C₂H₂ Treatment as a Facile Method to Boost the Catalysis of Pd Nanoparticulate Catalysts

A facile method to boost the catalysis of Pd nanoparticulate catalysts by simple C₂H₂ treatment is developed. During the C₂H₂ treatment, Pd nanoparticles serve as active catalysts to polymerize C₂H₂ into <i>trans</i>-polyacetylene. The deposition of <i>trans</i>-polyacetylene layer on Pd nanoparticles makes their surface hydrophobic. Such a hydrophobic surface modification helps to accumulate more hydrophobic substrates during catalysis, making the modified Pd nanoparticulate catalysts more active than untreated catalysts in the catalytic reaction involving hydrophobic substrates. Moreover, the coating of polyacetylene on Pd creates encapsulated Pd nanocatalysts, stabilizing Pd nanoparticles against sintering or aggregation. Since the catalytic polymerization of polyacetylene on Pd is not facet dependent, the development is readily applied to enhance the catalysis of commercial Pd nanoparticulate catalysts by simple C₂H₂ treatment

Table1_Identification and verification of IGFBP3 and YTHDC1 as biomarkers associated with immune infiltration and mitophagy in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.DOCX

Background: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the main cause of sudden cardiac death among young adults, yet its pathogenesis remains vague. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methylation modification was involved in various cardiovascular diseases such as coronary heart disease and heart failure, although its influence on HCM remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the potential role of m6A in the diagnosis and pathogenesis of HCM.Methods: GSE36961 including 106 HCM and 39 controls was used in the study. The HCM-related m6A regulators were selected using support vector machine recursive feature elimination and random forest algorithm. A significant gene signature was then established using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator and then verified by GSE130036. Subgroup classification of HCM was performed based on the expression of m6A biomarkers. Gene set variation analysis was employed to explore the functional difference between distinct subgroups. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis was used to determine the m6A-related hub module. Single-sample gene set enrichment analysis was conducted to assess the immune and mitophagy features between subgroups. Besides, transfection of recombinant plasmids with targeted genes into H9c2 cells was performed to further verify the function of the significant biomarkers.Results: Significant difference existed in m6A landscape between HCM and control patients, among which IGFBP3 and YTHDC1 were identified as the independent biomarkers of HCM. Highly infiltrated immune cells (MDSC, macrophages, etc.), more enriched immune-related pathways (TNFα signaling via NFκB and IL6-JAK-STAT3 signaling) and cardiac remodeling-associated pathways (epithelial mesenchymal transition, angiogenesis, etc.) were identified in the subgroup with higher IGFBP3. Consistently, overexpression of IGFBP3 in H9c2 cells led to upregulation of extracellular-matrix-related genes (COL1A2, COL3A1 and MMP9) and inflammation-related genes (TNFα and IL6). Besides, higher YTHDC1 expression seemed to be consistent with less-activated mitophagy (PINK1-PRKN mediated mitophagy) and energy metabolism. Further experiments demonstrated that overexpression of YTHDC1 resulted in up-regulation of PINK and PRKN in cardiomyocytes, which are essential genes mediating mitophagy.Conclusion: Two m6A readers (IGFBP3 and YTHDC1) well distinguished HCM and may facilitate clinical diagnosis. IGFBP3 may play a role in the immune-microenvironments and remodeling of cardiac tissues, while YTHDC1 may influence mitophagy and energy metabolism in HCM.</p

DataSheet1_Periodic variations of phosphorus migration and transformation in a eutrophic lake of China: The role of algae bloom and collapse.docx

It is a two-way interaction between algae bloom events and nutrient cycles in aquatic environments. In Meiliang bay of Taihu Lake, phosphorus (P) forms in the water, sediment and pore water, and bacterial community structures in the sediment were investigated in June 2021 (the algae bloom period) and December 2021 (the algae collapse period). The aim of this study is to clarify the periodic variations of P migration and transformation driven by algae bloom and collapse. Results showed that concentrations of total P and total particulate P in the water during the algae bloom period (.13–.25 mg/L) were much higher than those during the algae collapse period (0–.13 mg/L), which was mainly caused by the uptake of phosphate (PO43-) by algae in the surface water. Compared with the algae bloom period, there were higher concentrations of organic P (OP), iron-bound P (FeP) and inorganic P in the sediments during the algae collapse period. The propositions of OP and FeP in total P in the sediments increased from 19% to 17% during the algae bloom period to 27% and 33% during the algae collapse period. These suggest the cumulative trend of OP and FeP in the sediments during the algae collapse period, and FeP might be formed through the processes of OP mineralization and P adsorption by iron oxides/hydroxides in the sediments. Different routes of sediment P regeneration existed over the two periods. During the algae bloom period, the similar vertical variations of labile PO43- and labile Fe2+ in the sediments provided in situ, high-resolution evidence for FeP reductive dissolution driven by FRBs activities. During the algae collapse period, OP mineralization driven by organic P-solubilizing bacteria activities and accelerated by the sulfate reduction process was confirmed by the similar vertical variations of labile PO43- and labile S2- in the sediments. Therefore, treatment approaches and management practices should consider the periodic variations of internal P cycles in aquatic environments during the algae bloom and algae collapse periods to avoid inefficient treatments of lake eutrophication and algae bloom.</p

Interpenetrated Networks between Graphitic Carbon Infilling and Ultrafine TiO₂ Nanocrystals with Patterned Macroporous Structure for High-Performance Lithium Ion Batteries

Interpenetrated networks between graphitic carbon infilling and ultrafine TiO₂ nanocrystals with patterned macropores (100–200 nm) were successfully synthesized. Polypyrrole layer was conformably coated on the primary TiO₂ nanoparticles (∼8 nm) by a photosensitive reaction and was then transformed into carbon infilling in the interparticle mesopores of the TiO₂ nanoparticles. Compared to the carbon/graphene supported TiO₂ nanoparticles or carbon coated TiO₂ nanostructures, the carbon infilling would provide a conductive medium and buffer layer for volume expansion of the encapsulated TiO₂ nanoparticles, thus enhancing conductivity and cycle stability of the C–TiO₂ anode materials for lithium ion batteries (LIBs). In addition, the macropores with diameters of 100–200 nm in the C–TiO₂ anode and the mesopores in carbon infilling could improve electrolyte transportation in the electrodes and shorten the lithium ion diffusion length. The C–TiO₂ electrode can provide a large capacity of 192.8 mA h g^–1 after 100 cycles at 200 mA g^–1, which is higher than those of the pure macroporous TiO₂ electrode (144.8 mA h g^–1), C–TiO₂ composite electrode without macroporous structure (128 mA h g^–1), and most of the TiO₂ based electrodes in the literature. Importantly, the C–TiO₂ electrode exhibits a high rate performance and still delivers a high capacity of ∼140 mA h g^–1 after 1000 cycles at 1000 mA g^–1 (∼5.88 C), suggesting good lithium storage properties of the macroporous C–TiO₂ composites with high capacity, cycle stability, and rate capability. This work would be instructive for designing hierarchical porous TiO₂ based anodes for high-performance LIBs

The association between serum vitamin D levels and renal tubular dysfunction in a general population exposed to cadmium in China

<div><p>Cadmium exposure can cause renal tubular dysfunction. Recent studies show that vitamin D can play multiple roles in the body. However, the association between serum vitamin D levels and renal tubular dysfunction in a general population exposed to cadmium has not been clarified. We performed study to assess the effects of cadmium on serum 25(OH) D levels and the association between serum 25(OH) D levels and renal tubular dysfunction in a population environmentally exposed to cadmium. A total of 133 subjects living in control area and two cadmium polluted areas were included in the present study. Cadmium in urine (UCd) and blood (BCd), urinary β2Microglobulin (UBMG), urinary retinol binding protein (URBP) and serum 25 (OH) D were determined. Logistic regression was used to estimate the association between 25 (OH) D and prevalence of renal tubular dysfunction. No significant differences were observed in serum 25(OH) D levels among the four quartile of UCd and BCd after adjusting with cofounders. After adjusted with the confounders, the odds ratio (OR) of subjects with 25(OH) D ≥ 40 ng/ml were 0.20 (95%CI: 0.1–0.8) if UBMG was chosen as indicators of renal dysfunction and 0.28 (95%CI: 0.1–1.1) if URBP was chosen as indicators of renal dysfunction, compared with those with 25(OH) D < 30 ng/ml, respectively. Similar results were observed in those subjects living in cadmium polluted areas or with high level of UCd or BCd. Our data indicated that cadmium exposure did not affect serum 25(OH) D level and high 25 (OH) D levels were associated with a decreased risk of renal tubular dysfunction induced by cadmium.</p></div

The serum 25(OH) D at different UCd and BCd levels.

<p>UCd and BCd were categorized based on their quartile distribution (<25th percentile, 25-50th percentile, 50-75th percentile and ≥75th percentile). UCd: cadmium in urine; BCd: cadmium in blood.</p

Spearman correlation analyses.

<p>Serum 25 (OH) D levels were not correlated with UCd or BCd, but negatively associated with UBMG and URBP. UCd, cadmium in urine; BCd: cadmium in blood; UBMG: urinary β2Microglobulin; URBP: urinary retinol binding protein.</p

Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of renal dysfunction and serum 25 (OH) D in population living in polluted areas.

<p>Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of renal dysfunction and serum 25 (OH) D in population living in polluted areas.</p

Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of renal dysfunction and serum 25 (OH) D in population with BCd ≥ 2.0 μg/L.

<p>Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of renal dysfunction and serum 25 (OH) D in population with BCd ≥ 2.0 μg/L.</p

Tung Oil-Based Unsaturated Co-ester Macromonomer for Thermosetting Polymers: Synergetic Synthesis and Copolymerization with Styrene

A novel unsaturated co-ester (co-UE) macromonomer containing both maleates and acrylates was synthesized from tung oil (TO) and its chemical structure was characterized by FT-IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The monomer was synthesized via a new synergetic modification of TO, by introducing maleic groups first and acrylic groups subsequently onto TO molecules. The influence of experimental factors on thermomechanical properties of the cured bioresins was evaluated to better understand structure–property relationships of the biomaterials and optimize experimental conditions. The obtained TO-based co-UE monomer possessed a highly polymerizable CC functionality, consequently resulting in rigid bioplastics with high cross-link densities (ν_e) and excellent mechanical properties. For instance, the bioplastic prepared under the optimal synthesis conditions demonstrated a ν_e of 4.03 × 10³ mol/m³, storage modulus at 25 °C of 2.40 GPa, and glass transition temperature (<i>T</i>_g) of 127 °C, as well as tensile strength and modulus at 36.3 MPa and 1.70 GPa, respectively. A new theory for determining optimal comonomer concentration was further developed according to the copolymerization equation. The proposed theory accurately predicted the best styrene dosage for the co-UE monomer. At last, the hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA)-modified TO-based resin was compared with the unmodified one in thermomechanical properties, thermal stability, microstructural morphologies, and curing behaviors. The new co-UE bioresin showed higher CC functionality and cross-link density, superior properties including <i>T</i>_g and thermal stability, and similar curing behaviors. The developed eco-friendly rigid biomaterials provide potential application in structural plastics such as sheet molding compounds