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The exploration for low-cost bifunctional materials for highly efficient overall water splitting has drawn profound research attention. Here, we present a facile preparation of Mo–P dual-doped Co/o...

Background: Overexpression of LSD1 is associated with the occurrence of many diseases, including cancers, which makes LSD1 a significant target for anticancer drug research. Methodology & Results: With the aid of 3D quantitative structure–activity relationship models established with 34 reported resveratrol derivative LSD1 inhibitors, derivatives 35–40 were designed. Absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion calculations showed that they may have good bioavailability and drug likeness. Additionally, 35 and 37 presented good antitumor effects in an in vitro antiproliferative assay. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation results indicated that 35 and 37 can establish extensive interactions with LSD1. Conclusion: The results of computational prediction and experimental validation suggest that 35 and 37 are effective antitumor inhibitors, which provides some ideas and directions for the development of new anticancer LSD1 inhibitors.

Large-size flexible biomass carbon membranes have been prepared by using inexhaustible chitosan (CS) as carbon source. The microstructure of carbon membranes depends on the pyrolysis temperature, and the resulting membrane has a porous honeycomb-like architecture with N-doping content of 6.3% after the pyrolysis at 1000 °C. The flexible carbon membranes can be directly used as self-standing electrodes for various batteries, that is, with no current collectors, organic binders, or additional conductive agents. The carbon membranes as anodes for potassium-ion batteries exhibit excellent rate performance and a stable reversible capacity of 146 mAh g−1 at 2 A g−1 after 500 cycles, and its sodium-ion storage remains 236 mAh g−1 after 70 cycles. The kinetic analysis of carbon membranes in batteries shows that the surface-controlled mechanism plays a decisive role in the potassium/sodium storage because the honeycomb structure and high proportion of pyridine N-doping can improve the adsorption of K+/Na+ ions and the conductivity. In addition, the main reasons for the capacity degradation of the carbon membrane under long cycle and different current densities are discussed. The CS-derived flexible carbon membranes show a promising application as cost-effective, binder-free electrodes in flexible batteries.

Control of the shape and uniformity of colloid particles is essential for realizing their functionality in various applications. Herein, we report a facile approach for the synthesis of narrowly dispersed anisotropic microparticles with well-defined raspberry-like and golf ball-like surface patterns. First, we demonstrate that hybrid raspberry-like particles can be achieved through a one-pot polymerization method using glycidyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (GPOSS) and pentaerythritol tetra(3-mercaptopropionate) (PETMP) as monomers. Varying the polymerization parameters such as catalyst loading, monomer concentration, and the molar ratio of monomers, we are able to regulate the sizes and surface protrusion numbers of these raspberry-like microparticles. The formation mechanism is attributed to a competition balance between thiol-epoxy reaction and thiol-thiol coupling reaction. The former promotes rapid formation of large core particles between PETMP and GPOSS droplets (which can serve as core particles), while the latter allows for generation of surface protrusions by PETMP self-polymerization, leading to the formation of raspberry-like surface patterns. Based on the different POSS contents in the surface protrusions and cores of the raspberry-like microparticles, we demonstrate that they can be used as precursors to produce microporous silica (sub)microparticles with golf ball-like morphology via pyrolysis subsequently. Overall, this work provides a facile yet controllable approach to synthesize narrowly dispersed anisotropic microparticles with diverse surface patterns.

Adding fumed silica (SiO2) has been considered as an effective method for tailoring the phase morphology and performance of elastomer-toughened plastic binary blends. It has been demonstrated that the selective distribution of SiO2 plays a decisive role in the mechanical properties of plastic/elastomer/SiO2 nanocomposites, especially for the impact toughness. In this work, we aim to illuminate the role of specific surface area in controlling their selective distribution of fumed SiO2 and consequent mechanical properties of plastic/elastomer binary blends. Three types of SiO2 with different specific surface areas were incorporated into polylactide/ethylene-co-vinyl-acetate (PLA/EVA) model blends by melt blending directly. It was found that the selective distribution of SiO2 is largely determined by their specific surface areas, i.e. SiO2 nanoparticles with low specific surface area has a stronger tendency to be located at the interface between PLA matrix and EVA dispersed phase as compared to those with high specific surface area. The specific surface area-dependent interfacial selective distribution of SiO2 is mainly attributed to the extent of increased viscosity of EVA dispersed phase in which SiO2 nanoparticles are initially dispersed and resultant migration rate of SiO2 nanoparticles. The interfacial localized SiO2 nanoparticles induce an obvious enhancement in the impact toughness with strength and modulus well maintained. More importantly, in the case of the same interfacial distribution, toughening efficiency is increased with the specific surface area of SiO2. Therefore, this is an optimum specific surface area of SiO2 for the toughening. This work not only provides a novel way to manipulate the selective distribution of SiO2 in elastomer-toughened plastic blends toward high-performance, but also gives a deep insight into the role of interfacial localized nanoparticles in the toughening mechanism.

Graphical abstract, GS-9669 is a non-nucleos(t)ide inhibitor (NNI) binding to the thumb site II of the Hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS5B polymerase and has advanced into phase II trials. To clarify the drug resistance mechanisms of GS-9669 caused by M423T/I/V, L419M, R422K, and I482L mutations of NS5B polymerase (GT1b) and the receptor-ligand interactions during the binding process, a series of molecular simulation methods including molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and adaptive steered molecular dynamics (ASMD) simulations were performed for the wild-type (WT) and six mutant NS5B/GS-9669 complexes. The calculated results indicate that the binding free energies of the mutant systems are less negative than that of the WT system, indicating that these mutations will indeed cause NS5B to produce different degrees of resistance to GS-9669. The mutation-induced drug resistances are mainly caused by the loss of binding affinities of Leu419 and Trp528 with GS-9669 or the formation of multiple solvent bridges. Moreover, the ASMD calculations show that GS-9669 binds to the thumb II sites of the seven NS5B polymerases in distinct pathways without any obvious energy barriers. Although the recognition methods and binding pathways are distinct, the binding processes of GS-9669 with the WT and mutant NS5B polymerases are basically controlled thermodynamically. This study clearly reveals the resistance mechanisms of GS-9669 caused by M423T/I/V, L419M, R422K, and I482L mutations of HCV NS5B polymerase and provides some valuable clues for further optimization and design of novel NS5B inhibitors.

The development of highly efficient transition metal-based catalysts for overall water splitting is of extreme significance for promoting large-scale sustainable utilization of hydrogen energy and energy conversion. Herein, we report a novel 3D Ni3S2/Cu-NiCo LDH heterostructure nanosheet arrays grown on nickel foam as a promising bifunctional electrocatalyst for OER and HER. In this design, copper ions are firstly doped into NiCo LDH to tune the electronic structure and enhance the inherent activity of pristine LDH. Metallic Ni3S2 is then introduced to establish a coupling heterostructure interface with Cu-NiCo LDH to boost the conductivity and activity. The incorporation of Cu ions and Ni3S2 into NiCo LDH also creates more active sites through crystal structure disorder and interface defects. Moreover, the 3D hierarchical nanosheet arrays can accelerate the electrolyte diffusion, promote the rapid release of gas bubbles, and ensure fast electron/mass transport along with strong electrochemical stability. All these merits endow the materials with a superior overall water splitting ability in alkaline environment, showing the low overpotentials of 119 and 218 mV for OER and overpotentials of 156 and 304 mV for HER at 10 and 100 mA cm-2, respectively. Furthermore, the overall water electrolytic cell using Ni3S2/Cu-NiCo LDH as both electrodes can reach 100 mA cm-2 at 1.75 V with outstanding durability. This study provides new strategy and insights for the exploration of high activity non-noble metal catalysts for overall water splitting.

The introduction of a dual-functional interlayer into lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs) provides many opportunities for restraining the "shuttle effect" and enhancing sluggish sulfur conversion kinetics. Tuning the band structure of the metal sulfide provides an opportunity to enhance its catalytic activity, which plays an important role in suppressing the "shuttle effect" of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) in LSBs. Here were present a Co9S8@MoS2 core-shell heterostructure anchored to a carbon nanofiber (Co9S8@MoS2/CNF), developed as an interlayer for suppressing the shuttle effect of LiPSs. The fabricated composite heterostructure is determined to be an effective alternative material that combines the synergistic relationship between chemisorption and electrochemical catalysis. We find that the band structure of the MoS2 shell can be effectively tuned by the Co9S8 core and that the Co9S8@MoS2/CNF can capture the LiPSs, providing excellent catalytic ability to convert LiPSs into Li2S2, with subsequent transformation from Li2S2 to Li2S. Importantly, high capacities of 1002 and 986 mAh g-1 can be retained after 50 cycles with high-sulfur loadings of 6 and 10 mg cm-2. Our results highlight the design of an atomic-scale heterostructure as a multifunctional interlayer providing a synergistic relationship between adsorption and catalysis. The net result is an effective retardation of the shuttling of LiPSs and an enhancement of the electrochemical redox reactions of LiPSs. This work shows great promise toward the development of practical applications of LSBs.

Body phosphorus homeostasis network allows laying hens to adapt to wide range of changes in dietary phosphorus levels. Phytase hydrolyzes phytate rendering phosphorus and reduces the laying hens' requirements for inorganic phosphate rock. Here, we demonstrate that there is no need to keep large safety margins in dietary phosphorus when hens are fed with phytase. Hy-Line Brown laying hens (n = 504) were randomly assigned to 7 treatments (6 replicates of 12 birds). A corn-soybean meal-based diet, with no inorganic phosphate rock, was formulated to contain 0.12% nonphytate phosphorus (nPP), 3.8% calcium, and 2,000 FTU/kg phytase. Inorganic phosphate rock (di-calcium phosphate) was supplemented into the basal diet to create 6 other diets containing 0.17, 0.22, 0.27, 0.32, 0.37, and 0.42% nPP. Levels of calcium carbonate and zeolite powder were adjusted to make sure all the 7 experimental diets contained the same nutrition levels (including calcium and phytase) except nPP. The diets were subjected to laying hens from 29 to 40 wk of age. As a result, when supplemented with 2,000 FTU/kg phytase, extra supplementation of inorganic phosphate rock had no effects (P > 0.05) on serum phosphorus levels, serum calcium levels, laying performance (laying rate, egg weight, feed intake, feed-to-egg ratio, and unqualified egg rate), egg quality (shell thickness, shell strength, albumen height, yolk color, and Haugh unit), and tibia quality parameters (breaking strength and ash, calcium, and phosphorus contents). Extra supplementation of inorganic phosphate rock linearly increased (P < 0.01) fecal phosphorus excretion and linearly decreased (P = 0.032) the apparent metabolizability of dietary phosphorus. While serum hormones and intestine gene expressions were varied within treatments, no consistent changes were found. In conclusion, the supplementation of inorganic phosphate rock (provided 0.05-0.30% extra nPP) to phytase-containing basal diets (2,000 FTU/kg; nPP = 0.12%) provided limited benefits to egg production performance in laying hens from 29 to 40 wk of age. Further investigating the body phosphorus homeostasis would help to understand the nutritional and physiological reasonability of formulating low-phosphorus diets in the laying hen industry.

Previously, much attention has been paid to prepare porous magnetic silica micro/nanoparticles, but most of the reported methods are limited by sophisticated procedures and strict synthetic conditi...

Gallium nitride (GaN) high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) has a lateral device structure with wafer-level packaging, which is advantageous in minimizing parasitic parameters and overall device size. This type of packaging also has better thermal performance than conventional packaging due to low junction-to-bottom thermal resistances. It indicates copper layers in printed circuit boards can effectively serve as heat dissipation channels for the switching devices. When these copper traces and pours in the vicinity of the switching devices are carefully designed and shaped, they can also be utilized as an integrated output filter. In this article, a synchronous buck converter with a single-turn air-core integrated planar inductor is proposed to achieve both zero-voltage switching and high thermal performance of the GaN HEMTs. A new planar inductor design flowchart is introduced, and analytically estimated inductance and resistance are verified with simulation and experiment. Three different inductors are designed and fabricated to prove the improved thermal performance of the proposed converters.

Maiwei Yangfei (MWYF) is a compound Chinese herb that is safe and effective in the clinical setting in patients with pulmonary fibrosis (PF). The aim of the present study was to assess the role of a (MWYF) decoction in a bleomycin (BLM)-induced PF mouse model and to investigate the underlying functional mechanism. Chemical components within the MWYF decoction were analysed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. A total of 50 C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to one of the following five groups with 10 mice per group: Control, model, low dose MWYF (20 g/kg), medium dose MWYF (40 g/kg) and high dose MWYF (60 g/kg). A mouse PF model was established by the tracheal instillation of BLM (5 mg/kg) prior to MWYF treatment, except for mice in the control group. After 21 days of treatment with MWYF, the mice were sacrificed and the body weights were recorded. In addition, pulmonary tissues and bronchial alveolar lavage fluid were collected. TNF-α, IL-6, IL-17, hydroxyproline, pyridinoline and collagen I levels were determined using ELISA. Vimentin, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), fibronectin, TGF-β1, Smad3, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-17, collagen I and collagen III were determined using western blotting. Vimentin and α-SMA levels were also determined using immunofluorescence analysis. Collagens I and III were detected using immunohistochemical analysis and TGF-β1 and Smad3 levels were determined using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. Following treatment with MWYF decoction, the body weight of the mice in the PF group increased, the degree of pulmonary alveolitis and PF was reduced, collagen levels were reduced and the expression levels of α-SMA, vimentin and fibronectin were decreased. Although both protein and mRNA expression levels of TGF-β1 and Smad3 were reduced, they remained higher than those observed in the control group. To conclude, MWYF decoction delayed the development of BLM-induced PF in mice, where the functional mechanism was likely associated with the TGF-β1/Smad3 signalling pathway.

We report the preparation of hexagonal mesoporous silica from single-source giant surfactants constructed via dihydroxyl-functionlized polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (DPOSS) heads and a polystyrene (PS) tail. After thermal annealing, the obtained well-ordered hexagonal hybrid was pyrolyzed to afford well-ordered mesoporous silica. A high porosity (e.g., 581 m2/g) and a uniform and narrow pore size distribution (e.g., 3.3 nm) were achieved. Mesoporous silica in diverse shapes and morphologies were achieved by processing the precursor. When the PS tail length was increased, the pore size expanded accordingly. Moreover, such pyrolyzed, ordered mesoporous silica can help to increase both efficiency and stability of nanocatalysts.

(−)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is the main bioactive catechin in green tea. The antitumor activity of EGCG has been confirmed in various types of cancer, including lung cancer. However, the precise underlying mechanisms are still largely unclear. In the present study, we investigated the metabolite changes in A549 cells induced by EGCG in vitro utilizing liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS)-based metabolomics. The result revealed 33 differentially expressed metabolites between untreated and 80 μM EGCG-treated A549 cells. The altered metabolites were involved in the metabolism of glucose, amino acid, nucleotide, glutathione, and vitamin. Two markedly altered pathways, including glycine, serine and threonine metabolism and alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism, were identified by MetaboAnalyst 5.0 metabolic pathway analysis. These results may provide potential clues for the intramolecular mechanisms of EGCG’s effect on A549 cells. Our study may contribute to future molecular mechanistic studies of EGCG and the therapeutic application of EGCG in cancer management.

Understanding serum dynamic patterns of P, Ca, and P-Ca metabolism related hormones would help us in developing feeding strategies that can be used to reduce dietary inorganic P input and decrease P excretion in laying hens. In the current study, Hy-Line Brown laying hens (35-wk-old, n = 15) were fed with a corn–soybean meal-based commercial laying hen diet containing 0.24% non-phytate P, 3.59% Ca, 2,040 IU/kg vitamin D3, 2,500 FTU/kg phytase, 2,636 kcal/kg ME, and 15.9% crude protein. Blood samples from each laying hen were collected immediately after the first oviposition; 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, and 21 h after the first oviposition; and immediately after the second oviposition. As a result, after the first oviposition, serum P and Ca levels of the laying hens were gradually increased, peaked in 6 h, and then gradually decreased all the way down until the second oviposition. Similarly, serum fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23) level was gradually increased after the first oviposition, but peaked in 9 h, and then gradually decreased all the way down until the second oviposition. Serum 1,25-dihydroxy-cholecalciferol [1,25(OD)2 D3] level was linearly and quadratically decreased during the egg laying cycle we observed. The serum levels of parathyroid hormone, calcitonin, and alkaline phosphatase were erratically fluctuated during the egg laying cycle in patterns that are very different from that of serum P, Ca, FGF-23, and 1,25(OD)2 D3. In conclusion, the result that serum FGF-23 peaked after serum P indicates that the dynamics in serum FGF-23 levels might be driven by serum P levels during the egg laying cycle.

We report the symmetry-dictated mesophase formation and phase diagram of a series of T8-polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) derivatives bearing perfluoroalkyl chains and hydroxyl alkyl groups. The phase structures and phase behaviors of these molecular Janus particles were studied by DSC, POM, FT-IR, and WAXD experiments. It was found that introducing one hydroxyl alkyl group leads to a decreased crystal melting point, and incorporating two hydroxyl alkyl groups at different POSS positions causes the formation of lamellar liquid crystal mesophases with feature sizes and transition temperatures that depend on the symmetry of these regioisomers. Interestingly, installing only one substituent with two hydroxyl groups leads to monotropic phase transitions, where the mesophase appears only upon cooling from the isotropic melt within the narrow supercooling window. Phase diagrams were systematically constructed for these compounds and understood based on the fine influence of symmetry on their possible ...

BACKGROUND Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a disease related to aging, which has become increasingly prevalent as the population has aged. However, there remains no effective treatment for the disease. Alveolar epithelial type II cell (AEC II) senescence plays an important role in the occurrence and development of IPF. Therefore, enhancing our understanding of aging AEC IIs might facilitate the development of a new therapeutic strategy for the prevention and treatment of IPF. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of citrus alkaline extracts (CAE) on senescence in A549 cells and elucidate the mechanism by which CAE function. MATERIAL AND METHODS Adriamycin RD (ARD) induces the senescence of A549 cells. Relevant indicators were identified following administration of 3 concentrations of CAE (50 μg/mL, 100 μg/mL, and 200 μg/mL) to A549 cells. RESULTS CAE inhibited senescence in ARD-induced A549 cells. It inhibited p16, p21, p53, and a senescence-associated secretory phenotype, and reduced expression of the senescence-related positive cells of ß-galactosidase. Further study revealed that activation of the ß-catenin signaling pathway is closely associated with p53. CAE inhibited senescence in A549 cells via the ß-catenin/p53 pathway. Further, inhibition of b-catenin was associated with reduced expression levels of p53 and p21, and the anti-aging effects of CAE were enhanced. When expression of p53 was inhibited, expression levels of ß-catenin also tended to decrease. CONCLUSIONS In summary, our study showed that CAE can inhibit aging in A549 cells to alleviate pulmonary fibrosis, and thus limit the secretion of the extracellular matrix and collagen in lung fibroblasts.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an emerging and rapidly evolving disease with no effective drug treatment. Traditional Chinese medicines have been widely used to treat COVID-19 in China. Chansu and its major active constituent, bufalin, exert broad-spectrum antiviral effects. Although the clinical efficacy of Chansu injection for COVID-19 treatment has been confirmed, its mechanism of action remains unclear. Objectives: In this study, we used network pharmacology and molecular docking technology to explore the potential material basis and mechanism of action of Chansu injection for COVID-19 treatment. Methods: The main components of Chansu injection were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The PharmMapper, SwissTargetPrediction, SEA, and TCMID databases were used to screen for the active ingredients and therapeutic targets of Chansu injection while the OMIM and GeneCards Suite databases were used to search for COVID-19-related targets. The STRING database was used for protein–protein interaction (PPI) network construction and topological analysis while DAVID was used for Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses of the core targets. Molecular docking of the three Chansu injection components (i.e., cinobufagin, resibufogenin, and bufalin) to angiotensin-converting enzyme II, spike (S) protein, 3CL protease, and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase was also carried out. Results: The three Chansu injection compounds were identified using HPLC. A total of 236 drug-related targets and 16,611 disease-related targets were identified, and 77 common targets were determined through mapping. The PPI mapping results revealed 16 core targets obtained through topological analysis and screening. Further, GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses revealed that the PI3K and JAK–STAT signaling pathways are the major pathways regulated by Chansu injection in COVID-19 treatment. The molecular docking results suggest that the three Chansu injection components have high binding energies to the S protein. Conclusions: This study revealed that the potential mechanism of Chansu injection for COVID-19 treatment involves multiple targets and pathways, thereby providing a scientific basis for its clinical application and further research.

Organic field effect transistors based on blended polymer insulators were fabricated. The effects of polystyrene (PS), poly (vinyldifluoride) (PVDF) and poly (vinylphenyl) (PVP) blended with poly (methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) on the properties of insulating layers were studied. The PMMA:PS films have spherical grains, the PMMA:PVP films exhibit porous pit morphology, and the PMMA:PVDF films still show plane morphology. The morphology of insulating layers can affect the crystallization of organic semiconductors. Meanwhile, the performance of OFET devices indicates that polymer doping decreases the threshold voltage of devices. When the mass ratio of PMMA:PVDF is 10:5, the threshold voltage of OFET devices is about -14.7 V, which is significant lower than that of pure PMMA devices. This is attributed to the larger capacitance and lower roughness of the insulating layers. Therefore, it is a convenient and effective method to optimize the threshold voltage of OFET devices by applying blended polymer insulating layers.

Background The clinical efficacy of matrine in treating coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been confirmed; however, its underlying mechanism of action remains unknown. Methods TCMSP, SwissTargetPrediction, SEA, GeneCards, CTD, and TTD were used to identify potential targets for matrine in SARS-CoV-2. Cytoscape software was used to determine the target-pathway network for topographical analysis. The online STRING analysis platform and Cytoscape were together used to generate a PPI network and for GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis. Finally, molecular docking simulations were performed to study matrine-Mpro, matrine-ACE2, and matrine-RdRp interactions. Results Ten common matrine targets were obtained, particularly including TNF-α, IL-6, and CASP3. GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis revealed five significantly enriched signalling pathways involved in cell proliferation, apoptosis, programmed cell death, and immune responses. Conclusions During COVID-19 treatment, matrine regulates viral replication, host cell apoptosis, and inflammation by targeting the TNF-α, IL-6, and CASP3 in the TNF signalling pathway.

Background Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic, progressive, fibrotic disease. Although the pathogenesis remains unclear, the effect of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in type II alveolar epithelial cells (AEC IIs) is increasingly thought to be a critical mechanism. Purpose We investigated the effects of citrus alkaline extracts (CAE) on AEC IIs and elucidated the underlying mechanism for their possible use in ameliorating pulmonary fibrosis (PF). Methods A bleomycin-induced mouse model of PF, and an in vitro tunicamycin (TM) -induced ER stress model in A549 cells were successfully established. Accumulation of collagen in lung tissues in vivo was assessed using histological analysis and western blotting. The expression levels of the ER-stress marker BiP and other related proteins were assessed by western blotting and immunofluorescence staining. Mitochondrial membrane potential was assessed to evaluate mitochondrial homeostasis. Results CAE mitigated collagen deposition to ameliorate PF in vivo. CAE suppressed the bleomycin or TM-induced increases in ER-stress biomarker, BiP, and PERK pathway proteins, resulting in a decrease in ER stress in mouse lung tissues and A549 cells, respectively. Additionally, CAE treatment suppressed the bleomycin or TM-induced increase in the ER-stress downstream proteins, activating ATF3 and increased the levels of PINK1 in AEC IIs, both in vivo and in vitro. The reduced mitochondrial homeostasis induced by TM was restored by CAE-treatment in A549 cells. Furthermore, conditioned media from TM-treated A549 cells increased collagen deposition in MRC5 cells mainly via TGF-β1. The increased collagen deposition was not seen using conditioned media from CAE-treated A549 cells. Conclusion These results provide novel insights into the potential mechanism of CAE in inhibiting ER stress in AEC IIs, and suggests that it has great potential to ameliorate PF via the ATF3/PINK1 pathway.

Aim: The p21-activated kinases (PAKs) are involved in many important biological activity regulations. FRAX019, FRAX414, FRAX597, FRAX1036 and G-5555 were identified as PAKs inhibitors. Their detailed inhibitory mechanisms deserve further investigation. Results: Molecular dynamics simulations and further calculations for the PAK1/inhibitor and PAK4/inhibitor complexes indicate that their binding free energies are basically consistent with the trend of experimental activity data. Conclusion: The anchoring of residues Leu347PAK1 and Leu398PAK4 is the structural basis for designing Afraxis PAK inhibitors. This study discloses the inhibitory mechanisms of FRAX019, FRAX414, FRAX597, FRAX1036 and G-5555 toward PAK1 and PAK4 and some clues to enhance kinase activities and selectivities, which will provide valuable information to the development of more potent and selective PAK inhibitors.

The lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries involve intricate electrochemical processes containing the formation and conversion of polysulfides, in which the shuttle effect and slow reaction kinetics impair its practical performance. Exploring new electrocatalyst with strong catalytic ability can greatly accelerate the conversion of polysulfides in Li-S batteries. Herein, BiOI/carbon fibers (BiOI/CFs) core–shell composite has been prepared by a facile electrospinning combined with solvothermal method and used as a promising electrocatalyst. The BiOI nanosheets are cross-linked to form a porous three-dimensional network on the surface of carbon fibers. This architecture not only has the advantage of large aspect ratio, but also has a high specific surface area, which provides abundant active sites and ensures high electron/ion transfer for the electrocatalysis of lithium polysulfides. As expected, BiOI/CFs electrode presents a superior bidirectional oxidation–reduction ability for polysulfides. The first-principles calculations also prove the strong interaction between BiOI and polysulfides. Due to these advantages, BiOI/CFs can effectively inhibit the shuttle effect of polysulfides, and possesses excellent electrochemical performance in Li-S batteries. The specific capacity of the BiOI/CFs-S electrode is stable at 1020 mAh g−1 after 200 cycles at 0.2C and 598 mAh g−1 after 1000 cycles at 5C. This work provides new insights for the development of high-performance electrocatalysts for polysulfide conversion.

Expanded graphite (EG) films with low oxidation degree exhibit excellent thermal, electric properties and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding. However, the mechanical brittleness is the major limitation for their applications. To meet this challenge, in this work, a small amount of flexible graphene (GE) is introduced to endow EG films with good flexibility and mechanical properties by forming simulate shell structure. Moreover, the influence of oxidation degree and sheet thickness for carbon sheets as well as the lateral size of GE on the film performance is carefully discussed. As a result, a 431% enhancement of tensile strength from 7.7 Mpa to 40.9 Mpa and little sacrifice of electric, thermal conductivities up to 1467 S cm−1 and 348 W m−1 K−1 are observed with the loading of only 10% large GE (LGE) sheets in EG films. Besides, high EMI shielding of 48.3 dB is achieved as the film thickness reaches 43 μm. The excellent flexibility of prepared EG/LGE films can be retained even after more than 1000 times of direct folding. These excellent properties of light-weight EG/LGE films, together with their advantages of environmentally friendly and facile large-scale fabrication, endow the films with great potential applications in next-generation commercial portable flexible electronics.

Modified castor oil-based epoxy resin (EP)/polyurethane (PU) grafted copolymer by glycidyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (glycidyl POSS) was synthesized. The damping properties, thermal stability, mechanical properties and morphology of the grafted copolymer modified by glycidyl POSS were studied systematically. The results revealed that the incorporation of glycidyl POSS improved the damping performance evidently and broadened damping temperature range, especially when the glycidyl POSS content was 0.2%–1%. At the same time, there was a slight increase in thermal stability with the increase of POSS content. The tensile properties changed with the change of the copolymer’s Tg, decreased at low POSS contents and increased at high POSS contents. This modified copolymer has the potential to be used as film damping material or constrained damping layer.

Recently, safety issues in conventional organic liquid electrolytes and the interface resistance between the electrode and electrolyte have been the most challenging barriers for the expansion of lithium batteries to a wide range of applications. Here, an ion-conductive PVDF-based composite polymer electrolyte (CPE) consisting of lithium aluminum germanium phosphate (Li1.3Al0.3Ti1.7(PO4)3) and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) is prepared on a Li metal anode via a facile casting method. The ionic conductivity and electrochemical stability were enhanced by incorporating an appropriate amount of LATP into the PVDF-based composite polymer electrolyte, and the optimum content of LATP in the hybrid solid electrolyte was approximately 90 wt%. The corresponding solid-state battery based on an SEI-protected Li anode, the PVDF–LATP electrolyte, and a LiMn2O4 (LMO) cathode exhibited excellent rate capability and long-term cycling performance, with an initial discharge capacity of 107.4 mA h g−1 and a retention of 91.4% after 200 cycles.

Synthesis of hybrid hetero-arms star polymer with precisely defined arms distribution in three dimensional (3D) space is still a challenge. Herein, we have employed cubic polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) nanoparticle as a scaffold to synthesize a biodegradable Janus POSS star polymer (oom-T8PLLA5PCL3), which contains an inorganic rigid POSS core, three poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL) arms and five poly( l -lactide) (PLLA) arms on the POSS cage two sides, respectively. The chemical structure of oom-T8PLLA5PCL3 was confirmed by NMR, SEC, and FTIR spectra. As an example of application for the Janus POSS star polymer, oom-T8PLLA5PCL3 was used for the compatibilization of biodegradable PLLA/PCL (w/w = 70/30) blends. It was found that oom-T8PLLA5PCL3 could reduce the dispersed PCL phase size in PLLA matrix and enhance the properties of PLLA/PCL polymer blends, which was reflected in the increase of Izod impact strength and tensile performance of the polymer blends.

In recent years, [2+2] cycloaddition under visible light has been a hot topic because of low energy consumption and high regio- and stereoselectivities when compared with reactions under UV irradiation. However, the mechanism of [2+2] cycloaddition under visible light irradiation is still unclear. In this research, the visible light catalytic intermolecular [2+2] cycloaddition of 3-ylideneoxindoles has been investigated using density functional theory B3LYP and M06-L methods. The calculated result shows that 3-ylideneoxindoles in triplet excited states can be formed by energy transfer from the triplet excited states of photocatalyst, and then the [2+2] cycloaddition is carried out along the potential energy surface of triplet states. The [2+2] cycloaddition of 3-ylideneoxindoles is more likely to generate head to head products due to the σ–π conjugation. Hydrogen bonds in pre-reaction complex play a key role in the reaction and the strong hydrogen bonding in pre-reaction complex goes against the [2+2] cycloaddition reaction. Furthermore, the electron-withdrawing group of the reactant is beneficial to the reaction because the C C double bond can be weakened by it.

Silicon carbide (SiC) MOSFETs and gallium nitride (GaN) high-electron mobility transistors are perceived as future replacements for Si IGBTs and MOSFETs in medium- and low-voltage drives due to their low conduction and switching losses. However, it is widely believed that the already significant conducted common-mode (CM) electromagnetic interference (EMI) emission of motor drives will be further exacerbated by the high-speed switching operation of these new devices. Hence, this paper investigates and quantifies the increase in the conducted CM EMI emission of a pulse width modulation inverter-based motor drive when SiC and GaN devices are adopted. Through an analytical approach, the results reveal that the influence of dv/dt on the conducted CM emission is generally limited. On the other hand, the influence of switching frequency is more significant. Lab tests are also conducted to verify the analysis.

Wide bandgap semiconductors, such as gallium nitride (GaN)-based power devices have become increasingly popular in the automotive industry due to their low on-state resistance and fast switching capabilities. These devices are sought to replace silicon (Si) devices in power electronics converters for vehicular applications. GaN devices dissipate less energy during each switching event, thus, GaN converter designers can significantly increase the switching frequency without increasing switching losses, relative to Si converters. However, one item of concern is that the high $dv/dt$ of GaN devices, due to the increased switching speed, has the potential to deteriorate the electromagnetic interference (EMI) emission of power converters, and thus may fail the corresponding regulations for vehicles. To understand these effects, this paper presents an experimental case study on the switching characteristics and common mode (CM) noise generation of a GaN-based half-bridge configuration operating in the synchronous boost mode. A comprehensive comparison has been made between the chosen GaN high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) and Si MOSFET in terms of switching voltage waveforms, ground leakage currents, and CM noise spectrum. By parametrically increasing the gate resistance of GaN HEMT and Si MOSFET, the tradeoff between converter efficiency and CM noise generation is also quantified.

The nucleophilic iron complex Bu4 N[Fe(CO)3 (NO)] (TBA[Fe]) is an active catalyst in C-H-amination but also in proton-transfer catalysis. Herein, we describe the successful use of this complex as a proton-transfer catalyst in the cyclocondensation reaction between azides and ketones to the corresponding 1,2,3-triazoles. Cross-experiments indicate that the proton-transfer catalysis is significantly faster than the nitrene-transfer catalysis, which would lead to the C-H amination product. An example of a successful sequential Dimroth triazole-indoline synthesis to the corresponding triazole-substituted indolines is presented.

Gallium nitride (GaN) high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) has a lateral device structure with a wafer-level packaging, which is advantageous in minimizing parasitic parameters and the overall device size. The wafer-level packaging also provides better thermal performance than the conventional packaging due to low junction-to-case and junction-to-bottom thermal resistances. When a printed circuit board layout is optimally designed, copper traces and pours in the vicinity of the switching devices can serve as effective heat dissipation channels. In this paper, a synchronous buck converter with a single-turn air-core integrated planar inductor is proposed to achieve both quasisquare wave zero-voltage switching (QSW ZVS) and high thermal performance of the GaN HEMTs in high-frequency operation. The integrated planar inductor which is directly connected to the GaN HEMTs serves as a heat dissipation channel to maintain the device temperature low enough without any additional heat sink. Three different inductor designs with two different copper thicknesses have been investigated and compared to verify the effective thermal performance of the proposed converters.

Orbital angular momentum (OAM) mode-division multiplexing (MDM) has recently been under intense investigations as a new way to increase the capacity of fiber communication. In this paper, a two-layer Erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) for an OAM multiplexing system is proposed. The amplifier is based on the circular photonic crystal fiber (C-PCF), which can maintain a stable transmission for 14 OAM modes by a large index difference between the fiber core and the cladding. Further, the two-layer doped region can balance the amplification performance of different modes. The relationship between the performance and the parameters of the amplifier is analyzed numerically to optimize the amplifier design. The optimized amplifier can amplify 18 modes (14 OAM modes) simultaneously over the C-band with a differential mode gain (DMG) lower than 0.1 dB while keeping the modal gain over 23 dB and noise figure below 4 dB. Finally, the fabrication tolerance and feasibility are discussed. The result shows a relatively large fabrication tolerance in the OAM EDFA parameters.

One-dimensional zinc molybdate (ZnMoO4) nanotubes with excellent sodium-storage performance are controllably and delicately prepared by a facile electrospinning method. The as-prepared nanotubes are systematically characterized. The charge-discharge cycling curves, cyclic voltammetry and rate performance further reveal the electrochemical properties of the samples when used as the new Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) anode material. In the charge-discharge process, the initial discharge capacity of the electrode is 548 mAh g−1, and remains a reversible capacity of about 190 mAh g−1 after 500 cycles at the current density of 100 mA g−1. ZnMoO4 nanotubes also deliver an excellent rate capability. In addition, the sodium-storage reaction mechanism of ZnMoO4 nanotubes is revealed via ex-situ XRD and TEM analysis. The results suggest the transformation of ZnMoO4 to Zn and NaMoO4 at the potential of ∼1.0 V during the first discharge, which is subsequently converted to Zn and Mo nanograins of 3–5 nm with the deepening of the discharge. This study provides an in-depth understanding of the electrochemical mechanism of molybdates-type anode materials.

Oily wastewater has caused serve environmental pollution in nowadays, and it is highly urgent to develop an effective method for disposing of it. The development superhydrophilic and underwater superoleophobic (SUS) membranes bring hope of solving this global challenge. Previously, deformable hydrogels/hydrophilic polymers, brittle and chemically weak inorganic/metal oxides have been widely employed for fabricating SUS membranes, while most of these materials are likely to be corroded under practical severe conditions. In this work, we report a novel SUS membrane with excellent durability as achieved by introducing polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) nanoparticles on cotton fabric (CF) followed by thiol-ene functionalization to graft hydrophilic carboxyl group. It is found that the prepared SUS membrane can withstand long-term mechanical abrasion, ultrasonic washing, UV light irradiation and corrosive aqueous solutions without reducing the underwater superoleophobicity. This SUS membrane is also able to separate various oil/water and oil/corrosive aqueous solution mixtures, and only water phase is allowed to permeate through it. The measured water fluxes are very high (up to 88,214 L m−2 h−1), the initial separation efficiencies of this membrane for various oil/water mixtures are over 99% and those values are still maintained at high level (around 98%) after 50 separation cycles even in severe conditions. We believe that this work would be helpful for fabrication of advanced SUS membranes with excellent durability.

With low loss, fast switching speed, and high-temperature capabilities, silicon carbide (SiC)-based devices are beneficial to automotive power converters in terms of efficiency increase and size reduction. Nevertheless, as a result of fast switching transitions and low on-state resistance of SiC devices, SiC-based converters are prone to overshoots and oscillations on switching waveforms, with the presence of parasitic inductances in the circuit. The overshoots and oscillations further contribute to increased converter loss and EMI emissions. This paper aims to study the influence of parasitic inductances on the performance of SiC MOSFETs for automotive dc–dc converters from the loss and electromagnetic interference perspective.

The base metal complex tetrabutylammonium nitrosyltricarbonylferrate {Bu4N[Fe(CO)3(NO)] (TBA[Fe])} – catalyzes the conjugate addition of ketones to polar olefins. The reaction is applicable to a wide range of substrates leading to interesting building blocks for organic synthesis. Clear indications for an acid-base type rather than a C−H activation pathway exist.

Herein, we report a novel strategy to use Janus polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS)–[60]fullerene (C60) (JPC) giant molecules as compatibilizer for immiscible polystyrene (PS)/polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) blends. It was found that the domain sizes of the dispersed PMMA phase decrease in PS matrix, and tensile strength and elongation of PS/PMMA blends were largely enhanced by adding a small amount of JPC. More importantly, both interfacial tension analyses and elemental Si distribution in the blends suggest a possible location of the JPC at the PS/PMMA interfaces. Our studies provide not only a new idea for the compatibilization of polymer blends, but also for precisely controlling the positions of nanoparticles in a polymer matrix, which is also of great importance for the preparation of polymer nanocomposites with high-performance and excellent functionality.

It is widely acknowledged that gallium nitride (GaN)-based power switching devices are superior to conventional silicon (Si) devices in terms of lower semiconductor loss and faster switching speed. However, the deadtime related losses in GaN HEMT-based converters can be detrimental if not optimized, especially when operating at very high switching frequencies. This paper proposes an original analytical model for deadtime optimization for the GaN converters. The proposed model is more accurate than conventional deadtime optimization methods used in Si converters. A GaN-based synchronous boost converter is used as a case study. Circuit simulation and experimental tests are successfully performed to verify the analysis and proposed model.

In order to find new sources of natural antioxidants, total phenolic contents and antioxidant capacities of 11 fruit seeds before and after in vitro digestion were evaluated by Folin–Ciocalteu method, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity assay (DPPH), ferric reducing antioxidant power assay (FRAP), and ABTS•+ scavenging activity (ABTS) assay, respectively. The correlations between DPPH, FRAP, ABTS values and total phenolic contents were also evaluated. The results showed that 11 fruit seeds had diverse antioxidant capacities and the variation was very large. Furthermore, the main compounds of 11 fruit seeds were identified and quantified. Four fruit seeds, Dimocarpus longgana Lour, Vitis vinifera Linn (red), Vitis vinifera Linn (black), and Litchi chinensis Sonn showed the strongest antioxidant activities whether before or after digestion, which implied that these fruit seeds are important natural sources for preventing oxidative stress diseases.

Polymer dielectrics have been considered as an ideal choice for preparation of advanced power and electronic systems as their good comprehensive performances. However, it remains a challenge to obtain polymer dielectrics with high dielectric constant ( e r ), low dielectric loss (tan δ) and high temperature capability. Although adding high permittivity inorganic nanofillers has become a promising approach to improve the e r of polymers, it usually causes the adverse increment tan δ. Herein, we demonstrate that fluoride ion encapsulated polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS@F−) can be regarded as a novel filler to enhance the e r and reduce the tan δ of poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) (PPO) simultaneously. Compared with the pristine PPO, the e r of PPO/POSS@F− composite can be enhanced from 2.81 to 5.31, while its tan δ is still relatively low (0.0011 at 1 kHz). Meanwhile, the breakdown strength of PPO can also be slightly reinforced from 334.9 kV/mm to 394.0 kV/mm. Owing to the good thermal properties of PPO and POSS@F−, these composites exhibit good dielectric properties and improved dimension stability at high temperature. We believe that these results are particularly important for the preparation of advanced dielectric materials for desirable applications.

Nowadays, oil contamination has become a major source of water pollution and results in the global environmental challenge. Although numerous efforts have been made on the fabrication of oil/water separation materials, their practical applications are still hindered by the low preparation efficiency, weak mechanical durability, poor chemical tolerance and environmental resistance, as well as low permeation flux. To overcome these drawbacks, herein, we directly anchor hydrophobic/oleophilic polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) onto the surface of cotton fabric by one-step dipping strategy to yield a robust POSS based hydrophobic oil/water separation membrane. At First, commercially available octavinyl-POSS (VPOSS) was functionalized by 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane (MPTMS) via thiol-ene click reaction to afford a novel POSS derivate, named POSS-MPTMS. Then, it was used for modification of the cotton fabric by one-step dip-coating method to form a stable and robust POSS layer. The formed POSS layer endow modified cotton fabric become hydrophobic with the water contact angle higher than 142°. More importantly, the POSS modified fabric can withstand UV irradiation, chemical corrosion, ultrasonic washing as well as repeatedly mechanical abrasion for a long time. Solely driven by gravity, the modified fabric can enable separation of oil/water mixture with a permeation flux as high as 114,744 L·m−2·h−1. Moreover, it maintains excellent stability and effective separation property even in harsh environments with high concentration of acid, alkali, and salt solutions. We believe this facile strategy is a good solution for construction of advanced filtration materials for practical oil/water separation.

A fiber amplifier with two-layer erbium-doped in photonic crystal fiber’s ring region was designed for orbital angular momentum mode-division multiplexing system. It can amplify 18 modes simultaneously while differential mode gain lower than 0.1dB.

Saikosaponin d (SSd) is a major hepatoprotective component of saikosaponins derived from Radix Bupleuri, which was also linked to hepatotoxicity. Previous studies have demonstrated that caspases play a key role in SSd-induced liver cell death. Our in vitro and in vivo studies also showed that treatment with caspase inhibitor z-VAD-fmk could significantly reduce the L02 hepatocyte cells death and lessen the degree of liver damage in mice caused by SSd. In order to further reveal the underlying mechanisms of caspase inhibition in SSd-induced hepatotoxicity, mass spectrometry based untargeted metabolomics was conducted. Significant alterations in metabolic profiling were observed in SSd-treated group, which could be restored by caspase inhibition. Bile acids and phospholipids were screened out to be most significant by spearman correlation analysis, heatmap analysis and S-Plot analysis. These findings were further confirmed by absolute quantitation of bile acids via targeted metabolomics approach. Furthermore, cytokine profiles were analyzed to identify potential associations between inflammation and metabolites. The study could provide deeper insight into the hepatotoxicity of SSd and the efficacy of caspase inhibition.

Fibroblasts are the major effector cells of skin wound healing. Adipose‑derived stem cells can differentiate into fibroblasts under certain conditions. In the present study, it was hypothesized that adipose‑derived stem cells (ADSCs) could be induced by the adipose extracellular matrix (ECM) to differentiate into fibroblasts in order to promote skin wound healing. First, flow cytometry was used to detect the ratio of fibroblasts and relative expression of the fibroblast markers cytokeratin 19 (CK19) and vimentin in ADSCs. Then, the effect of the adipose ECM during the differentiation of ADSCs into fibroblasts was investigated by detecting the total amount of collagen fibers and degree of fibrosis, and the proliferation and cell cycle of differentiated fibroblasts, using the MTT assay and flow cytometry analysis respectively. Finally, a mouse skin wound model was established and treated with PBS, ADSC suspension or ECM + ADSCs to compare wound healing rate and expression of collagen I and collagen III by immunohistochemistry. Following induction of ADSCs with the adipose ECM, more fibroblasts were found, expression of CK19 and vimentin increased, and a greater degree of fibrosis occurred, which revealed the positive effect of the adipose ECM on the differentiation of ADSCs into fibroblasts. In addition, the induced fibroblasts had enhanced proliferation activity, with more cells in the S phase and fewer in the G2/M phase. The in vivo experiment indicated that the ECM produced by the ADSCs had a faster wound healing rate and increased expression of collagen I and collagen III compared with mice injected with PBS or ADSCs alone, which verified that ADSCs induced by the adipose ECM had a positive effect on skin wound healing. The present study demonstrated that the adipose ECM in combination with ADSCs may be a novel therapeutic target for the repair of skin injury, due to the ability of the adipose ECM to induce the differentiation of ADSCs into fibroblasts and to facilitate the wound healing process.

Common-mode (CM) voltage related issues such as ground current and EMI are widely known in the three-phase PWM inverter based systems. With the adoption of better semiconductor switching devices, especially silicon carbide and gallium nitride devices, the increased dv/dt and switching frequency further aggravate the situation. As a result, a number of novel inverter topologies have recently been proposed by the researchers to achieve CM voltage reduction or cancellation. In this paper, three CM reduced topologies-floated, balanced, and four-leg inverter topologies have been studied with their performance compared. Based on the analytical, simulation, and experimental results, pros and cons of each topology are summarized and discussed.

To understand the hepatic metabolic changes during postnatal liver maturation process in breeder roosters, we investigated the hepatic metabolites composition of 1-day-old, 42-day-old, and 35-week-old breeder roosters using gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS). Comprehensive multivariate data analyses were applied to identify the distinguishing metabolites of liver. 84 different kinds of distinguishing metabolites were identified between the livers of 1-day-old and 42-day-old breeder roosters, and 58 different kinds of distinguishing metabolites were identified between the livers from 42-day-old and 35-week-old breeder roosters. Further pathway annotations revealed that the hepatic metabolism was extensively remodeled during the postnatal liver maturation process. The antioxidant capacity of the liver and metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, amino acids, fats, cholesterols, nucleic acids, and vitamins were all significantly changed at different growing periods after birth. Specifically, we found that the hepatic amino acid metabolic function was continuously enhanced from 1-day-old to 35-week-old roosters. However, the glucose and lipid metabolic functions were weakened from 1-day-old to 42-day-old roosters and then elevated from 42-day-old to 35-week-old roosters. In conclusion, the present study revealed that the metabolomic changes are related to the adaption of liver functions in breeder roosters., Summary: This study revealed that hepatic metabolomic changes are related to functional adaption in breeder roosters, which contribute to a better understanding of the hepatic metabolites composition differences during different periods.