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Rechargeable aluminum-ion batteries have attracted great attention due to the high theoretical volumetric capacity, good safety and abundant sources. Although tremendous efforts have been concentrated on exploring novel electrode materials for aluminum-ion batteries, the electrochemical mechanism still need to be further investigated. In this work, we found that even without employing any initial anode materials, the aluminum-ion batteries assembled with graphite cathode, AlCl3/ion liquid based electrolyte and various anodic current collectors still can be stably charged/discharged. A variety of carbon or metal based materials can be utilized as anodic current collectors in the initial-anode-free aluminum-ion batteries; however, their anti-corrosion capabilities against Cl− ions do greatly affect the battery performances. The electrochemical mechanism of initial-anode-free aluminum-ion batteries were comprehensively investigated by a series of in-situ and ex-situ spectroscopic and microscopic methods, revealing the reversible Al metal plating/stripping processes on the anodic current collectors during the charge-discharge cycles. We hope this work may provide new insights into the key component design and mechanism study of initial-anode-free multivalent secondary batteries.

SiC porous ceramics (SPCs) are key functional medium materials, which are widely applied as porous burners. However, SPCs produced via the polyurethane sponge replica technique usually exhibit a randomly distributed cellular structure, leading to vulnerability and a low combustion efficiency for the porous burners. In this study, SPCs were structurally designed via novel 3D printed resin template technique; this endowed the SPCs with synergistically optimized strength and combustion characteristics. SPCs containing tetrakaidecahedron, octahedron and cubic cells were successfully prepared via SiC slurry coating and sintering in air. The cell parameters determined the strength and combustion properties of the SPCs. The SPCs containing cubic cells exhibited the largest strength and strain, because more struts were present parallel to the loading direction; this is more advantageous for stress bearing compared to those vertical to the loading direction. The tetrakaidecahedron cell facilitated the formation of a disturbance effect within the SPCs to a higher extent than the cubic and octahedron cells, thereby enhancing the heat exchange performance between the fluid and porous framework. Hence, the SPC with tetrakaidecahedron cells exhibited the best combustion properties, which resulted in the highest surface temperature and lowest pollution emission.

Rhynchines A-E (1-5), five new indole alkaloids with an unprecedented skeleton, were isolated from Uncaria rhynchophylla. The new skeleton was characterized by an indole moiety and a 2-oxa-8-azatricyclo[6,5,01,5,01,8]tridecane core, forming a unique 6/5/7/5/5 ring system. Their structures were determined by nuclear magnetic resonance, high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, infrared spectroscopy, and calculated electronic circular dichroism (ECD) and were confirmed by X-ray crystallography. Interestingly, 1 and 2 showed strong inhibitory activities against the Cav3.1 calcium channel with IC50 values of 6.86 and 10.41 μM.

Background: Emerging evidence suggests that long non coding RNA (lncRNA) small nucleolar RNA host gene 4 (SNHG4) has become a new insight into lipopolysaccharide (LPS) - induced microglia inflammation, its role in neonatal pneumonia (NP) remains to be largely unrevealed.Methods: RT-qPCR was used to determine SNHG4 and METTL3 expression in the serum from NP patients and normal volunteers, as well as in WI-38 cells treated with LPS. The SNHG4 overexpression vector (pcDNA-SNHG4) was transfected into LPS - treated cells. CCK-8, Transwell, annexin V-FITC/PI and ELISA assays were used to determine cell proliferation, migration, apoptosis and contents of IL-6, TNF-α, SOD and MDA, respectively. The level of SNHG4 in the promoter region of METTL3 was assessed with RIP assay. m6A quantitative analysis illustrated the m6A level with or without SNHG4 overexpression or METTL3 silencing. Bioinformatics analysis and RIP-PCR were used to predict and validate YTHDF1 - mediated m6A levels on signal transducer and activator of transcription 2 (STAT2) mRNA in METTL3 inhibited cells. Then rescue experiments were performed to explore effects of SNHG4 and METTL3 or STAT2 on LPS-treated cell functions. Subsequently, in vivo functional experiments were performed to investigate the role of SNHG4 in LPS induced pneumonia in mice. Results: SNHG4 was downregulated and METTL3 was upregulated in NP patients and LPS-treated cells. SNHG4 overexpression facilitated cell proliferation, migration and SOD concentration, and inhibited apoptosis and IL-6, TNF-α and MDA contents. Mechanistically, SNHG4 bound with METTL3 and downregulated METTL3 expression. Besides, total m6A modification level was lower in the SNHG4 overexpressed or METTL3 inhibited cells. METTL3 interference reduced m6A levels of STAT2 mRNA, decreased STAT2 mRNA stability and promoted STAT2 translation level. METTL3 or STAT2 upregulated reversed the effects of SNHG4 overexpression on LPS - treated cell functions. Conclusions: This study reveals that SNHG4 promotes LPS induced inflammation in human lung fibroblasts and mouse lung tissues in vitro and in vivo by inhibiting METTL3 - mediated m6A level of STAT2 mRNA, which may provide a potential therapeutic mechanism for NP.

Background Shoot branching is one of the important agronomic traits affecting yields and quality of tea plant (Camellia sinensis). Cytokinins (CTKs) play critical roles in regulating shoot branching. However, whether and how differently alternative splicing (AS) variant of CTKs-related genes can influence shoot branching of tea plant is still not fully elucidated. Results In this study, five AS variants of CTK biosynthetic gene adenylate isopentenyltransferase (CsA-IPT5) with different 3′ untranslated region (3ˊ UTR) and 5ˊ UTR from tea plant were cloned and investigated for their regulatory effects. Transient expression assays showed that there were significant negative correlations between CsA-IPT5 protein expression, mRNA expression of CsA-IPT5 AS variants and the number of ATTTA motifs, respectively. Shoot branching processes induced by exogenous 6-BA or pruning were studied, where CsA-IPT5 was demonstrated to regulate protein synthesis of CsA-IPT5, as well as the biosynthesis of trans-zeatin (tZ)- and isopentenyladenine (iP)-CTKs, through transcriptionally changing ratios of its five AS variants in these processes. Furthermore, the 3′ UTR AS variant 2 (3AS2) might act as the predominant AS transcript. Conclusions Together, our results indicate that 3AS2 of the CsA-IPT5 gene is potential in regulating shoot branching of tea plant and provides a gene resource for improving the plant-type of woody plants.

Background: Restoration of blood flow during ischemic stroke leads to Cerebral Ischemia- Reperfusion Injury (CIRI) by activating neuroinflammatory cascades. Pomelo Peel Volatile Oil (PPVO) extracted from Citrus maxima (Burm.) from the genus Rutaceae, comprises some antiinflammatory ingredients, such as limonene and β-myrcene. Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the potential effect of PPVO on alleviating CIRI related to the Toll-like receptor 4/nuclear factor-kappa B (TLR4/NF-κB) pathway. Methods: Transient middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (tMCAO/R) was performed on 65 rats, which were then distributed into five groups (n = 13/group) depending on the intervention they received: Normal Saline (NS) group, normal Glycerin (GL) group, low-dose PPVO (LP, 10mg/kg) group, high-dose PPVO (HP, 30 mg/kg) group, and Sham-operated (SH) group. Neurological Deficit Scores (NDSs) and histological changes were evaluated. Infarct volumes were measured by 2,3,5- Triphenyltetrazolium Chloride (TTC) staining. The expression of TLR4 and neutrophil infiltration were detected by Immunofluorescence (IF) staining. Moreover, the downstream molecules of the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway, such as IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, p-IκB/IκB, and p-NF-κB p65/NF-κB p65 were analyzed by Western Blot (WB). Results & Discussion: The results showed that PPVO (30 mg/kg) significantly decreased infarct volumes, improved neurological deficits and pathologic changes, inhibited TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway suppressed neutrophil infiltration, and suppressed pro-inflammatory cytokine release. Conclusion: It can be concluded that PPVO may alleviate neuroinflammation and protect against CIRI via inhibiting the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway.

This experiment was conducted to study the effects of dietary supplementation with acidifiers on the growth performance, meat quality, and intestinal health of broiler chickens. A total of 648 male Arbor Acres broiler chickens at 1 d old were randomly divided into 6 groups, and each group consisted of 6 replicates with 18 broilers per replicate. The dietary treatments were as follows: negative control (NC, the basal diet), NC + antibiotic (enramycin, 8 mg/kg, positive control [PC]), NC + phosphoric acid (PA, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 g/kg), and NC + lactic acid (LA, 0.3 g/kg). The feeding trial lasted for 42 d. The results showed that the feed-to-gain ratio of the NC + acidifier groups was lower than that of the NC and PC groups from 1 to 42 d (P

BACKGROUND Intestinal barrier breakdown, a frequent complication of intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) including dysfunction and the structure changes of the intestine, is characterized by a loss of tight junction and enhanced permeability of the intestinal barrier and increased mortality. To develop effective and novel therapeutics is important for the improvement of outcome of patients with intestinal barrier deterioration. Recombinant human angiopoietin-like protein 4 (rhANGPTL4) is reported to protect the blood-brain barrier when administered exogenously, and endogenous ANGPTL4 deficiency deteriorates radiation-induced intestinal injury. AIM To identify whether rhANGPTL4 may protect intestinal barrier breakdown induced by I/R. METHODS Intestinal I/R injury was elicited through clamping the superior mesenteric artery for 60 min followed by 240 min reperfusion. Intestinal epithelial (Caco-2) cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells were challenged by hypoxia/ reoxygenation to mimic I/R in vitro. RESULTS Indicators including fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated dextran (4 kilodaltons; FD-4) clearance, ratio of phosphorylated myosin light chain/total myosin light chain, myosin light chain kinase and loss of zonula occludens-1, claudin-2 and VE-cadherin were significantly increased after intestinal I/R or cell hypoxia/reoxygenation. rhANGPTL4 treatment significantly reversed these indicators, which were associated with inhibiting the inflammatory and oxidative cascade, excessive activation of cellular autophagy and apoptosis and improvement of survival rate. Similar results were observed in vitro when cells were challenged by hypoxia/reoxygenation, whereas rhANGPTL4 reversed the indicators close to normal level in Caco-2 cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells significantly. CONCLUSION rhANGPTL4 can function as a protective agent against intestinal injury induced by intestinal I/R and improve survival via maintenance of intestinal barrier structure and functions.

Atomically dispersed non-noble metal single-site catalysts (SSCs) provide a promising approach to meet the catalytic requirements that traditional nanoparticles cannot accomplish. However, they often suffer from formidable challenges of cumbersome route, unmanageable loading, inevitable burial of active site and insufficient stability. Herein, we present a facile and hard template-assisted spatial confinement strategy to prepare Co SSCs embedded in N-doped graphene-like carbon (NG) with ultra-high loading of 10.26 wt%, which is close to the parent CoPc (10.31 wt%). Furthermore, the microstructure, surface area and Co loading in the titled catalysts can be easily manipulated via altering the synthesis parameters. The optimized Co SSCs@NG-800-50 catalyst shows excellent transfer hydrogenation of nitrobenzene with > 99% conversion and 96.3% aniline selectivity as well as good universality for various nitroaromatics in the presence of HCOOH. DFT calculations in combination with elaborate experiments unveil that the active H is firstly generated by the dissociation of C-H bond rather than the recognized O-H bond in HCOOH, then it is used for the hydrogenation of nitroaromatics on CoN3 site in Co SSCs@NG-800-50 catalyst, revealing the reaction mechanism of the tandem catalysis. This report paves a novel route to design and construct efficient and high-loading non-noble metal SSCs.

Herein, we report the preparation and characterisation of fluororubber coated superhydrophobic Poly (ethylene tetrapthalate) (PET) fabric and polyurethane (PU) sponge. The coating surface structure...

A direct selective approach to the oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides and sulfones with H2O2 in moderate to good yields is developed. The reaction proceeds in the presence of 2 mol % of VO(acac)2 at room temperature. All sulfoxides and sulfones were detected by gas chromatography, and the molecular structures of 2-methylbenzyl 4-methylphenyl sulfone, 4-methylbenzyl 4-methylphenyl sulfone, 2-bromobenzyl 4-methylphenyl sulfone, and 4-tert-butylbenzyl benzyl sulfone were determined by single crystal X-ray crystallography.

A new rare-earth polyborate, trisodium europium octaborate, Na3EuB8O15, was prepared using the high-temperature molten-salt method and structurally determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. It crystallizes in the triclinic space group P-1 and contains a one-dimensional [B8O15]∞ tube structure that is constructed from BO3 and BO4 polyhedra. The Eu3+ and Na+ cations reside in this structure to ensure cohesion and neutrality. The excitation spectra, emission spectra, decay time and Commission Internationale de l'Éclairage (CIE) chromaticity index of Na3EuB8O15 were studied. Under near-UV light excitation (393 nm), the polyborate shows an intense red emission, which mainly originates from the highest intensities of the 5D0→7F1 and 5D0→7F2 transitions.

Photocatalytic nitrogen fixation reaction can harvest the solar energy to convert the abundant but inert N2 into NH3. Here, utilizing metal-organic framework (MOF) membranes as the ideal assembly of nanoreactors to disperse and confine gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), we realize the direct plasmonic photocatalytic nitrogen fixation under ambient conditions. Upon visible irradiation, the hot electrons generated on the AuNPs can be directly injected into the N2 molecules adsorbed on Au surfaces. Such N2 molecules can be additionally activated by the strong but evanescently localized surface plasmon resonance field, resulting in a supralinear intensity dependence of the ammonia evolution rate with much higher apparent quantum efficiency and lower apparent activation energy under stronger irradiation. Moreover, the gas-permeable Au@MOF membranes, consisting of numerous interconnected nanoreactors, can ensure the dispersity and stability of AuNPs, further facilitate the mass transfer of N2 molecules and (hydrated) protons, and boost the plasmonic photocatalytic reactions at the designed gas-membrane-solution interface. As a result, an ammonia evolution rate of 18.9 mmol gAu-1 h-1 was achieved under visible light (>400 nm, 100 mW cm-2) with an apparent quantum efficiency of 1.54% at 520 nm.

On the basis of an undeveloped asymmetrical pyridylcarboxylate ligand, 2-(2-carboxypyridin-4-yl)terephthalic acid (H3CPTA), an indium pyridylcarboxylate framework, [(Me)2NH2]1.5[In1.5(CPTA)2]·5.5NMF·6H2O (1), is synthesized under solvent thermal conditions. 1 displays a 3D anionic framework with a large void space, which contains open square channels with a cross section of 14.6 A and a pore surface decorated with carboxylic oxygen atoms. Depending on the anionic skeleton and high water stability, 1 exhibits high adsorption selectivity and capacity for cationic dyes in aqueous solution. Furthermore, the luminescence performance illustrates that 1 has selectivity and sensitivity to nitenpyram with good recyclability.

To guarantee the flow assurance of drilling fluid in deep-water drilling, the inhibitory effect of PVP-K90 on methane hydrate formation was measured at 275.15 and 277.15 K with an initial pressure ...

The present study investigated three lightweight periclase-magnesium aluminate spinel castables containing microporous magnesia aggregates with a varying apparent porosity (12.8%, 30.8% and 39.3%). The effect of the apparent porosity of the aggregates on the phase composition, microstructure, fracture behavior and strength of the lightweight castables was investigated by XRD, SEM and three-point bending tests. Large cracks between the aggregates with an apparent porosity of 12.8% and the matrix reduced the strength of the castable. For the aggregates with an apparent porosity of 30.8%, an excellent interlocking interface with the matrix increased the strength considerably, but also reduced the fracture toughness. At the highest level of the apparent porosity of the aggregates of 39.3%, the formation of a small number of microcracks between the aggregates and matrix reduced the strength, while the fracture toughness was only slightly affected. The lightweight castables with the best combination of properties were achieved at an apparent porosity of the aggregates of 30.8% since they had a low bulk density of 2.63 g/cm3 as well as a high compressive and flexural strength of 70.2 MPa and 20.9 MPa, respectively.

A bifunctional ligand strategy for modification of the functional pores is of great significance in the structural design of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). Herein, a new 2-fold interpenetrated "pillared-layer" 3D Co-MOF, {[Co(HL)(4,4'-bipy)]·DMF·2H2O}n (1), was successfully synthesized by using two kinds of ligands, imidazolecarboxylic acid and pyridine. The metal-carboxylic layers are pillared by the 4,4'-bipy ligand, displaying a 3D framework with rectangular 3D channels (high BET surface of 190.9 m2 g-1 and maximum aperture of 3.9 A) that are decorated with abundant uncoordinated N and O atoms. 1 shows good water stability and thermal stability (320 °C). The proper pores and active sites endowed 1 with a selective adsorption of Congo red in aqueous solution. In addition, a high CO2 adsorption capacity and an excellent CO2 chemical conversion were observed.

Background Gastric cancer (GC) is a prevalent malignancy, leading to a high incidence of cancer-associated death. Cisplatin (DDP)-based chemotherapy is the principal therapy for clinical GC treatment, but DDP resistance is a severe clinical challenge and the mechanism remains poorly understood. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been identified to play crucial roles in modulating the chemoresistance of gastric cancer cells. Aim To explore the effect of circVAPA on chemotherapy resistance during GC progression. Methods The effect of circVAPA on GC progression and chemotherapy resistance was analyzed by MTT assay, colony formation assay, Transwell assay, wound healing assay, and flow cytometry analysis in GC cells and DDP resistant GC cell lines, and tumorigenicity analysis in nude mice in vivo. The mechanism was investigated by luciferase reporter assay, quantitative real-time PCR, and Western blot analysis. Results CircVAPA expression was up-regulated in clinical GC tissues compared with normal samples. CircVAPA depletion inhibited proliferation, migration, and invasion and increased apoptosis of GC cells. The expression of circVAPA, STAT3, and STAT3 downstream genes was elevated in DDP resistant SGC7901/DDP cell lines. CircVAPA knockdown attenuated the DDP resistance of GC cells. Mechanically, circVAPA was able to sponge miR-125b-5p, and miR-125b-5p could target STAT3 in the GC cells. MiR-125b-5p inhibitor reversed circVAPA depletion-enhanced inhibitory effect of DDP on GC cells, and STAT3 knockdown blocked circVAPA overexpression-induced proliferation of DDP-treated SGC7901/DDP cells. The depletion of STAT3 and miR-125b-5p inhibitor reversed circVAPA depletion-induced GC cell apoptosis. Functionally, circVAPA contributed to the tumor growth of SGC7901/DDP cells in vivo. Conclusion CircVAPA promotes chemotherapy resistance and malignant progression in GC by miR-125b-5p/STAT3 signaling. Our findings present novel insights into the mechanism by which circVAPA regulates chemotherapy resistance of GC cells. CircVAPA and miR-125b-5p may be considered as the potential targets for GC therapy.

A case who revealed the longest duration of viral shedding (67 days) in current reports, presented complicated characteristic on the relapse of COVID-19 due to the inconsistent performance of chest radiography and SARS-CoV-2-RNA detection after discharge. Lopinavir-interferon α2b boosted ribavirin following with lopinavir boosted budesonide might be a potent treatment for viral clearance.

Reported here is a concise total synthesis of (-)-berkelic acid in eight linear steps. This synthesis features a Catellani reaction/oxa-Michael cascade for the construction of the isochroman scaffold, a one-pot deprotection/spiroacetalization operation for the formation of the tetracyclic core structure, and a late-stage Ni-catalyzed reductive coupling for the introduction of the lateral chain. Notably, four stereocenters are established from a single existing chiral center with excellent stereocontrol during the deprotection/spiroacetalization process. Stereocontrol of the intriguing deprotection/spiroacetalization process is supported by DFT calculations.

Two new three-dimensional (3D) metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), namely {[Cu2(L)(4,4′-bipy)(OH)]·H2O}n (1) and {[Mn3(L)2(4,4′-bipy)(DMA)2]·H2O}n (2), were constructed by a newly synthesized thioether carboxylic acid ligand 5-((formic acid-3-sulfur)methyl)isophthalic acid (H3L) and 4,4′-bipyridine (4,4′-bipy). Thioether bonds in H3L can rotate freely in space, which are conducive in constructing MOFs with rich and stable structures. Simultaneously, the uncoordinated sulfur atoms affect the polarity of the framework and play an important role in adsorption. Gas adsorption results indicated that 1 can selectively adsorb CO2 from the mixture of CH4/CO2. Moreover, due to the high catalytic activity of [Cu4(COO)6N4O2] clusters, 1 is also an excellent recyclable catalyst that can chemically fix CO2 into cyclic carbonate under mild solvent-free conditions. Therefore, 1 may be explored as a dual-functional material for industrial adsorption and catalysis.

A new multi-functional metal–organic framework, {[Cu2(HL)(H2O)2]·NMP·2H2O}n (1), was assembled by employing an asymmetrical V-shaped rigid multicarboxylic acid ligand H5L (H5L = 2,4-di(2′,5′-dicarboxylphenyl)benzoic acid) with Cu(II) ions. 1 possesses a 3D pore formed by two types of intersecting 1D cuboid channels. Moreover, owing to the abundant uncoordinated carboxylate O atoms decorated in the channels and open metal centers generated by the removal of coordinated water molecules, 1 exhibits a high CO2 adsorption capacity and significantly selective capture for CO2 over CH4. Hence, further research on the chemical fixation of CO2 is implemented, which reveals excellent heterogeneous catalytic activity. In addition, 1 displays particularly selective sorption towards the rhodamine B (RB) dye. Consequently, this study may provide a facile synthetic route for the construction of multi-functional materials.

As a functional bowel disorder, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), especially IBS-diarrhea (IBS-D), affects approximately 9-20% of the population worldwide. Classical treatments for IBS usually result in some side effects and intestinal microbial disorders, which inhibit the clinical effects. Natural edible medicines with beneficial effects and few side effects have received more attention in recent years. Puerarin is the main active ingredient in pueraria and has been used in China to treat splenasthenic diarrhea and as a natural food in folk medicine for hundreds of years. However, there have been no reports of using puerarin in the treatment of IBS-D, and the underlying mechanism is also still unclear. In this study, a comprehensive model that could reflect the symptoms of IBS-D was established by combining neonatal maternal separation (NMS) and adult colonic acetic acid stimulation (ACAAS) in rats. The results showed that puerarin could reverse the abdominal pain and diarrhea in IBS-D rats. The therapeutic effect was realized by regulating the richness of the gut microbiota to maintain the stabilization of the intestinal micro-ecology. Furthermore, the possible mechanism might be related to the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis by the suppressed expression of corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor (CRF) 1. At the same time, intestinal function was improved by enhancing the proliferation of colonic epithelial cells by upregulating the expression of p-ERK/ERK and by repairing the colonic mucus barrier by upregulating occludin expression. All these results suggest that puerarin could exert excellent therapeutic effects on IBS-D.

A novel two-dimensional coordination polymer with a negatively charged framework named {[(CH3)2NH2][Zn2(L)2]·DMF}n (1) was solvothermally synthesized via the assembly of Zn(II) ions with the organic ligand H3L (2-(3,5-dicarboxylphenyl)-6-carboxyl-benzimidazole). 1 was characterized by IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetry, single-crystal, and powder X-ray diffraction methods. 1 possesses a 1D rectangle channel decorated by abundant uncoordinated imidazole N atoms and carboxylate O atoms, and is a better CO2 adsorbent and promising CO2/CH4 selective material, suggesting potential application in gas separation. Moreover, 1 can also serve as a multi-responsive sensing material for detecting nitrobenzene (NB) and Cr2O72−via a luminescence quenching effect with a low detection limit, and the mechanisms of the quenching effect and sensing properties of 1 are discussed in detail.

Two new metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), formulated as [Cd3(L)2(H2O)2]·2H2O (1) and [Zn2(L)(OH)(H2O)]·2DMA (2, DMA = N,N-dimethylacetamide), were first constructed via an unsymmetrical N-heterocyclic 5-((4-carboxypyridin-2-yl)oxy)isophthalic acid (H3L) ligand. Then, a proportion of the Zn(II) ions of 2 were substituted by fine-tuning the contents of Co(II) ions to obtain two new isomers, Co1-MOF 2 and Co2-MOF 2, the successful doping of which can be proved by PXRD, IR spectra, ICP, XPS, and SEM. The luminescent experiments suggested that complex 1 should be a good detector for detecting Fe3+ and Cr2O72− ions. More remarkably, the Co-rich MOF materials have increased gas capture for CO2 and CH4 compared to that of the Co-free isomer 2, and the absorption amount of CO2 and CH4 may rise with the increasing content of Co(II) ions in the system at higher pressure and lower temperature.

We present a detailed DFT mechanistic study on the first Ni-catalyzed direct carbonyl-Heck coupling of aryl triflates and aldehydes to afford ketones. The precatalyst Ni(COD)2 is activated with the phosphine (phos) ligand, followed by coordination of the substrate PhOTf, to form [Ni(phos)(PhOTf)] for intramolecular PhOTf to Ni(0) oxidative addition. The ensuing phenyl-Ni(ii) triflate complex substitutes benzaldehyde for triflate by an interchange mechanism, leaving the triflate anion in the second coordination sphere held by Coulomb attraction. The Ni(ii) complex cation undergoes benzaldehyde C[double bond, length as m-dash]O insertion into the Ni-Ph bond, followed by β-hydride elimination, to produce Ni(ii)-bound benzophenone, which is released by interchange with triflate. The resulting neutral Ni(ii) hydride complex leads to regeneration of the active catalyst following base-mediated deprotonation/reduction. The benzaldehyde C[double bond, length as m-dash]O insertion is the rate-determining step. The triflate anion, while remaining in the second sphere, engages in electrostatic interactions with the first sphere, thereby stabilizing the intermediate/transition state and enabling the desired reactivity. This is the first time that such second-sphere interaction and its impact on cross-coupling reactivity has been elucidated. The new insights gained from this study can help better understand and improve Heck-type reactions.

A new 3D luminescent Ba-organic framework {[Ba3L2(NMP)2(H2O)2]·2NMP·H2O}n (1) was first synthesized based on Ba(II) and a triangular-shaped bridging rigid ligand, namely 1,3,5-tris(4-carboxyphenly)benzene (H3L), via solvothermal reaction (NMP = N-methyl pyrrolidone), thereby forming a stabilized network including a one-dimensional (1D) infinite rod-like helical metal chain. 1 may be explored as a recyclable heterogeneous catalyst for the efficient fixation of CO2 to form serviceable cyclic carbonate since 1D channels remain decorated with abundant open metal sites (OMSs), and the catalytic efficiency of 1 was up to 98% for 1-bromo-2,3-propylene oxide. Simultaneously, the luminescence sensing shows that 1 has excellent response and sensitivity towards pollutants such as Fe3+, Cr2O72−, CrO42−, and [Fe(CN)6]3− ions. Moreover, 1 exhibits the particularly selective sorption towards the Congo red (CR) dye. Consequently, this study may provide a facile synthetic route for the construction of multi-functional Ba-MOF materials.

Context Pomelo peel oil (PPO) [Citrus maxima (Burm.) Merr. (Rutaceae)] is reported to possess antioxidant and antimelanogenic activities. Objective To investigate the effect of PPO [Citrus maxima (Burm.) Merr. cv. Shatian Yu] on tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-induced necroptosis in cerebral ischaemia–reperfusion injury (CIRI) after cardiac arrest (CA). Materials and methods Male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned to six groups: sham group, PP0-L (10 mg/kg), PPO-M (20 mg/kg), PPO-H (40 mg/kg) and two control groups (CA, 0.9% saline; Gly, 10% glycerol). All drugs were administered intravenously to the CA/CPR rats within 10 min after return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). After 24 h, rats were assessed for neuronal injury via the neurological deficit score (NDS), cerebral cortex staining and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and expression levels of TNF-α and necroptosis-related proteins by immunoreactivity staining and western blotting. Results Compared to those in the sham group (survival rate, 100% and NDS, 80), the survival rate and NDS were significantly reduced in the model groups (CA, 56.25%, 70; Gly, 62.5%, 71; PPO-L, 75%, 72; PPO-M, 87.5%, 75; PPO-H, 81.25%, 74). In the PPO-M group, Nissl bodies were significantly increased (43.67 ± 1.906 vs. 17 ± 1.732), the incidence of pathomorphological injury was lower and the necroptosis markers (TNF-α, RIPK1, RIPK3, p-MLKL/MLKL) expression was downregulated compared to those in the CA group (p

Background Reprogrammed glucose metabolism of enhanced Warburg effect (or aerobic glycolysis) is considered as a hallmark of cancer. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been certified to play a crucial role in tumor progression. The current study aims to inquire into the potential regulatory mechanism of long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 242 (LINC00242) on aerobic glycolysis in gastric cancer. Method LINC00242, miR-1-3p and G6PD expression levels in gastric cancer tissues and cells were determined by qRT-PCR. Cell apoptosis or viability were examined by Flow cytometry or MTT assay. Western blot was utilized to investigate G6PD protein expression levels. Immunohistochemical (IHC) and hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining were used for histopathological detection. The targeted relationship between LINC00242 or G6PD and miR-1-3p was verified by luciferase reporter gene assay. Nude mouse xenograft was utilized to detect tumor formation in vivo. Result LINC00242 and G6PD was high-expressed in gastric cancer tissues and cells, and LINC00242 is positively correlated with G6PD. Silencing of LINC00242 or G6PD within gastric cancer cells prominently inhibited cell proliferation and aerobic glycolysis in vitro and relieved the tumorigenesis of gastric cancer in vivo. miR-1-3p was predicted to directly target both LINC00242 and G6PD. Overexpression of miR-1-3p suppressed gastric cancer cells proliferation and aerobic glycolysis. LINC00242 competitively combined miR-1-3p, therefore relieving miR-1-3p-mediated suppression on G6PD. Conclusion LINC00242 plays a stimulative role in gastric cancer aerobic glycolysis via regulation of miR-1-3p/ G6PD axis, therefore affecting gastric cancer cell proliferation.

Self-assembly of cis-[RuCl2(dmso)4], NaVO3, Na2MoO4 and NaH2PO4 in a molar ratio of 1 : 3 : 6 : 1 in HOAc–NaOAc buffer (pH = 4–5) in the presence of CsCl gave a ruthenium(II)-supported phosphovanadomolybdate [RuII(dmso)3PMoVI6VV3O32]6− (1). While a similar reaction with the reactants in a molar ratio of 1 : 6 : 12 : 2 afforded a ruthenium substituted “sandwich” type polyoxometalate [RuII(PMoVI6VV3O32)2]14− (2). Clusters 1 and 2 were well characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Their use as heterogeneous catalysts for oxidation of alcohols in the presence of molecular oxygen was also investigated.

Levulinic acid (LA) is acknowledged one of the most promising biomass-derived platform molecules, and can be transformed into various value-added chemicals. Here, we report a new reaction process for the valorization of levulinic acid derivatives under transition-metal free condition. The protocol combined with the conversion of the levulinate to tosylhydrazone and base promoted arylation, acylation, and etherification cross-coupling. Moreover, our method was applied to synthesize three biologically active molecules, rac-curcumene, rac-xanthorrhizol and rac-4,7-dimethyl-l-tetralone. This reaction discloses a new avenue for the high-value utilization of platform molecules.

Toonayunnanaes A-E (1-5), five B-seco limonoids, along with five known compounds (6-10) were isolated from the bark of Toona ciliata. Compound 1 is a limonoid with a e-7(8)-lactone in the B ring, and compound 2 possesses a 1,14-oxygen bridge and a 15-OH. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis including 1D and 2D NMR, and HRESIMS. Compound 1 exhibited significant inhibition effect of NO production in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages with an IC50 value of 10.94 ± 0.08 μM.

To identify the prominent molecular signaling in acupoints and explore their roles in initiating the analgesia effect of manual acupuncture (MA). A three-step study was conducted, the experiment 1 was a genome-wide analysis of the tissue at acupoint Zusanli (ST 36), including 12 Wistar rats which were divided into control, control+MA1, and control+MA7 groups. In the experiment 2, the paw withdrawal latency (PWL), immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis of phospho-nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) p65 (p-p65), phospho-NFκB p50 (p-p50) at ST 36 were performed on rats of saline, saline+MA, and complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA)+MA groups (n=6). In experiment 3, 24 rats were divided into saline+DMSO, CFA+DMSO, CFA+DMSO+MA, and CFA+BAY 11–7082+MA groups, the PWL and immunofluorescence assay of NFκB p65 at ST 36 was conducted. (1) The gene: inhibitor of NFκB (Nfkbia), interleukin-1β (Il1b), interleukin-6 (Il6), chemokine c-x-c motif ligand 1 (Cxcl1), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1/Ccl2) expressions in the control+MA7 group were significantly increased (P

In this study, five mullite-corundum gas-permeable refractories reinforced by SiC whiskers were prepared with spherical porous mullite-corundum aggregates. The influence of the silicon powder content on the microstructure, phase composition, mechanical and gas-permeability properties were investigated through XRD, SEM and EDS. It was found that the silicon powder content strongly affected the mechanical and gas-permeability properties by changing the formation and distribution of mullite and SiC whiskers. SiC whiskers were formed both in the matrix and inside the pores of the aggregates. As the silicon powder content increased, the amount of SiC whiskers in the pores of the aggregates as well as at the aggregate/matrix interface increased, meanwhile more mullite was also formed at the interface. However, when the silicon powder content was larger than 9 wt%, much less mullite was observed at the interface, reducing the bonding between particles in the matrices. The formation of SiC whiskers and mullite at the interface improved the mechanical properties at a small expense of air permeability. The optimized refractory contained 6 wt% silicon powder which combined the highest cold and hot flexural strength (17.0 MPa and 10.2 MPa, respectively), as well as the best strain at fracture and a homogeneous gas permeability.

Eight previously undescribed lignan glycosides, viburmacrosides A-H (1-8), and seven known analogues (9-15) were isolated from Viburnum macrocephalum f. keteleeri fruits through bioactivity-guided fractionation. Their structures and absolute configurations were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analyses and chemical evidence. Using the well-recognized carbohydrate-hydrolyzing enzymes α-amylase and α-glucosidase, as well as the promising protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B), as inhibitory targets, all isolated compounds were tested for their antidiabetic potential in vitro. Compound 4 displayed potent inhibitory activities with IC50 values of 9.9 ± 0.6 and 8.9 ± 0.5 μM against α-glucosidase and PTP1B, respectively. The enzymatic kinetics results suggested that compound 4 competitively inhibited α-glucosidase while it suppressed α-amylase and PTP1B in the mixed-type manner. These findings supported that V. macrocephalum f. keteleeri fruits may be a new functional food resource with antidiabetic potential.

Twenty-four aryl benzyl sulfides, diaryl sulfides and dibenzyl sulfides were synthesized by four methods and characterized by 1H NMR, FT-IR and Gas chromatography. The reaction conditions of different synthesis methods were studied from the aspects of time, solvent, base and dispersant. The molecular structures of benzylphenyl sulfide (2S), (4-tert-butylbenzyl)(4-methylphenyl) sulfide (4S), (4-methylbenzyl)(4-methylphenyl) sulfide (9S), di(4-methylphenyl) sulfide (11S), (3,5-dimethylphenyl)(4-methyl phenyl) sulfide (15S), and dibenzyl sulfide (19S) [22] have been determined by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. Compounds 2S and 15S crystallize in the monoclinic space group P21/c, with a = 12.278(3), b = 15.894(3), c = 5.6056(11) A, β = 94.532(2)°, and Z = 4 for 2S, and a = 9.800(9), b = 7.950(7), c = 16.690(15) A, β = 100.890(12)°, and Z = 4 for 15S. The unit cell of 4S has a triclinic Pī symmetry with the cell parameters a = 6.0436(10), b = 8.7871(14), c = 15.535(2) A, α = 81.921(2)°, β = 81.977(2)°, γ = 80.889(2)°, and Z = 2. Compounds 9S and 11S both crystallize in the orthorhombic space group P212121, with a = 6.188(3), b = 8.041(4), c = 26.005(14) A, and Z = 4 for 9S, and a = 5.835(2), b = 8.010(3), c = 25.131(9) A, and Z = 4 for 11S. Twenty-four aryl sulfide compounds with different substituents were synthesized and characterized, and the molecular structures of six different sulfide compounds have been determined by single-crystal X-ray crystallography.

Ca2+ , a ubiquitous but nuanced modulator of cellular physiology, is meticulously controlled intracellularly. However, intracellular Ca2+ regulation, such as mitochondrial Ca2+ buffering capacity, can be disrupted by 1 O2 . Thus, the intracellular Ca2+ overload, which is recognized as one of the important cell pro-death factors, can be logically achieved by the synergism of 1 O2 with exogenous Ca2+ delivery. Reported herein is a nanoscale covalent organic framework (NCOF)-based nanoagent, namely CaCO3 @COF-BODIPY-2I@GAG (4), which is embedded with CaCO3 nanoparticle (NP) and surface-decorated with BODIPY-2I as photosensitizer (PS) and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) targeting agent for CD44 receptors on digestive tract tumor cells. Under illumination, the light-triggered 1 O2 not only kills the tumor cells directly, but also leads to their mitochondrial dysfunction and Ca2+ overload. An enhanced antitumor efficiency is achieved via photodynamic therapy (PDT) and Ca2+ overload synergistic therapy.

Intra-peritoneal adhesion are common and serious complications after surgery. Deposition of proteins and inflammatory response on injured cecum are main factors resulting in the formation of adhesi...

Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is a highly aggressive malignant cancer with poor prognosis. Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) DiGeorge syndrome critical region gene (DGCR5) has been reported to participate in various types of cancers, but its role in GBC remains largely unknown. This study aimed to explore the functions and mechanisms of DGCR5 in GBC. Here, we found that DGCR5 was upregulated in GBC tissues and cell lines. Through functional experiments, it was demonstrated that silence of DGCR5 significantly suppressed the cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in GBC cells. In addition, miR-3619-5p was predicted and further verified as the target of DGCR5. Moreover, miR-3619-5p was observed downregulated in GBC tissues and cell lines, and miR-3619-5p mimics repressed the GBC cell proliferation, migration, invasion and could be rescued by DGCR5 overexpression. Mechanistically, it was found that DGCR5 knockdown and miR-3619-5p mimics inactivated the MEK/ERK1/2 and JNK/p38 MAPK pathways. In addition, rescue experiments indicated that inhibition of MEK/ERK1/2 and JNK/p38 MAPK pathways could reverse the effects of DGCR5 overexpression on cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Finally, xenograft model assay was used to validate that knockdown of DGCR5 suppressed GBC via regulating MEK/ERK1/2 and JNK/p38 MAPK pathways in vivo. Taken together, it was uncovered in our study that DGCR5 exerts an oncogenic role by sponging miR-3619-5p and activating MEK/ERK1/2 and JNK/p38 MAPK pathways in GBC progression.

This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of the Ultrasonication-Assisted (UA) extraction on the functionality of the herbaceous biennial plant maca (Lepidium meyenii). The specific objectives include comparison of the antioxidant activities among various maca extracts, determination of the macamide B content of the extracts, and in vitro evaluation of maca on cell viability and creatine kinase (CK) activity. The antioxidant activities of the water, ethanol, and UA extracts were compared by determining the total phenolic and flavonoid contents, the 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activities, and the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) of the extracts. The macamide B content of maca extracts were analyzed by HPLC. The effects of the extracts on muscle cell viability and creatine kinase activity were also determined using C2C12 myoblasts. UA extraction significantly increased the total phenolic content (2.90 GAE μg/mg, p < 0.05), without affecting the flavonoid content. DPPH radical scavenging activity did not exhibit any statistical difference among the extracts. The ethanol and UA extracts exhibited significantly higher FRAP than the water extract (p < 0.05). The macamide B content of ethanol and UA extracts were 0.087 and 0.083 μg/mg, respectively. The water and UA extracts exhibited higher C2C12 muscle cell viability than the ethanol extract, and both extracts resulted in a significantly lower CK level than the H2O2-treated control group. This research suggests that the maca extract can protect muscle cells and serve as an antifatigue agent under oxidative stress conditions.

Cytotoxicity of nonylphenol on spermatogonial stem cells via phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin pathway

The prognosis of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) caused by the FLT3-ITD mutation is poor. Arsenic trioxide (ATO) and all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) can down-regulate FLT3-ITD level and selectively kill leukemia cells carrying the FLT3-ITD mutation. However, the mechanisms of action of these two compounds are unknown. Here, we found that ATO could bind FLT3-ITD at Lys91 and Asp225, whereas ATRA could bind FLT3-ITD at Lys5 and Gln6. Both compounds could not bind wild-type FLT3. Further studies revealed that ATO/ATRA may suppress the Expression of FLT3-ITD by promoting the UBE2L6-mediated ubiquitination pathway and decreasing the expression of C-MYC. However, further studies are needed to define the mechanisms of these compounds on AML. Our research provides an experimental basis for the use of ATO/ATRA in FLT3-ITD AML in clinical practice.