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The tantalum oxide film was fabricated using an anodization process in a 0.5M H 2 SO 4 electrolyte. The evolution and corrosion resistance mechanism of anodized film on the Ta surface has been investigated by experiments and theoretical calculations. The results indicate that the sample with an anodic oxidation voltage of 20V and an anodic oxidation time of 60 min (Ta 20-60) exhibits the thickest oxidation film, measuring 360.00 nm and comprising an outer porous layer and an inner dense layer. Ta 20-60 demonstrates the highest E corr value of 0.009 V and the lowest I corr value of 0.879 μA cm−2, with a minimal density of point defects at 1.24 × 1019 cm−3, which imparts superior corrosion resistance. The calculation result shows that the growth rate of Ta anodic oxidation film is controlled by the diffusion and migration of vacancy defects. The O atom passes through one bridge site from the tetrahedral gap to another tetrahedral gap (Path 1) on the complete (110) surface has a low diffusion barrier of 0.470 eV and the shortest diffusion path of 2.04 Å, which is the most favorable path for the diffusion of O atoms. This paper offers a fresh perspective on the corrosion resistance of tantalum while furnishing guidance for improving Ta oxide film performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Potentilla anserina L. is rich in various nutrients, active ingredients and unique flavor, comprising a natural nutrition and health food. However, its application in aquatic food has been rarely reported. Therefore, the effects of Potentilla anserina L. powder (PAP) on gel properties and volatile flavor profile of silver carp surimi were investigated. RESULTS: The gel strength and water‐holding capacity of the surimi gels were significantly improved (P < 0.05), and the whiteness and cooking loss of all the samples decreased slightly with the increase in PAP content. The addition of PAP shortened the relaxation time (T2) of the surimi gels and converted some of the free water into immobile or bound water, which resulted in a better immobilization of water in the surimi. Scanning electron microscopy images demonstrated that the network of surimi gels with PAP added was denser and had a smoother surface compared to the control. Volatile components (VCs) analysis showed that 33 VCs were identified in the surimi gel samples with different additions of PAP, among which aldehydes, alcohols and esters were the major VCs, accounting for more than 50% of the VCs in the surimi gels. PAP addition reduced the fishy and rancid flavor compounds in surimi gels, such as 1‐propanol, 1‐octen‐3‐ol, etc., and promoted the production of aldehydes, alcohols, esters and other flavor substances. CONCLUSION: These results of the present study provide theoretical support for the investigation and development of new nutrient‐health‐flavored surimi products. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The size and condition of the peripheral CD4 T cell population determine the capacity of the immune response. Under homeostatic conditions, the size of the peripheral CD4 T cell population is maintained through turnover and survival. However, the underlying mechanisms remain inadequately understood. Here, we observed a significant decrease in the percentage of CD4 T cells in the periphery following the targeted deletion of the Paxbp1 gene in mouse T cells. In the absence of Paxbp1, naïve CD4 T cells displayed reduced surface interleukin‐7 receptor levels and a decreased capacity to respond to survival signals mediated by interleukin‐7. In addition, naïve CD4 T cells deficient in Paxbp1 demonstrated impaired T cell antigen receptor signalling, compromised cell cycle entry, decreased proliferation, and increased apoptosis following stimulation, all of which contributed to the reduction in the number of peripheral CD4 T cells. Therefore, our study highlights the indispensable role of Paxbp1 in maintaining peripheral CD4 T cell homeostasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: This study aimed to systematically compare the effectiveness, safety, and costs of different anti‐Parkinson drugs (APDs). Methods: This is a multi‐center study that retrospectively analyzed the data of 8420 outpatients with PD from 2014 to 2019 across 30 tertiary hospitals in China. The effectiveness was evaluated by changes in total dosages of APDs, normalized by levodopa equivalent dose (LED) and presented as ΔLEDs; levodopa equivalent dose cost (LEDc) represented the daily cost of APDs; and newly added diagnostics were represented as APDs‐related adverse events. Results: A total of 384 patients with eligible medical records for three consecutive years were enrolled. Patients treated with carbidopa/levodopa or levodopa/benserazide had significantly lower mean ΔLEDs than other groups (p < 0.01), followed by pramipexole and selegiline. The piribedil group had the highest ΔLEDs, with mean differences of 112.56–355.04 mg compared to other groups (p < 0.01). Meanwhile, LEDc in the levodopa/benserazide, carbidopa/levodopa, and piribedil groups were significantly lower than those in pramipexole or selegiline groups ($0.088–0.135/day for levodopa/benserazide; $0.070–0.126/day for carbidopa/levodopa; $0.112–0.138/day for piribedil; $0.290–0.332/day for pramipexole; $0.229–0.544/day for selegiline; p < 0.01). Patients with piribedil had more adverse events, with an incidence rate of 35.7%, followed by levodopa/benserazide (25.6%), selegiline (23.5%), carbidopa/levodopa (23.3%), and pramipexole (16.4%). Pramipexole showed a lower incidence rate of adverse events than piribedil, including neuropsychiatric symptoms (p = 0.006), headache/dizziness (p = 0.016), and gastrointestinal symptoms (p = 0.031). Conclusions: Carbidopa/levodopa or levodopa/benserazide might exhibit better clinical improvement with less medical cost, while piribedil presented less clinical improvement but a higher risk of headache/dizziness, gastrointestinal, and neuropsychiatric symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipid metabolism has been considered as a potential therapeutic target in sevoflurane‐induced neurotoxicity that can potentially affect the learning and memory function in the developmental brain. Recently, triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) is identified as a crucial step in regulating lipid metabolism and associated with the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. Herein, it is reported that quercetin modified Cu2‐xSe (abbreviated as CSPQ) nanoparticles can ameliorate sevoflurane‐induced neurotoxicity by tuning the microglial lipid metabolism and promoting microglial M2‐like polarization via TREM2 signaling pathway, in which the apolipoprotein E (ApoE), and adenosine triphosphate‐binding cassette transporters (ABCA1 and ABCG1) levels are upregulated. Furthermore, the protective effects of CSPQ nanoparticles against sevoflurane‐induced neurotoxicity via TREM2 are further demonstrated by the small interfering RNA (siRNA)‐TREM2 transfected BV2 cells, which are obviously not influenced by CSPQ nanoparticles. The cell membrane coated CSPQ (referred as CSPQ@CM) nanoparticles can significantly reduce sevoflurane‐induced learning and memory deficits, improve lipid metabolism dysfunction, and promote the remyelination in the hippocampus of mice. The study shows great potential of targeting microglial lipid metabolism in promoting remyelination of neurons for treatment of neurotoxicity and neurodegenerative diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacillus biocontrol agent(s) BCA(s) such as Bacillus cereus, Bacillus thuringiensis and Bacillus subtilis have been widely applied to control insects' pests of plants and pathogenic microbes, improve plant growth, and facilitate their resistance to environmental stresses. In the last decade, researchers have shown that, the application of Bacillus biocontrol agent(s) BCA(s) optimized agricultural production yield, and reduced disease risks in some crops. However, these bacteria encountered various abiotic stresses, among which ultraviolet (UV) radiation severely decrease their efficiency. Researchers have identified several strategies by which Bacillus biocontrol agents resist the negative effects of UV radiation, including transcriptional response, UV mutagenesis, biochemical and artificial means (addition of protective agents). These strategies are governed by distinct pathways, triggered by UV radiation. Herein, the impact of UV radiation on Bacillus biocontrol agent(s) BCA(s) and their mechanisms of resistance were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alpha alumina (α‐Al2O3) are inert materials with outstanding thermal, chemical and mechanical stability. Herein, we fabricate porous single‐crystalline (PSC) α‐Al2O3 monoliths at centimeter scale to endow them with high catalytic activity while maintaining their stability. We reduce PSC α‐Al2O3 monoliths to create oxygen vacancies in lattice and stabilize them by the ordered lattice to construct unsaturated Al−O coordination structures for enhancing the catalytic activity. The generation of oxygen vacancy at 18e wyckoff position contributes to the unsaturated Al−O coordination. As a case study, we demonstrate the outstanding performance with conversion (≈34 %) and selectivity (≈95 %) toward non‐oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane to ethylene at 700 °C. We achieve the outstanding performance without obvious degradation even after a continuous operation over 1000 hours at 700 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alpha alumina (α‐Al2O3) are inert materials with outstanding thermal, chemical and mechanical stability. Herein, we fabricate porous single‐crystalline (PSC) α‐Al2O3 monoliths at centimeter scale to endow them with high catalytic activity while maintaining their stability. We reduce PSC α‐Al2O3 monoliths to create oxygen vacancies in lattice and stabilize them by the ordered lattice to construct unsaturated Al−O coordination structures for enhancing the catalytic activity. The generation of oxygen vacancy at 18e wyckoff position contributes to the unsaturated Al−O coordination. As a case study, we demonstrate the outstanding performance with conversion (≈34 %) and selectivity (≈95 %) toward non‐oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane to ethylene at 700 °C. We achieve the outstanding performance without obvious degradation even after a continuous operation over 1000 hours at 700 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: WEE1 is a crucial kinase involved in the regulation of G2/M checkpoint within the cell cycle. This article aims to comprehensively review the existing knowledge on the implication of WEE1 as a therapeutic target in tumor progression and drug resistance. Furthermore, we summarize the current predictive biomarkers employed to treat cancer with WEE1 inhibitors. Methods: A systematic review of the literature was conducted to analyze the association between WEE1 inhibition and cancer progression, including tumor advancement and drug resistance. Special attention was paid to the identification and utilization of predictive biomarkers related to therapeutic response to WEE1 inhibitors. Results: The review highlights the intricate involvement of WEE1 in tumor progression and drug resistance. It synthesizes the current knowledge on predictive biomarkers employed in WEE1 inhibitor treatments, offering insights into their prognostic significance. Notably, the article elucidates the potential for precision medicine by understanding these biomarkers in the context of tumor treatment outcomes. Conclusion: WEE1 plays a pivotal role in tumor progression and is a promising therapeutic target. Distinguishing patients that would benefit from WEE1 inhibition will be a major direction of future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a non-classical symmetry method for obtaining the symmetries of differential–difference equations is proposed. The non-classical symmetry method introduces an additional constraint known as the invariant surface condition, which is applied after the infinitesimal transformation. By solving the governing equations that satisfy this condition, we can obtain the corresponding reduced equation. This allows us to determine the non-classical symmetry of the differential–difference equation. This method avoids the complicated calculation involved in extending the infinitesimal generator and allows for a wider range of symmetry forms. As a result, it enables the derivation of a greater number of differential–difference equations. In this paper, two kinds of (2+1)-dimensional Toda-like lattice equations are taken as examples, and their corresponding symmetric and reduced equations are obtained using the non-classical symmetry method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epstein–Barr virus-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (EBV-HLH) is a severe hyperinflammatory illness that affects adults and is caused by an EBV infection. Without allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), the overall survival of adult patients with EBV-HLH is unsatisfactory, necessitating the development of innovative therapeutic approaches. The clinical records of twelve EBV-HLH patients who received sintilimab therapy combined with ruxolitinib on a compassionate basis at the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University were retrospectively examined in this investigation. All the patients responded without fever, but three patients relapsed within a week. Among the nine patients achieving complete response (CR), 55.6% (5/9) maintained CR for >4.5 months, and 33.3% (3/9) relapsed following CR. Neither patients with no response (NR) nor relapsed patients were fit for allo-HSCT, and all died soon after discharge. Six patients had clinical CR with a median follow-up of 5 (4.4–14.7) months. There were no documented severe negative effects. Additional information on this innovative treatment for adult EBV-HLH is provided in our report. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neuroinflammatory disease with limited therapeutic effects, eventually developing into handicap. Seeking novel therapeutic strategies for MS is timely important. Active autophagy/mitophagy could mediate neurodegeneration, while its roles in MS remain controversial. To elucidate the exact roles of autophagy/mitophagy and reveal its in-depth regulatory mechanisms, we conduct a systematic literature study and analyze the factors that might be responsible for divergent results obtained. The dynamic change levels of autophagy/mitophagy appear to be a determining factor for final neuron fate during MS pathology. Excessive neuronal autophagy/mitophagy contributes to neurodegeneration after disease onset at the active MS phase. Reactive nitrogen species (RNS) serve as key regulators for redox-related modifications and participate in autophagy/mitophagy modulation in MS. Nitric oxide (•NO) and peroxynitrite (ONOO−), two representative RNS, could nitrate or nitrosate Drp1/parkin/PINK1 pathway, activating excessive mitophagy and aggravating neuronal injury. Targeting RNS-mediated excessive autophagy/mitophagy could be a promising strategy for developing novel anti-MS drugs. In this review, we highlight the important roles of RNS-mediated autophagy/mitophagy in neuronal injury and review the potential therapeutic compounds with the bioactivities of inhibiting RNS-mediated autophagy/mitophagy activation and attenuating MS progression. Overall, we conclude that reactive nitrogen species could be promising therapeutic targets to regulate autophagy/mitophagy for multiple sclerosis treatment. [Display omitted] • Autophagy/mitophagy mediate neurodegeneration in multiple sclerosis (MS). • Reactive nitrogen species (RNS) serve as key regulators for autophagy/mitophagy via redox-related modifications in MS. • Targeting RNS in the regulation of autophagy/mitophagy could be a promising strategy for developing novel drugs for MS. • The potential MS therapeutic compounds for targeting peroxynitrite (ONOO−) have been summarized in this review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, a new dynamical system equation named the (3+1)-dimensional Hirota-bilinear-like equation (HBLE) was constructed. The generalized Hirota bilinear method was applied to obtain this new HBLE in (3+1) dimensions. This new HBLE possesses a similar bilinear form to the original (3+1)-dimensional Hirota bilinear equation, but with additional nonlinear terms. A set of high-order rational solutions is constructed for the given equation, generated from polynomial solutions to the associated generalized bilinear equation. The analyticity conditions of the resulting solutions were investigated and six groups of general solutions were derived. In addition, the shape and surface of the high-order rational function solutions and their dynamic behaviors were studied by utilizing Maple. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Route guidance strategies are an important part of advanced traveler information systems, which are a subsystem of intelligent transportation systems (ITSs). In previous research, many scholars have proposed a variety of route guidance strategies to guide vehicles in order to relieve traffic congestion, but few scholars have considered a strategy to control transportation infrastructure. In this paper, to cope with tidal traffic, we propose a dynamic lane reversal strategy (DLRS) based on the density of congestion clusters over the total road region. When the density reaches 0.37, the reversible lane converts to the opposite direction. When the density falls off to below 0.22, the reversible lane returns back to the conventional direction. The simulation results show that the DLRS has better adaptability for coping with the fluctuation in tidal traffic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cGAS-STING signaling pathway senses the presence of cytosolic DNA, induces strong type I interferon responses, and enhances inflammatory cytokine production, placing it as an important axis in infection, autoimmunity, and tumor immunity. Recent studies have shown that the abnormalities and/or dysfunctions of cGAS-STING signaling are closely related to the pathogenesis of skin diseases and/or cancers. Additionally, a variety of new therapeutics targeting the cGAS-STING signaling are in development for the treatment of skin disorders. However, the precise molecular mechanisms of cGAS-STING-mediated cutaneous disorders have not been fully elucidated. In this review, we will summarize the regulatory roles and mechanisms of cGAS-STING signaling in skin disorders and recent progresses of cGAS-STING-related drugs as well as their potential clinical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a high-resolution time–frequency (TF) analysis method, called time-extracting wavelet transform (TEWT), is introduced to analyze impulsive-like signals whose TF ridge curves are nearly perpendicular to the time axis. For impulsive-like signals, the instantaneous frequency with almost infinite rate of change is difficult to estimate, but the group delay (GD) with nearly zero rate of change is easier to estimate. Since the GD is the key feature of frequency-domain signals, it indicates that one can try to understand impulsive-like signals from the perspective of frequency-domain signals. In this regard, for an impulsive signal and its Fourier transform (i.e., the frequency-domain harmonic signal), we propose the TEWT that achieves highly concentrated TF representations while allowing signal reconstruction, only by retaining the TF coefficients closely related to TF features of signals, while removing weakly related TF information. The two contributions of this paper are the proposal of TEWT and the theoretical analysis of TEWT for frequency-domain signals. On the other hand, we provide a rigorous theoretical analysis of TEWT under a mathematical framework for frequency-domain signals. Specifically, we define a function class as a set of all superposition of well-separated frequency-domain harmonic-like functions, where each function can be locally regarded as a sum of a finite number of harmonic signals in the frequency domain, and establish error bounds for WT approximate expression, GD estimation, and component recovery. Finally, we verify the effectiveness of TEWT in terms of the energy concentration, robustness, and invertibility through numerical experiments with synthetic and real signals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Semiconducting polymers are attractive optical materials in optoelectronic devices and biomedical applications because of their superior optical properties and remarkable versatility. Optical imaging in the second near‐infrared window (NIR‐II) has become increasingly popular owing to the merits of large penetration depth and high signal to noise ratio, leading to a great deal of interest in the exploration and development of optical probes in the NIR‐II region. In this review, recent advances in the development of semiconducting polymer nanoparticles (SPNs) in the NIR‐II region for biomedical imaging and therapeutics are summarized. This review focuses on the design strategies in semiconducting polymers toward enhancing their NIR‐II emission for deep tissue imaging, improving their performance in photoacoustic imaging, utilizing their large absorptivity for photothermal and photodynamic therapy, and a number of comprehensive applications for multifunctional imaging and optical therapeutics. Finally, the current challenges of semiconducting polymer probes are discussed and the perspectives on the future development in the field are shared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies have shown that the NOD-, LRR-, and pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is extensively activated in the process of intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD), leading to the pyroptosis of nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) and the exacerbation of the pathological development of the intervertebral disc (IVD). Exosomes derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs-exo) have shown great therapeutic potential in degenerative diseases. We hypothesized that hESCs-exo could alleviate IVDD by downregulating NLRP3. We measured the NLRP3 protein levels in different grades of IVDD and the effect of hESCs-exo on the H2O2-induced pyroptosis of NPCs. Our results indicate that the expression of NLRP3 was upregulated with the increase in IVD degeneration. hESCs-exo were able to reduce the H2O2-mediated pyroptosis of NPCs by downregulating the expression levels of NLRP3 inflammasome-related genes. Bioinformatics software predicted that miR-302c, an embryonic stem-cell-specific RNA, can inhibit NLRP3, thereby alleviating the pyroptosis of NPCs, and this was further verified by the overexpression of miR-302c in NPCs. In vivo experiments confirmed the above results in a rat caudal IVDD model. Our study demonstrates that hESCs-exo could inhibit excessive NPC pyroptosis by downregulating the NLRP3 inflammasome during IVDD, and miR-302c may play a key role in this process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Serum biochemical indicators are often regarded as direct reflections of animal metabolism and health. The molecular mechanisms underlying serum biochemical indicators metabolism of chicken (Gallus Gallus) have not been elucidated. Herein, we performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to identify the variation associated with serum biochemical indicators. The aim of this research was to broaden the understanding of the serum biochemical indicators in chickens. Results: A GWAS of serum biochemical indicators was carried out on 734 samples from an F2 Gushi× Anka chicken population. All chickens were genotyped by sequencing, 734 chickens and 321,314 variants were obtained after quality control. Based on these variants, a total of 236 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on 9 chicken chromosomes (GGAs) were identified to be significantly (-log10(P) > 5.72) associated with eight of seventeen serum biochemical indicators. Ten novel quantitative trait locis (QTLs) were identified for the 8 serum biochemical indicator traits of the F2 population. Literature mining revealed that the ALPL, BCHE, GGT2/GGT5 genes at loci GGA24, GGA9 and GGA15 might affect the alkaline phosphatase (AKP), cholinesterase (CHE) and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) traits, respectively. Conclusion: The findings of the present study may contribute to a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of chicken serum biochemical indicator regulation and provide a theoretical basis for chicken breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fungal strain (JC-1) of Simplicillium was isolated from a pod of oilseed rape (Brassica napus) infested with the blackleg pathogen Leptosphaeria biglobosa. This study was done to clarify its taxonomic identity using morphological and molecular approaches, to characterize its antifungal activity through bioassays and genome-based identification of antifungal metabolites, and to determine its efficacy in inducing systemic resistance (ISR) in oilseed rape. The results showed that JC-1 belongs to Simplicillium lamellicola. It displayed a strong antagonistic relationship with L. biglobosa, Botrytis cinerea (gray mold) and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (stem rot). The cultural filtrates of JC-1 showed a high efficacy in suppressing infection by S. sclerotiorum on detached leaves of oilseed rape. Genome analysis indicated that JC-1 has the capability of producing multiple antifungal metabolites, including aureobasidin A1, squalestatin S1 and verlamelin. Inoculation of JC-1 on seeds of oilseed rape caused a suppressive effect on infection by L. biglobosa on the cotyledons of the resulting seedlings, suggesting that JC-1 can trigger ISR. Endophytic growth, accumulation of anthocyanins, up-regulated expression of CHI (for chalcone isomerase) and PR1 (for pathogenesis-related protein 1), and down-regulated expression of NECD3 (for 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase) were detected to be associated with the ISR. This study provided new insights into the biocontrol potential and modes of action of S. lamellicola. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preferential oxidation of CO in H2 (PROX) reaction is a promising solution to the on‐board purification of CO‐contaminated H2 fuel for use in next‐generation proton‐exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC). However, achieving high CO selectivity, activity and structural stability across the wide temperature window remains a great challenge. Herein, we fabricate centimeter scale interfacial PROX catalysts grown from nanoporous single‐crystalline Pr2O3 and Nd2O3 monoliths with lattice surface‐deposited Pt clusters at nanoscale. We demonstrate complete and selective removal of CO in H2 over an unprecedented wide temperature window (253–403 K). The monoliths are integrated with an operational PEMFC to purify the H2 fuel contaminated with CO (30 ppm) and enable stable power output for >400 h; over two thousand times longer than without. This work demonstrates that the nanoporous single‐crystalline oxide monoliths can simultaneously achieve the stability and overall performance required to realize practically useful PEMFCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preferential oxidation of CO in H2 (PROX) reaction is a promising solution to the on‐board purification of CO‐contaminated H2 fuel for use in next‐generation proton‐exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC). However, achieving high CO selectivity, activity and structural stability across the wide temperature window remains a great challenge. Herein, we fabricate centimeter scale interfacial PROX catalysts grown from nanoporous single‐crystalline Pr2O3 and Nd2O3 monoliths with lattice surface‐deposited Pt clusters at nanoscale. We demonstrate complete and selective removal of CO in H2 over an unprecedented wide temperature window (253–403 K). The monoliths are integrated with an operational PEMFC to purify the H2 fuel contaminated with CO (30 ppm) and enable stable power output for >400 h; over two thousand times longer than without. This work demonstrates that the nanoporous single‐crystalline oxide monoliths can simultaneously achieve the stability and overall performance required to realize practically useful PEMFCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary obstacle to solar-driven interfacial water evaporation (SDIWE) technology for addressing organic wastewater pollution lies in the inability of most evaporators to effectively eliminate organic pollutants, despite ensuring that the condensed water is organic-free. To overcome this limitation, we developed a three-dimensional aerogel water evaporator based on carbonized ZIF-67 and optimized its water evaporation performance by carbonization temperature and the content of each component in the evaporator. The evaporator has a remarkable ability to absorb over 90 % of solar light in the 200–2500 nm range, achieving an evaporation rate of up to 3.93 kg m−2 h−1 under one sun irradiation. In addition, the superior magnetic properties of the carbonized ZIF-67 make the evaporator magnetically recyclable. Notably, this evaporator not only photocatalytically decomposes methylene blue in simulated wastewater, but also efficiently degrades phenol through peroxymonosulfate activation. It also has excellent surface salt rejection and antibacterial properties, enabling it to purify seawater to meet drinking water standards set by the World Health Organization. This study offers a paradigm for the integration of SDIWE technology with photocatalytic organic pollutant treatment in simulated wastewater. • A novel 3D aerogel evaporator (PCZ) with magnetic recyclability has been developed. • The PCZ achieved an evaporation rate of 3.93 kg m−2 h−1 and an efficiency of 92 %. • Major ions in seawater are below drinking water standards after PCZ treatment. • The surface of PCZ demonstrated excellent salt inhibition and antibacterial properties. • The PCZ can effectively degrade phenol during the water evaporation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar-driven interfacial evaporation (SDIE) is a promising technology for sustainable and efficient production of clean water, addressing the pressing issue of freshwater scarcity facing humanity. Given the high level of concern regarding this matter, it is crucial to continuously summarize the research achievements of predecessors to further advance SDIE technology. This review first discusses the key role of solar absorbers containing Group VIII elements, including Fe, Co, and Ni, in SDIE. Second, it explores strategies to improve SDIE performance, such as increasing light absorption, regulating water transport channels, implementing effective thermal management, and reducing the enthalpy of water evaporation. These strategies can effectively optimize the performance of the evaporator and improve energy utilization efficiency. Further, this review details the specific applications of SDIE technology in areas such as seawater desalination, wastewater treatment, and energy reuse. We aim to provide insights for developing stable and efficient SDIE systems, promoting their practical applications, and developing other potential applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Carbon dots assisted high speed countercurrent chromatography was designed. • The separation of REEs at low concentration was successfully achieved by CDs-HSCCC. • With the addition of CDs, the separation of heavy REEs was more effective. • The microscopic separation mechanism of REEs was calculated by DFT. • A feasibility of recovery method for REEs was verified by DFT calculation. Rare earth elements with unique magnetic properties and optical properties, known as the 'industrial vitamin', has a very high commercial value. As a secondary resource of rare earth elements, low-concentration solution includes mixed rare earth ions, which need to realize efficient separation and recovery urgently. High speed countercurrent chromatography is suitable for the separation and purification of rare earth element ions due to its advantages of large loading, good tolerance to samples, and simple pretreatment. In this study, a carbon dots assisted high speed countercurrent chromatography method was designed and established, the carbon dots were applied to the mobile phase of high speed countercurrent chromatography for the first time. The low concentration of REEs solution was enriched, and the effective separation of La (III), Ce (III), Gd (III) and Er (III) was successfully achieved. The complete separation of La (III), Ce (III), Gd (III) and Er (III) was achieved with a solvent system of 0.05 mol L −1 P507 (PE), 0.05 mol L −1 HNO 3 , and 0.1 mol L −1 CDs2 carbon dots (1:1:0.01, v/v/v), the upper phase as stationary phase, the lower phase as mobile phase. Density functional theory result showed that the binding energy of REEs (III)-CDs2 was larger than that of REEs (III)-P507, so the affinity of CDs2 to REEs (III) was stronger than that of P507. Therefore, with the addition of CDs2, the ability of mobile phase to elute REEs from the stationary phase was enhanced, and the separation effect was improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The DCMD technology for wastewater treatment is very promising. However, it is easily suffered by membrane fouling and wetting. In this study, a Janus membrane was fabricated by coating polyvinylamine (PVAM) and gallic acid (GA) onto one side of a PVDF composite membrane, which another side is covered with POTS-SiO 2. The PVAM and GA side could bind water to form a hydration layer, thus repel the contaminants. The POTS-SiO 2 side was superhydrophobicity and prevented the membrane wetting. Finally, The Janus membrane presented exceptional performance in separating salt containing emulsified oil by DCMD. It kept a stable flux of 17.0 ± 0.2 Kg·m−2·h−1 and a low level conductivity of 0.60 ± 0.02 μS/cm in the cold side during the 36 h DCMD procedure, compared with the pristine PVDF membrane and the PVDF/POTS-SiO 2 membrane. The results presented simultaneously antifouling and antiwetting properties of the Janus membrane. While the Janus membrane can be well used in desalination of emulsified oil containing salt, it has a great potential for application to treat other complex wastewater. [Display omitted] • A Janus membrane was prepared via asymmetric modified process. • The Janus membrane presented simultaneous wetting resistant and antifouling performances. • The Janus membrane maintained stable flux and ultra-low conductivity in 36 h DCMD. • The Janus membrane showed great potential in treating complicated water or wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • In our research, we developed a pH-sensitive dimeric prodrug combining mannose (MAN) and CMA. This prodrug is designed to form a core–shell structure with MAN as a hydrophilic shell and CMA as a hydrophobic core (referred to as MACA) by the process of self-assembly. • -MAN, predominantly expressed on macrophages cells, can bind to MAN residues on cells to facilitate their transport through the endocytic pathway. CMA confers pivotal roles in combatting bacterial drug resistance and facilitating biofilm clearance. The two segments, CMA and MAN, are effectively integrated into the prodrug-based nanocomposites that are disintegrated in the acidic microenvironment of bacteria, and result in biofilm retention and drug-targeting release. • Additionally, indocyanine green (ICG), an agent approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), was employed as a sonosensitizer for PDT and PTT. ICG was incorporated during the self-assembly process, resulting in the formation of a compound referred to as MACA@ICG. The designed MACA@ICG was expected to perform three essential functions: 1) to facilitate the self-assembly of ICG into MACA based on the hydrophobic properties of CMA and the hydration effects of MAN; 2) to enable efficient binding, infiltration, and endocytosis at targeted sites such as drug-resistant bacteria, bacterial biofilms, and macrophages affected by infection; 3) to manifest a synergistic antibacterial impact through the effective release of CMA, generation of ROS, and production of heat energy. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), recognized for its resistance, poses a formidable challenge to public health, primarily attributable to its biochemical resistant mechanisms, capacity to form protective biofilms, and capacity to evade macrophage surveillance. In response to this threat, we constructed a multifunctional pH-responsive dimeric prodrug based on mannose (MAN) and cinnamaldehyde (CMA). This prodrug, designated as MACA@indocyanine green (ICG), incorporates the photosensitizer ICG. The nanoscale properties and MAN units integrated into the MACA@ICG prodrug could promote effective binding with infectious microbes or MAN residues on mammalian cells. This specific interaction, corroborated by co-localization studies using confocal microscopy and flow cytometry, is crucial for initial bacterial binding, biofilm penetration, and macrophage-specific uptake, all of which are strategic in surmounting the biological barriers posed by MRSA. Following its targeted accumulation, MACA@ICG was demonstrated responsiveness to the acidic microenvironment of bacteria to release free CMA, a natural compound with antimicrobial properties. The drug release, synergistically coupled with the effects of photothermal therapy (PTT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) showcased superior synergistic antibacterial efficacy both in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, MACA@ICG was verified remarkable capabilities in surmounting bacterial biological barriers and exceptional antibacterial efficiency through the combinational treatments of herbal components, PDT and PTT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the autolytic clinker microsphere with clinker as core and polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) as coating film was prepared. Pretreatment of clinker with silane coupling agent was firstly processed during the preparation. To investigate the autolytic mechanism, the microstructures of the autolytic clinker microsphere at different curing ages were observed using environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM), equipped with an energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS). The autolytic stages were also identified based on the microstructural evolution. The influence of pretreatment degree on autolytic behavior was also studied by measurements of micro-morphology and isothermal calorimetry. Experimental results indicated that the compressive strength recovery of specimens was increased by 15–19% due to the addition of autolytic clinker microspheres. The recovery of compressive strength was also improved with the increase of pH value. The improvements in compressive strength recovery of specimens with microspheres were in the range of 15–19%, 15–31%, 25–36%, and 29–50% with the pH value of 7, 8, 10, and 12, respectively. It was also found that inner damage of cement-based matrix had greater recovery when pre-cracked specimens were cured in alkaline environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, Ni–Mo coatings with various sodium molybdate concentrations were designed and successfully electrodeposited. The effects of treatment with different temperatures (200 °C,400 °C, 600 °C) on the microstructure and properties of the best-performing coating (4 g/L) were investigated. The surface morphologies, elemental content, and phase structure of the prepared coatings were obtained and analyzed by SEM, EDS, XRD, WFI and TEM. The Ni–Mo coating after heat treatment at 400 °C formed the compact and uniform amorphous/nanocrystalline coating. As shown by the electrochemical and wear test. Heat treatment at 400 °C improved the coating properties, and the corrosion current density was decreased by 66 % to 6.2532 × 10−7 A/cm2. The wear rate reduced from 8.3 × 10−4 mm3/N·m to 3.6 × 10−4 mm3/N·m, and the average friction coefficient minimized to 0.079. Additionally, compared with the as-deposited coating, the microhardness reaches the maximum (1048 HV). The formation of the oxide layer and the intermetallic compound MoNi on the surface of the coating plays a carrying and hindering role, thus the surface of the coating shows excellent wear and corrosion resistance. In addition, the corrosion inhibition mechanism during the heat treatment of Ni–Mo coatings was further explored. • Nanocrystalline/amorphous Ni–Mo coatings were obtained at 400 °C heat treatment temperature. • The new intermetallic phase MoNi and the oxide layer produced by the heat treatment improve the wear and corrosion resistance of Ni–Mo coatings. • The 400°C heat-treated Ni-Mo coating produced 46% more hardness, 56% less wear rate, and 66% less corrosion current density than the coating in its undeposited state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Untargeted metabolomics tracked the entire process of sparkling cider fermentation. • 634 non-volatile and 83 volatile metabolites were identified. • 98% sucrose was consumed in the early stage of the second pressure fermentation. • Second pressure fermentation increased pyridoxine, thiamine and toxifolin contents. • Tryptophan, phenylalanine, purine metabolism was active during second fermentation. This study aimed to examine the metabolic profiles of Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeasts (WLS21 and Y41) in two phases of sparkling cider making (normal and pressure fermentation) by combining untargeted metabolomic with chemometrics. The results showed that of the 634 nonvolatile metabolites identified using LC-MS and 83 volatile metabolites identified by GC–MS, the differential metabolites were 226 and 54, respectively. Metabolic pathway and correlation analyses showed that aspartic acid, phenylalanine and tyrosine, glutamic acid and purine metabolism were associated with flavor formation. The pressure fermentation process increased apigenin, naringenin, toxifolin, pyridoxine and thiamine contents in the final cider. These findings provide useful information and new research ideas for the formation of flavor in sparkling cider and the regulation of phenolic and vitamin production by microbial stress fermentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temporal niche partitioning is a crucial strategy for sympatric species to avoid predation and competition for habitat space and food resources. This study investigated the effect of the gut microbiota on the metabolic rhythms of two sympatric gerbil species (Meriones unguiculatus and Meriones meridianus) to test the hypothesis that the oscillatory patterns of microbiota may not fully mirror those of the host's metabolism. Experiment 1 compared the circadian metabolic and gut microbiota rhythms of M. unguiculatus (n = 12) and M. meridianus (n = 12) and measured the subjects' body temperatures and environmental temperature preferences. In Experiment 2.1 , six M. meridianus gerbils were treated with antibiotics, and in Experiment 2.2 , 21 M. unguiculatus gerbils (seven per treatment) were randomly gavaged with saline or a gut microbiota suspension from either M. unguiculatus or M. meridianus ; their metabolic rhythms were subsequently measured. The results showed that the two gerbils had different metabolic phenotypes that determined activity heterogeneity and contributed to their coexistence. The relative abundances of Bacteroidetes , Actinobacteria , and Cyanobacteria in M. meridianus varied rhythmically in parallel with the daily metabolic rate, which was significantly higher at night than during the day. The rhythm of the metabolic rate was not noticeable in M. unguiculatus. However, in M.unguiculatus , the relative abundances of Firmicutes , Bacteroidetes , Proteobacteria , and Verrucomicrobia were significantly higher during the day than at night, while Cyanobacteria exhibited the opposite pattern. Antibiotic treatment significantly weakened the metabolic rhythms of M. meridianus , and the circadian rhythms slowly recovered after stopping antibiotic gavage. However, after transplanting M. meridianus ' gut microbiota into M. unguiculatus , the metabolic rate of M. unguiculatus was not significantly different from that of the control groups. Our hypothesis was partly supported: the microbiota was only partially involved in regulating the metabolic rhythms of gerbils, and other factors could compensate for the effect of the gut microbiota on host metabolic rhythms. This finding underscores the complexity of host–microbiota interactions and highlights the need for further exploration into the multifaceted mechanisms governing host metabolic regulation. M. unguiculatus and M. meridianus had different metabolic phenotypes. The daily metabolic rate in M. meridianus varied rhythmically, which was significantly higher at night than during the day. However, the rhythm of metabolic rate was not noticeable in M. unguiculatus. The microbiota was only partially involved in regulating the metabolic rhythms of gerbils. This finding underscores the complexity of host–microbiota interactions and highlights the need for further exploration into the multifaceted mechanisms governing host metabolic regulation. [Display omitted] • M. unguiculatus and M. meridianus had different metabolic phenotypes. • Antibiotic treatment significantly weakened the metabolic rhythms of M. meridianus. • The microbiota was only partially involved in regulating the metabolic rhythms of gerbils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Image dehazing methods face challenges in addressing the high coupling between haze and object feature distributions in the spatial and frequency domains. This coupling often results in oversharpening, color distortion, and blurring of details during the dehazing process. To address these issues, we introduce the distribution-decouple module (DDM) and dual-frequency attention mechanism (DFAM). The DDM works effectively in the spatial domain, decoupling haze and object features through a feature decoupler and then uses a two-stream modulator to further reduce the negative impact of haze on the distribution of object features. Simultaneously, the DFAM focuses on decoupling information in the frequency domain, separating high- and low-frequency information and applying attention to different frequency components for frequency calibration. Finally, we introduce a novel dehazing network, the distribution-decouple learning network for single image dehazing with spatial and frequency decoupling (DDLNet). This network integrates DDM and DFAM, effectively addressing the issue of coupled feature distributions in both spatial and frequency domains, thereby enhancing the clarity and fidelity of the dehazed images. Extensive experiments indicate the outperformance of our DDLNet when compared to the state-of-the-art (SOTA) methods, achieving a 1.50 dB increase in PSNR on the SOTS-indoor dataset. Concomitantly, it indicates a 1.26 dB boost on the SOTS-outdoor dataset. Additionally, our method performs significantly well on the nighttime dehazing dataset NHR, achieving a 0.91 dB improvement. Code and trained models are available at https://github.com/aoe-wyb/DDLNet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • DNA tetrahedral scaffolds improved detection accuracy and stability of electrochemical sensors. • Bifunctional work electrode greatly simplified the manufacturing process of biosensors. • HPG with the function of signal amplification was introduced for further improving sensitivity. • LOD of 2.4 and 3.5 pg/mL for OTA and AFB1 are qualified for the reliable monitoring of mycotoxins. • Dual-modality strategy provides a simple and accurate means for monitoring mycotoxins. Herein, a bifunctional electrochemical biosensor based on the DNA tetrahedral scaffolds (TDNs) was proposed, OTA@TDNs and AFB1@TDNs were adopted for electrochemical signal output in response to OTA and AFB1 concentration, simultaneously. In order to increase the conductivity of the biosensor, highly porous gold (HPG) was loaded on electrode surface by pulse electrodeposition. Under optimal conditions, the P Fc displayed a linear range with AFB1 concentration between 0.05 ∼ 360 ng·mL−1 with the LOD of 3.5 pg·mL−1. And the P MB selective and sensitive responses to OTA are achieved with a linear range of 0.05 ∼ 420 ng·mL−1 and a LOD of 2.4 pg·mL−1. This biosensor has high sensitivity, selectivity and stability for OTA and AFB1 detection in peanut samples. The approach streamlines the experimental procedure, leading to significantly improve the detection efficiency of mycotoxins. Collectively, this method suggest a novel approach for the detection and monitoring of OTA and AFB1 in food sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is a circular double-stranded genome that exists independently of the nucleus. In recent years, research on mtDNA has significantly increased, leading to a gradual increase in understanding of its physiological and pathological characteristics. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and other factors can damage mtDNA. This damaged mtDNA can escape from the mitochondria to the cytoplasm or extracellular space, subsequently activating immune signaling pathways, such as NLR family pyrin domain protein 3 (NLRP3), and triggering inflammatory responses. Numerous studies have demonstrated the involvement of mtDNA damage and leakage in the pathological mechanisms underlying various diseases including infectious diseases, metabolic inflammation, and immune disorders. Consequently, comprehensive investigation of mtDNA can elucidate the pathological mechanisms underlying numerous diseases. The prevention of mtDNA damage and leakage has emerged as a novel approach to disease treatment, and mtDNA has emerged as a promising target for drug development. This article provides a comprehensive review of the mechanisms underlying mtDNA-induced inflammation, its association with various diseases, and the methods used for its detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aromatic peptides are an emerging class of building units for molecular self-assembly and creation of functional biomaterials. The strength of aromatic association plays an essential role in the self-assembly of aromatic peptides. Here, we design a series of aromatic peptides with different hydrophobic domains but the same peptide sequence. The hydrophobicity and aromaticity can be carefully regulated by the number of benzene rings and the alkyl spacer between the benzene and peptide regions. Upon the continuous enhancement of aromaticity, diverse supramolecular nanostructures, including nanotubes, nanofibers, and short helical ribbons, were clearly observed. The peptide with diphenyl groups exhibits the highest regularity of molecular packing, due to the synergy of force balance between hydrogen bonding and π–π interactions. In addition, the incorporation of a spacer in between the aromatic and peptide regions facilitates the self-assembly capability, as the interference between aromatic association and hydrogen bonding is hindered. These dramatic results demonstrate that aromaticity serves as an effective and robust parameter in the molecular arrangement, providing a new perspective into the formation and evolution of supramolecular assembly. [Display omitted] • A series of aromatic peptides with different hydrophobic domains were synthesized. • Aromaticity significantly influences the self-assembly of peptides. • The force balance between hydrogen bonding and π-π interaction affects the regularity of molecular packing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The real-time detection of feeding composition content holds significant importance in process monitoring and control optimization in industrial systems. However, the current feeding composition content is obtained by manual assay, with low detection frequency and significant hysteresis. Moreover, due to adjustment in production plans and adaptation to market demand, multiple operation modes frequently exist in real processes, making it difficult for a single mode to adapt to the actual site. To address the above problems, firstly, a novel variable sliding window method incorporating the improved longest common subsequence (LCSS) is proposed to achieve steady-state detection and multimode recognition in industrial processes. Secondly, according to the characteristics of different modes, the corresponding layered data reconciliation and parameter estimation (LDRPE) models are built to reduce the errors of the measured data and estimate the unmeasurable data. Finally, an online estimation model of feeding composition content based on multimode LDRPE is designed for estimating the coke content in the mixtures. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by the application to a real industrial system. • A novel variable sliding window method incorporating the improved LCSS is proposed to achieve multimode recognition. • The multimode LDRPE based on the novel variable sliding window method is established. • An online estimation model of feeding composition content based on multimode LDRPE is proposed and verified. • The proposed method outperforms common methods in real-time estimation performance of feeding composition content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Pitaya-like SiO x /nitrogen-doped carbon superstructures are prepared as an anode in LIBs. • Nanosized SiO x obtained from the renewable rice husks shortens the electron and Li+ diffusion path. • The integrated carbon matrix prevents the aggregation of SiO x NPs, and improves the kinetics and structural stability. • This electrospray strategy is economic, effective and universal for fabricating superstructures. Silicon sub-oxides (SiO x) are increasingly becoming a prospective anode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Nevertheless, inferior electrical conductivity and drastic volume fluctuation upon cycling significantly hamper the electrochemical performance of SiO x. In this work, rice husks (RHs)-derived pitaya-like SiO x /nitrogen-doped carbon (SNC) superstructures have been prepared by a simple electrospray-carbonization approach. SiO x nanoparticles (NPs) are well-dispersed in a spherical nitrogen-doped carbon (NC) matrix. The carbon frameworks discourage the aggregation of SiO x NPs, facilitating the kinetics for ion diffusion and charge transfer, and maintaining structural stability upon cycling, thus bringing about improved electrochemical performance. When the optimized SNC superstructures with SiO x content of 64.3% are utilized as LIBs anodes, a stable specific capacity of 622.8 mA h g−1 after 100 cycles at 0.1 A g−1, and an excellent long cycle performance of 190.1 mA h g−1 after 5000 cycles at 5 A g−1 are obtained. This effective and universal synthetic strategy for fabricating controllable superstructures offers insights into the development of high-performance LIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most critical factor determining the success of biodegradable bone implants is the host tissue response, which greatly depends on their degradation behaviors. Here, a new magnesium‐based implant, namely magnesium–silicon–calcium (Mg–0.2Si–1.0Ca) alloy, that coordinates its biodegradation along with the bone regenerative process via a self‐assembled, multilayered bone–implant interface is designed. At first, its rapid biocorrosion contributes to a burst release of Mg2+, leading to a pro‐osteogenic immune microenvironment in bone. Meanwhile, with the simultaneous intervention of Ca and Si in the secondary phases of the new alloy, a hierarchical layered calcified matrix is rapidly formed at the degrading interface that favored the subsequent bone mineralization. In contrast, pure Mg or Mg–0.2Si alloy without the development of this interface at the beginning will unavoidably induce detrimental bone loss. Hence, it is believed this biomimicking interface justifies its bioadaptability in which it can modulate its degradation in vivo and accelerate bone mineralization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the porous CoCCHH-CoSe heterogeneous-tube @PEDOT:PSS foam architecture with abundant surface defects and vacancies is prepared. The porous structure provides a large number of channels for ion transport, and the surface defects and vacancies provide abundant active sites for adsorption and oxidation reactions. [Display omitted] It is still challenging to construct stable 3D energy storage materials at the nanoscale by precise pore structure control and reasonable surface modification. Herein, a novel interwoven porous Co(CO 3) 0.35 Cl 0.20 (OH) 1.10 (CoCCHH)-CoSe heterogeneous-tube @PEDOT:PSS 3D foam with abundant active sites is presented as supercapacitor electrodes. The electrochemical results indicated that the pore structure provides ample space for redox reaction, and increases the number of ion transport channels. Besides, rational surface modification brings about sufficient active sites for redox reaction. The stable, porous PEDOT:PSS foam with a 3D elastic frame exhibited excellent electrical conductivity. Thus, the CoCCHH-CoSe@PEDOT:PSS foam possessed excellent specific capacitance and energy density, due to the synergistic effect of the unique 3D structure and surface defects. The home-made supercapacitor with CoCCHH-CoSe@PEDOT:PSS foam as cathode materials showed high specific capacitance (440.6F g−1 at 1 A g−1) and excellent energy density (137.7 Wh kg−1). This work provides a valuable strategy to develop potential materials for electrochemical energy storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bamboo(Phyllostachys edulis) shoot was reported to be rich in phenolics. In the present study, free phenolics, conjugated phenolics, and insoluble‐bound phenolics of oven‐drying and freeze‐drying bamboo shoot tips were extracted and separated, of which total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and their antioxidant activities were determined. Phenolics of different binding forms were qualitatively analyzed using HPLC–ESI–QqQ‐MS. A total of 22, 41, and 28 compounds were confirmed or tentatively identified in free, conjugated, and insoluble‐bound phenolic extraction, respectively. The majority of the identified compounds were organic acids and phenolic acids. Oven‐drying samples exhibited higher TPC (10.53–24.92 mg GAE/100 g DW) and TFC (5.80–33.27 mg CE/100 g DW) values, and stronger antioxidant activities (DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP) than freeze‐drying (TPC: 1.67–15.28 mg GAE/100 g DW, TFC: 1.43–29.05 mg CE/100 g DW). Insoluble‐bound phenolics were the major contributor to the total antioxidant activity. The present study investigated the phenolics composition and antioxidant activities of different binding forms in bamboo shoot tip comprehensively, and provided available information for their high‐value deep‐processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maytansinoids, the chemical derivatives of Maytansine, are commonly used as potent cytotoxic payloads in antibody-drug conjugates (ADC). Structure-activity-relationship studies had identified the C3 ester side chain as a critical element for antitumor activity of maytansinoids. The maytansinoids bearing the methyl group at C3 position with D configuration were about 100 to 400-fold less cytotoxic than their corresponding L-epimers toward various cell lines. The detailed mechanism of how chirality affects the anticancer activity remains elusive. In this study, we determined the high-resolution crystal structure of tubulin in complex with maytansinol, L-DM1-SMe and D-DM1-SMe. And we found the carbonyl oxygen atom of the ester moiety and the tail thiomethyl group at C3 side chain of L-DM1-SMe form strong intramolecular interaction with the hydroxyl at position 9 and the benzene ring, respectively, fixing the bioactive conformation and enhancing the binding affinity. Additionally, ligand-based and structure-based virtually screening methods were used to screen the commercially macrocyclic compounds library, and 15 macrocyclic structures were picketed out as putatively new maytansine-site inhibitors. Our study provides a possible strategy for the rational discovery of next-generation maytansine site inhibitors. • We determined the crystal structures of tubulin in complex with Maytansinol, L-DM1-SMe and D-DM1-SMe. • The crystal structures explain how the chirality of the methyl group at C3 position affects the anticancer activity. • A pharmaphore model was built by analyzing the critical residues and pharmaphore features of Maytansine-site ligands. • 15 macrocyclic structures were picked out as putatively new Maytansine-site inhibitors through the virtual screening methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microtubule-targeting agents (MTAs) are the most commonly used anti-cancer drugs. At least fourteen microtubule inhibitors and ten antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) linking MTAs are approved by FDA for clinical use in cancer therapy. In current research, we determined the crystal structure of tubulysin analogue TGL in complex with tubulin at a high resolution (2.65 Å). In addition, we summarized all of the previously published high-resolution crystal structures of ligands in the vinca site to provide structural insights for the rational design of the new vinca-site ligands. Moreover, based on the aligned results of the vinca site ligands, we provided three possible routes for designing new tubulysin analogues, namely macrocyclization between the N-14 side chain and the N-9 side chain, the hybird of tubulysin M and phomopsin A, and growing new aryl group at C-21. These designed structures will inspire the development of new MTAs or payloads in cancer therapy. • We determined the crystal structure of tubulysin analogue TGL in complex with tubulin at a high resolution (2.65 Å). • We aligned all of the previously published high-resolution crystal structures of ligands in the vinca site to provide structural insights for the rational design of the new vinca-site ligands. • We provided three possible routes for designing new tubulysin analogues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to expand the photoresponsive spectrum of TiO 2 and improve its catalytic activity under visible light, the hollow urchin-like composites of TiO 2 @g-C 3 N 4 /GQDs (TCN/GQDs) with a core-shell structure heterojunction was synthesized through a hydrothermal method and calcination. Potassium titanium oxalate, melamine, and citric acid were utilized as the raw materials for this synthesis process. The TCN/GQDs composites were subjected to a range of analyses to examine their microstructure and photoelectric properties. The findings indicated that the synthesized composites effectively enhanced the absorption spectrum of TiO 2 in the visible light range by creating the stable heterojunctions among TiO 2 , g-C 3 N 4 and GQDs. Additionally, the ability of these composites to degrade toxic organic pollutants under visible light was studied by using several different organic dyes and antibiotics. The results demonstrated that the TCN/GQDs composites exhibited efficient visible light catalytic degradation capability on organic pollutants, and the degradation efficiency could approach to 100 % under visible light in a short time. Furthermore, the photocatalyst exhibited hardly change of degradation efficiency towards organic pollutants even after 5 cycles of testing, suggesting its commendable performance in visible light catalysis and potential for repeated utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyamine detection and depletion have been extensively investigated for cancer prevention and treatment. However, the therapeutic efficacy is far from satisfactory, mainly due to a polyamine compensation mechanism from the systemic circulation in the tumor environment. Herein, we explore a new solution for improving polyamine detection as well as a possible consumption therapy based on a new photosensitizer that can efficiently consume polyamines via an irreversible chemical reaction. The new photosensitizer is pyrrolopyrroleaza-BODIPY pyridinium salt (PPAB-PyS) nanoparticles that can react with the over-expressed polyamine in cancer cells and produce two photosensitizers with enhanced phototoxicity on cancer destruction. Meanwhile, PPAB-PyS nanoparticles provide a simultaneous ratiometric fluorescence imaging of intracellular polyamine. This combination polyamine consumption with a chemical reaction provides a new modality to enable polyamine detection along with photodynamic therapy as well as a putative depletion of polyamines for cancer treatment and prevention. Li et al develop PPAB-PyS nanoparticles that simultaneously allows intracellular imaging and ratiometric detection of the intracellular polyamine. With an additional potential to consume polyamines via an irreversible chemical reaction, the authors thus provide an alternative approach for photodynamic therapy with polyamine detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy Disaggregation at substations (EDS) is challenging because measurements are mostly aggregated over multiple types of loads, and the existence of some loads such as behind-the-meter solar is unknown to the operator. This paper for the first time addresses this so-called “partial labels” issue in energy disaggregation and develops a model-free EDS method to separate individual loads, including BTM solar, from the total energy consumption in real-time. Our approach learns the patterns of all loads offline from recorded historical datasets with partial labels. Compared with conventional model-free methods that require either pure measurements of each load for training or full labels of each training sample, our method can extract load patterns from partially labeled aggregated data and thus, is more applicable to practical scenarios and alleviates the annotation burden for the operator. Specifically, we propose to solve a new dictionary learning problem, where column-sparsity and incoherence regularization terms are added to identify unlabeled loads and learn distinctive patterns of each load. In real-time disaggregation, our approach solves an improved sparse decomposition problem where one decomposes the aggregated measurements as a linear combination of some representative recorded measurements with known disaggregation learned in the offline stage. Numerical experiments are reported to validate our method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molybdenum carbide-based hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) electrocatalysts have attracted widespread attention with their low cost and relatively high catalytic activity. Despite the significant progress made in tuning the morphology and structure, the intrinsic catalytic activity of molybdenum carbide awaits further improvement. Herein, a Pt-decorated self-supported MoC-Mo 2 C electrode with super-intrinsic HER catalytic activity is prepared by a simple adsorption-electroreduction method. The HER performance is improved with increasing the loading of Pt. The optimal MoC-Mo 2 C-Pt heterojunction electrode has a low overpotential of 10 mA cm−2 (58 mV in H 2 SO 4 , 82 mV in KOH) and small Tafel slope (24 mV dec−1 in H 2 SO 4, 29 mV dec−1 in KOH), which is reduced to 0.45–0.5, 0.7–0.8, and 0.4–0.7 times of pristine MoC-Mo 2 C, Pt foil, and commercial Pt/C (2 mg cm−2), respectively. The improved HER catalysis is attributed to the rapid dissociation of water on MoC-Mo 2 C and efficient desorption of hydrogen on Pt. Therefore, decorating carbides with Pt is an effective way to design HER catalysts with enhanced catalytic activities in a wide pH range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A NIR-actuated multifunctional nanocatalyst based on mesoporous Prussian blue and β-lapachone (Mlalp NCs) is developed for glutathione inhibition and photothermal-enhanced CDT. [Display omitted] • Our designed prussian blue with special structure loads and transport a mass of β-Lapachone. • Laser irradiation increases the Fenton reaction, leading to heat-enhanced CDT. • Laser irradiation mediated heat facilitates the release of LAP, promoting the overexpression of NQO1 protein. • Mlalp NCs show MRI property which enables an "all-in-one" imaging-guided CDT. Photothermal-enhanced chemodynamic therapy (CDT) based on the Fenton reaction has been widely studied as a safe, tumor-specific, and highly effective nanomedicine therapy. Herein, a collective hyperthermia-facilitated glutathione (GSH) inhibition strategy for boosted oxidative stress treatment was presented using mesoporous Prussian blue (MPB NPs) as a multifunctional carrier and loading β-lapachone (Lap) as an oxidative mediator. A phase transfer catalyst (lauric acid, La) was co-packed for preventing drug leakage and achieving temperature-controlled drug release. After biocompatible decoration by external encapsulation with polyethylene glycol (PEG), the MPB-Lap/La@PEG nanocatalysts (Mlalp NCs) were rationally constructed. Upon 808 nm light irradiation, the Mlalp NCs showed a good photothermal effect with temperature increases for directly damaging tumor cells and accelerating the release of Lap. Significantly, the expression of NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase-1 (NQO1) in cells could increase and generate more hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2) with Lap and reduce the level of GSH concurrently, forming a hyperthermia-facilitated glutathione inhibition strategy. Most importantly, the hyperthermia also accelerated the Fenton reaction rate, resulting in an enhanced CDT effect. In addition, the Mlalp NCs also equipped with excellent T 1 -weighted magnetic resonance imaging properties. To sum up, this work displays a collective hyperthermia-facilitated glutathione inhibition strategy for boosted oxidative stress treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The solvent sublation for enrichment of lanthanides was designed and established. • Using the established method, the recovery of four lanthanides were more than 90%. • The extraction ability is of La(III) < Ce(III) < Gd(III) < Er(III) calculated by DFT. • Compared to conventional liquid extraction, the established method was efficient. • Four lanthanides were achieved well using high speed countercurrent chromatography. Rare earth elements are non-renewable resources. During their processing, a lot of wastewater are produced, which poses a danger to human beings and the environment. Herein, the enrichment method of solvent sublation for La (III), Ce (III), Gd (III) and Er (III) was designed and established. Enrichment parameters pH, flotation time, extractant concentration and air flow rate were optimized. The result showed that the highest recovery of La (III) reached up to 92.33 % under the optimized conditions of pH 8, 10 min of flotation time, 0.15 mol L-1 of the extractant 2-ethylhexyl phosphate acid-2-ethylhexyl ester and 30 mL min−1 of air flow rate. The light rare earth element Ce (III) and heavy rare earth elements Gd (III) and Er (III) were also examined and obtained with maximum recovery. The stability of the extractant complexation with rare earth ions and the mechanism of competitive extraction were studied by density functional theory calculations. The extraction ability was following sequence of La (III) < Ce (III) < Gd (III) < Er (III). The enrichment of rare earth elements from real water samples was investigated and obtained result was consistent with the experiment result of synthetic solutions. The established high speed countercurrent chromatography method was used to successfully separate La (III), Ce (III), Gd (III) and Er (III) from the solution of rare earth ions enriched by solvent sublation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A ratiometric probe with higher stability was prepared with natural substances. • Fluorescence inner filter effect was triggered between SCQDs and Cur in Fe-MOFs. • Fe2+ from MOFs was ably used to capture active sites of Cur to avoid interference. • The developed probe shows high sensitivity to SA with LOD as low as 0.14 μmol/L. Herein, a ratiometric fluorescent probe was developed for sensitive detection of salicylic acid (SA) in rice using silk-derived carbon quantum dots @ Curcumin @ iron-based metal organic framework (SCQDs@Cur@Fe-MOFs). Fe-MOFs with porous structure not only provided holes for SCQDs to evade self-aggregation of SCQDs, but Fe2+ ions from MOFs was ingeniously employed to capture active sites of Cur, solving the problem of lacking sufficient specificity of Cur to SA while converting weak response signal to amplified "turn on" mode. Upon exposed to SA, the probe interacted with SA to form Cur-Fe2+-SA ternary complex, which inhibited the internal filtration effect between Cur and SCQDs, and triggered a cascade of response signaling. With this strategy, the proposed probe achieved sensitive determination of salicylic acid in rice with detection limit as low as 0.14 μmol/L. This study provides unique insight into constructing economical and eco-friendly fluorescent sensor for SA detection with superior performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]