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Many cell-matrix interaction studies have proved that dynamic changes in the extracellular matrix (ECM) are crucial to maintain cellular properties and behaviors. Thus, developing materials that can recapitulate the dynamic attributes of the ECM is highly desired for three-dimensional (3D) cell culture platforms. To this end, we sought to develop a hydrogel system that would enable dynamic and reversible turning of its mechanical and biochemical properties, thus facilitating the control of cell culture to imitate the natural ECM. Herein, a hydrogel with dynamic mechanics and a biochemistry based on an addition-fragmentation chain transfer (AFCT) reaction was constructed. Thiol-modified hyaluronic acid (HA) and allyl sulfide-modified e-poly-L-lysine (EPL) were synthesized to form hydrogels, which were non-swellable and biocompatible. The reversible modulus of the hydrogel was first achieved through the AFCT reaction; the modulus can also be regulated stepwise by changing the dose of UVA irradiation. Dynamic patterning of fluorescent markers in the hydrogel was also realized. Therefore, this dynamically controllable hydrogel has great potential as a 3D cell culture platform for tissue engineering applications.

The characteristics of reactive magnesia (MgO)-carbonated silt in respect to long-term stability have not been well understood in severely cold climate despite the usage of reactive MgO in enhancing the engineering performances. Under the binder content of 15% and initial water content of 25%, MgO-admixed silt specimens were carbonized for 3 h and 6 h and then subjected to different numbers of freezing-thawing (F-T) cycles. After different F-T cycles, the physico-mechanical properties of MgO- carbonated silt were analyzed in comparison with Portland cement (PC)-stabilized silt through physical and unconfined compression tests. Besides, a series of micro tests on MgO-carbonated specimens was performed including X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) tests. The results demonstrate that both mass change ratio and moisture content of carbonated/stabilized silt decrease, and these values of MgO-carbonated silt are significantly lower while the density is higher compared to PC-stabilized silt. The strengths and moduli of MgO-carbonated silt are still two times higher than those of PC-stabilized specimens and the strength change ratio of keeps above 0.8 after F-T cycles. There is no visible transformation between nesquehonite and dypingite/hydromagnesite, although the XRD peaks of nesquehonite decrease and the bonding and filling effects weaken slightly. After 6 and 10 F-T cycles, the pore-size characteristics changed from a unimodal distribution to a three-peak and bimodal distribution, respectively. The total, macro and large pore volumes increase obviously while the medium and small pore volumes decrease except for intra-aggregate pore. The findings show better F-T durability of MgO-carbonated silt, which would be helpful for facilitating the application of MgO carbonation in the soil treatment.

Background:: Vitexin is a natural flavonoid compound with multiple pharmacological activities and is extracted from the leaves and seeds of Vitex negundo L. var. cannabifolia (Sieb. et Zucc.) Hand.-Mazz. However, the metabolite characterization of this component remains insufficient. Objective:: To establish a rapid profiling and identification method for vitexin metabolites in rat urine, plasma and faeces after oral administration using a UHPLC-Q-Exactive orbitrap mass spectrometer were coupled with multiple data-mining methods. Methods:: In this study a simple and rapid systematic strategy for the detection and identification of constituents was proposed based on UHPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap mass spectrometry in parallel reaction monitoring mode combining diagnostic fragment ion filtering techniques. Results:: A total of 49 metabolites were fully or partially characterized based on their accurate mass, characteristic fragment ions, retention times, corresponding ClogP values, and so on. It is obvious that C-glycosyl flavonoids often display an [M+H-120]+ ion that represents the loss of C4H8O4. As a result, these metabolites were presumed to be generated through glucuronidation, sulfation, deglucosylation, dehydrogenation, methylation, hydrogenation, hydroxylation, ring cleavage and their composite reactions. Moreover, the characteristic fragmentation pathways of flavonoids, chalcones and dihydrochalcones were summarized for the subsequent metabolite identification. Conclusion:: The current study provided an overall metabolic profile of vitexin which will be of great help in predicting the in vivo pharmacokinetic profiles and understanding the action mechanism of this active ingredient.

The innovative carbonation technique based on reactive MgO and CO2 has been identified as an environmentally friendly and efficient method in the improvement of weak soils. Previous laboratory studies have indicated that carbonated MgO-admixed soils had significant improvement in mechanical properties. However, there are to date limited investigations on the soft-soil field application of this technique. In this study, a field trial was conducted to ascertain the feasibility of the MgO mass carbonation technique in improving shallow soft-soil subgrades. A series of field tests, including temperature, dynamic cone penetrometer, and light-weight deflectometer tests, were undertaken. The results indicated that compared with uncarbonated soil layers, there was two to three times increase in dynamic resilient moduli and soil resistances of carbonated MgO-admixed soils. The outcomes of this field investigation will contribute to the utilization of the combined stabilizer of MgO and CO2 and the mass carbonation technology in subgrade improvement.

Hexanitrostilbene plays an important role in aerospace and space technology because of its excellent chemical stability. However, carbon deposition during the explosion seriously affects its detonation performance. A newly parameterized reactive force field was used to simulate the decomposition behavior of nanometer aluminized hexanitrostilbene. Aluminum nanoparticles and the corresponding surface oxidized ones were mixtured with the hexanitrostilbene to build nanometer aluminized composites. The simulation results show that aluminum nanoparticles lead to an earlier decomposition of hexanitrostilbene in a new way. Aluminum nanoparticles follow diffusion oxidation theory in the heating. At high temperatures, Aluminum nanoparticle quickly splits and exposes active aluminum to participate in the reaction. The presence of oxide layer in surface oxidized aluminum nanoparticle is less attractive to oxygen, carbon and nitrogen atoms, and surface oxidized aluminum nanoparticle is difficult to split into small particles during ignition and detonation. Aluminum nanoparticles prevent the formation of larger carbon clusters and cause hydrogen and oxygen atoms escape from carbon clusters. This is the main reason for the increasing detonation pressure and energy outputs of nanometer aluminized Hexanitrostilbene. Adiabatic simulation shows that nanometer aluminized hexanitrostilbene decomposes faster and releases more energy than pure hexanitrostilbene. This work provides insights for the application of aluminized hexanitrostilbene composites in aerospace.

In the current research work, safranine T (ST) was chosen to be the guest, and the preparation of carbon dots (CDs) was done by a one-step hydrothermal methodology with citric acid (CA) to be the p...

Incinerated sewage sludge ash (ISSA) is produced worldwide where incineration is used to manage sewage sludge. ISSA contains significant amounts of phosphorus (P) with high recovery potential, and ...

A facile protocol for the synthesis of quinoline formaldehydes via direct oxidative C–H bonds functionalization of methyl-azaheteroarenes in the presence of I2–DMSO has been described. This method is metal-free and easy to operate. This reaction provided a convenient route for the preparation of a range of important quinoline formaldehydes.

Carbonation of reactive magnesia (MgO) has recently received increasing attention in the area of soil stabilization and ground improvement. However, as a critical parameter in terms of long-term seepage behavior in the geotechnical analysis, the hydraulic conductivity of carbonated reactive MgO-stabilized silt has not been fully studied. In this context, the effect of water-MgO ratio (ratio of initial water content to MgO content, w0/c) and carbonation time on hydraulic conductivity (or permeability) characteristics was systematically investigated. Serial microstructural tests including mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analyses were applied to elucidate the intrinsic mechanisms. The obtained results indicate that as the initial water-MgO ratio decreases, the void ratio gradually decreases and the reduction of hydraulic conductivity becomes less prominent because of the little presence of flow paths. The hydraulic conductivity of carbonated MgO-admixed silt similar to that of PC-treated silt is mainly governed by the porosity, and its correlation with void ratio is proposed in the article. The variations of permeability with void ratio are consistent with those of the cumulative pore volume from MIP results in general, and the medium pores (3–30 μm) are substantiated to be the primary contributor in controlling the permeability. SEM and DSC analyses reveal that the cementation of soil particles and filling of hydrated magnesium carbonates marginally reduce the voids and permeability. The reasons for changes of permeability behaviors have been confirmed by the pore-size distribution and microstructure characteristics.

Deep hypothermia with circulatory arrest (DHCA) in cardiac surgery may exert a significant burden on the neuroinflammation which can cause brain injury. Resveratrol is a natural product and acts as a neuroprotective agent to suppress inflammatory response in brain. Even so, the specific mechanism regarding brain protective effect of resveratrol in DHCA is still unclear. In the current research, we tested brain protective function of resveratrol on neuroinflammation and cognition in rat DHCA model or hypothermic oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) model. The activation of microglial, cell apoptosis, inflammation in brain and circulation, NF-κB pathway were evaluated. We found that resveratrol treatment improved neurocognitive function and attenuated the neuroinflammation, cell apoptosis, microglial activation and NF-κB pathway after DHCA. The in vitro studies showed that resveratrol had similar neuroprotective effect in hypothermic OGD model. Importantly, we also found that the modulation of TRAF6 and RIP1 ubiquitination by A20 was playing a pivotal role in relation to the mechanism of resveratrol inhibiting NF-κB pathway. Thus, resveratrol expands the horizons for exploring treatment tactics to avert or restrict brain injury and related neurocognitive obstacles after DHCA.

Bacterial leaf blight (BLB) caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv oryzae (Xoo) is considered as the most destructive disease of rice. The use of bactericides is among the most widely used traditional met...

The management of large quantities of incinerated sewage sludge ash (ISSA) is problematic. Environmental and economic benefits can be achieved by using ISSA as an adsorbent for heavy metals removal due to its exceptionally porous structure and active components. In this study, the feasibility of using ISSA to treat heavy metals (Cd(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II)) contaminated waters from both single- and binary-metal systems were investigated. The results showed that the pH of the solution played a pivotal role in the adsorption of heavy metals by ISSA and the optimal pH for the adsorption of these metals was around 6.00. The adsorption process of Cu(II), Cd(II), and Zn(II) in a single-metal system was similar and fast. The equilibrium data followed the Freundlich isotherm model and the corresponding adsorption capacity was 0.13, 0.11 and 0.06 mmol/g, respectively. However, the presence of other competitive metal ions had adverse effects on both the adsorption rate and the adsorption capacity for the target metal ions. The affinity of ISSA towards the metals followed the order of Cu(II) > Cd(II) > Zn(II). The difference in pH value and Ca or Na concentration of the solution after adsorption revealed that cation exchange played a fundamental role in the adsorption of the target metals, while electrostatic attraction and precipitation were insignificant. Over all, the application of ISSA as an adsorbent would be a promising option to both relieve the waste disposal pressure and mitigate the complex heavy metals pollution.

Quanrui Jiang, Xiang Feng, Dan Liu, Tao Li, Xiaoxia Kuang, Xiaowei Liu, Wu Li, Jiangshan Li College of Acupuncture & Moxibustion and Tui-Na, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, 410208, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Jiangshan Li; Wu Li Tel +86-13707315642; +86-13574851647Email 292463008@qq.com; 272434694@qq.comObjective: To observe the effect of pressing intervention on the skeletal muscle repair of myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) in rats and explore the mechanism of pressing intervention on the deactivation of trigger points.Methods: Thirty SPF rats were randomly divided into blank group, model group and press group, with 10 rats in each group. The MTrPs models were established by blunt striking plus eccentric exercise, and then evaluated. The press group was given a pressing intervention with a self-made device for 14 days, and the rats in the other two groups were fed normally. Soft tissue tension (STT) D0.2 and pressure pain threshold (PPT) were measured before and after intervention. The skeletal muscle tissue at MTrPs was extracted and assessed by hematoxylin–eosin (HE) and Masson staining. The expression of collagen I, collagen III, α- smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), myosin heavy chain (MHC) and fibronectin (FN) were detected by Western Blotting. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to evaluate the expression of substance P (SP), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2).Results: (1) Compared with the blank group, the PPT and D0.2 reduced (P < 0.05) in the model group; while compared with the model group, the PPT and D0.2 increased (P < 0.05) in the press group. (2) Compared with the blank group, the model group showed obvious spontaneous potentials with higher amplitude and frequency, which were also much higher than those of the press group (P < 0.05). (3) The HE and Masson staining results showed evident fibrosis in the muscle tissue of the model group, with a larger area of collagen fibers relative to that of the press group (P < 0.05). (4) The amount of collagen I, collagen III, FN, α- SMA, SP, 5-HT, COX-2 and PGE2 increased and the content of MHC decreased (P < 0.05) in the model group, as compared to the blank group; while all the substances (P < 0.05), instead of MHC which increased (P < 0.05), in the press group were decreased as compared to the model group.Conclusion: Pressing intervention on the MTrPs in rats can alleviate chronic inflammation, inhibit fibrosis, promote skeletal muscle repair and relieve pain.Keywords: pressing, myofascial trigger points, skeletal muscle, chronic inflammation, fibrosis

Although dynamic reactions of imines have been extensively studied, the dynamic behaviors manipulated by chirality remain nearly unexplored. In this work, enantioselective amine exchange reactions were demonstrated as a first example via the reaction of enantiomeric chiral amines such as natural amino acids with a series of innovative axially chiral 1,1'-binaphthyl-2,2'-diamine (BNDA)-based imines that were prepared from the condensation reactions between BNDA and salicylaldehyde (SA) or its derivatives. This enantioselective dynamic behavior can be directly indicated by the degree of the fluorescence response of the R-configuration of imines to the d-enantiomer of chiral amine, because the released BNDA can serve as the fluorescence signal output when the amine exchange reaction occurs, which is far higher than the response to its l-enantiomer under identical experimental conditions. For the S-configuration of chiral imines, the fluorescence response is the opposite. The enantioselective exchange reaction can be tuned by altering the electron-withdrawing or electron-donating capability of the substituent at position 4 or 5 of the SA part of chiral imines. Not only o-OH groups in SA-based imines but also protic solvents used as reaction media were found to be important to the dynamic behavior at high rates.

Expanding the utilization strategy of waste concrete powder (WCP) is conducive to minimizing the environmental burden caused by construction & demolition wastes (C&DW). In this study, WCP prepared in the laboratory was thermally treated and used to remove As(V) from wastewater. Batch adsorption tests were implemented to explore the influence factors such as modification temperature (0–850 °C), pH (1.00–12.00), dosage (2–50 g/L), co-coexisting ions (SO42−, NO3−, Cl− and PO43−) and temperature (25–45 °C). Various methods including spectroscopic tests, Rietveld refinement and sequential extraction process were employed to examine the mechanisms and their contribution to As(V) removal. Results show that the As(V) removal capacity of WCP was slightly enhanced after treatment at 200 °C, the pseudo-second-order kinetics model and Langmuir model could describe the adsorption process well. The maximum uptake capacity for As(V) calculated by Langmuir model at 25, 35 and 45 °C were 31.89, 25.56 and 17.42 mg/g respectively, and the removal rate reached a maximum of 95.37% (C0 = 100 mg/L). Thermodynamically, the As(V) elimination was exothermic and spontaneous. The ettringite produced by rehydration of WCP proved to be essential for As(V) removal. Electrostatic attraction, precipitation, complexation and ion exchange were identified to be the main mechanisms of As(V) adsorption. This study confirmed the potential of WCP in removing As(V) from wastewater and provided a new insight into the removal mechanisms.

In this work, a facile one-pot hydrothermal route was employed to synthesize a series of fluorescent carbon dots (CDs) by using 20 natural amino acids, respectively, as the starting materials. It was found that the CDs synthesized using phenylalanine could possess the intrinsic peroxidase-like activity that could effectively catalyze a traditional peroxidase substrate like 3, 3’, 5, 5’- tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) in the presence of H2O2 to produce a blue solution; thereby, a catalytic sensing system for H2O2 has been developed. On the basis of this catalytic reaction, together with the fact that glucose oxidase (GOx) can catalyze the hydrolysis of glucose to generate H2O2, a sensitive catalytic sensing system for glucose could be further established. Furthermore, based on this catalytic reaction, taken together with the two enzymatic catalytic systems of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and choline oxidase (CHO), a highly sensitive multi-catalytic sensing system could be successfully developed for organophosphorus (OPs) pesticides such as dimethoate, DDVP, and parathion-methyl. Limit of detections (LODs) of H2O2 and glucose were estimated to be 6.5 and 0.84 μM, respectively. The limit of detection of the sub-nM level could be obtained for tested dimethoate, DDVP, and parathion-methyl OPs pesticides. The established sensing systems can exhibit good practical application performance in serum and several fruit samples.

Background Glioma stem-like cells (GSCs) are greatly responsible for the progression of glioma. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play an important role in glioma tumor progression. This study aims to explore the role and underlying mechanism of lncRNA SNHG9 in regulating GSC cell growth. Methods GSCs were obtained from glioma cells (U87 and U251) and referred to as GSC-87 and GSC-251, respectively. The interactions between miR-326 and SNHG9 or SOX9 were analyzed using luciferase reporter assay. Cell growth of GSCs was evaluated by EdU assay and sphere formation assay. Results SNHG9 expression was significantly higher in GSC-87 and GSC-251 cells than in U87 and U251 cells. SNHG9 overexpression promoted GSC cell growth, whereas SNHG9 knockdown inhibited GSC cell growth. Mechanistically, SNHG9 acted as a competitive endogenous RNA of miR-326 to elevate the expression of SOX9, a direct target of miR-326. Moreover, transfection with miR-326 inhibitor counteracted SNHG9 knockdown-mediated inhibition of GSC cell growth. Conclusions SNHG9 facilitates growth of GSCs via the miR-326/SOX9 axis. This study provides a promising therapeutic target for glioma treatment.

The BiOI/Bi2WO6/ACF composite photocatalysts with different loads were prepared by hydrothermal method, and the catalysts were characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, BET, XPS, DRS and photocurrent responses. The photocatalytic activity of the samples was studied with the toluene as model pollutant. The results showed that 20%mol BiOI/Bi2WO6 was uniformly loaded on the activated carbon fiber (ACF), and Bi2WO6 (133) orthorhombic crystal face and BiOI (012) tetragonal crystal face can be observed on the catalyst surface. The specific surface area of 20% mol BiOI/Bi2WO6/ACF is 787 m2·g−1, which is much higher than that of Bi2WO6/ACF. BiOI and Bi2WO6 exist simultaneously in the BiOI/Bi2WO6 according to the results of XPS, which corresponds to the results of TEM characterization, indicating that the composites were successfully prepared, and the absorption band edge and intensity of Bi2WO6 was enhanced greatly by the compositing of BiOI. The toluene removal efficiency could arrive at 76.3% for the concentration of 500 mg/m3 with the 20%mol BiOI/Bi2WO6/ACF.

Since introducing catalytic reactions can greatly improve the sensitivity of spectral sensing systems, developing catalytic chromogenic/fluorescence sensing systems has important influence. By introducing metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with fixed composition and good porous structure into traditional spectral sensing, it is helpful for understanding the relationship between catalyst and its sensing performance. However, very limited examples involved in this field at present. In this article, Fe-MOFs (Fe-MIL-101) with large surface area and high porosity were successfully synthesized by using a hydrothermal synthesis method. The Fe-MOF could exhibit outstanding catalytic activity towards the traditional enzyme substrate 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB). The experimental conditions and catalytic reactions mechanism of Fe-MOF catalyzing the oxidation reaction of the TMB-H2O2 system were systematically studied. On the basis of these findings, and taking together the fact that glutathione (GSH) serving as a better free radical scavenger than other traditional thiols, a highly efficient GSH sensing system with high selectivity and sensitivity could be successfully established.

A substantial amount of ash is produced after the incineration of sewage sludge which is difficult to manage. Its potential use as a cost-effective adsorbent for heavy metals is beneficial to both waste management and wastewater treatment. In this study, the adsorption kinetics, isotherms as well as the factors influencing the adsorption performance were assessed through batch sorption experiments. The results show that incinerated sewage sludge ash (ISSA) was effective in adsorbing Pb(II) from aqueous solution in a wide pH range (3.00–6.00) due to the combined contributions of ion exchange, precipitation and complexation, which was confirmed by systematic investigation through XRD, SEM-EDX, FTIR, XPS and a sequential extraction procedure (SEP) for Pb(II). Nonetheless, the adsorption of Pb(II) by ISSA would be adversely affected by high ionic strength. The sorption process was fast, and the equilibrium data could be well described by the Langmuir model, the maximum uptake capacity for Pb(II) increased with temperature and the calculated adsorption capacities at 298, 308 and 318 K for Pb(II) were 58.28, 60.06 and 62.42 mg/g, respectively. These findings indicate the ISSA can be recognized as a high-performance adsorbent for Pb(II) removal in wastewater treatment applications.

l -Lactic acid is an important monomer of polylactic acid, a biodegradable plastic. In this study, we systematically investigated l -lactic acid fermentation by thermophilic Bacillus coagulans strains using the corncob residue (CCR), a widely available lignocellulosic material. Our results showed that 68.0 g/L l -lactic acid was obtained with a high yield of 0.85 g/g cellulose by B. coagulans strain H-1 after 36 h in batch fermentation. Strain H-1 could produce 79.1 g/L l -lactic acid with a yield of 0.76 g/g cellulose after 84 h in fed-batch fermentation. The results suggest that attractive lignocellulosic wastes such as CCR could be used in the efficient biomanufacture of l -lactic acid.

A highly selective and sensitive probe 1b was successfully developed for detecting Hg2+ ions in mixed aqueous medium with a “turn on” fluorescence mode, via a series of structural optimization of probes. These probes could be easily synthesized by one-step condensation reactions between o-phenylenediamine or 2, 3-diaminonaphthalene and o (salicylaldehyde), m, or p-hydroxybenzaldehyde. Introducing a certain amount of Hg2+ ions the fluorescence of probes bearing one or two salicylaldehyde moieties including probes 1a, 1b, and 4 could be turned on. The fluorescent response is likely due to the well matching between Hg2+ ions size and the geometric structure of probes, resulting in that probes bearing salicylaldehyde moiety are mostly favorable for binding with Hg2+ ions by way of 1:1 molar ratio. These bindings likely facilitate excited state internal proton transfer (ESIPT) or ESIPT coupled aggregation-induced enhancement of emission (AIEE) process. Considering the sensitivity and the potential of practical application, probe 1b was chosen to establish a fluorescent enhancement sensing system towards Hg2+ ions over other competing metal ions, with excellent limit of detection of 12.5 ppb.

In this paper, red mud (RM) and municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash (MSWIBA) were thermal modified to improve the pozzolanic activity. A binder was prepared with modified RM and MSWIBA by activation of calcium hydroxide (CH). The hydration and mechanical behavior of the prepared binder was systematically studied. The results indicated that the calcium-rich RM (CRM) had a higher pozzolanic activity after modification than the iron-rich RM. The hydrates formed in the modified RM-MSWIBA-CH system at ambient temperature were essentially Ca–Al hydrotalcite and C-A-S-H gel. The hydration reaction in the pastes mainly concentrated in the early stages, whereas the high amount of CH was not conducive to this process. Moreover, the RM-MSWIBA-CH system could be easily carbonized in the atmosphere. The maximum compressive strength of paste was 5.18 MPa with a fluidity of 85.5 mm when the proportion of CRM to MSWIBA was 3:2 (with 20% CH), and the sample with proportion of CRM to MSWIBA was 2:3 (with 10% CH) had the highest fluidity (97.5 mm) with a compressive strength of 2.42 MPa. The developed binder with low CRM content holds great potential for applications as a controlled low-strength material (CLSM). The overall findings from this study provide new insights in low carbon and green recycling of RM and MSWIBA with wide application potential in construction industry.

Stabilization/solidification (S/S) is a low-cost and time-efficient method for soil remediation, however, delayed hydration reactions and high carbon footprint are major limitations for the treatment of high-Pb contaminated soil. This study develops a novel and low-carbon approach that combines ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) and ordinary Portland cement (PC) with phosphate-/sulphate-rich byproducts to produce low-alkalinity, high-compatibility, high-strength binary cement (BC) for S/S process. Results show that contaminated soil with a large fraction of exchangeable and soluble Pb (e.g., shooting range sites) severely disturbed the formation of hydration products in conventional S/S treatment, whereas BC system could mitigate the Pb interference via precipitation and sorption evenly distributed on the BC hydrates as shown by elemental mapping. Thus, BC presented superior environmental performance in terms of toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) and semi-dynamic leaching tests, which were substantiated by quantitative X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetric analyses. The addition of potassium dihydrogen phosphate reduced TCLP leachability of Pb by 86.9% and Pb diffusion coefficients by 69.4% due to the formation of insoluble Pb3(PO4)2. Similarly, incinerated sewage sludge ash enhanced Pb stabilization, whereas waste phosphogypsum increased early strength via precipitation of PbSO4, although the effectiveness of physical encapsulation was compromised due to reduction in hydration products. Therefore, the proposed binary binders with selected additives present a new and low-carbon S/S treatment for high-Pb shooting range soil remediation.

We show herein the phosphatase-like catalytic activity of coordination polymers obtained after adding Ag + -ions to thiols bearing hydrophobic alkyl chains terminated with a 1,4,7-triazacyclononane (TACN) group. The subsequent addition of Zn 2+ -ions to the self-assembled polymers resulted in the formation of multivalent metal coordination polymers capable of catalysing the transphosphorylation of an RNA-model compound (2-hydroxypropyl-4-nitrophenyl phosphate, HPNPP) with high reactivity. Analysis of a series of metal ions showed that the highest catalytic activity was obtained when Ag + -ions were used as the first metal ions to construct the backbone of the coordination polymer through interaction with the -SH group followed by Zn 2+ -ions as the second metal ions complexed by the TACN-macrocycle. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that the catalytic activity could be modulated by changing the length of the hydrophobic alkyl chain.

Two-dimensional layered materials, such as graphene and MoS2, are emerging as an exciting material system for a new generation of atomically thin electronic devices. With their ultrahigh surface to volume ratio and excellent electrical properties, 2D-layered materials hold the promise for the construction of a generation of chemical and biological sensors with unprecedented sensitivity. In my PhD thesis, I mainly focus on graphene based electronic biosensors and chemical sensors. In the first part of my thesis, I demonstrated the fabrication of graphene nanomesh (GNM), which is a graphene thin film with a periodic array of holes punctuated in it. The periodic holes introduce long periphery active edges that provide a high density of functional groups (e.g. carboxylic groups) to allow for covalent grafting of specific receptor molecules for chemical and biosensor applications. After covalently functionalizing the GNM with glucose oxidase, I managed to make a novel electronic sensor which can detect glucose as well as pH change. In the following part of my thesis I demonstrate the fabrication of graphene-hemin conjugate for nitric oxide detection. The non-covalent functionalization through π-π stacking interaction allows reliable immobilization of hemin molecules on graphene without damaging the graphene lattice to ensure the highly sensitive and specific detection of nitric oxide. The graphene-hemin nitric oxide sensor is capable of real-time monitoring of nitric oxide concentrations, which is of central importance for probing the diverse roles of nitric oxide in neurotransmission, cardiovascular systems, and immune responses. Our studies demonstrate that the graphene-hemin sensors can respond rapidly to nitric oxide in physiological environments with sub-nanomolar sensitivity. Furthermore, in vitro studies show that the graphene-hemin sensors can be used for the detection of nitric oxide released from macrophage cells and endothelial cells, demonstrating their practical functionality in complex biological systems. In the last part of my thesis, I demonstrate the construction of few-layer molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) based field-effect transistor (FET) device for highly sensitive detection of Hg2+ ion in aquatic solutions. The detection of mercury in aquatic environment is of great importance because mercury is an environment pollutant with severe toxicity. High binding affinity between mercury and sulfur makes MoS2 a promising candidate for mercury sensing. Our studies demonstrate that MoS2 sensors can selectively respond to Hg2+ ion with a detection limit of 30 pM. This MoS2 FET based mercury sensor promises great potential for highly sensitive, label-free, low-cost, fast and non-aggressive detection of mercury in aquatic environment.

Background : Astilbin, a dihydroflavonoid compound widely found in plants, exhibits a variety of pharmacological activities and biological effects. However, little is known about the metabolism of this active compound in vivo, which is very helpful for elucidating the pharmacodynamic material basis and application of astilbin. Objective: To establish a rapid profiling and identification method for metabolites in rat urine, faeces and plasma using a UHPLC-Q-Exactive mass spectrometer in negative ion mode. Methods: In this study, a simple and rapid systematic strategy and 7 metabolite templates, which were established based on previous reports, were utilized to screen and identify astilbin metabolites. Results: As a result, a total of 71 metabolites were detected and characterized, among which 32 metabolites were found in rat urine, while 27 and 38 metabolites were characterized from rat plasma and faeces, respectively. These metabolites were presumed to be generated through ring cleavage, sulfation, dehydrogenation, methylation, hydroxylation, glucuronidation, dehydroxylation and their composite reactions. Conclusion: This study illustrated the capacity of the sensitive UHPLC-Q-Exactive mass spectrometer analytical system combined with the data-mining methods to rapidly elucidate the unknown metabolism. Moreover, the comprehensive metabolism study of astilbin provided an overall metabolic profile, which will be of great help in predicting the in vivo pharmacokinetic profiles and understanding the action mechanism of this active ingredient.

Management of incinerated sewage sludge ash (ISSA) and dredged contaminated marine sediments (CMSs) is a great challenge for Hong Kong and other coastal cities due to limited landfilling capacity. The present study investigates the use of high content (20% of sediment by mass) of ISSA in combination with cement/lime for solidification/stabilization (S/S) treatment of CMSs to provide a way to reuse the wastes as construction materials. The results showed that ISSA being a porous material was able to absorb a large amount of water rendering a more efficient solidification process of the marine sediment which normally had a very high water content (∼80%). The S/S treatment improved the engineering properties of the sediment, but reduced the workability, especially for the lime-treated samples. Lime can be used to replace ordinary Portland cement (OPC) for better heavy metal immobilization and carbon emission reduction. The hardened sediment samples prepared with 10% of lime and 20% of ISSA could attain a strength of 1.6 MPa after 28 d of curing. In addition, leaching tests confirmed that there was no environmental risk induced by these stabilized materials. The formation of hydrated cementitious compounds including calcium silicate hydrate (C–S–H)/calcium aluminate silicate hydrate (C-A-S-H)/hydrocalumite/calcite was mainly responsible for the strength development in the ISSA/lime-treated sediments.

Background Rare genetic variants play a critical role in unprovoked pulmonary embolism (PE). However, the known risk genes only account a small proportion of patients with PE. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between the rare variants of gene encoding methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) and the initiation and long-term clinical outcomes of PE. Methods The rare variants of MTHFR were detected by whole exome sequencing of DNA from 258 unprovoked PE cases and 11,451 controls. Correlation of genotype and clinical phenotype and outcome were evaluated at baseline and after follow-up. Results MTHFR rare variants were found in 15 of 258 cases (5.81%) and 241 of 11,451 controls (2.10%), conferring 2.87-fold greater odds of the PE occurrence (OR = 2.87, 95% CI = 1.68–4.91, P = 5.6 × 10−5, chi-square test). The patients with MTHFR rare variants had higher plasma level of homocysteine than those without. During a follow-up of 3.0 years, a total of 84 events were identified. The recurrent PE (two or more events of PE) were significantly higher in patients carrying MTHFR rare variants (8/15, 53.3%) compared with those without (55/239, 23.0%) (P = 0.023). Conclusion We speculate that MTHFR rare variants may increase the occurrence and recurrence of PE.

With rapid economic growth and urbanisation, the reuse and recycling of solid wastes has become a high priority for the sustainable development of modern cities. In this study, two typical solid wastes, incinerated sewage sludge ash (ISSA) and waste bentonite, were co-valorised to produce granular adsorbents through a simple and energy-saving pelletisation/sintering process. A mixture of ISSA and bentonite at a weight ratio of 3:1 was pelletised and sintered at 700 °C. The resultant ceramsite, with good mechanical strength, could effectively remove Pb(Ⅱ) from aqueous solutions. The adsorption kinetics can be described by the pseudo-first-order (PFO) model. The results indicated that the Pb(Ⅱ) adsorption process was dominated by electrostatic attraction, precipitation, and complexation. The isothermal data exhibited a good correlation with the Freundlich model, indicating that the adsorption process was non-ideal and spontaneous. The maximum adsorption capacity was approximately 21.6 ± 0.35 mg/g at 318 K. After 5 cycles of regeneration, the adsorbent maintained good adsorption performance. Moreover, the removal rate was not greatly affected by ionic strength. These findings demonstrate that the granular adsorbent prepared with ISSA and waste bentonite can be recognised as a promising adsorbent for Pb-containing wastewater treatment.

Barium slag (BS) is a hazardous industrial solid waste formed during the production of barium carbonate. The accumulated stock of BS in China has exceeded 10 million tons, which urgently needs to be recycled in an efficient and sustainable way. BS contains a lot of soluble Ba2+ with a leaching concentration up to 2000 mg/L in water. Meanwhile, Ba2+ is an alkali-earth metal which can activate ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS). This paper explores the possibility of incorporation BS as an admixture for alkali activated slag (AAS) cement. The mechanical property and microstructure evolution of AAS pastes with addition of BS are investigated in comparison with pure AAS paste. The results indicate that the addition of BS could significantly enhance mechanical strength of AAS paste, attributing to the increased hydration degree and the formation of dense pore structure. In addition, the leaching concentration of Na+ shows a significant decline by incorporation of BS in AAS paste, associated with the changed composition of hydration products. Therefore, BS is a promising admixture for AAS cement and holds great potential for promotion and application.

The accumulation of heavy metal tailings has caused serious environmental and geological concerns. Therefore, treatment and recycling of heavy metal tailings have become urgent and vital. To this end, this paper proposes a biological solidification and stabilization (S/S) method, which applies enzymatically induced phosphate precipitation (EIPP) to strengthen Pb-Zn tailings and reduce the hazard of the heavy metals. The effectiveness and mechanism of EIPP-S/S have been systematically explored, including the effect of enzyme and reactant concentration, and tailings density on the treatment efficiency. The results showed that MgHPO4(H2O)3 (newberyite) and Pb9(PO4)6 were the main products of EIPP. The newberyite strengthened the tailings through connecting tailing particles and filling the pores, and the solidification effect was positively related to the reactant content and tailing compactness. The strength of the treated tailing sample could reach 2.7 MPa at a relative density of 90% with a reactant concentration of 1.5 M. After treatment, about 40% of Pb in the tailings changed from an acid-soluble state to oxidation state and residual state, as a result of the precipitation of Pb9(PO4)6. The concentration of leached Pb from the treated tailings under an acid rain environment was reduced from 0.86 mg/L before treatment to less than 0.02 mg/L, well below the limit of 0.1 mg/L in China’s ground/surface water. This study provides new insights into the treatment and reuse of tailings by applying an innovative EIPP-S/S method, which can flexibly treat tailings in an environmentally friendly manner.

Composites based on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and surface-modified carbon microspheres (CMSs) were prepared by melt mixing. The surface modification of CMSs was conducted with low-temperature plasma technology first, and a phosphorus-nitrogen flame retardant, guanidine phosphate (GDP), was then grafted onto CMSs. The modification of CMSs was done to improve both the filler dispersity in the PET matrix and the flame-retardant performance of composites. The obtained CMSs-GDP was characterized by FTIR spectra and a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The grafting ratio was characterized and calculated by thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). The grain size analysis was used to describe the dispersity of CMSs. The mechanical properties of the PET/CMSs-GDP composite were measured using a universal testing machine. The PET/CMSs-GDP composite can achieve a limiting oxygen index (LOI) value of 32.4% and a vertical burning test (UL94) V-0 rating at 3% CMSs-GDP loading.

Enriched in phosphorus, sewage sludge ash has been extensively studied and applied as a secondary source for phosphorus recovery. Wet extraction, especially acid washing, is one of the most feasible methods to recover phosphorus from the ash due to its ease of operation, high efficiency and low cost. However, the management of the resultant acid residue was seldom addressed. In this study, special focus was paid to the reuse and recycling of the acid residue by an alkaline activation method. Its adsorption performance towards four different heavy metals in aqueous solutions was evaluated by batch and fixed-bed column adsorption experiments. The obtained material showed a high BET specific area (98.29 m2/g) and a total pore volume (0.114 cm3/g), and effectively removed Cd(II), Cu(II), Pb(II) and Zn(II) from aqueous solutions with the maximum adsorption capacity of around 26.8, 22.2, 53.3 and 13.5 mg/g respectively. It could be loaded in a fixed-bed column to continuously remove heavy metals especially for Pb(II). The proposed method to recycle the acid residue makes the wet extraction methods designing to recover phosphorus from incinerated sewage sludge complete without the generation of waste, which contributes to circular economy and a sustainable future.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the fatty acids composition in different lactation stages of human milk in China. METHODS: A large cross-sectional study was conducted and lactating women (n = 6481) within 0–330 days postpartum were recruited in China between 2011 and 2013. Human milk sub-samples (n = 1135) were randomly selected for fatty acids analysis in the original study. The sample size of colostrum, transitional milk, and mature milk were 160, 177, 798 respectively. Fats were hydrolyzed and fatty acids methyl esters were analyzed using gas chromatography. RESULTS: The content of oleic acid, the highest level fatty acid in human milk, was 36.63%, 34.53% and 35.12% of total fatty acids in colostrum, transitional milk, and mature milk, respectively in China. The content of palmitic acid was about 23.69%, 21.90% and 20.82% in colostrum, transitional milk, and mature milk, respectively. Saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids accounted for 36.99%, 39.14% and 23.49% of total fatty acids of mature milk, respectively. The content of linoleic acid and arachidonic acid was 20.47% and 0.54% in mature milk, respectively. The content of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexenic acid (DHA) was 0.06% and 0.28% in mature milk, respectively. In addition to lactation stage, the fatty acids content differed significantly among various regions, nationalities, or mode of delivery. (i.e., Regions (city vs rural): oleic acid: 33.8% vs 36.4%; linoleic acid: 22.88% vs 17.21%; arachidonic acid:0.64%vs 0.59%; DHA: 0.42% vs 0.26%; EPA: 0.09% vs 0.04%. Nationality (Han vs Minority): oleic acid: 34.40% vs 36.59%; linoleic acid: 21.69% vs 16.54%; arachidonic acid:0.64%vs 0.57%; DHA: 0.38% vs 0.24%; EPA: 0.08% vs 0.04%.). CONCLUSIONS: Oleic acid is the most abundant fatty acids in human milk of China. In addition to lactation stage, the fatty acid concentrations vary among different regions and nationalities in China. FUNDING SOURCES: This study was supported by Beijing Natural Science Foundation (S160002), the National Key R&D Program of China (2017YFD0400601) and the National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (863 Program) (2010AA023004).

Based on triphenylamine as an electron donor and thiophene as a π-linker, Series P and A p-type sensitizers were designed to investigate the effects of the different acceptors on the properties of the sensitizers. The optimized molecular structures, electronic and optical properties were investigated by density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT). The results showed that the properties of the dyes can be tuned by the introduction of the different electron-withdrawing groups to the N atom in the pyridinium acceptor. Compared with the synthesized Series P dyes used in p-type sensitizers, the properties of Series A dyes, except for two dyes that cannot be used as p-type sensitizers, are improved by means of modifying pyridinium acceptors. Due to the suitable electron-withdrawing ability of the hexafluorodiacetylamino group in its acceptor, A6 has the narrowest energy gap (1.90 eV), the largest driving force of hole injection (ΔGinj, −0.68 eV), the high light harvesting efficiency (LHE, 0.9984) and the smallest internal reorganization energy (λint, 5.05 kcal mol−1). Hence, A6 not only enhances electronic excitation, but also improves the reorganization energy. Importantly, A6 shows the largest red shift and the maximum integral values of the adsorption over the visible light, as well as the strongest adsorption energy (−74.80 kcal mol−1) on a NiO surface. Thus, A6 may be a promising sensitizer for the p-type dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), and the acceptor of A6 may provide a new and easily accessible high performance acceptor for p-type sensitizers.

Phosphorus (P), an essential macromineral, is fundamental to all living things. Alarmingly, P is consumed in excess in most countries, and the known P source will be run out within several decades. Therefore, looking for alternative P sources from P-bearing wastes is significant and urgent, which can not only recycle P resources but also avoid the huge cost of disposing these wastes. P-rich incinerated sewage sludge ash (ISSA) is a by-product of the incineration process of dewatered sewage sludge generated from sewage treatment plants. The P in the ISSA, if economically and environmentally recycled, can achieve the sustainable management of sewage sludge and P resources. In this chapter, the comprehensive physical and chemical characteristics of Hong Kong ISSA are discussed. The leachability and the associated environmental risk of metal(loid)s from the ISSA are highlighted in an attempt to improve the public perception of sewage sludge incineration from an environmental perspective. Afterward, a series of laboratory-scale processes for extracting P from the ISSA to form fertilizer products (Ca-P and struvite) are introduced. Especially, an innovative two-step extraction method and a struvite crystallization technology are developed to obtain a P extract with high purity. In addition, the characteristics and reuse values of P-free ISSA are evaluated. Lastly, future research needs are assessed with emphasis placed on P reclamation from the ISSA and application in agriculture. This chapter reviews the state-of-the-art recycling options of ISSA and thereby proposes innovative technologies to use ISSA as a valuable resource by extracting P and producing fertilizers.

The study was designed to investigate the effects of cryopreservation on bovine, ovine, and goat sperm motility, acrosome structure, enzyme activity, and fertilization ability. Percentage of sperm with hyaluronidase enzyme (HYD) activity was detected by a modified sodium hyaluronate-gelatin membrane. The N-α-benzoyl-DL-arginine-p-nitroanilide (BNPNA) method was used to assess the sperm acrosome enzyme (ACE). The mean percentage of sperm acrosome integrity dropped significantly (P < 0.01) after cryopreservation. The ACE activity of bovine sperm (100.48) was higher (P < 0.01) than that of ovine (57.88) or goat sperm (50.30), while the percentage of sperm with HYD activity of bovine (71.10%) and ovine (67.60%) sperm was higher than that of goat sperm (58.52%) after cryopreservation (P < 0.01). Sperm motility was positively correlated with the activity of the two acrosome enzymes before and after cryopreservation (P < 0.01). Cryopreservation had a negative effect on acrosomal morphology, motility, and acrosomal enzyme activity in their sperm. The fertilization ability of ovine and goat sperm decreased significantly after cryopreservation, but that of frozen bovine sperm did not differ significantly when compared with fresh sperm. There was no significant difference between ovine and goat sperm indices, except for percentage of sperm with HYD activity.

The recovery of phosphorus (P) from acid extracts of incinerated sewage sludge ash (ISSA) is invariably complicated by the co-dissolution of metal(loid)s. An extra purification treatment step is thus needed, which reduces the efficiency of P recovery. This study developed a two-step extraction method which can produce highly purified P-extract where ISSA is treated first with ethylenediaminetetraacetatic acid (EDTA) and then with sulphuric acid. The recovery conditions of this two-step extraction method were optimized (pre-extraction by 0.02 mol/L of EDTA at a liquid to solid ratio (L/kg) of 20:1 during 120 min, then extraction by 0.2 mol/L sulphuric and at a liquid to solid ratio of 20:1 during 120 min). Compared with direct extraction by sulphuric acid (namely, single-step leaching), the two-step extraction method dissolved 2.34 mmol/kg ISSA less of P, but with 5.16 mmol/kg ISSA less of metal(loid) contamination. Furthermore, the potential for co-precipitation of P and the metal(loid) contaminates in the extracts (both single-step extraction and the two-step extraction methods) was examined from pH 2 to 12 (adjusted by addition of NaOH and Ca(OH)2). By applying Ca(OH)2 and at the optimal pH of 4, the two-step extraction method could significantly increase Ca-P in the precipitate and notably decreased the metal(loid) contaminants by 50% compared to the single-step method., The authors would like to thank the financial supports of the Hong Kong Research Grants Council (PolyU 152132/14E).

Mixed solids (precursors) containing equal portions of ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS) and sewage sludge ash (SSA) by weight were activated by mixed alkaline solutions that was comprised of sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate in prescribed proportions to prepare geopolymer pastes in a dry-mixed form. Tests were carried out to provide data on compressive strength and microstructural properties of the geopolymer pastes synthesized from different mass ratios of alkali to the mixed solids, i.e., Na2O content, and different molar ratios of SiO2 to Na2O in the mixed alkaline solution (i.e. different moduli). The results showed that the maximum compressive strength of 32.8 MPa at 28 days could be achieved at the optimal Na2O content of 4.0% and a modulus of 0.95. Analyses of the microstructures of the geopolymer pastes by XRD, QXRD, FTIR, SEM and EDX revealed that SSA participated in the geopolymerization process and the quartz and hematite crystals in it were largely dissolved in the reaction. The microanalyses also revealed that the main reaction product of the optimal geopolymer mixture was a C-(N)-A-S-H type gel with Fe substitutions. The drying shrinkage of all specimens were less than 0.06% at the age of 14 days. Testing for metal(loid)s showed that SSA could be used with GGBS as precursor materials for geopolymerization with no leaching problems. This work provides a potential option to recycle SSA and builds up a theoretical basis for proportioning design in utilizing GGBS and SSA in dry-mixed geopolymers.

Mechanical ion channel proteinPiezo1play vital roles in angiogenesis which has been proved to be high importance in varieties of biological processes. Bone formation in the fracture repair requires oxygen and nutrients from new blood vessels generated from fractured lesion. Understanding the underlying mechanisms linking angiogenesis and bone formation must be of great value for improved fracture healing. Here we employed mice with genetically modified endothelial specific depletion ofPiezo1channels to explore the hypothesis thatPiezo1is vital to the initiation of fracture healing. In this study, we demonstrated thatPiezo1expression and wide distribution along the bone and impaired endothelialPiezo1channels result in derangements in bone fracture repair. Intriguingly, the calcium activated proteolytic caplain activity severely disrupted during vascularization, precluded osteoblast maturation and mineralization and subsequently the phosphorylatedPI3K-AKTreduction. Furthermore,Piezo1endothelial disruption impairedNotchsignaling in bone union. These data collectively suggest thatPiezo1channels serve as a basis for clinical strategies to improve bone regeneration and treat delayed or nonunion in bone fracture.

Direct access to benzo-fused aza-macrolides was successfully achieved through iridium-catalysed intermolecular decarboxylative coupling of vinylethylene carbonates with isatoic anhydrides under relatively mild reaction conditions. Notably, this reaction proceeded through sequential allyl-amination/macrolactonization upon extrusion of CO2. Moreover, favourable fluorescence properties could be observed in the title macrocyclic products.

Osteoarthritis is a common type of degenerative joint disease. Inflammation-related chondrocyte senescence plays a major role in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis. Omentin-1 is a newly identified anti-inflammatory adipokine involved in lipid metabolism. In this study, we examined the biological function of omentin-1 in cultured chondrocytes. The presence of omentin-1 potently suppresses IL-1β-induced cellular senescence as revealed by staining with senescence-associated beta-galactosidase (SA-β-Gal). At the cellular level, omentin-1 attenuates IL-1β-induced G1 phase cell-cycle arrest. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that omentin-1 reduced IL-1β-induced expression of senescent factors including caveolin-1, p21, and PAI-1 as well as p53 acetylation through ameliorating SIRT1 reduction. Notably, silencing of SIRT1 abolishes IL-1β-induced senescence along with the induction of p21 and PAI-1, suggesting that the action of omentin-1 in chondrocytes is dependent on SIRT1. Collectively, our results revealed the molecular mechanism through which the adipokine omentin-1 exerts a beneficial effect, thereby protecting chondrocytes from senescence. Thus, omentin-1 could have clinical implication in the treatment of osteoarthritis.

Objective To compare the 2-year efficacy and safety of combination therapy with entecavir (ETV) and adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) to that of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) monotherapy in treatment of patients with adefovir drug-resistant chronic hepatitis B. Methods HBeAg-positive CHB patients (n = 100) with adefovir-resistance (rtA181T/V and/or rtN236T) were enrolled. Patients were treated with either ETV 0.5 mg plus ADV 10 mg per day (n = 52) or TDF 300 mg per day (n = 48) for 48 weeks. Tests for liver and kidney function, Serum Phosphorus, HBV serum markers, HBV DNA load and ultrasonography of liver were performed every 3 months. Student's t-test and χ2 test were used to compare the efficacy, side effects in the two groups. Results Fifty-two patients in ETV + ADV group and forty-eight patients in TDF group were followed-up for 96 weeks. HBV DNA undetectable rate were 76.9% versus 81.3% (P = 0.631) at week 48, and 92.3% versus 95.8% (P = 0.679) at week 96 in ETV + ADV combination therapy and TDF monotherapy group respectively. Serum ALT normalized rate were 84.6% versus 87.5% (P = 0.777) at week 48, and 92.3% versus 95.8% (P = 0.679) at week 96 in ETV+ADV combination therapy and TDF monotherapy group respectively. But the level of serum Phosphorus was significantly lower in ETV + ADV combination therapy group compare with TDF monotherapy group (1.13 ±0.15 versus 1.22 ±0.16, P = 0.004) at week 96. Conclusion Both ETV + ADV combination therapy and TDF monotherapy provided effective treatments in chronic hepatitis B with adefovir-resistant. However, it was associated with poor serological responses up to week 96. The long term treatment of hepatitis B with ETV (0.5 mg/day) combination of ADV (10 mg/day) can potentially cause hypophosphatemia and renal impairment, so regular monitoring of serum phosphate, serum creatinine and evaluation of eGFR is needed.

Targeting virulence factors of bacterial without affecting their growth and survival, has been an initiative strategy for the development of novel anti-microbial agents. The type III secretion system (T3SS), one of essential and highly conserved virulence factors in most Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria, has been regarded as an effective target that developed new anti-microbial drugs. Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) is one of the most Important bacterial pathogens on rice, which causes leaf blight disease. To discover potential anti-virulence agents against the pathogens, a new series of thiazolidin-2-cyanamide derivatives containing 5-phenyl-2-furan were designed and synthesized. Their structures were characterized by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, MS, and elemental analysis. All the title compounds inhibited the promoter activity of a harpin gene hpa1, significantly, that were further checked for the impact on bacterial growth and on the hypersensitive response (HR) caused by Xoo on non-host tobacco plants. The results indicated that treatment of Xoo with the title compounds II-2, II-3 and II-4 resulted in significantly attenuated HR without affecting bacterial growth or survival. Moreover, quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis showed that the expression of the Xoo T3SS was suppressed by treatment with the three inhibitors. The mRNA levels of representative genes in the hrp (hypersensitive response and pathogenicity) cluster, as well as the regulatory genes hrpG and hrpX, were reduced. Finally, the in vivo test demonstrated that the compounds could reduce the disease symptoms of Xoo on the rice cultivar (Oryza sativa) IR24.

Vernadite is a poorly crystalline phyllomanganate that widely distributed in natural environments, and plays a pivotal role in the geochemical transformations of heavy metal and other pollutants. Though many works have done about the reaction mechanisms between vernadite-like minerals and As(III)/Cr(III), the effects of some basic structure characteristics of the mineral, such as Mn average oxidation state (AOS), on the oxidation of As(III)/Cr(III) are not fully understood. In this study, vernadite samples with different Mn AOSs but almost the same particle sizes (Ver and Ver20) were synthesized, characterized, and their reactivities towards As(III)/Cr(III) oxidation and As(V)/Cr(VI) adsorption were compared. It is found that Ver and Ver20 have almost the same point of zero charge (PZC), but ver20 has increased contents of layer Mn(III) at particle edges and interlayer Mn(III) and Mn(II), thus greatly reduced Mn AOS. Decrease in Mn AOS greatly reduces the oxidation capacity and initial reaction rate (Kobs) of this mineral towards As(III) on mineral-water interfaces. The apparent As(III) oxidation amount and Kobs by Ver are 202 ± 8 mmol kg−1 and 0.3515 min−1 while that by Ver20 are 162 ± 7 mmol kg−1 and 0.0139 min−1. The oxidation capacity and Kobs for Cr(III) by these vernadie samples are also decreased but in a less extent compared to that in As(III) oxidation, e.g. Cr(III) oxidized by Ver and Ver20 are 2895 ± 47 and 1974 ± 109 mmol kg−1 and the Kobs are 0.0439 and 0.0169 min−1 respectively. Adsorption density of As(V) or Cr(VI) on Ver20 is ∼15–18% higher than that on Ver. These results suggest the more important role Mn AOS plays in As(III) oxidation than Cr(III) oxidation, and helps understand the geochemical behaviors of these toxic metals in natural environments mediated by Mn oxide minerals.

Recovery of phosphorus (P) from incinerated sewage sludge ash (ISSA) by biochar is an attractive solution for mitigating the P scarcity and transferring waste to resources. This work used Mg/Ca-modified biochars to take up P from the acid-extract from ISSA at low pH (