A new sesquiterpene from endophytic fungus Colletotrichum sp. B-89.

A new sesquiterpene, named (1S, 4aS, 7 R, 8 R, 8aR) Decahydro-1,4a-dimethyl-7-(1-methylethyl)-1,8-naphthalenediol (1), and six known compounds (2-7) were obtained from Colletotrichum sp. B-89, an endophytic fungus isolated from Dracaena cochinchinensis collected at Xishuangbanna, Yunnan. Their structures were elucidated by detailed analysis of comprehensive spectroscopic data, and the structure of 1 was further determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. The antibacterial activities of above compounds were assayed and compound 6 exhibited certain activities against S. aureus ATCC 25923, B. subtilis ATCC 6633, E. coli ATCC 25922, and K. pneumoniae ATCC 13883.

Two new diketopiperazines from the Cordyceps fungus Samsoniella sp. XY4.

Two new diketopiperazines, namely samsoniellain A (1) and samsoniellain B (2), together with two known compounds (3, 4) were isolated from Cordyceps fungus Samsoniella sp. XY4. The planar structures of 1 and 2 were determined by HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy. The absolute configurations of 1 and 2 were determined by comparison of quantum chemical TDDFT calculated and experimental ECD spectra. Results of antimicrobial activity indicated that compound 2 showed weak bacteriostatic activities against S. typhimurium χ 8956, H. influenza ATCC 10211, MRSA 2024 with the MIC values of 128, 256, and 256 µg ml-1, respectively. This is the first report about secondary metabolites of Samsoniella sp.

MoP/Mo2C@C: A New Combination of Electrocatalysts for Highly Efficient Hydrogen Evolution over the Entire pH Range.

During the exploration of highly efficient noble-metal-free electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), a promising and challenging strategy is to fabricate composite nanocatalysts by finely tuning metal and/or nonmetal element components. Herein, we report a new HER electrocatalyst, which is composed of molybdenum phosphide and molybdenum carbide composite nanoparticles (NPs) coated by few-layer N-doped graphitic carbon shells (denoted as MoP/Mo2C@C). Such a new combination mode of electrocatalysts is realized by a one-step annealing route with the mixture of a Mo/P-based polyoxometalate (POM) and dicyandiamide. On the basis of this method, the simultaneous phosphorization and carbonization in a nanoscale confined space can be easily achieved by the use of POM as the molecular-element-regulating platform. MoP/Mo2C@C exhibits more remarkable HER performance over the whole pH range than those of MoP, Mo2C, and the physical mixture of MoP and Mo2C. The low overpotentials of 89, 136, and 75 mV were obtained at a current density of 10 mA cm-2 in the media of pH = 0, 7, and 14, respectively. Furthermore, MoP/Mo2C@C shows a long-term durability for 14 h over the entire pH range (0-14). Because of the protection of carbon shells, such composite electrocatalyst also possesses better transition-metal tolerance exemplified by Fe2+, Co2+, and Ni2+ than that of 20% commercial Pt/C. This work demonstrates the advantage of POM precursors in adjusting the component and properties of nanoscale composite electrocatalysts for HER, which may suggest new options for the fabrication of highly efficient composite electrocatalysts.

Suicidal ideation among Chinese cancer inpatients of general hospitals: prevalence and correlates.

Cancer patients are at high risk for suicide, particularly when they are informed about the cancer diagnosis or hospitalized for cancer treatment. Therefore, oncology healthcare settings such as large general hospitals in China, may represent an ideal setting to identify and treat suicidality in cancer patients. However, the clinical epidemiology of suicidality of Chinese cancer patients remains largely unknown. This study examined the prevalence and correlates of suicidal ideation among Chinese cancer inpatients of large general hospitals. A total of 517 cancer inpatients were consecutively recruited from two tertiary general hospitals of a metropolitan city in northern China, and administered with standardized questionnaires to collect data on sociodemographics, mental health, and cancer-related clinical characteristics. Suicidal ideation and mental health were measured with a single self-report question "In the past month, did you think about ending your life?" and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, respectively. The one-month prevalence of suicidal ideation was 15.3% in Chinese cancer inpatients. In multivariable Logistic regression, depression, anxiety, moderate-to-severe pain, metastatic cancer, poor performance status, surgery, and palliative care were significantly associated with suicidal ideation. Cancer inpatients of large Chinese general hospitals have high prevalence of suicidal ideation and therefore potentially at high risk for suicide. Suicide prevention efforts for cancer inpatients should include periodic evaluation of suicidality, effective pain management, psychooncological supports, and, when necessary, psychiatric treatment and crisis intervention.