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Objective Methods Results Conclusion Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), which contains organic sulphur, has been used for a long time as a medicinal ingredient because of its benefits to human health. MSM is reported to be protective against certain skin disorders, but it is unknown whether it affects melanin synthesis. Therefore, in our current research, we examined the possibility of MSM controlling the production of melanin in Mel‐Ab melanocytes.In Mel‐Ab cells, melanin contents and tyrosinase activities were assessed and quantified. The expression of microphthalmia‐associated transcription factor (MITF) and tyrosinase was evaluated using western blot analysis, while MSM‐induced signalling pathways were investigated.The MSM treatment significantly resulted in a dose‐dependent increase in melanin production. Furthermore, MSM elevated melanin‐related proteins, including MITF and tyrosinase. However, the rate‐limiting enzyme of melanin production, tyrosinase, was not directly influenced by it. Therefore, we investigated potential melanogenesis‐related signalling pathways that may have been triggered by MSM. Our findings showed that MSM did not influence the signalling pathways associated with glycogen synthase kinase 3β, cAMP response‐element binding protein, extracellular signal‐regulated kinase, or p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase. However, MSM phosphorylated c‐Jun N‐terminal kinases/stress‐activated protein kinase (JNK/SAPK), which is known to induce melanogenesis. SP600125, a specific JNK inhibitor, inhibited MSM‐induced melanogenesis.Taken together, our study indicates that MSM induces melanin synthesis and may serve as a therapeutic option for hypopigmentary skin disorders such as vitiligo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Catalysts containing supported metal oxides are very versatile materials used in liquid phase oxidation reactions. The present study aimed to determine the influence of niobium supported on a silica matrix (SiO2) for the oxidation of thioanisole to methyl phenyl sulfoxide and methyl phenyl sulfone. Characterization of the synthesized Nb5SiO2 and Nb10SiO2 catalysts revealed that although they are not completely crystalline, these microporous materials displayed even niobium dispersion on the SiO2 support whilst containing Lewis and Brönsted acidic sites on their surface. Nb5SiO2 and Nb10SiO2 catalysts showed higher activities compared to pure SiO2 catalyst. Niobium-containing catalysts promoted the subsequent oxidation reaction that converted methyl phenyl sulfoxide to methyl phenyl sulfone. The formation of methyl phenyl sulfone was observed in the presence of niobium-containing catalysts even when using a deficiency of H2O2 (0.44 equivalents), whereas the same result could not be achieved for the SiO2 catalyst. The formation of methyl phenyl sulfone occurred in a significantly shorter time in the presence of Nb10SiO2, demonstrating the effectiveness of niobium in producing active oxygen species that promote the subsequent reactions. Under the optimized conditions, methyl phenyl sulfoxide could be obtained with 100% conversion and selectivity at room temperature (25 °C) in either acetonitrile or methanol as solvent. Finally, theoretical calculations showed, through energy values, that the niobium-containing catalysts have a lower relative surface energy compared to the pure silica catalyst. The results presented in this research show the potential of the synthesized materials to promote thioanisole catalytic oxidation reactions using hydrogen peroxide as an oxidant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jujube has various functional properties and is a promising source of bioactive compounds and flavors. This study investigated the functional properties and flavor characteristics of milk from cows supplemented with jujube powder (JP). Here, milk volatile profiles and taste properties were analyzed by using an electronic nose and headspace solid-phase microextraction GC–MS. Compared with the control group, the total antioxidant capacity, 2,2′-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic free-radical-scavenging activity, lactoferrin, and IgG levels increased significantly in the JP group. Volatile flavor analysis indicated that ketone levels increased, acid abundance decreased, and toluene and dimethyl sulfone significantly increased in the JP group. Taste-profile analyses demonstrated that jujube supplementation altered the taste of the milk. In summary, dietary JP supplementation affects the volatile flavor composition and aroma of milk, as well as the bioactive components and antioxidant properties. These findings enhance our understanding of milk production using direct dietary supplementation to produce sustainable dairy products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sulfoxides are remarkably useful in asymmetric synthesis and drug development. Herein, we propose a new electroenzymatic cascade route to selectively synthesize methyl phenyl sulfoxide rather than methyl phenyl sulfone by the oxidation of thioanisole. Chloroperoxidase (CPO) functionalized with 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide (ILEMB) is encapsulated into dendritic N-doped mesoporous carbon nanospheres (NMCNs) modified with polyethyleneimine (NMCNs-PEI) to form a biohybrid (CPO-ILEMB@NMCNs-PEI). The in situ generation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) species by the two-electron oxygen reduction reaction (2e−ORR) on NMCNs-PEI initiates the subsequent selective oxidation of thioanisole by CPO-ILEMB. NMCNs-PEI shows not only high electroactivity for the 2e−ORR but also good biocompatibility for CPO-ILEMB immobilization. The mesopores in NMCNs-PEI can provide a protective space for the encapsulated enzyme, ensuring the operational stability of the enzyme and avoiding the escape of H2O2, which result in high catalytic activity. The experimental results suggest that the catalytic efficiency of the electroenzymatic cascade system with the CPO-ILEMB@NMCNs-PEI biohybrid is up to 4.5 times higher than that of the free CPO-ILEMB catalytic system with H2O2 generated by NMCNs-PEI for the oxidation of thioanisole to produce methyl phenyl sulfoxide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The significance of rheology in the context of bio three-dimensional (3D) printing lies in its impact on the printing behavior, which shapes material flow and the layer-by-layer stacking process. The objective of this study is to evaluate the rheological and printing behaviors of polycaprolactone (PCL) and dimethyl sulfone (DMSO2) composites. The rheological properties were examined using a rotational rheometer, employing a frequency sweep test. Simultaneously, the printing behavior was investigated using a material extrusion 3D printer, encompassing varying printing temperatures and pressures. Across the temperature range of 120–140 °C, both PCL and PCL/DMSO2 composites demonstrated liquid-like behavior, with a higher loss modulus than storage modulus. This behavior exhibited shear-thinning characteristics. The addition of DMSO2 10, 20, and 30 wt% into the PCL matrix reduced a zero-shear viscosity of 33, 46, and 74% compared to PCL, respectively. The materials exhibited extrusion velocities spanning from 0.0850 to 6.58 mm/s, with velocity being governed by the reciprocal of viscosity. A significant alteration in viscosity by temperature change directly led to a pronounced fluctuation in extrusion velocity. Extrusion velocities below 0.21 mm/s led to the production of unstable printed lines. The presence of distinct viscosities altered extrusion velocity, flow rate, and strut diameter. This phenomenon allowed the categorization of pore shape into three zones: irregular, normal, and no-pore zones. It underscored the importance of comprehending the rheological aspects of biomaterials in enhancing the overall quality of bio-scaffolds during the 3D printing process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Like other Fenton systems, the PDS-based Fenton system still faces the bottleneck of the rapid conversion of Fe(II) to Fe(III) in the system. Our previous researches have found that Fullerol could promote the Fe(III)/Fe(II) cycle in two ways: 1. Fullerol directly reduces Fe(III) into Fe(II); 2. Fullerol complexed with Fe(III) to generate Fullerol-Fe(III) complex with lower redox potential, thereby promoting the formation of Fe(II). This is undoubtedly a good way to solve the bottleneck of the PDS-based Fenton systems, while in recent years, new ideas have been put forward about the type of reactive oxidizing species (ROS) in the PDS-based Fenton systems: ferryl ion species (Fe(IV)) was formed, and played a role of pollutants degradation. In this study, we proved the formation of Fe(IV) during C60 Fullerol–enhanced Fenton-like activation of PDS with visible light irradiation. The experimental results showed that Fe(IV), SO4·− and OH were analyzed in the Fe(III)/PDS/Fullerol system by probes and EPR experiments. The yield of methyl phenyl sulfone (η(PMSO2)) and the results of p-CBA experiment indicated that both Fe(IV) and ·OH played an important role in the Fe(III)/PDS/Fullerol system. Combined with Fe(II) formation and PDS consumption results, it is indicated that with the addition of Fullerol, the Fe(II)/PDS molar ratio increased, and changed major oxidizing intermediate from ·OH to Fe(IV). Under visible light condition, the oxidation rates of BPS in the Fe(III)/PDS/Fullerol system were about 1.55 × 10–2 min−1, which was about five times that of the Fe(III)/PDS system at pH 3.0 (3.10 × 10–3 min−1). This study found that in the Fe(III)/PDS/Fullerol system, both Fe(IV) and ·OH play a role in the degradation of BPS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] The diversity of catalytic products determines the difficulty of selective product modulation, which usually relies on adjusting the catalyst and reaction conditions to obtain different main products selectively. Herein, we synthesized D-π-A-D conjugated organic polymers (TH-COP) using cyclotriphosphonitrile, alkyne, 2H-benzimidazole, and sulfur units as electron donors, π bridges, electron acceptors, and electron donors, respectively. TH-COP exhibited excellent photoinduced carrier separation and redox ability under different visible light wavelengths, and the main products of its CO 2 reduction are CH 4 (1000.0 μmol g−1) and CO (837.0 μmol g−1) under 400–420 nm and 420–560 nm, respectively. In addition, TH-COP could completely convert phenylmethyl sulfide to methyl phenyl sulfone at 400–420 nm and diphenyl disulfide at 480–485 nm in yields up to 95 %. This study presents a novel strategy for the targeted fabrication of various main products using conjugated polymers by simply changing the wavelength range of visible light. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Thermosensitive genic female sterility (TGFS) is a promising property to be utilized for hybrid breeding. Here, we identified a rice TGFS line, tfs2, through an ethyl methyl sulfone (EMS) mutagenesis strategy. This line showed sterility under high temperature and became fertile under low temperature. Few seeds were produced when the tfs2 stigma was pollinated, indicating that tfs2 is female sterile. Gene cloning and genetic complementation showed that a point mutation from leucine to phenylalanine in HEI10 (HEI10tfs2), a crossover formation protein, caused the TGFS trait of tfs2. Under high temperature, abnormal univalents were formed, and the chromosomes were unequally segregated during meiosis, similar to the reported meiotic defects in oshei10. Under low temperature, the number of univalents was largely reduced, and the chromosomes segregated equally, suggesting that crossover formation was restored in tfs2. Yeast two‐hybrid assays showed that HEI10 interacted with two putative protein degradation‐related proteins, RPT4 and SRFP1. Through transient expression in tobacco leaves, HEI10 were found to spontaneously aggregate into dot‐like foci in the nucleus under high temperature, but HEI10tfs2 failed to aggregate. In contrast, low temperature promoted HEI10tfs2 aggregation. This result suggests that protein aggregation at the crossover position contributes to the fertility restoration of tfs2 under low temperature. In addition, RPT4 and SRFP1 also aggregated into dot‐like foci, and these aggregations depend on the presence of HEI10. These findings reveal a novel mechanism of fertility restoration and facilitate further understanding of HEI10 in meiotic crossover formation. Significance Statement: Our study promotes the understanding of HEI10/TFS2 for meiotic crossover formation and provides a mechanism for the female fertility restoration of TGFS lines under low temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoarthritis is a widespread chronic degenerative disease marked by the deterioration of articular cartilage, modifications in subchondral bone, and a spectrum of symptoms, including pain, stiffness, and disability. Ultimately, this condition impairs the patient's quality of life. This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of standardized Boswellia serrata gum resin extract (BSRE) in a rat model of monosodium iodoacetate (MIA)-induced osteoarthritis. A total of 60 rats were allocated into six groups: normal control group (NC), osteoarthritis control (injected with MIA, OC), O + B50 (injected with MIA and treated with 50 mg/kg body weight (BW) BSRE), O + B75 (injected with MIA and treated with 75 mg/kg BW BSRE), O + B100 (injected with MIA and treated with 100 mg/kg BW BSRE), and O + M (injected with MIA and treated with 150 mg/kg BW methyl sulfonyl methane). Several parameters, including knee joint swelling, histopathological changes, and the expression of collagen type II alpha 1 (COL2A1) and aggrecan, were comprehensively assessed. Concurrently, the serum levels and mRNA expression of inflammatory mediators, cytokines, and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) were analyzed in both the serum and knee joint synovium. The results demonstrated that BSRE significantly mitigated knee joint swelling, cartilage destruction, and tissue deformation. Notably, BSRE administration markedly upregulated the expression of COL2A1 and aggrecan while concurrently reducing levels of nitric oxide, prostaglandin E2, leukotriene B4, interleukin (IL)-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. Furthermore, a substantial decrease was observed in the mRNA expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, 5-lipoxygenase, IL-6, TNF-α and MMP-3 and -13, thereby indicating promising therapeutic implications for osteoarthritis. In conclusion, BSRE exhibited anti-inflammatory properties and inhibited cartilage matrix degradation in a rat model of MIA-induced osteoarthritis, with the O + B100 group showing significant reductions in swelling and notable improvements in joint cartilage damage. These findings illuminate the preventive and therapeutic potential of BSRE for osteoarthritis treatment, emphasizing the criticality of exhaustive evaluation of novel compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The proton NMR spectra of apple vinegar samples obtained from the farms of Kurdistan region-Iraq, have been thoroughly examined and reported. Many organic molecules from various classes were assigned, including organic acids, alcohols, volatile compounds, and amino acids. Without extraction or pre-concentration processes, the possibility of quantifying the compounds that were present in the whole vinegar sample was also investigated. The results showed that ¹H NMR with water suppression allows a quick simultaneous determination of acetic, formic, lactic, malic, succinic, tartaric acids, ethanol, methanol, acetoin, 2,3-butanediol, glucose and fructose, by using dimethyl sulfone (DMSO2) or potassium hydrogen phthalate (KHP) as internal standards. The ¹H NMR method was applied to differentiation of the various samples of apple vinegar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is prevalent among HIV-infected men who have sex with men (MSM), with well-established risk factors and adverse outcomes. However, there is a lack of comprehensive investigation of both upstream risk factors and downstream adverse outcomes among HIV-infected MSM in a Chinese context. This study aimed to examine IPV and its associations among a Chinese sample of HIV-infected MSM. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 294 HIV-infected MSM in Jinan City from June to December 2020. All data were collected through an online questionnaire, which included IPV, sexual risk behavior, antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence, depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. Chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regressions were performed to examine risk factors and adverse outcomes of IPV. Results: Of the 294 HIV-infected MSM, 71.1% experienced any IPV, including control (37.1%), threat of public identity (30.6%), emotional violence (25.2%), security threat (18.4%), and physical violence (13.9%). The prevalence of sexual risk behavior, good ART adherence, depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation was 55.1%, 53.4%, 48.3%, 32.3%, and 65.0%, respectively. Abuse of methamphetamine (METH) (aOR:2.79; 95%CI:1.43 ~ 5.45), capsule 0 or stimulating liquid (aOR:2.68; 95%CI:1.31 ~ 5.47), Magu (aOR:3.16; 95%CI:1.51 ~ 6.60), and other new drugs (aOR:2.87; 95%CI:1.52 ~ 5.43), disclosing HIV infection to partners (aOR:2.03; 95%CI:1.10 ~ 3.78), and gay sexual orientation (aOR = 3.32; 95%CI: 1.82 ~ 6.05) were significantly correlated with the experience of IPV. In addition, IPV was significantly associated with sexual risk behavior (aOR = 2.02; 95%CI:1.16 ~ 3.53), ART adherence (aOR = 2.63; 95%CI:1.46 ~ 4.74), depression (aOR = 3.83; 95%CI:2.09 ~ 7.02), anxiety (aOR = 2.27; 95%CI:1.19 ~ 4.35), and suicidal ideation (aOR = 3.78; 95%CI:2.11 ~ 6.80). Conclusions: IPV is prevalent among HIV-infected MSM and is associated with poor behavioral and mental health, highlighting more efforts are needed to address this issue. The finding that new drug abuse, HIV disclosure, and gay sexual orientation are associated with increased risk of IPV provides essential insights for the development of comprehensive and targeted IPV prevention and intervention programs in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The direct nickel‐catalyzed methylsulfonylation of alkyl and aryl halides using dimethyl sulfite as the sulfur dioxide surrogate as well as the source of methyl has been achieved. This protocol provides a robust method for the synthesis of methyl sulfone derivatives under microwave irradiation in moderate to excellent yields within 60 minutes and shows excellent functional group tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zinc ion hybrid capacitors suffer from lack of reversibility and dendrite formation. An electrolyte, based on a solution of a zinc salt in acetonitrile and tetramethylene sulfone, allows smooth zinc deposition with high coulombic efficiency in a Zn||stainless steel cell (99.6% for 2880 cycles at 1.0 mA cm−2, 1.0 mAh cm−2). A Zn||Zn cell operates stably for at least 7940 h at 1.0 mA cm−2 with an area capacity of 10 mAh cm−2, or 648 h at 90% depth of discharge and 1 mA cm−2, 9.0 mAh cm−2. Molecular dynamics simulations reveal the reason for the excellent reversibility: The zinc cation is only weakly solvated than in pure tetramethylene sulfone with the closest atoms at 3.3 to 3.8 Å. With this electrolyte, a zinc||activated‐carbon hybrid capacitor exhibits an operating voltage of 2.0 to 2.5 V, an energy‐density of 135 Wh kg−1 and a power‐density of 613 W kg−1 at 0.5 A g−1. At the very high current‐density of 15 A g−1, 29.3 Wh kg−1 and 14 250 W kg−1 are achieved with 81.2% capacity retention over 9000 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that shikonin has the potential to treat hypertrophic scar and that microRNAs are involved in the regulation of the pathological mechanism of hypertrophic scar. It is speculated that shikonin may regulate the occurrence and development of hypertrophic scar through microRNAs regulation. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mechanism of shikonin on the fibrosis of human hypertrophic scar fibroblasts via MicroRNA-382-5p. METHODS: Hypertrophic scar tissue and normal skin tissue adjacent to the scar (within 3 cm around the scar) were provided by the Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University to extract human hypertrophic scar fibroblasts and human normal skin fibroblasts, respectively. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to identify normal skin and hypertrophic scar and immunofluorescence was used to identify fibroblasts. The relative expression level of MicroRNA-382-5p was detected by quantitative real-time PCR at the tissue level. Hypertrophic scar fibroblasts were randomly divided into shikonin group (shikonin was dissolved in dimethyl sulfone to make drug solution at a concentration of 13.46 μmol/L, which was used for cell culture for 24 hours), dimethyl sulfone group, MicroRNA-382-5p negative control group, MicroRNA-382-5p inhibitor group, shikonin+MicroRNA-382-5p negative control group and shikonin+MicroRNA-382-5p overexpression group. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and western blot were used to detect the expression of Collagen Type I α1, Collagen Type III α1 and α-smooth muscle actin at mRNA and protein levels, respectively. Cell counting kit-8 was used to detect cell viability. Cell scratch test was used to detect the migration ability of cells. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Compared with normal skin fibroblasts, hypertrophic scar fibroblasts had stronger proliferative activity (P < 0.01). Compared with the dimethyl sulfone group, shikonin down-regulated the expression levels of Collagen Type I α1, Collagen Type III α1 and α-smooth muscle actin in human hypertrophic scar fibroblasts (mRNA: P < 0.01, protein: P < 0.01), and inhibited the migration of hypertrophic scar fibroblasts (P < 0.05). Compared with normal skin, MicroRNA-382-5p was highly expressed in hypertrophic scar (P < 0.01), and shikonin could down-regulate the expression of MicroRNA-382-5p (P < 0.01). Inhibition of MicroRNA-382-5p down-regulated the expression level of Collagen Type I α1, Collagen Type III α1 and α-smooth muscle actin in hypertrophic scar fibroblasts (mRNA: P < 0.01, protein: P < 0.01), and inhibited the migration of hypertrophic scar fibroblasts (P < 0.05). Under the influence of shikonin, overexpression of MicroRNA-382-5p upregulated the expression levels of Collagen Type I α1, Collagen Type III α1 and α-smooth muscle actin in hypertrophic scar fibroblasts (mRNA: P < 0.01, protein: P < 0.01), and promoted the migration of hypertrophic scar fibroblasts (P < 0.01). To conclude, shikonin can inhibit the fibrosis and migration of hypertrophic scar fibroblasts by down-regulating the expression of MicroRNA-382-5p. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of high‐symmetry Th6–metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) are constructed using various metal complex units and the thorium (Th) cluster, and then being applied as a well‐defined catalyst model in the photocatalytic oxidation of methyl phenyl sulfide reactions. The integration of Th6‐MOFs by incorporating metal complex units and redox sites (Th6 cluster and single‐metal site) can effectively modulate the conversion rate and selectivity. Among them, Ni–PBA–Th6 (PBA = 4‐pyridin‐4‐yl benzoic acid) achieves up to ≈99% conversion and ≈97% selectivity for methyl phenyl sulfone. Experiments and theoretical calculations further elucidate that Th6 cluster is the catalytic site for the oxidation of methyl phenyl sulfide to methyl phenyl sulfone, while Ni–PBA is the catalytic site for the reduction of hydrogen peroxide. This work sheds new insight into the structural design and photocatalytic application of more efficient thorium‐based MOF catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoarthritis is one of the leading conditions that promote the consumption of these dietary supplements. Chondroitin sulfate, glucosamine, and methylsulfonylmethane are among the prominent alternative treatments for osteoarthritis. In this study, these dietary supplements were incubated with cytochrome P450 isozyme-specific substrates in human liver microsomes, and the formation of marker metabolites was measured to investigate their inhibitory potential on cytochrome P450 enzyme activities. The results revealed no significant inhibitory effects on seven CYPs, consistent with established related research data. Therefore, these substances are anticipated to have a low potential for cytochrome P450-mediated drug interactions with osteoarthritis medications that are likely to be co-administered. However, given the previous reports of interaction cases involving glucosamine, caution is advised regarding dietary supplement–drug interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is prevalent among HIV-infected men who have sex with men (MSM), with well-established risk factors and adverse outcomes. However, there is a lack of comprehensive investigation of both upstream risk factors and downstream adverse outcomes among HIV-infected MSM in a Chinese context. This study aimed to examine IPV and its associations among a Chinese sample of HIV-infected MSM. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 294 HIV-infected MSM in Jinan City from June to December 2020. All data were collected through an online questionnaire, which included IPV, sexual risk behavior, antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence, depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. Chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regressions were performed to examine risk factors and adverse outcomes of IPV. Results: Of the 294 HIV-infected MSM, 71.1% experienced any IPV, including control (37.1%), threat of public identity (30.6%), emotional violence (25.2%), security threat (18.4%), and physical violence (13.9%). The prevalence of sexual risk behavior, good ART adherence, depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation was 55.1%, 53.4%, 48.3%, 32.3%, and 65.0%, respectively. Abuse of methamphetamine (METH) (aOR:2.79; 95%CI:1.43 ~ 5.45), capsule 0 or stimulating liquid (aOR:2.68; 95%CI:1.31 ~ 5.47), Magu (aOR:3.16; 95%CI:1.51 ~ 6.60), and other new drugs (aOR:2.87; 95%CI:1.52 ~ 5.43), disclosing HIV infection to partners (aOR:2.03; 95%CI:1.10 ~ 3.78), and gay sexual orientation (aOR = 3.32; 95%CI: 1.82 ~ 6.05) were significantly correlated with the experience of IPV. In addition, IPV was significantly associated with sexual risk behavior (aOR = 2.02; 95%CI:1.16 ~ 3.53), ART adherence (aOR = 2.63; 95%CI:1.46 ~ 4.74), depression (aOR = 3.83; 95%CI:2.09 ~ 7.02), anxiety (aOR = 2.27; 95%CI:1.19 ~ 4.35), and suicidal ideation (aOR = 3.78; 95%CI:2.11 ~ 6.80). Conclusions: IPV is prevalent among HIV-infected MSM and is associated with poor behavioral and mental health, highlighting more efforts are needed to address this issue. The finding that new drug abuse, HIV disclosure, and gay sexual orientation are associated with increased risk of IPV provides essential insights for the development of comprehensive and targeted IPV prevention and intervention programs in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dimethyl sulfone monooxygenase system is a two‐component flavoprotein, catalyzing the monooxygenation of dimethyl sulfone (DMSO2) by oxidative cleavage producing methanesulfinate and formaldehyde. The reductase component (DMSR) is a flavoprotein with FMN as a cofactor, catalyzing flavin reduction using NADH. The monooxygenase (DMSMO) uses reduced flavin from the reductase and oxygen for substrate monooxygenation. DMSMO can bind to FMN and FMNH− with a Kd of 17.4 ± 0.9 μm and 4.08 ± 0.8 μm, respectively. The binding of FMN to DMSMO is required prior to binding DMSO2. This also applies to the fast binding of reduced FMN to DMSMO followed by DMSO2. Substituting reduced DMSR with FMNH− demonstrated the same oxidation kinetics, indicating that FMNH− from DMSR was transferred to DMSMO. The oxidation of FMNH−:DMSMO, with and without DMSO2 did not generate any flavin adducts for monooxygenation. Therefore, H2O2 is likely to be the reactive agent to attack the substrate. The H2O2 assay results demonstrated production of H2O2 from the oxidation of FMNH−:DMSMO, whereas H2O2 was not detected in the presence of DMSO2, confirming H2O2 utilization. The rate constant for methanesulfinate formation determined from rapid quenched flow and the rate constant for flavin oxidation were similar, indicating that H2O2 rapidly reacts with DMSO2, with flavin oxidation as the rate‐limiting step. This is the first report of the kinetic mechanisms of both components using rapid kinetics and of a method for methanesulfinate detection using LC–MS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of dimethyl sulfone (DMSО2) on the rates of anodic oxygen evolution and cathodic hydrogen evolution on the platinum electrode in acidic and alkaline media is studied. Quantum chemical calculations on the theoretical level PBE/def2-TZVP show that in the dimethyl sulfone molecule, the break of the C–S bond is preferred over the С–Н bond break and the process itself proceeds by the radical-ion mechanism. The NMR and Raman spectroscopic studies show that the final products of the anodic oxidation of dimethyl sulfone are methanesulfonic acid and dimethyldisulfone in the acidic medium and only dimethyldisulfone in the alkaline medium. The final products of the cathodic reduction of DMSO2 are dimethylpolysulfides. Based on experimental results, a scheme of the electrocatalytic behavior of dimethyl sulfone of the platinum electrode is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The novel Fe-doped MoS2/granulated activated carbon (GAC) particle electrodes (FMG PEs) were controllably synthesized by a hydrothermal method and used in the three-dimensional (3D) electroactivation of peroxydisulfate (E-PDS-FMG) for carbamazepine (CBZ) degradation. The performance, mechanism, and influencing factors of CBZ degradation by the E-PDS-FMG system were systematically discussed. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) analyses showed that the E-PDS-FMG system has an excellent conductivity and a high electron transfer rate and exhibited a superior electrocatalytic performance for CBZ degradation. A CBZ removal rate greater than 99% can be achieved within 25 min under the conditions of FMG dosage of 0.4 g L−1 , PDS concentration of 2.0 mM, current density of 1.0 mA cm−2 , and initial pH value of 5. Sulfate radicals (SO4·−) and hydroxyl radicals (OH) were recognized as the major active species through quenching experiments and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) measurement. In addition, Fe (IV) was also involved in the E-PDS-FMG system according to the transformation of methyl phenyl sulfoxide (PMSO) to methyl phenyl sulfone (PMSO2). Furthermore, the possible mechanism of the E-PDS-FMG system was proposed. FMG PEs were applied as the catalyst and particle electrodes for PDS activation, improving the yield of OH, SO4·− , and Fe (IV). The increase of FMG dosage and PDS concentration accelerated the degradation of CBZ, and the E-PDS-FMG system exhibited a high degradation ability on CBZ removal in a wide pH range. The results all indicate that the E-PDS-FMG system is a promising technology for organic pollutant removal from water due to its excellent electrocatalytic performance and remarkable stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Fatty liver syndrome (FLS) in laying hens has brought serious economic losses to the poultry industry. Therefore, research on feed additives to alleviate FLS is necessary. This study investigated the effects of methyl sulfonyl methane (MSM) and selenium yeast (Se-Y) in the diet of laying hens on production performance, liver steatosis, and antioxidant index and explored the biological mechanisms of MSM and Se-Y to alleviate FLS via RNA-seq technology. The results provide a reference for the prevention and treatment of FLS in laying hens during the late peak laying period. The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of MSM and Se-Y on FLS in laying hens during the late peak laying period and the underlying biological mechanisms. Therefore 240 55-week-old Jing-fen No. 6 laying hens were randomly divided into five groups, with eight replicates in each group and six laying hens in each replicate. The hens were fed a basal diet (Control) and diets supplemented with 350 and 700 mg/kg MSM and 25 and 50 mg/kg Se-Y, respectively, for four weeks. The results showed that MSM and Se-Y had no significant effects on the performance of laying hens. With the increasing dosage of MSM and Se-Y, the symptoms of liver steatosis in laying hens were reduced, and MSM and Se-Y could significantly reduce the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in serum and liver (p < 0.05) and increase the contents of total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) in serum and liver (p < 0.05). The RNA-seq results showed that 700 mg/kg MSM significantly downregulated the expression levels of the ATP5I, ATP5G1, CYCS, and UQCRQ genes in the liver, and 50 mg/kg Se-Y significantly downregulated the expression levels of MAPK10, SRC, BMP2, and FGF9 genes in the liver. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with MSM and Se-Y can effectively reduce the FLS of laying hens in the late peak laying period and increase their antioxidant capacity. The underlying biological mechanism may be related to the downregulation of genes involved in liver oxidative phosphorylation and inflammation-related pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The important but remained issue to be addressed to achieve the mass production of perovskite solar modules include a large‐area fabrication of high‐quality perovskite film with eco‐friendly, viable production methods. Although several efforts are made to achieve large‐area fabrication of perovskite, the development of eco‐friendly solvent system, which is precisely designed to be fit to scale‐up methods are still challenging. Herein, this work develops the eco‐friendly solvent/co‐solvent system to produce a high‐quality perovskite layer with a bathing in eco‐friendly antisolvent. The new co‐solvent/additive, methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), efficiently improves the overall solubility and has a suitable binding strength to the perovskite precursor, resulting in a high‐quality perovskite film with antisolvent bathing method in large area. The resultant perovskite solar cells showed high power conversion efficiency of over 24% (in reverse scan), with a good long‐term stability under continuous light illumination or damp‐heat condition. MSM is also beneficial to produce a perovskite layer at low‐temperature or high‐humidity. MSM‐based solvent system is finally applied to large‐area, resulting in highly efficiency perovskite solar modules with PCE of 19.9% (by aperture) or 21.2% (by active area) in reverse scan. These findings contribute to step forward to a mass production of perovskite solar modules with eco‐friendly way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were comparatively carried out to reveal the origins of different catalytic performances from phosphine–benzene sulfonate (A, [{P^O}PdMe(L)] (P^O = Κ2-P,O-Ar2PC6H4SO3 with Ar = 2-MeOC6H4)) and α-diimine (B, [{N^N}PdMe(Cl)] (N^N = (ArN=C(Me)-C(Me)=NAr) with Ar = 2,6-iPr2C6H3)) palladium complexes toward the copolymerization of ethylene and methyl vinyl sulfone (MVS). Having achieved agreement between theory and experiment, it was found that the favorable 2,1-selective insertion of MVS into phosphine–sulfonate palladium complex A was due to there being less structural deformations in the catalyst and monomer. Both the MVS and ethylene insertions were calculated, and the former was found to be more favorable for chain initiation and chain propagation. In the case of α-diimine palladium system B, the resulting product of the first MVS insertion was quite stable, and the stronger O-backbiting interaction hampered the insertion of the incoming ethylene molecule. These computational results are expected to provide some hints for the design of transition metal copolymerization catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polycaprolactone (PCL) has been one of the most popular biomaterials in tissue engineering due to its relatively low melting temperature, excellent thermal stability, and cost-effectiveness. However, its low cell attraction, low elastic modulus, and long-term degradation time have limited its application in a wide range of scaffold studies. Dimethyl sulfone (DMSO2) is a stable and non-hazardous organosulfur compound with low viscosity and high surface tension. PCL and DMSO2 composites may overcome the limitations of PCL as a biomaterial and tailor the properties of biocomposites. In this study, PCL and DMSO2 composites were investigated as a new bio-scaffold material to increase hydrophilicity and mechanical properties and tailor degradation properties in vitro. PCL and DMSO2 were physically mixed with 10, 20, and 30 wt% of DMSO2 to evaluate thermal, hydrophilicity, mechanical, and degradation properties of the composites. The water contact angle of the composites for hydrophilicity decreased by 15.5% compared to pure PCL. The experimental results showed that the mechanical and degradation properties of PCL and DMSO2 were better than those of pure PCL, and the properties can be tuned by regulating DMSO2 concentration in the PCL matrix. The elastic modulus of the composite with 30 wt% of DMSO2 showed 532 MPa, and its degradation time was 18 times faster than that of PCL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Female mice can discriminate the urinary odors of male mice due to their olfactory acuity. Parasitic infection or subclinical infection can decrease the odor attractiveness of male mice and finally lead to aversion or avoidance responses in odor selection for female mice. Trichinella spiralis is a kind of tissue-parasitizing nematode that causes trichinellosis, a zoonotic parasitic disease that spreads throughout the world. However, the reproductive injury caused by Trichinella spiralis infection was not fully revealed. In this study, we explored the effect of Trichinella spiralis infection on the reproductive capacity in ICR/CD-1 male mice. We identified eight volatile compounds in urine by GC-MS analysis, and the results indicated that the contents of dimethyl sulfone, Z-7-tetradecen-1-ol, 6-Hydroxy-6-methyl-3-heptanone and (S)-2-sec-butyl-4,5-dihydrothiazole were significantly downregulated after parasitic infection, which might lead to the reduction of attractiveness of male mice urine to females. On the other hand, parasitic infection decreased sperm quality and downregulated the expression levels of Herc4, Ipo11, and Mrto4, and these genes were strongly related to spermatogenesis. In summary, this study revealed that the reproductive injury caused by Trichinella spiralis infection in ICR/CD-1 male mice could be associated with a decrease in urine pheromone content and sperm quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Commercial poultry production is linked to a variety of stresses that arise from the environment, nutrition, and metabolism of the host. These stressors may result in metabolic disorders and oxidative stress. It is pertinent to recognize and prevent signs of stress to minimize production loss and improve the health and well-being of chickens. The use of in-feed anti-oxidants to eliminate oxidative stress is a successful method of preventing tissue damage and augmenting the performance, health, and well-being of chickens. The burgeoning demand for in-feed anti-oxidants has spurred a review of the role of methyl sulfonyl methane as a dietary anti-oxidant in poultry. Oxidative stress is defined as an imbalance between pro-oxidants and anti-oxidants within biological systems, leading to tissue damage and compromising the health of afflicted animals. The incorporation of dietary anti-oxidants into chicken diets has been a common practice to improve the performance, health, and welfare of the host by protecting against oxidative stress-induced damage. Methyl sulfonyl methane (MSM), a naturally occurring organosulfur compound found in various plant sources, has demonstrated various beneficial biological properties, including anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties in both in vitro and in vivo studies. MSM has been utilized as a dietary supplement for humans for its anti-oxidant, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory properties. It has also been administered to domestic animals, including cattle, pigs, and chickens, owing to its recognized anti-oxidant effect. This review summarizes the biological and physiological functions of dietary MSM in poultry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new decamolybdate (NH4)4 (CN3 H6)4 [ Mo10 (O2) 12°22 J* 6H2O was synthesized by aqueous solution method, and characterized by IR spectroscopy, TG, single crystal X-ray diffraction and elemental analysis・ The anions [ Mo10 (O2) 12O22 ]8 exhibit a centrosymmetric structure and the symmetric unit [MO5O11 (O2) 64, [NH4] + and [ CN3H6] + cations are free around the polyanions ・ TG analysis showed that the anion has good thermal stability・ Electrospray mass spectrometry indicated that the compound was unstable in the liquid phase, the fragment ion [Mo4O13]2 (BPI = 100%) with the largest abundance was the most stable and likely the main active species in catalyzing oxidation reactions・ The oxidation reaction of phenyl methyl sulfide was studied using the compound as the catalyst, and the results showed that it was selectively oxidized to methyl phenyl sulfone, the optimal reaction conditions were found as follows: catalyst 180 mg, hydrogen peroxide 5 mL, reaction time 5 h, the yield of methyl phenyl sulfone reached 84. 28%, which indicated the compound has efficient catalytic activity and selectivity for the oxidation of phenyl methyl sulfide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Improving feed efficiency (FE) is one of the main objectives in broiler breeding. It is difficult to directly measure FE traits, and breeders hence have been trying to identify biomarkers for the indirect selection and improvement of FE traits. Metabolome is the "bridge" between genome and phenome. The metabolites may potentially account for more of the phenotypic variation and can suitably serve as biomarkers for selecting FE traits. This study aimed to identify plasma metabolite markers for selecting high-FE broilers. A total of 441 birds from Northeast Agricultural University broiler lines divergently selected for abdominal fat content were used to analyze plasma metabolome and estimate the genetic parameters of differentially expressed metabolites. Results: The results identified 124 differentially expressed plasma metabolites (P < 0.05) between the lean line (high-FE birds) and the fat line (low-FE birds). Among these differentially expressed plasma metabolites, 44 were found to have higher positive or negative genetic correlations with FE traits (|rg| ≥ 0.30). Of these 44 metabolites, 14 were found to display moderate to high heritability estimates (h2 ≥ 0.20). However, among the 14 metabolites, 4 metabolites whose physiological functions have not been reported were excluded. Ultimately, 10 metabolites were suggested to serve as the potential biomarkers for breeding the high-FE broilers. Based on the physiological functions of these metabolites, reducing inflammatory and improving immunity were proposed to improve FE and increase production efficiency. Conclusions: According to the pipeline for the selection of the metabolite markers established in this study, it was suggested that 10 metabolites including 7-ketocholesterol, dimethyl sulfone, epsilon-(gamma-glutamyl)-lysine, gamma-glutamyltyrosine, 2-oxoadipic acid, L-homoarginine, testosterone, adenosine 5'-monophosphate, adrenic acid, and calcitriol could be used as the potential biomarkers for breeding the "food-saving broilers". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study investigated the effects of dietary methyl sulfonyl methane (MSM) and selenium (Se) on the laying performance, egg quality, gut health indicators, egg yolk Se content, and antioxidant markers in laying hens. Methods: One hundred ninety-two 73-wk-old laying hens were randomly divided into four groups with eight replicates of six hens each. Four diets were prepared in a 2×2 factorial arrangement with or without MSM and Se. The trial lasted for 12 wk. Results: There were no interaction effects or main effects (p>0.05) on laying performance and egg quality. However, feed intake increased in Se-fed hens (p = 0.051) and decreased in MSM-fed hens (p = 0.067) compared with that of hens in the control group. Dietary MSM increased (p<0.05) the ileal villus height and villus height:crypt ratio in hens compared with those receiving the non-supplemented control diet. Dietary MSM and Se did not affect the percentage of short-chain fatty acids in the ileal contents. Dietary Se enriched the Se content in egg yolk compared with that of the non-supplemented control diet (p<0.05). Dietary Se increased (p<0.05) glutathione peroxidase levels in the liver and serum samples compared to the control diet. The total antioxidant capacity in the liver increased (p<0.05) in laying hens that were fed MSM-supplemented diets than in hens fed the control diet. Dietary MSM significantly increased the relative superoxide dismutase levels in serum samples (p<0.05). Conclusion: Supplementation with either MSM or Se independently improved the antioxidant capacity of laying hens. Furthermore, dietary Se produced Se-enriched eggs, but this effect was neither additive nor synergistic with dietary MSM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sodium bicarbonate pretreatment and solid-state fermentation (SSF) were used to maximize the nutritional value of corn germ meal (CGM) by inoculating it with Bacillus velezensis CL-4 (isolated from chicken cecal contents and capable of degrading lignocellulose). Based on genome sequencing, B. velezensis CL-4 has a 4,063,558 bp ring chromosome and 46.27% GC content. Furthermore, genes associated with degradation of lignocellulose degradation were detected. Pretreatment of CGM (PCGM) with sodium bicarbonate (optimized to 0.06 g/mL) neutralized low pH. Fermented and pretreated CGM (FPCGM) contained more crude protein (CP), soluble protein of trichloroacetic acid (TCA-SP), and total amino acids (aa) than CGM and PCGM. Degradation rates of cellulose and hemicellulose were reduced by 21.33 and 71.35%, respectively, after 48 h fermentation. Based on electron microscopy, FPCGM destroys the surface structure and adds small debris of the CGM substrate, due to lignocellulose breakdown. Furthermore, 2-oxoadipic acid and dimethyl sulfone were the most important metabolites during pretreatment. Concentrations of adenosine, cytidine, guanosine, S-methyl-5'-thioadenosine, and adenine decreased significantly after 48 h fermentation, whereas concentrations of probiotics, enzymes, and fatty acids (including palmitic, 16-hydroxypalmitic, and linoleic acids) were significantly improved after fermentation. In conclusion, the novel pretreatment of CGM provided a proof of concept for using B. velezensis CL-4 to degrade lignocellulose components, improve nutritional characteristics of CGM, and expand CGM lignocellulosic biological feed production. Key points: • Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) can be used as an economical and green additive to pretreat corn germ meal; • Fermentation with B. velezensis degrades the cellulose and hemicellulose component of corn germ meal and improves its feed quality; • As a novel qualified presumption of safety (QPS) strain, B. velezensis should have broad potential applications in food and feed industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The formation of polymeric micro-patterns on various substrates via a photolithography procedure has been widely used in semiconductor fabrication. Standard polymer patterns are usually fabricated via photosensitive polymer varnishes, in which large amounts of potentially harmful solvents with weight ratios over 50 wt% have to be removed. In the current work, a novel pattern-formation methodology via solvent-free electrospun photosensitive polymeric fibrous membranes (NFMs) instead of the conventional photosensitive solutions as the starting photoresists was proposed and practiced. For this purpose, a series of preimidized negative auto-photosensitive polyimide (PSPI) resins were first prepared via the two-step chemical imidization procedure from the copolymerization reactions of 3,3′,4,4′-benzophenonetetracarboxylic- dianhydride (BTDA) and two ortho-methyl-substituted aromatic diamines, including 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethyl-4,4′-diaminodiphenylmethane (TMMDA) and 3,7-diamino-2,8-dimethyl- dibenzothiophene sulfone (TSN). The derived homopolymer PI-1 (BTDA-TMMDA) and the copolymers, including SPI-2~SPI-6, with the molar ratio of 5~25% for TSN in the diamine units, showed good solubility in polar solvents. Then, a series of PSPI NFMs were fabricated via standard electrospinning procedure with the developed PSPI solutions in N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc) with a solid content of 25 wt% as the starting materials. The derived PSPI NFMs showed good thermal stability with 5% weight loss temperatures higher than 500 °C in nitrogen. Meanwhile, the derived PSPIs showed good photosensitivity to the ultraviolet (UV) emitting wavelengths of i-line (365 nm), g-line (405 nm) and h-line (436 nm) of the high-pressure mercury lamps in both forms of transparent films and opaque NFMs. Fine micro-patterns with a line width of around 100 μm were directly obtained from the representative SPI-4 NFM via standard photolithography procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cover displays a selective oxidative sulfonylation of alkenes with selenium sulfonate depended on the reaction conditions. The electrochemical C—H sulfonylation proceeded smoothly to afford (E)‐vinyl sulfones with good selectivity in an undivided cell without external oxidant. While aerobic trifunctionalization of alkenes occurred in the presence of KI in the air, which provides β‐keto selenosulfones via the formation of C—O, C—S, and C—Se bonds in one‐pot. This selective synthesis is like interstellar racing, reaching distant planets from the same starting point through different paths. Following control experiments, a plausible mechanism is proposed to rationalize the experimental results. More details are discussed in the article by Cao et al. on page 1367—1372. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Significant errors in the kinetics analysis for PMSO degradation was investigated. • Interference and error were negligible under the optimized concentration of terminator. • Calculated the steady-state concentrations of reactive species. • High-valent species is metal dependent. • Fe(IV) is the dominant reactive species in the ZVI-BC/PS system. In this paper, Fe(IV) was analyzed in the zero-valent iron biochar (ZVI-BC) activated persulfate (PS) process with methyl phenyl sulfoxide (PMSO) as the probe compound. Without a reaction terminator, PMSO degradation continued during the sample holding time, resulting in significant errors in the kinetics analysis. When 1 mM NaNO 2 , 1 mM NH 2 OH, 10 mM Na 2 S 2 O 3 , or 10 mM dimethyl sulfoxide were used as terminators, the concentrations of PMSO and its oxidation product, methyl phenyl sulfone (PMSO 2), were effectively maintained without changes during the sample holding period. Furthermore, the terminators did not interfere with PMSO or PMSO 2 analysis by high performance liquid chromatography. In addition to Fe(IV), free radical (i.e. , SO 4 −, OH, O 2 −) and nonradical (i.e. , 1O 2) reactive species were also involved in the ZVI-BC/PS system; however, Fe(IV) was the predominant reactive species. Organic contaminants with electron-donating moieties rapidly reacted with Fe(IV), and the relative contribution of Fe(IV) to overall contaminant degradation decreased as the solution pH was increased. Overall, this study provided new insights into the quantitative analysis of Fe(IV) in the ZVI-BC/PS system and its application to treatment of organic contaminants in solutions with variable water quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the substantial progress in cathode materials in the past few years, rechargeable zinc batteries (RZBs) are plagued by rapid performance degradation due to dendrite formation and notorious side reactions at the Zn anode side. Here, an optimized hydrated eutectic electrolyte (HEE) system containing methylsulfonylmethane, zinc perchlorate, and water, in which an organic ligand coordinated the solvation shell of Zn ions with water molecules constituting the eutectic network, is proposed. Compared to common aqueous solutions, this HEE system is proven effective in promoting the smooth Zn deposition and plating/stripping reversibility as well as suppressing side reactions. The vanadium‐based zinc batteries based on this new HEE exhibit exceptionally high‐capacity retention (≈100% retention even after 1600 cycles at a relatively small current density of 1000 mA g−1). This study offers a new type of electrolyte for RZBs and a deep understanding of the effect of Zn2+ solvent sheath structure on the cycle reversibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-drug-resistant bacterial infections, which have become a global threat, lack effective treatments. The discoveries of non-antibiotics with different modes of antibacterial action, such as methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), are a promising new treatment for multi-drug-resistant pathogens. We constructed a mouse peritonitis infection model to evaluate the effects of MSM against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection. The time-kill kinetics of MSM against MRSA and the effect of MSM on the integrity of bacterial cell membrane were measured. Viability effects of MSM on THP1 cells were performed by CCK-8 cytotoxicity assay. Systematic inflammatory factor levels of mice were detected using ELISA. The immune response of peritoneal macrophages during MRSA-infection was evaluated using RNA sequencing. Gene Ontology function, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analyses, and correlation analyses were applied to analysis RNA sequencing data. RT-qPCR, western blotting and flow cytometry were performed to analysis the gene and protein expression levels of macrophages. In in vitro experiments, MSM did not show significant killing effects on the growth of MRSA directly and did not destroy bacterial membrane integrity. MSM also displayed no significant effects on the proliferative capacity of THP1 cells. However, MSM treatment protected mice against a lethal dose MRSA-infection and decreased systemic inflammation. MSM upregulated metabolic pathway in peritoneal macrophages, especial glycolysis, during MRSA infection. MSM increased the expression of M2 markers (such as Arg1), promoted phosphorylation of STAT3 (which regulates M2 polarization), and decreased the expression of M1 markers in peritoneal macrophages. Additionally, MSM treatment increased the expression of H3K18 lactylation specific target genes, including Arg1. GNE-140, the LDHA-specific inhibitor of glycolysis, blocked the MSM-induced Arg1 expression in this disease model. MSM protects against MRSA infection through immunomodulation. MSM promotes the expression of Arg1 by lactate-H3K18la pathway to control macrophage to M2 polarization; it firstly provides therapeutic potential for drug-resistant infections and sepsis. • MSM relieves inflammation and improves mice survival rate after MRSA infection. • MSM promotes M2 polarization of peritoneal macrophages via H3K18la-Arg1 pathway. • MSM could be a potential therapeutic agent against lethal MRSA-induced sepsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Leaf color mutants have reduced photosynthetic efficiency, which has severely negative impacts on crop growth and economic product yield. There are different chlorophyll mutants in Arabidopsis and crops that can be used for genetic control and molecular mechanism studies of chlorophyll biosynthesis, chloroplast development and photoefficiency. Chlorophyll mutants in Brassica napus are mostly used for mapping and location research but are rarely used for physiological research. The chlorophyll-deficient mutant in this experiment were both genetically mapped and physiologically analyzed. Results: In this study, yellow leaf mutant of Brassica napus L. mutated by ethyl methyl sulfone (EMS) had significantly lower chlorophyll a, b and carotenoid contents than the wild type, and the net photosynthetic efficiency, stomatal conductance and transpiration rate were all significantly reduced. The mutant had sparse chloroplast distribution and weak autofluorescence. The granule stacks were reduced, and the shape was extremely irregular, with more broken stromal lamella. Transcriptome data analysis enriched the differentially expressed genes mainly in phenylpropane and sugar metabolism. The mutant was mapped to a 2.72 Mb region on A01 by using BSA-Seq, and the region was validated by SSR markers. Conclusions: The mutant chlorophyll content and photosynthetic efficiency were significantly reduced compared with those of the wild type. Abnormal chloroplasts and thylakoids less connected to the stroma lamella appeared in the mutant. This work on the mutant will facilitate the process of cloning the BnaA01.cd gene and provide more genetic and physiological information concerning chloroplast development in Brassica napus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Coccidiosis is a parasitic disease in poultry that causes significant economic losses. It is understood that natural or synthetic antioxidants including plant extracts, vitamin E, and selenium have been proved to lessen the gut severity of Eimeria infection in chickens. Sulfur is an essential element and exhibits beneficial activities including parasitic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory. These functional features of sulfur might play a role in inhibiting the negative effect of chicken coccidiosis and, if proved, sulfur could be used as an anticoccidial agent. We tested dietary sulfur of both organic and inorganic forms with beneficial antioxidant properties in a mild coccidiosis disease broiler chicken model. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary sulfur from either organic (methyl sulfonyl methane, MSM) or inorganic (sodium sulfate, SS) sources on the growth performance of broiler chickens challenged against a high-dose coccidiosis vaccine. A total of 320 day-old Ross 308 broiler chicks were randomly placed into 32 pens of 10 birds each (keeping 16 pens/control group and 8 pens/treatment group until 21 days post-hatch) and reared for 28 days. The experimental diets were formulated by mixing a corn and soybean meal-based control diet with MSM or SS. At 21 days post-hatch, half (n = 8) of the control and all of the sulfur-added diet-fed (i.e., MSM and SS) groups were challenged with a 30-fold dose of a commercially available Eimeria vaccine (Livacox® T coccidiosis vaccine). Unchallenged control chicks (n = 8) were considered as the negative control group. At 21 days (before coccidiosis vaccine challenge), the production parameters and cecal short-chain fatty acids were not affected by dietary treatments. The concentrations of total antioxidant capacity in liver samples were elevated in both the MSM and SS groups compared with the control group (p = 0.001). During 21 to 28 days (i.e., one week post coccidiosis vaccine challenge), challenge tended to lower body weight and feed intake by an average of 5.3% (p = 0.262) and 2.8% (p = 0.504), respectively, but to increase the feed conversion ratio by an average of 2.7% (p = 0.087) compared with the non-challenged control groups. None of dietary sulfur groups affected the body weight gain, feed intake, or feed conversion ratio of vaccine-challenged chickens. Mild Eimeria-specific lesions were noted in duodenum (p = 0.006), jejunum (p = 0.017), and ceca (p = 0.047), but dietary sulfur treatments did not affect the Eimeria-induced gut lesion scores. At 28 days, Eimeria challenge significantly impaired (p = 0.001) the apparent ileal digestibility of crude protein and crude ash compared with the naïve control group. Dietary MSM increased the apparent ileal digestibility of crude ash by 15.5% on average compared with the coccidiosis vaccine control group. We conclude that dietary antioxidant sulfur of organic or inorganic origins at the inclusion level (i.e., 0.7 g sulfur/kg of diet) has a limited effect on the growth performance of chickens challenged with coccidiosis vaccine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A group of natural poisons from various animals, plants and microorganic sources can be extracted, produced and processed. Following ten years of field and laboratory research and studies, resulted from the creation of the first live collection of Iranian nettle ecotypes (LCINs) at the University of Zanjan, the feasibility of fresh and live extraction of nettle poison in pristine and untouched conditions was examined. In this study, the ability of tree tissues to absorb, hunt and sink nettle hairs, including styrofoam, nanofabric and sponge of the same length (15 cm) and same diameter (4 cm) having the same size of pores, was studied in four selected nettle ecotypes, including ecotypes of Mashhad, Mazandaran, Gilan and Zanjan provinces, Iran. For all four ecotypes on the three studied surfaces, the mean number of fully stuck and sunken needles, broken and sunken needles on the surface tissue, pores torn by plant needles and pores containing pale green liquid were counted and fully scrutinized. The results showed that sponges can be a suitable texture for hunting nettle hairs for extracting fresh and raw live venom of approximately 5 ml on a sponge source for 5 min. Based on GCMS analysis of total venom extraction resulting profile from the studied protocols had more than 10 compounds including some important sulfur containing such as: 2,2-dimethyl-propyl 2,2-dimethylpropanesulfinyl sulfone and 2-ethylthiolane, S,S-dioxide, etc. In this method, there is no need to remove the plant and stem. Its unique advantage is in continuous poison harvests during the 6-month growing season. Based on published research, this is the first report of live extraction of nettle medicinal poison. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is a newly discovered human nutrient that has significant health care and therapeutic function. In this work, we developed a new type of catalyst-free air oxidation of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) to MSM under relatively mild conditions based on the mechanism of isopropylphenyl free radicals (R·) activating molecular oxygen (O2) generating reactive oxygen species (ROS). Experimental results showed that cumene as a solvent, due to its active tertiary sp3 C–H bond, promotes the efficient catalyst-free air oxidation of DMSO to MSM under relatively mild optimized conditions. Based on the quenching test of free radicals and theoretical calculation of the activation energies of two oxidation pathways of isopropylphenyl peroxy radicals (ROO·) and cumene hydroperoxide (CHP), it has been demonstrated that ROS in this reaction is mainly ROO· and hydroxyl radicals (HO·). Furthermore, we proposed a possible catalyst-free air oxidation mechanism. This work provided a simple and cost-efficient approach for the green synthesis of MSM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asparagus {Asparagus officinalis L.), belonging to the Asparagaceae family and has substantial medicinal properties. The name for asparagus comes from the Greek meaning sprout or shoot. This review aims to summarize the most important traditional and modern health benefits and pharmaceutical advantages of asparagus. This manuscript included randomized control experiments, review articles, observational and analytical studies, which have been surveyed in Google Scholar, Scopus, Research Gate and PubMed. We screened the articles first by reviewing titles and abstracts and subsequently reading the whole manuscript of those publications deemed suitable. The searches focused on publication from 1980 to January 2022. The most notable volatile organic compounds responsible for the smell are methanethiol, dimethyl sulfide, dimethyl disulfide, dimethyl sulfoxide and dimethyl sulfone. The most important health benefits of asparagus are antitumor, hepatoprotective, antioxidant, Iiypocholesterolemic, neuroprotective, immunoprotective, antimutagenic and hypoglycemic activities. The major pennyroyal {Mentha pulegium L.) essential oils are pulegone, menthone, isomenthone, piperitone, mentol, neo-menthol and 3-Octanol. The major health benefits of pennyroyal are antiseptic, depurative, digestive, anti-rheumatic, anti-arthritic, antimicrobial, antibacterial, stomachic, astringent, emmenagogue, decongestant and insecticide. Due to its pharmacological activities, asparagus is a high potential medicinal herb and the suggestion is to increases by doing research in both safety and efficacy. Naturalherbal medicines which are also non-synthetic drug, super-fruit and functional foods is recommended and medicinal plants could be considered as organic super-fruit in all over the world. The phytochemical and pharmacological characteristics of asparagus show that asparagus is one of the most important medicinal plants in both traditional and modern pharmaceutical sciences. Pennyroyal has notable promising health benefits, and its phytochemical and pharmacological benefits indicate its important to be utilized in modern medicinal studies. This review also suggests more evidences for other researchers to use asparagus and pennyroyal as the ancient efficacious natural drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water contamination by emerging organic pollutants is calling for advanced methods of remediation such as iron-activated sulfite-based advanced oxidation. Sulfate radical, SO4•−, and hydroxyl radical, •OH, are the primary reactive intermediates formed in the Fe(III)/sulfite system, yet the possible involvement of Fe(IV) produced from Fe(II) and persulfates is unclear. Here we explored the role of Fe(IV) in the Fe(III)/sulfite system by methyl phenyl sulfoxide (PMSO) probe assay, electron paramagnetic resonance spectra analysis, alcohol scavenging experiment, and kinetic simulation. Results show that PMSO is partially transformed into methyl phenyl sulfone (PMSO2), thus evidencing Fe(IV) formation. The remaining degradation of PMSO is due to SO4•− and •OH. The contribution of Fe(IV) versus free radicals is progressively promoted when the Fe(III)-sulfite reaction proceeds, with an upper limit of 80–90%. The contribution of Fe(IV) versus free radicals increases with Fe(III) and sulfite dosages, and decreases with increasing pH. Overall, our findings demonstrate the involvement of Fe(IV) in the Fe-catalyzed sulfite auto-oxidation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Amorphous niobium oxyhydroxide and crystalline niobium oxide catalysts were synthesized. • The contribution of surface-adsorbed hydroperoxo groups, O 2 •− and 1O 2 was identified. • DMSO is degraded to biodegradable and environmentally benign dimethyl sulfone. • NbO 2 OH efficiently removed 179 mmol/L DMSO form wastewater within about 80 min at 25 °C. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is an important solvent in numerous industries. The biodegrading process of DMSO is slow and produces toxic volatile compounds including CH 3 SCH 3 , CH 3 SH, and H 2 S. Hence, it is important to develop chemical methods for treating DMSO-containing wastewater. In the present work, niobium oxyhydroxide and niobium oxide were synthesized and used to activate hydrogen peroxide for the degradation of DMSO to DMSO 2. The niobium oxyhydroxide catalyst exhibited much better catalytic activity for DMSO oxidation than niobium oxide. EPR spectra and radical scavenging experiments confirmed that O 2 •− and 1O 2 are the main active species for the oxidation of DMSO. FTIR analysis and DFT calculation confirmed that the surface hydroxyl of niobium oxyhydroxide can be substituted by hydroperoxo group of H 2 O 2 to form Nb−OOH group, which can directly oxidize DMSO or indirectly oxidize DMSO via O 2 •− and 1O 2. However, H 2 O 2 cannot form hydroperoxo group on the surface of niobium oxide, which might trigger the lower activity of niobium oxide catalysts than the niobium oxyhydroxide catalyst. The niobium oxyhydroxide catalyst exhibited good reusability and was promising for the treatment of DMSO-containing wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

LiCoO 2 battery can provide high reversible capacity at a high voltage of 4.6 V, however, maintaining its stability at high voltages remains a major challenge. To address this issue, ethyl methyl sulfone (EMS) is employed as an electrolyte additive to construct stable interfaces between the electrode and electrolyte under high-voltage condition. The characterization results indicate that the addition of EMS can inhibit the decomposition of the standard electrolyte (STD) and the dissolution of Co2+ from cathode, as well as the formation of lithium dendrites on the Li anode, thereby enhancing the stability of both cathode/electrolyte and anode/electrolyte interfaces. Consequently, the cycling performance of LiCoO 2 battery using STD+3 %EMS is augmented by 16.9 % at 1 C under a cut-off voltage of 4.6 V over 100 cycles, delivering a specific capacity of 137 mA h g−1. This research provides novel insights into the design of electrolyte additives for high-voltage LiCoO 2 batteries and contributes to the further development of high-voltage lithium-ion batteries. • The addition of EMS expands the electrochemical window and improves the oxidation stability of electrolyte. • EMS can suppress the crystal structure change of LCO cathode. • EMS can the suppress the growth of lithium dendrites and reduce the side reactions under high voltage. • Both cathode/electrolyte and anode/electrolyte interfaces are studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A highly chemoselective route to aryl methyl sulfones via an unexpected C–S bond formation between sulfonylhydrazides and dimethyl phosphite catalyzed by NaI under mild conditions has been established. This transformation provides an alternative and metal-free pathway to acquire various aryl methyl sulfones in good to excellent yields. Notably, dimethyl phosphite was employed as a stable and readily available alkyl source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bifunctionalized sulfonium ylides – sulfonium acyl sulfonylmethylides – were directly and efficiently prepared from various acetylenic sulfones and aliphatic sulfoxides under heating conditions. The current method features short reaction time, low cost, readily available starting materials, convenient operation, and purification, providing an efficient access to widely applied bifunctionalized sulfonium ylides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Loxosceles reclusa, or brown recluse spider, is a harmful household spider whose habitat extends throughout the Midwest in the USA and other regions in the world. The pheromones and other biomolecules that facilitate signaling for brown recluses and other spider species are poorly understood. A rapid and sensitive method is needed to analyze airborne spider signaling biomolecules to better understand the structure and function of these biochemicals in order to control the population of the spiders. In this study, we developed a novel headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME)-GC/MS method to analyze potential pheromones and biomolecules emitted by the brown recluse spider. The method is highly selective and sensitive for biomolecule identification and quantification from a single live spider. Using this novel non-destructive HS-SPME-GC/MS technique, we identified 11 airborne biomolecules, including 4-methylquinazoline, dimethyl sulfone, 2-methylpropanoic acid, butanoic acid, hexanal, 3-methylbutanoic acid, 2-methylbutanoic acid, 2,4-dimethylbenzaldehyde, 2-phenoxyethanol, and citral (contains both isomers of neral and geranial). Some of these airborne biomolecules were also reported as semiochemicals associated with biological functions of other spiders and insects. The method was also applied to study the airborne biochemicals of Plectreurys tristis, another primitive hunting spider with a poor web, enabling quantitation of the same compounds and demonstrating a difference in signaling molecule concentrations between the two species. This method has potential application in the study of pheromones and biological signaling in other species, which allows for the possibility of utilizing attractant or deterrent functions to limit household populations of harmful species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is a nutraceutical compound which has been indicated to counteract osteoarthritis, a cartilage degenerative disorder. In addition, MSM has also been shown to increase osteoblast differentiation. So far, few studies have investigated MSM role in the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and no study has been performed to evaluate its overall effects on both osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation. These two mutually regulated processes share the same progenitor cells. Methods: Therefore, with the aim to evaluate the effects of MSM on chondrogenesis and osteogenesis, we analyzed the expression of SOX9, RUNX2, and SP7 transcription factors in vitro (mesenchymal stem cells and chondrocytes cell lines) and in vivo (zebrafish model). Real-time PCR as well Western blotting, immunofluorescence, and specific in vitro and in vivo staining have been performed. Student's paired t test was used to compare the variation between the groups. Results: Our data demonstrated that MSM modulates the expression of differentiation-related genes both in vitro and in vivo. The increased SOX9 expression suggests that MSM promotes chondrogenesis in treated samples. In addition, RUNX2 expression was not particularly affected by MSM while SP7 expression increased in all MSM samples/model analyzed. As SP7 is required for the final commitment of progenitors to preosteoblasts, our data suggest a role of MSM in promoting preosteoblast formation. In addition, we observed a reduced expression of the osteoclast-surface receptor RANK in larvae and in scales as well as a reduced pERK/ERK ratio in fin and scale of MSM treated zebrafish. Conclusions: In conclusion, our study provides new insights into MSM mode of action and suggests that MSM is a useful tool to counteract skeletal degenerative diseases by targeting MSC commitment and differentiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the analysis of the characteristics of coal samples, organic sulfur compounds with different structures were selected and their microwave absorption performance was observed in the range of 2.0 GHz to 8.0 GHz. The relationship between absorption performance and desulfurization efficiency was studied by the microwave desulfurization experiment. Results showed that microwave frequency change slightly affects the real part of the complex dielectric constants of organic sulfur compounds. In contrast, it had a significant effect on the imaginary part of complex dielectric constants, dielectric loss tangent, microwave penetration depth and the absorption coefficient, except for the imaginary part of complex dielectric constants and dielectric loss tangent of thiophene compounds. The polarization ability of compounds in the microwave field followed the order: thiophene > mercaptan > thioether, while the efficiencies of mercaptan and thioether for absorbing electromagnetic energy and transforming it into thermal energy were more substantial than that of thiophene. The stronger microwave absorbing performance, the higher the desulfurization rate. Mercaptan and thioether compounds were more accessible to remove than thiophene from coal by microwave radiation and chemical additives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The objective of the proposed method is to develop an economical, accurate, precise, sensitive, reproducible, selective and validated RP-HPLC for simultaneous estimation of Glucosamine sulphate (Glu), Methyl Sulfonyl Methane (MSM) and Diacerein (Dia) in combined dosage form. Method: Mobile phase containing water and acetonitrile in the ratio of 50:50v/v was pumped through the Zodiasil C18 150×4.6mm, 3.5µ column. The flow rate was 0.8ml/min and temperature was maintained at 30°C. The eluents were observed at a wavelength of 210nm using PDA detector. Results: The retention time of Glu, MSM, and Dia were found to be 2.323, 2.842 and 3.453 respectively. The percentage RSD of intraday precision were found to be 0.5 for Glu, 0.2 for MSM and 0.7 for Dia. The percentage RSD of interday precision was found to be 0.7 for Glu, 0.8 for MSM, and 0.9 for Dia. Percentage recovery was found to be 100.30% for Glu, 99.65% for MSM and 100.13% for and Dia. Conclusion: The developed method was simple, precise, accurate, linear, rapid, economical and degradation studies revealed that the method has the ability to separate degradation products in pharmaceutical dosage forms so it can be adopted in regular quality control test for the simultaneous estimation of Glu, MSM, and Dia in tablet dosage form. © 2020 iGlobal Research and Publishing Foundation. All rights reserved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1-Bromovinyl and vinyl methyl sulfones undergo 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions with azomethinylides generated in situ from ethyl N-benzylideneglycinates under the action of silver acetate and triethylamine (toluene, 20°C, 48 h) to form ethyl esters of 4-methanesulfonyl-substituted cis-5-arylprolines. The bromo-substituted adducts convert into the corresponding ethyl 5-aryl-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxylates under heating with an excess of DBU in THF or sodium ethylate in ethanol. Heating of the adducts of vinyl methyl sulfone with sodium ethylate in ethanol in sealed ampules at 90°C leads to mixtures of ethyl 5-aryl-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxylates and 5-aryl-2-acetylpyrroles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]