Towards Sustainable Production of Polybutylene Adipate Terephthalate: Non-Biological Catalytic Syntheses of Biomass-Derived Constituents.

Renewable chemicals, which are made from renewable resources such as biomass, have attracted significant interest as substitutes for natural gas- or petroleum-derived chemicals to enhance the sustainability of the chemical and petrochemical industries. Polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT), which is a copolyester of 1,4-butanediol (1,4-BDO), adipic acid (AA), and dimethyl terephthalate (DMT) or terephthalic acid (TPA), has garnered significant interest as a biodegradable polymer. This study assesses the non-biological production of PBAT monomers from biomass feedstocks via heterogeneous catalytic reactions.

Hollow-Structured N-doped carbon-embedded CoFe NanoAlloy for boosting activation of Monopersulfate: Engineered interface and heteroatom Doping-Induced enhancements.

While transition metals are useful for activating monopersulfate (MPS) to degrade contaminants, bimetallic alloys exhibit stronger catalytic activities owing to several favorable effects. Therefore, even though Co is an efficient metal for MPS activation, CoFe alloys are even more promising heterogeneous catalysts for MPS activation. Immobilization/embedment of CoFe alloy nanoparticles (NPs) onto hetero-atom-doped carbon matrices appears as a practical strategy for evenly dispersing CoFe NPs and enhancing catalytic activities via interfacial synergies between CoFe and carbon.

Strategic use of crop residue biochars for removal of hazardous compounds in wastewater.

Crop residues are affordable lignocellulosic waste in the world, and a large portion of the waste has been burned, releasing toxic pollutants into the environment. Since the crop residue is a carbon and ingredient rich material, it can be strategically used as a sorptive material for (in)organic pollutants in the wastewater after thermo-chemical valorization (i.e.

Nanoneedle-Assembled Copper/Cobalt sulfides on nickel foam as an enhanced 3D hierarchical catalyst to activate monopersulfate for Rhodamine b degradation.

While metal oxides are conventionally proposed for activating monopersulfate (MPS) to degrade refractory contaminants, metal sulfides have recently gained increased attention for MPS activation because these sulfides exhibit more reactive redox characteristics to enhance the catalytic activation of MPS. The present study attempts to develop a novel material comprised of metal sulfides with 3D hierarchical nanostructures to activate MPS. Specifically, a 3D hierarchically structured catalyst was fabricated by growing CuCo-layered double hydroxide (LDH) on nickel foam (NF), followed by direct sulfurization, affording Cu/CoS@NF (CCSNF).

Manganese oxide-modified biochar: production, characterization and applications for the removal of pollutants from aqueous environments - a review.

The development of manganese (Mn) oxides (MnOx) modified biochar (MnOBC) for the removal of pollutants from water has received significant attention. However, a comprehensive review focusing on the use of MnOBC for the removal of organic and inorganic pollutants from water is missing. Therefore, the preparation and characterization of MnOBC, and its capacity for the removal of inorganic (e.

Potential applications of graphene-based nanomaterials as adsorbent for removal of volatile organic compounds.

In recent years, graphene-based materials (GBMs) have been regarded as the core technology in diverse research fields. Consequently, the demand for large-scale synthesis of GBMs has been increasing continuously for various fields of industry. These materials have become a competitive adsorbent for the removal of environmental pollutants with improved adsorption capacity and cost effectiveness through hybridization or fabrication of various functionalities on their large surface.

Appraisal of lignocellusoic biomass degrading potential of three earthworm species using vermireactor mediated with spent mushroom substrate: Compost quality, crystallinity, and microbial community structural analysis.

Spent mushroom substrate (SMS) is a recalcitrant lignocellulosic waste. Recycling of SMS through composting has been reported; however, the process is lengthy due to its complex biochemical composition. Although vermitechnology is known for its high efficiency, it has rarely been applied to recycle SMS.

Investigation into role of CO in two-stage pyrolysis of spent coffee grounds.

As a way of improving process efficiency of pyrolysis of waste biomass, the effect of carbon dioxide (CO) on pyrolysis of spent coffee grounds (SCGs) was examined using a two-stage pyrolysis reactor consisting of a region with increasing temperature and an isothermal region. It was experimentally validated that CO accelerates thermal cracking of organic compounds formed during the pyrolysis of SCGs. The expedited thermal cracking attributed to employing CO in pyrolysis of SCGs led to changing pyrolytic products in gas, liquid, and solid phases.

S-Nitrosylation of Divalent Metal Transporter 1 Enhances Iron Uptake to Mediate Loss of Dopaminergic Neurons and Motoric Deficit.

Elevated iron deposition has been reported in Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the route of iron uptake leading to high deposition in the substantia nigra is unresolved. Here, we show a mechanism in enhanced Fe uptake via S-nitrosylation of divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1).

Transgenic Mice Overexpressing the Divalent Metal Transporter 1 Exhibit Iron Accumulation and Enhanced Parkin Expression in the Brain.

Exposure to divalent metals such as iron and manganese is thought to increase the risk for Parkinson's disease (PD). Under normal circumstances, cellular iron and manganese uptake is regulated by the divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1). Accordingly, alterations in DMT1 levels may underlie the abnormal accumulation of metal ions and thereby disease pathogenesis.

Facilitated physiological adaptation to prolonged circadian disruption through dietary supplementation with essence of chicken.

Synchrony between circadian and metabolic processes is critical to the maintenance of energy homeostasis. Studies on essence of chicken (EC), a chicken meat extract rich in proteins, amino acids and peptides, showed its effectiveness in alleviating fatigue and promoting metabolism. A recent study revealed that it facilitated the re-entrainment of clock genes (Bmal1, Cry1, Dec1, Per1 and Per2) in the pineal gland and liver in a rat model of circadian disruption.

Salinity influence on soil microbial respiration rate of wetland in the Yangtze River estuary through changing microbial community.

Estuarine wetland, where freshwater mixes with salt water, comprises different regions (rivers and marine ecosystems) with significantly varying tidal salinities. Two sampling areas, ZXS and JS, were selected to investigate the effect of tidal salinity on soil respiration (SR). ZXS and JS were located in Zhongxia Shoal and Jiangyanan Shoal of Jiuduansha Wetland respectively, with similar elevation and plant species, but significantly different in salinity.

The effect of L-carnosine on the circadian resetting of clock genes in the heart of rats.

It is reported that the circadian timing system may be included in the mechanism by which L-carnosine (Car) affects multiple physiological alterations including blood glucose, cardiovascular functions etc. However, it is not clear whether Car would affect the circadian rhythm of clock genes in the heart and what is the possible mechanism underlying. To clarify these issues, we compared the effects of Car on the expression of circadian genes in the heart of normal and vagotomized rats under control and jet lag conditions.

A pilot placebo-controlled, double-blind, and randomized study on the cognition-enhancing benefits of a proprietary chicken meat ingredient in healthy subjects.

Background: It has long been postulated that the relative abundance of specific nutrients can affect cognitive processes and emotions. Newly described influences of dietary factors on neuronal function and synaptic plasticity have revealed some of the vital mechanisms that could be responsible for the action of diet on brain health and cognitive function. Here, through a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, we asked if the newly discovered chicken meat ingredient-168 (CMI-168) could be beneficial to the cognitive function in healthy adults.

Enhanced autophagy from chronic toxicity of iron and mutant A53T α-synuclein: implications for neuronal cell death in Parkinson disease.

Parkinson disease (PD), a prevalent neurodegenerative motor disorder, is characterized by the rather selective loss of dopaminergic neurons and the presence of α-synuclein-enriched Lewy body inclusions in the substantia nigra of the midbrain. Although the etiology of PD remains incompletely understood, emerging evidence suggests that dysregulated iron homeostasis may be involved. Notably, nigral dopaminergic neurons are enriched in iron, the uptake of which is facilitated by the divalent metal ion transporter DMT1.

Stress-induced alterations in parkin solubility promote parkin aggregation and compromise parkin's protective function.

Mutations in parkin are currently recognized as the most common cause of familial Parkinsonism. Emerging evidence also suggests that parkin expression variability may confer a risk for the development of the more common, sporadic form of Parkinson's disease (PD). Supporting this, we have recently demonstrated that parkin solubility in the human brain becomes altered with age.

Trocarin, a blood coagulation factor Xa homologue from snake venom, causes inflammation and mitogenesis.

Trocarin, a Group D prothrombin activator from Tropidechis carinatus snake venom, has high sequence similarity to blood coagulation factor Xa (FXa). Both trocarin and FXa activate prothrombin to mature thrombin and have similar requirements for cofactors, such as factor Va, Ca2+ ions and phospholipids. In addition to its hemostatic functions, human FXa causes inflammation and induces mitogenesis in several cell types due to its interaction with effector protease receptor-1 (EPR-1).

Interactions between environmental and genetic factors in the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease with no known cure and affects approximately 1% of the elderly population. The major question in PD relates to the selective loss of dopaminergic neurons in patients. The underlying mechanism of genetic dysfunction and environmental toxins in contributing to the pathogenesis of PD may be oxidative stress.

Inhibitors of the tyrosine kinase signaling cascade attenuated thrombin-induced guinea pig airway smooth muscle cell proliferation.

Airway remodeling is one of the major hallmarks of asthma. The present study examined the effects of tyrosine kinase inhibitors on thrombin-induced guinea pig ASM cell proliferation, in comparison with inhibitors of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K). The ASM cells expressed smooth muscle alpha-actin and myosin, and responded to thrombin by increasing cytosolic Ca(+2).