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Hydrogen fuel receives worldwide attention for the zero emission and high energy density. Production of hydrogen by electrochemical water splitting requires efficient electrocatalysts to boost the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Transition metal phosphides are regarded as promising substitutes for precious metals as HER electrocatalysts. This review focuses on the recent progress with respect to the advantages, common synthetic approaches and enhancement strategies of Fe, Co and Ni-based phosphides, with important works in each section elaborately introduced for researchers in the relevant area. After the rational design and fabrication, Fe, Co and Ni-based phosphides can become highly efficient, durable and cost-effective electrocatalysts, and thereby exhibit a great potential for the scale-up production of hydrogen fuel.

To determine distribution of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in hospital wards in Wuhan, China, we tested air and surface samples. Contamination was greater in intensive care units than general wards. Virus was widely distributed on floors, computer mice, trash cans, and sickbed handrails and was detected in air ≈4 m from patients.

Mitochondrial dysfunction is a major and common mechanism in developing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Replacement of dysfunctional mitochondria by functional exogenous mitochondria may attenuate intrahepatic excessive lipid and recover hepatocyte function. However, no data shows that mitochondria can be systemically administrated to animals to date. Here we suggest that mitochondria isolated from hepatoma cells are used as a mitotherapy agent to treat mouse fatty liver induced by high-fat diets. When the mitochondria were intravenously injected into the mice, serum aminotransferase activity and cholesterol level decreased in a dose-dependent manner. Also, the mitotherapy reduced lipid accumulation and oxidation injury of the fatty liver mice, improved energy production, and consequently restored hepatocyte function. The mitotherapy strategy offers a new potential therapeutic approach for treating NAFLD.

In this research, kaolinite was used to investigate the comparative adsorption of copper, lead, and zinc ions through batch control experiments and first principles calculations. Different adsorption conditions were considered as the effect of solution acidity, initial concentration of ions, and contact shaking time. The adsorption system isotherms and kinetic studies were better agreed with the Langmuir and pseudo-second-order kinetic models. They reached adsorption equilibrium within two hours and maximum adsorption capacities of Zn(II), Pb(II), and Cu(II) on kaolinite were 15.515, 61.523, and 44.659 mg/g, respectively. In addition, the microscopic adsorption changes of Zn(II), Pb(II), and Cu(II) on kaolinite were characterized using X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The results showed that Zn(II), Pb(II), and Cu(II) were most likely to be adsorbed on the kaolinite surface. Furthermore, the adsorption mechanism of [Zn(OH)]+, [Pb(OH)]+, and [Cu(OH)]+ on the kaolinite (001) surface was systematically studied through first-principles density functional calculations. The adsorption characteristics of different ions were evaluated by calculating the adsorption energy of the equilibrium adsorption configuration, state density, and electron density. The adsorption energy of [Zn(OH)]+, [Pb(OH)]+, and [Cu(OH)]+ were − 0.49,  − 1.17, and − 1.64 eV, respectively. The simulation results indicated that new hybrid orbitals were formed between the metal ions and O atoms on the kaolinite surface, with electron transfer occurring the adsorption processes. The charge transfer direction for [Pb(OH)]+ was opposite those for [Zn(OH)]+ and [Cu(OH)]+. [Zn(OH)]+ was more likely to form polydentate complexes with hydroxyl groups on the kaolinite surface than [Cu(OH)]+ and [Pb(OH)]+. This work further elucidated the interaction mechanism between the adsorption systems and provided fundamental theoretical support for the structural modification and optimization of kaolinite, such as increasing the layer spacing of kaolinite and introducing other active groups on its surface to improve the adsorption capacity of heavy metal ions in water treatment and soil remediation.

Crop residues are mainly post-harvest remains of agriculture. The organic matters, nutrients, and hollow structures of crop residues enable them to be applied in agriculture. In this review, we summarize the impacts of crop residues on soil health. Crop residue returning is beneficial to soil physicochemical properties. Soil water content, total porosity, aggregate stability, cation exchange capability (CEC), organic carbon, phosphorus, and potassium all increased after being amended with crop residues. The negative effects of allelochemicals from crop residues on crop growth can be adjusted by crop residue returning management. The rice straw has positive impacts on soil microbial properties. Besides, crop residue play a crucial part in soil remediation. Crop residues as soil amendments have inhibitory effects on some heavy metals, organic pollutants, and pathogens. They can also alleviate the pressure of saline-alkali soil. Finally, we provide some suggestions for improving soil health with crop residues.

Myocardial infarction (MI) is one of the most serious health threats, resulting in huge physical and economic burdens worldwide. Wnt signaling pathways play an important role in developmental processes such as tissue patterning, cell differentiation and cell division. Appropriate regulation of the activities of Wnt signaling pathways is also important for heart development and healing in post-MI heart. Moreover, Wnt pathway inhibitors have been identified as novel antitumor drugs and applied in ongoing clinical trials. This research progress has generated increasing interests for investigating the effects of Wnt pathway inhibitors on MI healing. In this short review, we summarize the roles of Wnt signaling pathways in post-MI heart and the therapeutic effects of Wnt pathway inhibitors on MI, and discuss the underlying mechanisms of Wnt pathway inhibitors in cardiac repairing.

MicroRNAs (MiRNAs) are small endogenous non-coding RNAs that bind to the 3′-untranslated region of target genes and promote their degradation or inhibit translation, thereby regulating gene expression. MiRNAs are ubiquitous in biology and are involved in many biological processes, playing an important role in a variety of physiological and pathological processes. MiRNA-21 (miR-21) is one of them. In recent years, miR-21 has received a lot of attention from researchers as an emerging player in orthopedic diseases. MiR-21 is closely associated with the occurrence, development, treatment, and prevention of orthopedic diseases through a variety of mechanisms. This review summarizes its effects on osteoblasts, osteoclasts and their relationship with osteoporosis, fracture, osteoarthritis (OA), osteonecrosis, providing a new way of thinking for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of these bone diseases.

To establish the diagnostic accuracy of RASSF1A (Ras association domain family 1 isoform) methylation using bronchial aspirates as an auxiliary method for diagnosing lung cancer through a systematic review and meta-analysis. Studies published prior to October 30, 2022, were retrieved from the Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, and Wan Fang databases using the keywords \"lung cancer\", \"RASSF1A\", \"methylation\", and \"bronchial aspirates\". A fixed or random effect model was used to calculate the combined sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratios (LR), negative LR, diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), along with the respective 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and the area under the curve (AUC) with Q index. The threshold effect was defined by using the Spearman correlation coefficient, and the Deeks funnel plot was generated to evaluate publication bias. Among the 12 trials that met the inclusion criteria, a total of 2388 participants were involved. The pooled results for the diagnosis of lung cancer were as follows, when compared to the pathological diagnosis: sensitivity of 0.47 (95% CI: 0.45-0.50), specificity of 0.96 (95% CI: 0.95-0.97), positive LR of 12.18 (95% CI: 8.96-16.55), negative LR of 0.56 (95% CI: 0.52-0.61), DOR of 24.05 (95% CI: 17.29-33.47), and AUC of 0.78 (Q index = 0.72), respectively. The sensitivity of the RASSF1A methylation assay was relatively low in a detailed subgroup analysis, fluctuating between 0.39 and 0.90, indicating a limitation in its diagnostic value for lung cancer. The RASSF1A methylation assay, on the other hand, demonstrated excellent specificity, suggesting a high exclusion value. Of note, the diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, DOR, and AUC for small cell lung cancer were 0.90 (0.84-0.94), 0.95 (0.94-0.97), 249.5 (103.94-598.8), and 0.98, respectively, showing that RASSF1A methylation was a promising biomarker for diagnosing small cell lung cancer with both high diagnostic and exclusion value. Furthermore, RASSF1A methylation using bronchial washings and bronchial aspirates showed a high AUC of 0.998 and 0.93, respectively, indicating excellent diagnostic performance. The methylation of RASSF1A in bronchial aspirates demonstrated a high level of diagnostic accuracy and has the potential to be a valuable supplementary diagnostic method, especially for identifying small cell lung cancer.

In this study, changes in hydrophobic interactions among gluten proteins were analyzed during dough mixing. Size-exclusion high-performance chromatography and two-dimensional fluorescence difference gel electrophoresis were performed on proteins extracted with 1-propanol by weakening the hydrophobic interaction. The amount of proteins extracted with 30% 1-propanol increased from the start of mixing to peak consistency, suggesting that the hydrophobic interactions among the strongly aggregated proteins weakened and resulted in disaggregation. The amount of proteins extracted with 10% 1-propanol decreased during hydration, indicating that these proteins aggregated through relatively weak hydrophobic interactions. The proteins that extractability decreased were mainly low molecular weight glutenin, α-gliadin, and γ-gliadin. The amount of monomeric proteins extracted with 30% 1-propanol decreased after peak consistency. The decreased protein was mainly ω-gliadin, indicating that ω-gliadin aggregated with other proteins through hydrophobic interactions. A front-face fluorescence analysis was performed on the dough with the addition of 8-anilino-1-naphthalenesulfonic acid or thioflavin T. The fluorescence intensity increased as a result of exposure to the hydrophobic groups of the gluten proteins and the formation of protein aggregates during dough mixing. These results indicate the importance of hydrophobic interactions in dough formation.