We introduce a simple method to fabricate a highly flexible resistive-type strain sensor composed of carbon paper (CP) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) elastomer. The key resistance sensitive material of the sensor, carbon paper, is prepared from tissue paper by a simple high-temperature pyrolysis process. At the same time, the as-fabricated CP/PDMS strain senor is highly sensitive to applied strain with a gauge factor (GF) of 25.3, almost 10 times higher than that of conventional metallic strain gauge. Furthermore, the response of CP/PDMS strain sensor under cyclic tensile strain with a peak strain of 3% was also investigated, which exhibits fast and steady response with excellent durability within the frequency range of 0.01-10Hz. Finally, we demonstrate the successful utilization of the CP/PDMS strain sensor as wearable electronics in breath monitoring and robot controlling. The eminent performance, low material cost, and facile fabrication process make the CP/PDMS strain sensor exceptionally promising in flexible, stretchable and wearable electronics.

Two novel photochromic spirooxazines, SO 1 and SO 3, were successfully prepared and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), 1 H-NMR, and mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization (ESI-MS). SO 1 was doped and grafted with waterborne polyurethane (WPU) to afford D 1 -WPU and G 1 -WPU. D 3 -WPU was prepared by doping SO 3 with waterborne polyurethane. FTIR spectra indicated that SO 1 was grafted onto waterborne polyurethane successfully. Scanning electron microscopy proved that spirooxazines of D-WPU can be effectively dispersed in a waterborne polyurethane matrix, and spirooxazines of G-WPU are evenly distributed in the copolymer. The results showed that the light transmittance of modified waterborne polyurethane films decreased compared with pure waterborne polyurethane films, but the water resistance and tensile strength were better. Ultraviolet-visible spectra demonstrated that the thermal stability of spirooxazine derivatives improved significantly after being modified. The fading rate constant of the D 3 -WPU film (k = 0.0079 s -1 ) during the discoloration process decreased 9.77 times in contrast to SO 3 in ethanol, which showed that the thermal stability of spirooxazine in WPU film was obviously enhanced.

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Genome mining revealed that the genomes of basidiomycetes may include a considerable number of biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs), yet numerous clusters remain unidentified. Herein, we report a combination of genome mining with an OSMAC (one strain, many compounds) approach to characterize the spectrum of melleolides produced by Armillaria tabescens CPCC 401429. Using F1 fermentation medium, the metabolic pathway of the gene cluster mel was successfully upregulated. From the extracts of the wild-type strain, two new melleolides (1 and 2), along with five new orsellinic acid-derived lactams (10–14), were isolated, and their structures were elucidated by LC-HR-ESIMS/MS and 2D-NMR. Several melleolides exhibited moderate anti-carcinoma (A549, NCI-H520, and H1299) effects with IC50 values of 4.0–48.8 μM. RNA-sequencing based transcriptomic profiling broadened our knowledge of the genetic background, regulation, and mechanisms of melleolide biosynthesis. These results may promote downstream metabolic engineering studies of melleolides. Our study demonstrates the approach is effective for discovering new secondary metabolites from Armillaria sp. and will facilitate the mining of the unexploited biosynthetic potential in other basidiomycetes.

BackgroundMyocardial infarction (MI) is a major risk factor responsible for morbidity and mortality. Xinji′erkang (XJEK) has been clinically used as an effective medication in the treatment of coronary heart disease and myocarditis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the cardioprotective effect of Xinji′erkang on MI mice.MethodsForty male mice were randomly assigned into four groups as follows (n = 10): sham, model, MI with administration of XJEK and fosinopril for four weeks. At the end of studies, hemodynamic parameters and electrocardiography (ECG) were recorded. Heart and body mass were measured and heart weight/body weight (HW/BW) ratio was calculated as index of hypertrophy. The hypertrophy of heart and aorta was examined using the hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, and the collagen deposition was evaluated using Van Gieson (VG) staining. Serum nitric oxide level (NO), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration were assayed by colorimetric analysis. The expressions of endothelial NO synthetase (eNOS) expression in serum and cardiac tissues were determined using ELISA assay and immunohistochemistry. Angiotensin II (Ang II) in serum and cardiac tissues was measured using ELISA assay. Besides, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin1β (IL-1β) and interleukin10 (IL-10) were observed in cardiac tissues with ELISA assay as well.ResultsThe administration of XJEK significantly improved cardiac dysfunction and abnormal ECG with reduced HW/BW ratio and ameliorated cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and collagen deposition compared to MI, which was partly due to the decreased SOD and increased MDA in serum. Moreover, XJEK treatment also improved endothelial dysfunction (ED) with not only enhanced eNOS activities in serum and cardiac tissues and elevated NO levels in serum, but also decreased Ang II content in serum and cardiac tissues. Finally, protein expressions of pro-inflammation cytokines, TNF-α and IL-1β in the cardiac tissues with XJEK treatment were significantly decreased compared to model. On the contrary, IL-10, an anti-inflammatory cytokine concentrated in cardiac tissues was significantly enhanced compared to model.ConclusionXinji′erkang exerts cardioprotective effect on myocardial infarction in mice, which may be due to the improvement of endothelial dysfunction and the reduction of oxidative stress and inflammation response.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12906-017-1846-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

An efficient bisphosphine‐catalysed sequential [4+2]/[4+2] annulation reaction of a γ‐benzyl allenoate with benzylidenepyrazolones has been developed. Under the catalysis of DPPB [1,3‐bis(diphenylphosphanyl)butane], the [4+2]/[4+2] annulation proceeded smoothly to give spiro‐pyrazolidinone derivatives in moderate yields. This protocol provides a simple and practical strategy for the construction of highly substituted 2H‐spiro[naphthalene‐pyrazole] skeletons.

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