Pyrite-stimulated bio-reductive immobilization of perrhenate: Insights from integrated biotic and abiotic perspectives.

Microbes possessing electron transfer capabilities hold great promise for remediating subsurface contaminated by redox-active radionuclides such as technetium-99 (99TcO4-) through bio-transformation of soluble contaminants into their sparingly soluble forms. However, the practical application of this concept has been impeded due to the low electron transfer efficiency and long-term product stability under various biogeochemical conditions. Herein, we proposed and tested a pyrite-stimulated bio-immobilization strategy for immobilizing ReO4- (a nonradioactive analogue of 99TcO4-) using sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB), with a focus on pure-cultured Desulfovibrio vulgaris. Pyrite acted as an effective stimulant for the bio-transformation of ReO4-, boosting the removal rate of ReO4- (50 mg/L) in a solution from 2.8 % (without pyrite) to 100 %. Moreover, the immobilized products showed almost no signs of remobilization during 168 days of monitoring. Dual lines of evidence were presented to elucidate the underlying mechanisms for the pyrite-enhanced bio-activity. Transcriptomic analysis revealed a global upregulation of genes associated with electron conductive cytochromes c network, extracellular tryptophan, and intracellular electron transfer units, leading to enhanced ReO4- bio-reduction. Spectroscopic analysis confirmed the long-term stability of the bio-immobilized products, wherein ReO4- is reduced to stable Re(IV) oxides and Re(IV) sulfides. This work provides a novel green strategy for remediation of radionuclides- or heavy metals-contaminated sites.

Research progress of ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like signaling in Toxoplasma gondii.

Toxoplasmosis, a zoonotic parasitic disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), is prevalent worldwide. The fact should be emphasized that a considerable proportion of individuals infected with T. gondii may remain asymptomatic; nevertheless, the condition can have severe implications for pregnant women or immunocompromised individuals. The current treatment of toxoplasmosis primarily relies on medication; however, traditional anti-toxoplasmosis drugs exhibit significant limitations in terms of efficacy, side effects, and drug resistance. The life cycles of T. gondii are characterized by distinct stages and its body morphology goes through dynamic alterations during the growth cycle that are intricately governed by a wide array of post-translational modifications (PTMs). Ubiquitin (Ub) signaling and ubiquitin-like (Ubl) signaling are two crucial post-translational modification pathways within cells, regulating protein function, localization, stability, or interactions by attaching Ub or ubiquitin-like proteins (Ubls) to target proteins. While these signaling mechanisms share some functional similarities, they have distinct regulatory mechanisms and effects. T. gondii possesses both Ub and Ubls and plays a significant role in regulating the parasite's life cycle and maintaining its morphology through PTMs of substrate proteins. Investigating the role and mechanism of protein ubiquitination in T. gondii will provide valuable insights for preventing and treating toxoplasmosis. This review explores the distinctive characteristics of Ub and Ubl signaling in T. gondii, with the aim of inspiring research ideas for the identification of safer and more effective drug targets against toxoplasmosis.

Radiogenomics-Based Risk Prediction of Glioblastoma Multiforme with Clinical Relevance.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM)is the most common and aggressive primary brain tumor. Although temozolomide (TMZ)-based radiochemotherapy improves overall GBM patients' survival, it also increases the frequency of false positive post-treatment magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) assessments for tumor progression. Pseudo-progression (PsP) is a treatment-related reaction with an increased contrast-enhancing lesion size at the tumor site or resection margins miming tumor recurrence on MRI. The accurate and reliable prognostication of GBM progression is urgently needed in the clinical management of GBM patients. Clinical data analysis indicates that the patients with PsP had superior overall and progression-free survival rates. In this study, we aimed to develop a prognostic model to evaluate the tumor progression potential of GBM patients following standard therapies. We applied a dictionary learning scheme to obtain imaging features of GBM patients with PsP or true tumor progression (TTP) from the Wake dataset. Based on these radiographic features, we conducted a radiogenomics analysis to identify the significantly associated genes. These significantly associated genes were used as features to construct a 2YS (2-year survival rate) logistic regression model. GBM patients were classified into low- and high-survival risk groups based on the individual 2YS scores derived from this model. We tested our model using an independent The Cancer Genome Atlas Program (TCGA) dataset and found that 2YS scores were significantly associated with the patient's overall survival. We used two cohorts of the TCGA data to train and test our model. Our results show that the 2YS scores-based classification results from the training and testing TCGA datasets were significantly associated with the overall survival of patients. We also analyzed the survival prediction ability of other clinical factors (gender, age, KPS (Karnofsky performance status), normal cell ratio) and found that these factors were unrelated or weakly correlated with patients' survival. Overall, our studies have demonstrated the effectiveness and robustness of the 2YS model in predicting the clinical outcomes of GBM patients after standard therapies.

Inhibition of Prolactin Affects Epididymal Morphology by Decreasing the Secretion of Estradiol in Cashmere Bucks.

Yanshan Cashmere bucks are seasonal breeding animals and an important national genetic resource. This study aimed to investigate the involvement of prolactin (PRL) in the epididymal function of bucks. Twenty eleven-month-old Cashmere bucks were randomly divided into a control (CON) group and a bromocriptine (BCR, a prolactin inhibitor, 0.06 mg/kg body weight (BW)) treatment group. The experiment was conducted from September to October 2020 in Qinhuangdao City, China, and lasted for 30 days. Blood was collected on the last day before the BCR treatment (day 0) and on the 15th and 30th days after the BCR treatment (days 15 and 30). On the 30th day, all bucks were transported to the local slaughterhouse, where epididymal samples were collected immediately after slaughter. The left epididymis was preserved in 4% paraformaldehyde for histological observation, and the right epididymis was immediately preserved in liquid nitrogen for RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). The results show that the PRL inhibitor reduced the serum PRL and estradiol (E2) concentrations (p < 0.05) and tended to decrease luteinizing hormone (LH) concentrations (p = 0.052) by the 30th day, but no differences (p > 0.05) occurred by either day 0 or 15. There were no differences (p > 0.05) observed in the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone (T), and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) concentrations between the two groups. The PRL receptor (PRLR) protein was mainly located in the cytoplasm and intercellular substance of the epididymal epithelial cells. The PRL inhibitor decreased (p < 0.05) the expression of the PRLR protein in the epididymis. In the BCR group, the height of the epididymal epithelium in the caput and cauda increased, as did the diameter of the epididymal duct in the caput (p < 0.05). However, the diameter of the cauda epididymal duct decreased (p < 0.05). Thereafter, a total of 358 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in the epididymal tissues, among which 191 were upregulated and 167 were downregulated. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses revealed that ESR2, MAPK10, JUN, ACTL7A, and CALML4 were mainly enriched in the estrogen signaling pathway, steroid binding, calcium ion binding, the GnRH signaling pathway, the cAMP signaling pathway, and the chemical carcinogenesis-reactive oxygen species pathway, which are related to epididymal function. In conclusion, the inhibition of PRL may affect the structure of the epididymis by reducing the expression of the PRLR protein and the secretion of E2. ESR2, MAPK10, JUN, ACTL7A, and CALML4 could be the key genes of PRL in its regulation of epididymal reproductive function.

Hydrophobic association-improved multi-functional hydrogels with liquid metal droplets stabilized by xanthan gum and PEDOT:PSS for strain sensors.

The synthesis of liquid metal-infused hydrogels, typically constituted by polyacrylamide networks crosslinked through covalent bonds, often encounters a conundrum: they exhibit restricted extensibility and a diminished capacity for self-repair, owing to the inherently irreversible nature of the covalent linkages. This study introduces a hydrophobically associated hydrogel embedding gallium (Ga)-droplets, realized through the in situ free radical copolymerization of hydrophobic hexadecyl methacrylate (HMA) and hydrophilic acrylamide (AM) in a milieu containing xanthan gum (XG) and PEDOT:PSS, which co-stabilizes the Ga-droplets. The Ga-droplets, synergistically functioning as conductive agents alongside PEDOT:PSS, also expedite the hydrogel's formation. The resultant XG/PEDOT:PSS-Ga-P(AM-HMA) hydrogel is distinguished by its remarkable extensibility (2950 %), exceptional toughness (3.28 MJ/m3), superior adherence to hydrophobic, smooth substrates, and an innate ability for hydrophobic-driven self-healing. As a strain sensing medium, this hydrogel-based sensor exhibits heightened sensitivity (gauge factor = 12.66), low detection threshold (0.1 %), and robust durability (>500 cycles). Furthermore, the inclusion of glycerol endows the XG/PEDOT:PSS-Ga-P(AM-HMA) hydrogel with anti-freezing properties without compromising its mechanical integrity and sensing acumen. This sensor adeptly captures a spectrum of human movements, from the nuanced radial pulse to extensive joint articulations. This research heralds a novel approach for fabricating multifaceted PAM-based hydrogels with toughness and superior sensing capabilities.

Isolable T-Shaped Planar Silyl Anion.

Silyl anions have garnered significant attention due to their synthetic abilities. However, previously reported silyl anions have been limited to either trigonal-pyramidal or trigonal-planar geometries, which confine them primarily as nucleophiles in substitution reactions. Herein, we report the isolation of the unprecedented T-shaped planar silyl anion salt 2 by employment of a geometrically constrained triamido pincer ligand. Theoretical calculations disclosed that the silicon centre in 2 possesses both a lone pair of electrons and an empty 3pz orbital. In addition to nucleophilic substitution reactions with Ph3PAuCl and W(CO)6, 2 readily undergoes oxidative additions with CO2 and 2,6-dimethylphenylisonitrile at room temperature. Furthermore, under mild conditions, compound 2 cleaves Csp2-H, Csp2-H, and H-H bonds in 1,2,4,5-tetrafluorobenzene, an intramolecular iPr group, and dihydrogen, representing the first examples of C-H and H-H activations mediated by a silyl anion, respectively. This work unveils new reactivity of silyl anions owing to the non-classical geometry and electronic structure.

Development and in vitro evaluation of an infant friendly self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (SNEDDS) loaded with an amphotericin B-monoacyl phosphatidylcholine complex for oral delivery.

Until relatively recently, the pediatric population has largely been ignored during the development of new drug products, which has led to a high level of "off-label" use of drugs in this particular population. In this study, an infant friendly self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (SNEDDS) was developed for oral delivery of a commonly used "off-label" drug - amphotericin B (AmB). AmB was complexed with monoacyl-phosphatidylcholine (MAPC) by lyophilization, transforming crystalline AmB into its amorphous state in the AmB-MAPC complex (APC). The APC-loaded SNEDDS (APC-SNEDDS) showed excellent self-emulsifying properties; after dispersion of the APC-SNEDDS in purified water, nanoscale emulsion droplets were formed within 1 min with a z-average size of 179 ± 1 nm. In vitro pediatric gastrointestinal (GI) digestion and dissolution results showed that the APC-SNEDDS significantly increased the amount of AmB solubilized in aqueous phase and that the precipitated AmB from the APC-SNEDDS re-dissolved faster, compared with crystalline AmB in SNEDDS (AmB-SNEDDS), the complex without the SNEDDS (APC), the physical mixture of AmB and MAPC (AmB/MAPC PM), and crystalline AmB alone (AmB). Overall, the present in vitro results suggest that integrating the APC into an infant friendly SNEDDS is a promising approach for oral delivery of AmB to young pediatric patients.

Anthocyanins from blueberry ameliorated arsenic-induced memory impairment, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial-biosynthesis imbalance in rat hippocampal neurons.

In this study, blueberry anthocyanins extract (BAE) was used to investigate its protective effect on arsenic-induced rat hippocampal neurons damage. Arsenic exposure resulted in elevated levels of oxidative stress, decreased antioxidant capacity and increased apoptosis in rat hippocampal brain tissue and mitochondria. Immunohistochemical results showed that arsenic exposure also significantly decreased the expression of mitochondrial biosynthesis-related factors PGC-1α and TFAM. Treatment with BAE alleviated the decrease in antioxidant capacity, mitochondrial biogenesis related protein PGC-1α/NRF2/TFAM expression, and ATP production of arsenic induced hippocampal neurons in rats, and improved cognitive function in arsenic damaged rats. This study provides new insights into the detoxification effect of anthocyanins on the nervous system toxicity caused by metal exposure in the environment, indicating that anthocyanins may be a natural antioxidant against the nervous system toxicity caused by environmental metal exposure.

Unraveling a Stable 16-Ring Aluminophosphate DNL-11 through Three-Dimensional Electron Diffraction for Atmospheric Water Harvesting.

Sorption-based atmospheric water harvesting (AWH) is a promising solution for addressing water scarcity. Developing cost-effective and stable water adsorbents with high water uptake capacity and a low-temperature regeneration requirement is a crucially important procedure. In this Communication, we present a novel and stable aluminophosphate (AlPO) molecular sieve (MS) named DNL-11 with 16-ring channels synthesized by using an affordable and commercialized organic structure directing agent (OSDA), whose crystallographic structure is elucidated by three-dimensional electron diffraction (3D ED). DNL-11 exhibits a significant water uptake capacity (189 mg/g) at a very low vapor pressure (5% relative humidity at 30 °C). In addition, most of the adsorbed water can be effortlessly removed by purging N2 at 25 °C under ambient pressure conditions. This may expand the possibility of AWH under extreme drought conditions.

Tracing the entry process of submicrometre plastics in soybean sprouts by leaf-derived fluorescent carbon dots.

As a global emerging contaminant, microplastics (MPs) in water or soil can accumulate in vegetables, making them easily ingested through the diet. With excellent and tunable optical properties, carbon dots (CDs) are highly advantageous for tracing the entry process of MPs. Originally, long-wavelength CDs were synthesized from leaf-derived extracts, and fluorescent submicrometer plastics (CDs-MPs) with clean surfaces and concentrated particle sizes were obtained by soap-free microemulsion polymerization. The concentration of CDs-MPs exhibits a significant linear relationship with long-wavelength fluorescence intensity (λEx/λEm: 415/676 nm). Soybean sprouts (SBS), as an important type of food, are susceptible to contamination of MPs due to their soft epidermis and rapidly growing biomass. The results showed that CDs-MPs could be embedded into the cortex of SBS and enter the plant with cell division and elongation, leading to an increase in pore size on the cell wall surface. After entering the root system, CDs-MPs will pass through the Casparian strip and migrate in the vessels. Then, CDs-MPs enter the leaves through vascular bundles, and the distribution and size of epicuticular wax on leaves have changed. Furthermore, SBS showed resistant growth and increased levels of oxidative response when exposed to MPs/CDs-MPs. It is the first study to demonstrate the application of leaf-derived CDs in the prevention of MPs pollution by revealing the migration behavior of submicrometre plastics in SBS.

Drinking brick tea containing high fluoride increases the prevalence of osteoarthritis in Tibetan, China.

The prevalence of osteoarthritis (OA) in Tibetans is higher than that in Han, while Tibetans have a habit of drinking brick tea with high fluoride. A cross-sectional study was conducted to explore the association between fluoride exposure in drinking brick tea and OA. All subjects were divided into four groups by the quartiles (Q) of tea fluoride (TF) and urine fluoride (UF). ROC was plotted and OR were obtained using logistic regression model. The prevalence of OA in the Q3 and Q4 group of TF were 2.2 and 2.7 times higher than in the Q1 group, and the prevalence of OA in the Q2, Q3 and Q4 group of UF were 3.2, 3.5, and 4.1 times higher than in the Q1 group. ROC analysis showed the cutoff values were 4.523 mg/day (TF) and 1.666 mg/L (UF). In conclusion, excessive fluoride in drinking brick tea could be a risk factor for developing OA.

Kinematic difference and asymmetries during level walking in adolescent patients with different types of mild scoliosis.

BACKGROUND: Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), three-dimensional spine deformation, affects body motion. Previous research had indicated pathological gait patterns of AIS. However, the impact of the curve number on the walking mechanism has not been established. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the gait symmetry and kinematics in AIS patients with different curve numbers to healthy control. RESULTS: In the spinal region, double curves AIS patients demonstrated a smaller sagittal symmetry angle (SA) and larger sagittal convex ROM of the trunk and lower spine than the control group. In the lower extremities, the single curve patients showed a significantly reduced SA of the knee joint in the frontal plane, while the double curves patients showed a significantly reduced SA of the hip in the transverse plane. CONCLUSION: The curve number indeed affects gait symmetry and kinematics in AIS patients. The double curves patients seemed to adopt a more "careful walking" strategy to compensate for the effect of spinal deformation on sensory integration deficits. This compensation mainly occurred in the sagittal plane. Compared to double curves patients, single curve patients unitized a similar walking strategy with healthy subjects.

Biodegradation of phenanthrene-Cr (VI) co-contamination by Pseudomonas aeruginosa AO-4 and characterization of enhanced degradation of phenanthrene.

Microorganisms capable of simultaneously remediating heavy metals (HMs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) pollution hold significant importance in bioremediation efforts. In this study, we investigated the ability of Pseudomonas aeruginosa AO-4 to simultaneously degrade phenanthrene (PHE) and reduce Cr (VI). Specifically, it has the ability to reduce 100 % of Cr (VI) (30 mg/L) while degrading 43.8 % of PHE (50 mg/L). In batch experiments, it was observed that the presence of Cr (VI) can enhance the degradation of PHE by strain AO-4. The solubility of PHE in soluble extracellular polymeric substances (S-EPS) was found to be related to the initial concentration of Cr (VI), which could explain why Cr (VI) promotes the degradation of PHE. Additionally, XPS analysis confirmed that Cr (VI) was reduced to Cr (III) with S-EPS produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa AO-4. GC-MS analysis was conducted to analyze the degradation metabolites of phenanthrene, di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate and 2TMS derivatives of salicylic acid were detected, indicating that Pseudomonas aeruginosa AO-4 is capable of degrading phenanthrene through two distinct pathways. These findings demonstrate the potential of Pseudomonas aeruginosa AO-4 in the treatment of co-contamination scenarios involving PAHs and HMs.

[Anisotropy and viscoelasticity of different corneal regions in rabbit corneal ectasia model].

The mechanical properties of the cornea in corneal ectasia disease undergo a significant reduction, yet the alterations in mechanical properties within distinct corneal regions remain unclear. In this study, we established a rabbit corneal ectasia model by employing collagenase II to degrade the corneal matrix within a central diameter of 6 mm. Optical coherence tomography was employed for the in vivo assessment of corneal morphology (corneal thickness and corneal curvature) one month after operation. Anisotropy and viscoelastic characteristics of corneal tissue were evaluated through biaxial and uniaxial testing, respectively. The results demonstrated a marked decrease in central corneal thickness, with no significant changes observed in corneal curvature. Under different strains, the elastic modulus of the cornea exhibited no significant differences in the up-down and naso-temporal directions between the control and model groups. However, the cornea in the model group displayed a significantly lower elastic modulus compared to the control group. Specifically, the elastic modulus of the central region cornea in the model group was significantly lower than that of the entire cornea within the same group. Moreover, in comparison to the control group, the cornea in the model group exhibited a significant increase in both creep rate and overall deformation rate. The instantaneous modulus and equilibrium modulus were significantly reduced in the model cornea. No significant differences were observed between the entire cornea and the central cornea concerning these parameters. The results indicate that corneal anisotropy remains unchanged in collagenase-induced ectatic cornea. However, a significant reduction in viscoelastic properties is noticed. This study provides valuable insights for investigating changes in corneal mechanical properties within different regions of ectatic corneal disease.

Utilizing machine learning algorithms to identify biomarkers associated with diabetic nephropathy: A review.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN), a multifaceted disease with various contributing factors, presents challenges in understanding its underlying causes. Uncovering biomarkers linked to this condition can shed light on its pathogenesis and support the creation of new diagnostic and treatment methods. Gene expression data were sourced from accessible public databases, and Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA)was employed to pinpoint gene co-expression modules relevant to DN. Subsequently, various machine learning techniques, such as random forest, lasso regression algorithm (LASSO), and support vector machine-recursive feature elimination (SVM-REF), were utilized for distinguishing DN cases from controls using the identified gene modules. Additionally, functional enrichment analyses were conducted to explore the biological roles of these genes. Our analysis revealed 131 genes showing distinct expression patterns between controlled and uncontrolled groups. During the integrated WCGNA, we identified 61 co-expressed genes encompassing both categories. The enrichment analysis highlighted involvement in various immune responses and complex activities. Techniques like Random Forest, LASSO, and SVM-REF were applied to pinpoint key hub genes, leading to the identification of VWF and DNASE1L3. In the context of DN, they demonstrated significant consistency in both expression and function. Our research uncovered potential biomarkers for DN through the application of WGCNA and various machine learning methods. The results indicate that 2 central genes could serve as innovative diagnostic indicators and therapeutic targets for this disease. This discovery offers fresh perspectives on the development of DN and could contribute to the advancement of new diagnostic and treatment approaches.

Research on leaching behavior of uranium from a uranium tailing and its adsorption behavior in geotechnical media.

The release of uranium from uranium tailings into the aqueous environment is a complex process controlled by a series of interacting geochemical reactions. In this paper, uranium tailings from a uranium tailings pond in southern China were collected at different depths by means of borehole sampling and mixed to analyze the fugacity state of U. Static leaching experiments of U at different pH, oxidant concentration and solid-to-liquid ratios and dynamic leaching experiments of U at different pH were carried out, and the adsorption and desorption behaviour of U in five representative stratigraphic media were investigated. The results show that U is mainly present in the residue state in uranium tailings, that U release is strong in the lower pH range, that the leached U is mainly in the form of U(VI), mainly from the water-soluble, Fe/Mn oxides and exchangeable fraction of uranium tailings, and that the reduction in U leaching at higher pH is mainly due to the combined effect of precipitation formation and larger particle size of platelets in uranium tailings. Experiments with different oxidant concentrations and solid-liquid ratios showed that the oxygen-enriched state and low solid-liquid ratios were favorable for the leaching of U from uranium tailings. Adsorption and desorption experiments show that U is weakly adsorbed in representative strata, reversibly adsorbed, and that U is highly migratory in groundwater. The present research results have important guiding significance for the management of existing uranium tailings ponds and the control of U migration in groundwater, which is conducive to ensuring the long-term safety, stability and sustainability of uranium mining sites.

Positive Association of Urinary Dimethylarsinic Acid (DMAV) with Serum 25(OH)D in Adults Living in an Area of Water-Borne Arsenicosis in Shanxi, China.

Limited studies have demonstrated that inorganic arsenic exposure is positively associated with serum vitamin D levels, although the correlation between urinary arsenic species and serum vitamin D has not been investigated in areas of water-borne arsenicosis. A cross-sectional study of 762 participants was conducted in Wenshui Country, Shanxi Province, a water-borne arsenicosis area. The results showed a positive relationship between urinary arsenic species (inorganic arsenic (iAs), methylarsonic acid (MMAV), dimethylarsinic acid (DMAV) and serum 25(OH)D. Log-binomial regression analysis indicated a 0.4% increase in the risk of vitamin D excess for every 1-unit increment in the Box-Cox transformed urinary DMAV after adjustment for covariates. After stratifying populations by inorganic arsenic methylation metabolic capacity, serum 25(OH)D levels in the populations with iAs% above the median and primary methylation index (PMI) below the median increased by 0.064 ng/mL (95% CI: 0.032 to 0.096) for every one-unit increase in the Box-Cox transformed total arsenic (tAs) levels. Serum 25(OH)D levels increased by 0.592 ng/mL (95% CI: 0.041 to 1.143) for every one-unit rise in the Box-Cox transformed iAs levels in people with skin hyperkeratosis. Overall, our findings support a positive relationship between urinary arsenic species and serum 25(OH)D. It was recommended that those residing in regions with water-borne arsenicosis should take moderate vitamin D supplements to avoid vitamin D poisoning.

Highly sensitive analysis of trace germanium derived from the efficient electrosynthesis and spectral introduction of GeH4 on foam electrode.

BACKGROUND: The electrochemical hydride generation technology, which uses electrolysis instead of chemical reagents to generate reducing species to achieve gaseous transformation and sample introduction of the tested elements, has received widespread attention in the field of atomic spectroscopy due to its simple, economical, and green characteristics. However, limited by the effective area of the electrode, the introduction efficiency and spectral signal of most elements (e.g., germanium) in practical applications are lower than traditional chemical hydride generation. RESULTS: In this paper, an efficient electrochemical hydride generation (EHG) method based on metal foam electrode for µg L-1 level germanium was constructed. Systematic electrochemical and spectral tests showed that the low charge transfer resistance and the high electrochemical activity of nickel-based foam electrodes jointly promoted the efficient electroreduction of Ge(IV). Besides, the porous network structure of the metal foam material improves the contact probability of reactants while reducing the gas-evolution effect caused by bubble accumulation. Interestingly, adequate reaction sites are crucial for the conversion of germanium, but large foam electrodes are not always compatible with analytical performance. After coupling atomic fluorescence spectroscopy, this new electrolysis method has been proven to be suitable for efficient conversion and quantitative detection of Ge over a wide concentration range (5-150 µg L-1). SIGNIFICANCE: Our proposal to improve the electrosynthesis efficiency of germanane (GeH4) by using metal foam electrode is extremely effective for the detection of trace or ultra-trace germanium. The exploration of electrode material, structure, and especially effective area will also provide ideas for the establishment of highly sensitive analysis methods in the future.

Loureirin A Promotes Cell Differentiation and Suppresses Migration and Invasion of Melanoma Cells via WNT and AKT/mTOR Signaling Pathways.

Resina Draconis is a traditional Chinese medicine, with the in-depth research, its medicinal value in anti-tumor has been revealed. Loureirin A is extracted from Resina Draconis, however, research on the anti-tumor efficacy of Loureirin A is rare. Herein, we investigated the function of Loureirin A in melanoma. Our research demonstrated that Loureirin A inhibited the proliferation of and caused G0/G1 cell cycle arrest in melanoma cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Further study showed that the melanin content and tyrosinase activity was enhanced after Loureirin A treatment, demonstrated that Loureirin A promoted melanoma cell differentiation, which was accompanied with the reduce of WNT signaling pathway. Meanwhile, we found that Loureirin A suppressed the migration and invasion of melanoma cells through the protein kinase B (AKT)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway. Taken together, this study demonstrated for the first time the anti-tumor effects of Loureirin A in melanoma cells, which provided a novel therapeutic strategy against melanoma.

Using chitosan nanofibers to simultaneously improve the toughness and sensing performance of chitosan-based ionic conductive hydrogels.

Conductive hydrogels, especially polysaccharide-based ionic conductive hydrogels, have received increasing interest in the field of wearable sensors due to their similarity to human skin. Nevertheless, it is still a challenging task to simultaneously prepare a self-healed and adhesive conductive hydrogel with good toughness, temperature tolerance and high sensing performance, especially with high sensitivity and a low detection limit. Herein, we developed a new strategy to improve the toughness and sensing performance of a multifunctional conductive hydrogel by simultaneously using dissolved chitosan (CS) and solid chitosan nanofibers (CSFs) to induce the formation of hierarchical polymeric networks in the hydrogel. The tensile strength and elongation at break of the hydrogel could be improved from 70.3 kPa and 1005 % to 173.9 kPa and 1477 %, respectively, simply by introducing CSFs to the hydrogel, and its self-healing, adhesive and antibacterial properties were effectively retained. When serving as a resistive sensing material, the introduction of CSFs increased the gauge factor of the hydrogel-based strain sensor from 8.25 to 14.27. Moreover, the hydrogel-based strain sensor showed an ultralow detection limit of 0.2 %, excellent durability and stability (1000 cycles) and could be used to detect various human activities. In addition, the hydrogel prepared by using a water-glycerol binary solvent system showed temperature-tolerant performance and possessed adequate sensitivity when serving as a resistive sensing material. Therefore, this work provides a new way to prepare multifunctional conductive hydrogels with good toughness, sensing performance and temperature tolerance to expand the application range of hydrogel-based strain sensors.