Divergent Annulations via Organocatalysis: Remote-Controlled and Switchable Reactions of Pyrrolidinone-Based Morita-Baylis-Hillman Carbonates with 2-Arylideneindane-1,3-diones.

Developing versatile synthons for diversity-oriented synthesis is of great interest, and the switchable divergent transformations of these synthons pose a challenging task. Herein, we report the first organocatalytic remote-controlled divergent annulations of pyrrolidinone-based Morita-Baylis-Hillman carbonates with 2-arylideneindane-1,3-diones. Through precise catalyst control, this transformative platform enables selective access to distinct spirocyclic architectures: 4-dimethylaminopyridine catalysis orchestrates a formal (5 + 2)-annulation between C and C, delivering structurally complex spiro[cyclohepta[]pyrrole-6,2'-indene]-8-carboxylates, while PPh catalysis redirects the reaction pathway toward a unprecedented (3 + 2)-annulation between C and C, generating synthetically valuable (spiro[cyclopenta[]pyrrole-6,2'-inden]-3-yl)acrylates.

LC-MS/MS-based metabolic profiling: unraveling the impact of varying degrees of curing on metabolite transformations in tobacco.

The curing process regulates metabolite transformations of leaves and significantly influences the formation of tobacco quality. This study investigated the major physicochemical compositions and metabolic profiles under normal curing (NC), excessive curing (EC), and insufficient curing (IC) treatments. The results indicated that the contents of nicotine, nitrogen, potassium, and chlorine remained stable among treatments, while the sugar content in EC was significantly lower than in IC.

Associations between brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity and hypertensive retinopathy in treated hypertensive adults: Results from the China Stroke Primary Prevention Trial (CSPPT).

Although the association between persistent hypertension and the compromise of both micro- and macro-circulatory functions is well recognized, a significant gap in quantitative investigations exploring the interplay between microvascular and macrovascular injuries still exists. In this study, the authors looked into the relationship between brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and hypertensive retinopathy in treated hypertensive adults. The authors conducted a cross-sectional study of treated hypertensive patients with the last follow-up data from the China Stoke Primary Prevention Trial (CSPPT) in 2013.

A Deep Learning Model for Detecting Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment Using Ophthalmologic Ultrasound Images.

Introduction: Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) is one of the most common fundus diseases. Many rural areas of China have few ophthalmologists, and ophthalmologic ultrasound examination is of great significance for remote diagnosis of RRD. Therefore, this study aimed to develop and evaluate a deep learning (DL) model, to be used for automated RRD diagnosis based on ophthalmologic ultrasound images, in order to support timely diagnosis of RRD in rural and remote areas.

Characteristics of antioxidant capacity and metabolomics analysis of flavonoids in the bran layer of green glutinous rice (Oryza sativa L. var. Glutinosa Matsum).

Green glutinous rice is a unique genetic germplasm that has yet to be adequately studied. This study investigated antioxidant capacity and flavonoid metabolites in the bran layer of green glutinous rice (LvH) compared to purple (HeiH), red (HongH) and white (GJG) varieties. The results showed that LvH bran had significantly higher content of total flavonoids and anthocyanin than that of HongH (1.

Organocatalytic (1+4)-Annulations of MBH Adducts with Electron-Deficient Systems.

Benefited from the rapid development of MBH reaction, the reaction of MBH adducts have been established as the most synthetically useful transformations. However, compared with the well-established allylic alkylations and (3+2)-annulations, the (1+4)-annulations of MBH adducts have not developed rapidly until recently. As a helpful complement to the (3+2)-annulations of MBH adducts, the (1+4)-annulations of MBH adducts opens a robust access to structurally diverse five-membered carbo- and heterocycles.

Recent Advances in Alkali-Activated Materials with Seawater and Sea Sand.

The development of sustainable cementitious materials is essential and urgent for the construction industry. Benefiting from excellent engineering properties and a reduced greenhouse gas footprint, alkali-activated materials (AAM) are among the robust alternatives to Portland cement for civil infrastructure. Meanwhile, concrete production also accounts for around 20% of all industrial water consumption, and the global freshwater shortage is increasing.

Efficient Co-Valorization of Phosphogypsum and Red Mud for Synthesis of Alkali-Activated Materials.

Phosphogypsum and red mud are bulk industrial solid wastes that trigger local environmental problems. In the present investigation, an efficient valorization process was developed through which phosphogypsum and red mud can be transformed into a precursor for the synthesis of high-strength, alkali-activated materials with a seawater-bearing sodium silicate solution as the alkaline activator. The effects of the activator modulus and liquid-to-solid ratio on the strength evolution of the synthesized AAMs as well as the microstructure and chemistry of the reaction products were investigated.

Co-treatment of municipal solid waste incineration fly ash (MSWI FA) and municipal sludge: A innovative method to improve sludge dewatering with fly ash dechlorination.

The complexity of municipal sludge dewatering is a bottleneck problem limiting resource utilization. In this paper, adding municipal solid waste incineration fly ash (MSWI FA) to municipal sludge for enhanced dewatering was applied, while the chlorine salt in MSWI FA was simultaneously removed using water in municipal sludge. The effects of different dosages and chemical components of MSWI FA on municipal sludge dewatering, and the removal effect of municipal sludge washing on Cl element were investigated.

Basic Research on Co-treatment of Municipal Solid Waste Incineration Fly Ash and Municipal Sludge for Energy-Saving Melting.

MSWI fly ash and municipal sludge are solid wastes. Melting vitrification treatment was a resource utilization method. However, the flow temperature of grate furnace MSWI fly ash and municipal sludge was high (>1325 °C), which increased the energy consumption in the melting process.

Organocatalytic formal [3 + 3] cyclization of α-(6-indolyl) propargylic alcohols.

With the aid of acetic acid, a 1,10-conjugate addition-mediated formal [3 + 3] cyclization of alkynyl indole imine methides formed from α-(6-indolyl) propargylic alcohols with 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds such as 4-hydroxycoumarins and cyclohexane-1,3-diones was developed, which provided robust access to a wide range of pyranocoumarin and pyran derivatives containing an indole skeleton with high efficiency under mild conditions.

Organocatalytic Enantioselective 1,10-Addition of Alkynyl Indole Imine Methides with Thiazolones: An Access to Axially Chiral Tetrasubstituted Allenes.

An asymmetric organocatalytic remote 1,10-addition of alkynyl indole imine methides generated from α-(6-indolyl) propargylic alcohols with thiazolones has been developed for the first time, affording axially chiral tetrasubstituted allenes featuring vicinal sulfur-containing quaternary carbon stereocenters in high yields with excellent stereoselectivities. The representative scale-up reaction and transformations of the 1,10-adduct were examined. The reaction mechanism was expounded by control experiments and DFT calculations.

Organocatalytic Enantioselective Formal (4 + 2)-Cycloadditions of Phosphine-Containing Dipoles with Isocyanates.

Phosphine-catalyzed enantioselective formal (4 + 2)-cycloadditions of 2-(4-benzo[][1,3]oxazin-4-yl)acrylates with isocyanates have been developed for the first time. The initial S2' attack of the chiral phosphine organocatalyst on 2-(4-benzo[][1,3]oxazin-4-yl)acrylates generated the key phosphine-containing dipolar intermediates, and the subsequent formal cycloaddition with isocyanates furnished a broad scope of 3,4-dihydroquinazolin-2-ones in 60-84% yields with 61-92% ee.

Investigation on the application of by-product steam in iron ore sintering: performance and function mechanism.

The combustion-supporting effect of steam to coke breeze in sintering has the potential to improve sinter quality and reduce pollutants emissions. The results show that increasing the by-product steam injection concentration (0.32-0.

Organocatalytic Regio- and Enantioselective [3 + 2]-Annulations of Ninhydrin-Derived Morita-Baylis-Hillman Carbonates with 3-Methyleneoxindoles.

A type of Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) carbonates has been developed from ninhydrin. These MBH carbonates have been successfully employed as 3C-synthons in the organocatalytic asymmetric [3 + 2]-annulations of the isatin-derived electron-deficient olefins, affording structurally diverse spirooxindoles in high yield with excellent stereoselectivity. In particular, the regioselectivity of MBH carbonates was controlled by the reaction partner, 3-methyleneoxindoles with carbonyl groups (R = ArCO), affording β-selective products and 3-methyleneoxindoles with ester groups (R = COMe) furnishing selective products.

A novel multifunctional nanoparticles formed by molecular recognition between AS1411 aptamer and redox-responsive paclitaxel-nucleoside analogue prodrug for combination treatment of β-lapachone and paclitaxel.

Despite its high antitumor activity, the clinical application of chemotherapy is greatly impeded by lacking of specific accumulation and poor solubility. To address the above challenges, we designed a AS1411 aptamer modified nanoparticles based on molecular recognition of nucleobases. Firstly, a redox sensitive Paclitaxel-SS-Zidovudine (PZ) prodrug was synthesized.

Self-Compacting Alkali-Activated Materials: Progress and Perspectives.

Alkali-activated materials (AAMs) are considered to be alternative cementitious materials for civil infrastructures. Nowadays, efforts have been made in developing AAMs with self-compacting ability. The obtained self-compacting AAMs (SCAAMs) accomplish superior passing and filling properties as well as excellent mechanical and environmental advantages.

Hypertensive Retinopathy and the Risk of Stroke Among Hypertensive Adults in China.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the association between hypertensive retinopathy and the risk of first stroke, examine possible effect modifiers in hypertensive patients, and test the appropriateness of the Keith-Wagener-Barker (KWB) classification for predicting stroke risk.

Methods: In total, 9793 hypertensive participants (3727 males and 6066 females) without stroke history from the China Stroke Primary Prevention Trial were included in this study. The primary outcome was first stroke.

Organocatalytic enantioselective [2 + 4]-annulation of γ-substituted allenoates with -acyldiazenes for the synthesis of optically active 1,3,4-oxadiazines.

An enantioselective [2 + 4]-annulation of γ-substituted allenoates with N-acyldiazenes has been developed for the first time. In the presence of an l-proline-derived DMAP analogue, the annulation proceeded smoothly to afford a broad range of 1,3,4-oxadiazine derivatives in good to excellent yields with high stereoselectivities.

Redox-responsive nanoparticles based on Chondroitin Sulfate and Docetaxel prodrug for tumor targeted delivery of Docetaxel.

In this paper, a novel redox-responsive nanoparticles has been designed for targeted delivery of docetaxel (DTX). Chondroitin sulfate (CS) was used to construct the nanoparticles due to the ability of tumor targeting through binding with CD44 receptor that overexpresses on the surfaces of various tumor cells. A redox-responsive small-molecular DTX prodrug was prepared through modifying with cystamine containing disulfide bonds (Cys-DTX).

Co-disposal of municipal solid waste incineration fly ash and bottom slag: A novel method of low temperature melting treatment.

Conventional melting for disposing municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) fly ash or bottom slag needed high temperature and consumed high energy. High calcium content in fly ash and high silicon content in bottom slag brought them high melting point, respectively. Based on the analysis of chemical composition and phase diagram, suitable contents, namely 30%-40% CaO, 45%-60% SiO and 10%-15% AlO, were proposed to obtain a lower-melting-point mixture system.

Organocatalytic Regio- and Enantioselective 1,8-Additions of Nitrogen and Sulfur Nucleophiles to 6-Methylene-6-indoles.

Remote stereocontrolled 1,8-addition of heteroatom nucleophiles to 6-methylene-6-indoles generated from 6-indolylmethanols has been developed for the first time. With the aid of a chiral phosphoric acid, 6-indolylmethanols reacted with benzotriazoles to furnish 1,8-adducts with a nitrogen-containing tertiary carbon stereocenter in 54-80% yield with 76-92% ee. Importantly, the stereoselective 1,8-addition of benzotriazoles featured N selectivity.

Positive relationship of hypertensive retinopathy with carotid intima--media thickness in hypertensive patients.

Objectives: We aimed to explore the relationship of hypertensive retinopathy with carotid intima--media thickness (CIMT), and to examine the possible effect modifiers in Chinese adults with hypertension.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 12 342 hypertensive patients with complete exit site visit data from the China Stroke Primary Prevention Trial. CIMT was measured by carotid ultrasonography.