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A simple and eco-friendly approach was used to prepare α-Fe2O3@graphene oxide (α-Fe2O3@GO) nanocomposites with different iron oxide content in lower temperature. The nanocomposites were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Raman spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and nitrogen adsorption–desorption techniques. The results show that α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles with particle sizes of 60–100 nm are uniformly anchored on the surface of GO nanosheets at lower hydrothermal reaction. The specific surface area of α-Fe2O3@GO (114.57 m2/g) was about threefold larger than that of pure iron oxide (33.37 m2/g). Moreover, α-Fe2O3@GO nanocomposites with optimal mass ratio (8:1) between iron oxide and GO, which exhibited enhanced response to 100 ppm ethanol (14.82) in comparison with pure α-Fe2O3 (3.48) at 260 °C. The improved sensitive performance is in contact with larger surface area and incremental active sites in interface owing to introducing GO. The results reveal that GO is crucial to improve gas sensing performance.

The structure and function of naturally occurring proteins are governed by a large number of amino acids (≥100). The design of miniature proteins with desired structures and functions not only substantiates our knowledge about proteins but can also contribute to the development of novel applications. Excellent progress has been made towards the design of helical proteins with diverse functions. However, the development of functional β-sheet proteins remains challenging. Herein, we describe the construction and characterization of four-stranded β-sheet miniproteins made up of about 19 amino acids that bind heme inside a hydrophobic binding pocket or "heme cage" by bis-histidine coordination in an aqueous environment. The designed miniproteins bound to heme with high affinity comparable to that of native heme proteins. Atomic-resolution structures confirmed the presence of a four-stranded β-sheet fold. The heme-protein complexes also exhibited high stability against thermal and chaotrope-induced unfolding.

ZnSnO3 hollow microspheres were synthesized by a simple one-pot template-free and general in-situ precipitation method combined with subsequent dehydration treatment. The prepared ZnSnO3 hollow microspheres were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and the thermogravimetric-differential scanning calorimetry analysis (TG-DSC). The results showed that ZnSnO3 hollow microspheres with diameter ranging from 1.3 to 1.6 μm were constructed by small nanoparticles with diameter of about 70 nm. The investigation on the evolution formation revealed that the orientation and morphology of the products were carefully controlled by adjusting the amount of the addition of NaOH and the growth time, and a possible formation mechanism of the hollow structure was proposed. Moreover, the as-fabricated sensors based on the ZnSnO3 hollow microspheres showed superior gas-sensing properties for the detection of ethanol than ZnSnO3 solid spheres and can detect ethanol in the real life.

Fe3O4-TiO2 heterostructures were synthesized through co-precipitation method based on TiO2 nanobelts. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), vibration sample magnetometry (VSM) were used to characterize the heterostructure nanocomposites. The results of XRD proved that the TiO2 nanobelt was anatase which was the most suitable crystal form for photocatalysis. SEM and TEM analysis indicated that Fe3O4 nanoparticles were adhere to TiO2 nanobelts which have one-dimensional structure with 100–200 nm in width. The VSM measurements showed that the photocatalyst can be easily recovered by an extemal magnetic field. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) of Ag@Fe3O4-TiO2 nanocomposites studies confirm that Ag is in Ag0 state. Finally, the photodegradation of rhodamine B (RhB) by the obtained magnetic photocatalyst was investigated via UV–vis absorption spectra. The photocatalytic activity of the composites was observed to be lower compared to bare TiO2 due to the higher degree of recombination reactions after combined with Fe3O4 nanoparticles. After coated the composite of 15% Fe3O4-TiO2 with Ag, the new nanocomposite of Ag@Fe3O4-TiO2 can be easily recovered after photocatalysis by an extemal magnetic field and showed enhanced photocatalytic activity. The mechanisms for the exhibited enhanced photocatalytic effect of Ag nanoparticle decorated Fe3O4-TiO2 nanocomposites with surface heterostructures are discussed.

A solid state ferricarboxylate photocatalyst, magnetite/carboxylate-rich carbon sheets (MCRCSs), was synthesized in air via a low-temperature carbonization process. In the structure of MCRCSs, both Fe3O4 nanoparticles and EDTA are homogeneously dispersed into carbon sheets forming ferricarboxylate complexes. Abundant ferricarboxylate complexes endow the MCRCSs with marked visible light absorption properties. MCRCSs exhibit excellent visible-light-driven photoreduction activities of Cr(VI). Fe(II), O2˙−, and carboxylate radicals (R-COO)n3−n* produced from the Fe(II)/Fe(III) photoredox cycle of MCRCSs are the main reductants for the reduction of Cr(VI). After the photoreduction of Cr(VI), MCRCSs can be magnetically separated from aqueous solution easily. Unlike a conventional ferricarboxylate photocatalyst (homogeneous and heterogeneous) fabricated from two components, iron species (dissolved or solid) and dissolved low-molecular-weight carboxylic acids, MCRCSs exist in the all solid state and every particle of MCRCSs is an individual unit which can release active radicals O2˙− by itself. The special nature of the all solid state will simplify the operation process of MCRCSs.

Our previous study revealed that the antioxidant activity of polysaccharide (coded as FGFP) extracted from Grifola frondosa by enzymolysis treatment was significantly superior than that (coded as GFP) extracted by boiling-water. In this study, one purified polysaccharide fractions (coded as FGFP-11) was obtained from FGFP by purified using DEAE-52 column and Sephacryl S-500HR column. Results indicated that FGFP-11 with MW of 59.82 kDa consisted of mannose, glucose and galactose with a molar ratio of 1.00:16.36:5.25. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR spectrum) of FGFP-11 was similar with that of polysaccharide extracted by boiling-water from Grifola frondosa. These indicated the enzymolysis did not destroy the polysaccharide structure. NMR spectrum showed that FGFP-11 possess α-(1→6) glycosidic bond and α-(1→3) glycosidic bond configuration. The experiment of Congo red also revealed that FGFP-11 had triple helix stereo-configuration. Moreover, the antioxidant activities of FGFP-11 were improved compared with that of GFP, especially in scavenging of hydroxyl radical and diphenyl picryl hydrazinyl (DPPH) radical.

Interfacial charge transfer dynamics between photosensitizers and semiconductors has been investigated using both time-resolved ensemble-averaged and single-molecule spectroscopy techniques. The quenching efficiency of fluorescence intensity and lifetime of Atto647N molecules deposited on p-type NiO nanoparticle (NP) is demonstrated to be dependent on the oxygen concentration used during annealing of the NiO due to the upward shift of the valence band of NiO. Furthermore, hole transfer from Atto647N to an organic molecular solid (i.e., N,N'-diphenyl-N,N'-(m-tolyl)-benzidine, TPD) leads to quenched fluorescence intensity and lifetime for single Atto647N molecules embedded in TPD doped polystyrene films. Charge-transfer processes in CdSe/ZnS quantum dots with p-type NiO NP result in fluorescence intensity and lifetime quenching, suppression of blinking behavior and blueing effect, and enhancement of the dot’s survival time. Longer off-time events observed in the fluorescence intensity trajectories of single encapsulated dye molecules (i.e., Atto647N-cucurbit[7]uril complex) deposited onto n-type TiO2 NP films possibly arise from a series of trapping and de-trapping process (i.e., electron transport) after electron injection from excited dye molecules to the conduction band of TiO2. The observed power-law on-/off- time distributions in Ag nanostructures are ascribed to the random diffusion and agglomeration of Ag nanoclusters occurring on the nanostructure surface. DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (SPMS)

Anthocyanins (ANCs) are phytochemicals with several health effects and undergo significant degradation and subsequent biotransformation during complex metabolic processes. The aim of the present study was to determine the bioaccessibility and biotransformation of cyanidin-3-glucoside (C3G) during the simulated gastric-intestinal digestion in vitro and the metabolism in rats in vivo. Characterization of C3G and its metabolites was conducted by HPLC-ESI-MS/MS. After gastric-intestinal digestion, C3G was detected with a recovery of 88.31% in the gastric-digestive system, and a small amount of methylated-C3G occurred. In the intestinal-digestive system, C3G occurred with a recovery of 6.05%, and mainly decomposed into protocatechuic acid (PCA) and 2,4,6-trihydroxybenzaldehyde. The pharmacokinetic trial of C3G in rats showed rapid elimination in plasma. In tissues, C3G underwent rapid absorption and metabolism into phenolic acids or their derivatives. C3G and methylated-C3G passed through the blood–brain barrier and caused rapid distribution of C3G in the brain. Understanding the conversion of C3G and its metabolites helps in the future design of dietary interventions and the exploration of biological activities of ACNs.

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) has aroused great concern since it applied to the photocatalytic process. However, the inherent shortcomings of bulk g-C3N4, such as small active surface area, low separation efficiency of photogenerated carriers, sluggish charge transport process, etc., result in low-level photocatalytic performance. The rich-nitrogen carbon nitride nanotubes (CNNTs) made by an easy supermolecule self-assembly method could slove these subsisting problems. The CNNTs with unique morphology possess superior separation/migration of photo-excited charge carriers and enhanced photocatalytic performance. Under irradiation with visible light (λ > 400 nm), measured with Pt (3 wt%) as co-catalyst, the CNNTs have a hydrogen evolution rate of 18.06 mmol h−1 g−1 and its apparent quantum yield (AQY) is 12.55% (420 nm). The CNNTs are also applied to degrade antibiotics with simultaneous hydrogen production, providing a method for alleviating energy crisis and environmental pollution issues. The degradation rate of bisphenol A (BPA) is 92% and simultaneously with 13.63 μmol photocatalytic hydrogen generation after irradiation for 5 h.

ObjectiveThis study was performed to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of a novel surgical procedure in treating tracheal or bronchial compression related to severe congenital heart disease.MethodsThe clinical data of 28 patients with tracheal or bronchial compression related to severe congenital heart disease were retrospectively analyzed. In the control group, 12 patients underwent surgery for congenital cardiac malformations. In the treatment group, 16 patients underwent surgery for congenital cardiac malformations combined with partial resection of the pulmonary artery wall. The cardiothoracic ratio, pulmonary arterial pressure, left ventricular end-diastolic dimension, diameter of the pulmonary artery, and diameter of the trachea in the stenotic segment were quantitatively measured before and 9 days after the operation.ResultsThe diameter of the pulmonary artery and diameter of the trachea in the stenotic segment were almost restored to the normal range in the treatment group. Patients in the treatment group recovered more rapidly and effectively than those in the control group.ConclusionPartial resection of the pulmonary artery wall is an efficacious and safe technique in the treatment of tracheal or bronchial compression related to severe congenital heart disease.

MicroRNA-663 (miRNA-663) regulates the expression of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), which participates in the pathogenesis of myocardial fibrosis. Therefore, microRNA-663 may also serve a role in myocardial fibrosis. The present study aimed to determine whether miRNA-663 participates in myocardial fibrosis via interaction with TGF-β1. In the present study, the expression of miRNA-663 was significantly downregulated, whereas that of TGF-β1 was significantly upregulated in the endomyocardial biopsies of patients with myocardial fibrosis compared with those in control necropsies. Pearson's correlation analysis revealed that the expression levels of miRNA-663 were negatively correlated with those of TGF-β1 in patients with myocardial fibrosis, but not in the controls. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated that the downregulation of miRNA-663 distinguished patients with myocardial fibrosis from controls. In the AC16 human cardiomyocyte cell line, miRNA-663 overexpression resulted in downregulated TGF-β1 expression, whereas exogenous TGF-β1 treatment exhibited no significant effects on miRNA-663 expression. These results indicate that miRNA-663 may participate in myocardial fibrosis, possibly through interaction with TGF-β1.

Rare earth (RE3+ = Y3+ and Nd3+) alkali (M+ = Na+ or Li+) tetrafluoride nanocrystals adopt various morphologies and crystal structures depending on the M+-RE3+ size compatibility and Nd3+ concentration. This in turn affects the downconversion NIR luminescence and photothermal properties of the nanocrystals. For NaOH precursor, hexagonal NaNdxY1-xF4 nanocrystals are formed from the initially created cubic NaNdxY1-xF4 nanocrystals, whereas for LiOH precursor, tetragonal LiNd0.03Y0.97F4 nanocrystals are obtained. Due to the large size mismatch between Li+ and Nd3+, unstable LiNdxY1-xF4 undergoes phase separation to form either orthorhombic or hexagonal NdxY1-xF3 nanocrystals upon increasing the Nd3+ concentration. The latter dominates when Nd3+ is the majority rare earth element in the host matrix. NaNdxY1-xF4 nanocrystals display better luminescence and photothermal properties as compared to their Li+-based counterparts and the inverse relationship between emission and light-to-heat conversion efficiencies is exploited for anti-counterfeiting purposes. In this case, patterns deposited on different substrates (e.g., glass and Teflon) using Nd3+-concentrated nanocrystals, with efficient light-to-heat conversion and poor NIR luminescence properties, exhibit bright thermal and dim emission images when irradiated with 808 nm light. On the other hand, areas printed with Nd3+-diluted nanocrystals display dim thermal and bright emission images. Such anti-counterfeiting labels with opposite thermal and NIR emission displays provide enhanced security.

The prevalence of adolescent type 2 diabetes mellitus (A-T2DM) is increasing year by year. Di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP), a widely used plasticizer, could exacerbate type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The study aimed to investigate the metabolic toxicity, susceptibility and mechanism of DEHP exposure to A-T2DM. DEHP was administered orally (0, 0.18, 1.8, 18, and 180 mg/kg/day) for 3 weeks to adolescent normal mice (A-normal mice) and established A-T2DM mice. The results of fasting blood glucose (FBG) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels showed that the susceptibility of A-T2DM mice to DEHP exposure was more significant than that of A-normal mice. DEHP, interfering with glucose and lipid metabolism of A-normal and A-T2DM mice, caused the body weight increase of A-normal mice and decrease of A-T2DM mice. Besides, DEHP could cause more injury of cardiovascular, hepatic and renal function to A-T2DM mice than A-normal mice. Hepatic transcriptome analysis revealed that DEHP exposure interfered with the biological feedback adjustment of endocrine and metabolic system in A-T2DM mice and then led to the development of T2DM. According to the transcriptome results, insulin signaling transduction pathway was applied and researched by immunoassay. It was discovered that DEHP reduced insulin sensitivity and disturbed insulin signaling transduction, glucose utilization, lipid synthesis and protein synthesis. Collectively, DEHP could disturb the endocrine and metabolic functions and increase the insulin resistance in adolescent mice. Moreover, the adolescent T2DM mice are more sensitive to DEHP-induced endocrine and metabolic toxicity than the healthy adolescent mice.

An electrochemical biosensor was proposed utilizing an improved amplification strategy for the rapid detection of sulfamethazine (as a model target) in aquatic environments. In this competitive immunoassay, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide-capped gold nanoparticles (CTAB-AuNPs) were used as a signal amplifier and electrode matrix and coated with an antigen-antibody (Cag-Ab

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) would do serious damage to multiple systems, while coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls, the most toxic member of the family, has been widely taken into consideration. In this study, ICR mice were fed with different doses of PCB126 to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms on immunotoxicity. The results showed that PCB126 caused immunosuppression as evidenced by inhibiting the ratios of thymus and spleen weights, changing the organizational structure and decreasing levels and mRNA expression of TNF-α, IFN-γ and IL-2. PCB126 inhibited the SOD activity and spurred the accumulation of MDA in spleen and thymus. Meanwhile, it also disturbed the Nrf2 signaling pathway as evidenced by up-regulating the mRNA expression of Nrf2 and Keap1. Additionally, a remarkable reduction in the mRNA expression of AhR and enhancement in the mRNA expression of Cyp1 enzymes (Cyp1a1, Cyp1a2 and Cyp1b1) were observed, which increased the ROS levels. PCB126 could increase protein expression of Bax, Caspase-3, Caspase-8 and Caspase-9, while the protein expression of Bcl-2 was decreased. In summary, the results indicated that PCB126 modulated the AhR signaling pathway, which interacted with apoptosis and oxidative stress to induce immunotoxicity, enrich the immunotoxicological mechanisms of PCB126.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles as significant biomarkers in disease diagnostics. Here, an electrochemical biosensor was developed for the quick, sensitive, and specific detection of miRNAs from human-serum samples using three-dimensional (3D) DNA tetrahedron-structured probes (TSPs) and duplex-specific nuclease (DSN). The designed TSPs were composed of a recognition sequence that corresponded to a target miRNA and a G-quadruplex sequence that was combined with hemin to mimic the biocatalytic functions for H2O2 reduction and l-cysteine oxidation. After hybridization with miRNA, the TSPs were immobilized on the Au electrode to shape the DNA-RNA double strands, which could be discriminated by DSN for hydrolysis of the DNA in the heteroduplexes to generate significant change in the reduction currents. Under optimal conditions, the biosensor showed a wide linear response ranging from 0.1 fM to 0.1 pM, with a low detection limit of 0.04 fM. Meanwhile, the method showed acceptable accuracy and precision for the determination of miRNAs in serum after a series of assessments.

Tuberculosis is still the leading cause of pericardial disease in developing nations. A definite diagnosis of tuberculosis is usually relatively difficult, especially when its manifestations are not typical. We report a 19-year-old man who presented with chest obstruction, shortness of breath, edema of the lower extremities, and mild fever for 14 days. The manifestations of tuberculosis pneumonia were not typical, except for a small high-density shadow in the left upper lung field near the pleura, with a small amount of pleural effusion on chest computed tomography. The tuberculin skin test, acid-fast stain of sputum and pericardial effusion, and bacterial culture showed negative results. Echocardiography showed three free-floating irregular masses in a large amount of pericardial effusion. The masses and exudates were removed by pericardiectomy. The masses were composed of hyperplastic granulation tissue and dead tissue without a normal architecture, mixed with numerous caseous substances, which confirmed the diagnosis of tuberculous pericarditis. This is a unique report of a patient who presented with tuberculous pericarditis with multiple solid masses in a large amount of pericardial effusion, without typical clinical manifestations of tuberculosis.

We report the synthesis and biological evaluation of a series of 4'-fluoro-2'- C-substituted uridines. Triphosphates of the uridine analogues exhibited a potent inhibition of hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS5B polymerase with IC50 values as low as 27 nM. In an HCV subgenomic replicon assay, the phosphoramidate prodrugs of these uridine analogues demonstrated a very potent activity with EC50 values as low as 20 nM. A lead compound AL-335 (53) demonstrated high levels of the nucleoside triphosphate in vitro in primary human hepatocytes and Huh-7 cells as well as in dog liver following a single oral dose. Compound 53 was selected for the clinical development where it showed promising results in phase 1 and 2 trials.

Cyclic dinucleotides (CDNs) are important second messenger molecules in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Within host cells, cytosolic CDNs are detected by STING and alert the host by activating innate immunity characterized by type I interferon (IFN) responses. Extracellular bacteria and dying cells can release CDNs, but sensing of extracellular CDNs (eCDNs) by mammalian cells remains elusive. Here, we report that endocytosis facilitates internalization of eCDNs. The DNA sensor cGAS facilitates sensing of endocytosed CDNs, their perinuclear accumulation, and subsequent STING-dependent release of type I IFN Internalized CDNs bind cGAS directly, leading to its dimerization, and the formation of a cGAS/STING complex, which may activate downstream signaling. Thus, eCDNs comprise microbe- and danger-associated molecular patterns that contribute to host-microbe crosstalk during health and disease.

Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), one of the most common plasticizers, is closely associated with a high prevalence of pubertal type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Numerous studies have indicated that DEHP-induced metabolic toxicity exhibits sex differences. In this study, the sex differences in the effect of DEHP on pubertal T2DM (P-T2DM) mice, the susceptibility of female P-T2DM mice to DEHP-induced metabolic toxicity, and the underlying mechanisms were investigated. DEHP exposure exacerbated metabolic disorders in female P-T2DM mice. Factorial analysis showed that female P-T2DM mice were more sensitive to DEHP exposure than female normal mice and male P-T2DM mice. It was determined by integrated biomarker response results that female P-T2DM mice had higher risks of developing T2DM, metabolic disorders, cardiovascular events and hepatotoxicity than male P-T2DM mice. Moreover, hepatic transcriptome analysis emphasized the effects of DEHP on the expression of oxidative injury- and metabolic function-related genes. Western blotting indicated that DEHP activated Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK) and impaired insulin sensitivity in the liver, which were the main causes of DEHP-exacerbated metabolic abnormalities in P-T2DM mice. Our study revealed that compared with normal mice and male P-T2DM mice, female P-T2DM mice tend to suffer from increased DEHP-induced metabolic toxicity, which was primarily attributed to hepatotoxicity.

An efficient ultrasonic-cellulase-assisted extraction (UCE) of Cistanche tubulosa polysaccharide (CTP) was established. The response surface methodology based on Box-Behnken Design was employed to further optimize extraction conditions. After quaternary ammonium salt precipitation, the polysaccharide of C. tubulosa was characterized by different techniques. The results showed that a maximum polysaccharide yield of 22.31±0.45% was achieved at a pH of 5.2 for 31.5min at 54.1°C. Compared to hot water extraction, the yield of CTP in UCE and polysaccharide content increased to 44.96% and 70.13±2.19%, respectively. There was no marked difference among polysaccharides extracted using different methods from the infrared spectrum. Ultrasonic-cellulase-assisted extraction polysaccharide showed a fibrous structure from scanning electron microscopy and was composed of rhamnose, mannose, glucose, and galactose in a molar ratio of 2.18:1:28.29:1.43 by gas chromatography. The circular dichroism results indicated that polysaccharides had a maximum positive peak around 210nm with different peak values. The thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry were used to test the thermostability of CTP. Besides, CTP demonstrated appreciable antioxidant potential on antioxidant experiments in vitro. The results suggested that UCE is an effective method for CTP extraction and its polysaccharide showed appreciable antioxidant activity.

Owing to awfully harmful to the environment and human health, the qualitative and quantitative determination of parachlorophenol (PCP) is of great significance. In this paper, by using silica@polydopamine as template, nitrogen-doped hollow carbon spheres wrapped with reduced graphene oxide (NHCNS@RG) nanostructure was prepared successfully via a self-assembly approach due to the electrostatic interaction, and the obtained NHCNS@RG could exhibit the unique properties of NHCNS and RG: the NHCNS could impede the aggregation tendency of RG and possess high electrocatalytic activity; the RG enlarges the contacting area and offers many area-normalized edge-plane structures and active sites. Scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and electrochemical method were used to characterize the morphology and structure of NHCNS@RG. Then, the NHCNS@RG hybrids were applied for the electrochemical sensing of PCP, under the optimized conditions, the detection limit of PCP obtained in this work is 0.01 μM and the linear range is 0.03–38.00 μM.

A novel nanocomposite of molecularly imprinted polymers and graphene sheets was fabricated and used to obtain a highly conductive acetylene black paste electrode with high conductivity for the detection of bisphenol A. The two-dimensional structure and the chemical functionality of graphene provide an excellent surface for the enhancement of the sensitivity of the electrochemical sensor and the specificity of molecularly imprinted polymers to improve detection of bisphenol A. The synergistic effect between graphene and molecularly imprinted polymers confers the nanocomposite with superior conductivity, broadened effective surface area and outstanding electrochemical performance. Factors affecting the performance of the imprinted sensor such as molecularly imprinted polymers concentration, foster time and scan rate are discussed. The sensor successfully detects bisphenol A with a wide linear range of 3.21 × 10-10 to 2.8 × 10-1 g/L (R = 0.995) and a detection limit of 9.63 × 10-11 g/L. The fabricated sensor also possessed high selectivity and stability and exhibits potential for environmental detection of contaminants and food safety inspection.

Electron conductivity of duplex DNA has promising applications in fabricating DNA based biosensors and electronic devices for biomimic solar cells. However, in aqueous solution DNA-mediated electron transfer (ET) is often far from ideal for these applications. We reported here that in hydrated ionic liquids (IL) electron can propagate through 4 nm of duplex DNA, and higher ET efficiency was achieved over longer distance which yielded a noncanonical negative distance decay parameter (γ = −0.02 Å–1). Fluorescence studies and ET efficiency of duplex DNA in IL-D2O revealed that the binding of both cationic and anionic species of hydrated IL in DNA minor groove and the exclusion of water from the DNA hydration layer significantly improved base-pair stacking of duplex DNA to achieve efficient electric conductivity. As an oxidation reaction of nucleic acids, efficient DNA ET observed here suggested that IL could be a promising nonorganic and nonaqueous solvent for redox reactions of biomacromolecules. MOE (Min. of Education, S’pore) Accepted version

Two different industrial effluents, spent pickle liquor and Ni-containing wastewater, were simultaneously treated via chemical precipitation and hydrothermal reaction to generate valuable NiFe 2 O 4 . Subsequently, the NiFe 2 O 4 was used to construct a NiFe 2 O 4 //NiFe 2 O 4 symmetric battery. The assembling process of NiFe 2 O 4 //NiFe 2 O 4 symmetric battery is very simple since both the cathode and anode are the same material and the manufacturing cost for practical application is low. The NiFe 2 O 4 //NiFe 2 O 4 symmetric battery was able to deliver specific capacity 23.1 mAh/g based on the total mass of the active materials at discharging current densities 0.5 A/g. After 500 charge-discharges cycles, the crystalline structure of NiFe 2 O 4 still exhibit good stability and can pass the TCLP limits to be regarded as a general industrial waste. This research not only removes the heavy metal from two wastewaters to avoid the environmental risks but also provides an effective method to turn “waste” into useful materials.

Diosgenin (CAS No.: 512-04-9) hydrolyzed from Dioscorea zingiberensis C. H. Wright is a very important steroid in the pharmaceutical industry. However, serious environmental pollution and poor efficiency in the utilization of this natural resource have yet to be conquered. The aim of this study was to establish a more ecological and efficient approach for producing diosgenin from fresh D. zingiberensis tubers via pressurized biphase acid hydrolysis after recycling the cellulose and starch. The reaction was carried out in a high pressure kettle, and seven parameters, including the sample to acidic solution ratio, concentration of H2SO4 aqueous solution, volume of extraction solvent, reaction temperature, duration of hydrolysis, agitation speed and boiling point of petroleum ether, were sequentially optimized through single factor experimental design. It was shown that the yield of diosgenin has been increased to 4.17% under the optimal conditions, namely, a 1:100 ratio of saponini/acidic solution (g/mL), 50 mL of 2 mu L/mL H2SO4 aqueous solution, 30 mL of petroleum ether (90-120 degrees C), 130 degrees C, 2.0 h and 100 r/min. Then, the newly proposed approach was compared with our previous strategy as well as a conventional method in terms of the yield of diosgenin, the consumption of sulfuric acid and chemical oxygen demand as well as total organic carbon of wastewater. Consequently, it was found that the yield was 22.29% higher than the conventional process, and H2SO4 consumption was reduced by 88.53%. Furthermore, the level of pollution in wastewater of the novel strategy has fallen greatly as the chemical oxygen demand and the total organic carbon were decreased by 50.15% and 64.39%. Comprehensively, it has been well demonstrated that the novel strategy based on pressurized biphase acid hydrolysis after recycling the cellulose and starch is a more ecological and effective approach for producing diosgenin from the tubers of fresh D. zingiberensis, and it is a promising strategy for application in industrial practice. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Background: Hibiscus sabdariffa L. is not only used traditionally as a component of herbal drinks, beverages and flavoring agents but also as a herbal medicine in the drug industry. Bioactive polysaccharides are important constituents of H. sabdariffa that may contribute to the plant's beneficial effects. This study was designed to investigate the structural characteristics of a water-soluble polysaccharide from H. sabdariffa, HSP41, and its immunoregulatory activity on RAW264.7 cells.; Results: HSP41 was mainly composed of arabinose, xylose and mannose at a molar ratio of 1:1.34:15.6, with an average molecular weight of 3.3 × 105 Da. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra exhibited absorption peaks characteristic of HSP41. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) revealed the amorphous form and aggregation conformation of HSP41 respectively. HSP41 significantly induced interleukin 1β (IL-1β) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression in RAW264.7 cells in vitro, promoting an increase in nuclear factor kB p65 (NF-kB p65) levels in the nucleus.; Conclusion: The results indicated that HSP41 up-regulated the immune response by stimulating RAW264.7 cell activity. HSP41, a promising immunoregulator, possibly contributes to the health benefits of H. sabdariffa and might have potential applications in health food or medicine. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.; © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

Background/Aims: To evaluate the prognostic significance of monocytes and monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells (M-MDSCs) for patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) under R-CHOP chemotherapy. Methods: Flow cytometry (FCM) was applied to measure M-MDSCs (CD14+ HLA-DRlow/− M-MDSCs). Results: Analysis of 144 patients with DLBCL under R-CHOP treatment showed that the 5-year overall survival rate was 61.09% (95% CI: 43.72%-72.56%) and the average survival time of patients with monocytes (%) ≥ 8% was shorter than those with monocytes (%) < 8% (P = 0.0036). Further stratified analysis suggested that the average survival time of patients with monocytes (%) ≥ 8% was shorter than patients with monocytes (%) < 8% in the moderate outcome group (R-IPI = 1, 2) (P = 0.0168) and in the poorest outcome group (R-IPI > 2) (P = 0.0397), meanwhile, there was no significant difference in survival of patients with monocytes (%) ≥ 8% compared to patients with monocytes (%) < 8% in the best outcome group (R-IPI = 0) (P = 0.3106). Both of monocytes (%) and M-MDSCs were decreased in different R-IPI groups after 4-course of R-CHOP chemotherapy (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Our results indicated that monocytes (%) and M-MDSCs combined with R-IPI may be a simple and efficient immunological index to evaluate prognosis.

In our previous study, a polysaccharide was extracted from Schisandra Chinensis (Trucz.) Baill and found with anti-diabetic effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-diabetic effects of the low weight molecular polysaccharide (SCPP11) purified from crude Schisandra polysaccharide and illustrate the underlying mechanism in buffalo rat liver cells. The insulin resistance model of BRL cells was established by incubating with insulin solution for 24h. The effects of SCPP11 on regulating related protein and mRNA expression in an insulin and AMPK signal pathway were investigated by western blot and RT-PCR analysis. SCPP11 showed no cytotoxicity to BRL cells and could improve the glucose consumption in BRL cells. SCPP11 increased the protein expression of Akt, p-AMPK and GLUT-4 in BRL cells. Moreover, SCPP11 could enhance the mRNA expression levels of IRS-1, PI3K, Akt, GLUT-4, AMPKα and PPAR-γ in BRL cells at the same time. In conclusion, SCPP11 possessed effects in improving glucose consumption by up-regulating the expression of GLUT-4 which might occur via insulin and AMPK signal pathway and could be a potential functional food to prevent and mitigate the insulin resistance condition.

In this work, a two-step synthesis of CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite microrods involving first the production of PbI2 microrods by the evaporation of a dimethylformamide (DMF) solution of PbI2 is introduced. The PbI2 rods, acting as a shape template, yield rod-like perovskites of similar lengths and diameters when immersed in a solution of CH3NH3I. When comparable amounts of PbI2 are used, the two-step synthesis produces perovskite microrods that are shorter and more uniform in length than the ones prepared by a one-step synthesis via the evaporation of a DMF mixture of PbI2 and CH3NH3I. This is due to an uncontrolled crystal growth reaction in the one-step synthesis versus a nucleation dominated one in the two-step synthesis. The hole-transfer dynamics from the as-prepared perovskite rods to spiro-OMeTAD is also examined. Both the photoluminescence (PL) intensity and lifetime of the perovskite in the absence of spiro-OMeTAD are found to be enhanced as the CH3NH3PbI3 rods are continuously exposed to the excitation...

Influenza viruses are responsible for seasonal epidemics and occasional pandemics which cause significant morbidity and mortality. Despite available vaccines, only partial protection is achieved. Currently, there are two classes of widely approved anti-influenza drugs: M2 ion channel blockers and neuraminidase inhibitors. However, the worldwide spread of drug-resistant influenza strains poses an urgent need for novel antiviral drugs, particularly with a different mechanism of action. Favipiravir (T-705), a broad-spectrum antiviral agent, has shown potent anti-influenza activity in cell-based assays, and its riboside (2) triphosphate inhibited influenza polymerase. In one of our approaches to treat influenza infection, we designed, prepared, and tested a series of C-nucleoside analogues, which have an analogy to 2 and were expected to act by a similar antiviral mechanism as favipiravir. Compound 3c of this report exhibited potent inhibition of influenza virus replication in MDCK cells, and its triphosphate was a substrate of and demonstrated inhibitory activity against influenza A polymerase. Metabolites of 3c are also presented.

The rational for the study was to review the literature on the toxicity and corresponding mechanisms associated with lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), and arsenic (As), individually and as mixtures, in the environment. Heavy metals are ubiquitous and generally persist in the environment, enabling them to biomagnify in the food chain. Living systems most often interact with a cocktail of heavy metals in the environment. Heavy metal exposure to biological systems may lead to oxidation stress which may induce DNA damage, protein modification, lipid peroxidation, and others. In this review, the major mechanism associated with toxicities of individual metals was the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Additionally, toxicities were expressed through depletion of glutathione and bonding to sulfhydryl groups of proteins. Interestingly, a metal like Pb becomes toxic to organisms through the depletion of antioxidants while Cd indirectly generates ROS by its ability to replace iron and copper. ROS generated through exposure to arsenic were associated with many modes of action, and heavy metal mixtures were found to have varied effects on organisms. Many models based on concentration addition (CA) and independent action (IA) have been introduced to help predict toxicities and mechanisms associated with metal mixtures. An integrated model which combines CA and IA was further proposed for evaluating toxicities of non-interactive mixtures. In cases where there are molecular interactions, the toxicogenomic approach was used to predict toxicities. The high-throughput toxicogenomics combines studies in genetics, genome-scale expression, cell and tissue expression, metabolite profiling, and bioinformatics.

Rare-earth elements have been widely used in materials manufacturing to improve hardness and toughness. In this work, conventional, nanostructured, and CeO2-modified WC-12Co powders were sprayed using high-velocity oxygen flame spraying. The erosion–corrosion behavior and interaction of erosion and corrosion of the coatings in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution were investigated. In situ observation was employed to analyze the failure mechanism. The results showed that the CeO2-modified WC-12Co coating possessed the best erosion–corrosion resistance, while the lowest corrosion resistance was exhibited by the conventional WC-12Co coating. The results also suggested that the erosion–corrosion mechanism in the three coatings was dominated by corrosion-accelerated erosion. However, the extent of acceleration of erosion by corrosion differed.

Owing to the similar characteristics and physiochemical property of 2-aminophenol (2-AP) and 4-aminophenol (4-AP), the highly sensitive simultaneous electrochemical determination of 2- and 4-AP is a great challenge. In this paper, by electropolymerizing β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and l-arginine (l-Arg) on the surface of carbon nanotubes@graphene nanoribbons (CNTs@GNRs) core-shell heterostructure, a P-β-CD-l-Arg/CNTs@GNRs nanohybrid modified electrode was prepared successfully, and it could exhibit the synergetic effects of β-CD (high host-guest recognition and enrichment ability), l-Arg (excellent electrocatalytic activity) and CNTs@GNRs (prominent electrochemical properties and large surface area), the P-β-CD-l-Arg/CNTs@GNRs modified electrode was used in the electrochemical determination of 2- and 4-AP, the results demonstrated that the highly sensitive and simultaneous determination of 2- and 4-AP is successfully achieved and the modified electrode has a linear response range of 25.0-1300.0 nM for both 2- and 4-AP, and the detection limits of 2- and 4-AP obtained in this work are 6.2 and 3.5 nM, respectively.

There is a great demand for developing efficient extraction methods to reduce the extraction time and increase the yields and activities of functional antioxidants. The yields, physicochemical, functional properties and antioxidant activities of ultrasound-pretreated porcine cerebral hydrolysate peptides (UPCHPs) were studied and compared with traditional enzymolysis (PCHPs). The results showed that UPCHPs had higher peptides concentration, smaller molecular weight, and higher concentration of hydrophilic and late-eluting hydrophobic peptides than PCHPs at hydrolysis time of 20 min. However, the contents of antioxidant amino acids (Gly, Ala, Arg, Pro, His, Val, Leu, Lys and Phe) in both hydrolysate peptides were above 60%. UPCHPs with an excellent solubility had high reducing power activity and scavenging effect on 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals (72%), 2,2′-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline)-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) radicals (73%) and hydroxyl radicals (56%) at 2 mg/mL. Moreover, UPCHPs showed the moderate iron chelating activity (60%). In general, UPCHPs with good functional properties could serve as a potential antioxidant food ingredients.

In this study, the adsorption/desorption characteristics of mulberry anthocyanins (MA) on five types of macroporous resins (XAD-7HP, AB-8, HP-20, D-101 and X-5) were evaluated, XAD-7HP and AB-8 showed higher adsorption/desorption capacities. On the basis of static adsorption test, XAD-7HP and AB-8 resins were selected for kinetics, isotherms and thermodynamics. The adsorption mechanism indicated that the process was better explained by pseudo-first-order kinetics and the Langmuir isotherm model, and the thermodynamics tests showed that the processes were exothermic, spontaneous and thermodynamically feasible. Dynamic tests were performed on a column packed with XAD-7HP and AB-8, and breakthrough volume was reached at 15 and 14 bed volumes of MA solution, respectively. The purity of the fraction by 40% ethanol elution on XAD-7HP reached 93.6%, from which cyanidin-3-glucoside and cyanidin-3-rutinoside were identified by HPLC-ESI-MS/MS. The method could be used to prepare high purity anthocyanins from mulberry fruits as well as other plants.

A novel homogeneous assay method was put forth for simultaneous sensing of fluoroquinolone derivatives (FQs) in water utilizing the upconversion fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) process based on the competitive reaction between dissolved FQs and labeled AuNPs for FQs Mab connected UCPs. The prepared size-tunable β-NaLuF4:Yb,Er,Gd upconversion phosphors (UCPs) were functionalized with carboxylic acid (COOH–) and monoclonal antibody (Mab, C2F3C2) to act as a donor. The gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) labeled with the corresponding antigen (ciprofloxacin-BSA) take the role of an acceptor. Under optimized conditions, the limit of detections (LODs) for three common FQs, enrofloxacin (ENR), ciprofloxaxin (CIP), and norfloxacin (NOR), were 0.19–0.32 ng/mL based on 3σ. The recoveries were found to be in the range of 73.5–114.5% (normalized value according to the cross-reactivity of Mab) for water samples (tap water, pond water and river water). The proposed approach possesses significant advantages as follows: (i) simple procedure (only one step) without washing and separation steps, and no sample pretreatment other than filtration; (ii) fast liquid-phase kinetics with shortened incubation time; and (iii) high tolerance to various interfering substances. All of which indicated its potentiality as an efficient biosensor towards the monitoring of FQs in aquatic environments.

The present work investigated the enzymolysis kinetics, thermodynamics and model of porcine cerebral protein (PCP) which was pretreated by single-frequency countercurrent and pulsed ultrasound. The kinetic constants for ultrasonic pretreated and traditional enzymolysis have been determined. Results showed that the value of KM in ultrasonic PCP (UPCP) enzymolysis decreased by 9% over that in the traditional enzymolysis. The values of reaction rate constant (k) for UPCP enzymolysis increased by 207%, 121%, 62%, and 45% at 293, 303, 313 and 323 K, respectively. For the thermodynamic parameters, ultrasound decreased activation energy (Ea), change in enthalpy (ΔH) and entropy (ΔS) by 76%, 82% and 31% in PCP, respectively. However, ultrasound had little change in Gibbs free energy (ΔG) value in the temperature range of 293-323 K. Therefore, a general kinetic equation for the enzymolysis model of UPCP by a simple empirical equation was suggested. The experimental values fits with the enzymolysis kinetic model with a low average relative error (4%) confirmed that the kinetic model was accurate to reflect the enzymolysis process. The positive effect of single-frequency countercurrent and pulsed ultrasound in this study and application of the kinetic model may be useful for the release of bioactive peptides from meat processing by-products.

A polysaccharide termed Se-GP11 was extracted and purified from Se-enriched Grifola frondosa in our previous study. This study investigated the characterization, anti-tumor and immunomodulatory activity of Se-GP11. The results showed that Se-GP11 was composed of mannose, glucose and galactose with a molar ratio of 1:4.91:2.41. The weight-average molecular weight (Mw) and weight-average mean square radius (Rw) of Se-GP11 in 0.1M sodium chloride solution were 3.3×10(4)Da and 32.8 nm. Se-GP11 existed as a globular conformation with random coil structure. Se-GP11 had no anti-tumor activity against HepG-2 cells in vitro, and it significantly inhibited the growth of Heps tumor in vivo. Se-GP11 increased the relatively thymus and spleen weights as well as serum necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) levels. In addition, Se-GP11 promoted the phagocytosis and NO production of RAW264.7 as compared with that of the normal control group. The results revealed that the Se-GP11 may exhibit the anti-tumor through improving immunologic function of the tumor bearing mice.

This study was focused on the quantitation of caffeine in black tea by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy coupled with gold nanoparticles. Caffeine has its own importance in tea due to its significant role against cardiovascular diseases and many other benefits. Caffeine was predicted for the first time as low cost and rapid by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) coupled chemometrics in black tea. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were synthesized successfully with high enhancement factors as SERS substrate used for SERS detection coupled partial least squares (PLS) algorithms. Caffeine exhibited several SERS characteristic peaks after adsorption on AuNPs owing to electromagnetic enhancement while excited by laser excitation. Quantification of caffeine in black tea was predicted using four build models, PLS, synergy interval-PLS (Si-PLS), genetic algorithm-PLS (GA-PLS), and Si-GA-PLS on preprocessed spectral data by standard normal variate (SNV). The better results were noted by using Si-GA-PLS while latent variables, (LVs) was 5, the correlation coefficient of calibration (RC) = 0.9705 where root mean square error of cross validation (RMSECV) = 0.114% and correlation coefficient of prediction (RP) = 0.9233 where root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) = 0.165% and residual predicted deviation (RPD) was noted 2.43 and relative standard deviation (RSD) for precision was recorded as ≤3.42%. Based on the predicted results it is obvious that the purposed AuNPs nanosensor coupled Si-GA-PLS model could be successfully employed for caffeine prediction in tea with high sensitivity and rapidity.

In this study, a novel fluorescence approach for the rapid and selective detection of organophosphorus pesticides is presented. The strategy is based on inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and NaY/GdF4:Yb, Er up-conversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) fabricated with manganese dioxide (MnO2) nanosheets. Water-soluble UCNPs were first synthesized, and MnO2 nanosheets were fabricated on their surface to get an efficient quencher for up-conversion fluorescence. Subsequently, AChE was used to restore the fluorescence by dissociation of MnO2 nanosheets from the surface of UCNPs. When diazinon was added into the system, AChE activity was irreversibly impeded and resulted in the quenching of fluorescence. The inhibitory effect was linearly dependent on the concentration of the pesticide. Under the optimized conditions, the proposed sensor showed excellent performance for the detection of diazinon with a wide detection range of 0.1 to 30 ng/mL and a low detection limit (LOD) of 0.1 ng/mL. Besides, the system showed a good selectivity and was applied for diazinon detection in adulterated tea samples with a recovery rate of 98% to 111%. The unique advantages of the strategy such as simple, cost-effective, highly selective and sensitive make it an attractive approach for the detection of OPs in tea commodities.

Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and diisobutyl phthalate (DiBP) are phthalate compounds frequently detected in the environment. Despite increasing awareness of their toxicity in human and animals, the male reproductive toxicity of their combined exposure remains elusive. The purposes of this study were to investigate whether combined exposure to DBP and DiBP could induce male reproductive toxicity, and to explore the potential toxicological mechanisms. Adult male zebrafish were exposed to DBP (11, 113 and 1133 μg L−1), DiBP (10, 103 and 1038 μg L−1) and their mixtures (Mix) (11 + 10, 113 + 103, 1133 + 1038 μg L−1) for 30 days, and their effects on plasma hormone secretion, testis histology and transcriptomics were examined. Highest concentrations of Mix exposure caused greater imbalance ratio of T/E2 and more severe structural damage to testis than single exposure. These effects were consistent with the testis transcriptome analysis for which 4570 genes were differentially expressed in Mix exposure, while 2795 and 1613 genes were differentially expressed in DBP and DiBP, respectively. KEGG pathway analysis showed that both single and combined exposure of DBP and DiBP could affect cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction. The difference was that combined exposure could also affect steroid hormone synthesis, extracellular matrix receptor interaction, retinol metabolism, and PPAR signaling pathways. These results demonstrated that combined exposure to DBP and DiBP could disrupt spermatogenesis and elicit male reproductive toxicity in zebrafish.

Temperature is an important factor affecting the working efficiency and service life of lithium-ion battery (LIB). This study carried out the experiments on the thermal performances of Sanyo ternary and Sony LiFePO4 batteries under different working conditions including extreme conditions, natural convection cooling and phase change material (PCM) cooling. The results showed that PCM could absorb some heat during the charging and discharging process, effectively reduce the temperature and keep the capacity stable. The average highest temperature of Sanyo LIB under PCM cooling was about 54.4 &deg, C and decreased about 12.3 &deg, C compared with natural convection in the 2 C charging and discharging cycles. It was found that the addition of heat dissipation fins could reduce the surface temperature, but the effect was not obvious. In addition, the charge and discharge cycles of the two kinds of LIBs were compared at the discharge rates of 1 C and 2 C. Compared with natural convection cooling, the highest temperature of Sanyo LIB with PCM cooling decreased about 4.7 &deg, C and 12.8 &deg, C for 1 C and 2 C discharging respectively, and the temperature of Sony LIB highest decreased about 1.1 &deg, C and 2 &deg, C.

In order to investigate the thermal failure propagation behaviors of lithium batteries, a sequence of full-scale burning tests were conducted. The results showed that the average mass loss and total heat release of an individual cell are 5.8 g and 31.9 kJ, respectively. The battery pack fire exhibited intermittent propagation behaviors due to the heat interaction between the cells. An obvious domino phenomenon with a chain-like increase in temperature rise and propagation speed could be observed during the thermal failure propagation process. The temperature of the cell surface is about 700~1000 °C during the combustion process. Several cells burned simultaneously and exacerbated the burning rate, resulting in the larger mass loss rate and the heat release rate for the larger battery pack. The average mass loss rate is 0.69 g/s for 6 × 6 cells and 1.0 g/s for 10×10 cells, respectively. Moreover, the increasing combustion efficiency appeared in the larger battery pack. The effective heat is 2.0 kJ/g for single cell, 3.2 kJ/g for 6 × 6 cells, and 3.9 kJ/g for 10×10 cells. This study can provide a theoretical reference for the fire safety design of large lithium battery energy storage equipment.

In this paper, we propose a novel framework for dynamic spline bas-relief modeling based on isogeometric collocation method. In the proposed method, the bas-relief model is separated into two parts: the base surface and the relief surface; and both of them are represented in spline form. To simplify the construction, the spline bases for representing the base surface and relief surface are in the same spline space. Then the bas-relief surface can be added to the deformed base surface in normal direction directly, which can preserve the shape of bas-relief automatically. In our framework, efficient isogeometric collocation method is used to solve the PDE problems involved in the spline bas-relief construction. In general, the proposed method is efficient, easy to implement, and can produce high-quality bas-relief models. The proposed method has been tested with a set of binary images to show its effectiveness, especially for the Chinese calligraphy.

Here, we proposed a novel dual-channel biosensor for rapid and sensitive detection of Hg2+. Compared with the previous biosensors, the Au@Ag/graphene-upconversion (Au@Ag-GU) was prepared via a facile method and acted as a versatile signal indicator that can simultaneously readout surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and fluorescence signals for Hg2+detection. In this strategy, the core shell magnetite colloid nanocrystal clusters-polymethacrylic acid magnetic beads (MCNCs/PMAA MBs) were synthesized and conjugated with aptamer to specific capture the Hg2+. The dual-channel biosensor was thus fabricated by immobilizing the Au@Ag-GU onto the surface of MBs through the complementary pairing of aptamer and complementary DNA (cDNA). Upon Hg2+ incubation, Hg2+ preferably bound to the MBs-aptamer, resulting in the subsequent release of preloaded cDNA-Au@Ag-GU into supernatants. Under magnetic attraction, the MBs-aptamer was accumulated immediately, resulting in the concentration of Hg2+ become homodromous proportional to the dual channel intensity of the supernatants. Under the optimized conditions, the dual channel biosensor achieved excellent performances for Hg2+ with limits of detection (LOD) of 0.33 and 1 ppb, respectively. Furthermore, the feasibility of the biosensor to qualify Hg2+was also established in spiked tap water and milk samples. This strategy may provide a bridge between a highly sensitive fluorescence assay and a rapid SERS assay, it can broaden the applicability of Hg2+ detection, which can be easy to detect Hg2+ in real samples by coupling with SERS or fluorescence assay.

A supported catalyst of the lipophilic decavanadate/three-dimensional (3D) porous g-C3N4 composite was synthesized by a facile solvothermal method. The lipophilic decavanadate [(C8H17)3NCH3]3H3V10O28 was prepared by combining quaternary ammonium salt with decavanadate through acidification. A series of characterizations indicated that the carrier g-C3N4 obtained through supramolecular self-assembly of melamine, cyanuric acid and urea has a 3D pore structure, and it was conducive to the distributed load of the active center. Then, the composition and morphology of the supported catalysts were analyzed detailedly. Activity experiments demonstrated that the catalyst can achieve the goal of activating molecule oxygen to oxidize refractory aromatic sulfur compounds in diesel under mild conditions. The catalyst can still maintain stable catalytic activity after 5 cycles. Based on the results of GC–MS and ESR characterization, the probable mechanism was proposed. The combination of the lipophilic decavanadate and the carrier carbon nitride solves the problem of interface mass transfer effect between different phases and handicaps in separation and regeneration. Herein, the catalyst exhibits high desulfurization activity and good cycle stability.

Cadmium contamination in greenhouse vegetable fields greatly limited the sustainable production especially of leafy vegetables. Hydroxyapatite (HAP), as a common soil amendment, has been widely used in the remediation of Cd-contaminated soils, while its remediation efficiency greatly depends on its particle sizes. In this study, a rhizobag pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of HAP (60 nm,12 μm and80 μm) on bioavailability of Cd to celery grown in acidic and slightly Cd-contaminated greenhouse soil. The results suggested that HAP with the largest particle size (80 μm) had the best effectiveness in reducing Cd uptake especially by the edible part of celery. Specifically, the increase in HAP (80 μm) addition from 0.5% to 3% prominently reduced Cd concentrations in celery shoot by 19.6%-76.8% as compared with the untreated group. Also, adding HAP (80 μm) especially at 3% significantly decreased translocation factor (TF) of Cd from celery root to shoot by 30.6% and reduced bioconcentration factor (BCF) of Cd from rhizosphere soil to celery shoot by 76.4%. These were predominantly associated with the significantly increased soil pH and the subsequently decreased soil CaCl