Network pharmacology analysis and molecular mechanism of paeoniflorin and its metabolite in prolactinoma cells.

Prolactinoma was the most common functional pituitary neuroendocrine tumor tissue type, which was caused by excessive proliferation of pituitary prolactin (PRL) cells. Drug therapy of dopamine receptor agonists was generally considered as the prior treatment for prolactinoma patients. However, there were still prolactinoma patients who were resistant to dopamine agonists.

Effects of sintering additives and sintering methods on the mechanical, antimicrobial and optical properties of SiN bioceramics.

SiN bioceramics were fabricated using GPS and SPS method with MgO-REO (RE = La, Nd, Gd, Ho and Lu) sintering additives. The effect of sintering methods and sintering additives on the grain growth, mechanical, antimicrobial properties and color of SiN bioceramics were studied. Samples sintered with GPS are composed of β-SiN and samples sintered with SPS are composed of α-SiN and β-SiN.

Syntheses of Cannabinoid Metabolites: Ajulemic Acid and HU-210.

Cannabinoid metabolites have been reported to be more potent than their parent compounds. Among them, ajulemic acid (AJA) is a side-chain analog of Δ-THC-11-oic acid, which would be a good template structure for the discovery of more potent analogues. Herein, we optimized the key allylic oxidation step to introduce the C-11 hydroxy group with a high yield.

Immunomodulatory Function of Pien Tze Huang in T Cell-Mediated Anti-tumor Activity against B16-F10, MC38 and Hep1-6 Tumor Models.

Objective: To investigate the anti-tumor effects of Pien Tze Huang (PZH) in mouse models of B16-F10 melanoma, MC38 colorectal cancer, Hep1-6 hepatocellular carcinoma and chemically induced hepatocellular carcinoma model.

Methods: Various tumor models, including B16-F10, MC38 and Hep1-6 tumor hypodermic inoculation models, B16-F10 and Hep1-6 pulmonary metastasis models, Hep1-6 orthotopic implantation model, and chemically induced hepatocellular carcinoma model, were utilized to evaluate the anti-tumor function of PZH. Tumor growth was assessed by measuring tumor size and weight of solid tumors isolated from C57BL/6 mice.

Glycogen synthase kinase 3 controls T-cell exhaustion by regulating NFAT activation.

Cellular immunity mediated by CD8 T cells plays an indispensable role in bacterial and viral clearance and cancers. However, persistent antigen stimulation of CD8 T cells leads to an exhausted or dysfunctional cellular state characterized by the loss of effector function and high expression of inhibitory receptors during chronic viral infection and in tumors. Numerous studies have shown that glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) controls the function and development of immune cells, but whether GSK3 affects CD8 T cells is not clearly elucidated.

Three nona-2,7-dienoic acid derivatives from saltern derived sp. FXY415.

Three new compounds, apocimycin A-C, were identified from a saltern-derived sp. strain FXY415, isolated from Dongshi saltern, Fujian, China. Their planar structures and relative configuration were confirmed mainly by analysis of 1D- and 2D- NMR spectra.

Effects of land clearing for agriculture on soil organic carbon stocks in drylands: A meta-analysis.

Agricultural activities have been expanding globally with the pressure to provide food security to the earth's growing population. These agricultural activities have profoundly impacted soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks in global drylands. However, the effects of clearing natural ecosystems for cropland (CNEC) on SOC are uncertain.

Evaluation of Mutton Adulteration under the Effect of Mutton Flavour Essence Using Hyperspectral Imaging Combined with Machine Learning and Sparrow Search Algorithm.

The evaluation of mutton adulteration faces new challenges because of mutton flavour essence, which achieves a similar flavour between the adulterant and mutton. Hence, methods for classifying and quantifying the adulterated mutton under the effect of mutton flavour essence, based on near-infrared hyperspectral imaging (NIR-HSI, 1000-2500 nm) combined with machine learning (ML) and sparrow search algorithm (SSA), were proposed in this study. After spectral preprocessing via first derivative combined with multiple scattering correction (1D + MSC), classification and quantification models were established using back propagation neural network (BP), extreme learning machine (ELM) and support vector machine/regression (SVM/SVR).

An ultrasonication-aided self-assembly strategy toward a PTCDA/RGO film cathode for organic K-ion full batteries.

A free-standing PTCDA/RGO film was synthesized by an ultrasonication-aided self-assembly strategy to alleviate the solubility of PTCDA in organic electrolytes. The PTCDA/RGO-50% film cathode exhibits a high capacity of 135.1 mA h g at 0.

Single atoms (Pt, Ir and Rh) anchored on activated NiCo LDH for alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction.

Here, we report the synthesis of activated NiCo LDH to immobilize Pt, Ir and Rh single atoms for hydrogen evolution reaction. The Pt/A-NiCo LDH electrocatalyst exhibits the highest catalytic ability with a low overpotential of 16 mV to achieve a current density of 10 mA cm and a mass activity about 24.8-fold that of commercial Pt/C.

Ni-Doped MoC Anchored on Graphitized Porous Carbon for Boosting Electrocatalytic N Reduction.

Facilitating the efficient activation of N molecules and inhibiting the competing hydrogen evolution reaction remain a challenge in the nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR). A heteroatom doping strategy is an effective way to optimize the energy barrier during the NRR process to improve the catalytic efficiency. Herein, we report Ni-doped MoC anchored on graphitized porous conductive carbon for regulating the electronic structure and catalytic properties of electrocatalysts toward NRR.

Enhanced Potassium-Ion Storage of the 3D Carbon Superstructure by Manipulating the Nitrogen-Doped Species and Morphology.

Potassium-ion batteries (PIBs) are attractive for grid-scale energy storage due to the abundant potassium resource and high energy density. The key to achieving high-performance and large-scale energy storage technology lies in seeking eco-efficient synthetic processes to the design of suitable anode materials. Herein, a spherical sponge-like carbon superstructure (NCS) assembled by 2D nanosheets is rationally and efficiently designed for K storage.

Microstructure-Dependent K Storage in Porous Hard Carbon.

Hard carbons (HCs) are emerging as promising anodes for potassium-ion batteries (PIBs) due to overwhelming advantages including cost effectiveness and outstanding physicochemical properties. However, the fundamental K storage mechanism in HCs and the key structural parameters that determining K storage behaviors remain unclear and require further exploration. Herein, HC materials with controllable micro/mesopore structures are first synthesized by template-assisted spray pyrolysis technology.

Metallic-State MoS Nanosheets with Atomic Modification for Sodium Ion Batteries with a High Rate Capability and Long Lifespan.

Exploring active materials with a high rate capability and long lifespan for sodium ion batteries attracts much more attention and plays an important role in realizing clean energy storage and conversion. The strategy of optimizing the electronic structure by atomic element substitution within MoS layers was employed to change the inherent physical property. The enhanced electronic conductivity from a decreased bandgap and increased surface Na adsorption energy can efficiently and dramatically optimize the electrochemical performance for sodium storage.

Optimized Kinetics Match and Charge Balance Toward Potassium Ion Hybrid Capacitors with Ultrahigh Energy and Power Densities.

Potassium ion hybrid capacitors (PIHCs) are of particular interest benefiting from high energy/power densities. However, challenges lie in the kinetic mismatch between battery-type anode and capacitive-type cathode, as well as the difficulty in achieving optimized charge/mass balance. These significantly sacrifice the electrochemical performance of PIHCs.

Synthesis of Ordered Mesoporous Zr-Al Composite Oxides with Excellent Structural and Textural Properties and Extremely High Stability.

Ordered mesoporous Zr-Al composite oxide materials (denoted as OMZA-x) with different Zr contents have been synthesized by a solvent evaporation-inducing self-assembly procedure associated with a thermal treatment at 100 °C. A cooperative co-assembly process of amphiphilic triblock copolymer F127 molecules and inorganic hydroxyl species originated from the hydrolysis of Zr and Al precursors was proposed to explain the synthesis of OMZA-x. Compared to ordered mesoporous alumina prepared without introducing Zr species, the resultant OMZA-x exhibited a much more ordered mesostructure combined with a distinct increase in the pore volume and specific surface area.

Phosphine-Catalyzed Chemo- and Diastereoselective [2 + 2 + 2] and [3 + 2] Annulations of γ-Methyl Allenoates with Doubly Activated Olefins: Syntheses of Highly Substituted Cyclohexanes and Cyclopentenes.

Phosphine-catalyzed chemoselective [2 + 2 + 2] and [3 + 2] annulations of γ-methyl allenoates with doubly activated olefins have been developed, which afford highly substituted cyclohexanes bearing five continuous stereogenic centers and cyclopentenes bearing three continuous stereogenic centers, respectively, in generally high yields with excellent diastereoselectivity. The [2 + 2 + 2] annulation represents an unprecedented reactivity pattern of γ-methyl allenoates with activated C═C bonds to access six-membered carbocycles. In addition, the study herein also evidences that the acidic protic additives such as benzoic acid can exert influence on chemoselectivity of phosphine-catalyzed annulation reactions involving allenoates.

Synthesis, characterization and -hexane hydroisomerization performances of Pt supported on alkali treated ZSM-22 and ZSM-48.

ZSM-48 and ZSM-22 zeolites with similar Si/Al molar ratio have been treated with alkali to modify the pore structures and acidity, and alkali treated ZSM-22 and ZSM-48 samples have been characterized by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), N adsorption/desorption, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), NH-Temperature Programmed Desorption (NH-TPD) and Pyridine-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (Py-FTIR). Characterization results indicate that NaOH treatment could improve the mesoporous structure for both ZSM-22 and ZSM-48. NaOH treatment modifies the acidity of ZSM-22 and ZSM-48 diversely.

Solvothermal-assisted evaporation-induced self-assembly of ordered mesoporous alumina with improved performance.

A solvothermal-assisted evaporation-induced self-assembly (SA-EISA) approach has been developed for the synthesis of ordered mesoporous alumina (OMA) materials with high thermal stability and improved performance in catalysis. In conventional EISA process, the evaporation step is accompanied by the hydrolysis of organic aluminum precursors, thus the evaporation conditions have significant influences on the reaction and the final structure of OMA. In our approach, the solvothermal treatment step promotes the complete hydrolysis of aluminum precursors and produces partially condensed cluster-like aluminum hydroxyl species, which allows the formation of OMA in a broad range of evaporation conditions.

Compact-Nanobox Engineering of Transition Metal Oxides with Enhanced Initial Coulombic Efficiency for Lithium-Ion Battery Anodes.

A novel strategy is proposed to construct a compact-nanobox (CNB) structure composed of irregular nanograins (average diameter ≈ 10 nm), aiming to confine the electrode-electrolyte contact area and enhance initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE) of transition metal oxide (TMO) anodes. To demonstrate the validity of this attempt, CoO-CNB is taken as an example which is synthesized via a carbothermic reduction method. Benefiting from the compact configuration, electrolyte can only contact the outer surface of the nanobox, keeping the inner CoO nanograins untouched.

Dual-Confined Sulfur Nanoparticles Encapsulated in Hollow TiO Spheres Wrapped with Graphene for Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries are attractive owing to their higher energy density and lower cost compared with the universally used lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), but there are some problems that stop their practical use, such as low utilization and rapid capacity-fading of the sulfur cathode, which is mainly caused by the shuttle effect, and the uncontrollable deposition of lithium sulfide species. Herein, we report the design and fabrication of dual-confined sulfur nanoparticles that were encapsulated inside hollow TiO spheres; the encapsulated nanoparticles were prepared by a facile hydrolysis process combined with acid etching, followed by "wrapping" with graphene (G-TiO @S). In this unique composite architecture, the hollow TiO spheres acted as effective sulfur carriers by confining the polysulfides and buffering volume changes during the charge-discharge processes by means of physical force from the hollow spheres and chemical binding between TiO and the polysulfides.

Immobilization of Highly Dispersed Ag Nanoparticles on Carbon Nanotubes Using Electron-Assisted Reduction for Antibacterial Performance.

Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) supported on certain materials have been widely used as disinfectants. Yet, to date, the antibacterial activity of the supported Ag NPs is still far below optimum. This is mainly associated with the easy aggregation of Ag NPs on the supporting materials.

Characterization of odor-active compounds of various Chrysanthemum essential oils by gas chromatography-olfactometry, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and their correlation with sensory attributes.

Volatiles of five kinds of Chrysanthemum essential oils with different manufactures were characterized by descriptive sensory analysis, gas chromatography-olfactometry (GC-O), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and statistics analysis. Six sensory attributes (floral, woody, grassy, fruity, sour and minty) were selected to assess Chrysanthemum essential oils. A total of 38 volatile compounds were detected and quantified using standard substances by GC-O and GC-MS.