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Carborane compounds, known for their exceptional thermal stability and non‐toxic attributes, have garnered widespread utility in medicine, supramolecular design, coordination/organometallic chemistry, and others. Although there is considerable interest among chemists, the integration of suitable carborane molecules into ferroelectric materials remains a formidable challenge. In this study, we employ the quasi‐spherical design strategy to introduce functional groups at the boron vertices of the o‐carborane cage, aiming to reduce molecular symmetry. This approach led to the successful synthesis of the pioneering ferroelectric crystals composed of cage‐like carboranes: 9‐OH‐o‐carborane (1) and 9‐SH‐o‐carborane (2), which undergo above‐room ferroelectric phase transitions (Tc) at approximately 367 K and 347 K. Interestingly, 1 and 2 represent uniaxial and multiaxial ferroelectrics respectively, with 2 exhibiting six polar axes and as many as twelve equivalent polarization directions. As the pioneering instance of carborane ferroelectric crystals, this study introduces a novel structural archetype for molecular ferroelectrics, thereby providing fresh insights into the exploration of molecular ferroelectric crystals with promising applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carborane compounds, known for their exceptional thermal stability and non‐toxic attributes, have garnered widespread utility in medicine, supramolecular design, coordination/organometallic chemistry, and others. Although there is considerable interest among chemists, the integration of suitable carborane molecules into ferroelectric materials remains a formidable challenge. In this study, we employ the quasi‐spherical design strategy to introduce functional groups at the boron vertices of the o‐carborane cage, aiming to reduce molecular symmetry. This approach led to the successful synthesis of the pioneering ferroelectric crystals composed of cage‐like carboranes: 9‐OH‐o‐carborane (1) and 9‐SH‐o‐carborane (2), which undergo above‐room ferroelectric phase transitions (Tc) at approximately 367 K and 347 K. Interestingly, 1 and 2 represent uniaxial and multiaxial ferroelectrics respectively, with 2 exhibiting six polar axes and as many as twelve equivalent polarization directions. As the pioneering instance of carborane ferroelectric crystals, this study introduces a novel structural archetype for molecular ferroelectrics, thereby providing fresh insights into the exploration of molecular ferroelectric crystals with promising applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reported herein is an electrochemical strategy for N-sulfonylation of azoles with sulfonyl hydrazides, offering efficient access to valuable N-sulfonated azoles. Organic radical species were involved in the process and EPR experiments provided evidence for the formation of intermediates in situ. The electrochemical reaction features metal-free, mild conditions, and a broad substrate scope (>70 examples). The gram-scale synthesis via an electrochemical continuous-flow reaction and late-stage modification of complex compounds is advocated for its practical value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reported herein is a photochemical strategy for C(sp3)–H azolation of ethers via a hydrogen-atom transfer and radical-polar crossover process, offering efficient access to valuable N-alkylated azoles under visible-light irradiation. The protocol is metal-free and photocatalyst-free, and exhibits good to excellent yields and broad substrate scope with regard to azoles. EPR experiments provide evidence for the formation of intermediates formed in situ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic ferroelectrics have received a great deal of interest due to their exclusive properties. However, organic ferroelectrics have not been fully explored, which hinders their practical application. Here, we presented a novel metal‐free organic molecular ferroelectric [4‐MCHA][ClO4] (1) (4‐MCHA=trans‐4‐methylcyclohexylamine), which exhibits an above‐room‐temperature of 328 K. Strikingly, the single crystal structure analysis of 1 shows that the driving force of phase transition is related to the interesting chair‐boat conformation change of 4‐MCHA cation, in addition to the order‐disorder transition of ClO4− anion. Using piezoelectric response force microscopy (PFM), the presence of domains and the implemented polarization switching were clearly observed, which explicitly determined the presence of room‐temperature ferroelectricity of 1. As far as we know, the ferroelectric phase transition mechanism attributed to the conformational change in a trans isomeric cation is very rare. This research enriched the path of designing ferroelectric materials and smart materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solute Carrier Family 25 (SLC25) is the largest family of mitochondrial membrane proteins in the human body, consisting of 53 members. Mitochondrial phosphate carriers (MPiC), cellular iron metabolism, voltage-dependent anion channels (VDAC), and oxidative phosphorylation in the SLC25 family play dominant roles in material transport, energy metabolism, etc. SLC25 family-related proteins are involved in the regulation of the progression of a variety of cancers, including colon, gastric, and lung cancers. In addition, the SLC25 family has been implicated in endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) and immunity. Since SLC25 family proteins are involved in cancer progression and are associated with endoplasmic reticulum stress and immunity, exploring inhibitors of SLC25 family-related proteins is essential. However, the exact mechanism of SLC25 family-related proteins involved in cancer, as well as potential targets and SLC25 inhibitors have not been reported in the literature. This article focuses on summarizing the relevance of the SLC25 family to cancer, ERS, and immunity. This review also provides a comprehensive overview of SLC25 family-related inhibitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel solid-state second harmonic generation (SHG) organic–inorganic hybrid switch [Me3NCH2CH2F]FeBr4 (1) exhibits genuine three-step "on–off–on–off" SHG-switching above-room temperature, which has potential applications in multi-step optical devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three-dimensional (3D) hybrid organic–inorganic perovskites (HOIPs) have attracted tremendous research interest due to their unique structure and promising applications. However, research on the design, synthesis and properties of this kind of metal-free crystalline material is still in the exploratory stage. Herein, two 3D perovskite molecules [1,4-3.2.2-dabcn]NH4Br3 (1) and [1,4-3.2.2-dabcn]NH4I3·0.5H2O (2) were obtained by reacting 1,4-diazabicyclo[3.2.2]nonane (1,4-3.2.2-dabcn) with NH4X (X = Br and I) in the corresponding concentrated halogen acids. The single X-ray diffraction results demonstrated that the inorganic framework structures in compounds 1 and 2 constructed with NH4Br and NH4I are completely different, caused by the radius of the bromide ion being smaller than that of the iodide ion. The 3D framework of compound 1 is constructed with a coplanar dimer [(NH4)2Br6]2− as the basic building unit, leading to the expanded 3D perovskite framework structure with a larger cavity to accommodate the 1,4-3.2.2-dabcn molecule. Nevertheless, compound 2 adopts a familiar 3D crystal framework structure with corner-sharing [(NH4)I6] octahedra, where the [1,4-3.2.2-dabcn] cations and water solvent molecule are confined in the cavities enclosed by the octahedra. Notably, both compounds exhibit reversible phase transition, dielectric anomaly and the second harmonic generation (SHG) effect. From the perspective of molecular design, this work is of great significance to guide the construction of new 3D metal-free perovskite molecular materials with reversible properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although organic molecule phase transition materials (OMPTM) have been studied by many scholars owing to their light weight and easy processing, single-component OMPTM with two reversible phase transitions have rarely been reported. Herein, we report an organic inner salt, 1-sulfo-4-dimethylamino-pyridinium (1), which exhibits two phase transitions at 286 K and 311 K, accompanied by obvious dielectric anomalies. Moreover, the variable-temperature single X-ray crystal structure analysis revealed that 1 undergoes an order–disorder symmetry breaking from 243 K (phase I) to 293 K (phase II), in which the centrosymmetric space group P21/n is transformed into the space group of Pnma. However, from phase II to phase III, there is no space group change, and 1 proceeds with an isostructural phase transition. Overall, this study highlights the exploration of the phase transition mechanism of single-component OMPTM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of (CH3NH3)PbI3 has brought the development of three‐dimensional (3D) organic‐inorganic hybrid perovskite (OIHP) structures with ABX3 type to a higher level; however, most 3D frameworks are constructed by corner‐sharing of BX6 octahedra. Herein, we substituted the spherical molecule 1,4‐diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (2.2.2‐dabco) with 1,4‐diazabicyclo[3.2.2]nonane (1,4‐3.2.2‐dabcn) as a template to react with RbX (X=Br, I) in the corresponding HX acids under the consideration of reducing the molecular symmetry. Two 3D OIHP compounds [1,4‐3.2.2‐H2dabcn]RbI3⋅H2O (1) and [1,4‐3.2.2‐H2dabcn]RbBr3 (2) crystallized in non‐centrosymmetric point group mm2 before the phase transition point were isolated. Among them, the 3D inorganic framework of 1 is constructed by sharing the corner of [RbI6] octahedra, while that of 2 is constructed by sharing the corner and face of [RbBr6] octahedra to acquire large cavities to accommodate the organic amine cation [1,4‐3.2.2‐H2dabcn]2+; this 3D framework type is unprecedented in the OIHPs. As expected, compounds 1 and 2 exhibit reversible phase transition, dielectric and second harmonic generation (SHG) and ferroelectric properties, in which the phase transition temperature of 2 at 374 K is much higher than compound 1 at 280 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic–inorganic hybrid perovskites are categorized as multifunctional materials due to their structural designability and functional diversity. Herein, two manganese-based organic–inorganic perovskite type compounds [Me3NNH2]MnCl3 (1) and [(CH3)3NCH2CH2F]2MnCl4 (2) were synthesized by reactions of trimethylhydrazine iodide and (fluoromethyl)trimethylammonium bromide with MnCl2 in concentrated hydrochloric acid aqueous solution. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dielectric measurements revealed that compounds 1 and 2 undergo reversible phase transitions at about 327 K and 352 K, respectively. Significantly, under the excitation of 365 nm, compounds 1 and 2 emit green and red luminescence, which originate from the octahedral [MnCl6] and tetrahedral [MnCl4] moieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Inorganic nanocomposites especially Au nanostructures have exhibited outstanding physicochemical properties in biomedical fields. For further clinical applications on theranostics, especially drug delivery, numerous explorations of green and facile synthesis methods combining with pharmacoactive natural components have been investigated to construct safe and multifunctional bioactive Au nanoparticles (NPs). Ginsenoside Rh2 is protopanaxadiol type compound isolated from plants of genus Panax, with excellent anticancer effect and antioxidant activity. In this research, we prepared the novel Au nanoparticles using ginsenoside Rh2 as both reducing and stabilizing agents. Results: The synthesized Au@ginsenoside Rh2 NPs were proved to exhibit desirable inhibitory effect on different cancer cell lines, which benefited from the inherent anticancer effect of the ginsenoside Rh2. Investigations in vitro indicated that Au@ginsenoside Rh2 NPs inhibited cell proliferation, cell migration and invasion, induced cell cycle arrest, enhanced the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and regulated the protein expressions of caspase-3, 8, 9 to trigger cell apoptosis as well. Conclusions: Because of the absence of toxic chemical surfactants, the eco-friendly synthesis method of Au NPs modified by natural phytochemicals avoided tedious separation and modification processes. On the other hand, Au@ginsenoside Rh2 NPs also improved water solubility and bioavailability of the hydrophobic drug ginsenoside Rh2. It broadened minds for preparation and application of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) modified metal nanoparticles and deserved further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The excellent properties of host–guest crown ether inclusions in phase transition, dielectric and second-order nonlinear optical properties have attracted much attention. In this paper, we successfully designed and prepared two novel host–guest crown ether supramolecules [(DFBA)(15-crown-5)]X (X = ClO4−, 1; ReO4−, 2) by reactions of 2,6-difluorobenzylamine (DFBA) with 1,4,10,13-pentaoxacyclopentadecane (15-crown-5) in HClO4, or HReO4 aqueous solution. By the introduction of difluoro-substituted benzylamine as a guest cation, the phase transition temperatures are greatly increased to 377 K for 1 and 391 K for 2. More importantly, the space group of 1 has changed from centrosymmetric (CS) P2/c to the non-centrosymmetric (NCS) Pca21 in 2 when substituting perchlorate (ClO4−) with the larger and heavier perrhenate (ReO4−), which leads to 2 showing a switchable and stable second-harmonic generation (SHG) effect. According to the principle of momentum matching between a cation and anion, the perrhenate group increases the energy barrier of the molecular thermal motion, which not only significantly increases the phase transition temperature of 2 but also causes it to be frozen and crystallized in a NCS space group at room temperature. This research demonstrates that a polar molecule can adjust the suitability of anions and cations inside the crystal by practical chemical means. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared with the spherical molecule 1,4-diazoniabicyclo[2.2.2]-octane (2.2.2-dabco), 1,5-diazabicyclo[3.2.2]nonane (3.2.2-dabcn) bears a lower symmetry and larger size. As expected, reactions of 3.2.2-dabcn with rubidium halides gave two 3D molecular ferroelectrics [3.2.2-H2dabcn]RbX3 (X = Br for 1; X = I for 2) with Tc at 342 K (1) and 293 K (2). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Often, the quasi-spherical molecule 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (2.2.2-dabco) is chosen to prepare switchable materials with a high phase transition temperature. We wished to reduce molecular symmetry but maintain a quasi-spherical shape. Hence, a similar molecule, 1,4-diazabicyclo[3.2.2]nonane (3.2.2-dabcn), was used to react with equimolar amounts of HClO4 or HReO4 in aqueous solution. Two compounds [3.2.2-Hdabcn]X (X = ClO4, 1; ReO4, 2) with high phase-transition points at 418 K for 1 and 394.6 K and 419.2 K for 2, respectively, were isolated, in which one-dimensional cationic chains were connected by different types of hydrogen bonds. Differential scanning calorimetry and dielectric-permittivity measurements revealed that 1 and 2 showed switchable phase transition and dielectric anomalies. Compound 1 also showed a reversible second-harmonic-generation effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, hybrid organic‐inorganic lead halide materials have attracted great attention for their applications in the fields of light‐emitting diodes, photovoltaics, photodetector. However, these hybrid materials usually suffer from environmental and human health issues because of the toxic lead moieties. Herein, we report a novel lead‐free bismuth iodide phase transition material, [NH3(CH2)7NH3][BiI5] (1), which undergoes a reversible phase transition at high temperature 351.7 K and exhibits a step fashion dielectric anomaly. The structural phase transition of 1 is mainly originated from the order‐disorder transition of the 1,7‐heptanediamine cations. Besides, the solid‐state UV‐vis spectrum of 1 displays an intense adsorption at around 658 nm; which gives an indirect bandgap of 1.89 eV. Such a small bandgap value is comparable to most of the organic‐inorganic hybrid lead halide type semiconductors. We believe this study will shed light on the exploration of lead‐free organic‐inorganic hybrid metal halide semiconductors toward future device applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A one-dimensional organic–inorganic hybrid perovskite material [3.3.0-dabco]PbBr3 (1) was synthesized by the reaction of 1,5-diazabicyclo[3.3.0]octane (3.3.0-dabco) with PbBr2 in concentrated HBr aqueous solution. Differential scanning calorimetry, dielectric measurements, and variable-temperature structural analyses revealed that compound 1 exhibits two successive structural phase transitions from P212121 to Pbcm at 387 K (T1) and then to P6/mmc at 436 K (T2), accompanied by two pairs of dielectric anomalies with a clear one at T1 and an unobvious one at T2. In addition, compound 1 shows a robust second harmonic generation (SHG) effect between SHG-OFF and SHG-ON states during its centrosymmetric to non-centrosymmetric symmetry breaking phase transition at T1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate digital image segmentation is necessary for analyzing the characteristics of fuel spray from various optical measurements. However, some conventional segmentation methods cannot achieve the desired effect for the difficult task with severe noises such as schlieren images under diesel engine-like conditions. In this work, an image processing algorithm named Texture Assessment by Gradient Statistics (TAGS) was proposed for improving the recognition of spray images with noisy backgrounds, which utilizes gradient statistics reflecting texture to distinguish the spray region from the background region. The effects of the key parameters in the proposed algorithm on the segmentation quality were studied. And for validating the applicability and generalization of the proposed algorithm, a series of experiments on diesel evaporating sprays were conducted through high-speed photography of Mie-scattering and double-pass schlieren. It was found that the extraction of gradient statistics can enhance the difference between the spray and the background regions when their gray values are close, which contributes to the image segmentation. For the schlieren images with noisy backgrounds, the signal-to-noise ratio of the TAGS method increased from 1.24 to 9.40 compared with the conventional gray value subtraction thresholding method. The segmentation quality has low dependence on the algorithm parameters of TAGS, and a parameter setting method for its image processing program has been recommended, which enables the analysis of spray characteristics including the macroscopic morphology, the tip penetration and the projected area of liquid/vapor phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Metabolic reprogramming is characterized by dysregulated levels of metabolites and metabolic enzymes. Integrated metabolomic and transcriptomic data analysis can help to elucidate changes in the levels of metabolites and metabolic enzymes, screen the core metabolic pathways, and develop novel therapeutic strategies for cancer. Methods: Here, the metabolome of gastric cancer tissues was determined using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. The transcriptome data from The Cancer Genome Atlas dataset were integrated with the liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry data to identify the common dysregulated gastric cancer‐specific metabolic pathways. Additionally, the protein expression and clinical significance of key metabolic enzymes were examined using a gastric cancer tissue array. Results: Metabolomic analysis of 16 gastric cancer tissues revealed that among the 15 dysregulated metabolomic pathways, the aminoacyl‐tRNA biosynthesis pathway in the gastric tissues was markedly upregulated relative to that in the adjacent noncancerous tissues, which was consistent with the results of transcriptome analysis. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that among the key regulators in the aminoacyl‐tRNA biosynthesis pathway, the expression levels of threonyl‐tRNA synthetase (TARS) and phenylalanyl‐tRNA synthetase (FARSB) were correlated with tumor grade and poor survival, respectively. Additionally, gastric tissue array data analysis indicated that TARS and FARSB were upregulated in gastric cancer tissues and were correlated with poor prognosis and tumor metastasis. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that the aminoacyl‐tRNA biosynthesis pathway is upregulated in gastric cancer and both TARS and FARSB play key roles in the progression of gastric cancer. Additionally, a novel therapeutic strategy for gastric cancer was proposed that involves targeting the aminoacyl‐tRNA biosynthesis pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, the development of multifunctional thermochromic materials that exhibit switching characteristics in phase transition and dielectric properties has attracted widespread attention due to their potential application in signal processing and smart devices. But most traditional thermochromic materials tend to be rather than reversible phase change materials. Here, a square-pyramidal coordinated copper complex [Me3NNH2CuCl3]2 (1) (Me3NNH2 = trimethyl hydrazine) showing switchable properties in phase transition, dielectricity and thermochromic properties has been prepared by reaction of Me3NNH2I with CuCl2 in concentrated HCl aqueous solution. Compound 1 has a reversible phase transition temperature of 45 °C. When the temperature exceeds the phase transition temperature, the green color of 1 gradually changed into dark red. Compared with traditional thermochromic materials, the reversible phase transition and dielectric properties within the thermochromic materials will bring additional spectral encryption possibilities for future information processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a crucial medical issue worldwide. The dependence of HBV replication on host cell machineries and their co-evolutionary interactions prompt the codon usage pattern of viral genes to translation selection and mutation pressure. Objective: The evolutionary characteristics of HBV and the natural selection effects of the human genome on the codon usage characteristics were analyzed to provide a basis for medication development for HBV infection. Methods: The codon usage pattern of sequences from different HBV genotypes of our isolates and reference HBV genome sequences downloaded from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database were analyzed by computing the relative synonymous codon usage (RSCU), nucleotide content, codon adaptation index (CAI) and the effective number of codons (ENC). Results: The highest ENC values were observed in the C genotypes, followed by the B genotypes. The ENC values indicated a weak codon usage bias (CUB) in HBV genome. The number of codons differentially used between the three genotypes was markedly higher than that of similarly used codons. High CAI values indicated a good adaptability of HBV to its host. The ENC plot indicated the occurrence of mutational pressure in the three genotypes. The mean Ka/Ks ratios in the three genotypes were lower than 1, which indicated a negative selection pressure. The CAI and GC3% plot indicated the existence of CUB in the HBV genome. Conclusions: Nucleotide composition, mutation bias, negative selection and mutational pressure are key factors influencing the CUB and phylogenetic diversity in HBV genotypes. The data provided here could be useful for developing drugs for HBV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic–inorganic hybrid materials with perovskite structure have recently attracted tremendous interest due to their structural tunability and rich functional properties, such as phase transition and photoelectric properties. Within this context, two discrete tin-based organic–inorganic hybrid compounds [(FMBA)2SnCl6] (1) and [(FMBA)2SnBr6] (2) were prepared by the reaction of 3-fluoro-N-methylbenzylamine (FMBA) with SnX4 (X = Cl, Br) in the corresponding concentrated halogen acids HX. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dielectric measurements showed that both compounds underwent reversible phase transition and dielectric anomaly at a phase transition point above 400 K. Crystal structure analyses revealed that the phase transition mainly originated from the order and disorder of a fluorine-substituted organic amine structure at low and high temperatures. Meanwhile, both compounds showed a semiconducting property with optical bandgaps of 4.24 eV for 1 and 2.58 eV for 2. This finding of two Sn(IV)-based metal halides with prominent phase transition and semiconducting behaviors will expand an executable pathway for designing multifunctional perovskite-type switchable materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reactions of R, R-, cis- and trans-1,2-cyclohexanediamine with lead(II) iodide in concentrated HI aqueous solution afforded three organic–inorganic hybrid compounds, [(R, R-1,2-C6H16N2)PbI4] (1), [(cis-1,2-C6H16N2)2Pb2I8]·2H2O (2) and [(trans-1,2-C6H16N2)2PbI6]·2H2O (3), respectively. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction revealed that the inorganic components in 1–3 are constructed with a 2-D monolayer perovskite sheet, a 1-D zigzag chain and only a concrete [PbI6] octahedron which were caused by the different configurations of 1,2-cyclohexanediamine. In addition, 1–3 have been investigated by UV–vis, TG analysis and fluorescence spectra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypothalamic dysfunction is a key pathological factor in inflammation-associated depression. In the present study, isobaric tags for relative-absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) combined with mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) were employed to detect the proteomes and metabolomes in the hypothalamus of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced depression mouse, respectively. A total of 187 proteins and 27 metabolites were differentially expressed compared with the control group. Following the integration of bi-omics data, pertinent pathways and molecular interaction networks were further identified. The results indicated altered molecules were clustered into Ephrin receptor signaling, glutamatergic transmission, and inflammation-related signaling included the LXR/RXR activation, FXR/RXR activation, and acute phase response signaling. First discovered in the hypothalamus, Ephrin receptor signaling regulates N -methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR)-predominant glutamatergic transmission, and further acted on AKT signaling that contributed to changes in hypothalamic neuroplasticity. Ephrin type-B receptor 2 (EPHB2), a transmembrane receptor protein in Ephrin receptor signaling, was significantly elevated and interacted with the accumulated NMDAR subunit GluN2A in the hypothalamus. Additionally, molecules involved in synaptic plasticity regulation, such as hypothalamic postsynaptic density protein-95 (PSD-95), p-AKT and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), were significantly altered in the LPS-induced depressed group. It might be an underlying pathogenesis that the EPHB2-GluN2A-AKT cascade regulates synaptic plasticity in depression. EPHB2 can be a potential therapeutic target in the correction of glutamatergic transmission dysfunction. In summary, our findings point to the previously undiscovered molecular underpinnings of the pathophysiology in the hypothalamus of inflammation-associated depression and offer potential targets to develop antidepressants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BCG, the only registered vaccine against Mycobacterial Tuberculosis (TB) infection, has been questioned for its protective efficacy for decades. Although lots of efforts were made to improve the BCG antigenicity, few studies were devoted to understand the role of host factors in the variability of the BCG protection. Using the IL-10KO mice and pulmonary tuberculosis infection model, we have addressed the role of IL-10 in the BCG vaccination efficacy. The data showed that IL-10-deficient dendritic cells (DCs) could promote the immune responses through upregulation of the surface costimulatory molecule expression and play an orchestra role through activating CD4+T cell. IL-10-deficient mice had higher IFN γ, TNF α, and IL-6 production after BCG vaccination, which was consistent with the higher proportion of IFN γ+CD3+, IFN γ+CD4+, and IFN γ+CD8+ T cells in the spleen. Particularly, the BCG-vaccinated IL-10KO mice showed less inflammation after TB challenge compared to WT mice, which was supported by the promoted Th1 and Tc, as well as the downregulated Treg responses in IL-10 deficiency. In a conclusion, we demonstrated the negative relationship between Th1/Tc responses with IL-10 production. IL-10 deficiency restored the type 1 immune response through DC activation, which provided better protection against TB infection. Hence, our study offers the first experimental evidence that, contrary to the modulation of BCG, host immunity plays a critical role in the BCG protective efficacy against TB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a severe clinical concern in China. Of note, the progression of HBV infection varies between different populations. To identify the factors that influence the disease progression and prognosis, a total of 478 chronic HBV-infected patients were enrolled, and liver function parameters, HBV DNA levels and hepatic fibrosis indices were analyzed. First, the results demonstrated a significant difference in hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) expression between male and female patients (χ2=4.061, P=0.044). Furthermore, when comparing either HBeAg-negative or -positive male and female patients, males exhibited a greater variation in HBV DNA levels. Although significant differences between male and female patients in certain abnormal ratios of liver function parameters were identified, a trend in the differences was observed in the HBeAg-negative and -positive groups. When considering age, the results of the present study confirmed that HBV DNA levels decreased with advanced age, and the values of the majority of biomarkers exhibited an evident decreasing trend with increasing age. In addition, it was demonstrated that all HBeAg seropositive patients had higher levels of hepatic fibrosis indexes and higher abnormal ratios of hepatic fibrosis values in their serum when compared with those of HBeAg seronegative patients, particularly with regard to serum IV collagen. The present results revealed that HBV DNA replication was closely associated with liver function; however, it was notable that in HBeAg-negative patients, the association between HBV DNA levels and liver function was particularly significant among subjects aged <61. Furthermore, this result was not observed in HBeAg-positive patients. In conclusion, the present study indicated the importance of host factors (including sex and age) and viral factors (including HBeAg expression pattern and HBV DNA levels) in the progression of chronic HBV infection, and its influence regarding prognosis and treatment. The present results provide a foundation for clinical management strategies for chronic HBV infection, particularly in individual schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gold nanorods (GNRs) have become an attractive candidate in photothermal ablation against cancer cells for their excellent photothermal transduction effect. However, the applications of GNRs in nanomedicine have been obstructed by the high cytotoxicity from the surfactant. Mass efforts have been attempted to develop the GNRs with high photothermal transduction efficiency and exploit modification materials to low the cytotoxicity of the GNRs. In this paper, (+)-catechin, a natural polyphenol extracted from green tea with anti-oxidization activity, was chosen as an effective reductant through seedless method to synthesize GNRs with a high quality, which also exhibited an excellent photothermal transduction efficiency (57.9%). Red blood cells (RBC) membranes were exploited as the biomimetic coating materials to encapsulate the GNRs to enhance the biocompatibility and photothermal stability, which could finally realize the highly photothermal ablation effect against the melanoma cells. Such cell membrane-based biomimetic nanomaterials might have a great potential in future photothermal therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The perovskite structure is rich in ferroelectricity. In contrast, ferroelectric antiperovskites have been scarcely confirmed experimentally since the discovery of M3AB‐type antiperovskites in the 1930s. Ferroelectricity is now revealed in an organic–inorganic hybrid X3AB antiperovskite structure, which exhibits a clear ferroelectric phase transition 6/mmmF6mm with a high Curie point of 480 K. The physical properties across the phase transition are obviously changed along with the symmetry requirements, providing solid experimental evidence for the ferroelectric phase transition. More interestingly, the discovered antiperovskite shows intense photoluminescence and triboluminescence properties. The confirmation of the triboluminescent ferroelectric antiperovskite will open new avenues to explore excellent optoelectronic properties in the antiperovskite family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The perovskite structure is rich in ferroelectricity. In contrast, ferroelectric antiperovskites have been scarcely confirmed experimentally since the discovery of M3AB‐type antiperovskites in the 1930s. Ferroelectricity is now revealed in an organic–inorganic hybrid X3AB antiperovskite structure, which exhibits a clear ferroelectric phase transition 6/mmmF6mm with a high Curie point of 480 K. The physical properties across the phase transition are obviously changed along with the symmetry requirements, providing solid experimental evidence for the ferroelectric phase transition. More interestingly, the discovered antiperovskite shows intense photoluminescence and triboluminescence properties. The confirmation of the triboluminescent ferroelectric antiperovskite will open new avenues to explore excellent optoelectronic properties in the antiperovskite family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

T helper 17 cells (Th17) constitute a distinct subset of helper T cells with a unique transcriptional profile (STAT3, RORγ, and RORα), cytokine production pattern (IL17 family), and requirement of specific cytokines for their differentiation (TGF-β, IL6, IL21, and IL23). Recent studies involving experimental animals and humans have shown that Th17/IL17 plays a crucial role in host defense against a variety of pathogens, including bacteria and viruses. The underlying mechanisms by which Th17 performs include dendritic cell (DC) regulation, neutrophil recruitment, Th1 modulation, and T regulatory cell (Treg) balance. In recent years, researchers have generated an accumulating wealth of evidence on the role of Th17/IL17 in protective immunity to intracellular bacterial pathogens, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Chlamydia trachomatis, which are one of the most important pathogens that inflict significant socioeconomic burden across the globe. In this article, we reviewed the current literature on the functions and mechanisms by which Th17/IL17 responds to intracellular bacterial infections. A better understanding of Th17/IL17 immunity to pathogens would be crucial for developing effective prophylactics and therapeutics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Narrow band gaps and excellent ferroelectricity are intrinsically paradoxical in ferroelectrics as the leakage current caused by an increase in the number of thermally excited carriers will lead to a deterioration of ferroelectricity. A new molecular ferroelectric, hexane-1,6-diammonium pentaiodobismuth (HDA-BiI5), was now developed through band gap engineering of organic-inorganic hybrid materials. It features an intrinsic band gap of 1.89 eV, and thus represents the first molecular ferroelectric with a band gap of less than 2.0 eV. Simultaneously, low-temperature solution processing was successfully applied to fabricate high-quality ferroelectric thin films based on HDA-BiI5, for which high-precision controllable domain flips were realized. Owing to its narrow band gap and excellent ferroelectricity, HDA-BiI5 can be considered as a milestone in the exploitation of molecular ferroelectrics, with promising applications in high-density data storage and photovoltaic conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Narrow band gaps and excellent ferroelectricity are intrinsically paradoxical in ferroelectrics as the leakage current caused by an increase in the number of thermally excited carriers will lead to a deterioration of ferroelectricity. A new molecular ferroelectric, hexane-1,6-diammonium pentaiodobismuth (HDA-BiI5), was now developed through band gap engineering of organic-inorganic hybrid materials. It features an intrinsic band gap of 1.89 eV, and thus represents the first molecular ferroelectric with a band gap of less than 2.0 eV. Simultaneously, low-temperature solution processing was successfully applied to fabricate high-quality ferroelectric thin films based on HDA-BiI5, for which high-precision controllable domain flips were realized. Owing to its narrow band gap and excellent ferroelectricity, HDA-BiI5 can be considered as a milestone in the exploitation of molecular ferroelectrics, with promising applications in high-density data storage and photovoltaic conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract : Three cyclic thioesters of the formula ' $$-\hbox {SCH}_{2}\hbox {CH}_{2}\hbox {SCO}(\hbox {CH}_{2})_{\mathrm{n}}-$$ ' ( $$\mathbf{L}_{\mathbf{1}}, \hbox {n} = 0; \mathbf{L}_{\mathbf{2}}, = 1, \mathbf{L}_{\mathbf{3}}, \hbox {n} = 2$$ ) and their reactions with $$\hbox {Fe}_{3}(\hbox {CO})_{12}$$ are reported. All the reactions produced a known diiron complex, [ $$\hbox {Fe}_{2}(\upmu \hbox {-}\hbox {S}_{2}\hbox {C}_{2}\hbox {H}_{4})(\hbox {CO})_{6}$$ ] ( 1), which suggested that in the reactions, cleavage of C-S bond to generate ' $$\hbox {SCH}_{2}\hbox {CH}_{2}\hbox {S}$$ ' fragment is a common pathway for all the three ligands. In the case of ligand $$\mathbf{L}_{\mathbf{2}}$$ , a new complex 2, [ $$\hbox {Fe}_{2}\{\upmu \hbox {-}\hbox {SC}_{2}\hbox {H}_{4}(\hbox {SCH}_{2})\hbox {-}\upkappa \}(\hbox {CO})_{6}$$ ] was isolated and structurally characterized. In the reaction of ligand $$\mathbf{L}_{\mathbf{3}}$$ , an unknown iron carbonyl product was isolated in addition to complex 1. Although its precise structure was not established due to its instability and low yield, its infrared spectrum and decomposing into complex 1 implied that the product may be a cluster with higher nuclearity. The experimental observations suggested that with the increase of the ring size of the cyclic thioester ligands, further bond cleavages were involved in the reaction in addition to that leading to complex 1. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT: SYNOPSIS Reaction of cyclic thioester ligands with triiron dodecacarbonyl leads to scission of C-S (C) bond which is initiated by the coordination of the S atom to the Fe atom. The larger the ring size of the ligand, the more diverse are the bond cleavages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An organic–inorganic hybrid molecule [(PyCH2NH3)6][Pb5I22]·3H2O (1) with a 2D inorganic layer was produced by reaction of 2-aminomethyl-pyridine with PbI2 in a concentrated HI aqueous solution. Compound 1 exhibited solid thermochromism showing a reversible color change from orange at room temperature to red at 80 °C, which was caused by the structural changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, six copper(ii) complexes with multidentate ligands, [Cu(HL1)(OAc)(HOAc)] (1), [Cu(HL2)(OAc)] (2), [Cu(HL3)(OAc)] (3), [CuL4(OAc)] (4), [Cu(HL2)Cl] (5), and [Cu(HL3)Cl] (6) {H2L1 = [bis(3-tert-butyl-2-hydroxybenzyl)](2-pyridylmethyl)amine, H2L2 = [(3-tert-butyl-2-hydoxybenzyl)(3-trifluoromethyl-2-hydroxybenzyl) (2-pyridylmethyl)]amine, H2L3 = [bis(3-trifluoromethyl-2-hydroxybenzyl)] (2-pyridylmethyl)amine, and HL4 = [bis(2-pyridylmethyl)] (3-tert-butyl-2-hydroxybenzyl)amine}, are reported. The complexes were characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy, high-resolution mass spectrometry, X-ray single-crystal diffraction analysis and electrochemistry. These copper(ii) complexes have been investigated as catalysts for the aerobic oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde mediated by TEMPO (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinyl-1-oxyl) radical in water at ambient temperature. Mechanistic investigations have revealed that the phenolate/phenol is involved in the intramolecular proton transfer with a bound substrate in catalysis. Hence, the presence of the trifluoromethyl group on the phenol ring significantly affects the catalysis process since the substituent affects the acidity of phenol, and subsequently, the intramolecular proton transfer from the bound substrate. During catalysis, the dissociation of the auxiliary ligand (Cl− or OAc−) occurred in the SN1 pathway, and it is necessary for the substrate to bind. To complete the catalytic cycle, the cleaved auxiliary ligand rebinds to the metal center to regenerate the catalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reaction of manganese (II) halides MnX and benzothiazole (btz) in the concentrated acids HX (X = Cl, Br) at 80 °C resulted in the formation of two inorganic-organic hybrid complexes: [(btz)(MnX)]·2HO (X = Cl, 1; X = Br, 2). Both compounds showed green luminescence and exhibited moderate quantum yields of 43.17 % for 1 and 26.18 % for 2, which were directly originated from the tetrahedral coordination of Mn ion. Two organic − inorganic hybrids [(btz)(MnX)]·2HO based on MnCl, benzothiazole and halide acids emitted green light with the moderate quantum efficiencies when excited by 365 nm light. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reactions of two free N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene (IPr) and 1,3-dimesitylimidazol-2-yliden (IMes) with group VB transition metals MCl5 at low temperature gave a mono-NHC complex [(IPr)TaCl5] (1) and two bis-NHCs [(IMes)2MCl4][MCl6] (M = Ta, 2; =Nb, 3). Crystallographic studies revealed that the substitution effect plays an important role in the construction of these two different types of NHC complexes. Although mono-NHC complex 1 has been theoretically analyzed by F. Marchetti, complexes 2 and 3 represented the first examples of the structurally characterized bis-NHCs Ta(v) and Nb(v) complexes. In addition, complexes 1–3 showed catalytic efficiency in the cycloaddition between CO2 and propylene oxide to synthesize cyclic carbonates under mild conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eight diiron hexacarbonyl complexes bearing a 1,8-dithionaphthalenyl bridging linkage as mimics of the diiron subunit of [FeFe]-hydrogenase are reported. Reaction of Fe3(CO)12 with naphtha[1,8-cd][1,2]dithiole-n-carbaldehyde (n = 2: 2a or 4: 2b) gave two complexes, [Fe2(μ-S)2R(CO)6] (–SRS– = n-formylnaphthalene-1,8-bis(thiolate), n = 2: 3a, 4: 3b), which were further used as precursors to prepare six other complexes by manipulating the formyl groups. Converting the corresponding formyl group into a hydroxymethyl group (CH2OH) led to complexes 4a and 4b. Their reactions with halobutanoyl chloride formed complexes 5a and 5b (halo group = Cl), and 6a and 6b (halo group = Br), respectively. Among the complexes, 3a, 3b, 4b, 5b, and 6a were crystallographically analysed. Electrochemical investigations into these complexes revealed that the formyl group exerts profound electronic influence on the electrochemistry, and thus catalysis of proton reduction, due to its involvement in the conjugation of the bridging linkage. DFT calculations indicate that the formyl group influences the electrochemistry and catalysis by significantly altering the composition of the LUMOs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four copper(ii) complexes with multidentate ligands, 1 ([CuL1Cl2]), 2 ([Cu(HL2)Cl2]), 3 ([Cu2(L2)2](ClO4)2) and 4 ([CuL3(HOCH3)ClO4]) {L1 = N,N-bis((pyridin-2-yl)methyl) prop-2-yn-1-amine, HL2 = 2-((((1-methyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)methyl)(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amino)methyl)phenol and HL3 = 2-((((1-methyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)methyl)(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amino)methyl)-2-t-butyl-phenol} are reported. The complexes were characterized by UV–vis spectroscopy, elemental analysis and electrochemical analysis. Complexes 1 and 3 were further characterized by X-ray single crystal diffraction analysis. The catalytic performances of these complexes were evaluated in the direct hydroxylation of benzene to phenol with hydrogen peroxide as an oxidant in aqueous acetonitrile media. Under optimized reaction conditions, complex 4 with the most negative reduction potential exhibited the highest conversion without considering the dinuclear complex 3. A correlation between the catalytic efficiency and the reduction potentials of these complexes was observed, that is the more negative the reduction potential, the higher the benzene conversion. A radical mechanism for the catalysis was confirmed by the fact that addition of radical scavengers such as TEMPO into the reaction mixture could severely suppress the catalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coxsackievirus A16 (CA16) is one of the main causative pathogens of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD). Viral replication typically results in host cell apoptosis. Although CA16 infection has been reported to induce apoptosis in the human rhabdomyosarcoma (RD) cell line, it remains unclear whether CA16 induces apoptosis in diverse cell types, especially neural cells which have important clinical significance. In the current study, CA16 infection was found to induce similar apoptotic responses in both neural cells and non-neural cells in vitro, including nuclear fragmentation, DNA fragmentation and phosphatidylserine translocation. CA16 generally is not known to lead to serious neurological symptoms in vivo. In order to further clarify the correlation between clinical symptoms and cell apoptosis, two CA16 strains from patients with different clinical features were investigated. The results showed that both CA16 strains with or without neurological symptoms in infected patients led to neural and muscle cell apoptosis. Furthermore, mechanistic studies showed that CA16 infection induced apoptosis through the same mechanism in both neural and non-neural cells, namely via activation of both the mitochondrial (intrinsic) pathway-related caspase 9 protein and the Fas death receptor (extrinsic) pathway-related caspase 8 protein. Understanding the mechanisms by which CA16 infection induces apoptosis in both neural and non-neural cells will facilitate a better understanding of CA16 pathogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]