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NiO-TiO 2 may be deemed as the preeminent resilient and cost-effective photocatalyst for the co-generated generation of hydrogen and value-added commodities via glycerol photoreforming. This assertion is founded on the fact that this composite catalyst possesses photochemical qualities, which enable it to effectively convert water & glycerol solution into hydrogen and other high-value added chemicals, which can be reliable option for industrial-scale glycerol photoreforming applications. [Display omitted] Selective photocatalysis to simultaneously produce sustainable hydrogen and value-added chemicals from biomass or biomass derivates is attracting extensive investigations. However, the lack of bifunctional photocatalyst greatly limits the possibility to realize the "one stone kills two birds" scenario. Herein, anatase titanium dioxide (TiO 2) nanosheets are rationally designed as the n-type semiconductor, combining with nickel oxide (NiO) nanoparticles, the p-type semiconductor, resulting in the formation of a p-n heterojunction structure. The shorten charge transfer path and the spontaneous formation of p-n heterojunction endow the photocatalyst with efficient spatial separation of photogenerated electrons and holes. As a result, TiO 2 accumulates electrons for efficient hydrogen generation while NiO collects holes to selectively oxidize glycerol into value-added chemicals. The results showed that by loading 5% nickel into the heterojunction caused a remarkable rise in the generation of hydrogen (H 2). The combination of NiO-TiO 2 created 4000 µmolh−1g−1 of H 2 , which is 50% greater than the H 2 production from pure nanosheet TiO 2 and 63 times more than the H 2 production from commercial nanopowder TiO 2. Then, by changing loading amount of Ni, it is found that when 7.5 % of Ni is loaded the highest amount of hydrogen production achieved, 8000 µmolh−1g−1. By employing best sample (S3), 20 % of glycerol converted to value added products, glyceraldehyde and dihydroxyacetone. The feasibility study revealed that glyceraldehyde generates the largest portion of yearly earnings at 89%, while dihydroxyacetone and H 2 account for 11% and 0.03% of the annual revenue, respectively. This work provides a good example to simultaneously produce green hydrogen and valuable chemicals with the rational design of dually functional photocatalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 3DOM TiO 2 -Au-CdS inverse opal photonic crystal structure is designed for visible-light hydrogen production, exhibiting extremely enhanced photocatalytic activity via coupling bifunctional SPR effect and electron transfer of Au NPs with slow photon effect. [Display omitted] • The ternary TiO 2 -Au-CdS (TAC) photocatalysts have been designed to couple the bifunctional Au NPs with slow photon effect. • A two electron transfer paths model is proposed in the ternary TAC photocatalysts. • Finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations are used to reveal the size effect of Au NPs. • The ternary TAC-10 photocatalyst with ~ 10 nm Au NPs demonstrates the highest hydrogen evolution rate under visible-light. Gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) with surface plasmonic resonance (SPR) effect and excellent internal electron transfer ability have widely been combined with semiconductors for photocatalysis. However, the in-depth effects of Au NPs in multicomponent photocatalysts have not been completely understood. Herein, ternary titanium oxide-gold-cadmium sulfide (TiO 2 -Au-CdS, TAC) photocatalysts, based on hierarchical TiO 2 inverse opal photonic crystal structure with different Au NPs sizes have been designed to reveal the SPR effect and internal electron transfer of Au NPs in the presence of slow photon effect. It appears that the SPR effect and internal electron transfer ability of Au NPs, depending on their sizes, play a synergistic effect on the photocatalytic enhancement. The ternary TAC-10 photocatalyst with ~ 10 nm Au NPs demonstrates an unprecedented hydrogen evolution rate of 47.6 mmolh-1g−1 under visible-light, demonstrating ~ 48% enhancement comparing to the sample without slow photon effect. In particular, a 9.83% apparent quantum yield under 450 nm monochromatic light is achieved for TAC-10. A model is proposed and finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations reveal the size influence of Au NPs in ternary TAC photocatalysts. This work suggests that the rational design of bifunctional Au NPs coupling with slow photon effect could largely promote hydrogen production from visible-light driven water splitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• n -p heterojunction of TiO 2 -NiO ultrafine core-shell nanoparticles are prepared. • Strong interfacial interaction significantly improve charge separation efficiency. • As-fabricated photocatalyst exhibits excellent H 2 production from water splitting. • H 2 , CH 4 and fatty acids are cogenerated from biomass lignin photoreforming. Hydrogen evolution from biomass photoreforming has been widely recognized as a promising strategy for relieving the pressure from energy crisis and environmental pollution, as it could generate sustainable H 2 and value-added bioproducts simultaneously. Combining p-type semiconductors with n -type semiconductors to form n -p heterojunction is an effective strategy to improve the photocatalytic quantum efficiency by enhancing the separation of photogenerated electrons and holes, which could greatly facilitate the realization of such biomass photorefinery concept. However, the incompact contact between the n -type and p-type semiconductors often induces the aggregation of photogenerated electrons and holes. In this work, we design and synthesize an ultrafine n -p heterojunction TiO 2 -NiO core-shell structure to overcome the incompact contact in the n -p interface. When the n -p heterojunction photocatalysts are evaluated for photocatalytic water splitting and biomass lignin photoreforming respectively, the as-fabricated TiO 2 -NiO nanocomposite with 3.25% NiO demonstrates the highest hydrogen generation of 23.5 mmol h−1 g−1 from water splitting and H 2 (0.45 mmol h−1 g−1) and CH 4 (0.03 mmol h−1 g−1) cogeneration with reasonable amount of fatty acids (palmitic acid and stearic acid) production from lignin photoreforming. The excellent photocatalytic activity is ascribed to the synergistic effects of high crystallinity of TiO 2 ultrafine nanoparticles, core-shell structure and n -p heterojunction with NiO nanoclusters. This present work demonstrates a simple and efficient method to fabricate ultrafine n -p heterojunction core-shell structure for noble-metal free catalyst for both water splitting and biomass photoreforming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) proteins are one of the largest protein families in land plants. PPR proteins exhibit sequence-specific RNA-binding activity and are implicated in plant growth and development related processes. In this study, we report that the radicleless 1 (rl1) mutant in rice (Oryza sativa L.) exhibited defective radicle emergence in embryos and compromised grain filling in endosperms. Gene cloning and confirmation via genetic complementation analyses showed that RL1 encodes a P-type PPR protein, which is localized to mitochondria. The RL1 protein was specifically involved in the splicing of intron 1 of the mitochondrial nad4 transcript, which encodes a subunit of the mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase complex. Consistent with this observation, the rl1 mutant exhibited altered mitochondrial morphology and lower ATP accumulation compared with the wild type. Thus, our findings suggest that RL1-mediated nad4 splicing is crucial for embryo and endosperm development in rice. • RL1 encodesa mitochondria localizedP-type PPR protein. • Loss of function of RL1 exhibitsdefective radicle emergence in embryos. • RL1 regulatesthe splicing of mitochondria nad4 intron 1. • RL1 is essential formitochondrialmorphologymaintenance and ATP biosynthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the cartilage and synovial microenvironment of osteoarthritis (OA) patients, utmost changes are commonly brought upon by the inflammatory cytokines, leading to cellular dysfunction, particularly in chondrocytes. The regulation of chondrogenesis, a key part is played the microRNAs. Thus, the current study aimed to assess the function of miR-20a in osteoarthritis. The miR-20a expression was observed to increase in the tissues of OA cartilage, when compared with tissues of normal cartilage, and enhanced proliferation of chondrocyte was observed in the presence of miR-20a. Moreover, on treating the chondrocytes with LPS (lipopolysaccharide), an increase in miR-20a level was observed. On transfecting with miR-20a inhibitor, inhibition in production of LPS-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines as well as cell apoptosis were seen. The assay for luciferase activity showed that the expression of IκBβ was impeded on being targeted at its 3′-UTR by miR-20a. The transfection of IκBβ and inhibitor of miR-20a repressed the NF-κB pathway activation and chondrocyte cellular apoptosis. An OA model was established for in vivo studies on rats by ACLT (anterior cruciate ligament transection). In conclusion, the results demonstrate an increase in articular cavity inflammation in rats with OA in the presence of miR-20a by targeting on IκBβ and activating the NF-κB signaling pathway. • The expression of miR-20a was increased in the OA cartilage tissues, compared with normal cartilage tissues. • MiR-20a level in chondrocytes was increased after treatment with LPS. • MiR-20a targeting 3′-UTR of IκBβ. • MiR-20a inhibitor and IκBβ transfection inhibited the activation of NF-κB pathway and cell apoptosis of chondrocytes. • Cytokines production and IκBβ expression in OA rats was upregulated by miR-20a inhibition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Photorefining of biomass is increasingly recognized as a pivotal technology for the simultaneous production of hydrogen and value-added chemicals. The intrinsic recalcitrance of lignocellulosic biomass puts high demands on the rational design of bifunctional photocatalyst. Herein, Ni 2 P/CdS with a strong interfacial effect in this work was designed to overcome lignocellulosic biomass photorefining. The strong interfacial effect between Ni 2 P and CdS not only improved the light absorbance, but also optimized the spatial redistribution of photogenerated electrons and holes. Therefore, Ni 2 P/CdS exhibited an unprecedented H 2 evolution activity (ca. 199.7 mmol·h−1·g−1) in the presence of lactic acid as the traditional sacrificial agent. Considerable H 2 generation was also achieved in the presence of lignin (ca. 322.8 μmol·h−1·g−1), cellulose (ca. 534.3 μmol·h−1·g−1) and hemicellulose (ca. 382.2 μmol·h−1·g−1) as the electron donor respectively. Theoretical calculation results indicated that establishing the interfacial effect between Ni 2 P and CdS optimized their work functions. This optimization fosters improved the redistribution between electrons and holes, as a result, photocatalytic hydrogen production from biomass solution was greatly enhanced. Significantly, Ni 2 P/CdS showed dual functionalities to produce H 2 and value-added compounds from raw biomass directly. This present work demonstrates the potential of raw biomass photorefining through astutely designing photocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Novel ternary ZnO/BiVO 4 /3DOM TiO 2 nanocomposites are synthesized. • Ternary ZnO/BiVO 4 /3DOM TiO 2 nanocomposites exhibit enhanced catalytic activity. • The cascade electronic band structure in ternary nanocomposites leads to the enhanced photocatalytic performance. • Coupling semiconductors with suitable energy levels is favorable to improve the efficiency of induced light. Abstract Ternary zinc oxide/bismuth vanadate/three-dimensional ordered macroporous titanium dioxide (ZnO/BiVO 4 /3DOM TiO 2) heterojuncted nanocomposites with cascade electronic band structures were successfully designed and synthesized for visible light photodegradation of two different molecules: Rhodamine B (RhB) and Tartrazine. The photocatalytic active species have been investigated by using electron scavenger (AgNO 3) and hole scavenger (Triethanolamine: TEOA). The band edge positions of each component in tenary nanocomposites have been measured by using photoelectrochemical Mott-Schottky method and valence band XPS (VB-XPS) spectroscopy. Within the heterojunction, charges are favorably and spatially separated through the gradient potential at the interfaces. This largely suppresses the recombination of photogenerated electrons and holes. Furthermore, 3DOM inverse opal structure is beneficial for high diffusion efficiency and highly accessible surface area of reactants and light and multiple scattering for light harvesting. Consequently, these heterojuncted nanocomposites exhibit highly enhanced photocatalytic performance compared with pure BiVO 4 nanostructure, and binary BiVO 4 /3DOM TiO 2 , ZnO/BiVO 4 nanocomposites. A detailed mechanism of charge transfer is proposed for these ternary ZnO/BiVO 4 /3DOM TiO 2 nanocomposites on the basis of a large series of spectroscopic and photocatalytic results. Our work demonstrates clearly that coupling multicomponent semiconductors with different energy levels of conduction and valence bands can significantly increase the photogenerated charge carriers through the efficient charge separation across their multiple interfaces. This work gives some new ideas on developing new visible light responsive nanocomposites for highly efficient solar energy utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead is a toxic heavy metal that is highly harmful to humans. Developing fast, efficient, and separable materials to treat lead-contaminated wastewater is challenging. In this paper, Cu-based MOF composite (SCC-CuMOF) was prepared by in-situ growth method and used for the removal of Pb2+ from aqueous solutions. The obtained materials were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) mapping, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) specific surface area, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and infrared spectroscopy (IR). The effects of pH, coexisting ions, contact time, initial ion concentration, and temperature on the removal of Pb2+ were investigated. SCC-CuMOF exhibited excellent adsorption performance on Pb2+. Adsorption of Pb2+ on SCC-CuMOF were in accordance with the pseudo-second-order model and Langmuir model. The adsorption thermodynamic study suggested that the adsorption process was spontaneous and endothermic. The results revealed that Pb2+ might be adsorbed onto SCC-CuMOF via ion exchange and coordination interaction. In general, SCC-CuMOF has the potential to remove Pb2+ from wastewater rapidly and efficiently. The study prepared SCC-CuMOF composites by in situ growth of Cu-based MOF on the hydrogel SCC-Cu surface for the removal of Pb2+ from aqueous solutions. [Display omitted] • Cu-based MOF composite (SCC-CuMOF) was prepared by in-situ growth method. • SCC-CuMOF exhibited excellent adsorption performance on Pb2+. • The maximum adsorption capacity for Pb2+ was 531.38 ​mg/g at 308 ​K. • The mechanism of Pb2+ adsorption on composites is thoroughly discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A two-dimensional beam-focusing (TDBF) theory is proposed to increase the accuracy and minimize the blind zone of impact localization. • The velocity of acoustic emission signal excited by impact and propagated in plate structure is measured and described as probability distribution. With the TDBF localization algorithm the impact localization result can be displayed with probabilistic tomography which is more precise and intuitive than traditional deterministic description. • The accuracy of the linear sensor array with one dimension beam focus algorithm according to the impact occurred at different angle is measured after multiple tests. To fuse the two tomography calculated using the longitudinal and horizontal sensor array, the Bayes fusion is adopted to fuse the tomography concerning the accuracy which can make the impact localization more precise and credible. Monitoring structural impact is one of the main research aspects of structural health monitoring. A new algorithm for impact localization(IL) is proposed in this paper through a two-dimensional beam-focusing (TDBF) probabilistic tomography theory. The newly developed method is based on the arrangement of cross-shaped piezoelectric sensor (PZT) which has greatly improved the accuracy of IL. Moreover, in the proposed TDBF localization algorithm, the accuracy of the ultrasonic wave velocity achieved during testing has emerged as the main factor that ameliorates the IL. The probability distribution of the velocity is obtained through statistical analysis and introduced into the TDBF localization algorithm to localize the impact through probabilistic tomography. To further improve the accuracy of the IL, Bayes theory is also adopted to fuse two impact tomography obtained by horizontal sensor array and longitudinal sensor array, respectively. The effectiveness and credibility of the TDBF-IL are verified through comprehensive experimental research which indicate the promising prospects of proposed method in accurate and effective monitoring of structural health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tripartite motif (TRIM)-containing proteins exhibit various activities and play important roles in the immune system through regulating signaling pathways. Bloodthirsty gene is a multigene subset of TRIM genes. In this study we identified and characterized a new member of the bloodthirsty subset of TRIM genes, btr20 , in zebrafish ( Danio rerio ). The gene is located on chromosome 19 and forms a cluster with btr18 , btr21 , btr22 and an E3 ubiquitin ligase TRIM39-like gene. Deduced btr20 represents a RBCC-B30.2 TRIM protein containing 544 amino acids. The mRNA expression level of btr20 was highest in intestine and gill, followed by in spleen and kidney. Challenge experiment with Aeromonas hydrophila strain NJ-1 showed that the levels of btr20 and NF-κB mRNA were remarkably upregulated in the four tissues mentioned above. btr20 was localized in the cytoplasm and formed aggregate in human embryonic kidney cell line 293T. In vitro self-ubiquitylation experiment demonstrated that btr20 has E3 ubiquitin ligase activity that can be self-ubiquitylated with most E2 enzymes, especially UbcH6. The results suggested that btr20 may involve in the anti-microbial activity in the immune system as an E3 ubiquitin ligase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tripartite motif (TRIM) proteins play important roles in a broad range of biological processes, including apoptosis, cell proliferation and innate immunity response. In this study, a TRIM gene and its three splice variants were cloned from an elasmobranch fish—whitespotted bamboo shark ( Chiloscyllium plagiosum Bennett). Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the gene was closely related to TRIM35 homologs, thus termed CpTRIM35-like. Deduced CpTRIM35 has a RBCC-PRY/SPRY structure typical of TRIM proteins, and its splice variants (CpTRIM35-1–3) have different truncations at the C-terminus. The gene products were constitutively expressed in adult sharks with the highest levels in spleen and kidney. The different subcellular locations, upregulation upon LPS and poly I:C stimulation, and significant E3 ubiquitin ligase activities suggested their different roles in immune responses as an E3 ubiquitin ligase. This is the first TRIM protein ever characterized in elasmobranch fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: β-defensins are a large family of multi-disulfide-bonded peptides with broad-spectrum antimicrobial activities that contribute to innate host defense in many organisms, but little information is available about β-defensins produced by freshwater fish lacking scales. We therefore cloned and identified a β-defensin gene from Chinese loach (Paramisgurnus dabryanus) by designing degenerate primers and using thermal asymmetric interlaced PCR. This gene is the first defensin gene ever identified in a non-scaled freshwater fish. Annotation of the protein domain architecture showed that the putative Chinese loach β-defensin contains the signature motif of six conserved cysteines within the mature peptide, an aspect similar to β-defensins of other marine fish. We also used quantitative real-time PCR to investigate the expression pattern of the Chinese loach β-defensin gene, mRNA of which could be observed in various tissues. After challenge with the pathogenic bacterium Aeromonas hydrophila, β-defensin expression was induced in the eye, gill, skin, and spleen of the adult loach. The bioactivity of the recombinant P. dabryanus β-defensin was examined against pathogenic bacteria, and the results suggest that this class 2 β-defensin has potential applications for treatment of bacterial infections. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The biological significance of tripartite motif (TRIM) proteins is increasingly being appreciated due to their roles in a broad range of biological processes that associated with innate immunity. In this study, we have described the structural and functional analysis of TRIM3a from zebrafish. Annotation of domain architectures found that the TRIM3a fulfills the TRIM-NHL rule of domain composition with a Filamin/ABP280 domain and NHL repeats at its C-terminal region. In addition, the mRNA expression level of TRIM3a was the highest in brain, and with a relatively higher level in spleen, liver, and gill. A strong expression starting at 36 h post fertilization (hpf) was observed by real-time PCR and could be detected in brain by in situ hybridization, suggesting that TRIM3a protein might play an important role in brain development in zebrafish. Considering that TRIM3a has a RING finger domain, we expressed and purified the TRIM3a protein and performed ubiquitylation assays, our results showed that TRIM3a underwent self-polyubiquitylation in combination with E1, UbcH5c, biotin-ubiquitin in vitro. Meanwhile, TRIM3a-R without the RING domain was expressed and purified as well, in vitro ubiquitylation assays showed that the self-ubiquitylation of TRIM3a was dependent on its RING domain, suggesting that TRIM3a might function as a RING finger E3 ubiquitin ligase. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Heterodimeric class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules consist of a putative 45-kDa heavy chain and a 12-kDa β2-microglobulin (β2m) light chain. The knowledge about MHC genes in Atlantic salmon accumulated during the last decade has allowed us to generate soluble and stable MHC class I molecules with biological activity. We report here the use of a bacterial expression system to produce the recombinant single-chain MHC molecules based on a specific allele Sasa-UBA*0301. This particular allele was selected because previous work has shown its association with the resistance to infectious salmon anaemia virus. The single-chain salmon MHC class I molecule has been designed and generated, in which the carboxyl terminus of β2m is joined together with a flexible 15 or 20 amino acid peptide linker to the amino terminus of the heavy chain (Sasaβ2mUBA*0301). Monoclonal antibodies were successfully produced against both the MHC class I heavy chain and β2m, and showed binding to the recombinant molecule. The recombinant complex Sasaβ2mUBA*0301 was expressed and isolated; the production was scaled up by adjusting to its optimal conditions. Subsequently, the recombinant proteins were purified by affinity chromatography using mAb against β2m and α3. Eluates were analyzed by Western blot and refolded by the removal of denaturant. The correct folding was confirmed by measuring its binding capacity against mAb produced to recognize the native form of MHC molecules by biosensor analysis. This production of sufficient amounts of class I MHC proteins may represent a useful tool to study the peptide-binding specificity of MHC class I molecules, in order to design a peptide vaccine against viral pathogens. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The serine/threonine kinase, glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β), is abundant in CNS and is neuron specific. GSK3β plays a pivotal role in the regulation of numerous cellular functions. GSK3β phosphorylates and thereby regulates many metabolic, signaling, and structural proteins which can influence cell survival. Increased GSK3β correlates with increased cell death, whereas reduced GSK3β expression correlates with increased cell survival. We report that the GSK3β inhibitor Chir025 is neuroprotective in vitro and in vivo. First, Chir025 reduced cultured hippocampal neuron death following glutamate exposure by 15–20% versus vehicle-treated controls. Second, Chir025 significantly reduced cultured cortical neuron death following oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) by approximately 50%. Third, Chir025 reduced infarct size following focal cerebral ischemia by nearly 20%. There were no significant differences in the number of TUNEL-positive neurons or in caspase-3 and -9 activities between Chir025- and vehicle-treated rats, although Chir025 elevated cytosolic Bcl-2 expression. These data show that Chir025-mediated inhibition of GSK3β is neuroprotective and that the mechanism is probably not anti-apoptotic. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• miR-32-5p KO has no effect on the normal behavior and brain development of animals. • LPS enhanced expression of miR-32-5p, astrocytes and glutamate receptor. • miR-32-5p KO eliminates LPS-induced depression behavior. • miR-32-5p KO inhibits overactivation of astrocytes and glutamate receptor expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Glucose conversion assisted photocatalytic water splitting technology avoid the use of sacrificial agents while realizing co-product of H 2 and high value-added chemicals. • Both hierarchical 3DOM structure and type Ⅱ heterojunction are conducive to the absorption and utilization of light and the separation and transmission of carriers. • The 3DOM CTO-ZCS photocatalyst simultaneously has high photocatalytic H 2 production performance (2.81 mmol g-1h−1) and high glucose conversion (85.57 %). • The conversion of glucose to lactic acid is a two-step reaction and the control reaction step is gluconic acid to lactic acid. Glucose conversion assisted photocatalytic water splitting technology to simultaneously produce H 2 and high value-added chemicals is a promising method for alleviating the energy shortage and environmental crisis. In this work, we constructing type II heterojunction by in-situ coupling Zn 0.3 Cd 0.7 S quantum dots (ZCS QDs) on three-dimensionally ordered microporous CaTiO 3 (3DOM CTO) for photocatalytic H 2 production and glucose conversion. The DFT calculations demonstrate that substitution of Zn on the Cd site improves the separation and transmission of photogenerated carriers. Therefore, 3DOM CTO-ZCS composite exhibits best H 2 production performance (2.81 mmol g-1h−1) and highest apparent quantum efficiency (AQY) (5.56 %) at 365 nm, which are about 47 and 18 times that of CTO nanoparticles (NPs). The improved catalytic performance ascribed to not only good mass diffusion and exchange, highly efficient light harvesting of 3DOM structure, but also the efficient charges separation of type Ⅱ heterojunction. The investigation on photocatalytic mechanism indicates that the glucose is mainly converted to gluconic acid and lactic acid, and the control reaction step is gluconic acid to lactic acid. The selectivity for gluconic acid on 3DOM CTO-ZCS is 85.65 %. Our work here proposes a green sustainable method to achieve highly efficient H 2 production and selective conversion of glucose to gluconic acid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report three types of conducting polymers (CPs), polyaniline (PANI), polypyrrole (PPY) and poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) to modify the surface of the CdS nanorods to probe their photocorrosion inhibition and photocatalytic hydrogen production. Various characterizations, such as high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), cyclic voltammetry (CV) and density function theory (DFT) calculations have been conducted to reveal the intrinsic structure of the as-constructed CPs@CdS (@ means CPs at the surface of CdS) core-shell nanorods. The results show that the PANI and PPY shells with abundant N and C atoms can significantly enhance the binding energy of Cd and S atoms on the surface of the CdS nanorods. However, there is no obvious enhancement of binding energy at the interface of the PEDOT shell and the CdS nanorods core. Therefore, PANI@CdS and PPY@CdS possess stronger driving force than PEDOT@CdS to inject the photogenerated holes in conducting polymer shells. As a result, the polyaniline (PANI) modified PANI@CdS core-shell nanorods demonstrate the most effectively enhanced hydrogen production rate of ∼9.7 mmol h −1  g −1 and effective photocorrosion inhibition in 30 h without deactivation under visible-light irradiation. The hydrogen production performance of PPY@CdS is not effectively promoted owing to the weak transmittance of light for the PPY shell. The PEDOT shell cannot improve the hydrogen production and stability property of the CdS nanorods. This work could shed some light on conducting polymers modifying metal sulfides nanostructures that is of inconceivable significance for effective photocorrosion inhibition and highly enhanced photocatalytic activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PHF8 is a JmjC domain-containing protein and erases repressive histone marks including H4K20me1 and H3K9me1/2. It binds to H3K4me3, an active histone mark usually located at transcription start sites (TSSs), through its plant homeo-domain, and is thus recruited and enriched in gene promoters. PHF8 is involved in the development of several types of cancer, including leukemia, prostate cancer, and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Herein we report that PHF8 is an oncogenic protein in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). PHF8 is up-regulated in human NSCLC tissues, and high PHF8 expression predicts poor survival. Our in vitro and in vivo evidence demonstrate that PHF8 regulates lung cancer cell proliferation and cellular transformation. We found that PHF8 knockdown induces DNA damage and apoptosis in lung cancer cells. PHF8 promotes miR-21 expression in human lung cancer, and miR-21 knockdown blocks the effects of PHF8 on proliferation and apoptosis of lung cancer cells. In summary, PHF8 promotes lung cancer cell growth and survival by regulating miR-21. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The Ni clusters accelerate the separation and transmission of the photogenerated electrons and holes. • The in-situ photoluminescence measurement confirms the Ni clusters as more active sites for hydrogen production. • The Ni/ZnIn 2 S 4 composites demonstrate remarkable hydrogen production rate. • The Ni/ZnIn 2 S 4 composites exhibit good stability and reusability. As a typical two-dimensional (2D) metal chalcogenides and visible-light responsive semiconductor, zinc indium sulfide (ZnIn 2 S 4) has attracted much attention in photocatalysis. However, the high recombination rate of photogenerated electrons and holes seriously limits its performance for hydrogen production. In this work, we report in-situ photodeposition of Ni clusters in hierarchical ZnIn 2 S 4 nanoflowers (Ni/ZnIn 2 S 4) to achieve unprecedented photocatalytic hydrogen production. The Ni clusters not only provide plenty of active sites for reactions as evidenced by in-situ photoluminescence measurement, but also effectively accelerate the separation and migration of the photogenerated electrons and holes in ZnIn 2 S 4. Consequently, the Ni/ZnIn 2 S 4 composites exhibit good stability and reusability with highly enhanced visible-light hydrogen production. In particular, the best Ni/ZnIn 2 S 4 photocatalyst exhibits an unprecedented hydrogen production rate of 22.2 mmol·h−1·g−1, 10.6 times that of the pure ZnIn 2 S 4 (2.1 mmol·h−1·g−1). And its apparent quantum yield (AQY) is as high as 56.14% under 450 nm monochromatic light. Our work here suggests that depositing non-precious Ni clusters in ZnIn 2 S 4 is quite promising for the potential practical photocatalysis in solar energy conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lactate is a glycolysis end product, and its levels are markedly associated with disease severity, morbidity, and mortality in sepsis. It modulates key functions of immune cells, including macrophages. In this investigation, transcriptomic analysis was performed using lactic acid, sodium lactate, and hydrochloric acid-stimulated mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages (iBMDM), respectively, to identify lactate-associated signaling pathways. After 24 h of stimulation, 896 differentially expressed genes (DEG) indicated were up-regulation, whereas 792 were down-regulated in the lactic acid group, in the sodium lactate group, 128 DEG were up-regulated, and 41 were down-regulated, and in the hydrochloric acid group, 499 DEG were up-regulated, and 285 were down-regulated. Subsequently, clinical samples were used to further verify the eight genes with significant differences, among which Tssk6, Ypel4, Elovl3, Trp53inp1, and Cfp were differentially expressed in patients with high lactic acid, indicating their possible involvement in lactic acid-induced inflammation and various physiological diseases caused by sepsis. However, elongation of very long chain fatty acids protein 3 (Elovl3) was negatively correlated with lactic acid content in patients. The results of this study provide a necessary reference for better understanding the transcriptomic changes caused by lactic acid and explain the potential role of high lactic acid in the regulation of macrophages in sepsis. • Transcriptomic analysis of iBMDM stimulated with lactic acid, sodium lactate, and hydrochloric acid. • TSSK6, YPEL4, ELOVL3, TRP53INP1, and CFP were highly expressed in septic patients with hyperlactic acid. • Elovl3 was negatively correlated with lactic acid content in patients with sepsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The well-designed Cu 2 O hollow nanospheres with active {1 1 0} and {1 1 1} facets can quickly remove the pollutants from water. We report the well-designed active {1 1 0} and {1 1 1} faceted Cu 2 O hollow nanospheres (Cu 2 O-HNs) for the quick removal of the high concentration pollutants in water. For the first time, these Cu 2 O-HNs combine the advantages of the active facets, hollow structure and nanostructures. The abundance of dangling Cu atoms in two active facets results in positively charged surface to effectively react with the negatively charged pollutants. The hollow structure provides the opportunity to take full use of these active sites. Consequently, the active faceted Cu 2 O-HNs demonstrate excellent adsorption and photodegradation capacities for high concentrated anionic dyes. The smallest Cu 2 O-HNs (~100 nm) can adsorb ~90% of methyl blue (MB) (100 mg L−1) in 10 min and degrade ~92% of MB (100 mg L−1) in 10 min under visible-light. In particular, a film consisting of the smallest Cu 2 O-HNs can quickly remove high concentrated organic dyes and be reused after solar light irradiation for 10 min in air, showing the promising practical application for the removal of organic pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This manuscript investigated the catalytic performance of toluene over Ce-Mn-O x catalysts synthesized by four different routes. Ce-Mn-O x prepared by HT method showed superior catalytic activity of toluene due to its more structural defects, oxygen vacancies, surface adsorption oxygen and other active species. Ce-Mn-O x catalysts were synthesized by impregnation (CM-IM), co-precipitation (CM-CP), citrate sol-gel (CM-SG) and hydrothermal (CM-HT) methods. The synthesis methods exhibited a great impact on the physicochemical properties of catalysts, resulting in different catalytic activity. The catalytic oxidation activity of toluene followed the sequence: CM-HT (T 50 : 234 °C; T 90 : 246 °C) > CM-SG (T 50 : 242 °C; T 90 : 249 °C) > CM-CP (T 50 : 243 °C; T 90 : 259 °C) > CM-IM (T 50 : 251 °C; T 90 : 261 °C), which was consistent with the sequence of surface relative percentage of C ov , Ce3+, Mn3+, O α and r values. Among them, CM-HT showed the best catalytic oxidation performance of toluene due to more structural defects, oxygen vacancies, surface adsorption oxygen, normalized conversion rate and other active species. In addition, CM-HT catalysts showed reliable water resistance and good durability, implying the potential industrial application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MoS 2 quantum dots (QDs) in-situ directing porous MoS 2 -QDs/ZnIn 2 S 4 heterostructures exhibit the H 2 production rate under visible light. Photocatalytic hydrogen (H 2) production based on semiconductors is important to utilize solar light for clean energy and environment. Herein, we report a visible light responsive heterostructure, designed and constructed by molybdenum disulfide quantum dots (MoS 2 -QDs) in-situ seeds-directing growth and self-assemble of zinc indium sulfide (ZnIn 2 S 4) nanosheet to ensure their full contact through a simple one-step solvothermal method for highly improved visible light H 2 production. The MoS 2 -QDs in-situ seeds-directing ZnIn 2 S 4 heterostructure not only builds heterojunctions between MoS 2 and ZnIn 2 S 4 to spatially separate the photogenerated electrons and holes, but also serves as the active sites trapping photogenerated electrons to facilitate H 2 evolution. As a result, MoS 2 -QDs/ZnIn 2 S 4 exhibits high photocatalytic activity for H 2 production, and the optimized 2 wt% MoS 2 -QDs/ZnIn 2 S 4 (2MoS 2 -QDs/ZnIn 2 S 4) heterostructure exhibits the highest H 2 evolution rate of 7152 umol·h−1·g−1 under visible light, ∼9 times of pure ZnIn 2 S 4. Our strategy here could shed some lights on developing noble-metal free heterostructures for highly efficient photocatalytic H 2 production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Hierarchically porous ZnO/g-C 3 N 4 microspheres with type-II heterojunction exhibit an enhanced photocatalytic degradation on rhodamine B and phenol. Abstract Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C 3 N 4) is a visible light active semiconductor. However, low conductivity and high recombination rate of photogenerated electrons and holes limit its application in photocatalysis. In this work, we design and synthesize hierarchically porous zinc oxide/graphitic carbon nitride (ZnO/g-C 3 N 4) microspheres with type-II heterojunction to effectively degrade rhodamine B (RhB) via increasing the charge-separation efficiency. The ultraviolet-visible (UV–Vis) absorption spectra, Mott-Schottky plots and valence band X-ray photoelectron spectroscope confirm the formation of type-II heterojunction between ZnO nanocrystals and g-C 3 N 4 nanosheets. As a result, the 1.5-ZnO/g-C 3 N 4 composite (the mass ratio of zinc acetate dihydrate to g-C 3 N 4 is 1.5) exhibits the highest photocatalytic activity with good stability and higher photocatalytic degradation rate comparing to pure g-C 3 N 4 and pure ZnO. In addition, our results confirm that O 2 − and h+ are the main active species for ZnO/g-C 3 N 4 in degradation of RhB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, molecular hydrogen has been reported to have a suppressive effect on inflammation in human and rodent models. The aim of this study was to evaluate the preventive effects of hydrogen-rich water (HRW) on zebrafish challenged by A. hydrophila. We have found an increased survival rate of bacteria-challenged zebrafish subjected to the HRW immersion treatment. Furthermore, we have revealed that HRW was able to block multiplication of A. hydrophila in zebrafish. In addition, treatment of zebrafish infected by A. hydrophila with effective concentrations of HRW strongly affected the expression of genes mediating pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines. There were down-regulation of selected pro-inflammatory immune response genes (IL-1β, IL-6, and NF-κB), and up-regulation of the anti-inflammatory cytokine gene (IL-10) in the spleen, kidney, and liver. This study is the first one to investigate the effects of HRW on fish infected with bacteria, and might shed new light on hydrogen's antimicrobial effects and further application in aquaculture fish species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The proline-rich Akt substrate of 40kDa (PRAS40) protein is not only a substrate of the protein kinase Akt but also a component of the mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1), thus it links the Akt and the mTOR pathways. We investigated the potential protective role of PRAS40 in cerebral ischemia and its underlying mechanisms by using rats with lentiviral over-expression of PRAS40 and mice with PRAS40 gene knockout (PRAS40 KO). Our results show that gene transfer of PRAS40 reduced infarction size in rats by promoting phosphorylation of Akt, FKHR (FOXO1), PRAS40, and mTOR. In contrast, PRAS40 KO increased infarction size. Although the PRAS40 KO under normal condition did not alter baseline levels of phosphorylated proteins in the Akt and mTOR pathways, PRAS40 KO that underwent stroke exhibited reduced protein levels of p-S6K and p-S6 in the mTOR pathway but not p-Akt, or p-PTEN in the Akt pathway. Furthermore, co-immunoprecipitation suggests that there were less interactive effects between Akt and mTOR in the PRAS40 KO. In conclusion, PRAS40 appears to reduce brain injury by converting cell signaling from Akt to mTOR. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Akirin is a nuclear factor involved in innate immune responses of arthropods and mammals. In this study we have cloned an Akirin2 gene, pdakirin2, from freshwater Chinese loach (Paramisgurnus dabryanus) and characterized its biological functions. Phylogenetic analysis revealed deduced PdAkirin2 had high sequence identities to Akirin2 homologs from fish and mammals (70−91%), it contained two conserved nuclear localization signals (NLSs) with verified sub-cellular localization. Quantitative real-time (qRT)-PCR analysis indicated that PdAkirin2 was present in a wide range of loach tissues and showed up-regulation with challenges of Aeromonas hydrophila NJ-1, LPS and poly I:C. PdAkirin2 as an immune factor had significant effects on the expression of cytokines (TNFα, IFN-α, IFN-γ, IL-4 and IL-1β) and transcription factor NF-κB. This study provides insights into the potential role of PdAkirin2 in the innate immune system. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this study, we identify a recombinant pb1 gene, a recombinant MP segment and a recombinant PA segment. The pb1 gene is recombined from two Eurasia swine H1N1 influenza virus lineages. It belongs to a H1N1 swine clade circulating in Europe and Asia from 1999 to 2009. The mosaic MP segment descends from H7 avian and H1N1 human virus lineages and pertains to a large human H1N1 virus family circulating in Asia, Europe and America from 1918 to 2007. The recombinant PA segment originated from two swine H1N1 lineages is found in a swine H1N1 group prevailing in Asia and Europe from 1999 to 2003. These results collectively falsify the hypothesis that influenza virus do not evolve by homologous recombination. Since recombination not only leads to virus genome diversity but also can alter its host adaptation and pathogenecity; the genetic mechanism should not be neglected in influenza virus surveillance. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Statins are widely being used for the treatment of a variety of conditions beyond their original indication for lowering cholesterol. We have previously reported that simvastatin affected the dopaminergic system in the rat brain. This study aims to investigate locomotor and anxiety effects along with the regional changes of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in the rat brain after 4-week administration of simvastatin. Hyperlocomotive and anxiolytic-like activities in the rat were observed after chronic administration of high dose simvastatin (10 mg/kg/day). Distributions and alterations of NMDA receptors in the post-mortem rat brain were detected by [3H] MK-801 binding autoradiography. Simvastatin increased [3H] MK-801 binding, predominantly in the prefrontal cortex (20%, p =0.003), primary motor cortex (20%, p <0.001), cingulate cortex (28%, p <0.001), hippocampus (41%, p <0.001), caudate putamen (30%, p =0.029), nucleus accumbens (27%, p =0.035) and amygdala (45%, p <0.001) compared to controls. Significant positive correlations were identified between hyperlocomotive as well as anxiolytic-like activities and the upregulation of NMDA receptors in different brain regions. Our results also provide strong evidence that chronic high dose simvastatin administration is to exhibit NMDA antagonist-like effects, which would partially explain the anxiolytic and hyperlocomotor activities. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the critical roles of simvastatin in modulating psycho-neurodegenerative disorders, via NMDA receptors. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]