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Developing biologically mimetic nanofibers (NFs) is crucial for their applications as scaffolds in tissue engineering and drug carriers. Herein, we present a strategy to facilely fabricate core-sheath NFs using coaxial electrospinning technique. Poly([epsilon]-caprolactone) (PCL) and silk fibroin (SF) were employed as component materials to construct PCUSF NFs with PCL cores uniformly encapsulated by SF sheaths. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy demonstrate a uniform core-sheath structure of the coaxial NFs. The engineered core-sheath structure confers the composite NFs with greatly improved properties including surface hydrophilicity and mechanical properties. In vitro cell culture validates that the core-sheath NFs are favorable to the cultured rat pheochromocytoma cells (PC 12) attachment. To further demonstrate the advantage of the coupled structural integrity, the PCUSF core-sheath NFs were compared with the NFs produced from PCL and SF blend. Results showed that the PCUSF NFs possessed a tensile strength of -6.93 [+ or -] 0.52 MPa and an elongation at break of -294.31 [+ or -] 24.17%, whereas the blend NFs possessed -5.55 [+ or -] 0.50 MPa and -88.05 [+ or -] 13.98%, respectively. Dexamethasone-phosphate sodium (DEX) was employed as a model drug, whereby the in vitro release study indicates that the NFs exhibit an ideal releasing profile, capable of releasing DEX continuously over a period of 450 h. The constructed PCUSF core-sheath NFs are promising candidates for biomedical applications., INTRODUCTION In tissue regeneration, native extracellular matrix (ECM) not only serves as a scaffold to support the proliferation and migration of cells but also provides a variety of biochemical and [...]

Central nervous system(CNS)is a complex system closely related to anesthesiology. The molecular biological mechanisms of many CNS diseases were not exactly clear. Long noncoding RNA(lncRNA) H19 is abundant in human brain and plays an important role in the regulation of various CNS diseases. Besides, lncRNA H19 is also involved in the mechanism of several anesthetics. In this review, we emphasized the role and addressed the specific mechanisms of lncRNA H19 in CNS diseases and anesthetics, hoping to provide a new theoretical basis for future researches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to reduce the agglomeration of tourmaline, silane coupling agent (3‐aminopropyl)‐triethoxysilane (KH‐550) was used to modify tourmaline. Then the modified tourmaline particles were added to the polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) casting solution by blending, and a series of PVDF/TMKH‐550 composite membranes were prepared by Nonsolvent Induce Phase Separation (NIPS). The results showed that the agglomeration of tourmaline could be reduced by modification. With the increase of TMKH‐550 nanoparticles content, the removal efficiency of ammonia nitrogen wastewater increased gradually. For PVDF/TMKH‐550 composite membranes, the results showed that the addition of TMKH‐550 nanoparticles improved the hydrophilicity, porosity, and pore size of the membrane, and increased the permeation flux. The removal efficiency of the composite membrane on ammonia nitrogen solutions could reach 75.40%, The pH and conductivity of deionized water after membrane filtration were tested. At 0.2 MPa, it was found that both pH and conductivity increased. The above results showed that tourmaline can not only activate water bodies but also remove pollutants in water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Soil contamination by heavy metals is a pervasive issue, and this paper investigates the spatial distribution of Pb, As, and Cd in the groundwater-soil-rice system in the Changshou district of Chongqing. We also assess their exposure risk and predict their potential changes in the future. Method Geostatistical techniques, ArcGIS, and the target hazard quotients (THQ) methods were used to assess the risk of the three metals entering food chain. Based on these results, we predicted their potential changes and distribution up to 2036. Result Pb, As, and Cd in groundwater, soil and rice co-existed spatially, with their concentrations higher in the southwest than in the northeast. The THQ model did not showed risk of rice consumption for adults (THQ (As, Pb, and Cd) <1), but showed that there was slight risk of Cd (THQCd=1.12) and Pb (THQPb=1.05) for children. The model predicted substantial differences in the content of Pb, As, and Cd between different three management scenarios: ideal, no human intervention, and severe pollution until 2036. While the contents of the heavy metals were predicted to decrease by 4% to 8% under the ideal scenario in 2036 compared to the current level in 2021, allowing severe pollution to continuously happen is expected to increase heavy metal content by 1.51 to 1.72 times the current level.Conclusion Industries are the primary source of heavy metal pollution in Changshou district. Regarding the exposure risk to children and vulnerable people, and current pollution level, strict measures, including controlling discharge of industrial waste into soils and remediating contaminated soils are essential to reducing heavy metal contents in soil and alleviating them entering food chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zinc-ion batteries are one of the promising energy storage devices, which have the advantages of environmental friendliness, high safety and low price and are expected to be used in large-scale battery application fields. However, four prominent water-induced adverse reactions, including zinc dendrite formation, zinc corrosion, passivation and the hydrogen evolution reaction in aqueous systems, seriously shorten the cycling life of zinc-ion batteries and greatly hinder their development. Based on this, polymer gel electrolytes have been developed to alleviate these issues due to their unique network structure, which can reduce water activity and suppress water-induced side reactions. Based on the challenges of polymer gel electrolytes, this review systematically summarizes the latest research progress in the use of additives in them and explores new perspectives in response to the existing problems with polymer electrolytes. In order to expand the performance of polymer gel electrolytes in zinc-ion batteries, a range of different types of additives are added via physical/chemical crosslinking, such as organic or inorganic substances, natural plants, etc. In addition, different types of additives and polymerization crosslinking from different angles essentially improve the ionic conductivity of the gel electrolyte, inhibit the growth of zinc dendrites, and reduce hydrogen evolution and oxygen-absorbed corrosion. After these modifications of polymer gel electrolytes, a more stable and superior electrochemical performance of zinc-ion batteries can be obtained, which provides some strategies for solid-state zinc-ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current context of urban development transformation and the gradual decline of historic and cultural districts, new demands have been raised for the preservation of such districts. The question of how to effectively safeguard historically and culturally significant districts, imbued with the vibrant essence of indigenous life, has become a topic worthy of contemplation. This paper takes the historical and cultural district of Leizhou Qu Street as a case study, using the concept of continuity of life as its focal point. Employing methods such as on-site observation, questionnaire surveys, and case studies, this paper investigates and evaluates the core community through identification and collaboration, and proposes corresponding preservation strategies and subsequent maintenance approaches. In doing so, the paper aims to achieve community identity, cultural heritage transmission, and the continuity of life. The findings reveal that the method of protecting the living heritage through continuity of life is applicable to historically and culturally significant districts that still thrive with the vibrancy of daily life, and this method can be effectively implemented. This research deepens our understanding of the concept of living heritage preservation in historic and cultural districts, further substantiating and implementing the principle of continuity of life in their preservation. The study also aims to provide valuable insights and references for the preservation of similar heritage sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) have been employed in modification for polyvinyl chloride (PVC) membrane intrinsic hydrophobicity. Carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC), a natural organic matter, was used to relieve the agglomeration of zinc oxide (ZnO) NPs in the membrane matrix. In this paper, ZnO‐CMC NPs were successfully prepared via co‐precipitation approach, blended with PVC membranes, and the effect of ZnO‐CMC NPs for the membrane properties was studied. The SEM and EDX confirmed excellent dispersion of ZnO‐CMC NPs on the membrane surface. The enhanced hydrophilicity, porosity and inter‐connected finger‐like strcture of modified membranes confirmed by water contact angle and SEM. In addition, pure water flux of PVC/ZnO‐CMC composite membrane was 107.36 L m−2 h−1 (PVC/ZnO‐CMC (0.25 wt%)), which was higher than that of neat PVC membrane (83.11 L m−2 h−1). Importantly, the modified membranes exhibits lower static BSA adsorbtion because of the improved hydrophilicity, and a higher flux recovery rate (>90%) after three sequential filtration cycles. The antibacterial behavior of PVC/ZnO‐CMC membrane was tested simply using Escherichia coli, and the results indicated that all composite membranes possess excellent antibacterial properties. Our work presents PVC/ZnO‐CMC NPs composite membrane a promising future in wastewater treatment and antibacterial application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrochemical performance of hybrid capacitors is seriously affected by the slow charging and discharging of the bulk phase. Here, Co-doped amorphous NiMoS4 modified with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) was prepared by a simple one-step hydrothermal method, and the obtained Co-doped NiMoS4/rGO nanocomposite (Ni1−xCoxMoS4/rGO) exhibits a high specific surface area, realizing the redox reaction from the bulk to the surface. Owing to the doping of Co with abundant redox active sites and the support of rGO sheets with high conductivity and a stable structure, the Ni1−xCoxMoS4/rGO anode assembled with an oxidized needle coke (NCO) cathode shows an excellent energy density of 28.9 W h kg−1 at a power density of 968.3 W kg−1. In addition, the hybrid supercapacitor displays a superior cycling performance with a capacity retention of 92.4% after 10 000 cycles. The construction of the Co-doped NiMoS4/rGO nanocomposite provides an effective strategy to boost the activity and stability of amorphous NiMoS4 for high-performance hybrid supercapacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]