Crown Ether-Peptide Rotaxanes.

We report on the metal-free active template synthesis of crown ether-peptide rotaxanes. A 24-crown-8 ring is sufficiently small that the side chains of canonical branched amino acids act as barriers that trap the macrocycle on the particular glycine residue used to assemble the rotaxane. The resulting crown ether-tripeptide rotaxane can subsequently be extended from either or both N- and C-termini of the axle.

The Genus Stauntonia DC.: Botany, Phytochemistry, Bioactivity, and Application.

Background: The plants of genus Stauntonia DC. are important Chinese medicines. To better develop and utilize the edible and medicinal values of Stauntonia DC.

A uranyl-based luminescent dosimeter for ultralow-dose tracking of UV and X-ray radiation.

Herein, we report a novel uranyl-based organic-inorganic hybrid dosimeter, designated as U-OX-PIP. Remarkably, U-OX-PIP exhibits UV/X-ray-induced fluorescence quenching responses, which are characterized by a gradual suppression of the uranyl emission signature. The pronounced fluorescence quenching behavior of U-OX-PIP enables its application as a highly sensitive radiation-responsive material.

Nickel Ion Induced Multistage Assembly of Th Cluster.

Clusters have proven useful models to elucidate the correlation between macroscopic properties and microstructures. However, the actinide clusters still remain much less developed compared to the splendid and systematic works of other members of this family. Here we show the synthesis of a tetra-shell mixed-metal cluster [ThO@Th(OH)@Ni(HO)@(sba)] (IHEP-25, Hsba: 2-sulfobenzoic acid) with the strategic introduction of competitive Ni ions.

Acupuncture regulates astrocyte neurotoxic polarization to protect blood-brain barrier integrity in delayed thrombolysis through mediating ERK1/2/Cx43 axis.

Background: Thrombolytic therapy remains the standard treatment for acute ischemic stroke. The narrow window for thrombolysis means that delay in treatment worsens brain injury. Astrocytes regulate blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity and neuroinflammation, yet their neurotoxic polarization exacerbates injury in neuropathological conditions, including ischemic stroke.

Protective Effects of Qingre Sanjie Jiaonang on Pulmonary Fibrosis: A Pilot Study.

Background: Qingre Sanjie Jiaonang (QRSJ) is a single herbal preparation from Senecio scandens Buch.-Ham.ex D.

Short-lived reactive components substantially contribute to particulate matter oxidative potential.

Exposure to airborne particulate matter (PM) has been attributed to millions of deaths annually. However, the PM components responsible for observed health effects remain unclear. Oxidative potential (OP) has gained increasing attention as a key property that may explain PM toxicity.

Mitochondrial ROS-associated integrated stress response is involved in arsenic-induced blood-testis barrier disruption and protective effect of melatonin.

Arsenic (As) is an environmental metalloid. Previous studies have demonstrated that As exposure resulted in decline of sperm quality. This study aimed to investigate the impact of exposure to As on blood-testis barrier (BTB) in a mouse model.

Chronic NaAsO exposure promotes migration and invasion of prostate cancer cells by Akt/GSK-3β/β-catenin/TCF4 axis-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

Inorganic arsenic is a Class I human Carcinogen. However, the role of chronic inorganic arsenic exposure on prostate cancer metastasis still unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects and mechanism of chronic NaAsO exposure on migration and invasion of prostate cancer cells.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Thomas, 1907 (Rodentia: Sicistidae) and its phylogenetic analyses.

This study aimed to examine the complete mitogenome sequence of Thomas, 1907. A circular double-stranded structure made up the mitochondrial genome of . The complete length of the mitochondrial genome was 16,629 bp.

Clothianidin Exposure Induces Cell Apoptosis via Mitochondrial Oxidative Damage.

Clothianidin (CLO) is a high-frequently detected neonicotinoid pesticide in fruits and vegetables, whose exposure security deserves attention. This study evaluated the apoptotic toxicity of CLO on Caco-2 cells at doses of 100 nM, 10 μM, and 1 mM. After exposure, CLO induced to a remarkable change of signaling proteins that participated in the process of cell apoptosis, including caspase 3, cleaved-caspase 3, and caspase 9.

Positional Isomerism: A Novel Paradigm for Enhancing Iodine Adsorption in Functionalized Metal-Organic Frameworks.

Porous metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have shown great potential as adsorbents for capturing radioiodine, a major fission product generated during the reprocessing of nuclear fuel. However, studies exploring the correlation between the structure of MOFs and iodine uptake capacity remain notably rare. In this study, we introduce a new strategy for enhancing the iodine adsorption efficiency of MOFs by strategically varying the position of functional groups on the organic linkers.

Unusual and Persistent Free Radical Intermediate Production from 2-Pyridyl Ketones via UV Irradiation: A Direct ESR Study.

Aryl ketones are often used as photosensitizers and photoinitiators. Free radical intermediates have been suggested, but not confirmed, to be generated after photoirradiation. Here we found, unexpectedly, that a persistent radical was produced from di-2-pyridyl ketone after UV irradiation, which was detected by the direct ESR method.

ACAT1 Induces the Differentiation of Glioblastoma Cells by Rewiring Choline Metabolism.

Abnormal differentiation of cells is a hallmark of malignancy. Induction of cancer-cell differentiation is emerging as a novel therapeutic strategy with low toxicity in hematological malignances, but whether such treatment can be used in solid tumors is not known. Here, we uncovered a novel function of acetyl coenzyme A acetyltransferase (ACAT1) in regulating the differentiation of glioblastoma (GBM) cells.

Enantiomer Recognition by the Difference in Adsorption Rates on the Surfaces of Chiral Crystals.

The chirality of biopolymers remains one of the mysteries of Life. For such objects, the phenomenon of supramolecular chirality (SMC) is vital. Enantiomers can be recognized by the adsorption on surfaces with SMC.

Active template synthesis.

The active template synthesis of mechanically interlocked molecular architectures exploits the dual ability of various structural elements (metals or, in the case of metal-free active template synthesis, particular arrangements of functional groups) to serve as both a template for the organisation of building blocks and as a catalyst to facilitate the formation of covalent bonds between them. This enables the entwined or threaded intermediate structure to be covalently captured under kinetic control. Unlike classical passive template synthesis, the intercomponent interactions transiently used to promote the assembly typically do not 'live on' in the interlocked product, meaning that active template synthesis can be traceless and used for constructing mechanically interlocked molecules that do not feature strong binding interactions between the components.

Cinquefoil Knot Possessing Dynamic and Tunable Metal Coordination.

While the majority of knots are made from the metal-template approach, the use of entangled, constrained knotted loops to modulate the coordination of the metal ions remains inadequately elucidated. Here, we report on the coordination chemistry of a 140-atom-long cinquefoil knotted strand comprising five tridentate and five bidentate chelating vacancies. The knotted loop is prepared through the self-assembly of asymmetric "3 + 2" dentate ligands with copper(II) ions that favor five-coordination geometry.

Associations between non-insulin-based insulin resistance indices and heart failure prevalence in overweight/obesity adults without diabetes mellitus: evidence from the NHANES 2001-2018.

Background: The triglyceride glucose (TyG) index and triglyceride-to-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL-C) ratio are recognized as simple non-insulin-based insulin resistance indices. Our study aimed to explore the relationship between these two indicators and heart failure (HF) in overweight or obesity individuals without diabetes.

Methods: This cross-sectional study selected 13,473 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2001-2018 dataset.

The use of amino acids and their derivates to mitigate against pesticide-induced toxicity.

Exposure to pesticides induces oxidative stress and deleterious effects on various tissues in non-target organisms. Numerous models investigating pesticide exposure have demonstrated metabolic disturbances such as imbalances in amino acid levels within the organism. One potentially effective strategy to mitigate pesticide toxicity involves dietary intervention by supplementing exogenous amino acids and their derivates to augment the body's antioxidant capacity and mitigate pesticide-induced oxidative harm, whose mechanism including bolstering glutathione synthesis, regulating arginine-NO metabolism, mitochondria-related oxidative stress, and the open of ion channels, as well as enhancing intestinal microecology.

Ionic liquid post-modified carboxylate-rich MOFs for efficient catalytic CO cycloaddition under solvent-free conditions.

The synthesis of cyclic carbonates through cycloaddition reactions between epoxides and carbon dioxide (CO) is an important industrial process. Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) have functional and ordered pore structures, making them attractive catalysts for converting gas molecules into valuable products. One approach to enhance the catalytic activity of MOFs in CO cycloaddition reactions is to create open metal sites within MOFs.

Effects of the Host Plants of the Maize-Based Intercropping Systems on the Growth, Development and Preference of Fall Armyworm, (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).

In this paper, the effects of maize and its three intercropping plants, sweet potato, soybean and peanut, on the growth and development of FAW, feeding preference of larvae, olfactory response and oviposition preference of adults were studied in the laboratory. The results showed that maize and peanut were suitable for the survival and development of FAW, while sweet potato and soybean were not suitable for multigenerational reproduction. The larvae significantly preferred to feed on maize compared to the other three plants.

A protocol for the stereoselective synthesis of a Star of David [2]catenane.

Most complex prime links exhibit inherent topological chirality, yet their high stereoinduction remains a rare occurrence. Here, we present a protocol for the stereoselective synthesis of a molecular link comprising two triple entwined rings. We describe steps for constructing the precursor circular helicate, performing ring closure metathesis, and demetallation.