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Arsenic compounds have been applied treating acute promyelocytic 1eukemia and solid tumors with brief mechanism investigations. In fact, we have demonstrated that sodium arsenite plus dimethylarsenic acid could activate apoptosis in MA‐10 mouse Leydig tumor cells by inducing caspase pathways. However, detail underlying mechanisms how caspase cascade is regulated remains elusive. Therefore, the apoptotic mechanism of sodium arsenite plus dimethylarsenic acid were examined in MA‐10 cells in this study. Our results reveal that Fas/FasL protein expressions were stimulated by sodium arsenite plus dimethylarsenic acid in MA‐10 cells. In addition, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, cytochrome C release, Bid truncation, and Bax translocation were induced in MA‐10 cells by arsenic compounds. Moreover, activation of p38, JNK and ERK1/2, MAPK pathways was stimulated while Akt phosphorylated levels and Akt expression were decreased by sodium arsenite plus dimethylarsenic in MA‐10 cells. In conclusion, sodium arsenite and dimethylarsenic acid did activate MAPK pathway plus ROS generation, but suppress Akt pathway, to modulate caspase pathway and then induce MA‐10 cell apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Until now, no specific and effective treatment exists for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19). Since honey and Nigella sativa (HNS) have established antiviral, antibacterial, antiinflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory properties, we tested their efficacy for this disease in a multicenter, placebo‐controlled, and randomized clinical trial at four medical care facilities in Pakistan. RT‐PCR confirmed COVID‐19 adults showing moderate or severe disease were enrolled in the trial. Patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either honey (1 g kg−1 day−1) and Nigella sativa seeds (80 mg kg−1 day−1) or a placebo for up to 13 days along with standard care. The outcomes included symptoms' alleviation, viral clearance, and 30‐day mortality in the intention‐to‐treat population. Three hundred and thirteen patients, 210 with moderate and 103 with severe disease, underwent randomization from April 30 to July 29, 2020. Among the moderate cases, 107 were assigned to HNS, whereas 103 were assigned to the placebo group. Among the severe cases, 50 were given HNS, and 53 were given the placebo. HNS resulted in ~50% reduction in time taken to alleviate symptoms as compared to placebo (moderate cases: 4 vs. 7 days, Hazard Ratio [HR]: 6.11; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 4.23–8.84, p < 0.0001 and for severe cases: 6 vs. 13 days, HR: 4.04; 95% CI: 2.46–6.64; p < 0.0001). HNS also cleared the virus earlier than placebo in both moderate cases (6 vs. 10 days, HR: 5.53; 95% CI: 3.76–8.14, p < 0.0001) and severe cases (8.5 vs. 12 days, HR: 4.32; 95% CI: 2.62–7.13, p < 0.0001). HNS further led to a better clinical score on day 6 with normal activity resumption in 63.6% vs. 10.9% among moderate cases (OR: 0.07; 95% CI: 0.03–0.13, p < 0.0001) and hospital discharge in 50% versus 2.8% in severe cases (OR: 0.03; 95% CI: 0.01–0.09, p < 0.0001). In severe cases, the mortality rate was less than 1/4th in the HNS group than in placebo (4% vs. 18.87%, OR: 0.18; 95% CI: 0.02–0.92, p = 0.029). No HNS‐related adverse effects were observed. HNS, compared with placebo, significantly improved symptoms, expedited viral load clearance, and reduced mortality in COVID‐19 patients. This trial was registered on April 15, 2020 with ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04347382. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dearomatization reactions involving radical cyclizations can facilitate the synthesis of complex polycyclic systems that find applications in medicinal chemistry and natural product synthesis. Here we employ redox‐neutral photocatalysis to affect a radical spirocyclization that transforms biaryls into spirocyclic cyclohexadienones under mild reaction conditions. In a departure from previously reported methods, our work demonstrates the polarity mismatched addition of a nucleophilic radical to an electron rich arene, and allows the regioselective synthesis of 2,4‐ or 2,5‐cyclohexadienones with broad functional group tolerance. By transforming biaryls into spirocycles, our methodology accesses underexplored three‐dimensional chemical space, and provides an efficient means of creating quaternary spirocenters that we apply to the first synthesis of the cytotoxic plant metabolite denobilone A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amalgamation of a supported liquid membrane (SLM) and electrocoagulation are carried out to remove As(III) and As(V) from drinking water to achieve a high treatment efficiency. The process is based on uphill transport of arsenic ions against their concentration gradients across phases and has the advantage of simultaneous extraction and recovery followed by electrocoagulation of arsenic. The aim of the process is selective separation of arsenic from drinking water and to reduce its concentration below 10 ppb. An iron‐arsenic precipitate is obtained by using an iron anode and the said precipitate is a value‐added saleable product. Various adsorption isotherms are evaluated to understand the removal mechanism of arsenic by the formation of iron‐arsenic precipitates. The Freundlich isotherm and Dubinin‐Radushkevich model are found to fit well with the adsorption data of the removal of arsenic ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sex ratio is a key ecological demographic parameter crucial for population viability. However, the epigenetic mechanisms operating during gonadal development regulating gene expression and the sex ratio remain poorly understood. Moreover, there is interest in the development of epigenetic markers associated with a particular phenotype or as sentinels of environmental effects. Here, we profiled DNA methylation and gene expression of 10 key genes related to sex development and stress, including steroidogenic enzymes, and growth and transcription factors. We provide novel information on the sex‐related differences and on the influence of elevated temperature on these genes in zebrafish, a species with mixed genetic and environmental influences on sex ratios. We identified both positive (e.g., amh, cyp11c and hsd11b2) and negative (e.g., cyp11a1 and dmrt1) correlations in unexposed males, and negative correlation (amh) in exposed females between DNA methylation and gene expression levels. Further, we combined DNA methylation analysis with machine learning procedures and found a series of informative CpGs capable not only of correctly identifying sex (based on cyp19a1a DNA methylation levels) but also of identifying whether males and females had been exposed to abnormally elevated temperature when young (based on amh and foxl2a DNA methylation levels, respectively). This was achieved in the absence of conspicuous morphological alterations of the gonads. These DNA methylation‐based epigenetic biomarkers represent molecular resources that can correctly recapitulate past thermal history and pave the way for similar findings in other species to assess potential ecological effects of environmental disturbances in the context of climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoparticles (NPs) have gained more attention as drug delivery systems. Folic acid (FA)‐chitosan (CS) conjugates, because of their biodegradability, low toxicity, and better stability, offer a pharmaceutical drug delivery tool. The aim of this work was to fabricate CuS NPs modified by CS followed by grafting FA as a nanocarrier for the delivery of cytarabine (CYT) as an anticancer drug. In this work, CuS NPs modified by CS and FA were successfully synthesized. The structural properties of the nanocarrier were characterized by using scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared, X‐ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller. The adsorption mechanism of CYT by adsorption isotherms, kinetics, and thermodynamics was deliberated and modeled. The in vitro CYT release behavior for the nanocarrier was 99% and 61% at pH 5.6 and 7.4, respectively. The adsorption behavior of CYT by CuS NPs–CS–FA was well explored by pseudo–second‐order kinetic and Langmuir isotherm models by the coefficient of determination (R2 > 0.99). Thermodynamic results showed that the uptake of CYT by CuS NPs‐CS‐FA was endothermic and spontaneous. The experimental results showed that CYT/CuS NPs‐CS‐FA can be proposed as an efficient nanocarrier for the targeted delivery of anticancer drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organoboranes are important reagents in modern synthetic organic chemistry. The C−B bonds presented in these derivatives are transformable into a C−X (X=C, N, O, and halogen) bonds stereoretentively to provide valuable complex molecules employed in medicinal chemistry, agrochemicals, natural products, and materials science. The homogeneous transition‐metal‐catalyzed borylation reaction is one of the most effective methodologies to synthesize organoboranes. However, these catalytic systems suffer from the inability to recover the catalysts and metal contamination into products, which limits their application towards chemical and pharmaceutical processes. Recently, the metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs)‐based heterogeneous catalytic systems have gained prominence to overcome these limitations. This review article surveys the employment of MOFs‐based catalysts in the borylation reactions, and the related mechanisms are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reactive oxygen species (ROS) which are produced during storage of boar semen are causing oxidative stress and leads to poor fertility. Also, tropical and sub‐tropical weather condition adversely impacts the physicomorphological quality and fertility of boar sperm. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of feeding linseed oil to boar on its seminal attributes, sperm kinetics, biomarkers of antioxidant, fatty acid profile of seminal plasma (SP) and sperm and in vivo fertility. Six Hampshire crossbreed boars were fed with 90 ml linseed oil (LIN) whereas six Hampshire crossbreed boars were fed 90 ml canola oil (CON) for 16 weeks. Sperm quality was evaluated (60 ejaculates for each group; a total of 120 ejaculates) for motility, livability, abnormal morphology, acrosomal membrane integrity, hypo‐osmotic swelling test (HOST) and sperm kinetic parameters by computer assisted semen analysis (CASA) at 0 h and at 72 h of storage at 17°C. Biomarkers of antioxidant (glutathione peroxidase; GPx, catalase; CAT, total antioxidant capacity; TAC) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured in SP and serum. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) was used for the estimation of fatty acid composition of SP and sperm. Boars fed with linseed oil had higher semen volume (p <.01) and more total sperm numbers (p <.01). Feeding linseed oil to boar enhanced seminal attributes (p <.05) at 0 h as well as at 72 h of storage. Linseed oil feeding (p <.01) improved biomarkers of antioxidants and significantly (p <.01) lowered the lipid peroxidation in serum and SP. Linseed oil feeding (p <.05) increased the proportion of alpha linolenic (ALA), arachidonic and docosahexaenoic (DHA) fatty acids in SP. The ratio of n‐6 to n‐3 fatty acids in sperm increased significantly (p <.01) in treatment group. Farrowing rate was significantly (p <.05) higher in treatment group. In conclusion, feeding linseed oil to boar improved the in vivo fertility, enhanced antioxidant capacity and increased the DHA content of SP and sperm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The present study aimed to investigate the association between lipoprotein lipase (LPL) S447X polymorphism and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), obesity, lipid profile, and oxidative stress parameters in a population from the Kurdistan region of Iraq. Method: We studied 250 adults (51% female and 49% male) aged 45–65 years in four groups, obese and normal body mass index (BMI) diabetic patients versus healthy normal BMI and obese individuals as controls. Lipid profile and oxidative stress parameters were analyzed by colorimetric assay. The LPL S447X genotypes were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)‐restriction fragment length polymorphism. Results: We found that the obese diabetic group had higher levels of triglycerides (TG), cholesterol, and low‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol, and lower level of high‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol than other groups. Obese diabetic patients had higher anthropometric indices than nonobese diabetic patients, obese and normal BMI controls. The levels of TG and total oxidative status (TOS) were significantly lower and higher, respectively, in normal BMI controls than in obese controls. Obese diabetic patients had a lower level of total antioxidant capacity than nondiabetic obese controls. The level of TOS was lower in nondiabetic controls compared to the patient groups. Obese diabetic patients had the highest TOS and malondialdehyde levels. The LPL SX genotype was associated with decreased the risk of T2DM by 79% (odds ratio [OR] = 0.21; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.05–0.81, p = 0.03). Also, the presence of this genotype reduced the risk of obesity by 39% (OR = 0.61; 95% CI: 0.07–4.90, p = 0.6). In all individuals, the presence of the SX genotype was associated with significantly lower levels of fasting blood sugar (FBS) and TOS. Conclusion: We report the influence of obesity on lipid profile in diabetic and nondiabetic individuals and the effect of LPL SX genotype on decreased risk of T2DM and reduced levels of FBS and TOS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interplay between superconductivity and ferromagnetism in the superconductor/ferromagnet (SC/FM) heterostructures generates many interesting physical phenomena, including spin‐triplet superconductivity, superconducting order parameter oscillation, and topological superconductivity. The unique physical properties make the SC/FM heterostructure as promising platforms for future superconducting spintronics and quantum computation applications. In this article, important research progress of SC/FM heterostructures from superconducting spintronics to quantum computation is reviewed, and it is organized as follows. First, the progress of spin current carriers in SC/FM heterostructures including Bogoliubov quasiparticles, superconducting vortex, and spin‐triplet Cooper pairs which might be used for long‐range spin transport is discussed. Then, the π Josephson junctions and their application for constructing π qubits are described. Finally, experimental signatures of Majorana states in the SC/FM heterostructures and the theoretically proposed manipulation are briefly reviewed, which could be useful to realize fault‐tolerant topological quantum computing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is characterized by insulin secretion deficiencies and systemic insulin resistance (IR) in adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, and the liver. Although the mechanism of T2DM is not yet fully known, inflammation and insulin resistance play a central role in the pathogenesis of T2DM. G protein‐coupled receptors (GPCRs) are involved in endocrine and metabolic processes as well as many other physiological processes. GPR50 (G protein‐coupled receptor 50) is an orphan GPCR that shares the highest sequence homology with melatonin receptors. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of GPR50 on inflammation and insulin resistance in 3T3‐L1 preadipocytes. GPR50 expression was observed to be significantly increased in the adipose tissue of obese T2DM mice, while GPR50 deficiency increased inflammation in 3T3‐L1 cells and induced the phosphorylation of AKT and insulin receptor substrate (IRS) 1. Furthermore, GPR50 knockout in the 3T3‐L1 cell line suppressed PPAR‐γ expression. These data suggest that GPR50 can attenuate inflammatory levels and regulate insulin signaling in adipocytes. Furthermore, the effects are mediated through the regulation of the IRS1/AKT signaling pathway and PPAR‐γ expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long paleoearthquake series are crucial for understanding the recurrence patterns of active faults and evaluating the seismic hazards of faults. In this study, the first semiquantitative evaluation of paleoearthquake events from trenches was applied to normal faults, and classification criteria for identifying paleoearthquakes in trenches on normal faults are proposed to demonstrate the feasibility of semiquantitative evaluations of paleoearthquake events on normal faults. In this study, 72 paleoearthquake trench sites on normal faults around the world were analyzed, and the main indicators for identifying paleoearthquakes on normal faults include the presence of vertical offset (VO), collapse wedge (CW), fissure (FIS), buried paleosol (BP), angular unconformity (AU), upward termination (UT), and sand liquefaction (LF) features. To describe and apply this semiquantitative evaluation method for paleoearthquake events on normal faults, 33 trenches for paleoearthquakes on a fault system in the northern margin of the Hetao Basin were comprehensively analyzed to determine Holocene paleoearthquake events on the Sertengshan, Wulashan, and Daqingshan piedmont faults, and the reliability of paleoearthquake events is discussed. The integrity of the paleoearthquake events obtained was tested by the displacement limit method. The Holocene paleoearthquake recurrence on the three faults was quasiperiodic; the coefficients of variation (COVs) were 0.44, 0.58, and 0.4. Plain Language Summary: In this study, 72 paleoearthquake trench sites on normal faults around the world are analyzed, and summarized the main indicators for identifying paleoearthquakes on normal faults. Classification criteria for identifying paleoearthquakes in trenches on normal faults are proposed. Using the faults of the northern margin of the Hetao Basin as an example, this study described a semiquantitative evaluation method for normal fault paleoearthquake events, and discussed the reliability of paleoearthquake events. The integrity of the paleoearthquake events obtained was tested by the displacement limit method. Combining with studies on the reliability and integrity of paleoearthquake events, we argue that it is feasible to apply semiquantitative evaluations of paleoearthquake events from trenches to paleoearthquake research on normal faults. Key Points: Semiquantitative evaluation of paleoearthquake identification from trenches to normal faults is applied for the first timeClassification criteria are proposed for identifying paleoearthquakes in trenches on normal faultsThis study demonstrates the feasibility of semiquantitative evaluation of paleoearthquake events on normal faults [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autoimmune diseases are characterized by the recognition of self‐antigens by the immune system, which leads to inflammation and tissue damage. B cells are directly and indirectly involved in the pathophysiology of autoimmunity, both via antigen‐presentation to T cells and production of proinflammatory cytokines and/or autoantibodies. Consequently, B lineage cells have been identified as therapeutic targets in autoimmune diseases. B cell depleting strategies have proven beneficial in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematous (SLE), ANCA‐associated vasculitis (AAV), multiple sclerosis (MS), and a wide range of other immune‐mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs). However, not all patients respond to treatment or may not reach (drug‐free) remission. Moreover, B cell depleting therapies do not always target all B cell subsets, such as short‐lived and long‐lived plasma cells. These cells play an active role in autoimmunity and in certain diseases their depletion would be beneficial to achieve disease remission. In the current review article, we provide an overview of novel strategies to target B lineage cells in autoimmune diseases, with the focus on rheumatic diseases. Both advanced therapies that have recently become available and more experimental treatments that may reach the clinic in the near future are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Mw 6.4 right‐lateral Petrinja earthquake (2020, Croatia) is one of the largest continental earthquakes of central Europe for decades. The slip pattern of such events is usually difficult to retrieve with terrestrial geodesy due to limited monitoring means. This study takes advantage of a unique data set of dense measurements of coseismic displacement in the epicentral area, obtained by repeated measurements of benchmark networks designed for civilian purposes, and supplemented by far‐field continuous GNSS measurements. Elastic modeling of these data shows two coseismic slip patches that extend over a 15 × 10 km rupture plane, locally reaching the surface, and that a right‐lateral sub‐parallel secondary fault in the central part of the rupture likely accommodated part of the coseismic deformation. This study demonstrates that rapid re‐measurement of pre‐existing civilian networks offers unique coseismic constrains in the near‐field where InSAR or optical image correlation may decorrelate. Plain Language Summary: The magnitude 6.4 Petrinja earthquake that stroke Croatia on 29 December 2020, is one of the largest earthquakes registered for decades in continental Europe. Large damage and surface ruptures were observed, suggesting that the earthquake occurred at a very shallow depth. The slip pattern for such moderate magnitude earthquakes is usually difficult to retrieve with terrestrial geodesy because of limited monitoring means and small deformations. In this study, we use a unique data set made of dense coseismic displacement estimates in the epicentral area obtained by repeated positioning measurements of benchmark networks designed for civilian purposes. The inversion of this displacement field completed by far‐field continuous GNSS measurements shows that the coseismic slip on the Petrinja‐Pokupsko fault is limited to depths no greater than 10 km and has reached the surface locally. A single‐fault model explains well the data, but the fit is largely improved with a sub‐parallel secondary fault in the central part of the rupture. This study demonstrates that quick remeasurement of pre‐existing civilian networks can offer unique constrains on the coseismic deformation and the associated fault geometry when spatial techniques such as InSAR or optical correlation may decorrelate. Key Points: Real Time Kinematics measurements of civilian networks capture near‐field coseismic displacements of the 2020 strike‐slip Petrinja earthquakeTime‐series from regional continuous GNSS stations constrain coseismic deformation in the far‐fieldElastic modeling argues for two slip patches on the main fault and for significant slip on a parallel secondary fault [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A viable one‐pot synthesis of challenging 4H‐[3,4‐c]quinolone‐4,5(6H)‐diones by the reaction of β‐(2‐aminophenyl)‐α,β‐ynones with ethyl malonyl chloride is described. Their further elaboration in the presence of an excess of 40 % methyl amine aqueous solution in EtOH gives the benzo[c][2,7]naphthyridine‐4,5(3H,6H)‐diones of pharmacological interest in high yields. The product selectivity control of the divergent sequential condensation/C‐annulation/intramolecular transesterification vs condensation/O‐annulation/ring opening reactions of β‐(2‐aminophenyl)‐α,β‐ynones with malonyl chloride under metal free conditions has been addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The energy‐adjusted Dietary Inflammatory Index (E‐DII™) has been associated with a high body mass index and markers of chronic diseases. Also, pro‐inflammatory diets with a high E‐DII have been positively associated with metabolic disturbances such as glucose intolerance and type II diabetes mellitus. However, it is unclear whether E‐DII scores are positively associated with body fat percentage and visceral fat per se. This cross‐sectional study aimed to evaluate whether the E‐DII is associated with body fat content and metabolic health indicators in lean and obese young men. Methods: The present study was conducted on 59 participants, without comorbidities, not using tobacco, medication and nutritional supplements. Dietary data were obtained by 3‐day food records to calculate E‐DII scores based on 28 food parameters. Body composition was assessed by dual X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA). Blood samples were taken to measure fasting glucose, insulin, triacylglycerols, total cholesterol, and low‐ and high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol. An oral glucose tolerance test also was performed. Associations were determined by mixed‐effects linear regression. Results: E‐DII scores ranged from −3.48 to +3.10. Energy intake was similar across E‐DII tertiles. After adjusting for covariates, the highest E‐DII tertile was associated with increased body fat, visceral adipose tissue and waist circumference. There was no association between E‐DII scores and glycaemic parameters. Conclusions: In young participants, a dietary pattern with a higher E‐DII (i.e., pro‐inflammatory) score was associated with high body fat and markers of central adiposity assessed by DXA, regardless of body mass. Key points: 1.Diet quality has been one of the hot topics investigated when looking into chronic disease prevention and treatment.2.A common feature of chronic diseases is low‐grade chronic inflammation, which is associated with dietary habits and body fat.3.The energy‐adjusted Dietary Inflammatory Index (E‐DII) is a tool for evaluating the inflammatory potential of a diet and it is not completely known whether E‐DII is associated with body adiposity or markers of metabolic health in healthy subjects.4.The present study aimed to find potential associations between E‐DII, body fat and metabolic health in young healthy males.5.The highest E‐DII tertile (towards pro‐inflammatory) was positively associated with increased body fat, visceral adipose tissue mass and waist circumference, regardless of body mass.6.Following a diet with a pro‐inflammatory profile (higher E‐DII) is likely a contributor to the whole body and central obesity, with potential repercussions to future metabolic health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arsenic (As) poisoning has caused an environmental catastrophe in Bangladesh as millions of people are exposed to As‐contaminated drinking water. Chronic As‐exposure causes depression, memory impairment, and liver injury in experimental animals. This study was carried out to assess the protective effect of mulberry leaves juice (Mul) against As‐induced neurobehavioral and hepatic dysfunctions in Swiss albino mice. As‐exposed mice spent significantly reduced time in open arms and increased time spent in closed arms in the elevated plus maze (EPM) test, whereas they took significantly longer time to find the hidden platform in the Morris water maze (MWM) test and spent significantly less time in the desired quadrant when compared to the control mice. A significant reduction in serum BChE activity, an indicator of As‐induced neurotoxicity‐associated behavioral changes, was noted in As‐exposed mice compared to control mice. Supplementation of Mul to As‐exposed mice significantly increased serum BChE activity, increased the time spent in open arms and reduced time latency to find the hidden platform, and stayed more time in the target quadrant in EPM and MWM tests, respectively, compared to As‐exposed‐only mice. Also, a significantly reduced activity of BChE, AChE, SOD, and GSH in brain, and elevated ALP, AST, and ALT activities in serum were noted in As‐exposed mice when compared to control mice. Mul supplementation significantly restored the activity of these enzymes and also recovered As‐induced alterations in hepatic tissue in As‐exposed mice. In conclusion, this study suggested that mulberry leaves juice attenuates As‐induced neurobehavioral and hepatic dysfunction in mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Polysaccharides and probiotics can play an outstanding role in the treatment of liver disease by regulating gut microbiota. Recently, the combined therapeutic effect of probiotics and polysaccharides has attracted the attention of researchers. Houttuynia cordata polysaccharide (HCP) combined with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum P101 was used to prevent carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)‐induced acute liver injury (ALI) in mice, and its effect on gut microbiota regulation was explored. RESULTS: Results showed that, in mice, HCP combined with L. plantarum P101 significantly alleviated oxidative stress and inflammatory injury in the liver by activating Nrf2 signals and inhibiting NF‐κB signals. The analysis of gut microbiota revealed that the combination of HCP and L. plantarum P101 increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Alloprevotella, Roseburia, and Akkermansia, but reduced that of the pro‐inflammatory bacteria Alistipes, Enterorhabdus, Anaerotruncus, and Escherichia‐Shigella. Correlation analysis also indicated that the expression of Nrf2 and TLR4/NF‐κB was connected to the changes in gut microbiota composition. Houttuynia cordata polysaccharide combined with L. plantarum P101 can regulate the gut microbiota and then mediate the gut‐liver axis to activate the antioxidant pathway and inhibit inflammatory responses, thereby alleviating CCl4‐induced ALI. CONCLUSION: Our study provided a new perspective on the use of polysaccharides combined with probiotics in the treatment of liver disease. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent discoveries of the topological magnets have opened a new path for developing a much simpler thermoelectric conversion module using the anomalous Nernst effect (ANE). To accelerate such innovation, it is essential to design materials suitable for industrial processes, and thus a high‐ANE polycrystalline material has been highly desired. Recently, the giant room‐temperature ANE has been reported in single crystals of the topological ferromagnet Fe3Ga. Owning to its cubic structure, the anomalous Hall effect and ANE are isotropic. These properties potentially allow to employ a polycrystalline form of the material to design an ANE‐based thermopile. Here, a giant and robust room‐temperature ANE in the polycrystalline FexGa4−x (2.96 < x < 3.15) is reported, which can be enhanced up to 5.4 µV K−1; this value hits the highest room‐temperature record for polycrystalline magnets. Comparison of the experimental results with the theoretical study of the Fe‐doping effect on the transport properties of FexGa4−x reveals that the Fermi energy tuning near the topological nodal‐web structure is the key to enhancing the ANE. Moreover, the large value of more than 5.1 µV K−1 is observed for an extended region of composition, confirming the robust characteristics of the topological electronic structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogel‐based sensors with excellent flexibility and stretchability have received extensive attention. However, fabricating anti‐freezing, high‐strength, and conductive hydrogel‐based sensors remains a significant challenge. A stretchable sensor with high strength and anti‐freezing herein is constructed using poly(vinyl alcohol)/urea (PVA/urea) ionic hydrogels. The PVA/urea ionic hydrogels were prepared by a simple strategy of soaking the freeze–thawed PVA hydrogels in sodium citrate (Na3Cit) water/urea aqueous solutions. The presence of Na3Cit in the hydrogel produces hydrophobic aggregation, endowing the PVA/urea ionic hydrogel with high mechanical properties (~1.51 MPa) and makes the hydrogel have high strain gauge factors (GF = 1.94). The synergistic effect of Na3Cit and urea endows the PVA/urea ionic hydrogel with anti‐freezing properties (~−20°C). The obtained sensors have excellent stability (100 cycles at ε = 85%) and could detect various human activities even at −20°C. More importantly, joint motion can be monitored wirelessly via Bluetooth at −20°C. This work provides a feasible method to construct anti‐freezing, high‐strength, and conductive hydrogel. It paves the way for versatile applications in human‐motion detection, intelligence device, and biomimetic skin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis, characterization and catalytic application of a series of constrained geometry ansa‐half‐sandwich complexes of magnesium is reported. These versatile s‐block catalysts were applied in different dehydrocoupling and hydroelementation reactions, demonstrating a broad applicability with particularly remarkable performance in dehydrocoupling reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Light‐responsive adsorbents capture significant attention due to their tailorable performance upon light irradiation. The modulation of such adsorbents is mainly based on weak (physical) interactions caused by steric hindrance while tuning strong interaction with target adsorbates is scarce. Here we report smart π‐complexation adsorbents, which can adjust the π‐complexation of active sites via light irradiation. A typical metal‐organic framework, MIL‐101‐NH2, was decorated with azobenzene motifs, and Cu+ as π‐complexation active sites were introduced subsequently. The reversible light‐induced isomerization of azobenzene regulates the surface electrostatic potentials around Cu+ from −0.038 to 0.008 eV, causing shielding and exposure effects. The alteration of CO uptake is achieved up to 54 % via changing light, while that on MIL‐101‐NH2 is negligible. This study provides a clue for designing target‐specific smart materials to meet the practical stimuli‐responsive adsorption demands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High‐Z metal‐based nanoscale metal–organic frameworks (nMOFs) with photosensitizing ligands can enhance radiation damage to tumors via a unique radiotherapy‐radiodynamic therapy (RT‐RDT) process. Here we report Monte Carlo (MC) simulation‐guided design of a Th‐based nMOF built from Th6‐oxo secondary building units and 5,15‐di(p‐benzoato)porphyrin (DBP) ligands, Th‐DBP, for enhanced RT‐RDT. MC simulations revealed that the Th‐lattice outperformed the Hf‐lattice in radiation dose enhancement owing to its higher mass attenuation coefficient. Upon X‐ray or γ‐ray radiation, Th‐DBP enhanced energy deposition, generated more reactive oxygen species, and induced significantly higher cytotoxicity to cancer cells over the previously reported Hf‐DBP nMOF. With low‐dose X‐ray irradiation, Th‐DBP suppressed tumor growth by 88 % in a colon cancer and 97 % in a pancreatic cancer mouse model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The photocyclodimerization of 2‐anthracenecarboxylic acid has been extensively studied as a model reaction of asymmetric photochemistry. So far, numerous chiral environments have been employed to control this photoreaction, while the scope of photoreactants has been limited only to 2‐anthracenecarboxylic acid and its simple esters and amides. Here, we developed a systematic series of photoreactants (2 a–d) by introducing various substituents to 2‐anthracenecarboxylic acid, which showed different reactivities and selectivities depending on the substituents. By using the photoreactants 2 a–d, we evaluated the performance of a chiral environment composed of an amphiphilic amino alcohol (1), where the photocyclodimerization of 2 a–d generally proceeded in excellent regio‐ and enantioselectivities (71–98 % regio ratio, 76–86 % ee). Furthermore, by reacting 2 a and 2 b together in the chiral environment of 1, we succeeded in the first stereocontrolled cross‐photocyclodimerization between two prochiral anthracenes (58 % chemo ratio, 83 % regio ratio, 90 % ee). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Estuaries and coastal waters are generally significant emitters of CO2 to the atmosphere. Globally, submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) is a significant driver of inorganic carbon dynamics and the partial pressure of CO2 in water [pCO2(water)] in estuaries and coastal waters. However, there are few studies of CO2 emission and SGD in large tropical estuaries. To investigate the drivers of pCO2(water) dynamics in two large tropical estuaries in India, the Hooghly and Matla estuaries, we conducted coupled radon and pCO2(water) surveys of groundwater and surface waters. We also collected high‐temporal‐resolution (1 min) data of related biogeochemical parameters. Using radon‐222 (222Rn) as a proxy for SGD, we found significant regulation of pCO2(water) by SGD in both studied estuaries. This observation can be considered direct evidence of the influence of SGD on pCO2(water) and consequent air–water CO2 fluxes in these two previously poorly studied estuaries. Our finding that total alkalinity (TAlk) and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) were also significantly higher in the groundwater than in the estuarine surface waters also supports a substantial contribution of SGD to the inorganic carbon dynamics of these estuaries. However, high groundwater TAlk to DIC ratios (> 1) indicate that SGD also enhances the carbonate buffering capacity in these estuaries. By contributing to an improved understanding of the role of SGD in inorganic carbon cycling in tropical estuaries and coastal oceans, this study will contribute to efforts to upscale regional‐scale coastal carbon budgets to a global scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inverse‐electron‐demand Diels–Alder reaction (IEDDA) between fullerenes and 1,2,4,5‐tetrazine generally requires harsh conditions and long reaction times due to their strong electron‐accepting nature. Herein, we report a dramatic enhancement in the reactivity of the fullerenes (C60/C70)‐tetrazine reaction inside a porous Zn‐porphyrinic cage (Zn‐PB) under sustainable conditions by installing a tetrazine‐based axle (LA) via metal‐ligand coordination bond, which modulates the cavity size to facilitate the encapsulation of fullerenes. Upon encapsulation, the close proximity of fullerenes and the tetrazine group of LA dramatically increase their reactivity towards the IEDDA reaction to form fullerene‐tetrazine adducts. Furthermore, the C60‐tetrazine adduct is rearranged upon hydration to a bent‐shaped C60‐pyrazoline adduct that can be released from the Zn‐PB cavity in the presence of excess LA, thus catalyzing the formation of C60‐pyrazoline adduct inside Zn‐PB without product inhibition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Annual‐grass invasions are transforming desert ecosystems in ways that affect ecosystem carbon (C) balance, but previous studies do not agree on the pattern, magnitude and direction of changes. A recent meta‐analysis of 41 articles and 386 sites concludes that invasion by annual grasses such as cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum L) reduces C in biomass across the Great Basin (Nagy et al., 2021). Reanalysis reveals that whether cheatgrass affects biomass C stocks is not generalizable, but rather depends on the considerable variation in climate across the subject sites. Our analysis suggests that accurate Great Basin‐scale estimates of cheatgrass effects on C balance are not yet possible.Addition of climate variables to the meta‐analysis reveals that cheatgrass invasion (a) reduced C in above‐ground biomass in relatively summer‐wet sites but not in summer‐dry sites, (b) increased surface soil C in sites with intermediate resistance and resilience classifications (R&R) but not in low R&R sites—that is, mesic/aridic soil climates and (c) did not affect deep soil C.Considering that cheatgrass has expanded most in relatively summer‐dry sites and mesic/aridic sites, omission of climate factors leads to model overestimates of cheatgrass effects on C when extrapolating to larger areas. Estimates of cheatgrass effects on C would also be improved if the analysis considered that (a) perennial grasslands are a common community state in the Great Basin that have intermediary C relative to annual grasslands and sagebrush stands, that is the omission of perennial grasslands from analysis inflates the baseline C storage of uninvaded Great Basin ecosystems, and(b) cheatgrass does not often exist in stable monocultures and soil carbon can reflect current or recent presence of other species.Synthesis and applications. Invasions often reveal heterogeneity in ecosystem structure and function that is not otherwise evident, and the heterogeneity can influence estimation of the net impacts of the invaders. For cheatgrass and other invaders, we propose that formally accounting for the spatial variability of invasion on ecosystem functions will improve the estimation of their net effect on ecosystem C, and thus improve prospects for adjusting management practices to optimize C sequestration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The artificial neural network (ANN) method and response surface methodology (RSM) were used to predict the bubble departure frequency for the pool‐boiling heat transfer of pure liquids, by using experimental data. The effects of vapor‐liquid density difference, vapor‐liquid viscosity difference, surface tension, thermal conductivity, and heat flux on the departure frequency of vapor bubbles were investigated by RSM and ANN. The results showed that the outputs of the ANN and RSM had a suitable overlap with the experimental data, but the RSM model was more accurate than the ANN model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liver disorders are one of the principal reasons for mortality in the world. Isotretinoin is a systemic retinoid that has been approved for therapy of acne vulgaris since 1982. This drug causes complications in the body. Evidence suggests that Isotretinoin might cause hepatotoxicity. Our research aimed to study the exact mechanism of hepatotoxicity induced by isotretinoin and the protective role of taurine in this toxicity. Biomarkers such as aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT), superoxide dismutase, glutathione content (GSH), catalase, and malondialdehyde (MDA) were examined. Furthermore, pathological changes were evaluated. The results showed that oral administration of Isotretinoin induced hepatotoxicity as showed by elevation in ALT, AST, and MDA; also, it reduced intracellular GSH in rat liver tissue. Administration of taurine prevented the hepatotoxicity induced by isotretinoin in rats significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Controlled assembly of plasmonic particles is vital for catalyst and sensor applications. Because light is considered a promising external stimulus, various methods for assembling plasmonic particles using photoswitching molecules are investigated. However, the light used to photoisomerize such molecules is often limited to the UV region. In this study, anionic ortho‐fluoroazobenzene is synthesized to reversibly control the self‐assembly of plasmonic nanoparticles under only green and blue visible light. This azobenzene alters the dispersibility of cubic gold nanorattles protected by a cationic surfactant via visible‐light irradiation, causing a visible change in the solution color. It is possible that the cationic surfactant and anionic azobenzene interact to neutralize the surface charge of the gold nanorattles. Because the interaction is changed by the photoisomerization of azobenzene, the aggregation and redispersion of the gold nanorattles are repeatable. Through this method, the dispersibility of nonspherical plasmonic particles can be controlled using only visible‐light irradiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we intend to determine the microbial communities that are differentially expressed in diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) from the view of species abundance difference and compositions. The EMBL‐EBI database and QIIME2 platform were used to obtain and process 16S rRNA sequencing data of normal healthy and DFU samples. The LEfSe software was utilised to retrieve key intestinal bacteria differentially expressed in DFUs. Additionally, PICRUSt2, FAPROTAX and BugBase functional analyses were performed to analyse the potential microbial functions and related metabolic pathways. The correlations between intestinal microbiota and clinical indexes were evaluated using the Spearman correlation analysis. Significant differences existed in intestinal microbiota between DFU and normal healthy samples regarding species abundance difference and compositions at Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus and Species levels. Seven microbiota were demonstrated differentially expressed in DFUs that contained Bacteroidaceae, Prevotellaceae, Streptococcaceae, Lactobacillales, Bacilli, Veillonellaceae and Selenomonadales. Insulin signalling pathway may be the key pathway related to the functional significance of Streptococcus and Bacillus in the DFUs. The intestinal microbiota in DFUs exhibited susceptibility to sulphur cycling while displaying pathogenic potential. Last but not least, a close relationship between Streptococcus and the occurrence of DFUs was revealed. Taken together, this study mainly demonstrated the high abundance of Streptococcus in DFUs and its correlation with the disease occurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective techniques for the detection of selected viruses detection of their amino acids (AAs) constituents are highly desired, especially in the present COVID pandemic. Motivated by this, we have used density functional theory (DFT) simulations to explore the potential applications of green phosphorene monolayer (GPM) as efficient nanobio‐sensor. We have employed van der Waals induced calculations to study the ground‐state geometries, binding strength, electronic structures, and charge transfer mechanism of pristine, vacancy‐induced and metal‐doped GPM to detect the selected AAs, such as glycine, proline and aspartic, in both aqueous and non‐aqueous media. We find that the interactions of studied AAs are comparatively weak on pristine (−0.49 to −0.76 eV) and vacancy‐induced GPM as compared to the metal‐doped GPM (−0.62 to −1.22 eV). Among the considered dopants, Ag‐doping enhances the binding of AAs to the GPM stronger than the others. In addition to appropriate binding energies, significant charge transfers coupled with measurable changes in the electronic properties further authenticate the potential of GPM. Boltzmann thermodynamic analysis have been used to study the sensing mechanism under varied conditions of temperatures and pressure for the practical applications. Our findings signify the potential of GPM based sensors towards efficient detection of the selected AAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the price effects of honey quality attributes in Spain. Price and product characteristics are collected from 264 honey labels found on the shelves of the main representative retail stores available in the national territory. The marginal effects and the implicit prices of honey characteristics are assessed through a hedonic price approach. Results show that the prices of honey are affected by leader brands sold in gourmet stores and hypermarkets in glass packages compared to producer brands sold in discounts stores and supermarkets in plastic packages. The organic production and the protected designation of origin quality labels generate positive marginal effects on the prices of honey, as well. Regarding the origin of honey, the highest relative and absolute consumer price premiums are received for honey coming from the European Union and Spain compared with blend honey coming from EU and non‐EU countries. Consumer implicit prices are also influenced by mono‐floral and gourmet honey with additional properties (e.g., ginseng) compared with the multifloral varieties. These findings are a useful source for a better understanding of the evolution of honey in the Spanish market. Spanish beekeepers who can differentiate their honey, may use these results as an orientation for their business strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The therapeutic efficacy of N‐acetylcysteine (NAC) and zinc sulphate on di‐(2‐ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP)‐induced testicular oxido‐nitrergic stress in rats was investigated in 36 male Wistar rats (170 ± 10 g) randomly assigned into one of six groups (n = 6). Group 1 (control) received 2.5 ml/kg of distilled water for 42 days, while group 2 (vehicle) received 2.5 ml/kg of corn oil for 42 days. Groups 3,4,5, and 6 were administered DEHP (750 mg/kg/day) for 21 days, after which groups 4, 5, and 6 received zinc sulphate (0.5 mg/kg/day), NAC (100 mg/kg/day), and zinc sulphate (0.5 mg/kg/day) + NAC (100 mg/kg/day) for an additional 21 days respectively. After the experimental period, the animals were euthanized by light thiopental sodium, and their testes were carefully dissected out for histological and biochemical assays. The result shows a significant alteration in testicular levels of malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, antioxidant enzymes, total antioxidant capacity, sulphydryl levels, dehydrogenases and testicular architecture following the administration of DEHP. These effects were reversed by coadministration of NAC and zinc sulphate in the study. We therefore concluded that the combined effects of NAC and ZnSO4 effectively improved testicular antioxidant status and reduced testicular nitregic stress, thus improving testicular architecture and functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipophilic esters of hydroxytyrosol have been synthesized in a one‐pot procedure from tyrosol and long side‐chain carboxylic acids by a lignin nanoparticles supported enzymatic cascade of lipase M and tyrosinase. The reaction involved the initial esterification of the aliphatic carboxylic group with the hydroxyl group of tyrosol followed by ortho‐hydroxylation of the aromatic moiety. Lipase M and tyrosinase were immobilized on lignin nanoparticles by layer‐by‐layer procedure using chitosan as positive charged polyelectrolyte and Concanavalin A as molecular spacer to control the optimal distance between the active sites of the two enzymes. The occurrence of substrate channeling effect was hypothesized on the basis of FRET analysis. Lipophilic hydroxytyrosol esters were synthesized in high yield in 2‐methyltetrahydrofuran and in the presence of a very low amount of buffer to generate the hydration sphere of the enzyme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photoredox‐catalyzed chemical conversions are predominantly operated in organic media to ensure good compatibility between substrates and catalysts. Yet, when conducted in aqueous media, they are an attractive, mild, and green way to introduce functional groups into organic molecules. We here show that trifluoromethyl groups can be readily installed into a broad range of organic compounds by using water as the reaction medium and light as the energy source. To bypass solubility obstacles, we developed robust water‐soluble polymeric nanoparticles that accommodate reagents and photocatalysts within their hydrophobic interior under high local concentrations. By taking advantage of the high excited state reduction potential of N‐phenylphenothiazine (PTH) through UV light illumination, the direct C−H trifluoromethylation of a wide array of small organic molecules is achieved selectively with high substrate conversion. Key to our approach is slowing down the production of CF3 radicals during the chemical process by reducing the catalyst loading as well as the light intensity, thereby improving effectiveness and selectivity of this aqueous photocatalytic method. Furthermore, the catalyst system shows excellent recyclability and can be fueled by sunlight. The method we propose here is versatile, widely applicable, energy efficient, and attractive for late‐stage introduction of trifluoromethyl groups into biologically active molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Direct conversion of methane to high value‐added oxygenates under mild conditions has attracted extensive interest. However, the over‐oxidation of target products is usually unavoidable due to the easily excessive activation of C−H bond on the sites of supported metal species. Here, we identified the most efficient Zr‐oxo nodes of UiO‐66 metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) catalysts for the selective oxidation of methane with H2O2. These nodes were modified by three types of benzene 1, 4‐dicarboxylates (NH2‐BDC, H2BDC, and NO2‐BDC). Detailed characterizations and DFT calculations revealed that these ligands can effectively tune the electronic properties of Zr‐oxo nodes and the H2BDC ligand led to optimal electronic density of Zr‐oxo nodes in UiO‐66. Thus the UiO‐66‐H catalyst promoted the formation of ⋅OH species that adsorbed on Zr‐oxo nodes, and facilitated the activation of methane with a lower energy barrier and subsequent conversion to hydroxylation oxygenates with 100 % selectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selective autophagy is the lysosomal degradation of specific intracellular components sequestered into autophagosomes, late endosomes, or lysosomes through the activity of selective autophagy receptors. CALCOCO family proteins are the newly found selective autophagy receptors, which include calcium binding and coiled‐coil domain 1 (CALCOCO1), calcium binding and coiled‐coil domain 2/nuclear domain 10 protein 52 (CALCOCO2/NDP52), and calcium binding and coiled‐coil domain 3/Tax1‐binding protein 1 (CALCOCO3/TAX1BP1). Specifically, CALCOCO1 can be recruited to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi to mediate selective ER‐phagy and Golgiphagy. CALCOCO2 and CALCOCO3, which are two essential cargo receptors, can mediate mitophagy and xenophagy through interacting with autophagy‐related‐8/microtubule‐associated protein 1 light chain 3 (ATG8/LC3) on the growing autophagosome, and binding ubiquitin for cargo recruitment. Considering the significance of these proteins in selective autophagy, we review the structures, distribution, posttranslational modifications, and phylogenetic analysis of CALCOCO family proteins and their roles in different selective autophagy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of large‐scale energy storage systems (EESs) is pivotal for applying intermittent renewable energy sources such as solar energy and wind energy. Lithium‐ion batteries with LiFePO4 cathode have been explored in the integrated wind and solar power EESs, due to their long cycle life, safety, and low cost of Fe. Considering the penurious reserve and regional distribution of lithium resources, the Fe‐based sodium‐ion battery cathodes with earth‐abundant elements, environmental friendliness, and safety appear to be the better substitutes in impending grid‐scale energy storage. Compared to the transition metal oxide and Prussian blue analogs, the Fe‐based polyanionic oxide cathodes possess high thermal stability, ultra‐long cycle life, and adjustable voltage, which is more commercially viable in the future. This review summarizes the research progress of single Fe‐based polyanionic and mixed polyanionic oxide cathodes for the potential sodium‐ion batteries EESs candidates. In detail, the synthesized method, crystal structure, electrochemical properties, bottlenecks, and optimization method of Fe‐based polyanionic oxide cathodes are discussed systematically. The insights presented in this review may serve as a guideline for designing and optimizing Fe‐based polyanionic oxide cathodes for coming commercial sodium‐ion batteries EESs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: As a lipid‐soluble vitamin necessary for normal human physiology, vitamin D is mostly used in fortified foods, medicines and adjuvant treatment of diseases. However, taken in high doses, vitamin D can be toxic. Methods: We treated RAW264.7 cells with a semi‐inhibitory concentration (IC50) of vitamin D3. The metabolic changes in the treated cells were analyzed by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and ultra performance liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC‐MS/MS). RESULTS: After treatment of RAW264.7 cells with an IC50 dose of 55 μm vitamin D3, tunor necrosis factor‐α levels decreased significantly and remarkable metabolic differences were also observed, with 12 types of metabolites were identified by 1H NMR and 87 identified by UPLC‐MS/MS. Moreover, the metabolism of amino acids, sugars, lipids and other metabolic pathways were also affected. CONCLUSION: Although vitamin D3 is an indispensable nutrient in the body, excessive exposure has negative effects on cells and their metabolism. The present study will assist further analyses of the mechanism underlying vitamin D3 toxicity. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although it is an integral part of global change, most of the research addressing the effects of climate change on forests have overlooked the role of environmental pollution. Similarly, most studies investigating the effects of air pollutants on forests have generally neglected the impacts of climate change. We review the current knowledge on combined air pollution and climate change effects on global forest ecosystems and identify several key research priorities as a roadmap for the future. Specifically, we recommend (1) the establishment of much denser array of monitoring sites, particularly in the South Hemisphere; (2) further integration of ground and satellite monitoring; (3) generation of flux‐based standards and critical levels taking into account the sensitivity of dominant forest tree species; (4) long‐term monitoring of N, S, P cycles and base cations deposition together at global scale; (5) intensification of experimental studies, addressing the combined effects of different abiotic factors on forests by assuring a better representation of taxonomic and functional diversity across the ~73,000 tree species on Earth; (6) more experimental focus on phenomics and genomics; (7) improved knowledge on key processes regulating the dynamics of radionuclides in forest systems; and (8) development of models integrating air pollution and climate change data from long‐term monitoring programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Varieties of studies have been used to investigate the health benefits of Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis); however, more research is needed to examine if its nano form may be utilized to treat or prevent several chronic diseases. So, we designed this study to explore the effect and the cellular intracellular mechanisms by which Arthrospira platensis Nanoparticles (NSP) alleviates the testicular injury induced by diabetes in male Wistar rats. Eighty Wistar male rats (n = 80) were randomly allocated into eight groups. Group 1 is untreated rats (control), Group 2 including STZ‐induced diabetic rats with 65 mg/kg body weight STZ (STZ‐diabetic), Group 3–5: including diabetic rats treated with NSP1, NSP2, and NSP3 at 0.25, 0.5, and 1 mg/kg body weight, respectively, once daily orally by the aid of gastric gavage for 12 consecutive weeks and groups 6–8 include normal rats received NSP (0.25, 0.5, and 1 mg/kg body weight once daily orally. The identical volume of normal saline was injected into both control and diabetic rats. After 12 weeks of diabetes induction, the rats were killed. According to our findings, NSP administration to diabetic rats enhances the total body weight and the weight of testes and accessory glands; in addition, NSP significantly reduced nitric oxide and malondialdehyde in testicular tissue improved sperm parameters. Intriguingly, it raises testicular GSH and SOD activity by a significant amount (p < 0.05). As well, Oral administration of NSP to diabetic rats resulted in a decrease in the blood glucose levels, HA1C, induced in the diabetic group, which overcame the diabetic complications NSP caused down‐regulation of apoptotic genes with upregulation of BCL‐2 mRNA expression (p < 0.05) and prominent up‐regulation of steroidogenesis genes expression level in testes in comparison to the diabetic rats which resulted in improving the decreased levels of testosterone hormone, FSH, and LH induced by diabetes. In the same way, our histopathological findings support our biochemical and molecular findings; in conclusion, NSP exerted a protective effect against reproductive dysfunction induced by diabetes not only through its high antioxidant and hypoglycemic action but also through its down‐regulation of Apoptotic genes and up‐regulation of steroidogenesis regulatory genes expression level in diabetic testes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fabrication of enzyme‐free glucose sensors is highly demanded for the biological, clinical, and food applications. In this study, we have developed a green method for tuning the surface properties of nickel‐cobalt bimetallic oxide (NiCo2O4) by adding mustard (Brassica Campestris) leaves extract during hydrothermal growth. The mustard (Brassica Campestris) leaves extract is rich with a variety of phytochemicals, which can easily tune the surface properties of NiCo2O4 nanostructures, thereby paving the way toward the development of sensitive and selective non‐enzymatic glucose sensors. The effect of various amounts of mustard (Brassica Campestris) leaves extract (0–20 ml) was also studied to find out the optimal conditions for growing surface‐modified NiCo2O4 nanostructures. The morphology and crystalline structure of the nanomaterials were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and powder X‐ray diffraction (XRD) techniques, respectively. The presence of an increasing quantity of mustard (Brassica Campestris) extract keeps the crystalline structure and the morphology of the NiCo2O4 nanostructures unaltered but changes their dimensions. All nanostructures show the same cubic spinel structure of NiCo2O4 and a morphology of spherical urchins composed of nanorods, but the diameter of the urchins decreases from ~10 μm to several nanometers, thus increasing the surface area of the nanomaterial. Furthermore, NiCo2O4 nanostructures were deposited onto glassy carbon electrodes (CGE), showing excellent catalytic properties toward the enzyme‐free detection of glucose using cyclic voltammetry. Importantly, the intensity of the oxidation current peak was linear over a wide range of glucose concentrations (from 0.1 to 10 mM) and the limit of detection (LOD) was estimated around 0.001 mM. Additionally, NiCo2O4 nanostructures grown in the presence of 20 ml of mustard leaf extract demonstrated good repeatability and excellent selectivity for glucose, without interference by other components such as urea, lactic acid, uric acid, ascorbic acid, as well as potassium and sodium ions. The combined results attest that mustard leaf extract has high potential as a green approach to improve the electrochemical properties of nanostructured materials, and could be useful for a wide range of materials for future electrochemical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since isoxazole and triazole have significant applications in pharmaceutical chemistry, the synthesis of hybrid isoxazole‐triazole molecules has attracted great attention. In the present study, an efficient method for the synthesis of 5‐azidoisoxazoles has been developed via chemoselective nitro‐group substitution of 3‐EWG‐5‐nitroisoxazoles with sodium azide through the aromatic nucleophilic substitution reaction. The resulting 5‐azidoisoxazoles are employed in CuACC‐reaction with a variety of alkynes, providing a straightforward approach for the synthesis of previously unknown structure type of biologically relevant 5‐(1,2,3‐triazol‐1‐yl)isoxazoles. Both reactions proceed with excellent yields and functional group tolerance under mild conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is increasingly recognized that children with asthma are at a higher risk of other non‐allergic concurrent diseases than the non‐asthma population. A plethora of recent research has reported on these comorbidities and progress has been made in understanding the mechanisms for comorbidity. The goal of this review was to assess the most recent evidence (2016–2021) on the extent of common comorbidities (obesity, depression and anxiety, neurodevelopmental disorders, sleep disorders and autoimmune diseases) and the latest mechanistic research, highlighting knowledge gaps requiring further investigation. We found that the majority of recent studies from around the world demonstrate that children with asthma are at an increased risk of having at least one of the studied comorbidities. A range of potential mechanisms were identified including common early life risk factors, common genetic factors, causal relationships, asthma medication and embryologic origins. Studies varied in their selection of population, asthma definition and outcome definitions. Next, steps in future studies should include using objective measures of asthma, such as lung function and immunological data, as well as investigating asthma phenotypes and endotypes. Larger complex genetic analyses are needed, including genome‐wide association studies, gene expression–functional as well as pathway analyses or Mendelian randomization techniques; and identification of gene–environment interactions, such as epi‐genetic studies or twin analyses, including omics and early life exposure data. Importantly, research should have relevance to clinical and public health translation including clinical practice, asthma management guidelines and intervention studies aimed at reducing comorbidities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The implementation of complex policies is of critical significance for the achievement of many central governments' policy expectations. How do local governments implement complex policies? By using a structured‐learning framework constructed from the governance‐localization perspective, we evaluated the mode three Chinese counties employed to implement the targeted poverty alleviation (TPA) policy. We found poverty alleviation task teams were the core TPA practitioners, and the implementation mode was politicalized empowered learning. Local governments reconstructed their implementation structures through the establishment of politicised project organisations. By involving and braiding multiple policy actors, vertical and horizontal conflicts were resolved, and collective action structures were constructed. They also constructed governance mechanisms for policy learning. Top‐down policy knowledge was translated and shared; bottom‐up local knowledge was produced; and, policy knowledge and local knowledge were integrated. The relationships between implementation structures, policy learning, and political steering led to diverse and unexpected policy implementation outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]