Formate and CO2 Enable Reductive Carboxylation of Imines: Synthesis of Unnatural α-Amino Acids.

Herein, a photocatalytic umpolung strategy for reductive carboxylation of imines for the synthesis of α-amino acids was disclosed. Carbon dioxide radical anion (CO2•-) generated from formate is the key single electron reductant in the reactions. An unprecedentedly broad substrate scope of imines with excellent reaction yields was obtained with carbon dioxide (CO2) and formate salt as carbon sources.

Popcorn-like bimetallic palladium/platinum exhibiting enhanced peroxidase-like activity for signal enhancement in lateral flow immunoassay.

BACKGROUND: The lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) is widely employed as a point-of-care testing (POCT) technique. However, its limited sensitivity hinders its application in detecting biomarkers with low abundance. Recently, the utilization of nanozymes has been implemented to enhance the sensitivity of LFIA by catalyzing the oxidation of 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB). The catalytic performance of nanozymes plays a crucial role in influencing the sensitivity of LFIA. RESULTS: The Cornus officinalis Sieb. et Zucc-Pd@Pt (CO-Pd@Pt) nanozyme with good peroxidase-like activity was synthesized herein through a facile one-pot method employing Cornus officinalis Sieb. et Zucc extract as a reducing agent. The morphology and composition of the CO-Pd@Pt nanozyme were characterized using TEM, SEM, XRD, and XPS. As a proof of concept, the as-synthesized CO-Pd@Pt nanozyme was utilized in LFIA (CO-Pd@Pt-LFIA) for the detection of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Compared to conventional gold nanoparticles-based LFIA (AuNPs-LFIA), CO-Pd@Pt-LFIA demonstrated a significant enhancement in the limit of detection (LOD, 0.08 mIU/mL), which is approximately 160 times lower than that of AuNPs-LFIA. Furthermore, experiments evaluating accuracy, precision, selectivity, interference, and stability have confirmed the practical applicability of CO-Pd@Pt-LFIA for hCG content determination. SIGNIFICANCE: The present study presents a novel approach for the synthesis of bimetallic nanozymes through environmentally friendly methods, utilizing plant extracts as both protective and reducing agents. Additionally, an easily implementable technique is proposed to enhance signal detection in lateral flow immunoassays.

The relationship between VEGF-460(T>C) polymorphism and cancer risk: A systematic review and meta-analysis based on 46 reports.

BACKGROUND: Extensive studies on the link between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and various malignancy risks produced conflicting results, notably for VEGF-460(T/C). To evaluate this correlation more comprehensively and accurately, we perform a meta-analysis. METHODS: Through retrieving 5 databases (Web of Science (WoS), Embase, Pubmed, Wanfang database (Wangfang), and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI)) and applying hand search, citation search, and gray literature search, 44 papers included 46 reports were enrolled. To evaluate the relationship between VEGF-460 and cancer risk, we pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: Our results indicated that the VEGF-460 polymorphism is not related to malignancy susceptibility (dominant model, OR = 0.98, 95% CI = 0.87-1.09; recessive model, OR = 0.95, 95% CI = 0.82-1.10; heterozygous model, OR = 0.99, 95% CI = 0.90-1.10; homozygous model, OR = 0.92, 95% CI = 0.76-1.10; additive model, OR = 0.98, 95% CI = 0.90-1.07). While, in subgroup analysis, this SNP may reduce the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma. CONCLUSION: this meta-analysis indicated that VEGF-460 was irrelevant to overall malignancy risk, but it might be a protective factor for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Short hydrogen-bond network confined on COF surfaces enables ultrahigh proton conductivity.

The idea of spatial confinement has gained widespread interest in myriad applications. Especially, the confined short hydrogen-bond (SHB) network could afford an attractive opportunity to enable proton transfer in a nearly barrierless manner, but its practical implementation has been challenging. Herein, we report a SHB network confined on the surface of ionic covalent organic framework (COF) membranes decorated by densely and uniformly distributed hydrophilic ligands. Combined experimental and theoretical evidences have pointed to the confinement of water molecules allocated to each ligand, achieving the local enrichment of hydronium ions and the concomitant formation of SHBs in water-hydronium domains. These overlapped water-hydronium domains create an interconnected SHB network, which yields an unprecedented ultrahigh proton conductivity of 1389 mS cm-1 at 90 °C, 100% relative humidity.

Hypothalamus-habenula potentiation encodes chronic stress experience and drives depression onset.

Chronic stress is a major risk factor for depression onset. However, it remains unclear how repeated stress sculpts neural circuits and finally elicits depression. Given the essential role of lateral habenula (LHb) in depression, here, we attempt to clarify how LHb-centric neural circuitry integrates stress-related information. We identify lateral hypothalamus (LH) as the most physiologically relevant input to LHb under stress. LH neurons fire with a unique pattern that efficiently drives postsynaptic potential summation and a closely followed LHb bursting (EPSP-burst pairing) in response to various stressors. We found that LH-LHb synaptic potentiation is determinant in stress-induced depression. Mimicking this repeated EPSP-burst pairings at LH-LHb synapses by photostimulation, we artificially induced an "emotional status" merely by potentiating this pathway in mice. Collectively, these results delineate the spatiotemporal dynamics of chronic stress processing from forebrain onto LHb in a pathway-, cell-type-, and pattern-specific manner, shedding light on early interventions before depression onset.

Tight Covalent Organic Framework Membranes for Efficient Anion Transport via Molecular Precursor Engineering.

Fabricating covalent organic frameworks (COFs) membranes with tight structure, which can fully utilize well-defined framework structure and thus achieve superior conduction performance, remains a grand challenge. Herein, through molecular precursor engineering of COFs, we reported the fabrication of tight COFs membrane with the ever-reported highest hydroxide ion conductivity over 200 mS cm-1 at 80 °C, 100 % RH. Six quaternary ammonium-functionalized COFs were synthesized by assembling functional hydrazides and different aldehyde precursors. In an organic-aqueous reaction system, the impact of the aldehyde precursors with different size, electrophilicity and hydrophilicity on the reaction-diffusion process for fabricating COFs membranes was elucidated. Particularly, more hydrophilic aldehydes were prone to push the reaction zone from the interface region to the aqueous phase of the reaction system, the tight membranes were thus fabricated via phase-transfer polymerization process, conferring around 4-8 times the anion conductivity over the loose membranes via interfacial polymerization process.

The genus Scaptodrosophila Duda part II: the coracina species group from East Asia, with morphological and molecular evidence (Diptera, Drosophilidae).

Eight new species of the Scaptodrosophila coracina species group are described from China: S. fuscilimbasp. n., S. fusciventriculasp. n., S. helvpectasp. n., S. longispinatasp. n., S. nigrolimbatasp. n., S. trivittatasp. n., S. ventriobscuratasp. n., and S. zebrinasp. n. One known species S. coracina (Kikkawa & Peng) is redescribed. A key to all the examined species in the coracina group is provided. Species delimitations have been improved by integrating the DNA sequences with morphological information. The intra- and interspecific pairwise p-distances (proportional distance) are summarized. Some nucleotide sites with fixed status in the alignment of the COI sequences (662 nucleotide sites in length) are used as "pure" molecular diagnostic characters to delineate species in the coracina group.

Evaluation of alveolar bone support around incisors in patients with unilateral cleft lip, alveolus, and palate in late mixed dentition using cone beam computed tomography.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate alveolar bone support around cleft-adjacent maxillary central incisors (U1) in patients with unilateral cleft lip, alveolus and palate (UCLAP) in the late mixed dentition and to investigate the correlation between the alveolar bone thickness (ABT) and tooth inclination. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cone beam computed tomography scans of 45 subjects with UCLAP (29 boys, 16 girls; mean age = 10.74 ± 1.08 years) were assessed. The distance between the cementoenamel junction (CEJ) and alveolar bone crest (AC), and the ABTs at 3 mm, 6 mm, and the apex were measured on the labial, lingual and distal surfaces of U1. The cleft and normal sides were compared using a paired t-test and Pearson's χ2 test. Pearson's correlation was used to explore the association between the ABT and tooth inclination of cleft-adjacent U1 in the labiolingual and mesiodistal dimensions. RESULTS: The CEJ-AC distances were significantly greater in cleft-adjacent U1 ( P < .01), with more bone height reduction observed labially and distally ( P < .001). The labial, lingual, and apico-distal ABTs were decreased on the cleft side ( P < .01). A positive correlation was found between the apico-labial ABT and the labiolingual inclination ( r = 0.568, P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with UCLAP have reduced alveolar bone support around the cleft-adjacent U1, and the apico-labial ABT tends to decrease with increasing lingual tooth inclination; however, the correlation was weak.

The genus Scaptodrosophila Duda part I: the brunnea species group from the Oriental Region, with morphological and molecular evidence (Diptera, Drosophilidae).

Seven new species of the Scaptodrosophila brunnea species group are described from east Asia: S. maculatasp. n., S. melanogastersp. n., S. nigricostatasp. n., S. nigripectasp. n., S. obscuratasp. n., S. protenipenissp. n. and S. rhinasp. n. Three known species, S. parabrunnea (Tsacas & Chassagnard), S. pressobrunnea (Tsacas & Chassagnard) and S. scutellimargo (Duda) are redescribed. A key to all the examined species in the brunnea group is provided. Species delimitations have been improved by integrating the DNA sequences with morphological information. The intra- and interspecific pairwise p-distances (proportional distance) are summarized. Some nucleotide sites with fixed status in the alignment of the COI sequences (664 nucleotide sites in length) are used as "pure" molecular diagnostic characters to delineate species in the brunnea group.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms of the human cyp2a13 gene: evidence for a null allele.

Human CYP2A13 is believed to be important in the metabolic activation of tobacco-specific nitrosamines in the respiratory tract; therefore, genetic polymorphisms of the CYP2A13 gene may be associated with interindividual differences in the risks of tobacco-related tumorigenesis. Our earlier studies identified a frequent single nucleotide polymorphism in CYP2A13 exon 5, Arg257Cys, which led to an approximate 50% decrease in metabolic activities. In the present study, three additional coding region mutations (Arg25Gln, Arg101Stop, and Asp158Glu) and several mutations in the introns and flanking regions were identified in a Chinese patient population. Of particular interest is the Arg101Stop mutation, which was due to a C > T change in exon 2. Thus, individuals homozygous for this nonsense mutation would not have a functional CYP2A13 protein and, therefore, might have reduced sensitivity to xenobiotic toxicity resulting from CYP2A13-mediated metabolic activation in the respiratory tract. The frequencies of the coding region mutations were further examined using random samples of white, black, Hispanic, and Asian newborns from New York. The frequency of the Arg25Gln mutation in Asian newborns (9.6%) was very similar to that found in the Chinese population (10.9%). On the other hand, the Arg101Stop mutation was not detected in 136 newborn samples examined (23 white, 21 black, 19 Hispanic, and 73 Asian), suggesting that this mutation may be unique for the Chinese patient population. Haplotype analysis indicated that the Arg25Gln and Arg257Cys mutations are parts of a common haplotype. However, an additional haplotype that consists of the 25Gln but not the 257Cys allele was also identified.