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Chiral helicenes are widely used in fields related to organic materials and molecular machines relevant molecules, as well as serving as privileged frameworks for chiral ligands and catalysts. Therefore, the research into asymmetric routes for the synthesis of chiral helical compounds has garnered significant interest in recent years. In this regard, chirality conversion/transfer from chiral precursors has emerged as a powerful strategy for the construction of chiral helicenes, allowing the synthesis of various types of chiral helical compounds. This strategy has become and will remain a prominent research topic in the field of asymmetric synthesis. In this review article, described between 2012 and 2024, the approaches for the synthesis of chiral helicenes by chirality conversion or transfer from centrally chiral precursors are summarized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Harmine (HM), a β‐carboline alkaloid extracted from plants, is a crucial component of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) known for its diverse pharmacological activities. Thrombocytopenia, a common and challenging hematological disorder, often coexists with serious illnesses. Previous research has shown a correlation between HM and thrombocytopenia, but the mechanism needs further elucidation. The aim of this study was to clarify the mechanisms underlying the effects of HM on thrombocytopenia and to develop new therapeutic strategies. Flow cytometry, Giemsa staining, and Phalloidin staining were used to assess HM's impact on Meg‐01 and HEL cell differentiation and maturation in vitro. A radiation‐induced thrombocytopenic mouse model was employed to evaluate HM's effect on platelet production in vivo. Network pharmacology, molecular docking, and protein blotting were utilized to investigate HM's targets and mechanisms. The results demonstrated that HM dose‐dependently promoted Meg‐01 and HEL cell differentiation and maturation in vitro and restored platelet levels in irradiated mice in vivo. Subsequently, HM was found to be involved in the biological process of platelet production by upregulating the expressions of Rac1, Cdc42, JNK, and 5‐HTR2A. Furthermore, the targeting of HM to 5‐HTR2A and its correlation with downstream Rac1/Cdc42/JNK were also confirmed. In conclusion, HM regulates megakaryocyte differentiation and thrombopoiesis through the 5‐HTR2A and Rac1/Cdc42/JNK pathways, providing a potential treatment strategy for thrombocytopenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aims to comprehensively investigate immune‐cell landscapes in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients and explore longitudinal immunophenotyping changes induced by biological agents. Methods: We employed mass cytometry with 35 cellular markers to analyze blood samples from 34 AS patients and 13 healthy controls (HC). Eleven AS patients were re‐evaluated 1 month (4 patients) and 3 months (7 patients) after treatment with biological agents. Flow Self‐Organizing Maps (FlowSOM) clustering was performed to identify specific cellular metaclusters. We compared cellular abundances across distinct subgroups and validated subset differences using gating strategies in flow cytometry scatter plots, visualized with FlowJo software. The proportions of differential subsets were then used for intercellular and clinical correlation analysis, as well as for constructing diagnostic models based on the random forest algorithm. Results: In AS patients, we identified and validated nine different immune‐cell subsets compared to HC. Three subsets increased: helper T‐cell 17 (Th17), mucosa‐associated invariant T‐cell (MAIT), and classical monocytes (CM). Six subsets decreased: effector memory T‐cell (TEM), naïve B cells, transitional B cells, IL10+ memory B cells, non‐classical monocytes (NCM), and neutrophils. Treatments with biological agents could rectify cellular abnormalities, particularly the imbalance of CM/NCM. Furthermore, these subsets may serve as biomarkers for assessing disease activity and constructing effective diagnostic models for AS. Conclusion: These findings provide novel insights into the specific patterns of immune cell in AS, facilitating the further development of novel biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets for AS patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of insecticides, primarily pyrethroids, is a pivotal strategy for mosquito control globally. Bioallethrin, the first commercially available volatile pyrethroid, can elicit spatial (i.e., noncontact) repellency to mosquitoes through the coactivation of olfactory receptor neurons and sodium channels. However, the olfactory mechanism of the repellency elicited by bioallethrin in mosquitoes is still unclear. Here, we demonstrated the involvement of AsOBP1 in the bioallethrin repellency in Anopheles sinensis, one of the main vectors of vivax malaria in China and other Southeast Asian countries. The behavioral and electrophysiological analyses in AsOrco−/− mutant found that the spatial repellency elicited by bioallethrin depended on the odorant receptor (OR)‐mediated olfactory pathway. Furthermore, the repellency was reduced in the AsOBP1−/− mutant and a pyrethroid‐resistant strain, in which the expression of AsOBP1 was significantly decreased. Moreover, recombinant AsOBP1 protein bound to bioallethrin in an in vitro competition assay. These results indicate that activation of the AsOBP1‐mediated olfactory pathway is an important component of bioallethrin repellency. Our research lays the foundation for further elucidation into the olfactory mechanism of bioallethrin repellency and the behavioral modifications of pyrethroid‐resistant mosquitoes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endocrine‐resistant ER+HER2– breast cancer (BC) is particularly aggressive and leads to poor clinical outcomes. Effective therapeutic strategies against endocrine‐resistant BC remain elusive. Here, analysis of the RNA‐sequencing data from ER+HER2– BC patients receiving neoadjuvant endocrine therapy and spatial transcriptomics analysis both show the downregulation of innate immune signaling sensing cytosolic DNA, which primarily occurs in endocrine‐resistant BC cells, not immune cells. Indeed, compared with endocrine‐sensitive BC cells, the activity of sensing cytosolic DNA through the cGAS‐STING pathway is attenuated in endocrine‐resistant BC cells. Screening of kinase inhibitor library show that this effect is mainly mediated by hyperactivation of AKT1 kinase, which binds to kinase domain of TBK1, preventing the formation of a trimeric complex TBK1/STING/IRF3. Notably, inactivation of cGAS–STING signaling forms a positive feedback loop with hyperactivated AKT1 to promote endocrine resistance, which is physiologically important and clinically relevant in patients with ER+HER2– BC. Blocking the positive feedback loop using the combination of an AKT1 inhibitor with a STING agonist results in the engagement of innate and adaptive immune signaling and impairs the growth of endocrine‐resistant tumors in humanized mice models, providing a potential strategy for treating patients with endocrine‐resistant BC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recovering ethane from natural gas involves significant energy consumption. Globally, the recycle split vapor process (RSV) is widely adopted as an efficient method for ethane recovery. Nonetheless, one major challenge faced by the RSV process is the lack of adequate heat integration, despite its overall effectiveness. In this article, we investigate the heat integration of the RSV process and propose two novel ethane recovery processes: the recycle split vapor process with direct heat integration of the feed gas (RSV‐DTI) and the recycle split vapor process with split heat integration of the feed gas (RSV‐SHI). A comparative analysis is conducted among these three processes, focusing on integrated energy consumption, exergy efficiency, and economic investment. The study's findings reveal the following: (1) The RSV‐DTI process distinguishes itself with its reduced energy consumption, enhanced stability, and minimized refrigerant usage. In comparison to the RSV process, the RSV‐DTI process achieves a reduction of over 15% in total compression duty and a remarkable decrease of 68% in propane usage. (2) Electricity emerges as the predominant energy consumed in the ethane recovery process, and the RSV‐DTI process significantly improves upon this aspect. Notably, the RSV‐DTI process incurs the lowest investment cost, yielding a swift payback period of approximately 1 year for the plant. The characteristics of the RSV‐DTI process are investigated, and the effect of changes in feed gas conditions on the heat integration of the RSV‐DTI process is analyzed. The characteristics of the RSV‐DTI process show the following: (1) Different pressures of feed gas existing in the main cold box have different minimum heat integration temperatures (MHIT). When the feed gas temperature is lower than the MHIT, heat integration becomes difficult, and the heat energy can be supplied by hot liquid propane at 48°C. When the feed gas temperature is higher than the MHIT, changes in feed gas temperature have little effect on the process, only affecting the external gas temperature. (2) The heat transfer duty of the demethanizer sideline outlet stream is affected by the feed gas pressure. To enhance heat integration, it is recommended to set the heat transfer duty of the low‐temperature sideline outlet stream (DLTSS) between 40% and 90% of the reboiler duty and the heat transfer duty of the high‐temperature sideline outlet stream (DHTSS) between 40% and 75% of the reboiler duty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whole‐exome sequencing (WES) is frequently utilized in diagnosing reproductive genetic disorders to identify various genetic variants. Canonical ±1,2 splice sites are typically considered highly pathogenic, while variants at the 5′ or 3′ ends of exon boundaries are often considered synonymous or missense variants, with their potential impact on abnormal gene splicing frequently overlooked. In this study, we identified five variants located at the last two bases of the exons and two canonical splicing variants in five distinct families affected by reproductive genetic disorders through WES. Minigene analysis, RT‐PCR and Quantitative Real‐time PCR (RT‐qPCR) confirmed that all seven variants induced aberrant splicing, with six variants altering gene transcriptional expression levels. These findings underscore the crucial role of splice variants, particularly non‐canonical splice sites variants, in reproductive genetic disorders, with all identified variants classified as pathogenic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastics are a growing concern as pollutants that impact both public health and the environment. However, the toxic effects of polypropylene microplastics (PP‐MPs) are not well understood. This study aimed to investigate the effects of PP‐MPs on cardiotoxicity and its underlying mechanisms. The cardiotoxicity of exposure to different amounts of PP‐MPs were investigated in both ICR mice and H9C2 cells. Our results demonstrated that sub‐chronic exposure to 5 and 50 mg/L PP‐MPs led to myocardial structural damage, apoptosis, and fibrosis in mice cardiomyocytes. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that PP‐MPs could decrease mitochondrial membrane potential and induce apoptosis in H9C2 cells. Western blotting revealed decreased expression of Bcl‐2, poly(ADP‐ribose) polymerase (PARP) and caspase 3 and increased expression of Bax, cleaved‐PARP, and cleaved‐caspase 3 in PP‐MPs‐treated cardiac tissue and H9C2 cells. These results confirmed the apoptotic effects induced by PP‐MPs. Moreover, PP‐MPs treatment triggered oxidative stress, as evidenced by the increased levels of malondialdehyde; reduction in glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase activities in mice cardiac tissues; and increased reactive oxygen species levels in H9C2 cells. Finally, western blotting demonstrated that exposure to PP‐MPs significantly reduced the expression levels of Nrf2 and p‐ERK proteins associated with MAPK‐Nrf2 pathway in both cardiac tissue and H9C2 cells. Overall, our findings indicate that PP‐MPs can induce cardiomyocyte apoptosis through MAPK‐Nrf2 signaling pathway, which is triggered by oxidative stress. This study provides a foundation for determining the effects of PP‐MPs on cardiotoxicity and their underlying mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Utilizing computational fluid dynamics (CFD) for analytical purposes, this study developed a fundamental model employing the multiple reference frame (MRF) method, facilitated by the CFX simulation platform. The investigation conducted numerical simulations of the flow field within the rotor‐stator assembly of a high shear mixer, guided by the Navier–Stokes equations and the standard k‐ε turbulence model. To quantify the homogenization efficacy of the high shear mixer under scenarios with and without energy consumption considerations, the study introduced two distinct parameters: the mixing index (γ) and the energy ratio mixing index (λ). The impact of structural parameters such as the number of rotor‐stator teeth, radial clearance, and tooth apex‐base axial clearance on the local flow characteristics—velocity, pressure, turbulent kinetic energy, shear rate distribution, net power consumption, and the specified indices—was meticulously analyzed. This analysis aimed to identify the optimal structural configurations for the mixer, considering energy efficiency and mixing effectiveness, and to determine the relative influence of these structural variations on the mixing index (γ) and the energy ratio mixing index (λ). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synthesis of bicyclic scaffolds has gained significant attention in drug discovery due to their potential to mimic benzene bioisosteres. Here, we present a mild and scalable Sc(OTf)3‐catalyzed [3+2] cycloaddition of bicyclo[1.1.0]butanes (BCBs) with ynamides, yielding a diverse array of polysubstituted 2‐amino‐bicyclo[2.1.1]hexenes in good to excellent yields. These products offer valuable starting materials for the construction of novel functionalized bicyclo[1.1.0]butanes. Preliminary mechanistic studies indicate that the reaction involves a nucleophilic addition of ynamides to bicyclo[1.1.0]butanes, followed by an intramolecular cyclization of in situ generated enolate and keteniminium ion. We expect that these findings will encourage utilization of complex bioisosteres and foster further investigation into BCB‐based cycloaddition chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Beta 2‐microglobulin (β2‐MG) is a component of the class I major histocompatibility complex (MHCI) and has recently been reported to be involved in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cardiovascular disease. However, the association of β2‐MG with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in T2DM patients remains unknown. This study aims to investigate the correlation between serum β2‐MG and LVH in T2DM patients. Methods: The retrospective analysis included 4602 eligible T2DM patients, divided into LVH and non‐LVH groups based on echocardiography results. Serum β2‐MG levels were measured, and participants were categorized into four groups (Q1–Q4) by their serum β2‐MG quartile. The relationship of serum β2‐MG level with LVH was evaluated using logistic regression, restricted cubic spline (RCS), subgroup analysis, and machine learning. Results: The prevalence of LVH in T2DM patients was 31.12%. Each standard deviation increase in serum β2‐MG level corresponded to a 1.17‐fold increase in the prevalence of LVH [OR = 1.17, (95% CI: 1.05–1.31); p = 0.006]. When considering β2‐MG as a categorical variable (quartile), Q3 [OR = 1.36, (95% CI: 1.09–1.69); p = 0.007] and Q4 [OR = 1.77, (95% CI: 1.36–2.31); p < 0.001] had a significantly higher prevalence of LVH than Q1. RCS analysis found a nonlinear association between β2‐MG and LVH prevalence (p for nonlinearity <0.05). Additionally, machine learning results confirmed the importance of β2‐MG for LVH in T2DM patients. Conclusion: Elevated serum β2‐MG levels were likely to be associated with an increased prevalence of LVH in T2DM patients, suggesting its potential role in LVH development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Previous studies have partly discussed the roles of inflammatory cytokines in obesity and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), but the causal relationship among inflammatory cytokines, obesity, and SLE is unclear. It is challenging to comprehensively evaluate the causal relationship between these variables. This study aimed to investigate the role of cytokines as intermediates between obesity and SLE. Methods: The inverse‐variance weighted method (IVW) of mendelian randomization (MR) is mainly used to explore the causal relationship between exposure and outcome by using the genetic variation of the open large genome‐wide association studies (GWAS), namely single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) related to obesity (more than 600 000 participants), inflammatory cytokines (8293 healthy participants) and SLE (7219 cases). Methods such as weighted median, MR‐Egger are used to evaluate the reliability of causality. Reverse analysis is performed for each MR analysis to avoid reverse causality. Cochran's Q statistic and funnel chart are used to detect heterogeneity, MR‐Egger intercept test and leave‐one‐out sensitivity analyses evaluated pleiotropy. Results: Obesity was associated with 25 cytokines, and 3 cytokines were associated with SLE, including CTACK (OR = 1.19, 95% CI: 1.06, 1.33, p =.002), IL‐18 (OR = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.26, p =.027), SCGFb (OR = 0.89, 95% CI: 0.79, 0.99, p =.044). In the opposite direction, SLE was associated with 18 cytokines, and 2 cytokines were associated with obesity, including IP‐10 (βIVW = −.03, 95% CI: −0.05, −0.01, p =.002), MIP‐1B (βIVW = −.03, 95% CI: −0.05, −0.01, p =.004). Conclusion: Our MR study suggested that CTACK, IL‐18 and SCGFb may play an intermediary role in obesity to SLE, while IP‐10 and MIP‐1B may play an intermediary role in SLE to obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Swine acute diarrhea syndrome coronavirus (SADS‐CoV) has caused severe intestinal diseases in pigs. It originates from bat coronaviruses HKU2 and has a potential risk of cross‐species transmission, raising concerns about its zoonotic potential. Viral entry‐related host factors are critical determinants of susceptibility to cells, tissues, or species, and remain to be elucidated for SADS‐CoV. Type II transmembrane serine proteases (TTSPs) family is involved in many coronavirus infections and has trypsin‐like catalytic activity. Here we examine all 18 members of the TTSPs family through CRISPR‐based activation of endogenous protein expression in cells, and find that, in addition to TMPRSS2 and TMPRSS4, TMPRSS13 significantly facilitates SADS‐CoV infection. This is confirmed by ectopic expression of TMPRSS13, and specific to trypsin‐dependent SADS‐CoV. Infection with pseudovirus bearing SADS‐CoV spike protein indicates that TMPRSS13 acts at the entry step and is sensitive to serine protease inhibitor Camostat. Moreover, both human and pig TMPRSS13 are able to enhance the cell‐cell membrane fusion and cleavage of spike protein. Overall, we demonstrate that TMPRSS13 is another host serine protease promoting the membrane‐fusion entry of SADS‐CoV, which may expand its host tropism by using diverse TTSPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioconversion of CO2 into liquid fuels or chemicals, preferred medium chain carboxylic acids (caproic and caprylic acid), is an attractive CO2 utilization technology. The present study aims to investigate the effects of different ratios of H2/CO2 on regulating the distribution of C2‐C8 carboxylic acid products, while the headspace pressure of 1.5 bar was set to amplify the effect of different ratios. The H2/CO2 ratio of 4:1 was more suitable for preparing acetic acid, where the highest acetic acid yield was 17.5 g/L. And the H2/CO2 ratio of 2:1 showed excellent chain elongation ability with the highest n‐caprylic yield of 2.4 g/L. Additionally, the actual H2/CO2 ratios of 4:1 reactors were higher than that in 2:1 may be course chain elongation often accompanied by H2 production. The 16S rRNA genes analysis shows that the genus Terrisporobacter and Coriobacteriales may be related to acetic acid production enriched in H2/CO2 ratio 4:1 reactors, and the genus Clostridium and Paenibacillaceae may associate with the chain elongation pathway were enriched in H2/CO2 ratio 2:1 reactors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The effect of radiotherapy waiting time after last induction chemotherapy (IC‐RT) on prognosis of patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (LANPC) needs further discussion. Methods: Three hundred and six patients with LANPC diagnosed pathologically by induction chemotherapy (IC) and radiotherapy (RT) from 2013 to 2018 were selected for this study. Results: The IC‐RT was a risk factor for the post‐treatment progression of LANPC (OR = 1.017 95%CI: 1.003–1.031), For patients with LANPC, the IC‐RT > 40 days significantly reduced 5‐year PFS (70% vs. 55%; p = 0.0012), 5‐year OS (84% vs. 73%; p = 0.028), 5‐year DMFS (80% vs. 66%; p = 0.003), 5‐year LRFS (77% vs. 67%; p = 0.012). Indicating that patients with stage IVa who IC‐RT > 40 days were found to be a significant predictor of aggravated PFS (HR = 2.69; 95%CI: 1.57–4.6), OS (HR = 2.55; 95%CI: 1.29–5.03), DMFS (HR = 3.07; 95%CI: 1.64–5.76) and LRFS (HR = 2.26; 95%CI: 1.21–4.21). Conclusion: The prognosis of patients will be adversely affected if the IC‐RT exceeds 40 days, especially for stage IVa patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we investigate a parabolic–elliptic Keller–Segel system with a logistic term on ℝN$$ {\mathrm{\mathbb{R}}}&#x0005E;N $$, involving mixed local and nonlocal operators −Δ+(−Δ)s$$ -\Delta &#x0002B;{\left(-\Delta \right)}&#x0005E;s $$ with s∈(0,1)$$ s\in \left(0,1\right) $$. At first, we prove that the semigroup {T(x)}t>0$$ {\left\{T(x)\right\}}_{t>0} $$ generated by Δ−(−Δ)s−I$$ \Delta -{\left(-\Delta \right)}&#x0005E;s-I $$ is an analytical semigroup and uses blow‐up arguments in combination with the classical Liouville‐type theorem to demonstrate the regularity of weak solutions of the parabolic equation with the mixed operators. Next, the local existence and uniqueness of classical solutions are established by applying the semigroup theory and regularity results in case of s∈N2N+4,1$$ \mathbf{s}\in \left(\frac{N}{2N&#x0002B;4},1\right) $$. Moreover, we obtain the global existence and boundedness of classical solutions under some conditions on given initial values and the asymptotic behavior of the global solutions with strictly positive initial conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gas‐particle aero‐type cyclones have revolutionized biochemical processes, engineering industries, and environmental pollution protection by effectively separating particles from gas. These devices rely on gravitational energy and centrifugal force to dissipate particle phase energy, but achieving optimal energy efficiency while minimizing pressure drop remains challenging. This has led to the development of various cyclone designs in commercial industries, each with unique energy efficiency characteristics. The intricate gas‐particle flow inside cyclones is a critical issue impacted by cyclone geometry, operating conditions, and media parameters. Advanced numerical simulations have been employed to understand this complex flow pattern better, offering researchers valuable insights into the mechanisms of different cyclone separators. This comprehensive review explores the available numerical methods in the literature on cyclones and their corresponding validations. Computational numerical modeling is a promising technique for predicting cyclone energy efficiency, gas‐particle behavior, and overall performance. This investigation delves into the progress and numerical forms of gas‐particle flow cyclones, examining how different parameters impact cyclone performance and flow patterns within the two‐phase flow. The future developments and challenges that may further promote the development of aero‐type cyclone separators, providing theory and engineering support for future cyclone designs, are also covered. As a result, it can confidently be reported that aero‐type cyclone separators remain a critical component in various industrial sectors, offering energy‐efficient solutions for mitigating environmental pollutants and gas‐particle separation systems. With continued development and research, these devices will undoubtedly shape the future of energy processes and engineering industries, ushering in a new era of sustainability and efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we investigate a parabolic–elliptic Keller–Segel system with a logistic term on ℝN$$ {\mathrm{\mathbb{R}}}&#x0005E;N $$, involving mixed local and nonlocal operators −Δ+(−Δ)s$$ -\Delta &#x0002B;{\left(-\Delta \right)}&#x0005E;s $$ with s∈(0,1)$$ s\in \left(0,1\right) $$. At first, we prove that the semigroup {T(x)}t>0$$ {\left\{T(x)\right\}}_{t>0} $$ generated by Δ−(−Δ)s−I$$ \Delta -{\left(-\Delta \right)}&#x0005E;s-I $$ is an analytical semigroup and uses blow‐up arguments in combination with the classical Liouville‐type theorem to demonstrate the regularity of weak solutions of the parabolic equation with the mixed operators. Next, the local existence and uniqueness of classical solutions are established by applying the semigroup theory and regularity results in case of s∈N2N+4,1$$ \mathbf{s}\in \left(\frac{N}{2N&#x0002B;4},1\right) $$. Moreover, we obtain the global existence and boundedness of classical solutions under some conditions on given initial values and the asymptotic behavior of the global solutions with strictly positive initial conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hierarchical porous carbon (HPC) materials for supercapacitor (SC) application are synthesized via a one‐step carbonization and activation method, using a novel composite activating agent with synergistic activation effect from mesophase pitch (MP) as precursor. The prepared mesophase pitch‐based porous carbon (MPPC) exhibits an ultra‐high specific surface area (SSA) of 2955.0 m2 g−1, well‐controlled pore size distribution (PSD), and exceptional electrochemical performance. The specific capacitance of MPPC‐4 attains up to 338.1 F g−1 at 1 A g−1 and 250.1 F g−1 at 20 A g−1, demonstrating remarkable rate capability. Furthermore, the assembled symmetric SC achieves a high energy density of 29.83 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 999.93 W kg−1 and still maintains 6.56 Wh kg−1 at a high power density of 19.89 kW kg−1. Furthermore, the SC exhibits advantageous cyclic stability, as evidenced by its remarkable capacitance retention rate of 88.55 % even after 5000 cycles. The utilization of this novel composite activating agent in the synthesis of pitch‐derived porous carbon (PC) electrode materials is an exceptionally effective and inventive process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background: Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) is required to screen for high‐risk varices (HRV) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), especially since overall survival rates have dramatically improved with new systemic therapies. Aim: To assess the Baveno VI and Baveno VII algorithms' ability to rule out HRV in hepatitis B virus (HBV)‐related HCC Methods: We prospectively enrolled consecutive patients with HBV related, compensated cirrhosis and newly diagnosed HCC who underwent liver stiffness measurement, spleen stiffness measurement (SSM) using a 100‐Hz shear wave frequency, and EGD. Results: From September 2021 to August 2023, we enrolled 219 patients with HCC, with 107 (48.9%) Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) A, 28 (12.8%) BCLC B and 84 (38.3%) BCLC C, respectively. HRV prevalence was 28.8% (63/219). Baveno VI criteria safely (HRV missing rate, 3.2%) avoided 27.4% unnecessary EGDs, while the Baveno VII algorithm avoided 49.3% with HRV missing rate at 7.9% (5/63). The SSM ≤40 kPa avoided 47.5% of EGDs safely (HRV missing rate, 4.8%), significantly better than the Baveno VI criteria (p < 0.001) and comparable to the Baveno VII algorithm (p = 0.390). The SSM ≤40 kPa safely avoided EGDs in patient subgroups within Milan criteria, with portal vein tumour thrombosis or BCLC B/C or candidates for systemic therapy. Conclusions: We validated that the SSM ≤40 kPa using a 100‐Hz probe could safely eliminate more unnecessary EGDs than the Baveno VI criteria in patients with HBV‐related HCC. However, the efficacy of the Baveno VII algorithm in patients with HCC requires further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the helicoselective and convergent construction of indolohelicenoids with excellent efficiency and stereocontrol. This reaction proceeds through a chiral‐phosphoric‐acid‐catalyzed enantioselective cycloaddition and eliminative aromatization sequence, which can be finely controlled by adjusting the reaction temperature. Mechanistic studies reveal that the chiral phosphoric acid cooperatively serves as both a bifunctional and Brønsted acid catalyst, enabling one‐pot central‐to‐helical chirality conversion. Additionally, the optical properties of the synthesized indolohelicenoids were characterized to explore their potential applications in organic photoelectric materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E), which plays a pivotal role in initiating translation in eukaryotic organisms, is often hijacked by the viral genome‐linked protein to facilitate the infection of potyviruses. In this study, we found that the naturally occurring amino acid substitution D71G in eIF4E is widely present in potyvirus‐resistant watermelon accessions and disrupts the interaction between watermelon eIF4E and viral genome‐linked protein of papaya ringspot virus‐watermelon strain, zucchini yellow mosaic virus or watermelon mosaic virus. Multiple sequence alignment and protein modelling showed that the amino acid residue D71 located in the cap‐binding pocket of eIF4E is strictly conserved in many plant species. The mutation D71G in watermelon eIF4E conferred resistance against papaya ringspot virus‐watermelon strain and zucchini yellow mosaic virus, and the equivalent mutation D55G in tobacco eIF4E conferred resistance to potato virus Y. Therefore, our finding provides a potential precise target for breeding plants resistant to multiple potyviruses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Increased angiogenesis is a pathological feature of psoriasis, but the pathomechanisms of angiogenesis in psoriasis are not clear. Interleukin‐17A (IL‐17A) is the major effect factor in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Our results showed that IL‐17A can promote angiogenesis and cause endothelial cell inflammation. Autophagy plays an important role not only in regulating inflammation, but also in regulating angiogenesis. Whether angiogenesis in psoriasis is related to autophagy remains unclear. In this study, we treated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) with IL‐17A to simulate increased angiogenesis to study whether increased angiogenesis in psoriasis is related to autophagy. Methods and Results: Our results showed that treatment of HUVECs with IL‐17A significantly increased angiogenesis and expression levels of mRNA for multiple proinflammatory cytokines (CCL20, IL‐8, CCL2, IL‐6, and IL‐1β) and, while decreasing intracellular levels of nitric oxide (NO) and NO synthase (NOS) activity. Moreover, IL‐17A inhibited autophagy as shown that IL‐17A significantly increased expression levels of LC3II and p62 proteins. Induction of autophagy ameliorated IL‐17A‐mediated inflammatory response and inhibited angiogenesis, accompanied by increased p‐AMPKα(Thr172) and p‐ULK1(Ser555) expression, and decreased p‐mTOR(Ser2448) and p‐ULK1(Ser757) expression. Furthermore, inhibition of either AMPK or lysosomal acidification completely overrode autophagy‐induced changes in angiogenesis and NOS activity. Finally, induction of autophagy decreased apoptosis and caspase‐3 activity in IL‐17A‐treated HUVECs. Conclusions: These results showed that IL‐17A is involved in angiogenesis and inflammatory response by inhibiting autophagy through AMPK signaling pathway, suggesting that autophagy may be a new therapeutic target for psoriasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Lactose maldigestion or intolerance affects a large number of individuals worldwide. If lactose is hydrolyzed by the β‐galactosidase enzyme during the fermentation process, lactose‐intolerant individuals can consume milk products without experiencing diarrhea, flatulence, or other symptoms. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: We isolated and characterized Streptococcus thermophilus, which exhibits high β‐galactosidase activity. This was then used as a starter culture with Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus in yogurt to determine the effects of different starter ratios and fermentation temperatures on its organoleptic and physical properties. The β‐galactosidase activity of the isolated strain was 2.60 units mg−1. The optimal temperature was 42 °C for St. thermophilus to acidify yogurt faster than at other temperatures and it was effective in hydrolyzing the lactose in the media and yogurt. The lactic acid bacteria (LAB) population in 37 °C fermented yogurt was higher than in the other samples, but the starters St. thermophilus and Lb. bulgaricus with a ratio of 2:1 used lactose more effectively than other sample ratios. The lactose content decreased significantly at 37 °C, where it was ~50% hydrolyzed. The acceptability of the sensory properties of yogurt was unaffected by relative lower fermentation temperatures (30 and 37 °C), despite using different ratios of St. thermophilus and Lb. bulgaricus as starter cultures. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ce‐promoted Ni catalysts were developed and applied in a CO methanation reaction. The 10%Ni/SiO2 catalyst exhibits poor initial CO conversion (32.8%) and rapid deactivation with the highest methane selectivity during CO the methanation reaction. In contrast, the 4%Ce–10%Ni/SiO2 catalyst shows dramatically increased initial CO conversion, which is up to 90.7%. Additionally, the apparent activation energy, Ea value, of 4%Ce–10%Ni/SiO2 was calculated to be 102.2 kJ/mol according to the Arrhenius equation, which is much lower than that of the 10%Ni/SiO2 catalyst, which was 139.1 kJ/mol. Based on various characterization results, it is found that the added Ce significantly improves the dispersion of the supported nickel, suppresses the sintering of nickel particles, and forms more adsorbed CO species of three‐fold carbonyl species, resulting in higher CO conversion and good stability during the CO methanation reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Child injury is a significant global health issue that contributes to both morbidity and mortality in children. Children with developmental disabilities are at a high risk for injuries due to a combination of environmental barriers and health conditions. However, little research has assessed the prevalence of injuries among this population in China. Using administrative data from a micro insurance programme for children with developmental disabilities (such as autism, intellectual disability, cerebral palsy and Down syndrome) under the age of 19, we estimated the risk of unintentional injuries reported in insurance claims. Between 2017 and 2020, there were 190 insurance claims (0.53%) reporting nonfatal unintentional injuries and six reporting fatal injuries. The cumulative hazard rate of unintentional injuries by the end of 1 year is 1.21% and is negatively associated with children's age. These findings suggest the need for increased safety support for children with developmental disabilities, particularly in early childhood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The present study assessed the diagnostic and prognostic significance of endobronchial ultrasound‐guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS‐TBNA) for suspected intrathoracic metastasis after HNC treatment. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 75 patients with a prior history of head and neck cancer treatment who underwent EBUS‐TBNA for suspected intrathoracic metastases between March 2012 and December 2021. Results: A total of 126 targeted lesions, including 107 mediastinal/hilar lymph nodes and 19 intrapulmonary/mediastinal masses, were sampled. The metastatic head and neck cancer (HNC) cases detected by EBUS‐TBNA consisted of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (n = 24), oropharyngeal carcinoma (n = 3), hypopharynx carcinoma (n = 6), laryngeal carcinoma (n = 6), and oral cavity carcinoma (n = 6). Cases with negative EBUS‐TBNA results consisted of tuberculosis (n = 9), sarcoidosis (n = 3), anthracosis (n = 9), and reactive lymphadenitis (n = 9). Six false‐negative cases were found among the 75 patients with suspected intrathoracic metastases. The diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and diagnostic accuracy of the EBUS‐TBNA procedure for metastatic HNC were 88.2, 100.0, 100.0, 80, and 92.0%, respectively. The diagnosis of HNC intrathoracic metastasis by EBUS‐TBNA correlated with an adverse prognosis in terms of overall survival (OS) (P =.008). The log‐rank univariate analysis and Cox regression multivariate analysis results indicated that the detection of metastatic HNC through EBUS‐TBNA was a significant independent prognostic factor for patients with HNC who had received prior treatment. Conclusions: Endobronchial ultrasound‐guided transbronchial needle aspiration is a safe, effective, and minimally invasive procedure for assessing suspected intrathoracic metastasis in HNC patients after treatment. The intrathoracic metastasis detected by EBUS‐TBNA has crucial prognostic significance in previously treated HNC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Malignant cell growth and chemoresistance, the main obstacles in treating gastrointestinal cancer (GIC), rely on the Hippo and p53 signalling pathways. However, the upstream regulatory mechanisms of these pathways remain complex and poorly understood. Methods: Immunohistochemistry (IHC), western blot and RT‐qPCR were used to analyse the expression of RNF146, miR‐3133 and key components of Hippo and p53 pathway. CCK‐8, colony formation, drug sensitivity assays and murine xenograft models were used to investigate the effect of RNF146 and miR‐3133 in GIC. Further exploration of the upstream regulatory mechanism was performed using bioinformatics analysis, dual‐luciferase reporter gene, immunoprecipitation assays and bisulfite sequencing PCR (BSP). Results: Clinical samples, in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that RNF146 exerts oncogenic effects in GIC by regulating the Hippo pathway. Bioinformatics analysis identified a novel miRNA, miR‐3133, as an upstream regulatory factor of RNF146. fluorescence in situ hybridization and RT‐qPCR assays revealed that miR‐3133 was less expressed in gastrointestinal tumour tissues and was associated with adverse pathological features. Functional assays and animal models showed that miR‐3133 promoted the proliferation and chemotherapy sensitivity of GIC cells. miR‐3133 affected YAP1 protein expression by targeting RNF146, AGK and CUL4A, thus activating the Hippo pathway. miR‐3133 inhibited p53 protein degradation and extended p53's half‐life by targeting USP15, SPIN1. BSP experiments confirmed that miR‐3133 promoter methylation is an important reason for its low expression. Conclusion: miR‐3133 inhibits GIC progression by activating the Hippo and p53 signalling pathways via multi‐targets, including RNF146, thereby providing prognostic factors and valuable potential therapeutic targets for GIC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infectious diseases remain a major global issue in public health. It is important to develop rapid, sensitive, and accurate diagnostic methods to detect pathogens and their mutations. Cas12f1 is an exceptionally compact RNA‐guided nuclease and have the potential to fulfill the clinical needs. Based on the interaction between crRNA‐SSDNA binary sequence and Cas12f1, here, we addressed the essential features that determine the recognition ability of CRISPR‐Cas12f1 single‐nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), such as the length of spacer region and the base pairing region that determines the trans‐cleavage of ssDNA. A fine‐tuning spacer design strategy is also proposed to enhance the SNP recognition capability of CRISPR‐Cas12f1. The optimized spacer confers the Cas12f1 system a strong SNP identification capability for viral or bacterial drug‐resistance mutations, with a specificity ratio ranging from 19.63 to 110.20 and an admirable sensitivity up to 100 copy/μL. Together, the spacer screening and CRISPR‐Cas12f1 based SNP identification method, is sensitive and versatile, and will have a wide application prospect in pathogen DNA mutation diagnosis and other mutation profiling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The internal quantum efficiency (IQE) decay resultant lifetime performance of ultraviolet C‐band (UVC) light‐emitting diodes (LEDs) is investigated, and an LED lifetime model is deduced assuming that defect generation is the sole cause for IQE decay and the defect generation process is to maximize the entropy of the defects. The proposed model reveals that the lifetime of an LED is proportional to its radiative recombination coefficient and inversely proportional to the product of its initial nonradiative recombination coefficient and defect growth interest rate, thus providing explicit dependence of the lifetime on the LED junction temperature and current density. The model fits excellently well to full sets of lifetime measurement data, which were collected from UVC LEDs stressed at different currents and different ambient temperatures for 2500 up to ≈10 000 h. The sensitivity of the lifetime to the junction temperature and current density is revealed for some UVC LEDs. Using the model, a lifetime of ≈96 000 h is projected to maintain 70% of the initial optical output power for a UVC LED based on a stress test for ≈10 000 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disorder. SHP2, a non‐transmembrane member of the protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) family, can be involved in multiple signaling pathways in inflammatory response. To date, it remains to be investigated whether polymorphisms in the SHP2 gene are correlated with SLE in the Chinese Han population. Method: A study comprising 320 SLE patients and 400 healthy individuals was performed. Three single nucleotide polymorphisms (rs4767860, rs7132778, rs7953150) of the SHP2 gene were genotyped using the Kompetitive Allele‐Specific Polymerase Chain Reaction method. Results: Genotypes of rs4767860 (AA, AG + AA) and rs7132778 (AA, AC + AA), and alleles of rs4767860 (A) and rs7132778 (A) were associated with SLE risk. Genotype AA of rs7132778 and allele A of rs7132778 and rs7953150 were associated with oral ulcers in SLE patients. Allele C of rs7132778 and genotype AA and allele A of rs7953150 were associated with pyuria. Patients who carried AA genotype and allele A of rs7953150 are more likely to develop hypocomplementemia. AA and AG genotype frequencies are more raised in patients with SLE with alopecia than in those without alopecia. Patients who carried AA and AG genotypes of rs4767860 had elevated C‐reactive protein levels. Conclusion: Gene polymorphisms of SHP2 (rs4767860, rs7132778) are relevant to SLE susceptibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: We aimed to investigate the relationship between monocyte/lymphocyte ratio (MLR) and monocyte/high‐density lipoprotein ratio (MHR) with abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) in patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD). Methods: The time‐averaged (TA) of relevant indexes and AAC scores (AACs) of 160 eligible patients were measured. Results: Patients divided into the new AAC (n = 57) and the other without (n = 82). High TA‐MLR (OR = 110.537, p = 0.018) and long duration of dialysis (OR = 1.045, p < 0.001) were independent risk factors of the new AAC. Patients divided into the no AAC (n = 82), the moderate‐to‐severe AAC (n = 26), and the mild AAC (n = 52). High TA‐MLR (OR = 42.649, p = 0.032), high age at starting PD (OR = 1.055, p < 0.001), and long duration of PD (OR = 1.036, p < 0.001) were independent risk factors of AAC severity. Conclusions: MLR is an independent risk factor for the occurrence and severity of AAC and its value for the assessment of AAC is better than MHR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates a chemotaxis‐Navier–Stokes system with logistic source and a fractional diffusion of order α∈(0,1)$$ \alpha \in \left(0,1\right) $$nt+u·∇n=−(−Δ)αn−χ∇·(n∇c)+an−bn2,ct+u·∇c=Δc+n−c,ut+(u·∇)u=Δu−∇P+n∇ϕ+f,∇·u=0,$$ \left\{\begin{array}{l}{n}_t+u\cdotp \nabla n=-{\left(-\Delta \right)}^{\alpha }n-\chi \nabla \cdotp \left(n\nabla c\right)+ an-b{n}^2,\\ {}{c}_t+u\cdotp \nabla c=\Delta c+n-c,\\ {}{u}_t+\left(u\cdotp \nabla \right)u=\Delta u-\nabla P+n\nabla \phi +f,\nabla \cdotp u=0,\end{array}\right. $$on the two‐dimensional periodic torus 핋2. It is proved that if α∈12,1,a,χ≥0,b>0,f∈C1핋2×[0,∞)∩L∞핋2×(0,∞)∩L2(0,∞);L2핋2 and the initial data (n0,c0,u0)$$ \left({n}_0,{c}_0,{u}_0\right) $$ satisfy some regular conditions, the considered problem admits a global classical solution. Through constructing a new Lyapunov functional different from the previous literature, we can obtain the following asymptotic stabilization: If a=0$$ a=0 $$, the solution components n$$ n $$ and c$$ c $$ satisfy n→0andc→0inL∞핋2ast→∞.If a>0$$ a>0 $$ and b>B04$$ b>\frac{B_0}{4} $$, where B0$$ {B}_0 $$ is a constant determined in (6.24), the solution components n$$ n $$ and c$$ c $$ satisfy n→abandc→abinL∞핋2ast→∞.In either case, the solution component u$$ u $$ satisfies u→0inL∞핋2ast→∞. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atropisomeric heterobiaryls play a vital role in natural products, chiral ligands, organocatalysts, and other research fields, which have aroused great interest from chemists in recent years. Until now, a growing number of optically active heterobiaryls based on indole, quinoline, isoquinoline, pyridine, pyrrole, azole, and benzofuran skeletons have been successfully synthesized through metal or organic catalytic cross‐coupling, functionalization of prochiral or racemic heterobiaryls, and ring formation. Among different strategies for the atroposelective synthesis of heterobiaryls, the strategy of ring formation has become a vital tool toward this goal. In this review, we summarize the enantioselective synthesis of axially chiral heterobiaryls through ring formation approaches, such as cycloaddition, cyclization, and chirality conversion. Meanwhile, the reaction mechanism and the corresponding applications of the chiral heterobiaryls are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uterine abnormalities infertility can be treated with implantable patches for tension‐free healing. However, the existing clinical patches are still limited in effective uterus recovery, resulting in low pregnancy and live birth rates. Herein, a novel engineered, and biocompatible Janus collagen patch (JCOP) is developed to achieve excellent uterine defect recovery and increase effective live births. The JCOP can highly match the structure, micromorphology, and mechanical properties of a natural uterus due to homologous‐like tissue homogeneity. JCOP's rough surface and loose‐extracellular‐matrix‐like porosity promote fibroblast adhesion and tissue regeneration, whereas its smooth surface reduces fibroblast adhesion and prevents visceral adhesions. Additionally, it exhibits exceptional resistance to swelling and deformation along with stable mechanical strength for long‐term preservation in the body and can withstand the highest uterine pressure in a humid interior environment attributed to its superior structural layout. Moreover, JCOP@bF, a functional JCOP linked to basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) via a specific collagen‐binding domain, significantly promotes repair of the injured uterus, restores the ability of the endometrium to accept embryos, and supports their development to a viable stage in a rat model of uterine damage. This study shows great promise for treating infertility caused by uterine damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Cytidine diphosphate diacylglycerol (CDP‐DAG), an important intermediate for glycerolipid biosynthesis, is synthesized under the catalytic activity of CDP‐DAG synthase (CDS) to produce anionic phosphoglycerolipids such as phosphatidylglycerol (PG) and cardiolipin (CL). Previous studies showed that Arabidopsis CDSs are encoded by a small gene family, termed CDS1–CDS5, the members of which are integral membrane proteins in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and in plastids. However, the details on how CDP‐DAG is provided for mitochondrial membrane‐specific phosphoglycerolipids are missing. Here we present the identification of a mitochondrion‐specific CDS, designated CDS6. Enzymatic activity of CDS6 was demonstrated by the complementation of CL synthesis in the yeast CDS‐deficient tam41Δ mutant. The Arabidopsis cds6 mutant lacking CDS6 activity showed decreased mitochondrial PG and CL biosynthesis capacity, a severe growth deficiency finally leading to plant death. These defects were rescued partly by complementation with CDS6 or supplementation with PG and CL. The ultrastructure of mitochondria in cds6 was abnormal, missing the structures of cristae. The degradation of triacylglycerol (TAG) in lipid droplets and starch in chloroplasts in the cds6 mutant was impaired. The expression of most differentially expressed genes involved in the mitochondrial electron transport chain was upregulated, suggesting an energy‐demanding stage in cds6. Furthermore, the contents of polar glycerolipids in cds6 were dramatically altered. In addition, cds6 seedlings lost the capacity for cell proliferation and showed a higher oxidase activity. Thus, CDS6 is indispensable for the biosynthesis of PG and CL in mitochondria, which is critical for establishing mitochondrial structure, TAG degradation, energy production and seedling development. Significance Statement: The Arabidopsis mitochondrial CDP‐DAG synthase, CDS6, differs from the previously identified CDS1–CDS5. CDS6 is indispensable for the biosynthesis of PG and CL in mitochondria, which is critical for establishing the cristae structure of the mitochondrial inner envelope. The Arabidopsis cds6 mutant lacking CDS6 activity showed decreased capacity for TAG degradation and energy production and severe growth deficiency, finally leading to plant death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Central nervous system (CNS) aspergillosis is an uncommon but fatal disease, the diagnosis of which is still difficult. Objectives: We aim to explore the diagnositic performance of noncultural methods for CNS aspergillosis. Methods: In this retrospective study, all pathologically confirmed rhinosinusitis patients in whom cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) galactomannan (GM) test and metagenomic next‐generation sequencing (mNGS) had been performed were included. We evaluated the diagnostic performances of CSF GM optical density indexes (ODI) at different cut‐off values and compared performance with mNGS in patients with and without CNS aspergillosis, as well as in patients with different manifestations of CNS aspergillosis. Results: Of the 21 proven and probable cases, one had positive culture result, five had positive mNGS results and 10 had a CSF GM ODI of >0.7. Sample concordance between mNGS and GM test was poor, but best diagnostic performance was achieved by combination of GM test (ODI of >0.7) and mNGS, which generated a sensitivity of 61.9% and specificity of 82.6%. Further investigation of combination diagnostic performances in different kind of CNS aspergillosis was also conducted. Lowest sensitivity (42.9%) was identified in abscess group, while increased sensitivity (60.0%) was achieved in abscess with encephalitis groups. Combination test exhibited the best performance for encephalitis patients who had only CSF abnormalities, in whom the sensitivity and specificity were 77.8% and 82.6%, respectively. Conclusions: In conclusion, combination of these two tests might be useful for diagnosis of CNS aspergillosis associated with fungal rhinosinusitis, especially in encephalitis patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Revealing hydrothermal evolution from the early oxide to late carbonate stages for quartz–wolframite vein‐type deposits is essential for understanding the ore‐forming process. In this study, we choose the Baishitouwa tungsten polymetallic deposit located in the southern Great Xing'an Range tungsten belt as a case study, and present detailed deposit geology and in situ fluid inclusion (FI) analyses including microthermometry, laser Raman spectra, and LA‐ICP‐MS microanalysis to address this issue. Four stages of hydrothermal activity were identified: (1) quartz–wolframite (I), (2) quartz–wolframite (II)–pyrite–chalcopyrite, (3) quartz–polymetallic sulphides, and (4) quartz–carbonate. Four types of FIs were recognized: CO2‐rich, CO2‐bearing, liquid‐rich, and brine inclusions. Microthermometric data showed that the homogenization temperatures and salinities from the early to late stages are 380–460°C, 7.4–17.3, and 29.3–43.2 wt% NaCl equiv., 300–390°C and 7.1–17.0 wt% NaCl equiv., 220–320°C and 2.7–8.1 wt% NaCl equiv., and 150–250°C and 0.5–4.8 wt% NaCl equiv., respectively, suggesting a decreasing trend. Geochemically, all stage fluids contained high Rb and Mn concentrations, high Rb/Na, Cs/Na, Li/Na, K/Na, Rb/Sr, low K/Rb, and consistent Cs/Rb and Cs/(Na + K) ratios, indicating that the mineralizing fluids originated from a common source—an underlying, geochemically uniform, and highly fractionated granitic magma. Fluid immiscibility and cooling are the main mechanisms for wolframite precipitation, whereas greisenization is subordinate; the incursion of meteoric water into the hydrothermal system initiated at the sulphide stage, and fluid mixing is the dominant mechanism for sulphide precipitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A solar chimney power plant (SCPP) is suitable to be deployed in desert areas, but there are few studies on the impact of desert wind and sand. In this paper, numerical simulations for the Spanish prototype SCPP were conducted to investigate desert environmental parameters, including sand movement, crosswind, and sand deposition, on the output performance of SCPP. The results indicate that the main erosion area of the turbine blade in the SCPP is the leading edge of the blade pressure surface. The erosion area of the suction surface is much less than that of the pressure surface, mainly concentrated on the leading edge. The output power of SCPP is reduced by 73.3% because of the crosswind and it decreases by 16.9% after the windbreak wall is installed. The sand and dust deposition would affect the transmissivity of the solar radiation through the collector cover. In a dusty environment for 1 month, the system output power decreased by 12.9%, and the collector efficiency decreased from 34% to 23% due to the sand deposition. These results show that the sand has a considerable negative effect on the performance of SCPP in ways of sand erosion and deposition. Sand removal is necessary for SCPP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs), a prominent type of spintronic device based on the spin valve effect, have facilitated the development of numerous spintronic applications. The technical appeal for the next‐generation MTJ devices has been proposed in two directions: improving device performance by utilizing advanced two‐dimensional (2D) ferromagnetic materials or extending device functionalities by exploring the gate‐tunable magnetic properties of ferromagnets. Based on the recent development of 2D magnets with the ease of external stimuli, such as electric field, due to their reduced dimensions, reliable prospects for gate‐tunable MTJ devices can be achieved, shedding light on the great potential of next‐generation MTJs with multiple functionalities for various application environments. While the electrical gate‐tunable MTJ device is highly desirable for practical spintronic devices, it has not yet been demonstrated. Here, we demonstrate the experimental realization of a spin valve device by combining a vertical Fe3GeTe2/h‐BN/Fe3GeTe2 MTJ with an electrolyte gate. The magnetoresistance ratio (MR ratio) of 36% for the intrinsic MTJ confirms the good performance of the device. By electrolyte gating, the tunneling MR ratio of Fe3GeTe2/h‐BN/Fe3GeTe2 MTJ can be elevated 2.5 times, from 26% to 65%. Importantly, the magnetic fields at which the magnetoresistance switches for the MTJ can be modulated by electrical gating, providing a promising method to control the magnetization configuration of the MTJ. Our work demonstrates a gate‐tunable MTJ device toward the possibility for gate‐controlled spintronic devices, paving the way for performing 2D magnetism manipulations and exploring innovative spintronic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Designing high‐efficiency surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates has attracted explosive attention in recent decades for their novel and potential applications. Great achievements have been made to optimize the intrinsic activity of nanomaterial in SERS substrates, while little attention has been paid to the unique structural design of the nanomaterial building blocks. Herein, a new strategy is provided for assembling Au nanoparticles into well‐defined ordered structures by using a highly ordered arrangement nanowires template to explore the ordering effect on the SERS performance. The highly ordered Au nanoparticle arrays show a detection limit of 10−9 m that exceeds disordered Au particles by two orders of magnitude, as well as over treble enhancement factor at the same detection concentration. Importantly, this novel scientific discovery can be further confirmed in various probed molecules or nanoparticles with different diameters, which means SERS substrate design can be pushed forward further combined with traditional intrinsic activity design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cryptococcal meningitis (CM) is increasingly recognised in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)‐uninfected patients with high mortality. The efficacy and safety profiles of induction therapy with high‐dose fluconazole plus flucytosine remain unclear. Methods: HIV‐uninfected CM patients who received high‐dose fluconazole (800 mg/d) for initial therapy in Huashan Hospital were included in this retrospective study from January 2013 to December 2018. Efficacy and safety of initial therapy, clinical outcomes and risk factors were evaluated. Results: Twenty‐seven (71.1%) patients who received high‐dose fluconazole with flucytosine combination therapy and 11 (28.9%) having fluconazole alone for induction therapy were included. With a median duration of 42 days (IQR, 28–86), the successful response rate of initial therapy was 76.3% (29/38), while adverse drug reactions occurred in 14 patients (36.8%). The rate of persistently positive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture results was 30.6% at 2 weeks, which was significantly associated with CSF CrAg titre >1:1280 (OR 9.56; 95% CI 1.40–103.65; p =.010) and CSF culture of Cryptococcus >3.9 log10CFU/ml (OR 19.20; 95% CI 1.60–920.54; p =.011), and decreased to 8.6% at 4 weeks. One‐year mortality was 15.8% (6/38), and low serum albumin (35 g/L) was found as an independent risk factor for 1‐year mortality (HR 6.31; 95% CI 1.150–34.632; p =.034). Conclusions: Induction therapy with high‐dose fluconazole (800 mg/d), combined with flucytosine, effectively treated HIV‐uninfected CM and was well tolerated. Long‐term fluconazole treatment with continued monitoring is beneficial for patients with persistent infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]