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Two-dimensional black phosphorus (BP) has been demonstrated to be promising in photoelectronic devices, electrode materials, and biomedicine owing to its outstanding properties. However, the application of BP has been hindered by harsh preparation conditions, high costs, and easy degradation in ambient condition. Herein, we report a facile and cost-effective strategy for synthesis of orthorhombic phase BP and a kind of BP-reduced graphene oxide (BP/rGO) hybrids in which BP remains stable for more than 4 weeks ascribed to the formation of phosphorus-carbon covalent bonds between BP and rGO as well as the protection effect of the unique wrinkle morphology of rGO nanosheets. Surface modification BP/rGO hybrids (PEGylated BP/rGO) exhibit excellent photothermal performance with photothermal conversion efficiency as high as 57.79% at 808 nm. The BP/rGO hybrids exhibit enhanced antitumor effects both in vitro and in vivo, showing promising perspectives in biomedicine.

The rapid development of economy brings serious environmental pollution problem. Green innovation, as the connection point between government environmental regulation measures and sustainable green development of enterprises, has become one of the important choices for the transformation and development of enterprises. Based on the classic model of “prisoner’s dilemma” in game theory, this paper deeply analyzes the relationship between green innovation and performance. It is found that it is easy to get into trouble if only relying on the spontaneous green innovation within the enterprise. Applying appropriate pressure outside the enterprise can promote the change of green innovation and bring long-term benefits to the enterprise.

Abstract Background Biodiesel is considered to be a promising future substitute for fossil fuels, and microalgae are one source of biodiesel. The ratios of lipid, carbohydrates and proteins are different in different microalgal species, and finding a good strain for oil production remains a difficult prospect. Strains producing valuable co-products would improve the viability of biofuel production. Results In this study, we performed sequence analysis of the 18S rRNA gene and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of an algal strain designated HSO-3-1, and found that it was closely related to the Mychonastes afer strain CCAP 260/6. Morphology and cellular structure observation also supported the identification of strain HSO-3-1 as M. afer. We also investigated the effects of nitrogen on the growth and lipid accumulation of the naturally occurring M. afer HSO-3-1, and its potential for biodiesel production. In total, 17 fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) were identified in M. afer HSO-3-1, using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The total lipid content of M. afer HSO-3-1 was 53.9% of the dry cell weight, and we also detected nervonic acid (C24:1), which has biomedical applications, making up 3.8% of total fatty acids. The highest biomass and lipid yields achieved were 3.29 g/l and 1.62 g/l, respectively, under optimized conditions. Conclusion The presence of octadecenoic and hexadecanoic acids as major components, with the presence of a high-value component, nervonic acid, renders M. afer HSO-3-1 biomass an economic feedstock for biodiesel production.

Abstract Background Economic transition which took place in China over the last three decades, has led to a rapid marketization of the health care sector. Today inequity in health and poverty resulting from major illness has become a serious problem in rural areas of China. Medical Financial Assistance (MFA) is a health assistance scheme that helps rural poor people cope with major illness and alleviate their financial burden from major illness, which will definitely play a significant role in the process of rebuilding Chinese new rural health system. It mainly provides assistance to cover medical expenditure for inpatient services or the treatment of major illnesses, with joint funding from the central and local government. The purpose of this paper is to review the design, funding, implementation and to explore the preliminary effects of four counties' MFA in Hubei and Sichuan province of China. Methods We used an analytical framework built around the main objective of any social assistance scheme. The framework contains six 'targeting' procedural 'steps' which may explain why a specific group does not receive the assistance it ought to receive. More specifically, we explored to what extent the targeting, a key component of social assistance programs, is successful, based on the qualitative and quantitative data collected from four representative counties in central and western China. Results In the study sites, the budget of MFA ranged from 0.8 million Yuan to 1.646 million Yuan in each county and the budget per eligible person ranged from 32.67 Yuan to 149.09 Yuan. The preliminary effects of MFA were quite modest because of the scarcity of funds dedicated to the scheme. The coverage rate of MFA ranged from 17.8% to 24.1% among the four counties. MFA in the four counties used several ways to ration a restricted budget and provided only limited assistance. Substantial problems remained in terms of eligibility and identification of the beneficiaries, utilization and management of funds. Conclusions MFA needs to be improved further although it evidences the concern of the government for the poor rural people with major illness. Some ideas on how to improve MFA are put forward for future policy making.

Abstract Background Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a proliferative vascular disease, characterized by aberrant regulation of smooth muscle cell proliferation and apoptosis in distal pulmonary arteries. Prostacyclin (PGI2) analogues have anti-proliferative effects on distal human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs), which are dependent on intracellular cAMP stimulation. We therefore sought to investigate the involvement of the main cAMP-specific enzymes, phosphodiesterase type 4 (PDE4), responsible for cAMP hydrolysis. Methods Distal human PASMCs were derived from pulmonary arteries by explant culture (n = 14, passage 3–12). Responses to platelet-derived growth factor-BB (5–10 ng/ml), serum, PGI2 analogues (cicaprost, iloprost) and PDE4 inhibitors (roflumilast, rolipram, cilomilast) were determined by measuring cAMP phosphodiesterase activity, intracellular cAMP levels, DNA synthesis, apoptosis (as measured by DNA fragmentation and nuclear condensation) and matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -9 (MMP-2, MMP-9) production. Results Expression of all four PDE4A-D genes was detected in PASMC isolates. PDE4 contributed to the main proportion (35.9 ± 2.3%, n = 5) of cAMP-specific hydrolytic activity demonstrated in PASMCs, compared to PDE3 (21.5 ± 2.5%), PDE2 (15.8 ± 3.4%) or PDE1 activity (14.5 ± 4.2%). Intracellular cAMP levels were increased by PGI2 analogues and further elevated in cells co-treated with roflumilast, rolipram and cilomilast. DNA synthesis was attenuated by 1 μM roflumilast (49 ± 6% inhibition), rolipram (37 ± 6%) and cilomilast (30 ± 4%) and, in the presence of 5 nM cicaprost, these compounds exhibited EC50 values of 4.4 (2.6–6.1) nM (Mean and 95% confidence interval), 59 (36–83) nM and 97 (66–130) nM respectively. Roflumilast attenuated cell proliferation and gelatinase (MMP-2 and MMP-9) production and promoted the anti-proliferative effects of PGI2 analogues. The cAMP activators iloprost and forskolin also induced apoptosis, whereas roflumilast had no significant effect. Conclusion PDE4 enzymes are expressed in distal human PASMCs and the effects of cAMP-stimulating agents on DNA synthesis, proliferation and MMP production is dependent, at least in part, on PDE4 activity. PDE4 inhibition may provide greater control of cAMP-mediated anti-proliferative effects in human PASMCs and therefore could prove useful as an additional therapy for pulmonary arterial hypertension.