Heavy‐metal‐free ternary Cu–In–Se quantum dots (CISe QDs) are promising for solar fuel production because of their low toxicity, tunable band gap, and high light absorption coefficient. Although ...defects significantly affect the photophysical properties of QDs, the influence on photoelectrochemical hydrogen production is not well understood. Herein, we present the defect engineering of CISe QDs for efficient solar‐energy conversion. Lewis acid–base reactions between metal halide–oleylamine complexes and oleylammonium selenocarbamate are modulated to achieve CISe QDs with the controlled amount of Cu vacancies without changing their morphology. Among them, CISe QDs with In/Cu = 1.55 show the most outstanding photoelectrochemical hydrogen generation with excellent photocurrent density of up to 10.7 mA cm−2 (at 0.6 VRHE), attributed to the suitable electronic band structures and enhanced carrier concentrations/lifetimes of the QDs. The proposed method, which can effectively control the defects in heavy‐metal‐free ternary QDs, offers a deeper understanding of the effects of the defects and provides a practical approach to enhance photoelectrochemical hydrogen generation.
Defect engineering of ternary Cu–In–Se quantum dots is achieved by regulating Lewis acid–base reactions between metal halide–oleylamine complexes and selenium precursors. Optical and electrical properties such as carrier concentrations, mobilities, and lifetimes are tuneable by the density of Cu vacancies. Photoanodes with defect‐engineered quantum dots show outstanding photoelectrochemical hydrogen generation with excellent photocurrent density (10.7 mA cm−2 at 0.6 VRHE).
Mito-TEMPO is a well-known mitochondria-specific superoxide scavenger. However, the effect of Mito-TEMPO on porcine embryo development, to our knowledge, has not been studied yet. In the present ...study, porcine embryos were classified into two groups (G1 and G2) based on the cytoplasm lipid contents at the zygote stage. The development of blastocysts derived from G2 zygotes was reduced (G2:16.2 ± 7.9% vs G1: 26.5 ± 5.9%; 1.6-fold, p < 0.05) compared to those from G1 zygotes. In G2 embryos, the proportion of TUNEL-positive cells was also higher than that of G1 embryos. Superoxide in G2 embryos was significantly increased compared to that in G1 embryos. Mitochondrial membrane potential and ATP production were lower in G2 embryos than in G1 embryos. Phosphorylation of Drp1 at Ser 616 increased in G1 embryos during the cleavage stages compared to that in the zygote but was not significantly different in G2 embryos. Then, the effects of Mito-TEMPO were investigated in G2 embryos. Blastocyst formation rate (G2: 19.1 ± 5.1% vs G2 + Mito-TEMPO: 28.8 ± 4.0%; 1.5-fold, p < 0.05) and mitochondrial aggregation were recovered after superoxide reduction by Mito-TEMPO treatment. Thus, we showed that Mito-TEMPO improves blastocyst development by superoxide reduction in porcine embryos in vitro.
Photoelectrochemical (PEC) hydrogen production is an emerging technology that uses renewable solar light aimed to establish a sustainable carbon‐neutral society. The barriers to commercialization are ...low efficiency and high cost. To date, researchers have focused on materials and systems. However, recent studies have been conducted to utilize thermal effects in PEC hydrogen production. This Review provides a fresh perspective to utilize the thermal effects for PEC performance enhancement while delineating the underlying principles and equations associated with efficiency. The fundamentals of the thermal effect on the PEC system are summarized from various perspectives: kinetics, thermodynamics, and empirical equations. Based on this, materials are classified as plasmonic metals, quantum dot‐based semiconductors, and photothermal organic materials, which have an inherent response to photothermal irradiation. Finally, the economic viability and challenges of these strategies for PEC are explained, which can pave the way for the future progress in the field.
Thermal effects on PEC: Utilization of heat on photoelectrochemical (PEC) hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is a promising strategy to increase PEC performance by accelerating charge carrier transport and decreasing applied bias. This Review summarizes the basic principles of thermal effects for PEC HER and introduces materials that enhance these thermal effects, as well as the remaining challenges and future developments.
Osteoporosis, which is often associated with increased osteoclast activity due to menopause or aging, was the main focus of this study. We investigated the inhibitory effects of water extract of ...desalted
L. (WSE) on osteoclast differentiation and bone loss in ovariectomized mice. Our findings revealed that WSE effectively inhibited RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation, as demonstrated by TRAP staining, and also suppressed bone resorption and F-actin ring formation in a dose-dependent manner. The expression levels of genes related to osteoclast differentiation, including NFATc1, ACP5, Ctsk, and DCSTAMP, were downregulated by WSE. Oral administration of WSE improved bone density and structural parameters in ovariectomized mice. Dicaffeoylquinic acids (DCQAs) and saponins were detected in WSE, with 3,4-DCQA, 3,5-DCQA, and 4,5-DCQA being isolated and identified. All tested DCQAs, including the aforementioned types, inhibited osteoclast differentiation, bone resorption, and the expression of osteoclast-related genes. Furthermore, WSE and DCQAs reduced ROS production mediated by RANKL. These results indicate the potential of WSE and its components, DCQAs, as preventive or therapeutic agents against osteoporosis and related conditions.
Rare earth elements (REEs) have become crucial resources in the electric vehicle industry; however, their recycling remains challenging. In this study, we developed a carboxymethylated cellulose ...nanofibril aerogel crosslinked with citric acid (CMCNF-CA aerogel) through thermal treatment and employed it as an adsorbent for REE recovery. The CMCNF-CA aerogel possesses a substantial amount of free –COOH groups, resulting in a strong negative charge. This unique characteristic enables the aerogel to exhibit excellent adsorption capacities of 200 mg/g for lanthanum(La3+) and 170 mg/g for cerium(Ce3+). The findings from FTIR and XPS analyses provide insights into the adsorption mechanism. It is revealed that hydroxo-complexes, such as La-(OH)x and Ce-(OH)x, are adsorbed onto the CMCNF-CA aerogel through strong electrostatic interactions with the –COOH groups. This leads to the formation of metal ionic crosslinking. Remarkably, the CMCNF-CA aerogel maintains its high adsorption performance even after undergoing five consecutive adsorption-desorption cycles. Based on these results, we demonstrate that the CMCNF-CA aerogel is an efficient and reusable adsorbent for the sustainable recovery of La3+ and Ce3+ from aqueous solutions. This study offers promising prospects for addressing the challenges in the recycling of REEs, highlighting the potential of the CMCNF-CA aerogel as a practical solution in the field of REE recovery.
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•Recycling of lanthanum(La3+) and cerium(Ce3+) is necessary due to increasing demand.•Carboxymethylcellulose nanofibril(CMCNF-CA) aerogel is prepared to recycle La3+/Ce3+.•CMCNF–CA aerogel has plenty of–COOH groups, which induce a strong negative charge.•La3+ and Ce3+ was adsorbed by ionophorically crosslinking on -COOHs of CMCNF-CA.•CMCNF–CA shows excellent La3+(200 mg/g) and Ce3+(170 mg/g) adsorption capacities.
Previously, we found that the water extract of Artermisia scoparia Waldst. & Kit suppressed the cytokine production of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages and alleviated ...carrageenan-induced acute inflammation in mice. Artemisia contains various sesquiterpene lactones and most of them exert immunomodulatory activity.
In the present study, we investigated the immunomodulatory effect of estafiatin (EST), a sesquiterpene lactone derived from A. scoparia, on LPS-induced inflammation in macrophages and mouse sepsis model.
Murine bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) and THP-1 cells, a human monocytic leukemia cell line, were pretreated with different doses of EST for 2 h, followed by LPS treatment. The gene and protein expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and Western blot analysis. The activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) was also evaluated at the level of phosphorylation. The effect of EST on inflammatory cytokine production, lung histopathology, and survival rate was assessed in an LPS-induced mice model of septic shock. The effect of EST on the production of cytokines in LPS-stimulated peritoneal macrophages was evaluated by in vitro and ex vivo experiments and protective effect of EST on cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) mice was also assessed.
The LPS-induced expression of IL-6, TNF-α, and iNOS was suppressed at the mRNA and protein levels in BMDMs and THP-1 cells, respectively, by pretreatment with EST. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of EST on IL-6 and TNF-α production were determined as 3.2 μM and 3.1 μM in BMDMs, 3 μM and 3.4 μM in THP1 cells, respectively. In addition, pretreatment with EST significantly reduced the LPS-induced phosphorylation p65, p38, JNK, and ERK in both cell types. In the LPS-induced mice model of septic shock, serum levels of IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β, CXCL1, and CXCL2 were lower in EST-treated mice than in the control animals. Histopathology analysis revealed that EST treatment ameliorated LPS-induced lung damage. Moreover, while 1 of 7 control mice given lethal dose of LPS survived, 3 of 7 EST-treated (1.25 mg/kg) mice and 5 of 7 EST-treated (2.5 mg/kg) mice were survived. Pretreatment of EST dose-dependently suppressed the LPS-induced production of IL-6, TNF-α and CXCL1 in peritoneal macrophages. In CLP-induced mice sepsis model, while all 6 control mice was dead at 48 h, 1 of 6 EST-treated (1.25 mg/kg) mice and 3 of 6 EST-treated (2.5 mg/kg) mice survived for 96 h.
These results demonstrated that EST exerts anti-inflammatory effects on LPS-stimulated macrophages and protects mice from sepsis. Our study suggests that EST could be developed as a new therapeutic agent for sepsis and various inflammatory diseases.
Recently, porous acupuncture (PA), which is anodized to increase its surface area for higher stimulation intensity, was developed and showed significantly improved therapeutic effects with more ...comfort as compared with original acupuncture (OA) in vivo. However, the impact of PA on the change of local blood flow as well as its efficacy and acceptability has not yet been confirmed in a clinical trial. In a randomized, controlled crossover clinical trial, we investigated the effects of PA on the change in local blood flow using laser Doppler perfusion imaging and considered the sensation of pain intensity and discomfort severity using a visual analogue scale (VAS) to explore its physiological impact and the possibility of PA in clinical use.
Twenty-one healthy participants were randomly treated with PA or OA on one side of Zusanli (ST36) and each participant served as his or her own control. Baseline local blood flow and galvanic skin response (GSR) were obtained for 5 min and acupuncture interventions were subsequently performed. Next, local blood flow and GSR were subsequently obtained for 10 min after insertion, 10 min after manipulation, and 5 min after the withdrawal of acupuncture. At the end of the experiment, participants were asked to indicate the sensation of pain intensity at each session of insertion, retention, manipulation, and withdrawal as well as the overall pain intensity and discomfort severity.
PA significantly increased the local blood flow as compared with OA and there was no significant difference in GSR between patients treated with PA versus OA in each phase of insertion and manipulation. No significant difference in pain intensity or discomfort severity was found during manipulation, retention, or withdrawal of acupuncture.
These results indicate that PA increases local blood flow, which can be closely related to the observed enhanced performance, without any associated discomfort or pain, suggesting its applicability in clinical practice.
In this paper, we present the development and demonstration of a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel-cell-battery hybrid system for the propulsion of a 20-m-long tourist boat. The PEM ...fuel-cell-battery hybrid system was developed by integrating PEM fuel cells with Li-ion batteries to supply electric power to the waterjet propulsion system and auxiliary equipment of the boat, which was operated in coastal waters. The PEM fuel cells and Li-ion batteries generated an electric power of 50 kW and stored an energy of 47 kWh, respectively. All of the system components, including the PEM fuel-cell modules, hydrogen storage tanks, DC–DC converters, Li-ion battery packs, and battery charger were newly developed and pre-tested for installation onboard, and the boat was built using an aluminum alloy to arrange the developed PEM fuel-cell-battery hybrid system inside of it. The first fuel-cell-powered boat in Korea was successfully demonstrated in the coastal waters of Busan, Korea. The demonstration exhibited the reliable operation of the fuel-cell-battery hybrid system and boat speeds of 6.6–7.8 knots at a power output of ∼85 kW.
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•A PEM fuel-cell-battery hybrid system is developed for a tourist boat.•The system, together with Li-ion batteries, generates a power of 90 kW.•A 20-m-long boat is built for arranging the system.•The fuel-cell-powered boat is demonstrated in coastal waters.•Boat speeds of 6.6–7.8 knots are achieved at a power output of ∼85 kW.
Mycobacterium abscessus (MAB), a non-tuberculous mycobacterium (NTM), causes chronic pulmonary inflammation in humans. The NLRP3 inflammasome is a multi-protein complex that triggers IL-1β maturation ...and pyroptosis through the cleavage of caspase-1. In this study, we investigated the roles of NLRP3 and IL-1β in the host's defense against MAB. The IL-1β production by MAB was completely abolished in NLRP3, but not NLRC4, deficient macrophages. The NLRP3 inflammasome components, which are ASC and caspase-1 were also found to be essential for IL-1β production in response to MAB. NLRP3 and IL-1β deficiency did not affect the intracellular growth of MAB in macrophages, and the bacterial burden in lungs of NLRP3- and IL-1β-deficient mice was also comparable to the burden observed in WT mice. In contrast, IL-1β deficiency ameliorated lung pathology in MAB-infected mice. Notably, the lung homogenates of IL-1β-deficient mice had reduced levels of IL-17, but not IFN-γ and IL-4 when compared with WT counterparts. Furthermore, in vitro co-culture analysis showed that IL-1β signaling was essential for IL-17 production in response to MAB. Finally, we observed that the anti-IL-17 antibody administration moderately mitigated MAB-induced lung pathology. These findings indicated that IL-1β production contribute to MAB-induced lung pathology via the elevation of IL-17 production.
The site‐selective modifications of quinazolinones constitute a pivotal topic in drug discovery and material science. Herein, we describe the rhodium(III)‐catalyzed C–H amidation of 2‐aryl ...quinazolin‐4(3H)‐ones with a range of nitrene surrogates including dioxazolones, organic azides, and N‐methoxyamides. Complete site‐selectivity and functional group tolerance are observed. Notably, the large‐scale reaction and late‐stage functionalization highlight the synthetic potential of the developed protocol. Combined mechanistic investigations elucidate a plausible reaction mechanism of this process.
The site‐selective C–H amidation of 2‐aryl quinazolin‐4(3H)‐ones with dioxazolones under rhodium(III) catalysis is described. Gram‐scale reaction, late‐stage C–H functionalization, and synthetic transformations highlight the potential of the developed method.
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