Benefits of exercise for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Numerous experimental studies have shown that exercise can serve as an intervention with beneficial effects on children and adolescents with autism. However, a systematic review on the specific areas affected has not been conducted. Methods: Preliminary research sources were obtained by searching four databases, and two researchers independently screened the literature that met the study criteria. The study was conducted under the guidelines of the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. Results: 37 studies were included in the final analysis, of which 9 studies were quantitatively synthesized and 28 studies were qualitatively analyzed. Exercise interventions have positive effects on motor performance, cognitive function, individual and social relationships, behavioral problems, physical health, and brain function in children and adolescents with autism. The results of the meta-analysis indicate that exercise can effectively improve social skills [SMD=-0.53, 95%CI (-0.76, -0.3), P=0.000]. Conclusions: Long-term, regular, chronic exercise is beneficial for children and adolescents with autism, particularly in the area of social skills. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero PROSPERO, identifier CRD42024554530.

Assessment and simulation of eco-environmental quality changes in rapid rural urbanization: Xiong'an New Area, China.

Xiong'an New Area was established as a state-level new area in 2017 and serves as a typical representative area for studying the ecological evolution of rural areas under rapid urbanization in China. Remote sensing-based ecological index (RSEI) is a regional eco-environmental quality (EEQ) assessment index. Many studies have employed RSEI to achieve rapid, objective, and effective quantitative assessment of the spatio-temporal changes of regional EEQ. However, research that combines RSEI with machine learning algorithms to conduct multi-scenario simulation of EEQ is still relatively scarce. Therefore, this study assessed and simulated EEQ changes in Xiong'an and revealed that: (1) The large-scale construction has led to an overall decline in EEQ, with the RSEI decreasing from 0.648 in 2014 to 0.599 in 2021. (2) Through the multi-scenario simulation, the non-unidirectional evolution of RSEI during the process of urban-rural construction has been revealed, specifically characterized by a significant decline followed by a slight recovery. (3) The marginal effects of urban-rural construction features for simulated RSEI demonstrate an inverted "U-shaped" curve in the relationship between urbanization and EEQ. This indicates that urbanization and EEQ may not be absolute zero-sum. These findings can provide scientific insights for maintaining and improving the regional EEQ in urban-rural construction.

G-CSFR-induced leukocyte transendothelial migration during the inflammatory response is regulated by the ICAM1-PKCa axis: based on multiomics integration analysis.

As an indispensable inflammatory mediator during sepsis, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) facilitates neutrophil production by activating G-CSFR. However, little is known about the role of intracellular downstream signalling pathways in the induction of inflammation. To explore the functions of molecules in regulating G-CSFR signalling, RNA sequencing and integrated proteomic and phosphoproteomic analyses were conducted to predict the differentially expressed molecules in modulating the inflammatory response after G-CSFR expression was either up- or downregulated, in addition to the confirmation of their biological function by diverse experimental methods. In the integrated bioinformatic analysis, 3190 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 1559 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were identified in multiple-group comparisons (p < 0.05, FC > ± 1.5) using enrichment analyses, as well as those classic pathways such as the TNF, NFkappaB, IL-17, and TLR signalling pathways. Among them, 201 proteins, especillay intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM1) and PKCa, were identified as potential molecules involved in inflammation according to the protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis, and the leukocyte transendothelial migration (TEM) pathway was attributed to the intervention of G-CSFR. Compared with the control and TNF-a treatment, the G-CSFR (G-CSFROE)-overexpressing led to an obvious increase in the number of leukocytes with the TEM phenotype. Mechanically, the expression of ICAM1 and PKCa was significantly up- and downregulated by G-CSFROE, which directly led to increased TEM; moreover, PKCa expression was negatively regulated by ICAM1 expression, leading to aberrant leukocyte TEM. Altogether, the ICAM1‒PKCa axis was found a meaningful target in the leukocyte TEM induced by G-CSFR upregulation.

A New Perspective on Stroke Research: Unraveling the Role of Brain Oxygen Dynamics in Stroke Pathophysiology.

Stroke, a leading cause of death and disability, often results from ischemic events that cut off the brain blood flow, leading to neuron death. Despite treatment advancements, survivors frequently endure lasting impairments. A key focus is the ischemic penumbra, the area around the stroke that could potentially recover with prompt oxygenation; yet its monitoring is complex. Recent progress in bioluminescence-based oxygen sensing, particularly through the Green enhanced Nano-lantern (GeNL), offers unprecedented views of oxygen fluctuations in vivo. Utilized in awake mice, GeNL has uncovered hypoxic pockets within the cerebral cortex, revealing the brain's oxygen environment as a dynamic landscape influenced by physiological states and behaviors like locomotion and wakefulness. These findings illuminate the complexity of oxygen dynamics and suggest the potential impact of hypoxic pockets on ischemic injury and recovery, challenging existing paradigms and highlighting the importance of microenvironmental oxygen control in stroke resilience. This review examines the implications of these novel findings for stroke research, emphasizing the criticality of understanding pre-existing oxygen dynamics for addressing brain ischemia. The presence of hypoxic pockets in non-stroke conditions indicates a more intricate hypoxic scenario in ischemic brains, suggesting strategies to alleviate hypoxia could lead to more effective treatments and rehabilitation. By bridging gaps in our knowledge, especially concerning microenvironmental changes post-stroke, and leveraging new technologies like GeNL, we can pave the way for therapeutic innovations that significantly enhance outcomes for stroke survivors, promising a future where an understanding of cerebral oxygenation dynamics profoundly informs stroke therapy.

Cell-cell communication: new insights and clinical implications.

Multicellular organisms are composed of diverse cell types that must coordinate their behaviors through communication. Cell-cell communication (CCC) is essential for growth, development, differentiation, tissue and organ formation, maintenance, and physiological regulation. Cells communicate through direct contact or at a distance using ligand-receptor interactions. So cellular communication encompasses two essential processes: cell signal conduction for generation and intercellular transmission of signals, and cell signal transduction for reception and procession of signals. Deciphering intercellular communication networks is critical for understanding cell differentiation, development, and metabolism. First, we comprehensively review the historical milestones in CCC studies, followed by a detailed description of the mechanisms of signal molecule transmission and the importance of the main signaling pathways they mediate in maintaining biological functions. Then we systematically introduce a series of human diseases caused by abnormalities in cell communication and their progress in clinical applications. Finally, we summarize various methods for monitoring cell interactions, including cell imaging, proximity-based chemical labeling, mechanical force analysis, downstream analysis strategies, and single-cell technologies. These methods aim to illustrate how biological functions depend on these interactions and the complexity of their regulatory signaling pathways to regulate crucial physiological processes, including tissue homeostasis, cell development, and immune responses in diseases. In addition, this review enhances our understanding of the biological processes that occur after cell-cell binding, highlighting its application in discovering new therapeutic targets and biomarkers related to precision medicine. This collective understanding provides a foundation for developing new targeted drugs and personalized treatments.

Molecular genetics and research progress of uterine leiomyosarcoma.

Uterine leiomyosarcoma (uLMS) is a type of malignant soft-tissue tumor, which is developed from myometrium in the female reproductive system. This disease is difficult to be distinguished from benign uterine leiomyoma in the early stages, but it progresses aggressively and relentlessly. Hence, uLMS has a dismal prognosis and high rates of both misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis. Unfortunately, current studies of uLMS pathogenesis and disease biology are inadequate. uLMS disease models are also very limited, hindering the development of effective therapeutics. In this review, we focus on the pathological molecular biology of uLMS, and systematically review the molecular genetic features, epigenetic variants, experimental models, and clinical research progress of uLMS. We further discuss the development direction and potential needs of uLMS in the fields of tumor evolution, tumor microenvironment, and tumor therapy, with the aim of providing a better understanding of the pathobiological mechanism of uLMS and providing a reference for the development of potential diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

Study on the Influence of Waste Rock Wool on the Properties of Cement Mortar under the Dual Fiber Effect of Polyvinyl Alcohol Fibers and Steel Fibers.

In this paper, the effect of waste rock-wool dosage on the workability, mechanical strength, abrasion resistance, toughness and hydration products of PVA and steel fiber-reinforced mortars was investigated. The results showed that the fluidity of the mortar gradually decreased with the increase in the dosage of waste rock wool, with a maximum reduction of 10% at a dosage of 20%. The higher the dosage of waste rock wool, the greater the reduction in compressive strength. The effect of waste rock wool on strength reduction decreases with increasing age. When the dosage of waste rock wool was 10%, the 28 days of flexural and compressive strengths were reduced by 4.73% and 10.59%, respectively. As the dosage of waste rock wool increased, the flexural-to-compressive ratio increased, and at 20%, the maximum value of 28 days of flexural-to-compressive ratio was 0.210, which was increased by 28.05%. At a 5% dosage, the abraded volume was reduced from 500 mm3 to 376 mm3-a reduction of 24.8%. Waste rock wool only affects the hydration process and does not cause a change in the type of hydration products. It promotes the hydration of the cementitious material system at low dosages and exhibits an inhibitory effect at high dosages.

Influence of Different Types of Fillers on the Performance of PMMA-Based Low-Temperature Rapid Repair Mortar.

In order to further optimize the performance of PMMA (Polymethyl Methacrylate) repair mortar. In this paper, fly ash, talcum powder and wollastonite powder are used as fillers to modify the PMMA repair mortar. The effects of these three fillers on the working performance, mechanical performance and durability of PMMA repair mortar were explored. The study shows that the three fillers have good effect on the bond strength of the repair mortar, in which the fly ash has the best effect on the mechanical performance. The mechanical properties of PMMA repair mortar were best when the amount of fly ash was 60 phr (parts per hundred, representing the amount of the material added per hundred parts of PMMA). At this time, the 28 d compressive strength was 71.26 MPa and the 28 d flexural strength was 28.09 MPa, which increased by 13.31% and 15.33%, respectively. Wollastonite powder had the least negative effect on the setting time of the PMMA repair mortar. When the dosage of wollastonite powder was increased to 100 phr, the setting time was only extended from 65 min to 94 min. When the talc dosage was 60 phr, the best improvement in salt freezing resistance was achieved. After 100 cycles of salt freezing, the mass loss rate and strength loss rate decreased to 0.159% and 4.97%, respectively, which were 75.1% and 37.7% higher than that of the control group. The addition of all three fillers reduced the porosity and the proportion of harmful pores in the mortar. This study contributes to a comprehensive understanding how different types of fillers affect PMMA repair mortars, and it also provides theoretical support for the further development of low-temperature rapid repair mortars.

Grape seed-derived procyanidins decreases neuropathic pain and nerve regeneration by suppression of toll-like receptor 4-myeloid differentiation factor-88 signaling.

Background: Recent studies have shown that peripheral nerve regeneration process is closely related to neuropathic pain. Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling was involved in different types of pain and nerve regeneration. TLR4 induced the recruitment of myeloid differentiation factor-88 adaptor protein (MyD88) and NF-κB-depended transcriptional process in sensory neurons and glial cells, which produced multiple cytokines and promoted the induction and persistence of pain. Our study aimed to investigate procyanidins's effect on pain and nerve regeneration via TLR4-Myd88 signaling. Methods: Spinal nerve ligation (SNL) model was established to measure the analgesic effect of procyanidins. Anatomical measurement of peripheral nerve regeneration was measured by microscopy and growth associated protein 43 (GAP43) staining. Western blotting and/or immunofluorescent staining were utilized to detect TLR4, myeloid differentiation factor-88 adaptor protein (MyD88), ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (IBA1) and nuclear factor kappa-B-p65 (NF-κB-p65) expression, as well as the activation of astrocyte and microglia. The antagonist of TLR4 (LPS-RS-Ultra, LRU) were intrathecally administrated to assess the behavioral effects of blocking TLR4 signaling on pain and nerve regeneration. Result: Procyanidins reduced mechanical allodynia, thermal hyperalgesia and significantly suppressed the number of nerve fibers regenerated and the degree of myelination in SNL model. Compared with sham group, TLR4, MyD88, IBA1 and phosphorylation of NF-κB-p65 were upregulated in SNL rats which were reversed by procyanidins administration. Additionally, procyanidins also suppressed activation of spinal astrocytes and glial cells. Conclusion: Suppression of TLR4-MyD88 signaling contributes to the alleviation of neuropathic pain and reduction of nerve regeneration by procyanidins.

Preparation and Performance Study of n-Undecane Phase Change Cold Storage Material.

With the fast development of the cold chain transportation industry, the traditional refrigeration method results in significant energy consumption. To address the national call for energy saving and emission reduction, the search for a new type of energy storage material has already become a future development trend. According to the national standard GB/T28577 for the classification and basic requirements of cold chain logistics, the temperature in frozen logistics is typically below -18 °C. In this study, n-undecane with a phase change temperature of -26 °C is chosen as the core material of microcapsules. Poly(methyl methacrylate) is applied as the shell material, with n-undecane microcapsules being prepared through suspension polymerization for phase change cold storage materials (MEPCM). Using characterization techniques including SEM, DSC, FTIR, and laser particle size analysis, the effects of three types of emulsifiers (SMA, Tween-80, Tween-80/span-80 (70/30)), SMA emulsifier dosage, core-shell ratio, and emulsification rate on the thermal performance and micro-surface morphology of n-undecane/PMMA microcapsules were studied. The results indicate that when comparing SMA, Tween-80, and Tween-80/span-80 (70/30) as emulsifiers, the dodecane/PMMA microcapsules prepared with SMA emulsifier exhibit superior thermal performance and micro-surface morphology, possessing a complete core-shell structure. The optimal microstructure and the highest enthalpy of phase change, measuring 120.3 kJ/kg, are achieved when SMA is used as the emulsifier with a quantity of 7%, a core-to-wall ratio of 2.5:1, and an emulsification speed of 2000 rpm. After 200 hot and cold cycles, the enthalpy of phase change decreased by only 18.6 kJ/kg, indicating the MEPCM thermal performance and cycle life. In addition, these optimized microcapsules exhibit favorable microstructure, uniform particle size, and efficient energy storage, making them an excellent choice for the refrigeration and freezing sectors.

STIRUnet: SwinTransformer and inverted residual convolution embedding in unet for Sea-Land segmentation.

Extraction of coastline from optical remote sensing images is of paramount importance for coastal zone management, erosion monitoring, and intelligent ocean construction. However, nearshore marine environment complexity presents a challenge when capturing small-scale and detailed information regarding coastlines. Furthermore, the presence of numerous tidal flats, suspended sediments, and coastal biological communities exacerbates the reduction in segmentation accuracy, which is particularly noticeable in medium-high-resolution remote sensing image segmentation tasks. Most previous related studies, based primarily on convolutional neural networks (CNNs) or traditional feature extraction methods, faced challenges in detailed pixel-level refinement and lacked comprehensive understanding of the studied images. Therefore, we proposed a new U-shaped deep learning model (STIRUnet) that combines the excellent global modeling ability of SwinTransformer with an improved CNN using an inverted residual module. The proposed method has the capability of global supervised feature learning and layer-by-layer feature extraction, and we conducted sea-land segmentation experiments using GF-HNCD and BSD remote sensing image datasets to validate the performance of the proposed model. The results indicate the following: 1) suspended sediments and coastal biological communities are major contributors to coastline blurring, and 2) the recovery of minute features (e.g., narrow watercourses and microscale artificial structures) effectively enhances edge details and leads to more realistic segmentation outcomes. The findings of this study are highly important in relation of accurate extraction of sea-land information in complex marine environments, and they offer novel insights regarding mixed-pixel identification.

Effects of diverse resistance training modalities on performance measures in athletes: a network meta-analysis.

Background: Jumping ability is one of the necessary qualities for athletes. Previous studies have shown that plyometric training and complex training including plyometrics can improve athletes' jumping ability. With the emergence of various types of complex training, there is uncertainty about which training method has the best effect. This study conducted a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials of plyometric-related training on athletes' jumping ability, to provide some reference for coaches to design training plans. Methods: We systematically searched 3 databases (PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus) up to July 2023 to identify randomized controlled trials investigating plyometrics related training in athletes. The two researchers conducted literature screening, extraction and quality assessment independently. We performed a network meta-analysis using Stata 16. Results: We analyzed 83 studies and found that complex training, which includes high-intensity intervals and plyometric exercises, was the most effective method for improving squat jumps (SURCA = 96%). In the case of countermovement jumps a combination of electrostimulation and plyometric training yielded the best results (SURCA = 97.6%). Weightlifting training proved to be the most effective for the standing long jump (SURCA = 81.4%), while strength training was found to be the most effective for the five bounces test (SURCA = 87.3%). Conclusion: Our current study shows that complex training performs more efficient overall in plyometric-related training. However, there are different individual differences in the effects of different training on different indicators (e.g., CMJ, SJ, SLJ, 5BT) of athletes. Therefore, in order to ensure that the most appropriate training is selected, it is crucial to accurately assess the physical condition of each athlete before implementation. Clinical Trial Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, Registration and protocol CRD42023456402.

Prognostic iron-metabolism signature robustly stratifies single-cell characteristics of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Cancer immunotherapy has shown to be a promising method in treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but suboptimal responses in patients are attributed to cellular and molecular heterogeneity. Iron metabolism-related genes (IRGs) are important in maintaining immune system homeostasis and have the potential to help develop new strategies for HCC treatment. Herein, we constructed and validated the iron-metabolism gene prognostic index (IPX) using univariate Cox proportional hazards regression and LASSO Cox regression analysis, successfully categorizing HCC patients into two groups with distinct survival risks. Then, we performed single-sample gene set enrichment analysis, weighted correlation network analysis, gene ontology enrichment analysis, cellular lineage analysis, and SCENIC analysis to reveal the key determinants underlying the ability of this model based on bulk and single-cell transcriptomic data. We identified several driver transcription factors specifically activated in specific malignant cell sub-populations to contribute to the adverse survival outcomes in the IPX-high subgroup. Within the tumor microenvironment (TME), T cells displayed significant diversity in their cellular characteristics and experienced changes in their developmental paths within distinct clusters identified by IPX. Interestingly, the proportion of Treg cells was increased in the high-risk group compared with the low-risk group. These results suggest that iron-metabolism could be involved in reshaping the TME, thereby disrupting the cell cycle of immune cells. This study utilized IRGs to construct a novel and reliable model, which can be used to assess the prognosis of patients with HCC and further clarify the molecular mechanisms of IRGs in HCC at single-cell resolution.

Progress and evolution of hotspots in butterfly diversity research in green spaces.

Ecosystems depend on biodiversity; therefore, protecting biodiversity is beneficial for the development of ecosystems. Butterflies are indicator species that respond quickly to environmental changes and reflect environmental conditions. Butterfly diversity is a crucial evaluation indicator of habitat quality in green spaces. We used CiteSpace and Bibliometrix to conduct a bibliometric analysis of research relating to butterfly diversity in green spaces. Based on 538 papers published from 2002-2022, we systematically reviewed the status, frontiers, and hotspots for research on butterfly diversity in green spaces. Our results showed that: (1) Research on butterfly diversity in green spaces has consistently demonstrated an upward trend between 2002-2022. Studies on this subject have garnered attention from researchers worldwide, with notable interest and contributions from scholars in the United States. (2) Early studies focused on butterfly habitat preferences and extinction concerns, and later articles appeared on the influence of external environmental factors (land use, climate change, plants, etc.). (3) Three main research topics received much attention between 2002 and 2022: biodiversity conservation, butterfly habitats, and the relationship between butterfly diversity and its influencing factors. (4) The relationship between green spaces and butterfly diversity (landscape features, vegetation features, and human activities) was discussed; these factors on butterfly communities should be considered in the planning and constructing of future green spaces. (5) Two significant future directions have been identified: more research on the impact of external factors and a need for more technical integration with the big data field. Future research on butterfly diversity in green spaces should adopt a more multi-scale, multi-disciplinary approach and aim to enhance the practicality and guidance of research findings.

Convergent and divergent intra- and internetwork connectivity in Parkinson's disease with wearing-off.

OBJECTIVE: Our study aimed to explore the functional connectivity alterations between cortical nodes of resting-state networks in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients with wearing-off (WO) at different levels. METHODS: Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging was performed on 36 PD patients without wearing-off (PD-nWO), 30 PD patients with wearing-off (PD-WO), and 35 healthy controls (HCs) to extract functional networks. Integrity, network, and edge levels were calculated for comparison between groups. UPDRS-III, MMSE, MOCA, HAMA, and HAMD scores were collected for further regression analysis. RESULTS: We observed significantly reduced connectivity strength in the dorsal attention network and limbic network in the PD-WO group compared with the HC group. The PD-WO group showed a decreased degree of functional connectivity at 12 nodes, including the bilateral orbital part of the superior frontal gyrus, right olfactory cortex, left medial orbital part of the superior frontal gyrus, bilateral gyrus rectus, right parahippocampal gyrus, right thalamus, left Heschl's gyrus, right superior temporal gyrus part of the temporal pole, left middle temporal gyrus part of the temporal pole, and right inferior temporal gyrus. Furthermore, the PD-WO group showed a significantly lower degree of functional connectivity in the left orbital part of the superior frontal gyrus and right gyrus rectus than the PD-nWO group. Internetwork analysis indicated reduced functional connectivity in five pairs of resting-state networks. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrated altered intra- and internetwork connections in PD patients with WO. These findings will facilitate a better understanding of the distinction between the network changes in PD pathophysiology.

Innovative insights into extrachromosomal circular DNAs in gynecologic tumors and reproduction.

Originating but free from chromosomal DNA, extrachromosomal circular DNAs (eccDNAs) are organized in circular form and have long been found in unicellular and multicellular eukaryotes. Their biogenesis and function are poorly understood as they are characterized by sequence homology with linear DNA, for which few detection methods are available. Recent advances in high-throughput sequencing technologies have revealed that eccDNAs play crucial roles in tumor formation, evolution, and drug resistance as well as aging, genomic diversity, and other biological processes, bringing it back to the research hotspot. Several mechanisms of eccDNA formation have been proposed, including the breakage-fusion-bridge (BFB) and translocation-deletion-amplification models. Gynecologic tumors and disorders of embryonic and fetal development are major threats to human reproductive health. The roles of eccDNAs in these pathological processes have been partially elucidated since the first discovery of eccDNA in pig sperm and the double minutes in ovarian cancer ascites. The present review summarized the research history, biogenesis, and currently available detection and analytical methods for eccDNAs and clarified their functions in gynecologic tumors and reproduction. We also proposed the application of eccDNAs as drug targets and liquid biopsy markers for prenatal diagnosis and the early detection, prognosis, and treatment of gynecologic tumors. This review lays theoretical foundations for future investigations into the complex regulatory networks of eccDNAs in vital physiological and pathological processes.

LncRNA LINK-A Remodels Tissue Inflammatory Microenvironments to Promote Obesity.

High-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity is a crucial risk factor for metabolic syndrome, mainly due to adipose tissue dysfunctions associated with it. However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. This study has used genetic screening to identify an obesity-associated human lncRNA LINK-A as a critical molecule bridging the metabolic microenvironment and energy expenditure in vivo by establishing the HFD-induced obesity knock-in (KI) mouse model. Mechanistically, HFD LINK-A KI mice induce the infiltration of inflammatory factors, including IL-1ß and CXCL16, through the LINK-A/HB-EGF/HIF1α feedback loop axis in a self-amplified manner, thereby promoting the adipose tissue microenvironment remodeling and adaptive thermogenesis disorder, ultimately leading to obesity and insulin resistance. Notably, LINK-A expression is positively correlated with inflammatory factor expression in individuals who are overweight. Of note, targeting LINK-A via nucleic acid drug antisense oligonucleotides (ASO) attenuate HFD-induced obesity and metabolic syndrome, pointing out LINK-A as a valuable and effective therapeutic target for treating HFD-induced obesity. Briefly, the results reveale the roles of lncRNAs (such as LINK-A) in remodeling tissue inflammatory microenvironments to promote HFD-induced obesity.

Preparation of uniform lignin/titanium dioxide nanoparticles by confined assembly: A multifunctional nanofiller for a waterborne polyurethane wood coating.

We report a facile synthesis for lignin/titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles (LT NPs) at room temperature by confining assembly of lignin macromolecules. The LT NPs had a uniform nanosize distribution (average diameter âˆ¼ 68 nm) and were directly employed as multifunctional nanofillers to reinforce a waterborne polyurethane wood coating (WBC). X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed the mechanism by which formed TiO2 confined lignin assembly. The LT NPs considerably increased the tensile strength of a WBC film from 16.3 MPa to 28.1 MPa. The WBC-LT NPs exhibited excellent ultraviolet (UV) A and UVB blocking performances of 87 % and 98 %, respectively, while maintaining 94 % transmittance in the visible region. Incorporating LT NPs into the WBC enhanced the coating performance (the hardness, adhesion, and abrasion resistance) on wood substrates. A quantitative color and texture analysis revealed that the LT NPs increased the decorativeness of actual wooden products. After nearly 1800 h of UV irradiation, wood coated with the WBC-LT NPs exhibited good color stability, where the original color remained unchanged or even became brighter. In this study, value-added valorization of lignin is enabled by using organic-inorganic nanofillers and insights are gained into developing multifunctional WBCs.

Efficient extraction of nanocellulose from lignocellulose using aqueous butanediol fractionation to improve the performance of waterborne wood coating.

The highly efficient extraction of cellulose from lignocellulose with an excellent yield of 95.2 % and purity of 96.7 % was demonstrated using acid-catalyzed fractionation with aqueous butanediol. This cellulose was subsequently transformed into cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) and cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) with specific dimensions and surface functional groups through various chemomechanical treatments. The average diameters of CNFs and CNCs produced by sulfuric acid hydrolysis-ultrasonication and deep eutectic solvent treatment-ultrasonication (DES-CNCs) were 29.7, 21.9 and 17.3 nm, respectively. The DES-CNCs were obtained in a good yield of 71 ± 1.27 wt% and exhibited a high zeta potential of -33.5 ± 2.51 mV following posthydrolysis and esterification during the DES treatment. These CNFs and CNCs were used as nanofillers in a waterborne wood coating (WWC), which significantly improved its dynamic viscosity and storage modulus. The addition of these materials also enhanced the mechanical strength of the WWC but had little effect on transmittance. Glossiness, hardness, abrasion resistance and adhesion strength were evaluated, and the DES-CNCs provided the greatest improvements at a low concentration. A plausible reinforcement mechanism was presented. This work provided an efficient cellulose extraction method and detailed structure elucidation of the nanocellulose together with suggestions for value-added applications of cellulosic nanofillers for reinforcing WWC.