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Background: The aim of this study was to investigate whether a causal relationship exists between serum uric acid (SUA) and diabetic microvascular complications using a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) method. Methods: We used the MR approach, utilizing genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics, to estimate the causal effect of SUA on diabetic microvascular complications in European individuals. The summary statistical data of SUA were obtained from the open database (IEU OPEN GWAS PROJECT) (p < 5 × 10− 8), and data on diabetic microvascular complications (diabetic nephropathy, diabetic neuropathy, diabetic retinopathy) were obtained from the FinnGen consortium. F-statistics were calculated to assess the correlation between instrumental variables (IVs) and SUA, and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with confounders or outcomes were excluded by consulting the PhenoScanner database. Inverse variance weighting (IVW) was used for primary estimation, and MR‒Egger, weighted median (WM), and Mendelian randomization pleiotropy residuals sum and outliers (MR-PRESSO) were used for additional assessment. Heterogeneity was assessed using the Cochran's Q test, and polytropy was assessed using the MR‒Egger intercept. Results: MR analysis revealed a causal relationship between a genetically predicted increase in SUA and diabetic nephropathy [OR = 1.32, 95%(CI) = 1.07–1.63, p = 0.008]. The results were consistent with those after MR-PRESSO [OR = 1.30, 95%(CI) = 1.07–1.58, p = 0.008]. There was a causal relationship between type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and renal complication IVW [OR = 1.27, 95%(CI) = 1.00–1.62, p = 0.049]. These results were consistent with those after MR-PRESSO [OR = 1.27, 95%(CI) = 1.00–1.62, p = 0.050]. There was no significant causal relationship between the genetically predicted increase in SUA and diabetic retinopathy [OR 1.09, 95%(CI) = 0.94–1.26, p = 0.249] or diabetic neuropathy [OR = 1.08, 95%(CI) = 0.84–1.40, p = 0.549]. Conclusions: This MR analysis suggests a causal relationship between genetically predicted uric acid increases and diabetic microvascular complications. A significant causal relationship exists between SUA and diabetic nephropathy but not between SUA and diabetic retinopathy or diabetic neuropathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the relationship between structures and adsorption properties, four different morphologies of chitosan, with hydrogel (CSH), aerogel (CSA), powder (CSP), and electrospinning nanofiber (CSEN) characteristics, were employed as adsorbents for the removal of Acid Red 27. The structures and morphologies of the four chitosan adsorbents were characterized with SEM, XRD, ATR-FTIR, and BET methods. The adsorption behaviors and mechanisms of the four chitosan adsorbents were comparatively studied. All adsorption behaviors exhibited a good fit with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model (R2 > 0.99) and Langmuir isotherm model (R2 > 0.99). Comparing the adsorption rates and the maximum adsorption capacities, the order was CSH > CSA > CSP > CSEN. The maximum adsorption capacities of CSH, CSA, CSP, and CSEN were 2732.2 (4.523), 676.7 (1.119), 534.8 (0.885), and 215.5 (0.357) mg/g (mmol/g) at 20 °C, respectively. The crystallinities of CSH, CSA, CSP, and CSEN were calculated as 0.41%, 6.97%, 8.76%, and 39.77%, respectively. The crystallinity of the four chitosan adsorbents was the main factor impacting the adsorption rates and adsorption capacities, compared with the specific surface area. With the decrease in crystallinity, the adsorption rates and capacities of the four chitosan adsorbents increased gradually under the same experimental conditions. CSH with a low crystallinity and large specific surface area resulted in the highest adsorption rate and capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document presents a study on the synthesis and characterization of various compounds. The compounds were synthesized using specific starting materials and their yields, physical properties, and spectroscopic data are reported. The compounds include derivatives of (6,7-dimethoxy-3,4-dihydroisoquinolin-1-yl)methanone with different substituents on the phenyl ring. The document also acknowledges the support of Dr. Zhe Song from China Pharmaceutical University for providing NMR instrumentation. Additional supporting information is available online. [Extracted from the article]

Due to the ultra-high specific surface area of X zeolite contributing to catalytic sites and the Si/Al ratio in blast furnace slag being similar to that in X zeolite, the Cu-ion exchanged X zeolite catalyst prepared from blast furnace slag demonstrated excellent NH3-SCR activity, achieving about 95% of NOx conversion in the temperature range of 150 °C to 500 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The utilization of manganese tailings for SCR catalyst and zeolite synthesis. • The excellent SO2 resistance of SiO 2 @Mn catalyst was investigated. • High-crystallinity X-type zeolite with excellent pore structure was synthesized. Herein, a core-shell structure SiO 2 @Mn catalyst was successfully synthesized from manganese tailings for NO removal through selective catalytic reduction with ammonia at low temperature. In the presence of 10 % H 2 O and 100 ppm SO 2 , the SiO 2 @Mn catalyst exhibited excellent catalytic activity of 85 % NO conversion at 225 °C. This special core-shell was constructed by inert nano-SiO 2 particles, which grew and encapsulated on the surface of manganese oxide, inhibiting the reaction between SO 2 with MnO x and thus improving the SO 2 resistance. Furthermore, a filter residue was generated in the process of catalysts preparation. Under proper hydrothermal conditions, the residue comprising of Si, Al, and O was used to synthesize high-crystallinity X-type zeolite. This process fully utilized manganese tailings and inspired for Mn-based catalysts design and X-type zeolite preparation, realizing the dual benefits of atmosphere purification and solid waste disposal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, significant enhancement of second- and third-harmonic generation efficiencies in a 1 mol% Er3+ and 0.07 mol% Fe2+-doped lithium niobate single-crystal plate were achieved after ablating periodic cylindrical pit arrays on the surface. Enhanced absorption and reduced transmittance of light were measured when the incident light signal passed through the patterned sample. Enhanced photoluminescence and two-photon-pumped upconversion emission spectra were also explored to obtain more details on the efficiency gains. The excitation-energy-dependent second-harmonic generation efficiency was measured, and an enhancement as high as 20-fold was calculated. The conversion efficiency of second-harmonic generation is 1 to 3 orders higher than that from other lithium niobite metasurfaces and nanoantennas. This work provides a convenient and effective method to improve the nonlinear conversion efficiency in a thin lithium niobite plate, which is desirable for applying to integrated optical devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive Summary: The palladium‐catalyzed borylative cyclization via C—H activation has been developed. By this chemistry, the indole‐fused dihydro‐pyrrole motif, which is a kind of important unit in natural products and bio‐active molecules, could be constructed and installed with a boric ester group. Furthermore, the utilities of products have been illustrated by the study of further transformations. Importantly, by using chiral ligand, the enantioselectivity of this borylative cyclization reaction could be controlled. Moreover, the borylative mechanism, which should proceed through a Pd(II)/Pd(IV) catalytic cycle, has been proposed based on the DFT calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The copper‐catalyzed highly selective protoboration of CF3‐containing conjugated diene with proton source and B2Pin2 has been developed. This chemistry could suppress the well‐known defluorination and provide borated reagents with an intact CF3‐group. Further studies indicated that the functional group tolerance of this chemistry is very well, and the products could be used as versatile precursors for different types of transformations. Importantly, using chiral diphosphine ligand, we have developed the first example for using such starting material to synthesis allylic boron‐reagents which bearing a CF3‐containing chiral center. Notably, the reaction mechanism was intensively studied by DFT calculations, which could reveal the reason that defluorination was inhibited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The copper‐catalyzed highly selective protoboration of CF3‐containing conjugated diene with proton source and B2Pin2 has been developed. This chemistry could suppress the well‐known defluorination and provide borated reagents with an intact CF3‐group. Further studies indicated that the functional group tolerance of this chemistry is very well, and the products could be used as versatile precursors for different types of transformations. Importantly, using chiral diphosphine ligand, we have developed the first example for using such starting material to synthesis allylic boron‐reagents which bearing a CF3‐containing chiral center. Notably, the reaction mechanism was intensively studied by DFT calculations, which could reveal the reason that defluorination was inhibited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Distinct wood degraders occupying their preferred habitats have biased enzyme repertoires that are well fitted to their colonized substrates. Pleurotus ostreatus, commonly found on wood, has evolved its own enzyme-producing traits. In our previous study, transcriptional shifts in several P. ostreatus delignification-defective mutants, including Δhir1 and Δgat1 strains, were analyzed, which revealed the downregulation of ligninolytic genes and the upregulation of cellulolytic and xylanolytic genes when compared to their parental strain 20b on beech wood sawdust medium (BWS). In this study, rice straw (RS) was used as an alternative substrate to examine the transcriptional responses of P. ostreatus to distinct substrates. The vp1 gene and a cupredoxin-encoding gene were significantly upregulated in the 20b strain on RS compared with that on BWS, reflecting their distinct regulation patterns. The overall expression level of genes encoding glucuronidases was also higher on RS than on BWS, showing a good correlation with the substrate composition. Transcriptional alterations in the mutants (Δhir1 or Δgat1 versus 20b strain) on RS were similar to those on BWS, and the extracellular lignocellulose-degrading enzyme activities and lignin-degrading ability of the mutants on RS were consistent with the transcriptional alterations of the corresponding enzyme-encoding genes. However, transcripts of specific genes encoding enzymes belonging to the same CAZyme family exhibited distinct alteration patterns in the mutant strains grown on RS compared to those grown on BWS. These findings provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the transcriptional regulation of lignocellulolytic genes in P. ostreatus. Key Points • P. ostreatus expressed variable enzymatic repertoire-related genes in response to distinct substrates. • A demand to upregulate the cellulolytic genes seems to be present in ligninolysis-deficient mutants. • The regulation of some specific genes probably driven by the demand is dependent on the substrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

White‐rot fungi efficiently degrade lignin and, thus, play a pivotal role in the global carbon cycle. However, the mechanisms of lignin degradation are largely unknown. Recently, mutations in four genes, namely wtr1, chd1, pex1, and gat1, were shown to abrogate the wood lignin‐degrading ability of Pleurotus ostreatus. In this study, we conducted a comparative transcriptome analysis to identify genes that are differentially expressed in ligninolysis‐deficient mutant strains. Putative ligninolytic genes that are highly expressed in parental strains are significantly downregulated in the mutant strains. On the contrary, many putative cellulolytic and xylanolytic genes are upregulated in the chd1‐1, Δpex1, and Δgat1 strains. Identifying transcriptional alterations in mutant strains could provide new insights into the regulatory mechanisms of lignocellulolytic genes in P. ostreatus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of nickel‐based catalysts were prepared by solution combustion synthesis (SCS), using Ce, Ag, Mo, Fe, or Co as a promoter, and applied for efficient and selective hydrogenation of 1,4‐butynediol (BYD) to 1,4‐butenediol (BED). It was found that each catalyst containing promoter had higher conversion of BYD and higher selectivity of BED than that of pristine Ni/Al2O3 catalyst. Among as‐prepared catalysts, Ni−Fe/Al2O3 exhibited the highest activity and stability toward selective hydrogenation of BYD to BED. Results revealed that the improved catalytic performance of Ni−Fe/Al2O3 over those of Ni/Al2O3 could be ascribed to the varied metal‐support interaction and active site dispersion, as well as the formation of Ni−Fe taenite. DFT calculations further demonstrated that the introduction of Fe regulated the adsorption strength of BYD and H on the surface of the catalyst, thus improving the catalytic hydrogenation activity of BYD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Co-production of multi-products is one of the core principles of chemical industry, and it is also an important way to improve the atom economy. Herein, we proposed an approach to co-producing two valuable platform compounds, gluconic acid (GA) and 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF), from sucrose by successive hydrolysis, oxidation and dehydration. In the enzymatic oxidation step, only glucose was oxidized to GA, meanwhile fructose was 100% retained. In the further biphasic dehydration system, only fructose was converted into HMF, whereas GA was maintained with over 95% recovery. After three reactions, the yields of HMF and GA were respectively 42.5% and 48% when the initial feedstock of sucrose was 200 g/L. Two products were easily separated because GA was completely existed in aqueous phase, and HMF was mainly in organic phase. In the whole process, only commercial enzymes and mineral acid were used instead of self-made catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the interaction mechanisms between xylan and xylan-degrading enzymes is beneficial to the efficient hydrolysis of xylan. Xylan from sugarcane bagasse (SB) was extracted and characterized. The effects of heat treatment and removal of side chains of SB xylan on the hydrolytic efficiency and synergistic action of endo-β-1,4-xylanases (HoXyn11A and AnXyn10C), β-xylosidases (AnXln3D), and α- l -arabinofuranosidases (AnAxh62A) were investigated. Results indicated that heat treatment of xylan can improve the hydrolytic efficiency of xylan-degrading enzymes, and it is essential for the efficient hydrolysis of xylan by HoXyn11A. The removal of arabinofuranosyl side chains of xylan by AnAxh62A before enzymatic hydrolysis reduced the hydrolytic efficiency of HoXyn11A and AnXyn10C on xylan. AnXyn10C was more efficient than HoXyn11A in hydrolysis of xylan, whereas HoXyn11A showed better synergistic action than AnXyn10C with AnAxh62A and AnXln3D in the hydrolysis of xylan. This study provides new insights on the enzymatic hydrolysis of SB into monosaccharides and xylo-oligosaccharides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wilson’s disease (WD) is a genetic disorder of copper metabolism with pathological copper accumulation in the brain and any other tissues. This article aimed to assess lesions in cerebello-thalamo-cortical network with an advanced technique of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in WD. 35 WD patients and 30 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers were recruited to accept diffusion-weighted images with 15 gradient vectors and conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The DTI parameters, including fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusion (MD), were calculated by diffusion kurtosis estimator software. After registration, patient groups with FA mappings and MD mappings and normal groups were compared with 3dttest and receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, corrected with FDR simulations (p=0.001, α=0.05, cluster size = 326). We found that the degree of FA increased in the bilateral head of the caudate nucleus (HCN), lenticular nucleus (LN), ventral thalamus, substantia nigra (SN), red nucleus (RN), right dentate nucleus (DN), and decreased in the mediodorsal thalamus and extensive white matter. The value of MD increased in HCN, LN, SN, RN, and extensive white matter. The technique of DTI provides higher sensitivity and specificity than conventional MRI to detect Wilson’s disease. Besides, lesions in the basal ganglia, thalamus, and cerebellum might disconnect the basal ganglia-thalamo-cortical circuits or dentato-rubro-thalamic (DRT) track and disrupt cerebello-thalamo-cortical network finally, which may cause clinical extrapyramidal symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass has been studied for years, but this hydrolysis has been minimally used in the industry due to its high costs and low conversion yields. In the work reported here, ferulic acid (FA) and xylooligosaccharides (XOS) were generated from wheat bran at high yields based on the synergistic action of two xylan-degrading enzymes, xylanase (AnXyn11A) and feruloyl esterase (AnFaeA), which were cloned from Aspergillus niger BE-2 and heterologously expressed at high levels in Pichia pastoris . AnXyn11A exhibited a maximal activity of 240 U mL −1 at pH 5.0 and 60 °C and less thermostability above 50 °C. AnFaeA showed a maximal activity of 21 U mL −1 at pH 5.0 and 45 °C and high thermostability below 55 °C. The ratio of FA released from destarched wheat bran (DSWB) under the synergistic action of AnXyn11A and AnFaeA increased to 70% in comparison with that of the individual enzyme acting alone (only 16.8% of FA was released). Moreover, at the optimum level of enzyme addition, the XOS yield was double that under the single enzyme action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Calcination treatment improved denitration performance of manganese tailings. • The excellent low-temperature denitration performance of Mn-500 was investigated. • Physicochemical properties can be obtained at a calcination temperature of 500 °C. • The N 2 O formation mechanism, SCR reaction mechanism and SO 2 poisoning mechanism were investigated. Manganese carbonate ore is ascertained as the most abundant manganese ore in China, while its mining and beneficiation generated a large amount of manganese tailings which is regarded as a hazardous waste. Owing to great catalytic performance of manganese oxides, it is double-benefit to employ manganese tailings as catalyst to eliminate harmful nitrogen oxides from flue gas. In this study, the effects of calcination temperature on the low-temperature denitration performance and physicochemical properties of manganese tailings were systematically investigated via XRF, XRD, XPS, H 2 -TPR, NH 3 -TPD and DRIFTS, aiming at exploring the effective utilization of manganese tailings. The results revealed the best catalytic activity can be obtained at a calcination temperature of 500 °C with over 95 % NO conversion attained in the denitration temperature range of 75–225 °C. Lower calcination temperature led to the incomplete decomposition of MnCO 3 , while higher calcination temperature led to the decrease in specific surface area, surface acidity and oxidation performance. The denitration reaction was followed by Eley-Rideal pathway, in which the absorbed NH 3 species was reacted with the gaseous NO and NO 2. Based on the results in this study, the effective utilization of manganese tailings for NO emission reduction could promise for wide applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyethylene 2, 5-furandicarboxylate-lactic acid copolyesters (PEFL) were synthesized from bis (hydroxyethyl)-2, 5-furandicarboxylate and oligomer of l -lactic acid, through two-stage condensation. The polyesters were characterized using FTIR, 1 H NMR, GPC, and WXRD. The weight-average molecular weight (M w ) of the polyesters ranged from 68240 to 130433. The glass transition temperature (T g ) of the copolyesters increased gradually with increasing content of 2, 5-furandicarboxylate. In phosphate buffer solution (PBS, pH = 7.4) and in soil, the degradability of the polyesters was evaluated for 55 d. More weight loss was obtained with a higher ratio of lactate polymers in soil than those with a lower ratio in PBS. After 55 d, the weight loss of PEFL20/80 reached 65% and 24% in soil and PBS, respectively. However, the mole fraction of lactyl and furanic units that was calculated by 1 H NMR data did not change. Comparing the scanning electron microscopy images, we found many micro-cracks on the copolyester surfaces. Meanwhile, M w and T g also decreased prominently during degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acupuncture is widely used in the treatment of Bell’s palsy (BP) in many countries, but its underlying physiological mechanism remained controversial. In order to explore the potential mechanism, changes of functional connectivity (FC) of anterior cingulate gyrus (ACC) were investigated. We collected 20 healthy (control group) participants and 28 BP patients with different clinical duration accepted resting state functional MRI (rfMRI) scans before and after acupuncture, respectively. The FC of ACC before and after acupuncture was compared with paired t-test and the detailed results are presented in the paper. Our results showed that effects of the acupuncture on FC were closely related to clinical duration in patients with BP, which suggested that brain response to acupuncture was closely connected with the status of brain functional connectivity and implied that acupuncture plays a homeostatic role in the BP treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Shape evolution of gold nanoparticles in seeding approach in which 25nm citrate capped gold dots were used as the seeds and the mixtures of tetrachloroauric acid and sodium citrate as the growth solutions was investigated systematically and quantitatively. The citrate capped gold nanoparticles presented shape evolution from dot-shaped to tadpole-like, dumbbell-shaped and rod-like along the reaction. It is identified that the preferential growth along {110} facet of the face-centered cubic gold seeds related to activity of the gold precursors contributed to the shape evolution from dot-shaped to tadpole-like nanoparticles at the early stage of the reaction. The tadpole-like particles evolved to the dumbbell-shaped ones due to the reduced growth rate and ripening of the gold nanoparticles. Finally, the dumbbell-shaped particles became rod-like in shape attributed to the intraparticle ripening of the gold nanoparticles. This work implies the possibility to control over the shape of the gold nanoparticles in seeding approach in presence of weak ligands such as citrate. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Spinel LiTiO nanoparticles were prepared via a high-temperature solid-state reaction by adding the prepared cellulose to an aqueous dispersion of lithium salts and titanium dioxide. The precursors of LiTiO were characterized by thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry. The obtained LiTiO nanoparticles were characterized using X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and electrochemical measurements. The TEM revealed that the LiTiO prepared with cellulose is composed of nanoparticles with an average particle diameter of 20-30 nm. Galvanostatic battery testing showed that nano-sized LiTiO exhibit better electrochemical properties than submicro-sized LiTiO do especially at high current rates, which can deliver a reversible discharge capacity of 131 mAh g at the rate of 10 C, whereas that of the submicro-sized sample decreases to 25 mAh g at the same rate (10 C). Its reversible capacity is maintained at ~172.2 mAh g with the voltage range 1.0-3.0 V (vs. Li) at the current rate of 0.5 C for over 80 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Glutaredoxin belongs to the oxidoreductase family, with cytosolic glutaredoxin 1 (Grx1) and mitochondrial glutaredoxin 2 (Grx2) isoforms. Of the two isozymes, the function of Grx2 is not well understood. This paper describes the effects of Grx2 deletion on cellular function using primary lens epithelial cell cultures isolated from Grx2 gene knockout (KO) and wild-type (WT) mice. We found that both cell types showed similar growth patterns and morphology and comparable mitochondrial glutathione pool and complex I activity. Cells with deleted Grx2 did not show affected Grx1 or thioredoxin expression but exhibited high sensitivity to oxidative stress. Under treatment with H2O2, the KO cells showed less viability, higher membrane leakage, enhanced ATP loss and complex I inactivation, and weakened ability to detoxify H2O2 in comparison with the WT cells. The KO cells had higher glutathionylation in the mitochondrial proteins, particularly the 75-kDa subunit of complex I. Recombinant Grx2 deglutathionylated complex I and restored most of its activity. We conclude that Grx2 has a function that protects cells against H2O2-induced injury via its peroxidase and dethiolase activities; particularly, Grx2 prevents complex I inactivation and preserves mitochondrial function. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Glutaredoxin 2 (Grx2) belongs to the oxidoreductase family and is an isozyme of glutaredoxin 1 (Grx1) present in the mitochondria, however its function is not well understood. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the potential anti-apoptotic function of Grx2 by examining its ability to protect complex I in the mitochondrial electron transport system using human lens epithelial cells as a model. We found that cells treated with 200μM hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) for 24h exhibited decreased viability and became apoptotic with corresponding Bax up-regulation, Bcl-2 down-regulation, caspase 3 activation and mitochondrial cytochrome c leakage. Grx2 over-expression (OE) could protect cells against H2O2-induced damage while Grx2 knockdown (KD) showed the opposite effect. Under the same conditions, H2O2 treatment caused 50% inactivation of complex I activity in control cells (vector only), 75% in Grx2 KD cells but only 20% in Grx2 OE cells. Furthermore, the inactivated complex I in the H2O2-treated cells could be protected mostly by importing the purified nascent Grx2 protein, but not the Grx2 protein mutated at the active site with C70S, or C73S, or with C70S plus C73S. Immunoprecipitation study also revealed that Grx2 co-precipitated with complex I, but not complex II, in the mitochondrial lysate. Thus, the mechanism of Grx2 protection against H2O2-induced apoptosis is likely associated with its ability to preserve complex I. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The site preference behavior of Dy in B2 NiAl was investigated by a combination of the first-principles and statistical–mechanical Wagner–Schottky method. At T =0K, the site occupation of Dy in B2 NiAl is highly stoichiometric-dependent, whereas, Dy showing a consistent preference for the Al sublattices in three types of B2 NiAl at temperatures higher than 300K. The density of states (DOS) and Mulliken bond population calculations show that the interactions between Al (s, p) electrons and Ni (d) electrons are much stronger in the Dy-doped NiAl than those in pure NiAl, which could be responsible for the improvement of mechanical properties of the Dy-doped NiAl. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Metallic cobalt nanoparticles have been prepared in the faujasite zeolite by the reduction of the Co2+-exchanged zeolite with sodium borohydride aqueous solutions. The influences of the temperature used for treating the Co2+-faujasite zeolite before reduction and the concentration of NaBH4 solution on the degree of reduction and the size of cobalt particles have been investigated. Although the treatment of the Co2+-exchanged faujasite zeolite at a higher temperature before reduction leads to a lower degree of reduction, an appropriate treatment temperature is needed for obtaining cobalt nanoparticles with sizes less than 5nm. Cobalt particles with a maximum size distribution at 1–2nm, which are probably located inside the supercages of faujasite zeolite, can be obtained by using a higher concentration of NaBH4 aqueous solution (10M), while lower NaBH4 concentrations lead to the formation of larger cobalt particles (>10nm) mainly located outside the cages of the zeolite. The smaller cobalt nanoparticles located inside the supercages of faujasite zeolite exhibit higher CO conversions in Fischer–Tropsch synthesis than the larger cobalt particles outside the supercages or the cobalt on the surface of non-porous silica. Unique product distributions are observed in the catalysis over the smaller cobalt nanoparticles in the supercages of faujasite zeolite. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The simulation studies of hydrogen adsorption in three types of ideal Y-junction carbon nanotubes (Y-CNTs) with open ends were carried out using molecular dynamics simulations and molecular mechanics calculations. The results show that the physisorption of hydrogen in Y-CNTs is very limited and far from the target set by DOE for hydrogen storage and transportation, implying that it is unlikely to achieve high hydrogen storage in open-ended Y-CNTs via physisorption scheme. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Thiochromone has a wide range of biological activities. • 20 Substrates. • Environmentally friendly. • TBHP as the oxidant. • Easy acquisition of raw materials. Thiochromone is a thiohomolog of chromone, which has a wide range of biological activities, such as antibacterial, anticancer, antiplatelet aggregation and other effects. A protocol of producing thiochromones by the visible-light-mediated cyclization of aryl ynones with aldehydes is realized. The products were provided in moderate-to-good yields with good functional group tolerance. Mechanistic research reveals that a radical pathway may be involved in the transformation in which aldehyde generates free radicals under irradiation, and undergoes addition and ring closure with ynone to generate thiochromone. The reaction has the characteristics of simple operation, mild reaction and easy acquisition of raw materials. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• 37 Substrates. • Gram scalability. • Flavin was first used to catalyze oxidizing alkanes to ketones. • Applied to many bioactive, pharmaceutical molecules and natural products. • Moderate-to-excellent yields with good functional group tolerance. A protocol of flavin-catalyzed, TBHP-promoted aerobic oxidation of (het)aryl alkane to ketones has been developed and the products were provided in moderate-to-excellent yields with broad functional group tolerance. Flavin was first employed as a catalyst to oxidize (het)aryl alkane to ketones. The methodology were applied to the synthesis of many biologically active, pharmaceutical molecules and natural products. Mechanistic investigation reveals that a radical pathway may be involved in the transformation. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A homolog of HIR1 (histone chaperone protein) was identified in P. ostreatus. • The disruption of hir1 resulted in a significant reduction of lignin-degrading capacity. • Transcriptional alterations with respect to ligninolytic genes were observed in hir1 disruptants. • Cellulolytic genes were strikingly upregulated in hir1 disruptants. • Specific histone modification patterns were altered in several upregulated cellulolytic genes. Pleurotus ostreatus is frequently used in molecular genetics and genomic studies on white-rot fungi because various molecular genetic tools and relatively well-annotated genome databases are available. To explore the molecular mechanisms underlying wood lignin degradation by P. ostreatus , we performed mutational analysis of a newly isolated mutant UVRM28 that exhibits decreased lignin-degrading ability on the beech wood sawdust medium. We identified that a mutation in the hir1 gene encoding a putative histone chaperone, which probably plays an important role in DNA replication-independent nucleosome assembly, is responsible for the mutant phenotype. The expression pattern of ligninolytic genes was altered in hir1 disruptants. The most highly expressed gene vp2 was significantly inactivated, whereas the expression of vp1 was remarkably upregulated (300–400 fold) at the transcription level. Conversely, many cellulolytic and xylanolytic genes were upregulated in hir1 disruptants. Chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis suggested that the histone modification status was altered in the 5ʹ-upstream regions of some of the up- and down-regulated lignocellulolytic genes in hir1 disruptants compared with that in the 20b strain. Hence, our data provide new insights into the regulatory mechanisms of lignocellulolytic genes in P. ostreatus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon-assisted water electrolysis can significantly reduce the electricity consumption of electrolytic hydrogen production, but its slow kinetics limit its further development. In-depth investigation of the oxidation pathways and control steps of coal particles during electrolysis can help to improve the reaction rate in a more targeted manner. In this study, the electrochemical activities of several different ranks of coal, activated carbon, and graphite are compared, and the electrooxidation process is disentangled to investigate the kinetic characteristics of the oxidation of solution catalysts, the reaction of coal with solution catalysts and the electrooxidation of coal. Structural characterization is used to investigate the key factors affecting the electrochemical activity. The results show that coal particles mainly undergo indirect oxidation during electrolysis, and direct oxidation only accounts for a small fraction of oxidation; the oxidation of the solution catalyst on the electrode surface is reversible, and the controlling step in the whole process is the redox reaction between the solution catalyst and coal particles. A variety of oxygen-containing functional groups are generated on the surface of coal particles after electrolysis, among which the C-O group plays a more critical role in the oxidation activity. • For the first time, the kinetics of CAWE was studied in detail by splitting. • Direct evidence that coal particles mainly undergo indirect oxidation was obtained. • The oxidation of coal particles clearly has two phases. • The accuracy of Fe2+ concentration detection in flat electrodes is relatively high. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Pyrite ore as the only additive is used for sulfation reaction of LiCoO 2. • The mechanism of the sulfation reaction of LiCoO 2 was obtained. • Lithium deintercalation has been verified through density functional theory calculations. • High purity Li 2 CO 3 could be produced from the lithium sulfate leaching solution. Recovery of valuable metals from spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is of great importance for resource sustainability and environmental protection. This study introduced pyrite ore (FeS 2) as an alternative additive to achieve the selective recovery of Li 2 CO 3 from spent LiCoO 2 (LCO) batteries. The mechanism study revealed that the sulfation reaction followed two pathways. During the initial stage (550 °C–800 °C), the decomposition and oxidation of FeS 2 and the subsequent gas–solid reaction between the resulting SO 2 and layered LCO play crucial roles. The sulfation of lithium occurred prior to cobalt, resulting in the disruption of layered structure of LCO and the transformation into tetragonal spinel. In the second stage (over 800 °C), the dominated reactions were the decomposition of orthorhombic cobalt sulfate and its combination with rhombohedral Fe 2 O 3 to form CoFe 2 O 4. The deintercalation of Li from LCO by the substitution of Fe and conversion of Co(III)/Fe(II) into Co 3 O 4 /CoFe 2 O 4 were further confirmed by density functional theory (DFT) calculation results. This fundamental understanding of the sulfation reaction facilitated the future development of lithium extraction methods that utilized additives to substantially reduce energy consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A selenium‐mediated redox condensation of 2‐chloronitrobenzene and arylmethyl chloride to obtain 2‐arylbenzoselenazoles has been realized under metal‐free condition. The reactions proceeded in moderate‐to‐good yields with good functional compatibility and gram‐scale achievement. Primarily mechanistic investigation suggested that key intermediate Bn(Se)nBn II, was first isolated and confirmed by NMR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • MnO x -SiO 2 catalyst with good sulfur resistance and N 2 selectivity was prepared. • Doping of SiO 2 inhibited the adsorption of SO 2 and improved the sulfur resistance. • Doping of SiO 2 reduced the excessive oxidation of NH 3 and improved the N 2 selectivity. Manganese-based catalysts have excellent catalytic performance for the effective removal of NO x in low-temperature flue gas through selective catalytic reduction with NH 3 (NH 3 -SCR). However, the catalysts suffer from poor SO 2 resistance and N 2 selectivity in the actual process, which still need to be solved. In this study, MnO x -SiO 2 mixed oxide catalysts were designed and prepared by coprecipitation method to improve the SO 2 resistance and N 2 selectivity in NH 3 -SCR process. In the presence of 100 ppm SO 2 , MnO x -SiO 2 (0.72) catalyst showed excellent sulfur resistance with the conversion of NO x reached 95 % even after introducing SO 2 for 8 h. The doping of SiO 2 greatly improved the specific surface area and surface acidity of the catalyst, which was conducive to the adsorption of NH 3. Meanwhile, the redox performance of the catalyst was decreased, improving the N 2 selectivity. The study on the sulfur resistance mechanism revealed that the doping of SiO 2 reduced the adsorption of SO 2 on the surface of catalyst, protecting the active components and avoiding the accumulation of sulfates, thus achieving good sulfur resistance performance. This work provided an environmentally friendly NH 3 -SCR catalyst by inhibiting SO 2 adsorption to have good catalytic performance and SO 2 resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are an essential secondary resource containing valuable metal elements. The recovery of valuable metals from spent LIBs poses immense importance in terms of environmental protection and mitigating resource shortages. Sulfation roasting has been demonstrated to have high efficiency in recovering valuable elements from spent LIBs. Nevertheless, conventional sulfation roasting techniques have certain drawbacks, such as lack of sustainability and an adverse environmental impact, due to the utilization of costly sulfation reagents and the emission of SO2. Herein, a green strategy involving waste copperas-assisted sulfation and roasting–water leaching process with SO2-free emissions is proposed to selectively recover lithium and prepare low-cost LIB-derived CoFe2O4 catalysts from spent lithium cobalt oxide (LCO) batteries. Under optimal conditions, approximately 92.87% of lithium in the LCO battery cathode could be successfully recovered as Li2CO3 with a purity of 99.69%. Additionally, the prepared LIB-derived CoFe2O4 catalyst showed an excellent CO catalytic activity at 300 °C, with about 98% of CO being effectively oxidized. The catalysis process followed a Mars–van Krevelen-type mechanism, where CO was oxidized by the interaction with the adsorbed oxygen species and lattice oxygen. This strategy is the first to combine the selective recovery of lithium with CO purification, achieving the efficient and functional utilization of spent LIBs and providing a new strategy for treating spent LIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In nature, white-rot fungi efficiently degrade lignin present in wood biomass. Elucidation of molecular mechanisms underlying wood lignin biodegradation by white-rot fungi would contribute to the development of efficient and ecofriendly methods of producing valuable chemical products from wood biomass. Here, using forward genetics approach, we demonstrate that the mutant of a putative transcription factor gene, gat1-1 , significantly decreases the ligninolytic activity of the white-rot fungus Pleurotus ostreatus , when grown on beech wood sawdust medium. We also show that this phenotype is dominant. In Schizophyllum commune , Gat1 was previously shown to be involved in fruiting body development. In this study, we reveal that the mutations in gat1 gene cause defects in fruiting body development in P. ostreatus. Unlike the previously reported recessive gene mutations that decrease the ligninolytic activity of P. ostreatus , the gat1-1 mutation and Δ gat1 are dominant and would thus be useful for future studies on the functional role of the orthologs in other white-rot fungi. Highlights • gat1 mutations caused significant defects in lignin degradation by Pleurotus ostreatus. • The gat1 gene encodes an Agaricomycete-specific transcription factor. • The gat1 gene is also essential for fruiting in P. ostreatus. • The phenotypes caused by gat1-1 mutations are dominant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In Wilson's disease (WD) patients, network connections across the brain are disrupted, affecting multidomain function. However, the details of this neuropathophysiological mechanism remain unclear due to the rarity of WD. In this study, we aimed to investigate alterations in brain network connectivity at the whole-brain level (both intra- and inter-network) in WD patients through independent component analysis (ICA) and the relationship between alterations in these brain network functional connections (FCs) and clinical neuropsychiatric features to understand the underlying pathophysiological and central compensatory mechanisms. Methods: Eighty-five patients with WD and age- and sex-matched 85 healthy control (HC) were recruited for resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) scanning. We extracted the resting-state networks (RSNs) using the ICA method, analyzed the changes of FC in these networks and the correlation between alterations in FCs and clinical neuropsychiatric features. Results: Compared with HC, WD showed widespread lower connectivity within RSNs, involving default mode network (DMN), frontoparietal network (FPN), somatomotor network (SMN), dorsal attention network (DAN), especially in patients with abnormal UWDRS scores. Furthermore, the decreased FCs in the left medial prefrontal cortex (L_ MPFC), left anterior cingulate gyrus (L_ACC), precuneus (PCUN)within DMN were negatively correlated with the Unified Wilson's Disease Rating Scale-neurological characteristic examination (UWDRS-N), and the decreased FCs in the L_MPFC, PCUN within DMN were negatively correlated with the Unified Wilson's Disease Rating Scale-psychiatric symptoms examination (UWDRS-P). We additionally discovered that the patients with WD exhibited significantly stronger FC between the FPN and DMN, between the DAN and DMN, and between the FPN and DAN compared to HC. Conclusions: We have provided evidence that WD is a disease with widespread dysfunctional connectivity in resting networks in brain, leading to neurological features and psychiatric symptoms (e.g. higher-order cognitive control and motor control impairments). The alter intra- and inter-network in the brain may be the neural underpinnings for the neuropathological symptoms and the process of injury compensation in WD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary underlying contributor for cataract, a leading cause of vision impairment and blindness worldwide, is oxidative stress. Oxidative stress triggers protein damage, cell apoptosis, and subsequent cataract formation. The nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) serves as a principal redox transcriptional factor in the lens, offering a line of defense against oxidative stress. In response to oxidative challenges, Nrf2 dissociates from its inhibitor, Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1), moves to the nucleus, and binds to the antioxidant response element (ARE) to activate the Nrf2-dependent antioxidant system. In parallel, oxidative stress also induces endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS). Reactive oxygen species (ROS), generated during oxidative stress, can directly damage proteins, causing them to misfold. Initially, the unfolded protein response (UPR) activates to mitigate excessive misfolded proteins. Yet, under persistent or severe stress, the failure to rectify protein misfolding leads to an accumulation of these aberrant proteins, pushing the UPR towards an apoptotic pathway, further contributing to cataractogenesis. Importantly, there is a dynamic interaction between the Nrf2 antioxidant system and the ERS/UPR mechanism in the lens. This interplay, where ERS/UPR can modulate Nrf2 expression and vice versa, holds potential therapeutic implications for cataract prevention and treatment. This review explores the intricate crosstalk between these systems, aiming to illuminate strategies for future advancements in cataract prevention and intervention. The Nrf2-dependent antioxidant system communicates and cross-talks with the ERS/UPR pathway. Both mechanisms are proposed to play pivotal roles in the onset of cataract formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lignin‐modifying enzymes (LMEs), which include laccases (Lacs), manganese peroxidases (MnPs), versatile peroxidases (VPs), and lignin peroxidases (LiPs), have been considered key factors in lignin degradation by white‐rot fungi because they oxidize lignin model compounds and depolymerize synthetic lignin in vitro. However, it remains unclear whether these enzymes are essential/important in the actual degradation of natural lignin in plant cell walls. To address this long‐standing issue, we examined the lignin‐degrading abilities of multiple mnp/vp/lac mutants of Pleurotus ostreatus. One vp2/vp3/mnp3/mnp6 quadruple‐gene mutant was generated from a monokaryotic wild‐type strain PC9 using plasmid‐based CRISPR/Cas9. Also, two vp2/vp3/mnp2/mnp3/mnp6, two vp2/vp3/mnp3/mnp6/lac2 quintuple‐gene mutants, and two vp2/vp3/mnp2/mnp3/mnp6/lac2 sextuple‐gene mutants were generated. The lignin‐degrading abilities of the sextuple and vp2/vp3/mnp2/mnp3/mnp6 quintuple‐gene mutants on the Beech wood sawdust medium reduced drastically, but not so much for those of the vp2/vp3/mnp3/mnp6/lac2 mutants and the quadruple mutant strain. The sextuple‐gene mutants also barely degraded lignin in Japanese Cedar wood sawdust and milled rice straw. Thus, this study presented evidence that the LMEs, especially MnPs and VPs, play a crucial role in the degradation of natural lignin by P. ostreatus for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a potential substitute for petroleum-based terephthalic acid (TPA) in the manufacture of polyesters, 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid has been obtained through several feasible routes. Herein, a new chemo-enzymatic strategy for generating furan-2,5-dicarboxylic acid (FDCA) precursors from sodium gluconate via bio-oxidation and dehydration is presented. By coupling the bio-oxidation of gluconate 5-dehydrogenase with carbonyl reductase PsCR for cofactor regeneration, 5-keto- D -gluconic acid (5KGA), a specific product of D -gluconic acid bio-oxidation and a stable intermediate, was obtained in 99% yield. The statin intermediate ethyl (S)-4-chloro-3-hydroxybutanoate was simultaneously generated as a co-product via cycling cascade catalysis. Subsequently, the yield of the FDCA precursor n-butyl-5-formyl-2-furancarboxylate (nBu-FFCA) generated via 5KGA dehydration and esterification reached 77.9%. Key intermediate characterization and theoretical calculations revealed that the decarboxylation and dehydration of cyclic 5KGA to furfural was the main side-reaction that prevented a better yield of dehydrated 5KGA. This route demonstrates good sustainability and market competitiveness compared to the existing FDCA synthesis methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory, functional dyspepsia (FD) can be divided into different syndromes according to different clinical symptoms and signs, and the most common one is spleen-deficiency and qi-stagnation syndrome that can be treated by Chinese traditional patent medicine--two kinds of Zhizhu pills, between which the primary difference in ingredients is that one contains immature orange fruit of Citrus aurantium L.(IFCA) and the other contains that of Citrus sinensis Osbeck (IFCS). The trial's objective was to compare the efficacy of two kinds of Zhizhu pills on symptom changes in patients with FD of spleen-deficiency and qi-stagnation syndrome.Methods: A randomized, group sequential, double-blinded, multicenter trial was conducted in patients with FD of spleen-deficiency and qi-stagnation syndrome at 3 hospitals in Beijing between June 2003 and May 2005. Participants were randomly allocated into two groups (IFCA group and IFCS group) in a 1:1 ratio, and respectively took one of the two kinds of Zhizhu pills orally, 6 g each time, 3 times a day, for 4 weeks. Statistical analysis was performed with use of a group sequential method, the triangular test (TT).Results: A total of 163 patients were randomized, and 3 patients were excluded from analysis because of early dropouts, leaving 160 patients (IFCA group: n = 82; IFCS group: n = 78) for statistical analysis. Three interim analyses were done after 62, 116, and 160 patients had completed their 4-week treatment, respectively. At the third interim analysis, the sample path crossed the upper boundary and the trial was stopped, the cure-markedly effective rates were 45% for IFCS group and 67% for IFCA group, respectively, the one-sided p-value was 0.0036, the median unbiased estimate of the odds ratio (OR) for the benefit of IFCA relative to IFCS was 2.91 with 95%CI: 1.40 to 6.06.No adverse events were observed in the two groups.Conclusions: Zhizhu pills containing IFCA was superior to Zhizhu pills containing IFCS in the treatment of FD of spleen-deficiency and qi-stagnation syndrome. The application of group sequential analysis in clinical trials of TCM may offer some financial and ethical benefits.Trial Registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR): ChiCTR-TRC-00000485. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Density functional theory calculations have been performed to investigate the palladium‐catalyzed remote diborylative cyclization of dienes. The computations reveal that the reaction proceeds through a rarely explored Pd(II)/Pd(IV) catalytic cycle, and the formal σ‐bond metathesis between the alkylpalladium intermediate and B2pin2 occurs via the pathway of the B−B oxidative addition/C−B reductive elimination involving the high‐valent Pd(IV) species. The diastereoselectivity is determined by the migratory insertion into the Pd−C bond, which is mainly due to the combination of the torsional strain effect, steric repulsion and C−H—O hydrogen‐bonding interaction. The steric hindrance around the reacting carbon group in the C−B reductive elimination turns out to be a key factor to provide the driving force of the chain walking of the Pd center to the terminal primary carbon position, enabling the experimentally observed remote regioselectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pyrolusite tailings (PTs) is a solid waste discharged from the mining of high grade pyrolusite, and is also regraded as an important secondary resource of manganese. However, its extraction requires an expensive reductant used for the reduction of Mn(IV) to low valence. In this paper, an innovative process using in situ redox interaction of PTs with waste copperas (as reductant and sulfating agent) followed by water leaching for efficient manganese extraction was proposed. The in situ redox interaction mechanism was investigated systematically. At lower temperatures (＜500 °C), Fe(II) was the main reductant by direct solid-to-solid reaction. In the temperature range of 500–650 °C, the Mn(IV) in PTs was reduced to Mn(II) due to the synergistic effect of Fe(II) and SO 2 , and then Mn(II) was sulfated into water-soluble MnSO 4. The reduction of Fe(III) into Fe(II) by SO 2 occurred i.e. the Fe(II)⇌Fe(III) redox cycle. And the generated FeSO 4 continued to react with PTs, indicating that the Fe(II)⇌Fe(III) redox cycle facilitated the extraction of manganese. Furthermore, high roasting temperatures caused MnSO 4 to decompose into insoluble Mn 2 O 3 , inhibiting the extraction. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ZF-HD (zinc finger-homeodomain) gene family plays important roles in plant growth, development, and various stress responses. In the present study, 49, 50, 22, and 32 ZF-HD genes were identified in Gossypium hirsutum, Gossypium barbadense, Gossypium arboretum, and Gossypium raimondii genomes, respectively. According to their phylogenetic features, the ZF-HD genes were classified into six groups. Segmental duplication, whole genome duplication, and transposable elements provides major forces for the expansion of cotton ZF-HD gene family during the divergence of Gossypium species and the divergence between monocots and dicots. The Ka/Ks ratios of the ZF-HD segmental duplication pairs were mainly distributed around 0.12, which indicated that they have experienced strong purifying selective pressure during evolution. Transcriptome analysis showed that 6 Gossypium hirsutum and 4 Gossypium barbadense ZF-HD genes were expressed in all tested tissues. Further, expression profiles under abiotic stress exhibited that the ZF-HD genes were differentially regulated in response to various stresses. Taken together, our findings provide a valuable information on the characterization of ZF-HD gene family and lay foundation for their further function investigations in cotton. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two novel surfactant-encapsulated high-nuclear polyoxometalates catalysts (DODA) 20 [(HPMo 6 O 21 ) 4 (O 2 CCH 2 CO 2 ) 6 ]·27H 2 O and (DODA) 10 [(HPMo 6 O 21 ) 2 (C 2 O 4 ) 3 ]·11H 2 O have been prepared and characterized by TG, FT-IR, 1 H NMR and UV–Vis. They were used for the oxidative desulfurization of model oil containing sulfur compounds such as dibenzothiophene (DBT), 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene (4,6-DMDBT), benzothiophene (BT) with H 2 O 2 as an oxidant under mild conditions. The removal of DBT, 4,6-DMDBT and BT could reach above 98% under the optimal conditions of n (S)/ n (catalyst)/ n (H 2 O 2 ) = 220:1:880 at 60 °C for 2.5 h, 4.5 h and 5 h respectively, which improved to be a promising catalyst in the ODS process. The oxidative reactivity of the sulfur-containing compounds decreased according to DBT > 4,6-DMDBT > BT. We investigated the main factors affecting the process including temperature, the polymeric structures of catalysts, and O/S (H 2 O 2 /DBT) molar ratio in detail. Moreover, the catalyst can be reused 5 times with high recycling efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A triphasic intergrowth Na/Mn/Zn-based hexacyanoferrate is fabricated. • A gradient Zn/Mn distribution is formed in Na/Mn/Zn-based hexacyanoferrate. • Simultaneous surface/bulk modifications are achieved through a one-step reaction. • Na/Mn/Zn-based hexacyanoferrate exhibits significantly improved cycling stability. As a high-capacity, high-voltage, and low-cost cathode material for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs), Na/Mn-based hexacyanoferrates (Na x Mn[Fe(CN) 6 ] 1−y ·□ y ·nH 2 O) typically exhibit poor structural reversibility and interfacial stability during cycling. In this study, we report the in-situ construction of a triphasic intergrowth Na/Mn/Zn-based hexacyanoferrate (mcr-Zn 0.2 Mn 0.8) with concentration-gradient Zn distribution by an anion-controlled fractional precipitation route. Density functional theory calculations verify that the unique heterostructure arises from the different binding energies between cations and anions. A small amount of Zn2+ doping in the inner cubic/monoclinic phases enhances their structural reversibility during cycling by impeding lattice deformation induced by the Jahn–Teller effect of Mn3+. Meanwhile, the rhombohedral Zn-based hexacyanoferrate epitaxially grown on the surface diminishes the particle size of mcr-Zn 0.2 Mn 0.8 resulting in short Na+ diffusion distance, and provides interface protection that suppresses detrimental electrolyte decomposition. Consequently, mcr-Zn 0.2 Mn 0.8 exhibits a high discharge capacity of 121.1 mAh/g at 15 mA g−1, improved cycling stability at 750 mA g−1 with a capacity retention of 65.0 % after 2000 cycles, and enhanced rate capability with a discharge capacity of 71.4 mAh/g at 6000 mA g−1. The successful implementation of simultaneous surface and bulk modifications through a one-step reaction opens new possibilities for developing high-performance hexacyanoferrate cathode materials for SIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pseudorabies virus (PRV) is a ubiquitous and economically important swine alphaherpesvirus that causes devastating swine diseases worldwide. PRV-encoded DNA-dependent DNA polymerase, comprised of the catalytic subunit UL30 and the accessory subunit UL42, is essential for viral replication. PRV UL30 and UL42 act as a heterodimer with UL30 harboring inherent DNA polymerase activity and UL42 conferring processivity on the DNA polymerase holoenzyme. The formation of PRV UL30/UL42 heterodimer holoenzyme through protein-protein interactions is indispensable for viral replication. In work described here, we defined the key domains that mediate PRV UL30/UL42 interaction, and found that the 41 carboxy-terminal amino acids region of PRV UL30 is critical for its interaction with UL42. Intriguingly, a synthetic peptide corresponding to these 41 carboxy-terminal amino acid residues efficiently disrupted PRV UL30/UL42 interaction through competitively binding to UL42. These findings suggest that the peptides from the PRV DNA polymerase UL30/UL42 subunit interface may represent potential targets for designing a novel intervention strategy against PRV infection. This work further strengthens the concept that the herpesvirus DNA polymerase catalytic subunits utilize their extreme carboxy-terminal domains as a conserved mechanism to associate with their cognate accessory subunits, providing us the opportunity of designing novel antiviral agents against herpesvirus infection through disruption of the herpesvirus DNA polymerase subunit interactions. • PRV UL42 harbors multiple binding sites for UL30. • The 41 carboxy-terminal amino acids region of PRV UL30 is vital for binding UL42. • A synthetic peptide from PRV UL30/UL42 subunit interface blocks their interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glutaredoxin2 (Grx2) is a mitochondrial isozyme of the cytosolic glutaredoxin1 (thioltransferase or TTase). Both belong to the large oxidoreductase family and play an important role in maintaining thiol/disulfide redox homeostasis in the cells. Grx2 is recently found in the lens where its activities of disulfide reductase and peroxidase, similar to TTase, can protect the lens against oxidative stress. Since other eye tissues are also highly sensitive to oxidative stress, and TTase's distribution in the eye is known, we focused on this study by investigating the Grx2 distribution in the ocular tissues in comparison to the lens. Fresh porcine eyes were dissected into cornea, iris, ciliary body, the lens, vitreous humor, retina, and optic nerve. Each tissue (pooled from three eyes) was homogenized and processed for mitochondrial isolation. The mitochondrial fraction was analyzed for Grx2 protein using Western blotting with anti-Grx2 antibody, and Grx2 activity using the published procedure. The eye tissues were also measured for Grx2 mRNA expression by RT-PCR with GAPDH as the control. Grx2-rich mouse liver and purified recombinant mouse Grx2 were used as positive controls for the above analyses. It was found that Grx2 was present in all the tested ocular tissues, except vitreous humor. In comparison with the mouse liver, the protein levels of Grx2 in porcine ciliary body and the lens were 27-fold and 0.75-fold, respectively. Comparing to the lens, Grx2 protein was highest in the ciliary body (13.5-fold), followed by retina (9.2-fold), iris and optic nerve (2-fold), and cornea (1.2-fold). Enzyme activity assays showed that the retina had the highest Grx2 specific activity (3.9 mU/mg protein), followed by ciliary body (3.1 mU/mg), the lens (0.58 mU/mg), and optic nerve (0.32 mU/mg). Grx2 gene expression in these ocular tissues was further confirmed by RT-PCR analysis. Grx2 mRNA expression showed the highest in ciliary body, followed by retina, optic nerve, cornea, iris, and the lens. No Grx2 mRNA, protein or enzyme activity could be found in the vitreous humor. The results indicate that Grx2 level was higher in eye tissues rich in vasculature and mitochondria (i.e. ciliary body and retina), corroborating with the levels of mRNA expression and Grx2 activity. The rich presence of Grx2 in these tissues is also consistent with their known sensitivity to oxidative stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to investigate if grape consumption, in the form of grape powder (GP), could protect against ultraviolet (UV)-induced cataract. Mice were fed with the regular diet, sugar placebo diet, or a grape diet (regular diet supplemented with 5%, 10%, and 15% GP) for 3 months. The mice were then exposed to UV radiation to induce cataract. The results showed that the GP diet dose-dependently inhibited UV-induced cataract and preserved glutathione pools. Interestingly, UV-induced Nrf2 activation was abolished in the groups on the GP diet, suggesting GP consumption may improve redox homeostasis in the lens, making Nrf2 activation unnecessary. For molecular target prediction, a total of 471 proteins regulated by GP were identified using Agilent Literature Search (ALS) software. Among these targets, the X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP) was correlated with all of the main active ingredients of GP, including resveratrol, catechin, quercetin, and anthocyanins. Our data confirmed that GP prevented UV-induced suppression of XIAP, indicating that XIAP might be one of the critical molecular targets of GP. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that GP protected the lens from UV-induced cataract development in mice. The protective effects of GP may be attributed to its ability to improve redox homeostasis and activate the XIAP-mediated antiapoptotic pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Posterior Capsule Opacification (PCO), the most frequent complication of cataract surgery, is caused by the infiltration and proliferation of lens epithelial cells (LECs) at the interface between the intraocular lens (IOL) and posterior lens capsule (PLC). According to the "no space, no cells, no PCO" theory, high affinity (or adhesion force) between the IOL and PLC would decrease the IOL: PLC interface space, hinder LEC migration, and thus reduce PCO formation. To test this hypothesis, an in vitro hemisphere-shaped simulated PLC (sPLC) was made to mimic the human IOL: PLC physical interactions and to assess their influence on LEC responses. Three commercially available IOLs with different affinities/adhesion forces toward the sPLC, including Acrylic foldable IOL, Silicone IOL, and PMMA IOL, were used in this investigation. Using the system, the physical interactions between IOLs and sPLC were quantified by measuring the adhesion force and interface space using an adhesion force apparatus and Optical Coherence Tomography, respectively. Our data shows that high adhesion force and tight binding between IOL and sPLC contribute to a small interface space (or "no space"). By introducing LECs into the in vitro system, we found that, with small interface space, among all IOLs, acrylic foldable IOLs permitted the least extent of LEC infiltration, proliferation, and differentiation (or "no cells"). Further statistical analyses using clinical data revealed that weak LEC responses are associated with low clinical PCO incidence rates (or "no PCO"). The findings support that the in vitro system could simulate IOL: PLC interplays and predict IOLs' PCO potential in support of the "no space, no cells, no PCO" hypothesis. • A 3D simulated posterior lens capsule (sPLC) with adult human PLC dimensions was developed to test the "No space, no cell, no PCO" hypothesis. • Strong IOL adhesion force resulted in small interface space between the IOL and sPLC, which supports the "strong adhesion, no space" sub-hypothesis. • Small IOL: PLC interface space prevented lens epithelial cell (LEC) infiltration and proliferation supporting the "no space, no cell" hypothesis. • The extent of LECs at the interface had a good linear relationship with clinical PCO incidence, which substantiates the "no cell, no PCO" sub-hypothesis. • The in vitro system simulated IOL: PLC physical interplay and predicted IOL PCO potential in support of the "no space, no cells, no PCO" hypothesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]