A General Procedure for the Construction of 2‑Alkyl-Substituted Vinyl Sulfonyl Fluoride

A series of compact and multifunctional 2-alkyl-substituted vinyl sulfonyl fluorides were efficiently prepared from the corresponding alkyl iodides and 2-chloroprop-2-ene-1-sulfonyl fluoride (CESF). This Giese-type radical approach provided new and general access to alkenyl sulfonyl fluorides, including structures that would otherwise be challenging to synthesize with previously established methods. A correspondingly large collection of derivatization reactions was also demonstrated on the alkenyl sulfonyl fluorides

Connecting the ‘Workshop of the World’: Intra- and Extra-Service Networks of the Pearl River Delta City-Region

<p>Zhang X. and Kloosterman R. C. Connecting the ‘workshop of the world’: intra- and extra-service networks of the Pearl River Delta city-region, <i>Regional Studies</i>. Most research on globalization and city-regions in developing countries has focused on manufacturing activities, disregarding the considerable growth of producer services. Drawing on the Interlocking Network Model, this article presents a first analysis of the intra- and extra-service networks of the Pearl River Delta city-region in China. The central question is how cities in the Pearl River Delta are (re)positioned in the regional urban networks and which national and global cities are their major external connections in the service economy. The result reveals a new pattern of producer-services-led development that differs from the former industrialization experience in the region.</p

Predicting Dermal Exposure to Gas-Phase Semivolatile Organic Compounds (SVOCs): A Further Study of SVOC Mass Transfer between Clothing and Skin Surface Lipids

Dermal exposure to indoor gas-phase semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs) has recently received a great deal of attention, and this has included evaluating the role of clothing in this process. Several models have been developed to assess dermal exposure to SVOCs, based on the transient mass transfer of SVOCs from air to dermal capillaries. Assumptions of these models are either that clothing completely retards SVOC transport, or that there is an air gap of constant thickness between the clothing and the surface of the skin, which may lead to errors in the model calculations. To solve this problem, we tried to describe SVOC transport between clothing and epidermis by considering two parallel processes: partitioning of SVOCs by direct contact (ignored in existing models), and Fickian diffusion through the air gap. Predictions from the present model agree well with the experimental data found in the literature (dermal uptake of diethyl phthalate (DEP) and di-<i>n</i>-butyl phthalate (DnBP) of a clothed participant). This study provides a useful tool to accurately assess dermal exposure to indoor SVOCs, especially for evaluating the effects of clothing on dermal exposure

Charge Stripe Formation in Molecular Ferroelectric Organohalide Perovskites for Efficient Charge Separation

Despite rapid progress in the efficiency of organohalide perovskite based solar cells, physical mechanisms underlying their efficient charge separation and slow charge recombination still elude us. Here we provide direct evidence of spontaneous charge separation via first-principles simulations. The excitons are predicted to self-organize into stripes of photoexcited electrons and holes, spatially separated as effective channels for charge transport. The rotation of organic cations deforms the inorganic framework, and as the deformation reaches a critical value, a direct band gap transforms to an indirect one, and the photoexcited electrons rotate in alignment with the deformation-induced electric fields. The latter triggers a Stark effect which in turn leads to the formation of charge stripes. The interplay between dynamic disorder, ionic bonding, and polarization is responsible for the formation of the charge stripes and the indirect band gap, both of which could lead to efficient charge separation and reduced charge recombination in the organohalide perovskites

MOESM1 of Regioselective semi-synthesis of 6-isomers of 5,8-O-dimethyl ether of shikonin derivatives via an ‘intramolecular ring-closing/ring-opening’ strategy as potent anticancer agents

Additional file 1. Additional figures

Amphiphilic Interlayer Regulated Interfacial Polymerization for Constructing Polyamide Nanofiltration Membranes with High Perm-Selectivity of Mono-/Divalent Salts

High-quality thin-film composite (TFC) membranes with high selectivity and permeability have great significance owing to their practical applications, specifically for the accurate differentiation of monovalent and divalent ions. However, the trade-off effect between selectivity and permeability is still a big challenge due to the difficult structure adjustment of the selective layer. Herein, polydopamine (PDA) functionalized with a hydrophobic long alkane chain was first explored as a functional amphiphilic interlayer to synthesize high-quality TFC membranes via a confined interfacial polymerization (IP) reaction. The amphiphilic interlayer not only restricted the formation of the polyamide (PA) matrix in the pores of the substrate but also accelerated spatially more homogeneous polymerization and formed a PA active layer with a more uniform pore size distribution. The method may provide an effective principle for the construction of versatile polyamide-based membranes with high perm-selectivity on various supports. The NaCl/Na2SO4 separation factor of the D-8/PA membrane reached as high as 204.07, while the flux increased up to 25.71 L m–2 h–1 bar–1. This progress provides a more feasible way for the construction of high-quality TFC membranes with a devisable and creative amphiphilic interlayer for industrial application

Table1_Causal effects of various types of physical activities on psychiatric disorders: a Mendelian randomization study.xls

BackgroundPsychiatric disorders (PD) pose a significant burden, with vast prevalence and mortality, inflicting substantial costs on individuals and society. Despite its widespread prevalence, the complex pathogenesis of PD remains elusive, leading to limited and challenging therapeutic development. An emerging risk factor for chronic diseases, prolonged sedentary behavior, contrasts with the therapeutic potential of exercise, regardless of its intensity, for various ailments, including PD. Yet, the diversity in exercise modalities and intensities may offer varied impacts on health. This study, leveraging Mendelian Randomization (MR), seeks to investigate the causal relationship between exercise and PD, aiming to elucidate the optimal exercise modality and intensity for PD mitigation while addressing potential confounders.MethodsThis study employed a Mendelian randomization analysis using the genome-wide association study (GWAS) database to investigate the causal relationship between types of physical activity and psychiatric disorders. Sensitivity analysis was conducted to demonstrate the reliability and robustness of the results.ResultsIn the past 4 weeks, engaging in a substantial amount of DIY physical activity was found to have a causal relationship with psychiatric disorders (IVW: OR = 0.228, 95% CI: 0.113–0.461, P = 0.000038). As for the types of exercises, there may be a potential causal association between aerobic training (including swimming, cycling, fitness, and bowling) and psychiatric disorders (IVW: OR = 0.322, 95% CI = 0.148–0.704, P = 0.004). However, there was no causal relationship found between mild DIY physical activity and psychiatric disorders (IVW: OR = 0.918, 95% CI = 0.417–2.021, P = 0.831). Furthermore, it seems that there is no causal relationship between vigorous exercise and psychiatric disorders (IVW: OR = 2.705, 95% CI = 0.081–3.419, P = 0.578).ConclusionOur study confirms that only a certain level of training activity can have a protective effect on psychiatric disorders, while mild physical activity or vigorous training does not have an impact on psychiatric disorders.</p

Microfluidics Fabrication of Monodisperse Biocompatible Phospholipid Vesicles for Encapsulation and Delivery of Hydrophilic Drug or Active Compound

We encapsulate the hydrophilic anti-cancer drug doxurubicin hydrochloride (DOX) with about 94% drug encapsulation efficiency, either alone or with nanomagnetite, in monodisperse biocompatible phospholipid vesicles. Glass capillary microfluidics is used to generate monodisperse water in oil in water (w/o/w) double-emulsion templates with a core–shell structure by using a mixture of liquid unsaturated phospholipids and powdered saturated phospholipid. This combination would overcome the low transition temperature of unsaturated powdered phospholipid and the solubility limitation of saturated phospholipid, as well as improving the fabrication of stable monodisperse phospholipid vesicles. The double-emulsion droplet is controlled from 50 to 200 μm according to different flow rates, and the final phospholipid vesicles are retained after a solvent removal step by dewetting. DOX-loaded phospholipid vesicles show sustained release compared with free DOX water solution. The in vitro cell viability of 100 μg/mL phospholipid vesicles on HeLa or MCF-7 cells after 24 h incubation at 310 K is above 90%, confirming the excellent biocompatibility of the phospholipid vesicles. These biocompatible phospholipid vesicles are promising oral drug delivery vehicles for biomedical applications and magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents for biomedical diagnosis

Preparation of a Water-Based Lubricant from Lignocellulosic Biomass and Its Tribological Properties

Lignocellulosic biomass is considered as a major feedstock to produce value-added renewable chemicals. In this study, a new water-based lubricant was prepared using biomass-derived levulinic acid (LA) and polyols such as ethylene glycol and glycerol. The products were separated by rotary film molecular distillation and characterized by ¹H NMR and mass spectrometry. Lubricant properties such as kinematic viscosity, pour, cloud, and flash points, copper strip corrosion, and volatility at 120 °C were evaluated according to standard ASTM methods. Furthermore, the hydrolytic stability and tribological properties of the products were tested for water-based lubricants. The results indicated that glycerol ester of levulinic acid (LAGLE) exhibited superior lubricant properties, strong resistance to hydrolytic degradation, and excellent antiwear performance, implying that the biomass-derived LAGLE was a potential water-based lubricant

Contribution of the Excited Triplet State of Humic Acid and Superoxide Radical Anion to Generation and Elimination of Phenoxyl Radical

Contributions of excited triplet state of humic acid (³HA*) and superoxide radical anion (O₂^•–), which is mainly generated via the reaction of O₂ with HA-derived reducing intermediates (HA^•–), to phenol transformation were revealed using acetaminophen, 2,4,6-trimethylphenol and tyrosine as probe molecules. Phenol transformation was initiated by ³HA*, leading to the formation of the phenoxyl radical (PhO•), but the distribution of transformation intermediates was codetermined by ³HA* and HA^•–. The influence of HA^•– essentially resulted from the production of O₂^•–, which affected the fate of PhO•. PhO• could undergo dimerization, or react with O₂^•–, leading to either phenol peroxide formation (radical addition) or phenol regeneration (electron transfer). In addition, PhO• could bind to HA or react with HA radicals, particularly in the absence of O₂ and O₂^•–. These PhO• reactions were dependent on the reduction potential and structure of PhO•. This study also proved that the reaction of phenol with ¹O₂ and the reaction of PhO• with O₂^•– lead to the same oxidation product. The contributions of ³HA* and its generated ¹O₂, HA^•– and its generated O₂^•– to phenol transformation were pH-dependent