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As a pandemic‐era collaborative writing project undertaken amid rising geopolitical tensions, this article demonstrates understanding humor in contemporary China as an ethnographic project leading toward deep, empathetic knowledge at a time when in‐person fieldwork became difficult. Through deciphering and translating layered meanings "encrypted" in and intentions signaled by humor in a new comedy program launched in 2021, we dive deep into the lively social life in contemporary China. Humor, via "thick description," offers valuable insights into life in "fieldsites" that were hard to access during the pandemic time, amid political tensions. It provides a unique lens to examine the unspoken but shared sentiments in societies where humor has become a fundamental mode of public expression. It alerts us to existential anxieties in social life, the subtle voices of social critique, and the yearning for empathy. Humor is not only a valuable object for anthropological inquiry but also a vantage point to reflect on ethnographic methodology and epistemology. We examine humor, with its sentimental and ethical potentialities, and through spontaneous collaboration of mutual support, envision new possibilities in anthropological knowledge production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hydrological and biogeochemical properties of the hyporheic zone in stream and riverine ecosystems have been extensively studied over the past two decades. Although it is widely acknowledged that sediment heterogeneity can influence biogeochemical reactions, little effort has been made to understand the role of heterogeneity on the spatiotemporal variability of riverbed redox conditions under changing flow dynamics at different timescales. Here we integrate a mechanistic model and field data to demonstrate that heterogeneity in permeability plays a vital role in modulating sediment redox conditions at both seasonal (annual) and event (daily‐to‐weekly) timescales, whereas heterogeneity in particulate organic carbon (POC) content only has a comparable influence on redox conditions at the seasonal timescale. These findings underscore the importance of accurately characterizing sediment heterogeneity, in terms of permeability and POC content, in quantifying biogeochemical dynamics in the riverbed and hyporheic zones of riverine ecosystems. Plain Language Summary: The redox condition of riverbed sediments is subject to the combined influence of hydrologic exchange flow and biogeochemical processes and is important for regulating the functioning of riverine ecosystems. Current understanding of the spatiotemporal pattern of sediment redox conditions especially with heterogeneity in consideration is limited, partially due to the lack of measurements and quantitative models. In this study, we integrate a mechanistic model and field data to reveal the role of sediment heterogeneity in controlling the redox condition under dynamic flow conditions. We demonstrate that heterogeneity in permeability modulates sediment redox condition at both seasonal and event timescales, and heterogeneity in particulate organic carbon is most prominent over multi‐month time intervals that reflect the balance between particulate organic carbon (POC) metabolism and time‐integrated oxygen influx. These findings highlight the importance of accurate characterization of sediment heterogeneity in both permeability and POC for predicting the dynamic redox shifts in riverbed sediments. Key Points: A reactive transport model was developed to quantify the impact of heterogeneity in permeability and particulate organic carbon (POC) concentration on sediment redox conditionsHeterogeneity in permeability controls sediment redox conditions at both seasonal (annual) and event (daily‐to‐weekly) timescalesThe effects of heterogeneity in POC occur over the monthly timescale, reflecting a balance between POC metabolism and the influx of oxygen [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precise electromagnetic transient simulation of induction motors (IMs) under voltage sag condition is necessary in Electro‐Magnetic Transient Programme. Although traditional fifth‐order model can accurately reflect the electromagnetic transient behaviour of IMs, the disadvantage of massive computation limits its application in the large‐scale system simulation. Considering voltage sag is a typical power quality issue, a novel reduced‐order electromagnetic transient model based on equivalent flux linkage derivative is proposed to shorten simulation time during voltage sag. When characteristic parameters of voltage sag are given, an equivalent flux linkage derivative can be obtained simply, and the proposed model can effectively shorten the simulation time while ensuring accuracy of the fifth‐order model. Simulation results of small capacity (5.5‐kW) and large capacity (315‐kW and 1600‐kW) IMs in simple system and IEEE 9‐bus system confirm the applicability of the proposed model. It is estimated that simulation time of the proposed model decreases by 76% compared with the fifth‐order model. Finally, the experimental validation with the 5.5‐kW IM is carried out to show the effectiveness of the theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hot deformation behavior and microstructure evolution of a recently developed 2Cr12Ni4Mo3VNbN martensitic stainless steel are examined through hot compression tests conducted within the temperature range of 900–1200 °C and the strain rate range of 0.01–10 s−1. The constitutive equation and processing maps corresponding to hot deformation are established. The activation energy for hot deformation of 2Cr12Ni4Mo3VNbN steel is determined to be ≈457491.77 J mol−1. Simultaneously, the microstructure evolution during hot deformation is studied. Based on the processing maps and microstructure evolution analysis, it is concluded that the optimal windows for hot processing are within the temperature range of 1106–1150 °C and the strain rate range of 0.01–2.7 s−1, as well as at 1200 °C within the strain rate range of 1–2.7 s−1, exhibiting a power dissipation efficiency of 0.32. As the temperature increases and the strain rate decreases, the degree of dynamic recrystallization escalates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate identification of groundwater contamination sources is important for designing efficacious site remediation strategies. Currently, the methods for identifying contamination sources mainly fall into three distinct categories: simulation optimization, Bayesian inference, and data assimilation. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages under specific site conditions. To evaluate the applicability of these methods, we chose one representative inversion algorithm from each category, namely the Improved Butterfly Optimization Algorithm (IBOA) for simulation optimization, the Ensemble Smoother with Multiple Data Assimilation (ES‐MDA) for data assimilation, and the DiffeRential Evolution Adaptive Metropolis with a Snooker Update and Sampling from a Past Archive (DREAM(ZS)) for Bayesian inference. We conducted a comprehensive evaluation of these methods' performance under different model complexities, employing a surrogate model as a substitute for the complex forward model. By addressing two distinct problems involving conservative pollutant transport and Light Non‐Aqueous Phase Liquid (LNAPL) transport with biodegradation, we employed four criteria (elapsed time, result accuracy, posterior probability distribution, and noise resistance) for evaluation. The findings unequivocally indicate that DREAM(ZS) outperforms others in terms of result accuracy and posterior probability distribution. It also adeptly navigates the interrelations among disparate unknown variables. The strength of ES‐MDA lies in its efficiency. It achieves relatively satisfactory results with a reduced computational burden. In contrast, IBOA underperforms in both test problems. In terms of resistance to noise, both DREAM(ZS) and ES‐MDA perform better than IBOA does. Key Points: Hyperparameter optimization improves the accuracy of shallow learning surrogate models, making them comparable to deep learning modelsThree mainstream inversion methods were compared in elapsed time, result accuracy, posterior probability distribution and noise resistanceData assimilation and Bayesian inference methods are recommended for groundwater contamination source identification [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article addresses aesthetic politics in the Chinese rural toilet revolution. Toilet retrofitting is conventionally regarded as an issue of sanitation improvement, but in the emerging trend of rural post‐productivism transformation, toilets have become contested sites of aesthetic governance in rural development. Using the case of a village in Northern China, the authors show that, in order to beautify the rural environment, toilet identification, selection, placement and demolition are all directed by aesthetic norms for a beautiful village. Additionally, the aestheticization of village development has legitimized state‐led development by creating a common‐sense understanding of and imagination for the future. However, aesthetic logics can represent a mismatch with the realities of local lives, resulting in place alienation and suspended development. This article unpacks the logics, mechanisms and spatial‐social processes of aesthetic governance in the Chinese toilet revolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maintaining or even increasing crop yields while reducing nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions is necessary to reconcile food security and climate change, while the metric of yield‐scaled N2O emission (i.e., N2O emissions per unit of crop yield) is at present poorly understood. Here we conducted a global meta‐analysis with more than 6000 observations to explore the variation patterns and controlling factors of yield‐scaled N2O emissions for maize, wheat and rice and associated potential mitigation options. Our results showed that the average yield‐scaled N2O emissions across all available data followed the order wheat (322 g N Mg−1, with the 95% confidence interval [CI]: 301–346) > maize (211 g N Mg−1, CI: 198–225) > rice (153 g N Mg−1, CI: 144–163). Yield‐scaled N2O emissions for individual crops were generally higher in tropical or subtropical zones than in temperate zones, and also showed a trend towards lower intensities from low to high latitudes. This global variation was better explained by climatic and edaphic factors than by N fertilizer management, while their combined effect predicted more than 70% of the variance. Furthermore, our analysis showed a significant decrease in yield‐scaled N2O emissions with increasing N use efficiency or in N2O emissions for production systems with cereal yields >10 Mg ha−1 (maize), 6.6 Mg ha−1 (wheat) or 6.8 Mg ha−1 (rice), respectively. This highlights that N use efficiency indicators can be used as valuable proxies for reconciling trade‐offs between crop production and N2O mitigation. For all three major staple crops, reducing N fertilization by up to 30%, optimizing the timing and placement of fertilizer application or using enhanced‐efficiency N fertilizers significantly reduced yield‐scaled N2O emissions at similar or even higher cereal yields. Our data‐driven assessment provides some key guidance for developing effective and targeted mitigation and adaptation strategies for the sustainable intensification of cereal production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peripheral nerve stimulators have emerged as a crucial instrument in the realm of neurological disease, capable of modulating nerve activity through precisely targeted electrical stimulation to specific sites within the nervous system. Herein, a new wireless battery‐free peripheral nerve stimulation device for remote muscle activation is developed. The device with conch‐inspired bionic design can be wirelessly powered and controlled by a mobile phone playing audio via the piezoelectric effect. The device consists of two parts: a conch‐like signal‐intensifying piezoelectric resonator for converting acoustic wave into electrostimulation signal; and a pedestal with stimulation electrodes for transmitting the electrostimulation signal to a peripheral nerve. For remote nerve intervention, a programmed audio tone from one mobile phone can be tele‐transmitted from other phones according to the desired stimulation protocols. In‐vivo experiments in stimulating the sciatic nerve in mice showed that the device can activate muscles (e.g., 1 Hz 920 mV for 26 degree of leg movement), and the neuron‐muscle interaction has been confirmed by electromyogram (EMG). The wireless peripheral nerve stimulation conch achieves feasible remote muscle activation without batteries, and can extend the scope of self‐powered techniques for telemedicine and limb/trunk rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban land‐use change has the potential to affect local to global biogeochemical carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycles and associated greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes. We conducted a meta‐analysis to (1) assess the effects of urbanization‐induced land‐use conversion on soil nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4) fluxes, (2) quantify direct N2O emission factors (EFd) of fertilized urban soils used, for example, as lawns or forests, and (3) identify the key drivers leading to flux changes associated with urbanization. On average, urbanization increases soil N2O emissions by 153%, to 3.0 kg N ha−1 year−1, while rates of soil CH4 uptake are reduced by 50%, to 2.0 kg C ha−1 year−1. The global mean annual N2O EFd of fertilized lawns and urban forests is 1.4%, suggesting that urban soils can be regional hotspots of N2O emissions. On a global basis, conversion of land to urban greenspaces has increased soil N2O emission by 0.46 Tg N2O‐N year−1 and decreased soil CH4 uptake by 0.58 Tg CH4‐C year−1. Urbanization driven changes in soil N2O emission and CH4 uptake are associated with changes in soil properties (bulk density, pH, total N content, and C/N ratio), increased temperature, and management practices, especially fertilizer use. Overall, our meta‐analysis shows that urbanization increases soil N2O emissions and reduces the role of soils as a sink for atmospheric CH4. These effects can be mitigated by avoiding soil compaction, reducing fertilization of lawns, and by restoring native ecosystems in urban landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of layers of 2D materials is of great significance for regulating the performance of nanoelectronic devices and optoelectronic devices, where the optimal thickness of the target sample should be determined before further physical research or device manufacturing steps. At present, a variety of different optical technologies have been proposed to determine the thickness of samples by using the relationship between the number of layers and optical properties, including optical contrast, optical imaging, Raman spectra, photoluminescence spectra, nonlinear spectra, near-field optical imaging, ellipsometry spectra, and hyperspectral imaging. In the past decade, the rapidly growing number of 2D materials and their heterostructures has exceeded the capacity of traditional experimental and computational methods. In recent years, machine learning (ML) is emerging as a powerful tool to support such traditional methods, which brings new opportunities to tap the potential of optical technology in a more perspicacious way. The application of optical technology has greatly facilitated the acquisition of optical information of materials, while ML algorithms provide a fast, high-throughput, and intelligent way to complete back-end data processing and inference. A profound integration of conventional optical technologies and ML algorithms significantly helps 2D materials progress in basic studies and practical applications and further promotes industrial manufacturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Statins have been proven to be effective in minimizing the risk of cardiovascular adverse events, however, their effect on BP variability is debatable with respect to their significance and their use as a potential anti‐hypertensive. Using a meta‐analysis approach, the aim of this study was to explore whether certain statins have the potential to lower blood pressure (BP). For the period 2002–2022, Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases were searched for the studies that examined the effect of statins on blood pressure in normotensive or hypertensive individuals. Randomized controlled clinical trials that investigated this effect were included based on our inclusion criteria. Our primary outcomes were changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). The final analysis of the study included 49 RCTs involving 45 173 participants randomized to receive either statins or placebo. Among the two groups, the total weighted mean difference (WMD) for systolic blood pressure (ΔSBP) was –1.42 (95% CI: –2.38, –0.46; p =.004) and diastolic blood pressure (ΔDBP) was 0.82 (95% CI: –1.28, –0.36; p =.0005). Despite various studies suggesting the efficacy of statins in blood pressure lowering to be significant and non‐significant both, we observed a decrease in SBP and DBP both, although the change was not as large and could be considered significant. A large multicenter, multi‐ethnic, large sample pool size, and a long period follow‐up study is still required to assert these claims. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple high‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC–MS/MS) method has been developed for the determination of 3‐bromopyruvate (3‐BrPA) in rat plasma for the first time. The analytes were separated on a C18 column (100 × 2.1 mm, 1.7 μm) and a triple‐quadrupole mass spectrometry equipped with an electrospray ionization source was applied for detection. 3‐BrPA was extracted from rat plasma with protein precipitation, and then derivatized with 4‐nitro‐1,2‐phenylenediamine to obtain the mass signal because 3‐BrPA could not be detected in mass spectrometry. The method was fully validated according to the US Food and Drug Administration guidance. The method was linear over the concentration range 0.5–1,000.0 ng/ml for 3‐BrPA. The precision and accuracy, extraction recovery, and matrix effect were within acceptable limits. The method was then applied to support a pharmacokinetic study after 3‐BrPA and 3‐BrPA‐l‐Val‐l‐Ile (a dipeptide prodrug of 3‐BrPA, 3‐BrPA‐l‐Valine‐l‐isoleucine) had been administered to the Sprague–Dawley rats, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was designed and conducted to clarify the impact of RNF128 expression on malignant biological behaviors of colorectal cancer (CRC) cells and the underlying mechanism. The expression of RNF128 in CRC tissues was analyzed using mRNA sequencing data of TCGA database and was validated by Western blot assay. The experimental studies on biological functions of RNF128 in vitro were conducted to assess its impact on the proliferation, apoptosis, and metastasis of CRC cells. Furthermore, tumor xenograft models in nude mice were established to investigate the relationship between RNF128 expression and tumor growth in vivo. The expression levels of both RNF128 mRNA and protein were significantly increased in CRC tissues (p <.001). The knockdown of RNF128 markedly suppressed the malignant phenotype of HCT116 and SW480 cells in vitro, including cell growth, antiapoptosis, migration, and invasion (p <.001). On the other hand, knockdown of RNF128 exerted a remarkable effect on the growth inhibition of tumor xenografts in vivo (p <.001). Further investigation revealed that RNF128 knockdown lead to a significant decrease in the expression of p‐AKT and p‐PI3K protein. More importantly, the proliferative, antiapoptotic, metastatic abilities of RNF128‐knockdown cells were markedly increased by 740 Y‐P treatment (p <.001). These findings further suggested that PI3K/AKT signaling pathway played a key role in RNF128‐mediated aggressive phenotype of CRC cells. RNF128 functions as a tumor promoter in the pathogenesis of CRC via regulating PI3K/AKT pathway, and it could be a valuable target for CRC treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because retinitis pigmentosa (RP) has been shown to cause degenerative changes in the entire visual pathway, there is an urgent need to perform longitudinal assessments of RP‐induced degeneration and identify imaging protocols to detect this degeneration as early as possible. In this study, we assessed a transgenic rat model of RP by using complementary noninvasive magnetic resonance imaging techniques, namely, proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H‐MRS), to investigate the metabolic changes in RP. Our study demonstrated decreased concentrations and ratios to creatine (Cr) of N‐acetylaspartate (NAA), glutamate (Glu), γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA), and taurine (Tau), whereas myo‐inositol (Ins) and choline (Cho) were increased in the visual cortex of Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rats compared with control rats (p < 0.05). Furthermore, with the progression of RP, the concentrations of NAA, Glu, GABA, and Tau, and the ratios of GABA/Cr and Tau/Cr significantly decreased over time, whereas the concentrations of Ins and Cho and the ratio of Ins/Cr significantly increased over time (p < 0.05). In addition, in RCS rats, NAA/Cr decreased significantly from 3 to 4 months postnatal (p < 0.001), and Cho/Cr increased significantly from 4 to 5 months postnatal (p = 0.005). Meanwhile, the 1H‐MRS indicators in 5‐month postnatal RCS rats could be confirmed by immunohistochemical staining. In conclusion, with the progression of RP, the metabolic alterations in the visual cortex indicated progressive reprogramming with the decrease of neurons and axons, accompanied by the proliferation of gliocytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zinc metal is abundant in nature, non‐toxic, harmless, and cheap. Zinc‐ion batteries (ZIBs) have also emerged as the times require, which has attracted scholars′ research interest. In the zinc‐ion batteries, the cathode material is indispensable. Manganese oxides are widely used in electrode materials because of their various valence states (+2, +3, +4, +7). ZnMn2O4 (ZMO) is a mixed metal oxide with a spinel structure similar to LiMn2O4. Due to the synergistic effect of Zn and Mn, it has the advantages of high theoretical capacity. In recent years, researchers have gradually applied ZnMn2O4 to zinc ion batteries. In order to obtain high‐energy‐density zinc ion batteries, it is also very important to match electrolytes with a wide operating voltage window and develop a highly reversible anode. In the first instance, we investigate the research progress of spinel ZnMn2O4 as a reliable candidate material for zinc ion batteries. Later on, we review the optimization and modification measures of anode and electrolyte to improve the electrochemical properties of spinel ZnMn2O4. On this basis, we propose the reasonable research direction and development prospects for this material. It is hoped that there will be a help to researchers in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Dual‐Excited Synchronous Generator (DESG) has two sets of field windings. The magnitudes and directions of the two field currents can be regulated, so that the excitation magneto‐motive force can be in any direction. The electromagnetic characteristics of the DESG may be different with those of the Traditional Synchronous Generator (TSG) for the different rotor structures of the two generators. To obtain better electromagnetic characteristics, a time‐stepping finite element model (T‐S FEM) of the DESG is established. The air‐gap radial flux density, saturation, active and reactive power of the DESG in single‐ and dual‐axis excitation modes are calculated and compared with those of the TSG. The electromagnetic characteristics affected by the different ratio of q‐axis field current to d‐axis field current are studied. On this basis, an excitation control strategy that can enhance the steady‐state stability is proposed, and the steady‐state stability limits with and without excitation control are calculated by the T‐S FEM. A 10‐kW DESG is developed to verify the correctness of the simulation results. The results show that the DESG with dual‐axis excitation has better electromagnetic characteristics and stronger reactive power ability, and the steady‐state stability limit of the DESG is increased obviously through the excitation control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in the progression of many cancers through largely unelucidated mechanisms. The results of our present study identified a gene cluster, miR‐221/222, that is constitutively upregulated in serum exosome samples of patients with colorectal carcinoma (CRC) with liver metastasis (LM); this upregulation predicts a poor overall survival rate. Using an in vitro cell coculture model, we demonstrated that CRC exosomes harboring miR‐221/222 activate liver hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) by suppressing SPINT1 expression. Importantly, miR‐221/222 plays a key role in forming a favorable premetastatic niche (PMN) that leads to the aggressive nature of CRC, which was further shown through in vivo studies. Overall, our results show that exosomal miR‐221/222 promotes CRC progression and may serve as a novel prognostic marker and therapeutic target for CRC with LM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MicroRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) serve essential roles in the pathogenic process of spinal cord injury (SCI). The present study investigated the role of miR‐378‐3p and autophagy‐related 12 (ATG12) in SCI. RT‐qPCR was used to detect the mRNA expression levels of miR‐378‐3p and ATG12. Cell viability and membrane integrity were evaluated using CCK‐8 and LDH assays. For the analysis of the interaction between miR‐378‐3p and ATG12, a dual‐luciferase reporter assay was conducted. The hindlimb function of rats was detected with the Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan score, and the motor deficit index score was used to evaluate nerve function. Using these approaches, it was identified that miR‐378‐3p expression was downregulated, while that of ATG12 was upregulated in SCI tissues and in cells exposed to hypoxia. Hypoxia repressed the expression of miR‐378‐3p via hypoxia‐inducible factor 1‐α. The overexpression of miR‐378‐3p exerted anti‐apoptotic effects on nerve cells by directly repressing ATG12. The infusion of miR‐378‐3p improved hindlimb motor function and the neurological functions of rats with contusion SCI, which contributed to amelioration of functional deficits and the relief of contusion SCI. Therefore, it was concluded that upregulated expression of miR‐378‐3p in PC12 or N2A cells repressed the apoptosis of nerve cells, and the administration of miR‐378‐3p in model rats with contusion SCI improved neurological and motor functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivated by a real‐world problem in an automobile manufacturing firm, we study the multi‐level, multi‐stage lot‐sizing and scheduling problem with demand information updating. The objective is to determine the quantities and sequences of production on different production stages to minimize the total costs of production and inventory. We employ the martingale model for forecast evolution to model the evolving demand over time and build a mixed‐integer programing (MIP) model for the problem using a hybrid period approach (i.e., combining micro‐ and macro‐periods). To solve this NP‐hard problem, we propose three heuristic algorithms based on the idea of "relax‐and‐fix" within the rolling horizon framework. We conduct computational experiments to test the performance of the heuristic algorithms as well as compare the performance of the proposed heuristics with the benchmark procedure (truncated procedure for MIP) for both small‐ and large‐scale problem instances. The computational results show that Heuristic 1 performs the best among the three heuristic algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, about 50% of all arable soils are classified as acidic. As crop and plant growth are significantly hampered under acidic soil conditions, many farmers, but increasingly as well forest managers, apply lime to raise the soil pH. Besides its direct effect on soil pH, liming also affects soil C and nutrient cycles and associated greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes. In this meta‐analysis, we reviewed 1570 observations reported in 121 field‐based studies worldwide, to assess liming effects on soil GHG fluxes and plant productivity. We found that liming significantly increases crop yield by 36.3%. Also, soil organic C (SOC) stocks were found to increase by 4.51% annually, though soil respiration is stimulated too (7.57%). Moreover, liming was found to reduce soil N2O emission by 21.3%, yield‐scaled N2O emission by 21.5%, and CH4 emission and yield‐scaled CH4 emission from rice paddies by 19.0% and 12.4%, respectively. Assuming that all acid agricultural soils are limed periodically, liming results in a total GHG balance benefit of 633−749 Tg CO2‐eq year−1 due to reductions in soil N2O emissions (0.60−0.67 Tg N2O‐N year−1) and paddy soil CH4 emissions (1.75−2.21 Tg CH4 year−1) and increases in SOC stocks (65.7–110 Tg C year−1). However, this comes at the cost of an additional CO2 release (c. 624–656 Tg CO2 year−1) deriving from lime mining, transport and application, and lime dissolution, so that the overall GHG balance is likely neutral. Nevertheless, liming of acid agricultural soils will increase yields by at least 6.64 × 108 Mg year−1, covering the food supply of 876 million people. Overall, our study shows for the first time that a general strategy of liming of acid agricultural soils is likely to result in an increasing sustainability of global agricultural production, indicating the potential benefit of liming acid soils for climate change mitigation and food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate intraoperative tissue identification is critical to tumor surgery. However, conventional methods are labor‐ and time‐intensive, which greatly delay the intraoperative decision‐making. Herein, a matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)14‐activated NIR‐II nanoprobe (A&MMP@Ag2S‐AF7P) is presented for rapid unperturbed‐tissue analysis for ex vivo and in vivo neuroblastoma diagnosis. A&MMP@Ag2S‐AF7P displays negligible fluorescence in normal tissues but is activated quickly by inhibiting the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between Ag2S QDs and A1094 mediated by MMP14 overexpressed in neuroblastoma; meanwhile, the exposure of the membrane penetrating peptide R9 (TAT‐peptide) results in efficient internalization of nanoprobes in the cancer cells, providing superior tumor‐to‐normal (T/N) tissue ratio. Instant illumination of the lesion and well‐defined tumor margins make the nanoprobes a suitable rapid diagnostic reagent for cancer surgical or tissue biopsy procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing penetration of renewable energy leads to the decrease of inertia and damping for replacing conventional power plants. The motor–generator pair (MGP) is proposed to improve inertial response and frequency regulation capability for the renewable energy. First, the mathematical model of the MGP and the control method of DC‐link voltage are given. Then, the inertial characteristics of the MGP are analysed, and a mass block is designed by analysing the key factor affecting the moment of inertia. The transient processes in two machines are discussed by comparing the variations of the voltage and current vectors. It turns out that the electromagnetic–mechanical coupling is the key to realise the primary frequency regulation without frequency acquisition. The photovoltaic (PV) is chosen to illustrate the mechanism of achieving a better primary frequency response with DC‐link voltage control methods based on the de‐loading and additional frequency deviation strategies. A grid‐scale simulation model is built to verify the effectiveness of the proposed scheme. Furthermore, six groups of experiments are designed and performed on an experimental bench. The simulation and experimental results demonstrate that the inertial response and primary frequency response of PV can be improved effectively by adopting MGP for grid connection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metastasis accounts for poor prognosis of cancers and related deaths. Accumulating evidence has shown that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play critical roles in several types of cancer. However, which lncRNAs contribute to metastasis of colon cancer is still largely unknown. In this study, we found that lncRNA LINC01578 was correlated with metastasis and poor prognosis of colon cancer. LINC01578 was upregulated in colon cancer, associated with metastasis, advanced clinical stages, poor overall survival, disease‐specific survival, and disease‐free survival. Gain‐of‐function and loss‐of‐function assays revealed that LINC01578 enhanced colon cancer cell viability and mobility in vitro and colon cancer liver metastasis in vivo. Mechanistically, nuclear factor kappa B (NF‐κB) and Yin Yang 1 (YY1) directly bound to the LINC01578 promoter, enhanced its activity, and activated LINC01578 expression. LINC01578 was shown to be a chromatin‐bound lncRNA, which directly bound NFKBIB promoter. Furthermore, LINC01578 interacted with and recruited EZH2 to NFKBIB promoter and further repressed NFKBIB expression, thereby activating NF‐κB signaling. Through activation of NF‐κB, LINC01578 further upregulated YY1 expression. Through activation of the NF‐κB/YY1 axis, LINC01578 in turn enhanced its own promoter activity, suggesting that LINC01578 and NF‐κB/YY1 formed a positive feedback loop. Blocking NF‐κB signaling abolished the oncogenic roles of LINC01578 in colon cancer. Furthermore, the expression levels of LINC01578, NFKBIB, and YY1 were correlated in clinical tissues. Collectively, this study demonstrated that LINC01578 promoted colon cancer metastasis via forming a positive feedback loop with NF‐κB/YY1 and suggested that LINC01578 represents a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for colon cancer metastasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Targeting the androgen receptor (AR) signalling pathway remains the main therapeutic option for advanced prostate cancer. However, resistance to AR‐targeting inhibitors represents a great challenge, highlighting the need for new therapies. Activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway and increased expression of histone deacetylases (HDACs) are common aberrations in prostate cancer, suggesting that inhibition of such targets may be a viable therapeutic strategy for this patient population. Previous reports demonstrated that combination of PI3K inhibitors (PI3KIs) with histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACIs) resulted in synergistic antitumour activities against preclinical models of prostate cancer. In this study, we demonstrate that the novel dual PI3K and HDAC inhibitor CUDC‐907 has promising antitumour activity against prostate cancer cell lines in vitro and castration‐resistant LuCaP 35CR patient‐derived xenograft (PDX) mouse model in vivo. CUDC‐907‐induced apoptosis was partially dependent on Mcl‐1, Bcl‐xL, Bim and c‐Myc. Further, down‐regulation of Wee1, CHK1, RRM1 and RRM2 contributed to CUDC‐907‐induced DNA damage and apoptosis. In the LuCaP 35CR PDX model, treatment with CUDC‐907 resulted in significant inhibition of tumour growth. These findings support the clinical development of CUDC‐907 for the treatment of prostate cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malignant tumors, including colorectal cancer (CRC), usually rely on ATP generation through aerobic glycolysis for both rapid growth and chemotherapy resistance. The M2 isoform of pyruvate kinase (PKM2) has a key role in catalyzing glycolysis, and PKM2 expression varies even within a single tumor. In this study, we confirmed that expression of PKM2 is heterogeneous in CRC cells, namely high in oxaliplatin‐resistant cells but relatively low in sensitive cells, and found that chemoresistant cells had enhanced glycolysis and ATP production. In addition, we report a PKM2‐dependent mechanism through which chemosensitive cells may gradually transform into chemoresistant cells. The circular RNA hsa_circ_0005963 (termed ciRS‐122 in this study), which was determined to be a sponge for the PKM2‐targeting miR‐122, was positively correlated with chemoresistance. In vitro and in vivo studies showed that exosomes from oxaliplatin‐resistant cells delivered ciRS‐122 to sensitive cells, thereby promoting glycolysis and drug resistance through miR‐122 sponging and PKM2 upregulation. Moreover, si‐ciRS‐122 transported by exosomes could suppress glycolysis and reverse resistance to oxaliplatin by regulating the ciRS‐122–miR‐122–PKM2 pathway in vivo. Exosomes derived from chemoresistant CRC cells could transfer ciRS‐122 across cells and promote glycolysis to reduce drug susceptibility in chemosensitive cells. This intercellular signal delivery suggests a potential novel therapeutic target and establishes a foundation for future clinical applications in drug‐resistant CRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer‐related cachexia is a metabolic syndrome characterized by a wasting disorder of adipose and skeletal muscle and is accompanied by body weight loss and systemic inflammation. The treatment options for cancer cachexia are limited, and the molecular mechanism remains poorly understood. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a novel family of endogenous noncoding RNAs that have been proposed to regulate gene expression in mammals. Exosomes are small vesicles derived from cells, and recent studies have shown that circRNAs are stable in exosomes. However, little is known about the biological role of circRNAs in exosomes. In our study, we showed that circRNAs in plasma exosomes have specific expression features in gastric cancer (GC), and ciRS‐133 is linked with the browning of white adipose tissue (WAT) in GC patients. Exosomes derived from GC cells deliver ciRS‐133 into preadipocytes, promoting the differentiation of preadipocytes into brown‐like cells by activating PRDM16 and suppressing miR‐133. Moreover, knockdown of ciRS‐133 reduced cancer cachexia in tumor‐implanted mice, decreasing oxygen consumption and heat production. Thus, exosome‐delivered circRNAs are involved in WAT browning and play a key role in cancer‐associated cachexia. What's new? Although metabolic dysfunction has been proposed as a cause for tumor cachexia, a wasting disorder of adipose and skeletal muscle accompanied by systemic inflammation, the mechanisms remain unclear. Here, the authors reveal the role of exosome‐delivered circRNAs in cancer‐associated cachexia. They identify one exosome‐circRNA secreted by cancer cells that plays a key role in regulating differentiation of preadipocytes by working as a microR‐133 sponge. In both gastric cancer patients and animal models, tumor exosomes promote WAT browning. Furthermore, tumor‐derived circRNA accelerates oxygen consumption and glucose expenditure of brown‐like adipocytes in vitro; and in vivo, exosome‐circRNA aggravates cachexia in tumor‐implanted mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Castration‐resistant progression of prostate cancer is a major cause of prostate cancer mortality, and increased expression and activity of the full‐length and the splice variants of androgen receptor (AR) have been indicated to drive castration resistance. Consequently, there is an urgent need to develop agents that can target both the full‐length and the splice variants of AR for more effective treatment of prostate cancer. In the present study, we showed that raddeanin A (RA), an oleanane‐type triterpenoid saponin, suppresses the transcriptional activities of both the full‐length and the splice variants of AR. This is attributable to their decreased expression as a result of RA induction of proteasome‐mediated degradation and inhibition of the transcription of the AR gene. We further showed the potential of using RA to enhance the growth inhibitory efficacy of docetaxel, the first‐line chemotherapy for prostate cancer. This study identifies RA as a new agent to target both the full‐length and the splice variants of AR and provides a rationale for further developing RA for prostate cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A new self‐powered brain‐linked vision electronic‐skin (e‐skin) for mimicking retina is realized from Polypyrrole/Polydimethysiloxane (Ppy/PDMS) triboelectric‐photodetecting pixel‐addressable matrix. The e‐skin can be driven by human motion, so no external electricity power is needed in both photodetecting and signal transmitting processes. The triboelectric output is significantly dependent on the photo illumination, which can act as visual bionic electric impulse. Taking blue illumination (405 nm) as an example, as the e‐skin is exposed to 100 µW cm−2 illumination, the output current decreases from 7.5 to 4.9 nA, and the photosensitivity is 34.7. And the photosensitivity of the e‐skin keeps stable with different bending angles and force. The e‐skin is flexible enough to combine with human body and can be driven by blinking eyes to detect UV illumination. In addition, the 4 × 4 photodetecting unit matrix in the e‐skin can map single‐point and multipoint illumination‐stimuli (visual‐image recognition) via the multichannel data acquisition method. Furthermore, the e‐skin can directly transmit photodetecting signals into mouse brain for participating in the perception and behavior intervention. This new self‐powered perception device can lower down the production cost of traditional complex sensory‐substitution system, and can be easily extended to various brain–machine interaction applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Cough is one of common symptoms of influenza, the cough duration and prevalence of postinfectious cough (PIC) after viral upper respiratory tract infection has not been well described. Objectives We aim to investigate the duration of cough and prevalence of PIC and its relation with acute symptoms, airway inflammation and cough sensitivity in patients with H1N1 influenza. Methods Patients with acute symptoms of H1N1 influenza were enrolled and followed up until cough relived. Spirometry, induced sputum test, capsaicin challenge test were conducted in patients with PIC. Cough sensitivity was presented as logarithm of provocative concentration inducing five or more coughs (logC5). Results A total of 141 cases with H1N1 influenza were enrolled. In patients with H1N1 influenza, 97.2% of them complained cough. The duration of cough was as following: <1 week (73.0%); 1-2 weeks (7.8%); 2-3 weeks (7.8%); ≥3 weeks (8.5%). Twelve (8.5%) patients had cough lasting more than 3 weeks (PIC), 4 (2.8%) patients developed chronic cough (>8 weeks). Acute symptoms, spirometry, bronchial responsiveness and sputum differential cell count were similar between patients with PIC and those without PIC, however, there was a higher prevalence of previous PIC (58.3% vs 14.7%, P < 0.05) and elevated cough sensitivity (lgC5: 1.18 ± 0.58 vs 2.73 ± 0.33, P < 0.01) in patients with PIC as compared with the patients without PIC. Conclusions Acute cough is common in patients with H1N1 PIC, only a few of patients develop chronic cough. Acute symptoms cannot predict PIC which is related with previous PIC and increased cough sensitivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method of picking up carbon nanotubes (CNTs) from nanotube bulk by van der Waals force inside a scanning electron microscopy is presented. An atomic force microscope cantilever was employed as end effector of nanorobotics manipulators for CNT picking up. A manipulation strategy was established by analysing the van der Waals force of three different types of contacting models. Three groups of experiments were designed and carried out to investigate the effects of different factors. Factors including pickup angle, pickup contact area between the CNT and the cantilever and pickup speed of the end effector were discussed. The results shown that a pickup angle at 90.1° and a pickup speed lower than 10 nm/step with a pickup contact length more than 1.5 µm would increase the probability of picking up CNT successfully. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transcriptional activation by transcription factors is coupled with histone acetylation and chromatin remodeling. However, the relationship between TGF-β1-induced gene transcription by Krüppel-like factor (KLF)-4 and histone acetylation remains unknown. In our study, KLF4 overexpression or knockdown, respectively increased or decreased H3 acetylation and p300 occupancy, which is concentrated in the region containing TGF-β1 control elements (TCEs) of the genes by TGF-β1 regulation during vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) differentiation. Coimmunoprecipitation and glutathione S-transferase pull-down assays showed that phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) formed a complex with KLF4 to inhibit the phosphorylation of the latter in basal conditions. After TGF-β1 signaling activation, PTEN was phosphorylated by p38 MAPK or PI3K/Akt signaling, phosphorylated PTEN lost its ability to dephosphorylate KLF4, and the cofactors interacting with KLF4 switched from PTEN to p300. Then, KLF4-p300 complexes were recruited to KLF4-binding sites of the gene promoter of VSMCs, to acetylate histone H3 and activate transcription. In addition, phosphorylated KLF4 enhanced p300 histone acetyltransferase (HAT) activity via the p38 MAPK pathway, which may be responsible for H3 acetylation. Taken together, the results of our study reveal a novel mechanism whereby KLF4 mediates the link between TGF-β1-induced gene transcription activation and H3 acetylation during VSMC differentiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The next-generation antiandrogen MDV3100 prolongs overall survival of patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). However, patient responses are variable, and survival benefit remains relatively small. Developing effective modality to improve MDV3100 efficacy is urgently needed. Recent evidence suggests that constitutively active androgen receptor splice variants (AR-Vs) drive resistance to MDV3100. In our study, we show that methylselenol prodrug downregulates the expression and activity of both the full-length AR (AR-FL) and AR-Vs. The downregulation is independent of androgen and could be attributable to repressed transcription of the AR gene. Cotreatment with methylselenol prodrug and MDV3100 suppresses AR signaling more dramatically than either agent alone, and synergistically inhibits the growth of CRPC cells in vitro. The combinatorial efficacy is observed in not only AR-V-expressing cells but also cells expressing predominantly AR-FL, likely owing to the ability of the two drugs to block the AR signaling cascade at distinct steps. Ectopic expression of AR-FL or AR-V7 attenuates the combinatorial efficacy, indicating that downregulating AR-FL and AR-V7 is importantly involved in mediating the combinatorial efficacy. Significantly, methylselenol prodrug also downregulates AR-FL and AR-Vs in vivo and substantially improves the antitumor efficacy of MDV3100. These findings support a potential combination therapy for improving MDV3100 efficacy, and provide a rationale for evaluating the clinical application of combining methylselenol prodrug with MDV3100 for the treatment of CRPC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human adenoviruses have been used to develop candidate HIV vaccine vectors, but a major obstacle to the use of vectors derived from Ad5 and other common serotypes is the high prevalence of neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) in humans. Prior studies have reported a prevalence of Ad5 between 60% and 70% in Europe and US, and up to 98% in surveyed African and Asian (Thai) tropical countries. However, few studies have reported on the Ad5 prevalence in Chinese populations. In this study, a total of 1,250 healthy adult serum samples from six administratively separate regions of China were screened by high-throughput luciferase-based virus neutralization assays. Results showed that overall 72% of healthy adults were Ad5 seropositive, and 46.4% with baseline Ad5 NAb titers of >200 in China. Comprehensive analysis by geographical region and age showed that the seroprevalence of Ad5 in southern China such as Guangxi was higher than that in other regions. Geographical differences and climate were considered as the major factors affecting the titer levels of Ad5 in healthy adults. In addition, no apparent gender and ethnic difference was found in any group classified according to region, age, or NAb titer. The present study may provide useful insights for the future development of Ad5-based vaccines and gene therapy. J. Med. Virol. 84:1408-1414, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary To address the need for new approaches to antibiotic drug development, we have identified a large number of essential genes for the bacterial pathogen, Staphylococcus aureus , using a rapid shotgun antisense RNA method. Staphylococcus aureus chromosomal DNA fragments were cloned into a xylose-inducible expression plasmid and transformed into S. aureus . Homology comparisons between 658 S. aureus genes identified in this particular antisense screen and the Mycoplasma genitalium genome, which contains 517 genes in total, yielded 168 conserved genes, many of which appear to be essential in M. genitalium and other bacteria. Examples are presented in which expression of an antisense RNA specifically reduces its cognate mRNA. A cell-based, drug-screening assay is also described, wherein expression of an antisense RNA confers specific sensitivity to compounds targeting that gene product. This approach enables facile assay development for high throughput screening for any essential gene, independent of its biochemical function, thereby greatly facilitating the search for new antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel differential bandpass filter (BPF) based on a TE01δ‐mode dielectric resonator (DR) is proposed. By utilising the inherent electromagnetic properties of the TE01δ‐mode ring‐shaped DR, the TE01δ mode, as a dominate mode of the DR, can be differentially excited for constructing the fundamental differential passband of the BPF. To validate the proposed idea, a second‐order differential BPF is designed, fabricated and measured. Good agreement is obtained between simulated and measured results, showcasing good performance such as low insertion loss and high common‐mode suppression in the differential passband. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rechargeable magnesium sulfur batteries (MSBs) face issues like polysulfide shuttling, sluggish redox kinetics, and high cost, leading to dissatisfied practical demonstrations. Herein, simple battery configurations utilizing 100% sulfur are proposed on nine collectors and a low‐cost phenolate‐based magnesium complex (PMC) electrolyte to address these problems. Comprehensive studies indicate that the Cu collector is the most conducive to improving battery performance, not only facilitating the generation of magnesium sulfides during discharging but also effectively dissociating Mg─S bonds during charging. Moreover, Cu surfaces can effectively adsorb magnesium polysulfides (MgSx) and induce an insulator‐to‐metal transition of MgS, leading to a more effective suppression of the shuttle effect and the transfer of electrons. MXene interlayers are further introduced between electrodes to inhibit MgSx shuttling and enhance the interfacial electronic conductivity, as reflected by the reinforced high discharge voltage plateau at ≈1.7 V and stable long discharge voltage plateau at ≈1.2 V. The assembled MSBs exhibit the highest reported capacity of 1260 mAh g−1S and an energy density of 1230 Wh kg−1S with a cycle life of over 1000 cycles. This research contributes to the fundamental understanding of rechargeable MSBs and marks a significant advancement in optimizing cell designs for better performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an improved closed‐form solution to determine the global buckling capacity of axially loaded pultruded fiber‐reinforced polymer (PFRP) columns with doubly symmetry cross sections based on the original solution recommended by Eurocode 3 (EC3). In this improved solution, a new closed‐form equation to determine the reduction factor for global buckling of doubly symmetric PFRP members under axial compression is developed, based on the Ayrton–Perry formula and observed initial out‐of‐straightness of PFRP members measured by other researchers. Recognizing that data on initial imperfections may be unavailable, a second new empirical closed‐form equation is derived to predict the global buckling loads of doubly symmetric PFRP columns based upon the experimental data. Validation of the two explicit solutions taking into account the influence of geometric imperfections of doubly symmetric PFRP shapes is performed by both comparison to experimental data and comparison with validated numerical simulations. In addition, compared with the five closed‐form solutions available in the literature, the two proposed solutions exhibit higher accuracy in predicting the global buckling capacity of concentrically loaded PFRP columns with doubly symmetry cross sections. Parametric studies are further conducted, and the influences of the main parameters on the performance of corresponding solutions are discussed. The two proposed solutions can facilitate the global buckling analysis and design of doubly symmetric PFRP columns under concentric compressive loading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new novel complexes, [Cu4(Endc)4(phen)4]⋅7(H2O)⋅2(O) and [Mn2(Endc)2(phen)2(H2O)2]⋅(H2O) (phen =1,10-phenanthroline, H2Endc = endo-norbornene- cis-5,6-dicarboxylic acid), were synthesized and structurally characterized using IR and 1H NMR spectroscopies, elemental analysis and single-crystal X-ray diffractometry. Their reactivity with calf thymus DNA and HeLa cell DNA was measured using UV absorption and fluorescence spectroscopies. The results indicated that these complexes can bind to DNA with different binding affinity. Gel electrophoresis assay demonstrated the ability of the complexes to cleave pBR322 plasmid DNA. Apoptotic study showed that the complexes exhibit significant cancer cell inhibitory rates. Eventually, the complexes can suitably dock with a special DNA (PDB ID: 1AIO). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]