{SeO2(OH)} Bridging Lanthanide-Containing Antimono-Seleno-Tungstates.

A series of new trigonal pyramidal {SeO2(OH)} bridging lanthanide-containing antimono-seleno-tungstates [H2N(CH3)2]8Na8Cs4H9[Ln2SeW4O11(OH)(H2O)4(SbW9O33)(SeW9O33)(Se1/2Sb1/2W9O33)]2·32H2O [Ln = Tb (1), Dy (2), Ho (3), Er (4)] have been prepared by the synthetic strategy of simultaneously using the antimonotungstate precursor and simple material in an acidic aqueous solution and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, powder X-ray diffraction, IR spectrometry, and thermogravimetric analysis. Their molecular structures contain an unprecedented hexameric polyoxoanion [Ln2SeW4O11(OH)(H2O)4(SbW9O33)(SeW9O33)(Se1/2Sb1/2W9O33)]229- constituted by two equivalent trimeric subunits Ln2W4O9(H2O)4(SbW9O33)(SeW9O33)(Se1/2Sb1/2W9O33) bridged via two µ2-{SeO2(OH)} linkers. Furthermore, the catalytic oxidation of various aromatic sulfides and sulfur mustard simulant 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (CEES) by compound 3 as the heterogeneous catalyst has been investigated, exhibiting high conversion and selectivity as well as good stability and recyclability.

The dysfunction of hormone-sensitive lipase induces lipid deposition and reprogramming of nutrient metabolism in fish.

Hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) is one of the rate-determining enzymes in the hydrolysis of TAG, playing a crucial role in lipid metabolism. However, the role of HSL-mediated lipolysis in systemic nutrient homoeostasis has not been intensively understood. Therefore, we used CRISPR/Cas9 technique and Hsl inhibitor (HSL-IN-1) to establish hsla-deficient (hsla-/-) and Hsl-inhibited zebrafish models, respectively. As a result, the hsla-/- zebrafish showed retarded growth and reduced oxygen consumption rate, accompanied with higher mRNA expression of the genes related to inflammation and apoptosis in liver and muscle. Furthermore, hsla-/- and HSL-IN-1-treated zebrafish both exhibited severe fat deposition, whereas their expressions of the genes related to lipolysis and fatty acid oxidation were markedly reduced. The TLC results also showed that the dysfunction of Hsl changed the whole-body lipid profile, including increasing the content of TG and decreasing the proportion of phospholipids. In addition, the systemic metabolic pattern was remodelled in hsla-/- and HSL-IN-1-treated zebrafish. The dysfunction of Hsl lowered the glycogen content in liver and muscle and enhanced the utilisation of glucose plus the expressions of glucose transporter and glycolysis genes. Besides, the whole-body protein content had significantly decreased in the hsla-/- and HSL-IN-1-treated zebrafish, accompanied with the lower activation of the mTOR pathway and enhanced protein and amino acid catabolism. Taken together, Hsl plays an essential role in energy homoeostasis, and its dysfunction would cause the disturbance of lipid catabolism but enhanced breakdown of glycogen and protein for energy compensation.

Dietary l-carnitine supplementation recovers the increased pH and hardness in fillets caused by high-fat diet in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).

The wide use of high-fat diet (HFD) causes negative effects on flesh quality in farmed fish. l-carnitine, a lipid-lowering additive, enhances mitochondrial fatty acid ß-oxidation. However its roles in alleviating the effects of HFD on flesh quality in fish are unknown. We fed Nile tilapia with medium-fat diet (MFD, 6% dietary lipid), high-fat diet (HFD, 12% dietary lipid) and HFCD supplemented with l-carnitine (HFCD + 400 mg/kg l-carnitine) for 10 weeks. The HFD-fed fish had higher fat deposition, pH value, myofiber density and flesh hardness than those fed on MFD. However, feeding the fish with the HFCD improved lipid catabolism, which increased significantly lactic acid content and myofiber diameter in muscle, thus reduced pH and hardness values. HFCD also reduced endoplasmic reticulum stress and myofiber apoptosis caused by HFD in the fish. Our study suggests that dietary l-carnitine supplementation alleviates the negative effects of HFD on flesh quality of farmed fish.

[Characteristics and Significance of Stable Isotopes and Hydrochemistry in Surface Water and Groundwater in Nanxiaohegou Basin].

The Nanxiaohegou basin is a typical watershed in the gully region of the Loess Plateau, China. The stable isotopes of hydrogen and oxygen and the hydrochemistry of the surface water and groundwater in the region were characterized in this study. The interaction between the surface water and groundwater in the region was demonstrated based on stable isotopes and hydrochemical methods. Results show that the δD and δ18O values of precipitation change according to the seasons with high values in spring and summer and low values in autumn and winter. The δD and δ18O values of the reservoir water are higher in summer and autumn, while they are lower in the winter and spring. The seasonal variation of δD and δ18O in groundwater is not significant. The surface water and groundwater in the watershed mainly belong to Na·Mg-HCO3-type water. The hydraulic conductivity of surface water and groundwater is characterized by high values in winter and low values in summer. Results on stable isotopes and hydrochemistry indicate that local precipitation and deep groundwater may be the main recharge sources of surface water (reservoir water, channel water) and spring water in the Nanxiaohegou basin. The perennial spring in the basin may be mainly replenished by deep groundwater, while seasonal springs are replenished by deep groundwater and local precipitation, such as the springs of Dongzhuanggou and Yangjiagou sub-basins. This study provides a greater understanding of the hydrological processes in the gully region of the Loess Plateau.

MicroRNA 182 inhibits CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Treg differentiation in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

MicroRNA 182 has been found to have a distinct contribution in the clonal expansion of activated- and functioning of specialized-helper T cells. In this study we knocked down microRNA 182 in vivo and induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) to determine the influences of microRNA 182 in the Treg cells functional specialization through Foxo1 dependent pathway in the peripheral lymphoid organs. Down-regulation of microRNA 182 significantly increased the proportions of Foxp3+ T cells in the peripheral lymph nodes and spleen. In vivo study verified a positive correlation between microRNA 182 levels and symptom severity of EAE, and a negative correlation between microRNA 182 and the transcriptional factor Foxp3. In vitro polarization study also confirmed the contribution of Foxo1 in microRNA 182 mediated down-regulation of Foxp3+ T cells. Together, our results provide evidence that during the development of EAE, microRNA 182 repressed Treg cells differentiation through the Foxo1 dependent pathway.