Liquid crystalline (LC) assemblies with tailored shape and programmable shape transformation were prepared via polymerization-induced self-assembly. The influence of polymerization temperature and solvent on the shape of the LC assemblies indicated that shape of the LC assemblies could be delicately regulated by the repulsive interaction among the solvophilic chains and LC ordering. Programmable shape transformation of ellipsoidal LC assemblies was achieved, taking advantage of the smectic-to-isotropic phase transition.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe potential for bioremoval of copper ions was investigated by a novel strain of bacterium Citrobacter freundii JPG1, which was newly isolated from gold mining tailing in China and grew either aerobically or anaerobically. The strain cross-tolerated heavy metals of Ag, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu and Ni and removed copper under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions with the stress of copper. Under aerobic conditions, the cells grew rapidly and exhibited higher biomass at low copper concentrations (<1 mmol L), while the growth of cells was almost completely inhibited at high copper concentrations (2 mmol L).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is of significant importance in the development of fuel cells. Now, cobalt-nitrogen-doped chiral carbonaceous nanotubes (l/d-CCNTs-Co) are presented as efficient electrocatalysts for ORR. The chiral template, N-stearyl-l/d-glutamic acid, induces the self-assembly of well-arranged polypyrrole and the formation of ordered graphene carbon with helical structures at the molecular level after the pyrolysis process.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFChemically incorporating Schiff base interactions into silicate frameworks endows the obtained mesoporous organosilica based drug carriers with ultrafast pH-responsive degradability and efficient anti-cancer drug release kinetics, resulting in enhanced cancer therapy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTiO2 nanotubes (TNTs) and AgCl/TiO2 nanotubes (AgCl/TNTs) were synthesized by a hydrothermal method and used in the reduction of nitrate with formic acid as a hole scavenger. As-synthesized photocatalysts were well characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS), N2 adsorption-desorption and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-vis DRS). 5 wt% AgCl/TNTs showed excellent performance in the reduction of nitrate (94.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Environ Res Public Health
July 2018
In the current study, graphene oxide, Fe, and Fe were used for the synthesis of magnetic graphene oxide (MGO) by an in situ chemical coprecipitation method. Scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction were used to characterize the well-prepared MGO. The prepared MGO was used as an adsorbent to remove five typical estrogens (estrone (E1), 17β-estradiol (E2), 17-ethinylestradiol (17α-E2), estriol (E3), and synthetic estrogen (EE2)) at the ppb level from spiked ultrapure water and wastewater treatment plant effluent.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe recharge of reclaimed water is an effective strategy for addressing the issues of water quality deterioration and groundwater level decline simultaneously. Residual Al coagulants are normally remained in the recovered water at low concentrations, and may induce clogging problems during the recharging process. However, this issue has been ignored in the past.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMacromol Rapid Commun
August 2018
ABC triblock copolymer assemblies with reversible "breathing" behaviors based on poly[oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate]-b-poly(benzyl methacrylate)-b-poly[2-(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate] (POEGMA-b-PBnMA-b-PDEA) are fabricated via one-pot sequential reverisble addition-fragmentation chain transfer dispersion polymerization. Using a POEGMA as the macromolecular chain transfer agent, chain extension with BnMA and DEA is conducted in ethanol, where PBnMA acts as the core-forming block, and the PDEA block endows the solvophilicity and CO -responsiveness. With the increment of the DP of PBnMA, the morphology of the assemblies evolves from spheres to worms, and to vesicles, while it degenerates from conglutinated vesicles to spheres as the DP of PDEA increases.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: Strategies to increase radiosensitivity are urgently needed. Combining radiosensitizing reagents with radiotherapy could improve the outcome of cancer treatment. Some preclinical studies showed that sepantronium bromide (YM155) could sensitize cancer cells to radiation by inhibiting the survivin protein.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA magnetic adsorbent (MA) was synthesized from wasted iron mud of a groundwater treatment plant using a novel one-step hydrothermal method. The results showed that Fe content of MA was 41.8 wt%, 2.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe anterolateral ligament, a distinct structure connecting the lateral femoral epicondyle to the anterolateral proximal tibia, is gaining attention because of its possible function in ensuring internal rotational stability of the tibia. To study the prevalence and precise anatomical characteristics of the anterolateral ligament and its relationship to adjacent structures in a Chinese population, a total of 20 amputated knee specimens were collected. The anterolateral regions of the knees underwent detailed surgical dissection, followed by precise measurement of the anterolateral ligament and its adjacent structures.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBiol Blood Marrow Transplant
September 2018
Haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (haplo-HSCT) is available for nearly all patients without matching HLA-related or -unrelated donors. There was not a valid evaluation system to predict the most proper donor. HistoCheck was based on the functional similarity of amino acids to estimate the allogenicity of HLA mismatches with a sequence similarity matching (SSM) score.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHigh-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) provides a powerful tool for the rapid analysis and identification of compounds in herbs. However, the diversity and large differences in the content of the chemical constituents in herbal medicines, especially isomerisms, are a great challenge for mass spectrometry-based structural identification. In the current study, a new strategy for the structural characterization of potential new phthalide compounds was proposed by isomer structure predictions combined with a quantitative structure-retention relationship (QSRR) analysis using phthalide compounds in Chuanxiong as an example.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFResidual Al(III) (at low concentration) is common in water treatment plants (WTPs) and is associated with bacteria. We hypothesize that Al(III) accelerate biofouling due to its hydrolysis and hormesis characteristics, as compared with other cations. To verify this, we elaborated the roles of Al(III) at low concentrations on the biofilm formation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Lung cancer is the primary cause of cancer-related death worldwide. A redox-sensitive nanocarrier system was developed for tumor-targeted drug delivery and sufficient drug release of the chemotherapeutic agent paclitaxel (PTX) for improved lung cancer treatment.
Methods: The redox-sensitive nanocarrier system constructed from a hyaluronic acid-disulfide-vitamin E succinate (HA-SS-VES, HSV) conjugate was synthesized and PTX was loaded in the delivery system.
Venous thromboembolic disease (VTED) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Current VTED prophylaxis protocols consist of early mobilization, mechanical compression devices, and pharmacologic agents. Venous phasic flow-regulated below-knee devices are generally favored, but the optimal duration and method of mechanical prophylaxis is unknown.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInorganic mesoporous silica-based nanovehicles are highly promising for drug delivery but still suffer from the disadvantages of lacking functionality and poor biodegradability on account of the inert silica framework. Moreover, conventional cancer therapeutics typically employ toxic anticancer drugs or invasive external irradiations, which will inevitably give rise to severe adverse effects and diminished therapeutic outcome. In this work, we report on the iron engineered framework of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) to fabricate a nanocatalyst with biodegradable and catalytic framework via a "dissolution-regeneration" strategy (designated as rFeO-HMSN).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHLA-A*33:138 differs from A*33:03:01 by a single nucleotide substitution at position 523 of exon 3.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To evaluate the trend of catastrophic health expenses (CHE) for inpatient care in relation to the commencement of the New Cooperative Medical Scheme (NCMS) in rural China from 2003 to 2013, and the roles of NCMS in protecting affected households from CHE.
Methods: We assessed the 10-year trend of the incidence and severity of CHE in rural households with hospitalised members using data from the Chinese National Health Services Survey. Generalised estimating equations were used to estimate the OR and 95% CI of the association between incidence rates of CHE ([Formula: see text]) and NCMS reimbursement.
A series of polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) formulations are developed based on reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) dispersion polymerization of semi-fluorinated methacrylates. Alcoholic RAFT dispersion polymerization of 2-(perfluorobutyl)ethyl methacrylate (FBEMA), 2-(perfluorohexyl)ethyl methacrylate (FHEMA), and 2-(perfluorooctyl)ethyl methacrylate (FOEMA) is systematically evaluated to extend the general usability of semi-fluorinated methacrylates to PISA. The nanostructure of the assemblies is correlated to the side-chain length of the monomer: RAFT dispersion polymerization of FBEMA produces spherical micelles, wormlike micelles, and vesicles depending on its degree of polymerization (DP), while only spheres are generated for the PISA of FHEMA.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWith increasing awareness of reduction of energy and CO2 footprint, more waste is considered recyclable for generating value-added products. Here we reported the negatively-valued iron mud, a waste from groundwater treatment plant, was successfully converted into magnetic adsorbent. Comparing with the conventional calcination method under the high temperature and pressure, the synthesis of the magnetic particles (MPs) by Fe2+/Fe3+ coprecipitation was conducted at environment-friendly condition using ascorbic acid (H2A) as reduction reagent and nitric acid (or acid wastewater) as leaching solution.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: To determine the rate of subsequent primary site failure in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma of unknown primary (UKP HNSCC) in a region with a high prevalence of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, according to a pre-determined institutional policy. Secondary aims included regional and distant control, and overall survival.
Material And Methods: Patients presenting between April 2005 and June 2016 to the Princess Alexandra Hospital Head and Neck Multidisciplinary Meeting with UKP HNSCC from either presumed mucosal or cutaneous sites treated with curative intent were eligible.
HLA-C*12:221 differs from C*12:02:03 by a single nucleotide substitution at position 367 of exon 3.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe impact of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) allele mismatch on transplant outcomes in haploidentical stem cell transplantation (haplo-SCT) has not been established. We retrospectively studied 595 patients with hematologic malignancy who received haplo-SCT. The impact of multiple HLA allele mismatches (HLA-A, -B, -C, -DRB1, and -DQB1) and each HLA allele mismatch on transplant outcomes was analyzed.
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