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BACKGROUND: High‐temperature (HT) stress significantly affects the quality of rice (Oryza sativa L.), although the underlying the mechanism remains unknown. Therefore, in the present study, we assessed protein components, amino acids, mineral element levels, starch biosynthesis enzyme activity and gene expression of two heat‐sensitive and two heat‐tolerant genotypes under HT treatment during early (from 1 to 10 days, T1) and mid‐filling (from 11 to 20 days, T2) after anthesis. RESULTS: Except for one cultivar, most rice varieties exhibited increased levels of amylose, chalky degree and protein content, along with elevated cracked grains and pasting temperatures and, consequently, suppressed amino acid levels under HT stress. HT treatment also increased protein components, macro‐ (Mg, K, P and S) and microelements (Cu, Zn, and Mo) in the rice flour. Both HT treatments reduced the activity of ADP‐glucose pyrophosphate, ground‐bound starch synthase, as well as the relative ratio of amylose to total starch, at the same time increasing starch branch enzyme activity. The expression levels of OsAGPL2, OsSSS1 and OsSBE1 in all varieties exhibited the same trends as enzyme activity under HT treatment. CONCLUSION: High temperatures negatively affected rice quality during grain filling, which is related to heat tolerance and grain shape. Altered enzymatic activity is crucial to compensate for the lowered enzyme quality under heat stress. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Blackberry seeds, as a by‐product of processing, have potential bioactive substances and activities. A response surface method was used to determine the optimal conditions of blackberry seed extracts (BSEs) with high 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity by ultrasound‐assisted extraction (UAE). The composition and antioxidant capacity of BSEs were further analyzed. RESULTS: The optimal conditions were material‐to‐liquid ratio of 0.07 g mL−1, ethanol concentration of 56%, extraction temperature of 39 °C and ultrasonic power of 260 W. Using these conditions, the extraction yield and total polysaccharide, phenolic and anthocyanin contents in BSEs were 0.062 g g−1 and 633.91, 36.21 and 3.07 mg g−1, respectively. The Fourier transform infrared spectra of BSEs exhibited characteristic peaks associated with polysaccharide absorption. The antioxidant capacity, DPPH and 2,2'‐azino‐bis(3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid) radical scavenging activity, and ferric reducing antioxidant power of BSEs were 1533.19, 1021.93 and 1093.38 mmol Trolox equivalent g−1, respectively. The delphinidin‐3‐O‐glucoside, paeoniflorin‐3‐O‐glucoside and cyanidin‐3‐O‐arabinoside contents in BSEs were 3.05,12.76 and 1895.90 ± 3.45 μg g−1. Five polyphenols including gallic acid, coumaric acid, ferulic acid, catechin and caffeic acid were identified and quantified in BSEs with its contents at 8850.43, 5053.26, 4984.65, 1846.91 and 192.40 μg g−1. CONCLUSION: These results provide a method for preparing BSE containing functional components such as polysaccharides, phenols and anthocyanins through UAE, and BSEs have potential application in food industries. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reliable interfacial bonding is an essential guarantee that flexible electronics can output realistic signals, especially for underwater scenes. However, conventional self‐adhesive materials usually suffer from underwater adhesion failure, conflict between adhesion and cohesion, as well as adverse effects of isotropous adhesion and residue, greatly limiting their applications in flexible electronics. Herein, a Janus hydrophobic structural gel (HSG) with asymmetric adhesion is fabricated by a "grafting one twig on another" approach (in situ constructing a hydrophobic anti‐adhesive gel on the top of a hydrophobic self‐adhesive gel). The hydrophobic adhesion layer with long C18 aliphatic chains achieves a reliable underwater bonding (interfacial toughness exceeds 80 J m−2) with the assistance of high mobility of polymer chains, multiple interfacial interactions, and effective removal of interfacial liquid. The hydrophobic anti‐adhesion layer containing poly(ionic liquid) is more robust due to electrostatic and ion‐dipole interactions, ensuring the mechanical strength of the integral HSG. Such asymmetric heterostructure avoids common nonessential adhesion and residue, facilitating operation. The intrinsic hydrophobicity of HSG also prevents water erosion, achieving reliable underwater adhesion and sensing. As a result, the assembled sensor based on HSG can stably monitor human motions and wirelessly transmit underwater information, exhibiting an enormous potential in wearable electronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium‐sulfur (Li−S) batteries have many advantages but still face problems such as retarded polysulfides redox kinetics and Li dendrite growth. Most reported single atom catalysts (SACs) for Li−S batteries are based on d‐band transition metals whose d orbital constitutes active valence band, which is inclined to occur catalyst passivation. SACs based on 4f inner valence orbital of rare earth metals are challenging for their great difficulty to be activated. In this work, we design and synthesize the first rare earth metal Sm SACs which has electron‐rich 4f inner orbital to promote catalytic conversion of polysulfides and uniform deposition of Li. Sm SACs enhance the catalysis by the activated 4f orbital through an f‐d‐p orbital hybridization. Using Sm‐N3C3 modified separators, the half cells deliver a high capacity over 600 mAh g−1 and a retention rate of 84.3 % after 2000 cycles. The fabricated Sm‐N3C3‐Li|Sm‐N3C3@PP|S/CNTs full batteries can provide an ultra‐stable cycling performance of a retention rate of 80.6 % at 0.2 C after 100 cycles, one of the best full Li−S batteries. This work provides a new perspective for the development of rare earth metal single atom catalysis in electrochemical reactions of Li−S batteries and other electrochemical systems for next‐generation energy storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium–sulfur batteries (LSBs) are widely regarded as promising next‐generation batteries due to their high theoretical specific capacity and low material cost. However, the practical applications of LSBs are limited by the shuttle effect of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs), electronic insulation of charge and discharge products, and slow LiPSs conversion reaction kinetics. Accordingly, the introduction of catalysts into LSBs is one of the effective strategy to solve the issues of the sluggished LiPS conversion. Because of their nearly 100% atom utilization and high electrocatalytic activity, single‐atom catalysts (SACs) have been widely used as reaction mediators for LSBs' reactions. Excitingly, the SACs with asymmetric coordination structures have exhibited intriguing electronic structures and superior catalytic activities when compared to the traditional M–N4 active sites. In this review, we systematically describe the recent advancements in the installation of asymmetrically coordinated single‐atom structure as reactions catalysts in LSBs, including asymmetrically nitrogen coordinated SACs, heteroatom coordinated SACs, support effective asymmetrically coordinated SACs, and bimetallic coordinated SACs. Particularly noteworthy is the discussion of the catalytic conversion mechanism of LiPSs spanning asymmetrically coordinated SACs. Finally, a perspective on the future developments of asymmetrically coordinated SACs in LSB applications is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Antiangiogenic inhibitors have been shown to synergize with immune checkpoint blockade, but the underlying mechanisms of the synergistic response are not fully understood. Patients and Methods: We investigate the impact of VEGFR2 inhibition on tumor‐infiltrating immune cells in vivo and the activity of the combination of apatinib and anti‐PD‐1 in synergistic mouse model of HNSCC. A patient with squamous cell carcinoma of the left tongue with cervical lymph node were received with combined induction treatment of camrelizumab and apatinib to validate the efficacy of neoadjuvant immunotherapy before surgery. Results: We found that apatinib increased the infiltration of CD8+T cells and decreased the population of Tregs in a preclinical syngeneic mouse model. The proportions of CD8+PD1+T cells were significantly increased in apatinib‐treated tumors. The combined treatment of apatinib and anti‐PD‐1 demonstrated better therapeutic benefit than each treatment alone. The patient with squamous cell carcinoma of the left tongue with cervical lymph node achieved major pathologic response (MPR) after two cycles of combined induction treatment. Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that apatinib therapy synergized with an anti–PD‐1 antibody in preclinical cancer models and in patient with advanced HNSCC. These results provide a new rationale for advancing this neoadjuvant immunotherapy in large scale of clinical trials of HNSCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) members including FGFR1–4 have been identified as promising novel therapeutic targets and prognostic markers in multiple solid tumors. However, the predictive role of the expression of FGFR proteins in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) requires further exploration. Materials and Methods: Immunohistochemical evaluation of FGFR1–4 was performed on 161 paired OSCC samples. The associations of FGFRs with clinicopathologic and prognostic parameters were analyzed. To further assess the contribution of FGFRs to OSCC proliferation, cell lines, and one PDX model was utilized to examine the anti‐tumor effect of the pan‐FGFR inhibitor AZD4547. Results: All FGFR members were found to be overexpressed in OSCC tumors when compared to normal tissues, and their expression was significantly associated with poor overall survival and disease‐free survival. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed high expression of FGFR1 (p = 0.014) and FGFR4 (p = 0.009) were independent prognostic factors and co‐overexpression of FGFR1 and FGFR4 with lymph node metastasis increased HR for death (p = 0.02). The pan‐FGFR inhibitor AZD4547 showed anti‐tumor activity in cell lines and in a patient‐derived xenograft of OSCC. Conclusions: This study highlights the co‐overexpression of FGFR1 and FGFR4 as a significantly poor prognosis indicator in OSCC when combined with lymph node metastasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: With global warming and climate change, abiotic stresses often simultaneously occur. Combined salt and heat stress was a common phenomenon that was severe, particularly in arid/semi‐arid lands. We aimed to reveal the systematic responsive mechanisms of tomato genotypes with different salt/heat susceptibilities to combined salt and heat stress. Morphological and physiological responses of salt‐tolerant/sensitive and heat‐tolerant/sensitive tomatoes at control, heat, salt and combined stress were investigated. Based on leaf Fv/Fm and H2O2 content, samples from tolerant genotype at the four treatments for 36 h were taken for transcriptomics and metabolomics. We found that plant height, dry weight and net photosynthetic rate decreased while leaf Na+ concentration increased in all four genotypes under salt and combined stress than control. Changes in physiological indicators such as photosynthetic parameters and defence enzyme activities in tomato under combined stress were regulated by the expression of relevant genes and the accumulation of key metabolites. We screened five key pathways in tomato responding to a combination of salt and heat stress, such as oxidative phosphorylation (map00190). Synergistic regulation at morphological, physiological, transcriptional and metabolic levels in tomato plants was induced by combined stress. Heat stress was considered as a dominant stressor for tomato plants under the current combined stress. The oxidative phosphorylation pathway played a key role in tomato in response to combined stress, where tapped key genes (e.g. alternative oxidase, Aox1a) need further functional analysis. Our study will provide a valuable resource important for studying stress combination and improving tomato tolerance. Significance Statement: Synergistic regulation at morphological, physiological, transcriptional and metabolic levels in tomato plants was induced by combined stress. Our study will enhance our understanding of plants' specific responses to combined stress and benefit the improvement of tomato tolerance to changing climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic value of rapid on‐site evaluation (ROSE) combined with computed tomography‐guided percutaneous needle biopsy (CT‐PNB) or radial endobronchial ultrasound‐guided transbronchial lung biopsy (EBUS‐TBLB) for pulmonary cryptococcosis (PC). Methods: Clinical data of 33 patients diagnosed with PC at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University between February 2018 and June 2023 were retrospectively analysed. Patients were divided into the CT‐PNB and EBUS‐TBLB groups based on the intervention method, and the diagnostic positivity rate and incidence of complications were compared between the two groups. Results: Compared with the final diagnosis, the positive diagnostic rates of ROSE, histopathology and serum CrAg of all patients were 81.8% (27/33), 72.7% (24/33) and 63.6% (21/33), respectively. The average turnaround times of the three methods were 0.1 (0.1–0.2) h, 96.0 (48.0–120.0) h and 7.8 (4.5–13.6) h, respectively (P < 0.001). The coincidence rate between histopathology and ROSE was 84.8% with a kappa value of 0.574. The positive diagnostic rate for PC was significantly higher in the CT‐PNB group than in the EBUS‐TBLB group (92.9% vs. 57.9%), and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Combined with the ROSE results, the positive diagnostic rate in the EBUS‐TBLB group increased to 84.2% (16/19). Conclusion: ROSE has commendable accuracy and timeliness, and CT‐PNB offers further advantages in this regard. ROSE enhances the diagnostic efficiency of EBUS‐TBLB for PC and is safe and effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The heterogeneity of aging has been investigated at cellular and organic levels in the mouse model and human, but the exploration of aging heterogeneity at whole‐organism level is lacking. C. elegans is an ideal model organism for studying this question as they are self‐fertilized and cultured in the same chamber. Despite the tremendous progress made in single‐cell proteomic analysis, there is few single‐worm proteomics studies about aging. Here, we apply single‐worm quantitative mass spectrometry to quantify the heterogenous proteomic changes during aging across individuals, a total of 3524 proteins from 157 C. eleagns individuals were quantified. A reconstructed C. elegans aging trajectory and proteomic landscape of fast‐aging individuals were used to analyze the heterogeneity of C. elegans aging. We characterized inter‐individual proteomic variation during aging and revealed contributing factors that distinguish fast‐aging individuals from their siblings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Plant Hormone Gene Database (PHGD) is a comprehensive resource that provides information on plant hormone pathways and genes. The database includes 11 types of plant hormones and contains data from 469 plant species. Users can browse the database by species or pathway, search for specific genes, and access resources such as genomic information and published articles. The database also offers tools for sequence alignment and primer design. The PHGD database aims to facilitate research on plant hormones and their regulatory mechanisms. This document provides a series of tables and data related to the identification and categorization of genes involved in different plant hormone pathways. The tables include information on the number of genes identified through blast filter and pfam identification methods, as well as the number of hormone components in different pathways. Additionally, the document includes a heatmap of plant hormone pathway components in 64 representative species. This information can be useful for researchers studying plant hormones and their role in various biological processes. [Extracted from the article]

Background and Objectives: The present study aims to evaluate the iron stores in plasmapheresis donors and develop and validate an iron deficiency (ID) risk prediction model for plasmapheresis donors with potential or existing ID. Materials and Methods: We assessed plasmapheresis donors' serum ferritin (SF) and haemoglobin (Hb) levels. The candidate factors showing significant differences in the multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to establish a risk prediction scoring system. The participants were divided into a training cohort and an internal validation cohort in a 7:3 ratio. Additional plasmapheresis donors from a different station were recruited for external validation. Results: The SF levels in both male and female donors in the high‐frequency group were significantly lower than those of new donors (male: p < 0.001; female: p = 0.008). The prevalence of ID in female regular donors with a high frequency was significantly higher than that in new donors (33.1% vs. 24.6%; odds ratio = 1.209 [95% CI: 1.035–1.412]). Donation frequency, age, Hb, body mass index and being pre‐menopausal were identified as independent risk factors for ID (p < 0.05). The developed model exhibited good discrimination ability (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve >0.7) and calibration (p > 0.05) in development, internal validation cohorts and external validation cohorts. Conclusion: A higher donation frequency has been associated with reduced SF levels and an increased risk of ID in women. The developed ID risk prediction model demonstrates moderate discriminative power and good model fitting, suggesting its potential clinical utility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To accelerate radially sampled diffusion weighted spin‐echo (Rad‐DW‐SE) acquisition method for generating high quality ADC maps. Methods: A deep learning method was developed to generate accurate ADC maps from accelerated DWI data acquired with the Rad‐DW‐SE method. The deep learning method integrates convolutional neural networks (CNNs) with vision transformers to generate high quality ADC maps from accelerated DWI data, regularized by a monoexponential ADC model fitting term. A model was trained on DWI data of 147 mice and evaluated on DWI data of 36 mice, with acceleration factors of 4× and 8× compared to the original acquisition parameters. Results: Ablation studies and experimental results have demonstrated that the proposed deep learning model generates higher quality ADC maps from accelerated DWI data than alternative deep learning methods under comparison when their performance is quantified in whole images as well as in regions of interest, including tumors, kidneys, and muscles. Conclusions: The deep learning method with integrated CNNs and transformers provides an effective means to accurately compute ADC maps from accelerated DWI data acquired with the Rad‐DW‐SE method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) integration into the host genome is an important factor in HPV(+)OPSCC carcinogenesis, in conjunction with HPV oncoproteins E6/E7. However, a well‐studied investigation about virus–host interaction still needs to be completed. Our objective is to characterise HPV integration to investigate potential mechanisms of tumourigenesis independent of E6/E7 oncoproteins. Materials and methods: High‐throughput viral integration detection was performed on 109 HPV(+)OPSCC tumours with relevant clinicopathological information. Of these tumours, 38 tumours underwent targeted gene sequencing, 29 underwent whole exome sequencing and 26 underwent RNA sequencing. Results: HPV integration was detected in 94% of tumours (with a mean integration count of 337). Tumours occurring at the tonsil/oropharyngeal wall that exhibit higher PD‐L1 expression demonstrated increased integration sites (p =.024). HPV exhibited a propensity for integration at genomic sites located within specific fragile sites (FRA19A) or genes associated with functional roles such as cell proliferation and differentiation (PTEN, AR), immune evasion (CD274) and glycoprotein biosynthesis process (FUT8). The viral oncogenes E2, E4, E6 and E7 tended to remain intact. HPV fragments displayed enrichment within host copy number variation (CNV) regions. However, insertions into genes related to altered homologous recombination repair were infrequent. Genes with integration had distinct expression levels. Fifty‐nine genes whose expression level was affected by viral integration were identified, for example, EPHB1, which was reported to be involved in cellular protein metabolic process. Conclusions: HPV can promote oncogenesis through recurrent integration into functional host genome regions, leading to subsequent genomic aberrations and gene expression disruption. This study characterises viral integrations and virus–host interactions, enhancing our understanding of HPV‐related carcinogenesis mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Controlling an autonomous vehicle's unprotected left turn at an intersection is a challenging task. Traditional rule‐based autonomous driving decision and control algorithms struggle to construct accurate and trustworthy mathematical models for such circumstances, owing to their considerable uncertainty and unpredictability. To overcome this problem, a rule‐constrained reinforcement learning (RCRL) control method is proposed in this work for autonomous driving. To train a reinforcement learning controller with rule constraints, outcomes of the path planning module are used as a goal condition in the reinforcement learning framework. Since they include vehicle dynamics, the proposed approach is safer and more reliable compared to end‐to‐end learning, thereby ensuring that the generated trajectories are locally optimal while adjusting to unpredictable situations. In the experiments, a highly randomized two‐way four‐lane intersection is established based on the CARLA simulator to verify the effectiveness of the proposed RCRL control method. Accordingly, the results show that the proposed method can provide real‐time safe planning and ensure high passing efficiency for autonomous vehicles in the unprotected left turn task. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ionic conductors, such as hydrogels, ionogels, and eutectogels, have attained considerable research interest in various advanced application scenarios. However, such ionic conductors still suffer from the restriction of inherent liquid compositions, which may leak or evaporate. Herein, inspired by the control strategy of desertification caused by soil erosion, a novel internal‐external dual enhancement design strategy, i.e., increasing the interaction between the filler itself and its matrix, is proposed to firmly embed the deep eutectic solvent (DES) into polyurethane (PU) to prevent liquid leakage, such that the prepared ionic conductive elastomers (PU‐DESs) are quasi‐solid. The PU‐DESs exhibit marvelous versatility including high stretchability, tensile strength, toughness, self‐healing efficiency, antibacterial ability, ionic conductivity, and excellent freezing tolerance. More intriguingly, benefiting from their quasi‐solid feature, PU‐DESs are endowed with long‐term environmental stability. Thanks to these superb versatile features, PU‐DESs are further successfully applied in the wearable sensor and triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) for monitoring human motions and converting mechanical energy into electrical energy, breaking away from the limitations of previous most soft iontronics such as liquid leakage or evaporation and weak mechanical strength. Hence, this study establishes an effective material design strategy for various soft iontronics demanding environmental stability and durability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient identification of epitopes is crucial for drug discovery and design as it enables the selection of optimal epitopes, expansion of lead antibody diversity, and verification of binding interface. Although high‐resolution low throughput methods like x‐ray crystallography can determine epitopes or protein–protein interactions accurately, they are time‐consuming and can only be applied to a limited number of complexes. To overcome these limitations, we have developed a rapid computational method that incorporates N‐linked glycans to mask epitopes or protein interaction surfaces, thereby providing a mapping of these regions. Using human coagulation factor IXa (fIXa) as a model system, we computationally screened 158 positions and expressed 98 variants to test experimentally for epitope mapping. We were able to delineate epitopes rapidly and reliably through the insertion of N‐linked glycans that efficiently disrupted binding in a site‐selective manner. To validate the efficacy of our method, we conducted ELISA experiments and high‐throughput yeast surface display assays. Furthermore, x‐ray crystallography was employed to verify the results, thereby recapitulating through the method of N‐linked glycans a coarse‐grained mapping of the epitope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The trihelix transcription factor (TTF) gene family is an important class of transcription factors that play key roles in regulating developmental processes and responding to various stresses. To date, no comprehensive analysis of the TTF gene family in large‐scale species has been performed. A cross‐genome exploration of its origin, copy number variation, and expression pattern in plants is also unavailable. Here, we identified and characterized the TTF gene family in 110 species representing typical plant phylogenetic taxa. Interestingly, we found that the number of TTF genes was significantly expanded in Chara braunii compared to other species. Based on the available plant genomic datasets, our comparative analysis suggested that the TTF gene family likely originated from the GT‐1‐1 group and then expanded to form other groups through duplication or deletion of some domains. We found evidence that whole‐genome duplication/triplication contributed most to the expansion of the TTF gene family in dicots, monocots and basal angiosperms. In contrast, dispersed and proximal duplications contributed to the expansion of the TTF gene family in algae and bryophyta. The expression patterns of TTF genes and their upstream and downstream genes in different treatments showed a functional divergence of TTF‐related genes. Furthermore, we constructed the interaction network between TTF genes and the corresponding upstream and downstream genes, providing a blueprint for their regulatory pathways. This study provided a cross‐genome comparative analysis of TTF genes in 110 species, which contributed to understanding their copy number expansion and evolutionary footprint in plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Necroptosis participates in the pathogenesis of many inflammatory diseases, including periodontitis. Here, we aimed to investigate the role and mechanism of necroptosis inhibitors in attenuating periodontitis. Materials and Methods: The Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) dataset GSE164241 was re‐analysed to identify the role of necroptosis in periodontitis. Gingival specimens from healthy subjects or periodontitis patients were collected to evaluate the expression level of necroptosis‐associated proteins. The therapeutic effect of necroptosis inhibitors on periodontitis was assessed in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, Transwell assays and Western blotting and siRNA transfection were used to identify the effects of necroptotic human gingival fibroblasts (hGFs) on THP‐1 macrophages. Results: Re‐analysis revealed that gingival fibroblasts (GFs) in periodontitis gingiva showed the highest area under the curve score of necroptosis. Elevated levels of necroptosis‐associated proteins were identified in GFs in periodontitis gingiva collected from patients and mice. In ligature‐induced periodontitis mice, local administration of receptor interacting protein kinase 3(RIPK3) inhibitor GSK′872 or sh‐mixed‐lineage kinase domain‐like pseudokinase (Mlkl) markedly abrogated necroptosis and rescued periodontitis. Analogously, necroptosis inhibitors alleviated the inflammatory response and release of damage‐associated molecular patterns in lipopolysaccharide‐ or LAZ (LPS + AZD'5582 + z‐VAD‐fmk, necroptosis inducer)‐induced GFs and then reduced THP‐1 cell migration and M1 polarization. Conclusions: Necroptosis in GFs aggravated gingival inflammation and alveolar bone loss. Necroptosis inhibitors attenuate this process by modulating THP‐1 macrophage migration and polarization. This study offers novel insights into the pathogenesis and potential therapeutic targets of periodontitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the clinical features and incidence of Intraoperatively Acquired Pressure Injuries (IAPIs) of brain tumours in children, to screen the risk factors and to establish a nomogram model for making prevention strategies against the development of IAPIs. Clinical data of 628 children undergoing brain tumour surgery from August 2019 to August 2021 were extracted from the adverse events and the electronic medical systems. They were randomly divided into a training cohort(n = 471) and a validation cohort(n = 157). The univariate and multivariate analysis was performed to identify the risk factors in training cohort; R software was used to construct a nomogram model; the area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUC) and calibration plots were used to judge the predictive performance of the nomogram model; decision curve analysis (DCA) was used to assess the clinical usefulness of the nomogram model. Age, haemorrhage, use of vasopressor, temperature, operation time and operation position were considered as significant risk factors, and enrolled to construct a nomogram model. The results of AUC showed satisfactory discrimination of the nomogram; the calibration plots indicated favourable consistency between the prediction of the nomogram and actual observations in both the training and validation cohorts; DCA showed better net benefit and threshold probability of the nomogram model. The nomogram model illustrates significant predictive ability, which can provide scientific and individual guidance for preventing development of IAPIs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coronary artery tortuosity (CAT) is frequently detected during coronary angiography or coronary electron‐beam computed tomography angiography by cardiovascular interventionalists. In this article, we described the case of a 69‐year‐old female patient with recurrent chest discomfort for 1 month and recurrence 1 week ago, accompanied by emaciation, gastrointestinal discomfort, and low skin temperature at the extremities. After a series of tests, the patient was finally diagnosed with severe CAT and coexisting connective tissue disease. Accordingly, she was treated with conventional medications, and diet and lifestyle modifications. The symptoms of the patient resolved gradually after 1 year of follow‐up. Although there is no unanimous conclusion on the pathogenesis and clinical characteristics of CAT, this disease may provide a clue to the diagnosis of connective tissue disease, and warrants exploration through further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead (Pb) intoxication is known to damage the proximal tubules of kidney. Autophagy and apoptosis have been shown to be involved in a variety of renal injuries, but the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. In this study, we constructed a mice model of Pb intoxication and validated it against lead concentrations in blood and urine. Electron microscopy revealed that Pb promoted the accumulation of autophagosomes. Subsequent immunofluorescence and western blotting revealed that Pb intoxication suppressed the autophagic flux. Next, exosomes were isolated and extracted through ultracentrifugation, and were further identified by diameter analysis and marker detection. We also demonstrated that autophagy and apoptosis were enhanced in renal cells with exosomes of Pb expose. Furthermore, the specific mechanisms were explored by RNA sequencing and it was found that several targeted genes regulated by differential exosomal miRNAs and lncRNAs. Target genes accumulated in several signaling pathways, especially the adenosine 5'‐monophosphate‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling. We found that Pb intoxication‐induced exosomes activated the AMPK signaling in renal proximal tubule cells. Furthermore, autophagy and apoptosis assays showed that GSK‐690693, an AMPK inhibitor, significantly alleviated exosome‐induced renal injuries by Pb intoxication. In conclusion, Pb‐mediated exosome‐induced autophagy and apoptosis via activating the AMPK signaling contributing to Pb‐induced nephrotoxicity in renal cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common inflammatory skin disease. Matrine is the main component of the traditional Chinese medicine Sophora flavescens, and it poses good therapeutic effects on inflammatory diseases. This study aimed to explore the pharmacological effects of matrine on AD and its underlying mechanism. An AD mouse model and inflamed human epidermal keratinocyte cells (HaCaT) cells were established. Histopathological aspects were examined using hematoxylin and eosin staining, toluidine blue staining, and immunohistochemistry. The mRNA and protein expressions were assessed using quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot, respectively. The secretions of cytokines and chemokines were examined by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Flow cytometry was carried out to analyze the proportions of T‐helper (Th) 1 and Th2 cells. Herein, our results displayed that matrine diminished AD symptoms and decreased heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) expression. Matrine decreased the Th2 cytokine levels in the ear tissues and serum, and it also significantly repressed inflammatory cytokines (thymus activation regulated chemokine and interleukin‐6) secretions by repressing the Hsp90/NF‐κB signaling axis in inflamed HaCaT cells. Furthermore, matrine inhibited Th2 differentiation of CD4+ T cells when co‐cultured with inflamed HaCaT cells. Matrine can regulate the Th1/Th2 inflammatory response by inhibiting the Hsp90/NF‐κB signaling axis to alleviate AD. Therefore, it may be a candidate for AD treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymer micelles have attracted much attention in the field of controlled drug release because of their excellent hydrophobic drug solubility and fewer drug side effects. However, insufficient sensitivity, insufficient dilution resistance, and ordinary therapeutic effect severely restrict the further development of current drug‐loaded polymer micelles. Here, the ditelluride group was introduced for the first time into fluorinated Gemini amphiphilic polymer (FnH12DiTeFnH12) to fabricate polymeric micelles used for controlled release. Camptothecin (CPT) loaded in the FnH12DiTeFnH12 micelles can be rapidly released in a controlled manner through the cleavage of ditelluride bonds by mild H2O2 and glutathione. Meanwhile, the synergism effect of the superhydrophobicity of the fluorocarbon chain and the special Gemini structure endows the drug‐loaded polymer micelles with excellent stability and drug‐loading content. Moreover, the in vitro studies revealed that the CPT@FnH12DiTeFnH12 micelles exhibited efficient uptake in Hela cells. Notably, about five times lower dosage of loaded CPT had a higher tumor cells growth inhibition than the free CPT, and cell membrane permeability became better with the increase of the fluorocarbon chain length. The CPT@FnH12DiTeFnH12 micelles exhibit excellent physical and chemical properties and good therapeutic effects, indicating their excellent potential for drug delivery and providing a novel avenue for chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perillae Fructus oil has an important function in relieving cold stress. However, its application in this aspect has still been restricted because of instability and low bioavailability. In this study, Perillae Fructus oil was extracted through Soxhlet extraction, analyzed through gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), and nanopackaged into a yeast shell for the preparation of nanoparticles for oral administration. The characteristics of the nanoparticles were investigated using a Malvern zeta‐size nanoinstrument, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Then, the roles of orally administered nanoparticles in relieving cold stress were evaluated by investigating blood physiological and biochemical indexes in mice. The results showed that the oil yield from Perillae Fructus and shell yield from yeast cells were ~48.37% and ~16.87%, respectively. Approximately 89.21% of the added oil was packaged into the yeast shell to form nanoparticles with an average diameter of 316.74 nm and a surface charge of +2.9 mV. The nanoparticles were stable in simulated gastric acid and could be effectively released in simulated intestinal fluid with an efficiency of ~91.34%. After oral administration of nanoparticles, the mouse blood indexes of white blood cells (WBCs), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and malonaldehyde (MDA) content were recovered compared to those in model mice, with a more remarkable effect than oral administration of free Perillae Fructus oil. Overall, the stability and bioavailability were improved by packaging Perillae Fructus oil into a yeast shell. These nanoparticles are a new agent for the prevention of cold stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, less favorable C=O hydrogenation and weak concerted acid catalysis cause unsatisfactory catalytic performance in the upgrading of biomass‐derived furfurals (i.e., furfural, 5‐methyl furfural, and 5‐hydroxymethyl furfural) to ketones (i.e., cyclopentanone, 2,5‐hexanedione, and 1‐hydroxyl‐2,5‐hexanedione). A series of partially oxidized MAX phase (i.e., Ti3AlC2, Ti2AlC, Ti3SiC2) supporting Pd catalysts were fabricated, which showed high catalytic activity; Pd/Ti3AlC2 in particular displayed high performance for conversion of furfurals into targeted ketones. Detailed studies of the catalytic mechanism confirm that in situ hydrogen spillover generates Frustrated Lewis H+−H− pairs, which not only act as the hydrogenation sites for selective C=O hydrogenation but also provide acid sites for ring opening. The close intimate hydrogenation and acid sites promote bifunctional catalytic reactions, substantially reducing the reported minimum reaction temperature of various furfurals by at least 30–60 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Near‐infrared (NIR) phosphor‐converted light‐emitting diodes (pc‐LEDs) have sparked tremendous interest in NIR spectroscopy. However, conventional NIR pc‐LEDs with a narrow full‐width at half‐maximum (FWHM) and single‐emission block the detection scope and detection accuracy for NIR spectroscopy analysis. Herein, a multicenter strategy is developed for the preparation of blue‐light‐excitable Mg2SnO4:Cr3+,Ni2+ phosphors with NIR dual‐emission (λem = 830/1480 nm, total FWHM = 532 nm). Benefiting from the unique NIR dual‐emission, a ratiometric measurement system with a self‐calibration function is established for highly precise and nondestructive detection. For the first time, a good linear relationship with a detection limit of 0.22 wt.% is achieved for quantitative, non‐invasive detection of water/ethanol mixtures in the field of NIR spectroscopy applications. Additionally, a super‐broadband pc‐LED with a NIR output power of 16.1mW@300 mA is fabricated, demonstrating its applications in high‐penetration imaging and anticounterfeiting. These results provide an approach to achieving NIR dual‐emission phosphor, thereby opening a new avenue for exploring ratiometric NIR spectroscopy techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arene hydrogenation is the most straightforward method to prepare carbo‐ and heterocycles. However, the high resonance energy prevents aromatic substrates from hydrogenation. Herein the homogeneous, nucleophilic hydrogenation of less electron‐rich arenes and heteroarenes is reported. The Co(P4N2)H species that has been demonstrated to be a strong hydride donor could deliver a hydride ion to the cyano (hetero)arene substrates. Deuterium labeling experiments supported a Michael‐type reaction pathway. Theoretical analyses have been conducted to investigate the hydricity of the catalytically active CoH species and the electrophilicity of the arene substrates. An outlook for the synthesis of more challenging substituted benzenes was proposed based on the in silico modification of the CoH species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most important virus that causes lower respiratory tract disease in children; efficient viral identification is an important component of disease prevention and treatment. Here, we developed and evaluated a ready‐to‐use (RTU) nucleic acid extraction‐free direct reagent for identification of RSV (RTU‐Direct test) in clinical samples. The limit of detection (LOD) of the RSV RTU‐Direct test was consistent with the LOD of the standard test using extracted nucleic acids. The virus inactivation ability of RTU‐Direct reagent was confirmed by viral infectivity assays involving RTU‐Direct‐treated samples containing RSV and human coronavirus OC43. RSV RNA stability was significantly better in RTU‐Direct reagent than in conventional virus transport medium (VTM) at room temperature and 4°C (p < 0.05). The clinical performance of the RTU‐Direct test was evaluated using 155 respiratory specimens from patients with suspected RSV infection. Positive agreement between the RTU‐Direct test and the VTM standard test was 100% (42/42); negative agreement was 99.1% (112/113), and the kappa statistic was 0.968 (p < 0.001). The distributions of Ct values did not significantly differ between the RTU‐Direct test and the standard test (p > 0.05). Overall, the RTU‐Direct reagent can improve the efficiency and biosafety of RSV detection, while reducing the cost of detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic has a significant global social and economic impact, and the emergence of new and more destructive mutant strains highlights the need for accurate virus detection. Here, 90 monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) that exclusively reacted with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) nucleocapsid protein (NP) were generated. These MAbs did not cross‐react with NPs of common human coronaviruses (HCoVs, i.e., 229E, OC43, HKU1, and NL63) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus. Subsequently, overlapped peptides in individual fragments (N1–N4) of NP were synthesized. N1‐3 (25‐GSNQNGERSGARSKQ‐39), N3‐1 (217‐AALALLLLDRLNQL‐230), and N4‐8 (393‐TLLPAADLDDFSKQL‐407) were identified as major epitopes using enzyme‐linked immunoassay (ELISA) and recognized by 47, 1, and 18 MAbs, respectively. The 24 remaining MAbs exhibited no reactivity with all synthetic peptides. Among MAb‐epitope pairs, only MAbs targeting epitope N1‐3 displayed no cross‐reaction with NPs of SARS‐CoV‐1 and other SARS‐related CoVs. All Omicron variants contained a three‐amino acid deletion (31ERS33) in the N1‐3 region. Thus, MAbs targeting N1‐3 failed to recognize these variants. Furthermore, a double‐antibody sandwich ELISA for antigen detection was established using the optimal MAbs. Overall, a series of MAbs targeting SARS‐CoV‐2 NP was prepared, characterized with epitope mapping, and applied for the detection of SARS‐CoV‐2 antigens, and some novel B‐cell epitopes of the viral NP were identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presented five high-quality chromosome-level reference genomes and identified SVs for the sesame natural population. Keywords: Sesamum indicium; Structural variation; GWAS; Yield; Plant architecture EN Sesamum indicium Structural variation GWAS Yield Plant architecture 1722 1724 3 08/23/23 20230901 NES 230901 Sesame ( I Sesamum indicum i ) is an old and important oilseed crop that provides humans with high-quality oils and numerous health-promoting compounds. Five improved sesame reference genomes and genome resequencing unveil the contribution of structural variants to genetic diversity and yield-related traits variation. [Extracted from the article]

SUMMARY: Plants' primary metabolites are of great importance from the survival and nutritional perspectives. However, the genetic bases underlying the profiles of primary metabolites in oilseed crops remain largely unclear. As one of the main oilseed crops, sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is a potential model plant for investigating oil metabolism in plants. Therefore, the objective of this study is to disclose the genetic variants associated with variation in the content of primary metabolites in sesame. We performed a comprehensive metabolomics analysis of primary metabolites in 412 diverse sesame accessions using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and identified a total of 45 metabolites, including fatty acids, monoacylglycerols (MAGs), and amino acids. Genome‐wide association study unveiled 433 significant single‐nucleotide polymorphism loci associated with variation in primary metabolite contents in sesame. By integrating diverse genomic analyses, we identified 10 key candidate causative genes of variation in MAG, fatty acid, asparagine, and sucrose contents. Among them, SiDSEL was significantly associated with multiple traits. SiCAC3 and SiKASI were strongly associated with variation in oleic acid and linoleic acid contents. Overexpression of SiCAC3, SiKASI, SiLTPI.25, and SiLTPI.26 in transgenic Arabidopsis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae revealed that SiCAC3 is a potential target gene for improvement of unsaturated fatty acid levels in crops. Furthermore, we found that it may be possible to breed several quality traits in sesame simultaneously. Our results provide valuable genetic resources for improving sesame seed quality and our understanding of oilseed crops' primary metabolism. Significance Statement: The genetic mechanisms underlying primary metabolism in oilseed crops remain largely unclear. We identified 433 significant single‐nucleotide polymorphism loci and 10 key candidate genes associates with the contents of major primary metabolites in sesame (Sesamum indicum L.), one of the main oilseed crops. Of them, novel quantitative trait locus genes associated with increased oleic acid and linoleic acid contents were validated by transgenic experiments. A comprehensive haplotype analysis provides resources for marker‐assisted breeding of multiple quality traits simultaneously in sesame and other oilseed crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Ice plant (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum), a member of the Aizoaceae family, is a typical halophyte crop and a model plant for studying the mechanism of transition from C3 photosynthesis to crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM). Here, we report a high‐quality chromosome‐level ice plant genome sequence. This 98.05% genome sequence is anchored to nine chromosomes, with a total length of 377.97 Mb and an N50 scaffold of 40.45 Mb. Almost half of the genome (48.04%) is composed of repetitive sequences, and 24 234 genes have been annotated. Subsequent to the ancient whole‐genome triplication (WGT) that occurred in eudicots, there has been no recent whole‐genome duplication (WGD) or WGT in ice plants. However, we detected a novel WGT event that occurred in the same order in Simmondsia chinensis, which was previously overlooked. Our findings revealed that ice plants have undergone chromosome rearrangements and gene removal during evolution. Combined with transcriptome and comparative genomic data and expression verification, we identified several key genes involved in the CAM pathway and constructed a comprehensive network. As the first genome of the Aizoaceae family to be released, this report will provide a rich data resource for comparative and functional genomic studies of Aizoaceae, especially for studies on salt tolerance and C3‐to‐CAM transitions to improve crop yield and resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lu(NH4)(C2O4)2·2H2O has been successfully fabricated by the improved oxalate precipitation method. Its thermal stability and decomposition behaviour were investigated by using scanning electron microscopy, thermalgravimetric‐differantial scanning calorimetry and in situ high temperature X‐ray diffraction measurements. Despite substantial removal of oxide, carbon, nitrogen, and hydrogen elements, the scanning electron microscopy images clearly revealed that the precursor calcined Lu2O3 products maintained well the morphology properties of the precursor. Moreover, TG‐DSC analysis demonstrated that the peak temperatures of the precursor to Lu2O2CO3 and Lu2O2CO3 to Lu2O3 were 400°C and 630°C, respectively. Finally, and most importantly, the in situ XRD results exhibited that the 'Lu(NH4)(C2O4)2', 'Lu2O2CO3' and 'Lu2O3' crystal structures formed by heating the Lu (NH4) (C2O4)2·H2O at 25∼220°C, 400∼680°C and 680∼980°C, respectively. The experimental results provided an interesting fact that Lu(NH4)(C2O4)2·H2O has been completely decomposed into cubic phase Lu2O3 crystal at 680°C, which is nearly 200°C lower than that of lutetium oxalate tetrahydrate prepared by traditional oxalic acid precipitation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the major cause of pneumonia and bronchiolitis in infants and young children and mediates substantial morbidity and mortality in the elderly and immunocompromised globally. The development of a safe and effective RSV vaccine and an optimized neutralizing antibody (NAb) with strong virus‐neutralizing activity is appealing. To gain some detailed knowledge of the humoral immune response to RSV subgroup A (RSV‐A) and RSV‐B, we investigated the seroprevalence of pre‐existing NAbs by using the microneutralization assay in healthy adult from Guangzhou, southern China. We found that the overall seropositive rate was 84.86% for anti‐RSV NAbs. Furthermore, the seropositive rates were 68.47% and 73.61% for anti‐RSV‐A NAbs and anti‐RSV‐B NAbs, respectively. In addition, although the seropositive rates and NAb levels were not associated with the blood type, type AB individuals displayed higher seropositive rates for anti‐RSV‐A NAbs with high titer (≥ 288) and anti‐RSV‐B NAbs, especially those with moderate titer (≥ 72 to < 288). The seropositive rates and titers were comparable between anti‐RSV‐A NAbs and anti‐RSV‐B NAbs in the AB blood type group. Interestingly, only when the NAb titer of the serum to RSV‐A was not less than 288, was it not less than 18 to RSV‐B, and vice versa. These results would be helpful for a better understanding of the human serum NAb responses to RSV‐A and RSV‐B. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The CuCl‐catalyzed reaction of aryl boronic acid with carbon dioxide to form carboxylate ester after treatment with CH3I has been developed. The procedure featured mild conditions and good functional group tolerances. A diverse range of aryl boronic acids were effectively converted into carboxylate esters. Even those bearing sensitive groups such as carbonyl, ester, and amide could produce the desired products in good yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the technology development of super‐sized 110 inch 16K high resolution Panel, we first evaluated the process route, compared and analyzed the ADS, i‐ADS and HADS+ORG (organic film) three pixel display modes, and selected the HADS+ORG (organic film) display mode. On the basis of analyzing the load of Panel, We evaluated the driving capability from two aspects: GOA driver and Source driver. Next, on the existing products 110 "8K (similar charging rate) and 55" 8K (same PPI), the picture quality of 110 "16K was simulated and evaluated. Meanwhile, Array splicing exposure and CF splicing exposure were analyzed respectively, and the ultra‐high PPI splicing Mura was evaluated. By exploring the development of 110‐inch 16K technology, it lays a foundation for the design of future super‐sized high‐resolution products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To demonstrate the noninferiority of alogliptin to acarbose, in terms of antidiabetic efficacy, in Chinese people with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes (T2D) and high cardiovascular risk. Materials and Methods: ACADEMIC (NCT03794336) was a randomized, open‐label, phase IV study conducted at 46 sites in China. Antidiabetic treatment‐naive or metformin‐treated adults with uncontrolled T2D (glycated haemoglobin [HbA1c] 58.0–97.0 mmol/mol) were randomized 2:1 to alogliptin 25 mg once daily or acarbose 100 mg three times daily for 16 weeks. All participants had a documented history of coronary heart disease or high cardiovascular risk at screening and received aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) 100 mg daily throughout the trial. The primary endpoints were change in HbA1c versus baseline, and the incidence of gastrointestinal adverse events (AEs). Safety and tolerability were also assessed. Results: A total of 1088 participants were randomized. Alogliptin was noninferior to acarbose for the change in Week‐16 HbA1c (least‐squares mean change [standard error] –11.9 [0.4] vs. –11.4 [0.5] mmol/mol, respectively; difference between arms –0.5 [0.7] mmol/mol; 95% confidence interval –1.9 to 0.8 mmol/mol), and was associated with a lower incidence of gastrointestinal AEs (8.9% vs. 33.6%, respectively; P < 0.0001). More alogliptin than acarbose recipients achieved HbA1c <53.0 mmol/mol without gastrointestinal AEs (48.0% vs. 32.7%; P < 0.0001). Discontinuations due to treatment‐related AEs were less frequent with alogliptin than acarbose (0.3% vs. 2.5%). Conclusions: Glycaemic control was comparable between alogliptin and acarbose, but the gastrointestinal tolerability of alogliptin was better. More patients achieved target HbA1c without gastrointestinal AEs with alogliptin, suggesting that this agent may be preferred in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the changes in proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines, namely, C‐C motif ligand (CCL) 2 and CCL7, in postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP) and to develop a new drug, bindarit (Bnd), for PMOP in an ovariectomized (OVX) mouse model. Methods: Bone marrow macrophages (BMMs) from the femurs of five women with PMOP and five premenopausal women without osteoporosis were detected by RNA sequencing. BMMs from mice were differentiated into osteoclasts and treated with a synthetic inhibitor of CCL2 and CCL7, Bnd, or 17 beta estradiol (E2). Mouse BMMs were differentiated into osteoclasts with or without Bnd for 7 days and analyzed by RNA sequencing. Osteoblasts of mice were induced to undergo osteoblastogenesis and treated with Bnd. OVX mice were treated with E2 or Bnd after surgery. The protein and mRNA expression of CCL2 and CCL7 was detected using immunostaining and qPCR, respectively, in OVX and aged mice and in cells cultured in vitro. Osteoclast formation was detected using a tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) assay in vitro and in vivo. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), runt‐related transcription factor 2 (Runx2) and osteocalcin (OCN) were detected using immunostaining to evaluate osteogenesis. Microcomputed tomography was conducted to analyze trabecular bone parameters, the structure model index, bone mineral density and other variables. Nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB) signaling pathway‐related protein phosphorylation of IKKα/β (p‐IKKα/β) and p‐NFκB p65 was examined using western blotting. Results: CCL2, CCL7 and their receptor of C‐C chemokine receptor‐2 (CCR2), and the NF‐κB signaling pathway, were significantly increased in women with PMOP. CCL2 and CCL7 protein and mRNA expression was increased in OVX mice and aged female mice, but the increases were attenuated by E2 and Bnd. E2 and Bnd effectively inhibited osteoclastogenesis and the protein expression of CCL2 and CCL7 both in vitro and in vivo and reduced bone loss in OVX mice. Bnd did not affect the mineralization of osteoblasts directly in vitro but reduced bone turnover in vivo. p‐IKKα/β and p‐NFκB p65 levels were increased in BMMs of mice after differentiation into osteoclasts but were significantly decreased by Bnd. Conclusion: The proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines CCL2, CCL7 and CCR2 were correlated with PMOP. Bnd attenuated the increases in CCL2 and CCL7 levels to affect osteoporosis in OVX mice via the NFκB signaling pathway. Thus, Bnd may be useful as a new therapeutic for the prevention of PMOP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among all TAG profiles produced, those TAG species with three VLCPUFAs were the most abundant, followed by those with one or two VLCPUFAs such as DTA/DDA/ALA, DTA/ALA/ETA, DTA/18:1/LA, DDA/ALA/16:0. Transgenic I B. carinata i expressing the four genes (EhELO1+CpDesX+EhLPAAT2+PiO3) further produced many new TAG species with three VLCPUFAs such as DTA/DTA/24:3 and DTA/DTA/DDA. Keywords: very long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid; docosatrienoic acid; metabolic engineering; Brassica carinata EN very long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid docosatrienoic acid metabolic engineering Brassica carinata 8 10 3 01/11/23 20230101 NES 230101 Very long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (VLCPUFAs) are essential components of cell membranes and precursors for bioactive compounds regulating important physiological processes in humans and animals. [Extracted from the article]

The study aims to investigate the role of microRNA‐149‐3p (miR‐149‐3p) in regulating osteogenic differentiation of human adipose‐derived stem cells (hADSCs) by targeting v‐akt murine thymoma viral oncogene homolog 1 (AKT1). Bioinformatics websites and a dual luciferase reporter assay were used to predict and verify the targeting relationship between miR‐149‐3p and AKT1. The hADSCs were divided into the blank, negative control (NC), mimic, control siRNA, AKT1 siRNA, and miR‐149‐3p inhibitors + AKT1 siRNA groups and then subjected to Alizarin Red staining, Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining, ALP activity detections, MTT assay, and EdU cell proliferation assay. Gene or protein expression was quantified using quantitative real‐time PCR (qRT‐PCR) or Western blotting, respectively. The miR‐149‐3p expression increased gradually and AKT1 expression decreased gradually during osteogenic differentiation of hADSCs. The prediction of bioinformatics websites miRTarBase and TargetScan and the dual luciferase reporter assay indicated that miR‐149‐3p can directly target AKT1. After hADSCs were transfected with miR‐149‐3p mimic, AKT1 expression was significantly downregulated. However, transfection with AKT1 siRNA did not have an impact on miR‐149‐3p in hADSCs. In comparison with the AKT1 siRNA group, the miR‐149‐3p inhibitors + AKT1 siRNA group showed decreased miR‐149‐3p expression but increased AKT1 expression. In addition, AKT1 siRNA enhanced the cell viability and proliferation of hADSCs and increased mineral calcium deposition and ALP activity, resulting in higher expression of osteogenic differentiation‐related genes, which was reversed by miR‐149‐3p inhibition. The miR‐149‐3p can increase the expression of osteogenic differentiation‐related genes by targeting AKT1 and thereby enhance the osteogenic differentiation of hADSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excessive accumulation of Zn2+ or Ni2+ can cause various problems to aquatic animals. In this study, the developmental toxicity induced by individual or combined exposure of Zn2+ and Ni2+ to zebrafish embryos and larvae were evaluated to better understand the interaction between Zn2+ and Ni2+. Both of individual and combined exposure of Zn2+ and Ni2+ could cause obvious developmental toxicity, which mainly occurred after hatching, at a concentration‐dependent manner. The calculated 168‐h LC50 were 2.79 mg/L for Zn2+ and 7.44 mg/L for Ni2+. The interaction of Zn2+ and Ni2+ based on mortality was found to be an antagonism. Various malformations, including tail curving, spinal curvature, pericardial edema, and yolk sac edema, were observed with significant effects on body length and heartbeat rates after exposure of Zn2+ and Ni2+. Meanwhile, some genes related to cardiovascular development and bone formation were mainly down‐regulated by the individual and combined exposure of Zn2+ and Ni2+. The individual exposure was more toxic than combined exposure because the interaction of Zn2+ and Ni2+ was determined to be an antagonism. The down‐regulation of genes related to cardiovascular development and bone formation may contribute to the observed malformation and decreases of body length and heartbeat rates. Exposure of Zn2+ and Ni2+ could cause obvious developmental toxicity, which mainly occurred after hatching, at a concentration‐dependent manner. The interaction of Zn2+ and Ni2+ based on mortality was found to be an antagonism. Cardiovascular development and bone formation were mainly downregulated by the exposure of Zn2+ and Ni2+. The downregulation of genes may contribute to the observed malformation and decreases of body length and heartbeat rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tip‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy has already promised extremely high plasmonic enhancement due to the successful optical confinement inside the nanocavity or sub‐nanocavity between the tip apex and substrate. Yet the dipole‐like charge oscillation enabled the gap enhancement, and hence, only the vertical polarization component could match and contribute to the overall efficiency. To avoid the noise and pursuit the mode purity, we chose the vector beam to form a tightly focused vertical electric field to generate such a "hot‐spot." For the bottom illuminated method, taking the opaqueness and absorption characteristics of the beam by the metal substrate into consideration, the substrate thickness becomes the critical factor concerning gap plasmons coupling effect and incident light transmittance. Here, the spatial resolution lines of the vector beam excited from the bottom were compared with that of side method excited by linearly polarized beam, which shows that the vector beam presents greater symmetric characteristics. In addition to better elucidating the mechanism of tip‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy, our results can be applied to a rational reference and guidance for later experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to climate change, multiple heat events are expected to be an additional limiting factor that will adversely affect wheat production. The study aimed to analyze the physiological response to heat stress in four winter wheat cultivars at different physiological stages under greenhouse conditions during 2019. The net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, chlorophyll index, maximum quantum efficiency of photosystem II, fructose, glucose and sucrose content, grain yield per plant, grain weight and number of grains per plant were analyzed in wheat cultivars under short periods of heat stress at anthesis and mid‐grain filling, and combined stress at anthesis and mid‐grain filling. The results of the study indicated that heat stress modified the photosynthesis‐related and grain yield–related traits. Moreover, heat stress caused a decrease of sucrose content, while fructose and glucose content increased. Heat stress had more pronounced effects on the photosynthetic parameters and grain yield during grain filling than during anthesis. A significant variation observed among cultivar responses to the negative impact of heat stress highlighted the fact that cultivars Pobeda and Gladius were more tolerant than Renesansa and Simonida. Different cultivar reactions to heat stress during anthesis and grain filling indicated the need to conduct further studies with wheat cultivars of different origin in order to identify additional sources of tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although various adsorbents have been developed for sewage treatment, only a few adsorbents can simultaneously adsorb anions/cations and disinfect. In this work, a quaternary lignosulfonate (Q‐LSP) was prepared, which can not only simultaneously adsorb anion and cation pollution, but also disinfect. FT‐IR, XPS were employed to confirm successful preparation of Q‐LSP. The Q‐LSP adsorbs cationic dye methylene blue (MB) and anionic dye Congo red (CR) favorably, and the maximum qe of Q‐LSP to MB and CR are 153 and 324 mg/g respectively according to Langmuir isotherm model. The Langmuir isotherm and pseudo‐second‐order kinetic models are more suitable to describe the adsorption process of MB and CR on Q‐LSP. In binary system containing MB and CR, Q‐LSP can simultaneously adsorb MB and CR, with MB adsorbed preferentially. The Q‐LSP loaded MB or CR is easily regenerated, and the adsorption properties of regenerated Q‐LSP only decreases by 9.2 % to CR and 9.6 % to MB respectively after 4 desorption‐resorption cycles. Moreover, the Q‐LSP can disinfect by leaking endogenous chemicals. Therefore, the Q‐LSP can be used as a new adsorbent possessing performance of simultaneously adsorbing anionic/cationic pollutants and bactericidal activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Overall, the ankle was the most commonly affected joint, followed by the knee, and the elbow was the least vulnerable joint in both cohorts (Table 1). Unlike ankles, more knees and elbows with each specific severity were found among patients undergoing ET than among those undergoing ST, except in those with moderately impaired knees (proportions were 20% vs. 20%). Age-related severity and distribution of haemophilic arthropathy of the knee, ankle and elbow among Chinese patients with haemophilia. What can we expect for adolescents and adults with haemophilia switched to low-dose prophylaxis from episodic treatment for over 3 years?. [Extracted from the article]

There are wide genomic and phenotypic differences between Asian and European pig breeds, yet the current reference genome is the European Duroc pig genome. A high‐quality pig genome is lacking for genetic analysis of agricultural traits in Asian pigs. Here, using a hybrid approach, a high‐quality reference genome (MSCAAS v1) for the Asian Meishan breed is assembled with a contig N50 size of 48.05 Mb. MSCAAS v1 outperforms the Duroc genome as a reference genome for Asian breeds. Genomic comparison reveals 49,103 structural variations (SVs) between Meishan and Duroc, 4.02% of which are Asian‐specific SVs (AP‐SVs). Notably, a 30‐Mb hotspot for AP‐SVs on chromosome X enriched for genes associated with Asian‐pig‐specific phenotypes is present in Asian domestic pig breeds, but absent in Asian wild boars, suggesting that Asian domestic breeds share a common ancestor. Interbreed transcriptomics reveals transcriptional suppression roles of AP‐SVs in multiple tissues. Finally, transcriptional regulation in the intron of IGF2R is reported, as genomic SV (274‐bp deletion) in Tibetan pig limits its growth compared to domestic pig breeds. In summary, this study provides insights regarding the genetic changes underlying pig domestication and presents a benchmark‐setting resource for the utilization of agricultural valuable loci in Asian pigs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]