Photomodulation of Charge Transfer through Excited-State Processes: Directing Donor-Acceptor Binding Dynamics.

Modulating charge transfer (CT) interactions between donor and acceptor molecules may give rise to unique dynamic changes in physicochemical properties, exhibiting great importance in supramolecular chemistry and materials science. In this work, we demonstrate the first instance of reversible photomodulation of donor-acceptor (D-A) CT interaction in the solid state.Pyridinium-based chromophore featuring π-conjugated D-A structures can not only function as a good electron acceptor to undergo photoinduced electron transfer (ET) or engage in intermolecular CT interaction, but also exhibit unique dual emission depending on the excitation wavelengths. The rotatable C-C single bonds within D-A pairs enhance the tunability of molecular structure. Through the synergy of a photoinduced ET and an excited-state conformational change, the intermolecular CT interaction can be switched on and off by alternate light irradiation to enables reversibly modulation of the affinity between donor and acceptor molecules, accompanied by visual color switching and fluorescence on-off as feedback signals.

Natural History and Longitudinal Outcomes of Patients with Mild-to-Moderate Ulcerative Proctitis or Ulcerative Proctosigmoiditis: A Single-Center, Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Ulcerative proctitis (UP) and ulcerative proctosigmoiditis (UPS) are special forms of ulcerative colitis. The disease burdens of UP and UPS are increasing. However, the natural history and prognosis of patients with mild-to-moderate UP or UPS have been poorly studied. AIMS: The aim of this study is to evaluate the characteristics, short-term and long-term outcomes of patients with mild-to-moderate UP or UPS followed at a single center over a period of 3 years. METHODS: A retrospective study of patients with UP and UPS followed at a single center from 2021 to 2023 was performed. After scanning for inclusion and exclusion criteria, patient demographics and clinical data were collected. Disease severity was accessed by Myao endoscopy scores and ulcerative colitis endoscopic index of severity. Endoscopic improvement was defined as decreased scores at the last follow-up. Disease extension was defined as endoscopic evidence of a greater extent of disease at the last follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 414 patients were included for evaluation, of which 292 patients (70.53%) were at mild disease stage, and 122 patients (29.47%) had moderate diseases. At the last follow-up, 315 patients (76.09%) showed endoscopic improvement, and 247 patients (59.66%) showed endoscopic remission. An overall extension rate of 11.11% was observed at the last follow-up. Subgroup analysis revealed a better prognosis in younger patients. The disease extension rate was higher in moderate group and symptomatic patients. CONCLUSION: Promising outcomes were observed in patients with mild-to-moderate ulcerative proctitis or ulcerative proctosigmoiditis. Disease severity and symptoms are correlated with the risk of extension.

Enhanced cadmium removal by a magnetic potassium ferrocyanide framework: Performance and mechanism study.

Polluted environments often contain large amounts of toxic metals, such as cadmium, which pose a major threat to ecosystems and public health. Contamination by cadmium and its compounds is often observed in areas surrounding zinc mining sites and electroplating factories, and the control of cadmium pollution is essential for environmental safety and health. In this study, a highly efficient and straightforward separation strategy for K4Fe(CN)6@Fe3O4 nanocomposites is successfully developed to capture the Cd ions in the water environment. Batch adsorption experiments revealed that K4Fe(CN)6@Fe3O4 exhibited a high cadmium removal rate (greater than 98 %) at a pH level of 6.0 and solid-liquid ratio of 1.0 g/L at room temperature (298 K). Kinetic analysis revealed that the adsorption process followed a pseudo-second-order model and cadmium was rapidly removed in the first 10 min, with chemisorption dominating the capture of Cd2+ by K4Fe(CN)6@Fe3O4. Adsorption isotherms revealed a heterogeneous adsorption behavior, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 40.78 mg/g. The intrinsic adsorption of Cd2+ by K4Fe(CN)6@Fe3O4 occurring primarily through electrostatic interaction and ion exchange. In addition, K4Fe(CN)6@Fe3O4 exhibited an excellent regeneration capacity. Therefore, integrating Fe3O4 into the metal cyanide not only provided the composite material with excellent chemical stability and selective adsorption sites for Cd2+, but also facilitated subsequent sorbent collection and recovery. Overall, this study presents a simple and feasible approach for integrating Fe3O4 into potassium ferrocyanide frameworks for efficient cadmium removal from contaminated water.

Preparation of fibre-reinforced PLA-collagen@PLA-PCL@PCL-gelatin three-layer vascular graft by EDC/NHS cross-linking and its performance study.

In this study, a three-layer small diameter artificial vascular graft with a structure similar to that of natural blood vessels was first constructed by triple-step electrospinning technology, in which polylactic acid (PLA) and collagen (COL) were used for the inner layer, polylactic acid and polycaprolactone (PCL) was used for the middle layer and polycaprolactone and gelatin was used for the outer layer. The properties of the artificial vascular graft were adjusted by the EDC/NHS cross-linking agent through the reaction between the collagen or gelatine and EDC/NHS. The mechanical and hydrophilic properties of the cross-linked artificial vessels were substantially enhanced, with a maximum stress of 9.56 MPa in the axial direction and 9.31 MPa in the radial direction for the P/C (4:1) vascular graft, which exceeded that of many textile-based and natural vascular grafts. The increased hydrophilicity of the inner layer of the vessel before crosslinking was due to the addition of COL, and the inner layer of the artificial vessel after crosslinking had a substantial increase in hydrophilicity due to the production of a more hydrophilic urea derivative. The increased hydrophilicity led to easier cell adhesion to the inner layer of the artificial vessel, especially for the P/C (2:1) vascular graft, where the cell proliferation rate and adhesion were high due to COL incorporation and cross-linking. The three-layer vascular grafts studied did not lead to haemolysis. Therefore, the EDC/NHS cross-linked three-layer vascular graft had good mechanical properties, hydrophilicity, anticoagulation and could enhance cell adhesion and proliferation.

The Potential Role of Female Sex Hormones in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A 2-Sample Mendelian Randomization Study.

INTRODUCTION: An association between female sex hormones and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been reported in epidemiological studies. However, a solid causal relationship has not been established. Therefore, we performed a 2-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study to explore the causal association between genetically predicted female sex hormone exposure, especially estrogen, and IBD. METHODS: Genetic variants for female sex hormone exposure (ovulatory function, reproductive function, oral contraceptive pills, and hormone replacement therapy) were obtained from genome-wide association studies. Summary statistics for IBD were derived from the International Inflammatory Bowel Disease Genetics Consortium. We applied inverse variance weighted (IVW), MR-Egger, and weighted median (WM) methods in this MR study. Heterogeneity, horizontal pleiotropy, and sensitivity analyses were conducted to confirm the accuracy and robustness of our results. RESULTS: Our study found that genetically predicted age at menarche was associated with an increased risk of Crohn's disease (odds ratio [OR] IVW 1.235, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.028-1.484, P = 0.024), genetically predicted age of the last used hormone replacement therapy was associated with an increased risk of ulcerative colitis (OR WM 1.636, 95% CI 1.011-2.648, P = 0.045), and genetically predicted number of live births was related to a decreased risk of Crohn's disease (OR IVW 0.583, 95% CI 0.373-0.912, P = 0.018). DISCUSSION: This study provided evidence for a link between female sex hormone exposure, especially estrogen, and IBD. Further investigations are needed to explore the causal effect of estrogen on IBD activity and the underlying mechanism of estrogen in IBD.

Diastereoselective Synthesis of Dihydrobenzofuran Spirooxindoles and Their Transformation into Benzofuroquinolinones by Ring Expansion of Oxindole Core.

A mild and efficient approach for the diastereoselective synthesis of dihydrobenzofuran spirooxindoles using 3-chlorooxindoles and imines is presented. This process involves a formal [4 + 1] annulation, yielding the product with excellent diastereoselectivity. Furthermore, a novel method for constructing benzofuroquinolinone scaffolds through the ring expansion of oxindoles has been established. This method involves a lactam ring expansion to the quinolinone skeleton. Besides, a one-pot procedure for creating benzofuroquinolinone scaffolds from 3-chlorooxindoles and imines is also provided.

A defect-enriched PdMo bimetallene for ethanol oxidation reaction and 4-nitrophenol reduction.

A defect-enriched PdMo bimetallene (d-PdMo) was prepared by a one-pot wet chemical reaction followed by post-treatment of oxidative etching. The introduction of defects can tailor the electronic structure of PdMo bimetallene and the prepared d-PdMo bimetallene exhibited excellent performance in the ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR) and 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) reduction reaction.

Photocatalyzed Oxidative Tandem Reaction Mediated by Bipyridinium for Multifunctional Derivatization of Alcohols.

The multifunctional derivatization of alcohols has been achieved by the bipyridinium-based conjugated small molecule photocatalysts with redox center and Lewis acid site. Besides exhibiting high activity in the selective generation of aldehydes/ketones, acids from alcohols through solvent modulation, this system renders the first selective synthesis of esters via an attractive cross-coupling pattern, whose reaction route is significantly different from the traditional condensation of alcohols and acids or esterification from hemiacetals. Following the oxidization of alcohol to aldehyde via bipyridinium-mediated electron and energy transfer, the Lewis acid site of bipyridinium then activates the aldehyde and methanol to obtain the acetal, which further reacts with methanol to generate ester. This method not only demonstrates a clear advantage of bipyridinium in diverse catalytic activities, but also paves the way for designing efficient multifunctional small molecule photocatalysts. This metal- and additive-free photocatalytic esterification reaction marks a significant advancement towards a more environmentally friendly, cost-effective and green sustainable approach, attributed to the utilization of renewable substrate alcohol and the abundant, low-cost air as the oxidant. The mildness of this esterification reaction condition provides a more suitable alternative for large-scale industrial production of esters.

AwSclB regulates a network for Aspergillus westerdijkiae asexual sporulation and secondary metabolism independent of the fungal light control.

As a prevalent pathogenic fungus, Aspergillus westerdijkiae poses a threat to both food safety and human health. The fungal growth, conidia production and ochratoxin A (OTA) in A. weterdijkiae are regulated by many factors especially transcription factors. In this study, a transcription factor AwSclB in A. westerdijkiae was identified and its function in asexual sporulation and OTA biosynthesis was investigated. In addition, the effect of light control on AwSclB regulation was also tested. The deletion of AwSclB gene could reduce conidia production by down-regulation of conidia genes and increase OTA biosynthesis by up-regulation of cluster genes, regardless under light or dark conditions. It is worth to note that the inhibitory effect of light on OTA biosynthesis was reversed by the knockout of AwSclB gene. The yeast one-hybrid assay indicated that AwSclB could interact with the promoters of BrlA, ConJ and OtaR1 genes. This result suggests that AwSclB in A. westerdijkiae can directly regulate asexual conidia formation by activating the central developmental pathway BrlA-AbaA-WetA through up-regulating the expression of AwBrlA, and promote the light response of the strain by activating ConJ. However, AwSclB itself is unable to respond to light regulation. This finding will deepen our understanding of the molecular regulation of A. westerdijkiae development and secondary metabolism, and provide potential targets for the development of new fungicides.

Comparative Analysis of Molecular Landscape in Mouse Models and Patients Reveals Conserved Inflammation Pathways in Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify key genes and their regulatory networks that are conserved in mouse models of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and human AMD. Methods: Retinal RNA-Seq was performed in laser-induced choroidal neovascularization (CNV) mice at day 3 and day 7 after photocoagulation. Mass spectrometry-based proteomic analysis was performed with retinas collected at day 3. Retinal RNA-Seq data was further compared among mouse models of laser-induced CNV and NaIO3-induced retinal degeneration (RD) and a large AMD cohort. Results: Retinal RNA-Seq revealed upregulated genes and pathways related to innate immunity and inflammation in mice with CNV, with more profound changes at the early stage (day 3). Proteomic analysis further validated these differentially expressed genes and their networks in retinal inflammation during CNV. Notably, the most evident overlap in the retina of mice with laser-induced CNV and NaIO3-induced RD was the upregulation of inflammation-related genes, pointing to a common vital role of retinal inflammation in the early stage for both mouse AMD models. Further comparative transcriptomic analysis of the mouse AMD models and human AMD identified 48 conserved genes mainly involved in inflammation response. Among them, B2M, C3, and SERPING1 were upregulated in all stages of human AMD and the mouse AMD models compared to controls. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates conserved molecular changes related to retinal inflammation in mouse AMD models and human AMD and provides new insight into the translational application of these mouse models in studying AMD mechanisms and treatments.

Prolonging the Cycle Stability of Anion Redox P3-Type Na0.6Li0.2Mn0.8O2 through Al2O3 Atomic Layer Deposition Surface Modification.

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are becoming an alternative option for large-scale energy storage systems owing to their low cost and abundance. The lattice oxygen redox (LOR), which has the potential to increase the reversible capacity of materials, has promoted the development of high-energy cathode materials in SIBs. However, the utilization of oxygen anion redox reactions usually results in harmful lattice oxygen release, which hastens structural deformation and declines electrochemical performance, severely hindering their practical application. Herein, a ribbon-ordered superstructured P3-type Na0.6Li0.2Mn0.8O2 (NLMO) cathode with a uniform Al2O3 coating through atomic layer deposition (ALD) was synthesized. The cycling stability and rate capability of the materials were improved by a proper thickness of the Al2O3 layer. Differential electrochemical mass spectrometry (DEMS) results clearly suggest that the Al2O3 coating can inhibit the CO2 release caused by the highly active surface of the NLMO material. Moreover, the results of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and etching X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) show that the Al2O3 coating can effectively prevent electrolyte and electrode side reactions and the dissolution of Mn. This surface engineering strategy sheds light on the way to prolong the cycling stability of anionic redox cathode materials.

One-pot Tandem Synthesis and Spontaneous Product Separation of N-heterocycles based on Bifunctional Small-molecule Photocatalyst.

Homogeneous and heterogeneous reactions wherein the resulting products remain dissolved in solvents generally require complicated separation and purification process, despite the advantage of heterogeneous systems allowing retrieval of catalysts. Herein, we have developed an efficient approach for the one-pot tandem synthesis of quinazolines, quinazolinones and benzothiadiazine 1,1-dioxides from alcohols and amines utilizing a bifunctional bipyridinium photocatalyst with redox and Lewis acid sites using air as an oxidant. Through solvent-modulation strategy, the photocatalytic system exhibits high performance and enables most products to separate spontaneously. Consequently, the homogeneous catalyst can be reused by direct centrifugation isolation of the products. Notably, the method is also applicable to the less active substrates, such as heterocyclic alcohols and aliphatic alcohols, and thus provides an efficient and environmentally friendly photocatalytic route with spontaneous separation of N-heterocycles to reduce production costs and meet the needs of atomic economy and green chemistry.

Enhancing Overall Water Splitting via Anion and Cation Synergistical Modulation in NiS Amorphous Compound.

Designing and synthesizing cost-effective catalysts that exhibit excellent performance of both the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is a formidable task in the field of electrocatalysis. Herein, we present a Fe- and P-codoped NiS amorphous film catalyst (FeNiSP) via meticulous control over the cations and anions of metal compounds. The doped Fe and P increases active sites, reduces charge transfer resistance, and modulates electronic structures of the NiS matrix. Leveraging these advantages, the FeNiSP showcases exceptional bifunctional activities of HER and OER, with remarkably low overpotentials of only 135 and 330 mV for achieving a current density of 100 mA·cm-2 during HER and OER, respectively. Additionally, a low cell voltage of 1.56 V at 10 mA·cm-2 was achieved when it was employed as both the anode and the cathode for water splitting. Finally, density function theory calculations further elucidate that the simultaneous presence of Fe and P in the NiS amorphous film catalyst leads to a decrease in the band center of S and Ni. This consequential effect maintains a balanced adsorption/desorption of protons and strengthened the adsorption of O-based intermediates on the surface of FeNiSP, subsequently contributing to the outstanding electrocatalytic HER and OER activities.

Genome-Wide Analysis of the DC1 Domain Protein Gene Family in Tomatoes under Abiotic Stress.

DC1 (Divergent C1) domain proteins are a new class of proteins that have been discovered in recent years, which play an important role in plant growth, development, and stress response. In order to better study the distribution and function of DC1 domain proteins in tomatoes, a genome-wide identification was conducted. It was found that there are twenty-one DC1 domain protein genes distributed on nine chromosomes of tomatoes, named SlCHP1-21. Phylogenetic analysis shows that twenty-one SlCHP genes are divided into six subfamilies. Most of the SlCHP genes in tomatoes have no or very short introns. All SlCHP proteins, with the exception of SlCHP8 and SlCHP17, contain variable amounts of C1 domain. Analysis of the SlCHP gene promoter sequence revealed multiple cis-elements responsive to plant stress. qRT-CR analysis showed that most members of SlCHP gene expressed in the roots. The SlCHP11, 13, 16, 17, and SlCHP20 genes showed specific responses to high temperature, low temperature, salt, and drought stress. In addition, the subcellular localization and interaction proteins of SlCHP were analyzed and predicted. Together, these results provides a theoretical basis for further exploration of the function and mechanism of the SlCHP gene in tomatoes.

Statistically and visually analyzing the latest advancements and future trends of uranium removal.

Uranium contamination and remediation is a very important environmental research area. Removing radioactive and toxic uranium from contaminated media requires fundamental knowledge of targets and materials. To explore the-State-of-the-Art in uranium contamination control, we employed a statistical tool called CiteSpace to visualize and statistically analyze 4203 peer-reviewed papers on uranium treatment published between 2008 and 2022. The primary content presentations of visual analysis were co-authorships, co-citations, keyword co-occurrence analysis with cluster analysis, which could offer purposeful information of research hots and trends in the field of uranium removal. The statistical analysis results indicated that studies on uranium removal have focused on adsorption of uranium from aqueous solution. From 2008 to 2022, biochar and biological treatment were firstly used to sequester uranium, then adsorption for uranium removal dominates with adsorbents of graphene oxide, primary nanofiber magnetic polymers and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). In recent years, photocatalysts and metal-organic frameworks are expected to be two of the most popular research topics. In addition, we further highlighted the characteristics and applications of MOFs and GOs in uranium removal. Overall, a statistical review was proposed to visualize and summarize the knowledge and research trends regarding uranium treatment.

Enhancing the Molecular Order and Vertical Component Distribution of the P3HT/O-IDTBR System during Layer-by-Layer Processing.

The molecular order and vertical component distribution are critical to enhance the charge transport in layer-by-layer (LbL) processed active layer. However, the excessive inter-diffusion between donor and acceptor layers during LbL processing irrepressibly reduces their ordered packing. Herein, a novel tactic to optimize the molecular order and vertical morphology of the active layer through suppressing the deep penetration of (5Z,5'Z)-5,5'-((7,7'-(4,4,9,9-tetraoctyl-4,9-dihydro-s-indaceno[1,2-b:5,6 -b']dithiophene-2,7-diyl)bis(benzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole-7,4-diyl))bis(methanylylidene)) bis(3-ethyl-2-thioxothiazolidin-4-one) (O-IDTBR) to poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) film during LbL processing is proposed. This is enabled by inducing the formation of P3HT nanofibers through ultraviolet (UV) irradiation and solution aging. During the LbL processing, these nanofibers with high crystallinity reduce the damage of O-IDTBR solution to P3HT film and restrict the penetration of O-IDTBR into P3HT matrix. As a result, the P3HT nanofibers are preserved and the degree of vertical phase separation is enlarged in the LbL-processed film. Meanwhile, the molecular order of both components is enhanced. The resulting morphology that featured as intertwined P3HT nanofibers/O-IDTBR network efficiently promotes charge transport and extraction, boosting the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the devices from 6.70 ± 0.12% to 7.71 ± 0.10%.

Expression of NEAT1 can be used as a predictor for Dex resistance in multiple myeloma patients.

OBJECTIVE: Multiple myeloma is a heterogeneous disorder and the intratumor genetic heterogeneity contributes to emergency of drug resistance. Dexamethasone has been used clinically for decades for MM. Nevertheless, their use is severely hampered by the risk of developing side effects and the occurrence of Dex resistance. LncRNA NEAT1 plays a oncogenic role and participates in drug resistance in many solid tumors. Therefore, we investigated a potential usefulness of this molecular as a biomarker for diagnosis of MM and possible correlations of NEAT1 expression with drug resistance and prognosis. METHODS: Bone marrow and peripheral blood mononuclear cells samples were collected from 60 newly diagnosed MM patients. The expression of NEAT1expression level were detected by quantitative real-time PCR analyses. The relationship about the expression levels of lncRNA with other clinical and cytogenetic features was analyzed. In addition, we measured to analysis the correlation between the expression of NEAT1 and Dex resistance in MM patients. RESULTS: It was found that the expression of NEAT1 is significantly higher in multiple myeloma patients compared to controls and does not change with other clinical features and cytogenetic features. We further discovered that overexpression of NEAT1 was associated with Dex resistance and a poor prognosis in MM patients. CONCLUSION: LncRNA NEAT1 has a significant value that might act as a promoting factor in the development of MM and may be severed as a diagnostic factor in MM. NEAT1 invovled in Dex resistance, which provide a new interpretation during the chemotherapy for MM.

Correlation between serum 4-HNE and lactic acid levels and disease status in patients with severe pneumonia and its diagnostic value and prognostic evaluation.

PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship between serum 4-Hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) and lactic acid (Lac) levels and the disease status of severe pneumonia (SP) patients, and to observe the value of serum 4-HNE and Lac in the prognosis assessment of SP patients. METHODS: The clinical data of 76 patients with SP (SP group) and 76 patients with general pneumonia (GP group) in Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital from September 2020 to June 2022 were retrospectively collected. According to the survival status of SP patients 28 d after admission, they were divided into a survival group (49 cases) and a death group (27 cases). Serum 4-HNE and Lac levels were compared between groups. Pearson was used to observe the correlation between serum 4-HNE and Lac levels and SP disease status. Receiver operating characteristic curve was used to analyze the evaluation efficacy of serum 4-HNE and Lac levels. RESULTS: The levels of serum 4-HNE and Lac in the SP group were higher than in the GP group (P<0.05). Serum 4-HNE and Lac levels in SP patients were positively correlated with CURB-65 score (r=0.626; r=0.427, P<0.05). The levels of serum 4-HNE and Lac in the death group were higher than survival group (P<0.05). Area under curve (AUC) of serum 4-HNE and Lac levels in the diagnosis of SP was 0.796 and 0.799 respectively. AUC for serum 4-HNE combined with Lac levels in the diagnosis of SP was 0.871. AUC of serum 4-HNE and Lac levels in predicting the prognosis of SP was 0.768 and 0.663 respectively. AUC of serum 4-HNE combined with Lac levels in predicting the prognosis of SP was 0.837. CONCLUSION: Serum 4-HNE and Lac levels in SP patients are significantly increased, and serum 4-HNE combined with Lac level has good application value in the early diagnosis and prognosis prediction of SP.

Celastrol pretreatment attenuates concanavalin A-induced hepatitis in mice by suppressing interleukin-6/STAT3-interleukin-17 signaling.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Celastrol is extracted from Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F. It has been reported to have protective effects against various liver diseases and immune regulation of autoimmune diseases. However, little is known about whether celastrol protects against immune-mediated hepatitis. This study aimed to investigate the effect of celastrol on liver injury induced by concanavalin A (ConA) and the potential mechanisms. METHODS: Intravenous administration of ConA was applied to induce acute liver injury in mice with or without pretreatment of celastrol. The effects of celastrol on ConA-induced liver injury were further demonstrated by biochemical and histopathological assessments, immunoblotting, and flow cytometry analysis. RESULTS: Both biochemical and histopathological observations showed that pretreatment of celastrol significantly ameliorated liver injury induced by ConA. Moreover, the hepatocyte apoptosis and inflammatory responses induced by ConA were also improved in celastrol-pretreated mice. Further studies revealed that these improvements were characterized as the celastrol-mediated suppression of total interleukin (IL)-17 from liver mononuclear cells in ConA-treated mice. Flow cytometry analysis suggested that celastrol specifically decreased IL-17 production by CD4+ T cells but not by CD8+ T cells. Fundamentally, pretreatment with celastrol inhibited both the IL-6 produced by F4/80+ macrophages and the IL-6 receptor on Th17 cells in the liver, which further led to the downregulated activation of STAT3, thus accounting for blocked Th17 signaling. CONCLUSIONS: Celastrol may exhibit immune regulatory effects by regulating IL-6/STAT3-IL-17 signaling in ConA-induced hepatitis, which suggested new potentials for celastrol to be applied in treating immune-mediated liver diseases.

Phosphorus-modified cobalt single-atom catalysts loaded on crosslinked carbon nanosheets for efficient alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction.

Efficient and low-cost transition metal single-atom catalysts (TMSACs) for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) have been recognized as research hotspots recently with advances in delivering good catalytic activity without noble metals. However, the high-cost complex preparation of TMSACs and insufficient stability limited their practical applications. Herein, a simple top-down pyrolysis approach to obtain P-modified Co SACs loaded on the crosslinked defect-rich carbon nanosheets was introduced for alkaline hydrogen evolution, where Co atoms are locally confined before pyrolysis to prevent aggregation. Thereby, the abundant defects and the unsaturated coordination formed during the pyrolysis significantly improved the stability of the monatomic structure and reduced the reaction barrier. Furthermore, the synergy between cobalt atoms and phosphorus atoms was established to optimize the decomposition process of water molecules, which delivers the key to promoting the slow reaction kinetics of alkaline HER. As the result, the cobalt SAC exhibited excellent catalytic activity and stability for alkaline HER, with overpotentials of 70 mV and 192 mV at current densities of -10 mA cm-2 and -100 mA cm-2, respectively.