Solar-Driven Hydrogen Peroxide Production via BiVO-Based Photocatalysts.

Solar hydrogen peroxide (HO) production has garnered increased research interest owing to its safety, cost-effectiveness, environmental friendliness, and sustainability. The synthesis of HO relies mainly on renewable resources such as water, oxygen, and solar energy, resulting in minimal waste. Bismuth vanadate (BiVO) stands out among various oxide semiconductors for selective HO production under visible light via direct two-electron oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and two-electron water oxidation reaction (WOR) pathways.

Predictors and outcomes of withholding and withdrawal of life-sustaining treatments in intensive care units in Singapore: a multicentre observational study.

Background: Clinical practice guidelines on limitation of life-sustaining treatments (LST) in the intensive care unit (ICU), in the form of withholding or withdrawal of LST, state that there is no ethical difference between the two. Such statements are not uniformly accepted worldwide, and there are few studies on LST limitation in Asia. This study aimed to evaluate the predictors and outcomes of withholding and withdrawal of LST in Singapore, focusing on the similarities and differences between the two approaches.

Experimental Validation and Computational Predictions Join Forces to Map Catalytic C-H Activation in Ferrocene Metalated Porous Organic Polymers.

In recent times, a self-complementary balanced characteristic feature with the combination of both covalent bonds (structural stability) and open metal sites (single-site catalysis) introduced an advanced emerging functional nanoarchitecture termed metalated porous organic polymers (M-POPs). However, the development of M-POPs in view of the current interest in catalysis has been realized still in its infancy and remains a challenge for the years to come. In this work, we built benzothiazole-linked Fe-metalated porous organic polymer () using ferrocene dicarboxaldehyde (), 1,3,5-tris(4-aminophenyl) benzene (), and elemental sulfur (S) via a template-free, multicomponent, cost-effective one-pot synthetic approach.

Sensory, structural breakdown, microstructure, salt release properties, and shelf life of salt-coated air-dried yellow alkaline noodles.

Salt reduction in food has been employed to improve public health. The effects of salt coatings on sodium content, sensory properties, structural breakdown, microstructure, salt release properties, and shelf life of yellow alkaline noodles (YAN) were evaluated. 15 g/dL resistant starch HYLON™ VII (HC) or 5% (v/v) Semperfresh™ (SC) with 10, 20, and 30 g/dL sodium chloride (NaCl) were used.

Quality characteristics of green Tea's infusion as influenced by brands and types of brewing water.

The influences of four types of brewing waters including tap water (TAP), alkaline ionized water (ALK), magnetized water (MAG) and mineral water (MIN), and two brands of commercial green tea (L and T) on quality characteristics of tea infusions were studied. The Oxidation Reduction Potential (ORP) values of the brewing waters was TAP > MAG, MIN > ALK. After brewing, all infusions showed a significant drop (p < 0.

Improvement of cooking and textural properties of rice flour-soy protein isolate noodles stabilised with microbial transglutaminase and glucono-δ-lactone and dried using superheated steam.

In a bid to produce rice flour noodles with improved texture and reduced cooking time, rice flour-soy protein isolate noodles (RNS) were structurally enhanced by a combined treatment (COM) of microbial transglutaminase (MTG) with glucono-δ-lactone (GDL). The RNS-COM was either dried using superheated steam (SHS) to yield RNS-COM-SHS or steamed for 10 min (S10) before air drying to produce RNS-COM-S10 noodles. Control samples were SHS-dried rice flour (RN-SHS) and air-dried RN-S10 noodles.

Integrating Palliative Care Into a Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit (NS-ICU): A Quality Improvement (QI) Project.

Objectives: We conducted a pilot quality improvement (QI) project with the aim of improving accessibility of palliative care to critically ill neurosurgical patients.

Methods: The QI project was conducted in the neurosurgical intensive care unit (NS-ICU). Prior to the QI project, referral rates to palliative care were low.

The Programmed Cell Death Ligand-1/Programmed Cell Death-1 Pathway Mediates Pregnancy-Induced Analgesia via Regulating Spinal Inflammatory Cytokines.

Background: The maternal pain threshold gradually increases during pregnancy, especially in late pregnancy. A series of mechanisms underlying pregnancy-induced analgesia have been reported. However, these mechanisms are still not completely clear, and the underlying molecular mechanisms need further investigation.

Effective Antimicrobial StewaRdship StrategIES (ARIES): Cluster Randomized Trial of Computerized Decision Support System and Prospective Review and Feedback.

Background: Prospective review and feedback (PRF) of antibiotic prescriptions and compulsory computerized decision support system (CDSS) are 2 strategies of antimicrobial stewardship. There are limited studies investigating their combined effects. We hypothesized that the use of on-demand (voluntary) CDSS would achieve similar patient outcomes compared with automatically triggered (compulsory) CDSS whenever broad-spectrum antibiotics are ordered.

Photocatalytic and Photoelectrochemical Systems: Similarities and Differences.

Photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical processes are two key systems in harvesting sunlight for energy and environmental applications. As both systems are employing photoactive semiconductors as the major active component, strategies have been formulated to improve the properties of the semiconductors for better performances. However, requirements to yield excellent performances are different in these two distinctive systems.

Structural Basis and Kinetic Pathway of RBM39 Recruitment to DCAF15 by a Sulfonamide Molecular Glue E7820.

E7820 and indisulam are two examples of aryl sulfonamides that recruit RBM39 to Rbx-Cul4-DDA1-DDB1-DCAF15 E3 ligase complex, leading to its ubiquitination and degradation by the proteasome. To understand their mechanism of action, we performed kinetic analysis on the recruitment of RBM39 to DCAF15 and solved a crystal structure of DDA1-DDB1-DCAF15 in complex with E7820 and the RRM2 domain of RBM39. E7820 packs in a shallow pocket on the surface of DCAF15 and the resulting modified interface binds RBM39 through the α1 helix of the RRM2 domain.

The Importance of the Interfacial Contact: Is Reduced Graphene Oxide Always an Enhancer in Photo(Electro)Catalytic Water Oxidation?

Optimizing interfacial contact between graphene and a semiconductor has often been proposed as essential for improving their charge interactions. Herein, we fabricated bismuth vanadate-reduced graphene oxide (BiVO/rGO) composites with tailored interfacial contact extents and revealed their disparate behavior in photoelectrochemical (PEC) and powder suspension (PS) water oxidation systems. BiVO/rGO with a high rGO coverage on the BiVO surface (BiVO/rGO HC) exhibited an 8-fold enhancement in the PEC photocurrent density with respect to neat BiVO at 0 V versus Ag/AgCl, while BiVO/rGO with a low rGO coverage (BiVO/rGO LC) gave a lesser 3-fold enhancement.

Heterogeneous photocatalysts: an overview of classic and modern approaches for optical, electronic, and charge dynamics evaluation.

The functionality of a photoactive semiconductor (i.e., photocatalysts, photoelectrodes, etc.

Exploring the Different Roles of Particle Size in Photoelectrochemical and Photocatalytic Water Oxidation on BiVO.

Water oxidation on visible-light-active bismuth vanadate (BiVO) has commonly been demonstrated to be viable in powder suspension (PS) and particulate photoelectrochemical (PEC) systems. Here, we demonstrate that particle size reduction, which is known to be efficacious in promoting charge carrier extraction and boosting surface active sites, has an opposite effect on BiVO's photoactivity in the two systems. With three BiVO samples of distinctive particle sizes, smaller BiVO particle size is shown to be beneficial for enhancing PEC photocurrent generation, but deleterious for photocatalytic O evolution on suspended BiVO.

Interfacing BiVO with Reduced Graphene Oxide for Enhanced Photoactivity: A Tale of Facet Dependence of Electron Shuttling.

Efficient interfacial charge transfer is essential in graphene-based semiconductors to realize their superior photoactivity. However, little is known about the factors (for example, semiconductor morphology) governing the charge interaction. Here, it is demonstrated that the electron transfer efficacy in reduced graphene oxide-bismuth oxide (RGO/BiVO ) composite is improved as the relative exposure extent of {010}/{110} facets on BiVO increases, indicated by the greater extent of photocurrent enhancement.

BiVO4 {010} and {110} Relative Exposure Extent: Governing Factor of Surface Charge Population and Photocatalytic Activity.

The {010} and {110} crystal facets of monoclinic bismuth vanadate (m-BiVO4) has been demonstrated to be the active reduction and oxidation sites, respectively. Here, we show using dual-faceted m-BiVO4 with distinctly different dominant exposed facets, one which is {010}-dominant and the other {110}-dominant, contrary to prediction, the former m-BiVO4 exhibits superior photooxidation activities. The population of photogenerated electrons and holes on the surface are revealed to be proportional to the respective surface areas of {010} and {110} exposed on m-BiVO4, as evidenced by steady-state photoluminescence (PL) measurements in the presence of charge scavengers.

Dual role of 3-methyladenine in modulation of autophagy via different temporal patterns of inhibition on class I and III phosphoinositide 3-kinase.

A group of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitors, such as 3-methyladenine (3-MA) and wortmannin, have been widely used as autophagy inhibitors based on their inhibitory effect on class III PI3K activity, which is known to be essential for induction of autophagy. In this study, we systematically examined and compared the effects of these two inhibitors on autophagy under both nutrient-rich and deprivation conditions. To our surprise, 3-MA is found to promote autophagy flux when treated under nutrient-rich conditions with a prolonged period of treatment, whereas it is still capable of suppressing starvation-induced autophagy.

Activation of the PI3K-Akt-mTOR signaling pathway promotes necrotic cell death via suppression of autophagy.

Our previous work has shown that autophagy plays a pro-survival function in two necrotic cell death models: zVAD-treated L929 cells as well as H(2)O(2)-treated Bax(-/-)Bak(-/-) mouse embryonic fibroblasts (DKO MEF). This study aims to further explore the regulatory role of autophagy in necrosis by examining the functional role of the phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K)-Akt-mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway. Our initial intriguing finding was that insulin is able to promote necrotic cell death induced by zVAD and MNNG in L929 cells or by H(2)O(2) in DKO MEF cells cultured in full-growth medium.

The transplantable organ shortage in Singapore: has implementation of presumed consent to organ donation made a difference?

The success of solid organ transplantation in the treatment of end-stage organ failure has fuelled a growing demand for transplantable organs worldwide that has far outstripped the supply from brain dead heart-beating donors. In Singapore, this has resulted in long waiting lists of patients for transplantable organs, especially kidneys. The Human Organ Transplant Act, introduced in 1987, is an opt-out scheme that presumes consent to removal of certain organs for transplantation upon death.

Autophagy plays a protective role during zVAD-induced necrotic cell death.

The aim of this study is to examine the role of autophagy in cell death by using a well-established system in which zVAD, a pan-caspase inhibitor, induces necrotic cell death in L929 murine fibrosarcoma cells. First, we observed the presence of autophagic hallmarks, including an increased number of autophagosomes and the accumulation of LC3-II in zVAD-treated L929 cells. Since the presence of such autophagic hallmarks could be the result of either increased flux of autophagy or blockage of autophagosome maturation (lysosomal fusion and degradation), we next tested the effect of rapamycin, a specific inhibitor for mTOR, and chloroquine, a lysosomal enzyme inhibitor, on zVAD-induced cell death.