Aromatic Research Articles

Extreme trophic tales: deciphering bacterial diversity and potential functions in oligotrophic and hypereutrophic lakes

BackgroundOligotrophy and hypereutrophy represent the two extremes of lake trophic states, and understanding the distribution of bacterial communities across these contrasting conditions is crucial for advancing aquatic microbial research. Despite the significance of these extreme trophic states, bacterial community characteristics and co-occurrence patterns in such environments have been scarcely interpreted. To bridge this knowledge gap, we collected 60 water samples from Lake Fuxian (oligotrophic) and Lake Xingyun (hypereutrophic) during different hydrological periods.ResultsEmploying 16S rRNA gene sequencing, our findings revealed distinct community structures and metabolic potentials in bacterial communities of hypereutrophic and oligotrophic lake ecosystems. The hypereutrophic ecosystem exhibited higher bacterial α- and β-diversity compared to the oligotrophic ecosystem. Actinobacteria dominated the oligotrophic Lake Fuxian, while Cyanobacteria, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroidetes were more prevalent in the hypereutrophic Lake Xingyun. Functions associated with methanol oxidation, methylotrophy, fermentation, aromatic compound degradation, nitrogen/nitrate respiration, and nitrogen/nitrate denitrification were enriched in the oligotrophic lake, underscoring the vital role of bacteria in carbon and nitrogen cycling. In contrast, functions related to ureolysis, human pathogens, animal parasites or symbionts, and phototrophy were enriched in the hypereutrophic lake, highlighting human activity-related disturbances and potential pathogenic risks. Co-occurrence network analysis unveiled a more complex and stable bacterial network in the hypereutrophic lake compared to the oligotrophic lake.ConclusionOur study provides insights into the intricate relationships between trophic states and bacterial community structure, emphasizing significant differences in diversity, community composition, and network characteristics between extreme states of oligotrophy and hypereutrophy. Additionally, it explores the nuanced responses of bacterial communities to environmental conditions in these two contrasting trophic states.

C–H/C–H Aromative carbonylation of diarylalkynes enabled palladium-catalyzed by 6-endo-dig carbocyclization

Transition metal-catalyzed cycloaromatization reactions of diarylalkynes offer a swift and versatile approach to synthesizing a wide array of polycyclic aromatic compounds. However, the specific mechanism of Pd-catalyzed C–H/C–H aromative carbonylation of diarylalkynes, particularly those bearing adjacent functional groups, remains a relatively unexplored area. Herein, we present a palladium-catalyzed C–H/C–H aromative carbonylation of diarylalkynes, which proceeds through an exclusive 6-endo-dig carbocyclization pathway, followed by the incorporation of CO to yield carbonyl compounds. This methodology provides a novel and efficient route for generating complex aromatic structures, thus expanding the potential applications in organic synthesis.

A Preliminary Study on the Whole-Plant Regulations of the Shrub Campylotropis polyantha in Response to Hostile Dryland Conditions.

Drylands cover more than 40% of global land surface and will continue to expand by 10% at the end of this century. Understanding the resistance mechanisms of native species is of particular importance for vegetation restoration and management in drylands. In the present study, metabolome of a dominant shrub Campylotropis polyantha in a dry-hot valley were investigated. Compared to plants grown at the wetter site, C. polyantha tended to slow down carbon (C) assimilation to prevent water loss concurrent with low foliar reactive oxygen species and sugar concentrations at the drier and hotter site. Nitrogen (N) assimilation and turn over were stimulated under stressful conditions and higher leaf N content was kept at the expense of root N pools. At the drier site, roots contained more water but less N compounds derived from the citric acid cycle. The site had little effect on metabolites partitioning between leaves and roots. Generally, roots contained more C but less N. Aromatic compounds were differently impacted by site conditions. The present study, for the first time, uncovers the apparent metabolic adaptations of C. polyantha to hostile dryland conditions. However, due to the limited number of samples, we are cautious about drawing general conclusions regarding the resistance mechanisms. Further studies with a broader spatial range and larger time scale are therefore recommended to provide more robust information for vegetation restoration and management in dryland areas under a changing climate.

33 Beyond bacteria: Impact of live yeast as a probiotic on the intestinal health of dogs

Abstract Inactivated yeast and yeast-based products are commonly used in pet food to improve palatability, contribute to dietary protein content, and improve gastrointestinal functionality. However, the use of viable yeast Saccharomyces as a probiotic may contribute to additional beneficial effects on dogs and cats. Considering that, in this presentation, we will focus on the use of viable yeast as a probiotic for dogs. A study conducted at the Federal University of Parana, Brazil, observed that Beagle dogs supplemented with a probiotic yeast presented reduced fecal concentrations of total biogenic amines, ammonia, and aromatic compounds and greater fecal concentrations of butyrate. The supplemented dogs also presented an improvement in dysbiosis index, a greater abundance of Bifidobacterium and Turicibacter, and a reduced abundance of Escherichia coli in feces. In addition, control group dogs presented upregulation in microbial genes related to virulence factors (such as lipopolysaccharide export system), antibiotic resistance, and osmotic stress, compared with the probiotic group. These results may indicate a possible protective effect of the yeast probiotic against potential pathogenic bacteria in the gut. The mechanisms by which yeast probiotics may contribute to gastrointestinal functionality in dogs and cats are not fully elucidated. However, they are usually attributed to the stimulation of brush edge disaccharidases; competition for adhesion sites against potential pathogens; stimulation of nonspecific immunity; neutralization of toxins; and direct effect against potentially pathogenic microorganisms. Many of these mechanisms are influenced directly by yeast cell wall components, such as mannans and beta-glucans. One of the main mechanisms of action of mannans is the elimination of bacteria with pathogenic potential that present type-1 fimbriae, such as some strains of E. coli and Salmonella, preventing their adhesion and colonization to the host mucosa. This may also contribute to the establishment of beneficial bacteria in the gut. We can conclude that viable yeast Saccharomyces as a probiotic may have promising beneficial effects on intestinal functionality of dogs.

Effect of Illite Treatment on Quality Characteristics and Antioxidant Activity of Broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica) Sprouts.

Microgreens have recently gained popularity owing to their reliable economic and nutritional value. This study aimed to increase the quality of microgreen broccoli via treatment with different concentrations (1%, IPB-1; 3%, IPB-3; 5%, IPB-5; or 7%, IPB-7 w/v) of illite-a natural mineral powder. The results showed that the illite treatments considerably increased the content of mineral elements, such as Ca, P, and K; of vitamin C; and of free amino acids; and also increased the total weight of the broccoli sprouts. The content of sulforaphane, a bioactive compound, also increased by up to 47% with illite treatment, with the highest increase being in the IPB-5 group. However, several of the parameters were lower in the IPB-7 group. Aromatic compounds were categorized by functional groups such as hydrocarbons which numbered 36, 30, 34, 28, and 30 in the control, IPB-1, IPB-3, IPB-5, and IPB-7 groups, respectively. We found 16, 15, 15, 13, and 14 sulfides, including dimethyl sulfide, in the control, IPB-1, IPB-3, IPB-5, and IPB-7 groups, respectively. Additionally, aldehydes, comprising seven compounds, were detected in the IPB-1, IPB-3, IPB-5, and IPB-7 groups. Illite treatment significantly increased the activities of antioxidants such as DPPH and the polyphenol content of the microgreens. These results indicate a potential role for appropriate illite doses in microgreen treatment to address multinutrient deficiencies and to increase the quality of microgreen vegetables.

An organic cathode integrating carbonyl and imino groups for high-performance aqueous zinc-ion battery with air self-charging ability

Air-self-charging aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) are a promising system applied in some special occasions, where no external power source can be provided to recharge the battery. Here, a new π-conjugated aromatic compound 2,7,12-tri(4H-1,2,4-triazol-4-yl)-1H-pyrrolo [3,4-b]pyrrolo[3′,4′:5,6]pyrazino[2,3f]pyrrolo[3′,4′:5,6]pyrazi-no[2,3−h]quinoxaline-1,3,6,8,11,13(2H,7H,12H)-hexaone (THQH) is reported. Because THQH contains multiple redox-active groups (CN and CO) and its insolubility in 2 M ZnSO4, as the cathode material of flexible/coin-type AZIBs, it owns outstanding discharge specific capacity, higher-rate performance and longer cycle life. Various ex-situ experiments and theoretical calculation revealed H+ and Zn2+ participated in the THQH cathode reaction. Notably, as the discharged flexible Zn//THQH battery is exposed to air, it can be self-recharged via the redox reaction between oxygen in air and the discharged THQH cathode, along with H+ ions removal. The flexible Zn//THQH battery can deliver a discharge capacity of up to 566 mA h g−1 at 0.5 A g−1, a higher-rate capability and an excellent self-charging cycle stability (31 cycles) after exposed to air for 28 h, displaying an excellent reusability. This work paves a way for the development of high-performance flexible air self-charging AZIBs.

Characteristics of Bacterial Community Structure and Function in Artificial Soil Prepared Using Red Mud and Phosphogypsum.

The preparation of artificial soil is a potential cooperative resource utilization scheme for red mud and phosphogypsum on a large scale, with a low cost and simple operation. The characteristics of the bacterial community structure and function in three artificial soils were systematically studied for the first time. Relatively rich bacterial communities were formed in the artificial soils, with relatively high abundances of bacterial phyla (e.g., Cyanobacteria, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteriota, and Chloroflexi) and bacterial genera (e.g., Microcoleus_PCC-7113, Rheinheimera, and Egicoccus), which can play key roles in various nutrient transformations, resistance to saline-alkali stress and pollutant toxicity, the enhancement of various soil enzyme activities, and the ecosystem construction of artificial soil. There were diverse bacterial functions (e.g., photoautotrophy, chemoheterotrophy, aromatic compound degradation, fermentation, nitrate reduction, cellulolysis, nitrogen fixation, etc.), indicating the possibility of various bacteria-dominated biochemical reactions in the artificial soil, which can significantly enrich the nutrient cycling and energy flow and enhance the fertility of the artificial soil and the activity of the soil life. The bacterial communities in the different artificial soils were generally correlated with major physicochemical factors (e.g., pH, OM, TN, AN, and AP), as well as enzyme activity factors (e.g., S-UE, S-SC, S-AKP, S-CAT, and S-AP), which comprehensively illustrates the complexity of the interaction between bacterial communities and environmental factors in artificial soils, and which may affect the succession direction of bacterial communities, the quality of the artificial soil environment, and the speed and direction of the development and maturity of the artificial soil. This study provides an important scientific basis for the synergistic soilization of two typical industrial solid wastes, red mud and phosphogypsum, specifically for the microbial mechanism, for the further evolution and development of artificial soil prepared using red mud and phosphogypsum.

Chlorine evolution and char characteristics during pyrolysis upgrading of Xinjiang high chlorine coal

Xinjiang ShaErHu (SEH) coal, characterized by a high chlorine concentration exceeding 1 %, can cause severe chlorine corrosion when directly burned. To utilize this high-chlorine coal in an effective and clean way, specific pretreatments such as low-temperature pyrolysis upgrading are required. In this paper, the changes in tar, pyrolysis gas, combustion characteristics, and chlorine evolution features were analyzed during the low-temperature pyrolysis of SEH coal. The effects of increasing temperature (350 °C, 450 °C, and 550 °C) were studied. The results show that the proportion of aromatic compounds released consistently increases with temperature, reaching a peak of 80 % at 550 °C in the tar. It is noteworthy that chlorine is hardly detected in tar. The percentage of chlorine released in the pyrolysis gas remains relatively stable as the temperature rises from 350 °C to 550 °C, accounting for approximately 17.5 % of the total chlorine. The percentages of water-soluble chlorine in raw coal, char-350 °C, char-450 °C and char-550 °C are 74.3 %, 80.4 %, 82.2 %, and 55.1 % respectively. The majority of the chlorine in the char produced at 350 °C and 450 °C is inorganic, making up 68.9 % and 69.4 %, respectively. In contrast, char generated at 550 °C has 58.4 % chlorine that is primarily organic. About 40 % of the inorganic chlorine is converted to organic chlorine when the pyrolysis temperature is raised to 550 °C. This conversion likely occurs as a result of the inorganic chlorine ions combining with carbon to form C-Cl bonds. In order to effectively prevent high temperature corrosion, high-chlorine coal can be treated by pyrolysis at temperatures between 350 and 450 °C, followed by water washing and burning. This research provides a theoretical foundation for the clean and efficient use of high-chlorine coal.

Copper-Catalyzed Enantioselective Dehydro-Diels-Alder Reaction: Atom-Economical Synthesis of Axially Chiral Carbazoles.

The dehydro-Diels-Alder (DDA) reaction is a powerful method for the construction of aromatic compounds. However, the enantioselective DDA reaction has been rarely developed, probably due to the competitive thermal reaction. Herein, we report a copper-catalyzed enantioselective DDA reaction through vinyl cation pathway. The reaction leads to the atom-economical synthesis of axially chiral phenyl and indolyl carbazoles in generally excellent yields with good to excellent atroposelectivities. This methodology represents the first example of non-noble metal-catalyzed enantioselective DDA reaction. Notably, new chiral ligand and organocatalyst derived from the constructed axially chiral carbazole are demonstrated to be useful in asymmetric catalysis.

Screening of promising chemotherapeutic candidates from plants against human adult T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma (IX): active principles from Juniperus rigida

During the screening of novel chemotherapeutic candidates from plants against adult T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma (ATL), we found that extracts of plants in the Solanaceae, Annonaceae, Apocynaceae, and Rutaceae families showed anti-proliferative activity in the MT-1 and MT-2 cell lines. We have isolated active compounds from these plants in the present research because Cupressaceae plants showed potent anti-proliferative activity in the cell lines. We attempted to isolate the active compounds from the leaves of Juniperus rigida. Using activity-guided fractionation, we isolated 22 compounds, including seven terpenoids, three aromatic compounds, two iridoids, five lignans, and five biflavonoids. The anti-proliferative activities of five diterpenoids were moderate, and those of two biflavonoids were stronger. A lignan (compound 13) showed the strongest activity. These compounds are promising candidates for the treatment of ATL.

Modeling the thermodynamic properties of cyclic alcohols with the SAFT-γ Mie approach: application to cyclohexanol and menthol systems

Cyclic alcohols are commonly found in natural and synthetic products and are involved in many biological processes. An ability to model their thermodynamic properties is of interest in food, flavouring, and pharmaceutical manufacturing, particularly for mixtures for which available experimental data are limited. Good examples are mixtures including menthol, a naturally occurring cyclic alcohol widely used in the food and pharmaceutical industries, well-known for its cooling-sensation properties and its role in the discovery of the TRPM8 receptor. Here, we extend the SAFT-γ Mie group-contribution method to model cyclic alcohols, by introducing a new cCHOH group (c for cyclic) composed of two identical Mie segments. Three association sites (two electronic sites of type e and one hydrogen site of type H) are also included to mediate hydrogen bonding. New parameters that characterise the group interactions (one new like interaction and 26 new unlike interactions) are developed and are employed to determine the thermophysical properties (vapour pressure, saturation density, vaporisation enthalpy, and second-order thermodynamic derivative properties) of pure cyclic alcohols, and mixture properties (vapour–liquid equilibria, liquid–liquid equilibria, solid–liquid equilibria, density, and excess enthalpy) of cyclic alcohols in several solvents. The quality of the model is evaluated by comparing predictive calculations with experimental data of 76 systems: six pure fluids and 70 binary mixtures, selected from a large range of solvent families: cyclic, linear, and branched alkanes, 1-alcohols, 2-alcohols, 2-ketones, esters, aromatic compounds, water, and carbon dioxide. Very good overall agreement is found, including for the prediction of solid–liquid solubility, which confirms the transferability of the new group parameters. Together with previously developed parameters, these open the way for the prediction of the thermodynamic properties of further complex mixtures.

The influence of operational factors on the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue dye in aqueous Sr-Au-ZnO suspensions under UV-A light

Any of several processes that break down dyes, ideally into harmless chemicals, is referred to as industrial dye degradation. Water waste discharges various colors, particularly those used in the textile industry like methyl red and methylene blue, into ecosystems, leading to significant pollution of the water supply. Under UV-A irradiation, the photocatalytic degradation of a commercial heterocyclic aromatic chemical molecule called methylene blue (MB) has been investigated using an aqueous solution of Sr-Au-ZnO as a photocatalyst. Research has been done on how different process characteristics affect the degradation process. For the mineralization of MB dye under UV-A light, it was found that the optimized Sr-Au-ZnO was more effective than commercial catalysts (ZnO and benchmark photocatalyst Degussa P25), single metal dopants (Sr-ZnO, Au-ZnO), and prepared ZnO. The effects of operational parameters, such as the quantity of photocatalyst, dye concentration, and starting pH, on the photo-mineralization of MB are analyzed before optimal values are given. Chemical oxygen demand (COD) measurements have confirmed that MB is mineralized. Using GC–MS analysis, the intermediates produced during photodegradation were predicted, and an appropriate degradation pathway was suggested. This procedure can be used for treating wastewater from sewage since optimized Sr-Au-ZnO is reusable.

Resolving the metabolism of monolignols and other lignin-related aromatic compounds in Xanthomonas citri

Lignin, a major plant cell wall component, has an important role in plant-defense mechanisms against pathogens and is a promising renewable carbon source to produce bio-based chemicals. However, our understanding of microbial metabolism is incomplete regarding certain lignin-related compounds like p-coumaryl and sinapyl alcohols. Here, we reveal peripheral pathways for the catabolism of the three main lignin precursors (p-coumaryl, coniferyl, and sinapyl alcohols) in the plant pathogen Xanthomonas citri. Our study demonstrates all the necessary enzymatic steps for funneling these monolignols into the tricarboxylic acid cycle, concurrently uncovering aryl aldehyde reductases that likely protect the pathogen from aldehydes toxicity. It also shows that lignin-related aromatic compounds activate transcriptional responses related to chemotaxis and flagellar-dependent motility, which might play an important role during plant infection. Together our findings provide foundational knowledge to support biotechnological advances for both plant diseases treatments and conversion of lignin-derived compounds into bio-based chemicals.

Sustainable design and synthesis of high-performance lignin-based sunscreen ingredients

The active ingredients most commonly employed in sunscreens are compounds containing one or two aromatic rings. Lignin is the most abundant renewable aromatic polymer that has the potential to yield low molecular weight aromatic chemicals when strategically depolymerized. Here, the UV absorbance of a series of monomeric and dimeric lignin model compounds (LMCs) were studied. Specifically, vanillin and ferulic acid demonstrated good absorption in the UVB (280–320 nm) range, while the 5–5 dimer showed efficient absorption in the UVA (320–400 nm) range. Based on this, vanillin, ferulic acid and 5–5 dimer were mixed in pairs and dispersed in the oily isoeugenol to prepare LMC hybrid dispersions. Subsequently, demethylated lignin (DL) was synthesized and used to encapsulate the LMC hybrid dispersions via ultrasonic cavitation to prepare DL-based nano-capsules (DLNCs). The DLNCs were used as the only active ingredient in sunscreens, whose sun protection factor (SPF) value could be up to 55 with a dosage of 10 wt%. Due to anti-photolysis property of DL, the SPF value of DLNCs-based sunscreens increased initially and maintained >8 h under UV irradiation. Additionally, the prepared DLNCs exhibited excellent anti-permeability, antioxidant capacity and biocompatibility, making them a potential substitute for conventional petroleum-based sunscreen agents.

Synthesis of Cubic [Mo3S4M] (M = Rh, Ir) Clusters for the Borylation of C–H Bonds in Aromatic Compounds

Synthesis of Cubic [Mo₃S₄M] (M = Rh, Ir) Clusters for the Borylation of C–H Bonds in Aromatic Compounds

Indigo production identifies hotspots in cytochrome P450 BM3 for diversifying aromatic hydroxylation.

Evolution of P450 BM3 is a topic of extensive research, but screening the various substrate/reaction combinations remains a time-consuming process. Indigo production has the potential to serve as a simple high-throughput method for reaction screening, as bacterial colonies expressing indigo (+) variants can be visually identified via their blue phenotype. Indigo (+) single variants, indigo (-) single variants and a combinatorial library, containing mutations that enable the blue phenotype, were screened for their ability to hydroxylate a panel of 12 aromatic compounds using the 4-aminoantipyrine colorimetric assay. Recombination of indigo (+) single variants to create a multiple-variant library is a particularly useful strategy, as all top performing P450 BM3 variants with high hydroxylation activity were either indigo (+) single variants or contained multiple substitutions. Furthermore, active variants, as determined using the 4-AAP assay, were further characterized and several variants were identified that gave more than 90% conversion with 1,3-dichlorobenzene and predominantly formed 2,6-dichlorophenol; other variants showed significant substrate selectivity. This supports the hypothesis that substitution at positions that enable the indigo (+) phenotype, or hotspot residues, is a general mechanism for increasing aromatic hydroxylation activity. Overall, this research demonstrates that indigo (+) single variants, identified via colorimetric colony-based screening, may be recombined to generate a multiply-substituted variant library containing many variants with high aromatic hydroxylation activity. The combination of colony-based screening and other screening assays greatly accelerates enzyme engineering, as readily-identified indigo (+) single variants can be recombined to create a library of active multiple variants without extensive screening of single variants.

Synthesis and Properties of Dibenzo-Fused Naphtho[2,3-b:6,7-b']disilole and Naphtho[2,3-b:6,7-b']diphosphole.

Silole- and phosphole-containing polycyclic aromatic compounds have attracted significant attention in the field of organic functional materials. The structure of the aromatic units has great impact on the photophysical properties of the resulting silole- and phosphole-containing polycyclic aromatic compounds. Here, dibenzo-fused naphtho[2,3-b:6,7-b']disilole (NDS) and naphtho[2,3-b:6,7-b']diphosphole (NDP), where a naphthalene unit is arranged between two silole and phosphole units, respectively, were designed and synthesized. The solid-state structures of them were confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis. The photophysical properties were evaluated by UV-vis absorption and photoluminescence spectroscopies and compared with those of their related compounds, such as dibenzo-fused silolo[3,2-b]silole and benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b']disilole, ever reported. The longest wavelength absorption band of a series of silole-fused compounds was found to be red-shifted in the order benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b']disilole < NDS < silolo[3,2-b]silole derivatives. For a series of phosphole-fused compounds, π-extension from phospholo[3,2-b]phosphole to NDP derivatives induces the lower absorption coefficient of the longest wavelength absorption band and the red-shift of the second longest wavelength absorption band. Both NDS and NDP exhibit much lower fluorescence quantum yields than their related compounds.

Using CO2 in pyrolysis to neutralise toxic aromatic compounds derived from blended textile waste

Blended textiles are favoured for their enhanced properties, combining the strengths of constituent fibres (typically synthetic fibres integrated with natural cellulosic fibres). However, the presence of aromatic components in blended textile waste (BTW) complicates its disposal and raises environmental concerns due to the release of toxic chemicals. To resolve this issue, this study suggests a pyrolysis system as a strategy to neutralise toxic aromatic compounds derived from BTW. Carbon dioxide (CO2) was used as the partial oxidative reagent. The characterisation of BTW revealed its composition, containing rayon and polyester. The complex composition of BTW, particularly the recalcitrant nature of polyester, leads to the massive generation of toxic aromatic chemicals, such as terephthalic acid and its analogues, during thermolysis. However, introducing CO2 to pyrolysis facilitates interacting with these toxic compounds, converting them into carbon monoxide (CO). The effectiveness of CO2 for the suppression of toxic aromatic formations was further enhanced when adopting a nickel-based catalyst. CO2-assisted catalytic pyrolysis achieved a 64.87 % reduction in toxic aromatic chemicals and an 11.36-fold increase in CO production compared with conventional pyrolysis. This study presents a promising approach for the sustainable disposal of BTW, emphasising the oxidative functionality of CO2 in neutralising toxic aromatic chemicals into detoxified products, especially CO.

Identification of competing endogenous RNA networks associated with circRNA and lncRNA in TCDD-induced cleft palate development

2,3,7,8 -tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is a teratogen that can induce cleft palate formation, a common birth defect. Competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs), including circular RNAs (circRNAs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), indirectly regulate gene expression via sharing microRNAs (miRNAs). Nevertheless, the mechanism by which they act as ceRNAs to regulate palatal development remains to be explored in greater detail. Here, the cleft palate model of C57BL/6 N pregnant mice was constructed by gavage of TCDD (64 ug/kg) on gestation day (GD) 10.5, and the palatal shelves were taken on gestation day (GD) 14.5 for whole-transcriptome sequencing to investigate the underlying mechanisms of the roles of circRNAs and lncRNAs as ceRNAs in cleft palate. Sequencing results revealed that 293 lncRNA, 589 circRNA, 47 miRNA, and 138 messenger RNA (mRNA) were significantly dysregulated, and the cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes and the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) pathway play key roles in the induction of cleft palate upon exposure to TCDD. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis revealed the function of TCDD function was mainly related to the metabolic processes of intracellular compounds, including the metabolic processes of cellular aromatic compounds and the metabolism of exogenous drugs by cytochrome P450, etc. Furthermore, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) indicated that the circRNA_1781/miR-30c-1–3p/PKIB and XR_380026.2/miR-1249–3p/DNAH10 ceRNA networks were hypothesized to be a hub involved in palatal development suggesting that the circRNA_1781/miR-30c-1–3p/PKIB and XR_380026.2/miR-1249–3p/DNAH10 ceRNA networks may be critical for palatogenesis, setting the foundation for the investigation of cleft palate.

Synthesis Route to Single-Walled Zeolite Nanotubes Enabled by Tetrabutylammonium Hydroxide.

Single-walled zeolite nanotubes (ZNT) were recently synthesized in a narrow compositional window. ZNT structural features-thin zeolitic walls and large mesopores-can allow for easy access of small molecules to zeolite micropores, but they also impart processing limitations for these materials, such as challenges with conventional aqueous ion-exchange conditions. Conventional solid- and liquid-phase ion exchange of calcined NaOH-derived ZNT (NaH-ZNT) results in structural degradation to either 2D sheet-like phases, 3D nanocrystals, or amorphous phases, motivating different direct synthesis routes and unconventional ion-exchange procedures of uncalcined ZNT precursors. Here, a modified synthesis route for ZNT synthesis is introduced that facilitates facile ion exchange as well as incorporation of additional non-Al heteroatoms in the zeolite framework. Tetrabutylammonium hydroxide (TBAOH) is used as a hydroxide source and co-OSDA, enabling synthesis of new compositions of ZNT, otherwise unachievable by post-modification of previously reported NaH-ZNT. By varying the gel composition, synthesis temperature, crystallization time, hydroxide source, silicon source, and aluminum source, productive conditions for the new TBAOH synthesis are developed, leading to increased strong acid site density in the ZNT. The collected results demonstrate the sensitivity of the ZNT synthesis to many key parameters and show that the ZNT forms only when Si/(Al + T) ∼ 30 in these synthesis gels and with specific Si and Al sources, and always in the presence of trace Na+. Catalytic testing, via the tandem CO2 hydrogenation to methanol and methanol to aromatics reaction, shows that ZNTs provide adequate catalytic activity (acidity), relative to their conventional 3D counterparts in converting methanol to aromatic compounds.