Nanocellulose-based functional materials towards water treatment.

Water resources are important ecological resources for human survival. To date, advanced water purification technology has become one of the focus of global attention due to the continuous deterioration of the environment and the serious shortage of freshwater resources. Recently, nanocellulose, as a kind of sustainable and carbon-neutral biopolymer, has not only the properties of cellulose, but also the important nature of nanomaterials, including large specific surface area, tailorable surface chemistry, excellent mechanical flexibility, biodegradability, and environmental compatibility.

Design Principle of Molybdenum-Based Metal Nitrides for Lattice Nitrogen-Mediated Ammonia Production.

Chemical looping ammonia synthesis (CLAS) is a promising technology for reducing the high energy consumption of the conventional ammonia synthesis process. However, the comprehensive understanding of reaction mechanisms and rational design of novel nitrogen carriers has not been achieved due to the high complexity of catalyst structures and the unrevealed relationship between electronic structure and intrinsic activity. Herein, we propose a multistage strategy to establish the connection between catalyst intrinsic activity and microscopic electronic structure fingerprints using density functional theory computational energetics as bridges and apply it to the rational design of metal nitride catalysts for lattice nitrogen-mediated ammonia production.

High-sensitivity piezoresistive sensors based on cellulose handsheets using origami-inspired corrugated structures.

Cellulose-based composites have attracted significant attention in the fabrication and advancement of wearable devices due to their sustainable, degradable, and cost-effective properties. However, achieving a cellulosic sensor with reliable sensory feedback remains challenging owing to the deficiency in reversible microstructures during response processes. In this study, we developed a piezoresistive sensor consisting of nearly pure cellulose handsheets using origami-inspired corrugated structures to achieve durable and sensitive piezoresistive responses.

Observing Discrete Blocking Events at a Polarized Micro- or Submicro-Liquid/Liquid Interface.

Single-entity collisional electrochemistry (SECE), a subfield of single-entity electrochemistry, enables directly characterizing entities and particles in the electrolyte solution at the single-entity resolution. Blockade SECE at the traditional solid ultramicroelectrode (UME)/electrolyte interface suffers from a limitation: only redox-inactive particles can be studied. The wide application of the classical Coulter counter is restricted by the rapid translocation of entities through the orifice, which results in a remarkable proportion of undetected signals.

Synergistic interplay between ABA-generating bacteria and biochar in the reduction of heavy metal accumulation in radish, pakchoi, and tomato.

Heavy metal (HM) contamination is an environmental concern that threatens the agricultural product safety and human health. To address this concern, we developed a novel strategy involving the synergistic application of Azospirillum brasilense, a growth-promoting rhizobacterium which produces abscisic acid (ABA), and biochar to minimize HM accumulation in the edible parts of vegetable crops. Compared to A.

Different pathways for exogenous ABA-mediated down-regulation of cadmium accumulation in plants under different iron supplies.

Exogenous abscisic acid (ABA) could inhibit cadmium (Cd) accumulation in plants; however, its performance in an uneven iron (Fe) background remains unknown. Here, we found that the inhibitory effects of ABA on Cd accumulation in plants were optimal under nonlimiting Fe availability (25 and 50 µM), causing a reduction of 25-50 %, whereas only a 0-29 % decrease was observed in a Fe-free or -deficient (5 µM) medium. Although ABA significantly inhibited the expression of IRT1 under different Fe supplies, the inhibitory effects of ABA on Cd accumulation were lower (or absent) in irt1-mutants than in wild-type plants growing under nonlimiting Fe availability, whereas no significant difference was found under Fe deficiency.

Hydrogel-Based Sensor Networks: Compositions, Properties, and Applications-A Review.

Hydrogels are three-dimensional porous polymeric networks prepared by physical or chemical cross-linking of hydrophilic molecules, which can be made into smart materials through judicious chemical modifications to recognize external stimuli; more specifically, this can be accomplished by the integration with stimuli-responsive polymers or sensing molecules that has drawn considerable attention in their possible roles as sensors and diagnostic tools. They can be tailored in different structures and integrated into systems, depending on their chemical and physical structure, sensitivity to the external stimuli and biocompatibility. A panoramic overview of the sensing advances in the field of hydrogels over the past several decades focusing on a variety protocols of hydrogel preparations is provided, with a major focus on natural polymers.

Abscisic acid-catabolizing bacteria: A useful tool for enhancing phytoremediation.

Bacteria-facilitated phytoextraction has been gaining recognition for the phytoremediation of heavy metal (HM)-contaminated soils. Nevertheless, it remains unclear whether catabolizing abscisic acid (ABA) in hyperaccumulating plants via rhizobacteria could facilitate HM phytoextraction. In this study, inoculation with the ABA-catabolizing bacterium, Rhodococcus qingshengii, increased HM (Cd, Zn, Pb, and Cu) concentrations in the shoots of hyperaccumulators Vetiveria zizanioides, Brassica juncea, Lolium perenne L.

Polymeric Iron Chelators Enhancing Pro-Oxidant Antitumor Efficacy of Vitamin C by Inhibiting the Extracellular Fenton Reaction.

Intravenously injected high-dose vitamin C (VC) induces extracellular HO, which can penetrate into the tumor cells and suppress tumor growth. However, extracellular labile iron ions in the tumor decompose HO via the Fenton reaction, limiting the therapeutic effect. In this regard, we recently developed a polymeric iron chelator that can inactivate the intratumoral labile iron ions.

Ultrahigh-Resolution, Label-Free Hyperlens Imaging in the Mid-IR.

The hyperbolic phonon polaritons supported in hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) with long scattering lifetimes are advantageous for applications such as super-resolution imaging via hyperlensing. Yet, hyperlens imaging is challenging for distinguishing individual and closely spaced objects and for correlating the complicated hyperlens fields with the structure of an unknown object underneath. Here, we make significant strides to overcome each of these challenges.

A Multi-Objective Multi-Label Feature Selection Algorithm Based on Shapley Value.

Multi-label learning is dedicated to learning functions so that each sample is labeled with a true label set. With the increase of data knowledge, the feature dimensionality is increasing. However, high-dimensional information may contain noisy data, making the process of multi-label learning difficult.

Potential urinary monitoring of the enhanced permeability and retention effect using MMP-2-responsive poly(ethylene glycol) derivatives.

The enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect is fundamental to tumor-targeted drug delivery using nanoparticles. However, recent studies reported heterogeneity of the EPR effect, and companion diagnostics are considered to be key to predicting and optimizing the benefits of the EPR effect. Here, as a new material to simply endow the function of companion diagnostics to nanoparticles, we designed a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) derivative conjugated with low molecular fluorescent dye through synthetic substrate linker that can be cleaved in response to MMP-2, which is overexpressed in tumor extracellular matrix.

Highly tunable bioadhesion and optics of 3D printable PNIPAm/cellulose nanofibrils hydrogels.

A hybrid poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAm)/cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) hydrogel composite was fabricated by inverted stereolithography 3D printing to provide a new platform for regulating lower critical solution temperature (LCST) properties and thus tuning optical and bioadhesive properties. The phenomena of interest in the as-printed PNIPAm/CNF hydrogels may be attributed to the fiber-reinforced composite system between crosslinked PNIPAm and CNFs. The optical tunability was found to be correlated to the micro/nano structures of the PNIPAm/CNF hydrogel films.

Highly conductive carbon nanotubes and flexible cellulose nanofibers composite membranes with semi-interpenetrating networks structure.

Highly conductive multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and flexible cellulose nanofibers (CNF) membranes with semi-interpenetrating networks structure were fabricated using the typical paper-making method, which was simple and cost-effective. The Scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR), and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) were used to estimate the morphology, chemical structure, and thermal stability of the membranes. The mechanical, optical, and electrical properties of the membranes were characterized with a uniaxial tensile testing machine, ultraviolet visible spectroscope, and digital multimeter, respectively.

Unique thermo-responsivity and tunable optical performance of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-cellulose nanocrystal hydrogel films.

A hybrid materials system to modulate lower critical solution temperature (LCST) and moisture content for thermo-responsivity and optical tunability was strategically developed by incorporating cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) into a poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAm) hydrogel matrix. The PNIPAm/CNC hydrogel films exhibit tunable optical properties and wavelength bandpass selectivity as characterized by PROBE Spectroscopy and Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS). Importantly, the micro/nano structures of the PNIPAm/CNC hydrogel films were completely different when dried below and above the LCST.

Removal of Pb(II) from aqueous solutions by adsorption on magnetic bentonite.

Bentonite is a porous clay material that shows good performance for adsorbing heavy metals and other pollutants for wastewater remediation. In our previous study, magnetic bentonite (M-B) was prepared to solve the separation problem and improve the operability. In this study, we investigated the influence of various parameters on the Pb(II) adsorption of M-B, and it showed effective performance.

Resourceful treatment of alcohol distillery wastewater by pulsed discharge.

Resourceful treatment of alcohol distillery wastewater by pulsed discharge in liquid (PDL) was first studied in this work. The biodegradability of alcohol wastewater can be effectively improved and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal attained over 40% within 15min PDL treatment. Hydrogen produced from the treating processes was emphatically analyzed.

[Temporary ectopic implantation of amputated fingers and dorsalis pedis flaps for thumb reconstruction and skin defect repair of hands].

Objective: To investigate the feasibility of temporary ectopic implantation of amputated fingers and dorsalis pedis flaps for thumb reconstruction and skin defect repair of the hand.

Methods: Between February 2006 and February 2012, 9 patients with thumb amputation having no replanted condition were treated. There were 7 males and 2 females with an average age of 35 years (range, 20-45 years).