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Zeolite beta with a high Si/Al ratio as a heterogeneous catalyst in the transesterification of triolein for biodiesel production was synthesized hydrothermally in fluoride media. The prepared zeolite beta was subsequently treated with dilute NaOH solutions to render better catalysis in the transesterification reaction. Effects of heating procedures, namely reflux and microwave heating, to the reaction system and sizes of the zeolite beta particles on the conversion of triolein to biodiesel were investigated as well. A conversion efficiency over 90% could be attained within an hour of the reflux reaction. Moreover, these Na-treated zeolite catalysts still exhibit acceptable endurability and good catalysis in the transesterification reaction after nine consecutive cycles. It is inferred that sodium cations existing in the cages and the defect sites of the NaOH-treated zeolite beta can be supplied to the surface of the catalysts during the transesterification reaction and, thus, to enhance the catalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen generation from the catalyzed deliquescence/hydrolysis of ammonia borane (AB) using the Ni–Co catalyst supported on the graphene oxide (Ni–Co/r-GO catalyst) under the conditions of limited water supply was studied with the molar feed ratio of water to ammonia borane (denoted as H 2 O/AB) at 2.02, 3.97 and 5.93, respectively. The conversion efficiency of ammonia borane to hydrogen was estimated both from the cumulative volume of the hydrogen gas generated and the conversion of boron chemistry in the hydrolysates analyzed by the solid-state 11 B NMR. The conversion efficiency of ammonia borane could reach nearly 100% under excess water dosage, that is, H 2 O/AB = 3.97 and 5.93. Notably, the hydrogen storage capacity could reach as high as 6.5 wt.% in the case with H 2 O/AB = 2.02. The hydrolysates of ammonia borane in the presence of Ni–Co/r-GO catalyst were mainly the mixture of boric acid and metaborate according to XRD, FT-IR and solid-state 11 B NMR analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodiesel production from transesterification of vegetable oils in excess methanol was performed by using as-prepared catalyst from low-cost kaolin clay. This effective heterogeneous catalyst was successfully prepared from natural kaolin firstly by dehydroxylation at 800°C for 10h and, subsequently, by NaOH-activation hydrothermally at 90°C for 24h and calcined again at 500°C for 6h. The as-obtained catalytic material was characterized with instruments, including FT-IR, XRD, SEM, and porosimeter (BET/BJH analysis). The as-prepared catalyst was advantageous not only for its easy preparation, but also for its cost-efficiency and superior catalysis in transesterification of vegetable oils in excess methanol to produce fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs). Conversion efficiencies of soybean and palm oils to biodiesel over the as-prepared catalysts reached 97.0±3.0% and 95.4±3.7%, respectively, under optimal conditions. Activation energies of transesterification reactions of soybean and palm oils in excess methanol using these catalysts are 14.09kJ/mol and 48.87kJ/mol, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A statistical strategy in experimental design is devised to predict the optimal conditions in esterification of palmitic acid with excess methanol over a solid acid catalyst, viz. Amberlite™ IR-120 (H) resin, at a temperature less than the boiling point of methanol. Combining the experimental data and the backward stepwise regression technique with a 25-1 fractional factorial design, the optimal condition is determined from the path of the steepest ascent and found as follows: (1) 8:1 in the molar feed ratio of methanol to palmitic acid, (2) 61.0°C set as reaction temperature, (3) 10.5h for reaction time, (4) catalyst loading at 10wt.% of palmitic acid, and (5) a stirring speed at 600rpm. Under this optimal condition, the conversion efficiency of palmitic acid to methyl palmitate could reach as high as 98.3±0.4%. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Grapeseed extract (GSE) is a rich source of natural phenolic compounds and possesses various pharmacological activities, including antioxidant, anticarcinogenic and anti-inflammatory properties. However, effects of GSE on immunoglobulin (Ig) E-mediated allergic responses still remain elusive. In the present study, the effects of GSE on activation and degranulation of RBL-2H3 mast cells were investigated. GSE pretreatments (20–100μg/ml) reduced IgE-antigen mediated release of β-hexosaminidase and histamine in RBL-2H3 cells. Additionally, GSE reversibly inhibited expression of FcεRI on RBL-2H3 cells. GSE treatments caused a significant elevation of intracellular cAMP levels, whereas the Ca2+ influx upon antigen stimulation was inhibited. Suppression on FcεRI expression together with decreased calcium uptake and increased cAMP level might be involved in attenuated degranulation of mast cells by GSE treatment. Our results suggest a possible pharmaceutical application of GSE in treating type I allergic diseases. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Betel quid (BQ) is a widely accepted etiological factor for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) in Southeast Asia, but how BQ chewing leads to oral carcinogenesis remains to be elucidated. We have previously demonstrated that the activation of Src family kinases (SFKs) is critical for BQ-induced oral cancer cell motility. Here we investigate whether this biological effect is mediated by specific membrane receptors in oral cancer cells. We found that BQ-induced activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and cell migration could be inhibited by atropine, suggesting the involvement of the muscarinic receptor family. The enhanced activities of ERK1/2 and cell migration were significantly counteracted by PD102807, the selective antagonist of muscarinic M4 receptor. Moreover, cold BQ extract effectively competed with a known ligand, [3H]-N-methyl scopolamine, for binding to muscarinic M4 receptor in vitro, thereby implying that BQ could activate motility-promoting signaling pathways through direct interaction with the receptor. The requirement of muscarinic M4 receptor for BQ-induced oral cancer cell migration was demonstrated by knockdown of the receptor using RNA interference (RNAi). Remarkably, ectopic expression of muscarinic M4 receptor in two oral cancer cell lines, Ca9-22 and SCC-9, further augmented BQ-induced cell migration by 83% and 99%, respectively. Finally, we verified that BQ-induced oral cancer cell migration was mediated through a muscarinic M4 receptor→SFKs→ERK1/2 signaling pathway. Thus, our findings have identified a novel signaling cascade mediating BQ-induced oral cancer cell motility, which could be a therapeutic target for BQ-related oral malignancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Solid-state NaBH4/Ru-based catalyst composites have been fabricated for hydrogen generation through a high-energy ball-milling process, providing uniform dispersion of resin-supported Ru3+ catalysts among pulverized NaBH4 (SBH) particles, so as to increase the contacts of SBH with active catalytic sites. Consequently, the gravimetric hydrogen storage capacity as high as 7.3wt% could be achieved by utilizing water as a limiting reagent to overcome the issue of deactivated catalysts whose active sites are often blocked by precipitates caused by limited NaBO2 solubility occurring in conventional aqueous SBH systems for hydrogen productions. Products of hydrolyzed SBH that greatly influence the gravimetric H2 storage capacity are found to be most likely NaBO2·2H2O and NaBO2·4H2O from SBH/H2O reacting systems with initial weight ratios, SBH/H2O=1/2 and 1/10, respectively, according to the TGA and XRD analyses. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A fast and simple fabrication process, viz. a wet-chemical reduction process, was utilized for preparation of a cobalt-based catalyst to be used for hydrogen generation from alkaline NaBH4 solution. Characteristics of this cobalt-based catalyst were carried out by using various instruments, such as SEM/EDS, XPS, ICP, VSM, BET and TGA. The surface chemistry of the obtained catalyst is mainly cobalt oxides, not cobalt borides. Ferromagnetic property of the cobalt-based catalyst makes it convenient for being recycled from spent NaBH4 solution. The rate of hydrogen generation from catalyzed hydrolysis of alkaline NaBH4 solution was determined as a function of temperature, NaBH4 concentration, and NaOH concentration in the presence of prepared catalysts. In general, stable generation rate of highly pure hydrogen near 200mLmin−1 g−1 was achieved in 100mL of 5wt% NaBH4 solution containing 5wt% NaOH solution and 200mg of Co/IR-120 catalyst, in which no temperature runoff was observed during the course of hydrogen production. The activation energy of NaBH4 hydrolysis reaction was found at 66.67kJmol−1, which was comparable with others reported in the open literatures. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Magnetic nickel–ruthenium based catalysts on resin beads for hydrogen generation from alkaline NaBH4 solutions were synthesized with combined methods of chemical reduction and electroless deposition. Factors, such as solution temperature, NaBH4 loadings, and NaOH concentration, on performance of these catalysts on hydrogen production from alkaline NaBH4 solutions were investigated. Furthermore, characteristics of these nickel–ruthenium based catalysts were carried out by using various instruments, such as SEM/EDS, XPS, SQUID VSM and BET. These catalysts can be easily recycled from spent NaBH4 solution with permanent magnets owing to their intrinsic soft ferromagnetism and, therefore, reducing the operation cost of the hydrogen generation process. A rate of hydrogen evolution as high as ca. 400mL min−1 g−1 could be reached at 35°C in 10wt% NaBH4 solution containing 5wt% NaOH using Ni–Ru/50WX8 catalysts. Activation energy of hydrogen generation using such catalysts is estimated at 52.73kJ mol−1. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Biodegradation of three nonionic surfactants, Tergitol 15-S-X (X =7, 9 and 12), and their effects on the biodegradation of phenanthrene by marine bacteria, Neptunomonas naphthovorans, were studied. The experimental outcomes could be fit well with the first-order biodegradation kinetics model. It was observed that the biodegradability of these surfactants decreased with an increase in the chain length of the hydrophilic moiety of the surfactant. When surfactant concentrations initially present were less than 250mgcarbon/L, biodegradability of Tergitol 15-S-X surfactants is around 0.3. Reduced biodegradability of Tergitol 15-S-7 and Tergitol 15-S-9 was observed when their concentrations initially present were increased to 322 and 371mgcarbon/L, respectively. In general, biodegradation of phenanthrene was enhanced with increasing solubilization of phenanthrene by these surfactants. However, with the same initial concentration of phenanthrene, biodegradability of phenanthrene was found to decrease with an increase in surfactant concentration. For these three surfactants, more than 80% of the phenanthrene was degraded when surfactant concentrations initially present were 200mg/L. However, less than 30% of phenanthrene could be degraded, if initial surfactant concentrations were increased to 1000mg/L. Interestingly, the concurrent biodegradation of the surfactants reduced their effective concentrations for micelle formation and, hence, contribute to the higher bioavailability of phenanthrene by gradually releasing phenanthrene molecules into the aqueous phase. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Raw calcium phosphates were synthesized via a chemical reaction between 0.5M orthophosphoric acid and 0.5M calcium hydroxide. Hydroxyapatite (HAp), β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) or biphase calcium phosphate (BCP) comprising HAp and β-TCP were obtained by changing pH value, Ca/P ratio, and the addition of glycerol. The as-synthesized and heat-treated powders were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transformation infrared spectrometry (FTIR). Thermal stability of the pure apatite phase was obtained to be 1300°C, while synthesis was done at the pH value of 10.0 with a Ca/P ratio of 2.0 and a temperature of 37°C. Besides, the β-TCP phase (with higher purity) was achieved at 800°C, whose synthesis was done at pH 6.4 with a Ca/P ratio of 1.5 and a temperature of 37°C. Therefore, the biphase bioceramics comprising of HAp and β-TCP could be obtained, since it was manipulated suitably. The HAp raw material was subjected to a simple emulsion method for the preparation of porous beads. They should have the advantage of exhibiting higher adsorptive ability and osteoconductivity in comparison with the sintered dense apatite. Additionally, the porous beads of apatite were demonstrated to be non-toxic to cells, and should be suitable for the use as a scaffold of cultured bone and bone graft material, as well as for drug delivery systems. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Effect of nonionic surfactants on the performance of the cloud-point extraction (CPE) processes in preconcentrating trace amount of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), consisting of two to five fused rings, from aqueous solution at 25°C was studied. Three biodegradable nonionic surfactants with molecular similarity were employed. Cloud-point temperatures (CPTs) of these micellar solutions were regulated and reduced enough with addition of sodium sulfate and sodium phosphate, so that the CPE process could be facilitated at 25°C. Furthermore, quadratic equations in additive concentration are found to fit the CPTs of these micellar solutions well. It is observed that the preconcentration factor could be enhanced either by increasing the salt concentration or by decreasing the initial surfactant concentration present in the micellar solution. With CPTs regulated at around 15 and 18°C with addition of Na2SO4 and Na3PO4, preconcentration factors in between 30 and 45 obtained from 1wt% micellar solutions of these three surfactants appear in the order of Tergitol 15-S-9>Neodol 25-7>Tergitol 15-S-7, coincidently with the hydrophilicity order of surfactants. The average preconcentration factor was empirically fitted well as a simple power-law function of surfactant concentration used in the CPE process. The obtained empirical power-law indices are close to negative unity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The goal of this work was to utilize the chondroitin sulfate (CS) based hydrogels for a drug delivery matrix. CS is a good structure/disease-modifying anti-osteroarthritis drug (S/DMOAD). However, the readily water-soluble nature limits its application as a solid-state drug-delivery vehicle. In this study, two methods were used to prepare CS hydrogels: directly crosslinking CS with poly(ethylene glycol) diglycidyl ether (EX-810) abbreviated as CS-EX or forming an interpenetrating polymer network named CS-EX-IPN. The CS-EX-IPN hydrogel was carried out by sequentially crosslinking reaction between CS and EX-810 in one phase and acrylic acid and di(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (DEGDA) as a counter phase. The swelling percent, cross-section morphology, and effective crosslinking density of hydrogels were characterized. The values of compression modulus and effective crosslinking density of CS-EX-IPN were ∼3.6-fold higher than CS-EX. We also characterized the release of a model drug, diclofenac sodium (DS) and a model protein, bovine serum albumin (BSA), from CS-EX and CS-EX-IPN. The similar release profiles of DS were observed in the both hydrogels but slower release rate of BSA occurred in CS-EX-IPN. The release profiles of the two model drugs fit in a diffusion-controlled mechanism. The D eff values are in the order of 10−5 for DS and 10−7 for BSA. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The rheological characteristics of the wastewater sludge were investigated by using a Haake Rheostress RS 75 rheometer. The shear creep compliance experiments and the dynamic viscosity measurements were conducted. The shear creep compliance experiments indicate the addition of polymer coagulants to the sludge samples will form more rigid structures. The elastic solid-like behaviors were always observed in the samples with polymers. The Voigt model was successfully employed in modeling the viscoelastic retardation behavior of sludge samples in the shear creep compliance tests. Moreover, the dynamic viscosity curves of the sludge samples with/without polymer could be described by the power law model of Ostwald and de Waele at the medium shear rates, ca. 100–300 s -1 . Consequently, addition of polymer to the sludge tends to extend the applicable ranges of the shear rates for the power law model as well as to decrease the power law index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The rheological characteristics of the wastewater sludge were investigated by using a Haake Rheostress RS 75 rheometer. The stress–sweep experiments and the small-amplitude-oscillatory-shearing (SAOS) tests were conducted. The stress–sweep measurements demonstrate that addition of polymer coagulants to sludge samples could significantly influence the corresponding complex shear modulus G*. Furthermore, the SAOS tests indicate that the sludge samples treated with polymer coagulants will form more rigid structures. The original sludge samples mostly show typical viscoelastic liquid-like behavior. However, the solid-like behaviors were always observed in the samples treated with polymers. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Separation of CO2 from a gas stream, using a hollow fiber membrane contactor, is a promising alternative to conventional techniques such as column absorption. The major advantages of the membrane absorption are the larger interfacial area, a better device-modularity and more operational flexibility. The factors that impact the efficiency and performance of the absorption process using a hollow fiber membrane contactor, as well as the evaluation of model parameters are reviewed in this paper. Strategies on further development of this process are also proposed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A cloud-point extraction (CPE) process using the nonionic surfactant Tergitol 15-S-7, a secondary ethoxylated alcohol, to extract selected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from aqueous solutions is investigated. The CPE process is facilitated at the ambient temperature, ca. 22 °C, by the reduction of the cloud-point temperature of the surfactant solution by addition of sodium sulfate. It is observed that the preconcentration factor could be enhanced either by increasing the salt concentration or by decreasing the initial surfactant concentration in the micellar solution. A high preconcentration factor of about 40 was achieved at 1 wt% surfactant concentration with the addition of 0.6 M Na2SO4. It is also noted that the equilibrium partition coefficients of the model PAHs are nearly independent of surfactant concentrations, up to 3 wt%, in this study. Correlations between the equilibrium partition coefficients Kp of the PAHs and their octanol–water partition coefficients Kow, as well as Kp and the molar volume Vx of these PAHs, indicate that the partition processes of the PAHs in the CPE processes are mainly governed by their hydrophobic affinities to the surfactant aggregates. Furthermore, the effect of added Na2SO4 on the equilibrium partition coefficients is also studied. It is shown that addition of more Na2SO4 to the surfactant solution gives more partition of the PAHs into the surfactant-rich phase. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Resist trimming process using CF4/O2 has been developed for sub-0.1 μm polysilicon gate patterning using conventional 248-nm lithography. This process allows the successful fabrication of 80-nm MOS devices. The trimming step is performed in situ as part of the polysilicon gate etching process. The effects of process parameters on trim-rate, trim-rate-nonuniformity and microloading effect are investigated using design-of-experiment. The trim-rate is affected very significantly by the over-etch percentage and O2 gas flow. Bias voltage is of much importance in the linewidth control and the microloading effect, but less significant on trim-rate. The trim-rate increases with increasing RF source power and reactor pressure but decreases with higher bias voltage, indicating that the trimming process is dominated by the neutral reactant species. An optimized recipe has been developed and is proven to be reproducible. The optimum shrinking rate of resist critical dimension is 1.4 nm/s and the trim-rate-nonuniformity σ is about 1.7% of the average trim-rate. Good sidewall profiles of the resist and polysilicon gate are maintained. Transistors having near 80 nm gate length are fabricated successfully by trimming the photoresist having the developed inspection critical dimension (DICD) at 122.6 nm with σ=2.7 nm. The final inspection critical dimension (FICD) and the effective channel length (Leff) of the aforementioned transistors are 78.5 nm with σ=2.1 nm and 79.7 nm with σ=3.2 nm. Both p-channel and n-channel devices show tight saturation current (Idsat) control with σ less than 5% of the mean value. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), a prevalent liver disorder affecting one-third of the global population, encompasses a spectrum ranging from fatty liver to severe hepatic steatosis. Both genetic and lifestyle factors, particularly diet and nutrition, contribute to its etiology. Folate deficiency, a frequently encountered type of malnutrition, has been associated with the pathogenesis of MAFLD and shown to impact lipid deposition. However, the underlying mechanisms of this relationship remain incompletely understood. We investigated the impact of disturbed folate-mediated one-carbon metabolism (OCM) on hepatic lipid metabolism both in vitro using human hepatoma cells and in vivo using transgenic fluorescent zebrafish displaying extent-, stage-, and duration-controllable folate deficiency upon induction. Results: Disturbed folate-mediated one-carbon metabolism, either by inducing folate deficiency or adding anti-folate drug, compromises autophagy and causes lipid accumulation in liver cells. Disturbed folate status down-regulates cathepsin L, a key enzyme involved in autophagy, through inhibiting mTOR signaling. Interfered mitochondrial biology, including mitochondria relocation and increased fusion-fission dynamics, also occurs in folate-deficient hepatocytes. Folate supplementation effectively mitigated the impaired autophagy and lipid accumulation caused by the inhibition of cathepsin L activity, even when the inhibition was not directly related to folate deficiency. Conclusions: Disruption of folate-mediated OCM diminishes cathepsin L expression and impedes autophagy via mTOR signaling, leading to lipid accumulation within hepatocytes. These findings underscore the crucial role of folate in modulating autophagic processes and regulating lipid metabolism in the liver. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The anti-oral cancer effects of santamarine (SAMA), a Michelia compressa var. compressa-derived natural product, remain unclear. This study investigates the anticancer effects and acting mechanism of SAMA against oral cancer (OC-2 and HSC-3) in parallel with normal (Smulow–Glickman; S-G) cells. SAMA selectively inhibits oral cancer cell viability more than normal cells, reverted by the oxidative stress remover N-acetylcysteine (NAC). The evidence of oxidative stress generation, such as the induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial superoxide and the depletion of mitochondrial membrane potential and glutathione, further supports this ROS-dependent selective antiproliferation. SAMA arrests oral cancer cells at the G2/M phase. SAMA triggers apoptosis (annexin V) in oral cancer cells and activates caspases 3, 8, and 9. SAMA enhances two types of DNA damage in oral cancer cells, such as γH2AX and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine. Moreover, all of these anticancer mechanisms of SAMA are more highly expressed in oral cancer cells than in normal cells in concentration and time course experiments. These above changes are attenuated by NAC, suggesting that SAMA exerts mechanisms of selective antiproliferation that depend on oxidative stress while maintaining minimal cytotoxicity to normal cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kinetics of hydrotreating reaction of palmitic acid in H 2 at 35 bar and 300 °C [Display omitted] • Ni/ZSM-5 and Ni-Mo/ZSM-5 successfully prepared by incipient wetness impregnation. • Hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of palmitic acid performed at T = 300 °C and P H2 = 35 bar. • Conversion of palmitic acid could reach ca. 99% after 4 h of HDO reaction at 300 °C. • Normal and branched paraffins (C > 12) are main HDO products of palmitic acid. • Molybdenum can effectively promote the catalytic activity of Ni in HDO reaction. In this study, Ni and Ni/Mo catalysts supported on zeolite ZSM-5, aka Ni/ZSM-5 and Ni-Mo(R)/ZSM-5, were successfully prepared by the incipient wetness impregnation method to hydrotreat heterogeneously the palmitic acid with an aim for the production of green diesel. Various instruments, such as XRD, SEM, BET, XPS, NH 3 -TPD and H 2 -TPR, were employed to characterize these catalysts. The hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) reaction of palmitic acid was carried out in an autoclave at 300 °C with an initial pressure of hydrogen at 35 bar. With Ni-Mo(R)/ZSM-5 catalysts priorly reduced in H 2 at 500 °C, the conversion of palmitic acid could reach near 99% after 4 h of HDO reaction at 300 °C. Furthermore, a significant portion of isomerized paraffins appeared in the product, as revealed by GC–MS. That is, both hydrodeoxygenation and hydroisomerization reactions took place conjointly on palmitic acid with Ni-Mo(R)/ZSM-5 catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In this study, natural diatomaceous earth was utilized for the preparation of efficient lithium metasilicate (Li 2 SiO 3) catalyst for biodiesel production via the transesterification of soybean oil and waste cooking oil. Lithium metasilicate was successfully synthesized from the hydrothermal reaction of natural diatomite in LiOH solutions at 150 °C for 24 h and, subsequently, by calcination at 500 °C for 6 h. Both fresh and spent Li 2 SiO 3 catalysts were characterized by using XRD, 29Si NMR, BET, ICP-OES and acid-base titration. The acidity of the soybean oil and waste cooking oil used in this study was 0.54 mg KOH/g oil and 1.67 mg KOH/g oil, respectively. The yields of biodiesel from soybean oil reached ca. 80.3% in 1 h, respectively, in presence of catalyst at 3 wt% of oil used. Generally, more catalyst present would lead to a higher yield of biodiesel. With the mass loading of catalyst-to-oil at 0.05, the activation energy of the catalyzed transesterification using Li 2 SiO 3 catalyst was 61.65 kJ/mol. The durability test of the Li 2 SiO 3 catalysts was conducted in the same system. A high catalytic activity after being reused for 19 times was observed with a yield of biodiesel near ca. 85% after 4 h of the transesterification reaction at 60 °C. The deactivation mechanism of the Li 2 SiO 3 catalyst was mainly attributed to the loss of surface base sites coincident with more Q4 and less Q2 Si atoms in catalyst after reaction, as found by 29Si NMR. Graphical abstract Durability of Li 2 SiO 3 catalysts in the transesterification of soybean oil with an acid value as 0.54 mg KOH/g oil. Image 1 Highlights • Lithium metasilicate (Li 2 SiO 3) hydrothermally synthesized from diatomite and LiOH. • Biodiesel produced from Li 2 SiO 3 -catalyzed transesterification of acid oil. • A yield of biodiesel >97% was achieved with Li 2 SiO 3 in 2 h-reflux reaction. • A yield of biodiesel ∼86.4% from waste cooking oil was realized with Li 2 SiO 3. • Good durability of Li 2 SiO 3 in biodiesel production was attained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Previously, a soluble mouse CD23 chimera, composed of an N-terminal trimeric isoleucine zipper motif (lz ) followed by the entire extracellular region (amino acids 48–331) of CD23 (lz -CD2348-331 ), was prepared and exhibited strong binding to rodent immunoglobulin E (IgE). In the current study, we report the construction of a similar human chimeric protein (lz -huCD2345-321 ), as well as a series of murine chimeric lz- CD23 mutants with incremental portions of stalk deleted, to further investigate the role of the stalk region in mediating the CD23–IgE interaction. All chimeric proteins were designed such that the predicted heptad structure of the stalk was retained. IgE binding, as determined by the capacity to inhibit 125 I-IgE from binding to FcεRI-bearing RBL-2H3 cells, and by surface plasmon-resonance analysis using an IgE-coated sensor chip, was unchanged from the original lz chimera and the binding parameters were similar to those of cell-surface CD23. The minimal murine chimera that retained IgE-binding activity was lz -CD23139-331 , which still contains 35 amino acids of the stalk region. When the lz motif was linked to CD23 amino acid 157 (or higher), significant IgE-binding capacity was lost. With human lz -CD23, as with mouse, deletion of the stalk greatly reduced IgE-binding ability. In summary, the data support the concept that at least a portion of the stalk region of CD23 plays a crucial role in maintaining high-affinity/avidity interaction with IgE. The lz -CD23 constructs represent a possible alternative for both blocking the IgE/FcεRI interaction and inhibiting IgE production by B lymphocytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Change in cell size may bring in profound impact to cell function and survival, hence the integrity of the organs consisting of those cells. Nevertheless, how cell size is regulated remains incompletely understood. We used the fluorescent zebrafish transgenic line Tg-GGH/LR that displays inducible folate deficiency (FD) and hepatomegaly upon FD induction as in vivo model. We found that FD caused hepatocytes enlargement and increased liver stiffness, which could not be prevented by nucleotides supplementations. Both in vitro and in vivo studies indicated that RIPK3/MLKL-dependent necroptotic pathway and Hippo signaling interactively participated in this FD-induced hepatocytic enlargement in a dual chronological and cooperative manner. FD also induced hepatic inflammation, which convenes a dialog of positive feedback loop between necroptotic and Hippo pathways. The increased MMP13 expression in response to FD elevated TNFα level and further aggravated the hepatocyte enlargement. Meanwhile, F-actin was circumferentially re-allocated at the edge under cell membrane in response to FD. Our results substantiate the interplay among intracellular folate status, pathways regulation, inflammatory responses, actin cytoskeleton and cell volume control, which can be best observed with in vivo platform. Our data also support the use of this Tg-GGH/LR transgenic line for the mechanistical and therapeutic research for the pathologic conditions related to cell size alteration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preparation and characterization of bimetallic Ni–Co nanoparticle catalysts loaded on the reduced graphene oxide, denoted as Ni–Co/r-GO, for hydrogen generation from catalytic hydrolysis of sodium borohydride were studied. The reduced graphene oxide nanosheets were prepared from natural graphite. The Ni and Co metals were electrolessly deposited on the light-weighted reduced graphene oxide (r-GO) nanosheets. Process parameters affecting the hydrolysis reaction of NaBH 4 in the presence of Ni–Co/r-GO catalysts, such as NaOH and NaBH 4 concentrations, as well as catalyst loadings and reaction temperature, were investigated. A hydrogen production rate as high as ca. 1280 mL min −1 (g cat.) −1 could be obtained using the prepared Ni–Co/r-GO catalysts. The activation energy of the catalytic hydrolysis reaction of sodium borohydride was found at 55.12 kJ mol −1 from the system consisting of 10 wt% NaBH 4 and 5 wt% NaOH as well as a catalyst loading at 0.1 g catalyst per g NaBH 4 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Effects of the reduction temperature and the pH value of Pt precursor solutions of the polyol reduction process on the resulted Pt electrocatalysts supported on the reduced graphene oxide (Pt/r-GO) nanosheets for the ORR (oxygen reduction reaction) are investigated. The Pt/r-GO catalyst possesses Pt nanoparticles having an average size from 2 to 4 nm and a Pt loading from 13 to 20 wt%. The electrochemical performance of the Pt/r-GO catalysts is examined with the glassy carbon RDE (rotating disk electrode) technique in the O2-saturated HClO4 (0.5 M) solution. The Pt/r-GO catalysts have less ORR limiting currents near 3.5 mA cm−2, but, in general, the more positive onset potentials than the commercial Pt/carbon black catalysts. The number of electron transfer in ORR over the Pt/r-GO catalysts is 3.85 in average, close to that of a 4-electron transfer process. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Optimization of sodium loading on zeolite HY for catalyzed transesterification of triolein in excess methanol to biodiesel was studied. Zeolite HY catalyst was activated by loading sodium ions to their surface via an ion-exchange method. The effects of ion-exchange process parameters, including the temperature, the process time, the pH value, as well as concentrations and sources of Na+ cations (NaOH, NaCl and Na2SO4), on the conversion yield of triolein to biodiesel were investigated. Most of these Na+-activated zeolite HY catalysts could really facilitate the catalyzed transesterification reaction of triolein to biodiesel at a lower temperature near 65°C. Consequently, a high conversion yield of triglycerides to biodiesel at 97.3% was obtained at 65°C. Moreover, the durability of zeolite catalysts was examined as well. Catalytic performance tests of these zeolite catalysts in transesterification did not show a significant decrease in catalysis at least for three batch cycles. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Effect of limited water supply to hydrolysis of ammonia borane for hydrogen evolution is studied over the cases in which the initial molar ratio of water to ammonia borane (H2O/AB) is set at 1.28, 2.57 and 4.50. The conversion efficiency of ammonia borane to hydrogen is estimated from the accumulated volume of produced hydrogen gas and the quantitative analysis of hydrolysate by solid-state 11B NMR. Characteristics of hydrogen evolution are significantly influenced by both water dosage and injection rate of water. In the case that water is a limiting agent, namely, H2O/AB = 1.28, less hydrogen is produced than that predicted stoichiometrically. In contrast, conversion efficiency of ammonia borane reaches nearly 100% for the case with H2O/AB = 4.50. Injection rate of water to ammonia borane also affect profoundly the produced volume and production rate of hydrogen, if water is used as a limiting agent in the hydrolysis of ammonia borane. Nonetheless, boric acid and metaboric acid are found to be the dominant products in the hydrolysate from XRD, FT-IR and solid-state 11B NMR analysis. The hydrogen storage capacity using limited water supply in this work could reach as high as about 5.33 wt%, based on combined mass of reactants and catalyst. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Transesterification of triolein in excess methanol oversodium-loadedcatalysts prepared from Na-ion exchange with zeolites at a relativelylower reaction temperature, namely, at 60 °C, is studied in thiswork. Two zeolites, i.e., as-synthesized ZeoliteMCM-22 and commercial Zeolite HY (CBV-780), are employed in this study.Althoughboth zeolites show to some extent the capability of catalyzing transesterificationof triolein in methanol to biodiesel, the resulting yields are onlyca. 90% for CBV-780 after a 40-h reaction and 16.3% for MCM-22 aftera90-h reaction. In contrast, the conversion yields are much improvedwith Na-ion exchange to the surface of zeolite catalysts. For example,the yields of triolein to biodiesel have reached 98% and 99% withina 5.5-h reaction, respectively, using the NaOH-treated CBV-780 andMCM-22 catalysts, even if these NaOH-treated catalysts become amorphousand have suffered a loss of the Brunauer–Emmett–Tellersurface area. Furthermore, no saponification was observed using theseNaOH-treated catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) were fabricated using TiO2 nanoparticles incorporating different amounts of plasma functionalized carbon nanocapsules (CNCs) as the photoanode. The functionalization was obtained by grafting maleic anhydride (MA) onto the walls of CNCs immediately after the in situ argon plasma treatment. Nanocrystalline semiconductor film electrodes were prepared by sintering TiO2 with added MA-CNCs on a conducting glass substrate. Capacitance measurements obtained from electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analysis in an aqueous electrolyte are fitted using the Mott–Schottky relationship and demonstrate the variation of flatband potential (Vfb ) for the composite with MA-CNC content. The potential chronoamperometric and cyclic voltammetric data supports the argument that the increased Vfb minimizes the defect state for trapping/detrapping of electrons within the MA-CNC/TiO2. As a result of higher film capacitance and electron accumulation, the MA-CNC/TiO2 shows increased conversion efficiency and photocurrent density when used as the photoanode in DSSCs. EIS measurement further demonstrates that charge recombination at the interface of MA-CNC/TiO2 and electrolyte is suppressed with increasing electron lifetime and is in good agreement with the photovoltaic performance. The amount of MA-CNCs added, however needs to be optimized due to the unavoidable issue of aggregation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Hydrolysis of sodium borohydride (NaBH4) is a promising method for on-board hydrogen supply to polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFC). This article presents an attempt to design a novel solid-state NaBH4 composite, which is made up of NaBH4 powder, Co2+/IR-120 catalyst and silicone rubber, for hydrogen generator. The silicone rubber can act as a stabilizer in the solid-state NaBH4 composite because of its surface hydrophobicity leading to reduced diffusion rate of water into the composite. The solid-state NaBH4 composite can produce hydrogen stably near 25mLmin−1 for at least 2h without employment of any mechanical control system. Using the hydrogen generated from the solid-state NaBH4 composite, a 2W PEMFC stack is successfully operated to power a cellular phone. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Solid-state composites of NaBH4 and Co-based catalyst have been fabricated for hydrogen generation via a novel mechanochemical technique, i.e. the high-energy ball milling, in which the gravimetric storage capacity of hydrogen has reached 6.7 wt%, meeting the 2010 target of at least 0.06 kg H2/kg set by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The active catalysts used in the hydrolysis reaction of sodium borohydride for hydrogen generation are mainly cobalt oxides. Controlled addition of water, namely water used as a limiting agent, to the solid composites of NaBH4 and Co-based catalyst greatly improves the H2 storage capacity and resolved the issues of low gravimetric H2 storage in conventional aqueous system of sodium borohydride. Factors influencing the performance of hydrogen production such as amounts of H2O added, catalyst loadings and durations of ball-milling processes are investigated. Moreover the hydrolyzed products of NaBH4 and spent catalysts are analyzed as well. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Effects of various additives including inorganic salts, nonionic and ionic surfactants, water-soluble polymers and alcohols on the cloud points of three linear nonionic surfactants, Tergitol 15-S-7, Tergitol 15-S-9 and Neodol 25-7, were investigated. These surfactants are readily biodegradable and either linear primary or secondary ethoxylated alcohols. Cloud points of these surfactants were functions of their concentrations and concentrations of additives. The cloud points of nonionic surfactant mixtures lay in between the cloud points of individual component surfactants. Presence of two ionic surfactants, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB), increased the cloud point of 1wt% Tergitol 15-S-7 micellar solution dramatically when concentrations of ionic surfactants approaching their critical micelle concentration. Addition of water-soluble polymers decreased the cloud point, while addition of inorganic salts can either increase or decrease the cloud points. However, the effect of an alcohol additive on cloud point was dependent on its chain length or its water solubility. Interestingly, synergistic effects between sulfate or phosphate and pentanol on depression of cloud points of Tergitol 15-S-9 were discovered. A linear model predicting cloud points of Tergitol 15-S-X (X =7, 9 and 12) surfactants and Neodol 25-X (X =7, 9 and 12) surfactants were proposed with a correlation to logarithm of their ethylene oxide numbers. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: High-energy ball milling was employed to regenerate spent-sodium borohydride, i.e., mainly the sodium metaborate (NaBO2), back to sodium borohydride (NaBH4) by a reaction with magnesium hydride (MgH2). The samples were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared-attenuated total reflectance (FTIR-ATR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. In general, as the ball-milling duration increases, the yield of NaBH4 increases accordingly and leads to an extreme value of 76%, when MgH2 in stoichiometric excess by 40% was initially present in ball mills. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A new type of solid catalyst prepared from hydrothermal reaction of natural diatomaceous earth in NaOH solution was studied for biodiesel production through the transesterification of soybean and palm oil in excess methanol. Explicitly, the natural diatomite was transformed into efficacious catalysts, sequentially, by dispersion and activation in NaOH solutions for 30 min at 30 °C, followed by hydrothermal treatments at 180 °C or 220 °C for 12 h, and finally by calcination at 500 °C for 6 h. Coincidently, the physicochemical characteristics of these as -prepared catalysts were shown to bear a good resemblance with those of zeolite CAN. Under suitable conditions, the conversion efficiencies of soybean and palm oils to biodiesel in presence of these zeolite CAN catalysts at 63 °C and 70 °C could be obtained as high as 98.0% and 98.4%, respectively. Furthermore, the activation energies of the transesterification reactions of soybean and palm oils in excess methanol were found as 64.1 kJ/mol and 122.5 kJ/mol, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Nickel–tungsten–phosphorus (NiWP) particles with diameters ranging from 100 to 300nm were fabricated by electroless deposition on silica particles and Au seeds. TEM, SEM equipped with EDX, and SQUID were employed to characterize these particles. It is found that 70°C is sufficient to deposit NiWP particles, in contrast to 90°C required for NiP or NiWP deposited on planar substrates. Magnetic properties of these particles are profoundly influenced by P-contents, whereas replacement of P with W changes the particles from paramagnetic to soft-ferromagnetic nature. Curie temperatures and saturation magnetization of these particles are around 300K and from 0.1 to 20emu/g, respectively. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A cDNA which encodes for zebrafish serine hydroxymethyltransferase (SHMT) has been cloned into a pET43.1a vector as a NdeI–EcoRI insert and transformed into HMS174(DE3) cells. After induction with isopropyl thiogalactoside, the enzyme was purified with a three-step purification protocol and about 15mg of pure enzyme was obtained per liter of culture. Spectral and structural characteristics of the recombinant zebrafish SHMT are similar to the rabbit and human cytosolic SHMT. Kinetic constants for the natural substrates l-serine and tetrahydrofolate are also comparable to the values obtained previously for the rabbit and human cytosolic enzyme. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Paclitaxel (Taxol®) is one of the most effective anticancer drugs found from nature in recent decades, which can treat various cancers including ovarian, breast, brain, colon and lung cancer, and AIDS-related cancer. Due to its low aqueous solubility, adjuvants such as Cremophor EL, which causes serious side effects, have to be used in its administration. Our aim is to develop an alternative delivery system to achieve better therapeutic effects with minimum side effects. Paclitaxel-loaded nanospheres of biodegradable polymers were prepared by an improved solvent extraction/evaporation technique. Phospholipids, cholesterol and vitamins were used to replace traditional chemical emulsifiers to achieve high encapsulation efficiency (EE) and desired release rate of the drug. Nanospheres prepared under various conditions are characterized by the light scattering for size and size distribution, the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the atomic force microscopy (AFM) for surface morphology; differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) for the physical status of the drug within the polymeric matrix; the zeta-potential measurement for the surface charge properties; and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) for the surface chemistry. In-vitro release kinetics were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Best design was pursued to develop a product for cancer chemotherapy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Preparation and characterization of microemulsions consisting of a plant-derived alkyl polyglycoside (APG) surfactant and the essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) was studied. This nonionic APG surfactant used was Triton CG-110 with a CMC at 1748 ppm at 25 °C. Tea tree oil (TTO) was extracted from tea tree leaves by Triton CG-110-assisted hydrodistillation method. The preparation of the microemulsion was aided by the construction of pseudo-ternary phase diagrams, which were investigated at the different weight ratios of surfactant mixtures (Smix = Triton CG-110/PPG) as 0.6:1, 1.8:1, 1:0 with hydrodistilled and commercial TTO by water titration method at room temperature. Particularly, structure of microemulsion was identified by electrical conductivity and viscosity. Moreover, shelf stability of some microemulsion made of 1% TTO with various concentration of Triton CG-110/PPG (1.8:1 w/w) were monitored for over a two-month period with dynamic light scattering. These results showed that microemulsion made of 1% TTO, 9% Triton CG-110/PPG (1.8:1 w/w) was insensitive with time and temperature of storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strontium oxide (SrO) is an effective catalyst for transesterification. SrO powder that is firmly deposited onto a light titanium plate (TiO2_P), denoted as SrO/TiO2_P, can be reinforced by forming strontium titanate (SrTiO3) at the interface. Exposed SrO agglomerates can promote subsequent continuous transesterification process. In this work, conversion efficiency and production of biodiesel from olive oil on SrO/TiO2_P is investigated. The as-designed SrO/TiO2_P was followed by dip-coating and heat treatment. The physical properties of SrO/TiO2_P were verified through ASTM D3359; the chemical structures before and after transesterification, were respectively identified by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. A focused microwave heating system was utilized for transesterification. In the optimized sample SrO/TiO2_P (x) (x = 0.5 M), SrO firmly bonds with TiO2_P and forms the SrTiO3 structure. With the support of TiO2_P, the tested oil with SrO agglomerates subsequently reacts with SrO under microwave heating. The biodiesel conversion rate reaches 87.7% after a reaction time of 4 min, while the biodiesel product has an average of 39.37 MJ/kg of combustion heat and less than 1 vol% of water content. The as-designed SrO/TiO2_P (0.5) thus has great potential for biodiesel production and is promising with high stability in particular for a continuous fluid flow system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, pH indicative films were successfully synthesized from hydrogels made by blending 1% poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and 1% chitosan (CS) with anthocyanin (ATH) and sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP). Particularly, ATH extracted from red cabbage was used as the pH indicator, while STPP was utilized as the cross-linking agent to provide better mechanical properties of the cast films. FT-IR spectra confirmed the existence of the ATH in the cast films. Moreover, the tensile strength, the elongation-at-break, and the swelling indices of the cast films were measured. In general, these properties of pH indicative films were profoundly influenced by the compositions of PVA/CS and the STPP dosage applied in the hydrogels. For example, the tensile strength could change from 43.27 MPa on a film cast from pure PVA hydrogel to 29.89 MPa, if 35% of the PVA hydrogel was substituted with CS. The cast films were applied as a food wrap that could be used to monitor visually the quality of the enwrapped food via the color change of the film upon the variation in pH values of the enwrapped food. In practice, a sequential change in color was successfully observed on the pH indicative films partially enwrapping the pork belly, indicating the spoilage of the meat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The electrochemical stability is well improved upon the immobilization of DES in polymer matrix and introduction of Al 2 O 3 filler. • The battery performance is greatly improved by the synergistic effect exerted by the combination of immobilizing DES and incorporating Al 2 O 3 filler. • Al 2 O 3 filler is introduced into the system to further enhance the electrochemical properties of the electrolytes. • The electrolyte with 5 wt% Al 2 O 3 possess the highest ionic conductivity and the best cyclic performance. Deep-eutectic-solvent (DES), which is formed by mixing LiTFSI and N -methylacetamide in a molar ratio of 1:4, can be seen as a promising additive in electrolyte composition. In this study, DES is immobilized in the ultraviolet-cured poly(butyl acrylate- co -acrylonitrile) (PBA- co -PAN) cross-linked by 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate (HDDA) to serve as novel polymer electrolytes (PEs) for lithium batteries. Moreover, aluminum oxide (Al 2 O 3) filler is introduced into the system to further enhance the electrochemical properties of the electrolytes. The results indicate that the conductivity value reaches 6.8 × 10-4 S cm−1 and an improved electrochemical stability up to 4.6 V can be achieved by the sample with 5 wt% Al 2 O 3 addition (CPE5), which are much better than those of the system with DES as the electrolyte. By virtue of above superiority, the assembled Li//CPE5//LFP cell can deliver a discharge capacity of 155 mAh/g with a 95.3 % retention after 400 cycles at 0.2C rate at room temperature. Our study demonstrated that the battery performance is greatly improved by the synergistic effect exerted by the combination of immobilizing DES and incorporating Al 2 O 3 filler in PBA- co -PAN polymer matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In biomedical applications, it is very desirable to monitor the in vivo state of implanted devices, i.e., tracking the location, the state, and the interaction between the implanted devices and cell tissues. To achieve this goal, a generic strategy of soft materials meso-functionalization is presented. This is to acquire silk fibroin (SF) materials with added functions, i.e., in vivo bioimaging/sensing. The functionalization is by 3D materials assembly of functional components, lanthanide(Ln)-doped upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) on the mesoscopic scale to acquire upconversion fluorescent emission. To implement the meso-functionalization, the surfaces of UCNPs are modified by the hydroxyl groups (OH) from SiO2 or polyethylene glycol coating layers, which can interact with the carbonyl groups (CO) in SF scaffolds. The functionalized silk scaffolds are further implanted subcutaneously into mice, which allows the silk scaffolds to have fluorescent in vivo bioimaging and other biomedical functions. This material functionalization strategy may lead to the rational design of biomaterials in a more generic way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To persue sustainable developments, poly (N -vinylformamide) (PNVF) is investigated as a green, bio-derived and water-soluble binder for Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 (LTO) anode in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Electrochemical performance differences between PNVF electrodes and the conventional polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) electrodes are presented. The electrodes are characterized by peeling test, the galvanostatic charge/discharge cycle test, electrochemical impedance analysis (EIS), cyclic voltammetry (CV) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The electrode with 3 wt% PNVF shows higher peeling force than the one with 10 wt% PVDF. The electrodes with 3 wt% PNVF and 10 wt% PVDF exhibit similar rate capability, whereas the capacity retention at 1C-rate is 91.2% (144 mAh/g) and 76.1% (123 mAh/g) after 1000 cycles, respectively. EIS and CV results exhibit that the lithium-titanium oxide (LTO) electrode with optimal PNVF binder (3 wt%) shows lower R SEI and R ct values as compared to that with PVDF counterpart and optimal PNVF electrode exhibits high lithium-ion diffusion coefficient. To enhance the cyclability and high-rate performance, vinylene carbonate (VC) is added as an electrolyte additive afterwards, and the results improve accordingly. Therefore, the results present in this paper demonstrated that PNVF is a potential aqueous binder for LTO anode within green fabrication. [Display omitted] • PNVF is a green, bio-derived and water-soluble binder for lithium-ion batteries. • PNVF electrodes show comparable specific capacity and higher capacity retention. • These improved results are attributed to its polar side chain and better adhesion. • The electrode and SEI formed with PNVF binder is more stable than PVDF binder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: 2,9-Bis[2-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)ethoxy]-6-{4-[2-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)ethoxy] phenyl}-11H-indeno[1,2-c]quinolin-11-one (BPIQ) is a derivative from 6-arylindeno[1,2-c]quinoline. Our previous study showed the anti-cancer potential of BPIQ compared to its two analogues topotecan and irinotecan. In the study, the aim is to investigate the potency and the mechanism of BPIQ against lung cancer cells.Methods: Both in vitro and zebrafish xenograft model were performed to examine the anti-lung cancer effect of BPIQ. Flow cytometer-based assays were performed for detecting apoptosis and cell cycle distribution. Western blot assay was used for detecting the changes of apoptotic and cell cycle-associated proteins. siRNA knockdown assay was performed for confirming the apoptotic role of Bim.Results: Both in vitro and zebrafish xenograft model demonstrated the anti-lung cancer effect of BPIQ. BPIQ-induced proliferative inhibition of H1299 cells was achieved through the induction of G2/M-phase arrest and apoptosis. The results of Western blot showed that BPIQ-induced G2/M-phase arrest was associated with a marked decrease in the protein levels of cyclin B and cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1). The up-regulation of pro-apoptotic Bad, Bim and down-regulation of pro-survival XIAP and survivin was observed following BPIQ treatment.Conclusions: BPIQ-induced anti-lung cancer is involved in mitochondrial apoptosis. BPIQ could be a promising anti-lung cancer drug for further applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Folate is a nutrient essential for the development, function and regeneration of nervous systems. Folate deficiency has been linked to many neurological disorders including neural tube defects in fetus and Alzheimer's diseases in the elderly. However, the etiology underlying these folate deficiency-associated diseases is not completely understood. In this study, zebrafish transgenic lines with timing and duration-controllable folate deficiency were developed by ectopically overexpressing a recombinant EGFP-γ-glutamyl hydrolase (γGH). Impeded neural crest cell migration was observed in the transgenic embryos when folate deficiency was induced in early stages, leading to defective neural tube closure and hematopoiesis. Adding reduced folate or N-acetylcysteine reversed the phenotypic anomalies, supporting the causal link between the increased oxidative stress and the folate deficiency-induced abnormalities. When folate deficiency was induced in aged fish accumulation of beta-amyloid and phosphorylated Tau protein were found in the fish brain cryo-sections. Increased autophagy and accumulation of acidic autolysosome were apparent in folate deficient neuroblastoma cells, which were reversed by reduced folate or N-acetylcysteine supplementation. Decreased expression of cathepsin B, a lysosomal protease, was also observed in cells and tissue with folate deficiency. We concluded that folate deficiency-induced oxidative stress contributed to the folate deficiency-associated neuropathogenesis in both early and late stages of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sol/Gel behavior of a mixture of two Pluronic species with non-identical polypropylene oxide (PPO) and polyethylene oxide (PEO) block lengths in aqueous medium is explored. Emphasis is placed on the nature of micelles (either mixed or separate micelles), nature of gelation, gel strength and microstructure. Two mixtures are considered: F127 + L64 and F127 + P105. Cooperative aggregation leading to mixed micelles is found for both cases via dynamic light scattering, differential scanning calorimetry and cloud point temperature experiments. From rheometry, F127 + L64 is found to exhibit two hard gel states separated by a soft gel as the temperature increases, although each species alone does not show such behavior. The first hard gel formed at lower temperature appears clear and has a cubic packing structure, while the second hard gel at higher temperature is hexagonally structured and appears hazy. Interestingly, the second hard gel is observed only during the temperature ramp up process, whereas the first gel is seen both in the ramp up and down processes. The aforementioned behavior does not occur for F127 + P105. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Folate is an essential nutrient for cell survival and embryogenesis. 10-Formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase (FDH) is the most abundant folate enzyme in folate-mediated one-carbon metabolism. 10-Formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase converts 10-formyltetrahydrofolate to tetrahydrofolate and CO2, the only pathway responsible for formate oxidation in methanol intoxication. 10-Formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase has been considered a potential chemotherapeutic target because it was down-regulated in cancer cells. However, the normal physiological significance of 10-Formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase is not completely understood, hampering the development of therapeutic drug/regimen targeting 10-Formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase. Methods: 10-Formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase expression in zebrafish embryos was knocked-down using morpholino oligonucleotides. The morphological and biochemical characteristics of fdh morphants were examined using specific dye staining and whole-mount in-situ hybridization. Embryonic folate contents were determined by HPLC. Results: The expression of 10-formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase was consistent in whole embryos during early embryogenesis and became tissue-specific in later stages. Knocking-down fdh impeded morphogenetic movement and caused incorrect cardiac positioning, defective hematopoiesis, notochordmalformation and ultimate death of morphants. Obstructed F-actin polymerization and delayed epiboly were observed in fdh morphants. These abnormalities were reversed either by adding tetrahydrofolate or antioxidant or by co-injecting the mRNA encoding 10-formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase N-terminal domain, supporting the anti-oxidative activity of 10-formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase and the in vivo function of tetrahydrofolate conservation for 10-formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase N-terminal domain. Conclusions: 10-Formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase functioned in conserving the unstable tetrahydrofolate and contributing to the intracellular anti-oxidative capacity of embryos, which was crucial in promoting proper cell migration during embryogenesis. General significance: These newly reported tetrahydrofolate conserving and anti-oxidative activities of 10-formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase shall be important for unraveling 10-formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase biological significance and the drug development targeting 10-formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]