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Significant strides in the development of non-isocyanate polyurethane (NIPU) have been made in the coatings industry. Aligned with green chemistry principles, this study explores the use of bio-based, low volatile organic compounds and fast-curing waterborne NIPU for coating applications. The linseed oil-based cyclic carbonate was synthesized via a thiol–ene click reaction and was followed by an esterification reaction directly from linseed oil. In this structure, the cyclic carbonates are introduced as pendant functional groups to accelerate the curing. Next, a series of linseed oil-based waterborne NIPUs were synthesized and developed from the linseed oil-based cyclic carbonate, a bio-based fatty acid diamine, and an internal dispersion agent. Different formulations of the linseed oil-based NIPU coatings were designed by varying the internal dispersion agent content and urethane content, and a solvent-borne NIPU was included in the study for comparison purposes. The NIPU coatings with different formulations achieved a broad range of thermal stabilities, viscoelastic properties, and mechanical properties. The general coating properties—including hardness, solvent resistance, impact resistance, and adhesion—were evaluated to demonstrate the practical application of the waterborne NIPU in coatings. The linseed oil-based waterborne NIPU coatings exhibited performance comparable to both a solvent-borne NIPU coating and a commercial waterborne isocyanate-based polyurethane coating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We give some conditions on ordered Γ -semihypergroups under which their interior hyperideal is equal to the hyperideal. In this paper, it is shown that in regular (resp., intraregular, semisimple) ordered Γ -semihypergroups, the hyperideals and the interior hyperideals coincide. To show the importance of these results, some examples and conclusions are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A carbon nitride nanosheet homojunction with spatial separation of electrons-enriched and holes-enriched regions, is successfully constructed to realize the directional charge-carrier transfer, the avoidance of water splitting reverse reaction, and efficient photocatalytic water splitting activity. The notable H 2 evolution rate of (1270.5 μmol h−1, with scavenger) and overall water splitting solar-to-hydrogen efficiency of 0.14% is achieved. [Display omitted] Photocatalytic water splitting is a cost-effective way to convert sustainable solar energy into chemical energy. Among various photocatalytic systems, coupling the H 2 - and O 2 - evolving photocatalysts has been widely used in photocatalytic water splitting. However, due to the close spatial distance between surface electrons and surface holes, this heterogeneous material easily catalyzes the unwanted reverse reaction, limiting the solar energy conversion efficiency. Here we present a carbon nitride nanosheet (CNN) homojunction which possesses electrons-enriched region and holes-enriched region induced by the interfacial internal electric field. The reverse reactions are significantly suppressed by benefiting from the spatial separation of the oxidation (+2.21 V) and reduction (-1.19 V) regions. The homojunction exhibits efficient photocatalytic activity for H 2 and O 2 evolution (1270.5 and 36.0 μmol h−1) with the scavenger. Meanwhile, the solar-to-hydrogen efficiency of overall water splitting was improved to 0.14%. This research provides a new way for semiconductor design in solar energy conversion applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • develop new approach to synthesize AuNPs materials. • self-assembled AuNPs composite via a facile and eco-friendly manner. • various effects regulated on particle growth mechanism. • significant potentials in self-assembled composite AuNPs design. Abstract Pueraria lobata (Wild.) Ohwi is a perennial herb widely grown throughout China, and the root extract of this plant is an attractive green reagent for reducing chloroauric acid to gold nanoparticles. An easy, quick, visual, economical and environmentally friendly approach for the biosynthesis of Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in pueraria lobata extract (PLE) is described. The polyhydroxyl and aldehyde groups in PLE which protected and reduced the AuNPs by FTIR were reported. The effects of temperature, the amount of PLE and the pH on the size of AuNPs were investigated by visual observation of color change and absorption peak by UV–Vis spectroscopy (UV). The bright red colloid of AuNPs was obtained and the average size is 18 nm by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The mechanism of mult-disperse AuNPs in the system was explained by oriented attachment models (OAM). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a linseed oil encapsulated self-healing coating was developed by incorporating 10 wt% synthesized microcapsules into an epoxy-polyamine coating matrix. The linseed oil encapsulated polyurea-formaldehyde (PUF) microcapsules had ∼80 wt% core content with ∼80 um diameter. The influence of embedded microcapsules on the anticorrosive property of the self-healing coating had been studied by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The intact self-healing coating exhibited excellent anticorrosive property as the intact pure epoxy coating, although the addition of microcapsules into the epoxy matrix resulted in a higher water-uptake. The scratched self-healing coating showed excellent healing ability and corrosion inhibition function for microcracks, but it still cannot recover the barrier property as good as the intact coating. The failure of the scratched self-healing coating had been analyzed and the possible reason may be the formation of conductive pathways at the interface between the linseed oil film and the epoxy matrix and/or PUF microcapsule shell. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pigments are added into coatings to enhance aesthetical properties and other functionalities, such as UV stability and corrosion resistance. In this study, one-coat epoxy system with bright orange color, UV stability, and corrosion resistance were developed by incorporating diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) into epoxy resins. A set of coating formulations were generated with different pigment volume concentrations. Coatings with different formulations were exposed in UV aging chamber for different time periods. The UV stability of the coatings were evaluated by color difference, gloss retention, and thickness change. Techniques including UV/Vis, SEM, optical microscope, FTIR, and EIS were used to characterize the performance of DPP pigmented epoxy coatings. The one-coat epoxy system retained the two properties of UV stability and corrosion resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wound healing has always faced major challenges. Severe bacterial infections can delay healing and even be life-threatening. According to relevant statistics, 70% of amputations are caused by wound infections. It is estimated that by 2050, drug-resistant bacteria will threaten the lives of 10 million people every year and cause a total loss of about 100 trillion U.S. dollars to the global economy. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop new and efficient wound dressings that can effectively treat wound infections and promote wound healing while avoiding bacterial resistance. In this study, bismuth sulfide nanoparticles (Bi 2 S 3 NPs) with good photothermal effect were combined with sodium alginate/acrylamide hydrogels (PAAm/NaAlg hydrogels) to prepare nanocomposite adhesive hydrogels (Bi 2 S 3 NPs hydrogels) with strong antibacterial activity and good biocompatibility. Bi 2 S 3 NPs can effectively convert light energy into heat energy and produce a certain amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS) to denature bacterial proteins and destroy cell membranes. In vivo experiments showed that hydrogels have a certain adhesion ability and can effectively promote wound healing without using any growth factors. As far as we know, this is the first time that Bi 2 S 3 NPs were combined with hydrogels to be applied in the antibacterial field, which is expected to provide exciting research directions for Bi 2 S 3 and other nanomaterials, and promote researchers to design more suitable dressings for clinical transformation and medical care. [Display omitted] • Bi 2 S 3 NPs were combined with hydrogel as wound dressing for the first time. • These wound dressings can achieve rapid antibacterial and promote wound healing. • Hydrogels can keep skin moist, fit skin and have good biocompatibility. • The use of hydrogels can avoid the use of antibiotics and reduce bacterial resistance. • The preparation method of the hydrogel is simple, and it is expected to realize large-scale production and market application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, linseed oil was successfully encapsulated in poly(urea-formaldehyde) (PUF) shell via in-situ polymerization to achieve a microcapsule-based self-healing coating. A set of techniques including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), optical microscope, and scanning electron microscope (SEM) were used to completely characterize the synthesized microcapsules. The effects of the molecular weight of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) stabilizers, stir rates, and reaction temperatures on the property of microcapsules were investigated. Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) showed a uniform distribution of microcapsules inside the coating matrix. The stable microcapsules with the high content of core materials ensured the self-healing function. By observation from SEM, the self-healing coating showed excellent healing performance upon artificial cracks comparing to the blank epoxy coating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: Contextual fear memory depends on the hippocampus, but the role of unilateral hippocampus in this type of memory remains unclear. Objectives: Herein, pharmacological inactivation or excitotoxic lesions were used to study the role of unilateral hippocampus in the stages of contextual fear memory. Results: The pharmacological experiments revealed that compared with the control groups, unilateral hippocampal blockade did not impair 1-day recent memory following learning, whereas bilateral hippocampal blockade significantly impaired this memory. The lesion experiments showed that compared with the control groups, the formed contextual fear memory was retained for 7 days and that 30-day remote memory was markedly reduced in unilateral hippocampal lesion groups. Conclusions: These results indicate that an intact bilateral hippocampus is required for the formation of remote memory and that unilateral hippocampus is sufficient for recent contextual fear memory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Hg0 adsorption with C and S on the FeS surface has been studied via DFT-D2 method. • DOS and ICOHP demonstrated the interaction between the adsorbates and the surfaces. • Carbon can promote mercury physisorption on the pristine FeS(0 0 1)-S surface. • The HgS generation process occurs through Langmuir-Hinshelwood Mechanism. Elemental mercury (Hg0) adsorption behaviors and mechanisms on the low-Miller index mackinawite surface (FeS(0 0 1)-S surface), with the engagement of carbon or sulfur, were investigated via DFT-D2 theoretical calculations. The simulation results show that the most favorable adsorption site for the C and Hg atoms was the lower-S site on the pristine surface, while S atom preferred the upper-S site. C atom could cause charge transfer and inter-atomic charge redistribution during adsorption. The carbon atom performs as a linker to connect the substrate and the Hg atom in the most stable mercury adsorption geometry onto the carbon-doped surface. Hg0 is physically adsorbed over the sulfur-doped surface. The HgS molecule chemically attached to the surface at the upper-S site via the Hg atom to form a S-Hg-S structure, and its generation process follows Langmuir-Hinshelwood Mechanism. Firstly, the Hg and S atoms were pre-adsorbed on the FeS(0 0 1)-S surface. Then the system needed to overcome an activation energy barrier (E b) of 89.82 kJ·mol−1. It was an endothermic process in which two separate atoms generated HgS*. However, C atom will impede the reaction as occupying the adsorption sites of mercury and sulfur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flow accelerated organic coating degradation has been received attention, but the degradation mechanism is still not completely understood. In this study, we focus on investigating the influence of fluid shear on the degradation of organic coatings. A commercially available epoxy based clear coating was exposed to the laminar flow, and a 3.5 wt% NaCl solution was employed as the working fluid with a variety of flow rates. The change in the composition of the working fluid during the coating immersion was characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer (FTIR) and conductivity measurement. The effect of fluid shear is also demonstrated by the change in coating thickness. The barrier properties of organic coatings were monitored inline by Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) measurement. The time evolution of coating resistance, capacitance, and permittivity obtained from the equivalent circuit model was studied to demonstrate the internal composition change of the coatings due to the flowing fluid. In this study, the experiments and analysis confirmed that flowing fluid promotes the release of coating materials from the coating into the surrounding working fluid while it accelerates the transport of water and ions into the coating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Pure water and NaCl solution were used as working fluids for coating degradation. [•] Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was used to quantify coating degradation. [•] A suitable equivalent circuit model was employed. [•] More water uptake was found in coatings immersed in pure water. [•] Pure water deteriorates more efficiently coating's barrier property. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Corrosion protective coatings are known to degrade due to moisture exposure. To predict coatings service lifetime, acceleration tests are necessary. We employ flowing deionized water to accelerate coating degradation. Coating barrier properties are found, via electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), to decrease as flow rate (Q) increases, similar to findings for coatings in NaCl solution. EIS modulus decreases more for coatings in deionized water than those in electrolyte solution. Topographical characterizations show severe coating blistering in deionized water immersion with higher Q, but not in electrolyte solutions. Deionized water is thus believed to accelerate more aggressively the degradation than electrolyte solution. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

[Display omitted] • The novel lead-free perovskite Cs 3 Sb 2 I 9 photocatalyst was developed for conversion of CO 2 to CO and CH 4 by photothermal synergistic catalysis. • The production rate of the novel catalytic system is 95.7 μmol g−1 h−1 without any sacrificial agents or cocatalysts. • The synergistic effect of the defects active sites and the plentiful electrons excited by light enhance the activity of CO 2 reduction reaction. Solar-energy-driven CO 2 and H 2 O conversion into value-added chemical fuel holds great potential in solving the greenhouse effect problem and the energy crisis. Herein, the novel lead-free perovskite Cs 3 Sb 2 I 9 photocatalyst was developed to realize high efficiency reduction of CO 2 to CO and CH 4 by photothermal synergistic catalysis. The production rate of the novel catalytic system is 95.7 μmol g−1 h-1 without any sacrificial agents or cocatalysts, which are 87-fold and 5.2-fold higher than that of pure photocatalysis and pure thermal catalysis respectively, and an order of magnitude higher compared to previous literatures. Through the obtained evidence of the formate active intermediates, defects active sites produced in reaction process and photogenerated charge enhanced activity driven by built-in electric field, it is revealed that the defects active sites produced by the thermal excitation of Cs 3 Sb 2 I 9 photocatalyst can adsorb and activate CO 2 , while the plentiful electrons excited by light can provide the CO 2 reduction capacity, the synergistic effect of them enhance the activity of CO 2 reduction reaction. This work firstly reports the novel Sb-based perovskite material was developed as photocatalyst for artificial synthetic CO 2 and H 2 O into solar energy fuels and provides new insights on photothermal synergistic catalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Repeated vivid recalls or flashbacks of traumatic memories and memory deficits are the cardinal features of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The underlying mechanisms are not fully understood yet. Here, we examined the effects of very strong fear conditioning (20 pairings of a light with a 1.5-mA, 0.5-s foot shock) and subsequent reexposure to the conditioning context (chamber A), a similar context (chamber B), and/or to the fear conditioned stimulus (CS) (a light) on synaptic plasticity in the hippocampal CA1 area in anesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats. The conditioning procedure resulted in very strong conditioned fear, as reflected by high levels of persistent freezing, to both the contexts and to the CS, 24 h after fear conditioning. The induction of long-term potentiation (LTP) was blocked immediately after fear conditioning. It was still markedly impaired 24 h after fear conditioning; reexposure to the conditioning chamber A (CA) or to a similar chamber B (CB) did not affect the impairment. However, presentation of the CS in the CA exacerbated the impairment of LTP, whereas the CS presentation in a CB ameliorated the impairment so that LTP induction did not differ from that of control groups. The induction of long-term depression (LTD) was facilitated immediately, but not 24 h, after fear conditioning. Only reexposure to the CS in the CA, but not reexposure to either chamber A or B alone, or the CS in chamber B, 24 h after conditioning, reinstated the facilitation of LTD induction. These data demonstrate that unconditioned and conditioned aversive stimuli in an intense fear conditioning paradigm can have profound effects on hippocampal synaptic plasticity, which may aid to understand the mechanisms underlying impairments of hippocampus-dependent memory by stress or in PTSD. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By the advancement of the oil, electricity, and transportation industries, an increasing number of oil and gas pipelines were buried alongside high‐voltage alternating current (AC) transmission lines and electrified railways. This resulted in a growing issue of AC interference in buried pipelines. Previous studies have shown that the presence of AC interference can result in severe corrosion damage to metallic structures, even when cathodic protection (CP) is available. This paper provides a state‐of‐the‐art review on AC corrosion of cathodically protected pipeline steel. Specifically, attention is paid to research areas including influencing factors in AC corrosion for pipelines under CP, existing AC protection criteria, corrosion risk assessment based on probability of failure, numerical simulation in AC corrosion, and mitigation of AC corrosion. Each area of research is reviewed in detail and the corresponding technical gaps and future research opportunities are identified and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The effects and mechanisms of CO, H 2 , NH 3 and HCl on HgS and HgO generation in H 2 S atmosphere were respectively clarified. • The species and stability of Hg-containing products in H 2 S + CO, H 2 S + H 2 , and H 2 S + NH 3 , and H 2 S + HCl were respectively determined. • The feasibility of adjusting the syngas components and modifying by CuCl 2 impregnation for promoting the solution washing regeneration were respectively evaluated. • The effect and promotional mechanism about the impregnation modification of CuCl 2 were respectively determined. Inhibiting the generation of insoluble HgO and HgS, as well as promoting the generation of HgCl 2 can significantly contribute to the solution washing regeneration of adsorbent for Hg removal in syngas. In this study, CeO 2 -MnO 2 /TiO 2 (Ce-Mn/Ti) was chosen as the Hg adsorbent, the fixed-bed test, Hg-TPD, and characterization test (including BET, SEM-EDS, and XPS) were conducted. Firstly, the effects of different concentrations of CO, H 2 , NH 3 , and HCl on the generation of HgS, HgO, and HgCl 2 on adsorbent was investigated. Although the increase of CO, H 2 , and NH 3 concentration can inhibit the generation of HgS and HgO to different extents, and the increase of HCl concentration can promote the production of HgCl 2 , but they will also lead to the increase in Hg concentration to varying degrees, indicating the adjustment on syngas components and concentrations is not a feasible method. Subsequently, the effects of different concentrations of modification reagent with CuCl 2 were studied. The optimal impregnation ratio of CuCl 2 was determined as 10%, in which the Hg removal efficiency in H 2 S atmosphere could reach over 97%, and almost of the Hg-containing product was easy-soluble HgCl 2. The great advantage of impregnation modification of CuCl 2 is attributed to the uniform and dense distribution of CuCl 2 , as well as the strong activity of CuCl 2 itself towards Hg0 oxidation to HgCl 2. The impregnation modification of CuCl 2 can significantly improve the Hg removal efficiency, inhibit the generation of HgS and HgO, and promote the generation of HgCl 2 , which is verified as a feasible method to improve the solution washing regeneration of Hg adsorbent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coatings industry is increasingly aware of the need to protect the environment and is constantly striving to ensure the safety of the industry and the health of consumers, which creates demand for environmentally friendly non-isocyanate polyurethanes (NIPU). In this study, the waterborne NIPU epoxy hybrid coatings were prepared from waterborne amine-terminated NIPU and waterborne epoxy chain extender. The waterborne amine-terminated NIPU were derived from diglycerol dicarbonate, 3,3′-diamino-N-methyldipropylamine, and fatty acid diamine (FDA). The waterborne epoxy chain extender was synthesized from diethanolamine and trimethylolpropane triglycidyl ether. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance were applied to confirm the chemical structure of synthesized materials. The effect of the soft/hard segment on waterborne NIPU epoxy hybrid coatings was studied by differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and tensile tests. Two glass transition temperatures were found in the samples with the largest amount of FDA while only one glass transition temperature was found on the other two samples. The thermal stability was enhanced by incorporating a higher amount of FDA. Finally, Young's modulus and tensile strength decreased with an increasing amount of soft segment and elongation-at-break was increased as expected. In general, this work explored the method for preparing waterborne non-isocyanate polyurethane epoxy hybrid coatings, which could reveal similar soft/hard segment performance with conventional isocyanate-based waterborne polyurethane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Images of the coatings after salt spray test with a cut length of 5.0 cm. Self-healing coating: (a) 7 days and (b) 14 days; neat epoxy coatings: (c) 7 days and (d) 14 days. Highlights • Epoxy ester was introduced to self-healing coatings working as a healing agent. • PUF-epoxy ester microcapsules were synthesized by two-step polymerization. • The self-healing function was achieved as microcracks were healed by a new layer. • Self-healing coatings can provide good recovery of corrosion resistance. Abstract Cracks caused by chemicals or mechanical forces would damage the performance of coatings leading to the coating failure. Microcapsules based self-healing smart coatings can provide automatic recovery and extend the durability of coatings. In this study, poly urea-formaldehyde microcapsules contained tall oil fatty acid based-epoxy ester as core materials were synthesized through in situ polymerization. The synthesized microcapsules were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), optical microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The core content of microcapsules was 67 wt. %; the average diameter of microcapsules was 101 ± 48 μm. The self-healing coatings were prepared by embedding the poly(urea-formaldehyde)-epoxy ester (PUF-epoxy ester) microcapsules into epoxy coatings. Salt spray, SEM, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were examined, and the self-healing coatings exhibited satisfactory self-healing property and sufficient corrosion resistance recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Titania sorbents loaded with cobalt ceria oxides prepared by a co-precipitation method were employed to remove elemental mercury (Hg0) from simulated syngas at low temperatures (80–240 °C). The effects of the Co/Ce mass ratio, reaction temperature and main syngas components (H2S, H2, CO) on Hg0 removal efficiency were investigated. BET, XRD and XPS were employed to characterize the sorbents. The results showed that up to 92% Hg0 removal efficiency could be obtained over Ce0.2Co0.1Ti at 120 °C. The remarkably high Hg0 removal efficiency of Ce0.2Co0.1Ti was attributed to the synergistic effect of cobalt and ceria. H2 and CO had a negligible effect on Hg0 removal under a N2 or H2S atmosphere. The characterization results indicated that the physical properties were not the main factors affecting the adsorbent activity. Moreover, XRD and XPS were used to elucidate the reaction mechanism between cobalt and ceria. Furthermore, Hg0 removal over Ce0.2Co0.1Ti was proposed to follow the Langmuir–Hinshelwood mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A new strategy based on ion complexation for the regeneration of gas-phase mercury removal adsorbents was proposed. • The KCl solution had excellent elution effect on HgO on MnTi adsorbent. • The MnTi adsorbent could be well reused. MnTi adsorbent prepared by precipitation method was used to remove elemental mercury in pure nitrogen atmosphere, and TPD method was employed to investigate the mechanism of mercury elution from mercury-loaded MnTi adsorbent in KCl solution. In the gas-phase mercury adsorption process, the MnTi adsorbent removed mercury with a high efficiency of 50% under pure nitrogen atmosphere. The effects of stirring time, eluent concentration, and pH on Hg elution efficiency were evaluated in the liquid-phase Hg elution process. Mercury elution was assisted by adequate stirring time and eluent concentration. The pH value of the environment influenced mercury elution, with an acidic environment being more effective for mercury oxide elution. According to the experimental results, the highest mercury elution efficiency of 0.5 M KCl solution was 79%. The active chlorine produced during the elution process was valuable for reuse. The mercury removal performance of the reused MnTi adsorbent was not significantly different from that of the fresh adsorbent. The elution mechanism of HgO was also proposed, with the key link being the reaction of HgO(red) in solution with excess Cl− to form [HgCl 4 ]2− complexes, which then entered the liquid phase. It was possible to conclude that KCl solution had a high potential for mercury elution from mercury-carrying adsorbents and waste adsorbent reuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • 2D/2D photocatalyst WB heterojunction linked by interface Bi-O bond was formed by one-step hydrothermal method. • The interface Bi-O bond makes WB heterostructures possess a giant built-in electric field, which promotes the separation of photogenerated charges and enhances the redox ability of WB heterostructures. • The photocatalytic degradation rate of levofloxacin (OFLX) and tetracycline hydrochloride (TC) and the performance of water decomposition and oxygen evolution under visible light were evaluated. • ESR test results show that the improvement of photocatalytic efficiency may be due to the formation of Bi-O interface bond, which leads to the stronger ability of WB heterojunction to adsorb and activate O 2 , leading to the formation of more active groups. Two-dimensional materials and related plate-on-plate interfacial heterostructures offer great flexibility for integrating different atomic layers, providing an attractive scheme for the construction of built-in electric fields in photocatalysts. Here, we developed an interfacial engineering strategy to construct well-interfaced plate-on-plate BiOCl/WO 3 heterojunctions for general enhanced photocatalytic oxidation reactions. BiOCl/WO 3 heterojunctions exhibited significant enhancements in oxygen evolution and antibiotic degradation, with a rate of 9.5 times and 14.7 times higher than that of WO 3. This enhancement is attributed to the well lattice matching contact surface of WO 3 {0 2 0} plane with BiOCl {0 0 1} plane, which integrates a strong built-in electric field induced by Bi-O chemically bonds, providing atomically fast transport channels for electrons. These findings offer new guidelines for designing interfacial structures for high-performance oxidative photocatalysts and provide insights into the underlying interfacial carrier transport mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The proportion and elution difficulty of Hg-containing substances followed HgS(black) > HgS(red) > HgO(red). • The elution was basically completed within 2 min with efficiency of 98.38 %. • Higher concentration, higher temperature and lower pH were conducive to the elution. • The elution followed the first-order two-domain model in which HgO and HgS belonged to the rapid and slow part. Mercury (Hg) pollution in syngas has received increasing attention. The adsorbent can effectively remove Hg from syngas, and the removal of Hg-containing substances before the landfill of spent adsorbent can avoid Hg secondary pollution effectively. H 2 S was the main resource for the generation of stable and insoluble HgS in syngas. In this work, the elution of Hg-containing substances from the spent CeO 2 -MnO 2 /TiO 2 (Ce-Mn/Ti) adsorbent in H 2 S atmosphere by CuCl 2 solution was studied. The optimum temperature for Ce-Mn/Ti to remove Hg0 in H 2 S atmosphere was 160 °C. The Hg-containing substances were HgS (black), HgS (red), and HgO (yellow), in which both the proportion and elution difficulty followed the descending order of HgS(black) > HgS(red) > HgO(yellow). The elution was basically completed within 2 min with excellent efficiency of 98.38 %. Higher concentration, higher temperature, and lower pH were conducive to the elution, and the optimum concentration and temperature were 1.0 mol/L and 45 °C respectively. The elution followed the first-order two-domain model, in which HgO and HgS were the rapid and slow part respectively. The elution not only retained the favorable mesoporous structure, but also enabled the eluted Ce-Mn/Ti adsorbent to have a higher efficiency and a better stability on Hg removal by loading the active component of CuCl 2. This study demonstrated that CuCl 2 could be a good eluent for the elution of Hg-containing species and the reutilization of metal oxide-based adsorbent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-isocyanate polyurethanes (NIPU) attract more attention these days due to the increasing environmental concerns from the traditional polyurethanes that involve isocyanates in the synthesis. Herein we prepared a novel one-package (1 K) waterborne non-isocyanate polyurethane in this study. A series of 1 K waterborne epoxy hybrid coatings were synthesized from bio-based amine, cyclic carbonate, internal emulsifier, and epoxy resin. Different formulations of the 1 K waterborne NIPU epoxy hybrid coatings were designed including different ratios of soft and hard segments, different urethane contents, and different functionalities and structures of the hybridized epoxy. The chemical structure of the NIPU polymers was analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance. The thermal stability and mechanical property of the 1 K waterborne NIPU coatings were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis and tensile tests, respectively. One glass transition temperature studied by differential scanning calorimetry was found for each coating which demonstrated that the soft segments and the hard segments were mixed well in the 1 K waterborne NIPU coating systems. The coatings with different formulations can achieve a broad range of thermal and mechanical properties. In addition, the general coating properties, such as hardness, adhesion, and chemical resistance, were evaluated to demonstrate the practical application of the 1 K waterborne NIPU in coatings. This study proposed a facile method to prepare one-package environmental-friendly waterborne epoxy hybrid non-isocyanate polyurethane coatings. [Display omitted] • 1 K waterborne NIPU epoxy hybrid coatings were successfully synthesized. • One Tg of the coating demonstrated no phase separation of hard and soft segments. • Properties are tunable based on types of epoxy and content of soft/hard segments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lysine lactylation (Kla) is a novelposttranslational modification (PTM) identified in histone and nonhistone proteins of several eukaryotic cells that directly activates gene expression and DNA replication. However, very little is known about the scope and cellular distribution of Kla in apicomplexan parasites despite its significance in public and animal health care. Methods: Toxoplasma gondii, the causative agent of toxoplasmosis, is an obligate intracellular apicomplexan parasite that can infect different nucleated cell types of animals and humans. We used this parasite as a model organism and extracted the total protein of tachyzoites to produce the first global lysine lactylome profile of T. gondii through liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. We also investigated the level and localization of the Kla protein in T. gondii using western blotting and the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFA), respectively. Results: A total of 983 Kla sites occurring on 523 lactylated proteins were identified in the total protein extracted from Toxoplasma tachyzoites, the acute toxoplasmosis-causing stage. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that the lactylated proteins were evolutionarily conserved and involved in a wide variety of cellular functions, such as energy metabolism, gene regulation and protein biosynthesis. Subcellular localization analysis and IFA results further revealed that most of the lactylated T. gondii proteins were localized in the nucleus, indicating the potential impact of Kla on gene regulation in the T. gondii model. Notably, an extensive batch of parasite-specific proteins unique to phylum Apicomplexa is lactylated in T. gondii. Conclusions: This study revealed that Kla is widespread in early dividing eukaryotic cells. Lactylated proteins, including a batch of unique parasite proteins, are involved in a remarkably diverse array of cellular functions. These valuable data will improve our understanding of the evolution of Kla and potentially provide the basis for developing novel therapeutic avenues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Microvascular density, length and diameter were reduced in the rat hippocampus upon aging. • Microglial and astrocyte were increased and their morphology have changed in the rat hippocampus upon aging. • Hippocampal PV and SST neurons were reduced upon aging and that SST neurons were lost earlier. • Impairment of hippocampal neuro-vascular unit is earlier than spatial cognition in normal aging rats. Ageing is the major risk factor for the most neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). Damage to neurovascular components (microvessels, glia, and neurons) occurs with ageing and is suspected to exacerbate or cause mild cognitive impairment (MCI), vascular dementia, and AD. However, whether vascular cells, glia, and neurons change synchronously or asynchronously during ageing is unclear, and the relationship between complex dynamic pathophysiological changes in the brain and cognitive ability needs to be further studied. We used male Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats of three different ages (2 months, 12 months, and 24 months) and explored changes in the neurovascular unit (cerebral vessels, microglia, astrocytes, and neurons) and spatial memory upon normal ageing by the Morris water maze (MWM) test and immunofluorescence staining. We found that the impairments of microvessels, glia, neurons, and spatial memory were age-dependent in the rat hippocampus. In middle-aged (12-month-old) rats, some neurovascular unit components have become abnormal: the density and length of microvessels, pyramidal neuron, and SST (Somatostatin) neuron number was decreased, the number of astrocytes was increased in the hippocampus. The diameter of microvessels and PV (Parvalbumin) neuron numbers were decreased, the microglial number was increased and spatial learning was deficit at 24 months of age. In conclusion, we found that the impairment of the hippocampal neuro-vascular unit precedes changes in spatial cognition in naturally aged rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predicates and rules are usually enclosed as built-in functions in automated geometry reasoning systems, meaning users cannot add any predicate or rule, thus resulting in a limited reasoning capability of the systems. A method for expanding predicates and rules in automated geometry reasoning systems is, thus, proposed. Specifically, predicate and rule descriptions are transformed to knowledge trees and forests based on formal representations of geometric knowledge, and executable codes are dynamically and automatically generated by using "code templates". Thus, a transformation from controlled natural language descriptions to mechanization algorithms is completed, and finally, the dynamic expansion of predicates and rules in the reasoning system is achieved. Moreover, the method has been implemented in an automated geometry reasoning system for Chinese college entrance examination questions, and the practicality and effectiveness of the method were tested. In conclusion, the enclosed setting, which is a shortcoming of traditional reasoning systems, is avoided, the user-defined dynamic expansion of predicates and rules is realized, the application scope of the reasoning system is extended, and the reasoning capability is improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The position and offset of the center of the d band affected by the interface electric field improve the catalytic activity, and the formation of chemical bonds at the interface provides an atomic fast path for electron transfer. In this work, oxygen-containing vacancies in WO 3-x /C 3 N 4+x heterojunction were prepared through the hydrothermal method. UPS and DFT results show that the giant work function difference between WO 3-x and C 3 N 4+x leads to the redistribution of orbital charge at the heterojunction interface, thus creating an interfacial electric field and N-W bond. The upward shift of the center of the W 5d electron orbit triggered the adsorption capacity of WO 3-x /C 3 N 4+x heterojunction for molecular oxygen, which improves photocatalytic degradation efficiency. The degradation of antibiotics in real lake water and the toxicity study by degraded wastewater have demonstrated the thoroughness of mineralization, while the continuous light Fenton system has been shown the stability of the catalyst. This study provides a new insight into the association between the interface electric field and the d-band center, opening a facile avenue for the design of catalysts towards antibiotics photocatalytic mineralization. [Display omitted] • The N-W bond provides a fast electron transfer channel in WO 3-x /C 3 N 4+x heterojunction. • The interfacial electric field (IEF) optimizes the d-band center of W 5d. • WO 3-x /C 3 N 4+x heterojunction enhanced adsorption and activation capabilities for molecular oxygen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic stress is the major cause of clinical depression. The behavioral signs of depression, including anhedonia, learning and memory deficits, and sleep disruption, result from the damaging effects of stress hormones on specific neural pathways. The Chinese tree shrew (Tupaia belangeri chinensis) is an aggressive non-human primate with a hierarchical social structure that has become a well-established model of the behavioral, endocrine, and neurobiological changes associated with stress-induced depression. The tricyclic antidepressant clomipramine treats many of the core symptoms of depression in humans. To further test the validity of the tree shrew model of depression, we examined the effects of clomipramine on depression-like behaviors and physiological stress responses induced by social defeat in subordinate tree shrews. Social defeat led to weight loss, anhedonia (as measured by sucrose preference), unstable fluctuations in locomotor activity, sustained urinary cortisol elevation, irregular cortisol rhythms, and deficient hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP). Clomipramine ameliorated anhedonia and irregular locomotor activity, and partially rescued the irregular cortisol rhythm. In contrast, weight loss increased, cortisol levels were even higher, and in vitro LTP was still impaired in the clomipramine treatment group. These results demonstrate the unique advantage of the tree shrew social defeat model of depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The novel washing regeneration methods for AC using CuCl 2 solution was proposed and verified. • CuCl 2 solution showed excellent performance on eluting Hg-containing compounds on spent AC. • Elution process restored the well-developed pore structure and reactive functional groups of AC. • CuCl 2 -AC showed a higher (above 99%) and more stable Hg removal performance than raw AC. • Hg-containing compounds on spent CuCl 2 -AC were mainly easy-soluble HgCl 2. Mercury pollution in syngas has received increasing attention. Regeneration of AC can reduce the cost and avoid Hg secondary release effectively. The performance of CuCl 2 solution on AC regeneration was studied combining fixed-bed reactor, Hg-TPD, and characterization tests (BET, SEM-EDS, XPS, and FT-IR). Hg adsorption on AC in N 2 mainly followed physisorption. There was a synergistic contribution of HCl and H 2 S on Hg removal, in which HCl promotion was stronger than H 2 S. The main Hg-containing compounds on AC in HCl were HgCl 2 and HgO, in H 2 S were HgO and HgS. The well-developed pore structure of AC enhanced Hg adsorption while inhibited the elution of Hg-containing compounds. CuCl 2 solution exhibited an excellent synergy in the elution of Hg-containing compounds and the impregnation modification of AC, which not only eluted the Hg-containing compounds, restored the well-developed pore structure, and recovered the reactive oxygen-containing functional groups effectively, but also brought in Cu and Cl for promoting Hg removal by generating Hg-Cu and HgCl 2 respectively. The best impregnation content of CuCl 2 was 10% that exhibited higher (above 99%) and more stable Hg removal efficiency than raw AC, and the dominant Hg-containing compound was easy-soluble HgCl 2 , proving the practicability of CuCl 2 solution on AC regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The donor-acceptor (D-A) structure in conjugated systems enhances photogenerated carrier separation efficiency due to π * electron delocalization resulting from π-π interactions. This study reports a conjugated molecular carbon-nitrogen homojunction (CNH) with inherent π * electron transitions, which intrinsically enriches electron-hole pairs in the energy band region via its built-in electric field. CNH's intermolecular π-π stacking promotes efficient U(VI) reduction by boosting carrier generation and separation. Compared to CNNH, formed by temperature-controlled thermal polymerization of melamine and urea, the introduction of -NH 2 disrupts the 3-s-heptazin ring in CNH's conjugated system. Heptazine integrity directly affects π-π * electron enhancement and transition, leading to a significant decrease in U(VI) reduction efficiency. Specifically, CNH exhibits optimal efficiency, reducing U(VI) by 99.6% within 60 min. This work emphasizes the significance of strong built-in electric fields generated through intramolecular π-π stacking, stimulating π-π * transitions, and enriching photogenerated π * electrons in carbon-nitrogen polymers, ultimately improving U(VI) photoreduction. [Display omitted] • Strong built-in electric field of CNH promotes local separation and aggregation of photogenerated carriers. • The conjugated molecular CNH homojunction forms the intramolecular D-A structure and accelerates π * electron delocalization. • Effective carrier transfer channels and spatially separated carrier rich regions could enhance Uranium (VI) reduction efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Methacrylated cardanol and triethoxysilane-functionalized cardanol were synthesized. • They were investigated as the reactive diluents for a soybean oil-based alkyd. • They exhibited excellent diluent efficiency. • They showed the ability to join in the cross-linked network of the alkyd coating. • The performances of the alkyd coating were improved. With the increase in demand for bio-based coatings with lower volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions, methacrylated cardanol (MACO) and triethoxysilane-functionalized cardanol (TSCO) have been investigated as bio-based reactive diluents for formulating alkyd coatings as a substitute for volatile solvents. The viscosity of the representative alkyd resin was significantly reduced through the use of cardanol-based reactive diluents (over 84% diluent efficiency at 30 wt% loading). Both MACO and TSCO were able to participate in the cross-linked network of the alkyd coating as confirmed by the gel content and cross-link density of the cured coating films. Moreover, the cross-link density of the alkyd coating was significantly improved by using TSCO as the reactive diluent, leading to a significant enhancement in mechanical strength and solvent resistance of the alkyd coating. This work will facilitate the adoption of cardanol as a renewable building block in the coating industry in order to produce greener alkyd coatings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract A new color-changing epoxy coating was developed by incorporating benzodifuranone (1,4-BDF) pigments into epoxy-polyamine coating matrix. The 1,4-BDF based epoxy coating exhibited a color change from dark blue to brown responding to environmental conditions, such as temperature, UV light, and pH. The color of the coating was demonstrated by the spectral reflectance and CIELAB values measured by a spectro-guide spectrophotometer. The color change was due to the reaction of 1,4-BDF pigment with the polyamine curing agent to form an unstable product characterized by UV/Vis and FTIR analysis. Moreover, the coating's opacity and light reflectance changed along with the color change. Opacity is an effective parameter to link the UV accelerated testing and sunlight exposure to demonstrate the change of the coating's appearance. Graphical abstract The color change of the 1,4-BDF based epoxy-polyamine coating under UV exposure. Image 1 Highlights • 1,4-BDF pigment is firstly applied in coatings and leads to a color change. • Environmental conditions trigger a color change of the 1,4-BDF based epoxy coating. • The reasons for the color change are comprehensively investigated and understood. • The hiding power of the pigmented coating also changes along with the color change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A novel Hg0 removal adsorbent CeO x -amTiO 2 was synthesized via the evaporation-induced self-assembly method. • Ordered mesostructures significantly facilitated the adsorption and desorption process. • Oxygen vacancies on carriers can reduce the adsorption energy of Hg compounds. • The desorption of Hg from adsorbents exhibited biphasic kinetics. Improper disposal of deactivated mercury (Hg) adsorbents will cause secondary contamination which is still hazardous to human beings. Wet desorption is a green and environmentally friendly method, but there is a lack of sufficient study. In this work, a cerium oxide loaded ordered mesoporous amorphous titanium dioxide (CeO x -amTiO 2) composite is obtained based on the evaporation-induced self-assembly (EISA) process. It possesses a high specific surface area (∼198 m2/g), uniform pore diameters (∼14.7 nm), and large pore volume (∼0.49 cm3/g). The CeO x -amTiO 2 demonstrates high adsorption capacity in various atmospheres (63.3 % in pure N 2 , 95.0 % in N 2 + 400 ppm H 2 S), and achieves a desorption efficiency of 93.2 % in 0.2 mol/L sodium thiosulfate (Na 2 S 2 O 3) solution. The large specific surface area and ordered mesostructure significantly facilitate the mass transfer process, reasonably explaining the strong adsorption capacity and fast desorption kinetics. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) characterization and thermodynamic calculations reveal that the reduction of Ce3+ plays a key role in the desorption of Hg. In addition, the amorphous carrier structure reduces the binding strength between the adsorption product and the adsorbent, further accelerating the desorption process. This study provides a pathway for the efficient desorption of Hg0 removal adsorbents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Taraxasterol has potent anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor activity. However, the effect and potential mechanisms of Taraxasterol on the growth of human liver cancer have not been clarified. Histidine triad nucleotide-binding protein 1 (Hint1) is a tumor suppressor and its downregulated expression is associated with the development of cancer. Here, we report that Taraxasterol treatment significantly suppressed cell proliferation and induced cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase and apoptosis in liver cancer cells, but not in non-tumor hepatocytes. Furthermore, Taraxasterol upregulated Hint1 and Bax, but downregulated Bcl2 and cyclin D1 expression, accompanied by promoting the demethylation in the Hint1 promoter region in liver cancer cells. The effects of Taraxasterol were abrogated by Hint1 silencing and partially mitigated by Bax silencing, Bcl2 or cyclin D1 over-expression in HepG2 cells. Moreover, oral administration with Taraxasterol did not affect body weight, urinary protein levels, and the heart, liver, and kidney morphology in BALB/c mice but effectively inhibited the growth of implanted SK-Hep1 tumor in vivo. Collectively, we demonstrate that Taraxasterol inhibits the growth of liver cancer at least partially by enhancing Hint1 expression to regulate Bax, Bcl2, and cyclin D1 expression. Taraxasterol may be a drug candidate for the treatment of human liver cancer.Key messages: Taraxasterol inhibits growth and induces apoptosis in human liver cancer cells.Taraxasterol enhances Hint1 expression by promoting demethylation in Hint1 promoter.Taraxasterol increases Hint1 levels to regulate Bax, Bcl2, and cyclinD1 expression.The effects of Taraxasterol are abrogated by Hint1 silencing in liver cancer cells.Taraxasterol inhibits the growth of subcutaneously implanted liver cancers in mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Promoting extinction of fear memory is the main treatment of fear disorders, especially post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, fear extinction is often incomplete in these patients. Our previous study had shown that Rac1 activity in hippocampus plays a crucial role in the learning of contextual fear memory in rats. Here, we further investigated whether Rac1 activity also modulated the extinction of contextual fear memory. We found that massed extinction obviously upregulated hippocampal Rac1 activity and induced long-term extinction of contextual fear in rats. Intrahippocampal injection of the Rac1 inhibitor NSC23766 prevents extinction of contextual fear in massed extinction training rats. In contrast, long-spaced extinction downregulated Rac1 activity and caused less extinction. And Rac1 activator CN04-A promotes extinction of contextual fear in long-spaced extinction rats. Our study demonstrates that inhibition of Rac1 activity in the hippocampus impaired extinction of contextual fear, suggesting that modulating Rac1 activity of the hippocampus may be promising therapy of fear disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The effects and mechanisms of adsorbent composition, syngas component and reaction temperature on Hg0 removal by MOBA were individually elucidated. • The mechanisms, advantages and disadvantages of three regeneration methods for MOBA were systematically summarized. • The prospects of spine AB 2 O 4 adsorbent on Hg0 removal and the elution regeneration method on used MOBA were highlighted. • Further works about the synergistic removal of Hg0 and H 2 S by MOBA in syngas, and Hg0 removal by MOBA in syngas at a higher temperature range were suggested. The injection of adsorbent can effectively remove Hg from syngas, in which metal oxide based adsorbent (MOBA) is a promising adsorbent as their simultaneous adsorption and oxidation properties. This review summarized the influences and mechanisms of adsorbent composition, syngas component, and reaction temperature on Hg0 removal by MOBA in syngas. The adsorption of Hg0 by CeO 2 -based, Fe 2 O 3 -based, CuO-based, and V 2 O 5 -based MOBA belong to physisorption, the adsorption of Hg0 by MnO 2 and Co 3 O 4 belong to chemisorption. The oxidation of Hg0 by MOBA follows Mars-Maessen mechanism. The Hg0 removal capacity of MOBA with different composition follows the descending sequence of V 2 O 5 > MnO 2 > Co 3 O 4 > Fe 2 O 3 > CuO(CeO 2). H 2 S and HCl are beneficial to Hg0 removal by MOBA, but CO, H 2 , and H 2 O are harmful to Hg0 removal by MOBA. The influence of H 2 S, HCl, and CO are affected by their concentration. Both HCl and H 2 S can mitigate the inhibition of CO and H 2 on Hg0 removal by MOBA. The increase of temperature can both promote and inhibit Hg0 removal by MOBA. In addition, the advantages and disadvantages of three main regeneration methods of thermal regeneration, non-thermal plasma regeneration, and elution regeneration were respectively summarized, especially the prominent advantages of elution regeneration method were emphasized. Finally, further works about the development of spine MOBA, the synergistic removal of Hg0 and H 2 S by MOBA, study at higher temperature range, and the application of elution regeneration method were summarized to provide some references for the application of MOBA on Hg0 removal in syngas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, a homojunction carbon nitride photocatalyst integrated with three crystallization levels (Tri-crystallinity) is developed to enhance the degradation activity of organic pollutants. The increase in crystallinity induces the Fermi level and band position to decrease. This difference constructs an internal electric field (IEF) at the interface with a lower to higher crystallinity direction. The multiple contact interfaces in Tri-crystallinity reinforce the interfacial IEF twice compared to a conventional single-interface. The interfacial IEF improves charge separation and transfer, and the degradation of antibiotics by Tri-crystallinity carbon nitride is at least 20 times greater than primary carbon nitride. Further, the Tri-crystallinity carbon nitride loading on a nonwoven fabric in a continuous-flow reactor achieves 91.0% purification of the organic wastewater at a flow rate of 14.2 L h−1 m−2 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. This work provides a strategy for engineering interfacial IEF of future efficient photocatalysts. [Display omitted] • An interfacial internal electric field through CN crystallinity differences. • Enhance 20-times degradation of antibiotics by Tri-crystalline CN. • 90.0% purification of the organic wastewater at a flow rate of 20.83 L h−1 m−2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During development, melanopsin-expressing intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) become light sensitive much earlier than rods and cones. IpRGCs project to many subcortical areas, whereas physiological functions of these projections are yet to be fully elucidated. Here, we found that ipRGC-mediated light sensation promotes synaptogenesis of pyramidal neurons in various cortices and the hippocampus. This phenomenon depends on activation of ipRGCs and is mediated by the release of oxytocin from the supraoptic nucleus (SON) and the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) into cerebral-spinal fluid. We further characterized a direct connection between ipRGCs and oxytocin neurons in the SON and mutual projections between oxytocin neurons in the SON and PVN. Moreover, we showed that the lack of ipRGC-mediated, light-promoted early cortical synaptogenesis compromised learning ability in adult mice. Our results highlight the importance of light sensation early in life on the development of learning ability and therefore call attention to suitable light environment for infant care. [Display omitted] • Light sensation through ipRGCs early in life promotes cortical synaptogenesis • Light enhances CSF oxytocin level via an ipRGCs-SON-PVN oxytocin neuron circuit • Oxytocin is essential for light-promoted ipRGC-mediated synaptogenesis • Lack of light sensation in early development impairs learning ability in adult mice Light sensation by intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells early in life ensures proper learning ability in adult mice by activating oxytocin-releasing neurons, which in turn promotes cortical synaptogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thyroid hormone disorders have long been linked to depression, but the causal relationship between them remains controversial. To address this question, we established rat models of hypothyroidism using 131 iodine ( 131 I) and hyperthyroidism using levothyroxine (LT 4 ). Serum free thyroxine (FT 4 ) and triiodothyronine (FT 3 ) significantly decreased in the hypothyroid of rats with single injections of 131 I (5 mCi/kg). These rats exhibited decreased depression-like behaviors in forced swimming test and sucrose preference tests, as well as decreased anxiety-like behaviors in an elevated plus maze. Diminished levels of brain serotonin (5-HT) and increased levels of hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were found in the hypothyroid rats compared to the control saline–vehicle administered rats. LT 4 treatment reversed the decrease in thyroid hormones and depression-like behaviors. In contrast, hyperthyroidism induced by weekly injections of LT 4 (15 μg/kg) caused a greater than 10-fold increase in serum FT 4 and FT 3 levels. The hyperthyroid rats exhibited higher anxiety- and depression-like behaviors, higher brain 5-HT level, and lower hippocampal BDNF levels than the controls. Treatment with the antidepressant imipramine (15 mg/kg) diminished serum FT 4 levels as well as anxiety- and depression-like behaviors in the hyperthyroid rats but led to a further increase in brain 5-HT levels, compared with the controls or the hypothyroid rats. Together, our results suggest that hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism have bidirectional effects on anxiety- and depression-like behaviors in rats, possibly by modulating hippocampal BDNF levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Mechanically flexible mats consisting of electrospun carbon nanofibers (ECNFs) were prepared by first electrospinning aqueous mixtures containing a natural product of alkali lignin together with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) into composite nanofiber mats followed by stabilization in air and carbonization in an inert environment. Morphological and structural properties, as well as specific surface area, total pore volume, average pore size, and pore size distribution, of the lignin-based ECNF mats were characterized; and their electrochemical performances (i.e., capacitive behaviors) were evaluated by cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge/discharge, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The lignin-based ECNF mats exhibited outstanding performance as free-standing and/or binder-free electrodes of supercapacitors. For example, the ECNFs made from the composite nanofibers with mass ratio of lignin/PVA being 70/30 (i.e., ECNFs (70/30)) had the average diameter of ∼100 nm and the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) specific surface area of ∼583 m2 g−1. The gravimetric capacitance of ECNFs (70/30) electrode in 6 M KOH aqueous electrolyte exhibited 64 F g−1 at current density of 400 mA g−1 and 50 F g−1 at 2000 mA g−1. The ECNFs (70/30) electrode also exhibited excellent cycling durability/stability, and the gravimetric capacitance merely reduced by ∼10% after 6000 cycles of charge/discharge. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstracts: Objective: The purpose of the present study was to investigate vocal singing performance of hearing-impaired children with cochlear implants (CI) and hearing aids (HA) as well as to evaluate the relationship between demographic factors of those hearing-impaired children and their singing ability. Methods: Thirty-seven prelingually-deafened children with CIs and 31 prelingually-deafened children with HAs, and 37 normal-hearing (NH) children participated in the study. The fundamental frequencies (F0) of each note in the recorded songs were extracted and the duration of each sung note was measured. Five metrics were used to evaluate the pitch-related and rhythm-based aspects of singing accuracy. Results: Children with CIs and HAs showed significantly poorer performance in either the pitch-based assessments or the rhythm-based measure than the NH children. No significant differences were seen between the CI and HA groups in all of these measures except for the mean deviation of the pitch intervals. For both hearing-impaired groups, length of device use was significantly correlated with singing accuracy. Conclusions: There is a marked deficit in vocal singing ability either in pitch or rhythm accuracy in a majority of prelingually-deafened children who have received CIs or fitted with HAs. Although an increased length of device use might facilitate singing performance to some extent, the chance for the hearing-impaired children fitted with either HAs or CIs to reach high proficiency in singing is quite slim. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

β-Catenin is a critical transducer of the Wnt signal pathway and plays an important role in many developmental and cellular processes. Deregulation of β-catenin signaling has been observed in a broad range of human tumors. In this report, we investigated whether tyrosine kinase inhibitor STI-571 could inhibit the β-catenin signaling activity and hence suppress cell proliferation. Our results demonstrated that STI-571 effectively inhibited the constitutive activity of β-catenin signaling in human colon cancer cells as well as the Wnt1-induced activation of β-catenin signaling in HOS, HTB-94, and HEK 293 cells. Furthermore, STI-571 was shown to effectively suppress the proliferation of human colon cancer cells. Finally, we demonstrated that the Wnt1-mediated activation of a GAL4-β-catenin heterologous transcription system was effectively inhibited by STI-571. Thus, our findings suggest that tyrosine phosphorylation may play an important role in regulating β-catenin signaling activity, and inhibition of this signaling pathway by STI-571 may be further explored as an important target for alternative/adjuvant treatments for a broader range of human cancer. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Memory is sensitive to the short-acting anesthetic (2,6-diisopropylphenol) propofol, but the underlying mechanism is little known. Here, we have examined the effects of propofol on synaptic plasticity in the CA1 region of the hippocampus of anesthetized rats. We found that low dose of propofol (20 mg/kg, i.p.) did not affect the basal transmission, but enhanced prominently the development of long-term depression (LTD) and impaired the maintenance of long-term potentiation (LTP). The impairment of LTP maintenance and enhancement of LTD development may contribute to propofol-induced deficits in memory following propofol anesthesia. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• NIPU coatings exhibit excellent anti-corrosion properties by incorporating TEOS. • Incorporating 5 wt. % of TEOS improves the corrosion resistance of NIPU coatings. • Phase separation is observed in the sample with more than 10 wt. % of TEOS. • Coatings without phase separation show higher corrosion resistance. As people become more aware of the necessity and importance of environment protection and product safety, the environmentally friendly non-isocyanate polyurethane (NIPU) has received great attention. In this work, a series of NIPU anti-corrosion coatings were prepared by amine-terminated NIPU, tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS), and bisphenol A (BPA) epoxy. First, the BPA cyclic carbonate was synthesized from carbon dioxide and BPA epoxy resin. Then, the amine-terminated NIPU was synthesized from BPA cyclic carbonate and fatty acid amine. Next, the NIPU TEOS hybrid coatings were formulated by different amounts of TEOS. The anti-corrosion performance of NIPU TEOS hybrid coatings was evaluated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and salt spray. NIPU coating with 5 wt. % of TEOS showed the best anti-corrosion behavior while NIPU coating with 20 wt. % of TEOS exhibited the worst corrosion resistance. The resulting anti-corrosion difference was attributed to the organic/inorganic micro-phase separation, which was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. This study reveals the effect of TEOS on the anti-corrosion performance of environmentally friendly NIPU coatings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared to traditional coatings, chromogenic coatings—the color change responds to external environment stimulus—have received lots of attention and being widely explored for applications. Due to their advanced features, the development of promising chromogenic coating systems is highly needed. In this work, a systematical and comprehensive comparison was studied regarding the benzodifuranone and benzodipyrrolidone based epoxy coating with different curing agents. The color change of the coatings was investigated and quantified by using a spectrophotometer and the reason for the color change was understood by UV/Vis characterization. The introduced pigment can react with the amide units of the curing agent to form hydrogen-bonded (NH⋯O) mediates, which leads to chromogenic coatings. The more free NH units (primaquine groups and secondary ammonia units) are contained in the curing agent, the color change is easier and stronger. This work provides a new approach to design chromogenic coatings through forming a hydrogen bonding between a pigment and a curing agent in the coating. A systematical and comprehensive comparison was studied regarding the benzodifuranone (BDF) and benzodipyrrolidone (BDP) based epoxy coating with different curing agents. Chromogenic coatings could be obtained through forming a hydrogen bonding between a pigment and a curing agent in the coating. Image 1 • Comparison was studied between BDF and BDP based epoxy coating with curing agents. • Curing agent reacts with BDF to form hydrogen bonding leading to chromogenic coating. • A new approach is developed to design chromogenic coating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]