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Toxicological studies show that exposure to disinfection byproducts, including trihalomethanes (THMs), negatively affects thyroid function; however, few epidemiological studies have explored this link. This study included 2233 adults (ages ≥20 years) from the 2007-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) who were measured for blood THM concentrations [chloroform (TCM), bromodichloromethane (BDCM), dibromochloromethane (DBCM), or bromoform (TBM)] and serum thyroid function biomarkers [thyroid-stimulating hormone, free thyroxine (FT4), total thyroxine (TT4), free triiodothyronine (FT3), total triiodothyronine (TT3), thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb), and thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb)]. Multivariable linear regression models showed positive associations between blood TCM, BDCM, and total THMs (the sum of all four THMs) concentrations and serum FT4, whereas inverse associations were found between blood DBCM and total brominated THM (Br-THM; the sum of BDCM, DBCM, and TBM) concentrations and serum TT3 (all p < 0.05). Besides, positive associations were observed between blood TCM concentrations and FT4/FT3 ratio, between BDCM, DBCM, and Br-THM concentrations and TT4/TT3 ratio, and between DBCM and Br-THM concentrations and FT3/TT3 ratio (all p < 0.05). Blood THM concentrations were unrelated to the serum levels of thyroid autoantibodies TgAb or TPOAb. In summary, exposure to THMs was associated with altered serum biomarkers of thyroid function but not with thyroid autoimmunity among U.S. adults.

Lignin is abundant and contains a large number of aromatic groups. Herein, CdxZn1-xS photocatalyst with tunable band gap energy was successfully synthesized by using 3-mercaptopropionic acid as a structure tuning additive. CdxZn1-xS can depolymerize alkaline lignin to vanillin by the photocatalytic process. Each gram of alkaline lignin can produce 46.5 mg of vanillin. 2-Phenoxy-1-phenylethanol (PP-ol) and other model compounds were used to understand the depolymerizing process of lignin. Fine tuned CdxZn1-xS can effectively cleave the Cβ-O-4 bond existed in PP-ol under simulated sunlight. The highest conversion of PP-ol was 89.5% with phenol and acetophenone yields of 66.2% and 33.5%, respectively. The mechanism studies confirm that the Cα-H in PP-ol and lignin is firstly dehydrogenated to form Cα radical intermediates, and then the photogenerated electrons break the adjacent Cβ-O bond. This research provides a new strategy to prepare valuable chemicals by virtue of renewable biomass and simulated sunlight.

Catalytic conversion of lignin to certain aromatic compounds has been extensively studied but still has great challenges. Photocatalytic depolymerizing lignin is a very promising method to obtain valuable chemicals. Herein, Zn4In2S7 (ZIS)-based photocatalyst was successfully synthesized by simply combining ZIS and graphene oxide (GO). Photocatalyst ZIS-100 can efficiently depolymerize organosolv lignin into phenols and ketones. The relative content of valuable compounds in the depolymerized product was increased by 2.5 times as compared that without photocatalyst. The photocatalyst can effectively break Cβ-O bonds in 2-phenoxy-1-phenylethanol (PP-ol, a model compound) and the conversion of PP-ol is 93.27%. Mechanism studies show that the thiol groups on the surface of ZIS-100 play an important role in the formation of Cα radical intermediates. Photocatalytic cleavage of Cβ-O bond mainly follows a one-step reaction mechanism through a self‑hydrogen transfer process. This study provides a new strategy for selectively breaking Cβ-O bond in lignin to form valuable chemicals.

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.

Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) are porous crystalline materials that find diverse applications due to their high porosity, fine structures, and controllable topology. However, the powdered state of the as-prepared MOFs hinders their application. Shaping of MOFs or construction of MOF composites with excellent flexibility, good pore accessibility and mechanical stability is regarded as an important step for the practical use of MOFs. Biocompatible and renewable cellulose is an excellent substrate/matrix for compositing MOFs. This review emphasizes the recent advances in synthesis strategies, versatile structures and broad applications of cellulose–MOF composites. A summary of the fabrication of cellulose–MOF composites is provided first. Then, the wide applications of cellulose–MOF composites are highlighted and their structure–property–function correlations are discussed. Finally, the existing challenges and potential opportunities for future research are proposed.

Biomass is an important resource of functional carbonaceous materials for a wide range of applications. Herein, we introduce a self-supporting three-dimensional carbon felt derived from loofah spon...

Zeolite ZIF-8 has been etched with acid to form microporous ZIF-8-E crystals. These were then introduced into a polyethersulfone (PES) membrane matrix to enhance its CO2 /N2 separation performance. Open through pores of size about 100 nm formed in the ZIF-8 crystals allow the ingrowth of polyethersulfone chains, ensuring a reduction in the number of nonselective voids, thereby achieving better interaction between ZIF-8-E and PES. As a result, the CO2 /N2 separation performance of the ZIF-8-E/PES membrane increased significantly, showing a CO2 permeability of 15.7 Barrer and a CO2 /N2 ideal selectivity of 6.5.

Cruciferous vegetables contain high levels of glucosinolates (GSL) and isothiocyanates (ITC). ITC are known to induce glutathione S-transferases (GST) and thus exert their anticarcinogenic effects. This study explored the combined effects of cruciferous vegetable, GSL and ITC intake and GST polymorphisms on breast cancer risk. A total of 737 breast cancer cases and 756 controls were recruited into this case–control study. OR and 95 % CI were assessed by multivariable logistic regression. Higher cruciferous vegetable, GSL and ITC intakes were inversely associated with breast cancer risk, with adjusted OR of 0·48 (95 % CI 0·35, 0·65), 0·54 (95 % CI 0·40, 0·74) and 0·62 (95 % CI 0·45, 0·84), respectively. Compared with women carrying the GSTP1 rs1695 wild AA genotype and high cruciferous vegetable, GSL or ITC intake, carriers of the AA genotype with low cruciferous vegetable, GSL and ITC intake had greater risk of breast cancer, with adjusted OR of 1·43 (95 % CI 1·01, 1·87), 1·34 (95 % CI 1·02, 1·75) and 1·37 (95 % CI 1·05, 1·80), respectively. Persons with the GSTM1-null genotype and lower intake of cruciferous vegetables, GSL and ITC had higher risk of breast cancer than those with the GSTM1-present genotype and higher intake, with OR of 1·42 (95 % CI 1·04, 1·95), 1·43 (95 % CI 1·05, 1·96) and 1·45 (95 % CI 1·06, 1·98), respectively. Among women possessing the GSTT1-present genotype, low intake of cruciferous vegetables, GSL or ITC was associated with higher risk of breast cancer. But these interactions were non-significant. This study indicated that there were no significant interactions between cruciferous vegetable, GSL or ITC intake and GST polymorphisms on breast cancer risk.

Background Previous studies have shown inconsistent results for the relation between dietary fat intake and cognitive function in the elderly. Furthermore, prospective studies on this topic among the Chinese population are scarce. Objectives We aimed to examine the association between midlife dietary fat intake and risk of cognitive impairment in the elderly. Methods Prospective cohort analysis was conducted among 16,736 participants from the Singapore Chinese Health Study. Dietary information was assessed by a validated FFQ at baseline (1993-1998) when participants aged 45-74 y (mean: 53.5; SD: 6.22). Cognitive impairment was identified using the Singapore modified Mini-Mental State Examination at the third follow-up visit (2014-2016) when participants aged 61-96 y (mean: 73.2; SD: 6.41). Multivariable logistic regression models were used to calculate ORs and 95% CIs. Results Cognitive impairment was presented in 2397 participants. When substituted for total carbohydrate, dietary fat intake was inversely related to cognitive impairment (OR comparing extreme quartiles: 0.80; 95% CI: 0.67, 0.94; P-trend = 0.003). The OR (95% CI) comparing extreme quartiles of specific dietary fats was 1.08 (0.89, 1.31; P-trend = 0.51) for SFAs, 0.80 (0.64, 0.99; P-trend = 0.02) for MUFAs, 0.84 (0.72, 0.99; P-trend = 0.02) for PUFAs, 0.92 (0.77, 1.09; P-trend = 0.49) for n-3 PUFAs, and 0.83 (0.70, 0.98; P-trend = 0.01) for n-6 PUFAs. An inverse association was found for plant-based fat (OR: 0.84; 95% CI: 0.72, 0.98; P-trend = 0.02), but not for animal-based fat (OR: 0.96; 95% CI: 0.81, 1.15; P-trend = 0.76). When substituted for SFAs, the OR (95% CI) was 0.77 (0.61, 0.97; P-trend = 0.02) for MUFAs and 0.82 (0.70, 0.95; P-trend = 0.003) for PUFAs. Conclusions We found that substitution of total carbohydrate or SFAs with MUFAs and PUFAs, particularly n-6 PUFAs, was related to a lower risk of cognitive impairment in elderly Chinese participants. In addition, an inverse association with cognitive impairment was found for plant-based fat.

Hydrophilic melamine sponge is transferred into hydrophobic melamine sponge by immersing the commercial melamine sponge cubes into zirconium oxychloride aqueous solution and followed by a simple dry process. The hydrophobicity transformation is assigned to the complex bonds constructed by the Zr4+ ions and N atoms, thus reducing the surface polarity. The modified melamine sponge presents excellent absorption capacities toward various oils and organic solvents (70–181 g/g). Its contact angle with water can reach 130° or more, and displays good oil-water selectivity for both heavy oil and light oil. Besides, the sponge has stable chemical properties and good recyclability. This work presents a facile and low-cost method for fabrication of hydrophobic materials that might be used for the cleanup of oil spills.

Reducing sediment is important for the utilization and production of green tea infusion and concentrate. The effect of tannase on sediment formation in green tea infusion and concentrate was investigated. The results showed that the amount of sediment of green tea infusion significantly decreased after tannase treatment, which was due to the decrease in the concentration of gallated catechins. Significant positive correlations between the sediment amount and the gallated catechin (r = 0.980, p

Cellulose-based mixed-matrix membranes containing polyethylenimine-modified graphene oxide (PEI-GO) and Zn2+ ions were fabricated and used for gas separation. The incorporation of PEI-GO effectively hinders the crystallinity of regenerated cellulose, and PEI-GO was compatible with cellulose matrix and uniformly distributed within the matrix. X-ray photoelectron spectrum revealed the amino group on GO surface can effectively coordinate with Zn2+ ions in the membrane. The Zn2+ ions content in the membranes increased when increasing the PEI-GO addition. The optimum separation performance was achieved over the membrane with 17 wt‰ PEI-GO (RC-17) wiht the highest zinc content of 24.2 wt%. The corresponding permeability of CO2 is as high as 268.9 Barrer, and the CO2/N2 and CO2/CH4 ideal selectivities could reach 48.9 and 57.4, respectively. The enhancement of CO2 transportation was attributed to both the regulated microstructure of cellulose membrane by PEI-GO and the π-complexation mechanism of Zn2+ ions with CO2 molecules. The prepared membranes would have a highly potential use in the field of CO2 separation.

A flexible zinc-ion hybrid supercapacitor (ZHS) was constructed using a solid-state cellulose hydrogel electrolyte containing a high concentration of ZnCl2. This biodegradable cellulose hydrogel electrolyte can afford a wide electrochemical potential window and excellent ionic conductivity, resulting in a ZHS with an extremely high capacity of 193 mA h g−1, an energy density of 192 W h kg−1, and a power density of 16 976 W kg−1. The flexible ZHS also shows excellent stability and can work at low temperature of −20 °C. This work progresses the field of Zn-based electrochemical energy storage devices and gives a meaningful guide for the design of solid-state electrolytes.

Hydroxyl alkylation of indoles by Friedel-Crafts reaction with a carbonyl compound is a useful strategy. However, the reaction was restricted to ketones due to the easy formation of a bisindole byproduct. Therefore, hydroxyl alkylation of an aldehyde with indole is confronted with great challenges. Here, we report an efficient strategy for asymmetric hydroxyl alkylation of 2-substituted indoles with aldehydes under 0.1 mol% chiral phosphoric acid. A series of α-hydroxyl ketones were obtained in high yields (up to 99%) and good enantioselectivities (up to 97%).

Anti-tumor effect of dietary flavonoids has been sustained by laboratory experiments, but epidemiological studies with breast cancer risk remained inconsistent and insufficient. This study aimed to investigate the associations between total and subclasses of flavonoid and breast cancer risk among Chinese population. This case-control study recruited 1522 eligible breast cancer cases and 1547 frequency-matched control subjects from June 2007 to July 2018 in Guangdong, China. Dietary intake was obtained by face-to-face interview using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated by multivariable logistic regression models. After adjusting for potential confounders, inverse associations were observed between total flavonoids, anthocyanidins, proanthocyanidins, flavanones, flavones, flavonols and isoflavones and overall breast cancer risk. Comparing the highest versus the lowest quartile, odds ratio (95% confidence interval) was 0.66 (0.54-0.82) for total flavonoids, 0.61 (0.49-0.75) for anthocyanidins, 0.67 (0.54-0.83) for proanthocyanidins, 0.71 (0.57-0.88) for flavanones, 0.48 (0.39-0.60) for flavones, 0.51 (0.41-0.63) for flavonols and 0.67 (0.54-0.83) for isoflavones, respectively. No significant association was found between flavanols, flavan-3-ol monomers, theaflavins and breast cancer risk. Stratified analysis by menopausal status and estrogen receptor/progesterone receptor status showed that the associations of total flavonoids, most flavonoid subclasses with breast cancer risk were generally not modified by menopausal or estrogen receptor/progesterone receptor status. This study indicates that total flavonoids and most flavonoid subclasses intakes were inversely associated with breast cancer risk.

Bicyclic ketal skeletons are important structure fragments that are frequently contained in natural products. A novel tandem Friedel–Crafts reaction and subsequent stereoselective acetalization were developed with readily available aldehyde and ketone acid. The reaction proceeded smoothly in the presence of catalytic Brønsted acid and afforded the corresponding product with moderate yield and high stereoselectivity.

We examined the associations of dietary cholesterol and egg intakes with cardiometabolic and all-cause mortality among Chinese and low-income Black and White Americans. Included were 47,789 Blacks, 20,360 Whites, and 134,280 Chinese aged 40–79 years at enrollment. Multivariable Cox models with restricted cubic splines were applied to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for mortality outcomes using intakes of 150 mg cholesterol/day and 1 egg/week as the references. Cholesterol intake showed a nonlinear association with increased all-cause mortality and a linear association with increased cardiometabolic mortality among Black Americans: HRs (95% CIs) associated with 300 and 600 mg/day vs. 150 mg/day were 1.07 (1.03–1.11) and 1.13 (1.05–1.21) for all-cause mortality (P-linearity = 0.04, P-nonlinearity = 0.002, and P-overall &lt, 0.001) and 1.10 (1.03–1.16) and 1.21 (1.08–1.36) for cardiometabolic mortality (P-linearity = 0.007, P-nonlinearity = 0.07, and P-overall = 0.005). Null associations with all-cause or cardiometabolic mortality were noted for White Americans (P-linearity ≥ 0.13, P-nonlinearity ≥ 0.06, and P-overall ≥ 0.05 for both). Nonlinear inverse associations were observed among Chinese: HR (95% CI) for 300 vs. 150 mg/day was 0.94 (0.92–0.97) for all-cause mortality and 0.91 (0.87–0.95) for cardiometabolic mortality, but the inverse associations disappeared with cholesterol intake &gt, 500 mg/day (P-linearity ≥ 0.12, P-nonlinearity ≤ 0.001, P-overall &lt, 0.001 for both). Similarly, we observed a positive association of egg intake with all-cause mortality in Black Americans, but a null association in White Americans and a nonlinear inverse association in Chinese. In conclusion, the associations of cholesterol and egg intakes with cardiometabolic and all-cause mortality may differ across ethnicities who have different dietary patterns and cardiometabolic risk profiles. However, residual confounding remains possible.

BACKGROUND: Choline is an essential nutrient; however, the associations of choline and its related metabolites with cardiometabolic risk remain unclear. OBJECTIVE: We examined the associations of circulating choline, betaine, carnitine, and dimethylglycine (DMG) with cardiometabolic biomarkers and their potential dietary and nondietary determinants. METHODS: The cross-sectional analyses included 32,853 participants from 17 studies, who were free of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, chronic kidney diseases, and inflammatory bowel disease. In each study, metabolites and biomarkers were log-transformed and standardized by means and SDs, and linear regression coefficients (β) and 95% CIs were estimated with adjustments for potential confounders. Study-specific results were combined by random-effects meta-analyses. A false discovery rate

N-doped porous carbon (NPC) was produced through a simple and efficient method using biomass-derived pine sawdust as the carbon source, NH4Cl as nitrogen source and NaHCO3 as the activator. Both NPC and porous carbon (PC, prepared without nitrogen-doping) were used as support for Au nanoparticles to catalytic oxidation of benzyl alcohol. As expected, Au/NPC performs a substantially enhanced catalytic activity for benzyl alcohol oxidation in comparison with that of Au/PC (conversion of benzyl alcohol is 98.9% for Au/NPC and 51.4% for Au/PC under the same condition). The better catalytic performance of Au/NPC should be due to the introduction of N atoms into PC support, which not only adsorbs the benzyl alcohol molecules more easily, but also makes the Au nanoparticles smaller and more dispersed. Our experimental results also show that mild temperature (60 °C) is more beneficial for the reaction, O2 atmosphere is a necessity for benzyl alcohol oxidation and Au/NPC can also be used to catalyze oxidation of other aromatic alcohols.

Composite UiO-66/nanocellulose aerogels with hierarchical pores and low density were prepared through a self-crosslinking method. The nanocellulose acted as the structural skeleton supporting and dispersing the UiO-66 particles. The micropore and accessibility of UiO-66 were well-preserved, making the composite aerogels ideal sorbents for water purification. The composite aerogels demonstrated high adsorption ability towards both anionic methyl orange (71.7 mg g−1) and cationic methylene blue (51.8 mg g−1). This work holds a promise to rational design and fabrication of MOF monoliths through group linkage.

Two new diarylheptanoids, 3- hydroxy- 3′,4″- epoxy- 1- (4′- methoxyphenyl) - 7- (3″- hydroxylphenyl)– heptane (1) and 2,3- dihydroxy- 1- (4′- hydroxy- 3′- methoxyphenyl)- 7- (4″- hydroxyphenyl)– heptanes (2), along with two known compounds, JuglaninB (3) and 4,17- dimethoxy- 2- oxatricyclo [13.2.2.13,7] eicosa- 3,5,7 (20),15,17,18- hexaene- 10,16- diol (4), were isolated from the green husks of Juglans regia L. Their structures were elucidated using1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic methods, HRESIMS, and CD spectra. Against MCF-7, compounds 1–4 have moderate cytotoxic activity, ranging from 11.4–32.7 μg · mL−1, compared with 31.9 μg · mL−1 forthe positive control cisplatin.

Utilization of biomass-derived materials or chemicals plays a significant role in reducing the dependence of unsustainable resources of petroleum and coal. A series of sulfonated glucose-derived solid acids (SGSAs) were developed in this study through a one-step method. These catalysts were characterized by XRD, FT-IR, SEM, and BET to determine their physiochemical properties, and their acid content was measured by acid–base titration. The catalytic performances of SGSA catalysts were evaluated in two esterification reactions: propionic acid or oleic acid with methanol (a typical reaction to upgrade biodiesel). Conversion of oleic acid and selectivity of methyl oleate can reach as high as 93.3% and 94.7% respectively over SGSA-6, which has the highest SO3H density. Moreover, regeneration of spent catalysts by sulfuric acid solution can significantly enhance their stability and reusability.

Inspired by the anti-freezing mechanisms found in nature, ionic compounds (ZnCl2 /CaCl2 ) are integrated into cellulose hydrogel networks to enhance the freezing resistance. In this work, cotton cellulose is dissolved by a specially designed ZnCl2 /CaCl2 system, which endows the cellulose hydrogels specific properties such as excellent freeze-tolerance, good ion conductivity, and superior thermal reversibility. Interestingly, the rate of cellulose coagulation could be promoted by the addition of extra water or glycerol. This new type of cellulose-based hydrogel may be suitable for the construction of flexible devices used at temperature as low as -70 °C.

Self-standing and flexible regenerated cellulose membranes were fabricated by using a facile ZnCl2/CaCl2/cellulose dissolution system. The filtration experiments of the membranes were conducted by using methyl orange and Congo red as water contaminations. To improve the selectivity and stability, the crosslinkers of glutaraldehyde and polyvinyl alcohol were introduced to the membrane network. The best performance was observed over glutaraldehyde and polyvinyl alcohol crosslinked cellulose (P-G-RC) membrane with a Congo red rejection rate of 99.9% and a methyl orange rejection rate of 93.5%. The suitable pore radius (0.67 nm), low root-mean-square roughness (2.9 nm) and abundant hydroxyl groups were considered as the primary reasons contributed to the separation behavior. Furthermore, the P-G-RC membrane displayed excellent stability and reusability during the filtration tests.

UiO-66-NH2@GO nanoparticles were synthesized by growing UiO-66-NH2 on graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets. The obtained nanoparticles were incorporated in polyimide (PI) matrix to improve the CO2 separation performance. The crystalline structure, interaction between UiO-66-NH2 and GO and the dispersion of UiO-66-NH2@GO were characterized by various techniques. Owning to the interaction between UiO-66-NH2 and GO, UiO-66-NH2 nanocrystals were well-anchored on GO sheets and the size was tailored. Also, it can be found that the high-aspect GO nanosheets in polymer matrix improved the dispersion of UiO-66-NH2 nanoparticles. The high porosity of UiO-66-NH2@GO and inherent adsorption property to CO2 significantly enhanced the gas separation performance of composite membranes compared to pristine PI membrane. The developed UN@GO-PI mixed matrix membrane with 5 wt% of UiO-66-NH2@GO loading showed excellent and stable CO2/N2 separation performance with the CO2 permeability of 7.28 Barrer and the CO2/N2 selectivity of 52.

In this study, homogeneous alloy Au Pt nanoparticles were successfully immobilized on ultrathin TiO2 nanorods via a facile photodeposition technique. The Au Pt/TiO2 hybrid exhibited high photocatalytic activity and stability during the selective photosynthesis of benzaldehyde from benzyl alcohol under visible light. The optimal performance was obtained with the Au1Pt1/TiO2 sample, which had a benzyl alcohol conversion rate of 65.3%. The engineered TiO2 nanorods (304 m2/g) can be employed as a stabilizing matrix and an excellent dispersant for noble metal particles. Moreover, the formation of the alloy structure substantially enhances the photoinduced carrier separation efficiency compared with loading Au or Pt alone on TiO2. The bimetallic nanoparticles exhibited the properties related to the individual metals, as well as new properties due to synergistic effects of the electron-accumulating function of Pt and the surface plasmon resonance of Au.

ZIF-8 wrapped two-dimensional ZIF-L(Co) was prepared. By adjusting the Zn2+ concentration in precursor, ZIF-8 layer with different thickness was coated onto sheet-like ZIF-L. After carbonization, hierarchical porous carbon with CNTs wrapping was formed. Proper ZIF-8 coating would result in the porous carbon with relative high BET surface area, N content, electrical conductivity and proper pore size distribution; thus showing higher supercapacitive performance than that of carbonized ZIF-8 or carbonized ZIF-L. The highest specific capacitance is 274 F/g for carbonized composite materials compared to that of 220 F/g for carbonized ZIF-8 and 57 F/g for carbonized ZIF-L. Moreover, such composite sample (CZ-6) showed high stability and the energy density reached 6.99 W h/kg at a power density of 0.262 kW/k, which is better than most of other ZIF-based porous carbon reported before.

Hypothyroidism is a common hormone deficiency condition. Regenerative medicine approaches, such as a bioengineered thyroid, have been proposed as potential therapeutic alternatives for patients with hypothyroidism. This study demonstrates a novel approach to generate thyroid grafts using decellularized rat thyroid matrix.Isolated rat thyroid glands were perfused with 1% sodium dodecyl sulfate to generate a decellularized thyroid scaffold. The rat thyroid scaffold was then recellularized with rat thyroid cell line to reconstruct the thyroid by perfusion seeding technique. As a pilot study, the decellularized rat thyroid scaffold was perfused with human-derived thyrocytes and parathyroid cells.The decellularization process retained the intricate three-dimensional microarchitecture with a perfusable vascular network and native extracellular matrix components, allowing efficient reseeding of the thyroid matrix with the FRTL-5 rat thyroid cell line generating three-dimensional follicular structures in vitro. In addition, the recellularized thyroid showed successful cellular engraftment and thyroid-specific function, including synthesis of thyroglobulin and thyroid peroxidase. Moreover, the decellularized rat thyroid scaffold could further be recellularized with human-derived thyroid cells and parathyroid cells to reconstruct a humanized bioartificial endocrine organ, which maintained expression of critical genes such as thyroglobulin, thyroid peroxidase, and parathyroid hormone.These findings demonstrate the utility of a decellularized thyroid extracellular matrix scaffold system for the development of functional, bioengineered thyroid tissue, which could potentially be used to treat hypothyroidism.

Hierarchical Beta (BEA-H) with intra-crystalline mesoporosity was synthesized by employing a designed template of N(CH3)2-C6H12-N+(CH3)2-CH2-(p-C6H4)-CH2-N+(CH3)2-C6H12-N(CH3)2 [Cl-]2. Characterization results indicate that BEA-H was crystallized from the outer surface of quasi-spherical particle to the inner part. When it was used as a catalyst for the gas-phase Beckmann rearrangement of cyclohexanone oxime to e-caprolactam, BEA-H exhibited a 2.3-fold longer lifetime in comparison to conventional Beta zeolite (BEA-C). The superior catalytic performance of BEA-H is attributed to its hierarchical pore structure and suitable acidity.

Incorporating metal-organic frameworks into cellulose matrix to prepare composite membranes is promising in gas-separation applications. In this study, UiO-66-NH2 (Zr-based MOF) nanoparticles are wrapped into the densely packed cellulose nanofibrils (CNF-COOH) via a facile vacuum filtration process. The existence of acid-base interactions and electrostatic forces between UiO-66-NH2 and CNF-COOH renders ideal interfacial morphology. Results show that UiO-66-NH2 is cross-linked by -COOH groups and well-dispersed in the CNF matrix. The porous UiO-66-NH2 strengthens the diffusion process of CO2 molecules, thus elevating the permeation flux and separation factor simultaneously. The optimum separation performance is achieved over CM-1 membrane with a CO2 permeability of 139 Barrer and a CO2/N2 selectivity ratio of 46.

Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) have recently emerged as promising candidates for efficient removal of sulfur-containing compounds (SCCs) from liquid fuels. In this study, adsorptive desulfurization (ADS) is performed by adsorbing thiophene (TP) and benzothiophene (BT) from model fuels over pristine and functionalized UiO-66 (Zr). The introduction of amino ( NH2) and carboxylic ( COOH) groups reduces the porosity of UiO-66. However, the adsorption capacities of functionalized UiO-66 improved remarkably. Especially for the adsorbent functionalized with amino moieties (UiO-66-NH2), its maximum adsorption capacities for TP (29.5 mg S/g) and BT (35.7 mg S/g) are 1.7 and 1.8 times to that of bare UiO-66. The superior performance of UiO-66-NH2 is ascribed to the higher availability of hydrogen-bond donor sites in the surface and the favorable interactions between H atoms of NH2 and sulfur species. UiO-66-COOH is beneficial for the adsorption of SCCs than that of pristine UiO-66 because of the existence of acid-base interactions. Moreover, the reusability of UiO-66-NH2 is confirmed by regenerating it via a simple solvent washing.

Background We aimed to investigate the association of serum pentadecanoic acid (15:0), a biomarker of dairy fat intake, with incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all-cause mortality in a Swedish cohort study. We also systematically reviewed studies of the association of dairy fat biomarkers (circulating or adipose tissue levels of 15:0, heptadecanoic acid [17:0], and trans-palmitoleic acid [t16:1n-7]) with CVD outcomes or all-cause mortality. Methods and findings We measured 15:0 in serum cholesterol esters at baseline in 4,150 Swedish adults (51% female, median age 60.5 years). During a median follow-up of 16.6 years, 578 incident CVD events and 676 deaths were identified using Swedish registers. In multivariable-adjusted models, higher 15:0 was associated with lower incident CVD risk in a linear dose–response manner (hazard ratio 0.75 per interquintile range; 95% confidence interval 0.61, 0.93, P = 0.009) and nonlinearly with all-cause mortality (P for nonlinearity = 0.03), with a nadir of mortality risk around median 15:0. In meta-analyses including our Swedish cohort and 17 cohort, case–cohort, or nested case–control studies, higher 15:0 and 17:0 but not t16:1n-7 were inversely associated with total CVD, with the relative risk of highest versus lowest tertile being 0.88 (0.78, 0.99), 0.86 (0.79, 0.93), and 1.01 (0.91, 1.12), respectively. Dairy fat biomarkers were not associated with all-cause mortality in meta-analyses, although there were ≤3 studies for each biomarker. Study limitations include the inability of the biomarkers to distinguish different types of dairy foods and that most studies in the meta-analyses (including our novel cohort study) only assessed biomarkers at baseline, which may increase the risk of misclassification of exposure levels. Conclusions In a meta-analysis of 18 observational studies including our new cohort study, higher levels of 15:0 and 17:0 were associated with lower CVD risk. Our findings support the need for clinical and experimental studies to elucidate the causality of these relationships and relevant biological mechanisms., Kathy Trieu and co-workers study biomarkers of dairy fat intake and associated health outcomes., Author summary Why was this study done? Many dietary guidelines recommend limiting dairy fat consumption in order to lower saturated fat intake and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. However, increasing evidence suggests that the health impact of dairy foods is more dependent on the type (e.g., cheese, yoghurt, milk, and butter) rather than the fat content, which has raised doubts if avoidance of dairy fats is beneficial for cardiovascular health. Dairy foods are a major source of nutrients, and their consumption is increasing worldwide; thus, it is important to advance our understanding of the impact of dairy fat on CVD risk. What did the researchers do and find? We measured dairy fat consumption using an objective biomarker, serum pentadecanoic acid (15:0), in 4,150 Swedish 60-year-olds and collected information about CVD events and deaths during a median follow-up of 16.6 years. When we accounted for known risk factors including demographics, lifestyle, and disease prevalence, the CVD risk was lowest for those with high levels of the dairy fat biomarker 15:0, while those with biomarker levels around the median had the lowest risk of all-cause mortality. We also conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis, and the combined evidence from 18 studies also showed higher levels of 2 dairy fat biomarkers (15:0 and heptadecanoic acid 17:0) were linked with lower risk of CVD, but not with all-cause mortality. What do these findings mean? The findings from our study using fatty acid biomarkers suggest that higher intake of dairy fat were associated with lower CVD risk in diverse populations including Sweden (a country with high dairy intake), though more trials are needed to understand if and how dairy foods protect cardiovascular health.

Objective Isoflavones and lignans are phytoestrogens present in plant-based foods, which have a potential preventive effect on breast carcinogenesis. The effects of phytoestrogens on breast cancer may differ according to the hormonal environment. This case-control study aimed to investigate the association between serum phytoestrogens and odds of breast cancer among Chinese pre- and postmenopausal women. Methods A total of 792 cases and 813 age-matched controls were included. Serum isoflavone (daidzein, genistein, glycitein, equol, and formononetin) and lignan (enterodiol and enterolactone) concentrations were measured using a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method. Results Significant inverse associations were found between serum total soy isoflavone precursors, daidzein, genistein, formononetin, total lignans, enterodiol, enterolactone, and the odds of breast cancer in premenopausal but not postmenopausal women. For premenopausal women, the adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for the highest versus the lowest serum concentration groups were 0.60 (0.41-0.87) for total soy isoflavones precursors, 0.64 (0.44-0.93) for daidzein, 0.62 (0.43-0.90) for genistein, 0.49 (0.35-0.68) for formononetin, 0.38 (0.25-0.57) for total lignans, 0.49 (0.33-0.73) for enterodiol, and 0.49 (0.33-0.74) for enterolactone. However, the interaction between serum phytoestrogens and menopausal status on odds of breast cancer was statistically significant only for daidzein. No significant association was found between serum equol or gycitein and the odds of breast cancer among either pre- or postmenopausal women. Conclusions Higher levels of certain serum isoflavones and lignans were associated with reduced odds of breast cancer in premenopausal women, but the interaction was statistically significant only for daidzein.

Objective We aimed to examine prospective associations between circulating fatty acids in early pregnancy and incident gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) among Chinese pregnant women. Methods Analyses were based on two prospective nested case-control studies conducted in western China (336 GDM cases and 672 matched controls) and central China (305 cases and 305 matched controls). Fasting plasma fatty acids in early pregnancy (gestational age at enrollment: 10.4 weeks(s.d., 2.0)) and 13.2 weeks (1.0), respectively) were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and GDM was diagnosed based on the International Association of Diabetes in Pregnancy Study Groups criteria during 24–28 weeks of gestation. Multiple metabolic biomarkers (HOMA-IR (homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance), HbA1c, c-peptide, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, adiponectin, leptin, and blood lipids) were additionally measured among 672 non-GDM controls at enrollment. Results Higher levels of saturated fatty acids (SFAs) 14:0 (pooled odds ratio, 1.41 for each 1-s.d. increase; 95% CI: 1.25, 1.59) and 16:0 (1.19; 1.05, 1.35) were associated with higher odds of GDM. Higher levels of n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) 18:2n-6 were strongly associated with lower odds of GDM (0.69; 0.60, 0.80). In non-GDM pregnant women, higher SFAs 14:0 and 16:0 but lower n-6 PUFA 18:2n-6 were generally correlated with unfavorable metabolic profiles. Conclusions We documented adverse associations of 14:0 and 16:0 but a protective association of 18:2n-6 with GDM among Chinese pregnant women. Our findings highlight the distinct roles of specific fatty acids in the onset of GDM.

Zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) crystals were obtained by an electric current-assisted synthesis method with stoichiometric Zn2+ and 2-methylimidazole precursors. The resulting ZIF-8-CS2 shows enhanced CO2 adsorption performance (31.2 cm3/g) with CO2/N2 selectivity of 9 at 273 K, while ZIF-8 prepared without electric current assistance shows CO2 adsorption of 18.4 cm3/g and CO2/N2 selectivity of 5. The increased CO2 adsorption ability is ascribed to the high specific surface area and total pore volume of ZIF-8-CS2.

Petroleum-based plastics have raised great environmental concerns from the beginning of their production to the end-of-life cycle. It is urgently needed to develop sustainable and green materials with certain plastic properties. Herein, biobased cellulose films are fabricated from low quality cotton cellulose by manipulating its hydrogen bonding network with green solvents. The cellulose is dispersed in inorganic salts (ZnCl2/CaCl2) to form ionic hydrogels, and then transformed into tough and flexible films through ethanol exchange and air drying. Without extra hot-pressing treatment, the aggregate structure of cellulose is re-organized with the disruption and re-construction of hydrogen bonds. Benefiting from the densely packed structure and highly in-plane orientation, the cellulose film presents outstanding optical, thermal and mechanical properties. Such cellulose materials hold a potential for plastic replacement in the field of biodegradable packing.

Background and Objectives The storage lesion of the red blood cell affects the life span of RBC and the quality of blood component. The elucidation of this mechanism is helpful to reduce the storage damage of RBC and improve the efficacy and safety of blood transfusion. The aim of this study was to discover the potential molecular mechanism of erythrocyte storage lesion with Under-collected whole blood (UC-WB) model. Methods The label-free MS/MS quantitative method was used to identify the differential proteins of erythrocyte membrane proteins and the difference of Rab11B, V-ATPase and plasma GDI2 protein expression were further verified by western blot at the end of blood storage. Results A total of 12 Rab proteins and 3 interacting effector proteins were identified among the membrane protein of normal WB and UC-WB, including 5 differential Rab proteins and 2 interacting effector proteins. Compared with normal WB, the expression of membrane Rab11B protein and ATP6V1B1/2 subunit of V-ATPases protein as well as the plasma GDI2 protein of UC-WB increased at the end of storage period. Conclusion Rab protein might be related to RBC storage lesions, Rab11B participates in the RBC storage lesion through Rab11B/V-ATPases pathways.

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) have been widely regarded as an important inducing factor in the pathogenesis of diabetic arteriosclerosis, and the proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are also involved in this process. However, it is not clear whether AGEs promote atherosclerosis by inducing the proliferation and migration of VSMCs. To figure out this question, this study investigated the effects of AGEs on the proliferation and migration of human aorta vascular smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) and the underlying mechanisms. This study evaluated the effects of different concentrations of AGEs on cell proliferation and migration. CCK8, transwell, and western blotting assays demonstrated that AGEs significantly increased cell proliferation and migration in a concentration-dependent manner and that the optimal proproliferative and promigratory concentrations of AGEs were 10 mg/L and 20 mg/L, respectively. AGE-induced cell proliferation, migration, and expression of filament actin (F-actin) were markedly attenuated by a PI3K inhibitor (LY2940002). Additionally, the phosphorylation of AKT was reduced when the receptor of advanced glycation end product (RAGE) gene was silenced by lentivirus transfection, which led to a concomitant reduction of the expression of proliferation and migration-related proteins. These data indicate that AGEs may activate the PI3K/AKT pathway through RAGE and thus facilitate the proliferation and migration of HASMCs.

In vitro and in vivo studies suggested that flavonols, flavones, flavanones and flavan-3-ols have preventive effects on breast carcinogenesis. Epidemiological evidence about the associations between these flavonoid biomarkers and breast cancer risk is limited. This study aimed to investigate the association between serum concentration of these flavonoids and breast cancer risk among Chinese women. This hospital-based case–control study recruited 792 breast cancer cases and 813 age frequency-matched (5-year interval) controls who provided eligible blood samples in Guangdong Province, China. Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry was used to measure flavonoids. Unconditional logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence internal (CI). Higher concentrations of serum flavonols, isorhamnetin, kaempferol, flavanones and naringenin were significantly associated with lower breast cancer risk, with adjusted ORs (95% CIs) for the highest versus the lowest group of 0.66 (0.49–0.89) for flavonols, 0.52 (0.38–0.70) for isorhamnetin, 0.60 (0.45–0.80) for kaempferol, 0.65 (0.49–0.87) for flavanones and 0.45 (0.34–0.60) for naringenin, respectively. Significant positive associations were observed between serum flavan-3-ols, epigallocatechin, epigallocatechin-3-gallate and breast cancer risk. No significant associations were observed for serum quercetin, flavones, apigenin, luteolin, hesperetin, catechin, epicatechin and epicatechin-3-gallate with overall breast cancer risk. This study suggested that serum flavonols and flavanones were inversely associated with breast cancer risk and serum flavan-3-ols were positively associated with breast cancer risk. Serum flavones were not associated with overall breast cancer risk. These findings warrant further confirmation in prospective studies.

Background The aim of this study was to identify associations between dietary intakes of eggs and cholesterol and all‐cause and heart disease mortality in a US population. Methods and Results Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2014 were used in this study, which included 37 121 participants ≥20 years of age. Dietary information was assessed via 24‐hour dietary recalls at baseline. Mortality status was documented until December 31, 2015. Cox proportional hazards models were used to examine the associations between dietary intakes of eggs and cholesterol and all‐cause and heart disease mortality. During a median follow‐up of 7.8 years, 4991 deaths were documented, including 870 deaths from heart disease. No significant association was observed between additional daily consumption of half an egg and all‐cause mortality (multivariable‐adjusted hazard ratio, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.96–1.13), or heart disease mortality (0.96; 0.80–1.14). Each 50‐mg/day increase of cholesterol intake was inversely associated with all‐cause mortality among participants with daily intake Conclusions No significant association was found between egg consumption and mortality in US adults. The association between dietary cholesterol intake and all‐cause mortality depended on the baseline intake levels, with an inverse association in those with lower intake levels (

A water-soluble metallo-supramolecular polymer MSP-f-6Np , which possesses a regular pore aperture of 1.4 nm, has been assembled from a structurally flexible naphthalene-appended [Ru(bipy)3]2+ complex and cucurbit[8]uril. As the first periodic metallo-supramolecular polymer formed by a flexible building block, MSP-f-6Np exhibits a hydrodynamic diameter of 122 and 164 nm at 0.1 and 2.0 mM of the monomer concentrations. Synchrotron small angle X-ray scattering experiments confirm that MSP-f-6Np possesses porosity periodicity in both the solution and solid states. Compared with a control, the new highly ordered porous system displays enhanced photocatalytic activity for the degradation of organic dyes.

Bilayer carbon is synthesized via carbonization of furfural alcohol-wrapped melamine sponge. Such materials combine the merits of carbonized furfuryl alcohol and melamine sponge: melamine sponge-derived three dimensional N-doped carbon serves as skeleton and support to avoid the agglomeration of furfuryl alcohol; while the furfuryl alcohol coating enhances the carbon yield, avoids the nitrogen loss of melamine sponge and introduces the second carbon layer. Carbonized furfuryl alcohol-wrapped melamine sponge shows the highest specific capacitance of 184 F g−1 at the scan rate of 5 mV s−1, which is almost four times that of carbonized melamine sponge without furfuryl alcohol coating (47.3 F g−1 at 5 mV s−1). Based on the electrochemical measurements, it suggests that the nitrogen content, especially the quaternary nitrogen content and the graphitization degree of carbon are two key dominant factors in enhancing the capacitive performance after furfuryl alcohol coating.

This work investigates the ultraviolet (UV) shielding property of composite films synthesized with graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets and regenerated cellulose. Regenerated cellulose was prepared from ZnCl2/CaCl2/GO solution. The GO sheets presented a homogenous dispersion in the film matrix. The incorporation of GO endows the cellulose films with improved UV shielding capacity. When GO loading reaches 2%, the UVA and UVB blocking percentages are 66.7% and 54.2%, respectively. Moreover, the composite films had excellent visible light transmittance. The resulting films possess promising applications as protective and packing materials.

Facilitated transport cellulose membranes with different zinc ion loadings are fabricated via a facile and green solvent system (zinc chloride/calcium chloride solution). Zn2+ ions lower the pristine hydrogen bonds that normally reinforce the cellulose chains, and Ca2+ ions facilitate interactions among the Zn–cellulose chains to form nanofibrils. The strategy provides an effective route to immobilize zinc species into membrane matrix and constructs facilitated transport pathway for CO2 molecules. The self-standing membranes are transparent, flexible and demonstrate ultraselective CO2 permeation. The optimum separation performance is achieved over CM-0 with the highest zinc content (22.2%), and it exhibits a CO2 permeability of 155.0 Barrer, with selectivity ratios of 27.2 (CO2/N2) and 100.6 (CO2/O2). The excellent separation performance is assigned to the π complexation mechanism between Zn2+ and CO2.

Sodium alginate-melamine sponge composites were fabricated by in-situ gelation of sodium alginate supported on the commercial melamine sponge (MS). MS serves as the three-dimensional skeleton for alginate coating and can effectively avoid the shrink of alginate, and thus makes the alginate-MS composites user-friendly and facile to recover. In the adsorption test, the adsorption process is pseudo-second order and matches the Langmuir model with the maximum adsorption capacity of 90.1 mg/g for copper ions. The alginate-MS is recyclable and presents enhanced mechanical properties compared with those of pristine MS. All these properties make such alginate-MS a promising candidate as an adsorbent for heavy metal removal.

Zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) hold great potential for carbon capture, while a major challenge for the practical application of ZIFs is the development of convenient three-dimensional bulk materials. Here, sustainable and biodegradable bacterial cellulose (BC) was used as the substrate for ZIF growth. Amino-functionalized ZIF-8 (ZIF-8-NH2) was prepared within BC substrate via an in situ growth approach. ZIF crystals were wrapped uniformly over cellulose fibers and the chelating effect between metal (zinc) ions and hydroxyl groups makes the composites have high interface affinity and compatibility. The resulting foams presented a high CO2 adsorption capacity of 1.63 mmol/g (25 °C, 1 bar). Moreover, ZIF-8-NH2@BC foams are facile to be regenerated by heating at 80 °C. This work provides a new avenue to construct ZIF/cellulose composites for gas treatment applications.

Mesoporous silicon carbide (SiC) nanostructures were synthesized by magnesiothermic reduction of carbon–silica (C/SiO2) nanocomposites at a low temperature of 700 °C by using furfuryl alcohol as the carbon source. The phase, morphology, and structure of the samples were characterized by a combination of X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectra, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and N2 adsorption. The starting C/SiO2 composites exhibited an interpenetrating network and the resulting SiC preserved the mesoporous properties of the original templates. The SiC products were of β-SiC phase and showed a high surface area of 786 m2/g. The reaction mechanism and role of intermediate species (Mg2Si) were explored in detail. Furthermore, the resulting β-SiC exhibits remarkable electromagnetic wave absorption performance with a minimum reflection loss of −17.2 dB and reflection loss bandwidth less than −10 dB of 3...

Two new daphnane diterpenes named tianchaterpenes A and B were isolated from the roots of Stelleropsis tianschanica. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of chemical and spectral analysis, including 1D, 2D NMR analyses and HRESIMS. Compounds 1 and 2 were evaluated for their cytotoxic activities against HeLa and HCT-8 cell lines. The results showed that all compounds displayed weak cytotoxicities to the HeLa cells and were inactive to the HCT-8 cells.