Recent Advances in Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescent Polymer-Molecular Designing Strategies.

Thermally activated delayed fluorescent (TADF) materials, as the third generation of organic electroluminescent materials, have many advantages over other organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) materials, such as 100% internal quantum efficiency, no doping of heavy metals, and avoiding the shortages of ordinary fluorescent materials and phosphorescent materials. So it is considered to be the most competitive organic light-emitting materials, and has great application prospects in the field of OLEDs. So far, small-molecule TADF materials have achieved high quantum yield and full-color range of red, green, and blue. However, TADF polymers suitable for low-cost and easily scalable solution processing are less developed, which are confined by the preparation methods and polymers designing, and there are still challenges of increasing quantum efficiency and strengthening device performance. This review mainly summarizes different synthesis strategies of TADF polymers and the latest development in the field. Special attention is focused on illustrating the designing and structure-property relationship of TADF polymers, and finally, an outlook is given for the design and application prospect of TADF polymers in the future.

Parthenolide ameliorates intracerebral hemorrhage-induced brain injury in rats.

Neuroinflammation and oxidative stress are key contributors to intracranial hemorrhage (ICH)-induced brain injury. Parthenolide (PN) is a sesquiterpene lactone that has been observed to have antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective potentials. However, the role of PN in ICH remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated the neuroprotective effects and underlying mechanisms of PN on an experimental model of ICH in rats. Our results showed that PN treatment improved neurological deficit and brain edema in ICH rats. The ipsilateral hemispheres of the brain were separated and homogenized. The concentrations of TNF-α, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-17 in the homogenates were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We found that PN inhibited the production of proinflammatory cytokines in an ICH rat model. The ROS and glutathione (GSH) levels, as well as the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the homogenates were measured. ICH caused an increase in ROS level, and the decreases in GSH level and SOD activity were mitigated by PN treatment. Furthermore, PN significantly suppressed the expressions of active caspase-3 and Bax in ipsilateral hemispheres of the brain at Day 3 after ICH, as well as increased the surviving neurons. Finally, the ICH-induced activation of TLR4/NF-κB pathway was suppressed by PN treatment. These findings suggested that PN could be beneficial in the therapeutic strategy for ICH treatment.

[Lab-scale ANAMMOX Process in a Wastewater Treatment Plant].

A lab-scale, completely anaerobic ammonium oxidation (ANAMMOX) process was operated in a municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). Sewage effluent treated by an A/O process and nitrification process was input as the substance to start up the up-flow ANAMMOX filter reactor. After the 109th day, the ammonia removal rate and nitrite removal rate were greater than 90% for 15 successive days and the nitrogen removal rate was higher than 70%. The ANAMMOX filter reactor successfully started up. From days 245 to 333, the reactor was running during the winter. The weight of biomass reached 12.24 mg·g-1, and the average nitrogen removal rate was 54.3%. Backwash was adopted at day 461, and the weight of biomass decreased to 8.01 mg·g-1. From days 605 to 693, the reactor was running in the winter again. The weight of biomass was 10.41 mg·g-1, and the average nitrogen removal rate was sustained at 69.7%. Compared with the previous winter, the weight of biomass was lighter but the total nitrogen removal loading was 23% greater. For the entire operation, the ANAMMOX rate at high temperature was stable but that at low temperature increased from 1.5 kg·(kg·d)-1 to 3.6 kg·(kg·d)-1. The results show:Long-term domestication at low temperature was in favor of improving treatment efficiency of ANAMMOX process in cold environment and realized ANAMMOX process operated efficiently in winter.

[Effect of Carbon Source on Lab-scale SAD Process in a Wastewater Treatment Plant].

Lab-scale anaerobic ammonia oxidation and denitrification (SAD) processes were operated simultaneously in a municipal waste water treatment plant (WWTP). Sewage treated by the A/O and nitrification process was used as the substance to start up an anaerobic ammonia oxidation filter reactor. Adding glucose and sodium propionate to influent was used as the substance to start up the SAD filter reactor after the successful start-up of the ANAMMOX reactor. The SAD process performed well with an average total nitrogen concentration in the effluent of 6.41 mg·L-1 when 30 mg·L-1 glucose was added to the effluent sewage at ambient temperature. Compared with the ANAMMOX process, the total nitrogen concentration in the effluent from the SAD process decreased 42%. The stability of the SAD process was destroyed and the SAD process turned into a denitrification process when 30 mg·L-1 glucose was added in the influent sewage in a low temperature environment. In normal and low temperature environments, the SAD process functioned well, and the average total nitrogen concentration of the effluent was 6.54 mg·L-1 when 30 mg·L-1 sodium propionate was added in the influent sewage. Compared with glucose, sodium propionate had little influence on the SAD process.

[Applications of ultrasound-guided superior laryngeal nerve block and cricothyroid membrane puncture in conscious endotracheal intubation].

PURPOSE: To explore the clinical value of ultrasound-guided superior laryngeal nerve block and cricothyroid membrane puncture in conscious endotracheal intubation. METHODS: Thirty ASA classⅠorII patients scheduled for selective surgeries were randomly divided into 2 groups, Group U was ultrasound-guided group (n=15), group A was anatomical location group (n=15). Transnasal tracheal intubation was performed in all patients. In patient of group U, thyrohyoid membrane was shown hyperecho by ultrasound and echoless superior laryngeal artery passed across it. Then local anesthetic was injected into inner side of the artery by ultrasound-guided in-plane technology. The same process was conducted in the contralateral side. The cricothyroid membrane was shown as strong echo by ultrasound and the needle was inserted across the membrane by ultrasound-guided in-plane technology. Local anesthetic was injected for surface anesthesia. In patients of group A, superior horn of thyroid cartilage and horn of hyoid cartilage were identified by palpation of the anatomical structure. Traditional bilateral superior laryngeal nerve block was then performed. Thyroid cartilage and cricoid cartilage were marked by palpation of the anatomical structure and local anesthetic was then injected through cricothyroid membrane puncture for tracheal surface anesthesia. All patients experienced rapid anesthesia induction after confirmation of the tracheal intubation. The success rate of cricothyroid membrane puncture, rate of bucking and hemodynamic change around the time of tracheal intubation of each group were recorded. SPSS 20.0 software package was applied for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Compared with group A, the success rate of cricothyroid membrane puncture in group U was significantly higher (P<0.05) and the rate of bucking was significantly lower (P<0.05).Compared with group A, HR, SBP and DBP in group U at T1,T2 and T5 had no significant difference (P>0.05), but the amount of increase was significantly smaller at T3 and T4 (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound-guided superior laryngeal nerve block and cricothyroid membrane puncture in conscious endotracheal intubation is a safe and effective way with more advantages.

[Laboratory-scale CANON Processes Applied to Wastewater Treatment Plants].

A laboratory-scale completely autotrophic nitrogen removal over nitrite (CANON) process was operated in a municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). Sewage effluent treated by the anaerobic/oxic (A/O) process and was used to operate a WWTP to obtain the initial substance for the start-up of a CANON filter reactor. On the 48th day, the ammonia removal rate was measured at greater than 90% in successive 10 d samples and the nitrogen removal rate was greater than 70%. The CANON filter was successful at start up. From the 49th to the 129th day, the dissolved oxygen in the reactor was maintained at fairly low concentration of 0.2-0.5 mg·L-1. The effluent contained nearly no ammonia and the maximum total nitrogen (TN) concentration was 15.6 mg·L-1, which exceeded the national Class 1A Discharge Standards for pollutants from municipal wastewater treatment plants. Nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB) proliferated excessively in the reactor. Backwash was implemented on 129th, 169th and 213th days. The nitrogen removal rate was more than 70% for a long time and TN concentration in effluent was below 12 mg·L-1. The nitrogen concentration in effluent fitted the national Class 1A Discharge Standards and the NOB were effectively inhibited. These results show that backwash has negligible on the structure of filter and its impact on the thickness of the bio-membrane and its functional bacteria was small, however, it is capable of effectively inhibiting the activity of the NOB. Periodically backwashing can be utilized as an engineering application to maintain stable operation of the CANON process.

[Factors of the rapid startup for nitrosation in sequencing batch reactor].

The approach and factors for realizing the rapid startup of nitrosation were researched at the low level of dissolved oxygen (DO) in sequencing batch reactor (SBR). The main parameters of the reactor were controlled as follows: DO were 0.15-0.40 mg/L, pH values kept from 7.52 to 8.30, temperature maintained at 22.3-27.1 degrees C, and time of aeration was 8 hours. The purpose of rapid startup for nitrosation was achieved after 57 cycles (36 d) with the alternative influent of high and low ammonium wastewater (the mean values were 245.28 mg/L and 58.08 mg/L respectively) in a SBR, and the nitrosation rate was even 100%. Factors of accumulation of nitrite were investigated and the effects of DO and pH were analyzed during the startup for nitrosation. The results showed that it could improve the efficiency of nitrosation when DO concentration was increased appropriately. The activity of nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB) was recovered gradually when DO was higher than 0.72 mg/L. The key factor of controlling nitrosation reaction was the concentration of free ammonia (FA), while the final factor was the concentration of DO. pH was a desired controlling parameter to show the end of nitrification in a SBR cycle, while DO concentration did not indicate the finishing of SBR nitrification accurately because it increased rapidly before ammonia nitrogen was oxidized absolutely.

ZnO-nanowires/PANI inorganic/organic heterostructure light-emitting diode.

In this paper, we report a flexible inorganic/organic heterostructure light-emitting diode, in which inorganic ZnO nanowires are the optically active components and organic polyaniline (PANI) is the hole-transporting layer. The fabrication of the hybrid LED is as follows, the ordered single-crystalline ZnO nanowires were uniformly distributed on flexible polyethylene terephthalate (PET)-based indium-tin-oxide-coated substrates by our polymer-assisted growth method, and proper materials were chosen as electrode and carrier. In this construction, an array of ZnO nanowires grown on PET substrate is successfully embedded in a polyaniline thin film. The performance of the hybrid device of organic-inorganic hetero-junction of ITO/(ZnO nanowires-PANI) for LED application in the blue and UV ranges are investigated, and tunable electroluminescence has been demonstrated by contacting the upper tips of ZnO nanowires and the PET substrate. The effect of surface capping with polyvinyl alcohol (PANI) on the photocarrier relaxation of the aqueous chemically grown ZnO nanowires has been investigated. The photoluminescence spectrum shows an enhanced ultraviolet emission and reduced defect-related emission in the capped ZnO NWs compared to bare ZnO. The results of our study may offer a fundamental understanding in the field of inorganic/organic heterostructure light-emitting diode, which may be useful for potential applications of hybrid ZnO nanowires with conductive polymers.

[Research on CANON process for municipal sewage in room temperature].

In the room temperature 14.7-24.7 degrees C, simultaneous nitrification-ANAMMOX (CANON) process for municipal sewage was tested by SBR while the DO was controlled between 0.05 and 0.30 mg/L. As a result, the research shows that CANON process can be applied to the nitrogen treatment of municipal wastewater in room temperature by SBR. DO can be regarded as the indication parameter of reaction terminal, and 1 mg/L has been confirmed in the experiment. In the exploring SBR experiments, the consumption velocity of NH4(+) -N was 0.164-0.218 kg/(m3 x d), the production velocity of NO3(-) -N was 0.026-0.036 kg/(m3 x d), the removal velocity and efficiency of TN were 0.124-0.194 kg/(m3 x d) and 65%-75% respectively. Additionally, in the improving SBR experiments, there were three methods for avoiding nitrite accumulation and increasing the nitrogen removal efficiency. They were improving temperature, adding non-aeration period of time and increasing the quantity of ANAMMOX bacteria. Therefore, the removal efficiency of TN was increased to 77%-88% through the three ways above. However, in view of the nitrogen removal velocity and the fact of engineering application condition, the third approach was the best to advance the general ability of ANAMMOX.

[Pathological change in hydatid cysts of Echinococcus granulosus treated with high intensity focused ultrasound].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the pathological change in Echinococcus granulosus hydatid cysts treated with high intensity focus ultrasound (HIFU). METHODS: Thirty cysts with thinner wall and proper elasticity, taken from livers of infected sheep, were randomly divided into three groups. By cyclical multilayer radiation around the cyst wall, two experiment groups were treated with HIFU under 150 W and 250 W sound power respectively. The control group was treated by ordinary ultrasound for 2 min. RESULTS: The inner cyst wall of hydatid treated with HIFU became curved, thicker, stiffer, white and less transparent. The germinal layer was detached mostly from the laminated layers of hydatid in the experiment groups. Images from the transmission electron microscopy showed that in the experiment groups fabric texture of hydatid changed significantly and germinal cells were broken. CONCLUSION: HIFU in a model of cyclical multilayer radiation causes pathological damage of the E. granulosus hydatid.

[Determination of nonylphenol in wastewater by solid phase extraction gas chromatography mass spectrometry and multi-selective ions].

Nonylphenol (NP) having endocrine disrupter activity is an ultra trace component in sewage and reuse wastewater. There are many NP isomers in the wastewater because nonyl structure is different. The background impurity of the samples is very complex with many other components. So it is difficulty for quantitative analysis of NP in the samples. About seventy sewages and recycled wastewater samples were measured for the content of NP isomer mixtures by solid-phase extraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and multi-selected ions monitoring (shortened as SPE-GC-MS-SIM). The results show that hydrophilic-lipophilic-equilibrium solid-phase extraction pole has selective adsorption for NP, so that the samples can be concentrated from 50 to 200 times. The five kinds of mass spectrum ions, i. e. 107, 121, 135, 149, 163, have higher abundance and distinct character. The sum of five selected ion monitoring (sigmaSIM) is from 54.4 to 73 percent of the total ion current for NP, which can accurately represent different NP isomers. Quantitative analysis base on the spectral integralof the sigmaSIM chromatograph can eliminate interference with background signal and ensure selectivity, accuracy and precision ofthe method.