Ti4+-dopamine/sodium alginate multicomponent complex derived N-doped TiO2@carbon nanocomposites for efficient removal of methylene blue.

A one-pot route for the preparation of TiO2@carbon nanocomposite from Ti4+/polysaccharide coordination complex has been developed and shown advantages in operation, cost, environment, etc. However, the photodegradation rate of methylene blue (MB) needs to be improved. N-doping has been proven as an efficient means to enhance photodegradation performance. Thus, the present study upgraded the TiO2@carbon nanocomposite to N-doped TiO2@carbon nanocomposite (N-TiO2@C) from Ti4+-dopamine/sodium alginate multicomponent complex. The composites were characterized by FT-IR, XRD, XPS, UV-vis DRS, TG-DTA, and SEM-EDS. The obtained TiO2 was a typical rutile phase, and the carboxyl groups existed on N-TiO2@C. The photocatalyst consequently showed high removal efficiency of MB. The cycling experiment additionally indicated the high stability of N-TiO2@C. The present work provided a novel route for preparing N-TiO2@C. Moreover, it can be extended to prepare N-doped polyvalent metal oxides@carbon composites from all water-soluble polysaccharides such as cellulose derivatives, starch, and guar gum.

A novel and simple oral colon-specific drug delivery system based on the pectin/modified nano-carbon sphere nanocomposite gel films.

The 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane modified nano-carbon sphere (MNCS) was added into pectin-Ca2+ film to improve the controlled release properties of the pectin-based oral colon-specific drug delivery system (OCDDS). The FT-IR measurements indicated the successful modification of nano-carbon sphere via silylation reaction and the electrostatic interaction between the pectin molecules and MNCS in the composite film. The FE-SEM showed the pore structure when the MNCS was mingled with the pectin. The 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) was employed as the drug model and the controlled release properties of the corresponding OCDDSs were determined. The values of the encapsulation efficiency ranged from 30.1% to 52.6%. All composite film based OCDDSs presented higher encapsulation efficiency than single pectin-Ca2+ based OCDDS. The drug release studies emerged that almost all the OCDDSs from composite films presented better release properties than single pectin-Ca2+ based OCDDS. The sample C revealed best release performance with the cumulative release rate of 32.17%, 22.77% and 63.89% in the simulated gastric fluid, small intestinal fluid and colon fluid, respectively. In addition, the kinetics studies were performed to analyze the release data. The cytotoxicity assay indicated good biocompatibility of the composite carriers.

[Effects of corn straw biochar on process, nutrient content, and CO2 emissions of corn straw decomposition]. / çŽ‰ç±³ç§¸ç§†ç”Ÿç‰©ç‚­å¯¹ç§¸ç§†è ç†Ÿè¿›ç¨‹ã€å »åˆ†å«é‡å’ŒCO2排放量的影响.

Biochar has unique physicochemical properties of being rich in carbon, being alkaline, and exhibiting a highly porous structure, which can adjust features of different systems. A 90-day microcosm incubation experiment was performed to investigate the effects of corn straw biochar on the process, properties, nutrient contents, and CO2 emissions during corn straw composting. There were four treatments, including control (CK), 5% biochar addition (B1, as mass fractions of biochar), 10% biochar addition (B2), and 20% biochar addition (B3). The results showed that biochar significantly increased the temperature rise rate and temperature peak of the straw maturation system, and promoted straw decomposition. Biochar increased the pH of the microbial active period, and the electrical conductivity (EC) value of the straw decomposition system, which provided a more suitable environment for microbial degradation of the organics. Further more, biochar decreased the organic matter content, increased the total nutrient content of the straw decomposition system, and improved the quality of the straw decomposition products. In addition, nitrogen (N) content was not changed by increasing amount of biochar; however, both phosphorus (P2O5) and potassium (K2O) content were significantly increased. Compared to control, the content of P2O5 and K2O in B3 treatment was increased by 0.2% and 0.9%, respectively. Biochar addition could improve CO2 emission of the straw decomposition system. The CO2 emission was consistent with the trend of temperature change, which provided solid evidence that biochar improve the degradation of organic matter by microbes in the system.

Phase transition and switchable dielectric behaviours in an organic-inorganic hybrid compound: (3-nitroanilinium)2(18-crown-6)2(H2PO4)2(H3PO4)3(H2O).

An organic-inorganic hybrid compound with an extensive three-dimensional (3D) crystal structure, (3-nitroanilinium)2(18-crown-6)2(H2PO4)2(H3PO4)3(H2O) (1), was synthesized under slow evaporation conditions. Differential scanning calorimetry measurements indicated that 1 underwent a reversible phase transition at ca 231 K with a hysteresis width of 10 K. Variable-temperature X-ray single-crystal diffraction revealed that the phase transition of 1 can be ascribed to coupling of pendulum-like motions of its nitro group with proton transfer in O-H···O hydrogen bonds of the 3D framework. The temperature dependence of its dielectric permittivity demonstrated a step-like change in the range of 150-280 K with remarkable dielectric anisotropy, making 1 a promising switchable dielectric material. Potential energy calculations further supported the possibility of dynamic motion of the cationic nitro group. Overall, our findings may inspire the development of other switchable dielectric phase transition materials by introducing inorganic anions into organic-inorganic hybrid systems.

Sodium Ferulate Protects against Angiotensin II-Induced Cardiac Hypertrophy in Mice by Regulating the MAPK/ERK and JNK Pathways.

Background and Objective. It has been reported that sodium ferulate (SF) has hematopoietic function against anemia and immune regulation, inflammatory reaction inhibition, inhibition of tumor cell proliferation, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular protection, and other functions. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the effects of SF on angiotensin II- (AngII-) induced cardiac hypertrophy in mice through the MAPK/ERK and JNK signaling pathways. Methods. Seventy-two male C57BL/6J mice were selected and divided into 6 groups: control group, PBS group, model group (AngII), model + low-dose SF group (AngII + 10 mg/kg SF), model + high-dose SF group (AngII + 40 mg/kg SF), and model + high-dose SF + agonist group (AngII + 40 mg/kg SCU + 10 mg/kg TBHQ). After 7 d/14 d/28 days of treatments, the changes of blood pressure and heart rates of mice were compared. The morphology of myocardial tissue and the apoptosis rate of myocardial cells were observed. The mRNA and protein expressions of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß), collagen III (Col III), and MAPK/ERK and JNK pathway-related proteins were detected after 28 days of treatments. Results. SF improved the mice's cardiac abnormality and decreased the apoptosis rate of myocardial cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner (all P < 0.05). MAPK/ERK pathway activator inhibited the protective effect of SF in myocardial tissue of mice (P < 0.05). SF could inhibit the expression of p-ERK, p-p38MAPK, and p-JNK and regulate the expressions of ANP, TGF-ß, and Col III (all P < 0.05). Conclusion. Our findings provide evidence that SF could protect against AngII-induced cardiac hypertrophy in mice by downregulating the MAPK/ERK and JNK pathways.

Hypokalemia is a biochemical signal of poor prognosis for acute paraquat poisoning within 4 hours.

Anecdotal reports have suggested that hypokalemia is an independent predictor of mortality in patients with acute paraquat poisoning. However, the clinical significance of hypokalemia has not been systematically investigated in the early stage of paraquat poisoning. This study aimed to evaluate whether initial hypokalemia is a good predictor of mortality in patients with acute paraquat poisoning within 4 h. We retrospectively analyzed patients who were admitted to the emergency department after paraquat poisoning between September 2012 and January 2015. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were recorded, and the prognostic significance of hypokalemia was analyzed. A total of 120 patients were included. The 60-day mortality was 71.7 %. Serum potassium concentrations were significantly lower in non-survivors (3.1 ± 0.5 mmol/L) than in survivors (3.8 ± 0.3 mmol/L, P < 0.001). Independent predictors of death were amount of paraquat ingested (hazard ratio 1.005; 95 % confidence interval 1.002-1.007), serum potassium (0.498, 0.277-0.897), bicarbonate (0.934, 0.876-0.995), and white blood cell count (1.032, 1.001-1.065). For receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, serum potassium had an area under the curve of 0.852 (95 % confidence interval 0.784-0.920, P < 0.001), and the best cutoff value was 3.5 mmol/L (sensitivity, 88.2 %; specificity, 75.6 % in predicting survivors). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that decreased serum potassium concentrations were associated with an increase in 60-day mortality (P < 0.001). Hypokalemia may be a reliable predictor in evaluating prognosis in paraquat poisoning within 4 h. The mechanism is not clear, and further studies verifying the precise mechanism of hypokalemia are required.

Molecule-displacive ferroelectricity in organic supramolecular solids.

Ferroelectricity is essential to many forms of current technology, ranging from sensors and actuators to optical or memory devices. In this circumstance, organic ferroelectrics are of particular importance because of their potential application in tomorrow's organic devices, and several pure organic ferroelectrics have been recently developed. However, some problems, such as current leakage and/or low working frequencies, make their application prospects especially for ferroelectric memory (FeRAM) not clear. Here, we describe the molecule-displacive ferroelectricity of supramolecular adducts of tartaric acid and 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane N,N'-dioxide. The adducts show large spontaneous polarization, high rectangularity of the ferroelectric hysteresis loops even at high operation frequency (10 kHz), and high performance in polarization switching up to 1 × 106 times without showing fatigue. It opens great perspectives in terms of applications, especially in organic FeRAM.

Molecular motion in pyridazinium/crown ether supramolecular cation salts of a nickel dithiolene complex.

Supramolecular cations formed by monoprotonated pyridazinium cations and cis-anti-cis-dicyclohexano[18]-crown-6 (DCH[18]-crown-6) or dibenzo[18]-crown-6 (DB[18]-crown-6) were introduced into [Ni(dmit)2]− salts (where dmit2− = 2-thione-1,3-dithiole-4,5-dithiolate). X-ray crystal structure analysis of (pyridazinium+)(DCH[18]-crown-6)[Ni(dmit)2]− (1) revealed a chair-type conformation of the DCH[18]-crown-6 moiety. A V-shaped conformation of the DB[18]-crown-6 moiety was observed in (pyridazinium+)(DB[18]-crown-6)2[Ni(dmit)2]−(H2O)2 (2). Nitrogen atoms in the pyridazinium cations interacted with the oxygen atoms of the DCH[18]-crown-6 and DB[18]-crown-6 through N­H+O hydrogen bonds, forming 1:1 and 1:2 supramolecular structures, respectively. Sufficient space for molecular motions of the pyridazinium cations, namely flip-flop and in-plane rotations, exists in salt 1. Disorder in nitrogen atoms was observed by X-ray analysis, indicating dynamic motion of the pyridazinium cation, namely flip-flop motion and in-plane motion. A potential energy calculation further supported the possibility of dynamic motion of cations in the crystal. By contrast, the flip-flop motion of the pyridazinium group in salt 2 is restricted by the two nearest-neighbouring DB[18]-crown-6 molecules. Weak antiferromagnetic intermolecular interactions between the [Ni(dmit)2]− anions in the two-dimensional layers of salt 1 were observed, resulting in alternating antiferromagnetic Heisenberg chain-type magnetic susceptibility. Quasi-one-dimensional intermolecular interactions between the [Ni(dmit)2]− anions were observed in salt 2, whose magnetic behaviour followed the Bonner­Fisher model.

[Effect of Xuezhikang on cardiac function, serum C-reactive protein and blood lipid in patients with chronic heart failure].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of Xuezhikang (XZK) on cardiac function and serum C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). METHODS: Sixty-eight CHF patients were randomly assigned to two groups, the control group (30 cases) treated with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, beta-receptor inhibitor, digoxin and diuretic, and the treated group (38 cases) with the above treatment plus XZK for six months. The changes of cardiac function and serum CRP level were measured by echocardiography and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) respectively before and after treatment. RESULTS: Compared with those before treatment, the NYHA cardiac function grade, the left ventricular dimension end diastole (LVDd), and the left ventricular dimension end systole (LVDs) decreased significantly (P < 0.05), and the ejection fraction (EF) and E/A ratio increased significantly in both groups after treatment (P < 0.05) , however, the decrement or increment was more significant in the treated group than that in the control group respectively (P < 0.05); the serum CRP level decreased significantly in the treated group after treatment and showed a level obviously lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05), which changed insignificantly after treatment. CONCLUSION: Xuezhikang could improve cardiac function and decrease serum CRP level at the same time.

[Association between serum cardiac troponin I and myocardial remodeling in patients with chronic heart failure].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between serum cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and cardiac function/structure in patients with chronic heart failure. METHODS: One hundred and twenty patients with decompensated chronic heart failure were included. The patients were divided into cTnI normal group (cTnIn; n = 80) and cTnI elevated group (cTnIe; n = 40). Systolic dimension of the left atrium (LAd), the maximal width of the left ventricle (LVd), the thickness of the interventricular septum (IVS) and posterior wall (LVPW) during diastole, left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF), E and A wave velocities ratio (E/A) were determined. Bivariate correlation analysis was applied to show the correlation of serum cTnI level with above indices. Partial correlation analysis was performed followed by multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: LAd and LVd dimensions were significantly higher (P < 0.05), IVS, LVPW, LVEF and E/A ratio were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in cTnIe group than in cTnIn group. Moreover, serum cTnI was positively correlated with LAd, LVd, and inversely correlated with IVS, LVPW, LVEF and E/A ratio (P < 0.05). The correlation persistent after adjusting with sex, history of heart failure, NYHA functional class and treatment. In multivariate modeling, cTnI was positively associated with LAd, LVd and the history of heart failure, and negatively related with the treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor. CONCLUSION: Serum cTnI correlated with cardiac structure and function. Intensively serum cTnI monitoring and suitable therapy strategy may be helpful to attenuate the cardiac remodeling in patients with chronic heart failure.

[Quantitative analysis of brain volume by in vivo magnetic resonance imaging in normal adults].

OBJECTIVE: To quantify neuroanatomical parameters with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and to explore the relationship between these parameters and age. METHODS: Totally 150 adults aged 18-83 years received 3D fast spoiled gradient echo imaging. Volume of intracranial space, whole brain, gray matter (GM), white matter (WM), and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were measured and normalized. RESULTS: Normative volumetric estimates were obtained for all subjects and presented by age and sex. There was not significantly age-related change in intracranial space volume. Whole brain volume did not significantly change before 30 years, thereafter, decline with age. SM volume decreased linearly with age. CSF volume increased linearly with age. WM volume and GM/WM ratio demonstrated a quadragnetic pattern of change with age. WM volume increased slightly in subjects until the age of 45 years, and it decreased thereafter. However, GM/ WM ratio decreased quickly in subjects until the age of 55 years, and it decreased slightly thereafter. Although the volumes of intracranial space and whole brain had significant differences between male and female (P < 0.05), the volumes of whole brain, GM, and CSF had no significant differences after normalization. CONCLUSION: In vivo MRI can measure the normal patterns of age- and sex-related changes in intracranial space, whole brain, GM, WM, and CSF, and may facilitate the appraisal of abnormal brain volumes. Keased linearly words: brain;ge. WM vol urement; magnetic resonance imaging