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The growth of a high‐quality complete graphene layer is successfully achieved for Ir(111) and Ru(0001) substrates using liquid ethanol as a precursor. Metallic substrates, which are cleaned in ultra‐high vacuum conditions, were ex‐situ immersed in liquid ethanol followed by the controlled in situ thermal annealing. The process of graphene formation and its quality are carefully monitored using X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, low‐energy electron diffraction, and scanning tunneling microscopy methods. It is found that graphene formation starts at 400 °C via ethanol decomposition and desorption of oxygen from the surface leading to the formation of the high‐quality complete graphene layer at 1000 °C. The results of the systematic angular‐resolved photoelectron spectroscopy experiments confirm the high quality of the obtained graphene layer, and it concludes that such an approach offers an easy, quick, and reproducible method to synthesize large‐scale graphene on different metallic substrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the therapeutic effect and the underlying mechanisms of ergothioneine (EGT) on the testicular damage caused by varicocele (VC) in vivo, in vitro, and in silico. This preclinical study combines a series of biological experiments and network pharmacology analyses. A total of 18 Sprague Dawley (SD) male rats were randomly and averagely divided into three groups: the sham‐operated, VC model, and VC model with EGT treatment (VC + EGT) groups. The left renal vein of the VC model and the VC + EGT groups were half‐ligated for 4 weeks. Meanwhile, the VC + EGT group was intragastrically administrated with EGT (10 mg/kg). GC1 and GC2 cells were exposed to H2O2 with or without EGT treatment to re‐verify the conclusion. The structure disorder of seminiferous tubules ameliorated the apoptosis decrease in the VC rats receiving EGT. EGT can also increase the sperm quality of the VC model rats (p < 0.05). The exposure to H2O2 decreased proliferation and increased apoptosis of GC1 and GC2 cells, which was revisable by adding EGT to the plates (p < 0.05). The network pharmacology and molecular docking were conducted to explore the potential targets of EGT in VC, and HSP90AA1 was identified as the pivotal gene, which was validated by western blot, immunohistochemistry, and RT‐qPCR both in vivo and in vitro (p < 0.05). Overall, EGT attenuates the testicular injury in the VC model both in vivo and in vitro by potentially potentiating the expression of HSP90AA1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in the pathology of various tumours, including non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of their specific association with NSCLC have not been fully elucidated. Here, we report that a cytoplasmic lncRNA, DUXAP9‐206 is overexpressed in NSCLC cells and closely related to NSCLC clinical features and poor patient survival. We reveal that DUXAP9‐206 induced NSCLC cell proliferation and metastasis by directly interacting with Cbl‐b, an E3 ubiquitin ligase, and reducing the degradation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and thereby augmenting EGFR signaling in NSCLC. Notably, correlations between DUXAP9‐206 and activated EGFR signaling were also validated in NSCLC patient specimens. Collectively, our findings reveal the novel molecular mechanisms of DUXAP9‐206 in mediating the progression of NSCLC and DUXAP9‐206 may serve as a potential target for NSCLC therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon‐based transition metal/nitrogen material is one of the most promising non‐precious metal catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction. And N‐containing polymers are considered as a kind of excellent N precursor because they are more likely to form ordered and stable carbon‐based active layer during heat treatment. However, further research is still needed due to the inferior oxygen reduction catalytic activity compared with Pt in acidic condition. Herein, we design the Fe/N/C catalyst through synthesize a special nitrogen‐rich polymer poly‐hexaazatrinaphthylene as N source and subsequently calcine with the mixture of ferric chloride and Vulcan XC‐72. The physical results indicate that the oxygen reduction catalytic activity is mainly related to the amorphous carbon, pyridinic‐N, and Fe‐N4 coordination geometry. Electrochemical tests indicated that the sample pyrolyzed at 800°C presents relative high oxygen reduction activity in 0.5 mol L−1 H2SO4 via an efficient four‐electron‐dominant pathway. We synthesis a kind of special N‐containing polymer poly‐hexaazatrinaphthylene (PHANT) as precursor to build Fe/N/C catalyst towards oxygen reduction in acidic conditions. It owns Fe‐N4 moiety and shows good catalytic activity with onset potential 0.78 V. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hierarchical SnO2/Fe2O3 hollow spheres are fabricated through the solvothermal method accompanied by a facile solution procedure in the absence of any surfactant. The composition, crystalline structure, morphology, and electrochemical properties of the synthesized product are investigated systematically. The SnO2/Fe2O3 as an anode material in Li-ion batteries demonstrates a better reversible capacity and very good rate capability and cyclic performance compared with pure-phase SnO2 hollow spheres. The greatly enhanced Li-ion storage capability of the SnO2/Fe2O3 hollow spheres is believed to result from the synergy of the two materials, SnO2 and Fe2O3, which provides breathable aggregates for effective buffering of the drastic volume changes during the charge/discharge process. This work reports a promising method for the design and preparation of nanocomposite electrodes for Li-ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]