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Five new coordination polymers, namely [Ln(L)(NO3)2] n (Ln = La (1), Pr (2) and Sm (3)), [Eu(L)(NO3)2·1.5H2O] n (4) and [Tb(L)(OAc)2(H2O)·3H2O] n (5) (HOAc = CH3COOH), were synthesised by reaction of lanthanide nitrates with 1,3-bis(4-carboxybenzyl)benzimidazolium chloride (H2L+Cl−) under solvothermal conditions. All the coordination polymers were characterised by powder X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, elemental analysis and single crystal X-ray diffraction. Complexes 1 – 5 exhibit two different 2-D structures due to the variation in reaction temperature. Complexes 1 – 4 are isostructural and crystallised in the monoclinic system, C 2/ c space group, showing a two-dimensional layer with Ln chains linked by L− ligands. Complex 5 crystallised in the P 21/ n space group, featuring a 2-D layer different from 1 – 4 with Tb dimers linked by L− ligands through carboxylates. Further, the luminescence properties of complexes 3 – 5 were investigated. In addition, the fluorescence lifetime and quantum efficiency of complex 4 were measured. Five two-dimensional complexes were obtained and the structures of 1 – 4 differ from that of 5 owing to the distinct coordination modes of the ligand H2L+Cl− at specific reaction temperatures. Further, the luminescence properties of complexes 3 – 5 were investigated. Additionally, the fluorescence lifetime of complex 4 was tested. (Image credit: Li-Xin You.) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel strategy was proposed for the comprehensive analysis of Magnolia officinalis. • A total of 103 compounds were identified from the whole plant of Magnolia officinalis. • Multidimensional chemical-biological analysis of Magnolia officinalis was established. • The 6 parts of Magnolia officinalis were explored and compared for the first time. • Magnolol and honokiol were found to be synergistic α-glucosidase inhibitors. Magnolia bark is a traditional Chinese medicine used for hypoglycaemia. With the widespread use of Magnolia bark, its resources are facing a serious shortage. To address this issue, a strategy based on high-coverage mass spectrometry (HCMS) and multidimensional chemical-biological analysis (MCBA) was proposed for the comprehensive exploration of Magnolia officinalis which is the main source of Magnolia bark. The strategy is divided into three main steps. In the first step, the stem bark, stem xylem, root bark, root xylem, leaf and rootlet of Magnolia officinalis were comprehensively analyzed using high-coverage mass spectrometry. In the second step, multivariate statistical analysis was used to explore the heterogeneity of the six parts and detect differential chemical components. In the third step, a combination of experimental screening and molecular docking was used to explore α-glucosidase inhibitors from Magnolia officinalis. Multidimensional chemical-biological analysis (MCBA) of Magnolia officinalis was achieved by combining the last two steps. Finally, a total of 103 compounds were identified from the whole plant of Magnolia officinalis. Differential components of stem bark, stem xylem, leaf, root bark, root xylem and rootlet were systematically revealed. A pair of positional isomers, namely magnolol and honokiol, were found to be α-glucosidase inhibitors. The activity of their combination is superior to that of each single compound, indicating that magnolol and honokiol are in a synergistic relationship. This strategy contributes to comprehensive exploitation of functional plants and effective alleviation of resource shortage. This study also provides a research paradigm for other similar traditional Chinese medicinal plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the important criteria of the emergency planning (EP) exemption for nuclear power plant (NPP) decommissioning is a minimum of 10 h available before any spent nuclear fuel (SNF) cladding temperature reaches 900°C after a complete loss of the spent fuel pool (SFP) water inventory with no heat loss (adiabatic). This study used the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code to analyze the cladding heatup time of the SFP for a boiling water reactor. First, the developed CFD local model of the SFP was compared with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC's) report on SFP heatup calculations, NSIR-2015-001. The CFD results were similar to the theoretical calculations and MELCOR results for cases with and without racks. The results also indicated that racks can significantly delay the heatup time. This study also performed sensitivity studies to identify the effects of fuel burnup, hottest assembly, and fuel loading configurations. After validation of the CFD local model against MELCOR, a whole-pool CFD model of the Chinshan SFP was developed and successfully applied to analysis for the EP exemption of the Chinshan NPP. The results predicted using the whole-pool CFD model of the Chinshan SFP agreed well with the MELCOR results. Additionally, the required 900°C heatup times were calculated based on the actual decay heat of each cycle and fuel loading at the Chinshan SFP. The required 900°C heatup times were 19.1, 54, and 64.6 h for the Chinshan SFP at 1, 5, and 10 years after shutdown, respectively. The actual fuel loading and decay heat of the Chinshan SFP met the requirements for the EP exemption after 1 year of shutdown. The main purpose of this study is to demonstrate that the CFD code can be used as a tool to calculate SFP fuel assembly heatup times for the EP exemption. The advantage of using the CFD code instead of MELCOR is that the whole-pool SFP model can be developed based on the actual decay heat of each cycle and fuel loading and to determine more realistic fuel assembly heatup time for the EP exemption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A selective recovery process for cobalt from the cathode materials of Li-ion batteries is demonstrated in this report. First, acid leaching was applied to dissolve the metals from the lithium-metal oxides. It was found out that with the assistance of probe type ultrasonication, manganese could be simultaneously separated by precipitation. This phenomenon would reduce the difficulty for later separation. Next, water-in-oil microemulsion extraction was applied for direct extraction of cobalt from the other metals. The cobalt extraction yield was 98% and purity was 96%. Moreover, the microemulsion system could be reused for 100 times without losing its extraction ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mg isotope compositions are widely analyzed using the sample-standard bracketing (SSB) method on MC-ICP-MS. However, it is not clear how accurate and how precise the Mg isotope data could be by using the SSB method on MC-ICP-MS. In this study, we conducted doping experiments to artificially produce a ∼0.03‰ δ26Mg offset to quantitatively evaluate the utility of 2SD, 2SE, and t SE (t is the Student'T) error in identifying subtle isotope variations. The 2SD represents the most conservative estimation for accuracy. For samples with a large number of repeated measurements, the dataset will follow a normal distribution, and accuracy at a 95% confidence level can be measured by ±2SE. For samples with a small number (<9) of repeated measurements, the dataset will follow a t -distribution, and the accuracy at a 95% confidence level can be measured by ± t SE. The results of a series of doping experiments show that the two standard deviations (2SD) of δ26Mg is 0.04‰, which is larger than the artificial 0.03‰ offset. The two-standard error (2SE) and the t SE are both smaller than 0.02‰ when measured by six times, which can both resolve the 0.03‰ offset. Given that Mg isotope analysis is routinely repeated about 3∼5 times in most laboratories, t SE is more robust than 2SE and 2SD in identifying subtle Mg isotope variation. Although we highlight the role of statistics in Mg isotope analysis, the readers should notice that chemical treatment and instrumentation settings are first-order factors that control data quality. [Display omitted] • Better understand the precision and accuracy of δ26Mg analyzed by SSB-MC-ICP-MS. • Different uncertainty expressions for isotope data are evaluated. • Artificial doping experiments show the reliability of t SE for SSB analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gelsolin (GSN) protein, expressed in circulating monocytes, was previously reported to be associated with osteoporosis in both Chinese and Caucasian women. This study aims to test if plasma GSN protein level is associated with hip bone mineral density (BMD) in Chinese population. Based on two study Groups containing 6,308 old Chinese, we adopted extreme sampling scheme and selected 3 independent samples (Subgroups 1–3) for discovery, replication, and validation purposes. We tested plasma GSN concentration, and analyzed whether plasma GSN level differs between subjects with extremely low vs. high hip BMD. In Group 1 (N = 1,860), the plasma GSN level increased in the female with low BMD, which was discovered in the Subgroup 1 (N = 42, p = 0.093) and replicated in the Subgroup 2 (N = 39, p = 0.095). With more extreme sampling for the Subgroup 3 from the Group 2 (N = 4,448), the difference of plasma GSN level in the female with low BMD vs. high BMD is more significant (N = 45, p = 0.037). After the subjects were pooled from Subgroups 2 and 3, the difference in plasma GSN between low and high BMD subjects became even more significant (p = 0.016). The plasma GSN level was negatively correlated with total hip BMD (r = -0.26, p = 0.033). We concluded that plasma GSN was associated with hip BMD in Chinese postmenopausal women and plasma GSN might be a potential risk biomarker for osteoporosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluating the susceptibility of canister used in Chinshan Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (CSISFSI) to chloride-induced stress corrosion cracking (CISCC) has been an aging management plan in an initial license period of 20 years. The presence of concentrated chlorides, temperature and relative humidity, and sufficient weld residual stress are the three key environmental conditions for atmospheric CISCC. A single 2-D model was used to simulate natural exposure of austenitic stainless steel (SS) of SS304 and SS304L dry storage system (DSS) for transportable storage canister (TSC). This model will calculate the temperature on the TSC surface based on CFD method. This study estimated RH and DRH on the TSC surface by the realistic environmental conditions (e.g., ambient RH, ambient temperature, and the temperature on the TSC surface) after 1st, 10th, and 20th years, respectively. The flaw tolerance to part-depth (PD) and through-wall (TW) critical flaw were evaluated, and the two-phase CGR induced by CaCl 2 or MgCl 2 of the TSC surface under 0.18 m height were predicted. The results show that the fastest CISCC CGR was on the bottom induced by CaCl 2 in the 20th year, and the slowest CGR was at the 0.18 m of TSC induced by MgCl 2 in the 10th year. The two-phase CGR trends were very close if the deliquescence threshold had been considered under different environmental conditions. • 2-D model can be used to simulate the temperature and RH in the DSS. • Considered realistic environmental data in license period of 20 years. • The critical flaw size of canister under normal and accident conditions was calculated. • The two-phase CISCC CGR were predicted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The significant yield of dissolved oxygen (DO) is one advanced advantage of the electrocatalytic technique for wastewater treatment. Here, we measure DO concentrations during electrocatalytic processing of Taiwanese municipal wastewater and landfill leachate. Chloride ion-containing electrolytes in the wastewater had the most deleterious effect on the production of DO. In contrast, other anions including carbonates, nitrates, sulfates, and phosphates improved DO yield. The Cl− effect can account for electrode erosion, because the anode surface will be impacted by chloride ions. This erosion results in the release of metal ions at the anode that react with DO to form species of metal oxides and deplete the DO in wastewater. However, other cations in the wastewater such as Na+, Ca2+, and Mg2+ are irrelevant with the DO yield in the electrocatalytic system. Results indicate that inert anodes such as dimensionally stable anodes can increase DO concentration, but the metal-related anodes such as stainless steel and TiO2 will decrease DO concentration during the electrocatalytic process in the presence of chloride ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this research, methylene blue (MB) was use as a pollutant to investigate the capability of dye degradation of photocatalytic (UV/TiO2) and photoelectrocatalytic (UV/TiO2/bias) reaction, and also the condition for UV/TiO2/bias process was optimized. The photocatalytic process with bias potential was conducted in aqueous supporting electrolyte and with a proton exchange membrane (Nafion 117). Comparing with the general use of aqueous electrolyte (e.g. NaSO4, KCl, or NaCl) in photoelectrocatalytic process, this study was focused on the application of proton exchange membrane as a solid electrolyte for the photoelectrocatalytic decomposition of MB. The degradation of MB was experimentally studied by a varied reaction condition (i.e. solution pH value, UV light intensity, initial dye concentration, gas introduction, supporting electrolyte concentration, and bias potential). Degradation of MB was enhanced in UV/TiO2/bias process as compared to that carried out in UV/TiO2 process, especially as the Nafion membrane was applied (UV/TiO2/Nafion process). The photodegradation rates could also be boosted by increasing the concentration of supporting electrolyte, concentration of dissolving oxygen and UV light intensity. In UV/TiO2/Nafion process, the rate constants of MB degradation increased as increasing bias potential to a certain level, and then it leveled off. The suitable bias potentials for experiments conducted at pH 5.3 and 7.0 were found to be 0.5 and 0.6V, respectively. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A photocatalytic membrane supported on a porous ceramic tube was described, in which permeation of solutes through the membrane and tube and photocatalytic reaction occur simultaneously. In this photocatalytic membrane reactor, TiO2 catalyst was coated on the surface of a porous ceramic tube and all experiments were conducted in one pass dead-end system. The objectives of this study are to demonstrate the predominance of dead-end operation and to determine the reaction kinetics model of the photocatalytic reaction. Acid Red 4 (AR 4) dye was used as a model pollutant. A detailed study of physical parameters including flow configurations (dead-end and cross-flow), flow rate, initial dye concentration, light intensity and catalyst loading has been performed to obtain the reaction kinetics. The simultaneous effect of light intensity and catalyst loading was also determined experimentally. Experiments were also conducted to compare the photocatalytic degradation of AR 4 in the dead-end and cross-flow system. The major findings of this study are: (1) the decomposition ratios for dead-end system were three and five times higher than cross-flow system at flow rates of 6.67×10−8 and 4.00×10−7 m3/s, respectively. (2) The decomposition ratio increased with increasing catalyst loading and light intensity, but remained constant at higher catalyst loading. (3) The decomposition ratio was found to be decreased with increasing flow rate. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The purposes of this research were to study the effects of solution pH on the photoelectrochemical properties of TiO2 photoelectrode and the adsorption behaviors and photocatalytic reactions of two dyestuffs (Reactive Red 22, RR22 and Basic Red 2, BR2) in aqueous solution using various photocatalyst films (TiO2 and Nafion-coated TiO2, Nf/TiO2). The open circuit voltage and the short circuit photocurrent of TiO2 photoelectrode increased as solution pH decreased and indicated more photoelectrons were generated in acidic solutions. The response times reaching half maximum photovoltage and photocurrent were determined to be faster in acidic solutions than those in alkaline solutions, indicating higher electron diffusion occurred in acidic solutions. The coating of 0.5g of Nafion per gram of TiO2 was enough to reduce the zeta potential of Nf/TiO2 to less than −20mV in aqueous solution and exhibited a hydrophobic surface that might decrease the adsorption and photocatalytic decomposition of dye. Experimental results on the adsorption and photocatalytic decomposition of RR22 and BR2 indicating that the charges of TiO2 surface and reactant dye markedly influence the reaction rate. The photocatalytic decompositions of RR22 using TiO2 were favored to occur in acidic conditions and exhibited a minimum decomposition rate near the isoelectric point of TiO2. Nevertheless, no obvious RR22 decompositions were found in experiments conducted using Nf/TiO2. Decompositions of BR2 using both TiO2 and Nf/TiO2 were more favorable in alkaline conditions; however, decompositions of BR2 were found to be decreased in experiments conducted using Nf/TiO2. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This study focused on the effect of electrolyte solution pH, fluid pressure and UV irradiation on the tangential streaming potential (TSP) and filtration streaming potential (FSP) of Degussa P-25 titanium dioxide membrane. Both TSP and FSP measuring systems for TiO2 membrane were developed. Experimental results depicted TSP and FSP measurements were sensitive to solution pH, temperature, fluid pressure and UV irradiation. Zeta potentials of TiO2 membranes calculated with TSP data were different from those of TiO2 suspensions measured by electrophoretic light-scattering technique, but the isoelectric point (pHiep) was measured to be almost the same value of 6.8. The pH drifts (difference of initial and final pH) were observed during the TSP measurements of TiO2 membranes. A modified model was developed to calculate the change in Fermi energy of the electrolyte/TiO2 membranes system presented at different solution pH levels. A hysteresis phenomenon was found that two zeta potentials were observed at the same pH through different pH adjustment paths. Slight decreases of TSP (<15mV) were observed in acidic solutions under UV irradiation; however, more considerable decreases of FSP (20–60mV) were examined in both acidic and alkaline solutions. The FSP increased with increasing filtration pressures and exhibited an exponential decay with increasing light intensity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Photocatalytic processes using TiO2 as a catalyst have attracted extensive attention for decomposition of organic contaminants. The determination of optimum reactor design and operational conditions are the major concerns for the development and potential application of the photocatalytic process. Various photoreactor types, photocatalyst arrangements, light sources, and operation conditions were reported. This study was focused on the application of the ultraviolet light emitting diode (UV-LED) as the UV light source for the photocatalytic decomposition of Reactive Red 22 (RR 22). The temporal behavior of the photocatalytic decomposition of RR 22 in aqueous solution by the UV-LED/TiO2 with a rectangular planar fixed-film reactor operated in a recirculation mode was studied under various conditions including initial dye concentration, periodic illumination, light intensity, and arrangements of TiO2 coating. The decomposition of RR 22 in aqueous solution by TiO2 photocatalytic processes with the UV-LED was found to be technically feasible with a high TiO2 coated weight (1.135g) and low pH value (pH 2). A Langmuir—Hinshelwood-type kinetic equation was adequate for modeling the photocatalytic decomposition of RR 22 by the UV-LED/TiO2 photocatalytic processes. The experimental results indicated that the photonic efficiency with periodic illumination was much higher than those with continuous illumination. The photonic efficiencies with the quartz–liquid–catalyst (QLC) arrangement were higher than those with the quartz–catalyst–liquid (QCL) arrangement for experiments conducted at lower applied light intensity; however, the photonic efficiencies for these two arrangements were nearly identical for experiments conducted at higher light intensities. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Mature doritis plants (Doritis pulcherrima Lindley, cv. S94-3345) were cultured in plastic pots with 9 h (short-day, SD) and 16 h (long-day, LD) photoperiods, respectively. The main 9 h light period was under field conditions (30 °C day/20 °C night on average). The supplemental 7 h light conditions for the LD were conducted in chambers with 14 μmol m−2 s−1 photosynthetic photon flux. When transferred to SD for 30 days, flower spikes about 2.0–3.0 cm in length were initiated. When plants were transferred to SD for 45 days, spikes grew to 7.0–10.0 cm in length. In contrast, only 10% of the plants produced flowering shoots under LD conditions. Unique 21 and 103 kDa proteins were evident in one-dimensional electrophoresis of proteins from mature leaves under SD conditions. 2D gel electrophoresis confirmed that clear polypeptide spots with a molecular mass of 21 kDa at an isoelectric point of 5.2 and 103 kDa at an isoelectric point of 5.6 accumulated in the leaves when the flowering shoots reached 7.0–10.0 cm (4–5 flower primordia apparent). Possibly, the 21 and 103 kDa proteins play a role during flowering shoot formation in doritis. Polypeptide sequencing of P21 suggested a possible relationship to the cell division-like protein in Arabidopsis thaliana. It is clear that doritis is a facultative SD plant, and photoperiodic induction of its flowering is closely associated with protein synthesis changes in its leaves. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abscisic acid (ABA) in the buds (or flowering shoots), leaves and roots of Phalaenopsis hybrida (cv. TS 340) was identified and quantified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-selected ion monitoring using hexadeuterated ABA as an internal standard. Leaves contained much lower levels of both free and bound ABA than did roots. Dormant buds contained a relatively higher level of free ABA, whereas no detectable free or bound ABA was found in flowering shoots either at a length of 2–3 cm or 7–10 cm. In dormant-stage P. hybrida (grown at 28 °C), levels of free ABA in the roots were higher than those in plants with flowering shoots; the levels of bound ABA in roots exhibited the opposite tendency. Free and bound ABA in leaves was slightly increased in plants with flowering shoots as compared to those in the dormant stage. In addition, exogenous ABA application at 0.1 or 1 μg per plant inhibited initiation of flowering shoots, especially at 1 μg per plant. These results suggest the decrease in the free ABA contents in the roots and buds, but not in the leaves, is correlated with bud activation and the development of flowering shoots. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

An herbal prescription is usually composed of several herbal medicines. The complex and diverse components bring great challenges to its bioactivity study. To comprehensively analyze the bioactivity of an herbal prescription, a new strategy based on peak‐by‐peak cutting and knock‐out chromatography was proposed. In this strategy, active compounds were screened out via peak‐by‐peak cutting from an herbal extract, and the influence of a compound on the overall activity of the herbal extract was evaluated by knock‐out chromatography. Qiliqiangxin capsule is an herbal prescription composed of 11 herbal medicines for the treatment of chronic heart failure. A total of 71 peaks were collected through peak‐by‐peak cutting, and each peak was identified by a high‐resolution mass spectrum. The bioassay against 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl showed that two types of compounds namely salvianolic acids and caffeoylquinic acids were potent scavengers. Knock‐out chromatography suggested that the removal of one single compound had no obvious influence on the overall activity of the Qiliqiangxin capsule. After all the main peaks in the Qiliqiangxin capsule were knocked out, the remaining part still exhibited a potent activity, indicating high activity stability of the Qiliqiangxin capsule. The proposed strategy is helpful for the comprehensive analysis of the bioactivity of other herbal prescriptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Detailed information of temperature and humidity on the welded transportable storage canister (TSC) is the most valuable data available for investigating the chloride-induced stress corrosion cracking (CISCC) of long-term storage. Chloride salts turn deliquescent in specific situations, depending on the site condition (e.g., the environmental temperature and relative humidity (RH)) and cask condition (e.g., loading pattern and thermal load). This study aimed to evaluate the susceptibility to CISCC of the candidate TSC material using a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation of a marine environment containing chloride sea salts (e.g., CaCl 2 and MgCl 2) under different environmental conditions. After validation using CFD simulation, the temperature deviation between 2-D and 3-D models was found to be minimal. Thus, a highly accurate 2-D model was developed to accelerate the simulation, mainly because the storage time of CISCC is up to 20 years, and the whole license period lasts 40 years. Results showed only the long-term environmental temperature had a considerable impact on the components. RH decreases as the temperature of TSC increases by decay heat from SNFs. The maximum accumulated crack depth on the bottom edge of TSC will not be over than 0.25 mm/year in the original 20-year licensing period. The location of CISCC occurring on the TSC surface was lower than 0.18 m in height and that inspecting the surface once a decade is sufficient to ensure the integrity of the TSC. As well as supporting our re-inspection method of long-term structural integrity, this study also provide an alternative way to reduce re-inspection load. Image 1 • 2-D model can be used to investigate the impact of weather on CSISFSI. • The maximum accumulated crack depth on the bottom edge of TSC will not be over than 0.25 mm/year in the original licensing period of 20 years. • The area of CISCC occurring on the TSC surface was lower than 0.18 m in height for CSISFSI. A decade-long re-inspection method is sufficient to ensure the integrity of TSC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Eight osteoporosis related inflammatory cytokines were identified with a protein microarray. • BLC, OPN and IGFBP4 were validated and replicated in two independent subgroups. • Functional study showed that BLC plays important roles in bone metabolism. Inflammatory cytokines were involved in pathological conditions of osteoporosis (OP). However, the specific OP-associated inflammatory cytokines are still awaiting to be detected by using a systemic method. Herein, we adopted an extreme sampling scheme and examined inflammatory cytokines between subjects with low and high bone mineral density (BMD) through protein microarray. First, 8 candidate cytokines including B lymphocyte chemoattractant (BLC), osteopontin (OPN) and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 4 (IGFBP4) were identified in the discovery extreme sampling subgroup. Then, the different expressions for BLC, OPN and IGFBP4 were validated and replicated in two independent extreme sampling subgroups. Further functional experiments showed that the cytokine BLC was involved in bone metabolism by inhibiting bone formation and promoting bone resorption. Together, this study further revealed that inflammatory cytokines were closely related with OP, and that they highlighted critical roles of BLC in the pathogenesis of OP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The annual global volume of waste lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) has been increasing over years. Although solvent extraction method seems well developed, the separation factor between cobalt and nickel is still relatively low—only 72 when applying conventional continuous-countercurrent extraction. In this study, we improved the separation factor of cobalt and nickel by complexation-assisted solvent extraction. Before solvent extraction procedure, leaching kinetic of Li, Ni, Co and Mn was studied and can be explained by the Avrami equation. Leached residues were also investigated by SEM and XRD. Operation parameters of complexation-assisted solvent extraction were examined, including volume ratio of extractant to diluent, types of diluent, type of complexing reagent, extractant saponification percentage and volume ratio of organic phase to aqueous phase. The optimal separation factor of complexation-assisted solvent extraction could be improved to 372, which is five times that of conventional solvent extraction. The separation tendency would be interpreted by the relationship between extraction equilibrium pH and log distribution coefficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fibroblast migration is closely regulated by the mechanical characteristics in surrounding microenvironment. While increased interstitial hydrostatic pressure (HP) is a hallmark in many pathological and physiological conditions, little is known about how the HP affects fibroblast motility. Using cell-culture chips with elevated HP conditions, we showed that 20 cmH 2 O HP significantly accelerated fibroblast migration. The HP-induced migration acceleration was dependent on the augmentation of transforming growth factor-β 1 , and correlated with the activation of filamin A via the phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase. Our results suggest that interstitial HP elevation associated with various pathological states could significantly regulate fibroblast migration. • Increased hydrostatic pressure (HP) accelerates fibroblast migration. • The increased HP-induced migration acceleration is dependent on the augmentation of transforming growth factor-β 1. • The HP-induced migration acceleration correlates with the p38 MAPK phosphorylation-dependent activation of filamin-A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It is unclear whether Saccharomyces boulardii (S. boulardii) supplementation in standard triple therapy (STT) is effective in eradicating Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection in children. We therefore conducted a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to assess the effect of S. boulardii supplementation on H. pylori eradication in children. Methods: We conducted electronic searches in PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure and Wanfang database from the beginning up to September 2023. A random-effects model was employed to calculate the pooled relative risk (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) through a meta-analysis. Results: Fifteen RCTs (involving 2156 patients) were included in our meta-analysis. Results of the meta-analysis indicated that S. boulardii in combination with STT was more effective than STT alone (intention-to-treat analysis : 87.7% vs. 75.9%, RR = 1.14, 95% CI: 1.10–1.19, P < 0.00001; per-protocol analysis : 88.5% vs. 76.3%, RR = 1.15, 95% CI: 1.10–1.19, P < 0.00001). The S. boulardii supplementation group had a significantly lower incidence of total adverse events (n = 6 RCTs, 9.2% vs. 29.2%, RR = 0.32, 95% CI: 0.21–0.48, P < 0.00001), diarrhea (n = 13 RCTs, 14.7% vs. 32.4%, RR = 0.46, 95% CI: 0.37–0.56, P < 0.00001), and nausea (n = 11 RCTs, 12.7% vs. 21.3%, RR = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.40–0.72, P < 0.0001) than STT group alone. Similar results were also observed in the incidence of vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain, abdominal distention, epigastric discomfort, poor appetite and stomatitis. Conclusions: Current evidence indicated that S. boulardii supplementing with STT could improve the eradication rate of H. pylori, and concurrently decrease the incidence of total adverse events and gastrointestinal adverse events in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low bone mineral density (BMD) is a risk factor of osteoporotic fracture (OF). Peripheral blood monocytes (PBM) can differentiate into osteoclasts to resorb bone. It was known that PBM-expressed Anxa2 protein is associated with BMD, and extracellular Anxa2 protein promotes osteoclastogenesis. This study aimed to test 1) whether Anxa2 protein level in PBM differs significantly between subjects with OF and without fracture history (NF); 2) whether Anxa2 level in plasma is associated with BMD; 3) how Anxa2 protein at various concentrations would affect osteoblastic activity in vitro. All the study subjects were Chinese Han elderly. Firstly, Anxa2 protein in PBM was identified and quantitated by LC-MS/MS and compared between 45 OF cases and 42 healthy controls. Secondly, plasma Anxa2 protein level was quantitated by ELISA and compared between unrelated subjects with extremely low vs. high hip BMD (0.63±0.10 vs. 1.05±0.10 g/cm2, n = 75). Furthermore, in vitro functional assay was utilized to test the effects of extracellular Anxa2 protein on osteoblastic growth. We found that Anxa2 protein expression in PBM was significantly up-regulated in OF vs. NF subjects (fold change [FC)] = 1.16, P<0.05). Plasma Anxa2 protein concentration (range: 31.69–227.35ng/ml) was significantly elevated in low vs. high BMD subjects (84.85 vs. 66.15ng/ml, FC = 1.28, P<0.05). Cellular dynamical monitoring demonstrated that the general shape of dose-response relationship is the inverse U-shaped curve. Specifically, lower dose of Anxa2 protein may promote osteoblast growth and the optimal concentration for osteoblastic growth was around 50ng/ml, but even higher concentration could attenuate hFOB1.19 osteoprogenitor cell growth. We concluded that Anxa2 protein could attenuate osteoblast growth and be associated with hip BMD and OF in Chinese elderly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of more than three generation of particles, predicted by various models beyond Standard Model (SM), can be the answer to several unanswered questions. In this paper, we discover a mass space by generalizing the Koide's relation over the leptons section of SM and deduce some new symmetric relations. By using the magnitude dilation and angular rotation ratio between these relations, we predict the masses of the fourth generation particles. Also, this model constraints the existence of fifth generation leptons which up to now no theory can do. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work investigated the effect of B 2 O 3 on phase structure and electrical properties of CuO-modified (Ba 0.95 Ca 0.05 )(Ti 0.90 Sn 0.10 )O 3 –0.5CuO –x B 2 O 3 (BCTSCu 0.5 B x , 0≤ x ≤1.8 mol.%) lead-free ceramics sintered at a low sintering temperature ( Ts= 1200 °C). It was found that co-doping CuO and B 2 O 3 is effective both on obtaining a dense microstructure and increasing the Curie temperature ( T C ) in BCTSCu 0.5 B x ceramics. In addition to the sintering aids behavior of both CuO and B 2 O 3 to reduce T s , the increased T C mainly stems to the solid solution of B 3+ which enters initially tetrahedral sites and then V O • • and the sites between an apical O 2− and Ti 4+ with increasing its content. Good piezoelectric properties of d 33 =360 pC/N and k p =30% with an enhanced T C (49 °C) were obtained at x =1.4 owning to a proper proportion of rhombohedral and tetragonal phase even the Ts was as low as 1200 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this strategy, peak-by-peak cutting is like a pair of scissors to obtain each peak for bioactivity assay, while knock-out chromatography is like a pair of tweezers to pick out target peaks for contribution assessment. DOI: 10.1002/jssc.202200045 The cover picture shows the strategy to comprehensively analyze the bioactivity of complex herbal prescriptions via peak-by-peak cutting and knock-out chromatography. Front Cover: A strategy to comprehensively analyze the bioactivity of complex herbal prescriptions via peak-by-peak cutting and knock-out chromatography: Qiliqiangxin capsule as an example. [Extracted from the article]

Abstract: The decomposition of 2-chlorophenol by UV/TiO2 process with the application of external bias voltage was examined in this study. Experiments were conducted in a batch reactor using TiO2-coated titanium sheet as anode and platinum sheet as cathode. The anode photocatalysis of 2-chlorophenol was totally inhibited for experiments conducted with the application of external anodic bias voltage lower than the flat band potential of TiO2. The decomposition rate of 2-chlorophenol was then increased with increasing external anodic bias voltage applied up to 0.0V (versus SCE). The application of external bias voltage higher than 1.0V did not markedly promote the photocatalysis of 2-chlorophenol possibly because the photocurrent induced was constant. Experimental results indicated that the decomposition of 2-chlorophenol was more effective for experiments conducted in acidic solutions due to the lower flat band potential of TiO2 and the higher photocurrent induced. The presence of electron scavengers in aqueous solution, such as oxygen molecules, may increase the decomposition rate of 2-chlorophenol. However, the effect of dissolved oxygen was diminished for experiments conducted with applied external bias voltage. The photocatalytic decomposition rate of 2-chlorophenol was enhanced linearly with the increasing UV light intensity when the external bias voltage was applied. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Separation of copper ions from aqueous solution by nanofiltration was shown to be a feasible process to accomplish an effective copper removal over a broad operational range. Experimental results indicated that the rejection of copper ions increases with increasing the charge valence of co-anions present in aqueous solution. Higher degrees of copper removal were achieved for experiments conducted in acidic solutions than those conducted in alkaline solutions. The copper rejection increased with increasing operating pressure until a limiting rejection was reached, further application of higher pressure did not increase copper rejection. The surfactant presented in aqueous solution was adsorbed by the membrane to form a secondary filtration layer on the membrane surface, therefore, influenced the surface charge characteristic of the membrane. The rejection of copper chelate was markedly influenced by the solution pH and the molecular weight of chelate. The solution-diffusion model combined with film theory adequately described the behavior of copper rejection from aqueous solution by nanofiltration. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Separation of acidic dyestuffs, including Acid red 4, Acid orange 10, and Acid red 27, from aqueous solution by nanofiltration (NF) was shown to be a feasible process to accomplish an effective removal over a broad operational range. For most experiments conducted in this study, dyestuff rejections of greater than 98% were achieved. The permeate flux for experiments conducted with various dyestuffs was increased with increasing operating pressure and solution temperature. The permeability was increased and the rejection of dyestuffs was slightly decreased with increasing cross-flow velocity of solution. The effect of solution pH on the rejection of dyestuff was elucidated by the electrostatic characteristics between the species of dyestuff and the membrane surface. Maximum permeability was obtained for experiments operated in aqueous solution of pH 5, which was close to the isoelectric point of the membrane. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Numerous studies have argued that the andesitic model (i.e., the arc directly produces andesitic magmas) rather than the basaltic-input model (i.e., andesitic magmas were derived by fractionation from basaltic magmas) better explains the composition of continental crust. However, it remains controversial as to how andesitic magmas are directly produced in subduction zones, and this weakens the basis of the andesitic model. Recently, the mélange-diapir model has been increasingly considered to be an important mechanism for the direct generation of arc andesites, and would thus support the andesitic model for crustal growth. Moreover, melting experiments on mélange rocks show that varying the composition of mélange rocks (e.g., serpentinite-dominated and sediment-dominated mélange) can produce a range of primary andesitic arc magmas, from tholeiitic, calc-alkaline, to high-K calc-alkaline and shoshonitic magma types. However, it remains challenging to determine the different mélange sources for low-K to high-K arc andesites. Here we verify these experimental results using data from early Cretaceous dioritic porphyries in the southern Qiangtang block of central Tibetan plateau. The generation of these dioritic rocks cannot be linked to any coeval basaltic rocks in this region and so they may represent primary andesitic magmas. These dioritic porphyries are divided into low-K type-1 and high-K type-2. Type-1 has higher δ26Mg values (−0.16 to −0.08‰) than MORBs (mid-ocean ridge basalt, δ26Mg = −0.25 ± 0.06‰), which can be ascribed to the contribution of subducted bulk/un-differentiated serpentinite in their source. Combined with their low K contents and La/Sm ratios, and high Nd Hf isotope ratios (εNd(t) = 3.36–5.03; εHf(t) = 12.88–13.76), we suggest a serpentine-dominated mélange for their origin. The type-2 and type-1 rocks have similar trace-element distribution patterns, the same ages (∼124 Ma), and are indistinguishable in field outcrops, indicating their common petrogenesis. However, compared to type-1, type-2 has higher K and Th contents, and La/Sm and Th/Nd ratios with lower Nd Hf isotope values (εNd(t) = −1.61 to +0.30; εHf(t) = 3.78–4.39), and mantle-like δ26Mg values (−0.28 to −0.17‰). This likely indicates derivation from a sediment-dominated mélange for type-2. This study thus verifies the experimental results of melting of different mélange from natural rock record and shows that the mélange model provides an important mechanism for generating variable andesitic arc magmas and so the formation of the andesitic continental crust. • Gerze ∼124 Ma dioritic porphyry dykes in Tibetan plateau represent primary andesitic magmas and are divided into two types. • Low-K and high-K rocks originated from serpentinite-dominated mélange and sediment-dominated mélange, respectively. • This study verifies experimental results of melting of different mélange rocks, arguing for andesitic crustal growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Wavelength-dependent speckle multiplexing can suppress coherent background noise. • Tunable laser and multimode fibre provide the decorrelated speckle illumination. • Partially spatially coherent light also enables speckle correlated imaging. • A broadband multiwavelength laser is favourable for the multi-channel detection. Memory-effect-based speckle-correlated imaging through opacity has been exploited widely in recent years. Generally, spatially incoherent light sources are required to provide effective illumination that can eliminate the interference noise. Here, the wavelength-dependent speckle multiplexing (WDSM) technique is first proposed and demonstrated as an effective method to suppress the interference noise, thereby facilitating the use of partially spatially coherent light as an alternative promising illuminating source. In contrast to the conventional decoherent approach which often employs a rapidly rotating diffuser to reduce the spatial coherence of a spatially coherent light, the WDSM shows greatly enhanced structural robustness by combining a tunable laser and the speckle illumination using a multimode fibre. The proposed WDSM not only expands the scope of candidate light sources for speckle-correlated imaging based on the classical phase-retrieval algorithm, but also enables the multi-channel detection determined by the speckle spectral decorrelation, which would further facilitate the waveband selective light-matter detection through opacity. This work also combines the advantages of fibre optics and laser technology and enriches the potential applications of speckle-correlated imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The silver nanowires (Ag NWs) prepared by improved polyol method in 30min were applied to the stretchable strain sensors. Three factors affecting the morphology of Ag NWs were discussed, including reaction temperature, molecular weight of PVP, ratio of silver nitrate (AgNO 3) and polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP). Experimental results showed that Ag NWs with diameter of 53 ± 9 nm, length of 31 ± 7 μm and the aspect ratio is 584.9 were obtained under the optimum conditions. Thus, a new and convenient method was proposed to fabricate flexible stretchable sensors by embed Ag NWs into Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). The stability, hysteresis, and sensitivity of the Ag NWs@PDMS strain sensors were evaluated by cyclic stretch-release test. Our strain sensor with good stability, higher sensitivity (the gauge factor is 4.11) and good repeatability could be stretched 10% continuously for about 200 cycles. Ag NWs@PDMS flexible sensors can be used in wearable devices to monitor human movements. Image 1 • The effects of different conditions on the morphology of silver nanowires were discussed based on the rapid polyol method. • We propose a novel method to prepare Ag NWs@PDMS flexible stretching sensor. • The sensitivity, hysteresis and repeatability of the sensor are studied. • Ag NWs@PDMS flexible sensors are assembled at the knees to monitor human movement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Geniposide (GE) is an active component isolated from the fruit of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis that has anti-inflammatory and other pharmacological effects; however, the underlying mechanism of GE action has not been elucidated in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Previous studies have shown that GE plays a therapeutic role in RA via regulation of the integrin beta 1 (Itgβ1)-mediated Ras-Erk1/2 signalling pathway. However, the specific mechanism of GE action on Itgβ1 has not been clarified. Recent evidence indicates that microRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in the development of RA. In this study, we developed a miRNA-124a-based synoviocyte repair strategy. We demonstrated that miRNA-124a can directly inhibit the expression of the Itgβ1 gene and decrease TNF-α-stimulated cell proliferation in vitro. MH7A cells were obtained from the patient with RA and treated with GE in the presence of TNF-α (10 ng/mL). Additionally, we demonstrated that the expression of miRNA-124a can be regulated by GE. GE upregulated the expression of miRNA-124a and decreased the expression of Itgβ1 at the mRNA and protein levels. The results of the present study are the first to suggest that GE inhibits TNF-α-stimulated cell proliferation and blocks the activation of the Ras-Erk1/2 pathway via the upregulation of miRNA-124a expression. Our study elucidates the role of miRNA-124a as a protected miRNA in RA and may provide a novel strategy for the diagnosis and treatment of RA in the future. Highlights • MiRNAs are crucial players in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. • The target gene of miR-124 is Itgβ1, and there is a negative control relationship between them in rheumatoid arthritis. • The up-regulation of miR-124a limits the Itgβ1 expression, blocking the activation of the Ras-Erk1/2 signaling pathway. • GE alleviates TNF-α-stimulated MH7A proliferation and blocks activation of the Ras-Erk1/2 signaling pathway via miRNA-124a. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Irisin, a myokine produced by skeletal muscle in response to physical exercise, promotes trans-differentiation of white adipose tissue into brown adipose tissue. Recent evidences suggested that irisin also plays an important role in the control of bone metabolism. This study aimed to ascertain the relationship between plasma irisin and bone mineral density (BMD) in Chinese population by adoption of an extreme sampling method. Based on a large and screened Chinese elderly population (N = 6308), two subgroups with extremely high and low hip BMD were selected for discovery (N = 80, high vs. low BMD = 44:36) and validation (N = 60, high vs. low BMD = 30:30), respectively. Plasma irisin, P1NP, and β-CTx were measured using commercially available ELISA kits. Other metabolic parameters (e.g., blood glucose, total cholesterol and triglycerides) were collected. Student's t test and Spearman correlation analyses were conducted in SPSS. Significant difference was discovered for plasma irisin between females and age-matched males (N = 80, male vs. female = 42:38, P = 0.002). The plasma irisin levels were significantly higher in high BMD subjects than in low BMD subjects, which was observed in both discovery (P = 0.012) and validation samples (P = 0.022). However, such observation was limited to males only. Further correlation analyses in males showed that plasma irisin was correlated with BMD (r = 0.362, P = 0.025) and triglyceride (r = - 0.354, P = 0.032). Plasma irisin levels were associated with hip BMD in Chinese elderly men. This study represented the first effort of investigating the relationship of plasma irisin and BMD in elderly population. The positive correlation between plasma irisin and BMD hints intrinsic communication between muscle and bone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Development of a reliable and selective anti-inflammatory agent of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), induced or up-regulated by inflammatory/injury stimulus such as IL-1β, TNF-α and LPS in the various types of organs, tissues and cells, with low side effects is a long-standing medicinal chemistry problem with significant social implications. Objective: To target druggable enzymome COX-2 by exploiting NSAIDs and genipin (GEP) in anti-inflammatory infection. Materials and methods: The compound aspirin GEP ester (AGE) was designed by computer-assisted screening, synthesized in the esterification of the acylate derivative and the methylate derivative with Et3N, and evaluated with 20, 40 and 60 mg/kg from days 18 to 24 after immunization in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rats by the sequential enzymatic experiments, western-blot analysis and pathological observation methods. Results: AGE exhibited higher binding affinity with COX-1 and displayed the lowest estimated free energy with COX-2 than other ligands built by hanging NSAIDs with GEP, and was characterized by1H NMR,13C NMR and HRMS. AGE was competed against COX-2 with molecule-dependent potencies and selectivity (IC50: 0.36 mM; selectivity index: 275) in the sequential enzymatic experiments and decreased the expression of COX-2 in peripheral blood lymphocytes of CIA rats. AGE (40 and 60 mg/kg) could significantly relieve the secondary hind paw swelling and arthritis index, along with observing AGE attenuated histopathological changes of fibroblast like synovial tissue (FLST) and mesenteric lymph node lymphocytes (MLNL) in CIA rats. Discussion and conclusion: AGE pharmacophore reported herein may be an effective strategy to develop a novel anti-inflammatory agent and potential inhibitor of COX-2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Observations in the semi-arid Loess Plateau area of north-west China are utilized to reveal the characteristics and variations in the seasonal distribution of dewfall (frost) and the influence of micrometeorology, precipitation, and other weather conditions. Precipitation is the dominant water source in the Loess Plateau; however, non-rainfall water accounts for 13 % of the total land-surface water source. Dew is the second largest non-rainfall component next only to soil adsorption water. Observations show that dew (frost) occurrence is likely to occur when an inversion occurs between the heights of 1 and 4 m with a temperature difference of 0.25 K, surface wind speed of 1.5 m s $$^{-1}$$ , and surface relative humidity greater than 80 %. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]