Modelling of dye adsorption from aqueous solution on polyaniline/carboxymethyl cellulose/TiO nanocomposites.

In the present study, a polyaniline/carboxymethyl cellulose/TiO nanocomposite (PAn/CMC/TiO) was synthesized by a polymerization method, and was used for adsorption of Congo Red from aqueous solution. The effects of operational parameters of the adsorption process including pH, initial dye concentration, temperature, adsorbent dosage, and adsorption time on adsorption efficiency were investigated, and response surface methodology was used for their optimization. Optimal adsorption conditions were determined at pH of 2.

Metal-Free Carbocatalysis in Advanced Oxidation Reactions.

Catalytic processes have remarkably boosted the rapid industrializations in chemical production, energy conversion, and environmental remediation. As one of the emerging applications of carbocatalysis, metal-free nanocarbons have demonstrated promise as catalysts for green remediation technologies to overcome the poor stability and undesirable metal leaching in metal-based advanced oxidation processes (AOPs). Since our reports of heterogeneous activation of persulfates with low-dimensional nanocarbons, the novel oxidative system has raised tremendous interest for degradation of organic contaminants in wastewater without secondary contamination.

Potentially useful elements (Al, Fe, Ga, Ge, U) in coal gangue: a case study in Weibei coal mining area, Shaanxi Province, northwestern China.

Coal gangue has become one of the largest industrial solid waste in China, but it is also a kind of reserve resources. Representative coal gangue samples from different coal mines (mainly in Permo-Carboniferous and Jurassic) in Weibei area in Shaanxi Province are collected, and potentially useful elements (Al, Fe, Ga, Ge, U) in coal gangue are analyzed. The results show that the reserves of Al and Fe in Chinese coal gangue are 262 million tons and 196 million tons, respectively, based on the geometric mean values of AlO (15.

Carbohydrate Antigen 19-9 Increases the Predictive Efficiency of α-Fetoprotein for Prognosis of Resected Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Serum α-fetoprotein (AFP) is a classical biomarker for both diagnosis and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, its predictive efficiency for prognosis remains unsatisfactory. This study explores whether integrating AFP and carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9/carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) increase its prognostic efficiency in HCC.

Nanostructured Co-Mn containing perovskites for degradation of pollutants: Insight into the activity and stability.

The efficient oxidative removal of persistent organic components in wastewater relies on low-cost heterogeneous catalysts that offer high catalytic activity, stability, and recyclability. Here, we designed a series of nanostructured Co-Mn containing perovskite catalysts, LaCoMnO (LCM, x = 0, 0.3, 0.

Crystal transformation of 2D tungstic acid HWO to WO for enhanced photocatalytic water oxidation.

New photocatalytic materials for stable reduction and/or oxidization of water by harvesting a wider range of visible light are indispensable to achieve high practical efficiency in artificial photosynthesis. In this work, we prepared 2D WO·HO and WO nanosheets by a one-pot hydrothermal method and sequent calcination, focusing on the effects of crystal transformation on band structure and photocatalytic performance for photocatalytic water oxidation in the presence of electron acceptors (Ag) under simulated solar light irradiation. The as-prepared WO nanosheets exhibit enhanced rate of photocatalytic water oxidation, which is 6.

Submicron sized water-stable metal organic framework (bio-MOF-11) for catalytic degradation of pharmaceuticals and personal care products.

Water-stable and active metal organic frameworks (MOFs) are important materials for mitigation of water contaminants via adsorption and catalytic reactions. In this study, a highly water-stable Co-based MOF, namely bio-MOF-11-Co, was synthesized by a simplified benign method. Moreover, it was used as a catalyst in successful activation of peroxymonsulfate for catalytic degradation of sulfachloropyradazine (SCP) and para-hydroxybenzoic acid (p-HBA) as representatives of pharmaceuticals and personal care products, respectively.

Neferine, is not inducer but blocker for macroautophagic flux targeting on lysosome malfunction.

Neferine, an alkaloid isolated from Lotus seeds, displays multiple pharmacological effects that counter cancer, oxidants, and arrhythmia. It was initially identified as a strong inducer for macroautophagy in cancer cells by suppressing AMPK/mTOR signaling. In this study, we found that autophagy signaling was inhibited in the condition of neferine treatment.

A biodegradable scaffold enhances differentiation of embryonic stem cells into a thick sheet of retinal cells.

Retinal degeneration is a leading cause of blindness in developed countries. Stem cells can be differentiated into retinal organoids to study mechanisms of retinal degeneration, develop therapeutic agents, and potentially serve as replacement tissues. The spherical nature of these retinoids limits their utility, because the investigator lacks ready access to both sides of the neo-tissue.

Metal organic frameworks as a drug delivery system for flurbiprofen.

Background: Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) have attracted more attention in the last decade because of a suitable pore size, large surface area, and high pore volume. Developing biocompatible MOFs such as the MIL family as a drug delivery system is possible.

Purpose: Flurbiprofen (FBP), a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent, is practically insoluble in aqueous solution, and, therefore, needs suitable drug delivery systems.

Cr(OH)-NPs-CNC hybrid nanocomposite: a sorbent for adsorptive removal of methylene blue and malachite green from solutions.

In this article, Cr(OH) nanoparticle-modified cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) as a novel hybrid nanocomposite (Cr(OH)-NPs-CNC) was prepared by a simple procedure and used as a sorbent for adsorptive removal of methylene blue (MB) and malachite green (MG) from aqueous solution. Different kinetic models were tested, and the pseudo-second-order kinetic model was found more suitable for the MB and MG adsorption processes. The BET and Langmuir models were more suitable for the adsorption processes of MB and MG.

A novel electrochemical sensor based on calixarene functionalized reduced graphene oxide: Application to simultaneous determination of Fe(III), Cd(II) and Pb(II) ions.

A glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified by calixarene functionalized reduced graphene oxide (CA/RGO) has been fabricated and utilized in this study for simultaneous voltammetric detection of several metal ions, Fe(II), Cd(II) and Pb(II), in aqueous solution. The CA/RGO nanocomposite was characterized in surface and electrochemical properties using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), infrared spectroscopy (IR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), Raman spectroscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The CA/RGO coating significantly improves the sensitivity of electrochemical responses and separation of heavy metals.

Few-Layered Trigonal WS Nanosheet-Coated Graphite Foam as an Efficient Free-Standing Electrode for a Hydrogen Evolution Reaction.

Few-layered tungsten disulfide (WS) with a controlled-phase ratio (the highest trigonal-phase ratio being 67%) was exfoliated via lithium insertion. The exfoliated WS nanosheets were then anchored onto three-dimensional (3D) graphite foam (GF) to fabricate free-standing binder-free electrodes. The 3D GF can increase the interfacial contact between the WS nanosheets and the electrolyte and facilitate ion transfer.

Life expectancy impacts due to heating energy utilization in China: Distribution, relations, and policy implications.

The relation between life expectancy and energy utilization is of particular concern. Different viewpoints concerned the health impacts of heating policy in China. However, it is still obscure that what kind of heating energy or what pattern of heating methods is the most related with the difference of life expectancies in China.

Stabilising nanofluids in saline environments.

Nanofluids (i.e. nanoparticles dispersed in a fluid) have tremendous potential in a broad range of applications, including pharmacy, medicine, water treatment, soil decontamination, or oil recovery and CO geo-sequestration.

Proteomic analysis of sputum reveals novel biomarkers for various presentations of asthma.

Background: It is now recognized that asthma can present in different forms. Typically, asthma present with symptoms of wheeze, breathlessness and cough. Atypical forms of asthma such as cough variant asthma (CVA) or chest tightness variant asthma (CTVA) do not wheeze.

Early growth response factor 1 is essential for cigarette smoke-induced MUC5AC expression in human bronchial epithelial cells.

Early growth response factor 1 (Egr-1) is a zinc finger transcription factor which responses rapidly to a variety of extracellular stimuli. Previous studies have suggested that Egr-1 exerts pathological functions in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by regulation of cigarette smoking-induced autophagy, cell death, and inflammation. However, little is known about the role of Egr-1 in regulation of mucus production in airway epithelium.

Hollow carbon nanobubbles: monocrystalline MOF nanobubbles and their pyrolysis.

While bulk-sized metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) face limits to their utilization in various research fields such as energy storage applications, nanoarchitectonics is believed to be a possible solution. It is highly challenging to realize MOF nanobubbles with monocrystalline frameworks. By a spatially controlled etching approach, here, we can achieve the synthesis of zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF-8) nanobubbles with a uniform size of less than 100 nm.

Heteroatoms doped metal iron-polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane for enhancing oxidation of organic contaminants.

Iron nanoparticles (NPs) embedded in S, N-codoped carbon were prepared by one-step pyrolysis of a homogeneous mixture consisting of Fe, S, N, C precursors, and then immobilized in poly (vinylidene fluoride) membranes as a multifunctional catalytic system (NSC-Fe@PVDF) to effectively activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) and oxidize organic compounds in water. The NSC-Fe@PVDF membranes effectively decolorized organic pollutants at a wide pH range (2.05-10.

Edmondson-Steiner grade: A crucial predictor of recurrence and survival in hepatocellular carcinoma without microvascular invasio.

Background: Microvascular invasion (MVI), an important pathologic parameter, has been proven to be a powerful predictor of long-term prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, prognostic factors in HCC without MVI remain unknown. The present study aimed to identify the risk factors of recurrence and poor post-resectional survival in this type of HCC.

Improved adsorption performance of nanostructured composite by ultrasonic wave: Optimization through response surface methodology, isotherm and kinetic studies.

In this work, ultrasound-assisted adsorption of an anionic dye, sunset yellow (SY) and cationic dyes, malachite green (MG), methylene blue (MB) and their ternary dye solutions onto Cu@ Mn-ZnS-NPs-AC from water aqueous was optimized by response surface methodology (RSM) using the central composite design (CCD). The adsorbent was characterized using Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and EDX mapping images. The effects of various parameters such as pH, sonication time, adsorbent mass and initial concentrations of SY, MG and MB were examined.

Adsorptive removal of antibiotic sulfonamide by UiO-66 and ZIF-67 for wastewater treatment.

Adsorptive removal of a toxic sulfonamide antibiotic, sulfachloropyradazine (SCP), from aqueous solution was studied on several metal organic frameworks, UiO-66 and ZIF-67, for the first time. UiO-66 exhibited a much higher adsorption capacity than ZIF-67, fast kinetics, and easy regeneration for reuse, demonstrating as a promising adsorbent in wastewater treatment processes. The batch adsorption shows an adsorption capacity of SCP at 417mg/g on UiO-66.

Assessment of elemental background values and their relation with lifespan indicators: A comparative study of Jining in Shandong Province and Guanzhong area in Shaanxi Province, northern China.

The remarkably high proportions of centenarians are found in the Jining Prefecture in southwestern Shandong province, demonstrating remarkable regional longevity differentiation. In this paper, census data at county-level, samples of drinking water and staple grains in Jining Prefecture were collected. Guanzhong area in Shaanxi Province, a non-longevity region in northern China was chosen as the contrast area.

Lengthy one-dimensional magnetite (FeO) sub-microfibers with excellent electrochemical performance.

One dimensional FeO sub-microfibers with an average diameter of about 920nm and length of about 25μm were prepared by hydrothermal synthesis in the presence of sodium citrate (Nacit). The physicochemical properties were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It was found that FeO crystal nuclei were generated from different Fe-citrate complexes under hydrothermal conditions and Nacit as a capping agent promoted the formation of FeO microfibers.