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Despite breakthroughs of immunotherapy synergistically combined with blockade of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor, several patients with advanced non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) experience non‐response or followed relapse. Organized lymphoid aggregates, termed tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs), are found to be associated with improved response to immunotherapy. Here, we explore the landscapes of TLSs in tumour tissues from a real‐world retrospective study. Our investigation showed that with a median follow‐up of 11.2 months, the ORR was 28.6% (18/63, 95% CI 17.9–41.3) and the median PFS was 6.1 (95% CI 5.5–6.6) months in NSCLC patients treated with PD‐1 blockade combined with anlotinib. By multiplex immunofluorescence (mIF) analysis, spatially, more TLSs and high CD20+ B‐cell ratio in TLSs were associated with higher ORR. High density of intratumoral CD8+ T cells showed better ORR and PFS. The numbers of CD8+ T cells with a distance within 20 μm and 20–50 μm between tumour cells were higher in responders than non‐responders. But responders had significantly higher TLSs within 20 μm rather than within 20–50 μm of tumour cells than non‐responders. The inflamed immunophenotyping occupied higher proportions in responders and was associated with better PFS. Besides, tumour cells in non‐responders were found more temporal cell‐in‐cell structures than responders, which could protect inner cells from T‐cell attacks. Taken together, landscape of TLSs and proximity architecture may imply superior responses to PD‐1 blockade combined with anlotinib for patients with advanced non‐small cell lung cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar‐driven CO2 reduction into value‐added C2+ chemical fuels, such as C2H4, is promising in meeting the carbon‐neutral future, yet the performance is usually hindered by the high energy barrier of the C─C coupling process. Here, an efficient and stabilized Cu(I) single atoms‐modified W18O49 nanowires (Cu1/W18O49) photocatalyst with asymmetric Cu─W dual sites is reported for selective photocatalytic CO2 reduction to C2H4. The interconversion between W(V) and W(VI) in W18O49 ensures the stability of Cu(I) during the photocatalytic process. Under light irradiation, the optimal Cu1/W18O49 (3.6‐Cu1/W18O49) catalyst exhibits concurrent high activity and selectivity toward C2H4 production, reaching a corresponding yield rate of 4.9 µmol g−1 h−1 and selectivity as high as 72.8%, respectively. Combined in situ spectroscopies and computational calculations reveal that Cu(I) single atoms stabilize the *CO intermediate, and the asymmetric Cu─W dual sites effectively reduce the energy barrier for the C─C coupling of two neighboring CO intermediates, enabling the highly selective C2H4 generation from CO2 photoreduction. This work demonstrates leveraging stabilized atomically‐dispersed Cu(I) in asymmetric dual‐sites for selective CO2‐to‐C2H4 conversion and can provide new insight into photocatalytic CO2 reduction to other targeted C2+ products through rational construction of active sites for C─C coupling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar‐driven CO2 reduction into value‐added C2+ chemical fuels, such as C2H4, is promising in meeting the carbon‐neutral future, yet the performance is usually hindered by the high energy barrier of the C─C coupling process. Here, an efficient and stabilized Cu(I) single atoms‐modified W18O49 nanowires (Cu1/W18O49) photocatalyst with asymmetric Cu─W dual sites is reported for selective photocatalytic CO2 reduction to C2H4. The interconversion between W(V) and W(VI) in W18O49 ensures the stability of Cu(I) during the photocatalytic process. Under light irradiation, the optimal Cu1/W18O49 (3.6‐Cu1/W18O49) catalyst exhibits concurrent high activity and selectivity toward C2H4 production, reaching a corresponding yield rate of 4.9 µmol g−1 h−1 and selectivity as high as 72.8%, respectively. Combined in situ spectroscopies and computational calculations reveal that Cu(I) single atoms stabilize the *CO intermediate, and the asymmetric Cu─W dual sites effectively reduce the energy barrier for the C─C coupling of two neighboring CO intermediates, enabling the highly selective C2H4 generation from CO2 photoreduction. This work demonstrates leveraging stabilized atomically‐dispersed Cu(I) in asymmetric dual‐sites for selective CO2‐to‐C2H4 conversion and can provide new insight into photocatalytic CO2 reduction to other targeted C2+ products through rational construction of active sites for C─C coupling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

3D macroporous carbon‐based foams are always considered as promising candidates for high‐performance electromagnetic (EM) wave absorbing materials due to the collaborative EM contribution and salutary structure effect. However, the uneven distribution of heterogeneous EM components and the cumbersome preparation process have become key issues to hinder their performance improvement and practical popularity. Herein, the fabrication of 3D carbon foam decorated with small and highly dispersed Mo2C nanoparticles is realized by an innovative self‐foaming strategy. The foaming mechanism can be attributed to the decomposition of nitrate during the softening process of organic polymers. The good dispersion of Mo2C nanoparticles boosts interfacial polarization significantly. After regulating the content of Mo2C nanoparticles, the optimal Mo2C/CF‐x exhibits good EM absorption performance, whose minimum reflection loss intensity value can reach up to ‐72.2 dB, and effective absorption bandwidth covers 6.7 GHz with a thickness of 2.30 mm. Very importantly, the resultant Mo2C/CF‐x exhibits hydrophobicity and strong acidic anticorrosion, and a long‐time treatment in HCl solution (6.0 mol L−1) produces negligible impacts on their EM functions. It is believed that this extraordinary feature may render Mo2C/C foams as qualified and durable EM wave absorbing materials (EWAMs) under rigorous conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current quality control method for Turkish gall (TG) is limited to assessing total tannin or gallic acid (GA), which offers a basic level of quality control but does not fully capture the true quality of TG. Therefore, it is essential to establish a comprehensive method that utilizes multiple indicators to assess the intrinsic quality of TG. This research utilized UPLC‐Q‐TOF‐MS/MS technology to qualitatively analyze the chemical composition of TG. Subsequently, the potential main active ingredients, targets, and pathways of TG in treating recurrent aphthous ulcers (RAU) were explored and analyzed using network pharmacology technology. Quantitative analysis of multicomponents by single marker (QAMS) was then employed to quantify the primary pharmacodynamic components in TG. Finally, chemometrics analysis was utilized to interpret the measured results and identify the markers of scavenging quality. The study identified 36 chemical components in TG, highlighting ellagic acid (EA), GA, and so on as key components in treating RAU. A method for simultaneously determining GA, EA, 1,2,3,6‐tetra‐O‐galloyl‐β‐D‐glucose (TEGG) and 1,2,3,4,6‐penta‐O‐galloyl‐β‐D‐glucose (PEGG) in TG was established. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences in the content of these 4 components across 14 batches of TG, with GA and PEGG identified as the primary contributors to the variations. This study determined a quality index for TG, providing a reference for quality evaluation and introducing a cost‐effective and efficient quality control method. Furthermore, it addressed the challenge of developing new Chinese medicine by overcoming the lack of reference substances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The RNA‐binding motif single‐stranded interacting protein 3 (RBMS3) is a constituent of the RNA‐binding motif (RBM) protein family, which assumes a pivotal role in governing cellular biogenesis processes such as the cell cycle and apoptosis. Despite an abundance of studies elucidating RBMS3's divergent roles in the genesis and advancement of various tumors, its involvement in colon cancer remains enigmatic. Methods: The present investigation employed data analysis from TCGA and GTEx to unveil that RBMS3 expression demonstrated a diminished presence in colon cancer tissues when juxtaposed with normal colon tissues. The effect of RBMS3 and LIM zinc finger domain 1 (LIMS1) on colon cancer was substantiated via animal models and cellular experiments. The connection between RBMS3 and LIM zinc finger domain 1 (LIMS1) was verified by molecular biology methods. Results: The study conclusively ascertained that augmenting RBMS3 expression quells the proliferation, migration, and invasion of colon cancer cells. Furthermore, the inquiry unveiled a plausible mechanism through which RBMS3 impacts the expression of LIMS1 by modulating its mRNA stability. The investigation ascertained that RBMS3 inhibits the progression of colon cancer by regulating LIMS1. The inhibitory function of LIMS1 and RBMS3 is closely intertwined in colon cancer, with knocking down LIMS1 being able to rescue the inhibitory effect of RBMS3 overexpression on the functionality of colon cancer cell Conclusions: The discernments delineate RBMS3 as a novel suppressor of cancer via LIMS1, thereby bestowing fresh therapeutic possibilities and illuminating the intricacies of colon cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Previous studies have indicated that smoking is linked to an increased risk of developing schizophrenia, and that individuals with schizophrenia are more prone to engaging in antisocial behavior. However, the causal effects of smoking behaviors on antisocial behavior and the potential mediating role of schizophrenia remains largely unclear. Methods: In the present study, using the summary data from genome wide association studies of smoking phenotypes (N = 323,386–805,431), schizophrenia (Ncases = 53,386, Ncontrols = 77,258), and antisocial behavior (N = 85,359), we assessed bidirectional causality between smoking phenotypes and schizophrenia by the Mendelian randomization (MR) approach. Using a two‐step MR approach, we further examined whether causal effects of smoking phenotypes/schizophrenia on antisocial behavior were mediated by schizophrenia/smoking phenotypes. Results: The results showed that smoking initiation (SmkInit) and age of smoking initiation (AgeSmk) causally increase the risk of schizophrenia (SmkInit: OR = 2.06, 95% CI = 1.77–2.39, p = 4.36 × 10−21; AgeSmk: OR = 0.32, 95% CI = 0.16–0.62, p = 8.11 × 10−4, Bonferroni corrected). However, there was no causal effect that liability to schizophrenia leads to smoking phenotypes. MR evidence also revealed causal influences of SmkInit and the amount smoked (CigDay) on antisocial behavior (SmkInit: OR = 1.28, 95% CI = 1.17–1.41, p = 2.53 × 10−7; CigDay: OR = 1.16, 95% CI = 1.06–1.27, p = 1.60 × 10−3, Bonferroni corrected). Furthermore, the mediation analysis indicated that the relationship between SmkInit and antisocial behavior was partly mediated by schizophrenia (mediated proportion = 6.92%, 95% CI = 0.004–0.03, p = 9.66 × 10−3). Conclusions: These results provide compelling evidence for taking smoking interventions as a prevention strategy for schizophrenia and its related antisocial behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glasses with ultra‐wideband near‐infrared emission and superior irradiation resistance are important for the potential applications in optical communications under harsh environments. Here, transparent 35La2O3‐(65‐x)Ga2O3‐xTa2O5 (LGT) and Er3+/Tm3+/Pr3+ tri‐doped LGT glasses are fabricated using the levitation method. LGT glasses exhibit a wide glass‐formation region, low largest vibration energy, high refractive indices, and excellent mechanical properties. Additionally, Er3+/Tm3+/Pr3+ tri‐doped LGT samples with varying Pr3+ contents are characterized by possessing good thermal stability (Tg>849°C), wide transparent optical window, strong radiation resistance, excellent compatibility between low wavelength dispersion (vd>31.2), and large refractive index (nd>2.048). By optimizing the doping content of Er3+, Tm3+, and Pr3+ in an appropriate ratio, the ultra‐wideband near‐infrared luminescence ranging from 1250 to 1640 nm (FWHM = 251 nm) has been acquired under 808 nm pumping. Furthermore, decay curves are measured to reveal the fluorescence dynamics, and then the related emission mechanism is elaborated systematically. Meanwhile, the effects of gamma irradiation doses on microstructure, transmittance spectra, and fluorescence characteristics are studied. This work may offer a valuable reference for doping optimization and new design strategy of multifunctional materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amplification of amino acids synthesis is reported to promote tumorigenesis. The serine/glycine biosynthesis pathway is a reversible conversion of serine and glycine catalyzed by cytoplasmic serine hydroxymethyltransferase (SHMT)1 and mitochondrial SHMT2; however, the role of SHTM1 in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is still unclear. We found that low SHMT1 expression is correlated with poor survival of RCC patients. The in vitro study showed that overexpression of SHMT1 suppressed RCC proliferation and migration. In the mouse tumor model, SHMT1 significantly retarded RCC tumor growth. Furthermore, by gene network analysis, we found several SHMT1‐related genes, among which homeobox D8 (HOXD8) was identified as the SHMT1 regulator. Knockdown of HOXD8 decreased SHMT1 expression, resulting in faster RCC growth, and rescued the SHMT1 overexpression‐induced cell migration defects. Additionally, ChIP assay found the binding site of HOXD8 to SHMT1 promoter was at the −456~−254 bp region. Taken together, SHMT1 functions as a tumor suppressor in RCC. The transcription factor HOXD8 can promote SHMT1 expression and suppress RCC cell proliferation and migration, which provides new mechanisms of SHMT1 in RCC tumor growth and might be used as a potential therapeutic target candidate for clinical treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deep learning based parallel imaging (PI) has made great progress in recent years to accelerate MRI. Nevertheless, it still has some limitations: for example, the robustness and flexibility of existing methods are greatly deficient. In this work, we propose a method to explore the k‐space domain learning via robust generative modeling for flexible calibrationless PI reconstruction, coined the weighted k‐space generative model (WKGM). Specifically, WKGM is a generalized k‐space domain model, where the k‐space weighting technology and high‐dimensional space augmentation design are efficiently incorporated for score‐based generative model training, resulting in good and robust reconstructions. In addition, WKGM is flexible and thus can be synergistically combined with various traditional k‐space PI models, which can make full use of the correlation between multi‐coil data and realize calibrationless PI. Even though our model was trained on only 500 images, experimental results with varying sampling patterns and acceleration factors demonstrate that WKGM can attain state‐of‐the‐art reconstruction results with the well learned k‐space generative prior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photoconversion of CO2 and H2O into ethanol is an ideal strategy to achieve carbon neutrality. However, the production of ethanol with high activity and selectivity is challenging owing to the less efficient reduction half‐reaction involving multi‐step proton‐coupled electron transfer (PCET), a slow C−C coupling process, and sluggish water oxidation half‐reaction. Herein, a two‐dimensional/two‐dimensional (2D/2D) S‐scheme heterojunction consisting of black phosphorus and Bi2WO6 (BP/BWO) was constructed for photocatalytic CO2 reduction coupling with benzylamine (BA) oxidation. The as‐prepared BP/BWO catalyst exhibits a superior photocatalytic performance toward CO2 reduction, with a yield of 61.3 μmol g−1 h−1 for ethanol (selectivity of 91 %).In situ spectroscopic studies and theoretical calculations reveal that S‐scheme heterojunction can effectively promote photogenerated carrier separation via the Bi−O−P bridge to accelerate the PCET process. Meanwhile, electron‐rich BP acts as the active site and plays a vital role in the process of C−C coupling. In addition, the substitution of BA oxidation for H2O oxidation can further enhance the photocatalytic performance of CO2 reduction to C2H5OH. This work opens a new horizon for exploring novel heterogeneous photocatalysts in CO2 photoconversion to C2H5OH based on cooperative photoredox systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severe poisonousness and prolonged instability existing in organic‐inorganic lead‐based perovskite are two matters seriously hindering its potential future application in photocatalysis. Therefore, it is particularly important to explore ecology‐friendly, air‐stable and highly active metal‐halide perovskites. Herein, a new and stable lead‐free perovskite Cs2SnBr6 decorated with reduced graphene oxide (rGO), is synthesized and employed in the photocatalytic organic conversion. The as‐prepared Cs2SnBr6 is ultrastable, exhibiting no clear changes after being placed in the air for six months. The Cs2SnBr6/rGO composite shows excellent photocatalytic activity in photo‐driven‐oxidation of 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) to high value enclosed 2,5‐diformylfuran (DFF), achieving>99.5 % conversion of HMF and 88 % DFF selectivity in the presence of green oxidant O2. Comprehensive characterizations disclose a multistep reaction mechanism, demonstrating that the molecular oxygen, photogenerated carriers, ⋅O2− and 1O2 altogether synergistically participate in the effective photo‐driven conversion of HMF to DFF. This work expands the material gallery towards selective organic conversion and environmentally friendly perovskite options for photocatalytic application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Chilling stress seriously impairs photosynthesis and activates a series of molecular responses in plants. Previous studies have shown that ETHYLENE INSENSITIVE 3 (EIN3) and EIN3‐like (SlEIL) proteins mediate ethylene signaling and reduce plant tolerance to freezing in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). However, the specific molecular mechanisms underlying an EIN3/EILs‐mediated photoprotection pathway under chilling stress are unclear. Here, we discovered that salicylic acid (SA) participates in photosystem II (PSII) protection via SlEIL2 and SlEIL7. Under chilling stress, the phenylalanine ammonia‐lyase gene SlPAL5 plays an important role in the production of SA, which also induces WHIRLY1 (SlWHY1) transcription. The resulting accumulation of SlWHY1 activates SlEIL7 expression under chilling stress. SlEIL7 then binds to and blocks the repression domain of the heat shock factor SlHSFB‐2B, releasing its inhibition of HEAT SHOCK PROTEIN 21 (HSP21) expression to maintain PSII stability. In addition, SlWHY1 indirectly represses SlEIL2 expression, allowing the expression of l‐GALACTOSE‐1‐PHOSPHATE PHOSPHATASE3 (SlGPP3). The ensuing higher SlGPP3 abundance promotes the accumulation of ascorbic acid (AsA), which scavenges reactive oxygen species produced upon chilling stress and thus protects PSII. Our study demonstrates that SlEIL2 and SlEIL7 protect PSII under chilling stress via two different SA response mechanisms: one involving the antioxidant AsA and the other involving the photoprotective chaperone protein HSP21. Significance Statement: Our study demonstrates that SlEIL2 and SlEIL7 protect PSII under chilling stress via two different salicylic acid response mechanisms: one involving the antioxidant ascorbic acid, and the other involving the photoprotective chaperone protein HSP21. This reveals two new regulatory pathways in PSII protection in tomato under chilling stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexible piezoresistive devices have boomed with the rapid development of industries such as "Big Data" and "Internet of Things" in recent years. Intense studies have proved that conductive nanomaterials can serve as excellent conductive layers for constructing high‐performance flexible piezoresistive sensors. In this paper, the most advanced developments in flexible piezoresistive sensors prepared by multi‐dimension conductive nanomaterials are systematically summarized, in which 0D, 1D, and 2D, 0D/1D, 0D/2D, 1D/2D and multi‐component hybrid nanomaterials are introduced in detail. In addition, the limitations and perspectives for further development of flexible piezoresistive sensors are also discussed. It is hoped that this review can inspire more exciting work on conductive nanomaterial‐based flexible piezoresistive sensors, thereby promoting their practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Palmitic acid (PA) can stimulate milk fat synthesis in mammary gland, but the specific mechanism is still unclear. In our research, we aim to explore the role and corresponding mechanism of AT‐rich interaction domain 3A (ARID3A) in milk fat synthesis stimulated by PA. We found that ARID3A protein level in mouse mammary gland tissues during lactation was much higher than that during puberty and involution. ARID3A knockdown and gene activation showed that ARID3A stimulated the synthesis of triglycerides and cholesterol in HC11 cells, secretion of free fatty acids from cells and lipid droplet formation in cells. ARID3A also promoted the expression and maturation of SREBP1 in HC11 cells. PA stimulated ARID3A protein expression and SREBP1 expression and maturation in a dose‐dependent manner, and the PI3K specific inhibitor LY294002 blocked the stimulation of PA on ARID3A expression. ARID3A knockdown blocked the stimulation of PA on SREBP1 protein expression and maturation. We further showed that ARID3A was localized in the nucleus and PA stimulated this localization, and ARID3A knockdown blocked the stimulation of PA on the mRNA expression of SREBP1. To sum up, our data reveal that ARID3A is a key mediator for PA to promote SREBP1 mRNA expression and stimulate milk fat synthesis in mammary epithelial cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concrete is the most commonly used construction material in infrastructural projects, but it may suffer from damages because of the heavy loads, fatigue, and harsh service environments. Therefore, it is crucial to detect damage for evaluating the structural conditions and providing guidance for daily maintenance and timely alarm. This paper presents a novel method for damage assessment that offers an easy-carried detection process with a large monitoring range. The proposed method involves exciting stress waves using a force-hammer and receiving them with piezoceramics pasted on the structure. The structural conditions are then evaluated using the Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC) of stress waves received from different stages. To verify the feasibility of the proposed method, a numerical model is innovatively established to study the stress wave propagation in a reinforced concrete (RC) beam with actual damage induced by the external load based on the concrete damaged plasticity (CDP) model. The experimental study is then conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of the method and the accuracy of the numerical simulation. The numerical and experimental results show a good correlation, illustrating that the proposed method can not only effectively distinguish whether damage occurs but also determine the structural condition from the elastic phase to failure. The proposed monitoring method in this study has great potential for fast damage assessment of RC structures for both lab research and practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a two‐stage energy management strategy for household microgrids to improve their operational efficiency and economic benefits by making full use of the time‐of‐use electricity price and considering the impact of temporal and spatial uncertainty of electric vehicles (EVs) and different sunshine hours on household photovoltaic (PV). The strategy combines the time‐sharing tariff period and the travel time of EVs to make full use of the dual attributes of EVs as both load and generation units. Particle swarm algorithm is used to optimize the household PV output, EV and storage system charging/discharging strategies, and the energy interaction between the microgrid and the main network. This algorithm guides the household microgrid to achieve the optimal economic operation while cutting the peaks and filling the valleys of the main network to realize the efficient allocation of power resources. Finally, three typical scenarios are used for optimization, and the results show that the proposed energy management strategy can provide savings of 1,413.02, 1,026.94 and 929.19 yuan per day under the three scenarios analyzed, respectively, which verifies the effectiveness and rationality of the model. A sensitivity analysis is also conducted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is related to hypertension. Vascular remodeling is both the pathogenesis and the structural change basis of OSAS-related hypertension. Exploring miRNA functioning in OSAS-related hypertension may offer novel diagnostic and therapeutic targets for controlling hypertension-associated cardiovascular diseases. However, the role of miR-199a-5p in OSAS-related hypertension has not been demonstrated yet.Methods: In this study, we investigated the role of miR-199a-5p and HIF-1α in OSAS-related hypertension by performing in vitro cell experiments and in vivo animal experiments. Rat aortic smooth muscle cells (A7r5) were cultured under hypoxia as an in vitro model. To establish the animal model of OSAS-related hypertension, the rats were under exposure to chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) in a hypoxic instrument. The rats were randomly grouped into normal, CIH, CIH+NC, and CIH+miR-199a-5p.Results: By establishing an animal model, we found decreased miR-199a-5p expression and increased HIF-1α expression in OSAS with hypertension. The overexpressed miR-199a-5p could reduce systolic blood pressure and relieve oxidase stress and inflammation. miR-199a-5p treatment could overturn the upregulation of HIF-1α and TGF-β1 and downregulation of α-SMA. Overexpressed miR-199a-5p might attenuate vascular remodeling through HIF-1α downregulation. miR-199a-5p/HIF-1α may inhibit proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells under hypoxia.Conclusion: miR-199a-5p may relieve OSAS-related hypertension by targeting HIF-1α and be a novel potential therapeutic target. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Functionally gradient materials (FGMs) have attracted tremendous attention due to their unique properties and structures. However, it is still a great challenge to prepare scalable FGMs by a universal, cost‐effective, and highly efficient method. Here, a strategy of combining in situ concentration regulation and spraying is developed to fabricate continuously gradient composite films (GCFs), where the component gradient variation can be well controlled. This strategy is universal and versatile, which is beneficial to inducing different components into GCFs with gradient distributions and further constructing them with diverse configurations on various substrates. The gradient design endows the composite films with excellent mechanical strength and gradient electron transport pathways, which ensures that GCFs directly serve as the electrodes in electrochemical devices. As a proof of concept, free‐standing GCFs based on V2O5 nanomaterials are used as cathodes of aqueous zinc‐ion batteries. The resultant devices deliver superior electrochemical performances in comparison with the counterparts of homogeneous case. Therefore, this universal strategy provides a promising route in the scalable production of FGMs and further extends their applications in various fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of catalysts containing Pt or Pd nanoparticles (NPs) jointly regulated by cytidine (Cs) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) have been prepared for selective hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde (CAL). The Pt/Pd NPs were supported on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with different structures for promoting catalytic activity and tuning product selectivity. The synergistic effect of Cs and PVP on Pt/Pd surface promotes hydrogenation activity. The synergy between Pd NPs and multi‐walled CNTs with the diameter of <8 nm greatly promoted the hydrogenation of C=C bond in CAL. The synergy between Pt NPs and single‐walled CNTs with the diameter of <2 nm effectively enhanced the hydrogenation of C=O bond in CAL. These synergistic effects are attributed to the suitable size and exposed (111) facets of metal NPs, the transfer of electrons and the interaction between metal and support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the transverse relaxation time (T2) of activated carbon (AC) in different relative environment humidity was detected firstly by low‐field nuclear magnetic resonance (LFNMR). The pore size (diameter) of AC distributions was calculated by the relationship between T2 and surface relaxation rate (ρ), where ρ was obtained by the detection of nine porous materials with known pore size. The results showed that the pore size distributions of AC calculated by ρ < 0.19 nm/ms were in good agreement with that obtained by nitrogen adsorption method and proved that LFNMR as a new detection method was feasible for characterizing AC pore size distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Medical image segmentation is critical for many medical image analysis applications. 3D convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have been widely adopted in the segmentation of volumetric medical images. The recent development of channelwise and spatialwise attentions achieves the state‐of‐the‐art feature representation performance. However, these attention strategies have not explicitly modeled interdependencies among slices in 3D medical volumes. In this work, we propose a novel attention module called progressive attention module (PAM) to explicitly model the slicewise importance for 3D medical image analysis. Methods: The proposed method is composed of three parts: Slice Attention (SA) block, Key‐Slice‐Selection (KSS) block, and Channel Attention (CA) block. First, the SA is a novel attention block to explore the correlation among slices for 3D medical image segmentation. SA is designed to explicitly reweight the importance of each slice in the 3D medical image scan. Second, the KSS block, cooperating with the SA block, is designed to adaptively emphasize the critical slice features while suppressing the irrelevant slice features, which helps the model focus on the slices with rich structural and contextual information. Finally, the CA block receives the output of KSS as input for further feature recalibration. Our proposed PAM organically combines SA, KSS, and CA, progressively highlights the key slices containing rich information for the relevant tasks while suppressing those irrelevant slices. Results: To demonstrate the effectiveness of PAM, we embed it into 3D CNNs architectures and evaluate the segmentation performance on three public challenging data sets: BraTS 2018 data set, MALC data set, and HVSMR data set. We achieve 80.34%, 88.98%, and 84.43% of the Dice similarity coefficient on these three data sets, respectively. Experimental results show that the proposed PAM not only boosts the segmentation accuracy of the standard 3D CNNs methods consistently, but also outperforms the other attention mechanisms with slight extra costs. Conclusions: We propose a new PAM to identify the most informative slices and recalibrate channelwise feature responses for volumetric medical image segmentation. The proposed method is evaluated on three public data sets, and the results show improvements over other methods. This proposed technique can effectively assist physicians in many medical image analysis. It is also anticipated to be generalizable and transferable to assist physicians in a wider range of medical imaging applications to produce greater value and impact to health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The small load has fuzziness on the strengthening and damage of the component under the action of random fatigue load. This paper introduces the two‐dimensional membership function in fuzzy mathematics to characterize the relationship between stress amplitude, mean value, and damage below the fatigue limit. An exponential function is used to describe the strengthening effect. Under the two‐dimensional load spectrum, the influence of various levels on the component's life is comprehensively considered, and the fatigue life prediction model under random load is proposed. Through the small sample experiment of the car swing support rod, the relevant parameters of the model are obtained. The difference between the modified two‐dimensional and the two‐dimensional load spectrum is compared in fatigue life prediction results. The rules of membership function selection and parameter setting are summarized, and it makes the estimation of component load spectrum life more reasonable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. At present, the effect of tranexamic acid (TXA) and epsilon-aminocaproic acid (EACA) on total knee arthroplasty (TKA) remains controversial. Therefore, the aim of this meta-analysis is to compare the differences between the effects of TXA and EACA in TKA. Methods. We used electronic databases, including PubMed, Embase, MEDLINE, Ovid, ScienceDirect, Cochran Library, Google Scholar, clinical trial, and Chinese related databases, for literature search to find any effect of TXA and EACA in TKA. The differences between groups were compared by odds ratio (OR), weighted mean difference (WMD), and 95% confidence interval (CI). A total of four studies, including 3 randomized controlled trials (RCT) and 1 cohort study, were involved in this meta-analysis, involving 1836 participants. Among these participants, 816 belonged to the TXA group and 1020 belonged to the EACA group. Results. Meta-analysis indicated no difference in surgery time (WMD = 0.01, 95% CI −0.35 to 0.36), total amount of blood loss (WMD = 0.14, 95% CI −0.09 to 0.37), transfusion rate (OR = 0.74, 95% CI 0.20 to 2.78), transfusion units per patient (SMD = −0.15, 95% CI −0.54 to 0.25), complications (OR = 0.75, 95% CI 0.37 to 1.55), and length of stay (SMD = −0.01, 95% CI −0.11 to 0.08). Conclusions. Our results suggest that the effect of TXA is not superior to EACA in TKA. However, this conclusion still needs to be further confirmed by multicenter and large-sample clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Main observation and conclusion: In the present work, an artificial light‐harvesting system with fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) is successfully fabricated in aqueous sodium dodecyl sulfonate (SDS) micellar systems. Since the tight and orderly arrangement of dodecyl in the SDS micelles is hydrophobic, tetra‐(4‐pyridylphenyl)ethylene (4PyTPE) can be easily encapsulated into the hydrophobic layer of SDS micelles through noncovalent interaction, which exhibits aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) phenomenon and can be used as energy donor. By using amphoteric sulforhodamine 101 (SR101) fluorescent dye attached to the negatively charged surface of SDS micelles through electrostatic interaction as energy acceptor, the light‐harvesting FRET process can be efficiently simulated. Through the steady‐state emission spectra analysis in the micelle‐mediated energy transfer from 4PyTPE to SR101, the fluorescence emission can be tuned and white light emission with CIE coordinates of (0.31, 0.29) can be successfully achieved by tuning the donor/acceptor ratio. More importantly, to better mimic natural photosynthesis, the SDS micelles with 4PyTPE and SR101 FRET system showed enhanced catalytic activity in photochemical catalysis for dehalogenation of α‐bromoacetophenone in aqueous solution and the photocatalytic reaction could be extended to gram levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maternal nutrition can influence the composition of human breastmilk by altering the components that are sensitive to maternal diet pattern. Traditional Tibetan maternal diet pattern among native rural lactating women possesses distinct characteristics due to its unique geographical environment and dietary habits. This study investigated maternal diet pattern and human breastmilk composition of Tibetan lactating women through different lactation stages during the first month postpartum in Shigatse. The results indicated that Tibetan maternal diet profile was apparently monotonous, mainly sufficient in Zanba, buttered tea, red meat, and fatty soup, yet insufficient in white meat, eggs, leafy vegetables, and fruits, leading to imperfect maternal nutritional intakes with high‐level carbohydrates and deficient proteins. Distinctions of maternal diet profiles in various degrees can be discovered upon different lactation stages, which brings multiple influences to the composition of human milk. There was significantly weak‐to‐medium correlation of protein contents between maternal diet intakes and human milk, while other macronutrients correlated insignificantly. Micronutrient constituents in human milk, involving functional unsaturated fatty acids and free essential amino acids, were also impacted by maternal diet intakes through different lactation stages. These results show that more systematic and profound research is requisite for the clarification and development of Tibetan maternal diet to offer more enhanced and individualized nutritional recommendations for Tibetan lactating women and infants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pd/C catalyst is a widely applied hydrogenation catalyst in organic synthesis for the reduction of many organic compounds. It has been reported that it suffers from sulfur poisoning. Herein we report that catalytic amounts of triphenylphosphine (TPP), which is also an usual poison to Pd/C, could greatly improve the catalytic performance of Pd/C in sulfur‐containing systems. The sulfur‐poisoned Pd/C catalyst can be activated when adding TPP. The characterizations show that TPP partly reduced the deactivated layer of palladium sulfide formed during the reaction at higher temperature, and expose the high active sites of metallic Pd to keep the hydrogenation process. TPP may promote the hydrogenation of nitro compounds and olefins in the presence of sulfur compounds, proving to be an efficient antidote for Pd/C hydrogenation catalyst poisoning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AURKA, a cell cycle-regulated kinase, is associated with malignant transformation and progression in many cancer types. We analyzed the expression change of AURKA in pan-cancer and its effect on the prognosis of cancer patients using the TCGA dataset. We revealed that AURKA was extensively elevated and predicted a poor prognosis in most of the detected cancer types, with an exception in colon cancer. AURKA was elevated in colon cancer, but the upregulation of AURKA indicated better outcomes of colon cancer patients. Then we revealed that undermethylation of the AURKA gene and several transcription factors contributed to the upregulation of AURKA in colon cancer. Moreover, we demonstrated that AURKA overexpression promoted the death of colon cancer cells induced by Oxaliplatin, whereas knockdown of AURKA significantly weakened the chemosensitivity of colon cancer cells to Oxaliplatin. Mechanistically, AURKA inhibited DNA damage response by suppressing the expression of various DNA damage repair genes in a TP53-dependent manner, which can partly explain that ARUKA is associated with a beneficial outcome of colon cancer. This study provided a possibility to use AURKA as a biomarker to predict the chemosensitivity of colon cancer to platinum in the clinic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To eliminate the limitations of the peak‐over‐threshold (POT) extrapolation method, the paper proposes an improved POT extrapolation method to reconstruct the load sequence and frequency of the part. A threshold model is established based on a generalized Pareto distribution (GPD). Assuming a road surface's irregularity obeys a normal distribution, the load between the upper and lower thresholds is reconstructed to obtain more dynamic road load data. Rain‐flow counting method is used to calculate the peak‐to‐valley value and frequency of the load signal, and the characteristics of the load mean and amplitude before and after the improvement of the POT extrapolation method were discussed. The effectiveness and conservativeness of the enhanced method are verified by predicting the fatigue life of a swing support rod. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growing evidence indicates that immune-related biomarkers play an important role in tumor processes. This study investigates immune-related gene expression and its prognostic value in lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC). A cohort of 493 samples of patients with LUSC was collected and analyzed from data generated by the TCGA Research Network and ImmPort database. The R coxph package was employed to mine significant immune-related genes using univariate analysis. Lasso and stepwise regression analyses were used to construct the LUSC prognosis prediction model, and clusterProfiler was used for gene functional annotation and enrichment analysis. The Kaplan-Meier analysis and ROC were used to evaluate the model efficiency in predicting and classifying LUSC case prognoses. We identified 14 immune-related genes to incorporate into our prognosis model. The patients were divided into two subgroups (Risk-H and Risk-L) according to their risk score values. Compared to Risk-L patients, Risk-H patients showed significantly improved overall survival (OS) in both training and testing sets. Functional annotation indicated that the 14 identified genes were mainly enriched in several immune-related pathways. Our results also revealed that a risk score value was correlated with various signaling pathways, such as the JAK-STA signaling pathway. Establishment of a nomogram for clinical application demonstrated that our immune-related model exhibited good predictive prognostic performance. Our predictive prognosis model based on immune signatures has potential clinical implications for assessing the overall survival and precise treatment for patients with LUSC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: For the maximum‐likelihood parameter estimation (MPE) of continuous‐variable quantum key distribution (CVQKD), it sacrifices partial key when estimating the channel parameters, and when the channel is varying, even slowly, legitimate communication parties must constantly exchange partial input signal and output signal to update the channel estimation. Therefore, the MPE leads to the following problems in practical application: (a) MPE achieved by randomly sampling the states can not accurately reflect the dynamic channel; (b) there exist a trade‐off between the secret key rate (SKR) and the accuracy of parameter estimation in the finite‐size regime; and (c) information leakage may be caused by the correlation between key variables. In this article, a novel parameter estimation method for CVQKD is proposed without affecting the security, and the consistency between the method and the physical model is given. Experimental simulation results show that the method can effectively improve the SKR and secure propagation distance. The experimental verification of the proposed method is given through the fiber system. Besides, the security analysis demonstrates that the method is secure against entanglement‐distillation attack. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to explore the molecular mechanism of lncRNA POU6F2‐AS2 in proliferation and drug resistance of colon cancer. Total paired 70 colon cancer and adjacent normal tissues were collected from colon cancer patients. Colon cancer and normal colonic epithelial cells were purchased. POU6F2‐AS2 was up‐ or down‐expressed by vectors. LC50 of all cell lines before and after transfection with these plasmids was detected. qRT‐PCR was used to detect the expression of POU6F2‐AS2, miR‐377 and BRD4 before or after transfection. In situ hybridization was also undertaken to detect the level of POU6F2‐AS2. Different concentrations of 5‐Fu (0, 1, 2.5, 5, 10, 20, 40 and 80 μg/mL) were used for 5‐FU insensitivity assay. CCK‐8 and crystal violet staining assay were used for detecting cell proliferation, and flow cytometry was used for identifying cell cycle distribution and apoptosis. In order to detect the fragmented DNA in apoptotic cells, TUNEL assay was used. RNA pull‐down assay and luciferase reporter assay were used to verify the binding site. Rescue assay confirmed the subtractive effect of miR‐377 inhibitors. POU6F2‐AS2 was highly expressed in colon cancer, which was associated with clinical pathology. Up‐regulated POU6F2‐AS2 promoted cell proliferation and cell cycle of colon cancer cells. Overexpression of POU6F2‐AS2 inhibited the expression of miR‐377 and then up‐regulated the expression of BRD4. Up‐regulated BRD4 ultimately promoted cell proliferation and cell survival Down‐regulated POU6F2‐AS2 showed enhanced sensitivity of 5‐FU. POU6F2‐AS2 promoted cell proliferation and drug resistance in colon cancer by regulating miR‐377/BRD4 gene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although emerging studies showed that certain rhythm genes regulate cancer progression, the expression and roles of the vast majority of rhythm genes in human cancer are largely unknown, and the hallmarks of cancer regulated by rhythm genes have not been detected. In this study, we detected the expression changes of rhythm genes in pan‐cancer and found that almost all rhythm genes mutated in all cancer types, and their expression level was significantly altered partially due to abnormal methylation, and several rhythm genes regulate the expression of other rhythm genes in various cancer types. Furthermore, we revealed that rhythm genes are significantly enriched in genome instability and the expression of certain rhythm genes is correlated with the tumor mutation burden, microsatellite instability, and the expression of DNA damage repair genes in most of the detected cancer types. Moreover, rhythm genes are associated with the infiltration of immune cells and the efficiency of immune blockade therapy. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of the roles of rhythm genes in cancer immunity, which may provide a novel method for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient bimolecular ring‐closure method is developed to prepare the well‐defined cyclic polynorbornenes by combining the living ring‐opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) with the self‐accelerating double strain‐promoted azide–alkyne cycloaddition (DSPAAC) reaction. In this method, ROMP is used to synthesize the well‐defined linear polynorbornenes with both azide terminals by virtue of a N‐hydroxysuccinimide‐ester‐functionalized Grubbs initiator following the modification of polymer end groups. DSPAAC click reaction is then used to ring‐close the linear polymer precursors and prepare the corresponding well‐defined cyclic polynorbornenes using the sym‐dibenzo‐1,5‐cyclooctadiene‐3,7‐diyne (DIBOD) as small linkers. The self‐accelerating DSPAAC ring‐closing reaction facilitates this method to efficiently prepare pure cyclic polynorbornenes in the presence of a molar excess of DIBOD small linkers to the linear polynorbornene precursors. This is the first report to prepare well‐defined polynorbornenes with cyclic topology based on the ring‐closure strategy for cyclic polymers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transcription factor E2F4 is a key determinant of cell differentiation and cell‐cycle progression, but its function and regulatory mechanism are not completely understood. Here, we report that E2F4 acts as a positive regulator of the biosynthesis of milk components and proliferation of bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMECs). Overexpression of E2F4 in BMECs resulted in the upregulation of β‐casein, triglyceride, and lactose levels and increased cell proliferation, whereas E2F4 knockdown by small interfering RNA had the opposite effects. We further detected that overexpression of E2F4 significantly increased the messenger RNA expression of mTOR, SREBP‐1c, and Cyclin D1, and increased protein levels of SREBP‐1c, and Cyclin D1, and the ratio of p‐mTOR/mTOR, whereas E2F4 knockdown had the opposite effects. E2F4 was almost entirely located in the nucleus, and we further identified, via ChIP‐qPCR analysis, that mTOR, SREBP‐1c, and Cyclin D1 were E2F4 target genes, and exogenous administration of methionine, leucine, β‐estradiol, and prolactin markedly increased the protein levels of E2F4 and its binding to the promoters of these three genes. In summary, our data reveal that E2F4 responds to extracellular stimuli and regulates the expression of mTOR, SREBP‐1c, and Cyclin D1 for milk biosynthesis and proliferation of BMECs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Although recent deep learning methodologies have shown promising results in fast MR imaging, how to explore it to learn an explicit prior and leverage it into the observation constraint is still desired. Methods: A denoising autoencoder (DAE) network is leveraged as an explicit prior to address the highly undersampling MR image reconstruction problem. First, inspired by the observation that the prior information learned from high‐dimension signals is more effective than that from the low‐dimension counterpart in image restoration tasks, we train the network in a multichannel scenario and apply the learned network to single‐channel image reconstruction by a variables augmentation technique. Second, because of the fact that multiple implementations of artificial noise generation in DAE favors a better underlying result, we introduce a 2‐sigma rule to complement each other for improving the final reconstruction. The whole algorithm is tackled by proximal gradient descent. Results: Experimental results under varying sampling trajectories and acceleration factors consistently demonstrate the superiority of the enhanced autoencoding priors, in terms of peak signal‐to‐noise ratio, structural similarity, and high‐frequency error norm. Conclusion: A simple and effective way to incorporate the DAE prior into highly undersampling MR reconstruction is proposed. Once the DAE prior is obtained, it can be applied to the reconstruction tasks with different sampling trajectories and acceleration factors, and achieves superior performance in comparison with state‐of‐the‐art methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cross-spectrum signals can be calculated by the pressure signals. The sign distribution of cross-spectrum active component can be effectively used for target depth classification algorithm. The algorithm is applicable for depth classification of targets where frequencies can only excite the first two normal modes. The corresponding research results are mainly based on the theoretical study. There are few researches on the algorithm performance based on experiment results. To overcome this research lack, based on the effective depth model, the effects on various receiving depth, source frequency, and received signal-to-noise ratio on the algorithm performance have been studied in this paper. The influence of sound velocity profile parameters (negative gradient, thermocline intensity, thermocline thickness, and up-boundary depth) on the algorithm performance has also been researched. According to the simulation results, proper adjustment of the receiving depths can effectively improve the algorithm performance. The source frequency primarily affects the position of the ideal receiving depth which can be appropriately adjusted according to the depth classification requirements of the real sea environment. The algorithm performance improves gradually with the increase of signal-to-noise ratio. Moreover, the algorithm can also be applied under the conditions of negative gradient and thermocline. The comprehensive sound velocity profile parameters have a large impact on the depth classification performance of the algorithm. Even in the case of strong negative gradient or strong thermocline, the robustness of the algorithm is still high. The feasibility of our presented method has been verified by sea experiment. The practical application value of the ideal receiving depth has been researched and validated. The factors affecting the algorithm performance including line spectrum continuity and received signal-to-noise ratio have also been analyzed in our simulation and real sea experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nuclear ubiquitous casein and cyclin‐dependent kinase substrate 1 (NUCKS1) is a highly phosphorylated nuclear protein ubiquitously expressed in vertebrates. NUCKS1 has been reported to be a key chromatin modifier and transcriptional regulator of a number of signaling pathways, but the physiological role and detailed mechanism are still limited. In this study, we assessed the role of NUCKS1 on milk synthesis in and proliferation of mammary epithelial cells from a dairy cow. NUCKS1 was located in the nucleus of mammary epithelial cells, and the expression of NUCKS1 was stimulated by amino acids (Met and Leu) and hormones (estrogen and prolactin). Gene function study approaches detected that NUCKS1 positively regulated milk protein, milk fat, and lactose synthesis, and also increased the cell number, cell viability, and cell cycle progression. NUCKS1 mediated the stimulation of amino acids and hormones on the messenger RNA expression of the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), SREBP‐1c, and Cyclin D1. The expression of NUCKS1 is dramatically higher in mouse mammary tissue of lactating period, compared with that in puberty and dry period. Taken together, these results reveal that NUCKS1 is a new mediator of milk synthesis in and proliferation of mammary epithelial cells via regulating the mTOR signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A versatile method was introduced to prepare cyclic polymers from both conjugated and unconjugated vinyl monomers. It was developed on the combination of the RAFT polymerization and the self‐accelerating double strain‐promoted azide‐alkyne click (DSPAAC) reaction. In this approach, a switchable chain transfer agent 1 was designed to have hydroxyl terminals and a functional pyridinyl group. The protonation and deprotonation of pyridinyl group endowed the chain transfer agent 1 with a switchable control capability to RAFT polymerization of both conjugated and unconjugated vinyl monomers. Based on this, RAFT polymerization and the following hydroxyl end group modification were used to prepare various azide‐terminated linear polymers including polystyrene, poly(N‐vinylcarbazole), and polystyrene‐block‐poly(N‐vinylcarbazole). Using sym‐dibenzo‐1,5‐cyclooctadiene‐3,7‐diyne (DBA) as small linkers, the corresponding cyclic polymers were then prepared via the DSPAAC reaction between DBA and azide terminals of the linear precursors. Due to the self‐accelerating property of DSPAAC reaction, this bimolecular ring‐closing reaction could efficiently produce the pure cyclic polymers using excess molar amounts of DBA to linear polymer precursors. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019, 57, 1811–1820 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adenylyl cyclase‐associated protein (CAP) is a highly conserved protein. Previous reports have suggested that CAP1 may be a negative regulator of cellular proliferation, migration, and adhesion and the development of cell carcinomas. The molecular mechanism of CAP1 regulation of downstream pathways, as well as how CAP1 is regulated by environmental stimuli and upstream signalling, is not well understood. In this present study, we assessed the role of CAP1 in milk synthesis and proliferation of bovine mammary epithelial cells. Using gene overexpression and silencing methods, CAP1 was found to negatively regulate milk synthesis and proliferation of cells via the PI3K‐mTOR/SREBP‐1c/Cyclin D1 signalling pathway. Hormones, such as prolactin and oestrogen, and amino acids, such as methionine and leucine, stimulate MMP9 expression and trigger CAP1 degradation, and thus, abrogate its inhibition of synthesis of milk protein, fat, and lactose by and proliferation of bovine mammary epithelial cells. The results of our study help deepen our understanding of the regulatory mechanisms underlying milk synthesis and aid in characterizing the molecular mechanisms of CAP1. Previous reports have suggested that CAP1 is a negative regulator of cellular proliferation and anabolism, but the molecular mechanisms are largely unknown. In this present study, we identified CAP1 as a negative regulator of milk synthesis and proliferation of bovine mammary epithelial cells. Our results will deepen our understanding of the regulatory mechanisms underlying milk synthesis and aid in exploring the molecular mechanisms of CAP1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

U2 snRNP auxiliary factor 65 kDa (U2AF65) is a splicing factor that promotes prespliceosome assembly. The function of U2AF65 in alternative splicing has been identified; however, the essential physiological role of U2AF65 remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the regulatory role of U2AF65 in milk synthesis and growth of bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMECs). Our results showed that U2AF65 localizes in the nucleus. Treatment with amino acids (Met and Leu) and hormones (prolactin and β‐estradiol) upregulated the expression of U2AF65 in these cells. U2AF65 overexpression increased the synthesis of β‐casein, triglycerides, and lactose; increased cell viability; and promoted proliferation of BMECs. Furthermore, our results showed that U2AF65 positively regulated mTOR phosphorylation and expression of mature mRNA of mTOR and SREBP‐1c. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that U2AF65 regulates the mRNA expression of signalling molecules (mTOR and SREBP‐1c) involved in milk synthesis and growth of BMECs, possibly via controlling the splicing and maturation of these mRNAs. U2 snRNP auxiliary factor 65 kDa (U2AF65) is a splicing factor that promotes prespliceosome assembly. The essential physiological role of U2AF65 remains poorly understood. In the present study, we confirmed that U2AF65 functions as a positive regulator of milk synthesis in and proliferation of bovine mammary epithelial cells via the mTOR‐SREBP‐1c signalling pathway. Therefore, our study uncovers the regulatory role of U2AF65 in milk synthesis and cell proliferation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effect of cellulase on the isolation of crude Astragalus polysaccharide (APS), analyzed the monosaccharide component of deproteinized APS, detected the molecular weights of purified APS, and examined the biological activities and the preliminary mechanism against rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Compared with water extraction method, cellulase-assisted extraction increased the yield of crude APS to 154% and polysaccharide contents to 121%. Crude APS was then purified by ethanol precipitation, Sevag deproteinization, and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis; monosaccharide contents of APS were different after cellulase-assisted method, especially galacturonic acid content which significantly increased. DEAE-52 cellulose column chromatography isolated three polysaccharide fractions, including a neutral polysaccharide (APS-water) and two acidic polysaccharides (APS-NaCl1 and APS-NaCl2). Using high-performance gel permeation chromatography (HPGPC), the molecular weights of APS-water, APS-NaCl1, and APS-NaCl2 were identified as 67.7 kDa, 234.1 kDa, and 189.4 kDa, respectively. Then their therapeutic effects and possible mechanism against RA were explored using type II collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rat model. APS could significantly reduce paw swelling, serum concentration of IL-1β and TNF-α, and the expression levels of NF-κB-p65 and IκBα in synovial membranes in CIA rats. Our study indicated that cellulase significantly increases the yield and polysaccharide contents of crude APS, improves the product quality, and preserves the biological features against RA in CIA rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: ATPase family AAA‐domain containing protein 3A (ATAD3A) is a nuclear‐encoded mitochondrial membrane protein, which is essential for cell growth and metabolism. The mechanism by which ATAD3A acts is still not fully understood. In this study, we explored the regulatory role of ATAD3A on milk biosynthesis and proliferation of bovine mammary epithelial cell. We showed that ATAD3A is localized in mitochondria and the expression of ATAD3A was up‐regulated in response to extracellular stimuli such as amino acids and hormones. We observed that ATAD3A positively regulated milk protein, fat, and lactose biosynthesis, and cell proliferation. We further revealed that ATAD3A promoted the expressions of mTOR, SREBP‐1c, and Cyclin D1, and triggers mTOR phosphorylation. In summary, our data reveal that ATAD3A regulates the mTOR, SREBP‐1c, and Cyclin D1 signaling pathways for milk biosynthesis and cell proliferation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Annexin A2 (AnxA2) has been shown to play multiple roles in growth, development, and metabolism, but the functions of AnxA2 and the signaling pathways associated with AnxA2 are still not fully understood. In this study, we aim to reveal whether and how AnxA2 could be involved in milk synthesis and proliferation of bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMECs). Using gene function study approaches, we found that AnxA2 positively regulates PIP3 level, phosphorylation of mTOR, and protein levels of SREBP-1c and Cyclin D1 leading to milk synthesis and cell proliferation. We further observed that both AnxA2-36 kD phosphorylated form and AnxA2-33 kD protein could be induced from AnxA2-36 kD protein in BMECs under methionine, leucine, estrogen or prolactin stimulation. These above results strongly demonstrate that AnxA2 functions as a critical regulator for amino acid or hormone-induced milk synthesis and cell proliferation via the PI3K-mTOR-SREBP-1c/Cyclin D1 signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The surface tension driven convection, together with the rotating crystal growth process of potassium tantalate niobate (KTa1-xNbxO3, KTN) crystals from unstirred melt has been carried out in a high temperature in-situ observation system. The streamline of the stable convection is found to be in the form of a double loop axially symmetric vortices, which causes the rotation during KTN crystals growth process. The effect of surface tension convection on interfacial heat, mass and momentum transfer are investigated experimentally. The dimensionless parameters of the three transports are calculated. For KTN crystals, velocity and temperature boundary layers are pointless. Solute transfer is the main form of interface transport during crystal growth process. The effect of Nb content x on boundary layer thickness is discussed. There is a critical Marangoni Number [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Contamination of food and feed by aflatoxin B1 ( AFB1) poses serious economic and health problems worldwide, so the development of biological methods for effective AFB1 degradation is strongly required. RESULTS Among three AFB1-degrading microorganisms isolated from moldy peanut, Fusarium sp. WCQ3361 could remove AFB1 extremely effectively, with a degradation ratio of 70.20% after 1 min and 95.38% after 24 h. Its degradation ratio was not much affected by temperature change (0-90 °C) and it also displayed excellent thermostability, maintaining 99.40% residual activity after boiling for 10 min. Since protease K could reduce the AFB1 degradation ratio by 55.15%, it is proposed that the effective component for AFB1 degradation is a protein. The AFB1 degradation ability of Fusarium sp. WCQ3361 was further verified by feed stock detoxification and the MTT test with HepG2 cells. In addition, no degradation products were detected by preliminary liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry, suggesting that AFB1 might be metabolized to products with different chemical characteristics from AFB1. CONCLUSION Fusarium sp. WCQ3361 is the first reported AFB1 degradation fungus belonging to the genus Fusarium with broad working temperature range, excellent thermostability and high activity, which provides a potential highly useful solution for dealing with AFB1 contamination in the human diet and animal feed. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]