Fabrication of Metal Nanoparticle Composites by Slow Chemical Reduction of Metal-Organic Frameworks.

Constructing metal nanoparticle (MNP) composites from metal-organic framework (MOF) precursors has attracted extensive attention as the MOF precursors provide an excellent porous matrix for the generation of MNP composites, which enables the direct fabrication of well-dispersed MNP composites. In this work, a novel strategy is proposed to fabricate MNP composites by slow chemical reduction (SCR) of MOF precursors at room temperature. The reduction process is skillfully slowed via using ethanol as the solvent, and the formation of MNP composites is then realized by the SCR process. Briefly, BH4- slowly diffuses into an MOF precursor and in situ reduces metal ions to well-dispersed nanoscale MNP composites. Meanwhile, this SCR process breaks the coordination bonds from MOF precursors, leading to the generation of porous structures for the resulting composites. Interestingly, the composites inherit the morphology of MOF precursors well. Besides, this SCR strategy allows construction of MNP composites from different types of MOF precursors. The resulting Cu@HK-3 composites possess well-dispersed nanoscale Cu NPs and a porous architecture, which exhibit superior catalytic performance and stability in the Ullmann coupling reaction. This strategy provides a feasible, convenient, and energy-saving route to prepare MNP composites from MOF precursors with customizable morphology and well-dispersed MNPs.

In situ synthesis of a Fe3S4/MIL-53(Fe) hybrid catalyst for an efficient electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction.

The development of efficient MOF-based electrocatalysts with good stability to produce hydrogen is a great challenge in the field of sustainable energy conversion. Herein, we introduced a controlled in-situ sulfurization strategy to generate a highly active and stable hybrid catalyst containing good conductive Fe3S4 ultrasmall nanosheets attached on the surface of 3D MIL-53(Fe) for the hydrogen evolution reaction in acidic solutions.

Association of serum resistin levels with metabolic syndrome and early atherosclerosis in obese Chinese children.

AIM: To investigate the association of serum resistin levels with metabolic syndrome (MS) and early atherosclerosis in obese children. METHODS: A total of 176 obese children and 88 healthy children were enrolled in this study, and were gender and age matched. Obesity was defined as a body mass index (BMI) of ≥ the 95th percentile for age and sex. All children had a physical examination and routine hematology testing for fasting blood glucose, insulin, and lipids profile. Homeostasis model of assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated, as insulin resistance has a central role in the pathophysiology of MS. Non-invasive ultrasound measurement was obtained to investigate carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) as the markers of early atherosclerosis. Path analysis was used to evaluate the value of resistin levels to early atherosclerosis. RESULTS: The resistin levels were higher in obese children compared to healthy children (23.14 ± 7.35 vs. 17.1 ± 5.7 ng/mL, p<0.05), and it is positively correlated with BMI, waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, IMT and high sensitive CRP (Hs-CRP), but not related to diastolic blood pressure, blood lipids and fasting glucose. A positive linear correlation was observed between resistin and the number of MS components. Path analysis indicated serum resistin can directly (ß=0.304, p=0.001), and indirectly via HOMA-IR (ß=0.085, p=0.008) and Hs-CRP (ß=0.047, p=0.029), contribute to early atherosclerosis. CONCLUSION: Resistin not only play a certain role in the presence of MS, but also indirectly via insulin resistance and Hs-CRP to contribute to early atherosclerosis in obese children.

Association of serum adiponectin levels with artherosclerosis and the metabolic syndrome in obese children.

BACKGROUND: The atherosclerotic process starts at an early age and is linked to obesity. However, the exact pathophysiological mechanism is poorly understood. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between serum adiponectin and metabolic syndrome and early arteriosclerosis. SUBJECTS: 176 obese and 88 normal children. METHODS: Ultrasound measurement was performed to investigate IMT, FMD, carotid artery compliance (CAC). Adiponectin was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Adiponectin levels correlated negatively with obese markers, blood pressure, fasting insulin, high sensitive CRP, HOMA-IR and IMT; marginally positively associated with CAC and HDL-c. The risk of metabolic syndrome increased 3.43 times when adiponectin levels were less than 7060 ng/ml. Heavy obesity, hypertension, low HDL-c, fasting hyperinsulin, High LDL-c and metabolic syndrome percentage were different in three groups according to the cut-off value of adiponectin. CONCLUSIONS: Low adiponectin levels are associated with a high incidence of metabolic syndrome.

Intensive care unit staff nurses: predicting factors for career decisions.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to understand the factors related to intention to leave their job among intensive care unit (ICU) nurses in eastern Taiwan and to make between-group comparisons between an intention to leave and an intention to stay as well as to predict the influencing factors that affect ICU staff nurses' intention to leave. BACKGROUND: Nurses' intention to leave their job may have an important impact on the actual turnover of nurses. The issue has always been of concern to nursing executives. Only limited empirical studies in the area have been investigated in an Asian culture context and particularly the eastern Taiwan region. METHODS: A cross-sectional predictive study was performed during 2005 with 130 nurses recruited from two ICUs at a medical centre. A researcher-designed questionnaire based on the Cooper's model with structured interviews was used to determine each nurse's characteristics and their intention to leave their job. Multiple logistic regression analysis was employed to investigate the various factors associated with this. RESULTS: The overall response rate was 100%; 63 (48.9%) revealed that they intended to leave their jobs. The findings were that their self-rated health status, the number of diseases, the level of happiness, the presence of depression, job satisfaction, sleep quality, type of license and their unit were significantly associated with an intention to leave (p = 0.05-0.001). Depression and sleep quality proved to be the most significant predictors of ICU staff nurses' intention to leave their job. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that there is a need to take steps to improve nurses' health-related quality of life and to develop effective strategies to improve nurse retention. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: A succinct validated instrument would help identify the important factors that predict ICU nurses' intention to leave their job, which may result in job disengagement. Predictors found in this study may be used as outcome variables for developing such an effective method of improving nurse retention in ICUs.

Syntheses and structures of two chiral zincophosphite compounds: [Zn(C8H8N2)(HPO3)] and (C6H13N2)[Zn3(C6H12N2)(HPO3)3(H2PO3)].

Employing achiral organic amines (2-methylbenzimidazole and 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane) as the structure-directing agent and ligand, two chiral zincophosphites, [Zn(C(8)H(8)N(2))(HPO(3))] 1 and (C(6)H(13)N(2))[Zn(3)(C(6)H(12)N(2))(HPO(3))(3)(H(2)PO(3))] 2, have been hydro(solvo)-thermally synthesized, crystallizing in the chiral space group P2(1)2(1)2(1). Single-crystal structural analysis reveals that compound 1 consists of alternating ZnO(3)N and HPO(3) units exhibiting a neutral one-dimensional chiral chain. Interestingly, the organic ligands interact with the inorganic chain via hydrogen-bonds in hydrogen-bonded helix fashion. Compound 2, a three-dimensional chiral open framework with 16-MR channels, is formed by the distorted {Zn(3)P(4)} secondary building unit (SBU). The organic amine molecules play dual roles as both ligands and countercations.

Solvatochromic response imposed by environmental changes in matrix/chromophore entities: luminescent cyclometalated platinum (II) complex in Nafion and silica materials.

Luminescent cyclometalated complex [Pt(L)py]+ (1) immobilised in Nafion film exhibits a solvatochromic shift in emission maximum from 530 to 650 nm upon immersion in ethanol but no effect is detected with aprotic organic solvents, whereas the emission of the [Pt(L)]+ luminophore anchored in silica materials shows a blue shift from approximately 665 to 550 nm upon exposure to pentane vapour but no shift is observed for ethanol vapour.

Chiral ruthenium porphyrin encapsulated in ordered mesoporous molecular sieves (MCM-41 and MCM-48) as catalysts for asymmetric alkene epoxidation and cyclopropanation.

Encapsulation of chiral ruthenium porphyrin [RuII(D4-Por*)CO] in modified mesoporous silica supports such as MCM-41 and MCM-48 achieves active catalysts for asymmetric epoxidation of alkenes by 2,6-dichloropyridine N-oxide and intramolecular cyclopropanation, which is the first example of chiral metalloporphyrin supported on ordered molecular sieves.