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ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2019 Apr 23. Epub 2019 Apr 23.

Development of a cost-effective and efficient electrocatalyst for the sluggish oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is a crucial challenge for clean energy technologies. In this study, we have synthesized various Ni and Co oxide (NCO) nanomaterials via a facile co-precipitation followed by the calcination method. The morphology of the formed NCO nanomaterials was controlled by varying the percentage of the Ni and Co precursors, leading to the formation of template-free mesoporous spinel phase structure of NixCo3-xO4. Read More

J Biomater Sci Polym Ed 2019 Apr 23:1-18. Epub 2019 Apr 23.

a "Evaluation and Conservation of Cultural Heritage" Research Group, National Institute for Research and Development in Chemistry and Petrochemistry, ICECHIM, Bucharest, Romania.

This study aims to provide an overview of the main polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) used in medical applications. In this review, it has been demonstrated that the properties of PHAs can be controlled both by varying the concentration of units in the copolymer and the substrate for PHA production. Another way of controlling the mechanical properties of PHAs is varying the 3HV content, such as the case of P(3HB-co-3HV). Read More

Adv Mater 2019 Apr 23:e1803444. Epub 2019 Apr 23.

School of Chemical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), 2066 Seobu-ro, Jangan-gu, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea.

Electrochemical sodium storage and capture are considered an attractive technology owing to the natural abundance, low cost, safety, and cleanness of sodium, and the higher efficiency of the electrochemical system compared to fossil-fuel-based counterparts. Considering that the sodium-ion chemistry often largely deviates from the lithium-based one despite the physical and chemical similarities, the architecture and chemical structure of electrode materials should be designed for highly efficient sodium storage and capture technologies. Here, the rational design in the structure and chemistry of carbon materials for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs), sodium-ion capacitors (SICs), and capacitive deionization (CDI) applications is comprehensively reviewed. Read More

Med Res Rev 2019 Apr 23. Epub 2019 Apr 23.

Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Riabilitazione, Oftalmologia, Genetica e Scienze Materno-Infantili (DINOGMI), University of Genova, Genova, Italy.

Creatine is pivotal in energy metabolism of muscle and brain cells, both in physiological and in pathological conditions. Additionally, creatine facilitates the differentiation of muscle and neuronal cells. Evidence of effectiveness of creatine supplementation in improving several clinical conditions is now substantial, and we review it in this paper. Read More

Nat Mater 2019 Apr 22. Epub 2019 Apr 22.

Center for Nanoparticle Research, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul, Republic of Korea.

The reversible and cooperative activation process, which includes electron transfer from surrounding redox mediators, the reversible valence change of cofactors and macroscopic functional/structural change, is one of the most important characteristics of biological enzymes, and has frequently been used in the design of homogeneous catalysts. However, there are virtually no reports on industrially important heterogeneous catalysts with these enzyme-like characteristics. Here, we report on the design and synthesis of highly active TiO photocatalysts incorporating site-specific single copper atoms (Cu/TiO) that exhibit a reversible and cooperative photoactivation process. Read More

Sci Rep 2019 Apr 23;9(1):6387. Epub 2019 Apr 23.

Institute of Chemistry, University of Silesia, 75 Pułku Piechoty 1a, 41-500, Chorzów, Poland.

A series of 116 small-molecule 1-hydroxynaphthalene-2-carboxanilides was designed based on the fragment-based approach and was synthesized according to the microwave-assisted protocol. The biological activity of all of the compounds was tested on human colon carcinoma cell lines including a deleted TP53 tumor suppressor gene. The mechanism of activity was studied according to the p53 status in the cell. Read More

Geriatrics (Basel) 2018 Nov 20;3(4). Epub 2018 Nov 20.

Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.

Changes in both swallowing and taste commonly occur in advanced age, though the relationship between the two is unknown. This study examined the association between a water swallow screen test and taste identification and intensity rating. Participants included 47 community-dwelling women aged 85-94 years. Read More

Diabetes Care 2019 May;42(5):938-945

Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, National Hospital Organization Kyoto Medical Center, Kyoto, Japan.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence and causes of diabetes in patients with primary aldosteronism (PA) in a multi-institutional cohort study in Japan.

Research Design And Methods: The prevalence of diabetes was determined in 2,210 patients with PA (diagnosed or glycated hemoglobin [HbA] ≥6.5% [≥48 mmol/mol]; NGSP) and compared with that of the Japanese general population according to age and sex. Read More

Inorg Chem 2019 Apr 22. Epub 2019 Apr 22.

Center for Nanophysics and Advanced Materials, Department of Physics , University of Maryland , College Park , Maryland 20742 , United States.

A new structure type of composition CeCoGe was grown out of a molten Sn flux. CeCoGe crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Cmcm, with highly anisotropic lattice parameters of a = 4.3293(5) Å, b = 55. Read More

Cell Microbiol 2019 Apr 22:e13033. Epub 2019 Apr 22.

Pulmonary Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.

Vibrio cholerae produced-Cholix toxin (Cholix) is a cytotoxin that ADP-ribosylates eukaryotic elongation factor 2, inhibiting protein synthesis, and inducing apoptosis. Here, we identified prohibitin (PHB) 1 and 2 as novel Cholix-interacting membrane proteins in immortalized human hepatocytes and HepG2 cells by Cholix immunoprecipitation assays. The expression level of PHB1 was decreased by Cholix after a 12 h incubation. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2019 Apr;98(16):e14858

Department of Nuclear Medicine, Chonnam National University Hospital.

F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-avid metastatic lesions are associated with a poor response to radioiodine ablation therapy (RIT) in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). This study evaluated the significance of preablative FDG positron emission tomography (PET) for the assessment of risk factors and frequency of malignant FDG-avid lymph nodes in patients with PTC undergoing RIT.The study included 339 consecutive patients (mean age 46. Read More

Sheng Li Xue Bao 2019 Apr;71(2):311-318

Advanced Institute for Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China.

As a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily, the pregnane X receptor (PXR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor. PXR is highly expressed in liver and intestinal tissues, and also found in other tissues and organs, such as stomach and kidney. After heterodimerization with retinoid X receptor (RXR), PXR recruits numerous co-activating factors, and binds to specific DNA response elements to perform transcriptional regulation of the downstream target genes. Read More

Mol Autism 2019 8;10:17. Epub 2019 Apr 8.

1Biomedical Research Networking Center of Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain.

Background: Epidemiological and clinical evidence points to cancer as a comorbidity in people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). A significant overlap of genes and biological processes between both diseases has also been reported.

Methods: Here, for the first time, we compared the gene expression profiles of ASD frontal cortex tissues and 22 cancer types obtained by differential expression meta-analysis and report gene, pathway, and drug set-based overlaps between them. Read More

Cell Metab 2019 Apr 16. Epub 2019 Apr 16.

Center for Human Nutrition, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA; Department of Pharmacology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA. Electronic address:

The hepatic TCA cycle supports oxidative and biosynthetic metabolism. This dual responsibility requires anaplerotic pathways, such as pyruvate carboxylase (PC), to generate TCA cycle intermediates necessary for biosynthesis without disrupting oxidative metabolism. Liver-specific PC knockout (LPCKO) mice were created to test the role of anaplerotic flux in liver metabolism. Read More

Food Chem 2019 Sep 1;291:16-21. Epub 2019 Apr 1.

Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China; College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China. Electronic address:

The post-thawing quality, metabolite profile and amino acid oxidation of frozen pork tenderloin following the use of a high-voltage electrostatic field (HVEF) were investigated in this study. There were not significant differences of pH for pork thawed by air and HVEF, which were consistent with the lactic acid level and glycogen content. No changes in the tenderness of thawed pork were found. Read More

Hepatology 2019 Apr 21. Epub 2019 Apr 21.

Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.

The prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is believed to be ~70% and that of advanced fibrosis ~20%. Given the magnitude of the problem, there is a real sense of urgency to identify the best pharmacological approach for to treat both diabetes and NASH in this population. Vitamin E is recommended for patients with biopsy-proven NASH without diabetes but did not have similar efficacy in a recent proof-of-concept RCT in patients with T2DM. Read More

Psychoneuroendocrinology 2019 Apr 6;106:244-251. Epub 2019 Apr 6.

Diabetes Research Institute, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, United States.

Background: Prior research demonstrates a protective role for oxytocin in ovarian cancer based on its anti-proliferative, anti-migratory, and anti-invasive effects in vitro and in vivo. However, the role of endogenous oxytocin has not been examined in ovarian cancer patients. Oxytocin also has anti-inflammatory properties that have not been examined in cancer. Read More

Curr Opin Biotechnol 2019 Apr 17;57:137-144. Epub 2019 Apr 17.

School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Queensland, 4072, St Lucia, Brisbane, Australia.

Mixed culture anaerobic processes are important to environmental systems, including the global carbon cycle, and industrial and environmental biotechnology. Mixed culture metabolic modelling (MM) is an essential tool to analyse these systems. MM predicts microbial function based on knowledge or assumption of cellular metabolism. Read More

Int J Biol Macromol 2019 Apr 17. Epub 2019 Apr 17.

Integrated Composites Laboratory (ICL), Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA. Electronic address:

Porous grafted copolymer with excellent thermal stability and swelling capacity was synthesized from water soluble Prunus cerasifera gum polysaccharide (PG) and acrylamide (AM). The monosaccharide compositions and the structure of Prunus cerasifera tree gum were detected by a high-performance anion exchange chromatography (HPAEC) system and H NMR and C NMR, and the obtained PG-AM copolymer was characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), respectively. The results indicated that the water soluble polysaccharides obtained from Prunus cerasifera tree gum were mainly composed of l-arabinose (39. Read More

J Biochem 2019 Apr 20. Epub 2019 Apr 20.

Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Keio University, Nipponkoku, Daihoji, Tsuruoka-shi, Yamagata, Japan.

Bacillus subtilis 168 has been explored as a platform for the synthesis and transmission of large DNA. Two inherent DNA incorporation systems, natural transformation and pLS20-based conjugation transfer, enable rapid handling of target DNA. Both systems are affected by the Bsu restriction-modification system that recognizes and cleaves unmethylated XhoI sites, limiting the choice of target DNA. Read More

Diabet Med 2019 Apr 19. Epub 2019 Apr 19.

Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Galway University Hospitals and 2Discipline of Medicine, NUI Galway, Galway, Ireland.

Background: 'Brittle diabetes' is frequently attributed to psychological stressors causing insulin omission in young women with Type 1 diabetes. It has received little attention in the recent medical literature.

Case Report: We report the case of an 87-year-old woman who had recurrent episodes of unexplained diabetic ketoacidosis. Read More

Neurosci Bull 2019 Apr 19. Epub 2019 Apr 19.

Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China.

A central objective in deciphering the nervous system in health and disease is to define the connections of neurons. The propensity of neurotropic viruses to spread among synaptically-linked neurons makes them ideal for mapping neural circuits. So far, several classes of viral neuronal tracers have become available and provide a powerful toolbox for delineating neural networks. Read More

Curr Opin Virol 2019 Apr 16;35:42-56. Epub 2019 Apr 16.

Center for Microbial Pathogenesis, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, United States. Electronic address:

The filovirus family includes some of the deadliest viruses known, including Ebola virus and Marburg virus. These viruses cause periodic outbreaks of severe disease that can be spread from person to person, making the filoviruses important public health threats. There remains a need for approved drugs that target all or most members of this virus family. Read More

J Colloid Interface Sci 2019 Apr 13;548:197-205. Epub 2019 Apr 13.

School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, PR China. Electronic address:

The conjugated co-monomer, trimesic acid (TMA) was integrated into the triazine framework of polymeric carbon nitride (PCN), synthesized through chemical condensation of urea. The TMA-modified carbon nitride samples obtained were named as CNU-TMA and it was utilized for the photocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide (CO) under visible light illumination. The induction of such electron donor-acceptor co-monomer (TMA) dominates the intramolecular structure of PCN by acting as a nucleophilic substitution substrate to facilitate the electron density in the π-electron conjugated system of PCN and thus elevate its photocatalytic activity. Read More

Arch Gerontol Geriatr 2019 Mar 27;83:121-125. Epub 2019 Mar 27.

State University Of Pará, Brazil; Hospital Cynthia Charone, Brazil.

Background: Studies indicate the intrinsic relationship between sarcopenia and diabetes mellitus (DM) pathophysiological mechanisms. Changes in insulin and muscular metabolism are features of diabetic patients and can interact as sarcopenic accelerators. Conversely, sarcopenic patients feature lower glucose tolerance and higher serum insulin levels, predisposing them to DM. Read More

Org Lett 2019 Apr 19. Epub 2019 Apr 19.

Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Feringa Nobel Prize Scientist Joint Research Center, Institute of Fine Chemicals, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering , East China University of Science & Technology , 130 Meilong Road , Shanghai 200237 , China.

By using diaryliodonium salts, a novel approach of a palladium-catalyzed cascade of diarylation/intramolecular dehydrogenative coupling reaction has been developed in the synthesis of phenanthro-imidazopyridine fused heteropolycycles. The method can tolerate various substrates, and the target products were rapidly constructed in one pot. Furthermore, studies of the detailed reaction mechanism provide an insight into the C-H functionalization of 2-aryl-imidazopyridine derivatives and the C-C bond formations in the presence of palladium catalyst. Read More

J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2019 Apr 19. Epub 2019 Apr 19.

Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Clinical Physiology, Karolinska Institutet, and Unit of Clinical Physiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.

Participants of the population-based Uppsala longitudinal study of adult men (ULSAM) cohort reaching more than 88 years of age (survivors, S) were investigated at age 70, 82, and 88-90 and compared at 70 years with non-survivors (NS) not reaching 82 years. Body composition, muscle mass and muscle histology were remarkably stable over 18 years of advanced aging in S. Analysis of genes involved in muscle remodeling showed that S had higher mRNA levels of myogenic differentiation factors (Myogenin, MyoD), embryonic myosin (eMyHC), enzymes involved in regulated breakdown of myofibrillar proteins (Smad2, Trim32, MuRF1,) and NCAM compared with healthy adult men (n = 8). Read More

J Korean Med Sci 2019 Apr 22;34(15):e117. Epub 2019 Apr 22.

Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Background: Removal of uremic toxins such as indoxyl sulfate by AST-120 is known to improve renal function and delay the initiation of dialysis in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease. However, it is unclear whether the addition of AST-120 to conventional treatments is effective in delaying the progression of renal dysfunction in patients with diabetic nephropathy.

Methods: A total of 100 patients with type 2 diabetes and renal dysfunction (serum creatinine levels ranging from 1. Read More

Front Chem 2019 3;7:197. Epub 2019 Apr 3.

Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Institute of Energy and Climate Research - IEK-6: Nuclear Waste Management and Reactor Safety, Jülich, Germany.

Lanthanide phosphates () are considered as a potential nuclear waste form for immobilization of Pu and minor actinides (Np, Am, and Cm). In that respect, in the recent years we have applied advanced atomistic simulation methods to investigate various properties of these materials on the atomic scale. In particular, we computed several structural, thermochemical, thermodynamic and radiation damage related parameters. Read More

Nat Commun 2019 Apr 18;10(1):1816. Epub 2019 Apr 18.

Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada.

The lack of microbial genomes and isolates from the deep seabed means that very little is known about the ecology of this vast habitat. Here, we investigate energy and carbon acquisition strategies of microbial communities from three deep seabed petroleum seeps (3 km water depth) in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico. Shotgun metagenomic analysis reveals that each sediment harbors diverse communities of chemoheterotrophs and chemolithotrophs. Read More

Food Chem 2019 Aug 29;290:277-285. Epub 2019 Mar 29.

College of Food Science and Technology, Guangdong Ocean University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Products Processing and Safety, Key Laboratory of Advanced Processing of Aquatic Products of Guangdong Higher Education Institution, Zhanjiang 524088, China.

Fluorescein-isothiocyanate (FITC) labeled trypsin-like protease was prepared and injected into the hepatopancreas of white shrimp. Different segments of the injected shrimp were analyzed with a fluorescence microscope during storage. FITC-trypsin-like protease can be detected in the first segment of shrimp muscle at day 4, while it cannot be observed in the second segment until day 6. Read More

Curr Top Dev Biol 2019 18;134:195-221. Epub 2019 Feb 18.

Institute of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima, Japan; Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan. Electronic address:

Mammalian sex determination is triggered by activation of the mammalian sex-determining gene, Sry, in a spatially and temporally controlled manner. Because reduced or delayed Sry expression results in male-to-female sex reversal, male development is highly dependent on the accurate transcription of Sry. SRY dysregulation is a potential cause of human disorders of sex development (DSD). Read More

Emerg Microbes Infect 2019 ;8(1):624-636

a Department of Biotechnology , Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA) , Madrid , Spain.

Flaviviruses are (re)-emerging RNA viruses strictly dependent on lipid metabolism for infection. In the search for host targeting antivirals, we explored the effect of pharmacological modulation of fatty acid metabolism during flavivirus infection. Considering the central role of acetyl-Coenzyme A carboxylase (ACC) on fatty acid metabolism, we analyzed the effect of three small-molecule ACC inhibitors (PF-05175157, PF-05206574, and PF-06256254) on the infection of medically relevant flaviviruses, namely West Nile virus (WNV), dengue virus, and Zika virus. Read More

Materials (Basel) 2019 Apr 17;12(8). Epub 2019 Apr 17.

State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, and School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China.

The idea of prolonging the service life of asphalt mixture by improving the self-healing ability of asphalt has received extensive attention in recent years. In view of this, this work synthesized three kinds of encapsulating rejuvenator fibers to improve self-healing properties of asphalt mixtures. A series of characterizations were performed to study the morphology, chemical structure and thermal stability of the three kinds of fibers. Read More

Nanomaterials (Basel) 2019 Apr 17;9(4). Epub 2019 Apr 17.

Advanced Membrane Technology Research Centre, School of Chemical and Energy Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Johor 81310, Malaysia.

Heavy metal (HM) pollution in waterways is a serious threat towards global water security, as high dosages of HM poisoning can significantly harm all living organisms. Researchers have developed promising methods to isolate, separate, or reduce these HMs from water bodies to overcome this. This includes techniques, such as adsorption, photocatalysis, and membrane removal. Read More

Metabolism 2019 Apr 15. Epub 2019 Apr 15.

Division of Cardiovascular Disease, Department of Medicine, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL, United States.

Background: After myocardial infarction (MI), delayed progression or reversal of cardiac remodeling is a prime target to limit advanced chronic heart failure (HF). However, the temporal kinetics of lipidomic and systemic metabolic signaling is unclear in HF. There is no consensus on metabolic and lipidomic signatures that influence structure, function, and survival in HF. Read More

Adv Mater 2019 Apr 18:e1900039. Epub 2019 Apr 18.

Instituto de Ciencia Molecular (ICMol), Universidad de Valencia, c/Catedrático José Beltrán 2, Paterna, 46980, Spain.

A simple chemical protocol to prepare core-shell gold@spin-crossover (Au@SCO) nanoparticles (NPs) based on the 1D spin-crossover [Fe(Htrz) (trz)](BF ) coordination polymer is reported. The synthesis relies on a two-step approach consisting of a partial surface ligand substitution of the citrate-stabilized Au NPs followed by the controlled growth of a very thin layer of the SCO polymer. As a result, colloidally stable core@shell spherical NPs with a Au core of ca. Read More

Org Lett 2019 Apr 18. Epub 2019 Apr 18.

National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) , Tsukuba , Ibaraki 305-8565 , Japan.

Oxidative C-C/P-H cross-coupling is achieved via Pd-catalyzed decarbonylative cross-coupling of aroylhydrazides with P(O)H compounds. The unique cooperative reaction system, especially the Brønsted acid and bidentate phosphine ligand, allows the selective activation of the inert C-C bond and the suppression of the undesired oxidation and coordination of >P(O)-H compounds, leading to a general oxidative synthesis of aryl phosphorus compounds from easily available substrates. Read More

Org Biomol Chem 2019 Apr 18. Epub 2019 Apr 18.

Department of Organic Synthesis & Process Chemistry, Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad 500007, India.

The stereoselective synthesis of solandelactone F, constanolactone A and an advanced intermediate towards solandelactone E, from a common synthetic intermediate, is disclosed. The propargylic sulfide stereocenter is created stereoselectively via carbon-carbon bond formation in the reaction of α-chloro sulfides with alkynylzinc reagents via 1,2-asymmetric induction by a β-siloxy group. The characteristic 1,4-diol motif of the natural products is introduced by a [2,3] sigmatropic rearrangement of an allylic sulfoxide or by the Mislow-Evans-Braverman rearrangement of a propargylic sulfoxide followed by stereoselective reduction of the ensuing α,β-unsaturated ketone. Read More

Bioanalysis 2019 Apr 18. Epub 2019 Apr 18.

Translational Biomarkers & Bioanalysis, Drug Safety & Metabolism, IMED Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK.

Small 2019 Apr 17:e1901019. Epub 2019 Apr 17.

CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Nanostructure and Nanotechnology, CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing, 100190, P. R. China.

As lithium-ion batteries continue to climb to even higher energy density, they meanwhile cause serious concerns on their stability and reliability during operation. To make sure the electrode materials, particularly cathode materials, are stable upon extended cycles, surface modification becomes indispensable to minimize the undesirable side reaction at the electrolyte-cathode interface, which is known as a critical factor to jeopardizing the electrode performance. This Review is targeted at a precise surface control of cathode materials with focus on the synthetic strategies suitable for a maximized surface protection ensured by a uniform and conformal surface coating. Read More

Chem Asian J 2019 Apr 17. Epub 2019 Apr 17.

Wuhan University of Technology, 122 Luoshi road, Wuhan, CHINA.

Extraction of nucleic acids in microsystems is of significance for biomedical applications, but the current extraction methods generally require sophisticated microchannels and external equipment, hindering their practical applications. In this work, we have demonstrated a simple, versatile and efficient approach to extract nucleic acids in microsystems by developing cationic branched polyethyleneimine (PEI)-functionalized tubular micromotors. The as-developed tubular micromotors are fabricated by a two-step process combining the template-assisted electrodeposition and carbodiimide chemistry, and contain an inner catalytic Pt layer, a middle magnetic Ni layer and an outer cationic PEI layer. Read More

3 Biotech 2019 May 8;9(5):169. Epub 2019 Apr 8.

College of Life Sciences, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, 610068 People's Republic of China.

The metabolism of host cholesterol by is an important factor for both its virulence and pathogenesis. However, the rationale for this cholesterol metabolism has not been fully understood yet. In the present study, we characterized several previously undescribed acyl-CoA synthetases that are involved in the steroid side-chain degradation in , and an analogue of intermediate from steroid degradation, 5'--(lithocholoyl sulfamoyl) adenosine (LCA-AMS), was successfully designed and synthesized to be used as a specific anti-mycobacterial agent. Read More

Chem Sci 2019 Mar 8;10(9):2678-2686. Epub 2019 Jan 8.

National Creative Research Initiative Center for Catalytic Organic Reactions , Department of Chemistry , Kangwon National University , Chuncheon 24341 , Republic of Korea . Email:

A novel method for the synthesis of acylmethyl-substituted 2-arylpyridine derivatives using 3-aryl-2-azirines was developed by exploring a prototype reaction using DFT-calculations and carrying out targeted experiments guided by the calculated mechanism. 2-Azirine was initially hypothesized to ring-open at the metal center to furnish familiar metal nitrene complexes that may undergo C-N coupling. Computational studies quickly revealed and prototype experimental work confirmed that neither the formation of the expected metal nitrene complexes nor the C-N coupling were viable. Read More

Chem Sci 2019 Mar 16;10(9):2585-2591. Epub 2019 Jan 16.

Chemical Sciences Division , Oak Ridge National Laboratory , Oak Ridge , TN 37831 , USA . Email:

Single-atom catalysts (SACs) have shown great potential in a wide variety of chemical reactions and become the most active new frontier in catalysis due to the maximum efficiency of metal atom use. The key obstacle in preparing SAs lies in the development of appropriate supports that can avoid aggregation or sintering during synthetic procedures. As such, achieving high loadings of isolated SAs is nontrivial and challenging. Read More

Chem Sci 2019 Apr 27;10(13):3846-3853. Epub 2019 Feb 27.

Institut de Chimie de Strasbourg , UMR 7177 CNRS-Université de Strasbourg , 4, rue Blaise Pascal , 67000 Strasbourg , France . Email:

We present the synthesis of novel rotaxanes based on mechanically interlocked porphyrins and fullerene and their advanced investigations by means of photophysical measurements. To this end, a fullerene-capped dumbbell-type axle containing a central triazole was threaded through strapped (metallo)porphyrins-either a free-base or a zinc porphyrin. Femtosecond-resolved transient absorption measurements revealed charge-separation between the porphyrin and fullerene upon light excitation. Read More

Chem Sci 2019 Mar 11;10(12):3535-3542. Epub 2019 Feb 11.

State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization , Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry , Chinese Academy of Sciences , Changchun 130022 , P. R. China . Email:

Three red cyclometalated iridium(iii) complexes (4tfmpq)Ir(dipdtc), (4tfmpq)Ir(dpdtc) and (4tfmpq)Ir(Czdtc) (4tfmpq = 4-(4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)quinazoline, dipdtc = ,-diisopropyl dithiocarbamate, dpdtc = ,-diphenyl dithiocarbamate, and Czdtc = -carbazolyl dithiocarbamate) containing the unique four-membered Ir-S-C-S backbone ring were synthesized in five minutes at room temperature with good yields, and the Gibbs free energy calculation results indicate that all reactions are exothermic and thermodynamically favorable processes. The emission colors ( = 641-611 nm), photoluminescence quantum efficiencies ( = 58.3-93. Read More

Chem Sci 2019 Mar 5;10(11):3385-3400. Epub 2019 Feb 5.

Department of Chemistry , University of Cambridge , Lensfield Road , Cambridge , CB2 1EW , UK . Email:

The synthesis and isolation of a novel bimetallic species formed by reacting two equivalents of TMPLi with CuCl in the presence of EtO are reported. X-ray crystallography reveals the EtO-free tetranuclear aggregate (TMPCu)(TMPLi), which formally results from the catenation of dimers of TMPLi and TMPCu. NMR spectroscopy confirms that, upon dissolution in hydrocarbon media, the crystals fail to form a conventional Gilman cuprate dimer. Read More

Chem Sci 2019 Mar 21;10(11):3168-3180. Epub 2019 Jan 21.

Lehn Institute of Functional Materials (LIFM) , School of Chemistry , Sun Yat-Sen University , 510275 Guangzhou , China . Email:

Phosphinines, as aromatic heterocycles, usually engage in coordination as η-P σ-complexes or η-phosphinine π-complexes. The μ-P bridging coordination mode is rarely observed. With the aim to study the effect of different electronic configurations of phosphinines on the coordination modes, a series of anionic phosphinin-2-olates and neutral phosphinin-2-ols were prepared with moderate to high yield. Read More

ACS Med Chem Lett 2019 Apr 26;10(4):493-498. Epub 2018 Dec 26.

School of Pharmacy, Medicinal Chemistry Unit, University of Camerino, via S. Agostino 1, 62032 Camerino, MC, Italy.

Antagonists of the purinergic P2X3 receptors represent promising drugs for the treatment of inflammation and pain. The ATP derivative 2',3'--(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl)-ATP (TNP-ATP) has been described as a potent competitive inhibitor of this receptor. In this work, the design and synthesis of novel TNP-ATP analogues bearing alkyl groups in the 2',3'-position are reported. Read More