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Myopia is a globally emerging concern accompanied by multiple medical and socio-economic burdens with no well-established causal treatment to control thus far. The study of the genomics and transcriptomics of myopia treatment is crucial to delineate disease pathways and provide valuable insights for the design of precise and effective therapeutics. A strong understanding of altered biochemical pathways and underlying pathogenesis leading to myopia may facilitate early diagnosis and treatment of myopia, ultimately leading to the development of more effective preventive and therapeutic measures. In this review, we summarize current data about the genomics and transcriptomics of myopia in human and animal models. We also discuss the potential applicability of these findings to precision medicine for myopia treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) for liver cancer diagnosis. • Ag@SiO 2 nanoparticles were selected as the SERS-enhanced substrate. • OPLS-DA combined with standard normal variate analysis of the SERS profiles. • The analysis model exhibited high sensitivity, accuracy, and specificity. This study investigates the application of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) in the diagnosis of liver cancer using Ag@SiO 2 nanoparticles as SERS substrates. A SERS test was conducted on serum samples obtained from patients with liver cancer and healthy individuals. After repeated several times experiments, it was found that the best SERS spectrum was obtained when the volume ratio of serum to deionized water was 1:2. Moreover, data preprocessing was performed on the tested SERS spectrum, and the preprocessed spectral data were combined with principal component analysis (PCA), partial least-squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) for further analysis to classify the serum samples of patients with liver cancer and healthy individuals. The results showed that the classification effect of standard normal variate spectral data combined with the OPLS-DA was the best for the serum samples, with a classification accuracy of 97.98%, sensitivity of 97.14%, and specificity of 98.44%. Therefore, the SERS technology can be developed as a favorable method for the accurate diagnosis of liver cancer in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on Monte Carlo simulation, the magnetic properties of a mixed spin-1 and spin-3/2 Ising superlattice with alternate layers are studied. The effects of interlayer coupling and external magnetic field on the compensation behavior and hysteresis properties for the ferrimagnetic superlattice are investigated. The occurrence of a compensation point is found to be greatly affected by the interlayer coupling. In particular, various multiple hysteresis loops can be observed under certain system parameters. The calculated results agree well with available experimental and theoretical works. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • MoS 2 -V with S-site vacancy defects adsorbs NO negatively, while intrinsic MoS 2 adsorbs NO positively. • Increased defect state density near Fermi level in MoS 2 -V facilitates electron excitation from valence band to conduction band. • MoS 2 -V shows potential as a new NO gas sensor. providing theoretical guidance for experiments. Based on first-principles study in this research, a single-layer two-dimensional MoS 2 model with intrinsic and a MoS 2 with S-site vacancy defects (MoS 2 -V) were constructed. The adsorption behaviors of NO on the surface of the two models are calculated, and the electronic properties, adsorption energy, and optical properties of the adsorption systems are studied and analyzed. The results of placing NO in different positions of MoS 2 show that the adsorption effect is related to the orientation of NO. The adsorption energy of the optimal model for NO adsorbed on intrinsic MoS 2 is 0.009 eV, and the adsorption energy on MoS 2 -V is − 0.304 eV. The forbidden band gap of both adsorption systems are significantly reduced. After NO was adsorbed onto intrinsic MoS 2 , the forbidden band gap changed from 1.729 eV to 0.235 eV. When NO was adsorbed onto MoS 2 -V, the forbidden band gap changed from 0.938 eV to 0.201 eV. The band gap change caused by the S vacancy defect leads to the reduction of the electron hopping chance between energy levels. The electron density difference diagrams show that MoS 2 -V has a stronger adsorption effect on the NO. The total and partial density of states (DOS) of the NO adsorption system shifts to the lower energy region. The dielectric function diagram of the MoS 2 -V adsorption system is shifted to the low-energy region, and the peak intensity decrease. The reflective index of the MoS 2 -V adsorb NO system is higher than that of the intrinsic MoS 2 in the 0 eV＜E < 1 eV range, indicating that the MoS 2 -V material enhances the absorption of electromagnetic waves in low-frequency region. The reflective index tends toward zero in the high energy region of these two adsorption systems, indicating they all have strongly absorption of electromagnetic waves in high-frequency region. It is predicted that this material may be applied as a usable adsorption material or developed as a new type of gas material for early warning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of latanoprost, an ocular hypotensive agent and prostaglandin analog, on choroidal thickness and structure in young adult guinea pigs. Young (three-month-old) guinea pigs (n = 10) underwent daily monocular treatment with topical 0.005% latanoprost for 2 weeks, followed by a washout period of 2 weeks. Tonometry (iCare) and retinoscopy were undertaken to monitor intraocular pressure (IOP) and refractive error (recorded as spherical equivalent refractive error; SER), respectively. Axial length (AL) and choroidal thickness (ChT) were measured using high frequency A-scan ultrasonography, with additional ChT data, as well as choroidal vessel (ChV) areas obtained from posterior segment imaging using Spectral Domain-Optical Coherence Tomography (SD-OCT). Image J was used to analyze SD-OCT images. As expected, latanoprost significantly reduced IOP in treated eyes. Mean interocular IOP difference (±SE) changed from −0.40 ± 0.31 mmHg at baseline to −2.23 ± 0.43 mmHg after 2 weeks of treatment (p = 0.05). However, SER and AL were unaffected; interocular difference changed from 0.41 ± 0.58 to 0.38 ± 0.43 D and from −0.002 ± 0.02 mm to −0.007 ± 0.01 mm (p > 0.05), respectively. Latanoprost had minimal effect on ChT. Interocular ChT differences were 0.01 ± 0.06 μm at baseline and 0.04 ± 0.06 μm after 2 weeks of treatment (SD-OCT; p > 0.05). However, treated eyes had significant increased ChV areas; interocular differences changed from −0.76 ± 69.2 to 100.78 ± 66.9 μm2 after treatment (p = 0.04). While this study was limited to otherwise untreated young adult guinea pigs, the possibility that choroidal vessel enlargement contributes to the previously reported inhibitory effect of topical latanoprost on myopia progression in young guinea pigs warrants investigation. • Topical latanoprost resulted in enlargement of choroidal vessels in guinea pigs. • Latanoprost did not significantly affect the overall choroidal thickness. • Refractive errors and axial length were unaffected after using latanoprost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on Monte Carlo simulation, a model consisting of an antiferromagnetic (AFM) film coupled to a ferromagnetic (FM) film is developed to study the exchange bias and coercivity phenomenon. It is suggested that exchange bias is a consequence of exchange coupling in the AFM/FM interface, and the AFM anisotropy needs to have a threshold value for the occurrence of exchange bias. Simultaneously, exchange bias and coercivity as functions of the value of anisotropy, exchange coupling and film thickness are studied. By inducing a thickness dependence of the anisotropy in FM film, the coercivity can be reduced or enhanced by choosing suitable magnetic parameters, which can better account for the discrepancies found in previous studies. The results also provide evidence for the absence of a direct correlation between coercivity and exchange bias, which is in agreement with other studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] The choroid of guinea pigs responds to imposed chromatic defocus. [•] The ERG b-wave reflects the differences in chromaticity of light used to imposed chromatic defocus. [•] Red light elicits an ERG with a poor signal-to-noise ratio in the guinea pig, suggesting poor sensitivity. [•] Blue light inhibits eye growth perhaps by enhancing the ON pathway. [•] Even when illuminances were matched by ERG, lenses were poorly compensated in red light, compared to blue light. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Based on Monte Carlo simulation, the magnetic properties of the ferrimagnetic nanoparticles on a body-centered-cubic lattice are investigated. The particle is described by a mixed-spin Heisenberg model in which S=3/2 and σ=1 are distributed in the two interpenetrating square sublattices. It is found that no compensation point occurs at finite temperature when only the nearest-neighbor interaction between S–σ spins is included. But, when the next-nearest-neighbor interaction between σ–σ spins is taken into account and exceeds a threshold value that depends on the other parameters such as the next-nearest-neighbor interaction between S–S spins and single-ion anisotropies in the Hamiltonian, a compensation point can appear. With the appropriate order parameter which is constructed to characterize the compensation behavior clearly, a variety of phase diagrams including the finite-size effect are derived and discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Based on Monte Carlo (MC) simulation, the magnetization behavior of one-dimensional mixed ferrimagnetic spin chain with complex arrangement and single-ion anisotropy under external field are investigated. It is assumed that the element of the mixed spin chain is composed of parallel spins with and parallel spins with . The simulated results indicate that l magnetization plateaus appear at the ground state as the external field increases from zero to its saturation value. In the mean time, it is found that is the integer part of . For different anisotropy value , there exist the degenerate states where the magnetizations are same while the corresponding spin configurations are different. Moreover, the calculated results in terms of the simple calculation of energy are associated with those simulated by MC method. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Based on Monte Carlo simulation, the magnetic properties of the Heisenberg face-centered cubic (fcc) multilayer films with competitive nearest neighbor (NN) and next-nearest neighbor (NNN) interactions are investigated. Four different kinds of magnetic phases and spin orderings depending on the relative signs and strengths of NN and NNN interactions are presented and discussed. A new 4×4 transfer matrix method which is used to calculate the phase transition of films with NN and NNN interactions is derived. In addition, different order parameters are constructed to characterize the transition in different systems, and a complete description of phase diagram displaying transitions between those various phases is also reported. Finally, it is found that the simulated results are consistent with those derived by 4×4 transfer matrix method. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A cobalt‐catalyzed cascade reaction of N‐aryl thiocarbamoyl fluorides and water has been developed, providing access to 3‐alkyl‐2(3H)‐benzothiazolones in 48–83% yields. This protocol for 3‐alkyl‐2(3H)‐benzothiazolones precludes bad‐smell and toxic reagents. Mechanistic studies suggest that the transformation proceeds through hydrolysis followed by dehydrogenative coupling to form C−S bond involving a radical process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The proton exchange membrane electrolysis cell (PEMEC) has attracted considerable attention for large-scale and efficient hydrogen production because of its high current density, high hydrogen purity and fast dynamic response. Flow field distributions and water and thermal management characteristics of a PEMEC are vital for electrolytic cell structure and the determination of operating condition. A three-dimensional, non-isothermal, electrochemical model of a PEMEC was established in this manuscript. The flow field distribution and water and thermal management of the PEMEC are discussed. The corresponding results showed that the pressure of the flow channel decreased diagonally from the inlet to the outlet, and the pressure and velocity distribution exhibited a downward opening shape of a parabola. At the same inlet flow rate, when the voltage was 1.6 V, the oxygen generation rate was 15.74 mol/(cm2·s), and when the voltage was 2.2 V, the oxygen generation rate was 332.05 mol/(cm2·s); due to the change in the oxygen production rate, the pressure difference at 2.2 V was 2.5 times than that at 1.6 V. When the stoichiometric number was less than two, the average temperature of the catalyst layer (CL) decreased rapidly with the increase in the water flow rate. When the voltage decreased to 2.1 V, the current density came to the highest value when the stoichiometric number was 0.7, then the current density decreased with an increase in the stoichiometric number. When stoichiometric numbers were higher than five, the surface temperature and current density remained basically stable with the increase in the water flow rate, and the water and thermal management and electrolysis characteristics performed better. The research results could optimize the water supply of electrolysis cells. According to the velocity distribution law of the flow field, the water and thermal management performance of the PEMEC could be estimated, further promoting safety and reliability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myocardial infarction (MI) remains a major threat to human health due to the limited energy supply, disordered cell metabolism, massive cardiomyocyte death, and restricted regeneration. Although currently available therapies may relieve myocardial damage, restoring the dysregulated energy metabolism to normal levels has not yet been achieved. MOTS‐c has recently been identified as a regulator of biological metabolism to combat aging; however, its role in reprogramming cardiac metabolism remains to be elucidated. Here, MOTS‐c is chemically conjugated to self‐assembling Q11 peptide to fabricate an injectable hydrogel (MQgel) aimed to improve mitochondria function and cardiomyocyte metabolism post‐MI. It is observed that MQgel effectively protects mitochondria from oxidative damage and normalized cardiomyocyte metabolism, including glucose uptake, glycolysis, and the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, thereby inhibiting cardiomyocyte death and enhancing cardiomyocyte activity. In a rat MI model, intramyocardial injection of MQgel successfully minimizes the infarct area and fibrosis, promotes angiogenesis, suppresses myocardial hypertrophy, and improves cardiomyocyte survival and metabolic enzyme activity, all of which collaboratively attenuate the maladaptive cardiac remodeling and boost cardiac function and tissue repair. The findings suggest that the self‐assembled mitochondria metabolism‐regulatory peptide hydrogel effectively treats MI, and cellular bioenergy modulation provides a new therapeutic approach for tissue repair after injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the first time, cotton fiber-shaped Cu2O nanoparticles were prepared onto the surface of a commercial copper (Cu) foil via a very simple immersion method at room temperature in which the soaking solution only contained CuSO4, Na2S2O3, and a very little amount of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoroacetate. In this work, the current collectors prepared using 1 mM, 2 mM, and 3 mM Na2S2O3 were, respectively, nominated as current collectors a, b, and c. Interestingly, a cotton fiber-shaped spatial network structure assembled by a large number of 10-nm-sized nanoparticles was presented on the surface of current collector b. The initial discharge capacity (DC) at 0.1 A g−1 of electrode b, namely, the graphite electrode assembled using current collector b, was as high as 467 mAh g−1, almost 1.65 times larger than that of the conventional graphite electrode. Particularly, at 0.5 A g−1 after 10 cycles, the DC value of electrode b (105 mAh g−1) was still about 1.8 times higher than that of the conventional graphite electrode (59 mAh g−1). An immersion method for preparing Cu2O-modified Cu foil at room temperature is developed in this work, which is very meaningful to the development of the Cu foil-based commercial graphite electrode, since no additional energy consumptions and no variations of the electrode preparation process are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To solve the problem that the curing mechanism evolution of phenolic resin catalyzed by Ba(OH)2 remained unclear, the p-p methylene index, o-p methylene index, o-o methylene index, hydroxymethyl index, and ether index were introduced to quantitatively investigate the chemical structure of resin in the curing temperature range of 90–230°C. The chemical structures were investigated by variable temperature FT-IR. The gas products released with the increase of curing temperature were characterized by Thermogravimetry-Mass Spectrometry. The curing mechanism from 90°C to 230°C was concluded finally. The results show that the main reaction is the formation of the p-p methylene group in the range of 90–120°C. It is difficult to form the o-p methylene bridge at this stage. In the range of 120–160°C, the main reaction is the formation of the p-p methylene group. From 160°C to 190°C, the main reactions are the breaking of the ether bond, the formation of the carbonyl group and the propyl bridge. Above 190°C, the main reactions are polycondensation reaction among phenolic hydroxyl groups, and the formation reaction of carbonyl groups. The ether bond breaks completely above 230°C. This work provides a new method to investigate the curing mechanism. It is a benefit for the rational design of the curing process of phenolic resin-based composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been clinically reported to be associated with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), the pathogenesis between the two is unclear. Herein, we analyzed and screened out the prospective molecular marker. To explore the candidate genes, as well as signaling cascades involved in ACS related to OSA, we extracted the integrated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from the intersection of genes from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) cohorts and text mining, followed by enrichment of the matching cell signal cascade through DAVID analysis. Moreover, the MCODE of Cytoscape software was employed to uncover the protein–protein interaction (PPI) network and the matching hub gene. A total of 17 and 56 integrated human DEGs in unstable angina (UA) and myocardial infarction (MI) group associated with OSAs that met the criteria of |log2 fold change (FC)|≥ 1, adjusted P < 0.05, respectively, were uncovered. After PPI network construction, the top five hub genes associated with UA were extracted, including APP, MAPK3, MMP9, CD40 and CD40LG, whereas those associated with MI were PPARG, MAPK1, MMP9, AGT, and TGFB1. The establishment of the aforementioned candidate key genes, as well as the enriched signaling cascades, provides promising molecular marker for OSA-related ACS, which will to provide a certain predictive value for the occurrence of ACS in OSA patients in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electric vehicles (EVs) are experiencing explosive developments due to their advantages in energy conservation and environmental protection. As a pivotal component of EVs, the safety performance of lithium-ion batteries directly affects driving miles and even safety; hence, a battery thermal management system (BTMS) is especially important. To improve the thermal safety performance of power battery modules, first, a new leak-proof phase change material (PCM)-coupled liquid-cooled composite BTMS for large-scale battery modules is proposed in this research. Second, the numerical simulation analysis method was utilized to analyze the influences of the fluid flow channel shape, working fluid inlet temperature, inlet velocity, and reverse flow conditions on the BTMS. Eventually, the abovementioned performances were compared with the traditional PCM-coupled liquid-cooling strategy. The relative data indicated that the Tmax was reduced by 17.5% and the ΔTmax was decreased by 19.5% compared to the liquid-cooling approach. Further, compared with conventionally designed PCM composite liquid cooling, the ΔTmax was reduced by 34.9%. The corresponding data showed that, when using the e-type flow channel, reverse flow II, the inlet flow velocity was 0.001–0.005 m/s, and the inlet temperature was the ambient temperature of the working condition. The thermal performance of the anti-leakage system with a thermal conduction slot PCM-coupled liquid-cooling composite BTMS reached optimal thermal performance. The outcome proved the superiority of the proposed BTMS regarding temperature control and temperature equalization capabilities. It also further reduced the demand for liquid-cooling components, avoided the problem of the easy leakage of the PCM, and decreased energy consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liver cancer and healthy individual serum samples were compared based on their spectral features acquired by Raman and fluorescence spectroscopy to initially establish spectral features that can be considered spectral markers for liver cancer diagnosis. Intensity differences of the characteristic peaks of carotenes, proteins, and lipids in the Raman spectra were clearly observed in liver cancer patient serum samples compared to those of normal human serum samples. The changes in the serum fluorescence profiles of liver cancer patients were also analyzed. To probe the capacity and contrast of Raman spectroscopy as an analytical implement for the early diagnosis of liver cancer, principal component analysis was used to analyze the Raman spectra of liver cancer patients and healthy individuals. Furthermore, partial least squares-discriminant analysis was performed to compare the diagnostic performances of Raman spectroscopy for the classification of disease samples and healthy samples. Compared with existing diagnostic techniques, the Raman spectroscopy technique has many advantages such as extremely low sample requirements, ease of use, and ideal screening procedures. Thus, Raman spectroscopy has great potential for development as a powerful tool for distinguishing between healthy and liver cancer serum samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional methods for preparing N,N‐disubstituted thiocarbamates require highly toxic, flammable and volatile reagents, or their derivatives. Recently, we developed a general method for thiocarbamoyl fluorides from safe, cheap, and easily available starting materials. Reported reactions involving thioyl fluoride with nucleophiles are very scarce. In this report, copper catalyzed reaction of thiocarbamoyl fluorides with phenols/thiophenols/alcohols/thioalcohols under Na2CO3 at 50 °C or at 80 °C in CH3CN were first developed, affording the corresponding N,N‐disubstituted thiocarbamates in moderate to excellent yields. When alcohols are cheap and their boiling points are less than 120 °C or they are water‐soluble, CuCl catalyzed reaction of thiocarbamoyl fluorides with alcohols at 50 °C was also developed. The reaction has good functional group tolerance. Methoxy, methyl, chloro, bromo, nitro, even ester functional groups were all tolerated. Control reactions demonstrated that copper catalyst played the key role on the success of these novel reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The described procedure gives access to a large variety of the title compound class in moderate to good yields with excellent diastereoselectivities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

as important structural motifs of natural products and therapeutic agents [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Based on density functional theory(DFT), the theoretical calculation and spectral peak position of carbosulfan were obtained. • SERS technology was used to detect carbosulfan residue. • Complexation was used to solve the problem of carbosulfan adsorbing onto silver nanoparticles. • The quantitative determination of trace residue of carbosulfan was realized. Carbosulfan gets easily decomposed into carbofuran and 3-Hydroxy carbofuran in vegetables and forms harmful residues. To detect the residues of carbosulfan in vegetables (for example, cowpeas), a super-sensitive method of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) was used in this work. Silver sol was prepared as the SERS substrate. To solve the adsorption problem of carbosulfan on Ag nanoparticles, 2, 6-dichloroquinone-4-chlorimide (chromogenic agent), and sodium hydroxide were added in carbosulfan to generate a complex, which was then mixed with the silver sol in the best proportion to examine SERS spectra. According to density functional theory calculations, the spectral peak positions of carbosulfan were determined. The optimal mixing ratio of the complex and the silver sol to obtain the optimal SERS spectrum and the detection limit of carbosulfan were investigated. The ultra-sensitive detection of carbosulfan residues (8.7 × 10-11 g/L) in cowpeas was realized. The results of this work indicate that SERS is a promising technique for detecting single-molecule pesticide residues in vegetables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: An improved 4×4 transfer matrix (TM) method is developed. Based on Monte Carlo (MC) simulation and TM method, the effects of nearest- and next-nearest neighbor (NN, NNN) interactions on the magnetic properties of films with body-centered cubic structure are studied. The phase diagrams describing the phase transition temperature of the surface and inner layers are derived and the surface and size effects are also investigated. The simulated results by Monte Carlo method are in good agreement with those derived by mean field theory with the 4×4 transfer matrix, and can well explain the experimental facts. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Composite PCM is designed by in-situ constructing phase changeable framework in PEG. • The novel composite PCM possesses dual phase change temperature regions (PCTRs). • The two PCTRs are precisely tailored at 31.7–42.1 ℃ and 42.1–51.2 ℃, respectively. • The lower PCTR ensures suitable working temperature for battery at normal operation. • The higher PCTR prevents thermal hazards of battery under high ambient temperature. The phase change material (PCM)-based battery thermal management technology still remains a contradiction of guaranteeing a suitable operating temperature (20–40 ℃) of the batteries under regular working conditions, while avoiding the malfunction of the PCM under high ambient temperature (>40 ℃). Therefore, a novel composite PCM (CPCM) possessing dual phase change temperature regions (PCTRs) is designed herein by in-situ constructing a phase-changeable polymer (PCP) framework in the polyethylene glycol (PEG)/expanded graphite (EG) slurry. As prepared, the lower PCTR at 31.7–42.1 ℃ from the PCP framework provides a latent heat of 35.0 J g−1, while the higher PCTR at 42.1–51.2 ℃ from the PEG offers a latent heat of 68.3 J g−1. Additionally, the nanoscaled PCP framework strongly adsorbs the PEG, preventing the leakage phenomenon (mass loss < 1%), and the uniformly dispersed EG endows the CPCM with a high thermal conductivity of 1.98 W m−1 K−1. In consequence, under the normal ambient temperature of 25 ℃, the lower PCTR effectively keeps the battery module operating within the suitable temperature range of 25.9–34.9 ℃ and with a low temperature difference (ΔT) of 2.4 ℃ at the discharge rate of 1C. For comparison, the battery module adopting classical CPCM with a single PCTR at 40.9–55.1 ℃ demonstrates a much higher temperature range and maximum ΔT at 28.0–40.9 ℃ and 4.8 ℃, respectively. Under the high ambient temperature of 40 ℃, the higher PCTR starts to work like the single PCTR of traditional CPCMs, and controls the T max and ΔT of the module below 49.2 and 2.2 ℃ at the discharge rate of 1C, respectively, preventing thermal hazards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Inhibition of hepatic lipogenesis is widely regarded as an effective treatment for metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), although numerous related drugs have failed to reach clinical application. The goal of this study is to identify a novel small compound that can effectively treat MAFLD. Methods: Primary hepatocytes were first exposed to palmitic acid and oleic acid, then treated with compounds prior to high through screening for cellular lipid content. The efficacy of these compounds was measured by Nile Red staining and triglyceride analysis. The potential cellular toxicity caused by these compounds was evaluated by CCK8 assay. qPCR and Western blot were used to determine expression of RNAs and proteins, respectively. The compound was intraperitoneally injected into diet-induced obese (DIO) mice to examine its efficacy in vivo. Results: We identified the dimethyl 1-methyl-2-thioxoindoline-3,3-dicarboxylate (TOIDC) as a powerful chemical to reduce cellular lipid with minimal cellular toxicity. When injected intraperitoneally, TOIDC effectively ameliorates MAFLD in DIO mice. Mechanically, TOIDC suppresses de novo lipogenesis through inhibiting sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP1). Conclusions: Our findings indicate that TOIDC could be a promising lead compound to develop new drugs to treat MAFLD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Power lithium-ion batteries are widely utilized in electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) for their high energy densities and long service-life. However, thermal safety problems mainly resulting from thermal runaway (TR) must be solved. In general, temperature directly influences the performance of lithium-ion batteries. Hence, an efficient thermal management system is very necessary for battery modules/packs. One particular approach, phase change material (PCM)-based cooling, has exhibited promising applicability due to prominent controlling-temperature and stretching-temperature capacities. However, poor thermal conductivity performance, as the main technical bottleneck, is limiting the practical application. Nevertheless, only promoting the thermal conductivity is far from enough considering the practical application in EVs/HEVs. To fix these flaws, firstly, the heat generation/transfer mechanisms of lithium-ion power batteries were macro- and microscopically reviewed. Following that, the thermal conductivity, structural stability, and flame retardancy of PCM are thoroughly discussed, to which solutions to the aforementioned performances are systematically reviewed. In addition, battery thermal management system (BTMS) employing PCM is illustrated and compared. Eventually, the existing challenges and future directions of PCM-based BTMS are discussed. In summary, this review presents effective approaches to upgrade the PCM performances for high-density lithium-ion BTMS. These strategies furtherly accelerate the commercialization process of PCM BTMS. • The classification and heat production/transfer principles of power lithium-ion batteries are elaborated. • The categories of PCM and the enhanced key performances are summarized. • The application of PCM-based BTMS in the module/pack is particularly described. • The existing challenges and the future directions of PCM-based BTMS are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reaktionstrio: Die Titelreaktion ergibt C ‐ H ‐ funktionalisierte Pyrrolderivate in mäßigen bis guten Ausbeuten; sowohl die syn ‐ als auch die anti ‐ Produkte mit zwei benachbarten Stereozentren sind mit guten Regio ‐ , Diastereo ‐ und Enantioselektivitäten zugänglich. Der Prozess ist die erste hoch enantioselektive Palladiumcarbenoid ‐ vermittelte Reaktion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reaction trio: The title reaction delivers CH functionalized pyrrole derivatives in moderate to good yields. This novel three‐component reaction provides both syn‐ and anti‐pyrrole derivatives having two contiguous stereocenters with good regio‐, diastereo‐, and enantioselectivity. This process represents the first highly enantioselective palladium‐carbenoid‐mediated reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This study investigated whether adolescent guinea pigs can develop myopia induced by negative lenses, and whether they can recover from the induced myopia. Forty-nine pigmented guinea pigs (age of 3 weeks) were randomly assigned to 4 groups: 2-week defocus (n =16), 4-week defocus (n =9), 2-week control (n =15) and 4-week control (n =9). A −4.00D lens was worn in the defocus groups and a plano lens worn in the control groups monocularly. The lenses were worn from 3 weeks to 5 weeks of age in the 2-week treatment groups with the biometry measured at 2, 4, 6, 10 and 14 days of lens wear. The lenses were worn from 3 weeks to 7 weeks of age in the 4-week treatment groups with the biometry measured immediately and at 2, 4, 6, 10 and 14 days after lens removal. Refractions in the defocused eyes developed towards myopia rapidly within 2 days of lens wear, followed by a slower development. The defocused eyes were at least 3.00D more myopic with a greater increase in vitreous length by 0.08mm compared to the fellow eyes at 14 days (p <0.05). The estimated choroidal thickness of the defocused eyes decreased rapidly within 2 days of lens wear, followed by a slower decrease over the next 4 days. Relative myopia induced by 4 weeks of negative-lens treatment declined rapidly following lens removal. A complete recovery occurred 14 days after lens removal when compared to the fellow controls. The refractive changes during the recovery corresponded to a slower vitreous lengthening and a rapid thickening of the choroid. The plano-lens wearing eyes showed a slight but significant myopic shift (<−0.80D) with no associated biometrical changes. Guinea pigs aged 3 weeks can still develop negative lens induced myopia and this myopia is reversible after removal of the lens. The myopia and recovery are mainly due to changes in vitreous length and choroidal thickness. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A simple and sensitive kinetic-spectrophotometric method was developed for the determination of ultra trace amount of formaldehyde in food samples. The method was based on the oxidation of rhodamine B (RhB) by potassium bromate in sulfuric acid medium (formaldehyde as catalyst). The reaction was monitored by measuring the decrease in absorbance of the dye at 515nm after 6min. The developed method allowed the determination of formaldehyde in the range of 10–100μgL−1 with good precision, accuracy and the detection limit was down to 2.90μgL−1. The relative standard deviations for the determination of 10 and 60μgL−1 of formaldehyde were 3.0% and 1.9% (n =10), respectively. The method was found to be sensitive, selective and was applied to the determination of formaldehyde in foods with satisfactory results. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

[Display omitted] Er(OTf) 3 was discovered to be an efficient catalyst for glycosylation of tertiary/secondary/primary alcohols with peracetylated α- d -glucosyl trichloroacetimidate. 15 Latent fragrant glycosides have been prepared in moderate to excellent yields each on gram scale through Er(OTf) 3 -catalyzed glycosylation of fragrant alcohols with peracetylated α- d -glucosyl trichloroacetimidate at room or 40 °C followed by deacetylation with NaOMe, and excellent stereoselectivity was obtained for various alcohol acceptors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Supramolecular Nap-DFDFDEGPIRRSDS hydrogels that can bind TNF-α are developed. • Metformin loaded CuS nanoparticles are integrated into FP hydrogels (FPCM). • FPCM hydrogels exhibited enhanced anti-inflammatory and chondrogenic abilities. • FPCM hydrogels inhibited synovitis and repaired cartilage in rheumatoid arthritis. • The therapeutic mechanism involved inhibition of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. TNF-α is a key inflammatory cytokine in the progression of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), which is the most common inflammatory joint disorder and is characterized by persistent synovitis and cartilage destruction. However, systematic use of TNF-α inhibitors may cause undesirable side effects and fail to repair damaged cartilage. Here we design a self-assembling Nap-DFDFDEGPIRRSDS (termed FP) peptide that can form injectable supramolecular hydrogels and inhibit TNF-α within 15 min. Following integration of metformin-loaded hollow copper sulfide (CuS/MET, termed CM) nanoparticles (NPs) into these FPCM hydrogels, invasion by RA synovial fibroblasts and polarization of pro-inflammatory M1 type macrophages is reduced by inhibiting TNF-α and releasing MET. In addition, CuS NPs are chondroinductive, allowing the hydrogels to provide a suitable microenvironment for cartilage regeneration. More importantly, intraarticular injection of FPCM hydrogels significantly alleviates synovial inflammation and promotes cartilage repair in an adjuvant-induced arthritis mouse model. The therapeutic mechanism was shown to involve inhibition of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Our approach synergistically inhibits inflammation and promotes tissue repair, thus holding promise for treatment of many kinds of inflammatory arthritis where TNF-α is overexpressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The three-dimensional hierarchical nanocomposites of NiSnO 3 /graphene encapsulated in a thin carbon shell were synthesized via a facile solvothermal approach followed by thermal treatment. The obtained C/NiSnO 3 /RGO shows a much improved lithium storage properties than that of NiSnO 3 /RGO when used as lithium battery (LIB) anode material. The reversible capacities of C/NiSnO 3 /RGO composites are up to 899 mAh g−1 after 300 cycles at 200 mA g−1, and even undergoing high rate cycling at 10000 mA g−1, the charge capacity maintains 680 mAh g−1 at 200 mA g−1 after 650 cycles. The excellent LIB performance could be attributed that the carbon-coating of C/NiSnO 3 /RGO composites are found to prevent the restack of graphene effectively, and the aggregation of metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs) is efficiently suppressed under the double protection of coated carbon layer and graphene in the long-life cycling process. • 3D nanocomposites of C/NiSnO 3 /RGO is prepared and used as lithium battery anodes. • The C/NiSnO 3 /RGO exhibits long-cycling lithium battery performance. • The enhanced performance is ascribed to the double protection of coated carbon layer and graphene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) serve key roles in hepatic fibrosis by producing excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) components. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) has been found to be associated with hepatic fibrogenesis through direct interactions with HSCs. Recently, the fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1) signalling system was identified as a key player in the process of liver fibrosis. In the present study it was evaluated whether FGFR1 mediated LPS-induced HSCs activation. In cultured cells, FGFR1 was inhibited by either siRNA silencing or by a small-molecule inhibitor in LPS-stimulated HSCs. The blockade of FGFR1 decreased LPS-induced nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation, inflammatory cytokine release, fibrosis, and cell proliferation in HSCs. It was further indicated that LPS triggered FGFR1 phosphorylation via TLR4/c-Src. These findings confirmed the detrimental effect of FGFR1 activation in the pathogenesis of LPS-related HSC activation and revealed that FGFR1 may be an ideal therapeutic target for LPS-induced liver fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atherosclerosis is recognized at present as a chronic metabolic disease of the arteries that leads to multifocal plaque development. Previous studies have reported that acid fibroblast growth factor (aFGF) is a critical therapeutic regulator in numerous chronic metabolic disorders. However, there is currently no direct evidence indicating whether aFGF serves a therapeutic role in atherosclerosis. In the present study, the role of aFGF in atherosclerotic lesion development was investigated by examining high-fat diet (HFD)-fed apolipoprotein E (ApoE)−/− mice and parenteral administration of aFGF. Increased expression of aFGF and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) was observed during atherosclerotic lesion development. The parenteral delivery of aFGF facilitated the progression of atherosclerosis without altering serum lipid expression levels in HFD-fed ApoE−/− mice. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that aFGF increased the expression of PPARα and inflammatory cytokines. The present results provided evidence that aFGF accelerates the progression of atherosclerosis and suggested that aFGF may be a potential therapeutic target for the prevention of atherosclerosis development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To synthesize nonmetallic magnets containing exclusively s -p orbitals with high magnetic moments and magnetic ordering is a great challenge in physics and material science. In this study, we report increased localized spin magnetic moments and observation of ferromagnetic ordering by annealing of fluorographene. It is found that the magnetic properties is sensitive to fluorine (F) distribution. The samples annealed at ca. 400–450 °C exhibits an interesting ferromagnetic state, attributing to the fragmentizing of big F clusters into many small F domains after thermo defluorination. There are high-intensity magnetic moments in the annealed samples because of the enhanced edge effect of small F clusters, which contribute to the magnetic ordering in fluorographene for a shrunken average spacing between localized moments. The increasing structure defects after annealing can be as new centers of small F domains, and greatly stabilize magnetically ordered state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal management of power battery is important to ensure the safety of electric vehicle. Coupling phase change materials (PCMs) with liquid cooling technology is an efficient temperature uniformity strategy. In this paper, a self-made microencapsulated PCM (MPCM) was used to prepare MPCM slurry (MPCMS), and three base liquids (water, ethanol, and silicone oil) were evaluated, which confirmed that the silicone oil could maintain slurry without sedimentation for 7 days, providing the best stability. Also, graphene (GE) was introduced to increase the heat transfer rate of slurry. Then the prepared slurries were applied to the prismatic lithium-ion battery module to verify their thermal management performance. The results indicated that the prepared slurries' latent heat, thermal conductivity, and specific heat capacity were all rose with the increase of MPCM concentration. In addition, the slurries' viscosity changed little when the concentration was below 40 wt%. Compared with the blank module, GE-MPCMS-Si could reduce the battery module temperature and the temperature variance by 14.49 °C and 3.8 °C2, respectively. Besides, the influence of flow rate was further investigated, which showed 6 mL/s is the most economical and efficient flow rate option. • Phase change microcapsule slurry was prepared for battery thermal management. • The stabilities of slurries with three base liquids were compared. • The thermal performance of the slurry was raised by introducing graphene. • Prepared slurry can reduce the maximum temperature and improve uniformity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Caffeine overdose death is due to cardiac arrest, but its mechanism has not been explored in detail. In this study, our data showed that caffeine significantly prolonged the heart rate-corrected QT interval (QTc) of rabbits in vivo (P<0.05; n=7). Caffeine was also found to be a hERG channel blocker with an IC 50 of 5.04 mM (n=5). Although these two findings likely link caffeine overdose death with hERG channel blockade, the amount of caffeine consumption needed to reach the IC 50 is very high. Further study demonstrated that addition another hERG blocker could lower the consumption of caffeine significantly, no matter whether two hERG blockers share the same binding sites. Our data does not rule out other possibility, however, it suggests that there is a potential causal relationship between caffeine overdose death with hERG channel and the interaction among these hERG blockers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents chemical reactions related to catalysis of three component reactions of pyrrole, diazoesters and imines by enantioselective palladium phosphate published in 2014 issue of "ChemInform."

Abstract: Purpose: To demonstrate that high-resolution biometry is possible in mouse eyes in vivo, using real-time OCT with focal plane advancement by a stepper motor. Methods: OCT images of eyes were taken from nine 29-day-old C57BL/6 mice(18 eyes) on two consecutive days. A custom-built real-time OCT instrument with a stepper motor was used to advance the focal plane from the corneal apex to the retina along the ocular axis. The ocular dimensions were determined by advancement of the stepper motor as it displayed on the OCT scan images. Results: OCT images of the entire eye, including the cornea, anterior chamber, lens, vitreous chamber, and retina, were successfully obtained from both eyes of all mice. The measured average corneal thickness from 18 eyes at the age of 29 days was 90.8±4.6μm, anterior chamber depth 707.4±21.4μm, lens thickness 1558.7±18.0μm, vitreous chamber depth 707.4±21.4μm and retinal thickness was 186.9±15.1μm. Total axial length (from the corneal apex to the nerve fiber layer of the retina) was 3003.3±44.1μm. None of them were significantly different if measured on two consecutive days, and no significant differences were found between measurements in the left and right eyes. Conclusion: By focal plane advancement of a real-time OCT instrument through the mouse eye, highly repeatable measurements of the ocular dimensions were obtained. This novel method may be used to study small animal models of normal and abnormal eye development. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Purpose: Guinea pigs have been increasingly used as an animal model for experimental myopia. Infant guinea pigs are susceptible to recovery from myopia within 2weeks of form deprivation. This study investigated whether adolescent guinea pigs are susceptible to recovery from myopia after a longer period of form deprivation. Method: Twenty-two guinea pigs (age of 3weeks) were randomly assigned to two groups: MDF (monocularly deprived facemask, n =11) and normal control (free of form deprivation, n =11). All animals underwent biometric measurement (refraction, corneal curvature and axial length) prior to the experiment. Animals in the MDF group wore a facemask that covered the right eye for 4weeks. The MDF was then removed and biometric measurement was performed immediately and at 2, 6, 10 and 14days. The same measurement was performed in the normal control group at time-points matching those of the MDF group. Results: The MDF eyes were approximately 4D more myopic with a greater increase in vitreous length by 0.12mm compared to either the fellow or the normal control eyes after form deprivation (p <0.01). This relative myopia shifted rapidly towards hyperopia within 2days after removal of the MDF, followed by a more gradual recovery. A complete recovery occurred by 6days after removal of the MDF compared to the fellow and normal control eyes (p >0.05). Vitreous length in the MDF eyes slightly reduced within 2days after removal of the MDF and then remained steady. The MDF eyes were similar to both the fellow and normal control eyes in vitreous length (p >0.05) 6days after removal of the MDF. There was no significant difference between the MDF, fellow and normal control eyes in the other axial components during the form deprivation and recovery period. Conclusion: Adolescent guinea pigs are susceptible to recovery from MDF-induced myopia. The refractive recovery is mainly correlated to the inhibited axial elongation of the vitreous chamber of the previously deprived eyes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Purpose: This study investigated changes in refraction, corneal curvature, axial components and weight of posterior sclera in guinea pig eyes during the normal development from birth. Methods: Sixty-four guinea pigs were assigned to eight groups (n =8 each). Each group underwent a series of ocular measurements at one of the eight time-points (0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 weeks), including refraction (streak retinoscopy), corneal radius of curvature (CRC; keratometry), anterior segment length (AS: corneal thickness and depth of the anterior chamber), thickness of the crystalline lens (CL), vitreous chamber length (VC; all A-scan ultrasonography) and dry weight of a circular 6mm diameter punch in the posterior sclera (electronic balance). Results of all the measurements were statistically compared between right eye and left eye, male and female and among different age groups. Artifacts of retinoscopy due to small eye artifact were also estimated at different ages. Results: The refraction in guinea pig eyes was +5.22±0.23D (Mean, SE) at birth. This value decreased rapidly during the first 3 weeks followed by a slow decline. The overall decrease in refraction was highly significant from birth to 11 weeks (p <0.001 one way ANOVA). The small eye artifact was approximately 4.00D at birth, which reduced to 2.76D at 11 weeks. The guinea pig eyes were emmetropic by 3 weeks of age when the small eye artifact was taken into account. The CRC (3.24±0.01mm at birth), AS (1.20±0.01mm at birth), CL (2.72±0.03mm at birth) and VC (3.28±0.01mm at birth) increased within the first 3 weeks despite a transient decrease in the CRC within the first week. The increase in CRC, CL and VC continued after 3 weeks, however, the AS remained constant after this age. The increase in VC was better correlated to the decline of hyperopia (R 2 =0.70) than the other components (R 2 =0.33–0.39). Dry weight of the posterior sclera increased linearly from birth (p <0.001 between any two close time-points from 3 to 9 weeks) and had a moderately linear correlation with the VC (R 2 =0.60). There were no significant differences between the right eye and left eye or between male and female in all the measurements. Conclusions: In guinea pigs, the hyperopia present at birth rapidly reduces to emmetropia within the first 3 weeks of age. The emmetropization process in guinea pigs is mainly related to the increase in the vitreous chamber length. This relationship in guinea pigs is similar to that in chickens, tree shrews, primates and humans. The axial development of the vitreous chamber in guinea pigs appears to be associated with tissue growth of the posterior sclera. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This study evaluated the efficacy of a facemask, a non-invasive and potentially more reliable method, in inducing axial myopia in guinea pigs. Thirty-six animals were randomly assigned to 3 groups: MDF (monocularly-deprived facemask, n=6), lid-suture (eyelids sutured monocularly, n=24) and normal control (free of form deprivation, n=6). All the groups underwent biometric measurement (refraction, corneal curvature and axial length) prior to the experiment. All animals in the MDF group underwent biometric measurement at each of the 4 timepoints (2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks of form deprivation). In the lid-sutured group, the animals were randomly assigned to 4 subgroups (n=6 each) and each subgroup underwent biometric measurement at one of the timepoints matching those of the MDF group. In the normal control group, all animals underwent biometric measurement at each of the timepoints matching those of the 2 experimental groups. Placement of a facemask on an animal took approximately 10sec and all the facemasks remained in place at all timepoints. The procedure of lid-suture took at least 20min for an animal and rupture of the sutures occurred in 50% of the animals after 4 weeks. The MDF eyes developed myopia from −2.21±2.11D (Mean±s.d.) at 2 weeks to −4.38±2.14 at 8 weeks (p<0.05 at all timepoints, compared to the contralateral eyes) with a lengthening of the vitreous chamber from 0.17±0.05mm at 2 weeks to 0.29±0.12mm at 8 weeks (p<0.01 at all timepoints, compared to the contralateral eyes). The lid-sutured eyes developed myopia from −2.38±1.21D at 2 weeks to −4.75±1.39D at 8 weeks (p<0.05 at all timepoints, compared to the contralateral eyes) with a lengthening of the vitreous chamber from 0.13±0.02mm at 2 weeks to 0.30±0.10mm at 8 weeks (p<0.05 at 2, 4, 8 weeks, but >0.05 at 6 weeks, compared to the contralateral eyes) and an increase in the radius of the corneal curvature (0.20±0.07mm at 4 weeks, p<0.01; 0.17±0.05mm at 8 weeks, p<0.05; compared to the contralateral eyes). Both the MDF and lid-sutured groups had a similar development in myopia and vitreous length (MDF vs lid-suturing: p>0.05 at all timepoints, one-way ANOVA with Bonferroni correction). This development was significantly faster than in the normal control group (MDF or lid-suture vs normal control: p<0.05 to <0.01 from 2 to 8 weeks, one-way ANOVA with Bonferroni correction). The radius of corneal curvature in the lid-sutured group was significantly greater than in either the MDF group or the normal control group since 4 weeks of form deprivation (p<0.05, one-way ANOVA with Bonferroni correction). Treatment with MDFs is as effective as the lid-suture in inducing axial myopia in guinea pigs. This method is non-invasive and allows evaluation of the same group of animals at different timepoints so that the number of animals required could be minimized without affecting the accuracy of the results. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The total synthesis of hirsutellide A 1 was described. The linear hexadepsipeptide precursor 2 was synthesized in 45% yield from N-Boc-Me-Gly by three coupling reactions with DCC, HATU and BOP–Cl, respectively. Macrocyclization was successfully performed on the fully deprotected amino acid 14 with BOP–Cl in 15% yield and with FDDP in 22% yield. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]