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Searching for low‐cost, high‐capacity, high‐power, high‐stability, high‐tap‐density, and inherently safe materials for developing cheap, safe, and high‐performance batteries has always been a research hotspot. Herein, an inherently safe, low‐cost, and low‐strain KTiOPO4(KTOP) submicron single crystals with a uniform thin layer carbon coating are developed using a ball‐mill assisted solid‐state method. Uniform solid electrolyte interphase, carbon coating, and inherently stable structure synergistically help compact KTOP submicron single crystals achieve an exceptional anodic K‐ion storage performance. The carbon‐coated KTOP single crystals obtained under the carbonization temperature of 400°C (KTOP‐C‐400) can deliver an exceptional potassium ion storage performance of 253.3, 224.0, 175.5, and 131.1 mA h g−1at the current density of 100, 200, 500, and 1000 mA g−1, respectively, in the electrolyte of 5 M potassium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (KFSI) in DIGLYME electrolytes. Even after being cycled at 1000 mA g−1for 1000 cycles, the capacity was maintained at 182.5 mA h g−1with a coulombic efficiency of 99.9%. Uniform carbon‐coated KTiOPO4submicron single crystals with two‐dimensional ion migration channels and high compact density deliver high capacity, exceptional rate capability, and cyclic stability in 5 M KFSI electrolytes in diglyme.

Background: Website adaptation is widely regarded as a strategic priority for successful cross-cultural business communication. Literature review: Drawing upon Hofstede's and Schwartz's cultural theories and the standardization/localization paradigm, this study conducts a quantitative analysis on the adaptative strategy performed by Chinese multinational corporations (MNCs) on their US websites and its influencing factors. Research questions: 1. To what extent have Chinese MNCs adapted their US websites to the US culture? 2. Are product, organizational and managerial factors associated with the degree of website adaptation? Research methodology: This study first used content analysis to examine the cultural manifestation on Chinese MNCs’ US websites and then quantitatively measured their degree of website adaptation. The association between the adaptation degree and its influencing factors was tested through a regression analysis. Results and conclusion: The results indicated that Chinese MNCs have adapted their US websites to the US culture to a large extent. Product type, degree of internationalization, and firm size were significantly correlated with the adaptation degree, yet the association between products’ technological intensity, top management's international experiences, and the adaptation degree was not confirmed. This study extends the website adaptation literature by making an initial attempt to calibrate the degree of cultural adaptation reflected on corporate websites. It also provides fresh insights into how website adaptation can be impacted by a series of company-level factors. In addition, this study contributes to the field of technical and professional communication by suggesting effective ways for firms to make proper strategic decisions on cross-cultural web communication.

To reveal the molecular mechanism underlying the compatibility of Salvia miltiorrhizaBge (S. miltiorrhiza, Dan Shen) and C. tinctoriusL. (C. tinctorius,Hong Hua) as an herb pair through network pharmacology and subsequent experimental validation.

Liver fibrosis has a high incidence worldwide and is the common pathological basis of many chronic liver diseases. Liver fibrosis is caused by the excessive deposition of extracellular matrix and concomitant collagen accumulation in livers and can lead to the development of liver cirrhosis and even liver cancer. A large number of studies have provided evidence that liver fibrosis can be blocked or even reversed by appropriate medical interventions. However, the antifibrosis drugs with ideal clinical efficacy are still insufficient. The edible plant-derived natural compounds have been reported to exert effective antifibrotic effects with few side-effects, representing a kind of promising source for the treatment of liver fibrosis. In this article, we reviewed the current progress of the natural compounds derived from dietary plants in the treatment of liver fibrosis, including phenolic compounds (capsaicin, chlorogenic acid, curcumin, ellagic acid, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, resveratrol, sinapic acid, syringic acid, vanillic acid and vitamin E), flavonoid compounds (genistein, hesperidin, hesperetin, naringenin, naringin and quercetin), sulfur-containing compounds (S-allylcysteine, ergothioneine, lipoic acid and sulforaphane) and other compounds (betaine, caffeine, cucurbitacin B, lycopene, α-mangostin, γ-mangostin, ursolic acid, vitamin C and yangonin). The pharmacological effects and related mechanisms of these compounds in in-vivo and in-vitro models of liver fibrosis are focused.

Exploring efficient and highly stable oxygen evolution catalysts is very important for hydrogen production by water electrolysis. Herein, we report a synthetic method with a simple two-step room-temperature immersion, which offers MnFeNi hydroxide catalysts with an underbrush-like structure on nickel foam (NF). This synthesis on Ni foam can be accomplished in minutes, while the prepared catalyst has shown an ultralong lifetime of over 1500 h for catalyzing the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Specifically, the MnFeNi hydroxide catalyst requires the overpotential of only 230 and 250 mV at the current density of 100 and 500 mA·cm–2for OER, respectively. This work provides a cost-effective surface engineering method to convert commercial NF into a powerful OER catalyst in alkaline water electrolysis.

The molecular vapor deposition strategy using DPPF as P, Fe, and C resources synchronously fabricates the FePO4nanoparticles and P-doped carbon 2D nano film on the CoNC matrix substrate.

Cascade reactions take advantage of step-saving and facile operation for obtaining chemicals. Herein, catalytic hydrogenation of nitroarene coupled condensation with β-diketone to afford β-ketoenamines is achieved by an integrated nanocatalyst, Pd-e@UiO-66. The catalyst has the structure of an acid-rich metal–organic framework (MOF), UiO-66-encapsulated electron-rich Pd nanoparticles, and it reconciles the electron-effect contradiction of cascade catalytic reactions: catalytic hydrogenation requires an electron-rich catalyst, while condensation requires electron-deficient Lewis acid sites. The catalyst showed good activity, high chemoselectivity, and universal applicability for the synthesis of β-ketoenamines using nitroarenes. More than 30 β-ketoenamines have been successfully prepared with up to 99% yield via the methodology of relay catalysis. The catalyst exhibited excellent stability to maintain its catalytic performance for more than five cycles. Furthermore, we conducted an in-depth exploration of the reaction mechanism with theoretical calculations.

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have appeared to be promising competitive candidates as crystalline porous materials for proton conduction. Explorations of the method of preparation of proton conductive MOFs and the proton transfer mechanism have enabled them to attract widespread attention, and tremendous efforts have been made to improve the proton conductivity of MOFs. On the basis of our previous work, we explicitly propose that ligand exchange can upgrade the proton conduction performance of MOFs. Using MOF-azo as the precursor, the proton conductivities of exchange products MOF-bpy and MOF-bpe increase by 3.5- and 2.8-fold, respectively. After the MOFs had been doped into the Nafion matrix to prepare composite membranes, the proton conduction performance of composite membranes filled with subproducts (2.6 × 10–2and 1.95 × 10–2S cm–1) is significantly better than that of a composite membrane filled with a parent product (1.12 × 10–2S cm–1) under ambient conditions (without heating or humidifying). The ligand exchange strategy presented herein demonstrates great promise for the development of high-proton conductivity MOFs and MOF composites with expanded future applications.

For studying the effect of a substituted group on the photoresponsive third-order nonlinear-optical (NLO) properties, photosensitive azobenzene derivative H2L1was first selected to construct metal complexes {[Zn2(L1)2(H2O)3]·2DMA)}n(1) and {[Cd(L1)(4,4′-bpy)H2O]·H2O}n(2). Then H2L2with a substituted methyl on the azobenzene ring was used to construct complexes {[Zn(L2)(4,4′-bpy)(H2O)]}n(3) and {[Cd(L2)(4,4′-bpy)(H2O)]}n(4). When the azobenzene moiety of the complexes is trans, the NLO behaviors of the complexes are the same. However, after the azobenzene moiety is excited by ultraviolet (UV) light to change from trans to cis, the substituted methyl increases the repulsion between two azobenzene rings in 3and 4, thereby affecting their NLO behaviors. Therefore, the nonlinearity of the two types of complexes is different after UV irradiation. Density functional theory calculations support this result. The substituted methyl has a significant influence on the nonlinear absorption behaviors of 3and 4. This work not only reports the examples of photoresponsive NLO materials based on metal complexes but also provides a new idea to deeply explore NLO properties.

Near-infrared II (NIR-II, 1000–1700 nm) fluorescent imaging (FI) has been reported to achieve optical images with higher resolution and deeper penetration. Among the organic NIR-II small molecules, donor–acceptor–donor (D–A–D) type fluorescent agents have shown superior photophysical and biocompatible properties for FI applications but have ongoing limitations, such as the difficulty in further modifying them with drug-carrying functional groups or prodrugs. In this work, three D–A–D type NIR-II fluorophores with electron acceptors of 4,8-bis(5-bromo-4-(2-octyldodecyl)thiophen-2-yl)-1H,3H-benzo[1,2-c:4,5-c′]bis([1,2,5]thiadiazole) (BBT), 6,7-bis(4-(hexyloxy)phenyl)-4,9-di(thiophen-2-yl)-[1,2,5]thiadiazolo[3,4-g]quinoxaline (TTQ) and 4,6-bis(5-bromo-2-thienyl)thieno[3,4-c][1,2,5]thiadiazole (TTDT) have been successfully prepared. Their optical and imaging properties and stability were investigated viatheoretical and experimental studies. The results demonstrated that TTDT-SF exhibited good NIR-II imaging ability. Importantly, TTDT-SF showed outstanding stability in an alkaline and redox environment. Subsequently, a stable atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) initiator, based on TTDT and its derivative water-soluble fluorescent polymer TTDT-TF-POEGMA, synthesized through ATRP, was successfully fabricated. It was demonstrated that TTDT-TF-POEGMA exhibited excellent fluorescence ability, great water solubility, effective light stability and great potential in tumor FI and image-guided surgery. In a word, this work has developed a new stable initiator with NIR-II fluorescent properties, which provides a platform for the development of water-soluble and multifunctional NIR-II fluorescent polymers for a broad range of applications.

Chronic alcohol consumption is linked to the development of alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD). This disease is characterized by a clinical spectrum ranging from steatosis to hepatocellular carcinoma. Several cell types are involved in ALD progression, including hepatic macrophages. Kupffer cells (KCs) are the resident macrophages of the liver involved in the progression of ALD by activating pathways that lead to the production of cytokines and chemokines. In addition, KCs are involved in the production of reactive oxygen species. Reactive oxygen species are linked to the induction of oxidative stress and inflammation in the liver. These events are activated by the bacterial endotoxin, lipopolysaccharide, that is released from the gastrointestinal tract through the portal vein to the liver. Lipopolysaccharide is recognized by receptors on KCs that are responsible for triggering several pathways that activate proinflammatory cytokines involved in alcohol-induced liver injury. In addition, KCs activate hepatic stellate cells that are involved in liver fibrosis. Novel strategies to treat ALD aim at targeting Kupffer cells. These interventions modulate Kupffer cell activation or macrophage polarization. Evidence from mouse models and early clinical studies in patients with ALD injury supports the notion that pathogenic macrophage subsets can be successfully translated into novel treatment options for patients with this disease.

YBCO films doped with different contents of gadolinium (Gd) were prepared by the low-fluorine (low-F) trifluoroacetate metal-organic deposition (MOD) method. The effects of flow rate and holding time of the firing (crystallization) stage on the superconducting properties of YxGd1–xBa2Cu3O7–δ(YGdBCO) films were investigated. The phase formation and texture were characterized by the X-ray diffraction (XRD), which indicate that severe degradation of the microstructure will be induced with the inappropriate flow rate. The surface morphology and element distribution were investigated by the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The results show that increasing the holding time of the firing stage is effective for the further decomposition of residual impurity phase on the surface. The mechanisms of the phase and surface evolution are also discussed. Finally, a high critical current density (Jc) value of 5.4 MA/cm2was achieved in the Y0.9Gd0.1BCO film fabricated by the cooperative control of the flow rate and holding time of the firing stage, which are contributed to the formation of excellent texture, homogeneous microstructure and dense surface of the YGdBCO films.

Coordination polymer {[Co3L2(H2O)6]·2H2O}ngoes through aqueous-phase single-crystal-to-single-crystal (SC-SC) central metal exchange to produce {[Cu3L2(H2O)6]·2H2O}n. The daughter product presents a higher proton conductivity of 0.004 S cm–1at 95 °C and 100% RH, increasing by 50-fold relative to the parent product. The water vapor adsorption reveals that the uptake capacity of 2reaches 145.08 mg/g, which is 7.5 times that of 1(19.36 mg/g). High water affinity is confirmed by the smaller water contact angle of 2. Replacing water vapor with vapors of dilute hydrochloric acid and ammonia, the improvement of proton conductivity is also realized. Exchanged products all give enhanced conductivities in different vapor atmospheres, which shows that the aqueous-phase central metal exchange is a judicious choice for the preparation of excellent proton conducting coordination polymers.

We studied the microbial profiles of the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum during different developmental stages in the duck using high-throughput sequencing of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene. We also investigated the differences in the microbiota in the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum at different developmental times. A correlation analysis was performed between the most abundant bacterial genera and the development of the small intestine. An analysis of alpha diversity indicated different species richness and bacterial diversity in the different small intestinal segments and at different development times. A beta diversity analysis indicated differences in the bacterial community compositions across time. In a weighted UniFrac principal coordinates analysis, the samples clustered into two categories, 2 to 4 wk and 6 to 10 wk, in the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. Our results show that the small intestine is predominantly populated by the phyla Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Proteobacteria throughout the developmental stages of the duck. The duodenum, jejunum, and ileum shared most of the bacterial phyla and genera present, although they showed significant differences in their relative abundances in the intestinal segments and developmental stages. They shared different bacterial taxa during development times and among different segments when the intergroup differences were analyzed. The genera Bacillus, Corynebacterium 1, Lactococcus, Sphingomonas, and Haliangiumcorrelated moderately positively with the increase in bodyweight and the lengths and weights of the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum, and these genera may be considered important markers when assessing the heath of the intestinal microbiota in ducks. This study provides a foundation upon which to extend our knowledge of the diversity and composition of the duck microbiota and a basis for further studies of the management of the small intestinal microbiota and improvements in the health and production of ducks.

Nitrogen is an essential element for maize (Zea maysL.). Farmers in developed countries most often apply more N fertilizer than necessary, which reduces N use efficiency (NUE). Improving radiation and N distribution, and thus the NUE of modern maize production systems with high plant density, is of great significance. In this study, field experiments were conducted in 2014 and 2015 in Xinjiang, China, using hybrid maize cultivar DH618 with high density. In addition, a synthesis analysis was conducted using data from 95 publications to observe N characteristics under different yield levels and compare the experimental results with existing studies. The relationship between radiation and N distribution in the canopy of high‐yield maize was also assessed. Nitrogen uptake was significantly correlated with grain yield. However, N uptake per unit grain yield and grain N concentration at maturity decreased as grain yield increased. The positive correlations between radiation and leaf and stalk N concentrations at silking showed that N concentration at silking increased as the height of the canopy layer increased because of increased radiation in the canopy. These results indicate that maize hybrids with erect upper leaves and high post‐silking N uptake can coordinate and optimize the distribution of radiation and N in different canopy layers and thus improve NUE and yield under high‐density production.

Background: A recent patent has been issued for hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA) as a drug to prevent blood circulation disorders. Hydroxysafflor yellow B (HSYB), an isomer of HSYA with antioxidative effects, has been isolated from the florets of Carthamus tinctorius. The effects of HSYB on the proliferation of cancer cells and its mechanism of action have not been investigated. Objective: The aims of this study were to investigate the anti-cancer effects and the molecular mechanism of HSYB for breast cancer MCF-7 cells. Methods: MTT assays and colony formation assays were used to assess the survival and proliferation of MCF-7 cells, respectively. Hoechst 33258 and flow cytometry were used to measure cell apoptosis and flow cytometry to determine effects on the cell cycle. Western blots were used to measure protein levels. Results: Treatment with HSYB reduced survival and proliferation of human breast cancer MCF-7 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, HSYB arrested the MCF-7 cell cycle at the S phase and downregulated cyclin D1, cyclin E, and CDK2. Compared with a control group, HSYB suppressed the protein levels of p-PI3K, PI3K, AKT, and p-AKT in MCF-7 cells. In addition, HSYB decreased the levels of Bcl- 2, increased the levels of Bax, cleaved caspase-3 and caspase-9, and subsequently induced MCF-7 cell apoptosis. Conclusion: These data demonstrate that HSYB arrests the MCF-7 cell cycle at the S phase and induces cell apoptosis. Patent US20170246228 indicates that HSYB can be potentially used for the prevention and treatment of human breast cancer.

In this paper, a series of organic compounds (L1–L6) with a D-π-A conjugation system were prepared. The investigations of third-order nonlinear optical (NLO) properties indicate that L1–L6show different degrees of third-order NLO responses. It is surprising that introducing metal ions can effectively regulate their third-order NLO properties and even change the type of nonlinear absorption signal from reverse saturable absorption to saturable absorption, which can be attributed to the formation of coordination bonds between metal ions and L1–L6. It has aroused our tremendous interests in regulating third-order NLO performance. The regulation mechanisms were also discussed through the pump–probe measurements and the density functional theory. The enhancement of electron transfer efficiency is considered to be the key to improving NLO performance. Furthermore, we also obtained two coordination complexes [Cu(L1)2(NO3)2] (1) and [Cd(L1)2I2] (2) based on L1, which further proved the coordination between metal ions and L1–L6. Ligand-to-metal or metal-to-ligand charge transfer makes more electronic delocalization, leading to better third-order NLO properties. This work provides new ideas and explorations for the excogitation of third-order NLO materials.

[2+2+2] cycloaddition reactions are one of the most elegant routes for the construction of six-membered rings. Here, we report initially the alkenone-enol-alkenone [2+2+2] cycloaddition reaction and introduce the cycloaddition into the system of in situbuilding complexes, where three novel coordination polymers (CPs) with functional groups, namely {[CdCl2(L1)]}n(1), {[CdCl2(L2)]}n(2), and {[CdCl2(L3)]}n(3), have been obtained. Particularly, the new 1,2,3,4,5-pentasubtituted cyclohexanols ligands L1, L2, and L3 are created from the starting chalcone derivatives via the [2+2+2] cyclotrimerization. Cadmium chloride not only plays the role of constructing CPs but also acts as a catalyst to promote the cycloaddition reaction. In addition, benefiting from numerous exposed carbonyl and hydroxyl function groups, CPs 1–3are applied to the adsorptive removal of dyes (congo red (CR) and methyl orange (MO)) from aqueous solutions. As a result, 1–3show excellent dye adsorption capacity. 1exhibits maximum CR adsorption capacity of 485.4 mg g–1, and 3has ultrahigh MO uptake capacity of 492.6 mg g–1. Experimental results suggest that the dye removal effect derives from the interactions between dye molecules and the exposed carbonyl and hydroxyl groups.

To establish a progressive research strategy for “colonic components analysis - efficacy verification and mechanism exploration - gut microbiota”, screen pharmacodynamic substances, and investigate their mechanism via gut microbiota.

Feed efficiency (FE) is a crucial economic indicator of meat duck production. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of residual feed intake (RFI), defined as the difference between the actual and expected feed intake based on animal's production and maintenance requirements, on the growth performance (GP), slaughter and internal organ characteristics of fast-growing meat ducks. In total, 1,300 healthy 14-day-old male fast-growing meat ducks were housed in individual cages until slaughter at the age of 35 d. The characteristics of the carcass and internal organs of 30 ducks with the highest RFI (HRFI) and the lowest RFI (LRFI) were respectively determined. RFI, the feed conversion ratio (FCR), and average day feed intake (ADFI) were significantly lower in the LRFI group than the HRFI group (P< 0.001), while there were no significant differences in marketing BW or BW gain (BWG) (P > 0.05). The thigh muscle and lean meat yields were higher, and the abdominal fat content was lower (P< 0.001) in the LRFI group, while there were no significant differences in other carcass traits between the groups (P> 0.05). The liver and gizzard yields were significantly higher (P< 0.001) in the LRFI group, while there were no significant differences (P> 0.05) in intestinal length between the groups. RFI was highly positively correlate with FCR and ADFI (P< 0.01), but negatively correlated the yields of thigh muscle, lean meat, liver, and gizzard, and positively correlated with abdominal fat content. These results indicate that selection for low RFI could improve the FE of fast-growing meat ducks without affecting the marketing BW and BWG, while increasing yields of thigh muscle and lean meat and reducing abdominal fat content. These findings offer useful insights into the biological processes that influence FE of fast-growing meat ducks.

Synergistic chemotherapy and photothermal therapy (PTT) have emerged as a promising anticancer paradigm to achieve expected therapeutic effects while mitigating side effects. However, the chemo/PTT combination therapy suffers from limited penetration depth, thermoresistance performance of tumor cells, and low drug bioavailability. Herein, multifunctional nanoparticles (BTP/DOX/2DG NPs) coloaded with near‐infrared region II (NIR‐II) light excitation donor–acceptor–donor (D–A–D) small molecules, doxorubicin (DOX), and 2‐deoxy‐d‐glucose (2‐DG) are developed for reinforced starvation/chemo/NIR‐II PTT combination therapy. The synthesized phenylboronic acid (PBA)‐modified water‐soluble D–A–D molecule (BBT‐TF‐PBA) not only exhibits high binding ability to DOX and 2‐DG through donor–acceptor coordination interactions PBA–diol bonds but also serves as a photoactive agent for NIR‐II fluorescence imaging, NIR‐II photoacoustic imaging, and NIR‐II PTT. Under the acidic and oxidizing conditions in the tumor microenvironment, donor–acceptor coordination interactions and PBA–diol bond are decomposed, simultaneously releasing DOX and 2‐DG from BTP/DOX/2DG NPs to achieve effective chemotherapy and starvation therapy. 2‐DG also effectively inhibits the expression of heat shock protein and further enhances NIR‐II PTT and chemotherapy efficiency. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrate the combination effect of BTP/DOX/2DG NPs for chemotherapy, NIR‐II PTT, and starvation therapy. A novel multifunctional nanoparticle (BTP/DOX/2DG NP) capable of efficient near‐infrared II (NIR‐II) light excitation is reported, achieved through the coloading of phenylboronic acid‐modified water‐soluble donor–acceptor–donor small molecules BTP, doxorubicin, and 2‐deoxy‐d‐glucose into DSPE‐PEG2000 liposomes. It can serve as a phototherapeutic agent for NIR‐II fluorescence/NIR‐II photoacoustic imaging‐guided starvation/chemo/NIR‐II photothermal combination therapy in cancer.

A rare example of SC-SC triggered by Cu2+heterogeneous oxidation was demonstrated in a Fe(II)-based MOF {[FeII3(L)2(H2O)6]·3H2O}n(1), which occurred a slow conversion into an oxidized MOF 2({[FeIII3(L)2(H2O)6]·3(OH)}n) with retention of single crystallinity. The FeII→ FeIIIprogress of the reaction oxidation was proved by single crystal XRD, PXRD, XPS, 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy, and UV–vis. We used 1and 2as catalysts to catalyze the tandem Nazarov cyclization, and the results show that acylation products were only harvested when 1was a catalyst, while the oxidized transformer 2lead mainly to the formation of cyclization products under identical conditions. Through the test of different substrates, 2can be a good heterogeneous catalyst candidate for the formation of cyclopentenone[b] benzenes. This work provides a new way to design efficient and hard-synthesized heterogeneous catalyst materials.

Emodin is a natural anthraquinone derivative that occurs in many Chinese medicinal herbs. It might induce liver damage, but the mechanism is not clear. In this research, seven groups of Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats with three doses of emodin were used. The liver injury was examined by analyzing biochemical indexes and histopathology. Altered proteins between the control group (CG) and the liver injury group were determined by proteomic technology. The results showed that emodin causes liver injury in a time- and dose-dependent manner. In the high-dosage 1-week group (HG1), glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) was downregulated, and the activity of malate dehydrogenase (MDH) was inhibited by emodin. These might cause the inhibition of FADH or NADH/NADPH transport from the cytoplasm to mitochondria. The WB results showed that the inhibition of FADH/NADPH transport induced a high activity of caspase-9 and caspase-3, and the expressions of cytochrome c (Cyt C), caspase-9 and caspase-3 were high in HG1, which might lead to mitochondrial apoptosis pathway activation. In addition, whatever the HG1 or low-dose group (LG), the effects of emodin on mitochondria were observed. Overall, for the first time, we showed that emodin inhibited proton transport and induced the activation of the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway, which might be the reason for liver injury.

Treatment of very small (≤3mm) wide-necked intracranial aneurysms remains controversial, we investigated the efficacy and safety of stent-assisted coiling of such aneurysms.

As a fascinating information storage device, organic transistor memory based on molecular charge storage elements (MCSEs) has attracted great research interest. However, the charge storage mechanism of MCSEs is ambiguous due to their complex charge dynamic behaviors. Herein, the dipole moment effects on the charge trapping process and the performance of transistor memory are revealed based on cruciform spiro[fluorene-9,9′-xanthene] (SFXs), incorporating cyano moieties, as the typical electron-withdrawing substitution. The characterization of electrostatic potential (ESP) calculation, UV–vis, photoluminescence, and crystallography of SFXs shows the SFXs MCSEs with weaker dipole moment through symmetrical substitution. A series of prototype transistor memories based on SFXs exhibit an erasable type feature with smart photoresponsive behavior. The weaker dipole moment ones possess larger memory window (∼40 V), higher charge trapping density (>1 × 1013cm–2), and higher programming speed (1014–1011cm–2s–1). The hole trapping process is dominated by the dipole moment rather than the charge dissipation when compared with different SFXs at the same HOMO level. Rather good charge retention property (>104s) and large on/off ratio (∼104) are obtained by blending SFXs with polymer dielectrics in optimized devices. The dipole moment effects on the charge trapping behavior provide not only the design of high performance transistor memory but also the smart information encryption in future data storage.

We design a nanohybrid for the detection of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) based on mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs). A phosphorescent iridium(III) complex and a specific H2S-sensitive merocyanine derivative are embedded into the nanohybrid. It exhibits a unique dual emission that is ascribed to the iridium(III) complex and the merocyanine derivative, respectively. Upon addition of sodium hydrogen sulfide (NaHS), the emission from the merocyanine derivative is quenched, while the emission from the iridium(III) complex is almost unchanged, which enables the ratiometric detection of H2S. Additionally, the nanohybrid has a long luminescence lifetime and displays a significant change in luminescence lifetime in response to H2S. Intracellular detection of H2S is performed via ratiometric imaging and photoluminescence lifetime imaging microscopy. Compared with the intensity-based method, the lifetime-based detection is independent of the probe concentration and can efficiently distinguish the signals of the probe from the autofluorescence in complex biological samples.

In general population, the prevalence of intracranial aneurysm reaches as high as three percent. The goal of the study was to analyze retrospectively the independent risk factors for the rupture of intracranial aneurysms and their joint effect.

Starch content is a key factor affecting sorghum grain quality. The research of sorghum grain starch accumulation and the related synthesis enzyme activities has great significance for understanding the mechanisms of starch metabolisms. The differences between a high and a low starch content sorghum hybrids (Tieza 17 and Liaoza 11, respectively) in grain starch accumulation and the related synthesis enzyme activities were assessed following imposition of water stress during flowering stage. The total starch, amylase and amylopectin accumulation all decreased at the mid-late stage of grain filling under drought stress during flowering stage. The maximum and mean accumulation rates also decreased. During grain filling, soluble starch synthase (SSS), granule-bound starch synthase (GBSS), starch branching enzyme (SBE), and starch debranching enzymes (DBE) activities were all affected, though differently. Drought stress reduced starch accumulation in a larger extent for Tieza 17 than Liaoza 11. Drought stress during flowing stage reduced starch synthesis enzyme activities, thus reducing starch accumulation in grains, and the differences between starch components were also demonstrated under drought stress.

This paper describes how to use the network virtualization technology to facilitate the teaching of different security courses. We introduce how to build and play a virtual network with virtual machines or using the network virtualization supported by the cloud computing. We present and compare the results of using these two different kinds of technology in security courses from aspects such as acceptance, convenience, cost, performance and security.

A selective phosphorescent biothiols probe is synthesized based on Ir(III) complex 1, which has 2,2′‐biquinoline as the N^N ligand for realizing the satisfied two‐photon absorption cross‐section and two‐functionalized 2‐phenylpyridine ligands with an α,β‐unsaturated ketone moiety as the thiol reaction site. The one‐ and two‐photon optical properties of 1are investigated through UV–vis absorption spectrum and photoluminescence spectrum. This Ir(III) complex can act as an excellent one‐ and two‐photon excited “OFF–ON” phosphorescent probe for biothiols based on the 1,4‐addition of biothiol to α,β‐unsaturated ketones. Moreover, one‐ and two‐photon‐induced luminescent imagings of biothiols in living cells are also realized. Furthermore, the experiments of time‐resolved photoluminescence technique and fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy demonstrate that 1is able to detect biothiols in the presence of strong background fluorescence. In addition, probe 1is adsorbed into the shell of mesoporous silica nanoparticles with core–shell structure to form a nanoprobe, which can realize the ratiometric detection of biothiols in absolute water solution and living cells based on two phosphorescent signals. A multifunctional phosphorescent chemodosimeterbased on an Ir(III) complex acts as a one‐ and two‐photon‐induced “OFF–ON” luminescent switch and a naked‐eye perceivable probe for detection of biothiols based on 1,4‐addition of biothiols to α,β‐unsaturated ketone in living cells, and also can be used in time‐resolved luminescent sensing and fluorescence lifetime imaging of biothiols in living cells.

Tyrosine decarboxylase (TDC) is responsible for tyramine production and can catalyze phenylalanine to produce β-phenylethylamine. Enterococcusstrains are a group of bacteria predominantly producing tyramine and β-phenylethylamine in water-boiled salted duck. In this study, the heterologous expression and characterization of two TDCs from Enterococcus faecalisR612Z1 (612TDC) and Enterococcus faeciumR615Z1 (615TDC) were studied. The recombinant putative proteins of 612TDC and 615TDC were heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli. 612TDC is a 620-amino-acid protein with a molecular mass of 70.0 kDa, whereas 615TDC is a 625-amino-acid protein with a molecular mass of 70.3 kDa. Both 612TDC and 615TDC showed an optimum temperature of 25°C for the tyrosine and phenylalanine substrates. However, 612TDC revealed maximal activity at pH 5.5, whereas 615TDC revealed maximal activity at pH 6.0. Kinetic studies showed that 612TDC and 615TDC exhibited higher specificity for tyrosine than for phenylalanine. The catalysis abilities of both 612TDC and 615TDC for phenylalanine were restrained significantly with the increase in NaCl concentration, but this was not the case for tyrosine. This study revealed that the enzyme properties of the purified recombinant 612TDC and 615TDC were similar, although their amino acid sequences had 84% identity.

Diarylethene derivatives are a class of fascinating photochromic materials because of their open and closed isomers with different absorption spectra and many other characteristics. To reveal the detailed structure and optoelectronic properties as well as the effect of metal centres and substituents on them, a systematic study on a series of diarylethene derivatives and their Re(I), Pt(II), and Ir(III) complexes was performed via theoretical calculation. The optimized geometries, electronic properties, frontier molecular orbitals, ionization potentials, electron affinities, reorganization energies, and absorption spectra for both of their open- and closed-isomers have been calculated and analyzed. Metal-coordination and substituents exhibit great influence on the photophysical, charge-injection and -transporting characteristics. In addition, the binding of F-with the boron atom of dimesitylboryl group through Lewis acid/base interactions also induces great changes of structural, photophysical and electronic properties for these diarylethene derivatives, and consequently the compound with the substituent of dimesitylboryl group can be used as selective near-infrared phosphorescent F-probe.Diarylethene derivatives are a class of fascinating photochromic materials because of their open and closed isomers with different absorption spectra and many other characteristics. To reveal the detailed structure and optoelectronic properties as well as the effect of metal centres and substituents on them, a systematic study on a series of diarylethene derivatives and their Re(I), Pt(II), and Ir(III) complexes was performed via theoretical calculation. The optimized geometries, electronic properties, frontier molecular orbitals, ionization potentials, electron affinities, reorganization energies, and absorption spectra for both of their open- and closed-isomers have been calculated and analyzed. Metal-coordination and substituents exhibit great influence on the photophysical, charge-injection and -transporting characteristics. In addition, the binding of F-with the boron atom of dimesitylboryl group through Lewis acid/base interactions also induces great changes of structural, photophysical and electronic properties for these diarylethene derivatives, and consequently the compound with the substituent of dimesitylboryl group can be used as selective near-infrared phosphorescent F-probe.

Abstract: In this work, a near-infrared (NIR) phosphorescent probe for F− based on a cationic Ir(III) complex [Ir(Bpq)2(quqo)]PF6 (1) with dimesitylboryl (Mes2B) groups on the cyclometalated C∧N ligands (Bpq) and 2-(quinolin-2-yl)quinoxaline (quqo) as N∧N ligand was designed and synthesized. The excited state properties of 1 were investigated in detail using molecular orbital calculations and experimental methods. Upon excitation, complex 1 shows NIR phosphorescent emission around 680 nm. Interestingly, the complex can be excited with long wavelength around 610 nm. Such long-wavelength excitation can reduce the background emission interference and improve the signal-to-noise ratio. Furthermore, the selective binding between boron atom and F− can give rise to the quenching of emission and realize the near-infrared phosphorescent sensing for F−. We wish that the results reported herein will be helpful for the further design of excellent near-infrared phosphorescent probes based on heavy-metal complexes.

In order to reveal the genetic diversity and origin of Chinese game chicken, a total of 535 base pairs of mitochondrial cyt b gene of five game chicken breeds (40 individuals), including: Henan, Luxi, Tulufan, Xishuangbanna and Zhangzhou, were sequenced using a DNA sequencing method. The results showed that there were six haplotpes found in the five game chicken breeds. The haplotype diversity ranged from 0.42857 to 0.78571, and the nucleotide diversity ranged from 0.00080 to 0.00654. The greatest genetic difference was between the Zhangzhou game and other game chickens. The analysis of the phylogenetic trees for the chickens constructed based on their haplotypes, indicated that the Chinese game chicken may originate from several subspecies of red jungle fowl. In conclusion, the genetic diversity of Chinese game chicken is not rich, and the maternal origin of Chinese game chicken may be from several subspecies of red jungle fowl.