Search

Low-temperature sensitivity at the germination stage is a challenge for direct seeding of rice in Asian countries. How Ca2+ and auxin (IAA) signaling regulate primary root growth under chilling remains unexplored. Here, we showed that OsCML16 interacted specifically with OsPILS7a to improve primary root elongation of early rice seedlings under chilling. OsCML16, a subgroup 6c member of the OsCML family, interacted with multiple cytosolic loop regions of OsPILS7a in a Ca2+-dependent manner. OsPILS7a localized to the endoplasmic reticulum membranes and functioned as an auxin efflux carrier in a yeast growth assay. Transgenics showed that presence of OsCML16 enhanced primary root elongation under chilling, whereas the ospils7a knockout mutant lines showed the opposite phenotype. Moreover, under chilling conditions, OsCML16 and OsPILS7a-mediated Ca2+ and IAA signaling and regulated the transcription of IAA signaling-associated genes (OsIAA11, OsIAA23, and OsARF16) and cell division marker genes (OsRAN1, OsRAN2, and OsLTG1) in primary roots. These results show that OsCML16 and OsPILS7a cooperatively regulate primary root elongation of early rice seedlings under chilling. These findings enhance our understanding of the crosstalk between Ca2+ and IAA signaling and reveal insights into the mechanisms underlying cold-stress response during rice germination. A calcium binding protein and its PIN-LIKE interactor work together to regulate primary root elongation during germination under cold stress in rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) aerogels with excellent environmentally friendly properties have been considered to replace undegradable polymer foams. However, due to highly flammable, hydrophilic, and worse compression resistance performance, PVA aerogels have always been excluded from practical. Herein, a fire safety and compression resistance PVA/expansible graphene oxide (EGO)/Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) (PGL) aerogel was prepared via the freeze-drying method and electrostatic adsorption of flame retardant. The ice crystals from aerogels were sublimated and left a mass of tree-like pore tunnel structures. Meantime, the compound of EGO and LDHs rendered PGL aerogels high compressive strength of 6.0917 MPa (at 80% of strains), a high specific modulus of 19.16 m2/s2, and an ultra-low density of 0.059 g/cm3. Especially, the as-prepared PGL aerogels showed heat release reduced by 55.4%, smoke release reduced by 54.3%, and the limiting oxygen index reaching up to 31%. Moreover, LDHs also enhanced the interface with PVA/EGO resulting in hydrophobic performance improvement. The proposed enhancements mechanism suggested that (i) chemical reactions between EGO and PVA matrix; (ii) a mass of negative potential sites from the interface of PVA/EGO composites made LDHs sheets easily adsorbing; (iii) oxygen-containing groups from EGO and LDHs absorbed mass of heat during combustion; (iv) the compact char residues on the surface of aerogels acting as barriers suppressed smoke and prevented PVA matrix from further combustion. Therefore, electrostatic adsorption as a facile production process was paved for meeting the compression resistance, flame-retardant, heat-insulating, and smoke-suppressed requirements of PVA aerogels in this work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mapping functional zones for rural landscapes is the foundational work for rural land use planning and plays a very important role in the economic development and resource management utilization of rural areas. However, the traditional manual delineation of functional zone boundaries empirically in rural areas is labor-intensive, time-consuming, and lacks the consideration of spatial landscape patterns. The emergence of high-resolution remote sensing imagery and image segmentation has facilitated the analysis of ground landscape information and patterns, but there is still a lack of functional zone boundary mapping methods applicable to rural landscapes. To address this, we propose a functional zoning method called multiscale merging of landscape contextual and shape characteristics with heterogeneity indices (M2LHI) for mapping geographic boundaries for rural landscapes based on high-resolution remote sensing imagery. The landscape contextual features were first constructed based on the geospatial distances of landscape types, and then, the dominance index and shape index were introduced to quantify the landscape heterogeneity by object-oriented image analysis. Then, the automated merging of adjacent landscape units based on the thresholds of the landscape heterogeneity indices was performed to map the initial zones. The final rural functional zones were defined based on the main function in the zone. The study was carried out in three typical rural landscapes (hilly countryside, flat countryside, and grassland countryside) located in Fujian, Xinjiang, and Inner Mongolia, China, and the freely available Gaofen-2 (GF-2) satellite imagery was used as the data source. We compared the boundaries of mapped functional zones and reference functional zones, and the matching and inclusion ratios of the final functional zones mapped in each case were bigger than 78%, indicating that the M2LHI method has a high ability to map the functional spatial patterns. The overall accuracies of mapping functional zones with different functions were 95.9%, 89.0%, and 92.1% for the respective cases. The results demonstrated that the M2LHI method effectively quantifies landscape heterogeneity and accurately delineates functional zones with different landscape patterns. It can provide a scientific basis for rural planning and management and efficiently draw reasonable geographic boundaries for rural functional zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, physically exfoliated graphene was embedded in zinc-rich epoxy coatings with different zinc contents to study the corrosion protection of graphene-modified zinc-rich epoxy (GZRE) coatings to steel substrates under high-temperature and high-concentration NaCl solution. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and open-circuit potential were conducted to investigate the corrosion resistance of GZRE coatings with different zinc contents under intact and damaged conditions. The supporting evidence was also provided by surface morphology, cross-sectional morphology, scratch morphology, and salt spray experiment. The contact mode of zinc particles–graphene–zinc particles can be formed between graphene and zinc particles in GZRE, thus improving the electrical connection between zinc particles. The role of graphene in improving the barrier effect and cathodic protection performance of GZRE depends on the zinc content in the coating. Moreover, it was discovered that highly active zinc particles could effectively attenuate the galvanic corrosion effect between graphene and steel substrate. This research will provide promising enlightenment for the application of graphene-modified zinc-rich epoxy coatings for the corrosion protection of steel substrates under high-temperature and high-concentration NaCl solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The self-restacking of graphene nanosheets inevitably compromises the electrochemical performance of conventional graphene-based materials. Herein, to solve this problem, we prepared a new type of three-dimensional porous aerogel with partially unzipped multiwalled carbon nanotubes inserted into graphene nanosheets via a reduction-reaction-induced self-assembly process. In the resulting aerogels, the inner carbon nanotubes (CNTs) tightly attach to the unzipped outer graphene nanoribbons (GNRs), which bridge with the graphene nanosheets. These interconnections bring them excellent electrical contact; the CNTs act as spacers to prevent the restacking of adjacent graphene nanosheets, and the abundant interconnected pores in the aerogels provide large channels for charge transfer. Accordingly, the aerogels exhibit a specific capacitance of 348.4 Fg−1 at a scan rate of 5 mVs−1, with capacitance retention remaining at 89.7% at a current density of 2 Ag−1 after 5000 cycles. The results show that the aerogels are promising electrode materials for supercapacitor applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal phosphates have been widely explored in lithium ion batteries and sodium ion batteries owing to high theoretical capacities, mild toxicity and low cost. However, their potassium ion battery applications are less reported due to the limited conductivity and the slow diffusion kinetics. Considering these drawbacks, novel structured M2P2O7/C (M=Fe, Co, Ni) nanoflake composites are prepared through an organic‐phosphors precursor‐assisted solvothermal method and a subsequent high temperature annealing process. The designed Co2P2O7/C composite exhibits the highest rate capacity with 502 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1 and good cyclability for 900 cycles at 1 A g−1 and 2 A g−1 when compared with Ni and Fe based composites. The superior electrochemical performance can be attributed to their unique nanoparticle‐assembled nanoflake structure, which can afford enough active sites for K+ intercalation. In addition, the robust pyrophosphate crystal structure and the in situ formed carbon composition also have positive effects on enhancing the long‐term cycling performance and the electrode's conductivity. Finally, this organic‐phosphors precursor induced simple approach can be applied for easy fabrication of other pyrophosphate/carbon hybrids as advanced electrodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The realization of a three-dimensional (3D) composite nanofiber scaffold in bone tissue engineering is promising and challenging. In this paper, a series of biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA)/polycaprolactone (PCL) composite micro-nanofiber scaffolds with different PCL contents (0–50 wt%) were prepared by phase separation. The results showed that the addition of PCL had a great effect on the morphology of composite scaffolds and also changed the thermal properties and crystallinity of the PLA matrix. Meanwhile, the addition of the PCL content less than 30% could improve the compressive modulus of the PLA/PCL composite scaffold but slightly reduce the compressive strength. However, a higher content of PCL caused macroscopic collapse of the composite scaffold, which gradually deteriorated the mechanical properties of the scaffolds. The apatite formation ability, in vitro cell proliferation and degradation experiments showed that the PLA/PCL composite scaffold with 30% PCL has good bioactivity, cytocompatibility and degradation rate compared to the pure PLA scaffold just due to the biomimetic ECM nanofiber structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of a catalyst that is both effective and robust is desirable, but remains a challenge for those aiming to commercialize polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. Thus, a facile method is proposed to develop hierarchical and three-dimensional titanium nitride (TiN) architectures, with the robust non‑carbon material being implemented as the Pt support. The resulting catalyst (Pt/TiN) demonstrates high activity and stability, and the experimental data confirm the critical significance of the novel TiN support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MnO 2 -Fe 2 O 3 catalysts were successfully deposited on the surface of polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) filter felt by a redox method, and the as-obtained catalytic filter material was tested in the low-temperature NH 3 -SCR. NO conversions in the 79.8–99.2% range at 140–180 °C and a gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) of 120,000 cm 3 g − 1 h − 1 were obtained, result which is attributed to the presence of amorphous MnO 2 and Fe 2 O 3 catalytic phases. The formation mechanism of the MnO 2 -Fe 2 O 3 catalyst decorated on the polyphenylene sulfide filter felt is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a novel low-Pt core-shell catalyst is successfully prepared by depositing ultrathin Pt layer on the carbon nanotubes supported titanium nitride nanoparticles (TiN@Pt/CNTs) via a facile pulse electrochemical deposition approach. The catalyst is characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), High-angle annular dark field (HAADF) and energy-dispersive spectrometer (EDS) elemental mapping, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and electrochemical measurements. The results confirm the core-shell structure of the prepared TiN@Pt/CNTs catalyst. More importantly, the catalyst exhibits superb mass activity and durability for the methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) than that of the commercial JM Pt/C catalyst. Later experiments data demonstrate that the activity and stability of the catalyst can be further enhanced via copper doping, which results from the modified electronic structure of the Pt atoms and the synergistic effects of the core-shell structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A conducting copolymer of 1,1′-ferrocenediacyl anilide and aniline (P(FcA-co-ANI)) was synthesized, which had a conjugated structure and ferrocene moieties in the main chain. The monomer and copolymer were characterized using proton nuclear magnetic resonance and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopies. A P(FcA-co-ANI)/reduced graphene oxide (rGO) composite was synthesized by oxidation polymerization, using rGO as a substrate. The characteristic peaks of P(FcA-co-ANI) and rGO were observed in the FTIR spectrum of P(FcA-co-ANI)/rGO. The X-ray diffraction pattern of P(FcA-co-ANI)/rGO exhibited similar peaks to the pattern of P(FcA-co-ANI), except for the absence of the weak broad peak at 9.0° owing to rGO. The surface morphologies of the materials were characterized by atomic force microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The interlayer distances of rGO and P(FcA-co-ANI)/rGO were 0.96 and 1.38 nm, respectively. The morphology of the copolymer was spherical, and it contained island structures covering the surface of the graphene layers. The electrochemical properties of the composite were measured by cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge–discharge measurements and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The maximum specific capacitance of the composite was 722.5 F/g at 0.5 A/g. The diffusion resistance was very small, and the composites durability was sufficient for subjecting to prolonged oxidation and reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Substrate materials are of great significance for the development of pseudocapacitor electrodes. Herein, pseudocapacitive NiCoO have been successfully grown on the 3D graphite felt (GF) substrate via a two-step method, including the prior co-deposition of Ni and Co ions on the GF and succeeding thermal transformation of Ni/Co precursors to spinel NiCoO. Porous NiCoO nanosheets are formed on the surface of GF, yielding stand-alone nanocomposite electrodes. The experimental results show that the NiCoO/GF electrode achieves a remarkable specific capacitance of 2205 F g at a current density of 1 A g, which remains 1790 F g when the current density is increased to 20 A g. After cycling at a current density of 5 A g for 2000 cycles, the NiCoO/GF electrode still exhibits 90.7% of its original specific capacitance. Such encouraging rate capability and cycling stability of the NiCoO/GF electrode are attributed to the optimized structure of NiCoO that functions synergistically with the underlying GF substrate to achieve excellent electron conductivity and enhanced ion diffusivity. Therefore, the as-synthesized binder-free NiCoO/GF electrode is a promising candidate for high-performance pseudocapacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reducing the Pt-based electrocatalysts to sub-nanometer sizes is an effective way to achieve high utilization of noble metals. Herein, we report a successive route to synthesize carbon-supported bimetallic ruthenium-platinum electrocatalysts (Ru-Pt/C) with uniform dispersion and fine sizes. In this strategy, carbon-supported Ru nanoparticles (Ru/C) with a mean size of 1.4 nm are firstly prepared in a mixture of ethylene glycol and water, and the Pt precursors are then reduced in the presence of pre-formed Ru/C. The average diameter of the bimetallic Ru-Pt particles on carbon supports is 1.9 nm, which corresponds to one to two Pt layers deposited on the surface of Ru seeds. The as-prepared bimetallic Ru-Pt/C electrocatalysts are analyzed by the CO stripping voltammetry, a diagnostic electrochemical tool. Compared with the commercial PtRu/C catalyst and the control PtRu/C prepared by a conventional co-reduction method, the bimetallic Ru-Pt/C has higher electrochemical surface area (92.5 m g) and mass activity (483 A g) for methanol oxidation reaction. The strategy reported in this study is effective to produce fine bimetallic Ru-Pt particles (less than 2.0 nm) with uniform dispersion and high activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated a typical pine-oak mosaic mixed forest in the Qinling Mountains, China. In the sample plot, the population structure and spatial distribution of the stems were analyzed for the predominant species, to identify the mechanisms of species coexistence and successional trends of the forest. The population structures of all species were bimodally distributed, with young trees (DBH <1 cm) more abundant than older trees. The population structures of Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata was bimodal and rather continuous. However, Pinus tabuliformis and Pinus armandii were discontinuously bimodal, with distinct size deficiencies. Q. aliena var. acuteserrata trees were clumped throughout the plot, although those of P. tabuliformis and P. armandii were clumped at small scales. Notable negative spatial associations between Q. aliena var. acuteserrata and P. tabuliformis were found at almost scales. P. armandii and Q. aliena var. acuteserrata were negatively spatially associated at small scales but positively associated at large scales. Our findings suggest that interspecific competition gradually develops among the predominant tree species. The dynamics of the pine-oak mosaic mixed forest formed a mosaic distribution of uniformly mixed types, with the slow infiltration of Q. aliena var. acuteserrata populations that would eventually establish a pure stand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

β-nucleated long chain branched (LCB) polypropylene random copolymers (PPRs) were prepared via reactive extrusion by introducing β nucleating agent (NA), dicumyl peroxide (DCP) and various contents of 1, 6-Hexanediol diacrylate (HDDA) into PPR. Results of Fourier infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and the rheological properties demonstrate the existence of LCB polypropylene. Mechanical properties including impact strength, tensile strength and elongation at break were studied. The crystal structure, morphology and crystallization behavior were investigated via wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), polarized light microscopy (PLM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Non-isothermal crystallization kinetics using the Jeziorny method was also studied. The results show an increased LCB degree with increasing HDDA amount. For the sample with a moderate LCB level, synergistic toughening effect of NA and LCB is achieved without deterioration of yield strength or elongation at break, partially because of its higher β-phase content and much smaller spherulite size. It exhibits the minimum values of T c and Z c1 , and the maximum values of t 1/2 and n 1 in the primary stage of crystallization, regardless of the cooling rate, indicating a slower crystallization rate and more complicated nucleation and crystal growth model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lung cancer is one of the most common malignant tumours and has become the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Abnormal microcirculation during tumour growth leads to intermittent hypoxia (IH), which is responsible for promoting cancer cell proliferation and migration. Patients with advanced lung cancers show deficiency of both Qi and Yin Syndrome (DQYS) in TCM, and studies have confirmed that IH exposure is related to DQYS. Shashen-Maidong Decoction (SMD), has been widely applied clinically targeting DQYS and has a long history for treating lung cancer by nourishing the body's "zheng qi" and resisting "xie qi". However, whether SMD could be beneficial to lung cancer under IH conditions remains unclear. This study aimed to clarify the effects and mechanism of SMD on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) growth under IH conditions. C57 mice were injected subcutaneously into the right axilla with Lewis lung cancer (LLC) cells and exposed to IH conditions (21%–5% O 2 , 5 min/cycle, 8 h/day) for 21 days. SMDs were orally treated with different concentrations (2.6, 5.2 or 10.4 g/kg/day) 30 min before IH exposure. Tumour proliferation and migration were assessed by HE and IHC staining, and oxidative stress was assessed by DHE staining and MDA or SOD detection. IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α levels were assessed by IHC staining, and the IL-6/JAK2/STAT3 signalling pathway was detected by western blotting. Our results showed that SMD treatment inhibited tumour growth and liver metastasis in LLC-bearing mice exposed to IH, decreased Ki67, CD31, VEGF, and MMP-2, and increased E-cadherin expression in tumourt tissue. SMD reduced ROS production, increased SOD levels and SOD-2 expression, and decreased MDA levels and NOX-2 expression. SMD decreased IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α levels, reduced IL-6 expression and inhibited JAK2 and STAT3 phosphorylation. Additionally, SMD treatment improved DQYS and liver and kidney function in LLC-bearing mice under IH conditions. Our research suggests that SMD treatment can inhibit tumour growth in mice exposed to IH. The antitumour effect of SMD may be related to attenuated oxidative stress and inflammation through inactivation of the IL-6/JAK2/STAT3 signalling pathway under IH conditions. IH exposure increased ROS production and IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α levels and activated the IL-6/JAK2/STAT3 signalling pathway, which is responsible for accelerating tumour growth. SMD inhibited the proliferation and invasion of cancer cells by inhibiting oxidative stress and the inflammatory response under IH conditions. Meanwhile, SMD effectively improved DQYS targeting Tonifying Qi and Nourishing Yin. n each factor, " ↑ " represents positive change; " ↓ " represents negative change. Black represents the change after IH exposure; Red represents the change after SMD treatment. [Display omitted] • Shashen-Maidong Decoction inhibited lung cancer proliferation under IH conditions. • Shashen-Maidong Decoction inhibited oxidative stress level under IH conditions. • Tumour inhibition of SMD is related to IL-6 signalling inactivation. • SMD improved DQYS, liver and kidney function under IH conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyol approach is commonly used in synthesizing Pt nanoparticles in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. However, the application of this process consumes a great deal of time and energy, as the reduction of precursors requires elevated temperatures and several hours. Moreover, the ethylene glycol and its oxidizing products bound to Pt are difficult to remove. In this work, we utilize the advantages of ethylene glycol and prepare Pt nanoparticles through a room-temperature hydrogen gas reduction in an ethylene glycol/water mixed solvent, which is followed by subsequent harvesting by carbon nanotubes as electrocatalysts. This method is simple, facile, and time-efficient, as the entire room-temperature reduction process is completed in a few minutes. As the solvent changes from water to an ethylene glycol/water mix, the size of Pt nanoparticles varies from 10 to 3 nm and their shape transitions from polyhedral to spherical. Pt nanoparticles prepared in a 1:1 volume ratio mixture of ethylene glycol/water are uniformly dispersed with an average size of ∼3 nm. The optimized carbon nanotube-supported Pt electrocatalyst exhibits excellent methanol oxidation and oxygen reduction activities. This work demonstrates the potential use of mixed solvents as an approach in materials synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, a facile one-step strategy for the synthesis of ternary MnO 2 –Fe 2 O 3 –CeO 2 –Ce 2 O 3 /carbon nanotubes (CNT) catalysts was discussed. The as-prepared catalysts exhibited 73.6–99.4% NO conversion at 120–180 °C at a weight hourly space velocity (WHSV) of 210 000 ml·g cat − 1 ·h − 1 , which benefited from the formation of amorphous MnO 2 , Fe 2 O 3 , CeO 2 , and Ce 2 O 3 , as well as high Ce 3 + and surface oxygen (O ε ) contents. The mechanism of formation of MnO 2 –Fe 2 O 3 –CeO 2 –Ce 2 O 3 /CNT catalysts was also proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zn-doped LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 composite, Li(Ni1/3Co1/3Mn1/3)1–xZnxO2 (x = 0.02; 0.05; 0.08), is synthesized by the sol-gel method. The crystal structure, morphology, and electrochemical performance are investigated via X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), cyclic voltammetry (CV), and constant current charge/discharge experiment. The result reveals that Zn-doping cathode material can reach the initial charge/discharge capacity of 188.8/162.9 mAh·g−1 for Li(Ni1/3Co1/3Mn1/3)0.98Zn0.02O2 and 179.0/154.1 mAh·g−1 for Li(Ni1/3Co1/3Mn1/3)0.95Zn0.05O2 with the high voltage of 4.4 V at 0.1 C. Furthermore, the capacity retention of Li(Ni1/3Co1/3Mn1/3)0.98Zn0.02O2 is 95.1% at 0.5 C after 50 cycles at room temperature. The improved electrochemical properties of Zn-doped LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 are attributed to reduced electrode polarization, enhanced capacity reversibility, and excellent cyclic performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Formaldehyde oxidation at room temperature with low-cost catalysts is one of the main development directions of environmental governance. Herein, we developed a low-cost and superior performance highly dispersed Ce on Na-ZSM-5 (Ce/Na-ZSM-5) catalyst, which is close to atomic dispersion for indoor formaldehyde (HCHO) oxidation at low temperature. The highly dispersed catalyst that was similar to atomic dispersion was characterized by EXAFS and AC HAADF-STEM. The optimal Ce/Na-ZSM-5 displays high HCHO removal performance (95%, at room temperature), as well as 100 h stable testing (∼90% HCHO removal). In addition, a reasonable reaction mechanism of the HCHO catalytic oxidation is proposed based on the in situ DRIFT spectra and DFT calculation. This work provides a new way to design an efficient catalyst for the complete oxidation of formaldehyde. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel redox co-precipitation method was firstly adopted to prepare the Mn–FeO x /CNTs catalysts for use in low-temperature NO reduction with NH 3 . The catalysts were possessed of amorphous structure and exhibited 80–100% NO conversion at 140–180 °C at a high space velocity of 32,000 h − 1 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CeO 2 grafted polydopamine-wrapped graphene (G@PDA-CeO 2) was prepared by the layer-by-layer assembly to enhance the anticorrosive property of the epoxy resin. Electrochemical measurement results show that embedding 0.5 wt% of G@PDA-CeO 2 in the epoxy resin can effectively protect metal substrates for up to 56 days. After being immersed in a 3.5% NaCl solution for 56 days, its impedance modulus at 0.01 Hz is still as high as 1.360 × 108 Ω cm2, which is 2 orders of magnitude higher than pure epoxy resin coating. In addition, the scratch immersion test results show that the composite coating embedded with 0.5 wt% G@PDA-CeO 2 has excellent corrosion inhibition. Such excellent anticorrosive property is attributed to the synergistic effect of graphene's outstanding barrier effect, polydopamine's improved dispersibility, and CeO 2 's efficient corrosion inhibitory effect and weak hydrophilicity. This research provides a promising strategy for the preparation of long-term corrosion-resistant graphene-based polymer anticorrosive coatings. • G@PDA-CeO 2 with high impermeability can hinder the diffusion of the corrosive media. • G@PDA-CeO 2 avoids electrical contact with the steel substrate and inhibits galvanic corrosion. • G@PDA-CeO 2 owns dual anti-corrosion effects of barrier and corrosion inhibition. • G@PDA-CeO 2 /EP coating delivered an excellent protective property over a long period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The self-restacking of graphene nanosheets inevitably compromises the electrochemical performance of conventional graphene-based materials. Herein, to solve this problem, we prepared a new type of three-dimensional porous aerogel with partially unzipped multiwalled carbon nanotubes inserted into graphene nanosheets via a reduction-reaction-induced self-assembly process. In the resulting aerogels, the inner carbon nanotubes (CNTs) tightly attach to the unzipped outer graphene nanoribbons (GNRs), which bridge with the graphene nanosheets. These interconnections bring them excellent electrical contact; the CNTs act as spacers to prevent the restacking of adjacent graphene nanosheets, and the abundant interconnected pores in the aerogels provide large channels for charge transfer. Accordingly, the aerogels exhibit a specific capacitance of 348.4 Fg−1 at a scan rate of 5 mVs−1, with capacitance retention remaining at 89.7% at a current density of 2 Ag−1 after 5000 cycles. The results show that the aerogels are promising electrode materials for supercapacitor applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) supported manganese oxide catalysts were prepared through different thermal treatment routes and used for low-temperature selective catalytic reduction of NO with NH3. The MnOx/CNTs catalyst prepared by calcined the precursor in air at 300°C showed lower NO conversions than that treated at 250°C, while it showed higher NO conversions than the one calcined in nitrogen. BET, TGA, XRD and H2-TPR results indicated that CNTs may impose effects on the oxidation state and redox ability of the manganese oxide and hence on the catalytic activity during the calcination process at given temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Starch/EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer)/modified kaolin nanocomposite foaming materials were prepared. The modified kaolin was obtained by γ-methylacryloyl oxypropyl trimethoxysilane (silane coupling agent KH-570) as the nucleating agent. The effects of the modified kaolin were analyzed by activation index, and the structure was characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and SEM. The effects of modified kaolin on the mechanical properties and the cellular structure of the composite foams were also studied. According to the results, when 1.8 phr (parts per hundert parts of resin) silane coupling agent KH-570 modified kaolin, the activation index was 100%. It was found that the modified kaolin played an important role in the formation of the microstructure and the mechanical properties of the composites foams. Modified kaolin could increase the amount of the cells and reduce cell size significantly. The optimum tearing strength of the composite foams was 12.78 kg/cm with 20 phr modified kaolin added. The results were attributed to the nucleation effect of the modified kaolin particles, the high melt viscosity and the complex interface interactions between EVA chains and kaolin particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Polypyrrole/MnO2 composites with unique three-dimensional network structure were successfully deposited on graphite felt (GF) fibers at the temperature of 50°C to fabricate PYMG-HT composite, which can be used as a free-standing electrode for supercapacitors. For comparison, PYMG-LT electrode was also prepared in ice bath, and the polypyrrole/MnO2 deposits on GF prepared at 0°C exhibit nano-flower shape, which is different from PYMG-HT. The PYMG-HT electrode displays specific capacitance as high as 821.3Fg−1 at the current density of 0.5Ag−1, which is much higher than that of PPy/MnO2 reported previously. Moreover, the PYMG-HT exhibits enhanced capacitive performance compared to PYMG-LT electrode. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A series of Mn–Ce mixed-oxide catalysts supported on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were prepared for the first time and used for the selective catalytic reduction of NO with NH3. Mn(0.4)-Ce/CNTs catalysts with loading from 0.6% to 1.8% (molar ratio) in our tests showed more than 90% NO conversion at 120–180°C at a high space velocity of 42,000h−1. Transmission electron microscopy confirmed that the particle size of Mn–Ce mixed oxides supported on CNTs was 2 to 4nm. BET result indicated Mn–Ce mixed-oxide catalysts obtained enlarged surface area and pore volume which was beneficial to the catalytic activity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A novolac like phenolic resin was prepared by copolymerization with phenol and hydrolyzed starch as the substitute for formaldehyde under catalysis of sulfuric acid. Liquefied phenolated lignosulfonate was introduced to the phenol-starch resin in this study as a partial phenol substitute. The phenol-formaldehyde resin, phenol-starch resin, and lignin-phenol-starch resin were characterized with lab standard analysis for their physicochemical specifications such as solid content, gel time, softening point, viscosity, and free phenol content according to corresponding Chinese National Standards. Mechanical properties of modified and unmodified resin core sand were investigated. Structures of modified and unmodified resins were characterized with infrared spectrum analysis (FTIR) and carbon-13 NMR spectrometry (13C NMR), while their thermal properties were studied with thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and DSC. The modified resin and its core sand have acceptable physicochemical specifications, thermal resistance and mechanical properties as compared with unmodified resin and phenol-formaldehyde resin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyaniline/MnO2/graphite felt (PMGF) composite, which can be used as a novel free-standing, flexible electrode for supercapacitors, was fabricated via a facile electrochemical method. Polyaniline/graphite felt (PANI/GF) electrode was prepared by electropolymerization of PANI onto the GF. Subsequently, manganese dioxide (MnO2) was electrodeposited on the surface of the PANI/GF electrode to prepare PMGF electrode. The microstructure and morphology of the as-prepared samples were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectra, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Specific surface area was examined using N2 adsorption/desorption test. Cyclic voltammogram, chronopotentiometry techniques and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were introduced to investigate the electrochemical performance of the composites. The PMGF electrode exhibited specific capacitance as high as about 630 F g−1 at the current density of 0.5 A g−1, which is much higher than that of PANI/MnO2 composites reported previously. The high specific capacitance of PMGF may be attributed to the fact that the porous GF is a good conductive matrix for the dispersion of PANI/MnO2 and it can facilitate easy access of electrolytes to the electrode, which results in enhancement of the electrochemical performance of the composite. Moreover, the specific capacitance of PMGF is much larger than that of MnO2/GF (MGF), which may be ascribed to the participant of PANI, which contributes additional pseudocapacitance and electron transport path. POLYM. COMPOS., 34:819-824, 2013. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polypyrrole/manganese dioxide nanocomposite was deposited on graphite felt (GF) via electrodeposition to fabricate polypyrrole/manganese dioxide/graphite felt (PYMG), which can be used as novel free-standing electrode for supercapacitors. The microstructure and morphology of the as-prepared samples were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Cyclic voltammogram (CV), chronopotentiometry (CP) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques were employed to investigate the electrochemical performance of the composites. The PYMG electrode displayed specific capacitance as high as 596.3 Fg-1 at the current density of 0.5 Ag-1, which is much higher than that of polypyrrole/manganese dioxide (PPy/) composite reported previously. The high specific capacitance of PYMG may be attributed to the fact that the porous GF is a good conductive matrix for the dispersion of PPy/ composite and it can facilitate easy access of electrolytes to the electrode, which results in enhancement of the electrochemical performance of the composite. Furthermore, the PYMG composite exhibited enhanced specific capacitance compared to /GF (MGF) and PPy/GF, which may be ascribed to the synergistic effect of PPy and . Polypyrrole/MnO2/graphite felt (PYMG) composite which can be used as a novel free-standing electrode for supercapacitors was successfully fabricated via electrodeposition. The PYMG composite exhibits excellent electrochemical performance, indicating that the porous graphite felt (GF) is a good conductive matrix for the dispersion of PPy/MnO2 composite and it can facilitate easy access of electrolytes to the electrode, which results in enhancement of the capacitive performance of the composite. Moreover, the PYMG composite displays enhanced specific capacitance compared to MnO2/GF and PPy/GF, which may be ascribed to the synergistic effect of PPy and MnO2. All the results imply that PYMG electrode can serve as a promising electrode for supercapacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Polypyrrole/graphite oxide (PPy/GO) composites are successfully prepared via in situ chemical polymerization with various feed ratios of pyrrole (Py) to graphite oxide (Py:GO=0.5:1, 1:1, 3:1, 5:1). The electrochemical performance of the composites is determined in a three-electrode cell using cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques. The relationship between properties of PPy/GO composites and effect of the feed ratio of pyrrole to GO is investigated, and the results indicate that the thermal stability, electrical and electrochemical properties of the composites are strongly influenced by the feed ratios. The electrical conductivities of the PPy/GO composites are 1.27Scm−1 (Py:GO=3:1) and 6.25Scm−1 (Py:GO=5:1), which are significantly larger than that of pristine PPy and GO. The PPy/GO composites exhibit very high specific capacitance and low charge transfer resistance. Especially, the specific capacitance of the PPy/GO composites (Py:GO=3:1) reaches 249Fg−1 at discharge current density of 2mAcm−2, while the charge transfer resistance is only 0.12Ω. The fabricated PPy/GO composites can be used for the development of new applications for supercapacitor. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Poly(3-acetylpyrrole) (PAPy)/multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) composites are fabricated by in situ chemical polymeriation of 3-acetylpyrrole (APy) on MWNTs. The electrical and electrochemical properties of the resulting composites are investigated using a four-probe method, and cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge–discharge (GCD) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques, respectively. The electrical conductivity and specific capacitance of the composites are 1.64Scm−1 and 65Fg−1 (APy:MWNTs=2.5:1), and 0.35Scm−1 and 53Fg−1 (APy:MWNTs=5:1), respectively. In addition, the effect of the feed ratio of APy to MWNTs is also discussed in detail. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Graphene(RGO)//[N-butyl-3,6-carbazolevinylene-alt-(2,5-dioctyloxy)-p-phenylenevinylene] (PPH-CAR) ternary nanocomposite is fabricated by a simple two-step method, which includes electrochemical reduction of graphene oxide (GO) and oxidation of simultaneously and an ultrathin PPH-CAR layer coated on the RGO/ surface. The structure of the composite is investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The results suggest that the composite is correctly synthesized and each component has good dispersion. Cycle voltammetry (CV), charge and discharge measurements and cycle stability test are used to evaluate its electrochemical performance. Because of the synergistic effect of each component, the composite exhibits excellent electrochemical properties with specific capacitance of 175 F/g, which is a 46% increase compared with RGO/. Moreover, it reveals outstanding cycling performance with more than 90% capacitance retention over 1000 cycles. Such ternary composite is a candidate for high performance supercapacitors with great promise. RGO/MnO2/PPH-CAR ternary nanocomposite was successfully fabricated via a simple two-step method. The electrochemical performance of the composite was measured and the results show great improvement in conductivity, specific capacitance and Nyquist impedance. It is indicating that the conducting polymer offers interparticle connectivity and facilitates electron transport among each component. The improved electrochemical properties of the composite are attributed to the synergistic effect of each component and this kind of ternary composite is a promising candidate for high performance of electrochemical supercapacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel conjugated polymer containing electron transport groups with high electron affinity, denoted POXD was synthesized upon polycondensation. The polymer was characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy. Furthermore, the conjugated polymer/graphene (POXD/RGO) composite film was prepared, which was subsequently used as the support for the electrodeposition of platinum. The microstructure and morphology of the prepared samples were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The electrocatalytic activity for the oxidation of methanol was investigated through cyclic voltammogram method. The POXD/RGO composite film can facilitate the electrodeposition of Pt nanoparticles compared with graphene (RGO) support. The POXD/RGO/Pt composite exhibits more excellent electrocatalytic property for the oxidation of methanol, such as lower oxidation potential and higher current intensity, which might be attributed to the high electron affinity of the polymer and the interaction of the Pt nanoparticles with polymer. POLYM. COMPOS., 2012. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Isotactic polypropylene (iPP) composites with unmodified and modified tetra-needle-shaped zinc oxide whisker (T-ZnOw) were prepared via melt blending in a twin-screw extruder. The mechanical properties, thermal properties, morphology and crystallization behavior were investigated. The mechanical properties of iPP with T-ZnOw modified by silane based coupling agent were much better than that of iPP with unmodified T-ZnOw. The reason was that the interfacial interaction between T-ZnOw and iPP matrix became stronger when T-ZnOw was modified by coupling agent. Besides, the addition of T-ZnOw improved thermal properties of iPP, including heat deflection temperature and thermal degradation temperature. Furthermore, wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) results showed that T-ZnOw can be used as a novel β-nucleating agent, and the relative content of β-crystal was 0.38 when T-ZnOw content was 5wt.%. iPP/T-ZnOw composites were found to exhibit higher crystallization temperature, smaller spherulites, and faster crystallization rate than those of pure iPP, indicating that T-ZnOw played a role of nucleating agent on the crystallization of iPP and could induce accelerated crystallization. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Monomer casting polyamide 6(MCPA6)/toluene 2,4-diisocyanate functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs-NCO) nanocomposites were prepared via in situ anionic ring opening polymerization, and the non-isothermal crystallization behavior of the nanocomposites were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry with various cooling rates. The commonly used Avrami, Ozawa, Mo, and Urbanovici-Segal models were employed to analyze the non-isothermal crystallization data and the validity of the models on the process of MCPA6 and its nanocomposites was discussed, where Mo and Urbanovici-Segal models could well describe the non-isothermal crystallization process for the samples. The results revealed that MWNTs could accelerate the crystallization process of MCPA6, attributing to the nucleating effect of the nanofillers. Finally, the effective energy barrier for non-isothermal crystallization was evaluated as a function of the relative crystallinity by applying an isoconversional method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Non-isothermal crystallization kinetics of isotactic polypropylene (iPP) was simulated with the assumption that the non-isothermal crystallization process was composed of some finite isothermal crystallization processes, while each isothermal crystallization process consists of three main steps—induction, nucleation and crystal growth. In the simulation, induction time was taken into account, allowing one to make predictions on the start of the non-isothermal crystallization of iPP; nuclei density was treated as a function of temperature; the Hoffman–Lauritzen theory was employed to describe the spherulite growth rate varied with temperature, and the relative crystallinity was determined by the equation of Kolmogorov. Finally, model prediction was verified by quantitative comparison between the theoretical results with the experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fufang Danshen Tablet (FDT) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula composed of three Chinese medicinal materials comprising Salviae Miltiorrhizar Radix et Rhizoma (Dan-Shen in Chinese), Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma (San-Qi), and Borneolum Syntheticum (Bing-Pian). It has been documented to exert significant effects in promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, and become a frequently used formula in the treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. To systematically analyze and summarize the research findings concerning the chemical composition, quality control, pharmacokinetics, pharmacological properties, clinical applications, and toxicity of FDT, so as to point out some typical problems and provides opinions for future study. Literatures involving FDT were collected from online scientific databases including China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WanFang Data, PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, Web of Science, Springer Link, SciFinder, and Google Scholar up to March 2021. All eligible studies are analyzed and summarized in this review. This review summarizes reported results concerning the post-marketing quality and efficacy of FDT. Some problems are pointed out for FDT. Hereon we propose several directions for future study: (a) improvement of quality control based on exact overall chemical profiles, entire production process monitoring, and biopotency-associated multi-index content determination method; (b) clarification of functional mechanisms focused on pharmacokinetic profiles in human, interplay with gut microbiota, and integration of multi-omics technologies; (c) reconfirmation of clinical effectiveness and safety from large-scale clinical studies based on evidence-based medicine. FDT is a typical TCM formula in treating cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, but there are also some troubles. Future studies should focus on the improvement of quality control, the clarification of functional mechanisms, as well as the reconfirmation of clinical effectiveness and safety. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Fabrication of catalytic filter with 3D porous structure by an in-situ reaction. • Mn-Ce-SnO x /PPS catalytic filter shows 100% NO conversion from 120 to 180 oC. • The catalytic filter shows excellent supporting force and dispensability. A series of highly dispersed manganese-based catalysts coating on PPS were prepared using a novel in-situ synthesis method to enhance selective catalytic reduction of NO x with NH 3 (NH 3 -SCR) performance. The changes of catalysts' structure, morphology, and valence state were systematically researched to explore the formation mechanism of three-dimensional (3D) porous structure. The best ternary Mn-based catalytic filter (0.6 Mn-Ce-SnO x /PPS) displayed excellent catalyst performance, achieving 100% NO conversion at 120 °C and above 90% conversion in a wide temperature range 100 to 180 °C. It can be regarded as the most excellent low-temperature de-NO x catalytic filter identified so far. It may be due to the synergistic effect between tin and cerium ions, as well as the 3D porous structure, the weak crystallization, and high ratios of Mn4+/Mn3+, Ce 3+/(Ce3+ + Ce4+), and O α /(O α + O β). [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seashore paspalum (Paspalum vaginatum Swartz) is a perennial warm-season turfgrass which is known for its superb salinity tolerance. Compared to bermudagrass, seashore paspalum exhibited the adverse character of faster vertical growth, wider leaf, weak cold-, drought- and disease-resistance. In this study, we aimed to improve these unfavorable traits of seashore paspalum through the strategy of callus irradiation. The results showed that 2108 regenerated plants were obtained following the method of the seashore paspalum calluses irradiated by 60Co-γ rays (dose: 60 Gy, dose rate: 1 Gy/min). Morphological traits were measured combining with cluster analysis on the regenerated plants to select mutant lines with short leaves (A24 and A82) and thin leaves (A24, A83, and A120) as well as dwarfism (B73, B28, B3, A29, and B74). In addition, we found various mutant characters such as greenish leaf sheath (A69 and A71), soft leaf (B77, B17, and B110), and strong erectness (B5 and B9) under continuous observation. Through the comprehensive tolerance analysis following the index of survive rate, relative water content, leaf electrolyte leakage, MDA content; photochemical efficiency and leaf wilting coefficient, three drought-tolerant lines (A55, B72, and B44) and one cold-tolerant line (B59) were screened. This research proved that callus irradiation is an effective way to create new seashore paspalum germplasm, which provides valuable materials for accelerating the breeding process of seashore paspalum and further excavating the molecular regulatory mechanisms of these traits in turfgrass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid progress in miniaturization and integration of semiconductor power devices has made heat dissipation a critical concern in the development of high‐performance semiconductor devices, thereby increasing the demands for the heat transfer efficiency of polymer composites. To address this issue, an efficient three‐dimensional (3D) heat conduction network structure is constructed in the polymer matrix by leveraging the mutual reaction of amino and epoxy groups on the surface of the filler treated by coupling during the melt mixing process, this approach leads to an enhancement in the thermal conductivity of the composites. First, the inert surfaces of graphene nanosheets (EX‐G) and carbon fibers (CF) are coated with polydopamine (PDA) to form active sites. Subsequently, the graphene (EX‐G), alumina (Al2O3), and carbon fiber (CF) are treated with an amine coupling agent (KH550) and epoxy coupling agent (KH560), respectively. Notably, at a filler content of 25 wt%, the thermal conductivity (TC) of the composites increases by approximately 282% compared to pure nylon 6. This research contributes novel insights into the field of thermally conductive polymer composites. Highlights: The surface of the EX‐G and CF covered by PDA generates active sites.Fillers reduce the interface thermal resistance through chemical bonds.Fillers surface reaction builds a 3D thermal conductive network.3D network structure can significantly improve the TC of composites.Only 25 wt% of hybrid fillers in a 282% increased TC of composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atherosclerosis is the main pathological basis of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Fufang Danshen Tablet (FDT) is a traditional Chinese medicine that has been clinically used to treat CVDs for more than 40 years. Nevertheless, owing to the complexity of the ingredients, the pharmacological mechanism of FDT in the treatment of CVDs has not been fully elucidated. In this study, an integrated strategy of UFLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS, network pharmacology, molecular biology, and transcriptomics was used to elucidate the mechanisms of action of FDT in the treatment of atherosclerosis. In total, 22 absorbed constituents were identified in rat serum after oral administration of FDT. In silico, network pharmacology studies have shown that FDT regulates four key biological functional modules for the treatment of atherosclerosis: oxidative stress, cell apoptosis, energy metabolism, and immune/inflammation. In animal experiments, FDT exerted protective effects against atherosclerosis by reducing the plaque area and lipid levels in ApoE−/− mice. Furthermore, we found that FDT inhibited inflammatory macrophage accumulation by regulating the expression of Selp and Ccl2, which are both involved in monocyte adhesion and migration. The inhibition of monocyte recruitment by FDT is a new perspective to elucidate the anti-atherosclerotic mechanism of FDT, which has not been adopted in previous studies on FDT. Our results may help to elucidate the therapeutic mechanism of FDT against CVDs and provide potential therapeutic targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fufang Xueshuantong Capsule (FXC) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula composed of four herbs including Panax notoginseng , Astragalus membranaceus , Salvia miltiorrhiza , and Scrophularia ningpoensis. Long-term and extensive clinical applications have confirmed that FXC could exert significant effects on fundus, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular occlusive diseases. To systematically analyze and summarize the existing researches involving quality and efficacy re-evaluation of FXC, point out the typical problems, and further propose some opinions to contribute to future study. Literatures concerning FXC were collected from online scientific databases including China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WanFang Data, PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, Web of Science, Springer Link up to June 2020. All eligible studies are analyzed and summarized in this review. This review outlines the chemical profiles, quality control, pharmacokinetic and pharmacological properties of FXC based on reported results. Some problems are pointed out for FXC: the quality control needs further improvement, the pharmacokinetic properties have not been comprehensively investigated, and in-depth and systematic mechanism researches are scarce. Hereon we propose several directions for future study: (a) establishment of feasible HPLC or LC-MS based quantitative methods for simultaneous determination of multiple components to monitor the overall quality; (b) pharmacokinetic studies concerning humans, drug-drug interactions, and correlation with pharmacodynamics; (c) pharmacological mechanism researches integrating multi-omics technologies (gut microbiome, metabolomics, etc.). This review highlights the researches on quality and efficacy re-evaluation of FXC, and points out some typical problems. Further in-depth studies should focus on the promotion of quality control, pharmacokinetic properties, and pharmacological mechanism. Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combination of biomimetic scaffolds and nano drug delivery has been proposed to be an effective solution to the inherent limitations of the former in regulating cell behavior and bone tissue regeneration. Herein, a series of three-dimensional (3D) aspirin-loaded polylactic acid/graphene oxide (PLA/GO) porous biomimetic nanofibrous composite scaffolds (PBNCSs) was successfully prepared by phase separation. Results showed that the PLA/GO scaffolds have a biomimetic nanofibrous porous structure and a thin GO film covering the PLA nanofibers, which endows the latter with significantly improved hydrophilicity. Close interactions were noted in the GO–PLA interface. GO reduced the mechanical properties of the composite scaffolds but increased their thermal stability. The water absorption rate increased from 12.5% to 206.81% as the GO content increased from 0 to 5%. Addition of GO improved the deposition rate and amount of hydroxyapatite on the scaffolds. Overall, the PLA/GO PBNCSs demonstrated good cytocompatibility and sustained-release performance. Image 1 • The prepared PLA/GO scaffold can mimic the structure of the natural extracellular matrix. • The water absorption of PLA/GO scaffold can reach 206.81%. • The prepared scaffold has good bioactivity and cytocompatibility. • The prepared nanofibrous scaffold has a good sustained release for aspirin because of nano-size effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) is a kind of thermoplastic resin with wide range of application. However, the enhancement of thermal resistance properties of EVA is still challenging. Herein, an effective approach is reported for the preparation of graphene nanosheets intercalated magnesium silicate (MS@GN) hybrids, which were employed as nano-additives for improving the thermal resistance properties and thermal conductivity of EVA. By controlling the content of MS@GN, 0.2 wt% of MS@GN in EVA composites showed enhanced thermal stability in terms of elevated decomposition temperature and enlarged storage modulus and thermal conductivity when compared with neat EVA. Especially, MS@GN has versatile advantages, such as thermally conductive network from the orderly intercalated graphene, high contacted area from the highly opened magnesium silicate, and desired dispersibility of MS@GN in the polymer matrices. Therefore, the MS@GN showed great potential for boosting the high temperature adaptation of EVA. Image 1 • MS@GN with high specific surface area and thermal conductivity is synthesized. • Intercalated GN network is derived from the carbonization of layered pyrene. • Porous MS provides large surface for efficient thermal exchange. • EVA/MS@GN composites show enlarged storage modulus and increased decomposition temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methylene blue (MB) has been a severe threat to the ecological environment and organismal health, and synthesizing effective adsorbents for MB adsorption becomes an urgent demand for environmental protection. Magnesium silicate (MgSi) has proven to be an efficient adsorbent for MB removal. A hollow bubble-wrap-like reduced graphene oxide/magnesium silicate (HG@MS) composite with high efficiency for MB removal was synthesized by template and hydrothermal method. Microsphere polystyrene was used as the template for fabricating bubble-wrap-like graphene oxide, while magnesium silicate is in situ growth on the surface of reduced graphene oxide. After removing the PS template, the hollow bubble-wrap-like HG@MS adsorbent was made, which was assigned to a large surface area (570 cm2/g). Such a high surface area provides abundant adsorption sites for MB, which resulted in the maximum adsorption capacity of 595.2 mg/g. Meanwhile, the adsorption of MB on the adsorbent follows the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the Langmuir isothermal model. The desorption results reflected that HG@MS remains 86% adsorption capacities for 5 recycles, which confirms HG@MS is recyclable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copper‐doped ZnS/ZnO (CSO) hexahedrons in egg tart‐like morphology were fabricated by an in‐situ synthetic strategy to promote photocatalytic hydrogen (H2) production. Hexahedral CuO/ZnO precursors in micro sizes were prepared by a solvothermal method. A subsequent moderate sulfurization of the precursor led to the formation of ZnS/ZnO heterostructures without alteration of the hexahedral morphology. In addition, the in‐situ methodology ensured the homogeneous doping of copper species with ZnS/ZnO heterostructures, which significantly improved the electric conductivity of these hybrid materials. Because of the structural and compositional features of the hybrid materials, a maximum H2 production rate of 1.044 mmol g−1 h−1 with high recycling stability (even after 12 h) has been delivered based on an interfacial catalysis. Thus, this study may provide an efficient strategy to optimize the physical and chemical properties of photocatalysts in microsize scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Citri reticulatae pericarpium (CRP), the dried pericarps of Citrus reticulata Blanco and its cultivars, has been widely used in drugs and foods in China for centuries. In this study, an accurate and feasible analytical method based on HS-SPME-GC-MS coupled with multivariate statistical analyses was developed to comprehensively compare volatile compounds of pericarps derived from Citrus reticulata “Chachi” (“Guangchenpi” in Chinese, GCP) and other cultivars of Citrus reticulata Blanco (“Chenpi” in Chinese, CP). Principal component analysis, hierarchical cluster analysis, and orthogonal partial least-squares-discrimination analysis were performed to extract meaningful attributes from volatile profiles based on GC-MS data. Results indicated that samples from GCP and CP could easily be differentiated, and seven potential chemical markers were screened for the quality control of CRP. This study illuminated the volatile profile in CRP, and provides a practical method for the authentication of CRP varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although Aurantii Fructus (AF) and Aurantii Fructus Immaturus (AFI) are both the fruits of the same rutaceae plant at different stages of growth, they exert similar yet distinct clinical effects. The chemical composition is crucial for quality control as well as therapeutic application. To address this concern, it is significant to evaluate the similarities and differences of the constituents in both AF and AFI. The extract of AF and AFI were comprehensively analyzed by ultra fast liquid chromatography-photodiode array detector-triple-time of flight-tandem mass spectrometry (UFLC-DAD-Triple TOF-MS/MS). Among the 40 compounds detected, 19 metabolites were detected in both the AF and AFI; whereas 13 compounds were only detected in AF and five constituents were exclusively detected in AFI. In particular, even in AFI, three compounds were only identified in AFI (Citrus aurantium’ L. and its cultivar). Among the 18 compounds confirmed by standard database, 13 compounds were reported in AF and AFI for the first time. Furthermore, the distinction was also revealed by the content of naringin, hesperidin, neohesperidin, and synephrine. The study directly contributed to the similarities and differences of AF and AFI. Herein, similarities and the differences in chemical profiles of AF and AFI could explain the current clinical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) (PHB), a renewable feedstock from microorganisms, was a good resource for propylene production by a simple one‐pot reaction. The reaction was catalyzed by triruthenium dodecacarbonyl (TD) at relatively mild temperature (240 °C), and the yield and selectivity of propylene reached 22.9 wt% and 46.8%, respectively. A small part of hydrocarbon oils reached 9 wt% was also obtained, which contained 79.1 wt% of carbon and 12.3 wt% of hydrogen, with a theoretical high heating value of 41.2 MJ/kg. Poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate), a renewable biofeedstock accumulated in many bacteria, has been converted to propylene and oils in a simple one‐step reaction at relatively mild reaction condition (i.e., 240 °C, for 6 h), in the presence of triruthenium dodecacarbonyl catalyst. The yield of propylene and oils were 22.9 wt% and 9 wt%, respectively, and the oils had a theoretical high heating value of 41.2 MJ/kg. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]