Shikonin ameliorated LPS-induced acute lung injury in mice via modulating MCU-mediated mitochondrial Ca2+ and macrophage polarization.

BACKGROUND: Macrophages play a pivotal role in the development and recovery of acute lung injury (ALI), wherein their phenotypic differentiation and metabolic programming are orchestrated by mitochondria. Specifically, the mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) regulates mitochondrial Ca2+ (mCa2+) uptake and may bridge the metabolic reprogramming and functional regulation of immune cells. However, the precise mechanism on macrophages remains elusive. Shikonin, a natural naphthoquinone, has demonstrated efficacy in mitigating ALI and suppressing glycolysis in macrophages, yet which mechanism remains to be fully elucidated. PURPOSE: This study explored whether Shikonin ameliorated ALI via modulating MCU-mediated mCa2+ and macrophage polarization. METHODS: This study firstly examined the protective effects of Shikonin on LPS-induced ALI mice, and investigated whether it is depends on macrophage by depleting macrophage using clodronate liposomes. The regulatory effect of Shikonin on macrophage polarization and mitochondrial MCU/Ca2+ signal was testified on RAW264.7 cells, and further validated by knocking-down MCU expression or by using RU360, an MCU inhibitor. Additionally, the crucial role of MCU in the therapeutic effect of Shikonin, along with its regulation on macrophage polarization was validated in mice with LPS-induced ALI under the intervention of RU360. RESULTS: Shikonin alleviated LPS-induced mice ALI, down-regulated inflammatory cytokines and inhibited the pro-inflammatory polarization of macrophages. Intravenous injection of clodronate liposomes on mice abolished the protective effects of Shikonin on ALI. On RAW264.7 cells, LPS&IFN decreased the protein expression of MCU, while induced pro-inflammatory polarization and glycolytic metabolism. In contrast, Shikonin increased MCU expression, activated MCU-mediated mCa2+ signal, promoted the polarization of macrophages to anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype, and driven a metabolic shift from glycolysis to oxidative phosphorylation. Either knocking-down MCU expression or pharmacological inhibiting MCU by using RU360 mitigated the effects of Shikonin on Raw 264.7 cells. Furthermore, RU360 counteracted the ameliorative effect of Shikonin on ALI mice. CONCLUSION: The current data showed that Shikonin alleviated LPS-induced mice ALI by activating mitochondrial MCU/mCa2+ signal and regulating macrophage metabolism.

Effects of Phaffia rhodozyma on microbial community dynamics and tobacco quality during tobacco fermentation.

Introduction: Carotenoids are important precursors of various aroma components in tobacco and play an important role in the sensory quality of tobacco. Phaffia rhodozyma is a species of Xanthophyllomyces capable of synthesizing a highly valuable carotenoid-astaxanthin, but has not yet been used in improving tobacco quality. Methods: The dynamic changes of microbial community and metabolites during tobacco fermentation were analyzed in combination with microbiome and metabolome, and the quality of tobacco after fermentation was evaluated by sensory scores. Results: P. rhodozyma could grow and produce carotenoids in tobacco extract, with a maximum biomass of 6.50 g/L and a maximum carotenoid production of 36.13 mg/L at 100 g/L tobacco extract. Meanwhile, the correlation analysis combined with microbiome and metabolomics showed that P. rhodozyma was significantly positively correlated with 11 metabolites such as 6-hydroxyluteolin and quercetin. Furthermore, the contents of alcohols, ketones and esters, which were important aromatic components in fermented tobacco, reached 77.57 µg/g, 58.28 µg/g and 73.51 µg/g, increasing 37.39%, 265.39% and 266.27% compared to the control group, respectively. Therefore, the aroma and flavor, and taste scores of fermented tobacco increased by 0.5 and 1.0 points respectively. Discussion: This study confirmed that P. rhodozyma fermentation could effectively improve the sensory evaluation of tobacco, and provided a novel microbial fermentation method to improve tobacco quality.

Antioxidant Enzyme, Transcriptomic, and Metabolomic Changes in Lily (Lilium spp.) Leaves Induced by Aphis gossypii Glover.

Cotton aphids (Aphis gossypii Glover) cause harm by feeding on phloem sap and spreading plant viruses to lily. Understanding the mechanisms by which aphids infest lily plants is crucial for effective aphid management and control. In this study, we investigated the activity of antioxidants, integrated nontargeted metabolomes and transcriptomes of lilies infested by cotton aphids to explore the changes in lily leaves. Overall, the results indicated that the catalase (CAT) activity in the leaves of the lily plants was greater than that in the leaves of the control plants. A comprehensive identification of 604 substances was conducted in the leaves. Furthermore, the differentially abundant metabolite analysis revealed the enrichment of phenylalanine metabolism and α-linolenic acid metabolism. Moreover, 3574 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), whose expression tended to increase, were linked to glutathione metabolism and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis. In addition, the integrated analysis revealed that the defensive response of lily leaves to aphids is manifested through antioxidant reactions, phenylpropane and flavonoid biosynthesis, and α-linolenic acid metabolism. Finally, the key metabolites were CAT, glutathione, coumaric acid, and jasmonic acid, along with the key genes chalcone synthase (CHS), phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), and 12-oxo-phytodienoic acid reductase (OPR). Accordingly, the findings of this research elucidate the molecular and metabolic reactions of A. gossypii in lily plants, offering valuable insights for developing aphid resistance strategies in lily farming.

COMPARISON OF OXIRIS AND CONVENTIONAL CONTINUOUS RENAL REPLACEMENT THERAPY IN MANAGING SEVERE ABDOMINAL INFECTIONS: IMPACT ON SEPTIC SHOCK MORTALITY.

ABSTRACT: Objective: The objective of this study is to assess and compare the efficacy of oXiris with conventional continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) in managing severe abdominal infections. Methods: A retrospective analysis encompassing cases from 2017 to 2023 was conducted at the Department of Critical Care Medicine within the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University. Parameters including heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), oxygenation index, lactate (Lac), platelet count, neutrophil ratio, procalcitonin, C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin 6 (IL-6), norepinephrine dosage, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II), and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) were recorded prior to treatment initiation, at 24 h, and 72 h after treatment for both the oXiris and conventional CRRT groups. In addition, the duration of respiratory support, CRRT treatment, length of stay in the intensive care unit (ICU), total hospitalization period, and mortality rates at 14 and 28 days for both groups were recorded. Results: 1) Within the conventional CRRT group, notable enhancement was observed solely in Lac levels at 24 h after treatment compared with pretreatment levels. In addition, at 72 h after treatment, improvements were evident in HR, Lac, CRP, and IL-6 levels. 2) Conversely, the oXiris group exhibited improvements in HR, MAP, Lac, oxygenation index, neutrophil ratio, and IL-6 at 24 h after treatment when compared with baseline values. In addition, reductions were observed in APACHE II and SOFA scores. At 72 h after treatment, all parameters demonstrated enhancement except for platelet count. 3) Analysis of the changes in the indexes (Δ) between the two groups at 24 h after treatment revealed variances in HR, MAP, Lac, norepinephrine dosage, CRP levels, IL-6 levels, APACHE II scores, and SOFA scores. 4) The Δ indexes at 72 h after treatment indicated more significant improvements following oXiris treatment for both groups, except for procalcitonin. 5) The 14-day mortality rate (24.4%) exhibited a significant reduction in the oXiris group when compared with the conventional group (43.6%). However, no significant difference was observed in the 28-day mortality rate between the two groups. 6) Subsequent to multifactorial logistic regression analysis, the results indicated that oXiris treatment correlated with a noteworthy decrease in the 14-day and 28-day mortality rates associated with severe abdominal infections, by 71.3% and 67.6%, respectively. Conclusion: oXiris demonstrates clear advantages over conventional CRRT in the management of severe abdominal infections. Notably, it reduces the fatality rates, thereby establishing itself as a promising and potent therapeutic option.

The function and mechanism of LAPTM5 in diseases.

The Lysosomal Protein Transmembrane 5 (LAPTM5) is a lysosomal transmembrane protein preferentially expressed in hematopoietic cells. The human LAPTM5 gene is located at position 1p34 and extends approximately 25 kb. Its protein includes five transmembrane domains, three PY motifs, and one UIM. The PY and UIM motifs can interact with various substrates, mediating sorting of proteins from Golgi to lysosome and subsequently participating in intracellular substrate transport and lysosomal stability regulation. Overexpression of LAPTM5 can induce lysosomal cell death (LCD), although the integrity of LAPTM5 protein is necessary for maintaining lysosome stability. Furthermore, LAPTM5 plays a role in autophagy activation during disease processes and has been confirmed to be closely associated with the regulation of immunity and inflammation. Therefore, LAPTM5 regulates a wide range of physiological processes and is involved in various diseases. This article summarizes the characteristics of the LAPTM5 gene and protein structure and provides a comprehensive review of the mechanisms involved in cell death, autophagy, immunity, and inflammation regulation. It emphasizes the significance of LAPTM5 in the clinical prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, immune system disorders, viral infections, cancer, and other diseases, which could provide new therapeutic ideas and targets for human diseases.

[Network Meta-analysis of Chinese patent medicines in treatment of chronic pulmonary heart disease].

Network Meta-analysis was performed to compare the efficacy and safety of Chinese patent medicines in treating chronic pulmonary heart disease. CNKI, VIP, Wanfang, SinoMed, PubMed, Web of Science, EMbase, and Cochrane Library were searched for randomized controlled trial(RCT) of treating chronic pulmonary heart disease with Chinese patent medicines with the time interval from inception to December 2023. The Cochrane risk-of-bias tool was used for quality assessment of the included articles. RevMan 5.4 and Stata 17.0 were employed to establish the risk of bias map and perform the network Meta-analysis, respectively. Ultimately, a total of 95 RCTs involving 8 787 cases and 11 different Chinese patent medicines were included. Network Meta-analysis yielded the following results based on the surface under the cumulative ranking curve(SUCRA).(1)In terms of cardiac function improves clinical total effective rate, SUCRA the top three were Wenxin Granules + conventional western medicine, Tongxinluo Capsules + conventional western medicine, and Qishen Yiqi Dropping Pills + conventional western medicine.(2)For improving forced expiratory volume in the first se-cond(FEV1), SUCRA the top three were Danting Feixin Granules + conventional western medicine, Tongxinluo Capsules + conventional western medicine, and Bufei Huoxue Capsules + conventional western medicine.(3)Regarding increasing the FEV1/forced vital capacity(FVC%) value, SUCRA the top three were Qili Qiangxin Capsules + conventional western medicine, Shexiang Baoxin Pills + conventional western medicine, and Qishen Yiqi Dropping Pills + conventional western medicine.(4)In terms of increasing the partial pressure of oxygen(PaO_2), SUCRA the top three were Qili Qiangxin Capsules + conventional western medicine, Qishen Yiqi Dropping Pills + conventional western medicine, and Shexiang Baoxin Pills + conventional western medicine.(5)In terms of reducing the partial pressure of carbon dioxide(PaCO_2), SUCRA the top three were Tongxinluo Capsules + conventional western medicine, Qishen Yiqi Dropping Pills + conventional western medicine, and Shexiang Baoxin Pills + conventional western medicine.(6)In terms of increasing left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF), SUCRA the top three were Bufei Huoxue Capsules + conventional western medicine, Qishen Yiqi Dropping Pills + conventional western medicine, and Shexiang Baoxin Pills + conventional western medicine.(7)In terms of decreasing brain natriu-retic peptide(BNP), SUCRA the top three were Compound Danshen Dropping Pills + conventional western medicine, Qili Qiangxin Capsules + conventional western medicine, and Tongxinluo Capsules + conventional western medicine.(8)In terms of improving the hematocrit level, SUCRA the top three were Qishen Yiqi Dropping Pills + conventional western medicine, Compound Danshen Dropping Pills + conventional western medicine, and Tongxinluo Capsules + conventional western medicine. In terms of safety, 26 RCTs reported adverse reactions, which primarily involved the circulatory and digestive systems. The combination of Chinese patent medicines with conventional western medicine has demonstrated enhanced therapeutic effects on chronic pulmonary heart disease. However, due to the varying quality and sample sizes of included studies and the absence of direct comparisons between Chinese patent medicines, the conclusions should be further validated by multicenter studies with larger sample sizes and higher methodological rigor.

Thermodynamic and Kinetic Behaviors of Electrolytes Mediated by Intermolecular Interactions Enabling High-Performance Lithium-Ion Batteries.

Electrolyte solvation chemistry regulated by lithium salts, solvents, and additives has garnered significant attention since it is the most effective strategy for designing high-performance electrolytes in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, achieving a delicate balance is a persistent challenge, given that excessively strong or weak Li+-solvent coordination markedly undermines electrolyte properties, including thermodynamic redox stability and Li+-desolvation kinetics, limiting the practical applications. Herein, we elucidate the crucial influence of solvent-solvent interactions in modulating the Li+-solvation structure to enhance electrolyte thermodynamic and kinetic properties. As a paradigm, by combining strongly coordinated propylene carbonate (PC) with weakly coordinated cyclopentylmethyl ether (CPME), we identified intermolecular interactions between PC and CPME using 1H-1H correlation spectroscopy. Experimental and computational findings underscore the crucial role of solvent-solvent interactions in regulating Li+-solvent/anion interactions, which can enhance both the thermodynamic (i.e., antireduction capability) and kinetic (i.e., Li+-desolvation process) aspects of electrolytes. Additionally, we introduced an interfacial model to reveal the intricate relationship between solvent-solvent interactions, electrolyte properties, and electrode interfacial behaviors at a molecular scale. This study provides valuable insights into the critical impact of solvent-solvent interactions on electrolyte properties, which are pivotal for guiding future efforts in functionalized electrolyte engineering for metal-ion batteries.

Efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen therapy as an adjunct therapy in the treatment of sleep disorders among patients with Parkinson's disease: a meta-analysis.

Objective: To systematically evaluate the efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) as an adjunct therapy for treating sleep disorders in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Methods: We conducted comprehensive searches in eight databases from inception through September 2023, including PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, SinoMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), China Science and Technology Periodical Database (VIP), and Wanfang Database. The objective was to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating HBOT's effectiveness in alleviating sleep disorder symptoms in PD patients as an adjunct therapy. Literature screening and data extraction were independently executed by the authors. Meta-analyses were performed using Review Manager 5.3 software, and publication bias and sensitivity analyses were assessed using Stata 17.0 software. Results: Seven RCTs involving 461 participants were included. The findings revealed that the addition of HBOT significantly enhanced sleep efficiency (MD = 15.26, 95% CI [10.89, 19.63], p < 0.00001), increased time in bed (MD = 69.65, 95% CI [43.01, 96.30], p < 0.00001), total sleep time (MD = 75.87, 95% CI [25.42, 126.31], p = 0.003), slow-wave sleep (SWS) time (MD = 6.14, 95% CI [3.95, 8.34], p < 0.00001), and rapid eye movement sleep (REM) time (MD = 4.07, 95% CI [2.05, 6.08], p < 0.0001), and reduced awakening frequency (MD = -11.55, 95% CI [-15.42, -7.68], p < 0.00001) and sleep latency (MD = -6.60, 95% CI [-9.43, -3.89], p < 0.00001). Additionally, significant improvements were observed in the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) (MD = -2.52, 95% CI [-2.85, -2.18], p < 0.00001), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) (MD = -2.90, 95% CI [-3.34, -2.47], p < 0.00001), Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Part III (UPDRS III) (MD = -1.32, 95% CI [-2.16, -0.47], p = 0.002), and Hoehn and Yahr grading (H-Y grading) (MD = -0.15, 95% CI [-0.28, -0.01], p = 0.03). Conclusion: The current meta-analysis supports the efficacy of HBOT as an adjunct therapy in managing sleep disorders in PD patients. It is recommended for PD patients experiencing sleep disturbances.Systematic review registration:https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/, identifier: CRD42023462201.

[Spectral Characteristics of Dissolved Organic Matter in Sediments from Yuanhe River Basin].

Dissolved organic matter （DOM） plays an important role in indicating the pollution of the water environment, and sediment is the main source of endogenous pollution of the water environment. Research on the spectral characteristics of DOM in sediments was important for the interpretation of water environment pollution. In this study, UV-visible absorption spectroscopy and three-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy combined with the parallel factor analysis （PARAFAC） were used to analyze the fluorescent components, sources, and influencing factors of DOM in sediments from the Yuanhe River Basin. The results showed that the average of ω（TN）, ω（TP）, and ω（OM） in sediments from the Yuanhe River Basin were 0.52, 0.66, and 21.22 g·kg-1, respectively. The concentrations of total nitrogen and total phosphorus increased along the flow direction. In addition, the sediment DOM from the Yuanhe River Basin mainly originated from terrestrial sources. The chromophoric DOM concentration and aromaticity of DOM from the downstream reaches were significantly higher than those from the upstream and midstream reaches. Based on PARAFAC, four fluorescent components of DOM in sediments from the Yuanhe River Basin were identified, including three humus-like components （C1, C3, and C4） and one protein-like component （C2）. The sediment DOM was dominated by humus-like materials. Moreover, the fluorescent intensity of the fluorescent components was higher in the downstream reaches. Redundancy analysis revealed that the physicochemical properties of sediments in the mainstream and downstream reaches played a more significant role in the spectral properties of DOM. Phosphorus pollution and the terrestrial humus-like substance of sediment DOM were homologous. These results indicated that the spectral properties of DOM were the indicator of water environmental pollution in the region with strong anthropogenic influence.

Establishment of a visualized mouse orthotopic xenograft model of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Mouse orthotopic xenograft tumor models are commonly employed in studies investigating the mechanisms underlying the development and progression of tumors and their preclinical treatment. However, the unavailability of mature and visualized orthotopic xenograft models of nasopharyngeal carcinoma limits the development of treatment strategies for this cancer. The aim of this study was to provide a simple and reliable method for building an orthotopic xenograft model of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Human nasopharyngeal carcinoma (C666-1-luc) cells, stably expressing the firefly luciferase gene, were injected subcutaneously into the right axilla of BALB/C nude mice. Four weeks later, the resulting subcutaneous tumors were cut into small blocks and grafted into the nasopharynx of immunodeficient BALB/C nude mice to induce tumor formation. Tumor growth was monitored by bioluminescence imaging and small animal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The expression of histological and immunological antigens associated with orthotopic xenograft nasopharyngeal carcinoma was analyzed by tissue section analysis and immunohistochemistry (IHC). A visualized orthotopic xenograft nasopharyngeal carcinoma model was successfully developed in this study. Luminescence signal detection, micro-MRI, and hematoxylin and eosin staining revealed the successful growth of tumors in the nasopharynx of the nude mice. Moreover, IHC analysis detected cytokeratin (CK), CK5/6, P40, and P63 expression in the orthotopic tumors, consistent with the reported expression of these antigens in human nasopharyngeal tumors. This study established a reproducible, visual, and less lethal orthotopic xenograft model of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, providing a platform for preclinical research.

Multiple free-radical-trapping and hydrogen-bonding-enhanced polyurethane foams with long-lasting flame retardancy, aging resistance, and toughness.

Flexible polyurethane foam (FPUF) is a ubiquitous material utilized in furniture cushions, mattresses, and various technical applications. Despite the widespread use, FPUF faces challenges in maintaining long-lasting flame retardancy and aging resistance, particularly in harsh environments, while retaining mechanical robustness. Here, we present a novel approach to address these issues by enhancing FPUF through multiple free-radical-trapping and hydrogen-bonding mechanisms. A hindered amine phosphorus-containing polyol (DTAP) was designed and chemically introduced into FPUF. The distinctive synergy between hindered amine and phosphorus-containing structures enables the formation of multiple hydrogen bonds with urethane, while also effectively capturing free radicals across a broad temperature spectrum. As a result, incorporating only 5.1 wt% of DTAP led to the material successfully passing vertical burning tests and witnessing notable enhancements in tensile strength, elongation at break, and tear strength. Even after enduring accelerated thermal aging for 168 hours, the foam maintained exceptional flame retardancy and mechanical properties. This study offers novel insights into material enhancement, simultaneously achieving outstanding long-lasting flame retardancy, toughness, and anti-aging performance.

Effects of cadmium on the intestinal health of the snail Bradybaena ravida Benson.

The heavy metal cadmium (Cd) is a toxic and bioaccumulative metal that can be enriched in the tissues and organs of living organisms through the digestive tract. However, more research is needed to determine whether food-sourced Cd affects the homeostasis of host gut microflora. In this study, the snail Bradybaena ravida (Benson) was used as a model organism fed with mulberry leaves spiked with different concentrations of Cd (0, 0.052, 0.71, and 1.94 mg kg-1). By combining 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing with biochemical characterization, it was found that there were increases in the overall microbial diversity and abundances of pathogenic bacteria such as Corynebacterium, Enterococcus, Aeromonas, and Rickettsia in the gut of B. ravida after exposure to Cd. However, the abundances of potential Cd-resistant microbes in the host's gut, including Sphingobacterium, Lactococcus, and Chryseobacterium, decreased with increasing Cd concentrations in the mulberry leaves. In addition, there was a significant reduction in activities of energy, nutrient metabolism, and antioxidant enzymes for gut microbiota of snails treated with high concentrations of Cd compared to those with low ones. These findings highlight the interaction of snail gut microbiota with Cd exposure, indicating the potential role of terrestrial animal gut microbiota in environmental monitoring through rapid recognition and response to environmental pollution.

[Interaction Effects of Vegetation and Soil Factors on Microbial Communities in Alpine Steppe Under Degradation].

To clarify the regulating effect of vegetation and soil factors on microbial communities in the alpine steppe under degradation on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, the alpine steppe in the Sanjiangyuan area of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau was chosen. We analyzed the differences in vegetation and soil factors in different stages of degradation （non-degradation, moderate degradation, and severe degradation） and detected the variations in microbial community characteristics in the alpine steppe under different degradation stages using high-throughput sequencing technology. Eventually, redundancy analysis （RDA） and multiple regression matrixes （MRM） based on the similarity or dissimilarity matrix were used to identify key environmental factors regulating microbial （bacterial and fungal） community changes under degradation. The results showed that the degradation of the alpine steppe significantly changed the community coverage, height, biomass, and important value of graminae； significantly reduced the contents of soil organic matter, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and silt； and increased the soil bulk density and sand content. Degradation did not change the composition of bacteria and fungi, but their composition proportions changed and also resulted in the loss of microbial richness （Chao1 index and Richness index） but did not significantly change the microbial diversity （Shannon index）. With the occurrence of degradation, the vegetation characteristics, soil physicochemical properties, and microbial diversity showed a consistent change trend. Combined with the characteristics of the network topology changes （the number of nodes and clustering coefficient significantly decreased）, it was found that degradation of the alpine steppe led to the decline of interspecies interactions, decentralization of network, and homogenization of microorganisms, but the cooperation relations among the species were maintained （positive correlation connections accounted for more than 90% in all degradation stages）. Under the alpine steppe degradation, the vegetation-soil interaction had the greatest effect on soil bacterial community, whereas soil physicochemical properties had the greatest influence on soil fungal community. Specifically, vegetation community height, biomass, and soil bulk density were the mutual factors regulating soil microorganisms, whereas the vegetation Simpson index, important value of graminae, soil total phosphorus, total potassium, and silt content were the unique factors affecting the soil bacterial community, and soil pH and total nitrogen content were the particular factors affecting the soil fungal community.

Decorating Cage-Shaped Cavities with Carboxyl Groups on Two-Dimensional MOF Nanosheet for Trace Uranium(VI) Trapping.

The efficient and complete extraction of uranium from aqueous solutions is crucial for safeguarding human health from potential radiotoxicity and chemotoxicity. Herein, an ultrathin 2D metal-organic framework (MOF) nanosheet with cavity structures was elaborately constructed, based on a calix[4]arene ligand. The large molecular skeleton and cup-shaped feature of the calix[4]arene enabled the as-prepared MOFs with large layer separations, which can be readily delaminated into ultrathin single-layer (∼1.25 nm) nanosheets. The incorporation of permanent cavity structures to the MOF nanosheets can fully utilize their structural features of readily accessible adsorption groups and exposed surface area in uranium removal, reaching ultrafast adsorption kinetics; the functionalized cavity structure endowed MOF nanosheets with the ability to preconcentrate and extract uranium from aqueous solutions with ultrahigh efficiencies, even at extremely low concentrations. As a result, relatively high removal ratios (>95%) can be achieved for uranium within 5 min, even in the ultralow concentration range of 75-250 ppb, and the residual uranium was reduced to below 4.9 ppb. The MOF nanosheets also exhibited extremely high anti-interference ability, which could efficiently remove the low-level uranium (∼150 ppb) from various real samples. The characterizations and density functional theory calculations demonstrated that the synergistic effects of multiple interactions between the carboxylate groups and cage-like cavities with uranyl ions can be responsible for the efficient and selective uranium extraction.

Insight into furfural-tolerant and hydrogen-producing microbial consortia: Mechanism of furfural tolerance and hydrogen production.

Furfural-tolerant and hydrogen-producing microbial consortia were enriched from soil, with hydrogen production of 259.84 mL/g-xylose under 1 g/L furfural stress. The consortia could degrade 2.5 g/L furfural within 24 h in the xylose system, more efficient than in the sugar-free system. Despite degradation of furfural to furfuryl alcohol, the release of reactive oxygen species and lactate dehydrogenase was also detected, suggesting that furfuryl alcohol is also a potential inhibitor of hydrogen production. The butyrate/acetate ratio was observed to decrease with increasing furfural concentration, leading to decreased hydrogen production. Furthermore, microbial community analysis suggested that dominated Clostridium butyricum was responsible for furfural degradation, while Clostridium beijerinckii reduction led to hydrogen production decrease. Overall, the enriched consortia in this study could efficiently degrade furfural and produce hydrogen, providing new insights into hydrogen-producing microbial consortia with furfural tolerance.

Two new Cortinarius species in subgenus Leprocybe from Southwest China.

Two new Cortinarius species in subgenus Leprocybe, Cortinarius hengduanensis and C. yadingensis, are proposed based on a combination of morphological and molecular evidence. Cortinarius hengduanensis has distinct olive tinged basidiomata, a squamulose pileus, and small, subglobose to broadly ellipsoid basidiospores, the ITS sequence differs from that of C. flavifolium by at least 28 substitutions and independent positions. Cortinarius yadingensis has a squamulose pileus and subglobose to broadly ellipsoid coarsely verrucose basidiospores, the ITS sequence has at least 11 substitutions and index position deviations from the other members of the Leprocybe section. Both new species were found in mixed forests of southwest China.

Influences of bisphenol A on hydrogen production from food waste by thermophilic dark fermentation.

The extensive use of plastic products in food packaging and daily life makes them inevitably enter the treatment process of food waste (FW). Plasticizer as a new pollutant is threatening the dark fermentation of FW. Our study showed that bisphenol A (BPA) at > 250 mg/L had a significant inhibition on hydrogen production from FW by thermophilic dark fermentation. The endogenous ATP content and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release showed that high level of BPA not only inhibited the growth of hydrogen-producing consortium, but also led to cell death. In addition, BPA mainly affects the hydrogen-producing consortium by reducing cell membrane fluidity, damaging cell membrane integrity and reducing cell membrane potential, resulting in cell death. This study provides some new insights into the mechanism of the effect of BPA on hydrogen production from FW by thermophilic dark fermentation, and lays the foundation on the utilization of FW.

Low-Temperature and Fast-Charging Lithium Metal Batteries Enabled by Solvent-Solvent Interaction Mediated Electrolyte.

Lithium metal batteries utilizing lithium metal as the anode can achieve a greater energy density. However, it remains challenging to improve low-temperature performance and fast-charging features. Herein, we introduce an electrolyte solvation chemistry strategy to regulate the properties of ethylene carbonate (EC)-based electrolytes through intermolecular interactions, utilizing weakly solvated fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC) to replace EC, and incorporating the low-melting-point solvent 1,2-difluorobenzene (2FB) as a diluent. We identified that the intermolecular interaction between 2FB and solvent can facilitate Li+ desolvation and lower the freezing point of the electrolyte effectively. The resulting electrolyte enables the LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2||Li cell to operate at -30 °C for more than 100 cycles while delivering a high capacity of 154 mAh g-1 at 5.0C. We present a solvation structure and interfacial model to analyze the behavior of the formulated electrolyte composition, establishing a relationship with cell performance and also providing insights for the electrolyte design under extreme conditions.

Organic solvents-free and ambient-pressure drying melamine formaldehyde resin aerogels with homogeneous structures, outstanding mechanical strength and flame retardancy.

Atmospheric drying method for fabricating aerogels is considered the most promising way for casting aerogels on a large scale. However, the organic solvent exchange, remaining environmental pollution risk, is a crucial step in mitigating the impact of surface tension during the atmospheric drying process, especially for wet gel formed through the alkoxy-derived sol-gel process, such as melamine-formaldehyde resin (MF) aerogel. Herein, a tough polymer-assisted in situ polymerization was proposed to fabricate MF resin aerogel with a combination of mechanical toughness and strength, enabling it to withstand the capillary force during water evaporation. The monolithic MF resin aerogel through the sol-gel method can be directly prepared without additional network strengthening or organic solvent exchange. The resulting MF resin aerogel exhibits a homogeneous as well as hierarchical structure with macropores and mesopores (~6 µm and ~5 nm), high compressive modulus of 31.8 MPa, self-extinguishing property, and high-temperature thermal insulation with 97 % heat decrease for butane flame combustion. This work presents a straightforward and environmentally friendly method for fabricating MF resin aerogels with nanostructures and excellent performance in open conditions, exhibiting various applications.

Self-evolutionary recycling of flame-retardant polyurethane foam enabled by controllable catalytic cleavage.

Polyurethane (PU) foams, pivotal in modern life, face challenges suh as fire hazards and environmental waste burdens. The current reliance of PU on potentially ecotoxic halogen-/phosphorus-based flame retardants impedes large-scale material recycling. Here, our demonstrated controllable catalytic cracking strategy, using cesium salts, enables self-evolving recycling of flame-retardant PU. The incorporation of cesium citrates facilitates efficient urethane bond cleavage at low temperatures (160 °C), promoting effective recycling, while encouraging pyrolytic rearrangement of isocyanates into char at high temperatures (300 °C) for enhanced PU fire safety. Even in the absence of halogen/phosphorus components, this foam exhibits a substantial increase in ignition time (+258.8%) and a significant reduction in total smoke release (-79%). This flame-retardant foam can be easily recycled into high-quality polyol under mild conditions, 60 °C lower than that for the pure foam. Notably, the trace amounts of cesium gathered in recycled polyols stimulate the regenerated PU to undergo self-evolution, improving both flame-retardancy and mechanical properties. Our controllable catalytic cracking strategy paves the way for the self-evolutionary recycling of high-performance firefighting materials.