Speciation of copper in high chloride concentrations,in the context of corrosion of copper canisters

Canisters with a cast iron insert for mechanical strength and a 50-mm thick copper shell as corrosion protection are planned to be used for disposal of spent nuclear fuel in Sweden and Finland. Chloride can be considered “beneficial”, as it promotes active dissolution of copper rather than passivation (which might result in pitting), but a high concentration of chloride in solution would increase the driving force for corrosion through the formation of soluble copper chloro complexes. Thermodynamic calculations are performed in this study with the PHREEQC software and three of its accompanying databases, and a comparison with experimental data is performed to select the database to be used when evaluating repository performance. The activity coefficient models are given special attention. For the assessment of chloride-assisted corrosion of a KBS-3 canister, chloride concentrations pessimistically up to 5 mol/kg are used (in Finland and Sweden, the groundwater and bentonite porewater chloride concentrations are not expected to exceed 1 mol/kg). The resulting copper solubilities are then considered in different mass transport cases.     

水杨酸处理诱导采后甜瓜抗坏血酸-还原型谷胱甘肽循环代谢清除过氧化氢的作用及机制

目的：研究抗坏血酸（ascorbic acid，AsA）-还原型谷胱甘肽（reduced glutathione，GSH）循环代谢在水杨酸处理采后甜瓜诱导的过量H2O2清除过程中的作用。方法：用4 mmol/L水杨酸浸泡‘玉金香’厚皮甜瓜10 min，测定处理后果实常温贮藏过程中丙二醛（malondialdehyde，MDA）含量，分析活性氧的积累水平、超氧化物歧化酶（superoxide dismutase，SOD）和过氧化氢酶（catalase，CAT）活力，以及AsA-GSH循环过程相关酶活力及产物和底物含量。结果：水杨酸处理降低了果实MDA含量，第10天处理组MDA含量较对照组降低14.6%；显著提高了果实O2－·的产生速率和H2O2含量（P＜0.05），其中处理后第2天O2－·的产生速率高出同期对照组的1.9 倍，第6天H2O2含量高出对照组果实29.7%；提高了果实SOD活力，但抑制了CAT活力，说明H2O2的清除可能是依赖于除酶促系统外的其他系统。此外，水杨酸处理提高了果实抗坏血酸过氧化物酶、单脱氢抗坏血酸过氧化物酶、脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶和谷胱甘肽还原酶的活力，增加了AsA和氧化型谷胱甘肽的含量，降低了脱氢抗坏血酸和GSH的含量。结论：水杨酸处理诱导了厚皮甜瓜果实的氧爆，抑制了MDA产生，由水杨酸诱导产生的过量H2O2主要依靠AsA-GSH循环系统清除。     

Metformin Preserves β-Cell Compensation in Insulin Secretion and Mass Expansion in Prediabetic Nile Rats

Prediabetes is a high-risk condition for type 2 diabetes (T2D). Pancreatic β-cells adapt to impaired glucose regulation in prediabetes by increasing insulin secretion and β-cell mass expansion. In people with prediabetes, metformin has been shown to prevent prediabetes conversion to diabetes. However, emerging evidence indicates that metformin has negative effects on β-cell function and survival. Our previous study established the Nile rat (NR) as a model for prediabetes, recapitulating characteristics of human β-cell compensation in function and mass expansion. In this study, we investigated the action of metformin on β-cells in vivo and in vitro. A 7-week metformin treatment improved glucose tolerance by reducing hepatic glucose output and enhancing insulin secretion. Although high-dose metformin inhibited β-cell glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in vitro, stimulation of β-cell insulin secretion was preserved in metformin-treated NRs via an indirect mechanism. Moreover, β-cells in NRs receiving metformin exhibited increased endoplasmic reticulum (ER) chaperones and alleviated apoptotic unfold protein response (UPR) without changes in the expression of cell identity genes. Additionally, metformin did not suppress β-cell mass compensation or proliferation. Taken together, despite the conflicting role indicated by in vitro studies, administration of metformin does not exert a negative effect on β-cell function or cell mass and, instead, early metformin treatment may help protect β-cells from exhaustion and decompensation.     

MicroRNAs,Parkinson’s Disease,and Diabetes Mellitus

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects 1% of the population over the age of 60. Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder that affects approximately 25% of adults over the age of 60. Recent studies showed that DM increases the risk of developing PD. The link between DM and PD has been discussed in the literature in relation to different mechanisms including mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and protein aggregation. In this paper, we review the common microRNA (miRNA) biomarkers of both diseases. miRNAs play an important role in cell differentiation, development, the regulation of the cell cycle, and apoptosis. They are also involved in the pathology of many diseases. miRNAs can mediate the insulin pathway and glucose absorption. miRNAs can also regulate PD-related genes. Therefore, exploring the common miRNA biomarkers of both PD and DM can shed a light on how these two diseases are correlated, and targeting miRNAs is a potential therapeutic opportunity for both diseases.     

Preliminary Structural Data Revealed That the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617 Variant's RBD Binds to ACE2 Receptor Stronger Than the Wild Type to Enhance the Infectivity

The evolution of new SARS-CoV-2 variants around the globe has made the COVID-19 pandemic more worrisome, further pressuring the health care system and immunity. Novel variations that are unique to the receptor-binding motif (RBM) of the receptor-binding domain (RBD) spike glycoprotein, i. e. L452R-E484Q, may play a different role in the B.1.617 (also known as G/452R.V3) variant's pathogenicity and better survival compared to the wild type. Therefore, a thorough analysis is needed to understand the impact of these mutations on binding with host receptor (RBD) and to guide new therapeutics development. In this study, we used structural and biomolecular simulation techniques to explore the impact of specific mutations (L452R-E484Q) in the B.1.617 variant on the binding of RBD to the host receptor ACE2. Our analysis revealed that the B.1.617 variant possesses different dynamic behaviours by altering dynamic-stability, residual flexibility and structural compactness. Moreover, the new variant had altered the bonding network and structural-dynamics properties significantly. MM/GBSA technique was used, which further established the binding differences between the wild type and B.1.617 variant. In conclusion, this study provides a strong impetus to develop novel drugs against the new SARS-CoV-2 variants.