Two rare-earth-based quaternary chalcogenides EuCdGeQ (Q = S, Se) with strong second-harmonic generation.

Two new rare-earth-based chalcogenides EuCdGeQ4 (Q = S, Se) have been designed and constructed by using Eu2+ and the classical NLO-active SBUs of [CdQ4] and [GeQ4]. They crystallize in a non-centrosymmetric Ama2 (no. 40) space group.

Preparation of Pd/C by Atmospheric-Pressure Ethanol Cold Plasma and Its Preparation Mechanism.

Treatment with atmospheric-pressure (AP) hydrogen cold plasma is an effective method for preparing highly active supported metal catalytic materials. However, this technique typically uses H as working gas, which is explosive and difficult to transport. This study proposes the use of PdCl as a Pd precursor and activated carbon as the support to fabricate Pd/C catalytic materials (Pd/C-EP-Ar) by using ethanol-which is renewable, easily stored, and safe-combined with AP cold plasma (AP ethanol cold plasma) followed by calcination in Ar gas at 550 °C for 2 h.

Everolimus inhibits the proliferation and migration of epidermal growth factor receptor-resistant lung cancer cells A549 via regulating the microRNA-4328/phosphatase and tensin homolog signaling pathway.

Lung cancer is the most common cancer type worldwide, and investigating novel therapeutics methods for the treatment of chemoresistant lung cancer are of notable clinical significance. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting assays were performed to analyze the expression levels of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) and microRNA-4328 (miR-4328), and Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and Transwell migration assays were conducted to evaluate the proliferation and migration of A549 cells, respectively. Everolimus was observed to upregulate the expression of PTEN and inhibit the proliferation and migration of A549 cells in a dose-dependent manner.

Colesevelam enhances the beneficial effects of brown fat activation on hyperlipidaemia and atherosclerosis development.

Aims: Brown fat activation accelerates the uptake of cholesterol-enriched remnants by the liver and thereby lowers plasma cholesterol, consequently protecting against atherosclerosis development. Hepatic cholesterol is then converted into bile acids (BAs) that are secreted into the intestine and largely maintained within the enterohepatic circulation. We now aimed to evaluate the effects of prolonged brown fat activation combined with inhibition of intestinal BA reabsorption on plasma cholesterol metabolism and atherosclerosis development.

Drug Repurposing of Haloperidol: Discovery of New Benzocyclane Derivatives as Potent Antifungal Agents against Cryptococcosis and Candidiasis.

Despite the high morbidity and mortality of invasive fungal infections (IFIs), effective and safe antifungal agents are rather limited. Starting from antifungal lead compound haloperidol that was identified by drug repurposing, a series of novel benzocyclane derivatives were designed, synthesized, and assayed. Several compounds showed improved antifungal potency and broader antifungal spectra.

Teriflunomide suppresses T helper cells and dendritic cells to alleviate experimental autoimmune uveitis.

Autoimmune uveitis (AU), a sight-threatening intraocular disorder, is still a challenge for ophthalmologists in clinic. Teriflunomide has been approved for multiple sclerosis (MS) in 2012 for its immunoregulatory function. However, the effect and mechanisms of teriflunomide in uveitis are still unknown.

Bendable Network Built with Ultralong Silica Nanowires as a Stable Separator for High-Safety and High-Power Lithium-Metal Batteries.

Separators are key safety components for electrochemical energy storage systems. However, the intrinsic poor wettability with electrolyte and low thermal stability of commercial polyolefin separators cannot meet the requirements of the ever-expanding market for high-power, high-energy, and high-safety power systems, such as lithium-metal, lithium-sulfur, and lithium-ion batteries. In this study, scalable bendable networks built with ultralong silica nanowires (SNs) are developed as stable separators for both high-safety and high-power lithium-metal batteries.

BaSrPbOCl: the first alkali-earth metal lead(ii) oxyhalide with an intriguing multimember-ring layer.

The first alkali-earth metal lead(ii) oxyhalide BaSrPbOCl characterized by fascinating multimember-ring layers has been discovered. Theoretical and experimental investigations illustrate that BaSrPbOCl exhibits a moderate band gap of 3.09 eV, incongruent melting behavior and birefringence of 0.

Bacterial resistance to lead: Chemical basis and environmental relevance.

Natural bacterial isolates from heavily contaminated sites may evolve diverse tolerance strategies, including biosorption, efflux mechanism, and intracellular precipitation under the continually increased stress of toxic lead (Pb) from anthropogenic activities. These strategies utilize a large variety of functional groups in biological macromolecules (e.g.

The cAMP-Adenosine Feedback Loop Maintains the Suppressive Function of Regulatory T Cells.

Therapeutic manipulation of regulatory T cells (Tregs) has been regarded as a promising approach for the treatment of immune disorders. However, a better understanding of the immunomodulatory mechanisms of Tregs and new safe and effective methods to improve the therapeutic effects of Tregs are highly desired. In this study, we have identified the key roles of a cAMP-adenosine positive feedback loop in the immunomodulatory function of Tregs.

Antagonism between Antiviral Signaling and Glycolysis.

RIG-I-like receptor (RLR)-mediated interferon production is critical for antiviral responses. A recent study (Zhang et al., Cell, 2019) uncovered a reciprocal inhibition between RLR signaling and glycolysis: lactate produced by glycolysis inhibits RLR signaling by binding to RLR signaling component mitochondrial antiviral-signaling (MAVS), whereas RLR activation suppresses glycolysis through inhibiting glycolysis enzyme hexokinase.

AHgSnQ (A = Sr, Ba; Q = S, Se): A Series of Hg-Based Infrared Nonlinear-Optical Materials with Strong Second-Harmonic-Generation Response and Good Phase Matchability.

Four Hg-based IR nonlinear-optical materials, AHgSnQ (A = Sr, Ba; Q = S, Se), were discovered and investigated systematically. Their structures are built of two-dimensional [HgSnQ] layers, which are assembled alternately by distorted (HgQ and SnQ) tetrahedra and separated by eight-coordinated A cations. The two sulfides AHgSnS (A = Ba, Sr) exhibit large second-harmonic-generation (SHG) responses (2.

Nitric oxide might be an inducing factor in cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease via downregulating the monocarboxylate transporter 1.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a typical neurodegenerative disease in central nervous system (CNS). Generally speaking, patients with severe AD are often accompanied with cognitive impairment. Oligodendrocytes (OLs) are myelin-forming cells in CNS, and myelin injury potentially has something to do with the cognitive impairment in AD.

The synthesis of CB[8]/ZnO composites materials with enhanced photocatalytic activities.

Enhancing the separation of hole-electron pairs is one of the valid pathway to enhance the photocatalytic degradation performance of semiconductors. In this work, cucurbit[8]uril/zinc oxide (CB[8]/ZnO) composites were prepared. The structure, morphology, surface elements and optical properties of the composite are characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoemission spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and specific surface area measurements.

Serum starvation induces cell death in NSCLC via miR-224.

Increasing evidence suggests that microRNAs (miRNAs) may be involved in the occurrence and progression of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In the present study, we used serum-starved A549 cells emulating tumor under a nutrient depletion stress in the microenvironment. We first detected the expression level of miR-224 between tumor tissues and the adjacent normal tissues.

Enhanced Ganoderic Acids Accumulation and Transcriptional Responses of Biosynthetic Genes in Fruiting Bodies by Elicitation Supplementation.

Ganoderic acids (GAs) are a type of highly oxygenated lanostane-type triterpenoids that are responsible for the pharmacological activities of . They have been investigated for their biological activities, including antibacterial, antiviral, antitumor, anti-HIV-1, antioxidation, and cholesterol reduction functions. Inducer supplementation is viewed as a promising technology for the production of GAs.

TGF-β1-induced connexin43 promotes scar formation via the Erk/MMP-1/collagen III pathway.

Wound healing can be divided into different phases, and timely initiation and cessation of these stages is key to successful wound healing; otherwise, scar tissue forms in the wounded area. Connexins (Cxs) were confirmed to influence scar formation, and Cx43, an indispensable member of the Cx family, was shown to be involved in this process. Our study investigated the regulatory role of Cx43 in scar formation and the possible cell signalling pathways.

Structural Basis for the Inhibition of CRISPR-Cas12a by Anti-CRISPR Proteins.

CRISPR-Cas12a (Cpf1), a type V CRISPR-associated nuclease, provides bacterial immunity against bacteriophages and plasmids but also serves as a tool for genome editing. Foreign nucleic acids are integrated into the CRISPR locus, prompting transcription of CRISPR RNAs (crRNAs) that guide Cas12a cleavage of foreign complementary DNA. However, mobile genetic elements counteract Cas12a with inhibitors, notably type V-A anti-CRISPRs (AcrVAs).

Microbial biofilm formation and community structure on low-density polyethylene microparticles in lake water microcosms.

The occurrence of microplastics (MPs) in the environment has been gaining widespread attention globally. MP-colonizing microorganisms are important links for MPs contamination in various ecosystems, but have not been well understood. To partially address this issue, the present study investigated biofilm formation by microorganisms originating from lake water on low-density polyethylene (LDPE) MPs using a cultivation approach and the surface-related effects on the MP-associated microbial communities using 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing.

Graphene oxide-based materials for efficient removal of heavy metal ions from aqueous solution: A review.

Graphene with atomic layer of sp-hybridized carbon atoms in a hexagonal structure has attracted multidisciplinary attention since its discovery. Due to the inherent advantages of large specific surface area and abundant functional groups, its derivative graphene oxide (GO) nanomaterials have achieved large-scale development in effective pollution treatment. In the past few years, novel GO-based nanomaterials through coupling with other nanomaterials have been synthesized with significant process and applied for efficient elimination of different kinds of pollutants.

Anode potentials regulate Geobacter biofilms: New insights from the composition and spatial structure of extracellular polymeric substances.

The extracellular electron transfer (EET) efficiency in bioelectrochemical systems has been proven to be dependent on anode potentials. To explore the underlying mechanism, previous studies have mainly focused on EET conduit and bacterial biomass but rarely concerned with the role of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) surrounding electroactive cells. In this study, the response of Geobacter biofilms to anode potentials was investigated with a special emphasis on the mechanistic role of EPS.

Designed MnS/CoS micro-flowers composites with serrate edges as high-performance electrodes for asymmetric supercapacitor.

The three-dimensional (3D) MnS/CoS (MCS) micro-flowers composites with serrate edges on Ni foam were successfully prepared by a facile hydrothermal method. The time-dependent experiments showed that the structure was assembled by two-dimensional (2D) nanobelts. The serrate edges structures of MCS can enrich electroactive sites and enhance the specific capacity (1070 C/g at 1 A/g).

Discovery of Simplified Sampangine Derivatives with Potent Antifungal Activities against Cryptococcal Meningitis.

Cryptococcal meningitis (CM) is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Current antifungal drug therapy for CM has the following challenges: limited efficacy, significant side effects, emerging drug resistance, and unavailability in highly needed countries. There is an urgent need to develop novel CM therapeutic agents with a new mode of action.

Synthesis, Structure, and Characterization of Two Mixed-Cation Quaternary Chalcogenides KBaSnQ (Q = S, Se).

Two new isostructural metal chalcogenides, KBaSnS and KBaSnSe, have been isolated for the first time. They feature the intriguing ∞ 1[BaSnQ] (Q = S, Se) tunnel structures which are separated by K cations. Experiments combined with theoretical calculations demonstrate that KBaSnS possesses a large energy gap (3.