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Despite the increasing concern on workplace diversity, no research has been conducted to providing an objective visualization of the development of this fast-developing area and to complementing prior qualitative and meta-analytic reviews in the Asia-Pacific region. This research uses co-citation and co-occurrence analyses to trace how the landscape of diversity evolved from January 1993 to August 2021, using the scientific visualization tool CiteSpace. Based on a dataset of 636 diversity-related publications in the Asia-Pacific region collected from the Web of Science database, we conduct a bibliometric review to map the landscape, with the focus on identifying landmark researchers, articles, and journals, and the intellectual structure of, and changes in, diversity-related research themes. Further, a narrative review was adopted to summarize the frequently studied diversity themes, to capture the developing trends of diversity research, and to build an integrated model of workplace diversity in the Asia-Pacific context. Based on these findings, this review displays the evolution of diversity literature and uncovers future research directions to spur follow-up diversity studies.

Cu/Zn/Al-hydrotalcite-like compound (Cu/Zn/Al-HTlc) was prepared by the coprecipitation method with ZnII, AlIII cations solution, and electroplating wastewater containing CuII cation. The preparation conditions of Cu/Zn/Al-HTlc were optimized. The metal ion pollutants removal effect and iodide maximum adsorption capacity of Cu/Zn/Al-HTlc were also studied. The physicochemical properties of the Cu/Zn/Al-HTlc were analyzed by X-ray diffraction, FTIR, SEM, N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms, and TG-DTG. The results showed that Cu/Zn/Al-HTlc should be prepared with the ZnII-AlIII molar ratio of 1.5 : 1, pH = 11, and aged at room temperature for 0.5 d. Structural analysis showed that the Cu/Zn/Al-HTlc was a layered compound. CuII and other metal ion pollutants can also be successfully removed from electroplating wastewater in the preparation process of Cu/Zn/Al-HTlc and reached Chinese National Emission Standard (GB 21900-2008). The optimal adsorption condition of calcinated Cu/Zn/Al-HTlc for iodide was as follows: the solid-liquid ratio was 1 : 250, the pH value was 8, and the adsorption process was carried out at 25°C for 30 min. The saturated adsorption capacity reached 1000 mg·g−1 at the optimal adsorption condition. The main reason for this high-saturated adsorption capacity of Cu/Zn/Al-HTlc was that iodide penetrated into the layered structure of Cu/Zn/Al-HTlc by physical adsorption and CuII undergoes a specific redox reaction, producing CuI. Hence, coprecipitation synthetic technology and prepared Cu/Zn/Al-HTlc could be potentially used for electroplating wastewater treatment.

The objectives of this paper were to study the different relationships between different types of knowledge sharing and academics' creativity and found these results: 1) Intergenerational Knowledge Sharing (IGKS) positively related to academics' creativity. 2) peer-to-peer knowledge sharing (PPKS) positively related to academics' creativity. 3) online knowledge sharing has a stronger influence on creativity than offline knowledge sharing. 4) Regardless of the communication method used, the positive impact of intergenerational knowledge sharing on academics' creativity is stronger than peer-to-peer knowledge sharing.

Despite the sharp increase in awareness of workplace knowledge networks and creativity research, no attention has been paid to objectively visualizing the evolution of this fast-growing area to complement prior qualitative reviews. This bibliometric analysis involves an examination of 341 global knowledge networks and creativity articles in management-related research in the Web of Science database. Using CiteSpace V visualization literature measurement software, the knowledge map of the knowledge networks and creativity research was drawn using the scientific metrology knowledge graph research method. We conduct Publication time analysis, country/region analysis, journal co-citation analysis, author co-citation, document co-citation, the time-zone visualization analysis on research literature in the field of knowledge networks and creativity, the major researchers and topics in the field of knowledge network, and creativity are clearly presented. Moreover, we summarize the developing trends of knowledge networks and creativity research. On this basis, our review demonstrates the systematic development of literature and identifies trends to advance knowledge networks and creativity research.

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) play an important role in the onset of diabetic retinopathy. Therefore, in the current study, we investigate whether and how Tanshinone IIa (Tan IIa) from Salvia miltiorrhiza protects bovine retinal endothelial cells (BRECs) against methylglyoxal (MGO) mediated cell dysfunction. The results showed that MGO reduced cell viability in dose dependent manner. The treatment of Tan IIa (50 μM) significantly improved cell viability induced by MGO in BRECs. MGO increased cellular reactive oxygen species formation and cellular nitric oxide (NO) level; enhanced nox1 and iNOS mRNA levels; inhibited prdx1 mRNA level. The treatment of Tan IIa effectually ameliorated cellular oxidative stress. Exposure of MGO resulted in mitochondrial fission and decrease of opa1 and mfn1. No significant difference in mRNA levels of mfn2 and drp1 was detected between MGO and medium. Tan IIa reduced mitochondrial fragmentation, enhanced the mRNA levels of mfn1 and opa1 in MGO cultured BRECs. The short time exposure of cellular antioxidatants, dimethylthiourea (10 mM) and tiron (10 mM) had no effect on mitochondrial fission although they ameliorated cellular reactive oxygen species level. Moreover, overexpression of glyoxalase 1 (GLO1) increased key proteins of mitochondrial fusion, including opa1 and mfn1 in BRECs cultured with MGO. However, inhibition of GLO1 by siRNA abolished the effect of Tan IIa on induction of mitochondrial fusion in MGO cultured BRECs. In conclusion, MGO caused the injury of retinal endothelial cells through induction of mitochondrial dysfunction and mitochondrial fission, the treatment of Tan IIa ameliorated mitochondrial dysfunction and fission induced by AGEs through enhancing GLO1.

To investigate whether Salvia miltiorrhiza hydrophilic extract (SMHE) has the ability to ameliorate oxidative stress in diabetic patients with chronic heart disease (CHD), 62 patients with CHD were recruited. These patients were assigned randomly into two groups: (1) placebo group receiving hypoglycemic therapy; (2) treatment group receiving hypoglycemic therapy plus SMHE. The biological markers related to oxidative stress were measured to determine the effect of treatment. Thirty patients in the placebo group and 24 patients in the treatment group were followed to completion in this study. Overall, the malondialdehyde (MDA) level at day 30 in the treatment group was significantly lower than in the placebo group. However, no significant difference in the serum antioxidant enzymes activities was observed between the groups. At day 60, the serum glutathione (GSH) level, superoxide dismutase (SOD), Paraoxonase (PONase) and glutathione reductase (GSSG-R) activities increased markedly in the treatment group compared with the placebo group. There was no significant difference in the level of lipid profile between the two groups. This study indicated that SMHE clearly reduced oxidative stress in diabetic patients with CHD.

Composite latex of P(St-co-BA)/P(MMA-co-BA) was prepared by two-step semi-continuous emulsion polymerization under starved conditions. Optical properties, water resistance and heat aging process of the film formed by the composite latex were examined. It was revealed that annealing temperature played an important role on the structure of the composite latex film. The surface of the film prepared at room temperature was very rough. Many micro-cracks were observed both on the surface and inside of the film. Increase of annealing temperature assisted film formation. There was a critical temperature at which the film properties, such as water resistance and transparency, were significantly improved. However, it was worth to note that phase rearrangement had occurred when the annealing temperature was higher than critical temperature. Micro-pinholes and micro-cracks were detected on the surface of the film. Meanwhile, the properties of the film, such as transparency and water adsorption, became remarkable deteriorated.

In this article, the particle morphology in emulsion polymerization of the poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc)/poly(butyl acrylate) (PBA) system is investigated. With the use of the basic data in literature, the relevant interface tensions and viscosity are estimated with the equation proposed in literature. The time achieved to equilibrium morphology is predicted with cluster dynamics proposed by Gonzalez. The experiment result is consistent with that of prediction. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 83: 2930–2937, 2002; DOI 10.1002/app.10297

Heterogeneous latexes were prepared by a semicontinuous seeded emulsion polymerization process under monomer starved conditions at 80 °C using potassium persulfate as the initiator and sodium dodecyl sulfate as the emulsifier. Poly(butyl acrylate) latexes were used as seeds. The second-stage polymer was poly(styrene-co-methyl methacrylate). By varying the amounts of methyl methacrylate (MMA) in the second-stage copolymer, the polarity of the copolymer phase could be controlled. Phase separation towards the thermodynamic equilibrium morphology was accelerated either by ageing the composite latex at 80 °C or by adding a chain-transfer agent during polymerization. The morphologies of the latex particles were examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The morphology distributions of latex particles were described by a statistical method. It was found that the latex particles displayed different equilibrium morphologies depending on the composition of the second-stage copolymers. This series of equilibrium morphologies of [poly(butyl acrylate)/poly(styrene-co-methyl methacrylate)] (PBA/P(St-co-MMA)) system provides experimental verification for quantitative simulation. Under limiting conditions, the equilibrium morphologies of PBA/P(St-co-MMA) were predicted according to the minimum surface free energy change principle. The particle morphology observed by TEM was in good agreement with the predictions of the thermodynamic model. Therefore, the morphology theory for homopolymer/homopolymer composite systems was extended to homopolymer/copolymer systems. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry

Heterogeneous latexes were prepared by a two-stage seeded emulsion polymerization process under monomer starved conditions at 80 °C using potassium persulfate as the initiator and sodium dodecyl sulfate as the emulsifier. Poly(butyl acrylate) latexes were used as seeds. The second-stage polymer was poly(styrene-co-methyl methacrylate). By varying the amount of methyl methacrylate (MMA) in the second-stage copolymer, the polarity of the copolymer phase could be controlled. It was found that the latex particles displayed different morphologies depending on the monomer ratio. The amount of MMA had a significant effect on the evolution of morphology. The morphologies were observed by transmission electron microscopy. In addition, the evolution of the particle morphology was predicted by the mathmatical model for cluster migration. The model gave the same trends as the experimental results. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry

The aim of this pilot study was to investigate whether the administration of Salvia miltiorrhiza hydrophilic extract (SMHE) reduced the level of soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) and von Willebrand factor (vWF) in diabetic patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). Sixty-two diabetic patients with CHD were recruited and randomly assigned into placebo and treatment groups. Patients were given SMHE for 60 days. Levels of sVCAM-1, vWF and oxidative low density lipoprotein (oxLDL) were determined by using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results showed that the levels of VCAM-1 and vWF positively correlated with the level of oxLDL in diabetic patients with CHD. Levels of sVCAM-1 and vWF in serum were reduced significantly in patients receiving SMHE treatment at day 60 in comparison with the baseline. Administration of SMHE also led to a clear decrease in the levels of oxLDL in diabetic patients with CHD. In summary, this study suggests that SMHE has a potential protective effect on the development of diabetic cardiovascular disease.

Diabetes mellitus is frequently combined with vascular diseases, which are associated with the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). An approach that can reverse the induction of VEGF by hyperglycemia may potentially benefit the outcome of diabetic patients. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated the effect of Salvia miltiorrhiza (S. miltiorrhiza) hydrophilic extract on the expression of VEGF induced by high concentration of glucose.Vector of VEGF promoter luc was transiently transfected into HMEC-1 cells, and luciferase activity was measured to determine the promoter activity. In order to investigate the mechanism of Salvia miltiorrhiza hydrophilic extract, mitochondrial uncoupling protein 2(UCP2) was knockdown by using UCP2 siRNA. The expression of VEGF was obtained by using quantitative RT-PCR and dot blot. The level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was expressed by the level of 2',7'-dichlorfluorescein.Exposure of HMEC-1 cells to 30 mM glucose resulted in a significant increase in the expression of VEGF mRNA (5.7 fold at 3mM glucose, P0.005), and an increase of ROS formation (2.4 fold at 3mM glucose, P0.005). These effects were completely antagonized by an inhibitor of electron transport chain complex II, thenoyltrifluoroacetone (TTFA) and an uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation, carbonylcyanide-m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP). Addition of Salvia miltiorrhiza hydrophilic extract (10 μg/ml) led to a significant decrease of VEGF mRNA and ROS formation in 30 mM glucose condition. Interestingly, knockdown of mitochondrial UCP-2 by UCP-2 siRNA abolished the reduction of VEGF expression and ROS formation by Salvia miltiorrhiza hydrophilic extract.These findings indicated that Salvia miltiorrhiza hydrophilic extract effectively reversed induction of VEGF expression by high glucose via ameliorating mitochondrial oxidative stress. Salvia miltiorrhiza hydrophilic extract can potentially be an effective antioxidant therapy for the treatment of diabetic chronic vascular complication.

Monodispersed poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid) (PNIPAM/AAc) microgels with various contents of acrylic acid (AAc) and cross-linker N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide (MBAAm) were synthesized by surfactant-free emulsion polymerization. The microgels exhibited affinity of binding bovine serum albumin (BSA) with increase of AAc contents. The adsorption amount of BSA was strongly dependent on suspension pH. The maximum adsorption was observed at around pH 4.0, while both low pH and basic conditions induced the rather low adsorption. In addition, AFM images showed that the microgel particles underwent bridging aggregation by loading BSA. The resultant BSA-microgel particles became more hydrophobic after loading BSA. Importantly, the adsorption of BSA onto PNIPAM/AAc microgel was found to alter the swelling/deswelling behavior of the resultant microgel suspensions. With the increase of BSA concentration, the volume phase transition temperature of BSA-microgel particles shifted to the lower temperature.

We presented that ultrasound, as a novel environmentally stimuli technique, was used controlling the volume phase-transition temperature of high crosslinked poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylic ac...