High-Performance Polyolefin Material: Synthesis, Properties, and Application of Poly(4-Methyl-1-pentene).

As a kind of high-performance thermoplastic crystalline resin, poly(4-methyl-1-pentene) (PMP) is characterized by its low density, low dielectric constant, exceptional mechanical and chemical properties, high transparency, and gas permeability. PMP has recently received more attention since COVID-19, because it is used as a hollow-fiber membrane for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) based on its high permeability and excellent biocompatibility. This review summarizes the chemical structure, synthesis, properties, and application of PMP.

Chinese Pangolin Changes Local Vertebrate Assemblages and Contributes to Their Interspecific Interactions by Burrowing and Revisitation.

The burrow microhabitats created by burrowing mammals, as a hotspot for biodiversity distribution in ecosystems, provide multiple critical resources for many other sympatric species. However, the cascading effects of burrow resources on sympatric animal community assemblages and interspecific interactions are largely unknown. During 2020-2023, we monitored 184 Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) burrows using camera traps to reveal the burrow utilization patterns of commensal species.

Hour-Long Afterglow in Flexible Polymeric Materials through the Introduction of Electron Donor/Acceptor Exciplexes.

The development of organic afterglow materials has garnered significant attention due to their diverse applications in smart devices, optoelectronics, and bioimaging. However, polymeric afterglow materials often suffer from short emission lifetimes, typically ranging from milliseconds to seconds, posing a significant challenge for achieving hour-long afterglow (HLA) polymers. This study presents the successful fabrication of transparent HLA polymers by introducing electron donor/acceptor exciplexes.

Special Issue: "Synthesis of Advanced Polymer Materials 2.0".

With the rapid evolution of polymer science, the field of advanced polymer materials is experiencing remarkable growth, driven by the increasing demand for versatile, high-performance materials [...

Enzyme-assisted upconversion fluorescence-encoded biosensing system for simultaneous detection of multiple sites EGFR mutation.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations play a key role in the development of a variety of cancers. Rapid detection and screening of EGFR mutation types in patients are of great significance for early treatment of patients. In this study, a highly sensitive fluorescent biosensing system based on lanthanide ion-doped multi-type upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) combined with polymerization reaction signal amplification was designed and constructed for the simultaneous detection of L858R and 19Del mutations.

Impaired degradation of PLCG1 by chaperone-mediated autophagy promotes cellular senescence and intervertebral disc degeneration.

Defects in chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA) are associated with cellular senescence, but the mechanism remains poorly understood. Here, we found that CMA inhibition induced cellular senescence in a calcium-dependent manner and identified its role in TNF-induced senescence of nucleus pulposus cells (NPC) and intervertebral disc degeneration. Based on structural and functional proteomic screens, PLCG1 (phospholipase C gamma 1) was predicted as a potential substrate for CMA deficiency to affect calcium homeostasis.

Open-cage metallo-azafullerenes as efficient single-atom catalysts toward oxygen reduction reaction.

Very recently, open-cage metallo-azafullerenes PbC100N4H4 and Pb2C100N4H4 containing one Pb-N4-C moiety have been synthesized via the electron beam. Herein, we utilized density functional theory calculations in combination with ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations to study the geometric and electronic structures, bonding properties, thermodynamic stability, and catalytic performance of MC100N4H4 and M2C100N4H4 (M = Ge, Sn, Pb). Metal-nitrogen distances and metal-metal distances increase along with the metal radius while the metal atom is positively charged.

Static magnetic field-modulated mesenchymal stem cell-derived mitochondria-containing microvesicles for enhanced intervertebral disc degeneration therapy.

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is characterized by the senescence and declining vitality of nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs), often driven by mitochondrial dysfunction. This study elucidates that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) play a crucial role in attenuating NPC senescence by secreting mitochondria-containing microvesicles (mitoMVs). Moreover, it demonstrates that static magnetic fields (SMF) enhance the secretion of mitoMVs by MSCs.

Identifying habitat modification by Chinese pangolin in subtropical forests of southern China.

The excavation of Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) is expected to alter habitat heterogeneity and thus affect the functioning and structure of forest ecosystems. In this study, the bioturbation of Chinese pangolin on forest soils in three regions (Heping, Tianjingshan, and Wuqinzhang) across Guangdong province was quantified. Overall, a mean of 2.

Highly sensitive photoelectrochemical biosensing detection of early cardiac injury enabled by novel self-assembled BiO/MgInS photoelectrode coupled with ZnSnO quencher.

The development of photoelectrochemical (PEC) biosensors plays a critical role in enabling timely intervention and personalized treatment for cardiac injury. Herein, a novel approach is presented for the fabrication of highly sensitive PEC biosensor employing BiO/MgInS heterojunction for the ultrasensitive detection of heart fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP). The BiO/MgInS heterojunction, synthesized through in-situ growth of MgInS on BiO nanoplates, offers superior attributes including a larger specific surface area and more homogeneous distribution, leading to enhanced sensing sensitivity.

The role of oxidative stress in intervertebral disc degeneration: Mechanisms and therapeutic implications.

Oxidative stress is one of the main driving mechanisms of intervertebral disc degeneration(IDD). Oxidative stress has been associated with inflammation in the intervertebral disc, cellular senescence, autophagy, and epigenetics of intervertebral disc cells. It and the above pathological mechanisms are closely linked through the common hub reactive oxygen species(ROS), and promote each other in the process of disc degeneration and promote the development of the disease.

Ionic liquid post-modified carboxylate-rich MOFs for efficient catalytic CO cycloaddition under solvent-free conditions.

The synthesis of cyclic carbonates through cycloaddition reactions between epoxides and carbon dioxide (CO) is an important industrial process. Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) have functional and ordered pore structures, making them attractive catalysts for converting gas molecules into valuable products. One approach to enhance the catalytic activity of MOFs in CO cycloaddition reactions is to create open metal sites within MOFs.

T790M mutation upconversion fluorescence biosensor via mild ATRP strategy and site-specific DNA cleavage of restriction endonuclease.

A unique combination of a specific nucleic acid restriction endonuclease (REase) and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) signal amplification strategy was employed for the detection of T790M mutations prevalent in the adjuvant diagnosis of lung cancer. REase selectively recognizes and cleaves T790M mutation sites on double-stranded DNA formed by hybridization of a capture sequence and a target sequence. At the same time, the ATRP strategy resulted in the massive aggregation of upconverted nanoparticles (UCNPs), which significantly improved the sensitivity of the biosensor.

Long-term all-cause death prediction by coronary, aortic, and valvular calcification in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Background: To determine the prognostic value of cumulative calcification score of coronary artery calcification (CAC), thoracic aortic calcification (TAC) and aortic valve calcification (AVC) in acute ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients.

Methods: This was a retrospective, single-center cohort study. A total of 332 STEMI patients who received primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) were enrolled in this study between January 2010 to October 2018.

Sunlight-Activated Hour-Long Afterglow from Transparent and Flexible Polymers.

Afterglow materials featuring long emission durations ranging from milliseconds to hours have garnered increasing interest owing to their potential applications in sensing, bioimaging, and anti-counterfeiting. Unfortunately, polymeric materials rarely exhibit afterglow properties under ambient conditions because of the rapid nonradiative decay rate of triplet excitons. In this study, hour-long afterglow (HLA) polymer films are fabricated using a facile molecular doping strategy.

Recent Advances in Synthesis of Non-Alternating Polyketone Generated by Copolymerization of Carbon Monoxide and Ethylene.

The copolymers of carbon monoxide (CO) and ethylene, namely aliphatic polyketones (PKs), have attracted considerable attention due to their unique property and degradation. Based on the arrangement of the ethylene and carbonyl groups in the polymer chain, PKs can be divided into perfect alternating and non-perfect alternating copolymers. Perfect alternating PKs have been previously reviewed, we herein focus on recent advances in the synthesis of PKs without a perfect alternating structure including non-perfect alternating PKs and PE with in-chain ketones.

Synthesis and Thermoreversible Gelation of Coil-Rod Copolymers with a Dendritic Polyethylene Core and Multiple Helical Poly(γ-benzyl-L-glutamate) Arms.

Coil-rod copolymers with a dendritic polyethylene (DPE) core and multiple helical poly(γ-benzyl-L-glutamate) (PBLG) arms (DPE-(PBLG)) were prepared by palladium-catalyzed copolymerization in tandem with ring-opening polymerization (ROP). Macroinitiator (DPE-(NH)) was firstly prepared by the group transformation of DPE-(OH) generated from palladium-catalyzed copolymerization of ethylene and acrylate comonomer. Coil-helical DPE-(PBLG) copolymers were prepared by ROP of γ-benzyl-L-glutamate-N-carboxyanhydride (BLG-NCA).

Experimental and theoretical insights into palladium-mediated polymerization of ,-disubstituted aminostyrene.

Experimental and theoretical insights into polymerization of ,-disubstituted aminostyrene monomers (St-4-NR, R = Me, Et, Ph) using cationic α-diimine palladium complexes have been initially reported. The effects of the catalyst structure and monomer substituent were studied systematically. Polymerization turnover frequency (TOF) was shown to decrease in the order of monomer substituents Me > Et > Ph, whereas the molecular weight of the produced polymers showed an opposite trend (Me < Et < Ph).

A theoretical study on hydrated sodium ion-phenylalanine clusters Na(Phe)(HO) ( = 0-6; Phe = phenylalanine).

The cation-π interaction is of importance in many chemical and biological processes such as those involving protein geometries and functionals and ion channels. In this study, to understand the cation-π interaction between essential ions and protein in the water-aqueous environment, geometries, electronic structures, bonding properties, and dynamic stabilities of hydrated Na-phenylalanine clusters Na(Phe)(HO) ( = 0-6) were studied using density functional theory calculations and molecular dynamics simulations. After the addition of water molecules, Na(Phe)(HO) structures change from a tridentate complex to quadridentate or pentadentate complexes while the cation-π interaction always exists.

Therapeutic targeting of FUBP3 phase separation by GATA2-AS1 inhibits malate-aspartate shuttle and neuroblastoma progression via modulating SUZ12 activity.

Malate-aspartate shuttle (MAS) is essential for maintaining glycolysis and energy metabolism in tumors, while its regulatory mechanisms in neuroblastoma (NB), the commonest extracranial malignancy during childhood, still remain to be elucidated. Herein, by analyzing multi-omics data, GATA binding protein 2 (GATA2) and its antisense RNA 1 (GATA2-AS1) were identified to suppress MAS during NB progression. Mechanistic studies revealed that GATA2 inhibited the transcription of glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase 2 (GOT2) and malate dehydrogenase 2 (MDH2).

Oridonin promotes endoplasmic reticulum stress via TP53-repressed TCF4 transactivation in colorectal cancer.

Background: The incidence of colorectal cancer and cancer death rate are increasing every year, and the affected population is becoming younger. Traditional Chinese medicine therapy has a unique effect in prolonging survival time and improving the prognosis of patients with colorectal cancer. Oridonin has been reported to have anti-cancer effects in a variety of tumors, but the exact mechanism remains to be investigated.

Therapeutic targeting of CNBP phase separation inhibits ribosome biogenesis and neuroblastoma progression via modulating SWI/SNF complex activity.

Background: Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common extracranial malignancy in childhood; however, the mechanisms underlying its aggressive characteristics still remain elusive.

Methods: Integrative data analysis was performed to reveal tumour-driving transcriptional regulators. Co-immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry assays were applied for protein interaction studies.

Influence of Pleistocene climate fluctuations on the demographic history and distribution of the critically endangered Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla).

Background: Pleistocene climate fluctuations have strongly modified species genetic diversity and distributions. The Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) has been recognized as a critically endangered animal due to heavy poaching and trafficking. However, the effect of Pleistocene climate fluctuations on the genetic diversity and spatial distribution of the Chinese pangolin remains largely unknown.