Organic matter excreted by the protozoan Tetrahymena thermophila and its effects on the bioaccumulation of nanoparticles.

Although organic matter (exudate) excreted by aquatic organisms is an important component of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in the natural environment, its potential effects on the bioaccumulation of nanoparticles (NPs) remain unclear. In the present study, we examined the effects of the exudates from the protozoan Tetrahymena thermophila on the bioaccumulation (including uptake and cell surface adsorption) of iron oxide (FeO, polyacrylate coated) and silica (SiO) NPs in T. thermophila.

Stable Lithium Oxygen Batteries Enabled by Solvent-diluent Interaction in N,N-dimethylacetamide-based Electrolytes.

In the pursuit of next-generation ultrahigh-energy-density Li-O batteries, it is imperative to develop an electrolyte with stability against the strong oxidation environments. N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMA) is a recognized solvent known for its robust resistance to the highly reactive reduced oxygen species, yet its application in Li-O batteries has been constrained due to its poor compatibility with the Li metal anode. In this study, a rationally selected hydrofluoroether diluent, methyl nonafluorobutyl ether (M3), has been introduced into the DMA-based electrolyte to construct a localized high concentration electrolyte.

Detecting localized damage in cantilevered structures under nonstationary ambient excitations via Gabor spectral mode transmissibility functions.

A method based on Gabor spectral mode transmissibility functions (GSMTFs) is proposed to detect local damage in a cantilevered structure under nonstationary ambient excitations. Gabor transformation and singular value decomposition are used to reduce the influences of other vibration modes on Gabor spectral mode transmissibility functions and process nonstationary structural responses, respectively. A new state characteristic based on the fundamental structure frequency is formulated on the basis of the GSMTFs, eventually leading to the development of a new damage indicator.

Abietane diterpenoids from Isodon amethystoides and their biological activities.

Seven undescribed abietane diterpenoids [abietamethinols A-G (1-7)] were isolated from the twigs and leaves of Isodon amethystoides. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods including 2D NMR, and they were further confirmed by X-ray crystallographic data. Lophanic acid was considered as the precursor of 1-7 in the biosynthesis pathway hypothesis.

Anchoring of Fe-MIL-101-NH to the Polymer Membrane Matrix through the Hinsberg Reaction to Promote Conductivity of SPEEK Membranes.

SCPEEK@MOF proton exchange membranes, where SCPEEK is sulfinyl chloride polyether ether ketone and MOF is a metal-organic framework, were prepared by doping Fe-MIL-101-NH into polymers. The amino group in the MOF and the -SOCl group in thionyl chloride polyether ether ketone cross-link to form a covalent bond through the Hinsberg reaction, and the prepared composite membrane has stronger stability than other electrostatic interactions and simple physical doping composite membranes. The formation of covalent bonds improves the water absorption of the composite membrane, which makes it easy for water molecules to form hydrogen bonds.

Persistent Halogenated Organic Pollutants in Deep-Water-Deposited Particulates from South China Sea.

POP data are limited in the marine environment; thus, this study aimed to investigate background persistent organic pollutant (POP) levels in oceanic deep-water-deposited particulates in the South China Sea (SCS). Six POPs, including polychlorinated dibenzo--dioxins/dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polybrominated dibenzo--dioxins/dibenzofurans (PBDD/Fs), polychlorinated diphenyl ethers (PCDEs), and polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs), were investigated in eight pooled samples from the SCS from 20 September 2013 to 23 March 2014 and 15 April 2014 to 24 October 2014 at depths of 2000 m and 3500 m. PBDEs were the most predominant compounds, with the highest mean ΣPBDE of 125 ± 114 ng/g dry weight (d.

Silica Nanoparticle Size Determines the Mechanisms Underlying the Inhibition of Iron Oxide Nanoparticle Uptake by .

Aquatic environments are complicated systems that contain different types of nanoparticles (NPs). Nevertheless, recent studies of NP toxicity, and especially those that have focused on bioaccumulation have mostly investigated only a single type of NPs. Assessments of the environmental risks of NPs that do not consider co-exposure regimes may lead to inaccurate conclusions and ineffective environmental regulation.

Design and synthesis of oridonin derivatives as cytotoxic agents.

Oridonin is one of the -kaurane diterpenes that have been studied extensively for various bioactivities. In an effort to expand natural scaffold-based library as anticancer agents, we have designed and synthesised a number of novel oridonin derivatives and evaluated their bioactivities on a panel of human cancer cell lines (HCT116, A375, MCF-7, HepG2, and A549). Compound bearing a 4-fluorophenyl moiety was found to be the most active compound with an IC value of 0.

Silica nanoparticle accumulation in plants: current state and future perspectives.

With their excellent biocompatibility, adjustable size, and high specific surface area, silica nanoparticles (SiO NPs) offer an alternative to traditional bulk fertilizers as a means to promote sustainable agriculture. SiO NPs have been shown to promote the growth of plants and to reduce the negative effects of biotic and abiotic stresses, but their bioaccumulation is a crucial factor that has been overlooked in studies of their biological effects. In this review, the techniques to quantify and visualize SiO NPs in plants were examined first.

Identification and bioactivity evaluation of miliusanes from Miliusa sinensis.

Miliusanes are a class of anticancer lead molecules belonging to meroterpenoids with an 18-carbon skeleton isolated from Miliusa plants. A phytochemical study of the plant M. sinensis was carried out to discover new miliusanes with diverse structural features in order to better understand their structure-activity relationship.

Isolation and Anticancer Progression Evaluation of the Chemical Constituents from Tutcher.

The dichloromethane extract of the roots of Tutcher (Phyllanthaceae) was found to show potential anticancer activity against HCT116 colorectal cancer cell. Our bioassay-guided phytochemical investigation of the roots of led to the identification of 14 compounds including seven lignans (-), three phenylbenzene derivatives (-), two flavanone (-), and two triterpenoids (-). Among them, 4'-demethyl-4-deoxypodophyllotoxin () is the first aryltetralin lignan compound identified from this plant species.

Accumulation of nanoplastics in human cells as visualized and quantified by hyperspectral imaging with enhanced dark-field microscopy.

Nanoplastic (NP) pollution is receiving increasing attention regarding its potential effects on human health. The identification and quantification of intracellular NPs are prerequisites for an accurate risk assessment, but appropriate methods are lacking. Here we present a label-free technique to simultaneously visualize and quantify the bioaccumulation of NPs based on hyperspectral imaging with enhanced dark-field microscopy (HSI-DFM).

Dihydro-Resveratrol Attenuates Oxidative Stress, Adipogenesis and Insulin Resistance in In Vitro Models and High-Fat Diet-Induced Mouse Model via AMPK Activation.

Management of obesity has become a prevalent strategy for preventing the diseases closely integrated with excess body weight such as diabetes over the last half century. Searching for therapeutic agents acting on oxidative stress, adipogenesis and insulin resistance is considered as an efficient approach to control obesity-related diseases. The present study was designed to examine the in vitro and in vivo effects of dihydro-resveratrol (DR2), a naturally occurring compound from medicinal plants, on oxidative stress aggravation, adipogenesis, lipogenesis and insulin sensitivity.

Bromo-protopine, a novel protopine derivative, alleviates tau pathology by activating chaperone-mediated autophagy for Alzheimer's disease therapy.

Emerging evidence from Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients suggests that reducing tau pathology can restore cognitive and memory loss. To reduce tau pathology, it is critical to find brain-permeable tau-degrading small molecules that are safe and effective. HDAC6 inhibition has long been considered a safe and effective therapy for tau pathology.

Inflammation-targeted nanomedicine against brain cancer: From design strategies to future developments.

Brain cancer is an aggressive type of cancer with poor prognosis. While the immune system protects against cancer in the early stages, the tumor exploits the healing arm of inflammatory reactions to accelerate its growth and spread. Various immune cells penetrate the developing tumor region, establishing a pro-inflammatory tumor milieu.

Exploring the role of senescence inducers and senotherapeutics as targets for anticancer natural products.

During the last few decades, cancer has remained one of the deadliest diseases that endanger human health, emphasizing urgent drug discovery. Cellular senescence has gained a great deal of attention in recent years because of its link to the development of cancer therapy. Senescent cells are incapable of proliferating due to irreversibly inhibition of the initiation of the cell cycle pathways.

Ebola Entry Inhibitors Discovered from .

Ebola virus disease (EVD), a disease caused by infection with Ebola virus (EBOV), is characterized by hemorrhagic fever and a high case fatality rate. With limited options for the treatment of EVD, anti-Ebola viral therapeutics need to be urgently developed. In this study, over 500 extracts of medicinal plants collected in the Lingnan region were tested against infection with Ebola-virus-pseudotyped particles (EBOVpp), leading to the discovery of as an anti-EBOV plant lead.

Corynoxine B derivative CB6 prevents Parkinsonian toxicity in mice by inducing PIK3C3 complex-dependent autophagy.

Increasing evidence shows that autophagy impairment is involved in the pathogenesis and progression of neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson's disease (PD). We previously identified a natural alkaloid named corynoxine B (Cory B) as a neuronal autophagy inducer. However, its brain permeability is relatively low, which hinders its potential use in treating PD.

LncRNA LUCAT1 as a Plasma Biomarker for Assessing Disease Activity in Adult Patients with Crohn's Disease.

Aim: To explore the expression of long noncoding RNA (LncRNA) LUCAT1 in adult patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and evaluate the relationship between LncRNA LUCAT1 and the disease activity in Chinese patients with CD.

Methods: Patients with CD and healthy participants (≥18 years old) were enrolled in this study between January 2018 and December 2019. The expression of LncRNA LUCAT1 in plasma samples was evaluated by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.