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Carbon capture, carbon utilization and storage (CCUS) technology is an important potential technical support for coal power plants to maintain existing production structure while simultaneously achieving near-zero carbon emissions with the current energy structure in China being dominated by coal. However, CCUS technology is still at the early demonstration stage, and there are many uncertainties in the carbon trading market, technology and policy incentives that the traditional method is no longer able to handle. Based on the binomial tree real option model, this paper establishes a CCUS technology investment evaluation model that incorporates the uncertainties with carbon price, government subsidy, technological progress and carbon dioxide utilization ratios into the model, and investigates the influence of government incentive on CCUS technology investment in two scenarios in China. The numerical results in case study show that (1) If the subsidy is too low, no matter how high the lower limit of carbon price is set, enterprises will not invest. (2) When the proportion of government subsidy exceeds 0.33, a specific and accurate minimum carbon price is given to promote coal-fired plants immediate investment in CCUS technology based on the model. (3) Only the government subsidies cannot stimulate CCUS investment at this demonstration stage. These findings provide a reference for public policy decision-making and promotes the development and large-scale deployment of CCUS technology in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Determine whether salicylic acid (SA) can alleviate the inhibitory effects of Al stress on dry matter accumulation in Panax notoginseng, and to investigate the mechanism by which the SA regulates photosynthesis and carbohydrate metabolism. Methods: Effects of SA on the biomass of P. notoginseng and the concentration of Al in leaves under Al stress were evaluated. SA and the scavenger paclobutrazol (PAC, SA synthetic inhibitor) were used to assess the effects of SA on photosynthesis and the metabolism of total nonstructural carbohydrates (TNC) in P. notoginseng. Results: SA reduced Al by 13.23% in the leaves of P. notoginseng under Al stress. It also promoted the synthesis of carbohydrates in the leaves and their transport to the roots. Additionally, SA alleviated the Al-induced reduction of chlorophyll (Chl) by upregulating the expression of Chl synthesis genes (CHLM, CHLG, HEMB1, HEMC, and HEME) and downregulating the degradation genes (CLH2 and PPH1). Concomitantly, the rubisco activase (RCA) and rubisco enzyme activities were promoted by upregulating the expressions of the RCA, rbcL, and rbcS genes via treatment with SA, thereby restoring the synthesis and metabolism of TNC. Furthermore, SA attenuated the decrease in photosynthetic capacity and photosynthesis system II photochemistry efficiency in Al-stressed plants. Furthermore, SA significantly reduced the H2O2 concentration by 12.22% under Al stress. Conclusions: By regulating photosynthesis-related genes and photochemical processes, SA promoted photosynthesis and enhanced leaf carbohydrate synthesis under Al stress. Thus, SA enhanced the production of P. notoginseng biomass, ultimately reducing the inhibitory effects of Al. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three defect-related luminescent hydroxyapatite (HAP) particles, S1, S2, and S3, with different morphologies (the samples S1 and S2 are nanorods with diameters of 25 nm and lengths of 30 and 100 nm, respectively; sample S3 is bur-like microspheres with diameters of 5-6 μm) were synthesized, and their biocompatibility was investigated by MTT, reactive oxygen species (ROS), interleukin-6 (IL-6), comet, and hemolysis assays. The results indicated that all samples were stable in cell culture medium and did not induce the synthesis of proinflammatory cytokine IL-6 or result in hemolysis. It was found that samples S1 and S3 inhibited osteoblast (OB) viability at concentrations of 5, 10, 20, 40, and 80 μg/mL for 24, 48, and 72 h. Sample S2 had no effect on the viability of OB at all tested concentrations for 24 and 48 h, but the viability of OB was increased at concentrations of 20, 40, and 80 μg/mL for 72 h. Samples S1 and S3 could increase the level of cellular ROS; sample S2 had no effect on the level of cellular ROS at a concentration of 20 μg/mL for 48 h. Although samples S1 and S3 induced significant DNA damage, sample S2 could not cause significant DNA damage at a concentration of 20 μg/mL for 72 h. The results suggest that longer nanorod HAP can show excellent biocompatibility and therefore may find potential applications in biomedical fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bone is one of the main target organs for the lanthanides (Ln). Biodistribution studies of Tm-based compounds in vivo showed that bone had significant uptake. But the effect of Tm 3+ on primary mouse bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) has not been reported. So we investigated the effect and underlying mechanisms of Tm 3+ on BMSCs. Cell viability, cell apoptosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) level, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were studied. The results indicated that Tm 3+ increased the viability of BMSCs at concentrations of 1 × 10 −7, 1 × 10 −6, 1 × 10 −5, and 1 × 10 −4 mol/L in a dose-dependent manner, turned to decrease the viability of BMSCs at the highest concentration of 1 × 10 −3 mol/L for 24, 48, and 72 h. Tm 3+ at 1 × 10 −3 mol/L promoted apoptosis of BMSCs, increased the ROS and LDH levels, and decreased MMP in BMSCs. Taken together, we demonstrated that Tm 3+ at 1 × 10 −3 mol/L might induce cellular apoptosis through mitochondrial pathway. These results may be helpful for more rational application of Tm-based compounds in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on a composite matrix composed of epoxy copolymers P (GMA-co-MPC) and acetylene black that can be used to entrap cytochrome P450. The composite provides a biocompatible microenviroment and can substantially accelerate the electron transfer between the cytochrome P450 and the electrode. The electrochemical response is characterized by a pair of well-defined redox peaks for the heme Fe(II/III) redox couples were observed at −483 mV (vs. SCE). The immobilized cytochrome P450 exhibits excellent electrocatalytical activity to diethylstilbestrol (DES). The amperometric response varied linearly with the concentration of DES in the 0.2 to 2.8 μM concentration range. The biosensor displays a detection limit 5.9 × 10 mol L and thus represents a promising candidate for studying the electrochemistry of cytochrome P450s and its sensing applications. [Figure not available: see fulltext.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the continual air pollution and environmental issues caused by the combustions of sulfur-containing fuels, the desulfurization in transport fuels becomes a crucial topic worldwide. In this study, a kind of phosphomolybdic ionic liquid–supported hydroxyapatite was successfully designed and employed as a catalyst for heterogeneous oxidative desulfurization in fuel. The prepared catalysts were characterized via Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), which confirmed that phosphomolybdic ionic liquid was successfully immobilized on hydroxyapatite. With the prepared sample n-[Pmim]PMo/HAP, the sulfur removal could reach 97.2% under mild conditions. Furthermore, the supported catalyst has excellent recyclability and utilization foreground. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]