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There has been a significant gap in the comprehensive literature review of teaching reform of design history in the Chinese context. In order to bridge this gap, the literature bibliometric method is adopted to review the existing research on design history curriculum reform based on the CNKI database. A keyword review perspective was used to clarify the existing topics in this field, as well as the hotspots of research. Our results reveal that design history, industrial design history and teaching reform are the three main topics that Chinese scholars are more concerned with. As a specific discipline of design history curriculum, curriculum reform of industrial design history is the hotspot of existing research, and teaching reform is an influential research direction.

Stem cell transplantation is a promising method in the treatment of spinal cord injury (SCI). Researches have shown that stem cell-derived exosomes as well as its contents such as microRNAs contribute to the protective effects of stem cell against SCI. However, the effects of exosomes derived from bone marrow stem cells on SCI and the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. In this study, we collected bone marrow stem cells derived exosomes (BMSCs-exo) to deal with SCI rats and LPS induced microglia to explore the possible mechanisms. We found that BMSCs-exo showed significant effects on decreasing pro-inflammatory cytokines as well as increasing Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan score after acute SCI. MicroRNA-181c levels in tissue were elevated with the use of BMSCs-exo. Then we verified the effect in vitro and found that in LPS induced microglia, the administration of BMSCs-exo could inhibit the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and the phosphorylation of NF-κB signal was also suppressed. During which, the expression of microRNA-181c in microglia was elevated. When LPS induced microglia were treated with BMSCs-exo over-expressing microRNA-181c, the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines decreased. Then bioinformatics techniques were used to detect the possible target gene of microRNA-181c and then PTEN was found as a candidate. Further experiments showed that the protection effects of BMSCs-exo over-expressing microRNA-181c could be antagonized by the elevation of PTEN expression both in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, we verified that BMSCs-exo could protect against SCI through its content microRNA-181c which suppressed the inflammation in microglia and spinal cord. It was related to the inhibition of PTEN and the suppression of NF-κB signal, and finally decreasing inflammation and apoptosis in spinal cord and improved SCI.

Previous studies found a tight connection between the tropical easterly jet (TEJ) and Indian summer monsoon rainfall (ISMR). Here we show that the TEJ-ISMR relationship is nonstationary and breaks down from 1994–2003 (epoch P2), in contrast to the significant positive correlation during the epoch P1 (1979–1993) and P3 (2004–2016). The breakdown of the TEJ-ISMR relationship concurs with the increased rainfall variability over the tropical eastern Indian Ocean (TEIO). The enhanced TEIO rainfall anomalies excite a significant lower-level cyclonic circulation that reduces the ISMR, meanwhile, strengthens the upper-level divergence and excites a pair of upper-level anticyclone to the west of the TEIO as Rossby wave responses, both accelerating the TEJ. Thus, the TEIO rainfall plays a more important role than the ISMR in the TEJ variability during P2, causing the breakdown of the TEJ-ISMR relationship. In contrast, a relatively weak amplitude of the TEIO rainfall during P1 and P3 was unable to change the positive TEJ-ISMR relationship. The changes in the TEIO rainfall variability is mainly attributed to the increased SST variability over the tropical southeastern Indian Ocean, but the cause of it remains elusive.

The upper-level tropical easterly jet (TEJ) is a crucial component of the summer monsoon system and tropical general circulation. The simulation and projection of the TEJ, however, have not been assessed. Here we evaluate models’ fidelity and assess the future change of the TEJ by utilizing 16 models that participated in phase 6 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6). Most of the models can reproduce the TEJ reasonably well in terms of climatology, seasonal evolution, and interannual variability. Nevertheless, underestimation of the TEJ’s intensity and extent is identified, with the maximum bias occurring in the jet centers over the tropical Indian Ocean (IO) and the tropical eastern Pacific (EP). Under the shared socioeconomic pathway 5–8.5, the multimodel ensemble projects a remarkable reduction in the central TEJ intensity by about 18% over the IO and 77% over the EP toward the end of the twenty-first century. The mean intensity of TEJ will weaken by about 11%, and the extent will reduce by 6%, suggesting a significantly weakened upper-level monsoon circulation in the future climate. The projected El Niño–like warming pattern over the tropical Pacific may play a critical role in the future weakening of the TEJ via inducing suppressed rainfall over the tropical eastern IO and Central America. The model uncertainties in the projected TEJ changes may arise from the uncertainties in the models’ projected tropical EP warming. The sensitivity of future projections to model selection is also examined. Results show that the selection of models based on different physical considerations does not yield a significantly different projection.

The interdecadal enhancement in the interannual variability of summer monsoon meridional circulation (SMMC) over the South China Sea around the early 1990s is investigated. Results show the change in the SMMC variability may arise from the interdecadal shift in the leading modes of low-level geopotential height over East Asia–Australia and Indo–Pacific sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTAs) in boreal summer. Before the early 1990s, the leading mode of Indo–Pacific SSTAs shows a zonal tripole pattern, with abnormally warm eastern Pacific and northern Indian Ocean and cold western Pacific. At the lower level, the western North Pacific cooling and northern Indian Ocean warming generate an anticyclonic anomaly over western North Pacific, while the cooling over the Maritime Continent and east of Australia favors an abnormal anticyclone over Australia. Hence region-wide positive geopotential height anomalies cover East Asia–Australia, which resemble the major mode of geopotential height and generate weak south–north pressure gradient and SMMC variability. After the early 1990s, the leading SSTAs mode shifts to a zonal dipole with abnormally cold western Pacific and warm equatorial central–eastern Pacific. The central Pacific warming induces an anomalous low-level cyclone over Philippines and it is further maintained by the Maritime Continent cooling. Meanwhile, the cooling over the east of Australia and Maritime Continent favors an abnormal Australian anticyclone. The low-level geopotential height thus shows south–north dipole anomalies over East Asia–Australia, resembling its major mode and generating obvious meridional pressure gradient and SMMC variability. The atmospheric responses to different SSTAs modes are confirmed by CAM4 experiments.

The interdecadal change in the relationship between the tropical easterly jet (TEJ) and the tropical sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTAs) in boreal summer is studied. It is found that TEJ’s relationship with the SSTAs reverses over the tropical eastern Atlantic (EA), while enhances obviously over the tropical eastern Pacific (EP) after 1981. During 1960–1980, an Atlantic Nino-like SSTA over the EA can weaken the TEJ through the upper westerly anomaly of the anomalous Walker circulation between EA and tropical Indian Ocean. In the meantime, a Pacific El Nino-like SSTA over the EP can also diminish the TEJ intensity via a Kelvin wave response east to the diabatic heating induced by enhanced precipitation in situ. Observations and model experiments show that the EA and EP SSTAs can contribute to the TEJ variability in a joint or independent manner. During 1981–2001, as the associated Pacific El Nino-like SSTA is enlarged in the magnitude and the spatial extension, it exerts a stronger impact on the TEJ variability. Different from the pre-1980 period, the SSTA over the EA featured by an Atlantic Nina-like instead of Nino-like pattern could weaken the TEJ, which doesn’t work without the co-existence of the EP SSTA. Such Atlantic Nina-like SSTA develops in the previous spring and strengthens the warm SSTA over the EP in summer, and then affects the TEJ indirectly. The interdecadal change of the TEJ-SST relationship is likely related to the changes of the variability and spatial configuration of the tropical SSTAs.

Background Cognitive impairment is a well-defined complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD), but the neural mechanisms are largely unknown. Objectives The study aimed to assess white matter (WM) microstructure changes and their relationship with cognitive impairment development during CKD progression. Methods Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) datasets were acquired from 38 patients with CKD (19 patients were at stage 3; 19 patients were at stage 4) and 22 healthy controls (HCs). Tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) was implemented to assess the differences in WM integrity among the three groups. The associations between abnormal WM integrity and clinical indicators (digit symbol test scores, the type A number connection test scores, hemoglobin, serum urea, serum creatinine, serum calcium, and serum potassium levels) were also computed. Results Compared with patients with CKD at stage 3 and HCs, patients with CKD at stage 4 showed significantly lower fractional anisotropy (FA) and higher mean diffusivity (MD) in the corpus callosum (CC), anterior thalamic radiation, inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, and inferior longitudinal fasciculus. Correlation analysis showed that the MD in the genu of CC was negatively associated with the digit symbol test scores (r = -0.61, p = 0.01), and the FA in the left anterior thalamic radiation was positively associated with the level of serum calcium (r = 0.58, p = 0.01). Conclusion Patients with non-end-stage CKD have multiple abnormalities in WM regions. DTI metrics change with the progression of CKD and are primarily associated with cognitive impairment. The reduced integrity of WM tracts may be related to a low level of blood calcium.

Coastal tidelands are important ecological habitat resources and valuable resources for agricultural land reclamation. Enrichment of potentially harmful elements (PHEs) in soil caused by anthropogenic activity is an important factor implicated in the ecological deterioration of soil in China. A total of 54 soil sample sites were selected from a 30-year reclaimed tideland and an adjoining coastal wetland. Descriptive and multivariate statistical analyses were performed to describe the enrichment, source, health risk status of eight PHEs (As, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) after long-term reclamation. Results indicated that after 30 years of reclamation, most soil PHEs are slightly enriched, whereas no serious threat of environmental pollution was observed. In the reclamation area, the enrichment of PHEs in the aquaculture land, industrial land, and cropland was relatively high compared with other land use types, such as tideland and halophyte land. The source analysis divided the PHEs into five categories: (1) Cu, (2) Co and Mn, (3) Cr, (4) As and Pb, (5) Zn and Ni. Cu was completely derived from natural parent materials and other elements were governed by both weathering of parent rock and human activities, including agricultural activities, industrial production, and transportation emissions. The health risk assessment showed that the soil PHEs potentially had no non-carcinogenic risk to the public, but there was an acceptable probability to have cancer due to Cr and As. Meanwhile, children are more susceptible to harm from the PHEs in soil than adults. According to the economic and social development situation in the coastal region, it is necessary to pay attention to the environmental threats of PHEs enrichment.

Human glioblastoma is a malignant and aggressive primary human brain solid tumor characterized by severe hypoxia. Hypoxia can induce autophagy, which may result in chemoresistance and malignant progression of cancer cells. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been reported to modulate hypoxia‑induced autophagy in various types of cancers. In the present study, we observed that hypoxia‑inducible factor (HIF)‑1α expression was increased while miR‑224‑3p expression was decreased under hypoxia in a time‑dependent manner in glioma LN229 and astrocytoma U‑251MG cell lines, as deteced by western blot analysis and real‑time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. In addition, HIF‑1α knockout inhibited cell motility and chemosensitivity by negatively regulating the expression of miR‑224‑3p under a hypoxic condition by Transwell and MTT assay. Moreover, hypoxia increased the relative expression of ATG5 (autophagy‑related gene 5) and LC3 II/I with a decreased level of p62. These results were correlated with autophagy in a time‑dependent manner, suggesting that hypoxia induced autophagy in glioblastoma and astrocytoma cells. Through bioinformatic prediction and luciferase reporter assay, we confirmed that ATG5 is a target of miR‑224‑3p and ATG5 expression was negatively regulated by miR‑224‑3p. Knockdown of ATG5 inhibited cell mobility with increased chemosensitivity of glioblastoma cells under hypoxia. Moreover, overexpression of miR‑224‑3p also inhibited cell mobility with increased chemosensitivity of glioblastoma cells under hypoxia. However, activation of autophagy was able to counteract these effects of miR‑224‑3p. Furthermore, in vivo experiments indicated that the miR‑224‑3p mimic enhanced the chemosensitivity of LN229 cells to temozolomide by immunohistochemistry and TUNEL assay. In summary, our experiments elucidated that the HIF‑1α/miR‑224‑3p/ATG5 axis affects cell mobility and chemosensitivity by regulating hypoxia‑induced autophagy in glioblastoma and astrocytoma. Therefore, miR‑224‑3p could be a novel target against hypoxia‑induced autophagy in glioblastoma and astrocytoma.

Aims To explore the possible mechanism that microRNA-223 regulates the spinal cord injury as well as the posttranscriptional control of genes after spinal injury. Materials and methods Rats contusion spinal cord injury model and microglia model were established and examined by pathological test and the inflammatory cytokines levels were evaluated by RT-PCR. Then microRNA-223 was overexpressed in spinal cord to see the impact on rats with spinal cord injury. The overexpression of microRNA-223 in microglia stimulated by LPS was used to assess the inflammation. Then bioinformatic method combined with luciferase reporter genes were used to detect the target gene of microRNA-223. Then NLRP3, one of the target genes of microRNA-223 were regulated to see the impact on microglia as well as spinal injury rats. Key findings It showed that microRNA-223 increased after acute spinal injury. However, the suppression of microRNA-223 aggravated the spinal injury as well as the inflammation while the over-expression of microRNA-223 alleviated the spinal injury to some extent, decreased the inflammation and improved nervous system function. In vitro, it was found that the over-expression of microRNA-223 in microglia suppressed inflammation induced by LPS and vice versa. NLRP3 was found the target of microRNA-223. The up-regulation of NLRP3 could diminish the effects of microRNA-223 and aggravated inflammation in microglia. Significance The over-expression of microRNA-223 alleviated the inflammation and improved neuron function. NLRP3 was the downstream target of microRNA-223, the overexpression of which led to severe inflammation in microglia.

The coastal zone is the key area for sustainable scientific research and realizing the strategic development of China's economic and ecological goals. As one of the regions with the highest human activity, the coordinated development of its ecological environment and social economy cannot be ignored. Based on the study of the relationship between ecological environment quality and socio-economic development, this paper proposed the Coastal Resource-environmental Carrying Capacity (CRECC) which including three subsystems (the Resource's system, the Ecological system, and the Socio-economical system), as well as 6 first-level indices and 20 s-level indicators. The entropy weight method and analytic hierarchy process were used to calculate the average weight, and the changing rate of carrying capacity value was analyzed based on the ordinary least square method. Taking the coastal zone of Jiangsu Province as the study area, we calculated the changes of comprehensive/subsystems' carrying capacity from 2000 to 2015, and the trade-off relationship within the subsystem was analyzed. From 2000 to 2015, the value of CRECC, the Resource's system, and the Socio-economical system decreased while the Ecological system's value showed a volatility rise. Overall, the regional carrying capacity level was low. However, positive environmental management measures have significantly improved the status of the ecological environment and helped to alleviate the environmental pressure brought by population growth. the Ecological system played an important role in the change of regional carrying capacity. Vegetation coverage, coastal water environment quality index, tidal flat reclamation area, habitat, and ecological land proportion are significant influencing factors. This also indicated that the landscape ecological status, offshore water quality and utilization of space resources in Jiangsu coastal zone aren't sustainable. Therefore, it is recommended to improve the ecological resilience of coastal zones, such as implementing spatial planning of tidal flat resources, and controlling pollutant discharge, etc. in order to promote the regional sustainable development.

The aim of the present study was to assess the clinical outcomes of arthroscopic synovectomy in adolescent or young adult patients with advanced haemophilic arthropathy. From January 2009-January 2012, clinical data from 11 adolescent or young adult patients with advanced haemophilic arthropathy who were treated with arthroscopic synovectomy were retrospectively collected. The mean follow-up period was 71.91±5.28 months. The evaluated indicators included frequency of joint bleeding, range of motion (ROM), X-ray staging, hospital for special surgery (HSS) knee score and HSS pain scores. Joint bleeding frequency, pain degree and HSS scores significantly improved following arthroscopic synovectomy at the end of the follow up period. The ROM did not significantly improve. Among the 11 patients, radiographic stage remained unchanged in 9 cases whereas the remaining 2 cases progressed from stage IV to stage V. No patients required total knee arthroplasty through the end of the follow-up period. These findings suggested that arthroscopic synovectomy appears to an effective treatment option to decrease the frequency of bleeding and knee pain, improve knee function and delay knee joint arthroplasty to a certain extent for adolescent or young adult patients with advanced haemophilic knee arthropathy.

This study investigates the anti-cancer potential of Aclidinium bromide (INN) in glioblastoma. Glioblastoma cell lines U251 and U87 were treated with INN and its effects on cell migration and invasion were assessed by transwell migration and invasion assays., The effects of INN on proliferation and apoptosis were detected by CCK-8 kit and flow cytometry, and Western blotting determined anti-apoptotic proteins and signaling pathway changes. The results show that INN effectively suppressed proliferation, migration and invasion and induced apoptosis in U251 and U87 cells, respectively. Furthermore, the expression levels of the Bcl-2 anti-apoptotic protein was significantly decreased while Bax and caspase-3 expression were both increased in glioblastoma cells (all, p

We collated existing data for the Eocene Langshan mafic rocks (Eocene mafic rocks) and the Miocene potassic–ultrapotassic mafic rocks (Miocene mafic rocks) in southern Tibet to investigate the tectonic transition from Neo-Tethyan oceanic crust subduction to Indian continental crust subduction. The Eocene mafic rocks have high Na2O contents (K2O/Na2O = 0.03–0.2) and show OIB-like trace element patterns (e.g., positive Nb and Ta anomalies) and depleted radiogenic Sr–Nd isotope compositions (87Sr/86Sr of apatite = 0.7031, eNd(t) = +5.1 to +6.1). In contrast, the Miocene mafic rocks have high K2O contents (K2O/Na2O = 1.9–8.5) and exhibit arc-like trace element patterns (enrichment in LILEs and depletion in HFSEs) and enriched radiogenic Sr–Nd isotope compositions (87Sr/86Sr = 0.7115–0.7362, eNd(t) = −16 to −12.4). The mantle source for the Eocene mafic rocks was generated by reactions between asthenospheric mantle wedge and felsic melts from subducted Neo-Tethyan oceanic crust (outside the field of rutile stability). In contrast, the mantle source of the Miocene mafic rocks was generated by reactions between asthenospheric (or lithospheric) mantle wedge and felsic melts from subducted Indian continental crust. Taking into account the regional tectonic evolution, we propose that break-off of the Neo-Tethyan oceanic slab and roll-back and/or break-off of the Indian continental slab were the most likely geodynamic mechanisms that led to the production of the Eocene and Miocene mafic rocks, respectively. Therefore, the transition from the Eocene to Miocene mafic rocks in southern Tibet provides an opportunity to understand the tectonic transition from Neo-Tethyan oceanic to Indian continental crust subduction.

BACKGROUND Anterior plate fusion is an effective procedure for the treatment of cervical spinal diseases but is accompanied by a high incidence of postoperative dysphagia. A zero profile (Zero-P) spacer is increasingly being used to reduce postoperative dysphagia and other potential complications associated with surgical intervention. Studies comparing the Zero-P spacer and anterior plate have reported conflicting results. METHODOLOGY A meta-analysis was conducted to compare the safety, efficacy, radiological outcomes and complications associated with the use of a Zero-P spacer versus an anterior plate in anterior cervical spine fusion for the treatment of cervical spinal disease. We comprehensively searched PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library and other databases and performed a meta-analysis of all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and prospective or retrospective comparative studies assessing the two techniques. RESULTS Ten studies enrolling 719 cervical spondylosis patients were included. The pooled data showed significant differences in the operation time [SMD = -0.58 (95% CI = -0.77 to 0.40, p < 0.01)] and blood loss [SMD = -0.40, 95% CI (-0.59 to -0.21), p < 0.01] between the two groups. Compared to the anterior plate group, the Zero-P group exhibited a significantly improved JOA score and reduced NDI and VAS. However, anterior plate fusion had greater postoperative segmental and cervical Cobb's angles than the Zero-P group at the last follow-up. The fusion rate in the two groups was similar. More importantly, the Zero-P group had a lower incidence of earlier and later postoperative dysphagia. CONCLUSIONS Compared to anterior plate fusion, Zero-P is a safer and effective procedure, with a similar fusion rate and lower incidence of earlier and later postoperative dysphagia. However, the results of this meta-analysis should be accepted with caution due to the limitations of the study. Further evaluation and large-sample RCTs are required to confirm and update the results of this study.

Lysosomes degrade dysfunctional intracellular components via three pathways: macroautophagy, microautophagy, and chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA). Unlike the other two, CMA degrades cytosolic proteins with a recognized KFERQ-like motif in lysosomes and is important for cellular homeostasis. CMA activity declines with age and is altered in neurodegenerative diseases. Its impairment leads to the accumulation of aggregated proteins, some of which may be directly tied to the pathogenic processes of neurodegenerative diseases. Its induction may accelerate the clearance of pathogenic proteins and promote cell survival, representing a potential therapeutic approach for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we summarize the current findings on how CMA is involved in neurodegenerative diseases, especially in Parkinson’s disease.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the range of motion and stability of the human cadaveric cervical spine after the implantation of a novel artificial disc and vertebra system by comparing an intact group and a fusion group. METHODS: Biomechanical tests were conducted on 18 human cadaveric cervical specimens. The range of motion and the stability index range of motion were measured to study the function and stability of the artificial disc and vertebra system of the intact group compared with the fusion group. RESULTS: In all cases, the artificial disc and vertebra system maintained intervertebral motion and reestablished vertebral height at the operative level. After its implantation, there was no significant difference in the range of motion (ROM) of C3–7 in all directions in the non-fusion group compared with the intact group (p>0.05), but significant differences were detected in flexion, extension and axial rotation compared with the fusion group (p

This was an in vitro and in vivo study to develop a novel artificial cervical vertebra and intervertebral complex (ACVC) joint in a goat model to provide a new method for treating degenerative disc disease in the cervical spine. The objectives of this study were to test the safety, validity, and effectiveness of ACVC by goat model and to provide preclinical data for a clinical trial in humans in future. We designed the ACVC based on the radiological and anatomical data on goat and human cervical spines, established an animal model by implanting the ACVC into goat cervical spines in vitro prior to in vivo implantation through the anterior approach, and evaluated clinical, radiological, biomechanical parameters after implantation. The X-ray radiological data revealed similarities between goat and human intervertebral angles at the levels of C2-3, C3-4, and C4-5, and between goat and human lordosis angles at the levels of C3-4 and C4-5. In the in vivo implantation, the goats successfully endured the entire experimental procedure and recovered well after the surgery. The radiological results showed that there was no dislocation of the ACVC and that the ACVC successfully restored the intervertebral disc height after the surgery. The biomechanical data showed that there was no significant difference in range of motion (ROM) or neural zone (NZ) between the control group and the ACVC group in flexion-extension and lateral bending before or after the fatigue test. The ROM and NZ of the ACVC group were greater than those of the control group for rotation. In conclusion, the goat provides an excellent animal model for the biomechanical study of the cervical spine. The ACVC is able to provide instant stability after surgery and to preserve normal motion in the cervical spine.

International audience; Acid-base thermochemistry of isolated aliphatic amino acids (denoted AAA): glycine, alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine and proline has been examined theoretically by quantum chemical computations at the G3MP2B3 level. Conformational analysis on neutral, protonated and deprotonated species has been used to identify the lowest energy conformers and to estimate the population of conformers expected to be present at thermal equilibrium at 298 K. Comparison of the G3MP2B3 theoretical proton affinities, PA, and ΔH(acid) with experimental results is shown to be correct if experimental thermochemistry is re-evaluated and adapted to the most recent acidity-basicity scales. From this point of view, a set of evaluated proton affinities of 887, 902, 915, 916, 919 and 941 kJ mol(-1), and a set of evaluated ΔH(acid) of 1433, 1430, 1423, 1423, 1422 and 1426 kJ mol(-1), is proposed for glycine, alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine and proline, respectively. Correlations with structural parameters (Taft's σ(α) polarizability parameter and molecular size) suggest that polarizability of the side chain is the major origin of the increase in PA and decrease in ΔH(acid) along the homologous series glycine, alanine, valine and leucine/isoleucine. Heats of formation of gaseous species AAA, AAAH(+) and [AAA-H](-) were computed at the G3MP2B3 level. The present study provides previously unavailable Δ(f)H°(298) for the ionized species AAAH(+) and [AAA-H](-). Comparison with Benson's estimate, and correlation with molecular size, show that several experimental Δ(f)H°(298) values of neutral or gaseous AAA might be erroneous.

A green and one-step solventless thermolysis approach is developed for large-scale production of ultra-small magnetic ferrite nanocrystals with size down to 3.5 nm. By simply heating a mixed solid powder containing metal acetylacetonate and sodium citrate, a series of metal ferrite nanocrystals including Fe3O4, MnFe2O4, NiFe2O4 and CoFe2O4 are prepared. The nanocrystals exhibit both high hydrophilicity and good biocompatibility with uniform sizes that can be controlled by varying the ratio of metal acetylacetonate to sodium citrate, a green agent that is widely used as a food additive, a buffering regulator and an anticoagulant in blood transfusions. Thanks to the high hydrophilicity, the nanocrystals are demonstrated to be efficient draw solutes for protein enrichment with retained conformational structure based on an osmotically driven process. The green and one-step solventless thermolysis approach with advantages of minimal use of organic solvents and simplicity may be extended to fabrication of other ultra-small and hydrophilic nanoparticles with biocompatibility for a variety of applications.