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The prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) increases with aging. However, the mechanism of aging-related NAFLD remains unclear. Herein, we constructed an aging-related hepatic steatosis model and analyzed the differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in livers from young and old mice using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Five hundred and eighty-eight aging-related DEPs and novel pathways were identified. Aminoacyl tRNA synthetase complex-interacting multifunctional protein 2 (AIMP2), the most significantly upregulated protein, promoted poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) activation in aging-related hepatic steatosis. Additionally, mice liver-specific O-GlcNAcase knockout promoted AIMP2 and PARP1 expression. O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) overexpression and O-GlcNAcase inhibition by genetic or pharmaceutical manipulations increased AIMP2 and PARP1 levels in vitro. Mechanistically, O-GlcNAcylation increased AIMP2 protein stability, leading to its aggregation. Our study reveals O-GlcNAcylated AIMP2 as a novel pathogenic regulator of aging-related hepatic steatosis.

Defects have been found to enhance the electrocatalytic performance of NiFe-LDH for oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Nevertheless, their specific configuration and the role played in regulating the surface reconstruction of electrocatalysts remain ambiguous. Herein, cationic vacancy defects are generated via aprotic-solvent-solvation-induced leaking of metal cations from NiFe-LDH nanosheets. DFT calculation and in situ Raman spectroscopic observation both reveal that the as-generated cationic vacancy defects tend to exist as VM (M=Ni/Fe); under increasing applied voltage, they tend to assume the configuration VMOH , and eventually transform into VMOH-H which is the most active yet most difficult to form thermodynamically. Meanwhile, with increasing voltage the surface crystalline Ni(OH)x in the NiFe-LDH is gradually converted into disordered status; under sufficiently high voltage when oxygen bubbles start to evolve, local NiOOH species become appearing, which is the residual product from the formation of vacancy VMOH-H . Thus, we demonstrate that the cationic defects evolve along with increasing applied voltage (VM → VMOH → VMOH-H ), and reveal the essential motif for the surface restructuration process of NiFe-LDH (crystalline Ni(OH)x → disordered Ni(OH)x → NiOOH). Our work provides insight into defect-induced surface restructuration behaviors of NiFe-LDH as a typical precatalyst for efficient OER electrocatalysis.

Yao Tong,* Chengrong Bao,* Yi-Qiong Xu,* Lei Tao,* Yao Zhou, Lei Zhuang, Ying Meng, Hui Zhang, Jingjing Xue, Weijun Wang, Lele Zhang, Qingbo Pan, Zhenzhen Shao, Tianran Hu, Qian Guo, Qingsheng Xue, Han Lu, Yan Luo Department of Anesthesiology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Yan Luo; Han Lu Email ly11087@rjh.com.cn; luhan0301@163.comBackground: Acute lung injury (ALI) is a severe respiratory disease with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Many mediators regarding endogenous or exogenous are involved in the pathophysiology of ALI. Here, we have uncovered the involvement of integrins and matrix metalloproteinases, as critical determinants of excessive inflammation and endothelial permeability, in the regulation of ALI.Methods: Inflammatory cytokines were measured by quantitative real-time PCR for mRNA levels and ELISA for secretion levels. Endothelial permeability assay was detected by the passage of rhodamine B isothiocyanate-dextran. Mice lung permeability was assayed by Evans blue albumin (EBA). Western blot was used for protein level measurements. The intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) were evaluated using a cell-permeable probe, DCFH-DA. Intratracheal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) into mice was conducted to establish the lung injury model.Results: Exogenous MMP-9 significantly aggravated the inflammatory response and permeability in mouse pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (PMVECs) treated by LPS, whereas knockdown of MMP-9 exhibited the opposite phenotypes. Knockdown of integrin β 3 or β 5 in LPS-treated PMVECs significantly downregulated MMP-9 expression and decreased inflammatory response and permeability in the presence or absence of exogenous MMP-9. Additionally, the interaction of MMP-9 and integrin β 5 was impaired by a ROS scavenger, which further decreased the pro-inflammatory cytokines production and endothelial leakage in PMVECs subjected to co-treatment (LPS with exogenous MMP-9). In vivo studies, exogenous MMP-9 treatment or knockdown β 3 integrin significantly decreased survival in ALI mice. Notably, knockdown of β 5 integrin alone had no remarkable effect on survival, but which combined with anti-MMP-9 treatment significantly improved the survival by ameliorating excessive lung inflammation and permeability in ALI mice.Conclusion: These findings support the β 3/5 integrin-MMP-9 axis as an endogenous signal that could play a pivotal role in regulating inflammatory response and alveolar-capillary permeability in ALI.Keywords: acute lung injury, endothelial cells, integrin, MMP-9

Desert steppe soil security issues have been the focus of attention. Therefore, to understand the impact of industrial activities on the soil quality of desert grasslands, this experiment investigated the Gaoshawo Industrial Concentration Zone in Yanchi County. Based on the distance and direction from the industrial park, sample plots were established at intervals of 1–2 km. A total of 82 surface soil samples (0–20 cm) representing different pollution sources were collected. The samples were analysed for pH, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, available phosphorus, available potassium, organic matter, copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn). The desert steppe soil quality was analysed based on the integrated fertility index (IFI) and the Nemerow pollution index (PN), followed by the calculation of the comprehensive soil quality index (SQI), which considers the most suitable soil quality indicators through a geostatistical model. The results showed that the IFI was 0.393, indicating that the soil fertility was relatively poor. Excluding the available potassium, the nugget coefficients of the fertility indicators were less than 25% and showed strong spatial autocorrelation. The average values of Cu, Cd, Cr, Pb and Zn were 21.64 ± 3.26, 0.18 ± 0.02, 44.99 ± 21.23, 87.18 ± 25.84, and 86.63 ± 24.98 mg·kg−1, respectively; the nugget coefficients of Cr, Pb and Zn were 30.79–47.35%. Pb was the main element causing heavy metal pollution in the study area. Higher PN values were concentrated north of the highway in the study area, resulting in lower soil quality in the northern region and a trend of decreasing soil quality from south to north. The results of this research showed that the average SQI was 0.351 and the soil quality was extremely low. Thus, industrial activities and transportation activities in the Gaoshawo Industrial Zone significantly impact the desert steppe soil quality index.

Two-dimensional layered materials commonly face hindered electron transfer and poor structure stability, thus limiting their application in high-rate and long-term sodium ion batteries. In the current study, we adopt finite element simulation to guide the rational design of nanostructures. By calculating the von Mises stress distribution of a series of carbon materials, we find that the hollow biconcave structure could effectively alleviate the stress concentration resulting from expansion. Accordingly, we propose a biconcave-alleviated strategy based on the Aspergillus niger-derived carbon (ANDC) to construct ANDC/MoS2 with a hollow biconcave structure. The ANDC/MoS2 is endowed with an excellent long-term cyclability as an anode of sodium ion batteries, delivering a discharge capacity of 496 mAh g-1 after 1000 cycles at 1 A g-1. A capacity retention rate of 94.5% is achieved, an increase of almost seven times compared with the bare MoS2 nanosheets. Even at a high current density of 5 A g-1, a reversible discharge capacity around 400 mAh g-1 is maintained after 300 cycles. ANDC/MoS2 could also be used for efficient lithium storage. By using in situ TEM, we further reveal that the hollow biconcave structure of ANDC/MoS2 has enabled stable and fast sodiation/desodiation.

A pyridinium salt catalyzed radical borylation of benzoyl peroxides is reported herein. A range of benzoyl peroxides having different electronic properties were well compatible in this borylation reaction, delivering various arylboronates in good yields at ambient temperature. The current method features simple operation, additive- and base-free, transition-metal-free and mild conditions.

Hemin, a substrate of heme oxygenase (HO)-1, induces HO-1 expression on a variety of cells to exert anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory roles. However, the role of HO-1 in allergic diseases for dendritic cells (DCs) is not fully understood. Here, we report that HO-1 modulates asthmatic airway inflammation by hemin-treated DC-released extracellular vesicles (DCEVs). Following induction of bone marrow-derived DCs by hemin and then by house dust mite (HDM) in vitro, mouse CD4+ naïve T cells were cocultured with DCEVs to determine T helper (h) cell differentiation. C57BL/6 mice were sensitized by different stimuli-induced DCEVs and challenged with HDM to analyze the changes of inflammatory cells and cytokines in the lung and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. The results showed that hemin-treated DCEVs (hemin-DCEVs) express phosphatidylserine (PS), CD81, heat shock protein 70, and HO-1, which facilitates regulatory T (Treg) cells differentiation in vitro and in vivo. In HDM-induced asthmatic mouse model, hemin-DCEVs inhalation reduced eosinophils infiltration and mucus secretion in the airway, decreased the levels of IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 in the lung and the number of Th2 cells in mediastinal lymph nodes (MLNs), and increased the number of Treg cells in MLNs. Thus, our study demonstrated, for the first time, that EVs from HO-1-overexpressing DCs alleviate allergic airway inflammation of eosinophilic asthma by potentiating Treg cells differentiation and limiting proinflammatory cytokine secretion, which expands our understanding of HO-1 function, opening the door for HO-1 inducer-like hemin as a novel therapeutic strategy for asthma or other allergic diseases.

Herein, we present an expedient Cu-catalyzed [5 + 1] cyclization of 2-alkynylanilines and ClCF2COONa to divergent construction of N-(quinolin-2-yl)amides and quinolin-2(1H)-ones by regulating the reaction solvents. Notably, nitrile acts as a solvent and performs the Ritter reactions. ClCF2COONa is used as a C1 synthon in this transformation, which also represents the first example for utilization of ClCF2COONa as an efficient desiliconization reagent. The current protocol involves in situ generation of isocyanide, copper-activated alkyne, Ritter reaction and protonation.

The large-scale and controllable synthesis of novel N-doped three-dimensional (3D) carbon nanocage-decorated carbon skeleton sponges (Co-NCMS) is introduced. These Co-NCMS were highly active and durable non-noble metal catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). This hybrid electrocatalyst showed high ORR activity with a diffusion-limiting current of 5.237 mA·cm-2 in 0.1 M KOH solution through the highly efficient 4e- pathway, which was superior to that of the Pt/C catalyst (4.99 mA·cm-2), and the ORR Tafel slope is ca. 67.7 mV·dec-1 at a high potential region, close to that of Pt/C. Furthermore, Co-NCMS exhibited good ORR activity in acidic media with an onset potential comparable to that of the Pt/C catalyst. Most importantly, the prepared catalyst showed much higher stability and better methanol tolerance in both alkaline and acidic solutions. The power density obtained in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell was as high as 0.37 W·cm-2 at 0.19 V compared with 0.45 W·cm-2 at 0.56 V for the Pt/C catalyst. In Co-NCMS, the N-doped carbon nanocages facilitated the diffusion of the reactant, maximizing the exposure of active sites on the surface and protecting the active metallic core from oxidation. This made Co-NCMS one of the best non-noble metal catalysts and potentially offers an alternative approach for the efficient utilization of active transition metals in electrocatalyst applications.

Li2O2, as the discharge product of Li-O2 batteries on cathode, is difficult to be electrochemically decomposed, which will lead to short cycling lifespan of the batteries. In this study, the cycling lifespan of Li-O2 battery was prolonged significantly by an efficient bifunctional catalyst. The Ni and N co-doped carbon nanotubes (NiNCs) were synthesized firstly, and then RuO2 nanoparticles were deposited on NiNCs by a hydrothermal route to synthesize RuO2/NiNC catalysts. Transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction characterizations demonstrated that part of metallic Ni was converted into NiO and Ni(OH)2 after loading RuO2, and the existence of NiO layer can prevent further oxidation of metallic Ni. The Li-O2 battery with RuO2/NiNC as the cathode catalyst exhibits an overpotential of 0.43 V, which is much lower than the value of 1.03 V measured with the Li-O2 battery using NiNC as the cathode catalyst. At a rate of 200 mA g−1, the Li-O2 battery with the RuO2/NiNC cathode can maintain a reversible capacity of 500 mA h g−1 for 260 cycles, and 117 cycles with a higher reversible capacity of 1000 mA h g−1. The superior property of the RuO2/NiNC bifunctional catalyst could be ascribed to the high activity of RuO2 and the rich carbon nanotube structure of NiNC for deposition and decomposition of Li2O2.

The secretory function of airway epithelial cells is important in the pathogenesis of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP). To investigate the regulatory function of NKILA (nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) interacting long noncoding RNA (lncRNA)) in MPP, we first detected NKILA as well as the concentration of interleukin 8 (IL-8) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of children with MPP. Then, NKILA was knocked down in epithelial cells to investigate its effect on their secretory function. The results suggested that NKILA was downregulated in children with MPP, while IL-8 and TNF-α levels increased. Knockdown of NKILA in vitro promoted the inflammatory effects of Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) in epithelial A549 and BEAS-2B cells. Knockdown of NKILA promoted inhibitor of κBα (IκBα) phosphorylation and degradation, and NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation. Furthermore, RNA immunoprecipitation showed that NKILA could physically bind to IκBα in MP-treated A549 cells. Collectively, our data demonstrated that attenuation of NKILA enhances the effects of MP-stimulated secretory functions of epithelial cells via regulation of NF-κB signaling.

We disclose a novel Pd-catalyzed assembly of fluoren-9-ones by merging of C-H activation and difluorocarbene transfer. ClCF2COONa served as a difluorocarbene precursor to be harnessed as a carbonyl source in this transformation. The current protocol enables us to afford fluoren-9-ones in high yields with excellent functional group compatibility, which also represents the first example of using difluorocarbene as a coupling partner in transition-metal-catalyzed C-H activation.

Arbutin is a well-known tyrosinase inhibitor that prevents the formation of melanin through the inhibition of tyrosinase. Therefore, it has been widely used as a cosmetic skin-lightening agent. Arbutin is able to scavenge free radicals within cells and previous studies have found that it also exhibited useful activities for the treatment of diuresis, bacterial infections, and cancer, as well as anti-inflammatory and anti-tussive activities. This study analyzed the effects of arbutin on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes mellitus in a murine model. Healthy male adult C57BL/6 mice (7 weeks old) were randomly allocated into one of the following three groups of six animals: Normal control with no STZ administration, STZ-induced diabetes, and STZ-induced diabetes treated with 0.3 g/kg/day of arbutin. After 12 days, the levels of insulin, C-peptide, and HbA1c were measured in serum, and the expression and enzymatic activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were analyzed in pancreatic tissues by western blotting. Arbutin was found to significantly inhibit the increase in blood glucose and the loss of body weight in diabetic mice. Arbutin increased plasma insulin levels in mice with STZ-induced diabetes, whereas there was no detection of insulin in untreated diabetic mice. In addition, there was an increased expression and activity of SOD, CAT, and GPx in diabetic mice treated with arbutin. This investigation demonstrated that arbutin possesses antioxidant activities and can alleviate symptoms of type-1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) in mice.

The shuttle effect and sluggish conversion kinetics of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) restrict the practical application of lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries. Herein, we introduce nickel cobaltite/carbon nanofiber (NiCo₂O₄/CNF) composites as a chemical trapper and conversion accelerator for LiPSs. The experiment and density functional theory indicate that polar NiCo₂O₄ can strongly trap polysulfides through Ni–S and Co–S bonds. The CNF network provides structural stability and serves as a second barrier for polysulfides. Systematic studies on the solid₍ₛᵤₗfᵤᵣ₎–liquid₍ₚₒₗyₛᵤₗfᵢdₑₛ₎–solid₍ₛᵤₗfᵢdₑ₎ conversion reactions qualitatively and quantitatively demonstrate that the well-designed NiCo₂O₄/CNF interface with strong polysulfides affinity, affluent polar nucleation sites, and fast Li⁺/e– transport can noteworthily catalyze the liquid-phase conversion of LiPSs and the solid-phase deposition of lithium sulfide (Li₂S) and protect the lithium anode as well. Thus, the NiCo₂O₄/CNF-based batteries can exhibit a high rate capability of 870 mAh g–¹ at 5 C and excellent cycling performance evidenced by a capacity retention of 95% after 200 cycles at 0.1 C with a sulfur loading of 6.3 mg cm–². Further increasing the sulfur loading to 7.9 mg cm–² and with a lean electrolyte/sulfur (E/S) ratio of 7.2 μL mgₛ–¹, the Li–S battery can deliver a high areal capacity of 8.1 mAh cm–².

Sulfide-based all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries (ASSLIBs) are promising candidates in the next generation of energy storage technology; the voltage mismatch and the resulting side reactions at the interface between the cathode and the solid electrolyte, however, dramatically deteriorate their cycling performance. Herein, for the first time, we report that the chemical interaction between LiCoO2 (LCO) and TiO2 can be regulated by two additives, carbon and Li2CO3, which in situ form a continuous ultrathin pure-phase Li2CoTi3O8 (LCTO) layer with a stable 3D network of spinel structures, relatively low electronic conductivity (2.5 × 10−8 S cm−1) and high lithium diffusion coefficient (DLi+ = 8.22 × 10−7 cm2 s−1) on the surface of LCO. When assembled in ASSLIBs, such an LCTO layer functions as an interlayer between the LCO and the Li10GeP2S12 solid electrolyte (LGPS). As a consequence, the original interface LCO/LGPS is substituted by two new interfaces LCO/LCTO and LCTO/LGPS. DFT calculations indicate that, compared with the LCO/LGPS, the new interfaces are not only thermodynamically and electrochemically more compatible, but also have higher interfacial affinity. Therefore, the relevant ASSLIB exhibits evidently reduced interfacial impedance, and it also displays a high initial capacity of 140 mA h g−1 and a reversible discharge specific capacity of 116 mA h g−1 after 200 cycles at room temperature (0.1C). In comparison, the ASSLIB assembled without the LCTO interlayer delivers an initial capacity of 98 mA h g−1 and only retains 22.4% capacity after 100 cycles (0.1C). Even at a high cutoff voltage (4.5 V vs. Li/Li+), the ASSLIB with the LCTO interlayer could also exhibit a high initial capacity of 180 mA h g−1 and a remarkable retention of 132 mA h g−1 after 100 cycles.

Dielectric polymers with high electrostatic energy storage capability are the enabling technology for advanced electronics and electric power systems. However, the development of dielectric polymers is rather limited by their undesired discharged energy density (Ue) due to the intrinsic low dielectric constant (K). Although large improvements of K can be achieved in dielectric polymers by introducing high filling ratios (>10 vol%) of high-K inorganic fillers, this approach has had only limited success in enhancing energy density due to the negative impact on the breakdown strength (Eb) and charge–discharge efficiency (η). Herein, we report that the incorporation of ultralow amounts ( 87% at 800 MV m−1. The improvement ratios of K (∼69%) and Eb (∼60%) reported in this work represent the record values in linear dielectric polymer composites with low filler content (≤5 vol%). The observed dielectric enhancement is rationalized by the significant contributions of the interface including enhanced polymer chain mobility and induced interfacial dipoles as revealed in the interphase dielectric model and interface simulations based on density functional theory (DFT). The improved mechanical strength and raised interface charge barriers are responsible for the high Eb. This contribution paves a new avenue for designing scalable polymer-based dielectric materials exhibiting high energy densities and efficiencies and provides fundamental insights into the dielectric behaviors at the interfaces in polymer nanocomposites.

We firstly describe a silver-catalyzed direct C-H functionalization of cyclic aldimines with cyclopropanols and cyclobutanols via a radical-mediated C-C bond cleavage strategy. The desired products were generated in decent yields with wide substrate scope under mild reaction conditions. In addition, a gram-scale reaction and synthetic transformation of the product were performed.

Polymers are the preferred materials for dielectrics in high-energy-density capacitors. The electrification of transport and growing demand for advanced electronics require polymer dielectrics capable of operating efficiently at high temperatures. In this review, we critically analyze the most recent development in the dielectric polymers for high-temperature capacitive energy storage applications. While general design considerations are discussed, emphasis is placed on the elucidation of the structural dependence of the high-field dielectric and electrical properties and the capacitive performance, including discharged energy density, charge-discharge efficiency and cyclability, of dielectric polymers at high temperatures. Advantages and limitations of current approaches to high-temperature dielectric polymers are summarized. Challenges along with future research opportunities are highlighted at the end of this article.

Cocatalyst design is a key approach to acquire high solar-energy conversion efficiency for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. Here a new in situ vapor-phase (ISVP) growth method is developed to construct the cocatalyst of 2D PtS nanorectangles (a length of ∼7 nm, a width of ∼5 nm) on the surface of g-C3N4 nanosheets. The 2D PtS nanorectangles/g-C3N4 nanosheets (PtS/CN) show an unusual metal sulfide–support interaction (MSSI), which is evidenced by atomic resolution HAADF-STEM, synchrotron-based GIXRD, XPS and DFT calculations. The effect of MSSI contributes to the optimization of geometrical structure and energy-band structure, acceleration of charge transfer, and reduction of hydrogen adsorption free energy of PtS/CN, thus yielding excellent stability and an ultrahigh photocatalytic H2 evolution rate of 1072.6 μmol h−1 (an apparent quantum efficiency of 45.7% at 420 nm), up to 13.3 and 1532.3 times by contrast with that of Pt nanoparticles/g-C3N4 nanosheets and g-C3N4 nanosheets, respectively. This work will provide a new platform for designing high-efficiency photocatalysts for sunlight-driven hydrogen generation.

Gout is a chronic arthritis which arises from the abnormal crystalline deposition of monosodium urate (MSU). Banded spherulites of MSU were widely observed in gout pathological slices (E. Pascual, L. Addadi, M. Andres and F. Sivera, Nat. Rev. Rheumatol., 2015, 11, 725) with limited understanding. MSU spherulites were obtained by evaporation growth showing banded morphologies induced from both twisting and rhythmic deposition. Taking the MSU spherulite as a facile model for the analysis of inhibitors for MSU crystals, the inhibition of MSU by three tailor-made additives, 1,3-dimethyluric acid (DMUA), 1-methyluric acid (MUA), and xanthine, resulted in MSU spherulites with different morphologies. The theoretical calculation has confirmed the distinct interaction of the different additives on the MSU crystalline faces.

An organophotocatalyzed C(sp2)–H/N–H cross-dehydrogenative coupling of cyclic aldimines with aliphatic amines has been developed, which represents the first example of visible-light-induced C–H amination of N-sulfonylated imines. This methodology enables the streamline assembly of amine derivatives via radical mediated C–N bond formation. The current protocol features transition-metal-free, mild conditions, good functional group tolerance and good yields.

At present, infertile patients with maturation arrest (MA) are difficult to obtain mature sperm. Spermatogenesis and its molecular mechanism are still not clear. Patients with MA and normal spermatogenesis (NS) were collected. iTRAQ-based proteomic approach was performed to reveal the different proteins between them. To validate the confidence of proteome data, the individual samples were analyzed by Western blotting (WB), quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), and immunofluorescence. The miR-449a and CEP55 were determined by Luciferase assay. Mouse GC-1 cells were transfected with CEP55 siRNAs, miR-449a mimic, or inhibitor, and cell proliferation was determined. Compared with NS, 27 proteins were differentially expressed in MA, and CEP55 protein was the most significant difference. WB and qPCR showed that CEP55 levels were significantly elevated in NS than MA. In transfected cells, overexpression of miR-449a and knockdown of CEP55 both downregulated CEP55 expression and decreased cell proliferation. miR-449a suppresses mouse spermatogonia proliferation via inhibition of CEP55.

Long noncoding RNAs play important roles in various biological processes. However, not much is known about their roles in inflammatory response. Mast cells, involved in innate and adaptive immunity, are one of the major effector cells in allergic inflammatory reactions and contribute to the pathogenesis of disorders, including asthma. In the present study, we aimed to verify and elucidate the function and possible role of a novel lncRNA, called lncRNA-AK149641, in the mechanism of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory response in P815 mast cells. The results showed that downregulating lncRNA-AK149641 decreased secretion of tumor necrosis factor-α into the supernatants of LPS-stimulated mast cells. Mechanistically, the activity of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) decreased after downregulating lncRNA-AK149641, as shown by western blot and electrophoretic mobility shift assays. Moreover, RNA binding protein immunoprecipitation (RIP) verified that lncRNA-AK149641 was able to bind to NF-κB in the nucleus. In conclusion, we demonstrated that lncRNA-AK149641 regulated LPS-induced inflammatory response in mast cells through the NF-κB signaling pathway.

Si-based materials have been extensively studied because of their high theoretical capacity, low working potential, and abundant reserves, but serious initial irreversible capacity loss and poor cyclic performance resulting from large volume change of Si during lithiation and delithiation processes restrict their widespread application. Herein, we report the preparation of multi-shell coated Si (DS-Si) nanocomposites by in-situ electroless deposition method using Si granules as the active materials and copper sulfate as Cu sources. The ratio of Si and Cu was readily tuned by varying the concentration of copper sulfate. The multi-shell (Cu@CuxSi/SiO2) coating on Si surface promotes the formation of robust and dense SEI films and the transportation of electron. Thus, the obtained DS-Si composites exhibit an initial coulombic efficiency of 86.2%, a capacity of 1636 mAh g−1 after 100 discharge–charge cycles at 840 mA g−1, and an average charge capacity of 1493 mAh g−1 at 4200 mA g−1. This study provides a low-cost and large-scale approach to the preparation of nanostructured Si-metal composites anodes with good electrochemical performance for lithium ion batteries.

Dielectric polymers for electrostatic energy storage suffer from low energy density and poor efficiency at elevated temperatures, which constrains their use in the harsh-environment electronic devices, circuits, and systems. Although incorporating insulating, inorganic nanostructures into dielectric polymers promotes the temperature capability, scalable fabrication of high-quality nanocomposite films remains a formidable challenge. Here, we report an all-organic composite comprising dielectric polymers blended with high-electron-affinity molecular semiconductors that exhibits concurrent high energy density (3.0 J cm−3) and high discharge efficiency (90%) up to 200 °C, far outperforming the existing dielectric polymers and polymer nanocomposites. We demonstrate that molecular semiconductors immobilize free electrons via strong electrostatic attraction and impede electric charge injection and transport in dielectric polymers, which leads to the substantial performance improvements. The all-organic composites can be fabricated into large-area and high-quality films with uniform dielectric and capacitive performance, which is crucially important for their successful commercialization and practical application in high-temperature electronics and energy storage devices., Dielectric polymers are widely used in electrostatic energy storage but suffer from low energy density and efficiency at elevated temperatures. Here, the authors show that all-organic composites containing high-electron-affinity molecular semiconductors exhibit excellent capacitive performance at 200 °C.

Understanding the effect of charge transfer on the physical properties of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) is essential for designing multifunctional MOF materials. In this work, three redox-active tetrathiafulvalene (TTF)-based MOFs, formulated as [Co6L6(bpe)6(EtOH)2(MeOH)2(H2O)]n·5nH2O (1), [Co5(μ3-OH)2L4(bpe)2]n (2), and [CoL(bpa)(H2O)]n·2nH2O (3) (L = dimethylthio-tetrathiafulvalene-bicarboxylate, bpe = 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethene, bpa = 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethane), are crystallographically characterized. Complexes 1 and 3 are two-dimensional (2D) coordination polymers, and 2 features an unusual three-dimensional (3D) MOF. The structure of 2 contains a cluster chain constructed from μ2-O bridged pentanuclear cluster subunits, which is first found for 3D MOFs. Complexes 1 and 2 are comprised of the same ligands L and bpe but with different multidimensional configuration, and complexes 1 and 3 have the same 2D layered structures with the same ligand L but with different conjugation ligand bpe/bpa, which provide a good comparison for the structure-property relationship. The charge-transfer (CT) interactions within MOF 1 are stronger than those of 2 due to the closer packing of electron donor (D) L and electron acceptor (A) bpe in 1, and no CT occurs within MOF 3 because of the unconjugated bpa. The order of photocurrent density is 1 > 2 ≫ 3, which is in accordance with that of CT interactions. Further analysis reveals that the CT interactions within the MOF are not beneficial for the supercapacitance which is verified by the highest supercapacitance performance of 3. This work is the first study of the structures and CT effects on the supercapacitance performance.

Hexagonal boron nitride nanosheets (BNNSs) are two-dimensional nanomaterials with graphitic-like layered nanostructures, high surface areas, and large aspect ratios. Owing to their excellent thermal conductivity, electrical and mechanical strengths, BNNSs are emerging as multifunctional fillers in polymer dielectrics. In this article, the authors review the recent progress in the BN-containing polymer nanocomposites designed for high-performance film capacitors. While general synthetic approaches to BNNSs and polymer/BNNS nanocomposites are summarized, particular attention is placed on structure-property correlation and rational structural design of the composites with optimized dielectric properties and capacitive performances. In stark contrast to the polymer composites employing high dielectric constant fillers to enhance the electric displacement, a new design concept based on the utilization of BNNSs with a wide bandgap to impede electrical conduction and consequently improve breakdown strength and charge-discharge efficiency of the polymer composites, is highlighted. The significance of developing dielectric capacitors with desirable thermal conductivity and thermal stability to ensure their robust and efficient operation is emphasized. The merits and challenges regarding the existing polymer dielectrics containing BNNSs for energy storage are identified. An outlook for future research opportunities and engineering applications is also presented in this review.

Polypropylene (PP)-based nanocomposite is a promising insulation material for recyclable high-voltage direct current (HVDC) cables, where the coupling agent plays an important role. In this study, four silane coupling agents with different alkyl chain groups (methyl, propyl, octyl, and octadecyl) were used to surface-modify magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles. The surface-modification effect on the electrical properties of PP/MgO nanocomposites was investigated. The results show that surface-modified nanoparticles introduce quantities of deep traps, whose quantity increases as the alkyl chain length increases. The similar tendency also occurs on DC volume resistivity. All these nanocomposites show remarkable space charge suppression ability and improved DC breakdown strength. Among them, the nanocomposites with octyl-modified MgO show the best electrical properties, which could be attributed to the introduction of a large quantity of deep traps. The work may give a reference for the selection of coupling agents in PP-based nanocomposite insulation material for HVDC cable.

Polymer dielectrics with excellent energy storage properties at elevated temperatures are highly desirable in the development of advanced electrostatic capacitors for harsh environment applications. However, the state-of-the-art commercial capacitor dielectric biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) has limited temperature capability below 105 ​°C. Here we report the interface modulation of a polypropylene (PP)-based nanocomposite that leads to substantially improved capacitive performance at elevated temperatures. The embedded nanoparticles are functionalized with a layer of polypropylene-graft-maleic anhydride (PP-g-mah) that is well miscible with the PP matrix. The PP-g-mah moieties not only contribute to the suppression of electrical conduction at high temperature by offering deep energy traps, but also benefit the improvement in dielectric constant due to the polar molecular element, which are proved by both the experimental results and computational simulation. The local deep traps introduced by the modulated interface are directly detected and quantitatively probed by the in-situ characterization using Kelvin probe force microscopy, further validating the rationale of the present approach. The resultant polymer nanocomposites display a discharged energy density of 1.66 ​J/cm3 and a charge-discharge efficiency of >90% at 400 ​MV/m and 120 ​°C, 615% that of the pristine PP film at the same conditions. The reported nanocomposites by interface modulation can be used to reduce the volume and weight of the capacitors and to eliminate the auxiliary cooling systems applied in the harsh environment.

Polypropylene (PP)-based composites including PP/thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) elastomer blends and PP/TPO-based nanocomposite are rather promising insulation materials for HVDC cables. Aging is an inevitable issue in practical operation and needs to be investigated thoroughly. In this paper, PP/TPO blends and PP/TPO/ZnO nanocomposite were prepared and thermally aged at 130 °C for various periods (28 days at longest). The micro-morphology, thermal properties and high-temperature space charge behavior were investigated. The results show that PP and TPO still exhibited excellent compatibility without phase separation after thermally aging. The crystallinity was not influenced after thermally aging, but a new endothermic peak at about 140 °C appeared in the melting process of thermally aged composites. Space charges accumulated in the two thermally aged composites, but dissipated slowly in PP/TPO, while dissipated rapidly first and then reduced in PP/TPO/ZnO nanocomposite. The calculated apparent charge mobility and trap level distribution based on space charge dissipation show that deep traps increased in aged PP/TPO, but decreased in aged PP/TPO/ZnO nanocomposite, which may be correlated with the chemical variation of thermally aged polymer matrix. The work may give a reference on the aging research of PP-based composite material for recyclable HVDC cable insulation.

Polymers are widely used as dielectric materials in dielectric capacitors, which are the key component of various circuits in power electronic devices. The sharply increased conduction loss at elevated temperatures limits their high-temperature applications. To address this issue, here in this study boron nitride (BN)/polyimide (PI)/BN sandwich-structured films were developed by depositing BN of optimal thickness onto both sides of PI films using magnetron sputtering. Dielectric, insulating and energy-storage performance at 150 °C of the resultant composite films were investigated. The experimental results showed that a dense layer of hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) was formed on the surface of the polyimide and the coating layer could effectively suppress the charge injection at the electrode/dielectric interfaces by improving the barrier height. Consequently, the sandwiched film of optimal BN thickness exhibited a declined leakage current of about one order of magnitude lower and an improved breakdown strength by 12% in comparison to the neat PI. The sandwiched film could discharge an energy density of 0.493 J/cm3 with charge-discharge efficiency of over 90% under an electric field of 200 MV/m at 150 °C, while the neat PI only possesses an efficiency of 72% and a much lower discharged energy density.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder and is characterized by severe neuronal loss. Necroptosis, or programmed cell necrosis, is mediated by the receptor interacting protein kinase-1 and -3/mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein (RIP1/RIP3/MLKL) pathway, and is involved in several neurodegenerative diseases. Here we aimed to explore the involvement of necroptosis in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1, 2, 3, 6-tetrahydropyridine hydrochloride (MPTP)-induced PD and determine the potential mechanisms. We found that the protein levels of RIP1, RIP3, and MLKL increased significantly in a MPTP-induced mouse PD model. High expression of RIP1/RIP3/MLKL was associated with severe loss of dopaminergic neurons. Pretreatment with necrostatin-1 or the knockout of the RIP3/MLKL gene to block necroptosis pathway dramatically ameliorated PD by increasing dopamine levels and rescuing the loss of dopaminergic neurons, independent of the apoptotic pathway. Moreover, upregulation of inflammatory cytokines in MPTP-treated mice was partially inhibited by deletion of RIP3 or MLKL gene, indicating that a positive feedback loop exists between these genes and inflammatory cytokines. Our data indicate that RIP1/RIP3/MLKL-mediated necroptosis is involved in the pathogenesis of MPTP-induced PD. Downregulating the expression of RIP1, RIP3, or MLKL can significantly attenuate MPTP-induced PD. Future therapy targeting necroptosis may be a promising new option.

Background and Aims. Recent epidemiological evidence indicates an association between urolithiasis and atherosclerosis; however, results are incongruous. Our aim is to summarize the association between urolithiasis and arteriosclerosis risk through a detailed meta-analysis. Methods. Relevant studies published before April 2019 were identified by searching OVID, EMBASE, PubMed, Web of Science database, and Cochrane Library. The relationship between urolithiasis and the risk of atherosclerosis was assessed by using odds ratio (OR) values and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and the selection of fixed- or random-effects model based on heterogeneity. Results. The meta-analysis includes 8 observational studies that contained 70,716 samples. Pooled results showed that urolithiasis was associated with an increased adjusted and unadjusted risk estimated for atherosclerosis (P=0.017 and P=0.014, respectively), especially in coronary artery and carotid atherosclerosis, which was associated with the outcome of CV disease. Interestingly, when we merged the data from the vast majority of these samples (n = 65,751/70,716) with serum uric acid levels less than 6.0 mg/dl, it still showed that urolithiasis was associated with a higher risk of atherosclerosis (P<0.001) and with no evidence of heterogeneity (I2 = 0.0%, P=0.697). Furthermore, we also found that renal calculi would increase the risk of moderate or severe atherosclerosis (P<0.001) and recurrent renal calculi were associated with the incidence of atherosclerosis (P=0.007). Conclusions. Urolithiasis is associated with an increased risk for atherosclerosis, especially in coronary artery and carotid atherosclerosis. Urolithiasis may be another potential risk factor of atherosclerosis, which is independent of serum uric acid levels.

The LiCoO2 (LCO) cathode has been widely used in material markets, especially in conventional lithium ion batteries, due to its stable electrochemical performance. Increasing the working cutoff pot...

In this work, bio-inspired Au nanoparticles (NPs) were loaded through an ionic-liquid-enhanced-immobilization method onto TS-1 support, leading to efficient Au/TS-1 catalysts for gas-phase propylene epoxidation in the presence of O2 and H2. Specifically, the mesoporous TS-1 was synthesized by a hydrothermal method using nanosized TS-1 (size of ∼ 220 nm) as seeds, and the support was then etched with acid (HCl or HNO3). Both the pristine TS-1 and Au/TS-1 catalysts were fully characterized to understand the effects of preparation conditions on the catalytic performance in propylene epoxidation. Interestingly, it was found that the amount of Lewis acid sites in the seed-induced TS-1 was greater than that on the control sample formed without seed; more importantly, the size of the loaded Au NPs can be regulated by changing the amount of Lewis acid site. Furthermore, we have demonstrated that the post-treatment of TS-1 with appropriate acid sites could enhance the propylene conversion and propylene oxide (PO) selectivity.

A convenient and efficient palladium-catalyzed C-H bond activation for the assembly of N-aryl carbazole is reported, in which two C-N bonds were formed under one set of conditions. The desired carbazoles were achieved in decent yields with a wide substrate scope by utilizing readily available 2-iodo biphenyls and aromatic amines as starting materials.

Polymer nanocomposites incorporated with high-dielectric-constant nanoparticles are widely studied as the dielectric materials for high-energy-density electrostatic capacitors. However, the associated concerns of the embedded nanoparticles such as local electric field distortion and high leakage current limit the substantial improvement of energy density. In this work, a novel design of hierarchically-structured nanofillers is demonstrated, which show remarkable advantages over conventional high-dielectric-constant nanoparticles for polymer nanocomposites. These hierarchical nanostructures are prepared by covalently tethering the barium titanate (BT) nanoparticles on the basal plane of the two-dimensional boron nitride nanosheets. The grafting density of BT in the hierarchical nanostructures is adjustable such that its dielectric properties can be tuned, and the capacitive energy storage performance of the nanocomposites can be optimized. Both the experimental results and computational simulations prove that the hierarchically-structured nanofillers can effectively suppress the local field distortion and reduce leakage current. The resulting polymer nanocomposite exhibits a high discharged energy density which is 137% greater than that of a conventional nanocomposite with the same content of freely dispersed BT nanoparticles, in addition to a much improved charge–discharge efficiency. The proposed hierarchically-structured nanofillers shed light on the design of polymer nanocomposites with high energy density and high charge–discharge efficiency.

A DNA framework assembled split G4 nanodevice was fabricated to realize microRNA imaging in living HeLa cells. After hybridization with the target, the separated G4 segments underwent structural transformations, which could initiate fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) processes. Our design may pave a novel way to facilitate applications of the G4 motif.

A facile synthesis of imidazoles and tetrazoles via [3+1+1] type cyclization of ClCF2COONa is developed. A diverse array of imidazoles and tetrazoles were obtained in decent yields via isocyanide intermediates. Notably, this is the first example of the cycloaddition of in situ generated isocyanides.

Self-healing materials capable of restoring functionality in response to damage are expected to gain prolonged service lifespan. Yet the ability to repair damage of diverse length scales which is demanded for the survival of highly capricious and uncontrolled damage modes has not been demonstrated with current self-healing approaches. Herein the repeatable self-healing of multiscale damage ranging from nanometer to millimeter is achieved in thermoplastic polymers through defect-targeted heating and welding. The key to the ability to deal with multiscale damage is the automatic and targeted transport and assembly of superparamagnetic nanoparticles toward the defect site. This allows the concentrated nanoparticles to deliver a high heating power under an oscillating magnetic field and locally fuse the matrix, whereas the overall dimensional integrity of the material is well preserved. Moreover, as the polymer melt drives progressively into the open volume of the crack, the nanoparticles keep migrating with the edge of the crack until the fractured portions are united. The cracking-healing cycle can be repeated 100 times with a constantly high healing efficiency above 95%. This work sheds light on the new design of self-healing materials where the ability to deal with complex damage modes represents a key merit to prompt real-world applications.

The Cu-catalyzed C–H arylation of enamines via the oxidative C–N cleavage of 3-aminoindazoles is presented. A diverse array of arylated enamines were produced in decent yields with a wide substrate scope under mild conditions. Here, 3-aminoindazoles were harnessed as novel arylating agents via a radical process.