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A sustainable approach utilizing a low-temperature molten salt strategy is employed in this study to fabricate homogeneous and dense NiFe nitrate hydroxide needle-like arrays on a NiFe foam substrate. The electrode also achieves an ultra-low voltage of 1.77 V at 100 mA cm -2 and maintains stability for more than 120 h at a current density of 100 mA cm -2 , showing excellent overall water splitting (OWS) performance and stability. Notably, the molten salt strategy enables the synthesis of electrodes at a reaction temperature as low as 125 °C. Additionally, the molten salt precursor is repeatable and renewable, thus preventing waste and presenting vast potential for application.

Enzymatic glycosylation is an efficient and biocompatible approach to enhance natural product bioavailability. Cellobiose phosphorylase, a novel glycosyltransferase, utilizes 1-phospho-glucose (1-p-Glc) as a glycosyl donor for regioselective glycosylation of various natural substrates. However, the high cost of 1-p-Glc limits the economic feasibility of the process. Thus, a dual-enzyme cascade system involving cellulase AcCel9A and cellobiose phosphorylase CbCBP using a co-immobilization strategy was developed to overcome this challenge. The system utilizes low-cost carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) for continuous 1-p-Glc production, which was then used in the fluorodeoxy glucose (FDG) glycosylation to generate fluorodeoxy cellobiose (FDC), which potentially traces fungal infections. The compartmentalized co-immobilization of the two enzymes within the internal and external regions of a porous zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) carrier enhanced the overall stability of the dual-enzyme system. The immobilized enzymes retained approximately 63.3 % activity after seven reuse cycles and 74 % catalytic efficiency after 12 days of storage at room temperature. Therefore, the developed co-immobilized multi-enzyme system holds significant potential for industrial biocatalysis applications., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Alkaloids with a phenylhydrazone architecture are rarely found in nature. Four unusual phenylhydrazone alkaloids named talarohydrazones A-D ( 1 - 4 ) were isolated from the deep-sea cold seep derived fungus Talaromyces amestolkiae HDN21-0307 using the one strain-many compounds (OSMAC) approach and MS/MS-based molecular networking (MN) combined with network annotation propagation (NAP) and the unsupervised substructure annotation method MS2LDA. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic data analysis, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and quantum chemical calculations. Talarohydrazone A ( 1 ) possessed an unusual skeleton combining 2,4-pyridinedione and phenylhydrazone. Talarohydrazone B ( 2 ) represents the first natural phenylhydrazone-bearing azadophilone. Bioactivity evaluation revealed that compound 1 exhibited cytotoxic activity against NCI-H446 cells with an IC 50 value of 4.1 μM. In addition, compound 1 displayed weak antibacterial activity toward Staphylococcus aureus with an MIC value of 32 μg/mL.

Excessive fluoride presence in water poses significant environmental and public health risks, necessitating the development of effective remediation techniques. Conventional aluminum-based adsorbents face inherent limitations such as limited pH range and low adsorption capacity. To overcome these challenges, we present a facile solvent-thermal method for synthesizing a carbon-doped aluminum-based adsorbent (CDAA). Extensive characterization of CDAA reveals remarkable features including substantial carbon-containing groups, unsaturated aluminum sites, and a high pH at point of zero charge (pH pzc ). CDAA demonstrates superior efficiency and selectivity in removing fluoride contaminants, surpassing other adsorbents. It exhibits exceptional adaptability across a broad pH spectrum from 3 to 12, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 637.4 mg/g, more than 110 times higher than alumina. The applicability of the Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order models effectively supports these findings. Notably, CDAA exhibits rapid kinetics, achieving near-equilibrium within just 5 min. Comprehensive analyses utilizing Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) offer detailed insights into the mechanisms involving electrostatic attraction, ion exchange, and ligand exchange. Carbon-based groups play a role in ligand exchange processes, synergistically interacting with the unsaturated aluminum structure to provide a multitude of adsorption sites. The exceptional attributes of CDAA establish its immense potential as a transformative solution for the pressing challenge of fluoride removal from water sources., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Creating a perfect catalyst to operate enzyme-like chiral recognition has been a long-sought aim. A challenging example in this context is constructing acyclic all-carbon quaternary stereogenic centers by transition metal-catalyzed enantioselective C-H activation. We now report highly enantioselective iridium-catalyzed primary C-H borylation of α-all-carbon substituted 2,2-dimethyl amides enabled by a tailor-made chiral bidentate boryl ligand ( CBL ). The success of the current transformation is attributed to the CBL /iridium catalyst, which has a confined chiral pocket. This protocol provides a diverse array of acyclic all-carbon quaternary stereocenters with excellent enantiocontrol and distinct structural features. Computational study reveals that steric hindrance of CBL could regulate the type of dominant orbital interaction between the catalyst and substrate, which is crucial to conferring high chiral induction.

This study explored the potential of utilizing aluminum and yttrium amended (Al/Y amended) sewage sludge biochar (Al/Y-CSBC) for efficient fluoride removal from wastewater. The adsorption kinetics of fluoride on bimetallic modified Al/Y-CSBC followed the pseudo-second-order model, while the adsorption isotherm conformed to the Freundlich equation. Remarkably, the material exhibited excellent fluoride removal performance over a wide pH range, achieving a maximum adsorption capacity of 62.44 mg·g -1 . Moreover, Al/Y-CSBC demonstrated exceptional reusability, maintaining 95% removal efficiency even after six regeneration cycles. The fluoride adsorption mechanism involved ion exchange, surface complexation, and electrostatic adsorption interactions. The activation and modification processes significantly increased the specific surface area of Al/Y-CSBC, leading to a high isoelectric point (pH pzc = 9.14). The incorporation of aluminum and yttrium metals exhibited a novel approach, enhancing the adsorption capacity for fluoride ions due to their strong affinity. Furthermore, the dispersing effect of biochar played a crucial role in improving defluoridation efficiency by enhancing accessibility to active sites. These findings substantiate the significant potential of Al/Y-CSBC for enhanced fluoride removal from wastewater., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

To observe the clinical phenomenon of amblyopia vision improvement in patients with monocular amblyopia over 18 years old after non-amblyopia diseases, analyze the conditions and causes of vision improvement, explore the plasticity of the adult optic nerve, and provide a clinical basis for the treatment of adult amblyopia. A total of 74 patients with monocular amblyopia combined with non-amblyopia visual acuity decline from 2018 to 2021 were collected. The patient's age, initial best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), pattern visual evoked potential examination results, and visual acuity regression were recorded. The BCVA of amblyopia was recorded every 3 months using an early treatment of diabetic retinopathy study visual acuity chart. In the 3rd month, BCVA increased by 16.2%, reaching 98% in the 9th month and 100% in the 12th months. According to the age of patients, the group aged 18 to 35 years was better than the group aged 35 to 60 years, whereas the group aged 35 to 60 years was better than the group aged over 60 years (P < .05). According to the comparison of initial visual acuity, the BCVA of the < 5 letter group was lower than that of the other 2 groups (P < .05). According to the pattern visual evoked potential results, the peak time of the < 10 ms group was better than that of the 10 to 20 ms group; the 10 to 20 ms group was better than that of the > 20 ms group; the peak decrease of the < 30% group was better than that of the 30% to 50% group; and the 30% to 50% group was better than that of the > 50% group (P < .05). The visual acuity regression of amblyopia in the 0.5 to 1-year group was higher than that in the other 2 groups (P < .05). This study confirms that adult amblyopia can still be cured under certain conditions. This visual plasticity is related to age, initial visual acuity, and excitability of the visual center. This study provides new clinical evidence and diagnostic ideas for the study of the pathogenesis of adult amblyopia., Competing Interests: The authors have no funding and conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2023 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Electrodes that offer quick ion transport, a large surface area, and excellent electrical conductivity support high performance aqueous rechargeable lithium batteries. LiFePO 4 (LFP) nanoparticles have been successfully coated with carbon by a chemical sol-gel route, and assembled on graphite by an ultrasonication method to acquire LFP/C/graphite. This LFP/C/graphite composite exhibits exceptional electrochemical performance at various current densities (1C to 20C). LFP/C/graphite delivers better capacity that is higher than that of LFP/C particles and high stability after 60 cycles at a current density of 1C for aqueous rechargeable lithium batteries as a cathode material. The graphite serves as a good volume buffer in improving the lithium performance of LFP/C/graphite during the charge/discharge process. The LFP/C/graphite composite shows high rate capability at 20C that returned to the initial capacity at 1C after 25 cycles with coulombic efficiency of 97%. Therefore, this effort presents a super low-cost route to fabricate high performance cathode materials in aqueous rechargeable lithium batteries and other energy storage appliances., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

Background: Procyanidins have antioxidative properties that may protect against age-related brain oxidative stress. Previous studies indicated that procyanidin-rich foods could improve cognitive function and prevent neurodegenerative diseases. This study hypothesized that grape seed procyanidins extract (GSPE) would have a favorable effect on cognitive function in elderly people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI)., Methods: A community-based, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted. Participants aged 60 years or older with MCI were randomly assigned into the GSPE group (n = 35, 320 mg/d) or placebo group (n = 36), and received capsules for 6 months. Cognitive function was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (MoCA). The change in MoCA scores between groups were tested by the time ✕ treatment interaction in mixed-design ANOVA., Results: After 6 months of intervention, the MoCA score was higher than the baseline both in the intervention group and placebo control group, while the there was no significant difference for mean change in MoCA score from baseline between the intervention group and the placebo group (2.35 ± 3.20 vs. 1.28 ± 2.93, P  = 0.192)., Conclusions: Present study showed that 6-month supplementation with GSPE did not significantly improve cognitive function in subjects with MCI. Further investigations regarding the longer-term intervention effect of procyanidins extract on mild or moderate cognitive disorders are needed., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2023 Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

The interrelationship between brain, gut and skeletal muscle plays a key role in energy homeostasis of the body, and is becoming a hot topic of research. Intestinal microbial metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), bile acids (BAs) and tryptophan metabolites, communicate with the central nervous system (CNS) by binding to their receptors. In fact, there is a cross-talk between the CNS and the gut. The CNS, under the stimulation of pressure, will also affect the stability of the intestinal system, including the local intestinal transport, secretion and permeability of the intestinal system. After the gastrointestinal tract collects information about food absorption, it sends signals to the central system through vagus nerve and other channels to stimulate the secretion of brain-gut peptide and produce feeding behavior, which is also an important part of maintaining energy homeostasis. Skeletal muscle has receptors for SCFAs and BAs. Therefore, intestinal microbiota can participate in skeletal muscle energy metabolism and muscle fiber conversion through their metabolites. Skeletal muscles can also communicate with the gut system during exercise. Under the stimulation of exercise, myokines secreted by skeletal muscle causes the secretion of intestinal hormones, and these hormones can act on the central system and affect food intake. The idea of the brain-gut-muscle axis is gradually being confirmed, and at present it is important for regulating energy homeostasis, which also seems to be relevant to human health. This article focuses on the interaction of intestinal microbiota, central nervous, skeletal muscle energy metabolism, and feeding behavior regulation, which will provide new insight into the diagnostic and treatment strategies for obesity, diabetes, and other metabolic diseases., Competing Interests: The 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 © 2022 Yin, Guo, Zhou, Duan, Yang, Gong, Han, Liu, Yang, Chen and Li.)

Tetracycline (TC) residues have been noted as an important class of emerging contaminants in the environment, thus fast, straightforward, highly sensitive detection method is becoming an issue that must be addressed. Herein, a novel CDs@ZIF-8 sensing material was fabricated by encapsulating luminescent carbon dots (CDs) into the metal-organic framework (ZIF-8) to achieve highly luminescent porous composites. Furthermore, to avoid the secondary contamination caused by powders, a shapable CDs@ZIF-8/CS film sensor as a portable disposable test strip with dual-function of TC detection and adsorption was designed by crosslinking CDs@ZIF-8 with chitosan (CS). The as-prepared CDs@ZIF-8/CS hybrid film exhibited the high sensitivity and selectivity for TC fluorescence detection and rapid decontaminate capability, as well as high optical transmittance and robust mechanical property, which were essential for the practical sensing application. This paper-based dual-functional luminescent sensor exhibits promising practicability for TC detection and contaminant removal in pharmaceutical analysis, food safety and water treatment., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of dietary taurine on lipid metabolism and liver injury in mice fed a diet high in oxidized fish oil. The ICR mice (six weeks old) were randomly assigned to six groups and fed different diets for 10 weeks: control (CON), normal plus 15% fresh fish oil diet (FFO), normal plus 15% oxidized fish oil diet (OFO), or OFO plus 0.6% (TAU1), 0.9% (TAU2) or 1.2% (TAU3) taurine. Compared to the CON group, OFO mice showed increased liver index, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in serum (p < 0.05). In addition, OFO mice had increased cholesterol (CHOL)/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and decreased HDL-C/low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) ratio in serum (p < 0.05) compared with CON mice. Notably, dietary taurine ameliorated the liver index and AST and MDA levels in serum and liver in a more dose-dependent manner than OFO mice. In addition, compared to OFO mice, decreased levels of CHOL and ratio of CHOL/HDL-C and n-6 PUFA/n-3 PUFA in serum were found in TAU3-fed mice. Supplementation with TAU2 and TAU3 increased the relative mRNA expression levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α, adipose triglyceride lipase, lipoprotein lipase, hormone-sensitive lipase and carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1 in liver compared with the OFO group (p < 0.05). Moreover, impaired autophagy flux was detected in mice fed with the OFO diet, and this was prevented by taurine. These findings suggested that dietary taurine might provide a potential therapeutic choice against oxidative stress and lipid metabolism disorder.

Background: Pork is an important food for humans and improving the quality of pork is closely related to human health. This study was designed to investigate the effects of balanced branched-chain amino acid (BCAA)-supplemented protein-restricted diets on meat quality, muscle fiber types, and intramuscular fat (IMF) in finishing pigs., Results: The results showed that, compared with the normal protein diet (160 g kg -1 crude protein), the reduced-protein diet (120 g kg -1 crude protein) supplemented with BCAAs to the ratio of 2:1:2 not only had higher average daily gain (P < 0.05) and carcass weight (P < 0.05) but also improved meat tenderness and juiciness by decreasing shear force (P < 0.05) and increasing water-holding capacity (P < 0.05). In particular, this treatment showed higher (P < 0.05) levels of phospho-acetyl-CoA carboxylase (P-ACC) and peroxisome proliferation-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ), and lower (P < 0.05) levels of P-adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (P-AMPK), increasing the composition of IMF and MyHC I (P < 0.05) in the longissimus dorsi muscle (LDM). In terms of health, this group increased eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) (P < 0.01) and desirable hypocholesterolemic fatty acids (DHFA) (P < 0.05), and decreased atherogenicity (AI) (P < 0.01) and hypercholesterolemic saturated fatty acids (HSFA) (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: Our findings suggest a novel role for a balanced BCAA-supplemented restricted protein (RP) diet in the epigenetic regulation of more tender and healthier pork by increasing IMF deposition and fiber type conversion, providing a cross-regulatory molecular basis for revealing the nutritional regulation network of meat quality. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.)

In this work , a novel adsorbent of aluminium/lanthanum loaded wheat straw biochar (Al-La-WSB), was prepared by using a facile approach and used for fluoride removal. The Al-La-WSB and its pristine wheat straw biochar (WSB) were characterized by scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) methods. Batch adsorption experiments were carried out to investigate adsorbent performance, the highest removal rate was observed at pH 9, contact time of 7 h and Al-La-WSB dose of 1 g L -1 . Lagergren pseudo-second-order kinetics and Langmuir isotherm model fitted the experimental data well. The maximum fluoride adsorption capacity of Al-La-WSB at different experiment temperature of 298, 308 and 318 K, was 51.28 mg g -1 , 46.73 mg g -1 and 50.25 mg g -1 , respectively, which was better than most reported adsorbents. The Al-La-WSB performed well over a considerable wide pH range of 3-10 and carried positive charge at pH < 4.8. The presence co-existing ions of SO 4 2- , HCO 3 - , Cl - and NO 3 - had a minor impact on fluoride adsorption besides PO 4 3- . Regeneration experiment results showed that the Al-La-WSB had an excellent reusability. According to the adsorbent characterization and batch adsorption experiment, the adsorption of fluoride on the Al-La-WSB was primarily a chemisorption, involving electrostatic interactions and ion exchange, which nitrate ion and hydroxyl played a major role. The results suggested that the Al-La-WSB could be a great adsorbent for removing fluoride from drinking water.

Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) have key physiological roles in the regulation of protein synthesis, metabolism, food intake and aging. This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of balanced BCAAs on healthy aging by increasing skeletal muscle mass and muscle fiber composition in a finishing pig model. A balanced BCAA ratio (Leu : Ile : Val = 2 : 2 : 1) significantly activated the mTOR pathway and upregulated the expression of amino acid transporters, such as ASCT2, SNAT2, LAT1, PAT1, and SLC38A9, simultaneously modulating mitochondrial function and muscle fiber composition, thereby inhibiting inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-6 and TNF-α, regulating amino acid metabolism, and ultimately increasing skeletal muscle mass. Overall, our results suggest that a BCAA ratio around 2 : 2 : 1 may be a promising candidate for healthy aging in humans and animals.

Transition-metal-catalyzed regio- and stereo-controllable C-H functionalization remains a formidable challenge in asymmetric catalysis. Herein, we disclose the first example of iridium-catalyzed C(sp 3 )-H borylation of aminocyclopropanes by using simple imides as weakly coordinating directing groups under mild reaction conditions. The reaction proceeded via a six-membered iridacycle, affording a vast range of chiral aminocyclopropyl boronates. The current method features a broad spectrum of functional groups (36 examples) and high enantioselectivities (up to 99 %). We also demonstrated the synthetic utility by a preparative scale C-H borylation, C-B bond transformations, and conversion of the directing group., (© 2022 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Chlorogenic acid (CGA), as one of the richest polyphenol compounds in nature, has broad applications in many fields due to its various biological properties. However, initial data on the effects of dietary CGA on protein synthesis and related basal metabolic activity has rarely been reported. The current study is aimed at (1) determining whether dietary CGA supplementation improves the growth performance and carcass traits, (2) assessing whether dietary CGA alters the free amino acid profile, and (3) verifying whether dietary CGA promotes muscle protein synthesis in finishing pigs. Thirty-two (Large × White × Landrace) finishing barrows with an average initial body weight of 71.89 ± 0.92 kg were randomly allotted to 4 groups and fed diets supplemented with 0, 0.02%, 0.04%, and 0.08% CGA, respectively. The results indicated that, compared with the control group, dietary supplementation with 0.04% CGA slightly stimulated the growth performance of pigs, whereas no significant correlation was noted between the dietary CGA levels and animal growth ( P > 0.05). Furthermore, the carcass traits of pigs were improved by 0.04% dietary CGA ( P < 0.01). In addition, dietary CGA significantly improved the serum free amino acid profiles of pigs ( P < 0.01), while 0.04% dietary CGA promoted more amino acids to translocate to skeletal muscles ( P < 0.05). The relative mRNA expression levels of SNAT2 in both longissimus dorsi (LD) and biceps femoris (BF) muscles were augmented in the 0.02% and 0.04% groups ( P < 0.05), and the LAT1 mRNA expression in the BF muscle was elevated in the 0.02% group ( P < 0.05). We also found that dietary CGA supplementation at the levels of 0.04% or 0.08% promoted the expression of p-Akt and activated the mTOR-S6K1-4EBP1 axis in the LD muscle ( P < 0.05). Besides, the MAFbx mRNA abundance in the 0.02% and 0.04% groups was significantly lower ( P < 0.05). Our results revealed that dietary supplementation with CGA of 0.04% improved the free amino acid profile and enhanced muscle protein biosynthesis in the LD muscle in finishing pigs., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright © 2022 Wenlong Wang et al.)

In this work, a one-step hydrothermal route is developed to prepare WO 3 · n H 2 O crystals with various morphology/phases, for which any surfactants, templates, or structure-directing agents are not used. Five types of WO 3 · n H 2 O crystals, including o-WO 3 ·H 2 O nanoplates, rectangular m-WO 3 nanosheets, o-WO 3 ·0.33H 2 O microspheres, h-WO 3 nanorods, and bundle-like h-WO 3 hierarchical structures, are successfully obtained by adjusting the amount of H 2 SO 4 and reaction temperature. According to the experimental results, the formation mechanism for various WO 3 · n H 2 O species is proposed. In addition, the optical absorption properties of these WO 3 · n H 2 O crystals are also investigated by UV-vis absorption spectra., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2022 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

This study examined the effects of dietary Eucommia ulmoides leaf extract (ELE) supplements on carcass traits and lipid metabolism in growing-finishing pigs. A total of 144 crossbred (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire) piglets with an average initial weight of 10.11 ± 0.03 kg were randomly allotted to four treatment groups, each with six replicates and six piglets per replicate. Each group of pigs was fed a basal diet or a diet supplemented with increasing levels of ELE (0.1, 0.2, or 0.3%). The results showed that adding ELE had no negative effect on the growth performance of pigs. Dietary supplements of 0.1% ELE significantly increased carcass weight ( p < 0.01), dressing percentage ( p < 0.01), carcass length ( p < 0.05), and eye muscle area ( p < 0.05). Compared with the control group, a 0.2% ELE supplement significantly increased ( p < 0.01) the levels of adiponectin, insulin-like growth factor 1, and hormone-sensitive lipase and lipoprotein lipase activity in the serum. Histological examination showed that ELE inhibited fat deposition in the backfat tissue. Lipid metabolism-related biochemical indices and mRNA expression levels were improved after supplementing diets with ELE. Moreover, all three levels of ELE dramatically upregulated ( p < 0.05) the protein levels of p-AMPK-α and p-ACC. In summary, adding ELE to pig diets could improve the carcass traits of growing-finishing pigs and exert a lipid-lowering effect by activating the AMPK-ACC pathway and regulating mRNA expression levels related to lipid metabolism. Supplementing the diet with 0.1-0.2% ELE is the optimal range to reduce fat deposition in pig backfat tissue., Competing Interests: The 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 © 2022 Yang, Li, Guo, Wang, Zhang, Yin, Gong, Han and Yin.)

This study aimed to investigate the effect of the supplementation of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) at different ratios in protein restriction diets on lipid metabolism in a finishing pig model. The BCAA supplementation (leucine/isoleucine/valine = 2:1:1 and 2:1:2) ameliorated the poor growth performance and carcass characteristics, particularly high fat mass caused by a protein-restricted diet. Serum adiponectin increased while leptin decreased in BCAA diets in comparison to the 12% CP group. BCAA supplementation also increased the low-protein expression of AMPK and SIRT1 caused by protein restriction. The mRNA and protein levels of peroxisome proliferation-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) were highest in the protein-restricted group and lowered in the 2:1:1 or 2:1:2 group. In conclusion, BCAAs supplemented in an adequate ratio range of 2:1:1 to 2:1:2 (2:1:2 is recommended) in reduced protein diets could modulate lipid metabolism by accelerating the secretion of adipokines and fatty acid oxidation.

We herein report amide directed enantioselective β-C(sp 3 )-H borylation of unbiased methylene C-H bonds of acyclic amides enabled by iridium catalysis for the first time. The key to the success of this transformation relies on the careful selection of the combination of iridium precursor and chiral bidentate boryl ligands. A variety of functional groups are well-tolerated, affording chiral β-functionalized amides in good to excellent enantioselectivities. We also demonstrate the application of the current method by stereospecific conversion of C-B bond into other functionalities., (© 2020 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Ti 3 C 2 T x MXenes with excellent metallic conductivity have proved promising in its application of electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding. A hierarchical hybrid film with ultrathin thickness composed of Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene layers embedded with yarn-ball-shaped microspheres of cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) and multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) was designed to improve the absorption of electromagnetic waves (EMWs). The addition of yarn-ball-shaped microspheres is to shield more EMWs via multiple reflections in the inner space and reduce the undesirable emissions into the air. After thermal annealing treatment, the ultrathin film with intercalation of the carbonized yarn-ball-shaped CNF/MWCNT microspheres exhibited enhanced EMWs absorption as an important part of shielding effectiveness (45.1±0.9 dB) as well as excellent mechanical stability (≈0.9 million bending times). Thus, the well-designed structure of multilayered hybrid films with intercalated conductive microspheres can be a good candidate for higher absorption in EMI shielding effectiveness and outstanding mechanical properties., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

We herein report an iridium-catalyzed enantioselective α-C(sp 3 )-H borylation of a wide range of azacycles. The combination of an iridium precursor and a chiral bidentate boryl ligand has been shown to effectively differentiate enantiotropic methylene C-H bonds from a single carbon center, affording a variety of synthetically useful azacycles from readily available starting materials with good to excellent enantioselectivities.

Background: Reducing refractive error has always been a tricky problem. The aim of this study was to verify the correlation between binocular refractive error (RE) after sequential cataract surgery and explore an individualized calculation method of intraocular lens (IOL) for the second eye., Methods: This was a prospective study. One hundred eighty-eight affected eyes in 94 age-related cataract patients who underwent sequential cataract surgery in the Department of Ophthalmology, Tangdu Hospital, China, were recruited. Complete case data were included for a correlation analysis of binocular RE. Data obtained in patients with RE values greater than 0.50 diopters (D) in the first eye were extracted and the patients divided randomly into two groups: Group A and B. In the adjustment group, group A, we modified the IOL power for the second eyes as 50% of the RE of the first eye. In group B, the control group, there was no modification. The mean absolute refractive error (MARE) values of the second eyes were evaluated one month after surgery., Results: The correlation coefficient of the binocular RE after sequential cataract surgery was 0.760 (P < 0.001). After the IOL power of the second eyes was adjusted, the MARE of the second eyes was 0.57 ± 0.41 D, while the MARE of the first eyes was 1.18 ± 0.85 D, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.001)., Conclusions: Binocular REs were positively correlated after sequential cataract surgery. The RE of the second eye can be reduced by adjusting the IOL power based on 50% of the postoperative RE of the first eye.

Lipid metabolism is an important and complex biochemical process involved in the storage of energy and maintenance of normal biological functions. Leucine, a branched amino acid, has anti-obesity effects on glucose tolerance, lipid metabolism, and insulin sensitivity. Leucine also modulates mitochondrial dysfunction, representing a new strategy to target aging, neurodegenerative disease, obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Although various studies have been carried out, much uncertainty still exists and further studies are required to fully elucidate the relationship between leucine and lipid metabolism. This review offers an up-to-date report on leucine, as key roles in both lipid metabolism and energy homeostasis in vivo and in vitro by acceleration of fatty acid oxidation, lipolysis, activation of the adenosine 5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK)-silent information regulator of transcription 1 (SIRT1)-proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) pathway, synthesis, and/or secretion of adipokines and stability of the gut microbiota.

Early T-cell precursor (ETP) leukemia represents a new subtype of T-lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma with unique immunophenotypes expressing T-cell and one or more of the myeloid/stem cell markers. Here, we report a young patient who had primary mediastinal mass and pleural effusion without bone marrow involvement. A CT-guided mediastinal biopsy and flow cytometry analysis of the pleural effusion revealed the blast cells to have complicated immunophenotypes: strongly expressed T-cell antigen CD7, myeloid-lineage antigens CD33 and CD13 and stem cell markers cTdT, CD34, and HLA-DR; dimly expressed myeloid-lineage specific antigen cMPO and B-cell antigen cCD79a; but did not express T-cell specific antigen cytoplasmic CD3 and B-cell specific antigen CD19. Clonal T-cell receptor rearrangement eventually determined the cell of origin from ETPs, not myeloblasts. The patient showed primary resistance to lymphoid and myeloid-directed induction therapy. Finally, low-dose decitabine combined with modified-CAG regimen induced a complete remission and allogeneic stem cell transplantation was performed as consolidation. The case indicates a primary mediastinal neoplasm from ETP with distinctive immunophenotype from leukemia type. Low-dose decitabine and modified-CAG regimen in combination with allogeneic stem cell transplantation may improve the outcome of patient., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Background: Anterior chamber depth (ACD) is becoming a hot topic and plays an important role in correcting the refractive errors (REs) after cataract surgery. The aim of this study was to assess the ACD changes and their relationship with the REs after phacoemulsification and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in patients with age-related cataracts., Methods: One hundred forty-five eyes of 125 age-related cataract patients from the Department of Ophthalmology, Tangdu Hospital, China, were recruited. IOL Master was used for axial length (AL) and the IOL power calculation measurements, and the Pentacam HR device was used for the ACD and lens thickness (LT) measurements. Every patient underwent uncomplicated phacoemulsification by a single surgeon using a single technique. Postoperative refraction results were obtained at 1 month. The appropriate formula used for the IOL power calculation was chosen depending on the AL, specifically the Hoffer Q (AL < 22.0 mm), SRK/T (22.0 mm ≤ AL ≤ 30.0 mm), and Haigis (AL > 30.0 mm) formulas., Results: The postoperative ACD was deepened and tended to stabilize gradually after 2 weeks. A concurrent hyperopic shift (0.57 ± 0.47 D) was observed when the change in the ACD was less than 1.65 mm, whereas a myopic shift (- 0.18 ± 0.62 D) occurred contrarily, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P < 0.0001). The change in ACD was significantly larger in the shallow anterior chamber (1.92 ± 0.40 mm) than in the deep chamber (1.33 ± 0.42 mm) (P < 0.0001). Similarly, the change in ACD was larger in the short AL (2.12 ± 0.37 mm) than in the long AL (1.32 ± 0.49 mm). The postoperative ACD and refractive changes were correlated with the preoperative ACD and AL (P < 0.0001), respectively. Two regression formulas were proposed: postoperative ACD = 3.524 + 0.294 × preoperative ACD and postoperative ACD = 3.361 + 0.228× (preoperative ACD + 1/2 LT)., Conclusions: The results of this study showed that the ACD deepened and was associated with a concurrent RE after cataract surgery. Postoperative changes in the ACD were related to the preoperative ACD and AL, which determined the refraction status and visual quality. The regression formula of the postoperative ACD could provide a theoretical basis for predicting refractive errors in the clinic.

Background: Yersinia enterocolitica is an enteric pathogen that invades the intestinal mucosa and proliferates within the lymphoid follicles (Peyer's patches). The attachment invasion locus (ail) mediates invasion by Y. enterocolitica and confers an invasive phenotype upon non-invasive E. coli; ail is the primary virulence factor of Y. enterocolitica. The ferrioxamine receptor (foxA) located on the Y. enterocolitica chromosome, together with its transport protein, transports a siderophore specific for ferric ion. Currently, ail is the primary target gene for nucleic acid detection of pathogenic Y. enterocolitica., Results: The genes ail and foxA in 271 pathogenic and 27 non-pathogenic Y. enterocolitica strains isolated from China and 10 reference strains were sequenced, aligned, compared to the ail and foxA sequences of Yersinia enterocolitica subsp. enterocolitica 8081 (Genbank: NC&#95;008800), and analyzed for sequence polymorphism. The ail from the 282 strains showed 3 sequence patterns: 277 strains of serotypes O:3, O:9 and O:5, 27 with identical nucleic acid sequences formed pattern A1; 4 strains of serotype 1B/O:8 with identical nucleic acid sequences formed pattern A2; and one Chinese isolate 2/O:9 formed pattern A3. In the primary coding region of the foxA ORF (Genebank: X60447 nt 433-1866; nt 28 to 1,461 in the ORF), the sequences formed 3 groups and were further divided into 8 sequence patterns., Conclusion: The ail and foxA loci of pathogenic Y. enterocolitica have been analyzed. The ail sequence was highly conserved among the same serotype strains from different sources; and foxA was highly conserved among the pathogenic strains, although there was some sequence diversity. Fewer strains were used from outside China, which is a limitation of the study.

Adsorption irreversibility of Zn(II) on TiO2 at various temperatures was studied using a combination of classical macroscopic methods and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy. When the temperature was increased from 5 to 40 degrees C, the Zn(II) adsorption capacity increased by 130%, and adsorbed Zn(II) became more reversible. The standard Gibbs free energy change (DeltaG 0) of the adsorption reaction at 5, 20, and 40 degrees C was determined to be -19.58+/-0.30, -22.28+/-0.10, and -25.14+/-0.21 kJ mol(-1), respectively. And the standard enthalpy (DeltaH 0) and entropy (DeltaS 0) were 24.55+/-2.91 kJ mol(-1) and 159.13+/-0.53 J mol(-1)K(-1), respectively. EXAFS spectra results showed that the hydrated Zn(II) was adsorbed through fourfold coordination with an average ZnO bond distance of 1.98+/-0.01 A. Two ZnTi atomic distances of 3.25+/-0.02 and 3.69+/-0.03 A were observed, which corresponded to an edge-sharing linkage mode (strong adsorption) and a corner-sharing linkage mode (weak adsorption), respectively. As the temperature increased from 5 to 40 degrees C, the number of strong adsorption sites (N1) remained relatively constant while the number for the weak adsorption sites (N2) increased by 31%. These results indicate that the net gain in adsorption capacity and the decreased adsorption irreversibility at elevated temperatures were due to the increase in available weak adsorption sites (N2) or the decrease in the ratio of N1/N2. Both the macroscopic sorption/desorption equilibrium data and the molecular level evidence of this study suggest that in a given environmental system (e.g., soils or natural waters) zinc and other similar heavy metals are likely more mobile at higher temperatures.