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Zn batteries receive substantial commendation, due to their inherent safety, environmental benignity and low toxicity. However, poor rechargeability of Zn anode have seriously hindered the applications of rechargeable Zn batteries. The challenges induced by thermodynamic instability of Zn in aqueous electrolytes include dendrites, passivation, corrosion (H2 evolution) and shape change. Since Zn anode is the critical aspect in determining the battery performance, cycle life, energy density and capacity retentions etc. The target of this review is to devote the prominent status to Zn metal anode by firstly explicating the previously studied Zn electrochemistry in different electrolyte systems like aqueous (acidic, alkaline, mildly acidic and neutral), non-aqueous (organic, ionic liquids) electrolytes, and then suggesting some ideas to amend Zn anode reversibility and stability. Because of higher thermodynamic Zn stability in organic electrolytes and recent promisingly improved performance of Zn metal anode, we mark organic electrolytes, particularly with intrinsic safe organic solvents as a promising research direction for high-performance zinc ion batteries (ZIBs).

BACKGROUND Acute lung injury (ALI) is a common and life-threatening complication of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). There are currently limited effective treatment options for SAP and associated ALI. Calycosin (Cal), a bioactive constituent extracted from the medicinal herb Radix Astragali exhibits potent anti-inflammatory properties, but its effect on SAP and associated ALI has yet to be determined. AIM To identify the roles of Cal in SAP-ALI and the underlying mechanism. METHODS SAP was induced via two intraperitoneal injections of L-arg (4 g/kg) and Cal (25 or 50 mg/kg) were injected 1 h prior to the first L-arg challenge. Mice were sacrificed 72 h after the induction of SAP and associated ALI was examined histologically and biochemically. An in vitro model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI was established using A549 cells. Immunofluorescence analysis and western blot were evaluated in cells. Molecular docking analyses were conducted to examine the interaction of Cal with HMGB1. RESULTS Cal treatment substantially reduced the serum amylase levels and alleviated histopathological injury associated with SAP and ALI. Neutrophil infiltration and lung tissue levels of neutrophil mediator myeloperoxidase were reduced in line with protective effects of Cal against ALI in SAP. Cal treatment also attenuated the serum levels and mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, IL-1β, HMGB1 and chemokine (CXC motif) ligand 1 in lung tissue. Immunofluorescence and western blot analyses showed that Cal treatment markedly suppressed the expression of HMGB1 and phosphorylated nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) p65 in lung tissues and an in vitro model of LPS-induced ALI in A549 cells suggesting a role for HGMB1 in the pathogenesis of ALI. Furthermore, molecular docking analysis provided evidence for the direct interaction of Cal with HGMB1. CONCLUSION Cal protects mice against L-arg-induced SAP and associated ALI by attenuating local and systemic neutrophil infiltration and inflammatory response via inhibition of HGMB1 and the NF-κB signaling pathway.

Hydroboration reactions of carboxylic acids using sodium aminodiboranate (NaNH2[BH3]2, NaADBH) to form primary alcohols were systematically investigated, and the reduction mechanism was elucidated experimentally and computationally. The transfer of hydride ions from B atoms to C atoms, the key step in the mechanism, was theoretically illustrated and supported by experimental results. The intermediates of NH2B2H5, PhCH═CHCOOBH2NH2BH3-, PhCH═CHCH2OBO, and the byproducts of BH4-, NH2BH2, and NH2BH3- were identified and characterized by 11B and 1H NMR. The reducing capacity of NaADBH was found between that of NaBH4 and LiAlH4. We have thus found that NaADBH is a promising reducing agent for hydroboration because of its stability and easy handling. These reactions exhibit excellent yields and good selectivity, therefore providing alternative synthetic approaches for the conversion of carboxylic acids to primary alcohols with a wide range of functional group tolerance.

Differences in plant shade tolerance constitute a major mechanism driving the succession of forest communities in subtropical forests. However, the indirect effects of differences in light requirements on the growth of mid- and late-successional tree species are unclear, and this potential growth effect has not been explained at the transcriptome level. Here, a typical mid-successional dominant tree species, Schima superba Gardn. et Champ, and a typical late-successional dominant tree species, Cryptocarya concinna Hance were used as materials and planted under 100% full light (FL) and 30% FL (low light, LL) to explore the responses of tree species in different successional stages of subtropical forests to different light environments. Transcriptome sequencing was used to analyze the expression changes in genes related to growth and photoprotection under different light environments. The young leaves of S. superba accumulated more malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide radicals (${\mathrm{O}}_2^{{{}^{\bullet}}^{-}}$) under LL. A lower hormone content (auxin, cytokinin, gibberellin) in the young leaves, a weaker photosynthetic capacity in the mature leaves and significant downregulation of related gene expression were also found under LL, which resulted in the total biomass of S. superba under LL being lower than that under FL. The young leaves of C. concinna had less MDA and ${\mathrm{O}}_2^{{{}^{\bullet}}^{-}}$, and a higher hormone contents under LL than those under FL. There was no significant difference in photosynthetic capacity between mature leaves in contrasting light environments. Although the biomass of C. concinna under LL was less than that under FL, the height of C. concinna under LL was higher than that under FL, indicating that C. concinna could grow well under the two light environments. Our results describing the acclimatization of light at the physiological, molecular and transcriptome levels are important for a complete understanding of successional mechanisms.

Background and Aim: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a highly aggressive brain malignancy that lacks reliable treatments. Resveratrol possesses anti-cancer effects, but its activity against glioblastoma cells is variable for unknown reasons. One mechanism through which anti-cancer drugs exert their effects is oxidative damage caused by increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Thus, the present study examined the relationship between oxidative stress and sensitivity to resveratrol in glioblastoma cells. Methods: Two GBM cell lines (U251 and LN428) were exposed to 100 μM resveratrol for 48 h, and proliferation and apoptosis were assessed. ROS generation was evaluated using 2'-7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate-based flow cytometry and fluorescent microscopy. Immunocytochemical staining and western blotting were conducted at regular intervals to profile the expression patterns of superoxide dismutase-2 (SOD2), catalase, caspase-9, caspase-3, and sulfotransferases (SULTs) in untreated and resveratrol-treated GBM cells. Results: Resveratrol-treated U251 cells, but not resveratrol-treated LN428 cells, exhibited remarkable growth arrest and extensive apoptosis accompanied by elevated intracellular ROS levels and attenuated SOD2 and catalase expression. Mitochondrial impairment and more distinct increases in the expression of activated caspase-9 and caspase-3 were detected in U251 cells following resveratrol treatment. The levels of resveratrol metabolic enzymes (SULT1A1 and SULT1C2) were lower in U251 cells than in LN428 cells. Conclusions: Resveratrol increased ROS generation and induced oxidation-related cellular lesions in U251 cells by activating an ROS-related mitochondrial signal pathway. The levels of SULTs and ROS may indicate the therapeutic outcomes of resveratrol treatment in GBM.

Lacunary polyoxometalate (POM), [PW9O34]9−, grafts with a boronic acid group attached via an organosilane bridge assemble into microspheres, PW9–Si–APBA. The oxygen-rich and hydrophilic surface of POM facilitates the binding of phosphate groups in phosphoproteins and glycans in glycoproteins. While the metal–oxo in POM provides π–π interactions with the phosphate groups of phosphoproteins, the boronic acid group specifically binds to glycoproteins via the cis-diols of glycans. Therefore, these multi-driving forces ensure the selective adsorption of phosphoproteins and glycoproteins by PW9–Si–APBA microspheres in biological sample matrixes, even in the presence of very high protein abundance, i.e., BSA, at mass ratio of β-ca/IgG/OVA/BSA = 1 : 1 : 1 : 200.

This work aimed to assess the role of TLR8 in cerebral I/R injury and its in-depth pathogenesis. Bioinformatics analysis indicated that TLR8 was up-regulated in patients with ischemic stroke than that in healthy control, and miR-18a-5p was the upstream regulatory of TLR8. Then, the rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells were exposed in oxygen-glucose-deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) conditions to construct a model in vitro. The functional experiments indicated that OGD/R can decline the viability and elevate the apoptosis of PC12 cells, while up-regulation of miR-18a-5p can alleviate OGD/R-induced cell injury. Notably, overexpression of TLR8 reverses the miR-18a-5p-mediated protection on OGD/R-induced cells injury. Finally, we found that up-regulation of miR-18a-5p obviously declined the protein levels of TLR4 and TLR7 as well as the phosphorylation of NF-κB, while overexpression of TLR8 canceled the decrease caused by miR-18a-5p up-regulation. In summing, our results illustrated that miR-18a-5p/TLR8 axis can mitigate OGD/R-induced cells injury through TLRs and NF-κB pathway. Overexpression of TLR8 reverses the miR-18a-5p-mediated protection on OGD/R-induced cells injury.

A new, direct, efficient, and transition-metal-free method is reported for the synthesis of β-bromostyrenes from styrenes by using N-bromosuccinimide as the brominating reagent and sodium persulfate (Na2S2O8) as the oxidant. This convenient and concise reaction is practical, operationally simple, and can be adapted for large-scale syntheses.

Herein, we report a palladium-catalyzed relay Heck-type reaction of fluoroalkyl bromide and terminal alkenes. The reaction involves fluoroalkylation of alkenes and migration of double bonds via a 1,5-hydrogen atom transfer strategy. Through this method, a series of remote fluoroalkylated alkenes was obtained under mild conditions.

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a common serious acute condition of the digestive system that remains a clinical challenge. Severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) in particular is characterized by high morbidity and mortality. The present study was designed to investigate the protective effect of Galangin (Gal), a natural flavonol obtained from lesser galangal, on L-arginine-induced SAP in mice and in AR42J cells. Amylase and lipase activities were measured and the histopathology of the pancreas, lung, and kidney was evaluated. Inflammation and oxidative stress were assessed using ELISA, western blotting, RT-PCR, and immunohistochemistry. Gal was shown to reduce proinflammatory cytokine production and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in vivo and in vitro. L-arginine treatment reduced the expression of components of the nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway and the downstream protein heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in mice, whereas Gal increased their expression. Furthermore, the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway inhibitor brusatol prevented the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of Gal in mice with SAP. Taken together, our results imply that Gal has protective effects in L-arginine-induced SAP that are induced by the upregulation of the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway, which has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Thus, Gal may represent a promising treatment for SAP.

The formation of intramolecular C-N bond represents a powerful strategy in organic transformation as the great importance of N-heterocycles in the fields of natural products and bioactive molecules. This personal account describes the synthesis of cyclic phosphinamidation, benzosultam, benzosulfoximine, phenanthridine and their halogenated compounds through transition-metal-free intramolecular oxidative C-N bond formation. Mechanism study reveals that N-X bond is initially formed under the effect of hypervalent halogen, which is very unstable and easily undergoes thermal or light homolytic cleavage to generate nitrogen radical. Then the nitrogen radical is trapped by the arene to give aryl radical. Rearomatization of aryl radical under the oxidant to provide corresponding N-heterocycle. Under suitable conditions, the N-heterocycles can be further transformed to halogenated N-heterocycles.

Glaucoma is a disease involving impaired visual function accompanied by degeneration and necrosis of the optic nerve. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) exerts a neuroprotective effect against the degeneration of retinal ganglion cells. However, whether EGCG can relieve glaucoma and the possible mechanisms remain unclear. In order to determine the function of EGCG in glaucoma, an acute glaucoma rat model was established. Optic neuropathology was examined by haematoxylin-eosin staining and immunofluorescence staining for class III-β tubulin. The levels of inflammation-associated cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-4, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-13 and IFN-γ were measured by flow cytometry. T cell proliferation was assessed by the carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester method. Finally, the functional role of EGCG in glaucoma was explored. The levels of the inflammation-associated proteins p-IκBα and p-p65 were measured by western blot analysis. The results showed that optic nerve injury occurred, and elevated levels of the inflammatory cytokines IL-4, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-13 and IFN-γ were observed in the rat model of acute glaucoma. In addition, an increased T lymphocyte proliferation rate and imbalance of Th1/Th2 cytokines were present in the models. Importantly, treatment with EGCG significantly alleviated optic nerve injury. At the molecular level, EGCG decreased the levels of inflammation-associated cytokines, decreased the proliferation rate of T lymphocyte cells, and repaired the imbalance of Th1/Th2 cytokines. Moreover, EGCG inhibited the increase in the phosphorylation of IκBα and p65 caused by modelling and thus suppressed the activation of the nuclear factor (NF)-κB signalling pathway. The findings of the present study indicate that EGCG could attenuate the symptoms of glaucoma and inhibit inflammatory responses by suppressing the NF-κB signalling pathway in a rat glaucoma model.

Visible light-mediated cascade remote oxyfluoroalkylation of alkenes under mild conditions is developed for the first time. The key point of this transformation is the incorporation of alkene fluoroalkylation-initiated remote benzyl C-H bond activation via a 1,5-H shift in a highly controlled site-selective manner and Kornblum reaction with dimethyl sulfoxide as the oxidant. With this method, a broad array of fluoroalkyl groups were introduced into a double bond to produce 1,6-fluoroalkylated ketones at room temperature.

A series of 4-maleimidophenol (4-HPM) modified waterborne polyurethane (MWPU) emulsions were successfully synthesized, using isophoronediisocyanate (IPDI), polycaprolactonediol (PCL, Mw = 1000), 1,4-butanediol (BDO), 2,2-dimethylolpropionic acid (DMPA), trimethylolpropane (TMP) and triethylamine (TEA) as raw material. The effects of 4-HPM content on the structure, morphology and physical properties of the MWPU were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, water absorption measurement, water contact angle measurement and tensile testing. The results revealed that with 4-HPM introduced into the WPUs backbones, the crystallinity, the hardness, tensile strength, water resistance and thermal stability of MWPU films were significantly augmented. Moreover, when the content of 4-HPM was 4.0 wt %, the tensile strength of the MWPU film was up to 46.4 MPa, improved about 134.19% (measurement error ±0.001) compared with WPU (19.8 MPa). When the content of 4-HPM was 6.0 wt %, the end decomposition temperature of the film was up to 489.6°C, improved 12.6% compared with WPU (434.8°C).

Texture attributes such as firmness and lignification are important for fruit quality. Lignification has been widely studied in model plants and energy crops, but fruit lignification has rarely been investigated, despite having an adverse effect on fruit quality and consumer preference. Chilling-induced loquat fruit lignification that occurs after harvest can be alleviated by heat treatment (HT) applied prior to low temperature storage. Enzyme activity assay showed that HT treatment could retard the low temperature-induced increase in cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD) activity. Transcript analysis and substrate activity assays of recombinant CAD proteins highlighted the key role of EjCAD5 in chilling-induced lignin biosynthesis. A novel homeobox-leucine zipper protein ( EjHAT1) was identified as a negative regulator of EjCAD5. Therefore, the effect of HT treatment on lignification may be partially due to the suppression of the EjCAD5 promoter activity by EjHAT1.

This paper focuses on the pathway, the kinetic laws and the mechanisms of BDE-47 photo-degradation in the environment. By changing the degradation conditions (such as light sources, solvents, inorganic salts and free radical scavengers) and analyzing the degradation products using gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), a better understanding of the fate of 2,2′,4,4′-Tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-47) in the environment is obtained. Results show that (i) the degradation reactions of BDE-47 under four different types of light sources are well described by the first order kinetic equation (r ≥ 0.9995); (ii) hydrogen-donating ability and light absorption property of an organic solvent have a joint influence on the kinetics of degradation of BDE-47, which makes the degradation rate constants of BDE-47 different in different solvents (hexane 0.2735, methanol 0.2720, toluene 0.1280, methanol/water (1:1) 0.0673, acetonitrile 0.0471, acetone 0.0030) ; (iii) the types and quantities of detected degradation products of BDE-47 are different in different solvents, BDE-1 is found only in hexane solvent, BDE-3 is not found in toluene, the relative content of BDE-28 in toluene is the highest (91.3%); (iv) inorganic ions have different effects on the degradation of BDE-47, the half-life of 0.10 mmol Fe3+ is reduced by 46.1% compared with that without adding 0.10 mmol Fe3+, the half-life of 0.5 mmol NH4+ is reduced by 46.7% compared with that without 0.5 mmol NH4+, 50 mg/L TBA can increase the half-life by 5.1% compared with no addition. Keywords: 2,2′,4,4′-Tetrabromodiphenyl ether, Photodegradation, Passway, Mechanism, Influencing factors, Free radical scavenger

Loquat fruit accumulates lignin in its flesh when undergoing chilling injury during postharvest storage, making it a suitable model for the study of flesh lignification. Transcriptional regulation of lignin biosynthesis is principally controlled by the NAC-MYB transcriptional cascade in model plants. Previous research has demonstrated that EjMYB8 activates lignin biosynthesis through direct interaction with the promoter of Ej4CL1. However, the classic NAC-MYB gene regulation network has not been established. Here, the MADS-box gene EjAGL65 was discovered by screening a cDNA library using the EjMYB8 promoter as bait in yeast. A phylogenetic analysis and structural comparisons revealed that EjAGL65 belongs to the Mδ subgroup of the MADS-box family, whose members have not been reported as being involved in the regulation of lignin deposition. EjAGL65 transcription was downregulated at 0°C compared to 5°C, indicating a negative correlation with the change of lignin content. A dual-luciferase assay indicated that EjAGL65 is capable of inhibiting the promoter activity of EjMYB8 in vivo. These results showed that the Mδ MADS-box gene EjAGL65 transcriptionally regulates EjMYB8 during postharvest chilling induced flesh lignification, which differs from the classical regulation model of lignin biosynthesis that has been illustrated for developmental lignin accumulation.

The aim of this study was to explore the relationships among gut microbiota disturbances and serum and spinal cord metabolic disorders in neuropathic pain. 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing and serum and spinal cord metabolomics were used to identify alterations in the microbiota and metabolite profiles in the sham rats and the chronic constriction injury (CCI) model rats. Correlations between the abundances of gut microbiota components at the genus level, the levels of serum metabolites, and pain-related behavioural parameters were analysed. Ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA) was applied to analyse the interaction networks of the differentially expressed serum metabolites. First, we found that the composition of the gut microbiota was different between rats with CCI-induced neuropathic pain and sham controls. At the genus level, the abundances of Helicobacter, Phascolarctobacterium, Christensenella, Blautia, Streptococcus, Rothia and Lactobacillus were significantly increased, whereas the abundances of Ignatzschineria, Butyricimonas, Escherichia, AF12, and Corynebacterium were significantly decreased. Additionally, 72 significantly differentially expressed serum metabolites and 17 significantly differentially expressed spinal cord metabolites were identified between the CCI rats and the sham rats. Finally, correlation analysis showed that changes in the gut microbiota was significantly correlated with changes in serum metabolite levels, suggesting that dysbiosis of the gut microbiota is an important factor in modulating metabolic disturbances in the context of neuropathic pain. In conclusion, our research provides a novel perspective on the potential roles of the gut microbiota and related metabolites in neuropathic pain.

Background Acute kidney injury (AKI) is an important complication of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) with a poor prognosis. The methyl ester of (S,R)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4,5-dihydro-5-isoxazole acetic acid (ISO-1), an inhibitor of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), has protective effects against many diseases. Our previous study confirmed MIF inhibition alleviated SAP. Here, we explored the effects of ISO-1 in an experimental mouse model of SAP-associated AKI induced by l -arginine. Methods Mice were randomly divided into four treatment groups (n = 6 each): control (CON), SAP, SAP + ISO-1, and ISO-1. Histopathologic examination was used to observe damage in pancreatic and renal tissues. Biochemical and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) kits were used to measure the serologic indicators amylase, lipase, creatinine, uric acid, interleukin (IL)-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect protein expression of NLRP3, ASC and caspase-1, and the infiltration of myeloperoxidase (MPO)-positive neutrophils in kidney tissue. Western blotting was used to detect NLRP3, ASC and caspase-1 and IL-1β protein expression, and real-time PCR was used to measure MIF, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-18 mRNA levels in kidney tissue. Results ISO-1 treatment alleviated pathological damage in pancreatic and renal tissues, and reduced the serum levels of amylase, lipase, creatinine, uric acid, IL-6 and TNF-α. ISO-1 also reduced protein expression of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1 and IL-1β, mRNA expression of MIF, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-18, and the infiltration of MPO-positive neutrophils in kidney tissue. Conclusion ISO-1 has a protective effect against experimental SAP-associated AKI. And the mechanism may be associated with ISO-1 inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway.

Theoretical and experimental studies have demonstrated that temperature is an important environmental factor that affects the regional distribution of plants. However, how to modify the distribution pattern of plants in different regions is a focus of current research. Obtain the information of cold tolerance genes from cold tolerance species, cloning genes with real cold tolerance effects is one of the most important ways to find the genes related to cold tolerance. In this study, we investigated whether transferring the VHA-c gene from Antarctic notothenioid fishes into Arabidopsis enhances freezing tolerance of Arabidopsis. The physiological response and molecular changes of VHA-c overexpressing pedigree and wildtype Arabidopsis were studied at −20 °C. The results showed that the malondialdehyde (MDA) and membrane leakage rates of WT plants were significantly higher than those of VHA-c8 and VHA-c11 plants, but the soluble sugar, soluble protein, proline and ATP contents of WT plants were significantly lower than those of VHA-c8 and VHA-c11 plants under −20 °C freezing treatment. The survival rate, VHA-c gene expression level and VHA-c protein contents of WT plants were significantly lower than those of VHA-c8 and VHA-c11 plants under −20 °C freezing treatment. Correlation analysis showed that ATP content was significantly negatively correlated with MDA and membrane leakage rate, and positively correlated with soluble sugar, soluble protein and proline content under −20 °C freezing treatment. These results demonstrated that overexpression of the VHA-c gene provided strong freezing tolerance to Arabidopsis by increasing the synthesis of ATP and improved the adaptability of plants in low temperature environment.

Background Liver injury is one of the most common complications during sepsis. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is an important proinflammatory cytokine. This study explored the role of MIF in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced liver injury through genetically manipulated mouse strains. Methods The model of LPS-induced liver injury was established in wild-type and Mif-knockout C57/BL6 mice. Serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and total bilirubin (TBil) were detected, and the expressions of MIF, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) were measured. Liver histopathology was conducted to assess liver injury. Moreover, the inhibitions of MIF with (S,R)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4,5-dihydro-5-isoxazole acetic acid methyl ester (ISO-1) and 4-iodo-6-phenylpyrimidine (4-IPP) were used to evaluate their therapeutic potential of liver injury. Results Compared with wild-type mice, the liver function indices and inflammation factors presented no significant difference in the Mif−/− mice. After 72 h of the LPS-induced liver injury, serum levels of ALT, AST, and TBil as well as TNF-α and IL-1β were significantly increased, but the knockout of Mif attenuated liver injury and inflammatory response. In liver tissue, mRNA levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and NF-κB p65 were remarkably elevated in LPS-induced liver injury, while the knockout of Mif reduced these levels. Moreover, in LPS-induced liver injury, the inhibitions of MIF with ISO-1 and 4-IPP alleviated liver injury and slightly attenuated inflammatory response. Importantly, compared to mice with LPS-induced liver injury, Mif knockout or MIF inhibitions significantly prolonged the survival of the mice. Conclusions In LPS-induced liver injury, the knockout of Mif or MIF inhibitions alleviated liver injury and slightly attenuated inflammatory response, thereby prolonged the survival of the mice. Targeting MIF may be an important strategy to protect the liver from injury during sepsis.

Increasing amounts of experimental evidence show that anthocyanins provide physiological protection to plants under stress. However, the difference in photoprotection mediated by anthocyanins and other photoprotective substances in different seasons is still uncertain. To determine the relationship between anthocyanin accumulation and the photoprotective effects in different seasons, Castanopsis chinensis and Acmena acuminatissima, whose anthocyanin accumulation patterns differ in different seasons, were used as materials to explain how plants adapt to different seasons; as such, their physiological and biochemical responses were analyzed. Young leaves of C. chinensis and A. acuminatissima presented different colors in the different seasons. In summer, the young leaves of C. chinensis were purplish red, while those of A. acuminatissima were light green. In winter, the young leaves of C. chinensis were light green, while those of A. acuminatissima were red. Compared with the young red leaves, the young light green leaves that did not accumulate anthocyanins had higher flavonoid and phenolics contents, total antioxidant capacity, non-photochemical quenching (NPQ), and relative membrane leakage, and a slower recovery rate in the maximum photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm) after high-light treatment. In addition, the net photosynthesis rate (Pn), transpiration rate (Tr), stomatal conductance (gs), and the effective quantum yield of PSII (ΦPSII) of the young leaves in winter were significantly lower than those in summer, while the activities of catalase (CAT, EC 1.11.1.6), peroxidase (POD, EC 1.11.1.7), and superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1) were significantly higher than those in summer. These data indicate that to adapt to seasonal changes anthocyanins, other antioxidative substances and antioxidative enzymes, as well as components involved in the safe dissipation of excitation energy as heat need to cooperate with one another.

Management of chronic pain is still hard, and new analgesic drugs are needed. Evodiamine (Evo) and rutaecarpine (Rut) are two major active components of Evodia rutaecarpa, a Chinese traditional medicine that has been used as an analgesic for a long time. However, their effects on peripheral hypersensitivity remain unknown. Similar to capsaicin, the Evo and Rut were docked to the transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1 (TRPV1) in molecular simulation experiments. Moreover, Evo (10 µM) and Rut (50 µM) activated TRPV1 on human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) cells in electrophysiological recording experiments. Behaviorally, the application of Evo and Rut reduced peripheral hypersensitivity in a dose-dependent manner, which was blocked by capsazepine (a selective inhibitor of TRPV1). Furthermore, both Evo and Rut increased time in the open arms of the elevated plus maze on mice with nerve injury. These observations suggested that Evo and Rut reduced peripheral hypersensitivity and anxiety in mice with nerve injury or inflammation via TRPV1.

Two novel Ru(ii) polypyridyl complexes bearing imidazo-phenanthroline conjugated hydroxybenzoic acid groups were designed to enhance the tumor targeting ability as photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy. [Ru(bpy)2(phcpip)] (ClO4)2 (Ru-1) and [Ru(bpy)2(ohcpip)] (ClO4)2 (Ru-2) (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine; phcpip = 2-(3-carboxyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) imidazo [4,5-f]phenanthroline; ohcpip = 2-(2-hydroxyl-3-carboxyphenyl) imidazo [4,5-f] [1,10] phenanthroline) were synthesized and their photodynamic antitumor activities were investigated. Both complexes displayed high photocytotoxicity toward cancerous cell lines HepG2, A549, MCF-7, and MDA-MB-231, but low photocytotoxicity toward normal cell lines GES-1 and Huvec. They were mainly localized at the nucleus of HepG2 cells after 24 h incubation, arrested the cell cycle at the G2/M phase and induced cancer cell apoptosis through reactive oxygen species (ROS) mediated pathways. Tumor targeting of the complexes is attributed to stronger molecular binding to DNA.

This paper focused on the influence of various oxidation parameters such as electrolyte composition, reaction time, calcination temperature and current change on the morphology and structure of TiO2 nanotube arrays. It was found that ammonium fluoride with a high viscosity reduced the diffusion rate of fluoride ions and significantly increased the length of TiO2 nanotubes, creating nanotubes with ordered arrays and uniform diameters. Meanwhile, the time of anodic oxidation determined the length of TiO2 nanotube arrays. Well-aligned nanotube arrays could be obtained after 0.5-2.5 h of oxidation. In addition, when the oxidation temperature was about 30 °C, the TiO2 nanotube arrays achieved the optimal uniformity and the maximum length-diameter aspect ratio. The morphology and quality of the TiO2 nanotubes fabricated were estimated through current as a function of reaction time. Consequently, formation mechanism of TiO2 nanotube arrays was investigated undergoing three major periods. The findings of this study can shed some light on the optimal conditions for preparing well-aligned TiO2 nanotube arrays with high length-diameter aspect ratio.

The in situ hydrolysis of acetontrile to acetate was utilized to construct crystal structures of lanthanide complexes for two analogous ligands, including dimeric [Ln2(Hhpip)2(OAc)6] (Ln = Eu, Tb, Dy; Hhpip = 2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline) and two-dimensional polymeric [Tb(hnpip)(OAc)2]n, where hnpip− is the hydroxyl-deprotonated form of 2-(2-hydroxy-5-nitrophenyl)imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline acting as a tridentate bridging ligand. The former had a [Ln2(μ-η1:η2-OAc)2(μ-η1:η1-OAc)2(η2-OAc)2] subunit, whereas in the latter, [Tb2(μ-η1:η2-OAc)2] and [Tb2(μ-η1:η1-OAc)2] subunits are alternately aligned. The DMSO solution of [Eu2(Hhpip)2(OAc)6] and [Eu2(pip)2(OAc)6] (pip is 2-phenylimidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline) were found to have a specific and prompt photoluminescence response to CO32− with significant emission colour change. The limit of detection was about 10 μM, depending on the complex and wavelength monitored.

The synthesis of bio-based chemicals, such as 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and its derivatives, from cellulosic biomass resources has been attempted for years. However, the harsh reaction condition, toxicity of the catalysts applied, and low efficiency of the conversion process have deterred its industrial implementation. Herein, the authors investigated the degradation and conversion of cellulose into HMF in a concentrated zinc chloride solution. The effects of reaction conditions and co-catalysts on the conversion were evaluated. A 69.5% HMF yield from cellulose was obtained in the condition of 1 h and 150 °C using 0.2 mol·L-1 of HCl without co-catalyst during the conversion. Moreover, the ZnCl2 aqueous solution displayed good reusability. Finally, a simplified kinetic model of the conversion of cellulose to HMF in a concentrated zinc chloride solution was developed, and the reaction kinetics were investigated.

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are an effective treatment strategy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients harboring mutations that result in constitutive activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). However, most patients eventually develop resistance to TKIs. This occurs due to additional EGFR mutations or the activation of bypass signaling pathways. In our previous work, we demonstrated that Marsdenia tenacissima extract (MTE) restored gefitinib sensitivity in resistant NSCLC cells with EGFR T790M or K-ras mutations. However, the potential efficacy of MTE in NSCLC cells with resistance mediated by Axl and c-Met, and the related molecular mechanisms need to be elucidated. In this study we evaluated the ability of MTE to restore erlotinib/gefitinib sensitivity in TKI resistant HCC827/ER cells and xenograft mice models. Our results demonstrate that MTE overcomes erlotinib and gefitinib resistance driven by Axl and c-Met in vitro and in vivo. Combination therapy significantly suppressed EGFR downstream molecules and the c-Met and Axl activated bypass signaling pathways. Moreover, we observed that MTE is more efficient at restoring resistance to erlotinib than gefitinib. As the Axl and c-Met mediated bypass pathways share the same downstream signaling cascade as EGFR, simultaneous targeting of these pathways is a promising strategy to overcome acquired resistance of TKIs. Our results demonstrate that MTE treatment attenuates Axl phosphorylation and the associated epithelial-mesenchymal transition, suggesting MTE treatment may be a potential therapeutic strategy for overcoming erlotinib and gefitinib cross-resistance in NSCLC, especially for erlotinib resistance.

An effective synthesis of chiral atropoisomeric biaryl phosphine–olefin compounds via palladium-catalyzed enantioselective C–H olefination has been developed for the first time. The reactions are operationally simple, tolerate wide functional groups, and have a good ee value. Notably, P(O)R2 not only acts as the directing group to direct C–H activation in order to make a useful ligand but also serves to facilitate composition of the product in a useful manner in this transformation.

The aim of this study was to synthesize and characterize the octenyl succinic-β-cyclodextrin (OS-β-CD) and assess its application as a potential emulsion stabilizer. OS-β-CD was prepared by esterifying β-CD with OSA under alkaline conditions. The properties of OS-β-CD were characterized by Fourier transform infrared, 13 C and 1 H NMR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), which demonstrated that OS groups had been introduced into the β-CD molecules and most of OS substitution occurred at the C-6 hydroxyl group of glycosyl units. The properties of emulsions stabilized by β-CD and OS-β-CD were evaluated via surface and interface tensiometry, determination of the creaming index and droplet size. The results showed that emulsions stabilized by β-CD broke just after 24 h storage at 25 °C. The emulsions prepared by OS-β-CD with all degree of substitution (DS) possessed a smaller oil droplet size and improved storage stability compared with that of the emulsion generated using β-CD.

Cellulose, a major constituent of plant biomass, is synthesized by a cellulose synthase complex. It has been demonstrated that MYB genes transcriptionally regulate cellulose synthase in Arabidopsis. However, little is known about this process in tomato. Here, two MYB (SIMYB1/2) and three cellulose synthase (CESA) (SICESA4/5/6) genes were isolated. SIMYB1/2 and SICESA4/5/6 accumulation was found to correspond to cellulose accumulation in different tissues of tomato. Dual luciferase assays indicated that these two MYBs were transcriptional activators that interact with promoters of SICESA4/5/6. Moreover, SIMYB2 could also activate promoters of SIMYB1/2, suggesting the possible underlying auto-activation mechanisms for MYB transcription factors. Transient over-expression of SIMYB1/2 in Nicotiana tabacum up-regulated tobacco endogenous NtCESA genes and increased cellulose accumulation. The function of SIMYB1/2 was further investigated using stable transformation and the results indicated that N. tabacum lines heterologous expressing SIMYB1/2 displayed a pleiotropic phenotype, long and narrow leaves, with NtCESA induced and significant increase of cellulose. In conclusion, our data suggest that tomato SIMYB1/2 have transcriptional regulatory roles in cellulose biosynthesis and SIMYB2 was more effective than SIMYB1, which may due to the transcriptional activation by SIMYB2 on SIMYB1 and itself.

Carbazole based fluorophores 9-butyl-3,6-bis-(phenylethynyl)-9H-carbazole (1) and 9-butyl-3,6-bis-(2-phenyl-o-carborane)-9H-carbazole (2) were synthesized via Sonogashira type cross-coupling reaction and followed by insertion with decaborane. Compound 1 exhibited far more intense fluorescence than 2 in THF solution, while in solid state 2 exerted stronger fluorescence than 1. The fluorescence quenching behavior of 2 in THF solution could be attributed to the intramolecular charge transfer of donor-acceptor system in 2, which was confirmed by electrochemical experiments and DFT calculations. The fluorescence enhancement of 2 in solid state can be ascribed to aggregational induced packing which was evidenced by crystallographic study. In addition, compound 2 showed typical aggregation induced emission (AIE) behavior.

Summary The RAV (related to ABI3/viviparous 1) group of transcription factors (TFs) play multifaceted roles in plant development and stress responses. Here, we show that strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) FaRAV1 positively regulates anthocyanin accumulation during fruit ripening via a hierarchy of activation processes. Dual‐luciferase assay screening of all fruit‐expressed AP2/ERFs showed FaRAV1 had the highest transcriptional activation of the promoter of FaMYB10, a key activator of anthocyanin biosynthesis. Yeast one‐hybrid and electrophoretic mobility shift assays indicated that FaRAV1 could directly bind to the promoter of FaMYB10. Transient overexpression of FaRAV1 in strawberry fruit increased FaMYB10 expression and anthocyanin production significantly. Correspondingly, transient RNA interference‐induced silencing of FaRAV1 led to decreases in FaMYB10 expression and anthocyanin content. Transcriptome analysis of FaRAV1‐overexpressing strawberry fruit revealed that transcripts of phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthesis pathway genes were up‐regulated. Luciferase assays showed that FaRAV1 could also activate the promoters of strawberry anthocyanin biosynthetic genes directly, revealing a second level of FaRAV1 action in promoting anthocyanin accumulation. These results show that FaRAV1 stimulates anthocyanin accumulation in strawberry both by direct activation of anthocyanin pathway gene promoters and by up‐regulation of FaMYB10, which also positively regulates these genes.

Objectives: The objective of this systematic review was to assess the analgesic efficacy of duloxetine (DLX) for fibromyalgia (FM) and find out which dosage between 60 mg/d DLX and 120 mg/d...

The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of α-lipoic acid (ALA) on postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) between wild type (WT) and leptin receptor-deficient (db/db) mice and to elucidate the underlying mechanism of treatment with ALA. The present study compared the effects of ALA on spatial learning and memory of WT and db/db mice using a Morris water maze following hepatectomy. The expression levels of proteins, including cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5), tau, phosphorylated tau and amyloid β (Aβ) were measured in the hippocampus. Surgery impaired postoperative cognitive function in both WT and db/db mice. Furthermore, the expression levels of Cdk5 and Aβ, and the phosphorylation of tau in the hippocampus increased after the surgery in both WT and db/db mice. The ultrastructure of hippocampal neurons and synapses was analyzed by transmission electron microscopy and the results revealed that surgery damaged the structure of neurons and synapses in both WT and db/db mice. Treatment with ALA protected the postoperative cognitive function and the structure of hippocampal neurons and synapses, and prevented the increase in protein expression levels of Cdk5 and Aβ, and the phosphorylation of tau in the hippocampus of WT but not db/db mice. The results of the present study suggest that ALA may be used for the treatment of POCD. The molecular mechanisms underlying the activity of ALA require further investigation.

Sulfated polysaccharides extracted from brown marine algae have been shown to possess a variety of biological activities. We assessed the potential activity of the sulfated polysaccharide from Sargassum horneri (SP) and its isolated two major components (fraction-1 (F1) and fraction-2 (F2)), on anti-inflammatory activity in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. In the present study, analysis of polysaccharide chemical composition found that the constituent ratios of sulfate ester and fucose in SP and F1 were 4.95% vs 7.6%, and 4.48% vs 55.9%, respectively, suggesting that F1 may be a major sulfated polysaccharide containing fucose. Meanwhile, our findings demonstrated that TNF-α secretion levels were significantly (P

5,10,15,20-tetra-(N-methyl-2-pyridyl)porphyrin (TMPyP2) was always paid little attention because it has relatively low DNA-binding affinity and photocytotoxicity compared with its positional isomer 5,10,15,20-tetra-(N-methyl-4-pyridyl)porphyrin (TMPyP4). Inspired by the previous successful results on higher bioactivities of ligands with larger aromatic surfaces, herein, 5,10,15,20-tetra (phenyl-4-N-methyl-2-pyridyl) porphyrin (TPMPyP2), a TMPyP2-like porphyrin with enlarged planar substituents, was designed and successfully synthesized. Results from spectral experiments and molecular docking calculation suggest that TPMPyP2 could partially overcome the steric hindrance of TMPyP2, with more favorable DNA-binding mode and lower molecular binding energy (M.B.E). Meanwhile, cell photocytotoxicity research indicates that TPMPyP2 shows higher antitumor potency than TMPyP2, which allowed the previous conclusion that the higher G-Quadruplexes DNA binding affinity would be related to better photocytotoxicity.

This review describes new methods for the synthesis of chiral monophosphine ligands with menthyl phenylphosphinate as a chiral auxiliary through asymmetric Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions and asymmetric C-H functionalization. The chiral menthyl phenylphosphinate as a chiral auxiliary is easy to prepare and the menthyl group can easily be transformed into other functional groups, with the chiral center synchronously remaining. These methodologies provide highly efficient and practical strategies for the synthesis of novel axially chiral biaryl monophosphine oxides and their corresponding phosphines. Meanwhile, these reactions are easy to handle and exhibit wide scope for substrates with excellent diastereomeric ratios.

Three series of lanthanide coordination polymers with formula [Ln2(PDC)3(H2O)2(DMF)]·4H2O (type I) (Ln = La 1, Pr 2, Sm 3), [(CH3)2NH2][Ln2(PDC)3(HCOO)(H2O)3]·2H2O (type II) (Ln = Tb 4, Ho 5) and [Ln(HPDC)3(H2O)2]·H2O (type III) (Ln = Er 6, Lu 7) (H2PDC = pyridine-3,5-dicarboxylic acid), have been successfully synthesized by the solvothermal reaction of pyridine-3,5-dicarboxylic acid (H2PDC) with the corresponding lanthanide nitrate. Compounds 1–3 are isomorphous and all crystallize in triclinic space group P, showing a 3D microporous framework of pcu topology with square channels along the b-axis. Isostructural compounds 4 and 5 show the same 2D layer network of (4,4)-grid in the monoclinic P21/c space group. Isomorphic 6 and 7 crystallize in the monoclinic Cc space group and present 1D zigzag chains which expand to a 3D supramolecular structure through π⋯π stacking interactions. The structural diversity of these three classes of compounds may be attributed to the effect of lanthanide contraction. They were characterized by infrared spectra (IR), elemental analysis (EA), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), and X-ray single crystal diffraction. Furthermore, the catalytic properties of these compounds were investigated and experiments revealed that compounds 1–3 show size-selective catalytic performance for cyanosilylation reactions and could be reused without losing their catalytic activity.

In the present study, a glucose oxidase (GluOx) direct electron transfer was realized on an aminated polyethylene glycol (mPEG), carboxylic acid functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (fMWCNTs), and ionic liquid (IL) composite functional polymer modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The amino groups in PEG, carboxyl groups in multi-walled carbon nanotubes, and IL may have a better synergistic effect, thus more effectively adjust the hydrophobicity, stability, conductivity, and biocompatibility of the composite functional polymer film. The composite polymer membranes were characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV), ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometer, fluorescence spectroscopy, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), respectively. In 50 mM, pH 7.0 phosphate buffer solution, the formal potential and heterogeneous electron transfer constant (ks) of GluOx on the composite functional polymer modified GCE were &minus, 0.27 V and 6.5 s&minus, 1, respectively. The modified electrode could recognize and detect glucose linearly in the range of 20 to 950 &mu, M with a detection limit of 0.2 &mu, M. The apparent Michaelis-Menten constant (Kmapp) of the modified electrode was 143 &mu, M. The IL/mPEG-fMWCNTs functional polymer could preserve the conformational structure and catalytic activity of GluOx and lead to high sensitivity, stability, and selectivity of the biosensors for glucose recognition and detection.

The neurotoxicity of aggregated amyloid β (Aβ) has been implicated as a critical cause in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. In a previous work, we have shown that low-molecular-weight chondroitin sulfate (LMWCS), a derivative of chondroitin sulfate, protected the SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells from Aβ25-35-induced neurotoxicity, decreased intracellular reactive oxygen species level and inhibited the cell apoptosis. However, the underlying mechanism of the antioxidative effect of LMWCS in the SH-SY5Y cells has not been well explored. In the present study, the SH-SY5Y cells were cultured and exposed to 30 μM Aβ25-35 in the absence or presence of LMWCS (50, 100 and 200 μg/ml). Results indicate that incubation of cells with LMWCS before Aβ25-35 exposure increased superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and Na/K-ATPase activities and decreased the malondialdehyde content. In addition, LMWCS inhibited the imbalance of Bcl-2 and Bax and decreased caspase-3 and caspase-9 expressions. LMWCS antagonizes Aβ25-35-induced neurotoxicity by attenuating oxidative stress, and our results suggest that LMWCS might be used as a potential compound for Alzheimer's disease prevention.

Summary Background Anti-angiogenic therapy combined with chemotherapy could improve the outcomes of patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. Apatinib is an oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor that selectively inhibits VEGF receptor 2. We assessed the efficacy and safety of the combination therapy of apatinib and oral etoposide, considering the potential advantage of home administration without hospital admission, in patients with platinum-resistant or platinum-refractory ovarian cancer. Methods In this phase 2, single-arm, prospective study, we recruited patients aged 18–70 years with platinum-resistant or platinum-refractory ovarian cancer at the Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center (China). The treatment consisted of apatinib at an initial dose of 500 mg once daily on a continuous basis, and oral etoposide at a dose of 50 mg once daily on days 1–14 of a 21-day cycle. Oral etoposide was administered for a maximum of six cycles. Treatment was continued until disease progression, patient withdrawal, or unacceptable toxic effects. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients achieving an objective response according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors, version 1.1. We used Simon's two-stage design, and analysed efficacy in the intention-to-treat and per-protocol populations. Safety analyses included enrolled patients who had received at least one dose of study medication, but excluded those without any safety data. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov , number NCT02867956 . Findings Between Aug 10, 2016, and Nov 9, 2017, we screened 38 and enrolled 35 patients. At the data cutoff date (Dec 31, 2017), 20 (57%) patients had discontinued the study, and 15 (43%) patients remained on treatment. Objective responses were achieved in 19 (54%; 95% CI 36·6–71·2) of 35 patients in the intention-to-treat population and in 19 (61%; 42·2–78·2) of 31 patients in the per-protocol population. The most common grade 3 or 4 adverse events were neutropenia (17 [50%]), fatigue (11 [32%]), anaemia (ten [29%]), and mucositis (eight [24%]). Serious adverse events were reported in two patients who were admitted to hospital (one patient had anaemia and anorexia; the other patient had increased ascites due to disease progression). No treatment-related deaths were recorded. Interpretation The combination of apatinib with oral etoposide shows promising efficacy and manageable toxicities in patients with platinum-resistant or platinum-refractory ovarian cancer, and further study in phase 3 trials is warranted. Funding None.

Activated carbon (AC) developed from loofah sponge with phosphoric acid activation was applied to absorb cefalexin (CEX) in aqueous solution. AC was characterized by N2 adsorption–desorption isotherms and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Factors influencing the adsorption process were investigated. The equilibrium adsorption isotherms and kinetics of CEX were also studied. The results showed that AC prepared from loofah sponge had rough surface and abundant pores. The determination results of specific surface area (810.12 m2/g) and average pore size (5.28 nm) suggested the high adsorption capability. At low concentration, the AC could adsorb about 95% of CEX. The adsorption effect was independent of the temperature and pH. The maximum adsorption amount of CEX was about 55.11 mg/g at 308 K. The equilibrium data agreed well with Freundlich isotherm equation (R2 = 0.9957) at 308 K, which indicated multilayer adsorption. FTIR analysis suggested the existence of phosphorus-containing fun...

Lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries suffer from poor cycling stability mainly caused by one of their own drawbacks, namely, the shuttle effect, which makes them far from conquering the marketplace. To tackle this problem, a novel French fries-like hierarchical porous carbon (FLHPC) with a one-dimensional (1D) structure was constructed by carbonizing an aluminum metal–organic framework (Al-MOF). In FLHPC, sulfur was infiltrated mainly into the micro- and mesopores, while macro-pores were used to facilitate the transportation of Li ions (Li+). On the basis of this concept, even without LiNO3 as additive, Li–S batteries not only delivered a high initial discharge capacity of nearly 1200 mA h g−1 at 0.1 C (1 C = 1672 mA h g−1) but also showed good cycling stability with a capacity retention of 68% at 0.5 C after 200 cycles. In addition, when the capacity rate (C-rate) was increased to 2 C, a high discharge capacity of 763 mA h g−1 was obtained after 20 cycles, proving their excellent C-rate performance.

A nano-Li+-channel interlayer was first proposed and successfully prepared for Li-S batteries, based on a totally new concept of separating the polysulfide particles via a size exclusion effect. The Li-S battery assembled with the interlayer exhibited much lower polysulfide permeability and better battery performance than that without the interlayer. This concept could help overcome the polysulfide permeating problems and shed light on the development of Li-S batteries.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has poor prognosis due to the advanced disease stages by the time it is diagnosed, high recurrence rates and metastasis. In the present study, we investigated the effects of metformin (a safe anti-diabetic drug) and curcumin (a turmeric polyphenol extracted from rhizome of Curcuma longa Linn.) on proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, metastasis, and angiogenesis of HCC in vitro and in vivo. It was found that co-treatment of metformin and curcumin could not only induce tumor cells into apoptosis through activating the mitochondria pathways, but also suppress the invasion, metastasis of HCC cells and angiogenesis of HUVECs. These effects were associated with downregulation of the expression of MMP2/9, VEGF, and VEGFR-2, up-regulation of PTEN, P53 and suppression of PI3K/Akt/mTOR/NF-κB and EGFR/STAT3 signaling. Co-administration of metformin and curcumin significantly inhibited HCC tumor growth than administration with metformin or curcumin alone in a xenograft mouse model. Thus, metformin and curcumin in combination showed a better anti-tumor effects in hepatoma cells than either metformin or curcumin presence alone and might represent an effective therapeutic strategy for HCC treatment.

Given the important influence of phosphine ligands in transition metal-catalyzed reactions, chemists have searched for straightforward and efficient methodologies for the synthesis of diverse phosphine ligands. Although significant progress has been made in this aspect over the past decades, the development of new phosphorus-containing ligands with properties superior to their predecessors remains a central task for chemists. Recently, researchers have demonstrated that biphenyl monophosphine ligands function as highly efficient ligands for transition-metal-catalyzed organic transformations, especially for reactions where chelating bisphosphine ligands cannot be used. In 1998, Buchwald introduced a new class of air-stable phosphine ligands based on the dialkylbiaryl phosphine backbone. These ligands have been successfully used for a wide variety of palladium-catalyzed carbon-carbon, carbon-nitrogen, and carbon-oxygen construction processes as well as serving as supporting ligands for a number of other reactions. At the same time, the use of the biphenyl monophosphine ligands often allows reactions to proceed with short reaction times and low catalyst loadings and under mild reaction conditions. However, the synthesis of chiral biphenyl monophosphine ligands, especially those the chirality of which is due to biaryl axial chirality, is very limited. In this Account, we summarize our methodologies for the synthesis of this kind of biphenyl monophosphine ligands including the P═O directed C-H functionalization, P═O directed diastereoselective C-H functionalization, P═O directed enantioselective C-H functionalization, and metal-free diastereoselective radical oxidative C-H amination under mild reaction conditions. With these methods, a series of biphenyl phosphine ligand precursors containing achiral or axially chiral centers and precursors possessing both axial chirality and a chirogenic phosphorus center with different electronic properties and steric effect have been obtained under different reaction conditions. For the preparation of chiral biphenyl monophosphine ligands, which not only possess axial chirality but in many cases also possess chirality at phosphorus, the primary means of introducing chirality is through the use of the menthyl phenylphosphinate. As a chiral auxiliary group, the menthyl phenylphosphinate has some unique features: (i) it is easy to prepare; (ii) the products contain both axial chirality and central chirality on the phosphorus atom; (iii) the menthyl group could easily be transformed into other functional groups, which is crucial for the diversity of the corresponding biphenyl ligands. In our reaction, the P═O group not only acts as the directing group but also facilitates the construction of the phosphine ligands. In addition, the application of these products in asymmetric catalysis has also been studied with good results obtained in some reactions. The further application of these ligands, especially the chiral biphenyl monophosphine ligands in catalysis reactions is underway in our laboratory, and we hope different kinds of reactions will be achieved with these ligands.

Recent studies have demonstrated that remote ischemic conditioning (RIC) creates cardioprotection against ischemia/reperfusion injury and myocardial infarction (MI); however, the effects of non-invasive remote ischemic conditioning (nRIC) on prognosis and rehabilitation after MI (post-MI) remain unknown. We successfully established MI models involving healthy adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. The nRIC group repeatedly underwent 5 min of ischemia and 5 min of reperfusion in the left hind limb for three cycles every other day until weeks 4, 6, and 8 after MI. nRIC improved cardiac hemodynamic function and mitochondrial respiratory function through increasing myocardial levels of mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes I, II, III, IV, and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and decreasing the activity of nitric oxide synthase (NOS). nRIC could inhibit cardiomyocytes apoptosis and reduce myocardium injury through raising the expression of Bcl-2 and reduced the content of creatine kinase-MB, cardiac troponin I and Bax. The results indicated that long-term nRIC could accelerate recovery and improve prognosis and rehabilitation in post-MI rats.