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Organic room temperature phosphorescent materials have attracted a lot of research interest due to their wide applications. Herein, a series of intramolecular-locked triphenylamine derivatives have been synthesized with adjustable room temperature phosphorescence (RTP) properties, in which the RTP lifetime ranged from 30 to 288 ms and the emission color varied from sky blue to green. These results are mainly related to the substituent effect, which can tune the intramolecular charge transfer and intermolecular interactions, contributing to different intersystem crossing (ISC) processes, and the stability and energy levels of excited triplet states.

Methimazole (MMI) is a widely used antithyroid drug, but it can cause hepatotoxicity by unknown mechanisms. Previous studies showed that the hepatic metabolism of MMI produces N-methylthiourea, leading to liver damage. However, the specific enzyme responsible for the production of the toxic metabolite N-methylthiourea is still unclear. In this study, we screened cytochromes P450 (CYPs) in N-methylthiourea production from MMI. CYP2A6 was identified as the key enzyme in catalyzing MMI metabolism to produce N-methylthiourea. When mice were pretreated with a CYP2A6 inhibitor, formation of N-methylthiourea from MMI was remarkably reduced. Consistently, the CYP2A6 inhibitor prevented MMI-induced hepatotoxicity. These results demonstrated that CYP2A6 is essential in MMI bioactivation and hepatotoxicity.

A combined anion photoelectron spectroscopic and quantum chemical investigation was performed to explore the structures and bonding properties of ternary [O, Ta, 2C]- anions. The atomic bonding connectivity of the ternary anion was found to be (O-Ta-C2)- rather than (Ta-O-C2)-. The photoelectron spectrum using 266 nm photons was measured, and the theoretical simulated spectrum was calculated, with good agreement between experimental and theoretical results being found. Computations obtained electronic energies and low-energy structures and enabled chemical bonding analyses. The experimental vertical detachment energies of OTaC2- were measured to be 2.85 ± 0.08 eV. OTaC2- exhibits π aromaticity with two delocalized π electrons and σ antiaromaticity.

The significant progress in efforts to design hydrogel adhesive mimicking mussels' functions has been witnessed in recent years. However, it is still an arduous challenge to fabricate self-adhesive hydrogel adhesive that tradeoff of exalting features containing scalability, self-healing, degradability, biocompatibility, and antibacterial properties. Herein, we manufactured a multi-functional physical hydrogel adhesive by integrating catechol groups modified chitosan and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). Intriguingly, the physical gels reinforce durable and repeatable adhesiveness due to the limited auto-oxidation of catechol groups of the 3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl) propionic acid modified chitosan (DCS), which can be adhered diametrically on human skin without shedding and residue. Additionally, the dynamic H-bonds between DCS and PVA endows the hydrogel to self-heal under a relatively mild stimulation. The assembly of silver nano armor remarkably enhances the mechanical strength and antibacterial of the hydrogel. Meanwhile, the metal coordination formed between the nano-silver and the hydroxyl groups of catechol and the electrostatic interaction between the silver ions and the hydroxyl groups also contribute to the hydrogel to achieve self-healing. This work provides a neoteric prospect in designing degradable hydrogels with stretchability, self-adhesion, self-healing, antibacterial and biocompatibility for potential applications in tissue adhesion and wound healing.

To develop novel norepinephrine transporter (NET)-targeting positron emission tomography (PET) probes with optimal pharmacokinetic properties, a series of meta-bromobenzylguanidine derivatives was synthesized. 4-Fluorodiethoxyethane-3-bromobenzylguanidine (compound 12) showed relatively good affinity for the NET (IC50 = 1.00 ± 0.04 μM). The corresponding radiotracer 18F-12 was prepared in high radiochemical purity (>98%) via a three-step method. The in vitro cellular uptake results demonstrated that 18F-12 was specifically taken up by NET-expressing SK-N-SH cells by the uptake-1 mechanism. Biodistribution studies in mice showed that 18F-12 exhibited high cardiac uptake (10.45 ± 0.66 %ID/g at 5 min p.i. and 6.44 ± 0.40 %ID/g at 120 min p.i.), faster liver clearance, and a lower dose of absorbed radiation than [123I]-labeled meta-iodobenzylguanidine ([123I]MIBG). Small animal PET imaging confirmed the high heart-to-background ratio of 18F-12 and the uptake-1 mechanism specific for the NET in rats, indicating its potential as a promising PET radiotracer for cardiac sympathetic nerve imaging.

IFNγ released from CD8+ T cells or natural killer cells plays a crucial role in antitumor host immunity. Several studies have found that IFNγ is involved in regulating tumor cell proliferation and apoptosis. However, few studies have examined its role in cell ferroptosis. Here, we found that IFNγ treatment enhanced glutathione depletion, promoted cell cycle arrested in G0/G1 phase, increased lipid peroxidation, and sensitized cells to ferroptosis activators. Additionally, IFNγ down-regulated the mRNA and protein levels of SLC3A2 and SLC7A11, two subunits of the glutamate-cystine antiporter system xc− via activating the JAK/STAT pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines. Furthermore, IFNγ increased reactive oxygen species levels and decreased mitochondiral membrane potential in Bel7402 and HepG2 cells. These changes were accompanied by decreased system xc− activity. Cancer cells exposed to TGFβ1 for 48 h showed sensitization to IFNγ + erastin-induced ferroptosis, with decreased system xc− expression. In conclusion, IFNγ repressed system xc− activation via activating JAK/STAT signaling. Additionally, enhanced lipid peroxidation was associated with altered mitochondrial function in HCC cells. Our findings identified a role for IFNγ in sensitizing HCC cells to ferroptosis, which provided new insights for applying IFNγ as a cancer treatment.

Vertically oriented graphene (VG) is deposited on a wide range of substrates by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition. Moreover, the growth mode of VG is proven to be bottom-up deposition using isotope labeling. The Raman characteristic features of rhodamine 6G (R6G), an aromatic dye, are acquired using VG as a universal fluorescence quencher. The fluorescence quenching mechanism is likely related to the transfer of energy and photon-excited electrons between dye molecules and VG because not only the fluorescence emission spectrum of R6G greatly overlaps with the UV–vis absorption spectrum of VG, but also the resistance of dye-coated VG decreases under light irradiation. In addition, the Raman features of other aromatic dyes, such as eosin Y, rhodamine B, methylene blue, and gallocyanine, are obtained by the same method.

Gas sensors based on organic semiconductors receive tremendous attentions owing to their advantages on high selectivity and room temperature operation. However, until now, most organic semiconductor based sensors still suffered from problems, such as low sensitivity, slow response/recovery speed and poor stability. In addition, a clear correlation between the sensing performance and the film property is still absent. Herein, we report the investigation on sensing performance of a series of organic films with various morphologies. By simply adjusting the quality of self-assembled monolayer(SAM) on the silicon wafer surface, we obtain organic semiconductor 6,13-bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl)pentacene (TIPS-pentacene) films with varied morphologies and different charge transport abilities. The film with a small grain size and a continuous morphology presents the highest sensing performance to NO2, with a sensitivity up to 730%/ppm(ppm=parts per million, volume ratio). We thus reveal that the high sensitivity of the organic film is evident related with the charge transport ability and initial conductivity of the films, as well as the morphologies of both modification layer and the active films.

The focus of this work is to develop a reusable heterogeneous catalyst for the preparation of biodiesel. Among the potential raw materials, soybean dregs oil is extracted from waste soybean dregs, and limescale is used as a source of calcium oxide. The basic catalyst of mixed metal oxide of CaO and Al2O3 was synthesized by sol-gel method. The structure, composition and basicity of the synthesis catalyst were characterized by TG, XRD, BET, SEM-EDX, TEM-EDX, FTIR and CO2-TPD. The results indicate that the presence of the inert substance Ca5Al6O14 inhibits the accumulation of CaO and promotes its dispersion uniform. The FAEE yield reaches 92.6 % under the optimized conditions. Kinetic analysis shows that the experimental pattern conforms to a pseudo-first-order reaction kinetic model (R2 = 0.9674), and the activation energy required for the transesterification reaction is Ea = 62.36 KJ/mol. In addition, the catalyst shows high stability in this experiment, and no obvious performance loss is observed during the process of five cycles.

This study was designed to elucidate the immunoregulation of Ganoderma lucidum. HPLC fingerprint and spectrum-effect relationship of G. lucidum were established to predict the active compounds and BP neural network model was established to predict the efficacy. Then the target compounds were identified by high resolution mass spectrometry. The results indicated that there are both enhanced immunity and immunosuppressive components in G. lucidum. BP neural network was trained with the common peak area and immune efficacy index of G. lucidum fingerprint as samples, and a combined evaluation system of G. lucidum fingerprint efficacy was established. The correlation coefficient R of BP network model was 0.986 43, and the error of pharmacodynamic prediction results was in the ideal range. Eight compounds were identified by high resolution mass spectrometry. The compounds related to immune activity in G. lucidum were determined in this study.

In this study, CuO–ZnO and Fe2O3–Cr2O3 were prepared by coprecipitation and their catalytic activity in supercritical water gasification (SCWG) was evaluated at 500 and 600 °C. Both catalysts impro...

The vacuum drying (VD) process of virgin brown sugar powder (VBSP) was optimized by response surface methodology. The influences of drying temperature (75–85 °C), vacuum pressure (30–50 kPa) and material thickness (0.7–1.3 cm) on the response values of drying rate and total phenolic content (TPC) were investigated. The optimal conditions of 85 °C, 46 kPa and 1.01 cm were obtained. The sensory, physical and chemical properties of VBSP under optimal conditions showed that significant changes in colour, aw and moisture state, but not in sugar composition, were found. The TPC, protein content and free amino acid content were slightly reduced, while certain increases in the DPPH radical scavenging activity, N-nitro clearance and reducing power were observed. The results indicated that VD could provide good sensory and physicochemical properties to VBSP, in addition to cost and efficiency advantages.

Single-crystal Ni-rich cathode material LiNi0.88Co0.09Al0.03O2 (SC) was synthesized by a high-temperature solid-state calcination method. Physicochemical properties of primary and delithiated SC samples were investigated by X-ray diffractometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Electrochemical performance was characterized by long-term cycling, cyclic voltammetry, and in-situ impedance spectroscopy. The results indicated that high temperature rendered layered oxides to lose lithium/oxygen in the interior and exterior, and induced cationic disordering. Besides, the solid-phase synthesis process promoted phase transformation for electrode materials, causing the coexisting multi-phase in a single particle. High temperature can foster the growth of single particles, but it caused unstable structure of layered phase.

Poria is a common Traditional Chinese Medicine in clinic. In recent years, the chemical and pharmacological studies of Poria have made great progress, triterpenes and polysaccharides have been isolated, and various types of compounds containing lipids, octanoic acids, fatty acids, and trace elements have been found. In this paper, we reviewed the literature, summarized the main compound types, and reviewed in detail their pharmacological effects in antitumor, immunomodulatory, effects on kidney, hepatoprotective activity, effects on blood sugar, antioxidant effects, anti-inflammatory effects, effects on the gut, antidepressant, and so on, and also categorized the compounds with the same or similar pharmacological effects to provide a reference for the in-depth study of the material basis of the pharmacological effect, quality standards, and pharmacological activity of Poria.

Objective To investigate the incidence and potential risk factors for development of fenofibrate-associated nephrotoxicity in gout patients. Methods A total of 983 gout patients on fenofibrate treatment who visited the dedicated Gout Clinic at the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University between September 2016 and June 2020 were retrospectively enrolled from the electronic records system. Fenofibrate-associated nephrotoxicity was defined as an increase in serum creatinine (SCr) ≥0.3 mg/dl within 6 months of fenofibrate initiation. The change trend of SCr and uric acid levels during the treatment period were assessed by a generalised additive mixed model (GAMM). Multivariate analysis was performed for risk factors affecting elevated SCr. Results A total of 100 (10.2%) patients experienced an increase in SCr ≥0.3 mg/dl within 6 months after fenofibrate initiation. The median change of SCr in the whole cohort was 0.11 mg/dl [interquartile range (IQR) 0.03–0.20], whereas it was 0.36 (0.33–0.45) in the fenofibrate-associated nephrotoxicity group. In a multivariable regression model, chronic kidney disease (CKD) [odds ratio (OR) 2.39 (95% CI 1.48, 3.86)] and tophus [OR 2.29 (95% CI 1.39, 3.78)] were identified to be risk predictors, independent of measured covariates, of fenofibrate-associated nephrotoxicity. During the treatment period, although SCr temporarily increased, serum urate and triglyceride concentrations decreased using the interaction analysis of GAMM. Of those with fenofibrate withdrawal records, the SCr increase in 65% of patients was reversed after an average of 49 days off the drug. Conclusions This observational study implied that fenofibrate-associated nephrotoxicity occurs frequently in gout patients, especially in patients with tophi or CKD. The potential renal risks of fenofibrate usage in gout needs additional research.

Linc00641 plays different roles in various types of human cancers. However, the function of linc00641 and its underlying mechanism of action in gastric cancer have not been fully elucidated. Therefore, the aim of our current study was to explore the molecular mechanism of linc00641 in gastric cancer. MTT assays, flow cytometry, wound healing assays, and Transwell invasion assays were utilized to measure cell viability, apoptosis, migration and invasion, respectively. Western blotting and RT-PCR assays were carried out to explore the mechanism of linc00641 in gastric cancer cells. We found that silencing linc00641 suppressed the viability and stimulated the apoptosis of gastric cancer cells, while linc00641 overexpression had the opposite effects. Moreover, linc00641 sponged the expression of miR-429 and subsequently upregulated Notch-1 expression in gastric cancer cells. We concluded that linc00641 promoted the malignant progression of gastric cancer by modulating the miR-429/Notch-1 axis.

Background To develop an effective model of predicting fatal outcomes in the severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. Methods Between February 20, 2020 and April 4, 2020, consecutive confirmed 2541 COVID-19 patients from three designated hospitals were enrolled in this study. All patients received chest computed tomography (CT) and serological examinations at admission. Laboratory tests included routine blood tests, liver function, renal function, coagulation profile, C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and arterial blood gas. The SaO2 was measured using pulse oxygen saturation in room air at resting status. Independent high-risk factors associated with death were analyzed using Cox proportional hazard model. A prognostic nomogram was constructed to predict the survival of severe COVID-19 patients. Results There were 124 severe patients in the training cohort, and there were 71 and 76 severe patients in the two independent validation cohorts, respectively. Multivariate Cox analysis indicated that age ≥ 70 years (HR = 1.184, 95% CI 1.061–1.321), panting (breathing rate ≥ 30/min) (HR = 3.300, 95% CI 2.509–6.286), lymphocyte count 9/L (HR = 2.283, 95% CI 1.779–3.267), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) > 10 pg/ml (HR = 3.029, 95% CI 1.567–7.116) were independent high-risk factors associated with fatal outcome. We developed the nomogram for identifying survival of severe COVID-19 patients in the training cohort (AUC = 0.900, 95% CI 0.841–0.960, sensitivity 95.5%, specificity 77.5%); in validation cohort 1 (AUC = 0.811, 95% CI 0.763–0.961, sensitivity 77.3%, specificity 73.5%); in validation cohort 2 (AUC = 0.862, 95% CI 0.698–0.924, sensitivity 92.9%, specificity 64.5%). The calibration curve for probability of death indicated a good consistence between prediction by the nomogram and the actual observation. The prognosis of severe COVID-19 patients with high levels of IL-6 receiving tocilizumab were better than that of those patients without tocilizumab both in the training and validation cohorts, but without difference (P = 0.105 for training cohort, P = 0.133 for validation cohort 1, and P = 0.210 for validation cohort 2). Conclusions This nomogram could help clinicians to identify severe patients who have high risk of death, and to develop more appropriate treatment strategies to reduce the mortality of severe patients. Tocilizumab may improve the prognosis of severe COVID-19 patients with high levels of IL-6.

A tetraethylenepentamine modified magnetic cellulose nanocrystal composites (Fe3O4@CNC-TEPA) was prepared by the coprecipitation method and Schiff base reaction, which could adsorb Congo red (CR) e...

Background Cholestatic diseases are often accompanied by elevated plasma levels of endogenous opioid peptides, but it is still unclear whether central or peripheral mechanisms are involved in this process, and little is known about the change of pain threshold in these patients. The purpose of this study was to determine the preoperative pain threshold, postoperative morphine consumption, and central and peripheral β-endorphin levels in patients with obstructive jaundice. This study also tests the hypothesis that activation of the cannabinoid receptor-2 (CB2R) in skin keratinocytes by endocannabinoids is the mechanism underlying circulating β-endorphin elevation in patients with obstructive jaundice. Methods The electrical pain thresholds, 48-hour postoperative morphine consumption, concentrations of β-endorphin in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid, skin and liver β-endorphin expression, and plasma levels of endocannabinoids were measured in jaundiced (n = 32) and control (n = 32) patients. Male Sprague-Dawley rats and human keratinocytes (human immortalized keratinocyte cell line [HaCaT]) were used for the in vivo and in vitro experiments, respectively. Mechanical and thermal withdrawal latency, plasma level, and skin expression of β-endorphin were measured in CB2R-antagonist-treated and control bile duct-ligated (BDL) rats. In cultured keratinocytes, the effect of CB2R agonist AM1241-induced β-endorphin expression was observed and the phosphorylation of extracellular-regulated protein kinases 1/2, p38, and signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) pathways were investigated. Results This study found (1) the plasma level of β-endorphin (mean ± standard error of the mean [SEM]) was 193.9 ± 9.6 pg/mL in control patients, while it was significantly increased in jaundiced patients (286.6 ± 14.5 pg/mL); (2) the electrical pain perception threshold and the electrical pain tolerance threshold were higher in patients with obstructive jaundice compared with controls, while the 48-hour postoperative morphine consumption was lower in the jaundiced patients; (3) there was no correlation between plasma β-endorphin levels, electrical pain thresholds, and 48-hour postoperative morphine consumption in patients with obstructive jaundice; (4) the plasma level of the endogenous cannabinoid anandamide was increased in the jaundiced patients; (5) CB2R antagonist treatment of the BDL rats reduced β-endorphin levels in plasma and skin keratinocytes, while it did not alter the nociceptive thresholds in BDL and control rats; (6) the endocannabinoid anandamide-induced β-endorphin synthesis and release via CB2R in cultured keratinocytes; and (7) phosphorylation of extracellular-regulated protein kinases 1/2 is involved in the CB2R-agonist-induced β-endorphin expression in keratinocytes. Conclusions CB2R activation in keratinocytes by the endocannabinoid anandamide may play an important role in the peripheral elevation of β-endorphin during obstructive jaundice.

GM3, a typical tumor-associated carbohydrate antigen, is considered as an important target for cancer vaccine development, but its low immunogenicity limits its application. αGalCer, an iNKT cell agonist, has been employed as an adjuvant via a unique immune mode. Herein, we prepared and investigated two types of antitumor vaccine candidates: (a) self-adjuvanting vaccine GM3-αGalCer by conjugating GM3 with αGalCer and (b) noncovalent vaccine GM3-lipid/αGalCer, in which GM3 is linked with lipid anchor and coassembled with αGalCer. This demonstrated that βGalCer is an exceptionally optimized lipid anchor, which enables the noncovalent vaccine candidate GM3-βGalCer/αGalCer to evoke a comparable antibody level to GM3-αGalCer. However, the antibodies induced by GM3-αGalCer are better at recognition B16F10 cancer cells and more effectively activate the complement system. Our study highlights the importance of vaccine constructs utilizing covalent or noncovalent assembly between αGalCer with carbohydrate antigens and choosing an appropriate lipid anchor for use in noncovalent vaccine formulation.

An ultra high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with linear ion trap-Orbitrap mass spectrometry method had been used to identify chemical constituents in Yinchen Qingjin Granules. 117 chemical constituents were tentatively identified based on the molecular weight, the mass fragmentation behavior and the comparison with retention time and accurate mass of reference standards. Meanwhile, an ultra high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry method has been developed to evaluate the quality of Yinchen Qingjin Granules through a simultaneous determination of ten components, namely gallic acid, shanzhiside, neochlorogenic acid, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, geniposide, liquirition, isoliquirition, glycyrrhizic acid, and rhein. Altogether, content levels of each compound ranged from 0.228 to 8.712 mg/g. At the same time, a hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography combined with UV for the quantification of sarmentosin in Yinchen Qingjin Granules is presented and its content was from 5.608 to 6.200 mg/g. The linearity, accuracy and precision of these two validation methods were satisfactory. The both determination methods were successfully used for the analysis of six batches of Yinchen Qingjin Granules samples made in China and could be as suitable analytical method for the quality control. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

The study aimed to describe the epidemiological, virological and clinical features of sporadic HEV infection in eastern China. A total of 6112 patient sera were tested for anti-HEV IgG or anti-HEV IgM during one consecutive year (between August 2018 and July 2019). HEV RNA presence was evaluated by RT-PCR and HEV sequences were phylogenetically analyzed. Clinical features of confirmed HEV-infected patients were delineated. The sero-positivity rate of anti-HEV IgG maintained stable around 40%, while an obvious winter spike of anti-HEV IgM prevalence was observed. A total of 111 patients were confirmed of HEV viremia by molecular diagnosis. Subtype 4d was predominant. Phylogenetic analyses suggest that certain strains circulate across species and around the country. Subjects with confirmed current HEV infection had a high median age (58 years) and males were predominant (62.2%). Most patients presented with jaundice (75.7%) and anorexia (68.0%). Significantly elevated levels of liver enzymes and bilirubin were observed. Remarkably, the baseline bilirubin level was positively correlated with illness severity. Pre-existing HBV carriage may deteriorate illness. The clinical burden caused by locally acquired HEV infection is increasing. Surveillance should be enforced especially during the transition period from winter to spring. Patients with higher level of bilirubin at disease onset had slower recovery from HEV infection.

Investigations on the molecular composition of coal pyrolysis products can help us to improve nonfuel utilization of coal. Meanwhile, the molecular composition of coal pyrolysis products is also influenced by the characteristics and depositional environment of coal. However, due to the extremely complex nature of coal, direct investigation of the molecular composition of coal pyrolysis products is still a challenge. In the present work, the data of the molecular composition of bituminous coal pyrolysis products are obtained by online pyrolysis coupled to comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (online py-GC×GC-MS) and are divided into nine molecular groups depending on the aromaticity of the pyrolysis products and separating power of the GC×GC-MS. Chemometric tools, hierarchical cluster analysis, and principal component analysis are employed to reveal the correlations among the molecular composition of coal pyrolysis products and coal characteristics. The results show that the nine molecular groups of bituminous coal pyrolysis products can be divided into two clusters, the "aromatic group" and the "aliphatic group", and that the eight coals are divided into three clusters, all of which can be interpreted by the depositional environments and δ13CVPDB values of coals. Moreover, a simple and empirical equation for estimation of coal tar from hydropyrolysis can be obtained depending on the chemometric results of the molecular composition of the coal pyrolysis products. By application of chemometrics, the molecular composition of coal pyrolysis products can provide preference to industrial utilization of coal.

Anion photoelectron spectroscopy combined with quantum chemistry calculations and a particle swarm optimization (CALYPSO) global search algorithm were used to investigate the structural and bonding properties of TaSi16−/0 clusters. The vertical detachment energy (VDE) of TaSi16− was measured to be 3.81 ± 0.08 eV. The global minima of the TaSi16− anion and TaSi16 neutral are confirmed to be a fullerene-like cage structure with the central Ta atom coordinated with nine Si atoms. Molecular orbital analysis shows that TaSi16− possesses σ + π double delocalized bonding patterns and has a large HOMO–LUMO gap. TaSi16− can be viewed as a superatom cluster due to the closed-shell electron configuration of |1S2|1P6|1D10|2S2|1F14|2P6|2D10|1G18|3S2| in terms of the jellium model. Theoretical calculations indicate that both the TaSi16− anion and TaSi16 neutral have aromaticity.

Photocatalytic water splitting is a promising approach to solar-to-fuel conversion. In recent years, graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) has triggered worldwide interest due to its eco-friendliness, low cost, and visible-light activity as a semiconductor polymer photocatalyst. However, rapid recombination of photoinduced charge carriers and low efficiency are key issues hindering the practical application of g-C3N4 in the efficient photocatalytic hydrogen (H2) production field. Herein, we fabricate a novel g-C3N4-based composite coupled with levorotatory-tryptophan (denoted as CN/L-trp) through π–π interactions and hydrogen bonds to improve the photocatalytic performance. The redox amino acid L-trp small biomolecules act as a hole relay and thus accelerate the transfer process of holes from g-C3N4 to triethanolamine (TEOA), which leads to more electrons shuttled to a Pt cocatalyst, and finally boosts the visible-light photocatalytic H2 evolution reaction (HER). When introducing 10 wt% L-trp, the photocatalytic H2 production rate of g-C3N4/10 wt% L-trp (CN/10 wt% L-trp) loaded with 1.0 wt% Pt cocatalyst composite is prominently enhanced up to 1046.0 μmol h−1 g−1, which is four times that of g-C3N4 loaded with 1.0 wt% Pt cocatalyst (260.2 μmol h−1 g−1). Our study provides a novel strategy to develop an efficient, green and stable g-C3N4-based hybrid photocatalyst for potential application in solar-to-hydrogen energy conversion.

An enantioselective synthesis of highly functionalized 1,4-dihydropyrazolo[4′,3′:5,6]pyrano[2,3-b]quinolines from modified MBH carbonates and pyrazolones via a chiral phosphine-mediated alkylation/annulation sequence has been realized. The chiral dihydropyrano[2,3-c]pyrazoles bearing bio-active condensed heterocycles were facilely formed in good chemical yields and with high to excellent enantioselectivity by utilizing low catalyst loading.

Reproducing the highly efficient catalytic cascade system to mimic life behaviors in vitro has been intensively investigated over the past few decades. However, except for biocatalysis with enzymes, most chemocatalytic cascades in essence combine several reactions that occur over mutually independent catalytic sites in a container. Herein, with a series of control experiments and stepwise theoretical derivation based on the calculations of density functional theory and a semi-empirical method, a generalized cascade catalysis is discovered for the chemocatalytic conversion of CO2 to higher alcohols over a porphyrinic zirconium metal–organic framework, PCN-224-Cu. Two types of catalytic sites in PCN-224-Cu, i.e., the Zr6 cluster and TCPP-Cu unit, act like organelles, which can complete a class of reactions instead of particular one. The Zr6 cluster is in charge of molecular dissociation, while the TCPP-Cu unit is responsible for molecular assembly. Therefore, semi-finished intermediates repeatedly transfer between the two types of catalytic sites until the ultimate formation of ethanol with high efficiency (ethanol yield, 4.53 mmol h−1 gcat.−1 at 403 K) and selectivity (∼100%).

Stretchable elastomers with superhydrophobic surfaces have potential applications in wearable electronics. However, various types of damage inevitably occur on these elastomers in actual application, resulting in the deterioration of the superhydrophobic properties. In this work, superhydrophobic elastomers (HB-imine-BZn-PDMS), was fabricated by employing a dual-layered structure. The bottom layer was a silicon elastomer (imine-BZn-PDMS) with an imine/coordination dual cross-linked structure and room temperature self-healing efficiency of 94%. The top layer was imine-BZn-PDMS/silica nanocomposites to provide superhydrophobic properties. The HB-imine-BZn-PDMS elastomer exhibited fast triple self-healing ability at room temperature toward surface oxidation/decomposition, ruptures, or pinholes, and high durability under abrasion and stretching. The dual dynamic bonds of imine-BZn-PDMS enabled fast recovery of superhydrophobicity in 20 min at room temperature via bond exchange, after generating pinholes across the elastomer. Following surface chemical damage, the HB-imine-BZn-PDMS elastomer also exhibited fast (40 min) room-temperature self-healing ability, which is superior to that of most current self-healing superhydrophobic materials.

Efficient catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) play a crucial role in electrochemical water splitting, which is one of the most promising approaches for alleviating the problem of the energy crisis and environmental pollution. However, it is still challenging to develop highly efficient, stable and platinum-free HER electrocatalysts. Herein, a sulfur-doped ruthenium (Ru–S) catalyst via a one-step solvothermal synthesis procedure is presented. Remarkably, the as-prepared Ru–S-2 catalyst exhibits an ultralow overpotential of only 10 mV to achieve a current density of 10 mA cm−2, which is better than that of Pt (25 mV), and much more superior than those of the commercially available Ru (105 mV) and commercially available 20% Pt/C catalyst (43 mV) in 1.0 M KOH aqueous solution. In addition, the Ru–S-2/C catalyst with a low ruthenium content only requires 40 mV to achieve a current density of 10 mA cm−2 in 1.0 M KOH. Furthermore, the Ru–S-2 catalyst shows a smaller Tafel slope, a larger exchange current density and a better durability than the reference materials. The density functional theory (DFT) calculations demonstrate that the appropriate adsorption and dissociation energies of the water molecules on the Ru–S surface could be responsible for the excellent electrocatalytic performances observed.

In this study, perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) was firstly grafted on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) to obtain PFSA-g-MWCNT nanocomposites. The combination of MWCNTs with PFSA effectively prevents the interactions among them, so that the dispersion of PFSA-g-MWCNTs in N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc) was greatly improved. Then, polyethersulfone (PES)/PFSA-g-MWCNT ultrafiltration (UF) membranes were prepared via a non-solvent induced phase separation (NIPS) method using different contents of PFSA-g-MWCNT nanocomposites as additives. The nanocomposites and membranes were characterized using techniques including Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The SEM images show that the PFSA-g-MWCNTs no longer agglomerate and entangle, and exist as individual nanotubes in the PES/PFSA-g-MWCNT membrane. The mechanical and thermal properties of the composite membranes were enhanced with the increasing PFSA-g-MWCNT nanocomposite content. The performance of the UF membrane was evaluated using bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a model system. The results show that the permeation and antifouling performances of the PES/PFSA-g-MWCNT membranes were enhanced. For example, the pure water flux, BSA rejection and pure water flux recovery rate of the PES (M0) membrane were 80.49 L m−2 h−1, 86.29%, and 70.96%, respectively, while for the PES/PFSA-g-MWCNT (M6) membrane, they were 447.83 L m−2 h−1, 87.47%, and 92.10%, respectively. Long-term stability experiments show that the PES/PFSA-g-MWCNT membrane still maintains a high pure water flux.

A highly efficient strategy was developed to fabricate a graphene oxide modified cellulose nanocrystal/PNIPAAm IPN (GO-CNC/PNIPAAm IPN) hydrogel, which was capable of effectively adsorbing cationic and anionic dyes. The adsorption of Congo red (CR) and methylene blue (MB) was investigated based on the effects of pH, adsorption isotherms, adsorption kinetics, and recycling experiments. The adsorption capacities for CR and MB of the GO-CNC/PNIPAAm IPN hydrogel adsorbent were 728.8 mg g−1 and 281.9 mg g−1, respectively, and the difference is due to complex electrostatic and chemisorption effects between the adsorbent and the dye, which could be explained using the Langmuir isotherm adsorption model and pseudo-second-order kinetics model. In addition, the GO-CNC/PNIPAAm IPN hydrogel could be used repeatedly, and the adsorption capacities for CR and MB were 84.9% and 82.4% of the original hydrogel after five re-adsorption experiments, respectively. This type of adsorbent provided the advantages of being low-cost, having simple preparation, being non-polluting, and having good adsorption effects and a long service life, which is promising for its use in dye wastewater treatment in the future.

Fenofibrate is a marketed fibric acid derivative for lipid-lowering in patients with lipid disorders. Numerous studies have proven fenofibrate had a certain effect on serum uric acid, here we conducted this study to quantitatively assess the effect of fenofibrate intervention in modulating serum uric acid concentration and the influence on serum creatinine. The PubMed, Embase and Cochrane were systematically searched for randomized controlled trials update to January, 2020. Primary endpoints focused on serum uric acid concentration and serum creatinine concentration. The pooled effects were calculated as weighted mean difference (WMD) by a random-effects model. Finally, 9 studies representing 487 patients were included in the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis demonstrated that fenofibrate significantly reduced serum uric acid levels (WMD -1.32 mg/dL, 95%CI -1.61 to -1.03, p < 0.001) and an elevated level in serum creatinine (WMD 0.09 mg/dL, 95%CI 0.02 to 0.15, p < 0.001) following fenofibrate therapy compared with placebo. The present study provided strong evidence that fenofibrate intervention exerted a significant reduction on serum uric acid and a mild increase on serum creatinine. Meta-analysis suggested that there were no significant association between the serum uric acid lowering effect with either dose or treatment duration. Overall, our meta-analysis ascertained that fenofibrate have potential therapeutic effects in patients with lipid metabolic abnormalities but with mid nephrotoxicity. There is strong evidence to provide future direction of practical application and clinical researches of fenofibrate.

A simple, sensitive colorimetric probe for detecting Cu(ii) ions with fast response has been established with a detection limit of 2.82 μM. UV-Vis spectroscopy along with metal ion response, selectivity, stoichiometry, competition was investigated. In the presence of copper(ii), the UV-Vis spectrum data showed significant changes and the colorimetric detection showed a color change from colorless to yellow. After the selective binding of receptor L with Cu(ii), the UV-visible absorption at 355 nm decreased dramatically, a new absorbance band appeared at 398 nm and its intensity enhanced with the increase in the amount of Cu(ii). Moreover, it exhibited highly selective and sensitive recognition towards Cu(ii) ions in the presence of other cations over the pH range of 7-11. The complex structure was verified by FT-IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis and quantum mechanical calculations using B3LYP/6-31G(d) to illustrate the complex formation between L and Cu(ii). According to the Job plot and the quantum mechanical calculations, the stoichiometric ratio for the complex formation was proposed to be 1 : 1.

A high performance near-infrared organic phototransistor is achieved via introducing a small molecule acceptor as an electron trapping site into the narrow-bandgap conjugated polymer films. With only 10% (wt) addition of the acceptor molecule, the photoresponse to light of 850 nm has been significantly improved with a best photoresponsivity up to 2000 A W-1, high detectivity of 1016 Jones and fairly good photosensitivity in the order of 106.

We report a new DUV transparent (

At present, googling the search terms "COVID-19" and "Functional foods" yields nearly 500,000,000 hits, witnessing the growing interest of the scientific community and the general public in the role of nutrition and nutraceuticals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many compounds have been proposed as phytotherapics in the prevention and/or treatment of COVID-19. The extensive interest of the general public and the enormous social media coverage on this topic urges the scientific community to address the question of whether which nutraceuticals can actually be employed in preventing and treating this newly described coronavirus-related disease. Recently, the Canadian biotech pharma company "FSD Pharma" received the green light from the Food and Drug Administration to design a proof-of-concept study evaluating the effects of ultramicronized palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) in COVID-19 patients. The story of PEA as a nutraceutical to prevent and treat infectious diseases dates back to the 1970s where the molecule was branded under the name Impulsin and was used for its immunomodulatory properties in influenza virus infection. The present paper aims at analyzing the potential of PEA as a nutraceutical and the previous evidence suggesting its anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties in infectious and respiratory diseases and how these could translate to COVID-19 care.