High-Performance Turn-On Fluorescent Metal-Organic Framework for Detecting Trace Water in Organic Solvents Based on the Excited-State Intramolecular Proton Transfer Mechanism.

Simple, fast, and sensitive detection of trace water in organic solvents is an urgent requirement for chemical industries. Herein, combining the unusual excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) mechanism with the effective strategy of pore space partition, for the first time, we construct a powerful fluorescent metal-organic framework (SNNU-301) probe with excellent water stability. The SNNU-301 probe shows a remarkable performance for turn-on ESIPT-based fluorescence response to water in nine common organic solvents, exhibiting wide linear ranges, low limit of detection values, and ultrafast response, especially in dimethyl sulfoxide (0-5.2%; 0.011%, v/v; 110 s). The typical ESIPT-sensitive linker 2,5-dihydroxyterephthalate (DHBDC) imparts it with discriminative detection properties via enol-keto tautomerism, and light-responsive triangular tri(pyridin-4-yl)-amine (TPA) realizes pore space partition. The theoretical calculation gives an in-depth explanation about the proton transfer mechanism. Comparative experiments and GCMC simulation provide evidence that the synergy of the ESIPT process and TPA of the framework further boosts its performance effectively. Definitely, this work not only offers a promising candidate with fast detection speed, high sensitivity, excellent universality, and visual observation for the determination of water in organic solvents but also provides valuable guidance for the design of high-performance fluorescent probes.

Safety of the 15-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine: A phase I clinical trial.

To evaluate the safety of the 15-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV15 (by LvZhu & Co. Ltd)) in healthy infants aged 2 months (minimum to 6 weeks) and 3 months old. This phase I clinical trial enrolled 80 subjects in Laishui County, Hebei Province, China. The total population was divided into 4 age groups on average: 20 adults (≥18 years) and 20 children (1-5 years) all received one vaccine dose; 20 infants (3 months) received the vaccine according to a 3-dose schedule at 0, 1, and 2 months. Twenty infants (2 months, minimum of 6 weeks old) received the vaccine according to a 3-dose schedule of 0, 2, and 4 months. The adverse events (AEs) until 30 days after each dose and serious adverse events (SAEs) until 6 months after the whole dose were reported. The solicited and unsolicited AE frequencies and laboratory indices were similar among the treatment groups. No vaccine-related SAEs were reported. Most vaccine-related adverse events consisting of systemic and local reactions were fever and pain. One hypersensitivity manifested as systemic urticaria that occurred on the third day after the second dose in the 2-month group. The 15-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine was generally well tolerated in infants.

Coinfections in hospitalized patients with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome: A retrospective study.

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging tick-borne disease with a high case fatality rate. Few studies have been performed on bacterial or fungal coinfections or the effect of antibiotic therapy. A retrospective, observational study was performed to assess the prevalence of bacterial and fungal coinfections in patients hospitalized for SFTSV infection. The most commonly involved microorganisms and the effect of antimicrobial therapy were determined by the site and source of infection. A total of 1201 patients hospitalized with SFTSV infection were included; 359 (29.9%) had microbiologically confirmed infections, comprised of 292 with community-acquired infections (CAIs) and 67 with healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Death was independently associated with HAIs, with a more significant effect than that observed for CAIs. For bacterial infections, only those acquired in hospitals were associated with fatal outcomes, while fungal infection, whether acquired in hospital or community, was related to an increased risk of fatal outcomes. The infections in the respiratory tract and bloodstream were associated with a higher risk of death than that in the urinary tract. Both antibiotic and antifungal treatments were associated with improved survival for CAIs, while for HAIs, only antibiotic therapy was related to improved survival, and no effect from antifungal therapy was observed. Early administration of glucocorticoids was associated with an increased risk of HAIs. The study provided novel clinical and epidemiological data and revealed risk factors, such as bacterial coinfections, fungal coinfections, infection sources, and treatment strategies associated with SFTS deaths/survival. This report might be helpful in curing SFTS and reducing fatal SFTS.

A New Molecular Recognition Concept: Multiple Hydrogen Bonds and Their Optically Triggered Proton Transfer in Confined Metal-Organic Frameworks for Superior Sensing Element.

We report a new sensing mechanism based on an indium-dihydroxyterephthalic acid metal-organic framework (MOF, SNNU-153), in which the spatially fitted analyte-MOF hydrogen-bond (H-bond) formation provides selective recognition while the analyte-H-bond assisted excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) and the resulting ratiometric emission act as a superior signal transducer with ultrafast response. The synergy of ESIPT signal transduction and confined MOF pore enables the SNNU-153 sensor selectively sensing hydrazine even among nitrogen-containing hydride analogs such as NH3, NH2OH, and (Me)2NNH2. The key of H-bond and associated ESIPT was further counter evidenced by an indium-2,5-dimethoxyterephthalic acid MOF (SNNU-152), where the hydroxyl protons were removed by methylation, showing near inertness to N2H4. The new molecular recognition concept thus makes SNNU-153 a powerful N2H4 sensor, which should be far-reaching to other sensing elements.

Design of two isoreticular Cd-biphenyltetracarboxylate frameworks for dye adsorption, separation and photocatalytic degradation.

Two novel isoreticular cadmium metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with the framework formula of [Cd2(BPTC)(solvent)3] (H4BPTC = 3,3',5,5'-biphenyltetracarboxylic acid) have been constructed under diverse reaction conditions and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction, PXRD, IR and TGA. The neutral 3D frameworks of 1 and 2 with one-dimensional (1D) rhombic channels exhibit both distinct uptake and good selectivity for cationic methylene blue (MB) dye molecules. The adsorption capacity and adsorption kinetic constant of 2 are greater than those of 1, showing the importance of porosity and pore size during the adsorption. Moreover, both MOFs show effective degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) and methyl orange (MO) dyes under UV light irradiation.

[Effects of future climate change on climatic suitability of flue-cured tobacco plantation in Yunnan, China.] / 未来气候变化对云南烤烟种植气候适宜性的影响.

The climatic suitability distribution of flue-cured tobacco planting in Yunnan will be profoundly affected by climate change. According to three key factors influencing climatic suitability of flue-cured tobacco planting in Yunnan, namely, average temperature in July, sunshine duration from July to August, precipitation from April to September, the variations of climatic suitability distribution of flue-cured tobacco planting in Yunnan respectively in 1986-2005, 2021-2040 and 2041-2060 under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 climate scenarios were investigated by using the climatic simulation data in 1981-2060 and the meteorological observation data during 1986-2005. The results showed that climatic suitability region would expand northward and eastward and plantable area of flue-cured tobacco would gradually increase. The increment of plantable area was more in 2041-2060 than in 2021-2040, and under RCP8.5 scenario than under RCP4.5 scenario. The optimum climatic area and sub-suitable climatic area were expanded considerably, while the suitable climatic area was not much changed. In the future, the north-central Yunnan such as Kunming, Qujing, Dali, Chuxiong, Lijiang would have a big increase in both the optimum climatic area and the cultivable area, meanwhile, the southern Yunnan including Wenshan, Honghe, Puer and Xishuangbanna would have a big decrease in both the optimum climatic area and the cultivable area.

Tuning of valence States, bonding types, hierarchical structures, and physical properties in copper/halide/isonicotinate system.

Seven cupric halide coordination polymers, namely [Cu5(OH)3Br3(ina)4] (1), [Cu5(OH)3Cl3(ina)4] (2), [Cu2(OH)Cl(ina)2] (3), [Cu3(OH)2Cl2(ina)2]·2H2O (4), [Cu3(OH)2Br2(ina)2]·2H2O (5), [Cu2Cl2(ina)2(H2O)2] (6), [Cu2Cl(ina)2(gca)(H2O)] (7), cupric complex templated cuprous halide [Cu(II)(Me-ina)2(H2O)][Cu(I)5Br7] (8), and organic templated cuprous halide Me2-ina[Cu2Br3] (9) (Hina = isonicotinic acid), were prepared from the starting materials of cupric halide and Hina via fine-tuning solvothermal reactions. According to valence states of copper, 1-7 are copper(II) complexes, 8 is a mixed-valent Cu(I,II) complex, while 9 is a Cu(I) compound. According to bonding types of halides, nine complexes can be classified as three types: complexes 1-3 include only normal X-Cu bond (X = halide); complexes 4-7 include normal X-Cu bond and X···Cu weak bond; complexes 8 and 9 include normal X-Cu bond and X···H-C halogen hydrogen bonds. Complexes 1 and 2 are isomorphic three-dimensional (3D) pcu topological metal organic frameworks (MOFs) with butterfly-like Cu4(µ3-OH)2X2 and steplike Cu6(µ3-OH)4 cores as nodes, showing strong ferromagnetic couplings. Complex 3 also is a pcu topological MOF with only butterfly-like Cu4(µ3-OH)2Cl2 clusters as nodes, presenting spin canting antiferromagnetic behavior. Isostructural 4 and 5 are Cu3(OH)2 clusters based two-dimensional (2D) (4,4) layers, which are extended into 3D eight-connected networks via weak Cu···X bonds, showing ferromagnetic coupling. Antiferromagnetic 6 is a simple one-dimensional coordination polymer, which is extended via weak Cu···Cl bonds into 3D (3,4)-connected networks. Paramagnetic 7 is a ladderlike polymer, which is extended into 2D (3,4)-connected layer via weak Cu···Cl bonds. The syntheses of polymeric cupric complexes 1-7 mainly result from differences in reactant ratio and pH value. Utilization of reducing methanol generated novel cubane-containing [Cu5Br7](2-) chain templated by paddlewheel-like [Cu(II)(Me-ina)2](2+) 8 and face-shared dimer-containing [Cu2Br3](-) chain templated by N-methylated and O-esterificated Me2-ina 9. Complex 9 exhibits a strong red emission and a weaker green emission upon excitation.

The first ionothermal synthesis of a 3D ferroelectric metal-organic framework with colossal dielectric constant.

A novel 3D (4,6)-connected topological architecture, obtained under ionothermal conditions by using 1-ethyl-3-methyl imidazolium bromide ([EMI]Br) as solvent and structure-directing agent, presents a non-centrosymmetric polar packing arrangement showing an interesting ferroelectric property.

[Case-control study of risk factors in cholangiocarcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the risk factors of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ECC). METHODS: The clinicopathological data of 190 patients with cholangiocarcinomas (61 ICC and 129 ECC) diagnosed and treated in the Peking Union Medical College Hospital between 1998 and 2008 were collected. The clinicopathological data of 380 matched healthy controls were also collected. The information about liver diseases, family history, diabetes, smoking and drinking were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: The positive rate of HBsAg(+) and anti-HBc(+), HBsAg(-) and anti-HBc(+) and the incidence of choledocholithiasis or hepatolithiasis in ICC patients were 27.9%, 50.8% and 14.8%, respectively. The incidence of diabetes mellitus, cholecystolithiasis, choledocholithiasis or hepatolithiasis and previous cholecystectomy in ECC patients were 18.6%, 15.5%, 18.6% and 13.2%, respectively. The incidences of all above mentioned factors in the ICC or ECC patients were significantly higher than that in the controls (P < 0.05). Compared with the patients with ECC, the ICC patients had a significantly higher cirrhosis rate (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our study results show that choledocholithiasis or hepatolithiasis, liver cirrhosis and chronic HBV infection are possible risk factors for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, while choledocholithiasis or hepatolithiasis, diabetes mellitus, cholecystolithiasis, history of cholecystectomy are risk factors for extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

[Expression of hepatocyte-enriched transcriptional factors during the differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived hepatocytes].

OBJECTIVE: To study the expression and distribution of hepatocyte-enriched transcriptional factors during the differentiation of hepatocyte by rat bone marrow stem cells in vitro. METHODS: Mesenchymal stem cells were isolated from rat bone marrow and induced into mature hepatocyte in vitro. The mRNA expression levels of hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 alpha (HNF4 alpha), CCAAT enhancer binding protein (C/EBP) alpha and beta were compared between induced and non-induced cultures using semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The distribution pattern of HNF4 alpha was detected by immunofluorescence staining and observed by fluorescence microscope. RESULTS: Transcriptional factors HNF4 alpha, C/EBP alpha, and C/EBP beta were expressed in the induced cells during the culture process. The mRNA expression levels of HNF4 alpha and C/EBP alpha were significantly higher in induced cultures than those in non-induced cultures in the early stage, whereas C/EBP beta expression was significantly up-regulated in induced cultures at the late stage (P < 0.05). Immunofluorescence staining showed that HNF4 alpha was located in the cell nucleus of differentiated cells. CONCLUSION: The characteristic time-dependent expression of transcriptional factors HNF4 alpha, C/EBP alpha, and C/EBP beta during the hepatocyte differentiation by bone marrow stem cells demonstrates that the expressions of these transcriptional factors are closely related to the initiation and maintenance of hepatocyte differentiation.

[Ursodeoxycholic acid inhibits hepatocyte-like cell apoptosis by down-regulating the expressions of Bax and Caspase-3].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mechanism of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) in hepatocyte apoptosis using differentiated hepatocytes derived from bone marrow mesenchymal cells. METHODS: Rat bone marrow mesenchymal cell was induced into mature hepatocytes in vitro and then treated with PBS (Cont), deoxycholic acid (DCA), DCA plus UDCA (U + D) or UDCA alone (UDCA). Cell apoptosis was detected by Hoechst staining and Caspase-3 activity measurement. The mRNA expressions of p53 and Bax were measured by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and real-time RT-PCR. The Bax protein expression was detected by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: In comparison with Cont, DCA obviously induced hepatocyte apoptosis as measured by an increased cell count and a higher Caspase-3 activity (P < 0.05). These increments could be inhibited by addition of UDCA. The expressions of p53 and Bax in hepatocytes were up-regulated by DCA. These up-expressions could also be inhibited by UDCA. The DCA-induced increased count of Bax-positive cells could be reduced by UDCA. CONCLUSION: UDCA inhibits DCA-induced hepatocyte apoptosis by down-regulating the expression of p53/Bax signal molecule.