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BACKGROUND: It has been discovered that lncRNA ARAP1-AS1 is upregulated and operates as a tumor promoter in many cancers. However, its pattern of expression and potential mechanism in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is still unknown. METHODS: The levels of lncRNA ARAP1-AS1, miR-8068, and CEACAM5 expressions in LUAD cell lines and tissues were assessed by conducting western blot and RT-qPCR analyses. MiR-8068's potential targeting relationships with lncRNA ARAP1-AS1 and CEACAM5 were ascertained by performing bioinformatics analysis. The interaction of lncRNA ARAP1-AS1 with miR-8068 was validated by means of by RIP and luciferase reporter experiments. CCK-8, cell adhesion, and Transwell migration experiments were conducted to study how lncRNA ARAP1-AS1 affects LUAD cell migration, adhesion, and proliferation. To confirm the function of lncRNA ARAP1-AS1 in vivo, a tumor formation experiment was executed. RESULTS: An elevated expression of lncRNA ARAP1-AS1 was observed among the LUAD cells and tissues. The overexpression of lncRNA ARAP1-AS boosted cell proliferation, adhesion, and migration in LUAD and also favored in vivo tumor growth. MiR-8068 was found to be lncRNA ARAP1-AS1's target gene. MiR-8068 overexpression partially antagonized lncRNA ARAP1-AS1's promotive effect on proliferation, viability, and adhesion. Meanwhile CEACAM5 could alleviate the miR-8068-induced inhibition of tumor growth. The negative correlation of miR-8068 with lncRNA ARAP1-AS1 or CEACAM5 was also revealed. CONCLUSION: To upregulate CEACAM5 expression lncRNA ARAP1-AS1 targeted miR-8068, thus promoting the progression of LUAD. This indicates that the lncRNA ARAP1-AS1/miR-8068/CEACAM5 axis has potential as a therapeutic target in LUAD treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivation Constructing a phylogenetic tree requires calculating the evolutionary distance between samples or species via large-scale resequencing data, a process that is both time-consuming and computationally demanding. Striking the right balance between accuracy and efficiency is a significant challenge. Results To address this, we introduce a new algorithm, MIKE (MinHash-based k -mer algorithm). This algorithm is designed for the swift calculation of the Jaccard coefficient directly from raw sequencing reads and enables the construction of phylogenetic trees based on the resultant Jaccard coefficient. Simulation results highlight the superior speed of MIKE compared to existing state-of-the-art methods. We used MIKE to reconstruct a phylogenetic tree, incorporating 238 yeast, 303 Zea , 141 Ficus , 67 Oryza , and 43 Saccharum spontaneum samples. MIKE demonstrated accurate performance across varying evolutionary scales, reproductive modes, and ploidy levels, proving itself as a powerful tool for phylogenetic tree construction. Availability and implementation MIKE is publicly available on Github at https://github.com/Argonum-Clever2/mike.git. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Miscanthus × giganteus is widely recognized as a promising lignocellulosic biomass crop due to its advantages of high biomass production, low environmental impacts, and the potential to be cultivated on marginal land. However, the high costs of bioethanol production still limit the current commercialization of lignocellulosic bioethanol. The lignin in the cell wall and its by-products released in the pretreatment step is the main component inhibiting the enzymatic reactions in the saccharification and fermentation processes. Hence, genetic modification of the genes involved in lignin biosynthesis could be a feasible strategy to overcome this barrier by manipulating the lignin content and composition of M. × giganteus. For this purpose, the essential knowledge of these genes and understanding the underlying regulatory mechanisms in M. × giganteus is required. Results: In this study, MgPAL1, MgPAL5, Mg4CL1, Mg4CL3, MgHCT1, MgHCT2, MgC3′H1, MgCCoAOMT1, MgCCoAOMT3, MgCCR1, MgCCR2, MgF5H, MgCOMT, and MgCAD were identified as the major monolignol biosynthetic genes in M. × giganteus based on genetic and transcriptional evidence. Among them, 12 genes were cloned and sequenced. By combining transcription factor binding site prediction and expression correlation analysis, MYB46, MYB61, MYB63, WRKY24, WRKY35, WRKY12, ERF021, ERF058, and ERF017 were inferred to regulate the expression of these genes directly. On the basis of these results, an integrated model was summarized to depict the monolignol biosynthesis pathway and the underlying regulatory mechanism in M. × giganteus. Conclusions: This study provides a list of potential gene targets for genetic improvement of lignocellulosic biomass quality of M. × giganteus, and reveals the genetic, transcriptional, and regulatory landscape of the monolignol biosynthesis pathway in M. × giganteus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To detect the expression of miR-424, miR-92a, and miR-130b in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and to explore their significance. Methods The expression levels of miR-424, miR-92a, and miR-130b in plasma of 43 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and 43 healthy people who underwent physical examination were detected by qRT-PCR. The relationship between the expression of miR-424, miR-92a, and miR-130b and the clinicopathological characteristics of squamous cell carcinoma; the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to calculate the specificity and sensitivity of plasma miR-424, miR-92a and miR-130b for the diagnosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, and to evaluate the diagnostic value in cancer. Results The expression levels of miR424, miR-92a, and miR-130b in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma were significantly higher than those in healthy people, with statistically significant differences (all P < 0.05). The plasma miR-92a and miR-130b expression was related to tumor grade, lymph node metastasis, and TNM stage in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. In addition, the plasma miR-130b expression in poorly differentiated patients is significantly up-regulated. The specificities of plasma miR-424, miR-92a, and miR-130b for the diagnosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma alone were 72.09%, 51.84%, and 90.7%, and the sensitivities were 62.79%, 88.37%, and 81.4%, and the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.703, 0.720, and 0.862. Conclusion The expression of miR-424, miR-92a and miR-130b in plasma of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma increases, and the detection of miR-92a and miR-130b in plasma is helpful for the diagnosis and evaluation of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insect tea is a traditional Chinese drink that contains abundant bioactive substances. In this study, the preventive effect of Insect tea on D‐galactose‐induced oxidation in mice was studied. The serum, liver, and spleen of mice were measured by biochemical and molecular biological methods, which showed that Insect tea could increase the biochemical indexes of the thymus, brain, heart, liver, spleen, and kidney in mice with induced oxidative damage. Insect tea can increase the levels of SOD (superoxide dismutase), GSH‐Px (glutathione peroxidase), and GSH (glutathione) and decrease the levels of MDA (malondialdehyde) in the serum, liver, and spleen of mice with oxidative damage. Pathological observation also confirmed that Insect tea could inhibit oxidative damage of the liver and spleen tissue caused by D‐galactose in mice. Further molecular biological experiments also showed that Insect tea could upregulate the mRNA and protein expression of Cu/Zn‐SOD (cuprozinc‐superoxide dismutase), Mn‐SOD (manganese superoxide dismutase), CAT (catalase), HO‐1 (heme oxygenase‐1), Nrf2 (nuclear factor‐erythroid 2 related factor 2), γ‐GCS (γ‐glutamylcysteine synthetase), and NQO1 (NAD(P)H dehydrogenase [quinone] 1) in the liver and spleen of oxidized mice. Insect tea has a good preventive effect on D‐galactose‐induced oxidation in mice, and the effect is better than vitamin C, an antioxidant. Insect tea is rich in isochlorogenic acid A, quercetin, rutin, hesperidin, neochlorogenic acid, and cryptochlorogenic acid. The combination of these bioactive substances has good antioxidant effects. Thus, Insect tea is a functional food with a good antioxidant effect that has value for future development and utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Placenta-specific protein 8 (PLAC8) is a conserved protein with a molecular weight of 12.5 kDa. The specific function of this protein has not been fully elucidated, however, PLAC8 has been found to play an important tumor regulatory role in certain types of cancer, including colon, pancreatic and liver cancer. PLAC8 also participates in the regulation of the cell cycle, autophagy, epithelial-mesenchymal transition and other cellular functions, indicating its potential as a molecular target worth further investigation. The present study investigated the effect of PLAC8 on the proliferation of lung adenocarcinoma PC-9 cells and their sensitivity to gefitinib, an epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI). It was found that the inhibition of PLAC8 expression in PC-9 cells resulted in significantly decreased proliferation, whereas overexpression of PLAC8 significantly increased the proliferation (P<0.05) of PC-9 cells. Furthermore, inhibition of PLAC8 expression resulted in decreased activity of the ERK signaling pathway, while PLAC8 overexpression increased activity of this pathway. Inhibition of the ERK signaling pathway with U0126 reversed the effects induced by inhibiting or overexpressing PLAC8 on cell proliferation. In addition, overexpression of PLAC8 significantly decreased the sensitivity of PC-9 cells to gefitinib, and this effect was reversed by U0126. Overall, these results suggest that PLAC8 is involved in the regulation of proliferation of lung adenocarcinoma PC-9 cells and impacts their sensitivity to an EGFR-TKI. Thus, PLAC8 is a potential novel target in lung adenocarcinoma for future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The highly efficient and accurate recognition of targeted allergens is an essential element in the diagnosis of allergic diseases and follow-up desensitization treatment in clinic. The current clinical methods widely used to detect sIgE are high cost, time-consuming procedures, and bulky equipment. Herein, a multiplex microfluidic paper-based device (multi- μ PAD) was developed that combined with tailored gold nanoparticles for simultaneously visual, colorimetric detection of different allergens in serum. This device could be used as quantitative detection of sIgE with LOD as low as 0.246 KUA/L in colorimetric method. In vitro results also showed that this device possessed good repeatability, high accuracy and incredible stability in different pH (6.0–7.4) and temperature (24–37 °C), as well as long-term storage within 90-day. Finally, this method was successfully utilized for assessing clinical multi-sample screening in 35 allergic patients. After the addition of the samples from allergic patients, the agreement rate of clinical results with commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit reached more than 97%, which further indicated that this device had the advantages of efficient, accurate and sensitive to screen various allergens in real clinical serum samples. Therefore, by simply altering antigens and antibodies, this device can also be used for high-throughput detection of other allergens, making it considerable potential for clinical diagnosis of allergic diseases. Paper-based microfluidics and tailored gold nanoparticles for visual colorimetric detection of multiplex allergens were successfully developed. This multi- μ PAD has the advantages of low cost, easy operation, portability and great application potential in the detection of allergic diseases and various CRDs. [Display omitted] • Multi- μ PAD for visual colorimetric detection of allergens was firstly developed. • This device showed low cost, easy operation and portability etc. • This multi- μ PAD achieved high throughput allergens screening. • Our strategy has great potential in the detection of allergic diseases and CRDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • We investigate the selectivity of 23 representative MOFs for Rn separation from indoor air. • ZIF-12 presents the highest selectivity (about 2800 at XRn = 0.0001) for Rn separation from indoor air among 23 MOFs. • ZIF-12 is a promising candidate for purifying air at home and trapping radioactive Rn in indoor air. Abstract The radioactive gas Rn in indoor air shows severe harm to the human body and even induces the occurence of lung cancer. Finding an excellent candidate that can efficiently and selectively adsorb Rn, is still a great challenge. In this work, we use the grand canonical ensemble Monte Carlo simulation to systematically investigate the selectivities of 23 different kinds of representative metal organic framework (MOFs) for Rn separation from the Rn/N 2 and Rn/O 2 mixtures at 298 K. Results indicate that ZIF-12, HKUST-1, IRMOF-62 and ZIF-11 are four kinds of excellent candidates for capturing Rn. In particular, the selectivities of ZIF-12 for Rn/N 2 and Rn/O 2 mixtures with Rn molar fraction X Rn = 0.001 reach ∼2500 and 1200 at 1 atm and 298 K, respectively. Moreover, when the Rn concentration becomes smaller, the selectivity of ZIF-12 for Rn would increase significantly. In short, we found that ZIF-12 is indeed a very promising candidate for trapping radioactive Rn in indoor air. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigated the expression of microRNA (miR)-21 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tissues, its biological functions and mechanism of autophagy regulation. A total of 46 patients with NSCLC were enrolled in the present study. To measure the expression of miR-21, reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was employed. NSCLC A549 cells were transfected with miR-negative control (NC), miR-21 mimics or inhibitor. The CCK-8 assay was used to investigate the proliferation of A549 cells. To study migration and invasion abilities of A549 cells, The Transwell assay was performed. In addition, to determine the expression levels of ULK1, LC3B, AMPKa, p-AMPKa and p62 proteins, western blotting was conducted and laser confocal microscopy was performed to observe the formation of autophagosomes in A549 cells. To explore whether miR-21 regulates the biological functions of A549 cells via autophagy, an autophagy inhibitor, 3-MA, or agonist, rapamycin, were used in a rescue assay. Results indicated that miR-21 expression in NSCLC tissues was enhanced, and closely correlated with the occurrence and development of NSCLC. In vitro experiments showed that miR-21 mimics promoted the proliferation, migration and invasion of A549 cells, while miR-21 inhibitor inhibited these biological functions. Western blotting indicated that miR-21 upregulated autophagy marker LC3BII protein, but downregulated p62 protein. Laser confocal microscopy showed that miR-21 activated autophagy of A549. Rescue experiments indicated that autophagy reversed the effect of miR-21 on the proliferation, migration and invasion of A549 cells. Western blotting data suggested that autophagy-related AMPK/ULK1 signaling pathway was activated by miR-21, and interference or overexpression of ULK1 reversed the biological functions of miR-21. The present study demonstrated that miR-21 expression in NSCLC tissues was upregulated and positively correlated with lymphatic metastasis and clinical staging. In addition, miR-21 regulated autophagy activity of NSCLC A549 cells via AMPK/ULK1 signaling pathway, and promoted the proliferation, migration and invasion of NSCLC A549 cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interface engineering shows distinct advantages in the electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) due to the unique structures that can be realized. The interfaces formed by amorphous materials often exhibit special properties that are beneficial for the HER. Herein, an amorphous/crystalline Rh(OH)3/CoP heterostructure is constructed, which exhibits outstanding HER performance in the all‐pH range. It only needs the overpotentials of 13, 12, and 25 mV to drive a current density of 10 mA cm−2 in alkaline, acidic, and neutral media, respectively, which ranks as one of the best HER electrocatalysts reported recently. The outstanding HER activities in the all‐pH range are attributed to the unique amorphous/crystalline heterostructure of Rh(OH)3/CoP, which possesses special hydrophilic/aerophobic features thataccelerate mass transfer, and provide abundant exposed active sites and appropriate defects. Importantly, the performance attenuation mechanism of the catalyst is also revealed, i.e., the formation of Rh aggregations leads to poor contact and efficacy loss of the amorphous/crystalline interface for HER. In short, this work provides a new idea for using amorphous/crystalline heterostructure to design electrocatalysts, not only for the HER, but also for the oxygen reduction and oxygen evolution reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of industrialization, removing heavy metal ions of wastewater from the discharge of industrial sewage is a very important topic, because it will severely affect our environment and water ecosystem. In this work, we synthesize two porous adsorbents of ZIF-8 and ZIF-67 and further investigate their performance of removing Pb 2+ and Cu 2+ from wastewater. Results indicate that saturated adsorption capacities of ZIF-8 and ZIF-67 for Pb 2+ reach 1119.80 and 1348.42 mg/g, while they are 454.72 and 617.51 mg/g for Cu 2+ , respectively, which are greatly higher than almost all other porous materials. If we use the excessive adsorbents to treat wastewater, more than 99.4% Pb 2+ and 97.4% Cu 2+ can be removed by ZIF-8 and ZIF-67 adsorbents. Moreover, the two adsorbents also show fast adsorption kinetics, and only need several decade minutes to reach adsorption equilibrium. These features indicate that ZIF-8 and ZIF-67 are excellent candidates for removal of heavy metal ions from wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Currently, developing nonprecious‐metal catalysts to replace Pt‐based electrocatalysts in fuel cells has become a hot topic because the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in fuel cells often requires platinum, a precious metal, as a catalyst, which is one of the major hurdles for commercialization of the fuel cells. Recently, the newly emerging metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) have been widely used as self‐sacrificed precursors/templates to fabricate heteroatom‐doped porous carbons. Here, the recent progress of MOF‐derived, heteroatom‐doped porous carbon catalysts for ORR in fuel cells is systematically reviewed, and the synthesis strategies for using different MOF precursors to prepare heteroatom‐doped porous carbon catalysts, including the direct carbonization of MOFs, MOF and heteroatom source mixture carbonization, and MOF‐based composite carbonization are summarized. The emphasis is placed on the precursor design of MOF‐derived metal‐free catalysts and transition‐metal‐doped carbon catalysts because the MOF precursors often determine the microstructures of the derived porous carbon catalysts. The discussion provides a useful strategy for in situ synthesis of heteroatom‐doped carbon ORR electrocatalysts by rationally designing MOF precursors. Due to the versatility of MOF structures, MOF‐derived porous carbons not only provide chances to develop highly efficient ORR electrocatalysts, but also broaden the family of nanoporous carbons for applications in supercapacitors and batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phenolic compounds in hydrolysate/pyrolysate and wastewater streams produced during the pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass for biofuel production present a significant challenge in downstream processes. Bioelectrochemical systems are increasingly recognized as an alternative technology to handle biomass-derived streams and to promote water reuse in biofuel production. Thus, a thorough understanding of the fate of phenolic compounds in bioanodes is urgently needed. The present study investigated the biotransformation of three structurally similar phenolic compounds (syringic acid, SA; vanillic acid, VA; 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, HBA), and their individual contribution to exoelectrogenesis in a microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) bioanode. Fermentation of SA resulted in the highest exoelectrogenic activity among the three compounds tested, with 50% of the electron equivalents converted to current, compared to 12 and 9% for VA and HBA, respectively. The biotransformation of SA, VA and HBA was initiated by demethylation and decarboxylation reactions common to all three compounds, resulting in their corresponding hydroxylated analogs. SA was transformed to pyrogallol (1,2,3-trihydroxybenzene), whose aromatic ring was then cleaved via a phloroglucinol pathway, resulting in acetate production, which was then used in exoelectrogenesis. In contrast, more than 80% of VA and HBA was converted to catechol (1,2-dihydroxybenzene) and phenol (hydroxybenzene) as their respective dead-end products. The persistence of catechol and phenol is explained by the fact that the phloroglucinol pathway does not apply to di- or mono-hydroxylated benzenes. Previously reported, alternative ring-cleaving pathways were either absent in the bioanode microbial community or unfavorable due to high energy-demand reactions. With the exception of acetate oxidation, all biotransformation steps in the bioanode occurred via fermentation, independently of exoelectrogenesis. Therefore, the observed exoelectrogenic activity in batch runs conducted with SA, VA and HBA was controlled by the extent of fermentative transformation of the three phenolic compounds in the bioanode, which is related to the number and position of the methoxy and hydroxyl substituents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A seires of functional group decorated porous covalent organic polymers (COPs) have been synthesized, and the effects of founctional groups on the luminescent property of these materials were investigated. Results indicate that both the carboxyl ( COOH) and sulfuryl chloride ( SO 2 Cl) functional groups can significantly enhance the luminescent intensity of matrix COP-401, while other groups (i.e., NH 2 ; NO 2 ; OH; CHO) cannot. Further studies show that the carboxyl and sulfuryl chloride functionalized COPs (i.e., COP-401-COOH and COP-401-SO 2 Cl) as luminescent probes can high selectively and sensitively sense Fe 3+ ion, while unmodificated maxtrix COP-401 cannot. In addition, when COP-401-SO 2 Cl is dissolved in chloroform, it shows an obvious luminescence changing from blue to yellow, which indicates that it is a very promising luminescent probe for selectively sensing chloroform. In short, the COOH and SO 2 Cl functional groups are two excellent modifiers for developing new luminescent porous organic polymer materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: Six MnSOD genes were isolated from five Miscanthus species. MgMnSOD1 functions in mitochondria and MgMnSOD1 seems to be the main MnSOD gene involved in stress response of M. × giganteus. Abstract: Miscanthus × giganteus is a promising biomass energy crop with advantages of vigorous growth, high yield, low fertilizer and pesticide inputs. However, poor overwinter ability limits its widespread cultivation. Moreover, narrow genetic base may increase the risk of susceptibility to diseases and pests. Manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), an important antioxidant enzyme involved in stress tolerance is able to protect plant cells from accumulated reactive oxygen species by converting superoxide to peroxide and oxygen. In many plants, overexpression of MnSOD has shown the ability to enhance the resistance to various stresses. This article describes the studies performed in an attempt to elucidate the molecular and enzymatic properties of MnSODs in M. × giganteus. MnSOD genes from M. × giganteus ( MgMnSOD1, MgMnSOD2), M. lutarioriparia ( MlMnSOD), M. sacchariflora ( MsaMnSOD), M. sinensis ( MsiMnSOD), and M. floridulus ( MfMnSOD) were cloned and sequenced. The sequence analysis and expression patterns of MgMnSOD1 and MgMnSOD2 suggest that they were orthologous genes which were inherited from the two parents, M. sacchariflora and M. sinensis, respectively. In addition, MgMnSOD1 is predicted to be the main MnSOD gene involved in stress response of M. × giganteus. The activity of purified recombinant MgMnSOD1 was 1854.79 ± 39.98 U mg (mean ± SD). Further enzymatic assays revealed that the protein exhibited an outstanding thermal stability. MgMnSOD1 is predicted to be targeted to mitochondria and involved in removing the superoxide radical generated by respiration. The presence and sequences of other SOD isozymes transcripts were also investigated in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have systematically investigated adsorption and separation of the sulfur gas H 2 S and SO 2 in covalent-organic materials (COMs) by using molecular simulation. Results indicate that among these materials studied, PAF-302 shows the highest excess uptake of H 2 S (51.94 mmol/g) and SO 2 (50.69 mmol/g) due to its large pore volume and high BET surface area. Both maximum excess uptakes of H 2 S and SO 2 follow the order of PAF-302>COF-102>COF-10>COF-5>COF-8>COF-6, which is entirely consistent with the orders of the pore volumes. For gas mixtures, the selectivity of these two-dimensional (2D) COM materials is obviously better than the three-dimensional (3D) COM materials, especially for COF-6 with smaller pore size. In short, PAF-302 is an excellent candidate for H 2 S and SO 2 adsorption, while COF-6 is an excellent material for sulfur gas separation. In addition, we also find that the modified equation based on the difference of isosteric heats (i.e. DIH equation) can predict the selectivity of trace sulfur gas mixtures at zero pressure satisfactorily. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optical tweezers (OTs) are an important tool for the viscosity measurements in microrheology, and passive techniques have the features of being simple and need no external force generations. Current passive methods using OT always first calibrate the potential stiffness and then do parameter fittings to obtain the viscosity. Here, we introduced and demonstrated a passive viscosity estimation method for low-viscous microfluids using OTs without stiffness calibration and parameter fitting. By Brownian trajectory tracking of single trapped bead, the viscosity coefficients of water and NaCl solutions are quickly obtained with small deviations (typical <10 %) from the reference values. Besides, we introduce estimations for the commonly used voltage-to-displacement conversion factor, and the consistency check between the estimations and calibrations is used to represent the estimation quality. The whole process is very convenient for automatic processing. Further matrix operations are proposed and tested, which are expected to be integrated with holographic OTs and optical fiber traps for distributed multidimensional measurement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Take two: By employing two equivalents of an aldehyde in an asymmetric organocatalytic domino reaction, the nucleophilic enamine intermediate is also converted into the corresponding iminium species through oxidation with o‐iodoxybenzoic acid. Thus, polyfunctionalized cyclohexene derivatives are formed from two simple starting materials in good yields and stereoselectivities (see scheme; Bn=benzyl, EWG=electron‐withdrawing group). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nimm zwei: Durch Verwendung zweier Äquivalente eines Aldehyds kann bei einer asymmetrischen, organokatalytischen Dominoreaktion aus dem nucleophilen Enamin ‐ Intermediat durch Oxidation mit o ‐ Iodoxybenzoesäure auch die elektrophile Iminiumspezies gebildet werden. Somit werden aus nur zwei einfachen Startmaterialien komplexe Cyclohexenderivate in guten Ausbeuten und Stereoselektivitäten zugänglich (siehe Schema; Bn=Benzyl, EWG=elektronenziehende Gruppe). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is one of the green and effective method to produce clean hydrogen energy. However, the development of non-Pt HER catalysts with excellent catalytic activity and long-term stability still remains a great challenge. Herein, a vertically aligned core-shell structure material with hollow polypyrrole (PPy) nanowire as a core and Ru-doped MoS 2 (Ru–MoS 2) nanosheets as a shell is firstly reported as a highly efficient and ultra-stable catalyst for HER in alkaline solutions. Results indicate that Ru–MoS 2 @PPy catalyst demands a low overpotential of 37 mV at 10 mA cm−2. In addition, the overpotential at 100 mA cm−2 is 157 mV and it is almost unchanged after 40,000 cyclic voltammetry cycles. The existence of PPy core not only ensures the vertical growth of MoS 2 nanosheets to expose more edge sites, but also promotes the rapid transfer of electrons, contributing to the improvement of catalytic activity. More importantly, the strong interface interaction between MoS 2 and PPy prevents the collapse of the vertical structure of MoS 2 sheets in the electrocatalytic process and greatly enhances the stability of catalysts, which offers an effective strategy to design and synthesize the HER catalysts with superior catalytic stability. • The in-situ growth method was used to prepare the 3D core-shell MoS 2 @PPy. • In-situ growth enhances the interface interaction between MoS 2 and PPy. • Ru–MoS 2 @PPy exhibits promising HER activity and stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypoxia-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis is the main contributor to heart diseases. Human leukocyte antigen F-associated transcript 10 (FAT10), the small ubiquitin-like protein family subtype involved in apoptosis, is expressed in the heart and exhibits cardioprotective functions. This study explored the impact of FAT10 on hypoxia-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis and the involved mechanisms. The cardiomyocyte cell line H9C2 was cultivated in hypoxia-inducing conditions (94% N2, 5% CO2, and 1% O2) and the expression of FAT10 in hypoxia-stimulated H9C2 cells was identified. For this, FAT10 overexpression/interference vectors were exposed to transfection into H9C2 cells with/without the PI3K/AKT inhibitor, miltefosine. The results indicated that hypoxia exposure decreased the FAT10 expression, suppressed H9C2 cell growth, disrupted mitochondrial metabolism, and promoted H9C2 cell apoptosis and oxidative stress. However, these impacts were reversed by the FAT10 overexpression. In addition, the inhibition of PI3K/AKT in FAT10-overexpressing cells suppressed cell proliferation, impaired mitochondrial metabolism, and promoted apoptosis and oxidative stress response. The findings demonstrated that FAT10 inhibited mitochondrial apoptosis and energy metabolism in hypoxia-stimulated H9C2 cells through the PI3K/AKT pathway. This finding can be utilized for developing therapeutic targets for treating heart disorders associated with hypoxia-induced apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: While previous studies have primarily focused on Glucose transporter type 1 (GLUT1) related glucose metabolism signaling, we aim to discover if GLUT1 promotes tumor progression through a non-metabolic pathway. Methods: The RNA-seq and microarray data were comprehensively analyzed to evaluate the significance of GLUT1 expression in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). The cell proliferation, colony formation, invasion, and migration were used to test GLUT1 's oncogenic function. Co-immunoprecipitation and mass spectrum (MS) were used to uncover potential GLUT1 interacting proteins. RNA-seq, DIA-MS, western blot, and qRT-PCR to probe the change of gene and cell signaling pathways. Results: We found that GLUT1 is highly expressed in LUAD, and higher expression is related to poor patient survival. GLUT1 knockdown caused a decrease in cell proliferation, colony formation, migration, invasion, and induced apoptosis in LUAD cells. Mechanistically, GLUT1 directly interacted with phosphor-epidermal growth factor receptor (p-EGFR) and prevented EGFR protein degradation via ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis. The GLUT1 inhibitor WZB117 can increase the sensitivity of LUAD cells to EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) Gefitinib. Conclusions: GLUT1 expression is higher in LUAD and plays an oncogenic role in lung cancer progression. Combining GLUT1 inhibitors and EGFR-TKIs could be a potential therapeutic option for LUAD treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a precise passive frequency difference stabilization scheme for the Y-shaped cavity dual-frequency laser. A two-stage thermostat and a precision steady current circuit were designed to stabilize the temperature and discharge current of the laser. The laser relative frequency difference drift rate is stabilized within 0.011% at room temperature. The result shows an improvement of two orders of magnitude over the stress-induced birefringence closed-loop control method. This scheme will further improve the accuracy of acceleration and precision force measurement. Moreover, the scheme shows the great potential in industrial applications because of the low cost and good environmental adaptability. In addition to the temperature change, we found that the mode repulsion also affects the stability of the frequency difference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Six cellulose synthase genes were cloned in Miscanthus × giganteus. • A pair of reference genes for gene relative quantification was validated. • The transcription of at least ten cellulose synthase genes was detected. • Function of each cellulose synthase gene in cell wall biosynthesis was inferred. The second-generation biofuels utilizing the cellulose from non-food lignocellulosic biomass feedstocks are renewable, environmentally friendly, not in competition with food and have the potential to tackle global energy crisis. Miscanthus × giganteus , a promising lignocellulosic energy crop with advantages of vigorous growth, high biomass yield, and potential for using marginal lands has attracted the interest of researchers. However, the high cost of feedstock (∼39 % of the total) limits the selling price and consequent competitiveness of the ethanol produced from M. × giganteus. To cross the obstacle, lowering down the cost by improving the production and properties of cellulosic biomass thus becomes an import topic. In higher plants, CesA genes encode glycosyltransferases that play key roles in the cellulose biosynthesis. To achieve higher yield and better efficient utilization of biomass in M. × giganteus , more knowledge on the function of each CesA in cellulose biosynthesis is urgent. In this study, the transcription of at least ten CesA genes was detected in M. × giganteus (MgCesAs). Among these, six full-length MgCesA genes were cloned. The functions of the MgCesAs were inferred based on their phylogenetic relationships and differential expression patterns. Specifically, MgCesA10 , 11 , 12 are likely involved in the secondary cell wall biosynthesis and form a cellulose synthase complex (CSC) with a ratio of 1:1:1. While MgCesA5 , 6 , which are constitutively expressed in all organs, together with MgCesA2 , 3 , 4 , 7 and 8 tend to participate in the primary cell wall biosynthesis of M. × giganteus. This study not only lays a foundation for understanding the biosynthesis of cellulose and further functional analyses of CesAs in M. × giganteus , but also sheds light on future improving of the production and properties of cellulosic biomass in M. × giganteus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalytic H2O2 generation is compelling for sustainable solar-to-chemical conversion, but it is an emerging challenge to realize efficient conversion without the consumption of any alcohols. Also, the in-depth mechanism for the structure-induced activity enhancement is still unclear but remains pivotal for practical application. Herein, cyano groups and S atoms were collectively introduced into carbon nitride (MTCN), and the vital roles and detailed mechanism were investigated. Specifically, MTCN exhibited a laudable H2O2 generation of 68.12 mM gcat−1 h−1, together with an apparent quantum yield of 49.01% at 420 nm. Intriguingly, it was observed that the existence of some contaminants can promote H2O2 generation and, in turn, accelerate degradation. Additionally, it is revealed that the S atoms and cyano group could facilitate oxygen adsorption and H+ adsorption, respectively. This study shows a promising strategy to construct modified g-C3N4 and exhibits a clear mechanism for H2O2 generation paired with simultaneous contaminant treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) and anion exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs) can work efficiently at low temperature only at a high humidity, while their performance would decay doubly at a low humidity. In this work, we propose an acid-alkaline hybrid cathode approach to optimize the water management and achieve the operation of PEMFC at a low humidity, where the patterned acid-alkaline catalyst layer (CL) is used in cathode. The results show that the introduction of a patterned alkaline CL can significantly improve the performance of fuel cells at the low humidity. When the alkaline CL pattern is located in the middle of the cathode with 25% ratio, the peak power density (PPD) of resulting fuel cell reaches 1.02 W cm−2 at a 10% relative humidity, which is 31.72% higher than the PPD of the one without the alkaline CL. This improvement is attributed to the optimal water management because the water yielded by acidic CL can fast participate in the reactions in alkaline CL in the cathode. The distribution of relaxation time and computational fluid dynamics simulation further reveal that not only orientation of alkaline CL, but also the location of alkaline CL shows the key influence on the design of self-humidifying MEA. In short, this work proposes a new type of MEA with self-humidifying property to achieve the operation of MEA in a low humidity, which would greatly accelerate the development and application of fuel cells. • A new type of membrane electrode assembly (MEA) with patterned acid-alkaline hybrid cathode has been designed. • The designed MEAs with self-humidifying property can achieve the operation in a low humidity. • The peak power density of the hybrid MEA reaches 1.02 W cm−2 at a 10% relative humidity. • The effects of pattern size and location of the designed MEA on the performance have been revealed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing low‐cost and high‐efficient bifunctional catalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is greatly significant for water electrolysis. Here, Ni3N‐CeO2/NF heterostructure is synthesized on the nickel foam, and it exhibits excellent HER and OER performance. As a result, the water electrolyzer based on Ni3N‐CeO2/NF bifunctional catalyst only needs 1.515 V@10 mA cm−2, significantly better than that of Pt/C||IrO2 catalysts. In situ characterizations unveil that CeO2 plays completely different roles in HER and OER processes. In situ infrared spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations indicate that the introduction of CeO2 can optimizes the structure of interface water, and the synergistic effect of Ni3N and CeO2 improve the HER activity significantly, while the in situ Raman spectra reveal that CeO2 accelerates the reconstruction of OV (oxygen vacancy)‐rich NiOOH for boosting OER. This study clearly unlocks the different catalytic mechanisms of CeO2 for boosting the HER and OER activity of Ni3N for water splitting, which provides the useful guidance for designing the high‐performance bifunctional catalysts for water splitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A ruthenium‐catalyzed direct mono‐C−H functionalization/annulation cascade reaction of benzimidates and sulfoxonium ylides has been developed. The reaction proceeds smoothly with a broad range of substrates, giving access to a variety of isoquinoline derivatives in moderate to good yields using an organic acid additive under oxidant free conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The [3 + 3]-cyclization reaction of N-hydroxyphthalimide acrylates with N-tosyl ketimines proceeds in moderate to high yields and with excellent enantiomeric excess. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

22 Title compounds (III) are prepared by the reaction of oxiranes (I) with nitriles (II). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The desired ring system is readily available with good to excellent yields in the presence of aromatic and aliphatic nitriles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Oesophageal carcinoma (EC) is one of the types of prevalent malignant cancer in the globe. Many researchers reported the vital role played by long‐coding RNAs in EC. In the current research, we investigated the mechanisms of the action of lncRNA BBOX1‐AS1 in EC progression. Methods: In EC tissues and EC cells, the expression levels of miR‐361‐3p along with COL1A1 and BBOX1‐AS1 were detected through RT‐qPCR or western blotting. MiR‐361‐3p interactions with BBOX1‐AS1 or COL1A1 were verified through Luciferase reporter and RIP tests. Loss of function combined with caspase‐3 activity, CCK‐8 and Transwell assays was performed to investigate cell apoptosis, proliferation and migration, respectively. Knockdown of BBOX1‐AS1 was used for evaluating BBOX1‐AS1 effects on tumour development in vivo. Results: BBOX1‐AS1 was remarkably elevated in EC tissues and cells. In addition, the silencing of BBOX1‐AS1 attenuated the cell viability, cell migration and enhanced cell apoptosis of EC, as well as suppressed EC tumour formation in vivo. Moreover, BBOX1‐AS1 was found to be a sponge of miR‐361‐3p, which downregulated miR‐361‐3p expression. MiR‐361‐3p inhibitor rescued the anti‐tumour effect of BBOX1‐AS1 knockdown on the progression of EC. Furthermore, we discovered that miR‐361‐3p specially bound to COL1A1 3′UTR and downregulated COL1A1 and COL1A1 reduction declined the promoting effect of silencing miR‐361‐3p on EC cell malignant phenotypes. Conclusion: BBOX1‐AS1 facilitated the EC development and malignancy via miR‐361‐3p/COL1A1 axis, indicating BBOX1‐AS1 could be a novel therapy target for the diagnostic of EC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dyes as one of organic pollutants have received increasing attention due to its harmful effects on many forms of life, in which methylene blue (MB) is often considered as a model organic pollutant for experimental measurement. In this work, we synthesize three ZIF-derived N-doped porous carbon adsorbents and further investigate their performance of removing MB from wastewater. Results indicate that MB saturated adsorption capacities of Carbon-ZD, Carbon-ZS, Carbon-Z are 1148.2, 791.3 and 505.3 mg/g, respectively, which means that Carbon-ZD is a better MB adsorbent, compared to the other two. Moreover, when the excessive adsorbents are used to treat wastewater containing MB pollutant, Carbon-ZD can almost completely remove the MB pollutant, because the removal percent of Carbon-ZD is almost 100%, which means that Carbon-ZD is an excellent candidate for MB removal from wastewater. Further experiments indicate that Carbon-ZD also possesses excellent regeneration and reusability, as well as anti-interference ability when MO and MB pollutants coexist in wastewater. To explore adsorption kinetic and thermodynamics, we also found that the pseudo-second order model can satisfyingly describe MB adsorption kinetics and the Langmuir model can well describe MB adsorption isotherm. The excellent performance of Carbon-ZD for MB removal from wastewater is mainly attributed to the high BET specific surface area, suitable pore size distribution and nitrogen-doping. It is expected that the strategy of rationally designing ZIF or MOF template to prepare nitrogen-doped porous carbon adsorbents can open a new way to develop highly efficient adsorbents for removing pollutants in wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diaryl ethers are widespread in biologically active compounds, ligands and catalysts. It is known that the diaryl ether skeleton may exhibit atropisomerism when both aryl rings are unsymmetrically substituted with bulky groups. Despite recent advances, only very few catalytic asymmetric methods have been developed to construct such axially chiral compounds. We describe herein a dynamic kinetic resolution approach to axially chiral diaryl ethers via a Brønsted acid catalyzed atroposelective transfer hydrogenation (ATH) reaction of dicarbaldehydes with anilines. The desired diaryl ethers could be obtained in moderate to good chemical yields (up to 79 %) and high enantioselectivities (up to 95 % ee) under standard reaction conditions. Such structural motifs are interesting precursors for further transformations and may have potential applications in the synthesis of chiral ligands or catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diaryl ethers are widespread in biologically active compounds, ligands and catalysts. It is known that the diaryl ether skeleton may exhibit atropisomerism when both aryl rings are unsymmetrically substituted with bulky groups. Despite recent advances, only very few catalytic asymmetric methods have been developed to construct such axially chiral compounds. We describe herein a dynamic kinetic resolution approach to axially chiral diaryl ethers via a Brønsted acid catalyzed atroposelective transfer hydrogenation (ATH) reaction of dicarbaldehydes with anilines. The desired diaryl ethers could be obtained in moderate to good chemical yields (up to 79 %) and high enantioselectivities (up to 95 % ee) under standard reaction conditions. Such structural motifs are interesting precursors for further transformations and may have potential applications in the synthesis of chiral ligands or catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developmentof new WO3-based material is significantlyimportant for smart-window applications. In this work, the electronicproperties of alkali metals monodoped (A0.083WO3, A = Li, Na, K, Rb, and Cs) and codoped (Li0.083A0.083WO3, A = Li, Na, K, Rb, and Cs) hexagonal WO3(hex-WO3) were investigated by employing the hybridfunctional method. It is found that codoping is more stable than monodopingexcept in the case of (Li, Li). In the monodoped and codoped systems,the Fermi level moves into the conduction band and shows metal-likecharacteristic, which is responsible for the optical absorption inthe visible light and NIR absorption range. In addition, the codopedsystems exhibit strong NIR absorption which is not found in the purehex-WO3. Our results show that (Li, Cs) codoped hex-WO3is the most stable among these systems, showing excellentNIR-shielding property, which is promising for energy-saving smart-windowapplications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The trapping stiffness and width are two important parameters to characterize a counter-propagating dual-beam optical trap. We present two types of asymmetric counter-propagating dual-beam optical trap with the different numerical aperture (NA) and trapping power to eliminate the multi-equilibrium positions when two foci of the optical trap are not coincided. Meanwhile, the asymmetric dual-beam trap with the different NA enhances the axial trapping width and stiffness over five and three times, respectively, higher than the standard dual-beam trap with the higher and same average NA. Besides, it increases the transverse trapping stiffness when two foci are not coincided. The asymmetric dual-beam optical trap will benefit the future applications for the study of precision measurement, basic physics and biomaterials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The investigation of an artificial photosynthesis system for contaminant treatment and consecutive hydrogen peroxide formation is imperative but challenging, whereas the conversion efficiency is relatively low and far away from the demand for social development. Herein, oxygen and sulphur were collectively introduced into carbon nitride nanosheets (OSCN), together with sufficient edge and basal plane active sites. The as-synthesized sample could achieve a degradation efficiency of 84% for 100 mg/L tetracycline hydrochloride, together with simultaneous hydrogen peroxide production of 366 μmol g−1 h−1 under environmentally friendly neutral conditions. Intriguingly, the addition of tetracycline hydrochloride can accelerate hydrogen peroxide generation, which thus in turn speed up tetracycline hydrochloride degradation. It was revealed that the optimized electronic structure, promoted light-harvesting, and enhanced charge carriers separation capacity are conducive for the synchronous oxygen reduction and contaminant oxidation procedure in large measure. Furthermore, the degradation and hydrogen peroxide generation can be maintained even after 15 cycles, demonstrating the stability of OSCN and its possibility for practical applications. The degradation pathway and in-deep reaction mechanism are carried out accordingly. Additionally, such a synchronously promoted reaction can be extended to some other pollutants, like phenol and 2,4-dichlorophenol. This interesting work provides a novel strategy for pollutants removal and concurrent hydrogen peroxide generation. Carbon nitride with abundant edge and basal active sites through non-metallic element doping was synthesized for photocatalytic hydrogen peroxide formation together with the synergistic treatment of tetracycline hydrochloride. Furthermore, it is revealed that the addition of tetracycline hydrochloride (TH) accelerates the production of hydrogen peroxide, and in turn, hydrogen peroxide accelerates the degradation of TH under neutral conditions. [Display omitted] • Doped carbon nitride with abundant edge and basal active sites was synthesized. • OSCN was utilized for TH removal and synergistic H 2 O 2 photosynthesis. • The addition of TH promotes H 2 O 2 production, while H 2 O 2 accelerates TH degradation. • The photocatalytic performance could be maintained even after 15 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Co–Cu–Zn doped Fe3O4 nanoparticles can be successfully synthesized using a simple method. The particles in the size range 20−400nm with different regular shapes i.e. sphere-like, regular hexane and tetrahedron are controllably achieved by changing the metal ion concentration. Compared to pure Fe3O4 without dopants, Co–Cu–Zn doped Fe3O4 nanoparticles exhibit better microwave absorbing properties at 2−18GHz. Among three Co–Cu–Zn doped Fe3O4 nanoparticles with different morphologies, tetrahedral Co–Cu–Zn doped Fe3O4 nanoparticles represent a better dielectric loss in high frequency range. This work is believed the first known report of Co–Cu–Zn doped Fe3O4 nanoparticles with tunable morphology and magnetic properties through the hydrothermal process without using any organic solvents, organic metal salts or surfactants. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Though many chiral amines such as l-proline and its derivatives have proven to be versatile catalysts in many reactions, l-prolinol was seldom used as organocatalyst for reactions. Herein, we report the first l-prolinol catalyzed asymmetric Michael addition of cyclohexanone to nitroolefins in the presence of benzoic acid to afford Michael adducts with high diastereoselectivities (87:13–>99:1) and enantioselectivities (82–96%). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Liquid metal (LM) based composites are playing irreplaceable roles in many emerging fields such as stretchable and wearable electronics, soft robotics. However, it is still challenging to facilely fabricate the LM-based elastomers with nanosized and well-dispersed LM domains. Herein, the LM droplets filled elastomer nanocomposites (ENCs) with temperature-responsive, super-tough, super-elastic and tunable viscoelastic properties are introduced. By employing the conventional rubber processing method, LM is fragmented into nanoscale droplets and dispersed uniformly in cross-linked natural rubber (NR) without compromising the soft and highly stretchable properties of the matrix. In addition to the remarkable enhancement in tear resistance, the toughness of the resulting composites is strikingly improved as lowering the applied temperature, which is attributed to the phase transition and the simultaneous volume expansion of LM droplets. Surprisingly, for the viscoelasticity, this LM-based ENCs exhibit almost the same dynamic hysteresis with the pure NR system at the service condition of automobile tires, which is remarkably reduced compared to the traditional ENCs filled with rigid nanoparticles. Furthermore, this material also shows a good damping property for noise attenuation in the case of submarine covering. Collectively, this work opens a new avenue for the next generation of high-performance and multifunctional ENCs equipped in low-temperature working conditions. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A highly efficient direct asymmetric allylic substitution (AAS) reaction of 4-hydroxycoumarin derivatives with branched allylic alcohols was realized by combining a chiral iridium complex catalyst with a Lewis acid under mild reaction conditions, delivering various chiral allylation products in remarkably high yields and excellent enantioselectivities. The salient features of this transformation include mild reaction conditions, general substrate scope, good functional group tolerance, high yields, excellent selectivities and easy scale-up. Furthermore, the obtained products can be readily transformed into several kinds of bioactive compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A general and efficient visible-light photoredox-catalysed decarboxylative radical coupling reaction of N-aryl amino acids with aldehydes or ketones for the synthesis of various 1,2-amino alcohols by using water as the solvent at room temperature is described. This protocol is characterised by broad substrate scopes, mild reaction conditions and amenability to gram-scale synthesis, which opens up a simple, mild but effective method to produce 1,2-amino alcohols from readily available starting materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A highly diastereo‐ and enantioselective Mannich reaction of isatin‐derived N‐Boc imines with homophthalic anhydrides is disclosed for the first time, which allows the direct synthesis of a wide range of oxindole‐derived α‐aryl‐β‐amino acids with two adjacent carbon stereogenic centers in a highly stereoselective fashion (up to >95:5 dr & >99% ee). The resulted Mannich adducts can be easily converted to chiral spirocyclic δ‐lactams with retention of the stereoslectivities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A chiral phosphoric acid‐catalysed asymmetric dearomative [3+2] cyclisation for accessing enantioenriched benzofuroindolines with two vicinal tetrasubstituted carbon centres from readily available 1,4‐quinone and 2,3‐disubstituted indoles is developed. This protocol distinguishes itself by availability of the starting materials and mild reaction conditions in a stereoselective manner, which provides a complement to the existing methods for the asymmetric construction of pharmaceutically and biologically active benzofuro[2,3‐b]indoline compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The preparation of electrode material with good electrochemical properties is the key to promote the performance of new type energy storage device. Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) has the structure similar to grapheme. The interlayer of MoS2 can store charge efficiently. However, the conductivity of MoS2 is poor. In order to improve the conductivity of electrode, MoS2 is need to compound with other materials. Two kinds of nano-MoS2 with different morphology and structure were synthesized by hydrothermal method using ascorbic acid and thiourea as reducing agent, respectively. Using graphene as template, molybdenum disulfide-reduced graphene oxide (MoS2-RGO) nano-composite was synthesized by hydrothermal method. The electrochemical properties were characterized by cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge-discharge. The results show that MoS2-RGO nano-composite appeared a double layer capacitance. The specific capacitance of MoS2-RGO reached to 136.2 F/g at the current density of 1 A/g. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Pd(PPh3)4/acid catalyzed highly efficient and mono‐ or di‐selective allylic substitution reaction of benzothiazolylacetate and allylic alcohols has been developed. The mono‐ and di‐selectivities could be efficiently controlled by changing the reaction solvent and temperature, affording various mono‐ and di‐allylated products in good to excellent yields and selectivities. Both linear and branched allylic alcohols as well as allyl alcohol could all be well tolerated in the reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A chiral SPINOL derived phosphoric acid-catalyzed asymmetric N-alkylation reaction of indoles with cyclic α-diaryl-substituted N-acyl imines, which are generated in situ from 3-aryl 3-hydroxyisoindolinones, has been demonstrated. The transformation proceeds smoothly with a broad range of indoles and isoindolinone alcohols. A variety of indole derived N-alkylated tetrasubstituted chiral aminals were afforded in moderate to good yields (50–79%) with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 98% ee). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Ultrathin carbon nitride nanosheets (CNS) with abundant active sites were synthesized. • Low-cost and green CNS was utilized as a substitution of organic photocatalysts. • Various 1,2-amino alcohols were obtained in good yields by using CNS as catalyst. • CNS catalyst could be recycled 7 times without significant loss of chemical yield. • The reusability and scale-up capacity confirmed industrial prospect of CNS. It is attractive to develop a durable and renewable carbon nitride-based photocatalytic system for compelling photocatalytic organic synthesis, but remains a huge challenge. In this study, cost-effective ultrathin carbon nitride nanosheets (denoted as CNS) with abundant active sites and visible light harvesting capacity were designed and prepared, with the aim of realizing the decarboxylation free radical coupling reaction between N -arylglycine and aldehydes. The as-prepared catalyst enabled good to high yields (up to 97%) of 1,2-amino alcohols with a wide substrate range and desired functional group tolerance. Furthermore, CNS provided a long-term durability, and could be straightforwardly recovered through simple centrifugation of reaction solutions. In addition, this practical strategy is also applicable to gram-scale photosynthesis as well as the synthesis of some other complex molecules, providing an alternative to homogeneous organic photocatalysts for the synthesis of valuable pharmaceutical intermediates for future applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]