Search

The frog genus Odorrana is distributed across east and southeastern Asia. Based on morphological differences and molecular phylogenetics, a new species of the genus occurring from Leigong Mountain in Guizhou Province, China is described. Phylogenetic analyses based on DNA sequences of the mitochondrial 12S rRNA, 16S rRNA, and ND2 genes supported the new species as an independent lineage. The uncorrected genetic distances between the 12S rRNA, 16S rRNA, and ND2 genes between the new species and its closest congener were 5.0%, 4.9%, and 16.3%, respectively. The new species is distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following characters: body size moderate (SVL 39.1–49.4 mm in males, 49.7 mm in female); head width larger than head length; tympanum distinctly visible; small rounded granules scattered all over dorsal body and limbs; dorsolateral folds absent; heels overlapping when thighs are positioned at right angles to the body; tibiotarsal articulation reaching the level between eye to nostril when leg stretched forward; vocal sacs absent in male and nuptial pads present on the base of finger I.

The advancement in electrocatalysis, particularly in the development of efficient catalysts for hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions (HER and OER), is crucial for sustainable energy generation through processes like overall water splitting. A notable bifunctional electrocatalyst, CoFe2O4/Co7Fe3, has been engineered to facilitate both OER and HER concurrently, aiming to reduce overpotentials. In the pursuit of further enhancing catalytic efficiency, a morphological transformation has been achieved by introducing a sulphur source and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) into the catalyst system, resulting in S–CoFe2O4/Co7Fe3/MWCNTs. This modification has significantly improved the activity for both OER and HER. An onset overpotential of 250 mV@10 mAcm−2 for the OER and 270 mV@50 mAcm−2 for the HER, indicating efficient catalytic activity at relatively low overpotentials. S–CoFe2O4/Co7Fe3/MWCNTs display an outstanding long-term stability in alkaline electrolytes, with minimal Tafel slopes of 77 mV/dec for the OER and 70 mV/dec for the HER, suggesting sustained catalytic performance over extended periods. Furthermore, when employed as both the cathode and anode in the context of complete water splitting, S–CoFe2O4/Co7Fe3/MWCNTs demonstrate an impressive cell voltage of 1.52 V at a current density of 10 mA cm−2 in a 1 M KOH solution, showcasing its viability for practical applications. Given its cost-effectiveness and superior activity, S–CoFe2O4/Co7Fe3/MWCNTs hold significant promise for widespread applications in overall water splitting electrocatalysis, contributing to the advancement of cleaner and sustainable fuel generation technologies.

Abstract Fluoro‐ and chlorofluorocabons (FC/CFCs) are important refrigerants, solvents, and fluoropolymers in industry while being toxic and carrying high global warming potential. Detection and reclamation of FC/CFCs based on adsorption technology with highly selective adsorbents is important to labor safety and environmental protection. Herein, the study reports an integrated method to combine capture, separation, enrichment, and analysis of representative FC/CFCs (chlorodifluoromethane(R22) and 1,1,1,2‐tetrafluoroethane (R134a)) by using the highly stable and porous Zr‐MOF, DUT‐67. Gas adsorption and breakthrough experiments demonstrate that DUT‐67 has high R22/R134a uptake (124/116 cm3 g−1) and excellent R22/R134a/CO2 separation performance (IAST selectivities of R22/CO2 and R134a/CO2 ranging from 51.4 to 33.3, and 31.1 to 25.8), even in rather low concentration and humid conditions. A semi‐quantitative analysis protocol is set up to analyze the low concentrations of R22/R134a based on the high selective R22/R134a adsorption ability, fast adsorption kinetics, water‐resistant utility, facile regeneration, and excellent recyclability of DUT‐67. In situ single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, theoretical calculations, and in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectra have been employed to understand the adsorption mechanism. This work may provide a potential adsorbent for purge and trap technique under room temperature, thus promoting the application of MOFs for VOCs sampling and quantitative analysis.

BackgroundFor IgA nephropathy (IgAN), tubular atrophy/interstitial fibrosis is the most important prognostic pathological indicator in the mesangial and endocapillary hypercellularity, segmental sclerosis, interstitial fibrosis/tubular atrophy, and presence of crescents (MEST-C) score. The identification of non-invasive biomarkers for tubular atrophy/interstitial fibrosis would aid clinical monitoring of IgAN progression and improve patient prognosis.MethodsThe study included 188 patients with primary IgAN in separate confirmation and validation cohorts. The associations of miR-92a-3p, miR-425-5p, and miR-185-5p with renal histopathological lesions and prognosis were explored using Spearman correlation analysis and Kaplan-Meier survival curves. Bioinformatics analysis and dual luciferase experiments were used to identify hub genes for miR-185-5p. The fibrotic phenotypes of tubular epithelial cells were evaluated in vivo and in HK-2 cells.ResultsmiRNA sequencing and cohort validation revealed that the expression levels of miR-92a-3p, miR-425-5p, and miR-185-5p in urine were significantly increased among patients with IgAN; these levels could predict the extent of tubular atrophy/interstitial fibrosis in such patients. The combination of the three biomarkers resulted in an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.742. The renal prognosis was significantly worse in the miR-185-5p high expression group than in the low expression group (P=0.003). Renal tissue in situ hybridization, bioinformatics analysis, and dual luciferase experiments confirmed that miR-185-5p affects prognosis in patients with IgAN mainly by influencing expression of the target gene tight junction protein 1 (TJP1) in renal tubular epithelial cells. In vitro experiment revealed that an miR-185-5p mimic could reduce TJP1 expression in HK-2 cells, while increasing the levels of α-smooth muscle actin, fibronectin, collagen I, and collagen III; these changes promoted the transformation of renal tubular epithelial cells to a fibrotic phenotype. An miR-185-5p inhibitor can reverse the fibrotic phenotype in renal tubular epithelial cells. In a unilateral ureteral obstruction model, the inhibition of miR-185-5p expression alleviated tubular atrophy/interstitial fibrosis.ConclusionUrinary miR-185-5p, a non-invasive biomarker of tubular atrophy/interstitial fibrosis in IgAN, may promote the transformation of renal tubular epithelial cells to a fibrotic phenotype via TJP1.