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A modified apparatus for measuring surface tension with the bubble-pressure method is proposed. Compared with a traditional instrument, this apparatus improved the accuracy of maximum pressure difference measurement and achieved the hydrostatic pressure correction. The apparatus was employed to determine the surface tension values of distilled water and ethanol, respectively, at different temperatures. Additionally, the cross-sectional area of the ethanol molecule was obtained from the surface tension of ethanol solutions with different concentrations and Gibbs adsorption. It was found that all measured values were in accordance with literature data. Thus, the improved device exhibited excellent accuracy and reliability. Furthermore, all of the instrumental components were assembled into one body, making it easy for undergraduate students to operate.

Precise defect engineering of metal oxide catalysts holds great importance for improving catalytic oxidation reactions. In this work, a judicious strategy by doping and partially de-doping of Cr atoms was orchestrated to produce a defect-containing Co3O4 catalyst. The co-existence of the remaining Cr dopant and some metal vacancies could synergistically contribute to the distortion of the crystal structure, Co–O bond activation, generation of abundant active oxygen species and enhancement of oxygen reactivity. Consequently, the catalytic performance for the methane oxidation reaction was significantly boosted, with a methane conversion rate normalized by the specific surface area of 0.114 μmol m−2 s−1, 1.41 times that of the pure Co3O4 catalyst at a reaction temperature of 295 °C. This work provides a viable methodology for improving Co3O4 catalysts for efficient methane oxidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Approximately 10% of monogenic diseases are caused by nonsense point mutations that generate premature termination codons (PTCs), resulting in a truncated protein and nonsense-mediated decay of the mutant mRNAs. Here, we demonstrate a mini-dCas13X-mediated RNA adenine base editing (mxABE) strategy to treat nonsense mutation-related monogenic diseases via A-to-G editing in a genetically humanized mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Initially, we identified a nonsense point mutation (c.4174C>T, p.Gln1392*) in the DMD gene of a patient and validated its pathogenicity in humanized mice. In this model, mxABE packaged in a single adeno-associated virus (AAV) reached A-to-G editing rates up to 84% in vivo, at least 20-fold greater than rates reported in previous studies using other RNA editing modalities. Furthermore, mxABE restored robust expression of dystrophin protein to over 50% of WT levels by enabling PTC read-through in multiple muscle tissues. Importantly, systemic delivery of mxABE by AAV also rescued dystrophin expression to averages of 37%, 6%, and 54% of WT levels in the diaphragm, tibialis anterior, and heart muscle, respectively, as well as rescued muscle function. Our data strongly suggest that mxABE-based strategies may be a viable new treatment modality for DMD and other monogenic diseases., Introduction The majority of monogenic diseases are caused by point mutations (1), among which approximately 50% can be reversed by A-to-G conversion with adenine base editors (ABEs). Specifically, A-to-G conversion [...]

Rare earth upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) with the superior performance in the biomedical field have attracted great attention. Due to the good light stability, low toxicity, deep tissue penetration and excellent bio-compatibility, UCNPs display great potential for development in the biomedical field. Excellent related reports are increasing year by year, like molecular sensing, bioimaging and therapeutics. In this paper, the preparation, modification, application of upconversion fluorescent nanoparticles and the latest research results in the field of biomedical materials have been reported in detail.

Graphene cladded cobalt phosphide nanoparticles with a sandwich structure are synthesized using Ar-H2-P plasma. In situ phosphorization and graphene reduction are achieved at the same time. Benefitting from the sandwich structure and heterointerface between CoP and RGO, the electrode delivered a high reversible capacity and durable lifespan for both lithium and sodium storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]