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Vacancy engineering is a highly efficient approach to enhancing photocatalytic activity. This research presents an innovative development of ZnO/NiO coaxial heterojunction nanofibers (ZN 1/1) and ZnO/NiO coaxial heterojunction nanofibers with engineered oxygen vacancies (OVs-ZN 1/1) via electrospinning and annealing. Detailed characterization of the nanofiber microstructure was conducted using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The OVs-ZN 1/1 nanofibers demonstrated outstanding and unprecedented photocatalytic performance, achieving a 99 % degradation rate of Congo red dye (CR) under simulated solar light in just 45 min, with a good degradation coefficient of 0.091 min−1. Remarkably, the nanofibers' photocatalytic activity remained a high level even after five cycles. Moreover, the photocatalytic H 2 O 2 yield of OVs-ZN 1/1 increased 20 times as much as that of ZN 1/1. Experiments and mechanism analysis indicate that oxygen vacancy, as the electron trapping site of photoexcitation, accelerates the charge separation and transfer at the interface, thus promoting the adsorption and activation of target molecules. This study highlights the novel and superior performance of photochemical catalysts achieved through the strategic incorporation of oxygen vacancies and heterojunctions. [Display omitted] • Utilize coaxial electrospinning to fabricate high-density ZnO/NiO heterojunction nanofibers. • Enhance the photocatalytic performance of the nanofibers by generating oxygen vacancies (OVs). • OVs-ZN 1/1 efficiently catalyze Congo red degrading and H 2 O 2 production under simulated sunlight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Several reports demonstrated that cadmium (Cd) had proinflammatory activities. The present study aimed to investigate whether Cd induces inflammatory cytokines in mouse placenta and human trophoblast cells.Methods: Human JEG-3 cells were treated with different concentration of CdCl2 (0-50 μM) or CdCl2 (25 μM) for different times. The pregnant mice were administered with CdCl2 (3.0 mg/kg, i.p.) on GD15.Results: TNF-α, IL-8 and IL-6 mRNAs were elevated in CdCl2-treated JEG-3 cells. Several inflammatory cytokines were up-regulated in Cd-treated placenta of mice. Moreover, keratinocyte chemokine (KC), a functional analogue of human IL-8, was increased in maternal serum and amniotic fluid from CdCl2-exposed mice. Additional experiment showed that gestational Cd exposure activated Akt signaling in mouse placenta. Co-culture with CdCl2 elevated pAkt level in JEG-3 cells in concentration- and time-dependent manners. LY294002, a specific inhibitor of PI3K, blocked CdCl2-evoked Akt phosphorylation in JEG-3 cells. Concomitantly, LY294002 inhibited CdCl2-induced IL-8 in JEG-3 cells. N-acetylcysteine (NAC), an antioxidant and a glutathione precursor, blocked CdCl2-evoked Akt phosphorylation in mouse placenta and human trophoblast cells. Additionally, NAC attenuated Cd-induced up-regulation of KC in amniotic fluid.Discussion: Cd induces inflammatory cytokines partially through activating Akt signaling in mouse placenta and human trophoblast cells. NAC may be exploited for prevention of Cd-induced placental inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Public health is still seriously threatened by dengue virus (DENV) and no vaccine against DENV is yet available for clinical use till now. In this study, DNA vaccine candidates encoding DENV serotype 2 (DENV-2) prM/E (premembrane and envelope proteins) and NS1 (non-structural 1 protein) with or without a gene adjuvant, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), were evaluated in the aspects of immunity and protective efficacy in mice. We constructed three plasmids, pCAG-prM/E (which only expressed DENV2 prM/E), pCAG-prM/E/NS1 (which only expressed DENV2 prM/E/NS1) and pCAG-DG (which co-expressed DENV2 prM/E/NS1 and GM-CSF). The expressions of the recombined plasmids were analyzed by immuno-staining in Vero cells. Antibody responses and neutralization activity of the sera from the mice were assayed by ELISA and plaque reduction neutralization test after immunization with the plasmids. Immunized BALB/c mice were intracerebrally challenged with DENV2 to evaluate protective efficacy of the plasmids. The recombinant plasmids could be efficiently expressed in Vero cells and induced different levels of specific anti-DENV2 immune responses. The immunized mice were partially protected. The highest survival rate was observed in the pCAG-DG group although the anti-DENV2 titer and neutralization antibody titer were not the highest among the three groups. Our data suggested that pCAG-DG offered better protection against DENV2 infection. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A method employing an isosceles prism and a right-angle one is developed for loss measurement in planar waveguides. During the measuring process, the isosceles prism is fixed and the right-angle prism fixed on the waveguide slides by following the waveguide. Only by adjusting the gap thickness we can realize the loss measurement in planar waveguides. The method is demonstrated with an Ag/Na ion-exchanged waveguide fabricated on BK7 glass from melt diluted with (mass ratio 1:9), with the condition of 4h and . The experimental results show that the method has the advantages on convenient operation, accurate results and no required end polishing. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Cadmium (Cd), a ubiquitous environmental pollutant, is known to impair placental development. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The present study used in vivo and in vitro models to investigate the effects of Cd on apoptosis and autophagy in placental trophoblasts and its mechanism. Pregnant mice were exposed to CdCl 2 (4.5 mg/kg) on gestational day (GD) 9. Human JEG-3 cells were exposed to CdCl 2 (0–40 μM) for different time points. Gestational Cd exposure obviously lowered the weight and diameter of mouse placentas. Number of TUNEL-positive cells was markedly elevated in Cd-administered mouse placentas and JEG-3 cells. Correspondingly, Cd significantly up-regulated cleaved caspase-3 protein level, a key indicator of apoptosis, in murine placentas and JEG-3 cells. Simultaneously, Cd also triggered autophagy, as determined by an elevation of LC3B-II and p62 protein, and accumulation of LC3-positive puncta, in placental trophoblasts. Chloroquine an autophagy inhibitor, obviously aggravated Cd-induced apoptosis in JEG-3 cells. By contrast, rapamycin, a specific autophagy inducer, significantly alleviated Cd-triggered apoptosis in JEG-3 cells. Mechanistically, autophagy inhibited Cd-induced apoptosis mainly via degrading caspase-9. Co-localizations of p62, a classical autophagic receptor, and caspase-9 were observed in Cd-stimulated human JEG-3 cells. Moreover, p62 siRNAs pretreatment markedly blocked the degradation of caspase 9 proteins via Cd-activated autophagy in JEG-3 cells. Collectively, our data suggest that activation of autophagy inhibits Cd-induced apoptosis via p62-mediated caspase-9 degradation in placental trophoblasts. These findings provide a new mechanistic insight into Cd-induced impairments of placental and fetal development. Image 1 • Environmental Cd exposure during pregnancy causes apoptosis and autophagy in placental trophoblasts. • Autophagy activation inhibits Cd-triggered apoptosis in placental trophoblasts. • Autophagy activation inhibits Cd-triggered apoptosis via p62-mediated caspase-9 degradation in placental trophoblasts. Activation of autophagy inhibits Cd-induced apoptosis via p62-mediated caspase-9 degradation in placental trophoblasts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Environmental Cd exposure inhibits placental P4 synthesis and causes FGR. • Cd inhibits placental P4 synthesis by Parkin-dependent mitophagy. • PERK signaling mediates Cd-activated mitophagy in placental trophoblasts. • Placental mitophagy contributes to Cd-impaired fetal growth in mice. • FGR is associated with activated mitophagy and reduced P4 synthesis in human placenta. Cadmium (Cd), an environmental toxicant, is positively associated with fetal growth restriction (FGR). However, the mechanism by which gestational exposure to Cd induces FGR remains unclear. This study designed in vitro and in vivo experiments to explore the role of placental mitophagy in Cd-impaired fetal growth. Based on our case-control study, we also investigated the association of placental mitophagy with reduced progesterone (P4) level and all-cause FGR. We firstly found environmental Cd exposure lowered the P4 content in maternal sera, placentae and amniotic fluids of mice. The level of three mitochondrial P4 synthases, including StAR, CYP11A1 and 3β-HSD, was also reduced in Cd-treated placentae. Furthermore, Cd triggered mitophagy, as determined by the degradation of two mitochondrial proteins HSP60 and COX IV, and the accumulation of co-localizations of TOM20 with LC3B or Parkin in placental trophoblasts. Correspondingly, Cd elevated mitochondrial Parkin level in placental trophoblasts. Mdivi-1, a mitophagy inhibitor, obviously attenuated Cd-induced reduction of placental P4 and FGR in mice. Moreover, mdivi-1 and Parkin siRNA (siR) markedly reversed Cd-caused P4 synthesis inhibition in human placental trophoblasts. Interestedly, the PERK/ATF4 signaling was activated in Cd-stimulated placental trophoblasts. PERK siR inhibited mitochondrial proteins degradation in Cd-stimulated placental trophoblasts. In particularly, mitophagy activation and P4 synthesis suppression occurred in small-for-gestational-age placentae based on our case-control study. Environmental Cd exposure induced FGR via activating PERK-regulated mitophagy and inhibiting P4 synthesis in placental trophoblasts. Furthermore, placental mitophagy was related to the reduced progesterone level and all-cause fetal growth restriction based on our case-control study. As above, placental mitophagy maybe the common mechanism of environmental toxicants-impaired fetal growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The Nb x W 10-x composite was fabricated for the efficient vapor-phase nitrilation of dimethyl adipate to adiponitrile with the highest single-pass yield of 85.2% obtained over Nb 9 W 1. • The activity strongly correlates with the interaction of the catalyst with the carbonyl functionality rather than the apparent acidity amount. • A synergistic mechanism was discovered for the Nb 9 W 1 catalysis, wherein the Nb-based domain accounts for the adsorption of the carbonyl functionality in dimethyl adipate and the W-based domain mainly adsorbs and activates the NH 3 feedstock. To reach highly active and selective gas-phase nitrilation of dimethyl adipate (DMA) with NH 3 , a series of Nb x W 10-x (x = 10, 9, 7, 5 and 0) composite were fabricated by a sol–gel method to approach the homogeneous combination of NbO x and WO x. As a result, the single-pass yield of adiponitrile (ADN) reached 85.2% over Nb 9 W 1 under lower reaction temperature and lower NH 3 /DMA molar ratio. Consequently, the space–time yield (STY) of ADN over Nb 9 W 1 was 1.7 ∼ 30 times higher than that of previous catalysts. Mechanistic experiments demonstrated the activity strongly correlates the interaction between the carbonyl functionality and the composite. Further, a significant synergistic effect between W and Nb was disclosed, wherein the Nb-based domains account for activating DMA while the W-based domains mainly adsorb and activate NH 3 feedstock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The SWEET ( s ugars w ill e ventually be e xported t ransporter) family is a newly characterized group of sugar transporters. In plants, the key roles of SWEETs in phloem transport, nectar secretion, pollen nutrition, stress tolerance, and plant–pathogen interactions have been identified. SWEET family genes have been characterized in many plant species, but a comprehensive analysis of SWEET members has not yet been performed in wheat. Here, 59 wheat SWEETs (hereafter TaSWEETs) were identified through homology searches. Analyses of phylogenetic relationships, numbers of transmembrane helices (TMHs), gene structures, and motifs showed that TaSWEETs carrying 3–7 TMHs could be classified into four clades with 10 different types of motifs. Examination of the expression patterns of 18 SWEET genes revealed that a few are tissue-specific while most are ubiquitously expressed. In addition, the stem rust-mediated expression patterns of SWEET genes were monitored using a stem rust-susceptible cultivar, ‘Little Club’ (LC). The resulting data showed that the expression of five out of the 18 SWEETs tested was induced following inoculation. In conclusion, we provide the first comprehensive analysis of the wheat SWEET gene family. Information regarding the phylogenetic relationships, gene structures, and expression profiles of SWEET genes in different tissues and following stem rust disease inoculation will be useful in identifying the potential roles of SWEETs in specific developmental and pathogenic processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The relevant results of this study on X90 ultra-high grade pipeline steel provide reference for application in the future. • The test results of three typical X90 line pipes are utilized for aging sensitivity coefficient calculation, so as to evaluate the significant influencing factors. • Comprehensive analysis on aging sensitivity coefficient shows that the aging treatment have different effects on different X90 pipeline steel, mainly due to different microstructure and chemical composition. Tensile and impact toughness tests under different aging conditions were conducted to study the effect of strain aging on service properties of X90 line pipe. Results indicate that the yield strength and yield ratio of X90 pipeline steels increase significantly after strain aging, while the impact toughness and tensile strength show little correlation with strain aging. Moreover, the impact toughness decreases after 200 °C, 5 min aging, however, it rises with the increase of aging temperature and aging time. The tensile strength changes slightly after strain aging, however, the yield strength and yield ratio increase significantly after strain aging, and the rising range of which decrease with the increase of aging temperature and aging time. Comprehensive analysis shows that the aging treatment contributes to different service properties of X90 pipeline steels, mainly due to the difference of microstructure and chemical composition. The results of aging sensitive coefficients analysis show that microstructure yields more significant effect on service properties of X90 pipeline steels than that of chemical composition, and X90 pipeline steel with dual-phase microstructure contains higher aging sensitivity coefficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Description of the pharmacological activities of Sanghuang mushrooms (Inonotus Sanghuang) can be traced back to Tang dynasty of China 1300 years ago. This mushroom has been widely accepted in China, Japan, Korea and certain regions of Europe as a nutraceutical medicine for enhancing immunity or an alternative medicine for prevention or inhibition of tumorigenesis. However, this mushroom is rarely available from the mulberry trees in the wild because of the rigorous conditions needed for formation of the Sanghuang mushrooms. This study aims to establish a practical protocol for culture, particularly for a bunch of production of Sanghuang mushrooms possibly to commercialize the cultured Sanghuang based on deep comparison of quality and pharmacological activities between the cultured and the wild Sanghuang. A phylogenetic tree containing five strains of the wild Sanghuang was constructed using rDNA markers. Different temperatures and medium compositions were surveyed to develop a practical protocol for culture of the Sanghuang mushrooms. 5-fluorouracil was used to induce the immunodeficient mice. Chemotherapeutic components and pharmacological activities were deeply analyzed between a cultured strain (SG) and three strains of the wild Sanghuang. Maintenance of a temperature of 22–28 °C and a high relative humidity of 90–95%, and use of a high ratio (80%) of mulberry tree sticks in the medium were critical to successful culture of Sanghuang. The cultured mushrooms were yellow with a uniform shape, while the wild Sanghuang was dark brown with a smaller and irregular shape. The cultured mushrooms contained significantly higher levels of polysaccharides, amino acids, and water-soluble nutraceuticals, whereas flavones in the wild Sanghuang were significantly higher (P < 0.05). Use of a dose of 8 mg/kg or 16 mg/kg to immunoregenerate the immunodeficient mice was comparable between the cultured and wild Sanghang based on analysis of hematological parameters and histological examination of the thymus and spleen in the treated mice. This study highlights the potential of the immunoregenerative functions of the cultured Sanghuang for cancer chemotherapy and suggests that the cultured Sanghuang can be an alternative to wild Sanghuang used for nutraceutical medicine. Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]