Enantioselective Synthesis of Atropisomeric Tri-Axis Naphthalenes via Diels-Alder Reaction and Dehydrative Aromatization of Isobenzofurans.

Atropisomers with multiple stereogenic axes have attracted much attention due to their increasing significance in the fields of natural products, chiral materials, and drug discoveries. However, the catalytic stereoselective construction of axially chiral ring scaffolds with more than two axes on a single benzene ring remains a challenging task. Herein, we present an efficient method for synthesizing triaxially chiral polysubstituted naphthalene scaffolds via sequential Ni(II)-catalyzed Diels-Alder reaction of isobenzofurans and TfOH-promoted dehydrative aromatization reaction.

Photoexcitation-Enhanced High-Ionic Conductivity in Polymer Electrolytes for Flexible, All-Solid-State Lithium-Metal Batteries Operating at Room Temperature.

Designing solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) with high ionic conductivity for room-temperature operation is essential for advancing flexible all-solid-state energy storage devices. Innovative strategies are urgently required to develop SPEs that are safe, stable, and high-performing. In this work, we introduce photoexcitation-modulated heterojunctions as catalytically active fillers within SPEs, guided by photocatalytic design principles, and meanwhile employ natural bacterial cellulose to improve the compatibility with poly(ethylene oxide), improve the coordination environment of lithium salts, and optimize both ion transport and mechanical properties.

PE/PPE mutations in the transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in China revealed by whole genome sequencing.

Objective: This study aims to examine the impact of PE/PPE gene mutations on the transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) in China.

Methods: We collected the whole genome sequencing (WGS) data of 3202 M.

Root exudates and rhizosphere microbiota in responding to long-term continuous cropping of tobacco.

Soil sickness a severe problem in tobacco production, leading to soil-borne diseases and reduce in tobacco yield. This occurs as a result of the interaction between root exudates and rhizosphere microorganisms, which is however, little studied until now. By combining the field investigation and pot experiment, we found the output yield consistently decreased during the first 10 years of continuous cropping in a tobacco field, but increased at the 15th year (15Y).

Associations of residential greenness exposure and ambient air pollutants with newly-diagnosed drug-resistant tuberculosis cases.

Growing evidence has found the health protective effects of greenness exposure on tuberculosis (TB) and the impact of ambient air pollutants on TB drug-resistance. However, it remains unclear whether residential greenness is also beneficial to reduce TB drug-resistance, and whether air pollution modify the greenness-TB resistance relationship. We enrolled 5006 newly-diagnosed TB patients from Shandong, China, during 2014 to 2021.

Enantioselective Cross-[4 + 2]-Cycloaddition/Decarboxylation of 2-Pyrones by Cooperative Catalysis of the Pd(0)/NHC Complex and Chiral Phosphoric Acid.

Here, we describe a cooperative Pd(0)/chiral phosphoric acid catalytic system that allows us to realize the first chemo-, regio-, and enantioselective sequential cross-[4 + 2]-cycloaddition/decarboxylation reaction between 2-pyrones and unactivated acyclic 1,3-dienes. The key to the success of this transformation is the utilization of an achiral heterocyclic carbene (NHC) as the ligand and a newly developed chiral phosphoric acid as the cocatalyst. Experimental investigations and computational studies support the idea that the Pd(0)/NHC complex acts as a π-Lewis base to increase the nucleophilicity of 1,3-dienes via η coordination, while the chiral phosphoric acid simultaneously increases the electrophilicity of 2-pyrones by hydrogen bonding.

N-doped carbon dots coupled with molecularly imprinted polymers as a fluorescent sensor for ultrasensitive detection of genistein in soya products.

Rapid detection of genistein in soya products has remained difficult. Current methods necessitate sample handling and use of costly instruments. Here, using a simple one-pot reverse microemulsion method, a sensor based on N-doped carbon dots conjugated molecularly imprinted polymers (N-CDs@MIPs) was synthesized to analyze genistein.

Enantioselective Synthesis of Inherently Chiral Calix[4]arenes via Palladium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Intramolecular C-H Arylations.

We report herein an efficient approach for the enantioselective synthesis of inherently chiral calix[4]arenes via palladium-catalyzed asymmetric intramolecular C-H arylations. Using a chiral bifunctional phosphine-carboxylate ligand, the inherent chirality on macrocyclic scaffolds was induced successfully, from which a wide range of calix[4]arenes with fluorenone motifs were obtained with good yields and excellent enantioselectivities (up to >99% ee). The synthetic utility of this method was demonstrated by diverse transformations of the products, thus substantially expanding the chemical space of chiral calix[4]arenes.

Astragalus polysaccharide: a review of its immunomodulatory effect.

The Astragalus polysaccharide is an important bioactive component derived from the dry root of Astragalus membranaceus. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the research progress on the immunomodulatory effect of Astragalus polysaccharide and provide valuable reference information. We review the immunomodulatory effect of Astragalus polysaccharide on central and peripheral immune organs, including bone marrow, thymus, lymph nodes, spleen, and mucosal tissues.

The Chinese medicine Fufang Zhenzhu Tiaozhi capsule protects against renal injury and inflammation in mice with diabetic kidney disease.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Fufang Zhenzhu Tiaozhi capsule (FTZ) is a patented preparation of Chinese herbal medicine that has been used to treat hyperlipidemia, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, atherosclerosis, and other glucolipid metabolic diseases (GLMDs) in the clinic for almost 10 years. However, how FTZ reduces albuminuria and attenuates diabetic kidney disease (DKD) progression is unknown.

Aim Of The Study: To clarify the effects of FTZ on DKD mice model and to explore the underlying mechanisms.

Microbial Responses to the Reduction of Chemical Fertilizers in the Rhizosphere Soil of Flue-Cured Tobacco.

The overuse of chemical fertilizers has resulted in the degradation of the physicochemical properties and negative changes in the microbial profiles of agricultural soil. These changes have disequilibrated the balance in agricultural ecology, which has resulted in overloaded land with low fertility and planting obstacles. To protect the agricultural soil from the effects of unsustainable fertilization strategies, experiments of the reduction of nitrogen fertilization at 10, 20, and 30% were implemented.

Enantioselective Synthesis of Axially Chiral Biaryls by Diels-Alder/Retro-Diels-Alder Reaction of 2-Pyrones with Alkynes.

The enantioselective synthesis of axially chiral biaryls by a copper-catalyzed Diels-Alder/retro-Diels-Alder reaction of 2-pyrones with alkynes is reported herein. Using electron-deficient 2-pyrones and electron-rich 1-naphthyl acetylenes as the reaction partners, a broad range of axially chiral biaryl esters are obtained in excellent yields (up to 97% yield) and enantioselectivities (up to >99% ee). DFT calculations reveal the reaction mechanism and provide insights into the origins of the stereoselectivities.

Electrochemically enabled functionalization of indoles or anilines for the synthesis of hexafluoroisopropoxy indole and aniline derivatives.

An environmentally benign electrochemically enabled site-selective functionalization of indole or aniline derivatives with hexafluoroisopropanol in the presence of tetrabutyl ammonium hexafluorophosphate as the redox catalyst and electrolyte was demonstrated in this work. Under mild electro-oxidation conditions, a series of hexafluoroisopropoxy indole and aniline derivatives with pharmacological activity were obtained. This conversion does not need transition metals and oxidants, and has good functional group tolerance.

Specific enrichment of caffeic acid from Taraxacum mon-golicum Hand.-Mazz. by pH and magnetic dual-responsive molecularly imprinted polymers.

Specific recognition of caffeic acid (CA) from Taraxacum mon-golicum Hand.-Mazz. was successfully performed using a new pH responsive magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers (pH-MMIPs) by simple surface molecular imprinting polymerization.

Inhibition of Smurf2 translation by miR-322/503 protects from ischemia-reperfusion injury by modulating EZH2/Akt/GSK3β signaling.

Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) is a common and lethal disease that threatens people's life worldwide. The underlying mechanisms are under intensive study and yet remain unclear. Here, we explored the function of miR-322/503 in myocardial I/R injury.

Debittering of lemon juice using surface molecularly imprinted polymers and the utilization of limonin.

In this work, surface molecularly imprinted polymers (SMIPs) were prepared as a specific sorbent to remove the limonin from the lemon juice for the first time, and then the MIPs containing limonin were directly made into a water-soluble gel to treat inflammation of mice. The resulting polymers were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectrometer spectra. And the polymerization conditions and adsorption performances of the resultant nanomaterials were further investigated in detail.

Quality assessment of Penthorum chinense Pursh through multicomponent qualification and fingerprint, chemometric, and antihepatocarcinoma analyses.

An efficient method combined with fingerprint and chemometric analyses was developed to evaluate the quality of the traditional Chinese medicine plant Penthorum chinense Pursh. Nine samples were collected from different regions during different harvest periods, and 17 components in the form of extracts were simultaneously examined to assess quality by using high-performance liquid chromatography. The hepatoprotective effects of components were investigated by assessing the inhibition of SMMC-7721 cell growth.

Preparation and evaluation of temperature and magnetic dual-responsive molecularly imprinted polymers for the specific enrichment of formononetin.

Thermo-responsive magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers were prepared by simple surface molecular imprinting polymerization for the selective adsorption and enrichment of formononetin from Trifolium pretense by temperature regulation. Using formononetin as a template, N-isopropylacrylamide as the thermo-responsive functional monomer, and methacrylic acid as an assisting functional monomer, the polymers were synthesized on the surface of the magnetic substrate. The results show that imprinted polymers attained controlled adsorption of formononetin in response to the temperature change, with large adsorption capacity (16.

[Dynamics and driving forces of main vegetation types in the Saihanba Nature Reserve, Hebei Province, China].

To explore the changes of vegetation landscape pattern and its driving mechanism in Saihanba Nature Reserve, we analyzed vegetation type changes from 1989 to 2013 and the driving factors using random forest and Logistic regression models in conjunction with land dynamic degree indicator, based on three Landsat TM imageries obtained in 1989, 2000 and 2013. The results showed that the proportion of shrubland was always small in this area from 1989 to 2013. During 1989-2013, the proportion of shrubland rapidly decreased and plantation area significantly increased, while the area of grassland and natural secondary forest slightly changed.

Polydopamine-Coated Magnetic Molecularly Imprinted Polymers with Fragment Template for Identification of Pulsatilla Saponin Metabolites in Rat Feces with UPLC-Q-TOF-MS.

In this work, a modified pretreatment method using magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers (MMIPs) was successfully applied to study the metabolites of an important botanical with ultraperformance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS). The MMIPs for glucoside-specific adsorption was used to identify metabolites of Pulsatilla chinensis in rat feces. Polymers were prepared by using FeO nanoparticles as the supporting matrix, d-glucose as fragment template, and dopamine as the functional monomer and cross-linker.

Protective Effect of Curcumin Against Oxidative Stress-Induced Injury in Rats with Parkinson's Disease Through the Wnt/ β-Catenin Signaling Pathway.

Background/aims: The study aimed to investigate the protective effect of curcumin against oxidative stress-induced injury of Parkinson's disease (PD) through the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in rats.

Methods: The successfully established PD rat models and normal healthy rats were randomly assigned into the 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), the curcumin (Cur) and the control groups. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the positive expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), dopamine transporter (DAT) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP).

Apln-CreERT:mT/mG reporter mice as a tool for sprouting angiogenesis study.

Background: Angiogenesis is defined as a new blood vessel sprouting from pre-existing vessels, and the sprouting angiogenesis is the start phase of angiogenesis, which is critical for both physiological and pathological processes, such as embryonic development, organ growth, wound healing, tumor growth, diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration. Better understanding of the mechanisms of sprout angiogenesis will provide a rationale for the treatments of these angiogenesis related diseases.

Methods: mT/mG tool mice are crossed with Apln-CreERT mice to generate Apln-CreERT: mT/mG mice, then we used neonatal retinal angiogenesis model to observe the angiogenic pattern of Apln-CreERT:mT/mG mice compared with Cdh5-CreERT:mT/mG mice.

Biotransformation and metabolic profile of anemoside B4 with rat small and large intestine microflora by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry.

Pulsatilla chinensis (Bunge) Regel is commonly used in Asia, and anemoside B4 (AB4) is its major saponin, with diverse pharmaceutical effects. Previous studies showed that intestinal flora plays an important role in the metabolism of herbs administered orally. In this study, the metabolic profile of AB4 with microflora in rat small and large intestines in vitro was investigated.