Unassisted photoelectrochemical CO-to-liquid fuel splitting over 12% solar conversion efficiency.

The increasing need to control anthropogenic CO emissions and conversion to fuels features the necessity for innovative solutions, one of which is photoelectrochemical system. This approach, capable of yielding gaseous production progressively, is facing challenges for liquid fuels generation due to optical, electrical, and catalytic properties. This study employs a standalone photoelectrochemical setup, in which InGaP/GaAs/Ge photoanode is integrated with tin-modified bismuth oxide cathode to convert CO into liquid formic acid.

[Retracted] Inhibition of RKIP aggravates thioacetamide‑induced acute liver failure in mice.

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.3892/etm.2018.

Impact of Monascus purpureus fermentation on antioxidant activity, free amino acid profiles and flavor properties of kelp (Saccharina japonica).

This study evaluated the efficacy of Monascus purpureus fermentation on Saccharina japonica (SJ). Healthy substances and antioxidant activity of fermented SJ (FSJ) were determined. Results showed that fermentation caused the release of phenolic compounds and flavonoids, which resulted in the enhancement of antioxidant activity.

Synergistic Approach toward Erbium-Passivated Triple-Anion Organic-Free Perovskite Solar Cells with Excellent Performance for Agrivoltaics Application.

All-inorganic perovskite solar cells (IPSCs) have gained massive attention due to their less instability against common degradation factors (light, heat, and moisture) than their organic-inorganic hybrid counterparts. Inorganic perovskites bear a general formula of CsPbX (X = Cl, I, Br). The mixed halide CsPbIBr perovskite possesses an intermediate band gap of 2.

First-principles study on the strain-mediated g-CN/blue phosphorene heterostructures for promising photocatalytic performance.

Well-designed two-dimensional heterogeneous photocatalysts have attracted significant attention due to the enhancement in visible-light absorption and effective charge separation. In this paper, the electronic and optical properties of g-CN/BlueP (blue phosphorene) heterojunction under varying strains were investigated systematically by first-principles calculations. The results showed that the type transformation of g-CN/BlueP heterojunction can be achieved by suitable biaxial strain.

Methyl helicterilate ameliorates alcohol-induced hepatic fibrosis by modulating TGF-β1/Smads pathway and mitochondria-dependent pathway.

This study aimed to investigate the effect and underlying mechanism of Methyl helicterilate from Helicteres angustifolia (MHHA) on alcohol-induced hepatic fibrosis. The results showed that MHHA treatment markedly alleviated alcohol-induced liver injury and notably reduced collagen deposition in liver tissue. It significantly enhanced the activity of alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase.

Methyl helicterate inhibits hepatic stellate cell activation through downregulating the ERK1/2 signaling pathway.

The present study was to investigate the inhibitory effect of methyl helicterate (MH) on hepatic stellate cells (HSC-T6), primarily elucidating the underlying mechanism of MH against liver fibrosis. HSC-T6 cells were activated by platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) stimulation, and then the effects of MH on cell viability, cytomembrane integrity, colony, migration, apoptosis, and cell cycle were detected. Moreover, the regulative mechanism of MH on HSCs was investigated by detecting the activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) signaling pathway.

Methyl Helicterate Inhibits Hepatic Stellate Cell Activation Through Modulation of Apoptosis and Autophagy.

Background/aims: Activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are the major source of extracellular matrix (ECM). Therefore inhibiting HSC activation is considered as an effective strategy to inhibit the process of liver fibrosis. This study aimed to investigate the underlying mechanism of methyl helicterate (MH) isolated from Helicteres angustifolia on the activation of HSCs.

Methyl helicterte ameliorates liver fibrosis by regulating miR-21-mediated ERK and TGF-β1/Smads pathways.

Methyl helicterate (MH) has been reported to have protective effects against CCl-induced hepatic injury and fibrosis in rats, but its protective mechanism, especially on hepatic stallete cells (HSCs), remains unclear. Recently, our pilot experiment showed that MH could inhibit miR-21 expression in HSC-T6 cells, suggesting that miR-21 may be one of the targets of MH to intervene liver fibrosis. To verify the hypothesis, the present study would focus on the regulatory effect of MH on the miR-21-mediated ERK and TGF-β1/Smads pathways.

Inhibition of RKIP aggravates thioacetamide-induced acute liver failure in mice.

Accumulating evidence has indicated that Raf kinase inhibitor protein (RKIP) is involved in several intracellular signaling pathways; its abnormal expression is associated with tumor progression and metastasis in several human neoplasms. However, the role of RKIP in acute liver injury has remained elusive. In the present study, acute liver failure was induced by thioacetamide in mice, and locostatin was used to interfere with RKIP expression.

Trolline Ameliorates Liver Fibrosis by Inhibiting the NF-κB Pathway, Promoting HSC Apoptosis and Suppressing Autophagy.

Background/aims: Previous studies have shown that trolline possesses various forms of pharmacological activity, including antibacterial and antiviral potency. The present paper addressed the putative hepatoprotective effects of trolline.

Methods: Rats received 2 ml/kg CCl4 (mixed 1: 1 in peanut oil) intragastrically twice a week for 8 weeks to induce hepatic fibrosis.

Who, What and Where (WWW) Problems in Scientific Communities.

The results of the National Higher Education Entrance Examination (Gaokao, in Chinese) have a life-long effect on most Chinese by labeling them clever or not. Some of the following rules of the Gaokao enhance the damage, for example, the rule of Who, What and Where. In general, Who you are and What you have done are of secondary importance, but Where you graduated from, especially the college of first-record is the most important, but discriminatory criterion in the recruitment courses of most of scientific communities and social organizations in China.

[Knockdown of Raf kinase inhibitor protein promotes the proliferation of LX-2 human hepatic stellate cells].

Objective To investigate the role of Raf kinase inhibitor protein (RKIP) in the proliferation of LX-2 human hepatic stellate cells. Methods The recombinant plasmid siRNA-RKIP was transfected into LX-2 cells. Five days later, the stably transfected cells were screened and cultured.

Didymin Alleviates Hepatic Fibrosis Through Inhibiting ERK and PI3K/Akt Pathways via Regulation of Raf Kinase Inhibitor Protein.

Background: Didymin has been reported to have anti-cancer potential. However, the effect of didymin on liver fibrosis remains illdefined.

Methods: Hepatic fibrosis was induced by CCl4 in rats.

Didymin ameliorates hepatic injury through inhibition of MAPK and NF-κB pathways by up-regulating RKIP expression.

A flavone was isolated from Origanum vulgare and identified as didymin (O. vulgare didymin, OVD). The protective effect and mechanism of OVD on acute liver injury was then assessed in vivo and in vitro.

Didymin induces apoptosis through mitochondrial dysfunction and up-regulation of RKIP in human hepatoma cells.

In the present study, a flavonoid was isolated from Origanum vulgare and identified as didymin. The effect and mechanism of O. vulgare didymin (OVD) on human HepG2 liver carcinoma cell was then assessed.

Raf Kinase Inhibitory Protein Down-Expression Exacerbates Hepatic Fibrosis In Vivo and In Vitro.

Background/aims: Raf kinase inhibitory protein (RKIP) is closely associated with numerous tumors and participates in their development through regulating the growth, apoptosis, invasion and metastasis of tumor cells. However, the role of RKIP in chronic liver injury and particularly in liver fibrosis is still unclear.

Methods: In the present study, hepatic fibrosis was induced by porcine serum (PS) in rats and primary hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) were isolated from rat livers.

Calculation of exchange integrals and Curie temperature for La-substituted barium hexaferrites.

As the macro behavior of the strength of exchange interaction, state of the art of Curie temperature T, which is directly proportional to the exchange integrals, makes sense to the high-frequency and high-reliability microwave devices. Challenge remains as finding a quantitative way to reveal the relationship between the Curie temperature and the exchange integrals for doped barium hexaferrites. Here in this report, for La-substituted barium hexaferrites, the electronic structure has been determined by the density functional theory (DFT) and generalized gradient approximation (GGA).

[Over-expression of Raf kinase inhibitor protein (RKIP) inhibits the proliferation of LX-2 human hepatic stellate cells].

Objective To investigate the effect of Raf kinase inhibitor protein (RKIP) over-expression on the proliferation of LX-2 human hepatic stellate cells. Methods Recombinant plasmid pcDNA3.1-RKIP was transfected into LX-2 cells.

Loss of Raf kinase inhibitor protein is associated with malignant progression in hepatic fibrosis.

Raf kinase inhibitory protein (RKIP), besides regulating important intracellular signaling cascades, was described to be associated with progression, metastasis and prognosis in several human neoplasms. But its role in hepatic fibrogenesis remains unclear. In the present study, we found that the absence of RKIP expression significantly enhanced the proliferation of HSC-T6 cells.

Isoorientin from Gypsophila elegans induces apoptosis in liver cancer cells via mitochondrial-mediated pathway.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Gypsophila elegans has been used as a traditional herbal medicine for treating immune disorders and chronic liver diseases in China. The aim of this study is to isolate an active ingredient from this herb and investigate its anti-tumor activity.

Materials And Methods: An active ingredient was isolated from the ethanol extract using bioassay-guided screening.

Structural evolution of NiAu nanoparticles under ambient conditions directly revealed by atom-resolved imaging combined with DFT simulation.

From an economic point of view, the structural stability of noble-transition bimetallic catalysts is as significant as their well-studied catalytic efficiency. The structural evolution and corresponding dynamics of NiAu bimetallic nanoparticles under ambient conditions are investigated using in situ Cs-corrected STEM and DFT calculations. During oxidization, the Au component promotes dissociation of oxygen and initiates Ni oxidization, which simultaneously drives the migration of Au atoms, thus yielding multi-shell structures (denoted by Ni@Au@NiO).