Octylammonium Iodide Induced in-situ Healing Behavior at Perovskite / Carbon Interface: the "Slow-Release Effect" Caused by Carbon Black Adsorption.

"Perovskite / Carbon" interface has remained a key bottleneck for the hole-conductor-free perovskite solar cells based on carbon-electrode (CPSCs), due to problems like loose physics contact, defects, energy mismatch, poor chemical coupling, etc. A previous study shows that octylammonium iodide (OAI) blending in carbon paste induced a kind of "in-situ healing" effect for "perovskite / carbon" interface, and improved power conversion efficiency from ≈13% to >19%. Here the beneath mechanism is further explored by careful examination of the interaction between OAI molecule and carbon black (CB) nanoparticles. It comes to show that, the famous "CB adsorption" plays a key role during the "healing" processes. Due to CB adsorption behavior, the mass ratio between OAI and CB influences much on the healing effect. By suitably adjusting the mass ratio between OAI and CB, and increasing the light harvest of perovskite, an efficiency of 19.41% is achieved for the hole-conductor-free CPSCs. Device efficiency and the charge-extraction and recombination process are tracked with the storage period, continuous improvement appears for devices assembled by relatively higher CB mass. A kind of "slow-release effect" is revealed during the OAI-induced "in-situ healing" process, which is caused by the famous "CB adsorption" behavior.

Electric manipulation on deformation of ionic ferrofluid sessile droplets.

Active electric-driven droplet manipulation in digital microfluidics constitutes a promising domain owing to the unique and programmable wettability inherent in sessile ionic droplets. The coupling between the electric field and flow field enables precise control over wetting characteristics and droplet morphology. This study delves into the deformation phenomena of ionic sessile ferrofluid droplets in ambient air induced by uniform electric fields. Under the assumption of a pinned mode throughout the process, the deformation is characterized by variations in droplet height and contact angle in response to the applied electric field intensity. A numerical model is formulated to simulate the deformation dynamics of ferrofluid droplets, employing the phase field method for tracking droplet deformation. The fidelity of the numerical outcomes is assessed through the validation process, involving a comparison of droplet geometric deformations with corresponding experimental results. The impact of the electric field on the deformation of dielectric droplets is modulated by parameters such as electric field strength and droplet size. Through meticulously designed experiments, the substantial influence of both field strength and droplet size is empirically verified, elucidating the behavior of ionic sessile droplets. Considering the interplay of electric force, viscous force, and interfacial tension, the heightened field intensity is observed to effectively reduce the contact angle, augment droplet height, and intensify internal droplet flow. Under varying electric field conditions, droplets assume diverse shapes, presenting a versatile approach for microfluidic operations. The outcomes of this research hold significant guiding implications for microfluidic manipulation, droplet handling, and sensing applications.

Cellular localization and potential ligands of a novel scavenger receptor class B/CD36 protein homolog (Pt-SRB2) identified in the marine crab, Portunustrituberculatus.

The scavenger receptor class B family proteins (SRB) are multiligand membrane receptor proteins. Herein, a novel SRB homolog (Pt-SRB2) was identified in Portunus trituberculatus. The open reading frame of Pt-SRB2 was predicted to encode 520 amino acid residues comprising a typical CD36 domain. Phylogenetic analysis showed that Pt-SRB2 distinctly clustered with the SRB homologs of most crustaceans and Drosophila but was separate from all vertebrate CD36/SRB. Semi-quantitative and Real-time quantitative PCR revealed that the abundance of Pt-SRB2 transcripts was the highest in hepatopancreas than in other tested tissues. Overexpressed Pt-SRB2 was distributed primarily in the cell membrane and cytoplasm of HEK293T or Drosophila Schneider 2 cells. In crab hemocytes, Pt-SRB2 was distributed primarily in the cell membrane by immunofluorescence staining. In addition, the immunofluorescence staining showed that green fluorescence signals were mainly located in the inner lumen membrane of the hepatopancreatic tubules. Moreover, solid-phase enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay revealed that rPt-SRB2-L exhibited relative high affinity with lipopolysaccharides, and relative moderate binding affinity with lipoteichoic acid or peptidoglycan. Of note, rPt-SRB2-L showed high binding affinity with eicosapentaenoic acid among a series of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. Taken together, this study provided valuable data for understanding the functions of the crab CD36/SRB.

Implementing advance care planning in palliative and end of life care: a scoping review of community nursing perspectives.

BACKGROUND: Advance care planninganning (ACP) is a priority within palliative care service provision. Nurses working in the community occupy an opportune role to engage with families and patients in ACP. Carers and family members of palliative patients often find ACP discussions difficult to initiate. However, community nurses caring for palliative patients can encourage these discussions, utilising the rapport and relationships they have already built with patients and families. Despite this potential, implementation barriers and facilitators continue to exist. To date, no research synthesis has captured the challenges community nurses face when implementing ACP, nor the facilitators of community nurse-led ACP. Considering this, the review question of: 'What factors contribute to or hinder ACP discussion for nurses when providing care to palliative patients?' was explored. METHOD: To capture challenges and facilitators, a global qualitative scoping review was undertaken in June 2023. The Arksey and O'Malley framework for scoping reviews guided the review methodology. Six databases were searched identifying 333 records: CINAHL (16), MEDLINE (45), PUBMED (195), EMBASE (30), BJOCN (15), IJOPN (32). After de-duplication and title and abstract screening, 108 records remained. These were downloaded, hand searched (adding 5 articles) and subject to a full read. 98 were rejected, leaving a selected dataset of 15 articles. Data extracted into a data extraction chart were thematically analysed. RESULTS: Three key themes were generated: 'Barriers to ACP', 'Facilitators of ACP' and 'Understanding of professional role and duty'. Key barriers were - lack of confidence, competence, role ambiguity and prognostic uncertainty. Key facilitators concerned the pertinence of the patient-practitioner relationship enabling ACP amongst nurses who had both competence and experience in ACP and/or palliative care (e.g., palliative care training). Lastly, nurses understood ACP to be part of their role, however, met challenges understanding the law surrounding this and its application processes. CONCLUSIONS: This review suggests that community nurses' experience and competence are associated with the effective implementation of ACP with palliative patients. Future research is needed to develop interventions to promote ACP uptake in community settings, enable confidence building for community nurses and support higher standards of palliative care via the implementation of ACP.

Multifunctional N, Fe-doped carbon dots with peroxidase-like activity for the determination of H2O2 and ascorbic acid and cell protection against oxidation.

Multifunctional N, Fe-doped carbon dots (N, Fe-CDs) were synthesized by the one-step hydrothermal method using ferric ammonium citrate and dicyandiamide as raw materials. The N, Fe-CDs exhibited peroxidase-like (POD) activity by catalyzing the oxidization of 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) to the green oxidation state ox-TMB in the presence of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Subsequently, based on the POD activity of N, Fe-CDs, an efficient and sensitive colorimetric method for the detection of H2O2 and ascorbic acid (AA) was established with a limit of detection of 0.40 µM and 2.05 µM. The proposed detection method has been successfully applied to detect AA in fruit juice, vitamin C tablets, and human serum samples and has exhibited excellent application prospects in biotechnology and food fields. Furthermore, N, Fe-CDs also showed a protective effect on the cell damage caused by H2O2 and could be used as an antioxidant agent.

Novel Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Reduction Therapies for the Secondary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease.

Background: To date, optimal agents for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) reduction in patients with established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease are still being explored. Thus, we evaluated the efficiency of novel LDL-C-lowering therapies in the secondary prevention of cardiovascular events. Methods: We included randomized clinical trials (RCTs) that explored the effects of different LDL-C lowering agents including alirocumab, evolocumab, and bempedoic acid in adult patients with cardiovascular disease. Several databases were searched from inception through 2022. The safety endpoint includes new-onset diabetes, serious adverse events, and neurocognitive disorders with at least 1 year of follow-up. The efficacy outcomes included composite adverse cardiovascular outcomes, all-cause death, and cardiovascular death. Results: Seven RCTs comprising 53,106 patients were included in this research. Bempedoic acid ranked first in reducing the risk of new-onset diabetes (risk ratio [RR] 0.72, 95% credible interval [CrI] 0.52-0.99) and risk of the composite cardiovascular outcome (RR 0.75, 95% CrI 0.57-0.99). Meta-regression analysis demonstrated that elevated risk of new-onset diabetes was positively correlated with a significant reduction in LDL-C levels (p = 0.03). All treatment agents were associated with a decreased risk of a composite adverse cardiovascular outcome. Conclusions: The present analysis showed that bempedoic acid ranked first in reducing the risk of a composite cardiovascular outcome. In addition, it ranked first in reducing the risk of new-onset diabetes compared with placebo and evolocumab. Our analysis also suggests that the increased risk of new-onset diabetes might be associated with a reduction in LDL-C levels. Besides, the present analysis found that alirocumab ranked first in decreasing all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality.

Effect of bushen tongluo decoction on the ERK/c-Fos signal transduction pathway in rats with bone cancer pain.

Bone cancer pain could lead to pain sensitization. Traditional Chinese Medicine could relieve bone cancer pain (BCP). This study aimed to investigate the analgesic effect of Bushen Tongluo decoction on rats with BCP and its impact on ERK/c-fos pathway in spinal dorsal horn. Cancer cells were injected to induce bone cancer pain rats. Inflammatory factors in serum were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent. ERK/c-Fos in the spinal dorsal horn were detected using western blotting and RT-qPCR. Thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia were observed in BCP rats. The ERK/c-Fos pathway activation was observed in the spinal dorsal horn and the expression of inflammatory cytokines increased in the serum. Bushen Tongluo decoction alleviated inflammatory cytokines and reduced the ERK/c-Fos pathway. We provided evidence that Bushen Tongluo decoction exhibits a potential and beneficial effect on inflammatory cytokines, effectively alleviating allodynia and hyperalgesia in rats with bone cancer. This effect may be attributed to down-regulation of the ERK/c-Fos pathway in spinal dorsal horn and serum inflammatory cytokines.

Comparative transcriptome analysis provides comprehensive insight into the molecular mechanisms of heat adaption in Plutella xylostella.

Plutella xylostella is one of the most destructive pests for cruciferous vegetables, and is adaptability to different environmental stressors. However, we still know little about the molecular mechanisms of how P. xylostella adapt to thermal stress. Here, the comparative transcriptome analysis was conducted from the samples of control (27 °C, CK) and heat treatment (40 °C, 40 T) P. xylostella. The results showed 1253 genes were differentially expressed, with 624 and 629 genes up- and down-regulated respectively. The annotation analysis demonstrated that "Energy production and conversion", "Protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum", "Peroxisome" and "Tyrosine metabolism" pathways were significantly enriched. Additionally, we found the expression levels of heat shock protein genes (Hsps), cuticle related genes and mitochondrial genes were significantly up-regulated in 40 T insects, suggesting their vital roles in improving adaption to heat stress. Importantly, the SOD activity and MDA content of P. xylostella were both identified to be increased under high temperature stress, indicating the elevated antioxidant reactions might be involved in response to heat stress. In conclusion, the present study offered us an overview of gene expression changes after 40 °C treatments, and found some critical pathways and genes of P. xylostella might play the critical roles in resisting heat stress.

Single-Cell Transcriptomics Revealed White Matter Repair Following Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.

Existing research indicates the potential for white matter injury repair during the subacute phase following subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). However, elucidating the role of brain cell subpopulations in the acute and subacute phases of SAH pathogenesis remains challenging due to the cellular heterogeneity of the central nervous system. In this study, single-cell RNA sequencing was conducted on SAH model mice to delineate distinct cell populations. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis was performed to identify involved pathways, and cellular interactions were explored using the CellChat package in R software. Validation of the findings involved a comprehensive approach, including magnetic resonance imaging, immunofluorescence double staining, and Western blot analyses. This study identified ten major brain clusters with cell type-specific gene expression patterns. Notably, we observed infiltration and clonal expansion of reparative microglia in white matter-enriched regions during the subacute stage after SAH. Additionally, microglia-associated pleiotrophin (PTN) was identified as having a role in mediating the regulation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) in SAH model mice, implicating the activation of the mTOR signaling pathway. These findings emphasize the vital role of microglia-OPC interactions might occur via the PTN pathway, potentially contributing to white matter repair during the subacute phase after SAH. Our analysis revealed precise transcriptional changes in the acute and subacute phases after SAH, offering insights into the mechanism of SAH and for the development of drugs that target-specific cell subtypes.

Development of a Novel Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound-Based Nomogram for Superficial Lymphadenopathy Differentiation: Postvascular Phase Value.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to develop and prospectively validate a prediction model for superficial lymphadenopathy differentiation using Sonazoid contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) combined with ultrasound (US) and clinical data. METHODS: The training cohort comprised 260 retrospectively enrolled patients with 260 pathological lymph nodes imaged between January and December 2020. Two clinical US-CEUS models were created using multivariable logistic regression analysis and compared using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis: Model 1 included clinical and US characteristics; Model 2 included all confirmed predictors, including CEUS characteristics. Feature contributions were evaluated using the SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) algorithm. Data from 172 patients were prospectively collected between January and May 2021 for model validation. RESULTS: Age, tumor history, long-axis diameter of lymph node, blood flow distribution, echogenic hilus, and the mean postvascular phase intensity (MPI) were identified as independent predictors for malignant lymphadenopathy. The area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of MPI alone was 0.858 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.817-0.891), 86.47%, 74.55%, and 81.2%, respectively. Model 2 had an AUC of 0.919 (95% CI, 0.879-0.949) and good calibration in training and validation cohorts. The incorporation of MPI significantly enhanced diagnostic capability (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.002 for training and validation cohorts, respectively). Decision curve analysis indicated Model 2 as the superior diagnostic tool. SHAP analysis highlighted MPI as the most pivotal feature in the diagnostic process. CONCLUSION: The employment of our straightforward prediction model has the potential to enhance clinical decision-making and mitigate the need for unwarranted biopsies.

Suppression of CGRP and TRPV1 Expression in Dorsal Root Ganglia of Knee Osteoarthritis Rats by Huojing Decoction via TrkA/MKK3/6/p38 Pathway.

Objective: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a chronic condition characterized by persistent pain that can lead to severe disability. In this study, we primarily investigated the analgesic effect of Huojing decoction on MIA-induced knee arthritis. Methods: The network pharmacology method was employed to acquire target information of Huojing decoction and KOA. MIA was intratibially injected to induce KOA pain in rats. Huojing decoction was then administered once daily via intragastric administration for 14 days. Pain level was assessed by paw withdrawal threshold (PWT) and paw withdrawal latency (PWL). The levels of inflammatory cytokines were determined by ELISA and PCR. TRPV1 and CGRP were detected through immunohistochemistry. The protein expression of TrkA, MKK3/6 and p38 was assessed by Western blot. Results: Mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia were observed in KOA rats. The expression levels of inflammatory cytokines were significantly decreased after Huojing decoction infusion of KOA rats. TRPV1 and CGRP were reduced with treatment. Furthermore, the protein expressions of TrkA, MKK3/6 and p38 in the DRG of rats were significantly decreased. Conclusion: Our data suggested that Huojing decoction can alleviate inflammation in KOA pain rats. Additionally, it can inhibit the expression of TrKA, MKK3/6 and p38 signaling pathways, indicating its analgesic effect on KOA pain rats.

Nucleic Acid Plate Culture: Label-Free and Naked-Eye-Based Digital Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification in Hydrogel with Machine Learning.

Digital nucleic acid amplification enables the absolute quantification of single molecules. However, due to the ultrasmall reaction volume in the digital system (i.e., short light path), most digital systems are limited to fluorescence signals, while label-free and naked-eye readout remain challenging. In this work, we report a digital nucleic acid plate culture method for label-free, ultrasimple, and naked-eye nucleic acid analysis. As simple as the bacteria culture, the nanoconfined digital loop-mediated isothermal amplification was performed by using polyacrylamide (PAM) hydrogel as the amplification matrix. The nanoconfinement of PAM hydrogel with an ionic polymer chain can remarkably accelerate the amplification of target nucleic acids and the growth of inorganic byproducts, namely, magnesium pyrophosphate particles (MPPs). Compared to that in aqueous solutions, MPPs trapped in the hydrogel with enhanced light scattering characteristics are clearly visible to the naked eye, forming white "colony" spots that can be simply counted in a label-free and instrument-free manner. The MPPs can also be photographed by a smartphone and automatically counted by a machine-learning algorithm to realize the absolute quantification of antibiotic-resistant pathogens in diverse real samples.

Molecular features and clinical outcomes of EGFR-mutated, MET-amplified non-small-cell lung cancer after resistance to dual-targeted therapy.

Background: Some studies of dual-targeted therapy (DTT) targeting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) have shown promising efficacy in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Consequently, patient management following DTT resistance has gained significance. However, the underlying resistance mechanisms and clinical outcomes in these patients remain unclear. Objectives: This study aimed to delineate the molecular characteristics and survival outcomes of patients with NSCLC harboring EGFR mutations and acquired MET amplification after developing resistance to DTT. Design: We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients with NSCLC with EGFR mutations and acquired MET amplification who exhibited resistance to EGFR/MET DTT. Methods: Next-generation sequencing (NGS) was performed on patients with available tissue samples before and/or after the development of resistance to DTT. Stratified analyses were carried out based on data sources and subsequent salvage treatments. Univariate/multivariate Cox regression models and survival analyses were employed to explore potential independent prognostic factors. Results: The study included 77 NSCLC patients, with NGS conducted on 19 patients. We observed many resistance mechanisms, including EGFR-dependent pathways (4/19, 21.1%), MET-dependent pathways (2/19, 10.5%), EGFR/MET co-dependent pathways (2/19, 10.5%), and EGFR/MET-independent resistance mechanisms (11/19, 57.9%). Post-progression progression-free survival (pPFS) and post-progression overall survival (pOS) significantly varied among patients who received the best supportive care (BSC), targeted therapy, or chemotherapy (CT), with median pPFS of 1.5, 3.9, and 4.9 months, respectively (p = 0.003). Median pOS were 2.3, 7.7, and 9.2 months, respectively (p < 0.001). The number of treatment lines following DTT resistance and the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status emerged as the independent prognostic factors. Conclusion: This study revealed a heterogeneous landscape of resistance mechanisms to EGFR/MET DTT, with a similar prevalence of on- and off-target mechanisms. Targeted therapy or CT, as compared to BSC, exhibited the potential to improve survival outcomes for patients with advanced NSCLC following resistance to DTT.

The NLRP3 inhibitor, OLT1177 attenuates brain injury in experimental intracerebral hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: It has been reported activation of NLRP3 inflammasome after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) ictus exacerbates neuroinflammation and brain injury. We hypothesized that inhibition of NLRP3 by OLT1177 (dapansutrile), a novel NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitor, could reduce brain edema and attenuate brain injury in experimental ICH. METHODS: ICH was induced by injection of autologous blood into basal ganglia in mice models. Sixty-three C57Bl/6 male mice were randomly grouped into the sham, vehicle, OLT1177 (Dapansutrile, 200 mg/kg intraperitoneally) and treated for consecutive three days, starting from 1 h after ICH surgery. Behavioral test, brain edema, brain water content, blood-brain barrier integrity and vascular permeability, cell apoptosis, and NLRP3 and its downstream protein levels were measured. RESULTS: OLT1177 significantly reduced cerebral edema after ICH and contributed to the attenuation of neurological deficits. OLT1177 could preserve blood-brain barrier integrity and lessen vascular leakage. In addition, OLT1177 preserved microglia morphological shift and significantly inhibited the activation of caspase-1 and release of IL-1ß. We also found that OLT1177 can protect against neuronal loss in the affected hemisphere. CONCLUSIONS: OLT1177 (dapansutrile) could significantly attenuate the brain edema after ICH and effectively alleviate the neurological deficit. This result suggests that the novel NLRP3 inhibitor, OLT1177, might serve as a promising candidate for the treatment of ICH.

Global trends in colorectal cancer and metabolic syndrome research: a bibliometric and visualization analysis.

Numerous studies have demonstrated a robust correlation between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and colorectal cancer (CRC). Nonetheless, no systematic analysis or visualization of relevant publications has been conducted via bibliometrics. This research, centred on 616 publications obtainable through the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC), employed CiteSpace software and VOSviewer software for correlation analyses of authors, journals, institutions, countries, keywords, and citations. The findings indicate that the Public Library of Science had the highest number of publications, while the United States, China, and South Korea were the most contributory nations. Recent years have seen the mechanisms linking Metabolic Syndrome with Colorectal Cancer, including diet, obesity, insulin resistance, and intestinal flora, remain a burgeoning research area. Furthermore, bariatric surgery appears to be a promising new area of study. This paper presents the initial bibliometric and visualization analysis of research literature concerning CRC and MetS which examines research trends and hotspots.

Promotion of ROS-mediated apoptosis, G2/M arrest, and autophagy by naringenin in non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: As lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide, the development of new medicines is a crucial endeavor. Naringenin, a flavanone derivative, possesses anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties and has been reported to have cytotoxic effects on various cancer cells. The current study investigated the underlying molecular mechanism by which naringenin induces cell death in lung cancer. Methods: The expression of apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, and autophagy markers in H1299 and A459 lung cancer cells was evaluated using a terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay (TUNEL), Western blot, Annexin V/PI stain, PI stain, acridine orange staining, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Using fluorescence microscopy, DALGreen was used to observe the degradation of p62, a GFP-LC3 plasmid was used to evaluate puncta formation, and a pcDNA3-GFP-LC3-RFP-LC3ΔG plasmid was used to evaluate autophagy flux. Furthermore, the anti-cancer effect of naringenin was evaluated in a subcutaneous H1299 cell xenograft model. Results: Naringenin treatment of lung cancer cells (H1299 and A459) reduced cell viability and induced cell cycle arrest. Pretreatment of cells with ROS scavengers (N-acetylcysteine or catalase) suppressed the naringenin-induced cleavage of apoptotic protein and restored cyclin-dependent kinase activity. Naringenin also triggered autophagy by mediating ROS generation, thereby activating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling. ROS inhibition not only inhibited naringenin-induced autophagic puncta formation but also decreased the ratio of microtubule-associated proteins 1A/1B light chain 3 II (LC3II)/LC3I and activity of the AMPK signaling pathway. Furthermore, naringenin suppressed tumor growth and promoted apoptosis in the xenograft mouse model. Conclusion: This study demonstrated the potent anti-cancer effects of naringenin on lung cancer cells, thereby providing valuable insights for developing small-molecule drugs that can induce cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and autophagic cell death.

Exploring keratin composition variability for sustainable thermal insulator design.

In pursuing sustainable thermal insulation solutions, this study explores the integration of human hair and feather keratin with alginate. The aim is to assess its potential in thermal insulation materials, focusing on the resultant composites' thermal and mechanical characteristics. The investigation uncovers that the type and proportion of keratin significantly influence the composites' porosity and thermal conductivity. Specifically, higher feather keratin content is associated with lesser sulfur and reduced crosslinking due to shorter amino acids, leading to increased porosity and pore sizes. This, in turn, results in a decrease in ß-structured hydrogen bond networks, raising non-ordered protein structures and diminishing thermal conductivity from 0.044 W/(m·K) for pure alginate matrices to between 0.033 and 0.038 W/(m·K) for keratin-alginate composites, contingent upon the specific ratio of feather to hair keratin used. Mechanical evaluations further indicate that composites with a higher ratio of hair keratin exhibit an enhanced compressive modulus, ranging from 60 to 77 kPa, demonstrating the potential for tailored mechanical properties to suit various applications. The research underscores the critical role of sulfur content and the crosslinking index within keratin's structures, significantly impacting the thermal and mechanical properties of the matrices. The findings position keratin-based composites as environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional insulation materials.

Compounds from Agathis dammara exert hypoglycaemic activity by enhancing glucose uptake: lignans, terpenes and others.

In this study, two new kaurane diterpenes (16, 17), together with 12 lignans (1-12), a triterpene (15), and two other compounds (13, 14) were isolated from the woods of Agathis dammara. The structure of the new compound was determined by HR ESIMS and 1D/2D NMR spectroscopy, and its absolute configuration was determined by electronic circular dichroism (ECD) exciton chirality method. Compounds 5, 11, 14 exhibit significant hypoglycaemic activity in zebrafish, and their mechanism of action is to enhance glucose uptake in zebrafish.

Hinokione: an abietene diterpene with pancreatic ß cells regeneration and hypoglycemic activity, and other derivatives with novel structures from the woods of Agathis dammara.

In this study, 14 abietene and pimarene diterpenoids were isolated from the woods of Agathis dammara. Among them, 4 new compounds, dammarone A-C and dammaric acid A (1-4), were firstly reported, respectively. The structure of the new compounds was determined by HR ESI-MS and 1D/2D NMR spectroscopy, and their absolute configuration was determined by electronic circular dichroism (ECD) exciton chirality method. The hypoglycemic effect of all compounds was evaluated by transgenic zebrafish model, and the structure-activity relationship was discussed. Hinokione (7, HO) has low toxicity and significant hypoglycemic effects on zebrafish, the mechanism is mainly by promoting the differentiation of zebrafish pancreatic endocrine precursor cells (PEP cells) into ß cells, thereby promoting the regeneration of pancreatic ß cells.

A comprehensive study on solvent effect and establishment of n-hexane solvent system based normal-phase liquid chromatography × reversed-phase liquid chromatography for isolation of natural products.

Reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) represents an effective separation method, and is widely employed as the second dimension in most 2D-LC systems. Nevertheless, the solvent effect of the eluent from the first dimension on RPLC presents a challenge to the online coupling of RPLC with other separation modes, particularly normal phase liquid chromatography (NPLC). To address this issue, a comprehensive understanding of the solvent effect is essential. Following a comprehensive investigation into the influence of diverse solvents on RPLC separations, it was observed that alkane solvents, such as n-hexane, exhibited a pronounced tendency to be retained during RPLC separations. Such solvents do not affect the analysis of samples with weaker retention abilities than themselves, even when a large injection volume is used. The solvent effect was thus reduced by employing n-hexane-based solvent dilution. Leveraging the markedly enhanced solvent tolerance and extensive injection volume in RPLC, a versatile integration of the NPLC and RPLC was devised, necessitating merely a purge pump and a 10 port 2 position valve in conjunction with two sample loops. The novel 2D-LC system was then deployed for the analysis of propolis, a naturally occurring complex sample, and demonstrated remarkable separation efficiency.