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Owing to low ion/electron conductivity and large volume change, transitional metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) suffer from inferior cycle stability and rate capability when used as the anode of lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs). To overcome these disadvantages, amorphous molybdenum sulfide (MoSx) nanospheres were prepared and coated with an ultrathin carbon layer through a simple one‐pot reaction. Combining X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) with theoretical calculations, MoSx was confirmed as having a special chain molecular structure with two forms of S bonding (S2− and S22−), the optimal adsorption sites of Li+ were located at S22−. As a result, the MoSx electrode exhibits superior cycle and rate capacities compared with crystalline 2H‐MoS2 (e.g. delivering a high capacity of 612.4 mAh g−1 after 500 cycles at 1 A g−1). This is mainly attributed to more exposed active S22− sites for Li storage, more Li+ transfer pathways for improved ion conductivity, and suppressed electrode structure pulverization of MoSx derived from the inherent chain‐like molecular structure. Quantitative charge storage analysis further demonstrates the improved pseudocapacitive contribution of amorphous MoSx induced by fast reaction kinetics. Moreover, the morphology contrast after cycling demonstrates the dispersion of active materials is more uniform for MoSx than 2H‐MoS2, suggesting the MoSx can well accommodate the volume stress of the electrode during discharging. Through regulating the molecular structure, this work provides an effective targeted strategy to overcome the intrinsic issues of TMDs for high‐performance LIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, a big trend has been the development of rapid, green, efficient, economical, and scalable approaches for the separation and purification of bioactive molecules from natural sources, which can be used in food, cosmetics, and medicine. As a new nonchromatographic bioseparation technology, three-phase partitioning (TPP) is attracting the attention of a growing number of scientists and engineers. Although a number of studies have been published in the last 40 years regarding the extraction, separation, and purification of numerous bioactive molecules using TPP systems, a background review on TPP partitioning fundamentals and its applications is much needed. Therefore, the present review focuses in detail on the TPP separation process, including the definition of TPP, partitioning mechanisms, parameters for establishing the suitable condition to form precipitate such as concentration of ammonium sulfate, content of tert-butanol, pH and temperature, and the application for separation and purification of protein, enzyme, plant oil, polysaccharide, and other small molecule organic compounds. In addition, the possible directions of future developments in TPP technology are discussed. The review presents a good opportunity, as well as a challenge for scientists, to understand the detailed partitioning rule and to take better use of TPP for the production and separation of various bioactive molecules, which have been intensively applied in the food and medical fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction of the Three Gorges Reservoir has had certain effects on the ecological environment of the water and serious phytoplankton blooms have occurred in its tributary embayment. To explore the spatial distribution of nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients and chlorophyll-a in different tributaries of the Three Gorges Reservoir, a water quality study (June 2018) was conducted in the Xiangxi River, Shengnongxi River, and Daning River of the Three Gorges Reservoir. The results showed that the average TN in the three tributaries was 1.86 mg·L -1 , 1.90 mg·L -1 , and 1.43 mg·L -1 , respectively, and average TP was 0.09 mg·L -1 , 0.07 mg·L -1 , and 0.05 mg·L -1 , respectively. Single-factor ANOVA analysis showed that the spatial difference in TN was significant and occurred in the following order:Shennongxi River > Xiangxi River > Daning River. There were significant differences in the spatial distribution of TP, which were in the order off Xiangxi River > Shennongxi River > Daning River. The mean concentrations of chlorophyll-a in the three tributaries was 6.41 μg·L -1 , 21.39 μg·L -1 , and 9.85μg·L -1 , respectively. The results from the Pearson correlation analysis, showed that chlorophyll-a concentrations were closely related to TP distribution in all tributaries, but Z eu / Z mix was also correlated with the distribution of chlorophyll-a in the Shennongxi River and Daning River. The ratio of TN and TP concentrations was 22.36, 26.76, and 28.6, respectively, which revealed that TP is a critical and limiting factor affecting phytoplankton growth in its tributary embayment.

Objective: To investigate the effects of apolipoprotein E (apoE) on the proliferation of pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) induced by hypoxia., Methods: Primary culture of mouse PASMCs was prepared from male C57BL/6 mouse pulmonary artery by the method of tissue block anchorage. PASMCs were divided into four groups: normoxia group, normoxia with apoE administration group, hypoxia group and hypoxia with apoE administration group. The proliferation of PASMCs was observed by EdU incorporation. The protein levels of apoE, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), protein kinase C (PKC) and phosphorylated protein kinase C (p-PKC) were analyzed by Western blot., Results: The percentage of PASMCs proliferation of hypoxia group was significantly higher than that of normoxia group by 64.7% (P＜0.05), and the protein expression levels of PCNA and p-PKC of hypoxia group were up-regulated than those of normoxia group by 69.0% and 120.0%, while the protein expression of apoE was down-regulated by 51.0% (P＜0.05), respectively. The percentage of PASMCs proliferation of hypoxia with apoE administration group was significantly lower than that of hypoxia group by 19.6% (P＜0.05), and the protein expression levels of PCNA and p-PKC of hypoxia with apoE administration group were down-regulated than those of hypoxia group by 19.8% and 103.2% (P＜0.05), respectively. There was no significant difference among each group in the protein expression of PKC, nor do there any significant difference between normoxia group and hypoxia group in the protein expression of p-PKC (P＞0.05)., Conclusion: ApoE can inhibit the proliferation of PASMCs induced by hypoxia, and the mechanism of its effect may be attributed to blocking PKC pathway.

After the construction of the Xiangjiaba Dam, the hydrodynamic conditions, nutrient distributions, and transport conditions of the Jinsha River were changed. Here, the nutrient distribution characteristics and retention effects of Xiangjiaba Reservoir were investigated according to the results of water quality monitoring from 2015 to 2016. Spatial and temporal variations in TN, TP, SiO 3 2- Si, and other nutrients, and retention flux and retention rate were analyzed. The results showed that the nutrient mass concentration of TN, TP, and SiO 3 2- -Si was 0.905 mg·L -1 , 0.034 mg·L -1 , and 7.98 mg·L -1 , respectively. The distribution of TN was affected by point sources and the concentration of TN was large in urban areas. This distribution of TP was mainly granular and the mass concentrations decreased along the river path. The mass concentration of SiO 3 2- -Si did not significantly vary over time and space. Furthermore, Xiangjiaba Reservoir had a persistent effect on nutrient salts; the average annual retention of TN, TP, and SiO 3 2- -Si was 2.30×10 4 t·a -1 , 0.146×10 4 t·a -1 , and -2.4×10 4 t·a -1 , respectively. During different seasons, the retention of TN and SiO 3 2- -Si varied between positive or negative; however, TP appeared to be consistent. The average monthly retention efficiency of TN, TP, and SiO 3 2- -Si was 17.5%, 32.8%, and -2.14%, respectively. Overall, retention efficiencies were higher during the dry season than that wet season, and phosphorus retention was most pronounced. The retention of TN in the reservoir may be related to denitrification and the input of external load; the flux of SiO 3 2- -Si was mainly affected by runoff; and the particle morphology of phosphorus, as well as reservoir period, were the main factors affecting TP retention. There were no clear correlations between nutrient retention and the mass concentrations of TN and SiO 3 2- -Si, but the nutrient retention effect of Xiangjiaba Reservoir reduced TP concentrations along the river path and increased TP concentration with vertical depth.

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are one of the most significant energy storage devices applied in power supply facilities. However, a huge number of spent LIBs would bring harmful resource waste and environmental hazards. In this study, a benign hydrometallurgical method using phytic acid as precipitant is proposed to recover useful metallic Mn ions from spent LiMn 2 O 4 batteries. Besides Mn-based cathodes, this recovery process is also applicable for other commercial batteries. More importantly, for the first time, the as-obtained manganous complex is employed as a nanofiller in a polyethylene oxide matrix to largely improve Li + conductivity and transference number. As a result, when applied in all-solid-state lithium batteries, high capacity and outstanding cyclic stability are achieved with capacity retention of 86.4 % after 60 cycles at 0.1 C. The recovery of spent lithium batteries not only has benefits for the environment and resources, but also shows great potential application in all-solid-state lithium batteries, which opens up a costless and efficient circulation pathway for clean and reliable energy storage systems., (© 2019 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

To observe the effect of geniposide on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and discuss the mechanism of geniposide for NAFLD from the aspect of free fatty acid, forty healthy Wistar male rats were randomly divided into normal group, model group, geniposide and Xuezhikang group. The rats in normal group were fed with normal diets, and the rats in other 3 groups were given with high-fat diet for 8 weeks to induce the NAFLD models. From the week 5 to end of week 8, the rats in geniposide and Xuezhikang group were intervened with corresponding medicines. The body weight, liver wet weight, and fat weight of the rats were recorded. Visual and pathological changes in hepatic tissues were observed with HE staining. The contents of TG, FFA, FAS, AMPK, ACCase and Malonyl-CoA in hepatic tissue, contents of CHO and LDL-C in serum and activities of AST and ALT in serum were detected by using corresponding methods. The results showed that the body weight, liver wet weight, and fat weight of the rats, CHO, LDL-C, ALT and AST levels in serum, TG, FFA, FAS, ACCase and Malonyl-CoA levels in hepatic tissues of the rats in model group were significantly higher than those in normal group (P<0.01), while AMPK activity was significantly lower than that of the normal group (P<0.01), with obvious visual and pathological steatosis in hepatic tissues, and inflammatory injury occurred in model group. Compared with the model group, body weight of the rat, fat weight, levels of FFA in hepatic tissues, ALT and AST activities in serum, liver wet weight, TG, FAS, ACCase and Malonyl-CoA levels were significantly decreased in geniposide group (P<0.01), while the AMPK activity in hepatic tissues was significantly increased (P<0.05),with improvement in visual and pathological performance. Compared with the model group, liver wet weight, fat weight, TG and FFA levels in hepatic tissues, and LDL-C level in serum were significantly decreased in Xuezhikang group (P<0.05). Compared with Xuezhikang group, the body weight of rat, fat weight and FFA level in hepatic tissues were significantly lower in geniposide group (P<0.01), but with no significant difference in other aspects. These findings indicated that geniposide was highly effective in improving the pharmacological effect of NAFLD induced by high-fat diet, and the mechanism was achieved through AMPK-ACCase-Malonyl-CoA-FFA axis., Competing Interests: The authors of this article and the planning committee members and staff have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose., (Copyright© by the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association.)