Novel Ag-bridged dual Z-scheme g-C3N4/BiOI/AgI plasmonic heterojunction: Exceptional photocatalytic activity towards tetracycline and the mechanism insight.

Rational design and synthesis of highly efficient and robust photocatalysts with positive exciton splitting and interfacial charge transfer for environmental applications is critical. Herein, aiming at overcoming the common shortcomings of traditional photocatalysts such as weak photoresponsivity, rapid combination of photo-generated carriers and unstable structure, a novel Ag-bridged dual Z-scheme g-C3N4/BiOI/AgI plasmonic heterojunction was successfully synthesized using a facile method. Results showed that Ag-AgI nanoparticles and three-dimensional (3D) BiOI microspheres were decorated highly uniformly on the 3D porous g-C3N4 nanosheet, resulting in a higher specific surface area and abundant active sites. The optimized 3D porous dual Z-scheme g-C3N4/BiOI/Ag-AgI manifested exceptional photocatalytic degradation efficiency of tetracycline (TC) in water with approximately 91.8% degradation efficiency within 165 min, outperforming majority of the reported g-C3N4-based photocatalysts. Moreover, g-C3N4/BiOI/Ag-AgI exhibited good stability in terms of activity and structure. In-depth radical scavenging and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) analyses confirmed the relative contributions of various scavengers. Mechanism analysis indicated that the improved photocatalytic performance and stability were ascribed to the highly ordered 3D porous framework, fast electron transfer of dual Z-scheme heterojunction, desirable photocatalytic performance of BiOI/AgI and synergistic effect of Ag plasmas. Therefore, the 3D porous Z-scheme g-C3N4/BiOI/Ag-AgI heterojunction had a good prospect for applications in water remediation. The current work provides new insight and useful guidance for designing novel structural photocatalysts for environment-related applications.

Photolysis of Chlorine Dioxide under UVA Irradiation: Radical Formation, Application in Treating Micropollutants, Formation of Disinfection Byproducts, and Toxicity under Scenarios Relevant to Potable Reuse and Drinking Water.

Conversion of potable reuse water utilities and drinking water utilities from a low-pressure UV/H2O2 (LPUV/H2O2) advanced oxidation process (AOP) to alternative AOPs in which oxidants can effectively absorb photons and rapidly generate radicals has attracted great interest. Herein, we propose a novel UVA/ClO2 AOP for different water treatment scenarios because of reduced photon absorption by the background matrix and high molar absorptivity for ClO2 at UVA wavelengths. While the photolysis of ClO2 produces •Cl + O2 or •ClO + O(3P) via distinct product channels, we determined the parameters needed to accurately model the loss of oxidants and the formation of byproducts and combined a kinetic model with experimental data to determine quantum yields (Φ). Modeling incorporating the optimized Φ simultaneously predicted oxidant loss and the formation of major products -HOCl, Cl-, and ClO3-. We also systematically investigated the removal of three contaminants exhibiting different radical reactivities, the formation of 35 regulated and unregulated halogenated disinfection byproducts (DBPs), DBP-associated toxicity, and N-acetylcysteine thiol reactivity in synthetic or authentic RO permeates/surface waters treated by different AOPs. The kinetic model developed in this study was used to optimize operating conditions to control undesired products and improve contaminant removal efficiency. The results indicate that UVA/ClO2 can outperform LPUV/H2O2 in terms of electrical energy per order of contaminant degradation, disinfection byproduct formation, and toxicity indices.

Online Gait Detection with an Automatic Mobile Trainer Inspired by Neuro-Developmental Treatment.

This paper demonstrates the development of an automatic mobile trainer employing inertial movement units (IMUs). The device is inspired by Neuro-Developmental Treatment (NDT), which is an effective rehabilitation method for stroke patients that promotes the relearning of motor skills by repeated training. However, traditional NDT training is very labor intensive and time consuming for therapists, thus, stroke patients usually cannot receive sufficient rehabilitation training. Therefore, we developed a mobile assisted device that can automatically repeat the therapists' intervention and help increase patient training time. The proposed mobile trainer, which allows the users to move at their preferred speeds, consists of three systems: the gait detection system, the motor control system, and the movable mechanism. The gait detection system applies IMUs to detect the user's gait events and triggers the motor control system accordingly. The motor control system receives the triggering signals and imitates the therapist's intervention patterns by robust control. The movable mechanism integrates these first two systems to form a mobile gait-training device. Finally, we conducted preliminary tests and defined two performance indexes to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed trainer. Based on the results, the mobile trainer is deemed successful at improving the testing subjects' walking ability.

Inhibition of TMEM16A impedes embryo implantation and decidualization in mice.

Recent studies revealed that TMEM16A is involved in several reproductive processes, including ovarian estrogen secretion and ovulation, sperm motility and acrosome reaction, fertilization and myometrium contraction. However, little is known about the expression and function of TMEM16A in embryo implantation and decidualization. In this study, we focused on the expression and regulation of TMEM16A in mouse uterus during early pregnancy. We found that TMEM16A is upregulated in uterine endometrium in response to embryo implantation and decidualization. Progesterone treatment could induce TMEM16A expression in endometrial stromal cells through progesterone receptor/c-Myc pathway, which is blocked by progesterone receptor antagonist or the inhibitor of c-Myc signaling pathway. Inhibition of TMEM16A by small molecule inhibitor (T16Ainh-A01) resulted in impaired embryo implantation and decidualization in mice. Treatment with either specific siRNA of Tmem16a or T16Ainh-A01 inhibited the decidualization and proliferation of mouse endometrial stromal cells. In conclusion, our results revealed that TMEM16A is involved in embryo implantation and decidualization in mice, compromised function of TMEM16A may lead to impaired embryo implantation and decidualization.

Role of osteopontin in decidualization and pregnancy success.

OPN is essential for blastocyst implantation and placentation. Previous study found that miR181a was increased while miR181b was downregulated in endometrium during decidualization. However, the information regarding their effects on decidualization in human endometrium is still limited. Here, we report a novel role of OPN and miR181b in uterine decidualization and pregnancy success in humans. The expression of OPN was high in endometrium in secretory phase and in vitro decidualized hESC, whereas miR181b expression was low in identical conditions. Further analysis confirmed that OPN expression was upregulated by cAMP and C/EBPß signal pathway, while downregulated by miR181b. Increased OPN expression could promote the expression of decidualization-related and angiogenesis-related genes. Conversely, the processes of decidualization and angiogenesis in hESC were compromised by inhibiting OPN expression in vitro OPN expression was repressed in implantation failure group when compared with successful pregnancy group in IVF/ICSI-ET cycles. These findings add a new line of evidence supporting the fact that OPN is involved in decidualization and pregnancy success.

Enantioselective synthesis of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline-4-ols and 2,3-dihydroquinolin-4(1H)-ones via a sequential asymmetric hydroxylation/diastereoselective oxidation process using Rhodococcus equi ZMU-LK19.

A cascade biocatalysis system involving asymmetric hydroxylation and diastereoselective oxidation was developed using Rhodococcus equi ZMU-LK19, which gave chiral 2-substituted-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline-4-ols (2) (up to 57% isolated yield, 99 : 1 dr, and >99% ee) and chiral 2-substituted-2,3-dihydroquinolin-4(1H)-ones (3) (up to 25% isolated yield, and >99% ee) from (±)-2-substituted-tetrahydroquinolines (1). In addition, a possible mechanism for this cascade biocatalysis was tentatively proposed.

A novel NHS mutation in a Chinese family with Nance­Horan Syndrome.

Nance­Horan syndrome (NHS) is a rare X­linked disorder with various clinical manifestations. The present study aimed to identify the pathogenic mutation causing NHS in a three­generation Chinese family with 4 individuals presenting primarily with congenital cataracts. The genomic DNA of 5 individuals was collected, and family history and clinical information were recorded. Whole exome sequencing was performed on the proband, and candidate mutations were filtered by a series of screening processes and validated by Sanger sequencing. The identified pathogenic mutation was confirmed by co­segregation analysis. Finally, a novel frameshift mutation (NM_001291867.1: c.302dupA; p.Ala102fs) was identified in the NHS actin remodeling regulator (NHS) gene, which co­segregated with congenital cataracts in this family. Carrier females exhibited similar but milder clinical symptoms compared with the affected male. These clinical symptoms were consistent with the phenotypic features of the NHS­associated disease, NHS. In summary, the present study identified a novel NHS mutation in a Chinese family with atypical NHS; the results broaden the known pathogenic mutation spectrum of NHS and will aid in the genetic counseling of patients with NHS. The data from the present study also suggest that genetic analysis may be required for the diagnosis of this disease.