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Background: Cyclin‐dependent kinases 4 and 6 inhibitors (CDK4/6i) have been shown to improve progression‐free survival (PFS) in patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) in randomized control trials. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of CDK4/6i in patients with advanced breast cancer (ABC) in a clinical setting. Methods: Consecutive patients with ABC were treated between October 2019 and March 2023 at Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, Taiwan. Patients who had received at least one dose of CDK4/6i were included in this retrospective study. The main outcome of this study was efficacy based on the treating physicians' assessments in terms of PFS, and overall survival (OS), as well as the factors associated with patient outcome. The secondary outcome was safety. Results: A total of 85 patients were included in the analysis, with a mean age of 66.8 years. After a median follow‐up of 16.1 months, the median PFS was 28.4 months (95% CI: 22.5–33.6) and the median OS could not yet be estimated. The most common adverse events (AE) were fatigue (50.8%), anorexia (45.9%), and leukopenia (44.7%). In multivariable analysis, treatment with CDK4/6i with any grade AE or response to treatment effect (CR/PR) was an independent predictor for longer PFS (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.27, 95% CI: 0.11–0.68; HR = 0.21, 95% CI: 0.06–0.67; p < 0.05). Conclusion: CDK4/6i administered in a real‐world setting exhibits a similar survival benefit with the clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the two-band Bogoliubov–de Gennes theory, we study the boundary effect of an interface between a two-gap superconductor and an insulator (or vacuum). New boundary terms are introduced into the two-band Ginzburg–Landau free energy, which modifies the boundary conditions for the corresponding order parameters of the superconductor. A microscopic analysis of these terms is also given and the characteristic length scale of the boundary effect can be estimated. The theory allows for a simple calculation of the critical temperature suppression with the decrease in film thickness for the typical two-band superconductor magnesium diboride. Our numerical results are in good agreement with the experimental data observed in this material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Effect of crown ether cavity size on the performance of AEMs is investigated. • The QAPCE-18-6 AEM exhibits a highest ionic conductivity of 122.5 mS cm−1 at 80 °C. • The peak power density of QAPCE-18-6 in a H 2 /O 2 single cell is 562 mW cm−2. Anion exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs) have emerged as a promising alternative to proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) due to their adaptability to low-cost stack components and non-noble-metals catalysts. However, the poor alkaline resistance and low OH− conductivity of anion exchange membranes (AEMs) have impeded the large-scale implementation of AEMFCs. Herein, the preparation of a new type of AEMs with crown ether macrocycles in their main chains via a one-pot superacid catalyzed reaction was reported. The study aimed to examine the influence of crown ether cavity size on the phase separation structure, ionic conductivity and alkali resistance of anion exchange membranes. Attributed to the self-assembly of crown ethers, the poly (crown ether) (PCE) AEMs with dibenzo-18-crown-6-ether (QAPCE-18-6) exhibit an obvious phase separated structure and a maximum OH− conductivity of 122.5 mS cm−1 at 80 °C (ionic exchange capacity is 1.51 meq g−1). QAPCE-18-6 shows a good alkali resistance with the OH− conductivity retention of 94.5% albeit being treated in a harsh alkali condition. Moreover, the hydrogen/oxygen single cell equipped with QAPCE-18-6 can achieve a peak power density (PPD) of 574 mW cm−2 at a current density of 1.39 A cm−2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein we report a two‐directional cyclization strategy for the synthesis of highly strained depth‐expanded oxygen‐doped chiral molecular belts of the zigzag‐type. From the easily accessible resorcin[4]arenes, an unprecedented cyclization cascade generating fused 2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐phenalenes has been developed to access expanded molecular belts. Stitching up the fjords through intramolecular nucleophilic aromatic substitution and ring‐closing olefin metathesis reactions furnished a highly strained O‐doped C2‐symmetric belt. The enantiomers of the acquired compounds exhibited excellent chiroptical properties. The calculated parallelly aligned electric (μ) and magnetic (m) transition dipole moments are translated to the high dissymmetry factor (|glum| up to 0.022). This study provides not only an appealing and useful strategy for the synthesis of strained molecular belts but also a new paradigm for the fabrication of belt‐derived chiroptical materials with high CPL activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein we report a two‐directional cyclization strategy for the synthesis of highly strained depth‐expanded oxygen‐doped chiral molecular belts of the zigzag‐type. From the easily accessible resorcin[4]arenes, an unprecedented cyclization cascade generating fused 2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐phenalenes has been developed to access expanded molecular belts. Stitching up the fjords through intramolecular nucleophilic aromatic substitution and ring‐closing olefin metathesis reactions furnished a highly strained O‐doped C2‐symmetric belt. The enantiomers of the acquired compounds exhibited excellent chiroptical properties. The calculated parallelly aligned electric (μ) and magnetic (m) transition dipole moments are translated to the high dissymmetry factor (|glum| up to 0.022). This study provides not only an appealing and useful strategy for the synthesis of strained molecular belts but also a new paradigm for the fabrication of belt‐derived chiroptical materials with high CPL activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The preparation of fire-safe and high-performance carbon fiber reinforced composites with reprocessable resin matrix and recyclable reinforced fibers is of great importance and particularly urgent to solve the current overreliance on petrochemical resources for composite raw materials. Herein, we propose an effective strategy to simultaneously solve the flammability and nonrecyclability of the epoxy resin-based composites, in the form of fire-safe and catalyst-free dynamic transesterification networks by introducing a phosphaphenanthrene-derived diol as a multifunctional modifier for transesterification without using any toxic catalysts. In this strategy, the phosphaphenanthrene moieties enhanced the fire safety; while the hydroxy groups promoted the construction of catalyst-free dynamic transesterification networks. To our delight, the generated epoxy resin and its composite exhibit excellent mechanical properties, high thermal stability, fire safety, fast repairability and malleability. Furthermore, the resin matrix can be dissolved as the low-mass diol molecules participate in bond exchange reactions to achieve CFs with nearly 100% recyclability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arbitrary control of photon flow is of fundamental significance in many applications of light. Here, we propose a new approach that can trap, store, and move the signal photons to arbitrary desired place, just like what optical tweezers do on micro particles. In addition, the trapped photons can also be released at a given direction. The mechanism is based on an ultrahigh- Q nanocavity formed by two dynamically-generated potential barriers in a photonic crystal (PC) waveguide. Different from the traditional fixed ultrahigh- Q nanocavities, this new-type cavity can be formed instantaneously at any moment and any position in a PC waveguide, and is completely movable while keeps ultrahigh Q factor simultaneously. These novel features make controlling the flow of light like an optical tweezer possible, and open up new opportunities for dynamic lightâ€"matter interactions and on-chip optical signal processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Marfan syndrome (MFS) is characterized by ectopia lentis (EL) and elongated axial length (AL). The characteristics of AL in young patients with MFS and bilateral EL before the lens surgery are not fully understood. Methods: This study reviewed MFS patients under 20 years old with bilateral EL from January 2015 to October 2020. The Z-scores were introduced in terms of the number of standard deviations from the mean of age-matched normative data. Using Z-scores, the distribution of AL and influence factors were evaluated. The correlations between AL and other biometrics were analyzed. Results: We reviewed 183 patients and enrolled both eyes. The mean age was 8.44 ± 4.69 years. About 36% of the patients were children under 6 years old. The median AL increased from 23.16 mm under 5 years old to 26.20 mm in the 16–20 age group, and when plotted, the trend presented a logarithmic curvature (R2 = 0.145, p < 0.001). The median Z-AL score was 1.24. One-third of eyes had Z-score <0. About 20% of the patients had AL difference over 1 mm between the right and left eyes, and the right one had longer Z-AL scores (p = 0.013). The eye complicated with megalocornea (10, 7.04%) had larger Z-AL scores (4.72 ± 3.51 vs. 1.10 ± 2.25, p = 0.002). A positive correlation was found between Z-AL and Z-corneal curvature radius (r = 0.265, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Young patients with bilateral EL but small AL should not be excluded from MFS without systematic examination. The age-adjusted Z-score will facilitate further study of the individual variations in AL across different ages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Localization microscopy provides abundant data for precise quantitative analysis. • An algorithm to identify local density peaks within a 3D localization cluster. • New methods for quantitative analysis of trans-synaptic protein alignment and enrichment. • These algorithms can be easily adapted to analysis of other subcellular organizations. Nanoscale distribution of proteins and their relative positioning within a defined subcellular region are key to their physiological functions. Thanks to the super-resolution imaging methods, especially single-molecule localization microscopy (SMLM), mapping the three-dimensional distribution of multiple proteins has been easier and more efficient than ever. Nevertheless, in spite of the many tools available for efficient localization detection and image rendering, it has been a challenge to quantitatively analyze the 3D distribution and relative positioning of proteins in these SMLM data. Here, using heterogeneously distributed synaptic proteins as examples, we describe in detail a series of analytical methods including detection of nanoscale density clusters, quantification of the trans-synaptic alignment between these protein densities, and automatic en face projection and averaging. These analyses were performed within customized Matlab routines and we make the full scripts available. The concepts behind these analytical methods and the scripts can be adapted for quantitative analysis of spatial organization of other macromolecular complexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanical properties of hulless barley stems with different moisture contents (10.23%–43.14%) were investigated by using temperature sweep, frequency sweep, stress relaxation and creep tests of dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA) in this study. Results showed a significant dependence of storage modulus, loss modulus and tan delta on moisture content. The data from stress relaxation and creep was fitted by using generalized Maxwell model and Burgers model. 5-element Maxwell model was better for describing relaxation behaviors of hulless barely stem compared with the 3-element Maxwell model. The peak values of loss modulus and tan delta both occurred at a low temperature when moisture content increased. The dynamic mechanical properties can provide useful information for the harvesting and processing of huless barely stem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Neurological deficits following neurosurgical procedures are inevitable; however, there are still no effective clinical treatments. Earlier reports revealed that collagen-glycosaminoglycan (CG) matrix implantation promotes angiogenesis, neurogenesis, and functional recovery following surgical brain injury (SBI). The present study was conducted to further examine the potential neuroprotective effects of collagen-glycosaminoglycan (CG) matrix implantation following neurosurgery. Methods. CG implantation was performed in the lesion cavity created by surgical trauma. The Sprague-Dawley rat model of SBI was used as established in the previous study by the author. The rats were divided into three groups as follows: (1) sham (SHAM), (2) surgery-induced lesion cavity (L), and (3) CG matrix implantation following surgery-induced lesion cavity (L+CG). Proinflammatory (tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and NF-κB (nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells)) and anti-inflammatory (IL-10 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GMCSF)) cytokine expression was evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Microglial activation was evaluated by immunohistochemistry, and the neuroprotective effect of CG matrix implantation was evaluated by an immunohistochemical study of microglia ED-1 and IBA-1 (activated microglia) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) and by the analysis of IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, NF-κB, and GMCSF cytokine levels. Apoptosis was also assessed using a TUNEL assay. Results. The results showed that CG matrix implantation following surgically induced lesions significantly decreased the density of ED-1, IBA-1, and MPO (activated microglia). The tissue concentration of proinflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α, IL-6, and NF-κB was significantly decreased. Conversely, the anti-inflammatory cytokines GMCSF and IL-10 were significantly increased. Conclusions. Implantation of the CG matrix following SBI has neuroprotective effects, including the suppression of microglial activation and the production of inflammatory-related cytokines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract A bio-based poly (urethane urea) (CIPUU) network comprised of castor oil (CO), isosorbide (IS) and 4-aminophenyl disulfide (APD) was prepared and compared to the corresponding polyurethane (CIPU) consisting of CO and IS. Permanently cross-linked CIPU could not be reprocessed, while CIPUU could be reprocessed, as the network topology could rearrange through an associative disulfide exchange reaction. CIPUU had a higher Young's modulus than CIPU due to the higher rigidity of APD with benzene rings and the formed hydrogen bonding of the urea unit. Stress relaxation measurement indicated that the network topology of CIPUU was stable at temperatures lower than 100 °C due to the inactive disulfide exchange reaction at low temperatures. The exchange reaction became increasingly active with increasing temperature, as evidenced by the gradually reduced relaxation time. CIPUU showed excellent reprocessability, as indicated by the remaining gel fraction and fully recovered mechanical properties after thermal remoulding at 180 °C several times. In addition, CIPUU showed good thermal stability with an onset decomposition temperature (∼260 °C) much higher than the reprocessing temperature. Highlights • Poly (urethane urea) network consists of castor oil, isosorbide and 4-aminophenyl disulfide. • The poly (urethane urea) showed high modulus than the polyurethane without 4-aminophenyl disulfide. • Stress relaxation of the poly (urethane urea) became prominent at elevated temperatures. • The poly (urethane urea) network could be reprocessed without losing mechanical properties. • The poly (urethane urea) network showed good thermal stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fire hazard and waste crisis are two challenges for thermosets, particularly for epoxy resins (EPs) possessing the largest market share therein; yet it is beset with difficulties to solve the challenges simultaneously. Herein, a commercialized phosphorus-containing diol named diethyl bis(2-hydroxyethyl)aminomethylphosphonate (DAP) with "trinity" structures containing phosphonate ester, primary hydroxyls and tertiary amine was applied in an epoxy-anhydride curing system to achieve the catalyst-free mixed transesterification within the adaptable carboxylate/phosphonate networks. The phosphonate structure in DAP was covalently bonded into the epoxy vitrimers (EVs), endowing the EVs with intrinsic fire safety. In detail, the peak heat release rate (PHRR), total heat release (THR), total smoke production (TSP) and maximum smoke density (Ds max) values were considerably reduced by 62.0%, 73.6%, 78.9% and 70.8%, respectively. Meanwhile, owing to the self-catalytic tertiary amine and highly reactive primary hydroxyls from DAP, the mixed transesterification within the adaptable carboxylate/phosphonate networks was accelerated, endowing facile reprocessibility and malleability of the vitrimers, which were further degraded into low-mass molecules by simple alcoholysis. Killing two birds with one stone, this work provided a promising and feasible way to make sustainable and fire-safe thermosetting polymers with comprehensive properties. [Display omitted] • Catalyst-free adaptable carboxylate/phosphonate networks were used to construct intrinsically fire-safe epoxy vitrimers. • The vitrimers exhibited observable suppression on heat, smoke and toxic gas during burning. • The vitrimers showed desirable malleability without sacrificing intrinsic fire safety. • Degradation of the vitrimers was achieved via simple alcoholysis, showing multi-path recyclability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy conversion devices such as alkaline fuel cells (AFCs) rely critically on anion exchange membranes (AEMs) with high hydroxide conductivity as well as good chemical stability. Poly (crown ether) (PCE) based AEMs with different aliphatic chain lengths in polymer backbone are successfully designed and prepared in this study. The longer hydrophobic aliphatic chain segments can promote the formation of nanophase separation and ionic clusters. As examined by morphology observation such as atomic force microscopy (AFM), small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), the QAPCE-16C AEMs which the carbon number of aliphatic chains is sixteen show a well-connected ion cluster region and a distinct micromorphology separation. QAPCE-16C with an IEC of 1.43 meq g−1 shows a hydroxide conductivity of 125 mS cm−1 at 80 °C. After immersing in a 1 M sodium hydroxide solution at 80 °C for 960 h, QAPCE-16C presents good alkaline resistance with the ionic conductivity retention of 95.77%. Besides this, the peak power density of QAPCE-16C can reach to 653.8 mW cm−2 in H 2 /O 2 as well as 458.8 mW cm−2 in H 2 /Air (CO 2 -free) at 80 °C. [Display omitted] • Effect of aliphatic chain lengths on the performance of AEMs is investigated. • Introduction of aliphatic chain promotes the microphase structure of AEMs. • The QAPCE-16C AEMs show the maximum OH− conductivity of 125 mS cm−1 at 80 °C. • Power density of 653.8 mW cm−2 in a H 2 /O 2 single cell based on QAPCE-16C is obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Castor oil (CO) derived polyurethane networks exhibit poor mechanical properties and non-reprocessibility due to flexible, highly and permanently cross-linked network structures. To overcome these defects, we designed and fabricated a series of poly (urethane urea) (PUU) networks by reacting CO-based polyurethane precursor with different amounts of 4-aminophenyl disulfide (APD). The equilibrium swelling behavior, mechanical properties, stress relaxation and reprocessibility of the COPUU networks were investigated in detail in this study. The swelling ratio increased with increasing APD content due to the reduced crosslink density. The mechanical properties of the COPUU networks are tunable over a broad range (either as elastomers or as plastics) depending on the APD component inputs. The tensile strength, Young's modulus and elongation at break for COPUU composed of CO/APD (W/W, 7:3) were improved by 11.7, 2.7 and 5.2 times, respectively, compared to the control CO-based polyurethane without APD. The COPUU can be reprocessed though thermal compression molding and the mechanical properties recovered completely after reprocessing at 180 °C for several cycles. The stress relaxation of COPUU accelerated with increasing APD content due to the increasing concentration of exchangeable disulfide linkage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to extend the application of epoxy vitrimer, 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid (CHDA) was used as a co-curing agent and structure modifier for sebacic acid (SA) cured diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) epoxy vitrimer to tailor the mechanical properties of epoxy vitrimers with 1,5,7-triazabicylo[4.4.0]dec-5-ene (TBD) as a transesterification catalyst. The glass transition temperature (Tg) of vitrimer increased gradually with the increase in CHDA content. Vitrimers behaved from elastomer to tough and hard plastics were successfully achieved by varying the feed ratio of CHDA to SA. Both the Young’s modulus and storage modulus increased apparently with the increase in CHDA content. Stress relaxation measurement indicated that more prominent stress relaxation occurred at elevated temperatures and the stress relaxation decreased with the increase of CHDA content due to the reduced mobility of the vitrimer backbone. The vitrimers showed excellent recyclability as evidenced by the unchanged gel fraction and mechanical properties after compression molded for several times. With tunable mechanical properties, the epoxy vitrimers may find extensive potential applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have investigated the structural, magnetic and electrical transport properties of the Ni doped FeRh films prepared by magnetron co-sputtering. A large magetoresistance of 35%, induced by a reversible antiferromagnetic to ferromagnetic phase transition, is obtained at room temperature with only 1 mol.% Ni addition. Magnetic field is revealed to have an equivalent effect as temperature to drive the magnetic phase transition. Moreover, the way to realize a nonvolatile room temperature magetoresistance effect is also discussed. These results give FeRh the possibility of technological application in the spintronic field at room temperature, which are referential to other material systems with a first-order magnetic phase transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flame retardancy and recyclability are two important issues in the research field of thermosets, particularly for epoxy resin (EP) with the biggest market share. It is of great importance, but rarely achievable, to integrate these properties simultaneously into EP. Herein, we report a facile way to prepare intrinsically flame-retardant epoxy vitrimers combining rapid recycling and multiple shape memory effects by introducing dynamic ester-linkages with catalytic transesterification activity into the crosslinking networks of EP. The flame-retardant epoxy vitrimers exhibited high T g (∼110.7 °C), desirable thermal stability and excellent flame retardancy with UL-94 V-0 rating, and high LOI of ∼34%. Also, the value of the peak heat release rate (PHRR) and the total heat release (THR) showed 63% and 32% reduction, respectively. Meanwhile, flame-retardant epoxy vitrimers showed high malleability that could be reprocessed in 15 min at 200 °C without sacrificing the mechanical properties and flame retardancy. Moreover, the dynamic transesterification network allowed flame-retardant EP to access multiple shape memory effect. The design of flame-retardant epoxy vitrimers provide a prime example to foster the cyclic utilization of flame-retardant thermosetting polymers. [Display omitted] • A facile strategy was proposed to prepare intrinsically flame-retardant epoxy vitrimers. • The epoxy vitrimers owned high T g , desirable thermal stability and excellent flame retardancy. • The epoxy vitrimers displayed fast recyclability (∼15 min) without loss in flame retardancy and mechanical properties. • The multiple shape memory performance of the epoxy vitrimers was easily manipulated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tea, which is processed by the tender shoots or leaves of tea plant (Camellia sinensis), is one of the most popular nonalcoholic beverages in the world and has numerous health benefits for humans. Along with new progress in biotechnologies, the refined chromosome-scale reference tea genomes have been achieved, which facilitates great promise for the understanding of fundamental genomic architecture and evolution of the tea plants. Here, we summarize recent achievements in genome sequencing in tea plants and review the new progress in origin and evolution of tea plants by population sequencing analysis. Understanding the genomic characterization of tea plants is import to improve tea quality and accelerate breeding in tea plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neuroinflammation has been reported to be associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathogenesis. Neuroinflammation is generally considered as an outcome of glial activation; however, we recently demonstrated that T helper (Th)17 cells, a subpopulation of proinflammatory CD4+ T cells, are also involved in AD pathogenesis. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, a cytokine that can be expressed in the brain, can be immunosuppressive, but its effects on lymphocyte-mediated neuroinflammation in AD pathogenesis have not been well addressed. In the current study we administered TGF-β1 via intracerebroventricle (ICV) and intranasal (IN) routes in AD model rats to investigate its antiinflammatory and neuroprotective effects. The AD rat model was prepared by bilateral hippocampal injection of amyloid-β (Aβ)1–42. TGF-β1 was administered via ICV one hour prior to Aβ1–42 injection or via both nares seven days after Aβ1–42 injection. ICV administration of TGF-β1 before Aβ1–42 injection remarkably ameliorated Aβ1–42-induced neurodegeneration and prevented Aβ1–42-induced increases in glia-derived proinflammatory mediators (TNF-α, IL-1β and iNOS), as well as T cell-derived proinflammatory cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-17 and IL-22), in the hypothalamus, serum or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in a concentration-dependent manner. TGF-β1 pretreatment also prevented Aβ1–42-induced decreases in the neurotrophic factors, IGF-1, GDNF and BDNF, and in the antiinflammatory cytokine, IL-10. Similarly, IN administration of TGF-β1 after Aβ1–42 injection reduced neurodegeneration, elevation of proinflammatory mediators and cytokines, and reduction of neurotrophic and antiinflammatory factors, in the hypothalamus, serum or CSF. These findings suggest that TGF-β1 suppresses glial and T cell-mediated neuroinflammation and thereby alleviates AD-related neurodegeneration. The effectiveness of IN administered TGF-β1 in reducing Aβ1–42 neurotoxicity suggests a possible therapeutic approach in patients with AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: Open, laparoscopic, and endoscopic choledocholithotomy (OC, LC, and EC, respectively) are accepted choledocholithiasis treatment modalities. However, an assessment of the nationwide trends in their outcomes is lacking. This nationwide population-based analysis evaluated treatment outcomes of choledocholithiasis in Taiwan; (2) Methods: A total of 13,139,306 individuals were randomly enrolled from the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database (LHID) between 2000 to 2013 for cohort analysis. All patients with newly diagnosed choledocholithiasis aged 18 years or older who were treated during the study period were enrolled and allocated to the OC, LC, EC, or combined endoscopy and open choledocholithotomy (CEOC) groups. Age, readmission, retained stone, comorbidities, hospital stay, medical cost, complications, mortality were analyzed; (3) Results: A total of 58,064 individuals met the inclusion criteria, including 46.54%, 1.10%, 47.52%, and 4.85% who underwent OC, LC, EC, and CEOC, respectively. The endpoint characteristics showed that the LC group had higher readmission, longer hospital stay, and higher medical cost. Cox regression analysis showed that the adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of complications for EC was 1.259 times higher than that for OC. The adjusted HRs of readmission within 90 days for LC, EC, and CEOC were higher than that of OC. The adjusted HR of retreatment with surgery was higher in LC. The adjusted HR of retreatment with endoscopy was higher in CEOC. The adjusted HR of mortality in EC was 1.603 times that of OC; (4) Conclusions: Different choledocholithiasis treatments lead to different outcomes. However, further studies on other large or national data sets are required to support these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] We examine molecular phylogeny of Koenigia using five markers. [•] Koenigia sensu lato is paraphyletic with Aconogonon species. [•] We propose Koenigia delicatula be elevated to a new genus. [•] The tricolpate pollen and quincuncial aestivation likely evolved early in the history of Koenigia and close relatives. [•] Himalayan uplift and Quaternary glaciation facilitated the rapid diversification of Koenigia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due largely to the high stability and the potential ozone‐depleting, the transformation of greenhouse gas nitrous oxide has gained much attentions. In present paper, a new insight into the deoxygenation of nitrous oxide with silane was reported by using oriented external electric field (OEEF) as a catalytic strategy. When the OEEF was employed, the reaction barrier of deoxygenation was marvelously decreased as it was oriented along the positive NO/OSi bond‐axis. Especially the field strength is 300 × 10−4 a.u., the differences are up to 22.4/18.3 kcal mol−1 as compared with that of nonfield. In addition, once the H atom in SiH4 was replaced by methyl, two reaction modes were obtained, in which the deoxygenation process was easier when the N2O captured the H atom attached to the Si atom, not attached to the C atom. Further, the solvent effects of deoxygenation reaction were also considered, but with a weak influence were obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Refractory ascites is a serious complication for patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis. Saphenous−peritoneal shunting is a possible surgical treatment for its relief, but tends to lead to higher groin infections. The purpose of the present paper was to determine whether a modified procedure could resolve the problem and offer potential advantages over a peritoneo-venous shunt.Sixteen patients with refractory ascites who received modified saphenous−peritoneal shunts were studied. Clinical data such as bodyweight, abdominal girth, indocyanine green 15-min retention rate (ICG-15), serum bilirubin concentrations, Child−Pugh Score, creatinine clearance (CCr), daily urinary output, urine sodium (UNa) and operative complications were recorded before, and 3 months after, surgery.Three months after the operation, the urinary output, nutritional status and Child−Pugh scores had improved, but ICG-15 and total bilirubin output had not changed significantly. The CCr, UNa bodyweight and abdominal girth tended to decrease, but not significantly. No groin infections were noted following this procedure.This modified procedure not only improved the nutritional status of cirrhotic patients with refractory ascites but also improved their quality of life. Infections and obstructions decreased in the short term. However, long-term follow up is mandatory. This new technique requires more practice and experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first conjugate addition of α-isocyanoacetates with in situ generated azoalkenes from α-halogeno hydrazones in the presence of Cs 2 CO 3 has been developed. The reaction condition was suitable to various α-aryl substituted isocyanoacetates as well as aryl and alkyl-substituted α-halogeno hydrazones, affording the corresponding products in good to high yields. The adducts can be easily transformed into biologically attractive 1,4-dihydropyrimidine derivatives via an intramolecular cyclization by treating with AgOAc. The one-pot conjugate addition/intramolecular cyclization has also been investigated to furnish the formal [3 + 3] cycloadduct, 1,4-dihydropyrimidine derivatives. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To develop highly efficient photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy, herein a zinc(II) phthalocyanine-folate conjugate (PcN - FA) used to construct an activatable nanophotosensitizer (NanoPcN - FA) through a facile self-assembly. The self-assembled nanophotosensitizer (NanoPcN) without folate-modification was used as a negative control. After self-assembly, the photoactivities of NanoPcN - FA was quenched. The in vitro studies showed that NanoPcN - FA could be taken in by folate-receptor (FR)-positive SKOV3 cells and activated in the cells. It also exhibited slightly higher photocytotoxicity against SKOV3 cells than NanoPcN. Moreover, the competitive assay confirmed that the cellular uptake of NanoPcN - FA was through a FR-mediated process. Finally, the in vivo results indicated that NanoPcN - FA could target tumor tissue of S180 rat ascitic tumor-bearing mice due to the folic acid (FA) ligand, leading to a highly efficient antitumor photodynamic efficacy with the tumor inhibition rate of 95%. [Display omitted] • A phthalocyanine-folate conjugate self-assembled into activatable nanophotosensitizer. • The photoactivities of the phthalocyanine were quenched in the nanophotosensitizer. • It was taken in by folate receptor (FR)-positive cells through a FR-mediated pathway. • The quenched photoactivities could be activated in FR-positive cells and tumor tissues. • It had efficient tumor targeting and in vivo photodynamic anticancer efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the obvious advantages of utilizing naturally abundant and low cost sodium resources, sodium ion batteries (SIBs) show great potential for large‐scale energy storage applications. And the high theoretical capacities of transition metal sulfides (TMSs) make them appealing anode materials for SIBs; however, structural collapse caused by the severe volume change during de/sodiation processes results in poor capacity retention and rate capabilities. Compared to the development of new materials and the improvement of their electrochemical performance, the studies on their reaction mechanisms are still rare, especially the operando characterizations. Herein, the synthesis, anode application, and the operando observation of the de/sodiation mechanism of a nitrogen‐doped porous carbon coated nickel cobalt bimetallic sulfide hollow nanocube ((Ni0.5Co0.5)9S8@NC) composite are reported. Such a material is synthesized via facile sulfidation of phenol formaldehyde coated Ni3[Co(CN)6]2 metal–organic framework precursors with Na2S followed by calcination. The nanocomposite displays a remarkable specific capacity of 752 mAh g−1 at 100 mA g−1 after 100 cycles and outstanding rate capability due to the synergistic effect of several appealing features. Particularly, the pseudocapacitive effect appears to substantially contribute to the sodium storage capability. Operando X‐ray diffraction reveals the conversion reaction mechanism of (Ni0.5Co0.5)9S8@NC, forming Ni, Co, Na2S, and Na2S5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitochondria are in a constant balance of fusion and fission. Excessive fission or deficient fusion leads to mitochondrial fragmentation, causing mitochondrial dysfunction and physiological disorders. How the cell prevents excessive fission of mitochondria is not well understood. Here, we report that the fission yeast AAA-ATPase Yta4, which is the homolog of budding yeast Msp1 responsible for clearing mistargeted tail-anchored (TA) proteins on mitochondria, plays a critical role in preventing excessive mitochondrial fission. The absence of Yta4 leads to mild mitochondrial fragmentation in a Dnm1-dependent manner but severe mitochondrial fragmentation upon induction of mitochondrial depolarization. Overexpression of Yta4 delocalizes the receptor proteins of Dnm1, i.e., Fis1 (a TA protein) and Mdv1 (the bridging protein between Fis1 and Dnm1), from mitochondria and reduces the localization of Dnm1 to mitochondria. The effect of Yta4 overexpression on Fis1 and Mdv1, but not Dnm1, depends on the ATPase and translocase activities of Yta4. Moreover, Yta4 interacts with Dnm1, Mdv1, and Fis1. In addition, Yta4 competes with Dnm1 for binding Mdv1 and decreases the affinity of Dnm1 for GTP and inhibits Dnm1 assembly in vitro. These findings suggest a model, in which Yta4 inhibits mitochondrial fission by inhibiting the function of the mitochondrial divisome composed of Fis1, Mdv1, and Dnm1. Therefore, the present work reveals an uncharacterized molecular mechanism underlying the inhibition of mitochondrial fission. Mitochondria are in a constant balance of fusion and fission, but how the cell prevents excessive fission is unclear. This study shows that the evolutionarily conserved AAA-ATPase Yta4 interacts with the mitochondrial divisome (Fis1, Mdv1 and Dnm1) to inhibit mitochondrial fission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Synaptic strength depends strongly on the subsynaptic organisation of presynaptic transmitter release and postsynaptic receptor densities, and their alterations are expected to underlie pathologies. Although synaptic dysfunctions are common pathogenic traits of Alzheimer's disease (AD), it remains unknown whether synaptic protein nano‐organisation is altered in AD. Here, we systematically characterised the alterations in the subsynaptic organisation in cellular and mouse models of AD. Methods: We used immunostaining and super‐resolution stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy imaging to quantitatively examine the synaptic protein nano‐organisation in both Aβ1–42‐treated neuronal cultures and cortical sections from a mouse model of AD, APP23 mice. Results: We found that Aβ1–42‐treatment of cultured hippocampal neurons decreased the synaptic retention of postsynaptic scaffolds and receptors and disrupted their nanoscale alignment to presynaptic transmitter release sites. In cortical sections, we found that while GluA1 receptors in wild‐type mice were organised in subsynaptic nanoclusters with high local densities, receptors in APP23 mice distributed more homogeneously within synapses. This reorganisation, together with the reduced overall receptor density, led to reduced glutamatergic synaptic transmission. Meanwhile, the transsynaptic alignment between presynaptic release‐guiding RIM1/2 and postsynaptic scaffolding protein PSD‐95 was reduced in APP23 mice. Importantly, these reorganisations were progressive with age and were more pronounced in synapses in close vicinity of Aβ plaques with dense cores. Conclusions: Our study revealed a spatiotemporal‐specific reorganisation of synaptic nanostructures in AD and identifies dense‐core amyloid plaques as the major local inductor in APP23 mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: Piezo1 channels are mechanosensitive cationic channels that are activated by mechanical stretch or shear stress. Endothelial Piezo1 activation by shear stress caused by blood flow induces ATP release from endothelial cells; however, the link between shear stress and endothelial ATP production is unclear. Experimental Approach: The mitochondrial respiratory function of cells was measured by using high‐resolution respirometry system Oxygraph‐2k. The intracellular Ca2+ concentration was evaluated by using Fluo‐4/AM and mitochondrial Ca2+ concentration by Rhod‐2/AM. Key Results: The specific Piezo1 channel activator Yoda1 or its analogue Dooku1 increased [Ca2+]i in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), and both Yoda1 and Dooku1 increased mitochondrial oxygen consumption rates (OCRs) and mitochondrial ATP production in HUVECs and primary cultured rat aortic endothelial cells (RAECs). Knockdown of Piezo1 inhibited Yoda1‐ and Dooku1‐induced increases of mitochondrial OCRs and mitochondrial ATP production in HUVECs. The shear stress mimetics, Yoda1 and Dooku1, and the Piezo1 knock‐down technique also demonstrated that Piezo1 activation increased glycolysis in HUVECs. Chelating extracellular Ca2+ with EGTA or chelating cytosolic Ca2+ with BAPTA‐AM did not affect Yoda1‐ and Dooku1‐induced increases of mitochondrial OCRs and ATP production, but chelating cytosolic Ca2+ inhibited Yoda1‐ and Dooku1‐induced increase of glycolysis. Confocal microscopy showed that Piezo1 channels are present in mitochondria of endothelial cells, and Yoda1 and Dooku1 increased mitochondrial Ca2+ in endothelial cells. Conclusion and Implications: Piezo1 channel activation stimulates ATP production through enhancing mitochondrial respiration and glycolysis in vascular endothelial cells, suggesting a novel role of Piezo1 channel in endothelial ATP production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Hydrogen-rich water (HRW) has been widely used in research on plant resistance to Cd. However, the underlying molecular mechanism of HRW in ameliorating cadmium stress in vegetables is largely unknown. In this study, the RNA-sequencing analyses were used to characterize the role of HRW in the alleviation of Cd toxicity in Chinese cabbage seedlings. Based on the obtained results, two genes encoding metal ionic transporters, BcIRT1 and BcZIP2 were ultimately selected out. Then, a systematic validation of the metal ion transport function of these two ZIP-encoding genes of pak choi were performed via a yeast transformation system. The results showed that BcIRT1 and BcZIP2 increased the sensitivity of different yeast mutant strains to relative metal ionic stresses and facilitated the accumulation of metal ions (Cd2+, Mn2+, Zn2+, and Fe2+) in yeast; thus, it suggests that BcIRT1 and BcZIP2 probably have the ability to transport Cd2+, Mn2+, Zn2+ and Fe2+ in pak choi. The time-course and concentration-dependent expression profiles of BcIRT1 and BcZIP2 showed that as time with HRW increased, the effectiveness of the repression on the expression of BcIRT1 and BcZIP2 increased, and as the seedlings were exposed to increased Cd concentrations, the inhibition of BcIRT1 and BcZIP2 by HRW was also increased. Over all, these findings provide new insights into the genome-wide transcriptome profiles in pak choi and show that HRW reduced Cd uptake probably through inhibiting the expression of transporters related to Cd absorption, BcIRT1 and BcZIP2. Highlights • Transcriptome profiles induced by Cd or HRW plus Cd were obtained. • HRW efficiently regulated the expression of Cd-induced transporter related genes. • The first function validation of BcIRT1 and BcZIP2 were performed by a yeast system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient and universal method via direct writing catalysts with novel surface‐modification electroless deposition is developed to prepare high‐adhesion, low‐resistance and excellent‐flexibility metal patterns on flexible polyimide (PI) substrates. Through the surface modification of self‐assembled monolayers (SAMs), the PI substrates are capable of complexing silver ion catalysts. After that, the silver ion catalysts are treated with plasma, which could catalyze the electroless deposition of conductive metal (copper, nickel and silver) patterns. Compared with the other processes, this method presents an industrially viable way to fabricate metal conductive patterns and circuits on polymer substrate for flexible electronics at low cost, simple operation, time‐saving and without the needs of sophisticated equipment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A metabolic illness known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), affects more than one-quarter of the world's population. Bile acids (BAs), as detergents involved in lipid digestion, show an abnormal metabolism in patients with NAFLD. However, BAs can affect other organs as well, such as the brain, where it has a neuroprotective effect. According to a series of studies, brain disorders may be extrahepatic manifestations of NAFLD, such as depression, changes to the cerebrovascular system, and worsening cognitive ability. Consequently, we propose that NAFLD affects the development of brain disease, through the bile acid signaling pathway. Through direct or indirect channels, BAs can send messages to the brain. Some BAs may operate directly on the central Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and the G protein bile acid-activated receptor 1 (GPBAR1) by overcoming the blood–brain barrier (BBB). Furthermore, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 19 are released from the intestine FXR and GPBAR1 receptors, upon activation, both of which send signals to the brain. Inflammatory, systemic metabolic disorders in the liver and brain are regulated by the bile acid-activated receptors FXR and GPBAR1, which are potential therapeutic targets. From a bile acid viewpoint, we examine the bile acid signaling changes in NAFLD and brain disease. We also recommend the development of dual GPBAR1/FXR ligands to reduce side effects and manage NAFLD and brain disease efficiently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Auxin and auxin‐mediated signaling pathways are known to regulate lateral root development. Although exocytic vesicle trafficking plays an important role in recycling the PIN‐FORMED (PIN) auxin efflux carriers and in polar auxin transport during lateral root formation, the mechanistic details of these processes are not well understood. Here, we demonstrate that BYPASS1‐LIKE (B1L) regulates lateral root initiation via exocytic vesicular trafficking‐mediated PIN recycling in Arabidopsis thaliana. b1l mutants contained significantly more lateral roots than the wild type, primarily due to increased lateral root primordium initiation. Furthermore, the auxin signal was stronger in stage I lateral root primordia of b1l than in those of the wild type. Treatment with exogenous auxin and an auxin transport inhibitor indicated that the lateral root phenotype of b1l could be attributed to higher auxin levels and that B1L regulates auxin efflux. Indeed, compared to the wild type, C‐terminally green fluorescent protein‐tagged PIN1 and PIN3 accumulated at higher levels in b1l lateral root primordia. B1L interacted with the exocyst, and b1l showed defective PIN exocytosis. These observations indicate that B1L interacts with the exocyst to regulate PIN‐mediated polar auxin transport and lateral root initiation in Arabidopsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Jun activation domain-binding protein 1 (Jab1) was overexpressed in breast cancer, which was involved in degradation of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27 Kip1 . The objective of this study was to examine the effect of brain specific kinase 1 (BRSK1) expression on Jab1 over-expression and related signaling pathway in breast cancer. Methods Immunohistochemical analysis was performed in 95 human breast carcinoma samples and the data were correlated with clinicopathologic features. Furthermore, Western blot analysis was performed for BRSK1 and Jab1 in breast carcinoma samples and cell lines to evaluate their protein levels and molecular interaction. Results We found that the cytoplasmic BRSK1 expression was inversely associated with Jab1 expression ( P < 0.01) and correlated significantly with histologic grade ( P = 0.006), however nuclear BRSK1 expression couldn't obtain similar results. Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed that survival curves of low versus high expressers of cytoplasmic BRSK1 and Jab1 showed a highly significant separation in breast cancer ( P < 0.01). While in vitro, following release of breast cancer cell lines from serum starvation, the expression of Jab1, phosphor-Akt (p-Akt) was up-regulated, whereas BRSK1 and p27 Kip1 were decreased. Treatment of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor LY294002 could diminish Jab1 expression but increase BRSK1 expression. In addition, we employed siRNA technique to knock down Jab1 and/or BRSK1 expression and observed their effects on MDA-MB-231 cell growth. Conclusions BRSK1 is a novel tumor suppressor in breast cancer which inversely correlated with Jab1 expression, may involve in the restoring Jab1-induced suppression of p27 Kip1 and may regulate cell cycle through the PI3K/Akt pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine the molecular taxonomic affiliations of small planktonic protists in the northern South China Sea, we constructed phylogenetic trees by correlating the 18S rDNA sequences of known heterotrophic protists with those of unknown protists from four sites. There was a high diversity of these protists in the northern South China Sea that were not sampled by net collection. In addition, we discovered a surprisingly large number of novel radiolarian sequences that showed a unique biogeographic group for this location. Our new data on centrohelids confirmed recent studies showing that representatives of this group live in marine habitats and not only in fresh water. We also report two newly classified eukaryotic lineages (Telonemia and Katablepharidophyta) in the South China Sea for the first time. Furthermore, the phylogenetic relationships showed that the distribution of the novel protists in the northern South China Sea had distinct spatial variation. Our work extends knowledge about the diversity and habitats of planktonic protists in the South China Sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the influence of main chain structure on the performance of anion exchange membranes (AEMs), crosslinked naphthalene-based block polymer AEMs are synthesized via nucleophilic polycondensation, Williamson reaction, atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) reaction, bromination, and quaternization. With a helical structure, the naphthalene-based triblock backbone can provide the ion channels inside AEMs, further enhance the ionic conductivity and dimensional stability. The crosslinked network of long alkyl chains ensures desirable mechanical properties of AEMs. The prepared NAPEK-PVP-X AEMs have a high alkaline stability, a low swelling ratio and a high ionic conductivity. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) are used to confirm the hydrophilic/hydrophobic microphase separated structure of the AEMs. More developed ion transport channels of naphthalene-based AEMs are shown by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. A power density peak of 160.73 mW cm−2 is obtained by assembling the NAPEK-PVP-10-Q4 AEM into a single cell operating at 60 °C. The study provides a resource for future work on AEMs. [Display omitted] • Naphthalene-based triblock and bisphenol A-based triblock main chain are fabricated. • The long flexible crosslinked chain further enhanced the mechanical property of AEMs. • The naphthalene-based triblock polymer AEMs show efficient ion transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Streptococcus pneumoniae synthesizes >100 types of capsular polysaccharides (CPSs). While the diversity of the enzymes and transporters involved is enormous, it is not limitless. In this review, we summarized the recent progress on elucidating the structure–function relationships of CPSs, the mechanisms by which they are synthesized, how their synthesis is regulated, the host immune response against them and the development of novel pneumococcal vaccines. Based on the genetic and structural information available, we generated provisional models of the CPS repeating units that remain unsolved. In addition, to facilitate cross-species comparisons and assignment of glycosyltransferases, we illustrated the biosynthetic pathways of the known CPSs in a standardized format. Studying the intricate steps of pneumococcal CPS assembly promises to provide novel insights for drug and vaccine development as well as improve our understanding of related pathways in other species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cold stress inhibits normal physiological metabolism in plants, thereby seriously affecting plant development. Meanwhile, plants also actively adjust their metabolism and development to adapt to changing environments. Several cold tolerance regulators have been found to participate in the regulation of plant development. Previously, we reported that BYPASS1-LIKE (B1L), a DUF793 family protein, participates in the regulation of cold tolerance, at least partly through stabilizing C-REPEAT BINDING FACTORS (CBFs). In this study, we found that B1L interacts with TRANSTHYRETIN-LIKE (TTL) protein, which is involved in brassinosteroid (BR)-mediated plant growth and catalyses the synthesis of S-allantoin, and both proteins participate in modulating plant growth and cold tolerance. Results: The results obtained with yeast two hybrid (Y2H) and bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) assays showed that B1L directly interacted with TTL. Similar to the ttl-1 and ttl-2 mutants, the b1l mutant displayed a longer hypocotyl and greater fresh weight than wild type, whereas B1L-overexpressing lines exhibited a shorter hypocotyl and reduced fresh weight. Moreover, ttl-1 displayed freezing tolerance to cold treatment compared with WT, whereas the b1l mutant and TTL-overexpressing lines were freezing-sensitive. The b1l ttl double mutant had a developmental phenotype and freezing tolerance that were highly similar to those of ttl-1 compared to b1l, indicating that TTL is important for B1L function. Although low concentrations of brassinolide (0.1 or 1 nM) displayed similarly promoted hypocotyl elongation of WT and b1l under normal temperature, it showed less effect to the hypocotyl elongation of b1l than to that of WT under cold conditions. In addition, the b1l mutant also contained less amount of allantoin than Col-0. Conclusion: Our results indicate that B1L and TTL co-regulate development and cold tolerance in Arabidopsis, and BR and allantoin may participate in these processes through B1L and TTL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Oleosins play essential roles in stabilization of lipid droplets (LDs) and seed oil production. • 65 oleosin genes were identified in genome-sequenced Theaceae species. • Most oleosin genes displayed inter-species synteny among tea and oil tea species. • Our findings provide valuable information for further functional analysis and utilization of oleosin genes in tea and oil tea. Oleosins play essential roles in stabilization of lipid droplets (LDs) and seed oil production. However, evolution of this gene family has not been reported in Theaceae, a large plant family that contains many important tea and oil tea species. In this study, a total of 65 oleosin genes were identified in nine genome-sequenced Theaceae species. Among these genomes, the gene number of oleosin showed significant difference, with Camellia sinensis var. sinensis cv. Shuchazao and Camellia lanceoleosa displayed more oleosin numbers than other species. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that Theaceae oleosin genes were classified into three clades (U, SL, SH) respectively. Proteins within the same clade had similar gene structure and motif composition. Segmental duplication was the primary driving force for the evolution of oleosin genes in Shuchazao (SCZ), Huangdan (HD), C.lanceoleosa (Cla), and wild tea (DASZ). Synteny analysis showed that most oleosin genes displayed inter-species synteny among tea and oil tea species. Expression analysis demonstrated that oleosin genes were specifically expressed in seed and kernel of Huangdan (HD) and C.lanceoleosa. Moreover, expression divergence was observed in paralogous pairs and ∼1–2 oleosin genes in each clade have become activate. This study leads to a comprehensive understanding of evolution of oleosin family in Theaceae, and provides a rich resource to further address the functions of oleosin in tea and oil tea species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes a parallel approach for the rapid generation of ultra-large-scale unstructured meshes on distributed-memory supercomputers. A medium-sized initial mesh is prepared first. Afterwards, a two-level domain decomposition (DD) strategy is used to split and distribute the initial mesh to different cores. Finally, the parallel mesh generation, comprising a recursive procedure which includes parallel surface recovery, parallel boundary updating, and parallel mesh multiplication, is performed. The two-level DD differentiates the intra-node and inter-node communication to reduce communication overheads. A global indexing and updating scheme is used to make the mesh multiplication devoid of communication. A new parallel surface recovery algorithm without communication is developed to maintain the fidelity of the resulting mesh model to the original geometric model. Tests of the parallel approach for some real-life problems on supercomputers (Dawning-5000A and Tianhe-2) are presented. Issues regarding the speedup, parallel efficiency, and mesh quality are discussed. Results show that the proposed parallel approach has a reasonably good scalability, that the quality of the resulting mesh is improved, and that ultra-large-scale meshes with billions of elements can be generated quickly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Novel phosphorus-containing transition metal complexes were designed as latent curing agents for EP. • The cured EP thermosets revealed excellent comprehensive fire-safety performance among the related literature. • Dielectric properties of the EP thermosets were improved by introducing the symmetric complexes, especially in high frequencies. Concerning the application of fire-safety epoxy resin (EP) in electrical and electronic devices, a question may inevitably arise: how can fire hazards be reduced without compromising comprehensive properties? Herein, this work presented a solution to fabricate intrinsic fire-safety EPs with attractive properties by introducing phosphorus-containing transition metal complexes as multifunctional curing agents. Cured with 15 wt% DPPSSZn, the EP thermoset exhibited superb fire safety performance, and the testing samples achieved a V-0 rating in the UL-94 vertical burning test and possessed an upgraded LOI value of 36.5%. Additionally, the peak heat release rate (pHRR) and the total smoke production (TSP) showed 71.4% and 74.3% decreases, respectively. Similar results were found in the system by replacing Zn with Co ions. Furthermore, the prepared EP possessed latent curing behaviors within 90 days with rather low complex viscosity. Lower dielectric constant and dielectric loss factors were obtained owing to the uniform dispersion and the relatively low polarized networks enabled by the reactive metal complexes. Hence, this work proposed a feasible and simple strategy for developing intrinsic fire-safety thermosets with desirable comprehensive properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Activation of NLRP3 inflammasome is implicated in varieties of pathologies, the aim of the present study is to characterize the effect and mechanism of mitochondrial uncouplers on NLRP3 inflammasome activation by using three types of uncouplers, niclosamide, CCCP and BAM15. Niclosamide, CCCP and BAM15 inhibited LPS plus ATP-induced increases of NLRP3 protein and IL-1β mRNA levels in RAW264.7 macrophages and THP-1 derived macrophages. Niclosamide, CCCP and BAM15 inhibited LPS plus ATP-induced increase of NFκB (P65) phosphorylation, and inhibited NFκB (P65) nuclear translocation in RAW264.7 macrophages. Niclosamide and BAM15 inhibited LPS-induced increase of IκBα phosphorylation in RAW264.7 macrophages, and the inhibitory effect was dependent on increased intracellular [Ca2+] i ; however, CCCP showed no significant effect on IκBα phosphorylation in RAW264.7 macrophages stimulated with LPS. In conclusion, chemical mitochondrial uncouplers niclosamide, CCCP and BAM15 share common inhibitory effect on NLRP3 inflammasome activation through inhibiting NFκB nuclear translocation. Unlabelled Image • Niclosamide, CCCP and BAM15 inhibit NLRP3 and IL-1β expressions in macrophages. • Niclosamide, CCCP and BAM15 inhibit NFκB nuclear translocation in macrophages. • Niclosamide and BAM15 but not CCCP inhibits LPS-induced IκBα phosphorylation. • Mitochondrial uncouplers are novel type of NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phthalocyanines are promising photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy (PDT), but the inherent tendency of aggregation generally leads to the decrease or even quenching of photoactivities. To address this issue and realize the desirable photodynamic therapeutic effect of phthalocyanines, herein, we report a folate-modified phthalocyanine-based liposomal nanophotosensitizer (PcN@Lip-FA), which can be prepared through a facile "one-pot" method. An analogue (PcN@Lip) without folate was also prepared as a negative control. The liposomal nanophotosnesitizers greatly prevented the aggregation of the zinc(II) phthalocyanine (PcN) and showed highly efficient photoactivities (fluorescence and singlet oxygen generation) in aqueous solutions, although the free PcN is severely aggregated and its photoactivities are nearly quenched. The in vitro results demonstrate that PcN@Lip-FA can be taken in by folate receptor (FR)-positive HeLa cells through FR-mediated process, and exhibits significantly higher cellular uptake and photocytotoxicity against HeLa cells than both PcN@Lip and PcN , but for FR-negative MCF-7 cells, PcN@Lip-FA and PcN@Lip show comparable photocytotoxicity. In addition, with the folate vector, PcN@Lip-FA has highly efficient tumor targeting and PDT effect on the S180 rat ascitic tumor-bearing mice with a tumor inhibition rate up to 98.0%. Therefore, the liposomal nanophotosensitizer PcN@Lip-FA can serve as a promising nanoplatform for cancer diagnosis and targeted PDT. Image 1 • A folate-modified phthalocyanine-based liposomal nanophotosnesitizer was prepared. • The liposomal carrier reduced aggregation and enhanced photoactivities of free PcN. • PcN@Lip-FA could selectively kill HeLa cells with enhanced photodynamic activity. • PcN@Lip-FA had highly efficient tumor targeting and in vivo photodynamic efficacy. • Its tumor inhibition rate on the S180 rat ascitic tumor-bearing mice was up to 98.0%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]