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The microbial community structure and diversity of Jiang-flavor Daqu (TS, WS, WM, MH and DJ) from different areas of Maotai town were analyzed by using the third-generation nanopore sequencing platform, and its physicochemical indexes and characteristic flavor substances were measured. The results showed that there were some similarities and differences between Daqu in different areas of Maotai town. In terms of microbial community structure, Bacillus, Saccharopolyspora, Weissella, Staphylococcus and Streptomyces were the common dominant bacterial genera in the five Daqu samples. Among them, Bacillus was the absolute dominant bacteria in MH and DJ. Aspergillus and Penicillium were the common dominant fungal genera, and the proportions of Lichtheimia and Saccharomycopsis in TS, WM and MH were significantly higher than those in DJ and WS. Compared with TS and WM, network correlation analysis showed that MH, DJ and WS had stronger interactions among dominant bacteria. In addition, redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that Weissella was positively correlated with esterification power, liquefaction power, saccharification power, acetic acid, ethyl acetate, ethyl lactate and n-pentanol. Lichtheimia was positively correlated with liquefaction power, saccharification power, acetic acid, isovaleric acid, 2,3-butanediol, phenylacetaldehyde and dibutyl phthalate. Saccharomycopsis was positively correlated with esterification power and ethyl acetate. Bacillus was positively correlated with 2,3,5,6-tetramethylpyrazine, propionic acid, isovaleric acid, dibutyl phthalate, 2,3-butanediol and phenacetaldehyde.

Intake excessive arsenic (As) is related to the occurrence of peripheral neuropathy. However, both the underlying mechanism and the preventive approach remain largely unknown. In the present study, As treatment significantly decreased the mechanical withdrawal threshold and increased the titer of anti‐myelin basic protein antibody in rats, accompanied with damaged BNB. The levels of inflammatory cytokines and proteolytic enzymes were also significantly upregulated. However, administration of MeCbl in As‐treated rats significantly reversed the decline in hindfoot mechanical withdrawal threshold, as well as BNB failure and sciatic nerve inflammation. Repeated As treatment in athymic nude mice indicated that sciatic nerve inflammation and mechanical hyperalgesia were T cell‐dependent. These data implicated that MBP‐activated autoimmunity and the related neuroinflammation probably contributed to As‐induced mechanical hyperalgesia and MeCbl exerted a protective role probably via maintenance the integrity of BNB and inhibition of neuroinflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel (NH4)2Mo4O13/N-doped porous carbon composite is fabricated in situ using a one-step solid technique. Benefiting from the intriguing features of this composite, it undergoes an intercalation and conversion reaction mechanism with diffusion-controlled Li storage behaviour, exhibiting an excellent reversible capacity of 1151 mA h g−1 over 350 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Ferrous sulfides have high theoretical capacity in the electrochemical storage of Na‐ion and K‐ion, but its obvious volume change during the storage process greatly affects its cycling performance at high current density. In this regard, we construct a unique composites structure of Nitrogen‐doped carbon shell coated FeS nanoparticle with inner void spaces. As an anode in Na‐ion and K‐ion batteries, this structure could provide excellent cycling performance at high rate of charge/discharge process (560 mAh/g at 0.5 A/g for 300 cycles in Na‐ion battery and 322 mAh/g at 1 A/g for 300 cycles in K‐ion battery). Further research finds the inner void space could not only provide buffer space for the volume change of FeS nanoparticles, but also maintain a stable outer carbon shell during the electrochemical process. These behaviors greatly promote the reversibility of FeS at high rate charge transfer process. Consequently, the construction of inner void space in graphitized carbon shell in this work could be considered as an important reference for the promotion of electrochemical storage in other transitional metal compound system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen‐doped hard carbon on Ni foam (NC/NF) with numerous active sites, expanded interlayer distance (0.49 nm), and highly ordered pseudo‐graphic structure is synthesized by a melamine‐assisted hydrothermal pretreatment and subsequent pyrolysis procedure. The high content configurations of pyrrolic‐nitrogen and pyridinic‐nitrogen in NC/NF could provide abundant active sites and defects for efficient Na+ adsorption/desorption and improved transport kinetics. The obvious flocculent structures on carbon surface, corresponding to the highly ordered pseudo‐graphic structure, could enhance the transport kinetics for electrons. The strong electrostatic repulsion of pyrrolic‐nitrogen could expand interlayer distance, facilitating Na+ insertion/extraction process. The balance between high nitrogen content and sufficient graphitization degree comes into strong carbon frameworks with enhanced structural stability and electronic conductivity. When served as free‐standing anodes for sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs), NC/NF presents high rate capability of 128.5 mAh g−1 at 10 A g−1, and excellent cycling stability of 225.4 mAh g−1 after 1000 cycles under high current density of 5 A g−1. These results demonstrate a new light to prepare advanced anodes for SIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing 3 D self‐assembled nanoarchitectures with well‐defined crystal structures is an effective strategy to enhance the electrochemical performances of electrode materials. (1 1 0)‐oriented and bridged‐nanoblocks self‐assembled VS4 microspheres are controllably synthesized by a facile one‐step hydrothermal method. The (1 1 0)‐bridged structure sets up open pathways for Na+ diffusion among nanoblocks, and the (1 1 0)‐oriented structure provides unobstructed pathways for Na+ diffusion in the nanoblocks, which collectively constructs multidimensional Na+ transfer channels in the VS4 microspheres, promoting the electrochemical kinetics. As an anode for Na‐ion batteries (SIBs), this material exhibits pseudocapacitive Na+ storage and excellent rate capability, delivering high capacities of 339 and 270 mAh g−1 at rates of 0.1 and 2.0 A g−1, respectively, with a capacity retention of 79 % in the voltage window of 0.5–3.0 V. In particular, the reversible capacity reaches 575 mAh g−1 after 300 cycles even at 1.0 A g−1 in the voltage window of 0.05–3.0 V, outperforming those of the ever‐reported VS4‐based anode materials. This work presents an effective strategy to the exploration and design of high‐performance anodes for SIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibodies and antigen-binding fragments (Fabs) can be used to modify the surface of nanoparticles for enhanced target binding. In our previous work, site-specific conjugation of Fabs to polymeric micelles using conventional methods was limited to approximately 30% efficiency, possibly due to steric hindrance related to macromolecular reactants. Here, we report a new method that enables conjugation of Fabs onto a micelle surface in a controlled manner with up to quantitative conversion of nanoparticle reactive groups. Variation of (i) PEG spacer length in a heterofunctionalized cross-linker and (ii) Fab/polymer feed ratios resulted in production of nanoparticles with a range of Fab densities on the surface up to the theoretical maximum value. The biological impact of variable Fab density was evaluated in vitro with respect to cell uptake and cytotoxicity of a drug-loaded (SN38) targeted polymeric micelle bearing anti-EphA2 Fabs. Fab conjugation increased cell uptake and potency compared with non-targeted micelles, although a Fab density of 60% resulted in decreased uptake and potency of the targeted micelles. Altogether, our findings demonstrate that conjugation strategies can be optimized to allow control of Fab density on the surface of nanoparticles and also that Fab density may need to be optimized for a given cell-surface target to achieve the highest bioactivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Inflammatory injury, particularly the production of active interleukin (IL)-1β plays a major role in the pathogenesis of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in preterm infants. The release of active IL-1β is controlled by posttranscriptional modifications of its proform (pro-IL-1β) through the inflammasome. Rac1 is a member of the Rho family of GTPases that regulate the inflammatory process. Objective: This study tested the hypothesis that Rac1 signaling increases inflammasome activation that results in damaging inflammation, and that the inhibition of Rac1 signaling prevents lung injury, by inhibiting inflammasome activation in a newborn rat model of BPD induced by hyperoxia. Methods: Newborn rat pups were exposed to room air or hyperoxia (85% O2) and received daily intraperitoneal injections of placebo (normal saline) or NSC23766, a specific Rac1 inhibitor, for 10 days. The effects on lung inflammation, alveolarization, vascular development, vascular remodeling, right ventricular systolic pressure, and right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH) were then assessed. Results: Hyperoxia exposure upregulated Rac1 and increased the production of active IL- 1β, which was accompanied by increasing expression of the inflammasome. In addition, hyperoxia induced the pathological hallmarks of BPD. However, treatment with NSC23766 significantly decreased inflammasome activation and macrophage infiltration, improved alveolar and vascular development, and reduced pulmonary vascular remodeling and RVH. Conclusion: These results indicate that Rac1 signaling regulates the expression of the inflammasome and plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of hyperoxia-induced neonatal lung injury. Therefore, targeting Rac1 signaling may provide a novel strategy to prevent and treat BPD in preterm infants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sulfur hexafluoride has excellent insulating and arc-suppression properties, and is widely used in gas-insulated switchgear. Under high voltage discharge condition, SF 6 decomposes into various by-products according to discharge scenarios. The formation mechanism of decomposition products is so far not clear. For most of the studies, experimental measurements are used to speculate the reaction mechanism, and those research is postulated with great arbitrariness. Quantum chemical calculation by using high precision simulation theory is a very effective method to reveal the microcosmic mechanism of complex chemical reaction. Therefore, in this paper, we used high level quantum chemical method (B3P86/6-31G ∗∗ ) to study the mechanism of decomposition reaction and products, in presence of trace air or H 2 O. The decomposition products include SO 2 , H 2 S, and HF. For each reaction product, we provide a detailed generation pathway, including the data and energy structure of reaction intermediates and transition states. The simulation results can explain the experimental results accurately, and provide new understanding and support for the judgment of the discharge reaction state and subsequent electrical aging. These results are very helpful to build SF 6 /H 2 O/O 2 reaction model, and indicate the electrical aging process from microcosmic angle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"The authors declare no competing interests." now reads: "JPdRV, WDD and RWK are co-founders and managing members of InflamaCORE, LLC and have licensed patents on inflammasome proteins as biomarkers of injury and disease as well as on targeting inflammasome proteins for therapeutic purposes. JPdRV, WDD and RWK are Scientific Advisory Board Members of ZyVersa Therapeutics.". [Extracted from the article]