Non-symmorphic crystals are generating great interest as they are commonly found in quantum materials, like iron-based superconductors, heavy-fermion compounds, and topological semimetals. A new type ...of surface state, a floating band, was recently discovered in the nodal-line semimetal ZrSiSe, but also exists in many non-symmorphic crystals. Little is known about its physical properties. Here, we employ scanning tunneling microscopy to measure the quasiparticle interference of the floating band state on ZrSiSe (001) surface and discover rotational symmetry breaking interference, healing effect and half-missing-type anomalous Umklapp scattering. Using simulation and theoretical analysis we establish that the phenomena are characteristic properties of a floating band surface state. Moreover, we uncover that the half-missing Umklapp process is derived from the glide mirror symmetry, thus identify a non-symmorphic effect on quasiparticle interferences. Our results may pave a way towards potential new applications of nanoelectronics.
A highly selective, efficient and practical method for synthesizing primary alcohols was presented. By using cheap Fe(BF4)2 ⋅ 6H2O and /tris2‐(diphenylphosphino)phenylphosphine (L1) as catalysts with ...formic acid as hydrogen source, a variety of primary alcohols bearing versatile functional groups could be obtained from both alkyl‐ and aryl‐substituted epoxides under mild conditions.
Highly selective and efficient synthesis of primary alcohols from epoxides could be achieved under mild conditions by iron catalysis, this process used formic acid as hydrogen source and was suitable for both alkyl‐ and aryl‐substituted epoxides.
Primary aldosteronism (PA) is a common cause of secondary hypertension and is associated with worse cardiovascular outcomes. The elevated aldosterone in PA leads to left ventricular (LV) remodeling ...and dysfunction. In recent decades, clinical studies have demonstrated worse LV remodeling including increased LV mass and cardiac fibrosis in patients with PA compared to patients with essential hypertension. Several mechanisms may explain the process of aldosterone-induced LV remodeling, including directly profibrotic and hypertrophic effects of aldosterone on myocardium, increased reactive oxygen species and profibrotic molecules, dysregulation of extracellular matrix metabolism, endothelium dysfunction and circulatory macrophages activation. LV remodeling causes LV diastolic and systolic dysfunction, which may consequently lead to clinical complications such as heart failure, atrial fibrillation, ischemic heart disease, and other vascular events. Adequate treatment with adrenalectomy or medical therapy can improve LV remodeling and dysfunction in PA patients. In this review, we discuss the mechanisms of aldosterone-induced LV remodeling and provide an up-to-date review of clinical research about LV remodeling-related heart structural changes, cardiac dysfunction, and their clinical impacts on patients with PA.
5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and its derivatives, especially 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), as important renewable energy sources which can be an excellent substitute for terephthalic acid in ...the field of polymers such as polyamides and polyesters, have received a lot of attention recently. Notably, a simple nonprecious-metal catalyst system based on MnO2 to convert HMF into FDCA by aerobic oxidation with O2 as a sole oxidant (2C6H6O3 + 3O2 → 2C6H4O5 + 2H2O) has been reported and receiving much attention very recently. However, the mechanism of HMF oxidation catalyzed by MnO2 is uncertain. Herein, we proposed the reaction mechanism, through two oxidative dehydrogenations via lattice oxygen (Obri) to generate −CHO and HObri groups first; then, the H involved in the −CHO group was further oxidized by Obri to form −CO and −HObri, followed by the −HObri group inserting into the −CO group to form a carboxyl group (−COOH); the excess −HObri then releases the H by an O2-assisted mechanism, and at last, the consumed lattice oxygen was recovered by O2. Furthermore, we explored the structure–activity relationship of MnO2, finding that the active sites on the β-MnO2 surface are all frustrated Lewis pairs, which promote the activation of C–H and O–H and facilitate the progress of the catalytic reaction. Besides, the reaction activity of the lattice oxygen on the catalyst surface is critical to the catalytic performance: the better the lattice oxygen activity, the better the catalytic performance; oxygen vacancy (Ovac) formation energy can be a good descriptor for reaction activity. At last, the microkinetic modeling results show that the catalytic activity is optimal when the adsorption energy of FFCA is between −0.7 and −0.4 eV and the Ovac formation energy is between 0.1 and 0.5 eV. Hopefully, this may act as a favorable guidance for the filtrate of catalysts in the experiment.
(1) Background: Whey protein (WP) in combination with resistance training (RT) is beneficial in improving sarcopenic obesity and its damaging effects in older adults, while the difference between men ...and women should be considered while interpreting results. This review aims to investigate WP’s efficacy on postmenopausal women with or without RT; (2) Material and Methods: We searched electronic databases including PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library from inception to August 2021 for randomized controlled trials that included comparison groups to evaluate WP’s efficacy in women aged 55 years and above. The outcomes included body composition, muscular strength, functional capacity, and dietary intake. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to estimate the effect of WP. We also performed subgroup analysis with or without RT; (3) Results: We included 14 studies in the systematic review and 10 studies in the meta-analysis. Subgroup analyses showed RT was a major confounder for muscle strength, lean mass, and dietary protein intake (PI). In the RT subgroup, WP supplementation had a significant positive effect on biceps curl strength (BC) (SMD: 0.6805, 95% CI: 0.176, 1.185, I2: 0%), and lower limb lean-mass (LLLM) (SMD: 1.103, 95% CI: 0.632, 1.574, I2: 14%). In the subgroup without RT, a significant negative effect on PI (SMD: −0.4225, 95% CI: −0.774, −0.071, I2: 47%) was observed, while no significant effect on muscle strength or lean mass was revealed. WP supplementation did not show a significantly different effect on fat mass or body weight loss in both the subgroups; (4) Conclusions: In postmenopausal women, WP supplementation only in combination with RT enhances BC and LLLM compared to placebo controls. Without RT, WP has no significant benefit on muscle strength or lean mass.
Patients with primary aldosteronism are associated with increased myocardial fibrosis. Galectin-3 is one of the most important mediators between macrophage activation and myocardial fibrosis.
To ...investigate whether aldosterone induces galectin-3 secretion in vitro and in vivo.
We investigated the possible molecular mechanism of aldosterone-induced galectin-3 secretion in macrophage cell lines (THP-1 and RAW 264.7 cells). Aldosterone induced galectin-3 secretion through mineralocorticoid receptors via the PI3K/Akt and NF-κB transcription signaling pathways. In addition, aldosterone-induced galectin-3 expression enhanced fibrosis-related factor expression in fibroblasts. We observed that galectin-3 mRNA from peripheral blood mononuclear cells and serum galectin-3 levels were both significantly increased in mice implanted with aldosterone pellets on days 7 and 14. We then conducted a prospective preliminary clinical study to investigate the association between aldosterone and galectin-3. Patients with aldosterone-producing adenoma had a significantly higher plasma galectin-3 level than patients with essential hypertension. One year after adrenalectomy, the plasma galectin-3 level had decreased significantly in the patients with aldosterone-producing adenoma.
This study demonstrated that aldosterone could induce galectin-3 secretion in vitro and in vivo.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The entire reaction mechanism of the dry reforming of methane (DRM) as well as the competition processes over perfect and boron-vacancy-containing h-BN sheet-supported Ni-catalysts (labeled Ni
2
.../h-BN and Ni
2
/h-BN-B-D) was studied by density functional theory calculations in the present work. Our calculation results show that B-defected h-BN strongly binds to the Ni
2
active sites (
i.e.
, shows a strong metal-support interaction (SMSI) character) due to the better electron transfer between Ni
2
sites and the support. It was found that CH
4
is easier to activate than molecular CO
2
. The activation of CO
2
occurs on the surface of Ni
2
/h-BN through a direct route, whereas it is prone to follow a hydrogen-assisted path for Ni
2
/h-BN-B-D
via
the COOH* intermediate, and the results show that the oxidant O* is easily formed on the surface of Ni
2
/h-BN-B-D. It was also found that O* is the main oxidant agent for CH
x
* intermediates through the CH
3
-O oxidation mechanism. The reaction kinetic analysis indicated that the reverse water gas shift reaction (RWGS) is much more favorable than DRM (1.30
vs.
1.72 eV) over the Ni
2
/h-BN system, whereas the RWGS and DRM are comparable on Ni
2
/h-BN-B-D (1.77
vs.
1.66 eV), suggesting a high DRM activity on Ni
2
/h-BN-B-D. Moreover, neither methane cracking nor a Boudouard reaction to form C* species is thermodynamically and kinetically unfavorable over Ni
2
/h-BN-B-D; hence, Ni
2
/h-BN-B-D has strong resistance to carbon deposition. Compared to Ni(111), both Ni
2
/h-BN-B-D and Ni
2
/h-BN show strong resistance to carbon deposition. Our results provide a further mechanistic understanding of the DRM over an Ni-based catalyst through the SMSI characteristic and the SMSI favors strong resistance to carbon deposition.
The entire reaction mechanism of the dry reforming of methane (DRM) as well as the competition processes over perfect and boron-vacancy-containing h-BN sheet-supported Ni-catalysts (labeled Ni
2
/h-BN and Ni
2
/h-BN-B-D) was studied by density functional theory calculations in the present work.
We investigated the effects of 8 weeks (3 days per week) of running interval training (RIT) combined with blood flow restriction (RIT-BFR) on the maximal running performance (RPmax), isokinetic ...muscle strength, and muscle endurance in athletes. Twenty endurance-trained male runners were pair-matched and randomly assigned to the RIT-BFR and RIT groups. The RIT-BFR group performed RIT (50% heart rate reserve, 5 sets of 3 min each, and 1-min rest interval) with inflatable cuffs (1.3× resting systolic blood pressure), and the RIT group performed the same RIT without inflatable cuffs. RPmax, isokinetic muscle strength, and muscle endurance were assessed at pre-, mid-, and post-training. Compared with the RIT group, the RIT-BFR group exhibited a significantly (p < 0.05) greater increase in RPmax, isokinetic knee extensor and flexor strength, and knee extensor endurance after 24 training sessions. These results suggested that RIT-BFR may be a feasible training strategy for improving muscular fitness and endurance running performance in distance runners.
Abstract
Context
Primary aldosteronism (PA) patients have a higher degree of arterial stiffness, which can be reversed after adrenalectomy.
Objective
We aimed to compare the reversal of arterial ...stiffness between surgically and medically treated PA patients and to identify the predictors of effective medical treatment.
Methods
We prospectively enrolled 445 PA patients and collected data on baseline clinical characteristics, biochemistry, blood pressure, and pulse wave velocity (PWV) before treatment and 12 months after treatment. In the mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA)-treated patients, the relationship between the change in PWV after 1 year (ΔPWV) and posttreatment renin activity was explored using the restricted cubic spline (RCS) method.
Results
Of the 445 enrolled PA patients, 255 received adrenalectomy (group 1) and 190 received MRAs. In the RCS model, posttreatment plasma renin activity (PRA) 1.5 ng/mL/h was the best cutoff value. Therefore, we divided the MRA-treated patients into 2 groups: those with suppressed PRA (< 1.5 ng/mL/h, group 2), and those with unsuppressed PRA (≥ 1.5 ng/mL/h, group 3). Only group 1 and group 3 patients had a statistically significant improvement in PWV after treatment (both P < .001), whereas no significant improvement was noted in group 2 after treatment (P = .151). In analysis of variance and post hoc analysis, group 2 had a significantly lower ΔPWV than group 1 (P = .007) and group 3 (P = .031). Multivariable regression analysis of the MRA-treated PA patients identified log-transformed posttreatment PRA, age, and baseline PWV as independent factors correlated with ΔPWV.
Conclusion
The reversal of arterial stiffness was found in PA patients receiving adrenalectomy and in medically treated PA patients with unsuppressed PRA.
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