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Bacterial infection and biofilm formation is a major concern in orthopaedic implants and bone reconstructive surgery complications that may be addressed with localized drug delivery system. The potential use of a fabricated nanobiocomposite bone scaffold using alginate and nano cockle shell powder for drug release and antibacterial properties was investigated. Vancomycin loaded bone scaffolds were fabricated with 3 and 5 wt% vancomycin, respectively, while a non-drug loaded scaffold was used as controls. The mineralization of the scaffolds using simulated body fluid (SBF) as well as biofilm formation were evaluated using microscopic observations. Drug release study and antimicrobial activity of the eluent from each sampling period was tested for growth inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis for a period of 21 days. Significant difference of cumulative amount of vancomycin eluted from scaffolds loaded with 5 wt% vancomycin compared to 3 wt% (p

Nano-selenium was synthesized using lemon juice as a reducing agent. The experiments showed that pH value affected greatly the shape and the size of the prepared nano-selenium. At pH 9, lemon juice could reduce 50 mmol/L of selenite ions to nano-selenium with particle size between 50 and 90 nm, which was spherical and well dispersed. Lemon juice acted as both a reducing agent and a stabilizer in the synthesis of nano-selenium, in which the chemical interaction between biomolecules and the nano-selenium surface was the basis for the stable existence of nano-selenium. The selenite concentration influenced the formation of nano-selenium, and a low selenite concentration was beneficial to obtain small particles. The achieved nano-selenium exhibited a strong antioxidant activity positively related to concentration. The comparative study showed that the antioxidation of nano-selenium is weaker than that of vitamin C but higher than that of lemon juice.

Aconitine (ACO), a main active ingredient of Aconitum, is well-known for its cardiotoxicity. However, the mechanisms of toxic action of ACO remain unclear. In the current study, we investigated the cardiac effects of ACO and mesaconitine (MACO), a structurally related analog of ACO identified in Aconitum with undocumented cardiotoxicity in guinea pigs. We showed that intravenous administration of ACO or MACO (25 μg/kg) to guinea pigs caused various types of arrhythmias in electrocardiogram (ECG) recording, including ventricular premature beats (VPB), atrioventricular blockade (AVB), ventricular tachycardia (VT), and ventricular fibrillation (VF). MACO displayed more potent arrhythmogenic effect than ACO. We conducted whole-cell patch-clamp recording in isolated guinea pig ventricular myocytes, and observed that treatment with ACO (0.3, 3 μM) or MACO (0.1, 0.3 μM) depolarized the resting membrane potential (RMP) and reduced the action potential amplitude (APA) and durations (APDs) in a concentration-dependent manner. The ACO- and MACO-induced AP remodeling was largely abolished by an INa blocker tetrodotoxin (2 μM) and partly abolished by a specific Na+/K+ pump (NKP) blocker ouabain (0.1 μM). Furthermore, we observed that treatment with ACO or MACO attenuated NKP current (INa/K) and increased peak INa by accelerating the sodium channel activation with the EC50 of 8.36 ± 1.89 and 1.33 ± 0.16 μM, respectively. Incubation of ventricular myocytes with ACO or MACO concentration-dependently increased intracellular Na+ and Ca2+ concentrations. In conclusion, the current study demonstrates strong arrhythmogenic effects of ACO and MACO resulted from increasing the peak INa via accelerating sodium channel activation and inhibiting the INa/K. These results may help to improve our understanding of cardiotoxic mechanisms of ACO and MACO, and identify potential novel therapeutic targets for Aconitum poisoning.

A major obstacle to nanodrugs-mediated cancer therapy is their rapid uptake by the reticuloendothelial system that decreases the systemic exposure of the nanodrugs to tumors and also increases toxicities. Intralipid has been shown to reduce nano-oxaliplatin-mediated toxicity while improving bioavailability. Here, we have found that Intralipid reduces the cytotoxicity of paclitaxel for human monocytic cells, but not for breast, lung, or pancreatic cancer cells. Intralipid also promotes the polarization of macrophages to the anti-cancer M1-like phenotype. Using a xenograft breast cancer mouse model, we have found that Intralipid pre-treatment significantly increases the amount of paclitaxel reaching the tumor and promotes tumor apoptosis. The combination of Intralipid with half the standard clinical dose of Abraxane reduces the tumor growth rate as effectively as the standard clinical dose. Our findings suggest that pre-treatment of Intralipid has the potential to be a powerful agent to enhance the tumor cytotoxic effects of Abraxane and to reduce its off-target toxicities.

Background: Cachexia is a multifactorial disorder characterized by weight loss and muscle wasting, making up for about 20% of cancer-related death. However, there are no effective drugs to combat cachexia at present.Methods: In this study, the effect of CT26 exosomes on C2C12 myotubes was observed. We compared serum HMGB1 level in cachexia and non-cachexia colon cancer patients. We further explored HMGB1 expression level in CT26 exosome. We added recombinant HMGB1 to C2C12 myotubes to observe the effects of HMGB1 on C2C12 myotubes and detected the expression level of the muscle atrophy-related proteins. Then, we used the HMGB1 inhibitor glycyrrhizin to reverse the effects of HMGB1 on C2C12 myotubes. Finally, HMGB1 inhibitor glycyrrhizin was utilized to relieve cachexia in CT26 cachexia mouse model.Results: Exosomes containing HMGB1 led to muscle atrophy with significantly decreased myotube diameter and increased expression of muscle atrophy-related proteins Atrogin1 and MuRF1. Further, we detected that HMGB1 induced the muscle atrophy mainly via TLR4/NF-κB pathway. Administration of the HMGB1 inhibitor glycyrrhizin could relieve muscle wasting in vitro and attenuate the progression of cachexia in vivo.Conclusion: These findings demonstrate the cachectic role of HMGB1, whether it is soluble form of HMGB1 or secreted from tumor cells as part of exosomes. HMGB1 inhibitor glycyrrhizin might be a promising drug in colon cancer cachexia.

We have employed glass nanopore as a single molecule technique for direct sensing amyloidosis process of Aβ1–42 peptide, which of great significance in Alzheimer's disease., We have developed a glass nanopore based single molecule tool to investigate the dynamic oligomerization and aggregation process of Aβ1–42 peptides. The intrinsic differences in the molecular size and surface charge of amyloid aggregated states could be distinguished through single molecule induced characteristic current fluctuation. More importantly, our results reveal that the neurotoxic Aβ1–42 oligomer tends to adsorb onto the solid surface of nanopores, which may explain its instability and highly neurotoxic features.

Anisotropic nanoparticles exhibit interesting properties and their controlled assemblies are highly desirable to generate functional materials. Different from their spherical counterparts, the incorporation of anisotropic nanoparticles in nanostructured polymeric matrices such as block copolymer or supramolecules depends not only on the particle/polymer interactions and relative size ratio between the particle and polymer features but also on the interparticle interactions. Here, we fill this knowledge gap by systematically studying the block copolymer-based supramolecular nanocomposite containing anisotropic copper sulfide nanodiscs, and evaluate the effect of competition between the ligand–polymer interaction and internanodisc interaction on the arrangement and interparticle spacing of nanodiscs once blended with supramolecules. The interdisc interaction was modulated by varying the ligand density and/or the ligand shell thickness on the surface of nanodiscs. Reduction in the interdisc interaction leads...

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most lethal subtype of breast cancer due to its lack of treatment options. Patients with TNBC frequently develop resistance to chemotherapy. As epigenetic-based antineoplastic drugs, histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACis) have achieved particular efficacy in lymphoma but are less efficacious in solid tumors, and the resistance mechanism remains poorly understood. In this study, the GSE129944 microarray dataset from the Gene Expression Omnibus database was downloaded, and fold changes at the transcriptome level of a TNBC line (MDA-MB-231) after treatment with belinostat were identified. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were used to identify the critical biological processes. Construction and analysis of the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network were performed to screen candidate genes related to cancer prognosis. A total of 465 DEGs were identified, including 240 downregulated and 225 upregulated genes. The cytokine-cytokine receptor pathway was identified as being significantly changed. Furthermore, the expression of CXCL1 was implicated as a favorable factor in the overall survival of breast cancer patients. With in vitro approaches, we also showed that belinostat could induce the expression of CXCL1 in another 2 TNBC cell lines (BT-549 and HCC-1937). We speculate that belinostat-induced CXCL1 expression could be one of the results of the stress clone evolution of cells after HDACi treatment. These findings provide new insights into clone evolution during HDACi treatment, which might guide us to a novel perspective that various mutation-targeted treatments should be implemented during the whole treatment cycle.

Transition metal oxides (TMOs) have been recognized as promising sensing materials for heavy metal ions (HMIs) detection, mainly ascribing to a strong adsorption of HMIs on surface oxygen vacancies (OVs) of TMOs. However, the possibly more prominent role of valence change induced redox activity of TMOs in HMIs detection has not received its deserved attention, thus severely hindering the further development of TMOs-based HMIs detection. Herein, a facile strategy is proposed to co-engineer the redox activity and surface OVs of porous Co3O4 nanosheets by Ni doping. As a result, a boosted redox activity and an enhanced adsorption have been simultaneously achieved by optimizing the Ni doping level. Specifically, the 5% (atomic ratio) Ni-doped Co3O4 nanosheets exhibited best electroanalytical performance towards toxic Hg(II). More importantly, it has been demonstrated that the valence change cycle of Co cations (Co2+/Co3+) plays a more important role in electrochemical detection, rather than the adsorption of Hg(II) on OVs. Namely, the reduction of Hg(II) to Hg(0) on Co3O4 nanosheets can be effectively promoted by Ni-doping facilitated valence change cycle of Co cations (Co2+/Co3+). This work provides a feasible way to develop TMOs-based sensing materials by energetically synergizing their redox activity and adsorption ability towards HMIs simultaneously.

Layer-by-layer (LbL) synthetic technique has been used to deposit multilayers composed of a wide range of materials including polymers, colloidal particles, and biomolecules. A more complex organization of nanocomponents-within layers (intralayer) and across layers (interlayer)-beyond simple deposition is required for manufacturing next-generation materials and devices. Recently, LbL was used to fabricate multilayer stacked polymer-nanocrystal nanocomposites composed of a stacking sequence of two immiscible polymer thin films. However, the requirement of two immiscible polymers limits its widespread use for the fabrication of various nanocomposites. Here, we presented a new and simplified synthetic method for the fabrication of multilayer stacked nanocomposites composed of multilayer plasmonic nanocrystal arrays stacked in a homogeneous polymer matrix via iterative sequential LbL deposition of polymer thin films and nanocrystal arrays. This novel fabrication technique requires strong attractive interaction between the "ligand shell" on the nanocrystal surface and the polymer matrix [Flory-Huggins interaction parameter of the ligand shell-polymer matrix (χ)0], which can dramatically enhance the stability of nanocomposites during the LbL deposition. The optical properties of plasmonic nanocomposites can be manipulated by the adjustment of the intrinsic property of the nanocrystal and/or coupling effect between adjacent nanocrystals from the same layer (intralayer) and/or the neighboring layer (interlayer). Taking advantage of this novel LbL fabrication technique, the properties of multilayer plasmonic nanocrystal arrays stacked in a homogeneous matrix can be manipulated via tuning the interlayer or intralayer coupling between nanocrystals, which can be achieved by sophisticated control of the packing density of two-dimensional nanocrystal arrays in each individual layer or the thickness of the polymer thin film between two adjacent nanocrystal arrays, respectively. These results provide a facile and effective way of designing a more complex multilayer nanostructure with controllable properties in a homogeneous polymer matrix.

In order to investigate the correlation between free radical scavenging effect and the related molecular structures of active substances in the Haihong fruit (Malus Micromalus Makino) wine, sixteen kinds of components were isolated from the fruit wine. The structures of thirteen components were identified by UV, FTIR, LC-MS, 1D-NMR and 2D-NMR. The scavenging abilities of the fruit wine on DPPH (2,2-Diphenyl-1 -picrylhydrazyl radical), OH, O2- and the protective effects on red blood cell, SOD (Superoxide Dismutase), CAT(Catalase) and GPX(glutathione peroxidases) in aging mice tissues were studied. Results showed that the structures of o-diphenol and m-diphenol play an important role in scavenging free radicals. A larger conjugation system in functional molecule is conducive to getting a higher scavenging rate of free radicals. When the chemical shift of phenol hydrogen is lower, the anti-oxygenation ability is stronger. The fruit wine exhibits a strong scavenging ability on free radicals. It can inhibit the damage of red blood cells caused by OH radical.

Arsenic speciation in fish samples on the market was analyzed using gradient anion exchange high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS) detection. Freeze-dried samples were extracted by methanol and water mixture (8:2v/v) with a high-speed Soxhlet system; the concentration of arsenobetaine (AsB), dimethylarsinic acid (DMAA), monomethylarsonic acid (MMAA), arsenate (As(V)) and arsenite (As(Ⅲ)) in the extract were then determined using HPLC-ICPMS. The method for determining arsenobetaine concentration was confirmed using standard reference material (SRM) of BCR 627 (tuna fish) and DORM-2 (dogfish muscle); recovery rates were 95 and 90%, respectively. The arsenic compounds in 60 market-ready fish muscle samples were investigated. The predominant arsenic compound found in samples was AsB. Arsenate was detected in low concentrations (ranged in 0.02-0.34 mg/kg As for fresh weight), whereas DMAA, MMAA and arsenite content were undetectable. Average AsB content in cephalopods, small fish and large fish were 5.42, 1.57 and 1.54 mg/kg As (fresh weight), respectively. The weekly intake of As was calculated based on the consumption of fish by Taiwanese residents. The calculated results demonstrated that the intake is 30.6 μg/kg (total As) body weight/week, higher than the acceptable weekly intake of 15 μg/kg body weight/week for inorganic arsenic that was suggested by WHO. However, around 87% of As in fish muscle was AsB. AsB is non-toxic and non-carcinogenic to humans, and is rapidly excreted after ingestion. Therefore, intake of fish muscle is low risk based on investigation results.

Chinese cooking fume is one of the sources of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the air. An innovative control technology combining photocatalytic degradation and ozone oxidation (UV/TiO2+O3) was developed to decompose VOCs in the cooking fume. Fiberglass filter (FGF) coated with TiO2 was prepared by an impregnation procedure. A continuous-flow reaction system was self-designed by combining photocatalysis with advanced ozone oxidation technique. By passing the simulated cooking fume through the FGF, the VOC decomposition efficiency in the cooking fume could be increased by about 10%. The decomposition efficiency of VOCs in the cooking fume increased and then decreased with the inlet VOC concentration. A maximum VOC decomposition efficiency of 64% was obtained at 100 ppm. Similar trend was observed for reaction temperature with the VOC decomposition efficiencies ranging from 64 to 68%. Moreover, inlet ozone concentration had a positive effect on the decomposition of VOCs in the cooking fume for inlet ozone≤1000 ppm and leveled off for inlet ozone>1000 ppm. 34% of VOC decomposition efficiency was achieved solely by ozone oxidation with or without near-UV irradiation. A maximum of 75% and 94% VOC decomposition efficiency could be achieved by O3+UV/TiO2 and UV/TiO2+O3 techniques, respectively. The maximum decomposition efficiencies of VOCs decreased to 79% for using UV/TiO2+O3 technique with adding water in the oil fume. Comparing the chromatographical species of VOCs in the oil fume before and after the decomposition of VOCs by using UV/TiO2+O3technique, we found that both TVOC and VOC species in the oil fume were effectively decomposed.

Although remarkable progress has been made toward understanding carotenoid biosynthesis, the mechanisms that regulate the transcription of carotenogenic genes remain poorly understood. Lycopene β-cyclases (LCYb) are critical enzymes located at the branch point of the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway. Here, we used the promoter sequence of LCYb1 as bait in a yeast one-hybrid screen for promoter-binding proteins from sweet orange (Citrus sinensis). This screen identified a MADS transcription factor, CsMADS6, that was coordinately expressed with fruit development and coloration. Acting as a nucleus-localized transcriptional activator, CsMADS6 directly bound the promoter of LCYb1 and activated its expression. Overexpression of CsMADS6 in citrus calli increased carotenoid contents and induced the expression of LCYb1 and other carotenogenic genes, including phytoene synthase (PSY), phytoene desaturase (PDS), and carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase1 (CCD1). CsMADS6 up-regulated the expression of PSY, PDS, and CCD1 by directly binding to their promoters, which suggested the multitargeted regulation of carotenoid metabolism by CsMADS6. In addition, the ectopic expression of CsMADS6 in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) affected carotenoid contents and the expression of carotenogenic genes. The sepals of CsMADS6-overexpressing tomato lines exhibited dramatic changes in carotenoid profiles, accompanied by changes in plastid ultrastructure. Global transcriptome analysis of transgenic sepals revealed that CsMADS6 regulates a series of pathways that promote increases in flux through the carotenoid pathway. Overall, these findings establish that CsMADS6 directly regulates LCYb1 and other carotenogenic genes to coordinately and positively modulate carotenoid metabolism in plants, which may provide strategies to improve the nutritional quality of crops.

Secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) group of enzymes have been shown to hydrolyze phospholipids, among which sPLA2 Group V (GV) and Group X (GX) exhibit high selectivity towards phosphatidylcholine-rich cellular plasma membranes. The enzymes have recently emerged as key regulators in lipid droplets formation and it is hypothesized that sPLA2-GV and GX enhanced cell proliferation and lipid droplet accumulation in colon cancer cells (HT29). In this study, cell viability and lipid droplet accumulation were assessed by Resazurin assay and Oil-Red-O staining. Interestingly, both sPLA2-GV and GX enzymes reduced intracellular lipid droplet accumulation and did not significantly affect cell proliferation in HT29 cells. Incubation with varespladib, a pan-inhibitor of sPLA2-Group IIA/V/X, further suppressed lipid droplets accumulation in sPLA2-GV but have no effects in sPLA2-GX-treated cells. Further studies using catalytically inactive sPLA2 enzymes showed that the enzymes intrinsic catalytic activity is required for the net reduction of lipid accumulation. Meanwhile, inhibition of intracellular phospholipases (iPLA2-γ and cPLA2-α) unexpectedly enhanced lipid droplet accumulation in both sPLA2-GV and GX-treated cells. The findings suggested an interconnected relationship between extracellular and intracellular phospholipases in lipid cycling. Previous studies indicated that sPLA2 enzymes are linked to cancer development due to their ability to induce release of arachidonic acid and eicosanoids as well as the stimulation of lipid droplet formation. This study showed that the two enzymes work in a distinct manner and they neither confer proliferative advantage nor enhanced the net lipid droplet accumulation in HT29 cells.

Bench-scale experiments using iron modified and unmodified photocatalysts (Fe/TiO2 and TiO2) were conducted to compare their decomposition efficiencies with formaldehyde. The effects of operating parameters on the decomposition efficiency were further investigated. The grain size of iron doped photocatalysts ranged from 25 to 60 nm. The iron doped content of 1, 3, and 5% Fe/TiO2 photocatalysts was measured as 1.2, 3.1, and 4.7%, respectively. The UV-visible analytical results showed that a significant red shift was observed while the iron doping content of Fe/TiO2 increased from 0 to 5%. Two continuous-flow reaction systems, the ozonolytic and the photocatalytic reactors, were combined in series to investigate their capability to decompose formaldehyde by Fe/TiO2 photocatalysts with six operating parameters, namely, the influent formaldehyde concentrations (0.15, 0.30, and 0.45 ppm), the relative humidity (5, 35, and 55%), irradiation by light (visible, near-UV, and UV), the reaction temperatures (25, 30, and 35°C), the iron doping content (1, 3, and 5% Fe/TiO2), and the injected-ozone concentrations (2,000 and 3,000 ppb). The optimal operating parameters obtained in this study were an influent formaldehyde concentration of 0.15 ppm, a relative humidity of 5%, irradiation by UV light, a reaction temperature of 35°C, an iron doping content of 5% Fe/TiO2, and an injected-ozone concentration of 3,000 ppb. Overall, the efficiencies of different decomposition techniques for formaldehyde followed the sequence: UV/TiO2 + O3 > O3 + UV/TiO2 > UV/O3 ≈ O3. A maximum formaldehyde decomposition efficiency of 92% was obtained by using the UV/TiO2 + O3 technology.

Recent studies suggested that combined treatment approaches can be used to improve anticancer potency and circumvent the limitations of high-dose tocotrienols administration. Acalypha wilkesiana is a medicinal plant that has been used as an adjunct treatment for cancers in traditional medicine. Herein, the effects of single and combined treatments of β-, γ- and δ-tocotrienols and ethyl acetate extract (9EA) of Acalypha wilkesiana on lung (A549) and brain (U87MG) cancer cells were investigated. γ- and δ-tocotrienols exhibited higher potent antiproliferative effects against A549 (12.1 μg/ml and 13.6 μg/ml) and U87MG cells (3.3 μg/ml and 5.2 μg/ml) compared to β-tocotrienols (9.4 μg/ml and 92.4 μg/ml), respectively. Whereas, 9EA induced potent antiproliferative effects against U87MG cells only (2.0 μg/ml). Combined treatments of tocotrienols and 9EA induced a synergistic growth inhibition with up to 8.4-fold reduction in potent doses of β-, γ- and δ-tocotrienols on A549 cells. Apoptotic features were also evidenced on A549 cells receiving single and combined treatments. The synergism may greatly improve the therapeutic outcome for lung cancer.

The integration of layer-by-layer (LbL) and self-assembly methods has the potential to achieve precision assembly of nanocomposite materials. Knowledge of how nanoparticles move across and within stacked materials is critical for directing nanoparticle assembly. Here, we investigate nanoparticle self-assembly within two different LbL architectures: (1) a bilayer composed of two immiscible polymer thin-films, and (2) a bilayer composed of polymer and graphene that possesses a “hard-soft” interface. Polymer-grafted silver nanocubes (AgNCs) are employed as a model nanoparticle system for systematic experiments – characterizing both assembly rate and resulting morphologies – that examine how assembly is affected by the presence of an interface. We observe that polymer grafts can serve to anchor AgNCs at the bilayer interface and to decrease particle mobility, or can promote particle transfer between layers. We also find that polymer viscosity and polymer mixing parameters can be used as predictors of assembly rate and behavior. These results provide a pathway for designing more complex multilayered nanocomposites.

Aims Maslinic acid (MA) is a naturally occurring pentacyclic triterpene known to exert cardioprotective effects. This study aims to investigate the involvement of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) for MA-mediated anti-inflammatory effects in atheroma pathogenesis in vitro, including evaluation of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)-induced monocyte recruitment, oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL)-induced scavenger receptors expression, and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-ĸB) activity in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECS) and human acute monocytic leukemia cell line (THP-1) macrophages. Materials and methods An in vitro monocyte recruitment model utilizing THP-1 and HUVECs was developed to evaluate TNF-α-induced monocyte adhesion and trans-endothelial migration. To study the role of Nrf2 for MA-mediated anti-inflammatory effects, Nrf2 inhibitor ML385 was used as the pharmacological inhibitor. The expression of Nrf2, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36), and scavenger receptor type A (SR-A) in HUVECs and THP-1 macrophages were investigated using RT-qPCR and Western blotting. The NF-κB activity was determined using NF-κB (p65) Transcription Factor Assay Kit. Key findings The results showed opposing effects of MA on Nrf2 expression in HUVECs and THP-1 macrophages. MA suppressed TNF-α-induced Nrf2 expression in HUVECs, but enhanced its expression in THP-1 macrophages. Combined effects of MA and ML385 suppressed MCP-1, VCAM-1, and SR-A expressions. Intriguingly, at the protein level, ML385 selectively inhibited SR-A but enhanced CD36 expression. Meanwhile, ML385 further enhanced MA-mediated inhibition of NF-κB activity in HUVECs. This effect, however, was not observed in THP-1 macrophages. Significance MA attenuated foam cell formation by suppressing VCAM-1, MCP-1, and SR-A expression, as well as NF-κB activity, possibly through Nrf2 inhibition. The involvement of Nrf2 for MA-mediated anti-inflammatory effects however differs between HUVECs and macrophages. Future investigations are warranted for a detailed evaluation of the contributing roles of Nrf2 in foam cells formation.

Fusarium head blight (FHB) or scab mainly caused by Fusarium asiaticum is a devastating fungal disease in wheat. In China, carbendazim (MBC) and its co-formulated mixture with other fungicides are the main fungicides for controlling the disease. But resistant populations have developed severely in the field. The fungicides for controlling the disease are limited. So screening novel fungicides for controlling FHB is urgent. The fungicide pydiflumetofen (development code number: SYN545974),3-(Difluoromethyl) N-methyl-N-[1-methyl-2-(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl)ethyl]-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxami.d.e, is a novel succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor (SDHI) that was developed by Syngenta. In this study, the baseline sensitivities for different isolates of F. asiaticum from various regions of China to pydiflumetofen were established. The 50% effective concentration (EC50) value of pydiflumetofen on suppressing mycelial growth against 116 isolates of F. asiaticum was 0.019–0.2084 μg/ml and their average value was 0.0745 ± 0.0367 μg/ml. The EC50 value of pydiflumetofen on suppressing conidium germination was 0.0583–0.4237 μg/ml and their average value was 0.1813 ± 0.0861 μg/ml. The results indicated that the fungicide had strong inhibition effect on mycelial growth and conidium germination against F. asiaticum in vitro. The EC50 values distribution of 116 isolates measured by mycelial growth assay or by conidium germination assay was a unimodal curve and could be used for detecting any sensitivity changes of F. asiaticum populations to pydiflumetofen in the future. The results of cross-resistance analysis indicated that there was no positive or negative cross-resistance between pydiflumetofen and carbendazim/phenamacril. In field trials, though FHB was very severe, pydiflumetofen at 125, 150 and 200 g ai ha−1 all provided more than 80% control efficacy which was significantly higher than that of phenamacril at 375 g ai ha−1 or MBC at 600 g ai ha−1 in 2015 and 2016. In conclusion, pydiflumetofen had very high activity against F. asiaticum in vitro and excellent efficacy for controlling FHB could also manage carbendazim-resistant F. asiaticum populations in the field.

The concept of the 'magic bullet', a medicine designed to hit a specific biological target, was pioneered by Paul Ehrlich, the father of chemotherapy some 100 years ago. Building on Ehrlich's vision, we have endeavoured to showcase how targeted Pt(IV) prodrugs may be exploited to not only reduce systemic toxicities associated with modern day chemotherapeutics including classical Pt(II) drugs but also how these prodrugs may overcome resistance issues that have plagued many chemotherapeutic regimes. A summary of advances in this field over the past decade is provided with an emphasis on Pt(IV) prodrugs that not only target DNA but also enzymes, proteins, peptides and hormones. Synthetic strategies for accessing Pt(IV) chemistry are also provided.

Transmembrane protein 88 (TMEM88), a new protein of increasing concern existed in cell membrane, inhibits the typical Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway to play a regulatory role on cell proliferation by binding to Dishevelled-1. Until recently, the connection between TMEM88 and alcoholic liver disease is unknown. In this research, we explored the effect of TMEM88 on the secretion of inflammatory cytokines in ethanol (EtOH)-induced RAW264.7 cells, moreover, the function of YAP signaling pathway in EtOH-induced RAW264.7 cells were investigated. We administered TMEM88 adenovirus (ADV-TMEM88) by tail vein injection into C57BL/6J mice in vivo. In vitro, RAW264.7 murine macrophages were stimulated with EtOH and were transfected with pEGFP-C1-TMEM88 and TMEM88 siRNA, respectively, protein expression and mRNA expression of IL-6 and IL-1β were assessed by Western Blotting and RT-qPCR, respectively. Our group found that the overexpression of TMEM88 led to an up-regulation of IL-6 and IL-1β secretion, hinting that it had the possibility of linking with the initiation, the development, and the end of inflammation. In addition to that, TMEM88 silencing reduced the secretion of IL-6 and IL-1β in RAW264.7 cells. Moreover, we demonstrated that the YAP signaling pathway under the action of EtOH was activated by TMEM88. All in all, these experimental outcomes indicated that TMEM88 had an indispensable impact on EtOH-induced secretion of inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and IL-1β) in RAW264.7 cells through YAP signaling pathway.

Transvaginal ultrasound is widely used for ovarian cancer screening but has a high false positive rate. Photoacoustic imaging provides additional optical contrast to supplement ultrasound and might be able to improve the accuracy of screening. Here, we report two copper sulfide (CuS) nanoparticles types (nanodisks and triangular nanoprisms) as the photoacoustic contrast agents for imaging ovarian cancer. Both CuS nanoprisms and nanodisks were ~6 nm thick and ~26 nm wide and were coated with poly(ethylene glycol) to make them colloidally stable in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) for at least 2 weeks. The CuS nanodisks and nanoprisms revealed strong localized surface plasmon resonances with peak maxima at 1145 nm and 1098 nm, respectively. Both nanoparticles types had strong and stable photoacoustic intensity with detection limits below 120 pM. The circular CuS nanodisk remained in the circulation of nude mice (n=4) and xenograft 2008 ovarian tumors (n=4) 17.9-fold and 1.8-fold more than the triangular nanoprisms, respectively. Finally, the photoacoustic intensity of the tumors from the mice (n=3) treated with CuS nanodisks was 3.0-fold higher than the baseline. The tumors treated with nanodisks had a characteristic peak at 920 nm in the spectrum to potentially differentiate the tumor from adjacent tissues.

Sarcopenia is a well-known risk factor for inferior cancer outcomes, but the identification of patients at risk remains challenging. A new sarcopenia index (SI), defined as serum creatinine (Cr) × cystatin C (CysC)-based glomerular filtration rate (eGFRThis cross-sectional study included 182 patients with different types of cancer (cancer stages III/IV; mean age 55.1 ± 11.1 y). Sarcopenia was defined as the presence of both low muscle mass and low muscle strength. The cross-sectional area of skeletal muscle mass (SMA) at the third lumbar spine was estimated by computed tomography (CT). Low muscle mass was defined as a skeletal muscle index (SMA/heightThe prevalence of sarcopenia was 27.5%. The SI was significantly lower in both the sarcopenia and severe fatigue groups. The associations between SI and SMA (r = 0.365; P0.001), skeletal muscle index (SMI) (r = 0.340; P0.001), and HGS (r = 0.414; P0 .001) were stronger than the associations between the serum creatinine/cystatin C (Cr/CysC) ratio and SMA (r = 0.299; P0.001), SMI (r = 0.269; P0 .001), and HGS (r = 0.364; P0 .001). Additionally, a decrease in the SI was associated with a higher likelihood of sarcopenia (odds ratio per 10-unit, 1.09; 95% confidence interval, 1.02-1.16) after adjusting for potential confounding factors. However, there was only a weak correlation between the SI and BFI score (r = -0.161, P = 0.045).The SI might be a useful objective tool for assessing sarcopenia in patients with advanced cancer. Further studies are warranted to extend the present findings.

Metal-oxide based nanocomposites have superior benefits to fabricate sensing interface for electroanalysis of heavy metal ions (HMIs) due to the introduction of various advantages (i.e. environmentally friendly, low-cost and high activity) into one material. Herein, Co3O4/ZnO nanocomposite with small size (sub-40 nm) and abundant oxygen vacancy was successfully prepared through one-step hydrothermal synthesis and subsequent annealing treatment, as well as the engineering of Co-Zn molar ratio. Moreover, the loose structure of Co3O4/ZnO nanocomposite can effectively improve the exposure of active sites on surface and enhance mass transfer. As a result, the as-obtained Co3O4/ZnO sensor has an impressive performance with sensitivity of 504.74 μA μM-1 cm-2 for electroanalysis of Hg(II) by square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV). Otherwise, diverse detection performances of the product with different Co:Zn molar ratio are investigated, proving the superiority for constructing Co3O4/ZnO sensor with molar ratio of 2Co/Zn. In addition, the electroanalytical behavior of the proposed sensors toward Hg(II) in subsidence area water was also realized with considerable result. By designing multifunctional nanocomposite with bimetal oxide nanomaterials, this work will provide a novel strategy to gain nanocomposite with controlling morphology and enriching oxygen vacancies, which are expected to be excellent candidate electrode materials for electroanalysis.

Transition metal oxide nanomaterials have been extensively applied to the field of oxygen evolution reaction (OER), but few works have been studied to demonstrate the relationship between their crystal phases and OER performance. Herein, we compare the OER performance of the two different crystal phase iron oxide (α-Fe2O3 and γ-Fe2O3). The iron oxide yolk-shell microspheres were facile realized via one-step solvothermal method and the subsequent annealing treatment. An interesting phenomenon is present that α-Fe2O3 yolk-shell microspheres with a smaller specific surface area have better OER performance than that of γ-Fe2O3 yolk-shell microspheres. The crystal structure and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results show that α-Fe2O3 yolk-shell microspheres have better electrocatalytic activity, which is due to the presence of more Fe active sites (Fe3+) exposured on the surface. These Fe active sites are beneficial to enhance the adsorption of hydroxyl groups in water molecules, leading to a higher OER performance. As an application example, the Fe2O3 yolk-shell microspheres are employed as an efficient OER electrocatalyst, showing the interdependence between phase and OER behavior.

Three different modified SBA-15 have been synthesized by a post-grafting method using 3,4-dihydroxy benzaldehyde (OHBA), 2,4-dihydroxy benzaldehyde (MHBA), 2,4-dihydroxy acetophenone (RATP). These materials were characterized by NMR, TEM, FT-IR and elemental analysis. Batch experiments have been conducted to study the effects of pH, temperature, adsorbent dosage, ionic strength, shaking time, initial concentration of metal ion, and coexisting ions on uranium(VI) sorption behaviors of pure and functional SBA-15. In addition, the adsorption of U(VI) could be well-described by the Langmuir, Freundlich isotherms and pseudo-second kinetic models. The results suggest the sorption capacity and selectivity of SBA-15 were improved after functionalization.

The transformation of macrophages to foam cells is a critical component in atherosclerotic lesion formation. Maslinic acid (MA), a novel natural pentacyclic triterpene, has cardioprotective and anti-inflammatory properties. It is hypothesized that MA can suppress monocyte recruitment to endothelial cells and inhibit macrophage foam cells formation. Previous study shows that MA inhibits inflammatory effects induced by sPLA2-IIA, including foam cells formation. This study elucidates the regulatory effect of MA in monocyte recruitment, macrophage lipid accumulation and cholesterol efflux. Our findings demonstrate that MA inhibits THP-1 monocyte adhesion to HUVEC cells in a TNFα-dependent and independent manner, but it induces trans-endothelial migration marginally at low concentration. MA down-regulates both gene and protein expression on VCAM-1 and MCP-1 in HUVECs. We further showed that MA suppresses macrophage foam cells formation, as indicated from the Oil-Red-O staining and flow cytometric analysis of intracellular lipids accumulation. The effects observed may be attributed to the antioxidant properties of MA where it was shown to suppress CuSO4-induced lipid peroxidation. MA inhibits scavenger receptors SR-A and CD36 expression while enhancing cholesterol efflux. MA enhances cholesterol efflux transporters ABCA1 and ABCG1 genes expression marginally without inducing its protein expression. In this study, MA was shown to target important steps that contribute to foam cell formation, including its ability in reducing monocytes adhesion to endothelial cells and LDL peroxidation, down-regulating scavenger receptors expression as well as enhancing cholesterol efflux, which might be of great importance in the context of atherosclerosis prevention and treatment.

Plasmonic nanostructures are extensively used building blocks for engineering optical materials and device architectures. Plasmonic nanocomposites (pNCs) are an emerging class of materials that integrate these nanostructures into hierarchical and often multifunctional systems. These pNCs can be highly customizable by modifying both the plasmonic and matrix components, as well as by controlling the nano- to macroscale morphology of the composite as a whole. Assembly at the nanoscale plays a particularly important role in the design of pNCs that exhibit complex or responsive optical function. Due to their scalability and tunability, pNCs provide a versatile platform for engineering new plasmonic materials and for facile integration into optoelectronic device architectures. This review provides a comprehensive survey of recent achievements in pNC structure, design, fabrication, and optical function, along with some examples of their application in optoelectronics and sensing.

Two modified mesoporous silica (KIT-6) materials for absorbing uranium(VI) were prepared respectively via post-grafting of 8-hydroxyquinoline and 8-hydroxyquinoline onto surface of KIT-6, which were characterized by FT-IR, NMR, TEM, and sorption/desorption analysis. Effect of pH values, contact time, ionic strength, solid–liquid ratio, temperature, and coexisting ions on sorption behavior of the modified KIT-6 were also investigated. Typical sorption isotherms (Langmuir and Freundlich) were used to determine the sorption process and the maximum U(VI) sorption capacity. The results indicate that the two modified KIT-6 exhibit better selective sorption of U(VI) as compared to the original KIT-6.

Nanocrystals composed of CuS that exhibit semimetallic behavior are capable of supporting localized surface plasmon resonances in the near-infrared wavelengths. A major challenge in utilizing these nanocrystals for plasmonic applications is the ability to accurately control their nanoscale morphology and chemical composition, both of which are known to affect plasmon wavelength and amplitude. Here, we investigate the important role of halide ions in controlling the solvothermal synthesis of colloidal CuS nanocrystals. When oleylamine is used as a stabilizing surfactant, we find that the addition of halide ions to the reaction mixture instigates nanocrystal shape focusing in a process similar to Ostwald ripening, from nanodisks to faceted triangular prisms. We demonstrate that this shape focusing is likely to occur from the competition between CuS surface binding interactions with oleylamine ligands and halide ions and is the strongest for I– ions. We also demonstrate that this shape focusing, in combinati...

N-[4-(4,6-Dimethyl-2-pyrimidinyloxy)-3-methylphenyl]-N'-[2-(dimethylamino)]benzoylurea (SUD) is a novel synthesized benzoylurea derivative. We selected several human cancer cell lines to investigate whether SUD can inhibit the growth of cancer cells. We selected the liver cell line L-02 to investigate the effect of SUD on the normal cells. Flow cytometric analysis was used to detect the effect of SUD on cell cycle, Hoechst 33258 staining was used to evaluate the apoptosis induced by SUD, real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR was used to investigate the expression of the cell cycle-relevant and apoptosis-relevant genes, a reactive oxygen species (ROS) assay was used to observe the production of ROS, and western blotting was used to determine the level of cell cycle-relevant and apoptosis-relevant proteins. According to the results of the MTT assay, the growth of human cancer cell lines was significantly inhibited by SUD treatment in a time-dependent and concentration-dependent manner; however, the growth of human normal cells was not significantly inhibited by SUD treatment. The results of flow cytometric analyses showed that SUD induced cell-cycle arrest at the G2-phase in MCF-7 cells and at the G1-phase in BGC-823 cells. The results of Hoechst 33258 staining showed that SUD induced apoptosis in MCF-7 and BGC-823 cells. The results of the ROS assay showed that the production of ROS was increased by SUD in MCF-7 and BGC-823 cells. Our research suggests that the growth-inhibitory effect of SUD on MCF-7 cells was related to G2-phase arrest, which was associated with the upregulated expression of p53 and Chk1 proteins, and downregulation of the cyclin B1 gene, cdc25a, and cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1) proteins; the growth-inhibitory effect of SUD on BGC-823 cells was related to G1-phase arrest, which was associated with upregulation of the p53 gene and Chk1 protein and downregulation of cdc25a protein and the CDK4 gene. SUD also induced apoptosis in MCF-7 and BGC-823 cell lines through the mitochondrial pathway in a p53-dependent manner.

Flammulina velutipes ready-to-eat snacks are not commonly known. Response surface methodology was employed to optimize the process parameters in making ready-to-eat snacks. The optimum dehydration condition was found at a sucrose concentration of 30%, a vacuum pressure of −40 ± 1.5 kPa, an osmotic time of 165 s and a microwave intensity of 65 W/g. These parameters resulted in water loss, solid gain and sensory evaluation values of 39.15%, 6.96% and 7.87, respectively. The water diffusion rate and solid gain diffusion rate were 1.55 × 10−9 and 1.29 × 10−9 m2/s, respectively, when employing the optimum microwave vacuum osmotic dehydration (MVOD) parameters. When F. velutipes mushrooms were dried for 180 min by hot-air drying, the water content of the ready-to-eat snack was 9.8 ± 0.5% and the water diffusion rate was 1.14 × 10−11 m2/s. Both the MVOD and the hot-air drying stages were consistent with the Page model. Practical Applications Osmotic dehydration technology combined with other drying technologies, such as hot air, can improve the use value and economic benefits of fruits and vegetables. The two correlations developed by modifying second-order polynomial equations were adequate to predict the responses for the Flammulina velutipes samples. The water and solid effective diffusion rates were calculated at different microwave vacuum osmotic dehydration times and different hot-air drying times for F. velutipes mushrooms. The Page model could be used to illustrate the water loss and solid gain for these two drying stages. The F. velutipes mushroom snacks made using these conditions had good color, high gloss and a moderately soft texture, with a sweet and sour flavor. The developed mathematical models can be considered precise for the prediction and optimization of process parameters in experimental and industrial applications.

Doxorubicin (DOX) is a potent and broad-spectrum anthracycline chemotherapeutic agent, but dose-dependent cardiotoxic side effects limit its clinical application. This toxicity is closely associated with the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) radical during DOX metabolism. The present study investigated the effects of Berberine (Ber) on DOX-induced acute cardiac injury in a rat model and analysed its mechanism in cardiomyocytes in vitro. Serum creatine kinase (CK), creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MB) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were significantly increased in the DOX group compared with the control group. This increase was accompanied by cardiac histopathological injury and a decrease in cardiomyocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). CK, CK-MB and MDA levels decreased and SOD and CAT levels increased in the Ber-treated group compared to the DOX group. Ber ameliorated the DOX-induced increase in cytosolic calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i), attenuated mitochondrial Ca2+ overload and restored the DOX-induced loss of mitochondrial membrane potential in vitro. These results demonstrated that Ber exhibited protective effects against DOX-induced heart tissue free radical injury, potentially via the inhibition of intracellular Ca2+ elevation and attenuation of mitochondrial dysfunction.

Ultrasound is broadly used in the clinics yet is limited in early cancer detection because of its poor contrast between healthy and diseased tissues. Photoacoustic imaging can improve this limitation and has been extensively studied in pre-clinical models. Contrast agents can help improve the accuracy of diagnosis. We recently reported a novel copper sulfide (CuS) nanodisk with strong directionally-localized surface plasmon resonance in the near infrared region. This plasmonic resonance of nanodisks is tunable by changing the size and aspect ratio of CuS nanodisk. Here, we demonstrate this CuS nanodisk is a strong photoacoustic contrast agent. We prepared CuS nanodisks via a solvent-based synthesis followed by surface modification of poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether thiol for in vivo applications. These CuS nanodisks can be detected at a concentration as low as 26 pM at 920 nm. Their nanosize and strong photoacoustic response make this novel CuS nanodisk a strong candidate for photoacoustic cancer imaging.

Aconitine (ACO) is well-known for causing lethal ventricular tachyarrhythmias. While cardiac Na+ channel opening during repolarization has long been documented in animal cardiac myocytes, the cellular effects and mechanism of ACO in human remain unexplored. This study aimed to assess the proarrhythmic effects of ACO in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs). ACO concentration-dependently (0.3 ~ 3.0 μM) shortened the action potentials (AP) durations (APD) in ventricular-like hiPSC-CMs by > 40% and induced delayed after-depolarization. Laser-scanning confocal calcium imaging analysis showed that ACO decreased the duration and amplitude of [Ca2+]i transients and increased in the beating frequencies by over 60%. Moreover, ACO was found to markedly reduce the L-type calcium channel (LTCC) currents (ICa,L) in hiPSC-CMs associated with a positive-shift of activation and a negative shift of inactivation. ACO failed to alter the peak and late Na+ currents (INa) in hiPSC-CMs while it drastically increased the late INa in Guinea-pig ventricular myocytes associated with enhanced activation/delayed inactivation of INa at -55 mV~ -85 mV. Further, the effects of ACO on ICa,L, INa and the rapid delayed rectifier potassium current (Ikr) were validated in heterologous expression systems by automated voltage-clamping assays and a moderate suppression of Ikr was observed in addition to concentration-dependent ICa,L inhibition. Lastly, increased beating frequency, decreased Ca2+ wave and shortened field potential duration were recorded from hiPSC-CMs by microelectrode arrays assay. In summary, our data demonstrated that LTCC inhibition could play a main role in the proarrhythmic action of ACO in human cardiomyocytes.

The differential optical absorption spectroscopy was developed to retrieve the particle extinction coefficient. With the extinction coefficient, the number size distribution from 0.1μm to 1.25μ m was retrieved by a step function.

Copper alkanethiolates are organometallic precursors that have been used to form Cu2S nanodisks upon thermal decomposition. Here, we demonstrate that molecular assembly of Cu alkanethiolates into an ordered liquid crystalline mesophase plays an essential role in templating the disk morphology of the solid-state product. To examine this templating effect, we synthesize Cu alkanethiolate precursors with alkane tails of varying chain length and sterics. We demonstrate that short chain precursors produce two-dimensional (2D) nanosheets of Cu2S, while longer-chained variants produce Cu2S nanodisks exclusively. This work provides new insights into the use of liquid crystalline phases as templates for nanocrystal synthesis and as a potential route for achieving highly anisotropic inorganic nanostructures.

This study compared the single grain weight, the carbohydrate composition (starch, amylose, total sugar, reducing sugar, pectin, fibre) and moisture, protein, fat and ash contents of four Chinese chestnut cultivars (Banhong, Yankui, Yanlong and Zaofeng) from the Yan mountain range of China. Results showed that the tannin content of the pellicle of the chestnuts and the rate of its loss during the canning heat treatment had a significant effect on pellicle removal (p

Summary Shiitake mushroom (Lentinula edodes) caps were puffed using pulsed microwave-vacuum puffing (PMVP), microwave-vacuum puffing (MVP) and microwave puffing (MP). The response surface method was used to optimise the process parameters for using PMVP to puff mushroom caps. The experiments were conducted using a central composite design to determine the visual appearance and initial moisture content (30–50%) of the mushroom caps. The initial moisture content and microwave power intensity showed highly significant linear relations with the expansion ratio and sensory evaluation. The optimal conditions for puffing mushroom caps were initial moisture content, microwave intensity, vacuum pressure and pulse ratio of 35%, 40 W g−1, 77.5 ± 1.5 kPa and 1.35, which resulted in an optimal expansion ratio and sensory score of 163.2% and 6.83, respectively. The caps puffed using PMVP showed better textures, sensory scores and microstructures than those puffed using either MP or MVP.

The title compound bis(dimethylammonium) bis(dicyanoethene-1,2-dithiolato)-nickel (II) undergoes a reversible dielectric transition occurring at about 260 K. The variable-temperature X-ray structural determinations reveal that both phases are monoclinic, space group C2/c with a = 16.383(3), b = 9.521(5), c = 13.631(3) A, β = 118.28(3)°, V = 1872.5(8) A3 at the room temperature (293 K), and with a = 15.885(5), b = 9.418(0), c = 13.771(3) A, β = 116.89(3)°, V = 1837.4(8) A3 at the low temperature (93 K). The [Ni(mnt)2]2 − anions form a non-uniform stacking pattern and interact with the [Me2NH2]+ cations by N–H∙∙∙S, N–H∙∙∙N hydrogen bonds, for the two phases. With temperature increasing, the cations and anions are shifting and thus result in the significant changes of the hydrogen bonds. The effect of these shifts is reflected in the dielectric behavior of the [Me2NH2]2[Ni(mnt)2] salt (mnt2 − = maleonitriledithiolate).

The Eu complexes-Eu (TTA)3phen (TTA: thenoyltrifluoroacetone, phen: 1,10-phenanthroline) were encapsulated, uniformly distributed into the channels of the modified SBA-15 (labeled with MSBA-15), and structurally characterized. The photoluminescence properties of the encapsulated complexes were systematically studied in contrast to the pure complexes. The results indicate that the excitation bands assigned to the π-π* electron transition of the ligands for Eu3+ complexes in encapsulated complexes were split into different components, and the 5D0-7F0 transitions became partly allowed. The emission lines for the 5D0-7F2 transitions became broader and the relative intensity for different crystal field components varied greatly in comparison to the pure complex. Most importantly, the photostability and thermostability of the emissions improved considerably.

The composite weakly basic resin (D301Fe) was prepared and examined using scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The adsorption kinetics of glyphosate from aqueous solution onto composite weakly basic resin (D301Fe) were investigated under different conditions. The experimental data was analyzed using various adsorption kinetic models like pseudo-first order, the pseudo-second order, the Elovich and the parabolic diffusion models to determine the best-fit equation for the adsorption of glyphosate onto D301Fe. The results show that the pseudo-second order equation fitted the experimental data well and its adsorption was chemisorption-controlled.

An investigation into the reaction of cyanomethyltriethylammonium (CTA) halide salts with HgCl2 afforded into [(CTA)+(Hg3Cl4Br3)−]n (1) and [(CTA)+]2 (Hg2Cl6)2 − (2). The two compounds have same propeller-like quaternary ammonium cations. The anion in compound 1 was a novel two-dimensional architecture and in compound 2 was an isolated centrosymmetrical dimer. Some C H⋯N and C H⋯X (X = Cl, Br) hydrogen bonds have been found in the two compounds, which assemble the cations and anions into a three-dimensional network. Variable-temperature dielectric properties have been studied for them. There was no dielectric anomaly in 1, whereas an obvious reversible dielectric anomaly was found in 2. The differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) and variable-temperature powder XRD properties have been studied for 2. The combined results showed that compound 2 has a solid–solid phase transition from crystalline to non-crystalline.