Investigation of Mechanical Properties and Oil Resistance of Hydrogenated-Butadiene-Acrylonitrile-Rubber-Based Composites Across Various Temperatures.

The influence of molecular structure (acrylonitrile content) and formulation (carbon black and plasticizer dosage) on the rheological and mechanical properties of HNBR composites was systematically studied, with further discussion on ozone resistance and swelling behavior in transformer oil. The results demonstrated that the curing characteristics and rheological behavior of HNBR composites are closely linked to acrylonitrile content, carbon black, and plasticizer levels. Plasticizers significantly reduced the degree of crosslinking and the Payne effect, while fillers had the opposite impact.

Effective sensitization of Dy:H energy level by Tm ions in KPbBr crystal for 4.3 µm lasers.

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the use of Tm to sensitize the Dy ion and enhance the ∼4.3 µm emission from Dy:H → H in the KPbBr (KPB) crystal. The ∼4.

Targeting toll-like receptor 7 as a therapeutic development strategy for systemic lupus erythematosus.

Endosomal TLRs (TLR3/7/8/9) are highly analogous innate immunity sensors for various viral or bacterial RNA/DNA molecular patterns. Among them, TLR7, in particular, has been suggested to be a target for various inflammatory disorders and autoimmune diseases including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE); but few small-molecule inhibitors with elaborated mechanism have been reported in literature. Here, we reported a well-characterized human TLR7-specific small-molecule inhibitor, TH-407b, with promising potency and negligible cytotoxicity through a novel binding mechanism.

Simultaneous analysis of reduced and oxidized forms of multiple biological aminothiols in cells and tissues by double derivatization combined with liquid chromatography‒mass spectrometry.

Biological aminothiols (BATs) typically exist in both reduced and oxidized forms, each exhibiting diverse biological activities. Monitoring the levels and ratios of the two forms is crucial for clinical diagnosis and understanding their roles in biological systems. In this study, we developed a method for simultaneous analysis of both reduced and oxidized BATs using a double derivatization approach combined with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS).

Energy enhancement of Nd,Sc:YAG crystal in passively Q-switched lasers.

We report on the laser performance of Nd,Sc:YAG (yttrium aluminum garnet), for the first time, to our knowledge. In this study, 10 at.% Sc ions were doped into the Nd:YAG crystal to form the Nd,Sc:YAG crystal, which improves the saturation flux while nearly maintaining the excellent properties of the Nd:YAG crystal.

Theoretical study of solvent effects on the white light emission mechanism of single molecule 4-OH-naphthalimide.

Organic white light materials fabricated on the basis of single molecules have applied to manufacture the white light-emitting diodes due to their good photostability and relatively simple material preparation. In this work, the different fluorescence emission mechanisms of the NapH1 in n,n-dimethylformamide (DMF) and toluene are investigated to elucidate the process for generating single-molecule near-white-light. From the analysis of bond lengths and electrostatic potential analysis, the intermolecular hydrogen bond can form in DMF instead of in toluene.

Amantadine against glioma via ROS-mediated apoptosis and autophagy arrest.

Glioma is a common primary nervous system malignant tumor with poor overall cure rate and low survival rate, yet successful treatment still remains a challenge. Here, we demonstrated that amantadine (AMT) exhibits the powerful anti-glioma effect by promoting apoptosis and autophagy in vivo and in vitro. Mechanistically, amantadine induces a large amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation in glioma cells, and then triggers apoptosis by destroying mitochondria.

Design of a broadband SiN waveguide amplifier based on a gain medium of ion-sliced titanium-doped sapphire.

In recent years, significant progress has been made in the on-chip integration of Ti:sapphire amplifiers and lasers, showing great potential in device miniaturization, cost reduction, and mass production. However, the further integration of such devices on standard CMOS platforms has been challenging due to its limits on the wafer bonding method between gain materials and substrates. Here, we present a novel, to the best of our knowledge, SiN on-chip broadband optical waveguide amplifier scheme with an ultra-wide bandwidth of 650-900 nm and a peak gain of 28 dB based on an ion-sliced Ti:sapphire platform.

Suppressing Static and Dynamic Disorder for High-Efficiency and Stable Thick-Film Organic Solar Cells via Synergistic Dilution Strategy.

Developing stable and highly efficient thick-film organic solar cells (OSCs) is crucial for the large-scale commercial application of organic photovoltaics. A novel synergistic dilution strategy to address this issue, using Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA) -modified zinc oxide (ZnO) as the interfacial layer, is introduced. This strategy effectively mitigates oxygen defects in ZnO while also regulating the self-assembly process of the active layer to achieve an ordered distribution of donors and acceptors.

Atomic Dispersed Co on NC@Cu Core-Shells for Solar Seawater Splitting.

With freshwater resources becoming increasingly scarce, the photocatalytic seawater splitting for hydrogen production has garnered widespread attention. In this study, a novel photocatalyst consisting of a Cu core coated is introduced with N-doped C and decorated with single Co atoms (Co-NC@Cu) for solar to hydrogen production from seawater. This catalyst, without using noble metals or sacrificial agents, demonstrates superior hydrogen production effficiency of 9080 µmolgh, i.

Discovery of pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine derivatives targeting TLR4-TLR4∗ homodimerization via AI-powered next-generation screening.

TLR4 signaling is instrumental in orchestrating multiple aspects of innate immunity. Developing small molecule inhibitors targeting the TLR4 pathway holds potential therapeutic promise for TLR4-related disorders. Herein, an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered next-generation screening approach, employing HelixVS and HelixDock, was utilized to focus on the TLR4-TLR4∗ (a second copy of TLR4) homodimerization surface, leading to the identification of a potent pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine derivative, designated as compound 1.

Exploring the anti‑oxidative mechanisms of in ameliorating myocardial fibrosis through network pharmacology and experiments.

Myocardial fibrosis (MF) significantly compromises cardiovascular health by affecting cardiac function through excessive collagen deposition. This impairs myocardial contraction and relaxation and leads to severe complications and increased mortality. The present study employed network pharmacology and assays to investigate the bioactive compounds of and their targets.

Constraining the Excessive Aggregation of Non-Fullerene Acceptor Molecules Enables Organic Solar Modules with the Efficiency >16.

Translating high-performance organic solar cell (OSC) materials from spin-coating to scalable processing is imperative for advancing organic photovoltaics. For bridging the gap between laboratory research and industrialization, it is essential to understand the structural formation dynamics within the photoactive layer during printing processes. In this study, two typical printing-compatible solvents in the doctor-blading process are employed to explore the intricate mechanisms governing the thin-film formation in the state-of-the-art photovoltaic system PM6:L8-BO.

Concentration-Dependent Layer-Stacking and the Influence on Phase-Conversion in Colloidally Synthesized WSe Nanocrystals.

We report a synthesis of WSe nanocrystals in which the number of layers is controlled by varying the precursor concentration. By altering the ratios and concentrations of W(CO) and PhSe in trioctylphosphine oxide, we show that high [Se] and large Se/W ratios lead to an increased number of layers per nanocrystal. As the number of layers per nanocrystal is increased, the nanocrystal ensembles show less phase-conversion from the metastable 2M phase to the thermodynamically favored 2H phase.

The next Nobel Prize in chemistry or in physiology or medicine.

In early October, the Nobel Prizes will honor groundbreaking discoveries. After the anticipated recognition of Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman in 2023 for the development of RNA modifications that enabled the SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine, we eagerly consider the next topics to be awarded. In the September 30 anniversary special issue of Cell Chemical Biology, we ask researchers from a range of backgrounds, what topic do you think deserves the next Nobel Prize in chemistry or in physiology or medicine, and why?

Click-chemistry-based protocol for detecting 4-octyl-itaconate-alkylated proteins in primary mouse macrophages.

4-Octyl itaconate (4-OI), a derivative of itaconate, inhibits inflammation by alkylating its target proteins. Here, we present a click-chemistry-based protocol for detecting 4-OI-alkylated proteins in mouse primary bone-marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) by using an itaconate-alkyne (ITalk) probe. We describe steps for culturing and treating BMDMs and details on using click chemistry in the cell lysate.

fabrication of a plasmonic Bi@BiOCO core-shell heterostructure for photocatalytic CO reduction: structural insights into selectivity modulation.

The precise design of active sites and light absorbers is essential for developing highly efficient photocatalysts for CO reduction. Core-shell heterostructures constructed based on large-sized plasmonic Bi metals are ideal candidates because of the utilization of full-spectrum light and effective charge separation. However, the mechanism of selectivity modulation of large-sized Bi@semiconductor photocatalysts has yet to be explored in depth.

Inhibition of human UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) enzymes by darolutamide: Prediction of in vivo drug-drug interactions.

Darolutamide is a potent second-generation, selective nonsteroidal androgen receptor inhibitor (ARI), which has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in treating castrate-resistant, non-metastatic prostate cancer (nmCRPC). Whether darolutamide affects the activity of UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) is unknown. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the inhibitory effect of darolutamide on recombinant human UGTs and pooled human liver microsomes (HLMs), and explore the potential for drug-drug interactions (DDIs) mediated by darolutamide through UGTs inhibition.

Structural basis for the type I-F Cas8-HNH system.

The Cas3 nuclease is utilized by canonical type I CRISPR-Cas systems for processive target DNA degradation, while a newly identified type I-F CRISPR variant employs an HNH nuclease domain from the natural fusion Cas8-HNH protein for precise target cleavage both in vitro and in human cells. Here, we report multiple cryo-electron microscopy structures of the type I-F Cas8-HNH system at different functional states. The Cas8-HNH Cascade complex adopts an overall G-shaped architecture, with the HNH domain occupying the C-terminal helical bundle domain (HB) of the Cas8 protein in canonical type I systems.

Structural basis for the concerted antiphage activity in the SIR2-HerA system.

Recently, a novel two-gene bacterial defense system against phages, encoding a SIR2 NADase and a HerA ATPase/helicase, has been identified. However, the molecular mechanism of the bacterial SIR2-HerA immune system remains unclear. Here, we determine the cryo-EM structures of SIR2, HerA and their complex from Paenibacillus sp.