New Polynuclear Copper-Pyrazolate Complexes: Towards the Synthesis of Photo- and Redox-Active Metal Organic Frameworks

The main objectives of this project are the synthesis and redox- or photo-active modification and CO2 adsorption studies of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) based on Cu3-pyrazolate secondary building units (SBUs). Trinuclear copper(II) complexes of the formula [Cu3(µ3-O)(µ-4-R-pz)3X3]z have been studied extensively due to their redox, magnetic and catalytic properties. In earlier work, we have shown that trinuclear copper(II) complexes of the formula [Cu3(µ3-O)(µ-4-R-pz)3X3]z pz = pyrazolato anion; R = H, CH(O), Cl, Br and NO2; X = Cl, NCS, CH3COO, CF3COO and pyridine – can be oxidized to the corresponding z+1, formally CuII2CuIII, species. In this project, fourteen (14) new copper-pyrazolate complexes of varying nuclearities (Cu3, Cu6, Cu7 and Cu12), terminal ligands (-NO2, py, -N3, -Cl) and bridging ligands (4-Cl-pzH and 4-Ph-pzH) have been synthesized. Efforts have been made to prepare MOFs based on the Cu3(µ3-O)-SBUs. While attempting to design the most suitable SBU for redox-active MOF construction, it was found that the one-electron oxidation of the all-CuII complex [Cu3(µ3-O)(µ-pz)3(NO2)3]2–, [8]2-, was achieved at redox potential more cathodic than any other Cu3(µ3-O)-complexes studied in our laboratory. The mixed-valent compound, [Cu3(µ3-O)(µ-pz)3(NO2)3]–, [8]-, the easiest accessible CuII2CuIII species known to date, was characterized spectroscopically. Compound [8] and analogous [11] release NO almost quantitatively upon the addition of PhSH or acetic acid. The system is catalytic in the presence of excess nitrite. Before embarking on the study of photo-active MOFs, a simpler model compound – a dimer of trimer [{Cu3(µ3-OH)(µ-4-Cl-pz)3(py)2}2(µ-abp)](ClO4)4 [21], where abp = 4,4’-azopyridine, was synthesized and its photochemistry was studied. The absorption spectra recorded before and after irradiation indicated a structural change. Two dimensional (2D) and three dimensional (3D) materials with {[Cu3(µ3-OH)(µ-4-R-pz)3]2+}n SBUs where R = Ph or Cl , which can potentially undergo cis/trans-isomerization, have been prepared during this project. A Phenyl substituent at 4-position on the pyrazole ligand leads to the formation of new class of 2D sheets. Three new 3D porous MOFs based on {[Cu3(µ3-OH)(µ-4-Cl-pz)3]2+}n SBUs have interpenetrated- lattice structures and are capable of adsorbing CO2 selectively. Compounds FIU-1 and FIU-3 also exhibit hysteretic sorption-desorption profiles indicating the flexibility of the MOFs upon adsorption. Compound FIU-1 demonstrates the usefulness of a hexanuclear CuII -pyrazolate moiety as an SBU for generating 3-fold interpenetrated 3D polymeric network. Complexes FIU-2 and FIU-3 have novel 3-fold interpenetrating 3D hexagonal framework structures. Compound FIU-2 crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system with the P21/c space group, whereas FIU-3 crystallizes in triclinic space group P . Both structures contain Cu3-SBUs connected by the linkers through the Cu-termini

Modelling the Vegetation Response to Climate Changes in the Yarlung Zangbo River Basin Using Random Forest

Vegetation coverage variation may influence watershed water balance and water resource availability. Yarlung Zangbo River, the longest river on the Tibetan Plateau, has high spatial heterogeneity in vegetation coverage and is the main freshwater resource of local residents and downstream countries. In this study, we proposed a model based on random forest (RF) to predict the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) of the Yarlung Zangbo River Basin and explore its relationship with climatic factors. High-resolution datasets of NDVI and monthly meteorological observation data from 2000 to 2015 were used to calibrate and validate the proposed model. The proposed model was then compared with artificial neural network and support vector machine models, and principal component analysis and partial correlation analysis were also used for predictor selection of artificial neural network and support vector machine models for comparative study. The results show that RF had the highest model efficiency among the compared models. The Nash–Sutcliffe coefficients of the proposed model in the calibration period and verification period were all higher than 0.8 for the five subzones; this indicated that the proposed model can successfully simulate the relationship between the NDVI and climatic factors. By using built-in variable importance evaluation, RF chose appropriate predictor combinations without principle component analysis or partial correlation analysis. Our research is valuable because it can be integrated into water resource management and elucidates ecological processes in Yarlung Zangbo River Basin

Transition routes of electrokinetic flow in a divergent microchannel with bending walls

Electrokinetic flow can be generated as a highly coupled phenomenon among velocity field, electric conductivity field and electric field. It can exhibit different responses to AC electric fields in different frequency regimes, according to different instability/receptivity mechanisms. In this investigation, by both flow visualization and single-point laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) method, the response of AC electrokinetic flow and the transition routes towards chaos and turbulence have been experimentally investigated. It is found, when the AC frequency $f_f<30$ Hz, the interface responds at both the neutral frequency of the basic flow and the AC frequency. However, when $f_f>=30$ Hz, the interface responds only at the neutral frequency of the basic flow. Both periodic doubling and subcritical bifurcations have been observed in the transition of AC electrokinetic flow. We hope the current investigation can promote our current understanding on the ultrafast transition process of electrokinetic flow from laminar state to turbulence

The TP53-Related Signature Predicts Immune Cell Infiltration, Therapeutic Response, and Prognosis in Patients With Esophageal Carcinoma

TP53 mutation (TP53MUT) is one of the most common gene mutations and frequently occurs in many cancers, especially esophageal carcinoma (ESCA), and it correlates with clinical prognostic outcomes. Nevertheless, the mechanisms by which TP53MUT regulates the correlation between ESCA and prognosis have not been sufficiently studied. Here, in the current research, we constructed a TP53MUT-related signature to predict the prognosis of patients with esophageal cancer and successfully verified this model in patients in the TP53 mutant group, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma group, and adenocarcinoma group. The risk scores proved to be better independent prognostic factors than clinical features, and prognostic features were combined with other clinical features to establish a convincing nomogram to predict overall survival from 1 to 3 years. In addition, we further predicted the tumor immune cell infiltration, chemical drugs, and immunotherapy responses between the high-risk group and low risk group. Finally, the gene expression of the seven-gene signature (AP002478.1, BHLHA15, FFAR2, IGFBP1, KCTD8, PHYHD1, and SLC26A9) can provide personalized prognosis prediction and insights into new treatments

Who should be prioritized for COVID-19 vaccination in China? A descriptive study.

BACKGROUND: All countries are facing decisions about which population groups to prioritize for access to COVID-19 vaccination after the first vaccine products have been licensed, at which time supply shortages are inevitable. Our objective is to define the key target populations, their size, and priority for a COVID-19 vaccination program in the context of China. METHODS: On the basis of utilitarian and egalitarian principles, we define and estimate the size of tiered target population groups for a phased introduction of COVID-19 vaccination, considering evolving goals as vaccine supplies increase, detailed information on the risk of illness and transmission, and past experience with vaccination during the 2009 influenza pandemic. Using publicly available data, we estimated the size of target population groups, and the number of days needed to vaccinate 70% of the target population. Sensitivity analyses considered higher vaccine coverages and scaled up vaccine delivery relative to the 2009 pandemic. RESULTS: Essential workers, including staff in the healthcare, law enforcement, security, nursing homes, social welfare institutes, community services, energy, food and transportation sectors, and overseas workers/students (49.7 million) could be prioritized for vaccination to maintain essential services in the early phase of a vaccination program. Subsequently, older adults, individuals with underlying health conditions and pregnant women (563.6 million) could be targeted for vaccination to reduce the number of individuals with severe COVID-19 outcomes, including hospitalizations, critical care admissions, and deaths. In later stages, the vaccination program could be further extended to target adults without underlying health conditions and children (784.8 million), in order to reduce symptomatic infections and/or to stop virus transmission. Given 10 million doses administered per day, and a two-dose vaccination schedule, it would take 1 week to vaccinate essential workers but likely up to 7 months to vaccinate 70% of the overall population. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed framework is general but could assist Chinese policy-makers in the design of a vaccination program. Additionally, this exercise could be generalized to inform other national and regional strategies for use of COVID-19 vaccines, especially in low- and middle-income countries