Abscisic acid-induced transcription factor PsMYB306 negatively regulates tree peony bud dormancy release.

Bud dormancy is a crucial strategy for perennial plants to withstand adverse winter conditions. However, the regulatory mechanism of bud dormancy in tree peony (Paeonia suffruticosa) remains largely unknown. Here, we observed dramatically reduced and increased accumulation of abscisic acid (ABA) and bioactive gibberellins (GAs) GA1 and GA3, respectively, during bud endodormancy release of tree peony under prolonged chilling treatment. An Illumina RNA sequencing study was performed to identify potential genes involved in the bud endodormancy regulation in tree peony. Correlation matrix, principal component, and interaction network analyses identified a downregulated MYB transcription factor gene, PsMYB306, the expression of which positively correlated with 9-CIS-EPOXYCAROTENOID DIOXYGENASE 3 (PsNCED3) expression. Protein modeling analysis revealed 4 residues within the R2R3 domain of PsMYB306 to possess DNA binding capability. Transcription of PsMYB306 was increased by ABA treatment. Overexpression of PsMYB306 in petunia (Petunia hybrida) inhibited seed germination and plant growth, concomitant with elevated ABA and decreased GA contents. Silencing of PsMYB306 accelerated cold-triggered tree peony bud burst and influenced the production of ABA and GAs and the expression of their biosynthetic genes. ABA application reduced bud dormancy release and transcription of ENT-KAURENOIC ACID OXIDASE 1 (PsKAO1), GA20-OXIDASE 1 (PsGA20ox1), and GA3-OXIDASE 1 (PsGA3ox1) associated with GA biosynthesis in PsMYB306-silenced buds. In vivo and in vitro binding assays confirmed that PsMYB306 specifically transactivated the promoter of PsNCED3. Silencing of PsNCED3 also promoted bud break and growth. Altogether, our findings suggest that PsMYB306 negatively modulates cold-induced bud endodormancy release by regulating ABA production.

Peripheral Nerve Injury Induced by Japanese Encephalitis Virus in C57BL/6 Mouse.

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), with neurotoxic and neuroinvasive properties, is the major cause of human viral encephalitis in Asia. Although Guillain-Barré syndrome caused by JEV infections is not frequent, a few cases have been reported in recent years. To date, no existing animal model for JEV-induced peripheral nerve injury (PNI) has been established, and thus the pathogenic mechanism is not clarified. Therefore, an animal model is urgently required to clarify the correlation between JEV infection and PNI. In the present study, we used JEV GIb strain of NX1889 to establish a mouse model of JEV infection. The general neurological signs emerged on day 3 of modeling. The motor function continued to deteriorate, reaching a maximum at 8 to 13 days postinfection (dpi) and gradually recovered after 16 dpi. The injuries of 105 PFU and 106 PFU groups were the most severe. Transmission electron microscopy and immunofluorescence staining showed varying degrees of demyelination and axonal degeneration in the sciatic nerves. The electrophysiological recordings demonstrated the presence of demyelinating peripheral neuropathy with reduced nerve conduction velocity. The decreased amplitudes and the prolonged end latency revealed axonal-type motor neuropathy. Demyelination is predominant in the early stage, followed by axonal injury. The expression level of JEV-E protein and viral RNA was elevated in the injured sciatic nerves, suggesting that it may cause PNI at the early stage. Inflammatory cell infiltration and increased inflammatory cytokines indicated that neuroinflammation is involved in JEV-induced PNI. IMPORTANCE JEV is a neurotropic flavivirus belonging to the Flaviviridae family and causes high mortality and disability rates. It invades the central nervous system and induces acute inflammatory injury and neuronal death. Thus, JEV infection is a major global public health concern. Previously, motor dysfunction was mainly attributed to central nervous system damage. Our knowledge regarding JEV-induced PNI is vague and neglected. Therefore, a laboratory animal model is essential. Herein, we showed that C57BL/6 mice can be used to study JEV-induced PNI through multiple approaches. We also demonstrated that viral loads might be positively correlated with lesion severity. Therefore, inflammation and direct virus infection may be the putative mechanisms underlying JEV-induced PNI. The results of this study laid the foundation for further elucidation of the pathogenesis mechanisms of PNI caused by JEV.

Charge Density Evolution Governing Interfacial Friction.

It is well-known that the electron nature of a solid in contact plays a predominant role in determining the many properties of the contact systems, but the general rules of electron coupling that govern interfacial friction remain an open issue for the surface/interface community. Here, density functional theory calculations were used to investigate the physical origins of friction of solid interfaces. It was found that interfacial friction can be inherently traced back to the electronic barrier to the change in the contact configuration of the joints in slip due to the resistance of energy level rearrangement leading to electron transfer, which applies for various interface types ranging from van der Waals, metallic, and ionic to covalent joints. The variation of the electron density accompanying contact conformation changes along the sliding pathways is defined to track the frictional energy dissipation process occurring in slip. The results demonstrate that the frictional energy landscapes evolve synchronously with responding charge density evolution along sliding pathways, yielding an explicitly linear dependence of frictional dissipation on electronic evolution. The correlation coefficient enables us to interpret the fundamental concept of shear strength. The present charge evolution model thereby provides insights into the classic hypothesis that the friction force scales with the real contact area. This may shed light on the intrinsic origin of friction at the electronic level, opening the way to the rational design of nanomechanical devices as well as the understanding of the natural faults.

The association between C-peptide and atrial cardiomyopathy in nondiabetic adults: results from NHANES III.

Serum C-peptide exhibits various biological activities. The relationship between C-peptide and atrial cardiomyopathy remains unknown. We aimed to investigate the association between C-peptide level and atrial cardiomyopathy in nondiabetic adults. Our study enrolled 4578 participants without diagnosed diabetes from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III). Atrial cardiomyopathy was defined as a deep terminal negative P wave in V1 below - 100 µV (more negative), according to the electrocardiogram. The participants were categorized into low C-peptide (≤ 1.46 nmol/L) and high C-peptide (> 1.46 nmol/L) groups, according to the receiver operating characteristic analysis. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for the association between C-peptide level and atrial cardiomyopathy were generated using multivariate logistic regression analysis. The prevalence of atrial cardiomyopathy was higher in the high C-peptide group than in the low C-peptide group (5.62% vs. 2.31%, P < 0.001, respectively). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that participants in the high C-peptide group had a 3.60-fold (95% CI 1.81-6.99) higher risk of atrial cardiomyopathy than those in the low C-peptide group. Per standard deviation increase in C-peptide was linked to a 1.20-fold (95% CI 1.00-1.41) higher risk in atrial cardiomyopathy. High C-peptide level might be an independent risk factor for atrial cardiomyopathy in nondiabetic adults.

The Small GTPase FgRab1 Plays Indispensable Roles in the Vegetative Growth, Vesicle Fusion, Autophagy and Pathogenicity of Fusarium graminearum.

Rab GTPases are key regulators of membrane and intracellular vesicle transports. However, the biological functions of FgRab1 are still unclear in the devastating wheat pathogen Fusarium graminearum. In this study, we generated constitutively active (CA) and dominant-negative (DN) forms of FgRAB1 from the wild-type PH-1 background for functional analyses. Phenotypic analyses of these mutants showed that FgRab1 is important for vegetative growth, cell wall integrity and hyphal branching. Compared to the PH-1 strain, the number of spores produced by the Fgrab1DN strain was significantly reduced, with obviously abnormal conidial morphology. The number of septa in the conidia of the Fgrab1DN mutant was fewer than that observed in the PH-1 conidia. Fgrab1DN was dramatically reduced in its ability to cause Fusarium head blight symptoms on wheat heads. GFP-FgRab1 was observed to partly localize to the Golgi apparatus, endoplasmic reticulum and Spitzenkörper. Furthermore, we found that FgRab1 inactivation blocks not only the transport of the v-SNARE protein FgSnc1 from the Golgi to the plasma membrane but also the fusion of endocytic vesicles with their target membranes and general autophagy. In summary, our results indicate that FgRab1 plays vital roles in vegetative growth, conidiogenesis, pathogenicity, autophagy, vesicle fusion and trafficking in F. graminearum.

FgSpa2 recruits FgMsb3, a Rab8 GAP, to the polarisome to regulate polarized trafficking, growth and pathogenicity in Fusarium graminearum.

In filamentous fungi, hyphal growth depends on the continuous delivery of vesicles to the growing tips. It is unclear how fast-growing hyphae coordinate simultaneous cell extension and expansion in the tip cells. We have functionally characterized 12 TBC (Tre-2/Bub2/Cdc16) domain-containing proteins in Fusarium graminearum. Among them, FgMsb3 is found to regulate hyphal tip expansion and to be required for pathogenicity. The regulatory mechanism of FgMsb3 has been further investigated by genetic, high-resolution microscopy and high-throughput co-immunoprecipitation strategies. The FgMsb3 protein localizes at the polarisome and the hyphal apical dome (HAD) where it acts as a GTPase-activating protein for FgRab8 which is required for apical secretion-mediated growth and pathogenicity. Deletion of FgMSB3 causes excessive polarized trafficking but blocks the fusion of FgSnc1-associated vesicles to the plasma membrane. Moreover, we establish that FgSpa2 interacts with FgMsb3, enabling FgMsb3 tethering to the polarisome. Loss of FgSpa2 or other polarisome components (FgBud6 and FgPea2) causes complete shifting of FgMsb3 to the HAD and this affects the polarized growth and pathogenicity of the fungus. In summary, we conclude that FgSpa2 regulates FgMsb3-FgRab8 cascade and this is crucial for creating a steady-state equilibrium that maintains continuous polarized growth and contributes to the pathogenicity of F. graminearum.

Fabrication of Ge2Sb2Te5 crystal micro/nanostructures through single-shot Gaussian-shape femtosecond laser pulse irradiation.

Femtosecond (fs) laser-thin film interaction is one of the most practical methods for fabricating functional nanostructures. However, the details of the interaction mechanism remain unclear. In this study, we demonstrate an abnormal ablation effect on nanofilms by using a tightly focused single fs laser pulse. After the irradiation of a single Gaussian-shaped femtosecond laser pulse, a molten micro/nanopatch at the irradiated central high-power zone is isolated from the surrounding film. The confined localized threshold effect is proposed as the main mechanism for the phase isolation. With this effect, the high refractive index dielectric Ge2Sb2Te5 crystal nanostructures can be fabricated by directed dewetting of the isolated molten micro/nanopatch on Si substrates. After the laser irradiation, the central isolated liquid through an amorphous GST film is transformed into a crystalline state after resolidification. The isolated central micro/nanopatch size can be controlled by the focused spot size and pulse energy, so that the morphologies (size, geometrical morphology, and distribution) of GST nanostructures can be flexibly modulated. Furthermore, separated solid and liquid phase states detected using spatial-temporal-resolved microscopy validates the crucial role of the confined-localized threshold effect in the dewetting effect based on the separated liquid phase.

Hb broomhill [α1 or α2 114(GH2) pro > ala;HBA1 or HBA2:c.343C > G]: a rare Hb variant found in a diabetic chinese individual.

We report a clinically silent hemoglobin (Hb) variant, Hb Broomhill [α1 or α2 114(GH2) Pro > Ala;HBA1 or HBA2:c.343C > G] in a diabetic Chinese man. The Hb fractions of the subject were analyzed using various chromatographic and electrophoretic techniques. The glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels measured using cation-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography (CE-HPLC) and the boronate affinity method showed nearly identical results. Analysis of the chromatogram of the CE-HPLC revealed an abnormal shoulder peak that appeared towards the end of the elution profile. Though the capillary electrophoresis method did not interpret the results, a manual examination revealed an abnormal shoulder on the HbA0 peak. Similarly, the electropherogram of the capillary zone electrophoresis also had an abnormal shoulder on the HbA peak. A missense mutation specific to the Hb Broomhill variant was found using Sanger sequencing.

Quantifying Variation in Soybean Due to Flood Using a Low-Cost 3D Imaging System.

Flood has an important effect on plant growth by affecting their physiologic and biochemical properties. Soybean is one of the main cultivated crops in the world and the United States is one of the largest soybean producers. However, soybean plant is sensitive to flood stress that may cause slow growth, low yield, small crop production and result in significant economic loss. Therefore, it is critical to develop soybean cultivars that are tolerant to flood. One of the current bottlenecks in developing new crop cultivars is slow and inaccurate plant phenotyping that limits the genetic gain. This study aimed to develop a low-cost 3D imaging system to quantify the variation in the growth and biomass of soybean due to flood at its early growth stages. Two cultivars of soybeans, i.e. flood tolerant and flood sensitive, were planted in plant pots in a controlled greenhouse. A low-cost 3D imaging system was developed to take measurements of plant architecture including plant height, plant canopy width, petiole length, and petiole angle. It was found that the measurement error of the 3D imaging system was 5.8% in length and 5.0% in angle, which was sufficiently accurate and useful in plant phenotyping. Collected data were used to monitor the development of soybean after flood treatment. Dry biomass of soybean plant was measured at the end of the vegetative stage (two months after emergence). Results show that four groups had a significant difference in plant height, plant canopy width, petiole length, and petiole angle. Flood stress at early stages of soybean accelerated the growth of the flood-resistant plants in height and the petiole angle, however, restrained the development in plant canopy width and the petiole length of flood-sensitive plants. The dry biomass of flood-sensitive plants was near two to three times lower than that of resistant plants at the end of the vegetative stage. The results indicate that the developed low-cost 3D imaging system has the potential for accurate measurements in plant architecture and dry biomass that may be used to improve the accuracy of plant phenotyping.

Femtosecond laser induced concentric semi-circular periodic surface structures on silicon based on the quasi-plasmonic annular nanostructure.

In this study, we report polarization-dependent concentric circular periodic surface structures on Si induced by a single shot femtosecond (fs) laser pulse based on pre-processed quasi-plasmonic annular-shaped nanostructure. An abnormal annular-shaped energy deposition of the fundamental fs laser pulse can be found by using dual-wavelength superposition of the fundamental frequency (ω) and the second-harmonic frequency (2ω) of an fs Ti:sapphire laser, which is confirmed by real beam shape detection. Based on the annular-shaped energy distribution of dual-wavelength fs laser, a concentric quasi-plasmonic corral nanostructure can be imprinted on the Au thin film. Surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) excitations on the planar metallic nanostructures enable the manipulation of light on subwavelength scales. Thus, the pre-processed concentric quasi-plasmonic corral nanostructure can act as a precursor for the subsequent SPPs excitation and propagation by the fs laser irradiation. Using this technique, polarization-dependent semi-circular periodic surface structures on silicon can be found by the irradiation of fs laser pulse with only one shot. This research provides an additional freedom for the laser induced periodic surface structure (LIPSS) modulation based on the modulation of SPPs excitation and propagation, which plays an important role in the formation of LIPSS.

Structural changes and electrical properties of nanowelded multiwalled carbon nanotube junctions.

This study proposes an efficient approach that uses a 1064 nm continuous fiber laser to achieve nanoscale welding of crossed multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). We investigate the effects of laser irradiation time (from 1 to 6 s) on the structure changes and the welding quality of crossed MWCNTs using a scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, and Raman spectroscopy. The experimental results demonstrate that (1) after 2 or 3 s laser irradiation, moderate temperature of MWCNTs can be formed and can cause a higher degree of graphitization and (2) the degree of graphitization and effective contact of nanowelded MWCNT junctions strongly affects its electrical properties.

Long noncoding RNA expression in dermal papilla cells contributes to hairy gene regulation.

Dermal papilla (DP) cells may be the source of dermal-derived signaling molecules involved in hair-follicle development and postnatal hair cycling. Early-passage DP cells can induce hair growth in vivo, but, on further culture, this ability is lost. The cellular mechanisms underlying the hair-follicle induction property of early-passage DP cells are unclear. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are an important class of genes involved in various biological functions. They are aberrantly expressed and play roles in the regulation of the Wnt signaling pathway, a critical point in maintaining hair-induction activity. LncRNA microarray revealed 1683 upregulated and 1773 downregulated lncRNAs in passage-4 DP cells compare with passage-10 DP cells. To investigate the relation between lncRNAs and coding genes in WNT signaling, we constructed a coding-noncoding gene co-expression network using lncRNAs and coding genes that were differentially expressed between the passage-4 and -10 DP cells. RP11-766N7.3, H19 and HOTAIR are specific lncRNAs that were aberrantly expressed in DP cells and played an important role in regulating Wnt signaling. This study may provide potential targets for discovering the hair-follicle induction mechanism of early-passage DP cells.

Doping effects on ablation enhancement in femtosecond laser irradiation of silicon.

We have conducted an experimental investigation on highly efficient femtosecond laser micromachining of silicon through N-type doping. We found that the material removal amount has a close relationship with the doping concentration rather than with the doping types. The amount of material removal was enhanced gradually as doping densities increased. When the doping density reached higher than 10(18) cm(-3), the ablation threshold was considerably reduced, up to 15%-20%. The results of the experiment indicate that the high density of initial free electrons by doping is the fundamental reason for efficiency improvement, and bandgap shrinkage also plays an important role. The electrons are excited more easily from the valance band to the conduction band and acquire higher initial kinetic energy, which then promotes the material ablation process.

A tree peony RING-H2 finger protein, PsATL33, plays an essential role in cold-induced bud dormancy release by regulating gibberellin content.

Bud dormancy is crucial for woody perennial plants to resist low-temperature stress in winter. However, the molecular regulatory mechanisms underlying bud dormancy release are largely unclear. Here, a tree peony (Paeonia suffruticosa) transcript ARABIDOPSIS TOXICOS EN LEVADURA 33 (PsATL33), encoding a RING-H2 finger protein, was selected from previously generated RNA sequencing data of chilling-treated buds. The objective of this study is to investigate the role of PsATL33 in the regulation of cold-induced bud dormancy release. Subcellular localization assay revealed that PsATL33 was localized to the nucleus and plasma membrane. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR analysis showed that PsATL33 was dramatically upregulated during cold-triggered bud dormancy release. Exogenous treatments with gibberellin (GA3) increased, but abscisic acid (ABA) inhibited the transcription of PsATL33. Ectopic transformation assay indicated that overexpression of PsATL33 in petunia promoted seed germination, plant growth, and axillary bud break. Silencing of PsATL33 in tree peony through virus-induced gene silencing assay delayed bud dormancy release. tobacco rattle virus (TRV)-PsATL33-infected buds exhibited reduced expression levels of dormancy break-related genes EARLY BUD-BREAK 1 (PsEBB1) and CARBOXYLESTERASE 15 (PsCXE15). Silencing of PsATL33 decreased the accumulation of bioactive GAs, GA1 and GA3, rather than ABA. Transcript levels of several genes involved in GA biosynthesis and signaling, including GA20-OXIDASE 1 (PsGA20ox1), GA3-OXIDASE 1 (PsGA3ox1), PsGA3ox3, GA2-OXIDASE 1 (PsGA2ox1), and GA-INSENSITIVE 1A (PsGAI1A), were changed by PsATL33 silencing. Taken together, our data suggest that PsATL33 functions as a positive regulator of cold-induced bud dormancy release by modulating GA production.

Intravenous immunoglobulin alleviates Japanese encephalitis virus-induced peripheral neuropathy by inhibiting the ASM/ceramide pathway.

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) infection is considered a global public health emergency. Severe peripheral neuropathy caused by JEV infection has increased disability and mortality rates in recent years. Because there are very few therapeutic options for JEV infection, prompt investigations of the ability of clinically safe, efficacious and globally available drugs to inhibit JEV infection and ameliorate peripheral neuropathy are urgently needed. In this study, we found that high doses of intravenous immunoglobulin, a function inhibitor of acid sphingomyelinase (FIASMA), inhibited acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) and ceramide activity in the serum and sciatic nerve of JEV-infected rats, reduced disease severity, reversed electrophysiological and histological abnormalities, significantly reduced circulating proinflammatory cytokine levels, inhibited Th1 and Th17 cell proliferation, and suppressed the infiltration of inflammatory CD4 + cells into the sciatic nerve. It also maintained the peripheral nerve-blood barrier without causing severe clinical side effects. In terms of the potential mechanisms, ASM was found to participate in immune cell differentiation and to activate immune cells, thereby exerting proinflammatory effects. Therefore, immunoglobulin is a FIASMA that reduces abnormal immune responses and thus targets the ASM/ceramide system to treat peripheral neuropathy caused by JEV infection.

Femtosecond laser-induced periodic structure adjustments based on electron dynamics control: from subwavelength ripples to double-grating structures.

This study proposes a method for adjusting subwavelength ripple periods and the corresponding double-grating structures formed on fused silica by designing femtosecond laser pulse trains based on localized transient electron density control. Four near-constant period ranges of 190-490 nm of ripples perpendicular to the polarization are obtained by designing pulse trains to excite and modulate the surface plasmon waves. In the period range of 350-490 nm, the double-grating structure is fabricated in one step, which is probably attributable to the grating-assisted enhanced energy deposition and subsequent thermal effects.

Adjustments of dielectrics craters and their surfaces by ultrafast laser pulse train based on localized electron dynamics control.

A quantum model with the consideration of laser wave-particle duality based on the plasma model is employed for the femtosecond laser pulse train processing of fused silica. Effects of the key pulse train parameters, such as the pulse separation time and the number of pulses per train on the distributions of free electron are discussed. The calculations show that the spatial/temporal distributions of free electron can be adjusted by transient localized electron dynamics control using femtosecond laser pulse train design; the results are ablation shapes of craters and subwavelength ripples. It is also found that the first pulse separation time (Δt1) can be used for rough adjustments of ablated structures, while the second pulse separation time (Δt2) can be used for the fine tuning of ablated structures, especially the shapes of craters.

Association between remnant cholesterol level and severity of chronic kidney disease in patients with type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Studies on whether remnant cholesterol (RC) affects the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) remain insufficient. This study aimed to determine whether RC level was associated with the severity of CKD in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). METHODS: In total, 3383 individuals diagnosed with T2DM were enrolled in this cross-sectional study from China. The severity of CKD was defined as no, moderate, severe, and very severe CKD based on the urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio and estimated glomerular filtration rate. Because RC was non-normally distributed, it was log-transformed and categorized into quantiles. Multivariate logistic regression and multivariate ordinal logistic regression analysis were performed to investigate whether RC was independently associated with CKD and its severity. RESULTS: The median RC level was 25.9 mg/dL. The number of patients with no, moderate, severe, and very severe CKD was 2587 (76.5 %), 520 (15.4 %), 189 (5.6 %), and 87 (2.5 %), respectively. After adjusting for confounding factors, the prevalence of CKD increased 1.67-fold when the log-transformed RC level was elevated by one unit (OR [95 % CI], 1.67 [1.43-1.95]). The likelihood of CKD severity increasing by one degree was 1.76-fold for each one-unit increase in log-transformed RC level (OR [95 % CI], 1.76 [1.52-2.05]). When RC was incorporated as a categorical variable, it still correlated with CKD severity compared with quantile 1 (Q1) (Q2, 1.30 [1.01-1.68]; Q3, 1.60 [1.23-2.07]; Q4, 2.39 [1.86-3.09]). The association remained regardless of whether the patient's traditional lipid profiles achieved the target range. CONCLUSION: RC level was associated with CKD severity even when traditional lipid profiles were within the target range in patients with T2DM.

Simultaneous influence of light and CO2 on phytoremediation performance and physiological response of plants to formaldehyde.

Phytoremediation technology is an effective method to remove formaldehyde indoors, but the purification capacity and physiological response of plants to formaldehyde under the simultaneous influence of light and CO2 have not been examined in previous studies. In this study, formaldehyde fumigation experiments were conducted on the C3 plants Epipremnum aureum A. and Chlorophytum comosum L., and the crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) plant Dieffenbachia maculate A. The phytoremediation performance and physiological response of plants were studied. The initial concentration of formaldehyde was established at 11.950 ± 1.442 [Formula: see text]; the light intensities were 448 ± 7 [Formula: see text], 1628 ± 22 [Formula: see text], and 3259 ± 22 [Formula: see text], respectively; and the concentrations of CO2 were 455 ± 29 [Formula: see text], 978 ± 50 [Formula: see text], 2020 ± 66 [Formula: see text], and 3006 ± 95 [Formula: see text], respectively. The results indicated that the highest purification rates of formaldehyde by E. aureum, D. maculata, and C. comosum were 55.8%, 43.7%, and 53.2%, respectively. The light intensity had a positive effect on the formaldehyde purification rates of all three plants and positively stimulated peroxidase (POD) activity, while the CO2 concentration had no significant impact on the formaldehyde purification capacity and plants' physiological characteristics. Exposure to formaldehyde inhibited formaldehyde dehydrogenase (FADH) activity and positively stimulated catalase (CAT) activity. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity positively correlated with the formaldehyde purification capacity of plants.

Ultraflexible, cost-effective and scalable polymer-based phase change composites via chemical cross-linking for wearable thermal management.

Phase change materials (PCMs) offer great potential for realizing zero-energy thermal management due to superior thermal storage and stable phase-change temperatures. However, liquid leakage and solid rigidity of PCMs are long-standing challenges for PCM-based wearable thermal regulation. Here, we report a facile and cost-effective chemical cross-linking strategy to develop ultraflexible polymer-based phase change composites with a dual 3D crosslinked network of olefin block copolymers (OBC) and styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS) in paraffin wax (PW). The C-C bond-enhanced OBC-SEBS networks synergistically improve the mechanical, thermal, and leakage-proof properties of PW@OBC-SEBS. Notably, the proposed peroxide-initiated chemical cross-linking method overcomes the limitations of conventional physical blending methods and thus can be applicable across diverse polymer matrices. We further demonstrate a portable and flexible PW@OBC-SEBS module that maintains a comfortable temperature range of 39-42 °C for personal thermotherapy. Our work provides a promising route to fabricate scalable polymer-based phase change composite for wearable thermal management.