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[Display omitted] • Eh-pH diagram of K-S-Fe-H 2 O system is established to analyze the iron removal. • Controlling high potential and a certain pH value are good for jarosite process. • Efficient and selective iron removal from acid solution has been achieved. • Regular ellipsoidal particles of jarosite with even particle size are obtained. • The crystallization mechanism and kinetics of jarosite formation are analyzed. Aerospace magnetic material scraps are abundant in cobalt and nickel. Sulfuric acid leaching process is an efficient method for extracting them. But it is a non-selective process, a significant amount of iron dissolves in the solution. This study focuses on the selective removal of iron from this solution using the jarosite process. E h -pH diagram of K-S-Fe-H 2 O system was established. Based on thermodynamic analysis, H 2 O 2 is used to oxidize Fe2+ into Fe3+, achieving efficient and selective removal of iron from the solution containing cobalt and nickel. The optimal conditions are as follows: temperature 95°C, K 2 SO 4 dosage coefficient 1.5, seed dosage 10 g/L, time 90 min, pH 1.76, and endpoint pH controlled at approximately 3. Under these conditions, the iron removal efficiency is above 99%, while the loss ratios of cobalt and nickel are below 2%. The product is characterized by XRD and SEM-EDS. Results indicate that the product is jarosite ((K,H 3 O)Fe 3 (SO 4) 2 (OH) 6), exhibiting an ellipsoid structure with the mean particle size in the range of 0.2–5.0 μm. Temperature, pH value and seed dosage significantly affect reaction rate, particle size and crystallinity, and K 2 SO 4 dosage mainly affects reaction rate and the morphology of jarosite. The jarosite crystallization kinetics can be described by the Avrami equation, with an Avrami index (n) of approximately 2.5 and the apparent activation energy of 42.68 kJ/mol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MXene aerogels have drawn much attention for electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorption application and the internal microstructure of aerogels has a prominent influence on EMW response behaviors. However, as far as we know, it is still a challenge to modulate the microstructure of MXene aerogels. Herein, MXene/PEO aerogels with two-hierarchically porous structure have been successfully constructed where the 3D porous network of MXene/PEO aerogels is assembled by MXene layers featuring with secondary pore structure, which hasn't been reported in other work. It has been demonstrated that the amount of added PEO is responsible for the microstructure of MXene/PEO aerogels, thus having a direct effect on their complex permittivity and impedance matching. The resultant MXene/PEO aerogels deliver excellent EMW absorption performance that a broad effective absorption bandwidth of 5.20 GHz and a minimum reflection loss value of −50.8 dB can be achieved. The attractive EMW absorption properties depend on the comprehensive contributions of multiple dissipation modes and better impedance matching. Overall, this work fabricated MXene aerogel with two-hierarchically porous structure to satisfy the strong absorption capability and lightweight requirements of future EMW absorbers. [Display omitted] • MXene/PEO aerogels with two-hierarchically porous structure have been successfully fabricated. • The microstructure can be effectively regulated by the amount of PEO. • A RL min value of −50.8 dB and a EAB of 5.20 GHz can be achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • MXene aerogels have been successfully fabricated by ions-initiated gelation. • MXene aerogels exhibit superior EMW absorption performance due to good impedance matching. • The broad EAB of 7.12 GHz can be attained for MXene aerogel. MXene aerogels with 3D network structure have gained much attention as lightweight electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorbers. It is still challenging to construct MXene aerogel monoliths with excellent EMW absorption capability in a simple way. Herein, the assembly of MXene aerogels was realized by gelation initiated by various metal ions in an aqueous dispersion, where metal ions link the MXene sheets together by bonding with OH groups on the MXene surface. It is found that metal ions have a great influence on the assembly microstructures of MXene aerogels, which are closely related with the complex permittivity of MXene aerogel absorbers. Versus divalent metal ions, MXene aerogels assembled with trivalent metal ions possess relative lower complex permittivity and deliver superior EMW absorption performance. Typically, a broadest EAB of 7.12 GHz can be achieved by MX-Fe3+, ascribing to its good impedance matching and multiple dissipation modes. Overall, this work provides an effective way to fabricate MXene-based aerogels to satisfy the lightweight requirement of future high-performance EMW absorption materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The porous flower-like NiCo 2 O 4 were synthesized by a simple one-step method. • The dissipation mechanism including interfacial and dipole polarization was confirmed. • The ultrathin (1.4 mm) and ultrawide (5.28 GHz) features were achieved. Although the performance of NiCo 2 O 4 -based absorbers with multiple components has made great progress, the property of pure NiCo 2 O 4 is still far from the requirements of high-performance electromagnetic wave absorbers. It is recognized that morphology control is an effective strategy to improve electromagnetic absorbing capacity of absorbers. Herein, this work reported the fabrication of porous flower-like pure NiCo 2 O 4 via simple hydrothermal reaction with the assistant of sodium tartarate in where tartaric acid served as a structure-directing agent. It was demonstrated that size distribution and electromagnetic absorbing capacity of the obtained NiCo 2 O 4 could be modulated easily by controlling addition of sodium tartrate. It was verified that dipole polarization originated from lattice defect and oxygen vacancy as well as interfacial polarization ascribing to adjacent and interconnected flakes are responsible for the excellent electromagnetic absorbing performance. The obtained porous flower-like NiCo 2 O 4 exhibited broad absorption bandwidth at thin thickness as well as proper dissipation ability. This work offers a new strategy to fabricate size-controllable porous flower-like NiCo 2 O 4 electromagnetic absorber. It is believed the obtained NiCo 2 O 4 will be a promising candidate as a lightweight electromagnetic absorbing material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A high efficiency and ultra-light electromagnetic wave (EW) absorber is proposed without precedent. A series of hierarchical short carbon fibers (SCFs) based composites with in-situ grown cobalt layered double hydroxides (Co-LDHs) can be successfully synthesized via a simple PVP-assisted solvothermal method. The synthesized hierarchical structure is composed of 1D SCFs skeleton, 3D hydrangea-like Co-LDHs-1 and 1D rod-like Co-LDHs-2. Notably, ultralight (5 wt% in paraffin matrix), ultrathin (2.1 mm) and ultrawide (6.5 GHz) features are achieved in our composites by simply tuning the doping amount of PVP. The mechanism is explained by the tunable attenuation constant and impedance matching, that is, Co-LDHs-1 and Co-LDHs-2 with different conductivities and morphologies are coordinated to optimize the excessively high complex permittivity of SCFs. This contribution will shed the light on design of LDHs-based materials for light-weight, tuning, and high efficiency EW absorbers. Image 1 • Hydrangea-like and rod-like Co-LDHs were grown in situ on SCFs. • The adjustable interlayer spacing and conductivity endow the material tunable EM parameters. • The effective absorption bandwidth reached up to 6.5 GHz at 2.1 mm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hollow electrode materials with structural advantages of large contact interface and sufficient cavity structures are significant for electrochemical energy storage. Herein, ultra-long one-dimensional zinc–manganese oxide (ZnMn 2 O 4) hollow nanofibers were successfully prepared by electrospinning at an appropriate temperature (500 °C). The optimal electrode of ZnMn 2 O 4 exhibited a larger specific capacitance (1026 F g−1) as compared to ZnMn 2 O 4 powder (125 F g−1) at a current density of 2 A g−1 in three-electrode configuration. Moreover, the optimal electrode of the ZnMn 2 O 4 hollow nanofibers also possessed long-term cycling stability with a slight upward capacitance (100.8%) after 5000 cycles. Their higher specific capacitance and the outstanding cycle stability may be attributed to the unique 1D hollow nanostructure, which enhanced the charge transfer and improved the diffusion of the electrolyte ions at the surface. Thus, this work designed a high-performance electrode with unique hollow nanostructure that can be applied to the field of energy storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Sulfur in bauxite ore results in a series of notable negative effects in Bayer process. It is necessary to remove sulfur for the utilization of high-sulfur bauxite resources. A novel process involving seed precipitation of digestion solution was adopted to simultaneously remove sulfur and iron from the sodium aluminate solution for the high-sulfur bauxite. Seed was prepared from the digestion solution of pyrite in a water bath. X-ray diffraction, a scanning electron microscope and chemical analysis were used to characterize the prepared seed. The utilization of the seed precipitation to remove sulfur and iron for the sulfur-containing sodium aluminate solution was studied. The various parameters included seed dosage, agitation speed and temperature. The results indicated that seed dosage and temperature had a remarkable effect on the sulfur and iron removal. Under the optimum condition, the removal percentages of sulfur and iron from the digestion solution can achieve to 76% and 87%, respectively, and the loss of alumina is lower than 2%. The research shows that the sulfur and iron seed prepared from pyrite can be used effectively for the sulfur and iron removal. A cyclic flowsheet for the simultaneous removal of sulfur and iron for high-sulfur bauxite is proposed. Highlights • Technology of seed precipitation was used to remove impurities. • Simultaneous removal of sulfur and iron was achieved for the high-sulfur bauxite. • High removal percentages of sulfur and iron can up to 76% and 87%, respectively. • A cyclic flowsheet for the simultaneous removal of sulfur and iron is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C 3 N 4 ) nanostructures were successfully assembled on silica nanofibers (SiO 2 NFs) by an electrospinning technique. Then, BiOI nanosheets (NSs) were uniformly grown on SiO 2 @g-C 3 N 4 NFs via a facile impregnation method at room temperature. Adjusting the cycle times of the impregnation easily controlled the amount of BiOI NSs on the SiO 2 @g-C 3 N 4 /BiOI NFs. These composite nanofibers exhibited much enhanced photocatalytic activity for the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) under visible light irradiation. The first-order rate constant of SiO 2 @g-C 3 N 4 /BiOI NFs was nearly three times that of SiO 2 @g-C 3 N 4 NFs, and seven times that of SiO 2 @BiOI NFs. The enhanced photocurrent densities, decreased photoluminescence intensity, and shortened transient photoluminescence life time of SiO 2 @g-C 3 N 4 /BiOI NFs all confirmed the improved charge separation. Active species trapping and electron spin resonance-trap technique demonstrated that the photogenerated holes, OH and O 2 − are active radicals in the degradation process. And the loaded heterojunctions display a Z-scheme system in photocatalysis. The SiO 2 @g-C 3 N 4 /BiOI NFs with high photocatalytic activity could be easily separated by sedimentation due to the three-dimensional porous network structures of the SiO 2 NFs support. Also, the SiO 2 @g-C 3 N 4 /BiOI NFs exhibited high stability and could be reused without much decrease in photocatalytic activity after several recycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • TiO 2 -NPs induced apoptosis in mouse hippocampal neuronal HT22 cells. • TiO 2 -NPs disrupted the homeostasis of ROS and Ca2+. • TiO 2 -NPs-induced cytotoxicity was related with endoplasmic reticulum stress. • The antioxidant NAC significantly reduced TiO 2 -NPs-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress. Abstract The purpose of this study was to explore the potential neurotoxicity and the underlying mechanism of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO 2 -NPs) to mouse hippocampal neuron HT22 cells. We found that TiO 2 -NPs had concentration-dependent and time-dependent cytotoxicities to HT22 cells by the MTT assay. Propidium iodide (PI) staining with FACScan flow cytometry proved that TiO 2 -NPs dose-dependently increased the apoptosis rate in HT22 cells, and the apoptotic features were observed by Hochest 33258 and AO/EB staining. The levels of calcium (Ca2+) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were significantly increased in TiO 2 -NPs-treated cells. Further studies by western blot and real-time QPCR proved that the protein and mRNA levels of GRP78, IRE-1α, ATF6, CHOP and caspase-12 were up-regulated after TiO 2 -NPs treatment, which indicates that TiO 2 -NPs-induced cytotoxicity is related to endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS). Apoptosis-related protein cleaved caspase-3 and pro-apoptotic protein Bax expression levels were up-regulated, and the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 expression level was down-regulated in TiO 2 -NPs-treated cells. The antioxidant N -acetyl- L -cysteine (NAC) can significantly reduce TiO 2 -NPs-induced ERS characterized by the down-regulation of GRP78 and cleaved caspase-12 levels, which indicates that oxidative stress is participated in TiO 2 -NPs-induced ERS. Our study suggests that TiO 2 -NPs-induced apoptosis in HT22 cells is through oxidative stress- and calcium imbalance-mediated ERS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2,9,16,23-tetranitro phthalocyanine copper (II) nanostructures and bismuth oxychloride nanosheets were grown on electrospun polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibers in sequence by solvothermal method. As a result, the BiOCl/CuTNPc heterostructures were uniformly immobilized on the PAN nanofibers. The obtained BiOCl/CuTNPc/PAN nanofibers had excellent photocatalytic activity for the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) under UV–vis light irradiation. The first-order rate constant of the BiOCl/CuTNPc/PAN nanofibers was 5.86 and 6.31 times as much as CuTNPc/PAN and BiOCl/PAN nanofibers, respectively. The high photocatalytic activity could be attributed to the formation of BiOCl/CuTNPc heterostructures, which helped the separation of the photogenerated electron–hole pairs. Concurrently, the marcoporous structure of the BiOCl/CuTNPc/PAN nanofibers improved the photocatalytic activity due to the increased interface contacts between the photocatalyst and the RhB solution. The BiOCl/CuTNPc/PAN nanofibers did not need to be separated for reuse due to their flexible self-supporting properties originating from the PAN nanofibers. Moreover, the film-like BiOCl/CuTNPc/PAN nanofibers could float easily on the liquid and maximize the absorption of sunlight during photocatalysis. It was expected that the BiOCl/CuTNPc/PAN nanofibers with high photocatalytic activity and easily separable property will possess great potential in the field of industrial applications and environmental remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on physicochemical properties of the scraps of spent aerospace magnetic materials, a roasting – magnetic separation followed by sulfuric acid leaching process was proposed to extract cobalt. Roasting was performed at 500 °C to remove organic impurity. Non-magnetic impurities were reduced by magnetic separation and then the raw material was sieved into desired particle sizes. Acid leaching was carried out to extract cobalt from the scraps and experimental parameters included agitation speed, particle size, initial concentration of sulfuric acid and temperature. Agitation speed higher than 300 r/min had a relatively small impact on the cobalt extraction. As the particle size reduced, the content of cobalt in the raw material decreases and the extraction of cobalt by acid leaching increased at first and decreased afterwards. Raising the initial concentration of sulfuric acid and temperature contributed to improve the cobalt extraction and the influence of temperature was more remarkable. SEM image revealed that the spent aerospace magnetic materials mainly existed in the sliced strip flake with a loose surface and porous structure. Under the experimental condition, the leaching rate of cobalt from the scraps in sulfuric acid solution could be expressed as ln(−ln(1 −  α )) = ln k  +  n ln t . The apparent activation energy was found to be 38.33 kJ/mol and it was mainly controlled by the surface chemical reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The c-ros oncogene 1 (ROS1) is a receptor tyrosine kinase, which has been identified as an oncogene driver of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Although crizotinib has a prominent effect on ROS1, resistance is inevitable. Development of the acquired ROS1 G2032R mutation has been reported as a resistant mechanism to ROS1 inhibitors in ROS1-rearranged (ROS1+) NSCLC patients. To explore the mechanism of drug resistance, we constructed the crizotinib resistance cell line, A549-CD74-ROS1 G2032R mutation cells, by the methods of fusion polymerase chain reaction (PCR), plasmid construction and cell transfection in vitro. The results showed that the expression of CD74-ROS1 or CD74-ROS1 G2032R mutation in A549 cells induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), dramatically enhanced the ability of invasion and migration, and increased expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 and Twist1 transcription factor. Moreover, we found that inhibition of Twist1 could reverse EMT induced by CD74-ROS1 G2032R mutation. Combination of Twist1 siRNA and crizotinib significantly reduced cell vitality, inhibited cell invasion and migration, and promoted apoptosis in A549-CD74-ROS1 G2032R mutation cells. Taken together, these results suggested that CD74-ROS1 G2032R mutation mediated EMT phenotype by increasing the expression of Twist1, resulting in drug resistance. Combination of Twist1 silence and ROS1 inhibitor may provide a potent strategy to treat the ROS1+ NSCLC patients with crizotinib resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphitic C 3 N 4 nanosheets were uniformly grown on electrospun TiO 2 nanofibers with three-dimensional nanofibrous networks via a facial gas-solid reaction. The mass loading of g-C 3 N 4 nanosheets could be easily controlled by adjusting the mass ratios of gaseous precursors (urea) to TiO 2 NFs. The three-dimensional hierarchical heterostructures of g-C 3 N 4 nanosheets/TiO 2 nanofibers could be obtained with excellent distribution and high specific surface area of 121.5 m 2 g −1 , when the mass loading of g-C 3 N 4 was 59.8 wt.%. Under visible light irradiation, the degradation rate constant (rhodamine B) and the H 2 evolution rate of the heterostructures were about 4.6 and 1.6 times of pure g-C 3 N 4 , while 23 and 167.8 times of TiO 2 nanofibers, respectively. Their enhanced performance could be attributed to the effective charge separation and electron transfer process. Our work provides an attractive strategy to construct various three-dimensional hierarchical heterostructures of g-C 3 N 4 nanosheets for environmental and energy applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C 3 N 4 ) based ternary composite photocatalyst (g-C 3 N 4 /SiO 2 -Au NFs) was prepared using Au nanoparticles (NPs) decorated SiO 2 nanofibers (SiO 2 -Au NFs) as a support by employing a heat treatment with a mixture of urea powder and SiO 2 -Au NFs. The resulting Au NPs with the mean diameter of about 13 nm were evenly dispersed on the g-C 3 N 4 /SiO 2 -Au NFs. In addition, the thin g-C 3 N 4 nano-layers were found to be uniformly grown on the g-C 3 N 4 /SiO 2 -Au NFs as determined by electron microscopy and elemental mapping image analyses. Comparative studies revealed that the g-C 3 N 4 /SiO 2 -Au NFs showed better photocatalytic activity for the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) under visible light than g-C 3 N 4 /SiO 2 NFs, which was prepared by the same process. The photocurrent enhancement of the g-C 3 N 4 /SiO 2 -Au NFs also indicated an enhanced separation of photo-induced electron-hole pairs. In addition, both the g-C 3 N 4 /SiO 2 -Au and g-C 3 N 4 /SiO 2 NFs could be easily precipitated and separated, which resulted from their ultra-long one-dimensional nanostructure. Also, the g-C 3 N 4 /SiO 2 -Au NFs exhibited high stability could be reused with little loss of photocatalytic activity after three recycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New-typed magnetic and color-tunable bifunctional Janus nanofibers have been successfully fabricated by electrospinning technology using a specially designed parallel spinneret. The Janus nanofiber consists of two strands of nanofibers assembled side-by-side, one strand nanofiber has tuned magnetism and the other one possesses color-tunable photoluminescence. The Janus nanofibers possess superior magnetic and luminescent properties due to their special nanostructure. Tunable colors from bluish green to orange can be realized in the flexible Janus nanofibers by varying the content of Eu(BA)phen complex, and furthermore, white-light-emitting flexible Janus nanofibers are achieved using rare-earth complexes as luminescent centers. In particular, it is the first time to report the influence of FeO nanoparticles on the fluorescent color of the magnetic-fluorescent nanomaterials. The synthesized products have potential applications in color displays, nano-bio-label materials, and anti-counterfeit materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the interaction betweengraphene oxide (GO) and a lipid membrane is significant for exploringthe biocompatibility and cytotoxicity of GO, which is the basis forutilizing GO in the fields of biosensors, bioimaging, drug delivery,antibacterials, and so on. In this article, we monitored the dynamicprocess of the morphology change and detachment of lipid bilayerson mica substrates prompted by GO sheets by in situ atomic force microscope(AFM) imaging. It was found that the bare lipid bilayer dramaticallyexpanded in height and would be unstable and detachable from the micasubstrates as induced by GO. The detached lipid molecules were foundto bind to the GO surface. The results also imply that GO is likelyto influence the height and stability of the supported lipid bilayers(SLBs) by adsorbing metal ions such as calcium ions that were usedto stabilize the bilayer structures on the mica substrate. These findingsillustrate a complicated effect of GO on the SLBs and should be helpfulin future applications of GO in biotechnology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For over half a century, traditional silicon-based integrated circuits (ICs) have been the basis of computational electronics and are widely used in computers, cell phones, and other fields. With the rapid development of human society, silicon-based semiconductor technology is approaching its physical and engineering limits. Our increasing diversity of non-traditional computing needs, such as ultra-small, ultra-fast, ultra-low-power wearables, and space radiation protection, is driving the search for new electronic materials. Semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes (s-SWCNTs) have many excellent electrical properties, such as high carrier mobility and high ballistic transport, making them strong candidates for new semiconductor materials in the post-Moore era. Carbon-based electronic technology has been developed for over 20 years, and the fundamental issues such as the material purification of s-SWCNTs, preparation prospects of s-SWCNT-based field-effect transistors (CNT FETs), and device physics based on CNT FETs have been basically solved. However, the chiral diversity of s-SWCNTs may lead to problems such as fluctuations in the electrical performance of CNT FETs, limiting the application of s-SWCNTs in high-end ICs. Monochiral s-SWCNTs not only have excellent electrical properties but also have a controllable structure and uniformity, which are crucial for the high-end IC of CNTs. However, some problems exist in the purity and yield of monochiral s-SWCNT preparation and the optimization of monochiral CNT FETs. Therefore, the chiral sorting of CNTs is reviewed in this paper, and the progress of polymer reprocessing in chiral separation is highlighted. Then, the research progress of monochiral CNT FETs is introduced, and possible development directions are summarized and analyzed. Finally, the application prospects of chiral-enriched s-SWCNTs include challenges and future opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Graphene oxide (GO) sheets are mixed with the aptamer-functionalized CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs). Consequently, the aptamer-conjugated QDs bind to the GO sheets to form a GO/aptamer-QD ensemble, which enables the energy transfer from the QDs to the GO sheets, quenching the fluorescence of QDs. The GO/aptamer–QD ensemble assay acts as a “turn-on” fluorescent sensor for Pb2+ detection. When Pb2+ ions are present in the assay, the interaction of Pb2+ with the aptamer induces a conformational change in the aptamer, leading to the formation of a G-quadruplex/Pb2+ complex. As a result, the QDs that are linked to the G-quadruplex/Pb2+ complex are detached from the GO sheet, which “turns on” the fluorescence of the QDs. This sensor exhibits a limit of detection of 90pM and excellent selectivity toward Pb2+ over a wide range of metal ions. The experiments have provided direct evidence that the fluorescence of QDs is quenched by GO via the nano-metal surface energy transfer (NSET) mechanism rather than the conventional Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) process. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Label-free fluorescent detection of Hg2+ has been realized via quenching of fluorescence of graphene oxide (GO). The water-soluble GO sheets, which are functionalized with single-stranded DNA aptamer, exhibit strong fluorescence emission at 600nm under the excitation of 488nm in the absence of Hg2+ ions. When Hg2+ ions appear in the aqueous solution, Hg2+ ions are sandwiched between the hairpin-shaped double-stranded DNA due to the formation of the thymine–Hg2+–thymine complex, which holds the Hg2+ ions in proximity to the surface of GO sheets. As a result, the fluorescence emission of GO is quenched. The present GO-based sensor shows a limit of detection as low as 0.92nM and excellent selectivity toward Hg2+ over a wide range of metal ions. The present work indicates that GO is a promising fluorescent probe for detection of metal ions and biomolecules. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The thermodynamics of vanadium–sulfur–water systems are summarized in the form of potential–pH and activity–pH diagrams, calculated from published standard Gibbs energies of formation of the various species and phases considered. The potential–pH diagrams for V–S–H2O show that SO4 2− and HSO4 − ions obviously enlarge the regions of stability of V3+, VO2+ and VO2 + ions, forming VSO4 +, VOSO4(aq) and VO2SO4 − at low pH range 0–5. Combining data in the existing literature with thermodynamic analysis, some examples of vanadium extraction and removal from vanadium stock solutions are discussed. Rational explanations are given for the behavior of vanadium. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Inorganic–organic hybrid copper phthalocyanine–BiOX (X= Cl, Br) photocatalyst are fabricated. • CuTNPc/BiOX heterostructure to capture and utilize light energy from a broader spectral range. • The CuTNPc/BiOX heterostructure exhibited superior photocatalytic performance. • The CuTNPc/BiOX heterostructure displayed good stability and durability. Through a meticulously designed two-step solvothermal method, we have successfully synthesized an innovative organic-inorganic heterostructured composite material, CuTNPc (2, 9, 16, 23-tetranitrophthalocyanine copper)/BiOX (bismuth oxyhalide, X = Cl, Br). This groundbreaking achievement seamlessly integrates the exceptional light absorption properties of the organic semiconductor CuTNPc with the stable structural advantages of the inorganic semiconductor BiOX, realizing a synergistic enhancement in photocatalytic performance. Compared to standalone BiOX samples, the CuTNPc/BiOX heterostructure exhibits significantly improved photocatalytic performance in the visible and even near-infrared light regions, particularly outstanding in the photodegradation of organic pollutants such as methyl orange. As a highly efficient organic photosensitizer, CuTNPc's unique molecular structure endows the composite material with robust light absorption capabilities in the red and near-infrared spectral regions. This characteristic enables the CuTNPc/BiOX heterostructure to capture and utilize light energy from a broader spectral range, broadening the active window for photocatalysis and achieving a significant enhancement in overall photocatalytic activity. Furthermore, the charge transfer processes at the heterojunction interface may also induce local electric field effects, further accelerating the photochemical reaction kinetics at the interface and enhancing the degradation rate of target pollutants. The CuTNPc/BiOX heterostructure exhibits significantly improved photocatalytic performance in the visible and even near-infrared light regions [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Direct Z-scheme heterojunction is a promising candidate for photocatalysts because it effectively separates the photogenerated electrons-hole pairs with strong redox capacity. In this paper, the MoSTe-MSi 2 N 4 (M = Mo, W) heterostructures are constructed, and their stability, electronic structures and photocatalytic performance are investigated. The results demonstrate that the absorption properties of heterojunctions are significantly better than that of monolayers in both visible and ultraviolet light regions. Expressly, heterojunctions have the direct Z-scheme charge transfer mechanism when S surface of MoSTe contacted with MSi 2 N 4 (namely S-M). Further calculation find that the S-M heterojunctions can perform stable photocatalytic water splitting in both acidic and neutral environments, and have better hydrogen evolution reaction. These theoretical predictions suggest that the MoSTe-MSi 2 N 4 heterostructures are high-performance photocatalysts for the preparation of hydrogen gas. [Display omitted] • Light absorption capacity of heterostructures is increased compared to monolayers. • Direct Z-scheme heterojunctions formed when S surface contacted with MSi 2 N 4. • Heterojunctions exhibit stability under uniaxial strain and acidic environments. • Heterojunctions improve the hydrogen production ability of monolayers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After seizures, the hyperactivation of extracellular signal‐regulated kinases (ERK1/2) causes mitochondrial dysfunction. Through the guidance of dynamin‐related protein 1 (DRP1), ERK1/2 plays a role in the pathogenesis of several illnesses. Herein, we speculate that ERK1/2 affects mitochondrial division and participates in the pathogenesis of epilepsy by regulating the activity of DRP1. LiCl‐Pilocarpine was injected intraperitoneally to establish a rat model of status epilepticus (SE) for this study. Before SE induction, PD98059 and Mdivi‐1 were injected intraperitoneally. The number of seizures and the latency period before the onset of the first seizure were then monitored. The analysis of Western blot was also used to measure the phosphorylated and total ERK1/2 and DRP1 protein expression levels in the rat hippocampus. In addition, immunohistochemistry revealed the distribution of ERK1/2 and DRP1 in neurons of hippocampal CA1 and CA3. Both PD98059 and Mdivi‐1 reduced the susceptibility of rats to epileptic seizures, according to behavioral findings. By inhibiting ERK1/2 phosphorylation, the Western blot revealed that PD98059 indirectly reduced the phosphorylation of DRP1 at Ser616 (p‐DRP1‐Ser616). Eventually, the ERK1/2 and DRP1 were distributed in the cytoplasm of neurons by immunohistochemistry. Inhibition of ERK1/2 signaling pathways downregulates p‐DRP1‐Ser616 expression, which could inhibit DRP1‐mediated excessive mitochondrial fission and then regulate the pathogenesis of epilepsy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An absolute value function was introduced for chaos construction, where hyperchaotic oscillation was found with amplitude rescaling. The nonlinear absolute term brings the convenience for amplitude control. Two regimes of amplitude control including total and partial amplitude control are discussed, where the attractor can be rescaled separately by two independent coefficients. Symmetrical pairs of coexisting attractors are captured by corresponding initial conditions. Circuit implementation by the platform STM32 is consistent with the numerical exploration and the theoretical observation. This finding is helpful for promoting discrete map application, where amplitude control is realized in an easy way and coexisting symmetrical sequences with opposite polarity are obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transition−metal−based materials show great promise for energy conversion and storage due to their excellent chemical properties, low cost, and excellent natural properties. In this paper, through simple strategies such as classical electrospinning, air calcination, and the one−step hydrothermal method, a large area of Ni(OH)2 nanosheets were grown on NiMoO4 nanofibers, forming NiMoO4@Ni(OH)2 nanofibers. The one−dimensional nanostructure was distributed with loose nanosheets, and this beneficial morphology made charge−transfer and diffusion more rapid, so the newly developed material showed good capacitance and conductivity. Under the most suitable experimental conditions, the optimal electrode exhibited the highest specific capacitance (1293 F/g at 1 A/g) and considerable rate capability (56.8% at 10 A/g) under typical test conditions. Most interestingly, the corresponding asymmetrical capacitors exhibited excellent electrochemical cycle stability, maintaining 77% of the original capacitance. NiMoO4@Ni(OH)2 nanofibers were verified to be simple to prepare and to have good performances as energy−storage devices within this experiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Synthesis of CNFs-Au@g-C 3 N 4 ternary system with uniform core-shell nanostructures. • The thickness of g-C 3 N 4 nanolayers could be well controlled by gas-solid reaction. • Uniform shell structures are more favorable for the interfacial electrons transfer. • Au NPs coupling with CNFs could also facilitate interfacial charge transfer. • The SPR effect of Au NPs could contribute to the charge-carrier generation. Ultrathin g-C 3 N 4 nanolayers were uniformly assembled on Au nanoparticles (NPs) decorated carbon nanofiber (CNFs) by a facile gas-solid approach. The mean thickness of g-C 3 N 4 shell layers on CNFs-Au supports was about 22.5 nm. The ternary system of as-prepared photocatalysts with superior uniformly core-shell nanostructures present enhanced photocatalytic properties. The rate constants (rhodamine B and K 2 Cr 2 O 7) of CNFs-Au@g-C 3 N 4 were about 3.5 and 4.5 times of g-C 3 N 4 powders, respectively. While the rate of H 2 -evolution was 2.3-fold of the physical mixture, when the loading amount of Au NPs was about 0.52 At.%. Their excellent photocatalytic activities were attributed to the advantages of their unique core-shell nanostructures and the synergy of the Au NPs as a high-efficiency electron conduction bridge and their surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect. Moreover, the ternary systems of CNFs-Au@g-C 3 N 4 present the gratifying cycling stability in photocatalytic reactions due to their ultra-long core-shell nanostructures. Our work provides a novel route for designing and constructing multicomponent photocatalyst in wastewater treatment and solar energy applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a metal–organic framework (ZIF-8)-derived nitrogen-doped carbon (C-ZIF)-modified g-C3N4 composite was directly prepared by pyrolysis. C-ZIF@g-C3N4 composites with different loadings were prepared by changing the precursor content. The charge transfer process that occurs at the interface of the ZIF-8-derived nitrogen-doped carbon/g-C3N4 heterostructures strongly hinders the recombination of photoinduced electron–hole pairs, thereby effectively enhancing the photocatalytic activity of C-ZIF@g-C3N4. Meanwhile, the unique hierarchical inorganic/organic heterostructure provides an abundance of active sites for photocatalytic reactions. Upon visible-light irradiation, C-ZIF@g-C3N4 with an optimal ratio of g-C3N4 to C-ZIF components exhibits both enhanced photocatalytic activity and excellent separability during the degradation of dye and hydrogen evolution compared to unmodified g-C3N4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the complex composition and high proportion of alloys in traditional ultra-high-strength steel, the dilemma caused by ultra-high strength and low toughness in casting and forging forming processes requiring subsequent heat treatment can be mitigated with an efficient and economical rolling process. In this work, a thermodynamic model is proposed to calculate the change in the mechanical response due to the thermal contribution based on alloy phase diagrams. The influence of alloy content on precision laws was analyzed, and the chemical component was optimized. A verification simulation without real experiment was conducted to study the potential and limitations of the alloy content on mechanical properties. The results showed that the main equilibrium phases and the phases' chemical compounds were clarified. The influences of Ni, Mo, Cr, and W on transformation laws were elucidated in detail, and the main optimized composition was determined to be 0.23C, 1.96Si, 1.93Mn, 0.07Ni, 1.96Cr, and 0.35Mo. At a cooling rate of 10 °C/s, the content of optimized alloying element fully performed its role in steel, verifying that the chemical component system was in the optimal range. The thermodynamic models and our conclusions have the potential to be generalized for many other materials and process configurations without requiring extensive material testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the complex composition and high proportion of alloys in traditional ultrahigh strength steel, the dilemma caused by ultrahigh strength and low toughness in casting and forging processes requiring subsequent heat treatment can be mitigated with an efficient and economical rolling process. In this work, the effect of deformation parameters on dynamic recrystallization (DRX) and dynamic recovery (DRV) is discussed through stress-strain analysis, the DRV mathematical model is obtained, and then the dynamic recrystallization activation energy, Zener–Hollomon equation, and hot working equation are obtained. The critical strain of DRX detected by the P-J method is ε c / ε p = 0.631 , which indicates that dynamic recrystallization of this novel steel is relatively easy to achieve by the rolling process. These models and conclusions have potential to be generalized for the formulation of process specification and process configuration without requiring extensive material testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome (OMS) is a rare neurological disease that can be associated with autoimmunity, paraneoplastic tumour, infection or unknown aetiology. Methods: We describe a 54-year-old woman who developed severe OMS, with the clinical onset occurring 2 months and 15 days after she experienced dizziness, vomiting and fever related to a herpes simplex virus infection. The patient was treated with hormones and clonazepam, and the symptoms of myoclonus and ataxia disappeared. Results: The patient was followed up for 1 year with no recurrence of symptoms. Conclusions: The case suggests that herpes simplex virus infection is a possible cause of OMS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of mechanical strength and yield ratio on the seismic steel are significant. This paper investigated the mechanical strength and yield ratio of medium carbon seismic steel by deep cryogenic treatment at −60°C and −110°C for 60∼120 s and tempering at 350°C for 30 minutes. The microstructure, misorientation, grain boundary, and size were characterized by electron backscattering diffraction (EBSD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive spectrometery (EDS). The result shows that the tensile strength and reduction of the cross-sectional area of steel were increased by 170 MPa and 9% and yield ratio and elongation were decreased by 0.13 and 9% due to the existence of the large-angle grain boundary. The present study confirms that the mechanical properties of medium seismic steel can be improved effectively by the deep cryogenic treatment and tempering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are widely used for manufacturing products containing antibacterial agents, as well as food technologies such as edible films and food packaging. Routes of AgNPs exposure are principally derived by contacting with certain medical sprays, food, toothpaste, and purification products. Previously, we showed that AgNPs induce endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and promote apoptosis progression in SH-SY5Y cells; however, whether AgNP-induced ER stress is able to trigger autophagy in vivo and in vitro, and the role of autophagy in AgNP-induced cytotoxicity remain unclear. In the present study, we found that increased intracellular calcium (Ca2+) levels arising from AgNP-induced-ER stress resulted in activation of calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase β (CaMKKβ) and adenosine 5′-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which downregulated the level of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and upregulated Beclin-1 to activate autophagy in SH-SY5Y cells. Specifically, inhibition of autophagy by the addition of chloroquine (CQ) or silencing of Beclin-1 significantly enhanced the cytotoxicity of AgNPs, suggesting that autophagy plays a protective role in AgNP-induced cell apoptosis. Furthermore, we showed that oral administration of AgNPs for 28 continuous days induced ER stress-mediated apoptosis and autophagy in rats via activation of CaMKKβ and AMPK. In summary, this study is the first to report that AgNPs induce protective autophagy via a Ca2+/CaMKKβ/AMPK/mTOR pathway in vivo and in vitro. Therefore, public exposure to AgNPs should arouse concerns regarding environmental safety and human health. Silver nanoparticle-induced ER stress elicits protective autophagy via a Ca2+-dependent mechanism in SH-SY5Y cells. The Ca2+/CaMKKβ/AMPK/mTOR pathway is involved in autophagy. Orally administered silver nanoparticles induce ER stress-mediated autophagy and apoptosis in rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electro catalysts play a vital role in facilitating the reaction process in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) of fuel cells. In methanol fuel cells, methanol easily penetrates the diaphragm rendering the ORR catalyst inactive. Although commercial platinum exhibits excellent ORR catalytic activity, its poor methanol resistance and long-time durability severely restrict its sustainable development and application. This work synthesized Ti4O7/CNT nanocomposite electrocatalysts by using the sol-gel method followed by high-temperature carbothermal reduction. The obtained catalysts exhibit a large electrochemically active surface area (347.89 cm2) and low interfacial charge transfer resistance (64.5 Ω). The reduction potential (0.73 V), onset potential (0.93 V), half-wave potential (0.73 V), and electron transfer number (3.7) of this electrocatalyst are all close to those of the Pt/C electrocatalysts in alkaline medium. Simultaneously, it also possesses remarkable methanol tolerance and long-term durability, whose relative current density can maintain above 74% after cycling for 24 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energy industry is placing more and more emphasis on the need for effective and affordable electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reactions (HER). In this work, an iron-doped NiS/Ni(OH)2/CC composite material was synthesized by simple hydrothermal sulfurization processes of bimetallic Prussian blue analogue (PBAs) precursors grown in situ on three-dimensional (3D) Ni(OH)2 nanosheets. The overpotential can be 103 mV to attain current densities of 10 mA cm−2. The excellent catalytic activity of Fe-NiS/Ni(OH)2/CC is because of the unique 3D structure and the uniform doping of iron caused by the in situ growth of PBA, as well as the high conductivity of the self-supported electrode carbon cloth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To obtain the price return and price volatility spillovers between renewable energy stocks, technology stocks, oil futures and carbon allowances under different investment horizons, this paper employs a frequency-dependent method to study the dynamic connectedness between these assets in four frequency bands. The results show that, first, there is a strong spillover effect between these assets from a system-wide perspective, and it's mainly driven by short-term spillovers. Second, in the time domain, technology stocks have a more significant impact on renewable energy stocks compared to crude oil. However, through the study in the frequency domain, we find renewable energy stocks exhibit a more complex relationship with the other two assets at different time scales. Third, renewable energy stocks have significant spillover effect on carbon prices only in the short term. On longer time scales, other factors such as energy prices, climate and policy may have a greater impact on carbon allowance prices. Fourth, the spillover effect of the system is time-varying and frequency-varying. During the European debt crisis, the international oil price decline and the COVID-19 pandemic, the total spillover index of the system has experienced a substantial increase, mainly driven by medium, medium to long or long term spillovers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the Adomian decomposition method (ADM) semi-analytical solution algorithm is applied to solve a fractional-order entanglement symmetrical chaotic system. The dynamics of the system are analyzed by the Lyapunov exponent spectrum, bifurcation diagrams, poincaré diagrams, and chaos diagrams. The results show that the systems have rich dynamics. Meanwhile, sliding mode synchronizations of fractional-order chaotic systems are investigated theoretically and numerically. The results show the effectiveness of the proposed method and potential application value of fractional-order systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Core-shell structural Co 3 O 4 @NiCo 2 O 4 composites have been successfully fabricated; • Interfacial polarization of heterogeneous interfaces made great contribution; • The EAB reached 4.88 GHz at a thickness of 2.6 mm for Co 3 O 4 @NiCo 2 O 4. Core-shell structural cobalt- and nickel-based metal oxides with different compositions have rarely been reported as electromagnetic wave absorption materials. Herein, core–shell structural Co 3 O 4 @NiCo 2 O 4 composites have been successfully fabricated via simple etching and deposition reaction of Co-based metal–organic framework with subsequent calcination in air. According to morphological evolution, it is verified that the cavity volume between Co 3 O 4 core and NiCo 2 O 4 shell could be modulated effectively by simply controlling proton etching and deposition reaction. The electromagnetic wave absorption properties of the Co 3 O 4 @NiCo 2 O 4 composites were investigate. It was demonstrated that multiple interfacial polarization of heterogeneous interfaces involving cavities, such as Co 3 O 4 /Void, Void/NiCo 2 O 4 and Co 3 O 4 /NiCo 2 O 4 have made great contribution to the excellent electromagnetic wave absorption performance. Co 3 O 4 @NiCo 2 O 4 with optimized microstructure exhibited RL value as strong as −34.42 dB with a broad effective absorption bandwidth up to 4.88 GHz at a layer thickness of 2.6 mm. It is believed that core–shell structural cobalt- and nickel-based metal oxides will become an excellent candidate for high-performance electromagnetic wave absorber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, an increasing proportion of adolescent ketamine users simultaneously consume alcohol. However, the potential behavioural and neurological alterations induced by such a drug combination and the underlying mechanisms have not been systematically examined. Therefore, in the present study, the behavioural and morphological changes and the underlying mechanisms were studied in adolescent rats after repeated alcohol and/or ketamine treatment. This study provided the first evidence that co-administration of alcohol (2 and 4 g/kg, i.g.) in adolescent rats significantly potentiated the neurotoxic properties of repeated ketamine (30 mg/kg, i.p.) treatments over 14 days, manifesting as increased locomotor activity, stereotypic behaviour, ataxia and morphological changes. This potentiation was associated with the enhancement by alcohol of ketamine-induced glutamate (Glu) and dopamine (DA) release in the cortex and hippocampus. Further mechanistic study demonstrated that alcohol potentiated ketamine-induced neurotoxicity through down-regulation of Akt (a serine/threonine kinase or protein kinase, PKB), protein kinase A (PKA), calmodulin-dependent kinase IV (CaMK-IV)-mediated cyclic AMP-responsive element binding protein (CREB) pathways and induction of neuronal apoptosis in the cortex and hippocampus of the adolescent rats. As this study provides strong evidence that repeated alcohol and ketamine co-exposure may cause serious neurotoxicity, attention needs to be drawn to the potential risk of this consumption behaviour, especially for adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, Bi 2 MoO 6 /ZnFe 2 O 4 heterojunctions were successfully obtained by combining electrospinning and a solvothermal technique. The morphology and loading of Bi 2 MoO 6 nanosheets of Bi 2 MoO 6 /ZnFe 2 O 4 heterojunctions could be controlled by adjusting the concentration of molybdenum precursor during the solvothermal process. Comparative experiments revealed that the resulting Bi 2 MoO 6 /ZnFe 2 O 4 heterojunctions exhibit a higher visible light photocatalytic activity for the degradation of Rhodamine B (RB) than pure Bi 2 MoO 6 or ZnFe 2 O 4 . The photocurrent and PL measurements of the Bi 2 MoO 6 /ZnFe 2 O 4 heterojunctions also indicated an enhanced separation of photo-induced electron-hole pairs. Moreover, the heterojunctions could be easily recycled without a decrease in their photocatalytic activity due to their good magnetic separation performance and excellent chemical stability. Based on these findings, Bi 2 MoO 6 /ZnFe 2 O 4 heterojunctions are a promising visible-light-driven photocatalyst for converting solar energy to chemical energy for environmental remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molybdenum diselenide nanosheet/carbon nanofiber (MoSe 2 /CNF) heterojunctions have been successfully obtained by a facile two-step synthesis route combining an electrospinning technique and solvothermal method. The results show that MoSe 2 nanosheets distributed evenly on the carbon nanofibers without aggregation, and the loading amount of MoSe 2 could be well controlled by adjusting the reactant concentrations during the solvothermal process for the fabrication of the MoSe 2 /CNF heterojunctions. The as-prepared MoSe 2 /CNF heterojunctions exhibited higher photocatalytic activity than pure MoSe 2 for the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) under visible and infrared light irradiation. The normalized rate constant for the MoSe 2 /CNF heterojunctions was nearly 3.2 times and 1.6 times higher than that of pure MoSe 2 under visible light and infrared light (1.5 W, 980 nm laser) irradiation, respectively. The enhanced photocatalytic activity might be attributed to the formation of heterojunctions, which could improve the separation of photogenerated electrons and holes at the MoSe 2 /CNF heterojunctions interface. In addition, MoSe 2 /CNF heterojunctions could be efficiently separated from the solution by sedimentation due to their ultralong one-dimensional and self-supporting structure. Such MoSe 2 /CNF heterojunctions with a broad-spectrum-response photocatalytic performance might have potential applications in water treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

P-type bismuth oxychloride (p-BiOCl) nanosheets were uniformly grown on n-type zinc ferrite (n-ZnFe 2 O 4 ) electrospun nanofibers via a solvothermal technique to form hierarchical heterostructures of p-BiOCl/n-ZnFe 2 O 4 (p-BiOCl/n-ZnFe 2 O 4 H-Hs). The density and loading amounts of the BiOCl nanosheets with exposed {0 0 1} facets were easily controlled by adjusting the reactant concentration in the solvothermal process. The p-BiOCl/n-ZnFe 2 O 4 H-Hs exhibited enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activities for the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB). The apparent first-order rate of the p-BiOCl/n-ZnFe 2 O 4 H-Hs and its normalized constant were about 12.6- and 8-fold higher than pure ZnFe 2 O 4 nanofibers. This suggests that both the improved charge separation efficiency from the uniform p-n heterojunctions and the enlarged active surface sites from the hierarchical structures increase the photocatalytic performances. Furthermore, the p-BiOCl/n-ZnFe 2 O 4 H-Hs could be efficiently separated from the solution with an external magnetic field via the ferromagnetic behavior of ZnFe 2 O 4 nanofibers. The magnetic p-BiOCl/n-ZnFe 2 O 4 H-Hs with enhanced visible-light photocatalytic performances might have potential applications in water treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have many medical and commercial applications, but their effects on human health are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of AgNPs on the human neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y and to explore their potential mechanisms of action. We found that AgNPs decreased SH-SY5Y cell viability in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Exposure to AgNPs activated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, as reflected by upregulated expression of glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), phosphorylated PKR-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (p-PERK), phosphorylated eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2α (p-eIF2α), C/EBP homology protein (CHOP), spliced X-box binding protein-1 (XBP1), and phosphorylated inositol-requiring enzyme (p-IRE), all of which are involved in the cellular unfolded protein response. Prolonged exposure of cells to AgNPs damaged calcium (Ca 2+ ) homeostasis, increased the length of contact sites between the ER and mitochondria, altered IP 3 R function by the increased levels of phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten (PTEN) in the ER and enhanced mitochondrial Ca 2+ uptake. Finally, Ca 2+ overload and disrupted homeostasis in the mitochondria triggered apoptotic cell death. Our results suggest that caution should be exercised in the use of AgNPs in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single-crystalline semiconductor nanostructures of metal oxides as-synthesized by solution methods generally demand high-temperature treatment, so as to achieve enhanced performance in energy and (opto)electronic devices. However, the mechanism remains unclear. In this work, we have monitored charge dynamic properties of hydrothermal TiO nanorod arrays (NRAs) with their annealing temperatures in model dye-sensitized solar cells. Results indicate that electron collection efficiencies are in a trend of 400 > 530 > 80 > 250 °C due to a synergistic effect of electron transport and recombination, which are consistent with the device performance variations. We have further built up the relations between surface properties and charge dynamics of TiO NRAs with annealing temperatures for the first time. Results show that at low temperatures (≤ 250 °C), residual modifiers (i.e., Cl and nano-sized carbon) anchored on TiO surface serve as recombination centers, which inhibit the electron collection; high-temperature annealing renders a clean TiO surface, enabling a substantially enhanced electron collection efficiency as high as ~ 95%. This mechanistic study would promote more applications of this class of cheap nanomaterials in a variety of fields such as solar cells, photocatalysis, supercapacitors, and batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite smart actuators and sensors have attracted tremendous attention and experienced a very rapid growth in the past few years, the integration of sensing elements in actuators and the simultaneous realization of actuating and sensing tasks remain great challenges. To address this issue, we developed a multi-responsive actuation composite film with integrated resistance sensing capabilities. The actuator which was fabricated by combing MXene–graphene oxide (MGO) and commercial biaxially oriented polypropylene tape (BOPP) showed a large bending range, a fast-bending rate, and highly repeatability under humidity, near-infrared light, and applied voltage stimuli. More importantly, the MGO/BOPP film also exhibited a strain-sensitive resistance, and could be used to monitor human motion parameters and its actuation response. The actuation process of an artificial gripper with self-sensing capabilities based on the MGO/BOPP film could be monitored and recorded in real time to achieve simultaneous actuation and sensing; therefore, the present system holds great promise for soft smart robotics, flexible wearable devices, and other integrated multifunctional systems. [Display omitted] • A multiresponsive soft actuator with integrated self-sensing capabilities is proposed. • Sensor is capable of detecting various physiological human motion with high repeatability and sensitivity. • The resulting actuators showed excellent actuating performances under humidity, NIR irradiation, or voltage stimuli. • The actuator can be used as bionic robotics with real-time motion perception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the capping layer atop anodic TiO nanotube arrays (NTAs), which hinders filling of other guest materials and transport of charge carriers, is discerned to be TiO nanotapes. Then, it is completely removed by a novel sonication-polishing (SP) treatment, after which SbS is subsequently introduced to fill the nanotubes by chemical bath deposition. The morphological, structural, and optical properties of the SP-treated TiO NTAs and TiO NTAs/SbS heterogeneous structures are characterized systematically. The results indicate that SP treatment opens the tops of nanotubes with diameters of ∼120 nm, which endure a phase conversion from amorphous to anatase after calcination at 450 °C; besides, stibnite SbS with a band gap of ∼1.75 eV inside the TiO networks is formed upon heat treatment at 330 °C in Ar, which enhances the absorption in visible light range. The photoelectrochemical (PEC) and photovoltaic properties for the SP-treated TiO NTAs are investigated. Results shows that the photoresponse of TiO NTAs is improved by the SP treatment, and the photocurrent for the TiO NTAs/SbS electrode is substantially enhanced as compared to the bare TiO one. A high efficiency of 6.28 % is achieved in a TiO NTAs/SbS PEC cell. In addition, charge recombination in the photoanode of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) is observed to be greatly retarded by using the SP-treated TiO NTAs as compared to TiO nanoparticles (NPs). Thus, the SP anodic TiO NTAs are promising in applications in various PEC areas such as photocatalysis and sensitized solar cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the pharmacokinetics of lidocaine hydrochloride metabolized by cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) in Chinese Han volunteers living at low altitude (LA) and in native Han and Tibetan Chinese volunteers living at high altitude, lidocaine hydrochloride 10 mg was given by intramuscular injection to 3 groups: Han volunteers living at LA, and native Han and Tibetan volunteers living at a high altitude. Blood samples were collected before the (baseline) study drug was given and at 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 6.0, 8.0 h after study drug administration. Lidocaine hydrochloride in plasma was determined by RP-HPLC. Pharmacokinetics parameters of lidocaine hydrochloride showed that there were no significant difference between the native Han and Tibetan volunteers, but the t1/2 was 29.8 and 29.8% higher in 2 groups, respectively, than in the LA group. To study related mechanism, the effects of exposure to chronic high-altitude hypoxia (CHH) on the activity and expression of CYP3A1 were examined in rats. Rats were divided into LA, chronic moderate altitude hypoxia, and CHH groups. CHH caused significant decreases in the activity and protein and mRNA expression of rat CYP3A1 in vivo. This study found significant changes in the disposition of lidocaine hydrochloride in native healthy Tibetan and Han Chinese subjects living at a high altitude in comparison to healthy Han Chinese subjects living at LA, it might be due to significant decreases in the activity and protein and mRNA expression of CYP3A4 under CHH condition. © 2016 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple, sensitive and rapid LC–MS/MS method has been developed and validated for determination of PA-824 in rat biological samples using darunavir as internal standard. Chromatographic separation was achieved on an Inertsil ® ODS3 C 18 column (150 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 μm) using gradient elution of methanol-0.1% ammonia in water (90:10, v/v) with fast gradient elution at a flow rate of 0.6 mL/min and run time of 5 min. The mass spectrometer was run in positive electrospray ionization (ESI) mode using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) to monitor the mass transitions. The optimized ion transition pairs for quantitation were m / z 360.1 → m / z 175.0 for PA-824, m / z 548.5 → m / z 504.2 for IS. The method was validated for accuracy, precision, linearity, range, selectivity, lower limit of quantification (LLOQ), recovery, matrix effect and robustness. All validation parameters met the acceptance criteria according to regulatory guidelines. The LLOQ was 0.05 μg/mL. The calibration curves showed a good linearity over the concentration range of 0.05–50 μg/mL. The calibration curves for all biological samples showed good linearity ( r 2 > 0.9978) over the concentration ranges tested. The recoveries obtained for PA-824 were ≥88.8%. The developed method was successfully applied to investigate the pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of PA-824 in rats following oral administration. It was also the first study to investigate the tissue distribution of PA-824 in rats following oral administration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficiency of dolomite to remove phosphate from aqueous solutions was investigated. The experimental results showed that the removal of phosphate by dolomite was rapid (the removal rate over 95% in 60 min) when the initial phosphate concentration is at the range of 10–50 mg/L. Several kinetic models including intraparticle diffusion model, pseudo-first-order model, Elovich model, and pseudo-second-order model were employed to evaluate the kinetics data of phosphate adsorption onto dolomite and pseudo-second-order model was recommended to describe the adsorption kinetics characteristics. Further analysis of the adsorption kinetics indicated that the phosphate removal process was mainly controlled by chemical bonding or chemisorption. Moreover, both Freundlich and Langmuir adsorption isotherms were used to evaluate the experimental data. The results indicated that Langmuir isotherm was more suitable to describe the adsorption characteristics of dolomite. Maximum adsorption capacity of phosphate by dolomite was found to be 4.76 mg phosphorous/g dolomite. Thermodynamic studies showed that phosphate adsorption was exothermic. The study implies that dolomite is an excellent low cost material for phosphate removal in wastewater treatment process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoporous graphene sheets were generated through a simple thermal annealing procedure using composites of ferrocene nanoparticles and graphene oxide sheets as precursors in a large scale. The morphology, composition, and formation mechanism of the as-obtained nanoporous graphene sheets were studied complementarily with scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, and other spectroscopy techniques. We found that the density of nanopores on the graphene sheet was determined by the surface distribution of oxygen-containing groups on the original graphene oxide sheets. The coin cells using nanoporous graphene sheets as anode materials showed higher specific lithium ion storage capacity, better discharge/charge rate capability and higher cycling stability when compared to the coin cells with graphene or chemically reduced graphene sheets as anodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the electrical communications between graphene sheets placed on insulating substrates is of great value to rational design of functional graphene nanoelectronics. In this paper, we report charge transfer between reduced graphene oxide (rGO) sheets separated in hundreds of nanometers on insulating substrates. We found that the rGO sheet collects charges from the adjacent charged rGO sheet through the dielectric surfaces. The efficiency of charge transfer between the separated rGO sheets is dependent on their separation distance, gap length, and the substrate type. The findings suggest that the charge interflow should not be neglected in a graphene circuit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]