Template-derived carbon: an unexpected promoter for the creation of strong basicity on mesoporous silica.

Template-derived carbon is demonstrated to effectively promote the creation of strong basicity on mesoporous silica, for the first time. New materials owning ordered mesoporous structure, strong basicity, and excellent catalytic activity are thus successfully constructed at low temperatures, which are impossible to achieve using conventional methods.

[High accuracy sample positioning system for hard X-ray microprobe].

A novel sample offline positioning system was developed for hard X-ray micro-focus beamline (BL15U1) at Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility (SSRF). The positioning system is composed of three parts: off-line sample microscope system, on-line sample experiment system, and high-precision positioning sample holder. It makes a potent combination of the on-line X-ray fluorescence imaging and the off-line microscopic examination in three steps: compiling of control program, positioning of sample holder, and conversion of the two coordinates.

Three one-dimensional coordination polymers based on 1,1'-bis(pyridin-4-ylmethyl)-2,2'-bi-1H-benzimidazole and HgX2 (X = Cl, Br and I).

A new 2,2'-bi-1H-benzimidazole bridging organic ligand, namely 1,1'-bis(pyridin-4-ylmethyl)-2,2'-bi-1H-benzimidazole, C26H20N6, L or (I), has been synthesized and used to create three new one-dimensional coordination polymers, viz. catena-poly[[dichloridomercury(II)]-μ-1,1'-bis(pyridin-4-ylmethyl)-2,2'-bi-1H-benzimidazole], [HgCl2(C26H20N6)]n, (II), and the bromido, [HgBr2(C26H20N6)]n, (III), and iodido, [HgI2(C26H20N6)]n, (IV), analogues. Free ligand L crystallizes with two symmetry-independent half-molecules in the asymmetric unit and each L molecule resides on a crytallographic inversion centre.

Low-temperature fabrication of mesoporous solid strong bases by using multifunction of a carbon interlayer.

Mesoporous solid strong bases are highly promising for applications as environmentally benign catalysts in various reactions. Their preparation attracts increasing attention for the demand of sustainable chemistry. In the present study, a new strategy was designed to fabricate strong basicity on mesoporous silica by using multifunction of a carbon interlayer.

[Comprehensive study of lead pollution in atmospheric aerosol of Shanghai].

The lead contamination, lead species and source assignment were studied by a combination of several analytical techniques such as Proton-induced X-ray emission analysis (PIXE), Proton microprobe (micro-PIXE), Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) techniques. The results indicate that the lead concentration in the air of Shanghai gradually decreased over the last years. The atmospheric lead concentration of PM10 in the winter of 2002 was 369 ng x m(-3), which had declined by 28% in 2001, and in the winter of 2003 it decreased further to 237 ng x m(-3).

[Effects of simvastatin on the left ventricular hypertrophy in spontaneously hypertensive rats and its relationship with the expression of protein kinase B].

Objective: To investigate the effects of simvastatin on left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and its possible mechanism.

Methods: Sixteen male SHRs were randomly divided into 2 equal groups: treatment group and SHR control to be given simvastatin or glucose-normal saline by oral gavage for 10 weeks. Eight Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats were given normal saline as normal controls.

Serum hepatic enzyme manifestations in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome: retrospective analysis.

Aim: To evaluate the hepatic function in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and possible causes of hepatic disorder in these patients.

Methods: One hundred and eighty-two patients with SARS were employed in a retrospective study that investigated hepatic dysfunction. Liver alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) were analyzed in these patients.