Contributions of Surface Oxidizing Species and Cu to the Antibacterial Activities of CuO with Different Crystalline Structures.

Although precise regulation of the crystalline structures of metal oxides is an effective method to improve their antibacterial activities, the corresponding mechanisms involved in this process are still unclear. In this study, three kinds of cuprous oxide (CuO) samples with different structures of cubes, octahedra, and rhombic dodecahedra (c-CuO, o-CuO, and r-CuO) have been successfully synthesized and their antibacterial activities are compared. The antibacterial activities follow the order of r-CuO > o-CuO > c-CuO, revealing the significant dependence of the antibacterial activities on the crystalline structures of CuO.

Satisfactory Tensile Strength and Strain of Recyclable Polyurethane with a Trimaleimide Structure for Thermal Self-Healing and Anticorrosive Coatings.

Bismaleimide (BMI) is often used as the cross-linking reagent in Diels-Alder (D-A)-type intrinsic self-healing materials (DISMs) to promote the connectivity of damaged surfaces based on reversible D-A bond formation on the molecular scale. Until now, although DISMs have exhibited great potential in the applications of various sensors, electronic skin, and artificial muscles, it is still difficult to prepare DISMs with satisfactory self-healing abilities and high tensile strengths and strains at the same time, thus largely limiting their applications in self-healing anticorrosive coatings. Herein, symmetrical trimaleimide (TMI) was successfully synthesized, and trimaleimide-structured D-A self-healing polyurethane (TMI-DA-PU) was prepared via the reversible D-A reaction (cycloaddition of furan and maleimide).

Photocatalytic Generation of HO Via a Hydrogen-Abstraction Pathway by BiWO under Visible Light.

Photocatalytic technology is a popular research area for converting solar energy into environmentally friendly chemicals and is considered the greenest approach for producing HO. However, the corresponding reactive oxygen species (ROS) and pathway involved in the photocatalytic generation of HO by the BiWO-glucose system are still not clear. Quenching experiments have established that neither OH nor h contribute to the formation of HO, and show that the formed surface superoxo (≡Bi-OO) and peroxo (≡Bi-OOH) species are the predominant ROS in HO generation.

Modification of traditional composite nonwovens with stable storage of light absorption transients and photodynamic antibacterial effect.

Combining photodynamic antimicrobials with nonwovens is prospective. However, common photosensitizers still have drawbacks such as poor photoactivity and the inability to charge. In this study, a photodynamic and high-efficiency antimicrobial protective material was prepared by grafting bis benzophenone-structured 4,4-terephthaloyl diphthalic anhydride (TDPA) photosensitizer, and antimicrobial agent chlorogenic acid (CA) onto spunbond-meltblown-spunbond (SMS) membranes.

Braided scaffolds with polypyrrole/polydopamine/hydroxyapatite coatings with electrical conductivity and osteogenic properties for bone tissue engineering.

When impaired bones are grafted with bone scaffolds, the behaviors of osteoblast are dependent on the implant materials and surface morphology. To this end, we modulated the surface morphology of scaffolds that promote cell growth. In this study, ice-template and spraying method methods are employed to coat different proportions of PDA and PPy over the PLA/PVA weaving scaffolds, after which HA is Coated over the electrochemical deposition, forming weaving scaffolds with electrically conductive PDA/PPy/HA coating.

Flexible Puncture-Resistant Composites for Antistabbing Applications: Silica and Silicon Carbide Nanoparticle-/TPU-Coated Aramid Fabrics.

In harsh environments, it is crucial to design personal protective materials that possess both puncture/cut resistance and chemical resistance. In order to fulfill these requirements, this study introduces an innovative approach that combines hydrophobically modified rigid nanoparticles with thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers. These materials are then laminated with high-performance aramid fabrics through a scraping process, resulting in a multifunctional composite with puncture/cut resistance, superhydrophobicity, self-cleaning properties, and acid/alkali resistance.

Biomimetic helical fiber cellulose acetate/thermoplastic polyurethanes photodynamic antibacterial membrane: Synthesis, characterization, and antibacterial application.

This study designed a novel co-electrospun cellulose acetate (CA)/thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) photodynamic helical fiber antibacterial membrane as a potential environmentally friendly medical protective material. A central combined design method (CCD) based on response surface methodology (RSM) was used to analyze essential variables' influence. The optimized parameters for CCD were TPU (wt%) 11.

Synergy of Adsorption and Photocatalytic Reduction for Efficient Removal of Cr(VI) with Polyvinylidene Fluoride@Polyvinyl Alcohol-FeCO/BiWO.

Although the photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) by traditional powder photocatalysts is a promising method, the difficulty and poor recovery of photocatalysts from water hinder their wide practical applications. Herein, we present that FeCO/BiWO (FeCO/BWO) composites were tightly bonded to modified polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membranes by chemical grafting with the aid of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to form photocatalytic composite membranes (PVDF@PVA-FeCO/BWO). The contact angle of PVDF@PVA-FeCO/BWO (0.

Comparison of neurofilament light and heavy chain in spinal muscular atrophy and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A pilot study.

Background: Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) were two major motor neuron diseases with similar symptoms and poor outcomes. This study aimed to identify potential biomarkers in disease monitoring and differential diagnosis of adult SMA patients with sporadic ALS patients.

Methods: This was a pilot study with ten adult SMA patients and ten ALS patients consecutively enrolled during hospitalization.

Aquaporin-4 Antibody Dynamics and Relapse Risk in Seropositive Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder Treated with Immunosuppressants.

Objective: To investigate aquaporin-4 antibody (AQP4-IgG) dynamics and relapse risk in patients with seropositive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder treated with immunosuppressants.

Methods: This observational cohort study with prospectively collected data included 400 neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder patients seropositive for AQP4-IgG and treated with immunosuppressants. Serum AQP4-IgG was detected by fixed cell-based assay every 6 months.

Enhancing mechanical and photocatalytic properties by surface microstructure regulation of TiO nanofiber membranes.

In this work, TiO nanofiber membrane (NFM) with a complete surface microstructure was prepared through regulating the surface microstructure of TiO NFM by doping Zr. The crystal structures and morphological analyses indicated that the nanofiber membranes were consisted by disordered accumulation of Zr-doped TiO nanofibers with a crack-free surface, small grain size and high aspect ratio. When the doping amount of Zr was 0.

pH-responsive nonwoven fabric with reversibly wettability for controllable oil-water separation and heavy metal removal.

Removal of organic solvents and heavy metals in effluents is of great significance to environmental pollution control and ecological civilization construction. pH-responsive materials have unique advantages in treating complicated oily wastewater. In this work, an intelligent pH-responsive nonwoven fabric with excellent reversible wettability was prepared.

Importance of the ligand-to-metal charge transfer (LMCT) pathway in the photocatalytic oxidation of arsenite by TiO.

Photooxidation of As(III) by TiO is a complicated process in which the oxidation mechanisms are always controversial. In this study, the enhanced photooxidation rates of As(III) with increasing pH values from 8.0 to 11.

Enhanced permeate flux by air micro-nano bubbles via reducing apparent viscosity during ultrafiltration process.

Micro-nano bubbles (MNBs) play important roles in the reduction of membrane fouling during membrane separation; however, such improvements are always attributed to the reduced concentration polarization on the surface of membranes and little attention has been paid on the variations of physicochemical properties of the feed caused by MNBs. In this study, the separation efficiencies of the feed containing humic acid (HA), bovine serum albumin (BSA), sodium alginate (SA) or dyes can be improved by MNBs during ultrafiltration, and the normalized fluxes can be maximally increased to 139% and 127% in the dead-end and cross-flow modes, respectively in the treatment of HA solution. We further reveal that the decreased apparent viscosity of the feed in the presence of MNBs is the key factor that enhances the normalized flux during ultrafiltration.

Photocatalytic oxidation of Mn(II) on the surface of BiWO the ligand-to-metal charge transfer (LMCT) pathway.

Biotic and abiotic oxidation of Mn(II) in aqueous environments is an important process for the cycling of many elements. However, the mechanism involved in photocatalytic oxidation of Mn(II) has not been clearly elucidated yet. In this study, the photocatalytic oxidation of Mn(II) on the surface of self-doped BiWO (BiWO) under visible light was conducted.

Photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI) by BiWO complexed with polydopamine: Contribution of the ligand-to-metal charge transfer path.

Photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI) in water environments attracts more attention; however, the mechanisms involved in this process have not been clearly elucidated yet. In this study, the photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI) by polydopamine modified BiWO (PDA/BWO) under visible light was conducted. Kinetics results show that PDA apparently accelerates the reduction of Cr(VI).

Silk fibroin/polycaprolactone-polyvinyl alcohol directional moisture transport composite film loaded with antibacterial drug-loading microspheres for wound dressing materials.

Drug delivery technology can prevent wound infection and inflammatory reactions and accelerate wound healing and quality. In this paper, we propose preparing a multifunctional medical dressing to meet the various needs of people for dressing. A multi-layered composite nanofiber membrane was constructed using silk fibroin as the substrate, and mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) with high adsorption properties were first prepared and then electrosprayed on silk fibroin (SF)/chitosan (CS) microspheres to form MSN-SF/CS microspheres with uniform distribution.

The fast redox cycle of Cu(II)-Cu(I)-Cu(II) in the reduction of Cr(VI) by the Cu(II)-thiosulfate system.

Thiosulfate (SO) is an important ligand to complex metal cations, however, the reactivity of metal-thiosulfate complexes has barely been mentioned. In this study, the reactivity of the Cu(II)-SO system in the reduction of Cr(VI) was investigated. Kinetic results show that the reduction rates of Cr(VI) decrease with increasing pH values from 3.

Construction of BiOI/TiO flexible and hierarchical S-scheme heterojunction nanofibers membranes for visible-light-driven photocatalytic pollutants degradation.

Water was the source of life, in order to solve the serious water pollution problem facing the world, researchers have proposed many solutions. Among them, photoelectric catalytic technology based on semiconductor materials was an ideal and sustainable solution. Herein, by combining successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) with sol-gel electrospinning two strategies, a novel S-scheme heterojunction based on flexible and hierarchical BiOI/TiO nanofibrous membranes (BiOI/TiO NFM) was fabricated.

Silk fibroin/chitosan/TGF-β1-loaded microsphere scaffolds for cartilage reparation.

Background: Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) plays an important role in chondrocyte growth and the synthesis of extracellular matrix (ECM). Due to the rapid metabolism, controlled release systems for TGF-β1 have attracted increasing interest recently.

Objective: In this study, a silk fibroin (SF)/chitosan (CS) scaffold incorporated with TGF-β1-loaded microspheres (MSs) was created for cartilage reparation.

Next-generation sequencing combined with serological tests based pathogen analysis for a neurocysticercosis patient with a 20-year history:a case report.

Background: Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is the most common helminthic infection of the central nervous system (CNS) caused by the larval stage of Taenia solium. Accurate and early diagnosis of NCC remains challenging due to its heterogeneous clinical manifestations, neuroimaging deficits, variable sensitivity, and specificity of serological tests. Next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based pathogen analysis in patient's cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) with NCC infection has recently been reported indicating its diagnostic efficacy.

Two-step strategy for constructing hierarchical pore structured chitosan-hydroxyapatite composite scaffolds for bone tissue engineering.

Chitosan (CS) combined with hydroxyapatite (HA) was injected into a composite braid, and a hierarchical pore structure scaffold was obtained by freeze drying and cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) technology. The CS/HA/braid scaffold with hierarchical pore structure was analyzed and characterized by scanning electronic microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, true color confocal microscopy, improved liquid replacement method, and phosphate buffer solution immersion. The mechanical properties and degradation ability of the scaffold were evaluated through compression test and degradation test.