Asymmetrical Interactions between Ni Single Atomic Sites and Ni Clusters in a 3D Porous Organic Framework for Enhanced CO Photoreduction.

3D porous organic frameworks, which possess the advantages of high surface area and abundant exposed active sites, are considered ideal platforms to accommodate single atoms (SAs) and metal nanoclusters (NCs) in high-performance catalysts; however, very little research has been conducted in this field. In the present work, a 3D porous organic framework containing Ni SAs and Ni NCs is prepared through the metal-assisted one-pot polycondensation of tetraaldehyde and hexaaminotriptycene. The single metal sites and metal clusters confined in the 3D space created a favorable micro-environment that facilitated the activation of chemically inert CO molecules, thus promoting the overall photoconversion efficiency and selectivity of CO reduction.

Single-atom tailored atomically-precise nanoclusters for enhanced electrochemical reduction of CO-to-CO activity.

The development of facile tailoring approach to adjust the intrinsic activity and stability of atomically-precise metal nanoclusters catalysts is of great interest but remians challenging. Herein, the well-defined Au nanoclusters modified by single-atom sites are rationally synthesized via a co-eletropolymerization strategy, in which uniformly dispersed metal nanocluster and single-atom co-entrenched on the poly-carbazole matrix. Systematic characterization and theoretical modeling reveal that functionalizing single-atoms enable altering the electronic structures of Au clusters, which amplifies their electrocatalytic reduction of CO to CO activity by ~18.

[Spatial variability and agglomeration of soil salinity in Minjiang estuary wetland, Southeast China].

Understanding the spatial variability and agglomeration of soil salinity is of great significance for the sustainable development of estuarine wetland. Landsat 8 OLI remote sensing image, digital elevation mode and soil surface samples of Minjiang estuary wetland of Fuzhou were used as the data sources. The correlation analysis and principal component analysis were combined to select significant environmental variables and to reduce their dimensions.

The excretory-secretory products of Echinococcus granulosus protoscoleces stimulated IL-10 production in B cells via TLR-2 signaling.

Background: Excretory-secretory products released by Echinococcus granulosus protoscoleces (EgPSC-ESPs) are well-known to regulate T cell responses. However, their direct influence on the differentiation of B cell subsets remains largely elusive. This study investigated the effects of EgPSC-ESPs on the differentiation of IL-10-producing B cells (B10), and explored the possible role of Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR-2) signaling in this process.

Determination of amantadine and rimantadine using a sensitive fluorescent probe.

Amantadine hydrochloride (AMA) and rimantadine hydrochloride (RIM) are non-fluorescent in aqueous solutions. This property makes their determination through direct fluorescent method difficult. The competing reactions and the supramolecular interaction mechanisms between the two drugs and coptisine (COP) as they fight for occupancy of the cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) cavity, were studied using spectrofluorimetry, (1)H NMR, and molecular modeling calculations.

Differentiation of SWO-38 glioma cells induced by CDA-2 is mediated by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma.

Glioma remains one of the most lethal human tumors in spite of the progress in radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and surgical techniques. Cell differentiation agent-2 (CDA-2) is an extraction from healthy human urine consisting of primary organic acids and peptides, and it has been demonstrated to inhibit growth and induce differentiation in glioma and other cell lines. However, the mechanism remains unclear.

Inhibition of adipocyte differentiation by phytoestrogen genistein through a potential downregulation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 activity.

In the current study, we investigated the effects of genistein on adipogenic differentiation of mouse bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) cultures and its potential signaling pathway. The terminal adipogenic differentiation was assessed by western-blotting analysis of adipogenic-specific proteins such as PPARgamma, C/EBPalpha, and aP2 and the formation of adipocytes. Treatment of mouse BMSC cultures with adipogenic cocktail resulted in sustained activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2), which are members of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family, at the early phase of adipogenesis (from days 3 to 9).

Genistein stimulates osteoblastic differentiation via p38 MAPK-Cbfa1 pathway in bone marrow culture.

Aim: To test the hypothesis that genistein stimulates the osteoblastic differentiation through the p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK)-core-binding factor 1 (Cbfa1) pathway.

Methods: The activation of p38 MAPK was detected by Western blotting. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and calcium deposition were assessed for osteoblastic differentiation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) cultures.

[Expression of PTEN gene in human glioma cell lines U251 and SHG-44 and its effect on cell proliferation].

Background & Objective: Mutation or deletion of PTEN gene is related to a variety of tumors. PTEN gene abnormality is closely related to the tumorigenesis of glioma. This study aimed to investigate the expression of PTEN gene in human glioma cell lines U251 and SHG-44, and explore its effect on cell proliferation.

15d-PGJ2 inhibits cell growth and induces apoptosis of MCG-803 human gastric cancer cell line.

Aim: To investigate the influence of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) ligand, 15-deoxy-12, 14-prostaglandin J2 (15dPGJ2) on the proliferation and apoptosis of MCG-803 human gastric cancer cell lines.

Methods: Cell proliferation was measured by 3H-TdR assay. Apoptosis was determined by ELISA and TUNEL staining.