Asymmetric Atomic Dual-Sites for Photocatalytic CO Reduction.

Atomically dispersed active sites in a photocatalyst offer unique advantages such as locally tuned electronic structures, quantum size effects, and maximum utilization of atomic species. Among these, asymmetric atomic dual-sites are of particular interest because their asymmetric charge distribution generates a local built-in electric potential to enhance charge separation and transfer. Moreover, the dual sites provide flexibility for tuning complex multielectron and multireaction pathways, such as CO reduction reactions.

Hydrogen-Bond-Enhanced Photoreforming of Biomass Furans over a Urea-Incorporated Cu(II) Porphyrin Framework.

Solar-driven upgrading of biomass-derived 5-hydroxylmethylfurfural (HMF) to 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) holds great promise for sustainable production of bio-plastics and resins. However, the process is limited by poor selectivity and sluggish kinetics due to the vertical coordination of HMF at relatively strong metal sites. Here, we purposely developed a Cu(II) porphyrin framework featuring side-chain incorporated urea linkages, denoted as TBUPP-Cu MOF, to render HMF a weak hydrogen bond at the urea site and flat adsorption via π-π stacking with the benzene moiety.

Improved antioxidant activity of pretreated lignin nanoparticles: Evaluation and self-assembly.

Lignin nanoparticles (LNPs) have gained significant attention for their potential as natural antioxidants. This study investigated the effect of various pretreatment methods on the lignin structure and subsequent antioxidant activity of LNPs. Among four pretreated LNPs, hydrothermal LNPs exhibited the highest antioxidant activity, surpassing unpretreated, acid-pretreated and kraft LNPs, with an impressive efficacy of 91.

Lithiophilic Chemistry Facilitated Ultrathin Lithium for Scalable Prelithiation.

Prelithiation plays a crucial role in advancing the development of high-energy-density batteries, and ultrathin lithium (UTL) has been proven to be a promising anode prelithiation reagent. However, there remains a need to explore an adjustable, efficient, and cost-effective method for manufacturing UTL. In this study, we introduce a method for producing UTL with adjustable thicknesses ranging from 1.

Oxygen-deficient TiO interlayer enabling Li-rich Mn-based layered oxide cathodes with enhanced reversible capacity and cyclability.

The unique anion redox mechanism of Li-rich Mn-based layered oxide (LMLO) cathodes endows them with a higher specific capacity compared with conventional cathodes. However, the irreversible anion redox reactions can cause structural degradation and sluggish electrochemical kinetics in the cathode, resulting in a poor electrochemical performance in the batteries. Thus, to address these issues, a single-sided conductive oxygen-deficient TiO interlayer was applied on a commercial Celgard separator as a coating layer towards the LMLO cathode.

Selective saccharification of crude glycerol pretreated sugarcane bagasse via fast pyrolysis: Reaction kinetics and life cycle assessment.

Saccharification is a pivotal step in the conversion of lignocellulose to biofuels and chemicals. In this study, crude glycerol derived from biodiesel production was used in pretreatment to facilitate efficient and clean pyrolytic saccharification of sugarcane bagasse. Delignification, demineralization, destruction of lignin-carbohydrate complex structure, and cellulose crystallinity improvement in crude glycerol pretreated biomass could enhance levoglucosan producing reactions against competitive reactions, and therefore facilitate a kinetically controlled pyrolysis with apparent activation energy increased by 2-fold.

AIEgens/Mitochondria Nanohybrids as Bioactive Microwave Sensitizers for Non-Thermal Microwave Cancer Therapy.

Aggregation-induced emission luminogens (AIEgens) are widely used as photosensitizers for image-guided photodynamic therapy (PDT). Due to the limited penetration depth of light in biological tissues, the treatments of deep-seated tumors by visible-light-sensitized aggregation-induced emission (AIE) photosensitizers are severely hampered. Microwave dynamic therapy attracts much attention because microwave irradiation can penetrate very deep tissues and sensitize the photosensitizers to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS).

The parallel electron transfer pathways of biofilm and self-secreted electron shuttles in gram-positive strain Rhodococcus pyridinivorans HR-1 inoculated microbial fuel cell.

Microbial fuel cell (MFC) exhibits huge potentials in disposing wastewater and extra energy consumption. Exploring useful microorganisms for MFC is the crucial section. Herein, the electrochemical mechanism of extracellular anaerobic respiration in MFC inoculated with gram-positive Rhodococcus pyridinivorans HR-1, was first revealed.

Mitigation of Oxygen Evolution and Phase Transition of Li-Rich Mn-Based Layered Oxide Cathodes by Coating with Oxygen-Deficient Perovskite Compounds.

Li-rich Mn-based layered oxide cathodes with a high discharge capacity hold great promise for high energy density lithium-ion batteries. However, application is hampered by voltage and capacity decay and gas evolution during cycling due to interfacial side reactions. Here, we report coating by oxygen-deficient perovskite LaSrCoO using the Pechini process.

A Dynamic Constitutive Model and Simulation of Braided CFRP under High-Speed Tensile Loading.

In this study, a dynamic constitutive model for woven-carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics (CFRP) is formulated by combining dynamic tensile test data and fitting curves and incorporating variation rules established for the modulus of elasticity, strength, and fracture strain with respect to the strain rate. The dynamic constitutive model is then implemented with finite element software. The accuracy and applicability of the dynamic constitutive model are evaluated by comparing the numerically predicted load-displacement curves and strain distributions with the test data.

Revealing the key role of structural cross-link between lignin and polysaccharides during fast pyrolysis of lignocellulose.

Lignin-carbohydrate complex (LCC) is the native existing form of major components in lignocellulose. In this study, the structural cross-link between lignin and polysaccharides in lignocellulose was quantitatively estimated with carboxymethylation-separation (CM-Sep) method, and its influence on lignocellulose pyrolysis was systematically investigated. The cross-linked lignin was found to positively correlate with the production of small molecules and furan derivatives while negatively affecting the generation of anhydrous sugars.

Dual Utilization of Lignocellulose Biomass and Glycerol Waste to Produce Fermentable Levoglucosan via Fast Pyrolysis.

Glycerol waste was combined with microwave to pretreat lignocellulose before fast pyrolysis. After pretreatment, most alkali and alkaline earth metals (87.9%) and lignin (52.

Single-Crystalline Cathodes for Advanced Li-Ion Batteries: Progress and Challenges.

Single-crystalline cathodes are the most promising candidates for high-energy-density lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Compared to their polycrystalline counterparts, single-crystalline cathodes have advantages over liquid-electrolyte-based LIBs in terms of cycle life, structural stability, thermal stability, safety, and storage but also have a potential application in solid-state LIBs. In this review, the development history and recent progress of single-crystalline cathodes are reviewed, focusing on properties, synthesis, challenges, solutions, and characterization.

Synthesis and Photoinduced Anisotropy of Polymers Containing Nunchaku-Like Unit with an Azobenzene and a Mesogen.

A series of polymers containing nunchaku-like unit with an azo chromophore and a mesogen group was successfully prepared and photoinduced anisotropy of the obtained polymers was minutely investigated. Firstly, monomers containing nunchaku-like unit with an azo chromophore and a mesogen group linked by flexible group were synthesized. The structure of the monomers was confirmed via NMR COSY spectra.

Fibroblast growth factor 21 as a possible endogenous factor inhibits apoptosis in cardiac endothelial cells.

Background: Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is a new member of FGF super family that is an important endogenous regulator for systemic glucose and lipid metabolism. This study aimed to explore whether FGF21 reduces atherosclerotic injury and prevents endothelial dysfunction as an independent protection factor.

Methods: The present study was designed to investigate the changes of FGF21 levels induced by oxidized-low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL), and the changes of apoptosis affected by regulating FGF21 expression.

Five Chinese pediatric patients with leukemias possibly arising from immature natural killer cells: clinical features and courses.

Leukemias arising from immature nature killer (NK) cells have been proposed as distinct entities and are rare. Treatment and prognosis of these diseases are controversial, and data on children are limited. According to the literature, one of these distinct leukemias may be myeloid/NK cell precursor acute leukemia (MNKPL), with the blasts being cytochemically myeloperoxidase negative (MPO(-)) and phenotypically CD56(+)CD3(-)CD7(+)CD34(+) and myeloid antigens(+).

[Oxidized low density lipoprotein and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α induced endogenous fibroblast growth factor 21 upregulation is protective against apoptosis in cardiac endothelial cells].

Objective: To investigate the effect of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)α agonist bezafibrate and oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) on fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) expression and apoptosis in cardiac endothelial cells.

Methods: The mRNA level of FGF21 was determined by real time-PCR and the protein concentration of FGF21 in culture media was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in cultured cardiac microvascular endothelial cells (CMECs) incubated with 10, 50, 100 µg/ml ox-LDL, 50, 100 or 200 µmol/L bezafibrate alone or in combination with 100 µg/ml ox-LDL. CMECs apoptosis in various treatment groups was also determined.

Current status of diagnosis and prognosis of infant acute leukemia in China.

Objective: Treatment and outcome of infant acute leukemia (IAL) in developed countries have been well documented. However, reports summarizing diagnosis and outcome of IAL in developing countries are limited.

Methods: Five hundred ninety seven pediatric patients were diagnosed with acute leukemia in our hospital between January 1997 and June 2008, of which 19 were younger than 12 months.

Improved outcome for Chinese children with acute promyelocytic leukemia: a comparison of two protocols.

Objective: Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is now highly curable, except in many developing countries. Introduction of current treatment strategies may improve the outcome for children with APL in these countries.

Methods: The diagnosis was based on the FAB classification and detection of PML-RAR alpha rearrangement.

High-risk childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia in China: factors influencing the treatment and outcome.

Objective: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) with high-risk features has an inferior outcome. Factors influencing the treatment and outcome of pediatric ALL with high-risk features in developing countries have not been well studied.

Methods: High-risk features were defined as: age <1 year or >10 years, white blood cell (WBC) > 50 x 10(9)/L, CNS or testicular involvement at diagnosis, T-ALL, BCR-ABL/MLL-AF4, poor prednisone response, slow early response to induction chemotherapy which was defined as M3 status (>25% blasts) on day 15 bone marrow with age >6 years or presenting WBC > 20 x 10(9)/L at diagnosis and/or non-remission (NR) after 33 days of induction therapy.

[Polymorphic Hind III restriction site of the Y chromosome and essential hypertension in Chinese Han People].

Objective: To examine whether there is an association essential hypertension pressure and a polymorphic Hind III biallelic marker in the non-recombining region of Y chromosome in Chinese Han people.

Methods: Peripheral blood samples were collected from 402 males with essential hypertension pressure and 455 age- and body height-matched healthy males as control group. Genomic DNA was extracted from the white blood cells.