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Benzene and acetonitrile are two of the most commonly used solvents found in almost every chemical laboratory. Titan is one other place in the solar system that has large amounts of these compounds. On Titan, organic molecules are produced in the atmosphere and carried to the surface where they can mineralize. Here, we report the phase diagram of mixtures of acetonitrile and benzene, and provide an account of the structure and composition of the phases. To mimic the environment on Titan more accurately, we tested the stability of the structure under liquid ethane. The results provide new insights into the structure and stability of potential extraterrestrial minerals. In light of Dragonfly, NASA's upcoming mission to Titan, revisiting the fundamental chemistry of the smallest molecules with modern methods and techniques can have significant contributions to this epochal mission and can open new research directions in chemistry.Hyperlipidemia is closely associated with various liver diseases, and effective intervention for prevention and treatment is in great need. Here, we aim to explore the protective effects of punicalagin (PU), a major ellagitannin in pomegranate, on acute hyperlipidemia-induced hepatic lipid metabolic disorders. Male C57bl/6J mice were pretreated with 50 or 200 mg kg-1 day-1 PU for 9 days before the injection of poloxamer 407 to induce acute hyperlipidemia. PU significantly lowered lipids and liver damage markers in serum, reduced excessive lipid accumulation in the liver, attenuated hepatic oxidative stress by activating the NF-E2 related factor 2 (Nrf2)-mediated antioxidant pathway, and enhanced hepatic mitochondrial complex activities and mitochondrial DNA copy number by promoting the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1 alpha (PGC-1α)-mediated mitochondrial biogenesis pathway. Moreover, the decreased mitochondrial fusion-related proteins were also restored by PU treatment. In vitro, PU effectively decreased triglycerides and total cholesterol levels, up-regulated Nrf2 and mitochondrial biogenesis pathways and partially restored the mitochondrial morphology in palmitic acid-treated HepG2 cells. These results suggest that PU could improve acute hyperlipidemia-induced hepatic lipid metabolic abnormalities via decreasing oxidative stress and improving mitochondrial function both in vivo and in vitro, indicating that PU might be a potential intervention for hyperlipidemia-related liver diseases.Fatty alcohols are important products in chemical industry to be used in the formulation of surfactants and lubricants. This work describes a two step approach for the production of myristyl alcohol under neat conditions by combining a lipase catalyzed esterification of myristic acid and myristyl alcohol with a ruthenium catalyzed hydrogenation of the intermediate myristyl myristate. The esterification was carried out in a bubble column reactor with the commercial immobilized lipase B from Candida antarctica as a biocatalyst, while the hydrogenation was conducted under pressurized conditions being catalyzed by the homogeneous chemocatalyst Ru-Macho-BH. By investigating the reaction steps separately, comparable reaction rates were found for the esterification of short chain and long chain alcohols. Additionally, the hydrogen pressure could be reduced to 35 bar compared to the current industrial Lurgi process. Characterization of cross interactions by the reactants myristic acid and sodium myristate in the hydrogenation demonstrates that the metal catalyst was completely deactivated, even at a low amount of 0.5 mol% of myristic acid. Complete conversion of myristic acid in the esterification with equal amounts of myristic acid and myristyl alcohol was obtained, overcoming any limitation in the hydrogenation. In comparison to the Lurgi process starting also from fatty acid and fatty alcohols, the chemoenzymatic two step reaction sequence could be realized at lower reaction temperatures of 60 and 100 °C as well as lower hydrogen pressures of 35 bar.Coin cells are used extensively as test devices in battery research for evaluation of new materials and optimization of cycling protocols. In this study, in situ X-ray diffraction profilometry is used to characterize spatial distribution of the active materials, lithiation, and phase distribution in electrodes of NCM523/graphite coin cells. The X-ray data indicate uneven areal compression of the electrode assembly in such cells, which we trace to a specific design feature that leads to elastic deformation of a metal spacer. Steep lithiation gradients observed in the electrodes imply radially-dependent resistivity, for which uneven compression of the separator is a likely cause. Electrochemical model calculations suggest that variable porosity of the polymer separator would account for the salient features of spatial profiles observed in these coin cells.Lactoferrin (LF) plays critical roles in various physiological processes. However, its protective effects on small intestinal epithelial cells remain poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate its protective effects and underlying mechanisms in vitro on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-challenged intestinal porcine epithelial cells (IPEC-J2 cells). see more The IPEC-J2 cells were treated with or without LPS and LF for 24 h and analyzed using various assays. The results indicated that the LPS treatment induced the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines [interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-8, and TNF-α], increased cell permeability, and enhanced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. The LF treatment decreased the secretion and gene expression of IL-1β and downregulated the phosphorylation levels of NF-κB, IκB, P38, and ERK1/2 in LPS-challenged cells. Moreover, the LF treatment decreased cell permeability, enhanced the expression of claudin-1 protein, and inhibited the expression of the myosin light-chain kinase (MLCK) protein in LPS-challenged cells. It also reduced the ROS and MDA production as well as upregulated the GSH-Px activity and the expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) protein. Taken together, these results suggested that LF alleviated the LPS-induced cellular inflammation through the attenuation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB)/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways, maintaining cellular barrier integrity and mitigating oxidative stress.