Rare-earth metal complexes bearing electrophilic and nucleophilic carbon centres and their unique reactivity patterns towards pyridine derivatives.

The rare-earth metal dialkyl complexes (κ-L)RE(CHSiMe)·(THF) [RE = Lu(1a), Yb(1b), Er(1c), Y(1d), Dy(1e)] (L = 1-(2--CHNCHCH)-3-(2,6-PrCHN[double bond, length as m-dash]CH)-CHN) and the rare-earth metal monoalkyl complexes (κ-L)RE(CHSiMe)·(THF) [ = 0, RE = Lu(2a), Yb(2b); = 1, Er(2c), Y(2d), Dy(2e)], (κ-L)RE(CHSiMe)·THF [RE = Yb(3a), Er(3b), Y(3c), Dy(3d), Gd(3e)] (L = 1-(2--CHNCHCH)-3-(AdN[double bond, length as m-dash]CH)-CHN) (Ad = adamantyl, CH) have been synthesized and fully characterized. These complexes feature chelate ligands having a conjugated system (-C[double bond, length as m-dash]C-C[double bond, length as m-dash]N) with an sp carbon, which enables both electrophilic and nucleophilic carbon centres to be directly connected to the highly electrophilic rare-earth metal ions. The reactions of these complexes with different pyridine derivatives have been systematically investigated with the discovery of reactivity patterns distinct from those of previously reported transition metal complexes.

Precisely modulating the chromatin tracker substituent engineering: reporting pathological oxidative stress during mitosis.

An in-depth understanding of cancer-cell mitosis presents unprecedented advantages for solving metastasis and proliferation of tumors, which has aroused great interest in visualizing the behavior a luminescence tool. We developed a fluorescent molecule CBTZ-yne based on substituent engineering to acquire befitting lipophilicity and electrophilicity for anchoring lipid droplets and the nucleus, in which the low polarity environment and nucleic acids triggered a "weak-strong" fluorescence and "short-long" fluorescence-lifetime response. Meaningfully, CBTZ-yne visualized chromatin condensation, alignment, pull-push, and separation as well as lipid droplet dynamics, for the first time, precisely unveiling the asynchronous cellular mitosis processes affected by photo-generation reactive oxygen species according to the subtle change of fluorescence-lifetime.

Self-recovery of chiral microphase separation in an achiral diblock copolymer system.

Macroscopic regulation of chiral supramolecular nanostructures in liquid-crystalline block copolymers is of great significance in photonics and nanotechnology. Although fabricating helical phase structures chiral doping and microphase separation has been widely reported, the chiral memory and self-recovery capacity of asymmetric phase structures are the major challenge and still deeply rely on the presence of chiral additives. Herein, we demonstrate the first controllable chiral microphase separation in an achiral amphiphilic block copolymer consisting of poly(ethylene oxide) and azobenzene (Azo) groups.

Removal of ammonia nitrogen from black and odorous water by macrophytes based on laboratory microcosm experiments.

In recent years, the removal mechanism of ammonia nitrogen in black and odorous water (BOW), especially in the process of phytoremediation, has been a research "hotspot". Here, the migration process of ammonia nitrogen in macrophytes (, and ) was detected by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. Experiments revealed that the concentration of ammonia nitrogen (NH -N) was reduced significantly.

A facile synthesis of highly efficient InS photocatalysts for the removal of cationic dyes with size-dependent photocatalysis.

In this study, a 3D thornball-like hierarchical β-InS, displaying extremely rapid photodegradation of cationic dyes, was synthesized by a facile method. The formation of a uniform thornball-like structure depended on the microwave reaction method and citric acid as the pH regulator. The size of InS was easily adjusted by changing the microwave irradiation time from 5 min to 15 min.

Correction: A simple and straightforward synthesis of phenyl isothiocyanates, symmetrical and unsymmetrical thioureas under ball milling.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1039/C3RA43252A.].

Rapid, facile synthesis of InSb twinning superlattice nanowires with a high-frequency photoconductivity response.

We present a self-seeded (with indium droplets) solution-liquid-solid (SLS) synthesis route for InSb nanowires (NWs) using commercially available precursors at a relatively low temperature of about 175 °C, which takes only 1 min upon the injection of reductant. Structural characterization reveals that the InSb nanowires are high quality and have twinning superlattice structures with periodically spaced twin planes along the growth direction of 〈111〉. Notably, we have measured an ultrafast conductivity lifetime in the NWs of just 9.

Co-modification of calcium phosphate cement to achieve rapid bone regeneration in osteoporotic femoral condyle defect with lithium and aspirin.

Local application of lithium or aspirin with biological scaffold has been identified as a potent means to improve bone formation. In this study, lithium and aspirin modified calcium phosphate cement (Asp-Li/CPC) was prepared, and the feasibility of this biological scaffold in the treatment of osteoporotic bone defect was observed in vivo and in vitro. In vitro experiments confirmed that Asp-Li/CPC had better ability to promote MC3T3-E1 cells differentiation into osteoblasts, osteoblast mineralization and viability, and promote cell expression of ALP, OP, RUNX-2, OC and COL-1 protein than simple CPC or lithium modified CPC by MTT, Alizarin red staining and Western blot evaluation.

Synthesis of FeO@PVBC-TMT nanoparticles for the efficient removal of heavy metals ions.

Core-shell magnetic FeO@PVBC-TMT (FeO@polyvinylbenzyl chloride-trithiocyanuric acid) nanoparticles containing trithiocyanuric acid groups were fabricated and employed for the fast removal of heavy metals from an aquatic environment. The morphology, structure and properties of FeO@PVBC-TMT nanoparticles were characterized by a series of modern analytical tools. The adsorption behavior of the FeO@PVBC-TMT nanoparticles for heavy metals ions in aqueous solutions was investigated by batch experiments.

Phosphorylation/caproylation of cornstarch to improve its adhesion to PLA and cotton fibers.

To investigate the influence of phosphorylation/caproylation on the adhesion of cornstarch to polylactic acid (PLA) and cotton fibers for improving its applications, such as in PLA and cotton sizing, herein, a series of phosphorylated and caproylated cornstarch (PCS) samples with different total degrees of substitution (DS) were synthetized by the phosphorylation of acid-converted cornstarch (ACS) with sodium tripolyphosphate (STP) and subsequent caproylation with caproic anhydride (CA). The PCS granules were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The adhesion was evaluated by determining the bonding forces of the impregnated PLA and cotton roving.

Measuring physical performance in university students.

Unlabelled: Physical activity could be an effective way to prevent obesity and cardiovascular disease.

Objective: The aim of our study was to evaluate physical performance in Chinese university students to offer a basis for preventing obesity.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted for evaluate physical performance, including the standing long jump, 50-meter dash, and pull-up/sit-up test.

Correction: Large-scale and fast synthesis of nano-hydroxyapatite powder by a microwave-hydrothermal method.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1039/C9RA00091G.].

Large-scale and fast synthesis of nano-hydroxyapatite powder by a microwave-hydrothermal method.

A microwave-hydrothermal (M-H) method assisted with ultrasonic atomization precipitation was developed for large-scale and fast synthesis of nano-hydroxyapatite (nano-HAP) powder. This technology combines the uniform mixing effect of ultrasonic atomization precipitation at high concentration with the rapid and uniform heating effect of the M-H method, aiming to obtain a high quality product with low agglomeration, homogeneous size distribution, accurate stoichiometry, and high purity while improving the yield. The influences of reaction temperature, reaction time and reactant concentration on the formation of nano-HAP were investigated.

A novel multifunctional Ag and Sr co-doped TiO@rGO ternary nanocomposite with enhanced -nitrophenol degradation, and bactericidal and hydrogen evolution activity.

In the present study, a novel multifunctional Sr/Ag-TiO@rGO ternary hybrid photocatalyst was prepared facile sol-gel and hydrothermal methods. The prepared catalyst was well characterized by UV-vis, XRD, Raman, HRTEM and XPS. The synthesized composite was utilised for -NP degradation, disinfection and H generation under visible light.

Exploring the interaction between and α-glucosidase: insights from computational analysis and experimental studies.

α-Glucosidase has emerged as an important target for type 2 diabetes mellitus. is a widely used traditional Chinese medicine. The interaction between the chemicals of and α-glucosidase are still not clear, and need to be deeply investigated.

Proton conductivity resulting from different triazole-based ligands in two new bifunctional decavanadates.

Triazole, similarly to imidazole, makes a prominent contribution to the proton conductivity of porous materials. To investigate the effects of triazole-based ligands in polyoxovanadates (POVs) on proton conduction, we designed and synthesized two decavanadate-based POVs, [Zn(CHN)(HO)](VO)·14HO (1) and [Zn(CHN)(HO)](VO)·8HO (2) constructed from the ligands 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole and 1-1,2,4-triazole, respectively, an aqueous solution evaporation method. Surprisingly, complex 1 obtained a superior proton conductivity of 1.