Synergistic Mechanism Research Articles

Sustainable Abiotic-Biotic Dechlorination of Perchloroethene with Sulfidated Nanoscale Zero-Valent Iron as Electron Donor Source.

Combining organohalide-respiring bacteria with nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) represents a promising approach for remediating chloroethene-contaminated aquifers. However, limited information is available regarding their synergistic dechlorinating ability for chloroethenes when nZVI is sulfidated (S-nZVI) under the organic electron donor-limited conditions typically found in deep aquifers. Herein, we developed a combined system utilizing a mixed culture containing Dehalococcoides (Dhc) and S-nZVI particles, which achieved sustainable dechlorination with repeated rounds of spiking with 110 μM perchloroethene (PCE). The relative abundance of Dhc considerably increased from 5.2 to 91.5% after five rounds of spiking with PCE, as evidenced by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. S-nZVI corrosion generated hydrogen as an electron donor for Dhc and other volatile fatty acid (VFA)-producing bacteria. Electron balance analysis indicated that 68.1% of electrons from Fe0 consumed in S-nZVI were involved in dechlorination, and 6.2, 1.1, and 3.2% were stored in formate, acetate, and other VFAs, respectively. The produced acetate possibly served as a carbon source for Dhc. Metagenomic analysis revealed that Desulfovibrio, Syntrophomonas, Clostridium, and Mesotoga were likely involved in VFA production. These findings provide valuable insights into the synergistic mechanisms of biotic and abiotic dechlorination, with important implications for sustainable remediation of electron donor-limited aquifers contaminated by chloroethenes.

Study on the Synergistic Mechanism of Photodynamic Therapy Combined With Ferroptosis Inducer to Induce Ferroptosis in Cholangiocarcinoma.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) induced lipid peroxidation reaction can lead to necrosis and apoptosis of extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ECC) cells, reducing the tumor load. However, the depth of action of PDT is shallow, and its therapy efficacy is weak, making it difficult to achieve eradication even with multiple treatments. This study aims to investigate the mechanism and main pathways of ferroptosis in cholangiocarcinoma under Hematoporphyrin-mediated photodynamic therapy, and to compare the effects of different ferroptosis inducers on photodynamic therapy-induced ferroptosis in cholangiocarcinoma. To provide an experimental basis for selecting appropriate ferroptosis-inducing agents and synergizing with photodynamic therapy during the clinical perioperative period. The Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) was used to examine the cytotoxicity of cholangiocarcinoma cells following PDT. Flow cytometry was used to detect apoptotic cell percentage and cell cycle changes to assess the enhanced photodynamic production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by different ferroptosis inducers, confocal imaging was used to de-assay ROS content. Western blot analysis was employed to detect the expression of GPX4 、FSP1、ASCL4 and SLC7A11. Furthermore, a fluorescence spectrophotometric assay was used to quantify the alterations in lipid peroxides (MDA, LPO, GSH, and Fe2+). The combination of PDT with Lenvatinib or Erastin resulted in increased ROS levels, and decreased GSH content, tumor cells were inhibited in the G2 phase, and the proportion of apoptotic cells increased. Additionally, GPX4, FSP1, and SLC7A11 protein expression decreased, whereas ASCL4 increased This was accompanied by heightened levels of Fe2+, LPO, and MDA. Induction of the ferroptosis pathway was observed to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of PDT. Our findings suggest that Erastin or Lenvatinib can enhance the induction of ferroptosis in cholangiocarcinoma cells by photodynamic therapy by increasing intracellular ROS and inhibiting intracellular antioxidant pathways.

Restoring Colistin Sensitivity in Multidrug-Resistant Pathogenic E. coli Using Cinacalcet Hydrochloride

Restoring colistin’s efficacy is crucial in addressing the resistance crisis of colistin. This study utilized a high-throughput screening method to identify 43 compounds from 800 FDA-approved drugs that exhibited significant antibacterial effects when combined with colistin. Among these, cinacalcet hydrochloride (CH) was selected for its potential synergistic effect with colistin against multidrug-resistant (MDR) E. coli strains, including mcr-1-positive strains. A series of experiments revealed that the combination of CH and colistin showed strong synergy, especially in mcr-1-positive strains, restoring colistin sensitivity. The combination significantly inhibited bacterial growth and reduced CFU counts more effectively than either drug alone. Additionally, CH and colistin together significantly inhibited biofilm formation and eradicated existing biofilms, as visualized through confocal microscopy. Mechanistic studies showed that the combination increased bacterial membrane permeability and disrupted membrane integrity. The treatment also elevated extracellular ATP release and ROS production, indicating oxidative stress-induced bacterial death. Safety evaluations showed that the combination did not increase toxicity in host cells. Finally, animal models further validated the combination’s efficacy. Overall, this study showed that the combination of colistin and CH significantly restored colistin sensitivity in mcr-1-positive E. coli, revealing their synergistic antibacterial mechanism involving membrane damage and oxidative stress, with promising clinical applications.

Synergistic effect of fosfomycin and colistin against KPC-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae: pharmacokinetics-pharmacodynamics combined with transcriptomic approach

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to identify the synergistic effect and mechanisms of fosfomycin (FM) combined with colistin (COL) against KPC-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (KPC-Kp).MethodsThe bactericidal effects, induced drug resistance and cytotoxicity of FM combined with COL were evaluated by time-kill assays and mutation rate test. Time-kill assays and transcriptomics analysis were used to further clarify the mechanism of FM combined with COL. The bacteria were taken from different points in time-kill assays, reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide and redox related enzymes were detected. The mechanism of synergistic bactericidal action was analyzed by transcriptome.ResultsThe bactericidal effect of FM combined with COL was better than that of monotherapy. The mutation frequency of FM alone at low dose (8 mg/L) was higher than that at high dose (64 mg/L). COL induced resistant isolates resulted in FM and COL resistance, while FM alone or combined with COL only resulted in FM resistance. The survival rate of Thp-1 cells in FM combined with COL against K. pneumoniae was higher than that of monotherapy. The intracellular nitric oxide, activities of total superoxide dismutase and catalase were increased along with the increase of FM concentration against KPC-Kp. FM combined with COL induced ROS accumulation and antioxidant capacity increase. Transcriptome analysis showed FM combined with COL could regulate the levels of soxRS and oxidative phosphorylation, in order to clear ROS and repair damage. In addition, FM combined with COL could result in synergetic bactericidal efficacy by inhibiting ribosomal transcription.ConclusionsFM combined with COL mediated synergistic bactericidal effect by regulating ROS accumulation and inhibiting ribosomal protein transcription, resulting in lower resistance and cytotoxicity.

Unveiling synergistic enhancement mechanism of nitrogen removal in surface flow constructed wetlands: Utilizing iron scraps and elemental sulfur as integrated electron donors

Lacking electron donors generally causes poor denitrification performance in constructed wetlands (CWs). In this study, iron scraps (ISs) and elemental sulfur (S0) were employed as electron donors in different surface flow constructed wetlands (SFCWs): control (C-SF), ISs added (Fe-SF), S0 added (S-SF), and ISs and S0 combined (Fe + S-SF) to investigate the performance and mechanism of nitrogen (N) removal through continuous flow and batch experiments. The impact of hydraulic retention times (HRTs) and temperatures on N removal was explored. The combined use of ISs and S0 significantly improved nitrate (NO3− -N) removal in Fe + S-SF compared to the other SFCWs. During the 3-d HRT at 25 °C, the average NO3− -N removal efficiency in Fe + S-SF reached the highest value of 71.66 ± 12.54%, reducing NO3− -N concentrations from 12.03 mg/L to 3.47 mg/L. The results of the batch experiments revealed an N removal pattern that aligned with the findings of the continuous flow experiment. The microbial community analysis revealed a selective enrichment of key functional genera (e.g., Ferritrophicum and Dechloromonas), contributing to enhanced N removal in Fe + S-SF. These findings suggest that the synergistic use of ISs and S0 can achieve better denitrification efficiency and potentially be utilized for enhanced N removal from low C/N wastewater.

Synergistic inhibition effect and mechanism of an inhibitor for entire process inhibition of coal spontaneous combustion

Traditional coal spontaneous combustion (CSC) inhibitors, while effective, have limitations such as frequent application or short-term efficacy. To this end, we developed a slow-release and water-soluble synergistic inhibitor (SWSI) to achieve long-term CSC inhibition. The SWSI was formulated by integrating synergistic antioxidants (SA) composed of ascorbic acid (AsA) and Fe-superoxide dismutase (Fe-SOD) dissolved in a super absorbent polymer (SAP) encapsulated within hydrogel microcapsules. The effectiveness of SWSI was evaluated through simultaneous thermal analysis and in-situ free radical tests. The formulation optimization demonstrated that AsA and Fe-SOD had the maximum synergistic inhibition effect at a 1:1 molar ratio. The optimal SA: SAP ratio of 3:1 achieved the lowest oxygen consumption rate and highest inhibition rate. The encapsulation formulation, consisting of 3% SA, 6% PAM, 1% CaCl2, and 0.5% citric acid, generated the highest swelling ratio. Simultaneous thermal analysis and in-situ free radical tests indicated that SWSI greatly increased feature temperatures and the apparent activation energy, lowered reaction heat, and substantially reduced free radical concentration in the full oxidation process. The newly developed SWSI offers a significant advancement in long-term CSC prevention by integrating physical and chemical inhibition, which provides sustained and effective inhibition throughout the entire oxidation process.

Elucidating the synergic mechanism of sodium pyrophosphate assisted enzymolysis on the waste activated sludge fermentation enhancement: Insights from organic conversion and metagenomic analysis

Lysozyme has been identified as a promising approach for enhancing waste activated sludge (WAS) anaerobic fermentation. However, the extracellular polymeric substance (EPS), functioning as a ‘protective shell’ for microbial cells, hindered the lysozyme transfer and subsequent interaction with cell wall, resulting in excessive dosage and limited efficiency in practical engineering applications. This study innovatively proposed a sodium pyrophosphate (SP) assisted lysozyme treatment, aiming to overcome such limitations and enhance the solubilization and hydrolysis efficiency. As a result, 3583.5 mg COD/L short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and 23.1 % acidification rate were achieved after 2-day anaerobic fermentation within SP-lysozyme treatment. Mechanism investigation revealed that SP facilitated EPS disruption by inducing a loosening of the protein structure, leading to the enhanced solubilization of organic matter within the EPS and microbial cells. Consequently, the release of substantial substrates contributed to the enrichment of functional microbes associated with hydrolysis and acidogenesis, accompanied by the augmentation of corresponding metabolic functions. Besides, the key functional genes analysis demonstrated the amino acid metabolism, glycolysis, pyruvate metabolism and SCFAs transport were facilitated and the methanogenesis was inhibited on the contrary with SP-lysozyme treatment, which was undoubtedly responsible for the superior SCFAs accumulation in anaerobic fermentation process. Considering the carbon resource recovery in SCFAs form, such novel SP-lysozyme treatment exhibited 325.1 CNY /ton SS (45.5 USD / ton SS) economic benefit and avoided 0.12 CO2/ton SS carbon emission, suggesting its promising application potential in future WAS management.

OsGRF6-OsYUCCA1/OsWRKY82 Signaling Cascade Upgrade Grain Yield and Bacterial Blight Resistance in Rice.

As a major crop in the world, the sustainable development of rice is often severely restricted by bacterial blight. Breeding crops with resistance is an efficient way to control bacterial blight. However, enhancing resistance often incurs a fitness penalty, making it challenging to simultaneously increase bacterial blight resistance and yield potential. In this study, it is found that OsGRF6, besides being a high-yield gene, can significantly improve rice bacterial blight resistance. Compared with wild-type, the lesion lengths of transgenic material overexpressing OsGRF6 are significantly reduced after inoculation with Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo). Furthermore, OsGRF6 can directly bind to the promoters of OsYUCCA1 and OsWRKY82, upregulating their transcription and thereby increasing rice bacterial blight resistance and yield. Haplotypic analysis based on the promoter and genome sequence combined with evolutionary analysis revealed that OsGRF6 is mainly comprised by the OsGRF6XI and OsGRF6GJ subtypes. The superior haplotype OsGRF6Hap4 increased its transcriptional activity and contributed to bacterial blight resistance and rice yield. Together, this study provides theoretical support for further revealing the synergistic regulatory mechanism and genetic improvement of rice high yield and bacterial blight resistance, offering a new strategy for developing disease-resistant cultivars.

Synergistic effects of bloom helicase (BLM) inhibitor AO/854 with cisplatin in prostate cancer

To determine the synergistic effect and mechanism of AO/854, a new Bloom syndrome protein (BLM) helicase inhibitor, and cisplatin (CDDP), a DNA-crosslinking agent, cell viability assays, neutral comet assays, and Western blotting (WB) were performed on prostate cancer (PCa) cells. According to our findings, combining AO/854 and CDDP enhanced the antiproliferative capabilities of PC3 cell lines. As evidenced by the upregulation of γH2AX, cleaved caspase-3/caspase-3, and BAX/Bcl-2, AO/854 dramatically increased PC3 apoptosis and DNA damage induced by CDDP. Furthermore, combining AO/854 and CDDP synergistically inhibited PC3 cell migration and invasion. In addition, AO/854 inhibited CDDP-induced S-phase cell-cycle arrest in PC3 cells while enhancing G2/M-phase cell-cycle arrest. In vivo, the antitumor efficacy of the combination therapy group was greater than that of the groups treated with AO/854 or CDDP alone. Our findings indicate that synergistic chemotherapy with AO/854 and CDDP may be a novel anticancer strategy for PCa.

3D reinforcement synergistic effect of embedded nickel‐foam skeleton of polyurethane based on x‐ray CT images: Experimental and finite element analysis

AbstractMonotonic shear tests were performed on Nickel Foam (NF)/Polyurethane (PU) and the results indicated that NF/PU was much greater than the sum of the individual phases in terms of strength and stiffness. Cyclic shear tests were carried out and it was found that shear evolution processes and failure modes of the composite were completely different from the individual phases and the damping properties were greatly improved. Revealing the synergistic mechanism of the 3D continuous metal skeleton on the PU is the key issue to explain the above phenomena. The geometric topology of NF was reproduced using CT technology and a fine‐scale finite element model was established. The mechanical behavior between NF and PU was investigated at the meso‐mechanical scale. The results show that the NF skeleton significantly improves the strength and damping properties of the PU. During cyclic shear, the effects of displacement and temperature on the mechanical and damping properties of the PU are significant. In comparison, the NF skeleton reduces the temperature sensitivity. Based on the analysis of experimental and FEA results, the monotonic and cyclic constitutive models of NF/PU were established. The shear constitutive model under the new loading/unloading criterion has good fitting accuracy and high reliability.Highlights NF/PU properties were investigated by experimental and finite element methods. NF skeleton improves PU performance through the synergistic effect. Synergistic effects were revealed by CT and finite element methods. The R‐O model can fit the shear constitutive model of NF/PU.

Carbon and energy metabolism for the mixotrophic culture of Chlorella vulgaris using sodium acetate as a carbon source

There has been an emergence of a diversity of microalgal mixotrophic synergistic mechanisms due to substrate differences. In this study, the effects of the mixotrophic culture of Chlorella vulgaris were examined. The maximum values of cell density, specific growth rate, and cell dry weight of Chlorella vulgaris were 3.52*107 cells/mL, 0.75 d−1, and 3.48 g/L in the mixotrophic mode, respectively. These were higher than the corresponding values of photoautotrophic or heterotrophic modes. Moreover, it was found that the concentrations of sodium bicarbonate consumed by the Chlorella vulgaris under mixotrophic and photoautotrophic modes were 635 mg/L/d and 505 mg/L/d, respectively; the concentrations of sodium acetate consumed by the Chlorella vulgaris under mixotrophic and heterotrophic modes were 614 mg/L/d and 645 mg/L/d, respectively. The activity of Rubisco was 9.36 U/mL in the mixotrophic culture, which was 3.09 and 4.85 times higher than that of the photoautotrophic and heterotrophic modes, respectively. This indicated that the differences for the carbon source absorption efficiency of Chlorella vulgaris in the mixotrophy led to different internal metabolic efficiencies when compared to photoautotroph or heterotrophy. Additionally, Chlorella vulgaris exhibits a more rapid energy metabolism efficiency when operating in the mixotrophic mode.

A "plus one" strategy impacts replication of felid alphaherpesvirus 1, Mycoplasma and Chlamydia, and the metabolism of coinfected feline cells.

Coinfections are known to play an important role in disease progression and severity. Coinfections are common in cats, but no coinfection studies have investigated the in vitro dynamics between feline viral and bacterial pathogens. In this study, we performed co-culture and invasion assays to investigate the ability of common feline bacterial respiratory pathogens, Chlamydia felis and Mycoplasma felis, to replicate in and invade into Crandell-Rees feline kidney cells. We subsequently investigated how coinfection of these feline cells with each bacterium (C. felis or M. felis) and the common feline viral pathogen, felid alphaherpesvirus 1 (FHV-1), affects replication of each agent in this cell culture system. We also investigated the metabolic impact of each co-pathogen using metabolomic analysis of infected and coinfected cells. C. felis was able to invade and replicate in CRFKs, while M. felis had little capacity to invade. During coinfection, FHV-1 replication was minimally affected by the presence of either bacterial pathogen, but bacterial replication kinetics were more affected, particularly in M. felis. Both C. felis and M. felis replicated to higher levels in the presence of a secondary pathogen. Coinfections resulted in reprogramming of the glycolysis pathway, the pentose phosphate pathway, and the tricarboxylic acid cycle. The distinct metabolic profiles of coinfected cells compared to those of cells infected with just one of these three pathogens, as well as the impact of coinfections on viral or bacterial load, suggest strong interactions between these three pathogens and possible synergistic mechanisms enhancing virulence that need further investigation.IMPORTANCEIn the natural world, respiratory pathogens coexist within their hosts, but their dynamics and interactions remain largely unexplored. Herpesviruses, mycoplasmas, and chlamydias are common and significant causes of acute and chronic respiratory and system disease in animals and people, and these diseases are increasingly found to be polymicrobial. This study investigates how coinfection of feline cells between three respiratory pathogens of cats impact each other as well as the host innate metabolic response to infection. Each of these pathogens have been implicated in the induction of feline upper respiratory tract disease in cats, which is the leading cause of euthanasia in shelters. Understanding how coinfection impacts co-pathogenesis and host responses is critical for improving disease management.

Simultaneous treatment with tap water-based neutral electrolyzed water and citric acid for inactivating foodborne pathogens on stainless steel and their synergistic bactericidal mechanisms

Electrolyzed water has many potential applications, the primary one being the eliminating microorganisms in the food industry. However, this application is limited by high chlorine levels. Tap water-based neutral electrolyzed water (TNEW) has the advantage of relatively low chlorine concentration (1.7–4.6 mg/L), but its sterilization effect is limited. In this study, TNEW was combined with citric acid (CA) solution, resulting in strong synergistic inactivation effect on Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella Typhimurium, and Listeria monocytogenes on stainless steel surfaces. Simultaneous treatment of stainless steel with TNEW [available chlorine concentration (ACC) of 4.97 mg/L] and 0.1% CA for 15 min resulted in 4.78-, 4.26-, and >5.69 log CFU/cm2 surface reduction in E. coli O157:H7, S. Typhimurium, and L. monocytogenes, respectively, which was a synergistic cell count reductions of 3.25, 2.83, and >3.84 log units, respectively. Fluorescence and RT-qPCR analyses identified synergistic production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), damage to the cell membrane resulting from lipid peroxidation, and DNA damage as the major factors contributing to the synergistic lethal effect. The results of this study suggest that the TNEW–CA combination treatment can be applied as a potential substitute for conventional electrolyzed water treatment for food contact surface disinfection.

Study on the surface texture-microparticles synergistic lubrication mechanism of artificial joint

Abstract After total joint replacement surgery, frequent injection of lubricating substances is required due to lubrication failure caused by the absorption of lubricants by the human body, which will cause serious physiological and psychological burdens on patients. In this study, with the help of surface texture aggregation of particles, gelatin microgel particles with a diameter of about 4 µm were used as lubricating substances to achieve aggregation in the texture, thus improving the friction environment under low-concentration lubricants. The study found that the rectangular cross-section texture demonstrated the most effective anti-friction properties, resulting in a 26% reduction in friction coefficient compared to non-textured surfaces. Additionally, utilizing COMSOL for particle flow simulation, researchers observed the motion behavior of particles within the texture and clarified the mechanism of particle aggregation and the improvement of lubrication on the surface. This article confirms the beneficial effects of combining surface texture and particles on lubrication, thus providing valuable insight for improving lubrication in dilute particle solutions.

Enhanced phosphorus adsorption performance of ZnAl-LDO by fluorine‑chlorine co-doping and synergistic mechanism exploration

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) and their calcined products layered double oxides (LDOs) are widely used as adsorbents for pollutant removal. Their adsorption performance are significantly influenced by intercalated ions, while previous studies primarily focusing on the impact of individual ions. For the first time, this paper reports the mechanism of the synergistic enhancement of phosphate adsorption properties of LDO by bicomponent interlayer ions. The ZnAl-LDO by fluorine‑chlorine co-doping (F, Cl-ZnAl-LDO) exhibits excellent adsorption capacity of 158.9 mgP/g, surpassing that of single-component intercalation Cl-ZnAl-LDO and F-ZnAl-LDO, as well as most LDH-based adsorbents. Further research and density functional theory calculations indicate the differential adsorption enhancement mechanism of the interlayer ions. Chlorine functions as the exchanged anion, whereas fluorine facilitates the complete replacement of chloride ions and hydroxyl groups by phosphate. This finding highlights the potential of utilizing the synergistic effects between different interlayer ions to design and synthesize advanced phosphate adsorbent materials.

Virtual screening and network pharmacology-based synergistic coagulation mechanism identification of multiple components contained in compound Kushen Injection against hepatocellular carcinoma

BackgroundHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a primary liver malignancy commonly encountered in the setting of chronic liver disease and cirrhosis. Compound Kushen Injection (CKI) has been widely used in HCC, however, the underlying mechanisms are scarce. ObjectiveTo explore the molecular mechanisms of CKI for HCC.To explore the molecular mechanisms of CKI for HCC. Materials and MethodsThe chemical ingredients of CKI were reviewed from published articles and the potential targets were got from Herbal Ingredients’ Targets Platform. Coagulation-related targets were from Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes and HCC-related targets were from Therapeutic Target Database, Gene Expression Omnibus, and The Cancer Genome Atlas. Then the CKI-Herb-Target and CKI-Herb-Target-HCC networks were built. The shared targets between CKI and HCC were used for functional enrichment through Metascape and the shared coagulation-related target was used for molecular docking and survival analysis. ResultsA total of 23 chemical ingredients and 41 potential targets shared between CKI and HCC were obtained. The results of functional enrichment indicated that several canonical pathways of CKI mostly participated in the treatment of HCC. Furthermore, a chemical ingredient of CKI formed a stable hydrogen bond link with the ASN-189 on PLG, with a best binding energy of −4.7 kcal/mol. Finally, PLG was confirmed as the shared coagulation-related target and interrelated with the prognosis of HCC. ConclusionCKI probably improves HCC prognosis through PLG. Our research undoubtedly deepened the understanding of the molecular mechanism of CKI anti-HCC.

Liquid Bi-Sb-Sn Electrodes with Synergistic Stabilization Mechanism for Long-Lifespan Sodium-Based Liquid Metal Batteries.

Sodium-based liquid metal batteries are well suited for stationary energy storage due to their long life, intrinsic safety, and ease of scale-up. However, the irreversible alloying reaction between the positive current collector (PCC) and the cathodes at high temperatures leads to severe capacity degradation of the battery, severely limiting its scale-up application. In this work, a Bi-Sb-Sn alloy cathode based on a synergistic stabilization mechanism was designed for the first time. Due to the density difference of Bi, Sb, and Sn and the compatibility difference of Bi and Sn with the PCC, a part of Bi and Sn is spontaneously distributed in the region close to the PCC. The protection of Sb is realized by blocking the contact of Sb with the PCC as well as removing the PCC material dissolved in the cathode to prevent the loss of active material. Based on such protection, the Na||Bi36Sb24Sn40 cell maintained 99% Coulombic efficiency for 450 cycles at a rate of 0.75 C, with a capacity retention of 99.56% and a capacity decay rate of 0.001% per cycle. In addition, the interaction of Bi, Sb, and Sn during discharge also promotes capacity release and energy efficiency. At 0.3 C, the Na||Bi36Sb24Sn40 cell achieved 89% capacity utilization and 82% energy efficiency. These results provide an idea for the design of other batteries based on liquid metal electrodes.

Ionic Hydrogen-Bonded Organic Frameworks with a Two-Photon Synergistic Color Change and Their Information Encryption Applications.

Photochromic hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (HOFs) can introduce different luminescent functional groups to achieve synergistic controlled multiple color change properties, which are in great demand for diverse information encryption applications. We report in this paper switchable photochromic and photoluminescent dual luminescent functional group HOFs constructed with synergistic effects by N,N'-bis(2-phenylalanine)-1,4,5,8-naphthalenediimine (H2PheNDI) and benzenecarboximidamide 4,4'-azobis(hydrochloride) (AZBH). The crystal powder of iHOF-41 is orange-red in color, which can be changed to black under the irradiation of a 365 nm ultraviolet (UV) light source for 15 min. The photoisomerization rate of the crystal solution under continuous UV irradiation for 5 h was close to 99%. The composite membranes can achieve the properties of photochromism and photoluminescence when they are discolored under 365 nm UV irradiation and, at the same time, excite red bright fluorescence. This work achieves the construction of HOFs based on switching biluminescent functional groups and explores the synergistic mechanism of the photoisomerization process and photochromism as well as its practical application in information encryption.

Rational Design and Stereodivergent Construction of Enantioenriched Tetrahydro-β-Carbolines Containing Multistereogenic Centers.

Chiral tetrahydro-β-carbolines, as one of the most intriguing subtypes of indole alkaloids, have emerged as the privileged units in plenty of natural products and biologically active molecules with an impressive range of bioactive properties. However, the stereodivergent construction of these valuable skeletons containing multistereogenic centers from readily available starting materials remains very challenging, especially, in view of the introduction of an axial chirality. Herein, we developed an efficient method toward enantioenriched tetrahydro-β-carbolines with readily available tryptophan-derived aldimine esters and allylic carbonates under mild reaction conditions. The reaction proceeds in a sequential fashion involving synergistic Cu/Ir-catalyzed stereodivergent allylation and the Brønsted acid-promoted stereospecific Pictet-Spengler reaction, affording a wide range of chiral tetrahydro-β-carbolines bearing up to four stereogenic centers in good yields with excellent stereoselectivity control. When N-aryl-substituted tryptophan-derived aldimine esters were utilized, notably, a unique C-N heterobiaryl axis could be simultaneously constructed with the formation of the third point stereogenic center in the last cyclization step through dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR). Computational mechanistic studies established a plausible synergistic mechanism for dual Cu/Ir-catalyzed asymmetric allylation and the succeeding protonation-assisted Pictet-Spengler cyclization to complete the annulation. Structure-activity relationship analyses unveil the origins of stereochemistry for the building of one axis and three point stereogenic centers.

The synergistic mechanism and effect of pyrophosphate-hypophosphite leaching agent for arsenic and lead remediation in soil

The synergistic mechanism and effect of pyrophosphate-hypophosphite leaching agent for arsenic and lead remediation in soil