Preparation of a novel polypyrrole/dolomite composite adsorbent for efficient removal of Cr(VI) from aqueous solution

A novel adsorbent, deposited PPy on the DMI (PPy/DMI) composite, was successfully synthesized for Cr(VI) removal from aqueous solution. PPy/DMI composite was characterized by BET, SEM, TEM, XRD, and XPS. The SEM and TEM analyses revealed that DMI can greatly reduce the aggregation of PPy and significantly enhance its adsorption performance. The Cr(VI) removal was highly pH dependent. The high selectivity of PPy/DMI composite for Cr(VI) removal was found even in the presence of co-existing ions. The adsorption kinetic process followed the pseudo-second-order equation, demonstrating that the Cr(VI) adsorption behavior onto PPy/DMI is chemisorption. Furthermore, the intra-particle diffusion model implied that the adsorption was controlled by both liquid membrane diffusion and internal diffusion. The adsorption isotherm data fitted well with the Langmuir model with the maximum adsorption capacity (406.50 mg/g at 323 K) which was considerably higher than that of other PPy-based adsorbents. The Cr(VI) adsorption onto PPy/DMI composite was endothermic. The main mechanisms of Cr(VI) removal are involved in adsorption through electrostatic attractions, ion exchange, and in situ reduction. The results suggested that PPy/DMI composite could be a promising candidate for efficient Cr(VI) removal from aqueous solution.

Identification and validation of genes associated with aging-related cardiovascular disease

Aging is acknowledged as the most significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study sought to identify and validate potential aging-related genes associated with CVD by using bioinformatics. The confluence of the limma test, weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA), and 2129 aging and senescence-associated genes led to the identification of aging-related differential expression genes (ARDEGs). By using Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), potential biological roles and pathways of ARDEGs were identified. To find the significantly different functions between CVD and non-cardiovascular disease (nCVD) and to reckon the processes score, enrichment analysis of all genes was carried out using gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and gene set variation analysis (GSVA). By using GO and KEGG, potential biological roles and pathways of ARDEGs were identified. To evaluate the immune cell composition of the immune microenvironment, we performed an immune infiltration analysis on the dataset from the training group. We were able to acquire four ARDEGs (PTGS2, MMP9, HBEGF, and FN1). Aging, cellular senescence, and nitric oxide signal transduction were selected for biological function analysis. The diagnostic value of the four ARDEGs in distinguishing CVD from nCVD samples was deemed to be favorable. This research identified four ARDEGs that are associated with CVD. This study provides insight into prospective novel biomarkers for aging-related CVD diagnosis and progression monitoring.

Three previously undescribed metabolites from Cordyceps cicadae JXCH-1, an entomopathogenic fungus

Three previously undescribed compounds, cordycicadione (1), cordycicadin F (2), and 7-hydroxybassiatin (3), were isolated from the cultures of Cordyceps cicadae JXCH1, an entomopathogenic fungus. Their structures and relative configurations were elucidated primarily by NMR spectroscopic analysis. The absolute configurations of 1 and 2 were determined by ECD calculations. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction method was adopted to determine the absolute configuration of 3. Compound 2 is a polycyclic polyketide with an unusual enol ether moiety and a spiro ring. The compounds obtained in this study were subjected to screening their inhibition against the proliferation of the human lung cancer cell line A549 and the production of nitric oxide in murine macrophages RAW264.7.

Sesquiterpenes from the Fungus Antrodiella albocinnamomea with Cytotoxicity and Antibacterial Activity

Eight new sesquiterpenes, namely, albocinnamins A-H (1-8), along with two known ones (9 and 10), have been isolated from the fungus Antrodiella albocinnamomea. Compound 1 possesses a new backbone that might be derived from cadinane-type sesquiterpene. Structures of the new compounds were elucidated by detailed spectroscopic data analysis, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and ECD calculations. Compounds 1a and 1b showed cytotoxicity against SW480 and MCF-7 cells, with IC₅₀ values ranging from 19.3 to 33.3 μM, while compound 2 displayed cytotoxicity against the HL-60 cell with an IC₅₀ value of 12.3 μM. In addition, compounds 5 and 6 exhibited antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus with MIC values of 64 and 64 µg/mL, respectively.