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Given the widespread prevalence of viruses, there is an escalating demand for antimicrobial composites. Although the composite of dialdehyde cellulose and silver nanoparticles (DAC@Ag1) exhibits excellent antibacterial properties, its weak mechanical characteristics hinder its practical applicability. To address this limitation, cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) were initially ammoniated to yield N-CNF, which was subsequently incorporated into DAC@Ag1 as an enhancer, forming DAC@Ag1/N-CNF. We systematically investigated the optimal amount of N-CNF and characterized the DAC@Ag1/N-CNF using FT-IR, XPS, and XRD analyses to evaluate its additional properties. Notably, the optimal mass ratio of N-CNF to DAC@Ag1 was found to be 5:5, resulting in a substantial enhancement in mechanical properties, with a 139.8% increase in tensile elongation and a 33.1% increase in strength, reaching 10% and 125.24 MPa, respectively, compared to DAC@Ag1 alone. Furthermore, the inhibition zones against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were significantly expanded to 7.9 mm and 15.9 mm, respectively, surpassing those of DAC@Ag1 alone by 154.8% and 467.9%, indicating remarkable improvements in antimicrobial efficacy. Mechanism analysis highlighted synergistic effects from chemical covalent bonding and hydrogen bonding in the DAC@Ag1/N-CNF, enhancing the mechanical and antimicrobial properties significantly. The addition of N-CNF markedly augmented the properties of the composite film, thereby facilitating its broader application in the antimicrobial field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The demand for antimicrobial materials is gradually increasing due to the threat of infections and diseases caused by microorganisms. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are widely used because of their broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties, but their synthesis methods are often environmentally harmful and AgNPs difficult to isolate, which limits their application in several fields. In this study, an aqueous solution of dialdehyde cellulose (DAC) was prepared and used as a reducing agent to synthesize AgNPs in an efficient and environmentally friendly process. The synthesized AgNPs can be easily separated from the reducing agent to expand their applications. In addition, the AgNPs were immobilized in situ on dialdehyde cellulose to form antibacterial composite films. The results showed that the prepared silver nanoparticles were mainly spherical and uniformly dispersed, with an average size of about 25 nm under optimal conditions. Moreover, the dialdehyde cellulose–nanosilver (DAC@Ag) composite films had excellent mechanical properties, positive transparency, ultraviolet-blocking properties, and effective antibacterial activity against E. coli and S. aureus. Notably, the composite films exhibited excellent oxygen and water vapor barrier properties, with WVT and ORT of 136.41 g/m2·24 h (30 °C, 75% RH) and <0.02 cm3/m2·24 h·0.1 MPa (30 °C, 75% RH), respectively, better than commercial PE films. Hence, this study not only provides an environmentally friendly method for the preparation of silver nanoparticles, but also offers a simple and novel strategy for the in situ synthesis of silver-loaded antibacterial composite films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study described the multiphasic and multi-sized lignocellulose-based suspension (LBS) prepared by green method and its adsorption and phase behavior at O/W interface. The LBS consisting of lignin containing microfibrils (LMFs), lignin containing cellulose nanofibers (LCNFs), and lignin nanoparticles (LNPs), was obtained by mechanical fibrillation and high-shear treatments. They had different functions in emulsion stabilization: (1) synergistic irreversible adsorption of LCNFs and LNPs limited the coalescence of droplets and formed micro-sized droplets; (2) droplets filled in the LMFs network creating a strong fiber-droplet network structure. The fluorescent micrographs confirmed the synergistic irreversible adsorption of LCNFs and LNPs on the surface of the droplets, which was conductive to the high interfacial stability. The droplets were deformed rather than being destroyed under the high flow speed. The increasing viscosity, improving gel-like behavior, decreasing creep compliance and increasing yield stress demonstrated that the internal droplets can support the fiber network to delay the destruction under shear force. And the fiber-droplet network can automatically regenerate in situ after completed destruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A pre-assembled framework structure hydrogel (Cu2+-CNF hydrogel) was developed. • Explained the formation mechanism of the pre-assembled framework in Cu2+-CNF hydrogel. • Cu2+-CNF hydrogel exhibited excellent adsorption properties and mechanical properties. • Propose a general strategy for the pre-assembly of framework hydrogels. Hydrogels can effectively address various adsorption requirements as a multifunctional adsorbent material with a three-dimensional spatial network. However, conventional hydrogels, typically synthesized using the one-pot method, often exhibit a heterogeneous internal structural arrangement, leading to non-uniform stress distribution when interacting with heavy metal ions. This has resulted in the structural disruption of conventional hydrogels in the adsorption of heavy metal ions, and they exhibit low adsorption performance, low cycling performance, and non-selective adsorption. Herein, a preassembled framework structure hydrogel (Cu2+-CNF hydrogel) was developed by introducing template ions (Cu2+), which have been coordinated with monomers (Acrylic acid and Acrylamide), into a network of cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) polymers. The obtained Cu2+-CNF hydrogel exhibited excellent adsorption properties(Cu2+-CNF hydrogel, 402 mg/g) compared to those prepared by the one-pot method(CNF hydrogel, 129 mg/g). In addition, the Cu2+-CNF hydrogel has superior selective adsorption property and tensile strain properties (CNF hydrogel: 20 % to Cu2+-CNF hydrogel: 100 %) at higher swelling ratios (CNF hydrogel: 2313 wt% to Cu2+-CNF hydrogel: 8379 wt%). Even after multiple folding or repeated adsorption–desorption cycles, the integrity of the structure and adsorption function can still be maintained. This work provides a general strategy for preparing a new type of nanocellulose hydrogel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Widely employed petroleum-based food packaging materials have inflicted irreparable harm on ecosystems, primarily stemming from their non-biodegradable attributes and recycling complexities. Inspired by natural nacre with a layered aragonite platelet/nanofiber/protein multi-structure, we prepared high-barrier composite films by self-assembly of cellulose nanofibrils (CNF), cellulose nanocrystals (CNC), montmorillonite (MMT), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and alkyl ketene dimer (AKD). The composite films demonstrated outstanding barrier properties with oxygen vapor transmission of 0.193 g·mm·m−2·day−1 and water vapor transmission rates of 0.062 cm3·mm·m−2·day−1·0.1 MPa−1, which were significantly lower than those of most biomass-degradable packaging materials. Additionally, the impacts of mixing nanocellulose with various aspect ratios on the tensile strength and folding cycles of the films were examined. The exceptional resistance of the composite films to oil and water provides a novel and sustainable approach to reduce non-biodegradable plastic packaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recycled paper and some hardwood paper often display poorer mechanical properties, which hinder its practical applications and need to be addressed. In this work, cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) obtained by a combined process of enzymatic hydrolysis and grinding (EG-CNFs), grinding and microfluidization (GH-CNFs) or TEMPO-mediated oxidation and grinding (TE-CNFs) were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Moreover, CNFs were made into films on which some characterizations including X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and UV–Vis transmittance spectroscopy were implemented. Results showed that CNF fibrillation was promoted as times of passes increased in microfluidization, and CNFs pretreated by enzyme possessed shorter length. Crystallinity of CNFs was related to CNF manufacturing methods, while CNF films' transparency was correlated to CNF diameter distributions. Moreover, CNFs were applied with different dosages on recycled and hardwood paper. Lengths of CNFs, strength of CNF network, and pulp properties were critical factors affecting the mechanical strength of CNFs-enhanced paper. GH-CNFs showed better strengthened effect on tensile strength of paper than TE-CNFs and EG-CNFs. The best overall improvement was achieved at GH-CNF10 dosage of 5.0 wt% on hardwood paper. The increment of tensile index, burst index, and folding endurance were 108.32%, 104.65%, and 600%, respectively. This work aims to find out the relationship between production methods and morphologies of CNFs and how the morphological characteristics of CNFs affecting the mechanical performance of paper when they are added as strength additives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Direct addition of disinfectants and membrane separation techniques have been common methods to address microbial contamination in water. However, disinfectants may generate toxic by-products, and even minor damage or biofilm formation on filtration membranes can lead to a heightened risk of microbial contamination. Consequently, how to quickly and safely disinfect microbial contaminated water sources remains a huge challenge. In this study, the high-strength broad-spectrum antibacterial CNF/CS composite membrane was fabricated by utilizing cellulose nanofibers (CNF) to reinforce the structure of chitosan (CS). The resulting CNF/CS composite membrane exhibits an impressive tensile strength of 148 MPa and boasts an active chlorine content of 5.29 %. Notably, even after undergoing 50 washing cycles and 10 repeated chlorination procedures, the structural integrity and high active chlorine content of the composite membrane remain preserved, validating its exceptional strength, stability, and chlorine rechargeability. Additionally, the CNF/CS antibacterial materials demonstrate remarkable attributes in terms of rapid sterilization, sustained and consistent release of active chlorine, and efficient inhibition of biofilm formation, demonstrating great potential in efficient, green, and safe sterilization. [Display omitted] • CS is used as N-haloamine antibacterial substance. • CNF and CS form a lamellar structure to prevent the destruction of chitosan structure by chlorination. • The active chlorine content of Chlorinated CNF-3/CS-1 can reach 5.29 wt% • The CNF-3/CS-1 still maintains its integrity and high active chlorine content after 50 washing and 10 repeated chlorination. • Chlorinated CNF/CS membranes kill Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus within 60 s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We give a criterion to determine when two external rays land at the same point for polynomials with locally connected Julia sets. As an application, we provide an elementary proof of the monotonicity of the core entropy along arbitrary veins of the Mandelbrot set. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To investigate the protective effect and its mechanism of Naotaifang( Brain Blood-activating Formula, NTF)on rat cortical neurons injury induced by hemoglobin( Hb) in vitro. Methods Primary cortical neurons from newborn SD rats were cultured and induced by Hb( 10micmol/L) to simulate iron overload of neurons after ICH. The cultured neurons were randomly divided into the normal group, model group, blank serum group, 10% NTF gmedicated serum roup and deferoxamine ( DFX) group. Neuron viability was detected by CCK8 assay. The content of iron in neurons was detected by Calcein-AM staining. The protein expressions of transferring ( Tf), transferrin receptor (TfR) and divalent metal ion transporter DMT1 ) in neurons were detected by immunofluorescent staining and high content analysis (HCA). The content of lipid ROS was detected by using ELISA assay. The expressions of mRNA,Tf, TfR and DMT1 were detected with real-time PCR. Results Compared with the normal group, in the model group the neuron viability was markedly decreased(P <0.01), the iron and lipid ROS levels were significantly increased (P <0.01), and the expression of mRNA,Tf, TfR and DMT-1 were srgnificantly up-regulated(P <0.01). Compared with model group,in DFX and NTF groups, the neuron viability was srgnificantly increased (P <0.01 orP<0. 05); the levels of iron and lipid ROS were significantly decreased(P <0. 01) ; moreover, the expression levels of Tf, TfR, DMT-1 and mRNA were markedly down-regulated(P <0. 01 or P <0. 05) . No significant difference was observed between the DFX group and 10% NTF group (P >0. 05). Conclusion NTF might alleviate the iron overload and lipid ROS accumulation of Hb by regulating the iron metabolism in induced rat cortical neurons injury, so as to improve the activity of neurons. Its effect seems to be consistent with that of ferroptosis inhibitor DFX, suggesting that NTF could possibly exert neuroprotective effect by inhibiting ferroptosis of neurons after ICH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of next‐generation flexible electronics hinges on the creation of materials that are not only mechanically robust but also multifunctional. Herein, a novel approach is presented to fabricate an aramid nanofibers/cellulose nanocrystals/montmorillonite nanoplates (ACM) composite substrate with a robust “brick and mortar” microstructure. This substrate is seamlessly integrated with a high‐performance graphene/silver nanowire (G/Ag) composite conductive layer, resulting in the creation of ACM&G/Ag nanopapers. The resulting nanopapers achieve remarkable tensile strength (δc) (543.82 MPa), tensile modulus (Ec) (10.93 GPa), and toughness (Uc) (95.18 MJ m−3). Notably, when normalized by weight, the specific tensile strength of these nanopapers surpasses that of commercial titanium alloy, reaching 399.87 MPa g−1 cm3, compared to titanium alloy's 257.00 MPa g−1 cm3. With a high conductivity of 1398.08 S cm−1, ACM&G/Ag nanopapers exhibit impressive electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness (EMI SE) of 39.59 dB and EMI SE/t of 16359.26 dB cm−1. Moreover, ACM&G/Ag nanopapers exhibit exceptional thermal management performance, featuring high electrical heating temperature (280 °C), rapid response time (<6 s), enduring heating stability, deicing capacity, and reliable heating performance even in humid environments. These results underscore the substantial potential of these high‐performance nanopapers in diverse applications such as wearable devices, electromagnetic compatibility, thermal management, human health, and aerospace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • We first investigated the hornification of nanocellulose (CNCs, CNF) during dehydration with different solid content. • In order to avoid the effect of drying, liquid AFM mode was carried out in this work. • The different water contents of nanocellulose were quantified by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). • The amount of free water, freezing bound water, and non-freezing bound water were completely removed in sequence. • The hydroxyl accessibility of both redispersed CNCs and CNF were reduced via evaluating the uptake of fluorescent dyes. Abstract Hornification are usually occurred in cellulosic fibers and even in nanocellulose fibrils during dehydration process but their mesoscopic structural changes is not fully understood. Here we investigated the structural features of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) with different solid content. In order to avoid the effect of drying, liquid AFM mode was carried out in this work. The different water contents of nanocellulose were quantified by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). We showed evidence of extreme growth in radial direction in the redispersed nanocelluloses, analyzed by statistics of contours from microscopy images. The amount of free water, freezing bound water, and non-freezing bound water decreased gradually during water evaporation and were completely removed in sequence. In addition, the hydroxyl accessibility of both redispersed CNCs and CNF were reduced by 83.33% and 81.96% via evaluating the uptake of fluorescent dyes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lignin-containing cellulose nanopapers are emerging multifunctional materials in the fields of coatings, films, and packaging. However, the forming mechanism and properties of nanopapers with various lignin content have not been thoroughly studied. In this work, a mechanically strong nanopaper was fabricated based on lignin-containing cellulose micro- and nano-hybrid fibrils (LCNFs). The influence of lignin content and fibrils morphology on the formation process of nanopapers was investigated to understand the strengthening mechanism of nanopapers. LCNFs with high lignin content provided nanopapers with intertwined micro- and nano-hybrid fibrils layers with small layer spacing, while LCNFs with low lignin content offered nanopapers interlaced nanofibrils layers with large layer spacing. Although lignin was expected to interfere with hydrogen bonds between fibrils, the uniformly distributed lignin contributed to the stress transfer between fibrils. Due to the good coordination between microfibrils, nanofibrils and lignin (as network skeleton, filler and natural binder, respectively), the well-designed LCNFs nanopapers with lignin content of 14.5 % showed excellent mechanical properties, including tensile strength (183.8 MPa), Young's modulus (5.6 GPa) and elongation (9.2 %). This work deeply reveals the relationship between lignin content, morphology and strengthening mechanism of nanopapers, and providing theoretical guidance for employing LCNFs as structural and reinforcing materials to design robust composites. • The forming mechanisms of nanopapers with different lignin content were revealed. • The strengthening mechanism of LCNFs nanopapers was systematically investigated. • Lignin can preserve the mechanical properties of nanopapers by aiding stress transfer. • The influence of different molding methods on nanopapers strength was revealed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we report a new characterization method using fluorescent cellulose nanofibrils to analyze retention and loss rates in the papermaking process. Cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) were isolated from chemical pulp by enzymatic pretreatment and used as a strengthening additive in sheet forming. The aim of this paper was to investigate its effects on flocculation, retention and loss rate and the physical and mechanical properties. CNF was subjected to fluorescent labeling with RBITC (Rhodamine B isothiocyanate), and the retention of fluorescent cellulose nanofibrils (FCNF) was analyzed by elemental analysis and fluorescence intensity. The retention and loss rate of the FCNF decreased with increasing the addition of FCNF. Laser Confocal Scanning Microscopy (LCSM) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) images confirmed that FCNF can be evenly distributed in the paper. A thorough investigation of the relation between the retention rate and papersheet performance was conducted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) have excellent properties, such as reproducibility, low biodegradability and a large amount of reactive hydroxyl groups on the surface. This study focused on the labeling efficiency and fluorescent properties of the fluorescent labeling of CNCs by means of electrostatic adsorption and covalent bonding. The CNCs in the sample were approximately 94.76% successfully labeled with dyes, and the number of dye molecules adsorbed by per CNC was approximately 208 by electrostatic adsorption. For the sample covalently linked, the efficiency of the fluorescent labeling was 95.51%, and the number of dye molecules attached to per CNC was 1038. The quenching mode of the fluorescent CNCs was dynamic quenching. The fluorescence lifetime and quantum yield of the fluorescent CNCs increased by 1–2 times compared to the free dye. A thorough investigation of the relation between the binding mechanism and the fluorescent properties in fluorescent CNCs was conducted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intestinal microbiota is a unique ecosystem, known as the "second genome" of human beings. With the widespread application of next generation sequencing (NGS), especially 16 S rRNA and shotgun sequencing, numerous studies have shown that dysregulation of intestinal microbiota is associated with many central nervous system diseases. Ischemic stroke (IS) is a cerebrovascular disease with high morbidity and mortality. Brain damage in IS affects intestinal function, and intestinal dysfunction further aggravates brain damage, forming a vicious circle of mutual interference in pathology. The microbiota-gut-brain axis study based on the intestinal microbiota has opened up broader ideas for exploring its pathogenesis and risk factors, and also provided more possibilities for the selection of therapeutic targets for this type of drug. This review discussed the application of NGS technology in the study of intestinal microbiota and the research progress of microbiota-gut-brain axis in recent years, and systematically sorts out the literature on the relationship between ischemic stroke and intestinal microbiota. It starts with the characteristics of microbiota-gut-brain axis' bidirectional regulation, respectively discusses the high risk factors of IS under intestinal microbiota imbalance and the physiological and pathological changes of intestinal microbiota after IS, and summarizes the related targets, in order to provide reliable reference for the treatment of IS from intestinal microbiota. In addition, natural botanical active ingredients have achieved good results in the treatment of IS based on regulating the homeostasis of gut microbiota, providing new evidence for studying the potential targets and therapies of IS based on the microbiota-gut-brain axis. • This review summarized the mechanism of intestinal microbiota regulating immunity and inflammation in ischemic stroke. • This review summarizes the role of natural botanical active ingredients in regulating intestinal microbiota. • Regulation of intestinal microbiota in ischemic stroke is proposed as a potential therapeutic strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) is endowed with antibacterial group and hydrophobic structure by green technology to prepare reusable antibacterial oil–water separation materials with the function of recovering and purifying polluted water resources. [Display omitted] • Hydrophobic antibacterial aerogels by NFC grafting CC and HDTMS. • Chlorinated aerogel with superb reusability, UV light and washing stability. • Aerogels maintain high adsorption capacity after 30 water/oil separation cycles. • Chlorinated aerogels kill Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus within 60 s. Green and renewable bio-based composites with antibacterial and oil–water separation properties are of great significance to solve oily wastewater threatened the human health and ecological environment. Herein, naturally degradable nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) is used as substrate to prepare NFC aerogels with antibacterial and oil–water separation functions via grafting by cyanuric chloride (CC) and hexadecyltrimet -hoxysilane in aqueous phase. In particular, the grafting reaction of CC and NFC in aqueous phase overcomes the shortcomings of requiring low temperature environment and complex multi-solvent system. In addition, the aerogels have strong bactericidal activity and excellent antibacterial stability against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. After repeated washing and long-term UV irradiation, more than 95 % of the antibacterial activity can be recovered after rechlorination. Moreover, the adsorption capacity of dichloromethane on aerogels is still higher than 50 g/g after 30 absorption-extrusion cycles under the premise of sufficient antibacterial substance. Overall, such a simple, green, low-cost method to produce renewable and reusable antibacterial materials for oil–water separation displays great potential in wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Post-fibrillation endoglucanase treatment was employed to reduce the entanglement of cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) produced with low extent of mechanical milling. The results showed that post-fibrillation endoglucanase treatment can effectively reduce the fibril degree of polymerization (DP) values and therefore entanglement. Cellulose DP was reduced from 520 for CNFs prepared by milling using a SuperMassColloider with 1 pass to 225 after endoglucanase treatment at a low dosage of 1 mg protein/g fibril for 24 h. Endoglucanase treatment can also effectively reduce the fibril mean diameter from 66 nm to 25 nm. Applying post-fibrillation endoglucanase treatment produced more uniform CNFs than the feed CNFs from pure mechanical treatment. All CNFs suspensions prepared by post-fibrillation endoglucanase treatment were non-Newtonian (except at very low concentrations below 0.5 wt%) with shear thinning behavior. Post-fibrillation endoglucanase treatment reduced the viscosity of CNF suspensions due to decreasing fibril DP values and the extent of entanglement. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We study the family of renormalization transformations of the generalized d-dimensional diamond hierarchical Potts model in statistical mechanic and prove that their Julia sets and non-escaping loci are always connected, where . In particular, we prove that their Julia sets can never be a Sierpiński carpet if the parameter is real. We show that the Julia set is a quasicircle if and only if the parameter lies in the unbounded capture domain of these models. Moreover, the asymptotic formula of the Hausdorff dimension of the Julia set is calculated as the parameter tends to infinity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

[Display omitted] • The AgNWs/NFC aerogel was designed by directional freeze-casting followed by thermal welding for multifunctional strain sensor. • The assembled sensor displayed desirable sensitivity (3.86 kPa−1) and exceptional stability and durability (over 10,000 cycles). • The sensing mechanism of the sensor was investigated systematically. • The multifunctional aerogel possessed a potential candidate for wearable devices. Wearable strain sensors have drawn growing interest in the field of intelligent electronic devices because of their inherent advantages including miniaturization and portability. For practical applications, strain sensors with lightness, flexibility, and high sensitivity are urgently desired. Herein, the interconnected silver nanowires (AgNWs) are assembled into the nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) aerogel through unidirectional freeze-drying yielding an ultralight and conductive AgNWs/NFC aerogel (SNA) with ordered pore orientation. After thermal welding, the SNA possesses unique electron transfer channels, which can efficiently eliminate the interfacial electrical resistance at the AgNWs junctions and bring an impressive conductivity enhancement for the composite aerogel. Benefiting from the synergy of the desired microstructure and superior conductivity of as-prepared aerogel, the derived sensor shows desirable sensitivity (3.86 kPa−1), fast response time (180 ms), ultralow density (less than 13.58 mg/cm3) and detection limit of 0.5% strain, and exceptional stability and durability (over 10,000 cycles). Significantly, the integrated conductive network in SNA simultaneously offers real-time monitoring of subtle deformations and electrophysiological signals, which enables the designs of wearable device, acoustic sensor, and vehicles' speed and loading detector. The presented strategy opens up a new possibility for designing and manufacturing next-generation multifunctional strain sensor to bring the technology much closer to commercialization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MXene-based nanocomposites are highly desirable for electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding applications. However, it is crucial but challenging to obtain an excellent trade-off between mechanical properties and EMI performances. Herein, inspired by Janus structure, flexible cellulose nanofiber-assisted MXene/silver nanowires (CNF-MXene/AgNWs) papers (CMAPs) are developed by a scalable sequential self-assembly plus a hot-pressing strategy. The ingenious introduction of highly conductive AgNWs into MXene forms a complementary leaf-like nanostructure, synergistically constructing highly effective conductive frameworks. Contributed by the designed Janus architecture, high-performance CNF substrate, and extensive hydrogen-bonding interactions, the resultant Janus CMAPs (J-CMAPs) with a low MXene/AgNWs addition of 30 wt% possess a high electrical conductivity (1066.85 S/cm), excellent mechanical strength (224.04 MPa) and modulus (9.98 GPa), exceptional EMI shielding effectiveness of 43.65 dB, and record-high EMI SE/t of 16788.51 dB cm−1 and SSE/t of 10543.18 dB cm2 g−1 with a reflection-dominant shielding mechanism, successfully achieving an outstanding balance between mechanical properties and EMI shielding performances. More importantly, high frequency structure simulator (HFSS) simulation in the frequency domain is further conducted to intuitively comprehend the attenuation process of electromagnetic waves and shield mechanism, verifying fascinating EMI shielding performances. Besides, the Janus paper also presents desirable Joule heating performances at low input voltage, short response time (<10 s), and superb heating stability and long-term steady reliability. We believe that the J-CMAPs demonstrate the great potential and advantage for advanced EMI shielding and portable thermal management applications. SynopsisIn this paper, inspired by Janus structure, flexible CNF-assisted MXene/AgNWs nanopapers with both excellent mechanical properties and impressive EMI shielding performance are developed. The nanopapers exhibit a high electrical conductivity, superior mechanical properties, impressive EMI shielding effectiveness of 43.65 dB, and record-high EMI SE/t of 16788.51 dB cm−1 and SSE/t of 10543.18 dB cm2 g−1, suggesting the great potential for advanced EMI shielding applications. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aimed to study the stabilization mechanism induced by different morphologies of cellulosic fiber in O/W emulsion. Three types of cellulosic fibers were named squashed cellulose, incompletely nanofibrillated cellulose, and completely nanofibrillated cellulose, respectively. Squashed cellulose acted as barriers between the droplets to stabilize emulsion via depletion flocculation, whereas incompletely nanofibrillated and completely nanofibrillated cellulose formed covering layer via interfacial adsorption and connected adjacent droplets to create the droplet-fiber network structure via bridging flocculation. Differently, completely nanofibrillated cellulose formed the denser covering layer leading to a more stability of droplet. Importantly, it had the higher capacity of bridging flocculation, which can tightly connect the adjacent droplets to form a stronger droplet-fiber 3D network structure. Consequently, in rheological analysis including creep compliance, and dynamic modulus, the corresponding emulsions showed excellent anti-deformation ability and dynamic stability. This study provides practical guidance on the productions of foodstuff and cosmetic. • Different morphologies of cellulosic fiber obtained by mechanical fibrillation. • Squashed cellulose stabilized Pickering emulsions by depletion flocculation. • Interfacial adsorption and bridging flocculation formed droplet-fiber 3D structure. • Rheological properties revealed the interaction between droplets and cellulose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bletilla striata polysaccharides (BSPs) are effective for anti-inflammatory, detumescence, and radicals scavenging, with important applications in the area of food chain, pharmacy science, and health care. In this study, we comprehensively studied the interplay between the polysaccharides' formation, physicochemical properties, rheological properties, and associated antioxidant activities of BSPs from different extraction methods. The crude polysaccharides obtained from Bletilla striata by using the hot water extraction (BSPs-H), alkali-assisted extraction (BSPs-A), boiling water extraction (BSPs-B), and ultrasonic-assisted extraction (BSPs-U) methods showed different molecular weights, monosaccharide compositions, glycosidic bond compositions, and zeta potentials, but with the same IR spectra characteristic and thermal stability. By the above-mentioned four kinds of extraction methods, the resultant BSPs exhibited various degrees of reticular and lamellar structure. All the BSPs solutions exhibited shear-thinning behavior with the increase of the shear rate. Among these BSPs, BSPs-A exhibited better DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities and reducing power, whereas BSPs-H showed better hydroxyl radical scavenging activities. • Extraction methods were compared for Bletilla striata polysaccharides (BSPs). • Preliminary structure characteristics were conducted for the BSPs. • Extraction methods impacted branched structure and crosslinked networks of BSPs. • BSPs-A showed good antioxidant activity and unique rheological properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Opioid analgesic tolerance is a phenomenon defined as a need for increasingly higher doses of opiates to maintain suitable pain relief following repeated drug exposure. Research suggests that analgesic tolerance may result from heightened NMDA receptor (NMDAR) activity, but little is known regarding the mechanisms by which this elevated NMDAR activity develops. Recent evidence suggests that glutamate transporter down-regulation follows repeated opiate exposure and contributes to heightened pain sensitivity. Though glutamate transporter inhibition has been shown to increase activity of spinal cord neurons, it is unknown whether this increase contributes to the heightened NMDAR activity that underlies opiate tolerance. We directly tested this hypothesis by comparing the effects of glutamate transporter inhibition on excitatory post-synaptic currents (EPSCs) in the spinal cord dorsal horn of opiate naïve and opiate tolerant rats. We show that non-selective glutamate transporter inhibition increases the rate of spontaneous excitatory post-synaptic currents (sEPSCs) in the opiate naïve, but not opiate tolerant slice. This potentiation occurs in the presence of the sodium channel blocker tetrodotoxin (TTX) and is blocked by the NMDAR antagonist d-2-amino-5-phosphonovalerate (APV). The sEPSC rate is elevated at baseline in the opiate tolerant spinal cord slice compared to the opiate naïve slice, and glutamate transporter inhibition eliminates this difference. Taken together, we conclude that glutamate transporter inhibition directly contributes to heightened NMDAR activity. Furthermore, we propose that the increased neural activity observed in the opiate tolerant slice is due to a state of glutamate transporter down-regulation and resultant heightened NMDAR activity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In response to constant current inputs, the firing rates of motoneurons typically show a continuous decline over time. The biophysical mechanisms underlying this process, called spike-frequency adaptation, are not well understood. Spike-frequency adaptation normally exhibits a rapid initial phase, followed by a slow, later phase that continues throughout the duration of firing. One possible mechanism mediating the later phase might be a reduction in the persistent sodium current (I(NaP)) that has been shown to diminish the capacity of cortical pyramidal neurons and spinal motoneurons to sustain repetitive firing. In this study, we used the anticonvulsant phenytoin to reduce the I(NaP) of juvenile rat hypoglossal motoneurons recorded in brain stem slices, and we examined the consequences of a reduction in I(NaP) on the magnitude and time course of spike-frequency adaptation. Adding phenytoin to the bathing solution (> or =50 microM) generally produced a marked reduction in the persistent inward currents (PICs) recorded at the soma in response to slow, voltage-clamp triangular ramp commands (-70 to 0 mV and back). However, the same concentrations of phenytoin appeared to have no significant effect on spike-frequency adaptation even though the phenytoin often augmented the reduction in action potential amplitude that occurs during repetitive firing. The surprising finding that the reduction of a source of sustained inward current had no appreciable effect on the pattern of spike generation suggests that several types of membrane channels must act cooperatively to insure that these motoneurons can generate the sustained repetitive firing required for long-lasting motor behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid development of the industry has led to the destruction of the earth's ozone layer, resulting in an increasingly serious problem of excessive ultraviolet radiation. Exploring effective measures to address these problems has become a hot topic. Lignin shows promise in the design and preparation of anti-ultraviolet products due to its inherent properties. However, it is important to investigate way to enhance the reactivity of lignin and determine its application form in related products. In this study, phenolic reactions with tea polyphenols were conducted through acid-catalyzed conversion, utilizing organic solvent lignin as the primary material. The phenolic hydroxyl content of the original lignin increased significantly by 218.8 %, resulting in notable improvements in UV resistance and oxidation resistance for phenolic lignin. Additionally, micro-nanocapsule emulsions were formed using phenolic lignin particles as surfactants through ultrasonic cavitation with small-molecule sunscreens. A bio-based sunscreen was prepared with phenolated lignin micro-nanocapsules as the active ingredient, achieving an SPF 100.2 and demonstrating excellent stability. The sunscreen also exhibited strong antioxidant properties and impermeability, ensuring user safety. This research offers a current solution for improving the application of lignin in sunscreens while also broadening the potential uses of plant-based materials in advanced functional products. [Display omitted] • A green method for preparing phenolic lignin by tea polyphenol. • A stable Pickering emulsion was prepared by tea polyphenols phenolated lignin. • Small molecule sunscreen and phenolic lignin exhibits a synergistic effect. • Bio-based sunscreen with excellent anti-UV, antioxidant and anti-permeability [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microscopically structural switching of supramolecular networks endows programmable gel materials with dynamic hiding properties and functionalities. However, the reconstruction of supramolecular network will destroy the programming information imprinted on the original network structure, making it difficult to restore to the original state. Here, a novel intelligent programmable photonic gel composed of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) and acrylamide is constructed. The mechanical properties and optical signals of gel can be switched reversibly on demand by reasonably designing the winding and compression between molecular structures. Under this conversion mechanism, the rigid "skeleton" constructed from the CNC chiral structure perfectly acts as the coding substrate. Importantly, even after multiple dynamic switching of the supramolecular network, the encoded information can be displayed completely and accurately on the CNC chiral structure in the stretched state. In addition, the 5D controllable conversion of stiffness, transparency, stretchability, color, and shape greatly improves the security and confidentiality of the encoded information inside the gel. This is a successful example of the application of CNC chiral structure in switchable supramolecular network materials. It is believed that the flexible variability and advanced camouflage give the intelligent gel the potential to be used in a wider range of practical scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Relationship between CNF morphology and reinforced effect for recycled fibers. • CNFs had good reinforced effect and little damage on dewatering efficiency. • CNFs reinforced recycled fibers with no need of polyelectrolytes. • CNF form deposited on fibers and mechanism of reinforcement were discussed. In current study, CNFs produced by different mechanical methods, were used to improve the mechanical properties of recycled paper. The result showed the morphology of CNFs had great impact on reinforced effect and the length of fibrils determined their contribution in recycled paper strength. For different CNFs with similar diameter, the higher aspect ratio resulted in better reinforced effect. The CNFs produced by microfluidic homogenization and suitable PFI milling conditions (RM-CNF1) got best reinforced effect which improved tensile index and burst index by 35.5 % and 49.4 % at 5.0 wt% addition, respectively, due to their high aspect ratio. Although the CNFs produced by ball milling and ultrasonication (BU-CNF2) still had many bundles that were not fibrillated completely, their reinforced effect just below RM-CNF1 due to their special morphology and high retention rate. This work aims to study the influence of CNFs on recycled fibers reinforcement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Cellulose nanofibers containing various content lignin were obtained. • Lignin content of pulp had two-sides on the mechanical fibrillation and rheology. • High content lignin interfered in gel strength and yield stress of LCNF suspensions. • LCNF suspensions with residual lignin show excellent recovery capacity and strong network. This study aims to investigate the relationship between lignin content, morphology, and rheology of lignin containing cellulose nanofibers (LCNFs). The morphology and rheology of LCNFs were dominated by lignin content. Lignin content had two-sides on mechanical fibrillation. At high lignin content (23.79 %), reduced efficiency of defibrillation resulted in large LCNFs connecting with lignin patches. LCNF suspensions exhibited low viscosity, weak gel behavior due to infirm fibril network. Small yield stress of 1.14 Pa suggested that fibril network was easily disrupted. At residual lignin of 6.52 %, fibril bundles were sensitive to defibrillation, producing long and flexible LCNFs with high capacity of entanglement. The entangled fibril network had high viscosity and strong gel like behavior. Creep compliance of 0.09 Pa−1 and large yield stress of 4.25 Pa indicated excellent resistance to deformation. The desired rheology can be tailored by lignin content, providing practical guidance on novel rheology-dependent LCNF based materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synopsis A simple way to fabricate novel and simple method to prepare the waterborne fluorescent dual anti-counterfeiting ink based on Yb and Er doped CQDs/DANFC composites, which provides a reference for its anti-counterfeiting application in printing and packaging industry. • A method to fabricate Yb and Er doped CQDs grafted onto DANFC was designed. • The composites exhibited both photoluminescence and up-conversion luminescence. • The quantum yield of doped CQDs was 28 %, which was much higher than before (10 %). • Due to special rheological properties of NFC, the ink got good printing effect. • The waterborne ink displayed excellent printing performance on different media. Nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) is becoming popular in the field of anti-counterfeiting material due to its favorable biocompatibility, renewability, and easy modification properties, which give it great potentials as carrier of carbon quantum dots (CQDs). Herein, we report an effective method to fabricate Yb and Er doped CQDs grafted onto dialdehyde NFC (DANFC). Owning to special rheological properties of NFC, a waterborne fluorescent dual anti-counterfeiting ink was rationally designed and successfully prepared by adding NFC to waterborne ink to form a stable network structure and increase the thixotropy and yield stress. The resulting CQDs exhibited both photoluminescence (PL) and up-conversion luminescence (UCPL), emitting blue and green fluorescence at excitation wavelengths of 370 and 980 nm, respectively. The study provides a novel method to prepare the waterborne fluorescent dual anti-counterfeiting ink based on Yb and Er doped CQDs/DANFC composites, which provides a reference for its application in printing and packaging industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• 76.96% DP reduction was achieved after treatment by recycled endoglucanase. • Competitive adsorption existed between recycled and fresh endoglucanase. • More fibers were degraded to saccharides when fresh endoglucanase was added. Enzymatic pretreatment as an eco-friendly strategy has offered potential benefits in disintegrating cellulosic fibers into fibrils but limited by its high price. In this study, endoglucanase recycling was investigated in order to reduce endoglucanase expanses. Significant DP reduction can be achieved from 50.88% to 76.96% only by recycling liquid which included free endoglucanase. In the presence of fresh endoglucanase, no more pronounced reduction of DP was observed in all recycling rounds attributing to competitive adsorption between fresh and recycled endoglucanase. Fresh endoglucanase preferentially occupied active sites on cellulose surface, hydrolyzed amorphous region, and followed by degrading fibrils to saccharides together with recycled endoglucanase. This hypothesis was evidenced by increase of saccharides concentration when fresh endoglucanase was added. This study aims to provide theoretical support to decrease endoglucanase cost for deconstruction of fibers to fibrils in industrial manufacture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two types of cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) were isolated from cotton linter fibers and hardwood fibers through mechanical fibrillation methods. The dialdehyde cellulose nanofibrils (DACNFs) were prepared through the periodate oxidation method, and their morphological and structural properties were investigated. The characteristics of the DACNFs during the concentration process were also explored. The AFM analysis results showed that the mean diameters of wood fiber-based CNFs and cotton fiber-based CNFs were about 52.03 nm and 69.51 nm, respectively. However, the periodate oxidation treatment process obviously reduced the nanofibril size and destroyed the crystalline region of the nanofibrils. Due to the high crystallinity of cotton fibers, the cotton fiber-based DACNFs exhibited a lower aldehyde content and suspension stability compared to the wood fiber-based DACNFs. For the concentration process of the DACNF suspension, the bound water content of the concentrated cotton fiber-based DACNFs was lowered to 0.41 g/g, which indicated that the cotton fiber-based DACNFs could have good redispersibility. Both the wood fiber-based and cotton fiber-based DACNF films showed relatively good transmittance and mechanical strength. In addition, to the cotton fiber-based DACNF films had a very low swelling ratio, and the barrier water vapor and oxygen properties of the redispersed cotton fiber-based DACNF films decreased by very little. In sum, this study has demonstrated that cotton fibers could serve as an effective alternative to wood fibers for preparing CNFs, and that cotton fiber-based DACNFs have huge application prospects in the field of packaging film materials due to their stable properties during the concentration process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Previous randomized controlled trials (RCTs) suggested that gut microbiota-based therapies may be effective in treating autoimmune diseases, but a systematic summary is lacking. Methods: Pubmed, EMbase, Sinomed, and other databases were searched for RCTs related to the treatment of autoimmune diseases with probiotics from inception to June 2022. RevMan 5.4 software was used for meta-analysis after 2 investigators independently screened literature, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias of included studies. Results: A total of 80 RCTs and 14 types of autoimmune disease [celiac sprue, SLE, and lupus nephritis (LN), RA, juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), spondyloarthritis, psoriasis, fibromyalgia syndrome, MS, systemic sclerosis, type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), oral lichen planus (OLP), Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis] were included. The results showed that gut microbiota-based therapies may improve the symptoms and/or inflammatory factor of celiac sprue, SLE and LN, JIA, psoriasis, PSS, MS, systemic sclerosis, Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis. However, gut microbiota-based therapies may not improve the symptoms and/or inflammatory factor of spondyloarthritis and RA. Gut microbiota-based therapies may relieve the pain of fibromyalgia syndrome, but the effect on fibromyalgia impact questionnaire score is not significant. Gut microbiota-based therapies may improve HbA1c in T1DM, but its effect on total insulin requirement does not seem to be significant. These RCTs showed that probiotics did not increase the incidence of adverse events. Conclusions: Gut microbiota-based therapies may improve several autoimmune diseases (celiac sprue, SLE and LN, JIA, psoriasis, fibromyalgia syndrome, PSS, MS, T1DM, Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To explore the therapeutic targets, network modules, and coexpressed genes of Radix Rhei Et Rhizome intervention in cerebral infarction (CI), and to predict significant biological processes and pathways through network pharmacology. To explore the differential proteins of Radix Rhei Et Rhizome intervention in CI, conduct bioinformatics verification, and initially explain the possible therapeutic mechanism of Radix Rhei Et Rhizome intervention in CI through proteomics. Methods. The TCM database was used to predict the potential compounds of Radix Rhei Et Rhizome, and the PharmMapper was used to predict its potential targets. GeneCards and OMIM were used to search for CI-related genes. Cytoscape was used to construct a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and to screen out core genes and detection network modules. Then, DAVID and Metascape were used for enrichment analysis. After that, in-depth analysis of the proteomics data was carried out to further explore the mechanism of Radix Rhei Et Rhizome intervention in CI. Results. (1) A total of 14 Radix Rhei Et Rhizome potential components and 425 potential targets were obtained. The core components include sennoside A, palmidin A, emodin, toralactone, and so on. The potential targets were combined with 297 CI genes to construct a PPI network. The targets shared by Radix Rhei Et Rhizome and CI include ALB, AKT1, MMP9, IGF1, CASP3, etc. The biological processes that Radix Rhei Et Rhizome may treat CI include platelet degranulation, cell migration, fibrinolysis, platelet activation, hypoxia, angiogenesis, endothelial cell apoptosis, coagulation, and neuronal apoptosis. The signaling pathways include Ras, PI3K-Akt, TNF, FoxO, HIF-1, and Rap1 signaling pathways. (2) Proteomics shows that the top 20 proteins in the differential protein PPI network were Syp, Syn1, Mbp, Gap43, Aif1, Camk2a, Syt1, Calm1, Calb1, Nsf, Nefl, Hspa5, Nefh, Ncam1, Dcx, Unc13a, Mapk1, Syt2, Dnm1, and Cltc. Differential protein enrichment results show that these proteins may be related to synaptic vesicle cycle, vesicle-mediated transport in synapse, presynaptic endocytosis, synaptic vesicle endocytosis, axon guidance, calcium signaling pathway, and so on. Conclusion. This study combined network pharmacology and proteomics to explore the main material basis of Radix Rhei Et Rhizome for the treatment of CI such as sennoside A, palmidin A, emodin, and toralactone. The mechanism may be related to the regulation of biological processes (such as synaptic vesicle cycle, vesicle-mediated transport in synapse, presynaptic endocytosis, and synaptic vesicle endocytosis) and signaling pathways (such as Ras, PI3K-Akt, TNF, FoxO, HIF-1, Rap1, and axon guidance). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Synthesizing plant oil-based polyesters via a green and sustainable approach. • PUD demonstrated exceptional processability, recycling performance and degradability. • ACNF significantly enhanced the tensile strength, shape retention and barrier ability of ACNF-PUD composites. • ACNF-PUD composites are expected to be used as alternatives to plastics. The development of convenient technologies for green fabrication of bio-based polymers that are mechanically tough, recyclable and completely degradable in soil is an urgent demand. Herein, plant oil-based polyesters (PUD) were cost-effectively fabricated by polymerizing diene ester monomers derived from 10-undecanoic acid under mild solvent-free conditions with a yield of 92 %, making them environmentally friendly. Due to the presence of internal reversible forces, plant oil-based polyesters can be easily processed into various shapes and products. Plant oil-based polyester films exhibited a tensile strength of 10.0 MPa, while also being highly flexible, and water-resistant. Additionally, excellent recycling performance of polyester was achieved in a closed loop by solvent-assisted or hot-pressing depolymerization/repolymerization. Moreover, microorganisms and water in soil can completely degrade plant oil-based polyesters within 15 weeks. However, the mechanical properties and thermal stability of plant oil-based polyesters are still anticipated. Therefore, the addition of acetylated cellulose nanofibers (ACNF) to plant oil-based polyester matrix has obtained the production of biodegradable composites with excellent mechanical properties, thermal stability and barrier properties. The high-performance and eco-friendly nanocomposite has the potential to facilitate the multifunctional utilization of cellulose nanofibers and practical applications of plant oils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder of the central nervous system after Alzheimer's disease. The current understanding of PD focuses mainly on the loss of dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra region of the midbrain, which is attributed to factors such as oxidative stress, alpha-synuclein aggregation, neuroinflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. These factors together contribute to the PD phenotype. Recent studies on PD pathology have introduced a new form of cell death known as ferroptosis. Pathological changes closely linked with ferroptosis have been seen in the brain tissues of PD patients, including alterations in iron metabolism, lipid peroxidation, and increased levels of reactive oxygen species. Preclinical research has demonstrated the neuroprotective qualities of certain iron chelators, antioxidants, Fer-1, and conditioners in Parkinson's disease. Natural plant products have shown significant potential in balancing ferroptosis-related factors and adjusting their expression levels. Therefore, it is vital to understand the mechanisms by which natural plant products inhibit ferroptosis and relieve PD symptoms. This review provides a comprehensive look at ferroptosis, its role in PD pathology, and the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of natural plant products focused on ferroptosis. The insights from this review can serve as useful references for future research on novel ferroptosis inhibitors and lead compounds for PD treatment. • Iron-dependent cell death plays a key role in brain disorders and is implicated in the pathophysiology of PD. • Both in vitro and in vivo experiments provide evidence for the molecular mechanisms of iron-dependent cell death in relation to PD. • Targeting iron-dependent cell death with specific inhibitors may offer new therapeutic opportunities for previously untreatable PD. • Natural plant products may represent a promising direction for the development of novel drugs targeting ferroptosis in the treatment of PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The challenge in energy depletion and environmental pollution urgently demands green and sustainable materials as a new material application platform. Nanocellulose (NC) derived from abundant and renewable resources has been considered as a versatile and sustainable substrate and scaffold to engage various applications. Recently, design and fabricate conductive polymers (CPs)/NC composites as functional electronic devices have received tremendous attention. In this mini review, we start with a brief introduction about the category of nanocellulose, CPs and the preparation strategy of CPs/NC conducive composites followed by discussing the factors that determine the electrical conductivity. Then, we reviewed different CPs/NC composites systems and cited representative electronic application examples including sensors, supercapacitors, lithium-ion batteries. Finally, we proposed current challenges, existing problems and further perspectives and opportunities of CPs/NC conductive composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrial emissions and oil spills as worldwide challenges have induced severe pollution and threatened the ecological environment. Conventionally, superhydrophobic surfaces show underwater lipophilicity, whereas superhydrophilic surfaces exhibit underwater oleophobicity. However, the intrinsic characteristics of these materials limit their practical applications for dealing with industrial oily wastewater. Here, from a chemical point of view, a lignocellulosic fiber surface with superwetting characteristics was successfully fabricated by the strategically adjusted condensation reaction of melamine and formaldehyde, making it underoil superhydrophobic and underwater superoleophobic. The formation of the dual superlyophobic surface in oil/water systems was related to the surface topography and the essential chemistry of the modified lignocellulosic fibers. After being pre-wetted by water, the dual superlyophobic melamine formaldehyde lignocellulosic (DSMFL) fibers were able to separate a light-oil/water mixture by gravity filtration. Simultaneously, the DSMFL fibers were sufficient to separate a heavy-oil/water mixture when they were pre-wetted by a heavy oil under a gravity-driven mechanism. In addition, the DSMFL fibers still showed excellent dual superlyophobicity along with robust chemical stability and had high separation efficiencies for dichloroethane (DCE)/water or kerosene/water mixtures after 50 separation cycles. The effective absorption of the light oil on the upper layer of the aqueous phase exceeded 1000%. Finally, the DSMFL fibers could be degraded into a nitrogen source for plant growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Lignin-polypyrrole interpenetrating networks were developed for supercapacitor (SCs). • LCNFs was used as both flexible substrates and active materials for SCs. • The capacitive strengthening mechanism of lignin was systematically investigated. • The mechanical strengthening mechanism of composite membrane was studied. Lignin-containing cellulose nanofibrils (LCNFs) are emerging and promising multifunctional nanomaterials for economical and eco-friendly flexible supercapacitors (SCs). However, the strengthening mechanism of lignin on the capacitive and mechanical performance of LCNF-based nanocomposite electrodes has not been deeply studied. Herein, a mechanically strong nanocomposite electrode with excellent capacitive performance was fabricated by decorating a sodium lignosulphonate/polypyrrole (LS/PPy) interpenetrating network onto LCNFs, the relationship between lignin content, LCNFs morphology and electrodes performance was systematically investigated. Results showed that lignin could effectively strengthen the capacitive and mechanical performance of the electrodes via providing pseudocapacitance generated by the reversible conversion of quinone/hydroquinone and controlling the fibrillation degree of LCNFs. With decreasing the lignin content, LCNFs gradually transformed from nanofibril bundles to uniform nanofibrils, forming an electrode with hierarchical porous structure, highly interconnected conductive network, high active site exposure rate and excellent capacitive and mechanical performance. However, insufficient lignin could weaken the capacitive and mechanical performance of the electrodes via reducing quinone/hydroquinone content, electrodes porosity and LCNFs strength. Therefore, electrodes with lignin content of 11.4% displayed excellent tensile strength (20.46 MPa) and areal specific capacitance (2567 mF cm−2, 1 mA cm−2). The assembled all-solid-state supercapacitor (ASSC) delivered high coulombic efficiency (∼98%) and energy density, 88.6 μWh cm−2 (499.9 μW cm−2) and 1.74 mWh cm−3 (9.8 mW cm−3) for areal and volumetric energy (power) density, respectively. This work systematically reveals the strengthening mechanism of lignin on the capacitive and mechanical performance of the electrodes and provides theoretical guidance for constructing high-performance LCNF-based nanocomposite electrodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Fully bio-based dynamic adaptive polymer networks were synthesized for plastic substitute. • Building a firm dynamic reversible bridge between DACNF and plant oil-based LCD. • The influence factor on dynamic crosslinking density was verified by molecular dynamics simulation. • The chain length of diamine monomer affects the distribution of dynamic imine and hydrogen bond. • DACNF-PI-LCD exhibited excellent strength, thermally-driven adaptability, recycling capacity and biodegradability. Developing new sustainable materials as plastic replacement has become an urgent task for the rapid accumulation of non-degradable petroleum-based waste plastics. Herein, we report that catalyst-free dynamic reversible exchange operated at room-temperature by Schiff base reaction between dialdehyde cellulose nanofibrils (DACNF) and plant oil-based aliphatic long-chain diamine monomers (LCD). The dynamic imine polymer films are formed using a simple method similar to wet pressing in papermaking, which exhibits excellent mechanical properties and thermally processability for the synergistic of hydrogen bond and dynamic imine bond. The tensile strength and Young's modulus reaches 83.74 MPa and 3.90 GPa, which are significantly higher than those of most traditionally commercial plastics. In addition, the number of hydrogen bonds and dynamic imine bonds from cellulose and dynamic imine polymers are evaluated by molecular dynamics (MD) simulation to gain further insights into the intermolecular interaction. By exploring the mechanism involved in the reversible exchange of dynamic imine bonds and its application in self-healing and recycling, a sustainable adaptive material is expected to be structured. More importantly, the dynamic imine polymers also exhibits excellent water barrier properties, solvent resistance and complete biodegradability, which offers a new strategy for reducing the application of non-degradable plastics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cladophora glomerata ( C. glomerata ) is a kind of widely distributed macroalgae in the freshwater ecosystems. It primarily consists of carbohydrates that can be converted into biofuel by pyrolysis. In this study, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was used to investigate the thermal behavior and kinetics of C. glomerata during the pyrolysis process. The results showed that heating rates slightly affect the decomposition properties of C. glomerata ; with the heating rates increasing, the maximum peak of weight loss rate shifted to higher temperatures. The activation energies of C. glomerata pyrolysis reaction were 244.25 and 238.07 kJ/mol, respectively, as calculated by Friedman and Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose (KAS) methods. The pre-exponential factor and reaction order were determined by Coats-Redfern model, and applied to simulate the pyrolysis process of C. glomerata . The model calculated data and experimental data were consistent. This study could provide theoretical supports for designing C. glomerata conversion processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The charge plays an important role in cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) self-assembly to form liquid crystal structures, which has rarely been systematically explored. In this work, a novel technique combining atomic force microscopy force and atomistic molecular dynamics simulations was addressed for the first time to systematically investigate the differences in the CNC self-assembly caused by external positive and negative charges at the microscopic level, wherein sodium polyacrylate (PAAS) and chitosan oligosaccharides (COS) were used as external positive and negative charge additives, respectively. The results show that although the two additives both make the color of CNC films shift blue and eventually disappear, their regulatory mechanisms are, respectively, related to the extrusion of CNC particles by PAAS and the reduction in CNC surface charge by COS. The two effects both decreased the spacing between CNC particles and further increased the cross angle of CNC stacking arrangement, which finally led to the color variations. Moreover, the disappearance of color was proved to be due to the kinetic arrest of CNC suspensions before forming chiral nematic structure with the addition of PAAS and COS. This work provides an updated theoretical basis for the detailed disclosure of the CNC self-assembly mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ischemic stroke (IS) is one of the leading causes of death and disability. Its pathogenesis is not completely clear, and inflammatory cascade is one of its main pathological processes. The current clinical practice of IS is to restore the blood supply to the ischemic area after IS as soon as possible through thrombolytic therapy to protect the vitality and function of neurons. However, blood reperfusion further accelerates ischemic damage and cause ischemia-reperfusion injury. The pathological process of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury involves multiple mechanisms, and the exact mechanism has not been fully elucidated. Pyroptosis, a newly discovered form of inflammatory programmed cell death, plays an important role in the initiation and progression of inflammation. It is a pro-inflammatory programmed death mediated by caspase Caspase-1/4/5/11, which can lead to cell swelling and rupture, release inflammatory factors IL-1β and IL-18, and induce an inflammatory cascade. Recent studies have shown that pyroptosis and its mediated inflammatory response are important factors in aggravating ischemic brain injury, and inhibition of pyroptosis may alleviate the ischemic brain injury. Furthermore, studies have found that natural plant components may have a regulatory effect on pyroptosis. Therefore, this review not only summarizes the molecular mechanism of pyroptosis and its role in ischemic stroke, but also the role of natural plant components as regulator of pyroptosis, in order to provide reference information on pyroptosis for the treatment of IS in the future. • This review summarized the latest molecular mechanism of pyroptosis on ischemic stroke. • This review summarizes the role of natural plant components as regulator of pyroptosis in ischemic stroke. • Regulation of pyroptosis in ischemic stroke is proposed as a potential therapeutic strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research established the optimal conditions for alkali-assisted extraction (AAE) of bioactive polysaccharides from Bletilla striata integrated with response surface methodology (RSM) and the genetic algorithm-artificial neural networks (GA-ANN). In comparison with RSM, the ANN model showed a relatively higher determination coefficient in the global output values (RSM: ANN = 0.9270: 0.9742) performing more satisfactorily in the validation. Under the optimum conditions (52 °C; 167 min, and 0.01 mol/L NaOH), the extraction yields, IC 50 of ABTS, and FRAP value were 29.53 ± 0.97 %, 3.41 mg/mL, and 39.11 μmol Fe2+/g, respectively. The results indicated that BSPs-A was mainly composed of glucose and mannose with small amounts of arabinose, galactose, and galacturonic acid, while possessed a molecular weight of about 305.94 kDa (Mw). The structural characterization of BSPs-A was initially characterized by FT-IR, SEM, and Congo red tests, which indicated that BSPs-A possessed a triple helix conformation of typical Bletilla striata polysaccharides. In addition, BSPs-A exhibited excellent antioxidant activity, which was further confirmed by a series of in vitro antioxidant activity assays including DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, and ORAC. After incubation in the BSA-glucose system for 15 days, BSPs-A showed inhibition of the advanced glycation end products (AGEs) formation for the first time. [Display omitted] • The extraction of BSPs was optimized and predicted by RSM and GA-ANN models. • The extraction yield of BSPs-A was up to 29.53 % under the optimum conditions. • BSPs-A exhibited excellent antioxidant and anti-glycation activity. • ANN had a higher determination coefficient (0.9742) than RSM for global optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A new method is proposed to prepare the carboxylated cellulose nanocrystals. • The cellulose nanocrystals with high yield and high crystallinity are obtained. • The carboxylated cellulose nanocrystals is used as Pickering emulsion stabilizer. • The stability of emulsion is excellent under low pH or low salt concentration. • The stabilization mechanism of Pickering emulsions is systematically demonstrated. The preparation of carboxylated cellulose nanocrystals (cCNCs) and their stabilization in oil-in-water (O/W) Pickering emulsions hold great potential for application and research value. In this work, a novel integrated oxidation strategy was proposed to prepare needle-like cCNCs by sodium periodate (NaIO 4)/Fenton (SF-cCNCs) with considerable yield (58.58 %), plentiful carboxyl groups (1.28 mmol/g), and high crystallinity (83.3 %). The distinctive features of smaller size and high viscosity accelerated the as-prepared SF-cCNCs to be used in stabilizing Pickering emulsion. Moreover, the effects of oil–water ratio (OWR), SF-cCNCs content, pH, and sodium chloride (NaCl) content on the stability of SF-cCNCs-stabilized Pickering emulsions were also investigated systematically. Interestingly, the stability of the as-obtained emulsions was dependent on pH and salt. Afterwards, the rheological behaviors validated that the emulsion viscosity increased rapidly after adding NaCl, which was dominated by the elastic behavior. Finally, the main stabilization mechanism was confirmed to be interfacial adsorption of SF-cCNCs rather than the formation of spatial network structures between droplets. This study reports a synthetic strategy to efficiently prepare SF-cCNCs, endowing the SF-cCNCs stabilized Pickering emulsion with environmentally friendly, long-term stable and highly anti-agglomeration abilities for cosmetics and food products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A new method is proposed to prepare the carboxylated cellulose nanocrystals. • The cellulose nanocrystals with high yield and high crystallinity are obtained. • The carboxylated cellulose nanocrystals is used as Pickering emulsion stabilizer. • The stability of emulsion is excellent under low pH or low salt concentration. • The stabilization mechanism of Pickering emulsions is systematically demonstrated. The preparation of carboxylated cellulose nanocrystals (cCNCs) and their stabilization in oil-in-water (O/W) Pickering emulsions hold great potential for application and research value. In this work, a novel integrated oxidation strategy was proposed to prepare needle-like cCNCs by sodium periodate (NaIO 4)/Fenton (SF-cCNCs) with considerable yield (58.58 %), plentiful carboxyl groups (1.28 mmol/g), and high crystallinity (83.3 %). The distinctive features of smaller size and high viscosity accelerated the as-prepared SF-cCNCs to be used in stabilizing Pickering emulsion. Moreover, the effects of oil–water ratio (OWR), SF-cCNCs content, pH, and sodium chloride (NaCl) content on the stability of SF-cCNCs-stabilized Pickering emulsions were also investigated systematically. Interestingly, the stability of the as-obtained emulsions was dependent on pH and salt. Afterwards, the rheological behaviors validated that the emulsion viscosity increased rapidly after adding NaCl, which was dominated by the elastic behavior. Finally, the main stabilization mechanism was confirmed to be interfacial adsorption of SF-cCNCs rather than the formation of spatial network structures between droplets. This study reports a synthetic strategy to efficiently prepare SF-cCNCs, endowing the SF-cCNCs stabilized Pickering emulsion with environmentally friendly, long-term stable and highly anti-agglomeration abilities for cosmetics and food products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We prove that every postcritically finite rational map f : C ˆ → C ˆ admits an f n -invariant finite and connected graph containing the postcritical set of f as n is large enough. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water-soluble silver nanoclusters (AgNCs) as a new type of fluorescent material have attracted much attention for their remarkable optical properties and excellent cytocompatibility. However, it is still challenging to synthesize water-soluble AgNCs with good cytocompatibility and excellent fluorescence. Herein, the dialdehyde nanofibrillated cellulose (DANFC)- reduced water-soluble AgNCs capped by glutathione (GSH) with tunable fluorescence emissions were first reported. The DANFC provides a mild reduction environment and crystal growth system for the coordination between silver ions and GSH compared to conventional methods using strong reducing agents. The AgNCs with intense red fluorescence (R-AgNCs@GSH, size ∼2.24 nm) and green fluorescence (G-AgNCs@GSH, size ∼1.93 nm) were produced by varying the ratios of silver sources and ligands, and could maintain stable fluorescence intensity over 6 months. Moreover, the CCK-8 study demonstrated that the R-AgNCs@GSH and G-AgNCs@GSH reduced by DANFC of excellent cytocompatibility (cell viability >90 %) and enable precise multicolor intracellular imaging of Hela cells in 1 h. This work proposes a novel method to synthesize water-soluble AgNCs with tunable fluorescence emission at room temperature based on the classical silver- mirror reaction (SMR) using DANFC as reducing agent, and the synthesized fluorescent AgNCs have great potential as novel luminescent nanomaterials in biological research. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Unique network contributed to the balance of strength and sensitivity of conductors. • The network was ensured by a synergy of micro-enhancement and dynamic crosslinking. • Enough hydrogen bonds alleviated the negative effect of water molecules on the hydrogel. • Conductors displayed a huge potential in the field of soft strain sensors. Although conductive and stretchable ionic conductors are increasingly prepared for flexible sensing applications, such as health monitoring, tissue engineering, and electronic skin, achieving a balance between remarkable mechanical properties and high sensing sensitivity remains a significant challenge. In this work, a dense/loose alternating network was meticulously constructed through a pre-assembly process in sodium citrate solution and a subsequent re-assembly in FeCl 3 solution. This approach ensured the robustness of the network structure and facilitated ion migration. Within the network, a gelatin network cross-linked via covalently and hydrogen bonds was significantly enhanced by a synergy of micro-enhancement and dynamic bidirectional crosslinking containing hydrogen bonds, imine bonds, and Fe coordinate bonds enabled by surface active cellulose. Benefiting from the dense network, the obtained composite hydrogels delivered a strong tensile strength (496.3 kPa), outstanding elastic modulus (917.6 kPa), and an excellent energy dissipation rate (55.6 %) at 80 % of strain. The loose polymer network can also endow Fe3+/Cl− ions with sensitive mobility, leading to an ultra-high sensing sensitivity (maximum GF: 20.06). These exceptional properties enable the ionic conductor to accurately detect a wide range of motions and pressures without being affected by environmental noise. With attributes such as reusability, biodegradability, strength, and sensitivity, this ionic conductor emerges as a reliable soft material with promising applications in the field of healthcare monitoring, wearable strain sensor sensors, and writing anti-counterfeiting materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we investigated the structural characterization and biological activities of Bletilla striata polysaccharides (BSPs) for their role as antioxidants and anti-melanogenesis agents in skin healthcare protection. Three neutral polysaccharides (BSP-1, BSP-2, and BSP-3) with molecular weights of 269.121 kDa, 57.389 kDa, and 28.153 kDa were extracted and purified. Their structural characteristics were analyzed by ion chromatography, GC–MS, and 1D/2D NMR. The results showed that BSP-1, which constitutes the major part of BSPs, was composed of α-D-Glcp, β-D-Glcp, β-D-Manp, and 2- O -acetyl-β-D-Manp, with the branched-chain accompanied by β-D-Galp and α-D-Glcp. BSP-1, BSP-2, and BSP-3 can enhance the total antioxidant capacity of skin fibroblasts with non-toxicity. Meanwhile, BSP-1, BSP-2, and BSP-3 could significantly inhibit the proliferative activity of melanoma cells. Among them, BSP-1 and BSP-2 showed more significance in anti-melanogenesis, tyrosinase inhibition activity, and cell migration inhibition. BSPs have effective antioxidant capacity and anti-melanogenesis effects, which should be further emphasized and developed as skin protection components. [Display omitted] • Three antioxidant polysaccharides (BSP-1, BSP-2, and BSP-3) were isolated from Bletilla striata. • BSPs can enhance the intracellular T-AOC of skin fibroblasts with non-toxicity. • BSPs have antiproliferative effects on B16F10 cells. • BSP-2 and BSP-3 significantly inhibit melanogenesis, tyrosinase activity and cell migration of B16F10. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]