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A new ternary phosphidopolysilicate (IV), KSi2P3, has been synthesized by high temperature solid state reaction. The compound crystallizes in a new structure type in the monoclinic space group C2/c with a=10.1327(5)Å, b=10.1382(5)Å, c=21.1181(10)Å, β=96.88(0)°, and Z=8. In the structure, all SiP4 tetrahedra are connected with each other by corner-sharing P atoms to form layers, which are stacked along c direction and separated by K+ cations. The two-dimensional structure of KSi2P3 contrasts with those of the two known members in the ternary A/Si/P (A=alkali metal) system, namely Na5SiP3 (zero-dimensional) and K2SiP2 (one-dimensional), which contains less amount of Si. The band gap deduced from UV–vis–IR diffuse reflectance spectrum is 1.72eV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urbanization has been considered a driver of PM 2.5 pollution and the attributed health burden. This study systematically measured the spatiotemporal and urban-rural heterogeneity of PM 2.5 -attributed health burden drivers, including income, population, baseline mortality rate, and PM 2.5 level. The results reveal the significantly positive contribution of disposable income and the periodical and urban-rural differentiation of population contribution to PM 2.5 -attributed health burden. The difference in driver performance due to socioeconomic development and urbanization stages might be an important determinant for different or even opposite results of previous studies. Policymaking for mitigating PM 2.5 -attributed health risk could incorporate the re-assessment and driver determination for PM 2.5 -attributed health burden into the construction and development plan from the overall urbanization perspective. The urbanization-perspective driver decomposition could be synergized with the flow analysis, equality evaluation, and policy benefit estimation to achieve further direction-determining and quantitative assessment of the urban-rural PM 2.5 health risk management strategies. • We decomposed the urbanization drivers of PM 2.5 health burden in China 2008–2021. • Drivers were determined as population, baseline mortality rate, income, and PM 2.5. • New driver disposable income showed significant driving influence. • Urban-rural heterogeneity of the drivers was presented during urbanization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A new series of transition-metal rare-earth chalcogenides, Ln 3FeGaQ7 (Ln=Nd, Sm, Gd, Dy, Q=S; Ln=Nd, Gd, Dy, Q=Se), have been synthesized by solid state reactions. They are isostructural and crystallize in the space group P63. They adopt a three-dimensional framework composed of LnQ7 monocapped trigonal prisms with the interesting [FeS3]4− chains and isolated GaQ4 tetrahedra lying in two sets of channels in the framework. Magnetic susceptibility measurements on Ln 3FeGaQ7 (Ln=Gd, Dy; Q=S, Se) indicate that they are paramagnetic and obey the Curie–Weiss law. Based on the diffuse reflectance spectra, Ln 3FeGaQ7 (Ln=Gd, Dy; Q=S, Se) should have band gaps smaller than 0.5eV. Electronic conductivity measurement on Dy3FeGaSe7 demonstrates semiconducting behavior with σ 300=0.124S/cm. The first-principles calculations were also performed to study the electronic structures of these compounds. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this study, ordered mesoporous nanosheet SAPO-11 molecular sieves were synthesized using uncalcined SBA-15 molecular sieves as a Si source. The effects of different Si sources on the structure and properties of SAPO-11 molecular sieves were examined, and their growth mechanism was elucidated. An electrostatically polarized region was formed between a P123 template (triblock copolymer) contained in uncalcined SBA-15 and two-dimensional channels of SBA-15 molecular sieves. When AlO 2 − and PO 2 + species diffused into this region, its electrostatic polarization promoted the preferential growth of SAPO-11 molecular sieves along the c -axis, which contained a large number of exposed catalytically active sites with acidic properties. During the isomerization of long-chain alkanes, the synthesized sieves exhibited high isomerization activity and selectivity. When the conversion rate of n -dodecane reached 87.96%, the yield of i -dodecane was 68.08%, and the yield of multi-branched i -dodecane was 31.65%. Mechanism illustration of ordered mesoporous SAPO-11 with nanosheets morphology. [Display omitted] • Ordered mesoporous nanosheet SAPO-11 sieves are synthesized from uncalcined SBA-15. • A preferential growth mechanism of nanosheet SAPO-11 sieves is proposed. • Ordered mesoporous nanosheet SAPO-11 sieves expose more pore active sites. • Hydroisomerization of long-chain n -alkanes is investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The overexpression of osteopontin is associated with various inflammatory liver diseases. Interestingly, each of these diseases is also associated with IL-17 expression. Therefore, we sought to determine whether there is any mechanistic link between osteopontin and IL-17. Herein we show that IL-17 and osteopontin levels were significantly increased in patients with chronic hepatitis B. We found that IL-17 and osteopontin levels increased similarly in mice with concanavalin A-induced hepatitis. Both osteopontin- and IL-17-deficient mice were resistant to concanavalin A-induced hepatic injury. In addition, osteopontin markedly induced IL-17 expression by leukocytes (from humans and mice). This effect could be blocked by a specific antibody against osteopontin. β3 integrin (one of the osteopontin receptors) was critically involved in the induction of IL-17 production by osteopontin. Osteopontin-induced IL-17 expression was mediated through the p38, JNK, and NF-κB pathways. These findings suggest that osteopontin regulates IL-17 production during the pathogenesis of hepatitis and provide new evidence for the critical roles of osteopontin and IL-17 in hepatitis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) causes chronic hepatitis, which often results in the development of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) worldwide. In this study, we demonstrated that the non-structural protein NS3 of HCV enhances cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) gene promoter activity, COX-2 mRNA expression, COX-2 protein production, and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) release in HepG2 cells in a concentration-dependent fashion. We also showed that transcription factor NF-κB is required for the activation of COX-2 regulated by NS3. In addition, multiple signaling pathways are involved cooperatively in the expression of COX-2 activated by the viral protein in a calcium-independent manner, which requires signaling components including JNK, ERK, and PKD2. A thorough investigation of mechanism involved in the activation of COX-2 regulated by HCV would provide insights into our understanding the processes of liver inflammatory response and hepatocellular carcinoma development caused by the viral infection and also into the development of novel therapeutics against HCV infection. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]