algorithms. With finite‐time stability and Lyapunov stability analysis, it is illustrated that the proposed method can finite‐time converge to the optimal solution of distributed unconstrained convex optimization problem and overcome the disturbances of the switching communication networks. In addition, the event‐triggered mechanism can effectively reduce the network burden and communication cost as well as avoid Zeno behaviour. Finally, two numerical simulations verify the advantages and effectiveness of these methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hierarchical microstructures composed of surface microstructures and porous structures on soft materials have attracted more and more attention because of their effectiveness in improving flexible sensor performance. However, the preparation methods of the hierarchical microstructures are faced with the problems induced by complex process, high cost, and low efficiency. Up to now, there is no one‐step method that can directly realize the hierarchical microstructure on soft materials, even polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as the most common soft material. Herein, using glucose additive as porogen and endothermic agent, a simple, low‐cost, and fast laser thermal printing one‐step process is developed for the preparation of porous PDMS film with surface microstructure. Based on the hierarchical structural PDMS film, a multimodal flexible pressure sensor that can sense tension, compression, and torsion is realized. Due to the hierarchical microstructure composed of surface microstructure and porous structure, the sensor exhibits a high sensitivity of 36.66 kPa−1 in 0–0.6 kPa, a ultrawide sensing range of 3000 kPa, a 100% elongation, and a high gauge factor of 315.13. The application of the sensor in the monitoring of physiological signals, dynamic loads, and robotic flexible gripper demonstrates the potential of the laser thermal printing process in porous PDMS‐based sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pattern separation (PS) dysfunction is a type of cognitive impairment that presents early during the aging process, and this deficit has been attributed to structural and functional alterations in the dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus. Absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2) is an essential component of the inflammasome. However, whether AIM2 plays a role in aging‐associated cognitive dysfunction remains unclear. Here, we found that PS function was impaired in aging mice and was accompanied by marked synaptic loss and increased expression of AIM2 in the DG. Subsequently, we used an AIM2 overexpression virus and mice with AIM2 deletion to investigate the role of AIM2 in regulating PS function and synaptic plasticity and the mechanisms involved. Our study revealed that AIM2 regulates microglial activation during synaptic pruning in the DG region via the complement pathway, leading to impaired synaptic plasticity and PS function in aging mice. These results suggest a critical role for AIM2 in regulating synaptic plasticity and PS function and provide a new direction for ameliorating aging‐associated cognitive dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anode‐free lithium (Li) metal batteries are desirable candidates in pursuit of high‐energy‐density batteries. However, their poor cycling performances originated from the unsatisfactory reversibility of Li plating/stripping remains a grand challenge. Here we show a facile and scalable approach to produce high‐performing anode‐free Li metal batteries using a bioinspired and ultrathin (250 nm) interphase layer comprised of triethylamine germanate. The derived tertiary amine and LixGe alloy showed enhanced adsorption energy that significantly promoted Li‐ion adsorption, nucleation and deposition, contributing to a reversible expansion/shrinkage process upon Li plating/stripping. Impressive Li plating/stripping Coulombic efficiencies (CEs) of ≈99.3 % were achieved for 250 cycles in Li/Cu cells. In addition, the anode‐free LiFePO4 full batteries demonstrated maximal energy and power densities of 527 Wh kg−1 and 1554 W kg−1, respectively, and remarkable cycling stability (over 250 cycles with an average CE of 99.4 %) at a practical areal capacity of ≈3 mAh cm−2, the highest among state‐of‐the‐art anode‐free LiFePO4 batteries. Our ultrathin and respirable interphase layer presents a promising way to fully unlock large‐scale production of anode‐free batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Melatonin (MEL), an endogenous hormone, has been widely investigated in neurological diseases. Microglia (MG), a resident immunocyte localizing in central nervous system is reported to play important functions in the animal model of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Some evidence showed that MEL influenced activation of MG, but the detailed model of action that MEL plays in remains uncertain. Methods: In this study, we established a model of TLE in mice by stereotactic injection of kainic acid (KA). We treated the mice with MEL. Lipopolysaccharide, ROCK2‐knockdown (ROCK‐KD) and ‐overexpression (ROCK‐OE) of lentivirus‐treated cells were used in cell experiments to simulate an in vitro inflammatory model. Results: The results of electrophysiological tests showed that MEL reduced frequency and severity of seizure. The results of behavioral tests indicated MEL improved cognition, learning, and memory ability. Histological evidences demonstrated a significant reduction of neuronal death in the hippocampus. In vivo study showed that MEL changed the polarization status of MG from a proinflammatory M1 phenotype to an anti‐inflammatory M2 phenotype by inversely regulating the RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway. In cytological study, we found that MEL had a significant protective effect in LPS‐treated BV‐2 cells and ROCK‐KD cells, while the protective effect of MEL was significantly attenuated in ROCK‐OE cells. Conclusion: MEL played an antiepileptic role in the KA‐induced TLE modeling mice both in behavioral and histological levels, and changed MG polarization status by regulating the RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway. Highlights: •Melatonin (MEL) reduces frequency and severity of seizure.•MEL regulates the ROCK2 signaling pathway rather than ROCK1 to promote microglial polarization toward an anti‐inflammatory direction.•RhoA/ROCK2 signaling pathway may be important in the temporal lobe epilepsy modeling mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reducing carbon emissions is the only way to solve the global climate problem, which obviously requires the joint efforts of all regions. From the perspective of carbon emission reduction demand, this research obtains the data of low‐carbon patents and CO2 emissions from 2000 to 2019, and then explores the innovation effect of low‐carbon technology transfer in the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB). We draw the following conclusions: (1) Low‐carbon technology transfer has a positive impact on low‐carbon technology innovation. However, a large number of low‐carbon technology transfers are concentrated between developed regions in the YREB at present. (2) No matter from the perspective of total amount or efficiency, carbon emission reduction demand can play positive moderating role in the process of exerting the innovation effect of low‐carbon technology transfer, indicating that the transfer of low‐carbon technologies to regions with high demand is efficient. (3) The moderating effect of carbon emission reduction demand in different regions has regional heterogeneity. Carbon emissions per unit of GDP plays a greater role in moderating the innovation effect of low‐carbon technology transfer in the eastern region, while CO2emissions plays a greater role in the central and western regions. Therefore, we propose to strengthen the transfer of low‐carbon technologies between developed and less‐developed regions, and adopt differentiation strategies according to the actual situation of each region. Our research has deepened the understanding of environmental economic geography on the innovation effect of low‐carbon technology transfer, and has reference significance for global low‐carbon technology cooperation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Similarity search, that is, finding similar items in massive data, is a fundamental computing problem in many fields such as data mining and information retrieval. However, for large‐scale and high‐dimension data, it suffers from high computational complexity, requiring tremendous computation resources. Here, based on the low‐power self‐selective memristors, for the first time, we propose an in‐memory search (IMS) system with two innovative designs. First, by exploiting the natural distribution law of the devices resistance, a hardware locality sensitive hashing encoder has been designed to transform the real‐valued vectors into more efficient binary codes. Second, a compact memristive ternary content addressable memory is developed to calculate the Hamming distances between the binary codes in parallel. Our IMS system demonstrated a 168× energy efficiency improvement over all‐transistors counterparts in clustering and classification tasks, while achieving a software‐comparable accuracy, thus providing a low‐complexity and low‐power solution for in‐memory data mining applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The intensive care unit has a much higher pressure ulcers incidence than general wards. Predicting and eliminating the risk of pressure ulcer development is thus of utmost importance in health care, including clinical nursing practice. Aim: The meta‐analysis aimed to examine the predictive validity of the Jackson–Cubbin Scale. Methods: This study is a systematic literature review and meta‐analysis. Research articles published in periodicals indexed targeted the critical care patients and offered sufficient data(true‐positive, false‐positive, true‐negative and false‐negative results) in the EBSCO, PubMed, Ovid, Web of Science and Cochrane databases, as well as those from two journals indexed in a Chinese database (Wangfang Data and China National Knowledge Infrastructure) were reviewed. Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta‐analyses were used; the internal validity of the diagnostic studies was analysed using Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratios were counted by STATA 15.0. Results: Nine diagnostic studies with high methodological quality, involving a total of 7684 patients, were retrieved and assessed. This meta‐analysis showed that the pooled sensitivity, specificity and area under the symmetric summary receiver operating characteristic curve of the Jackson–Cubbin Scale were 0.81 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.58–0.88), 0.76 (95% CI, 0.51–0.95) and 0.84 (95% CI, 0.81–0.87), respectively. Conclusions: The study suggests that the Jackson–Cubbin Scale has a moderate level of predictive validity. Moreover, Jackson–Cubbin's predictive validity could be increased if it was implemented differently based on the attributes of the research participants. Relevance to Clinical Practice: The Jackson–Cubbin Scale has a moderate level of predictive validity with good sensitivity and specificity for the determination of the risk of PUs in adult ICU patients. Bedside nurses could use the Jackson–Cubbin scale for dailly assesment for ICU patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cryogels with interconnected channels allow high flow‐through properties and mass transfer when dealing with complex mixtures such as non‐clarified crude extracts. However, their mechanical strength can be challenged due to a large void volume inside the polymeric network. We have addressed this problem by forming a double‐layer cryogel applied as a dye‐affinity chromatography gel. In this study, poly(acrylamide‐co‐allyl glycidyl ether) cryogel was prepared at sub‐zero temperature. The second layer was then prepared inside the primary cryogel under the same conditions to form a double‐layer network. Cibacron Blue F3GA, a dye molecule, was immobilized on the surface of the cryogels. Bovine serum albumin was used as a model molecule to study the adsorption/elution procedure in batch and continuous modes. The maximum batch binding capacity and the dynamic binding capacity for the single‐layer cryogel were 18 and 0.11, and for the double‐layer cryogel were 7.5 and 0.9 mg/g of gel, respectively. However, the mechanical stability of the double‐layer cryogel increased 7‐fold (144 kPa). It was found that the kinetic and adsorption isotherms follow pseudo‐second‐order and Freundlich models, respectively. The regeneration of the columns after adsorption/elution cycles was evaluated, and no significant loss of capacity was observed after 10 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexible batteries based on gel electrolytes with high safety are promising power solutions for wearable electronics but suffer from vulnerable electrode‐electrolyte interfaces especially upon complex deformations, leading to irreversible capacity loss or even battery collapse. Here, a supramolecular sol‐gel transition electrolyte (SGTE) that can dynamically accommodate deformations and repair electrode‐electrolyte interfaces through its controllable rewetting at low temperatures is designed. Mediated by the micellization of polypropylene oxide blocks in Pluronic and host‐guest interactions between α‐cyclodextrin (α‐CD) and polyethylene oxide blocks, the high ionic conductivity and compatibility with various salts of SGTE afford resettable electrode‐electrolyte interfaces and thus constructions of a series of highly durable, flexible aqueous zinc batteries. The design of this novel gel electrolyte provides new insights for the development of flexible batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maize ear rot, one of the most destructive diseases in summer‐sown maize areas of China, is caused by several Fusarium spp. Not only does this pathogen lower maize yields, but also negatively impacts both animal and human health through the production of fumonisin mycotoxins. In this study, we collected 472 unique isolates of F. verticillioides from 480 samples of maize ear rots across eight Chinese summer‐sown maize regions and evaluated their genetic variability and aggressiveness. Analysis of polymorphic intersimple sequence repeat (ISSR) loci revealed high levels of genetic variation, particularly in Henan and Shandong provinces. The STRUCTURE result showed that all F. verticillioides isolates clustered into three populations, rather than eight distinct geographical provinces, and there was no significant positive correlation between genetic distance and geographical distance. Most of the variation resulted from genetic differences within rather than between populations. Pathogenicity varied among the evaluated F. verticillioides isolates, and most isolates examined, caused a moderate level of disease; there was no strong correlation between pathogenicity and genetic diversity. This is the first comprehensive report of both the genetic variability and pathogenicity of F. verticillioides across the whole summer‐sown maize region in China. These results provide important information that can inform efforts to control maize ear rot and fumonisin contamination caused by F. verticillioides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To elucidate the clinical characteristics of AA patients with cytogenetic abnormalities. Methods: We retrospectively screened 30 patients (30/1206, 2.5%) with cytogenetic abnormalities from 1206 patients with severe and very severe AA who received immunosuppressive therapy (IST) during the years 2012–2019. Results: The most common abnormalities were trisomy 8 (+8, 10/30, 33.3%) and loss of Y (−Y, 8/30, 26.7%). The abnormal clones disappeared 6 months after IST in 14 patients and sustained in 12 patients. Patients with sustained abnormal clones had a lower hematologic response at 6 months after IST than the disappeared (33.3% vs. 64.3%, p =.116). The hematologic response after IST, 5‐year overall survival, 5‐year event‐free survival, myelodysplastic syndrome or acute myeloid leukemia transformation in AA patients with cytogenetic abnormalities were not statistically different from those in normal cytogenetic patients. Conclusion: For AA patients with chromosome abnormalities but ineligible for hematopoietic stem cell transplant, IST is effective and appropriate as first‐line treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: MRI‐targeted biopsy (MRTB) improves the clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa) detection rate with fewer biopsy cores in men with suspected PCa. However, whether concurrent systematic biopsy (SB) can be avoided in patients undergoing MRTB remains unclear. Purpose: To evaluate the potential value of MRI‐based radiomics models in avoiding unnecessary SB in biopsy‐naïve patients. Study type: Retrospective. Population: A total of 226 patients (mean age 66.6 ± 9.02 years) with suspicion of PCa (PI‐RADS score ≥ 3) and received combined cognitive MRTB with SB were retrospectively recruited and randomly divided into training (N = 180) and test (N = 46) cohorts at an 8:2 ratio. Field Strength/Sequence: A 3.0 T, biparametric MRI (bpMRI) including T2‐weighted imaging (T2WI) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) map. Assessment: The whole prostate gland (PG) and the index lesion (IL) were delineated. Three radiomics models of bpMRIPG, bpMRIIL, and bpMRIPG+IL were constructed, respectively, and the performance of each radiomics model was compared with that of PI‐RADS assessment. Statistical Tests: The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression method was used to select texture features. The area under the curve (AUC) and decision curve analysis were used to estimate the models. Results: The bpMRIPG+IL radiomics model exhibited good discrimination, calibration, and net benefits, which would reduce the SB biopsy in 71.2% and 71.4% of men with PI‐RADS ≥ 5 lesions in the training and test cohorts, respectively. Data Conclusion: A bpMRIPG+IL radiomics model may outperform PI‐RADS category in help reducing unnecessary SB in biopsy‐naïve patients. Evidence Level: 3 Technical Efficacy: Stage 6 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium/thionyl chloride (Li/SOCl2) primary batteries are appealing power solutions because of their remarkable electrochemical performances. However, their mass applications are hindered by the challenges in sustainability, cost and safety concerns owing to the employed Li chemistry. Here, magnesium (Mg) chemistry is shown as a promising alternative through synergistic optimization of electrolyte solvation and electrode reaction kinetics. The first Mg/SOCl2 primary battery yields surprisingly high specific capacities up to ≈14 000 mAh g−1 at a decent discharge voltage of ≈1.67 V, which outperforms the state‐of‐the‐art Mg‐based primary batteries. In addition, it retains almost 100% of the original capacity after 20‐day reservation. The impressive battery performances are originated from the stabilized MgCl2 formation on high‐surface‐area carbon cathode and suppressed Mg anode corrosion via the Mg‐induced solvation effect. Mg/SOCl2 primary batteries are promising candidates for low‐cost and recyclable power supplies, and they thus open new avenues for the development of sustainable battery chemistries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) represents the most common and fatal form of primary invasive brain tumors as it affects a great number of patients each year and has a median overall survival of approximately 14.6 months after diagnosis. Despite intensive treatment, almost all patients with GBM experience recurrence, and their 5‐year survival rate is approximately 5%. At present, the main clinical treatment strategy includes surgical resection, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. However, tumor heterogeneity, blood–brain barrier, glioma stem cells, and DNA damage repair mechanisms hinder efficient GBM treatment. The emergence of nanometer‐scale diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in cancer medicine due to the establishment of nanotechnology provides novel and promising tools that will allow us to overcome these difficulties. This review summarizes the application and recent progress in nanotechnology‐based monotherapies (e.g., chemotherapy) and combination cancer treatment strategies (chemotherapy‐based combined cancer therapy) for GBM and describes the synergistic enhancement between these combination therapies as well as the current standard therapy for brain cancer and its deficiencies. These combination therapies that can reduce individual drug‐related toxicities and significantly enhance therapeutic efficiency have recently undergone rapid development. The mechanisms underlying these different nanotechnology‐based therapies as well as the application of nanotechnology in GBM (e.g., in photodynamic therapy and chemodynamic therapy) have been systematically summarized here in an attempt to review recent developments and to identify promising directions for future research. This review provides novel and clinically significant insights and directions for the treatment of GBM, which is of great clinical importance. This article is categorized under:Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Oncologic DiseaseDiagnostic Tools > In Vivo Nanodiagnostics and Imaging [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fatty acids increase ATP‐binding cassette ABC transporter A12 (ABCA12) levels via an increase in peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor β/δ (PPAR β/δ). Promoting lipid transport to lamellar granules has been suggested to improve epidermal barrier function in patients with dry skin. Objective: We investigated whether mevalonolactone (MVL) produced by Saccharomycopsis fibuligera improves dry skin by promoting ABCA12 expression and the amount of free fatty acids in epidermal keratinocytes. Methods: We examined whether MVL increases ABCA12 mRNA and protein levels and the amount of Nile red‐positive lipids in cultured epidermal keratinocytes and in a three‐dimensional epidermal model by cell staining. Promotion of fatty acid production by MVL was analyzed by liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry. We also evaluated whether MVL addition increases PPAR β/δ mRNA expression in cultured keratinocytes. Based on the results, a randomized controlled trial was conducted in which milky lotions containing MVL and placebo were applied to dry facial skin of healthy female volunteers in winter. Results: MVL increased ABCA12 mRNA and protein levels and lamellar granule number and size. Fatty acid analysis revealed that MVL elevated myristic acid, palmitic acid, and palmitoleic acid levels as well as PPAR β/δ mRNA expression. In human tests, milky lotions containing MVL were shown to significantly improve transepidermal water loss (TEWL) in the stratum corneum compared to placebo. Conclusion: The results suggest that MVL increases fatty acid uptake and ABCA12, promotes fatty acid transport to lamellar granules, and improves epidermal barrier function in dry skin through increased expression of PPAR β/δ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tetramethyl bisphenol A (TMBPA) is a widely used flame retardant. TMBPA has been a toxic to Leydig cells in puberty, but it remains unclear whether TMBPA has a similar inhibitor effect on fetal Leydig cells (FLCs). This study reported morphological and functional alterations of FLCs in the testes of male offspring at birth after in utero exposure to TMBPA. Pregnant Sprague Dawley rats were dosed via continuous gavage of TMBPA (0, 10, 50, and 200 mg/kg/day) from gestational day 14 to 21. TMBPA markedly raised serum total testosterone level, testicular volume, and FLC number of male offspring at 200 mg/kg dose. The up‐regulation of Insl3, Star, and Cyp11a1 mRNAs was observed after 200 mg/kg TMBPA exposure. After normalization to the number of FLCs, TMBPA significantly reduced Lhcgr and Hsd3b1 expressions at 10 mg/kg, and Cyp17a1 at 200 mg/kg paralleling with their protein levels. TMBPA compromised the expression of Esr1, while increased the expression of Cdk2 and Cdk4 as well as their protein levels. TMBPA particularly increased the phosphorylation of AKT1 and AKT2 at 200 mg/kg. In conclusion, the present study suggests that TMBPA may promote FLC proliferation via ESR1‐CDK2/4‐AKT pathway, while inhibits the function of FLCs by reducing steroidogenic enzyme activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aquaculture environment, especially the culture ponds and aquaculture products, is considered to be an important reservoir of colistin resistance genes. However, systematic investigations of colistin resistance in Penaeus vannamei farming in different culture modes are scarce. In this study, a total of 93 non‐duplicated samples were collected from P. vannamei farms in five cities in China from 2019 to 2021. The prevalence, antibiotic resistance and multilocus sequence typing (MLST) of colistin‐resistant bacteria were measured and analysed. The results showed that among the 1601 isolates in P. vannamei and its environmental samples, the pollution of colistin‐resistant bacteria was serious (the overall prevalence was 37.3% and 28.8%, respectively), regardless of the earthen pond or high‐density polyethylene (HDPE) film‐lined pond. Among 533 isolates, the prevalence of mobile colistin resistance (mcr) genes, mcr‐1, was the highest (60%, 320/533), followed by mcr‐4 (1.5%, 8/533), mcr‐8 (0.9%, 5/533), mcr‐10 (0.6%, 3/533) and mcr‐7 (0.4%, 2/533). The prevalence of mcr‐1 in earthen ponds was significantly higher than that in HDPE film‐lined ponds (67.5% vs. 49.1%, p <.001). The dominant strain carrying mcr‐1 was Bacillus spp. (54.1%, 173/320), followed by Enterobacter spp. (8.1%, 26/320), Staphylococcus spp. (6.3%, 20/320) and Aeromonas spp. (5.3%, 17/320). The antibiotic resistance profiles of 173 Bacillus spp. varied among different sampling locations and culture types. These isolates were highly resistant to cefepime, ceftriaxone, trimethoprim‐sulfamethoxazole and ceftiofur (>45%), and multidrug‐resistant isolates were common (62.4%, 108/173). Sequence type (ST) 26 (37/66, 56%) was found to be the most prevalent ST in mcr‐1‐positive Bacillus cereus isolated from the aquaculture environment. In summary, our study pointed out that it is necessary to continuously monitor antibiotic usage and its residues regardless of the pond types, especially with regard to critical drugs such as colistin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient and practical construction of S−N bond from aryl thioureas and amines under mild and metal‐free conditions is reported. A series of sulfenamides was obtained smoothly from aryl thioureas and amines (mainly secondary amines) through cross dehydrogenation coupling reaction (CDC) in the presence of phenyliodine(III) diacetate. The protocol features easily available starting materials, easy and odorless performance, mild reaction conditions, good yields, and a broad substrate scope, illustrating its synthetic value for the synthesis of diverse biologically or pharmaceutically relevant compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the ERA5 reanalysis dataset, this paper examines the vertical variation of tropical cyclone (TC) size in the western North Pacific during 1998–2018. The TC size is defined as the distance from the TC centre to the radius at which the azimuthally averaged relative vorticity decreases to 1 × 10−5 s−1 (Rvor). It is found that TCs with similar sizes at the surface can be significantly different in size at higher levels. The Rvor at 10 m height (Rvor10) and that at 200 hPa (Rvor200) are related to TC intensity categories, and Rvor10 and that at 700 hPa (Rvor700) correlate linearly with the relative sea surface temperature (RSST) averaged within a 500‐km radius. Further, a positive correlation is found between the 500‐km radius averaged rain rate and Rvor200, while Rvor10, Rvor700 and Rvor200 all decrease with an increasing vertical wind shear (VWS). The spatial distributions of Rvor10, Rvor700, Rvor200 and Vmax, RSST, and rain rate are all similar to one another, and the spatial correlation coefficient between any pair of variations is larger than 0.91, which is statistically significant at the 0.01 level. The monthly variations of Rvor10, Rvor700 and Rvor200 are generally larger in the months with strong TC activity (May–October) than in the other months, although a peak of Rvor10 during March has been identified for the more recent few TCs. No significant interannual trend is found during 1998–2018 for any of the three variables (Rvor10, Rvor700 and Rvor200). Statistically significant correlations between the ENSO (El Niño–Southern Oscillation) index and Rvor10 and Rvor200 are 0.54 and 0.47, respectively, while no statistically significant correlation is found between the ENSO index and Rvor700. The mechanisms that affect the TC size at different heights are complicated and will be explored in later studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei (EHP) and Vibrio parahaemolyticus acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (VPAHPND) are two of the diseases that have frequently infected farmed shrimp in recent years, causing great economic losses to the shrimp industry worldwide. In this study, we established a sensitive and accurate duplex droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) method that can simultaneously detect and quantify the two pathogens simultaneously. The results showed that the ddPCR methods could detect EHP and VPAHPND specifically. The sensitivity levels of ddPCR for EHP and VPAHPND were 2.3 copies/μl and 4.6 copies/μl, respectively, which were 10‐fold higher than the sensitivity of the qPCR assay and showed good reproducibility. Twenty‐six suspected diseased shrimp samples were used for practical determination. For EHP, the detection rates of ddPCR and qPCR were 53.84% and 42.31%, respectively; for VPAHPND, the detection rates of ddPCR and qPCR were both 23.08%. The results indicated that the ddPCR method shows superiority for detection in samples with low viral loads, which will facilitate monitoring of the source and transmission of EHP and VPAHPND and will help control shrimp epidemic disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sluggish CO2 reduction/evolution kinetics at cathodes seriously impede the realistic applications of Li–CO2 batteries. Herein, synergistic photoelectric effect and plasmonic interaction are introduced to accelerate CO2 reduction/evolution reactions by designing a silver nanoparticle‐decorated titanium dioxide nanotube array cathode. The incident light excites energetic photoelectrons/holes in titanium dioxide to overcome reaction barriers, and induces the intensified electric field around silver nanoparticles to enable effective separation/transfer of photogenerated carriers and a thermodynamically favorable reaction pathway. The resulting Li–CO2 battery demonstrates ultra‐low charge voltage of 2.86 V at 0.10 mA cm−2, good cycling stability with 86.9 % round‐trip efficiency after 100 cycles, and high rate capability at 2.0 mA cm−2. This work offers guidance on rational cathode design for advanced Li–CO2 batteries and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The development of viable pollen determines male fertility, and is crucial for reproduction in flowering plants. Phytochrome interacting factor 3 (PIF3) acts as a central regulator of plant growth and development, but its relationship with pollen development has not been determined.Through genetic, histological and transcriptomic analyses, we identified an essential role for SlPIF3 in regulating tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) pollen development. Knocking out SlPIF3 using clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR‐associated protein 9 resulted in pollen mitosis I arrest, and a failure to form viable pollen. We further demonstrated that both glutamate synthase 1 (SlGLT1) and cell wall invertase 9 (SlCWIN9), involved in auxin and sugar homeostasis, respectively, colocalised with SlPIF3 in the anthers and were directly regulated by SlPIF3. Knockout of either SlGLT1 or SlCWIN9 phenocopied the pollen phenotype of SlPIF3 knockout (Slpif3) lines.Slpif3 fertility was partially restored by exogenous auxin indole‐3‐acetic acid in a dose‐dependent manner.This study reveals a mechanism by which SlPIF3 regulates pollen development and highlights a new strategy for creating hormone‐regulated genic male sterile lines for tomato hybrid seed production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main limitation of lithium (Li) metal anodes lies in their severe dendrite growth due to nonuniform Li+ flux and sluggish Li+ transportation at the anode surface. Fabricating artificial protective overlayer with tunable surficial properties on Li metal is a precise and effective strategy to relieve this problem. In this Concept article, we focus on the basic principles of regulating interfacial Li+ through artificial protective overlayers and summarize the material preparation as well as structural design of these overlayers. The remaining challenges and promising directions of artificial protective overlayers are then highlighted to provide clues for the practical application of Li metal anodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates the H∞ containment control problem for a general class of nonlinear multi‐agent systems under external disturbances with multileaders. A kind of intermittent protocol depending only on the relative local measurement of neighboring agents is put forward to analyze the effect of external disturbances for solving the containment control problem under directed topology. By adopting the intermittent control protocol and robust H∞ control method, some sufficient conditions are derived to guarantee that all followers asymptotically converge to the convex hull spanned by all the leaders with the provided H∞ performance index. Moreover, the unknown feedback matrix of the proposed control scheme is determined directly by solving only two linear matrix inequalities (LMIs) regardless of the number of all agents. Finally, a simulation example is given to illustrate the effectiveness of the theoretical analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Li−CO2 batteries are explored as promising power systems to alleviate environmental issues and to implement space applications. However, sluggish cathode kinetics of CO2 reduction/evolution result in low round‐trip efficiency and poor cycling stability of the fabricated energy‐storage devices. Herein, we design a heterostructued photocathode comprising carbon nanotube and carbon nitride to accelerate cathode reactions of a Li−CO2 battery under illumination. Benefiting from the unique defective structure of carbon nitride and favorable interfacial charge transfer, the photocathode effectively harvests ultraviolet‐visible light to generate abundant photoexcited carriers and coordinates energetic photoelectrons/holes to participate in the discharge/charge reactions, leading to efficient photo‐energy utilization in decreasing reaction barriers and enhancing thermodynamic reversibility of Li−CO2 battery. The resulting battery delivers a high round‐trip efficiency of 98.8 % (ultralow voltage hysteresis of 0.04 V) and superior cycling stability (86.1 % efficiency retention after 100 cycles). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The catalytic upgrading of γ‐valerolactone (GVL) to liquid biofuel, which is of great importance to the development of new types of high‐performance heterogeneous catalysts, is regarded as a technically difficult task because of the thermal stability of GVL. Consequently, in this study, a series of nanocatalysts NixCu3‐x/Al2O3 (x=0, 1, 1.5, 2, and 3) derived from layered double hydroxide (LDH) precursors were prepared for the hydrogenation of biomass‐derived GVL to 2‐methyltetrahydrofuran (2‐MTHF). The optimal bimetallic Ni2Cu1/Al2O3 catalyst showed high 2‐MTHF selectivity with complete GVL conversion. Detailed characterization revealed cooperation between the acid sites and Ni−Cu alloy in the bimetallic catalysts, which was responsible for their high activities. More importantly, the strong interaction between Ni and Cu changed the surface chemical environment, which generated different copper species and enhanced the H2 activation ability. The reusability of the Ni2Cu1/Al2O3 catalyst and the effect of the reaction conditions, such as temperature, H2 pressure, and solvent, were also investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]