Dysregulated Glucuronidation of Bilirubin Exacerbates Liver Inflammation and Fibrosis in Schistosomiasis Japonica through the NF-κB Signaling Pathway.

Hepatic fibrosis is an important pathological manifestation of chronic schistosome infection. Patients with advanced schistosomiasis show varying degrees of abnormalities in liver fibrosis indicators and bilirubin metabolism. However, the relationship between hepatic fibrosis in schistosomiasis and dysregulated bilirubin metabolism remains unclear. In this study, we observed a positive correlation between total bilirubin levels and the levels of ALT, AST, LN, and CIV in patients with advanced schistosomiasis. Additionally, we established mouse models at different time points following S. japonicum infection. As the infection time increased, liver fibrosis escalated, while liver UGT1A1 consistently exhibited a low expression, indicating impaired glucuronidation of bilirubin metabolism in mice. In vitro experiments suggested that SEA may be a key inhibitor of hepatic UGT1A1 expression after schistosome infection. Furthermore, a high concentration of bilirubin activated the NF-κB signaling pathway in L-O2 cells in vitro. These findings suggested that the dysregulated glucuronidation of bilirubin caused by S. japonicum infection may play a significant role in schistosomiasis liver fibrosis through the NF-κB signaling pathway.

Study on Thermal Risk of Coal-Based Activated Carbon after Adsorbing Acetone, Cyclohexane, and Butyl Acetate.

Combustion and explosion accidents of the mixture may occur after the adsorption of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by coal-based activated carbon (CBAC). It is of great significance to explore the oxidation and combustion performance of CBAC before and after adsorbing VOCs in order to prevent the reoccurrence of fire and explosion. Based on the CBAC sample commonly used in industrial production, three types of CBAC samples after adsorbing VOCs, i.e., acetone, cyclohexane, and butyl acetate, were prepared. The oxidation and combustion characteristics of the samples before and after adsorbing VOCs are measured and analyzed by thermal analyzer and cone calorimeter. Thermal analysis results indicate that during the oxidation process, the VOCs in the adsorbed samples will burn in the early stage, generating amounts of heat which may accelerate the oxidation and combustion of CBAC. According to the combustion performance experiments by cone calorimeter, it is also found that the combustion rate of CBAC after adsorbing VOCs is significantly enhanced. The time to ignition is shortened, the heat release rate becomes larger, and the time to reach the peak of heat release rate is significantly moved forward. In addition, the CO yield of the adsorbed sample is significantly improved. In general, VOC adsorption in CBAC can promote oxidation reactions and may result in an enhanced combustibility of CBAC.

Increased production and anti-senescence activity of exopolysaccharides in Ganoderma lingzhi by co-overexpression of ß-1,3-glucan synthase and UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase.

A ß-1,3-glucan synthase gene (gls) was cloned and overexpressed in Ganoderma lingzhi. The content of intracellular polysaccharides (IPS) in G. lingzhi overexpressing gls was 22.36 mg/100 mg dry weight (DW), 19 % higher than those in the wild-type (WT) strain. Overexpression of gls did not affect the expression of the phosphoglucomutase gene and the UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase gene (ugp) in the polysaccharide biosynthesis. The gls and ugp were then simultaneously overexpressed in G. lingzhi for the first time. The combined overexpression of these two genes increased the IPS content and exopolysaccharides (EPS) production to a greater extent than the overexpression of gls independently. The maximum IPS content of the overexpressed strain was 24.61 mg/100 mg, and the maximum EPS production was 1.55 g/L, 1.31- and 1.50-fold higher than that in the WT strain, respectively. Moreover, the major EPS fractions from the overexpression strain contained more glucose (86.7 % and 72.5 %) than those from the WT strain (78.2 % and 62.9 %). Furthermore, the major fraction G+U-0.1 from the overexpression strain exhibited stronger antioxidant and anti-senescence activities than the WT-0.1 fraction from the WT strain. These findings will aid in the hyperproduction and application of Ganoderma polysaccharides and facilitate our understanding of mushroom polysaccharide biosynthesis.

Study of the Microstructure of Coal at Different Temperatures and Quantitative Fractal Characterization.

In order to understand the influence of underground coal fires on coal fractures and pores, mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) are combined to study the development of coal pore and fracture under high-temperature treatment and calculate the fractal dimension to analyze the relationship between the development of coal pore and fracture and the fractal dimension. The results show that the volume of pores and fractures of the coal sample (C200) treated at 200 °C (0.1715 mL/g) is greater than that of the coal sample (C400) treated at 400 °C (0.1209 mL/g), and both are greater than the original coal sample (RC) (0.1135 mL/g). The volume increase is mainly due to mesopores and macropores, and the proportions of mesopores and macropores in C200 were 70.15 and 59.97% in C400. The MIP fractal dimension shows a decreasing trend with the increase of temperature, and the connectivity of coal samples improved with the increase of temperature. The changes in volume and three-dimensional fractal dimension of C200 and C400 showed the opposite trend and are related to the different stress of coal matrix at different temperatures. The experimental SEM images confirm that the connectivity of coal fractures and pores improves with the increase of temperature. Based on the SEM experiment, the larger the fractal dimension, the more complex the surface is. The SEM surface fractal dimensions indicate that the surface fractal dimension of C200 is the smallest and that of C400 is the largest, which is consistent with the observations made by SEM. The combination of the two fractal dimensions is used to characterize the self-similarity of coal using the fractal dimension difference. When the temperature increased to 200 °C, the unordered expansion of the coal sample resulted in the largest fractal dimension difference and the lowest self-similarity. When heated to 400 °C, the fractal dimension difference of the coal sample is the smallest, and the microstructure of coal shows a regular groove-like development.

Blocking BAFF Alleviates Hepatic Fibrosis in Schistosoma japonicum-Infected Mice.

Schistosomiasis is an immunopathogenic disease characterized by egg granuloma and fibrosis. The hepatic fibrosis of schistosomiasis is caused by the coordinated action of local immune cells, liver-resident cells and related cytokines around the eggs of the liver. B-cell-activating factor (BAFF), expressed in many cells, is an essential factor for promoting the survival, differentiation, and maturation of cells. The overexpression of BAFF is closely related to many autoimmune diseases and fibrosis, but has not been reported to play a role in liver fibrosis caused by schistosomiasis. In the study, we found that, during Schistosoma japonicum (S. japonicum) infection in mice, the level of BAFF and its receptor BAFF-R progressively increased, then decreased with the extension of infection time, which was consistent with the progression of hepatic granuloma and fibrosis. Anti-BAFF treatment attenuated the histopathological damage in the liver of infected mice. The average areas of individual granulomas and liver fibrosis in anti-BAFF treatment mice were significantly lower than those in control mice, respectively. Anti-BAFF treatment increased the IL-10, decreased IL-4, IL-6, IL-17A, TGF-ß, and downregulated the antibody level against S. japonicum antigens. These results suggested that BAFF acts a strong player in the immunopathology of schistosomiasis. Anti-BAFF treatment may influence Th2 and Th17 responses, and reduce the inflammatory reaction and fibrosis of schistosomiasis liver egg granuloma. It is suggested that BAFF might be a prospective target for the development of new methods to treat schistosomiasis liver fibrosis.

Thermodynamic and Kinetic Effects of Quaternary Ammonium and Phosphonium Ionic Liquids on CO2 Hydrate Formation.

The paper elaborates the effects of ionic liquids (ILs) on the phase equilibrium temperature, induction time, gas consumption, gas consumption rate, and water to hydrate conversion in the presence of 0.25, 0.63, 0.95, 1.25, 3.75, 6.25, and 10.00 wt % ethyltributylphosphonium hexafluorophosphate ([P2 4 4 4][PF6]), tributylhexylphosphonium hexafluorophosphate ([P6 4 4 4][PF6]), tetraethylammonium bromide ([N2 2 2 2]Br), tetraethylammonium bistrifluoromethanesulfonimide ([N2 2 2 2][NTf2]), and tetraethylammonium hexafluorophosphate ([N2 2 2 2][PF6]) under a pressure of 2 MPa. The results indicate that all five ILs could increase CO2 consumption and enhance the water to hydrate conversion. Compared with the pure water system, [P2 4 4 4][PF6] and [P6 4 4 4][PF6] shifted the phase equilibrium temperature of CO2 hydrates to a slightly higher temperature with reduced induction times by boosting CO2 hydrate nucleation, showing the dual function promotion effects. In contrast, [N2 2 2 2]Br, [N2 2 2 2][NTf2], and [N2 2 2 2][PF6] shifted the phase equilibrium temperature of CO2 hydrates to a lower temperature and prolonged the induction time by slowing down CO2 hydrate nucleation. The inhibition effects of anions on CO2 hydrates follow an order of Br- > [NTf2]- > [PF6]-. Besides, the density functional theory and molecular dynamic calculations were conducted to explain the inconsistent influences of [N2 2 2 2]Br and [N4 4 4 4]Br on CO2 hydrate formation. It was found that the anion-cation interaction of [N2 2 2 2]Br was stronger than that of [N4 4 4 4]Br, and Br- in [N2 2 2 2]Br is less likely to participate in the formation of hydrate cages in the [N2 2 2 2]Br + H2O + CO2 system according to the intermolecular anion-water, anion-CO2, and water-water radial distribution function in [N2 2 2 2]Br + H2O + CO2 and [N4 4 4 4]Br + H2O + CO2 systems.

A Review of the Effect of Porous Media on Gas Hydrate Formation.

Most gas hydrates on the earth are in sediments and permafrost areas, and porous media are often used industrially as additives to improve gas hydrate formation. For further understanding its exploration and exploitation under natural conditions and its application in industry, it is necessary to study the effect of porous media on hydrate formation. The results show that the stacked porous media affects the phase equilibrium of hydrate formation depending on the competition water activity and large specific surface areas, while integrated porous media, such as metal foam, can transfer the hydration heat rapidly and moderate the hydrate phase equilibrium. A supersaturated metal-organic framework is able to significantly improve gas storage performance and can be used as a new material to promote hydrate formation. However, the critical particle size should be studied further for approaching the best promotion effect. In addition, together with the kinetic accelerators, porous media has a synergistic effect on gas hydrate formation. The carboxyl and hydroxyl groups on the surface of porous media can stabilize hydrate crystals through hydrogen bonding. However, the hydroxyl radicals on the silica surface inhibit the combination of CH4 and free water, making the phase equilibrium conditions more demanding.

Overexpression of phosphomannomutase increases the production and bioactivities of Ganoderma exopolysaccharides.

In this study, we explored a novel approach to enhancing the production and bioactivities of Ganoderma exopolysaccharides. The homologous phosphomannomutase gene (PMM1) was cloned and overexpressed in Ganoderma for the first time. As a result, the maximum production of exopolysaccharides by the PMM1 transformant was 1.53 g/L, which was 1.41-fold higher than of a wild-type (WT) strain in a 5-L bioreactor. The transcription levels of PMM1 and PMM2 increased 40.5- and 2.4-fold, respectively, whereas the value of the GDP-D-mannose pyrophosphorylase gene did not change significantly in this transgenic strain. Furthermore, the major exopolysaccharide fractions from PMM1 transformants contained higher amounts of mannose (56.5 % and 21.1 %) than those from a WT strain (26.7 % and 9.3 %). Moreover, the major fractions from PMM1 transformants exhibited stronger regulation effects on macrophage. In conclusion, this study is helpful for the efficient production and application of Ganoderma exopolysaccharides and facilitates an understanding of polysaccharide biosynthesis regulation.

Deficiency of PKCλ/ι alleviates the liver pathologic impairment of Schistosoma japonicum infection by thwarting Th2 response.

BACKGROUND: The activation of immune response driven by the eggs of Schistosoma japonicum and the subsequent secretions is the culprit behind granulomatous inflammation and liver fibrosis. Evidence suggests that PKCλ/ι participates in a variety of physiological and pathological processes, including the regulation of metabolism, growth, proliferation and differentiation of cells. However, the role of PKCλ/ι in liver disease caused by Schistosoma japonicum remains unclear. METHODS: In the present study, we observe the pathological changes of egg-induced granulomatous inflammation and fibrosis in the liver of mice infected by Schistosoma japonicum by using conditional PKCλ/ι-knockout mice and wild-type control. Immune cytokines and fibrogenic factors were analyzed by performing flow cytometry and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. RESULTS: The results of H&E and Masson staining show that the degree of granulomatous lesions and fibrosis in the liver of the infected PKCλ/ι-knockout mice was significantly reduced compared with those of the infected wild-type mice. The mean area of single granuloma and hepatic fibrosis in the PKCλ/ι-knockout mice was significantly lower than that of the wild-type mice (85,295.10 ± 5399.30 µm2 vs. 1,433,702.04 ± 16,294.01 µm2, P < 0.001; 93,778.20 ± 8949.05 µm2 vs. 163,103.01 ± 11,103.20 µm2, P < 0.001), respectively. Serological analysis showed that the ALT content was significantly reduced in the infected knockout mice compared with infected wild-type mice. RT-PCR analysis showed that IL-4 content in knockout mice was significantly increased after Schistosoma japonicum infection, yet the increase was less than that in infected wild-type mice (P < 0.05). PKCλ/ι deficiency led to reduced expression of fibrosis-related factors, including TGF-ß1, Col-1, Col-3, α-SMA and liver DAMP factor HMGB1. Flow cytometry analysis showed that the increasing percentage of Th2 cells, which mainly secrete IL-4 cytokines in spleen cells, was significantly lower in PKCλ/ι-deficient mice compared with wild-type mice after infection (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrate that PKCλ/ι deficiency alleviating granulomatous inflammation and fibrosis in the liver of mice with S. japonicum infection by downregulating Th2 immune response is the potential molecular mechanism behind the role of PKCλ/ι in schistosomiasis.

Analysis of Intestinal Microflora and Metabolites From Mice With DSS-Induced IBD Treated With Schistosoma Soluble Egg Antigen.

Objective: This study aimed to analyze the changes in intestinal flora and metabolites in the intestinal contents of mice with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) to preliminarily clarify the mechanism of action of Schistosoma soluble egg antigen (SEA) on IBD, thus, laying a research foundation for the subsequent treatment of IBD. Methods: A total of 40 Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice were divided into four groups: control, SEA 50 µg, dextran sulfate sodium salt (DSS), and SEA 50 µg + DSS. The overall state of the animals was observed continuously during modeling. The colonic length was measured after 10 days of modeling. The degree of colonic inflammation was observed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. 16srRNA and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry sequencing techniques were used to determine the abundance of bacteria and metabolites in the intestinal contents of mice in the DSS and SEA 50 µg + DSS groups, and the differences were further analyzed. Results: After SEA intervention, the disease activity index score of mice with IBD decreased and the colon shortening was reduced. Microscopically, the lymphocyte aggregation, glandular atrophy, goblet cell disappearance, and colonic inflammation were less in the SEA 50 µg + DSS group than in the DSS group (p < 0.0001). After SEA intervention, the abundance of beneficial bacteria prevotellaceae_UCG-001 was upregulated, while the abundance of the harmful bacteria Helicobacter, Lachnoclostridium, and Enterococcus was downregulated in the intestinal tract of mice with IBD. The intestinal metabolite analysis showed that SEA intervention decreased the intestinal contents of glycerophospholipids (lysophosphatidylcholine, lysophosphatidylethanolamine, phatidylcholine, and phatidylethanolamine) and carboxylic acids (L-alloisoleucine and L-glutamate), whereas increased bile acids and their derivatives (3B,7A,12a-trihydroxy-5A-cholanoic acid and 3A,4B, 12a-trihydroxy-5b-cholanoic acid). Combined microbiota-metabolite analysis revealed a correlation between these differential microbiota and differential metabolites. At the same time, the changes in the contents of metabolites and differential metabolites in the two groups also correlated with the abundance of the gut microbiome. Conclusions: The study showed that SEA reduced DSS-induced inflammation in IBD and improved the symptoms of IBD in mice through the combined regulation of intestinal flora and intestinal metabolism. It suggested a potential possibility for the use of SEA in treating and regulating intestinal flora and metabolism in patients with IBD.

Targeted Gene Insertion and Replacement in the Basidiomycete Ganoderma lucidum by Inactivation of Nonhomologous End Joining Using CRISPR/Cas9.

Targeted gene insertion or replacement is a promising genome-editing tool for molecular breeding and gene engineering. Although CRISPR/Cas9 works well for gene disruption and deletion in Ganoderma lucidum, targeted gene insertion and replacement remain a serious challenge due to the low efficiency of homologous recombination (HR) in this species. In this work, we demonstrate that the DNA double-strand breaks induced by Cas9 were mainly repaired via the nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ) pathway, at a frequency of 96.7%. To establish an efficient target gene insertion and replacement tool in Ganoderma, we first inactivated the NHEJ pathway via disruption of the Ku70 gene (ku70) using a dual single guide RNA (sgRNA)-directed gene deletion method. Disruption of the ku70 gene significantly decreased NHEJ activity in G. lucidum. Moreover, ku70 disruption strains exhibited 96.3% and 93.1% frequencies of targeted gene insertion and replacement, respectively, when target DNA with the orotidine 5'-monophosphate decarboxylase (ura3) gene and 1.5-kb homologous 5'- and 3'-flanking sequences was used as a donor template, compared to 3.3% and 0%, respectively, at these targeted sites for a control strain (Cas9 strain). Our results indicated that ku70 disruption strains were efficient recipients for targeted gene insertion and replacement. This tool will advance our understanding of functional genomics in G. lucidum. IMPORTANCE Functional genomic studies in Ganoderma have been hindered by the absence of adequate genome-engineering tools. Although CRISPR/Cas9 works well for gene disruption and deletion in G. lucidum, targeted gene insertion and replacement have remained a serious challenge due to the low efficiency of HR in these species, although such precise genome modifications, including site mutations, site-specific integrations, and allele or promoter replacements, would be incredibly valuable. In this work, we inactivated the NHEJ repair mechanism in G. lucidum by disrupting the ku70 gene using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. Moreover, we established a target gene insertion and replacement method in ku70-disrupted G. lucidum that possessed high-efficiency gene targeting. This technology will advance our understanding of the functional genomics of G. lucidum.

Experiment Investigation of SiO2 Containing Amino Groups as a Kinetic Promoter for CO2 Hydrates.

To diminish the greenhouse effect by reducing CO2 emission into the air based on a capture and sequestration method through hydrates, the thermodynamic and kinetic effects of additives on CO2 hydrate formation under 1.5 MPa in the presence of 5, 6, 8, 10, and 20 wt % RNS-A (reactive SiO2 containing amino groups) were studied, and the stirrer speed was set to 800 rpm. This paper calculated the gas consumption and explained the possible mechanisms of RNS-A on CO2 hydrates. The results showed that RNS-A was a kinetic additive instead of a thermodynamic one. It was found that 5-10 wt % RNS-A all shortened the induction time of hydrates, but only 5 and 6 wt % RNS-A increased the gas consumption of CO2 hydrates. Although we observed the shortest induction time at a 10 wt % RNS-A system, the lowest gas consumption indicated its weak CO2 capture and storage ability. In addition, when the concentration was 6 wt %, RNS-A had the highest gas consumption and its reaction time was relatively short. Considering the induction time and gas consumption, 6 wt % RNS-A was the optimal RNS-A concentration for CO2 capture and sequestration, which was the most suitable for practical applications.

Thermal Properties and Key Groups Evolution of Low-Temperature Oxidation for Bituminous Coal under Lean-Oxygen Environment.

To deeply explore the spontaneous combustion disaster of coal caused by air leakage and oxygen supply, low-temperature coal oxidation experiments under different oxygen concentrations (DOC) were carried out. Within the coal spontaneous combustion characteristic measurement system, a synchronous thermal analyzer (STA) and a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR), the macro laws of gas and heat generation under DOC are analyzed, and the mechanism of the development of coal spontaneous combustion restricted by the lean-oxygen environment is also revealed. The results show that the change of oxygen concentration (OC) does not affect the critical temperature value and gas index change trend, but the lean-oxygen environment reduces the gas concentration and heat production rate very obviously. According to the temperature of the intersection, OC needs to be lowered to less than 5% when preventing spontaneous combustion of coal. The chain thermal reaction lags in the lean-oxygen environment, and the pyrolysis activity is significantly reduced. Meanwhile, the temperature points at T 6 and T 7 show significant differences. Furthermore, with increasing OC and temperature, the content of the aliphatic hydrocarbon presents an overall trend of first increasing, then decreasing, and continuously increasing after stage IV. It is concluded that •OH, aliphatic hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons, and carboxyl groups are the key groups for the coal spontaneous combustion evolution under DOC. To combine the spontaneous combustion reaction of coal in the DOC environment, the reaction path of the index gas in the macroscopic phenomenon and the reason for the concentration differences are revealed, the mechanism for exotherm varies caused by OC is clarified, and the microscopic inhibition affection on the chain reaction within the lean-oxygen environment is also explored. The results put forward the key groups evolution mechanism under the DOC for coal oxidation, which could provide the technical guidance for the fire prevention and control on coal mines.

Effect of the reignition characteristics on long-flame coal by oxidization and water immersion.

After a coal seam is mined, the coal remaining in the goaf is prone to flooding and spontaneous combustion accidents. To explore the reignition (secondary oxidation) characteristics of long-flame coal after oxidation and water immersion, the experimental methods of thermogravimetric analysis and infrared spectroscopy were used to analyze coal samples of oxidation first and then water immersion (FO) and samples of water immersion first and then oxidization (FI) at different pre-oxidation temperatures. The results showed that the content of main oxygen-containing functional groups (hydroxyl, carbonyl, and carboxyl groups) of the FO120 (oxidation 120 °C first and then water immersion) coal sample increased, and the FI 90 (water immersion first and then oxidization 90 °C) coal sample decreased. Pre-oxidation at 120 °C will slow down the decrease in the extent of low-temperature secondary oxidation TG, as the pre-oxidation temperature increases, the total heat release of the FO coal samples first increase and then decrease, and the heat released is high at 120 °C. The FI coal samples transfer active sites during the water immersion process, and the high pre-oxidation temperature leads to the rapid increase of the speed of the primary active site, which leads to the transformation between the secondary active site and the oxygen-containing group, resulting in the cleavage of the oxygen-containing group and increasing the heat production. Water immersion pre-oxidation performed under different conditions has the dual effects of promoting and inhibiting spontaneous coal combustion. This result provides a theoretical basis for preventing spontaneous combustion in coal-mined areas in shallow coal seams after soaking in water.

Are Ionic Liquids Suitable for Suppressing Coal Spontaneous Combustion?

Due to the reported fact that the active functional groups in coal can be dissolved and destroyed by ionic liquids, it is expected that the spontaneous combustion of coal can be affected from a thermodynamic perspective. However, ionic liquids with different thermal stabilities have distinct influences on coal combustion. Here, the thermal stability of long-flame coal in the presence of five pure ionic liquids ([Bmim][BF4], [Bmim][Ac], [Bmim][NO3], [Hoemim][BF4], and [Pmim][BF4]) was analyzed by thermogravimetric analysis, and the flammability of the raw coal, pure ionic liquids, and coal-IL mixtures (mass ratio of 1:1) were tested using a cone calorimeter according to the indexes of the time to ignition (TTI), mass loss rate (MLR), heat release rate (HRR), total heat release rate (THR), specific extinction area (SEA), and CO production. It is shown that the TTIs of mixtures containing coal-[Bmim][BF4], coal-[Hoemim][BF4], and coal-[Pmim][BF4] are relatively long, and the MLR, HRR, THR, and SEA values are relatively low, indicating that these fluorine-containing ionic liquids have a better flame-retardant effect than the other two fluorine-free ones, which may be ascribed to their similar role to halogen inhibitors. In addition, the endothermic process of [Bmim][BF4], [Hoemim][BF4], and [Pmim][BF4] can reduce the temperature of the coal surface and delay the ignition time of coal. In contrast, the TTI of coal-[Bmim][NO3] and coal-[Bmim][Ac] mixtures is much shorter than that of coal alone, and the MLR, HRR, and THR values are larger. This may be caused by the poor thermal stability of the two nonfluorine ionic liquids that began to decompose and release heat prior to coal, providing a large amount of heat for the low-temperature oxidation of coal and thus accelerating coal oxidation and combustion. Although the F-containing ionic liquids show the ability to inhibit spontaneous combustion of coal to some extent, their organic cations are potentially combustible and release large amounts of heat, smoke, and CO under high temperatures.

Highly Stretchable, Tough, Resilient, and Antifatigue Hydrogels Based on Multiple Hydrogen Bonding Interactions Formed by Phenylalanine Derivatives.

Noncovalent cross-linked hydrogels with promising mechanical properties are on demand for applications in tissue engineering, flexible electronics, and actuators. However, integrating excellent mechanical properties with facile preparation for the design of hydrogen bond cross-linked hydrogels is still challenging. In this work, an advanced hydrogel was prepared from acrylamide and N-acryloyl phenylalanine by one-pot free-radical copolymerization. Owing to hydrophobicity-assisted multiple hydrogen bonding interactions among phenylalanine derivatives, the hydrogels exhibited fascinating mechanical behaviors: tensile strength of 0.35 MPa, elongation at break of 2100%, tearing energy of 1134 J/m2, and compression strength of 3.56 MPa. The hydrogels also showed robust elasticity and fatigue resistance, and the compression strength did not show any decline, even after 100 successive cycles, as well as promising self-recovery property. In addition, the cytotoxicity test in vitro proved that the hydrogel showed good biocompatibility with normal human liver cells (LO2 cells). The excellent stretchability, robust elasticity, high toughness, fatigue resistance, and biocompatibility of the hydrogel demonstrated its vast potential in the biomedical field and flexible electronic devices.

Crocin regulates the proliferation and migration of neural stem cells after cerebral ischemia by activating the Notch1 pathway.

INTRODUCTION: To investigate the effects of crocin on proliferation and migration of endogenous neural stem cells and the Notch1 signalling pathway in rats after cerebral ischemia reperfusion. MATERIAL AND METHODS: SD rats were randomly divided into the sham operation group, model group and administration group (crocin). Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO/R) was used to establish the focal cerebral ischemia reperfusion model in rat. After surgical treatment, the treatment group was treated with crocin. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to detect the changes in the expression of Notch1, Bax and bcl-2 proteins in rat endogenous neural stem cells after cerebral ischemia reperfusion. ELISA was used to detect changes in inflammatory factors. Neural stem cells were cultured in vitro, which were divided into: the normal control group, the hypoglycaemic deprivation/reoxygenation group, hypoglycaemic deprivation/reoxygenation group with a low concentration of crocin, and hypoglycaemic deprivation/reoxygenation group with a high concentration of crocin. The cell proliferation assay detects cell activity. The cell migration assay tests the cell migration ability. And flow cytometry was used to determine cell apoptosis. RESULTS: Compared with the sham group, the Notch1 signalling pathway was activated in the model group. The expression of Notch1 in the crocin group was increased compared to the model group. Crocin can inhibit the release of inflammatory factors. The results of our experiments showed that crocin could induce the proliferation and migration of neural stem cells and inhibit the apoptosis of neural stem cells in the hypoglycaemic/reoxygenation model group. CONCLUSIONS: Crocin sufficiently promotes the proliferation and migration of neural stem cells and inhibits the apoptosis of these cells in rats after ischemia-reperfusion by manipulating the Notch signalling pathway.

Experimental Study on Organic Sulfur Removal in Bituminous Coal by a 1-Carboxymethyl-3-methyl Imidazolium Bisulfate Ionic Liquid and Hydrogen Peroxide Solution.

In order to improve the total sulfur removal rate in coal combustion, an acidic ionic liquid (IL) 1-carboxymethyl-3-methylimidazolium hydrogen sulfate ([HOOCCH2mim][HSO4]) as the extractant combined with the oxidant 30% hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was applied to reduce the total sulfur content, and its microscopic mechanism of desulfurization was analyzed. The experimental results show that the desulfurization rate of the [HOOCCH2mim][HSO4]-H2O2 (1:10) solution was 45.12% and the organic sulfur removal rate was 16.26%, which were significantly higher than those of only H2O2 or pure [HOOCCH2mim][HSO4]. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses showed that the mercaptan -SH and disulfide -S-S- in coal decreased after being treated with IL-H2O2. In particular, the results of FTIR spectroscopy indicated that the relative proportion of -S-S-and -SH treated with IL-H2O2 (1:10) decreased by 31.9 and 27.2%, respectively, compared with that of a pure IL. This is due to H2O2 oxidation; -SH and -S-S- were oxidized to sulfoxide and then the sulfoxide transferred from the coal phase to the IL phase, which improved organic sulfur removal from coal. Therefore, the combination of an ionic liquid and H2O2 could increase the total desulfurization rate. In addition, the thermogravimetric analysis of coal is divided into four different stages; the weight loss during the combustion stage and the residues show that the IL-H2O2 could improve the coal combustion because of good previous swelling and destruction of bridge bonds and hydrogen bonding of coal. Besides, the fewer residues in IL-H2O2-treated coals also indicate that a less amount of inorganic substance is left in coal after IL-H2O2 desulfurization, which is consistent with the desulfurization results.

Characteristics for Oxygen-Lean Combustion and Residual Thermodynamics in Coalfield-Fire Zones within Axial Pressure.

Coalfield fires during coal mining have become a major problem in the world today. To effectively prevent such disasters, we established an experimental platform to measure the spontaneous combustion characteristics of large-scale pressurized coal; thermal analysis experiments and microscopic analysis of briquettes under different axial pressures were carried out. It can be seen from the results that when the axial pressure is 4 MPa, the heating rate of the oxidative combustion of coal samples is accelerated, the crossing point temperature is lower (reduced by 71.09 °C), the activation energy is reduced (the second stage is decreased by 21.3 kJ/mol), and the oxidative combustion is more intense. Simultaneously, the porosity evolution process of briquettes under different axial pressures is simulated. Through calculation, it can be seen that the porosity and thermal conductivity show a linear increasing trend. The basis for the increase in the internal oxygen supply channels and increase in oxygen consumption when the axial pressure is 4 MPa is given. Through thermogravimetric-differential scanning calorimetry analysis, it is found that the maximum mass loss rate and maximum mass growth rate of residual coal after combustion under an axial pressure of 4 MPa are low, the residual rate after combustion is large, and the flammability rate is low when reoxidized, while complete combustion oxidation releases more heat. The application of axial pressure will change the combustion characteristics of briquettes, and the promotion effect is more obvious at 4 MPa. Analyzing the laws of the coal-oxygen composite reaction under different axial pressures provides theoretical guidance for the prevention and control of multistress coupling fields in coalfield-fire areas.

UHPLC-MS-Based Metabolomics Analysis Reveals the Process of Schistosomiasis in Mice.

Metabolomics, as an emerging technology, has been demonstrated to be a very powerful tool in the study of the host metabolic responses to infections by parasites. Schistosomiasis is a parasitic infection caused by schistosoma worm via the direct contact with the water containing cercaria, among which Schistosoma japonicum (S. japonicum) is endemic in Asia. In order to characterize the schistosome-induced changes in the host metabolism and further to develop the strategy for early diagnosis of schistosomiasis, we performed comprehensive LC-MS-based metabolomics analysis of serum from mice infected by S. japonicum for 5 weeks. With the developed diagnosis strategy based on our metabolomics data, we were able to successfully detect schistosomiasis at the first week post-infection, which was 3 weeks earlier than "gold standard" methods and 2 weeks earlier than the methods based on 1H NMR spectroscopy. Our metabolomics study revealed that S. japonicum infection induced the metabolic changes involved in a variety of metabolic pathways including amino acid metabolism, DNA and RNA biosynthesis, phospholipid metabolism, depression of energy metabolism, glucose uptake and metabolism, and disruption of gut microbiota metabolism. In addition, we identified seventeen specific metabolites whose down-regulated profiles were closely correlated with the time-course of schistosomiasis progression and can also be used as an indicator for the worm-burdens. Interestingly, the decrease of these seventeen metabolites was particularly remarkable at the first week post-infection. Thus, our findings on mechanisms of host-parasite interaction during the disease process pave the way for the development of an early diagnosis tool and provide more insightful understandings of the potential metabolic process associated with schistosomiasis in mice. Furthermore, the diagnosis strategy developed in this work is cost-effective and is superior to other currently used diagnosis methods.