New 3D Porous Silver Nanopolycluster as a Highly Effective Supercapacitor Electrode: Synthesis and Study of the Optical and Electrochemical Properties.

A high-nucleus silver nanopolycluster as a new type of silver-based polymer supercapacitor (SSc) by a simple and single-step synthesis process was designed and synthesized. The structural, optical, and electrochemical properties of SSc-2 were determined. This highly stable conductive 3D nanopolycluster shows great cycling stability, large capacity, and high energy density without any modification or doping process and so acts as an excellent SSc (412 F g-1 at 1.5 A g-1). In addition, there was a stable cycling performance (94% capacitance) following 7000 cycles at 3 A g-1 current density. The presence of fluorinated groups, 3D expansion of high-nucleus metallic clusters, and porosity are the advantages of SSc-2 that lead to stability, conductivity, and high capacity, respectively. These results lead to the development of a novel kind of SSc by overcoming the low conductivity and limited capacity challenges without any modification.

Hexavalent Octahedral Template: A Neutral High-Nucleus Silver Alkynyl Nanocluster Emitting Infrared Light.

The first silver nanocluster with an octahedral template of TeO66- was synthesized as a neutral 36-nucleus nanocluster, and its structure was demonstrated using single-crystal X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The peripheral ligands of the cagelike skeleton of the nanocluster are CF3COO- and tBuC≡C-. During the synthesis, the TeO66- template arranged the nanocluster, and a 36-nucleus nanocluster was formed. The effect of the template nature was displayed on the structural features of the nanocluster in comparison with an 8-nucleus cluster, with the same synthesis conditions. The photoluminescence and UV-vis absorption analyses of the nanocluster were also investigated. The nanocluster displayed near-infrared luminescence emission at 690 nm.

[Research progress on functional soft candy of traditional Chinese medicine].

Functional soft candy of traditional Chinese medicine( TCM) can be used to supplement vitamins,enhance immunity,assist in lowering blood sugar,assist in lowering blood lipid,assist in lowering blood pressure,relax the bowel,reduce weight and fight againstoxidation.It has attracted much attention due to its effective improvement in the bad taste and incompatibility of traditional medicines.TCM functional soft candy and health food made by gel,sweetener and Chinese herbal medicines( which can be used both as food and medicine) approved by the State Food and Drug Administration were selected as the research objects in this paper.We combed and analyzed the research situation of health food dosage forms and effects,the functional factors of TCM functional soft candy,gelatin,sweetener,production process,and quality evaluation,etc.,and then,we discussed their existing problems and development prospects.After reviewing the relevant literature on TCM functional soft candy and health food researches published in recent years,we analyzed and summarized their dosage forms,health effects,gels,sweeteners,production process,quality evaluation and safety.The following problems in the research of TCM functional soft candy were pointed out: for examples,differences in the sensory evaluation of soft candy;whether the combination of several similar gels and sweeteners had an effect on human health; the lack of laws and regulations in health foods and the lack of uniform standards for quality evaluation.In summary,TCM functional soft candy is a new type of health food,which changes the dosage form of health food based on capsules and tablets.This move conforms to the physiological and psychological needs of consumers.Therefore,it is in line with the requirement of " Health China 2030" Planning Outline.

Incorporation of CEUS and SWE parameters into a multivariate logistic regression model for the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant TI-RADS 4 thyroid nodules.

PURPOSE: To investigate the diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) quantitative analysis parameters combined with shear wave elastography (SWE) quantitative parameters in the differentiation of benign and malignant ACR TI-RADS category 4 thyroid nodules and to provide a more effective reference for clinical work. METHODS: We analyzed 187 category 4 nodules, including 132 nodules in the development cohort and 55 nodules in the validation cohort, divided the development cohort into benign and malignant groups, and analyzed the differences in all CEUS and SWE quantitative parameters between the two groups. We selected the highest AUC of the two parameters, performed binary logistic regression analysis with the ACR TI-RADS score and constructed a diagnostic model. ROC curves were applied to evaluate their diagnostic efficacy. RESULTS: 1) The diagnostic model had an AUC of 0.926, sensitivity of 87.5%, specificity of 86.8%, diagnostic threshold of 3, accuracy of 87.12%, positive predictive value of 86.15%, and negative predictive value of 88.06%. 2) The diagnostic model had an AUC of 0.890 in the validation cohort, sensitivity of 81.5%, specificity of 79.6%, and accuracy of 80.00%. CONCLUSION: The combined multiparameter construction of the nodule diagnostic model can effectively improve the diagnostic efficacy of 4 types of thyroid nodules and provide a new reference index for clinical diagnostic work.

Stable supercapacitor electrode based on two-dimensional high nucleus silver nano-clusters as a green energy source.

Atomically precise silver nanoclusters (Ag-NCs) are known as a hot research area owing to their brilliant features and they have attracted an immense amount of research attention over the last year. There is a lack of sufficient understanding about the Ag-NC synthesis mechanisms that result in optimal silver nanoclusters with an appropriate size, shape, and morphology. In addition, the coexisting flexible coordination of silver ions, the argentophilic interactions, and coordination bonds result in a high level of sophistication in the self-assembly process. Furthermore, the expansion of clusters by the organic ligand to form a high dimensional structure could be very interesting and useful for novel applications in particular. In this study, a novel two-dimensional 14-nucleus silver poly-cluster was designed and synthesized by the combination of two synthetic methods. The high nucleus silver cluster units are connected together via tetradecafluoroazelaic acid (CF2) and this leads to the high stability of the polymer. This highly stable conductive poly-cluster, with bridging groups of difluoromethylene, displays a high energy density (372 F g-1 at 4.5 A g-1), excellent cycling stability, and great capacity. This nanocluster shows a high power density and long cycle life over 6000 cycles (95%) and can also tolerate a wide range of scan rates (5 mV s-1 to 1 V s-1), meaning it could act as a green energy source.

[An experimental study of the neuroprotective effect of FK506 on acute spinal cord injury in dogs].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the neuroprotective effect of FK506 on acute spinal cord injury in dogs. METHODS: Acute spinal cord injury model was made with the Allen technique. Animals were randomly divided into 3 groups. Group A (n = 8) was the control group and received operation but no therapy, while group B and C (n = 8) received a single dose of FK506 (0.18 mg/kg and 0.3 mg/kg, respectively) administered with an arterial duct 2 h after spinal cord injury (SCI). Spine MRI, neurological function, histopathological examination of injured spinal cord and immunohistochemical examination of expression of NF(200) in neurons and GFAP in astrocytes were assessed at certain time after injury. RESULTS: Neurological function score of group C and B was better than that of group A (P < 0.05), with significance between group C and A, while no significance between group B and A statistically. The signal scope of spinal cord injury on MRI in group C was the smallest among all the groups, and the signal scope in group B was smaller than that in group A, which was directively associated with the neurological outcome. The expression of NF and GFAP was significantly higher in group C than in group A (P < 0.05), but without statistical significance between group B and A. CONCLUSION: Local administration of FK506 (0.3 mg/kg) possesses neuroprotective effect on acute spinal cord injury, which can improve neurological function recovery and attenuate secondary spinal cord injury. Local administration of FK506 possesses a dosage-effect relation.

[Cadmium accumulation, subcellular distribution, and chemical forms in Vitis vinifera cv. chardonnay grapevine].

A pot culture experiment was conducted to study the Cd absorption, Cd subcellular distribution, and Cd chemical forms in one-year old self-rooted Chardonnay and SO4 rootstock-grafted Chardonnay grapevine after root-irrigating with different concentration CdCl and CaCl2. In the grapevine, the absorbed Cd was mostly distributed in underground organs (root and rhizome). In treatment 4 mmol x L(-1) of CdCl2, 77.1% and 1.4% of the absorbed Cd in self-rooted Chardonnay were accumulated in underground organs and leaves, respectively, while 93.9% and 0.1% of the absorbed Cd in grafted Chardonnay were accumulated in the organs below graft position and in leaves, respectively. 5 mmol L(-1) of CaCl2 decreased the plant Cd absorption and accumulation, while 10 mmol x L(-1) of CaCl2 increased the plant Cd absorption and accumulation significantly. The Cd subcellular distribution in roots and leaves was in the order of cell wall > soluble fraction > organelle, and more than 50% of the Cd was accumulated in cell wall. In the roots, NaCl-extractable Cd had a major proportion, followed by HAc-extractable Cd, and water-extractable Cd. The contents of all the Cd chemical forms varied with the increasing concentration of Cd in the treatments.

Ortholog alleles at Xa3/Xa26 locus confer conserved race-specific resistance against Xanthomonas oryzae in rice.

The rice disease resistance (R) gene Xa3/Xa26 (having also been named Xa3 and Xa26) against Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo), which causes bacterial blight disease, belongs to a multiple gene family clustered in chromosome 11 and is from an AA genome rice cultivar (Oryza sativa L.). This family encodes leucine-rich repeat (LRR) receptor kinase-type proteins. Here, we show that the orthologs (alleles) of Xa3/Xa26, Xa3/Xa26-2, and Xa3/Xa26-3, from wild Oryza species O. officinalis (CC genome) and O. minuta (BBCC genome), respectively, were also R genes against Xoo. Xa3/Xa26-2 and Xa3/Xa26-3 conferred resistance to 16 of the 18 Xoo strains examined. Comparative sequence analysis of the Xa3/Xa26 families in the two wild Oryza species showed that Xa3/Xa26-3 appeared to have originated from the CC genome of O. minuta. The predicted proteins encoded by Xa3/Xa26, Xa3/Xa26-2, and Xa3/Xa26-3 share 91-99% sequence identity and 94-99% sequence similarity. Transgenic plants carrying a single copy of Xa3/Xa26, Xa3/Xa26-2, or Xa3/Xa26-3, in the same genetic background, showed a similar resistance spectrum to a set of Xoo strains, although plants carrying Xa3/Xa26-2 or Xa3/Xa26-3 showed lower resistance levels than the plants carrying Xa3/Xa26. These results suggest that the Xa3/Xa26 locus predates the speciation of A and C genome, which is approximately 7.5 million years ago. Thus, the resistance specificity of this locus has been conserved for a long time.

[Addition of propionic acid on simultaneous biological phosphorus and nitrogen removal in anaerobic-low dissolved oxygen system].

Two lab-scale sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) were operated under conditions of anaerobic-low dissolved oxygen (DO) (0.15 - 0.45 mg x L(-1)), and the influences of addition of propionic acid on simultaneous biological nitrogen and phosphorus removal system were investigated. The results showed that the simultaneous nitrification, denitrification and phosphorus removal (SNDPR) occurred in both SBR1 (acetic and propionic acid as mixed carbon source with the carbon molar ratio of 1.5/1) and SBR2 (acetic acid as sole carbon source), and ammonia was completely oxidized during the aerobic period without substantive nitrite accumulation. Compared with SBR2, SBR1 showed less anaerobic phosphorus release and more polyhydroxyvalerate (PHV) synthesis, but the aerobic end phosphorus and nitrate concentrations were lower. The total nitrogen and phosphorus removal efficiencies were higher in SBR1 (68% and 95%, respectively) than in SBR2 (51% and 92%, respectively) suggesting that the addition of propionic acid to SNDPR system would be helpful.