An Adaptive Metal-Organic Framework Discriminates Xylene Isomers by Shape-Responsive Deformation.

The separation of xylene isomers, especially para-xylene, is a crucial but challenging process in the chemical industry due to their similar molecular dimensions. Here, a flexible metal-organic framework, Ni(ina), (ina = isonicotinic acid) is employed to effectively discriminate xylene isomers. The adsorbent with adaptive deformation accommodates the shapes of isomer molecules, thereby translating their subtle shape differences into characteristic framework deformation energies.

Isoreticular Metal-Organic Frameworks with Aromatic Pores and Dimethylammonium Cations Enable Separation of Light Hydrocarbons and Xenon/Krypton.

The separation of C2-C3 hydrocarbons from methane in natural gas and xenon/krypton purification are crucial yet challenging industrial processes. Herein, we report two isoreticular metal-organic frameworks, ZJU-89 and ZJU-90, featuring aromatic pore environments and dimethylammonium cations, that synergistically enhance the separation of these industrially relevant gas mixtures. ZJU-90 exhibits an exceptional separation performance, achieving CH/CH and CH/CH ideal adsorbed solution theory (IAST) selectivities of 1065 and 48, respectively, at ambient conditions, outperforming most reported adsorbent materials.

High-reliability infrared broadband thin-film polarizing beam splitter with ZnSe compensation layers.

Thin-film polarizing beam splitters (PBSs) fulfill a pivotal role in laser beam splitting, modulation, shaping and isolation. In this study, a high-reliability infrared broadband thin-film PBS was developed. To correct for tensile stress in Ge/YbF multilayer coatings, ZnSe compensation layers were incorporated in the multilayer design.

Leveraging Diffusion Kinetics to Reverse Propane/Propylene Adsorption in Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-8.

The separation challenge posed by propylene/propane mixtures arises from their nearly identical molecular sizes and physicochemical properties. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have demonstrated potential in addressing this challenge through the precision tailoring of pore sizes and surface chemistry. However, introducing modifications at the molecular level remains a considerable hurdle.

Low polarization-sensitive ultra-broadband anti-reflection coatings with improved reliability.

Broader spectra, lower reflectivity and higher reliability are the performance requirements for broadband antireflective (BBAR) films. In this work, a BBAR film structure was proposed, which maintains extremely low reflectivity, ultra-wide spectra, low polarization sensitivity and practical reliability. The BBAR film consists of a dense multilayer interference stack on the bottom and a nano-grass-like alumina (NGLA) layer with a gradient low refractive index distribution on the top.

Optimization of optical and structural properties of AlO/TiO nano-laminates deposited by atomic layer deposition for optical coating.

Optimizing the atomic layer deposition (ALD) process of films is particularly important in preparing multilayer interference films. In this work, a series of AlO/TiO nano-laminates with a fixed growth cycle ratio of 1:10 were deposited on Si and fused quartz substrates at 300 °C by ALD. The optical properties, crystallization behavior, surface appearance and microstructures of those laminated layers were systematically investigated by spectroscopic ellipsometry, spectrophotometry, X-ray diffraction, atomic force microscope and transmission electron microscopy.

Interpretation of Reflection and Colorimetry Characteristics of Indium-Particle Films by Means of Ellipsometric Modeling.

It is of great technological importance in the field of plasmonic color generation to establish and understand the relationship between optical responses and the reflectance of metallic nanoparticles. Previously, a series of indium nanoparticle ensembles were fabricated using electron beam evaporation and inspected using spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE). The multi-oscillator Lorentz-Drude model demonstrated the optical responses of indium nanoparticles with different sizes and size distributions.

Comparative clinical outcomes of different therapies for traumatic meniscal tears in adults: A protocol for systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Background: Meniscus tears are usually classified as degenerative or traumatic tears according to their pathogenesis. At present, traumatic meniscal tears are generally believed to have high healing potential. In recent years, multiple treatments have been described for traumatic meniscal tears, such as the inside-out technique, outside-in technique, all-inside technique, biological augmentation of meniscal repair, meniscectomy, and non-surgical treatment.

Oxymatrine hydrazone (OMTH) synthesis and its protective effect for rheumatoid arthritis through downregulation of MEK/NF-κB pathway.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one of the inflammatory diseases detected in more than 1% of the world population. In the present study, oxymatrine hydrazone (OMTH) was synthesized and investigated for treatment of RA in vitro in TNF-α induced fibroblast-like synoviocyte cell model. Cell viability and apoptosis were detected using MTT and flow cytometry assays, respectively.

Double-sided optical coating of strongly curved glass by atomic layer deposition.

A reaction chamber of atomic layer deposition (ALD) was developed for simultaneous coating on the inner and outer surfaces of a large-size and strongly curved glass bowl. The inner surface ALD process was in a showerhead reaction mode and the outer surface ALD process was in a cross-flow reaction mode. Blue reflection (BR) film of 400 nm wavelength and broadband antireflection (BBAR) film of 400-700 nm wavelength were coated on different glass bowls by ALD.

Diagnostic value of electron microscopy detection using abdominal fat pad biopsy in systemic amyloidosis.

Objective: Electron microscopy (EM) was used to observe the deposition and ultrastructural characteristics of amyloids in abdominal adipose tissue, which provided a reliable basis for pathological diagnosis of systemic amyloidosis.

Materials And Methods: 42 patients with established amyloidosis and 8 controls underwent surgical biopsy of subcutaneous abdominal fat. The fat tissues were submitted concurrently in 4% buffered neutral formalin for histological sections preparation, in glutaraldehyde fixative for EM studies, and in saline solutions for immunofluorescence tests.

Specific alterations in gut microbiota in patients with chronic kidney disease: an updated systematic review.

Background: Emerging evidence demonstrates that gut dysbiosis is implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic kidney disease (CKD) with underlying mechanisms involving mucosal and/or systematic immunity or metabolic disorders. However, the profile of gut microbiota in patients with CKD has not been completely explored.

Methods: Databases from their date of inception to 31 March 2020 were systematically searched for case-control or cross-sectional studies comparing the gut microbial profiles in adult patients with CKD or end-stage renal disease (ESRD) with those in healthy controls.

A comparative study of cyclophosphamide, thalidomide and dexamethasone (CTD) versus bortezomib and dexamethasone (BDex) in light-chain amyloidosis.

Background: Cyclophosphamide, thalidomide, and dexamethasone (CTD) or bortezomib and dexamethasone (BDex) show substantial efficacy in patients with amyloid light-chain (AL) amyloidosis, especially in Chinese patients. Currently, both regimens are recommended as primary treatment options for AL amyloidosis, but no comparative study has been reported.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the outcomes of 81 AL patients who received CTD (n = 42) or BDex (n = 39) and used Mayo stage 2012 to match 26 pairs of patients.

The efficacy and safety of bortezomib-based chemotherapy for immunoglobulin light chain amyloidosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The role of bortezomib in the treatment of immunoglobulin light chain (AL) amyloidosis is not well defined. We performed this meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy and safety of bortezomib-based regimens in patients with AL amyloidosis who are not eligible for or refuse autologous stem cell transplantation.

Methods: A systematic search of Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Library was conducted to identify related studies.

A long-term dataset of lake surface water temperature over the Tibetan Plateau derived from AVHRR 1981-2015.

Lake surface water temperature (LSWT) is of vital importance for hydrological and meteorological studies. The LSWT ground measurements in the Tibetan Plateau (TP) were quite scarce because of its harsh environment. Thermal infrared remote sensing is a reliable way to calculate historical LSWT.

Cyclophosphamide + Thalidomide + Dexamethasone Versus Melphalan + Dexamethasone for the Treatment of Amyloid Light-chain Amyloidosis With Kidney Involvement: A Retrospective Study in Chinese Patients.

Purpose: At present, a diverse array of treatment regimens are available for systemic amyloid light-chain (AL) amyloidosis. Both cyclophosphamide + thalidomide + dexamethasone (CTD) and melphalan + dexamethasone (MD) regimens have been recommended as first-line therapies, but no detailed comparative studies of the two have been performed. This study is the first to compare the efficacy and tolerability of the CTD and MD regimens in the treatment of AL amyloidosis.

p53 upregulated by HIF-1α promotes hypoxia-induced G2/M arrest and renal fibrosis in vitro and in vivo.

Hypoxia plays an important role in the genesis and progression of renal fibrosis. The underlying mechanisms, however, have not been sufficiently elucidated. We examined the role of p53 in hypoxia-induced renal fibrosis in cell culture (human and rat renal tubular epithelial cells) and a mouse unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) model.

[Clinical observation of closed reduction and compression cannulated screw fixation for the treatment of femoral neck fracture in young and middle-aged patients].

Objective: To investigate the clinical effect of internal fixation with closed reduction and hollow compression screws for the treatment of femoral neck fracture in young and middle-aged patients.

Methods: From June 2013 to December 2016, 33 young and middle-aged patients with femoral neck fractures were treated with hollow compression screws fixation including 17 males and 16 females with an average age of 38.5 years old ranged from 19 to 59 years old; 20 cases were on the left side and 13 cases on the right side;the time from injury to operation ranged from 2 to 5 days with an average of 3 days.

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate inhibits TLR4 signaling through the 67-kDa laminin receptor and effectively alleviates acute lung injury induced by H9N2 swine influenza virus.

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) was found to inhibit the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) pathway involved in influenza virus pathogenesis. Here, the effect of EGCG on TLR4 in an H9N2 virus-induced acute lung injury mouse model was investigated. BALB/c mice were inoculated intranasally with A/Swine/Hebei/108/2002 (H9N2) virus or noninfectious allantoic fluid, and treated with EGCG and E5564 or normal saline orally for 5 consecutive days.

A comprehensive data set of lake surface water temperature over the Tibetan Plateau derived from MODIS LST products 2001-2015.

Lake surface water temperature (LSWT) is sensitive to long-term changes in thermal structure of lakes and regional air temperature. In the context of global climate change, recent studies showed a significant warming trend of LSWT based on investigating 291 lakes (71% are large lakes, ≥50 km each) globally. However, further efforts are needed to examine variation in LSWT at finer regional spatial and temporal scales.

Characteristics, source, and potential ecological risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the Songhua River Basin, Northeast China.

The concentration characteristics, sources, and potential ecological risk assessment of 16 PAHs were investigated in the surface water from the Songhua River Basin, Northeast China. A total of 48 river water samples, including 16 from the main streams and 32 from the tributaries, were collected. Samples were separated into dissolved phases and suspended particle matter (SPM) via filtration with 0.

Kaempferol ameliorates H9N2 swine influenza virus-induced acute lung injury by inactivation of TLR4/MyD88-mediated NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways.

Kaempferol, a very common type of dietary flavonoids, has been found to exert antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. The purpose of our investigation was designed to reveal the effect of kaempferol on H9N2 influenza virus-induced inflammation in vivo and in vitro. In vivo, BALB/C mice were infected intranasally with H9N2 influenza virus with or without kaempferol treatment to induce acute lung injury (ALI) model.

Distribution characteristics and source apportionment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the Liao River drainage basin, northeast China.

The Liao River drainage basin, which is one of China's seven major rivers basins, is located in northeast China. This region is characterized by important industrial bases including steel factories and oil and chemical plants, all of which have the potential to contribute pollutants to the drainage basin. In this study, 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in water and suspended particulate matter (SPM) in the major rivers of the Liao River drainage basin were identified and quantified by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS).

Carnosine markedly ameliorates H9N2 swine influenza virus-induced acute lung injury.

Oxidative stress injury is an important pathogenesis of influenza virus in critically ill patients. The present study investigated the efficacy of carnosine, an antioxidant and free radical scavenger, on a model of acute lung injury (ALI) induced by H9N2 swine influenza virus. Female specific-pathogen-free BALB/c mice were randomized into four groups and treated as follows: (1) H9N2 group, (2) mock control group, (3) H9N2+carnosine group and (4) carnosine control group.