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• A novel tri-electrolyte aluminum-air microfluidic cell is firstly reported. • The cell structure combines a bridging electrolyte with the co-laminar flow. • The cell shows both high ion exchange efficiency and electrical output stability. • The power density is up to 189.22 mW cm−2 which only decays 4.69% after 10 cycles. • The evaluated accumulated electrolyte utilization is up to 66.07% at cell cycle 90. The aluminum-air cell is one of the most promising candidates for next-generation power sources due to its high theoretical energy density. In particular, a tri-electrolyte aluminum-air cell shows high stability and cell voltage. However, the output power density is limited because of the increased internal resistance. Here, we demonstrate a tri-electrolyte aluminum-air microfluidic cell, which takes advantages of the bridging electrolyte and the co-laminar flow to separate the alkaline anolyte from the acidic catholyte. The novel cell structure helps to maintain high ion exchange efficiency, minimize the electrolyte neutralization, and improve the cell stability. The short-circuit current density and maximum power density at the first electrolyte cycle are up to 367.46 mA cm−2 and 189.22 mW cm−2, respectively; after 10 electrolyte cycles, the variation is less than 2.85% and 4.69%, respectively. The cell internal resistivity is 5.42, 5.41, and 5.55 Ω cm2 at cycle 1 under flow rates of 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 ml min−1, respectively, which demonstrates the cell stability under flowing electrolytes. An integrated cell system assembled with 24 cells is further fabricated and evaluated. The short-circuit current only drops to half at cell electrolyte cycle 156 theoretically. Therefore, this work provides an alternative strategy for economical and long-lasting aluminum-air cells as less-frequent power sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanics of generating MeV target surface fast electrons (SFEs) is investigated using a 5 J, 50 fs laser pulse focused on a Cu planar and nanowire target. The energy spectrum and spatial angular distribution of fast electrons emitted from the planar target are determined and compared with those from the nanowire target. When the laser intensity reaches 1 × 1019 W cm−2, the coupling from the laser to 1–3 MeV electrons reaches 1.1% on the planar target at a 45° incidence angle, while the number of SFEs generated from the nanowire target is about 10% of those from the planar target. The two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulation results reproduce the electron emission characteristics and reveal a strong continuous surface magnetic field on the surface of the planar target as compared with the discrete magnetic field on the nanowire target which decreases SFEs. A high, hot electron temperature in the forward direction at 556keV is achieved for the nanowire structure capable of guiding and confining fast electrons along the wire direction, compared with 178keV for the planar target. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Laparoscopy-assisted hepatectomy is a new minimally invasive approach for graft harvesting in living donors. Only a few liver transplant centers have introduced this surgical procedure. Methods: A prospective case-matched study was conducted on 25 consecutive donors who underwent laparoscopy-assisted donor right hepatectomy (LADRH) between July 2011 and March 2013 at our transplant center. These donors were matched 1:1 according to age, gender, and body mass index with 25 donors who underwent open donor right hepatectomy (ODRH). Results: LADRH was successfully performed in all 25 of the donors. Donor complications, estimated blood loss, and operative time were similar between the groups. Hospital stay and periods of analgesic use were significantly shorter in the LADRH group [7.0 ± 1.4 (LADRH) vs 8.7 ± 2.4 (ODRH), p = 0.003, and 2.4 ± 1.0 (LADRH) vs 3.2 ± 1.0 (ODRH), p = 0.011, respectively). The total in-hospital cost is higher with LADRH, primarily due to the additional material costs for LADRH. Finally, there were no differences in graft size, graft survival, or recipient complications between the two groups. Conclusion: The results of this study show that LADRH is a feasible and safe procedure compared with ODRH. Although higher material costs for laparoscopic assisted procedures are inevitable, LADRH may have an advantage over ODRH by causing less pain and facilitating earlier recovery. Efforts can be made to improve the technical success of LADRH for some overweight donors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a composite double-layer wallboard with shape-stabilized phase change humidity control materials (PCHCM) has been proposed for building usage. This novel PCHCM can absorb/release both heat and moisture to moderate indoor hygrothermal environment. Based on a numerical analysis in an office building in Wuhan (30.52°N, 114.32°E), China, the effects of PCHCM on both building energy consumption and indoor hygrothermal environment has been investigated. Firstly, a simulation model has been developed for the building integrated with PCHCM wallboards in EnergyPlus, combining both heat and moisture transfer finite solution algorithms. After a validation of the model, both heat and moisture transfer characteristics of the proposed composite wallboards were simulated, and its effects on indoor temperature, humidity and building energy consumption were analyzed. The simulation results showed that this novel PCHCM wallboard can effectively improve indoor hygrothermal environment, with reduced energy consumption by about 8.3% in summer and 24.9% in winter, comparing to the actually used materials in the case study building. •A phase change humidity control material (PCHCM) wallboard was proposed. •The double-layer PCHCM wallboard active in summer and winter. •Melting temperatures of PCHCM wallboard were optimized. •Energy and Hygrothermal performance of PCHCM wallboard are analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

B Introduction: b Noninvasive weaning significantly reduced mortality, pneumonia, and the duration of ventilation related to weaning. B Conclusions: b Noninvasive weaning significantly reduced mortality, pneumonia, and the duration of ventilation related to weaning. Mortality, pneumonia, reintubation, and ICU stay were significantly lower in trials enrolling COPD (vs. mixed) populations. [Extracted from the article]

The purpose of this paper was to investigate the effect of high-intensity ultrasonication (HIU) pretreatment before enzymolysis on structural conformations of walnut protein isolate (WPI) and antioxidant activity of its hydrolysates. Aqueous WPI suspensions were subjected to ultrasonic processing at different power levels (600–2000 W) and times (5–30 min), and then changes in the particle size, zeta (ζ) potential, and structure of WPI were investigated, and antioxidant activity of its hydrolysates was determined. The particle size of the particles of aqueous WPI suspensions was decreased after ultrasound, indicating that sonication destroyed protein aggregates. The ζ-potential values of a protein solution significantly changed after sonication, demonstrating that the original dense structure of the protein was destroyed. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy indicated a change in the secondary structure of WPI after sonication, with a decrease in β-turn and an increase in α-helix, β-sheet, and random coil content. Two absorption peaks of WPI were generated, and the fluorescence emission intensity of the proteins decreased after ultrasonic treatment, indicating that the changes in protein tertiary structure occurred. Moreover, the degree of hydrolysis and the antioxidant activity of the WPI hydrolysates increased after sonication. These results suggest that HIU pretreatment is a potential tool for improving the functional properties of walnut proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an age-related neurodegenerative disease, which characterized by deposition of amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques, neurofibrillary tangles, neuronal loss, and accompanied by neuroinflammation. Neuroinflammatory processes are well acknowledged to contribute to the progression of AD pathology. Histamine H3 receptor (H3R) is a presynaptic autoreceptor regulating histamine release via negative feedback way. Recently, studies show that H3R are highly expressed not only in neurons but also in microglia and astrocytes. H3R antagonist has been reported to have anti-inflammatory efficacy. However, whether inhibition of H3R is responsible for the anti-neuroinflammation in glial cells and neuroprotection on APPswe, PSEN1dE9 (APP/PS1 Tg) mice remain unclear. In this study, we found that inhibition of H3R by thioperamide reduced the gliosis and induced a phenotypical switch from A1 to A2 in astrocytes, and ultimately attenuated neuroinflammation in APP/PS1 Tg mice. Additionally, thioperamide rescued the decrease of cyclic AMP response element-binding protein (CREB) phosphorylation and suppressed the phosphorylated P65 nuclear factor kappa B (p-P65 NF-κB) in APP/PS1 Tg mice. H89, an inhibitor of CREB signaling, abolished these effects of thioperamide to suppress gliosis and proinflammatory cytokine release. Lastly, thioperamide alleviated the deposition of amyloid-β (Aβ) and cognitive dysfunction in APP/PS1 mice, which were both reversed by administration of H89. Taken together, these results suggested the H3R antagonist thioperamide improved cognitive impairment in APP/PS1 Tg mice via modulation of the CREB-mediated gliosis and inflammation inhibiting, which contributed to Aβ clearance. This study uncovered a novel mechanism involving inflammatory regulating behind the therapeutic effect of thioperamide in AD. • Thioperamide suppresses glial activation and neuroinflammation in AD. • Thioperamide ameliorates Aβ deposition and cognitive impairments in AD. • Thioperamide activates cAMP/PKA/CREB pathway in AD. • Thioperamide-mediated effects are abolished by CREB inhibitor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, there are seldom researches on the application of potassium carbonate in dough. In this paper, the influence mechanism of potassium carbonate on the rheological properties of dough was analyzed by exploring effect of potassium carbonate on the structure and physicochemical properties of starch and protein in the dough. Compared with the control group, the disulfide bond, guache-guache-guache conformation, and β-sheet increased by 1.46 μmol/g, 9.02%, and 5.11%, respectively, when the addition amount of potassium carbonate was 0.6%. It showed that potassium carbonate induced protein aggregation and interaction in the dough which was the main reason for the increase of elasticity and the decrease of extensibility. The results also showed that potassium carbonate (>0.2%) destroyed the ordered structure in starch of dough. Nevertheless, the potassium carbonate had no influence on the crystal form of starch in the dough. [Display omitted] • Potassium carbonate significantly changed the rheological properties of dough. •Potassium carbonate (0.6%) induced protein aggregation best. •Potassium carbonate (>0.2%) destroyed the order of starch molecules. •Potassium carbonate had application potential in flour products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this current work, antimicrobial films based on starch, poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT), and a commercially available AgNPs@SiO2 antibacterial composite particle product were produced by using a melt blending and blowing technique. The effects of AgNPs@SiO2 at various loadings (0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 wt%) on the physicochemical properties and antibacterial activities of starch/PBAT composite films were investigated. AgNPs@SiO2 particles were more compatible with starch than PBAT, resulting in preferential distribution of AgNPs@SiO2 in the starch phase. Infusion of starch/PBAT composite films with AgNPs@SiO2 marginally improved mechanical and water vapor barrier properties, while surface hydrophobicity increased as compared with films without AgNPs@SiO2. The composite films displayed superior antibacterial activities against both Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria. The sample loaded with 1 wt% AgNPs@SiO2 (SPA-1) showed nearly 90% inhibition efficiency on the tested microorganisms. Furthermore, a preliminary study on peach and nectarine at 53% RH and 24 °C revealed that SPA-1 film inhibited microbial spoilage and extended the product shelf life as compared with SPA-0 and commercial LDPE packaging materials. The high-throughput production method and strong antibacterial activities of the starch/PBAT/AgNPs@SiO2 composite films make them promising as antimicrobial packaging materials for commercial application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the effects of initial humidity and temperature on the formation of water condensation and various snowflake patterns by firing high-repetition filaments of femtosecond Ti-sapphire laser pulses at 9 mJ/50 fs per pulse into a cloud chamber. While adjusting initial temperature and humidity distributions near the filaments, snowflakes and ice particles with various shapes and sizes were observed on the bottom cold plate. In addition, significant differences were found in the weights of the laser-induced snow below the filament center. From those data, initial conditions of low temperature (<−15 °C) and high humidity (relative to water RH > (90 ± 11) % and to ice RH > (120 ± 15) %) were found being important to assist an efficient laser-filamentation-induced condensation and snow formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the potential to melt crystallize amorphous Si thin films on glass with electromagnetic irradiation at 13.56 MHz, 2.45 GHz, and 110 GHz, respectively. We showed that the melt crystallization of millimeter-wave annealing could be an ideal choice for achieving high-quality semiconductor thin films with thickness in the micron range. In particular, silicon pillars with large ultra-high crystalline quality grains were experimentally realized by millimeter-wave annealing amorphous silicon on glass. Our simulation results were consistent with the experimental ones. Such understandings may enable us to prepare high-quality thin films on inexpensive substrates for solar cells and other solid-state devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Organic aerosols are important atmospheric components, and their formation and sources represent important aspects of urban air quality and health effects. Asia, including India, is the largest global source of aerosol particles due to regional natural advection (e.g. desert and soil dust) and anthropogenic activities (e.g. emissions from traffic, industry and burning of coal, biomass and agricultural waste) that generate vast amounts of particulate matter (PM) significantly contributing to climate change. This article reports on the distributions, concentrations, and sources of organic compounds (i.e., alkanes, carboxylic acids, carbonyl compounds, alcohols, plasticizers, PAHs, biomarkers) of PM in the ambient atmosphere of an extensively industrialized area of central India (Raipur, Chhattisgarh, a coal mega-burning region). The dominant components are emissions from fossil fuel utilization, burning of biomass and plastics, and fugitive sources. Speciation and variations of potential new tracer compounds identified are also described. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Background: The role of splenectomy on prophylaxis against hepatitis B virus (HBV) recurrence after liver transplantation (LT) for HBV-related end-stage liver diseases with severe hypersplenism and splenomegaly remains unclear today. Methods: A total of 510 consecutive patients with HBV-related end-stage liver diseases who underwent LT in Liver Transplantation Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University (Chengdu, China) between June 1999 and October 2009 were studied retrospectively in this study. Patients were divided into three groups in this study: splenectomized group (group A, n =137), including preoperatively splenectomized subgroup (group A1, n =48) and intraoperatively splenectomized subgroup (group A2, n =89); nonsplenectomized group with severe hypersplenism (group B, n =95); and nonsplenectomized group without severe hypersplenism (group C, n =278). The incidence of posttransplant rejection, posttransplant infection, posttransplant hepatic cell carcinoma recurrence rate, and HBV recurrence rate were recorded. The end of the follow-up period was October 2010. Results: In this study, six patients with HBV recurrence were found in group A, 15 cases in group B, and 13 cases in group C during the follow-up period. (1) The incidence of posttransplant rejection in patients of group A was significantly lower than that in group B (P =0.0023) and also the HBV recurrence rates in group A markedly decreased (P =0.004). (2) The incidence of posttransplant rejection in group A was significantly lower than that in group C (P =0.0433); however, the incidence of posttransplant infection in group A largely increased compared with that in group C (P =0.0233). The HBV recurrence rates between group A and group C had no significant difference (P =0.804). (3) The HBV recurrence rates in group B were significantly higher than that in group C (P =0.001). Conclusions: The results of this study showed that splenectomy could significantly reduce the incidence of posttransplant rejection and HBV recurrence rate for the patients undergoing LT for HBV-related end-stage liver diseases with severe hypersplenism and splenomegaly. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Studies investigating the associations between tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFA) polymorphisms and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk report conflicting results. We conducted a meta-analysis to assess the association between TNFA gene TNFA-308(G/A), TNFA-238(G/A), TNFA-863(C/A), TNFA-857(C/T), TNFA-1031 (T/C) polymorphisms and HCC susceptibility. Methods: Two investigators independently searched the Medline, Embase, CNKI, and Chinese Biomedicine Database. Summary odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for TNFA polymorphisms and HCC were calculated in a fixed-effects model (the Mantel-Haenszel method) and a random-effects model (the DerSimonian and Laird method) when appropriate. Results: This meta-analysis included 17 case-control studies, which included 2,357 HCC cases and 3,161 controls. Overall, the variant genotypes AA/AG of -308G/A were associated with a significantly increased HCC risk, when compared with GG genotype (AA vs. GG, OR = 1.97, 95%CI = 1.01-3.83; AG vs. GG, OR = 1.88, 95%CI = 1.23-2.88; AA/AG vs. GG, OR = 1.80, 95%CI = 1.19-2.72). When stratifying for ethnicity, significantly elevated HCC risk was found among Asians. Moreover, similar results were observed between TNFA-238G/A, TNFA-863C/A polymorphisms and HCC risk among Asians (for -238G/A, AG vs. GG OR = 1.63, 95%CI = 1.17-2.26, AA/AG vs. GG OR = 1.61, 95%CI = 1.16-2.24; for -863 C/A, AC vs. CC OR = 1.72, 95%CI = 1.03-2.88, AA/AC vs. CC OR = 1.71, 95%CI = 1.02-2.86), while no associations were observed between TNFA-857C/T, TNFA-1031T/C polymorphisms and HCC susceptibility. Conclusions: This meta-analysis shows that TNFA-308G/A, TNFA-238G/A and TNFA-863C/A polymorphisms may be associated with HCC among Asians. TNFA-857C/T and TNFA-1031T/C polymorphisms were not detected to be related to the risk for HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dynamics of a solid foil irradiated by a circularly polarized laser pulse in the normal incidence is investigated by performing particle-in-cell simulations. After sufficiently compressed by the light pressure, the foil becomes transparent, with a part of the incident pulse transmitted through, and then it turns opaque again, blocking the tail of the pulse. It is found that the transparency dynamically depends on the motion of the compressed foil and relies on the incident pulse. Thus, the foil can be used to shorten the incident pulse as a self-triggered shutter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The effect of temperature on the luminescence intensity of up-conversion and near infrared in Er3+/Yb3+ co-doped phosphate glass ceramics has been investigated. Efficient green and red up-conversion luminescence and strong infrared fluorescence at 1.54μm wavelength are observed under excitation of 975nm. The fluorescence intensity is changing at different temperature and the results are explained with the level transitions in Er3+/Yb3+ co-doped system. Meanwhile, the lifetime of Er3+:4I13/2 level corresponding to different operating temperature and pump power is also discussed, and the experimental results are fitted using multiphonon relaxation theory. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: The growing gap between the number of patients waiting for transplantation and available organs is still the main issue facing the transplant community. The major limitation of adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) is the small-for-size problem because of the concern of donor safety. We report preliminary experiences for preventing small-for-size syndrome using dual grafts from one right lobe without the middle hepatic vein and one left lateral segment in adult-to-adult LDLT. Methods: One hundred ten cases of adult-to-adult LDLT were performed in West China Hospital of Sichuan University from January 2002 to August 2007, and there were 16 small-for-size (SFS) grafts in all grafts. Dual grafts LDLT was performed for six patients with end-stage liver disease, consisting of five cases from one right lobe without the middle hepatic vein and one left lateral segment, and one case from two left lobes. Results: All living donors underwent a full recovery from the operation without persistent complications. Four recipients died of sepsis, one recipient received re-transplantation, and three recipients received transplenic artery embolization in the recipients with SFS grafts. All recipients with dual grafts displayed good graft function and a majority of grafts showed normal triangular-shape regeneration of their respective liver grafts. Only in one left lateral segment atrophy occurred, graft hepatectomy was not required. Conclusion: Dual grafts from one right lobe without the middle hepatic vein and one left lateral segment in adult-to-adult LDLT can prevent the small-for-size problem and yet secure the safety of the donors. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Three amphiphilic peptides with varied molecular hydrophobicity, charge number and charge location have been designed as regulators to modulate the crystal growth of zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8). All three peptides can interact with ZIF-8 to inhibit {100} facet growth and produce truncated cubic crystals. The peptide's molecular hydrophobicity plays a dominant role in defining the final morphology and size of the ZIF-8 crystals. The peptides with less charge and higher hydrophobicity can promote nuclei formation and crystal growth to give smaller ZIF-8 crystals. However, the charge located in the center of the molecular hydrophobic region has little effect on the crystal nucleation and growth due to the shielding of its charge by molecular aggregation. The study provides insights into the effect of molecular charge and hydrophobicity on ZIF-8 crystal growth and is helpful for guiding the molecular design for regulating the synthesis of metal-organic framework materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both E. coli and S. aureus growed well on pure GO coating, but were significantly inhibited on GO-Cu coating. Therefore, the prepared GO-Cu and GO-Cu-GO coatings have great development potential in antibacterial coatings such as implant surface coating applications. [Display omitted] • The synthesis of GO-Cu coatings was prepared sing a spin-coating and chemical in-situ formation method. • Both E. coli and S. aureus were significantly inhibited on GO-Cu coating. • Cu-GO has good biocompatibility in the form of coating materials. Recently, graphene oxide (GO)-based materials have shown great potential as coatings for implant surfaces owing to their biocompatibility, surface functionalisation, and antibacterial activity. However, there is some disagreement regarding the antibacterial effect of GO, particularly when GO is used in the form of coatings. In this study, for the first time, we demonstrate the synthesis of copper-decorated GO (GO-Cu) coatings using a spin coating and chemical in-situ method. The growth of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) on GO-Cu and pure GO coatings was compared via systematic antibacterial study. The results showed that both E. coli and S. aureus grew well on the pure GO coating, but their growth was significantly inhibited on the GO-Cu coating. In addition, bone mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) adhesion, viability, and proliferation tests indicated that the two GO-based coatings did not show obvious toxicity compared with the SiO 2 control. The combined antibacterial performance and good biocompatibility of the GO-Cu coatings indicates their significant potential for application in biomedical implants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A right liver graft without the middle hepatic vein (MHV) trunk is now commonly used in adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation (LDLT), but it is unclear whether hepatic venous collaterals would develop in clinical patient just after occlusion of hepatic veins. Between January 2005 and October 2006, 56 consecutive adult patients underwent LDLT using right lobe grafts without MHV in our center. Twenty-four patients (42.9%) had MHV tributaries reconstruction. Vascular flow in the graft and interposition vein graft patency was checked by Doppler ultrasonography (US) daily during hospital stay and monthly follow-up after discharge for 2 y. Among 24 cases with MHV reconstruction, interpositional graft block occurred in one case within 7 d after transplantation. A reversed flow in MHV tributaries and collaterals between MHV and right hepatic vein (RHV) was detected by Doppler US. Vessel graft blocks were found in 10 of 22 cases of MHV tributaries reconstruction between 4 to 9 mo after transplantation. Collaterals formation between MHV and RHV developed in 4 of 10 cases of vessel graft block, and their graft function did not deteriorate. In conclusion, nearly half of the patients needed reconstruction of MHV tributaries when a right lobe graft without MHV was used in LDLT. The authors thought that the reconstruction of MHV tributaries should be established when the congested area was dominant by the clamping test or when the diameter of the tributaries was >5 mm. It was found that there may not be any problems if reconstructed vessel graft obstruction was found 3 mo after transplantation, as intrahepatic venous collaterals between MHV and RHV could develop. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Laboratory experiments were carried out to study the effects of anionic surfactant sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (SDBS) on the uptake of pyrene by fish gills. The uptake (including adsorption) of pyrene by gills of the color carp (C. carpio var. color) exposed to 20–100 μg/L pyrene in the presence or absence of 0.2–6.0 mg/L SDBS were determined. The sorption of pyrene by mucus was preliminary studied using a four-step sequential extraction procedure. Fish gills were extracted with H2O, 0.01 M CaCl2, CH3OH and a mixture of 1:1 n-C6H14/CH2Cl2 in sequence. Results showed that SDBS significantly affected these accumulation or adsorption on the fish gills (not in gills). SDBS could affect the bioavailability of pyrene in aquatic systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • An appropriate amount of La promotes the formation of uniform Ni–La/Al 2 O 3 nanocatalysts with a high Ni dispersion. • Better reducibility and reduced NiAl 2 O 4 phase increases the utilization of Ni active sites. • High catalytic activity and selectivity were obtained on the Ni–La/Al 2 O 3 catalysts over styrene hydrogenation. La–doped Ni/Al 2 O 3 catalysts were synthesised with a modified wetness impregnation method. The addition of La promoted the reduction of Ni oxides and improved the dispersion. High catalytic activity and selectivity were obtained in the selective hydrogenation of styrene using these catalysts. The catalyst with a La content of 0.5 wt% (Ni–La/Al 2 O 3 -0.5) exhibited the highest styrene conversion (100%) and selectivity (>99%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Fenton-like process has been regarded as a clean and efficient approach to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) to deal with the ever-growing environmental pollution. However, developing improved catalysts with adequate activity and stability remains a long-term goal for practical application. Herein, crystalline carbon nanotubes (CNTs) interconnected Fe/Fe 3 C-doped nanoporous carbonitride (Fe-NC) was easily prepared by the pyrolysis of ZIF-8 confined with Fe3+. The obtained Fe–NCs possessed high degrees of graphitic carbon and nitrogen. Such Fe–NCs can enhance the activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for the removal of multiple organic contaminants. The optimized Fe-NC/PMS system exhibited impressive catalytic performance, with a TOF as high as 4.43 min−1 for 3BF degradation, and the removal efficiency of other dyes, phenols and antibiotics was up to 96.2% within 10 min. The removal efficiency of 3BF was 93.4% within 10 min with extremely low iron ions leaching (<0.052 mg/L) even after five cycles. In addition, the effects of pH on the catalytic performance demonstrated that the decomposition of 3BF exceeded 95.6% even when the initial pH varied from 5 to 10. We confirmed that SO 4 -, OH, O 2 - and 1O 2 were generated in the catalytic system of Fe-NC/PMS, which played a critical role in degrading the organics. These findings provide new insights into the design of environmental-friendly Fenton-like catalysts with high efficiency and favorable stability in environmental remediation. [Display omitted] • Carbon nanotubes interconnected Fe/Fe 3 C-doped carbonitride was facilely prepared. • This Fe-based catalyst possessed high graphitic carbon and nitrogen degree. • The Fe-NC/PMS system exhibited excellent performance for the removal of organics. • The degradation of pollutants was due to the generated SO 4 -, OH, O 2 - and 1O 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The overuse of antimicrobials has resulted in serious damage to the ecosystem and human health. Therefore, the development of an efficient, stable, and reusable catalyst to eliminate antimicrobials under mild conditions is highly desired. Drawing inspiration from the metabolism of drugs by the enzymes in the human body, such as heme catalase, we developed a simulated enzyme catalyst, perchloride iron phthalocyanine (FePcCl 16), immobilized on pyridine-modified multiwalled carbon nanotubes (FePcCl 16 -Py-MWCNTs). In the catalyst, FePcCl 16 worked as the active site, and the axial fifth ligand, 4-aminopyridine, was introduced to cleave H 2 O 2 heterolytically. Inspired by the reaction mechanism of heme catalase and H 2 O 2 , the catalytic system was designed based on FePcCl 16 -Py-MWCNTs for oxidizing 4-chloro-3,5-dimethylphenol (PCMX) by H 2 O 2 activation. The results showed that the catalytic activity of the system was significantly increased under simulated solar light irradiation, which can promote electron transfer for heterolytic cleavage of H 2 O 2. The enzyme-like catalyst achieved much higher catalytic activity than the Fenton reaction when the pH was close to neutral. It turned out that the main active species was high-valent iron-oxo (Fe(Ⅳ) = O) rather than hydroxyl radial (•OH) or superoxide radical (•O 2 −), different from most mechanisms. Ultraperformance liquid chromatography-high-definition mass spectrometry showed that the substrate was degraded to small molecule acids by Fe(Ⅳ) = O active species and further mineralization indicated by total organic carbon. The catalytic system exhibited highly efficient, stable, recyclable catalytic performance under mild conditions and did not cause secondary pollution to the environment. This study of a simulated enzyme catalytic system offers important insight into sewage treatment. [Display omitted] • FePcCl 16 -Py-MWCNTs prepared by axial coordination as enzyme-like catalyst. • Pyridine-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes contributed to the catalysis of enzyme. • The enzyme-like catalytic system exhibited a high photocatalytic activity. • Solar light irradiation induced H 2 O 2 activation. • Antimicrobials degradation by high-valent iron-oxo species in the catalytic system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to appropriately improve the performance of sweet potato starch and expand its industrial application, sweet potato starch was modified by high pressure microfluidization (HPM) technology in this paper. The influence of HPM on sweet potato starch was studied by SEM, PLM, XRD, FTIR, DSC and rheology. The results showed that the mechanical forces generated by HPM could penetrate into the starch granules, resulting in constant changes in structure and properties of the starch granules. At 80 MPa, recrystallization phenomenon occurred inside starch granules, and the structure became more compact. 120–160 Mpa of HPM caused the breakage of the particles and the disordered arrangement of starch molecules, the relative crystallinity reduced to 25.46%, ΔH reduced to a minimum of 7.107 J/g, and the rheological behavior of starch gel changed significantly. It could be seen that HPM had significant mechanochemical effects on the sweet potato starch granules. Image 1 • The crystallization order and rheological properties of sweet potato starch were changed by HPM treatment. • At 80 MPa, starch molecules were aggregated and recrystallized, and gel viscoelasticity increased sharply. • At 120–160 MPa, sweet potato starch agglomerated and the degree of disorder increased. • HPM treatment had significant mechanochemical effect on sweet potato starch. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban Sustainability (US) studies are dedicated to addressing what factors influencing and how to achieve sustainability of cities. Existing knowledge, however, lacks an integrated approach defining the interrelationships among urban systems and designing the pathways towards sustainable development. This study aims to formalize a roadmap framework based on the Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) model to evaluate and predict US. The framework was validated by taking Chenzhou city in China as a case study, which is characterized to advance sustainable utilization and green development of urban water resources. A US measurement system with 33 indicators were proposed and weighted through a focus group interview with experts from urban management professionals. US performances of Chenzhou were evaluated using the panel data during 2010–2019 and predicted applying regression analyses during 2020–2030. Results indicate that Chenzhou performed quite differently among the DPSIR systems regarding sustainability, with their coordination degree fluctuated during the evaluation period. Predictions reveal that deviations exist across the evolutionary trends of DPSIR systems, but the overall US performance and the coordination degree are envisioned to be maximized before 2030. To this end, implemental strategies and managerial countermeasures were formulated to make trade-offs between achieving US and facilitating DPSIR coordination. Findings advance the knowledge domain of urban development assessment by integrating US measurement, evaluation and prediction, and roadmap design. Practically, the roadmap provides decision-making supports for urban planners, developers, and policymakers to manage and govern operations and policies of urban management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common complication of pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to compare the incidence of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) in patients with GDM and the control group by methane and hydrogen lactulose breath test (LBT), and to explore its relationship with inflammation, vitamins, and the outcomes of maternal and child.Methods: LBT was detected in 220 GDM patients, 160 pregnancy control patients and 160 pre-pregnancy control patients. The fasting blood glucose, white blood cells, vitamin A, D, E, neonatal weight, neonatal blood glucose and so on were compared and analyzed.Results: There was no statistical significance in the general data of the three groups. The proportion of abdominal distension in the GDM group was higher than that in the other two groups (P < 0.001). The positive rates of SIBO + in GDM group, gestational control group and pre-pregnancy control group were 54.55%, 27.50% and 14.38%, respectively. The average abundance of hydrogen and methane in GDM group was significantly higher than that in control group at each time point. In the GDM group, SIBO + subjects had higher levels of fasting blood glucose, glycoglycated hemoglobin, C-reactive protein, neonatal weight, and lower levels of vitamin D and neonatal blood glucose (P < 0.001).Conclusion: Patients with GDM have a high incidence of SIBO, and SIBO may further increase their blood glucose by affecting inflammatory response and vitamin level, and even affect the outcome of mother and child. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microstructures and mechanical properties of Ti–Nb–V–Mo quaternary microalloyed high strength fire-resistant steel are investigated under different experimental conditions. The results show that the fire-resistant steel with high strength (ultimate tensile strength (UTS), 746 MPa; yield strength (YS), 597 MPa) and a low yield ratio (YS/UTS, 0.80) is successfully developed by rapid cooling combined with a low final cooling temperature. The microalloyed high strength fire-resistant steel tempered at 600 °C × 15 min and 600 °C × 180 min exhibit yield strength of 440 and 419 MPa, which values significantly exceed two-thirds of the specified yield strength at room temperature (i.e., 307 MPa) for the Q460 (YS ≥ 460 MPa) fire-resistant steel. The mechanical properties at room temperature and 600 °C even meet the requirements for the Q550 fire-resistant steel. The ferritic grain boundaries in the experimental steel tempered for 180 min at 600 °C show excellent stability. The analysis indicates that solid-solution strengthening and precipitation strengthening are important in improving the strength of the studied fire-resistant steel at room temperature and 600 °C, respectively. M(C, N) (M = Nb, V, Ti, and Mo) and M 3 C (M = Fe, Cr, Mn, and Mo) particles in small quantities are found in the matrix of the as-rolled sample. However, after reheating and tempering at 600 °C, large amounts of M(C, N) (mainly MC) and M 3 C particles precipitate. With an increasing in tempering time, the amount of nanoscale MC precipitate increases; especially, the amount of the MC particles size smaller than 10 nm, and the mass fraction of Nb, V, and Mo in the MC precipitate also increases, which is consistent with the equilibrium thermodynamic calculation results. This enhancement of the precipitation strengthening of secondary phase particles compensates for strength loss attributing to a decrease in shear elastic modulus and solid solution strengthening at 600 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A dual-electrolyte aluminum/air microfluidic cell is a promising power source with remarkably higher power density than traditional aluminum/air cells. However, the crossover between the acidic catholyte and the alkaline anolyte is still a serious issue leading to low electrolyte utilization. In this work, we present a dual-electrolyte aluminum/air microfluidic cell with a novel porous composite membrane based on a polytetrafluoroethylene/polyethylene/polytetrafluoroethylene sandwich structure, with which a stable open-circuit voltage as high as 2.18 V is reached during all the 10 cycles of electrolytes. The electrolyte utilization is also evaluated theoretically, which exhibits a drastic enhancement from 2.24% to 24.34% at cycle infinity with the existence of the composite membrane. Compared to traditional single electrolyte aluminum/air cells or aluminum/air microfluidic cells, this new type of cell not only achieves a high voltage and a high power density, but also shows outstanding recirculating performance of the electrolytes by taking advantages of both the co-laminar flow and the porous composite membrane. Therefore, the dual-electrolyte aluminum/air microfluidic cell could be a promising candidate for inexpensive, low frequent applications, such as long-lasting uninterruptible power supply and range extenders. Image 1 • A novel PTFE/PE/PTFE composite membrane is used for the Al/air microfluidic cell. • The membrane effectively suppresses the crossover neutralization of electrolytes. • Cells demonstrate the recirculating performance with a stable V OC as high as 2.18 V. • The electrolyte utilization has a dramatic enhancement and is evaluated theoretically. • The electrolyte utilization increases from 2.24% to 24.34% at infinite cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to expand application scope of pea protein isolate by improving its emulsification. Pea protein isolate was ground for different time, and changes in its structure and emulsification properties were studied, and then revealed the influence mechanism of grinding on emulsification. It was found that the β-sheet of protein decreased from 39.92% to 31.47% after grinding for 20 min, and the pea protein was converted from a solid ball to a hollow ball. So the emulsion flocculation index decreased from 1.01% to 0.29% and the amount of protein adsorbed increased by 4.5%, which showed that the emulsion stability of the pea protein was significantly improved. Within a short grinding time (2.5–5 min), the viscosity of the emulsion was increased. Studies had shown that proper grinding treatment made pea protein isolate possess greater potential for an excellent emulsifier. Image 1 • The pea protein isolate was treated with different dry grinding time. • Grinding disrupted the secondary structure of pea protein isolate. • Proper grinding could improve the stability of the emulsion. • Grinding affected the shear resistance of the emulsion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The Fe x P/PMS system was firstly presented for elimination of sulfonamides and exhibited favorable catalytic activity. • The Fe x P particles presented a unique spherical coralloid morphology structure. • The magnetically separable catalyst exhibited favorable reusability. • OH, SO 4 −, 1O 2 and O 2 − contributed to the elimination of sulfonamides. Transition metal phosphides (TMPs) have emerged as a promising catalyst in the environmental catalysis field due to the excellent catalytic property, high conductivity and long stability. Herein, spherical-coral-like iron phosphide (Fe x P) particles contained FeP orthorhombic crystals and Fe 2 P hexagonal crystals were innovatively constructed by a facile low-temperature phosphating synthesis strategy. This novel heterogeneous catalyst with unique morphology was firstly employed for peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation to eliminate SDZ. It was turned out that Fe x P possessed favorable catalytic activity for activating PMS and could eliminate SDZ up to 98.2% within 24 min. Compared with Fe 2 O 3 without further phosphatization treatment, the introduction of phosphorus in Fe 2 O 3 significantly ameliorated the catalytic activity for the elimination of SDZ and the apparent rate constant (k obs) increased by 9.1 times. More importantly, the Fe x P particles exhibited magnetic property which is convenient for recycling use. This feature is very different from the previously reported TMPs catalytic materials. Besides, four types of reactive oxygen species (ROS) including sulfate radical (SO 4 −), hydroxyl radical (OH), singlet oxygen (1O 2) and superoxide radical (O 2 −) were detected to play a key role in SDZ elimination by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) cooperated with radical quenching tests. This finding opened up an avenue for developing and utilizing TMPs catalytic materials in the environmental remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel heterogeneous catalyst FeOxa@ACFs was designed. • FeOxa@ACFs could activate PS for multiple organic contaminants removal. • The catalytic system exhibited excellent recyclability and broad pH adaptability. • p -BQ could significantly enhanced the contaminant removal. The development of highly efficient and environmentally friendly catalyst to activate persulfate (PS) is a promising technology for contaminants removal. Herein, a novel heterogeneous catalyst (FeOxa@ACFs) was designed by supporting ferric oxalate (FeOxa) onto activated carbon fibers (ACFs). FeOxa@ACFs could activate PS to achieve a removal of 96.8% for Reactive Red M-3BE (RR M-3BE) within 20 min and the apparent rate constant (k obs) was 3.6 times higher than that of FeOxa/PS system. Moreover, FeOxa@ACFs was capable of excellent recyclability and a broad pH adaptability (3.0–10.0). Radical capturing experiments indicated that sulfate, hydroxyl and superoxide radicals played a key role for contaminants removal. Interestingly, the k obs of RR M-3BE was unexpectedly 4 times enhancement after the introduction of p -benzoquinone, which is very different from the previously system with a negative influence. This study will open a promising avenue for building highly efficient and eco-friendly catalyst to remediate contaminated water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• PVA/GO-CDPC-La) film was prepared by the solution intercalation method. • PVA/GO-CDPC-La film could absorb wound exudate while keeping the wound moist and improved antibacterial properties. • PVA/GO-CDPC-La film could be considered as a potential wound-dressing material. Although graphene oxide (GO) is widely used as an antibacterial agent, its efficacy still needs to be improved. In this work, we present a novel medical dressing that improves antibacterial effect and promotes wound healing. Poly (vinyl alcohol)/graphene oxide-citicoline sodium-lanthanum (PVA/GO-CDPC-La) films were prepared by the solution intercalation method for usage in wound dressing applications. GO was modified by zwitterionic citicoline (CDPC) to improve the dispersibility of water-based polymers, while providing La3+ ions with more adsorption sites and enhancing the antibacterial properties of the film. Water absorption experiments showed that it could effectively absorb wound exudate while keeping the wound moist. In vitro cytotoxicity and cell adhesion experiments showed that the PVA/GO-CDPC-La films acknowlhad good biocompatible and promoted wound healing. Bacterial adhesion experiments showed PVA/GO-CDPC-La could greatly reduce the risk of wound infection. Furthermore, in vivo wound healing experiments showed that wounds treated with the film healed faster postoperatively and histological observations showed that a mature epidermal architecture was formed, which could be used as a wound-dressing material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia, with metabolic disturbances resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin resistance (IR), or both. Chinese hamsters have potential value as non-obese animal models of spontaneous T2DM for studying the pathogenesis and molecular characteristics of diabetes. In this study, the molecular characteristics of the Chinese hamster diabetes animal model were investigated through small intestine proteomics and serum metabolomics. A total of 213 differentially abundant proteins and 14 differentially abundant metabolites were identified through liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and gas chromatography-time of flight mass spectrometry (GC-TOF/MS) analysis, respectively. Annotation by bioinformatics analysis revealed that these differentially abundant proteins in the small intestine were commonly associated with abnormal glucose and lipid metabolism, IR, impaired insulin secretion, amino acid metabolism disorders, and inflammatory dysregulation. Moreover, differentially abundant metabolites in the serum were amino acids and were related to diabetic IR. Through the analysis of small intestine proteomics and serum metabolomics in the Chinese hamster diabetes model, we provide a preliminary understanding of the diabetic characteristics of this model from a molecular perspective. This study provides data incentivizing the popularization and application of Chinese hamsters in T2DM research. Spontaneous rodent models of diabetes, such as Chinese hamsters, effectively summarizes the clinical characteristics of type 2 diabetes and has high applicative value for studying the pathophysiology of diabetes. In order to explore the potential value of the Chinese hamster diabetes animal model in the study of the T2DM molecular mechanism, we performed small intestine proteomic analysis and serum metabolomic analysis in Chinese hamsters for the first time. After an integrated analysis of proteomics and metabolomics, we have a preliminary understanding of the diabetic characteristics of this model from a molecular perspective. Further, we found that in the occurrence and development of T2DM, the metabolic abnormalities of this model are particularly prominent, especially the metabolism of amino acids. These findings not only provide basic data in support of the popularization and application of the current model in T2DM research, but also provide a new perspective for the exploration of mechanisms related to T2DM. Unlabelled Image • Chinese hamsters diabetes model has high application value in the study of type 2 diabetes. • The differentially abundant proteins were related to glucose and lipid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, IR and inflammatory disorders in diabetes. • The results of metabolomics suggested that the amino acid metabolism of diabetic Chinese hamsters was abnormal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wettability of graphene is important for researching, modulating the wettability at the same time as producing deserve more attention. In this work, a fast, convenient and low-cost preparation method was introduced to produce superhydrophobic graphene with a biomimetics surface structure that was inspired from taro leaves. First, the surface structure of the taro leaf was obtained by the scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Then a regular structure imitating a taro leaf was designed. Subsequently, a graphene layer with biomimetic surface structure similar to the taro leaf was induced on the surface of polyimide film by Nd:YAG laser. The morphology of the graphene surface was adjusted by the scanning speed and laser fluence during laser processing under the contribution of the photothermal effect. Under the optimal processing parameters for wettability, wetting tests with the water, sweat and serum droplets showed that the graphene with biomimetic surface has superhydrophobicity, anti-sweat and serum adhesion properties with the same contact angle and sliding angle of 153° and 3.3°, respectively. This optimized biomimetics laser-induced graphene can be used to protect exposed graphene-based devices from liquid erosion. • Taro leaf surface structure was introduced into LIG, and a two-step laser method was used to prepare graphene. • The biomimetic graphene showed stable strong repellency and low adhesion with water, artificial sweat, and serum. • Hierarchical structure on graphene surface is the main reason for superhydrophobicity [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing novel catalyst with both high efficiency and stability presents an enticing prospect for peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation. In this paper, nitrogen-doped porous carbon encapsulating iron nanoparticles (CN–Fe) was fabricated by a facile carbothermal reduction process using polyaniline (PANI) and α-Fe 2 O 3 as the precursors. The stubborn antibiotics, sulfathiazole (STZ), was employed as a target pollutant, demonstrating that CN–Fe coupled with PMS could achieve 96% removal efficiency and even 57% mineralization rate of STZ within 40 min. More importantly, the rate constant of CN–Fe was calculated to be 0.07665 min−1, which was 6 times higher than that of the commercial α-Fe 2 O 3 catalyst. Furthermore, CN–Fe also presented a favorable catalytic performance for removing other organic pollutants including phenolic compounds and organic dyes. Interestingly, the catalytic activity of the used CN–Fe catalyst could be regenerated after thermal treatment (600 °C) and the as-synthesized CN–Fe catalyst exhibited excellent long-term stability with almost no loss of activity after storage for three months. The catalytic mechanism in the CN–Fe/PMS system was elucidated by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), radical and electron trapping tests, which confirmed that sulfate radicals (SO 4 -), hydroxyl radicals (OH), superoxide radicals (O 2 -) and singlet oxygen (1O 2) were generated in the oxidation process with the assistance of electron transfer between PMS and catalyst. To our knowledge, this was the first attempt for the application of PANI-derived CN–Fe hybrid materials as PMS activators and the findings would provide a simple and promising strategy to fabricate highly efficient and environment-benign catalysts for wastewater remediation. Image 1 • Nitrogen-doped porous carbon encapsulating iron nanoparticles (CN–Fe) was facilely constructed for efficient PMS activation. • The electron transfer between CN–Fe and PMS contributed to the efficient removal and mineralization rate of STZ. • Fe nanoparticles encapsulated in carbon can be effectively protected from ion leaching in water. • The catalytic activity of the used catalyst could be mostly recovered after thermal treatment. • CN–Fe exhibited excellent long-term stability with no loss of activity after storage for three months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Novel Bio-PCMs with desirable biocompatibility were developed. • The composites exhibit high phase change enthalpies (156.8 J/g). • The composites show excellent thermal and shape-stabilities. Phase change thermal storage technology is an effective approach to solving the mismatch between energy supply and demand. However, this technique requires considerable efforts to the successful application and popularization. In view of designing form-stable phase change materials (PCMs) with desirable latent heat enthalpy. We reported novel and eco-friendly PCMs via a simple and convenient method. In this study, the polyethylene glycol (PEG) was in situ-loaded with Ca2+-crosslinked sodium alginate (SA) on the account of the coordination of Ca2+ with carboxyl groups in the SA structure, to produce the Bio-based composite PCMs (Bio-PCMs). The PEG/SA composites (PSCs) achieved a 93% PEG loading rate, and phase transition enthalpy can reach 156.8 J/g. Meanwhile, these materials possess satisfactory shape stability as well as excellent thermal energy management capability. Therefore, this novel composite shows considerable potential applications in the field of biomedical thermal insulation due to their biocompatibility, nontoxicity and high latent heat during phase change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The FeOCl@PB@PDA@BPQDs@Mn nanocomposites could catalyze H 2 O 2 to generate O 2 and successfully ameliorated tumor hypoxia. • The FeOCl@PB@PDA@BPQDs@Mn nanocomposites showed excellent photothermal performance and ROS generation. • The FeOCl@PB@PDA@BPQDs@Mn nanocomposites can serve as a multimodal imaging agent for MR, PA, and US imaging. • The FeOCl@PB@PDA@BPQDs@Mn nanocomposites can act as an ideal theranostic agent for combined CDT, PDT, and PTT. Herein, a novel tumor microenvironment (TME)-mediated nanotheranostics platform of iron oxychloride (FeOCl) nanorods coated with Prussian Blue (PB), polydopamine (PDA), black phosphorus quantum dots (BPQDs) and chelated with Mn2+ was prepared. In the highly integrated nanoplatform (FeOCl@PB@PDA@BPQDs@Mn), FeOCl catalysts exhibit supreme efficiency to yield hydroxyl radicals (•OH) by H 2 O 2 decomposition for chemodynamic therapy (CDT). Moreover, the PB, FeOCl, and Mn2+ have a catalase-like activity that catalyze H 2 O 2 to release of O 2 in the TME. Upon laser irradiation, the BPQDs transform O 2 to a singlet oxygen (1O 2) to self-enhance photodynamic therapy (PDT). Additionally, as a result of the high near-infrared (NIR) absorption rate and efficient photothermal conversion of PB and PDA, FeOCl@PB@PDA@BPQDs@Mn nanocomposites (NCs) are capable to work as ideal theranostic agents for photothermal therapy (PTT) in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, FeOCl@PB@PDA@BPQDs@Mn NCs can also serve as multimodal imaging agents in different methods, such as magnetic resonance (MR), photoacoustic (PA), and ultrasound (US) imaging. Among the tumor models of mice, CDT, PDT, and PTT that combined with multimodal imaging achieved a more significant synergistic therapeutic result compared to any single treatment modality alone. Therefore, the multifunctional nanosystem in this study possesses tremendous potential in providing a satisfying paradigm for effective tumor treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of highly efficient and green catalytic oxidation process based on peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation has been identified to be a significant yet challenging objective in the environmental catalysis field. A simple, environmentally benign and highly effective catalytic oxidation system was innovatively constructed by coupling NaBO 2 and PMS for the removal of Acid Red 1. The catalytic mechanism in the NaBO 2 /PMS system was elucidated by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) combined with several radical capture reagents (ascorbic acid, methanol, tert -butyl alcohol, ethanol and l -histidine). The experimental results indicated that singlet oxygen (1O 2) severed as the predominant reactive oxygen species (ROS) rather than the HO or Image 2 during the catalytic oxidation process, at variance with the reported radical pathway in the Co2+/PMS system. Inspiringly, p -benzoquinone (p -BQ) as a trapping agent in most advanced oxidation process could be turned into the positive one in the NaBO 2 /PMS system, achieving a nearly 3-times enhancement in terms of the rate constant for AR1 removal. More interestingly, sodium chloride (NaCl) presented the same enhancement effect as p -benzoquinone due to generation of hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and more 1O 2 , which was completely different from the reported. This study develops a highly efficient green oxidation process and opens up a new insight in the remediation of contaminated water. Image 1 • An environmental-friendly and highly effective catalytic oxidation system NaBO 2 /PMS was firstly reported. • Singlet oxygen was responsible for the efficient performance of this catalytic oxidation system. • Both the addition of p -BQ and NaCl could achieve nearly 3 times enhancement in contaminant removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, two types of antibacterial montmorillonites (Mt) were prepared using a facile method. The Mt modified with ε-polylysine hydrochloride (ε-PL) was named PL-Mt, while the Mt dually modified with dioctadecyl dimethylammonium chloride (D1821) and ε-PL was named PL-OMt. The results of the X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of the PL-Mt indicated that 30% ε-PL was the most suitable amount for intercalating the Mt. The particle size and distribution of the ε-PL in the solution demonstrated that the Mt d-value could not be further increased owing to the increasing ε-PL diameter. The result of the X-ray diffraction of PL-OMt displayed that ultrasonic treatment at 600 W facilitated ε-PL to intercalate into the OMt interlayer space. The PL-OMt prepared with ultrasonic treatment at 600 W exhibited antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis superior to that of the PL-OMt prepared with higher-power ultrasonic treatment. Thus, the addition of 30% ε-PL based on the dry Mt mass is the most suitable ratio for preparing PL-Mt, while ultrasonic treatment at 600 W is the most suitable for preparing PL-OMt. These findings may expand the application fields of ε-PL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We reveal the Suzuki–Miyaura reaction catalyzed by a Pd–Co nanocatalyst supported by Mg–Fe–CHT (calcined hydrotalcites). A variety of boronic acids and aryl halides were transformed into functionalized biphenyls in excellent yields using water as a solvent. The reaction could proceed under mild conditions with a simple operation and high turnover numbers. The excellent catalytic activities are reasonably attributed to the Co-doping, which forms a Pd–Co alloy on the surface of CHT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an effective physical method for starch modification, ultrasonic treatment can significantly improve the chemical activity and quality of starch, but its mechanism needs to be further investigated. In this paper, ultrasonic‐modified cassava starch and octenyl succinic anhydride (OSA)‐modified cassava starch with low degree of substitution were prepared under ultrasonic conditions. The effects of ultrasound on the structure and properties of native cassava starch and the quality of OSA‐modified cassava starch were studied. The results showed that the crystallinity decreased from 30.7% to 26.4%, the reaction efficiency increased from 62.28% to 66.20%, and other characteristics also changed after 1 min of ultrasonic treatment. While the structure and properties of cassava starch changed differently after ultrasonic treatments for 8 min and 32–60 min. Consequently, these changes showed that ultrasonic treatment had a significant mechanochemical effect on starch granules. The quality of OSA‐modified cassava starch was improved significantly and its influence mechanism was analyzed by the mechanochemistry theory. Practical applications: During the esterification of starch, the dense arrangement of crystalline regions limits the reaction of esterifying agents with starch granules. This study showed that ultrasound exerted strong mechanical forces on starch granules, which promoted the production of free radicals and increased the free energy of starch molecules. Besides, the increase of mechanochemical active sites in starch granules was conducive to the homogeneous reaction of octenyl succinic anhydride (OSA) and starch molecules. Therefore, the quality of OSA‐modified cassava starch prepared by ultrasonic‐assisted treatment was significantly improved. This study provides a reference for the application of ultrasonic technology in other fields and also lays a theoretical basis for the industrial development of high performance‐modified starch. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of different high-intensity ultrasonication (HIU) pretreatment on the structure and properties of soybean protein isolate (SPI) as well as enzymatic hydrolysis of SPI by bromelain and antioxidant activity of hydrolysates. The HIU-treated SPI fractions showed a decrease in the proportion of α-helices and β-turns and an increase in the content of β-sheets and random coils based on Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Near-infrared spectra and fluorescence spectra analyses provided support for the changes in secondary and tertiary structures of SPI after ultrasound treatment. The particle size of SPI decreased from 217.20 nm to 141.23 nm and the absolute zeta potential increased. Scanning electron microscopy showed that HIU treatment changed apparent morphology. Dynamic and static light scattering of ultrasonicated samples showed that SPI structure had changed from hard-sphere to hollow-sphere or polydisperse and monodisperse gaussian coils. HIU pretreatment significantly increased the hydroxyl-radical scavenging and the degree of hydrolysis of the SPI hydrolysates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal eutrophication has become a serious ecological problem in China and around the world. Examining biogeochemical nitrogen cycles may help to provide insights into the mechanism of the problem. Here, we mapped the spatial and temporal characteristics of the dual stable isotopes of nitrate (δN18O 3 − and δ15NO 3 −), nitrogen isotopes within particulates, and the hydrological parameters and nutrients in the South Yellow Sea during spring, summer and autumn. We further considered the nitrogen biogeochemical processes that are revealed by these nutrient and isotope signals in the area of the Yellow Sea cold water mass (YSCWM). The results indicated that nitrate assimilation was the main biogeochemical process in the upper layer of the YSCWM area. Nitrification was the main process that occurred at the interior of the YSCWM, which resulted in increasing concentrations of nitrate and decreasing values of δ15NO 3 − in the bottom layer from spring to autumn. The values of δN18O 3 − and the calculation of the apparent oxygen utilization (AOU)-nitrate stoichiometry relationship indicated that, in addition to nitrification, nitrate losses also occurred in the interior of the YSCWM, particularly from summer to autumn. Through field observation and theoretical calculations, we observed that the stable nitrogen isotope values from samples of surface particulate nitrogen in spring (δ15N p) mirrored the bottom δ15NO 3 − signatures that regenerated in autumn and winter, taking into consideration the shift due to uptake fractionation (ε = 4.92‰). This relationship supports the hypothesis that several key nitrogen processes in the YSCWM have important ecological effects. Specifically, as the YSCWM became weak in winter and the vertical mixture takes place thoroughly, nitrate generated from nitrification in the interior of the YSCWM is mixed upwards to the surface and becomes an important source, providing nutrients for primary production in the upper layers, especially in the following spring. This research provided a new perspective for primary production and its nutrient sources, especially in a coastal area where a typical water mass was located. Image 1 • Characterized a full seasonal variations of nitrogen processes of the YSCWM area. • Firstly observed that YSCWM provided nutrient for upper primary production. • New perspective of coastal nutrient sources when a typical water mass existed. • Conclusion is helpful in managing coastal eutrophication in China and other areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims:To evaluate the impact of small-for-size grafts (SFSG) in adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation (AALDLT) on outcomes of recipients with different model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score in a single liver transplant center. Materials and Methods:Clinical data of 118 patients underwent right-lobe AALDLT from January 2004 to December 2011 were retrospectively analyzed, Patients were divided into Group L (MELD score≤25) and Group H (MELD score > 25) according to MELD score. The patients were further stratified into Group LS (MELD score≤25, GBWR<0.8%), Group LN (MELD score≤25, GBWR≥0.8%), Group HS (MELD score > 25, GBWR<0.8%), and Group HN (MELD score > 25, GBWR≥0.8%) to investigate the impact of graft size on recipients’ complications and outcomes. Pre-operative characteristics, post-operative complications graded by the Clavien score and patient survival were analyzed. Results:MELD scores between the two groups were significant different (12.4±4.9 vs 34.5±7.5, P=0.026). There was no significant difference in preoperative demographic data as well as postoperative liver function. Complication rate, length of ICU and hospital stay, graft loss, and mortality were similar in both groups. The 1- and 3- year survival were similar between group H and group L. When recipients were further stratified into group LS, LN, HS, and HN, no significant difference was found among groups in 1- and 3- year survival rate. In multivariate analysis, HCC was not a predictor for long term survival. Conclusion:Our single institution experience demonstrates that it is safe to use SFSGs in high pre-MELD score recipients with the improvement of intensive care and the selection of listing criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experimental investigation is performed on the interaction of intense femtosecond laser pulses at the intensity of 6 × 1017 W/cm2 (55 fs, 160 mJ at 800 nm) with ethane cluster (C2H6)N jets prepared under the backing pressure of 30 bars at room temperature (298 K). The experiment results indicate the generation of energetic protons, whose average and maximum kinetic energies are 12.2 and 138.1 keV, respectively, by Coulomb explosion of (C2H6)N clusters. (C2H6)N clusters of 5 nm in radius are generated in the experiment, which are 1.7 times larger than that of (CH4)N clusters prepared in the same conditions. Empirical estimation suggests that (C2H6)N clusters with radius of about 9.6 nm can be prepared at 80-bars backing pressure at 308 K. While (C2H6)N clusters of so large size are irradiated by sufficiently intense laser pulses, the average energy of protons will be increased up to 50 keV. It is inferred that such large-size deuterated ethane clusters (C2D6)N will favor more efficient neutron generation due to the significant increase of the D-D nuclear reaction cross section in laser-driven cluster nuclear fusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]