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Nitrocellulose is a versatile and thermosensitive material. Its thermal instability has caused a considerable number of fire and explosion accidents during production, transport, storage and use. Humectants are commonly used to increase the safety of nitrocellulose. Alcoholic humectants only retard but do not inhibit the spontaneous combustion of nitrocellulose. 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([Bmim][PF6]) contains phosphorus, fluorine and nitrogen elements, which has excellent flame retardant properties. In addition, the ionic liquid containing fluorine elements can effectively absorb noxious gases. In this study, the thermal stability of [Bmim][PF6] was evaluated by thermogravimetric analyzer (TG). Furthermore, the feasibility of [Bmim][PF6] as a humectant and its superiority over ethanol were verified by ignition point tests and nitrogen dioxide absorption experiments. In addition, differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), adiabatic acceleration calorimeter (Phi-tec II) and kinetics evaluation were performed to characterize the effect of [Bmim][PF6] and ethanol on the thermal stability of nitrocellulose. The results show that [Bmim][PF6] has high thermal stability and can inhibit the decomposition of nitrocellulose by absorbing nitrogen dioxide. Its uptake of nitrogen dioxide was 0.5557 g g−1 at room temperature. The results of calorimetric experiments and kinetic evaluation show that ethanol increases the decomposition temperature of nitrocellulose, but also increases the severity of its thermal runaway. [Bmim][PF6] improved the safety of nitrocellulose by reducing the severity of nitrocellulose decomposition through NO2 absorption, which indicates that [Bmim][PF6] is more compatible with the requirements of intrinsic safety as the humectant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Confining selenium in porous carbon hosts is an effective strategy to improve the performance of Li–Se batteries. The structure of confined Se and the corresponding lithiation mechanism remain to be clarified yet. In this work, Se@CISC-58 composite material was prepared based on hierarchical porous carbon CISC-58 with same content of mesopores and micropores, and then used for cathode material of Li–Se batteries. The selenium loaded in Se@CISC-58 takes Se x chain structure rather than the cyclic Se 8 , as evidenced by both 77Se MAS NMR and EPR experiments. In particular, the free radical signals in EPR changes adaptively with the discharge-charge cycling. Ex-stiu EPR and in-stiu 7Li NMR techniques further confirmed the stepwise reaction mechanism of Se x chains in the carbonate-based electrolytes. To better understand the discharge process of selenium, NMR in combination with DFT calculations are utilized to assign the polyselenides engaged in discharge process. We have found that polyselenides represented by Li 2 Se 2 were generated during the discharge of selenium in the carbonate-based electrolytes. [Display omitted] • A hierarchical porous carbon CISC-58 with a ratio of micropore to mesopore volume 1:1 was synthesized. • Se@CISC-58 with Se loading of 63% exhibits high reversible specific capacity of 420.5 mAh·g−1 after 1000 cycles at 1C. • SsNMR and EPR confirmed the randomly coiled Se x chains in the confined nanopores. • Ex-stiu EPR and NMR further confirmed the stepwise reaction mechanism of Se x chains in the carbonate-based electrolytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrocellulose (NC), a highly energetic compound, is widely used in nitrolacquer, celluloid, binder, propellants, and explosives. Many studies have focused on the inflammability and instability of NC, but few have investigated its use as a propellant binder. To optimize the properties of NC as a propellant binder, this study introduced 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([Bmim][NTf2]) as an additive. This study focuses on the thermal pyrolysis behavior and decomposition mechanism of pure NC (NC-P), NC-NTf2 (i.e., NC mixed with [Bmim][NTf2]), and NC-NTf2-eth (i.e., NC mixed with 30% [Bmim][NTf2] and 70% ethanol). First, the thermal degradation processes of NC and [Bmim][NTf2] were investigated using thermogravimetric analysis. In addition, the essential thermodynamic parameters of NC-P, NC-NTf2, and NC-NTf2-eth were obtained by differential scanning calorimetry, and the apparent activation energies were evaluated using the Starink method and Friedman method. The results show that NC-NTf2 has low onset decomposition temperature, low activation energy, and high energy release rate. Moreover, NC-P, NC-NTf2, and NC-NTf2-eth were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy to verify and interpret the thermal analysis results obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The crown‐shaped 36‐molybdate cluster organophosphonate‐functionalized polyoxomolybdates with the highest nuclearity in organophosphonate‐based polyoxometalate chemistry, (NH4)19Na7H10[Cu(H2O)TeMo6O21{N(CH2PO3)3}]6⋅31 H2O, has been reported for the first time. The synthesized 36‐molybdate cluster was characterized by routine techniques and tested as a heterogeneous catalyst for selective oxidation of sulfides with impressive catalytic and selective performances after heat treatment. High efficiency (TON=15333) was achieved in the selective oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides, caused by the synergic effect between copper and polyoxomolybdates and the generation of the cuprous species during the heat treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxidation reaction is the typical thermal runaway reaction, and the reaction of 1, 4-dioldiacetate-2-Butene oxidized by ozone was investigated in this study. Firstly, the thermal hazards of the oxidative exothermic reactions were identified and evaluated combined process risk assessment method. The Qualitative Assessment for Inherently Safer Design (QAISD) was used to identify the risk of the reaction process. Meanwhile, the Reaction Calorimeter (RC1e) was used to obtain the thermal properties of the oxidation reaction. Then the inherent safer designs (ISD) were proposed according to the risk assessment results to increase the level of safety of chemical industry technique. 1) ISD I: reaction temperature was improved to –5 °C, and ventilation rate was improved to 200 L•h−1. 2) ISDII: using a tubular reactor as reaction vessel. The results indicated that the severity of the reaction hazard was reduced by 43%, and safety was improved significantly via two ISDs. Moreover, the inherent safety level of the reaction was increased by 63% and 43.4% via ISD Iand II, respectively. The reaction process get closer to inherent safety theories of "minimize," "substitute," and "moderate". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of methanol of low concentration on adsorption and leaching of atrazine and tebuconazole was studied in this paper. The adsorption coefficients and the retardation factors (Rm) of pesticides on EUROSOIL 3# log-linearly decreased as volumetric fraction of methanol (fc) was increased in the binary solvent mixtures of methanol and water. These data are consistent with solvophobic theory formerly outlined for describing the adsorption and transport of hydrophobic organic chemicals from mixed solvents. Nevertheless, the adsorption of these pesticides in soil–water system slightly increased when the soil was pre-washed with methanol in comparison with that pre-washed with water (pure water system). Furthermore, their adsorption coefficients were still higher in binary solvent systems with methanol of very low concentrations, i.e. fc<0.03 for atrazine and fc<0.01 for tebuconazole, than those in pure water system. The adsorption coefficients (logKw) of atrazine and tebuconazole predicted by solvophobic theory were 0.5792 and 1.6525, respectively, and their experimental logKw were 0.3701 and 1.6275 in pure water system. Obviously, the predicted logKw of the two pesticides was higher than the experimental log Kw in pure water system. The predicted Kw and the retardation factor (Rw) in pure water system by solvophobic theory are thus possibly inaccurate. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) was employed to develop predictive models for fish bioconcentration factors (BCF) of organic compounds. Estimation of BCF from RP-HPLC retention parameters on octadecyl-bonded silica gel (ODS), cyanopropyl-bonded silica gel (CN), and phenyl-bonded silica gel (Ph) columns were investigated. The results show that, for a set of compounds belonging to different chemical classes, the CN stationary phase is the best one among the three columns and better than n-octanol/water model for BCF estimation. A multi-column RP-HPLC model, using the retention parameters on the CN and Ph columns as the variables of multiple linear regression equations, was further evaluated to estimate BCF of organic compounds belonging to different chemical classes, and the results show that the multi-column RP-HPLC model is better than that of any single RP-HPLC column for BCF estimation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To avoid the limitation of the widely used prediction methods of soil organic carbon partition coefficients (KOC) from hydrophobic parameters, e.g., the n-octanol/water partition coefficients (KOW) and the reversed phase high performance liquid chromatographic (RP-HPLC) retention factors, the soil column liquid chromatographic (SCLC) method was developed for KOC prediction. The real soils were used as the packing materials of RP-HPLC columns, and the correlations between the retention factors of organic compounds on soil columns (ksoil) and KOC measured by batch equilibrium method were studied. Good correlations were achieved between ksoil and KOC for three types of soils with different properties. All the square of the correlation coefficients (R2) of the linear regression between log ksoi and log KOC were higher than 0.89 with standard deviations of less than 0.21. In addition, the prediction of KOC from KOW and the RP-HPLC retention factors on cyanopropyl (CN) stationary phase (kCN) was comparatively evaluated for the three types of soils. The results show that the prediction of KOC from kCN and KOW is only applicable to some specific types of soils. The results obtained in the present study proved that the SCLC method is appropriate for the KOC prediction for different types of soils, however the applicability of using hydrophobic parameters to predict KOC largely depends on the properties of soil concerned. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A convenient resolution method for 1,1′-bi-2-naphthol and 4,4′-dibromo-1,1′-spirobiindane-7,7′-diol has been developed with crude (−)-menthyl chloroformate as the resolution reagent in the presence of tetrabutylammonium bromide acting as a phase transfer catalyst in an aqueous NaOH/CH2Cl2 two phase solution. The deprotection of the hydroxy group was carried out via an aqueous KOH/EtOH solution. Both enantiomers of 1,1′-bi-2-naphthol and 4,4′-dibromo-1,1′-spirobiindane-7,7′-diol were obtained in high yields. Both ee’s of (S)-(+) and (R)-(−)-4,4′-dibromo-1,1′-spirobiindane-7,7′-diol were above 99%. Most of the (−)-menthol could be easily recovered in a deprotection procedure and thus be reused for the formation of (−)-menthyl chloroformate without further purification. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The applicability of on-line coupling of reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography to atmospheric pressure ionization tandem mass spectrometry for the separation and characterization of hop acids mixture from the crude extract of Humulus lupulus was investigated. The solvent system consisting of acetonitrile-aqueous formic acid was used to give proper separation of the six main hop bitter acids within 30 min. Further structural information about the components was acquired by collision-induced dissociation (CID). On the basis of analyses of the fragmentation patterns of the major α- and β-bitter acids respectively, identification of the minor ones was performed using selected reaction monitoring (SRM) with a group of qualitatively relevant selected precursor-product ion transitions for each bitter acid in a single high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) run. Using this technique, six minor hop acids, including “adprelupulone” observed for the first time in natural resources, were detected along with the six major acids. This hyphenated techniques provides potency for rapid qualitative determination of analogs and homologs in mixtures. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A series of new phosphite–pyridine ligands, based on the H8-binaphthyl backbone, were synthesized and employed in the copper-catalyzed enantioselective 1,4-conjugate addition of diethylzinc to acyclic enones. Ligands derived from (S)-H8-NOBIN provided better results than their parent ligands in the reaction. Ligand L1 provided excellent ees for trans-4-aryl-3-buten-2-ones (up to 97.8% ee) as substrates. Ligand L2 was very efficient for various para-chalcones, and up to 97.2% ee was achieved. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A clear positive nonlinear effect of the enantiopurity of ligand 1 on the product ee was observed in the enantioselective 1,4-conjugate addition of Et2Zn to chalcone. The experimental data of nonlinear effect meet Kagan''s ML2 model. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A sensitive, simple, and accurate method for determination of spinosin in rat plasma with sulfamethoxazole (SMZ) as internal standard was developed using RP-HPLC with UV detection. Sample preparations were carried out by protein precipitation with acetonitrile, followed by the evaporation of the acetonitrile to dryness. The resultant residue was then reconstituted in mobile phase and injected onto a Hypersil C18 (200×4.6 mm I.D., 5 μm) analytical column. The mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile–water (15:85, v/v) with 1% glacial acetic acid. The assay was shown to be linear over the range of 18.07–903.5 ng/ml (R2=0.995). Mean recovery was determined as 93.6%. Within- and between-day precisions were ≤8.9% RSD. The limit of quantitation was 18.07 ng/ml. The HPLC method developed has been applied to determine the pharmacokinetics of spinosin in rat plasma after having taken Suanzaoren decoction. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The retention factors (k) of 104 hydrophobic organic chemicals (HOCs) were measured in soil column chromatography (SCC) over columns filled with three naturally occurring reference soils and eluted with Milli-Q water. A novel method for the estimation of soil organic partition coefficient (Koc) was developed based on correlations with k in soil/water systems. Strong log Koc versus log k correlations (r>0.96) were found. The estimated Koc values were in accordance with the literature values with a maximum deviation of less than 0.4 log units. All estimated Koc values from three soils were consistent with each other. The SCC approach is promising for fast screening of a large number of chemicals in their environmental applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The capacity factors of a series of hydrophobic organic compounds (HOCs) were measured in soil leaching column chromatography (SLCC) on a soil column, and in reversed-phase liquid chromatography on a C18 column with different volumetric fractions (ϕ) of methanol in methanol–water mixtures. A general equation of linear solvation energy relationships, log(XYZ)=XYZ0+mVI/100+sπ&ast;+bβm+aαm, was applied to analyze capacity factors (k′), soil organic partition coefficients (Koc) and octanol–water partition coefficients (P). The analyses exhibited high accuracy. The chief solute factors that control logKoc, logP, and logk′ (on soil and on C18) are the solute size (VI/100) and hydrogen-bond basicity (βm). Less important solute factors are the dipolarity/polarizability (π&ast;) and hydrogen-bond acidity (αm). Log k′ on soil and logKoc have similar signs in four fitting coefficients (m, s, b and a) and similar ratios (m:s:b:a), while logk′ on C18 and logP have similar signs in coefficients (m, s, b and a) and similar ratios (m:s:b:a). Consequently, logk′ values on C18 have good correlations with logP (r>0.97), while logk′ values on soil have good correlations with logKoc (r>0.98). Two Koc estimation methods were developed, one through solute solvatochromic parameters, and the other through correlations with k′ on soil. For HOCs, a linear relationship between logarithmic capacity factor and methanol composition in methanol–water mixtures could also be derived in SLCC. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Discusses a multiple linear regression model for prediction of soil adsorption coefficients from retention parameters on three reversed-phase liquid chromatographic columns. Chemical molecular descriptors in linear free energy relationships; Characterization and comparison of octadecyl-bonded silica gel, cyano-bonded silica gel and phenyl-bonded silica gel columns.

Direct determination of the equilibrium adsorption and spectroscopic observation of adsorbent‐adsorbate interaction is crucial to evaluate the olefin/paraffin separation performance of porous adsorbents. However, the experimental characterization of competitive adsorption of various adsorbates at atomic‐molecular level in the purification of multicomponent gas mixtures is challenging and rarely conducted. Herein, solid‐state NMR spectroscopy is employed to examine the effect of co‐adsorbed guest adsorbates on the separation of ethylene/ethane mixtures on Mg‐MOF‐74, Zn‐MOF‐74 and UTSA‐74. 1H MAS NMR facilitates the determination of equilibrium uptake and adsorption selectivity of ethylene/ethane in ternary mixtures. The co‐adsorption of H2O and CO2 significantly leads to the degradation of ethylene uptake and ethylene/ethane selectivity. The detailed host‐guest and guest‐guest interactions are unraveled by 2D 1H−1H spin diffusion homo‐nuclear correlation and static 25Mg NMR experiments. The experimental results verify H2O coordinated on open metal sites can supply a new adsorption site for ethylene and ethane. The effects of guest adsorbates on the adsorption capacity and adsorption selectivity of ethylene/ethane mixtures are in the following order: H2O>CO2>O2. This work provides a direct approach for exploring the equilibrium adsorption and detailed separation mechanism of multicomponent gas mixtures using MOFs adsorbents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is a promising candidate for treating metabolic disorder diseases and has been used in phase II clinical trials. Currently, metabolic diseases are prevalent worldwide, underscoring the significant market potential of FGF21. Therefore, the production of FGF21 must be effectively improved to meet market demand. Results: Herein, to investigate the impact of vectors and host cells on FGF21 expression, we successfully engineered strains that exhibit a high yield of FGF21. Surprisingly, the data revealed that vectors with various copy numbers significantly impact the expression of FGF21, and the results showed a 4.35-fold increase in expression levels. Furthermore, the performance of the double promoter and tandem gene expression construction design surpassed that of the conventional construction method, with a maximum difference of 2.67 times. Conclusion: By exploring engineered vectors and host cells, we successfully achieved high-yield production of the FGF21 strain. This breakthrough lays a solid foundation for the future industrialization of FGF21. Additionally, FGF21 can be easily, quickly and efficiently expressed, providing a better tool and platform for the research and application of more recombinant proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents information on the Kovats index which is the most precise index system in gas chromatography. What the system reflects; Why it is good to use Kovats index in gas chromatography.

Nitrocellulose (NC), a highly flammable material, has caused multiple runaway explosions worldwide. Although the thermal stability of NC blended with incompatible materials has been extensively studied, no research on the suppression of spontaneous combustion by using a humectant has been conducted. Ionic liquids possess superior characteristics and have been employed as flame retardants. In this study, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([Bmim][PF 6 ]) was selected as a humectant of NC. First, a series of experiments were conducted to determine the feasibility of the study. Scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were used to investigate the microstructure, nature, and functional groups of [Bmim][PF 6 ] that affect NC. Next, the inhibition of [Bmim][PF 6 ] on NC was confirmed through an intuitive heating test. Subsequently, the thermal stability of three types of NC systems was evaluated, and the action of [Bmim][PF 6 ] was analysed. Thermokinetic parameters were analysed using differential scanning calorimetry, and the apparent activation energies were evaluated using the Starink method and Friedman method. The time to maximum rate under adiabatic conditions and self-accelerating decomposition temperature were calculated using simulations. Finally, the decomposition of the NC systems was analysed using thermogravimetry-infrared spectroscopy, which elucidated the reasons underlying [Bmim][PF 6 ]-induced inhibition of the spontaneous combustion of NC. Unlabelled Image • [Bmim][PF 6 ] was introduced to inhibit the spontaneous combustion of NC. • [Bmim][PF 6 ] moistened the surface of NC. • The formation of an intermolecular hydrogen bond between [Bmim][PF 6 ] and NC. • The nitrogen oxides absorption power of [Bmim][PF 6 ] weakened self-catalysis of NC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, silica microspheres with ordered mesopores are synthesized and applied as a stationary phase for supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC). The excellent particle monodispersity and pore orderliness coupled with the rapid analytes diffusion of the supercritical fluid lead to an ultra-high column efficiency of 340 000 plate per m. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lack of efficient biomarkers for the early detection of gastric cancer (GC) contributes to its high mortality rate, so it is crucial to discover novel diagnostic targets for GC. Recent studies have implicated the potential of site‐specific glycans in cancer diagnosis, yet it is challenging to perform highly reproducible and sensitive glycoproteomics analysis on large cohorts of samples. Here, a highly robust N‐glycoproteomics (HRN) platform comprising an automated enrichment method, a stable microflow LC‐MS/MS system, and a sensitive glycopeptide‐spectra‐deciphering tool is developed for large‐scale quantitative N‐glycoproteome analysis. The HRN platform is applied to analyze serum N‐glycoproteomes of 278 subjects from three cohorts to investigate glycosylation changes of GC. It identifies over 20 000 unique site‐specific glycans from discovery and validation cohorts, and determines four site‐specific glycans as biomarker candidates. One candidate has branched tetra‐antennary structure capping with sialyl‐Lewis antigen, and it significantly outperforms serum CEA with AUC values > 0.89 compared against < 0.67 for diagnosing early‐stage GC. The four‐marker panel can provide improved diagnostic performances. Besides, discrimination powers of four candidates are also testified with a verification cohort using PRM strategy. This findings highlight the value of this strong tool in analyzing aberrant site‐specific glycans for cancer detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Polycomb Repressor Complex (PRC) plays a pivotal role in gene regulation during development and disease, with dysregulation contributing significantly to various human cancers. The intricate interplay between PRC and cellular signaling pathways sheds light on cancer complexity. PRC presents promising therapeutic opportunities, with inhibitors undergoing rigorous evaluation in preclinical and clinical studies. In this review, we emphasize the critical role of PRC complex in gene regulation, particularly PcG proteins mediated chromatin compaction through phase separation. We also highlight the pathological implications of PRC complex dysregulation in various tumors, elucidating underlying mechanisms driving cancer progression. The burgeoning field of therapeutic strategies targeting PRC complexes, notably EZH2 inhibitors, has advanced significantly. However, we explore the need for combination therapies to enhance PRC targeted treatments efficacy, providing a glimpse into the future of cancer therapeutics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osmotic energy represents a promising energy resource because it is sustainable and environmentally benign. Subnanoscale channels are considered as a competitive platform for generating this blue energy due to their highly selective and ultrafast ion transport. However, fabricating functional subnanochannels capable of high energy output remains challenging. Here, a heterogeneous subnanochannel membrane formed by coating a functionalized self‐assembled metal−organic framework (MOF) monolayer (SAMM) film on a porous anodic aluminum oxide membrane, is reported. The SAMM film, with a thickness of ≈160 nm, is fabricated by self‐assembly of poly(methyl methacrylate‐co‐vinylimidazole)‐modified UiO‐66‐NH2 nanoparticles at the water−air interface. In the SAMM, imidazole and NH2 groups provide abundant positive charges, while the angstrom‐scale windows act as ionic filters for selective screening of anions with different hydration diameters. As a result, the heterogeneous membrane exhibits excellent capacity for anion‐selective transport, which contributes to an optimal osmotic power of 6.76 W m−2 under a 100‐fold NaCl gradient, as well as a high Cl−/SO42− selectivity of ≈42.2. Further, the output power is increased to 10.5 W m−2 by methylating imidazole moieties on the MOF surface. This work provides a facile and modular approach to fabricate subnanochannels for enabling highly selective and efficient osmotic energy conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly concentrated electrolytes (HCEs) significantly improve the stability of lithium metal anodes, but applications are often impeded by their limitation of density, viscosity, and cost. Here, fluorobenzene (FB), an economical hydrocarbon with low density and low viscosity, is demonstrated as a bifunctional cosolvent to obtain a novel FB diluted highly concentrated electrolyte (FB‐DHCE). First, the addition of FB suppresses the decomposition of dimethoxyethane (DME) on the Li metal by strengthening the interactions of DME and FSI− around Li+. Second, FB efficiently elevates the content of LiF in the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) based on its electrochemical reduction reaction. The unique solvation and interfacial chemistry of FB‐DHCE enable dendrite‐free deposition of lithium with high Coulombic efficiency (up to 99.3%) and prolong cycling life (over 500 cycles at 1 mA cm−2). The performance of FB‐DHCE is further demonstrated in full cells under practical conditions, including ambient to low temperature (–20 °C), high areal capacity (7.6 mAh cm−2), high current density (3 mA cm−2), limited excess Li (20 µm Li), and lean electrolyte (3 g Ah−1). Employing FB as a cosolvent not only opens a novel pathway to stabilize Li metal anodes, but also could greatly advance the development of Li metal batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the healing of wounds, human-like collagen (hCol) is essential. However, collagen-based composite dressings have poor stability in vivo, which severely limits their current therapeutic potential. Based on the above, we have developed a recombinant fusion protein named hCol-ELP, which consists of hCol and an elastin-like peptide (ELP). Then, we examined the physicochemical and biological properties of hCol-ELP. The results indicated that the stability of the hCol-ELP fusion protein exhibited a more compact and homogeneous lamellar microstructure along with collagen properties, it was found to be significantly superior to the stability of free hCol. The compound hCol-ELP demonstrated a remarkable capacity to induce the proliferation and migration of mouse embryo fibroblast cells (NIH/3T3), as well as enhance collagen synthesis in human skin fibroblasts (HSF) when tested in vitro. In vivo, hCol-ELP demonstrated significant enhancements in healing rate and a reduction in the time required for scab removal, thereby exhibiting a scar-free healing effect. The findings provide a crucial theoretical foundation for the implementation of an hCol-ELP protein dressing in fields associated with the healing of traumatic injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polysaccharides are widely distributed in natural sources from monocytic microorganisms to higher animals, and are found in a variety of biological activities in recent decades. Natural polysaccharides have the characteristics of large molecular weight, diverse composition, and complex structure, so their purification and structural analysis are difficult issues in research. Chromatography as a powerful separation technique, plays an irreplaceable role in the separation and structural analysis of natural polysaccharides, especially in the purification of polysaccharides, the separation of hydrolysates, and the analysis of monosaccharide composition. The separation mechanisms and application of different chromatographic methods in the studies of polysaccharides were summarized in this review. Moreover, the advantages and drawbacks of various chromatography methods were discussed as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial intelligence sensations have aroused scientific interest from electronic conductors to bio‐inspired ionic conductors. The conductivity of electrons decreases with increasing temperature, while the ionic conductivity agrees with an Arrhenius equation or a modified Vogel–Tammann–Fulcher (VTF) equation. Herein, thermo‐responsive poly(N‐isopropyl amide) (PNIPAm) and single‐ion‐conducting poly(2‐acrylamido‐2‐methyl‐1‐propanesulfonic lithium salt) (PAMPSLi) were copolymerized via a facile radical polymerization to demonstrate a very intriguing anti‐Arrhenius ionic conductivity behaviour during thermally induced volume‐phase transition. These smart hydrogels presented very promising scaffolds for architecting flexible, wearable or advanced functional ionic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ziziphi spinosae semen has been widely used to treat insomnia and anxiety. To profile its chemical components, an online comprehensive two‐dimensional liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry was developed. In this two‐dimensional liquid chromatography system, a novel phthalic anhydride‐bonded stationary phase column was combined with a C18 column. As a result, this new stationary phase exhibited remarkable differences in separation selectivity from C18, achieving a good orthogonality of 83.3%. Moreover, this new stationary phase with weaker hydrophobicity than C18 realized solvent compatibility in the online configuration. Coupled with tandem MS, 154 compounds were identified, including 51 unreported compounds. Compared with one‐dimensional liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry, this online two‐dimensional liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry system exhibited a much higher resolving power in isomer separation. This work provided an effective separation and characterization method for the material basis of Ziziphi spinosae semen. This strategy provides ideas for the material basis research of other traditional Chinese medicines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient strategies for the preparative separation of iridoid glycosides and flavonoid glycosides from Hedyotis diffusa using preparative high‐performance liquid chromatography combined with appropriate pretreatment technologies were developed. Four fractions (Fr.1‐1, Fr.1‐2, Fr.1‐3, and Fr.2‐1) were firstly isolated from the crude extract of Hedyotis diffusa by column chromatography with C18, resin, and silica gel materials, respectively. Then, corresponding separation strategies were developed according to the polarity and chemical constituents. High‐polar compounds of Fr.1‐1 were purified by hydrophilic reversed‐phase liquid chromatography and hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography mode. The combination of C18 and phenyl columns realized the complementary separation of iridoid glycosides in Fr.1‐2. Meanwhile, the improved selectivity caused by the change of organic solvent in the mobile phase was utilized to realize the purification of flavonoid glycosides in Fr.1‐3 and Fr. 2‐1. Finally, 27 compounds (purity > 95%) mainly involving nine iridoid glycosides and five flavonoid glycosides were obtained. A complete strategy was established for the separation of a complex sample with a wide polarity range, to jointly solve the problems of enrichment of target components and separation of structural analogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Na3Ni2SbO6 is prepared by solid state reaction of stoichiometric amounts of Na2CO3, Sb2O3, and NiO (900 °C, 12 h) as a cathode for Na-ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The effect of impurities on the thermal stability of benzoyl peroxide was investigated. • The decomposition kinetics of benzoyl peroxide as well as mixed with impurities was modeled. • The thermal runaway behavior of benzoyl peroxide was predicted under different scenarios. • The decomposition pathways of benzoyl peroxide in the presence of impurities were proposed. Benzoyl peroxide (BPO) is a hazardous chemical, which is incompatible with many substances. Due to its high thermal sensitivity, it reacts violently with organic chemicals and can cause serious explosions when heated. Toluene and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) are incompatible substances frequently encountered in the production and utilization of BPO. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the thermal decomposition behavior of BPO and its reaction mechanism under the effect of impurities. In this paper, thermal decomposition behavior of BPO, the mixture of BPO and toluene, and the mixture of BPO and NaOH were studied using differential scanning calorimetry and adiabatic calorimetry under different conditions. The decomposition kinetic models were obtained to simulate thermal runaway behavior in actual package. Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry experiments were performed to examine the composition of thermal decomposition products in different systems. The results show that NaOH improves the thermal stability of BPO and toluene makes it easier for BPO decomposition. Both NaOH and toluene change the decomposition path of BPO. The consumption of benzoic acid radicals is accelerated by NaOH. Toluene makes the decomposition of BPO follow an n -order reaction by consuming phenyl radicals generated by the decomposition of BPO. This study is important for understanding thermal hazards of BPO at the reaction mechanism level and ensuring process safety in industrial processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new neolignans, (S)-futoquinol (1) and (R)-futoquinol (2), along with four known neolignans, were isolated from the petroleum ether extract of Piper kadsura. Enantiomers 1 and 2 were isolated by chiral supercritical fluid chromatography, and their structure and absolute configurations were elucidated by NMR and circular dichroism analysis. Moreover, the anti-inflammatory activity of isolated compounds was assessed using a RAW 264.7 cell model. Among these six compounds, only compound 2 exhibited moderate inhibition of nitric oxide production at a low concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oxygen vacancy-riched tin dioxide (SnO 2) nanoparticles composites with biomass nitrogen-doped carbon microspheres (SNC composite materials) were fabricated to enhance the electrochemical performance of SnO 2 as anode materials for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) and lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). The optimal SNC-2 electrode not only shows excellent electrochemical performance (reversible capacity of 557.1 mAh g−1 after 50 cycles at 0.05 A g−1, high-rate capability of 329.5 mAh g−1 and reversible capacity of 320 mAh g−1 after 1000 cycles even at a high current density of 1.0 A g−1) in SIBs, but also exhibits superior electrochemical performance in LIBs. Furthermore, ex-situ solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) results (23Na, 19F and 119Sn MAS NMR spectra) reveal that the reversibility of the alloy Na x Sn and SnO 2 , as well as the formation of NaF during the electrode reaction of SNC-2. The sodium peroxide (Na 2 O 2) is probed by ex-situ solid-state NMR and ex-situ electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) tests during the electrochemical process of SNC-2 electrodes for SIBs. An optimized reaction mechanism characterized by the formation of Na 2 O 2 in SnO 2 anodes for SIBs is proposed according to our work. [Display omitted] • SNC composites with oxygen vacancies and N-doped carbon are synthesized. • SNC-2 shows excellent electrochemical performance for both SIBs and LIBs. • Ex-situ NMR and EPR are used to understand the composition of SEI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F from the family Celastraceae is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) whose principal chemical constituents are terpenoids, including sesquiterpene alkaloids and diterpenoids, which have unique and diverse structures and remarkable biological activities. In order to advance pharmacological research and guide the preparation of monomer compounds derived from T. wilfordii, a systematic approach to efficiently discover new compounds or their derivatives is needed. Herein, compound separation and identification were performed by offline reversed-phase × supercritical fluid chromatography coupled mass spectrometry (RP × SFC-Q-TOF-MS/MS) and Global Natural Product Social (GNPS) molecular networking. The 2D chromatography system exhibited a high degree of orthogonality and significant peak capacity, and SFC has an advantage during the separation of sesquiterpene alkaloid isomers. Feature-based molecular networking offers the great advantage of quickly detecting and clustering unknown compounds, which greatly assists in intuitively judging the type of compound, and this networking technique has the potential to dramatically accelerate the identification and characterization of compounds from natural sources. A total of 324 compounds were identified and quantitated, including 284 alkaloids, 22 diterpenoids and 18 triterpenoids, which means that there are numerous potential new compounds with novel structures to be further explored. Overall, feature-based molecular networking provides an effective method for discovering and characterizing novel compounds and guides the separation and preparation of targeted natural products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Curcuma kwangsiensis, one species of Curcumae zedoaria Ros. c, is a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for treating cardiovascular disease, cancer, asthma and inflammation. Polar compounds are abundant in water decoction, which would be responsible for critical pharmacological effects. However, current research on polar compounds in Curcumae zedoaria Ros. c remains scarce. In this study, the polar fraction from Curcuma kwangsiensis was firstly profiled on G protein-coupled receptor 109A (GPR109A), β2-adrenergic receptor (β2-AR), neurotensin receptor (NTSR), muscarinic-3 acetylcholine receptor (M3) and G protein-coupled receptor 35 (GPR35), which were involved in its clinical indications and exhibited excellent β2-AR and GPR109A receptor activities. Then, an offline two-dimensional reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) coupled with the hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) method was developed to separate polar compounds. By the combination of a polar-copolymerized XAqua C18 column and an amide-bonded XAmide column, an orthogonality of 47.6% was achieved. As a result of coupling with the mass spectrometry (MS), a four-dimensional data plot was presented in which 373 mass peaks were detected and 22 polar compounds tentatively identified, including the GPR109A agonist niacin. Finally, molecular docking of these 22 identified compounds to β2-AR, M3, GPR35 and GPR109A receptors was performed to predict potential active ingredients, and compound 9 was predicted to have a similar interaction to the β2-AR partial agonist salmeterol. These results were supplementary to the material basis of Curcuma kwangsiensis and facilitated the bioactivity research of polar compounds. The integration of RPLC×HILIC-MS and molecular docking can be a powerful tool for characterizing and predicting polar active components in TCM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Styrene is an important monomer for synthetic resins, ion exchange resins and synthetic rubber. Styrene polymerization requires the use of initiators to increase the reaction rate, with composite initiators showing promise for increased reaction rates. However, increased reaction rates in polymerization, if uncontrolled, can lead to thermal runaway with disastrous consequences. Numerous runaway incidents have been documented, indicating inadequate awareness of the thermal hazards of polymerization reactions. This study focuses on determining via calorimetric techniques the thermal hazards of styrene polymerization using azodiisobutyronitrile (AIBN) and tert-Butyl peroxybenzoate (TBPB) composite initiators. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) is employed to investigate the thermal decomposition properties of composite initiators with varying composition. Non-isothermal experiments and adiabatic experiments are used to determine the thermal hazard parameters including initial exothermic temperature and heat release of styrene polymerization. The risk of secondary reactions is evaluated by reaction calorimetry (RC1e) and product thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Key safety parameters of the exothermic reaction, such as the onset temperature, heat release, time to maximum rate under adiabatic condition as well as activation energy, are presented. The results show that the thermal hazard of the polymerization reaction is lowest when the ratio of AIBN to TPPB in the composite initiator is 1:1. In this scenario, the temperature reached by the uncontrolled reaction does not provoke the decomposition of the products, yet the runaway consequences are still unacceptable. This work provides extensive data as a reference for the process optimization of styrene polymerization from the perspective of safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ATP citrate lyase (ACLY) is a key enzyme in glucolipid metabolism and its aberrantly high expression is closely associated with various cancers, hyperlipemia and atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases. Prospects of ACLY inhibitors as treatments of these diseases are excellent. To date, flavonoids have not been extensively reported as ACLY inhibitors. In our study, 138 flavonoids were screened and 21 of them were subjected to concentration–response curves. A remarkable structure–activity relationship (SAR) trend was found: ortho-dihydroxyphenyl and a conjugated system maintained by a pyrone ring were critical for inhibitory activity. Among these flavonoids, herbacetin had a typical structure and showed a non–aggregated state in solution and a high inhibition potency (IC50 = 0.50 ± 0.08 μM), and therefore was selected as a representative for the ligand–protein interaction study. In thermal shift assays, herbacetin improved the thermal stability of ACLY, suggesting a direct interaction with ACLY. Kinetic studies determined that herbacetin was a noncompetitive inhibitor of ACLY, as illustrated by molecular docking and dynamics simulation. Together, this work demonstrated flavonoids as novel and potent ACLY inhibitors with a remarkable SAR trend, which may help design high–potency ACLY inhibitors. In–depth studies of herbacetin deepened our understanding of the interactions between flavonoids and ACLY. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The breadth and depth of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) applications have been expanding in recent years, yet the problem of quality control has arisen in the application process. It is essential to design an algorithm to provide blending ratios that ensure a high overall product similarity to the target with controlled deviations in individual ingredient content. We developed a new blending algorithm and scheme by comparing different samples of ginkgo leaves. High-consistency samples were used to establish the blending target, and qualified samples were used for blending. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used as the sample screening method. A nonlinear programming algorithm was applied to calculate the blending ratio under different blending constraints. In one set of calculation experiments, the result was blended by the same samples under different conditions. Its relative deviation coefficients (RDCs) were controlled within ±10%. In another set of calculations, the RDCs of more component blending by different samples were controlled within ±20%. Finally, the near-critical calculation ratio was used for the actual experiments. The experimental results met the initial setting requirements. The results show that our algorithm can flexibly control the content of TCMs. The quality control of the production process of TCMs was achieved by improving the content stability of raw materials using blending. The algorithm provides a groundbreaking idea for quality control of TCMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive pulmonary disease with an unclear pathogenesis and no available specific drug treatment. The principal etiological factors are lung inflammation caused by environmental factors, damage to alveolar epithelial cells, leading to epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and the abnormal proliferation of fibroblasts. Here, we have demonstrated that fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) ameliorates IPF via the autophagy pathway. We administered FGF21 to bleomycin (BLM)-treated mice, which ameliorated their defects in lung function, reduced the accumulation of collagen, restored tissue structure, reduced the deposition of hydroxyproline, reduced the expression of collagen I and α-SMA and increased the expression of E-cadherin. The expression of LC3BII and the number of autophagosomes were significantly higher in the lungs. The expression of AKT and mTOR was significantly reduced by FGF21 treatment. We also determined the effects of FGF21 in A549 cells treated with TGF-β, and found that FGF21 significantly inhibits activation of the AKT signaling pathway, thereby reducing TGF-β-induced EMT and preventing the uncontrolled proliferation of fibroblasts. We conclude that FGF21 ameliorates IPF by inhibiting the PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling pathway and activating autophagy, which provides a theoretical basis for FGF21 to be used for the treatment of IPF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prostatitis and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) are inflammations of the prostate gland, which surrounds the urethra in males. Jinqiancao granules are a traditional Chinese medicine used to treat kidney stones and this medicine consists of four herbs: Desmodium styracifolium (Osbeck) Merr., Pyrrosia calvata (Baker) Ching, Plantago asiatica L. and stigma of Zea mays L. We hypothesized that Jinqiancao granules could be a potential therapy for prostatitis and BPH, and this work aimed to elucidate active compounds in Jinqiancao granules and their target mechanisms for the potential treatment of the two diseases. Jinqiancao granules were commercially available and purchased. Database-driven data mining and networking were utilized to establish a general correlation between Jinqiancao granules and the two diseases above. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was used for compound separation and characterization. The characterized compounds were evaluated on four G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs: GPR35, muscarinic acetylcholine receptor M3, alpha-1A adrenergic receptor α1A and cannabinoid receptor CB2). A dynamic mass redistribution technique was applied to evaluate compounds on four GPCRs. Nitric acid (NO) inhibition was tested on the macrophage cell line RAW264.7. Molecular docking was conducted on GPR35-active compounds and GPR35 crystal structure. Statistical analysis using GEO datasets was conducted. Seventy compounds were isolated and twelve showed GPCR activity. Three compounds showed potent GPR35 agonistic activity (EC 50 < 10 μM) and the GPR35 agonism action of PAL-21 (Scutellarein) was reported for the first time. Docking results revealed that the GPR35-targeting compounds interacted at the key residues for the agonist-initiated activation of GPR35. Five compounds showed weak antagonistic activity on M3, which was confirmed to be a disease target by statistical analysis. Seventeen compounds showed NO inhibitory activity. Several compounds showed multi-target properties. An experiment-based network reflected a pharmacological relationship between Jinqiancao granules and the two diseases. This study identified active compounds in Jinqiancao granules that have synergistic mechanisms, contributing to anti-inflammatory effects. The findings provide scientific evidence for the potential use of Jinqiancao granules as a treatment for prostatitis and BPH. [Display omitted] • Jinqiancao granules could be a potential treatment of prostatitis and BPH. • Compounds showed activity on four disease-related GPCRs and NO inhibition. • PAL-21 (Scutellarein) was a GPR35 agonist with an EC50 of 1.50 ± 0.18 μM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • An H4R target pathway model for high-throughput screening tests was developed. • Cryptotanshinone was a new H4R non-competitive antagonist. • Cryptotanshinone interacts with H4R at a novel allosteric binding site. Histamine 4 receptor (H4R), the most recently identified subtype of histamine receptor, primarily induces inflammatory reactions upon activation. Several H4R antagonists have been developed for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and atopic dermatitis (AD), but their use has been limited by adverse side effects, such as a short half-life and toxicity. Natural products, as an important source of anti-inflammatory agents, offer minimal side effects and reduced toxicity. This work aimed to identify novel H4R antagonists from natural products. An H4R target-pathway model deconvoluted downstream G i and MAPK signaling pathways was established utilizing cellular label-free integrative pharmacology (CLIP), on which 148 natural products were screened. Cryptotanshinone was identified as selective H4R antagonist, with an IC 50 value of 11.68 ± 1.30 μM, which was verified with Fluorescence Imaging Plate Reader (FLIPR) and Cellular Thermal Shift (CTS) assays. The kinetic binding profile revealed the noncompetitive antagonistic property of cryptotanshinone. Two allosteric binding sites of H4R were predicted using SiteMap, Fpocket and CavityPlus. Subsequent molecular docking and dynamics simulation indicated that cryptotanshinone interacts with H4R at a pocket formed by the outward interfaces between TM3/4/5, potentially representing a new allosteric binding site for H4R. Overall, this study introduced cryptotanshinone as a novel H4R antagonist, offering promise as a new hit for drug design of H4R antagonist. Additionally, this study provided a novel screening model for the discovery of H4R antagonists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ATP citrate lyase (ACLY) is a key enzyme in glucolipid metabolism, and abnormally high expression of ACLY occurs in many diseases, including cancers, dyslipidemia and cardiovascular diseases. ACLY inhibitors are prospective treatments for these diseases. However, the scaffolds of ACLY inhibitors are insufficient with weak activity. The discovery of inhibitors with structural novelty and high activity continues to be a research hotpot. Acanthopanax senticosus (Rupr. & Maxim.) Harms is used for cardiovascular disease treatment, from which no ACLY inhibitors have ever been found. In this work, we discovered three novel ACLY inhibitors, and the most potent one was isochlorogenic acid C (ICC) with an IC 50 value of 0.14 ± 0.04 μM. We found dicaffeoylquinic acids with ortho-dihydroxyphenyl groups were important features for inhibition by studying ten phenolic acids. We further investigated interactions between the highly active compound ICC and ACLY. Thermal shift assay revealed that ICC could directly bind to ACLY and improve its stability in the heating process. Enzymatic kinetic studies indicated ICC was a noncompetitive inhibitor of ACLY. Our work discovered novel ACLY inhibitors, provided valuable structure-activity patterns and deepened knowledge on the interactions between this targe tand its inhibitors. [Display omitted] • Three novel ACLY inhibitors were identified from Acanthopanax senticosus. • SAR analysis revealed that caffeoylquinic acids with ortho-dihydroxyphenyl were needful for high inhibition potency. • Isochlorogenic acid C was highly active and directly acted on ACLY in a noncompetitive pattern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Na superionic conductor structured Na3V2(PO4)3 cathodes have attracted great interest due to their long cycling lifespan and high thermal stability rendered by the robust 3D framework. However, their practical application is still hindered by the high cost of raw materials and limited energy density. Herein, a doping strategy with low‐cost Fe2+ is developed to activate V4+/V5+ redox, in an attempt to increase the energy density of phosphate cathodes. It is also revealed that reversible activation of V4+/V5+ redox is related to the Na positions (Na1, 6b; Na2, 18e). Only the V‐based compounds with enough Na2 content can activate the V4+/V5+ reversibly. More importantly, without presodiation treatment and addition of any sodiation agent, Na3.4V1.6Fe0.4(PO4)3 is delicately designed as both cathode and the Na self‐compensation agent in full cells, allowing a promising energy density of ≈260 Wh kg−1. This work sheds light on enhancing the energy density, and designing Na self‐compensation for practical Na‐ions batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ginseng, which contains abundant ginsenosides, grows mainly in the Jilin, Liaoning, and Heilongjiang in China. It has been reported that the quality and traits of ginsengs from different origins were greatly different. To date, the accurate prediction of the origins of ginseng samples is still a challenge. Here, we integrated ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS) with a support vector machine (SVM) for rapid discrimination and prediction of ginseng from the three main regions where it is cultivated in China. Firstly, we develop a stable and reliable UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS method to obtain robust information for 31 batches of ginseng samples after reasonable optimization. Subsequently, a rapid pre-processing method was established for the rapid screening and identification of 69 characteristic ginsenosides in 31 batches ginseng samples from three different origins. The SVM model successfully distinguished ginseng origin, and the accuracy of SVM model was improved from 83% to 100% by optimizing the normalization method. Six crucial quality markers for different origins of ginseng were screened using a permutation importance algorithm in the SVM model. In addition, in order to validate the method, eight batches of test samples were used to predict the regions of cultivation of ginseng using the SVM model based on the six selected quality markers. As a result, the proposed strategy was suitable for the discrimination and prediction of the origin of ginseng samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hard carbon has the potential to serve as a high‐capacity anode material for sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs), however, its Na+ storage mechanism, particularly on the low potential plateau, remains controversial. To overcome this issue, two types of hard carbons with different microstructures are employed and the relationship between the microstructures and Na+ storage behaviors is evaluated. By the combination of operando X‐ray diffraction, ex situ Raman spectroscopy, NMR, and theoretical calculation, it is found that the sodium storage capacities of the hard carbons in the low potential plateau region contain the concurrent contributions from both interlayer intercalation and micropores filling, and the ratio of the two contributors greatly depends on the microstructure of hard carbon materials. Moreover, an electrochemical pointer (potential inflection point at the end of the discharge curve) is found to distinguish the dominance of interlayer intercalation and the micropores filling processes of sodium ions in the low potential plateau region. Based on this new finding, a microstructure‐dependent mechanism ("adsorption‐intercalation/filling" hybrid mechanism) is proposed to achieve an overall understanding of the sodium storage behaviors in different hard carbon materials, which may provide deep insight into the rational design of hard carbon structures as high‐performance anode materials for advanced SIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The availability of various high‐purity unsaturated fatty acids has a wide range of needs due to their different activities. The nonlinear preparative chromatography behavior and principle for purification of palmitoleic acid with octadecyl bonded stationary phases were studied. The peak broadening and the concentration distribution of the target compounds were used to compare different C18 stationary phases. In preparative liquid chromatography, the C18 stationary phases with low, medium, and high bonding density showed different peak broadening and concentration distribution results. Medium bonding density C18 was suitable for the purification of ethyl palmitoleic acid. The forward broadening was much greater than the backward broadening on medium bonding density C18 column. And the highest concentration distribution of impurities and the main peak was not crossed in this column. Due to the low content of crude ethyl palmitoleic acid sample, a two‐step purified method yields an oily product with purity of 96.57% in the GC method. This method would be universal and extensible for constructing purification method for other unsaturated fatty acids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomolecule separation plays a vital role in downstream applications ranging from omics research, structure analysis, and drug purification to clinical diagnosis. Among all existing materials and technologies towards biomolecule separation, nanoporous materials take the leading place. To achieve efficient biomolecule separation, the interface of nanoporous materials is always modified with a monolayer containing specific functional groups. However, the monolayer modification strategy still encounters bottlenecks due to extremely low abundance of target biomolecules, strong interference from high‐abundance background biomolecules, similar characteristics of compounds, unspecific adsorption, et al. Recently, several emerging nanoporous materials, which are prepared without the monolayer modification process, have been reported for high‐efficient, high‐specific, and rapid biomolecule separation. In this review, the authors summarize the emerging nanoporous materials for biomolecule separation, mainly focusing on the design principle and separation performance that are different from classical nanoporous materials. First, the classic design strategy of monolayer modification is discussed and the recent progress with this aspect is introduced. Then, emerging nanoporous materials beyond monolayer modification are introduced. At last, future developments, challenges, and great promise of biomolecule separation nanoporous materials are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]