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N-nitrosamines have been frequently detected in natural waters as a kind of nitroso compound with significant carcinogenic effects on humans. In remote agricultural areas, groundwater is often consumed directly due to inadequate water supply systems, necessitating the investigation of the occurrence, sources, and cancer risk of N-nitrosamines in the groundwater of agricultural areas. This study identified eight N-nitrosamines in groundwater and river water in the Jianghan Plain, a popular agricultural area in central China. The total concentrations of N-nitrosamines in the groundwater and river water were

Au–Pd NPs@CNSs/GO nanocomposites have been fabricated by the in situ growth of Au–Pd nanoparticles on carbon nanospheres (CNSs) using ascorbic acid as reducing agent and diethylenetriamine (DETA) as a coupling linker and the subsequent assembly of the Au–Pd NPs@CNSs on graphene oxide (GO). In the nanocomposites, the Au–Pd NPs alloys have an average particle diameter of less than 10 nm. The nanocomposites show excellent catalytic activity for methylene blue with a high degradation efficiency above 99% in the presence of NaBH4 in aqueous solution, which is attributed to the effects of Au–Pd NPs alloys in the nanocomposites. In addition, the catalyst exhibits good selectivity for methylene blue in the presence of other organic dyes. Meanwhile, the catalytic activity remains unchanged for nine cycles. Such features ensure a very promising application of nanocomposites in the selective degradation of methylene blue in dyes mixtures.

Background Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are reported to play important roles in tumorigenesis of various malignant tumors. However, the clinical significance of aberrant lncRNA expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is still elusive. Methods Firstly, a differentially expressed lncRNA CTC‐297N7.9 in HCC was detected by analyzing the data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Secondly, the expression level of CTC‐297N7.9 was examined in four HCC cell lines and 60 pairs of HCC tissues by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay at our center. Thirdly, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to evaluate the diagnostic value of CTC‐297N7.9 for HCC. Correlation and survival analysis of HCC patients from the TCGA and our center were also carried out to assess the predictive value of CTC‐297N7.9. Finally, survival prognostic models were established combining lncRNA expression and other clinical parameters. Results The expression of CTC‐297N7.9 was downregulated in HCC cell lines and HCC tissues. ROC curve revealed its significant diagnostic value in HCC. CTC‐297N7.9 expression correlated with serum alpha‐fetal protein (AFP), tumor stage, and tumor differentiation. Survival analysis indicated that overall survival (OS) and disease‐free survival (DFS) are all positively associated with CTC‐297N7.9 expression, especially in patients without viral hepatitis or cirrhosis. Cox regression analysis showed that CTC‐297N7.9 expression level is an independent prognostic factor for both OS and DFS in HCC patients. Based on the model, CTC‐297N7.9 was observed to be negatively correlated to risk score, indicating its role as a protective factor for HCC. Conclusion Our study demonstrated that the low expression of CTC‐297N7.9 is associated with poor prognosis in HCC patients, suggesting its possible role as a potential prognostic marker for HCC., Our study demonstrated a novel long noncoding RNA CTC‐297N7.9, which expression was negatively correlated with the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients, using bioinformatics analysis method and tissue specimen. CTC‐297N7.9 was proved to have potential to be a prognostic biomarker for HCC.

Adenoid hypertrophy (AH) is a common disease in children. We describe two cases of AH in children with syphilis enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (EIA) for false-positive. To our knowledge, there are few reports of false-positive in syphilis EIA in children with AH. Two cases of AH children with syphilis EIA positive samples were confirmed by TPPA and LIA, both showed negative reaction. Therefore, the occurrence of syphilis EIA positive reactions in such diseases should dramatically arouse the attention of docimasters and doctors so as to avoid misdiagnosis caused by false-positive in children with AH.

INTRODUCTION: Ammonia production via the arginine deiminase system (ADS) of oral bacteria can function to reduce the cariogenicity of oral biofilms by neutralizing glycolytic acids that cause tooth demineralization. OBJECTIVES: This cohort study investigated the relationship between ADS activity and bacterial profile changes of supragingival biofilms with caries experience among children over time. METHODS: A total of 79 children aged 2 to 7 y at baseline were assessed every 6 mo for a period of 18 mo. Children were grouped as caries free (CF), caries active with enamel lesions (CAE), or caries active with dentin lesions (CA). Supragingival plaque samples were collected from caries-free surfaces (PF) and from enamel (PE) and dentin (PD) lesions. Plaque ADS activity was measured by monitoring citrulline production from arginine and compared with ribosomal 16S rRNA–derived taxonomic profiles for the same samples. RESULTS: At baseline, 37% of the children were CF, 34% CAE, and 29% CA. At 18 mo, 26% were CF, 41% CAE, 23% CA, and 10% were caries experienced (new restorations but no caries activity). Throughout the study period, ADS activity was significantly higher in the CF group than the CA group (P < 0.0001), and ADS activity in the PF samples was significantly higher than in the PE and PD samples (P < 0.0001). Distance-based redundancy analysis showed that the bacterial communities could be differentiated when plaque samples are grouped into levels of high and low ADS activity. CONCLUSIONS: There is a positive correlation between caries activity and low arginolytic capacity of the supragingival oral biofilms of children and tooth surfaces over time. Measurements of arginine metabolism via ADS may be useful to differentiate the caries risk of individuals and tooth surfaces. KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER STATEMENT: Findings from this study support the development of new strategies for caries risk assessment and prevention based on modulation of the virulence of the oral microbiome through arginine metabolism in supragingival biofilms.

Inhibition of oral biofilm formation is critical to prevent and treat dental caries and periodontal diseases. In this study, we synthesized zwitterionic poly(carboxybetaine) (pCB) based polymer as a nonfouling coating to provide anti-bacterial properties to tooth surfaces. Four catechol derived l-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) groups were conjugated to pCB to serve as a surface anchoring group. The pCB-(DOPA)4 polymer was coated on the hydroxyapatite (HA) and enamel samples by simple immersion and characterized by Raman spectroscopy. The nonfouling effectiveness of the pCB based coating was determined by protein adsorption and bacterial adhesion assays. The coating was transparent on sample surfaces. The protein adsorption was significantly reduced to 8.2% and 6.9%, respectively, on pCB-(DOPA)4 coated HA and enamel samples. The pCB-(DOPA)4 -coated samples also demonstrated significantly fewer adhered Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus mutants compared to the control. This novel coating material provides an innovative approach to resist biofilm formation on tooth surfaces and has great potential in future dental clinical applications.

In the present study, we firstly reported a green approach to prepare synthetic polymer-based particle adsorbents in aqueous solution. A novel spherical hydrogel capsule (SHC) was prepared through a facile method by partial ionic-crosslinking of carboxylated chitosan (CCS). Then, 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-propanesulfonic acid (AMPS) and acrylic acid (AA) were chosen as monomers to prepare P(AMPS-co-AA) hydrogel particles by using the SHCs as sacrificial mini-reactors. Different feed monomer molar ratios of core/shell structured CCS/P(AMPS-co-AA) hydrogel particles were synthesized through free radical polymerization. After removing the shells of the core/shell particles, the obtained P(AMPS-co-AA) particles were further used as adsorbents. The maximum adsorption capacities to the metallic ions of Ni2+, Cd2+, Cu2+, and Ag+ were 171.6, 220.5, 366.0, and 668.4 mg/g, respectively. In addition, the adsorption amount towards methylene blue (MB) reached as high as 2970 mg/g, and the removal ratio to MB by the particle columns was over 92%. Furthermore, the particles showed excellent reusability. Thus, we provide a green and economical methodology for the preparation of tunable synthetic polymer-based hydrogel particles in aqueous solution that can be used as recyclable adsorbents for water remediation.

By blocking an important signaling pathway (called NOTCH) and interfering with expression of two tumor suppressor genes in cells derived from human embryonic stem cells, Chen et al. have developed a model for studying small cell lung cancers., Cancer models based on cells derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) may reveal why certain constellations of genetic changes drive carcinogenesis in specialized lineages. Here we demonstrate that inhibition of NOTCH signaling induces up to 10% of lung progenitor cells to form pulmonary neuroendocrine cells (PNECs), putative precursors to small cell lung cancers (SCLCs), and we can increase PNECs by reducing levels of retinoblastoma (RB) proteins with inhibitory RNA. Reducing levels of TP53 protein or expressing mutant KRAS or EGFR genes did not induce or expand PNECs, but tumors resembling early-stage SCLC grew in immunodeficient mice after subcutaneous injection of PNEC-containing cultures in which expression of both RB and TP53 was blocked. Single-cell RNA profiles of PNECs are heterogeneous; when RB levels are reduced, the profiles resemble those from early-stage SCLC; and when both RB and TP53 levels are reduced, the transcriptome is enriched with cell cycle–specific RNAs. Our findings suggest that genetic manipulation of hESC-derived pulmonary cells will enable studies of this recalcitrant cancer.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a global public health problem. Cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma are the main causes of death in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) infection. Liver fibrosis is an important cause of cirrhosis and end‑stage liver disease after CHC infection. Along with the course of infection, liver fibrosis exhibits a progressive exacerbation. Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are involved in both physiological and pathological processes of the liver. During the chronic liver injury process, the activated HSCs transform into myofibroblasts, which are important cells in the development of liver fibrosis. At present, HCV infection still lacks specific markers for the accurate detection of the disease condition and progression. Therefore, the present review focused on HSCs, which are closely related to HCV‑infected liver fibrosis, and analyzed the changes in the HSCs, including their surface‑specific markers, cytokine production, activation, cell function and morphological structure. The present review aimed to propose novel diagnostic markers, at both the cellular and molecular level, which would be of great significance for the timely diagnosis of the disease. According to this aim, the characteristic changes of HSCs during HCV infection were reviewed in the present article.

Sodium alginate (SA) beads with ultrahigh adsorption capacity were prepared via hydrogen bonds between SA and 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropa-1-propanesulfonic acid (AMPS), and the AMPS was then post-cross-linked to manufacture SA/PAMPS beads. The equilibrium adsorption capacities of methylene blue (MB) and Pb2+ for the SA/PAMPS10 beads were 2977 and 2042 mg/g, respectively. Although the SA beads exhibited higher equilibrium adsorption capacities of MB and Pb2+ than those of the SA/PAMPS10 beads, the SA/PAMPS10 beads had better mechanical property and higher stability. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the Langmuir isotherm described the adsorption processes of the SA/PAMPS10 beads for MB well. In addition, the SA/PAMPS10 beads could be reused with stable adsorption capacity for at least three cycles. The beads also had excellent performances on absorbing methylene violet and other heavy metal ions (Cu2+, Cd2+ and Ni2+). Therefore, the SA-based beads with high adsorption capacity might be good candidates for industrial pollutant treatments.

Oral Candida albicans has been detected in children with early childhood caries (ECC) and has demonstrated cariogenic traits in animal models of the disease. Conversely, other studies found no positive correlation between C. albicans and caries experience in children, while suggesting it may have protective effects as a commensal organism. Thus, this study aimed to examine whether oral C. albicans is associated with ECC. Seven electronic databases were searched. The data from eligible studies were extracted, and the risk of bias was evaluated. A fixed effects model (Mantel-Haenszel estimate) was used for meta-analysis, and the summary effect measure was calculated by odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Fifteen cross-sectional studies were included for the qualitative assessment and 9 studies for meta-analysis. Twelve studies revealed higher oral C. albicans prevalence in ECC children than in caries-free children, while 2 studies indicated an equivalent prevalence. A pooled estimate, with OR = 6.51 and 95% CI = 4.94-8.57, indicated a significantly higher ECC experience in children with oral C. albicans than those without C. albicans (p < 0.01). The odds of experiencing ECC in children with C. albicans versus children without C. albicans were 5.26 for salivary, 6.69 for plaque, and 6.3 for oral swab samples. This systematic review indicates that children with oral C. albicans have >5 times higher odds of having ECC compared to those without C. albicans. Further prospective cohort studies are needed to determine whether C. albicans could be a risk factor for ECC, and whether it is dependent on different sample sources (saliva/plaque).

Arginine metabolism via the arginine deiminase system (ADS) of oral bacteria generates ammonia, which can increase the pH of oral biofilms and decrease the risk for dental caries. Antagonistic interactions between ADS-positive and cariogenic bacteria in oral biofilms may be an important ecological determinant of caries. This study investigated the antagonistic potential and mechanisms of clinical isolates of arginolytic streptococci on and by Streptococcus mutans UA159, a well-characterized cariogenic human isolate. Low-passage isolates of Streptococcus gordonii, Streptococcus sanguinis, Streptococcus parasanguinis, Streptococcus australis, and Streptococcus cristatus inhibited the growth of S. mutans to various degrees when they were inoculated on growth media first or simultaneously with S. mutans. The antagonistic effects of arginolytic strains against S. mutans and the production of H2O2 by these strains were enhanced during growth in a less-rich medium or when galactose was substituted for glucose as the primary carbohydrate source. Pyruvate oxidase was the dominant pathway for H2O2 production by arginolytic strains, but lactate oxidase activity was also detected in some strains of S. gordonii and S. cristatus. UA159 inhibited the growth of all tested arginolytic strains when inoculated first, especially in aerobic conditions. However, the antagonistic effects of S. mutans on certain strains of S. gordonii and S. australis were not observed during anaerobic growth in the presence of arginine. Thus, arginolytic commensal streptococci may have a synergistically positive impact on the ecology of oral biofilms by moderating biofilm pH while antagonizing the growth and virulence of caries pathogens.

Background Alkali production via arginine deiminase system (ADS) of oral bacteria plays a significant role in oral ecology, pH homeostasis and inhibition of dental caries. ADS activity in dental plaque varies greatly between individuals, which may profoundly affect their susceptibility to caries. Objective To investigate the effect of arginine on the growth and biofilm formation of oral bacteria. Methods and results Polymicrobial dental biofilms derived from saliva were formed in a high-throughput active attachment biofilm model and L-arginine (Arg) was shown to reduce the colony forming units (CFU) counts of such biofilms grown for various periods or biofilms derived from saliva of subjects with different caries status. Arg hardly disturbed bacterial growth of Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sobrinus, Streptococcus sanguinis and Streptococcus gordonii in BHI medium, but only inhibited biofilm formation of S. mutans. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) showed S. mutans biofilms harboured fewer cells grown with Arg than that without Arg, even in the initial 2 h and 8 h phase. Confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) images of poly-microbial dental and S. mutans biofilms revealed the biofilms grown with Arg had lower exopolysaccharide (EPS)/bacteria ratios than those without Arg (P = 0.004, 0.002, respectively). Arg could significantly reduce the production of water-insoluble EPS in S. mutans biofilms (P < 0.001); however, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) did not show significantly influence in gene expression of gtfB, gtfC or gtfD (P = 0.32, 0.06, 0.44 respectively). Conclusions Arg could reduce the biomass of poly-microbial dental biofilms and S. mutans biofilms, which may be due to the impact of Arg on water-insoluble EPS. Considering the contribution to pH homeostasis in dental biofilms, Arg may serve as an important agent keeping oral biofilms healthy thus prevent dental caries.

Objectives:Galla chinensiswater extract (GCE) has been demonstrated to inhibit dental caries by favorably shifting the demineralization/remineralization balance of enamel and inhibiting the biomass and acid formation of dental biofilm. The present study focused on the comparison of composition and anticaries effect ofGalla chinensisextracts with different isolation methods, aiming to improve the efficacy of caries prevention.Methods:The composition of water extract (GCE), ethanol extract (eGCE) and commercial tannic acid was compared. High performance liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-TOF-MS) analysis was used to analyze the main ingredients.In vitropH-cycling regime and polymicrobial biofilms model were used to assess the ability of differentGalla chinensisextracts to inhibit enamel demineralization, acid formation and biofilm formation.Results:All the GCE, eGCE and tannic acid contained a high level of total phenolics. HPLC-ESI-TOF-MS analysis showed that the main ingredients of GCE were gallic acid (GA), while eGCE mainly contained 4-7 galloylglucopyranoses (GGs) and tannic acid mainly contained 5-10 GGs. Furthermore, eGCE and tannic acid showed a better effect on inhibiting enamel demineralization, acid formation and biofilm formation compared to GCE.Conclusions:Galla chinensisextracts with higher tannin content were suggested to have higher potential to prevent dental caries.

A recyclable and regenerable magnetic polysaccharide absorbent for methylene blue (MB) removal was prepared by coating magnetic polyethyleneimine nanoparticles (PEI@MNPs) with sulfonated chitosan (SCS) and further cross-linked with glutaraldehyde. The driving force for coating is the electrostactic interaction between positively charged PEI and negatively charged SCS. Infrared spectra, zeta potential, thermal gravimetric analysis and X-ray diffraction demonstrated the successful synthesis of magnetic polysaccharide absorbent. The self-assembly of polysaccharide with magnetic nanopartices did not alter the saturation magnetization value of the absorbent confirmed by vibrating sample magnetometer. The nanoparticles showed fast removal (about 30min reached equilibrium) of MB. In particular, the removal ability of MB after desorption did not reduce, demonstrating an excellent regeneration ability. Our study provides new insights into utilizing polysaccharides for environmental remediation and creating advanced magnetic materials for various promising applications.

Hollow fiber membranes with satisfied blood compatibility and antibacterial property are desired in blood purification. Herein, a series of heparin-like copolymers of poly(methyl methacrylate-vinyl pyrrolidone -sodium styrene sulfonate-sodium acrylate) (poly(MMA-VP-SSNa-SA)) were synthesized by free radical solution polymerization. The mixture was directly blended with polyethersulfone (PES) solution to prepare hollow fiber membranes. The membranes were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Blood compatibility of the hollow fiber membranes was evaluated via protein adsorption, platelet adhesion, clotting time, and hemolysis assay. Besides, Ag nanoparticles were immobilized onto the hollow fiber membranes efficiently by a simple and green method, and the antibacterial property and blood compatibility of the Ag-loaded membranes were then investigated. The results indicated that the approach towards blood compatible and antibacterial hollow fiber membrane is efficient and flexible for the modification for membrane materials.

Post-crosslinking as a new strategy to prepare sodium alginate (SA) beads with controllable swelling behavior, pH sensitivity and adsorption capacity was developed by using the solution of glutaraldehyde (GA), acetic acid and hydrochloric acid as the coagulating agent, for which could be used to fabricate polysaccharide beads in a large scale. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis convinced the successful cross-linking of SA by GA. The macro-porous structures of the beads were observed by scanning electron microscopy. Both acetic acid and hydrochloric acid had great effects on the swelling behavior and pH sensitivity of the SA beads. The SA beads could adsorb cationic dye (methylene blue) as high as 572mg/g and other metal ions (Cu(2+), Ag(+) and Fe(3+)). The adsorption processes fitted well with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the Freundlich isotherm. The large-scale production of SA beads with tunable properties opens a new route to industrially utilize polysaccharide beads in wastewater treatments, intelligent separation and so on.

Magnetite Fe3O4 (ferrite) has attracted considerable interest for its exceptional physical properties: It is predicted to be a semimetallic ferromagnetic with a high Curie temperature, it displays a metal-insulator transition, and has potential oxide-electronics applications. Here, we fabricate a high-magnetization (> 1 Tesla) high-resistance (~0.1 Ω·cm) sub-nanostructured (grain size < 3 nm) Fe3O4 film via grain-size control and nano-engineering. We report a new phenomenon of spin-flipping of the valence-spin tetrahedral Fe3+ in the sub-nanostructured Fe3O4 film, which produces the high magnetization. Using soft X-ray magnetic circular dichroism and soft X-ray absorption, both at the Fe L3,2- and O K-edges, and supported by first-principles and charge-transfer multiple calculations, we observe an anomalous enhancement of double exchange, accompanied by a suppression of the superexchange interactions because of the spin-flipping mechanism via oxygen at the grain boundaries. Our result may open avenues for developing spin-manipulated giant magnetic Fe3O4-based compounds via nano-grain size control.

Many esophageal diseases including malignancy are associated with stem/progenitor cell abnormalities involving reactivation of developmental signaling pathways. However, anatomical and structural differences between species render mouse a suboptimal organism for studying esophageal development and disease mechanism. To address this issue we established an efficient protocol to generate esophageal epithelial progenitors (EPCs) from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) including embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Inhibition of TGFs and BMP signaling is required for the sequential differentiation of hPSCs into EPCs which can be further purified with the cell surface markers EPCAM and Integrin s4. The hPSC-derived EPCs recapitulate the normal development of the stratified squamous epithelium in the human esophagus. More importantly, a combination of hPSC differentiation and mouse genetics allows us to elucidate the critical role for NOTCH signaling in the formation of the stratified squamous epithelium. Our studies therefore not only provide an efficient approach to generate human EPCs, but also offer a new model to study the regulatory mechanisms underlying the development of the human esophagus.

Objective This study was designed to explore the effect of gallic acid (GA, one of the ingredients of chemical compounds from galla chinensis) on the morphology and growth of hydroxyapatite crystals. Methods The crystals was produced by mixing CaCl 2 and KH 2 PO 4 with or without GA (4 g/L) at room temperature for 3, 12, 24 h and 3, 7, 14 days. Subsequently, the micro-structure, morphology and composition of the crystals were investigated via SEM, XRD, ATR-FTIR and fluorescence microscopy. Results The mineral phase was hydroxyapatite in both groups after 14 days, but their processes and the morphology were completely different. The crystals from groups utilizing GA for 14 days were urchin-like, while loose needle-like crystals were observed in groups without GA. XRD results indicated that GA might limit the growth of the crystals, mainly on the 0 0 2 direction. The results of ATR-FTIR and fluorescence microscopy revealed that the unique structures might caused by the participation of GA during crystals formation. Conclusion GA might affect and participate into the formation of the hydroxyapatite, and regulate the morphology and structure of the crystals, to enhance the remineralization process.

Safe and efficient carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC)-based heparin-mimicking cross-linked beads (CMC/PAMPS) as adsorbents for the clearance of low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-c) in blood purification were prepared through hydrogen bonding interactions followed with in situ cross-linking with 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonicacid (AMPS). Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR), two-dimensional correlation FTIR spectroscopy (2D IR), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS) demonstrated the successful synthesis of CMC/PAMPS beads. The porous structures of the beads may contribute to the adsorption of toxins. Owing to their favorable hydrophilicity, when contacted with blood, the beads showed excellent hemocompatibility. The hemolysis ratios for all the beads were less than 5%, the thromboplastin time of CMC/PAMPS10 beads exceed 600 s, and they can suppress contact activation and complement activation effectively. Additionally, the beads have no obvious cytotoxicity with endothelial cells, thus could be used as a safe adsorbent for blood purification. Moreover, the CMC/PAMPS10 beads possessed a LDL-c adsorption capacity of 24.8 mg/g under static adsorption and a LDL-c adsorption capacity of 8.2 mg/g in the simulation of hemoperfusion for whole blood, due to the large surface areas and high density of functional groups. Meanwhile, the concentration of high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-c) was almost unaffected. In general, the safe adsorbent with high LDL-c adsorption capacity has great potentials for hemoperfusion and other clinical applications.

In this study, poly(ether sulfone) (PES)/poly(sodium acrylate) (PSA) hybrid particles for the removal of environmental toxins were prepared via in situ cross-linked polymerization coupled with a liquid–liquid phase separation technique. The particles were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Batch experiments were performed to verify the adsorption capability of the particles, and the initial concentrations and pH values of the solutions significantly affected the adsorption process. In addition, both adsorption kinetic and adsorption isotherm models were used to analyze the adsorption process of Cu2+. The modified PES particles showed high adsorption capability for Cu2+ and methylene blue (MB), and a particle column was used to further study the removal ability of environmental toxins. The results indicated that the hybrid particles had great potential to remove heavy metal ions and cationic dyes for wast...

Magnetite thin films (10–300 nm) are deposited on different substrates including single crystals ((0001)-Al2O3, (001)-Si, (110)-SiO2), textured polycrystalline oxide underlayers (ZnO), amorphous glass, at temperature from room temperature to 550 °C by the pulsed laser deposition technique. Strong (111)-texture can be obtained on single crystal Si, SiO2, amorphous glass, and (0001)-textured ZnO layer, no matter whether they have either a huge lattice mismatch or no matching at all with Fe3O4. The film on single crystal Al2O3 (sapphire) shows a (111)-epitaxial structure with a strong in plane compressive strain. The saturated magnetization for magnetite thin films grown on SiO2 and Si substrates can reach 440 emu/cc while the epitaxial films grown on Al2O3 have a magnetization around 310 emu/cc when the film thickness is 40 nm. The substrate-induced strain in the films grown on Al2O3 substrates significantly affects the magnetic anisotropy and the magnetic coupling at the anti-phase boundaries in the films.

The aim of this study was to create heparin-like chitosan hydrogels (HLCHs) for blood purification. Herein, we prepared two heparin-like chitosans (HLCSs) with various carboxymethyl and sulfate groups, followed by a cross-linking reaction with glutaraldehyde. The synthetic chitosan derivatives were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography, FTIR and NMR. The average sulfonation degrees of two HLCSs were 0.69 and 0.94 per sugar unit, respectively. The swelling ratio of the HLCH could reach up to 4800%, and the HLCHs remained a well-defined shape and stable below 170 °C. Moreover, the activated partial thromboplastin time and thrombin time results indicated that both of the HLCSs and their hydrogels exhibited excellent thrombus inhibition property. Furthermore, the contact activation and complement activation results also proved that the hydrogels possessed good blood compatibility and had the potential to be used as blood-contacting materials.

A novel family of multi-responsive, tough, and reversible hydrogels were prepared by the combination of dipole-dipole interaction, hydrogen bonding interaction and slightly chemical cross-linking, using monomers of acrylonitrile, sodium allylsulfonate and itaconic acid. Reversible gel-sol transition was achieved by the flexible conversion of the dipole-dipole interactions between acrylonitrile-acrylonitrile and acrylonitrile-sodium thiocyanate, and the hydrogels could freely form desired shapes. The dipole-dipole and hydrogen bonding interactions improved the mechanical strength of the hydrogels with a compressive stress of 2.38MPa. Meanwhile, the hydrogels sustained cyclic compressive tests with 60% strain, and exhibited excellent elastic property. The hydrogels were sensitive to pH and ionic strength, and could keep their perfect spherical structures without any obvious cracks even after immersing in strong ionic strength (or pH) solution for several reversible cycles. Furthermore, the hydrogels were recycled for environmental pollution remediation, and showed great potential to be applied in water treatments and other related fields.

To determine the chemical composition of Galla chinensis extract (GCE) by several analysis techniques and to compare the efficacy of GCE and its main component(s) in inhibition of enamel demineralization, for the development of future anticaries agents, main organic composition of GCE was qualitatively determined by liquid chromatography-time of flight-mass spectrometry (LC-TOF-MS) and quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector (HPLC-DAD). Inorganic ions were tested by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy and F was especially measured by ion chromatography. Then, bovine enamel blocks were randomly divided into four treatment groups and were subjected to a pH-cycling regime for 12 times. Each cycle included 5-min applications with one of four treatments: 4 g⋅L(-1) GCE solution, 4 g⋅L(-1) gallic acid (GA) solution, 1 g⋅L(-1) NaF solution (positive control), deionized water (DDW, negative control), and then 60-min application in pH 5.0 acidic buffer and 5-min application in neutral buffer. Acidic buffers were retained for calcium analysis. The main organic composition of GCE were GA and its isomer, and, to a lesser extent, small molecule gallotannins. The content of GA in GCE was 71.3%±0.2% (w/w). Inorganic ions were present in various amounts, of which Ca was (136±2.82) µg⋅g(-1), and Zn was (6.8±0.1) µg⋅g(-1). No F was detected in GCE. In pH cycling, GA showed an effect similar to GCE in inhibiting enamel demineralization (P0.05). GA was found to be the main effective, demineralization inhibiting component of GCE and could be a promising agent for the development of anticaries agents.

Objective: Exploring the application of Health quotient idea in improving symptoms of Ischemic Cerebral Apoplexy with Hyperuricemia in the Zhuang nationality youth. Method: 256 patients with Ischemic Cerebral Apoplexy with Hyperuricemia were enrolled in the neurology department of our hospital from January 2016 to August 2018.; According to the randomization method, 256 patients were divided into study group and control group, 128 cases each; the control group was routinely intervened according to the traditional methods, such as: routine care, health education, discharge guidance, continuous intervention after discharge, etc; the study team conducted Health quotient education on the basis of the control group; the health quotient index, healthy behavior, functional exercise compliance, and blood uric acid level which were measured before intervention and intervention after 3 months, and the recurrence rate of Ischemic Cerebral Apoplexy was counted within 1 year after discharge . Results: The indexes of health quotient, health behavior, compliance of functional exercise and serum uric acid level were compared between the two groups before intervention and the result of the difference was not statistically significant (P＞0.05). After three months of intervention, the indexes of health quotient index, health behavior, compliance of functional exercise and blood uric acid levels of the study group were significantly higher than those of the control group (P＜0.001); the recurrence rate of the study group was 0.78% within 1 year after the intervention (1/128) while the recurrence rate of the control group was 12.5% (16/128); Comparison between the two groups: x2=4.4326, P=0.0353 . The difference was statistically significant. Conclusion: Through the education of the Health quotient idea, it can effectively improve the indicators of health quotient, health behavior, functional exercise compliance and blood uric acid level in patients with Ischemic Cerebral Apoplexy and Hyperuricemia in Zhuang nationality youth and can promote patients to develop healthy ways of life behavior, thus effectively preventing the recurrence of Ischemic Cerebral Apoplexy with Hyperuricemia, and it is worth promoting.

Aim The aim of this survey was to compare Chinese natives and foreign inhabitants in Chengdu, China, with respect to: (1) attitudes towards dental appearance, (2) subjective orthodontic treatment need, and (3) the main factors influencing orthodontic treatment need. Methodology A total of 522 subjects, including 227 foreign inhabitants and 295 Chinese natives in Chengdu participated in the survey. A simple random sampling method was adopted and a face-to-face interview was conducted at some public sites using a questionnaire. Data was entered by two persons synchronously using Epidata 3.0, and SPSS 13.0 was used to analyze these data. Results 89.0% of foreign inhabitants were satisfied with their teeth compared to only 46.8% of Chinese natives. Females were more dissatisfied with their teeth than males. Chinese natives put improving appearance as the top priority (55.9%) for seeking orthodontic treatment; however, in foreign inhabitants, the main reason for seeking treatment was to improve masticatory function (44.1%), followed by ”to be pretty“ (35.2%). The importance of well-aligned teeth and self-perception of psycho-social impact of malocclusion were the same two main factors influencing subjective orthodontic treatment need (P

In this work, room temperature ferromagnetism was found in (Zn1-x, Mgx)O film with certain Mg compositions (0.06 0.50), ferromagnetism disappears and the film becomes fully amorphous. Besides, the defects concentration of the film is significantly reduced. The mechanism of RTFM in ZnO-MgO system may be attributed to the interaction ZnO NCs and defects surrounding them.

The ability of certain oral biofilm bacteria to moderate pH through arginine metabolism by the arginine deiminase system (ADS) is a deterrent to the development of dental caries. Here, we characterize a novel Streptococcus strain, designated strain A12, isolated from supragingival dental plaque of a caries-free individual. A12 not only expressed the ADS pathway at high levels under a variety of conditions but also effectively inhibited growth and two intercellular signaling pathways of the dental caries pathogen Streptococcus mutans . A12 produced copious amounts of H 2 O 2 via the pyruvate oxidase enzyme that were sufficient to arrest the growth of S. mutans . A12 also produced a protease similar to challisin (Sgc) of Streptococcus gordonii that was able to block the competence-stimulating peptide (CSP)–ComDE signaling system, which is essential for bacteriocin production by S. mutans . Wild-type A12, but not an sgc mutant derivative, could protect the sensitive indicator strain Streptococcus sanguinis SK150 from killing by the bacteriocins of S. mutans . A12, but not S. gordonii , could also block the XIP ( com X - i nducing p eptide) signaling pathway, which is the proximal regulator of genetic competence in S. mutans , but Sgc was not required for this activity. The complete genome sequence of A12 was determined, and phylogenomic analyses compared A12 to streptococcal reference genomes. A12 was most similar to Streptococcus australis and Streptococcus parasanguinis but sufficiently different that it may represent a new species. A12-like organisms may play crucial roles in the promotion of stable, health-associated oral biofilm communities by moderating plaque pH and interfering with the growth and virulence of caries pathogens.