Search

Using sunlight to produce valuable chemicals and fuels from carbon dioxide (CO2 ), i.e., artificial photosynthesis (AP) is a promising strategy to achieve solar energy storage and a negative carbon cycle. However, selective synthesis of C2 compounds with a high CO2 conversion rate remains challenging for current AP technologies. We performed CO2 photoelectroreduction over a graphene/silicon carbide (SiC) catalyst under simulated solar irradiation with ethanol (C2 H5 OH) selectivity of>99 % and a CO2 conversion rate of up to 17.1 mmol gcat -1  h-1 with sustained performance. Experimental and theoretical investigations indicated an optimal interfacial layer to facilitate the transfer of photogenerated electrons from the SiC substrate to the few-layer graphene overlayer, which also favored an efficient CO2 to C2 H5 OH conversion pathway.

Osteoporosis, resulting from overactive osteoclasts and leading to elevated fracture risk, has emerged as a global public health concern due to the aging population. Therefore, inhibiting osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption function represents a crucial approach for preventing and treating osteoporosis. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects and molecular mechanisms of Butylphthalide (NBP) on the differentiation and function of osteoclasts induced by RANKL. Osteoclastogenesis was assessed through TRAP staining and bone slice assay. An animal model that underwent ovariectomy, simulating postmenopausal women’s physiological characteristics, was established to investigate the impact of Butylphthalide on ovariectomy-induced bone loss. To delve deeper into the specific mechanisms, we employed Western blot, PCR, immunofluorescence, and immunohistochemical staining to detect the expression of proteins that are associated with the osteoclast signaling pathway. In this study, we found that Butylphthalide not only suppressed osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption in vitro but also significantly decreased TRAcP-positive osteoclasts and prevented bone loss in vivo. Further mechanistic experiments revealed that Butylphthalide reduces intracellular ROS in osteoclasts, inhibits the MAPK and NFATc1 signaling pathways, and downregulates the key genes and proteins of osteoclasts. This inhibits osteoclast formation and function. The reduction in ROS in osteoclasts is intricately linked to the activity of Butylphthalide-modulated antioxidant enzymes. Overall, NBP may offer a alternative treatment option with fewer side effects for skeletal diseases such as osteoporosis.

The catalytic performance for electrocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) depends on the binding strength of the reactants and intermediates. Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have been adopted to catalyze CO2RR, and their binding abilities are tuned via constructing donor‐acceptor (DA) systems. However, most DA COFs have single donor and acceptor units, which caused wide‐range but lacking accuracy in modulating the binding strength of intermediates. More elaborate regulation of the interactions with intermediates are necessary and challenge to construct high‐efficiency catalysts. Herein, the three‐component COF with D‐A‐A units was first constructed by introducing electron‐rich diarylamine unit, electron‐deficient benzothiazole and Co‐porphyrin units. Compared with two‐component COFs, the designed COF exhibit elevated electronic conductivity, enhanced reducibility, high efficiency charge transfer, further improving the electrocatalytic CO2RR performance with the faradic efficiency of 97.2 % at −0.8 V and high activity with the partial current density of 27.85 mA cm−2 at −1.0 V which exceed other two‐component COFs. Theoretical calculations demonstrate that catalytic sites in three‐component COF have suitable binding ability of the intermediates, which are benefit for formation of *COOH and desorption of *CO. This work offers valuable insights for the advancement of multi‐component COFs, enabling modulated charge transfer to improve the CO2RR activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have been utilized as the ideal candidates to preciously construct electrocatalysts. However, the highly ordered degree of COFs renders the catalytic centers closely stacked, which limits the utilization efficiency of catalytic sites. Herein, we have first constructed dangling and staggered‐stacking aldehyde (–CHO) from [4 + 3] COFs as catalytic centers for 2e− oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The new catalytic COFs have unreacted dangling ‐CHO out of the COFs' planes, which are more easily exposed in electrolytes than the sites in the frameworks. More importantly, these –CHO adopt staggered stacking models, and thus provide larger space for mass transport than those with eclipsed stacking models. In addition, by tuning the triratopic linkers in the COFs, the catalytic properties are well modulated. The optimized COF shows high selectivity and activity for 2e− ORR, with H2O2 selectivity of 91%, and mass activity of 12.2 A g−1, respectively. The theoretical calculation further reveals the higher activity for the pyridine‐contained B18C6‐PTTA‐COF due to the promoted binding ability of the intermediate OOH* at the carbon in dangling –CHO. This work provides us with a new insight into designing electrocatalysts based on COFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To explore the mechanism of short-chain fatty acids in alleviating γδT cell-mediated inflammatory response. Methods A certain concentration of short-chain fatty acids was used to intervene in rat intestinal-derived γδT cells. CCK-8 was used to detect the effect of shortchain fatty acids on γδT activity. ELISA was used to detect the content of the IL-17A, RT-qPCR was utilized to detect the expression of the IL-17A, and flow cytometry was applied to analyze the IL-17+ γδT cell frequency. The effect of SCFAs on IL-17A and NF-κB signaling pathway in γδT cells were observed by Western blot. Results CCK-8 assay showed that the concentration of sodium acetate was less than or equal to 0.5 mmol/L, and the concentrations of sodium propionate, sodium butyrate, and mixed short-chain fatty acids were less than or equal to 0.25 mmol/L, indicating no inhibitory effect on the proliferation of γδT cells. ELISA and RT-qPCR showed that the treatment of γδT cells with sodium propionate, sodium butyrate, and mixed short-chain fatty acids significantly decreased the levels of IL-17A compared with the control group. Flow cytometry revealed a significant decrease in the proportion of IL-17+ γδT cells under the treatment of sodium propionate, sodium butyrate, mixed shortchain fatty acids, and TSA intervention. Western blot found that sodium propionate, sodium butyrate, and mixed shortchain fatty acids could inhibit the expression of IL-17A and IKK, as well as the phosphorylation level of NF-κB. Conclusion Shortchain fatty acids could inhibit the activation of IL-17A and NF-κB signaling pathway in γδT cells, thereby alleviating the inflammatory response in the body. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]