Table_1_Aquatic protected area system in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau: establishment, challenges and prospects.docx

Conservation of wetlands on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau is vital to the ecological security of China and even all of Asia. In this study, we investigated the aquatic protected area system established by the Chinese government in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. In general, 9 categories of aquatic protected areas have been established in this area, linked to the International Union for Conservation of Nature classification system of protected areas. The diverse main protection objectives of different protected areas have played a key role in wetland conservation. However, the protection of wetland environments and aquatic organisms has been insufficient in some atypical protected areas and local protected areas. We further constructed a list of important aquatic organisms in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau and analyzed the protected status of those important species through gap analysis. A total of 156 important aquatic species were identified, with 8 gap species and 18 inadequately protected species. It is encouraging that none of the national key protected species are gap species, but there are 4 gap species that are threatened species on “China’s red list”. In addition, we found that 17 important species are designated as Data Deficient or Not Evaluated on “China’s red list”, including 8 national key protected species. Finally, we propose the prospects for solving the existing problems of aquatic protected area systems: integrating aquatic protected areas, enhancing the status of community-based conservation, and increasing investment in important aquatic organism research.</p

Equilibrium in Protic Ionic Liquids: The Degree of Proton Transfer and Thermodynamic Properties

The degree of proton transfer and thermodynamic parameters of six acetate-based protic ionic liquids (PILs) were measured using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and calculated by van’t Hoff analytical method, respectively. The degree of proton transfer of these PILs at 298 K spread over a large range, which is from 39.6% (1-methylpyrrolidinium acetate, [MpyrH]­[AcO]) to 94.4% (1-butylimidazolium acetate, [BuimH]­[AcO]). The calculated standard enthalpy change of the reaction (Δ_r<i>H</i>_m^θ) is from −23.30 to −7.80 kJ mol^–1 and the standard entropy change of the reaction (Δ_r<i>S</i>_m^θ) is from −42.70 to −8.07 J mol^–1 K^–1. The correlation between the degree of proton transfer and aqueous Δp<i>K</i>_a or Δ_r<i>H</i>_m^θ was investigated as well. Furthermore, in some special cases, Δ_r<i>S</i>_m^θ, especially the entropy change of symmetry, also plays an important role in affecting the degree of proton transfer

Hydrogenation of Benzoic Acid and Derivatives over Pd Nanoparticles Supported on N‑Doped Carbon Derived from Glucosamine Hydrochloride

A novel N-doped carbon (CN) was prepared by the hydrothermal method using glucosamine hydrochloride as both carbon and nitrogen precursor, followed by a postsynthesis heat treatment. Pd@CN exhibited 9 times higher activity compared to that of commercial Pd@AC on hydrogenation of benzoic acid to cyclohexane­carboxylic acid. The influence of solvent and substituent were also investigated. Besides, the hydrogenations of various benzoic acids have been carried out over Pd@CN

Effect of the Temperature and Coordination Atom on the Physicochemical Properties of Chelate-Based Ionic Liquids and Their Binary Mixtures with Water

Densities, viscosities, and conductivities of four chelate-based ionic liquids [Li­(DOBA)]­[Tf₂N], [Li­(HDA)]­[Tf₂N], [Li­(DEA)]­[Tf₂N], and [Li­(EA)]­[Tf₂N], and their binary mixtures with water were determined. Physical properties of [Li­(DEA)]­[Tf₂N], such as the thermal expansion coefficient of the ionic liquid, were calculated by empirical equations over a temperature range from 313.15 K to 333.15 K. The excess molar volume (<i>V</i>^E) and viscosity deviations (Δη) were fitted by a Redlich–Kister equation. The excess molar volumes show a negative deviation from that of the ideal solution and two different behaviors between water-rich and IL-rich regions. Most viscosity deviations show negative values, except for that of the binary mixture of [Li­(DOBA)]­[Tf₂N]/water. The effect of chelate state on the above physicochemical properties has been discussed. Furthermore, the Walden rule was used to evaluate the relationship of molar conductivity and dynamic viscosity of these ionic liquid solutions, which indicates all of them have good ionicity

DataSheet_1_Overexpression of circulating CD38+ NK cells in colorectal cancer was associated with lymph node metastasis and poor prognosis.pdf

IntroductionLymph node metastasis (LNM) is a critical prognostic factor for colorectal cancer (CRC). Due to the potential influence of immune system on CRC progression, investigation into lymphocyte subsets as clinical markers has gained attention. The objective of this study was to assess the capability of lymphocyte subsets in evaluating the lymph node status and prognosis of CRC.MethodsLymphocyte subsets, including T cells (CD3+), natural killer cells (NK, CD3- CD56+), natural killer-like T cells (NK-like T, CD3+ CD56+), CD38+ NK cells (CD3- CD56+ CD38+) and CD38+ NK-like T cells (CD3+ CD56+ CD38+), were detected by flow cytometry. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to assess the risk factors of LNM. The prognostic role of parameters was evaluated by survival analysis.ResultsThe proportion of CD38+ NK cells within the NK cell population was significantly higher in LNM-positive patients (p ConclusionsIt was demonstrated that the proportion of CD38+ NK cells was a marker overexpressed in LNM-positive patients compared with LNM-negative patients. Moreover, an elevated proportion of CD38+ NK cells is a risk factor for LNM and poor prognosis in CRC.</p

Computer-Assisted Design of Ionic Liquids for Efficient Synthesis of 3(2<i>H</i>)‑Furanones: A Domino Reaction Triggered by CO₂

A strategy for the highly efficient synthesis of 3­(2<i>H</i>)-furanones by hydration of diyne alcohols catalyzed by base-functionalized ionic liquids under atmospheric-pressure CO₂ that was developed through computer-assisted design is reported. The best range of basic ionic liquids as catalysts was predicted at first, and [HDBU]­[BenIm] exhibited the highest catalytic activity. Through a combination of NMR spectroscopic investigations and quantum-chemical calculations, the results indicated the importance of the basicity of the anion and the species of cation in the ionic liquid

Synthesis of Palladium Nanoparticles Supported on Mesoporous N‑Doped Carbon and Their Catalytic Ability for Biofuel Upgrade

We report a catalyst made of Pd nanoparticles (NPs) supported on mesoporous N-doped carbon, Pd@CN₀₁₃₂, which was shown to be highly active in promoting biomass refining. The use of a task-specific ionic liquid (3-methyl-1-butylpyridine dicyanamide) as a precursor and silica NPs as a hard template afforded a high-nitrogen-content (12 wt %) mesoporous carbon material that showed high activity in stabilizing Pd NPs. The resulting Pd@CN_0.132 catalyst showed very high catalytic activity in hydrodeoxygenation of vanillin (a typical model compound of lignin) at low H₂ pressure under mild conditions in aqueous media. Excellent catalytic results (100% conversion of vanillin and 100% selectivity for 2-methoxy-4-methylphenol) were achieved, and no loss of catalytic activity was observed after six recycles

Engineering of Unspecific Peroxygenases Using a Superfolder-Green-Fluorescent-Protein-Mediated Secretion System in Escherichia coli

Unspecific peroxygenases (UPOs), secreted by fungi, demonstrate versatility in catalyzing challenging selective oxyfunctionalizations. However, the number of peroxygenases and corresponding variants with tailored selectivity for a broader substrate scope is still limited due to the lack of efficient engineering strategies. In this study, a new unspecific peroxygenase from Coprinopsis marcescibilis (CmaUPO) is identified and characterized. To enhance or reverse the enantioselectivity of wildtype (WT) CmaUPO catalyzed asymmetric hydroxylation of ethylbenzene, CmaUPO was engineered using an efficient superfolder-green-fluorescent-protein (sfGFP)-mediated secretion system in Escherichia coli. Iterative saturation mutagenesis (ISM) was used to target the residual sites lining the substrate tunnel, resulting in two variants: T125A/A129G and T125A/A129V/A247H/T244A/F243G. The two variants greatly improved the enantioselectivities [21% ee (R) for WT], generating the (R)-1-phenylethanol or (S)-1-phenylethanol as the main product with 99% ee (R) and 84% ee (S), respectively. The sfGFP-mediated secretion system in E. coli demonstrates applicability for different UPOs (AaeUPO, CciUPO, and PabUPO-I). Therefore, this developed system provides a robust platform for heterologous expression and enzyme engineering of UPOs, indicating great potential for their sustainable and efficient applications in various chemical transformations

Human Glutaredoxin 3 Forms [2Fe-2S]-Bridged Complexes with Human BolA2

Human glutaredoxin 3 (Glrx3) is an essential [2Fe-2S]-binding protein with ill-defined roles in immune cell response, embryogenesis, cancer cell growth, and regulation of cardiac hypertrophy. Similar to other members of the CGFS monothiol glutaredoxin (Grx) family, human Glrx3 forms homodimers bridged by two [2Fe-2S] clusters that are ligated by the conserved CGFS motifs and glutathione (GSH). We recently demonstrated that the yeast homologues of human Glrx3 and the yeast BolA-like protein Fra2 form [2Fe-2S]-bridged heterodimers that play a key role in signaling intracellular iron availability. Herein, we provide biophysical and biochemical evidence that the two tandem Grx-like domains in human Glrx3 form similar [2Fe-2S]-bridged complexes with human BolA2. UV–visible absorption and circular dichroism, resonance Raman, and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopic analyses of recombinant [2Fe-2S] Glrx3 homodimers and [2Fe-2S] Glrx3–BolA2 complexes indicate that the Fe–S coordination environments in these complexes are virtually identical to those of the analogous complexes in yeast. Furthermore, we demonstrate that apo BolA2 binds to each Grx domain in the [2Fe-2S] Glrx3 homodimer forming a [2Fe-2S] BolA2–Glrx3 heterotrimer. Taken together, these results suggest that the unusual [2Fe-2S]-bridging Grx–BolA interaction is conserved in higher eukaryotes and may play a role in signaling cellular iron status in humans

Highly Efficient CO₂ Capture by Imidazolium Ionic Liquids through a Reduction in the Formation of the Carbene–CO₂ Complex

A strategy for improving CO₂ capture by imidazolium ionic liquids (ILs) through a reduction in the formation of carbene–CO₂ complex was reported. The carbene–CO₂ complex content in CO₂ capture by imidazolium ILs was determined by a quantitative NMR method, and the carbene–CO₂ complex formation was decreased through a reduction in the basicity of the anion and an enlargement in the steric hindrance of the cation. Thus, both enhanced absorption capacity and improved desorption were achieved, where an ideal IL, [Ipmim]­[Triz], exhibited a very high capacity of 0.21 g of CO₂/g of IL and excellent reversibility