Releasing Free Radicals in Precursor Triggers the Formation of Closed Pores in Hard Carbon for Sodium-Ion Batteries.

Increasing closed pore volume in hard carbon is considered to be the most effective way to enhance the electrochemical performance in sodium-ion batteries. However, there is a lack of systematic insights into the formation mechanisms of closed pores at molecular level. In this study, a regulation strategy of closed pores via adjustment of the content of free radicals is reported. Sufficient free radicals are exposed by part delignification of bamboo, which is related to the formation of well-developed carbon layers and rich closed pores. In addition, excessive free radicals from nearly total delignification lead to more reactive sites during pyrolysis, which competes for limited precursor debris to form smaller microcrystals and therefore compact the material. The optimal sample delivers a large closed pore volume of 0.203 cm3 g-1, which leads to a high reversible capacity of 350 mAh g-1 at 20 mA g-1 and enhanced Na+ transfer kinetics. This work provides insights into the formation mechanisms of closed pores at molecular level, enabling rational design of hard carbon pore structures.

Comparison of the new self-contained darkroom refractive screener versus table-top autorefractor and cycloplegia retinoscopy in detecting refractive error.

PURPOSE: By comparing the results of the new self-contained darkroom refractive screener (YD-SX-A) versus table-top autorefractor and cycloplegic retinoscopy, to evaluate the performance of the YD-SX-A in detecting refractive error in children and adolescents and then judge whether it can be used in refractive screening. METHODS: Cross-sectional study. 1000 participants between the ages of 6 and 18 who visited the Optometry Center of the People's Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region from June to December 2022 were selected. First, participants were instructed to measure their diopter with a table-top autorefractor (Topcon KR8800) and YD-SX-A in a noncycloplegic setting. After cycloplegia, they were retinoscopy by a professional optometrist. The results measured by three methods were collected respectively. To avoid deviation, only the right eye (1000 eyes) data were used in the statistical analysis. The Bland-Altman plots were used to evaluate the agreement of diopters measured by the three methods. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves was used to analysis effectiveness of detecting refractive error of YD-SX-A. RESULTS: The average age of participants was 10.77 ± 3.00 years, including 504 boys (50.4%) and 496 girls (49.6%). When YD-SX-A and cycloplegia retinoscopy (CR) were compared in the myopia group, there was no statistical difference in spherical equivalent (SE) (P > 0.05), but there was a statistical difference in diopter spherical (DS) and diopter cylinder (DC) (P < 0.05). Comparing the diopter results of Topcon KR8800 and CR, the difference between each test value in the myopia group was statistically significant (P < 0.05). In the hyperopia group, the comparison between YD-SX-A and CR showed no statistically significant differences in the DC (P > 0.05), but there were significant differences in the SE and DS (P < 0.05). In the astigmatism group, the SE, DS, and DC were statistically different, and the DC of YD-SX-A was lower than that of CR and Topcon KR8800. Bland-Altman plots indicated that YD-SX-A has a moderate agreement with CR and Topcon KR8800. The sensitivity and specificity of YD-SX-A for detecting myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism were 90.17% and 90.32%, 97.78% and 87.88%, 84.08% and 74.26%, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study has identified that YD-SX-A has shown good performance in both agreement and effectiveness in detecting refractive error when compared with Topcon KR8800 and CR. YD-SX-A could be a useful tool for large-scale population refractive screening.

Dendritic cell-based vaccine prepared with recombinant Lactococcus lactis enhances antigen cross-presentation and antitumor efficacy through ROS production.

Introduction: Lactococcus lactis (L.L) is safe and can be used as vehicle. In this study, the immunoregulatory effect of L.L on dendritic cell (DC) activation and mechanism were investigated. The immune responses and antigen cross-presentation mechanism of DC-based vaccine prepared with OVA recombinant L.L were explored. Methods: Confocal microscopy and flow cytometry were used to analyze the mechanism of L.L promoting DC maturation, phagosome membrane rupture and antigen presentation. The antitumor effect of DC vaccine prepared with L.L-OVA was assessed in the B16-OVA tumor mouse model. Results: L.L significantly promoted DC maturation, which was partially dependent on TLR2 and downstream MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways. L.L was internalized into DCs by endocytosis and did not co-localized with lysosome. OVA recombinant L.L enhanced antigen cross-presentation of DCs through the phagosome-to-cytosol pathway in a reactive oxygen species (ROS)- and proteasome-dependent manner. In mouse experiments, L.L increased the migration of DCs to draining lymph node and DC vaccine prepared with OVA recombinant L.L induced strong antigen-specific Th1 and cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses, which significantly inhibited B16-OVA tumor growth. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that recombinant L.L as an antigen delivery system prepared DC vaccine can enhance the antigen cross-presentation and antitumor efficacy.

Distribution of Metallic Elements in Four Group Components of High-Temperature Coal Tar Pitch.

The metallic elements in high-temperature coal tar pitch (HCTP) will affect the properties of carbon materials produced from the HCTP. The study on the metallic elements in HCTP is essential for the quality improvement of its derived carbon materials. In this paper, the content of 15 metallic elements in HCTP and its four group components, including n-heptane-soluble substance (HS), n-heptane-insoluble-toluene-soluble substance (HI-TS), toluene-insoluble-quinoline-soluble substance (TI-QS), and quinoline-insoluble substance (QI), was determined. The results show that the content of Na, Ca, Fe, Mg, Zn, K, Pb, and Al is more than 100 ppm and is much higher than that of other metallic elements. The content of Ni, V, Cr, Mo, Sb, Cu, and Mn ranges from 0 to 50 ppm. By mass calculation of the contents of four group components in HCTP, it can be concluded that Na and Fe are randomly distributed in the group components. Al, Zn, Pb, V, and Mn are mainly distributed in the inorganic form in the QI component. Ca, Mg, K, Ni, Cr, Mo, Sb, and Cu are mainly distributed in the small molecular group components such as HS and HI-TS.

Cistanche tubulosa Phenylethanoid Glycosides Induce Apoptosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells by Mitochondria-Dependent and MAPK Pathways and Enhance Antitumor Effect through Combination with Cisplatin.

Cistanche tubulosa is a type of Chinese herbal medicine and exerts various biological functions. Previous studies have been demonstrated that Cistanche tubulosa phenylethanoid glycosides (CTPG) exhibit antitumor effects on a variety of tumor cells. However, the antitumor effects of CTPG on HepG2 and BEL-7404 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells are still elusive. Our study showed that CTPG significantly inhibited the growth of HepG2 and BEL-7404 cells through the induction of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, which was associated with the activation of MAPK pathways characterized by the up-regulated phosphorylation of p38, JNK, and ERK1/2 and mitochondria-dependent pathway characterized by the reduction of mitochondrial membrane potential. The release of cytochrome c and the cleavage of caspase-3, -7, -9, and PARP were subsequently increased by CTPG treatment. Moreover, CTPG significantly suppressed the migration of HepG2 through reducing the levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and vascular endothelial growth factor. Interestingly, CTPG not only enhanced the proliferation of splenocytes but also reduced the apoptosis of splenocytes induced by cisplatin. In H22 tumor mouse model, CTPG combined with cisplatin further inhibited the growth of H22 cells and reduced the side effects of cisplatin. Taken together, CTPG inhibited the growth of HCC through direct antitumor effect and indirect immunoenhancement effect, and improved the antitumor efficacy of cisplatin.

Study on the Synthesized Rosin Glyceride over LaZSM-5 Zeolite Catalyst Synthesized by the in Situ Method.

LaZSM-5 zeolite was synthesized by the in situ method and used as catalysts to catalyze the synthesis of rosin glyceride. As a comparison, ZSM-5 was also synthesized and used as catalysts to catalyze the synthesis of rosin glyceride. The synthesized ZSM-5 and LaZSM-5 zeolite catalysts were characterized and analyzed. The experimental results showed that the in situ synthesis of LaZSM-5 made La into the skeleton of ZSM-5 zeolite and increased the amount of Lewis acid on the LaZSM-5 zeolite. Also, Lewis acid was the key to liquid-phase esterification reaction. Compared with ZSM-5 zeolite, LaZSM-5 zeolite contributed to a higher yield and better stability as a catalyst for the synthesis of rosin glycerides.

The immunostimulatory activity of polysaccharides from Glycyrrhiza uralensis.

BACKGROUND: The enhancement of immunity is very important for immunocompromised patients such as cancer patients with radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Glycyrrhiza uralensis has been used as food and medicine for a long history. G. uralensis polysaccharides (GUPS) were prepared and its immunostimulatory effects were investigated. METHODS: Human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs) and murine bone marrow-derived DCs were treated with different concentrations of GUPS. The DCs maturation and cytokine production were analyzed by flow cytometry and ELISA, respectively. Inhibitors and Western blot were used to study the mechanism of GUPS. The immunostimulatory effects of GUPS were further evaluated by naïve mouse model and immunosuppressive mouse model induced by cyclophosphamide. RESULTS: GUPS significantly promoted the maturation and cytokine secretion of human monocyte-derived DCs and murine bone marrow-derived DCs through TLR4 and down-stream p38, JNK and NF-κB signaling pathways. Interestingly, the migration of GUPS treated-DCs to lymph node was increased. In the mouse model, GUPS increased IL-12 production in sera but not for TNF-α. Moreover, GUPS ameliorated the side effect of cyclophosphamide and improved the immunity of immunosuppressive mice induced by cyclophosphamide. These results suggested that GUPS might be used for cancer therapy to ameliorate the side effect of chemotherapy and enhance the immunity.

The Extracts of Artemisia absinthium L. Suppress the Growth of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells through Induction of Apoptosis via Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Mitochondrial-Dependent Pathway.

Artemisia absinthium L. has pharmaceutical and medicinal effects such as antimicrobial, antiparasitic, hepatoprotective, and antioxidant activities. Here, we prepared A. absinthium ethanol extract (AAEE) and its subfractions including petroleum ether (AAEE-Pe) and ethyl acetate (AAEE-Ea) and investigated their antitumor effect on human hepatoma BEL-7404 cells and mouse hepatoma H22 cells. The cell viability of hepatoma cells was measured by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The apoptosis, cell cycle, mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were analyzed by flow cytometry. The levels of proteins in the cell cycle and apoptotic pathways were detected by Western blot. AAEE, AAEE-Pe, and AAEE-Ea exhibited potent cytotoxicity for both BEL-7404 cells and H22 cells through the induction of cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Moreover, AAEE, AAEE-Pe, and AAEE-Ea significantly reduced Δψm, increased the release of cytochrome c, and promoted the cleavage of caspase-3, caspase-9, and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) in BEL-7404 and H22 cells. AAEE, AAEE-Pe, and AAEE-Ea significantly upregulated the levels of ROS and C/EBP-homologous protein (CHOP). Further, AAEE, AAEE-Pe, and AAEE-Ea significantly inhibited tumor growth in the H22 tumor mouse model and improved the survival of tumor mice without side effects. These results suggest that AAEE, AAEE-Pe, and AAEE-Ea inhibited the growth of hepatoma cells through induction of apoptosis, which might be mediated by the endoplasmic reticulum stress and mitochondrial-dependent pathway.

Structural Evolution of Phosphorus Species on Graphene with a Stabilized Electrochemical Interface.

Phosphorus doping is an effective approach to tailor the surface chemistry of carbon materials. In this work, two-dimensional graphene, as a simplified model for all sp2 hybrid carbon allotropes, is employed to explore the surface chemistry of P-doped carbon materials. Thermally reduced graphene oxide, with abundant residual oxygen functionalities, is doped by phosphorus heteroatoms through H3PO4 activation, followed by passivation in an inert atmosphere. The structural evolution of the phosphorus species in the carbon lattice during the thermal treatment is systematically studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Raman spectroscopy with the assistance of first-principles calculations. The C3-P═O configuration is identified as the most stable structure in the graphene lattice and plays a key role in stabilizing the electrochemical interface between the electrode and electrolyte. These features enable an electrode based on P-doped graphene to exhibit an enlarged potential window of 1.5 V in an aqueous electrolyte, a remarkable improved cycling stability, and an ultralow leak current. Therefore, this contribution provides insights for designing phosphorus-doped carbon materials toward electrocatalysis, energy-related applications, and so forth.

Cultivated and wild Pleurotus ferulae ethanol extracts inhibit hepatocellular carcinoma cell growth via inducing endoplasmic reticulum stress- and mitochondria-dependent apoptosis.

Pleurotus ferulae is a kind of editable mushroom and has various biological functions such as antitumor, antioxidation and immunoregulation. Wild P. ferulae was successfully domesticated but the antitumor function and mechanisms of cultivated and wild P. ferulae need to be compared and explored. Here, we prepared cultivated and wild P. ferulae ethanol extracts (PFEE-C and PFEE-W) and compared their antitumor effect on hepatocellular carcinoma. Our data showed that PFEE-C and PFEE-W significantly inhibited the growth of H22 and HepG2 cells through induction of apoptosis. PFEE-W exhibited higher antitumor activity than PFEE-C. Both PFEE-C and PFEE-W induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress characterized by the up-regulated levels of phosphorylated JNK, cleaved caspase-12 and HSP70, and mitochondrial dysfunction characterized by the reduction of mitochondrial membrane potential and the release of cytochrome c, which promoted the cleavage of caspase-3, -7, -9 and PARP. Moreover, PFEE-C and PFEE-W significantly increased ROS generation in H22 cells and suppressed H22 cell migration through reducing the levels of matrix metalloproteinase -2 and -9. Further, PFEE-C inhibited H22 tumor growth in mouse model and improved the survival of tumor mice. These results indicated that PFEE-C and PFEE-W could inhibit hepatocellular carcinoma cell growth through ER stress- and mitochondria-dependent apoptotic pathways.

Purification, characterization and bioactivities of polysaccharides from Pleurotus ferulae.

Pleurotus ferulae is an edible mushroom and has been used in Uygur medicine for a long time. In this study, we purified polysaccharides from P. ferulae (PFPS) and investigated its structural characteristics. We obtained a homogeneous PFPS with a molecular weight of around 1600 kDa and prominent characteristic polysaccharide groups, which mainly contained glucose (97%), followed by mannose and galactose (3%). Both 1H and 13C NMR spectra indicated that PFPS contained both α- and ß-anomeric configurations. Atomic force microscopy and Congo red-staining data further suggested that PFPS belonged to a linear branched structure that existed in flexible single chains at low concentrations and could form aggregates such as a triple-helical structure at high concentrations. Moreover, PFPS promoted the maturation of dendritic cells through a TLR4 mediated signaling pathway, which is characterized by the increased expressions of CD40, CD86, IL-12 and TNF-α and the decreased endocytosis. The results suggest that PFPS has immunoregulatory activities.

Hybrid BiOBr-TiO2 nanocomposites with high visible light photocatalytic activity for water treatment.

Novel highly active visible light photocatalysts BiOBr-TiO2 nanocomposites were prepared by a facile one-pot solvothermal approach. Series of characterizations verified that the BiOBr nanoscale crystals are highly dispersed in amorphous TiO2 to form the hybrid mesoporous structure. The material shows excellent photocatalytic performance towards photodegradation of Rhodamine B under visible light irradiation. The content ratio between TiO2 and BiOBr plays a key role in the microstructure of the nanocomposites, so as to result in distinguished photocatalytic activity. The sample with a molar ratio of 10 between TiO2 and BiOBr shows the optimum performance. The high photocatalytic activity of BiOBr-TiO2 nanocomposites under visible light could be ascribed to the large surface area, opened mesoporous structure, appropriate band-gap, as well as synergistic effect between TiO2 and BiOBr. Besides, the BiOBr-TiO2 composites render a facile separation due to the three-dimensional superstructure. The BiOBr-TiO2 photocatalyst is very promising for water purification as well as other environmental applications.