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A good partnership between "soft" sulfur and "hard" fluorine creates a rich chemistry for the introduction of structurally diverse fluorine or fluoroalkyl groups into organic molecules. The combination of sulfur and fluorine chemistry enables the synthesis of bench-stable sulfur-based fluorination reagents, fluoroalkyl sulfones, sulfoximine, sulfoxides, sulfinate, and sulfides. Notably, the reactivity of these reagents could be well-tuned by the incorporation of different substituents on sulfur, or changing the number of fluorine atoms (fluoroalkyl groups) in sulfur-based organofluorine reagents under different reaction conditions. Thus, a series of valuable fluorination, fluoroalkylation, fluoroolefination, fluoroalkanesulfonylation, fluoroalkanesufinylation, and fluoroalkanethiolation reactions via nucleophilic, electrophilic, and radical modes have been realized. The present review encompasses and highlights the polarity transduction, different C − S bond cleavages, radical fluoroalkylation reactions, and unique fluorine effects of sulfur-based organofluorine reagents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Primary aldosteronism (PA) is an adrenal disorder of autonomous aldosterone secretion which promotes arterial injury. We aimed to explore whether PA is causally associated with lower-extremity arterial disease (LEAD). Methods: We included 39,713 patients with diabetes and 419,312 participants without diabetes from UK Biobank. We derived a polygenic risk score (PRS) for PA based on previous genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Outcomes included LEAD and LEAD related gangrene or amputation. We conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis for PA and outcomes to explore their potential causal relationship. Results: In whole population, individuals with a higher PA PRS had an increased risk of LEAD. Among patients with diabetes, compared to the subjects in the first tertile of PA PRS, subjects in the third tertile showed a 1.24-fold higher risk of LEAD (OR 1.24, 95% CI 1.03–1.49) and a 2.09-fold higher risk of gangrene (OR 2.09, 95% CI 1.27–3.44), and 1.72-fold higher risk of amputation (OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.10–2.67). Among subjects without diabetes, there was no significant association between PA PRS and LEAD, gangrene or amputation. Two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis indicated that genetically predictors of PA was significantly associated with higher risks of LEAD and gangrene (inverse variance weighted OR 1.20 [95% CI 1.08–1.34]) for LEAD, 1.48 [95% CI 1.28–1.70] for gangrene), with no evidence of significant heterogeneity or directional pleiotropy. Conclusions: Primary aldosteronism is genetically and causally associated with higher risks of LEAD and gangrene, especially among patients with diabetes. Targeting on the autonomous aldosterone secretion may prevent LEAD progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacteriostatic water for injection (bWFI) is a common diluent for parenteral pharmaceutical products. bWFI is sterile water for injection containing one or more suitable antimicrobial agents to suppress the growth of microbial contaminants. United States Pharmacopeia (USP) monograph describes bWFI with pH ranging from pH 4.5 to 7.0. Lacking buffering reagents, bWFI has very low ionic strength, no buffering capacity and is prone to sample contamination. These characteristics pose a challenge for accurate bWFI pH measurements which are characterized by long response times and noisy signals, resulting in inconsistent results. The challenging nature of bWFI pH measurement, however, is not fully recognized as pH is generally considered a routine analytical technique. Even with the addition of KCl to increase ionic strength as recommended by the USP bWFI monograph, variability in pH results is still observed without careful consideration of other critical measurement factors. To bring awareness to the challenges associated with bWFI pH measurement, we present a comprehensive characterization of the bWFI pH measurement process that includes an evaluation of probe suitability, measurement stabilization time, and pH meter settings. While these factors may be non-critical and sometimes overlooked when developing pH methods for buffered samples, they can have a significant impact on bWFI pH measurement. We present recommendations that can help reliable bWFI pH measurements for routine execution in a controlled environment. These recommendations also apply to other pharmaceutical solutions or water samples with low ionic strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: With the widespread use of advanced imaging technology, adrenal tumors are increasingly being identified.Objective: To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of adrenal tumors in an unselected screening population in China.Design: Cross-sectional study. (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04682938).Setting: A health examination center in China.Patients: Adults having an annual checkup were invited to be screened for adrenal tumors by adrenal computed tomography.Measurements: The participants with adrenal tumors had further evaluation for malignancy risk and adrenal function.Results: A total of 25 356 participants were screened, 351 of whom were found to have adrenal tumors, for a prevalence of 1.4%. The prevalence increased with age, from 0.2% in participants aged 18 to 25 years to 3.2% in those older than 65 years. Among 351 participants with adrenal tumors, 337 were diagnosed with an adrenocortical adenoma, 14 with another benign nodule, and none with a malignant mass. In 212 participants with an adenoma who completed endocrine testing, 69.3% were diagnosed with a nonfunctioning adenoma, 18.9% with cortisol autonomy, 11.8% with primary aldosteronism, and none with pheochromocytoma. Proportions of nonfunctioning adenomas were similarly high in various age groups (72.2%, 67.8%, and 72.2% in those aged <46, 46 to 65, and ≥66 years, respectively).Limitation: Only 212 of 337 participants with an adrenocortical adenoma had endocrine testing.Conclusion: The prevalence of adrenal tumors in the general adult screening population is 1.4%, and most of these tumors are nonfunctioning regardless of patient age. Cortisol and aldosterone secretion are the main causes of functional adenomas.Primary Funding Source: National Key Research and Development Program of China and National Natural Science Foundation of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, tricalcium silicate (C3S) calcium/polyphosphate/polyvinyl alcohol organic-inorganic self-setting composites were successfully designed. A variety of tests were conducted to characterize their self-setting properties, mechanical properties, degradation properties, and related biological properties. The composite bone cements showed a short setting time (5.5–37.5 min) with a 5:5–6:4 ratio of C3S/CPP to maintain a stable compressive strength (28 MPa). In addition, PVA effectively reduced the brittleness of the inorganic phase. Degradation experiments confirmed the sustainable surface degradation of bone cement. A maximum degradation rate of 49% was reached within 56 days, and the structure remained intact without collapse. Culturing MC3T3 cells with bone cement extracts revealed that the composite bone cements had excellent biological properties in vitro. The original extract showed a proliferation promotion effect on cells, whereas most of the other original extracts of degradable bone cements were toxic to the cells. Meanwhile, extracellular matrix mineralization and alkaline phosphatase expression showed remarkable effects on cell differentiation. In addition, a good level of adhesion of cells to the surfaces of materials was observed. Taken together, these results indicate that C3S/CPP/PVA composite bone cements have great potential in bone defect filling for fast curing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In addition to sufficient mechanical strength to brace the force of the human body, the ideal supporting implant material should have bioactivity to stimulate cell proliferation and differentiation to quickly form bone tissue. CPP is a calcium phosphate salt with chain structure, which has been widely studied because of its adjustable degradation and excellent biocompatibility. Studies had also shown that osteoblasts regulate the concentration of free phosphate ions by synthesizing and decomposing polyphosphate, so as to achieve the purpose of controlling mineralization. In this paper, β-CPP was synthesized by solid state sintering method, and then βCPP/PAA composite was successfully prepared by liquid phase co-precipitation method. β-CPP endows the composites with good bioactivity, and the chain structure of β-CPP formed a strong coordination with the amide bond of PAA. This greatly promoted the mechanical properties of PAA, and the flexural strength of all composites was more than twice that of pure PAA. Furthermore, the maximum compressive modulus of composites was 9.0 GPa, which was quite close to the elastic modulus of the human cortical bone. In this study, after 35 days of SBF immersion test on PAA and composites, it was found that materials had good stability, and the pH value was stabilized at about 7.0. The cell culture results revealed that PAA and composites had higher cell proliferation of mouse bone mesenchymal stem cells (mBMSCs) compared with the control, and the cell proliferation rate increased with increasing β-CPP content. Meanwhile, cells attached on and around all of the materials also showed excellent cell morphology. Finally, the activity level of alkaline phosphatase shown by βCPP/PAA was higher than that of PAA and the blank control, which proved that the material containing CPP could indeed promote cell differentiation. βCPP/PAA composites show good mechanic property and bioactivity, which have the potential to be bone substitute biomaterials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the by-products of edible oil production with rich lignin, the reserves of Camellia oleifera shell were abundant and had a great economic value. Lignin was the most important limiting factor during the conversion of plant biomass to pulp or biofuels, which mainly deposited in the stone cells of C. oleifera shells. Thus, its lignin deposition made the function of stone cells in the ripening process of the shell clearer, and provided a theoretical basis for the potential utilization of the biomass of C. oleifera shells. In this study, the paraffin embedding method was used to investigate the development and difference of stone cell in the fruitlet. The lignin deposition characteristics of stone cell were analyzed by the fluorescence microscopy and Wiesner and Mäule method. The chemical-functional group types of lignin in the stone cell of C. oleifera shell were examined by the ultraviolet spectrophotometer and transform infrared spectroscopy. The stone cells, vessels, parenchyma, and vascular tissue had existed during the young fruit growing period. The anatomical characteristics and the cell tissue ratio inverse relationship between stone cell and parenchymal cell suggested that stone cells developed from parenchymal cells. With the growth of shell, the stone cell wall thickened, and thickness-to-cavity ratio from 0 to 3.6. The fluorescent results showed that lignin content increased continuously; during shell development, the mean brightness of stone cell wall from 0 to 77.9 sections was stained with phloroglucinol-HCl, and Mäule revealed the presence of G-S-lignin in stone cells, and ImageJ results showed that G-lignin was distributed in the entire stone cell wall, while S-lignin deposition accounted for 48.59% of the cell wall area. In the FTIR spectra, the shell was identified as containing G-S-lignin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural wood is mainly comprised of numerous long, partially aligned channels which are connected by micropores (such as ray cells, pits) providing high-efficiency nutrient transportation corridor. Here, thin wood veneer (the thickness of 400 μm) was used to design catalytic membrane for water treatment with reversed-tree transport pathways. As filtering direction is nearly perpendicular to wood growth direction, wood veneer possesses abundant sinuous water channels based on partially aligned and interconnected cell lumens which provide long enough micro reaction and suitable water transfer pathways in a greatly reduced thickness. Meanwhile due to a small rotary cutting angle, large number of incisions of vessels and fibers were formed ensuring large inlet area for fluid transport. And mussel-inspired polydopamine (PDA) was used to modify the surface of wood pores with highly active functional groups. Then, Pd nanoparticles could be in situ grown and immobilized onto wood channels via these groups (Pd/PDA/wood veneer). On account of the unique 3D interpenetrating capillary network structure, Pd/PDA/wood veneer shows a highly efficient water treatment for methylene blue (MB) solution. The flux of Pd/PDA/wood veneer can reach 3462 L/(m2h) with high MB removal efficiency (> 95%), meanwhile it shows good mechanical strength and flexibility. The designed thin wood veneer with unique structure exhibits promising results for practical wastewater treatment and even wider applications such as solar-thermal conversion, microreactor design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Methyl fluorosulfonyldifluoroacetate (FSO2CF2CO2Me or MFSDA), often called "Chen's reagent", is commonly used to synthesize trifluoromethylated and difluoroalkylated compounds. This important reagent was initially developed as an efficient trifluoromethylating agent by Professor Qing‐Yun Chen and co‐workers at Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1989. Since then, this reagent has been widely used in academia and industry for the copper‐mediated trifluoromethylation of aryl, alkenyl, and even some alkyl halides, among others. During the last decade, this reagent was further developed as a difluorocarbene precursor as well as a radical difluoroalkylating agent under visible light promoted redox catalysis. This review aims to briefly highlight the initial discovery, historical development, and synthetic applications of Chen's reagent, and provide some guidelines for readers to use Chen's reagent in their own synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main product of Camellia oleifera is edible oil made from the seeds, but huge quantities of agro-waste are produced in the form of shells. The primary components of C. oleifera fruit shell are cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, which probably make it a good eco-friendly non-wood material. Understanding the structure of the shell is however a prerequisite to making full use of it. The anatomical structure of C. oleifera fruit shells was investigated from macroscopic to ultrastructural scale by stereoscopic, optical, and scanning electron microscopy. The main cell morphology in the different parts of the shell was observed and measured using the tissue segregation method. The density of the cross section of the shell was also obtained using an X-ray CT scanner to check the change in texture. The C. oleifera fruit pericarp was made up of exocarp, mesocarp, and endocarp. The main types of exocarp cells were stone cells, spiral vessels, and parenchyma cells. The mesocarp accounted for most of the shell and consisted of parenchyma, tracheids, and some stone cells. The endocarp was basically made up of cells with a thickened cell wall that were modified tracheid or parenchyma cells with secondary wall thickening. The most important ultrastructure in these cells was the pits in the cell wall of stone and vessel cells that give the shell a conducting, mechanical, and protective role. The density of the shell gradually decreased from exocarp to endocarp. Tracheid cells are one of the main cell types in the shell, but their low slenderness (length to width) ratio makes them unsuitable for the manufacture of paper. Further research should be conducted on composite shell-plastic panels (or other reinforced materials) to make better use of this agro-waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A high-strength and high-conductivity Cu-0.4Zn-0.35Cr-0.2Zr alloy was designed and prepared by adding galvanized scrap copper into Cu-Cr-Zr alloy. The effects of multistage thermo-mechanical treatment involving the microstructure and properties of the alloy were investigated by some means, e.g. mechanical property, conductivity testing and transmission electron microscopy observation. After multistage thermo-mechanical treatment, the Cu-Zn-Cr-Zr alloy had tensile strength of 672 MPa, yield strength of 670 MPa, hardness of 201 HV, and electrical conductivity of 72.1 %IACS. Zn was uniformly dissolved in the Cu matrix, and the nano-Cr phase was the main precipitation phase. The strengthening mechanism of the alloy was combination of strain strengthening, fine grain strengthening, precipitation strengthening and solid solution strengthening. Adding an appropriate amount of Zn can improve the strength of the alloy without significantly reducing the electrical conductivity in combination with the appropriate thermo-mechanical treatment. The novel formulation could present an idea for high-quality reuse of waste copper containing Zn to fabricate high-performance copper alloys. [Display omitted] • Cu-0.4Zn-0.35Cr-0.2Zr alloy was designed and prepared by adding galvanized scrap copper into Cu-Cr-Zr alloy. • The overall performance of the alloy was improved by adding Zn to the Cu-Cr-Zr alloy. • The cyclic utilization of copper alloy is an important means to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The autofluorescence phenomenon is an inherent characteristic of lignified cells. However, in the case of Lophira alata (L. alata), the autofluorescence is nearly imperceptible during occasional fluorescence observations. The aim of this study is to investigate the mechanism behind the quenching of lignin's autofluorescence in L. alata by conducting associated experiments. Notably, the autofluorescence image of L. alata observed using optical microscopy appears to be quite indistinct. Abundant extractives are found in the longitudinal parenchyma, fibers, and vessels of L. alata. Remarkably, when subjected to a benzene–alcohol extraction treatment, the autofluorescence of L. alata becomes progressively enhanced under a fluorescence microscope. Additionally, UV–Vis absorption spectra demonstrate that the extractives derived from L. alata exhibit strong light absorption within the wavelength range of 200–500 nm. This suggests that the abundant extractives in L. alata are probably responsible for the autofluorescence quenching observed in the cell walls. Moreover, the presence and quantity of these extractives have a significant impact on the fluorescence intensity of lignin in wood, resulting in a significant decrease therein. In future studies, it would be interesting to explore the role of complex compounds such as polyphenols or terpenoids, which are present in the abundant extractives, in interfering with the fluorescence quenching of lignin in L. alata. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluoroalkylation reaction, featuring the transfer of a fluoroalkyl group to a substrate, is a straightforward and efficient method for the synthesis of organofluorine compounds. In fluoroalkylation reactions, fluorine substitution can dramatically influence the chemical outcome. On the one hand, the chemistry of alkylation with non-fluorinated reagents may not be applicable to fluoroalkylations, so it is necessary to tackle the fluorine effects to achieve efficient fluoroalkylation reactions. On the other hand, fluorine substitution may bring about new reactivities and transformations that cannot be realized in alkylation with non-fluorinated reagents; thus, fluorine substitution can be used to explore new synthetic methods. This tutorial review provides a brief overview of the unique fluorine effects in recently developed nucleophilic, electrophilic, radical, and transition metal-mediated fluoroalkylation reactions by comparing with either their non-fluorinated counterparts or fluorinated counterparts with different numbers of fluorine substituents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The aim of the present study was to investigate the combined effects of sex hormone-binding globulin ( SHBG) and sex hormones on the risk of type 2 diabetes ( T2D). Methods A nested case-control study of Chinese participants in the Environment, Inflammation and Metabolic Diseases Study (2008-13) was performed. Of the 3510 subjects free of diabetes, 145 men and 87 women developed diabetes over the 5-year follow-up. One age- and sex-matched control subject was selected for each case. Baseline concentrations of SHBG, estradiol, testosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate ( DHEA- S) were divided into tertiles and subjects were classified as having low, intermediate and high levels accordingly. Results After multivariate adjustment, men with low SHBG levels had a fourfold greater risk of T2D than men with high SHBG levels. Conversely, men with high estradiol levels had a fourfold greater risk of T2D than men with low estradiol levels. Men with low SHBG + high estradiol had a 20-fold greater risk of T2D than men with high SHBG + low estradiol (odds ratio [ OR] 20.23; 95% confidence interval [ CI] 4.62-51.33). These risk associations in men were not observed for testosterone or DHEA- S, alone or in combination with SHBG. Compared with low SHBG, the risk of T2D decreased with increasing SHBG tertile ( OR 0.92 [95% CI 0.21-4.53], 0.14 [95% CI 0.10-0.74]; Ptrend = 0.043) after multivariate adjustment in women. Estradiol, testosterone, and DHEA- S levels showed no association with T2D in women. Conclusion Low SHBG in conjunction with high estradiol has an additive detrimental effect on the risk of T2D in men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) are widely used tools for fast and accurate ion sensing. Herein their design is simplified by embedding a potentiometric cell into paper, complete with an ISE, a reference electrode, and a paper-based microfluidic sample zone that offer the full function of a conventional ISE setup. The disposable planar paper-based ion-sensing platform is suitable for low-cost point-of-care and in-field testing applications. The design is symmetrical and each interfacial potential within the cell is well defined and reproducible, so that the response of the device can be theoretically predicted. For a demonstration of clinical applications, paper-based Cl− and K+ sensors are fabricated with highly reproducible and linear responses towards different concentrations of analyte ions in aqueous and biological samples. The single-use devices can be fabricated by a scalable method, do not need any pretreatment prior to use, and only require a sample volume of 20 μL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) are widely used tools for fast and accurate ion sensing. Herein their design is simplified by embedding a potentiometric cell into paper, complete with an ISE, a reference electrode, and a paper-based microfluidic sample zone that offer the full function of a conventional ISE setup. The disposable planar paper-based ion-sensing platform is suitable for low-cost point-of-care and in-field testing applications. The design is symmetrical and each interfacial potential within the cell is well defined and reproducible, so that the response of the device can be theoretically predicted. For a demonstration of clinical applications, paper-based Cl− and K+ sensors are fabricated with highly reproducible and linear responses towards different concentrations of analyte ions in aqueous and biological samples. The single-use devices can be fabricated by a scalable method, do not need any pretreatment prior to use, and only require a sample volume of 20 μL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Down-conversion structure white organic light-emitting diodes (WOLEDs), in which white light is generated by a blue emission organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) in combination with a color conversion layer (CCL) outside the substrate, has attracted extensive interest due to its significant advantages in low cost and stabilized white-light emissions. However, low color-conversion efficiency of CCL is still a bottleneck for the performance improvement of down-conversion WOLEDs. Here, we demonstrate an approach to enhance the color-conversion efficiency of CCL-WOLEDs by localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect. In this approach, a blend of Ag nanoparticles and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is solution-deposited between the blue organic light emitting diodes and color-conversion layer. Based on the LSPR effect of this modified structure, the color conversion efficiency has improved 32%, from 45.4% to 60%, resulting a 14.4% enhancement of the current efficiency, from 9.73 cd/A to 11.14 cd/A. Our work provides a simple and low-cost way to enhance the performance of down-conversion WOLEDs, which highlights its potential in illumination applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Cross-sectional studies have reported a close association between serum lipopolysaccharide-binding protein ( LBP) and many metabolic disorders. However, no longitudinal study has explored the relationship between LBP and type 2 diabetes mellitus ( T2DM). The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between serum LBP levels and the risk of developing T2DM. Methods A 5-year nested case-control study of 3510 individuals was performed as part of the Environment, Inflammation and Metabolic Diseases Study ( EIMDS). Clinical data were collected at baseline. Serum levels of LBP and other biochemical factors, such as insulin and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, were detected 5 years later. Subjects were diagnosed as having T2DM on the basis of results of an oral glucose tolerance test ( OGTT) and 1998 World Health Organization criteria. Controls were randomly selected to match cases according to age, gender, and body mass index ( BMI) in a 1:1 ratio. Odds ratios ( OR) for T2DM were calculated using conditional logistic regression analysis. Results Over a 5-year follow-up period, 255 subjects developed T2DM. There was no significant difference in serum LBP levels between the T2DM and control groups at baseline (19.78 ± 6.40 versus 20.53 ± 6.99 μg/mL; P = 0.207). Subjects were divided into three groups based on tertiles of LBP concentrations ( n = 170 in each group; T1 = 1.31-17.16 μg/mL LBP; T2 = 17.21-22.37 μg/mL LBP; T3 = 22.49-40.08 μg/mL LBP). There was no significant association between the risk of developing T 2DM and any of the LBP tertiles in either a simple model or after adjusting for general status and biochemical factors. Conclusion After matching for gender, age, and BMI, LBP does not improve prediction of the development of T2DM independently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potentiometric sensing, which requires the use of ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) and reference electrodes, is used to determine electrochemically the concentration of target ions in a variety of chemical environments. In view of the need for more affordable and portable analytical devices with small sample volumes, all-solid-state ISEs and reference electrodes, in which a solid contact is used as ion-to-electron transducer, are highly desirable. This review describes how all-solid-state ISEs and reference electrodes function and presents important aspects that should be considered when designing such sensors for specific applications. Approaches to improving reproducibility, the stability of the emf response, lowering detection limits, and novel sensor designs are discussed along with specific examples from the recent literature. Emphasis is placed on the ion-to-electron transduction mechanism and the development of new solid contact materials, with a particular view to miniaturized ion-sensing devices with low cost and calibration-free sensing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Bisphenol A (BPA) is associated with diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. The aim of our study was to evaluate whether serum BPA could predict the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Methods: In this prospective study, a total of 121 patients with T2D and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m were followed up for 6 years. The baseline values of serum BPA were measured. Renal function was measured as eGFR calculated by the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration creatinine-cystatin C equation. Development of CKD was defined as eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m at the last follow-up. Regression models were used to analyze the associations of serum BPA with the change in eGFR and the risk of CKD development. Results: Baseline serum BPA concentration was 0.40 (0.17, 1.40) ng/mL. Duration of T2D, baseline waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, and serum BPA level were significantly negatively associated with the annual change and percentage change in eGFR. After adjusting for clinical factors, baseline serum BPA level had a significant negative association with the annual change in eGFR ( β = −0.371, P < 0.001) and percentage change in eGFR ( β = −0.391, P = <0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that patients with high levels of serum BPA exhibited about a sevenfold increased risk of developing CKD compared to patients with low levels of serum BPA [odds ratio (OR) 6.65 (95 % CI 1.47, 30.04), P = 0.014]. Conclusion: Serum BPA may be a predictor of CKD in patients with T2D. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we investigated the resistance of C. oleifera Abel. fruit shell's probe to fungi and termites. The degree of decay of C. oleifera Abel. fruit shells inoculated with Coriolus versicolor , Pycnoporus sanguineus , Coniophora puteana and Antrodia spp . in temperate or tropical environment was assessed. The resistance of the shells to subterranean termites in a tropical chamber was also assessed. It was found that there is an overall difference between the resistance to fungi decay and to termite attack. It was found that: the degree of degradation of the shell colonized by white-rot fungi is more severe than the fragmentation of the shell by brown-rot fungi. It was also found that the white-rot decay of C. oleifera Abel. fruit shell is greater than to beech wood, and then brown-rot decay of Scots pine sapwood is severer than to C. oleifera Abel. fruit shell. The resistance of C. oleifera Abel. fruit shell to attack by the subterranean termites was found to be high. It was concluded that the fungal species was an important controlling factor to the decomposition of C. oleifera Abel. fruit shell; and that termite infestation of C. oleifera Abel. fruit shell did take place but termite mortality (100%) occurred. Based on these results, further investigations are being made in order to solve the use of massive by-product from edible tea-seed oil industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We first analyze the effect of network-induced delay on the stability of networked control systems (NCSs). Then, aiming at stochastic characteristics of the time delay, we introduce a new Smith predictor to remove the exponential function with the time delay in the closed-loop characteristic equation of the NCS. Furthermore, we combine the fuzzy PID algorithm with the fuzzy immune control algorithm and present a fuzzy immune self-adaptive PID algorithm to compensate the influence of the model deviation of the controlled object. At last, a kind of fuzzy immune self-adaptive PID algorithm based on new Smith predictor is presented to apply to the NCS. The simulation research on a DC motor is given to show the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A serum metabolomics method based on rapid resolution liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (RRLC-Q-TOF-MS) was performed for a holistic evaluation of the metabolic changes of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in rats and to assess the interventional effects of type II collagen (CII) in this model. Partial least-squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) was employed to study the metabolic profiling of CIA rats and control rats. Ten metabolites, namely, 12(S)-HHTrE, 12(S)-HEPE, PGE2, TXB2, 12(S)-HETE, LysoPE(16:0), PE(O-18:0/0:0), Lyso-PE(18:2), Lyso-PE(20:4), and Lyso-PC(22:5) were identified as differential metabolites associated with the pathogenesis of CIA. These results suggested that dysregulation of the arachidonic acid (AA) and phospholipid metabolic networks is involved in the pathomechanism of CIA. Differential metabolomics and histopathological analyses demonstrated that CII inhibits the progress of arthritis. Furthermore, the therapeutic effects of CII on CIA may involve regulation of the disordered AA and phospholipid metabolic networks. This metabolomics study provides new insights into the pathogenesis of arthritis and, furthermore, indicates the potential mechanism underlying the significantly increased prevalence of metabolic syndrome, defined as a clustering of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, in arthritis patients. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The selective incorporation of fluorine atoms or fluorinated moieties into organic molecules has become a 'hot' research topic in modern organic chemistry. However, selective and efficient synthesis of organofluorine compounds greatly depends on the development of powerful fluorination or fluoroalkylation reagents and reactions. In this context, the past decade has witnessed rapid research progress in the development of α-fluoro sulfoximines as versatile fluoroalkylation reagents. Many efficient nucleophilic, electrophilic and radical fluoroalkylation reactions based on α-fluoro sulfoximine reagents have been developed; among these, several chiral sulfoximine reagents were successfully used in the synthesis of enantiomerically enriched organofluorine compounds. It was found that α-fluoro sulfoximines show unique chemical behaviour characteristics (such as difluorocarbene and fluoroalkyl radical reactivities) significantly different from those of their non-fluorinated counterparts. In addition to the rapid development of fluorinated sulfoximines in organic synthesis, research into their application in materials science has also attracted increasing attention. Sulfoximines are important bioactive substances, and more recently the synthesis and application of fluorinated sulfoximines has attracted much attention in life sciences and the pharmaceutical industry. In this microreview we summarize the preparation, reactions and applications of fluorinated sulfoximines (mainly α-fluoro sulfoximines). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An unprecedented silver-catalyzed formal insertion of arynes into RfI (Rf=CF3, C2F5) bonds has been developed. This protocol provides easy access to various ortho-perfluoroalkyl iodoarenes under mild conditions. In this insertion reaction, an ionic atom-transfer reaction of RfI occurs, and a silver-mediated metathesis process is involved in the efficient transfer of the electropositive iodine atom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jieduquyuziyin prescription (JP), a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescription, has been widely used for the clinical treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, the complex chemical constituents of JP and the multifactorial pathogenesis of SLE make research on the therapeutic mechanism of JP in SLE challenging. In this paper, a serum metabolomics approach based on rapid resolution liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (RRLC-Q-TOF/MS) was employed to acquire the metabolic characteristics of serum samples obtained from mice in the SLE model group, JP-treated group, prednisone acetate (PA)-treated group and control group. The orthogonal partial least squares (OPLS) was applied to recognize metabolic patterns, and an obvious separation of groups was obtained. Thirteen metabolites, namely, phosphatidylethanolamine (PE 20:3), hepoxilin B3, lyso- phosphatidylethanolamine (lyso-PE 22:6), 12S-hydroxypentaenoic acid (12S-HEPE), traumatic acid, serotonin, platelet-activating factor (PAF), phosphatidylcholine (PC 20:5),eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), 12(S)-hydroxyei- cosatetraenoic acid (12S-HETE), 14-hydroxy docosahexaenoic acid (14-HDOHE), lyso-phosphatidylcholine (lyso-PC 20:4), and indole acetaldehyde, were identified and characterized as differential metabolites involved in the pathogenesis of SLE. After treatment with JP, the relative content of 12(S)-HETE, PAF, 12(S)-HEPE, EPA, PE (20:3), Lyso-PE(22:6), and 14-HDOHE were effectively regulated, which suggested that the therapeutic effects of JP on SLE may involve regulating disturbances to the metabolism of unsaturated fatty acid, tryptophan and phospholipid. This research also demonstrated that metabolomics is a powerful tool for researching complex disease mechanisms and evaluating the mechanism of action of TCM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abnormally hyperphosphorylated tau can be recognized by a variety of phosphoprotein‐binding domains (PBDs) to elicit downstream tau signaling in neuropathology, which has been found to have a potential association with subarachnoid hemorrhage. In this study, the genome‐wide binding behavior of tau phosphorylation sites (p‐sites) to PBDs involved in subarachnoid hyperphosphorylation events was systematically profiled at molecular level by integrating peptide docking, structural minimization, affinity scoring, and binding assay, from which a number of potent PBD–p‐site interaction pairs were identified. It was revealed that the PBD domains exhibit distinct binding preferences for phosphotyrosine, phosphoserine, and phosphothreonine p‐sites; the PBD‐recognition specificity of different tau p‐sites is not overlapped with each other, and their phosphorylations would therefore regulate varying biological functions in tau signaling. A number of PBD–p‐site pairs were identified to have potent binding potency as compared to others. The KCIP–pS[393–399] pair was found as a strong binder, which was further optimized with a rational peptide design protocol to derive a number of affinity‐improved phosphopeptides. Structural analysis revealed diverse noncovalent chemical forces across the complex interface of KCIP domain with a designed high‐affinity pS[393–399]‐d4, which confers both stability and specificity to the domain–peptide complex system, with affinity improved by 10.9‐fold relative to the native pS[393–399]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A facile palladium-catalyzed fluoroalkylation of alkynes with monofluorinated sulfones in the presence of acetic acid has been achieved. By using different α-substituted fluoro(phenylsulfonyl)methane derivatives, a variety of allylated monofluoromethyl compounds were obtained with high regio- and stereoselectivity. Substrate scope and limitation were also examined, and it was found that the reaction was amenable to both 1-aryl-substituted propynes and 3-aryl-substituted propynyl ethers. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A facile and highly efficient nucleophilic (phenylthio)difluoromethylation of alkyl halides has been achieved via fluoride ion-mediated substitution reaction using [difluoro(phenylthio)methyl]trimethylsilane (Me3SiCF2SPh). The reaction proceeds well with primary alkyl bromides (or alkyl iodides) in DME solvent when CsF/15-crown-5 was used as the fluoride source/additive. The PhSCF2-containing products can be readily transformed into CF2H-containing compounds via a free-radical desulfurization method. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A new nucleophilic difluoromethylation chemistry using fluoride-induced (phenylsulfonyl)difluoromethylation with TMSCF2SO2Ph followed by the magnesium-metal-mediated desulfonylation has been achieved. This methodology is compatible with both enolizable and non-enolizable aldehydes and ketones and has special advantage in the case of enolizable aldehydes. The new efficient desulfonylation method is considered to be environmentally benign due to the absence of mercury. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A fluoride-induced nucleophilic (phenylthio)difluoromethylation method using TMS–CF2SPh has been achieved. This new methodology efficiently transfers “PhSCF2” group into both enolizable and non-enolizable aldehydes and ketones to give corresponding (phenylthio)difluoromethylated alcohols in good to excellent yields. Diphenyldisulfide can also be (phenylthio)difluoromethylated into PhSCF2SPh in high yield. The reaction with methyl benzoate, however, gives only low yield of (phenylthio)difluoromethyl phenyl ketone. The above-obtained PhSCF2-containing alcohols can be further transformed into difluoromethyl alcohols using an oxidation–desulfonylation procedure. This new type of nucleophilic (phenylthio)difluoromethylation methodology may have other potential applications in the medicinal and agrochemical fields. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

[Display omitted] • Ladybird beetles showed a propensity to touch the ground with the costal edge of the elytra during falling. • Theoretical models uncovered the mechanism of reducing impact damage. • The morphology of elytra facilitates converting translational to rotational energy. • The hollow microstructure of the costal edge can absorb the residual impact energy. Beetle elytra act as natural protective covers and effectively shield their flexible abdomens and fragile hindwings from damage. The existing studies have attributed this contribution of the elytra to its honeycomb structures. In this combined experimental and theoretical study, we used the seven-spotted ladybird beetle to demonstrate that both biological morphology and the hollow structure of the dome-like elytra combined to reduce damage during falling. The falling ladybird beetles had a high probability (59.52%) of hitting the ground with the costal edge of the elytra. This strategy could assist with converting the translational energy into rotational kinetic energy, resulting in the reduction of the impulse during falling. In addition, the hollow structures on the elytra could further absorb the residual impact energy. In the future, this biological paradigm could be used as a basis for the development of falling/landing techniques for advanced robots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The direct 1,6-nucleophilic difluoromethylation, trifluoromethylation, and difluoroalkylation of para-quinone methides (p-QMs) with Me3SiRf (Rf = CF2H, CF3, CF2CF3, CF2COOEt, and CF2SPh) under mild conditions are described. Although Me3SiCF2H shows lower reactivity than Me3SiCF3, it can react with p-QMs promoted by CsF/18-Crown-6 to give structurally diverse difluoromethyl products in good yields. The products can then be further converted into fluoroalkylated para-quinone methides and α-fluoroalkylated diarylmethanes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ligand coupling on hypervalent main group elements has emerged as a pivotal methodology for the synthesis of functionalized N‐heteroaromatic compounds in recent years due to the avoidance of transition metals and the mildness of the reaction conditions. In this direction, the reaction of N‐heteroaryl sulfur(IV) and N‐heteroaryl phosphorus(V) compounds has been well studied. However, the ligand coupling of sulfur(VI) is still underdeveloped and the reaction of alkyl N‐heteroarylsulfones is still elusive, which does not match the high status of sulfones as the chemical chameleons in organic synthesis. Here we present a ligand coupling‐enabled formal SO2 extrusion of fluoroalkyl 2‐azaheteroarylsulfones under the promotion of Grignard reagents, which not only enriches the chemistry of sulfones, but also provides a novel and practical synthetic tool towards N‐heteroaromatic fluoroalkylation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ligand coupling on hypervalent main group elements has emerged as a pivotal methodology for the synthesis of functionalized N‐heteroaromatic compounds in recent years due to the avoidance of transition metals and the mildness of the reaction conditions. In this direction, the reaction of N‐heteroaryl sulfur(IV) and N‐heteroaryl phosphorus(V) compounds has been well studied. However, the ligand coupling of sulfur(VI) is still underdeveloped and the reaction of alkyl N‐heteroarylsulfones is still elusive, which does not match the high status of sulfones as the chemical chameleons in organic synthesis. Here we present a ligand coupling‐enabled formal SO2 extrusion of fluoroalkyl 2‐azaheteroarylsulfones under the promotion of Grignard reagents, which not only enriches the chemistry of sulfones, but also provides a novel and practical synthetic tool towards N‐heteroaromatic fluoroalkylation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Membrane emulsification technology has garnered increasing interest in emulsion preparation due to controllable droplet size, narrower droplet size distribution, low energy consumption, simple process design and excellent reproducibility. Nevertheless, the pore structure and surface engineering in membrane materials design play a crucial role in achieving high-quality emulsions with high throughput simultaneously. In this work, an oriented interpenetrating capillary network composed of highly aligned and interconnected wood cell lumens has been utilized to fabricate an emulsion membrane. A novel honeycomb porous ZnO layer obtained by a seed prefabrication–hydrothermal growth method was designed to reconstruct wood channel surfaces for enhanced microfluid mixing. The results show that through the unique capillary mesh microstructure of wood, the emulsion droplets were smaller in size, had narrower pore-size distribution, and were easy to obtain under high throughput conditions. Meanwhile, a well-designed ZnO layer could further improve the emulsion quality of a wood membrane, while the emulsifying throughput is still maintained at a higher level. This demonstrates that the convection process of the microfluid in these wood capillary channels was intensified markedly. This study not only develops advanced membrane materials in emulsion preparation, but also introduces a brand-new field for functional applications of wood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on a research conducted by professor Jinbo Hu and colleagues related to the development chiral fluorinated sulfoximines as a fluoroalkylating agents. It mentions that structure modification of fluorinated sulfoximines discovers new fluoroalkylating agents and reactions. It further highlights that the presentation on research work was selected at the 245th American Chemical Society (ACS) National Meeting and Exposition held in New Orleans, Louisiana from April 7–11, 2013.

Pleurotus ostreatus is one of the widely cultivated edible fungi across the world. Mycelial subculture is an indispensable part in the process of cultivation and production for all kinds of edible fungi. However, successive subcultures usually lead to strain degeneration. The degenerated strains usually have a decrease in stress resistance, yield, and an alteration in fruiting time, which will subsequently result in tremendous economic loss. Through proteomic analysis, we identified the differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in the mycelium of Pleurotus ostreatus from different subcultured generations. We found that the DNA damage repair system, especially the double-strand breaks (DSBs), repairs via homologous recombination, was impaired in the subcultured mycelium, and gradual accumulation of the DSBs would lead to the strain degeneration after successive subculture. The TUNEL assay further confirmed our finding about the DNA breaks in the subcultured mycelium. Interestingly, the enzyme activity of laccase, carboxylic ester hydrolase, α-galactosidase, and catalase directly related to passage number could be used as the characteristic index for strain degeneration determination. Our results not only reveal for the first time at the molecular level that genomic instability is the cause of degeneration, but also provide an applicable approach for monitoring strain degeneration in process of edible fungi cultivation and production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ROP (Rho-like GTPases from plants) GTPases are polarly localized key regulators of polar growth in pollen tubes and other cells in plants. However, how ROP GTPases are regulated and how they control polar growth remains to be fully understood. To gain new insights into ROP-dependent mechanisms underlying polar cell growth, we characterized the interactome of ROP1 GTPase that controls Arabidopsis pollen tube (PT) tip growth, an extreme form of polar cell growth. We established an efficient method for culturing Arabidopsis pollen tubes in liquid medium, which was used for immunoprecipitation/mass spectrometry-based identification of ROP1-associated proteins. A total of 654 candidates were isolated from the ROP1 interactome in Arabidopsis pollen tubes, and GO (Gene Ontology) classification and pathway analysis revealed multiple uncharacterized ROP1-dependent processes including translation, cell wall modification, post transcriptional modification, and ion homeostasis, in addition to known ROP1-dependent pathways. The ROP1-interactome data was further supported by the co-expression of the candidate interactors in highly mature pollen with PT germination and growth defects being discovered in 25% (8/32) of the candidate mutant genes. Taken together, our work uncovers valuable information for the identification and functional elucidation of ROP-associated proteins in the regulation of polar growth, and provides a reliable reference to identify critical regulators of polar cell growth in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrate can affect many aspects of plant growth and development, such as promoting root growth and inhibiting the synthesis of secondary metabolites. However, the mechanisms underlying such effects and how plants can integrate nitrate signals and root growth needs further exploration. Here, we identified a nitrate-inducible NAC family transcription factor (TF) NAC056 which promoted both nitrate assimilation and root growth in Arabidopsis. NAC056 is a nuclear-localized transcription activator, which is predominantly expressed in the root system and hypocotyl. Using the yeast one-hybrid assay, we identified the NAC056-specific binding sequence (NAC56BM), T [T/G/A] NCTTG. We further showed that the nac056 mutant compromised root growth. NAC056 overexpression promotes LR Initiation and nitrate deficiency tolerance. Using RNA sequencing analysis and in vitro biochemical experiment, we found NAC056 regulated the expression of genes required for NO3− assimilation, directly targeting the key nitrate assimilation gene NIA1. In addition, mutation of NIA1 suppresses LR development and nitrate deficiency tolerance in the 35S::NAC056 transgenic plants. Therefore, NAC056 mediates the response of plants to environmental nitrate signals to promote root growth in Arabidopsis. Author summary: Nitrogen is not only a major nutrient element in plants, but also an important signal molecule for plant growth and metabolism. However, the underlying molecular mechanism of nitrate signal transduction, leading to root development response, is still unclear. In this study, by screening the subfamily III NAC transcription factors, we found the potential function of a new NAC family gene NAC056. The nac056 mutant compromised root growth. NAC056 overexpression promoted lateral root initiation and tolerance of nitrate deficiency. NAC056 regulated the expression of genes required for NO3− assimilation, directly targeting the key nitrate assimilation gene NIA1. In a high-nitrate environment, relatively high levels of NAC056 expression promoted nitrate assimilation, further enhancing root growth. These findings reveal an important role for the nitrate-inducible NAC056 gene in promoting nitrate assimilation and root growth in Arabidopsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pleurotus ostreatus is a widely cultivated edible fungus around the world. At present, studies on the developmental process of the fruiting body are limited. In our study, we compared the differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in the stipe and cap of the fruiting body by high-throughput proteomics. GO and pathway analysis revealed the great differences in the metabolic levels, including sucrose and starch metabolism, and sphingolipid signaling and metabolism, and the differences of 16 important DEPs were validated further by qPCR analysis in expression level. In order to control the cap and stipe development, several chemical inducers were applied to the primordium of the fruiting body according to the pathway enrichment results. We found that CaCl2 can affect the primordium differentiation through inhibiting the stipe development. EGTA (ethyleneglycol bis (β-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid) treatment confirmed the inhibitory role of Ca2+ in the stipe development. Our study not only shows great metabolic differences during the cap and stipe development but also reveals the underlying mechanism directing the primordium differentiation in the early development of the fruiting body for the first time. Most importantly, we provide a reliable application strategy for the cultivation and improvement of the Pleurotus ostreatus, which can be an example and reference for a more edible fungus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies the electrochemical behavior of adriamycin (ADM) at cobalt/glassy carbon electrode (Co/GCE) ion implantation modified electrode. Preparation of ion implantation modified electrode Co/GCE; Comparison of the behaviors of Co/GCE and GCE; Effect of scan rate on catalytic efficiency.

A new method of constructing "ArSCF2CF2Cu" from ArSCu and TMSCF2Br (TMS=trimethylsilyl) has been developed. The cross‐coupling reactions of the obtained "ArSCF2CF2Cu" with diverse aryl iodides (Ar′I) provide an efficient access to Ar′CF2CF2SAr. Mechanistic studies demonstrate that the "ArSCF2CF2Cu" species were generated through controllable double difluoromethylene insertions into ArS−Cu bonds rather than the 1,2‐addition of ArSCu to tetrafluoroethylene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new method of constructing "ArSCF2CF2Cu" from ArSCu and TMSCF2Br (TMS=trimethylsilyl) has been developed. The cross‐coupling reactions of the obtained "ArSCF2CF2Cu" with diverse aryl iodides (Ar′I) provide an efficient access to Ar′CF2CF2SAr. Mechanistic studies demonstrate that the "ArSCF2CF2Cu" species were generated through controllable double difluoromethylene insertions into ArS−Cu bonds rather than the 1,2‐addition of ArSCu to tetrafluoroethylene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastic pollution, particularly microplastic (MP) and nanoplastic (NP) pollution, has become a significant concern. This study explores the use of porous wood for filtration to remove MPs and NPs and investigates their removal mechanisms. Undecorated fir wood with a thickness of 4 mm achieves a 91% removal rate for model polystyrene (PS) MPs (2.6 μm) at a water flux of 198 L/m2h. However, its separation performance for NPs (255.8 and 50.9 nm) is poor. It also shows that fir wood (coniferous wood) has a higher PS removal rate than poplar wood (hard wood). With poly dimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride (PDDA) modification, both MPs and NPs are effectively removed, with NPs' removal rate increasing from <10% to 90% for PDDA/wood. Characterization results reveal that size-exclusive interception dominates for micron-sized particles, and electrostatic interaction is crucial for nanosized particles. Additionally, intercepted NPs have been used as a strong binder for hot-pressed wood to remarkably enhance the mechanical properties of wood, suggesting a novel recycle utilization of discarded wood filters. Overall, this renewable wood material offers a simple solution for tackling MP/NP pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]