Optimized Electronic Configuration to Improve the Surface Absorption and Bulk Conductivity for Enhanced Oxygen Evolution Reaction.

The composition and structure are crucial for stabilizing an appropriate electronic configuration (unit eg electron for example) in high-efficiency electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Here, an excellent platform to investigate the roles of the composition and structure in tuning the electron configuration for higher OER efficiency is provided by layered perovskite oxides with subtle variations of composition and structure (doping with 0%, 50%, and 100% cobalt in the Bi7Fe3Ti3O21). The crystal structures were analyzed by X-ray diffraction refinement, and the electronic structures were calculated based on X-ray absorption spectroscopy and magnetization vs temperature plots according to the Curie-Weiss law. The results indicate that the elongation of oxygen octahedra along the c-axis in layered perovskite could stabilize Co ions in the intermediate spin (IS) ( t2g)5( eg)1 state, resulting in dramatically enhanced electronic conductivity and absorption capacity. Subsequently, the OER efficiency of sample with 100% Co was found to be (incredibly) 100 times higher than that of the sample with 0% Co, with the current density increased from 0.13 to 43 mA/cm2 (1.8 V vs reversible hydrogen electrode); the Tafel slope was reduced from 656 to 87 mV/dec; and double-layer capacity enhanced from 174 to 4193 µF/cm2. This work reveals that both the composition and structure should be taken into account to stabilize a suitable electronic structure such as IS Co ions with moderate absorption and benign electronic conductivity for high-efficiency catalysis of the OER.

Mechanism of Xiezhuo Huayu Yiqi Tongluo Formula in the Treatment of Uric Acid Nephropathy Based on Network Pharmacology, Molecular Docking, and In Vivo Experiments.

Background: Xiezhuo Huayu Yiqi Tongluo Formula (XHYTF) consists of 14 Chinese herbal medicines. In this study, we investigated the potential mechanism of XHYTF in the treatment of uric acid nephropathy (UAN) through network pharmacology, molecular docking, and in vivo methods. Methods: Using various pharmacological databases and analysis platforms, information on the active ingredients and targets of Chinese herbal medicine was collected, and UAN disease targets were retrieved using OMIM, Gene Cards, and NCBI. Then common target proteins were integrated. A Drug-Component-Target (D-C-T) map was constructed to screen core compounds and build a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. Further, Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis were performed for common targets, and a Drug-Component-Target-Pathway (D-C-T-P) network diagram was constructed. The molecular docking simulation was performed to verify the binding affinity between core components and hub targets. Subsequently, the UAN rat model was established, followed by the collection of serum and renal tissues. The expression levels of indicators in the serum were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The pathological changes of renal tissues were detected using H & E staining and Masson staining. The expression of related proteins in renal tissue was detected by western blot. Results: In the study, 216 active ingredients and 439 targets in XHYTF were screened, and 868 targets were identified as being related to UAN. Among them, 115 were common targets. Based on the D-C-T network, quercetin, luteolin, ß-sitosterol, and stigmasterol were observed to be the key active ingredients of XHYTF that were effective against UAN. The analysis of the PPI network revealed TNF, IL6, AKT1, PPARG, and IL1ß as the 5 key targets. GO enrichment analysis revealed that the pathways were mainly concentrated in cell killing, regulation of signaling receptor activity, and other activities. Subsequently, KEGG pathway analysis revealed that multiple signaling pathways, including the HIF-1, PI3K-Akt, IL-17, and other signaling pathways, were closely related to the action of XHYTF. All 5 key targets were confirmed to interact with all core active ingredients. In vivo experiments indicated that XHYTF significantly reduced blood uric acid and creatinine levels, alleviated inflammatory cell infiltration in kidney tissues, reduced the levels of serum inflammatory factors such as TNF-α and IL1ß, and ameliorated renal fibrosis in rats with UAN. Finally, western blot revealed decreased levels of PI3K and AKT1 proteins in the kidney, which confirmed the hypothesis. Conclusion: Collectively, our observations demonstrated that XHYTF significantly protects kidney function, including alleviation of inflammation and renal fibrosis via multiple pathways. This study provided novel insights into the treatment of UAN using traditional Chinese medicines.

Low-grade sepiolite with low loading of Na/La salts for simultaneous removal of ammonia and phosphate from wastewater.

Efficient treatment of wastewater is of paramount importance for protecting the ecosystem. In this work, we prepared a low-grade sepiolite with low Na/La salt loadings (Na/La-Sep) and employed it for the simultaneous removal of ammonia (N) and phosphate (P) species in the wastewater. The key factors influencing the nutrient removal efficiency of Na/La-Sep, such as the concentration of the La/Na salt solution, the co-existing ion type, and surface zero charges, were investigated. Na/La-Sep exhibits excellent N and P adsorption capability and reduced the N and P concentrations in the spiked and real-world wastewaters to below the allowable N and P discharge limits. Due to the extraordinarily low cost of low-grade sepiolite and the low loading of Na/La salts, Na/La-Sep has a substantially lower cost when compared to other reported clay mineral adsorbents. Furthermore, the N and P removal mechanisms by Na/La-Sep were unraveled by combining the kinetic studies, the molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, and the electron density difference. The present findings might shed light on a new way to develop cost-efficient and high-efficiency adsorbents for alleviating eutrophication and deepen the understanding of N and P removal at a molecular level.

Investigation on metal pollution in the sediment of Chongqing segment of Yangtse River.

Basing on experiment dada collected from 1995 to 2007 at Chongqing segment of Yangtse River, the pollution and the potential toxic effect of sediment were depicted and characterized by using the Index of Geoaccumulation (I(geo)) method and the Logistic Regression model respectively. Results showed that the sediment had been slightly polluted by metals and had possible adverse effect on aquatic life. According to the I(geo), the order of the analyzed metals, arranging from highest to lowest pollution degree, was Cd > Hg > Pb > Cu > Zn > As. Meanwhile, sediment contamination level had been obviously decreasing before the storing water of Three Gorge Reservoir.

Enhancing oxygen evolution efficiency of multiferroic oxides by spintronic and ferroelectric polarization regulation.

Regulating the electronic structure of catalysts is the most efficient strategy yet, despite its limitations, to improve their oxygen evolution efficiency. Instead of only adjusting the electronic structure, here we utilize ferroelectric polarization to accelerate the oxygen evolution reaction as well. This is demonstrated on a multiferroic layered perovskite Bi5CoTi3O15 with in-situ grown BiCoO3. Thanks to the superimposed effects of electronic regulation and ferroelectric polarization, the as-prepared multiferroic electrocatalysts are more efficient than the benchmark IrO2 (with a final 320 mV overpotential at the current density of 10 mA cm-2 and a 34 mV dec-1 Tafel slope). This work not only demonstrates a low-cost and high-efficient OER electrocatalyst, but also provides a strategic design for multi-component electrocatalytic material systems by consideration of both spin and polarization degrees of freedom.

[Evaluating the applicability of MoM in second trimester maternal serum to screening for Down's syndrome in Jiangsu province].

OBJECTIVE: To study the applicability of MultiCalc software to prenatal screening of Down's syndrome in Jiangsu province, China. METHODS: The gestational age-specific median of maternal serum marker was calculated by means of regression method. Regression functions for adjustment of Multiple of the Median (MoM) by weight were established for our own population. RESULTS: Before the adjustment by weight, the average level of alpha fetal protein(AFP) was 16% higher and the free beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin (beta-hCG) was 14% higher than those of the Caucasian in MultiCalc software respectively. But when the AFP and free beta-hCG results were converted to weight-adjusted MoM levels, the values were 0.99 and 1.02 respectively. The median of MoM of AFP and the free beta-hCG were 1.00 through the regression model of gestational age and weight adjustment. CONCLUSION: There was no difference of average weight-adjusted MoM levels between the Jiangsu population and the Caucasian, and the MultiCalc software was applicable to maternal serum screening for Down's syndrome of Jiangsu.

[Metabolic disturbance and insulin resistance in patients with colorectal cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether insulin resistance exists in patients with colorectal cancer and its clinical significance. METHODS: A total of 135 patients with colorectal cancer were included as the study group, and 120 healthy subjects were included as the control group. Height, weight, and blood pressure were recorded. Fasting plasma glucose, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and insulin were measured. Insulin resistance index(lnHOMA-IR) was calculated. RESULTS: The lnHOMA-IR was 0.84±0.38 in the study group and 0.42±0.08 in the control group(P<0.05). The incidence of metabolic syndrome was 34.1%(46/135) in the study group and 22.5%(27/120) in the control group(P<0.05). Insulin resistance index did not differ between the groups according to metabolic syndrome(0.98±0.41 vs. 0.74±0.22, P>0.05). There were no significant associations between insulin resistance index and tumor differentiation, depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, and TNM staging(P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Insulin resistance exists in colorectal cancer patients, and it is possibly associated with metabolic syndrome and the tumor.