Doped nanomaterial facilitates 3D printing target plate for rapid detection of alkaloids in laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry.

This work aims to rapidly detect toxic alkaloids in traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) using laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (LDI-MS). We systematically investigated twelve nanomaterials (NMs) as matrices and found that MoS and defect-rich-WO (D-WO) were the best NMs for alkaloid detection. MoS and D-WO can be used directly as matrices dipped onto conventional ground steel target plates.

Computational Study of Double Transition Metal Atom Anchored on Graphdiyne Monolayer for Nitrogen Electroreduction.

Converting N to NH is an essential reaction but remains a great challenge for industries. Developing more efficient catalysts for N reduction under mild conditions is of vital importance. In this work, double transition metal atoms (TM=Mo, W, Nb and Ru) anchored on graphdiyne monolayer (TM @GDY) as electrocatalysts are designed, and the corresponding reaction mechanisms of N electroreduction are systematically investigated by means of first-principles calculations.

Terrestrial mercury transformation in the Tibetan Plateau: New evidence from stable isotopes in upland buzzards.

Understanding the geochemical cycle of mercury (Hg) in the high-altitude Tibetan Plateau is of great value for studying the long-range transport of Hg. Herein, speciation and isotopic compositions of Hg in the muscle and feathers of upland buzzards (Buteo hemilasius) were studied to trace the terrestrial transformation of Hg in the Tibetan Plateau. Very low Hg content and relatively low δHg values (feather: -0.

PM induces vascular permeability increase through activating MAPK/ERK signaling pathway and ROS generation.

Although in-vivo exposure of PM has been suggested to initiate a disorder on vascular permeability, the effects and related mechanism has not been well defined. In this work, an obvious increase on vascular permeability has been confirmed in vivo by vein injection of PM into Balb/c mouse. Human umbilical vein vascular endothelial cells and the consisted ex-vivo vascular endothelium were used as model to investigate the effects of PM on the vascular permeability and the underlying molecular mechanism.

Mercury isotope variations within the marine food web of Chinese Bohai Sea: Implications for mercury sources and biogeochemical cycling.

Mercury (Hg) speciation and isotopic compositions in a large-scale food web and seawater from Chinese Bohai Sea were analyzed to investigate methylmercury (MeHg) sources and Hg cycling. The biota showed ∼5‰ variation in mass dependent fractionation (MDF, -4.57 to 0.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances display structure-dependent inhibition towards UDP-glucuronosyltransferases.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are a large group of chemicals and can be detected in environmental and human samples all over the world. Toxicity of existing and emerging PFASs will be a long-term source of concern. This study aimed to investigate structure-dependent inhibitory effects of 14 PFASs towards the activity of 11 UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) isoforms.

An Integrated Model for Input and Migration of Mercury in Chinese Coastal Sediments.

Coastal sediments are a major sink of the global mercury (Hg) biogeochemical cycle, bridging terrestrial Hg migration to the open ocean. It is thus of substantial interest to quantify the Hg contributors to coastal sediments and the extents to which the Hg sequestered into coastal sediments affects the ocean. Here, we measured concentrations and isotope compositions of Hg in Chinese coastal sediments and found that estuary sediments had distinctly higher δHg and lower ΔHg values than marine sediments.

Mutual detoxification of mercury and selenium in unicellular Tetrahymena.

Selenium (Se) is commonly recognized as a protective element with an antagonistic effect against mercury (Hg) toxicity. However, the mechanisms of this Hg-Se antagonism are complex and remain controversial. To gain insight into the Hg-Se antagonism, a type of unicellular eukaryotic protozoa (Tetrahymena malaccensis, T.

Tracing aquatic bioavailable Hg in three different regions of China using fish Hg isotopes.

To trace the most concerned bioavailable mercury (Hg) in aquatic environment, fish samples were collected from three typical regions in China, including 3 rivers and 1 lake in the Tibetan Plateau (TP, a high altitude background region with strong solar radiation), the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR, the largest artificial freshwater reservoir in China), and the Chinese Bohai Sea (CBS, a heavily human-impacted semi-enclosed sea). The Hg isotopic compositions in fish muscles were analyzed. The results showed that anthropogenic emissions were the main sources of Hg in fish from TGR and CBS because of the observed negative δHg and positive ΔHg in these two regions (TGR, δHg: - 0.

Distinct toxicological characteristics and mechanisms of Hg and MeHg in Tetrahymena under low concentration exposure.

Inorganic divalent mercury complexes (Hg) and monomethylmercury complexes (MeHg) are the main mercury species in aquatic systems and their toxicity to aquatic organisms is of great concern. Tetrahymena is a type of unicellular eukaryotic protozoa located at the bottom of food chain that plays a fundamental role in the biomagnification of mercury. In this work, the dynamic accumulation properties, toxicological characteristics and mechanisms of Hg and MeHg in five Tetrahymena species were evaluated in detail.

[Endovascular Treatment of Blood Blister-like Aneurysms in Internal Carotid Artery].

Objectives: To study the feasibility and effectiveness of endovascular treatment to blood blister-like aneurysms (BBA) in internal carotid artery.

Methods: Retrospective analyzed the clinical features, outcomes, and complications of 20 cases of BBA treated with endovascular intervention techniques from 2013-2015 in our center.

Results: The patients were treated with covered stent, internal carotid artery balloon occlusion, and stents assisted coiling, respectively.

Surface ligand controls silver ion release of nanosilver and its antibacterial activity against .

Understanding the mechanism of nanosilver-dependent antibacterial activity against microorganisms helps optimize the design and usage of the related nanomaterials. In this study, we prepared four kinds of 10 nm-sized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with dictated surface chemistry by capping different ligands, including citrate, mercaptopropionic acid, mercaptohexanoic acid, and mercaptopropionic sulfonic acid. Their surface-dependent chemistry and antibacterial activities were investigated.