Electronic and Atomic Structural Properties Associated with Enhanced Photodegradation Activity in Mo-Doped TiO Nanoparticles.

The efficacy and structural evolution of Mo-doped titania nanoparticles (MTNPs) as advanced photocatalysts for degrading methyl blue (MB) are investigated by X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). The 3 wt % MTNP, characterized by uniform size and anatase structure, exhibits higher efficiency. The spectral analyses unveiled structural variations in the TiO octahedral structure and revealed an active site of the distorted square pyramidal structure symmetry (C).

Single-Step Low-Temperature Synthesis of Carbon Dots for Advanced Multiparametric Bioimaging Probe Applications.

Carbon dots (CDs) have recently emerged in biomedical and agricultural domains, mainly for their probe applications in developing efficient sensors. However, the existing high-temperature approaches limit the industrial level scaling up to further translate them into different products by mass-scale fabrication of CDs. To address this, we have attempted to lower the synthesis temperature to 140 °C and synthesized different CDs using different organic acids and their combinations in a one-step approach (quantum yield 3.

Augmenting Neutrophil Extracellular Traps with Carbonized Polymer Dots: A Potential Treatment for Bacterial Sepsis.

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that can progress to septic shock as the body's extreme response to pathogenesis damages its own vital organs. Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) accounts for 50% of nosocomial infections, which are clinically treated with antibiotics.

Curcumin-derived carbon quantum dots: Dual actions in mitigating tau hyperphosphorylation and amyloid beta aggregation.

The amyloid cascade and tau hypotheses both hold significant implications for the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Curcumin shows potential by inhibiting the aggregation of amyloid beta (Aβ) and reducing tau hyperphosphorylation, however, its use is limited due to issues with solubility and bioavailability. Carbon dots, recognized for their high biocompatibility and optimal water solubility, have demonstrated the capability to inhibit either Aβ or tau aggregation.

Dual-emissive carbonized polymer dots for the ratiometric fluorescence imaging of singlet oxygen in living cells.

Singlet oxygen (O) is a type of reactive oxygen species (ROS), playing a vital role in the physiological and pathophysiological processes. Specific probes for monitoring intracellular O still remain challenging. In this study, we develop a ratiometric fluorescent probe for the real-time intracellular detection of O using o-phenylenediamine-derived carbonized polymer dots (o-PD CPDs).

Description of Photodegradation Mechanisms and Structural Characteristics in Carbon@Titania Yolk-Shell Nanostructures by XAS.

Carbon@titania yolk-shell nanostructures are successfully synthesized at different calcination conditions. These unique structure nanomaterials can be used as a photocatalyst to degrade the emerging water pollutant, acetaminophen (paracetamol). The photodegradation analysis studies have shown that the samples with residual carbon nanospheres have improved the photocatalytic efficiency.

Aminoglycoside-mimicking carbonized polymer dots for bacteremia treatment.

Bacteremia and associated bacterial sepsis are potentially fatal and occur when the host response to microbial invasion is impaired or compromised. This motivated us to develop carbonized polymer dots (CPDs) from a mixture of mannose (Man) and positively charged amino acids [AAs; lysine, arginine (Arg), or histidine] through a one-step mild pyrolysis procedure, which effectively inhibited drug-resistant bacterial strains isolated from septic patients. The as-prepared CPDs showed broad-spectrum antibacterial activity, including multidrug-resistant bacteria, even in human plasma.

Partial carbonization of quercetin boosts the antiviral activity against H1N1 influenza A virus.

Inflenza A viruses (IAVs) are highly transmissible and pathogenic Orthomyxoviruses, which have led to worldwide outbreaks and seasonal pandemics of acute respiratory diseases, causing serious threats to public health. Currently used anti-influenza drugs may cause neurological side effects, and they are increasingly less effective against mutant strains. To help prevent the spread of IAVs, in this work, we have developed quercetin-derived carbonized nanogels (CNGs) that display potent viral inhibitory, antioxidative, and anti-inflammatory activities.

Development of antiviral carbon quantum dots that target the Japanese encephalitis virus envelope protein.

Japanese encephalitis is a mosquito-borne disease caused by the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) that is prevalent in Asia and the Western Pacific. Currently, there is no effective treatment for Japanese encephalitis. Curcumin (Cur) is a compound extracted from the roots of Curcuma longa, and many studies have reported its antiviral and anti-inflammatory activities.

Carbon-based low-pressure filtration membrane for the dynamic disruption of bacteria from contaminated water.

Carbon-based materials, especially graphene oxide (GO) and carbon dots possessing antibacterial properties, are widely used for various applications. Recently, we reported the antibacterial and antioxidant properties of carbonized nanogels (CNGs) for the treatment of bacterial keratitis, and as a virostatic agent against infectious bronchitis virus. In this work, we demonstrate the use of CNGs/GO nanocomposite (GO@CNGs) membrane for the efficient removal of Gram-negative (E.

Hyaluronic Acid Derived Hypoxia-Sensitive Nanocarrier for Tumor Targeted Drug Delivery.

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is conjugated with BHQ3 moiety with azo bonds to prepare hypoxia-responsive polymer conjugate. Because of the amphiphilic nature, the polymer conjugate self-assembles to HA-BHQ3 nanoparticles (NPs). The anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX) is loaded into the NPs.

Smoking Cessation Rate and Its Predictors among Heavy Smokers in a Smoking-Free Hospital in Taiwan.

Smoking poses critical risks for heart disease and cancers. Heavy smokers, defined as smoking more than 30 pack-year, are the most important target for smoking cessation. This study aimed to obtain the cessation rate and its predictors among heavy smokers.

Multicycle Performance of CaTiO Decorated CaO-Based CO Adsorbent Prepared by a Versatile Aerosol Assisted Self-Assembly Method.

Calcium oxide (CaO) is a promising adsorbent to separate CO from flue gas. However, with cycling of carbonation/decarbonation at high temperature, the serious sintering problem causes its capture capacity to decrease dramatically. A CaTiO-decorated CaO-based CO adsorbent was prepared by a continuous and simple aerosol-assisted self-assembly process in this work.

High Amplification of the Antiviral Activity of Curcumin through Transformation into Carbon Quantum Dots.

It is demonstrated that carbon quantum dots derived from curcumin (Cur-CQDs) through one-step dry heating are effective antiviral agents against enterovirus 71 (EV71). The surface properties of Cur-CQDs, as well as their antiviral activity, are highly dependent on the heating temperature during synthesis. The one-step heating of curcumin at 180 °C preserves many of the moieties of polymeric curcumin on the surfaces of the as-synthesized Cur-CQDs, resulting in superior antiviral characteristics.

Removal of gaseous elemental mercury by hydrogen chloride non-thermal plasma modified biochar.

Hydrogen chloride (HCl) non-thermal plasma was applied to introduce Cl active sites on biochar prepared from sorghum straw in this study. Surface modified biochar was then placed in flue gas with typical components to investigate its elemental mercury (Hg) capture ability. To elucidate the adsorption mechanism & binding properties, samples were characterized by N adsorption, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectrometer (SEM-EDS) and X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) analysis of Hg L-edge, Cl K-edge and S K-edge.

Percutaneous pedicle screw placement under single dimensional fluoroscopy with a designed pedicle finder-a technical note and case series.

Background Context: Minimally invasive spine surgery has become increasingly popular in clinical practice, and it offers patients the potential benefits of reduced blood loss, wound pain, and infection risk, and it also diminishes the loss of working time and length of hospital stay. However, surgeons require more intraoperative fluoroscopy and ionizing radiation exposure during minimally invasive spine surgery for localization, especially for guidance in instrumentation placement. In addition, computer navigation is not accessible in some facility-limited institutions.

Short-term Versus Long-term Outcomes After Open or Percutaneous Release for Trigger Thumb.

Good outcomes have been reported after both open and percutaneous surgery to release trigger thumb. This study evaluated short-term and long-term outcomes after treatment of trigger thumb with open or percutaneous release. A total of 126 trigger thumbs in 107 patients were reviewed from 2009 to 2012.

Open versus percutaneous release for trigger digits: Reversal between short-term and long-term outcomes.

Background: There have been excellent outcomes reported with both open and percutaneous release of trigger finger. However, a comparison of short- and long-term outcomes between these two techniques has not been performed. The purpose of this study is to compare the short-term (3 months) and long-term (2 years) outcomes between open surgical release and percutaneous needle release of trigger finger.

Preparation of Polyacrylonitrile/Ferrous Chloride Composite Nanofibers by Electrospinning for Efficient Reduction of Cr(VI).

In this study, A novel adsorbent material of polyacrylonitrile (PAN)/ferrous chloride (FeCl2) composite nanofibers is prepared by electrospinning, a simple and effective method. The obtained composite nanofibers have a non-uniform morphology and structure and a large specific surface area of 13.8 m2 g-1.

Electronic properties of free-standing TiO2 nanotube arrays fabricated by electrochemical anodization.

Nanotubular TiO2 has attracted considerable attention owing to its unique functional properties, including high surface area and vectorial charge transport along the nanotube, making it a good photocatalytic material. Anodic TiO2-nanotube (TiNT) arrays on a Ti foil substrate were prepared by electrochemical anodic oxidation and SEM/HRTEM/XRD analyses have suggested that the walls of TiO2 tubes are formed from stacked [101] planes (anatase). Both HRTEM and XRD indicate an interplanar spacing of d101 = 0.

Adsorption isotherms and kinetics of activated carbons produced from coals of different ranks.

Activated carbons (ACs) from six coals, ranging from low-rank lignite brown coal to high-rank stone coal, were utilized as adsorbents to remove basic methylene blue (MB) from an aqueous solution. The surface properties of the obtained ACs were characterized via thermal analysis, N2 isothermal sorption, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Boehm titration. As coal rank decreased, an increase in the heterogeneity of the pore structures and abundance of oxygen-containing functional groups increased MB coverage on its surface.

The association of retinol-binding protein 4 with metabolic syndrome and obesity in adolescents: the effects of gender and sex hormones.

Objectives: Retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) has a role in the development of insulin resistance (IR), type 2 diabetes, obesity, and metabolic syndrome among adults. However, data among adolescents are limited, and the effects of gender and sex hormones on RBP4 are not well defined.

Materials/methods: A total of 1082 adolescents were enrolled and categorized based on their body mass index.

Effectiveness of plate augmentation for femoral shaft nonunion after nailing.

Background: Treatment options for nonunion of the femoral shaft fracture after intramedullary nail fixation are controversial. The methods of exchanging an existing nail with a larger-sized nail, dynamization, removal of the nail followed by plating, and bone grafting have all been reported. From those options, exchange nailing seems to be the most popular choice.

Photodegradation of aqueous reactive dye using TiO(2)/zeolite admixtures in a continuous flow reactor.

The photocatalytic degradation of an organic dye, i.e. reactive blue 19 (RB19), was studied by employing different TiO(2)/zeolite (TZ) photocatalysts, which have TiO(2)/(TiO(2) + zeolite) weight ratios ranging from 20 to 80%, in a continuous flow system.