Pityriasis Rosea-Like Eruption following anti-fatigue traditional herbs: Aconitum carmichaelii Debx and Panax Ginseng suspected.

Traditional herbs have a history of clinical use in anti-fatigue. However, several adverse effects of herbs have been identified. Pityriasis rosea-like eruption (PR-LE) is a rare cutaneous complication of herbs. To the best of our knowledge, there have been few reports of PR-LE following herbs. Here, we described a case of PR-LE that developed 6 days after taking anti-fatigue herbs. After the 17 days of stopping Aconitum carmichaelii Debx and Panax Ginseng, it notably faded. So, when anti-fatigue herbs being authorized for fatigue use, monitoring for potential adverse effects is necessary.

Structural characteristics, immune-activating mechanisms in vitro, and immunomodulatory effects in vivo of the exopolysaccharide EPS53 from Streptococcus thermophilus XJ53.

Our previous investigations have successfully identified the repeating structural units of EPS53, an exopolysaccharide derived from Streptococcus thermophilus XJ53 fermented milk, and substantiated its potential immunomodulatory properties. The present study further elucidated the structural characteristics of EPS53 and investigated the underlying mechanisms governing its in vitro immunoreactivity as well as its in vivo immunoreactivity. The results obtained from multi-detector high performance gel filtration chromatography revealed that EPS53 adopted a rigid rod conformation in aqueous solution, with the weight-average molecular weight of 1464 kDa, the number-average molecular weight of 694 kDa, and the polydispersity index of 2.11. Congo red experiment confirmed the absence of a triple helix conformation. Scanning electron microscopy showed that EPS53 displayed a three-dimensional fibrous structure covered with flakes. The in vitro findings indicated that EPS53 enhanced phagocytosis ability, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and cytokine levels of macrophages via the TLR4-mediated NF-κB/MAPK signaling pathways as confirmed by immunofluorescence staining experiments, inhibition blocking experiments, and Western blot assay. Additionally, the in vivo experiments demonstrated that EPS53 significantly increased macrophage and neutrophil number while enhancing NO and ROS levels in zebrafish larvae; thus, providing further evidence for the immunomodulatory efficacy of EPS53.

Gas6-Axl signal promotes indoor VOCs exposure-induced pulmonary fibrosis via pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells-fibroblasts cross-talk.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as environmental pollutants were associated with respiratory diseases. Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) was characterized by an increase of extracellular matrix, leading to deterioration of lung function. The adverse effects on lung and the potential mechanism underlying VOCs induced PF had not been elucidated clearly. In this study, the indoor VOCs exposure mouse model along with an ex vivo biosensor assay was established. Based on scRNA-seq analysis, the adverse effects on lung and potential molecular mechanism were studied. Herein, the results showed that VOCs exposure from indoor decoration contributed to decreased lung function and facilitated pulmonary fibrosis in mice. Then, the whole lung cell atlas after VOCs exposure and the heterogeneity of fibroblasts were revealed. We explored the molecular interactions among various pulmonary cells, suggesting that endothelial cells contributed to fibroblasts activation in response to VOCs exposure. Mechanistically, pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (MPVECs) secreted Gas6 after VOCs-induced PANoptosis phenotype, bound to the Axl in fibroblasts, and then activated fibroblasts. Moreover, Atf3 as the key gene negatively regulated PANoptosis phenotype to ameliorate fibrosis induced by VOCs exposure. These novel findings provided a new perspective about MPVECs could serve as the initiating factor of PF induced by VOCs exposure.

Interior decorative volatile organic compounds exposure induces sleep disorders through aberrant branched chain amino acid transaminase 2 mediated glutamatergic signaling resulting from a neuroinflammatory cascade.

Air pollution has been recognized as a contributing factor to sleep disorders (SD), which have been correlated with an elevated susceptibility to a variety of human diseases. Nevertheless, research has not definitively established a connection between SD and interior decorative volatile organic compounds (ID-VOCs), a significant indoor air pollutant. In this study, we employed a mouse model exposed to ID-VOCs to explore the impacts of ID-VOCs exposure on sleep patterns and the potential underlying mechanism. Of the 23 key compositions of ID-VOCs identified, aromatic hydrocarbons were found to be the most prevalent. Exposure to ID-VOCs in mice resulted in SD, characterized by prolonged wake fullness and decreased sleep during the light period. ID-VOCs exposure triggered neuroinflammatory responses in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), with microglia activation leading to the overproduction of inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1α (IL-1α), and complement component 1q (C1q), ultimately inducing A1 astrocytes. Consequently, the upregulation of branched chain amino acid transaminase 2 (BCAT2) in A1 astrocytes resulted in elevated extracellular glutamate and disruption of the wake-sleep transition mechanism, which might be the toxicological mechanism of SD caused by ID-VOCs.

Screening Antioxidant Components in Different Parts of Dandelion Using Online Gradient Pressure Liquid Extraction Coupled with High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Antioxidant Analysis System and Molecular Simulations.

Utilizing online gradient pressure liquid extraction (OGPLE) coupled with a high-performance liquid chromatography antioxidant analysis system, we examined the antioxidative active components present in both the aerial parts and roots of dandelion. By optimizing the chromatographic conditions, we identified the ferric reducing-antioxidant power system as the most suitable for online antioxidant reactions in dandelion. Compared to offline ultrasonic extraction, the OGPLE method demonstrated superior efficiency in extracting chemical components with varying polarities from the samples. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry revealed twelve compounds within the dandelion samples, with nine demonstrating considerable antioxidant efficacy. Of these, the aerial parts and roots of dandelion contained nine and four antioxidant constituents, respectively. Additionally, molecular docking studies were carried out to investigate the interaction between these nine antioxidants and four proteins associated with oxidative stress (glutathione peroxidase, inducible nitric oxide synthase, superoxide dismutase, and xanthine oxidase). The nine antioxidant compounds displayed notable binding affinities below -5.0 kcal/mol with the selected proteins, suggesting potential receptor-ligand interactions. These findings contribute to enhancing our understanding of dandelion and provide a comprehensive methodology for screening the natural antioxidant components from herbs.

Bevel-edge epitaxy of ferroelectric rhombohedral boron nitride single crystal.

Within the family of two-dimensional dielectrics, rhombohedral boron nitride (rBN) is considerably promising owing to having not only the superior properties of hexagonal boron nitride1-4-including low permittivity and dissipation, strong electrical insulation, good chemical stability, high thermal conductivity and atomic flatness without dangling bonds-but also useful optical nonlinearity and interfacial ferroelectricity originating from the broken in-plane and out-of-plane centrosymmetry5-23. However, the preparation of large-sized single-crystal rBN layers remains a challenge24-26, owing to the requisite unprecedented growth controls to coordinate the lattice orientation of each layer and the sliding vector of every interface. Here we report a facile methodology using bevel-edge epitaxy to prepare centimetre-sized single-crystal rBN layers with exact interlayer ABC stacking on a vicinal nickel surface. We realized successful accurate fabrication over a single-crystal nickel substrate with bunched step edges of the terrace facet (100) at the bevel facet (110), which simultaneously guided the consistent boron-nitrogen bond orientation in each BN layer and the rhombohedral stacking of BN layers via nucleation near each bevel facet. The pure rhombohedral phase of the as-grown BN layers was verified, and consequently showed robust, homogeneous and switchable ferroelectricity with a high Curie temperature. Our work provides an effective route for accurate stacking-controlled growth of single-crystal two-dimensional layers and presents a foundation for applicable multifunctional devices based on stacked two-dimensional materials.

Single-incision plus one-port laparoscopy surgery versus conventional multi-port laparoscopy surgery for colorectal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The efficacy of single-incision plus one-port laparoscopic surgery (SILS + 1) versus conventional laparoscopic surgery (CLS) for colorectal cancer treatment remains unclear. This study compares the short-term and long-term outcomes of SILS + 1 and CLS using a high-quality systematic review and meta-analysis. METHOD: Literature search followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, drawing from PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library until December 10, 2023. Statistical analysis was conducted using RevMan and Stata. RESULT: The review and meta-analysis included seven studies with 1740 colorectal cancer patients. Compared to CLS, SILS + 1 showed significant improvements in operation time (WMD = - 18.33, P < 0.00001), blood loss (WMD = - 21.31, P < 0.00001), incision length (WMD = - 2.07, P < 0.00001), time to first defecation (WMD = - 14.91, P = 0.009), time to oral intake (WMD = - 11.46, P = 0.04), and time to ambulation (WMD = - 11.52, P = 0.01). There were no significant differences in lymph node harvest, resection margins, complications, anastomotic leakage, hospital stay, disease-free survival, overall survival, and postoperative recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to CLS, SILS + 1 demonstrates superiority in shortening the surgical incision and promoting postoperative recovery. SILS + 1 can provide a safe and feasible alternative to CLS.

Circadian rhythm regulates the function of immune cells and participates in the development of tumors.

Circadian rhythms are present in almost all cells and play a crucial role in regulating various biological processes. Maintaining a stable circadian rhythm is essential for overall health. Disruption of this rhythm can alter the expression of clock genes and cancer-related genes, and affect many metabolic pathways and factors, thereby affecting the function of the immune system and contributing to the occurrence and progression of tumors. This paper aims to elucidate the regulatory effects of BMAL1, clock and other clock genes on immune cells, and reveal the molecular mechanism of circadian rhythm's involvement in tumor and its microenvironment regulation. A deeper understanding of circadian rhythms has the potential to provide new strategies for the treatment of cancer and other immune-related diseases.

Electrochemical Failure Mechanism of δ-MnO2 in Zinc Ion Batteries Induced by Irreversible Layered to Spinel Phase Transition.

Phase transitions of Mn-based cathode materials associated with the charge and discharge process play a crucial role on the rate capability and cycle life of zinc ion batteries. Herein, a microscopic electrochemical failure mechanism of Zn-MnO2 batteries during the phase transitions from δ-MnO2 to λ-ZnMn2O4 is presented via systematic first-principle investigation. The initial insertion of Zn2+ intensifies the rearrangement of Mn. This is completed by the electrostatic repulsion and co-migration between guest and host ions, leading to the formation of λ-ZnMn2O4. The Mn relocation barrier for the λ-ZnMn2O4 formation path with 1.09 eV is significantly lower than the δ-MnO2 re-formation path with 2.14 eV, indicating the irreversibility of the layered-to-spinel transition. Together with the phase transition, the rearrangement of Mn elevates the Zn2+ migration barrier from 0.31 to 2.28 eV, resulting in poor rate performance. With the increase of charge-discharge cycles, irreversible and inactive λ-ZnMn2O4 products accumulate on the electrode, causing continuous capacity decay of the Zn-MnO2 battery.

Development of risk prediction nomogram for neonatal sepsis in Group B Streptococcus-colonized mothers: a retrospective study.

Neonatal clinical sepsis is recognized as a significant health problem, This study sought to identify a predictive model of risk factors for clinical neonatal sepsis. A retrospective study was conducted from 1 October 2018 to 31 March 2023 in a large tertiary hospital in China. Neonates were divided into patients and controls based on the occurrence of neonatal sepsis. A multivariable model was used to determine risk factors and construct models.The utilization and assessment of model presentation were conducted using Norman charts and web calculators, with a focus on model differentiation, calibration, and clinical applicability (DCA). Furthermore, the hospital's data from 1 April 2023 to 1 January 2024 was utilized for internal validation. In the modelling dataset, a total of 339 pairs of mothers and their newborns were included in the study and divided into two groups: patients (n = 84, 24.78%) and controls (n = 255, 75.22%). Logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the relationship between various factors and outcome. The results showed that maternal age < 26 years (odds ratio [OR] = 2.16, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.06-4.42, p = 0.034), maternal gestational diabetes (OR = 2.17, 95% CI 1.11-4.27, p = 0.024), forceps assisted delivery (OR = 3.76, 95% CI 1.72-5.21, p = 0.032), umbilical cord winding (OR = 1.75, 95% CI 1.32-2.67, p = 0.041) and male neonatal sex (OR = 1.59, 95% CI 1.00-2.62, p = 0.050) were identified as independent factors influencing the outcome of neonatal clinical sepsis. A main effects model was developed incorporating these five significant factors, resulting in an area under the curve (AUC) value of 0.713 (95% CI 0.635-0.773) for predicting the occurrence of neonatal clinical sepsis. In the internal validation cohort, the AUC value of the model was 0.711, with a 95% CI of 0.592-0.808. A main effects model incorporating the five significant factors was constructed to help healthcare professionals make informed decisions and improve clinical outcomes.

Aberrant NK cell profile in gestational diabetes mellitus with fetal growth restriction.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a gestational disorder characterized by hyperglycemia, that can lead to dysfunction of diverse cells in the body, especially the immune cells. It has been reported that immune cells, specifically natural killer (NK) cells, play a crucial role in normal pregnancy. However, it remains unknown how hyperglycemia affects NK cell dysfunction thus participates in the development of GDM. In this experiment, GDM mice were induced by an intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) after pregnancy and it has been found that the intrauterine growth restriction occurred in mice with STZ-induced GDM, accompanied by the changed proportion and function of NK cells. The percentage of cytotoxic CD27-CD11b+ NK cells was significantly increased, while the proportion of nourished CD27-CD11b- NK cells was significantly reduced in the decidua of GDM mice. Likewise, the same trend appeared in the peripheral blood NK cell subsets of GDM patients. What's more, after intrauterine reinfusion of NK cells to GDM mice, the fetal growth restriction was alleviated and the proportion of NK cells was restored. Our findings provide a theoretical and experimental basis for further exploring the pathogenesis of GDM.

Unraveling the atmospheric oxidation mechanism and kinetics of naphthalene: Insights from theoretical exploration.

Naphthalene, the most abundant polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon in the atmosphere, significantly influences OH consumption and secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation. Naphthoquinone (NQ) is a significant contributor to ring-retaining SOA from naphthalene degradation, impacting the redox properties and toxicity of ambient particles. However, inconsistencies persist regarding concentrations of its isomers, 1,2-NQ and 1,4-NQ. In present work, our theoretical investigation into naphthalene's reaction with OH and subsequent oxygenation unveils their role in SOA formation. The reaction kinetics of initial OH and subsequent O2 oxidation was extensively studied using high-level quantum chemical methods (DLPNO-CCSD(T)/aug-ccpVQZ//M052x-D3/6-311++G(d,p)) combined with RRKM/master equation simulations. The reactions mainly proceed through electrophilic addition and abstraction from the aromatic ring. The total rate coefficient of naphthalene + OH at 300 K and 1 atm from our calculation (7.2 × 10-12 cm3 molecule-1 s-1) agrees well with previous measurements (∼1 × 10-11 cm3 molecule-1 s-1). The computed branching ratios facilitate accurate product yield determination. The largest yield of 1-hydroxynaphthalen-1-yl radical (add1) producing the major precursor of RO2 is computed to be 93.8 % in the ambient environment. Our calculated total rate coefficient (5.2 × 10-16 cm3 molecule-1 s-1) for add1 + O2 closely matches that of limited experimental data (8.0 × 10-16 cm3 molecule-1 s-1). Peroxy radicals (RO2) generated from add1 + O2 include 4-cis/trans-(1-hydroxynaphthalen-1-yl)-peroxy radical (add1-4OOadd-cis/trans, 66.0 %/17.5 %), 2-cis/trans-(1-hydroxynaphthalen-1-yl)-peroxy radical (add1-2OOadd-cis/trans, 10.3 %/6.3 %). Regarding the debated predominance of 1,4-NQ (corresponding to the parent RO2, i.e., add1-4OOadd-cis/trans) and 1,2-NQ (corresponding to the parent RO2, i.e., add1-2OOadd-cis/trans) in the atmosphere, our findings substantiate the dominance of 1,4-NQ. This study also indicates potential weakening of 1,4-NQ's dominance due to competition from decomposition reactions of add1-4OOadd-cis/trans and add1-2OOadd-cis/trans. Precise reaction kinetics data are essential for characterizing SOA transformation derived from naphthalene and assessing their climatic impacts within modeling frameworks.

Hepatic effects of acetochlor chiral isomers in zebrafish and L02 cells.

The pesticide acetochlor (ACT) is a chiral isomer commonly detected in the global environment, yet its specific impacts on liver function remain poorly understood. We utilized zebrafish and L02 cells as research models to comprehensively investigate how ACT and its chiral isomers affect the liver. Our investigations unveiled that the R, Rac, and S isomers of ACT disrupt hepatic lipid transport, catabolism, and synthesis, leading to delayed yolk sac absorption and the accumulation of lipids in zebrafish embryos. These isomers induce oxidative stress in the liver of zebrafish embryos, reducing antioxidant levels and enzyme activity. The accumulated lipids in the liver render it susceptible to oxidative stress, further exacerbating hepatocyte damage. Hepatocyte damage manifests as extensive vacuolization of liver cells and alterations in liver morphology, which are induced by R, Rac, and S. Furthermore, we elucidated the molecular mechanisms underpinning the disturbance of hepatic lipid metabolism by R, Rac, and S in L02 cells. These compounds stimulate lipid synthesis through the upregulation of the AMPK/SREBP-1c/FAS pathway while inhibiting lipolysis via downregulation of the PPAR-α/CPT-1a pathway. Remarkably, our results highlight that S exhibits significantly higher hepatotoxicity in comparison to R. This study provides valuable insights into the hepatic effects of ACT chiral isomers.

Rapid screening and evaluation of natural antioxidants from leaf, stem, and root of Artemisia argyi by online liquid microextraction combined with HPLC-based antioxidant assay system coupled with calibration quantitative analysis.

To reveal the utilization value of leaf, stem, and root of Artemisia argyi, a rapid online liquid microextraction combined with a high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with 2,2-nitrogen-di (3-ethyl-benzothiazole-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt antioxidant assay system was established for analysis of antioxidants in the leaf, stem, and root of A. argyi, and a calibration quantitative method of antioxidant activity with equivalent chlorogenic acid was proposed. Thirty-three positive peaks were identified; among them, 12 compounds were found that possess good antioxidant activity including eleven organic acids (components 2-4, 8, 11-14, 17, 19, and 21) and one flavonoids (component 22). The proposed calibration quantitative method avoided the influence of content of compound and compared the extent of radical scavenging capacity of five antioxidant compounds, which were ranked as follow: 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid > 3,4-dicaffeoylquinic acid ≈ 4,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid > 1,4-dicaffeoylquinic acid > chlorogenic acid. In conclusion, this study provided composition and biological potential for the future development of the leaf, stem, and root of A. argyi. It is believed that the online liquid microextraction combined with high-performance liquid chromatography based antioxidant assay system can be widely used for the rapid screening of natural antioxidant components in the different parts of natural products.

Hub gene ELK3-mediated reprogramming lipid metabolism regulates phenotypic switching of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells to develop pulmonary arterial hypertension induced by PM2.5.

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) as an environmental pollutant is related with respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) was characterized by incremental pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary arterial remodeling, leading to right ventricular hypertrophy, and finally cardiac failure and death. The adverse effects on pulmonary artery and the molecular biological mechanism underlying PM2.5-caused PAH has not been elaborated clearly. In the current study, the ambient PM2.5 exposure mice model along with HPASMCs models were established. Based on bioinformatic methods and machine learning algorithms, the hub genes in PAH were screened and then adverse effects on pulmonary artery and potential mechanism was studied. Our results showed that chronic PM2.5 exposure contributed to increased pulmonary artery pressure, pulmonary arterial remodeling and right ventricular hypertrophy in mice. In vitro, PM2.5 induced phenotypic switching in HPASMCs, which served as the early stage of PAH. In mechanism, we investigated that PM2.5-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction could induce phenotypic switching in HPASMCs, which was possibly through reprogramming lipid metabolism. Next, we used machine learning algorithm to identify ELK3 as potential hub gene for mitochondrial fission. Besides, the effect of DNA methylation on ELK3 was further detected in HPASMCs after PM2.5 exposure. The results provided novel directions for protection of pulmonary vasculature injury, against adverse environmental stimuli. This work also provided a new idea for the prevention of PAH, as well as provided experimental evidence for the targeted therapy of PAH.

The Rosetta Stone of interactions of mucosa and associated bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Gut microbiota-mucosa-epithelial cells co-exist in an intricate three-way relationship that underpins gut homeostasis, and ultimately influences health and disease conditions. The O-glycans of mucin glycoproteins have been uncovered as a centrepiece of this system, although understanding the phenomena at play at the molecular level has been challenging and subject to significant traction over the last years. The purpose of this review is to discuss the recent advances in the phenomena that mediate microbiota and mucus multidirectional interactions in the human gut. RECENT FINDINGS: The mucus biosynthesis and degradation by both commensal and pathogenic bacteria is under tight regulation and involves hundreds of carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZy) and transporters. The fucosylation of O-glycans from mucin-2 seems to dictate binding by pathogenic species and to influence their virulence. Less clear is the influence of O-glycans in quorum sensing and biofilm formation. We have reviewed the advances in the in vitro models available to recreate the phenomena that capture the physiological context of the intestinal environment, emphasising models that include mucus and other aspects relevant to the physiological context. SUMMARY: The recent findings highlight the importance of merging advances in analytical (glycans analysis) and omics techniques along with original robust in vitro models that enable to deconstruct part of the high complexity of the living gut and expand our understanding of the microbes-mucosa relationships and their significance in health and disease.

Stereoselective toxicity of acetochlor chiral isomers on the nervous system of zebrafish larvae.

Acetochlor (ACT) is a widely detected pesticide globally, and the neurotoxic effects of its chiral isomers on humans and environmental organisms remain uncertain. Zebrafish were used to study the neurotoxicity of ACT and its chiral isomers. Our study reveals that the R-ACT, Rac-ACT, and S-ACT induce neurotoxicity in zebrafish larvae by impairing vascular development and disrupting the blood-brain barrier. These detrimental effects lead to apoptosis in brain cells, hindered development of the central nervous system, and manifest as altered swimming behavior and social interactions in the larvae. Importantly, the neurotoxicity caused by the S-ACT exhibits the most pronounced impact and significantly diverges from the effects induced by the R-ACT. The neurotoxicity associated with the Rac-ACT falls intermediate between that of the R-ACT and S-ACT. Fascinatingly, we observed a remarkable recovery in the S-ACT-induced abnormalities in BBB, neurodevelopment, and behavior in zebrafish larvae upon supplementation of the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway. This observation strongly suggests that the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway serves as a major target of S-ACT-induced neurotoxicity in zebrafish larvae. In conclusion, S-ACT significantly influences zebrafish larval neurodevelopment by inhibiting the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway, distinguishing it from R-ACT neurotoxic effects.

[The emerging roles of the RNA binding protein quaking in regulating differentiation and function of monocytes-macrophages].

Macrophages are a class of innate immune cells with strong plasticity. They can polarize into different phenotypes, serving with various functions, such as phagocytosis and chemotaxis, which is involved in the development of diseases. RNA-binding protein quaking (QKI) regulates monocyte differentiation, macrophage polarization and various cellular functions through RNA splicing, translocation and expression. QKI regulates the differentiation of monocytes into macrophages, and QKI deficiency promotes the polarization of macrophages into M1 type, which exerts a pro-inflammatory phenotype. In contrast, QKI overexpression promotes macrophage polarization into M2 type. Additionally, QKI affects macrophage phagocytic receptor and chemokine expression. Due to the variations in tissue-resident macrophages' features, QKI modulates macrophages in the pathogenesis of diseases (atherosclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, etc.) through diverse mechanisms, which mainly involves cyclicAMP response element binding protein (CREB) transcription factor regulation, signal transducer and activator of transcription 1/nuclear factor κB (STAT1/NF-κB) inflammatory signaling pathway and pre-mRNA splicing of phagocytic receptor.

Pure Amorphous and Ultrathin Phosphate Layer with Superior Ionic Conduction for Zinc Anode Protection.

Fast and uniform ion transport within the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) is considered a crucial factor for ensuring the long-term stability of metal electrodes. In this study, we present the fabrication of ultrathin artificial interphases consisting of a zinc phosphate nanofilm with pure amorphous characteristics and a surfactant overlayer. The thickness of the interphases can be precisely controlled within the range of a few tens of nanometers. We explore the impact of artificial SEI structure, including thickness and crystallinity, on its protective capabilities. The pure amorphous phosphate layer with optimized nanoscale thickness is found to provide an abundance of short and isotropic ion migration pathways and a low diffusion energy barrier. These features facilitate rapid and homogeneous Zn2+ transportation, resulting in compact and planar zinc deposition. Meanwhile, the hydrophobic alkyl moieties of the overlayer prevent disassociation of water at the interface. As a result, this nanofilm endures ultralong cycling stability with a low overpotential and enables high Zn plating/stripping reversibility. The Zn||MnO2 full cell shows a stable cycle life for 700 cycles under practical conditions of lean electrolyte, high areal capacity cathode, and limited Zn excess. These findings provide insights into the design and optimization of SEI layers for protection of metal anodes.

Infinite Twisted Polycatenanes.

Poly[n]catenanes have exceptional mechanical bonding properties that give them tremendous potential for use in the development of molecular machines and soft materials. Synthesizing these compounds has, however, proven to be a formidable challenge. Herein, we describe a concise method for the construction of twisted polycatenanes. Our approach involves using preorganized double helicates as templates, linked crosswise in a linear fashion by either silver ions or triple bonds. By using this approach, we successfully synthesized twisted polycatenanes with both coordination and covalent bonding employing Ag(I) ions and ethynylene units, respectively, as the linkages and leveraging the same Ag(I)-templated double helicate in both cases. Synthesis with Ag(I) ions formed a single-crystalline one-dimensional (1D) coordination poly[n]catenane, and synthesis using ethynylene units generated 1D fibers which self-assembled with solvents to form a gel. Our results confirm the potential of multi-stranded metallohelicates for creating sophisticated mechanically interlocked molecules and polymers, which could pave the way for exploration in the realms of molecular nanotopology and materials design.