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Catecholamines (CAs) are aromatic amines containing a 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl nucleus and an amine side chain. Representative CAs included the endogenous neurotransmitters epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine. CAs and their derivatives are good resources for the development of sympathomimetic or central nervous system drugs, while they also provide ligands important for G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) research. CAs are of broad interest in the fields of chemical, biological, medical, and material sciences due to their high adhesive capacities, chemical reactivities, metal-chelating abilities, redox activities, excellent biocompatibilities, and ease of degradability. Herein, we summarize CAs derivatives isolated and identified from microorganisms, plants, insects, and marine invertebrates in recent decades, alongside their wide range of reported biological activities. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the structural and biological diversities of CAs, the regularity of their natural occurrences, and insights toward future research and development pertinent to this important class of naturally occurring compounds.

OBJECTIVE--The aim of this study was to determine the influence of birth weight, a marker of fetal growth, on the development of later impaired glucose metabolism throughout the life span [...]

Byline: Li. Xiang-Pan, Chu. Yuxin, Wu. Xiao-Fei, Li. Na, Xu. Tang-Peng, Xu. Xiao-Tao, Ruan. Chang-Li, Hu. Wei-Guo, Song. Qi-Bin To analyze the therapeutic effect of bevacizumab on radiation-induced brain necrosis. [...]

Clarifying the impact of psychological ownership on public participation in transboundary eco-compensation will contribute to compensation transforming from the current government-led economic incentive mode to the normative guidance of effective public participation, which is of great significance to transboundary management of water resources. From the perspective of social psychology, this paper uses a double hurdle model, empirically analyzes the impact of psychological ownership on public participation, and explores the internal laws and driving mechanisms of behavior. Results show the willingness to participate mainly depends on the public's judgment of self-ability and their own responsibility and values, while the degree of participation depends on the judgment and grasp of self-governance ability. The more they agree that protecting the environment is the responsibility and obligation of citizens, the lower their willingness to pay. China's long-term 'government-led environmental governance' mode has led to the formation of a serious government dependence psychology among the public. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reflection plays an important role in medical students’ ability to develop diagnostic competence through practice with clinical cases. However, it is not easy for students to develop expert-like performance through self-reflection alone; conversely, seeking feedback from experts constantly in practice is impractical. This study investigates the design and effects of computer-based cognitive feedback in practice-oriented learning in an online system. The system allows learners to work with simulated cases and self-review and reflect on their diagnostic processes that the system captures visually. Moreover, the system provides learners with feedback about the gap between their performance and expert performance on a set of key components of the diagnostic task, i.e., selecting clinical examinations, making intermediate judgements, and reaching diagnostic conclusions. The findings show that cognitive feedback on task performance can reduce learners’ anxiety and frustration while working with complex tasks. Moreover, by providing feedback on learners’ performance on a set of key components of the task, the proposed approach has shown promising effects on improving learners’ diagnostic performance. Compared with its effects on learners’ diagnostic conclusions, the approach is more effective in enhancing learners’ performance when selecting clinical examinations and making intermediate judgements, both of which may improve learners’ understanding of the mechanism underlying the diagnostic process.

Scarce and expensive iridium oxide is still the cornerstone catalyst of polymer-electrolyte membrane electrolyzers for green hydrogen production because of its exceptional stability under industrially relevant oxygen evolution reaction (OER) conditions. Earth-abundant transition metal oxides used for this task, however, show poor long-term stability. We demonstrate here the use of nitrogen-doped cobalt oxide as an effective iridium substitute. The catalyst exhibits a low overpotential of 240 mV at 10 mA cm–2and negligible activity decay after 1000 h of operation in an alkaline electrolyte. Incorporation of nitrogen dopants not only triggers the OER mechanism switched from the traditional adsorbate evolution route to the lattice oxygen oxidation route but also achieves oxygen nonbonding (ONB) states as electron donors, thereby preventing structural destabilization. In a practical anion-exchange membrane water electrolyzer, this catalyst at anode delivers a current density of 1000 mA cm–2at 1.78 V and an electrical efficiency of 47.8 kW-hours per kilogram hydrogen.

The assessment of the combined effects of multiple phthalate exposures at low levels is a newly developed concept to avoid underestimating their actual cumulative health risk. A previous study included 3455 Chinese pregnant women. Each woman provided up to three urine samples (in total 9529). This previous study characterized the concentrations of phthalate metabolites. In the present study, the data from 9529 samples was reanalyzed to examine the cumulative risk assessment (CRA) with two models: (1) the creatinine-based and (2) the volume-based. Hazard index (HI) values for three phthalates, dibutyl phthalate, butyl benzyl phthalate, and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, in the first, second, and third trimesters of pregnancy, were calculated, respectively. In creatinine-based model, 3.43%, 14.63%, and 17.28% of women showed HI based on the European Food Safety Authority tolerable daily intake exceeding 1 in the first, second, and third trimester of pregnancy, respectively. The intraclass correlation coefficient of HI was 0.49 (95% confidence interval: 0.46–0.53). Spearman correlations between HI of the creatinine model and ∑androgen disruptor (a developed potency weighted approach) ranged from 0.824 to 0.984. In summary, this study suggested a considerable risk of cumulative exposure to phthalates during the whole gestation in Chinese pregnant women. In addition, moderate temporal reproducibility indicated that single HI, estimated by the phthalate concentration in single spot of urine, seemed representative to describe the throughout pregnancy CRA. Finally, strong correlation between HI of the creatinine model and ∑androgen disruptor revealed that the creatinine-based model was more appropriate to evaluate the CRA.

Although polymeric graphitic carbon nitride (CN) is considered an appealing metal-free photocatalyst for energy conversion and environmental remediation, its application still faces challenges owing to its limited photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation. Herein, we prepared an efficient doped CN photocatalyst using sustainable cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) to anchor Ag onto CN. The carbon originating from CNFs was doped successfully, which in consequence enhanced the visible light absorption of CN significantly. Furthermore, the carboxyls and hydroxyls exposed on the CNF surface, as well as the intrinsic entangled network of CNFs, provided more Ag chemically and physically anchored on the resultant CN framework. The Ag amount of Ag/CCN-4 (doped with CNF and 0.04 g of AgNO3) increased significantly, which was about 2 times higher than that of Ag/CN (doped with only AgNO3), and the band gap was narrowed to 2.30 eV. As a result, rhodamine B (RhB) and tetracycline (TC) were efficiently degraded under visible light, and the photodegradation rate constant of RhB reached 0.12695 min−1, whereas that of Ag/CN and CN was 0.06956 and 0.04892 min−1, respectively. The possible mechanism was summarized. Benefiting from the relatively higher specific surface area, carbon doping and Ag anchoring, Ag/CCN-4 exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity, and this work provides a simple and efficient strategy for fabricating high-performance CN photocatalysts for the removal of pollutants.

Belite-Ye'elimite-Ternesite (BYT) clinker is a new system of environmentally friendly clinker with low firing temperature and low CO2emission,which about 30% lower CO2emissions than ordinary silicate cement. In this paper, the effects of sintering temperature and sintering time on the physical phase composition as well as the evolution of hydration kinetics and the physical phase composition of BYT clinker were investigated using industrial and natural raw materials. The results showed that the optimum sintering temperature should not exceed 1200 °C and the sintering time was 60–120 min when the designed content of C2S was 30%− 70%, ye'elimite was 30%− 50% and ternesite was 0–15%. In addition to the main phases (C2S, ye'elimite and ternesite), intermediate phases such as CA, C3A and C12A7were also formed in the clinker.The hydration rate of BYT system was quite fast.When the content of ye'elimite was certain, too much belite or ternesite will slow down even hinder the hydration of ye'elimite.The hydrations such as AFt, AFm, AH3, Strätlingite and C4AHx were found in this clinker. The cement has a high early strength and then continues to grow slowly, still reaching 46 MPa after 90d at a high water-cement ratio.

A series of new magnesium bismuth Zintl phases, A14MgBi11(A= Ca, Sr, Eu), have been synthesized, and their thermoelectric properties were systematically evaluated. These novel phases belong to the well-known Yb14MnSb11family, whose structure adopts the tetragonal space group I41/acd(No. 142) with cell parameters of a= 17.0470(17)/17.854(2)/17.6660(7) Å and c= 22.665(5)/23.580(6)/23.2446(18) Å for Ca14MgBi11, Sr14MgBi11, and Eu14MgBi11, respectively. Without intentional optimization, these materials exhibit high potential as new thermoelectric candidates. Especially for Sr14MgBi11, a high zTvalue of 0.72 has been approached at 1073 K. The discovery of these new Zintl series is very interesting, which implies the high possibility of extending the 14-1-11 thermoelectric system to the bismuth analogues in the development of highly efficient thermoelectric materials. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were incorporated as well to help better understand the properties of these important compounds.

New Mg-containing antimonide Zintl phases, Sr14MgSb11and Eu14MgSb11, were synthesized from high-temperature solid-state reactions in Ta tubes at 1323 K. Their structures can be viewed as derived from the Ca14AlSb11structure type, which adopt the tetragonal space group I41/acd(No. 142, Z= 8) with the cell parameters of a= 17.5691(14)/17.3442(11) Å and c= 23.399(4)/22.981(3) Å for the Sr- and Eu-containing compounds, respectively. The corresponding thermoelectric properties were probed, which demonstrated high potential of these compounds as new thermoelectrics for their very low thermal conductivity and moderate Seebeck coefficient. Magnetism studies and theoretical calculations were conducted as well to better understand the structure-and-property correlation of these materials.

Purpose Finite element (FE) analysis and clinical follow-up were used to evaluate the efficacy of modified scarf osteotomy for moderate-to-severe hallux valgus (HV).Method We retrospectively evaluated 42 patients (44 feet) who underwent modified rotational scarf osteotomy for moderate-to-severe HV at our institution between January 2010 and January 2019. Radiological indicators and subjective scores were recorded at different time points. To compare the results and elemental characteristics, a FE model of the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint that included anatomically realistic geometrical and structural characteristics was built. The biomechanical features and correction differences in dynamic loads as well as the incidence of troughing were estimated.Results Both the hallux valgus angle (HVA) and intermetatarsal angle (IMA) showed significant improvement 6 weeks postoperatively (p< 0.05); additionally, the HVA increased from 6 weeks postoperatively to the last follow-up, while the IMA showed no significant changes (p> 0.05). The subjective scores significantly improved from the preoperative period to the last follow-up. The percentages of troughing and recurrence were remarkably low in our pilot study because of the innate stability of the modified rotated fixation.Conclusion Our preliminary findings suggest that modified rotational scarf osteotomy offers sufficient stability, correct HV deformity effectively, and good clinical outcomes for moderate to severe HV.

To investigate the effects of acupoint massage on cognitive function and sleep quality in elderly patients with hypertension. A total of 68 elderly patients with hypertension were enrolled, and their ages were all over 60 years old. They were divided into a control group and a treatment group by simple random method, with 34 cases in each group. Patients in the control group were treated by routine psychological health guidance and sleep knowledge education, while patients in the treatment group were treated by acupoint massage on the base of the interventions given to the control group. Both of their treatment courses were 3 months. Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) scores and mini-mental state examination (MMSE) scores before and after treatment were recorded and compared. Two groups’ PSQI scores before treatment had no significant difference (P>0.05). After 3 months of treatment, their PSQI scores were statistically different (P<0.05). There was also no between-group statistical difference in MMSE score before treatment (P>0.05), but there was a significant difference after treatment (P<0.05). Acupoint massage for elderly patients with primary hypertension can improve their sleep quality and enhance their cognitive function, thus it is worthy of being applied in clinical nursing work. 观察穴位按摩对老年高血压患者认知功能和睡眠质量的影响。 共纳入60 岁以上老年高血压患者68 例, 采用简单随机法分为对照组和治疗组, 每组34 例。对照组进行常规的心理健康指导及睡眠知识教育, 治疗组在对照组采取的干预措施基础上进行穴位按摩, 共治疗3 个月, 记录并比较治疗前后匹兹堡睡眠质量指数(Pittsburgh sleep quality index, PSQI)和简易精神状态检查量表(mini-mental state examination, MMSE)的评分。 两组患者治疗前PSQI 评分比较, 差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。治疗3 个月后两组PSQI 评分比较, 差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。治疗前MMSE 分值比较, 差异无统计学意义(P>0.05), 治疗后MMSE 分值比较, 差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。 对原发性老年高血压患者进行穴位按摩有助于改善其睡眠质量, 增强其认知功能,在临床护理工作中具有一定的推广运用价值。

Two easily-prepared pyridine-based derivatives of (Z)-2-(4-amino-phenyl)-3-(pyridine-4-yl)acrylonitrile (I) and (Z)-2-phenyl-3-(pyridin-4-yl)acrylonitrile (II ) were designed, synthesised and characterised. Due to the formation of a complex with Hg2+, hence leading to an enhanced ICT effect, I exhibits a visible colour change from light yellow to orange, rendering it suitable for use as a naked-eye sensor for rapid detection of Hg2+in an aqueous ethanol solution. When mixed with Hg2+, I interacts with Hg2+in a 2 : 1 (Y1-Hg2+) stoichiometry via a coordination bond with an association constant of 7.7 × 108M-2(R2= 0.96). The present probe I exhibits excellent reproducibility, reversibility, sensitivity and selectivity with the presence of low concentration of Hg2+(1.74 × 10-10M).

Objective A large proportion of preschoolers have been left behind due to parental migration in rural China. We conducted a preliminary cross-sectional survey to investigate the mental health of these left-behind preschool-aged children (LBPC) and associated risk factors.Methods A total of 750 LBPC, comprising 217 and 433 children left behind as a result of migration of either or both parents, respectively, and 100 controls were enrolled from two counties in Anhui province, China. Their caregivers completed questionnaires on demographics, the Family Support Scale, the Parenting Self-efficacy Scale and the Preschool-aged Child Mental Health Scale.Results There were no significant differences in mental outcomes among the three groups. However, male LBPC who were younger, fostered by caregivers with lower levels of life satisfaction and parenting efficacy, and came from poorer families with less social support, experienced more mental health problems than other children.Conclusions LBPC did not have worse mental well-being than their control counterparts, but some subpopulations were at potential risk of mental health problems compared with other LBPC. More research on other underlying factors and strategies to prevent the development of psychopathology is urgently needed.

In this paper, a highly sensitive and portable mercury(ii) ion sensor based on personal glucose meter (PGM) recording is proposed. Thymine–thymine mismatches in the capture and detection of DNA were used to recognize target Hg2+. Magnetic separation and hydrolysis of sucrose into glucose of DNA-invertase conjugation were employed to obtain the PGM signal. There was a linear relationship between the PGM signal and the concentration of Hg2+in the range of 8.0 nM to 1 μM. A correlation coefficient of 0.995 was obtained and the relative standard deviation was 3.6% for a concentration of 100 nM Hg2+(n= 9). The selectivity and performance of the Hg2+sensor in lake water, tap water and river water were also studied, which suggested our method has a great potential to be used in real applications.

A diode-pumped Yb-doped Gd_3Al_0.5Ga_4.5O_12 mode-locked bulk laser based on chemically reduced graphene oxide (RGO) has been demonstrated for the first time to our best knowledge. Pulses with duration of 643 fs were produced at the central wavelength of 1041.1 nm. A maximum average output power of 0.8 W was obtained from the RGO mode-locked laser, corresponding to a slope efficiency of 20.1% and a peak power of 27.6 kW. The results indicate that RGO is suitable for obtaining high-power and high-efficiency ultrafast lasers.

Carboxymethyl starch (CMS) was used as printing thickener, it was synthesized by carboxymethylation reaction with acid-hydrolyzed maize starch and chloroacetic acid(MCA). The optimum conditions of synthesized CMS were as follows: the ratio of nNaOH/nAGU was 3, the ratio of nMCA/nAGU was 1.5:1, etherification temperature was 65˚C. The highest degree of substitution(DS) was 0.45. The maximum value of printing viscosity index(PVI) was 0.513, the best water-retention property was 0.2cm and the solid containing rate was 8%. Compared the synthesized CMS with sodium alginate, the results on printing experiments showed the properties of the CMS were almost the same as sodium alginate. Form FT-IR, it was found carboxyl functional group were show at absorption peak of 1604cm-1,1425cm-1 and 1325cm-1, it indicated that the maize starch were substituted.

Rhipicephalus microplusis an important bovine ectoparasite, widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions of the world causing large economic losses to the cattle industry. Its success as an ectoparasite is associated with its capacity to disarm the antihemostatic and anti-inflammatory reactions of the host. Serpins are protease inhibitors with an important role in the modulation of host–parasite interactions. The cDNA that encodes for a R. microplusserpin was isolated by RACE and subsequently cloned into the pPICZαA vector. Sequence analysis of the cDNA and predicted amino acid showed that this cDNA has a conserved serpin domain. B- and T-cell epitopes were predicted using bioinformatics tools. The recombinant R. microplusserpin (rRMS-3) was secreted into the culture media of Pichia pastorisafter methanol induction at 0.2mgl−1. qRT-PCR expression analysis of tissues and life cycle stages demonstrated that RMS-3 was mainly expressed in the salivary glands of female adult ticks. Immunological recognition of the rRMS-3 and predicted B-cell epitopes was tested using tick-resistant and susceptible cattle sera. Only sera from tick-resistant bovines recognized the B-cell epitope AHYNPPPPIEFT (Seq7). The recombinant RMS-3 was expressed in P. pastoris, and ELISA screening also showed higher recognition by tick-resistant bovine sera. The results obtained suggest that RMS-3 is highly and specifically secreted into the bite site of R. microplusfeeding on tick-resistant bovines. Capillary feeding of semi-engorged ticks with anti-AHYNPPPPIEFT sheep sera led to an 81.16% reduction in the reproduction capacity of R. microplus. Therefore, it is possible to conclude that R. microplusserpin (RMS-3) has an important role in the host–parasite interaction to overcome the immune responses in resistant cattle.

Increasing public interest and concern about transportation projects impacts on the national environment. Context Sensitive Design (CSD) is among the most significant concepts to emerge in highway project planning, design, and construction in recent years. However, CSD needs to be felt its way to effectual practice through a multitude of trials and misconceptions in China. The objective of paper is to summarize activities and finding in the CSD field during Meihe Freeway construction. Meihe Freeway is a successful CSD project. As a Meihe CSD team number, the author presents the CSD approach, addresses context sensitive solutions to CSD issues with flexible concepts. The paper illustrates issues and lessons learned from CSD alignment design with consideration of constrained budget, stakeholder values, ecological balance and environmental protection.

Cotton is the most widely used fiber. However, cotton fabric has a relatively high UV radiation permeability. Compared with some synthetic fabrics, cotton fabrics anti-UV ability is lower. nanotitanium dioxide has a good catalytic and ultraviolet light shielding effect, so it can be used as anti UV finishing agent. Using modified nanotitanium dioxide to finish the cotton fabrics, one can get the function of anti-UV performance. Therefore, in this paper, nanotitanium dioxide was first modified with 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate and polyethylene glycol in order to improve their size stability. And then by way of finishing, the modified nanotitanium dioxide dispersion was soaked into cotton fiber. During a baking process, modified nanotitanium dioxide was combined with cotton fibers via covalent bonds.

To yield a series of upper rim mono-substituted compounds with potential possibility to polymerize with other monomers, the p-tert-butyl groups were removed from the p-tert-butylcalix[ arene, and acrylamido groups were incorporated. These target products were characterized by IR, 1H NMR, elemental analysis and ESI-MS. The transport of K+ ion was studied. Results indicate the substituting groups with the ability to withdraw electron are benefit to the net transport.

A lead-free piezoelectric material with ultra-high properties, Ba(Ti0.8Zr0.2)O3–x(Ba0.7Ca0.3)TiO3(BZT–xBCT) nanocrystals was synthesized viaa sol–gel method, and the corresponding thin films were also deposited on Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si substrates by a spin-coating approach. The BZT–xBCT thin film exhibited a high remnant polarization of 22.15 μC cm−2with a large coercive field of 68.06 kV cm−1. The resultant gel is calcined at various elevated temperatures and studied with FTIR/XRD/Raman/DSC-TGA/AFM/SEM techniques for gel composition, crystallization, phase transition, thermochemistry and the morphology of the film. Although the room temperature crystal structure of the BZT–xBCT nanocrystals appears to be a standard perovskite structure by conventional X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy demonstrates the presence of non-centrosymmetric regions arising from the off-centering of the titanium (zirconium) atoms. The Raman spectra findings demonstrate the degree by which the tetragonal phase grows with the increase of calcining temperature in BZT–0.5BCT, and the characteristic ferroelectric–ferroelectric phase transition in BZT–xBCT while going through the MPB process. The structural and constituent evolution for the conversion process from gel to ceramic, as well as the formation mechanism of the BZT–0.5BCT crystallite, were also elucidated.

A new two-photon absorption compound, 2-{4-[(dicyanomethylidene-5,5-dimethylcyclohexl)vinyl]phenyl}imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline (DDVPIP), was synthesized and characterized. The one-photon excited fluorescence (OPEF) and two-photon excited fluorescence (TPEF) of DDVPIP are sensitive to the acid/base of the solution, which are enhanced in basic solution but weakened in acidic solution. Charge-transfer (CT) states of DDVPIP were calculated through theory methods to explain its acid/base-sensitive fluorescent properties.

The impact of imine nitrogen (N) substitution in hydrocarbon oligoacenes on the charge-transport type has been carefully probed. A N-heteroacene containing one N and 7-fused rings, dianthrano [1,2-a:1′,2′-j]pyridine (DAP), has been synthesized as a model molecule for the study. The electronic structure, energy-level alignment (ELA), and the molecular orientation of the molecule on two prototypical substrates, namely, highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) and Ag(111), have been investigated using angle-resolved ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy. Combining crystal structure, optical property and electronic structure investigations, our results indicate that by introduction of only one N into a large oligoacene, the ELA can be effectively tuned and a potential of n-type conductivity can be realized. Furthermore, the permanent electric dipole induced by the intramolecular polar bonds (CN and CH) allows tuning the ELA by altering the molecular orientation. Tilted molecular orientations can impose smaller electron injection barriers and ionization energies to DAP thin films than a flat-lying orientation.

A new acid–base fluorescent switch containing both imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]-phenanthroline and triphenylamine groups has been synthesized. Its fluorescence emissions and absorptions can be reversibly changed through protonation/deprotonation of imidazole and amine moiety by controlling the intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) process, leading to off–on–off fluorescent molecular switching.

The article presents a study on the use of Filon-type method with waveform relaxation techniques for numerical approximation of nonlinear systems of highly oscillatory ordinary differential equations (ODEs) in circuit simulation of electronic system. It says that the method was compared with trapezoidal rule and Runge-Kutta methods that are more standards methods. It states that the method addresses the implementation and software design of differential equations used in electronic engineering.

Mark us bent!The synthesis, structure, and single‐ and two‐photon spectroscopic properties of a series of pyrimidine‐based (bent‐shaped) molecules are reported. These allow structure‐property relationships and guidelines for both the development and application of TPA compounds to be derived.

The lambda (Λ)-shaped pyridinium salts 2,8-(6H,12H-5,11-methanodibenzo[b,f]diazocineylene)-di(p-ethenyl-N-methylpyridinium) ditosylate (DMDPS), 2,8-(6H,12H-5,11-methanodibenzo[b,f]diazocineylene)-di(p-ethenyl-N-methylpyridinium) diiodide (DMDPI), and 2,8-(6H,12H-5,11-methanodibenzo[b,f]diazocineylene)-di(p-ethenyl-N-methylpyridinium) dinitrate (DMDPN) based on Tröger’s base exhibit a typical aggregation-induced emission (AIE) behavior that it is virtually nonemissive in solution but highly luminescent in the aggregate state. The possibility of utilizing the AIE effect for protein detection and quantification is explored by using bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a model protein. These bioprobes undergo a large spectral change upon binding to BSA, which can be determined by fluorometry. Furthermore, the plots of photoluminescence intensity versus BSA concentration (0−70 μg/mL) display a good linear relationship, indicating quantitative fluorimetric protein detection may be achieved.

The Accident Tolerant Fuel (ATF) is a new concept of fuel, which can not only withstand the consequences of the accident for a longer time, but also maintain or improve the performance under operating conditions. ISAA is a self-developed severe accident analysis code, which uses modular structures to simulate the development processes of severe accidents in nuclear plants. The basic version of ISAA is developed based on UO2-Zr fuel. To study the potential safety gain of ATF cladding, an improved version of ISAA, referred to as ISAA-ATF, is introduced to analyze the station blackout accident of PWR using ATF cladding. The results show that ATF cladding enable the core to maintain a longer time compared to zirconium alloy cladding, thereby enhancing the accident mitigation capability. Meanwhile, the generation of hydrogen is significantly reduced and delayed, which proves that ATF can improve the safety characteristics of the nuclear reactor.

Curcumol is a natural plant product with anti-tumor properties. However, the clinical application of curcumol is limited by its low water solubility. In this study, we synthesized a curcumol derivative 2e (CD-2e) with improved bioavailability and evaluated its cell growth-regulating activities in human hepatoma HepG2 cells, a liver cancer precursor cell line. Using the clone formation assay, we detected that CD-2e inhibits proliferation and activity of HepG2 cells more effectively than curcumol. Flow cytometry analysis indicated that CD-2e can induce HepG2 cell apoptosis and arrests cell cycle in S phase. Acridine orange-ethidium bromide(AO-EB) double staining indicated that CD-2e triggers HepG2 cell apoptosis in a time-dependent manner. Additionally protein expression analysis showed that CD-2e treatment reduced expression levels of c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1 (JNK1) and its phosphorylated form, P-JNK1. PEG-PCL polymersome carrying CD-2e (PEG-PCL-CD-2e) were generated to improve drug delivery. The prepared PEG-PCL-CD-2e had a uniform particle size distribution, with an average particle size of about 190 nm, and good in vitrostability. The drug release and cell uptake experiments showed that PEG-PCL-CD-2e can rapidly release CD-2e in a weak-acid environment in vitro. Pharmacokinetic studies indicated that, compared with free CD-2e, PEG-PCL-CD-2e enhanced Cmax and Area Under Curve (AUC) (0-∞) by about 1.93-fold and 2.45-fold. The T1/2was prolonged to 2.59 ± 0.03 h.

The traditional extrusion and thixo-extrusion processes of wrought magnesium alloy were studied with both computer numerical simulation and experimental methods. The thixo-extrusion set-up was made. The constitutive model of semi-solid AZ61 alloy was established in our prior literature. The comparison of two forming processes had been done. Results indicated that smaller load and uniform strain & stress were acquired in thixo-extrusion process. Simulation results were in good agreement with experimental ones.

The latest patents on the synchronization techniques in wireless OFDM communications systems are overviewed in this paper. The novel inventions and methods in those patents, which deal with the symbol timing synchronization, the carrier frequency synchronization as well as the sampling clock synchronization in either the continuous transmission mode or the burst packet transmission mode systems are introduced and analyzed. Based on the corresponding analysis, the technical forecast and the future developments for synchronization techniques in OFDM systems are discussed in the paper as well.

Abstract: A stepping scheme is developed in the present paper to predict the effective properties of composites with high inclusion volume fraction and/or several kinds of inclusions. In this method the inclusions are treated step by step and the effective stiffness coefficients are calculated for the resulting composite in each step. The numerical results of the effective properties of multi-inclusion composites indicate that materials with a high volume fraction of inclusions or multiple inclusions can be dealt with precisely by the stepping scheme. For the case of a binary composite consisting of a matrix and one kind of inclusion, the present results agree with those from a differential scheme. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The histogenesis of polygonal cells and cuboidal cells in so-called pulmonary sclerosing hemangioma remains unclear. To understand their histogenesis, polygonal and cuboidal cells were obtained from pulmonary sclerosing hemangioma tissue using a laser capture microdissection technique. Genomic DNA and total RNA were extracted and mRNA levels of cytokeratin, epithelial membrane antigen, vimentin, surfactant protein B, thyroid transcription factor-1, synaptophysin, and chromogranin-A were analyzed by RT-PCR. DNA was digested with the methylation-sensitive enzymes HhaI or HpaII, followed by nested PCR of the androgen receptor and phosphoglycerate kinase genes. Samples with polymorphisms were identified and a clonality analysis was performed. The cytokeratin, epithelial membrane antigen, and surfactant protein B genes were clearly expressed in cuboidal cells, while the vimentin and synaptophysin genes were clearly expressed and the epithelial membrane antigen gene was weakly expressed in polygonal cells. Thyroid transcription factor-1 was expressed in both cell types, while neither cell type expressed chromogranin-A. Clonality analysis showed the same loss of allele in both cell types (clonality ratio=0) or an unbalanced methylation pattern (clonality ratio <0.25). Polygonal and cuboidal cells in pulmonary sclerosing hemangioma exhibited a uniform pattern of monoclonality, indicating that both cell types are highly likely to originate from a common precursor. The differences in their morphological phenotype might result from their different mature status.Modern Pathology (2007) 20, 1208–1215; doi:10.1038/modpathol.3800964; published online 14 September 2007

A novel -shaped pyridinium salt 2,8-(6H,12H-5,11-methanodibenzob,fdiazocineylene)-di(p-ethenyl-N-methyl-pyridinium) ditosylate (abbreviated as DMDPS) based on Tröger's base was designed, synthesized and characterized. DMDPSexhibits a typical aggregation-induced emission (AIE) behavior that is virtually nonemissive in solution but highly luminescent in solid state. The difference between the structure and the optical properties of DMDPSand 1,4-phenyl-di(p-ethenyl-N-methyl-pyridinium) ditosylate (abbreviated as DPPS) are analyzed and compared. It is concluded that the loose stacking caused by twisted molecular configuration could reduce the distance-dependent intermolecular quenching effect to produce intense fluorescence in the aggregation state while the enantiomerization and/or the intramolecular vibrational motion which induce the nonradiative deactivation process could cause fluorescence quenching in the solution. As a water-soluble AIE-active material, DMDPSwould have potential application in the area of optical and biological research.

Efficient aqueous-phase aldol condensation, Michael addition, and solvent-free Wittig reactions were successfully employed to synthesize two two-photon initiators 9-ethyl-3-[4-(2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridinyl-4′-yl)styryl]carbazole (T1) and 9-{4-[4-(2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridinyl-4′-yl)styryl]phenyl}carbazole (T2). The two initiators with carbazolyl moiety attached to 2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine present D–π–A-type framework, where A is a π-deficient terpyridine ring. The crystal structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction determination. The experimental results confirmed that the two initiators have sensitive single-photon-excited fluorescence (SPEF) and two-photon-excited fluorescence (TPEF) properties. The experimental and theoretical two-photon absorption (TPA) cross-sections were investigated. Two-photon initiation polymerization (TPIP) microfabrication experiments were carried out, and possible polymerization mechanisms are discussed based on the theoretical evaluation.

Two functional, flexible ligands, namely 3,6-dipyrazolyl-9-ethylcarbazole (L1) and 3,6-diimidazolyl-9-ethylcarbazole (L2) have been synthesized and characterized and their coordination to various AgI, CdII, and CoII salts investigated. Six new complexes, 1–6, have been obtained and fully characterized by IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The 2D double helix framework of the complex [CdL1I2]n (1) is formed by C–H···I hydrogen bonds, whereas the same 2D double helix framework of compound [{AgL1SO3PhCH3}2(CH3OH)(H2O)]n (2) is formed by S–O···H and C–H···O hydrogen bonds and weak π–π interactions. The coordination modes of CdII and CoII in [CdL22(NCS)2]n (3), [CoL22(NCS)2(CHCl3)2]n (4), [CdL22(NO3)2(CH3OH)2]n (5), and [CoL22(NO3)2(CH3OH)2]n (6) are the same, but in the packing diagram interlayers form a 3D network through C–H···S interactions and π–π interactions in 3, interlayers form a 3D network through S···S interactions and π–π interactions in 4, novel 3D structures are formed by interchain O···H–C hydrogen bonding and interlayer O···H–C hydrogen-bonding and π–π interactions in 5 and 6. The structural differences between these complexes show the influence of the orientation of the coordinating group of the ligand. These results also show that the metal ion, anion, and nonbonding and π–π interactions are significant factors in controlling the structural topology of these metal-organic supramolecular architectures. In addition, the luminescence properties of L1, 1, L2, and 3 are investigated in the solid state at room temperature. (© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2007)

Three novel functional transition-metal complexes with H2A (H2A = 9-ethylcarbazole-3,6-dicarboxylic acid), Cd(HA)2(H2O)2 (1), [Cd(A)(phen)]·1.5H2O (2) (phen = 1,10-phenanthroline), and Cd(HA)2(bipy) (3) (bipy = 4,4′-bipyridine), have been successfully synthesized by a hydrothermal synthetic method and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, and photoluminescence. The results show that all of the complexes contain nanometer channels, while the coordination modes were changed by the addition of the mixed ligands. The 2D supramolecular open-framework 1 is constructed through hydrogen-bond and aromatic π–π interactions. 2D coordination polymer 2 is constructed by π–π interactions between adjacent metal-organic polymeric coordination chains. Interestingly, the 3D supramolecular architecture of 3 first formed 2D grid layers from 1D chains by intermolecular hydrogen bonds and then extended into a 3D structure through aromatic π–π interactions. Furthermore, strong emissions from these complexes were also changed by the coordination modes in the solid state. However, complexes 1–3 show high thermal stability.(© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2007)

A new method for iris identification based on multiwavelets is proposed. By means of the properties of multiwavelets, such as orthogonality, symmetry, vanishing moments and approximation order, the iris texture can be simply presented. A brief overview of multiwavelets is presented at first. Iris identification system and iris texture feature presentation and recognition based on multiwavelets are introduced subsequently. And the experiment indicates the validity of this method finally.

Two novel functional rigid ligands, 2,2′- and 4,4′-bipyridyl-based “building blocks”, 9-ethyl-3,6-bis[2-(4-pyridyl)ethenyl]carbazole (L1) and 9-ethyl-3,6-bis[2-(2-pyridyl)ethenyl]carbazole (L2), were synthesized. Treatment of L1,2 as “building blocks” with Hg(SCN)2 or HgI2 afforded helixes, macrocycles, and chains, which can be further self-assembled by a π–π stacking interaction, hydrogen bond, and interatomic force in the solid state to form two-dimensional networks. In complexes 1–4, HgII centers all adopt four-coordination modes in different coordination environments, but they present different architectures with slightly adjusted structures of the ligands and counteranions, indicating that the nature of the ligand and anion plays an important role in the coordination networks. The luminescent properties of compounds 1–4 have been studied.(© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2005)

A new Schiff base 4-[N-hydroxyethyl-N-(methyl)amino]benzaldehyde S-methyl dithiocarbazate (HL, where H is a dissociable proton) and the ruthenium complex [Ru(bpy)2L]PF6(bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine) have been synthesized. The structural determinations of the ligand and its ruthenium complex, by X-ray crystallography, show that the ligand is coordinated as a monoanionic bidentate N, S-donor, forming a four-member chelate ring with a bite angle of 65.91°. The complex shows intense MLCT transitions in the visible region. Fluorescent and electrochemical properties have been also studied. The complex in DMF solution exhibited a strong two-photon absorption (t.p.a.) at 532 nm nanosecond laser pulses. The t.p.a. coefficient β, t.p.a. cross-section σ and the third-order optical nonlinearity χ(3)of the complex and the ligand have been determined by the Z-scan technique.