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Intestinal barriers play a crucial role in human physiology, both in homeostatic and pathological conditions. Disruption of the intestinal barrier is a significant factor in the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal inflammatory diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease. The profound influence of the gut microbiota on intestinal diseases has sparked considerable interest in manipulating it through dietary interventions, probiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation as potential approaches to enhance the integrity of the intestinal barrier. Numerous studies have underscored the protective effects of specific microbiota and their associated metabolites. In recent years, an increasing body of research has demonstrated that Akkermansia muciniphila (A. muciniphila, Am) plays a beneficial role in various diseases, including diabetes, obesity, aging, cancer, and metabolic syndrome. It is gaining popularity as a regulator that influences the intestinal flora and intestinal barrier and is recognized as a 'new generation of probiotics'. Consequently, it may represent a potential target and promising therapy option for intestinal diseases. This article systematically summarizes the role of Am in the gut. Specifically, we carefully discuss key scientific issues that need resolution in the future regarding beneficial bacteria represented by Am, which may provide insights for the application of drugs targeting Am in clinical treatment. Keywords: Akkermansia muciniphila, Intestinal barrier, Inflammation, Immunity, Cross-feeding, Author(s): Chunyan Mo[sup.1], Xiran Lou[sup.1], Jinfang Xue[sup.1], Zhuange Shi[sup.2], Yifang Zhao[sup.2], Fuping Wang[sup.2] and Guobing Chen[sup.2] Background The intestinal barrier structure serves to isolate microorganisms, macromolecular toxins, and other antigenic [...]

Rigid molecular sieving materials work well for small molecules with the complete exclusion of large ones.sup.1-3, and molecules with matching physiochemical properties may be separated using dynamic molecular sieving materials.sup.4-6. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs).sup.7-9 are known for their precise control of structures and functions on a molecular level.sup.10-15. However, the rational design of local flexibility in the MOF framework for dynamic molecular sieving remains difficult and challenging. Here we report a MOF material (JNU-3a) featuring one-dimension channels with embedded molecular pockets opening to propylene (C.sub.3H.sub.6) and propane (C.sub.3H.sub.8) at substantially different pressures. The dynamic nature of the pockets is revealed by single-crystal-to-single-crystal transformation upon exposure of JNU-3a to an atmosphere of C.sub.3H.sub.6 or C.sub.3H.sub.8. Breakthrough experiments demonstrate that JNU-3a can realize high-purity C.sub.3H.sub.6 ([greater than or equal to]99.5%) in a single adsorption-desorption cycle from an equimolar C.sub.3H.sub.6/C.sub.3H.sub.8 mixture over a broad range of flow rates, with a maximum C.sub.3H.sub.6 productivity of 53.5 litres per kilogram. The underlying separation mechanism--orthogonal-array dynamic molecular sieving--enables both large separation capacity and fast adsorption-desorption kinetics. This work presents a next-generation sieving material design that has potential for applications in adsorptive separation. A dynamic molecular sieve made from a metal-organic framework with orthogonally arrayed pockets is capable of separating propylene (C.sub.3H.sub.6) from a propylene (C.sub.3H.sub.6)/propane (C.sub.3H.sub.8) gas mixture., Author(s): Heng Zeng [sup.1] [sup.2] , Mo Xie [sup.1] [sup.2] , Ting Wang [sup.1] [sup.2] , Rong-Jia Wei [sup.1] [sup.2] , Xiao-Jing Xie [sup.1] [sup.2] , Yifang Zhao [sup.1] [sup.2] [...]

Conventional adhesives often emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which have a negative impact on human health. In this paper, an environmentally‐friendly supramolecular adhesive PD which has high adhesive and low VOCs emission is prepared by the reaction between polyethyleneimine (PEI) and 3,4‐dihydroxybenzaldehyde (DBA). PD containing abundant catechol groups exhibit excellent adhesion to wood substrates and is able to reach a maximum shear strength of 5.20 ± 0.39 MPa. One factor is attributed to multiple reactions between PEI, and DBA and oxidation of DBA. These reactions construct a complex three‐dimensional cross‐linked structure which is very helpful to improve the bonding performance of the adhesive. Another reason refers to the fact that a large number of catechol groups in PD can form a lot of hydrogen bonds with the amino group in PEI and the hydroxyl group in the wood substrate. These hydrogen bonds play an important role in enhancing shear strength. PD adhesives have a stronger bond strength than commercial chloroprene rubber (CR, Pattex‐PXL) and polyvinyl acetate adhesives (PVAc, JUJU‐8708) and have lower emissions of VOCs. As an environmentally‐friendly adhesive for wood‐based substrates, this adhesive may have potential applications in the wood processing industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using low cost and resource-rich natural materials to develop vital components, especially electrodes, separators, and solid/quasi-solid electrolytes, is of great significance for the commercial application of electrochemical energy storage (EES) devices. Montmorillonite (MMT), although it is a unremarkable traditional clay mineral material, has increasingly attracted widespread interest in the EES field, which is mainly attributed to its low cost, abundant resources, tuneable two-dimensional (2D) layered structure, unique ionic conductive properties, high specific surface area and so on. The focus of this review is to provide a specific and comprehensive summary of the recent progress of MMT-based materials in the field of EES. Firstly, the structure and physicochemical properties of MMT clay are discussed from the perspective of structure–property relationships. Subsequently, the main focus is on the research progress of MMT-based materials in the vital components of EES devices (mainly metal (Li/Na/Zn)-ion batteries, Li–S batteries, and supercapacitors), wherein the role of MMT in different components of EES devices has been elaborated through various characterization analyses and theoretical calculations. Finally, a short conclusion along with some possible future research directions of MMT-based materials in high-performance EES devices is proposed. This review tries to provide beneficial guidance for the practical application of MMT-based functional materials in EES. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Applying hyperspectral remote sensing technology to the prediction of soil moisture content (SMC) during the growth stage of soybean emerges as an effective approach, imperative for advancing the development of modern precision agriculture. This investigation focuses on SMC during the flowering stage under varying nitrogen application levels and film mulching treatments. The soybean canopy's original hyperspectral data, acquired at the flowering stage, underwent 0–2-order differential transformation (with a step size of 0.5). Five spectral indices exhibiting the highest correlation with SMC were identified as optimal inputs. Three machine learning methods, namely support vector machine (SVM), random forest (RF), and back propagation neural network (BPNN), were employed to formulate the SMC prediction model. The results indicate the following: (1) The correlation between the optimal spectral index of each order, obtained after fractional differential transformation, and SMC significantly improved compared to the original hyperspectral reflectance data. The average correlation coefficient between each spectral index and SMC under the 1.5-order treatment was 0.380% higher than that of the original spectral index, with mNDI showing the highest correlation coefficient at 0.766. (2) In instances of utilizing the same modeling method with different input variables, the SMC prediction model's accuracy follows the order: 1.5 order > 2.0 order > 1.0 order > 0.5 order > original order. Conversely, with consistent input variables and a change in the modeling method, the accuracy order becomes RF > SVM > BPNN. When comprehensively assessing model evaluation indicators, the 1.5-order differential method and RF method emerge as the preferred order differential method and model construction method, respectively. The R2 for the optimal SMC estimation model in the modeling set and validation set were 0.912 and 0.792, RMSEs were 0.005 and 0.004, and MREs were 2.390% and 2.380%, respectively. This study lays the groundwork for future applications of hyperspectral remote sensing technology in developing soil moisture content estimation models for various crop growth stages and sparks discussions on enhancing the accuracy of these different soil moisture content estimation models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several classical flap variations have been designed to reconstruct lip and commissure defects. Although most of these variations maybe the best option for repairing defects, there is an increasing risk of anatomic distortion and functional disability, mostly in older persons. Herein, we present a combined nasolabial and infra-nasal bi-lobe flap design with double transposition, which was used to concomitantly close the upper and lower lips associated with commissure defects.

Besides adjusting the active sites, modulating the adsorption capacity and diffusion ability can realize the enrichment of the antibiotics and propel the catalytic degradation properties via the effective contact between active species and antibiotics. Herein, a series of CoS2@MMT were prepared by a two-step synthesis. With the synergy of adsorption and catalysis, the obtained composites exhibit potential for the rapid and effective degradation of ofloxacin (OFL) as advanced oxidation process (AOP) catalysts by activating peroxymonosulfate (PMS). Among them, 10CoS2@MMT can adsorb 41% of OFL and its total removal efficiency of OFL can reach 96.7% within 10 min. Based on the related tests, the composite can decompose OFL through both radical (˙OH, SO4˙−, and O2˙−) and non-radical pathways (1O2). The satisfactory catalytic properties and the stability of this kind of composite demonstrate their potential in the practical application of water decontamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]