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MgO-based cementitious material (MCM) is a potential green substitute for solidifying municipal solid waste incineration fly ash (MSWI FA). Sodium hexametaphosphate (SHMP), a commonly used dispersant, has a great influence on the hydration process of MCM-MSWI FA blends. In this study, the effect of different SHMP additions on the performance of the MCM-MSWI FA (3:7 in mass ratio) blends was investigated. The compressive strength and leaching toxicity of the blends were measured, and the structural evolution was analyzed by XRD, FTIR, TG/DTG, and SEM. These tests revealed that the addition of SHMP could significantly optimize the effect of MCM solidifying MSWI FA since SHMP could promote the dispersion of hydration products in the blends. The blends containing more than 1% SHMP exhibited immobilization efficiencies higher than 97.5% for heavy metals (Cd, Pb, and Zn) after curing for 28 days. Collectively, this work demonstrates the indispensable role of SHMP in the application of MCM solidifying MSWI FA, providing theoretical support for practical engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nickel aluminum (Ni–Al) intermetallics with various lattice structures become emerging multi-functional materials as next-generation superalloys, catalyzers, and even coating materials, but the liquid structural origin for the intermetallic formation is still a mystery. Here, the atomic structure difference of the intermetallic precursor liquids is investigated using in-situ high-energy X-ray diffraction, reverse Monte Carlo simulations at 9 °C above the liquidus temperature as well as ab initio molecular dynamics. It is noted that Ni10Al90, Ni20Al80, and Ni35Al65 alloys, corresponding to the quasi-crystalline phase (Q-phase) formation related to Al3Ni, Al3Ni2, and NiAl intermetallics, have less icosahedral-like clusters in the liquids comparing with the other two face-centered cubic (FCC) forming alloys (Ni2Al98 and Ni74.5Al24.5). Strong interconnection of central atoms among the icosahedral-like clusters was observed in the three Q-phases-related liquids, stimulating the intermetallic formation. The pre-peaks found in the total X-ray structure factors are closely related to the Al3Ni, Al3Ni2, and NiAl intermetallics in terms of the bond lengths. FCC forming liquids either on the high Al or on the high Ni side did not show any pre-peak phenomenon instead. The findings in this work ignite the investigation of the liquid structural origin for the intermetallics and extend the understanding of the atomic structure evolution in solidification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the dissolution mechanism and absorption process of compound Danshen tablets (CDTs) and compound Danshen capsules (CDCs) in vitro. Taking the cell index as the evaluation index of dissolution and absorption of multi-component solid preparations of CDTs and CDCs, it breaks through the idea of traditional research. We used real-time cell-based assay (RTCA) to provide a new idea and method for the consistency evaluation of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) compound preparations. The drug dissolution and absorption simulation system (DDASS) was established to obtain the dissolution and absorption samples of compound Danshen solid preparations at different time points. The cell index (CI) of the sample to H9C2 cells was detected by RTCA technology, and the dissolution and absorption percentage were calculated based on this index to obtain the dissolution and absorption kinetics model. Meanwhile, one batch of tablets and one batch of capsules (batch numbers ZKC1816 and 202101001) were selected to conduct the overall animal pharmacodynamic experiment to verify the feasibility of drug effect evaluation with cell index as an indicator. The best fitting model of dissolution curves of each batch of CDTs and CDCs is the Weibull model. There was a good correlation (r > 0.86) between the dissolution-absorption-pharmacodynamic curve. Based on RTCA technology, we have established the comprehensive evaluation method for cell biology of compound Danshen solid preparations in line with the overall concept of TCM and a synchronous evaluation system of dissolution and absorption in vitro of new TCM compound solid preparations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cyclin M (CNNM) family of Mg2+ transporters is reported to promote tumour progression by binding to phosphatase of regenerating liver (PRL) proteins. Here, we established an assay for detection of the binding between the cystathionine-beta-synthase (CBS) domain of human CNNM3 (a region responsible for PRL binding) and human PRL2 using fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) techniques. By fusing YPet to the C-terminus of the CNNM3 CBS domain and CyPet to the N-terminus of PRL2, we performed a FRET-based binding assay with purified proteins in multiwell plates and successfully detected the changes in fluorescence intensity derived from FRET with a reasonable Kd. We then confirmed that the addition of non-YPet-tagged CNNM3 and non-CyPet-tagged PRL proteins inhibited the changes in FRET intensity, whereas non-YPet-tagged CNNM3 with a mutation at the PRL2-binding site did not exhibit such inhibition. Furthermore, newly synthesized peptides derived from the CNNM loop region, with the PRL-binding sequences of the CNNM3 CBS domain, inhibited the interactions between CNNM3 and PRL2. Overall, these results showed that this method can be used for screening to identify inhibitors of CNNM-PRL interactions, potentially for novel anticancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The newly discovered Baogudi gold district is located in the southwestern Guizhou Province, China, where there are numerous Carlin-type gold deposits. To better understand the geological and geochemical characteristics of the Baogudi gold district, we carried out petrographic observations, elemental analyses, and fluid inclusion and isotopic composition studies. We also compared the results with those of typical Carlin-type gold deposits in southwestern Guizhou. Three mineralization stages, namely, the sedimentation diagenesis, hydrothermal (main-ore and late-ore substages), and supergene stages, were identified based on field and petrographic observations. The main-ore and late-ore stages correspond to Au and Sb mineralization, respectively, which are similar to typical Carlin-type mineralization. The mass transfer associated with alteration and mineralization shows that a significant amount of Au, As, Sb, Hg, Tl, Mo, and S were added to mineralized rocks during the main-ore stage. Remarkably, arsenic, Sb, and S were added to the mineralized rocks during the late-ore stage. Element migration indicates that the sulfidation process was responsible for ore formation. Four types of fluid inclusions were identified in ore-related quartz and fluorite. The main-ore stage fluids are characterized by an H2O–NaCl–CO2–CH4 ± N2 system, with medium to low temperatures (180–260 °C) and low salinity (0–9.08% NaCl equivalent). The late-ore stage fluids featured H2O–NaCl ± CO2 ± CH4, with low temperature (120–200 °C) and low salinity (0–7.48% NaCl equivalent). The temperature, salinity, and CO2 and CH4 concentrations of ore-forming fluids decreased from the main-ore stage to the late-ore stage. The calculated δ13C, δD, and δ18O values of the ore-forming fluids range from − 14.3 to − 7.0‰, −76 to −55.7‰, and 4.5–15.0‰, respectively. Late-ore-stage stibnite had δ34S values ranging from − 0.6 to 1.9‰. These stable isotopic compositions indicate that the ore-forming fluids originated mainly from deep magmatic hydrothermal fluids, with minor contributions from strata. Collectively, the Baogudi metallogenic district has geological and geochemical characteristics that are typical of Carlin-type gold deposits in southwest Guizhou. It is likely that the Baogudi gold district, together with other Carlin-type gold deposits in southwestern Guizhou, was formed in response to a single widespread metallogenic event. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MoS2-decorated C3N4 (C3N4/MoS2) nanosheets hybrid photocatalysts were prepared by a simple sonication-impregnation method. Face-to-face lamellar heterojunctions were well established between two dimension (2D) C3N4 and MoS2 nanosheets. The effects of MoS2 content on the light absorption, charge transfer and photocatalytic activity of the hybrid samples were investigated. Characterization results show that MoS2 nanosheets are well anchored on the face of C3N4 nanosheets and the composites have well dispersed layered morphology. After loading with MoS2, the light absorption of composites was much improved, especially in visible-light region. The photocatalytic activities of C3N4/MoS2 samples were evaluated based on the H2 evolution under visible light irradiation (λ > 400 nm). When the loading amount of MoS2 was increased to 5 wt%, the highest H2 evolution rate (274 μmol·g-1·h-1) was obtained. Compared with samples obtained from direct impregnation method, sonication pretreatment is favorable for the formation of 2D layered heterojuctions and thus improve the photocatalytic activity. Slightly deactivation of C3N4/MoS2 composites could be observed when recycled due to the mild photocorrosion of MoS2. Based on the band alignments of C3N4 and MoS2, a possible photocatalytic mechanism was discussed, where MoS2 could efficiently promote the separation of the photogenerated carriers of C3N4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]