MoC catalyst leads to highly efficient hydrogen transfer of alcohols and amines to synthesize -alkylamines.

We found that molybdenum carbide (MoC) can be applied as a novel and efficient heterogeneous catalyst for hydrogen transfer of anilines and alcohols to synthesize -alkylamines. The results of experiments and DFT calculations demonstrate that MoC surface can reduce the energy barrier of the key step of alcohol dehydrogenation and generate a hydrogen spillover effect, thereby exhibiting outstanding catalytic performance.

Development and validation of asthma diagnostic scale for children.

Background: To construct an asthma diagnostic scale for children under 6 years old.

Methods: An electronic medical record database was used to develop the scale. Item pool was established through literature survey and expert opinion.

Epidemiological characterization and risk factors of rhinitis and rhinoconjunctivitis among preschool children in Shanghai, China.

Background: Previous studies have reported an increasing prevalence of childhood allergic rhinitis in developing countries. There is still a lack of the recent epidemiology of allergic rhinitis among Chinese preschool children. Therefore, this study explored the prevalence of rhinitis symptoms and identified their associations with potential risk factors among children at the age of 3-6 in Shanghai, China.

Immobilized lipase for sustainable hydrolysis of acidified oil to produce fatty acid.

Acidified oil is obtained from by-product of crops oil refining industry, which is considered as a low-cost material for fatty acid production. Hydrolysis of acidified oil by lipase catalysis for producing fatty acid is a sustainable and efficient bioprocess that is an alternative of continuous countercurrent hydrolysis. In this study, lipase from Candida rugosa (CRL) was immobilized on magnetic FeO@SiO via covalent binding strategy for highly efficient hydrolysis of acidified soybean oil.

Effect of Glutaraldehyde Multipoint Covalent Treatments on Immobilized Lipase for Hydrolysis of Acidified Oil.

Immobilized lipase is a green and sustainable catalyst for hydrolysis of acidified oil. Glutaraldehyde is widely used for lipase immobilization while the appropriate strategy optimizes the catalytic performance of lipase. In this research, lipase from Candida rugosa (CRL) was immobilized on spherical silica (SiO) by glutaraldehyde multipoint covalent treatments, including covalent binding method and adsorption-crosslinking method.

Direct identification of HLA class I and class II-restricted T cell epitopes in pancreatic cancer tissues by mass spectrometry.

Background: Identifying T cell epitopes on pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) associated antigens or neoantigens has been a challenge. In this study, we attempted to identify PDAC T cell epitopes by mass spectrometry (MS).

Methods: We isolated HLA class I (HLA-I) and HLA class II (HLA-II)-restricted peptides, respectively, from tissues of human PDAC by using the pan-HLA-I or pan-HLA-II affinity purification column and identified T cell epitopes by peptidome analysis with MS.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Asthma in Preschool Children in Shanghai, China: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Previous studies have shown the increasing prevalence of childhood asthma around the world as well as in China. Nevertheless, little is known about the epidemiology of asthma in preschool children. Thus, the present study investigated the prevalence and severity of asthma in Shanghai, China, and identified related risk factors for asthma in children at the age of 3-6.

High specific surface CeO-NPs doped loose porous CNfor enhanced photocatalytic oxidation ability.

Porous CN(PCN) is favored by researchers because it has more surface active sites, higher specific surface area and stronger light absorption ability than traditional g-CN. In this study, cerium dioxide nanoparticles (CeO-NPs) with mixed valence state of Ceand Cewere doped into the PCN framework by a two-step method. The results indicate that CeO-NPs are highly dispersed in the PCN framework, which leads to a narrower band gap, a wider range of the light response and an improved the separation efficiency of photogenerated charge in PCN.

Novel Human Insulin Isoforms and Cα-Peptide Product in Islets of Langerhans and Choroid Plexus.

Human insulin () gene diverged from the ancestral genes of invertebrate and mammalian species millions of years ago. We previously found that mouse insulin gene () isoforms are expressed in brain choroid plexus (ChP) epithelium cells, where insulin secretion is regulated by serotonin and not by glucose. We further compared human isoform expression in postmortem ChP and islets of Langerhans.

Primary angle closure glaucoma is characterized by altered extracellular matrix homeostasis in the iris.

Purpose: To characterize the proteome of the iris in primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG).

Experimental Design: In this cross-sectional study, iris samples were obtained from surgical iridectomy of 48 adults with PACG and five normal controls. Peptides from iris were analysed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry on an Orbitrap Q Exactive Plus mass spectrometer.

Catalytic developments in the epoxidation of vegetable oils and the analysis methods of epoxidized products.

Functionalization of vegetable oils (VOs) including edible, non-edible, and waste cooking oil (WCOs) to epoxides (EVOs) is receiving great attention by many researchers from academia and industry because they are renewable, versatile, sustainable, non-toxic, and eco-friendly, and they can partially or totally replace harmful phthalate plasticizers. The epoxidation of VOs on an industrial scale has already been developed by the homogeneous catalytic system using peracids. Due to the drawbacks of this method, other systems including acidic ion exchange resins, polyoxometalates, and enzymes are becoming alternative catalysts for the epoxidation reaction.

Tetra-linoleoyl cardiolipin depletion plays a major role in the pathogenesis of sarcopenia.

Sarcopenia, the progressive loss of muscle mass, strength, and physical performance that occurs during aging, is highly prevalent among the elderly. Sarcopenia increases the risk of falls, disability, and death. The biological basis for sarcopenia is not well understood.

Elevated Plasma Growth and Differentiation Factor 15 Is Associated With Slower Gait Speed and Lower Physical Performance in Healthy Community-Dwelling Adults.

Background: Growth and differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) has been associated with obesity, muscle wasting, and cachexia. The receptor for GDF-15 was recently identified in the brainstem and regulates food intake and metabolism. The relationship of plasma GDF-15 with the age-associated decline of muscle mass and strength, gait speed, and physical performance in adults has not been well characterized.

Low plasma lysophosphatidylcholines are associated with impaired mitochondrial oxidative capacity in adults in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging.

The decrease in skeletal muscle mitochondrial oxidative capacity with age adversely affects muscle strength and physical performance. Factors that are associated with this decrease have not been well characterized. Low plasma lysophosphatidylcholines (LPC), a major class of systemic bioactive lipids, are predictive of aging phenotypes such as cognitive impairment and decline of gait speed in older adults.

Relationship of Circulating Growth and Differentiation Factors 8 and 11 and Their Antagonists as Measured Using Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry With Age and Skeletal Muscle Strength in Healthy Adults.

Background: Growth and differentiation factors 8 (GDF8) and 11 (GDF11) have attracted attention as targets for rejuvenating interventions. The biological activity of these proteins may be affected by circulating antagonists such as their respective prodomains, follistatin (FST315), WFIKKN1, and WFIKKN2. Reports of the relationship of GDF8 and GDF11 and their antagonists with aging and aging phenotypes such as skeletal muscle strength have been conflicting possibly because of difficulties in measuring these proteins and polypeptides.

Plasma proteomic signature of age in healthy humans.

To characterize the proteomic signature of chronological age, 1,301 proteins were measured in plasma using the SOMAscan assay (SomaLogic, Boulder, CO, USA) in a population of 240 healthy men and women, 22-93 years old, who were disease- and treatment-free and had no physical and cognitive impairment. Using a p ≤ 3.83 × 10 significance threshold, 197 proteins were positively associated, and 20 proteins were negatively associated with age.

Altered Plasma Amino Acids and Lipids Associated With Abnormal Glucose Metabolism and Insulin Resistance in Older Adults.

Context And Objectives: Glucose metabolism becomes progressively impaired with older age. Fasting glucose and insulin resistance are risk factors for premature death and other adverse outcomes. We aimed to identifying plasma metabolites associated with altered glucose metabolism and insulin resistance in older community-dwelling adults.

Targeted Metabolomics Shows Low Plasma Lysophosphatidylcholine 18:2 Predicts Greater Decline of Gait Speed in Older Adults: The Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging.

Background: Gait speed is an important measure of lower extremity physical performance in older adults and is predictive of disability and mortality. The biological pathways involved in the decline of lower extremity physical performance are not well understood. We used a targeted metabolomics approach to identify plasma metabolites predictive of change in gait speed over time.

The Human Eye Proteome Project: Updates on an Emerging Proteome.

The human eye is a complex organ consisting of multiple compartments with unique and specialized properties that reflect their varied functions. Although there have been advancements in ocular imaging and therapeutics over the past decade, the pathogenesis of many common eye diseases remains poorly understood. Proteomics is an invaluable tool to gain insight into pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of eye diseases.

A proteomic approach to understanding the pathogenesis of idiopathic macular hole formation.

Idiopathic macular holes (IMH) are full-thickness defects of retinal tissue that cause severe vision loss due to disruption of the anatomic fovea. Abnormal vitreous traction is involved in the formation of macular holes. Both glial cells and hyalocytes contribute to epiretinal membrane formation in IMH.

Heart Failure-Related Hyperphosphorylation in the Cardiac Troponin I C Terminus Has Divergent Effects on Cardiac Function In Vivo.

Background: In human heart failure, Ser199 (equivalent to Ser200 in mouse) of cTnI (cardiac troponin I) is significantly hyperphosphorylated, and in vitro studies suggest that it enhances myofilament calcium sensitivity and alters calpain-mediated cTnI proteolysis. However, how its hyperphosphorylation affects cardiac function in vivo remains unknown.

Methods And Results: To address the question, 2 transgenic mouse models were generated: a phospho-mimetic cTnIS200D and a phospho-silenced cTnIS200A, each driven by the cardiomyocyte-specific α-myosin heavy chain promoter.

A targeted proteomic assay for the measurement of plasma proteoforms related to human aging phenotypes.

Circulating polypeptides and proteins have been implicated in reversing or accelerating aging phenotypes, including growth/differentiation factor 8 (GDF8), GDF11, eotaxin, and oxytocin. These proteoforms, which are defined as the protein products arising from a single gene due to alternative splicing and PTMs, have been challenging to study. Both GDF8 and GDF11 have known antagonists such as follistatin (FST), and WAP, Kazal, immunoglobulin, Kunitz, and NTR domain-containing proteins 1 and 2 (WFIKKN1, WFIKKN2).

A robotic protocol for high-throughput processing of samples for selected reaction monitoring assays.

Selected reaction monitoring mass spectrometry (SRM-MS) is a sensitive and accurate method for the quantification of targeted proteins in biological specimens. However, the sample throughput and reliability of this technique is limited by the complexity of sample preparation, as well as instrumentation and data processing. Modern robotic equipment allows for rapid and accurate processing of large number of samples and makes SRM-MS assay applicable in epidemiological studies.

Anatomical differences of the protein profile in the rabbit sclera during growth.

We aimed to investigate the proteome changes in anatomical regions of sclera during growth and development of the rabbit. Sclera from New Zealand white rabbits of three ages (1 month, 2 months and 6 months) was dissected into three segments - anterior, equatorial, and posterior. A total of 36 samples were divided into groups by age and anatomical region.

Heterogeneous Stromal Signaling within the Tumor Microenvironment Controls the Metastasis of Pancreatic Cancer.

Understanding how stromal signals regulate the development of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) may suggest novel therapeutic interventions in this disease. In this study, we assessed the metastatic role of stromal signals suggested to be important in the PDAC microenvironment. Src and IGF-1R phosphorylated the prometastatic molecule Annexin A2 (AnxA2) at Y23 and Y333 in response to stromal signals HGF and IGF-1, respectively, and IGF-1 expression was regulated by the Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) pathway.