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Background Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is a common gynecological cancer with high mortality rates. The main objective of this study was to investigate the serum amino acid and organic acid profiles to distinguish key metabolites for screening EOC patients. Methods In total, 39 patients with EOC and 31 healthy controls were selected as the training set. Serum amino acid and organic acid profiles were determined using the targeted metabolomics approach. Metabolite profiles were processed via multivariate analysis to identify potential metabolites and construct a metabolic network. Finally, a test dataset derived from 29 patients and 28 healthy controls was constructed to validate the potential metabolites. Results Distinct amino acid and organic acid profiles were obtained between EOC and healthy control groups. Methionine, glutamine, asparagine, glutamic acid and glycolic acid were identified as potential metabolites to distinguish EOC from control samples. The areas under the curve for methionine, glutamine, asparagine, glutamic acid and glycolic acid were 0.775, 0 778, 0.955, 0.874 and 0.897, respectively, in the validation study. Metabolic network analysis of the training set indicated key roles of alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism as well as D-glutamine and D-glutamate metabolism in the pathogenesis of EOC. Conclusions Amino acid and organic acid profiles may serve as potential screening tools for EOC. Data from this study provide useful information to bridge gaps in the understanding of the amino acid and organic acid alterations associated with epithelial ovarian cancer.

Lignin molecules contain alcohol hydroxyl and phenolic hydroxyl, so lignin can be used instead of toxic bisphenol A (BPA) to synthesize epoxy resin, which can not only reduce the amount of formaldehyde emission but also achieve the purpose of waste utilization and environmental protection. In this study, the lignin of Eucalyptus urophylla was extracted with ionic liquid as the extraction agent, and subsequently phenolated by methylphenol as phenolic agent with concentrated sulfuric acid as catalyst to prepare phenolated lignin (PLG). Then, using NaOH as catalyst, the PLG was epoxidized with epoxy chloropropane (ECH) to synthesize the lignin-based epoxy resin (LGEP). The extraction of lignin and the synthesis of LGEP were investigated by the single-factor and orthogonal test, and the Eucalyptus urophylla raw materials, lignin, PLG, and LGEP were characterized by UV, FTIR, XRD, SEM, and TGA. The results demonstrated that when the ionic liquid was [ChCl][Gly], the temperature was 90 °C, the time was 4 h, and the liquid-solid ratio was 20:1; the extraction rate of lignin reached 93.73%, and the purity of the regenerated lignin was 96.3%. The mass ratio of PLG to ECH was 1:2.5, the mass fraction of NaOH was 20% of the mass of PLG, the reaction time was 3 h, and the reaction temperature was 95 °C. Under this condition, the epoxy value of LGEP was 0.364.

Val‐Val‐Tyr‐Pro (VVYP) peptide is one of the main active components of Globin digest (GD). Our previous studies indicated that VVYP could protect against acetaminophen and carbon tetrachloride‐induced acute liver failure in mice and decrease blood lipid level. However, the effects and underlying mechanisms of VVYP in the treatment of non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) have not been discovered. Our present study was designed to investigate the preventive effect of VVYP on NASH and its underlying specific mechanisms. We found that VVYP inhibited the cytotoxicity and lipid accumulation in L‐02 cells that were exposed to a mixture of free fatty acid (FFA). VVYP effectively alleviated the liver injury induced by methionine‐choline‐deficient (MCD) diet, demonstrated by reducing the levels of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT)/aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/triglycerides (TG)/non‐esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and improving liver histology. VVYP decreased expression levels of lipid synthesis‐related genes and reduced levels of the proinflammation cytokines in the liver of mice fed by MCD diet. Moreover, VVYP inhibited the increased level of LPS and reversed the liver mitochondria dysfunction induced by MCD diet. Meanwhile, VVYP significantly increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Eubacteriaceae, coriobacteriacease, Desulfovibrionaceae, S24‐7 and Bacteroidia in high‐fat diet (HFD)‐fed mice, however, VVYP reduced the abundance of Lactobacillus. Moreover, VVYP conferred the protective effect of intestinal barrier via promoting the expression of the mucins and tight junction (TJ)‐associated genes and inhibited subsequent liver inflammatory responses. These results indicated that the protective role of VVYP on NASH is mediated by modulating gut microbiota imbalance and related gut‐liver axis activation. VVYP might be a promising drug candidate for NASH.

Alkaline pretreatment has been commonly used for bioconversion of lignocellulose into fuel ethanol due to its gentle condition. However, the large quantity of water consumption and wastewater generation from the pretreatment and washing steps have been two bottleneck problems for the practical application of alkaline pretreatment. In order to save water consumption and reduce wastewater generation, black liquor (BL) generated in the sodium hydroxide (NaOH) pretreatment process was recycled for pretreating sugarcane bagasse (SCB), and the BL-NaOH-treated SCB without being washed was directly enzymatically hydrolyzed and fermented. After 120-h fed-batch enzymatic hydrolysis with the addition of 20 FPU cellulase/g cellulose and 2.51 μL Tween80/mL hydrolytic slurry, the maximum glucose concentration and enzymatic hydrolysis efficiency achieved 99.95 g/L and 71.02%, respectively. After 36-h fermentation with the domesticated Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the ethanol production reached 44.53 g/L, which amounted to 87.35% of theoretical ethanol yield. Compared with other water-saving and wastewater-reducing alkaline pretreatments, this technology saved more than 20% water consumption and reduced over 20% wastewater discharge. It provides a promising applied technology for cellulosic ethanol production.

Polyethyleneimine (PEI) modified corncob-derived carbon material (CCM) was prepared by the simple wet-impregnation technique. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and nitrogen isothermal adsorption/desorption measurements were used to compare the structural differences between the CCM and the PEI-modified CCM (PEI-CCM). In the single-pollutant removal experiment, the PEI-CCM showed high adsorption capacities for methyl orange (MO) and Cr(VI). However, the CCM only showed high adsorption capacity for MO. Moreover, the PEI-CCM exhibited high removal efficiencies in the simultaneous removal of MO and Cr(VI), with final removal efficiencies of 100% and 95%, respectively. The reusability experiment of PEI-CCM indicated that, after four recycles, PEI-CCM maintained high performance with the removal efficiency of MO and Cr(VI) decreased less than 3% and 16%, respectively. The prepared PEI-CCM could be a high-performance adsorbent for the simultaneous removal of MO and Cr(VI) from water containing multiple pollutants.

The alkaline pretreatment has the advantages of low energy input and atmospheric pressure to highly enhance the conversion of lignocellulose to ethanol. However, the black liquor from the process would pollute the environment, which hinders its industrial application. This study selected the potassium hydroxide (KOH) as the alkaline reagent for lignocellulosic pretreatment and investigated the feasibility of recycling the black liquor (BL) as molecular bio-activator for plant growth. After optimization of KOH pretreatment, the enzymatic saccharification efficiency of rice straw achieved to 86.6% under the optimum condition of 2% KOH, 15:1 of liquid–solid ratio, 70 °C for 1 h. The ethanol production and conversion ratio was 32.24 g/L and 53.0% respectively at 20% solid loading. The tobacco cultured in the nutrient solution with BL was more luxuriant than that without BL, of which the dry weight of plant increased 367% and the leaf area increment of tobacco was about 2∼4 times than the control after 30 days. Thus this study provided a promising way to accelerate the industrialization of alkaline pretreatment for cellulosic ethanol production.

The enzymatic production of glycerol-free biodiesel by the transesterification of rapeseed oil was studied using lipase as catalyst. A series of co-solvents were employed in an attempt to improve reaction kinetics. The effects of the reaction conditions (molar ratio of dimethyl carbonate (DMC) and rapeseed oil, type of lipases, amount of lipases, solvent effects, reaction temperature and time) on the conversion and yield of biodiesel and glycerol carbonate (GC) were investigated. The optimal conditions for biodiesel and GC were 20% Novozym 435, 3:1 molar ratio of DMC to rapeseed oil, and with 20% [Omim][BF6] as solvent. Under these conditions, the conversions of 88.51% biodiesel and 73.87% GC have been achieved after 48 h. The biodiesel and GC conversions were eight times higher compared to the conventional solvent-free system, respectively. There was no obvious loss in the biodiesel and GC yield after Novozym 435 having been used for five recycling.

Objective The remarkable success of iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) elimination in China has been achieved through a mandatory universal salt iodization (USI) program. The study aims to estimate the relationship between urinary iodine concentration (UIC) and iodine content in edible salt to assess the current iodine nutritional status of school aged children. Methods A total of 5565 students from 26 of 39 districts/counties in Chongqing participated in the study, UIC and iodine content in table salt were measured. Thyroid volumes of 3311 students were examined by ultrasound and goiter prevalence was calculated. Results The overall median UIC of students was 222 μg/L (IQR: 150-313 μg/L). Median UIC was significantly different among groups with non-iodized salt (iodine content 39 mg/kg) salt (P P > 0.05). Conclusions The efficient implementation of current USI program is able to reduce the goiter prevalence in Chongqing as a low incidence of goiter in school aged children is observed in this study. The widened UIC range of 100–299 μg/L indicating sufficient iodine intake is considered safe with a slim chance of causing goiter or thyroid dysfunction. Further researches were needed to evaluate the applicability of WHO reference in goiter diagnose in Chongqing or identifying more accurate criteria of normal thyroid volume of local students in the future.

A novel recyclable alkali-assisted biphasic pretreatment process under mild conditions with low water consumption is first developed. After conditions were optimized with the uniform design method,...

Due to supply difficulties caused by seasonal availability, fuel ethanol production from a single lignocellulosic biomass species is always uneconomical at commercial scale. The utilization of blended biomass offers a potential solution to this problem. In this study, a prediction model was developed to evaluate the sugar release from blended garden wastes in a microwave-assisted hot water (MHW) process. The optimum blending ratio of Bauhinia blakeana Dunn (BB), rice straw (RS) and sugarcane bagasse (SC) was found to be 2:3:5, which promised a high total xylose yield of 67.82% (using a process temperature of 186 °C for 43 min). While the yield of xylose could only reach 52.47% when adopting the single garden waste of BB as feedstock under the same condition. Furthermore, the use of blended materials provided a cost savings of 22.23% as compared with the single RS feedstock, and no significant difference was found in the release of total xylose. The model developed was found to accurately predict the total xylose released from blended garden feedstocks. In addition, a steady supply of lignocellulosic biomass for fuel ethanol production could also be generated.

A sustainable and easy method for the fabrication of a composite of ultra-fine few-layer MoS2 structures embedded on N,P-co-doped bio-carbon (MoS2-N/P-C) was developed by using natural chlorella as an adsorbent and reactor. This MoS2-N/P-C composite was easily synthesized by carrying out a biosorption of chlorella and a subsequent calcination process. This bio-carbon made from chlorella acted as a nanoreactor to prevent the MoS2 nanoparticles from agglomerating with each other during the calcination process. Besides, the N,P-codoped bio-carbon contributed to the relatively high conductivity and surface wettability of this composite and accommodated the large radius of Na+. When used as an anode for sodium ion batteries, it showed significant superiority with a high rate and long-duration cycling performance, evidenced by a measured capacity of 175 mA h g−1 after 2000 cycles at 5 A g−1.

Furfural is considered to be one of the top 30 potential chemicals derived from lignocellulosic biomass. Compared to conventional diluted acid catalysis, furfural production from lignocellulose was significantly improved by the addition of an immiscible organic solvent into the diluted acid solution. However, high conversion is usually achieved under a high water/solid ratio (>1, v/m), and the furfural product is distributed in both the organic solvent phase and the aqueous phase, leading to difficulty of furfural recovery and increasing the cost of furfural production. The present work investigated corncob conversion in a diluted sulfuric acid-toluene biphasic system with extremely low water/solid ratios (≤1). It was found that a high furfural yield (65.67 mol%) was achieved in a very short time (10 min) under a high solid loading of 200% (in the aqueous phase) under the conditions of 1.5 MPa N2, 0.5:1 water/solid ratio (v/w), 10:1 toluene/solid ratio (v/m), and 3.85 wt% H2SO4 (in the aqueous phase). After the reaction, no aqueous phase existed, and furfural was completely accumulated in the toluene phase. Further research showed that the majority of the furfural content (84.73%, GC-MS detection) was in the toluene phase, which is beneficial for its recovery. This work provides an effective and inexpensive method for the production of furfural from lignocellulose.

Corncob was calcined within a temperature range of 300 °C to 700 °C to prepare a series of corncob residue catalysts for the transesterification of glycerol with dimethyl carbonate (DMC) to synthesize glycerol carbonate (GC). Among the catalysts, the corncob residue catalyst obtained through calcination of corncob at 500 °C (CCR-500) showed a relatively high basicity and satisfactory catalytic activity. The structural investigation results indicated that CCR-500 was composed of carbon material and some alkaline mineral salts. Using CCR-500 as the catalyst, a glycerol conversion of 98.1% and a GC yield of 94.1% were achieved when the reaction was performed at 80 °C for 90 min, with a catalyst amount of 3 wt% and glycerol to DMC molar ratio of 1:3. The comparison of CCR-500 with the reported catalysts indicated that the CCR-500 was a low-cost, high-active, and easily-accessible catalyst for the transesterification of glycerol with DMC.

Lipin 1 regulates cellular lipid homeostasis through roles in glycerolipid synthesis (through phosphatidic acid phosphatase activity) and transcriptional coactivation. Lipin 1-deficient individuals exhibit episodic disease symptoms that are triggered by metabolic stress, such as stress caused by prolonged fasting. We sought to identify critical lipin 1 activities during fasting. We determined that lipin 1 deficiency induces widespread alternative mRNA splicing in liver during fasting, much of which is normalized by refeeding. The role of lipin 1 in mRNA splicing was largely independent of its enzymatic function. We identified interactions between lipin 1 and spliceosome proteins, as well as a requirement for lipin 1 to maintain homeostatic levels of spliceosome small nuclear RNAs and specific RNA splicing factors. In fasted Lpin1-/- liver, we identified a correspondence between alternative splicing of phospholipid biosynthetic enzymes and dysregulated phospholipid levels; splicing patterns and phospholipid levels were partly normalized by feeding. Thus, lipin 1 influences hepatic lipid metabolism through mRNA splicing, as well as through enzymatic and transcriptional activities, and fasting exacerbates the deleterious effects of lipin 1 deficiency on metabolic homeostasis.

Organosolv pretreatment is a promising method for enhancing the enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass and the production of value-added chemicals. However, information on solvents and their interactions with biomass—specifically, their effects on residues and isolated lignin—is limited, hindering the effective utilization of biomass. Herein, the effects of organosolvs (including γ-valerolactone (GVL), tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol (THFA), ethanol and acetone) on enzymatic saccharification and lignin isolation of hybrid Pennisetum (HP) under 100 °C for 2 h were investigated. Compared with water, organic solvents can significantly enhance delignification, reducing the crystallinity of cellulose, thereby improving the enzymatic digestibility and lignin recovery. The enzymatic digestibility of substrates reached 87.5% (about 80.8% of the raw HP glucan was recovered) for the THFA pretreatment, which was 38.7% higher than water-treated material and 131.5% higher than untreated raw material. Moreover, Hansen solubility parameters (HSP) was used to evaluate the effects of solvents, which showed a strong correlation between lignin removal and the molecular weight distribution of isolated lignins, suggesting that HSP can aid in finding appropriate organic solvents for pretreatment. Finally, the chemical structures and thermal properties of solid residues and precipitated lignins were analyzed via SEM, XRD, FTIR and thermogravimetric analysis.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is defined as glucose intolerance of any degree that occurs after onset of pregnancy. Sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) plays an important regulatory role in insulin resistance and is a risk factor in GDM. In the current study, we aimed to examine whether SHBG can regulate glucose metabolism through glucose transporters (GLUTs). SHBG was transfected into established human insulin model cells and the expression of SHBG, GLUT1, GLUT3, and GLUT4 was detected and analyzed in normal cells, model cells, and all groups of transfected cells by real-time PCR and western blotting. Further, immunofluorescence staining was performed on cells from each group to observe protein expression. In insulin resistance model cells, the expression of SHBG was low, whereas that of GLUT1 was high and of GLUT3 and GLUT4 was low, when compared with expression in control cells. Moreover, the overexpression of SHBG inhibited the expression of GLUT1 mRNA and protein, and promoted the expression of GLUT3 and GLUT4. Our results indicate that SHBG could be involved in glucose metabolism through its regulation of multiple GLUTs. Transfection of SHBG into insulin-resistant cells may partially improve the level of GLUTs, providing a potential therapeutic approach for the treatment of insulin resistance in GDM. Although SHBG can regulate glucose metabolism through GLUTs and thus cause insulin resistance and induce gestational diabetes, the regulation mechanism of GLUTs mediated by SHBG has not been elucidated, which will be the focus of further studies.

Pretreatment with solid base catalysts addressed the challenge of recalcitrance of the lignocellulosic cell wall and provided insight into an economical and environmentally friendly biorefinery technology. Several solid base catalysts were prepared, to establish a reliable assessment of the factors governing their catalytic behaviors. The activity of solid base catalysts, allowing the more accessible lignocellulosic molecules to be depolymerized by enzymes, were evaluated by investigating the properties of the catalysts, the pretreated feedstock, and the residues, after 72 h of enzymatic hydrolysis. A statistical design (CCD) approach was applied to define the factors for the maximum saccharification and an efficient activity recovery. In the case of hybrid pennisetum, an optimized yield of 92% and a retention of 98% activity after 4 cycles were obtained. One of the mechanisms of the solid base catalysts during recalcitrance removal reactions, considering their structures and chemical compositions, was to enhance the accessibility of the cellulosic molecules.

Methylamine lead iodide (CH3NH3PbI3) perovskite thin film solar cell has attracted much attention due to its low cost and high photoelectric conversion efficiency. Preparation of high quality perovskite thin film is the key to obtain high conversion efficiency of solar cells. Here, the pinhole-free CH3NH3PbI3 layer with high coverage and smooth surface is prepared by the one-step solution method in air with ethylacetate as anti-solvent on an electron transport hybrid layer of TiO2 nanoparticles coated porous carbon. The effect of ethylacetate as anti-solvent on the quality of perovskite thin film is studied in detail by comparing with chlorobenzene and ethylether. The high saturation and humidity resistance of ethylacetate in air control the nucleation and growing kinetics of perovskite crystals during the spin coating process, which facilitates the formation of uniform pinhole-free perovskite thin films. The perovskite solar cell based on the prepared high quality thin film achieves the highest conversion efficiency of 17.41% in ambient air with a relative humidity of 35%, which is superior to the perovskite thin films prepared with chlorobenzene and ethylether (conversion efficiency of 10.80% and 10.20%). The higher light-to-electric conversion efficiency is due to high coverage of the pinhole-free perovskite thin film and good contact with the electron transport layer and the hole transport layer.

Macroalgae play a crucial role in coastal marine ecosystems, but they are also subject to multiple challenges due to tidal and seasonal alterations. In this work, we investigated the photosynthetic response of Pyropia yezoensis to ultraviolet radiation (PAR: 400-700 nm; PAB: 280-700 nm) under changing temperatures (5, 10 and 15°C) and light intensities (200, 500 and 800 μmol photons m-2 s-1 ). Under low light intensity (200 μmol photons m-2 s-1 ), P. yezoensis showed the lowest sensitivity to ultraviolet radiation, regardless of temperature. However, higher temperatures inhibited the repair rates (r) and damage rates (k) of photosystem II (PSII) in P. yezoensis. However, under higher light intensities (500 and 800 μmol photons m-2 s-1 ), P. yezoensis showed higher sensitivity to UV radiation. Both r and the ratio of repair rate to damage rate (r:k) were significantly inhibited in P. yezoensis by PAB, regardless of temperature. In addition, higher temperatures significantly decreased the relative UV-inhibition rates, while an increased carbon fixation rate was found. Our study suggested that higher light intensities enhanced the sensitivity to UV radiation, while higher temperatures could relieve the stress caused by high light intensity and UV radiation.

Ten solvents including water-soluble and water-insoluble solvents were first used to pretreat rice straw under facile conditions (110 °C, 60 min). The results showed that most of the hemicellulose ...

Catalytic conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into furfural (FF) and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) requires a high reaction temperature (150–230 °C) in aqueous/organic systems. In this study, a novel choline chloride–formic acid-SnCl4·5H2O (ChCl–Fa–SnCl4) catalytic system was designed to transform herbal residues (HRs) carbohydrates into furanic derivatives at temperatures below 140 °C. The total yield of FF and xylose from HR of Heteropogon contortus (L.) Beauv (HRH) was 67.5% at 140 °C for 10 min, while the total yield of 5-HMF and glucose from HR of Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge was 93.8% at 120 °C. Characteristics of substrates such as molecular weight had a great influence on formation of furanic derivatives and sugar release. Surprisingly, the dissolution and recrystallisation characteristics of ChCl make this catalytic system sustainable and economically attractive. Recovery of ChCl and SnCl4 was 73.3% following simple natural recrystallisation, and recovered material retained a high chemical reactivity for FF and 5-HMF production. Moreover, 100% lignin dissolution was achieved in this system at 140 °C, and ~ 77% could be precipitated and recovered by adding water.

Increased ocean uptake of CO2, due to rising atmospheric CO2 is leading to ocean acidification (OA) and alters light intensity due to increased turbidity and depth variation in seawater. Macroalgae have been found to alter their behavior in response to OA and other climate factors. In order to optimize farming strategies for economically important seaweeds, this study assesses the growth of Pyropia yezoensis at three different light intensities (HL:35%; ML:10%; LL:5%) and two CO2 concentrations (ambient CO2, 400 ppm; elevated CO2, 1000 ppm). Results show that P. yezoensis growth was significantly inhibited by decreased light intensity, due to reductions in photosynthesis, relative electron transfer rate (rETR) and carotenoid synthesis. However, under LL conditions, the relative growth rates (RGR), maximum net photosynthetic rate (Pmax) and maximum relative electron transfer rate (rETRmax) of PSI and PSII in P. yezoensis, were significantly enhanced under elevated CO2 concentrations. Phycocyanin (PC) and phycoerythrin (PE) levels in P. yezoensis were simultaneously increased under elevated CO2 concentrations. This study demonstrates that algal species may adapt to ocean acidification in the future and avoid light-induced growth inhibition.

Pyropia yezoensis is an important marine crop in the world. We cultured it under two levels of partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2) (408 (LC), 998 (HC) μatm) and nitrate (30 (LN) and 500 (HN) μmol L-1) to investigate the effect of ocean acidification on its growth and food quality under changing nitrogen supply. HC decreased growth rate of P. yezoensis under LN but did not affect it under HN. Phycoerythrin and phycocyanin were enhanced by HC, particularly at HN, which contributed to the darker color. HC stimulated the synthesis of sweat amino acids regardless of nitrate condition and umami amino acid only under LN. HN increased the content of umami amino acids regardless of pCO2 condition and sweet amino acids only under HC. Our findings indicate that future ocean acidification may reduce biomass yield of P. yezoensis but increase its color and flavor, which was regulated by nitrate availability.

A novel lignin-derived deep eutectic solvent (DES) was synthesized from choline chloride (ChCl) and p-coumaric acid (PCA). The results showed that after pretreatment with lignin-derived DES, the dense cellulose–hemicellulose–lignin structure of herb residues of Cortex albiziae (HRCA) was effectively broken down and this facilitated subsequent enzymatic hydrolysis. The optimum pretreatment conditions were ChCl/PCA molar ratio of 1:1, 160 °C-5 h, and a solid–liquid ratio of 1:10. Compared with untreated HRCA, 72-h enzymatic digestibility increased from 48.08 to 84.62%. When a ChCl–PCA–water pretreatment was used, the 72-h digestibility level of the residue reached 99.36%. Moreover, the recycling and reusability of this novel DES were evaluated. The results showed that synthesis and utilization of green, environment-friendly and recyclable lignin-derived DES can offer a new way of utilizing lignin which has considerable potential in the refining of biomass. A novel lignin-derived deep eutectic solvent was synthesized, this DES pretreatment can improve the enzymatic digestibility of HCRA cellulose efficiently.

Various neuropeptides related to the energy equilibrium affect bone growth in humans and animals. Neuropeptides W (NPW) are identical in the internal ligands of the two G‐protein receptors (GPRs) included in subtypes 7 and 8. Neuropeptides W inhibits proliferation in the cultivated rat calvarial osteoblast‐like (ROB) cells. This study examines the expression of NPW and GPR7 in murine chondrocyte and their function. An immunohistochemical analysis showed that NPW and GPR7 were expressed in the proliferative chondrocytes of the growth plates in the hind limbs of mice. The NPW mRNA quickly elevated in the early differentiation (7‐14 days) of ATDC5 cells, while NPW and GPR7 mRNA were reduced during the late stage (14‐21 days) of differentiation. Neuropeptide W‐23 (NPW‐23) promoted the proliferation of ATDC5 cells, which was attenuated by inhibiting the GPR7, protein kinase A (PKA), protein kinase C (PKC) and ERK1/2 pathways. Neuropeptide W‐23 enhanced the early cell differentiation, as evaluated by collagen type II and the aggrecan gene expression, which was unaffected by inhibiting the ERK1/2 pathway, but significantly decreased by inhibiting the PKA, PKC and p38 MAPK pathways. In contrast, NPW‐23 was not involved in the terminal differentiation of the chondrocytes, as evaluated by the mineralization of the chondrocytes and the activity of the alkaline phosphatase. Neuropeptides W stimulated the PKA, PKC, p38 MAPK and ERK1/2 activities in a dose‐ and time‐dependent manner in the ATDC5 cells. These results show that NPW promotes the proliferation and early differentiation of murine chondrocyte via GPR7 activation, as well as PKA and PKC‐dependent signalling cascades, which may be involved in endochondral bone formation.

Well-defined P4VP-b-PBLG diblock polymer composed of poly (4-vinylpyridine) (P4VP) and poly (γ-benzyl-L-glutamate) (PBLG) was synthesized by click reaction with alkyne- and azide-functionalized homopolymers. Besides, P4VP blocks were synthesized by copper-mediated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) with a chlorine-containing alkyne bifunctional initiator, and the azido-terminated PBLG homopolymers were synthesized by ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of γ-benzyl-L-glutamate with an amine-containing azide initiator. In addition, the synthesized P4VP-b-PBLG with different block ratios has been characterized by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR), Gel permeation chromatograph (GPC) and fourier transform infrated spectroscopy (FT-IR). Then, the self-assembly behaviors of P4VP-b-PBLG have been studied by changing parameters like dripping speed and block ratio. The morphologies of self-assembly of spherical, disk-like and ellipsoid-like shape particles have been observed and analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). These results have provided guidelines for the design of macromolecular self-assembly.

In this work, porous cross-linked enzyme aggregates (p-CLEAs) were synthesized by the in situ co-precipitation method using CaCO3 microparticles as templates. The preparation procedure involved the immobilization of crude lipase as CLEAs via precipitation with ammonium sulfate and entrapping these lipase molecules into the CaCO3 templates, followed by DTT (dithiothreitol)-induced assembly of lipase molecules to form lipase microparticles (lipase molecules were assembled into microparticles internally using disulfide bonds within the lipase molecules as the molecular linkers and stimulated by dithiothreitol); finally, the removal of CaCO3 templates was performed by EDTA to form pores in CLEAs. The scanning electron microscopy analysis of p-CLEAs showed a porous structure. p-CLEAs showed obvious improvement in thermal stability (after incubation at 65 °C, p-CLEAs lipase retained 86% relative activity, while free lipase retained only 33.67%) and pH stability (p-CLEAs relative activity was over 90% while for free lipase, the relative activity ranged from 72% to 89% from pH 6 to 9) than free lipase and could hold relatively high activity retention without activity loss at 4 °C for more than six months. The application of p-CLEAs in producing biodiesel showed a higher degree of conversion. The conversion of fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) was 89.7%; this value was higher by approximately 7.4% compared to that of the conventional CLEAs under the optimized conditions of a methanol–oil molar ratio of 6 : 1, with a p-CLEAs lipase dose of 20% and water content of 3% at 45 °C for 24 h. The FAME conversion remained greater than 70% even after reusing the p-CLEAs lipase for 8 reactions. The results demonstrated that the p-CLEAs lipase is suitable for applications in the preparation of biodiesel.

Deuterohemin Histidine (His) peptide-6 (DhHP-6; Dh-β-AHTVEK-NH2) is a designed microperoxidase mimic, which shows functions of increasing lifespan and enhancing stress resistance of Caenorhabditis elegans. Previously, the characteristic b2-44 ions were identified from the dissociation of a singly charged DhHP-6 ions under the collision-induced dissociation (CID). While b4-44 ions were found forming from the neutral loss of aldehyde, the b2-44 ions formed by a CO2 loss. To investigate whether there is an interaction between deuterohemin and His residue or not, which is responsible for the formation of b2-CO2 ions, a series of amino acid substitutional experiments that dedicated to find out what role did each part of DhHP-6 play in the fragmentation pathway were carried out. The potential fragmentation mechanism is proposed to explain the formation of b2-44 ions, which is supported by the density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The results reveal that the formation of b2-44 ions is closely related to the structure of C-terminal unprotonated oxazolone, and the His plays an irreplaceable role in the dissociation process.

Lignin can negatively impose on the enzymatic hydrolysis of pretreated lignocellulose through non-productive enzyme adsorption and/or steric hindrance. The effect of the residual lignin on enzymatic hydrolysis was evaluated with sugarcane bagasse (SCB) samples containing different lignin contents and their milled and enzymolytic lignins (MELs) retaining the intact protolignins. The results showed that the improvement of enzymatic hydrolysis of SCB would become insignificant when the lignin removal achieved above 64.0%, and the changes in chemical groups of lignin had slight impact on adsorbing enzymes. When the lignin retention in the pretreated SCB was less than 36.0%, the residual lignin would not significantly influence the enzymatic hydrolysis via enzyme adsorption and steric hindrance. The contributions of the residual lignins in pretreated SCB samples to the total enzyme adsorptions of pretreated SCB samples were only in the range of 9.6% to 15.5%, which were not predominant for the total enzyme adsorptions.

Liquid hot water (LHW) technology has been thought as a green process which hardly pollutes the environment due to no addition of chemical reagents. It is usually employed as a pretreatment method for producing ethanol, butanol, lactic acid, biogas, and other biochemicals from lignocellulose. It is also used as a technology to directly obtain products from lignocellulose such as xylooligosaccharide, microcrystalline cellulose, hydrochar, and so on. This chapter describes the technological characteristics and development of LHW process, summarizes the way of LHW treatment to influence the physicochemical features of lignocellulose and the biorefinery efficiency, and depicts the application of LHW technology for bioproduct production. It concludes that LHW treatment is a versatile biorefinery technology and outlooks the promising way for the practical application of LHW technology.

Sulfamethoxazole (SMX) is commonly detected in wastewater and cannot be completely decomposed during conventional treatment processes. Ozone (O3) is often used in water treatment. This study explored the influence of natural organic matters (NOM) in secondary effluent of a sewage treatment plant on the ozonation pathways of SMX. The changes in NOM components during ozonation were also analyzed. SMX was primarily degraded by hydrolysis, isoxazole-ring opening, and double-bond addition, whereas hydroxylation was not the principal route given the low maximum abundances of the hydroxylated products, with m/z of 269 and 287. The hydroxylation process occurred mainly through indirect oxidation because the maximum abundances of the products reduced by about 70% after the radical quencher was added, whereas isoxazole-ring opening and double-bond addition processes mainly depended on direct oxidation, which was unaffected by the quencher. NOM mainly affected the degradation of micropollutants by consuming •OH rather than O3 molecules, resulting in the 63%–85% decrease in indirect oxidation products. The NOM in the effluent were also degraded simultaneously during ozonation, and the components with larger aromaticity were more likely degraded through direct oxidation. The dependences of the three main components of NOM in the effluent on indirect oxidation followed the sequence: humic-like substances>fluvic-like substance-s>protein-like substances. This study reveals the ozonation mechanism of SMX in secondary effluent and provides a theoretical basis for the control of SMX and its degradation products in actual water treatment.

The work reports a novel strategy for combining polymers and metal&ndash, organic frameworks (MOFs) into composites for adsorption applications. Calcium silicate (CaSiO3) was introduced into acrylonitrile butadiene styrene/thermoplastic polyurethane (ABS/TPU) alloy, and the CaSiO3/ABS/TPU skeleton was fabricated by 3D printing technology. The Ca-MOF was directly loaded on the surface of acetone-etched 3D skeleton by in-situ growth method. The obtained 3D skeleton was characterized and the performance of methylene blue (MB) adsorption was determined. It is clear that Ca-MOF is successfully loaded on the surface of 3D skeleton due to the presence of CaSiO3. The MB adsorption ratios of the solutions with initial concentrations of 50, 100 and 200 mg/L at the equilibrium time (5 h) are 88%, 88% and 80%, respectively, revealing good MB adsorption performance of the 3D skeleton. The MB adsorption ratio remains 70% at six runs of adsorption&ndash, desorption experiment, indicating the excellent recovering property of the skeleton. The results show that the prepared CaSiO3/ABS/TPU 3D skeleton is a candidate adsorbent for printing and dyeing effluent treatment.

Designing high capacity, superior rate, satisfactory cycle stability as well as green, low cost, and earth abundant electrode materials is critical for sodium and potassium ion storage. Herein, the first example of synthesizing the heterostructure between WVO4 and V3Se4 embedded in carbon fiber (WVO4/V3Se4/CNFs) as a high capacity and stable anode for sodium (SIBs) and potassium-ion batteries (PIBs) is reported. The composite is skillfully constructing by electrospinning method followed with heat treatment, with the assistance of biomass algae (Chlorella) as adsorbent and reactor. Owing to the unique advantages of hybrid structure and carbon sheaths, the composite architecture demonstrates high reversible capacity, excellent rate properties, and long-term cyclic stability. For sodium storage, the WVO4/V3Se4/CNFs electrode exhibits a high reversible specific capacity of 446 mAh g−1 at 50 mA g−1 after 200 cycles as well as a promising long cycling stability with a high capacity of 137 mAh g−1 at 5 A g−1 even over 25,000 cycles. More importantly, it also delivers high reversible capacity and good rate capability for potassium storage. This work opens up new way for developing satisfied metal oxide anode materials for SIBs and PIBs.

Benzaldehyde is an important chemical intermediate, and its production via the oxidation of benzyl alcohol with O2 is highly pursued as an alternative for the existing industrial process to meet the demand of green chemistry. Most of the reported catalytic systems are dependent on the noble/toxic metal catalysts. Herein, a biomass carbon catalyst doped with P and N heteroatoms is prepared by calcinating the phosphoric acid-treated N-containing biomass of soybean flour in N2. In the absence of solvent or additive, the obtained P,N co-doped carbon catalyst exhibits a remarkable catalytic activity for oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde with air (99.4% yield, TOF = 62.1 × 10-4 mol BAD/(g catalyst × h reaction time)). The present turnover frequency surpasses all the previously reported ones of similar metal-free carbon catalysts for this reaction. The N co-doping facilitates the P doping into the carbon matrix, favors the formation the catalytic active species and has a remarkable electronic effect on them, which are identified via experiments and DFT calculations.

Anti-adhesion barriers such as films and hydrogels used to wrap repaired tendons are important for preventing the formation of adhesion tissue after tendon surgery. However, sliding of the tendon can compress the adjacent hydrogel barrier and cause it to rupture, which may then lead to unexpected inflammation. Here, a self-healing and deformable hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogel was constructed as a peritendinous anti-adhesion barrier. Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2)-degradable gelatin-methacryloyl (GelMA) microspheres (MSs) encapsulated with Smad3-siRNA nanoparticles were entrapped within the HA hydrogel to inhibit fibroblast proliferation and prevent peritendinous adhesion. Silencing effect of Smad3-siRNA nanoparticles was around 75% towards targeted gene. The mean adhesion scores of composite barrier group were 1.67±0.51 and 2.17±0.75 by macroscopic and histological evaluation, respectively. Furthermore, GelMA MSs were responsively degraded by upregulation of MMP-2, achieving on-demand release of siRNA nanoparticles to inhibit the formation of adhesion tissue. The proposed self-healing hydrogel anti-adhesion barrier with MMP-2-responsive drug release behavior is highly effective for decreasing inflammation and inhibiting tendon adhesion. Therefore, this research provides a new strategy for the development of safe and effective anti-adhesion barriers. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

A novel ternary solvent system for organosolv fractionation of lignocellulosic biomass, named APW process, which is composed of acetone, phenoxyethanol and water with the advantages of monophasic deconstruction and biphasic separation of components was developed. Through fractionation of amorpha as a case study, a monophasic APW solution (acetone/phenoxyethanol/water = 5:11:4, volume ratio) with the best lignin affinity was constructed based on Hansen solubility parameters. According to Taguchi experimental design, the optimal conditions were 130 °C, 70 min, 0.15 M sulfuric acid and 20 LSR. Under optimal conditions, removal of lignin and hemicellulose reached 95.60% and 98.39%, respectively. While 80.48% of cellulose was retained in residue and its digestibility was 80.36%. Then, 83.74% of hemicellulose was recovered from aqueous as sugars, and 35.64% of lignin was recovered by precipitation. Moreover, APW process also have effective fractionation of sugarcane bagasse, corn cob and pine, cellulose and hemicellulose recovery were both over 80%.

Due to the increasing quantities of phenolic compounds present in wastewater, the use of enzymatic degradation with the laccase has attracted much attention as a green option for their removal. In this work, we developed a novel immobilization technology using 3D bioprinting for laccase immobilization. The hydrogel mechanism properties were optimized by experimenting with different component ratios of sodium alginate (SA), acrylamide (AM), and hydroxyapatite (HA). The improved mechanism properties were validated by morphology pictures and rheology characteristics. The optimal AM:HA:SA ratio was determined to be 4:1.2:1. We then employed an extrusion-based bioprinting technique to prepare the immobilized laccase. The substrate conversion was increased with the addition of HA, which improved the permeability of the matrix, and proved to be suitable for immobilization. The resulting immobilized laccase was used for the biodegradation of p-chlorophenol. The effects of the initial substrate concentration, pH, and temperature were evaluated. The immobilized laccase exhibited good storage stability and reusability, retaining over 80% of its initial activity after 72 h of storage, and was able to be reused for seven batches. These results highlight that the immobilized laccase prepared by 3D bioprinting has great potential for use in the biodegradation of phenolic compounds.

The pollution of wastewater with antibiotics and antibiotics resistance genes has attracted public concerns about ecosystem and global health. Swine wastewater can contain high concentrations of antibiotics, especially sulfonamides, even after full-scale wastewater treatment. In this study, mesocosm-scale vertical flow constructed wetlands (VF-CWs) were applied to abate nutrients and antibiotics in swine wastewater containing sulfonamides. VF-CWs performed well in the removal of both nutrients and antibiotics. Sulfonamides did not influence total organic carbon (TOC) and total phosphorus (TP) removal, and even slightly enhanced NH4+-N removal. High removal efficiencies (26.42-84.05%) were achieved for sulfadiazine (SDZ), sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and sulfamethazine (SMZ). Together with lab-scale sorption and biodegradation experiments, microbial degradation was found to be the most important removal mechanism for sulfonamides in VF-CWs. Sulfonamides addition increased bacterial alpha-diversity and changed microbial community structure. Moreover, antibiotics promoted antibiotic-resistant or -degrading bacteria. Bacillus, Geobacter and other seven genera were correlated with sulfonamides reduction under either aerobic or anaerobic condition. In summary, VF-CW is a suitable alternative for swine wastewater treatment, and biodegradation plays the key role in sulfonamides abatement. Main findings of the work. This was the first work to combine bacterial community analysis with microcosm experiments to uncover the major removal mechanism of sulfonamides in constructed wetlands.

The essential biological cofactor heme is synthesized in cells in the Fe(II) form. Oxidized Fe(III) heme is specifically required for processing primary transcripts of microRNAs (pri-miRNAs) by the RNA-binding protein DGCR8, a core component of the Microprocessor complex. It is unknown how readily available Fe(III) heme is in the largely reducing environment in human cells and how changes in cellular Fe(III) heme availability alter microRNA (miRNA) expression. Here we address the first question by characterizing DGCR8 mutants with various degrees of deficiency in heme-binding. We observed a strikingly simple correlation between Fe(III) heme affinityin vitroand the Microprocessor activity in HeLa cells, with the heme affinity threshold for activation estimated to be between 0.6-5 pM under typical cell culture conditions. The threshold is strongly influenced by cellular heme synthesis and uptake. We suggest that the threshold reflects a labile Fe(III) heme pool in cells. Based on our understanding of DGCR8 mutants, we reanalyzed recently reported miRNA sequencing data and conclude that heme is generally required for processing canonical pri-miRNAs, that heme modulates the specificity of Microprocessor, and that cellular heme level and differential DGCR8 heme occupancy alter the expression of distinct groups of miRNAs in a hierarchical fashion. Overall, our study provides the first glimpse of a labile Fe(III) heme pool important for a fundamental physiological function and reveal principles governing how Fe(III) heme modulates miRNA maturation at a genomic scale. We also discuss potential states and biological significance of the labile Fe(III) heme pool.

Background Keloid is a benign fibroproliferative tumor of the skin caused by abnormal wound healing process after skin injury. Long noncoding RNAs have been reported to be involved in the development of keloid. However, the role and mechanism of nuclear enriched abundant transcript 1 (NEAT1) in keloid are still unknown. Methods Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to detect the expression of NEAT1, miR-196b-5p, and fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2). Western blot was conducted to measure the levels of collagen I, α-smooth muscle actin, fibronectin, and FGF2. Cell Counting Kit-8 assay and transwell assay were used to evaluate cell viability and migration, respectively. Dual-luciferase reporter assay was conducted to verify the targeting relationship between miR-196b-5p and NEAT1 or FGF2. Results NEAT1 was increased and miR-196b-5p was decreased in keloid tissues and fibroblasts. NEAT1 knockdown or miR-196b-5p overexpression suppressed cell viability, migration, and extracellular matrix (ECM) component production in keloid fibroblasts. MiR-196 b-5p was a target of NEAT1, and NEAT1 overexpression reversed the effect of miR-196b-5p on keloid fibroblast progression. Moreover, we found that miR-196b-5p directly targeted FGF2. FGF2 knockdown suppressed keloid fibroblast viability, migration, and ECM protein production. FGF2 overexpression abolished the effect of miR-196b-5p overexpression on keloid fibroblast development. Conclusions NEAT1 silencing suppressed cell viability, migration, and ECM expression in keloid fibroblasts by regulating miR-196b-5p/FGF2 axis, indicating a promising strategy for keloid treatment.

5.Xinshu Xia, Xiaorong Xu, Chensheng Lin, Yujin Yang, Lingxing Zeng, Yinglian Zheng, Xinru Wu, Wei Li, Liren Xiao, Qingrong Qian and Qinghua Chen,Microalgal-ImmobilizedBiocompositeScaffold Fabricated by Fused Deposition Modeling 3D Printing Technology for Dyes Removal,ES Mater. Manuf., 2020,7, 40-50.DOI: doi.org/10.30919/esmm5f706Here, The biosorption process for the removal of methylene blue (MB) was developed using three-dimensional printed biocomposite scaffolds obtained from Polylac

Mixed biomass has the characteristics of stable supply and low cost of collection, and its bio-refinery could provide an effective contribution to the sustainable development of fuel ethanol production. Compared to traditional single energy crops, the key challenge of mixed biomass conversion lies in overcoming the non-uniformity of blended materials. In this study, the influence of blending on hydrolysis and ethanol fermentation of garden wastes was investigated. There was an unexpected result in that the total xylose yield during a liquid hot water process was enhanced when different garden biomasses were mixed. The peak of total xylose recovery appeared at the value of ∼0.5 for the ratio of xylan to lignin, which was further confirmed by blending multiple biomasses. Moreover, the non-uniformity of physio-chemical characteristics in mixed garden wastes restricted the co-hydrolysis of cellulose, particularly in the mixed-five-biomass. In spite of this disadvantage, blended feedstocks showed a better flow behavior, which could make them more suitable for enzymatic hydrolysis and ethanol fermentation with high substrate loading. The 72 h enzymatic digestibility and glucose concentration of treated mixed-three-biomass reached 100 ± 5% and 52.3 ± 2.6 g/l under the conditions of 15% (w/v) substrate loading, with the addition of 1% (v/v) Tween 20, which gave a maximum ethanol concentration of 16.9 ± 0.8 g/l. Overall, these results have shown that the complementary or synergistic effects of different individual biomasses make it feasible to produce ethanol from mixed biomass.

In this work, Spirulina platensis cells harvested in the exponential and equilibrium phases with intact and broken cell walls were treated through a set of alkaline or acidic conditions including alkalis and acids, with solutions of pH 0.0-14.0. The effective Spirulina platensis cell wall dissociation methods for multi-output recovery were obtained. SEM and FTIR were applied to characterize the alkaline and acid treatment details, and Spirulina platensis cell wall dissociation mechanisms, via attacks by OH- or H+, were then proposed. Overall, this study highlights the synthesized multi-output algal product in an integrated strategy with ultracellular structural insight and is valuable for understanding the specific roles of attack ions.

Multifunctional antireflective (AR) coatings are widely used in fields of optical devices, flat-panel displays, windows and solar cell devices. In this paper, silica (SiO2) and titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanomaterials were used as building blocks to construct multifunctional AR coatings. The surface of the SiO2 coating derived from SiO2 nanoparticles consists of a large number of nanopores, and its refractive index is tuned conveniently from 1.19 to 1.45 by controlled incorporation of TiO2 into these nanopores through a surface sol-gel process. By tuning the coating structure, substrates with double-layer TiO2 SiO2 coatings presented a maxium transmittance of 98.4% and average transmittance as high as 97.7% over the visible and near infrared region. The nanocomposite TiO2 SiO2 coatings demonstrated a good hydrophilicity, favorable robustness and high photocatalytic activity. In addition, the double-layer TiO2 SiO2 coatings had a long-term durability after accelerated-aging test, while the porous SiO2 coatings with a great of open nanopores showed a severe decrease. This double-layer TiO2 SiO2 coatings have the benefit of designing, fabricating, and developing multifunctional AR coatings with broadband transmittance, high photocatalytic activity and high environmental stability, which makes them extremely appealing for applications in lenses, solar photovoltaic cells, etc.. Moreover, this work not only provides an alternative way to tune the refractive indices of AR coatings, but also opens up a new avenue towards broadband AR coatings.

Nowadays, intense research efforts are directed toward the development of novel preparation high-quality ultralow-refractive-index coatings. Herein, we report a facile atmospheric process to fabricate ultralow refractive index porous coatings with mulberry-like hollow silica nanostructures. The coatings were fabricated by a one-step base-catalyzed sol-gel method using 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorooctyltrimethoxysilane (POTS) 2 and tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) 3 as co-precursors. The ultralow-refractive-index coatings could be obtained without any pretreatment (such as HF etching on the glass substrates) or post-treatment (such as the calcination to remove template), which is why it is suitable for large-area processing. Compared with previous methods, the procedure of this technique is simpler and more environmentally friendly. The refractive indexes of the coatings could be adjusted from 1.08 to 1.17. The effect of POTS amounts on the refractive index of coatings was investigated. Specifically, a possible particle growth mechanism of the fluoro-containing hollow silica nanoparticles (FHSNs) 4 sols was proposed. Furthermore, the water-repellent properties were also investigated. The ultralow-refractive-index coatings with porous silica microstructures have the advantages of abundant porosity, thus, they are promising to find potential applications in energy-stored materials and porous medium.

Multifunctional coatings with superhydrophobicity, high transparency, thermal stability, flexibility, and ultralow refractive index have been investigated for many years. They have promising applications in industries such as in electronic and optical devices, photonic materials, and templates for fabricating biological and chemical sensors. However, the relatively complex preparation technology of these coatings or difficult to possess these properties simultaneously are still the main factors that limit their wide application. In this paper, we report a facile atmospheric approach to create transparent multifunctional raspberry-like particulate coatings with a low refractive index, which were obtained via one-pot base-catalyzed sol-gel process using tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorooctyltrimethoxysilane (POTS) as co-precursors. The excellent superhydrophobicity, mechanical flexibility, self-cleaning property, thermal and chemical stability of the as-fabricated coatings were demonstrated. The refractive indices of coatings can be easily tuned at a range of 1.07–1.16. Particularly, the resulted samples on the K9 glasses exhibited superhydrophobicity with a water contact angle (WCA) of 162° when the scale ratio of the POTS and TEOS was 1.0. The superhydrophobicity of the as-prepared coatings could last for more than half a year under indoor condition, demonstrating the long stability of the superhydrophobicity. Furthermore, we demonstrated that this simple efficient method could be extended to different substrates, including K9 glass, Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), stainless steel, aluminum alloy, and gingko leaf, to achieve superhydrophobicity. Interestingly, the superhydrophobicty of the coatings transferred to superhydrophilicity (WCA

The mechanism of nonionic surfactants improving the cellulose conversion is still controversial. To protect enzyme stability and prevent unproductive adsorption of cellulase to lignin, which have been thought of as the chief factors for the improvement of nonionic surfactants on cellulolytic hydrolysis, were evaluated in this work. SDS-PAGE detection showed that the enzyme could not aggregate in the enzymatic hydrolysis process whether the polysorbates (Tweens) were present or not. Tweens had different capabilities to retain and even improve enzymes’ activities, but these capabilities had little relation to enhancing the enzymatic hydrolysis of treated sugar cane bagasse (SCB). Tweens could increase the adsorption of cellulase to lignins and SCB samples, which was different from the current viewpoint that nonionic surfactants could impede the adsorption of cellulase to lignin. After discussion, it was proposed that the nonionic surfactants initially lubricated the access of cellulase to cellulose and subs...