Polystyrene Nanomicroplastics Aggravate Ammonia-Induced Neurotoxic Effects in Zebrafish Embryos.

The highly hazardous chemical ammonia has been proven to be absorbed by nanoparticles, thereby exerting highly toxic effects on aquatic organisms. As a ubiquitous pollutant in aquatic environments, polystyrene nanomicroplastics (PSNPs) have shown strong adsorption capacity due to their large surface area. Therefore, the potential joint effects of ammonia and PSNPs need to be clarified.

Design and synthesis of novel cathepsin C inhibitors with anti-inflammatory activity.

Cathepsin C (Cat C) is a potential candidate for addressing inflammatory conditions associated with neutrophil serine proteases (NSPs). The high reactivity of electrophilic warheads and the metabolic instability of peptide structures are among the primary challenges in developing potent cathepsin C inhibitors. Compound 36, a lead compound derived from compound 1 through structure-based drug design and structure-activity relationship (SAR), exhibited strong Cat C inhibitory activity with an IC value of 437 nM.

Mechanisms and therapeutic potential of disulphidptosis in cancer.

SLC7A11 plays a pivotal role in tumour development by facilitating cystine import to enhance glutathione synthesis and counteract oxidative stress. Disulphidptosis, an emerging form of cell death observed in cells with high expression of SLC7A11 under glucose deprivation, is regulated through reduction-oxidation reactions and disulphide bond formation. This process leads to contraction and collapse of the F-actin cytoskeleton from the plasma membrane, ultimately resulting in cellular demise.

Additive-Controlled Divergent Synthesis of Fluorenone-4-carboxylic Acids and Diphenic Anhydrides via Rhodium-Catalyzed Oxidative Dimeric Cyclization of Aromatic Acids.

A rhodium-catalyzed one-pot access to valuable polycyclic frameworks of fluorenone-4-carboxylic acids and diphenic anhydrides via the oxidative dimeric cyclization of aromatic acids has been developed. This transformation proceeded via carboxyl-assisted 2-fold C-H activation followed by intramolecular Friedel-Crafts or dehydration reactions. The silver salt additive plays a vital role in the chemoselectivity of the products.

The rabbit model for spinal tuberculosis: An overview.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection has emerged as a global public health issue, predominantly manifesting as pulmonary tuberculosis. Bone and joint tuberculosis, with spinal tuberculosis accounting for approximately 50%, represents a significant form of extrapulmonary tuberculosis. Over the past years, there has been a rise in the incidence of spinal tuberculosis, and research concerning this area has gained significant attention.

Oxidative Tandem Cyclization of Aromatic Acids with (Benzo)thiophenes: One-Pot Access to Planar Sulfur-Containing Polycyclic Heteroarenes for Lipid-Droplet-Targeted Probes.

The efficient construction of π-conjugated polycyclic heteroarenes represents a significant task in the field of functional materials. A one-step oxidative tandem cyclization of aromatic acids with (benzo)thiophenes was developed to access planar sulfur-containing polycyclic heteroarenes. This protocol undergoes intermolecular cross-dehydrogenative coupling followed by intramolecular Friedel-Crafts acylation and provides a facile pathway to planar polycyclic compounds from inexpensive reactants.

Risk factors associated with low-grade virulent infection in intervertebral disc degeneration: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: An increasing number of research indicates an association between low-grade bacterial infections, particularly those caused by Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes), and the development of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). However, no previous meta-analysis has systematically assessed the risk factors for low-grade bacterial infections that cause IDD.

Notochordal cells: A potential therapeutic option for intervertebral disc degeneration.

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is a prevalent musculoskeletal degenerative disorder worldwide, and ~40% of chronic low back pain cases are associated with IDD. Although the pathogenesis of IDD remains unclear, the reduction in nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) and degradation of the extracellular matrix (ECM) are critical factors contributing to IDD. Notochordal cells (NCs), derived from the notochord, which rapidly degrades after birth and is eventually replaced by NPCs, play a crucial role in maintaining ECM homeostasis and preventing NPCs apoptosis.

-Methoxybenzyl-Radical-Promoted Chemoselective Protection of -Alkylamides.

The hitherto difficult site-selective -methoxybenzylation of secondary amides using -methoxybenzylated alkylsilyl peroxides as a novel -methoxybenzylation agent under copper catalysis is reported. The reaction proceeds under mild reaction conditions in a highly chemoselective manner. This approach was successfully applied to the site-selective -methoxybenzylation of peptides.

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances in cord serum of newborns and their potential factors.

The demonstrated developmental and reproductive toxicity of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), coupled with the increasing production and use of emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) has resulted in progressively higher human exposure levels. This has raised concerns about PFAS exposure levels in the fetus, which is highly susceptible to the potential effects of hazardous environmental chemicals. However, in utero exposure to PFASs and health implications have not been fully characterized in China.

Magnetic solid-phase extraction based on GO/FeO coupled with UPLC-MS/MS for determining nitroimidazoles and their metabolites in honey.

A magnetic graphene oxide (GO/FeO) nanocomposite was synthesized in one step by a chemical coprecipitation method, which was further used for magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE). This study aimed to combine GO/FeO with ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) to detect the nitroimidazoles (NDZs) and their three major metabolites in honey samples. GO/FeO was characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and magnetic property measurement system (MPMS), and the influencing parameters such as adsorbent amount, pH of the dissolved sample solution, sample volume, type and volume of the eluent, shaking speed, and adsorption and desorption time were optimized.

Status bias in Chinese scholarly publishing: an exploratory study based on mixed methods.

The academic community requires not only responsible research but also responsible academic journals. An exploratory study of Chinese-language academic journals that used mixed methods found Chinese-language academic journals on the humanities and social sciences exhibiting a widespread status bias. Most of them summarily rejected submissions from junior researchers and students without paying due attention to the quality of the research itself.

RAB21 controls autophagy and cellular energy homeostasis by regulating retromer-mediated recycling of SLC2A1/GLUT1.

The endosomal system maintains cellular homeostasis by coordinating multiple vesicular trafficking events, and the retromer complex plays a critical role in endosomal cargo recognition and sorting. Here, we demonstrate an essential role for the small GTPase RAB21 in regulating retromer-mediated recycling of the glucose transporter SLC2A1/GLUT1 and macroautophagy/autophagy. RAB21 depletion mis-sorts SLC2A1 to lysosomes and affects glucose uptake, thereby activating the AMPK-ULK1 pathway to increase autophagic flux.

Characteristics of blacklisted journals: Evidence from Chinese-language academic journals.

Some institutions have issued blacklists of academic journals in China and use them as a basis for research evaluation. However, due to a lack of transparent formulation criteria, the characteristics of blacklisted journals remain unclear. Using blacklisted academic journals of the East China University of Political Science and Law, this study analyzed differences in characteristics between blacklisted and non-blacklisted journals via web surveys and statistical analyses.

Why do master's students of humanities and social sciences publish papers in Chinese-language predatory journals? A qualitative study based on Grounded Theory.

In China, master's students in humanities and social sciences (HSS) are becoming the main target of Chinese-language predatory journals. Existing research has not paid enough attention to why these students publish papers in Chinese-language predatory journals. This research interviewed 30 HSS master's students with different majors using semi-structured interviews and Grounded Theory to analyze the data; it found that research discrimination, research context, self-awareness, and individual demand are the main reasons why students publish papers in Chinese-language predatory journals.

Photodissociation of the Product from a Transition-Metal Center Allows the Catalytic Cycle to Proceed: The Rhodium(I)-Catalyzed [2+2+1] Carbonylative Cycloaddition of Diynes.

We describe the effective rhodium(I)-catalyzed [2+2+1] carbonylative cycloaddition of diynes, yielding cyclopentadienes (CPDs), under photoirradiation. The catalysis involves the promotion of the photodissociation of the product CPD, with the simultaneous production of an essential vacant coordination site on the rhodium for an unreacted substrate. The combined use of cationic [Rh(cod)]BF as a catalyst and photoirradiation was also found to give various CPDs in high yields (≤96%).

γ-Carboline synthesis enabled by Rh(iii)-catalysed regioselective C-H annulation.

A redox-neutral Rh(iii)-catalyzed C-H annulation of indolyl oximes was developed. Relying on the use of various alkynyl silanes as the terminal alkyne surrogates, the reaction exhibited a reverse regioselectivity, thus giving an exclusive and easy way for the synthesis of a wide range of substituent free γ-carbolines at C3 position with high efficiency. Deuterium-labelling experiments and kinetic analysis have preliminarily shed light on the working mode of this catalytic system.

New ferrocenyl-containing organic hole-transporting materials for perovskite solar cells in regular (n-i-p) and inverted (p-i-n) architectures.

Three triphenylamine derivatives containing ferrocenyl groups (JW6, JW7 and JW8) were synthesized by facile syntheses. Their HOMO levels match the valence band energy of CHNHPbI. The introduction of ferrocenyl was aimed to obtain hole transporting materials with high mobility for perovskite solar cells.