Serum HMGB-1 released by ferroptosis and necroptosis as a novel potential biomarker for systemic lupus erythematosus.

High mobility group box proterin-1 (HMGB-1) is a multifunctional protein that can be released by various programmed cell deaths (PCDs), such as necroptosis and ferroptosis. PCDs play a critical role in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, the role of HMGB-1 in the process of SLE remains unclear. This study aims to demonstrate the potential diagnosing role of serum HMGB-1 in SLE that released by necroptosis and ferroptosis. We found that the serum levels of HMGB-1, receptor-interacting protein kinase 3 (RIPK3) /mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein (MLKL) related with necroptosis, and metabolites associated with ferroptosis were significantly upregulated in SLE patients compared to HC individuals. These serum levels were positively correlated with SLE disease activity. Additionally, the serum level of HMGB-1 showed a strong positive correlated with the levels of RIPK3/MLKL and ferroptosis metabolites. Moreover, the serum level of HMGB-1 was correlated with renal involvement and high-antinuclear antibodies (ANA) titer. After SLE serum and interferon γ (IFN-γ) treatment in vitro, the level of necroptosis and ferroptosis markers were activated and HMGB1 was released both in HEK293 and HK2 cells. Clinically, HMGB-1 was considered as a significant independent risk factor in SLE serum by binary logistic assay. Notably, HMGB-1 exhibited outstanding diagnostic ability for SLE by the area under the curve (AUC) in receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Taken together, our study indicates that the serum level of HMGB-1 is a promising biomarker for the diagnosis and monitoring of SLE.

Plasma Chemical Looping: Unlocking High-Efficiency CO2 Conversion to Clean CO at Mild Temperatures.

We propose a plasma chemical looping CO2 splitting (PCLCS) approach that enables highly efficient CO2 conversion into O2-free CO at mild temperatures. PCLCS achieves an impressive 84% CO2 conversion and a 1.3 mmol g-1 CO yield, with no O2 detected. Crucially, this strategy significantly lowers the temperature required for conventional chemical looping processes from 650 to 1000 °C to only 320 °C, demonstrating a robust synergy between plasma and the Ce0.7Zr0.3O2 oxygen carrier (OC). Systematic experiments and density functional theory (DFT) calculations unveil the pivotal role of plasma in activating and partially decomposing CO2, yielding a mixture of CO, O2/O, and electronically/vibrationally excited CO2*. Notably, these excited CO2* species then efficiently decompose over the oxygen vacancies of the OCs, with a substantially reduced activation barrier (0.86 eV) compared to ground-state CO2 (1.63 eV), contributing to the synergy. This work offers a promising and energy-efficient pathway for producing O2-free CO from inert CO2 through the tailored interplay of plasma and OCs.

A systematic theoretical study of CO2 hydrogenation towards methanol on Cu-based bimetallic catalysts: role of the CHO&CH3OH descriptor in thermodynamic analysis.

The application of density functional theory (DFT) has enriched our understanding of methanol synthesis through CO2 hydrogenation on Cu-based catalysts. However, variations in catalytic performance under different metal doping conditions have hindered the development of universal catalytic principles. To address these challenges, we systematically investigated the scaling relationships of adsorption energy among different reaction intermediates on pure Cu, Au-Cu, Ni-Cu, Pt-Cu, Pd-Cu and Zn-Cu models. Additionally, by summing the respective adsorption energies of two separate species, we have developed a dual intermediate descriptor of CHO&CH3OH, capable of achieving computational accuracy on par with DFT results using the multiple linear regression method, all the while enabling the rapid prediction of thermodynamic properties at various stages of methanol synthesis. This method facilitates a better understanding of the coupling mechanisms between energy and linear expressions on copper-based substrates, and the universal linear criterion can be applied to other catalytic systems, with the aim of pursuing potential catalysts having both high efficiency and low cost.

Controlled Synthesis of Triangular Submicron-Sized CeO2 and Its Polishing Performance.

CeO2 is widely used in the field of chemical-mechanical polishing for integrated circuits. Morphology, particle size, crystallinity, and Ce3+ concentration are crucial factors that affect polishing performance. In this study, we successfully synthesized two novel triangular CeO2 abrasives with similar particle sizes (600 nm) but different morphologies and Ce3+ concentrations using a microwave-assisted hydrothermal method with high-concentration raw materials, and no surfactants or template agents were added. It is generally believed that CeO2 with a higher Ce3+ concentration leads to better polishing performance. However, the results of polishing indicate that CeO2 synthesized at 200 °C, despite its lower Ce3+ concentration, demonstrates outstanding polishing performance, achieving a polishing rate of 324 nm/min, and the Sa of Si wafers decreased by 3.6% after polishing. This suggests that, under similar particle size conditions, the morphology of CeO2 plays a dominant role in the mechanical effects during the polishing process. Additionally, compared to commercial polishing slurries, the synthesized samples demonstrated better polishing performance. This indicates that, in CMP, the pursuit of smaller spherical abrasives may not be necessary. Instead, the appropriate shape and particle size can better balance the material removal rate and surface roughness.

Combined DFT and Machine Learning Study of the Dissociation and Migration of H in Pyrrole Derivatives.

Systematic DFT calculations of model coal-pyrrole derivatives substituted by different functional groups are carried out. The N-H bond dissociation energies (N-H BDEs) and H-transfer activation energies (H-TAEs) of pyrrole derivatives are fully evaluated to elucidate the effect of the type of substituents and their position on the molecular reactivity. The results indicate that compounds substituted with electron-donating groups (EDGs) are more prone to pyrolysis while those substituted with electron-withdrawing groups (EWGs) are difficult to pyrolyze. Furthermore, quantitative structure-property relationship (QSPR) models for N-H BDEs and H-TAEs about pyrrole derivatives are built with multiple linear regression (MLR) and support vector machine (SVM). The final results show that the SVM-QSPR model has better fitness, prediction, and robustness, while the MLR-QSPR model can express the physical meaning better. The effects of functional groups on pyrolysis are clarified by the models presented in this paper, which will support the optimization of ultra-low NOx combustion.

Snail-inspired AFG/GelMA hydrogel accelerates diabetic wound healing via inflammatory cytokines suppression and macrophage polarization.

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are a severe and rapidly growing diabetic complication, but treating DFUs remains a challenge for the existing therapies are expensive and highly non-responsive. Recently, we discovered that a natural adhesive from snail mucus can promote skin wound healing. Herein, inspired by the finding, we developed a double-network hydrogel biomaterial that composed of snail glycosaminoglycan (AFG) and methacrylated gelatin (GelMA), in which AFG is the main bioactive component of snail mucus and GelMA provides a scaffold mimicking the proteins in snail mucus. The biomimetic hydrogel exhibited strong tissue adhesion, potent anti-inflammatory activity, and excellent biocompatibility. The biodegradable AFG/GelMA hydrogel markedly promoted chronic wound healing in both STZ-induced type 1 diabetic rat and db/db mouse models after a single treatment. Further mechanistic research showed that the hydrogel significantly attenuated inflammation by sequestrating pro-inflammatory cytokines, as well as downregulated their expression by inhibiting NF-ĸB signaling pathway, and it can also promote macrophage polarization to M2 phenotype. Taken together, the bioinspired hydrogel can effectively promote the transition of chronic wounds from inflammation to proliferation stage. These data suggest that the AFG/GelMA hydrogel is a promising therapeutic biomaterial for the treatment of chronic diabetic wounds.

Comparison of the characterization of allergenic protein 3 (Pla a3) released from Platanus pollen grains collected in Shanghai during the spring of 2019 and 2020.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, large-scale industrial production has been stagnant and reduced, the urban air quality has been greatly improved. It provided an excellent opportunity to explore the effects of air pollutants on the sensitization of pollen allergen proteins in the environment. Platanus pollen grains sampled in the spring of 2019 and 2020 were used for detailed characterization and analysis. Scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared, X-ray spectroscopy (XPS), trypan blue staining, and western blot analysis were employed to characterize Platanus pollen protein released from pollen grains. Our data showed that the viability of the pollen grains in 2019 was lower compared that in 2020, and the pollen grains collected in 2019 had a higher absorption peak of protein functional groups. The XPS spectra assay result demonstrated that the binding energy of the high-resolution components had not variation on the surface of pollen grains, but relative content of nitrogen and peptide chain in the pollen grains sampled in 2019 were higher than in 2020. These results suggested that more protein in the pollen grains was released onto the surface of pollen grains. In addition, western blot assay showed that the expression of Pla a3 protein in pollen grains sampled in 2019 was significantly higher than that in 2020, revealing that air pollutants could enhance the expression of Pla a3 proteins in Platanus pollen. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10453-021-09731-6.

Characterization of allergenicity of Platanus pollen allergen a 3 (Pla a 3) after exposure to NO2 and O3.

Pollen allergens, widely present in the atmosphere, are the main cause of seasonal respiratory diseases that affect millions of people worldwide. Although previous studies have reported that nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and ozone (O3) promote pollen allergy, the specific biological processes and underlying mechanisms remain less understood. In this study, Platanus pollen grains were exposed to gaseous pollutants (NO2 and O3). We employed environmental electron microscopy, flow cytometry, western blot assay, enzyme-linked immunoassay, ultraviolet absorption spectrometry, circular dichroism, and protein mass spectrometry to characterise the subpollen particles (SPPs) released from pollen grains. Furthermore, we determined the immunogenicity and pathogenicity induced by Platanus pollen allergen a 3 (Pla a 3). Our results demonstrated that NO2 and O3 could damage the pollen cell membranes in SPPs and increase the amount of Pla a 3 allergen released into the atmosphere. Additionally, NO2 and O3 altered the structure of Pla a3 protein through nitrification and oxidation, which not only enhanced the immunogenicity of allergens but also increased the stability of the protein. In vivo analysis using an animal model indicated that NO2 and O3 greatly aggravated pollen-induced pneumonia. Thus, our study provides guidance for the prevention of pollen allergic diseases.

Soluble Fe release from iron-bearing clay mineral particles in acid environment and their oxidative potential.

Soluble iron from atmospheric aerosol particles has toxicological effects on ambient environment due to their oxidative potential. However, the dissolution process and factors affecting this process are poorly understood. In this study, by solid phase characterization and aqueous dissolution experiments, we investigated the influence of acids, including HCl, H2SO4 and HNO3, and H+ concentration on iron dissolution rate, solubility and speciation of iron in chlorite, illite, kaolinite and pyrite. The dissolution of iron-bearing clay minerals, i.e. chlorite, illite and kaolinite, was a multi-stage process with a rapid rate in the initial stage and then decreasing rate in the following stages. In contrast, the regularly crystallized pyrite proceeded with an extremely rapid dissolution rate at very beginning and then remained almost constant. In all acid solutions, the dissolution rate was in the order of pyrite > illite > chlorite > kaolinite. H2SO4 was stronger than HCl and HNO3 in the destruction of mineral structures to release iron, while HNO3 dissolved more iron in pyrite (FeS2). High H+ concentration easily destroyed the mineral structures to release the structural or interlayer iron, whereas low H+ concentration increased the proportion of Fe (II) in clay minerals. Non-linear fitting of continuous dissolution models showed that the iron dissolution rates and iron redox speciation as functions of time were well predicted, with r2 > 0.99 for chlorite and illite, and r2 > 0.96 for kaolinite. Oxidative potential analysis proved that the dissolved iron possessed a considerable potential to generate reactive oxygen species.

A New Class of Glucosyl Thioureas: Synthesis and Larvicidal Activities.

A novel series of glucosyl thioureas were synthesized in good overall yields (up to 37% over four steps) from d-glucose and primary amines, and their larvicidal activities toward Mythimna separata Walker were also investigated. This new class of glucosyl thioureas demonstrated low to moderate growth inhibition activity of Mythiman separata Walker, with a growth inhibitory rate of up to 47.5% at a concentration of 100.0 mg/L in acetone.