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Separation membranes are urgently desired for the efficient recovery of oil-like ionic liquids (ILs) from industrially applied emulsions. Conventional membranes with asymmetric porous structure and high tortuosity suffer from high trans-membrane resistance and low mass transfer efficiency for this application. Herein, Janus membranes (JMs) are constructed by the single-side modification of hydrophobic poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) membrane with vertically penetrative pores for the rapid-mass-transfer separation of viscous ILs. A charged and underwater IL-phobic thin layer is facilely co-deposited on one side of the PVDF membranes from polydopamine/poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) solution. This single-side modification endows the as-prepared JMs with a deemulsification function to IL-in-water emulsions and a unidirectional transportation ability to hydrophobic ILs. These JMs show an excellent IL recovery capacity with high permeation speed and stable flux during a long-term cyclic separation of IL-in-water emulsions because the vertically penetrative pores with low tortuosity allow to significantly reduce the trans-membrane resistance toward those viscous ILs. Overall, our vertically-channeled JMs provide an ideal material solution for recovering high-viscosity and value-added chemicals from their industrial water mixture in practice, especially from those aqueous emulsions.

Polysulfone (PSF) membranes have gained great attention in the fields of ultrafiltration, microfiltration, and thin film composite membranes for nanofiltration or reverse osmosis. For the first time, it is proposed to fabricate PSF membranes via thermally induced phase separation (TIPS) process using diphenyl sulfone (DPSO2) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) as mixed diluent. DPSO2 is chosen as a crystallizable diluent, while PEG is considered in terms of molecular weight (M w) and dosage. We systematically investigate the interactions between PSF, DPSO2 and PEG based on the simulation calculations and solubility parameter theory. It is inferred that DPSO2 has an excellent compatibility with PSF, and the addition of PEG results in the ternary system thermodynamically less stable and then facilitates its liquid-liquid (L-L) phase separation. SEM images indicate that cellular-like pores are obvious throughout the membrane when the PEG content in the mixed diluent is 25 wt%−35 wt%. We can facilely manipulate the pore size, water flux and mechanical properties of PSF membranes with the dosage of PEG-200, the M w of PEG or the cooling rate. The successful application of TIPS can provide a new approach for structure manipulation and performance enhancement of PSF membranes.

The internal concentration polarization is recognized as a major obstacle for forward osmosis (FO) membranes to achieve high water flux. Herein, porous substrates with vertical pores are first proposed to be used as supports for fabricating FO membranes in thin film composite structure. The addition of acetone in the aqueous phase facilitates the successful interfacial polymerization on the substrates with vertical pores. Positron annihilation lifetime analyses indicate that the fabricated FO membranes possess thicker and denser selective layer than traditional FO membranes with asymmetric substrates. These novel FO membranes have a low structure parameter, indicating a greatly reduced internal concentration polarization effect. They exhibit an unprecedented water flux up to 93.6 L m −2 h −1 when the selective layer is oriented towards the deionized water feed solution with 2 mol L −1 sodium chloride solution as draw stream. This performance outstands from those FO membranes reported in literatures and available commercially. The results demonstrate that substrates with vertically oriented porous structure are ideal supports for developing FO membranes with minimized or even eliminated internal concentration polarization and ultrahigh water flux.

More women are delaying child-birth. Thus, the diagnosis of pregnancy-associated breast cancer (PABC) will continue to increase. The aim of this study was to identify core candidate genes of PABC, and the relevance of the genes on the prognosis of PABC. GSE31192 and GSE53031 microarray profile datasets were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database and differentially expressed genes were analyzed using the R package and GEO2R tool. Then, Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Gene and Genome pathway enrichment analyses were performed using the Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery. Moreover, the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes and the Molecular Complex Detection Cytoscape software plug-in were utilized to visualize protein–protein interactions and to screen candidate genes. A total of 239 DEGs were identified in PABC, including 101 up-regulated genes mainly enriched in fatty acid activation and the fibroblast growth factor signaling pathway, while 138 down-regulated genes particularly involved in activation of DNA fragmentation factor and apoptosis-induced DNA fragmentation. Fourteen hub genes with a high degree of connectivity were selected, including CREB1, ARF3, UBA5, SIAH1, KLHL3, HECTD1, MMP9, TRIM69, MEX3C, ASB6, UBE2Q2, FBXO22, EIF4A3, and PXN. Overall survival (OS) analysis of core candidate genes was performed using the Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis and UALCAN websites. High ASB6 expression was associated with worse OS of PABC patients. Molecular subtypes and menopause status were also associated with worse OS for PABC patients. In conclusion, ASB6 could be a potential predictor and therapeutic target in patient with PABC.

An emerging challenge occurs for recovering ionic liquids (ILs) because of their exponential growth in academic and industrial applications. We report for the first time to reclaim water-soluble ILs from their aqueous solutions by osmotically driving water to spontaneously permeate through semi-permeable membranes. Theoretical simulation indicates a weak hydrability of ILs and a tendency to form micelles in water. We thus demonstrate a significant difference in osmotic pressures between the aqueous solutions of ILs and inorganic salts. Four categories of broadly representative ILs are continuously recovered from their diluent aqueous solutions (~1 wt%) with semi-permeable membranes. Eventually, a record-high concentration up to 58–78 wt% is achieved in this work. Our strategy integrates superiorities of low energy consumption, universal applicability toward ILs, diversified selection of semi-permeable membranes, almost unattenuated water flux and high rejection to ions, hopefully providing new insights into the authentic “green” industrial applications of ILs.