PHEA-g-PMMA Well-Defined Graft Copolymer: ATRP Synthesis, Self-Assembly, and Synchronous Encapsulation of Both Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Guest Molecules.

A series of well-defined amphiphilic graft copolymer bearing a hydrophilic poly(2-hydroxyethyl acrylate) (PHEA) backbone and hydrophobic poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) side chains was synthesized by successive reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) through the grafting-from strategy. A well-defined PHEA-based backbone with Cl-containing ATRP initiating group in every repeated unit (M /M  = 1.08), poly(2-hydroxyethyl 2-((2-chloropropanoyloxy)methyl)acrylate) (PHECPMA), was first prepared by RAFT homopolymerization of 2-hydroxyethyl 2-((2-chloropropanoyloxy)methyl)acrylate (HECPMA), a Cl-containing trifunctional acrylate.

In situ coagulation versus pre-coagulation for gravity-driven membrane bioreactor during decentralized sewage treatment: Permeability stabilization, fouling layer formation and biological activity.

Gravity-driven membrane filtration systems are promising for decentralized sewage treatment due to their low energy consumption and low maintenance. However, the low stable permeability/flux is currently limiting their wider application. With the ultimate goal of increasing permeability, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of coagulation (in situ coagulation and pre-coagulation) on the performance of a gravity-driven membrane bioreactor (GDMBR) during treatment of synthetic sewage.

High-throughput flow cytometry screening of human hepatocellular carcinoma reveals CD146 to be a novel marker of tumor-initiating cells.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a common and lethal cancer. Cancer stem cells, or tumor-initiating cells (TICs), are thought to contribute to the pathogenesis of HCC, but remain to be fully characterized. Unbiased screens of primary human HCC cells for the identification of novel HCC TIC markers have not been reported.

Comparative proteomic analysis and characterization of benzo(a)pyrene removal by Microbacterium sp. strain M.CSW3 under denitrifying conditions.

High-molecular-weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are persistent organic pollutants with great environmental and human health risks and the associated bioremediation activities have always been hampered by the lack of powerful bacterial species under redox conditions. A Microbacterium sp. strain capable of using benzo(a)pyrene as sole carbon and energy sources under denitrifying conditions was isolated.

Outcomes of adjuvant epithelial growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) treatment for EGFR-mutant non-small-cell lung cancer: a propensity-score analysis.

Small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have transformed the management of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring activating epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations, while the efficacy of TKIs in the adjuvant setting remains unclear. We collected the data of 209 EGFR-mutant NSCLC patients receiving complete resection from 2010 to 2013. Study end points were disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS).

In vitro, contrast agent-based evaluation of the influence of flow diverter size and position on intra-aneurysmal flow dynamics using syngo iFlow.

Purpose: Treatment of intracranial aneurysm with flow-diverting devices has become widespread in recent years. Despite that, intra-aneurysmal flow changes are yet not fully understood and can lead to different complications. Our aim was an in vitro contrast-based evaluation of the influence of flow diverter size and position on intra-aneurysmal flow dynamics.

Microbial community composition and electricity generation in cattle manure slurry treatment using microbial fuel cells: effects of inoculum addition.

Microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a sustainable technology to treat cattle manure slurry (CMS) for converting chemical energy to bioelectricity. In this work, two types of allochthonous inoculum including activated sludge (AS) and domestic sewage (DS) were added into the MFC systems to enhance anode biofilm formation and electricity generation. Results indicated that MFCs (AS + CMS) obtained the maximum electricity output with voltage approaching 577 ± 7 mV (~ 196 h), followed by MFCs (DS + CMS) (520 ± 21 mV, ~ 236 h) and then MFCs with autochthonous inoculum (429 ± 62 mV, ~ 263.

[Acute toxicity of Euphorbiae Pekinensis Radix and vinegar-processing Euphorbiae Pekinensis Radix on zebrafish embryo].

The embryos of model organism zebrafish were used to evaluate the acute toxicity of the extracts of Euphorbiae Pekinensis Radix and vinegar-processing Euphorbiae Pekinensis Radix, and the total terpene content of each extract was determined by using euphol as the reference standards. Twenty-four h normally developed zebrafish embryos were chosen, and 8 concentrations were adopted for each extract. Then the growth and death of zebrafish embryos were observed at 96 h after administration, and median lethal concentrations (LC50) of the different samples on zebrafish embryos were calculated.

New naphthalene whole-cell bioreporter for measuring and assessing naphthalene in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons contaminated site.

A new naphthalene bioreporter was designed and constructed in this work. A new vector, pWH1274_Nah, was constructed by the Gibson isothermal assembly fused with a 9 kb naphthalene-degrading gene nahAD (nahAa nahAb nahAc nahAd nahB nahF nahC nahQ nahE nahD) and cloned into Acinetobacter ADPWH_lux as the host, capable of responding to salicylate (the central metabolite of naphthalene). The ADPWH_Nah bioreporter could effectively metabolize naphthalene and evaluate the naphthalene in natural water and soil samples.

Degradable polyesters via ring-opening polymerization of functional valerolactones for efficient gene delivery.

Degradable polymers as gene and drug carriers are emerging as one of the most promising types of materials in the biomedical and pharmaceutical areas. Herein, we report the synthesis of a series of block co-polyesters (B1-B6) and random co-polyesters (C1-C4) via ring-opening polymerization of tertiary amine-bearing valerolactone and alkylated valerolactone monomers. These polymers can completely inhibit the electrophoretic migrations of plasmid DNAs (pDNAs) at a w/w ratio of 2-6.

Severity of acute gastrointestinal injury grade is a predictor of all-cause mortality in critically ill patients: a multicenter, prospective, observational study.

Background: In 2012, the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine proposed a definition for acute gastrointestinal injury (AGI) based on current medical evidence and expert opinion. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the feasibility of using the current AGI grading system and to investigate the association between AGI severity grades with clinical outcome in critically ill patients.

Methods: Adult patients at 14 general intensive care units (ICUs) with an expected ICU stay ≥24 h were prospectively studied.

Impacts of electron donor and acceptor on the performance of electrotrophic denitrification.

Electrotrophic denitrification is a novel nitrogen removal technique. In this study, the performance and the mechanism of electrotrophic denitrification were investigated at different nitrate concentrations and current intensities. The results showed that the performance of electrotrophic denitrification was good with a sludge loading of 0.

Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic modeling of oral mitiglinide on glucose lowering in healthy Chinese volunteers.

Background: Mitiglinide is a widely used agent for diabetic treatment. We established a pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) model to illustrate the relationship between mitiglinide plasma concentration and its glucose lowering effects in healthy volunteers.

Methods: The volunteers participated in the test after the administration of a single dose of 10 mg mitiglinide.

Thrombospondin-1 Production Regulates the Inflammatory Cytokine Secretion in THP-1 Cells Through NF-κB Signaling Pathway.

Thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) is upregulated in several inflammatory diseases. Recent data have shown that macrophages from TSP-1-deficient mice have a reduced inflammatory phenotype, suggesting that TSP-1 plays a part in macrophage activation. DNA microarray approach revealed that Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide (P.

Atmospheric gas-to-particle conversion: why NPF events are observed in megacities?

In terms of the global aerosol particle number load, atmospheric new particle formation (NPF) dominates over primary emissions. The key for quantifying the importance of atmospheric NPF is to understand how gas-to-particle conversion (GTP) takes place at sizes below a few nanometers in particle diameter in different environments, and how this nano-GTP affects the survival of small clusters into larger sizes. The survival probability of growing clusters is tied closely to the competition between their growth and scavenging by pre-existing aerosol particles, and the key parameter in this respect is the ratio between the condensation sink (CS) and the cluster growth rate (GR).

Removal of Cs from water and soil by ammonium-pillared montmorillonite/FeO composite.

To remove cesium ions from water and soil, a novel adsorbent was synthesized by following a one-step co-precipitation method and using non-toxic raw materials. By combining ammonium-pillared montmorillonite (MMT) and magnetic nanoparticles (FeO), an MMT/FeO composite was prepared and characterized. The adsorbent exhibited high selectivity of Cs and could be rapidly separated from the mixed solution under an external magnetic field.

Fluorescent natural organic matter responsible for ultrafiltration membrane fouling: Fate, contributions and fouling mechanisms.

Membrane fouling has been a main obstacle to the success of ultrafiltration (UF) technology. Recently, fluorescent natural organic matter (FNOM), including humic-like substances (HS) and protein-like substances, has been recognized as substances responsible for membrane fouling. In this study, the matrix of FNOM in natural river water was substantially modified by combined coagulation and powdered activated carbon adsorption to enhance the diversity of the FNOM matrix.

Long-Term Oil Pollution and In Situ Microbial Response of Groundwater in Northwest China.

Potential threats exist where groundwater is polluted by high concentrations of oil compounds (980.20 mg L the highest TPHs). An abandoned petrochemical plant in Lanzhou City, where long-term petrochemical products leakage contaminated the groundwater, was used as a field site in this study.

Application of UHPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS to Identify Multiple Constituents in Processed Products of the Herbal Medicine Ligustri Lucidi Fructus.

Ligustri Lucidi Fructus (LLF), the fruit of Ait. (Oleaceae), has been used as a common herbal medicine in clinical practice in China for nearly 2000 years. In most cases, LLF is prescribed in decoctions in the form of processed products rather than crude drugs.

Ammonium-pillared montmorillonite-CoFeO composite caged in calcium alginate beads for the removal of Cs from wastewater.

Novel and magnetic adsorbent ammonium-pillared montmorillonite-CoFeO composite caged in calcium alginate beads was prepared by using non-toxic raw materials. The morphology, magnetic properties, functional groups, and crystal structure of the compound were characterized by SEM, VSM, FT-IR and XRD. The adsorption behaviors were also investigated via adsorption experiments and response surface methodology was used to optimize the operation conditions.

Analysis of rotation angles and motions of the flexible mechanisms in bifurcated blood vessels.

This article investigates the relationship of rotation angle of two ends of elastic guidewires, and motion method of guidewires and catheters in bifurcated blood vessels. The relationship of rotation angles of the two ends of the guidewire has first been studied by mathematical reasoning, indicating that the rotation angle of the front end of guidewire can be precisely described by that of the rear end. In order to satisfy the requirements of different vascular interventional surgeries, we further investigated a general model of bifurcated human blood vessels.

Gemini-Type Tetraphenylethylene Amphiphiles Containing [12]aneN and Long Hydrocarbon Chains as Nonviral Gene Vectors and Gene Delivery Monitors.

Four gemini amphiphiles decorated with triazole-[12]aneN as the hydrophilic moiety and various long hydrocarbons as hydrophobic moieties, 1-4, were designed to form micelles possessing the aggregation-induced emission (AIE) property for gene delivery and tracing. All four amphiphiles give ultralow critical micelle concentrations, are pH-/photostable and biocompatible, and completely retard the migration of plasmid DNAs at low concentrations. The DNA-binding abilities of the micelles were fully assessed.

Pixel response-based EPID dosimetry for patient specific QA.

Increasing use of high dose rate, flattening filter free (FFF), and/or small-sized field beams presents a significant challenge to the medical physics community. In this work, we develop a strategy of using a high spatial resolution and high frame rate amorphous silicon flat panel electronic portal imaging device (EPID) for dosimetric measurements of these challenging cases, as well as for conventional external beam therapy. To convert a series of raw EPID-measured radiation field images into water-based dose distribution, a pixel-to-pixel dose-response function of the EPID specific to the linac is essential.