Type-II/type-II band alignment to boost spatial charge separation: a case study of g-CN quantum dots/a-TiO/r-TiO for highly efficient photocatalytic hydrogen and oxygen evolution.

Efficient spatial charge separation and transfer that are critical factors for solar energy conversion primarily depend on the energetic alignment of the band edges at interfaces in heterojunctions. Herein, we first report that constructing a 0D/0D type-II(T-II)/T-II heterojunction is an effective strategy to ingeniously achieve long-range charge separation by taking a ternary heterojunction of TiO2 and graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) as a proof-of-concept. Incorporating g-C3N4 quantum dots (QCN), as the third component, into the commercial P25 composed of anatase (a-TiO2) and rutile (r-TiO2) can be realized via simply mixing the commercially available Degussa P25 and QCN solution followed by heat treatment.

Bioactive Azaphilone Derivatives from the Fungus Talaromyces aculeatus.

Six new azaphilone derivatives, talaraculones A-F (1-6), together with five known analogues (7-11), were obtained from the saline soil-derived fungus Talaromyces aculeatus. The absolute configurations of 1 and 6 were assigned by quantum chemical calculations of the electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra. Compounds 1 and 5 represent the first reported azaphilone derivatives with a C4 aliphatic side chain and a methylal group at C-3, respectively.

A new quinolinone from freshwater lake-derived fungus Myrothecium verrucaria.

One new quinolinone, 7-hydroxy-3-methoxyviridicatin (1), along with eight known compounds (2-9) was isolated from the fungus Myrothecium verrucaria, which was collected from lake water of Chenghai, Yunnan Province, China. Their structures were elucidated by detailed analysis of spectroscopic data and comparison with related known compounds. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited weak antibacterial activity.

A PCR-based Rapid Neutralization Assay for GII.4 Norovirus Infection in HIEC6 Cell Culture.

Because of limited viral replication and lack of cytopathic effect in cell culture, a new PCR-based rapid seroneutralization assay for detection of GII.4 norovirus neutralized antibodies was developed with serum samples from acute-phase patients, convalescent-phase patients and healthy controls. According to this study, neutralizing antibodies were detected in 100% of convalescent-phase sera, and in 2.

[Clinical and laboratory investigation of pericentric inv(9)(p22q34) with the der(9)t(9;22)(q34;q11) in Ph-positive leukemia].

Objective: To investigate clinical and molecule genetics features of four Ph-positive leukemia patients characterized by pericentric inv(9)(p22q34) with the der(9)t(9;22)(q34;q11).

Methods: Cytogenetic analysis was carried out on bone marrow directly or after short-period culture. R banding was used for karyotype analysis.

The urotensin-II receptor antagonist palosuran improves pancreatic and renal function in diabetic rats.

Urotensin-II (U-II) is a cyclic peptide that acts through a specific G-protein-coupled receptor, UT receptor. Urotensin-II and UT receptors have been described in pancreas and kidney, but their function is not well understood. We studied the effects of chronic treatment of diabetic rats with the orally active selective U-II receptor antagonist palosuran.

Pharmacology of the urotensin-II receptor antagonist palosuran (ACT-058362; 1-[2-(4-benzyl-4-hydroxy-piperidin-1-yl)-ethyl]-3-(2-methyl-quinolin-4-yl)-urea sulfate salt): first demonstration of a pathophysiological role of the urotensin System.

Urotensin-II (U-II) is a cyclic peptide now described as the most potent vasoconstrictor known. U-II binds to a specific G protein-coupled receptor, formerly the orphan receptor GPR14, now renamed urotensin receptor (UT receptor), and present in mammalian species. Palosuran (ACT-058362; 1-[2-(4-benzyl-4-hydroxy-piperidin-1-yl)-ethyl]-3-(2-methyl-quinolin-4-yl)-urea sulfate salt) is a new potent and specific antagonist of the human UT receptor.

[The preliminary studies on the cross action between endothelin-1 and angiotensin II in kidney tissue of rats with diabetic nephropathy].

Objective: To investigate the interrelation between endothelin-1 (ET-1) and angiotensin II (AngII) in kidney tissue of rats with diabetic nephropathy.

Methods: Wistar rats were performed a removal operation of right kidney. Two weeks later the uninephrectomized rats were given intravenous injection of streptozotocin (STZ, 35 mg/kg).

Chronic endothelin receptor blockade prevents both early hyperfiltration and late overt diabetic nephropathy in the rat.

Diabetic nephropathy is associated with enhanced renal synthesis of endothelin (ET)-1. The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of dual ET receptor antagonism in the early phase (2 months) and in the late phase (5 months) of diabetic nephropathy in rats, and to compare this approach to angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition. Four groups of uninephrectomized streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were assigned to receive orally vehicle, bosentan, enalapril, or their combination.

Chronic endothelin receptor blockade prevents renal vasoconstriction and sodium retention in rats with chronic heart failure.

Objective: Importance of endothelin in mediating the chronic renal alterations of chronic heart failure was studied in rats chronically treated with bosentan after myocardial infarction.

Methods: Rats were subjected to coronary artery ligation and were treated for 8 weeks with placebo or bosentan, a dual ET(A) and ET(B) receptor antagonist, (approximately 100 mg/kg/day) as food admix. Sham-operated rats served as normal controls.