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Silicon inverted pyramid (IP) structures, with lower reflectance and increased surface recombination, are one of the best choices for light-trapping structures of high-efficiency silicon solar cells. The solution process of IP generally goes through three main steps: porous silicon etched by metal-assisted chemical etching, acid etching, and alkali anisotropic etching. In this paper, the role that acid modification plays in IP preparation and the application of our optimized texture for passivated emitter and rear solar cells (PERC) were investigated. Experimental results show that acid plays a decisive role in optimizing and modifying the morphology of porous silicon; thus, the morphology of porous silicon has no direct influence on the morphology of IP. In addition, the opening size of IP is mainly determined by the size of silicon micron holes modified by the acid process. PC1D simulation results manifest that IPs can increase the short-circuit current density (Jsc) of devices by 1.04 mA/cm2 and power conversion efficiency by 0.55%; hence, our optimized IP-based PERC achieve the highest simulative conversion efficiency of 23.21%. This is an effective and important way to manipulate the structure of IP, which points out the direction of fabrication and application of high-efficiency IP textures.

It is established that ultrathin layered double hydroxide nanosheets (LDHNS) and zeolitic imidazole frameworks (ZIF) are desirable electrochemical sensing modifiers owing to their large surface area and abundant catalytic sites. Integration of them is thus an effective solution to maximize their electrocatalytic activity. Herein, a novel reaction–diffusion framework (RDF) technique is applied for the in situ growth of ZIF-67 on ultrathin CoAl-LDHNS (CoAl-LDHNS@ZIF-67). In a confined space of the agar gel matrix of RDF, the coordination reaction between organic ligands and CoAl-LDHNS without an additional Co2+ source achieves the controllable growth of ZIF-67 crystals through a long vertical diffusion. The prepared composite comprises both CoAl-LDHNS and ZIF-67 components with a certain ratio and provides a large surface area and amply catalytic sites, thus realizing a rapid transfer of electron and mass. The CoAl-LDHNS@ZIF-67 modified electrode is employed for the simultaneous detection of naphthol isomers by differential pulse voltammetry. Naphthol isomers display anodic reactions with a wide peak potential difference, allowing their simultaneous detection feasible. Voltammetric responses of α-naphthol and β-naphthol follow good linearity against the concentration in a wide range from 0.3 to 150 μM with limits of detection of 54 and 82 nM, respectively. The proposed sensor also demonstrates excellent selectivity, stability, reproducibility, and practicability for the simultaneous detection of naphthol isomers.

Zinc-iodine (Zn/I2) batteries are recognized as a kind of leading candidate for large-scale energy storage systems, owing to the high-capacity dissolution-deposition reactions on both electrodes. Nevertheless, the lifespan of Zn/I2 batteries is severely limited by the uncontrolled shuttling of triiodide ions (I3-) and unfavorable side reactions on Zn anodes. Herein, an alginate-based polyanionic hydrogel electrolyte is designed and synthesized by ion exchange and Zn2+-induced cross-linking. The immobile, negatively charged polyanionic chains on the hydrogel skeleton effectively block I3- from shuttling, while simultaneously transporting cations that are indispensable for battery chemistry. Moreover, this hydrogel can also enhance the cycling durability of Zn anodes by alleviating Zn's dendritic growth and corrosion reactions, due to the homogenized Zn2+ flux and reduced interfacial contact between free water and metallic Zn. Consequently, this alginate-based hydrogel electrolyte enables stable Zn plating/stripping for over 600 h at 2 mA cm-2 and 2 mAh cm-2 (corresponding to 10% depth of discharge). Serving as an electrolyte for Zn/I2 full batteries, this hydrogel helps the battery to achieve a high capacity of 183.4 mAh g-1 (capacity retention = 97.6%) after even 200 cycles at 0.2 A g-1, 77.4% higher than that of the traditional ZnSO4 aqueous counterpart (residual capacity = 41.5 mAh g-1). This work indicates the promising potential of electrolyte design on the performance improvement of aqueous Zn/I2 batteries.

In this research, cast magnesium alloys AZ31-xGd are assessed as anode material candidates for primary Mg-air batteries. The effects of Gd content in the microstructure, discharge behavior and electrochemical properties of cast AZ31 as an anode are studied through microstructure characterization, electrochemical measurements and battery discharge tests. Results indicate that the introduction of Gd can refine α-Mg grains. The discharge and electrochemical properties of magnesium alloys are improved by optimizing its composition. We confirm that the Al2Gd can restrain the kinetics of hydrogen evolution reaction. The acicular structure can connect the magnesium alloy matrix and reduce the chunk spalling. The data suggest that AZ31-5.8Gd alloy has the best self-corrosion resistance performance and discharge behavior among all prepared AZ31-xGd alloys. AZ31-5.8Gd can output a high specific capacity of 1411.8 mAh g−1 and a high energy density of 1153 mWh g−1 at the current density of 40 mA cm−2. The anode efficiency can reach up to 63.21%. The addition of Gd properly can optimize magnesium alloy microstructure and improve the discharge performance.

Background: Spirocyclic indoline compounds widely exist in numerous natural products and synthetic molecules with significant biological activities. In recent years, these kinds of compounds have attracted extensive attention as potent anti-tumor agents in the fields of pharmacology and chemistry. Objective: In this study, we focused on designing and synthesizing novel 1'-methylspiro[indoline- 3,4'-piperidine] derivatives, which were evaluated by preliminary bioactivity experiment in vitro and molecular docking. Methods and Materials: The key intermediate 1'-methylspiro[indoline-3,4'-piperidine] (B4) reacted with benzenesulfonyl chloride with different substituents under alkaline condition to obtain its derivatives (B5-B10). We evaluated their antiproliferative activities against A549, BEL-7402 and HeLa cell lines by MTT assay. We performed the CDOCKER module in Accelrys Discovery Studio 2.5.5 for molecular docking of compound B5, and investigated the binding modes of compound B5 with three different target proteins. Results: The results indicated that compounds B4-B10 exhibited good antiproliferative activities against the above three types of cell lines, in which compound B5 with chloride atom as electronwithdrawing substituent on a phenyl ring showed the highest potency against BEL-7402 cell lines (IC50=30.03±0.43 μg/mL). The results of molecular docking showed that the binding energies of the prominent bioactive compound B5 with CDK, c-Met, and EGFR protein crystals are -44.3583 kcal/mol, -38.3292 kcal/mol, -33.3653 kcal/mol, respectively. Conclusion: 1'-methylspiro[indoline-3,4'-piperidine] and its six derivatives were synthesized and evaluated against BEL-7402, A 549, and Hela cell lines. Compound B5 showed significant inhibition on BEL-7402 cell lines. Molecular docking assays revealed that B5 as a ligand showed strong affinity and appropriate binding pose on the amino acid residues in active sites of the tested targets, which encourage us to conduct further evaluation such as the kinase experiment.

In this work, the thermal conductivities of l-menthol–decanoic acid (Men–DecA) deep eutectic solvents were measured with different mole compositions using a transient hot-wire method. The measured ...

Abstract Peptide self-assembles with bionic properties have been widely utilized for bioactive drugs and biomedical materials. Collagen mimetic peptide (CMP) gains more attention due to its unique advantages in biosecurity and function. Unfortunately, the self-assembly mechanism of CMP, particularly the effect of intermolecular forces on its self-assembly behavior and morphology, is still unrecognized. Herein, the hydrophilic glycidol (GCD) and hydrophobic Y-glycidyl ether oxypropyl trimethoxysilane (GLH) were grafted onto the side chains of CMP through the ring-opening reaction (GCD/CMP, GLH/CMP). Subsequently, the effects of hydrophilic and hydrophobic interactions on the self-assembly behavior and morphology of CMP were further studied. The results substantiated that the GCD/CMP and GLH/CMP self-assembly followed “nucleation-growth” mechanism, and the supererogatory hydrophilic and hydrophobic groups prolonged the nucleation and growth time of CMP self-assembly. Noted that the hydrophilic interaction had stronger driving effects than hydrophobic interaction on the self-assembly of CMP. The GCD/CMP and GLH/CMP self-assembles exhibited fibrous 3D network and microsphere morphology, respectively. Furthermore, the GLH/CMP self-assembles had better resistance to degradation. Consequently, the microtopography and degradation properties of CMP self-assembles could be controlled by the hydrophilic and hydrophobic interactions between CMP, which would further provide a way for subsequent purposeful design of biomedical materials. Graphical abstract

Many nanoscale biomaterials fail to reach the clinical trial stage due to a poor understanding of the fundamental principles of their in vivo behaviour. Here we describe the transport, transformation and bioavailability of MoS2 nanomaterials through a combination of in vivo experiments and molecular dynamics simulations. We show that after intravenous injection molybdenum is significantly enriched in liver sinusoid and splenic red pulp. This biodistribution is mediated by protein coronas that spontaneously form in the blood, principally with apolipoprotein E. The biotransformation of MoS2 leads to incorporation of molybdenum into molybdenum enzymes, which increases their specific activities in the liver, affecting its metabolism. Our findings reveal that nanomaterials undergo a protein corona-bridged transport–transformation–bioavailability chain in vivo, and suggest that nanomaterials consisting of essential trace elements may be converted into active biological molecules that organisms can exploit. Our results also indicate that the long-term biotransformation of nanomaterials may have an impact on liver metabolism. Understanding the in vivo biotransformation of nanomaterials used for biomedical applications might shed light on their long-term effects and safety. Here the authors show that molybdenum derived from nanomaterials is mainly transported in the liver, in a corona-mediated process, and is incorporated in molybdoenzymes, with an effect on liver metabolism.

Aerobic denitrifiers have the potential to reduce nitrate in polluted water under aerobic conditions. A salt-tolerant aerobic denitrifier was newly isolated and identified as Vibrio spp. AD2 from a marine recirculating aquaculture system, in which denitrification performance was investigated via single-factor experiment, Box–Behnken experiment, and nitrogen balance analysis. Nitrate reductase genes were identified by polymerase chain reaction. Results showed that strain AD2 removed 98.9% of nitrate-nitrogen (NO3−-N) with an initial concentration about 100 mg·L−1 in 48 h without nitrite-nitrogen (NO2−-N) accumulation. Nitrogen balance indicated that approximately 17.5% of the initial NO3−-N was utilized for bacteria synthesis themselves, 4.02% was converted to organic nitrogen, 39.8% was converted to nitrous oxide (N2O), and 31.1% was converted to nitrogen (N2). Response surface methodology experiment showed that the maximum removal of total nitrogen (TN) occurred under the condition of C/N ratio 11.5, shaking speed 127.9 rpm, and temperature 30.8 °C. Sequence amplification indicated that the denitrification genes, napA and nirS, were present in strain AD2. These results indicated that the strain AD2 has potential applications for removing NO3−-N from high-salinity (3%) wastewater.

Arabinoxylan (AX) has many beneficial health effects that are closely related to its structural characteristics. The current study aimed to investigate the effects of molecular weight (Mw) and degree of substitution (DS) on the antioxidant and hypoglycemic activities of triticale bran AX and its hydrolysates in vitro. At low and similar Mw, the antioxidant activity of AX was inversely proportional to its DS. When DS was close, the antioxidant activity of AX was inversely proportional to its Mw at high DS, but the opposite result was found at low DS. As for the hypoglycemic performance, when DS was similar, the hypoglycemic activity of AX was proportional to its Mw. At low and similar Mw, the α-glucosidase inhibitory ability and glucose adsorption ability of AX was positively correlated with DS, whereas the α-amylase inhibitory ability and glucose delayed absorption ability showed the opposite results. Mw and DS had significant effects on the antioxidant and hypoglycemic activities of AX, and these two factors often need to be combined to explain the varied effects under different conditions.

OBJECTIVE: Abnormal liver function is a common form of extra-pulmonary organ damage in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Patients with severe COVID-19 have a higher probability and progression of liver injury than those without severe disease. We aimed to evaluate the prognosis of liver injury in patients with COVID-19. METHODS: We retrospectively included 502 patients with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Clinical features and survival of patients with and without liver injury were compared. Cox proportional hazards models were used to determine the variables that might have an effect on survival. RESULTS: Among the 502 patients enrolled, 301 patients had abnormal liver function with increased neutrophil count, C-reactive protein, creatinine, troponin I (TnI), D-dimer, lactose dehydrogenase and creatine kinase. Patients with abnormal liver functions had a higher mortality rate (28.9% vs 9.0%, P < 0.001), a higher ratio of male sex (65.1% vs 40.8%, P < 0.001) and a higher chance of developing systemic inflammatory response syndrome (53.5% vs 41.3%, P = 0.007). Among patients with abnormal liver functions, patients with grade 2 liver damage (with both abnormal alanine aminotransferase or aspartate aminotransferase levels and abnormal alkaline phosphatase or gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase levels) had a higher ratio of male patients, elevated neutrophil count, procalcitonin, D-dimer levels and mortality rate. Multivariate Cox regression analyses suggested that the grade of liver damage (hazard ratio: 1.377, 95% confidence interval: 1.000-1.896, P = 0.049) was an independent predictor of death. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with COVID-19 and abnormal liver functions have a higher mortality than those with normal liver functions. Liver damage is an independent prognostic factor of COVID-19.

Managing soil pH has been recognized as one of the promising options for N2O emission mitigation in acidic soils. Rice-straw biochar (BC) application to acidic soils can not only ameliorate soil acidity but also influence N2O emissions. We investigated the impact of various levels of rice-straw-derived biochar, a control (no biochar), 2% biochar, and 4% biochar under 50% and 90% water-filled pore space (WFPS) values. In comparison with the application of biochar at 2%, the application of biochar at 4% more pronouncedly altered soil properties (pH, ammonium (NH4+-N), nitrate (NO3-N), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), and abundance of nosZ and nirK genes). Similarly, more noticeable changes in soil properties were noted under 90% WFPS than under 50% WFPS. The soil pH increased from 5.67 to 7.29 with the 4% biochar application. In comparison with those following the 2% biochar application and the control, soil mineral N and the abundance of nosZ and nirK genes following the 4% biochar application were more augmented, thereby leading to a remarkable reduction in soil N2O emissions. The MBC content in the soil also increased with the BC applications, and the maximum MBC contents of 655 and 428 mg kg−1 dry soil were recorded with the 4% biochar application under 50% and 90% WFPS, respectively. Moreover, in comparison with the control, 4% BC mitigated soil N2O emissions by 83%, whereas cumulative N2O emissions were mitigated by 49%. In comparison with 90% WFPS, 50% WFPS produced 35% more N2O emissions. However, the biochar applications significantly (p

Dissimilarity nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) is of significance in agriculture ecosystems as the process is beneficial to N retention in soils. However, how fertilization regimes influence DNRA rates and functional microbes in agriculture was rarely estimated. In the present study, a 2-year pot experiment was conducted in two contrasting paddy soils to evaluate the effects of straw and nitrogen addition on DNRA process and the related functional microbes, using stable isotope tracer and molecular ecology techniques. The results showed that the abundance and transcription activity of nitrite reductase encoding gene (nrfA) involved in DNRA process and DNRA rates were significantly higher in alkaline soils than in acidic soils. Straw incorporation significantly enhanced nrfA gene abundance and transcription activity, with a greater effect in alkaline soil than in acidic soil. The rates of DNRA, abundance and transcription activity of nrfA gene positively correlated to soil C/N and C/NO3− induced by straw application. Sequencing analysis based on nrfA gene transcript showed that Deltaproteobacteria was the most dominant group in both soil types (30.9%–67.4%), while Gammaproteobacteria, Chloroflexi, Actinobacteria were selectively enriched by straw incorporation. These results demonstrated that DNRA activity can be improved by straw return practice in paddy soils while the effect will vary among soil types due to differentiated functional microbial communities and edaphic properties.

Introduction: Wutou decoction has been wildly applied for the treatment of RA in China for several thousand years. Methods: This study aims to develop a highly sensitive and specific ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry and electrospray ionization (UPLC-ESI-MS/MS) method to explore the pharmacokinetic properties of three representative bioactive alkaloids after intragastric administration of Wutou decoction in rats. Chromatographic separation was performed on a C18 column under the Multiple Reaction Monitoring (MRM) in the positive electrospray ionization (ESI) mode. The pharmacokinetic parameters were evaluated by software DAS 3. 0. Results: The validation of the method was achieved in accordance with the FDA guidelines. The results of pharmacokinetic study showed that the in vivo concentrations of benzoylmesaconine and benzoylhypaconine were significantly higher than benzoylaconine. Our PK results showed that these three compounds were quickly absorbed after the administration of Wutou decoction, and Tmax ranged from 30 min to 45 min. Conclusion: The results of pharmacokinetic study showed that the in vivo concentrations of benzoylmesaconine and benzoylhypaconine were significantly higher than benzoylaconine. There were also similar pharmacokinetic behaviors observed among BAC, BHA, and BMA after oral administration of WTD.

Microporous ceramics with slag gradient distribution were prepared by interlayer bonding methods, using silicon dioxide and silicon nitride as the main raw materials. The material performances of gradient ceramics and uniform ceramics were discussed, and the adsorption effects of Cd (Ⅱ), Pb (Ⅱ) between them were compared. The experimental results show a flexural strength of gradient ceramics of 10.67 MPa, bonding strength of the bonding layer of 15.28 MPa, and only a 0.89% difference in the line shrinkage of the gradient layer of different slag contents, indicating that it is feasible to utilize interlayer bonding methods to prepare gradient ceramics. The maximum adsorption quantity of Cd (II), Pb (II) of gradient ceramics can reach 3.48 mg/g and 4.40 mg/g, respectively. For an average slag content of 17.5 wt%, gradient ceramics exhibited high permeability flux equivalent to ceramic with 25 wt% slag content and heavy metal adsorption amount equivalent to ceramic with 20 wt% slag content. Overall, the gradient ceramics prepared by interlayer bonding method can effectively improve the removal efficiency of adsorbent and the overall filtration efficiency.

Phenyl molybdate-modified phenolic fibers (PMoPFs) were prepared by melt spinning from the corresponding resin which was polymerized from phenol, formaldehyde, and phenyl molybdate, followed by solution curing and then heat curing processes. The molecular structures, including characteristic groups and molecular weight, were examined by nuclear magnetic resonance, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and gel permeation chromatography. The influences of the curing processes were demonstrated by mechanical properties, scanning electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis characterization. PMoPF with 8 wt% molybdic acid and cured in an oven possessed a tensile strength as high as 187 MPa, initial decomposition temperature of 300°C, and a char yield under nitrogen atmosphere at 800°C as high as 66.0%, with the molybdate (MoO4 2−) groups being introduced into the phenolic main chain.

Aims Red yeast rice (RYR), produced by inoculating Monascus strains to steamed rice, contains many kinds of physiologically bioactive compounds, among which monacolin K can be used as an antihypercholesterolaemic agent. However, RYR can be polluted by the mycotoxin citrinin, which has nephrotoxic and hepatotoxic activities. To avoid the risk of citrinin contamination in Monascus fermented products, it is important to screen for Monascus strains that produce no or low citrinin. Methods and results Five autochthonous Monascus strains with high-yield monacolin K and undetectable citrinin were obtained using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). All five strains were identified as Monascus ruber based on Genealogical Concordance Phylogenetic Species Recognition criteria. Polymerase chain reaction revealed that citrinin polyketide synthase (pksCT) gene was found in these strains, but transcriptional regulator (ctnA) was not found. Conclusions Five strains are potential strains for producing high-quality RYR. The distribution of the pksCT gene was not restricted to Monascus purpureus and Monascus sanguineus, and M. ruber strains were diverse in pksCT and ctnA genes. Significance and impact of the study The integration of citrinin HPLC analysis and pksCT and ctnA genes amplification could provide a complementary approach in valuable Monascus strains screening.

A photo zipper locked DNA nanomachine with an internal standard is presented, preventing nonspecific activation and providing efficient intracellular miRNA imaging., DNA nanomachines are capable of converting tiny triggers into autonomous accelerated cascade hybridization reactions and they have been used as a signal amplification strategy for intracellular imaging. However, the “always active” property of most DNA nanomachines with an “absolute intensity-dependent” signal acquisition mode results in “false positive signal amplification” by extracellular analytes and impairs detection accuracy. Here we design a photo zipper locked miRNA responsive DNA nanomachine (PZ-DNA nanomachine) based on upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) with a photo-cleavable DNA strand to block the miRNA recognition region, which provided sufficient protection to the DNA nanomachine against nonspecific extracellular activation and allowed satisfactory signal amplification for sensitive miRNA imaging after intracellular photoactivation. Multiple emissions from the UCNPs were also utilized as an internal standard to self-calibrate the intracellular miRNA responsive fluorescence signal. The presented PZ-DNA nanomachine demonstrated the sensitive imaging of intracellular miRNA from different cell lines, which resulted in good accordance with qRT-PCR measurements, providing a universal platform for precise imaging in living cells with high spatial–temporal specificity.

Cinnamomum camphora Chvar. Borneol (CCCB) and Cinnamomum camphora Chvar. Cineol (CCCC) are two different chemical types of C. camphora. The clinical application of these chemical types of CC shows big differences, but sometimes they are confused because of the similarity of morphological features. To identify the two types of CC and to analyze the differences of compositions, their morphological characteristics were investigated by microscopic techniques and the chemical components were determined by GC-MS analysis and GC internal standard method. Distinguishing features of morphological characteristics were the shape, petiol, gland, and smell. Microscopic study of the transverse sections of leaves showed 13 – 15 columns xylem vessel in the leaves of CCCB, 11 – 13 columns xylem vessel, and more obvious and thicker cell walls of fiber cells in the leaves of CCCC. From this research, GC-MS analysis of essential oil of the leaves could provide mainly differential characteristics to distinguish between CCCB and CCCC. The total of 33 compounds were identified in the essential oil of CCCB leaves and the main component was d-borneol (55.11%), while d-borneol in CCCC leaves was not the main component and the amount of d-borneol might be related to the microstructure of gland. L(-)-camphor and d-borneol were quantitatively analyzed by GC with FID detector, using methyl salicylate as the internal standard. Each gram of the total essential oil contains 0.68 g of d-borneol in CCCB, and each gram of the total essential oil contains 0.150 and 0.015 g of L(-)-camphor in CCCB and CCCC, respectively, from Hunan province. Other habitats showed the same trend. This research was aimed to establish a method based on the microscopic, GC-MS, and GC techniques to identify and quantify CCCB and CCCC compositions, for providing scientific data to ensure with accuracy the origin of CCCB and CCCC plant material.

Herein, we designed and prepared nickel metal-organic framework microspheres anchored directly on reduced graphene oxide (Ni-MOF/rGO) by a facile hydrothermal and successive calcining process. The electrode for Ni-MOF/rGO composite annealed at an optimized temperature of 300 °C (Ni-MOF/rGO-300) shows desired conductivity, good cycling stability and high ion-accessible surface area, leading to an ultrahigh specific capacitance of 954 F g−1 at a current density of 1 A g−1 and a remarkable rate capability of 80.25% at 5 A g−1. Meanwhile, the assembled Ni-MOF/rGO-300//activated carbon asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) shows a favorable energy density up to 17.13 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 750 W kg−1 in the potential window of 0–1.5 V. Moreover, the capacitance retention can still maintain 81.63% after 4000 cycles at a high current density of 5 A g−1. The excellent electrochemical properties can be credited to the synergistic effects between the unique structures of Ni-MOF and rGO, which makes the Ni-MOF/rGO composite a potential electrode material for high performance supercapacitors.

Background Solute carrier family 35 (SLC35) is one of a large number of membrane transporter protein families. Member D3 of this family is thought to be involved in adipose deposition and metabolic control. Results We obtained 2238 bp cDNA of porcine SLC35D3, it contains a 1272 bp ORF, encoding a 423 amino acid polypeptide, and a 966 bp 3′ UTR. BLAST results revealed that the amino acid sequence of porcine SLC35D3 had the closest phylogenetic relationship with members of the genus Ovis aries. Further bioinformatics analysis showed that the SLC35D3 protein contains 8 transmembrane domains, and that there is no signal peptide structure. The secondary structure of the protein mainly contains 37.12% α-helixes, 7.8% in β-folds, and 33.57% random coils. mRNA expression analysis showed that SLC35D3 is expressed in lung, liver, heart, spleen, kidney, longissimus dorsi muscle (LDM), leaf fat (LF), and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT). To examine the effects of SLC35D3 expression on fat synthesis and catabolism, SLC35D3-siRNA was transfected into cultured intramuscular adipocytes. SLC35D3 silenced cells showed increased expression of genes related to fat synthesis, and increased deposition of intramuscular fat (IMF), abundance of lipid droplets, and the level of free fatty acid (FFA) in the culture medium. In contrast, the siRNA decreased the expression genes involved in fat catabolism. Conclusions Our results demonstrate that silenced SLC35D3 results in increased adipogenic processes in pig intramuscular adipocytes. These data represent the first exploration of SLC35D3 expression in swine, and provide valuable insights into the functions of SLC35D3 in adipocyte differentiation.

A novel process for the efficient synthesis of cyclic carbonates from CO2 and epoxides at room temperature in the absence of a solvent has been achieved by using Al-salen complexes as catalysts and imidazolium hydrogen carbonate ionic liquids ([CnCmIm][HCO3]) as cocatalysts. As a halide ion-free cocatalyst, [CnCmIm][HCO3] showed higher catalytic reactivity compared to traditional halogen-containing quaternary ammonium salts (such as (nBu)4NBr) and organic bases. The catalytic system can be used for the cycloaddition of a series of substrates with good to excellent yields at room temperature in the absence of a solvent. Besides, the catalytic system can be easily recycled at least four times without significant loss of catalytic activity. A possible mechanism was proposed, in which Al-salen and carbene activate the epoxides and CO2 respectively.

Erythromycins produced by Saccharopolyspora erythraea have broad-spectrum antibacterial activities. Recently, several TetR-family transcriptional regulators (TFRs) were identified to control erythromycin production by multiplex control modes; however, their regulatory network remains poorly understood. In this study, we report a novel TFR, SACE_0303, positively correlated with erythromycin production in Sac. erythraea. It directly represses its adjacent gene SACE_0304 encoding a MarR-family regulator and indirectly stimulates the erythromycin biosynthetic gene eryAI and resistance gene ermE. SACE_0304 negatively regulates erythromycin biosynthesis by directly inhibiting SACE_0303 as well as eryAI and indirectly repressing ermE. Then, the SACE_0303 binding site within the SACE_0303-SACE_0304 intergenic region was defined. Through genome scanning combined with in vivo and in vitro experiments, three additional SACE_0303 target genes (SACE_2467 encoding cation-transporting ATPase, SACE_3156 encoding a large transcriptional regulator, SACE_5222 encoding α-ketoglutarate permease) were identified and proved to negatively affect erythromycin production. Finally, by coupling CRISPRi-based repression of those three targets with SACE_0304 deletion and SACE_0303 overexpression, we performed stepwise engineering of the SACE_0303-mediated mini-regulatory network in a high-yield strain, resulting in enhanced erythromycin production by 67%. In conclusion, the present study uncovered the regulatory network of a novel TFR for control of erythromycin production and provides a multiplex tactic to facilitate the engineering of industrial actinomycetes for yield improvement of antibiotics.

As a dominant species among marine yeasts, Rhodotorula benthica accounts for ~50% of all marine yeasts. Rhodotorula is rich in a variety of bioactive substances and commonly used in the production of carotenoids by microbial fermentation and is worth developing. Therefore, the present study used a strain of Rhodotorula mucilaginosa isolated from the coastal waters of the South China Sea as the target yeast to investigate its impact on the immune function and gut microbiota of mice. A total of 200 mice were randomly divided into gavage groups and control group and garaged for 30 consecutive days at different concentration. Samples were collected on day 15 and day 30 of gavage administration. The results showed that R. mucilaginosa ZTHY2 could increase the thymus and spleen indices of mice, and its effect on the thymus index was more significant after long-term gavage administration. Short-term (15 days) gavage administration of R. mucilaginosa suspension enhanced delayed hypersensitivity in mice, increased serum IgG, IgA, and IL-2. Long-term (30 days) gavage administration of R. mucilaginosa suspension significantly enhanced the phagocytosis of macrophages in mice and significantly increased serum TNF-α and INF-γ. R. mucilaginosa ZTHY2 altered the structure of the gut microbiota of mice at the phylum and genus levels, leading to an increased relative abundance of Firmicutes and Lactobacillus and a decreased relative abundance of Bacteroidetes. This strain increased the beneficial intestinal bacteria and reduced the harmful intestinal bacteria in mice. This study provides experimental evidence and lays the foundation for the future development and application of this strain as a microecological source of carotenoids.

Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench (okra) is a commonly consumed vegetable that consists of the seeds and peel component which are rich in polyphenolic compounds. The aim of this study is to utilize pressurized hot water extraction (PHWE) for the extraction of bioactive phytochemicals from different parts of okra. A single step PHWE was performed at various temperatures (60 °C, 80 °C, 100 °C and 120 °C) to determine which extraction temperature exhibits the optimum phytochemical profile, antioxidant and antidiabetic activities. The optimum temperature for PHWE extraction was determined at 80 °C and the biological activities of the different parts of okra (Inner Skin, Outer Skin and Seeds) were characterized using antioxidant (DPPH and ABTS), α-glucosidase and vasoprotective assays. Using PHWE, the different parts of okra displayed distinct phytochemical profiles, which consist of primarily polyphenolic compounds. The okra Seeds were shown to have the most antioxidant capacity and antidiabetic effects compared to other okra parts, likely to be attributed to their higher levels of polyphenolic compounds. Similarly, okra Seeds also reduced vascular inflammation by downregulating TNFα-stimulated VCAM-1 and SELE expression. Furthermore, metabolite profiling by LC/MS also provided evidence of the cytoprotective effect of okra Seeds in endothelial cells. Therefore, the use of PHWE may be an alternative approach for the environmentally friendly extraction and evaluation of plant extracts for functional food applications.

The volatile compounds found in mangoes (Mangifera indica L.) obtained from three cultivars (TN, Tainong no. 1; KT, Keitt; and ZL, Zill; grown in China) were comprehensively analyzed by gas chromatography-olfactometry (GC-O), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and GC-flame photometric detection (GC-FPD) analyses. The results showed that 42, 35, and 45 compounds were identified in the TN, KT, and ZL samples, respectively. From these compounds, 19, 14, and 20 compounds were identified as important odorants with odor activity values (OAVs) greater than 1. Of these, 5, 7, and 5 sulfur compounds were respectively identified in the three samples by FPD. Importantly, methanethiol, ethanethiol, 1-propanethiol, methyl propyl disulfide, and 3-mercapto-1-hexanol were detected for the first time in mango. Five sulfur compounds were selected to study interactions using Feller's additive model, OAV, and Vector model. Among these mixtures, six mixtures exhibited a masking effect, three mixtures presented an additive effect, and one mixture showed a synergistic effect.

Thermally grown oxide (TGO) may be generated in thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) after high-temperature oxidation. TGO increases the internal stress of the coatings, leading to the spalling of the coatings. Scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive spectroscopy were used to investigate the growth characteristics, microstructure, and composition of TGO after high-temperature oxidation for 0, 10, 30, and 50 h, and the results were systematically compared. Acoustic emission (AE) signals and the strain on the coating surface under static load were measured with AE technology and digital image correlation. Results showed that TGO gradually grew and thickened with the increase in oxidation time. The thickened TGO had preferential multi-cracks at the interface of TGO and the bond layer and delayed the strain on the surface of the coating under tensile load. TGO growth resulted in the generation of pores at the interface between the TGO and bond layer. The pores produced by TGO under tensile load delayed the generation of surface cracks and thus prolonged the failure time of TBCs.

Tetrahydropyridinol derivatives were recently reported to exhibit good biological activities, and the incorporation of fluorine into organic molecules may have profound effects on their physical and biological properties. Therefore, we investigated the anticancer activities of six fluorinated tetrahydropyridinol derivatives that we synthesized previously. We found that only one compound, 3,3-difluoro-2,2-dimethyl-1,6-diphenyl-5-tosyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridin-4-ol, showed significant antiproliferative activity on human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 and HMCCLM3 cells (the IC50 values were 21.25 and 29.07 μM, respectively). We also found that this compound mediated cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 phase at 30–40 μM. Western blot analysis demonstrated that the cell cycle arrest induced by this compound in HepG2 and HMCCLM3 cells was associated with a significant decrease in Cdc2 and cyclin B1, which led to the accumulation of the phosphorylated-Tyr15 (inactive) form of Cdc2 and low expression of M phase-promoting factor (cyclin B1/Cdc2). Moreover, cells treated with this compound exhibited decreased expression of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK)-activating kinase (CDK7/cyclin H). This compound also induced cell apoptosis via activation of caspase-3. A xenograft model in nude mice demonstrated anti-liver cancer activity and the mechanism of action of this compound. These findings indicated that the anticancer effect of this compound was partially due to G0/G1 cell cycle arrest via inhibition of CDK7-mediated expression of Cdc2, and this compound may be a promising anticancer candidate for further investigation.

Microcystins (MCs) are a class of toxins that are mainly produced by cyanobacteria. Among them, microcystin-leucine arginine (MC-LR) is one of the most toxic and harmful of the freshwater toxins, and it has caused many accidents and threats to human health. In the present study, we report a neoteric lateral flow fluorescent microsphere immunochromatographic assay (FM-ICA) combined with UV light detection to rapidly and quantitatively detect MC-LR in freshwater food, based on direct competitive immunoreactions on chromatographic strips. In the method, MC-LR artificial antigen, MC-LR-bovine serum albumin (MC-LR-BSA), and goat anti-rabbit immunoglobulin G (IgG) were labelled with europium (Eu) nanospheres that functioned as a luminescence tracer. Goat anti-mouse IgG and rabbit IgG were spread on a nitrocellulose (NC) membrane for the test (T) line and control (C) line, respectively. The optimal parameters were 1 mg/mL for the goat anti-mouse IgG and rabbit IgG, 20 μg of MC-LR-BSA conjugated with Eu nanospheres, 1:100 for the dilution of Eu-MC-LR-BSA, and a 1:30000 dilution of anti-MC-LR monoclonal antibody (mAb) with an assay time of 15 min. The working range of the MC-LR standard curve was 0.1–5.0 μg/L with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.0542 μg/L and a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 0.5613 μg/L. The average recoveries of the FM-ICA for detecting MC-LR in real samples ranged from 90.1 to 109.3%, with coefficients of variation under 15.8%. The FM-ICA test strips for quantitative determination of MC-LR provide sensitive, simple, and rapid performance, and can be used to monitor freshwater samples.

Fe3O4 is considered to be a prospective anode material with superior capabilities for both lithium (Li) and potassium (K) storage, but its inferior conductivity and drastic volume change upon lithiation/potassiation bring great challenges to the realization of high capacity and stable cycling. Given these circumstances, we present a facile chemical blowing method to construct a three-dimensional N-doped porous graphene framework decorated with Fe3O4 nanoparticles (Fe3O4/3DNPGF). In particular, the well-designed NPGF with massive pores and void space can not only buffer the volume variation of the embedded Fe3O4 nanoparticles associated with Li+/K+ insertion and extraction, but also reduce the steric effect, to enhance electron/ion transportation. In addition, the N-doping provides prolific active sites for electrochemical reactions and improves the electronic conductivity of the NPGF. More importantly, by introducing a novel binder material, a synergetic strategy was used to prepare robust electrodes with stronger adhesion between the active materials, conductive agents and binder material for greater tolerance towards volume change during cycling. Thus, the Fe3O4/3DNPGF electrodes demonstrated exceptional electrochemical activity in terms of high capacity, rate performance and prolonged lifespan in both lithium ion batteries (377.1 mA h g−1 at 10 A g−1 over 5000 cycles) and potassium ion batteries (154.6 mA h g−1 at 1 A g−1 over 500 cycles).

A direct route for the synthesis of cyclic carbonates from olefins and CO2 has been achieved by using imidazolium hydrogen carbonate ionic liquids ([CnCmIm][HCO3]) as bifunctional catalysts in the absence of a solvent. [CnCmIm][HCO3] can convert into a carbene–CO2 adduct spontaneously. The HCO3− anion and carbene–CO2 can serve as catalysts for olefin epoxidation and CO2 cycloaddition, respectively, which obviously simplifies the synthesis of cyclic carbonates. The reaction proceeds quite well under mild conditions. This cheap and simple method can be applied to various olefins with good to excellent yields of cyclic carbonates. The catalyst can be easily recycled at least four times without significantly losing its catalytic activity.

Commiphorines A (1), an unprecedented sesquiterpenoid heterodimer featuring a 5/7(5)/4/10/5 ring system, and B (2), a dimeric sesquiterpenoid possessing an unusual 1,4-dioxin motif and a 6/6/5/6/6/6 polycyclic system, and two intermediates 3 and 4 were isolated from Resina Commiphora. A plausible biosynthetic route for 1 and 2 was proposed. Compound 2 could significantly suppress LPS-induced inflammation through NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways in mouse peritoneal macrophages. Compounds 1 and 2 could inhibit lipid synthesis in HepG2 cells.

Fenvalerate (FV) is widely used in aquaculture because of their broad spectrums and high efficiency. However, little is known regarding the elimination of FV influenced by environment factors in aquaculture water, especially its cis-trans isomers (cis-FV and trans-FV). In the present study, factors influencing the aquaculture environment (open type, temperature, pH and light) were selected, and the elimination dynamics of FV and its cis-trans isomers in aquaculture water using orthogonal experiments were investigated. The results showed that the half-life and elimination rate range of FV were 4.75-11.95 days and 65-93%, respectively, while those of trans-FV were 4.60-11.82 days and 67-93% and those of cis-FV were 4.94-12.04 days and 64-92%, respectively. The elimination rate of trans-FV was better than that of cis-FV. Additionally, analysis of variance (ANOVA) of the orthogonal experimental data indicated that the environmental factors of open type, temperature, and pH significantly influenced the elimination rate of cis- and trans-FV (P

Hypoxia is a common phenomenon among most solid tumors that significantly influences tumor response toward chemo- and radiotherapy. Understanding the distribution and extent of tumor hypoxia in patients will be very important to provide personalized therapies in the clinic. Without sufficient vessels, however, traditional contrast agents for clinical imaging techniques will have difficulty in accumulating in the hypoxic region of solid tumors, thus challenging the detection of hypoxia in vivo. To overcome this problem, herein we develop a novel hypoxia imaging probe, consisting of a hypoxia-triggered self-assembling ultrasmall iron oxide (UIO) nanoparticle and assembly-responding fluorescence dyes (NBD), to provide dual-mode imaging in vivo. In this strategy, we have employed nitroimidazole derivatives as the hypoxia-sensitive moiety to construct intermolecular cross-linking of UIO nanoparticles under hypoxia, which irreversibly form larger nanoparticle assemblies. The hypoxia-triggered performance of UIO self-assembly not only amplifies its T2-weighted MRI signal but also promotes the fluorescence intensity of NBD through its emerging hydrophobic environment incorporated into self-assemblies. In vivo results further confirm that our hypoxic imaging probe can display a prompt MRI signal for the tumor interior region, and its signal enhancement performs a long-term effective feature and gradually reaches 3.69 times amplification. Simultaneously, this probe also exhibits obvious green fluorescence in the hypoxic region of tumor sections. Accordingly, we also have developed a MRI difference value method to visualize the 3D distribution and describe the extent of the hypoxic tumor region within the whole bodies of mice. Due to its notable efficiency of penetration and accumulation inside a hypoxic tumor, our hypoxia imaging probe could also be considered as a potential candidate as a versatile platform for hypoxia-targeted drug delivery, and meanwhile its hypoxia-related therapeutic efficacy can be monitored.

For solving the challenge in nitrate removal from low C/N wastewater at low temperature, Pseudomonas sp. Y39-6 was isolated and used in nitrate removal. It showed aerobic-heterotrophic denitrification with rate of 1.77 ± 0.31 mg/L·h and unusual aerobic-autotrophic nitrate removal (rate of 0.324 mg/L·h). The aerobic-autotrophic nitrate removal mechanisms were deep investigated by analyzing the nitrate removal process and genomic information. At aerobic-autotrophic condition, the strain Y39-6 could assimilate nitrate to amino acid (NO3− + PHA + CO2 → C5H7O2N) with the carbon source from Polyhydroxyalkanoic acid (PHA) degradation and CO2 fixation. Flagella motivation, swarming activity and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) production regulated Pseudomonas sp. Y39-6 forming biofilm. Carriers immobilized with Pseudomonas sp. Y39-6 were used in moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) and achieved 24.83% nitrate removal at C/N