Activation Processes Research Articles

Pecan Shell-Derived Activated Carbon for High-Electrochemical Performance Supercapacitor Electrode.

Carbon nanomaterials-based electric double-layer capacitors (EDLCs) are reliable and appealing energy-storage systems offering high power density and long cycling stability. However, these energy storage devices are plagued with critical shortcomings, such as low specific capacitance, inefficient physical/chemical activation process, and self-discharge of electrode materials, hindering their future application. In this work, we use a self-activation process, an environmentally benign and low-cost process, to produce high-performance activated carbon (AC). Novel activated carbon from pecan shells (PS) was successfully synthesized through a single-step self-activation process, which combines the carbonization and activation processes. The as-synthesized pecan shell-derived activated carbon (PSAC) provides a high-porosity, low-resistance, and ordered pore structure with a specific pore volume of 0.744 cm3/g and BET surface area of 1554 m2/g. The supercapacitors fabricated from PSAC demonstrate a specific capacitance of 269 F/g at 2 A/g, excellent cycling stability over 15,000 cycles, and energy and power density of 37.4 Wh/kg and of 2.1 kW/kg, respectively. It is believed that the high-efficiency PSAC synthesized from the novel self-activation method could provide a practical route to environmentally friendly and easily scalable supercapacitors.

Preparation of grape branch-derived porous carbon by one-step blending and its multifunctional applications

In this study, an innovative methodology is presented for the rapid one-step synthesis of carbon materials with high specific surface area through doping and activation processes, utilizing ball milling techniques to reduce the particle size of the materials effectively and to achieve activation and doping. Nitrogen-doped grape branch carbon (NGBC) was characterized by abundant micro- and mesoporous structures with specific surface areas up to 1364 m2/g and high nitrogen content (atomic fraction of 4.89 %). At pH 8 and room temperature, NGBC showed excellent adsorption performance for malachite green (MG, a cationic dye) and reactive blue 19 (an anionic dye) with adsorption capacities of 409.91 mg/g and 213.36 mg/g, respectively, and the material can be reused several times. The analysis of adsorption kinetics revealed that multiple factors controlled the adsorption process of NGBC on MG, and the analysis of adsorption isotherms showed that the adsorption process was mainly monomolecular layer adsorption. Compared with the common carbon-based adsorbents for biomass currently available on the market, NGBC showed better adsorption efficacy, indicating its great potential for practical application. Further, when NGBC was applied to electrochemical performance tests as supercapacitor electrodes, the introduction of nitrogen significantly improved the specific capacitance and ion transport properties of the porous carbon material, effectively reducing the electrical resistance. At a current density of 0.5 A/g, the nitrogen-doped porous carbon showed a specific capacitance of 258.4 F/g, much higher than that of the undoped 136.8 F/g, as well as a high specific capacitance retention of 90.43 % after 5000 cycles. The sensitivity analysis points out that nitrogen source and labor expenditure are the key factors in the cost components. This research not only provides a simple method for industrialized recovery and reuse of grape branches, but also lays an experimental and theoretical foundation for promoting further applications of biomass waste in the fields of water purification and supercapacitor electrode materials.

Simultaneous effect of thermal and chemical activation on novel argan pulp-derived activated carbon for high-performance supercapacitors

In this paper, we offer new porous activated carbons (PACs) made from waste Argan pulp for use in solid-state supercapacitors. The synthesis is a two-step process of carbonization and KOH activation, with temperatures ranging from 700 to 850 °C and ratios ranging from 1:3 to 1:4. The carbon material obtained exhibits a significant surface area ranging from 2757 to 3235 m2 g−1. The evaluation of electrochemical characteristics in a two-electrode system using a 1 M H2SO4 electrolyte reveals exceptional capacitance and specific energy when subjected to a current density of 125 mAg-1. The AP-800-3 has outstanding performance, with a specific capacitance of 460 F g−1 and a specific energy of 15.98 Wh kg−1. Significantly, this particular PAC has exceptional durability in cycling, as it maintains its full specific capacitance even after undergoing 2500 charge and discharge cycles at a rate of 1 A.g−1. When testing with 6 M KOH and 1 M Na2SO4 electrolytes, the capacitance is found to be lower compared to 1 M H2SO4 (239 F g−1 and 258 F g−1, respectively). The superior performance in 1 M H2SO4 emphasizes the interplay between electrolyte composition, porosity, and appropriate microstructure of the PACs. This study proposes eco-friendly method for selecting supercapacitor electrode materials.

Causal relationships between immune cell phenotypes and lung adenocarcinoma: A bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization study.

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most common type of lung cancer and closely associated with the immune system. Emerging evidence suggests that blood immune cell phenotypes in patients with LUAD may undergo alterations. Nevertheless, the limited amount of relevant research makes it difficult to understand the causal links between LUAD and changes in the immune cells. This study aimed to reveal the potential causal relationships between 731 immune cell phenotypes and LUAD. A bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was used to clarify causal relationships. Four types of immune phenotypes, absolute cell counts, relative cell counts, median fluorescence intensities (MFIs) of surface antigens, and morphological parameters, were investigated in this study. Heterogeneity tests, horizontal pleiotropy tests, and leave-one-out analyses were performed to validate the reliability of our study. A total of 26 immune cell characteristics were identified as contributing to the occurrence of LUAD. Memory B cells, IgD-CD38br cells, CD4+ regulatory T cells (Tregs), and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (DCs) may play a role in the development of LUAD. Through reverse MR, our study discovered that the presence of LUAD also induced changes in the expression levels of 16 immune cell traits involving specific surface markers and various types of immune cells, some of which pertain to antigen presentation and immune activation processes. Our study demonstrated causal links between several immune cell phenotypes and LUAD, thereby providing indications of the potentially oncogenic physiological state and early screening biomarkers for future research.

The Catalytic Potential of Modified Clays: A Review

The need for innovative catalysts and catalytic support materials is continually growing due to demanding requirements, stricter environmental demands, and the ongoing development of new chemical processes. Since about 80% of all industrial processes involve catalysts, there is a continuing need to develop new catalyst materials and supports with suitable qualities to meet ongoing industrial demands. Not only must new catalysts have tailored properties, but they must also be suitable for large-scale production through environmentally friendly and cost-effective processes. Clay minerals, with their rich history in medicine and ceramics, are now emerging as potential catalysts. Their transformative potential is exemplified in applications such as hydrogenating the greenhouse gas CO2 into carbohydrate fuel, a crucial step in meeting the rising electrical demand. Moreover, advanced materials derived from clay minerals are proving their mettle in diverse photocatalytic reactions, from organic dye removal to pharmaceutical pollutant elimination and photocatalytic energy conversion through water splitting. Clay minerals in their natural state show a low catalytic activity, so to increase their reactivity, they must be activated. Depending on the requirements of a particular application, selecting an appropriate activation method for modifying a natural clay mineral is a critical consideration. Traditional clay mineral processing methods such as acid or alkaline treatment are used. Still, these have drawbacks such as high costs, long processing times, and the formation of hazardous by-products. Other activation processes, such as ultrasonication and mechanical activation routes, have been proposed to reduce the production of hazardous by-products. The main advantage of ultrasonication and microwave-assisted procedures is that they save time, whereas mechanochemical processing is simple and efficient. This short review focuses on modifying clay minerals using various new methods to create sophisticated and innovative new materials. Recent advances in catalytic reactions are specifically covered, including organic biogeochemical processes, photocatalytic processes, carbon nanotube synthesis, and energy conversion processes such as CO2 hydrogenation and dry reforming of methane.

Microwave-assisted utilization of kraft lignin-derived activated carbon for efficient dye removal

The use of conventional petrochemical-based carbon precursors, high-energy pyrolysis-based carbonization processes, and difficulties in designing sustainable processes using activated carbon have hampered the sustainable production of activated carbon and its use in wastewater treatment processes. In this study, to overcome these limitations in the production and application of existing petrochemical-based activated carbon as a water treatment material, biomass-based kraft lignin was used as an eco-friendly carbon precursor. In addition, to increase process efficiency, activated carbon was prepared using energy-intensive microwave-assisted carbonization and applied to the dye wastewater removal process. First, kraft lignin was successfully converted into microporous activated carbon within 10 min through microwave-assisted carbonization and chemical activation processes. As a result, kraft lignin-derived activated carbon showed excellent adsorption capacity for MB of 543.82 mg/g and AO of 548.54 mg/g, respectively. In addition, through heat treatment using microwaves (low power conditions of 450 W, treatment within 2 min), it was possible to successfully achieve thermal decomposition of the adsorbed dye and recovery of the pores and texture properties of activated carbon. Finally, kraft lignin-derived activated carbon showed an excellent reuse efficiency of more than 97 %, even under the condition of reuse 5 times.

Unveiling the sequential CO2/CH4 activation process on Co3O4 nanoparticles encapsulated by mesoporous silica shell

The sequential activation of CO2 and CH4 on metal oxides enables the formation of various oxygenated compounds, i.e., CH3COOH, CH3OH, CH3CHO, and CH3COCH3. This study focuses on elucidating the activation processes on Co3O4 nanoparticles encapsulated by mesoporous silica shell (nCo3O4@mSiO2). Comprehensive characterization techniques are employed to unveil the activation processes, with optimizing activation conditions to maximize product yield. In sole activation experiments, CO2 is absorbed on the metal oxide, forming a carbonate structure that desorbs reversibly depending on temperature. Additionally, nCo3O4@mSiO2 activates CH4 through C–H bond cleavage, stabilizing as Co–CH3* species with O–H* species on the oxide framework. Sequential activation processes using nCo3O4@mSiO2 result in carboxylative or carbonylative coupling of CO2 or CO released from the metal carbonate surface with CH4, yielding CH3COOH or CH3CHO, respectively. CH3OH production is achievable by altering the activation sequence. Post-extraction enables collection of adsorbed oxygenated products, allowing for nCo3O4@mSiO2 reuse without altering product yield.

Human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells attenuate hepatic stellate cells activation and liver fibrosis

BackgroundLiver cirrhosis, a prevalent chronic liver disease, is characterized by liver fibrosis as its central pathological process. Recent advancements highlight the clinical efficacy of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell (UC-MSC) therapy in the treatment of liver cirrhosis.Methods and resultsWe investigated the pharmacodynamic effects of UC-MSCs and MSC conditional medium (MSC-CM) in vivo, utilizing a carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced fibrotic rat model. Concurrently, we assessed the in vitro impact of MSCs and MSC-CM on various cellular process of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), including proliferation, apoptosis, activation, immunomodulatory capabilities, and inflammatory factor secretion. Our results indicate that both MSCs and MSC-CM significantly ameliorate the pathological extent of fibrosis in animal tissues, reducing the collagen content, serum biochemical indices and fibrosis biomarkers. In vitro, MSC-CM significantly inhibited the activation of the HSC line LX-2. Notably, MSC-CM modulated the expression of type I procollagen and TGFβ-1 while increasing MMP1 expression. This modulation restored the MMP1/TIMP1 ratio imbalance and extracellular matrix deposition in TGFβ-1 induced fibrosis. Both MSCs and MSC-CM not only induced apoptosis in HSCs but also suppressed proliferation and inflammatory cytokine release from activated HSCs. Furthermore, MSCs and MSC-CM exerted a suppressive effect on total lymphocyte activation.ConclusionsUC-MSCs and MSC-CM primarily modulate liver fibrosis severity by regulating HSC activation. This study provides both in vivo and in vitro pharmacodynamic evidence supporting the use of MSCs in liver fibrosis treatment.

(Homo-)harringtonine prevents endothelial inflammation through IRF-1 dependent downregulation of VCAM1 mRNA expression and inhibition of cell adhesion molecule protein biosynthesis

The plant alkaloid homoharringtonine (HHT) is a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drug for the treatment of hematologic malignancies. In addition to its well-established antitumor activity, accumulating evidence attributes anti-inflammatory effects to HHT, which have mainly been studied in leukocytes to date. However, a potential influence of HHT on inflammatory activation processes in endothelial cells, which are a key feature of inflammation and a prerequisite for the leukocyte-endothelial cell interaction and leukocyte extravasation, remains poorly understood. In this study, the anti-inflammatory potential of HHT and its derivative harringtonine (HT) on the TNF-induced leukocyte-endothelial cell interaction was assessed, and the underlying mechanistic basis of these effects was elucidated. HHT affected inflammation in vivo in a murine peritonitis model by reducing leukocyte infiltration and proinflammatory cytokine expression as well as ameliorating abdominal pain behavior. In vitro, HT and HHT impaired the leukocyte-endothelial cell interaction by decreasing the expression of the endothelial cell adhesion molecules intracellular adhesion molecule −1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1). This effect was mediated by a bipartite mechanism. While HHT did not affect the prominent TNF-induced pro-inflammatory NF-ĸB signaling cascade, the compound downregulated the VCAM1 mRNA expression in an IRF-1-dependent manner and diminished active ICAM1 mRNA translation as determined by polysome profiling. This study highlights HHT as an anti-inflammatory compound that efficiently hampers the leukocyte-endothelial cell interaction by targeting endothelial activation processes.

Catalytic activity and mechanism of F- and Cl-doped graphene for peroxymonosulfate activation to remove tetracycline hydrochloride.

Highly active catalysts with salt and acid/alkali resistance are desired in peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation processes and marine environment applications. F- and Cl-doped graphene (F-GN and Cl-GN) were prepared via electronegative and atom radius adjustment for tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) pollution removal to satisfy these requirements. The introduction of special F and Cl functionalities into graphene exhibits superior electron transfer properties for PMS activation, considering the experimental and density functional theory (DFT) calculation results. The TCH degradation efficiency reached up to 80% under various pH and salt disturbance conditions with F-GN and Cl-GN. Cl-GN exhibited an activity superior to F-GN due to the higher electron polarization effect of C atoms adjacent to Cl atoms. The presence of more positive charged C sites in Cl-GN (around Cl doping) is more favorable for PMS attachment and sequence radical generation than F-GN. In addition, the main active species functionalized during reaction included ·OH and SO4-·, and the stability of F-GN and Cl-GN was confirmed to be over 60% by recycle test. Final research results provide an effective strategy for designing and preparing PMS activators resistant to salt, acid, and alkali, thereby expanding their application potential.

Factor of time in dendritic cell (DC) maturation: short-term activation of DCs significantly improves type 1 cytokine production and T cell responses

Dendritic cells (DCs) have been intensively studied in correlation to tumor immunology and for the development DC-based cancer vaccines. Here, we present the significance of the temporal aspect of DC maturation for the most essential subsequent timepoint, namely at interaction with responding T cells or after CD40-Ligand restimulation. Mostly, DC maturation is still being achieved by activation processes which lasts 24 h to 48 h. We hypothesized this amount of time is excessive from a biological standpoint and could be the underlying cause for functional exhaustion. Indeed, shorter maturation periods resulted in extensive capacity of monocyte-derived DCs to produce inflammatory cytokines after re-stimulation with CD40-Ligand. This effect was most evident for the primary type 1 polarizing cytokine, IL-12p70. This capacity reached peak at 6 h and dropped sharply with longer exposure to initial maturation stimuli (up to 48 h). The 6 h maturation protocol reflected superiority in subsequent functionality tests. Namely, DCs displayed twice the allostimulatory capacity of 24 h- and 48 h-matured DCs. Similarly, type 1 T cell response measured by IFN-γ production was 3-fold higher when CD4+ T cells had been stimulated with shortly matured DC and over 8-fold greater in case of CD8+ T cells, compared to longer matured DCs. The extent of melanoma-specific CD8+ cytotoxic T cell induction was also greater in case of 6 h DC maturation. The major limitation of the study is that it lacks in vivo evidence, which we aim to examine in the future. Our findings show an unexpectedly significant impact of temporal exposure to activation signals for subsequent DC functionality, which we believe can be readily integrated into existing knowledge on in vitro/ex vivo DC manipulation for various uses. We also believe this has important implications for DC vaccine design for future clinical trials.

Active-site engineering of a frustrated-Lewis-pair Au-loaded Zn-Al catalyst for the highly stable synthesis of glycerol carbonate from co-utilisation of CO2 and glycerol

Solid frustrated-Lewis-pair catalysts, based on Zn-Al composite oxide modified loaded with Au (Aux/ZnAl-CHT), were prepared by calcination of hydrotalcite precursors and tested for the direct synthesis of glycerol carbonate using CO2 as the carbon source. An Au5/ZnAl-CHT catalyst shows the highest catalytic performance with the glycerol carbonate yield of 19.5 % and the selectivity of 50.5 % at 170 °C and 4.0 MPa CO2, while maintaining good thermal stability and excellent regeneration ability. A series of characterization results and density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicated the introduction of Au leads to more frustrated-Lewis-pairs in Zn-Al composite oxide (ZnAl-CHT), which improve the adsorption and activation of CO2. Meanwhile, FTIR analysis indicates that glycerol is activated by Zn2+ for the formation of zinc glycerolate intermediates. The above dual synergistic activation processes effectively enhance the catalytic performance. And the reaction pathway is proposed for the synthesis of glycerol carbonate from CO2 and glycerol.

METHODS OF INFLUENCE ON THE SYSTEM TO CHANGE THE ENERGY STATE OF SUBSTANCE: EXPERIENCE, STATE OF THE ISSUE

Methods of influencing the system, the ultimate goal of which is to destruct the natural structure of the material, can be divided as mechanical, physical, chemical, biological and complex. The changing the energy state of a substance is called activation. The current scientific field of ultradispersed materials and physical and chemical processes caused by dispersion is created by the researches of many scientists. Detailed consideration for the increasing reactivity of a solid substance compared to the change in its specific surface area during its mechanical activation showed that the share attributable to the growth of the specific surface area is only a few percent of the mechanical activation effect. The other part is due to the accumulation of defects in the crystals during the grinding process. According to the law of conservation of energy, when a crystal splits, the potential energy of interaction between lattice nodes is transferred to uncompensated surface energy. In addition, the value of the specific surface energy depends on the type of flat lattice used to split the crystal. Therefore, the activation processes and the application of the substance in the active state are relevant in the development of modern binders and concretes. The purpose of the article is to analyse the advantages and disadvantages of the existing methods of influencing the system with the ultimate goal of destruction of the natural structure of the material to changing the energy state of the substance, i.e. its activation. Conclusions. During the destruction of solids, the formation of new cleavage surfaces is accompanied by the breaking of bonds between the substance structural elements and the transition of the potential bond energy into surface energy. Ceteris paribus, the higher the ionic charges and the smaller the distance between them (between adjacent flat grids in the lattice), the greater the value of σ. In addition, the value of the specific surface energy depends on the type of flat grids used to split the crystal. It is worth mentioning that not all methods of activation for binder and concrete (soluble) mixtures are currently implemented on an i industry level. This is due to various reasons. The main method of activation used on an industry level is mechanochemical activation in various types of mills.

The 14-3-3 protein nt GF14e interacts with CIPK2 and increases low potassium stress in tobacco

ABSTRACT Potassium (K+) plays a role in enzyme activation, membrane transport, and osmotic regulation processes. An increase in potassium content can significantly improve the elasticity and combustibility of tobacco and reduce the content of harmful substances. Here, we report that the expression analysis of Nt GF14e, a 14-3-3 gene, increased markedly after low-potassium treatment (LK). Then, chlorophyll content, POD activity and potassium content, were significantly increased in overexpression of Nt GF14e transgenic tobacco lines compared with those in the wild type plants. The net K+ efflux rates were severely lower in the transgenic plants than in the wild type under LK stress. Furthermore, transcriptome analysis identified 5708 upregulated genes and 2787 downregulated genes between Nt GF14e overexpressing transgenic tobacco plants. The expression levels of some potassium-related genes were increased, such as CBL-interacting protein kinase 2 (CIPK2), Nt CIPK23, Nt CIPK25, H+-ATPase isoform 2 a (AHA2a), Nt AHA4a, Stelar K+ outward rectifier 1(SKOR1), and high affinity K+ transporter 5 (HAK5). The result of yeast two-hybrid and luciferase complementation imaging experiments suggested Nt GF14e could interact with CIPK2. Overall, these findings indicate that NtGF14e plays a vital roles in improving tobacco LK tolerance and enhancing potassium nutrition signaling pathways in tobacco plants.

PRE-ISPY phase I/Ib oncology platform program (PRE-I-SPY-P1).

e12641 Background: Many promising agents or combinations regimens relevant to breast cancer lack sufficient clinical information for use in the neoadjuvant setting. To enable acceleration of drug development by reducing time and cost of clinical trial planning and conduct, the Phase I initiative PRE-ISPY Program was created. Methods: The PRE-ISPY Program is built within the I-SPY network, with the overall aim to streamline the regulatory pathway and the processes of trial design, contracting, activation, enrollment, execution, data gathering and analysis, as well as reporting of new therapeutic agents or combinations of relevance to breast cancer. Results: The PRE-ISPY trial is an open-label platform phase IB study designed to evaluate compelling single agent or combination regimens with the overall goal of moving promising drug regimens into I-SPY2 Trial and/or into other oncology-based trials in a timely manner. Graduation of a PRE-ISPY regimen to I-SPY2 is not mandatory. The primary objectives in each study Arm are to determine safety and to obtain preliminary efficacy data of the new regimen in patients with metastatic cancer, including a cohort of breast cancer patients. Each Arm may contain a Part 1 (dose finding) and a Part 2 (dose expansion). The new treatment can be tested also in patients with other solid malignancies than breast cancer, in which the treatment may be applicable, as specified in the design of the Arm. A breast cancer specific cohort is required in Part 2. Candidate treatment regimens are selected with advice from the I-SPY2 Agent Selection Working Group. The PRE-ISPY/Phase IB trial has multiple ongoing drug regimen Arms subsequently added as new protocol appendices through amendments to a Master protocol. There is no randomization; participants are enrolled, and treatment selected according to the relevance of therapy to their disease. Prospective companion biomarkers are evaluated. The current arms under study are PRE1: ALX-148 combined with trastuzumab deruxtecan; PRE2: tucatinib combined with zanidatamab; and PRE3: vidutolimod combined with cemiplimab. Selected agents or therapeutic combinations are tested through this protocol in the I-SPY Network Centers that participate in the PRE-ISPY Program. Toxicities are graded according to the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE). Clinical responses are evaluated based on RECIST v1.1 criteria. Conclusions: Once safety is established, promising regimens can be rapidly transitioned to I-SPY 2.2 or other phase 2/3 trials. The first patient was enrolled on 2/1/2023. Clinical trial information: NCT05868226 .

Orchestration of Macrophage Polarization Dynamics by Fibroblast-Secreted Exosomes during Skin Wound Healing

Macrophages undertake pivotal yet dichotomous functions during skin wound healing, mediating both early pro-inflammatory immune activation and late anti-inflammatory tissue remodeling processes. The timely phenotypic transition of macrophages from inflammatory M1 to pro-resolving M2 activation states is essential for efficient healing. However, the endogenous mechanisms calibrating macrophage polarization in accordance with the evolving tissue milieu remain undefined. Here, we reveal an indispensable immunomodulatory role for fibroblast-secreted exosomes in directing macrophage activation dynamics. Fibroblast exosomes permitted spatiotemporal coordination of macrophage phenotypes independent of direct intercellular contact. Exosomes enhanced macrophage sensitivity to both M1 and M2 polarizing stimuli, yet also accelerated timely switching from M1 to M2 phenotypes. Exosomes inhibition dysregulated macrophage responses resulting in aberrant inflammation and impaired healing, while provision of exogenous fibroblast exosomes corrected defects. Topical application of fibroblast exosomes onto chronic diabetic wounds normalized dysregulated macrophage activation to resolve inflammation and restore productive healing. Our findings elucidate fibroblast-secreted exosomes as remote programmers of macrophage polarization that calibrate immunological transitions essential for tissue repair. Harnessing exosomes represents a previously unreported approach to steer productive macrophage activation states with immense therapeutic potential for promoting healing in chronic inflammatory disorders.

Pathological Turbulence of the Heart Rhythm and Activation of the Antinociceptive System as Predictors of the Complicated Course of Silent Myocardial Ischemia in Patients with Post Infarction Cardiosclerosis According to the Data of Long-term Observation

To date, the issues of evaluating the course of silent myocardial ischemia (SMI) after a myocardial infarction (MI) taking into account risk factors (RF), evaluating the pathological turbulence of the heart rhythm, the state of activation of the body’s antinociceptive system, which necessitates an in-depth study of this pathology, remain unresolved, as well as new differentiated approaches to the treatment and rehabilitation of the modern category of patients. The objective: to analyze the features of the SMI course in patients with post-infarction cardiosclerosis depending on the RF. Identification of the interdependence between the degree of activation of the sympathoadrenal system and the features of the SMI course in patients with post-infarction cardiosclerosis, as well as the prognostic value for assessing the severity of the course of the disease. Materials and methods. The research was performed on the basis of the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Clinical Cardiology Center (Ukraine). 154 patients with a silent form of coronary artery disease, which occurred in people with post-infarction cardiosclerosis, were examined. The diagnostic criteria were: episodes of SMI verified with the help of HM ECG and a test with dosed physical load. Results. Significant deviation of the ST segment which was detected during Holter monitoring of the ECG (HM ECG) in patients with SMI episodes does not mean that the absence of pain sensations in the presence of efferent nociceptive stimulation is a sign of the absence of ischemia and does not indicate an easier course of SMI compared to clinically manifest forms of CHD. The average concentration of β-endorphins in patients with lipid metabolism disorders was 4.01±0.02 ng/ml, in the presence of diabetes mellitus this indicator was equal to 4.68±0.03 ng/ml (р<0.01), and in persons with concomitant arterial hypertension it was 4.91±0.02 ng/ml (р<0.05). In subjects with two or more RFs, the similar indicator was the highest and amounted to 5.73±0.03 ng/ml (р<0.01). The point-biserial correlation coefficient was equal to 0.61 (р<0.05), which indicates a sufficiently high probability of the influence of the processes of activation of the antinociceptive system on the risk of myocardial infarction and unstable angina. Conclusions. It has been proven that the presence of postinfarction cardiosclerosis, type 2 diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, and arterial hypertension should be considered as factors that increase the risk of complications of coronary artery disease in patients with SMI. In the painless form of CHD, there is a probable increase in β-endorphins in the blood, which indicates the presence of pronounced afferent nociceptive stimulation, the intensity of which depends on the degree of myocardial ischemia. It has been proven that an increase of β-endorphins levels is associated with an increase in the risk of a complicated course of coronary heart disease in patients with silent myocardial ischemia. The presence in patients with SMI of myocardial ischemia, pathological turbulence of the heart rhythm, and activation of the antinociceptive system are extremely important for understanding the main links of the course of SMI and make it possible to base the approach to the therapy of such patients on a differentiated system algorithm that takes into account the discrepancy between the clinical manifestations of the disease and its real impact on coronary perfusion and the condition of the vascular wall.

Fibroblast Diversity and Epigenetic Regulation in Cardiac Fibrosis.

Cardiac fibrosis, a process characterized by excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition, is a common pathological consequence of many cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) normally resulting in organ failure and death. Cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) play an essential role in deleterious cardiac remodeling and dysfunction. In response to injury, quiescent CFs become activated and adopt a collagen-secreting phenotype highly contributing to cardiac fibrosis. In recent years, studies have been focused on the exploration of molecular and cellular mechanisms implicated in the activation process of CFs, which allow the development of novel therapeutic approaches for the treatment of cardiac fibrosis. Transcriptomic analyses using single-cell RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) have helped to elucidate the high cellular diversity and complex intercellular communication networks that CFs establish in the mammalian heart. Furthermore, a significant body of work supports the critical role of epigenetic regulation on the expression of genes involved in the pathogenesis of cardiac fibrosis. The study of epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation, histone modification, and chromatin remodeling, has provided more insights into CF activation and fibrotic processes. Targeting epigenetic regulators, especially DNA methyltransferases (DNMT), histone acetylases (HAT), or histone deacetylases (HDAC), has emerged as a promising approach for the development of novel anti-fibrotic therapies. This review focuses on recent transcriptomic advances regarding CF diversity and molecular and epigenetic mechanisms that modulate the activation process of CFs and their possible clinical applications for the treatment of cardiac fibrosis.

An Ultramicroporous Graphene-Based 3D Structure Derived from Cellulose-Based Biomass for High-Performance CO2 Capture.

The use of powered activated carbon is often limited by inconsistent particle sizes and porosities, leading to reduced adsorption efficiencies. In this study, we demonstrated a practical and environmentally friendly method for creating a 3D graphene nanostructure with highly uniform ultramicropores from wood-based biomass through a series of delignification, carbonization, and activation processes. In addition, we evaluated the capture characteristics of this structure for CO2, CH4, and N2 gases as well as its selectivity for binary-mixture gases. Based on textural and chemical analyses, the delignified monolith had a lamellar structure interconnected by cellulose-based fibers. Interestingly, applying the KOH vapor activation technique solely to the delignified samples led to the formation of a monolithic 3D network composed of interconnected graphene sheets with a high degree of crystallinity. Especially, the Act. 1000 sample exhibited a specific surface area of 1480 m2/g and a considerable pore volume of 0.581 cm3/g, featuring consistently uniform ultramicropores over 90% in the range of 3.5-11 Å. The monolithic graphene-based samples, predominantly composed of ultramicropores, demonstrated a notably heightened capture capacity of 6.934 mol/kg at 110 kPa for CO2, along with favorable selectivity within binary gas mixtures (CO2/N2, CO2/CH4, and CO2/CH4). Our findings suggest that this biomass-derived 3D structure has the potential to serve as a monolithic adsorbent in gas separation applications.

Proteomic and transcriptomics profiles of serum selenium concentrations in patients with heart failure are associated with immunoregulatory processes

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): Dutch Research Council, through the Open Competition ENW-KLEIN grant Background Low selenium concentrations are associated with worse outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF). However, the underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Therefore, we aimed to contrast serum selenium concentrations to blood proteomic and transcriptomic profiles in patients with HF. Methods Circulating proteins, whole blood transcriptomics and serum selenium measurements in a cohort of 2328 patients with worsening HF (BIOSTAT-CHF) were utilized to assess underlying pathophysiology. Penalized linear regression and gene expression analysis were used to assess proteins and transcriptomics profiles based on selenium concentrations, respectively. String database v11.5 was used for enrichment analyses. Additionally analyses of the association between genes encoding selenoproteins in relation to serum selenium and all-cause mortality were performed. Potential causality was investigated by supplementing human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with selenium and measuring the concentrations of 18 different cytokines. Results From 356 biomarkers and 20 clinical features, the penalized linear regression model yielded 44 variables with <5% marginal false discovery rate as predictors of serum selenium. Biomarkers associated positively with selenium concentrations included: epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), IFN-gamma-R1, CD4, GDF15, and IL10. Biomarkers associated negatively with low selenium concentrations included: PCSK9, SPON2, TNFSF13, FGF21 and PAI. In addition, 148 RNA transcripts were found differentially expressed between high and low Se status (Padj.<0.05; fold change<|0.25|). Enrichment analyses of the selected biomarkers and the selected RNA transcripts identified similar enriched processes, including regulation processes of leukocyte differentiation and activation, as well as cytokines production. The expression of two gene encoding selenoproteins (MSRB1 and GPX4) were strongly correlated with serum selenium after multiple corrections, while GPX4, SELENOK, and SELENOS were associated with prognosis. In the in-vitro setting, PBMCs supplemented with selenium showed significantly lower abundance of several (pro-)inflammatory cytokines. Conclusion These data suggest that immunoregulation is an important mechanism through which selenium might have beneficial roles in heart failure. The beneficial effects of higher serum selenium concentrations are likely because of global immunomodulatory effects on the abundance of cytokines. MSRB1 and GPX4 are interesting targets as potential modulators of this immunoregulatory effect of selenium and should be pursued in future research.Cytokines concentrations