Synthesis of metal-organic frameworks with multiple nitrogen groups for selective capturing Ag(I) from wastewater

As a noble metal with extremely high economic benefits, the recovery of silver ions has attracted a particular deal of attention. However, it is a challenge to recover silver ions efficiently and selectively from aqueous solutions. In this research, the novel metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) adsorbent (Zr-DPHT) is prepared for the highly efficient and selective recovery of silver ions from wastewater. Experimental findings reveal that Zr-DPHT's adsorption of Ag(I) constitutes an endothermic process, with an optimal pH of 5 and exhibits a maximum adsorption capacity of 268.3 mg·g-1. Isotherm studies show that the adsorption of Ag(I) by Zr-DPHT is mainly monolayer chemical adsorption. Kinetic studies indicate that the internal diffusion of Ag(I) in Zr-DPHT may be the rate-limiting step. The mechanism for Ag(I) adsorption on Zr-DPHT involves electrostatic interactions and chelation. In competitive adsorption, Ag(I) has the largest partition coefficient (9.64 mL·mg-1), indicating a strong interaction between Zr-DPHT and Ag(I). It is proven in the adsorption-desorption cycle experiments that Zr-DPHT has good regeneration performance. The research results indicate that Zr-DPHT can serve as a potential adsorbent for efficiently and selectively capturing Ag(I), providing a new direction for MOFs in the recycling field of precious metals.

Potent, selective and reversible hMAO-B inhibition by benzalphthalides: Synthesis, enzymatic and cellular evaluations and virtual docking and predictive studies

Monoaminooxidases (MAOs) are important targets for drugs used in the treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders and particularly on Parkinson's Disease (PD). Compounds containing a trans-stilbenoid skeleton have demonstrated good selective and reversible MAO-B inhibition. Here, twenty-two (Z)-3-benzylidenephthalides (benzalphthalides, BPHs) displaying a trans-stilbenoid skeleton have been synthesised and evaluated as inhibitors of the MAO-A and MAO-B isoforms. Some BPHs have selectively inhibited MAO-B, with IC50 values ranging from sub-nM to μM. The most potent compound with IC50 = 0.6 nM was the 3',4'-dichloro-BPH 16, which showed highly selective and reversible MAO-B inhibitory activity. Furthermore, the most selective BPHs displayed a significant protection against the apoptosis, and mitochondrial toxic effects induced by 6-hydroxydopamine (6OHDA) on SH-SY5Y cells, used as a cellular model of PD. The results of virtual binding studies on the most potent compounds docked in MAO-B and MAO-A were in agreement with the potencies and selectivity indexes found experimentally. Additionally, related to toxicity risks, drug-likeness and ADME properties, the predictions found for the most relevant BPHs in this research were within those ranges established for drug candidates.

Selective Arylation of RNA 2'-OH Groups via SNAr Reaction with Trialkylammonium Heterocycles

Small-molecule reactions at the 2'-OH groups of RNA enable useful applications for transcriptome technology and biology. To date, all reactions have involved carbonyl acylation and mechanistically related sulfonylation, limiting the types of modifications and properties that can be achieved. Here we report that electron-deficient heteroaryl species selectively react with 2'-OH groups of RNA in water via SNAr chemistry. In particular, trialkyl-ammonium (TAA)-activated aromatic heterocycles, prepared in one step from aryl chloride precursors, give high conversions to aryl ether adducts with RNAs in aqueous buffer in ~2-3 h. Remarkably, a TAA triazine previously used only for reaction with carboxylic acids, shows unprecedented selectivity for RNA over water, reacting rapidly with 2'-OH groups while exhibiting a half-life in water of >10 days. We further show that a triazine aryl species can be used as a probe at trace-level yields to map RNA structure in vitro. Finally, we prepare a number of functionalized trialkylammonium triazine reagents and show that they can be used to covalently label RNA efficiently for use in vitro and in living cells. This direct arylation chemistry offers a simple and distinct structural scaffold for post-synthetic RNA modification, with the potential for utility in multiple applications in transcriptome research.

Distinct binding modes of a benzothiazole derivative confer structural bases for increasing ERK2 or p38α MAPK selectivity

Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), including extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2 (ERK2) and p38α MAP kinase (p38α MAPK), regulate various cellular responses. ERK2 is a drug target for treating many diseases, such as cancer, whereas p38α has attracted much attention as a promising drug target for treating inflammatory disorders. ERK2 is a critical off-target for p38α MAPK and vice versa. In this study, an allosteric ERK2 inhibitor with a benzothiazole moiety (compound 1) displayed comparable inhibitory activity against p38α MAPK. Crystal structures of these MAPKs showed that compound 1 bound to the allosteric site of ERK2 and p38α MAPK in distinct manners. Compound 1 formed a covalent bond with Cys162 of p38α MAPK, whereas this covalent bond was absent in the ERK2 complex even though the corresponding cysteine is conserved in ERK2. Structural dissection combined with computational simulations indicated that an amino acid difference in the allosteric site is responsible for the distinct binding modes of compound 1 with ERK2 and p38α MAPK. These structural insights underline the feasibility of developing highly selective and potent ERK2 and p38α MAPK inhibitors.

Porphyrin Metal-organic Framework Sensors for Chemical and Biological Sensing

Porphyrins and porphyrin derivatives have been intensively explored for a number of applications such as sensing, catalysis, adsorption, and photocatalysis due to their outstanding photophysical properties. Their usage in sensing applications, however, is limited by intrinsic defects such as physiological instability and self-quenching. To reduce self-quenching susceptibility, researchers have developed porphyrin metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), a unique type of hybrid porous coordination polymers comprised of metal ions linked by organic linkers, are gaining popularity. Porphyrin molecules can be integrated into MOFs or employed as organic linkers in the production of MOFs. Porphyrin-based MOFs are a separate branch of the huge MOF family that combines the distinguishing qualities of porphyrins (e.g., fluorescent nature) and MOFs (e.g., high surface area, high porosity) to enable sensing applications with higher sensitivity, specificity, and extended target range. The key synthesis techniques for porphyrin-based MOFs, such as porphyrin@MOFs, porphyrinic MOFs, and composite porphyrinic MOFs, are outlined in this review article. This review article focuses on current advances and breakthroughs in the field of porphyrin-based MOFs for detecting a variety of targets (for example, metal ions, anions, explosives, biomolecules, pH, and toxins). Finally, the issues and potential future uses of this class of emerging materials for sensing applications are reviewed.

Development of D-π-A organic dyes for discriminating HSA from BSA and study on dye-HSA interaction

HSA (human serum albumin), a most abundant protein in blood serum, plays a key role in maintaining human health. Abnormal HSA level is correlated with many diseases, and thus has been used as an essential biomarker for therapeutic monitoring and biomedical diagnosis. Development of small-molecule fluorescent probes allowing the selective and sensitive recognition of HSA in in vitro and in vivo is of fundamental importance in basic biological research as well as medical diagnosis. Herein, we reported a series of new synthesized fluorescent dyes containing D-π-A constitution, which exhibited different optical properties in solution and solid state. Among them, dye M-H-SO3 with a hydrophilic sulfonate group at electron-acceptor part displayed selectivity for discrimination of HSA from BSA and other enzymes. Upon binding of dye M-H-SO3 with HSA, a significant fluorescence enhancement with a turn-on ratio about 96-fold was triggered. The detection limit was estimated to be ∼ 40 nM. Studies on the interaction mechanism revealed that dye M-H-SO3 could bind to site III of HSA with a 1:1 binding stoichiometry. Furthermore, dye M-H-SO3 has been applied to determine HSA in real urine samples with good recoveries, which provided a useful method for HSA analysis in biological fluids.

Imidazo[1,2-b]pyridazines as inhibitors of DYRK kinases

Selective inhibitors of DYRK1A are of interest for the treatment of cancer, Type 2 diabetes and neurological disorders. Optimization of imidazo [1,2-b]pyridazine fragment 1 through structure-activity relationship exploration and in silico drug design efforts led to the discovery of compound 17 as a potent cellular inhibitor of DYRK1A with selectivity over much of the kinome. The binding mode of compound 17 was elucidated with X-ray crystallography, facilitating the rational design of compound 29, an imidazo [1,2-b]pyridazine with improved kinase selectivity with respect to closely related CLK kinases.

Discovery of 5-aminopyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidin-7(8H)-one derivatives as new hematopoietic progenitor kinase 1 (HPK1) inhibitors

Hematopoietic progenitor kinase 1 (HPK1) is a negative regulator of T-cell receptor signaling. While HPK1 is considered as a promising target for cancer immunotherapy, no small-molecule HPK1 inhibitors have been approved for cancer treatment. Herein, we report the discovery of a series of new HPK1 inhibitors with a 5-aminopyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidin-7(8H)-one scaffold. The most potent compound 9f inhibited HPK1 kinase activity with an IC50 of 0.32 nM in the time-resolved fluorescence resonance energy transfer (TR-FRET) assays, while displayed reasonable selectivity in a panel of 416 kinases. Cellular engagement of HPK1 by compound 9f was confirmed through the nano-bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (Nano-BRET) experiments. Compound 9f effectively reduced the phosphorylation of the downstream protein SLP-76 in primary peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and human T lymphocytic leukemia Jurkat cells. Compound 9f also enhanced the IL-2 and IFN-γ secretion in PBMCs. Furthermore, the binding mode of compound 9f with HPK1 was confirmed by the resolved cocrystal structure. Taken together, this study provides HPK1 inhibitors with a novel scaffold and clear binding mode for further development of HPK1-targeted therapeutic agents.

Sublethal and Transgenerational Effects of Reduced-Risk Insecticides on Macrolophus basicornis (Hemiptera: Miridae)

Reduced-risk insecticides and mirid predators have been used to control Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in tomato crops. However, even when causing low mortality to the beneficial insects, these products might cause side effects. This study investigated the sublethal and transgenerational effects of buprofezin, cyantraniliprole, and spiromesifen on Macrolophus basicornis (Stal) (Hemiptera: Miridae). After 72 h of exposure of third-instar nymphs and adults to residues on tomato leaves, adult couples were formed and kept in cages with residue-free tomato leaves. The leaves were changed every 48 h and the offspring were assessed in 6 different periods. Body size was assessed by measuring the hind-tibia length of adults (F0) from exposed nymphs and in three different offspring groups. None of the insecticide residues caused a reduction on offspring populations or affected the body size of adults in generation F0. Regardless, buprofezin and spiromesifen reduced the tibia length of adults (F1) from exposed nymphs assayed in the third mating period. Cyantraniliprole did not affect any parameter and could be recommended for control of B. tabaci in association with M. basicornis releases. This study may contribute to future field assays of the compatibility of these insecticides with M. basicornis.

Re-exploration of tetrahydro-β-carboline scaffold: Discovery of selective histone deacetylase 6 inhibitors with neurite outgrowth-promoting and neuroprotective activities

Histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) has drawn more and more attention for its potential application in Alzheimer's disease (AD) therapy. A series of tetrahydro-β-carboline (THβC) hydroxamic acids with aryl linker were synthesized. In enzymatic assay, all compounds exhibited nanomolar IC50 values. The most promising compound 11d preferentially inhibited HDAC6 (IC50, 8.64 nM) with approximately 149-fold selectivity over HDAC1. Molecular simulation revealed that the hydroxamic acid of 11d could bind to the zinc ion by a bidentate chelating manner. In vitro, 11d induced neurite outgrowth of PC12 cells without producing toxic effects and showed obvious neuroprotective activity in a model of H2O2-induced oxidative stress.

Selective recovery of copper from copper tailings and wastewater using chelating resins with bis-picolylamine functional groups

Industrial and mining wastewater, along with copper tailings, are typically highly acidic and contain copper and other heavy metals, which may contaminate and damage the environment. Copper (Cu) is, however, a valuable metal, making its removal and recovery from such wastewater and tailings environmentally and economically advantageous. Chelating ion exchange resins featuring bis-picolylamine functional groups are especially suitable for application requiring selective recovery of Cu(II) from highly acidic media. In this study, and for the first time, the kinetics, binding capacity and selectivity of Lewatit MDS TP 220 chelating resin towards Cu(II) are reported. The resin was characterized by Zeta potential, scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Factors including pH, initial concentration, contact time, temperature, and selectivity were investigated to assess the adsorption performance of the chelating resin. The adsorption kinetics tests revealed fast adsorption within the first 5-30 min and fitted the pseudo-second-order model, signifying chemisorption process. The adsorption isotherm followed the Langmuir model, implying monolayer adsorption process. The maximum adsorption capacity (qm) for Cu(II) determined by the Langmuir model was 103.9 mg/g. The adsorption thermodynamics showed an endothermic and spontaneous adsorption. FTIR and XPS studies suggested coordination or chelation as the possible adsorption mechanism. Lewatit MDS TP 220 exhibited excellent Cu(II) adsorption, desorption with 2 M ammonium hydroxide (NH4OH), and selectivity in multi-metal ions solution. Additionally, the resin demonstrated excellent reusability after five regeneration steps. This chelating resin is a potential adsorbent for effective and recurrent recovery of Cu(II) from copper tailings and wastewater, thereby contributing to environmental remediation.

Herbicides in the initial growth and chlorophyll indices of sugarcane in pre-sprouted seedlings

The aim of the present study was to assess the selectivity of herbicides applied in the pre and post-planting of pre-sprouted seedlings (PSS). The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse, using a completely randomized design, with nine treatments and four repetitions. The IACSP95-5000 cultivar was used. The treatments consisted of herbicides applied in five doses as follows: in pre-planting: sulfentrazone, diclosulam, imazapic, and imazapyr, in post-planting: ethoxysulfuron, halosulfuron, 2,4-D and MSMA, and a control treatment without herbicide. Injury symptoms were assessed at 7, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, and 90 days after application (DAA), height, diameter, number of tillers, chlorophyll A, B, and total chlorophyll at 30, 60, and 90 DAA, leaf area, shoot and root dry mass at 90 DAA. The post-emergent herbicides were considered selective. Pre-planting herbicides reduced the variables assessed at 90 DAA, observed by linear regression for diclosulam and imazapic, and exponential regression for imazapyr. Treatments with sulfentrazone caused few injury symptoms, with subsequent recovery. In addition, all the variables analyzed were equal to control, with the sulfentrazone considered selective for the IACSP95-5000 cultivar.

Recent progress in tannin and lignin blended metal oxides and metal sulfides as smart materials for electrochemical sensor applications

Our technologically advanced civilization has made sensors an essential component. They have potential uses in the pharmaceutical sector, clinical analysis, food quality control, environmental monitoring, and other areas. One of the most active fields of analytical chemistry research is the fabrication of electrochemical sensors. An intriguing area of electroanalytical chemistry is the modification of electrodes using polymeric films. Due to their benefits, which include high adhesion to the electrode surface, chemical stability of the coating, superior selectivity, sensitivity, and homogeneity in electrochemical deposition, polymer-modified electrodes have attracted a great deal of interest in the electroanalytical sector. Conducting polymers are an important material for sensing devices because of their fascinating features, which include high mechanical flexibility, electrical conductivity, and the capacity to be electrochemically converted between electronically insulating and conducting states. Tannin or lignin nanomaterials can be an inter-linker leading to flexible and functional polymeric networks. There is a continuing demand for fast and simple analytical methods for the determination of many clinically important biomarkers, food additives, environmental pollutants etc. This review in a comprehensive way summarizes and discusses the various metal oxide and sulfide-incorporated tannin and lignin scaffolds using electrochemical sensing and biosensing.

Enhancing Ru-Cl interaction via orbital hybridization effect in Ru0.4Sn0.3Ti0.3 electrode for efficient chlorine evolution

Chlorine evolution reaction (CER) is a commercially valuable electrochemical reaction used at an industrial scale. However, oxygen evolution reaction (OER) during the electrolysis process inevitably leads to the decreased efficiency of CER. It is necessary to improve the selectivity of CER by minimizing or even eliminating the occurrence of OER. Herein, a ternary metal oxide (Ru0.4Sn0.3Ti0.3) electrode was fabricated and employed as an active and robust anode for CER. The Ru0.4Sn0.3Ti0.3 electrode exhibits an excellent CER performance in 6.0 M NaCl solution, with a low potential of 1.17 V (vs. saturated calomel electrode, SCE) at 200 mA cm-2 current density, a high Cl2 selectivity of over 90 %, and robust durability after consecutive operation for 160 h under 100 mA cm-2. The maximum O2-Cl2 potential difference between OER and CER further demonstrates the high Cl2 selectivity of Ru0.4Sn0.3Ti0.3 electrode. Theoretical studies show that the strong Ru 3d-Ti 3d orbitals hybridization effect makes the d-band center (εd) of Ru 3d and Ti 3d orbitals positively and negatively shifted, respectively, endowing Ru site with enhanced Cl adsorption ability (i.e. enhanced Ru-Cl interaction) and Ru0.4Sn0.3Ti0.3 electrode with superior CER activity. This work offers valuable insights into the development of advanced electrodes for CER in practical application.

Structural design of La2(CO3)3 loaded magnetic biochar for selective removal of phosphorus from wastewater

High levels of phosphorus released into the environment can cause eutrophication issues in wastewater, therefore discharge concentrations of such element are regulated in many countries. This study addresses the pressing need for effective phosphorus removal methods by developing a novel La2(CO3)3 and MnFe2O4 loaded biochar composite (LMB). A remarkable adsorption capacity towards the three forms of phosphorus from wastewater, including phosphate, phosphite, and etidronic acid monohydrate (as a representative of organic phosphorus), was exhibited by LMB (88.20, 16.35, and 15.95 mg g-1, respectively). The high saturation magnetization value (50.17 emu g-1) highlighted the easy separability and recyclability of the adsorbent. The adsorption process was well described by the Langmuir isotherm model and the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, which mainly involved chemisorption. Characterization results confirm the effective loading of La2(CO3)3 with ligand exchange and electrostatic attraction identified as the primary mechanisms. Importantly, the LMB demonstrated exceptional selectivity for phosphorus in wastewater samples containing various substances, exhibiting minimal interference from competing ions (Cl-, NO3-, SO42-, and CO32-). These findings enhance the understanding of LMB's application in efficient wastewater phosphorus removal. Holding significant promise in wastewater remediation, the LMB acts as an effective adsorbent, contributing substantially to the prevention and control of various types of phosphorus pollutants, thereby mitigating wastewater eutrophication.

Discovery and optimization of (2-naphthylthio)acetic acid derivative as selective Bfl-1 inhibitor

Bcl-2 anti-apoptotic protein family suppresses cell death by deploying a surface groove to capture the critical BH3 α-helix of pro-apoptotic members. Bfl-1 is a relatively understudied member of this family, though it has been implicated in the pathogenesis and chemoresistance of a variety of human cancers. Reported small molecular Bfl-1 inhibitors encountered the issue of either lack in potency or poor selectivity against its most homologous member Mcl-1. In order to tackle this issue, compound library was screened and a hit compound UMI-77 was identified. We modified its chemical structure to remove the characteristic of PAINS (pan-assay interference compounds), demonstrated the real binding affinity and achieved selectivity against Mcl-1 under the guidance of computational modeling. After optimization 15 was obtained as leading compound to block Bfl-1/BIM interaction in vitro with more than 10-fold selectivity over Mcl-1. We believe 15 is of great value for the exploration of Bfl-1 biological function and its potential as therapeutic target.

Considering the selectivity of pore size gradient size exclusion chromatography columns

One of the most significant performance determining variables of a size exclusion column is the pore size of its packing material. This is most definitely the case for assigning the suitability of a given column for differently sized analytes. As technologies for particle and column manufacturing continue to advance, it is worth contemplating the value of more finely controlled manipulation of this parameter. The change in a packing material's pores across the length of a size exclusion column was thus explored. A change in average pore diameter and pore size distribution was studied by means of theoretical modeling. These parameters were investigated for independent and combinatorial effects. From our predictions, versus tandem column chromatography, a gradient column apparatus does not yield sizable increases in monomer to dimer selectivity of any given critical pair. Instead, our modeling suggests it can yield more universally effective separations of multiple pairs of species at once, as is sometimes necessary when analyzing the high molecular weight components of highly aggregated drug substances.

Nickel selenide/g-C3N4 heterojunction photocatalyst promotes CC coupling for photocatalytic CO2 reduction to ethane

Photocatalytic CO2 reduction to generate high value-added and renewable chemicals is of great potential in facilitating the realization of closed-loop and carbon-neutral hydrogen economy. Stabilizing and accelerating the formation of COCO* intermediate is crucial to achieve high-selectivity ethane production. Herein, a novel 3D/2D NiSe2/g-C3N4 heterostructure that mesoscale hedgehog nickel selenide (NiSe2) grown on the ultrathin g-C3N4 nanosheets were synthesized via a successively high temperature calcination process and in-situ thermal injection method for the first time. The optimum 2.7 % NiSe2/g-C3N4 heterostructure achieved moderate C2H6 generation rate of 46.1 μmol·g-1·h-1 and selectivity of 97.5 % without any additional photosensitizers and sacrificial agents under light illumination. Based on the results of the theoretical calculations and experiments, the improvement of photocatalytic CO2 to C2H6 production and selectivity should be ascribed to the increased visible light absorption ability, unique 3D/2D heterostructures with promoted adsorption of CO2 molecules on the Ni active sites, the type II heterojunction with improved charge transfer dynamics and lowered interfacial transfer resistance, as well as the formation of COCO* key intermediate. This work provides an inspiration to construct efficient photocatalysts for the direct transformation of CO2 to multicarbon products (C2+).

Consumer Grade Polyethylene Recycling via Hydrogenolysis on Ultrafine Supported Ruthenium Nanoparticles

Catalytic hydrogenolysis has the potential to convert high-density polyethylene (HDPE), which comprises about 30 % of plastic waste, into valuable alkanes. Most investigations have focused on increasing activity for lab grade HDPEs displaying low molecular weight, with limited mechanistic understanding of the product distribution. No efficient catalyst is available for consumer grades due to their lower reactivity. This study targets HDPE used in bottle caps, a waste form generated globally at a rate of approximately one million units per hour. Ultrafine ruthenium particles (1 nm) supported on titania (anatase) achieved up to 80 % conversion into light alkanes (C1 -C45 ) under mild conditions (498 K, 20 bar H2 , 4 h) and were reused for three cycles. Small ruthenium nanoparticles were critical to achieving relevant conversions, as activity sharply decreased with particle size. Selectivity commonalities and peculiarities across HDPE grades were disclosed by a reaction modelling approach applied to products. Isomerization cedes to backbone scission as the reaction progresses. Within this trend, low molecular weight favor isomerization whilst high molecular weight favor cleavage. Commercial caps obeyed this trend with decreased activity, anticipating the influence of additives in realistic processing. This study demonstrates effective hydrogenolysis of consumer grade polyethylene and provides selectivity patterns for product control.

Molecular dynamics simulations support a preference of cyclotide kalata B1 for phosphatidylethanolamine phospholipids

Kalata B1 (kB1), a naturally occurring cyclotide has been shown experimentally to bind lipid membranes that contain phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) phospholipids. Here, molecular dynamics simulations were used to explore its interaction with two phospholipids, palmitoyloleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (POPE), palmitoyloleoylphosphatidylcholine (POPC), and a heterogeneous membrane comprising POPC/POPE (90:10), to understand the basis for the selectivity of kB1 towards PE phospholipids. The simulations showed that in the presence of only 10 % POPE lipid, kB1 forms a stable binding complex with membrane bilayers. An ionic interaction between the E7 carboxylate group of kB1 and the ammonium group of PE headgroups consistently initiates binding of kB1 to the membrane. Additionally, stable noncovalent interactions such as hydrogen bonding (E7, T8, V10, G11, T13 and N15), cation-π (W23), and CH-π (W23) interactions between specific residues of kB1 and the lipid membrane play an important role in stabilizing the binding. These findings are consistent with a structure-activity relationship study on kB1 where lysine mutagenesis on the bioactive and hydrophobic faces of the peptide abolished membrane-dependent bioactivities. In summary, our simulations suggest the importance of residue E7 (in the bioactive face) in enabling kB1 to recognize and bind selectively to PE-containing phospholipids bilayers through ionic and hydrogen bonding interactions, and of W23 (in the hydrophobic face) for the association and insertion of kB1 into the lipid bilayer through cation-π and CH-π interactions. Overall, this work enhances our understanding of the molecular basis of the membrane binding and bioactivity of this prototypic cyclotide.

The construction of highly selective surface molecularly imprinted polymers based on Cu(II) coordination for the detection of bisphenol A

Herein, we designed and constructed a highly selective MIPs for bisphenol A (BPA) named Cu-MIPs@CS based on Cu(II) coordination. The synthesis of Cu-MIPs@CS employed a dummy template strategy and surface imprinting technology, with chitosan (CS) as the substrate linked to imprinted layers via Cu2+ bridging. 4-vinylpyridine acted as the functional monomer, capable of forming a complex with the template ketoprofen, while ethylene glycol dimethacrylate served as the cross linker. Cu-MIPs@CS exhibited a significantly enhanced imprinting factor of 14.78 for BPA, which was approximately 6.6 times higher than that of imprinted materials without Cu2+ (MIPs@CS). Cu-MIPs@CS exhibited a selective factor of 12.74 towards resorcinol, which possessed identical functional groups but a smaller size than BPA, representing an enhancement of selectivity by 12.25-fold compared to MIPs@CS. More importantly, Cu-MIPs@CS exhibited a superior discrimination ability between BPA and its structural analogue, diphenolic acid, with an excellent selective factor of 2.93, highlighting its significance in distinguish the structural analogue of BPA. In contrast, MIPs@CS lack sufficient selectivity to differentiate between them. Through exploration of adsorption mechanism of Cu-MIPs@CS, it was demonstrated that the incorporation of Cu2+ significantly reduced nonspecific adsorption, but also facilitated the creation of more selective imprinted cavities by introducing metal coordination, thereby notably enhancing the selectivity of Cu-MIPs@CS. Finally, the developed Cu-MIPs@CS were applied as the solid phase extraction adsorbent and combined with HPLC-DAD detection to establish an analytical method towards BPA in drinking water samples. The limit of detection of the method was 0.14 μg L-1 and recoveries ranged from 95.6 % to 101 %. This work provided broad prospects for construction of highly selective MIPs and accurate quantification of trace amounts of BPA.

Adsorption behavior of Mo(VI) from aqueous solutions using tungstate-modified magnetic nanoparticle

A new magnetic nanoparticle modified with sodium tungstate (Mnp-Si-W) was synthesized and employed for the sorption of molybdenum from aqueous solutions. The prepared nanoparticles (Mnp-Si-W) were characterized by different advanced techniques. Different parameters that influenced the adsorption percent of Mo(VI) were investigated using a batch process. Based on a systematic investigation of the adsorption isotherms and kinetics models, Mo(VI) adsorption follows the Langmuir model and pseudo-second-order kinetics. According to the Langmuir isotherm model, the Mnp-Si-W nanoparticles exhibited a maximum adsorption capacity of 182.03 mg g-1 for Mo(VI) at pH 2.0. The effect of competing ions showed that the prepared nanoparticles have a high selectivity for the sorption of molybdenum. Moreover, the effect of some interfering anions on Mo(VI) ion sorption is found in the following order: phosphate < sulfate < chromate. Finally, the nanoparticle (Mnp-Si-W) can be successfully reused five times.

Discovery of a potent and highly selective inhibitor of SIRT6 against pancreatic cancer metastasis in vivo

Pancreatic cancer, one of the most aggressive malignancies, has no effective treatment due to the lack of targets and drugs related to tumour metastasis. SIRT6 can promote the migration of pancreatic cancer and could be a potential target for antimetastasis of pancreatic cancer. However, highly selective and potency SIRT6 inhibitor that can be used in vivo is yet to be discovered. Here, we developed a novel SIRT6 allosteric inhibitor, compound 11e, with maximal inhibitory potency and an IC50 value of 0.98 ± 0.13 μmol/L. Moreover, compound 11e exhibited significant selectivity against other histone deacetylases (HADC1‒11 and SIRT1‒3) at concentrations up to 100 μmol/L. The allosteric site and the molecular mechanism of inhibition were extensively elucidated by cocrystal complex structure and dynamic structural analyses. Importantly, we confirmed the antimetastatic function of such inhibitors in four pancreatic cancer cell lines as well as in two mouse models of pancreatic cancer liver metastasis. To our knowledge, this is the first study to reveal the in vivo effects of SIRT6 inhibitors on liver metastatic pancreatic cancer. It not only provides a promising lead compound for subsequent inhibitor development targeting SIRT6 but also provides a potential approach to address the challenge of metastasis in pancreatic cancer.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel cyclic malonamide derivatives as selective RIPK1 inhibitors

Receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 1 (RIPK1) plays a key role in cell death and inflammation. RIPK1 is a well-established therapeutic target, due to the presence of a unique kinase-regulating allosteric pocket, which enables selective inhibition. Herein we used GSK2982772 as our starting point in our discovery campaign. Applying isosteric replacement, we successfully identified the malonamide scaffold, instead of the well-established serine template. Further structural optimization led to the design and synthesis of a series of analog inhibitors. The enantiomers of the most promising compound were tested on 97 different kinases. The active enantiomer proved to be kinase selective.

Cytotoxic effects of kinetin riboside and its selected analogues on cancer cell lines

N6-[(Furan-2-yl)methyl]adenosine (kinetin riboside) and its seven synthesized analogues were examined for the ability to inhibit the growth of five human carcinoma cell lines and for comparison of normal human lung fibroblast cell line (MRC-5). Out of the compounds evaluated, 8-azakinetin riboside was shown to exhibit significant cytotoxic activity for 72 h treatment against ovarian OVCAR-3 and pancreatic MIA PaCa-2 cancer cells (IC50 = 1.1 μM) with an observed weaker effect against MRC-5 cells (IC50 = 4.6 μM). Kinetin riboside, as well as its N6-[(furan-3-yl)methyl]- and N6-[(thien-2-yl)methyl]- counterparts, also exhibited cytotoxic activities at low micromolar levels but were non-selective over MRC-5 cells.

Selective removal of thallium from water by MnO2-doped magnetic beads: Performance and mechanism study

Aqueous thallium has posed an increasing threat to environment as human's intensified activities in mining, refining, process and discharge. Remediation on thallium pollution has been of up-most importance to water treatment. In present work, MnO2 and magnetic Fe3O4 have been implanted to sodium alginate (SA) in presence of carboxyl methyl cellulose (CMC), and the resultant beads consisted of SA/CMC/MnO2/Fe3O4 were characterized. The materials were applied to treatment of Tl-contaminated water as adsorbent in lab. The removal results revealed that the adsorption capacity reached 38.8 mg (Tl)·g (beads)-1 and almost 100 % removal efficiency was achieved. The residual Tl was below 0.1 μg·L-1, meeting the discharge standard regulated in China. The kinetic adsorption was better described as a pseudo-second-order and three-step intra-particle diffusion model. Freundlich isotherm was well fitted the experimental data. The absorbent shown an excellent competitive specificity (KTl/M: ∼104!) over common hazardous ions Cu2+, Cd2+, Co2+, Pb2+ and Cr3+, as well as naturally abundant K+ and Na+ (KTl/M: 10-102) in mimic environmental conditions. Regeneration and reusability of the absorbent was also verified by five absorption-desorpotion cycles. XPS results revealed that a redox reaction between Mn4+ with Tl+, and an ion exchange of H+ (-O-Fe) and Tl+ were assumed to be main process for the specific capturing. This study provided an efficient SA/CMC/MnO2/Fe3O4 composite beads that could be a promising adsorbent for Tl-polluted water treatment.

Highly efficient removal of tetracyclines from water by a superelastic MOF-based aerogel: Mechanism quantitative analysis and dynamic adsorption

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) were promising adsorbents for removing antibiotics, but the inherent poor recyclability of MOF powders limits further application. Moreover, the dominant adsorption mechanisms and their quantitative assessment are less studied. Here, ultrahigh adsorption capacities of 821.51 and 931.87 mg g-1 for tetracycline (TC) and oxytetracycline (OTC), respectively, were realised by a novel adsorbents (biochar loaded with MIL-88B(Fe), denoted as BC@MIL-88B(Fe)), which were further immobilised in a 3D porous gelatin (GA) substrate. The obtained BCM/GA200 showed superior adsorption performance under wide pH ranges and under the interference of humic acid. Moreover, it can survive >8 cycles and even maintain high adsorption efficiency in different actual water samples. Notably, BCM/GA200 can selectively remove tetracyclines in a multivariate system containing other kinds of antibiotics and from a dynamic adsorption system. Most importantly, the results of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, 2D Fourier transform infrared correlation spectroscopy (2D-FTIR-COS) and density functional theory techniques revealed that (1) for TC adsorption, at pH < 4.0, the contribution of complexation was 25 %-45 %, whereas pore filling and hydrogen bonding accounted for 39 %-72 % of the total uptake. At 4.0 < pH < 10.0, the contribution of complexation increased to 60 %-82 %, whereas electrostatic attraction and π-π interaction were 4 %-13 % and 2 %-10 %, respectively. (2) For OTC adsorption, complexation was dominant at 3.0 < pH < 10.0, accounting for 55 %-86 % of the total uptake, and electrostatic attraction and π-π interactions caused 3 %-10 % and 3 %-15 %, respectively. (3) At pH > 10.0, pore filling dominated TC and OTC adsorption. Finally, the reaction sequences of the main adsorption mechanisms were also probed by 2D-FTIR-COS. This work solves the poor recyclability of MOF powders and provides a mechanistic insight into antibiotic removal by MOFs.

Theoretical investigation of hydrogen sulfide capture from methane binary mixture using s-heptazine-based metal-organic framework

CONTEXT

MOFs are promising candidates for the capture of H2S and CO2 from raw biogas. The presence of H2S residues in natural gas pipelines can cause corrosive damage and reduce energy efficiency. H2S capture from biogas presents several challenges due to its high toxicity and its corrosiveness. Microporous MOFs incorporating Lewis basic sites have demonstrated efficient capture of small and polar gas molecules such as CO2 and H2S from gas binary mixtures. In the quest to design and investigate functional materials to support the energy transition, specifically for the purification of RNG gas, we theoretically investigated the potential of s-heptazine-based IRH-1 for H2S capture from CH4 mixtures. IRH-1 exhibited significantly higher adsorption capacities for H2S (2.60 mmol/g) and CO2 (2.68 mmol/g) compared to CH4 (0.98 mmol/g) at 100 kPa and 298 K simulated by GCMC. All computed average energies for H2S were below 20 kJ/mol, indicating an exothermic physisorption behavior within the pores of IRH-1. IAST revealed remarkable H2S selectivity of IRH-1 for CH4/H2S binary mixtures at 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% of H2S at 100 kPa.

METHODS

GCMC simulations were performed with the BIOVIA Materials Studio 5.0 package using LJ potentials and UFF parameters to investigate the adsorption of pure H2S gas in the IRH-1 material. The IAST method was used to predict the adsorption behavior of H2S in different H2S/CH4 gas mixtures. The IAST calculations were performed using the Python package pyIAST, which allows the prediction of adsorption isotherms for mixed gases based on the adsorption isotherms for pure gases by numerical integration of the Gibbs adsorption approach.

To what extent is blue mussels caging representative of microplastics in the natural environment?

Bivalves have gained prominence in active biomonitoring of microplastics (MPs) pollution. Nevertheless, critical questions persist regarding blue mussels' selectivity and representativeness of the presence of microplastics in the natural environments. In this current study, we explored short- and long-term exposure durations for caged mussels, aiming to establish the minimum period required for them to attain a steady-state in microplastics retention and investigate their selectivity in a real-world context. Various deployment periods (1, 2, and 5 weeks) were tested, with concurrent collection of MPs from the surrounding water each week. The results revealed a significant increase in ingested MPs, reaching a threshold of approximately 1.4 MPs per gram of wet weight during the fifth week of caging. The characteristics of MPs found in mussels exhibited some differences from those collected in the surrounding waters and were less temporally variable. Notably, the collected caged mussels demonstrated a tendency to retain smaller particles (<80 μm). This study underscores complex processes governing MPs selection in natural environments and the need for further research to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the conditions and suitability of mussels as bioindicators for assessing MPs pollution.

A facile and novel AIE vesicle as nanoprobe for simple and rapid detection of TNT in water

Trinitrotoluene (TNT) in water will damage biological tissues and organs of the human body due to its high toxicity and risk. However, the simple and rapid detection of TNT in water is always a challenging task. Herein, we reported a novel aggregation-induced emission-a vesicle (AIE-a-V) as fluorescent nanoprobe for the detection of TNT in water by π-π self-assembly of π-π stacking induced aggregation-emission. The AIE-a-V was spherical in shape with a hydrodynamic diameter of ∼106 nm and possessed robust stability. In addition, the AIE-a-V showed strong fluorescence and its fluorescence would quickly disappear after contact with TNT. Based on this, without any cumbersome operation, the AIE-a-V could detect the presence of TNT in water within 60 s, and its minimum detectable concentration was as low as 50 nM. Moreover, the AIE-a-V could selectively detect TNT in water and would not be affected by other components, including other aromatic compounds, toxic metals, and acid-base. Therefore, the new AIE-a-V with simplicity, rapidity, sensitivity and selectivity have great application potential in the detection of TNT in water.

The new role of dipyrromethene chemosensor for absorbance-ratiometic and fluorescence "turn-on" sensing Zn2+ ions in water-organic solutions and real water samples

This study presents a dipyrromethene-based sensitive and selective probe for Zn2+ ions detection in aqueous and water-organic media. The probe demonstrates absorbance-ratiometric and "off-on" fluorescent sensing for Zn2+ in a DMSO/H2O (9:1, v/v) mixture. The 3,3',4,4',5,5'-hexamethyl-2,2'-dipyrromethene (HL), similar to its analogs, exhibits weak fluorescence (with a quantum yield of less than 0.001). However, upon the presence of Zn2+ ions in the sensor HL solution, there is a remarkable increase (up to 200-fold) in fluorescence intensity due to the formation of a stable intramolecular chelate complex [ZnL2]. This complex formation induces a significant hyperchromic effect and a red shift (57 nm) in the characteristic absorption bands. The sensing mechanism of the probe towards Zn2+ ions was thoroughly investigated through absorbance and fluorescent titrations, molar ratio plots, 1H NMR, and DFT/TDDFT studies. The fluorescence response exhibited a strong linear relationship with Zn2+ concentration within the range of 0 to 5.7 × 10-6 mol/L. The detection limit (LOD) and limit of quantitation (LoQ) for Zn2+ were determined as 2 × 10-8 mol/L and 6.6 × 10-8 mol/L, respectively. Moreover, the probe demonstrated high selectivity for Zn2+ ions over other metal ions (Na+, Mg2+, Al3+, Cr3+, Mn2+, Fe3+, Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Pd2+, Cd2+, Hg2+, Pb2+). Test systems in the form of test-strips and cotton-pads were developed based on the dipyrromethene sensor for rapid "naked-eye" detection of zinc ions in water. The sensor was successfully applied for detecting Zn2+ ions in real water samples.

Discovery of tricyclic PARP7 inhibitors with high potency, selectivity, and oral bioavailability

PARP7 has been recently identified as an effective drug target due to its specific role in tumor generation and immune function recovery. Herin, we report the discovery of compound 8, which contained a tricyclic fused ring, as a highly selective PARP7 inhibitor against other PARPs. In particular, compound 8 strongly inhibits PARP7 with an IC50 of 0.11 nM, and suppresses the proliferation of NCI-H1373 lung cancer cells with an IC50 of 2.5 nM. Compound 8 exhibits a favorable pharmacokinetic profile with a bioavailability of 104 % in mice, and 78 % in dogs. Importantly, daily treatment of 30 mg/kg of 8 induced 81.6 % tumor suppression in NCI-H1373 lung xenograft mice tumor models, which is significantly better than the clinical candidate, RBN-2397. These intriguing features highlight the promising advantages of 8 as an antitumor agent.

The competitive and selective adsorption of heavy metals by struvite in the Pb(II)-Cd(II)-Zn(II) composite system and its environmental significance

The prevalence of struvite and other phosphate minerals in eutrophic environments has a significant effect on the transport and transformation of environmental heavy metals, but their competitive immobilization characteristics and mechanisms for heavy metals remain unclear. Three different sources of struvite (BS, CSHS, and CSS) were obtained respectively by biosynthesis and chemical synthesis with or without humic acid to investigate their competitive immobilization characteristics and mechanism of heavy metals in the Pb(II)-Cd(II)-Zn(II) composite system. The results showed that the immobilization of heavy metals by struvite is physico-chemical adsorption and the affinity (in descending order) is Pb(II) >> Cd(II)/Zn(II). Cd(II) promotes the immobilization of Pb(II)/Zn(II) by BS. The order of the selective strength by struvite for Pb(II) is BS >> CSS ≈ CSHS. The study indicates that the difference between struvite holding heavy metal ions is related to the material composition and heavy metal types, and BS shows best selective immobilization for Pb(II) in the Pb(II)-Cd(II)-Zn(II) composite system. This study provides a theoretical basis for understanding the environmental geochemical role and eco-environmental effects of struvite.

Enhancing CO2 capture through innovating monolithic graphene oxide frameworks

The advancement and engineering of novel crystalline materials is facilitated through the utilization of innovative porous crystalline structures, established via KOH-treated monolithic graphene oxide frameworks. These materials exhibit remarkable and versatile characteristics for both functional exploration and applications within the realm of CO2 capture. In this comprehensive study, we have synthesized monolithic reduced graphene oxide-based adsorbents through a meticulous self-assembly process involving different mass ratios of GO/malic acid (MaA) (1:0.250, 1:0.500, and 1:1 by weight). Building upon this foundation, we further modified MGO 0.250 through KOH-treatment by chloroacetic acid method, leading to the creation of MGO 0.250_KOH, which was subjected to CO2 capture assessments. The comprehensive investigation encompassed an array of parameters including morphology, specific surface area, crystal defects, functional group identification, and CO2 capture efficiency. Employing a combination of FT-IR, XRD, Raman, BET, SEM, HR-TEM, and XPS techniques, the study revealed profound insights. Particularly notable was the observation that the MGO 0.250_KOH adsorbent exhibited an exceptional CO2 capture performance, leading to a significant enhancement of the CO2 capture capacity from 1.69 mmol g-1 to 2.35 mmol g-1 at standard conditions of 25 °C and 1 bar pressure. This performance enhancement was concomitant with an augmentation in surface area, elevating from 287.93 to 419.75 m2 g-1 (a nearly 1.5-fold increase compared to MGO 1.000 with a surface area of 287.93 m2 g-1). The monolithic adsorbent demonstrated a commendable production yield of 82.92%, along with an impressive regenerability of 98.80% at 100 °C. Additionally, adsorbent's proficiency in CO2 adsorption, rendering it a promising candidate for post-combustion CO2 capture applications. These findings collectively underscore the capacity adsorbents to significantly amplify CO2 capture capabilities. The viability of employing this strategy as an uncomplicated pre-treatment technique in various industrial sectors is a plausible prospect, given the study's outcomes.

Entropy driven separation of xylene isomers on graphitic carbon adsorbents

Separation of xylene isomers remains one of the most important and challenging applications of adsorption-based separations in petrochemical industry. Despite the sustainable success of zeolite-based separations a search for efficient adsorbents selective for xylenes, especially para-xylene, is constantly ongoing. In this work, a potentially scalable chromatographic separation of all three xylenes was achieved on graphitic carbon sorbents, including a self-packed sorbent based on an oligo-graphene. A curious feature of this separation is stronger retention of para-xylene than meta- and, in some conditions, even than ortho-xylene. Noticeably, separation selectivity between para- and meta-isomers does not depend on temperature. Apparently, lower entropy of para-xylene in solution due to its higher molecular symmetry leads to a lesser adsorption entropy loss, which makes its adsorption statistically more likely. The concept of using carbon adsorbents for entropy driven chromatography separations may be useful for the isolation of xylenes from their mixture and, possibly, for other positional isomers separation.

Selectivity regulation of CO2 photoreduction via the electron configuration of active sites on single-atom photocatalysts

The major challenge in the photocatalytic reduction of CO2 is to achieve high conversion efficiency while maintaining selectivity for a single product. Photocatalysts containing single-metal Cu2+ with 3d9 and Zn2+ with 3d10 on g-C3N4 were prepared using a high-energy ball mill. Single-atom Zn inner electron configuration is stable (3d10) and the peripheral empty orbitals act as electron traps to trap photo-generated electrons and improve the efficiency of charge separation; Zn is an active site to enhance the adsorption and activation of CO2. The stable electron configuration can reduce the energy required for the overall reaction and increase the activity while changing the reaction pathway to form CO. As a result, the 0.5 mol% Zn/g-C3N4 (Zn-CN-0.5) photocatalyst achieves ∼100 % selectivity for the photocatalytic reduction of CO2 to CO at a rate of ∼21.1 μmol·g-1·h-1. In contrast, the 0.5 mol% Cu/g-C3N4 (Cu-CN-0.5) photocatalyst with an unstable electronic structure does not exhibit high selectivity.

Performance analysis of hydrochar derived from catalytic hydrothermal carbonization in the multicomponent emerging contaminant systems: Selectivity and modeling studies

In this work, as an alternative to pyrochar, catalytic hydrothermal carbonization has been employed to synthesize hydrochar to eliminate emerging contaminants in multicomponent systems. The hydrochar has been synthesized using a single step catalytic hydrothermal carbonization at low temperature (200 °C) without any secondary activation with high specific surface area and very good adsorption efficiency for the removal of emerging contaminants. The synthesized hydrochar (HC200) was characterized using various analytical techniques and found to have porous structure with 114.84 m2.g-1 of specific surface area and also contained various oxygen-containing functionalities. The maximum adsorption efficiencies of 92.4 %, 85.4 %, and 82 % were obtained for ibuprofen, sulfamethoxazole, and bisphenol A, respectively. Humic acid, a naturally occurring organic compound had a negligible effect on the adsorption of the selected contaminants. The hydrochar's selectivity towards the emerging contaminants in binary and ternary multicomponent systems was in the order of ibuprofen > sulfamethoxazole > bisphenol A.

Memory selectivity in older age

Memory often declines with age, but older adults can off-set memory challenges by selectively remembering important information. When encountering large amounts of information and knowing that memory is limited, older adults may choose to focus on what is most important and forget less relevant details. Prioritizing what to remember becomes essential when memory is limited, and influences what information can be off-loaded. While forgetting can be frustrating and consequential, a lifetime of these experiences may help older adults learn to focus on strategically remembering important information and life events. Curiosity and emotion may also guide what older adults remember, such that selective remembering can be an adaptive way to use memory efficiently in older age.

Machine learning for layer-by-layer nanofiltration membrane performance prediction and polymer candidate exploration

In this study, machine learning-based models were established for layer-by-layer (LBL) nanofiltration (NF) membrane performance prediction and polymer candidate exploration. Four different models, i.e., linear, random forest (RF), boosted tree (BT), and eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), were formed, and membrane performance prediction was determined in terms of membrane permeability and selectivity. The XGBoost exhibited optimal prediction accuracy for membrane permeability (coefficient of determination (R2): 0.99) and membrane selectivity (R2: 0.80). The Shapley Additive exPlanation (SHAP) method was utilized to evaluate the effects of different LBL NF membrane fabrication conditions on membrane performances. The SHAP method was also used to identify the relationships between polymer structure and membrane performance. Polymers were represented by Morgan fingerprint, which is an effective description approach for developing modeling. Based on the SHAP value results, two reference Morgan fingerprints were constructed containing atomic groups with positive contributions to membrane permeability and selectivity. According to the reference Morgan fingerprint, 204 potential polymers were explored from the largest polymer database (PoLyInfo). By calculating the similarities between each potential polymer and both reference Morgan fingerprints, 23 polymer candidates were selected and could be further used for LBL NF membrane fabrication with the potential for providing good membrane performance. Overall, this work provided new ways both for LBL NF membrane performance prediction and high-performance polymer candidate exploration. The source code for the models and algorithms used in this study is publicly available to facilitate replication and further research. https://github.com/wangliwfsd/LLNMPP/.

Selective Engagement in Preparations for Aging

OBJECTIVES

Preparing for old age is an adaptive behavior with positive consequences on well-being. This study examined; (a) the degree to which the importance associated with positive outcomes within specific domains of everyday functioning (e.g., social relationships, health) varies across ages and cultures; (b) the impact of importance on preparing for old age; and (c) whether the effects of importance were greater in later life.

METHODS

Using data from adults aged 30-85 years in Germany (n = 623), Hong Kong (n = 317), and the United States (n = 313) collected over 5 years, we examined variations in importance ratings across age, cultures, and behavioral domains, and the extent to which age and importance predicted preparations.

RESULTS

Importance ratings were found to vary with age, time of test, domains, and culture, reflecting the expected contextual effects. Importance also was a positive predictor of preparations, with the strength of prediction being somewhat greater in old age.

DISCUSSION

The results provide evidence that the perceived importance of functioning within domains is affected by a number of contextual factors, including the domain of everyday function and culture. Given that importance also predicts preparations, such variation may help explain differences in preparations across contexts. In line with selective engagement theory, some support was also obtained for the prediction that older adults are more selective in engaging resources in support of preparations. Such selectivity can be viewed as an adaptive response to diminishing personal resources in later life.

Selective inhibition of SIRT2: A disputable therapeutic approach in cancer therapy

Sirtuin 2 (SIRT2) is involved in a wide range of processes, from transcription to metabolism to genome stability. Dysregulation of SIRT2 has been associated with the pathogenesis and progression of different diseases, such as cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. In this context, targeting SIRT2 activity by small molecule inhibitors is a promising therapeutic strategy for treating related conditions, particularly cancer. This review summarizes the regulatory roles and molecular mechanisms of SIRT2 in cancer and the attempts to evaluate potential antitumor activities of SIRT2-selective inhibitors by in vitro and in vivo testing, which are expected to deepen our understanding of the role of SIRT2 in tumorigenesis and progression and may offer important clues or inspiration ideas for developing SIRT2 inhibitors with excellent affinity and selectivity.

Preparation of novel polyvinyl alcohol-carbon nanotubes containing imidazolyl ionic liquid/chitosan hydrogel for highly efficient uranium extraction from seawater

A novel polyvinyl alcohol-carbon nanotube containing an imidazolyl ionic liquid/chitosan composite hydrogel (termed CBCS) was prepared for highly selective uranium adsorption from seawater. The results show that CBCS has good adsorption properties for uranium within the pH range of 5.0-8.0. Kinetics and thermodynamics experiments show that the theoretical maximum adsorption capacity of CBCS to U(VI) is 496.049 mg/g (288 K, pH = 6.0), indicating a spontaneous exothermic reaction. Mechanism analysis shows that the hydroxyl group, amino group, and CN bond on the surface of CBCS directly participate in uranium adsorption and that the dense pores on the surface of CBCS play an important role in uranium adsorption. The competitive adsorption experiment shows that CBCS has excellent uranium adsorption selectivity. In addition, CBCS exhibits good reusability. After five adsorption-desorption cycles, the uranium adsorption rate of CBCS can still reach >98 %. Hence, CBCS has excellent potential for uranium extraction from seawater.

Ce-doped ZnO nanostructures: A promising platform for NO2 gas sensing

In this comprehensive study, Ce-doped ZnO nanostructures were hydrothermally synthesized with varying Ce concentrations (0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, and 2.0%) to explore their gas-sensing capabilities, particularly towards NO2. Structural characterization revealed that as Ce doping increased, crystal size exhibited a slight increment while band gap energies decreased. Notably, the 0.5% Ce-doped ZnO nanostructure demonstrated the highest NO2 gas response of 8.6, underscoring the significance of a delicate balance between crystal size and band gap energy for optimal sensing performance. The selectivity of the 0.5% Ce-doped ZnO nanostructures to NO2 over other gases like H2, acetone, NH3, and CO at a concentration of 100 ppm and an optimized temperature of 250 °C was exceptional, highlighting its discriminatory prowess even in the presence of potential interfering gases. Furthermore, the sensor displayed reliability and reversibility during five consecutive tests, showcasing consistent performance. Long-term stability testing over 30 days revealed that the gas response remained almost constant, indicating the sensor's remarkable durability. In addition to its robustness against humidity variations, maintaining effectiveness even at 41% humidity, the sensor exhibited impressive response and recovery times. While the response time was swift at 11.8 s, the recovery time was slightly prolonged at 56.3 s due to the strong adsorption of NO2 molecules onto the sensing material hindering the desorption process. The study revealed the intricate connection between Ce-doping levels, structure, and gas-sensing. It highlighted the 0.5% Ce-doped ZnO nanostructure as a highly selective, reliable, and durable NO2 gas sensor, with implications for future environmental monitoring and safety.

Selective extraction of anionic and cationic dyes using tailored hydrophobic deep eutectic solvents

In this work, eight kinds of hydrophobic deep eutectic solvents (DESs), including four types of ionic and four types of non-ionic DESs, were prepared and applied in vortex-assisted liquid-liquid microextraction (LLME) technology. To explore the extraction ability of the hydrophobic DESs-based vortex-assisted LLME, four types of dyes were selected as analytes, involving anionic tartrazine (TA), amaranth (AM) and cationic phenosafranine (PF), methylene blue (MB). It turned out that the ionic and non-ionic hydrophobic DESs showed selective extraction on anionic and cationic dyes, respectively. In particular, the extraction efficiency of TA could reach 99.3 % when trioctylmethylammonium chloride-thymol ([TMAC][Thy]) was utilized as extraction agent. The partitioning efficiency of PF was up to 99.9 % by using decanoic acid-thymol ([DecA][Thy]) as extraction agent. The limits of detection (LODs) of TA and PF were 0.06 and 0.14 μg mL-1, respectively. The limits of quantification (LOQs) obtained for TA and PF were 0.20 and 0.47 μg mL-1, respectively. Besides, FT-IR and 1H NMR were utilized to investigate the extraction mechanism. The results demonstrated that the hydrogen bonding and electrostatic force were the main driving forces in the extraction process. Furthermore, through separating various anionic and cationic dyes, the selective extraction ability of [TMAC][Thy] and [DecA][Thy] were successfully verified. Hence, the feasible operation, high extraction efficiency and excellent selectivity make the developed hydrophobic DESs-based vortex-assisted LLME attractive in dyes separation.

JAK inhibitors: Is specificity at all relevant?

BACKGROUND

Cytokines are soluble factors that affect host defense and maintain immune homeostasis. Altered cytokine production leads to a dysfunctional immune responses and immune-related diseases. Cytokines bind to specific receptors and trigger various intracellular signaling cascades and targeting cytokines and/or their receptors has been effective in treating inflammatory diseases.

OBJECTIVES

Type I and II cytokine receptors activate four Janus kinases (JAKs), namely JAK1, JAK2, JAK3 and TYK2 and targeting of these enzymes resulted in the development of successful drugs now referred as JAK inhibitors or JAKinibs.

RESULTS

JAKinibs can be divided in three "generations." First-generation JAKinibs, molecules acting in an orthosteric manner, inhibit multiple JAKs and interfere with the biologic activity of many factors. With the idea of reducing side effects, second-generation JAKinibs, still orthosteric ATP competitors, have been developed with increased selectivity towards one or two JAKs. Third-generation JAKinibs have exploited our increased understanding of the structure and function of JAK domains and are allosteric inhibitors as they bind to specific residues in the pseudokinase domain. These third generation JAKInb indeed seems to possess a better safety profile. Notably, inhibition of cytokine activity in specific tissues could be more important than selective enzymatic blockade and for this reason, topical, inhaled, or as a non-absorbable JAKinibs are also being developed.

CONCLUSIONS

While JAKinibs entered the clinical arena about ten years ago, our understanding of these drugs and their selectivity relative to their activity and safety is still incomplete. More research is therefore needed to achieve better usage of these class of drugs.

One-step hydrothermal synthesis of CuS/MoS2 composite for use as an electrochemical non-enzymatic glucose sensor

Early diagnosis may be crucial for the prevention of chronic diabetes mellitus. For that herein, we prepared a CuS/MoS2 composite for a non-enzymatic glucose sensor through a one-step hydrothermal method owing to the synergetic effect of CuS/MoS2. The surface morphology of CuS/MoS2 was studied by Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) and Cs-corrected Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy (Cs-STEM). The crystallinity and surface composition of CuS/MoS2 were analyzed by X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) respectively. The working electrode was prepared from CuS/MoS2 electrocatalyst, and for that dispersed solution of electrocatalyst was used to fabricate the material-loaded glassy carbon electrode (GC). CuS/MoS2 composite shows the viability of electrocatalyst to oxidize glucose in an alkaline solution with sensitivity and detection limit of 252.71 μA mM-1 cm-2 and 1.52 μM respectively. The proposed glucose sensor showed reasonable stability and potential selectivity during electrochemical analysis. Accordingly, the CuS/MoS2 composite has potential as a viable material for glucose sensing in diluted human serum.

A Prompt Study on Recent Advances in the Development Of Colorimetric and Fluorescent Chemosensors for "Nanomolar Detection" of Biologically Important Analytes

Fluorescent and colorimetric chemosensors for selective detection of various biologically important analytes have been widely applied in different areas such as biology, physiology, pharmacology, and environmental sciences. The research area based on fluorescent chemosensors has been in existence for about 150 years with the development of large number of fluorescent chemosensors for selective detection of cations as metal ions, anions, reactive species, neutral molecules and different gases etc. Despite the progress made in this field, several problems and challenges still exist. The most important part of sensing is limit of detection (LOD) which is the lowest concentration that can be measured (detected) with statistical significance by means of a given analytical procedure. Although there are so many reports available for detection of millimolar to micromolar range but the development of chemosensors for the detection of analytes in nanomolar range is still a challenging task. Therefore, in our current review we have focused the history and a general overview of the development in the research of fluorescent sensors for selective detection of various analytes at nanomolar level only. The basic principles involved in the design of chemosensors for specific analytes, binding mode, photophysical properties and various directions are also covered here. Summary of physiochemical properties, mechanistic view and type of different chemosensors has been demonstrated concisely in the tabular forms.

The beneficial impact of kosmotropic salts on the resolution and selectivity of Protein A chromatography

During the manufacturing of therapeutic antibodies, effective Protein A chromatography as initial column step is crucial to simplify the remaining purification effort for subsequent polishing steps. This is particularly relevant for molecules with high impurity content so that desired product purity can be attained. The present study demonstrates beneficial effects on impurity removal when applying kosmotropic salts, e.g., sodium sulfate or sodium chloride, in the elution phase. Initially, a screen using negative linear pH gradient elution evaluated the impact of the kosmotropic salts in comparison to no additive and chaotropic urea using three mAbs and three common resins. Retaining acceptable yield, the kosmotropic salts improved resolution of monomer and impurities and reduced the contents of process-related host cell proteins and DNA as well as of product-related low and high molecular weight forms, despite some resin- and mAb-dependent variations. Moreover, a decrease in hydrolytic activity measured by a new assay for polysorbase activity was observed. In contrast, urea was hardly effective. The findings served to establish optimized step elution conditions with 0.25 M of sodium sulfate for a challenging mAb with complex format (bispecific 2 + 1 CrossMab) displaying high relative hydrophobicity and impurity levels. With yield and purity both in the range of 90 %, the contents of all impurity components were reduced, e.g., low molecular weight forms by two-fold and polysorbase activity by four-fold. The study indicates the potential of kosmotropic salts to establish efficient and comprehensive impurity separation by Protein A for facilitated downstream processing and economic manufacturing of complex antibodies.

Polymeric ionic liquid sorbent coatings in thin film microextraction: Insight into sorbent selectivity for pesticides and cannabinoids

Polymeric ionic liquid (PIL) sorbent coatings consisting of polymerizable cations and anions were employed as sorbent coatings in thin film microextraction (TFME) for the extraction of pesticides and cannabinoids. The blades consisted of a thin film of PIL sorbents chemically bonded to vinyltrimethoxysilane-functionalized nitinol sheets. The imidazolium- or ammonium-based PIL sorbents contained aromatic benzyl moieties as well as polar hydroxyl groups or aliphatic functional groups within the chemical structure of the IL monomer. The chemical structure of the IL crosslinkers of the PILs were kept constant across each sorbent, except for the anion, which consisted of either bis[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl]imide ([NTf2-]), p-styrenesulfonate ([SS-]), or 3-sulfopropyl acrylate ([SPA-]). Temperature, salt content, and methanol content were optimized as extraction conditions to maximize pesticide-cannabinoid selectivity using Doehlert design of experiments (DOE). Effects of these three factors on selectivity and extraction efficiency are discussed. The optimal extraction conditions consisting of sample temperature (31°C), sodium chloride (30% w/v), and methanol content (0.25% v/v) are compared to initial sorbent screening conditions at a sample temperature of 40°C, 15% (w/v) sodium chloride, and 2.5% (v/v) methanol content. PIL sorbent swelling behavior at different salt and methanol content conditions and its effect on extraction efficiency are hypothesized. Selectivity factors for the sorbents indicated that aromatic moieties within the IL monomer may enhance pesticide-cannabinoid selectivity under optimized conditions, but the extraction efficiency of pesticides that are known to coelute with cannabinoids in the chromatographic separation may be enhanced by employing sorbent coatings with [SPA-] anions.

Enhanced potency of a chloro-substituted polyaromatic platinum(II) complex and its platinum(IV) prodrug against lung cancer

The present study investigates the anti-neoplastic activity of a platinum (II) complex, Pt(II)5ClSS, and its platinum (IV) di-hydroxido analogue, Pt(IV)5ClSS, against mesenchymal cells (MCs), lung (A549), melanoma (A375) and breast (MDA-MB-231) cancer cells. Both complexes exhibited up to 14-fold improved cytotoxicity compared to cisplatin. NMR was used to determine that ∼25 % of Pt(IV)5ClSS was reduced to Pt(II)5ClSS in the presence of GSH (Glutathione) after 72 h. The complex 1H NMR spectra acquired for Pt(II)5ClSS with GSH shows evidence of degradation and environmental effects (∼30 %). The prominence of the 195Pt peak at ∼ -2800 ppm suggests that a significant amount of Pt(II)5ClSS remained in the mixture. Pt(II)5ClSS and Pt(IV)5ClSS have shown exceptional selectivity to cancer cells in comparison to MCs (IC50 > 150 μM). Western blot analysis of Pt(II)5ClSS and Pt(IV)5ClSS on A549 cells revealed significant upregulation of cleaved PARP-1, BAX/Bcl2 ratio, cleaved caspase 3 and cytochrome thus suggesting apoptosis was induced through the intrinsic pathway. Flow cytometry also revealed significant cell death by apoptosis. Treatment with Pt(II)5ClSS and Pt(IV)5ClSS also showed significant amounts of free radical production while the COMET assay showed that both complexes cause minimal DNA damage. Cellular uptake results via ICP-MS suggest a time-dependent active mode of transport for both complexes with Pt(II)5ClSS being transported at a higher rate compared to Pt(IV)5ClSS. A Dose Escalation Study carried out on BALB/c mice showed that Pt(II)5ClSS and Pt(IV)5ClSS were approximately 8- folds and 12.5-folds, respectively, more tolerated than cisplatin. The present study provides evidence that both complexes may have the characteristics of an efficient and potentially safe anti-tumor drug that could support NSCLC treatment.