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H2O2 production by photocatalysis has received considerable attention, while using MOF‐based materials as photocatalysts is still less explored. Ligand functionalization of MOFs is a decoration way at the molecular level, which provides the basis for the further modification of MOFs. In this concept, ligand functionalization of MOFs for photocatalytic H2O2 production has been systematically and extensively discussed. The strategies of ligand functionalization include grafting of functional groups (e. g. amino, methoxyl, boron and alkyl) and multiple ligand decoration. Correspondingly, some specific effects are achieved, e. g. improved charge carrier separation, enhanced O2 adsorption and hydrophobicity, which can realize efficient H2O2 production by photocatalysis. Meanwhile, reaction conditions and activities of photocatalytic H2O2 production have also been explicitly introduced in these studies. At last, the future perspectives are proposed. This concept sheds fresh light on the great potential of ligand functionalization of MOFs for photocatalytic H2O2 production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ulcerative colitis (UC), a chronic and refractory nonspecific inflammatory bowel disease, affects millions of patients worldwide and increases the risk of colorectal cancer. Teprenone is an acylic polyisoprenoid that exerts anti-inflammatory properties in rat models of peptic ulcer disease. This in vitro and in vivo study was designed to investigate the effects of teprenone on UC and to explore the underlying mechanisms. Human intestinal epithelial cells (Caco-2 cells) serve as the in vitro experimental model. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 1 μg/mL) was employed to stimulate the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin [IL]-6, IL-1β, and tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α), Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4), MyD88 expression, and NF-κB activation. A trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced chronic UC rat model was employed for the in vivo assay. Pro-inflammatory cytokine stimulation by LPS in Caco-2 cells was inhibited by teprenone at 40 μg/mL through the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway. Teprenone attenuated TNBS-induced UC, decreased myeloperoxidase and malondialdehyde, induced TLR4 expression and NF-κB activation, and increased glutathione and zonula occludens-1 level in the rat colonic tissue. Moreover, Fusobacterium, Escherichia coli, Porphyromonas gingivalis elevation, and Mogibacterium timidum decline in UC rats were inhibited by teprenone. Based on our results, the protective effects of teprenone for UC may be related to its ability to modulate the gut microbiota and reduce the inflammatory response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fecal microbiota was studied in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and the characteristics of gut microbiota were compared among patients with different subtypes and stages of IBD, aiming to identify the gut microbiota associated with IBD. Methods: Fecal samples were collected from 41 IBD patients (18 patients with ulcerative colitis [UC] and 23 patients with Crohn's disease [CD]) in the Department of Gastroenterology of East China Hospital, Fudan University between January 2021 and January 2022. In addition, fecal samples were collected from 20 healthy volunteers. The fecal microbiota was subjected to 16S rRNA gene sequencing, followed by bioinformatics analysis. Results: There was significant difference in the fecal microbiota between IBD patients and controls. The abundance and diversity of fecal microbiota in the IBD patients were significantly lower than in controls. The relative abundance of Subdoligranulum, Ruminococcus, Anaerostipes and Lachnospira was reduced markedly in the IBD patients. As compared to controls, the relative abundance of Streptococcus increased dramatically in the UC patients. The relative abundance of Lachnoclostridium, Fusobacterium, Cloacibacillus and Erysipelatoclostridium significantly increased in the CD patients. As compared to CD patients, the relative abundance of Alistipes was reduced markedly in the UC patients; the relative abundance of Faecalibacterium, Roseburia and Haemophilus was reduced dramatically in the CD patients. In addition, significant difference was also noted in the fecal microflora between patients with active IBD and those with IBD in remission period. In active IBD patients, the relative abundance of Roseburia, Coprococcus and Ruminiclostridium was reduced significantly. Conclusion: There is intestinal microbiota imbalance in IBD patients, and the abundance of Roseburia, Coprococcus and Ruminiclostridium is reduced significantly in the active period of IBD, which may be related to the active IBD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Utilizing solar energy to charge electrical energy storage devices has currently emerged as a hot and promising research direction to replace the traditional charging processes. Here, MoS2/carbon composites with a hollow tubular structure (MoS2/C-NTs) were developed and used as multifunctional cathodes for the assembly of photo-accelerated rechargeable zinc-ion batteries (photo-ZIBs). The good light-sensitive feature enables MoS2/C-NTs to be capable of harvesting and simultaneously storing solar energy. Benefiting from this, photo-induced charging can be realized and, more importantly, the capacity can be boosted from 254 to 355 mA h g−1 (current density of 100 mA g−1) as compared to that in the dark. Moreover, the obtained photo-ZIB also demonstrates a good capacity retention of ∼74% over 200 cycles under light irradiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Designing ultra‐light, green, and flexible films for efficient electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding is crucial yet challenging. Herein, laminated Ti3C2Tx MXene nanosheets are prepared and impregnated into a delignified wood matrix to fabricate composite films. Through a facile drop‐casting and densification strategy, highly aligned cellulose fibers are used for regulating the stacking behavior of MXenes, and the MXenes are encapsulated and attached tightly to the cellulose chains through hydrogen bonds. A high MXene loading up to 32.5 wt.% can be realized, and the resultant MXene/wood film exhibits a tensile strength of 260.7 MPa. The EMI shielding effectiveness is calculated to be 55.5 dB (X‐band, 8.2–12.4 GHz), with a normalized surface‐specific shielding effectiveness of 2673.4 B cm2 g−1. Moreover, the superior electrical conductivity and structural robustness of the composite film give it pressure‐sensing properties and show high sensitivity for monitoring diverse human physiological movements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To achieve a micro-destructive and rapid measurement of the wood density of standing trees, this study investigated the possibility of the unified modeling of multiple tree species, the reliability of the micro drilling resistance method for measuring wood density, the relationship between drilling needle resistance and wood density, and whether moisture content has a significant impact on the model. First, 231 tree cores and drill resistance data were sampled from Pinus massoniana, Cunninghamia lanceolate, and Cryptomeria fortunei. The basic density and moisture content of each core were measured, and the average value of each resistance data record was calculated. Second, the average drill resistance, the natural logarithm of average drill resistance, and absolute moisture content were used as independent variables, while the basic wood density was used as the dependent variable. Third, the total model of the three tree species and sub-model for each tree species were established through a stepwise regression method. Finally, the accuracy of each model was compared and analyzed with that of using the average basic density of each tree species as an estimated density. The estimated accuracy of the total model, sub model, and average wood density modeling data were 90.070%, 93.865%, and 92.195%, respectively. The results revealed that the estimation accuracy of the sub-model was 1.670 percentage points higher than that of the average wood density modeling data, while the estimation accuracy of the total model was 2.125 percentage points lower than that of the average wood density modeling data. Additionally, except for Cryptomeria fortunei, the natural logarithm of drill resistance significantly influenced the wood density model at a significance level of 0.05. Moreover, moisture content significantly affected the total model and sub-models of Pinus massoniana at a significance level of 0.05. The results indicated the feasibility of using the micro-drilling resistance method to measure the wood density of standing trees. Moreover, the relationship between wood density and drill resistance did not follow a linear pattern, and moisture content slightly influenced the drill needle resistance. Furthermore, the establishment of a mathematical model for each tree species was deemed essential. This study provides valuable guidance for measuring the wood density of standing trees through the micro-drilling resistance method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomass-based hydrogels have become a research hotspot because of their better biocompatibility. However, the preparation of biomass hydrogels is complicated, and they often need to be modified by introducing other substances. In this study, corncob pretreated with bisulfite (125-185 °C) was used as a raw material to prepare lignocellulose hydrogels. The results showed that directly using the pretreated sample without the washing step lowered the total hydrogel costs while preserving the lignosulfonate (LS) produced during pretreatment. The best tensile (54.1 kPa) and compressive (177.7 kPa) stresses were obtained for the hydrogel prepared from non-detoxified pretreated corncob at 165 °C (NCH-165). The sulfonic acid groups in LS could enhance the interaction between plant cellulose, thus improving its mechanical properties. The capacitor assembled from NCH-165 achieved an energy density of 236.1 Wh/kg at a power density of 499.7 W/kg and a high coulombic efficiency of more than 99 % after 2000 charge/discharge cycles. In conclusion, the present study simplifies the pathway for the preparation of flexible, conductive, and anti-freezing hydrogels by directly utilizing a non-detoxified bisulfite-pretreated corncob., 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 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) hold great potential in biorefining because they can efficiently deconstruct the recalcitrant structure of lignocellulose. In particular, inorganic salts with Lewis acids have been proven to be effective at cleaving lignin-carbohydrate complexes. Herein, a Zr-based DES system composed of metal chloride hydrate (ZrOCl 2 ·8H 2 O) and ethylene glycol (EG) was designed and used for poplar powder pretreatment. Zr 4+ -based salts provide sufficient acidity for lignocellulose depolymerization. The acidity of the DES was analysed by the Kamlet-Taft solvatochromic parameter, and the results demonstrated that the acidity can be regulated by the DES composition. Under the optimum conditions (ZrOCl 2 ·8H 2 O:EG molar ratio of 1:2), the DES pretreatment removes nearly 100 % hemicellulose and 94.7 % lignin. The recovered lignin exhibited a low polydispersity of 1.7. The cellulose residues deliver an efficiency of 94.4 % upon enzymatic digestion. Moreover, the DES can be easily recovered with high yield and purity, and the recycled DES still maintains high delignification and enzymatic hydrolysis efficiencies. The proposed DES pretreatment technology is promising for biomass valorization., 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 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Metal-organic framework derived materials received a lot of attention due to their significant benefits in photocatalytic reactions. In this work, a Z-scheme ZnIn 2 S 4 /Bi 2 S 3 hierarchical heterojunction is first developed by a one-pot method using CAU-17 as a template. The specific preparation method endows an intimate interface contact between these two monomers, and CAU-17-derived Bi 2 S 3 possesses a high surface area and porosity, resulting in an efficient charge separation and O 2 capture. Thus, for photocatalytic H 2 O 2 production from the O 2 reduction reaction, the ZnIn 2 S 4 /Bi 2 S 3 heterojunction can achieve an H 2 O 2 yield of 995 µmol L -1 in pure water and ambient air under visible light, 4.5 and 4 times that of ZnIn 2 S 4 and Bi 2 S 3 , respectively. In addition, in tetracycline solution, ZnIn 2 S 4 /Bi 2 S 3 can degrade tetracycline with a degradation rate of 95% by photocatalysis, and at the same time, a final H 2 O 2 production yield of 1223 µmol L -1 is reached. Similarly, high yields of H 2 O 2 are also obtained from wastewater containing o-nitrophenol, acid golden yellow, or acid red, and these pollutants are effectively degraded. This work reveals the potential of metal-organic framework-derived materials in photocatalysis, as well as provides insights into H 2 O 2 green synthesis and wastewater treatment., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

In this work, an intramolecular carbon nitride (CN)-based quaternary homojunction functionalized with pyridine rings is prepared via an in situ alkali-assisted copolymerization strategy of bulk CN and 2-aminopyridine for efficient visible light hydrogen generation. In the obtained structure, triazine-based CN (TCN), heptazine-based CN (HCN), pyridine unit incorporated TCN, and pyridine ring inserted HCN constitute a special multicomponent system and form a built-in electric field between the crystalline semiconductors by the arrangement of energy band levels. The electron-withdrawing function of the conjugated heterocycle can trigger the skeleton delocalization and edge induction effect. Highly accelerated photoelectron-hole transfer rates via multi-stepwise charge migration pathways are achieved by the synergistic effect of the functional group modification and molecular quaternary homojunction. Under the addition of 5 mg 2-aminopyridine, the resulting homojunction framework exhibits a significantly improved hydrogen evolution rate of 6.64 mmol g -1 h -1 with an apparent quantum efficiency of 12.27% at 420 nm. Further, the catalyst verifies its potential commercial value since it can produce hydrogen from various real water environments. This study provides a reliable way for the rational design and fabrication of intramolecular multi-homojunction to obtain high-efficient photocatalytic reactions., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

This work reports a dual heterojunction of etched MIL-68(In)-NH 2 (MN) supported heptazine-/triazine-based carbon nitride (HTCN) via a facile hydrothermal process for photocatalytic ammonia (NH 3 ) synthesis. By applying the hydrothermal treatment, MN microrods are chemically etched into hollow microtubes, and HTCN with nanorod array structures are simultaneously tightly anchored on the outside surface of the microtubes. With the addition of 9 wt% HTCN, the resulting dual heterojunction presents an enhanced photocatalytic ammonia yield rate of 5.57 mm g cat -1 h -1 with an apparent quantum efficiency of 10.89% at 420 nm. Moreover, stable ammonia generation using seawater, tap water, lake water, and turbid water in the absence of sacrificial reagents verifies the potential of the dual-heterojunction composites as a commercially viable photosystem. The obtained one-dimensional (1D) microtubes and coating of HTCN confers this unique composite with extended visible-light harvesting and accelerated charge carrier migration via a multi-stepwise charge transfer pathway. This work provides a new strategy for optimizing nitrogen (N 2 )-into-ammonia conversion efficiency by designing novel dual-heterojunction catalysts., (© 2023 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)