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Nitrogen oxides (NO_x), as one of the main atmospheric pollutants, seriously affect environmental safety and human health. Selective catalytic reduction (NH_3-SCR) is the most effective treatment method for NO_x removal at present, especially low-temperature SCR denitrification technology, which has very important application prospects and research significance. The research showed that VPO/TiO_2 catalyst had excellent low-temperature SCR denitrification activity. The adsorption of NH_3 and NO on V_2O_5 and (VO)_2P_2O_7 surface was simulated by DFT, and the reaction mechanism of VPO catalyst was studied at the micro level. The results showed that NH_3 exhibited stable chemisorption of Brønsted acid and Lewis acid on the surface of V_4P_4O_22H_14 cluster, and the adsorption effect on Brønsted acid sites was more stable. NH_3 adsorption effect on the surface of catalyst was excellent because of the hybridization of 2p orbital of N, 2p of O and 3d electron orbital of V. NO also showed chemisorption on the surface of V_4P_4O_22H_14 cluster. Due to the small amount of electron transfer, which was significantly lower than the adsorption energy of NH_3, NO could not strongly compete with NH_3 molecule. In addition, NO showed stable chemisorption on Brønsted acid and Lewis acid on the surface of V_6O_20H_10 cluster. The adsorption on Brønsted acid sites was more stable. The E-R mechanism and L-H mechanism of VPO/TiO_2 catalyst reaction mechanism were explained.

Plant growth regulators (PGRs) are commonly used in cereal cropping systems to restrict plant height and control lodging. Ethephon has been reported to shorten internodes and increase grain yield of maize. To analyze the transcriptomic profiles of maize internode elongation following ethephon treatment, differentially expressed genes were compared between the treatment and control samples of inbred line Zong 31 using the Affymetrix Maize Genome Array. According to the microarray data, 326 probe sets showed significant change in expression. Further research revealed that the most remarkable effects of ethephon on maize internodes elongation occurred during a 48 h period, when 89 differentially expressed genes were detected. There were dramatic change in transcript levels at 24 h and six Auxin transport genes and four gibberellin biosynthesis pathway genes were differentially expressed in Zong 31 in response to ethephon treatment. In summary, we showed that gaseous ethylene release is involved in internode meristem cell elongation through the regulation of plant hormone signaling in maize. This work provides a platform for studies in which candidate genes will be functionally tested for involvement in internode elongation.

Objective: JianPiHuaTan Formula (JPHTF), a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), has been utilized as an adjunctive therapy for colorectal cancer (CRC). The study aims to evaluate the potential clinical benefits of JPHTF and its effectiveness in inhibiting tumor growth., Methods: 300 stage II/III CRC patients and 412 advanced CRC patients were enrolled to verify the clinical value of JPHTF in CRC treatment. Furthermore, CRC patient-derived xenograft (PDX) mice were utilized to investigate the regulatory mechanisms of JPHTF., Results: JPHTF significantly improved abdominal distension, shortness of breath, drowsiness, loss of appetite, sleep, and tiredness in stage II/III CRC patients, thereby improving their quality of life. Simultaneously, JPHTF served as a supportive therapy in extending the overall survival (OS) of stage IV CRC patients with RAS/RAF mutations undergoing chemotherapy. Additionally, JPHTF effectively impeded tumor progression in CRC PDX models with RAS mutation, accompanied by a reduction in tumor cell content in the JPHTF group. Transcriptomic analysis revealed the involvement of the Hippo and Hedgehog signaling pathways in JPHTF-mediated CRC inhibition. Furthermore, mice in the JPHTF group exhibited increased immune cell infiltration., Conclusion: These findings suggested that JPHTF may inhibits tumor growth in CRC with RAS mutation by modulating RAS/RAF downstream signaling pathways, specifically the Hippo and Hedgehog signaling, leading to increased immune cell infiltration., Competing Interests: Author QC was employed by Thorgene Co., Ltd. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 He, Li, Wu, Zhang, Yao, Zang, Zou, Song, Li, Chen, Cao and Cai.)

Objective: To examine the nephroprotective mechanism of modified Huangqi Chifeng decoction (, MHCD) in immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) rats., Methods: To establish the IgAN rat model, the bovine serum albumin, lipopolysaccharide, and carbon tetrachloride 4 method was employed. The rats were then randomly assigned to the control, model, telmisartan, and high-, medium-, and low-dose MHCD groups, and were administered the respective treatments via intragastric administration for 8 weeks. The levels of 24-h urinary protein, serum creatinine (CRE), and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were measured in each group. Pathological alterations were detected. IgA deposition was visualized through the use of immunofluorescence staining. The ultrastructure of the kidney was observed using a transmission electron microscope. The expression levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) were examined by immunohistochemistry and quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Levels of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88), and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) P65, were examined by immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction., Results: The 24-h urine protein level in each group increased significantly at week 6, and worsen from then on. But this process can be reversed by treatments of telmisartan, and high-, medium-, and low-dose of MHCD, and these treatments did not affect renal function. Telmisartan, and high-, and medium-dose of MHCD reduced IgA deposition. Renal histopathology demonstrated the protective effect of high-, medium-, and low-dose of MHCD against kidney injury. The expression levels of MCP-1, IL-6, and TGF-β1 in kidney tissues were downregulated by low, medium and high doses of MHCD treatment. Additionally, treatment of low, medium and high doses of MHCD decreased the protein and mRNA levels of TLR4, MyD88, and NF-κB., Conclusions: MHCD exerted nephroprotective effects on IgAN rats, and MHCD regulated the expressions of key targets in TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway, thereby alleviating renal inflammation by inhibiting MCP-1, IL-6 expressions, and ameliorating renal fibrosis by inhibiting TGF-β1 expression.