High-efficient electrooxidation of ethylene glycol and ethanol on PdSn alloy loaded by versatile poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene).

Developing a novel catalyst with lower noble-metal loading and higher catalytic efficiency is significant for promoting the widespread application of direct alcohol fuel cells (DAFCs). In this work, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) supported the PdSn alloy (PdSn/PEDOT) were simply synthesized and their electrocatalytic performance toward the oxidation of ethylene glycol and ethanol (EGOR and EOR) were investigated in alkaline media, respectively. In comparison with other control catalysts, the optimized Pd4Sn6/PEDOT catalyst exhibits the highest mass activity (7125/4166 mA mgPd-1) and specific activity (26/15 mA cm-2) towards EGOR/EOR. The mass activity of Pd4Sn6/PEDOT for EGOR and EOR are 11.9 and 10.9 times higher than commercial Pd/C, respectively. Moreover, chronoamperometry (CA) and successive cyclic voltammetry (CV) tests show that the CO resistance ability and durability of the Pd4Sn6/PEDOT catalyst were superior to Pd4Sn6, Pd/PEDOT and commercial Pd/C catalysts, which can be attributed to the d-band center of Pd can be effectively downshifted and the interface strain effect between electrons caused by the conjugated structure between PEDOT groups. This work provides an effective strategy for the development of highly efficient anode catalysts of DAFCs.

Why Cannot I Stop Phubbing? Boredom Proneness and Phubbing: A Multiple Mediation Model.

Background: With the popularity of smartphone and their increasingly rich functions, people's attachment to their phones is increasing. While people enjoy the convenience that smartphone bring (eg, accessing information and socializing), it also leads to problematic smartphone use (eg, phubbing). Previous research has shown that boredom proneness can trigger phubbing. However, the underlying psychological mechanisms are not yet clear. Methods: To address this research gap, we surveyed 556 Chinese college students (Mage = 18.89 years, SD = 1.18) during the COVID-19 pandemic and all participants completed a self-report questionnaire. Drawing the Interaction of Person-Affect-Cognition-Execution model (I-PACE) for addictive behaviors, this study developed and examined a multiple mediation model incorporating boredom proneness, loneliness, fear of missing out (FoMO), and phubbing. Results: (1) Boredom proneness could positively predict phubbing; (2) loneliness and FoMO mediated the relationship between boredom proneness and phubbing, respectively; and (3) loneliness and FoMO sequentially mediated the relationship between boredom proneness and phubbing. Conclusion: These findings are not only valuable for understanding the underlying mechanisms linking boredom proneness and phubbing, but also suggest that three types of interventions could be effectively used to decrease the risk of phubbing among college students, namely, reducing boredom proneness, relieving loneliness, and decreasing FoMO.

Experimental Study on Spontaneous Imbibition of Coal Samples of Different Ranks Based on the NMR Relaxation Spectrum.

The comprehension of the mechanisms governing spontaneous water imbibition in gas-water systems plays a significant role in the operation of hydraulic fracturing and the development of coalbed methane (CBM). In this study, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques were used to investigate the pore structure and fluid behavior of different rank coal samples during spontaneous imbibition. Analyses were conducted on the 1D NMR T2 spectrum, 2D NMR T1-T2 spectrum, and layer division T2 spectra to achieve accurate and detailed information about the internal pore structure of coal and the characteristics of fluid transport during spontaneous imbibition. Low-rank coal exhibits good pore connectivity and favorable pore sorting characteristics, indicating favorable reservoir conditions. High-rank coal has larger pore spaces and highly developed micropores, which are highly beneficial for gas adsorption. However, its poor pore sorting characteristics and connectivity limit the migration and diffusion of fluids within the reservoir. The imbibition capacity follows a specific order of contribution, with small pores (10-50 nm) having the most significant role, followed by micropores (2-10 nm), ultramicropores (r < 2 nm), mesopores (50-1000 nm), macropores (1000-10,000 nm), and microfractures (r ≥ 10,000 nm). Low-rank coal stands out due to the restricted development of ultramicropores and small pores, leading to a different contribution of imbibition capacity compared to other samples, where macropores and microfractures dominate over all pore types. The coal reservoirs with favorable pore sorting characteristics and pore connectivity tend to exhibit a tendency toward rapid saturation and attainment of a prompt stable state during the hydraulic fracturing process. Finally, the mechanism of the late retreat effect of imbibition and the laws governing different coal ranks, pore structures, and fluid transport were discussed. This study offers comprehensive analyses of the mechanism of coal spontaneous imbibition and the characteristic laws of fluid seepage, providing insights into the optimization of CBM recovery and reservoir management.

Effects of Supercritical CO2 on the Pore Structure Complexity of High-Rank Coal with Water Participation and the Implications for CO2 ECBM.

To reveal how mineral changes affect a coal pore structure in the presence of water, an autoclave was used to carry out the supercritical CO2 (ScCO2)-H2O-coal interaction process. To reveal the changes in pore complexity, mercury intrusion capillary pressure (MICP), low-pressure nitrogen adsorption, CO2 adsorption, and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) experiments were combined with fractal theory. The experimental data of MICP show that the MICP data are meaningful only for the pore fractal dimension with pore sizes >150 nm. Therefore, the pores were classified into the classes >150, 2-150, and <2 nm. The results show that the pore volume and specific surface area of the coal increased significantly after the reaction. ScCO2-H2O can cause the formation of many new pores and fractures in the coal. The presence of H2O may increase the potential for the injection of CO2 into the coal seam. The complete dissolution of calcite surfaces caused a significant increase in the pore volume and specific surface area of the pores >150 nm. The morphologies of these pores are controlled by the morphologies of the complete dissolution carbonate particles. The pore morphologies were relatively uniform, and the fractal dimensions decreased. However, the incomplete dissolution of calcite leads to irregular variations in the morphologies for the pores in the 2-150 nm pore size range. The pore morphologies that are produced by incompletely dissolved calcite particles are more complex, which increases the fractal dimensions after the reaction. The fractal dimensions of the pores <2 nm decreased after the reaction, indicating that the newly generated micropores were more uniform and had regular pore morphologies.

Materialism and envy as mediators between upward social comparison on social network sites and online compulsive buying among college students.

Upward social comparison on Social Network Sites (SNS) might be positively related to online compulsive buying; however, there is little understanding of the mechanism of this relationship. In this study, we explored the effect of upward social comparison on SNS on online compulsive buying, and whether this effect is mediated by materialism and envy. A total of 568 Chinese undergraduates (mean age = 19.58 years, SD = 1.43) were recruited to complete a survey that included Upward social comparison on SNS Scale, Materialism Scale, Envy Scale, and Online compulsive buying Scale. The results revealed that upward social comparison was positively linked to online compulsive buying. Additionally, materialism and envy completely mediated this relationship. Our findings suggest that upward social comparison has a positive influence on college students' online compulsive buying and that this influence is formed through a combination of cognitive factors (materialism) and affective factors (envy). This discovery not only clarifies the underlying mechanism but also proposes a potential way of alleviating online compulsive buying.

Growth hormone receptor promotes breast cancer progression via the BRAF/MEK/ERK signaling pathway.

Growth hormone receptor (GHR), a member of the class I cytokine receptor family, plays key roles in cancer progression. Recently, GHR has been reported to be associated with breast cancer development, but the molecular mechanism of GHR in this malignancy is not fully understood. To investigate this issue, we stably inhibited GHR in breast cancer cell lines, which were observed to reduce cell proliferation, tumor growth and induction of apoptosis, and arrest the cell-cycle arrest at the G1-S phase transition. In addition, GHR silencing suppressed the protein levels of B-Raf proto-oncogene, serine/threonine kinase (BRAF), Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) and Extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK). These findings suggest that GHR may mediate breast cell progression and apoptosis through control of the cell cycle via the BRAF/MEK/ERK signaling pathway.

Ice-interface assisted large-scale preparation of polypyrrole/graphene oxide films for all-solid-state supercapacitors.

In this paper, large-scale, self-standing polypyrrole/graphene oxide (PPy/GO) nanocomposite films were prepared by an environmentally friendly and easy-to-operate confined polymerization method, and were also assembled as electrode materials for symmetric all-solid-state supercapacitors. In this paper, large-scale, self-standing polypyrrole/graphene oxide (PPy/GO) nanocomposite films were prepared by an environmentally friendly and easy-to-operate confined polymerization method, and were also assembled as electrode materials for symmetric all-solid-state supercapacitors. The morphology, chemical structure and electrochemical property were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), respectively. The lamellar structure of GO and both strong interaction with ice and pyrrole could promote polymerization of pyrrole and improve the compactness of the film. With the aid of GO, the conjugation length of PPy increased, the resistance of the material decreased, and the electrochemical energy storage of the composite film was significantly enhanced. In the case of 2.5 wt% GO, the prepared PPy/GO nanocomposite supercapacitor exhibited a high area specific capacitance of 97.3 mF cm-2 at 1 mA cm-2. Furthermore, the PPy/GO film supercapacitor also showed excellent cycling stability and good flexibility.

Bio-Based Coating Materials Derived from Acetoacetylated Soybean Oil and Aromatic Dicarboxaldehydes.

Bio-based coating materials were prepared from epoxidized soybean oil as a renewable source. Acetoacetylated soybean oil was synthesized by the ring-opened and transesterification reaction of epoxidized soybean oil, and its chemical structure was characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), and rheometric viscosity analyses. On the basis of acetoacetylated soybean oil, several bio-based coating materials were prepared using different aromatic dicarboxaldehydes (1,2-benzenedialdehyde, 1,3-benzenedialdehyde, 1,4-phthalaldehyde, 4,4'-biphenyldicarboxaldehyde) and characterized. The resulting films possess good performance, including the highest glass transition temperature of 54 °C, a Young's modulus of 24.91 MPa, tensile strength of 5.65 MPa, and an elongation at break of 286%. Thus, this work demonstrates the Knoevenagel condensation reaction, which is based on soybean oil as a potential newer eco-friendly raw material.

Nano hydroxyapatite induces glioma cell apoptosis by suppressing NF-κB signaling pathway.

Nano-sized hydroxyapatite (nHA) particles have been demonstrated to exert anti-cancer effects on multiple cancer cell lines and animal models of cancer biology. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the effects of nHA particles on glioma cells remains unclear. The present study aimed to examine the effects of nHA on the behavior of glioma cells and investigate its underlying molecular mechanism. Rat glioma C6 cells and human glioma U87MG ATCC cells were exposed to nHA (20-100 µg/ml), and its effects on cell morphology, viability, apoptosis, cell cycle, invasion and nuclear factor (NF)-κB signaling were analyzed. Exposure of C6 and U87MG ATCC cells to 20 µg/ml nHA for 24 h caused cell detachment. Viability of C6 and U87MG ATCC cells were significantly reduced by nHA in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.05). Nuclear staining with Hoechst 33258 exhibited clear chromatin condensation in C6 cells following 24 h exposure to ≥25 µg/ml nHA. Flow cytometry revealed that nHA (20-100 µg/ml) significantly induced apoptosis and cell cycle G2/M arrest in C6 and U87MG ATCC cells (P<0.05). Transwell invasion assay demonstrated that nHA (20-60 µg/ml) significantly inhibited invasion of U87MG ATCC cells (P<0.05). Furthermore, western blotting and confocal immunofluorescence microscopy revealed that nHA (20-100 µg/ml) decreased NF-κB p65 protein expression and blocked NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation in C6 cells. The protein expression of NF-κB target molecules, such as B cell lymphoma 2, cyclooxygenase-2 and survivin, were also significantly reduced by nHA in a dose-dependent manner in both C6 and U87MG ATCC cells (P<0.05). In conclusion, it was demonstrated that the inhibitory effect of nHA on glioma cells is likely associated with the downregulation of NF-κB signaling.

Pharmacological inhibition of USP7 promotes antitumor immunity and contributes to colon cancer therapy.

BACKGROUND: Effectiveness of clinical therapy such as chemotherapy for solid tumors is limited by acquired drug resistance and side effects. Available antitumor immunity methods showed promising prospect of cancer therapy. However, more drug targets for boosting antitumor immunity still need to be explored and selective and effective compounds are yet to be developed. PURPOSE: To study the effect and possible mechanism of compound P5091, a selective USP7 inhibitor, on CT26 xenografts growth in mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CT26 xenografts model was employed to examine the anti-tumor effect of P5091. RT-PCR and ELISA analysis were used to detect the level of IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-10 in tumor tissue and serum, respectively. IFN-γ expression in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells was analyzed by intracellular stain. The level of FOXP3 in Treg cells was confirmed by intracellular stain and western blotting. RESULTS: Compound P5091, a selective USP7 inhibitor, was found to inhibit CT26 xenografts growth in mice, which is comparable to the effect of Anti-PD-1 antibody. RT-PCR analysis showed that P5091 treatment decreased IL-10 mRNA level in tumor tissue while elevated mRNA level of IFN-γ and TNF-α. Moreover, ELISA analysis manifested decreased of IL-10 and elevation of IFN-γ and TNF-α in serum from tumor bearing mice. Intracellular stain showed increased IFN-g expression both in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells after P5091 treatment. Furthermore, P5091 treatment caused FOXP3 loss in Treg cells decreased the proportion of Treg cells in tumor bearing mice. CONCLUSION: Our study here showed that P5091 may be a candidate for cancer immunotherapy.

MiRNAs associated polymorphisms in the 3'UTR of MET promote the risk of non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: MET can act as an oncogene and its signaling server has essential roles in regulating tumorigenesis. Polymorphisms in MET have been reported to be associated with poor prognosis in human cancer, but an association with the risk of human non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has not been found so far. In this study rs41281081 and rs76322625, located in the 3'UTR of MET, were selected to evaluate their relationship with the risk of NSCLC among the Chinese population. METHODS: A questionnaire, SNaPshot genotype assay, real time PCR assay, cell transfection and the dual luciferase reporter assay were used. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of rs41281081 and rs76322625 in the 3' untranslated region (UTR) of MET was involved as a risk factor in the occurrence of NSCLC. RESULTS: SNP rs41281081 could be regulated by miR-335 and rs76322625 could be regulated by miR-1026 to cause an up-regulation of MET in patients with NSCLC. Furthermore, the carriers of the GA and AA genotypes in rs41281081, and the CU and UU genotypes in rs76322625 presented with poor cell differentiation and large tumor size, as well as a high probability of metastasis. CONCLUSION: Our findings have shown that the SNPs rs41281081 and rs76322625 in MET 3'UTR, through disruption of the regulatory role of miR-335 and miR-1026 in MET expression, may act as promoting factors in the pathogenesis of NSCLC.

Marine bromophenol bis (2,3-dibromo-4,5-dihydroxy-phenyl)-methane inhibits the proliferation, migration, and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma cells via modulating ß1-integrin/FAK signaling.

Bis (2,3-dibromo-4,5-dihydroxy-phenyl)-methane (BDDPM) is a natural bromophenol compound derived from marine algae. Previous reports have shown that BDDPM possesses antimicrobial activity. In the present study, we found that BDDPM has cytotoxic activity on a wide range of tumor cells, including BEL-7402 cells (IC50 = 8.7 µg/mL). Further studies have shown that prior to the onset of apoptosis, the BDDPM induces BEL-7402 cell detachment by decreasing the adherence of cells to the extracellular matrix (ECM). Detachment experiments have shown that the treatment of BEL-7402 cells with low concentrations of BDDPM (5.0 µg/mL) significantly inhibits cell adhesion to fibronectin and collagen IV as well as cell migration and invasion. High doses of BDDPM (10.0 µg/mL) completely inhibit the migration of BEL-7402 cells, and the expression level of MMPs (MMP-2 and MMP-9) is significantly decreased. Moreover, the expression of ß1-integrin and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is found to be down-regulated by BDDPM. This study suggests that BDDPM has a potential to be developed as a novel anticancer therapeutic agent due to its anti-metastatic activity and also indicates that BDDPM, which has a unique chemical structure, could serve as a lead compound for rational drug design and for future development of anticancer agents.