Energetic hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (E-HOFs), as a type of energetic material, spark fresh vitality to the creation of high energy density materials (HEDMs). However, E-HOFs containing cations and anions face challenges such as reduced energy density due to the inclusion of crystal water. In this work, the modification of amino groups in N-rich organic units could form a smart building block of hydrogen-bonded frameworks capable of changing the volume of the void space in the molecule through adaptive deformation of E-MOF blocks, thus enabling the replacement of water. Based on the above strategy, we report an interesting example of a series of hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (E-HOF 2a and 3a) synthesized using a facile method. The crystal structure data of all of the compounds were also obtained in this work. Anhydrous 2a and 3a exhibit higher density, good thermal stability, and low mechanical sensitivity. The strategy of covalent bond modification for the host molecules of energetic frameworks shows enormous potential in eliminating the crystalline H2O of hydration and exploring high energy density materials.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are useful genetic markers that allow correlation of genetic sequences with phenotypic traits. It is shown here that HSD17B4, a bifunctional enzyme mediating dehydrogenation and anhydration during β-oxidation of long-chain fatty acids, contains a non-synonymous SNP (nsSNP) of chr2:128,825,976A>G, c.2137A>G, I690V, within the sterol carrier protein-2 domain of the HSD17B4 gene, by RNA-Seq of liver RNA. The HSD17B4 mRNA was highly expressed in the kidney and liver among various other tissues in four pig breeds, namely, Berkshire, Duroc, Landrace, and Yorkshire. The nsSNP was significantly associated with carcass weight, backfat thickness, and drip loss (P < 0.05). Furthermore, HSD17B4 may play a crucial role during the early stages of myogenesis when expression of its mRNA was significantly high. In conclusion, HSD17B4 may serve as a possible regulator of muscle development, and its identification should help to select for improved economic traits of Berkshire pigs such as carcass weight, backfat thickness, and drip loss.

Inorganic nitrite, a metabolite of endogenously produced nitric oxide (NO) from NO synthases (NOS), provides the largest endocrine source of directly bioavailable NO. The conversion of nitrite to NO occurs mainly through enzymatic reduction, mediated by a range of proteins, including haem-globins, molybdo-flavoproteins, mitochondrial proteins, cytochrome P450 enzymes, and NOS. Such nitrite reduction is particularly favoured under hypoxia, when endogenous formation of NO from NOS is impaired. Under normoxic conditions, the majority of these nitrite reductases also scavenge NO, or diminish its bioavailability via reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, suggesting an intricate balance. Moreover, nitrite, whether produced endogenously, or derived from exogenous nitrite or nitrate administration (including dietary sources via the Nitrate-Nitrite-NO pathway) beneficially modulates many key cardiovascular pathological processes. In this review, we highlight the landmark studies which revealed nitrite's function in biological systems, and inspect its evolving role in cardiovascular protection. Whilst these effects have mainly been ascribed to the activity of one or more nitrite reductases, we also discuss newly-identified mechanisms, including nitrite anhydration, the involvement of s-nitrosothiols, nitro-fatty acids, and direct nitrite normoxic signalling, involving modification of mitochondrial structure and function, and ROS production. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled "Redox Signalling in the Cardiovascular System".

A new method that uses the reduced scattering coefficients (micro'(s)) measured in rat's brain tissue in vivo after administration of hyperosmotic solution by bifurcated fiber optic probe is proposed in this paper. 60 SD rats were divided into three groups by randomization method, and then were treated by 0.9% NaCl, 20% Mannitol and 7.5% NaCl through vena caudalis, respectively. The changes of micro'(s) in every rat's local cortex were observed continuously by a bifurcated fiber optic probe in vivo in a mini-invasive way. No changes of micro'(s) were observed in the control group which was given by 0.9% NaCl, while the micro'(s), relative changes of the 20% mannitol group and 7.5% NaCl group increased by 7.3% +/- 1.7% and 12.8% +/- 2.9%, respectively. The results showed that there were significant differences among the three groups (P < 0.05). The micro'(s) of rat's local cortex observed by bifurcated fiber optic probe can be used for shedding light on the anhydration induced by hyperosmotic solution.

Among urinary organophosphorus pesticide (OP) metabolites, dialkyl phosphates (DAPs) have been most often measured as a sensitive biomarker in non-occupational and occupational OP exposure risk assessment. In our conventional method, we have employed a procedure including simple liquid-liquid extraction (diethyl ether/acetonitrile), derivatization (pentafluorobenzylbromide, PFBBr) and clean-up (multi-layer column) for gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis starting from 5-mL urine samples. In this study, we introduce a revised analytical method for urinary DAPs; its main modification was aimed at improving the pre-derivatization dehydration procedure. The limits of detection were approximately 0.15 microg/L for dimethylphosphate (DMP), 0.07 microg/L for diethylphosphate (DEP), and 0.05 microg/L for both dimethylthiophosphate (DMTP) and diethylthiophosphate (DETP) in 2.5-mL human urine samples. Within-run precision (percent of relative standard deviation, %RSD) at the DAP levels varying in the range of 0.5-50 microg/L was 6.0-19.1% for DMP, 3.6-18.3% for DEP, 8.0-25.6% for DMTP and 9.6-27.8% for DETP. Between-run precision at 5 microg/L was below 15.7% for all DAPs. The revised method proved to be feasible to routine biological monitoring not only for occupational OP exposure but also for environmental background levels in the general population. Compared to our previous method, the revised method underscores the importance of adding pre-derivatization anhydration for higher sensitivity and precision.

1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-3-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC.HCl) is a very useful agent to form amide bonds (peptide bonds) in an aqueous medium. A simple and fast detection system was developed using the reaction with pyridine and ethylenediamine in acidic aqueous solution and spectrophotometric flow injection analysis. The absorbances were measured at 400 nm and the reaction was accelerated at 40 degrees C. The calibration graph showed good linearity from 0 to 10% of EDC.HCl solutions: the regression equation was y=3.15x10(4)x (y, peak area; x, % concentration of EDC.HCl). The RSD was under 1.0%. Sample throughput was 15 h(-1). This method was applied to monitoring the EDC.HCl concentration that remained after the anhydration of phthalic acid in water, esterification of acetic acid in methanol or dehydration condensation of malonic acid and ethylenediamine in water.