Search

The performance of CuDEPP was significantly influenced by regulating electrolytes with different anions and concentrations. The porphyrin complex showed better electrochemical performance coupling with compatible electrolyte.

Finding low-cost and environmentally friendly precursors that can maintain their electrochemical attraction natural texture properties while obtaining hierarchical porous carbons with high electrochemical performance is desirable for offering a leap forward in industrial applications. However, phenomena associated with the high microporosity of porous carbon remain. Herein, the protective effect of hydrothermal methods and the micropore-forming ability of KOH were used. The as-synthesized porous carbon (PC-1) holds the natural texture property (the retention of texture property with apertures higher than 2 nm was up to 80%) and achieves three-dimensional (3D) architecture with hierarchical structures accompanied by an ultrahigh specific surface area (3559.45 m2/g). Benefiting from its texture properties, PC-1 possesses a high specific capacitance of 288.75 F/g at 0.5 A/g, excellent rate capability as high as 223.72 F/g at 10 A/g, and remarkable conductivity in a three-electrode system with a 6 M KOH electrolyte. In view of its environment friendliness, low cost, and excellent specific capacitance, PC-1 has promising applications in high-performance supercapacitors.

Organic molecules are promising electrode materials for green and sustainable rechargeable electrochemical energy storage due to their tunable theoretical capacity and environmental friendliness. However, the commercialization of organic electrode materials is impeded by high solubility in electrolytes and inherently low electronic conductivity. Herein, a series of bipolar organic molecules, [5,10,15,20-tetra(ethynyl)porphinato] M(II) (MTEPP, M= Cu, Zn, Mg, 2H), is proposed as new cathode for highly stable dual ion charge storage. The stacking property of the porphyrin molecules is significantly influenced by complex ions and the mixed valence state of cation (Cu+ and Cu2+) renders better charge storage performance in functionalized porphyrin cathode. Reversible capacity of 219 mAh g−1 is obtained for CuTEPP cathode based on a four-electrons transfer and it can be stably cycled up to 1000 times in lithium based organic batteries. Ex-situ spectroscopies as well as simulation studies evidence the multiple electron transfer and the charge storage sites. Highly reversible capability (> 160 mAh g−1) and stable cyclability (> 300 cycles) is also achieved as cathode in both sodium and potassium based organic cells. This study offers a new approach for developing ultrastable and universal organic cathode for electrochemical energy storage.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to synthesize a kind of core-shell Ag@polyaniline (Ag@PAN) as a lubricant additive to improve the friction reduction and anti-wear abilities of lithium-based complex grease. Design/methodology/approach The core-shell Ag@PAN was prepared by a simple method and was introduced into the lithium-based complex grease. The typical properties of Ag@PAN were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transforms infrared spectrometer and thermal gravimetric analyzer. The tribological properties were evaluated under different conditions. After the tribological test, the worn surface was analyzed by SEM and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy to probe the lubrication mechanisms. Findings The prepared Ag@PAN could greatly improve the friction reduction and wear resistance of the friction pair under different conditions. The preferable tribological performances were mainly attributed to the synergism of various lubrication mechanisms including “mending effect,” “rolling effect” and lubricating protective film, and so on. Originality/value This study synthesizes a new kind of core-shell Ag@PAN as a lubricant additive, and it possesses preferable friction reduction and anti-wear abilities.

Using apricot shell lignin as a raw material, the effects of torrefaction temperatures (160, 200, 240, and 280 °C) on the properties of torrefied products were studied, and the catalytic pyrolysis experiments of the torrefied lignin under the HZSM-5 catalyst were carried out. The results showed that the oxygen content in lignin was greatly reduced and the higher heating values (HHV) gradually increased, the absorption peak of oxygen-containing functional groups gradually became weaker, and the content of the β-O-4 bond gradually decreased. At 280 °C, the C/O ratio reaches the maximum value of 2.17, and the calorific value increases to 24.22 MJ/kg. The removed oxygen element is converted into oxygen-containing components in the gas (mainly CO2 and H2O) and liquid products (mainly guaiacol phenol). After catalytic pyrolysis of torrefied lignin, it was found that with the increase of torrefaction temperature, the relative content of aromatics increased first and then decreased slightly; the aromatics reached the maximum value of 60.63% at 240 °C; acids decreased significantly; ketones, aldehydes, and furans changed little; and torrefaction played a positive role in the conversion of lignin to aromatics.

Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica Thunb.) is a traditional medicinal plant in China which is often threatened by high temperature at midday during summer. Heat-induced effects on the photosynthetic apparatus in honeysuckle are associated with a depression of the photosystem II (PSII) photochemical efficiency. However, very limited information is available on regulation of photosynthetic electron flow in PSI photoprotection in heat-stressed honeysuckle. Simultaneous analyses of chlorophyll fluorescence and the change in absorbance of P700 showed that energy transformation and electron transfer activity in PSII decreased under heat stress, but the fraction of photo-oxidizable PSI (Pm) remained stable. With treatments at 38 and 42 °C, the photochemical electron transport in PSII was suppressed, whereas the cyclic electron flow (CEF) around PSI was induced. In addition, the levels of high energy state quenching (qE) and P700 oxidation increased significantly with increasing temperature. However, a decline of qE in antimycin A (AA)- or 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (DCMU)-treated leaves after heat treatment was observed, while P700 oxidation decreased only in the presence of AA. The results indicate that heat-induced inhibition of PSII and induction of CEF cooperatively protect PSI from ROS damages through moderate down-regulation of photosynthetic electron flow from PSII to PSI.

The geminal difluorocyclobutane core is a valuable structural element in medicinal chemistry. Strategies for gem-difluorocyclobutanes, especially the 2-substituted cases, are limiting and often suffer from harsh reaction conditions. Reported herein is a migratory gem-difluorination of aryl-substituted methylenecycloproanes (MCPs) for the synthesis of 2-arylsubstituted gem-difluorocyclobutanes. Commercially available Selectfluor (F-TEDA-BF4) and Py·HF were used as the fluorine sources. The protocol proceeds via a Wagner-Meerwein rearrangement with mild reaction conditions, good functional group tolerance, and moderate to good yields. The product could be readily transformed to gem-difluorocyclobutane-containing carboxylic acid, amine, and alcohol, all of which are useful building blocks for biologically active molecule synthesis.

The temperature-sensitive inverse macroporous membranes containing thermo-responsive poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) were prepared by a template of silica microspheres. The inverse membranes ...

Orthorhombic-phase Nb2O5 (T-Nb2O5) has been widely investigated as an intercalation anode material for Li-ion batteries due to the larger interplanar lattice spacing and high safety. However, its applications are limited by the intrinsic low electric conductivity. Herein, an ultrathin N-doped carbon-coating layer was constructed on porous T-Nb2O5 microspheres uniformly via a convenient thermal treatment method with ionic liquid as a carbon precursor. The synthesized T-Nb2O5@N–C exhibits significantly enhanced rate capability (155.5 mAh·g–1 at 20C) than initial T-Nb2O5 (110.2 mAh·g–1 at 20C). Besides, T-Nb2O5@N–C shows ultralong cycle life, with only a 0.02% decrease in the capacity per cycle at a high current density of 10C. The corresponding electrochemical tests show that the preferable rate capability of T-Nb2O5@N–C electrode is attributed to the increased electronic conductivity and pseudocapacitance contribution induced by ultrathin surface N-doped carbon layer. On the other hand, the mesoporous structure of T-Nb2O5@N–C ensures fast Li+ diffusion dynamics and electrolyte penetration. Furthermore, T-Nb2O5@N–C also performs well in a LiNi0.5Mn0.3Co0.2O4||T-Nb2O5@N–C full cell. This work provides a facile method to construct integrated anode materials for potential applications in lithium-ion batteries.

High dose and long-term steroid treatment can alter antioxidative ability and decrease the viability and function of osteoblasts, leading to osteoporosis and osteonecrosis. Ferroptosis, a new type of cell death characterized by excessive lipid peroxidation due to the downregulation of GPX4 and system Xc- , is involved in glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis. Endothelial cell-secreted exosomes (EC-Exos) are important mediators of cell-to-cell communication and are involved in many physiological and pathological processes. However, the effect of EC-Exos on osteoblasts exposed to glucocorticoids has not been reported. Here, we explored the role of EC-Exos in glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis. In vivo and in vitro experiments indicated that EC-Exos reversed the glucocorticoid-induced osteogenic inhibition of osteoblasts by inhibiting ferritinophagy-dependent ferroptosis.

This study investigated the effect of berberine (BBR) on growth performance and composition and function of cecal microbiota in yellow-feathered broilers. A total of 360 1-day-old female broilers were assigned to 3 dietary treatments, each with 6 replicates of 20 birds. The dietary treatments consisted of a basal diet as negative control (NC), basal plus 200 mg/kg oxytetracycline calcium and 250 mg/kg nasiheptide as an antibiotic positive control (PC), and basal plus 250 mg/kg BBR. On day 21, 42, and 63, one chicken from each replicate was randomly selected for blood collection and cecal sampling. The 16S rRNA sequencing technology was used to analyze the community composition and function of cecal microbiota. Dietary supplementation with antibiotics or BBR increased the final body weight (BW) at day 63 and the average daily gain (ADG) during 1 to 21 d compared with the NC (P

The diethylenetriamine (DETA) impregnated modified attapulgite hybrid ZIF-8 composite has been developed as a new type of amine-impregnated hybrid MOF adsorbent for the adsorption of aspirin and ibuprofen in aqueous solution. ZIF-8 was first successfully grafted onto attapulgite and amine was impregnated into the hybrid material to successfully prepare the nanocomposite material (ATP@ZIF-8-DETA). By comparing the removal effects of different materials toward aspirin and ibuprofen, a highly efficient adsorbent (ATP@ZIF-8-DETA-20) was selected for follow-up research. The composite material was characterized by FT-IR, XRD, SEM and BET measurements. The research results indicate that the adsorption capacity of ATP@ZIF-8-DETA-20 for aspirin may be as high as 350.88 mg g−1. The new composite material (ATP@ZIF-8-DETA-20) has excellent efficiency and reusability, and show great potential for adsorbing nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in aqueous solutions.

Low-symmetry 2D materials are reviving recently owing to their azimuth-angle-dependent physical properties, which can be applied in polarization-sensitive optical and photoelectric devices. In this work, layered V2P4S13 with a novel low-symmetry porous structure was introduced as a promising highly anisotropic 2D material. We systematically investigated the structural, phonon-vibrational, and optical properties of 2D V2P4S13 by transmission electron microscopy, angle-resolved polarized Raman spectroscopy, angle-resolved reflection, and absorption spectroscopy. We discovered that 2D V2P4S13 shows strong crystallographic anisotropy, highly porous structure, and unique bi-vanadium atom coupling in the 2D plane. Polarized Raman spectroscopy indicated the strong phonon vibration anisotropy of 2D V2P4S13. Additionally, angle-resolved difference reflection and absorption spectra demonstrated optical anisotropy with a high anisotropic absorption ratio of 1.55 at 468 nm. Remarkably, we discovered unusual linear dichroism conversion of V2P4S13 from 468 nm to 600 nm. Such unique structural features of 2D V2P4S13, in combination with high optical anisotropy, make it an ideal platform for novel polarization-sensitive devices.

Four DyIII complexes, [Dy2(NO3)4(L)2(H2O)2]·2MeCN (1), [Dy2(NO3)4(L)2(H2O)2]·2(NO3)·DMBD·2MeOH (2), [Dy2(NO3)4(L)2(TPO)2]·2MeCN (3) and [Dy2(L')6(H2O)2]·4MeCN (4), were elaborately synthesized, structurally characterized and magnetically investigated (HL = 2,6-dimethoxyphenol, HL' = 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxybenzaldehyde, DMBD = 1,1'-dimethyl-[4,4'-bipyridine]-1,1'-diium and TPO = phosphine triphenyl oxide). In 1-3, the nearly planar molecular structures consisting of two DyIII ions and two L ligands are almost perpendicular to four nitrate ligands, which provides an opportunity to introduce auxiliary ligands (H2O or TPO) at the terminal position along the DyDy orientation of [Dy2]. The slightly discrepant coordination environment around the DyIII ion with different terminal ligands plays a key role in tuning the magnetic anisotropy, and further strongly affects the magnetic properties of 1-4. The magnetic studies reveal that they all behave as single-molecule magnets (SMMs) at zero dc field with ferromagnetic dipole-dipole interaction between DyIII ions. The dynamic magnetic investigations give the energy barriers of 107.5 (1), 127.1 (2), 168.7 (3) and 251.9 K (4), respectively. The magnetic axis orientation of the ground state gradually verges on the Dy-Oaux bond from 1 to 4, leading to the stronger uniaxial anisotropy of DyIII ions and better SMM properties of 3 and 4. In addition, complexes 3 and 4 possess higher energy barriers than reported dinuclear DyIII-SMMs also constructed from HL or HL' with β-diketone. It is believed that the ligands coordinating to the DyIII ion at both terminals of the DyDy linkage improve the SMM properties of dinuclear DyIII complexes. This design may provide a new strategy for obtaining dinuclear DyIII-based SMMs.

Quinazoline skeletons are synthesized by amino acid catabolism/reconstruction combined with the insertion/cyclization of dimethyl sulfoxide for the first time. The amino acid acts as a carbon and nitrogen source through HI-mediated catabolism and is then reconstructed using aromatic amines and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as a one-carbon synthon. This protocol is of great significance for the further study of the conversion of amino acids.

Structural optimization of activated carbon (AC) mainly relies on experience, which depends on the intrinsic structure of biochar, processing conditions, and the interplay of both parties. A fundam...

This research investigated effects of dietary phytosterols supplementation on growth performance and cecal gut microflora in yellow-feather broilers. A total of 360 yellow-feather broilers (1-day-old) were randomly assigned to three treatment groups: control group (basal diet), antibiotic group (basal diet supplemented with 200 mg/kg oxytetracycline calcium and 250 mg/kg nosiheptide), and phytosterols groups (basal diet supplemented with 25 mg/kg phytosterols). Each treatment group had six replicates and there were 20 broilers within each replicate. No treatment effects on average daily feed intake, average daily gain, and food conversion rate were observed. The antibiotic group had a lower liver index compared to control group and phytosterols group. Other visceral indexes including bursa-of-fabricius, spleen and heart were not different among the three treatment groups. In terms of alpha diversity, no treatment effects on Shannon and Simpson indexes were observed. Supplementation of phytosterols significantly decreased the Chao1 and Ace indexes indicating lower community richness of the gut microflora. At phylum level, the phytosterols group had a higher abundance of Bacteroidetes compared to the control group. At genus level, no treatment effect was observed on the top ten genera. Overall, supplementation of phytosterols at 25 mg/kg level did not affect the growth performance of yellow-feather broilers and its effect on gut microflora was limited.

Artificial electronic skin and wearable sensor are mainly based on the technology of flexible sensors responding to environmental stimuli. This research develops a new elastomer of starch-polyvinyl...

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is a main contributor to low back pain. A close relationship exists between inflammation and pain. Estrogen can affect inflammation and may play a crucial role in IDD and pain. Substance P (SP) can also regulate the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in intervertebral disc (IVD). This study aimed to investigate the potential role of SP in estrogen regulation of IDD. Nine-week-old C57BL/6 female mice were divided into four groups as follows: sham surgery (sham), ovariectomy (OVX), ovariectomy plus estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) group (OVX+E2), and ovariectomy, ERT plus neurokinin 1 receptor (NK1R) agonist (OVX+E2+G). Serum E2, body, and uterus weight were recorded. Immunohistochemistry study and quantitative real-time PCR were used for SP, NK1R, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α examination and comparison in IVD at protein and gene levels. After OVX, the gene and protein expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, SP, and NK1R in NP cells significantly increased compared with the sham group. ERT can reverse these impacts. ERT plays anti-inflammatory and anti-hyperalgesic roles in IDD of OVX mice. The estrogen-induced changes of the pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, are significantly inhibited by NK1R agonists. SP may be a mediator of estrogen regulating pro-inflammatory factors in IDD. Estrogen may affect IVD inflammation through two ways: one is to directly affect the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the other is by means of modulation of SP.

In this paper, the adsorption of copper ions on the prepared multilayer diazo resin-graphene oxide/polyacrylonitrile composite membranes was studied, and the adsorption capacity of GO modified poly...

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Intraoperative blood loss of more than 400 ml during gastrointestinal surgery is an independent predictor of mortality. Desmopressin acetate (1-deamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin [DDAVP]) could reduce perioperative blood loss. Few studies have prompted concerning the effects of DDAVP on gastrointestinal surgery. This study aimed to investigate whether DDAVP can decrease blood loss in patients with massive hemorrhage undergoing gastrointestinal surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A multiple-center, double-blind clinical trial was conducted; patients who underwent gastrointestinal surgery were recruited from three hospitals and were randomly assigned to two different groups. Patients in the treatment group received desmopressin in a dosage of 0.3 μg kg(−1), 30 min once a day after the surgery; patients in the control group received 50 ml saline for 30 min. The primary outcome was the changes of hemoglobin at 24 h after the surgery, and the secondary outcomes included coagulation function, urine volume, serum creatinine, and safety. RESULTS: There were 59 patients enrolled between June 1, 2015, and June 1, 2017. At 24 h after the surgery, the decrease in hemoglobin in the DDAVP group was significantly lower than that in the Normal Saline (NS) group (−5.0±6.9 g l(−1) versus −10.2±9.3 g l(−1), p=0.03). Sonoclot (®) showed that the platelet function in the DDAVP group was higher than that in the NS group at 24 h (2.56±0.59 versus 1.91±0.72, p

Anthocyanins are a type of natural pigment that have high potential for development and utilization in regions like food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries, with nitrogen and phosphorus starvation possibly promoting their accumulation in grapes. However, it remains unclear whether such starvation impacts the grape callus, or how the co-starvation of nitrogen and phosphorus affects the biosynthesis of anthocyanins. Here, we investigated how nitrogen starvation, phosphorus starvation, and the co-starvation of these two elements affects the synthesis of anthocyanins in the callus of grape skin. Results showed that separate starvation of nitrogen and phosphorus, as well as nitrogen and phosphorus co-starvation, inhibited callus growth, while significantly promoting the accumulation of anthocyanins. However, co-starvation did not facilitate anthocyanin biosynthesis during the later stages of callus growth. qRT-PCR analysis showed that the expression of VvUFGT and VvMYBA1 was closely related to anthocyanin accumulation in the callus under nitrogen and phosphorus starvation. Besides, we also confirmed that the abscisic acid signaling pathway was involved in anthocyanin accumulation as well as callus resistance under adverse conditions. This study provides a basis for investigating the regulatory mechanisms of anthocyanin synthesis in grapes, as well as theoretical support for the production of anthocyanins by callus culture. Even though nitrogen and phosphorus deficiencies have been reported to promote anthocyanin biosynthesis in grapevine berries, whether the same deficiencies also induce anthocyanin accumulation in grape callus and whether nitrogen and phosphorus co-deficiency enhances this induction have yet to be reported. Therefore, the present study to investigate the effects of nitrogen starvation, phosphorus starvation, and nitrogen and phosphorus co-starvation on anthocyanin accumulation and ABA signaling in grape callus.

In this study, graft copolymers with different graft ratios (GRs) and molecular weights (MWs) were prepared by water bath polymerization using acrylamide (AM) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as substrates; additionally, the best preparation parameters were provided. The MW of the copolymer was inversely correlated with the GR (R = −0.82). The obtained graft copolymer was characterized by FTIR, 1H NMR, XPS and DSC. The results showed that CMC and AM were successfully copolymerized and the thermal stability of the product is improved. The graft copolymers with different MWs were used to flocculate a simulated dyeing wastewater at pH values of 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11. The results showed that as the molecular weight of the graft copolymers increased, the average flocculation settling ratio decreased drastically from 61.2% to 19.4% at pH 3, and the higher the MW, the better the flocculation settling performance. But the average settling ratio increased sharply at pH 11, and the increase grew from 21.0% to 50.3%. The larger the MW, the more obvious the decrease in flocculation sedimentation performance. The supernatant turbidity was reduced from 13324 NTU to less than 150 NTU, and the turbidity removal ratio exceeded 99%. The flocculation mechanism was discussed.

To study the effects of type and content of cosolvent as well as temperature on the properties of two well-known deep eutectic solvents (DESs), i.e., ChCl/EG (choline chloride + ethylene glycol at ...

An efficient method was developed for the conjugate addition of water to various α,β-unsaturated ketones by using bismuth(III) chloride as a catalyst. The reactions proceeded smoothly in the presence of a catalytic amount of BiCl3 (20 mol%) in aqueous media to furnish a variety of synthetically useful β-hydroxyl ketones in moderate to good yields. Apart from water molecule, various alcohols could also be employed as nucleophiles to react with α,β-unsaturated ketones, leading to β-alkoxyl ketones in modest to high yields. In addition, the mild reaction conditions also entailed the conjugate addition reactions to proceed with the tolerance to a range of functional groups.

Cellulose and tannin are both abundant and biodegradable biopolymers, whose integrations show great potential in the food field due to their nutritional properties and biological activity. Here, lignocellulose nanocrystals (LCNC) isolated from pineapple peel were complexed with tannic acid (TA) through hydrogen-bonding interaction to prepare the LCNC/TA complex for stabilizing Pickering emulsions. Introducing TA decreased the interfacial tension (23.8-20.1 mN/m) and water contact angle (83.2-56.2°) with the LCNC/TA ratio ranging from 1:0 to 1:0.8 (w/w) but increased the size of the LCNC/TA complex. The droplet size of emulsions decreased from 115.0 to 51.3 μm accompanied by improved rheological properties. The emulsions stabilized by the LCNC/TA complex exhibited higher storage and environmental stabilities than those stabilized by LCNC alone. Interestingly, TA effectively promoted the interfacial adsorption of LCNC to build a stronger interfacial layer. The emulsion network structure was enhanced due to the formation of hydrogen-bonding interaction between LCNC and TA in the continuous phase.

In this work, naturally dispersed ash components in bio-carbon composites were prepared from waste spent mushroom substrate. Two kinds of deashing treatments were used to study the role of soluble and poorly soluble ash in the adsorption of NH4+ and increase specific surface area. The role of ash components on pore structure and the adsorption of ammonia nitrogen were systematically investigated. It is revealed that the relationship of ammonium adsorption capacity of three ACs is MAC > MAC-W > MAC-A at the varied pH conditions. Specifically, the ammonia nitrogen adsorption capacity of MAC increases 108.9% as compared with MAC-A. The bigger pore structure and BET of carbon was obtained after absorption due to naturally dispersed ash components exchanged with NH4+. What is more, Na+, K+, and Ca2+ in the ash have a greater effect on the adsorption of ammonia nitrogen of ACs. The struvite formation will consume the Mg2+ and NH4+ ion, leading to the enhanced adsorption properties via chemical deposition. This work provides a new perspective on dispersed ash components in bio-carbon from the low-valued biomass for the ammonia nitrogen removal and specific surface area augment.

(1) Background: Chitooligosaccharides (COS) have numerous applications due to their excellent properties. Chitosan hydrolysis using chitosanases has been proposed as an advisable method for COS preparation. Although many chitosanases from various sources have been identified, the cold-adapted ones with high stability are still rather rare but required. (2) Methods: A novel chitosanase named CsnY from marine bacterium Renibacterium sp. Y82 was expressed in Escherichia coli, following sequence analysis. Then, the characterizations of recombinant CsnY purified through Ni–NTA affinity chromatography were conducted, including effects of pH and temperature, effects of metal ions and chemicals, and final product analysis. (3) Results: The GH46 family chitosanase CsnY possessed promising thermostability at broad temperature range (0–50 °C), and with optimal activity at 40 °C and pH 6.0, especially showing relatively high activity (over 80% of its maximum activity) at low temperatures (20–30 °C), which demonstrated the cold-adapted property. Common metal ions or chemicals had no obvious effect on CsnY except Mn2+ and Co2+. Finally, CsnY was determined to be an endo-type chitosanase generating chitodisaccharides and -trisaccharides as main products, whose total concentration reached 56.74 mM within 2 h against 2% (w/v) initial chitosan substrate. (4) Conclusions: The results suggest the cold-adapted CsnY with favorable stability has desirable potential for the industrial production of COS.

An efficient water-based bismuth-mediated addition reaction of carbonyl compound with cyclic allylic halide was developed. The reactions proceeded smoothly in aqueous DMF in the presence of ammonium iodide to afford the corresponding syn -homoallylic alcohols in moderate to good yields with excellent diastereoselectivities (>99:1 syn : anti ). Reversal of product diastereoselectivity was observed when heteroaryl aldehyde possessing an adjacent chelating nitrogen atom was employed as substrate.

A highly conjugated polymeric porphyrin with an ethynyl group is proposed as a new cathode for lithium organic batteries. The electrochemical performance is significantly improved after a simple coupled polymerization, resulting in excellent cycling stability with a capacity retention of 99.2% for 2000 cycles.

PAN hollow fiber functional membrane with heavy metal ion adsorption capacity was prepared via layer-by-layer method using diazo-resin (DR). Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and graph...

For the purpose of investigating the heat resistance mechanism of Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris, label-free quantification was used to reveal some cellular changes in A. acidoterrestris during heat stress. Totally, 545 differential expression proteins were respectively identified at heat stress of 65 °C for 5 min, of which 258 proteins were up-regulated and 287 proteins were down-regulated. These significantly changed proteins were mapped to 100 pathways and some of them were mostly related to protection or repair of macromolecules such as proteins and DNA, cell wall formation, which indicated that these proteins might play crucial roles in response to heat stress. The KEGG pathway analysis combined with protein functional analysis and further validation at mRNA level suggested that A. acidoterrestris sensed the temperature rise in environment through alterations in the secondary structure of DNA and RNA molecules. The biosynthesis of antibiotics pathway and the ribosomes might be involved in signal transduction in heat stress and further trigger a large number of proteins playing a critical role in the regulation of heat stress in A. acidoterrestris. The study firstly demonstrated the global physiological response to heat stress and the results provided a better understanding of thermal adaption mechanism of A. acidoterrestris.

Separation of 1-butanol from the model fermentation broth (98 wt% water + 2 wt% ABE, acetone: 1-butanol: ethanol = 3: 6: 1) using liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) was investigated in this paper. This investigation involved multi-scale simulations from ab initio calculation to process simulation. Firstly, suitable extractant was screened from ionic liquids (ILs) combined of 30 anions and 40 cations using conductor-like screening model for real solvent (COSMO-RS) model. Meanwhile, the equilibrium experiment of the system ABE solution+selected IL was conducted to verify the screening result. From the screening, [HMIM][FEP] was found to be an optimal extractant and the experimental data confirmed this screening result with a deviation of 3.54%. The continuous hybrid process consisting of extraction and distillation section with the selected IL was also simulated and compared with a referenced process selecting mesitylene as extractant using Aspen Plus to investigate the performance of IL in real industry. The simulated results showed that a higher mass purities and yields of acetone (≥99.5 wt%), ethanol (≥99.5 wt%) and 1-butanol (≥99.9 wt%) could be obtained with much lower capital cost and energy consumption when the extractant was compared from [HMIM][FEP] to mesitylene. The extractant consumption and the energy consumption could lower 10% and 4.4% in total, respectively. The ab initio calculation enabled a deep insight on the mechanism of IL in extraction. Obviously, the results uncovered by the ab initio calculation showed that interaction between IL and 1-butanol was much stronger than mesitylene.

Asthma is associated with the overproduction of leukotrienes (LTs), including LTB4. Patients with severe asthma can be highly responsive to 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) inhibition, which blocks production of both the cysteinyl LTs and LTB4. Production of LTB4 has traditionally been ascribed to neutrophils, mononuclear phagocytes, and epithelial cells, and acts as a chemoattractant for inflammatory cells associated with asthma. The source of LTB4 is unclear, especially in eosinophilic asthma. We speculated that the benefit of 5-LO inhibition could be mediated in part by inhibition of eosinophil-derived LTB4. LTB4 concentrations were assayed in BAL fluid from patients with severe asthma characterized by isolated neutrophilic, eosinophilic, and paucigranulocytic inflammation. Expression of LTA4 hydrolase (LTA4H) by airway eosinophils was determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Subsequently, peripheral blood eosinophils were activated and secreted LTB4 was quantified by enzyme immunoassay. Blood eosinophil LTA4H expression was determined by flow cytometry, qPCR, and IHC. LTB4 concentrations were elevated in BAL fluid from patients with severe asthma, including those with isolated eosinophilic inflammation, and these eosinophils displayed LTA4H via IHC. LTA4H expression by blood eosinophils was confirmed by flow cytometry, IHC, and qPCR. Robust LTB4 production by blood eosinophils was observed in response to some, but not all, stimuli. We demonstrated that eosinophils express LTA4H transcripts and protein, and can be stimulated to secrete LTB4. We speculate that in many patients with asthma, eosinophil-derived LTB4 is increased, and this may contribute to the efficacy of 5-LO inhibition.

This study was designed to develop orally disintegrating/sustained-release praziquantel (PZQ) tablets using the hot-melt extrusion (HME) technique and direct compression, and subsequently evaluate their release in in vitro and in vivo pharmacokinetics. For the extrusion process, hypromellose acetate succinate (HPMCAS)-LG was the carrier of pure PZQ, with a standard screw configuration used at an extrusion temperature of 140 °C and a screw rotation speed of 100 rpm. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were performed to characterize the extrudate. Orally disintegrating/sustained-release praziquantel tablets (PZQ ODSRTs) were prepared by direct compression after appropriate excipients were blended with the extrudate. The release amount was 5.10% in pH 1.0 hydrochloric acid at 2 h and over 90% in phosphoric acid buffer at 45 min, indicating the enteric-coating character of PZQ ODSRTs. Compared with the pharmacokinetics of marketed PZQ tablets (Aipuruike®) in dogs, the times to peak (Tmax), elimination half-life (t1/2λ) and mean residence time (MRT) were extended in PZQ ODSRTs, and the relative bioavailability of PZQ ODSRTs was up to 184.48% of that of Aipuruike®. This study suggested that PZQ ODSRTs may have potential for the clinical treatment of parasitosis.

Baihe Dihuang decoction is a commonly used herbal formula to treat depression and insomnia in traditional Chinese medicine. This study established a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method to investigate the potential active ingredients and the components absorbed in the blood and brain tissue of mice. Using a new data processing method, 94 chemical components were identified, 33 and 9 of which were absorbed in the blood and brain. More interestingly, we analyzed the substance changes during co-decoction and the characteristics of the compounds absorbed in the blood and brain. The results show that 71 newly generated chemical components were discovered from co-decoction: 38 with fragment information and five absorbed in the blood. Ultimately, the results of molecular docking show that these components have excellent performance in proteins of γ-aminobutyric acid, serotonin and melatonin receptors. The docking results of emodin with Monoamine Oxidase A and Melatonin Receptor 1A, and luteolin with Solute Carrier Family 6 Member 4, Glyoxalase I, Monoamine Oxidase B and Melatonin Receptor 1A, may explain the mechanism of action of Baihe Dihuang decoction in treating insomnia and depression. Overall, our research results may provide novel perspectives for further understanding of the effective substances in Baihe Dihuang decoction.

Two metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), [Dy(BDC)(NO3)(DMF)2]n (1, H2BDC = terephthalic acid) and [Dy(BDC)(NO3)]n (1a), were synthesized. The structures of MOFs 1 and 1a are easy to be reversibly transformed into each other by the desorption or adsorption of coordination solvent molecules. Accordingly, their magnetic properties can also be changed reversibly, which realizes our goals of manipulating on/off single-molecule magnet behaviour. MOF 1 behaves as a single-molecule magnet either with or without DC field. Contrarily, no slow magnetic relaxation was observed in 1a both under zero field and applied field.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of zinc glycinate (Gly-Zn) on growth performance, serum biochemical index, intestinal morphology, and hepatic metallothionein (MT) mRNA expression in the liver of yellow feather broilers. A total of 540 18-day-old yellow feather broilers were randomly divided into three groups: control group (basal diet), ZnSO4 group (basal diet plus 60 mg Zn/kg from ZnSO4), and Gly-Zn group (basal diet plus 60 mg Zn/kg from zinc glycinate). Each treatment group had 6 replicates with 30 birds in each replicate. The experiment lasted for 42 days (18 to 59 days of age). The results showed that Gly-Zn supplementation significantly improved the average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) of broilers during 18 to 39 days of age compared with that in the control group (P 4 group. The Gly-Zn group had higher glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) (P P P 4 group in duodenum and ileum regarding intestinal morphology parameters. The Gly-Zn group significantly increased mRNA expression of MT in the liver than both control and ZnSO4 groups (P 4 group at the transcriptional level.

Wenqi Wang,* Xin Feng,* Yu Du, Cen Liu, Xinxin Pang, Kunxiu Jiang, Xirui Wang, Yonggang Liu School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 102488, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Yonggang Liu Email liuyg0228@163.comPurpose: Pinocembrin is a dihydroflavonoid, which is widely found in several plant species. Although pinocembrin has good pharmacological activity, it has poor water solubility and low bioavailability. Therefore, we have modified the structure of pinocembrin with a combination of different amino acids to solve this problem. Moreover, the effect of the antiaging activity of them has not been explored. We aim to investigate the effect of pinocembrin and its amino acid derivatives on the aging of Caenorhabditis elegans.Methods: Pinocembrin was spliced with different amino acids in order to obtain their corresponding derivatives. The preliminary research of pinocembrin and its amino acid derivatives on antiaging effect was studied by using the C. elegans model. Among all the compounds, the one shows the best antiaging effect was then studied on antiaging mechanism. The protective effect on nematodes under emergency conditions was explained by detecting the ROS content and sod-3p::GFP fusion protein expression in nematodes; the possible anti-aging mechanism of nematodes was determined by DAF-16 nuclear localization experiment and the survival curve of transgenic nematodes model under stress conditions.Results: Pb-3 showed the best effect on increasing tolerance to thermal and oxidative stress and reduce the accumulation of lipofuscin. In the assay of C. elegans, pb-3 reduced intracellular ROS accumulation. Application of pb-3 to the transgenic mutant TJ356 induced the translocation of the transcription factor DAF-16 from the cytosol to the nucleus, and modulated the expression of SOD-3 (downstream genes of daf-16), which regulates longevity in C. elegans. Moreover, pb-3 did not prolong the lifespan of daf-16, age-1, daf-2 and hsp16.2 mutants, suggesting that these genetic pathways are involved in mediating the antiaging effects of pb-3.Conclusion: The antioxidant and antiaging properties of pb-3 may involve in the DAF-16/FOXO transcription process. Pinocembrin amino acid derivatives might be a novel agent for antiaging therapy.Keywords: pinocembrin, antiaging, oxidative stress, amino acid derivatives, Caenorhabditis elegans, DAF-16/FOXO transcription factorsCorrigendum for this paper has been published

Shen Gui capsule (SGC) has been demonstrated to have a significant treatment effect for coronary heart disease (CHD). Nevertheless, the holistic therapeutic mechanism of SGC in vivo remain poorly interpreted. We aimed to systematically explore the preventive effect and mechanism of SGC on CHD rats using plasma metabolomics strategy. Rat CHD model was established by left anterior descending coronary artery ligation (LAD). Echocardiography, histological analyses of the myocardium and biochemical assays on serum were used to confirm the successful establishment of the CHD model and therapeutic effects of SGC. Then, UHPLC-MS/MS-based plasma metabolomics was combined with multivariate data analysis to screen potential pharmaco biomarkers associated with SGC treatment in the LAD-induced rat CHD model. After SGC treatment, 12 abnormal metabolites considered as potiential pharmaco biomarkers recovered to near normal levels. These biomarkers were involved in several metabolic pathways, including fat and protein metabolism, phenylalanine metabolism, neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, androgen receptor signaling pathway, and estrone metabolism.These results suggested that SGC achieves therapeutic action on CHD via regulating various aspects of the body such as energy metabolism, neurological disturbances and inflammation, and thus plays a significant role in the treatment of CHD and its complications. The study is useful to systematically understand and analyze the mechanism of SGC's "multipie pathways, multiple levels, multiple targets" prevention and treatment of CHD.

Hot isostatic pressing (HIP) and subsequent heat-treatments (HT) are necessary for titanium aluminide (TiAl) casting components. But there are few studies carefully comparing the microstructure changes from the initial as-cast condition to the final heat-treated condition. In this study, the microstructures of Ti-47Al-2Cr-2Nb (at%) alloy in the as-cast, as-HIPed and as-heat-treated conditions were characterized by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The mechanical properties after HTs were determined by the tensile tests at 700 °C. The results show that after HIP and HTs, all the microstructures exhibit a nearly lamellar (NL) structure and can be divided into an edge region and a central area. The microstructure after HIP in the edge region is normal, while distorted lamellae and many fine recrystallized grains exist in the central area. The yield strengths after three HTs are nearly the same, but the elongation after the HT at 1310 °C is much more than that after HTs at 1185 °C and 1280 °C. A refinement of colony size induced by distorted lamellae in as-HIPed condition is considered responsible for the great improvement in elongation.

Background Anthocyanin, chlorophyll, and carotenoid pigments are widely distributed in plants, producing various colors. Ornamental kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephala DC) which has colorful inner leaves is an ideal plant to explore how these three pigments contribute to leaf color. The molecular mechanisms of the coloration in ornamental kale could provide reference for exploring the mechanisms of pigmentation in other plants. Results In this study, we sequenced the transcriptome and determined the pigment contents of an unusual cultivar of ornamental kale with three different types of leaf coloration: pink (C3), light pink (C2), and variegated pink–green (C1). A total of 23,965 differentially expressed genes were detected in pairwise comparisons among the three types of leaves. The results indicate that Bo9g058630 coding dihydroflavonol 4–reductase (DFR) and Bo3g019080 coding shikimate O–hydroxycinnamoyltransferase (HCT) acted in anthocyanin biosynthesis in pink leaves. Bo1g053420 coding pheophorbidase (PPD) and Bo3g012430 coding 15–cis–phytoene synthase (crtB) were identified as candidate genes for chlorophyll metabolism and carotenoid biosynthesis, respectively. The transcription factors TT8, MYBL2, GATA21, GLK2, and RR1 might participate in triggering the leaf color change in ornamental kale. Anthocyanin content was highest in C3 and lowest in C1. Chlorophyll and carotenoid contents were lowest in C2 and highest in C1. Conclusions Based on these findings, we suspected that the decrease in anthocyanin biosynthesis and the increase in chlorophyll and carotenoid biosynthesis might be the reason for the leaf changing from pink to variegate pink–green in this unusual cultivar. Our research provides insight into the molecular mechanisms of leaf coloration in ornamental kale, contributing to a theoretical foundation for breeding new varieties.

Background 'Gold Finger' is a grape cultivar with a finger-like shape and a milk flavor. The process by which its aroma profile evolves during ripening is unclear. Thus, changes in the free and bound volatile compounds present in 'Gold Finger' grapes during ripening were investigated using headspace sampling-solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (HS-SPME-GC-MS). Results A total of 83 volatile aroma components were identified in the grapes, with aldehydes, esters, acids, and alcohols being the main components. The total aroma compound content exhibited significant differences between the bound and free forms. The total content of bound volatile compounds did not change significantly during fruit development, although the free aroma compound content was significantly higher than the bound content. The total content of free aldehydes, free alcohols, bound norisoprenoids, and ketones gradually increased for up to 70 days after flowering (DAF), while the total free ester, terpene, and acid content decreased. The characteristic aroma compounds of 'Gold Finger' grapes were identified as hexanal, (E)-2-hexenal, and ethyl hexanoate. Conclusions These results give a foundation for the further development of 'Gold Finger' grapes and provide a theoretical basis for the selection and breeding of novel aromatic grape varieties. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Background and aims: Post-tuberculosis bronchial stenosis (PTBS) is one of the most common complications of tracheobronchial tuberculosis. Silicone stent serves as a major treatment for maintaining airway patency. However, silicone stent placement remains a large challenge in patients with severe cicatricial PTBS. Our objective was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of covered, self-expanding, metallic stents (SEMSs) as a transition to silicone stent implantation for treating severe PTBS. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the data of patients with severe PTBS who received airway stenting in the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University between September 2015 and May 2019. The types of the stent, intervention procedures, bronchoscopic findings, clinical outcomes and related complications were collected and analyzed. Results: Fifty-eight cases with severe PTBS were included in this study. Thirteen (22.4%) of the patients received bronchial silicone stent implantation immediately after dilations. For the remaining 45 (77.6%) patients, silicone stents could not be deployed after dilations and SEMSs implantation was implemented as a bridge to silicone stenting. The SEMSs were placed for an interval of 28.4 ± 11.1 days. All of the silicone stents were inserted successfully following the removal of SEMSs. No SEMS-related complication occurred. The subgroup analysis showed that patients who received transitional SEMSs had less luminal caliber but fewer transbronchial dilations before silicone stent implantation ( p Conclusion: Covered SEMS placement as a transition to silicone stenting could serve as a feasible procedure to reduce complications and improve the success rate of silicone stent implantation in patients with severe PTBS. The reviews of this paper are available via the supplemental material section.

Flunixin meglumine (FM) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug limited by irritation of the respiratory tract and mucosa in veterinary tissue. This study aimed to develop a taste-masked FM solid dispersion (SD) by hot-melt extrusion (HME) and formulate an orally disintegrating tablet (ODT) with selected excipients by direct compression. Eudragit® E PO was chosen as the matrix, and HME parameters were optimized: extrusion temperature, 135℃; screw speed, 100 rpm; and drug loading, 20%. Characterization techniques proved that FM was rendered amorphous in the HME extrudate. In vitro dissolution studies showed that FM SD released significantly slower than the corresponding physical mixture in artificial saliva. Excipients were selected based on compression formability, disintegration, and solubility. A D-optimal mixture design was used to optimize the composition: 25% FM SD, 18.75% microcrystalline cellulose, 52.5% mannitol, 3.75% low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose, and 1% magnesium stearate. Taste-masked FM ODT had a tensile strength of 0.7 ± 0.01 MPa and a disintegration time of 17.6 ± 0.1 s. E-tongue and E-nose analysis showed that FM ODT had a better taste-masked effect than commercial granules. Finally, a pharmacokinetic study proved that the main pharmacokinetic parameters of FM ODT were not significantly different from those of commercial granules, which indicated that these formulations had similar pharmacokinetic behaviours in beagles.

This work provides an idea for efficient and harmless utilization of lignin and further evaluated the textural properties of lignin-derived activated carbon/specific capacitance relationship. The yield of cellulose-doped apricot shell lignin (ASLC) was 30.42%. H3PO4/KOH was used to assist the preparation of ASLC-derived activated carbon (AAC) for capacitors. The specific surface areas of the as-obtained AAC-P-3 and AAC-K-2 were 1475.16 m2/g and 2136.56 m2/g, respectively. The specific capacitances of AAC-P-3 and AAC-K-2 were 169.14 F/g and 236.00 F/g, respectively, upon the current density of 0.50 A/g. In capacitors containing aqueous KOH as the electrolyte, the AR2 (0.983) between specific surface area and specific capacitance was highest, followed by the AR2 (0.978) between Vmicro/Vmeso and specific capacitance, the AR2 (0.975) between pore-wall thickness and specific capacitance. Consequently, the specific capacitances of the AACs depend not only the specific surface area, but also on the Vmicro/Vmeso, pore-wall thickness, and Vmicro.

Background: Guan-Xin-Shu-Tong capsule (GXSTC) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) that has been used to treat coronary heart disease (CHD) for many years in China. However, the holistic mechanism of GXSTC against CHD is still unclear. Therefore, the purpose of this paper was to systematically explore the mechanism of action GXSTC in the treatment of CHD rats using a metabolomics strategy.Methods: A CHD model was induced by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD). In each group, echocardiography was performed; the contents of creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and aspartate transaminase (AST) in serum were determined; and the myocardial infarct size was measured. The metabolites in plasma were analyzed by UHPLC-MS/MS-based untargeted metabolomics. Then, multivariate statistical analysis was performed to screen potential biomarkers associated with the GXSTC treatment in the LAD-induced rat CHD model. Finally, the MetaboAnalyst 4.0 platform was used for metabolic pathway enrichment analysis.Results: GXSTC was able to regulate the contents of CK, LDH and AST; restore impaired cardiac function; and significantly reduce the myocardial infarction area in model rats. Twenty-two biomarkers and nine metabolic pathways of GXSTC in the treatment of CHD were identified through UHPLC-MS/MS-based untargeted metabolomics analysis.Conclusion: GXSTC regulates metabolic disorders of endogenous components in LAD-induced CHD rats. The anti-CHD mechanism of GXSTC is mainly related to the regulation of amino acid, lipid and hormonal metabolism. This study provides an overall view of the mechanism underlying the action of GXSTC against CHD.