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We identified proteins significant for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), and to clarify mechanisms mediated by underlying proteins that may involve in the pathogenesis of RA.Proteome-wide protein expressions were profiled by employing label-free quantitative proteomics methodology (Easy-nLC1000 and Q-exactive). The t-test was applied to identify differentially expressed proteins (DEP, p ≤ 0.05) between RA case and control samples. Gene Ontology enrichment analyses and Protein-Protein Interaction analyses were performed to annotate functions of DEPs. The selected DEP was validated in independent samples using Simple Western assay. Plasma protein level of α2 component of integrin (ITGA2) was measured by using ELISA. The DEP, ITGA2, was assessed for its effects on T cell proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis, and inflammatory cytokine expression.Sixty-four DEPs (p 0.05) were identified in PBMCs. The selected ITGA2 (Fold Change, FC = 2.20, p = 1.49E-02) was validated to be up-regulated (FC = 12.33, p = 4.90E-2) with RA, and plasma ITGA2 protein level significantly elevated in RA patients vs. controls. Over-expression of ITGA2 could promote proliferation and inhibit apoptosis of Jurkat T cell, and induce IL-8, IFN-γ and TNF-α expression in Jurkat T cells.ITGA2 protein was significantly over-expressed in PBMCs in RA patients, and affects T cell growth and pro-inflammatory cytokine expression in T cells.

Converting CO2 into chemicals with electricity generated by renewable energy is a promising way to achieve the goal of carbon neutrality. Carbon-based materials have the advantages of low cost, wide sources and environmental friendliness. In this work, we prepared a series of boron-doped covalent triazine frameworks and found that boron doping can significantly improve the CO selectivity up to 91.2% in the CO2 electroreduction reactions(CO2RR). The effect of different doping ratios on the activity by adjusting the proportion of doped atoms was systematically investigated. This work proves that the doping modification of non-metallic materials is a very effective way to improve their activity, and also lays a foundation for the study of other element doping in the coming future.

Herein, an effective tandem catalysis strategy is developed to improve the selectivity of the CO2 RR towards C2 H4 by multiple distinct catalytic sites in local vicinity. An earth-abundant elements-based tandem electrocatalyst PTF(Ni)/Cu is constructed by uniformly dispersing Cu nanoparticles (NPs) on the porphyrinic triazine framework anchored with atomically isolated nickel-nitrogen sites (PTF(Ni)) for the enhanced CO2 RR to produce C2 H4 . The Faradaic efficiency of C2 H4 reaches 57.3 % at -1.1 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), which is about 6 times higher than the non-tandem catalyst PTF/Cu, which produces CH4 as the major carbon product. The operando infrared spectroscopy and theoretic density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that the local high concentration of CO generated by PTF(Ni) sites can facilitate the C-C coupling to form C2 H4 on the nearby Cu NP sites. The work offers an effective avenue to design electrocatalysts for the highly selective CO2 RR to produce multicarbon products via a tandem route.

Observational studies provide evidence that metabolites may be involved in the development of autoimmune diseases (ADs), but whether it is causal is still unknown. Based on the large-scale genome-wide association studies (GWAS) summary statistics, we performed two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) to evaluate the causal associations between human blood metabolites and multiple ADs, which were inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), ulcerative colitis (UC), crohns disease (CD), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), type 1 diabetes (T1D), multiple sclerosis (MS), primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). After Bonferroni adjustment, we identified 6 causal features of metabolites, i.e., glycerol 2-phosphate for T1D, hexadecanedioate, phenylacetylglutamine and laurylcarnitine for RA, glycine and arachidonate (20:4n6) for CD. Comprehensive sensitive analysis was further performed to validate the robustness of associations. We also observed some overlaps of metabolites among different ADs, implying similar or shared underlying mechanisms in such pathogenic processes. Multivariable MR analysis was then conducted to avoid potential pleiotropic effect of other complex traits. After controlling for several common traits, multivariable MR analysis ruled out most of potential pleiotropic effects and validated independence of identified metabolites. Finally, metabolic pathway analysis was performed based on suggestive metabolites for each AD respectively and a total of seven metabolic pathways were identified. In conclusion, this study provided novel insights into investigating causal role of blood metabolites in development of multiple ADs through a comprehensive genetic pathway.

Tandem catalytic reactions have attracted extensive interest because of their ability to reduce reaction steps, energy consumption, and waste. However, the construction of highly efficient tandem c...

Objective The purpose of our study was to evaluate the association between intraoperative hypothermia and AKI in neonates undergoing gastrointestinal surgeries. Study design This retrospective study was conducted for neonates who underwent gastrointestinal surgeries from June 2018 to August 2020. Neonates with a minimum of two documented creatinine values before and after surgical procedures within 48 h were included. According to the mean intraoperative temperature, the eligible neonates were divided into three groups. The primary outcome was the incidence of AKI (as defined by the modified KDIGO criteria). The association between variables and AKI or hospital mortality was also examined. Results A total of 295 neonates fulfilled the eligibility criteria. AKI was more common in patients with lower intraoperative temperature compared to the normothermia group. Intraoperative mean temperature was independently associated with AKI. Patients developing AKI had a higher hospital mortality. AKI and gestational age were independently associated with hospital mortality. Conclusions Inadvertent intraoperative hypothermia was associated with developing postoperative AKI.

The unique applications of porous metal-organic framework (MOF) liquids with permanent porosity and fluidity have attracted significant attention. However, fabrication of porous MOF liquids remains challenging because of the easy intermolecular self-filling of the cavity or the rapid settlement of porous hosts in hindered solvents that cannot enter their pores. Herein, we report a facile strategy for the fabrication of a MOF liquid (Im-UiO-PL) by surface ionization of an imidazolium-functionalized framework with a sterically hindered poly(ethylene glycol) sulfonate (PEGS) canopy. The Im-UiO-PL obtained in this way has a CO2 adsorption approximately 14 times larger than that of pure PEGS. Distinct from a porous MOF solid counterpart, the stored CO2 in Im-UiO-PL can be slowly released and efficiently utilized to synthesize cyclic carbonates in the atmosphere. This is the first example of the use of a porous MOF liquid as a CO2 storage material for catalysis. It offers a new method for the fabrication of unique porous liquid MOFs with functional behaviors in various fields of gas adsorption and catalysis.

Porous crystalline metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are one class of promising electrode materials for CO2 electroreduction reaction (CO2RR) by virtue of their large CO2 adsorption capacities and abundant tunable active sites, but their insulating nature usually leads to low current density. Herein, a two-dimensional (2D) Ni-phthalocyanine-based MOF (NiPc-Ni(NH)4) constructed by 2,3,9,10,16,17,23,24-octaaminophthalocyaninato nickel(II) (NiPc-(NH2)8) and nickel(II) ions attained high electrical conductivity due to the high overlap of d-π conjugation orbitals between the nickel node and the Ni-phthalocyanine-substituted o-phenylenediamine. During CO2RR, the NiPc-Ni(NH)4 nanosheets achieved a high CO Faradaic efficiency of 96.4% at −0.7 V and a large CO partial current density of 24.8 mA cm−2 at −1.1 V, which surpassed all the reported two-dimensional MOF electrocatalysts evaluated in an H-cell. The control experiments and density functional theory (DFT) calculations suggested that the Ni-N4 units of the phthalocyanine ring are the catalytic active sites. This work provides a new route to the design of highly efficient porous framework materials for the enhanced electrocatalysis via improving electrical conductivity.

The electrocatalytic conversion of CO2 into value-added chemicals is a promising approach to realize a carbon-energy balance. However, low current density still limits the application of the CO2 electroreduction reaction (CO2 RR). Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are one class of promising alternatives for the CO2 RR due to their periodically arranged isolated metal active sites. However, the poor conductivity of traditional MOFs usually results in a low current density in CO2 RR. We have prepared conductive two-dimensional (2D) phthalocyanine-based MOF (NiPc-NiO4 ) nanosheets linked by nickel-catecholate, which can be employed as highly efficient electrocatalysts for the CO2 RR to CO. The obtained NiPc-NiO4 has a good conductivity and exhibited a very high selectivity of 98.4 % toward CO production and a large CO partial current density of 34.5 mA cm-2 , outperforming the reported MOF catalysts. This work highlights the potential of conductive crystalline frameworks in electrocatalysis.

Fabrication of highly active carbon-supported atomically isolated metal catalysts with maximized atomic efficiency is significant but remains a big challenge because the adjacent metal species are ...

Developing efficient bifunctional electrocatalysts for overall water splitting in acidic conditions is the essential step for proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers (PEMWEs). We first report the synthesis of core-shell structure nanoparticles (NPs) with an Au core and an AuIr2 alloy shell (Au@AuIr2). Au@AuIr2 displayed 4.6 (5.6) times higher intrinsic (mass) activity toward the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) than a commercial Ir catalyst. Furthermore, it showed hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalytic properties comparable to those of commercial Pt/C. Significantly, when Au@AuIr2 was used as both the anode and cathode catalyst, the overall water splitting cell achieved 10 mA/cm2 with a low cell voltage of 1.55 V and maintained this activity for more than 40 h, which greatly outperformed the commercial couples (Ir/C||Pt/C, 1.63 V, activity decreased within minutes) and is among the most efficient bifunctional catalysts reported. Theoretical calculations coupled with X-ray-based structural analyses suggest that partially oxidized surfaces originating from the electronic interaction between Au and Ir provide a balance for different intermediates binding and realize significantly enhanced OER performance.

Incorporating photocatalysis into benzylic C(sp3) H oxidation represents a recent advance of organic synthesis in a sustainable manner. Although photoinduced charge carriers enable the C(sp3) H bond to be activated under mild conditions, the reaction scale and activity remain hindered by the photoactivation efficiency. Herein, we present that the 1.0% V2O5@CN photocatalyst, a visible-light-active C3N4-based material, is striking active for the aerobic oxidation of benzylic C(sp3) H bonds, affording a conversion rate 11.6 times higher than that of independent CN. The enhanced activity and C(sp3) H bond photoactivation, as well as the induction period shortening and active period acceleration, are rationalized by the low-EVB hole injection from V2O5 into CN and the boosted charge separation. The durability and utility are affirmed in multiple catalytic cycles, scalable long-term reactions, and available substrate scopes. Reactive intermediate studies by EPR demonstrate the involvement of CH2Ph, O2−, and OH radicals in photoredox catalysis. The mechanism that causes the change of main product species is attributed to the formation of OH in the later reaction stage. This work indicates a unique photoactive V2O5@CN catalysis mode, opening up the efficient use of CN in scalable photocatalytic toluene oxidation.

Metal–organic framework (MOFs) films have a wide range of applications in gas separation and chemical sensing. By contrast, MOF films have rarely been reported in the field of photocatalysis. Compa...

We report three well-defined types of Au nanoparticles (NPs) protected by rigid macrocyclic cucurbit[n]uril (CB[n]) (CB[n]-Au), which are prepared via the supramolecular self-assembly of the precursors. CB[n]-Au shows excellent catalytic activity and selectivity, with a performance that can be maintained for up to 72 h in the electroreduction of CO2 to CO. The effects of the structural features of different CB[n]s on the electrocatalytic performance of the Au NPs have been revealed for the first time.

The design and synthesis of a hydrogen-bonded organic framework (HOF) based on tetrathiafulvalene tetracarboxylic acid is reported. The resultant HOF can undergo single-crystal-to-single-crystal transformation to form another two isomers. The structural characteristics and the redox properties of the HOFs were conveniently tailored utilizing the transformation of the phases.

A new strategy to prepare soluble homogeneous catalysts is developed by introducing imidazolium into cationic calix[4]arene-based metal–organic cages (MOCs). The soluble MOCs show high activity and recyclability in the cycloaddition reaction of CO2 without the addition of any co-catalysts. This method provides new inspiration to design highly efficient catalysts by combining the advantages of homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis.

Ultrafine silver (Ag) nanoparticles (NPs) were successfully loaded on a robust aluminum (Al) metal–organic framework (MOF), NOTT-300(Al), by means of a double-solvent method (DSM), and the construc...

Crystal structure and hydrolysis stability are fundamentally important for the application of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) in biotechnology. Herein, five novel 3-D MOFs, built up from biocompati...

Thiourea can effectively inhibit the formation of highly toxic chlorinated aromatics in postcombustion zone. However, the inhibition mechanism was still not adequately understood. In this study, naphthalene was adopted as a model aromatic compound to investigate the inhibition effect and mechanism of thiourea on the formation of chlorinated aromatics via electrophilic chlorination over Cu and Fe chlorides. Thiourea addition resulted in the reductions of 77.6-99.8% and 36.4-98.1% in the yield of polychlorinated naphthalenes from naphthalene chlorination mediated by CuCl2 and FeCl3 at 150-300 °C, respectively. The inhibition efficiency of chlorination presented a decreasing tendency with increasing reaction temperature and O2 content in flue gas. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the thiourea-induced reduction of highly active Cu (II) and Fe (III) chlorides to less active Cu (I) and Fe (II) chlorides was a primary mechanism for inhibiting aromatic chlorination. [thiourea-Cu]+ complex generated during the reduction process could be transformed into CuS and Cu2S, and isomeric reaction product NH4SCN could react with Cu2+ to produce Cu(SCN)2 and then also form Cu sulfides, suggesting sulfidization of Cu chloride was another important inhibition mechanism. Chlorination inhibition induced by the volatile decomposition products of thiourea might only play a minor role.

It is still a great challenge to achieve high selectivity of CH4 in CO2 electroreduction reactions (CO2 RR) because of the similar reduction potentials of possible products and the sluggish kinetics for CO2 activation. Stabilizing key reaction intermediates by single type of active sites supported on porous conductive material is crucial to achieve high selectivity for single product such as CH4 . Here, Cu2 O(111) quantum dots with an average size of 3.5 nm are in situ synthesized on a porous conductive copper-based metal-organic framework (CuHHTP), exhibiting high selectivity of 73 % towards CH4 with partial current density of 10.8 mA cm-2 at -1.4 V vs. RHE (reversible hydrogen electrode) in CO2 RR. Operando infrared spectroscopy and DFT calculations reveal that the key intermediates (such as *CH2 O and *OCH3 ) involved in the pathway of CH4 formation are stabilized by the single active Cu2 O(111) and hydrogen bonding, thus generating CH4 instead of CO.

Hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (HOFs) possess various merits, such as high porosity, tunable structure, facile modification, and ready regeneration. These properties have yet to be explored in the context of new functional HOF materials. The facile and inexpensive electrophoretic deposition (EPD) method applied in this study generated a transparent HOF film at room temperature in just 2 min and is applicable to other HOFs. The resulting film exhibited reversible electrochromism with the advantage of long cycle life (>500 cycles). More strikingly, this all-organic film could be readily regenerated (through rinsing with DMF and redeposition) and showed tunable electrochromic behavior (through low-cost postsynthetic modification) with the ability to undergo successive color changes, which is difficult to achieve with conventional electrochromic materials. An electrochromic device was manufactured to further demonstrate the application potential of the film.

Photocatalytic hydrogen production coupled with selective oxidation of organic substrates to produce high-value-added fine chemicals has drawn increasing attention. Herein, we report a noble metal-free photocatalyst for the highly efficient and simultaneous generation of hydrogen and the selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol into benzaldehyde over CdS@MoS2 heterostructures under visible light. Without the need for a sacrificial agent, CdS@MoS2 displayed an excellent hydrogen production rate of 4233 µmol g−1 h−1 with 0.3 mmol benzyl alcohol, which is approximately 53 times higher than that of bare CdS nanorods (80 µmol g−1 h−1). The reaction system was highly selective for the oxidation of benzyl alcohol into benzaldehyde. When the amount of benzyl alcohol increased to 1.0 mmol, the hydrogen production reached 9033 µmol g−1 h−1. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy images revealed that p-type MoS2 sheets with a flower-like structure closely adhered to n-type semiconductor CdS nanorods through the formation of a p-n heterojunction. As a potential Z-scheme photocatalyst, the CdS@MoS2 heterostructure effectively produces and separates electron-hole pairs under visible light. Thus, the electrons are used for reduction to generate hydrogen, and the holes oxidize benzyl alcohol into benzaldehyde. Moreover, a mechanism of photogenerated charge transfer and separation was proposed and verified by photoluminescence, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, photocurrent and Mott-Schottky measurements. The results reveal that the CdS@MoS2 heterojunctions have rapid and efficient charge separation and transfer, thereby greatly improving benzyl alcohol dehydrogenation. This work provides insight into the rational design of high-performance Z-scheme photocatalysts and the use of holes and electrons to obtain two valuable chemicals simultaneously.

A novel chitosanase gene, csn4, was identified through function-based screening of a marine mud metagenomic library. The encoded protein, named CSN4, which belonged to glycoside hydrolase family 46, showed its maximum identity (79%) with Methylobacter tundripaludum peptidoglycan-binding protein. CSN4 was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified. It displayed maximal activity at 30 °C and pH 7. A weakly-alkaline solution strongly inhibited the activity. The enzymatic activity was enhanced by addition of Mn2+ or Co2+. CSN4 exhibited strict substrate specificity for chitosan, and the activity was enhanced by increasing the degree of deacetylation. Thin-layer chromatography and electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry showed that CSN4 displayed an endo-type cleavage pattern, hydrolyzing chitosan mainly into (GlcN)2, (GlcN)3 and (GlcN)4. The novel characteristics of the chitosanase CSN4 make it a potential candidate to produce chitooligosaccharides from chitosan in industry.

Three cationic capsule-shaped Zr-based metal-organic polyhedra (MOPs) with different cavity sizes were successfully constructed through the self-assembly of trinuclear zirconocene clusters and imidazolium-functionalized dicarboxylic ligands. Owing to the imidazolium groups in the MOPs, they show good CO2 adsorption uptake. Moreover, the halogen anions of the imidazolium groups and Bronsted acid sites (-OH) in the Zr-based knots are in close proximity, making these MOPs able to catalyze synergistically the cycloaddition reaction of CO2 with epoxides into cyclic carbonates. This is the first report of using MOPs as catalysts for this reaction without the addition of a cocatalyst.

The recombination of electron-hole pairs severely detracts from the efficiency of photocatalysts. This issue could be addressed in metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) through optimization of the charge-transfer kinetics via rational design of structures at atomic level. Herein, a pyrazolyl porphyrinic Ni-MOF (PCN-601), integrating light harvesters, active catalytic sites, and high surface areas, has been demonstrated as a superior and durable photocatalyst for visible-light-driven overall CO2 reduction with H2O vapor at room temperature. Kinetic studies reveal that the robust coordination spheres of pyrazolyl groups and Ni-oxo clusters endow PCN-601 with proper energy band alignment and ultrafast ligand-to-node electron transfer. Consequently, the CO2-to-CH4 production rate of PCN-601 far exceeds those of the analogous MOFs based on carboxylate porphyrin and the classic Pt/CdS photocatalyst by more than 3- and 20-fold, respectively. The reaction avoids the use of hole scavengers and proceeds in a gaseous phase which can take full advantage of the high gas uptake of MOFs. This work demonstrates that the rational design of coordination spheres in MOF structures not only reconciles the contradiction between reactivity and stability but also greatly promotes the interfacial charge transfer to achieve optimized kinetics, providing guidance for the design of highly efficient MOF photocatalysts.

Pd species have been extensively studied as electrocatalysts due to their superior catalytic activities. Especially, it is vital for precisely regulating the nanoscale structure of Pd-based nanomat...

The research on molecular devices, fluorescent labels and fluorescent probes based on the interaction between biomolecular DNA and fluorescent dyes has been paid more attention at home and abroad. In this paper, the luminescence properties of the [Ru(bpy)3]Cl2 complex itself were investigated, and the luminescence properties of the [Ru(bpy)3]Cl2 complex under the interaction of the solution and the film were observed by association of the DNA complex with the [Ru(bpy)3]Cl2 complex. The results showed that [Ru(bpy)3]Cl2 emitted red light with its main emission peak wavelength was 610nm, and its fluorescence intensity was the highest when the concentration of solution substance was 10mmol/L. When doped with DNA solution in [Ru(bpy)3]Cl2 complex, a small amount of fluorescent dye [Ru(bpy)3]Cl2 can be used to achieve a higher luminous intensity At the same time, the fluorescent dye [Ru(bpy)3]Cl2 doped with DNA solution reached a higher luminous intensity in the thin-film state. This experiment provides an important experimental basis for the application of fluorescent substance [Ru(bpy)3]Cl2 in luminescent thin films.

A novel sandwich-like structure material was exploited for the fabrication of an effective corrosion resistance system. An environmentally friendly composite material was synthesized by installing 8-hydroxyquinoline (8-HQ) on the surface of graphene oxide (GO). In order to prevent leakage of corrosion inhibitor 8-HQ, GO/8-HQ was modified by polydopamine (PDA), denoted as GO/8-HQ/PDA. A sandwich-like structure (GO/8-HQ/PDA) enables long-term stable storage of corrosion inhibitor in the protective matrix. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were utilized to verify the sandwich-like structure of GO/8-HQ/PDA. The electrochemical tests in a 3.5 wt% NaCl solution showed that the addition of well-dispersed GO/8-HQ/PDA into epoxy system (GO/8-HQ/PDA-EP) remarkably improved corrosion protection of AZ31b magnesium alloy compared with pure epoxy (EP) coating. The sandwich structure protects the activity and structural integrity of the corrosion inhibitor (8-HQ). The corrosion inhibitor (8-HQ) of the GO/8-HQ/PDA sandwich structure cuts off the ion exchange between the metal alloy and the electrolyte solution, which hinders the electrochemical corrosion of the metal. A possible corrosion resistance mechanism of GO/8-HQ/PDA is fully discussed. This study provides feasibilities for the immobilization of corrosion inhibitors on the metal surface.

Traditional polymer membranes exhibit a constant structure that makes adjustment of the filtration process difficult, such as flux changing and contaminant cleaning. Inspired by the automatically c...

Chitosanases play an important role in chitosan degradation, and the enzymatic degradation products of chitosan show various biological activities. Here, a novel glycoside hydrolase family 46 chitosanase (named Csn-BAC) from Bacillus sp. MD-5 was heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3). The recombinant enzyme was purified by Ni-NTA affinity chromatography, and its molecular weight was estimated to be 35 kDa by SDS-PAGE. Csn-BAC showed maximal activity toward colloidal chitosan at pH 7 and 40 °C. The enzymatic activity of Csn-BAC was enhanced by Mn2+, Cu2+ and Co2+ at 1 mM, and by Mn2+ at 5 mM. Thin-layer chromatography and electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry results demonstrated that Csn-BAC exhibited an endo-type cleavage pattern and hydrolyzed chitosan to yield, mainly, (GlcN)2 and (GlcN)3. The enzymatic properties of this chitosanase may make it a good candidate for use in oligosaccharide production-based industries.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of feeding fermented mulberry leaf powder (FMLP) on growth performance, slaughter performance, and meat quality of broilers. A total of 360 1-day-old chickens were randomly divided into 5 groups. The control group was fed basal diet (CON), 3% FMLP, 6% FMLP, 9% FMLP, and 3% unfermented mulberry leaf powder. The (MLP) group was fed basal diet supplemented with 3%, 6%, 9% fermented mulberry leaf powder, and 3% MLP, respectively. The experiment lasted for 56 days, with 1–28 days as the starter phase and 29–56 days as the grower phase. The results on the growth performance showed that diets supplemented with 3% FMLP significantly increased the ratio of villus height to crypt depth in the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum of broilers, enhanced the activity of intestinal amylase and digestibility of dry matter and crude protein, improved the average daily gain (ADG), and decreased the feed to gain ratio (F/G) (p &lt, 0.05). Compared with the control group diet, the 3% FMLP group diet significantly increased the breast muscle yield (p &lt, 0.05), reduced the abdominal fat ratio (0.1 &lt, p &lt, 0.05), and improved the slaughter performance of broilers. The 3% MLP group diet increased the shear force of breast muscle (p &lt, 0.05) and thigh muscle of broilers compared to the control group, and adding FMLP could reverse the above results. Additionally, relative to the control group, FMLP supplementation improved the contents of inosine monophosphate (IMP), total amino acids (TAA), essential amino acids (EAA), and delicious amino acids (DAA) in breast and thigh muscle, and improved polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and essential fatty acids (EFA) in breast muscle, the 6% and 9% FMLP groups showed preferably such effects (p &lt, 0.05). In conclusion, dietary supplementation of FMLP can improve the digestion and absorption of nutrients, and then improve the growth performance of broilers, it also has a positive effect on improving slaughter performance and meat quality.

Electroreduction of CO2 (CO2RR) into value-added fuels is of significant importance but remains a big challenge because of poor selectivity, low current density, and large overpotential. Crystallin...

A Bronsted acid–base bifunctional metal–organic framework (MOF) catalyst, PCN-700-AB [A = Bronsted acid site, TPDC–(COOH)2 [(1,1′∶4′,1″-terphenyl)-2,2″,4,4″-tetracarboxylic acid] and B = Bronsted b...

The design and preparation of porous catalysts with multiple catalytically active sites for synergistically catalytic conversion of CO2 still remains a challenge. Herein, cobalt porphyrin as a Lewis acidic active site was introduced in imidazolium-functionalized cationic covalent triazine frameworks (denoted as Co-PCCTFs) via copolymerization of cobalt 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-cyanophenyl)porphyrin (Co-TPPCN) and 1,3-bis(4-cyanophenyl) imidazolium chloride ([BCIM]Cl). The obtained bifunctional Co-PCCTFs with positively charged imidazolium groups have high BET surface areas and show sufficient CO2 adsorption uptakes. The nucleophilic halide anions of the imidazolium parts and the cobalt porphyrin Lewis acid sites were positioned in close proximity so that the Co-PCCTFs could synergistically activate substrates and intermediates. Compared with ICTF-400 free of Co2+ that was obtained from [BCIM]Cl, Co-PCCTF5 exhibited enhanced activity for the cycloaddition of CO2 to epoxides to produce cyclic carbonates without a cocatalyst under mild conditions. Moreover, Co-PCCTF5 is sufficiently stable so that it could be reused more than 5 times without loss of catalytic activity. This work provides a new approach for the design and preparation of efficient multifunctional catalysts with multiple sites for synergistic catalysis.

A facile method, post-synthetic exchange of modulators (PSEm), has been demonstrated here to prepare chiral metal-organic frameworks for enantioseparation. Based on this method, three chiral porous Zr-based metal-organic frameworks have been prepared through exchanging the coordinated modulators on metal clusters of MOFs with commercially available chiral carboxylic acid molecules. In addition, the obtained materials show enantioselectivity toward three different enantiomers, which presents a proof of concept for the design of MOF materials for enantioseparation by an easy and low-cost method.

Incorporating visible light into sulfide oxidation is an emerging desirable strategy to produce versatile sulfoxides. We introduce the design and synthesis of multilayered wrinkled C3N4 nanosheets and demonstrate their unprecedented sulfide oxidation activity. Due to the wrinkled surfaces with a large SBET (208.6 m2g−1), wrinkled C3N4 nanosheets exhibit a sensitive optical response, facilitating the electron photoexcition. Layer structure confinement enables robust e−-h+ interactions and valid photoexcited excitons formation, allowing rapid 1O2 reactive species production. Integrating the sensitive optical response with robust e−-h+ interactions, photoexcited electrons and excitons are jointly produced, giving large yields of ⋅O2− and 1O2 reactive species that are conductive to O2− and 1O2 cocatalysis with an activity that is up to 33-fold that of bulk C3N4. In the cocatalysis mechanism, both O2− and 1O2, can produce peroxysulfoxide intermediates, resulting in target sulfoxides. This is the first report on sulfide oxidation via O2− and 1O2 cocatalysis and a promising study on catalyst exploitation for high-efficiency and high-selectivity production process.

In the perspective of visible-light-driven hydrogen evolution, photocatalysts with suitable band energy levels and wide-range responses are particularly promising. Herein, CdxZn1−xS (x = 0.2, 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8) nanocrystal solid solutions (NCSSs), which integrated twinning crystal structures, rich sulfur vacancies and wurtzite-sphalerite phase-junctions all in one, were prepared via a facile hydrothermal method. With these features, the twinning Cd0.6Zn0.4S performed remarkable photocatalysis for H2 evolution (42.66 mmol h−1 g−1) in Na2S/Na2SO3 aqueous solution, the rate of which was 691 times higher than those of pristine twinning CdS nanocrystals. To the best of our knowledge, this was the highest performance of H2 evolution among the hitherto reported one-fold sulfide photocatalysts. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations suggested the formation of twinning crystal structures improved the separation of photogenerated electron–hole pairs. Meanwhile, stability of the Cd0.6Zn0.4S photocatalyst was largely enhanced due to the fast hole consumption by Na2S/Na2SO3 through sulfur vacancies. This work explores the interplay and mechanism of special structures, sulfur vacancies and catalytic conditions of twinning CdZnS NCSSs, and provides guidance for the design of highly efficient and stable metal-sulfide-based photocatalysts.

The Schottky barrier created at the interface between electron sinks and semiconductors can effectively optimize electron transfer for active photocatalysis. However, heterogeneous photocatalytic organic transformations via the Mott Schottky effect are still rare and their role in the specific photocatalytic system remains ambiguous. Here, a versatile photocatalytic system integrating the Schottky junctions into the TiO2 particles (Degussa, P25) and Pd NP based films has been developed. They were readily available through the facile encapsulation of P25 by Pd–H4BINDI films using an alternating layer-by-layer (LBL) approach (H4BINDI: N,N′-bis(5-isophthalate acid)naphthalene-diimide). After a H2 reduction process under 200 °C, the Pd NPs were obtained, denoted as P25@Pd–H4BINDI-200. Interestingly, the resulting P25@Pd–H4BINDI-200 photocatalyst presented an exceptionally high activity for dehydrogenation and hydrogenolysis of benzyl alcohol under visible light irradiation, which was approximately 17 times higher than that of the parent P25@Pd–H4BINDI and was superior to any other analogous systems reported to date. Specifically, the negative charges accumulated on the Pd NP surface reduce the benzyl alcohol, while the holes left on the valence band oxidize the benzyl alcohol, effectively promoting photocatalytic cycles with enhanced carrier separation. The deeper understanding of the reaction mechanisms revealed that Pd NPs play a vital mediating role in storing and shuttling photogenerated electrons via the Mott Schottky effect, and revealed the highly enhanced carrier separation by direct use of photoexcited electrons and holes for photoredox reactions. This work holds great promise for designing Mott–Schottky catalysts in enabling solar-driven photoredox reactions.

We report for the first time ultrafine Ru nanoclusters (NCs) anchored on thin reduced graphene oxide (rGO) via introduction of the macrocyclic compound cucurbit[6]uril (CB[6]). The nanocomposite exhibits a comparable or better HER performance compared to Pt/C in acidic, alkaline as well as neutral media, which greatly broadens its application in different types of electrolyzers.

Leukemia is a group of blood cancers which seriously endangers the health of many people, especially children and adolescents. Although some drugs have been developed to treat leukemia, these drugs always have harmful side effects, which seriously affect the quality of life of patients. Therefore, the development of a special drug which damages only leukemia cells and does not harm normal cells remains a challenge. In a previous study, we developed a novel nanomedicine, Cy5.5MSA-G250, which selectively kills fast-growing tumor cells without harming normal cells. Based on our previous work, we prepared Cy5.5-HSA-G250 nanoparticles (CHGNPs) by replacing mouse serum albumin (MSA) with low immunogenic human serum albumin (HSA), and then applied this nanomaterial in leukemia treatment. Under physiological conditions, the CHGNPs exhibited good dispersion and stability, and hemolytic experiments showed that this material has excellent blood compatibility. The cell endocytosis of CHGNPs was obviously inhibited after treatment with nystatin and chlorpromazine, implying that caveolae-mediated endocytosis and clathrin-mediated endocytosis are involved in the cellular uptake of CHGNPs. Cytotoxicity and apoptosis assays revealed that the CHGNPs severely inhibited leukemia cell proliferation and induced leukemia cell apoptosis but did not affect normal cells. The selective up-regulation of tumor suppressor protein P27 and inducement of G1 arrest in leukemia cells may be the main mechanisms for CHGNPs' selective cytotoxicity. Owing to these advantages of CHGNPs, we believe that CHGNPs can be used as a potential leukemia drug for clinical treatment.

Constructing the film with a green corrosion inhibitor is the key to metal corrosion protection. This study reports an environmentally friendly graphene oxide (GO) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) composite films (CMC@GO) with enhanced corrosion protection performance. The CMC@GO composite film was grown on AZ31 magnesium alloy by the layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly method. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and the solid-state NMR Spectrometer reveal the successful modification of CMC on the surface of GO nanosheets. The chemical states and the surface morphology of the CMC@GO composite film were obtained from X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The electrochemical measurements and equivalent circuit fitting results demonstrate that the film containing GO composites has higher corrosion resistance than the film of undoped GO. The CMC@GO composite film exerted the corrosion inhibition effect of GO, owing to the synergistic protective effect of GO and CMC.

Visible-light-driven selective photocatalytic organic synthesis has recently become a topic of great interest due to its environmental friendliness and sustainability. It is demanding for photocatalysis to utilize the wider range of light, such as visible light, and its performance is often plagued by the sluggish separation of photogenerated charge carriers. An approach is now reported to address these issues by incorporating light harvesting RuII-polypyridyl complexes into a semiconductor-type metal-organic framework (MIL-125). Delightedly, the obtained Ru(bpy)3@MIL-125 photocatalyst presents a remarkably stable and high photoactivity toward the selective oxidative coupling of amines under ambient air with visible light irradiation (λ > 440 nm). The mechanistic investigation unveiled that both effectively photoexcited electrons transfer from [Ru(bpy)3]Cl2 to MIL-125 and the interaction of C H bonds with superoxide radical (O2·−) play a critical role in photo-catalyzing selective aerobic oxidative coupling of amines. This work highlights a significant role of MOFs as heterogeneous photocatalysts in photocatalytic organic transformations.

Electroreduction of CO2 (CO2RR) to value-added chemicals offers a promising approach to balance the global carbon emission, but still remains a significant challenge due to high overpotential, low ...

Aggregation-induced emission (AIE) materials present unique solid-state fluorescence. However, there remains a challenge in the switching of fluorescence quenching/emitting of AIE materials, limiting the application in information encryption. Herein, we report a composite of tetraphenylethylene@graphene oxide (TPE@GO) with switchable microstructure and fluorescence. We choose GO as a fluorescence quencher to control the fluorescence of TPE by controlling the aggregation structure. First, TPE coating with an average thickness of about 31 nm was deposited at the GO layer surface, which is the critical thickness at which the fluorescence can be largely quenched because of the fluorescence resonance energy transfer. After spraying a mixed solvent (good and poor solvents of TPE) on TPE@GO, a blue fluorescence of TPE was emitted during the drying process. During the treatment of mixed solvents, the planar TPE coating was dissolved in THF first and then the TPE molecules aggregated into nanoparticles (an average diameter of 65 nm) in H