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[Display omitted] • Synergistic efficiency of sonication with activated carbon in milk reached 1.8–4.0. • Surface area and dosage of activated carbon were crucial in sonocatalysis systems. • Antibiotics with higher hydrophobic suffered faster sonocatalytic degradation. • 0.5 mmol L−1 H 2 O 2 speeded antibiotics removal >0.25 and 1.0 mmol L−1. Herein, an efficient, simple and economical approach to remove antibiotics (ABX), i.e. ceftiofur hydrochloride, sulfamonomethoxine sodium (SMM), marbofloxacin and oxytetracycline by sonication with activated carbon (AC) from cow milk has been successfully implemented. The pseudo-first-order kinetics constants for the sonolytic and sonocatalytic degrading SMM are 0.036 and 0.093 min−1, respectively. The synergistic efficiency of removing ABX by using sonocatalysis reached 1.8–4.0. Hydrophobic ABX underwent faster degradation than hydrophilic ABX in sonocatalytic systems. Adding 0.5 mmol L−1 H 2 O 2 , the optimal concentration, improved the sonocatalytic degradation rates of ABX by 9.1%–28.5%. Surface area and dose of AC play crucial roles in the sonocatalysis of ABX. By sonicating 50 mL of 5.52 μ mol L−1 ABX in milk at 500 kHz and 259 W with 20 mg AC for 20–60 min resulted in residual ABX concentrations ranging from 42.6 to 95.1 μ g L−1, which meet the relative maximum residue limits set by European Commission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gastric carcinoma (GC) treatment needs to be developed rapidly. Compound Kushen Injection (CKI), a formula from traditional Chinese medicine, has been used clinically in combination with chemotherapy to treat GC with satisfactory results. However, the molecular mechanism by which CKI acts to cure GC is still unclear. In the present study, in vivo and in vitro experiments were used to assess the efficacy of CKI. Using ceRNA microarray and TMT technologies, the molecular mechanism of CKI was further investigated at the transcriptional and protein levels, and a bioinformatics approach was employed to investigate and functionally validate key CKI targets in GC. When combined with cisplatin (DDP), CKI significantly increased its efficacy in preventing the proliferation and metastasis of GC cells and malignant-looking tumors in mice. High-throughput sequencing data and bioinformatics analysis showed that CKI regulated the TNF signaling pathway, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), with VCAM1 as a key target. The transcription factors CEBPB, JUN, RELA, NFKB1, the EMT mesenchymal-like cell markers N-cadherin and vimentin, as well as the expression of VCAM1 and its upstream signaling driver TNF, were all downregulated by CKI. In contrast, the expression of the EMT epithelial-like cell marker E-cadherin was upregulated. CKI can effectively inhibit GC growth and metastasis, improve body's immunity, and protect normal tissues from damage. The molecular mechanism by which CKI inhibits metastasis of GC is by regulating VCAM1 induced by the TNF signaling pathway to inhibit EMT of GC. Our results provide an important clue to clarify precisely the multi-scale molecular mechanism of CKI in the treatment of GC. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three-dimensional (3D) organic-inorganic halide perovskites have been regarded as promising sunlight harvesters for perovskite solar cells (PSCs). However, the intrinsic instability of 3D perovskites strongly limits their large-scale commercialization. Thus, the development of two-dimensional (2D) halide perovskites as light absorbers in PSCs has recently become a research hotspot, showing better stability than their 3D counterparts due to the introduction of bulky organic spacers. Among various 2D halide perovskites, Dion-Jacobson (DJ) phases exhibit a tighter connection between inorganic slabs than their Ruddlesden-Popper (RP) counterparts, leading to superior structural stability and charge transfer capability. Nevertheless, the power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of DJ-PSCs are still inferior to their 3D counterparts. An in-time and comprehensive review of DJ perovskites as new-generation light absorbers for PSCs is presented by comparing of DJ perovskites and RP counterparts in terms of optical properties, crystal structure, charge transporting capability and energy level alignment. Furthermore, based on the summarized design criteria of halide perovskites for PSCs, several strategies are presented to improve the PCE and/or stability of DJ-PSCs. Finally, the remaining challenges and future directions for DJ-PSCs are presented and discussed. This review will provide guidelines for the fundamental understanding, design and fabrication of high-performance DJ-PSCs. [Display omitted] • The design criteria of high-performance perovskite solar cells are summarized. • Comparisons of Dion-Jacobson (DJ) perovskites and Ruddlesden-Popper counterparts for PSCs are made. • Several specific strategies to improve the performance of DJ-based PSCs are proposed. • The existing challenges and future directions of DJ-based PSCs are presented and discussed. • Keywords : Dion-Jacobson perovskite, perovskite solar cells, film quality, stability, two-dimensional perovskite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple preconcentration and cleanup of trace antibiotics in milk using activated carbon (AC)-based solid phase extraction for HPLC analysis. [Display omitted] • Coconut powder activated carbon (CPAC, 10–15 mg) can be used as adsorbent for SPE. • Trace antibiotics (ABX) in water and milk were effectively recovered by CPAC-SPE. • Co-solvent 30% NH 4 OH/EtOH (or n -PrOH) was appropriate eluent for recovering ABX. • EDTA added in milk ensured smooth milk flow through CPAC and increased REs. • Commercial SPE cartridge, chemical deproteinization and tedious steps were avoided. CPAC-SPE-HPLC (coconut powdered activated carbon -SPE- HPLC) has been developed for the determination of antibiotic (ABX), sulfamonomethoxine sodium (SMM), oxytetracycline (OTC), ceftiofur hydrochloride (CEF) and marbofloxacin (MAR), in water and milk. Over 99.0% SMM and OTC were recovered from 20 mL of 0.5 μg/mL ABX solution using 10 mg-CPAC for adsorption and 2 mL of 30% NH 4 OH/EtOH (1/19 v/v) for elution. Similarly, over 99.0% CEF and MAR were recovered using 15 mg-CPAC and 2 mL of 30% NH 4 OH/ n -PrOH (1/19 v/v). Moreover, the recovery efficiencies of various ABX from 5 to 80 mL of 0.02–2.00 μg/mL medicated milk containing 10 mM EDTA are ordered as follows: OTC (99.3%), SMM (99.1%) > CEF (68.9%) > MAR (61.4%). No interference towards HPLC analysis were observed with elution using 2 mL of 30% NH 4 OH/EtOH (1/19 v/v). Furthermore, much lower limit of detections (0.02 μg/mL) than the maximum residual limits from European Commission (0.075–0.100 μg/mL) were obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]