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In the saline soil environment of western China, salts can corrode ordinary cement concrete seriously, and the durability of concrete structure deteriorates gradually until it fails. This impedes the application of ordinary Portland cement concrete in this area. Aiming at the problem of the short service life of concrete in the harsh environment of western China, this study examines the performance of nano-CaCO3 modified concrete in a sulfate environment. The durability of the concrete was evaluated by the apparent phenomena on the relative quality evaluation parameter, the relative dynamic elastic modulus evaluation parameter, and the comprehensive damage evaluation parameter. The microstructure of corroded products was investigated using scanning electron microscopy to reveal the deterioration mechanism. The results show that the addition of 1% nano-CaCO3 can enhance the resistance of concrete to sulfate corrosion, and the service life of concrete structures will increase significantly.

Calcium (Ca) is a fluid-mobile element and plays a pivotal role in regulating carbon cycling through the precipitation of calcium carbonate. Calcium isotopes have been proposed as a promising tracer for deep carbon recycling because of the higher Ca content and distinctive Ca isotope composition in carbonate relative to the mantle. To test the effect of carbonate recycling on Ca isotope composition in arc magma and determine the fate of carbonate in subduction zones, we analyzed a suite of magmatic rocks from Central America, Southern Lesser Antilles, and Central-eastern Aleutian arcs. These three island arcs have variable thermal regimes from intermediate to cool and sediment types from carbonate-rich to carbonate-poor. Thirty-six arc magmas display δ44/40Ca values from 0.70‰ to 1.00‰ which are similar to the range of fresh mid-ocean ridge basalts (MORBs). Their average δ44/40Ca (0.82 ± 0.12‰, 2SD, n = 36) is lower than the estimates of Bulk Silicate Earth (~0.94‰, BSE) and can be ascribed to the effect of mantle partial melting. Despite strong evidence of C and Sr isotopes that various degrees of carbonate metasomatism occurred in the source of these rocks, they do not show Ca isotope variation. Based on the flux model, the buffering effect of the mantle wedge can homogenize the different carbonate Ca isotope signals at subduction zones where carbonate recycling efficiency is lower than 30% or the carbonates are mainly brought by carbonate-bearing altered oceanic crust. For subduction zones with carbonate recycling efficiency higher than 30%, the MORB-like δ44/40Ca in arc magmas may also reflect the storage of Ca in the mantle wedge and the retention of Ca in the descending slab beyond sub-arc depth. Combined with the fact that carbonate Ca isotope signals have been observed in OIBs and intra-plate igneous rocks, our new data indicates that most subducted Ca may finally enter the deep mantle via corner flow or within the descending slab.

In comparison with the common-used electron donor (D)-electron acceptor (A) type symmetric polymers with regular structures, their asymmetric counterparts have received much less attention and seldom been applied in polymer solar cells. Since the precise modulation of π bridge can significantly influence the photoelectric properties of D-A type polymers, π bridges of tailorable thiophenes are introduced into benzodithiophene (BDT)-benzodithiophene-4,8-dione (BDD) copolymers in both symmetric and asymmetric patterns. Together with the halogen substituent of fluorine or chlorine on BDT, four polymer donors are designed and synthesized. As expected, PTB2T-F and PTB2T-Cl with the asymmetric π bridges of thiophene and hexyl-bithiophene exhibit better planarity, stronger intermolecular interaction and higher hole mobility than P2TB2T-F and P2TB2T-Cl with the symmetric π bridges of hexyl-bithiophene. The more suitable phase separation and optimized nanomorphology is determined by the reasonable miscibility between asymmetric polymer and acceptor, which is evaluated by Flory-Huggins interaction, contributing to the extremely higher performance than that of symmetric counterpart. Moreover, paired with IT-4F as the acceptor, PTB2T-F affords better device performances than the reference BDT-BDD polymer PM6 with the symmetry π bridge of thiophene. These results demonstrate that the precise modulation of asymmetric π bridges is a promising strategy to construct high-efficiency D-A type polymer donors.

The energy distributions of electrons in gate-all-around (GAA) Si MOSFETs are analyzed using full-band 3-D Monte Carlo (MC) simulations. Excellent agreement is obtained with experimental current–voltage characteristics. For these 24-nm gate length devices, the electron distribution features a smeared energy peak with an extended tail. This extension of the tail results primarily from the Coulomb scattering within the channel. A fraction of electrons that enter the drain retains their energy, resulting in an out-of-equilibrium distribution in the drain region. The simulated density and average energy of the hot electrons correlate well with experimentally observed device degradation. We propose that the interaction of high-energy electrons with hydrogen-passivated phosphorus dopant complexes within the drain may provide an additional pathway for interface-trap formation in these devices.

Peak transient currents due to pulsed-laser or heavy-ion irradiation of Ge $p$ MOS FinFETs are nearly independent of gate bias. This is because the prompt photocurrent is due primarily to a transient source–drain shunt. In contrast, long-term diffusion charge collection is strongly gate-bias dependent. This bias dependence results from hole injection from the source in response to the transient increase in electron concentration in the channel. The transients measured at the source terminal change polarity when the strike location moves from the source to the drain, but this effect does not occur for the transients measured at the drain terminal. Charge collection mechanisms are studied using TCAD simulations.

In this work, GdMnO3 material is successfully prepared using sol-gel method and GdMn2O5/GdMnO3 materials are in-situ generated by acid treatment. These materials are investigated and applied as catalysts for oxygenated VOC complete oxidation. The evaluation results show that GdMn2O5/GdMnO3-1.00 exhibits a remarkable increase in catalytic activity (T50% = 198 °C and T90% = 225 °C) of 2-ethoxyethanol oxidation when compared with the initial sample GdMnO3 (T50% = 223 °C and T90% = none). Characterization analyses show that acid treatment can result in the significant improvement of specific surface area from 20.502 m2·g−1 to 67.952 m2·g−1, abundant surface Mn4+ content and active oxygen, excellent reducibility at low temperature in GdMn2O5/GdMnO3-1.00 sample. In-situ DRIFTS results point out that the main functional groups such as νas(OCO), νas(COO), νs(C O) are formed in the process of 2-ethoxyethanol oxidation over GdMn2O5/GdMnO3-1.00 sample and some by-products including ethanol, 2-ethoxyethyl acetate, acetic acid, carbonic acid, 2-ethoxyethyl 2-methoxyethyl ester, ethane and 1,1′-oxybis[2-methoxy-] can be produced at a reaction temperature of 200 °C. Additionally, in-situ DRIFTS studies indicate the presence of gas-phase O2 plays a vital role in facilitating 2-ethoxyethanol deep oxidation to final products.

In the past 70 years, over 8 billion tons of plastics have been produced, the majority of which cannot be fully biodegraded, causing their fragments to be found everywhere in the biosphere, including living organisms. Herein, a group of biodegradable composites were produced by blending poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) with technical lignin through a twin-screw extrusion method. Two strategies were developed to improve the mechanical properties of PBAT/lignin composites: (1) modifying lignin via methylation to reduce hydrogen bonding between −OH groups and (2) enhancing the intermolecular interactions between PBAT and lignin by adding maleic anhydride-graft-PBAT as a compatibilizer. The composites obtained from the two strategies with 60 wt % lignin contents exhibited ideal tensile performance which could meet the requirement of the Chinese National Standard for packaging. The interactions between different composite components were investigated by morphological and thermal analyses. The results showed that when lignin is used as filler in the composites, the molecular mobility of lignin and the size of its agglomerates remarkably impacted the ductility and mechanical strength of the PBAT/lignin films. A simple cost comparison between neat PBAT film and PBAT/lignin composite films indicated that the latter was economically competitive, and the production costs could significantly reduce by 36%.

A cobalt-based oxide catalyst is prepared using recovered metals, such as cobalt, copper, manganese, and nickel, from spent lithium-ion cobaltate batteries, and its catalytic performance in toluene...

Introduction/Background* Pembrolizumab has efficacy in previously treated, PD-L1-positive advanced cervical cancer. KEYNOTE-826 (NCT03635567) was a phase 3, randomised, double-blind trial of pembrolizumab or placebo added to chemotherapy ± bevacizumab for first-line treatment of recurrent, persistent, or metastatic cervical cancer. Methodology Eligible adults had persistent, recurrent, or metastatic cervical cancer not previously treated with systemic chemotherapy and not amenable to curative treatment. Patients were randomised 1:1 to pembrolizumab 200 mg or placebo Q3W for ≤35 cycles added to chemotherapy (paclitaxel plus cisplatin or carboplatin) ± bevacizumab and stratified by metastatic status at diagnosis, planned bevacizumab use, and PD-L1 combined positive score (CPS). Dual primary endpoints were PFS (RECIST v1.1, investigator review) and OS tested sequentially in the CPS ≥1, all-comer, and CPS ≥10 populations. Result(s)* 617 patients were randomized: 308 to pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy (63.6% with bevacizumab) and 309 to placebo plus chemotherapy (62.5% with bevacizumab); 548 (88.8%) patients had CPS ≥1, 317 (51.4%) had CPS ≥10. At the protocol-specified first interim analysis, pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy ± bevacizumab significantly improved PFS in the CPS ≥1 (median, 10.4 vs 8.2 months; HR, 0.62 [95% CI, 0.50–0.77]; P Conclusion* Pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy ± bevacizumab significantly improves OS and PFS in patients with persistent, recurrent, or metastatic cervical cancer. Along with a manageable safety profile, the clinically meaningful survival benefits suggest pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy ± bevacizumab may be a new standard first-line therapy for this population.

Pd–Cu catalysis is combined with in situ electrolytic H2 evolution for NO3– reduction with protonated polypyrrole (PPy) as a cathode. The surface of PPy is not only beneficial for H2 evolution, but...

Background Nowadays, people diagnosed sepsis may develop acute kidney injury (AKI), resulting heavy burden of health care. Recombinant human erythroprotein (rhEPO) has been suggested to have multifunction and may be used in the prevention or treatment of AKI, and its underlying mechanism remains largely unknown. Methods In our study, cell model induced by LPS-activated cell apoptosis in vitro and AKI animal model caused by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection in vivo. MTT assay and Flow Cytometry were conducted to analyze cell viability and apoptosis, respectively. Western bot was used to analyze expressions of apoptosis and autophagy associated proteins, and effects on AMPK/SIRT1 pathway. Results Our results suggested that rhEPO inhibited LPS-induced cell apoptosis in HK-2 and HEK-293. Moreover, we found that rhEPO activated autophagy to prevented cell apoptosis, changing the expression level of autophagy associated proteins such as LC3-I/LC3-II and P62, and AMPK/SIRT1 pathway was involved in its regulation. Additionally, both EX527 (SIRT1 inhibitor) and Compound C (AMPK inhibitor) blocked the autophagy effects caused by rhEPO and thus reversed the anti-apoptotic effects of rhEPO. Furthermore, our data demonstrated that rhEPO inhibited LPS-induced kidney tubular injury and decreased the expression level of apoptotic proteins by altering the expression level of autophagy related proteins and AMPK/SIRT1 pathway related proteins in vitro. Conclusion Collectively, rhEPO suppressed LPS-induced cell apoptosis via AMPK/SIRT1 pathway mediated autophagy, and modulating their levels may serve as potential way in preventing AKI.

A long-standing unresolved problem in understanding Earth's deep carbon cycle is whether crustal carbon is recycled beyond arc depths. While isotopic signatures of eclogitic diamonds and their inclusions suggest deep recycling of crustal material, the crustal carbon source remains controversial; seafloor sediment – the widely favored crustal carbon source – cannot explain the combined carbon and nitrogen isotopic characteristics of eclogitic diamonds. Here we examined the carbon and oxygen isotopic signatures of bulk-rock carbonate for 80 geographically diverse samples from altered mafic-ultramafic oceanic crust (AOC), which comprises 95 vol% of the crustal material in subducting slabs. The results show: (i) AOC contains carbonate with δ 13 C values as low as −24‰, indicating the presence of biogenic carbonate; (ii) carbonate in AOC was mainly formed during low-temperature (

Polypyrrole (PPy) nanosilk, nanowire array and nanorod array films are synthesized on carbon cloth substrate through electrochemical polymerization by only controlling the concentration of p-toluenesulfonate acid (TsOH) in electrolyte. The nanostructured films exhibit much better electricity generation performances in photoelectrochemical cell in comparison with flat film being as cathode due to their high surface areas and low combined series resistances. The optimized synthesized films are further applied in an efficient dual rotating disk photo fuel cell to treat real textile wastewater with the initial chemical oxygen demand (COD) and conductivity of 108 ± 5 mgO2 L−1 and 11600 μS cm−1, respectively, for simultaneous electricity generation. With nanosilk film as cathode, 0.44 V open circuit voltage and 2.00 mA short circuit current are obtained, the maximum output power reaches 0.22 mW. Similar results are also obtained with nanowire and nanorod arrays. Stable currents can be measured during 4 h treatment when the output voltage is 0 (short circuit condition), 0.15 and 0.25 V with any film. The COD is removed to 28 mgO2 L−1 under short circuit condition with nanosilk or nanowire cathode. However, they are 36 and 47 mgO2 L−1, respectively, when nanorod and flat cathodes are used. Moreover, the effects of pH and rotating speed are also investigated in this research.

The phosphoinositide 3-kinase γ (PI3Kγ) has been verified to be a potential drug target for the treatments of various human physical disorders. Although received lots of attention, the development of PI3Kγ-selective inhibitors is still a challenging subject because of its unique protein structural features. Aiming to uncover the interaction mechanism between the selective inhibitors and PI3Kγ, a series of benzothiazole and thiazolopiperidine PI3Kγ isoform-selective inhibitors were studied with an integrated in silico strategy by combining molecular docking, molecular dynamic simulations, binding free energy calculations, and decomposition analysis. Firstly, three molecular docking models, including rigid receptor docking, induced fit docking (IFD), and quantum mechanical-polarized ligand docking, were respectively, built, and the IFD preliminarily predicted the docking poses of all studied inhibitors and roughly analyzed the binding mechanism. Secondly, four binding complexes with representative inhibitors were selected to perform molecular dynamic simulations and free energy calculations. The predicted binding energies were consistent with the experimental bioactivities and different binding patterns between potent and weak inhibitors were uncovered. Finally, through the Molecular Mechanics/Generalized Born Surface Area binding free energy decomposition, residue-inhibitor interactions spectra were obtained and several key residues contributing to favorable binding were highlighted, which provides valuable information for rational PI3Kγ inhibitor design and modification.

Hg2+ is highly toxic and hazardous and widely found in polluted water. To remove mercury ions from wastewater, there is an urgent need to investigate and develop new adsorbents. Herein, we synthesized three novel thioether-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) through a facile diffusion method or a solvothermal strategy, i.e. [(ZnCl2)3(L1)2·χ(solvent)]n (1), [(Cu2I3O2)4(CH4N0.5)4(L1)4(DMA)4·3(H2O)·χ(solvent)]n (2) and [(CuBr2)2(L2)2 CH3CN·χ(solvent)]n (3), where L1 = 1,3,5-tris((pyridin-4-ylthio)methyl)benzene and L2 = 2,4,6-trimethoxy-1,3,5-tris((pyridin-4-ylthio)methyl)benzene. The obtained thioether-based MOFs were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis and thermogravimetric analysis. Further studies revealed that they could remove Hg2+ from water. They have high adsorptivity (up to 362 mg g-1) and are highly efficient in removing Hg2+ (up to 95%). Besides, these MOFs can be recycled and can selectively remove Hg2+ from water in the presence of other metal ions. Consequently, these MOFs are highly promising candidates for the selective absorption and removal of mercury ions from water.

A chiral sensor with optical rotation detection based on weak measurement for the kinetic study of sucrose hydrolysis is presented. Based on the polarization modulation to the pre-selection state, the optical rotation of chiral sample was accurately determined through the central wavelength shift of the output spectrum. With this approach, the concentration response curves of sucrose and its hydrolysis products, i.e., fructose and glucose, were experimentally obtained for the hydrolysis analysis. By collecting the output spectrum with a frequency of 100 Hz and fitting the central wavelength shift synchronously during the measurement, the sucrose hydrolysis process was monitored in real time. Different hydrolysis conditions with varied concentration of invertase enzyme and citrate were implemented in this work. As a consequence, the real-time hydrolysis curves of the hydrolysis process with distinct velocities was achieved and analyzed. Such a kinetic monitoring about sucrose hydrolysis with optical rotation detection technology played a critical role in the researches involving sucrose, and also revealed the great potential of weak measurement in intersections, such as food safety inspection and chemical analysis.

Aiming at the prominent problem of short durability life of concrete in saline soil area and the shortcomings of indoor accelerated test, an outdoor field exposure test was designed. The concrete specimens were semiburied in the Tianshui area with salinized soil characteristics, and nondestructive testing was conducted every 180d (days). The durability evaluation parameters and mechanical performance indexes were selected for macroscopic analysis, and the corrosion mechanism was analyzed by using the SEM image and the XRD phase. The Birnbaum-Saunders model based on physical failure and probability statistics was used for life prediction. The results show that there are rod-shaped and chip-shaped crystals growing from the surface of the gel and the internal holes in the exposed end and the embedded end of the concrete. However, the damage and deterioration of the buried end are more serious than those of the exposed end. The corrosion products mainly included ettringite, gypsum, calcium carbonate, sodium sulfate hydrate, carbosilite, and Friedel’s salt. The reliability life curve based on the Birnbaum-Saunders model can describe the whole process of exposed concrete from damage accumulation to failure. In addition, the dynamic modulus degradation index is more sensitive to concrete durability damage, and the life obtained by the Birnbaum-Saunders model is shorter than the quality degradation index. The life obtained by this degradation index is taken as the life of the concrete exposed in the saline soil site, and the concrete life of C30, C40, and C50 is about 3340d, 3930d, and 4360d, respectively.

Roaldite (Fe4N) is one of the few nitride minerals found in meteorites. Their nitrogen (N) isotopic signatures carry important information for understanding the early N cycle in the proto-solar nebula. However, the lack of knowledge on the N isotopic effects from nitride formation to its survival from frictional heating during landing impedes the interpretation and application of N isotope compositions of nitride minerals in meteorites. Here, we carried out laboratory experiments under a recently proposed roaldite forming condition, i.e., NH3 (as starting N source) reacting with metallic Fe at medium temperatures. We observed Fe4N formation over a large range of temperatures from 300�����C to 700�����C. The formation of Fe4N was associated with equilibrium N isotope fractionations with ��Fe4N-NH3 values of 0.9907 (��0.0004) at 300�����C and 0.9936 (��0.0004) at 500�����C, respectively. In the experimental pressure conditions (initial PNH3���=���3.9���6.4���bar, PTotal���300���. Thus, great caution is needed when using N isotope composition of roaldite (and probably other nitride minerals as well) to trace source information.

A selective separation-recovery process based on tuning organic acid was proposed to the resource recycling of spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) for the first time. The low-cost preparation of CoFe2O4, reuse of waste acid and recovery of Li can be realized in this process, simultaneously. Li and Co in spent LIBs can be leached efficiently using citric acid as a leaching agent, and separated effectively from leaching solution by tuning oxalic acid content. The results from the characterizations of the prepared CoFe2O4 (CoFe2O4-LIBs) show that it possesses higher ratio of Co(II)/Co(III) and Fe(II)/Fe(III), larger surface specific area and more number of acid sites in comparison with pure CoFe2O4. Besides, CoFe2O4-LIBs was used to activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for the degradation of bisphenol A (BPA). Interestingly, its degradation performance is superior to that of pure CoFe2O4 and the related Co-based catalysts. The excellent degradation performance can be maintained in presence of inorganic ions (e.g., C l − , HC O 3 − , H 2 P O 4 − and N O 3 − ) with high concentration or humic acid. Moreover, surface-bound S O 4 ∙ − is considered as the main reactive species for the degradation of BPA. More importantly, CoFe2O4-LIBs can be readily recycled by using an external magnet and own superior ability of regeneration.

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase gamma (PI3Kγ) has been regarded as a promising drug target for the treatment of advanced solid tumors, leukemia, lymphoma, and inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. However, the high level of structural conservation among the members of the PI3K family and the diverse physiological roles of Class I PI3K isoforms (α, β, δ, and γ) highlight the importance of isoform selectivity in the development of PI3Kγ inhibitors. In this review, we provide an overview of the structural features of PI3Kγ that influence γ-isoform selectivity and discuss the structure-selectivity-activity relationship of existing clinical PI3Kγ inhibitors. Additionally, we summarize the experimental and computational techniques utilized to identify PI3Kγ inhibitors. The insights gained so far could be used to overcome the main challenges in development and accelerate the discovery of PI3Kγ-selective inhibitors.

Serious environmental and human health problems caused by the abuse of antibiotics have attracted worldwide concern. Recently, metal&ndash, organic frameworks (MOFs) with high porosity have drawn wide attention for their effects in the adsorption and removal of pollutants from complex matrices. Herein, a high-stable metal organic framework (MOF), i.e., ((ZnCl2)3(L)2&middot, DMF)n, where L=1,3,5-tris((pyridin-4-ylthio)methyl)benzene), MOF 1, was applied to adsorb and remove tetracycline from sewage and dairy products. The results showed that MOF 1 exhibited a strong performance in the adsorption of tetracycline. The effects of initial pH values, adsorbent dose, contact time and ionic strength of the adsorption performance of MOF 1 were investigated. The adsorption kinetics best fit the pseudo-second order model, and the adsorption isotherms matched the Langmuir adsorption model well. It was indicated that both chemical adsorption and physical adsorption play an important role in the adsorption process, and the adsorption of tetracycline was homogeneous and occurred on a monolayer on the surface of MOF 1. Additionally, the stability of MOF 1 and the details of the adsorption mechanism were also investigated. Thus, this study provides a new candidate for the application of MOFs-based adsorbents in the removal of antibiotics from sewage and dairy products.

Early-life exposure to toxicants may have lasting effects that adversely impact later development. Thus, although the production and use of a toxicant have been banned, the risk to previously exposed individuals may continue. BDE-47, a component of commercial penta-BDEs, is a persistent organic pollutant with demonstrated neurotoxicity. To investigate the persistent effects of BDE-47 and the mechanisms thereof, we employed a metabolomics approach to analyze the brain, blood and urine of mice exposed to BDE-47 for 28 days and then 3 months post-exposure. In the brain, BDE-47 was detectable just after exposure but was below the limit of detection (LOD) 3 months later. However, the metabolomic alterations caused by early-life exposure to BDE-47 persisted. Potential biomarkers related to these alterations included phosphatidylcholine, lysophosphatidylcholine, sphingomyelin and several amino acids and biogenic amines. The metabolic pathways involved in the response to BDE-47 in the brain were mainly those related to glycerophospholipid metabolism, sphingomyelin metabolism and neurotransmitter regulation. Thus, our study demonstrates the utility of metabolomics, as the omics most closely reflecting the phenotype, in exploring the mechanisms underlying the lasting effects induced by early-life BDE-47 exposure.

Sulfide minerals host most of the world’s supplies of metals such as Cu, Ni, Co, Zn, Pb, or Mo, and understanding their crystallization, dissolution, and textural evolution is key to understanding the formation of mineral deposits, metal recovery via metallurgy, and their environmental impact. Despite the prominence of hydrothermally formed sulfide minerals, the interpretation of textures in sulfide petrology relies mainly on comparison with results from experiments conducted under dry conditions. Here, we show experimentally that the exsolution of chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) lamellae from a bornite (Cu5FeS4)-digenite (Cu9S5) solid solution (bdss) is a back-reaction, which occurred during low temperature annealing (150 °C) following initial replacement of parent chalcopyrite by bdss at 300 °C. The back-reaction is rapid (days), and its progress is catalyzed by small amounts of fluid present in the porosity within the bdss. This porosity initially results from the formation of bdss via the replacement of parent chalcopyrite by an interface-coupled dissolution-reprecipitation mechanism. During annealing, bdss first breaks down into bornite and digenite via solid-state exsolution. The bornite-digenite assemblage then exsolves chalcopyrite in local patches. We discovered strikingly similar textures in iron oxide copper gold (IOCG) deposits from South Australia; in these samples, the fluid-driven nature of the exsolution reaction is reflected by the fact that the chalcopyrite lamellae propagate around cracks and fractures within bornite. As in our experiments, most of this natural bornite formed via replacement of chalcopyrite. These reactions are controlled by kinetic factors (e.g., relative nucleation rates of Cu-Fe-sulfides; presence of porosity) rather than equilibrium thermodynamics, but result in final assemblages and textures that may not be distinguishable from those evolving from equilibrium processes under dry conditions.

A pre-treatment/treatment/post-treatment multiple functional dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma is developed with different γ-Al2O3 based catalysts packed in this research to deeply mineralize styrene and reduce by-products generation. NiO/γ-Al2O3 is packed in the first pre-treatment cell to effectively destroy the branched chains in styrene and weaken the benzene rings. TiO2/γ-Al2O3 is packed in the second treatment cell due to their high catalytic oxidation activity to mineralize the generated aromatic compounds thoroughly. Finally, bare γ-Al2O3 is packed in the last post-treatment cell to reduce the concentrations of by-products including O3 and NO generated by air over oxidation. The combinations of these three catalysts are optimized through the treatment of 3000 mg m−3 styrene at specific input energy of 189 J L−1. In comparison with single TiO2/γ-Al2O3 packed reactor with the total discharge length of 8 cm, the selectivity of CO2 can be significantly improved from 33% to 62% when the first 2 cm TiO2/γ-Al2O3 is replaced by NiO/γ-Al2O3. Furthermore, the concentrations of O3 and NO in outlet can also be effectively reduced from 8.44 mg L−1 and 81 mg m−3 to 3.72 mg L−1 and 25 mg m−3, respectively, when the last 2 cm TiO2/γ-Al2O3 is replaced by bare γ-Al2O3. The effects of specific input energy and styrene initial concentration are also investigated.

A facile transportation fuel reductive and extractive desulfurization process is studied using polyethylene glycol as extraction solvent, which is economical and environmental friendly, and sodium borohydride as reductant in this work. Several important parameters including sodium borohydride and nickel chloride dosage, stirring rate, temperature and polyethylene glycol/oil volume ratio are investigated. The total sulfur desulfurization efficiency for the simulated fuel reaches nearly 97% in this process after 1 h reaction at the temperature of 10 °C with sodium borohydride/sulfur molar ratio = 15, nickel chloride/sulfur molar ratio = 3, polyethylene glycol/oil volume ratio = 1. Furthermore, the desulfurization efficiency can be enhanced to 99% in a two-step desulfurization process. All components were detected by GC or GC-MS, and the possible desulfurization mechanism is deduced. The results show that sulfur compounds can be removed by direct desulfurization. The desulfurization performance of recycled polyethylene glycol and regenerated polyethylene glycol was also investigated and the desulfurization efficiency was 92% and 90% respectively, indicating polyethylene glycol can be regenerated in this process. Finally, actual transportation fuels (e.g. gasoline, diesel) were investigated and it revealed that polyethylene glycol and sodium borohydride can be applied in actual fuel extractive and reductive desulfurization.

Reliable and accurate detection of telomerase activity is crucial to better understand its role in cancer cells and to further explore its function in cancer diagnosis and treatment. Here, we construct a smart DNA tweezer (DT) for detection of telomerase activity. The DT is assembled by three specially designed single-stranded oligonucleotides: a central strand dually labeled with donor/acceptor fluorophores and two arm strands containing overhangs complementary to telomerase reaction products (TRPs). It can get closed through hybridization with TRPs and get reopen through strand displacement reaction by TRPs' complementary sequences. First, under the action of telomerase, telomerase binding substrates (TS) are elongated to generate TRPs ended with telomeric repeats (TTAGGG) n. TRPs hybridize with the two arm overhangs cooperatively and strain DT to closed state, inducing an increased fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) efficiency, which is utilized for telomerase activity detection. Second, upon introduction of a removal strand (RS) complementary to TRPs, the closed DT is relaxed to open state via the toehold-mediated strand displacement, inducing a decreased FRET efficiency, which is utilized for determination of TRP length distribution. The detection limit of telomerase activity is equivalent to 141 cells/μL for HeLa cells, and telomerase-active cellular extracts can be differentiated from telomerase-inactive cellular extracts. Furthermore, TRPs owning 1, 2, 3, 4, and ≥5 telomeric repeats are identified to account for 25.6%, 20.5%, 15.7%, 12.5%, and 25.7%, respectively. The proposed strategy will offer a new approach for reliable, accurate detection of telomerase activity and product length distribution for deeper studying its role and function in cancer.

The objective of this study was to explore nitrogen removal, especially effluent dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) composition, relative genes and microbial community structures with four individual nitrogen sources at 5 °C. Results show that effluent DON did not have dependent relationship with the TN removal rate (urea > ammonia chloride > L -Alanine > D -Alanine). With the same influent TN, the highest effluent DON was formed with urea; the lowest DON was fed with ammonia chloride. The main DON composition was the product of cell metabolism excluding urea, rather than the original substrate. Glutamic acid synthesizing process was of great importance to DON accumulation at 5 °C. The nitrogen source type was important to the diversity and heterogeneity of the nitrogen removal genes. Bacterial population structure using redundancy analysis (RDA) showed Simplicispira occupied a higher abundance remarkably in the reactors feeding with urea, and Dyadobacter occupied higher feeding with l -Alanine.

The construction of composite crystal structure is an effective strategy for developing enhanced functionality and can generally be constructed via two steps. Herein, a series of α@δ-MnO2 catalysts with different α/δ phase ratios are one-pot synthesized using a hydrothermal method; their molar ratio of KMnO4 to MnSO4·H2O was accurately controlled from 2.9 to 3.7. The catalytic results show that all α@δ-MnO2 catalysts exhibit significantly better catalytic performance in oxidizing toluene than single α-MnO2 and δ-MnO2 due to a synergistic effect, in which α@δ-2 with the closest two-phase proportion has the highest activity (T90 = 238 °C under a WHSV of 60,000 mL·g−1·h−1). Various characterization results indicate that α@δ-2 has the largest specific surface area, highest defects, oxygen vacancies, and best low-temperature reducibility among α-MnO2, δ-MnO2, and α@δ-2. Also, the possible reaction pathway for oxidizing toluene over the prepared catalysts is speculated using both TD/GC–MS and in-situ DRIFTS experiments.

This study investigated the dynamics of ATP synthase activity, phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) profile, and temporal evolution and spatial distribution of bacterial community to analyze bacterial survival strategies in sludge alkaline fermentation (SAF) for volatile fatty acids (VFAs) production. The results revealed a significant increase in ATP synthase activity at pH 9 and 10 (p 0.05), which could contribute to proton entry into cells and benefit bacterial survival. PLFA analysis indicated that the unsaturated fatty acids content increased with the increase of pH. Firmicutes were the dominant microorganisms in the running stage of the pH 10 reactor (35.81-62.34%) and might have been the key microbes that influenced VFAs production. Further analysis of the spatial distribution of microbial community suggested that Firmicutes mainly lived inside flocs during SAF. These findings provide an understanding for bacterial survival strategies in SAF, which could help to develop methods to further improve VFAs yield.

In this work, defect-rich 1 T-MoS2 nanosheets are successfully synthesized by solvothermal method with acetic acid as the templating agent. It is found that changing the concentration of acetic acid can regulate the proportion of 1 T phase and affect the activity of hydrogen evolution. Under the optimum concentration of acetic acid, the overpotential is as low as 136 mV at the current density of 10 mA cm−2 with a Tafel slope at only 45 mV dec−1, which shows an attractive potential for the development of electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution. In addition, the addition of acetic acid prevents the agglomeration of 1 T-MoS2 and thus increases the stability of electrode materials, which is conducive to the long-term hydrogen evolution reaction and cost control. Most importantly, according to comparing several small molecular carboxylic acids, the probable formation mechanism of 1 T-MoS2 nanosheets is proposed.

Wet flue gas desulfurization is considered as one of the most effective methods for the simultaneous removal of NOX and SO2 in the flue gas. To investigate the absorption performance of NOX and SO2 with the absorbents of Na2SO3 and (NH4)2SO3 and study the controlling factors of the process, the sulfite-based mixed absorbents with different mass concentration ratios of Na2SO3 to (NH4)2SO3 are employed for the gas removal in a bubble absorber. The results indicate that the absorbents have high absorption efficiency for SO2 and NO2 (all over 93%) with different mass ratios of Na2SO3 to (NH4)2SO3, and the absorbent with the proportion of 50%: 50% has the highest removal efficiency for NO (73.8%). The pH of the absorbent solution is a controlling factor affecting the absorption performance, and the alkaline condition is more conducive to absorption. The more the content of (NH4)2SO3 is, the lower the pH value and SO2 absorption amounts are. Moreover, the absorbent with a ratio of 30%: 70% has the highest removal efficiency (99.6%) and also the highest absorption amount (2761 mg/100 g) of SO2 (when the initial pH is the same). For the simultaneous absorption of NOX and SO2, the absorbent with a ratio of 30%: 70% has the highest removal efficiency (64.3% for NOX and 99.5% for SO2).

A novel approach to the synthesis of Mn-doped InSb nanowires is demonstrated in this work. We first report on the preparation of InSb nanowires without high temperature treatment. Indium nanowires are grown by glance angle deposition and then coated with a layer of Sb. Single crystalline InSb nanowires are obtained by annealing In/Sb nanostructures at 200 °C. Triple-layer In/Mn/Sb nanostructures are formed by the similar three-step depositions. Mn-doped InSb nanowires are prepared by annealing In/Mn/Sb nanostructures. Transmission electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy are used to analyze the structure and elemental distribution of the nanostructures. Our result shows that Mn-doped InSb nanowires can be achieved by employing solid reaction at low annealing temperature.

Most of the World's germanium (Ge) is mined from Ge-rich lignite, where it is commonly associated with elevated arsenic (As), tungsten (W) and beryllium (Be) contents. Over the past decade, new evidence showing that World-class Ge deposits result from the interaction of hydrothermal fluids with organic matter in coal seams has emerged. Yet, the chemical state of Ge and associated metals in lignite remains poorly understood. We used Mega-pixel Synchrotron X-ray Fluorescence (MSXRF), X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure (XANES) and Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (EXAFS) to characterize the oxidation states and chemical bonding environment of Ge, As, and W in two world-class Mesozoic Ge-in-lignite deposits (Lincang, Yunnan, southwestern China; Wulantuga, Inner Mongolia, northeastern China); in lignite-bearing uranium (U) ores from the Beverley deposit (South Australia) hosted in Eocene sandstones; and in lignite and preserved wood in late Oligocene-Miocene fluviatile sediments (Gore, Southland, New Zealand). The aim was to improve our understanding of the enrichment mechanism of Ge in lignite and better evaluate the environmental mobility of Ge and some of the associated metals (specifically As and W) in lignite ores. In all samples, chemical maps show that Ge is distributed homogeneously (down to 2 μm) within the organic matter. XANES and EXAFS data show that Ge exists in the tetravalent oxidation state and in a distorted octahedral coordination with O, consistent with complexing of Ge by organic ligands. In some pyrite-bearing samples, a minor fraction of Ge is also present as Ge(IV) in association with pyrite. In contrast, As displays a more complex speciation pattern, sometimes even in a single sample, including As(III), As(V), and As(−I/+II) in solid solution in sulfides. Arsenic in sulfides occurs in anionic and cationic forms, i.e., it shows both the common substitution for S22 − and the substitution for Fe recently discovered in some hydrothermal pyrites. Tungsten was present as W(VI) in distorted octahedral (3 + 3) coordination. The EXAFS data confirm the absence or minor contribution of individual W-rich minerals such as scheelite or ferberite to W mass balance in the studied samples. These data show that Ge, W, and probably some As are scavenged via formation of insoluble, oxygen-bridged metal organic complexes in lignite. Destruction of the organic ligands responsible for fixing Ge and W (As) in these lignites is required for liberating the metals, e.g. from waste materials. Geochemical modelling suggests that Ge, W, Be and As all can be extracted from granitic rocks by dilute, low temperature hydrothermal fluids. Germanium is transported mainly as the tetrahedral Ge(OH)4(aq) complex, but fixed as an octahedral oxy-bridged organic complex. The same situation is valid for W, which is transported at the tetrahedral tungstate ion, but most likely scavenged via formation of a 6-coordinated metal-organic species. The Ge-Be-W ±As association in Ge-rich coals reflects the source of the metals as well as related scavenging mechanisms.

A new kind of brookite TiO 2 /g-C 3 N 4 nanocomposite, in which g-C 3 N 4 nanodots (CNDs) with a mean size of ∼2.8 nm are decorated on brookite TiO 2 quasi nanocube (BTN) surfaces (hereafter referred as BTN-CNDs heterojunction), is prepared via a facile calcination process of the mixture of urea and the home-made BTN powders, and then used as visible-light-responsive photocatalyst for CO 2 reduction. Electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), ultraviolet-visible light (UV-vis) diffuse reflectance absorption spectra (DRS), X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS) and its valance band (VB) spectra are adopted to investigate the microstructure, composition, energy band structure, and the possible photogenerated electron transfer processes between BTN and CNDs. After optimizing the photocatalytic condition, enhanced visible-light-driven CO 2 -reduction activity and selectivity for CH 4 generation as compared to g-C 3 N 4 and BTN alone are observed, and a photosensitization mechanism is proposed to explain the differences in the photocatalytic performance among g-C 3 N 4 , BTN, and BTN-CNDs. The pronounced CH 4 generation activity and selectivity over BTN-CNDs heterojunction demonstrate a new strategy for improving the interfacial charge transfer and the photocatalytic CO 2 reduction performance though tailoring the microstructures of the semiconductor-based nanocomposites.

Adsorbents synthesized with biopolymer have been widely used in the removal of toxic metal ions. Novel high-efficiency, recyclable, and low-cost adsorbents have received more and more attention. Chitosan and cellulose are the most abundant biopolymers in nature. Composite modified adsorbent (CSTEC) was synthesized as novel fibrous materials for the adsorption of Cu2+ and Pb2+ ions from water in this study. The functional fiber was characterized to investigate the surface appearance, functional groups, crystallinity, and thermal stability. The kinetics study revealed that adsorption processes of Cu2+ and Pb2+ ions on the CSTEC followed the second-order kinetics model. CSTEC showed better performance (Cu2+, 95.24; Pb2+, 144.93mgg-1) than most of other adsorbents. The co-existing ions (K+, Na+, Mg2+) had no significant influence on the removal of target ions by the CSTEC. The excellent reusability indicated that CSTEC had the promising application in the treatment of toxic metal pollution.

A novel chitosan-modified polyethylene terephthalate (PET) composite (CCP) adsorbent was specifically fabricated using a dip-padding method for removal of toxic metal ions (Zn2+, Cu2+, and Pb2+) from aqueous solution, especially during emergency treatment of river pollution. The fabricated CCP sample was investigated by scanning electron microscopy, static contact angle measurement, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy to confirm successful coating of chitosan onto PET fibers. Adsorption experiments demonstrated that the adsorption process of metal ions onto the surface of CCP was well fit by the Langmuir isotherm model and pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Maximum adsorption values (q max) of 18.69, 23.70, and 31.25 mg g−1 were obtained from the Langmuir isotherm model for Zn(II), Cu(II), and Pb(II), respectively.

This study aims to investigate the effect of a magnetic field on nitrous oxide (N2O) emission from a sequencing batch reactor treating low-strength domestic wastewater at low temperature (10°C). After running for 124 days in parallel, results indicated that the conversion rate of N2O for a magnetic field-sequencing batch reactor (MF-SBR) decreased by 34.3% compared to that of a conventional SBR (C-SBR). Meanwhile, the removal efficiencies for total nitrogen (TN) and ammonia nitrogen (NH4-N) of the MF-SBR were 22.4% and 39.5% higher than those of the C-SBR. High-throughput sequencing revealed that the abundances of AOB (Nitrosomonas), NOB (Nitrospira) and denitrifiers (Zoogloea), which could reduce N2O to N2, were promoted significantly in the MF-SBR. Enzyme activities (Nir) and gene abundances (nosZ nirS and nirK) for denitrification in the MF-SBR were also notably higher compared to C-SBR. Our study shows that application of a magnetic field is a useful approach for inhibiting the generation of N2O and promoting the nitrogen removal efficiency by affecting the microbial characteristics of sludge in an SBR treating domestic wastewater at low temperature.

In this work, manganese is selectively and efficiently recovered from spent lithium-ion batteries via advanced oxidation by using potassium permanganate and ozone, and the transition metal-doped α-MnO2 and β-MnO2 are one-step prepared for catalytic oxidation of VOCs. The recovery rate of manganese can be approximately 100% while the recovery efficiency of cobalt, nickel, and lithium is less than 15%, 2%, and 1%, respectively. Compared with pure α-MnO2 and β-MnO2, transition metal-doped α-MnO2 and β-MnO2 exhibit better catalytic performance in toluene and formaldehyde removal attributed to their lower crystallinity, more defects, larger specific surface area, more oxygen vacancies, and better low-temperature redox ability. Besides, the introduction of the appropriate proportion of cobalt or nickel into MnO2 can significantly improve its catalytic activity. Furthermore, the TD/GC-MS result indicates that toluene may be oxidized in the sequence of toluene - benzyl alcohol - benzaldehyde-benzoic acid - acetic acid, 2-cyclohexen-1-one, 4-hydroxy-, cyclopent-4-ene-1,3-dione - carbon dioxide. This method provides a route for the resource utilization of spent LIBs and the synthesis of MnO2.

Adsorption is a simple and efficient way for arsenic contamination purification in water, with a pressing challenge to find a cheap and efficient adsorbent. As a poorly crystalline Fe(III)-oxyhydroxy sulfate mineral, schwertmannite can be As(V) adsorbent because of its tunnel structure and low cost. However, the schwertmannite synthesized commonly by H2O2 rapid oxidation suffers from the low Fe utilization and limited As(V) adsorption capacity. In this research, the schwertmannite is synthesized by KMnO4. The results show that the Fe utilization can be improved from 40% to 56%, with the As(V) adsorption capacities double times better than those synthesized by H2O2 at pH 7 and 2. The As(V) adsorption mechanisms at different pHs and the reason for the improvement of As(V) adsorption capacity are thoroughly investigated. The FTIR and EDS images confirm that As(V) adsorption exchange with SO42- is the dominant mechanism at pH 7 and 2. At pH 11, the As(V) is mainly removed by surface complexation because the surface SO42- is exchanged by OH-. The intraparticle diffusion model fitting and XPS results further reveal that the tunnel structure built by Fe-SO4 in the KMnO4 oxidized schwertmannite is more stable, possibly resulting in the better As(V) adsorption performance.

Polypyrrole (PPy) film is synthesized on Ti substrate through electrochemical polymerization method and is applied as cathode material in a TiO2 NTs-PPy dual rotating disk photo fuel cell (PFC). The optimized PPy electrochemical polymerization is carried out using linear sweep voltammetry from 0 V to 1.2 V (vs. SCE) with scan rate of 0.1 V s−1, 100 circles. Sixty milliliter real textile wastewater with the initial COD and conductivity of 408 ± 6 mgO2 L−1 and 20180 μS cm−1 is treated in this PFC under UV irradiation. About 0.46 V open-circuit voltage (VOC) and 1.8–2.2 mA short-circuit current (JSC) are obtained. Due to the effective electron-hole separation effect, the COD removal rate is as high as 0.0055 min−1. Stable current and COD removal can be obtained at different output voltage. Two influence factors including rotating speed and pH are investigated. Better electricity generation performance and COD removal activity are achieved at high rotating speed and in acidic condition. In comparison with platinized cathode, though VOC is lower, similar JSC is measured. Considering the high cost of Pt, PPy is a promising alternative cathode material in PFC that can also generate electricity efficiently and stably.

A photocatalytic fuel cell (PFC) with simultaneous degradation of organism pollution and generation of electricity has been a promising technology in environmental wastewater remediation. However, a perspective on its photocurrent in the PFC, especially its relationship with the performance of organics degradation, is still not explicitly defined. Here, we demonstrated the co-existence of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and organic substance (COD) oxidation currents theoretically and technically in the PFC using TiO 2 for wastewater remediation because the low valence band position of the TiO 2 allows simultaneous interface reactions of water to oxygen and organics to carbon dioxide. These two reactions could compete for the exited holes. The benchmark of the COD current has been further measured and calculated from the J - V curves, which reveals a complicated apportionment, from 5.9% to 52.8% of the COD current, of the overall photocurrent in the PFC. These values are strongly affected by the morphologies, the electrolyte, and also the pollutant concentrations. A huge enhancement, more than two-fold the COD current, of the organic oxidation has been observed on morphologically reshaped long TiO 2 nanotube arrays (TNTAs) with μm scaled large pit holes compared to the traditional long TNTAs with a planar surface. This result indicates a significant morphologic benefit, which in detail, probably allows a more efficient organic migration onto the tube wall surface because of the large pit holes. The comparison of the COD current between normal long-, short- TNTAs, a sol-gel TiO 2 film, and the newly developed pit-type TNTAs demonstrates that the pit-type TNTAs are most robust for COD oxidation with a much larger COD current over all these traditional TiO 2 electrodes. This benchmark of the COD current, including the demonstration of the photocurrent sources in a PFC, could probably provides insight into the design of the photoanodes and gives a more fair evaluation of the photoanode performance, which could also support the development of more efficient photoanodes in the future.

Polypyrrole functionalized nickel foam is facilely prepared through the potentiostatic electrodeposition. The PPy-functionalized Ni foam functions as a hydrogen-evolution cathode in a rotating disk photocatalytic fuel cell, in which hydrogen energy and electric power are generated by consuming organic wastes. The PPy-functionalized Ni foam cathode exhibits stable catalytic activities after thirteen continuous runs. Compared with net or plate structure, the Ni foam with a unique three-dimensional reticulate structure is conducive to the electrodeposition of PPy. Compared with Pt-group electrode, PPy-coated Ni foam shows a satisfactory catalytic performance for the H2 evolution. The combination of PPy and Ni forms a synergistic effect for the rapid trapping and removal of proton from solution and the catalytic reduction of proton to hydrogen. The PPy-functionalized Ni foam could be applied in photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical generation of H2. In all, we report a low cost, high efficient and earth abundant PPy-functionalized Ni foam with a satisfactory catalytic activities comparable to Pt for the practical application of poly-generation of hydrogen and electricity.

Magnetic chitosan beads (MCBs) synthesized through a common embedding method and crosslinked with glutaraldehyde were studied for the adsorption of Cu2+ in aqueous solution. MCBs were investigated by means of hysteresis curves, thermo-magnetization curves, TGA, FTIR and XRD. Kinetic, isothermal and thermodynamic studies were applied to investigate the adsorption of Cu2+ by the MCBs. The effects of the pH value and the coexisting ions on the adsorption of Cu2+ were explored. Subsequently, the stability of the MCBs including the adsorption capacity (Qe) and the saturated magnetization (Ms) stability was investigated under various conditions. Simultaneously, FTIR and XRD were utilized to further analyze the change in the MCBs in the stability studies. The results suggested that the MCBs showed good stability without a significant loss in Qe and Ms after regeneration from five sequential cycles. The MCBs presented excellent storage stability while stored in a drying vessel for ten months. For thermal stability, the Qe and Ms of the MCBs presented similar variations after being heated in the atmosphere and in a vacuum at different temperatures for 30 h. The Qe changed slightly after being heated at 50 and 100 °C, and decreased sharply at 150 and 200 °C. The magnetization was stable in the lower temperature range (50–150 °C) and increased slightly at 200 °C. Different magnetic fields had little effect on the stability of the MCBs.

Transcription factors (TFs) are DNA-binding proteins that regulate gene transcription and their expression levels are closely associated with disease development. Sensitive and specific detection of TFs is significant to clinical diagnostics and drug development. Herein, a label-free fluorescent strategy for the sensitive and specific detection of TFs was developed based on protein binding-protected DNA three-way junction (TWJ)-mediated rolling circle amplification (RCA). A trifunctional TWJ was designed including a target binding site, AlwI recognition site and sutured primer of RCA. Firstly, TFs bound with a target binding site, protecting the four and five bases downstream from the AlwI recognition site against cleavage by AlwI. Next, the sutured primer in the protected TWJ hybridized with the padlock probe, initiating RCA. Finally, the sutured primer was extended with multiple G-quadruplex sequences, binding with N-methyl-mesoporphyrin IX (NMM) to yield an enhanced fluorescence response. Residual TWJs were digested by AlwI, effectively blocking the RCA reaction, thus suppressing nonspecific amplification. Taking NF-κB p50 as a model target of TFs, high sensitivity was achieved with a low detection limit of 6.8 pM and a broad linear range from 8 pM to 15 nM. We successfully measured NF-κB p50 in HeLa cell nuclear extracts with a low detection limit of 0.34 ng μL−1. The strategy was also effectively used to assay the inhibition effect of a model inhibitor of NF-κB, oridonin. The results indicated the proposed strategy holds great promise for studying TFs in disease diagnostics and drug developments.

An improved Wellman-Lord process is developed with electrochemical reactor, which can effectively recycle and reuse SO2 and NOX from flue gas. The process features to (a) remove and recycle NOX while recovering SO2 with the process of electrochemical denitrification; and (b) solve the problem of pipeline blockage caused by oxidation by-products with ammonium- wet absorption method. The crystallization temperature of the absorption solution reduces more than 50.0% after NH4+ is gradually added to Na2SO3. More than nearly 75.0% of (NH4)2SO4 added can ensure that it does not crystallize under the same conditions. The crystallization temperature decreases 44.16% and 54.69% with the absence of SO32− (solute of 20% wt) and HSO3− (solute of 28% wt), respectively, when the interference concentration reaches 80%. The absorption efficiencies of 5% Na2SO3 and 5% (NH4)2SO3 reach 98.18% and 98.47% for SO2 and 98.38% and 93.44% for NO2, respectively. Co3O4/Ti cathode exhibits nitrate removal efficiency of 93.67% and ammonia generation efficiency of 85.56%. The concentration of nitrate-N reduces 86.30% and ammonia-N increases 71.40% when the reaction proceeds for 11 h with intermittent injection conditions. The effect of pH on nitrogen removal with the presence of ammonium is also studied.

End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is the last stage of chronic kidney disease, characterized by the progressive accumulation of uremic toxins (UTs). Hemodialysis is the standard approach to remove UTs from the body. Creatinine and urea levels are important indices of hemodialysis effectiveness, but the utility of those markers to estimate the removal of UTs, especially protein-binding UTs is limited. We developed an LC-MS/MS method for the quantification of UTs and to provide markers for evaluating hemodialysis effectiveness. These substances were extracted from serum samples after acetonitrile precipitation of protein and then separated on a HILIC column. The flow rate was 0.6 mL/min with a run time of 8.0 min for the negative ion mode and positive ion mode each. In this study 26 UTs were determined in normal subjects and in patients with ESRD before and after hemodialysis; serum levels were significantly higher in patients with ESRD than in subjects with normal renal function. A significant decrease in a variety of serum UTs were observed in patients after dialysis treatment, but no change in the levels of orotic acid, CMPF, kynurenic acid, p-cresol sulfate, phenyl-β- d -glucuronide, 4-ethylphenyl sulfate and 3-indolyl-β- d -glucopyranoside was found. These results show that some UTs could not be completely removed by hemodialysis. In addition, some biomarkers of different types of UTs are proposed for evaluating hemodialysis effectiveness.

In this work, cathode materials of spent lithium-ions manganate batteries are recovered as the precursor of manganese-based oxides catalysts and furthermore, different amount of Fe, Bi, Ce are introduced to modify their properties. A series of MnOx(MS)-X Fe, MnOx(MS)-X Bi and MnOx(MS)-X Ce samples with crystal phase of Mn5O8 are synthesized using combustion method and then the catalytic behavior and physicochemical properties of prepared catalysts are investigated. Compared to binary MnOx-5% Fe, MnOx-15% Bi and MnOx-10% Ce samples, multi MnOx(MS)-5% Fe, MnOx(MS)-15 Bi and MnOx(MS)-10% Ce catalysts display enhanced catalytic performance significantly in the removal of oxygenated VOC, which could be attributed to larger specific surface area, higher concentration of surface active oxygen species and Mn4+ ions and better reducibility at low temperature. In-situ DRIFTS results imply that main oxygen-containing functional groups such as carbonyl (-C=O), carboxyl (-COO), hydroxyl (-OH) can be observed during VOC oxidation and by comparison, it can be found that gas-phase O2 plays a crucial role in facilitating the further oxidation of by-products into CO2. In addition, TD/GC–MS results point out that the main by-products are formaldehyde; 2-propanol, 1-methoxy-; ethanol, 2-methoxy-, acetate; 2-ethoxyethyl acetate; acetic acid during VOC oxidation.